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January 25, 2009

Kitchen Transformation

As promised, pictures of the kitchen!

In the beginning...
It started out, as Gen dubbed it, a "dead, lifeless" yellow. The yellow you see was on every surface of this condo, from walls to molding to ceilings.

...in progress...
On the paint guy at Home Depot's advice, we used a grey primer. He claimed that painting red over white (or pale yellow) would take at least five coats to get a true color, but painting over grey would get it in the usual two coats. We took his advice, and temporarily had a grey kitchen.

...finished product!
We had some edging issues, which are frustrating because I tried to be so careful when taping and painting the edges, but I'm no professional, so. Touching that up is next on the ever-long To Do list. From a distance, I don't think you can tell, and I'm pretty happy with the color. It's a fairly good match to my couch, which is what I was going for. Now, to accessorize the living room to bring all the colors together (also on that To Do list). I think it's coming along nicely.

January 14, 2009

Wednesday, 12/31/08: Low-key NYE all around

So, this is it. Last daily picture of 2008. One last cute cat to round out the year. ;) I had a low-key New Year's Eve: dinner out, Wii tournament with S and Little A. Looks like Monet had a quiet evening, too.

Thanks for playing along with two years of daily pictures!! It's been fun.

Tuesday, 12/30/08: New camera!


Tuesday, 12/30/08: New camera!
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Well, this is the day I finally bought my new camera! A Canon Rebel XSi. It is love. I ended up running all over creation trying to find it, and if I'd waited a couple days, could have gotten it in Simi where the taxes are much lower, but I wanted to have it for the Rose Bowl Parade. Which we then didn't even end up going to, as poor Elaina and Danny got stranded in Maine. Boo.

But, camera! Yay! Now I just need to learn how to use it...

Monday, 12/29/08: Zoom


Monday, 12/29/08: Zoom
Originally uploaded by kayay5
So, this picture really isn't anything. It's the autumn trees that took until December to turn and lose their leaves, as taken from inside the house and across the room (and, actually, on Tuesday with my new camera... I mentioned before that December was not my best daily picture month, yes?). I was playing with my 250mm lens. *shrug*

Sunday, 12/28/08: He's meeeeelting!

After spending hours and effort chipping away at blocksmountains of ice at the end of the driveway, it warmed up to almost 60*F and all the ice (and the snowman! see?) melted. Oh, Chicago weather, you so crazy!

On Sunday, I headed back to California. I couldn't have been happier to get away from the ridiculous winter weather and back to my 70's-and-sunny, but it's always sad to say goodbye to family. Hopefully there will be a visit in the works soon!

January 12, 2009

Saturday, 12/27/08: Little man!


Saturday, 12/27/08: Little man!
Originally uploaded by kayay5
On Saturday it rained and rained and rained, and I drove down to Kankakee to meet Sarah, Brad, and Spencer. Spencer is another of the happiest, most adorable babies ever! It was fabulous to finally meet the little guy, and to catch up with college friends. Even the rain didn't dampen the afternoon.


Theme: Holly Jolly

Friday, 12/26/08: Relaxin' at Grandma's

Still on the theme of Family, the Wisconsin crew came down for the day after Christmas. We sang carols and played pass-the-bag again, exchanged gifts and ate more good food (another theme of the week), and there was more snow (yet another theme). The "kids" played board games while the men had manly conversations in the kitchen, and Grandma fed us all.


Theme: Holly Jolly

Thursday, 12/25/08: Cousins


Thursday, 12/25/08: Cousins
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Christmas Day at Aunt Nancy's is more awesome food and board games and cousins and good times. These are all the cousins on Dad's side of the family, plus Ingrid, Erin and Emmie's exchange student. It was a good Christmas, even though the day itself was in a different order than it usually is.


Theme: Holly Jolly (Guest Photographer: Dad)

Wednesday, 12/24/08: Just the Girls

Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year. There's family and good food (except for the ham) and Christmas carols and pass-the-bags to Twas The Night Before Christmas and even the candlelight church service. Very nice.


