Chicago Midway Airport
“Did you get all of your luggages?” The lady wasn’t talking to me; I was eavesdropping because that’s what one does when waiting over an hour for luggage from a flight that was delayed more than three. I think the lady was addressing her son, but I didn’t catch a glimpse of “him” so I can’t say for sure if he was blood-related. But I didn’t really care about him and his luggages; I was more concerned with the woman’s word choice. Luggages – plural, with an s. I’ve never heard that one before. Doesn’t luggage imply more than one? Kind of like fish? Then again, sometimes there is only one fish. Hmm…is it just me or did this woman have bad grammar?
Oh who cares; I just want my pizza. I tucked a slice in my luggage before checking it in Detroit thinking that it would be the perfect treat once I arrived in Chicago. I thought it would only be 3 hours before it would see the inside(s or no s?) of my stomach. But upon arrival in Chicago we were already well into the 7th hour; my soul (or something) was crying out for my Cottage Inn Pizza leftovers.
I tried to do some reading on the flight to calm my hunger, but the book I was reading wasn’t very good. I feel bad for thinking that because it’s one of those books that youth and college pastors insist that their students read. But I have to tell you, I did not enjoy reading Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper. It’s not that the content is “bad,” the book is just boring to read. I read the first half on my flight to Michigan and intended to finish it on my way back to California, but I’m not certain that I will - especially since I have plenty of other things to think about, read about and write about. And probably ought to pray about as well.
I confess my prayer “life” hasn’t been the greatest since I’ve been on break. Sometimes I find myself vacationing from God while on vacation. It’s terrible, I know. I get altogether lazy – eating a bit more and working out a bit less. Reading my Bible becomes an optional activity – and praying happens only at meal time or when something traumatic happens.
And something traumatic did happen to me this break. It may not seem all that awful to you, but you have to remember, I’m a writer, so this is a major loss. You see, I had a rental car for my first weekend home and when I turned it back into Alamo rental, I also turned in my journal. It’s like I’ve lost 6 months of my life, possibly more, in the swoop of one careless car return. I’m rather certain it slid under the passenger’s seat. I filed a report, and prayed, but I’m convinced that it is gone.
Kind of like my eternal crush. He lost his eternal crush status when he called me up Christmas Day wanting me to set him up with one of my friends. He had one in particular in mind. I tried telling him that they aren’t a match. And he tells me, “Katrina, I need you to help me out here. I need a nice, Christian girl and if she’s friends with you she’s got to be pretty cool.”
And what’s wrong with me again?
So I ask my friend if she would ever consider dating him. She responds, “Hmm… I’m not sure. He’s prettier than me.” I inform her of his interest; she is flattered, but concludes that they probably wouldn’t work; I gloat in my rightness and inform my FORMER eternal crush that she didn’t think they were a match. And then I do the unthinkable. I succumb to confessing over a text message that I’ve been crushing on him for years. He thinks I’m joking; we’ll probably leave it at that.
My 8th grade crush asked me the other night if I was worried that I may never get married. We were out with friends from high school. There was lots of royalty present – a homecoming queen, a homecoming king, and a couple of prom queens (me being one of them). Everyone came with their spouse, fiancé, or significant other – except me. I can’t remember exactly what I told my 8th grade crush, but I do remember him telling me he thinks I’d make a great mom.
The answer to his question of course is yes. Yes I fear that I may never marry. What’s interesting is that when I was 21 years old I wrestled with question, “Are you willing to die for the sake of the Gospel?” My answer was YES and I told God, “Take me anywhere. I’ll do anything so that others might come to know You - even if it means dying along the way.” The question wasn’t all that difficult for me to say yes to, but I struggle in answering yes to this question. “Are you willing to be single for rest of your life for the sake of the Gospel?”
My honest answer - hell, no. And I don’t use a lot cuss words, maybe 5 or 6 a year. The majority of which are spoken while I’m out surfing; some waves are brutal and there is nothing else you can say when you’re about to be pounded.
