WAIT! I'm here! I'm here!

Hi guys,

I'm reaaaaallly sorry we haven't updated much this past month. We have just been so busy with all the parties we're invited too (if you count me, Doty and Will reading Cosmo, dyeing my hair, doing a massage train and watching chick flicks, then yeah, we've been having a lot of parties). Anyways my allergies are really bad tonight, I'm not feelin too hot and I'm pms-ing so I don't know how good this post is going to be. So far it's quality. Umm let's see. Well the main reason my life has been hectic is because my Gramie had a heart attack early last monday morning. She was in the hospital for a week, and has now been moved to a transitional care facility where she's getting rehab in hopes of returning to her home, or at least an assisted living facility. I have been spending a lot of time with her which has really been a blessing - I was scared when we got that call on monday that my time with her had run out, but in these two weeks I've seen her almost every day and I feel so lucky to still have her in my life. Also, my aunt Judy flew up from Texas last week so I've been spending a lot of time with her, and my cousins Chris and John are coming up on the 17th so I'm really looking forward to that! 

Carolyn and I are all signed up for classes for next semester, and my last day at Claire's is the 24th. I'm looking for an NA/R opening right now so I can start makin the big bucks! 

Not a whole lot else is new. KK is doing well, she has been working at Schmitt Tues, Wed and Thurs nights and we see eachother basically every other day, if not every day. I've been IM-ing with Rodrigo, and we're trying to set up a time to video chat since it's summer vacation now in Argentina! 

Ummm okay here you go, current list of favorites:

Book: Trauma Junkie: Memoirs of an Emergency Flight Nurse by Janice Hudson

Song: You Found Me by The Fray... or Honey and the Moon by Joseph Arthur

TV Show: The Office... or The OC =D 

Food: Thai food (obviously guys, come on)

Favorite class: Sociology of Family Violence because I'm already DONE with that one!! :)

Favorite website: I just got the title of Facebook Stalker, 2008. You know. 

Alright that's about it, hopefully KK will update soon with her end of things. I hope all of you guys are doing well. I'm really excited for this weekend because I get to see Alfie, the Tuomisto Family Christmas party is happening, AND Ellen is coming home!!!! WOOOOOOO!

Love, EmEm

Hello? Hello?

I hope we didn't lose any avid readers in that eighteen day break.

Anyways, nothing too interesting has been going on over hurr. I made pecan pie for Thanksgiving which was yesterday! I ate as much as I could and it was all delicious. I got to see all my famfam and there were a total of.... a lot of people. I'm too lazy to count right now. Um... I also hung out with Stazi on Tuesday night, we were going to go bowling but we ended up invading Target and staying there about an hour. And today I would normally be tutoring but I have today off! It's nice. But now I can't finish this blog because I'm talking to Amelia on the phone and I can't multi task. Sooooo, maybe Emily will update soon.

Peace,

KK

I spent all last night tearing down every stop light and stop sign in this town

Hey eyrbody, sorry it's been awhile since we've last written, we've just been soooo busy with all our friends and all the parties we go to... who am I kidding, I have no excuses.  But for realsies I'm sorry it's been awhile, the past week has been pretty crazy for me. Carolyn and I did our clinicals at Hopkins Care Center and it was amazing... I just wrote Ellen a letter about everything that has happened this week so I am going to copy and paste part of it here so I don't have to write it all over again. I love computers. Here we go:

Emily Holm

11/7/08

ADEV 1100-21

Dear Ellen,

            Don’t worry, I’m not sending you one of my school assignments. I am in class right now and we aren’t doing anything so I decided to take this opportunity to write you a wonderful letter. But if my teacher decides to mosey by, I want it to look like I’m working on an assignment. Sneaky, right? Jizz jizz jizz.

Oops, not that part.... here:

The first day I was so nervous but everything went well. I ended up working up on the Alzheimer’s/Dementia Unit for most of my clinical hours and I met so many amazing people. The patients there are all so sweet and vulnerable… the way the staff treats them sometimes really upsets me. A lot of the workers have little patience and seem burnt out. They are rough and have no empathy for the resident’s condition. I hope that when I get employed I’ll be able to make at least a little bit of a difference in both the patient’s well-being and the way the other staff members treat them. I sat down with an old man who had Alzheimer’s the other day and talked with him for awhile. His name is John and he was so appreciative of me helping him and taking the time to talk to him, it made me feel really good about the choices I’m making. We had the same conversation about 5 times because he has basically no short term memory, but when I got up to do some work he grabbed my hand and hugged me and told me he loved me. I said I loved him too and hugged him back. I think he was just really lonely… most of the other Alzheimer’s patients are in the later stages and aren’t much for conversation.

            Although they are often confused and upset because they don’t know where they are or who we are, they are A LOT of fun. I was proposed to 3 days in a row by Del, a patient who spends his days motoring around the floor in his wheelchair and trying to plot ways to get “home”. He always asked me if I was married or had a boyfriend, and when I said no he’d say “Well I’d marry ya in a second!” I would say “Ok, Del, let’s get married! But what would your wife say?” And he’d say “Well, you ladies could talk and work things out.” Haha, he was a big flirt and a lot of fun to talk to. Another woman carries around a baby doll who she thinks is her real child so she is very protective of it (she is living about 50 years in the past) and the woman at the opposite table would spend her time trying to touch the baby as the woman walked by. Another woman constantly asks “Are we still in Minnesota?” and tries to punch the aides with her tiny fists as they walk by.

            I think the way you deal with these people depends a lot on your attitude. Many would probably find the things I just described really sad, but if you don’t have a sense of humor about it you’re not going to be happy working with them. They need people who are happy to help them.

Yesterday I was so proud of myself because they paired us up with another student and had us get residents ready for the day by ourselves. It’s the first time we flew solo without a registered Nursing Assistant supervising. My sister and I gave an older man who couldn’t move (he was mentally fine) a partial bed bath, and I changed his Depends and cleaned up his perineal area. Then another student and I went into a room next door and there was a younger man (about 55) there who couldn’t move due to back problems. He was totally with it mentally and was cracking jokes as we cleaned him up and got his ready for breakfast. Anyways, about that wicked sweet party I went to last weekend.... Sorry Mom, letter ends here.

So that's that, I really really enjoyed clinicals and I have no doubts about my future career now... I am going to be a nurse! 

Other than that not much has been up, KK and I saw "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" on Friday night, and then again on Saturday night with Will. I went over to school today for campus bible study, and that was a lot of fun. I'm going again on Thursday. I've really missed having that spiritual connection with other people since I graduated from Sr. High youth group at my church, and it felt great to get back into it. We spent an hour today studying Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul's Prayer for the Ephesians:
 14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
 20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. 

