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Welcome to my window. This window overlooks a cul-de-sac in a small neighborhood called Maple Lane. Maple Lane exists outside of a big city in the Midwest. I invite you to join me as I sit back, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the antics of my crazy neighbors and the wild people I come into contact with in the bûrbs. It doesn't really matter which city I live in, from suburb to suburb, neighborhood to neighborhood, the characters are always the same.
Listen to my weekly podcast, Suburbs & the City, by navigating with the links in the left or read my blog below.
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If you are one of my blog readers, leave a comment, I would ♥LOVE♥ to get to know you. Also, if you have a blog, leave a link!
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Author: |
Kat's Bûrb Blog |
Created: |
Thursday, August 09, 2007 8:30 PM |
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A humorous (and sometimes NOT so humorous) look into daily life. |
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California Mobile Updates Summary |
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By Kat's Bûrb Blog on
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 11:56 AM
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My California Trip, Event by Event, 140 Characters at a time. Follow me in real time via Twitter!
Getting ready for bed. Hanging with all my homies before I leave for the week. 11:07 PM March 21, 2008 from web
flight was canceled & NWA treated me badly. Not happy right now. 08:43 AM March 22, 2008 from we
i have a window seat AND aisle seat. REALLY small plane. Not happy. 12:38 PM March 22, 2008 from web
airplane music gives new appreciation to elevator music. I cant wait to be California! 12:50 PM March 22, 2008 from web
tgrrrrr. plane sitting on runway. Capt. declares we might need to return for more fuel if we dont move soon. What else? bring it on! 01:18 PM March 22, 2008 from web
got stuck in another holding pattern but i luckily made my connection in Newark (barely). on my way to the REAL OC! 03:49 PM March 22, 2008 from web
im finally in the oc! now i can relax, enjoy life and stop complaining! 10:08 PM March 22, 2008 from web
Good night my twitter friends! i am in my old room and ready to sleep. 12:37 AM March 23, 2008 from web
at church seeing old friends... 11:23 AM March 23, 2008 from web
weird seeing old youth group kids with kids of their own. Weren't we just playing games yesterday? good 2 be home. 12:03 PM March 23, 2008 from web
Meeting up with high school friend for life, Cela at the old Denny's hangout. Memories... 01:50 PM March 23, 2008 from web
Just had Easter lamb at my aunt Nancy's house. Asparagus, potatoesm salad and peach sorbet with rosewater. 06:12 PM March 23, 2008 from web
almost forgot how to get to Westminster from the 55 freeway... It's been waaaay too long. 06:18 PM March 23, 2008 from web
on the way to see the Lakers at Staples Center with my BFF "Kyleen". 07:51 PM March 23, 2008 from web
watching the lakers but listening to some wench who is annoying and has a shrill stupid voice. 09:17 PM March 23, 2008 from web
the lady in front of me is wearing a mini backpack AND a front fanny pack! Lakers down by 23. 09:56 PM March 23, 2008 from web
Nelly is here at the game. 10:08 PM March 23, 2008 from web
maria sharapova, also at the game. down 10 points 10:19 PM March 23, 2008 from web
down by 7. We can do it! 10:30 PM March 23, 2008 from web
3 more to catch up! 10:35 PM March 23, 2008 from web
101 to 101. 3 minutes to go. 10:56 PM March 23, 2008 from web
Lakers lost but it was a super game... We were winning for a few seconds. 11:16 PM March 23, 2008 from web
Relaxing in a naturally cool house, talking myself into getting ready for another sort of busy day. 08:56 AM March 24, 2008 from
this afternoon i had a lunch date with a friend of mine who also happens to be the mother of a childhood friend. My sister came along too. about 18 hours ago from web
Laying out on the back deck, soaking up more sun than I've had in 7 months... Home, sweet home. about 17 hours ago from web
Ahhh. Nothing like a hot tub after some time sunning on the deck. Yes, I am trying to make you all jealous but especially @themann00. about 16 hours ago from web
Just went on a walk with my sister and the dog we've had for about 18 years. She still looks & acts like a puppy but is skin & bones. about 15 hours ago from
mmmmm. Souplantation thebest restaurant in the world. www.sweettomatoes.com about 13 hours ago from
Just returned home from Starbucks with Tawny, Em and Barbie. Will be dreaming of monkey gang chases. Goodnight friends. about 10 hours ago from web
I'm going to take a morning dip in the hot tub. I wish I could always live at my parents house in SoCal. Starting to hate Indiana even more. about 3 hours ago from web
Just drove the first car that I bought with my own $. 1995 Dodge Neon. The paint is no longer shiny but she moves around ok. about 1 hour ago from web
About to leave the Mecca of free wireless and return to my wirelessless life at my parents house. Woe is me. Big day ahead! 13 minutes ago from web.
