"Bitter Isolation"

Oh wow, the things you find looking through old poems you've written...


"Black Hole"

A void of nothing
In the bitter cold
Steals away
The days of old.

A lifeless man
In the smothering heat
Recalls the days
Of toxic defeat.

A soul in agony
In a grave of despair
Singes all the hope
He hoped to wear.

A kiss of death
In the dead of night
Stirs up thoughts
Of eternal plight.

A vile of poison
At the end of the day
Leaves memories lifeless
As they pass away."

-KK, 2/7/04

"Glycolysis"

I had to write a poem using technical jargon for Creative Writing in college, and since I was a Biology major at the time, I wrote about Glycolysis!  I know you are all excited about this... not.


"In eukaryotic cytosol
Sugars get broken down
From glucose to pyruvate--
There's activity all around.

This catabolic metabolism
Needs two ATP's to start.
And as the process carries on,
It pulls the sugars apart.

Side reactions bring energy
To this anaerobic chain;
For each time through the cycle
There's a two ATP net gain.

Kinase adds a phosphate
From the intermediate before.
Dehydrogenase breaks things down
Using the NAD+ in store.

The enzyme hexokinase
Is the first one to play its part;
If there is not enough present,
Glycolysis will not start.

Phosphofructokinase
And hexokinase, too,
And also pyruvate kinase
Are control points it must get through.

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate
Uses aldolase to make
Not one, but two intermediates:
This is not a mistake.

The DHAP must transfer into
The other product here,
Otherwise the cycle stops,
And the end is no longer near.

Phosphoenolpyruvate
Is the last thing to be changed,
Pyruvate kinase the last enzyme,
As the molecule is rearranged."
-KK, 3/17/04

Good Life

I can't believe the contrast between last year and this year, in regard to my own life.  I'm not sure anything has stayed the same, including me.  And I'm finally okay with that.  I'm finally starting to see little pieces of what others keep saying they see in me, and it's a good feeling.

Today I was walking around the UW-Arboretum, thinking about how fantastic my life has been lately... when I stumbled upon this.  It almost brought me to tears.

"Joy is a flower that blooms when you do." -Author Unknown

I can feel it lately; I am blooming, and I feel nothing but joy and contentment.  I am loving life. <3

This song popped into my head 2 weeks ago, and I can't get it out!  I've always loved this song, so I really don't mind.  :)


"It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah..."




In other news, life is awesome lately!  I feel like my luck has finally changed over the last month or so.  I've found the clarity and courage lately to do what I need to do, and I've had tons of support along the way.  Special thanks to Sam and Kristi for pushing me, but lightly, toward believing in myself.  And special thanks to Amanda Beck for being such a positive person and influence each and every day.  I'm excited to see what else awaits me, but I've already been rewarded plenty.


"If you're brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello."  It sure did.  :)

Mo' Girly, Mo' Problems

It's true.  Holy cow, it's true.  Mo' Girly, Mo' Problems...