Educated Guessing

I MOVED!

2010-07-27T14:31:00.001-07:00

If you'd like to keep following my blog about nothing, please visit my new site.

Tim

2010-07-25T12:58:00.000-07:00

One of my best friend's from college has been touring with one of his best friends, Holly Miranda, that he met when he moved to New York after graduation. I found this great video of their tour in November. Every now and again he rolls through town and we catch up over beers, wine, and occasionally, guitars.

New Running Blog

2010-07-02T06:13:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I was trying to find consumer reports on the Garmin Forerunner and I came across the DC Rainmaker. CHECK HIM OUT! And he does GIVEAWAYS!

Independence Weekend

2010-07-02T05:14:00.000-07:00

Headed to Dewey Beach for what is quickly evolving into a yearly tradition for the July 4th weekend. Fireworks with Jill's family and lots of bar hopping again. Plus a weekend-long celebration of Gabe's 25th birthday!

Enjoy some Regina! "I've got a perfect body, but sometimes I forget.

I've got a perfect body cuz my eyelashes catch my sweat."

California Raisins

2010-06-18T12:35:00.000-07:00

Check out what I got for my car...

Breakfast fit for an Ultrarunner

2010-06-18T12:10:00.000-07:00

I decided to try a quasi-recipe that I read about in "Born to Run." For breakfast the day of the big ultra-marathon (100 miles in scorching heat and over deadly terrain) this Mexican woman made all the runners a special kind of pancake. It included corn meal, goat's milk, overripe bananas, and boiled rice mixed into the batter. I used Trader Joe's whole grain pancake mix, three overripe bananas, boiled rice, half and half (this was last minute so I had to make due with what I had) and skipped the corn meal all together.

They were delicious - but filling!

Father's Day

2010-06-18T11:35:00.000-07:00

This morning I was reading one of my favorite NYTimes columnists, Nicholas Kristof. He gave some great ideas for Father's Day Gifts. For Mother's Day I gave a "birthing kit" in honor of my mom so I decided I would do something similar for my dad. (Thanks for reminding me, Kristof.)

I chose to buy my dad a Hero Rat! These rats are trained to find land mines so that children don't. So it's macho and kind at the same time, and very fitting for my dad.

Power Outage

2010-06-18T11:17:00.000-07:00

My company sent us home at 1:30pm today because we lost power - Delmarva Power is on strike! Now I have plenty of time to run, pack, and hit the road for another weekend in OCNJ!

Obsessed with Florence

2010-06-18T11:13:00.000-07:00

I cannot get enough Florence lately. My favorites songs keep changing. Currently I'm between these too:

She's great for singing along in the car.

B+ 5K

2010-06-18T08:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I ran the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation for Pediatric Cancer Research's 5K race on SavannahStrong's team. SavannahStrong is an phrase created when Savannah Pauley was diagnosed with bone cancer in August 2008. Savannah passed away last September, but her memory and spirit live on through SavannahStrong. Jill and her family were the ones who introduced me to the group. I did some research and found out that while this little 10 year-old had cancer, she also raised over $6,500 for the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation and raised $1,000 by asking for donations in lieu of gifts for her 10th birthday. She was quite an impressive little girl.

The race brought in over 2,300 runners and $110,000 for the B+ Foundation! It was perfect weather (sunny but not too hot) and a pretty decent course with a killer hill at about 2.5 miles. I clocked in at 22:36. I haven't run a race since college, and after having so much fun yesterday, I am ready to sign up for many more.

30 Facebook-Free Days

2010-06-15T19:17:00.001-07:00

I feel like every few months or so I say that I'm additcted to Facebook and need to stop going on so much. I also feel like that has only lasted 3 days at the longest (not counting the times that I'm out of the country and physically can't get on). SO this time I had my little brother change my password. He's not allowed to tell me the password until July14th.

So how did my first day go?

Gloriously.

After work I went to my kickball game, hung out with the team for dinner, came home to my empty apartement where I took a bath and read, did a yoga DVD on mute with Cat Power playing in the background, and literally just sat on the couch drinking tea. It was relaxing and much needed! Besides the time I wasted checking facebook, I think I also was clogging my head. I was thinking about things I read or people who posted, rather than focusing on what I was doing, or being in the moment. I think this will be a very refreshing 30 days.

I'm now on day four, and I still don't miss it.

Trying New Things

2010-06-13T13:05:00.000-07:00

Last week I tried a few new things...

I bought Green Drink (real creative name, huh?) from Trader Joe's.
It's basically just a quick way to get some extra vitamins and minerals.

You can kind of see the consistency in this photo - I usually have to gulp it down all at once, it's pretty grainy. It might just be a placebo affect, but I feel great afterward. I have one serving after AM workouts now.

I also made my first cold green bean salad. I sauteed a little olive oil, garlic, yellow squash, and red peppers while slightly boiling the green beans. Then I threw it all together and added some cucumbers, chick peas, and basil and chilled it in the fridge. Delicious.

And one thing that wasn't really new, but new for me to eat in America anyway....

Lychee Nuts - The girls and I had our fill when we lived in Thailand. Got 8 for $1.25 at Produce Junction!

Books, Sun, and Beach Runs

2010-06-04T09:04:00.000-07:00

Down in OCNJ for another relaxing weekend.

Last weekend I finished reading "Born to Run," and tried out the barefoot running idea on the beach. A full week later and my calves are still more sore than ever, but it definitely made it easier to run with a pulled hamstring, so I'll do it again this weekend.

Now I'm on to two other books, switching back and forth between moods (nerdy vs comical). I'm currently reading:

I think it is pretty clear which one is the nerdery and which one is comical... Both were gifts from my brother, by the way. Sedaris was from two Christmas' ago, Bryson was from this year. Both are not disappointing so far!

Have a great weekend.

More things I forgot to blog about: My Smart Sister and Mother's Day

2010-06-03T16:04:00.000-07:00

My sister graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, College of Business Administration on May 1st. That in itself is something to be proud of. But, as usual, Barrett went above and beyond to graduate with the highest GPA in her major and to win the Most Outstanding Finance Major award! I am very proud sister. She is currently studying at UVA for her Masters in Accounting, and starts work at Earnst and Young in the Philly office in September. I am thrilled she will be so close. Now if we can just get our brother to stop going to crazy far places like Canada.

Here's a picture of the family (minus Tom) standing with Barrett's Finance flag.

A few weeks later was Mother's Day. Remember the post about food a while back? I tried the zucchini boats! They turned out great, although I realized I don't follow recipes, I look at a picture and then recreate it the way I think they made it. It still works everytime.

We had club sandwiches, grilled asparagus and zucchini boats.

And, of course, mimosas!

Sand in Our Toes, Love in the Air

2010-06-03T14:13:00.000-07:00

Jill and Tommy were married on May 22 and I was lucky enough to be there to celebrate with them! It was a ton of fun and Jill looked BEAUTIFUL. This is my favorite picture from the whole day:

At the reception afterwards - Flip flops and sand - I couldn't have been happier!

Travel Buddies

2010-06-03T04:07:00.001-07:00

On the day we left Key West from Jill's bachelorette extravaganza Becca and I had some time to bond. The other girls all left for the airport at 8am, but Becca and I didn't fly out until that evening. So we walked down to try to eat at this restaurant "Blue Heaven" that everyone raves about for breakfast. The wait was way too long though, so we settled for a place down the street, "Colombian Grace." It turned out to be delicious, fresh Colombian breakfast food. (They serve lunch and dinner as well.)

