Cup of Coffee with Katie

It's hard for me to believe, but you've been enjoying a "Cup of Coffee with Katie" for over a year and a half now; however, for quite some time before that, there was someone else who enjoyed a monthly cup of coffee with me: in real time, face-to-face, not through the interface of a digital screen. If you flip through my planners from the past few years (which yes, of course I keep!) you'll notice the same entry somewhere on almost every monthly calendar: Coffee with Linda. Linda was the first teacher I met at my new school when I arrived in Baltimore back in the summer of 2010. When I went to unload some boxes in my new middle school classroom, she was sitting across the hall at her desk in a classroom already decorated and prepared for the start of the new year (note: it was mid-July at this point). She and I were the 6th grade team that year and she helped me navigate the world of middle school: one which was completely foreign to this 2nd...

It was almost 2 years ago now when I wrote my post about the perils and pitfalls of dating in a celiac/food-allergy world. I closed that post by saying, “Keep searching until you find Mr. or Miss “Right for You” (which by the way means they also have to choose you back). I’ll let you know if I ever find that person for me. Until then, I’ll be driving solo down the open road, loving my life, and keeping an eye out for potential passengers…and occasionally belting out my own solo ballad of course :-)” Well, I’m a woman of my word, so this is me letting you know: I found him. Or really, he found me. We’ll just say we found each other…and I’ve never been so grateful for anything in my entire life. Meet… the Physicist. Our paths first crossed 7 years ago when he and I were both wrapping up our senior years of college (his at Notre Dame and mine at Villanova) when one April weekend, I landed in South Bend for ACE Orientation weekend. ACE is the service-through-teaching/gradua...

It's hard to believe it has been a year since I wrote what remains the most shared/commented-on post about the silent hero in my life: my dad. I just re-read that post and I can honestly say there isn't much more I could add to summarize who he was, how he has shaped the person I've become, and how he lives on in my heart 15 years after our final hug. I know he would be a big supporter of the year of fiscal responsibility, as his money-saving skills were far superior to anyone I've ever met. I know he would be shaking his head in amusement watching my mom attempt to master her new iPhone (I know, she has one before I do! It's a crazy world we live in.) And I know he'd be overjoyed right now...because it's Lent, and what does that mean?? It means seafood is everywhere (among other theological truths of course :-)) Now don't get me wrong, my dad LOVED meat. And by that I mean beef in particular. He loved a juicy steak, he perfected some of the oddest mea...

I should warn you in advance: this is going to be a long one...but I have an awful lot to say. Consider yourself warned :-) As many of you know, my full-time job is teaching. This year, I get to spend 80% of my day teaching Paschal Mystery so my days are filled with Scripture readings, deep questions about life after death, various artistic interpretations of Jesus' Ascension into heaven, and other activities of the sort. The other 20% of my day, however, is devoted to something very different: 11th and 12th grade Economics. Yes, my dual degrees in Liberal Arts and Business finally make sense... 7 years after I darted between ceremonies performing a quick change of hoods during Villanova Commencement weekend, it finally all makes sense. 20% of my day is devoted to exploring opportunity cost, calculating marginal utility, charting production possibility curves, etc. I'd be lying if I said I didn't love every minute of it. I always knew there was a reason I wanted both...

Here it is: Super Bowl Sunday! Granted, the match-up this year has me wishing it were possible for neither team to win. From what I've heard, I don't think Bill Belichick or Pete Carroll are the most upstanding of individuals. Though I suppose I should just offer forgiveness and focus on the accomplishment of all the players who have worked so hard for this accomplishment, I'll admit it's not easy. So what will I do instead? Focus on the fun! Come 6:30, I'll be cuddled up on my couch with my Katie-safe foods and my glue gun. My plan is to watch the commercials and then work on my latest craft endeavor during the actual football portion of the evening. Then I'll probably clip some coupons and plan some lessons....all in all, it's shaping up to be a great evening. At least in my book. :-) Since I feel like last year's post pretty much summed up my thoughts on Super Bowl Sunday, and amazingly the Katie-safe foods from last year remain the same, you can ju...

Happy New Year!! Yes, I'm 3 weeks delinquent in my wishes, but still 2015 has arrived and so far I'd have to say I give it 2 thumbs up. Now I just know you've been sitting around for weeks wondering," Just what is Katie going to designate for this year? Last year was love, this year has to be something amazing, right?" Right. Well, initially I bet you'll be let down by this one...but perhaps by the end of the post, you'll feel differently. So without further adieu, I deem 2015 to be my Year of....Fiscal Responsibility!! (Insert cheers and confetti here) I have a feeling you're a bit deflated at the moment. Hey, at least you're in good company  with the Patriots' footballs (allegedly). Last year's theme was so beautiful, so hopeful, so lovely...and now this? Well, trust me, I have my reasons. First of all, whether I care to admit it or not, the calendar pages keep turning and thus it seems I must actually be getting older. And since one da...

In just 2 days, I will pull the 2014 calendar off my wall and 2015 will quietly sneak its way in. In the 48 hours before 2014 makes its quiet escape, however, I’d like to pause and reflect on the year that was. Turn on any news station these days and you’re bound to run into some form of year-in-review. If you watch those reviews, it will seem 2014 was a dark year- one in which planes mysteriously fell from the sky, ebola ravaged a nation and claimed far too many lives, and celebrities and commonfolk alike left us wondering what has happened to the moral compass of our society. Despite my proclamation to the contrary, this year left many of us shaking our heads and echoing the eternal question of Fergie and the Black-Eyed Peas: Where is the love??  Well, I can personally assure you it was there. It may have been overshadowed, as it often tends to be, by the more disheartening news stories…but I guarantee if you stop and take a look at your own year in review (and I don’t mean the ...