Theme: Holly Jolly (Guest Photographer: Dad)

Tuesday, 12/23/08: Snowman!


Tuesday, 12/23/08: Snowman!
Originally uploaded by kayay5
The snow was pretty perfect packing snow. The Cousins arrived a day earlier than planned to beat the storm, and it was a good move. Plus, it gave Emmie and me a chance to have a snowball fight and build a snowman in the front yard.


Theme: Holly Jolly (Guest Photographer: Mom)

Monday, 12/22/08: Reflection


Monday, 12/22/08: Reflection
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Another out-the-front-window picture, but at night with the Christmas tree. The fake Christmas tree--first time ever! I do have to admit, it sounds ridiculously convenient, so point for Fake Tree.

On Monday, I went to lunch with Theresa and Dan, and then to dinner with Megan. It was wonderful to see everyone!





Theme: Holly Jolly

Sunday, 12/21/08: Winter Wonderland

Doesn't the world look pretty after it snows? And snow before it gets dirty and/or melty is quite peaceful. This particular day was actually bitterly cold, and I ventured out to have lunch with Tammy, Chin, Emily, and Connie. It was so great to see everyone, and really wonderful to catch up with Connie, who I hadn't seen in YEARS.


Theme: Holly Jolly

Saturday, 12/20/08: All I Want for Christmas...

On Saturday, I went to visit Jamie, Craig, and Brendan. Isn't Brendan just the happiest, most adorable, and, um, healthiest five-month-old around? Forget about wanting his two front teeth for Christmas, he's already got six. But don't you want to just pinch his cheeks? Such a sweetheart!


Theme: Christmas Songs

Friday, 12/19/08: Shovelin'


Friday, 12/19/08: Shovelin'
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Friday was the day I arrived home in Illinois. It's always nice to be home, and I was glad to see snow. My plane wasn't even delayed too long! Not actually a Christmas song, per se, Tom Chapin's "Shovelin'" is more a winter song. but it definitely fit the week! This was the first of several shoveling sessions (say that five times fast). By the end of the week, I couldn't have been happier that I live in California. *g*


Theme: Christmas Songs

Thursday, 12/18/08: Let it Snow


Thursday, 12/18/08: Let it Snow
Originally uploaded by kayay5
This picture was taken once I was actually in Illinois (which I wasn't on the 18th), but I'm sure it was snowing there on the 18th. It's my backyard while it snowed. One of the many times it snowed that week.


Theme: Christmas Songs

Wednesday, 12/17/08: Nutcracker


Wednesday, 12/17/08: Nutcracker
Originally uploaded by kayay5
This guy was a gift to Gen a few years ago. He's actually a pretty permanent fixture on top of our bookshelf. I don't think he's ever cracked a nut, but he looks tough enough. And he definitely doesn't belong in the Nutcracker Suite. Definitely.


Theme: Christmas Songs

Tuesday, 12/16/08: Twelve Days


Tuesday, 12/16/08: Twelve Days
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Probably one of the worst Christmas songs ever written, but ever year we sing it (and Grandma proudly holds up her wooden partridge), which is why I can honestly say I know all the verses. And there are actually several somewhat enjoyable variations, such as the Sesame Street And one delicious COOKIE!


Theme: Christmas Songs

Monday, 12/15/08: Under My Tree


Monday, 12/15/08: Under My Tree
Originally uploaded by kayay5
For some reason, the song that popped into my head for this was "Under My Tree" by *Nsync. Otherwise known as the "dirty Santa song" by me... Hold you all through the night under my tree ... I wish that Santa could be here to see. Yeeeaaaah. Anyway. It's a little tree inside an ornament that Gen got for A Wonderful Life.


Theme: Christmas Songs

Sunday, 12/14/08: Rudolph


Sunday, 12/14/08: Rudolph
Originally uploaded by kayay5
This week's theme is Song Titles. This picture was actually taken after Christmas (you'll notice a trend... December was a bad picture-taking month for me, but I took a picture for every day, at least!). Obviously, the song is "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," which I just learned this year has regional extra lyrics! I always sang that Rudolph goes down in history "like George Washington," but apparently Californians think he's much more like Columbus. Huh!


