The Dream of a Blogger is Alive in Portland

Ok, San Francisco actually.

Making the annual pilgrimage out to Paso Robles, CA for Zin Fest and thought to drop a blog. ( That sounded disgusting...did it read disgusting?)

After lapping up episodes of Portlandia like a hipster sucking down free wifi and booze during SXSW, Chris and I made a list of things people like me "looooooooooooove." and tried to make businesses out of as many aspects as we could.

Things people (specifically people like me) dig and will stand in line/shell out cash to experience:
- locally grown/created anything
- re purposed spaces
- partnerships with other local things
- things with bacon
- any activity not normally done with alcohol...being done with alcohol
- non-al fresco activities made al fresco
- nostalgia for anything
- amped up comfort food that reaches the point of ridiculous ("Chicken-fried bacon mac and cheese made with local organic cheese?!?!?" I am SO IN!")
- merchandise that proves you like/participated in anything above
- supporting animal charities

So now I'm trying my hardest to open:

-An old airplane hanger turned local craft brewery that hosts outdoor tastings & bowling tournaments on the old runway with a new local food truck each week that must feature something with bacon. Shirts and glasses designed by local teen artists feature non licenced representations of Sesame Street characters $1 from each ticket benefits Pubs for Puppies foundation ( which I will also found).

If you open this without me, I will find you...and probably just sign up for the bowling tournament under the team name "Rolling Probable Cause" because I never did get to start that skee ball team.

Go watch Portlandia now.

HK

Put on Your Red Shoes and Dance the Blues

Almost seven years ago I hung up my boots, hat, and various brightly colored outfits declaring the end of my dance "career." I'm tired, I said, I need a break, I need free time. Well, free time was given...in spades. Through the next few years I went through on again off again periods of formal and informal classes, pounds gained and lost, flexibility expanded and contracted.

You get to a point where you are either too out of practice to attend classes aimed at you or too old to attend the ones where you can keep up. You’re that weird old girl towering over 8 year-olds and smiling awkwardly at their moms...who are your age. I haven’t been that girl yet, I've always opted to get my butt handed to me in the intermediate class. 

Finally, finally I’ve found a studio where I fit in and have fun without feeling like a creepster! Dance Austin has a wonderful selection of informal classes from Ballet to Zumba, no commitment, and nice staff. I just took Adult Ballet Technique today and it was wonderful.  The instructor was a sub, but she was lovely fun and supportive. The Go-Go Cardio class that followed us was packed, and I can’t wait to try it.  I’ll be trying their Tone Up fitness class on Thursday to see how it stacks up. 

So if you’re in the Austin area, you love to dance, and you have an hour to kill, try them out. It’s worth the $15. 

Also NPH on SYTYCD saying things like "That was DOPE." has only deepened my joy. NPH I love you.

XOXONPH,
HK

Austin Again

Annnnnnd a month later I'm back.

Moving and settling in over the last month has been crazy. I've had family/friends over or I've been out of town just about every weekend. The apartment is coming along nicely and it really feels like home.Thanks to K.O. and Brit for the styling assistance. I love my bedroom the most. I also have these amazing shelved closets with doors where I place the kitty boxes so I can hide them when people come over! Hurrah! With my latest cash influx ( hurray bonus!), I'll be buying the couch, curtains, tv, and maybe a rug. Pictures as soon as I finish it.

I hosted a small dinner party at my place. I probably went overboard, and check out my classy office and camper chairs, but playing hostess was just too much fun. Pictures!

New job is nice too. It's not teaching, things are much...simpler. I miss the kids and the craziness...I also might plan lessons in my head during down time. However the people are great and it is fun learning a new skill. Also working 9-5 is AMAZING. The free time has spurred me to start looking for volunteer and leadership opportunities. I'm looking in to tutoring math at a local middle school and maybe mentoring for lego robotics.

Best part of being back in Austin is the feeling of home. I don't feel in transition anymore, I feel like I've arrived. Mostly due to my amazing friends, however this town just suits me. My new neighborhood is perfect, with a Little Deli, plenty of community stores, and a beautiful place to run.

It's good to be back.
HK

Pack n' Cleanse

3 people, 2 days, 10 + trash bags, 5 donation boxes, and 1 recycling trip later I am packed. It's amazing how you can minimize your life every time you move. Each move makes me less sentimental when I realize these "REALLY IMPORTANT" papers I wrote for college and stuffed animals from every trip to Disney World haven't seen the light of day for 2 years. What was I thinking? I'm going to read my capstone case analysis papers for fun? Trash.