I was out surfing Trestles a couple of summers ago and I met this man who wanted me to write articles for his surf magazine. We talked for quite some time and he posed the question, “If you had to choose between marriage and a book deal, which would you choose?” The answer was easy – marriage.
But I feel lame for even talking about being single, because it’s like whining, and not being content or thankful for the many ways in which God has blessed me. People don’t want to hear about what you don’t have – like that slice of pizza. Where is my luggage?!?!
Wait. Is that it?
I grab my suitcase off the conveyer belt and wheel it to the side. I plop down on the ground, unzip the suitcase and there it is - my smooshed slice of cold pizza safely stowed in a zip lock bag. I open the bag, and then my mouth. Ah pizza. It has never tasted so good.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
I'M not ENGAGED!!!
In my family it’s some sort of sin not to write a Christmas newsletter. It’s a duty; kind of like filing your taxes – you do it whether you want to or not. It’s not that I don’t want to write this. It’s just that I have a lot to say and I already know the average person will only read a quarter of this newsletter before checking out. Unless, of course, 2/3 of the way down I write in big, bold letters - I’M ENGAGED! But I’m not, and besides, I used that tactic a few years ago and I don’t feel comfortable using the same lie twice.
My biggest news of 2007 does not involve an XY specimen, but rather some special equipment that I’ve acquired to help me in my journey towards co-hosting a talk show. The following book excerpt explains.
Beginning of Excerpt
At the age of 29 I decided to commit social suicide. I had wanted to commit social suicide in junior high when all the cool kids were doing it (i.e. when it wasn’t so much social suicide), but the dentist told my mom it wasn’t all that necessary to have metal placed on my teeth to make them straighter. I successfully fabricated a retainer out of a paper clip, but I missed out on those pimp, colored rubber bands all because my dentist managed to convince my mom that my crooked teeth added personality. I think he told her this because he knew my parents were tight on money and paying the dental bills was already hard enough. He kindly waited until I was paying my own bills to recommend that I get braces.
Once I turned twenty-one I made it into a Leap Year-like tradition to go in every 4 years to get a free orthodontic consultation. Each place made me fill out bunches of paperwork before they would consult my teeth – I think to make sure I wasn’t a criminal. I hear they use dental records to help identify bad people, dead people, and sometimes bad, dead people.
The first place I went asked me to provide a reason why I needed braces. I jotted down, “I want to be a news anchor.” When I met with the orthodontist he adjusted my answer to “crowding of teeth.” I felt silly for writing down the answer that I did, but I didn’t feel too bad because it was an honest answer and I am certain the orthodontist recognized my integrity in my answer and was relieved to know that I wasn’t a criminal.
Although I enjoyed my first two orthodontic consultations, I passed on the braces both times because I thought perhaps I’d be moving to Africa to live where orthodontists do not. But instead of Africa, I moved to Southern California to live where nice teeth are more important than starving children.
End of Excerpt
Zondervan Publishing continues to be interested in my writing. And I continue to be interested in finishing the manuscript of my book – without the pressure of deadlines. The project is taking me much longer than I anticipated, mainly because of my job (still an RD at California Baptist University), my seminary work (still at Fuller), my surfing adventures, and my weekend excursions to cities such as Paris, France, San Francisco, and Phoenix, AZ.
For much of 2007 I felt rather incapacitated and didn’t progress much in my writing as I was going through some sort of hell. The torment ended in May when the Dean of Students affirmed me by saying, “Katrina, you have proven yourself this year. You have persevered and have displayed great character. You did a really good job this year. No wait - you didn’t just do a good job; you did a great job.”
Funny how James 1:2-4 is the passage that I never let go of. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
I continue to learn to lean on and trust in God’s character (i.e. his goodness, his faithfulness, etc.) throughout all seasons of life; I encourage you to do the same. Hold onto His promises; hold onto Him.
Merry Christmas Friends & Happy New Year!!!
My biggest news of 2007 does not involve an XY specimen, but rather some special equipment that I’ve acquired to help me in my journey towards co-hosting a talk show. The following book excerpt explains.
