blog. KatieKeeton.com

“Could I please speak with your manager?”

Katie Keeton — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:30:49 GMT

Last Saturday evening I went to dinner at a Mexican restaurant in Tacoma with some girlfriends. We were seated, ordered and waited for our food to arrive. there were six of us but the waitress brought us one plate of chips and salsa which we had to pass from one end of the table to the other any time someone wanted a chip. Then our water glasses went dry several times throughout our meal. Then the waitress gave us our bills and started clearing our glasses. She took my friend's wine glass which was by no means empty (house wine at this place is $8 or higher). She snatched the glass so quickly my friend couldn't say anything. Then we all looked at our bills. She had included gratuity but not verbally informed us. That was it I had had it! Messing with me is one thing but messing with my friends when this is their only night out in months is another thing. I spotted the manager across the restaurant and calmly walked up to him and explained that my friends and I were extremely disapointed in the service we were receiving. He was really nice about it and asked what he could do. I asked that he take the gratuity off of my friend's bill whose wine glass was rudely snatched. When we received our bills from our hospitality challenged waitress the gratuity had been removed for all of our bills. Yay! Victory!

Next we walked over to an Irish Pub not wanting our night to end. I ordered a beer. When I went to pay for it I reached into my purse for my debit card. It could not be found! It had to be somewhere! I cursed out loud when I realized I had LEFT IT AT THE MEXICAN RESTAURANT!!! I had to complete a walk of shame back to the restaurant and ask for me card. This was extremely embarrassing, I do not recommend it.

The older version of me

Katie Keeton — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:20:35 GMT

My friends Conor and Cheryl said I look like a contestant in this season's Amazing Race. I have to agree we do look similar.

(The brunette not the blond)

Peter, Emily and me last summer.

Loogy in the Sink?

Katie Keeton — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:13:11 GMT

I was taking nasty, dirty dishes from the sink and putting them in the dishwasher today. I was cleaning out the nasty drain of rotten food and I noticed a blob of greenish liquid with a consistancy thicker than water. I started trying to pick it up with my bare fingers then I thought and instantly froze,

"This looks like a loogy (huge glob of snot spit from someone's mouth)"

"Kelly!" I screamed, "is this YOUR loogy in the sink?!"

He walked into the kitchen and looked at me with an embarrassed and mischievous smile and said,

"um, yes."

To which I replied rather loudly, "Then YOU can clean it up!"

Later I told him that if he needed to spit a loogy spit it down the garbage disposal or something.

Snorkel Pictures from Oahu

Katie Keeton — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:04:09 GMT

I just realized that I hadn't posted these stunning pictures of Kelly and me in our snorkel gear from our trip to Hawaii last December. Enjoy the glamour; just no that no one looks as good was we do in snorkel gear.

Watch out! This is one dangerously good lookin' dynamic duo.

This is Hanauma Bay on Oahu. In my opinion this was the best place to snorkel. We were in the water for about three hours straight. The coral was so cool and we saw about three sea turtles.

Some sort of fish in Hanauma Bay.

Kelly spent so much time snorkeling he started to sprout gills.

Some kind of green fish at Hanauma Bay.

Back in the water off of Waikiki. Kelly in all of his snorkel glory.

Don't be jealous; I make this look good.

The Bachelor

Katie Keeton — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:54:18 GMT

One thing I look forward to every winter is the latest season of the Bachelor on ABC. It is hilarious to me to watch whack job women think they're going to fall in love with an equally crazy man. The show never lacks for drama, high pitch screams or crazed giggling. As fake as it all seems (and is) I LOVE it! My favorite this season is Gia. That may change though.

My friend Elisabeth watches The Bachelor with her 86-year-old grandma every Monday. Here are some reactions that Elisabeth's grandma has had too the show.

"Throw up."

"I may have to leave the room"

"Talk about phoney, I mean, they know the camera is on them don't they?"

