Christmas has come and gone

I can't believe that we have already been in Oregon for over a week. Dan's wedding has passed, Christmas has passed and we have now traveled to Bend for the other half of our break. Christmas was great. We spent Christmas morning with Derek's mom and fam in P-town and then headed out to Hilsboro to see Derek's dad and fam. It was an eventful day full of food, family, love and presents of course! It was a great day. Christmas night was the first bit of down time that Derek and I had since the start of our trip. We got some movies, curled up on the couch and actually got to relax for more than 10 minutes. It was glorious! The next morning (yesterday) we headed over to Bend and here we are, fully soaking up the true meaning of "vacation".

Holiday at last!

I am on Holiday at last! Finally after waiting and waiting and waiting for a break, we have arrived to Portland, Oregon and we have nothing to do! The nothing to do part might last but a few hours, but the fact of the matter is that I don't have to be at work right now. Oh the bliss!! What lies ahead for our splendid vaca you ask? Well...friends, shopping, a wedding, traveling, Christmas, coffee, family, family and more family. It should be good, but I am sure I will be ready to come "home" to Vancouver by the end of it all. Derek's best buddy, Dan, is getting married on Friday and Derek is the best man. It's going to be a great event and this week leading up to it is going to be full and exciting. Okay, well the day has just begun and I think it is time to walk down the block and get some coffee (yes, we are staying at my sisters place in NW Portland surrounded by coffee shops! Couldn't be better) then it will be off to Target and such places to finish our Christmas shopping.

J.I. and I

Eventhough J.I. Packer is a professor at Regent and I often see him wondering the halls. I have never had the honor of serving him coffee. Until last Friday... He came to The Well with a friend to get some coffee. He said he wanted a really strong cup of coffee (thata boy J.I.!!). So I asked him if he wanted a stronger flavour or if he wanted stronger caffiene. I told him that the dark roast has more flavour and the medium roast has more caffiene. He chose the dark. He was curious about why the medium roast has more caffiene. I went on to explain to him that the longer a coffee bean is roasted the more caffiene escapes from it. Despite the stronger taste, the darker it is the less caffiene it has. He was intrigued and said in his cute little old man voice "you learn something new every day". I can forever hold onto the fact that I, just a little barista in Vancouver taught something to J.I. Packer!!!!

Once again, life is busy as can be. At the beginning of the week, I look at my week and think, "oh, yay, it's going to be a nice restful week", then one by one, the days begin to fill with meetings, babysitting, work, friends, etc. It's all good stuff, but man I am feeling like I need a break. Just a week and a half to go until I get my Christmas Break!! Yes, yes, I know we just got back from a mini break to Oregon for Thanksgiving. But trust me, it was not relaxing or restful at all. It consisted of Derek and I driving all over Oregon to see all of our family (and some friends) and trying to get in a good amount of time with them so we didn't feel guilty, eventhough we were only in Oregon for a total of 4 days or whatever. It was craziness! So in a week and a half, Derek will be completely done with this school term, I will be done with work (for 2.5 weeks) and we can actually spend some time together. We will be heading to Oregon again, but we are going to be sure that we lay low for a couple days before we hit the road. Plus, this trip will be a lot longer and chances are it will be a bit more relaxing. AND....Dan's getting married!!!!!

On the road again

Tomorrow morning Derek and I leave for Oregon. I am so excited! I have been pacing around the house this afternoon not knowing what to do with myself because I am just waiting for the time to pass so we can wake up and hit the road. I am excited that we get to celebrate American Thanksgiving this year, it will be good to be home. And the cheap shopping....oh boy!
My best friend in the whole wide world came to visit me the past 3 days. It was a amazing! It was a short trip but so good and it was so nice to be with her and for us to finally get in some quality time together. There is nothing like it. Jess and I have been friends since our freshman year in high school and I am so thankful for her and for our friendship. Anyway, so her and her husband were here and we had a blast. We tried to show them a bot of Vancouver, but it has been so stinkin foggy that you can't see the mountains or the water or anything. We really do live in a beautiful place...you just can't tell right now. So Jess and Justin left today, it was sad to see them go :(

