One and a half more days of school, and then ::dundunduuun:: finals. And I am tired. four hours of sleep since Sunday? Oh me, oh my.

My News Presentation class did group projects (yuck on the group part), and my group did a story about abandoned animals in Lubbock. I wanted to share a few pictures of these sweet, sweet animals.

Little kitt-ay

It took all I had to not take this guy home.

Fuzzy ears.

Me, oh my. This semester was so hectic, and I apologize for abandoning my blog. As the semester closes, I will find interesting subjects to discuss. I guarantee it.

I have not been cooking much because I'm stinkin' busy with school and work. Yep. I got a job! My internship at Fox34 turned into an associate producer opportunity for the daily agriculture show (on a side note, I know very little about agriculture). But life has been good in that area.

No recent concerts, art or anything creative...However, I would like to share this picture of my friend, Daniel:

I tinkered a little with the exposure, but this is one of those pictures that just kind of worked. The color of the lights are natural.

The last three weeks in Lubbock were fun, but incredible uneventful. However, I did move out of my apartment, and I'm currently homeless until August 15th.

I did do quite a bit of soul searching over my hiatus, though. I bought a magazine about writing novels and short stories. I think I could do it! Mom wants me to be like Danielle Steel, but I'd rather tell stories that are timeless. I'm currently reading Jack Kerouac's On the Road. It's very well-written. I like his short, descriptive sentences. I hope I'm inspired like so many others by this book.

I'm no longer in Texas. I'm on a family vacation in the Northwestern United States. I landed in Jackson Hole, Wyoming yesterday, and we drove through Yellowstone. I finally got to see Old Faithful!

Old Faithful a-blowin'

From there, we stayed in West Yellowstone, Montana in a cute little cabin.

Today, we drove eight flippin' hours through the beautiful state of Montana. There was not much going on, and no cell phone service I might add, but the scenery was breathtaking. Mountains, covered in evergreens, grazing cloud-spotted skies. There was a rocky river that peeked in and out of sight of the freeway.

Then, my dad spotted a bear.

We pulled over on the side of the freeway so my dad could take pictures. He's a regular Clark Griswald.

Needless to say, this will be a very interesting eight days.

Well, I've finally made it to Lubbock! And I couldn't be happier.

I was supposed to move into my new apartment, but that fell through. Blah, blah, blah. So now I'm here with nothing to do but party. Maybe I should find a job to keep me out of trouble...

Nah.

Estelline had a great show last night at Blue Light. It felt so good to be back with my friends. I was reunited with many good people, good drink specials ($1 wells, woot woot), and great music.

Hey, hey. Look what I got.

And it hurt. However, I did not cry, yack or pass out. It was a successful experience. I think it's beautiful and received some good feedback on it last night.

I find it strange that in this flat Texas town, I am happier than any other place in the world. Is it the freedom I have? Is it the fact that I'm more responsible for myself? Or is it the loving people I am surrounded by here?

Picking around on a piece of ground in your hometown.

I suppose I never closed out the trip in my blogs: Finished my French class with an A. Shabooyuh. Paris was overcrowded and had an abundance of souvenir shops. I wish it wasn't so touristy. I did love the Eiffel Tower though. So romantic. Slept for about seven hours of the 11 hour flight home, which was awesome.

I made it home broke, tanned and slightly more European than I started.

I've been in Tyler for roughly a week. Needless to say, I'm ready to get to Lubbock tomorrow! I enjoy the relaxation that Tyler provides, but I'm ready for freedom. This place is oppressive to me. I can't be bothered in Lubbock like I am here. I believe my flaws are more prominent while I'm in Tyler, like being put under a microscope and examined. In Lubbock, I don't feel like that; I'm far more independent and liberated from any blind criticism.

I was able to pack the Mini with everything I intended on bringing: my giant acoustic bass, my record player, the greater half of my record collection (roughly 80 of 145), and some clothes.

