#i just got invited to play a campaign my bestie is running and i am having fun so who gives a shit which system it's in

[taffywabbit]

portrait for a character i'm playing in lil D&D campaign with some friends! her name is Irene. i think she's pretty neat, and also a VERY shocking and original choice of player species that nobody would ever expect from me

[cliquestitsandicks]

Tracking Kat

Episode 1: Kat is mourning the end of her relationship with Adena. It has been 5 weeks since the breakup in Paris. She's still looking at old pictures of them and posted one. She still hasn't sent Adena's equipment to her, even though Adena has been texting her asking for it. By the end of the episode, she's admitted to (in order) Alex, Patrick, and Jane & Sutton that she is not okay. She is still sad about the end of her relationship. Alex tells her "you're so hard on yourself. You got your heart broken. There's no expiration date on heartbreak. You move on when you're ready to move on and when you *are* ready, you will find someone amazing. Someone who will never leave." Then Patrick is an entitled, invasive dick. She told her girls she wasn't ready for it to be real yet and that's why she hadn't told them... but she broke down in front of them. She'd finally accepted it was over. End of the episode, she makes an instagram post exposing her vulnerability to the world and packs up Adena's things for good.

Episode 2: Kat injects Jane for fertility treatment. She is very familiar with Jane's reproductive system at this point - best friends. She learns the Wild Susan, a club Adena took her to that became a safe space she frequents and which happens to be 1 of only TWO lesbian bars in the city, is closing. She learns the only reason it's happening is because developers want to gentrify the neighborhood. We learn Kat has a lawyer (not sure how that may come up later) that she met through the #BeReal campaign. Anyway, Kat throws a queer prom as a fundraiser to help save the Wild Susan. It ultimately fails because $42,000 in one night from poor people is a bit much. But it was a valiant effort and, as Kat learns, the gentrifiers were well aware of its impossibility. This episode is leading up to her political career. "I've been so into my feelings lately, it feels really good to challenge my energy into something that really matters". I am so proud of Kat. In Season 1, I would have worried she was avoiding her feelings, but the writers made a big deal of showing she's done the exact opposite of that in the prior episode.

Episode 3: Kat has been researching councilman Reynolds and he's a total piece of shit - helping gentrifiers, cutting funding to parks, and voting against paid maternity leave. She's fired up. Our girl is P A S S I O N A T E & informed! We meet the councilwoman for whom she plans to volunteer and her campaign manager, Tia. Tia's a tiny, bubbly boss with natural hair and a bright smile and we see Kat brighten up. We later learn she and Kat have more in common, both being NYU grads (actually overlapping while there) and both brilliant. Tia, however, is not from a wealthy and connected background. In their initial meeting, Kat tells Tia "I'm just looking for something to channel my rage and depression". Kat enlists her besties to help get the councilwoman to unseat problematic Reynolds. Sutton clearly sees something between Kat and Tia because she does a friend's background check (checking the social media) and tells Kat she looks very single to which Kat responds "it really doesn't matter because I'm still getting over Adena" and Jane seems skeptical of Kat's protestations with her silent smirk. We learn Kat has really soft lips. Kat is the voice of reason for Alex, being the first one to acknowledge the hypersexual "dangerous" Black man depiction that will likely be projected onto him if he admits he is the man in his friend's story. Then we see her naturally command the crowd at the rally. Again, I am so proud of Kat. She isn't holding back when she knows she should speak up. She's taking control of her narrative. She's fighting for what's right in a constructive manner. And now Tia, who has way more experience with this than Kat, is recommending she run for office.

Episode 4: We start the episode with Kat describing what would be her district and job description to her best friends. She's looking excited about the potential to do something that matters and really help people. In her conversation with the Toby (?. don't know, don't care), we get to see more of Tia being supportive of Kat and Kat being confronted with whether she's motivated to actually run or just wants someone to beat Reynolds. We learn Kat had an abortion in 2013 when she was 20 AS IS HER GOTDAMN RIGHT BECAUSE IT'S HER BODY, but it's something she's felt some sort of shame/concern over seeing as nobody close to her knew about it. Then, and this is so great, after telling her friends she has the conversation with Tia. Tia shares that she's had one as well and completely understands not wanting it to be public knowledge, but in sharing her experience educates Kat on yet another way vulnerable people are having their rights stripped, this time through manipulation and "crisis centers" that shouldn't exist. Tia remains supportive and doesn't pressure Kat at all with her decision. "I am by your side if they come for you, but you gotta do what's right for you". When we get that great speech from Jacqueline we see Kat being moved my the statement that you'll never know what you're capable of if you don't take a leap faith to face challenges that frighten you, then you'll never know what you're capable of. [i'd like to pause right now to say Jacqueline is fucking wonderful and i love her like my white auntie. also Sutton needed to hear that again just as much as Kat and i really appreciate this entire moment.] When Kat leaves Jacqueline's celebration, she passes by one of those "crisis centers" Tia told her about and decides to use her voice to help others. "I like to think of myself as a pretty strong, empowered, forward-thinking, open-minded woman. But, up until now, I haven't been able to talk about my abortion. If me putting myself out there helps even one woman to feel less alone, less ashamed, and less guilty then it's worth it." And just like us, dear Tia is blown away. She actually exhales a breath she didn't know she was holding and biiiiiiiitch (!!!! excitedly). and then they're dancing! This is the episode, upon rewatch, when i recognize how often Tia touches Kat unnecessarily.