"She shouldn't smile, I mean smiling is good, but she has too much smile."

Student Teaching

Katie Keeton — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:37:30 GMT

Last month I started student teaching in the same 7th grade, language arts and social studies classroom that I was in before winter break. It is SO much fun but SO much work. I get to school around 6:45 and don't leave until about 5. Here are some of my favorite moments of teaching so far:

- I had decided to paint my nails this dark brown color with sparkles. I was helping a kid write something when he asked me, "Jeez Ms. Keeton, are you going goth?!" I replied that, "no, I am not going goth, this is a very cool color."

- I was explaining a project to a class and a smarty pants kid told me it was a "corny" project. So I told him he was "corny." He stopped complaining. (He actually really liked the project)

- Yesterday, I started having a class start line up outside the classroom before I let them in because some students think it's acceptable to run around the classroom and tackle their friends to the floor before finally sitting down at their desks. I was explaining this new routine and the reason behind it to these students when I heard a certain student say, "I hate Ms. Keeton." It was quite humorous.

An Engineer’s Guide to Cats

Katie Keeton — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:24:04 GMT

My dear friend Elisabeth came over for dinner last night. She showed me this video and it was hilarious. Enjoy.

New Truck

Katie Keeton — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:20:48 GMT

Sadly our first Ford F 150 died. Kelly was devastated. Thankfully we were able to get him another Ford truck that is better than the first. We now are the proud owners of a Ford F 250 and a camper! I was extremely hesitant about the camper. Kelly has tried to talk me into getting a camper off of craigslist.com in the past. We even went to look a one a while back. It was absolutely disgusting! So that was a no go.

As far as this truck and camper Kelly and I had a long conversation before we bought it about if it would actually be reliable and if the camper was actually in good condition. I made him swear to me that camper wasn't gross. Well he told the truth. The camper is old and kind of musty but it good shape. We are looking forward to summer and lots of camping.

Kelly's new pride and joy.

Trapper's Creek Smoked Kippered King Salmon Chowder

Katie Keeton — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 22:06:23 GMT

Kelly made this smoked salmon chowder a while back when our friends Emily and Peter came to visit. It was delicious. I thought I’d share the recipe.

10 strips uncooked bacon, chopped 6 cups chicken stock

2 onions, minced 8 red potatoes, diced

4 stalks celery, minced 4 tablespoons butter

3 carrots, finely chopped 1 cup flour

5 green onions, finely chopped 5 cups milk

1/4 bunch fresh parsley, chopped 1/4 lemon juice

1 teaspoon pepper 1 15 1/4–ounce can corn kernels

1 1/2 tablespoons chopped dill weed 1 lb. smoked kippered king salmon, flaked

1. Saute bacon in a large pot with onions, celery, carrots, green onions and parsley. Add pepper, dill stock and potatoes; simmer until tender

2. In a small saucepan, melt butter until bubbly. Stir in flour and cook over low heat for 1–2 minutes. Stir into the soup and simmer for 5 minutes.

3. Slowly add mild, stirring constantly; cook over medium heat until slightly thickened. Add lemon juice, corn and salmon. Cook, stirring, at a gentle boil to desired consistency.

*Thank you Costco and Trappers Creek for this recipe.

Juice Box

Katie Keeton — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:40:52 GMT

Yesterday I was trying to motivate some students to finish an assignment and I told them,

“You know, the kids last period finished this in 10 minutes, so you guys should really get moving.”

One of my more vocal students replied, “Why are you always comparing us to that other period?” I apologized and thought about other ways I could motivate students. Then about a half hour later that same student jokingly slammed his assignment down in front of me and exclaimed, “Here’s my assignment! Tell third period they can stick this in their juice box and SUCK IT!”

It was hilarious! This kid had perfect comedic timing. Maybe he should think about a career in stand up comedy. But I still want him to turn in his assignments in the mean time.

