Welcome to the Year-END!

That title sounds like a sadistic roller coaster. I apologize.
Or at least it does in my head.

So it's been two months since my trip to Africa, Thanksgiving has come and gone, my friend's wedding is tomorrow, and Christmas is days away... Naturally, all I want to do is sleep. 

This is how holidays should be spent. In bed.

With catching up with work and life, we are now approaching the end of month two in my attempt to finish "The Wise Man's Fear," WHICH is an excellent book, it's just long. TIME. WHERE YOU GO THESE DAYS? Peter understands how I feel.

So I'm in the process of moving. And instead of packing up all my belongs efficiently and moving them in a orderly fashion, I tend to get distracted and reminiscent- when I really should throw most of it away since, because if I'm going to be real, I haven't touched it in years... or even knew I still owned half the things stored in my closet. 

This could be a quick and painless process, or I could play with all the things I find. 

I think we all know what will happen. Maybe I can be all packed up before spring. 

Just kidding. Goal is New Years.

I have rekindled the disease known as the travel bug and search for new adventures around every corner.

New Years comes after Christmas. Hopefully it will be an evening full of good choices.

Those are my thoughts for now. Peace.

Africa!

So it's been a really long time since I have posted. It occurred to me recently that the last you heard of me was that I was travelling to Kenya on safari for my birthday. 

This was followed by radio silence. I did not die. 

Promise.

And the trip was absolutely amazing. The best I have ever taken hands down.

Please enjoy the highlights.

Me and the elephants in Samburu

I took this picture immediately after a lioness walked in front of our van.
I was so excited.

This was me and the lioness I saw already (see expression above),
except this day I am more composed.

Shelly, Bob and I with a Samburu village

The elephant camp

A leopard...

with its dinner. Po' impala.

A baboon, eating Ruffles.

We visited a school, which was fun

I went on a balloon ride over the Maasai Mara

I may or may not have sung Lion King

The zebra and wildebeest run together

The multicultural ballooners

Cheetah #1 that I spotted... Gah. Gorgeous.

I am in both Tanzania and Kenya. Boom.

Cute Lizard

Vultures, hippos, and crocodiles, oh my!

Cheetah #2, who had been nomming on a wildebeest

Then she was forced away by a troupe of baboons

Water spins different ways depending on what side of the equator
you are on and is still on the actual line. True story. SCIENCE.

The falls.

The group: Bev, Shelly, Bob, myself,  and John

They threw me a surprise birthday party and invited the Maasai warriors to come and
dance/ sing Happy Birthday to me in Swahili. It was pretty rad. No lie.

You know dat's right.

The Great Rift Valley... So gorgeous. 

Kenya 2013. No regrets.

These are a few of my favorite things...

I was feeling inspired by Sound of Music. Ergo, this week's "Favorite Things"

You know, just a little something to get you through the rest of the week.

1. Ballet Dancers in Random Situations. Because dancers are amazing
http://www.lostateminor.com/2013/09/04/ballet-dancers-in-random-situations/

2. My sister is now also a Theta:

3.Tom Hiddleston.

“This generation has lost the true meaning of romance. There are so many songs that disrespect women. You can’t treat the woman you love as a piece of meat. You should treat your love like a princess. Give her love songs, something with real meaning. Maybe I’m old fashioned, but to respect the woman you love should be a priority.” -Tom Hiddleston. Good man.

Also this is him wielding a sword.

He's adorable.

4. These images I found on pinterest:

And last but not least...

5. I'm an aunt and my niece is pretty nifty. Say hi to Grace Harriet. Aka Gracie Goose.

Leaving for Kenya in two days for my birthday safari. 

Hugging baby lions, riding elephants and running with flamingos is definitely on my to do list.

Later gaters. 


(Linking up with Hallie!)

Is this a joke?

The universe is pulling all kinds of tricks on me this week. Wanna hear about it?