Episode 5: Kat's entire recap includes Tia, ending with Sutton saying "she seems to be very single". Her very first scene, Tia is complimenting her walking out of some campaigning event we later learn was a Town Hall. Can we just talk about Kat's blazer for a second? First of all, i want it. Second, how did they find something so perfectly her? It's colorful but still semi-professional, fun, but still about her business. Heart-eye inducing. ok. So the next time we see Kat, she and Tia (whose last name they finally mention as Clayton) are reviewing campaign platform and doing debate prep at Kat's apartment. Tia's complimenting Kat almost continuously at this point. Clearly she's impressed, borderline gushing. and Kat tries to brush it off. Tia's not letting her. And there's this moment when Tia forces herself to break eye contact with her (around 5:40 of the episode). The show tells us Kat still hasn't dated since Adena, but Sutton brings up the "stupid smile" she gets whenever Tia's mentioned. She's making better decisions than Patrick and her being compared to Patrick is lowkey happening a lot. I'm starting to wonder if they're setting up Kat taking over digital if she doesn't win the campaign. Ok, the song choice as they pan to Kat and Tia... "I never normally check my phone 10 times in a minute. I'm not the girl to be kept on hold 10 miles from the finish." Again, Tia is very touchy with Kat, never anything inappropriate of course, but the hand is always on the back or the arm. and their interaction is just.. lovely. I squeal. it's so cute. they're so comfortable. Kat invites Tia to the dinner BEFORE (i got the timing on that mixed up before) Tia says she's "a boring straight girl" [the test determined that was a LIE... nah, my good sis Tia is dealing with some internalized homophobia which is no joking matter, but we don't learn that until the next episode]. Apparently, Kat can cook now? So she just liked Adena's food better i guess? idk... anyway. I get why some of the things Tia said can be taken as flirting, but i still believe that you accept what someone says is their sexuality until they say otherwise. yes, that's even when they're saying things like "when i see what i want, i go for it" and "Annndd she can cook. it's hot" and looking at you like that. Kat telling Jane to apologize because he's her boss and she got suuuper disrespectful and would absolutely deserve getting fired makes me proud. She's the mature friend now. She's the one with a level head on her shoulders. Kat finally makes her feelings known to Tia, but this is after Tia has already stated she's straight. Tia reiterates that this is a professional relationship and apologizes for Kat getting the wrong idea. I'm reminded of when Alex Danvers told Maggie Sawyer she was into her and she was rejected... but in that example i was floored and heartbroken for Alex because ugh, i just didn't see that coming. With this, however, it felt like Tia was clear in her words even if it shocked the hell out of me what the words were. So i didn't feel heartbroken for Kat. I thought... tbh... she brought it on herself for refusing to respect Tia's "no", however soft it was. But the writers did let us know it wasn't over with the music selection... Kat looking at "You and Tia make a great team :)" as "I'll go to war for you" plays.

Episode 6: All the emails have been released and Kat has no worries at all about that because she's a professional. And we get to see her be a boss addressing the entire group. Patrick isn't there this episode (YAY for our sanity!) and i think Kat being a boss so often when Patrick isn't around is intentional. When we see Tia, she says last night is forgotten but she thinks it's a bad idea to remain Kat's campaign manager... which is clearly a hard rejection. One can argue that it's too harsh for someone merely admitting they were into you. But it's just as easy to argue that it's appropriate after telling someone, very clearly, that you are not into them romantically and them ignoring that and saying that you were flirting with them on this date they never called a date before you were already there?? so i'm not mad at it. At the end of the episode, we find out that Tia was rejecting herself, not Kat. Turns out, Ms. Tia Clayton has known she's attracted to women since she was in high school, but she "didn't want to want it". Tia is so TINY AND ANXIOUS ABOUT HER SEXUALITY AND MANY OF US HAVE BEEN THERE. But... and i say this in jest... for someone who is really trying not to be out in the open with her gay, she sure was comfortable kissing Kat all outdoors for anyone to see. My good sis is smitten. I'm excited for the story. Again with the music during their scenes though... "I cannot fallll in love with youuuuu. I cannot feeeeel this way so soon, so soon." Also, my girlfriend and I have watched the gifset of the kiss over the phone and swooned (we live in different states for now). This episode, we also got the flashbacks (i missed Lauren so much). Kat's got red streaks in her hair, is a friend to strangers, has regrettable sex with men who taste like pickles, and is cute as a button. She also called Jacqueline "Mama Jackie" and that's it; that's her name now.

