Ok, Ok, I know that based on prior entries (Aug 12, 2004) you think I let those in-laws (or whatever they are) off too easy this time... Soo, here (along with some pictures donated by my mom) are my always brutal and always honest criticisms:

Joanna and Allison in front of the famous sun...



Joanna on Ice!


GREAT PICTURE!! (Joanna)


So alike! Appropriately named Peter2 and Peter1 (Allison also pictured)
Note: Their facial expressions are *great*, if enlarged (click on picture)


On the lift: Allison and Joanna


Ok, so where's the criticism? I needed to establish that picture first. Now, for the facts:
1. The girls are 10 years old.
2. My mom reserved seperate rooms (ie. twins in one, parents in another, directly across the hall from one another)
3. Lisa (Twin's mom) was afraid the girls would feel uncomfortable sleeping in seperate rooms from the parents, and wanted us to change the reservations so that they could all share one room with two beds. We couldn't change the reservations. =(
4. The night of their arrival, Lisa slept with (guess who? her favorite!) Joanna, and Allison shared a room with her father.
5. At dinner (in the hotel), the children had to be escorted to the bathroom by their parents. I'll give you one guess as to which parent went with which kid (if you need help, read #4)
6. Now for my final fact: On the chair lift, the kids got to ride seperate from their parents.


Now for my Commentary! (Numbers correspond with numbers listed above)
1. This is old enough to get some independence.
2. It was cheaper to get the rooms this way.
3. They are 10 years old! And there are two of them! They should be able to handle some nights alone, right across the hall from their parents. As Chris stated, "What do they do at home?! Do they all sleep in the same room!?" (The answer of course is no)
4. Rediculous!
5. Again, 10 years old! They can't go to the bathroom on their own!? I guess it's a hotel and they don't know their way around, but still! If I were their mom, I'd be like "Go try to find it, and if you can't, then come back and I'll help you find it." It's a very safe hotel and I swear the bathroom was RIGHT down the hall.
6. This seems extremeley inconsistant to me. For such a protective mother, I would think chair lifts were more dangerous than a night across the hall, and a bathroom! I mean really! If you are horsing around on a chairlift and you fall off, it gets serious really fast! But frankly, I was being shoved on an airplane alone at 6 or 7, so gimme a break! They can handle it, if given the extra leeway. The sad part about all of it is: They've grown up thinking they can't, so they are just as paranoid as their protective mother, and quite dependant on her for the "needed" support.

I guess families are just different, but this one seems a little extreme. Side Note: Their bat mitzvah is already planned! Jan 2009!!!!! 2009! That's 3 years away! Most people don't even plan weddings that far in advance!

On Friday, after classes, Chris and I drove to Berkeley. We met my cousin, Grace for dinner. She was in town for a Debate Competition!
Here is my sister, Grace, and me:


We ate dinner at Everett & Jones BBQ in Oakland... My dad really liked his ribs:


Then it was off to Sun Valley, Idaho! This time with some more members of the family... yes, those terrible twins from the East...

They didn't make it when they were supposed to. Stupid Delta Airlines was delayed getting to their connection city and the plane from there wouldn't wait for them. In fact, they flew from Newark to Atlanta and arrived at 5:29pm. The plane to Boise, which was supposed to leave at 5:32 actually left the gate EARLY at 5:29pm!!! Rediculous. It was the last flight to Boise, but Delta refused to pay for a hotel room for them. And they refused to give them their luggage, saying it was in a secure storage facility! They made it, exactly 24 hours later...

Here are some pictures before we went out to dinner on Sunday night...
Chris and I


Cheesy picture of my mom and dad...


And here is the other side of my family. My half brother Pete, his wife Lisa, and the very faternal twins, Allison (straight hair) and Joanna (curly).


We asked Chris to see if he could spot who was the mother's favorite twin. After two days with them, he told us that there wasn't much (and it is less apparent than it was before), but he guessed correctly that Joanna was the favorite.

