If I ruled the world

This was a pretty uneventful week. Work, sleep, repeat.


But, as uneventful as my life was, there is a lot going on elsewhere that has me thinking. Describing the earthquake in Haiti as a disaster is the biggest understatement ever. This country is SO poor and my good friend Stef aka Hagrid told me last night that there were 380,000 orphans BEFORE the earthquake. Before. Thinking about that sends chills up my spine. Unfotunately the only real way to help Haiti is to donate money, leaving me feel completely helpess. I wish I could afford to send a large sum of money down there, but, it is not in the cards right now. What really pisses me off? The senator election in Massachusetts. Both campaigns spent how many millions of dollars producing pathetic commercials and I cannot even count on my fingers and toes how many calls we got to go out and vote. Sorry, but a recorded phone call will not sway my vote one way or another. You want to win my vote? Put your money to a worthwhile cause.

I am probably the last one to get into a discussion about politics. To be honest, I don't care. I know that ultimately every aspect of my life is controlled by political actions. Healthcare, education, taxes, war... The government controls these. I know the democratic/republican parties have very different opionons on most things. But, in my perfect world, this is how things would be run.

We would have leaders for the following areas and they would be voted upon by the citizens with NO party affiliation. (in no particular order and can't think of all I thought of)

• Military
• Charity
• Homelessness
• Poverty
• Political
• Enviornmental
• Education
• Banking
• Taxes
• Welfare
• Employment
• Orphanages/Child Placement
  
• ETC ETC ETC
  

There are some registered republicans who have democratic veiws on some things. Why should just one president and his/her cabinet control every aspect? How can one person be so smart and educated in EVERY aspect of life that she/he has the control to put whoever in command. Thats like me getting asked about driving a car. Sure I know the basics-- how to put the key in, turn on some tunes, use the turn signal... But ask me to look under, or even pop the hood, I would be lost. I know some things, but not all. It is IMPOSSIBLE for someone to have the utmost knowledge about how everything runs.

America prides itself on promoting individuality. Screw history. I would create a government with no parties. There are too many important areas that need to be governed and a single person should not be expected to wear a hundred different pairs of pants. Like I said, I am no political expert, and I know presidents have super special people that are their senior vp of blah blah, but the president controls who he/she wants as his senior vp. Let people present the country with various and new ideas about the aforementioned topics.

For example, I have, what I have been told, is a republican view on welfare. I think it is a GREAT way for a person/family to get their feet back on the ground during a hard time, but the people who LIVE on welfare and do NOTHING to get off it, make me sick. As much as paying taxes SUCKS, and I don't even know where all my tax money goes, if taxes help someone struggling, that is great. But, when I am paying for a 35 year old mother of 9 with 6 different fathers who has been on welfare since day 1, there is a problem. When can the state/government step in and say enough is enough?

The amount of money we spend at war for 3 days could end world hunger for a year. Can we not spare three days? 72 hours. Our priorities are, in my opinion, ridiculously out of whack. I admit I am not up to date with my current war facts/data, but at the end of the day, we are all human. Humanity is in question. I guess my heart is with people. The business aspect of things does not make my heart tick-- probably why I don't really care for politics and money, which is what many say make the world go round. It might make their world go round, but mine spins on humanity and how people are treated.

I know I can't and probably won't rule the world, but as long as I govern my own world and make my world go round, I will. As Stef said, I am far from perfect and not asking for directions. We will never be able to politically please everyone, but it would be interesting to see how the country would change if we voted upon leaders for different things.

Note to self...

NEVER eat anything in the kitchen labeled "Turkish Delights."

The Blue Box Blues

What to do when your roommates are enjoying a more lively social life than you and leave you home alone to fend for yourself in the frigid cold NE weather? Well, there is nothing more satisfying than eating one of my favorite foods... Kraft Macaroni & Cheese -- Spiral Edition.

As a child, I enjoyed this fine cuisine in many forms: Spirals, shapes, shells, and "The Cheesiest" original. I remember fighting with Bear as to who got to lick the cheese packet after it was emptied into the pan for cheese sauce. I am not sure if anyone else feels this way, but each type of KM&C tastes different. I like shapes the best. There is something about eating Rugrats or Spiderman or Spongebob that tastes SO good. I think the cheese is the same in all the different boxes, so I am not really sure what makes them all taste different.

My favorite part about eating Mac-n-Cheese is the cheese. When I make it for myself I always add extra milk so it is like eating soup. Nothing like slurping up the extra cheese sauce. Thinking about it makes my mouth water. As I got older I started experimenting with different Mac-n-Cheese combos. Broccoli, chicken, hotdogs, hamburger, onions... When I cook I like to combine many foods I like into one big ole creation that I like to call an Awesoombley.

