Tues. Oct. 22nd

I realized that yesterday our wedding was only 8 months away! 8 months! Could I really be old enough to get married and be a wife?? In 8 months from today-- I'm not even going to be "Katie Aron" anymore! I'll be Katie Druga! Woah! I no longer can introduce Nick as my boyfriend or fiance... I'll have to say: "husband". Guess it's not bad, though. Several of my friends are already married, and they seem pretty much the same now as they've always been.

Even Paul Reiser (from "Mad About You") says good things about marriage. Have you read his book called "Couplehood"? If not, you HAVE to get it... it's halarious! Here's an excerpt:

See, a lot of times we're just clueless. We walk around scarred from previous relationships, thinking we've learned something, when in fact, things that may have been deal breakers in the past may not even bother the person you're with now. (Learning what actually bothers the new person is how you spend the rest of your life). But there is this need to disclose potential problem areas.

"I snore."

"That's OK."

"No, but I snore in odd, little rhythms."

"Doesn't bother me."

"I once snored a medley from The King And I."

"My favorite musical."

"Alright... I just thought you should know." And you keep raising the ante. Not that you want to scare them off, it's just that if they're ever going to leave you, let's get it out of the way now.

"You may notice that in the bathroom, I tend to flush a few seconds before I'm actually done. I don't know why, I just do. And there's no way I can change. Do you understand this? Can you accept this? Because it has cost me dearly in the past."

And she Still hasn't changed her mind. She still likes you. This feels good. For about a minute. But the next thought is, "Wait a second, why is she being so understanding? If this stuff doesn't faze her, her stuff must be even worse... Oh God-- what don't I know?"

And everyday, bit by bit, you find out.

... And the book goes on, it's truly insightful and full of thoughts you've had a million times that make you laugh when he says them "outloud".

Anyway, guess it all really comes down to the fact I've known Nick for over a year now (may not be a long time in your opinion), but I know it was long enough for me to figure out that he was exactly what I had been waiting for... I love the relationship we have, light-hearted and fun, yet we have excellent communication and can talk about anything. Everyday we're learning something else about each other, and that's one of the things that keeps us fascinated with the other. Do you ever learn everything about your partner? Who knows? Will I still be excited to learn more about him 20 years down the road? I guess you could say I'm on a mission to find out. I'll let you know what happens :-)

Tues. Oct. 8th

I added a few new "you might be a child of the 80's if"s to my list below. Check em out!

The main reason I'm writing tonight is to tell you to check out my Haunted Mountain Internet Adventure. Sure, sure, if you knew me this time last year, I know you've already seen it, but who cares! You can't possibly remember it all can you? So, try it again!

Halloween is cool. I like celebrating it. I love halloween parties. I'm going to be breaking my tradition this year by not going to a sports bar named "Sneakers" in Milwaukee with a bunch of my friends. Oh well, guess I'll have to start a new tradition here in Dallas. So, what are you guys going as? Me? I'm definately NOT going to be Little Red Riding Hood again... I just don't know. Funny how uncreative I can be when it comes to costumes.

