it is a sad day...

i have to go back to work tomorrow! gone are the days of sleeping late! back to getting up before day light and working till dark! hey...who's in charge of the next gathering????

saw the man himself...

just got back from an evening with howie...one of the many loves of my life..(insert picture here)


he's about 22...and he's freaking adorable..."it's your secret...why would you tell it to me?" yeah, that's right. sidebar...m.e. fell at the front door as she was trying to put her cigarette out. (ask her how many beers she had tonight?..oh wait...then ask her what the Tabernacle bathroom attendant said to her as she was falling into the table in the bathroom...? that will be tomorrow morning's post as she will be fully awake and well, not so inebriated. right you little hellion? yeah, that's right.

another sidebar: i love howie. i don't think i could stress that enough, but geez little fella, could you write a new freaking album? i mean, i've been to 3 of your shows and we're still singing along to the same damn album. I know we're "colliding" and all, but i've been "bracing myself" for a new album for at least a year. so why don't you sit down with your guitar, a pen, and a notepad and hop to. and if i need to, i'll write your damn songs for you. did i mention how much i love him?

Yes, I'm 29...there's nothing wrong with being attracted to a 22 year old...right m.e.? (wink wink). Plus, the fact that he is musically inclined is always an added bonus.

Goodnight girls-
k a t i e

and more...

1st picture - a Haitian mom giving her baby a bath in the river at the Haitian border
2nd picture - me with some kids at the baseball park
3rd picture - sunset on the top of el moro - mountain on the beach in monte cristi

more pictures

1st picture - men at the cock fight
2nd picture - sweet, little marcos - he called himself sammy sosa

pictures from the DR

1st picture - where we slept
2nd picture - a typical house in monte cristi

happy birthday!!!

As of yesterday, 377 south pope street has officially been up and running for one year (and a day)! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Here's to many more years of happy stories, daily rantings, tons of sharing, loads of pictures, and so many more great times.

Love,
katie.

yo

I'm at home with the dial up, so no fun pictures, it would take hours with this connection. Just wanted to check in. My professor today gave into the whiners in class and dropped the number of papers due from 3 to 2. Guess who that screws? Me. Because I am the only responsible student who has already written and revised all three. The only compensation I get it that he would take the two best grades of the three. Hell, that's no compensation, I spend 6 hours revising them last night to turn in today. I expect them all to be A's. So I guess all I get is my over-acheivement. Ahh, who cares, it'll all be over in less than a week, but it still pissed me off. So at least I have Howie to look forward to right? Ya'll come back now y'hear?

edward scissorhands

i just that second finished watching edward scissorhands. if you haven't seen it, do. i forgot how wonderful that movie was. now i'm sitting here all weepy eyed. such a sweet movie...and lest we not forget that it stars johnny depp.

if back hair makes you gag, do not proceed

if you can stomach it, the linked title will take you to a hilarious article

Thank you note

This is from the girl whose license I found at the Trevi Fountain. Is it just me or is her handwriting weird. Like either she wrote it with her toes or got her eight year old nephew to write it. Anyhow, here it is.

i did just find this.

Alright, this picture absolutely warrants its own post.

Can anyone else say LIT?
In English - Lesbian In Training

new / exciting

sorry i haven't blogged lately. unfortunately there hasn't been anything exciting to write about. work has been keeping me as busy as a bee. i actually didn't leave tonight until 7 o'clock. oh goodness. libby just bit the crap out of ashley's back...now i'm just counting down until she starts humping his leg again. oh yes, my dog lives to hump ashley's leg. it's highly entertaining.

Money

I would have paid money to see you trip Leigh Ann. It would have been one of those times where I would be like, "Oh shit"-small laughter,"Are you ok?"-serious tone while holding back a smile, "I mean that was some serious horizontal action."- laughter building, "Seriously you're ok?"-last attempt at seriousness, "I mean you busted ass."-laughing hysterically while I drink my beer trying to regulate the laughter.

So I haven't posted because life has been painfully boring and busy with school. Nothing fun to report. Katie and Heather on the other hand, you should be ashamed. No kidding of course. I'm sure everyone has been busy with summer projects.