I'm hoping to get a job when I get to Lubbock. I'd love to work at the local record store (Ralph's Records), but I'm trying to feel if they'd hire someone that would need to take off almost all of August (family vacation, sorority rush, etc.). If the record store doesn't want me, maybe a local coffee shop.

Well other than reading Jack Keroac's On the Road and getting ready for the big move in Lubbock, nothing terribly interesting is going on in the life of Kat.

France, I love you, but you're making me fat.

From the French baguettes to the delicious countryside cheeses, I must've gained a million pounds in the past month. We leave Montpellier on Friday for Paris, where we will be wined and dined at the expense of Texas Tech. I'm excited for gourmet food, but all I need right now is a long margarita fast.

It has been a wonderful experience, though. I've met good friends, learned more French than I could hope for, and gained patience through the language barrier. I've written some poems, sketched a few buildings, and drank some delicious coffee.

Yesterday, Sherel, Nicole, Steven and I went to the beach. It was a bit overcast and cold but a relaxing day, nonetheless. Here's an excerpt from the poem I wrote at the beach:

Our Mother's most powerful and prominent feature draws me to you through Her power, Her beauty and Her love-- all of which have helped create and destroy the likes of man.

I don't know. I fancy the poem, I suppose. I don't write mushy stuff well (yeah it's one of THOSE kind of poems...), and I'm not sure how I feel about sharing the whole thing. Maybe one day.

My sandy feet at Palavas.

We've seen so much and done so many things; it's hard for me to keep up with this blog! I'm very sorry for neglecting.

Last night, my host mom and I had a bonding experience over sunburns and watermelon (or "pastèque" in French). I taught her to sift a bit of salt over the watermelon, and I think she liked it. I told her it was a Texas tradition. I showed her my sunburn, and she helped me apply vinegar to it; supposedly, that helps it not peel. I'm not a fan of the remedy because I smelled like I had been bathing in vinegar. If it works, I'm a convert for sure.

Kind of ready to get back to the States. I love it here, and I'm valuing my experience. I do miss everyone though. And my own habits of sleeping, eating, etc.
I've been seriously considering going back vegetarian. I did it for six months a couple of years ago. I can't do it in France because my host mom cooks for me, and I don't know how to tell her that I won't eat meat. Luckily, it's in moderation. There are many valid reasons for doing it: health, animal decency, clean mind and body. There are so many steroids and growth hormones in meat today that it's incredible. I'm sensitive to the process, too. I find it very disheartening to see and read about the cruelty inflicted on these animals.
Check out Paul McCartney's video about animal cruelty: (WARNING: Very graphic.)

Find out more at Meat.org.

How could you not be inspired while in a city as beautiful as this? This was taken in La Place de la Comedie. There is a fountain of the Three Graces in front, but it is under construction. In the center of the picture stands the Opera, complete with the hobos on the steps. To the lower left, there is a beautiful carousel. We haven't tried it out yet, but it looks so fun! To the right, there is a cafe that I enjoy sitting and drinking espresso at almost every morning. I wrote a poem about the building across the Place. It is beautifully designed with residential areas at the top. How would life be if you were to wake up in the morning and live in such a beautiful ville as this?

1 Juin 2010

Furiously writing, pen in hand, to transcribe the beauty I see into mere words:

Buildings, stories high, grazing the clouds as they pass by. Wrought iron balconies where inhabitants must spew their smoke, as to not taint their silk curtains and white washed linens. That dome, royalty held captive by their own accord, houses relics of good times ago.

Look down! Look around at the beauty that surrounds tout le monde. Peasants at cafes and Opera steps begging for cents as to maintain their bohemian lives. What strangers snap memories of monuments below! Are the not accustom to such wonders as this? Trash trucks and motor bikes pollute my expensive heir as pigeon desecrate on the perfect beauty. Greasy men and women dressed as whores meander through my Place, for I am the King of the Square, I say, as I spew smoke from my prison dome.