Well, I'm off to bed, have a wonderful, blooderful, goot evening! :-E

Mon. Oct. 7th

• you have deep, personal relationships via computers with people you've never met in real life before.
• you know, by heart, the words to any "Weird" Al Yankovic song.
• the Brady Bunch movie brought back cool memories.
• you remember the first time "Space: Above and Beyond" aired - it was called "Battlestar Galactica".
• songs by Debbie Gibson still haunt you to this day.
• three words: "Atari" "IntelliVision" and "Coleco". Sound familiar?
• you remember the days that hooking your computer into your television wasn't an expensive option that required gadgets - it was the ONLY WAY to use your computer!
• you remember "Friday Night Videos" before the days of MTV
• a predominant color in your childhood photos is "plaid".
• you're pissed that you couldn't really participate in the 60's, pissed that you were a part of the 70's, think you wasted too much time doing stupid, meaningless things in the 80's, and still have no clue what the 90's are all about.
• while in high school, you and all your friends discussed elaborate plans to get together again at the end of the century and play "1999" by Prince over and over again.
• you remember when music that was labeled "alternative" really was.
• you were shocked and horrified at the Challenger explosion (which you were probably watching in school at the time), and yet, when someone mentions the name "JFK", the first thing you think of is "Oliver Stone".
• you, yes you, sat down and memorized the entire lyric sheet to "It's the end of the world as we know it".
• you can't remember when the word "networking" didn't have a computer connotation to it as well
• you took family trips BEFORE the invention of the mini-van. You rode in the back of the station wagon and you faced the cars behind you.
• you knew all the words to Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire", but it really didn't hold any meaning for you until about the third verse.
• you've ever conversationally used the phrase "Jane, you ignorant slut"
• you've recently horrified yourself by using any one of the following phases:
  • "When I was younger"
  • "When I was your age"
  • "You know, back when..."
  • "Because I SAID so, that's why"
  • "What the HELL is this noise on the radio?"
  • "Just can't (fill in the blank) like I used to"
• Schoolhouse Rock played a HUGE part in how you actually learned the English language.
• Kids that work in restaurants and supermarkets are starting to piss you off by calling you "sir" or "ma'am".
• you're starting to view getting carded to buy alcohol as a GOOD thing, and you're ready to marry the next person who cards you when you want to buy cigarettes.
• you ever dressed to emulate a person you saw in either a Duran Duran, Madonna, or Cyndi Lauper video.
• at one point during your teenage years, you walked with a noticeable tilt to one side due to the number of plastic rings on that arm.
• "Celebration" by Kool & the Gang was one of the hot new songs when you first heard it at a school dance.
• the first time you ever kissed someone at a dance fell during "Crazy for You" by Madonna.
• you used to hold in your head the thought that all those gold chains on Mr. T actually looked kinda cool and the thought that Mr. T made millions seemed rational to you at the time.
• you remember with pain the sad day when the Green Machine hit the streets and made your old big wheel quite obsolete.
• the phrase "Where's the beef?" still doubles you over with laughter.
• you read the "Hot Video Games Player's Secrets" guide for Mortal Kombat just so you could find the hidden screen, and play Pong again for old time's sake.
• honestly remember when film critics raved that no movie could ever possibly get better special effects than those in the movie TRON.
• you ever had nightmares about the giant red evil robot Maximillian from the Disney movie "The Black Hole" and those blender attachments he had for hands.
• (guys) your first wet dream occurred to thoughts of Jeannie, Marsha Brady, Samantha from Bewitched or, for those hardcore comic fans out there, Daphne from Scooby Doo, Josie or any one of her Pussycats.
• (girls) you thought Sean Cassidy was "dreamy", lusted after "Ted, your ship's photographer" on the Love Boat and Chachi, or, to keep it fair to the comically interested, thought Fred was just a hunk on Scooby Doo.
• you're still occasionally suffering flashbacks from your 21st birthday party.
• you're starting to dread you're 30th birthday, and have even begun going into denial about it's possibility.
• you're starting to believe that maybe 30 isn't so old after all, and it's those people over 40 you have to look out for
• you freaked out when you found that you now fall into the "26 - 50" age category on most questionnaires
• your hair, at some point in time in the 80's, became something which can only be described by the phrase "I was experimenting"
• this timeline appropriately describes actual events in your life:
  • Star Wars opens, you are still in single digit ages, and you think the creatures are WAY cool.
  • Empire Strikes Back opens, you are now in early double digit ages, and you are convinced that the special effects are much better, the characters are cool, and you want one of every collectible out there.
  • Return of the Jedi hits the theaters...you are now a teenager, and you cannot get your eyes off Princess Leia's breasts or Han Solo's butt. You fantasize forever and ever about it, and send off to join every fan club for them on the planet, hanging posters, photos, and "teen"-type magazine spreads all over your walls and lockers at school.
• you're starting to believe (now that it wouldn't affect YOU) that maybe having the kids go to school year-round wouldn't be such a bad idea after all
• you're doing absolutely nothing with anything pertaining to your major degree
• going to keg parties no longer involves hiding out in the woods when the cops show up
• you want to go out dancing, you really, REALLY do, but your back hurts, sorry
• you're starting to think that Corvettes really look good, and aren't REALLY for guy's going through a mid-life crisis and worried about their penis. That's not YOU.
• you're starting to get that "why aren't you married yet" shpiel, not just from parents, but now from friends that are married
• you've recently horrified yourself by groaning as you get out of bed, not because of a hangover, but because it genuinely just hurt to do so
• you're finding that you just don't understand more than half the lingo used on MTV any more
• (mostly guys on this one) sex is still as much fun as it used to be, and you're still really interested in it, but you just want to make sure there's nothing really good on cable that you'd be missing first
• you ever wanted to be gagged with a spoon
• you ever used the phrase "kiss mah grits" in conversation
• When somone mentions two consecutive days of the week, the Happy Days theme is stuck in your head for hours on end
• you remember trying to guess the episode of the Brady Bunch from the first scene.
• you spent endless nights dreaming about being the Bionic Woman or Wonder Woman or the Six Million Dollar Man
• you know who shot J.R.
• You wore anything Izod, especially those windbreakers that folded up into pouch you could wear around your waist.
• You owned a Jordache anything, or you remember when Jordache jeans were cool.
• In your sophomore class picture, you're wearing an Izod shirt with the collar "up".
• Your "dressy" wardrobe centered on pastels and linen blazers - guys included.
• "The Reflex" was a cool song.
• You remember the original version of Windows: Macintosh.
• You remember the days when "safe sex" meant "my parents are gone for the weekend."
• You thought "Weird Science" was a masterpiece.
• You remember any or all of the following: Echo & the Bunnymen, Cutting Crew, Scritti Politti, or Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark.
• Chevy Chase was really funny in those vacation movies.
• You actually know who Rick Springfield is.
• You jammed to the Miami Vice theme and thought Jan Hammer was cool.
• You wanted to move to Hawaii because that's where Magnum lived.
• Guys: You remember when a guy piercing his ear was radical to the max, but did it anyhow.
• U2 is too "popular" and "mainstream" for you now.
• You owned a Trapper Keeper.
• You remember when there was only "G, PG and R", none of this PG-13 crap.
• You learned to swim about the same time Jaws came out and still carry the emotional scars to this day.
• Wonder twin powers, activate . . . form of an iceberg, shape of a hammer.
• You remember "Hey, let's be careful out there."
• You ever wanted to learn to play "Stairway to Heaven" on the guitar and choreographed "Dancing Queen" by yourself in your room.
• You know all the words to the double album set of Grease.
• "All-skate, change directions" means something to you.
• You ever rang someone's doorbell and said "Landshark."
• You bought a pair of Vanns and wanted to order a pizza in history class so you could be just like Jeff Spicoli in Fast Times as Ridgemont High.
• finally, this rings a bell: "and my name, is Charlie. They work for me."

