Super Fantasticness Personified

March Stress brings May Weddings.

2011-03-09T22:28:00.000-08:00

Soooooooo.... I have not done this in such a long time and I really thought with all the goings on here in Kimberly town it was time to get back on the horse and stretch my writing bones.

In a little under 2 months I will officially be a Mrs. I waited a long time for this day and right at this point it feels like everything is just flying by me. The time passes so quickly and I am afraid that in a blink of an eye 2 months will be up and I won't have finished everything we still need to do. I started having these crazy dreams where I walk down the aisle with no veil and flip-flops, or my hair is a mess and I never hired anyone to take photos. I was doing so well too without getting that crazy stressed out bridezilla thing happening, but as the day draws closer I am pretty sure the other shoe will drop and I am going to go absolutely bat-shit crazy over something really mundane like tablecloth colors.

Realistically we have completed so many things and I really shouldn't be worried, but theKnot.com keeps telling me in big red "you are so totally late" letters that I am behind in some way or another. I just keep having to tell myself that everything is going to be great and no one will notice if I leave out some small detail.

On a less stressed out note, Eric and I planted bulbs in the fall and we are starting to see them sprout. Hopefully if we are lucky they'll be blossoming right at the time of the wedding. We wanted to see if we could be our own florists and grow flowers to use at the reception and ceremony. So far they look like they will turn out great and I am so excited that no matter what we made a difference to my Mom's home that will always be here. I love that in years to come they will continue to flourish, sprouting more and more buds every year. I worked really hard making sure they get enough sun, water, and love so it's been so incredible to see all of that work be so fruitful.

Anyway, I should get back to planning and stressing and hoping and praying and trying to enjoy this process of event planning.

Well Hello Again!

2010-05-29T12:16:00.000-07:00

Okay so it's been like forever since I posted anything so I thought I might drop some phat beats on you. I mean that in some sort of figurative way so don't get your panties in a bunch.

I recently stumbled upon two amazing bands. One of them is not really new just new to me, and one of them I would actually consider pretty new to the scene. (Well at least the US scene)
To start off I would like to say if there is anyone out there who hasn't heard The Black Keys yet you should get out there and give them a listen. They are this bluesy rock band that just radiate with sexiness and good times.

Now The Black Keys have been around for awhile and have been featured in a bunch a of movies and stuff and I have been apparently been listening to them for like ages before I even realized it. Anyway I saw them on Jimmy Fallon and was hooked. I now have this crazy love for them and have been listening to their music for like five days straight.

Next on the list is the band Two Door Cinema Club. They are this fun indie-pop band out of Northern Ireland and they totally just rock. I have been listening to them for a few weeks now and I always am craving more listening time with them. They're music is kinda diverse too. Like I can listen to them doing almost anything. I listen to them while I run, while I chill, and when I need a pick me up. I love them. As soon as they start touring in the US I will be the first in line to get tickets to see them out here on the west coast.
Also their album has a cat wearing a crown on it so you know they gets points with me for that.

Now I know that I normally have terrible taste in music often defaulting to the heavily mixed and mastered pop/ hip hop pop genres, but I think these bands show off that I can also like good music that has talent and whatnot. So take a chance and give them both a listen.

PS Katy Perry's California Gurls is pretty awesome too. On that note I will leave you all with some parting wisdom, Snoop Dogg wishes all girls could be California girls. Take that other states!

The many adventures of Cassady Rainer... aka crazy cat lady strikes again!

2010-02-02T02:25:00.000-08:00

This is Cassady, just an ordinary cat who likes to find herself in the most wonderful of places.

Like in the tippy-top of the closet.
Or in a fake bush.
Or maybe lounging in the window. Just hanging out with the goose let her flab hang down.

Or just hanging out looking down on all the little people.

The loss of a second and possibly third place.

2010-01-30T23:15:00.001-08:00

Ever since I left Seattle and my bookstore job I have missed it all quite terribly. I knew I would miss Washington and a lot of its inhabitants, but quite honestly I never really expected to miss the drama and stress of working retail. I do though and every time I look through the website of said former employer I wish I still had a place on the staff picks page. I love being apart of a team and I also really love getting recognition for being on said team. Since I feel so dejected not being on their staff picks page I decided to replicate what would have been found about me on the page.

