Up to the Mountain

I would just like to say that if you watched American Idol and saw Kelly Clarkson sing "Up to the Mountain" and enjoyed it...then you should listen to Patty Griffin sing the original....umm.....YEA. And trust me, Patty singing it live is beyond belief amazing.

I just wanted to give her some credit - because well - they certainly didn't give her any on the show tonight.

a few things....

I am now a 3rd year DPT student. I finished my exams today and close yet another chapter of my life thusfar. C-razy. 2 years down, 1 to go....

I think my right leg is a softball magnet. No seriously. I am the pitcher for our co-ed softball team @ school....and last year I got nailed in the shin by a hit, and still have the scar from the stitches on the ball embedded in my tibial crest. Well, in our game before last, once again - I got nailed in the shin....the same shin...approximately 1 inch above the scar the one from last year left. It too swelled up like and looked like a pool ball in my leg. Well, that was 4 weeks ago...and it is still a little swollen and tender, but no biggie, ya know? So, we played our next game this past Sunday. I was on first base after a base hit, Mark was on 2nd base, and I can't even remember who was up to bat. Well, it was a good hit, so I round 2nd -- everyone tells me to keep going, so I round 3rd and as I round it, I look to see where the ball is. A guy on their team has it about 15 yards or so outside of the infield. Mark has scored by now, and is waiting on me at home plate to come in and have a stand-up score....because clearly, no one thinks the dude is gonna try to throw me out at home, especially after I've already rounded 3rd and am on my way home. I'm about halfway between 3rd and home and I see the dude chunk it. He's got a pretty laser arm....and as I'm crossing home plate...the ball freakin' NAILS me in the back of the calf. My right calf. AWESOME. I saw it coming, so tried to kind of "leap" out of the way to dodge it, but it didn't happen - it hit me while I was in the air, and I felt like I got hit with a piece of shrapnel. Needless to say I ended up on the ground as I crossed home plate, and Mark was there to pick me up. The first thing I said was "don't worry, at least it's the BACK of my leg this time!" haha. And it's true - now I just have a pretty bruise back there...I mean seriously, who needs a tan? I told my team that next week I'm just going to wear a fake leg. ;-)

(Oh, but don't worry - I scored the run -- and we ended up beating the #2 seed in the tournament with our win).

I have absolutely NO plans over these next few weeks that I have off. It's nice...but I kinda wish I had a few things lined up....I'm sure they'll come though. Oh, I do have a wedding to go to and friends coming to stay with me during it. I'm pretty excited to get to hangout with my married friends. Carla and Andy and Mark and Layne are probably gonna crash at my apartment for the wedding weekend, which should be fun. :-) I told them they could fight for my bed...which I really hope happends - that'd be a fun married couples fight to watch. They're all pretty scrappy people. haha.

I want to get a new book to read, too, which will be nice. :-) Maybe I'll get one tomorrow. Gotta have a good beach read....b/c I definitely plan on spending a lot of time out at the beach, fo' sho'.

I have to turn in my computer for the next week, which will be sad......I'm gonna be lost. haha. But no worries - I will return!

See ya!

happy birfday!

I just realized that today is my half-birthday. Feel free to send monetary gifts. If you need my address, please feel free to ask.

a big tree and gatoring with my man

Events/Sights from Hiking on Saturday:
-big behind alligators (as seen below)
-lots of swamp with lots of alligators in them
-my hot boyfriend, who almost fell in the swamp
-some really cool (& huge) wood storks -- apparently people go "birding" here (we prefer to go look for alligators, not birds, though. Hence, our new term: "gatoring")
-really green stagnant water that looks really gross, but kinda cool
-cool lil' hiking trails
-NO ONE around but us -- we had the swamp to ourselves (and the gators, of course)
-a big fat oak tree that is 300 years old (no climbing allowed, though)
-good times spending 3 hours in the woods. :-)

ANGEL OAK

Mark and I went to see Angel Oak on Saturday afternoon. It's out on John's Island, and is estimated to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 years old. Pictures don't really do it justice, but I tried to capture it anyway. It was INCREDIBLE....and HUGE (to say the least).

Hokie Hope...

As everyone knows, today is a day of mourning in Virginia (and around the nation) for those lost in the Virginia Tech massacre. I stood in front of the tv this morning with tears streaming down my face as I watched a tribute to each of the victims play in front of me. Precious lives were lost for no reason humanly fathomable...yet hope remains as a country unites to show our support for those directly affected by such a heinous act. The Lords purpose will prevail...that I can be sure of.

just call me Rocky Balboa. (or not).

