Wednesday, February 16, 2011

February Happiness

I am so happy today, I could just burst into a cloud of floating hearts. Yes I know that sounds ridiculous, but it's true. I had such a fantastic Valentine's Day, followed tonight by the BEST birthday surprise! First my lovely Valentine's Day...

I'm such an affectionate person, and have always loved Valentine's Day. Sure, I went through a trendy phase of telling people I hated it, but even then I would run home from school to find a Valentine from my daddy, along with a box of chocolates. Nothing has changed:
"To: Katie From: A Secret Admirer" in my dad's impeccable handwriting

This completely made my day, just as it always has. My dad is not one to make sweet gestures all the time, so these special presents mean the world to me. Added to that was the amazing mixed CD (my favorite present to receive!) from Justin, along with this beautiful card:

She said: "We'll never be more than friends" 
He said: "I'm going down there to win her heart"

I teared up when I read those quotes, because they are both things we said the day before we met for the first time. After years of talking on the phone, fighting, then not speaking for months, I told him I'd never want to to date him and we could only be friends. He told his sister he was coming to Austin to win my heart, and he absolutely did. That time seems like another life, somewhere in the distant past, and it always reminds me of how far we've come. 

So, what could top those sweet tokens of amour? Today, after a brutal spin class, I arrived home to a big envelope from Stub Hub. I had no clue what was in there, wasn't particularly interested in it. Then, to my total surprise, when I opened it I found two tickets to WICKED, my all-time FAVORITE Broadway Show!! Not only am I seeing Wicked next weekend, I'm seeing at it the historic Majestic Theater:

We'll be on the right, towards the front!

The Majestic Theater is seriously gorgeous inside. The ceiling is blue like the sky, with little lights that look like stars. What makes this even better?? Justin is just as excited as I am to see it! I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have someone that appreciates art as much as I do.

His idea for this weekend? Going to the market to find cheap art. LOVE. lovelovelove.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

LOVE: Prints

I'm craving these prints:



via treefox





via bomobob

A day in Austin

I'm so happy to live so close to my brother, his wife, and their kids. I LOVE them. Yesterday they needed a babysitter so I drove to Austin to hang out with my nephew Diego for the day. Here's some of my favorite pics:

Inside the Capital building. My brother was the project manager on all the renovations, and said he had to climb to the top every.single.day.

My big brother and Diego

Outside on the lawn.

With Austin in the background.

Hel-lo sweetface!

I told him to make a sad face... so cute! 
(Notice the Dumber and Dumber haircut... my sister in law tried to cut his hair haha)

Best smile in the world!

My niece Eva

Gorgeous girl!


Thursday, February 3, 2011

What Happened to the Classics?

"Why are we watching a movie about talking animals?"
"I'd rather be home..."
"I'd rather be having lecture."
"I refuse to watch a movie that promotes animal abuse!"

This is all dialogue, from masters students, about Animal Farm by George Orwell (we watched the movie in class today). This book was a huge part of literary history, an allegory about the ill effects of communism in Russia. It came out right before World War II, and had a massive impact on the world.

It makes me so sad that not only had most of the people in my class not heard of this novel, they were completely uninterested in watching the movie. It baffles me that a group of educated adults could reduce such a powerful piece of history to a movie about "animal abuse." It makes me wonder what happened to the classics and to having an appreciation of what they represent. I'm not sure if it's because of my literature degree, or my general love of reading, but I honestly don't understand when people say, "I don't like to read." Drives me nuts.

What am I reading now? Besides the never ending readings for school, a book about JFK's assassination. Justin and I visited the 6th Floor Museum in Dallas, and became fascinated with the mystery! Before that I read The Hunger Games (and by read I mean DEVOURED). These books are goodAmazing. Made for young adults, but better than Twilight, better than the Sookie Stackhouse novels, and better than Harry Potter. I highly recommend them to anyone!

In other news, I got accepted to study abroad in INDIA next fall!!!! I'm ecstatic! And nervous! And anxious! I'm every emotion anyone could feel about moving to another country, punctuated with an exclamation point. That's for another post though...