Theme: Christmas Songs

January 07, 2009

January Week 1: Ghost Kitty


January Week 1: Ghost Kitty
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Last post out of me tonight. Promise! I'm taking a break from updating my 2008-366 pictures to share the first of what I'm calling my "2009 Project 52+" pictures. On KC's suggestion, I decided to cut back on daily pictures, which have been mostly made up of mediocre shots, and post instead at least one picture I'm happy with each week.

This one was a complete accident, but I think it's pretty cool! I was messing with camera settings, and I don't even know what I did! I was either playing with aperture or shutter speed, and the camera was much too slow for my curious cat. She was there, and then she wasn't, and the camera was still doin' its thang. Instead of a blur of kitty like I expected, the picture came out with a ghost cat. Neat, huh? *g*

Saturday, 12/13/08: Flower power


Saturday, 12/13/08: Flower power
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Again, this picture was not taken during the week it's for. It was taken with my new camera, my Canon Rebel XSi. I was playing with aperture and shutter speed and took a couple pictures of these silk flowers. Fits the theme, though.


Theme: Up Close

Friday, 12/12/08: Sparkly


Friday, 12/12/08: Sparkly
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Up this close, you can see how dusty this candle is. As a result of this picture, I did dust the candle, so it's good as new now. *g* I probably should have lit it for the picture--would've been prettier. Oh well.


Theme: Up Close

Thursday, 12/11/08: Light as a feather

This feather is a casualty of Monet, having been part of one of her favorite toys until she wrestled it to death.


Theme: Up Close

Wednesday, 12/10/08: Curly Sue


Wednesday, 12/10/08: Curly Sue
Originally uploaded by kayay5
My hair has a mind of its own. After at least three years of blowdrying it straight every single day (and only very occasionally not doing so before that), I decided to let it do its own thing and go curly. And I learned that with my current haircut, it does curly almost okay! I'm expanding my hair horizons.


Theme: Up Close

Tuesday, 12/9/08: Trusty sidekick


Tuesday, 12/9/08: Trusty sidekick
Originally uploaded by kayay5
This is pretty much what the world has seen for the last two years. My lovely Canon SD870 is always in my purse. I feel almost as naked without my camera as I do if I forget a piece of jewelry.


Theme: Up Close

Monday, 12/8/08: Reeeach


Monday, 12/8/08: Reeeach
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Kitty toes!


Theme: Up Close

Sunday, 12/7/08: Reflective


Sunday, 12/7/08: Reflective
Originally uploaded by kayay5
This was supposed to be a week on Macro. I guess it was... if you look closely in the reflection on the vase, you can see me taking the picture. *laugh*


Theme: Up Close

Saturday, 12/6/08: Holiday Cheer


Saturday, 12/6/08: Holiday Cheer
Originally uploaded by kayay5
I sadly only got about half of my Christmas cards out this year, but I'm very thankful to have gotten so many! THANK YOU!! Here's just a sample of the holiday cheer spread by friends and family. :)


Theme: Tis the Season

Friday, 12/5/08: No cold feet here!

'Tis also the season for cold feet. I've tried to resist turning on the heat, because it gets up into the upper 60's during the day, but mornings and nights can be chilly. Here, I had on knee socks, athletic socks, and slippers, and my feet were still a little cold.


Theme: Tis the Season

Thursday, 12/4/08: Lip Service


Thursday, 12/4/08: Lip Service
Originally uploaded by kayay5
'Tis the Season for chapped lips. Doesn't matter if I live in the Windy City or the Windy Valley, my lips always feel winter worse than anything else. Hence, my arsenal of lip softening products.


