Raggedy Katie...

You know my favorite doll growing up was Raggedy Ann. I remember it distinctly. I dragged that doll all over. It truly did look ragged and falling apart. Well right now I am Raggedy Katie. I'm sick and exhausted. I knew it was coming. In fact it last week I prophesied it clearly to Laurel. Yet I can't seem to ever stem the tide, and prevent it. You see I have the awful habit or pattern of doing what my Mom always referred to as "running myself ragged".

Its never intentional of course. I just get going and I can't seem to stop, or let anyone down. I used to go to camp or on youth trips, and I would come home every time and get sick immediately. I know my Mom threatened not to let me go because of this, but she never won that battle. Its funny that even now that I am older it still happens. Though now its not because I'm up late giggling with girls in my cabin about boys... I wish! Now I'm up late working and trying to meet stressful work deadlines, or planning lessons or events for the HS Youth Group.

This last few weeks was no exception to my pattern. I first committed to helping with a fundraiser for our church, not a bad thing. Then I planned a trip to visit my good friends the Frosts, who I have been missing terribly, again not a bad thing. Then out of the blue came a massive project at work that snuck up on us all quite quickly. Being that its still a new position for me I definitely felt the pressure to do it well. Last week I just felt the pressure rise every day, working late into the night. I even forgot I was supposed to meet my good friend Midsummer at the church to work on the fundraiser, that she'd agreed to take pity on me and help me with. I felt so bad when she called wondering where I was, I just wanted to cry! See that... That's the sign I'm getting near the edge. Forgetting things and crying at my own failures are definite signs Raggedy Katie is coming out. Ask any of my former roommates.

I didn't want to reschedule my visit to my friends. In fact I needed it. The love of my little girls definitely only helped my state of mind. But then today as I was waiting to board the plane it hit me. I had no defenses left in my poor body, the sickness was here. I've been lying on the couch since I got home exhausted and feeling the full effects of a lovely flu and watching movies that make me cry (Pride and Prejudice the British version of course). I'm sure this will help.

But still I can't help but feel a huge sense of failure about calling in sick to work for tomorrow. Why do we continue in the same patterns over and over? I find this happens with many things in my life. I suppose I'm learning my tendencies more and more. I would hope that this education in my tendencies would help me avoid getting to this point of exhaustion in the future. Hopefully I'll start taking baby steps that way. But for now I have to rest so I can finish well the rest of the tasks I've signed up for in the next few weeks. Oh and did I mention there's a HS retreat in two weeks. It never stops.

Moving On

As expected I've settled into the new car, and my neurotic stressing has ended. For now... I am happy to move on. So now its time for the blog to move on. Here's a little of what I've been up to lately beyond car freakouts.

Met up with the "posse" at the wonderful free Symphony on the waterfront. They really didn't like the posse comment, and I had to apologize, though as usual it was not meant seriously. The pic's below are not from the waterfront but another symphony concert we went to in the Rose Garden. They had a group called 3 Leg Torso play with them that was so entertaining. They do some movie music soundtracks.

I went to Skamania Lodge for the afternoon with some girls for my birthday. Always one of my favorite places. We were front and center for two weddings happening there on the same day. Great fun. I am less stressed about the age this year than the last. I think I'm settling into embracing the last years of my 20's instead of freaking out that I'm not 21 anymore.

Then last weekend I went to the Chinese Classical Garden with my friend Josh for the first time. Its a peaceful garden with a little tea house in the center where we stopped. They had the most ridiculously small teacups ever. Mine had at least three sips in it but poor Josh's was only about 1 and 1/2 sips. I think it would be a great place just to sit and relax. I'd post a picture but blogger isn't cooperating! Then we proceeded to canvas the entire Pearl District it seemed in one night. Too many fun places to mention here.

Oh and I updated my latest favorites links which were well overdue.

I did it...

I traded the Beetle (Violet) in. It was a sad process in some ways but I feel it was the right decision. It was having consistent electrical problems, the miles were getting up there. I knew maintenance would start rolling in soon. So I decided to cut my losses while I still could. So I did a lot of research online these past few weeks and found a car that fit my idea of fun to drive, sensible, and reliable at the same time. I went to one dealer on Saturday that was recomended to me, with Emily for moral support, and they didn't even have any of the cars I wanted to drive. And not only that, but said it would be months of being on a waiting list for one. Seriously?! So I called another dealer that has a program set up with my credit union and whaddya know they have the car I was looking for. I got there and they had it in the color I wanted too. Then they offered me pretty close to what I thought was a fair trade in price for the Beetle.

So I went for it. Deep breath! Its so tiring making decisions like this. You second guess everything. Everyone and I mean EVERYONE has advice on what you should do. Half of which disagree with each others. But in the end you have to do what feels right to you. I'll be paying on this car longer than I would have the Beetle, but its brand new with no problems and its a consumer reports best bet. The Beetle however was WORST bet. Remember that if you are ever considering one. The coolness after a while does not outweigh the issues. Sorry VW, you are cool but that's it.

So are you just so annoyed I haven't revealed what it is yet?
Well I traded this:

For this:

It's an '06 Honda Civic LX. Not the fanciest version, but more than adequate. Its so fun to drive. I just zoomed all over today. Now I am breathing a sigh of relief that the ordeal is over and a decision is made.