Roots

2009-09-18T21:49:00.000-07:00

After 2 weeks of night shift at the hospital, I have lost touch with the world around me.
Today I learned:

1. Patrick Swazey died at age 57.

2. In Japan, you can rent a husband, mother, dog, or beetle for company or advice.

3. Keeping a beer journal is a completely white fad thing to do.

This last nugget I gleaned after mentioning to my husband that we (I) should start a journal to keep track of the Porters that I've had and liked. He responded by informing me that my great idea had already been coined. A comment to which I balked and Matt double speed backtracked and added an extra helping of reassurance. We subsequently went to Target* to purchase a journal.

*also very white. (but what am I supposed to be?)

the barn

2009-09-14T17:23:00.000-07:00

Another go.

2009-09-14T15:32:00.000-07:00

I recently realized that I still "have" a blog. That is- there is a place on the internet that still does contain some random thoughts of mine and is now just lingering out there in the ethos- unfinished.

So I had come back to officially delete everything and even went so far as selecting all posts and was about to click delete, and then I thought- why not give it another go?

The reality of my life is that it is not regular. I don't go to an office everyday where I have regular internet access wher I can jaunt ideas and thoughts at whim. I don't even sit at home everyday with a routine of say: coffee, breakfast, dishes, dogs, meeting a girl friend for this or that, whatever...I'm irregular at best.

I work as a nurse- so on days I work, I get up about 6am, leave by 6:30 and then get back home around 8pm- just in time to catch up on the day with my husband and go to bed for the next workday (or if not, then we go out or watch a movie and therefore-no sitting around on the computer blogging. ) On nights that I work I usually sleep the day before and after, and while during the night I might have time to sit down, I am usually wanting to either talk to the nurse next to me, or eat.

When I am not working I have time - but by the time that I have cleaned the apartment and feel recuperated from being gone from the world for 3 days, I don't feel like sitting inside or anywhere- I want to go see the world, so I usually go to shops, ride my scooter, and take my dogs on a walk, etc. Instead of sitting on my computer at home.

Excuses aside. I am going to try to do this once again because I feel that it is somewhat healthy for people to write and that is something that I do very little of. I think that writing (of any sort) causes people to pause in one place and most of the time, evaluate what they are thinking, feeling, and what they believe. I am not sure if most people believe something before they say/write it, or if in writing and saying, they find their belief. But as for me, my soul finds nourishment in retrospection, in writing and talking about what has happened in my life and how I feel about it.

As of late, a lot has happened. I feel overwhelmed about the possibility of divulging such a gross amount of random happenings. The amount that I have not thought about, and the amount of reflection that sits before me seems daunting. So maybe just one?

Where to live. ?

Matt and I had previously settled on purchasing a house on 9th street in Durham, NC. since then, we have been living in 1/3 of the house in an apartment we are renting. We had a contract and were going to be ready to close this past September. Not so. Bank of America decided at the last minute we would need 25% down instead of 5%. I'm not sure of their confusion- but it did cause a hiccup that in turn caused a thoought, and a rethought. and a canceling of the contract. (cold feet?) Since then Matt has set his eyes about 25 minutes north of down town - on a little farm in Hurdle Mills.

As we have been living in Durham for almost a year now, and have been contemplating buying here because the thought of renting makes me want to puke. money wasted! It is hard though, because there are SO MANY contributing factors to a decision like adding on another loan to your life- the liability. Here are the factors - not being pros or cons, but just facts that seem to matter.

-I really like living on 9th street because people are always walking and running by with dogs, etc. and to go to the shops down the street.
-Matt doesn't like living in Durham because people take his stuff. aka. our ar has been broken into twice and his hand tools are stolen/borrowed regularly at work.
-I really like living about 1 mile from where I work all the amenities I need because I can scoot everywhere.
-We both want to buy a house because I think renting is a waste of money.
-Taking on another loan is a huge responsibility.
-Matt and I have never lived in one place longer than 9 months together and typically "get the itch" every 6 months. (which I did already experience about 1 month ago in a sort of short wave)
-Matt wants to live in the country on a farm, with horses, cows, and pigs.
-If i live on a farm, I want a goat.
-We need a bigger back yard or more land for Callie (our little catahoula) to run around on.
-Our goal is to completely own our place of residence before we have children.

alright, I'm thinking this is all I can do for now.

