shoes, new office

zappos, of course.

there's something about working in a legitimate office that makes me want to buy better shoes. not to say I don't love my shoes, I do, but all of the sudden I feel like there's a hole in the shoe closet. . . . a hole that needs to be filled by a pair of bone and tan spectator d'orsays. I can't really say why; I'm not really that kind of girl.

By the way, none of the above really do it for me. I can't find what I have in mind, I am on a quest though. I'd go into more detail but I'm fairly certain that's not necessary.

So yeah: my new, legitimate office. It's GOOD. great actually. People talk to each other. The women wear pumps! I know it's not a big deal, but it is to my girly self. It really is kind of showing me what a completely bizarre environment my last job was. One day last week I went to lunch with some co-workers; we had Thai food and afterwards stopped into a thrift store. yeah, NOT joking. good stuff.

I feel so excellent about the whole thing, feel like I've found a good fit for my personality and my talents. I just feel happier. It's pretty amazing what this change of scenery is doing to my psyche.

Quiet and content

It's a quiet Sunday, snowing and the sun just setting. In the living room the fire's going and Mike is asleep in front of the Bears game. I'm in the office painting and listening to country music. It feels really nice.

A few months ago I joined an art group, the Midwest Collage Society. So far I've felt a little . . . . conflicted about it; mostly because I'm SO much younger than everyone in the group. I feel quite a bit out of place. Today we had a meeting, and beforehand I felt like this was going to be my last. But then something changed and I've resolved to stick it out. I think I need to accept and work with these kind of challenges in my suburban life (ie, always feeling out of place.)

One good thing about the group is that I was able to get some artwork professionally photographed for free. It's a step in the right direction.

one of my very few pieces that I consider "finished." as of yet untitled. acrylic, vintage papers, and pastel on canvas.

Happy today

two things.

Uno. There's a reason I never do a "best albums of the year" blog entry. It's because I end up discovering my favorite music of the year after reading everyone else's "best albums of the year." I would say I need to stay on top of it better, but I know that's not going to happen.

Anyway, so I see this band, The Whitest Boy Alive, on some year-end lists. Sounded interesting, but I didn't pursue it. Then it pops up into my iTunes "just for you" selections, so I give it a whirl, and . . . .



AAAH! Why didn't anyone tell me Erlend Øye started a side project? I swear I would purchase an album consisting solely of Erlend Øye sneezing, or making small talk with shop clerks. Everything he does is golden to me. So yeah, The Whitest Boy Alive, Dreams, is really sweet and it's too bad I didn't figure that out months ago.

Dos. My little brother is studying abroad this semester in Spain. He left last weekend and we finally got a chance to IM this morning, everything is going well and I'm so happy for him.

One of the first things he told me is, "my family is good, the dad looks like the head itchy and scratchy guy."

this guy

For some reason this made my day and I'm still laughing about it five hours later.

new everything

it's january already! i should probably do a 2006 wrap-up but don't have the energy for it right now. here's the last few weeks though.

Florida. Well, I didn't accomplish any of my three goals for my Florida trip, but it was everything I needed it to be. Perfect Katie vacation. you know: nature walks, thrift shopping, white wine with lunch, art, and of course, manatees.

I got to see a bunch of manatees. it was everything i had hoped it would be, and more. the pictures of me with a giant manatee-viewing smile on my face are being processed, I'm sure I'll post some eventually.

Who knew there is an awesome art museum in sarasota, florida? John Ringling, of circus fame, lived there and his estate and personal collection of amazing art was turned into a museum. there is also a circus museum which was fascinating so now I'm sort of into the "circus aesthetic."

Holidays. christmas was good, family time, playing with my nieces. it kind of feels like a million years ago now. new years was low-key, I ended up staying home, baked a pie, watched a girl movie, fell asleep at 11:30. lame but relaxing. I have been embracing the low-key loner-ish side of myself lately. mostly because. . .

Job. I got a new job, which starts in a week and a half. It's an awesome new gig and I'm super stoked. but putting my two weeks in at my current job was pretty terrible and the resulting stress makes me not want to do anything but watch the America's Next Top Model marathon on VH1. God bless you VH1.