Please do me a huge favor and pray this week for students at MCTC (there was a bomb threat on Friday and two students were caught with firearms), for Carolyn's direction, and for Alfie's torn ACL :(. 

I'm going to go watch The Office with Eric now and eat my weight in popcorn. 

LOVE, EmEm

This is my favorite song right now!

Matt Nathanson, Come on Get Higher: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flAvh1o-s5E

I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now

Hey champs. Guess what? I finally got my halloween costume put together tonight! I had half of it sitting in my closet but I got what I didn't have at the Halloween store. In response to KK's last post, that love letter is beautiful. I tried to look all tough when I was reading it because you were watching me on webcam (as usual), but who am I kidding, I was melting. I just got done reading all of my middle school diary to Doty over Skype. I think we both agree that I was just about the coolest middle schooler ever. Here is a direct quote: "Why doesn't anyone else like Aaron Carter? I do!" The sad thing is that that quote is also in my current journal. Oh man. 

I was thinking in the shower today about Attention Deficit Disorder, and how hard it must be for people to give their ADD the attention it needs. Ha. I am too funny. 

Well Saturday night was slumber party night, and Sunday I had to work from 12-7:30. It took me a double shot of espresso AND a redbull to get through the day. I was EXHAUSTED by the time I got home and I fell asleep on the couch at 8 and didn't wake up until noon on Monday! I was really impressed with myself for being able to sleep through all the commotion in my house. I got in 20 hours of work this weekend so hopefully my paycheck will prove to me that it was worth it :). It was fun though, I worked with pretty much everyone this weekend because we were doing planograms. That's about it for now. St. Cloud this weekend!!!

Love, Em

Hey Girl Hey

I thought I'd write a blog post even though nothing new is going on with me. I actually wanted to post a link to this love letter that was written way back when in case anyone's interested. (Please pretend you are). No joke, I would marry Sullivan Ballou if he wasn't killed 150 years ago and possibly decapitated. It's so sweet and romantic and it makes me wish people still wrote like that. <- and I realize how girly this all makes me sound but for realzies. Check it out please and thank you. Here it is. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sullivan_Ballou (scroll down to "The Letter")

In other news, not much else has happened. I'm trying to download Andy Richter Controls the Universe which was a very funny show that was on FOX a few years ago but got canceled. :-( I also applied to tutor at a school called Broadway High School in North Minneapolis which is an alternative high school for pregnant or parenting moms in grades 7-12. And I got called back today. Every Friday those pregnant ladies will get a little taste of KK for three hours... in the most innocent way. I'm excited though, although I need to figure out how I'm going to get there because my mama doesn't want me taking the bus in North Minneapolis. We'll see. I guess that's it! (Oh, and the 5/6 of the movie crew is chillin' tomorrow. Baller. And Halloween! I'm so excited). Hope everyone else is having a good week.

Peace homies!

Katie

Raise your hopeful voice, you have a choice

Class of '66, woot woot!! www.yearbookyourself.com

Hi guys,

It's me, Emily! It's 2 in the morning but I can't sleep so I figured I'd catch you all up on what's been going on. Life has been eaaaaaasy lately. I am happy. Everything is good. Carolyn and I just finished our Home Health Aide class on Tuesday so we're just hanging out until next Thursday when we start clinicals. But don't worry, my other classes have been keeping me busy! I have my 2nd exam in Sociology of Family Violence on Friday as well as a bunch of assignments due that I need to catch up on. I'm really psyched to start clinicals, and right now I'm just trying to decide if I want to take the challenge of working on the Alzheimer's/Dementia unit. With all the psychology I've been taking (and reading up on) I think it could be really interesting but I'm just not sure if I'm up to it yet. We'll see....

Family life has been as normal as it ever is. Eric's soccer team has been doing really well and he is becoming quite the little runner. Carolyn and I are going to work out and then out to lunch tomorrow. My Dad has been working really long and early hours at FedEx (he is actually already awake and getting ready for work, and I haven't even gone to bed yet!). Last but certainly not least, my Mom interviewed yesterday for a job opening at Courage Center and got the job!! I am so proud of her. She is keeping her regular hours at the Little Hospice, but this part time work will offer her new challenges and the potential for advancement. She is so deserving of this. I hope someday I can be 1/2 the nurse she is. 

Friends are friendly. Will, Doty and I hung out tonight, went to Perkins and watched some quality infomercials. :) I'm going to see Alfie at St. Thomas tomorrow, Alex is coming home this weekend, and we are driving up to Alex's school for Halloween. It's going to be a really fun next couple of weeks! I talked to Rodrigo last night and he is doing really well. School is just finishing up for him so he's been busy with last minute projects and school work. The weather is cookin' down there so the fam has been using their backyard pool... I wish it would have been warm enough for KK and I to use it when we were down there! 

Work has been really fun lately, I'm basically only working at Claire's now but I've been picking up a lot of weekend hours and trying to save up for traveling. The gang is going to Mexico this summer, and I want to try to visit Ellen in Vermont sometime this Spring. I miss her soooo much! 

Other than that not too much else is new. I hope all you guys are doing okay! To the fam, I miss you all and I can't wait to see you at Christmas. 

Loooooovvvveeeee,

EmEm

Read This... Love EmEm

Wear Sunscreen

Mary Schmich

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

P.S.

My grandma also told me she has a recipe for "five minute chocolate cake in a mug". It sounds intriguing. So that's the next thing I have to find time to make. I'm writing it here as a reminder. Adding it to the list of goals.

Ho Hum

I'm a neanderthal man
You're a neanderthal girl
Let's make neanderthal love
In this neanderthal world

Neanderthal Man- Elton John

I like that quote.

Yesterday, in between our video recordings of "Bubbly" by Colbie Calliat and "Burnin' Up" by the Jonas Brothers, Emily kindly asked me to write a blog post. So here I am. With nothing new, quel surprise. But that won't stop me from writing a super long post anyways.
I guess I could start off with what I've accomplished so far this week. I've finished the Arrested Development season three. Too funny, too funny. And I finally (with Will's assistance) made that stupid mountain dew cake that I'd been trying to find time to make. It tasted like regular white cake and I have lots of left over pieces if anyone feels like raiding my fridge.
I suppose I could also share what my day has been like so far.
I woke up, took a test for my ADEV class and because I finished it early I didn't have to go to my ADEV class today. Pretty baller. Then as I was leaving my house to catch the bus, I decided I was a little too early, so I talked to my mom for a few minutes. By the time I got the bus stop, I realized I missed my bus. I have a very poor sense of time.
Soooooo, since I felt it was too much work to walk to Xerxes and catch the 6, I decided to skip my first class and catch the bus for my second class, Environmental Science. In the meantime, I watched two and a half episodes of British Office. So I left my house for the second time in my sweatshirt, sweatpants and glasses. Lookin' fly of course. Then I almost missed my bus again but I ran to catch it, no worries! Although in my state of panic, my running looked more like off kilter hobbling, which was worsened by the heavy backpack I had on. It was a sad sight. I tried to make myself look less lame though by laughing, flipping my hair, and checking my cell phone. As you might've guessed, it had the opposite affect and I looked even more crazy. Anywho. On the bus. I saw the foxy guy from my Environmental class waiting on a corner to board the bus. So I tried to look... I don't know, appealing? I crossed my legs, fixed my hair, etc. By the time he walked past me, we briefly made eye contact but it was also the same time I was pushing my glasses further up on my nose. Sexy can I? Today has just been a day of weird timing.
Then I got out of class early and went home to an empty house with the exception of my grandma on her hands and knees cleaning the kitchen floor. I walked over her and went to the computer to write this fascinating blog post. Jota ka, grandma and I chatted and she showed me this huge book on our French relatives. Then she went back to cleaning.
I just ate a delicious Patrick's bakery sandwich, I have work in three hours and then I'm pretty much free for the next three days! I'm so excited.