Allo!

Bonjour from France!

I've been here for almost a week, and I'm so in love with it! Montpellier is so clean and beautiful, although a little confusing. I've definitely gotten lost a few times. The woman I'm living with, Claudine, is very sweet. She has the tendency to get fed up with my poor French, but we get along fine. She is an interesting cook to say the least! Not only have I eaten liver and burnt toast, I think I have qualified for Fear Factor: she served me fried cow brains.

I knew what they were the second she put them down. I was praying to God that it was chicken. I cut into the gray mush and tasted it. Definitely brains. She asked, after I took the bite, if I knew what part of the cow it was. I pointed to my head and said, "brain?" "Oui, oui!" she shouted. I must've turned as white as the table cloth. I ate it all so as to not be thought rude, but I piled on the salt and potatoes. Probably the most adventurous eating experience I've had. I just hope she doesn't think I liked them! Who serves an American student brains? Seriously.

Reason #46 I shouldn't drink: I make a fool of myself on a public French beach.

We went to the beach yesterday. So, so beautiful. The water was very cold but nice. I had a little too much fun... three glasses of wine and a little Malibu goes a long way when it's hot outside and you haven't eaten lunch. Luckily, I survived. I hope I didn't make any enemies in the process because I had to be watched. Apparently, I was screaming "Je suis Americainne!" and "C'est bon!" ("I am American" and "It's good"). I'm interested to see everyone's perception of me today. Almost all of us were tanning topless, too. So free, so French.

I've been working on my single French-inspired dread. I think it looks cool. Mother-bear will probably kill me but my hair, my choice.

Here it is:

I think it's pretty groovy.

We are visiting St Guilleme today. Should be interesting!

Au revoir, mes amis <3

Leavin' on a jet plane

Here I am in the George Bush International Airport getting ready to board a plane to a country where I do not speak the language very well, and I couldn't be more excited. Loving this airport (I'm one of the few people who loves airports. People, food, magazines, heaven.)!

I should be arriving in Paris around 8:15 a.m., or 1:15 a.m. Texas time. Awesome.

I have had my iPod ringing in my ears since I started my journey. Tallest Man on Earth, the Black Keys, the Raconteurs, Damien Rice, and Oasis have all accompanied me through this journey. What great company!

Q Magazine's "Man on the Run" article about Paul McCartney was phenomenal. It's interviews and writing like that article that makes me want to become a writer. The journalist, Paul Rees, followed McCartney around for a month to get a complete story. How much of a dream would it be to follow Sir Paul around for four weeks! I think I would die of a heart attack.

The next blog you read from me will be posted from France! Au revoir!

Destiny! Destiny! No escaping that for me!

I have come to a core-ripping revelation: I do not want to live the life my parents have planned out for me.

Yesterday, my mother said: "When you get back to school, I want you to start going on dates." I laughed, rolled my eyes, and changed the subject, naturally. I find it uncomfortable to talk about such matters with her; I am happy in my current situation (More than happy, really. Gobsmacked is a much better word.). I am not going to school to get my MRS degree, thank you Mother. That is not the ultimate goal of my college education.

It is a defining moment in one's life when they realize they are being led down the wrong path. I believe I had that eye-opening experience tonight:

My brother had a little league baseball game, and while sitting there, I realized I did not belong in such a typical setting. I should've been in some hazy basement, sharing philosophical beliefs with fellow pessimists, aggravated with the current system.

And if I continue this planned course, I would be living a mundane life: carpooling kids, same people at the same cocktail parties, trading the latest gossip from coop to coop like squalling hens... It makes my stomach hurt to think I could end up like this. I know I am much smarter than what suburbia has in store for those fallen to it's gilded ease. Green Peace, perhaps? Or maybe a Pulitzer.

Definitely a Pulitzer.

Yet, it could be my destiny-- ending up like one of the many suburban housewives, cooing over their honor students and lamenting their absent husbands, lost at the hands of the mistress of their doctoral or legal practice.