Our empty plates:
Deck seating...

And they serve the bill in this cool little box!
After our breakfast we did some shopping, talked about life and the pros and cons of natural childbirth (I'm sold), and had a poolside lunch. Finally we left for the airport, flew to Miami, and got stuck there for what seemed like days. I hate Miami International Airport with a passion. At least, I hated the part we were in. There was nothing worthwhile to eat, nowhere to really sit, and no shops! We settled on Pizza Hut (ew) and made some friends while we ate it. Becca met a couple, and I met this guy:

He works overseas for the government doing top secret stuff.

I loved him and asked him a lot of inappropriate questions that he couldn't answer because it was classified information. It was fun.

Becca and I also held our own airport yoga session to help stop the Pizza Hut grease from forming a death grip around our arteries.

People thought we were crazy.

So did my dad when he called and I said I couldn't talk because I was doing yoga at the gate. Notice I even had my ipod dock and an ipod filled with Yogamazing podcasts!
We finally made it home around 1am the next day.

Bachelorettes, Detour Signs, and Breast Pumps

2010-06-03T03:59:00.000-07:00

A little over a month ago my friend Jill (my first real friend in Wilmington)and eight of her closest friends and female family members took a trip to Key West, Florida for her bachelorette party. Boy was it a party. Most of the extended weekend's events cannot (should not) be documented. But there are a few choice stories I would like to share.

1.) Breast Pumps. I was made to promise by Lauren (see her blog on right - Lauren and Julia) that if I did this certain thing, I would blog about it. So here it goes. Now, to really understand why there were even breast pumps involved in a bachelorette I should explain that Becca and Lauren both have new babies. They're both still pumping and apparently if you stop, the milk stops coming. So they had to "pump and dump" multiple times a day. I learned a lot about having kids that weekend. I know that I want a natural birth, and that I am nowhere near ready to actually have a baby yet!

Here's a picture of the moms:

Lauren is on the left, Becca on the right.

So after one of the crazy nights we went back to the room and the moms needed to pump. And then a few of us non-moms decided (after a night of drinking, obviously) that we wanted to try it. Let's just say that I did NOT like it, and I am NOT looking forward to feeding a kid via boob. Or via machine that was once on my boob. It's painful and scary.

I have a newfound respect for Becca and Lauren.

Other weekend activities included a bar scavenger hunt, laying at the pool, pin the junk on the hunk (where we ended up taking fun pictures of the "junk" - not to be posted here), and a nice sunset booze cruise.

Me and Kristen on the boat.

2.) Naked Statues. Right next to our hotel (The Westin) was a museum that had a bunch of giant, naked, dancing statues. Underneath them all was this guy, staring up at them. It was beyond bizarre. We took some great pictures with them, again, not to be posted here.

This is the creeper statue:

3.) Detour Signs. On the last night, most of the girls went to bed and then Jill, Lauren and Kristen ended up in a bar called "Hog's Breath." I thought I was tired and wanted to go to bed, until I decided it was time to dance! I ran out and met up with them where we proceeded to nickname the bartender "Thunderstrike," dance to the cover band, and steal a detour sign.

This is Jill in her Scavenger hunt T-shirt, attempt number one at stealing the sign:

It took all four of us, but we got that thing about 5 blocks back to, you guessed it, the statues:

Definitely one of the most fun bachelorette parties I've had so far!

I love food...

2010-06-03T03:58:00.000-07:00

I came across some really great, free rolls last weekend, so on Monday I decided we needed to have cheese steaks. They were delicious. I sauteed some onions and green peppers and we opted out of the cheese this time since we have to put bathing suits on every weekend.

(Amazing how that will help you make healthier eating choices!)

If you know me at all, you know I always need a veggie to go with whatever I'm eating. But I couldn't get excited about the normal choices: spinach, broccoli, green beans... so I had the inspired idea to make a tomato summer salad! Heirloom tomatoes, artichokes, cucumbers and fresh basil dressed with a tiny bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. It was amazing - and I ended up eating it for lunch the following two days.

Maintenance Men and The Kitchen I Wish I Had.

2010-06-02T08:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I recieved a note under my door which explained that "Maintenance" would be entering the building to replace the air filters in my air conditioners. I took this opportunity to write out my own little note (on the back of theirs) which listed all the things that need to be fixed, which I have failed to call about. They included an ever-running toilet (I even told them which part needed to be replaced) and a clogged bathroom sink. I put two Peach Snapples out for them (Carl and Tony). Hopefully that will seal the deal.

As I was straigtening up for their arrival, I began thinking how much I don't like my kitchen. Next to the bedroom, I think the kitchen is the most important room for me since I love to cook and bake so much. I want this to be my kitchen:

Life's Too Short For:

2010-06-02T07:19:00.000-07:00

Jealousy
Worrying about wrinkles
Miserable people
Fashion magazines
Complaining

This entry inspired by Laura.

Teabaggers...

2010-05-06T12:40:00.000-07:00

...They make it so easy...

Wooden Radios...

2010-05-06T11:44:00.000-07:00

I was hanging out on Design Sponge earlier and reading about their contributors when I came across Alissa Parker-Walker and Ryan Walker. They run an online boutique out of Philly, so I decided to check it out. Unfortuately, the coolest things they sell are not within my price-range, but I would really love to own this clock.

A Beautifully Delicious Site

2010-05-06T07:42:00.000-07:00

I love food.

This site makes me love it even more.

Essentially, it displays photos of various recipes that food bloggers post. Most of the time I don't even click through, I just drool over the photos.

Some of my favorites that I will eventually make:

Zucchini Boats

Green Bean Salad

Coconut Cupcakes with Pinapple Filling

(Uses coconut oil instead of butter!)

Herb-infused Asparagus Baked in Parchment

Who's hungry?

The Love of Running

2010-05-03T16:35:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been reading "Born to Run, A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen" by Christopher McDougall. It was given to me as a Christmas present, and I started it soon after the new year but have just recently gotten serious about reading it (mainly due to all the plane trips I've been taking lately). I am so sorry that I didn't get into it earlier. The usual take-away from this book seems to be that we should return to the way humans used to run, the way we were built to run, with little or no footwear. I however, am being incredibly inspired by the description of the pure love of running. As I'm waiting for my running partner to get here, I'll jot a few of my favorite excerpts:

That's the real secret of the Tarahumara: they'd never forgotten what it felt like to love running. They remembered that running was mankind's first fine art, our original act of inspired creation. Way before we were scratching pictures on caves or beating rhythms on hollow trees, we were perfecting the art of combining our breath and mind and muscles into fluid self=propulsion over wild terrain.

No wonder so many people hated running; if you thought it was only a means to an end -- an investment in becoming faster, skinnier, richer -- then why stick with it if you weren't getting enough quo for your quid?

Posted on the wall of Vigil's office was a magic formula for fast running that, as far as Deena could tell, had absolutely nothing to do with running: it was stuff like, "Practice abundance by giving back," and "Improve personal relationships," and "Show integrity to your value system." [...] "Eat as though you were a poor person."

Off for a sunset run!

Fashion is Bullshit. But it is fun.

