~26 Things From a Girl of 26~

1. I am currenty working on my Masters degree in Organizational Development Psychology. It's a lot more fun than it sounds. I think that people think I sit around and tell people I work with they are crazy, but when all is said and done --really it's about telling corporations/organizations why they are failing and how I would recommend they fix it...and they pay me to tell them all this information. (Kind of a big deal...)

2. I love Argentine Tango. I took a few months off while I started working on my Masters, but I miss it. I am currently trying to get back into doing it every Tuesday like I was in the fall -- there is something beautiful about closing your eyes and having someone lead you into structured, yet ornate moves while you feel the music. It's one of the most relaxing things I do. I suggest everyone experience it at least once.

3.I recently came to love comedian Moshe Kasher. He's a jewish stand up comedian who has been featured all over the world defending gay rights (he's straight -- really, he is), explaining awkward sexual encounters, and proving it's ok to be different. Sometimes people get famous because of how awesomely different they are. Way to go, Moshe.

4. I work for a dentist and I really don't like teeth. I even find my own incredibly awkward. Most people obsess over having perfect teeth, but they wait WAY to long to worry about it. If you're 20 and wanting to fix your smile, that's something of a different sort than waiting until you're 55 and they are literally breaking out of your head, but refusing to get dentures. People make no sense to me. Also, if all of your teeth are jagged and crazy, what sense does it make to spend $100s of dollars to whiten them? At that point, you should save your $$ and get veneers. I also don’t get this obsession with having big, shiny, white teeth – AGAIN…mine fall into this category, and I find them awkward…

5. I have gotten to where I take my iPad with me everywhere and do everything with it. I have tons of cases for it. I now own 2 separate keyboards for it. I use it like an ipod in my car. I watch Glee on it every week on the Hulu app. I'm not sure I could love a treasured family pet as much I as I adore this thing. Upgrading to the iPad 2 even feels like betrayal of my precious friend at this point. I really love it. I used to be a huge fan of the PC, now I'm totally into Apple products. I have an iPad, iPhone, iPod shuffle, and just recently got rid of my iPod touch. Good lord. I am totally a consumer...

6. I am obsessed with the deli section at Cosentino's market in Brookside. For anyone who hasn't experienced the awesomeness, they have this section where they make food fresh daily and you can go in there during the lunch hour and get huge helping of freshly prepared food from jovial African American ladies who call you "baby." If they are serving gyros, I usually buy at least two so I can have one for dinner as well. How sad is that? This is why I'm getting all lazy and fat - because places like this exist. My co-worker Emily and I literally go there at least twice a week ...we only work 4 day work weeks. It's very addictive. Ridiculous.

7. For some odd reason, I have to drink Red Bull on Mondays. I think it's because I never get enough sleep on Sunday nights, because that is the night all of my friends like to meet up and stay out incredibly too late. I think the people I work with have noticed that no matter how much sleep I get, or don't get, on Sundays -- I have to have my Red Bull. I'd almost be scared to be around myself if I didn't have it.

8. I write songs about other people. Only a small part of one of my most played songs really has anything to do with my life. I've written songs for friends that are getting married or friends that are getting broken up with. That's pretty much my calling card. I try to make every song I write contain at least two lines that are specific to my life. Now, I won't tell you what 2 lines they are, but if you know me VERY well, it might be pretty easy for you to pick them out. I still won't admit it to you though.

9. Every time I'm heading home and it's not in rush hour traffic, I most likely pass my exit. I have lived in the same place since the beginning of last May and I literally still pass my exit. Most of the time it's when I"m coming back from Becker's house or headed to Eva's place -- for some odd reason, highway 152 still really confuses me...especially in bad weather - if that road is crowded and it's raining/foggy/snowing - give me about 10 extra minutes to get somewhere, because I have to get off on the wrong exit, turn around, get back on the highway, and take the correct exit. It's incredibly frustrating.

