TRACIE-BIRTHDAY-GIRL-TOMORROW-TUESDAY

I'm posting this now because it's Tuesday and I'm trying to be on top of things, but really, tomorrow is Tracie's birthday. She's going to be 19, you know. And I realize that I don't typically do birthday shout outs and dedications but I figure that since I have a whole post series dedicated to her ravishing beauty, it's ok.
Once upon a time, I was almost 12. I still remember the night that I was laying in bed falling asleep and heard my parents talking and my mom said that she was either sick or pregnant and I had to bite my tongue to keep from shouting my excitement. Sorry I eavesdropped. I'm a rude person. I think they announced the news to us at dinner one night and I had to really try and not let on that I already knew. But I did know something everyone else didn't: I knew it was a girl. I even bet and won a brown topper from Arctic Circle (I think) on it. And when the phone rang at 5:30 in the morning and I found out I had a new sister, I couldn't contain myself and called several people with the news. I couldn't sleep, why should they?
Well. I loved my new baby. My baby, mind you. I loved to dress her up in different outfits and take pictures of her, which was a lucky day because film was expensive. I loved to hold and snuggle with her. One of my favorite things was when she would wake up (or I would shake her crib and wake her up) with me while I was getting ready for school and I would rock-rock with her while we watched a Disney movie then she would fall asleep and I would finish getting ready. Sometimes we would sit out on the porch when it was good weather, Tracie wrapped in her Mickey Mouse quilt, and wait for my ride to come.
Then, somehow, she grew up. She came to Oakcrest with me, visited me at college, and wrote me the funniest, most random letters on my mission. There were always many exclamation points used in her letters. I have always felt super protective of her and probably always will, which we have found is both good and bad. I have a really cool house to hang out in, but I can't handle driving with her. Remember, because she is only 12. She shouldn't be allowed to drive. Sorry, but you shouldn't. I'll try and work on that because I know it is annoying. I nag too much because I think I have this infinite wisdom that must be shared at all times. I try to keep her from making any of the same mistakes I did and have already told her that I will sell a kidney on the black market before she even thinks about taking out student loans.
Really, I think what I'm trying to say is that I truly lucked out in the family department. We didn't know it then and we certainly didn't believe our mom when she told us, but I am honestly best friends with my siblings. I have the best sisters in the world and I probably don't tell any of them that enough. I like that I'm the crazy one in the family because then I don't have to deal with one. I love that we can spend hours talking and laughing and just being. In some sick way, I think it's great that I get jealous of my sisters friends and how often they hang out with them and not me. :) [editor's note: I think it's really funny when my students write the sideways smiley faces on their papers and my board and basically everywhere. . .like that is all they know.] I've said it before, but I'm super-duper-up-to-heaven glad that my brothers married such amazing girls; they (my brothers) aren't the only ones that lucked out.
And with allll those words, I just hope that Tracie Louise Paul has a really stellar birthday.
I love you fart face!
Oh, and happy groundhog day. Please bless that winter will be over next week.

Help Me Help YOU!

Hey friends! I am really hoping to photograph a plethora of weddings this year, and without spending on advertising, so I need your help! If you refer me to your friends and I book their wedding, you will get $25 and an enthusiastic high five! If you're already my friend and I get lucky enough to photograph YOUR wedding, you will get $50 off your package, plus as many high fives as you would like. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions or jokes, let me know!j

Please refer your friends to my website, www.kathrinpaul.com or my blog, www.kathrinpaul.blogspot.com and you can even "Like" Kathrin Paul Photography on Facebook!

The Return of. . . . . .

You're welcome.

Question, Y'all.

Ok. So remember how everyone is a professional photographer these days? And they all have facebook pages that they want people to "like." Do I jump on the bandwagon? Is it stupid to not capitalize on that?

Also, I am wanting to do a lot more photography this summer because I really miss it. . .I'll be advertising a bit at Logan thanks to T-Force, but I think I want to do some sort of referral program. . .If you refer your friend to me and I do their wedding, you get a special surprise. And although my high fives are nothing to scoff at, it would be something better. Like $25 bucks. Or more? What would motivate you to send me your friends? Besides my skill and charm. Someday I'd like to advertise more but don't have the resources to do so right now. Any tips?

Hmmm.

Huh?

I really love this picture template option, but why won't it show the whole picture? I do like the blue sky, though. Spring can't come fast enough.

I need to vent.

I hate fees. I think they are stupid. Most of the time. For example: when I was at the U, I was always frustrated when I would study the tuition schedule to see a "utilities fee" or a "building fee" because, for real? What the crap does my tuition pay for? Don't even get me started on the athletic fee. Pretty dang sure that football pays for itself. But really, what does my $2500 in tuition pay for if not utilities and buildings?
Anyway. I am a member of Golds Gym. Like a fool, I signed up for the 3 year program, paying a lesser amount if I pay in 6 payments rather than monthly. And I did this twice. But it wasn't until this second time (It's been one year) that I have had to pay the "facility maintenance" fee. Again, what does my membership payment go towards? They graciously put up a poster that shows what they spent the fee on, things like flatscreen tv's for individual machines (which I do like) but why isn't that just part of my normal membership payment? What will be next? A chlorine fee? An extra-jets-in-the-hot-tub fee? I would feel so much better if you just added a couple bucks to the monthly price instead of randomly pulling extra money out of my account without warning. Gosh, I shouldn't say without warning, because I was notified by the scrolling words at the bottom of the Gold's channel that I NEVER watch that it would be withdrawn this month. So I ask at the desk when it will be taken out. She says it was taken out on the 5th. Really? I ask. She swears to it. I ask if it's possible they would combine my charges since I paid for the year in advance. She asks for my card to check. She informs me that it will be withdrawn on Monday. Nice. Thanks for the warning. Maybe they could tell people. I suggest that she inform someone that it would be nice to know these things in advance so people don't overdraw their accounts. She reminds me that it was taken out on the 15th of January and July of last year. I calmly tell her that I don't remember random fees withdrawn six months ago. She'll pass on my suggestion to her manager.
Really? Really. BUH.

Hello, 2011!

I am super stoked for this year. 2010 was great. I bought a house. I bought a washer and dryer. I pay utilities. It was big. Oh yeah, I turned 30. I joined a bowling league. I started my second year of teaching. I watched all six seasons of "The Office." I ate a lot of Cafe Rio. I lost 25 pounds. It was probably all from the Rio.
Now, I'm looking forward to this new year. Monday, we're starting "Romeo and Juliet." I won't lie, I'm a little nervous. I registered for a triathlon. I'm super excited. I have a plan. You can come to my reveal party. Tentatively scheduled for summer 2011. I'm buying a hot dress and killer heels. I'll probably go on some dates. Which would mean that this year, I plan on putting myself out there. I'm a lot nervous for that. But I can do it. And it's gonna rock. So. Bring it!