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  1. Good, Good Life

    October 18, 2011 by Blondette

    Oh, this is gonna be a good life

    This is gonna be  a good, good life

    Category Video | Tags: | No Comments

  2. The Hunt: Why Employers Should Consider More Than My Resume

    October 11, 2011 by Blondette

    If you search “Katie Leas“ in Google you find me. In fact, you find this blog. *sweeping beauty queen arm gesture, aka, how I greet people who enter my office* WELCOME!

    First, I’m not committing social media faux paus. My boss knows I’m searching for a new job. In fact, everyone has been supportive about my decision to do something new. So, potential employer or potential employer HR representative, let me answer the question you are now dying to ask:  Why are you leaving your current job? I’m so glad you asked! As a child you never realize how much your parents or other adults “are” their job. The Katie that started at the company 6 years ago is not the Katie of late 2011 – and that’s okay. But in this case, it means Katie is looking for something different in her life. To get back into first person, I miss feeling passionate about my work.

    Lesson #1: I’m a learning nerd. I love to problem solve and I love to dig, analyze, and synthesize. I love to share information about which I am passionate. That can be language, nutrition, exercise, super-nerdy science stuff, software, how to build a website, or reality television.

    Lesson #2:  My career dream is to be a writer in the vein of Jen Lancaster or Bill Bryson. That’s right. I will likely someday want to leave your company – and that’s okay.

    Lesson #2.5:  I am strongly compelled to share my love of language and communication. I believe that a firm grasp on language can leapfrog your life. I believe in short answer and essay tests instead of multiple choice tests.

    What you can’t get from a piece of paper where I try to cram transferableskillsandachievementsandeducationandcareerobjectives in hopes of impressing you is my unbridled zeal. I think and feel with everything I’ve got – and it’s a lot.

    I blog as an outlet. I blog as an exercise. I blog because writing and communication is an essential component of Katie.

    I participate in social media. I am a person. I will not suppress that need to share and connect.

    Lesson #3:  I love lists! And outlines! Most of the time my thoughts are swirling around, fast and bouncy, and I have to force them into order. Lists and outlines create discrete tasks and keep information in a logical, natural order. So, here’s a list for you that won’t appear on a resume, but is every bit as much “me” as the transferableskillsandachievementsandeducationandcareerobjectives that fit on one page.

    Favorite Movies:

    Favorite TV Shows

    • The West Wing – all time favorite
    • Modern Family
    • How I Met Your Mother
    • Parenthood

    Favorite Sport

    • Currently, soccer. SportingKC games are really fun. And I *still* can’t get over the fact that there’s a player with the last name of Bunbury.

    Favorite Book

    • TRICK QUESTION! A Walk in the Woods, Les Miserables, Such a Pretty Fat, Harry Potter x 8 (again), The Book Thief, Firefly Summer

    Favorite Shoes

    • My rusty cowboy boots

    Hobbies:

    • trying to run, trying new things, reading, staring at my cats, the Internets, learning, writing, drinking coffee

     

    You will miss out if you do not try to hire me. I will work hard for you. I will work smart for you. I will be grateful every day that you took a chance on me.

    Category Life Lessons, You Might be Katie Leas | Tags: ,, | No Comments

  3. Find the Quote from Meet Me in St. Louis

    September 19, 2011 by Blondette

    I was surprised today when I saw it had been 3 months since I’d last posted. As I told someone today, sometimes I have nothing to say  because there is too much to say. I had a counselor who once told me “the time is going to pass anyway.” Time, tide, and trolley wait for no one. At the top of stairs (at what point did I get old enough to have creaks, stiffness, and pain when I first walk down the stairs in the morning?) I was struck with the realization that I’m no longer in my 20′s. I’m older and I’m going to keep getting older until my life is over. Which could happen at any moment. My time is running out.

    And that is the theme of my year. Actually, it started last year. Time is running out. I do believe I mourned lost opportunity. It made me withdrawn, angry, and resentful. I was depressed.

    Tonight as I watched the season premiere of How I Met Your Mother, Ted, our main character (the one who met your mother) tells Robin (a good friend and former girlfriend) that he has lost hope. I’ve that way many times over the past 2 years.

