Here's to a shiny new year ripe with promise. See you in 2012!
(via)
December 30, 2011
Happy New Year's
This New Year's Eve, may the beer flow like wine and the women/men flock like the salmon of Capistrano.
Here's to a shiny new year ripe with promise. See you in 2012!
Here's to a shiny new year ripe with promise. See you in 2012!
December 29, 2011
Favorites tumbl'd in 2011
One of my pet projects in 2011 was the nwisbest tumblr. I didn't really understand it's purpose at first but dove in this Spring and came to love it a wee bit more than blogging. I think it's better suited for my frequent mental flashes of inspiration and is easier to cultivate and manage. At times, I also believe it's a far more accurate representation of who I am and what I love than the written words you'll find here. Regardless, it's become my baby of sorts and I wanted to share a tiny sliver of my favorite images tumbl'd in 2011. To see the rest and their source, visit NWisBest on tumblr.
December 28, 2011
King County Metro Route 31: You Suck
As of October 13, 2011 I officially became a commuter when my employer gave me a shiny new ORCA card and a $3.25 daily incentive to use it. I consider that $3.25 Seattle Children's small way of saying, "Thank you KT for waking up at 5:15 every morning and waiting in the cold/dark/dampness at 6:40 to ride to worst route ever into work." Let me assure you that "worst route ever" is not some dredged up hyperbole for the blog's sake. Allow me to guide you through my commute so you'll better understand the hell that has become my mornings.
6:38 am - Give Davy Crockett a tasty antler to chew on, kiss her wrinkled brow and head out the door
6:39 am - Walk 25 steps to the corner of Thorndyke W. & Boston to wait for the bus
6:42 am - Spy the bus cresting over the south hill of Thorndyke. Rummage through the vortex that is my purse for an ID badge
6:42:30 am - See bus is not slowing down for my stop
6:42:31 am - Wave both hands frantically, scream STOP! repeatedly and literally chase down the bus
6:42:45 am - Bus either continues lumbering along or screeches over to pick me up
This happens at least twice a week, regardless of the bus driver (regular vs. substitute) and puts me in a dour mood the entire ride into work. Seriously, if a girl can't enjoy her Angry Birds on the bus, how can the day possibly go well? In an attempt to get noticed I've tried waving a cell phone, standing in the street and, like today, wearing this little eyesore (see below) but nothing works.
If the driver actually does stop for me (how can you not when there's a girl screaming in the street, chasing you down and banging her fist on the side of the bus), I really let him have it. Usually along the lines of, "I am there EVERY DAY at the SAME TIME and you do this EVERY WEEK. LEARN YOUR ROUTE." And the responses I get are all over the map.
"There needs to be a light there" (No shit, Sherlock)
"You need to wave a light or something" (Yeah...tried that)
"Go to another bus stop with a light" (Seeing as none on my side of the street are lit, that's not gonna fly)
"I'm so sorry! Didn't even see you there. I'll put in a request for a light" (Bless you)
"You're gonna get hit doing that" (Frealz dude and I can't wait until I do and you lose your job because of it and then they'll probably make a movie out of me like the surfer who got her arm bitten off by a shark)
Today, while wearing the above hoodie and frantically waving my white mime gloves (thanks mom!) the guy finally pulled over (almost flattening me in the process) and I really let him have it. For a brief moment I was afraid I was going to get kicked off the bus BUT I stood my ground against that ogre driver. He gave every excuse above but I just kept yelling that he needed to get a clue and pay a shit's worth of attention to the bus stops on his route. I reiterated, I'm here EVERY day of the work week and I get passed MULTIPLE times a week. He informed me he drives this route every day and I'm never there. Um DUH dude...because I ride at 6:42 every day, not your scheduled time.
Fueled by my righteous anger, I called the KC Metro hot line and spent 10 minutes waiting to offer my complaint. The lady informed me that she'd submit it and try to get a light put on my corner (THE LIGHT ISN'T THE POINT) and I firmly told her that wasn't going to cut it. I wanted someone to contact me about this since it's been a weekly occurrence for the past 2+ months. I forced her to take down my number and have someone give me a call back or else I will heckle and hassle them until something changes. And I seriously will. There's a reason Strek calls me The Unstoppable Force and a reason my dad got all his gray hair during my adolescence. I won't quit until something changes.
So mark my words people - I will win this. And if one of my lovely drivers is reading this - I will get you. And, fingers crossed, there will come a time when I never have to get my daily exercise by chasing down the bus.