Could this really be my destiny?

...nah. I'm better than that.

Hopefully Maybe

Six days until France! It's getting closer, and my anxiety is rising. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited, but I am worried about not being able to communicate well enough with the people. I'm sure it will all work itself out.

In the meantime, I've been sitting in Tyler, bored out of my mind. I've tanned and shopped and played some bass, but I'm ready to be around people that aren't my family. Love 'em, but they make me crazy.

On that note, I have started drafting my ideas for a teleportation device. I am missing Estelline's show at Blue Light in Lubbock tonight. I need to have the pad ready to go for Thursday's show at the Foundation. Man, oh man! I hate missing good music.

Austin City Limit's Line-Up was released today. Oh wow-- excitement to the max. I will need to dedicate a full blog to that some other time.

Here are some photos I took this evening. I needed to show off my bass and my record collection:

140 some odd records. Love, love, love them all.

This bass is HUGE.

On another note, cool hat, huh? And what about those sunglasses! Ah.

The seven and a half hour drive from Lubbock to Tyler was the closest to Hell I've ever been. Torrential downpours and the Mini Cooper do not get along well. A 20 minute panic attack and roughly 100 oz of Diet Coke later, I was okay. But serious, can someone PLEASE remind me to never drive in rain that bad again?

When I'm home from school, I feel like I'm in rehab. I get to run in the park, paint, play music, shop; but all I really want to do is get out. I love doing these things and having a week or so of relaxation, but I'm already bored of it all. Someone please save me before I get in trouble by my own devices. My idle mind may soon become Satan's playground.

FINALLY read the article about the making of Exile on Main Street in the latest Rolling Stone today. I've been anxiously awaiting it to be released since Tuesday. But it was a great article. It made me want to become a rockstar... well, maybe. Mick McSexy Jagger is on the front with his flowing hair and puckered lips. See?

Ah. He is crazy and perfect.

I picked up a bass for the first time today. Not going to lie, I love it. I think I enjoy playing more than guitar (that's not saying much... I stink at guitar). The one we own is an acoustic Jasmine by Takamine. It's beautiful. Maybe I should sell my guitar, an Epiphone Dove, and buy a bass. Hmm. Anyhow, I think I find it easier because there is no strumming, just a simple rhythm. I even figured out Seven Nation Army without tabs, so I felt accomplished.

In nine days, you will be receiving this blog from Montpellier, France. I will be studying abroad there for 5 weeks. The woman I will be living with has a dog and lives within 10 minutes walking distance from the school. It will be perfect! I couldn't be more excited.

But for now, I will be blogging from stinky, old Tyler. Poo.

This has been such a great weekend.

I am currently laying in bed drinking Nesquik and soy milk. Oh my, oh my. Delicious.

So yesterday was the Chrome Live event benefitting Toms shoes. Great music. Great friends. Great fun!

Among acts like Ben Kweller (who was great but did not play "Wasted and Ready" which was upsetting) and Matt Costa, Estelline played. Ok, so I may be biased, but I think these guys are awesome. Check it out for yourself: myspace.com/estelline1

After the event, they played at Lonestar Oyster Bar, and everyone in there was singing along and dancing as closing crept closer.

Highlight of the day/night: the personal dedication of my favorite Estelline song, "Apples". It seriously made me so incredibly happy. Man I love that song. It's not on their myspace, but it should be.

But a really great weekend overall. Things are evolving nicely for me here in Lubbock.

Now some pictures from the show:

Estelline.

Whoa-- Ben Kweller

Will you be my Andy Warhol?

Sexy Sadie. Sweet Caroline. Barbra Ann. Suite Judy Blue Eyes. Peggy Sue. Roxanne.

Who are these women, and why do their names deserve song title status?

