Are the voices in my head bothering you?

Dear friends,

I apologize if I am not coherent these days, stop mid-sentence and stare into space, or forget your name. This condition is commonly caused by the 'graduate school' phenomenon and is exacerbated by tests, projects, emails, PPT presentations, career fairs, and meetings. Symptoms tend to dissipate with sleep and reduced stress.

...Looks like I won't be remembering your name for a while.

Sincerely,
Katie
(at least I haven't forgotten my own name - yet)

P.S. Did anyone catch the movie reference in the title?

Just a'runnin' barefoot

I had a really good run on Sunday! After I overslept and missed church I decided to go running at a local high school track. After three miles I found my rhythm and felt good. I ran 5 miles (mainly just cruising with one all-out sprint thrown in there) and then did 1.25 barefoot on the grass. First time to barefoot run & I thought it was good!

I need to bring a towel next time though. ; )

The Essentials in Life: Toilet Paper

Let me begin by saying that I am glad we have soft and relatively cheap toilet paper in the U.S. It's the little things you never think about...

When Bashorat and I went to Uzbekistan two years ago, we packed lots of food and TP. We packed food because she wasn't sure how our stomachs would react to the high fat/meat-heavy Uzbek diet. We packed TP because Uzbek TP is apparently coarser and thinner. (I can't only imagine what the customs officials thought when they went through our bags.)

Because we had a limited supply, we were both conservative in our TP use. However, we were there for nearly 2 months and even the Charmin Ultra double rolls don't last forever. Near the end of our supplies, I paired down to using only two squares unless absolutely necessary.

The day finally came when we had to suck it up and go by some Uzbek reinforcements. We went to a store that was basically a cross between a Super Wal-Mart and a department store. It was so crowded - not that there were that many people, there were just so many products jam packed into every little corner. We finally found the TP. It was right next to the stack of Uzbek flags for sale.

Not sure what that says about their national pride...

Birthday Celebrations & People I Love

Mr. & Mrs. Turner! - We went to this great Italian restaurant (the home of the singing waiters) in Fort Worth to celebrate Zane's 21st. He's married and legal now ; )

Lauren's 24th! Brownies, ice cream, popcorn & a movie. Check out that flame - and, yes, Ryan and Josh are holding the candles (the brownies & ice cream weren't sturdy enough lol)

Me & my awesome roommate Diana

Christina's House Warming Party - ORU girls reunion

Labor Day Kickball Extravaganza! So we kicked a hole in the kickball and had to go to Wally World to buy a new one. But there weren't any, so we had to settle for those cheap, plastic bouncy balls that were totally unpredictable in the Texas wind...I pitched a mean game and Team APR (the Annexation of Puerto Rico) won!

My Reading Nook

There are some books that speak to your heart and leave an impression - books you wish you could read over and over again - if you only had the time.

I love reading because I tend to associate memories with each book. "The Chronicles of Narnia" make think of our family trip to Italy in 2003. I picked it up before we left, not really knowing what it was about or if I would enjoy it.

But just as the Pevensie children were pulled into the magical world of Narnia, I was immediately drawn into their fantastical adventures. I specifically remember reading about Rabadash the Ridiculous in "The Horse and His Boy" while swaying in a hammock on the deck of a boat for 3 hours as we cruised along the Amalfi Coast. I remember thinking how much the Italian city of Positano looked like the Calormene city of Tashbaan.


"The Lord of the Rings" was another magical experience for me. I had a sinus infection at one point during my summer internship in D.C. To pass the time, I started reading "The Fellowship of the Ring." ...And then I couldn't put it down. I took the book with me everywhere. People on the Metro saw me reading it and would say, "Oh, I wish I could read "Lord of the Rings" again for the first time!" Now, people in D.C. do not speak to one another on the Metro (something us friendly Texans can't understand), so that was a big deal!

The next year at ORU, I related my experiences to my favorite English teacher. She had discussed the books in class, saying that many of her students said the books made them feel "clean." Themes of honor, valor, loyalty and beauty have somehow become rare in modern literature.

