Take a Seat

Mark this day in history. I’m about to say something that will come as a shock to some of you. It’s not something you will hear a woman say all too often. I found a pair of slacks in my closet that I forgot that I had and I wore them yesterday. Here’s the kicker – are you ready? I actually like the way they made my butt look! The interior of our elevators are mirrored, so whenever I was in an elevator alone, I was totally checking it out all day long! It looked lifted and rounded and dare I say sexy? I kinda want to wear those pants every day!

Mmm Hmmm, Ehh Uhhh

Gordon tagged me. Somebody stop him! First he makes out with 3 girls in one night, and now he's going around tagging innocent others!!

So, may I present to you, my list of turn ons and turn offs, in no particular order other than beginning with the bad news because I like to end with the good.


Turn Offs
- Cockiness – Get over yourself.
- Basketball – I love every other sport except this one. Bor-ing.
- Rodents and Reptiles – NOT pets. Don’t expect me to sleep over if you think they are.
- Workaholics – Have fun turning on your laptop because you’re not doing a thing for me.
- Long Hair – I don’t want to share my hair rubberbands.
- Push-Overs – Have a belief, take a stand; I’ll respect you more.
- Vegetarians – Real men eat meat.
- Just a Moustache – Not even on Burt Reynolds or Tom Selleck.
- Earrings – They’re for girls.
- Smokers - I won't pick on them. They get enough crap these days.
- Head Games – It’s simple. If you like me, just like me. If you don’t, don't.

Turn Ons
- Chilly Weather – Cuddling under the covers is always fun.
- Thunderstorms – The wet rain, the electricity, the passion created when weather collides….ah hem…so anyway….where were we...
- Blues Music – Makes me feel like stripping.
- Manners - I'd like to think that chivalry isn't completely dead.
- A Smile – It’s contagious. Definitely the only thing I’d ever want to catch from a member of the opposite sex.
- A Southern Accent – It’s sexy, it’s what I’m used to, it’s home.
- The Smell of Soap and/or Cologne – I can quickly become an addict.
- Compassion – For animals, for children, for people.
- Cowboy Hats – Don’t ask. I don’t know. Cowboy hats are just hot.
- Intelligence – Challenge me.
- Sense of Humor – Making me laugh is the path to my heart. Laughter is the only thing that transcends age, illness, and handicaps, and in the end, it may be all you have together.

I could probably sit here and list things on both all night, although I had a much easier time thinking of turn ons rather than turn offs. Frankly, it's just not fair for a single girl to spend an evening listing out turn ons. So now, I tag Jon, Sabrina, Tiffany, and David with the same task. But, please, anyone else that feels the need to list out theirs, consider yourself tagged as well. I'm an equal opportunity tagger.

Sleepless Word of the Night

an·tic·i·pa·tion
Pronunciation: (")an-"ti-s&-'pA-sh&n
Function: noun
1 a : a prior action that takes into account or forestalls a later action
b : the act of looking forward; especially : pleasurable expectation
2 : the use of money before it is available
3 a : visualization of a future event or state
b : an object or form that anticipates a later type
4 : the early sounding of one or more tones of a succeeding chord to form a temporary dissonance --
synonym see PROSPECT or KARA

This is perfect on so many levels.

Nail Tips

On Saturday I received dating advice from the older Vietnamese man doing my pedicure:

“You a pretty girl, why you not marry?” he asked in his broken english. (Now there’s the million dollar rhetorical, apparently even international, question every girl *loves* to be asked.)

“You should go to bar, may meet nice man there. Or at work. Work better, men at bar may have family waiting for them at home. You spend time with some man at work and maybe marry him.” (Thank you for the tip. And hey, while we're exchanging advice, may I suggest you focus more on my O.P.I nail color and less on my dating life for *your* tip?)

OOOMPAAAHHH

My friend and I booked our trip to Greece today! Leaving on September 15th and returning on September 27th.

Total roundtrip flight duration: 28hr 25min (pass the Tylenol PM)
Total roundtrip miles traveled: 11,448 miles (cha-ching, I hear frequent flyer miles)

Ok, so now I can get over there, but with my ticket setting me back $1000, I have to figure out how I’m going to pay to sleep and eat while I’m there! I’ve set up a fund where donations will be accepted – anyone, anyone??

No Elephants, No Donkey, Just Soda

Please Vote.

Thanks for your support!

Girls' Weekend

Toting, bending, lifting, shoveling, planting, cleaning, painting, straining, sweating...smiling.