2010-04-20T03:37:00.000-07:00

So in a few different avenues I've recently ended up in conversations about fashion, clothing, and the stupid things that women (have to?) do for fashion. Heels, waxing, hair color, going into debt for the latest style, etc. Not that I'm not guilty of a few of those. I have come to the conclusion that fashion is inherently shallow (not exactly ground breaking, I think most people feel this way). But I realized that I really do negatively judge people who are all about what they're wearing, who designed what, and what the latest trend is. That being said, I think with a healthy balance, fashion can be fun. Then there is the whole angle of how obsessed our culture is with fashion... that might be where the real harm is done...
But the whole reason I am even posting about this is because I think this song by David Bazan is a good representation of how ridiculous it can get. And I really like David, so an excuse to post one of his songs is reason enough for me.

Green Design

2010-04-18T14:46:00.000-07:00

While I was working on the trivia questions for CIEB's Earth Day "celebration" (which I am in charge of) I was poking around on one of my favorite sites, www.Treehugger.com and I fell in love with these Armadiature cupboards by Renzivivian.
It's made up of old discarded furniture and recycled into a beautiful high end piece of furniture. I wonder if I could make one...

Click here if you want to see the whole slide show of green design.

HIV/AIDS and Beer.

2010-04-18T14:05:00.000-07:00

Last night I volunteered at the Delaware HIV Consortium's WOW Award Gala. This was my second year and certainly not my last. My friend John works for the consortium and essentially plans and runs the whole event. Each year is themed, and this year the idea was that you were in the plane on the way to Vegas. John thought of every detail. The volunteers dressed like flight attendants, people were passing out the airplane peanuts, there were red flamingos as center pieces, craps and roulette, and the best part: there was THE BEST Frank Sinatra impersonator singing all night. I mean this guy was so good, it sounded exactly like old blue eyes himself. ANYWAY, after I volunteered for a few hours, I was able to partake in the event as a guest and helped myself to plenty of sushi and a few tastes of the Moores Brother's wine. Yum. Afterward, all the volunteers decided to go to Logan House to hear Spokey Speaky. Well one of the guys (forgot his name already) had a Dinkel Acker shirt on! Loved it so much that I ordered one online today for myself, after I googled it and found out it's a German brewery.

Ridiculous Requests

2010-04-18T13:46:00.001-07:00

The other night Brad and I were talking about gift giving and I was telling him how I think it's ridiculous when girls expect their boyfriends to buy them things like David Yurman jewelry or really anything that costs hundreds of dollars. I also said that if he is going to spend that kind of money, I would like a plane ticket to somewhere I have never been. HOWEVER. I found one thing that is now making me eat my words. I want this.

The Garmin Forerunner. I know it sounds ridiculous to spend $300 on a running watch, but this thing is amazing. It wirelessly tracks your mileage, speed, heart rate, and records your course! So cool.

However, so as to not go back on my word, I think I will just save up and buy it for myself... although I will probably end up buying a few more plane tickets first...

One thing I am going to buy ASAP the new North Face Refraction Jacket. It keeps you warm in cold weather and breathes enough to wear it in hot weather (only needed when it's raining). It's waterproof, blocks wind, and has reflectors on it for my night runs. Only $100! I think I found it for $60 online though. I will report back after I try it out.

Gold Peak Iced Tea

2010-04-14T06:46:00.001-07:00

Dear Gold Peak Unsweetened Iced Tea,

Thank you for your fresh brewed flavor, your caffeine providing qualities, and the fact that you are zero calories. I love you.
xoxo,
Kenj

I love...

2010-04-07T18:31:00.000-07:00

I've had a pretty rough week or two at work, which has made me pretty negative. And I am still noticing all the great things happening to me and to those around me, but somehow I'm so much more vocal about the negative. SO I'm returning to an old favorite, listing some recent things that

I love....

...warm days, wearing flops to walk the dog, and fresh, cheaper fruit.
...that my sister is almost out of college and moving to PHILLY! Just a 30 min drive away.
...old friends, new friends, friends I've been counting as "transitional" friends, and the recent realization that they too, are my real friends.
...baseball season! (PHILLIES!)
...that I have lived without cable for about three months now and am surviving just fine.
...eating fresh basil, and growing fresh basil in my windowsill.
...skype - because I can talk to my "Canadian" brother.
...waking up early, and not getting out of bed until at least an hour later.
...OR morning runs, morning yoga, morning dog walks.... MORNINGS.
...Mary's on Lincoln and Shallcross (She not only now knows me by name, but the name of my dog, my mother, my sister and my boyfriend.)
...growing up but still feeling (acting) like a kid.
...James Brown dance parties with my siblings and cousins.
...my siblings and cousins.
...wedding/bachelorette/bridal shower planning for amazing friends.
...google.com ; I can live without TV, sure, but google? Not so sure...
...that I'm 25 and still have no idea how my life will end up, that I have nothing planned, and the fact that rather than scaring me, that excites the hell out of me.

Great Music, Great Lyrics

2010-03-31T06:47:00.000-07:00

I've been finding a lot of great new music lately, thanks to friends, Pitchfork.com, Pandora.com, and WXPN.

Mumford and Sons is a recent find, they were a "suggested video" on YouTube... and I love them now. They're a band from London who have an old-timey sound. It reminds me of something I'd like to hear on a ship or next to a campfire.

Currently I'm listening to them at work though...

Check them out, this is what I'm imagining is the single: Little Lion Man.

Soup and Brussels Sprouts

2010-03-28T17:49:00.000-07:00

On this rainy Sunday night I decided to make soup and brussels sprouts for dinner.

Here is my chicken and veggie semi-spicy soup. I make a veggie soup just about every two weeks now and it's never the same. This time I decided to forgo the noodles and added some potatoes instead.

Making soup reminds me of living with Sammie, who makes the best potato leek soup you will ever have.

Here are my brussels sprouts... A little olive oil, a shallot, a clove of garlic, and a little shredded Parmesan cheese.

It bothers me that "brussels" ends with an "s" and is then followed by a word with the same letter.

Brussels sprouts remind me of living with Haley. She made them a lot better than mine turned out... I had to add a lot of pepper.

Friends You'll Have Forever

2010-03-28T17:35:00.000-07:00

On Friday I drove down to Bel Air, Maryland to see my best friend from college, Kendall.

Kendall and I became friends through the random roommate lottery at the University of Delaware. However, she was not my original roommate assignment. I was supposed to live with a girl named Dina who I had never met, but rumor had it that she was a terrible bitch. So when Kendall called to say, "Hi! I'm your new rooommate, Kendall," I was ecstatic!

We kind of agreed that they must have switched us just to screw people up when the met us. "Which one is Kendra? Which one is Kendall?"

Our schedules never seem to mesh so we hadn't seen each other in about six months... a planned visit in February was ruined by a snowstorm. So I decided it was worth the drive for dinner.

Kendall took me to a restaurant called, "The Lodge." It's ski-lodge themed. Some of the booths are actual chair lifts. Very cool. It was great to catch up with a friend that I hardly get to see, but one that I know I will be seeing for the rest of my life.

This is the size of the "cups" they give you at the Lodge. I'm a little disgusted (yet I drank all of that chemical-infested Diet Coke... and loved it).