Beginning of Excerpt
At the age of 29 I decided to commit social suicide. I had wanted to commit social suicide in junior high when all the cool kids were doing it (i.e. when it wasn’t so much social suicide), but the dentist told my mom it wasn’t all that necessary to have metal placed on my teeth to make them straighter. I successfully fabricated a retainer out of a paper clip, but I missed out on those pimp, colored rubber bands all because my dentist managed to convince my mom that my crooked teeth added personality. I think he told her this because he knew my parents were tight on money and paying the dental bills was already hard enough. He kindly waited until I was paying my own bills to recommend that I get braces.
Once I turned twenty-one I made it into a Leap Year-like tradition to go in every 4 years to get a free orthodontic consultation. Each place made me fill out bunches of paperwork before they would consult my teeth – I think to make sure I wasn’t a criminal. I hear they use dental records to help identify bad people, dead people, and sometimes bad, dead people.
The first place I went asked me to provide a reason why I needed braces. I jotted down, “I want to be a news anchor.” When I met with the orthodontist he adjusted my answer to “crowding of teeth.” I felt silly for writing down the answer that I did, but I didn’t feel too bad because it was an honest answer and I am certain the orthodontist recognized my integrity in my answer and was relieved to know that I wasn’t a criminal.
Although I enjoyed my first two orthodontic consultations, I passed on the braces both times because I thought perhaps I’d be moving to Africa to live where orthodontists do not. But instead of Africa, I moved to Southern California to live where nice teeth are more important than starving children.
End of Excerpt
Zondervan Publishing continues to be interested in my writing. And I continue to be interested in finishing the manuscript of my book – without the pressure of deadlines. The project is taking me much longer than I anticipated, mainly because of my job (still an RD at California Baptist University), my seminary work (still at Fuller), my surfing adventures, and my weekend excursions to cities such as Paris, France, San Francisco, and Phoenix, AZ.
For much of 2007 I felt rather incapacitated and didn’t progress much in my writing as I was going through some sort of hell. The torment ended in May when the Dean of Students affirmed me by saying, “Katrina, you have proven yourself this year. You have persevered and have displayed great character. You did a really good job this year. No wait - you didn’t just do a good job; you did a great job.”
Funny how James 1:2-4 is the passage that I never let go of. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
I continue to learn to lean on and trust in God’s character (i.e. his goodness, his faithfulness, etc.) throughout all seasons of life; I encourage you to do the same. Hold onto His promises; hold onto Him.
Merry Christmas Friends & Happy New Year!!!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Tap Dancing at Starbucks
So I was tap dancing at Starbucks...
... yep. It's true. It happenened about an hour ago.
As one boss of mine (i.e. Kenny Grimes) once told me, "Katrina, you have no need to ever get drunk or high."
Hmm... I think he's right.
For the record, I've never been drunk or high, but I have jumped off a cliff, ridden a pig, and been mistaken for a homeless person.
The cliff was in Portland.
The pig was in Onsted (Michigan).
And the homeless mistakeness was in San Diego.
In other news, a friend mine (who I have an eternal crush on) recently asked me what I thought about online dating. I shared my e-harmony testimony (how I spent one hour on it) and explained that I would never return to the "that" scene again unless it was to use men for book material.
But is that ethical?
... yep. It's true. It happenened about an hour ago.
As one boss of mine (i.e. Kenny Grimes) once told me, "Katrina, you have no need to ever get drunk or high."
Hmm... I think he's right.
For the record, I've never been drunk or high, but I have jumped off a cliff, ridden a pig, and been mistaken for a homeless person.
The cliff was in Portland.
The pig was in Onsted (Michigan).
And the homeless mistakeness was in San Diego.
In other news, a friend mine (who I have an eternal crush on) recently asked me what I thought about online dating. I shared my e-harmony testimony (how I spent one hour on it) and explained that I would never return to the "that" scene again unless it was to use men for book material.
But is that ethical?
