Run, Katie, Run!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

I Don't Have a Fish Anymore

Yesterday was a pretty sad day.

As some of you might know, Fred and George had been experiencing some weird, undiagnosable health-problems. He seemed to have trouble breathing. When it happened, I would put him in a tiny bowl with clean water and he would feel better again. Things seemed to be going okay after that.

Yesterday before my trumpet lesson I went to my room to check on him. I had just moved him back into his big bowl the night before. He was swimming around happily, and I considered feeding him, but I decided to wait until after 3:00, like he's used to.

I had a good trumpet lesson and then took a walk around campus since it was such a pretty day. When I got home I sat down at my computer to check my email. When I looked at Fred and George to see if he was hungry...he just...didn't look very hungry. Because he wasn't really alive anymore.

How can that happen so suddenly?

I wanted to bury him outside like my parents used to do with my goldfish, but our RA told us to put him in a little baggie and throw him in the trash room. Whatever. Since his burial was so unceremonious, I decided to create a tribute video to honor his memory.

Note: I think I got the date wrong for his birth. Granted, I don't know exactly how old he was because I adopted him from a friend who received him as a gift. But I'm pretty sure he was born in 2010, not 2009. Whatever.

Today we honor a fallen warrior. He was a very good friend to me, and I'll miss him very much. I know it's weird to get this upset over a fish, but he was like a little ray of sunshine when other things were going wrong. He made me feel like a responsible pet owner, like an adult.

Maybe I'll get another fishie someday. But it'll be awhile. You can't just replace someone like Fred and George.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

The Potato Masher

High Time that I made a blog post in tribute to the world's most interesting looking kitchen utensil.

Step aside, sporks. The potato masher is all over you.

Without knowing what it is, one might have absolutely no idea what it could possibly be used for. But it can really only serve the one purpose, and oh what a noble purpose that is. Mashed Potatos are a tasty treat. Time consuming preparation, low serving yield, impossible mess, carbs and butter...INFINITE GOODNESS.

The patato masher waits in the drawer (a word I never understood and still think should be spelled "droor") patiently for its moment of glory. It does what no mere fork can do, creating the perfect consistency of smooth yet substantial golden-white fluff. It is the hero at the end of a long battle with a patato peeler and a pot of boiling water.

It shines strong in its special, unique moment. Than it is washed reluctantly and put away to wait for weeks and weeks until its next chance of exercise.

God bless you, Patato Masher--a true American!

Monday, September 5, 2011

Once a Riverside Kid...

Well. I have successfully completed my summer as a counselor at Riverside. I feel as if I've grown a lot through the whole process. I feel like a completely different person coming into my second year of college.

But really, have I grown up THAT much?

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Riverside Week 3

Hi all!

I've been living at Riverside Lutheran Bible Camp for a month.

Living at a Bible Camp is a very cleansing, very uplifting experience.

Especially since I'm in constant community with other young believers. I'm learning a lot. A lot about myself. At first I was kind of scared to be here, but God is a god of boldness, and he's been gradually shaking my fears away. I'm becoming more confident about why I'm here and who I am and how I fit into God's awesome family.

Week One I was at Mason City Day Camp. It was off the hook. Aside from the fact that it was emotionally, spiritually, and physically exhausting, I totally fell in love with day camp. It's awesome to minister to such energetic young children. And our host family was awesome.

This past week I had a cabin of 10 and 11 year olds with my good friend Rachel Stone as my co-counselor. Total different pace from day camp. But the girls were all super smart and super into learning about our awesome Jesus. It was fun to just be with them and experience everything that happens during a week at Riverside. And to help them put together a performance art piece for the camper talent show featuring Amazing Grace, crazy dancing, and knitting.

Yesterday I had some decent quiet time. You'd think it'd be easier to get that working here. God bless the weekends.

This week I'm working in the kitchen, which will be a radically different experience AGAIN. I just bought an awesome Riverside hat, which I am currently wearing. Made the trip to Cornerstone church in Ames this morning. I was shook up at first (nervous), and almost walked out, but glad I didn't. I really liked the church, overall, but nothing can beat zion.

I MISS YOU, DES MOINES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Next weekend I'm coming home.