Oh and my goals for next week are to visit Alfie and finish watching the British Office (Everyone's invited). Dream big. It should be an action packed week.

The end.

KK.

The mountains and the trees, are they just what you need? Or are they less than what you'd expect to see?

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." -Harold Whitman

I like that quote. 

Today was a good day. I am just listening to some tunes right now and watching the debates. Multitasking. No one is online tonight so I have no one to talk to! Where is everyone? Is there some awesome party that I was not invited to? Again... really?

Anyways. Today is Tuesday. Carolyn and I had our Home Health Aide class from 9-3 today and we did vital signs, it was pretty fun. I'm getting to know some people in the class so it's nice to have new people to talk to. We were taking peoples weights today and I was the first one to get my sheet done, so I brought it up to our teacher to get it checked off. She started waving her hands around in the air and muttering to herself, and she was saying thing like "Ooooh this is amazing, you will go so far, oooh, you must have ocd" And I said "Actually... I do have ocd." And she said "Ooooh how wonderful, that'll take you so far. I don't care if people don't like you." I made a big sad frowny face and walked away. Other than that today was excellent. :\ 

When I got home from school I took a quick nap, ate dinner, took a bath to some rap tunes (my version of a night at the spa), helped my brother with his piano, and now here I am. Tomorrow I have class from 9-3 again and we are learning how to use transfer belts. Then KK and I are making Youtube videos. Maybe we'll put up a link... maybe. 

Big ups to my cuz John who is in Guatemala right now.... HEYYOOOOO! If you are back email me and tell me about it!!

I was looking through the blog comments (I love it when people comment... subtle hint) and I found this one from my dad that made me laugh:

Hi EmEm & KK,
I haven't been commenting much 'cause I wasn't real cool with Liisa's karate mama moniker. Now that's that. 
Also, I need to get home earlier from 
the clubs and parties so I can stay awake at the keyboard! Well, anyway, you know. Seriously, I'm happy to read your blogs and really look forward to them so keep them coming!

Love, Dad (EmEm)

Haha, my dad is a playa. Other than that there is really nothing new with me. KK, Will and I went to see Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist last night and it was really good! I want to see Eagle Eye soon. I am eating some festively colored candy corn. I am going to write a poem tonight. I need to get back to writing, I think I have been inspired. 

Love, EmEm

As you breathe out, and I breathe in

Hi guys. What a crazy week. 

Do you want to know something? I have the best friends in the world. I don't tell them that enough. 

And my family is pretty dope too. My little brother is juggling school, soccer, piano, friends, family, church and a million other things but he always finds time for me. I hope that never changes. 13 is one of those weird ages, but I want him to always be able to talk to me. Most of all I just want him to know that no matter what, he will always be a priority in my life and he just has no idea how much I love him. 

Alex came home this weekend! It was really good to have him back. Doty, Alex, Will and I went to Camp Snoopy on Friday and rode all the best rides. We did our classic "dead in the swings" routine and got soaked on the Log Chute. I also didn't know that instead of taking pictures of you on one of the roller coasters, they take video now. So I did my make-out face (if you don't know, you don't want to, it would turn you on too much) for most of the ride and everyone looking at the videos saw it afterwards. If I didn't look so hot doing it, I would be more embarrassed... ;)

Ummm what else. School is going really well, Carolyn and I started our Home Health Aide class and we both love it. We learned how to do personal care on Friday, so we did things such as bed baths, brushing other people's teeth and dentures, making an occupied bed, nail and foot care, etc. My teacher is hilarious and she is so passionate about her work and her patients. I can't wait for clinicals! In my ADEV class on Friday we perfected our joke telling technique, and in Sociology of Family Violence I found out that I aced my first paper and got an A on my first exam! I am psyched about that because I enjoy that class so much. 

I am so happy right now. My heart is very full :)

Love, EmEm

This week

Helloooo gang! 

It's EmEm AND KK reporting from EmEm's couch. We have just had a full night of watching The Office, shopping for Halloween costumes and pinky swearing that our diets will start tomorrow. Other than that, not much is new with us. KK bought a blue mini skirt tonight that will match the bike I want to get:

Will says it will go 30 mph tops, but I think I will still take it out for a spin on the freeway. 

For Halloween, KK wants to be a slutty Greek and I want to be a slutty Nurse. We are taking my little brother trick or treating, and maybe KK's brother too. They are going to be a slutty policeman and a slutty construction worker. 

Anywayyyss... here are a couple of news stories from the week:

1. KK nicked herself shaving today and it's swelling.

2. ALEX IS COMING HOME ON WEDNESDAY FOR 4 WHOLE DAYS!!! And even though Alfie is only at St. Thomas, he is coming home that weekend too!

3. I am getting some new shoes.

4. It was Will's birthday on Tuesday, HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILLIAM!

5. I started my Home Health Aide classes and they are really fun! My teacher is so funny and even though there is a lot of information she makes everything so easy to remember.

6. KK's ADEV teacher is going to be mad at her for forgetting to do her paper. 

7. KK got a haircut and likes her hair today. 

8. I need a haircut.

9. Rascal has been moody lately, but he got a nice long walk today so that cheered him up. 

KK wants to go home now, but she's not going anywhere.

Love, EmEm (and KK)

Hi again

So I just spent the past forty five minutes reading all the posts on this blog and realized I've only actually posted about four or five times. So I thought I'd treat you all to another post by me because I know how much you all missed me.
I don't have too much to say. School's been cool. I realized how much I now hate Tuesdays because I'm doing something from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. But today's Friday, so I guess I shouldn't even be talking about Tuesdays. Oh, and f.y.i., this post is going to be more a huge train of thought instead of anything cohesive? comprehensible? whatevs, you get the idea.

