There are times when moving on is necessary--for me, this is one of those times. Today will mark the second day YouTube removed my montages for copyright claims. I'm still confused as to why, considering they didn't remove my channel(s) after almost every one of my videos were either blocked in some part of the world or marked with ads next to it.

Here's what the situation comes down to: sure, I should have gotten permission to use the audio tracks, however, they were all payable off iTunes and (obviously) released to the public for use in projects such as commercials and montages. However, there is a big difference between commercials and what I do.

I was using physical media released for public use as long as I did not make profit off it--and I didn't. I was requested to become a partner because of my high viewing average, and I declined. I suppose I should be more gracious to YouTube for letting me stay on their service for 4 years combined without removing me more than twice, and that is something I cannot erase--my gratitude, because YouTube gave me hundreds of comments and support, thousands of friendly greetings and millions of views.

Considering there are young kids making lyric videos who are partners and are making profit off of Britney Spears' latest hit, I thought it was necessary to speak my peace. From now on, I will be boycotting YouTube for the montage realm of things. I had my "farewell montage" set for January of 2012, to the song "Love You 'Til The End" by The Pogues, so I was well emotionally prepared. Being forced to say goodbye to your baby that you nurtured and adored for so many years is hard. Very hard, but I will rise above.

YouTube needs more creative freedom with their copyright laws and have to understand the artistic and therapeutic side of montaging, not the swindling and stealing side that only craves money and a ride with fame. I will keep them as my vlog host and continue to gain views and friends there.

My deepest apologies and gratitude to my large following of fans and viewers. The song "Love You 'Til The End" holds so much meaning for me, especially in relation to how Ekaterina Gordeeva, Sergei Grinkov and the rest of the Gordeeva/Kulik family shaped the person I am today. I love Katia, Sergei, Ilia, Daria and Liza and will continue to keep their bright smiles and beautiful hearts close to mine. I am a product of influence and inspiration from their strength and perseverance. From my heart to yours, dear viewers and supporters, I'll love you 'til the end.

While blog-hopping this morning, I found a quirky blog post idea: my life in six words. So, I decided to take this blogger up on their suggestion to try it myself!

My life is: Resilient. Complicated. Passionate. Enduring. Comical. Service-Oriented.

What are your six words?

Every once in a while, I come across a quote good enough to write down (or, at least put in my "Favorite Quotations" part of Facebook...). This is a compiled list of the ones I keep dear to me. Have favorite quotations? Please send me an email at UKatcom@aol.com!


"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." - Albert Einstein

"Try to smile at least once every day and just tell the person who you love, 'I love you.' It's so great!" - Ekaterina Gordeeva

"Our honor depends upon our honesty." - Sergei Grinkov

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Nelson Mandela

"Your family is the most important thing in your life; you always have to keep your family very close. You can't dwell on the past, every single day is a new day and you can make the best out of it!" - Daria Gordeeva

"Honesty is the first chapter of the book of wisdom." - Thomas Jefferson

‎"Speak your mind, cause bitin' your tongue hurts!" - Helen B.

"Be inspired to ignore their ignorant message, and feel gratitude in your heart that you are not burdened or addicted to hate, as they are." - Lady GaGa

"I don't think people are cut out for someone like me, but it is okay. In the end, wisdom and mercy always surrender. When people learn mercy and love, they truly learn of living." - Kathryn C (myself).

"Common courtesy, common sense, common decency, common law, common knowledge; all not so common today." ~ Helen B.

"Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out." - Vaclav Havel

"I always found comfort in knowing--if people are not loving me for me completely, at least I know who the true people are in my life. If anything it was a blessing that those people stopped showing they care. I don't want people in my life that don't care about me. Get rid of the people in your life that don't accept you for you. Conditional love is not love." - Chris Crocker

"The stars look satisfied, confidently holding up the sky. They make it seem so simple... they know where their place is, so why don't I?" - Derik Nelson, "Circles"

"I know who I am--not just the character that people see. I know who I am at the end of the day when I've got sorrow in my heart. I know who I am when I wake up in the morning. But when bitches test you, it's time to testify. If you test me, I'm gonna ace you! How is a failure going to test me? How the fuck is an F gonna test an A+? That's what I wanna know." - Chris Crocker


And, the one that probably fits the best for this website and my readers is this:

"In whichever, whatever way: you are unstoppable. Don't take 'no' for an answer, pay absolutely no mind to those who want to bring you down, and feel gratitude in your heart and soul that you are who you have become today. You shine in little and bigger ways: where you achieve, where you fail, and where you give. Don't stop." - Kathryn C (myself)

Creating dream boards (or collages) has been something that has kept me occupied throughout my life. Dream boards can be made out of a variety of things, but I prefer using thick, mounting or foam-core boards that give something to grab onto, that does not deteriorate in the rain that quickly.

It is very easy to make your own dream boards. Flip through a variety of magazines and cut out the images you find suit your dreams and hopes the best. Then, cut and shape them to your liking, placing them in an overlapping arrangement on the board, eventually gluing them down when you finish the final concept.

After you finish this process, find words and quotes that you think suit the photos and glue them on top of the photo arrangement. You can add a border (like I did on the bottom of this one) if you would like as well! Go crazy with it and make it completely YOU.

After you are finished, you can stick it on a wall with double-sided tape or mount it somewhere for flawless grip. Many people enjoy creating dream boards for their therapeutic release and art therapy-feel. Having dreams is good, even if you may never achieve what the dream boards symbolize for you. The dream board example above features critical things that I feel I need in my life, in grayscale and sepia tones: love, intimacy, children/good parenting, adventure, money, relaxing places, strength, confidence, acceptance, beauty, laughter, activism and the ability to let go and appreciate the little happy things in life.

I have somewhat reflected upon the topic of myself being of Hispanic heritage, or "another race" aside from Caucasian, but I wanted to make this message clear to any teenagers that could be reading this blog:

Whatever you are... YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!

My story is one, I am sure, like many others. My birth mother's father was a bigot--there is absolutely no other way to explain his hatred towards darker skinned races.

During the adoption process, my birth father, who is a Mexican, got cast out of our family story, with death threats and many personal judgments based upon preconceived stereotypes. He was taken from me.

Today, I received my first ever letter from my birth father. He was loving, articulate, kind, educated, and nothing like the Mexican stereotypes that we have in America.

Fortunately, against what my birth grandfather wished upon me, during my childhood I was raised to be educated and aware of the fact I was of Hispanic descent.

I have been appreciative and proud of my Hispanic heritage since the day I discovered it. I am currently learning Spanish from a private tutor along with high school courses and took numerous educational, Spanish-centered programs over the course of my young life. I enjoy learning a new word and seeing how my body and face changes with my deep-rooted blood ties to Mexico. I am a curvy, petite gal that has crazy thick hair and thick thighs. And even though I can't stand mildly hot salsa, I am a Mexican, and I am a proud Mexican.