Other memories...

• "The Knights of Evermore," one of my absolute favorite books, makes me think of my chaplain Mitzi and our amazing times at the Shead Farm.
  
• I read C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy with my 'sister' Bashorat while we were in Uzbekistan, where we held covert church services in our apartment.
  
• "Under Cover" by John Bevere brings to mind all that the Lord taught me during my summer internship with CAI in Dallas.
  
• I listened to "Little Women" during the desolate drive out to Lubbock to visit one of my best friends, Hannah.
  
• My wonderful mentor, Carolyn, recommended "The Disciplines of a Beautiful Woman" and has since taught me so much about TeaCup Living and gracious hospitality.

I could go on and on - Anne of Green Gables, The Hiding Place, The Richest Man in Babylon, When Dreams Come True... There's just so many good books!

Evolution of a Goal

Let's face it - I'm fickle.

At the beginning of this year I had decided to do the Longhorn Half Ironman. I was all psyched up last Christmas when my dad got me a sweet bike - a white & pink, carbon fiber Orbea with Ultegra components. I knew I could handle the run/swim, but as time went on I grew intimidated of the 56 mi bike ride. There was also drama at work and a lot going on at home with my brother.

So, nix the Half Ironman. I'll shoot for the Nike Women's Marathon and be a mentor for Team in Training. ...But then I moved to Louisiana. So, nix that one, too. Instead, I will train for the Dallas White Rock Marathon! And then summer hit. Have you ever experienced a stiflingly humid West Monroe summer? Ugh. I trained, but not enough to prepare for the full.
After months of deliberation - What about a sprint tri? Trail run? Half marathon? - Here's what I've decided:

30K trail run @ Grapevine Lake

Dec. 5 - Running & training for the half marathon with my friend Lauren

Next Year's Goal - Olympic-distance tri or Half Ironman, and possibly the Hotter'N Hell. That's my story and I'm sticking to it - at least for today.

Successful Ride

Yesterday I had a great 40-mile bike ride with my dad! We went up to Sanger and rode around Lake Ray Roberts. The weather was wonderful - in the 80's with a slight breeze. More importantly, I didn't wreck, fall down or get a flat.

Let's recap my cycling experiences for the last month:

• Bike wreck - Totally wiped out at the end of a ride. I had 2 flats, dragging breaks, a large bruise on my hip (I still can't lay on my right side), and a scuffed up elbow.
• Another flat - Went for a ride with my roommate half way into it I got a flat. Luckily, a nice guy named Chuck helped me change my tube.
• Bike fail - Started to go on a ride and nearly wrecked while going down a hill... My hands were shaky & I couldn't keep the front wheel steady. It was a nice thought though...
  
• Bike fail (reprise) - My roommate and I got all ready for our bike ride; we were in the car literally pulling out of the apt complex and I looked at the clock. "Ah man! I have to meet my parents in Lewisville in an hour. There's no way I have time to ride right now!" So we turned around and I did the ride on my CycleOps.
• Pre-ride flat - With my luck, my dad said I needed a spare tube before we went for our ride. So that morning, I stopped by Richardson Bike Mart to pick one up. While I was there, they noticed that my tire was fraying in one spot and said I needed a new one. "It's only $20 and I can change it right now." Okay, no problem. Bike fixed - off to meet my dad... By the time I took my bike off my bike rack, the tire was completely flat and would not hold air. What the heck? So I went into Bluebonnet Bicycles (where I was supposed to meet my dad) and they said the guy must have pinched the tube when he put the new tire on, because there were 3 holes in it. Seriously?!? So, I got another new tube. Just in case, I now have 2 spare tubes.

In light of all this, I am really glad the ride went well yesterday. I was beginning to think I was fated to never ride again! Phew. Dodged that bullet. So next Saturday I'm planning to ride with Richardson Bike Mart's beginner group - that is, after they refund the pinched bike tube.