The Girl in Apartment K has been trying new things recently. One of the things she has been doing differently nowadays makes her eyes sparkle. She smiles more. The main reason she smiles more is quite simple. She is happy. Here are a few things that bring her smile out.
Sunshine: It may not seem like a big deal to everyone else, but The Girl in Apartment K carves the Sun. The sight. The warmth. The brightness. She even loves songs about the Sun (ie: Walking on Sunshine, Soak Up the Sun, ect.) Living in Indiana, the Sun hides a lot. For a solar powered individual like The Girl in Apartment K, this will not do.
Sweets: The Girl in Apartment K has a really big sweet tooth. Cookies, cakes, brownies, candy. It's all good. Sometimes a little too good.
Music: Music is a huge part of The Girl in Apartment K's life. It is there in her borrowed car on the way to a long day at work. It is there in her ear as she walks off the aforementioned sweets. It is in her mouth after a random thought brings a lyric to her brain. It is on her mind when she thinks about the future (ie: songs for her next wedding, to sing to her kids, to remember forever, ect.) It is in her heart as she sings praise to her God. Discovering new music is one of her favorite things. She is continuously scoping out new (or new to her) artists.
Accomplishing Things: Who doesn't love reaching their goals? The thing that makes The Girl in Apartment K different is that she gets happy - no, like REALLY happy - when she accomplishes even the smallest goal. "Yay, the dishes are done!, Woo hoo! I unclogged a drain all by myself." Those kind of things.
There are other things, and people, who make her smile. But, some things are better left private. The Girl in Apartment K doesn't need the world to know every little thing about her life, her heart and her soul, to prove that she is happy. She just needs to keep on shining.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
I Don't Want to Grow Up
The Girl in Apartment K is a big kid. No. Really. She may act like a grown up on the outside: paying bills on time, never late to work, taking the high road when she can. But that is all an act. Inside (and sometimes not-so-inside), the Girl in Apartment K is a child.
Her love for cartoons: The Girl in Apartment K was not an athletic child. She was quite content sitting in front of the TV watching Nickelodeon and the same movies over and over and over. To this day, those movies still touch her heart. An American Tail, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Land Before Time (the original, none of those bullshit sequels) are just a few of the films that impacted her as a child.
Toys: Legos, Play-Doh, Colorforms. The Girl in Apartment K loves to play. Sometimes, if she's not in a hurry, The Girl in Apartment K will stop by a park just to swing for a bit. The breeze flowing thru her hair, the chains in her grip. It takes her back to the swing set in her back yard. Back to a simple time when she didn't have a care in the world.
Pop-up books: Pretty sure this one explains itself. :)
Her Girls: The Girl in Apartment K lives vicariously thru her three nieces right now. She listens to them talk about baton practice. Gets excited with them when a boy shows up at gymnastics just to see them. She signs their homework for them. She has them read to her. She bakes for them just so they can lick the beaters. She aches with them when they are in pain. When their boyfriends don't call or when a girl calls them a bitch.
Being a child on the inside is The Girl in Apartment K's way of forgetting the bad things in her life, in the world. Watching the Muppets helps her forget that her house is foreclosing. Surprise trips to the mall just for cookies help her to move past the idea of wife beaters and earthquakes. Making sand castles gives her a break from being the boss. She doesn't need a car to play video games with her girls. The idea of going over the rainbow to a land of sun and color gives her hope. Why would she want to be anything less than a child when there are so many grown up problems in her world?
Her love for cartoons: The Girl in Apartment K was not an athletic child. She was quite content sitting in front of the TV watching Nickelodeon and the same movies over and over and over. To this day, those movies still touch her heart. An American Tail, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Land Before Time (the original, none of those bullshit sequels) are just a few of the films that impacted her as a child.
Toys: Legos, Play-Doh, Colorforms. The Girl in Apartment K loves to play. Sometimes, if she's not in a hurry, The Girl in Apartment K will stop by a park just to swing for a bit. The breeze flowing thru her hair, the chains in her grip. It takes her back to the swing set in her back yard. Back to a simple time when she didn't have a care in the world.
Pop-up books: Pretty sure this one explains itself. :)
Her Girls: The Girl in Apartment K lives vicariously thru her three nieces right now. She listens to them talk about baton practice. Gets excited with them when a boy shows up at gymnastics just to see them. She signs their homework for them. She has them read to her. She bakes for them just so they can lick the beaters. She aches with them when they are in pain. When their boyfriends don't call or when a girl calls them a bitch.
Being a child on the inside is The Girl in Apartment K's way of forgetting the bad things in her life, in the world. Watching the Muppets helps her forget that her house is foreclosing. Surprise trips to the mall just for cookies help her to move past the idea of wife beaters and earthquakes. Making sand castles gives her a break from being the boss. She doesn't need a car to play video games with her girls. The idea of going over the rainbow to a land of sun and color gives her hope. Why would she want to be anything less than a child when there are so many grown up problems in her world?