As far as my report lately, the most exciting and disgusting thing that's happened is that I went outside the other day and Lady was gnawing on something. I got closer and realized it was a turtle.. I almost puked, no seriously, I gagged a little I think. So I chunked it over the fence as hard as I could. Not because I didn't have complete sympathy for the little tike, but because if I had looked and processed any longer the damage that had been done I really would have been sick. Lady is an animal, and the event was a painful reminder. Luckily earlier that same afternoon I narrowly missed hitting a turtle on 411 coming home from class. So my only comfort is that at least I did my part for the animal world that day.

Leigh Ann, you'll have to tell us some stories about the d.r. Katie, anyone quit at hrprep yet, any news about adding a slot, and how is the back yard looking these days, and Heather- speaking of yards are you all done with your yard sales?

I'm starting a paper so post up and give me something good to look forward to when I take breaks.

i got 10 points

so, yesterday i went to the lake with my family and when i was getting off the boat onto the dock, my flip flop got caught in a string. as i picked up my foot to start walking, it wouldn't budge, but my body was already in motion....yep, you guessed it, flat on my face i fell! most of my weight fell on my shoulder, which isn't so much a good thing since i bruise easy and i have to wear a strapless dress in a wedding this weekend!

hey, what's this all about...i come home and ya'll stop posting...no fun!

i'm baaaaack!

oh my gosh....i can't even begin to tell you the amazing time i had down in the d.r. it was very eye-opening! the kids at the orphanage we worked with were awesome! we got to spend some time with the kids in the community at the baseball park and those kids were so needy. david, my favorite, i taught to count to 10 in english! he was so proud. the last day, he brought his mother to meet me. i can't wait to show you some pictures and tell you all about it in person! we did have a few random adventures: cock fights, tarantula hunting, a visit to the haitian border, sleeping under mosquito nets....just to name a few! we are definitely planning on going back next year!

hey - let's get together soon! heather - i want to lay out with you this week! i have to get a good tan for the wedding this weekend! much love!

i feel that i should share with you...

a little secret of mine. i'm obsessed with Reno 911! and i think you should all check it out! i spent this afternoon watching about 5 episodes of season 1 and wow - this show rocks! and if anyone needs a copy of it, i own the dvd...so you are more than welcome to borrow it. but i digress.

if you're interested in the show...here a few pictures of this illustrious crew! (ps...just so there is absolutely no confusion..the show is a satire of Cops)..

Funny Picture

Is this cute/funny or what? Heather, glad you're feeling so good that you're willing to bake in the sun ;) Leigh Ann, welcome home we missed you tons. Katie, way to keep on posting while the rest of us drag our asses.

Feeling better

Just wanted to drop a line and say that I have been feeling better and wanted to thank you all for your kind words of love and friendship...we have all been through a lot together and while life pushes and pulls us in different directions I hope you know that I appreciate you even though my life has been a bit of a roller coaster...

Peace out and happy weekend...I am going to try and head to the pool if the weather holds out...anyone want to join me...I am sure it is worth an hour or two in the car.

scientology..this is great stuff!

this is something else i came across on the latest blog.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology
click either on the title or above for all of your scientology answers!

all i can say is that it's about time.

yet another worthy blog..

I happened across this latest blog whilst checking in on my other favorite blog- You Can't Make It Up. I thought it was pretty darn funny by itself, then I read a little deeper and discovered that the author of the blog well, works in television....and is also pretty damn cute! Actually, I think he works at a station that either my new company represents or my old one does. Since I don't sell Wilmington, I'll have to get back to you guys on this one. So, I figured...we'll give this guy another venue to reach more people. Plus, his most recent post is very informative...one of the Village People was arrested. Shocking news! Oh..and he too thinks Tom Cruise is a flaming homo. But I digress. Okay, I promise that I'm no homophobe. Ask my friend Craig...he knows that's not the case - then again he calls himself a "raging homo". Whatever.

Check the new one out.

