Toll Collector Paid Me!

Last night driving to North Jersey, the toll collector gave me money!

She saw Javier in the back seat with her head popped out the back window + she fell in love. She said, I am giving you money and please buy her a treat from me.

She gave me two dollars of her own money.

And, yes, I still paid the toll.

That is what the world is about.

Good People.

Pass it on...

my appearance on I do You do We do!

Look at this!

I am so very happy that my friend, Amanda, featured me on her wedding blog yesterday. Please go check out her great space as she talks about her wedding planning journey and gives great tips + ideas during her exciting process.

Thanks Amanda! Best of Luck! =)

xo,
kat.

New becomes Old

love this site! thanks H.

Before:


After:



Before:


After:

The Happiness Project: Great Blog!

This is one of the blogs I love to read and follow. It has some great tips we can all use from time to time.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
I'm working on a book, THE HAPPINESS PROJECT--a memoir about the year I spent test-driving every principle, tip, theory, and scientific study I could find, whether from Aristotle or St. Therese or Martin Seligman or Oprah. THE HAPPINESS PROJECT will gather these rules for living and report on what works and what doesn’t. On this daily blog, I recount some of my adventures and insights as I grapple with the challenge of being happier. THE HAPPINESS PROJECT will hit the shelves in late 2009 (HarperCollins).

Visit the Happiness Project

bed time stories I tell myself

Hope.

Put some Hope in your pocket.

I did.

Thanks

Today, I am thankFuLL for:


M's last minute help during an all day meeting. Thank You, sunshine~! You saved me!

A walk home with R. and running into a knitting pal T. who joined us on our windy brisk stroll into South Philly.

Dance Workout. Ouch, but I got some complicated dance steps down! Yay!

Leftovers from my Sunday evening cooking success...

Legwarmers. Yes, legwarmers!

Tomorrow, I can get up later than the last two days and I don't have to sit in a meeting room all day long.

Javier's really warm body on a cold drafty night...

My sister always picking up the phone. Thanks L, love you!

An invitation to a pumpkin carving party! Can't wait!

Sharing emails with old friends in Chicago + San Francisco. Miss you guys!

Receiving a large "special request" order for earrings...

Sleep tonight. Sleep.


Peace,
kat.

a Smile + a Sigh

Happiness really is that simple. And, Happiness is never really planned.

Tonight, I do feel extremely lucky for the friendships that have come my way and for the little dog that follows me every single day.

I just came back from a short stroll with Javier and I thought about the little things that this weekend brought to me.

Spending time with so many different people in different ways and in different circles was the sweet to my soul.

Saturday morning found me in yoga class with so many great people striving for the same thing, really: a little quiet reflection time to get our new day started right. And, maybe to share and take a different energy back home. I have been doing my practice with a few regulars and I am thankful for this routine time we embrace... That same afternoon, I was able to wander a bit around Northern Liberties with a new budding friendship as we walked, talked, bopped around shops (including her own) from South Street to Third street and also found time to share tea + wisdom + our love of jewelry design. And, then that evening, I had an invitation to join a group of theatrical folks as they bid farewell to their company. An amazing group of people who welcomed me into their world. Having only met a handful of the people once or twice before, they took me in like I wasn't supposed to be anywhere else. And, that was where my surprise visitor came from this morning...

Today, that visitor and I shared an unplanned Sunday morning tea in my living room. Things happen for a reason, I have always believed. She is going through a really intense time right now. And, it made me reflect. I have been where she is and all I could promise her was it will get better. And, I felt warm offering her the things I could only know + hope. I also wanted to share with her the things my friends offered me... It's that little circle. And, she too, will fall upon her happiness fortune.

When she left, I had to run and do my Betty Duty. Betty is one of Javier's friends and her mom is one of my good friends. Miss B. isn't doing too well. I carried her up and down the stairs for her outdoor trip and then sat on the floor inside her home for a bit and we talked. I would ask her questions and this sweet dog would cock her head from side to side trying to understand what I was saying. Poor Betty was shaking and scared. It made me really sad, I must say, as I could see her age all over her eyes... She is one amazing dog and has brought her mom complete happiness. Betty's days are limited and it is so heartbreaking as only dog owners can understand.