Theme: Tis the Season

Wednesday, 12/3/08: Centerpiece


Wednesday, 12/3/08: Centerpiece
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Christmas really snuck up on me this year, and I didn't even get a tree. My first year in my own home and I didn't even get a tree! It is to weep. Oh well. I put together this little centerpiece to bring at least a little holiday spirit to Casa de Kate.


Theme: Tis the Season

Tuesday, 12/2/08: Noel


Tuesday, 12/2/08: Noel
Originally uploaded by kayay5
This picture was actually taken while I was at home later in the month, but these little Noel Angels belong to my mom, and December 2nd is her birthday. I absolutely adore these angels! Aren't they precious?

Funny anecdote: My mom has a cleaning service come a couple times a month, and they're always moving things around. They don't speak much English. My mom said that when she'd come home, the angels were moved around, spelling 'ENLO'. Hee!


Theme: Tis the Season

Monday, 12/1/08: Not Naughty


Monday, 12/1/08: Not Naughty
Originally uploaded by kayay5
This was a gift, 'Naughty' on one side and 'Nice' on the other. I'd like to think that Christmastime is the time of year to be nice, so.


Theme: Tis the Season

Sunday, 11/30/08: Presents Under the Tree

Little A insisted I use her as my picture of the day, so who am I to argue? The tree is Disney-themed. If you look closely, there are sad little Mickeys and Donalds here and there.


Theme: Tis the Season

January 06, 2009

Saturday, 11/29/08: Paint the sky


Saturday, 11/29/08: Paint the sky
Originally uploaded by kayay5
California really does have the prettiest sunsets. Even if you're not watching the sun go down over the ocean, they're still beautiful. And I actually think they're prettier in Simi Valley than they were on the other side of the hill.


Theme: I Give Thanks

Friday, 11/28/08: Gotcha!


Friday, 11/28/08: Gotcha!
Originally uploaded by kayay5
This picture was actually taken on the 27th while we waited for our table to be available, but somehow I didn't take a picture on the 28th. Meghan and I did Hollywood and Santa Monica and it was a lot of fun, but I have no pictures from that day. Sad!

Anyway. I'm thankful for my sense of humor and willingness to be goofy. I'm thankful that my friends and I can still be gigantic goobers when we want to be. The restaurant's buzzer thing looked very much like a taser gun. While we waited for our table, we took turns tasing each other. Um, yeah. We're late-twenty-somethings... why do you ask?


Theme: I Give Thanks

Thursday, 11/27/08: Birthday, Birthday, Birthday!

I'm thankful that, while I was 2,000 miles away from my family on Thanksgiving, I was able to spend my 28th birthday with three of my best friends at the Happiest Place on Earth. Meghan came out to visit for a couple days, and it was so great to see her! Her birthday was on the 22nd and Sandra's was on the 28th, so all three of us were celebrating. We got a lot of strange looks, but poor Gen kept it real; her birthday's not until May, so her presence (and lack of birthday button) legitimized us a bit.

We had our birthday/Thanksgiving dinner at the Storyteller's Cafe and were given yummy Mickey mousse cakes to celebrate. Yay!


Theme: I Give Thanks

Wednesday, 11/26/08: From my coworkers

Sure, I have complaints about work occasionally. Who loves their job all the time? But I'm glad to have a job, and I'm glad that I'm usually pretty happy to go to it. I truly like the people I work with, and that makes all the difference. Usually, I'm the one to organize birthday celebrations, so I was pleasantly surprised that they remembered! We celebrated the day before my actual birthday, as it was on a holiday this year. Made me feel all warm inside. :)


Theme: I Give Thanks

Tuesday, 11/25/08: Snuggly Kitties

They say pets lower blood pressure, decrease stress, and generally make your life longer and happier. I BELIEVE IT. There is nothing like coming home after a long day and hearing tiny jingle bells (attached to their collars) as the cats curiously run out of their hiding/sleeping places to see who's come through the door. Snuggling a kitty *immediately* makes me feel better about everything. Just... my life would be less without these two troublemakers.


