Introducing Katie Mae

Alright, Jill tagged me in her blog. So, here are 15 unique things about me! Enjoy...


1. I love finding someone that loves a certain movie as much as I do and can quote it with me.
2. I think the most annoying thing in the world is when people know you hate something, so they do said thing CONSTANTLY.
3. I absolutely, 100%, positively, irreversibly...LOVE...being the youngest of eleven children. We're the coolest family out there, no argument.
4. I'm the only person in that huge family that hates tomatoes.
5. Through most of my teenage years I was convinced I would be a dental hygienist. Now, I can't see myself doing anything other than teaching English to moody teenagers. :)
6. I love hearing people's stories. The best times I've had in my life are times where I've just sat and talked with friends and swapped stories.
7. I miss playing the violin more than I let anyone know.
8. I don't like watching the news and I don't like politics.
9. I think it's weird how people become friends. Looking back, I can't remember how I became friends with the people I consider my best friends. Therefore, I always have this irrational fear that I won't make friends in new situations. I'm usually proven wrong.
10. I'm not a party person. I've never had that urge in my body to just go party. Sometimes I'm just perfectly content reading a book on my couch in my sweats.
11. I have never seen the movie Cinderella.
12. I'm pretty sure I have terrible self-esteem, but I'm really good at hiding it.
13. I'm fascinated with Europe. I love European culture. If everything goes as planned, I will finally get to live in Austria. You know what that means, folks? I get to cross off the #1 on my bucket list.
14. Being away from home has made me realize how cool my parents are. I have learned how much they've done for me. I have grown even closer to them by being away from them. I still rely on my mom for so many things in my life and I have NO idea what I would do without her. I'm her #1 fan.
15. Now for my classic unique fact: I ride a unicycle, and have since elementary school.


And there you have it! If you read this, and feel so inclined, repost it on your own blog!

Alles Gut

Tonight I realized that one of my life-long dreams could really come true.

I could go to Europe.

Scratch that.

I could LIVE in Europe. Austria to be exact.

Even though I've been thinking about studying abroad in Innsbruck, Austria for several months now, it didn't seem real until I started filling out the application today. It's been this idea I couldn't fully grasp--a "wouldn't that be cool" kind of thing. I mean, we're talking about ME here. Kaitlin Mae Felix. Age 19. Born and raised in Springville, Utah. Sometimes I say "mountain" without pronouncing the "T". I've never left the US, let alone left Utah for more than a week at a time. And now there is a very high possibility I could be living in Austria for 3 months?

WHAT THE WHAT?

Today I imagined myself getting off that plane and stepping onto European soil, my American-ness almost blinding those around me. I know only a few words and phrases in German, (I don't think I'll need be saying "vegetables" in most conversations, but if I do, I'm set) and my biggest fear is being the stupid American. (Note to self: Talking louder will NOT help them understand me any better. I've seen enough movies to know that.) So many questions run through my mind.

"What if I get lost?"
"What if I starve because I can't buy anything in German?"
"What if I run out of money?"

The list goes on and on. But I just have to stop and think:

"Katie. You're going to be in AUSTRIA studying a subject you LOVE. You're going to see things a lot of people will never get the chance to see in their lifetime. You're a smart, capable person that can figure things out if they go wrong. Pull...yourself...togetha!" (I don't really think that last part. It just seemed appropriate for some reason.)

I realized some things that not only pertain to me in this study abroad situation, but to life in general.

1. I am capable of attaining any goal I set.
2. Change should be welcomed and embraced.
3. When you get an opportunity that is too good to pass up, you better take it.
4. I have an incredible support system.
5. Sometimes you gotta just focus on what you know rather than what you don't. (Thanks, Brother Harding)
6. It's alright to change "the plan".

Anyway. It's not a set thing that I'm going to Austria. There is a chance I won't even get accepted. If that happens, I'll be crushed. But, you know? I'll move on. I'll still go to school and have the time of my life.

No good will ever come to me if I simply watch moments pass me by.

This will happen. If it doesn't? Well at least I tried.



[I want to go so bad it HURTS]

Ode to Ken

(I realize I never finished my thankful alphabet. That will come later.)

I just presented a portfolio for one of my finals.
When we were done we had a slam poetry competition for random objects.

I love my major.

Anyway...

I won a Ken Doll.

Yep. Awesome.

And the winning poem (it's better if you read it out loud):

Ode to Ken

As a child I played
as I stayed
at a friend's.
You were there.
You were there, blonde hair, smoldering stare.
But just one.
Just one of you there, blonde hair, smoldering stare.
Three young girls, none with curls
And only one of you.
We fought.
Who would get you and that hair, that stare?
Who's Barbie's life would be complete?
We'd compete.
I'd lose.
But now...
Years later. I compete again, my dear Ken.
Your hair, that stare.
Complete me.


Written in five minutes, folks. It's been a good start to finals week.

Many Norwegian Optometrists Pay Quails Real Salaries Today

(That's an acronym for the letters I'm grateful for today, in case you didn't catch it.)

Holy pants. I got a little behind. I guess I'll just be SUPER grateful today.


M



I'm grateful for MUSIC. I told you this was coming. Music is my life. Well, a very large part of my life. I grew up listening to The Beatles with my dad, started playing the violin in sixth grade, and my love for music has only grown. Music sets a mood, it distracts me, it helps me focus, it makes me extremely happy and can help pity me in times of sadness. I just love it so. One of my favorite quotes is: When words fail, music speaks. How true that is!