Funny Little Interpretation

2010-03-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

Searching old entries on one of my favorite sites (see link to right - A Smart Cartoonist) and came across this:

Funny, huh?

Warm Beds

2010-03-25T19:15:00.000-07:00

It's funny how fine you are when you're alone (or at least how fine I was alone) until you find someone that makes you want to always be with them....

Does Jesus Enjoy Car Rides?

2010-03-25T18:28:00.000-07:00

I am editing the beginning of this story heavily because my intention is not to embarrass or ridicule anyone, or become a blasphemous person. But this one was too funny for me not to share.

So let's say that someone that I am very close with told me last night that Jesus sat in the passenger seat of their car each day. I am not sure why they said this, or what that even would mean, since it was said in such a literal way. (Side note, my problem with the type of Christianity I grew up with is how particularly literal such abstract ideas can be...)

Anyway, today I tell one of my best friends in Wilmington about this. Holly (who I happened to have met at work) is a Christian, of a more practical type than I am used to. The kind that, had I been raised in a similar vein that she was, I probably wouldn't have had the same issues I have with Christianity that I do now... In fact, to go on another tangent, she has been one of the most influential people in my life over the past 2-3 years. I don't even know if she's aware of that. I digress, but I'm trying to get the point across that she "gets me," and I "get" her.

So I tell her about this conversation I had the night prior about Jesus sitting in the passenger seat of a very close person to me. She automatically knows how I feel about it. She knows I am disturbed because deep down somewhere in me, a place that I hardly ever acknowledge, I am afraid that these people are right. But she also knows that the majority of me is pained that they really think this is true, and that I really do not. The true strife of my religious debacle is the rift that it inherently causes between me and the people I love the most.

So she does what I need in a moment like that. She will joke right along with me.

I love Holly.

When I first told her the story it was in a more serious, "I am concerned and a bit hurt (this conversation contained more than which seat Jesus chose in the car)" tone.

So now, hours later I am still thinking about it and ready to get it out of my head.

So, I joke.

Holly and I talk in person and through our company's instant messenger all day. Today she worked from home, so this was all via instant messenger. After our conversation I laughed so hard that I had to save it, which I started out of the blue; we had been talking about work related issues right before this:

Kendra ... I hope that Jesus is sitting in my passenger seat when I drive home today.

Holly ... Not only is he going to be there in your passenger seat when you get in to drive home but he is waiting for you there right now.

Kendra ... I should have cracked a window.

I think I am hilarious sometimes. I am not.

And I still don't get it... and I'm still trying... but I sure as hell am still going to joke about it while I figure it out.

No pun intended.

Hot Yoga

2010-03-25T17:52:00.000-07:00

Due to my family history of high cholesterol my doctor told me I needed to find an exercise that I could do until I was at least 70 years old. When I mentioned I do yoga regularly, she suggested I begin hot yoga. Nearly two years later, I listened. After tonight I've done two classes total (at $13 a pop I'm not making this a weekly thing by any means). I loved it the first time. It makes your abs hurt (later, for a full week), it enhances your practice (if you're already doing yoga, you'll surprise yourself with what you can do in 98 degree heat), and it makes you feel a little lightheaded and high.

HOWEVER...

Tonight, behind me, to the right of me, and in front of me, were men. Smelly, stinky, I-might-be-watching-you-a-little-too-much men. Normally, I really wouldn't think twice or even notice. If it weren't for the smell...

For an hour an a half in an almost airless room where I am supposed to be breathing deeply, I smelled...

BALLS.

Gross. I want my thirteen dollars back.

However, my saving grace was the fact that I wipe my mat down with Mrs. Meyer's Basil Earth-friendly all-purpose wipes.

That saved me until I soaked my own mat with sweat about 30 minutes in...

Hot yoga is disgusting and yet I am addicted.

Words

2010-03-12T07:07:00.000-08:00

This morning I am unmotivated at work, so I am reading through my favorite news sites: Huffington Post and NY Times. I usually get through "World" and "Politics" and go back to work, but it's a rainy Friday so today I am venturing into the lighter topics. Enter the Living section of Huffintonpost.com. I loved the one article about Six Word Memoirs. Read it here.

The idea is to tell a story in one six word sentence. Which promotes tact and mindfulness in your writing. She quotes the Strunk's "Elements of Style" book that I use often at work and have been using since my first Journalism class:

Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell.

SO I thought I'd play around with a few of my own.

External beauty, an added bonus only.

Rainy Fridays lack motivation at work.

Small-minded people are usually lonely.

Running to get that runner's euphoria.

Some pairings:
Without family there is no love.
Family need not be blood related.

Living alone is freedom and quiet.
But it's nicer when you visit.

I gave up on this place.
You came and changed my mind.

There is a great one on the author of the article's blog - it's a short story of sorts using only six word sentences. I loved it. Check it out.

Running and food go well together... when running comes first.

2010-03-08T18:39:00.000-08:00

After an 8 miler, we like to eat. I made chicken asada, steamed spinach, tomatoes, garlic and whole wheat rotini, and edamame. Followed by strawberries for dessert. I am trying to get better at taking food pictures...

A few things I like about living alone:

2010-03-08T18:34:00.000-08:00

-Falling asleep in the living room doesn't necessarily mean you have to wake up to go to your bed.
-The entire fridge is mine.
-I buy toilet paper half as often.
-I can make coffee naked.
-I can do yoga in the living room and leave the yoga mat out until the next living room yoga session.

Wine and Reading

2010-02-19T09:47:00.000-08:00

Cool charity... I think I will buy a bottle for the next time I choose wine and reading over going out on a Friday night. (That happens a little too often...)

Wine and reading...

Why I am beginning to hate Facebook and am loving blogs instead.

2010-02-15T19:56:00.000-08:00

1.) Some of my coolest friends blog.
2.) Most people I don't like, don't blog and are therefore easily avoidable. (Un-stalkable.)
3.) I "hid" particular people for various reasons, but Facebook has put them back on my "News Feed." Now these people that I was trying to be mature and cyber-avoid without un-friending are all over my homepage again. I feel as though they are cyber stalking me when I see who they are talking to.
4.) I recognize the second part of reason #3 is insane.
5.) I think I'm addicted. Ever since I found mobile facebook I can't stop.
6.) So I AGAIN return to the blogging world (where only a handful of people know I exist) and hope that I can avoid facebook without putting a hold on my account.

7.) I may still send some mobile pictures though...

If you're lucky, I'll buy these for your birthday...

2009-02-23T19:19:00.000-08:00

Science and Google

2009-02-09T18:57:00.000-08:00

I thought I was done but now I've found this screen shot.

Reminds me of Honors Bio (which was taught by one of the football coaches). He gave us a homework assignment to look up "Smut moss."

You can imagine what this 14-year-old, good Christian girl found. Surprise!

(And I am fully aware that I am ignoring all that could be said about the image. Too messy to argue with people who don't believe in science.)

Pedometers and Shitty Knees

2009-02-09T18:40:00.000-08:00

I bought a pedometer about 3 months ago to track how far I was running. At the time I would just go out with a watch, come back exhausted but have no idea how far I went. Side note: I have to say, Delaware is backwards in many ways, but they do their parks right, and looking at all the gorgeous houses is a nice distraction.