I thought about what Javier has brought to me these last four years as she laid on my lap tonight and we both let out a sigh of comfort at the exact same time! This dog of mine seriously is my little guardian angel. She will lunge at you if you get too close to me when we are outside in the evening hours. She will growl and bark if you look a bit uneasy. She will follow me around the house all day long and curl up against me each night as we go to sleep. I can get mad at her and she will still lick my face to pieces until I am laughing out loud and I really just can't be mad. If I am sad and quiet, she knows. Instead of bringing me toys, she will quietly come to my side and look at me without wanting anything else but warmth. And, at those times, she won't push for anything more. Javier has been with me through some really icky times. Looking in Betty's eyes tonight, I was really moved to tears.

And, I realized, my Happiness is that simple. It is found in the souls of friends + dogs who only ask for a smile and a sigh.

Gettin' my happy On,
kat.

October Daze

change(full) generosity

Tonight, I am over-tired. I was up at 5 am and drove two hours to get back home. To this home, that is ever so quiet + allows me to really sit in contemplation.

I must admit I am still Elsewhere, quietly turning pages in my mind, and sensitively aware of each footstep's fall.

But tonight, I was gently asked to think about change, specifically, the change we have made in our own personal lives. I was asked to ponder October.14.2007. And, I have. And, I did. I was also asked to be generous with myself with where my mind might take me. When I came back to 2008, the word that came to me was light.

Light. I am firmly planted in Light. Or so I hope to believe.

I struggle with time sometimes. You know, allowing myself all the time in the world to come back from Elsewhere because it ain't no vacation land! But, I think I am finally just going to go with it.

And, hey, Elsewhere ain't as bad as Nowhere!

Macy's Kat.

Thanks to a fellow friend who turned my modeling debut into an image I could save!

xo,
kat.

Two Things.

Two things made me smile bigger.

One:

Maya. She is the little four-plus year old smarty-pants I have known since she was a few months old. I met her dad in the dog park + our doggies are pals. This is the second day I ran into Maya riding her red tricycle as I was coming off my subway stop + she just yells, I mean yells, "Kat.! Katttt., Kaaatttt., Dad, look it's Kat., Dad, do you know Kat. because I do and she is my friend, Kaattttt.! Whatcha doin'? Where were you? What's in your bag? Let me see. What did you have for lunch? I love your dress. You look so pretty. I like your bracelets, too. Where is your dog? What is your dog's name because I can't remember? Where are you going? I have to tell you about the other horse movie I saw. This one isn't scary. My mom is cooking dinner. We are having Indian food. I tried to get my mom to come with us, but she is busy. No, the owl on my shirt does not have a name. You're Silly. What is your dress' name? Kat, move, I need to go that way. Watch your foot or I might run it over. Kat. move now. Hey, Kat. move! Bye Kat. See you later! Byeeeee!!! Byeeeeeeeeeee Katttt.!!"

I heart Maya.

Two:

My Grandfather's old LL Bean Sweater that I pull out every year around this time for evening walks with Javier. It's old, tattered, worn in + has two great front pockets for my keys, cell phone + dog treats. I love this sweater. It is not the most fashionable item, but it takes me places. It is perfect.

I heart memories.

Three, Two, One,
kat.

Roads

Maybe it was the Fall weather that got me outside this evening. Maybe it was my mind that is still not communicating anything to me properly. Maybe it was me just trying to make some sense of it all. Maybe it was none of that and all of this.

Either way, I found myself walking from UArts to the Navy Yard on Broad St. unaware of the destination at hand. A nice 4 mile walk there and then I had to actually turn around + come back! I thought about taking the subway home at the Pattison stop, believe me, but there was this thing called A Dog that was part of my journey. I say UArts as my starting point because I walked home and only ran inside my house to change my clothes + grab my pup! On the way back home, it's safe to say I left my thighs on the Rt.95 S ramp. I was that exhausted (and a bit invigorated). I am figuring, I walked a little under 8 miles in good ol' silence.

