While I Was on Youtube

When I decided that I should finally write my blog, I went to youtube to put on some music to listen to as I wrote. Good thing I did because it gave me an idea on what to write about. When I got to the site, I saw the usual slew of videos on the homepage but for a rare change I clicked on one that said "Seth Rogan Opening Statement" and the words "Alzheimer's research hearing" somewhere in the description. 
I've never listened to an opening statement for a senate hearing, but if they were all like this one I probably would listen to more. Seth Rogan was able to talk about a serious issue in a serious setting, and make it funny. He moved from throwing in jokes to a heartfelt, compelling story, and then back to more jokes. It made me think that he was using his gift for humor in the best way; to not only make people laugh, but to get them involved in a issue that he cares about, and that we should all care about.
My grandpa had Alzheimer's Disease. He spent his last years in a nursing home down the road from my house, back in the locked section of the place where they kept the dementia and Alzheimer's patients. If you ever want to see a cast of characters that is the place. If you walked in there and you were a gentleman of any age you'd probably notice Wilma first...mostly likely because she'd be staring at you like you were a delicious treat, licking her toothless chops. She was a sweetheart, just very, very affectionate towards the men. There was also sweet Bogey. I remember Bogey would take all of the tissues out of the tissue box. Then we would sit there quietly and fold each one of them. The whole time his nose would be running, but he just kept folding the tissues. One lady would repeat the same sentence over and over again and I can still here her in my head saying "Henrietta Georgia". 
I remember when I first knew there was something wrong with my grandpa. I had just gotten back from 2 months in Australia and went with my dad to have dinner with Grandma and Grandpa. When we were eating my grandpa started talking about the people that were in his house, and how he didn't know how to get rid of them. He'd look to spots and point at where he saw these people and there would be no one there. Soon after he was put into the nursing home because he became mostly unresponsive and you couldn't talk to him. My always smiling, always cracking jokes, with normal grandpa chub was replaced with a blank staring, unresponsive gaunt grandpa confined to a wheel chair. 

I'm going to be honest, the disease frightens the hell out of me. I'd walk down the hallway at the nursing home and see the pictures that residents had outside their doors that showed parts of the lives they'd lived. Then I'd look over and see Bogey's wife sitting with him, or see my grandma with my grandpa and I would just try to imagine how hard it must be to watch the love of your life's mind slip away until he or she can't even recognize you. I cried a lot there. The mind is a fascinating thing, and I think that people deserve to know how it works and why Alzheimer's happens. I don't think any disease should just be left at "There's nothing we can do for you". We have to at least try. Thank you Seth Rogan for reminding me of this. 

Miracle

So I have a weird habit where I get really into something and I decide I need to know everything about it. My first obession was The Who, which started my junior year of high school. Then the next summer I went through a phase where I really liked The Monkees and would watch their show while I ate breakfast every morning. I eventually moved on from bands to historical events. Last fall I rewatched the King's Speech. For some reason or another I wanted to know everything about it, so I watched a documentary on it on Netflix (the place where I have watched the most random things) and then some Youtube vidoes and before I knew it I knew more about King George VI then I expected to ever know.

One of my past obessions that I've been thinking a lot about lately is the Miracle On Ice. If you've been watching the Olympics, you might have heard them mention this or you might have seen old video clips of the game. To sum it up, the "miracle" was that in the 1980 Winter Olympics the US hockey team, made up of young college ameauters, defeated the Soviet Union, who were considered the best team in the world and had been playing together for years. They were like a well-oiled machine that expected to win. Earlier in the games, the Soviets had beaten the US 10-3, so it was a miracle to many that the US were even able to come close to winning. But win they did 4-3.

Now I don't even play hockey. I've only been to about 4 games in my life. But after seeing the movie made about this game, "Miracle", I was enchanted by the story. Even though everytime I watch the movie I know the US is going to win, I still get wrapped up in the emotion of the victory. I'm nervous as the Soviets fire shot after shot at the goalie Jim Craig in the 3rd period as time slowly runs out. I get chills everytime I hear the announcer yelling "Do you believe in miracles? YES" in the final five seconds. I can't even comprehend the incredible feeling coach Herb Brooks must have felt when he leaves the stadium for a moment  to take in the fact that he's done it. I wasn't even born then, I don't watch that much hockey, but I am always inspired by this story. The story of kids my age who gave it everything they had and a coach who didn't give up who acheived their dream while at the same time inspiring a nation to chant "USA USA USA" at a time when people needed some national pride.