So last Wednesday, as I was driving home from a meeting downtown, I get a call from my dentist office. "Hey Katie, we have no appointments happening right now, if you wanted to come in now instead of later you could do that." And as I was just passing the Clifton exit, I was like YES, yes I will! *Swerve!* Be there in ten.
So when I arrive at the front desk they lady was like, "No one called you." Umm, yes, they most certainly did. "Well, let's just verify some information, is this your phone number?" Uhh, no, how did you guys call me if you don't even have the right number for me? Curious. But I get the rest of my paperwork and I do get called back in a timely manner. When I sit down in my chair, this cute girl who looks like a blonde Anna Kendrick, is like, "How's it going?"
Well I say, "Someone called me to come here early, which was fine, because I was near by and have nothing else to do today, but no one seems to be fessing up to it."
"I called you! I don't have any appointment for hours, so I figured I'd just call you and see if you could come in earlier. I know, the girls came back and were like, 'there's this girl here who says someone called her to come in early, but we think one of her friends is playing a prank on her.' What? NO! I called her! WHO DOES THAT?"

Right? WHO. DOES. THAT?

I mean really friends. How many of you would figure out when I am going to the dentist and call me (presumably using a fake voice) to come in early as a joke. If you would do that... then I admire you even more than I do already. I won't go all Lilo on ya.

So I tell Lori, the really weird thing was that they didn't even have my correct number on file. How did she call me if the number in my file was wrong? "Oh," says she. She called the number. It was a guy. She explained the situation, and the guy on the other end gave her my number. I'm glad my brother just gives my number out to anyone claiming to be from the dentist. I'm just kidding. I really enjoyed this Lori character, I really hope I get her next time. In fact I may even request her specially, just because she cracks me up.

And that was my most recent experience at the dentist.

Then Saturday rolls around. "Thank you for signing up for Cat Facts! You will now receive fun daily facts about CATS! >o<"

MOTHER.OF.GOD. WHO DID THIS?
Turns out the same brother who gives my number out to the dentist, also signs me up for daily cats facts. Did you know cats can be right-pawed or left-pawed? Now you do.

Now today, Monday morning. I wake up for my 815 eye doctor appointment. I made this appointment like two weeks ago, because I am told I can not purchase new glasses with a four year old prescription. And I want an extra pair before I leave for Africa. So here I am.

I walk in. Sign in. "Name? Date of Birth? Oh I see your appointment has been moved to December."
WHAT? No. What, what, what is this? Are you sure? Can you double check?

"Yes, let's see. You made your appointment on August 6th, and then twenty minutes after you called, someone called back and changed your appointment to December. Does that sound right?"

It most definitely does not. And immediately my mind flicked back to my experience at the dentist.... Is this... a joke? What kind of tomfoolery is this? Unfortunately, now my doctor is completely booked. Luckily, I get to come back in on Wednesday, but I have to have the mean doctor. Which is sad.

I know my life usually seems like a joke 98.7% of the time anyway. But this week was kinda ridic.

I wouldn't be surprised if I saw this at lunch today:

Or this really:

But I think everyone is thinking what I'm thinking:

Ok til next time. I'm finished for today.

I want to see you be BRAVE.

So my best friend and I have been listening to Sara Bareilles a lot these past couple days. Yesterday this was pretty much my theme song. Take a listen. It's pretty awesome.

Because,

Really brought on by the fact that

But really, like, all the time. Joffery and I don't really know what to do about it.

And sometimes people are assholes.

Except but really.

And solving problems requires other people to answer their phones, which they don't.

And then life goes a lot like this:

cue music.

Followed by frustration...

More frustration... 

Occasional anger... 

And then the belief that no one else is doing anything.

So of course, drinking occurs.

YEAH...

Life is crazy. But,

 I bet not that classical reference.

But I mean, come on, we all wish we were as cool as the UC baseball team. NFTBA.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the gif overload which has been my day.

Sigh.

I will now leave you in Carrie's very capable hands till we meet again.