Anyway, I bought the pedometer at Target for five bucks. But upon reading the directions realized you have to measure your stride in order for it to be anywhere near accurate. (I realize this is common sense, but it was an impulse buy, therefore little thought went into how pedometers truly work.)

So I was too lazy to lay out a measuring tape and measure my stride. But with the beautiful weather (and a half marathon on the horizon) I decided to measure. This wasn't easy since I have to measure ten running strides and I only had a normal measuring tape. BUT I succeeded, programmed the pedometer, and was on my way.

I should mention now that I have bum knees and blow them out almost once a year by forcing them to do too much.

So I've been running inside on the treadmill for about 2-3 months due to cold and lack of sun, which is considerably easier and I go for a much shorter time. (There are only so many cars I can count while staring out of the Y's windows.)

But on our first decent day, I decide to go for a real run, outside. At five miles my knees started to hurt, but I looked at that DAMN PEDOMETER and though, "only five? Push it!" and kept on running. Seven and some tenths of a mile later I was taking the hottest bath possible and popping Ibuprofen. I spent all f-ing week recovering and doing yoga to stretch it out. And what the hell happens? We get another beautiful day on Saturday and I do it again. So I get to six miles this time and tell myself, "You can make it, do nine." I slept both Saturday and Sunday night slathered in Tiger Balm. I am an idiot.

Conclusion? I should listen to my knees and not my pedometer.

New Resolve... Easy Start.

2009-02-09T18:07:00.000-08:00

At the prodding of Abbey Smith (see her blog, link to the right) I have decided to actually write on my blog with some sort of frequency. Mainly because I know only six people read it, but also because lately I've been thinking "in blog." You who blog know that this means when something happens or you think of something (or for Tim, when you find a lost archive of a song) you think, "Oooh I should blog about that!" If you don't think like that - please spare me the comments. It will just ruin my new resolve. ha.

Ok, that said, I'm going to start slow and easy with a playlist. Cop-out, I know. But I actually wish more people did this. (So bloggers, do this!)

So here is my newest "long run" playlist. It got me through my first (known) 9-miler. (I just started using a pedometer... More on this in the next blog.)

1.) "Wraith Pinned to the MIst and Other Games," Of Montreal
2.) "Glase Danse," The Faint
3.) "Cheated Hearts, " Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4.) "Lover I Don't Have to Love," Bright Eyes
5.) "Disappear," The Faint
6.) "Monster Hospital," Metric
7.) "Still In Love," The Stills
8.) "Young Bridge," Land of Talk
9.) "Legionnaire's Lament," The Decemberists (Purely love the word choice here)
10.)"Blacking Out The Friction," Death Cab
11.)"Scythian Empires," Andrew Bird
12.)"Rubidoux," Cold War Kids
13.)"Me and Mia," Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
14.)"Heretics," Andrew Bird
15.)"Dream at Tempo 119," Silversun Pickups
16.)"Speak For Me," Cat Power
17.)"Witches' Rave," Jeff Buckley
18.)"Cicatriz ESP," The Mars Volta
19.)"Noah's Ark," Cocorosie
20.)"Joga," Bjork
21.)"Organs on the Kitchen Floor," The Jealous Girlfriends

So depending on your speed that won't get you all that far, but I find The Faint albums on repeat make for a pretty great time, as well.

Happy Running/Listening/Downloading!

Epsom Salt

2009-02-02T19:24:00.000-08:00

So, after a long run or a killer workout I like to take Epsom Salt baths. I realize this is slightly old-lady like. I am telling you, it does a world of difference for sore muscles. I suggest setting the ambiance - a candle or two, a bath pillow, music, and tea or wine (depending on your mood).

The warning label, however, is to not get too comfortable.

Yesterday, for the second time, I fell asleep in the bathtub and woke up only when my head went underwater. Of course this prompted a complete flight of my relaxed energry and evoked panic instead.

THE WEIRD PART? Both times that this happened I was listening to Jeff Buckley. HAVE YOU SENSED THE IRONY YET?

He drowned.

Buckley's Everybody Here Wants You

Hmm...

2008-12-07T18:31:00.001-08:00

So many angles... so much you could say. I'll just leave you with the photo which, at the moment, I find hilarious.

Such a Fan...

2008-11-22T15:12:00.000-08:00

Of Silversun Pickups lately.

Check 'em out.

White House Organic Farm?

2008-11-15T18:53:00.000-08:00

Daniel Bowman Simon (whoever he is) is driving this "double decker" bus around the country to get people to sign a petition so that he can put an organic farm on the White House lawn.

So, I'm pretty sure it'll never happen, but it's a pretty fun way to draw awareness to the benefits of sustainable agriculture. Apparently if it happens, he already has heirloom seeds lined up to be donated that come from Thomas Jefferson's farm.

Oh, and the best part of that bus? He grows veggies up there!

Interested? Check it out at www.thewhofarm.org

Mostly It's Our Chi

2008-11-10T19:05:00.000-08:00

This weekend I went to DC -- again. But this time, I was joined by all 8 of my best friends from high school. Amanda, you were missed greatly. I got your bday card promising a house out with you and a hipped-out boy. Let me know when you get that situated and I'm there. Come home and bring that Cali sun.

The drive back had me thinking - as driving and running always does - and I realized how extremely blessed I am to have such amazing friends. We have all changed so much, and are in such different places, but we can still come back to each other and be real with one another. I know that's rare. So I needed to pause and recognize it.

And thanks to iPod shuffle and a full battery on the drive home, I will dedicate this to them.

"It took me too long to realize that I don't take good pictures. I have the kind of beauty that moves."

PC Politics (This entry is for Abbey Smith.)

2008-11-06T18:15:00.000-08:00

I like talking about politics at work. Mainly because you’re not supposed to – it’s not politically correct. But it also makes me feel like some sort of secret operative, where I have to search out the people who either agree with me or can hold an intelligent, calm debate while disagreeing. In fact, the latter is more fun. Sadly, I haven’t found too many people like that.

Today I found a new one who agrees with me. I heard Palin’s voice, vomited, and then followed the sound to see who was listening to her. As I turned the corner I saw a certain co-worker, who shall remain nameless, trying so hard to not laugh out loud that his shoulders were shaking. Bingo.

On another note, I no longer enjoy learning about people’s political views via Facebook. This is a new development, as of Tuesday night, where I seriously considered “de-friending people” because of their asinine, uninformed status updates. I don’t even know how to de-friend someone on Facebook, or in real life, for that matter.

But it’s not everyone… just those whose comments read something like this:

“Buy your guns while you can, cuz we’re screwed.”
“I’ve never been so ashamed to be an American” ß that one made me sad.
“We just voted for a baby-killer. Great America.” ß that one made me laugh at it's ridiculousness.
“I’m clinging to my gun and religion and moving to Canada.”

These kinds of comments make me think three things:

1.) What do they really know about the candidates, or even politics in general?
2.) What pulpit did they get that from?
3.) I just lost all respect and am embarrassed for them.

And just to clarify, I have plenty of Republican friends. My father is a Republican.

The kind I don’t understand are the one issue, let’s rule our country based on my religion (even though it was founded for FREEDOM OF RELIGION) kind. If you can speak rationally and intelligently about your views – more power to you, let’s talk.

Statements like those above are the result of people who were duped by fear-mongering, religion, and the inability to look at a larger picture.

But I do have to say, if the election went the other way, I was considering a move abroad – just to avoid Palin sound bites. (Kidding.)