Theme: I Give Thanks

Monday, 11/24/08: Home, Sweet Home

For as many problems as this place had (holes in the walls, doors knocked off their hinges, dirt and grime everywhere), I'm so glad it's mine. I think we've done a good job whipping it into shape and personalizing it. There are still a few things to be done--repainting the door and hanging permanent numbers, for one--but it's come a long way.


Theme: I Give Thanks

Sunday, 11/23/08: Bolt!


Sunday, 11/23/08: Bolt!
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Went to see Bolt in 3-D. It was pretty darn adorable! This week's theme is "I Give Thanks" so I'm thankful to have good friends to see good movies with. It's how I spend a lot of my free time, at the movies, so I'm glad I'm able to do it.


Theme: I Give Thanks

Saturday, 11/22/08: Light? What light?

This hole in the ceiling used to hold my kitchen light. I like my kitchen light (it replaced a really ugly box fluorescent light), and it WILL be my kitchen light again! The light pulled out of the drywall due, most likely, to the closeness of the one anchor hole to the main wire hole. That, or the anchors that came with the light were not strong enough to actually hold the light, which is moderately heavy. Either way, I have better anchors, I intend to drill more equidistant holes, and it'll be fixed. Soon. Real soon.


Theme: Used to be

Friday, 11/21/08: Autumny


Friday, 11/21/08: Autumny
Originally uploaded by kayay5
[This picture was actually taken just after Christmas. But the sentiment is the same!]

These leaves used to be green, and they used to be on the trees. Now, they're a colorful reminder that the seasons DO change in California, they just change one tree at a time and a little later than you'd expect them to.


Theme: Used to be

Thursday, 11/20/08: It's the Princess's

This used to be my chair. But the moment I got up out of it, Monet made her claim. This is pretty typical behavior. There have been times where she's taken my seat, I've picked her up and put her on the bed, and in the length of time it takes me to turn back around and start to sit down, she's jumped back into the chair and made herself quite comfortable. If I accidentally sit on her one of these days, I think she'll have deserved it.


Theme: Used to be

Wednesday, 11/19/08: Never again...

This used to be Jessica's favorite movie. We watched it over and over and over until I'm pretty sure we wore out her VHS copy. I don't think I can ever watch it again, I was so overexposed to it as a child. Last Unicorn, I'm sure you're a cinematic masterpiece, but I will never be able to truly appreciate your existence.


Theme: Used to Be

Tuesday, 11/18/08: Take that, junk mail!

This used to be my junk mail. Let me tell you, it is so satisfying to shred that stuff!


Theme: Used to be

Monday, 11/17/08: All Grown Up


Monday, 11/17/08: All Grown Up
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Monet used to be so teeny tiny! Now she's a moose. I love her anyway.

January 04, 2009

Saturday, 11/15/08: With Honor


Saturday, 11/15/08: With Honor
Originally uploaded by kayay5
The service itself was very nice. Jess and I were ambushed last-minute to do readings, which I was less than thrilled about. Mine was a pretty awful selection, honestly, and I don't know who picked it. I guess we pulled it off alright. Dad, Uncle Ed, and Aunt Sue all spoke, and they had wonderful, touching things to say. I was okay until Uncle Ed spoke, and by the time it was Dad's turn, I definitely was thankful for the box of tissues on the end table.

After the service, we had lunch at a nearby restaurant. Before the meal was served, Dad gave a toast with beer. Grandpa Phil was rarely seen without a beer in his hand. Dad told the story of Grandpa visiting Uncle Charlie in the hospital during the war and bring beer in for all the GI's rehabilitating there. He said Grandpa and Uncle Charlie were now probably up there somewhere, enjoying a beer together.

The entire family, along with many good friends (some I hadn't seen in years), came in for the weekend, and it was good to see everyone. A shame it had to be for something so sad, but I guess that's the way it goes.

Friday, 11/14/08: Crafty


Friday, 11/14/08: Crafty
Originally uploaded by kayay5
This little patriotic pin was made by Grandpa Phil after 9/11. He saw someone selling them and decided he could do it himself. He even straightened and re-bent the main pin so that it works as a pin. Very handy, and not surprising for Grandpa.

