3/4/11 Spring!?!

The trees are starting to bud. Even though it is still rainy and cold and icky, there is a sign that better weather and more beautiful nature is on its way!

I am thankful for the trees starting to bud.

kk

3/3/11 Pretty as a Princess

When I was 6 I performed in the Little Miss King County Pageant. I didn't win but I did get to sing in front of people, show them my pretty dress, do a dance routine with the Norwegian flag, tell Miss King County that my favorite subject in school was math, get a goodie bag and flowers, and most importantly I got to wear a tiara. They are the best. It was bejeweled and sparkly and I felt fancy and special wearing it.

McShane got me a tiara for my birthday two years ago. It was awesome. There isn't really anything else that makes you feel like royalty and very special. I may go home and wear mine around the house today as I clean the bathtub...

I am thankful for tiaras.

kk

3/2/11 Words can't describe

I am not sure if I can even say how thankful I am today. I had a meeting with a H.O.P.E. counselor this afternoon. I have applied for a home modification twice. I have been turned down twice. The first time they said it wasn't imminent. Then when I couldn't make the mortgage they said I didn't have sufficient income to pay a modification. It has been a big annoying mess. I talking to a financial counselor this afternoon didn't seem like it was going to help at all. I have a job. A lot of other people are unemployed. I have already cut so much out of my budget, I don't really have a anything else to cut out. I hardly turn my heat on. I had a guest leave one time because they were too cold. That was embarrassing. I do not have cable or Internet. I try not to turn the lights on until absolutely necessary. I reduced my garbage pick up to once a month. I called my auto insurance company and got a better rate. Really working at it people! So I was armed and ready to finally get to speak to a person and plead my case. I managed to take my coat off and tell him my identifying information. I then launched into my explanation and made it about 3 minutes before he interrupted me and said he was sorry to cut me off but that it looked like my modification had been approved earlier today. So no need for a story! I was there for a total of 7 minutes. I was the best meeting he had had all day. For me too! So now I will get the official paperwork in the mail in the next week or two. Then I have a three month temporary modification. If I make all my payments on time it will become permanent. Hooray! Looks like I will get to keep my house after all.

I am very very thankful for the news today about my home modification being approved.

kk

3/1/11 Bella Umbrella

I have decided that the umbrella will be my new accessory. I grew up in the Northwest and therefore never really owned or used an umbrella. Now that I do a lot of walking between classes out and around campus, and then have to stand in front of a class of students, I tend to use an umbrella so I don't look like a drowned rat. I also don't want some boring old umbrella. I heard about Bella Umbrella from my good friend Jennifer Steele. They have a shop up in Ballard where she lives. When I was visiting her last year, was it two now?, we went to look at their beautiful umbrellas. They have them in so many different shapes and sizes, styles and designs! I found several I wanted. I ended up only buying one since they are also very expensive. I got a classy looking black umbrella with some birds and floral designs on it. I was thinking it would be able to go with more outfits and look good in any season. Very chic. I also wanted one that had a white base which now I am really dreaming about as we come into Spring. There isn't anything wrong with matching umbrellas to your outfits is there? I think I shall have to get one more so that I have something fun and bright to help cheer me up on days when it pours, such as it did today.

I am thankful for my Bella Umbrella.

kk

2/28/11 Crazy Straws

Don't they just make drinking anything fun? Same with umbrellas. They make my drink seem so fancy.

I am thankful for crazy straws.

kk

2/27/11 Frankie

I really enjoy listening to my tape of Frank Sinatra's greatest hits while driving. I sing very loud. It makes my driving home from rehearsal late at night more enjoyable.

I am thankful for Frank Sinatra.

kk

2/26/11 What a sight

Tonight I got home to water gushing forth from my backyard spigot. Mom and I had wrapped the faucets but it was just spewing out anyway. So I pulled off the wrapping and tried to shut it off more. The more the faucet was closed, the worse the water was. The more I turned the water "on," the less that came out. I couldn't find the shut off lever anywhere in the garage and i didn't want to shut the water off to the house at the curb so I called 911. The fire station is literally 7 blocks from my house so they were there in, like, 2 minutes! They couldn't turn it off either. (I know, I already tried that) They couldn't find the shut off in the garage, despite being able to hear it running. (I know, I looked there too guys) So they crawled under my house and found the switch. Hooray! And luckily, despite having my water shut off, it was only the water to that faucet so I still have water to the house. I can deal with the outside water when the weather warms up, and it isn't on a weekend. Why does that kind of stuff always break on a Friday night? I think appliances and emergency repair maintenance things are in cahoots with the companies that are hired to repair them. Watch it faucet. I've got my eye on you.

Today I am especially thankful that I still have water to my house.

kk