    This isn’t even what I was going to write about. I wanted to write about how nice it was to have my dad in town and at my house this year.  By-the-way, my house now stinks because I put expired chicken in the trash last night. I forgot to toss it last week on trash day, and I didn’t want to miss another week. Unfortunately, that means I’m dealing with the smell.

    My brother installed a new sink for me. That was very exciting. I never knew I could love a sink so much. I even got to do a little plumbing!

    I’m currently in the process of culling the herds of books, clothes, and other stuff that occupies too much space in my house. There will be cleaning!

    You may remember that I locked myself out one morning during a lull in a rainy morning. I had no choice but to knock on the neighbor’s door – the neighbor I’d never met. I was braless and unshowered. By some miracle I remembered Tammi’s phone number and she was able to come over and let me in. (always give your best friend a key to your house.)

     

     

     

    Category blah blah, heart of the matter | Tags: | No Comments

  4. Ink, Air, and Home

    June 3, 2011 by Blondette

    I’ve been gone for somewhere between 24 and 48 hours. As the plane touches down at MCI, I think “home.” For two seconds I feel a hopeful calm. I’m overcome with the thought of my house. My living room with its bright red couches and teal curtains excite me and I have the urge to lie face down in the middle of the floor and make carpet angels, happily claiming “mine.”

    During one of my last trips, this one several days instead of overnight, I updated my office IM with “I miss my cats.” It’s become a bit of a joke at work, but mostly it’s just a simple truth when I travel. I miss my cats. My cats with their insistent meows and contented purrs – my cats who claim me as home.

    My journey started in Fort Lauderdale slightly before 3pm (local time.) Glad I didn’t have to run to make my flight, I still felt the anxiety of waiting – my journey home would mean a stop first in New Orleans and then another in Chicago. In total it would take about seven or eight hours – most of them in the air to make a trip that takes closer to 3 hours on a direct flight.

    Finally home in Kansas City and sucking in familiar air, my impatience once again builds as I wait for the Parking Spot shuttle that will take me to freedom. I’m frustrated and annoyed because I know I do not have any cash with me and won’t be able t tip the driver who will help me with my bag. The drivers all seem to be slightly older, grey men with classic names like George and Charles. Tonight, it’s the white haired Jake who helps me. I’ve ridden with Jake before and hope that I had  cash for a tip them. I am a very inconsistent tipper. Most times I forget to break $20′s  or simply forget to get cash. Skycaps and drivers have received tips of $5, $3, $1, or no dollars depending on what is available. I vow that next time I will have cash and if Jake is my driver, I will tip big to compensate for tonight.

    As I sit on the shuttle staring at my long, black shellacked fingernails – hmm, definitely over grown and time to be cut and re-painted – I feel trapped. If Sartre and Beckett were to create a video game this would be it. A group of tired travelers, an old man who should be retired in his lounge chair and a bus. In the buss small dim lights cast a blueish hue on our skin. A loop of cheesy muzak grates our ears as the bus clunks along the scarred road. I am scowling quizzically wondering if it is the road or  a flat tire creating the disturbance. The muzak crescendos and lulls, the lights steadily shine, and the people look away trapped in their own thoughts of freedom from the machine that is not coming fast enough. Soon I am back to my fingernails – waiting to soak away the color and admiring it.

    I will be in my Nissan soon. It will take me down the dark highway towards home. In the round-about there will be a deer. Sizable too and she will turn and run from my headlights. So many deer out lately. I will just be happy this one lives.

    When I walk in the front door the carpet angel is forgotten. Instead, I will focus as I would any night on my pre-bed routine – feed the cats, turn out the light, and go upstairs where my soft green pajama pants are waiting. As I crawl into bed I wait and hope for that plonk next to me and then the rhythmic purr and weighty warmth of a kitten settling next to me for the night – home.

    Category blah blah, writing | Tags: | No Comments

  5. I Am Still Here

    May 14, 2011 by Blondette

    A week ago I thought about what I should write. And mainly it was because I haven’t written for so long. As I walked through Target on a Thursday night I thought, “how odd to eat dinner at the Target.” I was picking up antibiotics for my latest sinus infection and I looked over and saw a small family eating dinner at the food court area near the carts. The lone employee looked bored and downtrodden. Eating at the Target makes the meal less special to me. When I eat, I like to focus.