So here it is...

Kim
Kim is a fun-loving leo who loves to chat and can sometimes be a bit garrulous. She is passionate talking about theology, Lady Gaga, her cats Kerouac and Cassady, gossip magazines, all things California, and teenage dramas found in all facets of the media. She reads ya fiction, historical fiction, memoirs, and chick lit.

If you want to know more about my actual feelings on books check out my good-reads account.

and as Ringo Starr would say "Peace".

Craigslist

2010-01-19T21:21:00.000-08:00

Conan O'Brien's latest attempts to sell himself and the Tonight Show on craigslist has brought me back to my days of looking at the weird and irksome ads of craigslist.
I had a trouble locating the real Conan ads, but instead found a ton of other interesting things. It really amazes me what people will put up there, and how much people are really willing to share with complete strangers.
Like I found this one in missed connections that was titled "Missing: Mother of my Children". It was a deep, sorrowful letter to a man's currently separated wife, with an ending paragraph that was extremely angry and threatening to some guy named Mike Wilder, I think. Names aren't really important are they? Anyway, I was just amazed that someone felt comfortable to just send that out into the universe.
The next ad I found was a m4w ad that was from two guys (one black and one white) who wanted to offer some ladies a good time. They claimed their ad was better than other ads because you didn't need to choose between white or black, you could have both. I mean come on ladies if that isn't a deal I don't know what really is. But if that wasn't enough of a deal clincher they also included photos of both of their penises. This then reminded me why I do not try and find men on Craigslist.
Another one of my favorites was the "Pussy Eating" ad. Honestly it was just a photo of a creepy older gentlemen, who was rocking a pony-tail but was balding on the top, with the words "I like to eat pussy. No need to return the favor just be natural and hairy." Needless to say, I was utterly disturbed.
After encountering that gem I then found the strictly platonic section. Immediately I had forgotten all of the creepers I had found on this site and was excited about finding a new friend. There were a few ads I was interested in. "Yes I would love to go see a movie with you once a week"... "Of course we can be workout buddies"..."How could I possibly ever pass up a crazy cat lady play date with you"... "Yes I am an entertaining, yet laid back girl." But then all the creepiness came rushing back to me, and I quickly abandoned the idea of meeting perfect strangers who wanted to quickly become my very best friend.
Back to mourning the loss of my bedtime buddy Conan, and prepping for the GRE. Maybe I'll even give my real friends a call to remind me I don't need Craigslist to make friends.

The Whachamacalit

2010-01-15T01:01:00.000-08:00

Every morning is the same.
I feel the sun on my face and wake up alone. I take a deep breath, wonder how I got here, and close my eyes again.
Five minutes later I open my eyes and force myself to get out of bed.
It's hard to get out of bed when you have no where to go and no one depending upon you. The cats don't even depend on me anymore. They just sleep with me and silently pray that they'll get fed that day.
I get terrified when the phone rings or there's a knock at the door. I lock myself up tight in here. I sleep with a bat by my bed and leave the TV on all night listening to the Tanner family deal with the pressing family issues of the 80's. My Dad thinks I should get a gun, and learn how to use it. I'm pretty sure that in the heat of the moment I would forget how to use said gun and probably shoot a cat. I want to get a dog, but then I would be the weird, lonely, "Full House" girl living with two cats and a dog. I would officially live in a zoo. A melancholy, hungry, and disconnected zoo.
I make coffee everyday and try to feel alive.
I look for work, study for the GRE's, attend to the cats, and hope tomorrow will be better.
Maybe tomorrow a friend will call, or maybe tomorrow I'll wake up next to Eric.
Perhaps tomorrow, I won't regret so many decisions in my life and actually be excited about what the future holds.
Maybe, tomorrow, I'll wake up and have my old life back. This all would have just been a dream a la "Groundhog Day", and my face would still be smiling back at me on the staff picks page.
Maybe tomorrow this crushing feeling in my chest would finally disappear, and the endless tears would stop falling.
Perhaps, tomorrow morning won't be the same as all the rest.