Sunday, March 20, 2011
I Have Confidence in Me
Recently, The Girl in Apartment K went on a blind date. He was really cute. We're talking Bradley Cooper but slightly scruffier. And he was nice, too. However, he just was not for her. So, the next day when he asked her out again, The Girl in Apartment K was honest and said it didn't work out. They didn't mesh well. And it felt good to be able to do that.
A year ago, The Girl in Apartment K would not have been strong enough to say 'no' to a gorgeous man paying her any attention. She would have continued to date him, wasting her time and his, because she would have felt lucky just to have him look at her. She was overweight, leaving a crumbling marriage, and trying to piece her life back together. Any attention, even negative, was good attention. Well, she's not that girl anymore. She speaks her mind more and refuses to settle. She doesn't think she is a 10, but The Girl in Apartment K knows she looks way better than she did before - and even if no one else knows that, she does.
With every new day, she grows stronger. She finds something else about herself that makes her smile. She has a sparkle in her eye that was not there before. Someone had blown it out a long time ago. Well, her light is shining and she doesn't care who sees it.
Today, at the store, The Girl in Apartment K saw a man looking at her. No, he was checking her out. She smiled. And then realized she wasn't even wearing makeup. It was just her spark (or the Batman shirt she was wearing) that made him look. And THAT felt good.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The Loves of My Life
The Girl in Apartment K may not have the man of her dreams at her side right now, but she has something much better. She has the undying love of three beautiful girls. They can take her shit day and turn it into a room full of sunshine just by giving her a "whatever attitude" look, telling her to "Don't Stop Believin," or asking her to talk like Spike. They have helped her thru some of the worst parts of her life without even trying. When she told them she was no longer going to be with her first husband, they replied with a joyous, "Now, you can cook the good chilli." And "Now, you can marry Spencer from iCarly." When she was recovering from her surgery, they snuggled with her on the couch and got her hooked on a "Toddlers and Tiaras" marathon. When she totaled her SUV, they told her that her next car will be even better than Taylor Swift (named so because of the fast pace she moved.)
Saturday, February 19, 2011
2011: To Do List
The Girl in Apartment K is ready to make some changes. There are several things she would like to accomplish in the upcoming year, resolutions, if you will. Here is a list (in no particular order.)
~ Be more social. Apartment K is great and all, but there is life outside. (Thanks, Avenue Q.)
~ Try seafood. From an early age, The Girl in Apartment K told everyone that she was allergic to seafood. This is untrue as far as she knows. She has never tried it and was always afraid it would be gross. She has visions of yuck from the bottom of the ocean filling her mouth with every bite.
~ Read more. Watch less TV. When she moves in with her folks, she will be within walking distance of a very nice library. Free books and a workout. What could be better?
~ See more live music. The Girl in Apartment K wants to support local bands. The problem with that is she doesn't know where to find them. She also just loves concerts in general.
~ Maintain a healthy weight. After slimming down, the hardest thing to do is keep it off. The Girl in Apartment K wants to tone her new svelte figure. However, she will not deprive herself of her guilty pleasures. (Twix PB, pizza, frosting on graham crackers)
~ Improve her credit score. Trusting the wrong people can really mess with your finances. Lesson learned, fix it, and move on.
~ Learn to roller blade. She already owns a pair, but took a big spill the first time she tried them and has yet to get back on the horse.
~ Find a job that does not consume her life.
~ Love more.
~ Make a fresh start.
~ Learn to play tennis. Pretty sure her brother will help her with this one.
~ Spend more time with brothers. It's pretty bad when she sees both of them the same amount when one lives 15 minutes away and one is 2 hours away. Gotta fix that too.
~ Try coffee. She always considered it to be an old person drink, but it always smells so good...
~ Pretty much just get her life back together. The Girl in Apartment K turns 27 this year. Those 27 years have not been the greatest. The next 27 are going to be the good ones.
~ Be more social. Apartment K is great and all, but there is life outside. (Thanks, Avenue Q.)
~ Try seafood. From an early age, The Girl in Apartment K told everyone that she was allergic to seafood. This is untrue as far as she knows. She has never tried it and was always afraid it would be gross. She has visions of yuck from the bottom of the ocean filling her mouth with every bite.
~ Read more. Watch less TV. When she moves in with her folks, she will be within walking distance of a very nice library. Free books and a workout. What could be better?
~ See more live music. The Girl in Apartment K wants to support local bands. The problem with that is she doesn't know where to find them. She also just loves concerts in general.
~ Maintain a healthy weight. After slimming down, the hardest thing to do is keep it off. The Girl in Apartment K wants to tone her new svelte figure. However, she will not deprive herself of her guilty pleasures. (Twix PB, pizza, frosting on graham crackers)
~ Improve her credit score. Trusting the wrong people can really mess with your finances. Lesson learned, fix it, and move on.
~ Learn to roller blade. She already owns a pair, but took a big spill the first time she tried them and has yet to get back on the horse.
~ Find a job that does not consume her life.
~ Love more.
~ Make a fresh start.