Last night my blue box blues called for a box o spirals and two Essem hotdogs (MamaBear swears these are the best dogs in town... But I like to think us Barkers are). Instead of just making it the old fashioned way, I decided to make a big girl baked mac-n-cheese dish. I cooked the 'ronis and grilled the dogs and combined then in Foxy's baking dish pan thing. I made the cheese sauce a little more saucy than usual and graciously poured it over the dogs and roni. I topped it off with bread crumbs, parmesean cheese, and melted butter and put in oven to cook to perfection. (hot sauce on side)

I enjoyed my fine cuisine while I Kept up With the Kardashians with a nice cold can of seltzer. I had a few impressive burps and if BrotherBear was there, he would have most definitely scored them all in the 7-10 range. I think I may have even scared Bayleigh with one of them.

Post-dinner, I relaxed in a bubble bath c/o my cousin's Christmas present to me from LUSH. Back in the day, the word lush had double meaning to me--drinks and soaps. Now, I have grown up and the only lush in my life is my amazing collection of soaps and bath fizzes.

Sisterbear <3

I would just like to give a quick SHOUTOUT to my lovely sister, Sisterbear. She ever so graciously spend some of her quality work time and created my new blog layout. She is so talented and wonderful and I think I am the luckiest girl in the whole entire galaxy to have a sister as super as she (even though she told me I got my red hair because MamaBear and PapaBear got rusty after six years with no sex and my freckles came from flinging dog poop through a screen door).

We love our bread, we love our butter... But most of all, we love each other!

Foxy

Every Wednesday Gram Foxy makes dinner for the girls. I think Foxy is one of my most favorite people on the planet, especially because she lost all her filters when she turned 80 and thinks she can say/do whatever she wants whenever she wants, wherever she wants. Look at this gorgeous, Foxy woman:How can you not love a face like that?! I think my favorite activity, besides watching her rule the supermarket isles and run into people with her carriage, is playing Jeopardy with her. A few weeks ago when the show was over, Foxy said, "Wow Kace you got all those answers tonight, you knew everything!" She is quite hard of hearing lately and I always shout out the questions to the answers that Alex Trebek gives whether they are right or wrong -- more often than not, they are wrong. I probably only average a 25% on any given night.I didn't have the heart to tell her that all my answers were wrong. Who doesn't like a little confidence booster?!

Foxy does some funny things. A few weeks ago at Sunday Dinner she informed us that while she was pouring the vinegar in the cole slaw she was making, the spoon just never quite filled up with vinegar. She kept pouring and pouring. Later, she realized that the spoon she was using actually had holes in it. I love me some extra vinegary cole slaw, and the story that goes along with it!

I would like you leave you with my favorite picture of Foxy EVER. She HATES having her picture taken and posed with my Godparents at their daughter's wedding like this:
She also thinks that when I get my car, I should drive around the cemetary for a few days to practice. PapaBear told me she thinks this is SOP because he made her do that when she got a new car.

Prince Charming

Growing up every girl thinks about who their prince charming will be, and I am no exception. I made lists of characteristics that I wanted to find in my perfect man, which included things like:

• Let's me cry on his new pajamas at 2am while spilling my emotions
• Will sit through a Disney movie and not complain or whine throughout the whole thing
• Will buy me ice cream at any hour and will drive lengths to get some

I will have to post the entire 3 page list some day soon. It is hilarious. Anywho, back to prince charming. Yikes, not that prince charming.






Ahh now thats more like it. Yummy.

One of the best parts of riding the T every day is people watching. It is fun to look at all the gorgeous men in their business suits. I picture cute luncheons or drinks after work. Nothing like a man in a suit and tie.









But today while walking through Copley, I saw the most GORGEOUS man ever carrying a hard hat. I either wanted to throw him against the wall and plant a big wet one on his hopefully-not-chapped-from-being-outside lips or dress up like an Indian Chief and sing the YMCA.






Then I think of Hot Fire Eddie, the sexy, muscular firefighter that read me a story at my sister's bachelorette party after I sang karaoke over the loud speaker throughout the station. He could tame my fire anytime.






At the end of the day, what it comes down to is any man will be attractive in whatever he wears to work. I'm sure most of the guys I see in suits would not be as attractive standing in a water fountain with his fire trousers down below his waist showing off his ripped bod. And when we get old, I know whoever I end up with in the long run will just need to make me laugh.