Time to make the donuts part duex

2009-08-28T12:22:00.000-07:00

Okay, since Jon was quite disappointed with the fact that my last blog referenced donuts but neglected to talk about them in the post I have decided to do a donut post.

Voodoo donuts... What a truly wonderful place you are. It's like the Disneyland of donut stores. I mean it's non-stop fun full of sugary deliciousness. They even have the vegan donuts for those who respect the animals. So if you're in the Portland area I recommend stopping in and having a donut or two.

Next stop on the donut tour is the Donut Man in Glendora,CA. They are just this hole in the wall making sugary delights filled with fresh sugary fruit. I mean it's heaven, and you get a serving of fruit in every donut. MMM... I'm drooling just thinking of it.

Other than that Krispy Kreme will do in a pinch, but I have this strange desire to eat like 5 dozen when I get donuts from them. So I try to stay away from them at all cost. They do a really good job of keeping me away since the only time I need them is at like midnight and they are totally closed by then. I always try though. I mean Eric and I have driven there like a million times and always have left disappointed because they are closed.

Anyway... I write this because I am blue and I don't want to eat my feelings anymore. So instead I will electronically eat my feelings and hopefully lose a little weight.

Night.

TIme to make the Donuts.

2009-08-25T23:53:00.001-07:00

So much time has passed since my last post. I thought perhaps I should visit with you all and post something new.

Except even though I feel I need to impart some new piece of Kim-ness upon the world I just can't find anything to fill this gaping space of whiteness with.

I mean it should be easy... there is probably only one thing truly filling my mind: weddings and my recent engagement. Yet what should be occupying my thoughts is my up coming move and total changing life. I mean I really should be able to focus on finding insurance and perhaps a job, but all I want to do is find a venue for my 2011 wedding. Absolutely ridiculous.

Don't despair though there is one other thing that creeps into the fringes of my mind: Seattle. This gloomy northwest hotspot has finally worked its way deep into the corners of my heart. Now, I am a California girl through and through so the fact that I can admit my love for this city is a bit crazy to me. But somehow this strange city has become a part of me; a part that I am proud of and not ready to give up. My love for this city has grown on me like the moss you find on the roofs of houses here. It creeps up on you slowly and silently and before you know it... BAM! Your covered in Seattle love.

With my departure quickly approaching I have been taking time to really enjoy what this city has to offer, and quite honestly this city has lot to offer. It's much more than the space needle and some ferries. It has some of the most amazing views I have ever seen, and you can enjoy a pint is some amazing bars. Even if the people can be kind of brisk at first impression, I have met some of the most amazing people. I am even marrying a Seattlite (point proven of how cool these people can be).

The moral of the story is... Seattle I love you, and I will miss your company dearly.

Goodnight Seattle. Our love affair was grand and I will never forget it, but I must be on my way. The lights are dimming and my time here is done.

Au revoir ma chérie... Au revoir.

I am in L.O.V.E.

2009-06-05T23:18:00.000-07:00

Since going to the amazing wedding of my little Amanda I have gone even more into "I want a damn wedding overdrive".

So I was totally just browsing aimlessly and I happened upon the entire Disney princess wedding dress line and fell hard for a lovely Sleeping Beauty design.
Then upon further investigation I fell head over heels in complete and utter love of this totally gorge 50's inspired dress. It's by Candy Anthony in London. (of course, since I somehow am totally British.)

How can you not love this. It seriously brings tears to my eyes and I can totally hear the Muppets singing loud and clear about how somebody is getting married.

Someday I will wear a dress like that and dance with the love of my life to Eartha Kitt singing C'est Si Bon. And for that simple moment life will be absolutely perfect and no one will ever be able to take it away from me.

Self-help

2009-06-02T12:20:00.000-07:00

I would like to inform the world that just because a section is called self help it does not mean that you should sit in the middle of the section and talk out your problems with your mate.
I would like to shelve my books. Please move you jackholes. You aren't buying or looking at anything. That is what the commons are for.

Jon...

2009-04-23T19:44:00.000-07:00

This is in response to many of your blogs. Look I'm political too!
Enjoy.

A Gaythering Storm from Jane Lynch

April One

2009-04-01T20:28:00.001-07:00

April 1st... or April Fools day as it is commonly known has been a crazy odd day.

