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Sheretta

January 25, 2012 //
0


The power of a run. It’s illustrated by the connection I have with Sheretta.

Sheretta is a shy woman, almost 26, single mom and just moved out of a homeless shelter. Sheretta is also a Member of Back on My Feet. Yes, the kickass organization I work for.

In March 2011, I went for my first run with Sheretta. We literally got stuck running together because we’re the same height, same pace, same sense of humor. Starting out for a two mile run, I would ask Sheretta about life… no response. About her kids… one word answer. I have vivid memories of running through the streets of downtown Dallas in utter silence, not because I didn’t have anything to say (HA!), but because I knew I didn’t need to.

Today, we can’t stop talking. She knows my heart, she knows my love for laughter and she definitely knows I’m not the best babysitter.

I’m not writing all of this today to ask for money (that’s my day job). I am writing this today - and you can see what D Magazine wrote about Sheretta - because we need to turn her new house into a home.

In December 2011, Sheretta moved into a three bedroom townhome. Today, she is still sleeping on an air mattress with her angels, Taylor and Tylor. With two kids under the age of five, Sheretta’s family needs a whole lot of everything!

  • Two twin size beds
  • One full/queen size bed
  • Dining room table and chairs
  • Dressers, one for each member of the family
  • Two desks
  • Lamps
  • Shelves
  • Curtains
  • Rugs
  • Chairs

I am personally renting a truck on Saturday, January 28th to help pick up donated, low-cost items. If you have an item which you would like to donate to Sheretta, Taylor (five year-old girl) and Tylor (two year-old boy). Please email me at kristenkouk@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!

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Categories kristen, life, running

Validation, the Mechanic and Scout Chico

March 20, 2011 //
1

Going on a date tomorrow night that is so mired with controversy (in my own mind) that I would have totally bailed if it didn’t include watching Bradley Cooper for a good one and a half hours. Note to self: stay away from bachelor auctions as they inherently cause confusion, obligation, issues with self-confidence, validation and an emergent need for a ten pound loss of a run.

I’m running now. M/W/F with a unique running group. Notice, I said “a unique running group.” Not, “an unique.” Sensitive issue after happy hour with ten recent TCU grads and their lack of grammar skills. Seriously, I called home at midnight on a Friday to receive approval from the Master of Grammar, my mother, only to be informed that she missed that day in third grade. For the record, I’m right.

Other dating stories? Oh, they’ve reached a level of hilarity at this point (read: almost a year single). Met a guy, asked him what he did… “I’m a mechanic.” Automotive technician maybe? Maybe? THROW ME A BONE. Because whatever my occupation – blessed – my job is the rock to your mechanic scissors.

Please don’t dismiss the previous paragraphs as the blinking neon sign that I am ultimately the largest snob in the Big D. While that being inconceivable… I’ve come to decide that I have much more in common with my almost four year old mutt, Scout Chico Kouk. Bordering on brilliance, oozing ambition and really, really dirty. However intelligent and flawed we are, much like Scouters, I’m waiting on a dude to figuratively throw me a dating bone.

K

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Categories dating, film, kristen, pups

Produce Section

December 19, 2009 //
9

Writing this from a corner suite at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas… always wanted to write something like that. Very Bradshaw-esque. No, but seriously this hotel room is bigger than my apartment. I’m pretty sure last night, the first annual Kouk holiday party, I gave Twitter some street cred. I’ve been a Twitterer for a decade [gross over exaggeration] and have been able to enjoy some pretty incredible opportunities. A mucho gracias goes out to the Fairmont Dallas Twitter crew for letting me stay this weekend and impressing my high school buddies with my Twitter skillz.

Tonight, I’m back at the Fairmont and it’s me time. [Read: I need some sort of motivation/downtime to pay my bills.] Hopefully I’ll get my butt in the gym, but so far I haven’t left the king size.

Kind of a weird day to reflect back upon actually. Graham has a family that would like to adopt him and it’s setting in that he is leaving soon. I mean, increduhubble family. I wish they would adopt me. But he will probably leave the hobbit hole after New Years.