I know I may sound overly sentimental about a hockey game. I realize that knowing the names of the team members and knowing who scored which goal may not seem necessary or worthwhile. Watching youtube videos and learning all I can about the Miracle on Ice may seem like a waste of time but I can't help but love the story and be inspired by it.

Happy Galentine's Day!

What is Galentine's Day? . Well this video will explain it best: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GzNX3gI38M
My friends and I plan to celebrate this weekend with huge piles of pancakes and waffles. It should be a national holiday.

Parks and Recreation is show that I love so much I had a dream I was on it a few nights ago. I woke up disappointed that I didn't really meet Ron Swanson, but I least dream me did. I apologize if you haven't seen the show and you have no idea what I am talking about. 

Parks and Recreation is a comedy set in Pawnee, Indiana (a fictional Indiana town). Pretty cool that my favorite show is set in the state that I live in. Even cooler is that one of the character's names is Andy Dwyer (spelled differently then my name but good enough). There's Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), who works tirelessly to make changes in her community, her best friend Anne (Rashida Jones), husband Ben, friends/co-workers Tom, Andy, Donna, April, and the best t.v. character of all time Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman). 
It's a quirky show poking fun at smaller Midwest towns and the people who inhabit them. 

Sorry I meant to post this on actual Galentine's Day! Hope you had a good one!

Sunday Matinee

You already know I hate winter, so it shouldn't come as a surprise to hear that I spend a lot of time trying to forget about it. My go to escape this winter has been the movie theater. I could sit at my house and watch a movie for far less money, but it's just not the same as going to the movie theater. It's not exactly a glamorous outing, especially my Sunday matinees in the cheap seats of the dollar theater right by my house. I like it though, because I forget that I'm wearing the sweatshirt I had on yesterday and that I have no make up on. With my hands in a popcorn bucket and my eyes glued forward, I'm soaked up right into the world on the screen. 

There have been good, bad, weird, and those that left me asking "why do they even let people still make movies?" (lookin at you Devil's Due). So with all this movie theater experience and amidst all the Oscar buzz, I will share my journey through movies this winter.

The Hobbit
First there was The Hobbit. I was excited for this film the moment the prequel ended. It's not just that I love Martin Freeman or a good journey back to Middle Earth, but the fact that my best friends are just as excited as I am to be sitting there watching it. Also my friends always remember to carry huge purses so we can fit a feast load of snacks into them. Surrounded by Pringles, Cheetos, Peanut Butter M&Ms, and Nutter Butters, we sat for three hours and watched dwarves, elves, wizard, and a badass dragon voiced by the always amazing Benedict Cumberbatch. Since it was a midnight showing my eyes did close a few times (a fact that I was reminded of more than a few times), but it's always a worthwhile movie when it's set in Middle Earth .

Devil's Due
I didn't pick this one. I knew what I was getting into. A movie about a woman pregnant with a devil baby. It was hilarious. 

Her
I wanted to see this one as soon as I saw the preview. The song and the warm colors of the preview roped me in. And it's a love story that didn't sound like a usual romance, so I was curious. I took Kelly to this one at 11 p.m. and it was a bit of a struggle to stay awake through a movie that focused more on dialogue and cinematography than action or comedy. It's hard for me to say if I like it or not. I appreciate the different route it takes (a man in the future falls in love with his computer), but I don't feel like I learned anything new about love. I told Kelly right afterwards that I would like to see what it would be like if it was a woman who was the main character rather than a man. Why? I think I want to see a woman be the main character in a movie about love that isn't a romantic comedy. But Her is a beautiful looking film, with warm colors and an inviting looking futuristic LA...and weirdly high waisted pants. And one of the toughest critics I know loved it, so you might enjoy it. I don't think I need to see it again.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
I went to this one late on a Monday night, luckily snagging a theater with no one else in it. That's always my favorite scenario. I saw this with my friend Dirty, and as I sat there I thought about how when I see a movie in theaters, the movie is forever tied to that memory. The movie reminds me of who I first saw it with, and I feel like there's a special bond there when you watch a movie with someone. I always remember when my friend Kate and I saw The Perks of Being a Wallflower together, and when my friend Isabelle and I saw Amour together and cried a lot because that is the saddest movie I have ever seen. So Walter Mitty will probably always remind me of Dirty. Great scenery, great music, and a wonderful performance by Kristin Wiig. I know this movie is about Walter Mitty, but what really struck me was the other people that Walter met along his journey. Almost all of them helped him along the way, and to me the film had an overall theme of acknowledging that you are not alone on the planet. For everything you accomplish, there are always people who work behind the scenes and help you get things done. 

