Courtney’s Haven

Public Nudity

“You know, it’s just like being a peddler. You want two breasts? Well, here you are — two breasts. We must see to it that the man looking at the picture has at hand everything he needs to paint a nude. If you really give him everything he needs — and the best — he’ll put everything where it belongs, with his own eyes. Each person will make for himself the kind of nude he wants, with the nude that I will have made for him.” - Pablo Picasso

I remember as a little kid (from stories, vidoes, and pictures) that I loved being naked ALL THE TIME. Little did I know that this indifference would manifest to my present state!

Generally, during my “work week,” I got to work in the morning for 5-6 hours, and then go to class for the remaining afternoon. I always wear nice clothes to work to look professional, and I bring a change of clothes to work to change before I have to walk all over campus. Well, who would know that a change from my slightly banausic routine for one day would result in me being publicly nude!

This one particular day I decided to wear a flowey fall dress with black boots.

That Monday, I was walking on campus, after getting out of my Mathematical Analysis class with my backpack, walking to my car to go to wherever I was headed.

The day was beautiful weather wise, and I was almost in a haze of how glorious it was. (I was probably thinking at the time how I could get out of obligations to go enjoy it!)

Well, while I was not paying attention and thinking about how great the today was , little by little, my backpack kept riding would ride my dress up. I remember once or twice pulling it down just to make sure it wasn’t all the way up, but it turns out I completely missed one side of the dress. My whole right side my exposed!

Oblivious to this all, I hear these guys behind me saying something like, “Class…class…class.” I wasn’t prying into their conversation, so I just kept on walking. A few moments later, one of the guys comes up to me and tells me, “Uh…just letting you know…your dress is riding up.” I smile and tell him thanks. I then realized “Class…class…class” was actually “ASS!…ASS!…ASS!”

I keep on walking to my car and realize that I’m unfazed by it all. To me, it’s just a funny story to tell! I hope the guys behind me appreciated the cute underwear I was wearing that day. That deserve at least a smile on their face, right?

I’ve Been Bitten

It’s true. I have been bitten by the cycling bug, and it’s a horrible thing. My food budget has exponentially increased! I guess it has been about 4 months since I’ve started cycling, and it has almost taken over my life. The only thing I think about after work or school is … go to the park. The only thing I think about Friday night is how early I have to wake up on Saturday to get all the miles in that I want to. (I did 125 miles last weekend.) I haven’t fully gotten into racing (although I have dabbled a little bit in them), but shortly, I want to start doing more racing because I finally have the confidence that I can keep up with that speed (around 22mph-24mph) and do well. Heck, the only way you get better is to gain more experience.

I also have the goal of completing 5 centuries before November. After this, I realize that I must put more miles on my bike than on my car on a month per month basis. I’m glad I’m helping the environment out without even trying!

On a side note, cycling has made me realize how attracted I am to male-dominated sports/industries/fields of study. For instance, I’m finally (YES finally!) going to get a degree in Math. There is a male to female ratio of about 6:1. Also, I have a job in the maritime industry, where it is a rarity to have a female, about 15:1. After 3 years of email correspondence, I have finally turn into a “Dear Lady” instead of “Dear Sirs.” Yes, I do recognize that overseas the name ‘Courtney’ may be more a male name than a female name, but it is just the assumption that I am a male in a male’s industry. I’m not even sure how they knew I was a female. Now, don’t even get my started on cycling. That has to be a 10:1 ratio right there.

I think I thrive in a challenged environment. One of the main reasons I haven’t fully gotten into racing is that I don’t feel as much motivation when I’m racing with girls. I feel more challenge when I’m trying to keep up with the boys! Now, I just have to humble myself to realize that girls can beat me too! Losers remorse I guess. I blame it on estrogen.

It’s Been a Long While

It’s been a long while since I’ve written last, and I regret not maintaining this site. I find that blogging and the like showcases much about our development over the time. From this view, it is interesting to see the ebb and flow of our existence in a real, but honored sense. Maybe I am digressesing and stretching this a little, but the main idea is there.

Many times I can’t believe I’m 24, and I now can see how insignificant age is as we get older. I only wish our bodies worked the same way! At least I can attest that I can still hang with the “big boys.” In January, I ran a half marathon with a dash of training, and I completed it, felt great, and could still run more and more!

The Karl family seems to have the same mentality for this sort of thing. Both my mother and my brother ran the same half marathon untrained, and did it in style. I’m not sure if this can be considered an awesome act or a stupid act, but nonetheless, we did it.

I think the Karl family has amazing genetics, and I am very fortunate for this. All are still alive; all are still communicating with each other; and all bring their uniqueness to the table. There has to be something said about that.

MMMM MMM!

I have lately been dabbling with the culinary arts, and this weekend, a “friend” and I made this.

I prepped everything, and he cooked it.

It was absolutely wonderful!

2 Lamb Ribs with a Port Wine and Cherry Reduction, with White Pepper Mashed Potatoes! mmmmm…I’m almost growing up! We also had it with Medalla Real 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon! It was definitely bon appetite!

Granny is a Orator too…

She always amazes me that amount of which she still knows and the passion of which she displays it.

Today, Theresa, my mom, and Granny were sitting around the dining room table eating breakfast, and the discussion came up about how/where people wanted to be buried. John wants my mom to be buried in Colorado, side by side. My mom doesn’t want that,etc etc.

Cremation, pine boxes, et.al. were all discussed.

Then Granma, just beautifully recites this poem, “Don’t Weep for Me” as such…

“Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.

I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.

I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room,
I am the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.”

I was amazed. She has so much knowledge, wisdom, and more than I can even fathom right now…it’s very powerful. Words cannot express the beauty of it.

I hope that I will be able to recite poems like this to my grandkids at her age…and not some rap song lyrics that Ludacris wrote.

I’m speechless.