People Watching

Do you ever "people watch?" I was doing that today. One of my classes was cancelled. I still had to go to my last class. So I had 2 hours to spare. I sat in the Student Union Building just watching people.

Everyone was so busy. Rushing around. People shoveling food in their mouths. I swear, 90% of those people don't even taste their food! They reminded me of ants. All in a rush. Moving around. All with their set paths. Not looking beyond their routes. Not looking left or right. Just busily going on their way!

Do you ever wonder if people just stop to breath? Or look around them? I do. I also wonder exactly where all these people are going. Now I know how someone can see you, and you don't notice them. But isn't that what people do? Get a schedule and a route. And just live by it.

Something about watching all these people, made me think. I want to start looking around. Noticing all those little things that I don't pay attention to. Because I am usually too busy to notice. Take some time, and enjoy the things around you! ~Kate the Great

State Fair Time!

We went to the State Fair for the 2nd time this year! I was very excited! There is just something about going to the fair that makes me happy. Raul and I aren't into the rides or the midway. But we enjoy going to the rodeos and looking at the exhibits.

This time around, we went looking at all the exhibits. Raul is a wonderful boyfriend. He went through the entire Arts and Crafts Building with me. We compromised. He wanted to look at all the model airplanes and cars. I actually had fun looking at those. We also spent a long time looking through the Agriculture Building. And of course all the animals!

Raul bought me some yarn made from the sheep. They actually make it there! Some beautiful wool in a greyish-turquoise color. They shave the sheep, clean the wool, spin it, and dye it. All right there for you to watch! They also sell things made out of the wool. But I wanted the wool more than a new scarf! I just can't believe how expensive it was!

In that building, Raul had a lamb burger. I am yet to try one. They smell good, but I can't bring myself to actually trying it. I had a fresh strawberry milkshake, a regular cheeseburger, and some curly fries! We ate and watched the kids. They were in the middle of the Mutton Busting! That is so cute!

Before we left there, we bought some cotton candy. No lie, it was 4X's the size of my head! But it was so good. We also spent a lot of time with the animals. Looking at all the animals. Something I really enjoy! Raul and I even got to be in the duck race. My duck won! I got a free t-shirt and tote bag.

We spent the rest of the day looking around the exhibits. We bought stuff here and there. Lots of local jams, teas, and chili stuff! We shared corn on the cob, turkey legs, carmel apples, fried bread, and fresh berry sundaes. Raul bought me a new necklace. A pretty silver heart necklace with small coral stones. We listened to so much good music too!

Overall, it was such a nice day! I am very sad that today was the last day of the fair. We have to wait an entire year for it to return. How can I go that long without a turkey leg? Or fried bread? Or a piece of fresh apricot pie? ~Kate the Great

So Mad!

I studied so much for a recent test. I practically lived in the library. I read the chapters 3-4 times each. Took notes. Made flash cards. The whole bit! But I prepared so much for this test.

Then we took it. It was a difficult test. But I was prepared. I finished my test with about 20 minutes to spare. I was feeling good. It was a tough test. But if you had studied for it, you would have done well. We got the grades back today. Actually, it took a while for my professor to grade our tests. Which was very strange. After he handed back the papers, and lectured us on our grades for 30 minutes, he dropped the test grade. Yup, the grades aren't going to count because everyone did so bad. I got an A. But the class average, over 4 classes, was a D.

I was not happy at all! Why did I studied so hard? Why did I bother to learn the material? Things like that really frustrate me! To the point that I wonder why we even get graded. He also let us out of class 20 minutes early. The entire day was wasted. Why did I bother going to the class? Shouldn't he have begun lecturing us on the new material? If the class is doing that bad, shouldn't he jump right in? ~Kate the Great

Breaking Up

This may sound crazy, but I am breaking up. Not with Raul, but with Wal-Mart! I am tired of going there in a great mood and leaving in such a horrible mood.

Yesterday was the final straw for me! I went for some groceries. It wasn't the busiest time of day either. But I stood in line for 45 minutes. And only 1 person was checked out. In 45 minutes, 1 person! I couldn't believe it! There was only 1 register open too! With at least 12 people in line. I can't believe it! The entire time, the manager stood there talking to another cashier. Not a care in the world!