(Kinda.)

I pick my friends like I pick my fruit.

2008-11-05T20:05:00.000-08:00

So today I turned 24, and after a few years of disappointing birthdays, I wanted to take a moment to recap why this has been one of the best since my 4th grade horseback riding party.

1.) Phillies won the World Series last week.

2.) I went on the free cruise to the Bahamas this past weekend, and had a blast with Jill. (See facebook album for Bud Light craziness.)

3.) I voted in what might possibly be the most influential election of my lifetime.

4.) I voted for the right guy.

5.) HE WON. Obama as President was the only thing I wanted.

(Well, that and a bath pillow. But I think I'm getting that, too.)

6.) I started an Obama chant at the gas station this morning, and got my gas pumped for me after doing so.

7.) I got flowers (x2) at work.

8.) Went to lunch with friends, and sushi with roommates.

9.) This weekend I'll be in DC with the A-team for a crazy reunion celebration.

10.) I can't think of one thing to complain about.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes and the people who've made it special!

Style At Any Age

2008-10-12T17:44:00.001-07:00

I hope I am as styling as this lady when I'm her age. Hell, I want to wear that now.

Bush's Economy

2008-10-06T09:43:00.001-07:00

Careful how you vote on Nov. 4th...

And although today is the last day for PA folks to register, Delaware you have until the 11th. Here's a quick shout out to Abbey (check out her blog listed on the right for the whole video) who posted the celebrity "Register to Vote" commercial. My favorite part is when Sara Silverman says, "You can literally register to vote while pooping... if you have a laptop."

Graffiti

2008-08-28T03:54:00.000-07:00

What do we think about this?

Summer Song

2008-07-13T07:57:00.000-07:00

Here's one of my favorite songs/videos for the summer by Santogold, Julian Casablancas, and Pharrell.

Check it out: here

My New Favorite Vonnegut Quote:

2008-07-07T16:17:00.000-07:00

"We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down."

Wedding Season

2008-04-22T20:03:00.000-07:00

So as it seems this is the time for weddings, consider this when buying your rings.

A Friday in Philly

2008-04-22T19:30:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know (and I don't even know who I'm talking to since I don't know who reads this), Haley and I are moving out of our beautiful apartment. Because, yes, it's beautiful with a great locale, but it's pretty damn expensive! Plus, the commute is killing Haley - gas was up to $3.47 yesterday - maybe higher today, I took the train so I don't know.

Anyway, she found a cute little house in North Philly and I'm moving, well, less than a mile away. BUT I know pay half what I was paying and I get a whole house - pictures to come when I finally move in (2 weeks). I'll be living with Courtney, possibly Nina, and this girl Meghan who seems awesome.

So, Friday night Haley and I decided that I needed to see her office and I also decided I should take advantage of some Urban employee discounts. I met her at the office after waiting in traffic on 95 - Phillies game. I couldn't be mad though, they had just pulled out a win on Tuesday when I went for dollar dog night. So I just have to say: Haley has the coolest office. First of all, I felt like taking all I could and running for the hills - there is clothing EVERYWHERE. And it's all way too cute and original. The whole building is in the Naval yard and it's a warehouse... actually, it looks like a fire station. Anyway - it's awesome - ask her for pictures.

So then we go with her co-worker Alex to see her friend's art show. This is where this particular post gets good. So we get there and everyone is dressed all artsy and cute, except me - who just came from working for corporate freakin' America in a purple cotton dress. Thank God I switched from black patent leather heels to red flip flops, at least.

We get in the elevator with a bunch of strangers and ascend to the gallery. Which is hot. And crowded. And most of the people there were a few days overdue for a shower. So we made a beeline for the cheese - this was not the climate for cheese. More like, the climate for the creation of penicillin. I ate it anyway. I really love cheese.

So as I'm kind of stuck by the cheese table and trying to plan my next move to get out of the way, I feel my right lady lump get a little grab-and-go. So I do a quick 180 to see who has just violated me at this sophisticated (not really at all), inspired (I wouldn't know if it was or not), and well attended (this is true, at least in numbers) art showing.

Guess who it was? The wife of old man river. This lady was so old that she had to perform a reach-around on me to get through the crowd. So I let it slide. She was about 3 feet tall (more like 4'5") and had the whole hunchback of Notre Dame thing goin' on. But I checked her out later in the night anyway, just to see if she really needed to use my breast as a walking cane, or if she was just using her age to get away with an unsolicited cop-a-feel. She was grabbing everyone, so I don't feel so special.

So, the art was pretty cool - very strange, which I like because then I feel like I don't have to explain it or pretend I understand it. I like art. All kinds. But I usually don't "get it." I can't talk about it intelligently. So one of the pieces was this snake made out of crystals (the fangs) and black artificial nails (the scales). So what did the artist mean to get across by this? No clue. But it probably took forever to make and that I can appreciate. Plus it was shiny. Ha.

Then Haley and I headed to Urban Outfitters where after trying on a million outfits ( more like 10) I decided I'm too short to wear anything in the store. So I bought a pair of earings.

Disclaimer: To any English major who might read this... so, John, since you're the only one who I think reads this, please excuse all the brackets. I choose to use my poetic license.

Also, John, Write a freakin' update on your blog!

I agree with Grammy

2008-04-08T20:05:00.001-07:00

SANTANA

2008-04-07T15:25:00.000-07:00

Well, Jackie, Nina and I saw Santana last night at the Merriwether Post Pavilion. Santana rocked. Even if he just looked like a big red blob on the screen. Lawn "seats" in the rain - but plenty of room to dance like and idiot. Loved it.

I had to drive back after the concert, got in at 1 a.m., and had to be at work at 7:30am at which time I was expected to run a site visit.

Let's just say I'm exhausted.

But I did stop at my beloved library - tonight I'm watching Chalk

Library Love and Late Fees

2008-04-07T15:16:00.001-07:00

I have been frequenting the Wilmington Library quite often lately. It's conveniently located right by the gym, so it's one stop shopping. I thought that it's about time I stop buying books and start borrowing. While most girls seem to spend their money on clothing and jewelry and (while I also love shopping) the place I end up spending way too much money is freakin' Amazon.com. So I made a pact that I am not to buy any more books until I read all of the books I've already purchased.

Enter: My crisp, new library card.

To my delightful surprise you can also rent CDs and DVDs! So I've already managed to rack up $6 in late fees... But I also now have Joni Mitchell's "Shine" and Rilo Kiley's "Under the Blacklight." To be honest, I would have been upset if I spent money on either...

But I love the library.

Baduism

2008-03-02T17:02:00.000-08:00

I just really love Erykah

Who couldn't love "Ms. Badu’s appealingly eccentric neo-soul sex goddess/funky earth mama/black power revolutionary persona?"

Another articfact proving that Thomas is awesome.

2008-02-25T19:29:00.001-08:00

Thomas made this.

That is the link to his puzzle/game/riddle that kids at his high school play. They have to figure out all the clues to get the next part of the game... he made the entire thing up - and NO ONE knows that it was him.

Hopefully none of them will ever find my blog because if they do - his cover has been blown.

Blasphemy?

2008-02-22T15:05:00.000-08:00

I would like one of these... but I think my purchase of such an item might ensure my ticket through those fiery gates. (I'm not to clear on the whole blasphemy rules.) In any case, let's hope laughing at this won't mean the same.

