Original Song

I wrote this song during my senior year of high school and recorded it on GarageBand. Enjoy!

A Change of Plans

I regret to report that my big plans for college have drastically changed. My dad applied for a loan but he was denied, and I am not willing to take out a loan for general eds—to put that on myself and him. He already has debt, and I'm not going to contribute to it. I have a few thousand dollars saved already and I've decided to go to the community college here in town. I can keep my job and keep saving, so I can head up to Western in a year or two. It won't be as expensive once my brother starts going to college too. It's been a stressful week. I still have to cancel everything at Western, tell my roommate I won't be her roommate, and start the registration process at COCC. I'm also working on finding an apartment. The thing about going to WOU that I was most looking forward to was moving out, but I can still do that.

On a happier note, I met Olan Rogers at his Eat a Slice with Me tour in Seattle on the 4th! He's such a swell guy. :) And he'll be back next year in Portland, so I'll get to see him again. Also, I took my brother instead. I've been working on making more videos lately and I'd like to think they're improving.

Not much else is new. Friends are starting to leave for college and I've been trying to get in a little time with each one. Right now I just want to fast-forward to the time where I have no stress...

Camping, Working Out, and Anticipation

I'm probably going to regret writing this because it's past 10:30 at night and I'm planning on waking up at 5:30 so I can go work out in the morning before work. I'm not quite sure if that's going to happen...but I have to write!

Today I got back home from a camping excursion with my family. It was quite nice, but I'm glad to be back sleeping in a bed and not the hard ground. I'm pretty sure we always eat better when we're camping than we do at home. Like I said before, I was planning to work out—I worked out before work three times last week, taking advantage of the fitness club membership my mom recently got for the family. I've been using the treadmill, I ran a mile on Monday, a mile and a half on Tuesday, and two miles on Wednesday. After that I was exhausted and needed a break so I took the rest of the week off. The hard part is getting re-motivated. I really don't know about tomorrow though, considering how much I'm catching up on the computer with videos, pictures, and this little blog...ugh. I just kind of know there's no turning back now. It's futile.

I'm really looking forward to next weekend. Saturday morning at 8 am, Kent and I will be driving up to Seattle for Olan Rogers' Eat a Slice With Me tour. I cannot freaking wait to meet him. He is definitely one of my favorite people to watch on Youtube and I feel so lucky to have this opportunity. Plus I love Seattle!!! I'm going to take so many pictures, just you wait.

Not much else is new, work is boring lately and I'm still waiting to hear about my dorm and who my roommate is. I'm saving as much as I can. I know I'll have loads to talk about after next weekend.

KFiz and KSue

One of the greatest joys in my life is spending a chunk of my summer with my life-long friend Sue. This Friday I'm driving up to the valley to meet them at her grandparents' house. On Sunday we'll return and there will be much rejoicing! I learn something new every year with her—she as considerably more knowledge about style, shopping, makeup, and feminine things in general than I do. In just a little over a week I'll have to bid her adeau when she returns to her home in Texas. I always forget she's a grade below me (California and Oregon elementary schools had slightly different age policies) because she seems to be exponentially more mature than I am. There are so many things I want to do with her, but I won't spoil it, since there's a chance she'll read this. She is actually one of the few people to actually watch my Youtube videos. (THANKS GIRL!) I'm just really looking forward to Friday. :)

One of the things I love about her is that she is always honest with me. She's one of the most accepting people I know but she won't take shit from anyone, myself included. I was chatting on Facebook with her once and I was busy with something so I didn't respond immediately. She sent me this message.

You want to know what I love about Facebook... It shows you when people have seen that you sent them a message. Haha awesome right?
But dude seriously I know you. You would at least have the decency to tell me your busy... Or you just don't want to talk right now. But for the love of god. Don't show me that you have seen my message and then toss it like its a bag of moldy tangerines!