Ps. you guys suck. am i the only one posting? i'll be thrilled to get leigh ann back in business.
pps. leigh ann, the blog and i have missed you dearly! hope you had a blast out there saving the world!!!

i'm a posting machine!

Does this scare the shit out of anyone else? Good.

(ps. grabbed this one off of You Can't Make It Up...and if you haven't checked it out, please do so.)

the drunken clam....

this is jennifer speaking...jennifer slattery, that is.
i don't check this so if you don't like the link i put on the site then eat it (sister just made me censor myself....$@#!&*...censor this!!!). lylas! bye-bye now!
-sister

and there we have it...

ashley and i would like to take this opportunity to welcome the two latest additions to the oblinger/slattery family:

Meet little lady dishwasher and her sibling side by side refrigerator. aren't they sweet???

what a crappy day-

How crappy is this? I'm driving home for lunch today when a crapass little pebble strikes my windshield and sends a nice crack up through it. UGH! That just sucks!

The good news is that our new appliances are being delivered tomorrow! Yeah! I'm feeling like such an adult. A side by side refrigerator with water/ice dispenser! ha ha ha! And a new dishwasher! Wow, no more wood paneling on the d/w. What a concept!

Yeah me. Oh the best part is...I will be "working from home" tomorrow afternoon.

Sweet!

(surprise-surprise)

I just got these back and couldn't wait to share them! Enjoy!

ps. how beautiful is little lady??? (and libby too, of course!)

UT corruption

I notice Katie did not put my UT Reagan picture on the blog. I know all you Dawg fans hate to hear this but, "Rocky Top you'll always be home sweet home to me, Good ole Rocky Top- Rocky Top Tennessee," I am already corrupting sweet Reagan, just wait until she gets a little older.

Weirdest Class

Click on the linked title and read this article I found today. Pretty interesting course titles. Then I started thinking, what was the weirdest class I took? I guess mine would be an upper level Poly Sci class I had called- Popular Culture. In it we discussed pop culture and icons. Each semeseter the professor chose a different figure to dissect. For my semester? John Wayne. So between all the movies we had to watch and Wayne bios it made for a lot of interesting discussion about the Duke and American values. It always amazed me that he was the ultimate cowboy but sucked at riding a horse. Any crazy classes for you guys?

I just had to share this with everyone:

i paid off my credit card about 5 minutes ago..(i don't have anymore credit card debt. i think i might cry!)

good times were had by all...

so, we made it to the laser show - and it was great! good clean fun in georgia! we wrapped up the night by having some gelato! superb!

peace and hair grease till next week!

much love!

...Just Because...

So, I feel that you guys are having withdrawal from Italy and you just haven't seen the Coliseum in a while...

hee hee-

not much

not much from my end tonight. i did fake reading a 400 page book today in class. made enough comments to count for my part of discussion. i won't bore you with my vocab list this time. although most books, i usually just make a vocab list of words i don't know very well but could use in papers etc. am i a nerd or what? well i guess the funniest thing that happened today is that when we took a break i went to the bathroom, and one of the girls from our class also went. yeah, she went and dropped the browns off at the super bowl! how embarassing was that to listen to? i was just thinking, if you'll just hold off on that push for a second i'll be done and out of ear shot. and i know she knew i was in there, we entered the stalls simultaneously. i couldn't look at her for the second half of class.

so no pizzas or blog changing templates, no excitement on that scale. leigh ann what will the blog do without you? i do hope you'll have a great experience, but we'll miss you around here. sounds like you have plenty to take down there. if you do have some random time where you could drink a beer, even though you don't like beer, have an el presidente for me. it's their national beer, and quite good. kind of like henieken. did i spell that right? have fun in miami too (i'm assuming you'll have a layover there). their airport is under renovation and you have to walk like a mile to get to the international terminal- really like a mile. and it's weird- you're in all these hallways, it feels more like an office building than an airport. i'll try to have the pizza song recorded for our next get together.