Nanotechnology is from the Devil?

2008-02-22T14:53:00.000-08:00

Thomas and I found this beaut in the WSJ today.
Nanotechnology is Morally Unacceptable.

Brief Description (The Lede) If you don’t have a super-fast, super-small computer in a few years, blame the moral majority. It turns out that most Americans find nanotechnology, the scientific field most likely to produce such a breakthrough, morally unacceptable.

Makes me like this little phrase my brother showed me. It goes like this:
"I don't have a problem with God, it's his fan club I can't stand."

You Tube Children

2008-02-20T19:44:00.000-08:00

I like the YouTube videos where the children are actually hilarious, and not just on there because their adoring parents thought so...

This is one of my new favorites.

If you have any other good ones, please share.
I already love: "Charlie Bit My Finger," "The Youngest Hey Jude," "Afraid of her own shadow," and "laughing baby."

If you don't know any of these, check them out. You won't be disappointed.

But really - tell me if you know any other gems.

Backlog... Thomas' Visit 2 weeks ago

2008-02-20T19:21:00.000-08:00

So anyone who knows me, knows that my 16-year old brother is my favorite person in the world. He is cooler than the coolest person you know. And most likely smarter, too. And now he takes photos with his new fancy camera.
Check 'em out:

My street.

The artist himself (and the dog).

Me.

My herb garden... it was cheaper to buy different bowls and coffee mugs than actual pots.

My favorite: Basil.

My Creative Roommate

2008-02-20T19:18:00.000-08:00

Check out Haley's new online store!
She's making super cool, super useful sustainable bags. And keep checking Haley’s Etsy Shop. because she's still making 'em!

Manicures with my Man.

2008-02-20T17:29:00.001-08:00

So Alex visited this weekend. We skied, ate a birthday cake, saw "No Country For Old Men," and then we did something we've never done before. It went something like this:

Alex: Man, my cuticles are really bad.

Me: Oh, yeah, sorry I don't have anything for that.

Alex: Do you want to get manicures?

Me: Do you?

Alex: Sure.

Me: Uh... alright.

Alex: Do you know any places?

Me: No... I've never had a manicure before.

Alex: REALLY? I got one in Iraq.

So, he was fighting in a war, but he made sure his nail beds were clean and tidy while loading his AK-47.

God Bless America.

Lunar Eclipse

2008-02-20T17:21:00.000-08:00

A fitting song for such an event...

I Like Giants.

"When I go for a drive I like to pull off to the side
Of the road, turn out the lights, get out and look up at the sky.
And I do this to remind me that I'm really, really tiny
In the grand scheme of things and sometimes this terrifies me.

But it's only really scary cause it makes me feel serene
In a way I never thought I'd be because I've never been
So grounded, and so humbled, and so one with everything
I am grounded, I am humbled, I am one with everything..."
-Kimya Dawson

She's rocking. Happy Lunar Eclipse to my oh-so-few readers.

Dancing in the Board Room

2008-02-12T16:57:00.000-08:00

So, again , I wrote this post about a month ago. January 8th, actually. See, I write these posts in Word Docs and then never actually post... stupid.

So anyway, this happened about a month ago. I walked into our “Presentation Room” to collect my department's laptop from an earlier meeting. I was alone so I was singing Stevie Wonder's "Everything Is Alright" and dancing around (as I so often do). So I'm dancing as I'm turning the laptop off and packing it all up and a voice comes booming out of the ceiling asking me to “Please turn that back on.”

I replied, "What the hell?" while turning in circles to ensure that I truly was alone. (Very Professional.) This is when I realized that the video conferencing was still turned on. I fumbled to turn the equipment back on and shyly ask, "Can you see me?" And, of course, they could. They saw it all. The singing, the dancing, the first true Kendra humiliation of '08. So I turned on my video conferencing, and there is our IT Senior Director and someone other guy, in suits, sitting at a table in another room, staring back at me from the screen. So unless they enjoyed my Stevie Wonder impression, which most of you know could not be possible with the set of pipes I've got on me, I have a feeling it was not the most best impression to make.

I made it to the 8th of January before doing something stupid - I think that's progress from last year.

In honor of this moment, I have made that song my all around ring tone.

Dodgeball League

2008-02-12T16:41:00.000-08:00

One miserable Saturday morning Haley and I dragged ourselves out of bed at 7:30 to get the most of our YMCA memberships. I had been bragging about how great this particular class was that I had been attending on Wednesdays and when I found out it was offered on Saturday too, we decided to go.

Big Mistake. We did about 300 push-ups within the hour (and you might think I’m exaggerating, but I am absolutely not). We ran stairs for a full half hour, we jumped rope, we ran while holding 20lbs above our head… we killed ourselves. And I’m sure Haley wanted to kill me. Please be warned. There is a different teacher for this class on Saturdays. DO NOT ATTEND ON SATURDAYS.

However, some good came from it. One of the other unfortunate victims of the class introduced herself to me and Haley. Her name's Molly. We hadn’t talked since the class when out of the blue, Molly called me and asked if I’d like to join a Dodgeball league. Of course this needed no thought on my part and I immediately accepted the invitation.

I am an official team member of the Delaware Sports League. Cosmos Dodgeball Team – and proud of it.

On our first game (which at the time of this posting was about 2 months ago) Molly couldn’t make it – but I didn’t know this prior to showing up in the gym filled with at least 50 people. After searching the faces I realized she wasn’t there. Problem: I knew NO other players on my team. Finally I got a girl with a clipboard and she pointed me in the right direction. The girls on my team are incredibly fun and friendly – so that’s perfect (again, the point here is to make friends… man, I’m starting to sound desperate, huh?).

So I explain to my team that I’ve not played since elementary school, but they were fine with that. This is how it works: Each pairing of teams plays 11 games, alternating between girls games and guys games for 10. The eleventh game is a co-ed game, with a max of 3 guys per team.

I was the second person out in the first game, but picked it up from then on. It was the most fun I’ve had in Wilmington so far. It was also a little scary. The girls on the opposing team were a lot stronger. I’d put money on the fact that they were softball players or throwers. But the guys – all around, were the real scary part. Just hearing the balls hit other people made me wince.

Well guess who got picked to be one of the two girls for the co-ed game. Yep, me.

So I was just running around terrified, making very little effort to catch or throw – I was just trying to not get whammed by one of the guys’ throws. Before I knew it, I was the last person left on my team, and I was terrified. All I could imagine was getting hit in my giant schnoz and crying on my first night in a roomful of strangers. (Not that similar experiences haven’t already happened to me – my nose and I have been through quiet a lot.)

I am now forced to throw and catch, and it’s me verses one very strong girl, and one hard hitting guy. I’m trying to act like it was my plan to be the last one the whole time, but I’m actually having a panic attack internally. This is when the girl steps backward on a ball and breaks her ankle. Game over.

And I shouldn’t have been so happy about that kind of an ending.

Boston Redeems Herself.

2008-01-10T19:19:00.000-08:00

First of all, I promise this blog won’t turn into a dog saga… but this is a pretty good story, so just keep reading.