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The sad state of education in the United States. |
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By Kat's Bûrb Blog on
Friday, March 21, 2008 10:03 AM
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I want to tell you about my 7 months as an adult behind the walls of what some call a high school and what others might call hell. When I came to work on my first day I was excited! I was going to be working among great teachers, smart students AND have the time to finish reading/writing a book or two. Afte r my first week I realized that none of this was true. Well, there were a few great teachers but they weren’t very supportive when I needed help with holding troublesome students accountable for their poor behavior.
I was appalled at how voiceless I really was, shocked at how little it mattered that I even show up each day, distressed at the feelings I felt towards each person that was with me behind these walls. Some people equate the sad state of education with money. I disagree. The sad state of education is apathy. The apathy found in education stems from the apathy that students bring to the table. Where that apathy stems from, I have not a clue.
When I was in high school I may not have been the best student, the most put together, I might have dodge my share of assignments and skipped yours, mine and my neighbors fair share of classes but I still had respect for teachers and school employees. In high school I NEVER treated people the way that I have been treated the past 7 months at this school. I digress. The topic was the sad state of education.
Apathy reaches beyond the students. Staff members are stuck in between the monetary demands of keeping students in school even when they do everything to prove that this is not a place for them and teaching students that their behavior is inappropriate. Short of a school shooting, what else do you need to do to deem yourself ineligible for an education paid for by tax payers?
What can be done about the sad state of education in the US of A?
Image from Microsoft Word.
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Spray Paint |
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By Kat's Bûrb Blog on
Thursday, March 20, 2008 9:19 AM
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Our neighborhood kids are all interesting characters. On more than one occasion have they shocked us and added a chuckle to our day and on more than one occasion have they irritated us. There is one kid that is so weird that we can’t help but laugh. He is pretty pesky but he has the kindest heart out of all of the kids but he’s just so random!
One night, my husband Jay was outside spray painting a RED bunk bed frame. We were painting it BLACK. Dog Poop Kid (as our friends call him because of our deal with him) came walking up and said, “What are you doing?” and Jay answered that he was painting the bed black. DPK said, “Can I paint my ass red?” Jay just looked at him shocked, then he said, “This is black paint, sorry”.
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Allegedly - Life in Little Boxes |
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By Kat's Bûrb Blog on
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 9:17 AM
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I hope I didn’t sign a confidentiality agreement because here I go. At one time the “Maple Lane Home Owners Association,” of which I am Vice President, had a problem. His name was Crazy Red Car Man. Notice that most of my eccentric neighbors have the word Crazy in their name? It’s not my fault that Scientific Classification puts them in the same species! Crazy Red Car Man allegedly decided to sue the HOA because he wasn’t happy living in the neighborhood.
Allegedly people were putting dog poop in his mail box, being rude to him and talking about  him. Allegedly it was because his wife was not born American or was not a white American, I don't know, some silly nonsense that is allegedly untrue and made up. Allegedly he was under the impression that the HOA had a responsibility to make him happy and somehow he was able to get the ACLU to take his case for free.
It is my understanding that Crazy Red Car Man lives on a VERY diverse street and it is these very same neighbors who are making him feel unhappy. It is also my understanding that this man offered to settle out of court if either the neighbors OR the Association would buy his house from him (yeah, right!). It is my understanding that the case was thrown out of court. In the meantime our association paid thousands to tens of thousands in legal fees even though this was allegedly a bogus lawsuit.
To all of you who hate living in an associated neighborhood: MOVE! To all of you who think that the HOA has a responsibility to make your life enjoyable when the fact that it isn’t enjoyable is directly related to your inability to get along with people: MOVE! IT’S YOUR PROBLEM AND IT WILL FOLLOW YOU INTO THE WOODS!
Unbeknownst to them, photo is courtesy of Microsoft Word.
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I'm Seeing Green and Sadly It's Not Money |
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By Kat's Bûrb Blog on
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 9:39 AM
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 Last night my husband Jay and I had a great time with about 10 or so of our friends. Oh yeah, and probably a few thousand others. Just like last year, we went to a German bar in the city called the Rathskellar. We drank beer and cider (don't worry kids, only one each), ate pretzels with hot mustard (sooo much horseradish that my sinuses are punishing me this morning) and then danced and hung out for about 5 hours before moving the party to Denny's. While we were at the Rathskellar, we enjoyed a musical performance by a group called POLKABOY. If you ever have the opportunity to see them, you must! 
