Last weekend, Tim and I did our registry. It wasn't the first try; it's probably more like the third. The first time was painful, because I was having a hard time articulating my vision for our lives. The last time I just gave in -- I don't like this form of gift giving, but people are going to give us gifts anyway, we might as well give them some guidance as to our tastes and preferences. Tim was amazingly supportive, reminding me of what I wanted in terms of materials (i.e. minimum of plastic and other disposable materials), and we made awesome teamwork that day.

( Twenty-Five Year Goals Based on Values )

Fact: My mom has a shot glass collection.
Fact: I got my sister a STATE shot glass for graduation. My mom said she was okay with it.
Guess who has the shot glass now?

Laura: mom stole my shotglass.
Kate: Hahaha.
Kate: HAHAHA
Kate: Is it in the cabnient?
Laura: she put it in the display case.
Laura: yeahhhhh.
Kate: *dies*
Kate: I have another one.
Laura: okay good. don't show mom though.
Kate: The one in the display case can be mine then, and you can have the one currently on my desk.
Laura: she might steal that one too.
Laura: why thank you!
Laura: alright, well i have to go clean
Kate: Why did she steal it?
Laura: hahaha cuz she was just looking at it, and then she proceeded to put it in the cabinet
Laura: and i was like "hey thats mine!"
Laura: and she was like "you can't have it until you're 21! or maybe 20."
Kate: How else would you properly measure drinks?
Laura: i don't know.
Kate: Hahahaha.
Laura: i'll have to steal her shot measurer thenn
Laura: when i pack for college
Kate: Heh.
Laura: i'll say she can use my shot glass.
Kate: no, you can have the shotglass on my desk.
Laura: hahaa
Laura: well okay
Kate: No need to cause her to have a stroke.
Laura: and whne i say steal its more like wave in front of her face and be like "oh, well i guess i'll have to take this tehnn..'"



I love that my mom is subversive like that.

Yesterday, as I asked for vegetarian chili in the cafeteria, the guy at the Scossa station goes, "Are you a practicing Catholic?"

"Sometimes I pretend," I said. There were ashes on my head, but they came from my mother. She leaned her head with its ashes onto mine, and by contact I gained my mark. I'm not the best Catholic.

I'm uncomfortable with sharing my faith with others, because I feel that everyone's beliefs are their own business. In that sense, I am secular. And so, I don't think I ever posted this, though I know I shared the file with a number of people -- ones I was comfortable with.

I am posting this as a reminder as to why I'm Catholic. After this, I'm going to filter my discussions of religion. If talk of religion makes you uncomfortable, don't read it. If you'd like to be on the filter, please comment.

( My Sacraments, My Religion, Our Traditions )

Today is Thanksgiving.

Today, I am thankful for my British friends. never_ender, zeppelinblue, perrie, and thespyglass. They all sympathize with me being far from home, and care about my travels. Especially Alix and Nick, for wishing me a Happy Thanksgiving. It was really, really appreciated -- I am far from home on an important family day.

I am also thankful for the past three months. The ups, the downs, the ins, and outs. My calling isn't any clearer, but possible trivales of one possible road is. Thank you, Alone in London, for being understanding about that.

I am thankful for my flatmates. We managed to support each other these last three months. Sometimes the ranting held up the walls. Sometimes we were just supportive. And sometimes they looked the other way so I could cry in private.

I am thankful for my boyfriend. I am thankful that there is someone waiting for me. I love him, and he loves me, and I am looking forward to being held for a good long while. He has been an experienced voice of reason for me, telling me about his first hard weeks at Plexus. He always tries to fix my problems, and even though sometimes I don't want solutions -- I am thankful that he wants to help.

I am thankful for my best friend. She has taken care of the housing, and so we will be roommates again. I am thankful that I have someone who understands me so completely. I am looking forwarding to laying awake in our beds, talking about life, family, school, long after we should be asleep. I am looking forward to seeing you again.

I am thankful for my family. I am thankful that they're there for me, that they were willing to let me go across an ocean. That they miss me and want me back. That my sister admires me, that my brother wants to tell me about the console war. That my mother would give me anything in the world right now, now that I am coming home. That my dad tells me that he is proud of me.

2 Days until Italy.
9 Days until Home.