After a delightful few days with my sister who visited for Christmas cookie making, shopping, and good ol’ fashioned sister bonding, I was walking the dog around 6pm on a Saturday night, feeling lonely and planning out the night in my head. That Saturday’s plan went something like this:

-walk dog
-workout
-shower
-eat remaining cookies (while missing Barrett and wishing I had friends)

So as I turn the corner on the end of the walk I notice an elf and three Santas sitting on the sofa in a of neighbor’s house. Suddenly, the elf comes outside and offers me a beer. I politely decline and he tells me I should just come in and say “hi.” I again refuse the offer, as it’s against my better judgment to enter a stranger’s house with four, albeit festively dressed, guys. But then a girl comes to the door and repeats the offer. For a third time I refuse, but when I reach the end of the block I review the above list in my head and decide, “Why the heck not?” So, I turn around and march back to their house, because I really had to know why they were dressed like elves and Santas.

Turned out they were headed on the Santa loop, and they invited me along. I refused a couple times but they eventually convinced me and told me to bring a friend. So, I ran back home calling the 4 people that I knew were around, and to no avail. When I called Bianca (the aforementioned girl) and told her I wasn’t coming because I felt weird without knowing anyone. Well, long story short – she convinced me to go on the Santa loop with a bus full of strangers. I went, and I had a blast, and I got a free Santa hat. So I guess Boston does help make friends.

If you’d like to see the recap of the night, (and watch me being awkward with new friends) check out this link.

Note: I hung out with the reindeer a lot that night too.

Side Note: A month later I received an email from my old boss and Out and About Magazine saying that he saw me on the video and would I like to start freelancing?

Answer: Absolutely I would.

Man’s Best Friend.

2008-01-09T18:55:00.000-08:00

When my mom forced my brother to give up his little terrier, Boston, I volunteered to adopt. Not only is she housebroken, adorable, and not prone to annoying, incessant barking, but I had the grandiose idea that she would help me make friends with all the 20-somethings in my neighborhood. I had enviously watched them chatting while their dog’s kindly sniffed each other’s butts. Now, I too would have a butt sniffing dog and would instantly make friends, especially since she needs to be walked three times a day (the perils of not having a yard).

Week One: I met a 50-something year old man who told me all about his terrier that just died and then proceeded to join me on my walk. Which, by the way, was almost over, but I had to continue walking around the neighborhood because I didn’t necessarily wanting this guy to see where I lived. Fast forward to 20 minutes later, I’ve finally lost the guy, but have now missed my fitness class at, my new favorite, the Central YMCA.

Week Two: I take Boston on a new route to explore different parts of my adorable neighborhood and come across a little play ground surrounded by a fence. As I walk along the fence watching the kids and their moms, some of the kids run over to the fence – but are now hidden from their mothers by the shrubbery (cleverly placed to hide the fence… but only from the people IN the park). So as the children ask me “is it a him or a her?” and if she likes apples or goldfish crackers because they’d be glad to share, I was imagining an irate mother running over and accusing me of trying to kidnap her little cherub.

Week Three: We venture across the street to the Healthy Dog, Happy Dog store. This is a gourmet, all natural, all organic, bog bakery. Yes, I know what you’re thinking. And I agree. But I admit, I have to stop myself from taking a taste because their liver and beef cookies just LOOK so good. Anyway, it has since become Boston’s favorite place – and mine too, because they give me free advice and save me from paying the exorbitant vet fees. But I digress. On our way out of our first doggie store visit (now loaded with $10 worth of holistic doggie goodness) we meet Boston’s boyfriend – Roo. He’s a blonde terrier, who is so well trained that Fred (owner) doesn’t need a leash. This is certainly not the case with Boston. And if I didn’t know better, I might suggest that she’s suicidal, based on her proclivity to jump out in the middle of the street without warning.

Here I should mention that Boston is a snob and a sissy who suffers from the Napoleon complex. She will fight to the death and bark her little head off at a rottweiler or a Boxer, but when a hot-dog dog or a chiwawa walks by, she whimpers and hides behind my legs. The real problem here is: my dog hates other dogs. This means I have to run away from other dog owners, hence, I have made no friends with dogs.

But, for some reason, she likes this Roo character. They sniff each other and run around peeing on the same trees. It’s true love. Too bad Roo’s owner is a 40-something year old man. And to clarify: I’m not in the market for twice-my-age male friends.

Plan “Boston Makes Kendra Friends”: Backfired.

Celebrate Your Youth

2007-10-28T12:21:00.000-07:00

Every now and then I like to list the things that remind me how excited I am to be alive.

I love sitting on my roof with good friends. I love potlucks. I love Nina and our conversations that intensify over a bottle of wine.

I love fall, crisp air, crunchy leaves. I love Haley's Urban discount. I love Haley.

I love Cilantro salad dressing and hot showers.

I love memories of summer with Shannon in NC.

I love being able to walk everywhere in my neighborhood. I love that I can take my dog into the video store across the street. I love that Jackie planned ahead for my birthday - and that I get to finally see Zap Mama in concert.

I love that Alex is almost done with the army. I love that Bush is almost out of office.

I love that I go to a church where I can wrap my hair and wear jeans to - and I'm not the only one.

I love that my sister is living in Costa Rica next semester. I love that I get to visit her.
I love that my brother is 16 and way beyond his age. And way beyond people my age.
I love that my mom is crazy and because of that, so am I.
I love that my dad is practical, and that I got a little of that, too.

I love my life.

My New Life and My First Friend

2007-10-11T14:48:00.000-07:00

I've been living in Trolley Square for about two weeks now, and have been willing and ready to start my life here. First step: find some friends.

Today, while waiting at the pharmacy, (which is a lovely two block walk from my new apartment) I made my first friend in Trolley Square. He’s cute, he’s funny, and he’s Asian. All the things I love in a man. He caught my attention in a way that no one ever has, and I couldn’t help but staring at him from across the room.

He was holding a mouse.

I think I should clarify my earlier statement. He is Asian, Vietnamese to be precise. He is cute, in that nine-year-old way. And he’s definitely funny, he walks all over Trolley square holding a mouse – and he thinks it’s a hamster.

Kevin and I struck up a conversation about his hamster/mouse, and we became instant friends. He saw my ID card attached to my shirt and said, “Oh, so you’re a doctor?” (He already sees how amazingly intelligent I am and probably recognizes that I’m only in marketing because I’m trying to follow my true passion – writing.) I correct him and tell him I’m a writer, to which he asks, “Is that why you have a pen in your wallet?”

“Yes,” I tell him, surprised at how observant he is, and proudly pull out three others from my purse. I have now proven my abilities as a writer – what half decent writer doesn’t carry an unnecessary amount of pens with her at all times?

As we talk, I start to realize that everyone at the pharmacy knows Kevin. This is apparently where he and Brownie, the hamster/mouse, hang out. I ask him what he does with Brownie when he wants to eat. He tell me he puts her in his pocket. Then he rethinks his answer – “I don’t do that with these pants though.”

He proceeds, wordlessly, to stick his hand, still holding Brownie, in the pocket of his sweatpants. Then he bends over until Brownie’s head pops out under the elastic band at his ankle. This is a much more satisfactory way of finding out someone has a hole in his pocket.

I get my prescription and tell Kevin how much I enjoyed our little chat. He said that he’ll probably see me again and that I’ll get to pet Brownie again too.

Thanks, Kevin. I’m glad you’re my first new friend in Wilmington.