I have come to the conclusion that a decent amount of Seattlites have had some confusion with the meaning of April fools day. I think they thought it meant... "hey it's April 1st today I get to act like a total idiot."

Instance #1
I am unhappily ringing up books when a customer with her three children who are blocking the whole entire aisle and holding up the line meander toward my cash register. Mind you there is a line of like 10 people behind her but she doesn't care. Then she grabs the high pitched dolphin flashlight lit by bright blue LEDs and shines it directly in my eyes... nearly blinds me and then laughs, and says, "ha ha gottcha!" And then does it to her son. Immediately after she does it to him she asks "oh was that to bright for your eyes?"
"yes, mom, It was."
"oh sorry son."
That's it. Never once does she turn to me and says sorry I gave you a fatty migraine and nearly blinded you with this obnoxious squealing dolphin light. Nope, just asks for a bag and takes ten years to get her hippy dippy children to get out of the way.
Amazing.

Instance # 2

Well, luckily I didn't have to be on the floor too long so I don't have more but all day long my coworkers were very vocal about their situations and the idiots that paraded through the store.

The day was dubbed craptasitic and shitlicious, and I actually heard a man ask the used counter which books we liked after he received an offer on the books he brought to sell. Which was promptly answered by the used staff with a "We liked the books we bought. You can take the ones we don't want. Like I said already."

There also was a child who sat in the food court for like 45 minutes wailing at the top of their lungs while the mother never once even looked at him.

Oh the wonderfulness of retail.

Now I will eat my peanut butter and jelly sandwich and write some poems with my ms. piggy pen in honor of poetry awareness month.

I say good night to you!

El Segundo?

2009-03-17T01:19:00.000-07:00

I had no idea this was filmed there.... oh my city is famous... haha.
Just paying homage to the city I love. (Yes I love LAX... deal with it.)

Here is the stunt in the movie that was filmed in El Segundo! WOO....

Also here is some fun facts about the El Segundo Blue Butterfly. Some knowledge to go with the fluff.

Alone part Deux

2009-03-17T00:32:00.000-07:00

I have continued it.
So here they are!

14. A picture of you with your oldest friend

Nicole is my best friend and I have known her for 11 years now.

15. A picture you had no idea was being taken

16. A picture of yourself that you like

I love love love love this... it captured the mood perfect.

17. A picture of yourself that you hate

eww.

18. A picture of you with someone you love

19. A picture of how you'd like the world to see you

20. A picture that describes how you'd like to spend every day.

The happiest place on earth!

21. A picture of a time when everything was changing.

This was graduation from LMU. Knowing that Coco Latte and I were being split up was rough.

22. A picture that makes your heart hurt.

Leaving LA... and all the people I love so dearly.
I left half my heart in Los Angeles.

23. A Picture that makes your heart smile

My babies when they were babies.

24. One of the best days in your life

A long drive and a break in Pismo... It was just full of such pure joy.

Thank you Autumn for all of your inspiration.

This is what happens when I am all alone.

2009-03-16T23:21:00.000-07:00

So here is my life in photos. Enjoy.

1. In your room

This is my room in Oxford.... oh good times. And this photo is cute.

2. With someone you don't actually like

Okay so I couldn't find photos but this guy really bugged me on my trip and he had the craziest shoes. The End.

3. With a former crush

This photo is priceless because it has too.... The first is Jason, whom too this day is still one of my close friends and he is amazing. And the other is John ... in the prom photo on the armour.

4&5. A picture of your parents

6. On your birthday

Hiking in the rain forest...
a real Washington birthday.

7. Youngest picture you can find in digital form

8. In one of your favorite outfits

9. Making a goofy face at the camera

10. Two things that you love

My Bear and Disney World/Paris... (real or fake I love Paris!)

11. You, truly being yourself.

I love these girls and I think this is the best representation of our true colors.

12. Looking absolutely ridiculous

13. A time that is over that you wish wasn't

The Gundo.... my heart breaks a little. This was the best of times and the worst of times. I mean truly... Eric was in Iraq but these girls were amazing.
And the beach was pretty great too.

