I met Kara in 1995 when I moved to Baltimore. I'll have to admit, she was one intimidating person at first! She didn't like me much because she thought I was a snob. I just thought she was just a mean kid from Camp Tomahawk...surely we wouldn't be friends ever!

Little did we know that a year later, we'd become friends that would share priceless moments of friendship, laughter, tears, summers at Camp Tomahawk, getting in trouble together, pain, not speaking to each other, a trip to Florida, and countless numbers of phone calls and text messages throughout the course of the past 13 years.

We talked on the phone a few weeks ago...but little did I know that when I said "I'll call you next week", when we were ending our conversation, that I would never have the opportunity to talk to my friend again. Unfortunately, Kara's life was cut way too short. She passed away unexpectedly on Saturday morning.

A young, 29 years old... it just doesn't seem fair.
Why? Why did this have to happen? Why did she have to be so sick? Why didn't I call her back when I said I would?

Kara was my "dawg" (as we called each other). Maybe I wasn't always the best friend that I could be to her...but I hope that she knows that I loved her like a sister and that she meant so much to me, and that I miss her already.


I found a blog that I wrote about her a few years ago when she was first diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis...

"Crazy & Cool"-

I talked to my dear friend Kara today . She has been sick with Auto-Immune Hepatitis for the past two years. Recently, they told her that she has cirrhosis of the liver and that most likely, a liver transplant will be needed. She called me today to tell me that she was in the hospital again. This seems to be a monthly ritual lately. She spent a week and a half in the hospital during Thanksgiving, and there is a good possiblity that they are going to have to send her to a hospital in Baltimore during Christmas. She is so stubborn and I know she will fight with the doctors about going there on Christmas. I am sad for Kara. She is only 26 years old. She doesn't deserve to have to put up with this illness. I wish that she would heal so that she could get back to being herself again. Kara has so much potential.....I just wish that she were able to put it to use.

Kara is one of my best friends; even though we are TOTAL opposites. No matter what, when we're together, we LAUGH. No matter what kind of mood I'm in, if she calls, I know I'm going to laugh! Kara didn't like me when we first met. She thought I was a snob. (I'm just shy! Really! LOL) That was about 10 years ago when I first moved to Maryland. We worked at summer camp and became friends; with the exception of one summer when I told her to stop being a "royal bitch!!!" (Everyone's jaw dropped and they thought she was going to kick my butt!) We grew close over the years, and even closer the summer that we went to Orlando for our Girl's Week of Fun! That was the weekend that we were labled as "The Cool One" and "The Crazy One". I'll let you decide for yourself which one I was.

So I don't know if Kara is reading this, but if so; I love ya DAWG! And I hope that you get better real soon. Remember: we've got friends in low places!!! And also, remember: marriage is overrated...I'm gonna be a bigamist, momma! LOL :)




I hope that Kara is looking down and smiling right now as I type this...

Kara, I love ya dawg!

I was just watching Ace of Cakes on the Food Network, and seeing scenes with Baltimore made me feel a bit nostalgic... Though I only lived there from 1995-2001, it still feels like home to me. So I googled "you know you're from Maryland when..." and found this. And it all makes perfect sense to me. but you wouldn't get it if you're not from Maryland!

YOU KNOW YOU'RE
FROM MARYLAND WHEN...

* You know how to pronounce 'Towson'

* You've eaten at Haussner's.

* You love the Domino Sugar sign you can see across the harbor.

* You know Annapolis & Hopkins are national treasures & you get a kick out of hearing them named in movies or TV.

* You know B&O is not body odor.


* Every kitchen has a can of Old Bay.

* You refer to your state as "Marilyn."

* You know where "Downey Ocean" is.

* You know how to eat steamed crabs, but also know how to tell the males from the females.

* You don't think that Assawoman Bay is a strange name.

* M R Ducks makes perfect sense.

* You remember Memorial Stadium.

* You still root for the Orioles even when they aren't doing well.

* You know what a zink is

* When anywhere else, you can only laugh when you see signs saying "Maryland Crab Cakes!"

* You say "Blare Road" for Bel Air Road

* You swore Frank Perdue kinda looked like one of his tender chickens.




* You know which bridge their talking about, when someone says "The bridge traffic is backed up."

You can pronounce and spell "Pocomoke," "Mattaponi," "Accokeek," and "Havre de Grace"

You prononce "Bowie" BOO-ie not BOW-ie or BAUW-ie

Your mom shopped at Hechts

You'll never understand why tourists come to DC.


You plan for "The Festival" a year in advance.

Yes, I have a crazy stalker. Not the kind that sits outside of my window, peeping, slashing tires, but a lazier version who sits in front of their computer at 2 am changing the content of my Facebook page. I have no idea when I got so interesting, but someone has taken an unnatural liking to all things me, so I’m choosing the attitude of being flattered. And here I was thinking I was settling into happy suburban life in Vegas and becoming boring.

