Excitement

For some reason, I feel so excited today. Things have been going really well for David and I lately, and I can't shake these feelings of... joy? Not that I want to. It's just that I am a person that is plagued by anxiety and "what-if" thoughts, so I can't help but be skeptical when I feel carefree or exceptionally happy.

I can't wait to ride my bike, I can't wait to get more involved at church, I can't wait for this chili cook-off on Sunday, I can't wait to clean the house this weekend, I can't wait for Spring!

I keep wondering if I should stop seeing my therapist, but it's kind of like breaking up with someone.

Maybe I can convince Dave to ride bikes with me tonight. (Does that make me sound like I'm 8 years old? Perhaps I should say, 'Maybe I can convince David to go cycling with me tonight.')

Mail + Potential Study #0

More snow today. It's never enough, though. I am dying to go sledding.

A few days ago we went for a walk in the snow. It was quiet and peaceful and beautiful outside, and we spent time commenting on our neighbors' houses. Surprisingly, there were a lot of jumbo mailboxes. Like, triple the size of ours.

I wonder what a graph of the amount of mail the USPS delivers would look like over the past two decades. Has email lessened the amount, or have credit card offers counteracted the email effect? I am curious to see how much junk mail we receive annually. It's terrible. I love mailmen, though. And mail trucks.

I Probably Will Drink Tonight

It seems as if everyone in the world is pregnant right now. Yes, everyone. I want to be pregnant so badly, but I don't want a baby. I just want to be waited on and fawned over. AND have an excuse to eat more than usual.

What if I think our child is ugly? What if she/he inherits every ugly quality of Dave and I? It could happen!!! I once had a dream that I gave birth to a baby Ewok - it's true.

Ah, well. It's fun to see Dave freak out when I mention babies. Hahaha. Oh well; it's like we already have a baby - a cat whose name I won't mention.

As Snug as a Bug in a Rug

I'm sure there are things that we need to take care of around the house right now, but we're taking advantage of the pretty falling snow and our electric blanket.

Here's a picture of Sprinkles enjoying the view a few days ago (pre-snow):


Is there anything better than snuggling with your husband and eating cereal for dinner together?

I Sing the Body Electric

I took today off and we went to the neurologist today to find out the results of my MRIs.

I don't have MS! Phew. Phew, phew, phew. I still have transverse myelitis and they couldn't really tell me what caused it, but it should go away in a few weeks. The doctor said he was surprised that I didn't have any lesions on my brain and that he thought for sure that I had MS. Boooooyahhhh! Katherine's Brain: 1, Doctor: 0. I still have to go back in 1 year and have another MRI done.

And now, some FREAKY, freaky pictures of my MRIs.

Wormy Brains:


The scariest of them all (I've got to hide this picture in the refrigerator to scare Dave):


Is that huge lumpy thing my heart?:


I'm so happy! And I wish I could take Sprinkles for a walk outside.

Transylvania, My Eyes!

I have been preliminarily diagnosed with transverse myelitis. I am scheduled to have two MRIs on Friday, so we'll know more after that. I just hope I don't have any lesions on my brain...

Unofficial Cheap Pen Test

I ridiculously love office supplies.

For some reason, my office pens disappear at a rate of about 1 per week. I'm currently down to one blue pen, one awkward checkbook pen, and three non-mechanical pencils that I have no way of sharpening.

We went to Target today for some odds and ends and I decided to buy a few pens for work. ....BUT WHICH ONES?????? HOW DO YOU KNOW WHICH PEN IS THE BEST?????

And that is how I came up with my unofficial cheap ballpoint pen test. Half were purchased, and half were found in our kitchen junk drawer.

The contestants (all medium pt., of course):

1. Bic Ultra Round Stic Grip USA


2. Pentel Wow! BK440


3. Uni-Ball Vision Elite (NON-BALLPOINT!)


4. Wisconsin Cheese Pen, missing ink shaft (DISQUALIFIED!)

5. Pentel R.S.V.P. BK91


6. Pilot EasyTouch


7. Free 5/3 Bank Pen


I'm trying to get away from using gel ink in my pens because I'm tired of having smeared ink on important documents, so the Uni-ball is not really my cup of tea.

