Saying Goodbye to Home Sweet Home

These past few days can only be described as an emotional roller coaster to say the least.  Though my family found me complaining many times about the small town we lived in.... our home back in Washington was a place I could go to after a bad week, to see my amazing family, and to of course cuddle with my cat.  My parents and I discussed whether or not I should bring my bundle of joy with me to the city of Los Angeles once I accepted the position with Lamb & Flag.... we decided that the trip and the huge change to the Hollywood life style would be too much for her and thought life in the country would be more appealing to her. Saying goodbye to Freckles was tragic and devastating.... and no I am not over exaggerating and no I am not a creepy cat person.

The love of my life, Freckles

Saying goodbye to my favorite

After a couple days of visiting my grandpa in what felt like an old episode of the Andy Griffith Show... my family and I headed to our cabin in New Mexico to spend a couple of days reading and watching movies. Sunday my brother and sister and I went with my dad to hike up a nearby mountain that you can see from the front deck of our cabin.  My dad was decked out in his Cabela's gear.... camo and all, as he navigated us through the trail using his high tech hand held GPS.  So every 10 minutes my dad would stop and check out his new toy and I would use this as an excuse to catch my breathe. For the record, I do not remember hiking actually involving climbing straight UP a mountain. Not only was I exhausted... I felt just plain out of shape. The stay in New Mexico was exactly what I needed besides the part where my car was nearly being attacked.... twice... by the same GIANT elk right outside of town.

Our Cabin outside of Angle Fire, New Mexico

After a couple days spent in New Mexico we got back on the road and ventured through the desert of Arizona until we got to the mountains of Kingman.  We woke up early the next morning and continued west until we found ourselves at the California state line.  My dad was lucky enough to be pulling my UHAUL and was told to show the people at the state line what was in the trailer to make sure we were not bringing food, plants, or animals across the state line.  Though it was somewhat entertaining to see my dad forced to get out of his vehicle like some kinda of fugitive.... I did find myself worried my dad would have to pull out all my stuff that they had packed earlier that week.  Thankfully he did not and we headed towards LA where we arrived at my apartment complex on Tuesday afternoon.

Wednesday I bought my very own couch and then dragged my family to a Target in West Hollywood.  Parking was an adventure since none of us had been to a Target that looked nearly 3 stories high.  My dad does claim he possibly saw a celebrity inside the Target though he does not know her name, what she was in, or even if she was a singer or an actor.  The woman was in fact wearing a baseball camp pulled over her eyes as she rushed into the Target and darted towards the check out line where she received many double takes by the cashier and those around.  My dad obviously needs to watch E! News more so that we would not run into this problem.  I am sending him a People magazine tomorrow so that he can study before his next visit to LA.

Thursday we finally got to see the sights.  First we headed to Griffith Park located by Hollywood Hills so that my brother and sister could see all of LA. The trip was partially a bust because of the "June Gloom" which means it doesn't get sunny until around 4.... so the fog made it very hard to see much of LA.  After the park we headed to Hollywood Blvd. so I could see the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Lets just say this was a huge disappointment.  The people who hassle you trying to get you to take a bus tour was bad enough... but the CREEPY dudes who were dressed up in Star War costumes who caused me to miss where the fabulous famous people but their hands in cement which means they are the famous of the famous... because the Star War lookalikes where too busy forcing me to take a photo with them and then asked my sister for a TIP. I was beyond disgusted. But no this was not the end of it... there were also wannabe hip hop stars who were forcing their CD's into my brother's face. When he finally grabbed one out of his face.... the wannabe demanded to be paid for his wannabe hits.  To the wanna be hip hop stars on Hollywood Blvd. if you have to guilt people into buying your CD's because you force them on them.... your career will in fact be awkward. Finally we got to head out to Malibu through the mountains and then headed towards Santa Monica where we hung out on the beach and my brother and sister got to see the ocean for the first time. Though the traffic was terrible getting back we spent the rest of the evening finishing up my apt and swimming in the pool.

Griffith Park Observatory

The "June Gloom" and the Hollywood Sign

Me at the Hollywood Walk of Fame next to Judy Garland's star (Dorthy off the Wizard of Oz)

Getting harassed by the Star War look-a-likes

My brother and sister's first time in the ocean

With my favorite brother and sister 

Yesterday morning my family left which was very hard. I start work at Lamb & Flag Monday morning. I am excited for what's to come but am also very scared. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers!

Kelso... you and Matthew need to book a flight!
Megan.... please visit me or better yet move out here as soon as you can!
Matt, Tommy, Derek, and Jaree.... you know what you promised me... hold up your end of the deal.
Jess-ICA.... still mad we didn't get to say goodbye... so make it up to me with a visit to Cali!
Kayla Marie.... start saving your money so you can come visit me!
Arika.... I feel like I've gained some weight but I PROMISE I will fit into my dress for your wedding in October.

Wishing you all my best,

Katie

Leaving The Little Apple

Today was my last day in Manhattan, KS.  Since the day I left for Sorority Recruitment in the fall of 2007 I have resided in "The Little Apple" and have loved every minute of it!  This past year I found out who my true friends are and can't help but worry about how much I am going to miss them!  I find myself constantly requesting that they SAVE their money and visit me in LA ASAP!  I even resorted to forcing my friends Matt and Tommy to sign a contract written on a napkin at Porter's one night at 1:30 in the morning while we were out and about in Aggieville. The contract stated that they would both visit me within the next year. I will be sending it to my lawyer to make sure all agreements are upheld.  To my friends who are reading this... I will nag you until I see a receipt from the plane ticket you purchased with the destination set to the  LAX Airport.    I am not above bribery OR black mail. Yes, that is a threat.  I am so grateful for my friends who took the time to organize a dinner and convince everyone to come out afterwords on a Tuesday night to spend my last night in Aggieville with me. I love you all and can't wait to get to come back to Manhattan for a little reunion!  I don't know what I am going to do without you because I know each of you have saved my life at least once. (Lane, Alyssa, and Ashley... your number may be higher)  I loved that I got to spend a day with my roommate from freshman year and best friend, Kelsey Fagan!  She left me for an entire semester for Italy and I'm trying to not hold a grudge.  She better make it up to me by booking a flight as soon as she isn't tied down by a final project in studio.  Gosh how much I hate those.

With Kelsey (my old roomie) at a Royals Game last summer

I am also crossing my fingers that I can convince Megan Norman, another close friend, to just move out to LA and live with me.  I am very scared about the fact that I do not know A SOUL in Cali and am finding it very difficult to picture my days without Meg giving me advice about boys, clothes, and life in general while laying out by the pool with drink in hand.

With Megan and Ashley on Fake Patties (I WILL MISS YOU SO MUCH) 

Today my sister and I will be making our way to southwestern Kansas in order to say my goodbyes to the rest of my family.  My parents and little brother will be leaving Friday after loading up the rest of my stuff from my apartment in Manhattan.  We will stay in our cabin in New Mexico (my favorite place on earth) for a couple days before traveling on to Arizona where we will stay the night and then head on west to California, hoping to arrive in LA that afternoon.  It will be a long trip, and an adventure to say the least!

Keep me in your thoughts and prayers and stay tuned for future posts about my transition from small town USA to life in HOLLYWOOD!