Birthday Parties

This weekend was Riley's first birthday party. I hate being sappy, so trust I'm not trying to be when I say omg where the heck did the last year go? Like wasn't it March of 09 five minutes ago?





Here are a couple of photos of the finished kitchen after the big Turquoise explosion that went on.







I'm actually pretty jealous even though I heavily influenced my mom's decision to go from the orange to the turquoise. My dream kitchen is very retro and very turquoise (albeit, with pink accents).

Community Organizing

I found my dream job today. Well, I should clarify. My dream first-ish big girl job. In a career field that I am insanely interested in. The position: community organizer in Eastern Kentucky. Now, I'm not even ready for such a job yet. HOWEVER, let us discuss how perfect it would be for me.

1) I love Eastern Kentucky with all of my heart. I'm the first one to jump up and defend that area when somebody wants to talk smack about how it's nothing but a bunch of racist hillbillies with no teeth who can't read. For the record, it's actually a Democratic stronghold in the state. And a bunch of those hillbillies are pretty damned smart if you actually bother to listen to them. Not the kind of smart you find at universities, but that's nothing more than a lack of access and privilege. For example: did you know Rosa Parks was trained in the Civil Rights Movement in the mountains of Appalachia? True. That's where the folk song We Shall Overcome was reconditioned to match the CR Movement. It's an area of great culture and surprising innovation.

2) The position asked for three things, among many, that I think I'm especially capable of. 1) Have a knowledge of Kentucky politics. 2) Have experience in social media and networking. 3) Be hopeful. Hello! That's totally me.

3) The base starting salary is $32,000 per year, which isn't a ton, but acceptable. It also includes 15 vacation days per year, 10 sick days and 5 personal days in addition to a paid sabbatical every 5 years.

This is not the job for me yet. But it definitely motivated me to spend the next several months working on padding my resume a bit. I need to volunteer more and see what I can do to get on in some capacity in a non-profit or local organization. I'll do anything, I just need to start building experience.

So let's see, aside from the job aspirations let's see what else has been going on.

My friend Anna sent me a hilarious partisan birthday card. Which was awesome because 1) internet friends do actually rock, 2) she lives in Hawaii and I'm trying to figure out how to mail myself there , 3) I love political humor and 4) MAIL! I love getting snail mail SO MUCH. So much that it's inspired me to send more. Don't ask how many cards I bought from Etsy today. (KATIE!! One is for you!)


My seeds grew. And grew. And then grew some more. This was like 5 days ago and they are at least twice that size now. I'm not even sure that's a good thing. I'm starting to worry I'm going to be sprouting squash in the house.


Every Saturday or Sunday we have a big brunch. Brunch because it usually takes all morning to cook everything. Bacon, turkey sausage, grits, hashbrowns, pancakes or waffles, biscuits and EGGS. Side note: I'm obsessed with eggs lately. At the end of it we let the pups lick the egg bits from our plates. Because I'm so not anti-table scraps for dogs and because eggs are so good for dog's coats. (Molly is so soft and so shiny. Jack's is even less coarse than he used to be.) I just thought it was hilarious that Jack was licking his plate while it rested on his legs. That dog moves for nothing. Partially because he's deathly afraid of linoleum.


Oh and I helped my mom paint her kitchen a sort of turquoise this weekend. I'm kind of sad that the orange is gone (it was starting to seem a little too dark in there, though.) I can't wait to post photos of the transformation.

P.S. Primer is ridiculously hard to remove from skin.

Capstone of a Bad Day

"The republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president."

This was someone's facebook status tonight and I'm gonna lay it out here: it made me cry.

To be fair I've had a terrible day. I'd was at my wit's end over another situation and I checked Facebook, which I should not have. But there it was.

Why do we have to resort to name calling? I made a very educated decision to vote for Barack Obama, just as I'm sure many who voted for Senator McCain did. You decide which issues are important to you and align them with your candidate of choice. I love that about America. And I've told people before, and I'll say it again, I don't like the Republican platform, but I don't want the Republican Party to go away.