    By Saturday, I was thinking about the impending Mother’s Day deadline for which I was not prepared. I’d been sick since Tuesday of that week and all of my energy went to making it through work and breathing while propped up on my couch or in bed. I had an appointment with the dietitian and the exercise psychologist on Wednesday morning – I smiled and nodded and took notes even through all I wanted to do was drive straight home and crawl into my bed.

    I was anxious and excited for my latest weight, body fat, and fat free mass reading. It was my third and this time it was not “that week” where I was retaining water and I’d been eating so well and exercising – my home scale told me I was down 10 pounds in a little less than 2 months. I weighed in at 235 lbs – the scale at the doctor’s office was telling me the same thing my home scale said – YOU DID IT.  I thought I would be joyful but I was sort of depressed thinking about how 2 months is drop in the bucket compared to how much longer I have on my journey to getting rid of my excess weight and reaching my goal of being athletic and fit with a butt like the crossfit trainer who operates her gym at our office building. Seriously, this woman has the kind of body I would love – she’s lean, muscled, and shapely. But best of all – she’s strong and powerful. How could you not feel like you could take on anything in the world with a body like that? I don’t really want to do crossfit, but I would not mind finding out how to get a butt like hers. I’ve always had a sort of flat bottom. I know I probably won’t ever have an apple bottom, but there’s room for some improvement in my derriere.

    Saturday was also the day I was supposed to run my first 5k. The weekend before I did a practice run around my neighborhood, mixing running and walking for 50 minutes up and down the sidewalks.  It as raining when I woke up and took my medicine – and then crawled on the couch and stayed there until late afternoon. I missed the 5k, but I wasn’t even going to get a t-shirt and everyone knows the t-shirt is one of the best parts. It’s a badge of honor. A beacon of pride. A “hey, look at me. I’m one of them fit peoples.” I really wanted the bragging rights.

    This week when I hopped on the scale for my weekly check, I was up 2 pounds. The body is a pretty crazy and amazing thing. Even through I was sick, I was still tracking my food everyday and eating healthy. Unfortunately, I was not able to exercise. There is no way I ingested an extra 7000 calories over my BMR in order to gain weight. So how was I suddenly 2 pounds heavier?

    The rest of the week I tried not to think about my weigh in. I tried to focus on making good choices even though I was frustrated. I realized that this is what it’s going to be like for the next 2 years or so. I am going to get sick and not be able to work out. I am going to retain water one week out of the month. Sometimes, things will not go as planned. But I am still here.

    Category heart of the matter | Tags: , | 1 Comment

  6. Honk if You’re Hedgey

    March 20, 2011 by Blondette

    From my current vantage point I can see the backs of houses, the greenish grass, and of course, felines. It’s the first day of Spring and I’m in “The Office of the Queen.” (this is the name I’ve given my guest room/office for the purpose of checking in on foursquare.) In all my fantasies of being a writer, or at least of having a home office, I’ve always imagined a desk placed with a view of nature. I can stare for hours in silence. This is essential for meditation procrastination.

    Yesterday as I was driving home from my morning errands (it’s amazing how many people hit up the Costco on a Saturday morning as soon as it opens! I also found the same odd appeal at Michael’s and Dick’s.) I had what you might call an epiphany, only that seems sort of trite and exaggerated for what it really was – just sudden clicking into place of a desire – my perfect house/office would be on a second or third story overlooking a lake. (or some other non-tropical body of water.) Now, I’m not into water sports or boats, but I am into water foul. Watching geese makes me a little warm and fuzzy.

    I’m supposed to be figuring out what to do with the little patch of land which lines the walkway to my front door. I have bushes you see. Unruly, smelly bushes. I purchased hedge clippers yesterday which is kind of scary and awesome because I can go all Edward Scissorhands on my yucky bushes – only, I would prefer to uproot them completely. This creates a whole new level of strategic landscape planning. What tools do I need? How will I dispose of the remains? Will I be left with giant gaping holes in the ground? How many times will I accidentally hit myself in the face with a yard tool? However, if I get rid of the smelly bushes, it clears the path for scraping off the nasty wood chips. But whatever I will most certainly impact my pathway sharing neighbor. Symmetry will be lost. But is that a bad thing?