I just got home from volunteering to build a playground alongside other female executives at my company for a local organization called Girls, Inc. We dubbed the playground build, "girls helping girls." It was a really neat experience, and the playground (which the girls from Girls, Inc designed themselves) looks wonderful! While the actual people that provide the playground structure mostly build the structure (for obvious safety reasons - I mean, what in the world would a bunch of corporate women know about ratcheting and bolting millions of steel together for little girls to swing and slide from? Absolutely nothing. So, good call on their part!), the volunteers do various other jobs to help out the site. My jobs? Shoveling mountains of mulch onto tarps. Carrying tarps of mulch to the playground site. Staining the benches. Staining the steps. Staining the picnic tables. Planting flowers. Spreading out dirt. Laying step stones. All in 95 degree heat with a heat index of 105. It was so freakin' hot. But it was all so worth it! Those girls are going to have a great time playing on their new playground, and it couldn't have been for a more worthy cause - helping an organization that actively reinforces self-confidence and strength in (mostly underpriviledged) girls of today that will take our place as the women of tomorrow.

Next on the agenda for the girls' weekend? Huntsville, AL to visit my college roomate!! I haven't seen her since early December, so we've got a few Christmas and birthday gifts to exhange! Her husband (a teacher and jr. varsity football coach at the local high school) will be out of town taking the team down for football camp. What a more perfect time for the girls to get together again for a weekend reminescent of the good times we had while living together at U.A.! Shopping, margaritas, laying by the pool, boys...well, considering she's married now, maybe it won't be just like it used to be, but we'll still have a great time with the shopping, margaritas and the pool!

And finally, the last hurrah for my girls' weekend will be the 90th birthday party for my great, great aunt (my grandfather's aunt!) on Sunday. She's still sharp as a tack, lives on her own, keeps up with current events, does some of her own yardwork, and travels! If I'm around to see 90 years, I hope I'm blessed with the independence and intelligence that she still maintains! May it run in my family!

A Change of Underwear

Has anyone else noticed the addition of material to men’s underwear and subtraction of material from women’s panties these days? I don’t know any men that wear tighty whities anymore (if you do speak up) and women wearing thongs and g-strings seems to me to be the norm.

We'll Now Return You To Your Regularly Scheduled Kara

I know many of you come to my blog for a little entertainment, and my postings have been far from entertaining lately. But, just know that I'm feeling back to the ol' spunky Kara, and just as soon as I can make fun of something, you better believe I will! In the meantime, I've been interviewed by Jeremy, and the following are answers to the questions he's asked of me:

1. Hindsight being 20 / 20 what is one decision in your life, that if you could go back and change or make over, you would and why?
I'll give the generic "I wouldn't change anything because it's what's made me, me," which is true, but honestly, if I could do it again, I would have listened to my inner voice and followed my own advice. It would have saved heartache. However, skating through 26 years without knowing heartache, now I know what it is, so now I feel like I'll be better prepared to know what *true* love is when it happens. There's always a silver lining when it comes to me.

2. Describe your ideal self and your ideal mate in terms of moviestars... i.e. Jolie's lips, Vin D's muscles etc.
I really don't get caught up in all of the movie stars. Why wish to be something you're not instead of learning to love what you are?

3. Why do you blog?
I blog for a few different reasons. I’ve always enjoyed writing, and find it very therapeutic, so I began it as a means to settle my thoughts before bed every night. A place to park my ideas, my fears, my anger, my frustration, my joy, and my excitement in order to get to sleep. I also began it as a way to remember what I do and what I go through. An archive of my life. It’s always good to go back and read from your past, what you did or how you felt, and build upon those experiences and feelings. I find that it grounds me sometimes. And then I realized, that other people read my blog. They read about me. And at times, others find it interesting - the things I do or can relate to how I feel. Sometimes, others even offer support or a new perspective. I like it. I like to hear what others have to say or if they know how to help. It’s a place to go for free advice, an outlet to make others laugh, and a place to connect with strangers on a more intimate level than could ever be achieved in every day meanderings through my little world and routine.
4. If you were given an opportunity to write a book, what would it be about?
I feel like I write a book in my head as I live out my life, so it would probably be trials and tribulations of me. However, I think Helen Fielding already stole that idea and called it "Bridget Jones Diary" so there goes my hopes for a best-seller book idea!

5. What is one thing you look for in a man that regardless of anything else, if he has this... he is a keeper.
A foundation and faith in Jesus Christ because I know that every other important thing that I look for in a man stems from that - unconditional love, respect, good parenting, morals, trust, truth, sincerity, strength, etc.

Good questions, Jeremy!

Ok, come one, come all. You know the drill. If you're interested in being interviewed, please complete the following:
1. leave a comment below saying "interview me."
2. I will then ask you five questions, each person's will be different.
3. you update your journal/blog with the answers to the questions.
4. you include this explanation and an offer to interview others inthe same post.
5. then, when others comment asking to be interviewed, you will askthem five questions and on, and on, and...