Will and "Baby MATT" (another doting aunt post)

2009-03-25T18:11:00.000-07:00

Will's first Monster Truck Rally

And the newest member of the Green Family: Matthew Anderson Green!

Aunt Kate! x2!

2009-03-13T12:49:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the world Matthew Anderson Green!!

And congrats to very tired and happy parents- Sandy and Bill, and also big brother Willis!

Yea!! There will be many pictures to come of course.
I couldn't be more excited!!

Snow Day Wanderings

2009-03-02T08:38:00.000-08:00

Okay. So I am sitting at home- with Matt and Cory. Today was supposed to be my first day of work at Duke but due to "inclement weather" it was canceled.

I've recently noted that in my spare time, my thoughts typically wander to a few (often repeated) topics. One is nursing and what it will be like to actually be working again and on top of that, in the ICU at Duke. I am still wondering about that as my position at Duke seems it will never come to fruition.

Another destination in my wandering has been to "the farm." That is, the ever evolving dream that matt and I toss back and forth about living in the country, having a few dogs, pigs, goats, and a cow or horse. When we are there, we are relaxed but we work hard. We plant and grow our own vegetables and we have fruit trees. In my mind, we have children that are able to run outside and play rough with big dogs who slobber all over their faces. We enjoy fires and reading stories aloud at night... and there is a wood shop and place for matt to be handy, while I have a kiln and the meager makings of a studio to piddle with.

The third destination (and slightly more frequent these past few days) is that of my small bakery/sweeterie that I own in Downtown Durham. Its quaint, warm, and smells of sugar and cream all the time. I live nearby and walk there in the mornings. People I know come in and stay and talk for hours over coffee while I may or may not be baking. It would be the kind of shop that is so quaint that you wonder how we pay for the lights to be on- (and I haven't quite figured that part out yet). But we would have local artists displaying their works on the walls and we would offer gourmet meals for take out so that busy people could eat dinner with their families and have good healthy food. And we could cater lunch meetings for people downtown- if they wanted. But mostly, it would be about sitting and talking over hot coffee and really delicious scones.

There are a couple building sites that I have often dreamt of having this exciting endeavor:

102 West Trinity Street
303 South Duke Street
638 Foster Street
517 North Gregson Street

Just a few. The sad part is, one of these sites is condemned and probably going to be torn down. I wrote an email to the board of the TTA about it today and would encourage anyone else who cares to write one too. Why tear down a perfectly restorable building in downtown? It would be a lovely sweeterie. Or anything for that matter- and I am sure that an empty lot wouldn't contribute to the community as much as the preservation/restoration of this historical building would. (mini soapbox). Props to Endangered Durham and all who care.

kate

Porter at the park.

2009-02-20T09:32:00.000-08:00

I am thinking about breeding Porter- because there needs to be more of him in this world. Actually, I guess I should say I am looking to stud him out. I haven't really figured out how to get into this market/inner circle of breeding yorkies... but I figure he'll do great if I can find someone interested. The problem is- no one knows what a yorkie-ton is, everytime I say what he is I get "a yorkie what?" So, we will see.

If anyone knows of a breeder wanting yorkie-tons, or of an owner of a yorkie female...let me know!

For all the mamas I know and love-

2009-02-02T07:51:00.000-08:00

Check this out. I'm sure it will revolutionize your life.

flour, yeast, salt, water.

2009-01-21T12:35:00.000-08:00

Matt and I haven't made our own bread regularly since we left England in the spring of 2007. It is good to be back. Last night I started a huge lump of dough and it rose beautifully overnight. I am a little rusty in forming the loaves (and the one on the far right was in a loaf pan). Additionally, this was my first time baking in the oven in our apartment- but I think it did alright. I know Matt will be glad to see he can finally make a sandwich (I haven't bought bread in 2 weeks in hopes that it would motivate me to bake again).

Yeah to knowing a little about what you are eating!

Tanya's Baby shower.

2009-01-11T19:13:00.000-08:00

My mom and I went and represented at my cousin Tanya's baby shower this past Saturday, it was a blast to see everyone and especially Tanya, she has a really cute baby bump...named Dyllan - or Dillon?

Here is a picture of myself between (on the left) my "grand aunt Jill" and (on the right) my Aunt Valerie- who was gracious enough to have shared her eyes with me. (we both have 2 different colored eyes!)