Last but not least, the skiing was WONDERFUL. Beautiful snow, nice weather (really cold, but decent), and fairly empty slopes. It has to be heaven when this is the view as you swish back and forth down the hill:

I have really been enjoying my classes this quarter. (Maybe because I know the end is near.) I am taking two boring Econ classes for my major - Poverty & Public Policy as well as Economic Analysis of the Law. Both are mildly interesting, but I certainly wouldn't choose to take them.
I am also taking a swimming class (for 0 credits), that is teaching me how to swim! I'm in level 4, even though I should probably be in level 2 or 3, but the teacher is letting me struggle to keep up with the 4th level class. It's a really small class, about 6 students, so I get a lot of one on one attention, which is good. My main problem (other than learning these strokes for the first time) is the same problem I have with golf: I try too hard. Both sports, swimming and golf, work best when the motions are smooth, slow, and graceful. I try to go as fast and as hard as I can! The teacher tells me to slow down and relax during every class.
My other favorite class, is my Physics class. Don't let that word scare you. It's a Conceptual Physics class, which means we only go over the ideas, not the math! I call it my Physics for 8th graders class, because it is similar to the properties of physics that you would learn in middle school. (Light, what is an atom, etc) The teacher is really fun and very smart. He's always referring to the accelerator at Stanford (where he spends most of his time) and saying "we" found this, etc.. And I know he truly means "we", that he was personally involved with these discoveries, etc. That's so awesome! He also always does all these cool experiments in class everyday. Today, he demonstrated pressure, by laying on a bed of nails and having someone pound on him with a sledge hammer!!!
Here are some pictures that I took with my cell phone (hence the poor quality):

Here is my teacher, showing us that they are real, sharp nails.


Here is Prof. Schalk laying down on the bed of nails.


Then, a smaller bed of nails was placed across his chest, with a cinder block on top of that (hard to see, but it is light gray and being held in place by the man's finger). Notice his protection over his vital areas - a plastic dome to protect his face, and a wood board over his umm.. lower region. He said that he learned to do this from experience of the cinder block breaking and falling in the wrong direction.. Ouch!


Then came the sledge hammer! Whap! And the cement block broke into pieces! I think this shot is right after the hammer hit, you can sort of see the block falling into pieces.


Here is the bed of nails and the broken cinder block. My teacher was, of course, OK, and continued with his lecture of the day: Liquids. I don't know what pressure had to do with liquids, but that's ok.


I just thought this was one of the cooler classes I've had as a college student, so I wanted to share it! =)

I know where I'll be Sat. June 17, 2006 at 1pm -- I'll be GRADUATING!

After that.... ?

I feel so lost. =(

Christmas with Kate

Here is my Family's Christmas Tradition: (if I had planned this Xanga ahead of time, I could've had pictures to go along... Oh well) 1. Open ONE present Christmas Eve, usually pjs, slippers, robe, etc. The idea is you can wear it immediately and for the next morning's events 2. Everyone who sleeps in the house on Christmas night gets a stocking (pets excluded thus far). 3. Wake up early Christmas Day and open stockings from Santa as well as everything* under the tree. 4. Get dressed and prepare brunch, await arrival of extended family members. *5. Sometimes we open presents with the new guests. 6. Then we have a big fancy brunch. We do brunch instead of dinner because much of my family is halfs or steps, so they go to their other families for dinner. Here is one of the table's place setting. We always get mimosas in the champagne flute, water in the other glass, and juice or eggnog in the smallest glass. 12 place settings in all! This is about the max we can host! We've done 14 once, the normal range of guests is 6-10. This year's diners were: My mom (Teresa), my dad (Peter), myself (Kate), my half sister (Ginny), my other half sister (Jenny), her boyfriend (Jesus), my aunt (Jane), her significant other (Jim), my cousin (Gavin), his mother (Karen), and my dad's old friend and his wife (Jack and Jenna). We set the table the night before. After having several ant attacks throughout the winter, we decided to store the sugary cakes in the oven overnight! HAHA Then my mom made me write a note so we wouldn't forget and accidentally turn on the oven! My sister, Ginny, and her dog, Karmalita... My computer illiterate father got an iPod Shuffle for Christmas. We figured he would get confused if there was more than just "Play". And, after all the stress, yelling and preparation, here is my mom's Christmas Brunch menu this year: (From top left saucer) 1. Irish Oatmeal Cream Brulee topped with toasted coconut and raspberries, 2. Artichoke heart with mushrooms and then a poached egg, topped with a thin slice of ham covered in Hollandaise Sauce and a shaving of a black truffle (rare mushroom), 3. Half of a grilled tomato sprinkled with salt, pepper, ginger, and basil, 4. One slice of bacon, 5. A biscuit with scrambled eggs and a White Haddock (fish) sauce and garnish of chives, 6. (not shown) Pear Gingerbread Upside-down Cake with Creme Fresh. Every year, my mom learns the same lessons: Pick something less complicated to make, otherwise last minute prep, like the eggs and assembly is never quick enough for the guests waiting at the table. Maybe next year, she'll learn, but I doubt it. (She finds recipes and thinks they sound delicious and easy, plus she always wants to impress).