I got a haircut! I now have bangs but I've been too afraid to take a shower because otherwise I'll get phone calls getting asked to do advertisements like these:

I'm implying my hair's going to be frizzy in case you didn't get it. But I'm thinking of getting another straightening iron because I have my other one to Gabi. No worries though, I'll shower right after I finish this post. And if Amelia is still reading these posts I hope she knows I've been reading her blog! and I enjoy her pictures mucho.
Sweet mother of pearl I'm tired which is odd because I got ten hours of sleep but I'm trying to think of more to write about. Oh! I got these free passes to the movie Appaloosa for Monday night. Admit two! But I stole Evan's (he let me) so I can invite four people! Not meaning much though because I only know two other people now. So they're invited. Emily, spread the word to Will. And today I went to Caribou and ate lunch with my grandma and mom. Then I tried to get my grandma to invite me over but she would not have it. So I've been moseying around the house. Emily if you're reading, I'll be home tonight! and tomorrow... and you have my Extra's DVD. Thanks.
That's all I got. This post was pretty much a waste of your time. But it gave me something to do for ten minutes, so thanks for reading Emily and Emily's mom! (I think my mom gave up on this blog once we got on the plane to Chile).

Peace,
KK

EFFFFFFFFFFFF THIS!

I hate today. 

Emily

This is that fresh, that fresh feeling

Hey guys. How are you doing?! I am... alive. I have had a lot of high-highs and low-lows lately but thats what makes life exciting. On Monday I went to The Hennepin County Domestic Violence Court and to my surprise, the first arraignment up was a couple I had known from Southwest! I guess they had more problems than anyone realized. KK and I went to the Chicanos-Latinos Unidos meeting yesterday which was a lot of fun. There are some foxy guys in there, and I am proud to say that we are the only non-latino members of the club. The leader, Rose, asked us if we were from the graphic design program (whose members are doing Dia de los Muertos posters) and when we said no a girl said "There you go again Rose, stereotyping everyone...." It was pretty funny, it broke the ice at least :). I spent most of today writing my paper on my experience in DV court, and now that I'm finished I'm going to go have some fun! Tomorrow I have class and then I'm working at Claire's again for most of the night. I found this sweet looking motorcycle on Craig's List the other day for $200. Mom?

Love, EmEm

Sunday night

Ummm hi. This week has been alright. On Wednesday KK and I went to the Student Involvement Fair. We both signed up for Chicanos-Latinos Unidos, so that should be fun. Hopefully we'll meet some fellas interested in helping two sexy but single ladies with their spanish. I also signed up for the Christian group on campus. On Thursday I hung out with Amelia, Will and Doty. We had a late night picnic at Lake Nokomis! On Friday I went to classes. I didn't talk to the foxy men in either of them but thats okay, maybe next time. After school I hung out with Tarek. He was driving and got distracted, and we rear ended someone. That was no fun at all but everyone was alright so that's all that matters! On Friday night I watched a movie and the Office at Will's house with Amelia and Doty. Then on Saturday I had my first day back at Claire's! It was a lot of fun, I forgot how much I liked piercing! Everything came back to me pretty quickly so I'm excited about working there for awhile. On Saturday night Will and I went to Bridgette's dorm at the U. We hung out there for awhile and then went to Too Much Love, a dance club at First Ave. We met up with Devon, Emma, Hannah, their friend, Amelia and Doty. I got those huge black X's on my hands because I'm not 21 (American clubs.... sheesh ;).... ) I ended up falling asleep on my hand at Bridgette's and woke up with a big black X on my face! Boooooo. Today I caught up on sleep... surprise surprise, ate Chinese food and watched Everwood. Tomorrow I am going to Domestic Violence court for a paper I'm writing for my Family Violence class. It should be pretty interesting, they hold the trials at the jail so I'm actually kind of looking forward to it. That's it for now! Talk to you guys later. 

Love, EmEm

Chello???

Well, I would like to say I've been inspired to continue blogging because of Mrs. Holm's comments. (Thanks! BFF's!) Anywho, I would also like to say a big "awwww" to Emily's previous post. Aren't you just a sweetheart? I really really like my friends as well so when we go to the student involvement fair tomorrow to join the foxy fella group (I don't know the actual name so ask Emily) we can set up our own table dedicated to our friends called Amigos, mostly to show our other new foxy friends that we are practically bilingual. We would be the only members but who really cares?
All right, well nothing too new has been going on. Muchkin's starings have intensified to the point of awkward. And everytime I look at him he does this smile but not a creeper smile, just one of those "Hey friend! Fancy you happened to look this way as I was staring at you!" but I'm tired and don't feel like writing more, so maybe when I'm inspired again to write a novel like post I'll do it? Whatever...
peeeeaaaaaaccccceeee

P.S.

Mom we didn't go to a club or anything that night so don't be mad like your comment suggests.

We live in a beautiful world

Ummm chelloooo. It's me, EmEm. Happy Monday guys. I would tell you about my day, but honestly, all I did was sleep, watch Grey's Anatomy with my momma and study a little bit. I am pretty sick right now with a cough and sore throat and all that fun stuff. I just tried calling KK but she's not home. Where are you KK?!?! Who can a girl depend on for a nice chat and kick in the shins if not her best friend. So this weekend was ballerrrrrr. On Friday I hung out with Tarek for awhile and we went shopping. Then on Saturday I worked 7:30-2. When I got home I showered because I always come home from Jamba sticky, and then Will picked me up for the road trip to St. Cloud. Me, Will, KK, Alfie, Lauren and Amelia ended up going. It was a pretty chill ride up there, I mostly slept, Alfie took pictures of me sleeping and we put in the road trip mix Amelia had made with a combination of our musical tastes on there. We got up there and met up with Alex and his roommate Patrick. I gave Alex the bracelet I made him and a necklace from Tarek. We went down to the rec room and played pool and air hockey, sat around outside and talked and then we all walked down to their beach. Will, Patrick, Alfie, Doty and Lauren went swimming but I didn't want to get even MORE sick so I sat up on the beach and talked with Alex and Amelia. After that we went back to the room, Alfie took a shower and we watched SPACEJAM! Then we went back down to the beach and hung out there until we were waaay too tired. We took the seats out of Will's van and somehow managed to fit all 7 of us (Patrick went back to the dorm) in there. Needless to say no one slept at all. We lay around in there until about 6am and then went to Perkins for breakfast and said our goodbyes to Alex. I slept on the ride home and for the rest of Sunday! :)

I really, really like my friends. We are a really good fit together and I am so lucky to have people like that in my life. They aren't going anywhere, and having the confidence in them to say that means so much to me. Not everyone has friends like I do. I am truly blessed. 

