Friday, June 12, 2009

This is one wacky game show.

Ok, ok, ok.  I’m not going to put off writing anymore.  Here’s the update: 

I’m still in Burlington, not working, and it’s making me a little mental.  I love being here, and almost everyday I get to see my friends and my family, but I like working.  It’s not for a lack of trying. I’ve handed out resumes like Tyra hands out jars of Vasaline.  No crystals, but still just as classy.  I guess it’s just bad timing.  I am making a little (though very much appreciated) money helping out around the house that I’m staying at.  I’m down with yard work and the like, so I’m enjoying myself.  I just wish I had a job, like a real grown up.  

Might turn out that I have to head back to Boston.  It’s stupid to stay here, unemployed and without Chad, when I might have better luck finding a job in Boston.  There’s a fine line between being a free sprit, and just plain being lost.  I’m here to walk that line for you guys.  I’m offering a service, and you’re welcome.

Some of the cool stuff that’s happened since I’ve been back: 

My nephew Ethan turned 5 whole years old.  I’ve recently joined his Earth saving club.  Meetings mostly happen whenever we’re in the same room together, but we discuss the fundamentals.  Basically, he wants to figure out a way to stop all of those people from cutting down trees in the rain forest.  And he’s begun his campaign in my parent’s back yard.  I planted a Scots pine (named Prescott) there like, 20 years ago, and much to everyone’s surprise it has flourished into a mighty, mighty green beast.  And by that I mean it’s about 20-feet tall and very, very dead.  

I’ve been arguing with my father about not cutting it down for probably 15 of those 20 years, but I guess it took a five-year-old smarty pants with puppy dog eyes to really drive it home.  The tree is safe, for now.

Also, my friend Brooke and I have gotten into a very sweet little habit of getting together on Tuesday evenings to knit and catch up.  It’s nice to have someplace to go during the week, and Brooke is wicked fun.

Chad has visited a few times, and it sucks every time he goes.  E-v-e-r-y t-i-m-e.  And soon it will be my turn to rent a car and head to Boston for a visit.  I know I’ve said this before, but he is for sure the most amazing, supportive, loving, perfect boyfriend in the history of boyfriends.  He agrees that it’d be nice if Burlington works out for me because he knows how happy I can be when I’m here, but if Boston is the next step, he’s right there for that.  I’m obscenely lucky to have him on my side.  I hope it’s for ever and ever.

In other news, I’m taking full advantage of the programs and benefits Vermont offers it’s uninsured and I’m getting some health stuff in order.  Vermont rules so hard when it comes to health care.  

So, that’s everything.  If you decide to take away from this update that I am lonely, poor, unemployed, unhealthy, with a yellow garbage bag twist tie holding my glasses together (did I not mention that?) then, well, you’re just a jerk. Because clearly you are overlooking my eagerness to face new challenges and my positive mental attitude.

This has to be the weirdest post I’ve ever written.

My head hurts.
Posted by Kendra in 02:37:09 | Permalink | Comments Off

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Burlington on Design Sponge!

Burlington was featured on Design Sponge recently, including a bit about the store my friend Sara works at (Lotus).

Posted by Kendra in 22:48:10 | Permalink | Comments Off

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Sup, G?

It’s super rainy today, and I’ve just picked up my knitting for the first time since moving here, so I figure now is as good a time as any for an update.

So, here’s the thing: I love living in Burlington. And seeing my family and my friends much more often is pretty much my definition of happiness.  However, what i’ve realized is I’m never going to me 100% stoked until I can be here, in Vermont, with my family, my amazing friends,  . . . and Chad.  It’s like, remember all those posts while I was living in Beverly about how much I missed Vermont?  There was only one or two hundred of them, maybe you missed them.  Well, not having Chad around gives me exactly that feeling.  I can’t win.  Chad can’t live in Vermont because they don’t make movies in Vermont, and I can live in Massachusetts, because they don’t make normal people in Massachusetts.  But I’m here, and I very much appreciate that.  It was a hard transition, and it’s still difficult.  But, I’m going to do everything I can to take advantage of living in one of the coolest towns on the planet, amongst some of the most rad people I’ll ever know.

Let’s make a deal.  I’ll promise not to write all the time about how much I miss my boyfriend, if you promise to understand that I really want to write about how much I miss my boyfriend.  Cool?

Ok, so, Burlington.  It’s so awesome here.  It’s rainy today, but it’s been beautiful since we got here on Saturday.  I live with my friend Ananda’s mom Marlene.  She really sweet, and very hospitable.  Also, they have a dog called Einstein, who might just be the most well-behaved dog I’ve ever met.  He’s adorable and fun, and he just wants to play and cuddle.  He’s a Border Collie, and I promise to include pictures in some future posts.  