Dear future grandchildren

Katie Keeton — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 05:19:21 GMT

I am sorry I have to wear hearing aids and still can barely hear you. I’m sure you get tired of having to practically yell at me to have a normal conversation. The person you can blame for this would be your grandpa. You see he got a new tweeter in the mail back on a cold and rainy day in January in 2010. He forced me to listen to Top 40 music at decibels that no human should ever subject their eardrums to, while he danced around in his underwear to Lady Gaga, Jay-Z, and the Black Eyed Peas. In other words, blame your grandpa.

Love,

Grandma Keeton

Jerking

Katie Keeton — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 05:09:29 GMT

Some of my middle school students have been talking lately about whether break dancing or jerking is better. They have been telling me they want to see me jerk. I told them that maybe if I practice a lot I’ll jerk for them. However after watching videos on youtube.com of kids jerking I think my inability to keep rhythem and in general coordinate my body to do not much more than walk and talk on my cell phone I’m going to pass on jerking.

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Pete Carroll!

Katie Keeton — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:44:01 GMT

I hope Pete Carroll is going to be the new head coach for the Seahawks! I watched a story on 60 Minutes about Pete a few months ago and he seems to be exactly what (I think) the Seahawks and Seattle needs.

60 Minutes Segment: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/11/60minutes/main4663108.shtml

http://www.petecarroll.com/

Victorious

Katie Keeton — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:20:08 GMT

My trophy which is proudly displayed in our living room. Kelly – victory tastes good.

Last year and this year Kelly and I went up to Bellingham to participate in our friend’s Mike and Jenn’s annual scavenger hunt. As you might know I may be a little on the competitive side when it comes to…everything. So when I get to do a scavenger hunt I go a little nuts.

Last year my awesome team of Micah and Peter came in 2^nd place. Kelly’s team won. I was devastated. We worked so hard! However in the end it just wasn’t enough. I vowed to try even harder in 2010 to ground Kelly’s team into the pavement…and I did (with the help of my teammates) At the end of the night when everyone’s points were tallied my team of Andy and Andrew WON the hunt!!!!!! I almost didn’t believe it!

Teams were picked randomly and couples cannot be on the same time. (this is a good thing.) I got to have two awesome men on my team, Andy and Andrew. We had to create team names for ourselves. I didn’t want anyone to be confused as to which team was going to win so I decided on the tactful name of: Team F*#% You Up. I think it was quite subtle. We were all given as list of about 20 items that we need to take pictures of or take pictures of us doing something or of strangers doing something. We had three hours to complete our mission. Some of the tasks were:

1. Find 3 subaru in a row (This was completed by asking a Trader Joe’s employees if they owned a subaru and if they could please drive theirs and park it next to the other two in the parking lot).

2. Rearranging letters on a billboard. (I have bruises from completing this task).

3. Getting the farthest away from Mike and Jenn’s house (we did this one!)

4. Standing in a boat (We may have trespassed to accomplish this one, I’m not sure)

There are lots more and I’ll post the pictures once I get them from Andrew.

These guys really went all out for the big win. When I said, “we need to run,” then ran, “when I said, “give me a lift up into that tree so I can climb up onto that carport and switch around letters on a billboard,” they lifted me up, “When I said, “Puleeeze, let me ask the bartender just one more time if I can do a keg stand on one of their kegs,” they let me ask (keg stand was completed – thanks Boundary Bay). These guys were awesome!

I’ll post photos of our crazy antics when I get them from awesome teammate Andrew.

Thank you Mike and Jenn for hosting my favorite event of the year!!!!!

Happy 2010!

Katie Keeton — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 22:49:36 GMT

Things I am looking forward to this year:

Kelly and my 2^nd wedding anniversary

Graduating with my Master in Teaching and K-8 teaching certificate

Earning a paycheck

Learning all I can learn about teaching while actually teaching

Finishing raising our front yard

More painting

Turning 28 which means I’m closer to having babies!