Tonight I am asking for prayers for health, my Gramie who has a bunch of doctors appointments right now, and my little brother who is doing everything he can to find out who he is. 

Sorry this post was so serious, deal with it. 

Love, EmEm

Protect your cardinal treasure, KK

Does anyone read this anymore? I don't care how sick of me you are, I'm going to keep writing. But please let me know if anyone is actually reading this; the more people reading, the more Kathryn will write because she is an attention whore. Hi KK.  

So things have been pretty dece lately. I've just been pretending to figure things out. I have really been enjoying school but I'm looking forward to my Home Health Aide class, because that will fill up my schedule a bit more. 

I got sucked back into Claire's again. I got a call from my old boss the other day pretty much begging me to come work for her out in Burnsville, so I am going to start doing that part time on top of working at Jamba Juice. I'd quit Jamba but I really like it there and the pay is better than at Claire's... plus Burnsville is far away! 

I'm really excited because Will, Amelia, KK, Alfie, Lauren, Tarek and I are all driving up to see Alex Saturday night!! I'm pretty sure we are just staying the night somewhere up there, but we'll see. It's going to be really fun. Even though school just started a couple weeks ago I already miss everyone so much (except for KK because I see her everyday PRACTICALLY)!

Ok...

Favorite song of the moment: Just Friends by Gavin DeGraw

Favorite book of the moment: Either Santiago's Children or 90 Minutes in Heaven, I can't choose

Favorite food of the moment: This never changes, duh. Thai food. You should know that.

Favorite TV show of the moment: Without a Trace

Favorite class of the moment: Sociology of Family Violence because my lover is in there

Favorite website: This one, obviously.

Why am I asking myself all these questions? KK you answer them now. But be careful because you might not know these PEOPLE so maybe you should lie sometimes to protect your cardinal treasure. 

Love, EmEm

My very first day of school

Hey fam,

I have a minute so I thought I'd write you a quick update. Okay, who am I kidding, I have an amazing amount of free time and I'm always looking for someone to share my sorrows and joys with. Lucky you. 

I had my first day of class on Friday and it went a lot better than KK's first day. My first class was Family Violence. I got to school a little early so I wandered around campus and found Jessica working at the security desk. We chatted it up and she told me how to get to the M building, where my first class was. I felt like an idiot because I've been going to MCTC for a year already, for PSEO, and I don't even know where the M building is! I also felt like an idiot because she called me an idiot. I was reading "How to make the most out of college" in Seventeen or CosmoGirl or something like that the other day, and one of the tips was "Find the cutest guy in class and sit next to him." So I wandered around my classroom inspecting men and found the best potential life partner and sat down next to him. We had a nice chat but my teacher kind of ruined the mood by putting pictures of child molesters up on the projector. 

After class I had some time so I went to talk to Jessica again. I asked her what kind of services she could offer me at her desk, and she said "Well what do you need?" I said, "One friend making booth, please." And she said "Not even Jesus could help you with that." She then handed me a rape whistle and sent me on my way to ADEV. 

ADEV is a class devoted to getting the most out of college. They teach you how to study and choose a career and all that fun stuff. My professor walked in with this huge smile on his face, slammed his books down, and said "Congratulations. 7 out of the 25 of you have showed up." (More people ended up coming later, the room was kind of hard to find). He then said, "They told me to teach this class 2 weeks ago. I don't know what I'm doing. I don't have assignments for you. If you don't want to do something, tell me." We spent the rest of the class talking about Teeth. I'm not going to tell you what Teeth is. It is a movie. Look it up. After class I figured I'd give Jessica one more try, so I went to talk to her again. We went out to lunch and had a nice time. 

After I got home from school KK and I met up with Alfie at the fair. We ate a lot of food and complained a lot, it was a good time.

This weekend we are getting the whole gang (well two separate gangs but both of them mine) and driving up to see Alex at college! He's going to St. John's so it's only about an hour and a half away.  We're gonna hang out, see the campus and dorms, and go to a club that night. It should be fun! I'll write more later!

Love, EmEm

Emily has harassed me enough into doing a blog post. Although I am not happy doing it, I would like to take this opportunity to say up front, if my blog is not up to par with Emily's, I'm going to blame it on the fact it's two in the morning and I, like Emily, still suffer from jetlag.

I'm also hungry...

Well, I guess I could start with a day in the life of awkward, anti-social, quiet KK at her second day of MCTC!

1st hour- English 1110- Your basic college English class. Nothing too out of the ordinary happened there. My English teacher seems like the strict but nice sort of lady. Plus she's not too tough on the eyes if you know what I mean. Anywho, I should rewind to roughly 8:28 a.m., 32 minutes before my first hour, when my panties were still in a bundle because I had no clue where my science class was. Well, the girl at front desk I happened to know from Southwest (Jessica D.) and she let me linger around the counter for a half hour which was nice. I fetched Snapple for her from the cafeteria. I'm her slave now until this Friday.
Anyways, fast forward to second hour!!! (I thought I should write in exclamations like Emily always does... maybe it'll make me seem extra sweet too).
2nd Hour- Environmental Science 4934- Well, I saw Robert Muller. Turns out we have second hour together. I used to go to elementary school with him. He definitely did not recognize me but in my state of loneliness I considered reintroducing myself until it was then I realized he was looking back at me! Well, this moment of euphoria only lasted a few seconds because I realized he was glaring at me. Almost as if he was saying "Please stop smiling like that at me, people are beginning to stare and I can't remember your name." So I retreated back to the corner. Probably for the best, he's kind of fugly now. And come to think of it, the squinting could be the result of his supreme highness at the time. Actual class, not much happened. My teacher's going to let me call him Rob (O.K. and he's letting the rest of the class call him Rob too... but that's beside the point) and he has shoulder length hair with a beard. So I figured if Robert M. and I can't be best friends than who better to replace him with than my science teacher with the same name! Most memorable moment was some girl kept breathing funny throughout the last half of the class and it was incredibly distracting. So it's all I'm really able to remember about the class.
3rd Hour- Something with success and college in the title 2954- Finally! I found my ghetto class. My teacher let us all know off the bat that it took her nine years to get her four year degree. And she was one of the only ones in her family of seven to go to college. On top of that, her sister ran away from home when she was sixteen, did lots of drugs, didn't feel like having rules for her kids because she didn't like rules, and her daughter got pregnant at 15. Then her sister's granddaughter is currently pregnant with her second child at age 17. I was of course over joyed by this news because I love babies and have been looking for baby sitting jobs since Theo and Raina could look after themselves. So, I slipped her a piece of paper with my name and number. Slightly kidding... It should be an easy A though. But this is the class with my munchkin man. Story of the munchkin man. He's a man that looks like a munchkin with a super round beer belly, too blue eyes, bald head and a short stature. He can't be taller than 5'3''. His little feet would dangle off the ground. It was kind of funny. Anyways, we were numbered off into groups and of course, he's in my group. Our first task was to find things we all had in common. Well, after I threw out a few of my hobbies like writing, drawing, needlework, collecting rocks from my lawn, crying for the heck of it and playing traditional celtic tunes on the accordian and finding no one shared my love for any of these things, another girl thought she'd throw out a few ideas. She asked if we all liked to party. (I do like parties but these are not your average Disney themed parties she was talking about). Everyone said yes, and I didn't want to bring the group any more embarrassment then I already had, so I said I liked to party as well. When I said this, munchkin said "Oh yeeeaaaahh, that's good... that's good". I was a little creeped out so I just avoided eye contact (Which was hard because he was sitting six inches away from me and every time I looked at him I wanted to tickle him. You'd understand if you saw him). Then the next question was "So we all must be eighteen" and munchkin immediately says "No" so the girl asks him how old he is. We wait a good ten or fifteen seconds as he dazes into space then responds with "24". It was at that moment munchkin man lost all of his tickle appeal. I bolted out of there and to went to Subway. Everything went fine until I realized I had no one to eat with. Yeah, yeah, big deal, I have friends. I swear. But again, I made Jessica let me eat at the counter of the front desk. Though she made me eat over the garbage bin a few feet away when a bunch of lettuce fell out of my sandwich onto the floor. *sigh*
Last Class- I no longer remember the name of any classes. Something to do with education?- I actually like this class too. Nothing too unusual happened. Sat in the corner... literally. Same old, same old.