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Wednesday, December 07, 2005

I thought I had established after last Christmas season, that my family needs my help in picking out a Christmas Tree... Apparently, I wasn't clear enough... =( Click here to see last year's nightmare. Here's what they got: Ok, so it doesn't have a god-awful gap in the middle of the branches this time, but it's still crooked!! I think this is because they jammed it against the wall. Give it a little room to breathe, guys! Also, it's short. As you can see, just a bit taller than the piano, and this is what you see when you walk into our front door: Yes, the star stares you right in the face the moment you walk in the door, and it is just BELOW eye level. That means that the first thing you think when walking into our house is: 'What a dwarfed Christmas Tree! Who are these people with 13 foot ceilings that get a miniature tree?!' Minus 2 points... Maybe I just really like the gynormous trees with a star that's out of reach.. I dunno. I can only hope that it will look better after some tree decorating! =( (My mind says no) On the other hand, my mom did quite a nice little Angel collection over by the fireplace... Plus 2 points... But here's the best part!! BEFORE you enter our house and look down at our tree, you will see this: WHAT IS A PUMPKIN DOING ON OUR FRONT PORCH IN DECEMBER?!?!?!?! At least she took away the witch, that was residing there during Thanksgiving weekend... But really, someone needs to get their holidays straight. Pumpkins belong in OCTOBER with HALLOWEEN... Minus 50 points.

My Belated Birthday Party!!!

Cake and Food provided by Kelly and Athena! Thank you both! So delicious!!!



The Girls: Athena, Kelly, Me, Sarah (aka The Lacey Ninjas Team in Mario Party)

The Guys: Dan, Julian, Mitch, Chris (what are you doing, Dan and Chris?!?) I think they're team name was Team Awesome!


Blurry Picture of Chris and I.. It's hard to hold the camera steady at arm's length...

My cousin Seth came out from Texas to see us for Thanksgiving. This holiday happens to be right by both of our birthdays (Nov. 29th and Dec 1st), so often we have celebrated them together...

(OK, I thought I had this really cute picture of Seth and I blowing out candles on a birthday cake when I was 4 and he was 10... I can't find it now.. So this next picture is really just rediculous, now, since it was gonna be a "then and now" thing)

Ginny sucks at taking pictures obviously, but I didn't want to make us re-pose =((




Here's a couple of my mom's pictures of us when we went to San Francisco that she took on her cellphone... Order for both: Ginny, Me, and Seth...

Thanksgiving Summary

I guess you could say it started after midnight last night, while I was out at the bars with my sister. It was like an O'dowd reunion with so many BOD grads from every year! '94-'02...Anyway

I wake up at 11 (only to realize the clocks haven't been changed, so it's really 10am), in time to pick up my cousin from the airport at noon, but he didn't make that flight and is now arriving at 8pm!!!

