Happy Birthday, Katche

Happy Birthday Katche!

crazy things, work out for the best.

Crazy things have been happening recently.

For one, JD came to visit, as in, he drove on 24 hours worth of road to spend three days with me.

Then, I was swamped with homework (not so crazy, right?) but the magical thing was is SOMEHOW I got it all finished. On time.

And on Friday I did a terrible terrible thing, I set the wrong alarm. So I woke up just in time to miss my only class for the day. It was awful, I hate missing classes.

Finally, an ex-boyfriend found me, we talked for a while until he asked if we could ’still be friends.’ and I realized that, it was just too late. that I did not miss him in the ways I miss my friends who are away at school. that it is most deffinitely over. really.

People have been falling in love recently, those of my friends already in love have had it reaffirmed, and those who were barely looking have just found something. Maybe not the best thing, but something. It makes me wonder how casually we flow into and out of each other’s lives, which sounds crazy, but it isn’t.

So keep in mind, that even though crazy things may happen (like me finally getting to breakfast in time for a belgian waffle, only to find they were out of forks, so I had to manuver the chocolate-chip dough out of the maker using my girlish charms and a couple toothpicks), and you may not always understand why they are happening, but they do happen for a reason.

Things tend to work out for the best, I’ve found.

-Katche.

the rorschach cake.

He showed up wearing deep wash denim jeans, a green tee covered by a stripped button-down, and a winter jacket. He also locked his keys in the car. And that’s how I was first able to find him in the parking lot, a 200lbs. man, kicking the passenger-side door, yelling profanities through my cell phone. I giggled and ran over.

First embraces are hard to top. They are the, first date, airport-pickup, haven’t-seen-you-in-a-while, EXPLOSIONS of feeling and wishing and a warmth you didn’t realize you had been missing. So there are hugs, and kisses, and smiles for hours. And cooking, and eating.

It takes about 11 hours and 43 minutes to drive from Chicago to Virginia. Another 11 hours and 43 minutes to get back; and that’s how I knew that JD was completely head over Choo’s in love with me.

The weekend has been great, on Valentine’s Day, we went to Sonic, and saw “He’s Just Not That Into You” and made spaghetti and meatballs. Yet the greatest thing about V-Day was probably my gift. He made me a wonderful, Rorschach (Watchmen!) cake. I took about 20 pictures of it.

This amazing funfetti cake was decorated by HIM the genius. I was so surprised, and touched. Way better than flowers, plus, we were able to share with the whole dorm floor!

Saying goodbye was difficult. We made our rounds, to see my friends, and then it was me, walking him to the car. For the first time since I’ve met him his hands were cold. I asked him why they were so cold and he said they get cold when he is sad. But his hands being cold throw me off like the first steps from a rollarcoaster–wobbly, wrong in a way.

His hands are always warm, and big, strong. They have to be warm because my hands are usually sub-zero. He makes me feel better. and I love it. and I love him, and I love this wonderful Rorschach cake.

Love, Katche.

clouds

Today is very windy, the sky looks like someone must have painted the clouds to a great giant canvas; or animated them up there, for they move closer, and then past me–whistling and blowing up my skirt.

-katche

dust off my jeans.

What is really very interesting is how second semester differs from the first. Classes are harder, but the semester itself is shorter. It it sunny here. Though I feel like I haven’t seen my friends for days, my neighbors are slowly becoming strangers.

We are like a family here. We have dinner together, we share the high and low points of our days, and in these first couple weeks I miss them so much. Everyone is managing a schedule, I forgot to go to the gym today, for example. And things that used to make me smile, like Fridays, kittens, Chanel shoes, just reminds me of Chicago.

Having friends in college is important, and especially at Chick U, girlfriends are WHO YOU HAVE. They hold your hand when you cry, your hair back when you vom, your laughter with their grace, and your ear with their advice. So it hurts not seeing them, it’s like for the second time since September you are losing a family.

Today we talked about Exile. The art of exile is the fear of abandonment, even though it is you who leaves. I think that is what has been keeping me in an odd mood. That somewhere along this road I will lose my way, be lost, forget, be forgotten. Of course everyone I talk to about it reassures me that this is impossible. Impossible maybe, but it’s not that hard. All I can do is dust off my jeans (I even miss the flour covered pants I would carry home after a 10 hour shift at the bakery) and open my books, searching for something familiar.

So far, I’ve got Exile.

Stars and Firebrand Boy

Have you ever found music that completely takes your soul? Something that IS in of itself you and yourself truly. JD and I have been exchanged songs, I showed him Stars, he showed me this great UK band called, Firebrand Boy. So far I have been unable to find youtube videos for MY favorite songs: “Famous” and “Arisaig.” but below I have included a link to their Myspace.

Firebrand Boy

Also, for those of you STARS lovers, here’s a favorite of mine, “Your Ex-Lover is Dead.” Enjoy!

-Katche

On Holiday

I was on Holiday, and just got back today. I went to Virginia, and Maryland, and had a little stint in DC. I saw a lot of my friends’ houses, and met their mothers. I love seeing how other people live.

But I wish I could have gone home during this break. I heard that my mother had JD and my best girl Sof over for the Superbowl, I heard they had my favorite types of brownies, and missed me. I heard that my sisters were sick, and as soon as one would get better, the other two would start sniffling.

I had a lot of fun this weekend. From cupcakes, to margheritas, to capitol hill, “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar.” I left a trail of thank-you cards and hugs behind. I wish one could fly away to my own family.

In the meantime, I am glad to be back at Chick University. It’s the closest thing to home besides pancakes. I have a few more textbooks, and that’s good. I am still broke (that’s bad), but the old familiar feel of my bed and the cluttered array of papers on my desk are quite comforting, now.

Travel Safely, Katche.