Katie Botkin

What is localization?

One of the most frequent questions I get when I’m meeting people in my own neck of the woods is, “So, what do you do here in town? Do you work for Coldwater Creek?” “No,” I say, although I am often in the presence of one or more people who do — as photographers, webContinue reading “What is localization?”

A short history of our magazine and the economic downturn

The economic downturn has hurt many a publication, and ours was no exception. Our advertisers had to cut costs, and some cut us. Our boss laid out the situation for us, telling us that in order not to lose anyone, we could choose to lessen our individual hours. We were paid hourly, and we hadContinue reading “A short history of our magazine and the economic downturn”

Getting by on beauty

I’ve been doing my taxes, studying returns from the last few years and sorting through my bank account statements to make sure everything is in order. Not for the first time, I’m vaguely surprised by how little I make, considering how good I think my life is. But I can appreciate getting paid partially inContinue reading “Getting by on beauty”

Fiji, live

I had initially embarked upon my recent trip to Fiji somewhat cautiously, because four and a half years ago, I spent a day in Fiji with my little brother, who was 18 and had never seen a third-world country. We exited the airport on an eight-hour layover between New Zealand and Los Angeles, and decidedContinue reading “Fiji, live”

Pretending to be famous

When I got on the plane to go to Fiji, I was greeted by three other women: Marguarite, Elina, and Jennie. They had each reposed themselves in their row of seats in the second-story bubble of our not-so-private jet. I had a row of seats as well — three whole seats in what amounted toContinue reading “Pretending to be famous”

So, am I to understand that…

Given the premise that having someone else pay for your contraception or chosen method of family planning makes you a prostitute To avoid having one party in any relationship reduced to prostitution, it is necessary for them to equally divide the cost of contraception, perhaps calculating it out per encounter and leaving the money onContinue reading “So, am I to understand that…”

In the woods

Last Saturday, I decided to take advantage of the week’s fifty-odd inches of new snowfall and hit up Schweitzer with my snowboard. I texted a few friends on the way, but they were waking up late. I chuckled and surveyed the conditions. Foggy at the summit, and windy. Ice-whipping-sideways-and-stinging-my-face windy. I guessed it would beContinue reading “In the woods”

Glendale Raptors defeat Old Puget Sound Beach in spring season start (and other stories)

Glendale won 35-21 after a close game this past Saturday between two of the nation’s leading rugby teams. Despite winning the last season, the Colorado-based Raptors had suspected that they would have their work cut out for them in playing the Washington-based opposition on its own turf, and, indeed, they were tied at the beginningContinue reading “Glendale Raptors defeat Old Puget Sound Beach in spring season start (and other stories)”

In the waters of Royal Davui

I look for adventure that will make my blood surge, although the ocean has probably provided me with more terror than all other terrain combined. I have always wanted to go diving, and now, here in a pristine Fijian paradise, I have the chance. So I start in the resort’s pool, and dive off-jetty withinContinue reading “In the waters of Royal Davui”

For my Valentine

Sometimes, in these last few years, I couldn’t help but feel that the mistakes I’d made would haunt me forever, at least in projected marks upon my forehead. For better or worse, as cliché as it may be, the bad times make you who you are as much or more than the good times. ButContinue reading “For my Valentine”