Because people were beginning to threaten pain ... you can now find me on Facebook.

Have fun!

Hey Peoples!!! I'm stateside until Daddy's Day and really appreciating all of the lovely and often overlooked amenities of living in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave: traffic laws, customer service, broccoli, and washing machines.

Anyhoot ... If you're nearby and want to get together, lemme know. Also, if you're not nearby but want me to call so we can catch up without a 3 second delay over the phone, lemme know. I do have cell phone (but since it's my dad's, i can't post here) and I shall get in touch.

I want to get in touch with as many people as possible, so write me quick!

My dear friends and ... friends (I don't have family with LJ accounts),

I'm still alive. Really. I don't have the internet access, but I am still a functional carbon-based lifeform. And since I've been away from LJ for 6 months: here's a recap:

June:
Meet other PCVs in Philly and we did paperwork and had group activities.
Fly to Azerbaijan via Frankfurt. 27 hours of non-stop travel. Yeah ... bring it (oh it's already been brought-en)

July:
Sweat my metaphorical balls off.
Language class 4 hours a day, 5 days a week (overload!)
Groups activities once a week

August:
Repeat July ... sweat more

September:
Move to Dashkesen
Feel confused and lonely and homesick

October:
Begin to understand class schedule
Teach English
Form clubs I don't know what to do with
Halloween Party

Novemeber:
Teach some more
Work the clubs
Play in the snow
Wait on packages
Thanksgiving Dinner

December:
Keep on teaching
Keep on clubbing
Get sick from playing in lots of snow
Play with packages
Training (= group activities)
Christmas party

And that's what I've been up to. This shit is hard. No, really. Hard. If I had known it was going to be this hard, I probably wouldn't have done this. But now that I'm here, I'm not giving up on it.

Sadly, my internet is not what I would like for it to be. I'll try to post more, but if you'd like regular updates, email me and ask to be added to my mailing list. That's the bestest. You'll hear from me again, hopefully, before another 6 months has passed ... but who knows!

Cheers!

How excited am I? Well, I'll have to let the anxiety go away before I can truly say, but I think I'd have to say pretty damn.

This past week has been amazing. The weeks and months leading up to today have flown by, but this week has moved at a much more sedate pace, allowing me to savor the places and people that mean most to me. I've said goodbye to my cat, to most of my friends, and to my Jenn (I loff you, Jenn). I'm still headed up to the barn for one last hurrah there. And then home for one last dinner with my family and then to unpack and repack everything compulsively until we leave in the morning, cause, yeah, sleeping just ain't gonna happen.

My errands are run. I've put together the photo album of "life" in America with things like a mail truck, a payphone, the grocery store, and a metric fuckton of coke cases. No, really, it's cute! The paperwork is in order, so now my dad can totally screw with my finances and legalities and I can't do a damn thing about it. And yeah ... everything is set.

I've really enjoyed hanging out with people over the past couple of weeks. (And talking to those of you who live too far away to hang out with). Although, I'd have to say the entertainment highlight of the week was going to see the psychic. Jenn thought it would be fun. Umm, okay? So, here's what she says about me: I'm destined for a career in corporate finance. WTF? Yeah, those of you who know my math skillz are laughing right now, because I can't balance a checkbook. She also told me that I'll meet the man of my dreams in October. And he'll have an accent. And that I'm on the cusp of a career change, and I am moving in the near future. All on the money, to be sure, but she also mentioned that one of my past "relationships" was trying to contact me. Yeah, hasn't happened. Still, check back in October to see who "he" is. Mwwahahahaha!

Okay, the next time I post will either be from Philly or Baku. Cheers!

Jezebel and I made it safely down to Savannah. I miss her already. She crawled all over the car until we got to Macon, and then she slept the rest of the way. I think she settled in well with M. and S. They have a large apartment with stairs and a small balcony from which she can look at everything. She absolutely adored S and started following her around as soon as she got home from work. I hate leaving her behind, but at least I know that she's with good people who treat her very well.