    I’ve considered 5 scenarios with my landing strip (what?):

    1. Simply trim the hedges to an acceptable size and shape
    2. Remove the hedges and chips and spread out wildflower seed
    3. Remove the hedges and chips and plant other stuff like herbs and veggies
    4. Removes hedges and chips and lay out stones/pebbles
    5. None of the above. Leave it as is – with netted lights and all.

    Obviously, I need to do more research on proper technique, supplies, and disposal (gardening gloves would be a good start, eh?) I have a real urge to somehow incorporate strawberry pots.

    Category blah blah, Life Lessons | Tags: | No Comments

  7. We Won: A Note to Jen Lancaster (because anything this short shouldn’t be called a letter)

    February 13, 2011 by Blondette

    Dear Jen Lancaster,

    In some cosmic twist of fate, we’ve won. We being the group of fans pulling for you to stop in Kansas City for your next book tour. The fact that you will be gracing us with your presence on Friday the 13th seems entirely fitting.

    Strangely, I feel like this matters.

    No pressure.

    Clandestinedly yours,

    Blondette

    PS. Clandestine is a little creepy. I’ll go back to HGTV now.

    Category Letters to Jen Lancaster | Tags: | No Comments

  8. Sanctuary

    February 6, 2011 by Blondette

    Wednesday night I sat in my favorite spot on the couch. After a good workout and a delicious dinner, I cracked open both of my blogs and let the world know what was on my mind.

    My spot is flattened from hours of sitting and laying. I have three pillows that I stack to support my back and head. When I couldn’t sleep upstairs in my bedroom early Saturday morning, I chose my spot hoping it would work its magic. What I didn’t expect was to look up and see a bullet hole in my wall…and another one in my window.

    Sometime Friday night while I was out, or while I was sleeping upstairs, someone fired a gun and the bullet came through my living room window, sliced through the air above my favorite spot on the couch, tore through the wall behind my couch, and broke through a bookcase on the other side of the wall.

    Had I not gone out on Friday night, I might have been in that spot, my favorite spot. Had I been there, I would have been shot in the head or chest.

    While I feel incredibly lucky that I deviated from my routine – most Friday nights I am in that spot – I can no longer sit in my living room without fear.

    Yes, this was probably an isolated incident. Yes, it was probably not directed at me. But that doesn’t matter. I’m only here by a matter of chance.

    Category heart of the matter | Tags: | 1 Comment

  9. Dear Jen Lancaster and Jen Lancaster’s PR Team

    February 2, 2011 by Blondette

    Dear Jen,

    I feel like such a fool! Here I am, a fan with a blog who created a Twitter account, a Facebook Fan Page, and a category on my blog and when you called for people to suggest cities for your next tour, where was I?

    Yes, WHERE WAS I?! DAMMIT, I MEAN REALLY? How did that happen? The few days I crawled into a blog and social media hole and that’s when all this goes down?

    I can only hope that when you said you were pulling for Kansas City it was because of me. Me and my marginally entertaining “letters.” You know, well you don’t, but you will NOW, I have mixed feelings about seeing a favorite author in person. My experience with Sarah Vowell left me feeling empty and slightly ridiculous.

    I will admit that I tried Googling your PR agent. And then I smacked myself. The chips (mmm, chips and salsa) will fall. Maybe you’ll come to KC. Maybe you won’t. But please, no St. Louis.

    I have faith that you will come to KC for a book tour.

    Would it help if I said I like your wallpaper?

    A little more than fashionably late,

    Katie

    Category Letters to Jen Lancaster | Tags: , | No Comments

  10. Mute

    January 24, 2011 by Blondette

    There are two times of day when I really like my house. One of them is right now. The “just before bed” time. All I can hear is the clock ticking (and now, my fingers typing). The lights are dim and warm and the cats are still. Every beat is peace. Soon, I’ll be upstairs and I’ll turn over in the bed and smile at the softness of the sheets (flannel!) I’ll bury myself deep under the fluff of the silky down comforter. And then I will drift.

    My other favorite time is morning – dawn and early morning when only the true morning people are stirring. I feel cheated if I miss this time of day. Everything is new. New minutes. New sun. New clouds. New birds. New me. Everything is still and kinetic. (buzzing?)

    I love the times when the world is on mute and I’m controlling the volume.

    Category blah blah | Tags: | No Comments

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