Busy crazy life

So I just realized today that for the next 2 weeks, I don't have a single free night. It is kind of crazy and I feel a little overwhelmed by it, but the excitement overrides that. I have so much to look forward to. Allow me to tell you what I have going on:

Tomorrow/Tuesday: SOS small group (spouses of students) at my house.
Wednesday: RSN (Regent Spouses Network aka SOS) social event
Thursday: Babysit
Friday: Staff dinner at boss's house (good, yummy, FREE food!)
Saturday: Go see the new Herry Potter movie with friends
Sunday: My best friend, Jess, and her husband come into town!!!!!!!!
Monday: Jess and Justin still here.
Tuesday: Pack
Wednesday: In Eugene, Oregon with my sister and her husband (after leaving at 4am and spending the whole day in Portland seeing Derek's fam and getting my hair done!)
Thursday: American Thanksgiving
Friday: Still in Eugene with sister and fam
Saturday: Back in Portland hanging with Dan and Amanda at Mcmennamins (after a day at Derek's dads house having another Thanksgiving feast).
Sunday: Finally home!!!

That's some serious plans, I must say. But as you see, there is plenty to look forward to and I absolutely can't wait! Especially to see my best friend and to have a break from work! I am so ready for some days off.

Yesterday

Wow, I am really getting lax on writing on my blog. Sorry. Life gets busy and I guess "writing on your blog" doesn't become a huge priority. But all is well here, just super busy. I'm tired.

So Yesterday I was supposed to go on a run with my friend Ansley at 4:45pm like usual. I got off work at 3 and then went to my other friend, Lara's, house to see her and her adorable 3 month old daughter, Sienna (check out this link to see the precious lamb). Anyway, after a long day at work I was hungry because I had hardley eaten a thing, and I was shakey from having recent coffee in my system that I consumed in hopes to get rid of an awful headache. Needless to say Iw as not so much in the mood for a run. On my way to Ansley I was thinking how I was going to tell her that I just don't think I could physically get myself running at that particular moment. But as I walked in the door she was ready to go and I so instead, I just warned her of my current state and off we went. We ended up running for almost 35 minutes! A personal best for me. Once I got running, it was amazing how the fresh, cool air cleared my headache and truly refreshed me. Despite the fact that my knees were killing me, it was a great run! Moral of the story: even if you are feeling sick and don't want to get up to exercise or run or whatever, do it anyway, cause you will be so glad you did. Goal: to remember that "refreshing" feeling everytime I try and justify away the fact that I should go for a run.

Have a great day!

Just an update

A few quick odds and ends to update you on my life: (Thanks Jess Reimer for the idea)

-Last night we went to a costume party at the Reimers. It was a blast! I was Cleopatra and Derek was Doug McKenzie(from 'Strange Brew').
-24 days until Derek and I go to Oregon for American Thanksgiving!
-I am in an "I hate my job" mode...what to do, what to do...
-The girls upstairs are running around right now and it is SO stinkin loud. But they're cute.
-Dan and Amanda are getting married in less than 2 months! Derek is the best man!
-I miss my friends from back home. I miss the poeple who really know me inside and out :( I am ready to go home.

Apparently nothing really exciting is going on. But that's okay. I'll keep you posted...





Here are Derek and I at the end of the evening of our halloween party.







(More pics on my picture blog here)

Past, Present, Future

Man, it's been a long time....

PAST
This past week or so, life has been crazy (hence why I haven't had time to write in my blog). I hav been working of course, then on top of that I have had loads of meeting for work. So some days I will go straight from work to a meeting. Then it seems like we have had something going on every evening for the past couple weeks and as fun as it is, it can be exhausting. Let's see, nothing really exciting has happened. Every week just kind of turns out to be the same. We are just waiting out the time until we get to go home for American Thanksgiving and then again for Christmas. I am praying that the time flies. Last weekend we did have a Pumpkin Carving Party. It was quite fun. My friends are so creative. We had a blast.