I survived my last shift at Borders tonight. Two annoying kids for storytime, but they only lasted 30 mins. I spent the next hour helping out where I was needed, and then was asked if I could stay late (becuase someone had to go home sick) and I agreed. At the end of my last hour there this woman starts bitching to me about how it's not fair that I gave someone a discount but her cashier didn't give her one blah blah blah .... I really wanted to tell her how much I didn't care, especially since she wouldn't let me call my supervisor and there was nothing I could do for her without a supervisor's approval. Grargh. But, I did get an amazing White Stripes mix from one of my coworkers, and I'm very happily jamming to it right now (can I still use the phrase "jamming"?).

Family time tomorrow and lots more stuff going on Sunday. I leave in 8 days. OMG. Let the freaking out begin.

I don't know how I'm going to sleep without my kitty.

I don't know how to describe how I'm feeling. It's kind of scared. Kind of excited. Kind of wtfdidigetmyselfinto? Kind of HOW COOL! And a lot of AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH! because I still have a million things to get finished before I leave. Getting ready to go is almost a full time job.

In great news: I made Thomas go shopping with me yesterday because he's lucky. I found a couple more tops that I liked on clearance. I found the shortwave that I wanted ($10 cheaper at register than marked). The sleeping bag that I decided to get was $50 cheaper than the last time I looked at it. I mean, damn. The kid is really lucky. I got exactly the planner I wanted. So now, with the exception of "host family gifts", I have officially completed outfitting myself for this adventure. And I just had a thought ... I may get the host family gifts up in Philly. I mean, a couple of weeks before the 4th of July I should be able to find some great Americana stuff up there, right? That, and Peace Corps gives us a per diem while we're there, so, yeah.

Other great news: Jezebel has a home!!!! If you ever feel the need to visit the greatest kitty ever, you'll have to truck it down to Savannah, as she's staying with my friends spidermum and hawkshroom. I am going to miss her so very very much, but I will at least know that she is with good people in whom I have complete trust. She will be loved, and that's the most important thing. In fact, I'm pretty sure she will be treated better with them than she would if mom and dad let me leave her here (which they won't), so I guess things really do have a way of working out.

In good news: 2 more hours at Borders. Just storytime on Friday and then no more bookstore for Kat. This job was one of those bittersweet experiences: there were things about it that I really liked, and there were things about it that I really didn't like. But before I left today I took one last good look through the promo shelf and came away with the new Lifehouse CD, the new Kate Bush CDs, and the new Sinead O'Connor. The only one I've heard all the way through is Kate Bush (btw - 100wordspermin, you can have Aerial once I've loaded it into iTunes) and I know it's good. And even if the others aren't great, well, they're free.

Okay, it's now time for me to start scanning, printing, and moving a ton of files and media. I'm probably going to be at/near my computer for the next few days. Get it out of my system before I have limited access, right?

Sorry about being hard to get in touch with; my cell phone died. For everyone who has called and/or messaged about seeing me before I leave, yes, we shall ... I just need to sort some stuff out ... like my mother. Because she really hurt my feelings. Sadly, there's no way to tell her this, because I will at that point be attacking her. Two friggin weeks left, Mom. And I really wanted to spend some time with you, not fight like we did all of last year. But this time, I really didn't do anything wrong.

I feel blah. But I love my friends.

I didn't sleep too well last night. I think it's because after I got home from Jon & Kristina's very lovely wedding I fell asleep. I woke up in time to go to the movies with my family. Yes, the whole family. Dad's idea. I know, I can't believe it either. He wanted to see United 93. And damn if that isn't a hard movie to watch. So the nap and the emotional rollercoaster I went on during the movie keyed me up until the wee hours of the morning.

And then there was work. The Bitch is on vacation this week and next (and I get her hours!) so it was just me this morning. And since it was Memorial Day, we got slammed like a midget wrestling a giraffe. Like whoa, as the Timba would say. I stayed an hour late to help out, cause I'm all nice and stuff. Yeah.