 

You’re not going to win. I’m still going to go on being happy. I might be slightly inconvenienced now but it’s nothing a quick computer scrub from the Geek Squad can’t handle.

 

You can stop…or not. I’ll still have a nice job, new house, wonderful man and tons of friends and you…well, you can still sit and play Text Twist on my Facebook page in the wee hours of the morning.

 

That can be our little arrangement. Me – happy. You – pathetic. I wish you the best with it.

When I first moved to Vegas, "they" (whoever they are. does anyone really know who they are??) told me to "give it a year....you'll love it". Well my friends, I have been living in Las Vegas, NV for a total of one whole year- to the date.

As most of you know, I've lived somewhat of a vagrant life. To me, it's normal to have lived in 10 states. It's normal for me not to be able to answer the question "where are you from". (The answer to that question depends on my mood and on how nostalgic I'm feeling when you ask. Or if I feel like being made fun of for "being from Mississippi" or not!).

For a young thirty-something, I have to say that I've lived quite the eclectic life and have had way more than my fair share of experiences... and adjustments. Imagine moving from Edison, NJ in the dead of winter to podunk Dothan, AL---where a 4th grade class is just then learning how to tell time (I think I learned that when I was in 1st grade in NY!). Or to go to Jr. High And High School one of the most southern places , Jackson, MS---and then right away, without warning, move to Baltimore, MD where professors & classmates at college tease you about your hick accent! Or, after making the worst decision in my life- moving to Corpus Christi, TX...

I've been through alot and for most of my experiences, I really am grateful; all of this to say, that through all of these moves, not one has been as tough as my move to Las Vegas. This may come as a surprise to many people...or other of you know the truth of this as well as they know the difference between day & night.

I am not here to complain; because honestly, I have it good here in Vegas. I have a good job and a nice house, Troy & I are happy, the weather is decent, the view is spectacular, and this is a fun city (after all, I do live in the city of sin. who doesn't want to come here!).

BUT. yes, there's a but. I still have no friends here. None. Not one. It's downright lonely here sometimes- even with Troy around. As great as it is to have a boyfriend here, it totally sucks not having girl-friends. I've been pretty down about not having friends; especially as of late.

I miss my friends from Atlanta and Mississippi. I miss having people to go to lunch with. I miss having someone to go get my nails done with. I miss having my friends to go to movies with and to go shopping with. ... and the list goes on and on.

I am not upset with my decision to move to Vegas; because I know that it was the right choice.... but I sure wish that there were some nice, non-fake people here.....

I totally stole this from my friend Kristen's blog:



Survival At Work

Survival At Work
(I think I'll try some of these!)

1. Never walk without a document in your hands
People with documents in their hand look like hardworking employees heading for important meetings. People with nothing in their hands look like they're heading for the cafeteria. People with a newspaper in their hand look like they're heading for the toilet. Above all, make sure you carry loads of stuff home with you at night, thus generating the false impression that you work longer hours than you do.

2. Use computers to look busy
Any time you use a computer, it looks like "work" to the casual observer. You can send and receive personal e-mail, chat and generally have a blast without doing anything remotely related to work. These aren't exactly the societal benefits that the proponents of the computer revolution would like to talk about but they're not bad either. When you get caught by your boss - and you *will* get caught -- your best defense is to claim you're teaching yourself to use new software, thus saving valuable training dollars.

3. Messy desk
Top management can get away with a clean desk. For the rest of us, it looks like we're not working hard enough. Build huge piles of documents around your workspace. To the observer, last year's work looks the same as today's work; it's volume that counts. Pile them high and wide. If you know somebody is coming to your cubicle, bury the document you'll need halfway down in an existing stack and rummage for it when he/she arrives.

4. Voice Mail
Never answer your phone if you have voice mail. People don't call you just because they want to give you something for nothing - they call because they want YOU to do work for THEM. That's no way to live. Screen all your calls through voice mail. If somebody leaves a voice mail message for you and it sounds like impending work, respond during lunch hour when you know they're not there - it looks like you're hardworking and conscientious even though you're being a devious weasel.

5. Looking Impatient and Annoyed
According to George Costanza, one should also always try to look impatient and annoyed to give your bosses the impression that you are always busy.

6. Leave the office late
Always leave the office late, especially when the boss is still around. You could read magazines and storybooks that you always wanted to read but have no time until late before leaving. Make sure you walk past the boss' room on your way out. Send important emails at unearthly hours

(e.g. 9:35pm, 7:05am, etc.) and during public holidays.