10. I never read for class. I should, but I don't. I always pretend I did, and add to the class discussions....but no matter how much I like the subject/theory we are going over that week - I cannot bring myself to actually read and the material and enjoy it. I'd rather read for fun...I was the same way with piano lessons when I was younger. When something is "assigned to me" it takes all the fun away and I won't do it...when I do something because I WANT to, I get wrapped up in it and really seem to absorb it. Go figure. I'm a rule breaker...what I am good at, is getting to class early, opening my book and reading about one whole paragraph out of each chapter so I have a clue what we're talking about. It's so bad...but I can't stop.

11. I have alot of friends -- but I have alot of BEST friends too. I think it's important to take your friendships seriously and be there for the people that matter to you.

12. I'm friends with every person I've ever dated. I have this idea crazy idea that just because you don't work out with someone, doesn't mean they won't make a really amazing friend. I like that about me.

13. Some people have a biological clock that is "ticking." I have a "living" clock that is ticking. I want to live. I want to climb mountains, explore the unknown, kick back on a boat and sip cocktails in some exoctic location. Most of all, I want to have stories to tell my (eventual) kids.

14. I write on my shower wall with shower markers. Those crayola ones that little kids use? I write songs while I"m in the shower -- and sometimes, I write things I'm thinking but don't dare say out loud...and then I let the water hit it and wash it away. I do my best thinking in the shower.

15. I like to think I'm kind of "bitchy," but I have a huge heart. A really, really, big one. I cry when I watch Grey's Anatomy...or when I see a hurt animal. I cry when my nephew looks at me with the big sad eyes and they well up with tears and he's genuinely hurt. It hurts my heart to see sadness. I'm very good at not showing that to people though.

16.I'm a genuinely happy person. I've never took a step back from my life and thought "how depressing" or wished I was someone else. I like the person I"m working to become, and I think that's the most gratifying feeling EVER. I think it will lead me to great places and eventually, lead me to become a great mother/wife. I think the more you love yourself, the better your capacity to love others. I'm gonna save up all this effort and put it to good use one day.


17. I really miss debate. Not really the stress of preparing for tournaments and the copious amounts of research - but the people and the thrill you get after a really intense round where you feel REALLY smart after it's over. I equally miss the high you are on after you win a really BIG debate against a team that is obviously better than you. I do not feel like a lot of people can relate to this unless they have ever experienced it. Id rather feel smart than pretty any day -- I'm a weird girl.

18. I live in Kansas City, but I don't really like it. I hate how far everything is away from each other -- I prefer the simplicity of a small town and always running into you people you know. Its frustrating to work 40 minutes from where I live, go to class 20 minutes from there, and then drive over an hour home. I feel like I'm always in my car, therefore increasing my risk of being hurt in a wreck -- which is actually a huge fear of mine. You would think I would try to stay in my little "area" as much as possible, but I really don't. I really don't think I want to live in Kansas City forever.

19. I am super close to my family. Every time I go home and visit, I miss the days where I lived in that house with them and didn't have to worry about the things I do now. There's something really comforting about spending the night at my parents house. My favorite is when Sarah and I are able to go home at the same time and take Cooper with us. It really lifts all our spirits and makes my entire week better, just spending time with these people. I wish we lived closer than 2 hours from each other.

20. I have so many different groups of friends, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I have my friends from high school, college, papa johns, the law firm, Grandstand, the people I've met in KC, the people Becker introduced me to in KC, the dancers, the people I take classes with, the debaters, and many other groups. It keeps me well rounded to keep in contact with so many different groups of people. I feel like I never have time to be bored. I love it.

21. I love the way people come into my life…It’s like sometimes we have these moments where we find ourselves lacking – and we meet someone who inspires us to think in a new way, or becomes someone we realize we can’t live without.

22. I want to find my “great love.” Someone who can walk in a room and light up my face in .352 seconds, because the thought of being in the same room with them sends my stomach into knots—someone who even after we’ve together 30 years, can still look at me and say “that’s her. I LOVE her.” Someone who will continue to open car doors for me, even when the newness of our relationship has worn off…who calls JUST to hear my voice. Someone who says “I miss you when I’m not with you.” Someone who notices when I’m wearing a new perfume or I get my hair cut. The person who can’t wait to spend the rest of their life with me, whose life wouldn’t be the same without me, and whose heart would never be the same if something happened to me.