Anywayz, it seems as though Jezebel has joined a Pet-of-the-Week plan. Last week's pet was a chipmunk that scurried all over my room while she chased it and played with it and didn't kill it. (I only found out today that Bosco took care of it). Well, this week's pet, apparently, is a lizard (pronounced: leeeezerd). She's been leaving pieces of his tail all over the place, and I can't get her to clean them up. I'm pretty sure the actual lizard is somewhere amongst the pieces of my printer on my crate shelves (appx 3 inches from my foot right now) because she keeps sniffing aroung in there. And I found a piece of tail nearby. Okay Jezebel, time to cancel the subscription. No more pets for you.

So. The wedding was fun. Guess who caught the bouquet? Oh yes, single ladies everywhere are screwed. And how is it I've NEVER heard of the tradition where the guy who catches the garter puts the garter back on to the girl who catches the bouquet until this wedding???? I'm still thankful I know the guy who caught the garter.

This weekend is going to be interesting. Mom, Auntieem, Uncle Bill and I are flying up to Virginia for my cousin's 80th birthday. What joy is mine?! It should be a weekend filled with the kind of barbeques, social graces, and family angst that only an old south family can provide. Have I mentioned that I'm the ONLY person not medicated on this trip? Donde esta Jose? At least I'll have the chance to use the new Vera Bradley duffel my MeeMa gave me. And speaking of Vera Bradley, she has messenger bags and OMFGCUTE!

Time now for the bed. Have to get up and do the work thing again tomorrow. Wow, this is the first time I've worked two days in a row in ... I can't remember. Yay for me! And my checkbook! Cheers!

Things have been nutz lately, which is why I haven't posted in a while. Most recently, my good friend from high school, coloroflilacs, got married yesterday!!! The wedding ceremony was beautiful, the bride was gorgeous, and the reception was so much fun. Kristin and Jay looked so happy together, and I know they've begun a wonderful life. I saw friends I haven't seen in ages, which is always a good thing, and I met some wonderful new people last night. I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that Kris is married. I was looking at her las night thinking: this is a movie, this can't be real. But it is. And it's good. So, I hope you two have fun on your honeymoon!

The rest of my life is consumed with thinking about Azerbaijan. I am so excited about going. More excited than scared, for sure. And I love getting to know the people in my group. There is already a sense of teamwork and camaraderie among us. I get the feeling that I'm going to enjoy spending the next two years working with these people. 35 Days and counting!

I rode a lot this week. Topper is still lame (and has been for a month, seems to be his yearly stone bruise) so I rode Crown and Reggie. Damn. By Friday I had a trademark on sore. Crown takes so much more leg than Topper, and I hadn't ridden in a couple of weeks anyway. And by the time I got to Reggie, wow. But then Reggie is so narrow compared to Crown and Topper, than I was using completely new muscles, so owwwww. But I'm better now. I scratched from the show this coming Saturday, because Topper is going to be out of shape and I really can't afford it anyway. So much to get for Azerbaijan, and such little paychecks. You know how it goes.

If you add in lots of TV and time with my kitty, that's the gist of my life right now. Jon & Kristina's wedding is this coming Sunday. And I'm going to Virginia the following weekend to visit my cousin. Yay! So, cheers!

I promised myself that I wouldn't cry about him ever again. And I'm not. And this isn't about him so much as it is about what he's done to me. I didn't realize until this week how fragile my trust is in people and how easily my trust can be bruised. And bruised it must be, because I ache.

Fuck this.
And Fuck you, Zac.

I don't want to be broken and alone anymore.

Live, from Lexington, Kentucky, it's ME!