• You've ever been lifted to the ceiling after the chant: "Light as a feather, stiff as a board, heavy as a rock."
• You have a sticker book
• Tether-ball and four-square were the most popular games during recess.
• You remember thinking wearing leg-warmers made you the coolest one around
• Your elementary school/middle school talent shows were filled with people break dancing
• You remember thinking Michael Jackson was the coolest black person you knew
• You owned a pair of flight-pants and can say you actually wore them
• You wanted to be just like the lead singer of Loverboy-- wear leather pants and a bandana around your head
• You remember when MTV only played music videos
• You still think there's some He-man action figures in your parent's basement somewhere
• Your Etcha-sketch and Lite-brite were the coolest toys you owned
• You know who Mr. Hooper is
• You begged your parents to let you stay up late enough to watch Knight Rider
• You know all the words to "The Great Space Coaster"
• Your remote control car had a wire that ran from the control to the car
• You clearly remember your Dad bringing home something called a "VCR" and a "Microwave"-- and you wondered what they could be good for
• You dressed as Woody Woodpecker for Halloween
• Your sports hero was Refridgerator Perry
• You were champion at "Missle Command", "Kaboom" and "River Raid"

Here are some my friend Sabine sent me:

• You remember the New Wave era and used to run around dressed all in black and thought the greatest place to have a party would be at a cemetary
• You are still wearing Z-Cavaricci pants with pleats and just don't want to throw them out.
• You ever used to wear highwaters and think you were cool
• You still have a rather substantial record collection hanging around the house.
• You just can't figure out how so many kids now-a-days are allowed to have beepers. Heck, if you would have asked for one when you were their age, you would have been spanked!
• You couldn't wait to hit the roller rink with your brand new roller skates
• You clearly remember outdoor movie theaters.

Thurs. Sept. 26th

"Honey! Stop slaying the Vikings and come in to dinner... I made Orange Pie for dessert!"

So he comes in for dinner and takes a big bite of his dessert. "EWW! This is the most awful thing I've ever tasted," he says. "Please, don't ever make orange pie again". What do you think happens when you cook oranges? They must get really sour or something. It's funny because orange jello is great. Orange Marmalade is good, so are orange candies and orange sodas and orange gum. Orange cake and orange muffins and orange frosted cookies... there's even orange chiffon pie... (but that's a cold pie). I guess that's as close as I will get. Anyway, I'll shut up about the oranges now, I just thought it was kind of weird.

So anyway, my fantasy football team is 1 and 3 now! Woo hoo! I'm not that big of a looser, after all. My win is all due to Scott Mitchell who really pulled through for me last week. He scored 18 points for my team all by himself! Go LIONS!!!

Tues. Sept. 17th

I'm 0 and 3 in my Fantasy Football League. Man, it really sucks. I gotta stage a HUGE comeback or something.

Tues. Sept. 3rd

Yup, that's right. I decided to do fantasy football this year to get in the spirit of the season and I got creamed. Strange, as I really do think I have a good team. Just got unlucky, I guess... I hope. Perhaps you'd like to give me your comments on my team and perhaps ideas for improvements. I named my team appropriately the VR-4's and here's who it consists of (updated on 9/26/96):

What do you think? Since my lineup for last Sunday only consisted of 2 scoring players (Jacke and Mitchell), and since I scored so low, I should get a pretty good draft position for picking our 3 additional players. I am planning on going with Keith Jackson, Karim Abdul Jabbar, Chris Jones, James Stewart, Charles Way, and some others depending on how fast my picks get drafted by others. I should find out tomorrow who I get. Every week we're allowed to drop and add players, so let me know if you have any ideas! I must win! Winning is my only option!