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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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Party Ova' Here! |
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By Kat's Bûrb Blog on
Wednesday, May 28, 2008 8:32 PM
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As I mentioned this weekend, I graduated from college after trying for 8 years. I’m not saying I went full time or even at all during each of those 8 years but I finally finished! This of course meant that my family and friends would be in town so I had to throw a fabulous party; many of them had never seen my home or the state I lived in.
DD Momma and I went shopping a few weeks before the party and we found a beautiful dress for me and decided NOT to get this dress for either of us.
 My good friend Annie who I’ve known since I was in 8th grade made me a gorgeous invitation/announcement that went out to 250 of my closest friends and family. Her web site is: www.poppylanedesigns.blogspot.com and she designs baby announcements and more!
A cake artist by the name of Jill was hired to create a lovely lopsided  cake and 80 cupcakes (when do you cut a cake at an open house?) and they turned out lovely! She has a website also, www.indycakes.com
A keg of beer and tons of wine were ordered. Oh yeah, and a bunch of BBQ beef briscuit and BBQ chopped chicken were ordered from Dicks Bodacious BBQ.
Late Thursday night my mom, dad and sister flew in and spent the night at our house. On Friday morning my sister and husband and a few friends joined me for local wine tasting.
 By Friday evening, almost everyone had arrived and we threw a mini party with 25 guests. We ate lasagna, bread, salad and drank gallons of beer, wine and tea.
After the party, my Hetero Life Partner, Kyleen arrived from California. My guest list was complete: Mom, Dad, Sis, Kyleen, Malia, her parents and Sean (the “Male of honor” from my wedding).
On Saturday I had my hair styled and my make up done first thing in the morning.
I hired a woman named Amanda who arrived early to the party and prepared and organized any food that needed to be prepared.
Friends and family helped set up tents and tables and assembled centerpieces that matched the theme “Oh the Places She’ll Go” and then my guests began arriving.
 It was so great to see everyone!
The party continued on into the night and then we finally went to bed the next morning.
On Sunday we got up and drove up to where I work so I could show my friends and family around. We got there (45 minute drive) and then I realized I forgot my keys, so we turned around and went home. Yes, I cried.
In the early afternoon we assembled into several vehicles and made our way downtown. A really good friend of mine, one of my only friends from my last 3 years of college, had this super great idea that we put a funny movie theme on our hat. My hat said “Dude” and her hat said “Sweet”. Name that movie ya’ll.
We were a hit. The first graduation was interesting and during the second one I wanted to hurt someone. Badly.
After said boringness, we all ended up at dinner downtown at this amazing restaurant called, Greek Islands. We ate delicious food and drank more wine. Sadly, my husband Jay missed out on the festivities because he had to catch a plane to San Francisco. Opa!
This ended my dream graduation weekend.
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Where I've Been |
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By Kat's Bûrb Blog on
Monday, May 26, 2008 9:29 AM
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I really appreciate the reaching out I’ve experienced from this blog. Many of you have commented or emailed me to ask what happened to me. This is some blog lovin’ and I appreciate it! I’ve been here but not on the internet. I’ve been living my life and not writing about it. It’s been pretty hard to get home and blog since my work schedule goes so late every night.
After my California trip I had my wisdom teeth pulled then I began a new job.
Then I had a week in Boston.
 Then I graduated from college after 8 or 9 years.This meant that my friends and family were in town.
Parties; my sister in law graduated, my aunt graduated and some other kids I know are graduating from high school.
Last weekend I ran/walked a ½ marathon.
It’s been a VERY busy two months.
My goal is to write at least 3 times per week, I may have to tell you all about life in the suburbs on the weekends and then post them throughout the week so forgive me. Also, I haven’t really been able to look at anyone else’s blogs so I felt it wasn’t really fair to keep expecting you all to be here reading mine. I’ll try because I love this blog and I love you all!
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My Excuses |
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By Kat's Bûrb Blog on
Tuesday, April 08, 2008 5:20 AM
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I know that I haven’t update at all in two weeks but my life has been a whirlwind! I think that after you get a brief synopsis of my life you will forgive me.
Two weeks ago I finished up at my job at the High School and said “sayonara”! I am thankful for that job because it provided much needed income and when it wasn’t enough, it forced me to work at the Retail Store. At the Retail Store I met a man who spoke of his wonderful job at the Dot Com. This man answered my questions and ultimately referred me to the Dot Com. After clawing my way into an interview, I had 2 more and then found myself hired (this process actually began in January).
After my final day at the High School, my husband and I hosted a party and then I boarded an airplane to California to visit my family. While in California, not only did I see my family, but I spent time with every person I have ever met, well, not really. I wish I had more time to see everyone but I did not have a moment to breath.
After I returned from California, my husband and I drove 9+ hours to Virginia to spend a weekend with my grandparents. Following our return from Virginia, I had four teeth removed from my mouth (wisdom teeth) and spent good parts of the next week in bed. The rest of the time I was working on taxes and paying (well, organizing) bills, hence the need for a job. When I wasn’t in bed or working on paper work, I was visiting all of my other doctors (I decided to get as much out of the way while I could so that I didn’t have to take time off of work for a while). Did I mention that 3 days after my teeth were pulled I had 2 fillings taken care of in the teeth that remained in my mouth?
Monday I started my new job at the Dot Com.
So, this is why I haven’t updated. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me? If you do, perhaps there will be more details later…
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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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