Yes, we are big dorks and quote UHF (with Weird-Al Yankovic) of all movies. But seriously, the world would be better if more people called each other out on things. She has a way of making me reflect on myself and I try to be a better person with her. Not many people can do that for me, and I really, truly appreciate it. More people ought to call me out on some things, I can be kind of a bitch. Rather, I can be a total bitch. Trust me, though, I've been working on it for years. I'll write again when some more exciting things happen—I've just been working this week and it has been so slow!

[I don't have any new pictures yet, but I promise I will have loads come next week!]

4th of July

This morning at 4 am I took Dot to the airport. She was visiting for about a week. I'll miss her. Besides a terrible sunburn on the 4th during a river float, the week was wonderful! Dot and I made several Youtube videos, and they're on my channel. I got Thursday and Friday off work and now it's the weekend. I've begun paying for gas with each paycheck and this week will be a struggle. I have to wait until Friday to get payed and have about $9 that I'm willing to spend on gas. Now that Dot is gone I want to go back to my lifestyle in which I work out every couple days. I have so many things I need to do and it feels like I don't have much time...I do though, I think...I don't know. It's 6:42 in the morning and I'm running on less than 2 hours of sleep. I'M TIRED.

My Youtube channel is at www.youtube.com/1kaitlinmarie

Things are Settling

It seems a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I am for sure going to Western in the fall, and tomorrow I'm going up to the school to register for classes. I may not even need to take a math class (fingers crossed). Also today I received my first pay check and put a big chunk into my college savings. I am well on my way. Dot is coming to visit on Sunday!!! I can't wait. I'm planning on having a lot of fun, and it's nice because I get a four day weekend for 4th of July. On the other hand, Rick is leaving on Sunday for the army. I'm really going to miss him. I'll have to wait a few weeks before I can hear from him, but luckily I get to see him on Saturday before he goes.

I've been getting so wrapped up in my schedule and my job, just working working working, that I tend to forget how little I see my friends. I try to see at least a few people each week, but I miss everyone so much. My boss was very cool though, he asked to talk to me and told me not to hesitate to ask for time off if I want to do some big thing with friends or family—he wants me to have a life, just like my mom. Every once in a while it hits me how out of touch I am and I feel lonely. I really want to reach out to the people I hold most dear.

I spent a bit of time last weekend in the valley with my family, and I'm excited to see them again tomorrow. Before long I'll be living there and I'll get to hang out with them all the time. I'm so grateful that I'll have people I love so nearby. I won't be totally alone. That would be so difficult for me, and I can only imagine what so many people experience.

I really should pack. I have to get to the school at 9 a.m. so we have to leave quite early. Good night!

P.S. I've been working out. ME! I feel great, and now I can touch my toes on a regular basis. It's kind of a big deal.

These are some photos from last weekend.

Cousins <3

Dang Rice

Well, that didn't take long. I received my financial aid award letter in the mail yesterday, and I spent a lot of time stressing out about what I'm going to do. With scholarships or grants, money from family, and money from my own pocket, it will still cost me about $15,000. I have come across the need to decide to try to save money and change my plans or to take out loans and go with my original plan.

I really want to go to WOU, and loans are a large part of many peoples' lives. I would pay them back over time in the future once I start a career after getting a degree. Sign Language Interpreting is a pretty promising career, if I do say so myself, but let's be honest here—loans suck. On the other hand I have the option to go to the community college for a couple years, save some money, get general eds out of the way...and completely change my plan. Live at home. Not be on my own.

My dad is pushing for one thing, and my mom is pushing for the other. Both have pros and cons. This is very difficult for me, and really I'm just looking for support while I think it through. I told Kent about it yesterday and he came right over. Now I'll tell a wee little story that I find funny in hindsight.

I was very emotional because of stress, hunger, and a headache. I went to make myself a bowl of rice and Joe, Kent and I were tossing grapes around to catch in our mouths. I had just pulled the rice bowl out of the microwave and Joe said "Kaitlin, catch!" and full-on chucked the grape at me straight on. It scared the shit out of me, and I flung the rice all over the floor. I just burst into tears.

Isn't that just plain sad? Ugh. I know things will work out eventually...even if eventually takes years.