Javier set pace, sweetly at my side and on her utmost behavior. It really had nothing to do with the two handful of treats in my front jeans pocket. Really. She stopped at every single corner, sat down + looked at me with her big doggy eyes. She waited until I moved before stepping off the curb. I do think this dog really understands me. I tell her to slow down or ease up and she just does. And, she constantly made eye contact with me as to see if I was okay, too. Like, hey Mom, you good? You gonna make it? I just smiled at her and laughed. We both enjoyed the time together and I wonder if she pondered big worldly things like me...

I wasn't able to solve the economic crisis or figure out why my neighbors just put up a big McCain sign, but I did get to the bottom of some words deep in my soul. Words + images that keep stirring themselves up when I asked out loud to be free of their nonsense. To be honest, I have been kicking myself at my past na·ive·ness. At the lack of standing up when I should have, simply, Stood Up. I wish I wasn't so hard on myself. It is the one trait I would surely not wish on another being. I said I need to be gentle. (Note to self: Be gentle on yourself.)

My weekend was a past-in-my-face situation of sorts which maybe silenced my soul a bit, too? It made me take check of me + where my feet have landed. It was full of good run-ins and it felt warm to see so many old friends who just wanted to know how my life has been these last two-plus years.

I found some words tonight. Hopefully, I keep finding some more lying around this place.

Never Odd or Even,
kat.

heading to nyc to honor a special person

Oct 2 2008
John B. Rosenthal, 70; built affordable housing
By Sally A. Downey

Inquirer Staff Writer

John B. Rosenthal, 70, of Villanova, founder and chairman emeritus of Pennrose Properties and an innovative developer of affordable housing, died of prostate cancer Monday at Cabrini Medical Center in New York.

Mr. Rosenthal began his career working for housing developers in New York City. In 1981, he established Pennrose Properties in Philadelphia, teaming with nonprofit community organizations, municipalities, or private-sector investors to develop low-income housing. He was one of the first developers to use housing tax-credit programs.

His achievement was in rebuilding communities, said Pennrose chairman Richard K. Barnhart, who became a partner in 1984.

Pennrose has developed more than 10,000 affordable apartments in six states and the District of Columbia. Local projects include complexes in Germantown, Brewerytown, Camden, Trenton, and Chester and Delaware Counties. In 2003, Pennrose teamed with Kenny Gamble's nonprofit to build low-income housing at Martin Luther King Plaza in South Philadelphia.

Mr. Rosenthal preserved old buildings as well as building new. In 1990, his firm received the top award for construction from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's Bureau for Historic Preservation for the renovation of Regent Terrace in West Philadelphia, an abandoned complex of six three-story buildings that was home to a pack of wild dogs. Pennrose converted the complex into low-income housing for 80 families.

Mr. Rosenthal told a reporter at the time that his firm had restored the cornices, porches and stonework; repaired and refitted the globe light stanchions; and fumigated to get rid of fleas.

Also in West Philadelphia, Pennrose worked with the Parkside Historic Preservation Corp. in 2001 to rehab the Brentwood, a 43-unit brownstone.

In 2002, Mr. Rosenthal and his firm were corecipients of the F. Otto Haas Award for lifetime achievement from Preservation Pennsylvania, a nonprofit organization. That year, he received Ernst & Young's Greater Philadelphia entrepreneur of the year award. Pennrose also earned awards for renovated properties from the Landmarks Commission of Trenton and the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office.

Mr. Rosenthal served on the boards of Universal Community Homes, the Philadelphia Child Guidance Center, YouthBuild Philadelphia, and the Mayor's Office of Community Services. He was vice chairman of the Philadelphia District Council of the Urban Land Institute.

He was committed to the community, Barnhart said. In 1998, Pennrose renovated the People's Emergency Center, a homeless shelter in West Philadelphia. When a last-minute labor dispute threatened the project and Mr. Rosenthal funded its completion, center director Gloria Guard told him: "I told you God would find a way. What I didn't tell you was he would reach into your pocket."

A native of New York, Mr. Rosenthal earned a bachelor's degree from Williams College and a master's degree in business and a law degree from Cornell University.

He is survived by his wife, Linda Nickey Rosenthal; a brother, Richard; a sister, Susan; a nephew; and four nieces.

A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Riverside Memorial Chapel, 180 W. 76th St., New York.

Memorial donations may be made to Friends of YouthBuild Philadelphia, 1231 N. Broad St., Philadelphia 19122.