6:38 am - Give Davy Crockett a tasty antler to chew on, kiss her wrinkled brow and head out the door
6:39 am - Walk 25 steps to the corner of Thorndyke W. & Boston to wait for the bus
6:42 am - Spy the bus cresting over the south hill of Thorndyke. Rummage through the vortex that is my purse for an ID badge
6:42:30 am - See bus is not slowing down for my stop
6:42:31 am - Wave both hands frantically, scream STOP! repeatedly and literally chase down the bus
6:42:45 am - Bus either continues lumbering along or screeches over to pick me up
This happens at least twice a week, regardless of the bus driver (regular vs. substitute) and puts me in a dour mood the entire ride into work. Seriously, if a girl can't enjoy her Angry Birds on the bus, how can the day possibly go well? In an attempt to get noticed I've tried waving a cell phone, standing in the street and, like today, wearing this little eyesore (see below) but nothing works.
If the driver actually does stop for me (how can you not when there's a girl screaming in the street, chasing you down and banging her fist on the side of the bus), I really let him have it. Usually along the lines of, "I am there EVERY DAY at the SAME TIME and you do this EVERY WEEK. LEARN YOUR ROUTE." And the responses I get are all over the map.
"There needs to be a light there" (No shit, Sherlock)
"You need to wave a light or something" (Yeah...tried that)
"Go to another bus stop with a light" (Seeing as none on my side of the street are lit, that's not gonna fly)
"I'm so sorry! Didn't even see you there. I'll put in a request for a light" (Bless you)
"You're gonna get hit doing that" (Frealz dude and I can't wait until I do and you lose your job because of it and then they'll probably make a movie out of me like the surfer who got her arm bitten off by a shark)
Today, while wearing the above hoodie and frantically waving my white mime gloves (thanks mom!) the guy finally pulled over (almost flattening me in the process) and I really let him have it. For a brief moment I was afraid I was going to get kicked off the bus BUT I stood my ground against that ogre driver. He gave every excuse above but I just kept yelling that he needed to get a clue and pay a shit's worth of attention to the bus stops on his route. I reiterated, I'm here EVERY day of the work week and I get passed MULTIPLE times a week. He informed me he drives this route every day and I'm never there. Um DUH dude...because I ride at 6:42 every day, not your scheduled time.
Fueled by my righteous anger, I called the KC Metro hot line and spent 10 minutes waiting to offer my complaint. The lady informed me that she'd submit it and try to get a light put on my corner (THE LIGHT ISN'T THE POINT) and I firmly told her that wasn't going to cut it. I wanted someone to contact me about this since it's been a weekly occurrence for the past 2+ months. I forced her to take down my number and have someone give me a call back or else I will heckle and hassle them until something changes. And I seriously will. There's a reason Strek calls me The Unstoppable Force and a reason my dad got all his gray hair during my adolescence. I won't quit until something changes.
So mark my words people - I will win this. And if one of my lovely drivers is reading this - I will get you. And, fingers crossed, there will come a time when I never have to get my daily exercise by chasing down the bus.
December 27, 2011
Calling all dreamers: the quarterly To-Do
Back in May I was in dire need of some inspiration and aspirations. With life about as fulfilling as an issue of Us Weekly, I seriously believed I was in danger of losing my potential. After some mental percolation and heavy encouragement from my nearest and dearest, I decided to set some goals and actually accomplish them. And so a shiny new tradition of making seasonal to-do lists was born. I'm not a resolutions kind of girl and also believe that many goals tend to become weaker in the sharing. So I kept them on my fridge and near to my heart and...summer was a success! I got that new job, read those books and potty trained that wicked furball. I loved checking things off the list and savored the knowledge that I was making moves. Since the summer list fared so well, I figured I'd keep the ball rolling and make one for fall. I love hate to toot my own horn but...that fall list...NAILED it. In a big way. "Read 5 books" turned out to be 13. "Apply to nursing school" turned into applying to five (with more to come). "Go to the AF vs. Army game" turned into a weekend with my two best friends and meeting Cuba Gooding Jr. And on it went.
Interestingly enough, the few items I didn't get to were ones I really wasn't feeling to begin with. I have no desire to go to the Seattle Art Museum yet but felt like it sounded more cultured than "Develop a Prosecco habit" (CHECK!). And at this point, that trip to the Olympic peninsula will have to wait until the sun deigns to show it's face again (around July 2012). On tonight's mental note: make my Winter List and dream BIG. And I mean get-into-multiple-RN-schools-fly-to-Georgia-see-Brad-Paisley-get-famous big. Well, maybe not the get famous part. That might take some time. I mean, Justin Beiber wasn't built in a day.
Suggestions are welcome as are fellow friends willing to do the same - dream a little dream, make it happen and watch it grow into something far greater than you ever imagined.