What I do wish existed was a little more civility. What happened to being nice? What happened to respect.

I voted for Barack Obama because for 2 years my mother worked a job bring home $2 paychecks to pay for our health insurance when my dad first got hurt. Because I know what it's like to grow up in a home where you have to decide between prescriptions and food for the week. Because I have a pre-existing condition. Because my dad has numerous pre-existing conditions and a Medicare doughnut hole. Because my mom has a pre-existing condition and a $300 medication that she has to take monthly to live a productive life. Because god forbid she ever lost her job with those things and needed private insurance.

I voted for Barack Obama because I wanted a politician to start helping the Moms and Dads out there who are struggling with sick kids, among a million other things that I won't begin to list.

I don't need to be called a fool for doing so.

We must be sober when we are angry, never letting unjust and hurtful criticism or slander against others slip from our lips (Matthew 12:36).

Photo of the Day

I'm on Spring Break this week. Unless I start failing classes this is my last ever Spring Break (provided I don't suddenly decide to get a masters in Education) (but let's be honest, the idea of taking the GRE gives me hives) so I'm trying to savor it. I've slept so late every day this week that I've missed proper breakfast hours. I ate a Big Mac today. I've read several fun books that have nothing at all to do with history. I've spent an outrageous amount of time studying college basketball statistics. And I've watched as many hours of fantastic reality tv as I can find.

I even found the time to make Cake Balls.



I'm going to miss this Spring Break thing.

12 Days Later

Fun new medical oddity that I refuse to get checked out:

I've had this intense pain in the underarm area for a day and a half now. It's a weird tingling/stinging/stabbing pain. And as it turns out there is a trigger point near my elbow that causes it. So does lifting my arm above my head for any length of time. Everyone in the family is assuming it's a nerve issue, perhaps neuropathy--maybe it's coming from my neck. Who knows? What this does tell me: omg, I AM turning into my father. Figures.

The best part: while it does HURT, like seriously, it's also in an area that is kind of a trigger point for me. Which means I'm in pain and it makes me gag from the grossness of the sensation. This is sort of making me a nervous wreck. What this tells me: I'm neurotic. But we all knew that.



I started most of my seeds over the last few days. I have to say, to this point, seed starting has not been my strong suit. I can't wait to see how it goes this year.



If this turns out we'll have yellow squash, zucchini, peppers, cucumbers and several tomato varieties. Not to mention several different flowers.

Next week I'm starting cold weather crops: peas, brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and lettuces. I've never done the Early Spring/Fall crops and I'm anxious to experiment with growing them.

Last weekend we had my Aunt B and my cousin Kendall over for a visit. Kendall's dad, my cousin Jason, was studying for his RN finals so we hung out with K for a while and let me tell you, she is just about the coolest kid I know. And so much like a young April, it's scary.







Kendall loves dogs. She obviously visited the right house.

Meanwhile, we have a breaking development in Casa Watkins.


Jonathan is refusing to cut his hair. Out of sheer stubbornness and a desire to drive his sister insane.

I won't lie: it's working.

The Last Day of Being 23

Today is it, tomorrow I turn 24. I find myself thinking of all of the things I didn't do this year. All of the ways in which 23 was so not like anything I imagined it would be for myself when I was a kid. Not to sound cliche, but regrets...I've had a few.

I find myself still trucking on though. Righting my previous wrongs on the school front. Soldiering through emotions and doubts. I'll figure it all out, eventually. Clearly, I'm taking my time here. But I look around, at my friends (in all places) and see that we're all struggling in our own ways. Our stories might be different, but nobody I know has it all together. So I find it's okay. I don't have to feel weird. Or even disappointed in myself.

24 should be big. I have a feeling, if nothing else, 24 is going to be a gigantic learning experience. I have no choice but to jump on.

Minus Christmas photos, these are most all of the photos I have of me at 23


Auntie Apsies















Dear family and friends, lets improve on this for 24. I like to think my hypothetical future children and grandchildren might want to know what I looked like someday.