Friday, November 23, 2007
Ramblings
This should probably be a journal entry rather than a public blog because what I am about to write will be less than brilliant, less than entertaining, and less than worth reading. But my paper journal is no longer inviting to write in - I think because there is no delete button and if I ever wanted to post a portion of my journal online, I’d first have to type it out. And in the process of typing I’d decide it isn’t worth posting unless I first spend an hour reworking and revising because rumor has it that Zondervan Publishing occasionally visits my blog.
I’m writing from a fancy, schmancy hotel lounge located at the Westin Mission Hill Spa & Resort in Rancho Mirage. For those of you who don’t speak geography or $$$, I’m writing from Southern California just down the road from Palm Springs, a couple hours inland from the Pacific Ocean. My sister and MBA Harvard-in-law booked a suite for the Thanksgiving holiday and that’s why I’m here.
It’s the type of place that reminds me that if I ever have a family, we’ll be going tent camping, because there’s no way in heck we’d ever be able to afford a place like this for family vacations. It really is a bit like paradise and I considered earlier today that perhaps the architects scammed some of their design ideas from the Bible’s description of heaven.
The resort reminds me of the resort I stayed at when my mission team traveled to Mombasa, Kenya (i.e. East Africa) for a 2 night stay at the White Sands Resort. The main difference is the view of the neatly groomed golf course rather than the Indian Ocean. But what is most similar is how alone I felt then, and how alone I feel now. So maybe it’s not so much heaven.
I’m sitting here not wanting to go home, because as soon as I go home, I work. And I’ve been working since June, so I’m not wanting to go back to my dorm world just quite yet – because someone will ask me a question or inform me that a fire alarm is beeping, or someone will have puked and I’ll need to go clean it up, or someone is…oh, wait, that’s confidential. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, I love my girls, I love my RA staff – it’s just hard at times to live where you work.
So I thought maybe I’d get hit on tonight. But this isn’t the type of establishment that brings in a lot of singles, and even if it did, without my surfboard, it probably wouldn’t happen because men only seem to hit on me when I have my board with me. That’s why July is a “good” month – or at least it was this past summer.
Santa is outside. So is a Christmas tree – neatly framed between two Pal m Trees. And it’s snowing, but not really. It’s fake - kind of how I feel about many of my relationships – they feel a little less than authentic. I realized today that even my sister hardly knows me. I miss the days of best friends – Kristen, Billie, Jonna, Sally, Christina, Melissa, and Emily – they’re all gone – or so it seems.
And I just want to be known again – deeply and intimately.
You may be tempted to point out Psalm 139. I already know it.
The question is will I cave in search for a new best friend? My friend Joy recommends e-harmony. But how specific can you get on e-harmony? Can you preference men that are willing to die for the sake of the gospel? And men that would make great co-hosts for my future talk show? Hmmm…
EDIT
So I did it. Under my favorite fake name, I created a profile and discovered that I have 8 matches in the world - that aren't really matches at all. I've deleted my fake account. Forget e-harmony. :)
I’m writing from a fancy, schmancy hotel lounge located at the Westin Mission Hill Spa & Resort in Rancho Mirage. For those of you who don’t speak geography or $$$, I’m writing from Southern California just down the road from Palm Springs, a couple hours inland from the Pacific Ocean. My sister and MBA Harvard-in-law booked a suite for the Thanksgiving holiday and that’s why I’m here.
It’s the type of place that reminds me that if I ever have a family, we’ll be going tent camping, because there’s no way in heck we’d ever be able to afford a place like this for family vacations. It really is a bit like paradise and I considered earlier today that perhaps the architects scammed some of their design ideas from the Bible’s description of heaven.
The resort reminds me of the resort I stayed at when my mission team traveled to Mombasa, Kenya (i.e. East Africa) for a 2 night stay at the White Sands Resort. The main difference is the view of the neatly groomed golf course rather than the Indian Ocean. But what is most similar is how alone I felt then, and how alone I feel now. So maybe it’s not so much heaven.
I’m sitting here not wanting to go home, because as soon as I go home, I work. And I’ve been working since June, so I’m not wanting to go back to my dorm world just quite yet – because someone will ask me a question or inform me that a fire alarm is beeping, or someone will have puked and I’ll need to go clean it up, or someone is…oh, wait, that’s confidential. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, I love my girls, I love my RA staff – it’s just hard at times to live where you work.