Bus ride home, I eavesdropped on three kids around the age of eleven sitting in front of me. I even laughed sometimes at the things they said. They noticed every time, so at the end of the day, the biggest creeper was me.

I now hope Emily will never ask me to write another blog after this treacherously long post.

We're back?!

Hey everyone,

(And by everyONE I mean the one person who is still reading this). We're back. We've gotten some requests to keep the blog going and since we are desperate people pleasers that's what were going to do! I (EmEm) just got back from a family reunion. That was a lot of fun and I met/reunited with 3 new... I think they are second cousins?? Help me out here KK! Well anywho their names are Rose, Brianna and Kaylie.  Rose is toddling around and I wish KK would have been there because she walks JUST like I did for a good portion of the time on our trip. Heeeeeyyy again Mom. Well anyways, KK starts classes at MCTC today. Mine don't start until Friday. KK told me I wasn't allowed to blog about the intimate details of her life but let me just say that so far we have managed to agree on which campus hotties are deserving of our love, attention and endless amounts of free time. I guess that's it for now... I have a couple of goodbye parties to go to tonight because the last of my high school friends moving more than an hour away are going off to college. I just took a nap (its jetlag) and now I have to go beautify!! I'll get KK to update soon about her first days of college.

Love, EmEm

Home!

That last lovely post was by KK. It's me again, EmEm. We are home safe and sound and I think I've finally caught up on all my sleep. The trip was AMAZING. It turned out to be so much more than I even dreamt it would. I have never discovered so many things about myself so quickly. We're planning to go back winter '09-'10, but who knows if we'll have another adventure before then! KK has a cousin studying abroad in Africa and wants to go visit him next summer, so I might just pack myself into her suitcase. Now I have to go order Chinese food... I'm trying to stay cultured!! ;) To the famfam, I can't wait to see you next week! And to everyone else... see you next adventure :). 

Love, EmEm

...

and we're home.

Last Night In Argentina

Hey guys,
It's me AGAIN. It's our last night in Argentina. I can't believe how fast the trip went! We are already planning to come back for New Years '09-'10... that's only 1 1/2 years! It will be summer in South America so it'll be nice and hot and there will be no school for Gabi or Rodrigo. We are really going to miss it here. It's so beautiful and peaceful here. There is just such a different feel than in North America. I feel thankful and faithful and trusting here.
Yesterday we went to Recoleta to see the cemetery. The tombs were HUGE and very very old. Evita Peron is buried there and we were able to see her tomb. Her casket wasn't visible though because it is far underground in case someone tries to steal it again! We went to a little street fair after and I bought a necklace and some roasted peanuts. Sorry Eric, I already ate them all!
Today we went to El Autodromo, which is a car race in Buenos Aires. It was SO loud but it was a lot of fun. Rodrigo and his friend Maury had VIP passes so they were very excited about that and they brought us back some ear plugs from the lounge.
All we have left to do tomorrow is pack and maybe do a little shopping. Matias is coming over to say goodbye and then we are off. Please pray for safe travel and easy goodbyes for us. Also please pray tonight for our friend Julia and her family. It's the 3 year anniversary of her death and we were all thinking about her today. She should be 18 now.
Well guys, it's going to be a long flight home! Next time we write it'll be from Minneapolis!
Love, EmEm

Friday night!

Hey guys,
It's me AGAIN. KK has abandoned the blog but I'm back! She has been writing in her journal instead. Sorry it's been so long since we've written, we have been really busy here! It's been a ton of fun. On Monday we went to La Boca to see all of the colorful houses and walk down Caminito. On Tuesday we went to the River Plate soccer stadium which was a lot of fun! ;) Then we went to the Japanese garden. On Wedenesday it was RoRo's mom's birthday and we went to the amusement park but there were SOOOO many people we couldn't get in. We had lunch by the river instead, and KK and I went to a salsa dancing class with Patricia at night. Yesterday was RoRo's birthday so we went out to lunch with his friend Lucas and walked around and lay in the park. We had dinner with the famfam at night. Today we walked to the movie store to rent The Eye which turned out to be the Japanese version, in Chinese, with Spanish subtitles. Surprisingly we understood most of it (the spanish, not the chinese)! Tonight we are celebrating RoRo's birthday by going to the club(s) with some of his friends. We're listening to dance music and getting ready right now. :) It should be a pretty late night so we will probably sleep for a lot of tomorrow and then hopefully go to Recoleta! KK and I have actually been getting along even better than usual *knock on wood!*. Ok well we have to go partypartyparty... don't forget we're 18 and thats the legal age here Mom! Just kidding, KK will be good. ;)
Love, EmEm (KK read and approved)

It's me again

Hey everyone,
It's me again, since KK refuses to blog. Some of us just don't want to disappoint the fans. Yesterday we had a bbq (Barfy burgers) with some of RoRo's friends and watched them play a soccer match. Me and KK sat under a palm tree in the sun and listened to our iPods. After the game we took the bus to the mall and saw La Momia (The Mummy) with some of his friends. "It sucks" -KK. I really liked it though! Today we slept in and had Sunday asado with the famfam. We had salami, sausages and steak. Argentinean asado! "It's delicious!" -KK. Then we drove with his parents to San Telmo where they had a huge antique fair! We bought a few things "But nothing for you!"-RoRo Then we went to a little coffee shop with his parents where I had a panqueque with dulce de leche and KK had flan. Tomorrow we are going to La Boca!! We are having so much fun here and we never want to leave!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *hint hint*
Love, EmEm (with RoRo and KK)