I would like to begin by saying that I have some of the BEST FRIENDS EVER. And although I'm usually pretty clever, Jenn is cleverer still. I really thought we were going to a Plumb concert last Saturday. Yeah. Not so much. We had to "stop off" in Kennesaw to "pick up" Jenn's friend Lauren who was on a "date" with her husband at the Melting Pot. Yeah. I bought every word. So much for the infallible trust, Jenn. We walked onto the patio, and there were my parents and brother, Matt, Meghann, Ryan, and Cheryl. And I'm like, dur? We had a great time. If you were invited and couldn't make it, I'm sorry, because it was so much fun. I love you Gwens, always.

We made it to Lexington in about 6 hours, which is pretty good timing, if I may say so. Especially with an extra long stop at Stucky's along the way. nicchus drove all the way down from Cincinnati. My ever so loving and concerned friends decided I was not allowed to go off with him alone (because he might try to kill me -- the key word in that sentence is try) so we all went out to dinner. There was much fun to be had. And although Tom significantly validated his place in life as a complete and consumate geek, I would like to see him again. If he can make up his mind to do so. I took pity on Tom, which is why his ass was not kicked, although I did totally dominate him in the operation of a digital camera. Ha.

This morning we got up and drove over to the Thoroughbred Training Center. The tour took us over to the track where we got to meet a couple of the horses and riders on their morning workout. We got to check out one of the barns (there are close to 1,000 horses in residence) and we even got to see Winning Colors (the last filly to win the Kentucky Derby, 1988) across the pasture. Frikkin Cool. We detoured over to the town of Midford to visit a place called Old Friends, which is the only Thoroughbred Stallion Retirement Farm in existance. Met some pretty cool horses there, and this really cool caretaker who really loves those boys. After getting only slightly turned around (for the fourth time that morning) we made our way over to the Kentucky Horse Park. Much fun. Lots of horses (really!!??) and horse related things like horse museums, horse gift shops, horseback riding, horse shows ... et cetera. But the coolest was the Hall of Champions. I was less than 5 feet away from Cigar (Breeder's Cup Champion, 1995, among others) today.

And tomorrow is, of course, the Derby.

Watch out for trains.

I would be happier if my computer would behave, but computers will be computers, right?

I have not had one lesson during my scheduled lesson time this month. Today got rained out. Last Wednesday got rained out. The Wednesday prior to that I couldn't see. The first Wednesday this month Scott had camp (but I got to ride Reggie anyway). Last night was a good lesson, and because I was feeling froggish I rode Topper bareback down to his paddock. Have to say, he's the most comfortable bareback ride I've ever had. And he looks pretty darn sexy in his breastplate.

When I initially saw the 8 hours I had been scheduled at work this week I freaked out. But not so much anymore. I managed to pick up a 6 hour shift on Friday, which turned into an 11 hour shift when the GM decided that I could do Pajamamania (all by myself, too!). And one of the other guys on inventory has been out sick this week, so I got asked to cover his shift tomorrow morning. I'm going to hate waking up at 5.30 in the morning again. Next week I have more (like it's hard to have more than 8) hours on the schedule. So maybe I don't need to feel completely foolish for convincing myself not to stress about everything.

In amazing news: Mom just bought a new laptop, which means I get to inherit her old one to take to Azerbaijan with me. Everyone in country says they're really helpful to have. I wasn't going to go out and buy a new one (the one I used in college quit on me after graduation, although I'm still waiting for an open slot on Antiques Roadshow for it) but I feel better about taking a computer with me.

Even more amazing news: I wore a pair of pants today that I haven't in a while, and they were falling off my butt all day because I'm losing more weight. Yay. I should maybe do situps or something. Or maybe not.

And that's that. I'm looking forward to more fun-filled days ahead ... especially at the KENTUCKY DERBY!
Cheers, everyone!

Karma, or my life, or the Fates, or God, or SOMETHING is trying to piss me off again. Well (ha!) it's not going to work. So ... there.