Help the homeless?

The world is a big big place. And, I am still learning about it in funny, weird ways. Take this weekend for example. Being carless did not stop me from going out and staying in Boston, and I needed to hop on the 8:00 train to the Brica so Bear could pick me up.

I was expecting North Station to be quiet, but it was surprisingly busy. There are, on any given day, many homeless people asking for spare change and they are not afraid to approach you when you have head phones on and shake a cup in your face and make you shake in your boots crocs. Anywho, I never know what to do in situations like these. As much as I would like to give every person I see begging for change $1, I cannot do that. I sometimes think about carrying my loan statements with me to show them I cannot afford to do so, but that makes me look cheap. (I am cheap, actually.)

So back on track... pun intended... After one homeless man was chased out of North Station by MBTA officals for haggling people for money, I noticed a man a few benches across from me "eating" breakfast, or so I thought. I look over and this man is eating a bag of cookies and a can of whipped cream. At the time I thought it was normal that he was dispensing whipped cream directly into his mouth and then eating a cookie a minute later. I watch the man do this for a few minutes, until my train was called.

I get picked up in the North Brica by Bear and we head to her house. Once Bear, BrotherBear, and myself were all sitting having our morning coffee together with the puppy, just like our life together should be, I told them about the man eating whipped cream. BrotherBear just started laughing and I think he rolled his eyes and thought to himself, "wow my SIL is so naive and stupid." BB informed me that people get high by "whipping" which is sucking the air out of empty whipped cream cans.

Kipu loves her auntie no matter what.

Light dawns on marble head.
1. I never actually saw any whipped cream in the man's mouth.
2. If he wanted whipped cream on cookies, he could have just topped the cookie off.
3. Oy, KaceFace.

Now I wonder how many people are doing ridiculous things like whipping when I think they are doing cute things. I mean, I wouldn't put it past myself to sit in a train station and eat whipped cream. Who doesn't love whipped cream?!

I'm a big kid now?

Lately I have been doing a lot of thinking about growing up. However, sometimes I find it hard to put on my big girl panties -- there are some things I just cannot live without. I started paying my student loans back and everytime Sallie Mae emails/calls me I want to sucker punch the greedy biatch. Now that BigRed has moved on, I need to get a big girl car and pay for it on my own. I started wearing leather gloves, which is something I can always remember my mother wearing, but have come to appreciate and love them. I think leather gloves are grown up!

On any given day, I step on the train/T/traipse through the city wearing these with pants/skirt/dress:Crocs with the fur... with the fur, the whole club lookin' at her

And on any given day, I will be carrying this:Cutest lunch box ever... Will get my name embroidered on ASAP

I am not gonna lie, I pretty much rock the crocs and the lunch box. I usually carry the lunch box in another bag with my cute shoes to put on at the office. I am the biggest hypocrite though. I HATE Uggs. I think they are the UGGliest things I have ever seen. I think they look quite silly. Then, I look down and I am gently reminded that my choice of footwear is probably more heinous than Uggs. I love crocs though. I think the 4 other pairs of crocs that I have in my closet are a testament to my undying love for the most glorious pair of shoes I have ever slipped on my delicate dawgs.

Hi, my name is Kacey and I love Crocs. (Don't knock them till you try them)

I continue to make new big girl decisions everyday. Today, I realized that I had saved $4 from parking (RIP BigRed) and thought it would be okay to spend $2 of that on large coffee from Dunks. I saved $2 and then went on to only drink half of my coffee and save the other half for an after lunch pick me up. Many might not think this is big girl, but today, I saved money on gas and parking, and bought the coffee I would have bought anyways, but today, I did not feel guilty doing so!
*Disclaimer: I might regret this decision when I start making car payments and insurance payments and when I see the pants I want from Ann Taylor Loft still not on sale for the 10293th week in a row. But for now, viva la dunks. My coffee machine at work is just not tasty.

I get off the train and was gently reminded again how limited my independence is this week:

Oh hey roomies! aka mom and dad.

These lovely, lovely people came all the way to Woburn to pick me up from the train! I jumped in the Windstar and and found out we were headed off to our spot:

Here is Dad at the Irish Cottage, our stomping ground!

I could get used to this whole "bring your daughter to her work day/then pick her up and take her out to dinner day." I cannot wait to have a car again, but for the time being, I will cherish my lovely chauffers. Love you guys.

