Oct. 1: I begin teaching myself how to crochet.
Oct. 5: One year since Pearl died. I still miss her.
Oct. 6: We found out that we were presenting at RAppin' 2010!!
We spend a LOT of time working on our presentation in an attempt to make it perfect.
Oct. 11: One of my residents was in a car accident when she was going home for Conference and had to medically withdraw from school. I had to tell her goodbye, knowing more than likely I'd never see her again.
Oct. 15: I woke up at 4:00 a.m. to leave for Wyoming at 5:00 a.m. We decorated the Utah Shakespearean Festival van as the "Swagger Wagon," but Hillary forgot the W so we were in the "Sagger Wagon" for the rest of the trip. We arrived safely in Laramie hours of laughter, craziness, and naps later.
Oct. 16: RAppin' presentation day: 10:00 a.m. We presented the first time and I have never felt so content and satisfied with my career choice. Brandon, Hillary, and I stood in front of a room full of RAs who love their job as much as we do. I'm not all that great at presentations, but I found my confidence and wasn't even nervous as we led an awesome discussion on "All I Really Need to Know (About Being an RA) I Learned in Kindergarten." Honestly, I left knowing that I could do anything. We presented again that afternoon because we were in the Top 5 presentations. Then, at the closing banquet, we all got certificates for being a Top 5 presenter. It was such an incredible day. I met so many incredible people, learned from their presentations, and experiences, plus, I am now so much closer to the SUU RAs who went with. RAppin' is incredible. I hope someday I'll be able to go as an advisor.
Oct. 17: We slept in and then got on the road to return to Cedar City and "real life." But, we didn't leave before stopping by the Matthew Shepard memorial bench. It was heartbreaking.
A few days where I got out of bed, and that was the accomplishment for the day.
Oct. 29: My little brother, Presley K., turned 4. I was away at school for his birth, and have missed every subsequent birthday. I'm his Katie, but I don't think he'll ever quite understand that I'm his big sister just like Alex is his big brother.
That same night, I dressed up as an RA who had gone off the deep end and played with two of my favorite coworkers for a Halloween adventure. We went to the Institute's trunk or treat, and then we watched The Chronicles of Narnia and ate cake balls. As much as I hate Halloween, it was exactly what I needed that night.
Oct. 30: Danelle was working on an awesome photography project where she was digging up portions of the earth in the shape of her body to show her "ownership" on the land. I was one of her digging/organizing assistants. It was just the right amount of cold outside, and the moist earth in my hands reminded me just how connected we are to nature.
After cleaning up, we went to dinner and bowling for Tony's birthday. Bowling winner bought Blizzards after, but that part was established when I was already so far ahead that they couldn't catch me-- so it wasn't exactly fair. ;)
Oct. 31: I had my first program for October. I finally felt like being an RA again. We had a "Halloweenie" Roast outside of Juniper Hall and attempted to tell ghost stories. Let's just say, that my programming come-back wasn't the epic success I was hoping for.
All in all, life is beautiful. It's complicated and messy and it hurts, but it's beautiful. Sometimes, remembering that is all it takes. So, here's to November being less tragic but equally rewarding.
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