On my last day of work, after sobbing in my car, my hands were slick and I was hungry. So I went to Raising Canes to stuff my arteries with fried comfort. Opening the door to Cane's I dropped my blackberry, delivering the fatal blow to a phone with only a half working screen. None of the buttons worked, then the screen gave out entirely.

I drove to the nearest verizon store, held out my blackberry and said "I want an iphone." So I bought and iphone, and it is crack. Pure crack. My internet will be out until the 16th so it was perfect timing. No, I don't care the iphone 5 is about to drop. I wasn't going to spend money on a temp phone just to wait it out. I lived with a blackberry from 2006 till now, this is a serious upgrade.

I move on Thursday and today is grEIGHT goodbye happy hour and TFA farewell dinner at Fogo de Chao. It'll be a rough but fun afternoon.

XOXO,
HK

Last Day To Feel The FORCE

My heart is breaking.

Yesterday was my last day with kids, and today is my last day as a teacher. I cried multiple times yesterday, but did my best not to do it in front of my kiddos. They signed a frame for me, and I can only read their notes one at a time, or I start to lose it. Saying goodbye to the staff is even worse. I moved to Houston knowing only a handful of people. My school has become like a family to me. I don't even know how to begin to say goodbye.

I know I should finish packing up my room, and checking out. However I've got 2 hours to wait on transferring my itunes, so I figured I'd blog a bit.

This school has changed me in so many positive ways. I'm stronger, more disciplined. I also know how to have a life, and let little things go when they don't really matter. I'm more compassionate, more in tune with how to listen. I can't list all the things I've learned from all of the amazing people here. The family can never be re-created, however I sincerely hope I can find a similar feeling soon.

Yesterday, we has Iron Chef YPG. The secret ingrediant was pineapple. We had $50 and a convection oven and anything we could get from home. Team grEIGHT made:
-pineapple mango salsa
-pineapple crazy dip
- pineapple stuffed jalapeno popper wrapped in bacon ( YUM)
- pineapple teriakyi chicken skewers
- pineapple orange smoothie

With a combination of team work, culinary skill, and presentation we WON! 8,8,8, gooooooo grEIGHT!

I better get back to packing my car and saying goodbye. I don't think I'm going to make it through without some tears.

-HK

67 8th graders, 7 teachers, and 5 days

Look, I run half marathons. I do WDW in the heat of July. I eat babies for breakfast.

And let me tell you none of it prepares you for 8th grade spring trip.

Last year, Ms. Kinkade's Manatees were rock 'em sock 'em robots awesome. Straight lines, very few metro mishaps, and positive attitudes. Kinkade's Kangaroos ( tag line "let's bounce") were lovely...however the exact opposite. They got it together at the end, but not after babysitting sick ones, and preparing for awkward parent phone calls with others. We had a great time, even if I still can't wear my shoes because I'm sure that's some sort of public health hazard. We're talking 7 AM -10:30 PM walking in Houston-like heat and humidity.

All minor complaints aside, our kids were the best behaved there. The nonsense I saw from kids twice their age was just plain sad. I worry about the future of our nation sometimes, hopefully my kids will run everything.

HIGHLIGHTS!

FDR Memorial

 grEIGHT ( minus K Norv)

 Aunt Susan and Uncle Tim

 Sculpture garden

 LION CUBS A THE ZOO!!!! ( I almost switched one of my kids for a cub. No one would ever notice)

 Nationals Game with the Kangaroos

 Impending Doom

 Kangaroos at the Capitol

 Fancy Kangaroos- Let's Bounce

One week till moving day!

XOXO,
HK

What Letting Go Looks Like

I was so fortunate to be invited to one of my student's dance recitals. My parents were in town so I convinced them to come with me. After an hour of tedious ballet ( not hating on ballet, you know I love it), it was time for my student to shine. Dance jargon aside, her number was hands down the BEST. When she was on stage I saw her let go. She is such a smart, funny, quiet, reserved young woman. I rarely see her cut loose and get out of her shell. On stage, I saw her let it all out and give in. I have never been so proud. She was amazing. Through tears, I just couldn't stop thinking about how blessed I was to have this student touch my life.

I miss having that outlet in my life. The time in my week when I could just let go and be part of the music. Running is a good substitute. It is quiet, and intense, and requires mental focus. I just don't feel that abandon, that joy.

My students have taught me so many lessons about life and about myself. I want to think that wonderful student for one more thing she taught me this year...sometimes you need to let go. On the verge of the move, and a new career, and a new life, I can't wait to find a new outlet where I can do that. Thanks kid.

-HK