Weird.

I have a lot of weird food habits. My friend encouraged me to compile a list, and I hadn't realized just how many there are haha.

Sauce. Spaghetti sauce, bbq sauce, honey mustard, salsa, you name a sauce I will use 10 times as much of it as normal people. I practically drown food in sauce.

Tofu. Specifically, tofu on pizza, jazzed up with fun spices like paprika and garlic and oregano and then smothered with sauce (see above), spinach, and cheese (farther below). Tofu-haters of the world can suck it.

Top layers. I only like the top layer of movie theater popcorn (it has the most butter!). Also, the top layer of a newly-opened carton of ice cream tastes absolutely amazing.

Seeds. Hate them. Will not touch seeded grapes or watermelon - despite my love of both fruits I can only handle seedless. Dislike strawberry seeds as well, but only in things like ice cream and jam.

Plain. Plain hominy and plain beans, straight from the can. Plain toast. Plain deli turkey and bread.

Pickles. I get the most intense random pickle cravings. My strongest recurring food craving by far.

Salt. I almost never put salt on anything, the exception being hard boiled eggs.

Meat. EW to: veins/skin/fatty parts/stringy parts/slimy parts/weird colored parts/parts that look too much like muscle. So that basically leaves me with well-done chicken breast that has been carefully autopsied for all of the EW factors.

Cheese. All but stinky cheese. Mmm.

Crust. If it's good bread or pizza or pie, I always save the best for last.

Alcohol. No vodka for me, thanks.

Pieces. My family calls it "dissecting." Hey, I like breaking food up into little bite-sized pieces.

M&Ms. Red, blue, and orange only, eaten in groups of three (1 of each color).

Lime. In a 50/50 mixture of Dr. Pepper and Diet Coke.

Nuts. I despise nuts in brownies and ice cream. Peanuts are only good for peanut butter, almonds must be blanched, and pecans must be sugar coated aka pralines. Not picky at all.

Foreign objects. Mostly hairs, but obscure things end up in my food so frequently that I'm no longer shocked. It is my life's curse.

Obsessed.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1ZXBBt/thedesigninspiration.com/articles/70-cutie-baby-animals-bring-your-a-good-mood/

(Will's) Last weekend in Salt Lake

We are m.f.e.o.

Molca Salsa, YoWay, Sugarhouse Park, Hogle Zoo, Faustina, read-a-thons, cleaning/moving/packing...and above all...cuddling and billions of goodbye kisses even though I leave for New York 2 weeks from tomorrow!

At the end of this week....

....major updates are in store! I'm hoping by Friday (my graduation day!) I will know more about financial aid and be able to give a definitive answer on what school I'm going to and announce my internship/housing/travel plans. Woot woot!

Me0w.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs329.snc3/29067_384778387133_572847133_4417751_748969_n.jpg

Catie & Will: Year One

For our one year anniversary, Will and I re-created our first date and had the same pizza at The Pie (his half: spicy Italian sausage, my half: olives and cilantro). Afterwards, we went to the Hotel Monaco and had caramelized pineapple upside down cake for dessert at Bambara, followed by martinis at The Red Door. Because all of this happened before 8 pm and we wanted his dad to be in bed when we got back (HA!) we drove up in the avenues and walked over to the lookout by the capitol building. While we were there on a bench overlooking the city, we took turns reading aloud from the personalized, pirate-themed romance novel I got him since he likes to make fun of my romance novels haha.

Captain William Hanlon and Lady Catie are having an excellent adventure - and the book is great too.

Yes. This.

http://lovemeow.com/2010/04/interview-with-maru-the-cat/

Clueless.

Ugh, I hate how everything regarding my future is so up in the air right now.
Grad school: I have to decide where I'm going by April 15 more or less. I've heard from everyone but Boston U (top choice, of course) and they can't give me a date by which I'll know if I'm in or not. WHY? No clue.
Summer Internship: I had one all set up and ready to go, prime location, housing in the works. Then I got a call saying the center that hired me is closing for year. They are trying to help me find something else, but it isn't what I want. All because the center is closing for a year...WHY? No clue.
New internships: I've been applying for them daily. It narrows your choices when you have to apply for paid ones, but paid is necessary at this point in the game. I have only heard back from one so far (crap location)....WHY? No clue.