Speaking of New Years… my backwards resolution is almost up. I admit, I faltered here and there, but overall, I give myself an A minus. Now… how shall Scout and I begin our search for the perfect man?

Online dating?

Blind dates?

Produce section?

Nope. According to multiple sources, we’re supposed to find him by not trying to find him. GAR.

2010 is already confusing… yet enticing.

K

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Categories events, kristen, pups

This Is Sparta

December 4, 2009 //
14

So the image for this post was supposed to look somewhat like this:

Reality on a Friday night at 10p in Dallas? I’m sitting on the ground in my living room drinking orange gas station wine and yelling at the dogs to stop fighting. Yep, this is happening now, not 10 years in the future.

How did this happen? Let’s start from the very beginning… a very good place to start…

I’m having the same man troubles that my sister is having. She is 13. Thirteen. Therefore, let’s logicalize this… men never change. Sorry, boys never change.

After an exhausting conversation with a 27 year-old boy, I decided I should call my mommy. (We all know I’m not the most mature but this is my blog. I’m allowed to point fingers at others and ignore my own shortcomings.)

I told her, flat out, I’m never going to get married. Never. She then proposed I go on a date with her coworker (thanks Anne). No help whatsoever, I hang up with Anne, put the puppies in my room, charge to the Honda and make my way to Wal-Mart sans makeup or sense of reality.

$50 later?

One large bag of JetPuff Marshmallows, two large Hershey chocolate bars, one box of Honey Maid graham crackers, a box of the most sugary Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate, a pine fire starting log and a bottle of chardonnay from “Argentina.” Harmeless right? Wanting to prove canine companionship, booze and some sugar with a romantical fireplace will solve all life’s problems, right?

EVERYTHING WENT WRONG.

Stupid flue. Supid fire alarm.

Microwaved s’mores aren’t too shabby.

After my disastrous Beyonce-style Single Lady night? I sought out an empowering chick flick. Best I could do? 300.

Inadvertently striving to negate my own assumptions regarding manboys? Do I really think the 18-pack, manliest of all men, Roman gorgeousness really exists?

If he doesn’t, I’m moving to “Argentina” with my dogs.

K

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Categories events, kristen, pups

Horrific Turns Rockstar

November 30, 2009 //
7

This morning didn’t start out so… well.

With four hours of sleep and a raging red eye from sleeping in contacts slash leftover mascara from the epic California trip… I made the commute to rescue a dog. My dog, Scout, had been in boarding – Benny’s Dog Resort – for five solid days. After an early morning transfer across North Dallas, the work week starts and I discover (really just came to terms with as I knew the news before the epicness) my car insurance has been canceled. DUH DUH DUH.

“Irresponsibility is not a good trait missy!” – one of the overly supportive messages of text I received today after explaining my plight. Seven hundred plus dollars later… I’m insured and ramen is my new favorite entree.

Midday? Still downhill. I’ve gotten to the point where coworkers are starting to worry for my eye. So, executive decision maker that I am, I go home, swish swash that contact bugger, make an appointment for Lenscrafters on Thursday and head back to the 17th floor for uber productiveness.

Where does it turn around you ponder? Approximately 3p CST… confirmation that I will be attending our first conference of the year in Cancun, Mexico. Yes, it’s great, Cancun! But better? They’re enlisting me with a grande amount of responsibility and I’m more excited to prove myself then tan while boozing. Seriously. I am.

Quick dip into the mundane after work, a mild jog with the Scouters in preparation of our future visitor…

GRAHAM

Graham, formerly known as Gambler, comes to visit the good ole #333 (it’s officially home now because I’ve signed another lease) from August Dog Rescue. Perhaps his serendipitous arrival should be saved for another post, but today, while starting in utter insanity may have ended up to be one of the most splendiferous, karma-terrific, fuzzy feelings days.

“The question is not, can they reason? Nor, can they talk? But rather, can they suffer?” – Jeremy Bentham

K

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Categories events, kristen, pups
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