What is interesting is that my Aunt Jill's name is actually Katherine, my name, and also, her brother (my gramps) was called Jack- so they were Jack and Jill back in the day. I think its cool.

Random Picture.

2009-01-11T19:12:00.000-08:00

Cory and I made Angel pancakes together over the holidays.

2009-01-05T12:26:00.000-08:00

FYI.... for those who are wondering. There was a snag in my start date at Duke and although Matt and I are in Durham now and he is working, I will not be starting until March 2nd (hopefully- I still haven't actually gotten the paperwork). So, that to say, I am applying for a job at Elmo's in the mean time. Yea for good diners!

Hopefully I will be hosting it up at Elmo's this week and for many to follow. Matt and I are happy and we are hoping to be able to take a trip to Charlottesville this weekend to retrieve the rest of our furniture and a few boxes we left there.

Things I am looking forward to:

1. Walking Porter around the Duke east campus loop without him freaking out at other dogs.
2. Refinishing/painting the dresser and desk Matt and I picked up for FREE -out of the mud.
3. Getting a job.
4. Being able to buy some fabric to sew something.
5. Neutering Porter.
and last and honestly sort of least... (only because the truck isn't actually "my baby")
6. Getting our "new" 1973 International Side-step truck all checked and licensed, etc.

Employed.

2008-12-22T12:45:00.000-08:00

3200.
CTICU

My first day of work is Jan. 5th! Its going to be intense, but I am so excited! Sorry to all those 'hill fans out there- I guess I've let a few people down. I think I might miss being unemployed, there is a certain quirky enjoyment in waking up and having nothing that you have to do. I am glad to have a job-while so many other people are being laid off or can't find one. Yay for being a nurse!

Here is a poem I wrote titled Ode to Unemployment.

Wake up.
Wake up, Wake up.
Is it time to get up? who says?
Wander to the counter, coffee. sugar.
To the frig, cream.

Slowly opening eyes. a day.
Any day. Today.

its still wet outside.

2008-12-18T07:49:00.000-08:00

Its a drizzly day in durham, what better to do than sit inside and shop for umbrellas??

I really like the last one a lot- bicycles circling with pretty pink!

i like this print.

2008-12-15T07:10:00.000-08:00

You can find more at Le Love:

http://leloveimage.blogspot.com/2008/12/love-me.html

puppies and babies

2008-12-12T19:52:00.000-08:00

Matt and I babysat Halleigh Jane while her parents stole one last night together before Brooklynne and Halleigh left for Utah for a couple days. We did pretty well with eating lasagna and watching the Grinch...but the bath was the real adventure from the night.

Porter got a little bath-toy jealous and decided he needed a part in the action. Halleigh was adorable and I think Porter will think twice about another bath with a toddler.

pancakes and bruises...

2008-12-09T09:07:00.002-08:00

Cory and I met with her friends from Raleigh and went Ice Skating!

We had such a work out! Cory and I both majorly wiped out a couple times, one time due to her trying to lasso me with her scarf. Everyone was sore and starving afterward so we stopped for blueberry pancakes and apple pie from Gypsy's Shiny Diner.

Nothing better than late night breakfast with hot chocolate!

2008-12-05T09:12:00.000-08:00

2008-12-05T09:04:00.000-08:00

2008-12-05T08:55:00.000-08:00

The Pinhook. Durham, NC.

les joies du chômage

2008-12-04T19:33:00.000-08:00

Un: I went on a hot date tonight. Matt took me to Thai Cafe on University. They make Pad Thai out of this world. I keep telling people that someday or "the next time" I will order something else, but I can't. Everytime I see it on a menu, I can't resist. We had creme brulee too; my heart melts.

Deux: I am an official member the club in Durham, NC...that is, The Pinhook. I took a picture of the sign downtown to commemorate the night. I would share a picture of the inside...but then I'd have to kill you.

Trois: Over the Rhine has announced that my favorite poem of Linford's is the poem of the week! Here it is for your reading pleasure:

Exit

I have to leave the city now, she said,
Or dash my soul against my will instead.

I do not wish to have the quiet part of me
That once could rest (the part
That could just be) tossed
Aside and left somewhere
For dead.