Well, I don't know the answer. Muses, perhaps? Unknown drug references (I suppose that is a muse as well)? All I know that if my name were the title of a song, I could be happy dying. Maybe it's a hunger for fame, having thousands of people drunkenly singing my name while I knowingly grin backstage.

Besides, what does "Katherine" rhyme with anyway? Bo-batherine. That's it. Let's write a song about that.

Yeah "Kat" rhymes with things (mat, bat, hat), but it's not all that aesthetically pleasing.

But, really. To be someone's muse is such an honor. Your whit, your charm, your beauty has inspired this artist to compose a work based from you being you. But then again if you're an idiot and have inspired someone to write a song that, you are the definition of "uncool".

But seriously, where's my Andy Warhol? Your Edie is waiting.

I need someone to be inspired by me.

Principles of Journalism

India's first woman president, Pratibha Patil. She's 75 and still groovy.

I was up late writing a paper for Principles of Journalism, and I mentioned the little lady above. The paper was an analysis of a different country's media (Mine was India) and how they are similar/different from main stream U.S. media. We were to also compare and contrast each country's Code of Ethics for Journalism. Pretty interesting, I suppose. Mr. Wernsman (from here on out, he is known as Wernsy) told us to keep it between 500 and 600 words. Psh. Mine is 817. Booyeah.

But it is now 5:06 a.m. Awesome. Can I get some more time for sleep, please?

Too bad I'm not tired. I could get a whole three hours of sleep before I would need to get up.

An Artist.

"You are an artist. Your imagination, your humor. I bet you're a good actress."

Ok. That is probably one of the best compliments I have ever received. An artist. Yeah, I've always thought of myself as one, but I didn't know that others viewed me as that (If they did, they never expressed it.).

artist \ˈär-tist\ (n): a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination

Yeah-- I can agree with that.

Since I am an artist, here is a picture of one of my paintings. It's nothing special, but I really really like it.

An old window frame re-painted.

Yeah, so what if I was kind of hippy in high school? I love this piece.

Here is my only justification for a Snuggie:

Sitting, freezing cold, trying to do homework (or in my case, blog). It's just so difficult... I suppose I could just throw on a jacket, right?

I've been meaning to start posting this, but here are some of my favorite Rolling Stone covers:

My first and far most favorite. John and Yoko's portrait, taken by Annie Leibovitz, the morning of his assassination.

I had a picture of this (cut from Rolling Stone, of course) glued to a collage on a trunk in my room during high school. Everyone thought I was such a weirdo for it, but how could I explain the significance behind the picture?

My second favorite picture of Janis. My first is on the cover of Pearl.

Although Pearl had quite a bout with heroin, we have two things in common: native Texans and a certain love of whiskey.

Sir Elton John's cartoon cover, inspired by his song Rocket Man I'm sure.

Need I reiterate how awesome his concert was?

It was bliss.

Mick Jagger is crazy, and I love him for that.

Party on, Wayne. Party on, Garth.

This movie is tubular beyond epic, man.

But seriously-- it is.

A day to myself. It was beautiful.

I did a personal little photo shoot, laundry and read the new Relevant magazine.

Here are just a few of the pictures I took today:

Ode To Hunter S. Thompson

Resistol Shirt, Goodwill glasses, Cyanide coffee cup

Australia University hooded beach cover up, long pearls, red and white striped shorts, aviators

Close up of above look

Owl tank top, pink target shorts, scarf with vignettes of women, Forever 21 purse

Enjoy. :-)

Had the craziest/best dream ever last night:

I guess I have that internship opportunity with the RS on my brain because I was working there. And Annie Leibovitz walked into one of the editor's office and saw me. They invited me in to talk. I was star-struck but cool. She wanted to take MY picture. A photoshoot with one of the greatest photographers of all time? You're joking, right? So that was it.

She sent a Lincoln over to my flat not far from the office later that evening, and she took my pictures at this incredible studio. It was probably one of the greatest dreams I've ever had. I do have the tendency to be psycic sometimes... Who knows? Maybe it could be real.