So I wanted to be like Jon

2009-03-08T18:58:00.000-07:00

And I took the Watchman quiz... http://www.quizilla.com/quizzes/259121/which-watchmen-character-are-you

At first I got...

You are the Silk Spectre. You believe that every human life is valuable but you were forced into crime fighting by your superhero mother.

Which I thought was so mondo boring... so I asked Eric to best describe me and he said I made the mistake of calling myself a humanitarian. (I don't know how I feel about this, but his point about me being afraid of the homeless made me acquiesce.)

Then I did it with his new choices for me and I was much more pleased.

Your Result

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You are Ozymandias. You are the smartest man in the world and because of this you are extremely rich. You use your wealth and fame to fight crime.

This sounds more like me. Ha ha.

Okay so maybe I have never read the graphic novel or even seen the movie yet, but I have this weird fascination with it all. I'm all like "Watchmen best story ever!" but I know nothing about this. I like it more now since the quiz.

I will now go back to reading My Luxe novels and revel in their turn of the century opulence.

I mean just look at how seductive this cover is. How could anyone pass this kind of literature up. Imagine Gossip Girl (the TV Version) mixed with the Great and Terrible Beauty series.

I mean totally PRICELESS! Everyone should be reading this. Okay maybe only people like me who love ya-fiction, teen rich bitch drama, with a twist of accurate historical fiction. These books are for you.

Have a nice day.

Jumping the broom and dancing Salsa

2009-02-25T20:52:00.000-08:00

So I have weddings on the brain. I have said it once and I will say it again. Sometimes I wish (this is a long standing wish for many reasons) that I was a Latina. For starters, Latinas have such a beautiful skin color. Being whiter than white I envy them. Next they have rhythm, and have a vibrant culture full of dancing and music that I love. I completely love the food, I live on tortillas, rice, beans, cheese and avocados already. But lastly and my most recent reason for this wish is that I have decided that if I was a Latina I would have had a quinceanera.

This means I would have had a giant party in my honor that would have entitled me to wear a princess dress and have everyone fawn over me. I may have even had attendants and a hunky boy to escort me. In my thinking this would have gotten the nagging need to through a giant wedding out of my system (hopefully).

Anyway I have not stopped thinking about getting married for like one to two years now. It is eating at me all the time. I want to talk about it, think about it, sing about it, dance about it and write about it. I am so going insane.

More recently though I have been thinking about how crazy and out of proportion the costs of weddings have gotten. I don't even think that consumers are the ones to blame, I think it is the multi-million dollar industry that has popped up to run websites, stores, blogs and magazines. They have made weddings one of the most lucrative businesses to be in. It's even rumored that over 40 billion dollars is spent on weddings every year in the US. It's all just so out of control.

In retrospect, all I have to say is cha-ching!

NEWS FLASH>

2009-02-17T00:27:00.000-08:00

Common Fact--- Christmas is currently celebrated in December.

Little Known Fact--- Kimberly likes to send Christmas cards in February.

News Flash--- It is never to late/early to send a Christmas card as long as there are photos in it.

Classy is a state I have never visited

2009-02-17T00:11:00.001-08:00

Thank you Erin for helping me plan my wedding. We will defiantly be doing a full Broadway act when coming down the aisle. I think we will also hand out song sheets so everyone can sing and have a full guest dress rehearsal prior to the actual wedding. Except I will not be in full dress for the dress rehearsal. Here is a Muppet version of my planned wedding... except the love song will be sung after Eric and I are at the alter not as we walk down the aisle. People get ready for the wedding of the century.

Also, we will all exit to this song with the words changed to Hoffstetters. Keep in mind we will have done a costume change into robot suits.

BEST WEDDING EVER!

not a blog.

2009-02-07T12:42:00.000-08:00

Jon feels my photo and sentence is not a real blog. Therefore, to prove him wrong I will now turn this into a photo blog. Instead of writing a lot of mildly witty comments I will now use photos heavily and just a few words. (until it is truly necessary. )
Also when I announced to my world via Facebook that I wished to be back home in my native land of California I was flooded with messages, phone calls, and comments about me being missed and commands to return to that place I have so dearly considered my home.