****D I S C L A I M E R****

Alright girls, as you are now well aware, I have changed the entire look of the blog. I got so tired of all of the issues with not being able to see the posts right beside all of the info, that I tested out practically ever blog option available, and much to my dismay, this was one of the best - that actually worked well. if you guys don't like it, let me know and I will switch it back immediately. I must say that I do miss the dots.

Post comments here -------------------------------->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

pizza margharita

so, i met a friend for lunch today at california pizza kitchen and i was so excited because katie said their pizza tastes very similar to real italian pizza and so i got it! much to my dismay, it still wasn't the same...i think the atmosphere in italy adds to the taste of the pizza...i guess i just have to go back now.

i've started packing for the d.r. in my carry on suitcase...scary! i think it is all actually going to fit! we packed all our stuff that was donated for us to carry down to the orphanage. it was overwhelming we had so much stuff...baseball gear, bibles, clothes, shoes, and really random items. we packed 26 duffle bags full of stuff and we are having to ship a bunch of boxes and bags of extra stuff. i can't wait to see them open everything...it will be like christmas! i must say that there were some scary things donated as well...used, faded boxers??? used cups (and i am not talking about solo cups here) - YIKES! i gagged!

i hope that yall keep the blog on fire while i am gone so that i can have something to read when i get home! we'll have to get together so that i can show off my pictures!

found a new drink today at starbucks...hot tazo chia tea! awesome...it's hot tea with a little kick!

happy day! oh, and reagan is so precious! can't wait to see a picture of her in her blue shoes!

mary ellen's pictures of reagan..

even more photos

i think i finally got the hang of postin these thangs! (you gotta have the country accent when you say that!) by the way, i am watchin dangerous minds while i wait on these to upload! it must be one of my favorite movies ever...but yall should know what my ultimate favorite movie is...which we will watch the next time we are together...because you can't be my friend without having watched 8 seconds! dangerous minds takes me back to the early high school days...the slow rap song (this is the life) was our theme song to our homecoming dance my freshman year! oh, i saw cinderella man on the 4th of july! it's a must see! i thought it was awesome! except i was exhausted by the time it was over...i felt like i had been doing all the fighting because it was so intense! hope yall have a great day! peace out!

more photos

ok, these pictures better be super appreciated because it has taken me about 14 hours to upload these puppies! i'll think they're uploaded and then they aren't ... kinda crazy!

pictures from reunion

ok, so here are some of the pictures! yippee! i can post pictures! i'll put the rest on another post! happy day!

Shower o'Crisco

The picture of the cat pissing is priceless. I think Ashley should begin Gus's training immediately, and I want regular updates on his (Ashley and Gus) progress. Anyhow, I wanted to share a story from Nashville. Getting up Monday morning I took a shower. I noticed her shampoo and conditioner were in brown bottles, but didn't think too much about it. I didn't dry my hair and Krissie and I set off to get breakfast. On the way back home she said, did you use my shampoo and conditioner? I said yes- it looked like those mahogeny cards in the drug store. Leigh Ann I need to preference this by reminding you that Krissie' mom is Fijian, and Krissie has really coarse/thick/curly hair. Anyhow, she said, well my hair stylist suggested me trying the shampoo/condition- it's for black people. Granted she's always just used regular shit. I said, oh really, but didn't think too much about it either. On the way home I felt and looked at my hair- I looked like I had taken crisco and run it through my hair. It was shiny and greasy. I immediately took a shower at mom and dad's, but it's just now getting back to normal, well as normal as it ever was to begin with. But thought I'd share- it was pretty funny, and I'll have to look twice before washing my hair again at the Rigsby's.

ASHLEY'S CAT TOILET TRAINING ADVENTURES

Oh my goodness! Ashley is now suddenly obsessed with teaching my cat, sweet Gus, how to go potty in a human toilet! Even though he is in the other room, he sent me the funniest website! I must say though that my favorite part is actually a photo from this website -
check this out!