Tonight it seems to me
That what some friends call energy
Is nothing more than a phenomenon of nature known as
"Incurable Whirling Disease."

Please, take me far from here, she said,
The buildings sting and echo
With the fumy cries of yellowjacket cars.

I took her hand in mine and said,
I'm thinking of a place now
Where I used to have to tell myself
Aloud,
Those are not clouds,
They're stars.

-Linford Detweiler

2008-12-04T07:12:00.000-08:00

Matt and I are in Durham, crashing my baby sis' apartment once again. He is interviewing today with a couple historic preservation firms. I am sitting around listening to James Wilson thumb it out. I love his music, it makes sense and it makes me feel at home even while I don't have one.
Check em out:
http://www.myspace.com/sonsofbillmusic
http://sonsofbill.com/

Meanwhile, I've been pouring over these websites that I like to live vicariously through...the ones created by people whose jobs are to be creative. I'm trying to come up with a way that I can somehow make time in my life for this part of me that has been dormant for just over 2 years now. Its not that there is no time, but I'm finding its more the lack of a personal space and personal time. Being virtually homeless since October, I haven't had a place to sit on the floor surrounded by scraps and papers, paint and buttons. Nor have I had time to sit alone.

Where ever we find to live... be it Durham or the moon, I want to have a room where I can sit on the floor and surround myself with things I like. I want to listen to good music and eat blueberry pancakes. I want to sit in the morning and glue things, paint things, sew things. Etc. Whatever.

All in one...almost.

2008-12-02T19:23:00.000-08:00

The Green family gathered in Spartanburg this past week to celebrate Thanksgiving, all of December, and Christmas Day in one weekend. In order celebrate on the "off year" or the year of in-laws, we decided to have Thanksgiving Thursday, all of December on Friday, and Christmas morning on Saturday. Its a weird feeling now to walk around and see people getting all geared up for something you just finished- like your clock is somehow a month off. So what is left for the month of December? Its a good thing we still have Matt, Grandma Cosper, Mama H, my birthdays to celebrate, and of course, Christmas in Ohio with the Thompsons!

As is tradition for our family, we cooked and cooked and cooked. Cory and Matt executed breakfast feasts and for Thanksgiving day, my dad made his pesto stuffed turkey and added the option of apple walnut stuffed turkey this year. Both were delish. Holly and Megan (my aunt and cousin's girlfriend respectively) came and made crab cakes and salmon bruchetta as appetizers. And of course, my favs, we had sweet potatoes with marshmallows and cranberry sauce from a can (but the rest of the family had the shmancy real cranberries-cranberry sauce).

On Thursday night, after scouring the adds, Cory, Matt, and I fought the tryptophan and stayed up for the 12am-outlet-shopping-in-your-pjs frenzy. We left the house around 11:40 and luckily went the back roads. As we crossed over I-85, there were headlights as far as we could see in both directions. It was insane. There was a DJ, there were old women in onesies smoking virginia slims, there were too many people and they were all too close. We perused, got tired, and went home, just in time to meet my dad and bill at the door for the 4am Sears rush.

Friday is a blur, there was shopping, wrapping, Christmas tree getting, lighting, decorating, and it all settled down with Will blowing kisses good night and some quality homemade peppermint bark. As deemed the "traditions nazi" by the rest of my family, and others who know me well, this year was a stretch, but good. Being the first Christmas with the new generation, we decided to open presents from each other "Christmas eve night" (Friday) so we could focus on Will in the morning. It was so much fun. Matt got a bunch of tools and I got a sewing machine! Along with a bunch of other things that I don't actually need to list.

Come "Christmas" morning (more like afternoon) it was time for Will to open his presents. Now, I know they say the first grandchild is spoiled. Well, I don't think I could have ever imagined or prepared myself for the spoiling that took place on that day. Here are some pictures of Will that morning and others from the week.

Will caught being a momma's boy!

Porter and Will wrestling.

Will at Happy Hollow Park

...the park.

Willis rockin the ornaments!

Cowboy boots and a leisure suit. Classic.

2008-11-11T11:50:00.000-08:00

Matt and I were fortunate enough to be in Durham this past Sunday while Stanley Hauerwas and Jean Vanier were together for a conversation of peace and hospitality at Cory's church- Blacknall.