I watch my mom finish baking two delicious pumpkin pies and one really gross, health food tasting low-carb, low-cal, tofu sweet potato, pecan pie.. She said it tasted "earthy".. Indeed, it was as rough as the forest floor, with an even worse aftertaste!

Then she convinces me to go to my sister's house... I comply, expecting to unload a carpet, then go to the movies. Ugh, I should have known better!!

We get there, and they decide before putting down the carpet, they want to paint the floor! They only paint HALF, then don't even unload the carpet. I have now decided I'm not required to do any work that was not in the original contract, so I stand around, trying not to get paint on my clothes. I'm never going over there again.

No one wants to go to the movie, but I convince people we should (since that was the ONLY reason I came in the first place). We haul ass to get to the theater in time to see Rent... I was really excited to see this, but it was only alright. My mom and sister hated it. Guess they don't like musicals! =( I thought it was hit or miss on all of the songs and the story kinda dragged a little, because if they had cut out any of it, fans would be pissed. All in all, it was just OK (which means I was pretty disappointed from all the hype).

We get home and are in a rush to make it out the door to dinner. This makes mom stressed, and then my sister, I guess, says the wrong thing and suddenly my sister is screaming, "This is why I hate the holidays!" and my mom yells "Fuck you!"

Ah yes, this is when I know the holidays have begun. For some people they know when they start smelling pumpkin pie, or seeing snow, or hearing carols. For me, it's when my sister and mom start to yell at each other. (Ok, I lie, they do this year-round).

Mom decides to bring a pumpkin pie and her "earthy-tasting" pie to dinner, in SF. I forgot how trecherous parking is in SF, but whatever, I parked illegally 'cuz no one's on duty to ticket me!

Dinner was not as gourmet as my picky tastebuds were fearing, but it was still a pretty fancy feast (Please don't picture cat food). My mom tries to hook up my sister and our step cousin - awkward. Ginny and I make our early getaway to retrieve our cousin from the airport and return to our house to relax. Thanksgiving's over!

So, what am I thankful for?! I'm thankful my family has not disowned each other, yet...

Halloween 2005!

A regular Santa Cruz Halloween on Pacific... I got to be DD! Yay for soberness! Chris didn't come out because he had a midterm the next day! =( Otherwise, I would've made him be my Peter Pan, which he did NOT want to do.

The Guys: Tony (as Jayne or Hobo, take your pick), Dan (as himself), and Mitch (detective)


The Girls: Sarah (Pirate), Me (Tinkerbell), Athena (Accountant), and Kelly (fairy?)


Athena, the cleave-tacular Accountant/Bookie! Yes, accounting is a scary costume! If you haven't been brainwashed by Bob Sheperd, you know what I mean.


Mitch, inpecting his bottle of alcohol for fingerprints?!


Me and Chivilrous Dan! My hero... Cheesiest Picture ever, what are we doing?!?!


I know, Tony, we all get scared when Dan grabs us.


Again, what are we doing, I have no idea. But this is my fav. picture of the night.


Mitch and Sarah, awww


Kelly and Me, the winged, sober beauties!


Dan's favorite character, Milkshake. Can you see how happy he is?!


The cops in riot gear. There were 2 stabbings that night and many MANY Public Intoxication Arrests...

Pumpkin Carving 2005

I dragged Chris to the Pumpkin Patch to pick out a pumpkin. We got a pretty good pumpkin for waiting so late:


Chris's favorite part: Gutting the pumpkin


Then we picked the most DIFFICULT pattern to do! Here's Chris pin-holing the pattern... Can you see how intricate it is?!


Then you are supposed to connect the dots and carve out the pattern! Easy, right?! It really just looks like a bunch of dots all over the place!


Dinner, a headache, and an hour and a half later, we are almost half done...


Another hour later and we're done! Well, as much as we're gonna do...


We had to go steal a light from a neighbor's pumpkin to see it lit:


And here's what it was supposed to look like. As you can see, we didn't do a lot of the detail, 'cuz it was a small pumpkin and the detail was hard!