Catholic Jon

Below are transcripts from when Jonathan reached out and touched me via instant message today. Notice I didn't volunteer to meet him in Roswell, nor did I offer any of your information, although I did think about it ;)

CatholicJon: Hey Mary, how's life treatin you
MEPethel: pretty good and you?
CatholicJon: things are great thanks. I'm itching to go on another trip
MEPethel: yeah, an international travel will do that to you.
MEPethel: maybe you can go somewhere again next summer.
CatholicJon: Yeah I already have a couple of places in mind.
CatholicJon: I'm making my first trip to Georgia next week to stay with some friends. They live in Roswell.
MEPethel: good, me too, then again i'm always thinking about where I still want to go.
MEPethel: sounds fun. atlanta has some redeeming qualities. did your pictures turn out good?
CatholicJon: I was very well pleased with the few I've gotten back so far. I'm holding off on the rest right now until I start back working. About a week after we got back, I quit my job after 2 years of pure misery.
MEPethel: well good. when you do get them all done make sure to send some my way.
CatholicJon: I definitely will.
CatholicJon: Did you receive an email list from Heather at anytime?
MEPethel: I did on my other account.
MEPethel: Talk to Ronnie at all, or are you glad to finally be rid of him?
CatholicJon: OK, I knew she was supposed to send out an email list so we could kind of have a picture sharing network...but I didn't receive an email from her.
MEPethel: well i'll ask her to forward it to you again.
CatholicJon: Ronnie sent me an email saying we should grab a beer sometime, but I didn't respond. Even drunk, I don't think I could tolerate the ego trip.
MEPethel: funny. and funny how i forgot all about him afterwards. it was a relief not to have that to deal with.
CatholicJon: He said he wanted to be sure to put his email address on the list, because he knew everyone would definitely want to stay in contact with him. ;-)
MEPethel: of course, especially next time i need to go hiking.
MEPethel: or do the app. trail in under 3 months.
CatholicJon: haha thats what your grandmother would call "bragging bragging"
MEPethel: yep. or maybe like, "ronnie, we'll be in touch when hell freezes over freezes over."
CatholicJon: lol Well I know everyone thought I was kinda weird for being so quiet and such a loaner. I have trouble letting my guard down most of the time. But I really did enjoy everyone and appreciated being included.
MEPethel: well we enjoyed you too. i understood wanting to shed the group you had to hang with. i would have done the same thing. fortunately i always had rob as my scapegoat. but you were able to sneak away with us a few times.
MEPethel: well i need to go do some reading. take care and send me those pictures when you get them developed.
CatholicJon: OK, take care, I'll get them to ya.

country music

i don't think that you will ever be able to ween me off country music...it's in my blood! :) i am open to listening to other types of music...but country is classic...i especially love the old country music - we like to refer to it as country gold (check it out on 106.7 on saturday nights)! you might become a fan yourself! maybe my mission in this friendship is to introduce you to country music! ha! what do you think? happy 5th of july

4th of july + libby

hi kids! i just got back from an evening of fun and fireworks! ashley and i went down the street to an undisclosed location (top secret stuff here) to see the fireworks at Ansley Park, Decatur, Midtown, AND Centennial Park. this place is great! this is apparently the place where clark howard brings his family. who knew?
actually, it's just a parking lot down howell mill with a great view of the city. i think there was a total of 30 people there. not bad considering how many people were at lenox and centennial park. we drove in, parked, walked two feet to a spot...watched the fireworks...walked the other two feet back to the car, then drove home. what a night!

on a sidenote, i finished painting the bathroom. i must say though, that the cabinet painting job sucks. i think i'm going to have to go in and sand them down before repainting. but mary ellen, i think the green in this bathroom is a few shades lighter than the new green in your cave bathroom. now that's funny!

alright ladies, i have to get back into a work mindset. so i'm off to bed. again, i had such a wonderful time the other night (it seems like weeks ago)...

good night little ones.
write soon.
k.

potato salad

Here's mom to give you the 411 on her potato salad:

Hey,
I'm flattered about the potato salad. Here's what I do. Peel about four medium potatoes. Cut them up into small pieces. Put in a boiler, cover with water and bring to a boil. Boil about 10 minutes or until really tender. Boil 2 eggs about 10 minutes. Cut up eggs and as many dill pickle slices as you want. Drain potatoes and put into bowl with eggs and cut up pickles. Use about a teaspoon of onion salt and a pinch of black pepper. You may need to add a little more. Use as much mayo as you like. Put in a blob (about a heaping serving spoon) and stir, and then see if you need to add a little more. Add a squirt of French's yellow mustard and stir again. Good luck.