23. I don’t think about things before I say them. This is a lot of times problematic, because it would seem it’s only in really awkward situations that I do this. Like when our blind patient came into the office the other day, I may or may not have asked her what television shows she WATCHES. Serious face. I assume she knows about tv...and probably LISTENS to it, but I doubt there’s a lot of watching going on. I could kick myself for the things that come out of my mouth…

24. I’m obsessed with celebrity trash mags. Sometimes I find myself talking about these people like I know them. It would be embarrassing if I knew these people didn’t do the exact same thing. I reserve these types of conversations for friends I know read them – and I read them from back to front. It’s a thing. I get them – sit in my big comfy chair and read them cover to cover, back to front. I’m kind of weird.

25. I find dorky people charming. I’m guilty of the occasional “yuck” when I laugh, or tripping over my own feet – and there is something incredibly captivating about people who take their quirkiness in stride. The more comfortable you are with yourself, the cooler I think you are. You could be the biggest pansy and if you can make me laugh and laugh at yourself, we’re probably good.

26. Nothing makes me laugh more than the crazy things I fall into with my friends. We seem to always have the craziest things happening to us - and though not all of them are good, I appreciate the experiences these people have given me and I wouldn't trade them for the world.~K

Mishaps with Strangers, Vol. 1: Kara's Dating Demographic

So, here it is…a new installment I like to call someone, please read this “Mishaps with Strangers.” It would seem lately, that everywhere my friends and I go…something CRAZY happens when we black out with some strange people we don’t know...or sometimes even care to know. (Hateful, but we all think that at some point.) Not that all of these encounters are BAD…I just decided I need to document all the things that have led me to go off on crazy rants on my blog….



Volume 1: Kara’s Dating Demographic


So (a really long and drawn out story just for my amusement) – recently, Eva and I decided to road trip out to the Legends and hit up Nebraska Furniture Mart. Now, if you’re Eva, you have to point out that it’s flippin’ cold and I’m stupid for wearing high heels because NO ONE else wears heels to do everything except sleep in NFM—rude, but the point is that we gussied up and made the trek out there. (The high heel note was totally unnecessary, but if you know me at all, the fact I had on my cute silver Guess heels that I spent a small fortune on and make my feet feel like they might fall off, was worth mentioning.)

We looked at TV’s….like REALLY REALLY big, STUPIDLY large TV’s that would make any male porn star look like he was packing…and noticed that for every patron in NFM there were like 20 sales people. I feel sorry for them if they work on commission, for sure. Then we looked at tables (I totally found Eva the cutest effin’ wine rack that ever existed – it looks like a crazy tree with the branches all intertwined and that’s where the wine bottles sit) and tried out a bunch of furniture before deciding it was dinner time and heading off to Longhorn Steakhouse. (Think what you want about what we ordered for dinner, but there’s nothing more satisfying than a juicy romp in the sheets steak dinner with your best gal pal to make your night spectacular..)

Now – what happens from here is sheer coincidence. Since we’re out this way shopping, we decide to go to Jerry’s Bait Shop in Lenexa and watch The Disappointments because we're total band groupies and what else would we do? (Hopper’s band) play—even though we HARDLY EVER travel outside of the Northland to watch bands. About the furthest we ever go is to the plaza, but we felt adventurous that night, I suppose. So we get to Lenexa….(after we do a drive by and realize there are only like 5 other guys at Jerry’s at this point, so we totally look like weirdo stalkers—the band loves us, however…so they weren’t too shocked we were there..hah),

We go to the CRAZY little hole in the wall gas station where the attendant who should be inside, is sitting in his car revving the engine in front of the place like maybe he robbed it and we caught him as he was driving off but decided to help us out as one last hoo-rah…..WHHAAAAAT? This placed already looked like raper-ville…why make it worse by doing that crap? So, we both go in…and since I’m not really smokin’ these days, I grab a pack of gum to give myself some sense of worth in this pointless journey.