[gratitudesanattitude]

2017 Recap: I’m Back!

Greetings Friends and Followers. I am back! There are not a lot of good excuses for being absent so long, but it certainly wasn’t because I am not grateful. There was so much going on in my life to be grateful about, i just didn’t have time to write about it!  But I am starting back with a little recap of 2017. And I promise to provide consistent content in 2018, if for no one but my exercise in capturing all the great moments that happen throughout my blessed lifetime. 

2017 started with a bang and a lot of WEDDING PLANNING! I got engaged at the end of October 2016 and we jumped right into planning our small and modest (ha, not, have you met my mom?) wedding in Charleston, SC. It was certainly an experience planning a wedding from afar and I would do it over again and again. Kept it simple and not an everyday worry. It required my type A personality to relax and let little things go. It all turned out great too!  

I also started the year as a first ever Auntie!!!  My SIL gave birth to my niece FInleigh in late December so we spent a year hitting all those first milestones and it was blast! Finner is certainly someone that makes me grateful!

The year was such a whirlwind looking back I can’t believe we fit all this in! So very much to be grateful for in 2017. Check out the highlights!

We spent my cold, cold, cold and slightly snowy birthday at one of my favorite restaurants doing what I love - playing games! It was pizza and a pitcher night at The Mineshaft and that is an evening I can’t pass up! This guy rocked it and we took home a lot of crap with all the tickets we won! Great way to ring my 38th year.

Feb is Heart Month in my professional life so naturally we spent the month celebrating and I also spent the month roping my loved ones into helping, I mean celebrating. Me and the man headed to the Bucks game to support my bestie, the one in the Heart costume. I sure owe my loved ones a few favors!

In March we got to escape to do a little wedding planning in South Carolina! It was a fantastic time to leave the Midwest and head to warmer areas. Unfortunately I got pretty sick on the ride down to Charleston and spent the better part of the car ride trying not to die. Once I got there and got some sun on my face, things started looking up! We checked a few items off the wedding list, ate some good food, hit the beach for some great R&R and a few good workouts and on the way home hit the Bourbon Trail, aka Mecca.

April was a whirlwind as I was on the road the majority of the month. We did however to celebrate this kiddo’s 12th birthday with a bounce party and sleepover for all her friends. It was a sleepless night but she has a great time. I can’t believe the peanut is 12, going on about 47. She has grown up so much since I met her only a few years ago. 

We kicked off May with the first of three garage sales. (People, we had a wedding to pay for!) I got to spend the weekend with this guy. Believe it or not, he wasn’t that great at the selling, but we did ok. Being the first garage sale in the neighborhood of the season helped. We didn’t do too bad. May was also jam packed with birthdays and working on fixing our boat (which ended up sitting in the shop until the end of August).

We kicked June off with my man’s family baseball game at Miller Park. We host every year and it is always a blast to get the family together to hang at the park. This year we had some sun, some rain, a car accident and lots and lots of food and drink. It was another success.

In June, we also became godparents to Miss Finleigh. It was such an honor and fills my little heart with so much gratitude!

In June I also hosted a team meeting Milwaukee-style for my coworkers. What better way to spend time in this great city than where it all begin in the old Pabst Brewing area. 

June ended with a work trip to Washington D.C. for our national lobby day. I love my job. My volunteers and coworkers are best! We took more than 70 people to DC to lobby for heart-health policies the week the Senate was working on repealing the Affordable Care Act. That got all my volunteers pretty fired up and on the day we had meetings on the Hill, the postponed the vote because they didn’t have enough support. I also go to see some of the sites and oh, I met Bob Harper, trainer for The Biggest Loser and heart attack survivor. Bob was fantastic, passionate and kind. Also, looks like I may need a visit to the Ranch. 

While in DC i also got to connect with my dear friend’s daughter - who I could not believe was 21, taking the subway by herself at night and being an adult. I remember when she was a freshman in high school. How is this happening? It is always great to see Bridget and catch up. That kiddo is going places. 

In July we found ourselves out east for a quick trip to the Cape to meet with my father’s dear friend and also the man who would be marrying us in October. it was a little wedding planning, a lot of sight seeing and a chance to meet the entire Lang family as their youngest, Sarah would be getting married that weekend. (When I asked if it was a good week to visit, there was no indication that their daughter would be married that week or I never would have gone.) It was an excellent trip - much love, lobstah and beautiful sites. Can’t wait to go back!