It was great to be a small (listening) part of a community and conversation that was both thoughtful and compassionate. Jean Vanier is the founder of L'arche and mentor of one of my favorite authurs, Henry Nouwen.

I would encourage anyone I know to read him/them both. And I'm putting this link to an article I just found by Hauerwas that speaks to something I feel like a lot of people my age have bawked at lately-- reading this was humbling and helped me with recentering my thoughts.

Here it is~ enjoy!
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=110

Alright.

2008-11-04T18:34:00.000-08:00

We still haven't started the AT. And, to clear all the confusion, I am going to detail the last month of our lives- October 2008: Driving. We started in Ohio- unemployed and with a plan. Then came Charlottesville and the starting point for our epic adventure hiking the AT with our new puppy Porter. 3-4 days in Charlottesville turned into nearly a week and a half of living in the back yard of our beloved friend, James Wilson. Perhaps needless to say, I was becoming more and more stir-crazy not hiking and not really having a home either. Which led us to thinking that it might be more wise (being unemployed and having paid mortgage on our house for 5 months without living there) to rent our house out before going hiking.

So we started on our 2nd big road trip of the month- from Charlottesville to Spartanburg by way of Durham, Cory, Greensboro, and a few Sons of Bill concerts. We put our house on craigslist and started to move our various belongings into the 3 piles- to the attic, to c-ville, and back to goodwill. We (quickly) found a few good renters and moved out this past week. Meanwhile, I applied online to UVA medical center and have an interview this Thursday. So what do we do in the in-between time? ROAD TRIP!

Third trip of the month: Spartanburg-Jonesboro, Arkansas... Mom, Matt, and I go to visit Bill, Sandy, and willis- the 1.5 year terror of disease and all things gastrointestinal. We left Thursday afternoon and arrived that night to both Sandy and Bill throwing up and in serious pain from a virus Will brought back from church nursery. Friday Bill took off work (sick) and we chilled at their house mostly, except to see Elmo ("melmo") both at IHOP and the church halloween party. Will was a Monkey- the cutest ever, of course. Then on Saturday, We went to the tourism capital of Arkansas- Hardy, AK. ...Where? yea. It was fun though- we had ice cream, saw a bunch of antiques, a man singing karaoke in the street, and on the way there we passed a train. Plus, we went in Bill's new pimp Honda Odyssey, complete with automatic doors, DVD player, butt warmers, and the works. So Sunday mom and I got the bug and were puking all morning and finally got around to trying some popsicles around 3pm. We celebrated Bill's 27th birthday that night and played referee while Will body-slammed Porter again and agaain- screeching and giggling the whole time. And on Monday morning, we rejoiced because Matt hadn't been totally overcome with the stomach flu-thing and was able to drive the 14 hours back to SC. Stopping in Knoxville to see Kelly and Evan was a much needed respite from I-40. Overall, the weekend was...memorable. I would honestly do it again if it meant I could see those 3 again.

Tuesday: election day. I know a number of people would be seriously upset with me if they knew I did this, but I am going to confess anyway- because when there just isn't that much differences in the candidates, and you know that either way, the Iraq war isn't going to stop... nor are the bail-outs or the continual growth of our federal government... you have to at least give a little laugh at the booth. okay: I voted for a candidate solely because of her name today, that is, I voted for a "Punky Brewster" for County Coroner.

Tomorrow: ROAD TRIP! We are driving back up to Charlottesville courtesy of UVA to 1-interview with UVA hospital and 2- give Ashlie's iron back! (sorry ash!!) And, if all goes well, we will also be moving most of our things there, finding an apartment, and I might even be getting a job. Which hopefully means there will be a week sometime in the coming month when we will actually go camping...maybe? Along with being back in SC for Thanksgiving and to celebrate Christmas early with the Green-side of our family.

We haven't started yet...

2008-10-05T20:14:00.001-07:00

...but the anticipation of blisters, sweat, and dirty feet is almost wearing on me. I'm not sure if the butterflies in my stomach are from my new found state of unemployment, the thought of walking for the next two months, or my fear of giardia in the woods. At any rate, tomorrow morning Matt, Porter and I will leave Ohio for Charlottesville, Virginia and start to make our final preparations for the journey south.

We started this blog in an effort to share our adventure with the people we love (and occasionally let everyone know we are still alive).

We will be able to update as often as we have WiFi or cell phone reception.

Kate.