A tablespoon is a lot...

Dear King Arthur Flour,

At first I was wondering, "What kind of brownie recipe uses a whole TABLESPOON of vanilla?"

Now I know.

AN AWESOME ONE.

I'm still not sure a whole tablespoon was really necessary (vanilla is expensive, yo), but, my gosh, these brownies are AMAZING! (It might also help that I used Andes creme de menthe chips, but if anything they are just the figurative icing on the cake. Or the minty-ness in the brownies, you might say.) Seriously. I think I am in love with these brownies.

If I get tired of learning biology, can I come work in your test kitchen?

Love,

Katherine

P.S. If anyone is interested, the recipe is here. Make these. You will not be disappointed. I shivered with pleasure. (I suppose it could be because it's a tad bit chilly, but I'm pretty sure it was brought on by the brownie.)

Wait, what?

Dear Mysterious Lollipop,

What, exactly, are you doing sitting on top of a book about bugs? Why are you even in the library in the first place? I don't even understand why you were just... sitting there. There was no one else even in that row!

Are you waiting for someone? Are you meant to be some sort of secret, coded message? If so, I'm glad I didn't pick you up. Are you meant for whoever finds you and wants a sugar boost? If that's the case, then it's too bad I left you there. Unfortunately for me, I don't eat random candy I find in the library in case it's carrying ebola or something. Otherwise, I totally would have grabbed you. Blue raspberry is delicious.

With confusion,

Katherine

(Yes, that is a blue raspberry Dum-dum sitting on top of a book about the Classification of some Order of Homoptera/Heteropta. Don't ask me. I don't know what it's doing there, either.)

Excellent, more mail!

Dear Postcrosser from China,

Thank you for the postcard! The picture is gorgeous. I also appreciate your advice:

"Keep healthy" both physiology and mentality. It's the base for life.

Those are definitely good words to live by.

Best wishes and Happy Postcrossing!

-Katherine

*Note: Postcrossing (www.postcrossing.com) is "the postcard crossing project", in which you "send a postcard and receive a postcard back from a random person somewhere in the world!" As part of my profile, I ask people to answer this question on their cards to me: If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?*

I love getting mail!

Dear Eugene from Russia and Jacquelyn from Australia,

Thank you for the postcards! They look great, and it's cool to hear a bit about your lives. I also really like the advice you chose:

To love and appreciate the parents (Eugene)

and:

Choose to be happy... Life is all about the choices we make (Jacquelyn).

I hope you both continue winning at your own lives! And happy Postcrossing!

Best wishes,

Katherine

*Note: Postcrossing (www.postcrossing.com) is "the postcard crossing project", in which you "send a postcard and receive a postcard back from a random person somewhere in the world!" As part of my profile, I ask people to answer this question on their cards to me: If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?*

Postcrossing = awesome

Dear Joyce from Britain,

Your card made my day. I actually did a little dance of joy when I noticed the recipe on the front. :-) Also, many thanks for answering my question! This does seem like great advice to offer a newborn child:

Ah! be kind - life hath no secret
For our happiness like this;
Kindly hearts are seldom sad ones
Blessing ever bringeth bliss.
(poem by Hobbins)

I hope your life goes well and contains plenty of joy!

Best wishes,
Katherine


*Note: Postcrossing (www.postcrossing.com) is "the postcard crossing project", in which you "send a postcard and receive a postcard back from a random person somewhere in the world!" As part of my profile, I ask people to answer this question on their cards to me: If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?*

The camping trip basically went like this:

Oh, hey, Georgia!

It was really great to see you, but apparently we weren't supposed to be here after all. I'll see you some other time.

Peace,
Katherine

---

Dear GPS,

Some of these dirt roads look pretty sketchy, are you sure we're going the right way?

Oh, wait, here's the campgrounds.

Thanks!
Katherine

---

Dear cell phone,

Why do you not get service? Now we can't get in touch with the other car, which also got lost. Way to make us drive a good 10 miles down the highway to get signal to actually get in touch with our friends.

No love,
Katherine

---

Dear waterfall,

You are gorgeous. Unfortunately, we can't camp right next to you because there is not enough space. Also, it's a little creepy that there's a memorial stone for "Timmy" next to the stream here.

See you later!
Katherine

---

Dear Lucy,

I'm super glad we spent so much time in Girl Scouts. How awesome is our fire? Very. And warm, which is nice. We basically rock. :-)

Go us!

---

Dear weather,

Why are you so cold?!?! I am seriously wearing 3 pairs of pants, 3 shirts, 2 pairs of socks, and a hat, plus I'm inside a fleece sleeping bag inside my big puffy sleeping bag. And my toes are still freezing. Actually, I'm not sure I can feel them. I could probably sleep a lot better if it wasn't like 40 degrees out.

I do appreciate the lack of rain, though.

Frostily,
Katherine

---

Dear car,

Thank you for heat. I can feel my toes again!

With warmest regards,
Katherine

---

Dear Self,

Stop procrastinating and take a shower already. You smell. Also, your clothes smell. It's time to do some laundry.

Sincerely,
Me

What a day...

Dear cockroach,

I have cut off your head. Please stop moving. This whole "I'm going to keep running around like a chicken cockroach with its head cut off" act is not amusing. Actually, it's pretty dang traumatizing. I'm probably going to have nightmares for weeks.

Why won't you just die?!?!

