Sunday, May 22, 2011

"Life Happens"

Who even came up with that quote?


It’s so short, but it just gets it, doesn’t it? Life does happen, and lately, here’s what’s been happening to me: a cocktail of the good, the bad, the sad, the beautiful, and the everything in between.


1. The Write Stuff



This semester, I was blessed to have the chance to take a screenwriting class taught by writer Nancy Dodd (The Writer’s Compass) and screenwriter Randall Wallace (Braveheart, We Were Soldiers, Pearl Harbor). This is the end product of the class: a full-length, 96 page original screenplay! I’ve never been so proud…or sleep deprived/over caffeinated.


2. The Cool Thing



The US Weekly Hot Hollywood party was the last weekend of April, and can I just say it was worth the wait? It was worth the wait. I got to hang out and do a few interviews on the press line with another intern, and watched as Lauren Conrad, Whitney Port, Brooke Burke, Jessica Simpson, and more made their sh-nazzy entrances on the white and pink carpet. But the highlight? By far when Joe Jonas rejected me for an interview. Not because he rejected me (he actually didn’t…his publicist did, and he apologized sheepishly), but because I tried. And because he was short, and that answered my life-long question of whether or not the Lord intended for us to be married (no).


3. The Real World



As hard/weird/strange as it was to say goodbye to Pepperdine a full year early, I can say with absolute certainty that graduating this year was the right thing for me. I still don’t have a plan that extends past this summer, but I’m so excited to see what the Lord has in store next. I’ve got some pretty fun ideas!


4. The New Thing



On May 8th, I competed in my first ever pageant: Miss Dallas USA. SUCH a fun and memorable experience…and at the same time, so crazy! I have this problem where I tend not to try things without a “100% guarantee of positive outcome” tag attached. So competing in Miss Dallas was a big risk for me! No, I didn’t win…but I did place in the top 5 as second runner up! The real reward, though, was in conquering my fear of failure by simply trying something new (although I wouldn’t have minded wearing a sparkly crown on my head, either).


Those, of course, were all good/fun/exciting things. On a different note, however, this past week I lost one of the people who I have always held most dear to my heart. On May 16 at 7 o’clock in the morning, my grandmother passed away. I don’t know that I have the words yet to adequately express the life she lived and the love and legacy she left behind. What I do know is that I will miss her immensely—in my life, she will always remain unmatched. In honor of her, my family made a southern feast of fried chicken, gravy, steamed broccoli, mashed potatoes, sweet tea, and chocolate pie tonight while big band music played from our living room.


I’ll sign off with the recipe for her famous chocolate pie. You’ve got to try it…there’s just no ifs, ands, or buts about it. And believe me…once you’ve had Jimmie Clayton’s pie, you will NEVER eat icebox pie again.



Jimmie’s Chocolate Pie


1/3 cups flour                                            1 tsp. vanilla


1 cup sugar                                                2 tbsp. butter


4 tbsp. cocoa                                             9 inch pie shell


½ tsp. salt                                                  3 egg whites


2 cups milk                                                6 tbsp. sugar


3 egg yolks


Sift flour, cocoa, salt and sugar. Gradually add milk. Cook in heavy pan over low heat until thick, stirring constantly. This may take up to 15 minutes.


Slightly beat egg yolks. Add small (3 tbsp.) amount of hot liquid to egg yolks, mixing well. Stir into remaining hot mixture. Cook 2 minutes, then remove from heat. Add butter and vanilla. When cool, pour into baked pie shell.


Meringue Topping


Using mixer, beat egg whites until stiff foam. Add sugar 1 tbsp. at a time, and continue to beat mixture until stiff peaks form.


Spread over cooled chocolate mixture and bake in pre-heated oven on 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes, or until meringue is slightly browned on top. 



Isn’t she lovely?


xox

Karley with a K. Todos los derechos reservados. © Maira Gall.