If it were possible to buy more, I would declare the 5/3 Bank Pen the winner. It had the boldest, smoothest lines out of all pens. Unfortunately, the odds of us getting our hands on another one of those is slim. Therefore, the prize goes to the Pentel R.S.V.P.. Great price, great lines, and a good weight in your hands. Only $1.99 for a 4-pack at Target.

I'll have to do a more in-depth pen competition in the future. I'm passionate about this.

Saturday Sun

Man, it's gorgeous today. It looks like it's 70 degrees outside! I think it's actually 40.

A couple of days ago we came downstairs to find my little aloe plant had been knocked over with dirt spilled all over the floor. I'm looking at you, Sprinkles. That poor plant. Perhaps this is God's way of telling me I should stop trying to keep plants.



Dave is busy working on his website, again. This has been his modus operandi for the last few weeks. It's been kind of lonely while he is so engrossed in his work, but I understand that he needs/wants to get this stuff done. Here is a bonus video of him working hard, with some aptly-written Billy Joel that just happened to be playing at the time. Hahaha...

Princess Sprinkles

Today is a proud day for my Katherine and Sprinkles! While at work, I was informed that one of Katherine's business reviews on Angie's List was published in the "pages of happiness" of the most recent Angie's List Indianapolis Magazine. It was for Sprinkles' vet!

Upon returning home, it was clear that Sprinkles had already received the news. The stardom went straight to her head! She's more vocal and destructive to anything cardboard than ever before.

Here's the published review:

Katherine Castro appreciated Broad Ripple Animal Clinic's (257-5334) care for her new feline friend. "I took my newly adopted cat Sprinkles, for her first checkup and vaccinations," Castro says. "Ms. [Megan] Mills, the vet assistant, greeted me and took great care with Srpinkles, even though my poor cat wasn't happy with her situation. I also appreciated that Dr. [Ben] Ealing [the vet] took the time to answer my many questions. I'm extremely pleased with them, and I trust them very much."

Speaking of Numbness

My left leg has been numb for the last couple of days, and it's really bothering me. The numbness is spread from halfway down my back all the way down to my toes. It feels like it was dipped in Novocaine.

This has happened to me before. About a year ago, and I went to the doctor but he said it was probably a weird random thing. I was worried about MS, and I wanted to have an MRI (because I'm a hypochondriac), but he watched me walk around, and then declared that it wasn't necessary. Since then, I get littler patches on numbness intermittently around my legs, but it's not a big deal.

I do have to admit that it made for a very easy leg shaving session in the shower. I didn't feel a thing! Seriously, though. It's disconcerting. What gives, leg!?!?!?

Very Tiny Veins, Very Bad Veins

As I was walking to work this morning, I passed the Bloodmobile parked outside of the Barnes & Thornburg Law Firm. Instead of feelings of appreciation, it gave me feelings of rage. Rage for my tiny, selfish arm veins. I have attempted to give blood three times in my life, and all three attempts have resulted in a barely-filled, thrown-away bag of my blood. I think I am ready to give up.

Giants and Giant Pulled Pork Sandwiches

The best thing about keeping the house clean during the week is that your weekends are free of chores! Hallelujah. I guess we aren't good at basic sorts of concepts like that. It only took us... what? 13 months to figure that out?

Friday we went out to dinner at the Thai Cafe in Broad Ripple. Soooo delicious. You can order any entree from their menu in varying degrees of heat. 0, 2, 3, 4, or 5, from mildest to hottest. Why isn't there a level 1??? That always kills us. The last time we dined there, we both ordered 2's and Dave had to get extra napkins for his spice-induced runny nose. This time he went for a 0, and I pressed my luck with a 2 again. It's really not so bad once your tastebuds are rendered completely numb.

Saturday consisted of us buying trash bags and Dave creating a shelf in one of our kitchen cabinets. He did a great job! He even has all of his fingers left.

To top the weekend off, we went to the Sheas' house last night to watch the Superbowl and eat a LOT of food. That was a blast. There were many whoops and shrieks. Baby Lilly slept through the whole thing. What a trooper.