I finally got frustrated and left my basket. My ice cream had already melted and everything! I drove down the road to Albertson's. I actually saved money and bought more food! Isn't that crazy? I was in line, maybe 2 people were in front of me. And they opened another register to check me out. I was very impressed. More so when I looked through their weekly sale paper.

From now on, I am going to Albertson's for groceries. I will probably do the rest of my shopping at Target. There is one near the Hobby Lobby that I go to. To be honest, I am usually at Hobby Lobby once a week anyway. It is a 20-30 minute drive from our house. Depending on the traffic. But I would rather do that, and pay a few cents more, per item, to get decent service.

I just can't stand Wal-Mart anymore! Especially since they don't sell craft supplies any more. I'm sorry, but a quarter of an aisle of yarn, a half an aisle of scrap booking supplies, and an entire aisle of fake flowers is not a craft department!

I figure if there is anything else we need during the week, like soap, shampoo, or deodorant, we can go to Walgreen's. Which is next to Albertson's. I just can't believe how bad Wal-Mart has gotten. And how they just don't care either! It is so sad. I'm sad to break up with Wal-Mart, but it's for the best! ~Kate the Great

Brad Paisley Concert

Last night we went to the Brad Paisley concert! It was amazing! He is such a good live performer. Raul bought the tickets a few weeks ago. He surprised me with them one night after dinner. I was so excited. Much more so when I found out we had seats next to Josie and Daniel!

But it rained all day yesterday. The day was cold and grey. Not optimal for an outdoor concert. But I was hopeful. Actually, a lot of our friends went to the concert. It was very cool and exciting! Josie, Daniel, Raul, and I went to dinner before the concert. Yum! Quarters might be messy, but it is so good!

Then we made our way to the concert. Traffic was horrible. But what is new? Our city never properly plans ahead! I thought they would have for this venue, but they didn't! While we were stuck in traffic, it started to rain again! I was really beginning to get worried.

By the time we got to park, the rain had stopped. The weather was nice and cool. But not cold. We made it to our seats about 10 minutes before the show began. We had some amazing seats! The concert was truly spectacular! Brad is one of the best live performers out there! We sang and danced the night away. I am so glad that we got to share this together. It was a really fun time for all of us! ~Kate the Great

A Tough Day

Today was a very tough day. School is really starting to take it's toll on me. I am starting to think that I am taking too many hours. Maybe I am in the wrong field. But today was so tough. At one point, I just went and sat at the Duck Pond. I am very glad that our campus has one!

There is something very calming about sitting there and watching the ducks. There were these baby ducklings following their mama. It was just too cute! The mama duck was very good and nurturing. I am glad that I sat there and watched them. It helped to take my mind off of my troubles.

At one point today, I was near tears. But those beautiful ducks just helped me to relax. I think the rudeness of my fellow students and the fact that my professors refer to me by a number and not a name, that just pushed me very close to the edge. It had been a tough day, those things just made it tougher. But God sends us little things to help us through those hard times. We just have to be smart enough to open our eyes and hearts to embrace their beauty. ~Kate the Great

Sewing Machine Problems

My sewing machine doesn't want to work. I don't know what is wrong with it. I am so sad! And slightly mad!

I cut out an apron earlier. The cutest thing ever! I also have some bags that are ready to be sewn. But the tension on my sewing machine is wrong. I have tried for hours to fix it. But I am not that skilled on the situation.

Raul even tried to help me. He is skilled in things like this. Not sewing machines exactly. But he likes to take things apart and see what is wrong with them. It didn't help. The thread isn't all bunching up on the backside anymore. But it still isn't right.

I decided to take it to the SINGER shop here. I hope they can fix it. It is not an expensive sewing machine. But it is the only one I have! If it is going to cost too much to fix, I might just wait and buy one during one of Target's sales. From time to time, they sell pretty good sewing machines for $100-$200. Not too bad. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed though! ~Kate the Great