THIS CLUELESSNESS NEEDS TO STOP. NOW. (Sorry about the rant.)

*Side note: Kosta Koufos ate lunch with our family on Easter Sunday haha... not expecting that.

I want a gibbon.

New favorite couples pastime: nature documentaries. The nature documentary Will and I watched tonight about the fascinating combination of Asian and Australian wildlife on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia only strengthened my desire to have a gibbon. I could steal the gibbon from Hogle Zoo...this particular gibbon often carries around a stuffed monkey like a baby and it is the cutest thing I've ever seen (besides my boyfriend of course). Look how adorable they are! I want. Learn more about gibbons here!

(Photo credits: 1, 2 & 3)

Shakespeare, my dear.

William Shakespeare made me laugh today. When I ran across this sonnet, I instantly thought of one particular morning when I was waiting to give my own William a ride to school and he still wasn't out of bed. After I cruelly yanked the blankets off and exposed him to the physical and metaphorical coldness of morning, he mumbled, "I hate you..." and five minutes later finished, "...for waking me up so harshly." I haven't pulled the blankets off him since, and consequently the word hate has never again crossed his lips.

Those lips that love's own hand did make
Breathed forth the sound that said "I hate,"
To me that languished for her sake.
But when she saw my woeful state,
Straight in her heart did mercy come,
Chiding that tongue that ever sweet
Was used in giving gentle doom,
And taught it thus anew to greet.
"I hate" she altered with an end
That followed it as gentle day
Doth follow night, who, like a fiend,
From heaven to hell is flown away.
"I hate" from hate away she threw.
And saved my life, saying "not you."

Utah "Stuff" That Will Be Missed

(This list is sure to get longer the more I think about it):
Best friends, family, Book Club, fry sauce, Molca Salsa, my cat, my frog, Milcreek Canyon in the fall, my grandparents being close by, Sprague Library, Park City, HT Cathedral, peaches/farmers market, knowing my way around town, Coffee Break, Red Butte Garden, mooching off my parents, Sno Shack, lights at Temple Square, Greek festival, The Jade Cafe, living at Courtney's house part-time during school breaks, ridiculous accent/Utahisms, The Pie pizza, 80 degree weather/hail/thunder in the same day

Some Say Goodnight -- at Night (Emily Dickinson)

Some say goodnight — at night —
I say goodnight by day —
Good-bye — the Going utter me —
Goodnight, I still reply —
For parting, that is night,
And presence, simply dawn —
Itself, the purple on the height
Denominated morn.

Whine.

Early morning or late afternoon cuddling

is what I miss most when Will's parents are in town

for one of their frequent 1 week+ ski vactions.

Mer.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

I'm so excited for...... ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!!!!!!!! I was going to try to make something Irish for the occasion, but it will be so much easier to make this yummy Irish grilled cheese bedazzled with herbs, and to add green food coloring to this luscious Sprite cake (see above).
Alas, I'm not a beer fan so I will most likely forgo the green beer at the pub tomorrow night, but I'm still ready to get my jig on! And just a warning pertaining to that "Kiss me, I'm Irish" paraphernalia.... my man may be Irish, but only I am allowed kiss him.

A Preview....

Rich Housewife Syndrome

Since Amanda and I speak of it often, I thought it was funny that my mother said this to me on facebook chat, whilst I bemoaned the prospect of internships all summer:

"I thought maybe you'd just decided to become a professional sub until Will becomes a rich lawyer and you can become a stay at home mom who champions environmental causes and starts foundations to end the CAFOs!"

So true...I would LOVE that.