Interestingly enough, the few items I didn't get to were ones I really wasn't feeling to begin with. I have no desire to go to the Seattle Art Museum yet but felt like it sounded more cultured than "Develop a Prosecco habit" (CHECK!). And at this point, that trip to the Olympic peninsula will have to wait until the sun deigns to show it's face again (around July 2012). On tonight's mental note: make my Winter List and dream BIG. And I mean get-into-multiple-RN-schools-fly-to-Georgia-see-Brad-Paisley-get-famous big. Well, maybe not the get famous part. That might take some time. I mean, Justin Beiber wasn't built in a day.
Suggestions are welcome as are fellow friends willing to do the same - dream a little dream, make it happen and watch it grow into something far greater than you ever imagined.
September 13, 2011
Better With The Lights Off
News flash: I've been TOTES jammin to this song all dayyyyy. It's infecting my Tuesday in the best way possibly and I have to share...because it's just RUDE not to. You might recognize the New Boyz as the original jerkin crew duo whose 2009 hit "You're a Jerk" went viral. Best part of the song? Duh. Chris Brown. His music keeps getting better and better (minus the fact that he's addicted to Auto Tune, but that's a whole other post). Blows my mind a little that both Ben J and Legacy were born in 1991. Duuuuuude. In 1991 I was weaning off the sippy cup and watching Family Matters on Friday nights but look who's the fool now - I'm a 20-something Account Manager and they're spending bread and turning heads. If you're diggin this ear snack, leave your e-mail in the comment section below and I'll send it to you as a little pre-hump day treat.
September 8, 2011
Ignacio Torres
In an effort to prove that all great things come from Texas, I give you my newfound obsession - Ignacio Torres. An El Paso native and 2010 UNT grad, Torres' work "explores youth, identity and scientific theories through the use of photography, animated gifs and video." Check out his latest Project Stellar and get obsessed yourself.
August 29, 2011
only in seattle
Can you:
A) Take your puppy to doggie daycare and
B) Watch them via webcam (i.e. Angela's kitty cam on The Office)
I have spent the last 45+ minutes peepin and creepin on Davy Crockett as she rules the world while at daycare. God bless whoever thought to put a live-feeding camera in there. Here's some snaps of her hard knock life at the Downtown Dog Lounge.
Speaking of creepin...Eric Church has a freshy fresh album out with a song by that very name. Little bit humorous, lotta bit weird.
A) Take your puppy to doggie daycare and
B) Watch them via webcam (i.e. Angela's kitty cam on The Office)
I have spent the last 45+ minutes peepin and creepin on Davy Crockett as she rules the world while at daycare. God bless whoever thought to put a live-feeding camera in there. Here's some snaps of her hard knock life at the Downtown Dog Lounge.
Speaking of creepin...Eric Church has a freshy fresh album out with a song by that very name. Little bit humorous, lotta bit weird.
August 26, 2011
friday cover
One of my MOST favorite Elvis Presley covers, by the loverly Ingrid Michaelson. Happy weekending!
August 22, 2011
the highlight reel
Friday
 |
| The Bad Galarry @ The Piranha Shop. Here we see the elusive BTHOMP installing his spirit animal on the interactive spray wall |
 |
| Discovered that Albuquerque sells my personal ambrosia. Be there in 10 days with an extra checked bag just for wine |
Saturday
 | ||
| Lunch at Local 360 in Belltown. Need a smoke break? Just pull the REI recliner out of the car and park it in the shade like Lord Spencer Barnes of Blackwood
|
 |
| When in Rome...hung up my Colts jersey for the night and hit up the Hawks v. Vikings game with my sister-in-law. 7 beers, 4 Jack and diets, 2 vodka crans, 1 pee in a sink later...we survived! |
 |
| BOMBBBBB.COM seats at the C'Link |
August 18, 2011
The Bad Galarry
I honestly can't say it enough - I have really talented friends. We're not talking "I can swallow a piece of pasta and sneeze it out my nose" talented friends. We be talking real musicians, photographers and artists in every sense of the word. Tomorrow night there's not only a Pretty Broken Things show but also a rip-roaring artist's collective at The Piranha Shop in the form of The Bad Galarry. We'll be celebrating some birthdays and featuring the art of some people I know and love, like...
Billy Thompson AKA BTHOMP featuring his throwback spray art
Sean Hamilton featuring his custom pinstriping and the latest & greatest from his brain child, Rumble Machine Co.
Br@!n Chandler with "Spirit Animal", an interactive stencil exhibit
And Morgan Dillon, the birfday girl herself, with some stunna fashion photography.