Its EmEm (the better one)

Hey guys,
Sorry we haven't really updated in awhile. My birthday was yesterday and we had a lot of fun! We went to the zoo with some of RoRo's friends and his friend Gerbil (Matias) bought me a little stuffed animal for a present :). We saw a TON of really cool animals like sharks, hippos, stingrays and bats. The aquarium was the best part. After the zoo (it took most of the day because by bus it's about 2 hours each way) we stopped home. Then Rod, KK and I went out to dinner at this restaurant by his house. It has really good but inexpensive food and I ordered my first legal drink in south america (hi mom) but they didn't even card us so it wasn't as exciting. After that we came home and had an ice cream cake that RoRo's mom bought. I even got birthday kisses from the FAM! Today we slept in and had lunch with Rodrigo's mom and brothers. Then we took the bus to downtown Moron and went shopping. I got some new pants and KK got a bunch of stuff. We went to a coffee shop and had facturas which are delicious!! Then we took the bus home and here we are! I'm not sure what the plan is for tonight but I know we are going to try to go tangoing soon and tomorrow we are having asado at one of Rod's friend's houses. I'll write more later! Besos!
Love, EmEm

Friday

Added more pictures.

It's Almost My Birthday!

Don't forget.
Love, EmEm

Its ME!

Hey Ganga,
EmEm here. Today I was pretty sick with a head cold so I stayed in bed. RoRo and KK walked about 8 blocks to the movie store and came home to watch Reign Over Me with me! I took over RoRo's bed and made him sit on the floor. We ate tasty meals with the famfam and had chicken for dinner. Tomorrow we are going to Hooters in Puerto Madero with some of Rod's friends and Avenue Florida. I'm feeling a little better so tomorrow should be fun! We'll update you later!
Love, EmEm

Finished

So this is KK speaking (sorry). Quick update, I finished uploading the Chile pictures. Again, I have more, but it would take to long to upload all of them now. So I hope the two or so people reading this (hi!) can wait until we get home, por fa. Anywho, today was our first complete day in Buenos. We had another meatfest with Rodrigo and his friends. The meat was fabo, por supuesto and then we stopped by a huge super market called Jumbo. Although Emily is starting to feel a little sick. So I've been giving her the x sign with my fingers whenever she gets too close to me. I'm so caring. But right now she's getting her sleep so all is good. So check out the photos!

P.S. Mother of mine (KK). ¿Donde estás? You have been incommunicado since Wednesday.

¡Buenas noches!

For the FamFam

We are at Rodrigo´s house with a computer that lets us upload pictures so we can add a few from Chile (btw, Rodrigo is still really cool). Sorry, Rodrigo got a hold of the keyboard.

OK, so the plan originally was to upload them straight to the blog but that´s taking too long so I´m going to upload them to my flickr account. It´s meant to just give you an idea of what everything looks like, so no worries Emily and I both have more pictures to share with the family when we get back home. But let us know what you think and feel free to comment. (Implying please comment, we´re always in desperate need of a compliment or attention. Thank you).

http://flickr.com/photos/25287822@N08/sets/72157606407670360/

Edit: It´s taking way too long to upload the pictures, so I´ll slowly add a few more each day, but there are four or five up right now.

Leaving Chile-Flying to Buenos today!

Hey guys,
Sorry we haven´t been updating as much as before. I think we have gotten about 9 hours of sleep in the last 3 days. The parties or discos here start at like midnight and go til 4 or 5 in the morning. But we are having a lot of fun! We´re sad to be leaving Chile today. We really love it. Yesterday we went with Gabi´s family to her grandparents´ house which is about an hour away and we rode horses. The view of the mountains was beautiful, I have never seen anything like that before. We had a BBQ with her family which consists of a lot of different steaks and sausages, it was delicious. We got back into Viña at 8 and I went with Gabi, her little brother Rodrigo and her parents to their church service. It was so cool!! They go to a Catholic church, and I am Lutheran so a lot of the prayers, songs and creeds were almost exactly the same... but in Spanish! So the church was saying them in Spanish and usually I could recognize them and say them in English. I haven´t felt that connected to a church in a long time, it was a really good feeling. They have kind of a shrine to a Saint that Chileans pray to (I can´t remember his name) outside of the church and there were hundreds of little cards on the wall and a bunch of people sitting around with candles and praying. I asked Gabi what it was for and she said that you pray to the Saint for something that you really need, like if your mom is sick you pray for her to get better, and when your prayer is answered you write what happened on the card and post it on the wall. There were hundreds of them. It was amazing. After church we came home and got ready, and went to Gabi´s friend´s brother´s birthday party, his name is Fernando. That was a lot of fun but we were so tired that we left at about 3:30 and went home instead of going to the disco. In Chile there is a preparty, the real party and usually an afterparty too. They know how to do it. Ok well I should go, we are really excited to fly to Buenos Aires today and see Rodrigo but we still need to finish packing! We have his iTouch safely in KK´s carry on! If you pray, we ask for prayers for safe travel and easy goodbyes. :(

Your ladies are almost there RoRo!
Love, EmEm (half read by KK, not sure if approved)

Thursday

We did absolutely nothing until around sixish when we went to their ´big´mall and saw The Dark Knight. Emily just decided to correct me by telling me we went into the backyard at around noon. Anyways, The Dark Knight is really good and I love Heath Ledgar, but yeah, it was a bit violent. Then we went clubbing. And no worries, I only had one piscola (pisco and coke) and some other lemony drink. And when I went for my second piscola (keep in mind, this is all in like four hours so I was being quite responsible, thank you very much) someone knocked into me so some of it got on my shirt, and then someone else just completely bumped into me right afterwards so I spilt it and never got to drink it. And I went home with piscola on my shirt and I smelt like cigarettes. So moral of the story, I like clubs but they don´t like me.

:-(

Love KK (Read by EmEm and approved)

Wednesday

First off, yesterday there was a small shower storm and the internet was down. The Australian left yesterday after we toured Valpo and Pablo Neruda´s house. But before he left we went to a hostel for some tasty food. Then Gabi took us to an ice cream shop and we went to the beach after where we were virtually the only people on the beach with the exception of a few kids and some surfers. Today we went to Gabi´s school and were the English speaking freak show. They combined two english classes and had us sit in front and answer random questions like if we thought that the Chilean guys were cute, if our lives were like the Hills, so on and so forth. Then we walked to Reñaca from the school which is roughly a mile away downhill. Stayed at the beach a little because it was sunny but there are so many pathetic and smelly stray dogs (like Emily). AAANNNNNNDDD um... we went to Gabi´s house and Gabi went with us to the mall in Calle Valparaiso in Viña. Anywho, we´re still having a blast but we have nothing to talk about so we´ve said about five words to eachother all day. Anywho, that post is long enough and no worries if we´re not posting more often, it means we´re out partying with foxy (and slightly shady) men. And I´m legal. Hi mom and dad.