The winter months are dark and long here and I miss the blazing sun and love of rain I used to have. Sigh.

I also love the word and. I like to use it inappropriately and appropriately. I like to use it to create run-ons and to use it repeatedly.

I also LOVE... to go on tangents. So perhaps that is why I will now begin to use the photo journal style to express my deep feelings and witty disposition. This way I can stay on topic. Perhaps it will even help me become keen on being focused. (A trait I lost some years back.)

In conclusion I hate 10 cent words and will always insist on using their more expensive counter part. Take that college style manual, take that!

S.A.D.

2009-02-04T19:32:00.000-08:00

I miss California.... I miss LA... I miss it all so very much.

one more before dawn breaks.

2009-01-18T21:45:00.000-08:00

This was after I did my sexy vampire belly dance to muse. yeah I went there.

Breakfast.

2009-01-18T21:37:00.001-08:00

I made crepes! yum. I have a cold now. Boo.

Forgetful me.

2009-01-18T01:50:00.001-08:00

Oh and I forgot.... Eric now wants to be a vampire. My plan is complete. I am now dating... wait for it.... Eric the almost Edward-like almost vampire man.

Again? you say.

2009-01-18T01:28:00.000-08:00

We (Erin and I) saw Twilight again tonight, and it was surprisingly better. Eric came with us this time and it was amazing. I think the lady next to Erin wanted to kill us. The sparkly Edward scene is just too funny. Eric had some fantastically hysterical comments about the movie that were just leaving us in stitches. Especially the one about how the vampires in the old days looked like some kind of 80's pop band. So true. Also he said, and I am only putting this up just in case Erin forgets, "It's totally normal for teenage girls to be only wearing underwear when a 110 year old man is in the room with them." Perfect end to a perfect night.

Boo

2009-01-05T18:40:00.000-08:00

I made the decision that in order to be a good blogger you need to have some sort of handle on how to spell. I don't have any handle on my spelling so I couldn't write what I had originally proposed for this blog.

Now I have decided to talk about my poor grammar and bad spelling so that way I can easily let everyone know I was an English major. Yes, I did go to college and I in fact did graduate with a degree in the fine art of writing, yet I am still completely unsure of the difference between staring and starring. Which one means looking intently and which one means the leading role? Don't ask me cause without dictionary.com I wouldn't be able to tell you.

This just goes to show two facts. In college writing content is way more important than grammatical errors, and that you can spend your whole life around writing and books and still walk away not knowing some simple things.

So the moral of the story is, the next time you meet someone who has a degree in writing, don't expect them to know how to spell. Look for the people who have a degree in literature. They're the sticklers for all of that crap.

This blog was only supposed to say..."I had a staring contest with my cat and he won."

So Virginal

2009-01-02T23:12:00.000-08:00

I have decided that this is my dream home. I mean what is there not to love about this home. It's right next to the water, and I mean RIGHT next to the water, if you were sleep walking you would probably drown. Also, this home is just overflowing with character and class. Nothing says elegance like wooden signs plastered all over your house. All joking aside I really do like this home... or should I say boat?

It's a little overdone yet oddly enough, it's totally cute. There are so many perks to its location as well. It's close to the "Sleepless in Seattle" house, the boats from the "Deadliest Catch" and the world famous Ballard Locks. Can you say A-mazing. I think it would actually be pretty damn cool to be lulled to sleep each night by the gentle waves, and to possibly always smell like the ocean. The locks can be pretty cool to I guess.

I have chosen my roommates carefully, because a place like this needs cohabitants with just as much class and character as the home. After much deliberation I have decided to live there with my two beat poet friends Kerouac and Cassady.

We would spend the day on the deck watching the salmon jump by and drinking chocolate milk. Milk is nothing without the chocolate.

Also I would like to state for the record the snow in Washington can suck it.

And can someone please explain to me why my apartment neighbors annoying children must run up and down the hallways at all hours of the night? Once you have explained that to me please fill me in on what the hell they are doing hording shopping carts. I mean WTF.

Must I remind you that those are not public property.

P.S. I also am not a fan of the SSP. Ronald Mcfondle scares me.
But I do enjoy the Rat City Rollergirls.