Kat Nelson
Monday, February 14, 2011
Valentine's Day: You either love it or hate it. And I honestly don't think that one friend of mine is a fan. "Oh, it's a commercial holiday...", "Valentine's Day is a holiday made up by greeting card companies..." are commonly heard. But with so much negativity and hate in the world, don't you think love deserves a holiday?? I mean, it drives most of us to do what we do! And even if you're single, you still have love in your life. There are your family, your friends, your pets...and what would we do without love? Not much, I think. We even use "the L word" for inanimate objects, like food, sports, and activities like shopping.
I asked my friend at work if she had plans with her husband and she replied, "No, it's a fake holiday anyways." What's a real holiday then? My single girlfriends always cringe when Valentine's Day comes up as a topic of conversation. When I was single, I would just spend it with my friends or just spend some time with me. You can always celebrate your love for yourself! ;-)
I asked my friend at work if she had plans with her husband and she replied, "No, it's a fake holiday anyways." What's a real holiday then? My single girlfriends always cringe when Valentine's Day comes up as a topic of conversation. When I was single, I would just spend it with my friends or just spend some time with me. You can always celebrate your love for yourself! ;-)
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
As a dog owner in the city, the dog park is a part of life. This not only includes the dogs that you encounter, but also the people that accompany them. The subculture that this creates is at the very least fascinating. Dog owners, or "dog guardians" as we call ourselves in California, flock to the park in the morning and then again around the end of the work day. The same people and same dogs arrive like clockwork. Discussions ensue and sooner or later, gossip is the most popular topic of conversation.
I have been on the receiving end of this phenomenon. And it never ceases to amaze me at how bold these people can be when spreading the rumors. I had someone gossip about me while I was standing not ten feet away.
Lately, nearly all of the gossip at the dog park has been about one woman. The first time I heard someone call her a drunk, I brushed it off as just another mean rumor. So when I was walking through the park an hour after I saw her at a very successful doggy happy hour, I was shocked to see her completely obliterated. After only an hour since seeing her, there was dried red wine all over her face and all down the front of her shirt. She was not only slurring her speech, but she was speaking in baby talk. She plopped herself down on the grass and collapsed. Myself and another woman lifted her to her feet and supported her while walking to her building's door. We then had to help her up the stairs to her 3rd floor apartment. She continued to speak like a child, saying things that I don't even feel comfortable repeating. When we got her inside her apartment and coaxed her puppy inside before closing the door, we decided it was as far as we should go. Staying and taking care of her would have only gotten us involved in something that we didn't need to be part of. I have never actually seen anyone this messed up by alcohol.
The next day, the thoughts of this event gave me a stomach ache. I'm the last person to want to contribute to gossip, but now it seems like she's been in this situation several times and continues to involve every person at the dog park. At this point, the gossip seems to have evolved into matter of concern.
I have yet to see her sober since that night. No one has seen her sober since that night. My fellow dog guardians have only seen her out at the park in a drunken stupor, either crying or accusing others of hating her for no reason. I've been hoping to encounter her sober so that I can tell her how badly she needs help. Some of us have even talked about grabbing her cell phone next time we see her and calling her Mom. How can you help someone who doesn't want to be helped??? It's heartbreaking.
I have been on the receiving end of this phenomenon. And it never ceases to amaze me at how bold these people can be when spreading the rumors. I had someone gossip about me while I was standing not ten feet away.
Lately, nearly all of the gossip at the dog park has been about one woman. The first time I heard someone call her a drunk, I brushed it off as just another mean rumor. So when I was walking through the park an hour after I saw her at a very successful doggy happy hour, I was shocked to see her completely obliterated. After only an hour since seeing her, there was dried red wine all over her face and all down the front of her shirt. She was not only slurring her speech, but she was speaking in baby talk. She plopped herself down on the grass and collapsed. Myself and another woman lifted her to her feet and supported her while walking to her building's door. We then had to help her up the stairs to her 3rd floor apartment. She continued to speak like a child, saying things that I don't even feel comfortable repeating. When we got her inside her apartment and coaxed her puppy inside before closing the door, we decided it was as far as we should go. Staying and taking care of her would have only gotten us involved in something that we didn't need to be part of. I have never actually seen anyone this messed up by alcohol.
The next day, the thoughts of this event gave me a stomach ache. I'm the last person to want to contribute to gossip, but now it seems like she's been in this situation several times and continues to involve every person at the dog park. At this point, the gossip seems to have evolved into matter of concern.
I have yet to see her sober since that night. No one has seen her sober since that night. My fellow dog guardians have only seen her out at the park in a drunken stupor, either crying or accusing others of hating her for no reason. I've been hoping to encounter her sober so that I can tell her how badly she needs help. Some of us have even talked about grabbing her cell phone next time we see her and calling her Mom. How can you help someone who doesn't want to be helped??? It's heartbreaking.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Friday, December 25, 2009
Christmas has been great, for not being with family. It was just Chuck, Abby2, and me. We all got gifts this morning and then went to our friend Eric's house for a Christmas dinner. It was a really great holiday and amazing get-together.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Monday, March 02, 2009
Itś no wonder Ive been depressed the majority of my lifetime. I live in a world where kindness is punishable. I was reprimanded by my professor during a quiz today. The seats and desks are really squished together, so you can easily see the desktop of the fellow student next to you. You don´t even have to use your peripheral vision. Anyways, the girl next to me today quietly remarked in the middle of the quiz that her textbook (it was open-book) was missing a page. I know that she could have lost or accidentally ripped the page out herself, but my instant nature is empathy. I gave her my book, since I was on the last question and I found the answer in my notes. She used the book, and then I realized that I still needed it. I asked if she was done with it, and this is when our Professor zeros in on our whisper-fest. She tells us that we must take the rest of the test separately from each other and makes my neighbor scoot over a desk. Then she tells us that if anyone speaks to anyone else during the quiz, next time she will throw out your papers. Itś been a while since I got ¨in trouble." But again, I get screwed in the end for doing what I would hope someone else would do for me. I was trying to be helpful. I wish I could force myself to care less.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