So I thought maybe I’d get hit on tonight. But this isn’t the type of establishment that brings in a lot of singles, and even if it did, without my surfboard, it probably wouldn’t happen because men only seem to hit on me when I have my board with me. That’s why July is a “good” month – or at least it was this past summer.
Santa is outside. So is a Christmas tree – neatly framed between two Pal m Trees. And it’s snowing, but not really. It’s fake - kind of how I feel about many of my relationships – they feel a little less than authentic. I realized today that even my sister hardly knows me. I miss the days of best friends – Kristen, Billie, Jonna, Sally, Christina, Melissa, and Emily – they’re all gone – or so it seems.
And I just want to be known again – deeply and intimately.
You may be tempted to point out Psalm 139. I already know it.
The question is will I cave in search for a new best friend? My friend Joy recommends e-harmony. But how specific can you get on e-harmony? Can you preference men that are willing to die for the sake of the gospel? And men that would make great co-hosts for my future talk show? Hmmm…
EDIT
So I did it. Under my favorite fake name, I created a profile and discovered that I have 8 matches in the world - that aren't really matches at all. I've deleted my fake account. Forget e-harmony. :)
Sunday, November 11, 2007
The SHE Tribe
The Title of my next book project:
The Uncovered Stories of the SHE Tribe
This is a book I won't be writing alone, but rather it will be the voices of many women who have banded together in Los Angeles to form the SHE tribe. The SHE community consists of women from around the world of diverse backgrounds, but of the same God. The women will tell stories. . .
I'll be back to finish this post.
Angela, if you're reading this, what do you think? :)
The Uncovered Stories of the SHE Tribe
This is a book I won't be writing alone, but rather it will be the voices of many women who have banded together in Los Angeles to form the SHE tribe. The SHE community consists of women from around the world of diverse backgrounds, but of the same God. The women will tell stories. . .
I'll be back to finish this post.
Angela, if you're reading this, what do you think? :)
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Tonight I Would Say
Dear Friend of the Past,
Tonight I would say, never mind what I told you last night.
I just heard the news - congrats on your engagement.
Tonight I would say, never mind what I told you last night.
I just heard the news - congrats on your engagement.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Tonight I Would Tell You
Dear Friend of the Past,
Tonight I would tell you that I heard Nick speak last night. I would tell you that his talk changed my perspective, or shall I say my frustration with why God only heals some of the time. I would tell you that I'm glad you had the opportunity to meet him on your way to the airport.
Tonight I would tell you that I picked up the latest Jimmy Eat World CD. I would thank you for introducing me to their music and I would ask, "Are they still your favorite band?"
Tonight I would tell you about Megan's dream job. And I would ask, "Can you help her get it?" because I know you know the right people.
Tonight I would tell you that I remembered today the time we were supposed to meet up the beach, but our plans were thwarted by the rain.
Tonight I would tell you the brilliant song lyric that I came up with. "Words may slip. And so might I. I slip your hand into mine." And I would offer it to you because you're the better song writer.
Tonight I would tell you, I'm glad we're friends again.
Tonight, well, tonight would never happen.
Tonight I would tell you that I heard Nick speak last night. I would tell you that his talk changed my perspective, or shall I say my frustration with why God only heals some of the time. I would tell you that I'm glad you had the opportunity to meet him on your way to the airport.
Tonight I would tell you that I picked up the latest Jimmy Eat World CD. I would thank you for introducing me to their music and I would ask, "Are they still your favorite band?"
Tonight I would tell you about Megan's dream job. And I would ask, "Can you help her get it?" because I know you know the right people.
Tonight I would tell you that I remembered today the time we were supposed to meet up the beach, but our plans were thwarted by the rain.
Tonight I would tell you the brilliant song lyric that I came up with. "Words may slip. And so might I. I slip your hand into mine." And I would offer it to you because you're the better song writer.
Tonight I would tell you, I'm glad we're friends again.
Tonight, well, tonight would never happen.
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