WORK: I was supposed to work 2 weeks at another store and earn more money and get 40 hours a week and all that jazz. And then my eye got sick. So I went in to MY store today to see what next week's schedule looks like, and, yeah. I've got 8 hours on the schedule. 8. Eight. Ocho. In Turkish, Sekkiz. (I can count to 10 now). WTF? It's like, "Hey Kat, you're the greatest person we have on the Inventory staff right now, but we're only going to let you work 8 hours and those will be for a different department, mkay?" *breathe* Reference my New Year's Resolution: SCREW YOU BOOKSTORE! I have all of 5 weeks left before I quit, and I can dog sit and have savings and I'll make it. It pisses me off, but I'll make it!

EYE: Is better. I saw the opthomologist for the umpteenth time this morning, and the infection is finally gone for good. Now, I have to take steriod drops to reduce the scar tissue -- it's really not as gross as it sounds on paper -- in my eye. Ha! My eye is on steroids. It can kick your ass. But it still can't see worth a damn.

SOCIAL: Horseback riding with timba Saturday afternoon followed by movies and martinis with the Kentucky-crew that night. Hanging with 100wordspermin at some time (??? - we need to figure this out) on Sunday. Next weekend is consumed with helping my bestest friend move into her NEW HOUSE!!!! and the Plumb concert in Rome one of those nights. (BTW - Plumb's new album, Chaotic Resolve, is amazing!)

HORSE: I've been to the barn ... today will make three days this week. Tuesday was a makeup for something. Yesterday got rained out after I got down there. Today is a make up for something else. I'm going to ride twice next week too. w00t! Also, show coming up at the end of May: the 27th, I believe. Whatever the Saturday before Memorial Day is. Day before Jon & Kristina's wedding.

RANDOM: I'm dog sitting for the next couple of days, so if I have to be home by 7, it's not because something will turn into a pumpkin, but because a cute little dog needs a shot. Staying up until 3 in the morning makes getting up at 9 very hard ... sorry again, timba. It's very hard to buy boots in the middle of summer.

Ciao!

Respond to this and I will:

1. I'll respond with something random I like about you.
2. I'll tell you what song/movie reminds me of you.
3. I'll name something we should do together.
4. I'll say something that only makes sense to you and me (or just me).
5. I'll tell you my first/clearest memory of you.
6. I'll leave you a quote that is somehow appropriate to you.
7. I'll ask you something that I've always wondered about you.
8. If I do this for you, you must post this on your journal so you can do the same for (myself and) other people

For those of you partial to Kentucky, I'm sorry, but your Kentuckified logic is messed up. I put the reservation for our hotel for the Derby on my credit card at the beginning of FEBRUARY. The reservation is for MARCH. So why does the ENTIRE amount show up on my bill in the MIDDLE OF APRIL?!?!?! I just PAID MY CARD OFF! This is NOT fair. It makes me sad.

*****
I can't take Meg anywhere. In one day, my entire barn AND the people I work with now think I'm lesbian. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, it's just misleading for me, because I'm not. And it's really really creepy to have my GM say, "have a good night" like that. But really, I had a blast. And I think she did, too. And I really appreciate the chauffer-thing seeing as how I can't, ya know, see right now.

*****
Jason Mraz is good.

*****
I found the Easter Bunny today. Er, part of him. It looks like he may have met his untimely end with a weed-whacker. Or a cat. It's hard to tell. So, sorry kiddies. If you don't have a basket waiting for you this year ... well, he had a good run of it.

*****
Time for bed.

The overnights are ... icky.

We're behind because the truck with the replacement fixtures broke down, so now we're trying to catch up, which is hard to do. When I left this morning, the store had opened, the guys were still installing the new CD racks, and none of the CDs were on them. I felt badly about having to leave, but it was rather necessary as:

my eye is screwed up.

I woke up yesterday afternoon with my left eye bothering me. Not unusual, as I live in my contacts, and sometimes my eyes just want a break. So I wore my glasses to work last night. As the night progressed, instead of the irritation going away, it got worse and worse, and my eye started leaking and hurting. Driving back home from Midtown this morning pretty much sucked.