Recently, the city drained the canals for the purpose of cleaning. It was the first time in 20 years, "City officials say crews have used vacuums to remove 367 semi trailer loads of sludge and waste from the canal since cleanup work began in November" and it cost nearly half a million dollars!
Yesterday, Jay and I went to the canal for our annual photo opportunity. They had refilled the canals and as usual, the water was dyed green for the holiday. Almost every year I have visited Chicago within weeks of the 17th and their river is still green. We  are really happy that the same tradition takes place here in our home town. Hope you enjoy the photos of the newly "renovated" canals. Doesn't look like we'll be getting to Chicago this month, but who needs to with the new Ikea opening in Ohio!?
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Raaaawwwrr! I got a job offer! |
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By Kat's Bûrb Blog on
Friday, March 14, 2008 9:36 AM
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Let me give you a little break down of my current state of mind, or rather how I got there.
In beginning to mid-January I met someone while working my seasonal turned part-time position at big clothing store chain. He was an employee of a company that I’ve used in job searches. I asked for advice on entry level positions, asked a little about the company and then asked how to apply. He gave me some information and later I submitted by resume and cover letter to him.
No one called.
I wrote and asked for a contact so that I could call.
I called, I left a message, I called, I called, I called, I called, I called, I called, I left a message. This went on for over a month. No one called me back. Finally, during one of my random phone calls, a very nice woman answered. I professionally begged her to agree to take another look at my resume. She did. She didn’t like it. I told her about a job that I had held years ago and not listed on my resume. She said I should update it and include that job. I agreed and begged for her email address so I could send it directly to her.
The next day she called. Two days later she interviewed me. Three business days later I had my first in person interview. Two hours later I had a phone call. Two business days later I had my second in person interview. Two hours later I had a job! Three weeks from now I start said job and in between I need to wrap up my time at my current job, travel home to visit my parents, thoroughly clean my house, go shopping, etc!
 I am so very proud to work for this amazing Dot Com Company. They seem to treat their people well, appreciate them, recognize their excellence and have super ideas that really, really help people. I could get a job working for many companies but this is a company I am truly proud to say I am part of!
What do you say that we cross #8 (Find a job that I love (most of the time)) off of the old list of 101 Things in 1001 Days?
So, my state of mind is joyous, sleepless, excited and tummy aching. Oh, and can I tell you that they have free fountain coke all day long in our office... Don’t worry, I will not give in! I still have a few weeks to finish working out my withdrawals!
Image found on Google.com
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A Day of Almost There |
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By Kat's Bûrb Blog on
Thursday, March 13, 2008 8:34 AM
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Just a little update on my list of 101 Things to do in 1001 Days; I haven’t abandoned it! I am in between about 5-10 different items on the list. I have started several but haven’t completed them. For instance: I am trying to find a job that I love most of the time, I am pretty much done painting the kitchen and we pretty much have a new kitchen and living room floor. I just really, really want to try to complete these projects before I cross them off. Sounds fair, right?
In other list updates, I am reading a new book, “A New Earth” by Eckard Tolle. This is going towards #45, Read 100 Books. I really tried to keep my Car clean for a month (2/14) but 4 days before completion, I decided I was too  tired to take everything in and I allowed my papers to get all scattered. I’ll really try again, starting tomorrow.
Chandra and I went bowling but I haven’t quite beaten a 150 at bowling (#19). I got a 115, sounds like 150 but not quite.
 I’ve also visited a few restaurants towards my 50 new restaurants (#89). Recently, okay a while back, Special Friend, Special GF, Jay and I went to a place called Ichiban. It was delicious and  expensive. We sat in a booth with a cut out in the floor so we appeared to have our legs crossed under the table, eating on cushions on the floor but it was actually just a form of a chair. I tried an avocado roll, not quite sushi but still yummy.
  
I’ve also visited a restaurant called the Trojan Horse, a Mexican restaurant called Los Rancheros and a Mediterranean restaurant called Santorini’s.
Today is my 2nd in person interview for the big Dot Com Company. I cannot wait to find out if I have the job or not. I’ve really enjoyed the interview process and the people I’ve met have been exceptional. I haven’t really been nervous for my interviews at all but I have been nervous about whether I’ll get the job or not. I’m aware that if it’s not the right thing, it won’t work out but still, a girl can hope that her intuition is accurate!
Hopefully in the next few days I’ll be able to officially cross a few things off!
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