The end, KK (Read by Emily and approved).

Hola

Hey guys, just a quick update.
Today we toured Valparaiso and went to a few beaches to look at the coast and waves. We also bought some souveniers from street vendors. Since Gabi´s older brother Pablo spent a year in Australia as an exchange student, his host uncle is staying with us, just for tonight. His name is Simon and he says ´´Crikey!´´a lot. Well it´s almost 1 am here so we should get to bed. Goodnight!
Love, EmEm and KK

FROM CHILE!!!!

Hey ganga,
Este es KK y EmEm, writing from Gabi´s house in Chile! First of all... wow. The house is huge and has an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean! Everyone look up Reñaca Beach, which is the view that we have... not to rub it in or anything :). We´ve had two meals with the fam so far. They are so nice. We had sopapillas, which is a chilean ¨rainy day food¨. Gabi is sick right now so we´ve been hanging with her parents and older brother. She has a younger brother also, but he is very shy... especially about speaking English. Her mother doesn´t speak any English at all, her father speaks a little and her older brother went to Australia for a year so his English is pretty good! Well we should go but there is time for one little tidbit. When you are leaving the airport in Chile there are about 20 people waiting to get Taxi´s for you /try to throw your bags on a rolling cart and then harass you until you tip them... even if they really didn´t do anything. EmEm stood her ground but KK was a big sucker!!!! She only lost 1000 pesos though, which is $2. Ok goodnight!
Love, KK and EmEm

Leaving tomorrow!

Hola amigos,

Tomorrow is the big day! KK and EmEm will embark on their big adventure! I just finished packing, and I am ready to jet off. I have a small carry on duffel bag, a purse, and a suitcase to be checked. Everything is well under the weight limits so I am very thankful that I'm able to bring everything I need... including my hair straightener! I have packed all of my clothes so I'm sitting here writing in my sleep wear... (you're wondering if I sleep naked aren't you?!?! I don't. Usually anyways.) I am soooo excited and I know KK is too because for once we are getting along! We are just too happy to fight over small things. I'm a little worried about getting sick over seas since I have a shamefully weak immune system. So, if you pray, I'm asking for prayers for our health and safety. 

I am really looking forward to wearing my brand new eye mask on the plane. Just putting it on almost knocks me right out! It is so comfortable and blocks out all the light, and it even comes with ear plugs! Now that's a good deal! Maybe I'll even let KK borrow it for a little nap. 

Well, so far, we are sufficiently popular with the Chileans! We have been invited to 2 birthday parties of Gabi's friends, so we are packing our dancing shoes and party hats. 

We get home August 12, and school starts for us on August... 26 I believe (we're going to the same college). I am trying to remember if there is anything I need to do before then, but I don't think there is! I am leaving all worries behind in Minneapolis! 

Well gang, I know this post was pretty pointless. All you really need to know is that we're outta here tomorrow morning. Our plane takes off for Chicago at 10:10, then we're stopping in Atlanta, flying from Atlanta to Argentina, and straight away from Argentina to Chile. We'll be in Chile for a week and then it's back to Argentina for 2 weeks! Then home again home again. It's kind of a bizarre and confusing flight schedule but I'm hoping and praying that it all works out and everything goes smoothly. I packed enough in my carry-on bag for about a week, just in case they lose our luggage. 

Oh! And I went to Target today and bought just about one of everything in the travel section. I got a mini first aid kid, and travel sized tums, midol, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, nail polish remover (be quiet... it's necessary), etc. I also got a nice looking pair of jeans for only $5! Someone gave me a Target gift card for graduation and there was no better time to spend it! 

Alright well I'm outta here. I am really really impressed if you read this whole post without falling asleep. Talk to you soon... from Chile!

Love, EmEm

Let me introduce myself...

Hey fans (hi mom!),

This is EmEm, writing from my bedroom. I just realized from KK's post that some of you (aka members of her extended family) may not know who I am. My name is EmEm. And I am KK's bff. 

In response to KK's post... no, I don't think that sending bumper stickers counts as communication. There is nothing more frustrating than finding a particularly hilarious bumper sticker and reminding yourself to send it later, only to go back and scroll through 62 pages with the hilarious sticker no where to be found! So send away girlfriend. 

And yes, a packing list would be great! 

I went to AAA today and purchased traveler's insurance and a few things for the plane (anti-motion sickness bands, a travel pillow, luggage locks, corsets and bustiers, etc.) so I am ready to get packin'! 

Love,

EmEm

Um...

so to all the family that my mom supposedly sent an email to with a link of this blog. I apologize for the obnoxiousness (since that wasn't underlined I'm assuming it is a word) of our previous three posts, I don't really ever know what our problem is when we post stuff like that... we are just one crazy duo

Anywho, quick update, we're still getting stuff together for packing. But as far as I know, all I need to get are Gabi's orange tridents. So although Emily and I agreed not to talk right now as in effort to make the plane ride there less painful, if she reads this and still needs a packing list then I'll still make one.

Hi Emily (P.S. Do bumper stickers still count as communication?)

love, KK

P.S. just because I apologized for the obnoxiousness does not mean we won't be doing it again. F.Y.I.

Really gang?

ONLY ONE COMMENT?!?!?!? What's wrong with you people???

Ain't no love tonight,

KK and EmEm

Where are you?

We seem be having some technical difficulties. No one has commented yet. In the big vast world wide web can't someone give two lonely but hot girls some love? Anyways, we'll be waiting. *Refresh* *Refresh* *Refresh*

Love,

KK and EmEm

First Report

Hi gang, 

It's EmEm, reporting from my house. KK is sitting right behind me. Actually next to me. It's monday night and we met tonight to make sure everything is in order for our big voyage. It is! We need luggage locks which KK is not looking forward to buying because she is dead broke. But not dead. Yet... teeheehee. Tonight my grandma told me *old lady voice* "When you get home from your trip you're going to wish you were dead! Then you'll know what it feels like to be old Gramie." I think she is referring to how exhausted we're going to be, but I'm really not sure. We're not going to write down our itinerary in case some perv who lives at the airport gets ahold of it. Anyways... we leave on Saturday morning and we should be in Santiago, Chile by noon on Sunday our time. 26 hours of traveling! We're going to be really popular with the kids in South America because we're so cool looking and hot. Sexy can I? 

Love, EmEm (KK too!)