My optomotrist doesn't work on Wednesdays. Mom called my doctor and got me in to see her. At first she thought I had the worst case of pink eye she's ever seen -- my eye wasn't pink so much as fire-truck red -- until she realized that there was no itching, no puss, and my tears were all completely clear. So she calls in a favor with an opthomologist friend of hers and gets me an appointment within 2 hours. I'm grateful, because by this time I'm so photo-sensitive that walking outside with just my right eye open makes my left eye HURT.

The opthomologist intially thinks pink eye also. But then he puts these nasty stinging drops into my eye and looks at them with a blue light and sees ... a bacterial ulcer. I have no idea how the hell I came into that one. But it hurts more than the cut I had on my cornea last summer. I go back to the opthomologist tomrrow to be sure the drops are working. Lets hope ... they taste horrible.

So now I'm trying to stay awake late-ish, so that tomorrow night at work isn't as horribly painful as I know it's going to be.

Why me?

Wow.

It's April. I'm still learning Turkish (I can now count to 5) and thinking about what to take and what to leave. I get more and more excited about the country the more I learn about it. The book by Kurban Said, "Ali and Nino" was an amazing read. I'm surprised it's not more popular. If any of you, dear readers, are interested in my country, pick up that book.

I think spring has finally settled down to stay, making it the most definite season since last summer. The dogwood outside my window is in full bloom. Speaking of dogwoods, I was supposed to go to the Dogwood Festival in Piedmont Park today, but it got all rainy. Maybe tomorrow. The rest of today will be dedicated to visiting with family and such since Uncle John is in town. I guess this will be my last chance to see him before I leave.

My work schedule is ... non-existant. Really. When I left work yesterday they didn't have a schedule posted for next week. I know that I'm working at the Buckhead store on Monday, but after that I've got no clue. It would be really nice to know when -- and where, since I've voluntered to help with rennovations at another store -- I'm working next. Blah. This past week was great though. We stayed on top of the pallets of books. I got caught up on a lot of paperwork -- one set is now only 3 weeks behind, as opposed to 3 months -- and I think I'm finally getting used to the 5.30 in the morning wake-ups again. If I'm never gripped with some desperate passion to follow a career path, I could see myself as a GM for one of these stores. What? Me? In a bookstore ... yeah.

I'm going to miss my Jezebel. I'm still looking for someone I trust to take care of her for me while I'm gone. Why are so many people allergic to cats?

And that's about it. timba and I watched Batman Begins the other night with our dear friend Senor Cuervo the other night. I get really really stupid when I'm drunk. And, aparently, really impressed with Chuck Norris.

It's quite a boring life I'm leading right now.

.... because Eddie Izzard is the shizznit. Period.

I sold my car.

The car that was my grandma's and came to me, even though both my mom and my aunt had their eyes on it. It's the only thing that my grandma promised me I could have that I actually got -- btw mom, I will be taking the flatware when I get married -- and didn't disappear into mom or aunt's secret hiding places. I'm sad to lose it. Very good car. With the fuzzy dice in the windows, and the Diddle hanging in the back, and all my best driving CDs ... sigh.

But really, no one was offering to pay for the storage and insurance and maintenance for the three or so years that I'll be overseas. Not to mention the bills that the money from the sale will pay off. So, it's a bittersweet kind of thing, I guess.

Also, major shout-out to Jenn who sat in traffic for HOURS giving me a ride home. I loff you.

Today was the last day of work at the barn. This afternoon is the funeral for my Uncle's mom. This coming week is the last normal week (well, as normal as my weeks get) for a long while. To get more hours with Borders I've agreed to help with the Midtown store's rennovation. That means almost two weeks of overnights. Icky. But money is rather necessary for, ya know, stuff.

Time for bath, nap, and Turkish before we leave.

So I'm type-type-typing away at my computer when my brilliant thoughts are interrupted by the rather loud snoring of my kitty. I turn about in my chair and see this: