Katie's Random Thoughts

Well, it has been nearly a year since I posted here.  Time has steadily ticked away and I have been generally busy, so it seems like the year has passed in the blink of an eye.  And at times I wonder if I have accomplished all that I could in that time.  I suppose childhood and early adulthood are marked by specific milestones that provide a feeling of having accomplished something, while the milestones associated with later adulthood are more nebulous and less celebrated.  Maybe the lesson is to appreciate the small victories and find joy in everyday things.

I will at least post a photo of our Christmas tree once it is decorated.

After the busy holiday, Andrew and I took the opportunity to relax today. After church, we got our Christmas tree and spent the afternoon watching The Two Towers. We considered continuing the LOTR marathon, but we do have to get up to go to work tomorrow.

The last thing I wrote was a plan for how I was going to tackle my Thanksgiving menu.  The meal is quite elaborate, so I make out a plan for what I should do when so that everything can proceed smoothly.  Usually, I don’t actually follow the plan to the letter once I’ve written it, but having a written plan helps me know that I have thought things through adequately.

I am a forgive-and-forget kind of person.  Honestly, it takes a lot of effort to stay mad at someone, and I’d much rather use my energy for other things.  Besides, who wants to walk around surrounded by the emotional black cloud that carrying a grudge tends to create?

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have been baking most of the day, but I thought I pop in for a quick post.  I am working on 5 pies and 3 loaves of bread.  I need another oven.

I would probably travel a substantial distance if I was going to be guaranteed the best meal of my life, as long as Andrew came with me.  I think that what makes a meal is not just the quality of the food, but the whole experience, including who you share it with.

There are several smells that I associate with fall.  I think most evocative is the scent of a chilly breeze carrying a hint of damp leaves.  Also, the scent of the warm, autumn-y spices like cinnamon and clove.  Applesauce or soup simmering on the stove.

He finished in ~2 hours and 10 minutes (he just informed me that it was actually 2 hours 9 minutes and 48 seconds).  So tonight I am a very proud wife.

I can’t really stay awake until 3 am.  I usually turn into a pumpkin around 10 or 11 pm.

I also loved to read The Little House books, and probably went through the whole series (in order of course) at least 5 or 6 times.  I discovered these books at my Grandma Francis’s house as well, and then she got me a set of my own for Christmas.  These books probably helped to positively reinforce my desire to pursue the various domestic hobbies that I have (cooking, sewing, knitting, etc).  I do remember perusing them for Christmas gift ideas for my family.  Yes, I was a bit of a weird kid.

Happiness is a cheese sandwich, especially when your wife makes it for you.

I think that I would like to be remembered as a kind and moral person.  Professionally, I hope that my scientific findings move medical practice forward and improve patient care.  I don’t think that it is important to me to be remembered for one specific accomplishment, but rather that I have made the most of my life and contributed to making the world a better place, even if it is only for one person.

I had an eight hour long meeting at work today. A very productive and interesting meeting but mentally tiring. Time to relax for the evening.

Literally. Just typing a quick post on my phone so I can check off today for NaBloPoMo. I was at a dinner for work and now it is time for bed.

My ideal day off would start with having any major projects or commitments wrapped up, so I wouldn’t feel like I had anything hanging over my head.  Then I would probably engage in some of my many hobbies.  Maybe start the day with yoga, read for a bit, do some crafting (knitting, cross stitch, and/or sewing), cook a fancy, interesting dinner, cuddle up on the couch with Andrew and some popcorn to watch a movie.  And I think that would pretty much wrap up the day.