We finally end up at Jerry’s. Within the first 10 minutes of being in this place, we figured out why we’re not going to touch anything really that into hanging out there. The stage is like .111111111112 inches away from your face and it’s super loud and crowded in there. We see Felicia, walk over to her table, and decide to make the best out of it. So……we decide to take shots and get crazy. Wow. We REALLY got crazy. We start dancin’ up a storm and touchin’ each others boobs (we get really fascinated with each others chests when we’re drinking…)

THEN...like the greatest sixth grade dance party recreated minus the awkard ass out hugs – a woman approaches me to ask if I’m seeing anyone. I know what you’re thinking – TOTALLY hittin’ on me.  Yup.Nope. She has a “friend” who “thinks I’m the prettiest woman in there.” Yeaaaaaah right. So I answer this question to what I thought was “are you dating?” I said “no” – which, upon further thought she probably meant RIGHT NOW (not as a general question), as to which I should have said YES, however – it only got more interesting from here. She goes away for a little bit and as I’m standing there talking to Felicia, the tallest man that could have fit in this bar motions for me to come toward him…Now-..TIME OUT. You are totally thinking the same thing I am. “This is how people end up in ditches at 4am and when their friends are interviewed on the news they sob about how she was a smart girl who never did foolish things like this…until they took her out of her comfort zone and drug her to some crazy little hole in the wall bar.” (Maybe a stretch, but you get it…) TIME IN…

So I go over there. My friends are all of two feet away (there wasn’t really a lot of space for them to leave me roam in this sardine can, so I wasn’t TOO worried…) This guy tells me all the things guys tell you when they see you and their only other prospects look like something between Elvira and women so desperate they must have 15 kids…so I didn’t really take it to heart. The next question was my FAVORITE. How old are you? There are two ways to answer this question…the sassy way: “too young for you if you have to ask” or the fun way: “how old do you think I am?” I chose the second. He said “late 20’s.” (Lie. No one thinks I’m in my late 20s – even the waitress that was seriously 19 and looked at least 5 years older than me couldn’t help but spit out a slew of word vomit that sounded something like “OMGyoulooklikeMileyCyrus” in one breath—I wasn’t buying it. ) 26. Ok. He thinks for a second. “Do you have a cut off age?” No guy under 36 ever asks me this. I think for a second. “Maybe….how old are you?” He says “42.”

Now. I’m gonna go ahead and stop you there. There are these rules that exist when people are certain ages and hitting on women way to young for them you are “only as young as you feel” but really? That’s like the third guy in his 40’s to hit on me in 2 weeks. Pretty sure this has become my demographic. I’m almost to the point where I’m embracing this. (These are some pretty handsome 40 year old men…)—but, I’m still getting used to it. Especially, when they have kids that are 18. I’m closer to their kids age than theirs…BUT…aren’t men supposed to go through these insane mid-life crisis’ where they decide younger women are the “it” thing to make them feel better?

The better question here is how am I supposed to feel about this? I have PLENTY of friends in their 30s/40s, but I have the face resembling that of a tween pop senstation that people fail to realize is YOUNGER than me. I can’t fathom anyone older than 27 even taking me seriously. Ridiculous. Important side note: I don’t care how old Moshe Kasher is – I LOVE him and would have tons of little Jewlets with him. He can be the nerdy Jew that rocks my world ANY day of the week…I digress – point being, what’s going on with dudes these days? What provokes men to approach women almost half their age and think they will find much in common? The obvious exception to this rule is the “man-boy child.” The one who regardless of his real age in human years, is actually closer to my age in personality traits than he’d care to admit. I will just assume these are the guys I’m attracting…

In conclusion – I am either a silver fox magnet, or all guys my age just really find me that repulsive. Either way, it’s leading to a strange series of run-ins with very interesting men boys. Let’s just say… if I ever actually go on a date with one of these guys – that will be a MUCH more interesting post or my dad having a new best friend. ~K

“Magnetism, as you recall from physics class, is a powerful force that causes certain items to be attracted to refrigerators.”-Dave Barry

The random shit I say when I'm bored theories o’ Kara…


What made me think of this? The magnets on my fridge seem to play games with me after I've been drinking… so I figured being Kara, I would make some sort of connection toward relationships and magnets with zero implications toward anyone in particular. (It made sense in my mind.) So here’s what I came up with – I read an article on magnets;


“Magnetism is the force where objects are attracted or repelled to one another...”

