Listening to...Friday Night Lights on Netflix
I said this to our Assistant Principal today and she says, "Um, you're a few years late."  Story of my life.  I love it.  Small town. Football.  Love stories.  Drama. Love.

Loving...Hugs
There's a little girl at school whose name I don't know.  She LOVES me.  Everyday she gives me the best hug ever.  My mom used to say that all people need at least 7 hugs a day to thrive.  Are you thriving?  How bout your kids?

Hating...How sorry I'm feeling for myself.
Yeah, I am.  Stupid boys make me sad.  Stupid boys.

Thinking...I hope this isn't it
See above

Wanting...to have grown up in a small town
Can you picture it?  Katie at 16, cheerleader on Friday nights, at the local burger joint after the game and every mom's favorite girl ;)  I love my made up life.

Needing...a new tattoo
I'm ready.  Now I know why they say, "Tattoos are addictive."  Go thing I didn't start at 18!

Several years ago, during my 4th year of teaching, I was up in my AP's office and told me a card I had written her was going in her "Sunshine File."

"Sunshine File?"
"Yeah, it's where I put all the nice things people write to me and then when I'm having a tough day I pull it out."


I was totally sold and, now, on each new computer I have had and in each e-mail account I've created I also create my "Sunshine File" folder.



Some days I purposely go back and reread the things in there and other days, like today, I just randomly come across great e-mails, wonderful words that pick me right up.

Here are a few from mine...they go all the way back to 2006 and I bet if I pulled out my "box" I'd find some from middle school (probably folded into some shape with BFF W/B ASAP on it)

Sunshine from my aunt


Sunshine from a little one I used to work with 


Sunshine from my Jedi Master



Sunshine from my brother...1 of the almost 300 e-mails we wrote back and forth during his deployments in the Navy



So, here's my challenge...have you written anything "Sunshine File" worthy lately?  Go ahead, write something.  Perhaps they'll be crazy and reread it over and over and over.  Maybe it will be just the thing to pick them up on an asstastic day?!

If you don't have a Sunshine File, create one now.  You can thank me later...and I'll pass that thanks along to Faith who taught me all about Sunshine Files!

Do people bother you?

Do you love to be alone or with people all the time or 1/2 and 1/2?



Pretty much everyone in my family is an extrovert.  As you can imagine, it's a real b!@#$, fighting for talking time when we all get together ;)

I love to be around people ALL. THE. TIME.  Interesting how you say that since you're never dating anyone.  Touché.


Like, right now, this minute I'm lonely.
It's noon and I've talked to 3 people on the phone and Skyped with 1 person.
My roommate left an hour ago.
Phew, Danielle just text back.
My need for constant conversation is being fulfilled.
I know that every mother on the planet is saying, "I wish I had your life.  What I wouldn't give for 5 minutes of peace and quiet."  Yeah yeah moms.  I don't feel bad for you (I mean I do feel a little bad but you feel bad for me too.  You get a million hugs and kisses a day.  Scout only gives me 10 per day).  Let's trade lives...you'll miss the noise.




I really don't understand people who wanna be alone.  I LOVE to chit chat.  When I lived with Michelle she had to set some limits on my talking..."Um, I need at least 15 minutes when I get home to not talk."  It worked too.  It was hard work but I gave her that time.

This is not to say I love to "go out" all the time.  I would much rather just hang out at someone's house or a fairly quiet bar and chat.  Congratulations, you're 80.  I am.  A nice evening in with some pals is my idea of a great time.  I don't wanna be home alone though.  




Question, is it still an extrovert if:
A.  You can't make conversations with strangers.  SO, scary for me.  Hmm, I think we have a clue into your singleness Kathryn.  

B.  You actually try and will people to stop talking with your eyes when they are boring you.  People bore me a lot.  Talk quickly and be interesting.  Talk quickly, like you "talk quickly" writing your ongoing blogs every damn day?!  Yeah, like that.

Side picture.

I went on Pinterest to find some extrovert pictures and found these.  I want them right now.  Mini cheesecakes in jars.  Oh my God.
                                    

Meanwhile, I'll try and respect your need for silence if you promise to talk to me 24 hours a day.  

A long time ago I saw the movie, "The Story of Us."  Obviously I loved it.  It was about a family, the deep relationships in it and love.  I mean, I think they MADE it for me.

During they movie they play a game around the table every day.  High/Low.



Since this movie I have played this game with every person who I have come in contact with for more than 24 hours...ok, some I've known less than 24 hours.

What's the game Katie?

So, here are the rules.  When it's your turn, you say your "low" of the day and then your "high" of the day.  That's the whole game?  It's not much of a game.  

PS. It's called High/Low but I like to do the Low first then the High so you end on a positive note but I don't wanna change the name because Low/High sounds dumbballs.  <---Lol, I just said that word and it sounded like gumballs.  I really amuse myself.

My brother says, "I !@#$ing hate High/Low."  I know most might believe him because why would someone cuss and be so intense if he didn't really hate it.  Because...it's Tom.  He doesn't hate it.  I'm sure he doesn't.  Why would anyone hate this game?

Here are all the reasons I love it.  Before I start this list, I feel like it would be a million things but I'll probably get tired of writing about about 5 things...but I really do love it a lot, more than just 5 things.

1.  It gives everyone an opportunity to talk equally.  Ohhh, I just realized why Tom hates it.  He likes to be in charge of 100% of conversations so you really have to claw your way in but with High/Low, no clawing necessary.

2.  It encourages communication!  I heart communication.  PS.  If you have moody sweet teenagers, this is a GREAT way to get them to talk.  No more, "How was your day?" "Fine."  Change it up!  High/Low.



3.  You can get a pulse on where everybody is at that time.

4.  My nephew sounds freaking ah-dorable when he plays.  For some reason he must have heard us always start the game with, "How was your day?"  So when we say, "Let's play High/Low," he says, "How was your daaaayyyyy?"

The other day we played on Skype.  I was surprised he said yes because he usually says, "Aunt Katie, High/Whoa is only for dinner time."   He says, "And, my whoa (low), I don't have a whoa today Aunt Katie.  It was just a great day."  <---love him

And I asked Lily, "What was your high?"
"Ummm, Walmart."
"Walmart?  Did you get a doughnut?"
"Yep!"

If you're still not convinced this is the best game ever invented, guess what else?  The Kardashians also play-except they call it Peak/Pit.  It's a cute name but I'm sticking with High/Low and if you play after reading this, you have to call it High/Low too.  Ok?  Deal? Deal.