To all the letter & note writers of the world...Where have you gone?

I've realized this morning that I can't seem to recall the last time I received a fabulous letter or note from somebody. Everything is either an email or a text message, which is great in that you can let someone know you're thinking of them at the exact moment you're thinking of them, and I wouldn't give that up for anything, but still...There's also something so wonderful about getting an actual note from someone and holding that paper in your hand and seeing what kind of pen they used and what their handwriting looks like and how they write your name, all those little things.

So Gentlemen, on behalf of all the ladies out there, can you forgo the phone and the computer for just one day and write us something sweet, something sexy, something heart stopping...just something! And then put it in the mail, or press it in our hand, or slip it in our bag when we're not looking...

It would mean so much...Not to mention that it would score you major points.

Just found out about this last night...

http://www.nacholibre.com/

Some pictures from my birthday shin-dig

I got to eat at one of my favorite places this morning since I was downtown: L'Appetito at the bottom of the Hancock. I found this little gem of a place when I first moved here and I've probably been at least 30 times since. And every time I go- without fail, I get the same exact thing: one prosciutto and Swiss panini and a little container of pesto tortellini. Done. It's just delicious. And even though they have a million other delightful goodies to eat, and I am often tempted to try something new...I never do. Ever- As if somehow I had become loyal to ordering this and only this and if I ever tried to order anything else, something would go terribly wrong in the world.

But today I walked in and ordered something different.
And instead of things feeling terribly terribly wrong,
Suddenly
everything in the world
felt wonderfully, wonderfully right...

Okay, so I went to the gym this morning- which, by the way, is a totally different experience when you are hungover, just for the record. ANYWAY, as I was rocking out on the treadmill, I started thinking, I wonder what people would think if they could hear what music I was listening to? I really invest myself in my music when I work out so unless I'm in a sexy Brittany Spears-Toxic- mood, I usually listen to very intense/sad/emotionally charged songs. Which then made me wonder what are other people listening to. So please tell me, as I am one curious camper. (The camper bit doesn't really make sense, I just felt like saying it.)


Here was my play list from this morning:

1. The Wild Ones- The London Suede
2. Gentleman Caller- Cursive
3. Somewhere Only We Know- Keane
4. I Remember You- Skid Row (I know, I know...)
5. Hysteria- Def Leppard
6. Helena- My Chemical Romance
7. Polaris- Jimmy Eat World
8. 23- Jimmy Eat World
9. Polaris (again)
10. Electrical Storm- U2

From blossoms comes
this brown paper bag of peaches
we bought from the boy
at the end in the road where we turned toward
signs painted peaches

From laden boughs, from hands,
from sweet fellowship in the bins,
comes nectar at the roadside, succulent
peaches we devour, dusty skin and all,
comes the familiar dust of summer, dust we eat.

O, to take what we love inside,
to carry within us an orchard, to eat
not only the skin, but the shade,
not only the sugar, but the days, to hold
the fruit in our hands, adore it, then bite into
the round jubilance of peach.

There are days we live
as if death were nowhere
in the background; from joy
to joy to joy, from wing to wing,
from blossom to blossom to
impossible blossom, to sweet impossible blossom.


Li-Young Lee

So it's 11. I just got home from rehearsal. Cory is out all night at a concert, so I went to grab a drink and go over lines before coming home. And now I'm home. And I wish I were still out...

Only 48 more minutes and this horrible Monday will be over...

Me by 8:16 on Sunday Night

So I decided to go out for dinner tonight, and when I arrived, I had the sudden urge to have a nice big drink. (Drink as in alcohol.) And spying a Mojito on the menu, I happily placed an order for one. But forgetting that I hadn't eaten much all day and being very thirsty when my drink arrived, my mojito didn't last too long, and neither did my sobriety. By the time dinner arrived, I kept thinking, Surely I can't be this tipsy!! Off of one drink!!! Has anyone noticed??? So I decided to just confess to those around my table that I was feeling...well, slightly tanked in hopes that they would say oh no, oh no, you seem just fine!.

This is what came out of my mouth, "Man, this drink purt me hitty bad."

And I said these words with such focus and seriousness, that everyone knew for sure that Miss Katy had had too much to drink- to everyone's chagrin, I might add.

So by 8:16, I was already in bed, trying not to fall asleep, when this picture was taken of me.
And now to keep myself awake, because I need to run lines for my show, I thought I would post this and share my little humiliating moment with everyone. Hope it makes you smile.

My mom sent me this picture in my birthday card, which I just opened yesterday, and I got such a kick out of it, I felt compelled to post it. Because seriously, folks, what in the heck is going on here??? Why am I posing outside in my pajamas??? And judging by my gloriously messy hair, I have not been awake for very long and if I just woke up, why in the heck am I hanging out on the front porch??!!

I'm going to ask my mom about it today and I will let you know what she says... Oh, man, she better remember...

Okay, I just talked to my mom and she said this photo was taken the day after the huge hurrican David was supposed to hit Miami. The hurricane ended up missing us but the storm caused a lot of damage so everyone was outside that morning checking things out. She had her camera to take pictures and happened to snap one of me waiting for her on the porch because I looked just too cute.

I grew up in Coral Gables, Florida, and hadn't been back since I was a kid, so I thought it would be the perfect place to celebrate turning the big 3-0...Warm weather, the air full of nostalgia, pina coladas by the pool...I could hardly contain my excitement. Of course, for my 1st few days there, I was really sick with a bad cold, the weather was freezing, and I was beginning to feel the immediacy of just how big turning 3o was possibly going to feel.

But the day before my birthday, I went to Alan's Drug Store and Diner, where, as a kid, I had spent many a day eating an ice cream cone at the counter, while my mom did a little shopping. It was one of my favorite places growing up and I was so happy to find it still there. I just wanted to drive by it, but I saw that the diner part of the store happened to be open (it was Sunday) so I couldn't resist going in for breakfast and it amazingly looked just the same. They did replace the booths with tables, unfortunately, but all the walls were that same familiar green color and one wall was now covered in graffiti from customers.

So there I sat with Cory, eating my grilled cheese, enjoying my last day of being 29, and I noticed this perfect little space on the wall right where I was sitting. So I asked for a marker and as I tried to think of something to write besides "katy was here", I suddenly felt deliriously happy. Giddy almost. Suddenly turning 30 sounded like the most wonderful thing in the world. Somehow being in that diner, at that moment, with my childhood so closely juxtaposed to my present day self, I felt like I had come full circle, that I had somehow returned to myself after being gone on a long trip. And that's when I knew that I was officially done with being in my 20's. It was a dramatic, crazy and complicated decade, and now the real me was back. A true and happy me, ready to take on the world, ready to settle for nothing less than being truly happy in life.

It was simply the best birthday present I could have asked for.

In another sky, on another night,
somebody's moon could find what mine
overlooked. All that I missed could be theirs,
and I wish them well, starting out
in another sky, on another night.

William Stafford

A quick letter I needed to get off my chest

Dear Florida,

I have been visiting you going on 4 days now and I've had just about enough of your little pranks. One more day of your cold and cloudy weather and...well, I'll have no choice but talk to some old friends of yours. (You remember Katrina and Wilma don't you?) And you wouldn't want me to do that, now would you...

So SHAPE UP...Or else.

Sincerely, the girl in room 940

On Wednesday, one of my kids at school was complaining of a sore throat. On Thursday, the kid stayed at home with the official diagnosis of Strep. (Strep!!) And today, can you guess who's throat is killing her??

So I just want to say. For the record. If I get strep.... on MY WEEKEND I'M GOING TO FLORIDA TO CELEBRATE MY BIRTHDAY...then when I get back, I'm going to punch this kid in the face...Hard. End of story. Actually I'm going to punch them in the throat. I think that would more efficiently get my message across.

And for anyone who even cares, my technical smooching session went well last night. A lot less awkward than I expected at times, and a lot more awkward at other times. But as I predicted, Kevin and I are now on hugging terms.

It's 11:25 pm and I just want to crawl into bed. Literally, slither off the couch and crawl to my bed. But I have to watch some Buffy Season 1 to get some 1996 clothing ideas for the film portion of the play I'm in. Oh sweet '96.....

Oh sweet bed. I will be there soon...

Making out, technically speaking

This Thursday I have to make out with a guy in my show for a filmed part of the play, so as you can imagine, it has been on my mind somewhat. First, I've only known this guy for a week. I mean, we're not even on the "Hug when we say Hello" level. So that adds to the awkward level. And then there's the whole filming aspect of it. A million people (director, film guys, sound guys, other crew people, most of them being guys) are going to be watching me make out...In a very well-lit and quiet room. And like 3-5 feet away from me. And not only watching, but judging and critiquing. As if a scheduled and filmed makeout scene with someone I don't know very well wasn't stressful enough! I mean who wants to get critiqued on how they make out? "So, let's try it again, you two, but this time..."

And yesterday at rehearsal, after we practiced the scene that precedes the smooching, my director said, "Great. So...Probably soon...I'm just gonna have you guys...Make out so we can maybe have some of that rehearsed too...We'll see."

We'll see? So not only do I have planned make out time, I also have possible surprise make out sessions that could occur any night this week?? I have a feeling Kevin and I are going to hit the "Hug when we say Hello" level a lot sooner than expected.

I'll let you know Friday how it all turns out.

Alright, so let's talk about Nickelback. Actually, let me first preface all this by saying, I hate Nickelback. The name, his voice, their high quality lyrics such as "I like your pants around your feet," just all of it. They are definitely on my list of "Bands I Would Like to See Move To Mars. Forever." That's how much I dislike them. And, well, here's where my conflict/confession/disgust with myself begins. It's with the song, Photograph...That at first I refused to listen to because just hearing his grating voice for more than 5 seconds was enough to make me want to kill a small hippo. Or child. Depending on the day I heard it.

But after some hemming and hawing and hearing it in places where I couldn't turn it off...It... started to grow on me. Justalittle!! His voice was still as annoying as ever, but I really liked the melody...and the hook...and well, even the bridge. The lyrics were still (and will forever remain) on the shaky side, but still, I found myself almost hoping it would come on the radio.

And now...Well, darnit! I really like the stupid song! Despite his voice, I enjoy hearing it. I somehow connect to it, if connecting to a Nickelback song is even possible. Boy, I really sound lame. Feel free to poke and make fun all you like.

In 10 days I will be able to wear flip flops OUTside.
Such a happy thought.