Philomena
My favorite trip to the theater is the Sunday matinee at the dollar theater. I get to stay in my leggings and comfy clothes and more often than not get the theater to myself. I love going with my mom because it always means popcorn, Diet Coke, and fun commentary. When my mom and I heard that Philomena was playing there, we jumped at the chance to go. I'd heard about it among the award season buzz and saw the real Philomena come out in stage at the Golden Globe. It stars Dame Judi Dench as a sweet Irish lady who is looking for the son she was forced to give up fifty years ago. I knew I was going to cry. I didn't disappoint myself. The film tells a great story though, made better (and sadder) by the fact that it is a true story about a real woman who you really feel deserved to have her story told through such an excellently made film. 

Last Vegas
This one is the reason I started writing this entry. I saw it yesterday with my mom and dad and we had the theater to ourselves. This movie reminded me how adorable I find old men and how funny I find old man jokes told by adorable old men. It stars Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, and Kevin Kline, so you know you can trust the acting. They are four best friends reuniting in Las Vegas for a bachelor party weekend.  Morgan Freeman in an veteran's baseball cap and plaid blazer completely melted my heart and I laughed out loud for most of the film. It was a relief to see a comedy with an older cast, and they certainly didn't disappoint. Looks like there's a lot of fun to be had even at the age of 70, which gives me hope that my best friends and I can be like the Golden Girls someday. Even though this film won't be winning an Oscars, it was a perfect way to spend my Sunday, and a good movie to watch with my parents who enjoyed it as well.  

We Always Split a Donut

I have discovered something amazing. In our countless ramblings about what delicious foods we can combine together, my sister Kelly and I failed to think of Donut+Cookie Dough. Yes, it is a real thing and it is amazing. Dunkin Donuts offers these heart-shaped heavenly treats as a Valentine's Day promotion. Getting a box of these on Valentine's day may be better than actually having a Valentine, even if they put me into a sugar coma.

Kelly and I go the same Dunkin Donuts every Monday and Wednesday between school and work and eat breakfast together. Luckily, we get to work together on these days. Working at Jimmy Johns is a lot more fun when my best friend is there with me to make up nicknames for the other employees or to talk with me to take my mind off the monotony of our job. She works the register and I cut and mayo the bread. I've spent a lot of time at Jimmy John's this past year and a half and it's nice to now have Kelly there to make things more fun. And it's a lot easier to tell her stories about work when she actually knows the people I'm talking about.

Aside from working and going to IPFW together, Kelly and I also live together. Luckily we have really awesome parents who still feed us and like having us around all the time. Right now, it's a rough time of year for both Kelly and I. The fun of the holiday season is over and it feels like we're just trudging through all this snow and cold weather. She recently had a falling out with a best friend and I recently ended an 8 month long relationship so we're also in the same boat of coping with changes in our personal lives. 

Thank God we've got each other though. When I fell on campus yesterday and busted open my knee, Kelly was there to first laugh at me, shake her head and say "only you", and them make me dinner and listen to me vent my frustrations. We've been a pair since she was born, when I was 2. Now sometimes it's like we have the same brain, like I will be thinking something and then she will yell the exact same thought to me from the other room. We speak in a language of movie quotes, Spongebob quotes, and weird voices and impressions. We like to eat food, especially devilishly decadent food like cookie dough donuts or brownie batter donuts (yes, they have those too). And though the beginning of this year hasn't been the merriest for both of us, I'm thankful we have each other, that I have a sister who is also my best friend, and that cookie dough donuts exist. 

Boosting Morale

I'm starting to feel as if someone has secretly transported me to Antarctica. The world outside is white. All I can see is a white blanket...no It does not deserve the word blanket because blankets are warm, cuddly, and very lovable. This snow and cold on the other hand are anything but those things. Everyday I gear up for a battle with the elements. Constantly chapped lips, runny nose, sliding and stuck cars, no desire to leave the house because it means being chilled to the bone are all running me ragged. Everyone who told me that we were going to have a horrible winter guess what! You were right! And I am sad and hate your accuracy.