Life goes WAY too quickly to grow up all at once, so I will take what is dealt to me as it comes. One day soon, I will be a big girl with loan and car and insurance payments, but for now, I don't mind chillin' with my homefries <3 And my grandmother who offered to give me a pack of her Hanes tighty whiteys to use a big girl panties. I kindly turned her down and stuck to my crocs and lunchbox. I even cut my bologna sandwich in 4 triangles today. How far is too far?!

Miss Frizzle in da house

The final product... with a little wine induced sass...

speaking of trying new things...

I was bored before I went out tonight and did this to my hair...



Hopefully it comes out looking sexy/sassy/gorgeous and not Miss Frizzle/heinous/barf.

Details tomorrow :)

try something new.

I love trying new things and going out of my comfort zone. I think an important part of growing up (no matter how old you are) is to just do it. Take MommaBear for example.


This picture was taken at Coyote Ugly in Las Vegas. MommaBear would not indulge in a PBR with the rest of the crew, so Snooki and I decided to take it upon ourselves to buy her a shot of Patron. Her first shot. She kind of took it like a HUGE WHIMP champ. When the bartender cheered her on with a "You go Grandma" MommaBear simply called her a b*tch behind her back and got over it.

There are so many ways to try something new, and it feels so good to get out and experience something new:

• Eat foriegn food from as many different cultures as possible
• Make a friend with someone so unlike you that it makes you feel uncomfortable to even approach them
• Sit somewhere different than where you normally sit
• Try a new activity... yoga, kayaking, comic book conventions, drawing, writing, blogging :)
• Call/email/text/facebook a long lost friend
• Drive somewhere without a GPS (I did this for 23 years, and it was quite adventurous)
• Don't plan EVERY little detail of a trip
  
• Throw a themed party
• Go out to a bar that is not your normal stomping ground
• Get lost in a new city
  

And the list goes on and on and on... I have a hard time doing things with people who do not know what carpe diem means. Stray away from your norm and do something different. Whip off your bra and do cartwheels in front of the window--it works for my sister. If you aren't happy with how things are going with friends/family/boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse etc. change up your routine. Like the wonderful JKO said, the only routine with me, is no routine at all! I have a lot more respect for people who do go out of their comfort zone, even if it is the worst thing they ever did.

Tonight I am not in a mood to go out in Boston to the bar, but I know I will be with friends I love and will have an amazing time. Tomorrow Iwill be happily hungover after having a super fun night.

Thank you for getting me out of my funk tonight, Hagrid.

the human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it.

After BigRed met the guard rail last night (and the guard rail won), and AAA was called along with the State Police, I sat in my car waiting. I was still in shock. It actually took a while for me to realize what had just happened.

A man who said he was about 50 feet behind me and saw me go into the snow got off the next exit and came back around to see if I was okay. At that point, I was physically fine, but still in shock. He offered for me to sit in his car while I waited for the police. He made small talk with me about work and weather and where I lived. At the time I was so nervous to be the chatter box I normally am with strangers. While we were standing in the snow talking, another man did the same thing -- saw it happen and turned around to see if everything was okay.


Then I think about the person who cut me off. How can you not realize that you pulled out in front of someone, especially after BigRed beeped like crazy, and then not notice that the car you cut off ended up off the road. I would hope, as a driver, you would be aware of the road enough to see what had happened. But maybe not.

The two men that stopped to see if I was okay showed so much compassion and kindness toward me, a complete stranger. They went out of their way to help a stranger. It makes me tear up just thinking about. Although what these two men did for me was a big act of kindness, even the simplest smile, hello, thank you, door hold, can do a lot for a person.

Get it girls.

RIP BigRed

Dear Big Red,

I remember the day we picked you out at Portsmouth Ford. You smelled so new and were so clean, way back during my freshman year of high school. You had some weird smells and were not so clean when I got my hands on your keys when I got my license sophomore year. You brought me everywhere I needed to go, and you loved traveling to and from Storrs, Ct. I hated the way you let me get a speeding ticket on the Pike, but I forgive you for that and try to remember to set my cruise control. I am so sorry that a big, mean, horrible, disgusting, stupid silver SUV pulled out in front of you right after the on ramp at exit 37C, Commerce Way, Woburn. I am sorry that you live in New England and got stuck in the snow, which brought the guard rail into your left head light and driver side door. My mom always told me to make sure I had on clean underwear in case I was ever in an accident, so I made sure to keep you clean in case you were ever in one too. (BrotherBear wanted me to clean you, but SisterBear would have just used SPARES). I love you forever and ever and ever. You were one of the best things since sliced bread.

Love,
Kacey

P.S. You meant so much to me that I named my clown self after you.