I'm (not) a Barbie Girl

I had the most bizarre urge last night to play with Barbies. I felt just dressing them up and getting them pretty would be very therapeutic. I definitely was not thinking of playing with them the way I did when I was a kid. This of course is the reason why I'd have to borrow my sister's Barbies if I wanted to play with them today, because mine are either:

a) victims of VERY unfortunate haircuts

b) covered with marker or ballpoint pen tattoos

c) headless (or they'd have a jammed-on head and no neck)

OR
d) all of the above

My poor Barbies were also de-limbed, buried, and overall disrespected. I honestly have ONE that isn't ruined and that is because my mom made me put her in a display case. However, I absolutely loved putting my Gargoyle action figures in Barbie clothes (calling them Gargirls), and my Ken dolls (especially Greg and The Beast) got to live in the Barbie house and drive the Barbie car and eat the plastic Barbie food; go figure.

(*All photos compliments of flickr)

My Happy List

I always enjoy reading through the happy lists on the rockstar diaries blog, so I've decided to make my own.

15 Things That Make Catie Terribly Happy

1. An empty dance studio
2. Early morning spooning
3. Chocolate-covered cinnamon bears
4. Riding in the shopping cart at the grocery store
5. Squidging my toes in the sand
6. Getting flowers on special occasions - or for no reason at all
7. Laughing to the point of tears with my BFFs
8. Picnics
9. Baking peach pie in late summer
10. A good UFC fight
11. Writing notes
12. Discovering bands and hole-in-the-wall restaurants before they become popular
13. Holding hands and getting pulled in for a "sneak attack" kiss
14. The smell of a campfire (and Old Spice Pure Sport deodorant)
15. Bear hugs

Go, go Power Rangers!

I had a dream last night that ALL the generations of Power Rangers (Mighty Morphin, Turbo, Lightspeed Rescue, Wild Force, Ninja Storm, Dino Thunder, Mystic Force, Jungle Fury, RPM, etc.) were going to unite in one epic episode. Let's just say I woke up sorely disappointed.

Pies.

9:27pmCatie
This is my sister's facebook status, I approve: "It will be a great day when our schools have all the money they need, and our air force has to have a bake-sale to buy a bomber." - Robert Fulghum

9:28pmAllen
Haha
A Republican would say, "Then what would you do when terrorists attack us?!"

9:29pmCatie
Answer: "Throw pies at them."

2.14.2010

I hate to gush. Really, I do. But seeing as this is the closest thing I have to a diary, I feel the need to chronicle the best Valentine's Day a girl could ask for. I got to Will's house before he did, and so I answered the door when he arrived. He said "Happy Valentine's Day!" with a big grin and a kiss, handing me a McDonald's bag with a cheeseburger inside. Good thing I knew that was a joke, as he said he was kidding and that the cheeseburger was his and the dozen roses behind his back were for me. He mentioned that he'd wanted to get me tulips, but none of the arrangements were good enough. Still, I LOVED the roses, they were bright pink (hot princess variety). Appropriate name, yes? Haha. Will also had a box of Lindt chocolate truffles for me, of which I'm proud to say I've only eaten one so far. Then I gave him the card I made (which he loved) and he opened the puzzle I ordered (sans the box, so he wouldn't know what it looked like). I stealthily put together the center heart with our names on it and then passed it over to him. He was shocked! and thought it was awesome. Then we went out for dinner (he'd made several reservations and let me choose; final verdict = Ichiban sushi). I actually dressed up, put on a little makeup and the effects were positive to say the least. After a lovely dinner, we picked up some cake at the store before heading home. I went into the other room when we got there, and while I was gone he surprised me yet again by lighting a myriad of candles in the dining room; we ate the cake and then cuddled in their romantic glow. It was so amazing. BEST VALENTINE'S DAY EVER, spent with the best Valentine in the world...mine.

2010 Lifestyle Changes - Change is "IN"

*IN the car: started listening to only classical music and BBC World News.
*IN the gym: diversifying my workout by adding in Zumba, more weight training.
*IN the ring: living it up before I "retire" from fighting in March.
*(Work)IN progress: FAIL. I was hoping to lose 2 final pounds but ended up gaining 5 more. Wtf.
*IN general: trying to enjoy life for what it is - a roller coaster ride.