On one of the many days I was snowed in my house, I was watching a History Channel program on Camp Douglas, a Union prisoner of war camp in Chicago that contained Confederate soldiers from 1862-1865. The conditions were deplorable and thousands died of disease and depravation. Those that didn't die were stuck waiting for an end. The pictures showed the men playing cards, playing instruments and singing together, doing anything to pass the time and take their mind of their internment and lack of freedom.

Now I know I can't really compare myself to these soldiers (my pains are nothing compared to their suffering), but I was reminded of them when I was thinking about why I hate winter. Winter is like a prison, shutting me up inside and putting a hold on most of the activities I like to do. It's the waiting I hate and the lack of freedom. I feel like I'm only half of myself in winter. Normally I rejoice in seeing nature and being surrounded by it but now I'm hiding inside my hibernation den. I miss the leaved trees, flowers, grass, and actually feeling the warmth of the sun on my face when I go outside.  

I apologize for the ranting and whining if that's what it sounds like. I am trying to remain optimistic. I know that I can't change the weather, and that eventually it has to turn to spring outside. Like the Fort Douglas soldiers it's just a waiting game and I've got to find ways to pass the time. Right now it's all about finding and doing the little things...and drinking a lot of hot chocolate and Baileys with coffee. 

One thing that winter can't take away is music. I was walking down the hallway in the music building today and I was happy to hear all the different sounds coming from the rooms. These classrooms and this building were alive in a different way than other ones I walk through. As I left the building and then drove home I put on my go to get through winter/in my top 10 songs list, "Apartment Story" by The National. "Tired and wired we ruin to easy,  sleep in our clothes and wait for winter to leave...Stay inside our rosy-minded fuzz for days" are a little sample of the lyrics. Music is always a good way to pass the time. Whether I'm listening to Louis Armstrong and pretending I'm in a different time period, or I'm listening to surf rock and dreaming I'm at the beach, I feel like I'm less frozen when I've got music to soothe me. Winter is also a good motivator for getting things done that I probably wouldn't if I weren't cooped up inside. I'm working really hard to study in Ireland in the fall and I'm using this waiting period to attempt to get organized (not my strongest suit) for that adventure. 

Until I perfect the art of hibernation, I know I have to keep facing the wintry conditions that are so against my inner beach lizard. But at least I've got hot baths, cozy blankets, Netflix, comfort food, and the goal of getting to summer and Ireland to keep me going in the meantime. 

Here's "Apartment Story" if you want to give it a listen. Apartment Story - The National

With a Little Help From My Friends

To create a blog, one must first come up with a title for the blog. So I sat at the computer for a few minutes and when nothing immediately came to mind I just started  yelling out to whoever was around "Title for a blog anyone?" It's hard to try and find a label that encompasses what you'll write about when you don't know what you're going to write about. Luckily, I remembered that my friends are geniuses and more helpful than my mom in this department so I quickly sent them my call for help "need title for a blog about me, any ideas?" These were the results and reasons why I can always get by with a little help from my friends 

1. mmm bacon  
2. Queen of Jimmy Johns 
3. The real slim shady
4. Its Katherine bitch
5. Hopeless wanderer
6. Jesus Christ Superstar
7. Galway Girl
8. Mrs. Aaron Carter
9. Inside the mind of Katherine Jane
10. Hellomynameis
11. Lone Wolf
12. Ibuyandselldrugshere
13. Can't b Tamed
14. Sherlockandjohnfoureva
15. L7 Weenie
16. The Great Bambino
17. Mermaidsarereal
18. Chicken nuggets are like my family
19. The One Direction Blog
20...and finally one of my identities in our friend group, The Beach Lizard. 

I love the beach and being sun-kissed. Let's just say Indiana in January is not my habitat of choice. I'm my happiest in the sand and sun. Why beach lizard and not some other kind of animal that lives by or in the sea I couldn't tell you. The name's roots can be traced to the someplace in our minds where the genius lies. Not the kind of genius that builds bridges and takes humans to space, but the kind that has figured out what will always create laughter between us. Similar to how what we write is affected by community, my identity and individuality is influenced by my friends. Thankfully, I've got the kind I know will always be there for me, whether it be comforting me after a break-up, following me on adventures, or helping me come up with a blog title. I feel like I can't introduce myself in this blog without mentioning the behind the scenes help I know I can always count on them to give.