Taking middle level language arts and social students endorsement classes (so I’m highly qualified to teach those subjects to middle school students)

Working out on our elliptical, gotta love endorphines!

There are more but I can’t think of them.

Me and a bunch of awesome people at our friends Mike and Jenn’s house in Bellingham ringing in the new year.

Kelly and my elliptical machine. I have already dedicated hours to this machine while watching a wide variety of chick flicks. I’m glad we have a lot of them. I wanted to get one last fall but put it off. Then after coming back from Hawaii and putting on work pants I discovered that I no longer needed a belt to keep my pants up.

Hawaiian Vacation! (Big Island)

Katie Keeton — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 22:40:55 GMT

Kelly and I were able to go to Hawaii for a week before Christmas. We stayed in Hilo on the Big Island for three nights and then in Waikiki on Oahu for four nights. Everything was awesome! Also I totally recommend our travel agent Cheryl Huber of Travel Design who coordinated a ton of stuff for us.

View from our room at the Naniloa Resort Hotel in Hilo, Big Island.

We rented a jeep and drove around the whole island. It was so much fun!

Kelly and the jeep in a lava field on the Big Island.

Kelly in a lava field. We were told that the giant lava mound next to him was probably a tree that was run over by lava making its way from a volcano to the ocean.

On our way to Volcano National Park on the Big Island.

Big Island.

Me, standing on (cold) lava at the Punalu'u Black Sand Beach State Park on the Big Island.

Kelly taking a nap on black sand. He napped for a good hour and had black sand all over him.

Big Island natives swim and spear fish off of this beach! They actually sell fish spears at Wal-Mart!

Holding a coconut on the Punalu'u Black Sand Beach State Park on the Big Island. (Yes, I had big hair, it was very humid.)

Punalu'u Black Sand Beach State Park on the Big Island.

A guy found a sea urchin and cracked it open and offered it to me to taste. It tasted horrible but can you say you’ve tried fresh, Hawaiian sea urchin guts? I don’t think so.

Kelly walking around.

Kona Brewery. A friend recommended we go here. It was a lot of fun.

Weird plant life we had never seen before at the Kona Brewery.

Kona Brewery sampler. I recommend it!

White sand beach near Kona.

Kelly resting after body surfing.

This was my first time at a warm water, sandy beach. It was awesome. However, I wasn’t used to how powerful the waves were. I may have swallowed my fair share of salty ocean water.

Kelly and me in a lava tube at Volcano National Park on the Big Island.

We drove out to a lookout where you can see hot steam from where lava from a lava tube is flowing into the ocean. Unfortunately you can’t see actual hot lava unless you take a boat out to see the lava flowing out of the tubes.

Kelly was very sad when he realized that he wasn’t going to be able to see hot lava on our trip. So to answer your question, no, Kelly was not able to poke lava with a stick. I think he is still mourning his loss.

I have more pictures from the four days we spend on Oahu that I’ll post later.

Imma Bee Video

Katie Keeton — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:31:59 GMT

Kelly showed this video that some people made to go along with the Black Eyed Peas’ song, “Imma Be.” I thought it was hilarious!

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Imma Bee Video

Katie Keeton — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:22:08 GMT

Kelly showed this video to me today that some people made to go along with the Black Eyed Peas song, Imma Bee. I thought it was pretty funny.

Warning: Carbon Monoxide

Katie Keeton — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:26:36 GMT

A few days ago Kelly connected all of our fire alarm/carbon monoxide detectors in the house. He worked on it for about five hours – I kid you not. Then today he rebuilt his antenna for his Ham radio. While he was talking to someone on his radio our fire alarm/carbon monoxide detectors began beeping quite loudly and an automated voiced said repeatedly, “Warning: Carbon Monoxide!, warning, carbon monoxide!” It was incredibly obnoxious but hilarious. He eventually figured out how to fix the problem.