Valentine's Week

Valentine's Week Festivities:
Monday = Finishing my V-Day cards for everyone!! And eating candy
Tuesday = Heart-shaped pasta with chicken alfredo, salad, bread, and lava cake for dinner
Wednesday = Making Valentines with Henna and Hazel, cute pink flamingo ones
Friday = Skiing with William up at Alta
Saturday = Amanda's Pink Party
Sunday = Giving William his gift, seeing what he has in store for the big day. "I would LOVE to spend my Valentine's day with you." Awww :)

Happy Valentine's Week!

Hey la hey la my boyfriend's (almost) back

I thought I was going to be a ski widow this winter...WRONG. And being an LSAT widow is almost worse, because at least ski resorts close at a certain time and you have to go home. The LSAT prep books are always there, thick, taunting, wretched things that they are. I miss curling up with my Will to discuss literature and things of that sort. Yes, I'm "for reals" and we do it often. (Our last topic was who we'd want to be able to write like and why. My choices:
Male - Thoreau, Robert Louis Stevenson, or Cervantes.
Female - Jane Austen, Baroness D'Orczy, or J.K. Rowling.)
But alas, he has had virtually no free time with work and studying. I can't wait for the LSAT to be over after Saturday!! Then I can have my boyfriend back. My nacho-making, super-cuddly, joke-cracking, infectious-smile, stress-free, crazy-amazing boyfriend. Good luck Willow!!

"I know, we are like Gilbert and Sullivan."

(**All story ideas copyrighted ©Caterwillar Inc.)
William and I often brainstorm ideas for epic books we are going to co-author. Example from May 1, 2009: (Catie, Will)
Once upon a time, there was a boy named Will. He had tremendous difficulty buckling down and actually starting his homework, as well as picking computer stations that aren't broken. He also had a very twisted sense of humor. Then one day he met a girl named Catie, who was by far the most breathtaking person ever. Together they formed a novel writing team that could not be beat, unlike the New York Rangers. To be continued...because the Rangers are the best hockey team ever. To be continued only after someone admits that the Penguins are actually the best hockey team.

Needless to say, that story never got finished. However, we have plans to do a piece to accompany the Star Wars spin-off books in 2012. The following is a textual conversation we had about our next endeavor, one that screams BEST SELLER LIST, that ties into my indulgent love of romance novels. For fun, I've only included Will's side of the repartee...

-"Instead of a note, write an excerpt from the romance novel about Catie the Greek princess/explorer and William the captain of the Hussars in the Russian Army."
-"Well I figured The Pearl would be the name of your arctic exploration vessel that gets frozen in. Leaving only Catie and Will alive to attempt a death-defying journey to freedom."
-"Byline: Can the fire of their passion thaw the ice of Siberia?? I know, we are like Gilbert and Sullivan."

For someone who scoffs at my guilty pleasure books, he sure seems to have it down pretty well.

Randominity

Yay book club! I'll be reading Persuasion for February :)
YAY new book club blog!!
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY my life right now (minus the no job part)!!!

William has taken to calling me Bubsy lately. I've never really had a nickname before, despite my uncanny ability to bestow them upon others with the greatest of ease. I like being called Bubsy, especially because it begs to be said with a British accent. William and I have been having a significantly fun winter despite his intense LSAT studying and my extreme post-grad boredom. When I saw this comic strip (see below) it totally made me think of the two of us haha. New Year's Resolution: Be a better, habitual blogger.

Hippiness and Treehuggery

"Hippiness and Treehuggery: Catie Dimas' Personal Statement" by Jack Lasley

While being a progressively minded and impassioned environmentalist, I am also a successful tightrope walker. I, of course, do not walk actual tight ropes, but a line much more narrow and precarious than even famed tightrope walker Phillipe Petit would dare. This line I speak of is the divide between hippies and productive people. As a nice looking and hygienic young woman, I can act as the most professional of individuals while embodying the aspirations and intentions of even the dirtiest ecobums.