Fun fact: Morgan's dog is my dog's boyfriend. And part of the reason I love MD is because she does shit like this to Wallace:
A couple other artists will be featured so come show yer face and support some of my nearest and dearest - 8 pm at The Piranha Shop in Pioneer Square.
Billy Thompson AKA BTHOMP featuring his throwback spray art
Sean Hamilton featuring his custom pinstriping and the latest & greatest from his brain child, Rumble Machine Co.
Br@!n Chandler with "Spirit Animal", an interactive stencil exhibit
And Morgan Dillon, the birfday girl herself, with some stunna fashion photography.
Fun fact: Morgan's dog is my dog's boyfriend. And part of the reason I love MD is because she does shit like this to Wallace:
A couple other artists will be featured so come show yer face and support some of my nearest and dearest - 8 pm at The Piranha Shop in Pioneer Square.
August 17, 2011
i'm conceited
I don't want to brag but I had a bit of a reputation back in the day for being a prestigious white female rapper in Dallas, OR. I'd typically rap in history class or the soccer bus about mullets, science, my stanky coach...you name it, I rapped it. Once I went to college, my pseudonyms were shed and I took up rapping covers of flyyyyyy lady rappers, of which Remy Ma and Nikki Minaj are my favorites.
Remy Ma's I'm Conceited was the first full rap I ever memorized. I used to perform it in college for any ear that would listen. I rediscovered the video the other night and still can remember every word. Three cheers for badass women spittin a little self pride like Remy.
Remy Ma's I'm Conceited was the first full rap I ever memorized. I used to perform it in college for any ear that would listen. I rediscovered the video the other night and still can remember every word. Three cheers for badass women spittin a little self pride like Remy.
August 16, 2011
pretty broken things
I will never forget how I met Katie Costello, the firecracker songstress behind Pretty Broken Things. It was a dark and stormy night...well, not really. But it was a dark night at the Sunset Tavern for a Hot Bodies in Motion show. I complimented Katie on her vintage watch (Timex? Casio? Something superrrr fly) and she proceeded to leave the table by crawling underneath it. Why? So she could snag a front row spot to dance her pretty little bum off during the show. I'm now nearly certain Katie Costello is the real author of "Whip My Hair" because that is literally all she did for nearly an hour. The sweat was dripping, limbs were flailing and it was basically girl crush at first encounter. Me being the shy ballsy one I am, I ran into her front row of Allen Stone and said, "Hey!!! You're the sweaty girl from Sunset with the voice like an angel!!!" and a friendship was born.
Now that I have YOU falling for Katie Costello, you need to get to know Pretty Broken Things. You need to know them and like them (via FB) and spread that symphonic goodness. Because it's good for your ears and especially your soul. When Katie informed this this morning that their first release was up on FB, I quite literally squealed out loud. Our Story is heartwrenching in the best way possible. The vocals, the harmonies, the strings...they transport you and just make your heart feel full. And the only thing that could possibly top a single release is an upcoming show! Gasp! It's this Friday at Interbay's own, Q cafe. Come at 8, bring $8 and continue to live your life with no regrets.
listen here
like here
show your face here
and spread the LOVE
 |
| She puts the "pretty" in Pretty Broken Things (Photo by John Vicory) |
Now that I have YOU falling for Katie Costello, you need to get to know Pretty Broken Things. You need to know them and like them (via FB) and spread that symphonic goodness. Because it's good for your ears and especially your soul. When Katie informed this this morning that their first release was up on FB, I quite literally squealed out loud. Our Story is heartwrenching in the best way possible. The vocals, the harmonies, the strings...they transport you and just make your heart feel full. And the only thing that could possibly top a single release is an upcoming show! Gasp! It's this Friday at Interbay's own, Q cafe. Come at 8, bring $8 and continue to live your life with no regrets.
listen here
like here
show your face here
and spread the LOVE
August 15, 2011
the honeymooners
so my parents are funny. i went home two weeks ago to visit them and was promptly informed they were leaving the following day for a 10 day extravaganza to glacier national park and canada. ehhhhhh? i immediately started calling them the honeymooners and watched robb barnes build a raised wood platform in the back of the truck for them to sleep on. obvi it was for easily accesible storage underneath and sleeping purposes on top made respledent by two layers of foam pads. natch, i wish i would have taken a picture of this mcgyver-like creation on my dad's part. i did not BUT returned home again this past weekend for a full report from the hooneymooners.
since my little mother is an earth science teacher, i get an annual earful on the perseid meteor shower. this friday night happened to be THE NIGHT for it to hit and we cozied up on the deck on a full-sized air mattress, under a sleeping bag likely riddled with asbestos and reeking of hickory chips, to watch the cosmic show. after we whined long enough for our personal heater, robb barnes joined us and shared the following story.