~ Learn to play tennis. Pretty sure her brother will help her with this one.
~ Spend more time with brothers. It's pretty bad when she sees both of them the same amount when one lives 15 minutes away and one is 2 hours away. Gotta fix that too.
~ Try coffee. She always considered it to be an old person drink, but it always smells so good...
~ Pretty much just get her life back together. The Girl in Apartment K turns 27 this year. Those 27 years have not been the greatest. The next 27 are going to be the good ones.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Letter #3: Letter to Your Parents
Dear Mom and Dad,
First, I would like to thank you for letting me move back home, even though it has yet to happen and I have yet to complain about anything. I am very fortunate to have that option. Not everyone does. You two have always been very supportive, even when you didn't agree with my decisions.
Second, I want to thank you for (almost) always having a sense of humor about everything that goes on in our lives. However, the sex jokes need to be toned down a bit.
Third, I hope to always be there for you if you should ever need me. I may not always have the finances to solve your problems, but I will always do my best. I may not be able to buy you a new laptop, or a car, or a wedding dress, or a wedding for that matter, or a year of college, or 18 + years of food and clothes and toys and insurance and education.
Fourth, thank you for bringing me up in a house where I can be myself and not hide who I am. You do not judge any of your children. They have the right to use a payday loan to buy a grill for their teeth, have a baby as a freshmen in high school, have a girlfriend live with us (and then not move out), or go to college for something stupid. While you did make fun of us for some these stupid decisions, you never made it so we could not come home. I know I appreciate it and I am sure the other three do to.
Thanks.
First, I would like to thank you for letting me move back home, even though it has yet to happen and I have yet to complain about anything. I am very fortunate to have that option. Not everyone does. You two have always been very supportive, even when you didn't agree with my decisions.
Second, I want to thank you for (almost) always having a sense of humor about everything that goes on in our lives. However, the sex jokes need to be toned down a bit.
Third, I hope to always be there for you if you should ever need me. I may not always have the finances to solve your problems, but I will always do my best. I may not be able to buy you a new laptop, or a car, or a wedding dress, or a wedding for that matter, or a year of college, or 18 + years of food and clothes and toys and insurance and education.
Fourth, thank you for bringing me up in a house where I can be myself and not hide who I am. You do not judge any of your children. They have the right to use a payday loan to buy a grill for their teeth, have a baby as a freshmen in high school, have a girlfriend live with us (and then not move out), or go to college for something stupid. While you did make fun of us for some these stupid decisions, you never made it so we could not come home. I know I appreciate it and I am sure the other three do to.
Thanks.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
#2: Letter to Your Crush
Dear Ryan Reynolds,
I am so sorry to hear that you and Scarlet Johansson did not work out. However, I think there is another option that would be better for you: Me. Here are a few reasons we should be together (in no particular order).
1. We are both newly divorced. Going thru this alone can be overwhelming. I am willing to help you thru this hard time.
2. You were named People's Sexiest Man Alive whereas I am the sexiest woman that lives in Apartment K. See the connection?
3. I want to be domestic. How do you like your eggs? I will cook them for you. Do you prefer Era or Tide? I don't have a preference.
4. I enjoy naked time. You may not want to go Full Monty right away, so I can settle for Topless Tuesdays. Whatever works for you.
5. I am used to winter weather. I know you are from Canada and Indiana is very similar in climate. So long as we take frequent trips to warmer places, I am good to live in Canada too.
6. I may still have artwork that says "Kathy and Ryan." I haven't cleaned up everything at my old house yet. This includes a framed piece of art from one of my friends. It was a wedding gift for me and the other Ryan.
7. Reynolds is an easy last name to pronounce. I will have no problem taking your name, dear.
8. We are both Packer fans. That should be enough right there.
9. I have gotten really good at doing "special things" recently and I would love to practice on you.
Give me a call sometime.
I am so sorry to hear that you and Scarlet Johansson did not work out. However, I think there is another option that would be better for you: Me. Here are a few reasons we should be together (in no particular order).
1. We are both newly divorced. Going thru this alone can be overwhelming. I am willing to help you thru this hard time.
2. You were named People's Sexiest Man Alive whereas I am the sexiest woman that lives in Apartment K. See the connection?
3. I want to be domestic. How do you like your eggs? I will cook them for you. Do you prefer Era or Tide? I don't have a preference.
4. I enjoy naked time. You may not want to go Full Monty right away, so I can settle for Topless Tuesdays. Whatever works for you.
5. I am used to winter weather. I know you are from Canada and Indiana is very similar in climate. So long as we take frequent trips to warmer places, I am good to live in Canada too.
6. I may still have artwork that says "Kathy and Ryan." I haven't cleaned up everything at my old house yet. This includes a framed piece of art from one of my friends. It was a wedding gift for me and the other Ryan.
7. Reynolds is an easy last name to pronounce. I will have no problem taking your name, dear.
8. We are both Packer fans. That should be enough right there.
9. I have gotten really good at doing "special things" recently and I would love to practice on you.
Give me a call sometime.
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