The Adventures of Xena the Yorkie

Step One: Lift little Xena and carefully place her behind your head.

Step Two: Smile for the camera as the dog whimpers in fear. The photographer hastily snaps the photo for fear Xena might lose her lunch.

Step Three: Kiss and cuddle the poor pup. Apologize for pretending she wasn't a 5-pound, easily-spooked, but none-the-less adorable dog.

This is why I love Quogue: Part II

The End (again).

Fourth of July & Friendship

Chris and Chase are Zach's best friends.

They became friends in high school before I came along and supposedly, stole Zach away from them.

Now, they go to school in three very different places. Chase plays football at Stanford. Chris studies philosophy in the cathedral of learning at Pittsburg. And Zach is at Cornell.

It was infinitely important for me that the much talked about 4th of July reunion work. I needed them to see each other before college ends, jobs begin, and it becomes much more complicated to arrange a simple meeting between these three friends.

It may be stupid, but it feels like after college, they won't be able to infectiously laugh together like they use to in high school.

Almost magically, everything fell into place. Chase flew in from Cali. Chris drove from Pennsylvania. We met in the city, then traveled out to Quogue for a weekend of fireworks, mojitos, and the beach.

We mostly reminiscied and laughed the weekend away, as everything falls into place the second they see one another no matter how long it has been.

Chris and Chase are now my best friends. I suppose it comes with the territory of dating Zach.

Chris and I blubbered together the day Zach drove away from Tulsa forever. Chase patiently helped me through Latin Freshman year at OU. Chris is always willing to listen when Zach has done something absurd. I can practically see his smile over the phone as he says, "Well Katie, that's just Zach being Zach."

I don't think the "real world" will ever change things. Plus, in my mind, they will always be three boys debating the origin of evil while playing video games and drinking Martinellis apple juice.

Summer Reading

Here are the books I have read this summer (all on my wonderful, magical, best-gadget-in-the-whole-entire-world Kindle).

I've ranked them, number one being my favorite and number ten being my least favorite. *Insert Disclaimer* They were ALL worth reading, I simply liked certain plots/characters/themes more than others.

1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
2. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
3. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
4. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
5. White Tiger: A Novel by Aravind Adiga
6. Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
7. On Beauty by Zadie Smith
8. Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
9. In the Woods by Tana French
10. When a Crocodile Eats the Sun by Peter Godwin

Anyway, I've compiled this list for several reasons. I'll enumerate them in yet another list.

1. To make me think about what I have read after I have read it.
2. Hopefully, to entice someone out there to pick up a book and enjoy the wonder of reading a good, recommended book.
3. I love to read. I love to write. So, writing about books is, essentially, my dream, my hope, and my passion.

I walked to work this morning via the Brooklyn Bridge

This is why I love Quogue.

The End.

My Name in Print

Although I've seen it many times before (I am, after all, a yearbook nerd through and through, with five years of yearbooking under my belt) I can't help but glow with pride every time I see my name in print.

Here is the cover of the August issue of Hemispheres (United's inflight magazine).

And here is my name. Wow. It looks great. That "K" and "G" are especially impressive in that particular font.


And here is a tid-bit I wrote about currywurst. What a noble subject.

If you happen to be flying United, look me up, and let me know what you think of the currywurst write-up.

Hamburger or Cupcake?

One weekend in June, it was hopelessly rainy in Quogue. I pestered Zach about going to see a movie. He said no. I asked him to play a game with me. He said no. I asked him to go with me to Blockbuster rent a movie. He said no.

I was noticing a pattern, so I decided to give up on the boring boyfriend and take on a project.

Two hours and a sink filled to the brim of dirty dishes later, I finished my Bakerella inspired rainy day treat.

I was completely tickled with myself because the little hamburgers looked so realistic. The sesame seeds really were the winning touch.

When I finished the first burger, I placed it daintily on a plate and took it out to the living room to show Zach.

"What is that?" he said as he turned up his nose.

"Its a yellow cupcake with a brownie as the patty and colored icing meant to look like lettuce, ketchup, and mustard of course!" I happily chirped.

"Can I eat it?"

I didn't even respond, simply whacked him in the head, leaving the plate and burger for him to munch on.

I was completely gleeful (but that might have been due to all the sugar I consumed licking the bowls and spoons and beaters) and practically skipped to the sink to start the mountain of cake-tins and bowls before me. As I was waiting for the water to warm, Zach yelled from the living room, "This is pretty good Katie."

And I smiled.

Hamburger Cupcakes

Bake a mix of yellow cake cupcakes according to the packaged instructions. Generously spray the cupcake wrappers to ensure nice and whole cupcakes when you remove the wrapper. Let cool.

Bake a batch of brownies in a 9x13 pan. Let cool.

Take a container of white frosting and divide it evenly into three bowls. Color one green, one yellow, and one red. Spoon the colored frostings into plastic bags, pushing all the frosting to one corner.

Split the cooled cupcakes down the middle with a serrated knife.

Take a drinking glass and use it to cut out your "patties" from the brownies. Once you cut all you can with the glass, scoop the brownie from the baking dish and form patties with your hands.

Place a "patty" on a respective "bun". Retrieve the frosting-filled plastic bags, cut a hole in the frosting-filled corner, and decorate the tops of the patties.

Finish by sprinkling the finished burgers with sesame seeds.

EAT!