HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAFAEL!!!

we have amazing friends....




WE HOPE IT HAS BEEN AMAZING!

love,
kendra + heather + MC + Merr

but... do you love it?

heather makes me a better person.

last night, we went through all of my clothes and got rid of the things I didn't love. I didn't say like, I said "love." You see, I have grown a lot in the past few years... I weighed 115ish when coming into SCAD almost 3 years ago ... now I weigh like 135... I went from a size 2 to a size 6. I'm just growing up, my body is just changing... so, like none of my old pants fit anymore. (and that's depressing because they are still so cute, they just don't fit) so when heather and I were in Chi-town we bought some new stuff and when we got home we started getting rid of old stuff... well, I went through my clothes the first round and got rid of a few things and this is pretty much how the convo with me and heather went...

"that's all your getting rid of?"
"yeah, heath I really do like all of this stuff."
"but that's a lot of stuff, when is the last time you wore this? (grabs shirt)"
"uhhhh"
"exactly! (heath takes shirt off hanger and throws in the go-away pile) and what about this one?"
"uhhh, i dont know but I like that shirt"
"but do you love it?"
"no..... but I like it."
"well you deserve to look fabulous all the time in clothes you love (chunks shirt into hallway)"

...3 trash bags full of clothes later ... I am feeling EXTREMELY liberated to get rid of all that stuff. Like really I got rid of 3 trash bags FULL of clothes and still have plenty left and, heather is right, the things that are left are things I really love. (in all reality I could get rid of more)

I would have never done that had heather not said, "but do you LOVE it." and she is right, I didn't love it and I rarely wore it... so, I have SO much stinking room to breathe now. so, when deciding the things that you should keep or chunk remember to ask "do you LOVE it.. not like it, LOVE it..." and if the answer is no, then give it away because someone else will love it more.

the less you have the more you appreciate it.
only buy things you love.
only keep things you love.
less stuff is freeing.

--kls

we are broken.

so this is going to be a depressing post but I just have to write about my experience last night.

it was like 2.30am and kassie, katie, heath and I were riding the el back home. apparently it was prom night for some school and a group of kids had plans for taco bell before going home. they were all pretty wasted and crowded the el for the first few stops before they decided to get off. two young girls were sitting in front of me and their two friends were across the el from them. one of the girls in front of me was wiping her eyes and I caught on that she was pretty upset and her friend next to her was trying to comfort her. when the taco bell stop came everyone hurried to get off and the two girls went to as well... then the girl who was crying said she just wanted to go home. she looked so defeated, her head hung low and it was really something like out of a movie because she was crying so silently looking out the window of the train while her friend had her head on her shoulder trying to comfort her. it was so early in the morning no one was really talking and the el is always so loud...

thennnn

this MEAN girl who was sitting across the aisle from the other girls started PUNCHING her in the leg and saying "wake the f up, you're f'ing sleepy" ... the girl told her to stop... she didn't. she kept cussing at her. she called her a pussy about five times... the girl kept telling her to stop but eventually she just gave up. I wanted to help her... and I should have... I suck so bad sometimes at doing the right thing. I wanted to grab that girl and tell her how she is SCREWING up someones life for years and years by abusing her physically AND emotionally. This world is so screwed up sometimes. People can be so mean.

It reminded me of my most favorite song ever...

I am outside
And I've been waiting for the sun
With my wide eyes
I've seen worlds that don't belong
My mouth is dry with words I cannot verbalize
Tell me why we live like this

—Hayley Williams

I know I fall short of this and I am always working on it... but just remember the power of your words and actions... one sentence that comes flying out of my mouth, our mouth, has the potential to screw up someone elses life for years...

be nice to everyone.

--kls

I love this city!

Chicago makes me happy.
I love the el.
I love the subway.
I love how when you go out to eat they automatically give you water without asking.
I love the buildings.
I love the people.
It's just plain awesome!

Yesterday Kendra and I arrived and hung out at the airport for a little while doing some homework while we waited for Corey to get out of class. Then we hopped on the el train and met Corey at her new apartment, dropped our stuff off, and went to this really yummy restaurant called the Pick Me Up Cafe. We ordered the usual...hummus with pita and veggies, and a chicken ranch wrap with some snickers cheese cake to top everything off. We headed back to Corey's apt for little bit when mother nature decided to brew up a monsoon. So Kendra and I toted our stuff back downtown and nearly got washed away in the process. It was rather funny. Not to mention we looked ridiculous.