My new mode of transportation, with BigRed thriving in the back.

Adventures on the Train

Yesterday morning I was running late. I actually run late most mornings as a rule, but was trying to tame my Ronald McDonald/Miss Frizzle-like hair that I had going on. Usually like to get on the 6:38 train, but was going to miss that so aimed for the 6:55. Pulled into the parking lot and watched that train pull away. Story of my life. A little peeved about the situation, I waited in the warmth of my '98 BigRed Ford Tauras.

Before getting off the highway, I saw tons of police cars on the overpass above 93 as well as down below. While I waited in my car for the train, I saw two helicopters flying above. I didn't think much of it, but later read this when I got to work: http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_006082731.html

Yikes.

Back to the train. In the mornings I like to sit quietly and read or listen to my iPod. My afternoon train rides are typically when I make small talk and people watch up a storm. So I trudge onto the train wearing my crocs with the fur... with the furrrr. I carry my sisters laptop bag, laptopless, of course, and a bag with my lunchbox. I did not have my fair share of seats available and I had to take whatever was available. I sit down- crazy baglady status- with an older woman who has a sort of large rolling bag on the floor at what would be at my feet. I roll my eyes and sit down regardless, feet to the side. I hold all my bags on my lap, as there is no room at my feet. I whip out my train pass and shove it in the seat back in front of me and search for my book to take out and read. My morning was "rough" up until that point.

Before I could take out my book the woman asked if I worked in Boston. Great, a conversation with someone before I had a sip of coffee. We get to talking, and Lord knows I cannot not talk to someone. We make small talk about the weather and traffic. Long story short, I find out this woman is 78 years old (she barely looks 70) and is on her way from Lowell to Jamaica Plain to visit her son. I get so interested in hearing about other people's lives and questioning them that I find out her son was hit in a cross walk five years ago and is now a quadriplegic. He is 44 and lives alone with the help of some assistants. Yeah, that big bag at my feet was some of his laundry that she took home to do for him.

We talked the entire ride into Boston and parted with a simple "it was nice talking to you." But for me, it was more than just nice to talk to her. Thinking back, I was so upset with myself for having a "bad" morning, especially after putting things into perspective. I hate how quick I am to judge others.

Traffic sucks. Bad hair days suck. Missing trains sucks.

But imagine your life changing in an instant. This 44 year old chef lost his independence, his job, and many of his friends and his girlfriend. When things like this happen, you can tell a lot about a person. I cherish my friends and they mean so much to me. I could not imagine EVER not losing a friendship because of something like this. He is still mentally 100% even if he does not have the same physical capabilities that he used to.

I thought a lot about this man and his mother ever since I had the conversation on the train. And I am sure I will continue to think about them. With any luck, I will learn to have patience with myself and others. That was probably the one of the best morning wake ups I have ever had. And all that before my cup o joe.

Larry Bird in the house?!

I coach a 4th grade girls basketball team. We usually end practice with the team's favorite game: knock out.

Who doesn't love KO? Me.

Why? These little whippersnappers kick my butt. And laugh in my face. After weeks of embarrassment , they now know how to run a suicide. Take that.

Last night there was no time for KO and practice ended with a scrimmage. I raced up and down the court and showed these kiddies how its done. I was never really good at basketball. I think the most points I ever scored in my entire career was probably 12, but maybe it was 14 or 16 in my dreams. I was the most scared point guard on the court at any given moment. I can't help but to feel accomplished when I out rebound a 10 year old... But I couldn't hang with kids my own size. I'm competitive no matter who the opponent is.

So after the most amazing game of my life scrimmage with the 10 year olds, one of the mothers approached me. It went a little something... like this:

Mother: Wow you remind me so much of Larry Bird out there!
Me: (thinking, wow this is so great, I know I played well tonight, but these are 10 year olds) *smiles*
Mother: Yeah, the way you kept wiping the bottoms of your shoes like that... Larry Bird did that ALL the time!
Me: Ohhhh yeahhhh ha ha. Gotta keep myself from slipping.






I unlaced my sneakers and called it a night.

there's a first time for everthing

Bienvenidos a mi vida.

Welcome to my life.
My awkward, funny, crazy, ridiculous life explained with some redhead sass and sarcasm,
now available for your viewing pleasure.

Enjoy adventures including, but not limited to: working in the big girl world, clowning, people watching, dating, gallivanting, family, friends, current events, sports etc etc etc.
Read, laugh, cry, love, hate (but don't hate on), tell me what you think.

Here goes nothing...