Congratulations

I wasn't looking for a lifetime with you
And I never thought it would hurt just to hear "I do" and "I do"
And I do a number on myself
And all that I thought to be
And you'll be the one
That just left me undone
By my own, hesitation

and for the million hours that we were
well I'll smile and remember it all
then I'll turn and go
while your story's completed
mine is a long way from done.

I'm on a champagne high
Where will I be when I stop wondering why
On a champagne high
I'd toast to the future but that'd be a lie
On a champagne high,
high
....

- "Champagne High" by Sister Hazel

Best Wishes.

I'm glad it's over. All of it.

So Much to Say, So Much to Say, So Much to Say

So Much to Saayyyy.

Just thought I'd break a little DMB down for you. Since he seems to have so much to say, I thought I'd just let him talk. I apparently have writer's block.

We Are Not Afraid

And these pictures prove it.

Oh Bliss @$!#*&

What in world could be ANY better then knowing your ex is getting married this weekend? Why, having it broadcast all OVER the local news and radio, that’s what. Apparently he and his fiancée were to be married down in Florida this weekend and hurricane Dennis destroyed the place where they were to be married. So a local news station and radio station picked up their story and are now helping them plan their dream wedding for them this week so they can still marry this weekend. I’m really over the relationship, but really? Must it be thrown in my face?

George Gray

Inspired by my good friend, Jon, I decided to post my favorite poem on my blog.

I have studied many times
The marble which was chiseled for me—
A boat with a furled sail at rest in a harbor.
In truth it pictures not my destination
But my life.
For love was offered me and I shrank from its disillusionment;
Sorrow knocked at my door, but I was afraid;
Ambition called to me, but I dreaded the chances.
Yet all the while I hungered for meaning in my life.
And now I know that we must lift the sail
And catch the winds of destiny
Wherever they drive the boat.
To put meaning in one’s life may end in madness,
But life without meaning is the torture
Of restlessness and vague desire—
It is a boat longing for the sea and yet afraid.

- Edgar Lee Masters from The Spoon River Anthology

Moooving Cows

On my drive home from work on Friday, I saw an 18-wheeler from Tennessee transporting cows. The truck had a large cow bell hanging from the front grill. When I slowed down to get off at my exit, I noticed when the truck passed me, it had a very large, pink, rubber pair of testicles hanging from the back bumper!

The Big Chicken

This is the most famous landmark in the city that I grew up in. I'm not kidding! It was even a Jeopardy question ladies and gentlemen. We were beaming with pride as Alex Tribec revealed the answer behind the little blue screen!

Don't You Just Love It When

you rush back from lunch, inhale your food at your desk while checking email and voicemails that arrived while you were out, walk all the way down to building B (2 buildings over from the one I'm in) for a meeting, wandering around in a frenzy but trying to look like you know where you’re going amongst strangers sitting in their cubes, searching for conference room D, FINALLY finding the dumb conference room, only to see that it’s pitch black with no one in it!? So you make a call from the vacant conference room and hear, “uh oh. Since you weren’t on my original meeting distribution, I guess I forgot to notify you that the meeting’s been canceled.” Yes. Yes, you did. Had I known I was going to have to go on a 2 mile hike through two buildings, elevators and up stairs, for no reason whatsoever, I would have worn more comfortable shoes. You know, the ones that weren't a 3" heel. Thanks.

It's Confirmed

Girls do crazy things. Myself included. I don't want to elaborate. Just want to confirm. Thank you.

Barely Running on a Low Battery

Fingers clinched, my wrist twists to the right.
There’s a slight hesitation.
I hold my breath.
Then we’re off.
I let out a sigh.

That’s been the course of events these past few days since I noticed my car hesitating when I go to start it. It started on Monday night and has taken increasingly longer and longer to catch the motor each time I go to crank it. In my vast knowledge of car diagnostics (in fact, you might have seen me on “Pimp My Ride,” except the producer turned me down for my infinite *lack* of car intelligence), I decided it was my battery dying a slow and very painful death. And long story short, (of which includes a flirtation session with the manager at NTB to get it changed quickly AND to increase the chances of my business card being drawn for a free alignment), I was right.

Just Stop

Blogger's stopped emailing me people's comments when they leave them. It's hoarding all of my comments and for what reason, I don't know. But it's really annoying. Stop being selfish, Blogger, and send them on! Dumb computer.

By the way, Stormtrooper called again tonight. I didn't answer. Said he missed me at the 4th of July party he was at. Yea, well, buddy, I didn't miss you. Stop. Calling. Me. Please.