PRESENT
Well, I sit here at my desk at 7:30am and I am so excited that it is Friday. I wait for this day all week long and now it is finally here. Just one last 8 hour shift then 2 days of freedom. Kind of sad, but I live for the weekends! Derek and I are going to go out to dinner tonight because we need a date. I can't wait. Luckily this week is Reading Week at Derek's school which means there are no classes so I have been able to sleep in an extra hour and go to work at 8 instead of 7. Oh the beauty of an extra hour of sleep!

FUTURE
The immediate future (as in the weekend) holds for us a Halloween (Costume) party. We are very excited about it, but ot has kind of been a pain coming up with an idea for costumes. The party is tomorrow and we are still not set on an idea. We have to come as someone famous, wether that be an actor, a TV character, a dead theologian, anything. Please email me if you have any brilliant ideas...but shhhh it's a secret. Our goal is to try not to spend too much money for this whole ordeal. Afterall, we are poor. As far as the more distant future, I see babies and a house and me staying home and not having to go to work anymore. Okay okay, it's a ways off...but it'll happen! I hope.

working at a coffee shop

As you know, I work in a coffee shop. For the most part it is good and fun and busy and whatnot. But in working in a coffee shop (as in any customer service job) you get customers who think they are better than you and they aren't afraid to treat you that way. I guess thet think that they are better than me because I work at a coffee shop and they don't. Whatever. I don't really get it and I think it's quite ridiculous. Sometimes I try and be overly nice to these people and other times I try and to be not so nice to them....either way, it's fun. Sometimes I am only nice in hopes that they willl leave me a big tip, but then I get mad when (yes I said when) they don't...ever! Oh the joys of customer service. Audrey and I came to the conclusion today that people are just straight up annoying (sorry). I urge you to please be nice to people in coffee shops, they have to stand on their feet all day long and for all you know the customer they had before you may have treated them like crap and that is the only reason they seem pissy. Maybe you can be the one to brighten their day! I also very highly encourage tip giving. Even if it's just a dime or a quarter, or whatever you can spare. I know it doesn't seem like they did much and they really don't "deserve" a tip, but they work hard and all the more reason to drop a few pennies in the tip jar!

A new week...

Have you ever been so physically and emotionally exhausted that you can hardly stand? That's how last week was for me. It was a short week due to the Thanksgiving weekend which means you have to do 5 days worth of stuff in 4 days. So with working, evening events and meetings last week, I was pooped!! Getting up at 6am every day makes you tired. This past Saturday we went down to Bellingham for the day, we got back around 3ish and as soon as we got home I went to sleep until 6:00. It was an amazing and much needed nap. Then I went ahead and slept 9 hours on top of that. Oh, I love sleep. Why is it so great?!? Anyway, I am stoked that it is the beginning of a new week. I have hope and excitement for it and know it has to be better than last week. At least more restful if nothing else...

Yay for a long weekend!

One thing that I love about Canada is that there is one holiday every month (except one I think), it's pretty great, cause not only do I get a day off, but I get paid for it! Gotta love stat holidays. This coming Monday is Canadian Thanksgiving. Something we experienced last year, but it's still just as odd. The Cramer's are having a big Thanksgiving potluck, so we are going to that and we will have turkey and all the fixins, just like in the states! I love Thanksgiving, and this year we get to celebrate it twice cause we are going home for American Thanksgiving. I am very much looking forward to the long weekend. So much so that tomorrow I am splurging and going to get a pedicure. I deserve it, right? I mean I do work on my feel 40+ hours a week. Well, regardless, it will be great!