I loved meeting you both. Come back soon and bring Katie.

Jo Ann P.

hi

i had a FABULOUS time on friday night! ya'll are hilarious! no, i don't refer to yall as my old fart friends! i loved it and had a blast! i think one of my favorite parts though was the guest bed! mary ellen - that thing is super comfortable...i may come visit just to sleep in that bed!

i don't know about yall, but i was so tired when i got home last night that i just laid on the couch and watched tv. i think i went to bed at 10. sorry if i didn't act like my normal self on friday or saturday - i was sooooo tired!

after church today, we went to the lake...it stormed on us for a little while, but then the sun came out. my dad talked to me alot today about the possibility of me buying a house instead of renting an apartment...i am kinda freaking out! the whole time we were hanging out at mary ellen's i was thinking that i would much rather be living in my own house rather than an apartment! it just seems like so much responsibility!

anyways...katie - i am drinking a caramel machiatto from starbucks...did you just "gleat" as mary ellen would say? i thought you would be jealous!

anybody up for going to the laser show at stone mountain on friday night? mary ellen - i could bring my brother - he wants to meet you sometime! :)

p.s. i have definitely become a jack johnson fan!

ditto

I'm not so sure Leigh Ann will still love us, we probably scared the crap out of her. We were singing with shave gel and hair gel. She's probably already recounted the night referring to us as her 'old fart friends' who are nuts (in a nice way I hope). Katie, you could have been worse.. I think ;) Really though, some things bring out the worst in all of us. Now we know what does it for you- it's fine. Heather, glad you got all liquored up with me. Do you know you left all that vodka? My apology will be for the bad dancing, singing, and militant songwriting strategy! Oh, and Lady with her jumping/licking. But it was all a blast, it felt like a retreat to be honest. Who eats at 11 p.m.? And it so did not feel like 11. I am leaving for Nashville in the a.m.- too tired to drive and Krissie let me off the hook until tomorrow. I think I'm about to do some solos with my cds- Milli Vanilli is up first. Loves to you all.

ps...

Leigh Ann - you must load your pictures from last night on line or link them up on the blog. Can't wait to see them.

k.

the 1st annual italia reunion

Hope you don't mind that I just decided to name our big night the First Annual Reunion. Of course, we will have to do these get togethers more often, but I think that we should do this every year...well, forever.

Leigh Ann, my sincerest apologies for the multiple 10 minute long renditions of Down By The River. We're glad you still love us. We just wanted to give you a brief glimpse into our college days. (This little concert is the absolute best insight you could possibly have.)

I had such a great time and can't wait for us all to do this again.
Also - I wanted to apologize to you guys...and please pass this along to Rob - I was an absolute asshole last night on the court. I actually went out there thinking it wouldn't happen seeing as I haven't acted like a 12 year old boy in some time. However, my alter ego reared her hideous self and for that I apologize. From now on, Heather will be taking my spot and I will gladly cheer from the side chair. ; )

I hope you guys have a wonderful rest of the afternoon. I'll be torturing myself in the backyard PRETENDING I know what I am doing.

Love to all!
k a t i e.

random outing to talledega, alabama

so, i took a little random trip to alabama today to visit some friends that were in town and i hadn't seen in a while and as you can see...it is now 3:40 a.m. i am just getting home! ahhhh! I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YA'LL! i am super excited! see you in about 12 hours! yippee!

oh...funny of the day...one of my friends that i went to visit was leading worship at a world changers project in talledega and they were staying at the school for the deaf. i was wandering around and looking at some stuff they had hanging on the walls and they had a poster of their national championship football team...their mascot - the silent warriors! random!

by the way, now that i figured out you can choose what color font to use...expect all my posts to be in fun colors!