The Truth About Chuck Norris

Katie Keeton — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:50:20 GMT

My sister gave Kelly a book entitled, The Truth About Chuck Norris by Ian Spector. It is full of hilarious facts about the legend who is Chuck Norris. Here are a few:

-When an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger aired in France, the French surrendered to Chuck Norris just to be on the safe side.

-Guns don’t kill people, Chuck Norris does.

-Chuck Norris never hides, he only seeks.

-If you can see Chuck Norris, he can see you. If you can’t see Chuck Norris, you may be only seconds away from death.

-The chief export of Chuck Norris is pain.

-When Chuck Norris was denied a McGriddle at McDonald’s because it was 10:35am, he roundhouse kicked the store so hard it became a Wendy’s.

Keeton Christmas Letter 2009

Katie Keeton — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:42:40 GMT

I asked Kelly if I was able to upload our Christmas letter to my blog and he said it would be really hard. So I’m just copied and pasted sections. Kelly wrote all of it except the “Her Story” section. It doesn’t look nearly as organized as the actual letter but whatever.

Merry Christmas from the Keetons! or KK²

Highlights: We got a house, we got goats, we lit our cat on fire, Katie is almost a teacher, we got a nice old truck, we went to a ton of family and friends’ weddings, did a lot of painting and yard work, Kelly is still annoying and Katie is still stinky.

His Story

Another year down, this one went really fast as I can still remember writing this letter last year. Well as a new homeowner We are finding the ...joys of fixing leaky faucets and cutting down trees and trying to keep gutters cleaned out. I have been very involved in ham radio now that I have a yard to put an antenna in. We have fully settled into the house and I think as of a month ago, officially unpacked everything. Katie is enjoying school and I am enjoying the… stressed out over homework wife. She has been painting everything! We got two goats to eat our blackberry brambles and for entertainment. I started up some fly fishing with my co-worker that is fun!

We had the great opportunity to help out and be a part of our close friends and family members weddings. lots of fun.

For the first year on 4th of July in a while I didn't get injured! We also had a great time at the Puyallup Fair this year, where as the image shows, I got suckered into a ladder. To be fair it’s a awesome ladder! Please contact us to hang out in the next year DE K7MHI!

Her Story

The past year has flown by and we have experienced two major changes. Kelly and I bought our first house (seven miles from my parents) and I started school at City University in Bellevue to earn my Master in Teaching. I’ll be done in March and have learned a ton so far. Some of my favorite quotes from students have been: “Ms. Keeton why is your breaf so nasty?” This poor 1st grader unfortunately had to smell my coffee breath and yes he said, “breaf”. I chew gum now. Another quote from a 7th grade student, “Ms. Keeton your Vans are filthy!” translated: your tennis shoes are really cool.

When I’m not doing homework and writing lesson plans Kelly and I work on our house. The main stuff I’ve done is paint. Kelly and I did have a great idea to level our slanted front yard. We had yards and yards of dirt trucked in and dumped in our front yard. Unfortunately we didn’t do anything with it for months so we had a gigantic pile of dirt to look at.

Sprinkles Corner...

Hello well this year was quite a busy one, I am about 8 years old now in cat years, this year I was put into a new house. Its awesome I have carpet now which allows me to run and turn real fast. I also have lots of new things to sniff and most important I really get a kick out of messing with the blinds so the big guy yells a lot because I break them. I have also uprooted two house plants this year, I feel good about that. As for that little incident with my fur on fire I didn't see what the big deal was but I will agree it stunk. Oh if you come to visit I will try and puke up something I ate on the carpet for you!

Until next year or a expensive vet bill –
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S prinkles the Cat >> >

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Chamomile Tea

Katie Keeton — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 07:01:43 GMT

I was slaving away on homework a few nights ago and felt like complaining. I whined to Kelly,

“Can you go make me some chamomile tea?”

To which he responded, “What? I don’t even know what camel tea is?”

Needless to say I made my own tea.