note: please don't forward this blog post to the canadian government or u.s. border patrol. i'm pretty sure that if robb barnes were the male in this story, he would get arrested SO i will be using pseudonyms.
these two people, let's call them "roberto" and "nay" went to glacier national park. since part of this natural wonder spills over into our neighbor to the north, roberto and nay decided to spend all of 2 hours in canada. in order to do so, border patrol needs to be reckoned with. hilariously, anytime roberto leaves home, he is most assuredly packing heat. in most hunting circles, this translates to carrying a loaded gun. in barnes family circles, it means roberto carries a loaded gun in a black fanny pack, pick-up truck or in a holster sewn into an under armor shirt. i kid you not. natch, roberto and nay need to DITCH THE FIREARM before crossing the border. according to roberto: "i had to bury my gun on a blackfoot indian reservation on american soil before going into canada". you read right folks. roberto buried a firearm on sacred native american lands for two hours. upon their arrival back in the old US of A, roberto and nay returned to dig up the gun. surprisingly, there were now two people sitting in lawn chairs, facing Chief Mountain, playing the flute in homage to the sacred land. nay was then called upon by her sidekick to distract the holy flute players while roberto dug up his gun.
is this not the stuff movies and SNL shorts are made of?
to cap off our family affair, renay tried to be romantic and robb barnes shut her down.
renay: (while looking at the meteor shower) isn't this just like looking at the ocean?
robb: uh no. it's like looking at the sky.
kt: way to try and be romantic mom.
this is why i love my family.
since my little mother is an earth science teacher, i get an annual earful on the perseid meteor shower. this friday night happened to be THE NIGHT for it to hit and we cozied up on the deck on a full-sized air mattress, under a sleeping bag likely riddled with asbestos and reeking of hickory chips, to watch the cosmic show. after we whined long enough for our personal heater, robb barnes joined us and shared the following story.
note: please don't forward this blog post to the canadian government or u.s. border patrol. i'm pretty sure that if robb barnes were the male in this story, he would get arrested SO i will be using pseudonyms.
these two people, let's call them "roberto" and "nay" went to glacier national park. since part of this natural wonder spills over into our neighbor to the north, roberto and nay decided to spend all of 2 hours in canada. in order to do so, border patrol needs to be reckoned with. hilariously, anytime roberto leaves home, he is most assuredly packing heat. in most hunting circles, this translates to carrying a loaded gun. in barnes family circles, it means roberto carries a loaded gun in a black fanny pack, pick-up truck or in a holster sewn into an under armor shirt. i kid you not. natch, roberto and nay need to DITCH THE FIREARM before crossing the border. according to roberto: "i had to bury my gun on a blackfoot indian reservation on american soil before going into canada". you read right folks. roberto buried a firearm on sacred native american lands for two hours. upon their arrival back in the old US of A, roberto and nay returned to dig up the gun. surprisingly, there were now two people sitting in lawn chairs, facing Chief Mountain, playing the flute in homage to the sacred land. nay was then called upon by her sidekick to distract the holy flute players while roberto dug up his gun.
is this not the stuff movies and SNL shorts are made of?
to cap off our family affair, renay tried to be romantic and robb barnes shut her down.
renay: (while looking at the meteor shower) isn't this just like looking at the ocean?
robb: uh no. it's like looking at the sky.
kt: way to try and be romantic mom.
this is why i love my family.
August 12, 2011
holy ghost
dear holy ghost,
hiiiiiiiiii. it's me. the one that's obsessed with you and is tumblin all your shit. i love your blog.
mmmkaybye,
kt
p.s. follow them on FB, twitter and tumblr and get gripped
p.p.s. feel free to peep my labor of love while you're at it
hiiiiiiiiii. it's me. the one that's obsessed with you and is tumblin all your shit. i love your blog.
mmmkaybye,
kt
p.s. follow them on FB, twitter and tumblr and get gripped
p.p.s. feel free to peep my labor of love while you're at it
August 11, 2011
sisters
we met nearly six years ago and have seen it all at this point. life has come and gone but these girls have remained. family BBQ last night and ladies night tonight. YES YES YES.
my sisters are reunited and it feels so good.
my sisters are reunited and it feels so good.
mrs. elmo, andria, mrs. B, brynny, sarita & moi
my unreal paint skillz in action
TGS #1 gets married
TGS #2 ties the knot!
Q graduates first!
my girls
dirty canada
canada?
fourth of july of old
shiny new SPU grads
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)