I really love challenges. I think it's because I am a pretty competitive person. I'm finding that sometimes I need to make things a competition in order for them to get done. I need a goal to achieve. I don't want to fail, I hate failure - so if I set a goal, you better believe I'm gonna work my butt off to achieve it. I needed motivation to exercise more, so I decided to run a half marathon. And well...I did it. I ran 5 times a week for almost 3 months. So, now I need motivation again to get back in shape (all of which I have lost from my training), and I can't find any half marathons that I'm dying to run (or can afford to get to) in the next 12 weeks...so I made a "self-bet" kinda thing. I told Mark that I will have to pay him money (which I have VERY little of) if I don't eat healthy (ie - no desserts, unhealthy snack food, etc.) and exercise every day for the next 2 weeks. It's just kind of a kick in the butt, short-term goal. I have tried to do this for the past 2 weeks and failed miserably - so decided that I had to voice it. Once I voice a goal - failure essentially isn't an option for me anymore. I don't want to be thought of as having no will-power, or being too weak to do something so simple. So, I gave Mark my "bet" - and he challenged himself to do the same thing (because he's awesome)....so, basically, if either of us fail, someone will be handing over some cash. Let's just hope it's not me. haha. It's a good way to motivate myself to get something done....

and it works....usually. Let's hope it does again this time, or I'll be a little more poor.

my morning prayer

"The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever -- do not abandon the works of your hands."
-Psalm 138:8

everyone needs a little Oswald in their lives....

"Don't cave in because you have been baffled once, get at it again. Burn your bridges behind you, and stand committed to God by your own act. Never revise your decisions, but see that you make your decisions in light of the high hour." -O. Chambers

Patty Griffin @ the Orange Peel

One of my lifetime wishes has now been fulfilled, as of Friday night. I got to see Patty Griffin play a show in Asheville, NC. It was phenomenal. She has one of the most pure, beautiful, powerful voices I have ever heard. The set list was amazing, and I got to hear almost everything I could have wanted her to play. Including: Useless Desire, When It Don't Come Easy, Trapeze, Burgundy Shoes, Mary, Heavenly Day, Up To the Mountain, Kite Song, and so so so many more. It was fabulous. Her music is so beautiful, I had tears in my eyes during several parts of the show.

We got to sit 25 yards away from the her as she sang, on the 6th row, left center. It couldn't have gotten any better. I also would not have wanted to watch it with anyone different than who I got to see it with (Matt, Beth, Marie, Lindsay, and Matt)....some of the most amazing people in the world. :-)

Overall rating of Friday night: 10. Hands down.

"you've already lost
when you only have barely enough
of her to hang on..."

-Dashboard Confessional

tonight I met Mark for dinner in Jedberg. "What's in Jedberg, Katie?" you may say....and to you, I will answer "not much of anything." haha. Nah, we met right off the exit at Wilsons Trucking Corporation, he hopped in my car, and we found a good pizza shop (with directional help from a lady at Hess) and had some dinner. Then we drove through some pretty cool neighborhoods in Jedberg...and went and sat back in truck company parking lot for an hour and a half or so and "hungout." haha - no seriously - we just hungout. It was a good time. Always is. :-D He leaves tomorrow morning for Washington D.C. for the week. I'm jealous.

BUT, I get to see Patty Griffin's show tomorrow night in Asheville!! wahoo!!! I'm so stoked. Then I get to go to Erin's house for the rest of the weekend for Kelley's bachelorette party....in which I get to see Erin's brand new diamond she's wearing on her finger. Yet again...stoked.

I'm worn out. Been studyin' my butt off all week for my neuro practical.....therefore, now I will go to bed. Goodnight!!

photoshoot....

(he is amazing...)

hello.

I am finally sitting down to take a 'break' this week where I have nothing on my plate to do in front of me....and it's kinda nice.
I finished a big research paper this morning, so I don't need to worry about that anymore, and although I'm sure there is some sort of school work I could find to do, I'm going to neglect to think about it at the moment, and enjoy the comfort of lying on my bed and watching PTI on ESPN.
They are talking about Jerry Colangelo right now...I've met he and his wife before. That's kinda cool. I hope he buys the Cubs.
TNext week is Vince Gill's 50th birthday...and he's married to Amy Grant. Just a lil' FYI.
My boyfriend and I had a great time this past Sunday. He didn't get into town until late Saturday night, but Sunday we played in my softball game (in which, he hit a homerun), then went out for a Sunday afternoon drive. It was BEAUTIFUL outside - so it was a great time. We had the windows down and drove out to John's Island, and the Kiawah Island area...then went out to Hamptom Park and played some frisbee, he climbed a big tree, and we just goofed off for awhile. THEN, to cap it all off we at some Zaxby's for dinner, and it was FABULOUS. It was certainly nice to spend the day with him.
I'm going home this weekend for Easter. My brother, Tifany and Anna Grace are flying in, and Mark's parents are in town - so it should be a good time.
I can't wait for the semester to be over...I'm so in need of a break. The countdown is on......
Guess that's about all for now...happy easter, everyone! Don't forget what we are celebrating (and it's not the fact that it's Cadbury Egg season), and praise Jesus, because He is, indeed, risen.