Some highlights of the week:
*Worked 3 of 5 days without a lunch break -we've been so busy!
*Drank a little too much with the Raith's on thursday night
*Went running for a record time of 32 minutes (in the rain too!)
*Saw my boss in a towel -not on purpose...awkward
*Had our first SOS (or RSN) meeting -it was so great!
*Derek is sick...again
*The Cramer's got their phone hooked up-finally!
*I get a pedicure tomorrow!!

Tidbits (idea stolen from Cramer and Reimer)

I admit that this is a stolen idea. First from Jess then from Grace. I thought it was cute. And just what you always wanted...more dumb info about me!

A-Area Code: 778

B-Birthday: June 21, 1983. I;m only 22. Though I feel 24 or 25 cause that's how old all the girls around me are :)

C-Creative Outlet: Scrapbooking and organizing, and writing in my blog (is that creative?)

D-Drink of Choice: I like coffee and coffee type drinks. I also love love love hard cider (McMenamins has the best!)

E-Eating Currently: Just finished dinner-stir fry-and will soon be having some apple pie.

F-Favorite Food: Chicken Curry!!! My newest found love. Especially from 'Thai Away Home' and sweets. Off the top of my head, the Cramer Banana cookies.

G-Goals: To help Derek accomplish all his and in the meantime become a mom!!

H-Hatred: I'm going with zits and back pains today.

I-Inspiration: Deep and conversations with women and when someone says something nice to you and my best friend Jess Scott!!

J-Job: Manager/Barista, The Well Cafe, Vancouver BC

K-Kids: Just Derek ;)

L-Loves: Planning, my husband, babies, friends, Jesus, fam

M-Movie: I am a chick flick girl through and through, therefore my fave is always changing. And since I am poor, I haven't really seen too many movies lately.

N-Nerd-like Tendencies: writing in my blog, reading other peoples blogs, playing on the internet...pretty sure I am just a big nerd but I haven't realized it and think I am really cool.

O-Obsessive-Compulsive Tendencies: Checking my e-mail every chance possible, getting into a made bed. If I am 2 seconds from crawling into bed, but it is still not made from the morning, I have to make it before I can get in.

P-Favorite Perfume/Cologne: Britney Spears new scent...just kidding!! I love Bath and Body Works Cucumber Melon...oh, so good! That has been my scent for probably 5 or more years now.

Q-Quirk About Yourself: you tell me-cause I can't think of anything

R-Last Road Trip: To and from Warm Beach in Washington State for a Regent retreat last weekend, in the vehicle of the cramers.

S-Smoke: Pretty sure I smoked a cigarette or two when I was in middle school, I tell ya, I'm cool.

T-TV Show: too many-how embarrasing, will name a couple. Law and Order:SVU and Gilmore Girls. I get into shows way too easily. Who gave me cable?!

U-Ultra-sensitivities: So stinkin ticklish, and I cry real easily.

V-Time You Were In Vegas: Never been. Not too bummed.

W-Who Do You Go To For Advice? Derek, Jess Scott, SOS girls.

X-X-rays Taken This Year: None this year

Y-Your Favorite Year of Your Life: Freshman year of college, moving to Eugene, meeting Derek, making some amazing friends, feeling so "free", being tight with the Lord, being carefree, staying up till 4am every night and not caring, gosh it was great!

Z-Zodiac Sign: Technically I am right on the cusp of Gemini and Cancer, but I could care less really.

Thank you for reading "dumb things about Katie" hope you have enjoyed this time and I hope you come again soon.

darn them!

Darn Starbucks for calling a 12oz coffee a "tall"...darn them!!

This past weekend was the Regent Retreat (a retreat held for the students and family's of Derek's grad school). We had a blast! Though it cost a little more than we would have liked to have paid, we had a great time. It was fun not to be new and awkward but to be comfortable and to have friends all over the place. It was a good feeling. And who knew you could have so much fun tossing tiny pigs on the table! Oh, the laughs!