Simplistic by nature – but complex by application. More specifically, applied to people, it has a completely different connotation. So – what if we are literally DRAWN to someone specific by magnetic force? Does this kind of power even exist? Are there THOSE people we just can’t stay away from because our magnetic pull forces us toward them? Even when they are totally crazy we can’t explain what it is about them that keeps us coming back – is it even within our power to decide? In that same respect, are we repelled by those who are completely different than us?... Think back to any bad relationship and by the time you’ve pinpointed why you two split, it’s probably because you literally couldn’t get away from them fast enough and changing your phone # is a huge hassle. MAGNETISM.


So if all human beings are this series of magnets repelling and drawing each other in…how does sex come into play with this?


“Every magnet has two poles. This is where most of its magnetic strength is most powerful. These poles are called north and south or north-seeking and south seeking poles. The poles are called this as when a magnet is hung or suspended the magnet lines up in a north - south direction. When the north pole of one magnet is placed near the north pole of another magnet, the poles are repelled. When the south poles of two magnets are placed near one another, they also are repelled from one another. When the north and south poles of two magnets are placed near one another, they are attracted to one another.”


Upon further analyzing of this particular paragraph, it becomes obvious that unless the two magnets are facing opposing directions, they are repelled. This seems to imply that if two people are attracted to each other but only for SEX (south pole) they would be repelled. On the same token, if two people are only interested in some kind of emotional/intellectual connection (North Pole) they would be repelled as well. So what draws us to people is the ability to connect North/South – correct? No matter how much you “like” someone, if you aren’t attracted to them physically naked AND mentally naked, you won’t work out. This just amplifies the phrase “bad sex can hurt a relationship, but good sex sure as hell can’t save one.” So in theory, our magnetic pull toward someone we “like” would imply we connect on both of these levels bust mostly naked. So what keeps these magnets together over time?...


“The attraction repelling of two magnets towards one another depends on how close they are to each other and how strong the magnetic force is within the magnet. The further apart of the magnets are the less they are attracted or repelled to one another…”


That makes sense. If you want to be with someone? You have to be around them. Spend time with them – keep your “magnetism” to each other strong. This could certainly explain why some people, no matter how “into” their mate, can fall into patterns of cheating because they SUCK. Absence/distance allows us to lose magnetism to our original force and we become a source with no purpose, searching for something pull us in.


Hum. I think there is some truth to this. (Fyi: I took the “magnet quiz” at the end of this article and did swimmingly….just thought I’d point that out.)


This article sort of implies we are attracted to things by NATURE -- not necessarily because we want to be. We don’t really get to “pick” who we are attracted to because trust me, I"ve been attracted to some RANDOM dudes- it just happens, almost if by FORCE. So, really you shouldn’t question it. You like who you like even if they don't like you back. You’re drawn to those who share the same "magnetism" as you do.


This shouldn’t be taken too literally even though I'm totally brilliant and totally right – however, because as with magnets, the obvious implication would be that as long as the forces are opposing in nature, they would attract – which, some people no matter HOW much they are attracted to us, would never be the object of our reciprocation. These beliefs are how people end up on an episode of “Cops” (or "Cheaters") with one person screaming “I don’t know why I’m with his/her stupid ass---I don’t even want to be with him/her anymore. Stupid Cunt!” Just sayin.


In conclusion, when it comes to the big refrigerator of life, we’re all just magnets hoping to be gravitated toward love bust mostly nakedness. ~K