August was a busy month as we started the count down to the wedding! First up was getting all the beautiful invites out! My sister drew all our favorite landmarks in Charleston which allowed us to create very special and personalized invites for our big day! There were so beautiful.

In August, I was recognized with my Chicago colleagues for our work on one of the toughest campaigns I ever worked on. It was so nice to be recognized for all of the hard work.

My mom and sisters also threw us a fantastic wedding shower at the Milwaukee Sail Loft in late August. Made us feel loved and was really fun to spend time with our loved ones!

We also spent some quality time with our friends the Connolly’s having a wonderful tasting dinner at the Ale Asylum. It was a second year for us doing this and so much fun!!

We kicked-off September running the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Golf Outing! It was a beautiful day and a we raised some great funds for the pups!

My man’s family also showered us with love, great foods and presents in anticipation of our big day. This is the only photo I got from this beautiful shower. Where’s the MR.? Lol

In mid-September we boarded a plane for our last trip to SC before the wedding. We got our marriage license (doesn’t he look thrilled??!?!), enjoyed some good food and drink and also celebrated a dear friend’s wedding!!!

The wedding almost didn’t happen because of Hurricane Irma, but she left in time and most of Charleston dried out and Team Turgas has a wonderful wedding. We were thrilled to be included in their big day!

We also managed to catch a Packer game at our very favorite bar, The Windjammer. They lost, aw shucks - says the Bears fan.

September also brought a very real reality... the wedding countdown was getting much smaller and I was not. It was time to turn up the volume on my sweat sessions. So I enlisted friends and family. Always more fun to spin, walk and train with a buddy!

October was so busy with so many highs and lows, I can barely remember it all. I will start with the highs. We celebrated my in-laws birthday with some volleyball (the kiddo has a tournament), beers and good food. 

October at work was a giant low. However, I do remain and always will remain grateful for the wonderful people I got to work with on this awful campaign which shall not be named. We fought the good fight, we finished the race and then we drank a lot of martinis.

And then, the biggest high of the month came at the end! I got to marry my best friend in one of my most favorite cities. It was everything I dreamed of an more. There are so many photos, I can share them all. These are my faves. I may throw a few in during the year. This was certainly the highlight of my year and now I get to call that handsome guy my husband. Luckiest girl ever.

Oh and my mom met Shep. This was her highlight. Lol #relationshep

Immediately following our big day (ok, we hung at the beach for a few days first) we headed to the Twin Cities for one of my good friend’s big day! It was so much fun to celebrate with them again! Very fun wedding reception and a great way to kick-off November!

And immediately following that, my guy switched jobs and joined a new department so we had his swearing in and pinning ceremony. So proud of this one. Gush. (Vomit.)

I also had a super fun “celeb” sighting in the Twin Cities later in November. My gal pal and I were checking out a new and FANTASTIC restaurant near our office... partaking in a little happy hour when the Fabulous Beekman Boys walked right past our table into the restaurant. I swear I was the only one who got excited and I had to convince her they were in fact someone. Not only did I love their show, but I do love all their products!

Keeping with the theme of the year, December was as crazy as ever. First this guy got another year older and we celebrated with bloodies, a trip to Poto and some prime rib. 

Before we could finish celebrating, I hopped a plane to Nashville with my mom to present at a conference. We did a little sight seeing, eating and drinking too. I highly recommend historic Franklin if you are in the area. Well, also Husk. Both are way too cute. The Champagne Sale at Gus Meyer is also entertaining if you can catch it! Broadway wasn’t too bad either. Can’t wait to take the hubs back. it has him written all over it... that and there are about 15 pairs of boots i want.

I wrapped the year at work with a lovely holiday gathering at a fabulous volunteer’s house. It was nice to get together and not talk about the bills we need to stop or pass and just enjoy the company!

Next, Finners turned ONE!!!! And her mommy loves a theme, as does her Aunite. So, we may have gone a little overboard... but you are only ONE once. 

We ended the year in style... Christmas with the Griswold’s. I seriously may have married Clark, or cousin Eddie. It is hard to tell depending on the day. But we had a great time with games, fun t-shirts and a gingerbread competitions where we turned our house into Clark’s for the holidays. Seriously, check out our attention to detail - the 25,000 lights, the RV, the shitter pump and even Clark’s dream pool in the back. 

I headed with my family to Elkhart Lake the next day for a little R&R to celebrate the holiday. 

Unfortunately, all the merriment ended with some seriously illness - the stomach flu and the respiratory flu that still had me sick into the new year. 2017 provide to have been a little too jam-packed for my immune system. It sure was a good year though!