N



I'm grateful for NERF GUNS. I played an awesome game of Humans vs. Zombies on campus a few weeks ago and I was very grateful I had a nerf gun to defend myself. Also, they are awesome.



O



I'm grateful for OSTRICHES. Lately my roommates and I have been coming up with a patronus for everyone we meet. I also did this in the summer with my old roommates, and they decided that I was an ostrich. At first I was resistant to this fact, but lately I've accepted that I'm an ostrich. They're pretty cool, I guess. :)



P



I'm grateful for my PAYCHECKS. Well, I'm more grateful that I have a job in general. Times are tough, and I know how difficult it is to find a job. It was hard to find a job myself. Now, I'm lucky enough to be on A-Team (the greatest job in the whole world) and work at The Marketplace (well, at least I get free meals...). I may complain about having to go to work, but really, I'm aware how lucky I am to have a job.



Q



I'm grateful for QUARTERS. Mostly because they help me do my laundry. And you can buy cool things from cool machines. When I was little, quarters were the best. I would always keep my quarters and throw my other coins at people and signs and the like. Quarters are awesome.



R



I'm grateful for my RELATIVES. I'm very blessed to have a wonderful family. My extended family is awesome and so fun to be around, and I feel the same way about my immediate family. I have the cutest nieces and nephews and I'm sure there will be many more to come. I'm so lucky!



S



I'm grateful for the SPECTRUM. For those who don't know, The Spectrum is where my beloved Aggies play basketball. There is nothing like an Aggie Basketball game. It's loud, it's crazy, and it's a blast. We may be mean, but it's all in good fun. So many good cheers, so many good times. It's just another reason I love my school.



T



Finally, I'm grateful for Thanksgiving. A little redundant, yes, but I really am! For me, I get a break from the stresses of school and I get to eat tons of delicious food and spend time with my awesome family. It's a splendid holiday.

This one's for you, Wave.

Shout out to my brother, Wave/Jeff. He told me blog today. So here I am.

Alrighty. I-L, I believe. (PS This is really hard to think of things. I'll think of something as I write it, and then the next day I'll be like, OH! I should have done THAT for that letter! Blast!)


I



Alright, I know it's lame, but today I'm grateful for my iPOD. But really. It's my perfect escape from the world. Not the iPod itself, but the music on it. I was on the bus today by myself and the bus driver was playing Christmas music. Anyone that knows me well understands why this is such a problem. I HATE Christmas music before Thanksgiving. It's blasphemous. So, I plugged in my headphones, cranked up a song by The Format and got lost in my own world. Music...man, music is awesome. I can almost guarantee that music is what I'll be thankful for when the time for "M" comes around in this blog. Music can affect me in ways that even surprise myself. Ahh I just love it. More on that later.



J



I'm grateful for JOSEPH SMITH. He's the reason I am where I am today. He restored the gospel to the earth, and that very same gospel is what I owe my happiness to. I can't imagine where I would be without it. I don't WANT to imagine where I would be without it. Joseph Smith was an amazing example to me. He was persecuted, tarred and feathered, beaten, and martyred, the whole time his faith was unwavering. Undaunted, still he trusted.


K



I'm grateful for being a KATIE. Can I say I'm grateful for myself? I'm just grateful to be alive. I also really like my name. So, there it is.


L




I'm grateful for LOVE. Any type of love. Love from a parent, love from a friend, love from a boy, love from a sibling, love from anywhere, really! It's all wonderful! All you need is love!

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."

Well, we all saw it coming.

I didn't keep up my post-a-day goal. Well, lucky you! You get to hear FOUR things I'm thankful for today.

Alright, here goes!



E



I'm grateful for my EYES. Eyes are wonderful. I often take for granted the beauty of the place I live, but I get to look at awesome mountains every day. As dry and ugly Utah can get sometimes, I love the fall colors as trees change and I love how beautiful things look during a soft snow fall. So, I'm grateful that I can see. Life is beautiful!




F



I'm grateful for being a FELIX. Seriously, we're the coolest family around. I'm the youngest of 11, and I wouldn't have it any other way. My siblings, Martins and Felix's alike, are the nicest, funniest, coolest people I know and it's a privilege to be part of such an amazing family. We. Are. Awesome.



G



I'm grateful for GREEN MILK. I say this because Jill and I dyed my whole carton of milk green today and it is just one of the many reasons I love her and being her roommate. We're really mature.




H



I'm grateful for HARRY POTTER. Seriously, though. I grew up with the famous trio, and I've never loved a book series more. I honestly cried reading the last one when it was over. SO amazing. This week I'm seeing the first half of the 7th movie with the roommies, and I'm SO excited. I'm one of the great nerds that dresses up and debates topics related to Hogwarts houses. I take it seriously, folks. And I'm proud of it! :)

C and D!

So far, so good on blogging every day! Go me.

Alright. C aaaaaand D:

C



I'm grateful for my CHILDHOOD. I honestly loved being the youngest of 11 kids. I always felt loved, protected, and just plain awesome hanging around my siblings. I have awesome memories with my childhood friends as well. We would play night games all the time at the Bonnet's house and jump on the tramp at the McCann's. I made friends at the age of two with Chelsea, and we're still the best of friends to this day, and always will be. I had the best ward, the best neighbors, and I am the person I am today because of the people in my childhood. So thanks, all of you. Thanks. :)


D



I am grateful for DINOSAURS. They're just cool. They always make me smile. That's it.