I was in town for the weekend to attend Grandpa Phil's memorial service. He was the first of my grandparents to pass away. I mostly spent Friday with Grandma Peggy and Grandpa Jim, if memory serves. It was nice to spend time with family.


Theme: Itsy-Bitsy

Thursday, 11/13/08: View from Above

Look, it's Earth from space! Actually, it's a picture taken out the window of the airplane. Pretty cool, huh? The world looks so small. It was a fantastically clear day and one of the few times in recent memory I've actually flown during daylight hours. I'm sure my seatmate thought I was odd, snapping away out the window for almost the entire flight, but the views were so beautiful!


Theme: Itsy-Bitsy

Wednesday, 11/12/08: Little Stefani

This picture, admittedly, was not taken on 11/12. I dropped the ball and did not take a picture on 11/12, so this was taken much later, right after my birthday. Several things in the picture were birthday gifts, in fact. Woops. Anyway, the reason for putting it here is the Mini Stefani, which is actually a very nice-smelling perfume! I like it very much.


Theme: Itsy-Bitsy

Tuesday, 11/11/08: Disney in Miniature

For Veteran's Day, Sandra, Allie, Eric and I went to Disneyland. It was absolutely deserted and much fun. We managed to fit everything in, including things we'd never seen before (like this what's-in-store-for-Disney display) and still get home at a reasonable hour.


Theme: Itsy-Bitsy

Monday, 11/10/08: Mama, Papa, & Baby Clips

Even the largest of those clips is not large. Gen and I laugh, because that large clip would hold back just the smallest amount of her hair, while it's what I use if I want to pull ALL my hair back. The tiny clip there would be laughable in her hair, and it's just the right size to pull back the front part of my hair. My hair? Is thin. Hers, not so much.


Theme: Itsy-Bitsy

Sunday, 11/9/08: Mini-aid


Sunday, 11/9/08: Mini-aid
Originally uploaded by kayay5
This is part of a car kit (and should be in my car, yes) that includes a tire pressure gauge. My car's tire pressure notification popped up; I checked the pressure, ended up filling one of the tires, and chalked it up to the cold weather. Exactly two weeks later, the pressure indicator showed up again. Being on the road, I pulled into a gas station and filled the same tire, and admittedly forgot about it. Exactly two weeks after that, it happened a third time. Which is when I realized I should probably take the car in and get that tire repaired before it caused even bigger problems for me. So I did. And it's all fixed! Now, the first aid kit should go into the car where it belongs...


Theme: Itsy-Bitsy

Saturday, 11/8/08: Rainbow


Saturday, 11/8/08: Rainbow
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Very colorful! I don't have much to say about these, other than they were pretty and I took a picture. *laugh*


Theme: On Assignment (Rainbow)

Friday, 11/7/08: Serenity


Friday, 11/7/08: Serenity
Originally uploaded by kayay5
My entire drive home (all 1.1 miles of it), the sunset was just getting prettier and prettier. By the time I parked and walked to the west side of my complex, this was the view. Isn't it peaceful? (The picture's a bit blurry, so nevermind that...)


Theme: On Assignment (Serenity)

Thursday, 11/6/08: Fantasy


Thursday, 11/6/08: Fantasy
Originally uploaded by kayay5
This tree is at the end of our little... row of condos? My sidewalk comes to a T with the sidewalk in front of it, anyway. And the leaves are huge! It always reminds me of a Nintendo tree. Somehow, Nintendo tree = video games = fantasy. I think it's pretty cool.


Theme: On Assignment (Fantasy)

Wednesday, 11/5/08: Whimsy


Wednesday, 11/5/08: Whimsy
Originally uploaded by kayay5
This car flower was a gift from Sandra. Sandra was going to get blue to match my car, but Little A insisted on a red flower, because red is my favorite color. I like it there; it cheers up my car!


Theme: On Assignment (Whimsy)