Got back to the Buckingham apartments and planned our surprise attack for Katie's birthday. My old roomies didn't know I was in town so we had to do something exciting..I wrote a birthday card to Katie and slid it under the door while Kendra was sitting in full view down the hallway pretending like she was talking on her telephone. No one picked up the card so I knocked and ran. Katie picked it up and looked out the door and looked at Kendra, closed the door, and then repeated that. She was confused. She read the card and saw that it was from me and called me immediately to ask how it got there. I denied knowing anything or what she was talking about. Then I said, "ohhh you mean THAT card...There should be a girl sitting outside your room...go outside and.." Then my phone died because it sucks but oh well, it was pretty good timing. So Katie went outside and Kendra looked up at her and Katie started freaking out saying "OMG You are Kendra! You are Heather's friend!" And Kendra denied it, but Katie was pretty confident in her accusation. Then Kendra said she was looking for her friend and asked Katie if she knew where she could find her..that's when I popped around the corner and Katie started crying. It was quite touching if I do say so myself. All night when we went out Katie kept looking at me saying "WOW!.. WOWW.!! I can't believe this!" It was really funny. We went out to a couple bars, met up with some people. Good times. Then I came back to the apartment and surprised Kassi. And all she could say was "I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! I KNEW YOU WOULD DO THIS!" So that was funny too.

Today I went and got my hair did. Kind of. I got the color changed. Saturday I go back to have it cut. People have been staring at me. I think this new hair color makes me look like a super meanie. I guess I will have to be super nice now to compensate for it. Homework time. I really have to finish this paper that was due yesterday that I have known about for 8 weeks. I am really a pathetic loser for procrastinating this long. ousghrodlhf. I love Chicago. Until next time...peace!

Love,
-H

Check this out:

http://www.catswhothrowupgrass.com/kill.php

Courtesy of Rafi.

Love,

Kendra & Heather

Day 1

So far, so good.

I made it into the correct apartment on attempt #1.

Gilbert and I have little to no interaction as of now.  Every once and a while we look up at each other, stare a second, then move on. 

I have a feeling this Gilbert will only last for tonight. If he even lasts that long. 

I'll keep you posted,

MC

P.S.

Gilbert just learned he can climb on top of the refrigerator and onto the top of the cabinets. His world just got a little bit bigger. Have fun with that.

Love,
Kendra & Heather

Dear MC Hammer,

Hopefully this letter will help you through your week with Gilbert. I don't think we need to warn you that he is a punk, so prepare yourself. If he gets too out of control, we like to open the door to our "balcony" because it gives him hope for a brighter future involving freedom beyond our apartment. Once he tires of that after, give or take, five minutes, and he is still psycho, he may need some alone time in his "room". Just put his water in there and keep the lights on and maybe give him a toy. He likes to eat a lot, but we try to limit it to three times a day. Just throw some dry food in his bowl and give him fresh water. If you are feeling kind, give him some of that delicious canned stuff in the pantry..only like 1/3 at a time though. It's probably a good idea to keep the doors to all of the rooms closed except for his room while you are gone. He has a tendency to cause a lot of destruction when the opportune moment arises. Also, be aware of what you are keeping on the counters, because he may, and WILL, eat that or destroy it too. Other than that make yourself at home. Feel free to rearrange whatever you like. We would love a good surprise when we return from Chicago. Just make sure whatever you do still looks nice for the family that is coming into town for graduation in a couple of weeks. We love you and you are awesome for doing this! Eat anything that you want, especially if it is going bad. And be sure to blog about your adventures in the apartment with your special bonding time with Gilbert!

Love,
Kendra & Heather

note: cats don't walk well on leashes

my boyfriend.

so, as you all know I have been in an abusive relationship with this
overly jealous,
extremely time consuming,
superficial,
cruel individual
for the past two and a half years. everyday he reminds me of the freedom outside of him and our relationship.

well guys, I plan on divorcing him in august and I can't wait. you see, heather was in a similar relationship and has had enough and is getting out. I am jealous of her strength.

(This is Heather chiming in)...All my boyfriend cared about was my money so I am droppin him like its hot. (Ok, back to Kendra)

also, in other news, mary and caroline will be moving in this summer, so there will be 4 girls in this one bedroom apartment + gilbert.... oh wow what good times are to be had.

ps. the boyfriends' name is scad.

love,
kls +hls