7. Creative Sighing for Effect
Sigh loudly when there are many people around, giving the impression that you are under extreme pressure.

8. Stacking Strategy
It is not enough to pile lots of documents on the table. Put lots of books on the floor etc. (thick computer manuals are the best).

9. Build Vocabulary
Read up on some computer magazines and pick out all the jargon and new products. Use the phrases freely when in conversation with bosses. Remember: They don't have to understand what you say, but you sure sound impressive.

10. MOST IMPORTANT!!!:
DON'T forward this to your boss by mistake!!!

I started my job at UNLV last week. Along with this new position come many new responsibilities and a great deal of learning. The University is a whole different world from TSA; and the grants that I'm working on are much more challenging. On top of more challenging grants, I'm having to learn a whole new world of acronyms and policies & procedures.

I got an email today from one of my greatest encouragers, other than my family. The paragraph that stuck out in my head said this: " Do you have all the answers? Of course not! Will you have known all you need to know to feel fully comfortable? No, you won't and I would not wish that on you. We all function better when we are slightly on an edge, and today, that "edge" usually has to do with knowledge. You've come a long way as a life-long learner. Fortunately for you, it's a stairway whose top will never be reached, a rut into which you never will be forced to live"

Somehow, this friend always knows the right words to say at the right time and I am truly thankful for him.

but seriously.....he needs to stop playing covers. It's cool when he plays Crosby, Still & Nash's Southern Cross, and it's great when he plays Vann Morrison's Brown Eyed Girl. But Jimmy.....PLEASE, I beg you...please stop opening with Willy Nelson's On the Road Again, or even worse, Grateful Dead's Scarlet Bagnoias. And for the love of God....PLEASE don't close with Bruce Springstein's GLORY freaking DAYS.

I love you Jimmy. I want to hear YOUR songs. Your days are numbered, buddy. You're not getting any younger. I want you to go down singing Grapefruit, Juicy Fruit and One Particular Harbor and Tin Cup Chalice. Please, Jimmy....we love you and we need you to give us what we want to hear....which is JIMMY BUFFETT.

Here's just a few that've been asked of me since I moved here almost a year ago..........

10. Isn't it hot there? Las Vegas is in the Mojave Desert so yes, it's hot. But not all year round and dry heat is much more bearable than icky humidity.

9. Vegas? You moved to Vegas? It's not so much the question itself that's annoying so much as the incredulous and condescending attitude with which it's asked.

8. Are you gonna be a professional poker player? Uh, no.I'm terrible at poker (can't keep from smiling). Plus, I prefer blackjack! ;)

7. What about your job? Well duh. I'm a cocktail waitress. Everyone in Vegas is a cocktail waitress or a stripper. Didn't you know that? Ha! Actually, I left a low-paying job in an expensive city to take better-paying job only to leave that job for an even better paying job in a city that's about as expensive to live in as the one I just left.

6. Why did you move to Vegas? Why does anyone move anywhere? Why didn't you move to Vegas?

5. Isn't Las Vegas full of degenerate gamblers? There definitely are people with gambling problems here. Many of them are only here on weekends though. Then they leave to go back home.

4. How far from the Strip are you? always followed by so you don't live in Las Vegas? You're from San Francisco: do you live in Fisherman's Wharf? Do all New Yorkers live at Times Square?

3. Where in Las Vegas do you live? Do you know the city at all? If I said that I lived in the southwest part of town, near Mountain's Edge, would that mean anything to you? Didn't think so.

2. People actually live in Las Vegas? Yes, almost 2 million of us.

1. Do you live on the Strip? Yes, I do. Currently I'm living at Stratosphere, but I'm hoping to save up to so I can upgrade to Caesar's Palace or maybe the Wynn!

Well...... I am taking a big leap very soon! After almost 10 years of working for TSA, I am moving on to bigger & better things! I recently accepted a position at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (hence the UNLV background on my page) to work in the School of Nursing Research Department. I am very excited, as this job is more along the lines of what I want to be doing with my "career". It'll be different working for someone besides TSA, but I think it's going to be a great change!
I start at UNLV on Oct 22nd - Wish me luck!

Q: What is the difference between bashing your head against a brick wall and listening to talk about football ?
A: No difference. They're both great when they stop.

Q: What do you call a bunch of football fans with laryngitis ?
A 1: A big improvement.
A 2: Noise pollution under control.

Q: How do you make a football telecast interesting ?
A: Turn down the sound.
Q: How do you make a football telecast MORE interesting ?
A: Turn down the picture as well.
Q: And if you want it more interesting still ?
A: Change the channel, or turn the TV off.

Q: What's the difference between a fanatic and a bore ?
A: A fanatic* is someone who can't change their mind and won't change the subject. A bore is someone whose chosen subject is football.