Anyway, the past two days I have work 12 and 14 hour days and I am so tired and my body hurts. even this mornig I woke up with a hobbile headache and a huge knot in my kneck. It's a pain. Tonight after work, Derek and I need to go grocery shopping (long awaited) and then I am hoping to sit and relax and go to bed early. We'll see how this all pans out later. As for now, it is 6:30am and I need to get going to work...

I am sitting here at The Well (at work) waiting for Derek to get out of class. He is out of class at 4:00 (I am off work at 3) and he has another class at 6:30. He has not started the paper and therefore does not want to "waste" time riding the bus home. So I am ever so graciously waiting for an hour for him to be done with class. Audrey doesn't mind though because I am keep her company while she is working.

Our trip on the train went well. The train ride was ever so long, I don't reccomend it if you are only going for a day. My back is still sore from sitting and slouching for 10+ hours (each way). But they do play movies on the train (a fact I was unaware of) and I did get to watch Herbie:Fully Loaded three, yes THREE times! Goodness. The wedding was sweet and it was great to see friends and fam while in Oregon for less than 48 hours.

This weekend we are off once again. We are going to the Regent retreat. Besides the fact that it costs money and too much money, I am very excited. I think this year will be even more fun that last year considering that fact that we know a lot more people and I just think it will be great. But this is hopefully our last weekend away for a while. We're tired.

off again

tomorrow morning Derek and I leave for yet another weekend trip. We are headed back to Oregon to go to Adam and Katy's wedding. My sister is also having a housewarming party so it works out that we will be ther. We are taking the train from bellingham tomorrow morning and it is quite a long ride. About 10 hours. However, it will be a nice break from driving and the train should be fun. It will be crazy though because we arrive to Eugene tomorrow evening around 8pm and we leave Sunday morning at 10am. So we are really only there for Saturday. We have a housewarming party, a wedding and all the stuff in between. My whole family will be in town for my sister, which will be great. But who knows how much time I will get to spend with them. I am thankful that we get to go though and I am really looking forward to it. Won't be quite like Victoria...but who's comparing ;)

Victoria

Victoria was....amazing!!!! I can't even describe how wonderful and beautiful and fun it is. Check out my picture blog within the next day or two for pictures. We had a fantastic and romantic time, I don't think we will ever forget it. Yay for vacations!

See the pics here!

2nd Anniversary

Tuesday, the 6th, was our two year anniversary. Wow...2 years. It sure does go by quick. On a side note, it was also the 1 year anniversary of us moving to Vancouver. Besides waking up an hour late, Tuesday was a normal day. Work work work. But when I came home Derek told me to sit and relax and he was going to make dinner. 3 hours later he was done. We got all dressed up and had a nice romantic dinner (he made manicotti-my fave!) accompanied by a taylor made bouquet of flowers, candles and wine. It was great! Though Tuesday was our actual anniversary, we are actually having our big celebration this weekend. We leave today and we are going to Victoria. Just for 2 nights and 3 days, but I cannot wait! We have been planning this and looking forward to it all summer and now it has arrived. We will stay at a cute little Inn, sleep in, see the city and have a nice fancy dinner (compliments of my boss). I hope it will be a relaxing weekend and that Derek and I can just enjoy each other. Yay for anniversaries! Off to Victoria...

Last night

We had a party last, it was pretty stinkin fun if I do say so myself. It was Derek and I and all our close married friends. There was about 14 of us total. I think we had a blast. We hung out and drank a lot and then we played the "newlywed game" that Derek and I created ourselves. It's hilarious to see the couples interact during this. Robert and Michele were the winners by a coin toss. They tied with the Sartors originally. And boy were the prizes great ;) Yeah...we got them from the dollar store. Anything we could find for a buck or less. We had a raffle and that is how we gave the rest of the prizes away. I'd say the party was a hit! Now school will be starting up in a week and it's back to the life of no fun while all our husbands study study study. bleh...