Sincerely,
Katherine

---

Dear Aldi,

Why do you close at 7? I need groceries! I am out of bread, and peanut butter, and I need cheese and milk. I suppose I can settle for Publix, but that means I have to spend more money. Is this because I don't tell you how much I love you enough? Well, I do. Please let me shop tomorrow!

Love,
Katherine

This afternoon was productive in some ways, but not in others

Dear Clemson University,

My mixed feelings for you continue. Today's example: your PE classes are all under the category "Leisure Skills". Granted, that does also include classes on photography and wood carving and jewelry making and CPR, but... the name "Leisure Skills", while endlessly amusing, does seem to downplay the importance of remaining physically fit and active - the title "Physical Education" does a better job of indicating the necessity of such courses in equipping students to remain active for life.

On the up side, you feature some intriguing courses not found at NC State. These include a wider variety of dance classes (belly dancing, 3 levels of shag and swing dancing, contra, and multiple levels of ballroom dancing, although there is a conspicuous lack of clogging), hunting and fishing classes (many courses involving rifles, actually, including getting hunting licenses, and how to tie flies for fishing), and lots of yoga classes (also, "Meditation and Relaxation" sounds great; I would look forward to the irony of stressing about an assessment in that class). It is disappointing that you don't have specific classes for basketball, volleyball, and softball, but combine them all with football in one course. Also, no badminton classes. That is a serious oversight. Though the billiards class might make up for that...

Still not in love with orange,

Katherine

Awesome!

Dear Newspaper Hat,

Where have you been all my life?! How did it take me this long to find you?! I don't think I ever want to stop making newspaper hats now...

Your awesomeness just makes my day infinitely better. Now I can be a pirate. Or just an awesome person with an awesome hat. :-)

Yours in mutual awesomeness,

Katherine

Pearls are not appropriate exercise attire

Dear girl at Zumba today,

I'm sure it's vital that you look your best during this high-intensity workout. You are probably one of those girls who never seems to sweat and looks perfect after working out (which is unfair and ridiculous, by the way). However, wearing pearls is crossing the line. Now you look like you're trying way too hard. (Also, aren't you worried they'll get messed up or broken??) Please cease this inexplicable behavior.

Sincerely,

Katherine

Pretty much any pie is delicious...

Dear Apple Pie,

How are you so amazing? You have slain me with your utter deliciousness. Especially since you are irresistible with whipped cream. I am now going to be in a food coma for the rest of the evening and therefore unable to get anything productive done. I hope that makes you happy.

Stop looking so smug and tempting with your sweet, spiced, apple-y goodness spilling all out of that flaky crust.

I'll see you at breakfast!

Love (OHSOMUCH!!),

Katherine (and food baby)

Yay for sweater weather!

Dear Fall,

Thank you so much for your timely arrival! I am more than ready to wear sweaters and revel in the awesomeness that is autumn. I love the colorful, crunchy leaves you bring, and the crisp smell in the air, and the chance to enjoy hot fall-type foods (like apple pie!), and the excuse to pile blankets on my bed and make it cozy.

Hurray!! I'm so glad you made it! :-)

Love,

Katherine

This should not be difficult

Dear Printer,

Why have you decided not to properly print maps on directions any more? You didn't used to have this problem. Is the new computer too fast for you? Are you just getting old and slow? I'm getting pretty tired of trying to print maps and having them come out with a random blue line where the route is and nothing else. Get it together, please!

With dissatisfaction,

Katherine

PS - Just so you know, you're doing a great job otherwise! :-)

Studying is boring

Dear Motivation,

Please come back. I really need to study for this test. And the quiz. I can't do that without you!

Missing you desperately,

Katherine

Grad students are poor, yo

Dear Wolfpack Club,

Thank you for telling me how I could get tickets to this weekend's game. Unfortunately, I just can't justify spending almost half of my yearly income on a ticket, even if it is for a super-fancy suite that seats 16. The only reason I'm a member is because you let me join for free as a new graduate.

With lots of love (but no money),

Katherine

I just wish it was this easy...

Dear NSF,

I'm really smart, I care about the world and sharing scientific stuff, and I'm generally an all-around awesome person. Please fund me!

Thanks,

Katherine

Walk a little faster, please...

Dear Slow People,

I understand that some days, walking fast is just not on the agenda; maybe you're tired, or you just took a test, or you've got a lot on your mind. But I got places to be! There's no need for you to walk super slow in front of me. Walking in the middle of the sidewalk, so I can't get around you, is completely not necessary. It's like the highway: Slower traffic keep right.

Thanks!

Katherine

Running out of things mid-recipe is Not Smart

Dear Self,

Please check on amounts of ingredients before trying to make something. It was relatively harmless to run out of curry powder when making this recipe, but other times might not be so great. What would happen if you ran out of flour in the middle of making a cake? Or cheese in the middle of making macaroni and cheese? I'm just saying, it's helpful to think ahead. I know you usually do, but it's really not fun rushing to the grocery store while worrying about whether that thing you're making will turn out all right.

Try to stay on top of these things!

Sincerely,

Katherine

Another blog, just what the Internet needs

Dear Internet,

I'm here! Just wanted to let you know, so you could prepare yourself for the onslaught of awesomeness that my presence will bring. I know, another blog is exactly what the Internet needs. But sometimes you just need to tell the entire world your thoughts, y'know?

I promise to be nice to you; please don't be too mean to me!

Love,

Katherine