I was mentioning to my friend, Ian, last night that I’ve found myself doing this weird thing during the day where I count how many different things I’ve done that day.  I’m so used to being in Massachusetts where my entire day was spent going between work and home.  We rarely did anything other than chores on the weekends, so moving back here, and bouncing through town is such a change, I can’t help but take detailed notes.  For example: (this all happened in my head on Saturday when Chad and I were here together) “We went to the bike shop, then saw Sully at work, then to Ian’s, then to the bike swap, then we saw Mark on Church Street, then dinner with Sara, Bobby, Kiernan, Lisa, Taylor, and some of their friends, then bowling and desert with them. I did 8 whole things today!”  Dorky, right?  I can’t help it, it’s like I’m one of those kids who was locked in her parent’s basement for two-and-a-half years until social services found me, cleaned me off, and sent me to public school.  There’s just so much to see!

All right, so it’s not that dramatic, but it’s still awesome, and I plan to maintain the awesome-ocity of it all for as long as I can.

So, there’s the update. Things are 99% perfect, but we made a deal so I won’t go into it right now.

Butjustsowe’reclearImissChadsomuchitmakesmewanttobarfallovermyself.

Posted by Kendra in 13:28:06 | Permalink | Comments Off

Saturday, May 2, 2009

BRB

     I’m moving back to Vermont tomorrow. I’ll post again when I’m settled.  
Posted by Kendra in 02:33:18 | Permalink | Comments Off

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

The 5th of May.

Yesterday Chad and I participated in the 10th annual Walk for H.A.W.C. and it was so fun.  It was just five miles, but it was five miles in 197 degree weather.  My team was amazing.  Thank you Margie, Jill, Trysha, and Chad!  If I heard correctly, I think $30,000 was raised, and there were easily 600 people walking.  It was a really fun time.

A few funny things, this kid in the group in front of us was wearing maybe the most inappropriate shirt he could have possibly found for this particular event.  It said “Keep Running Your Mouth” on the back.  Then, at the end of the walk, Chad and I overheard this conversation:

Lady 1 - “Want to do something for Cinco de Mayo?”
Lady 2 - “Sure! When is it?”
Lady 1 - “The fifth of May. Hence, Cinco de Mayo.”
Lady 2 - “Well, I don’t speak Spanish!”
Lady 1 - “That’s not Spanish.”

Yeah.  Mmhmm.  That 100% happened.

Posted by Kendra in 00:11:49 | Permalink | Comments Off

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

What is up, homies?

Sorry. I meant to blog this later that day, but some stuff went down, so here it is now.  

MY FABULOUS DORCHESTER SITES O’ INTEREST BIKE TOUR!!!!

My first stop was the Neponset River Reservation.  It’s a cool place, I guess.  There’s a great park with paths and stuff right off it’s walking path, but it frowns on bikes so I frown on it.

From there, I headed to the First Parish Church of Dorchester.  It’s a pretty cool church.  It was built in 1631, so that’s kind of awesome.

Then I headed up Dorchester Ave to Sawyer Ave to the William Monroe Trotter House.  It’s on top of this really high hill in Dorchester and the view is really cool from there.  William Monroe Trotter co-created the Niagra Movement which was a precusor to the NAACP.  This house just looks like some family’s house, but it has a plaque on it.  The plaque didn’t make me feel like any less of a weirdo for taking pictures of it.

Next, I biked to Boston Street and found Captain Lemuel Clap House and the William Clapp House.  The Clapp Family were amoung the first settlers in Dorchester.

From here I tried to find the Franklin Park Zoo, but ended up finding the Bayside Exposition Center.  I don’t know, I’m just that bright.

Then I got lost trying to find the JFK Library, and when I asked a student for directions, she looked at me like a jerk, and said, ” . . . it’s right there.”.  God, what a cow.  Anyway, I eventaully found it, no thanks to her.

At this point I was over it, and took the train back home.  I didn’t get to all of the Points of Interest, but I was able to bike around quite a lot of Dorchester.  It was nice.

     Anyway, that night Chad’s grandfather went into the hospital and passed away early the next morning.  It was hard because he had such a huge personality, but Chad’s family is very close and that helps a lot.

     That weekend was Easter, so Chad and I spent Saturday and Sunday in Vermont, visting his mom and my family.  I finally got to meet my sister’s baby, Elena.  She’s really very perfect.  She was totally cool with being passed around and loved by everyone.  Each of my neices and nephew are amazing.  I love seeing my family. 

     Also, The Walk for H.A.W.C. (Help for Abused Women and their Children) is on Sunday, and there’s is still time to donate.  100% of your donation goes to H.A.W.C. and the website is ultra secure.  Please donate whatever you can. No amount is too small.  Donate today!

     So, that’s it.  I’m just over a week from moving back to Burlington, so I’m mentally trying to prepare myself for not seeing Chad’s perfect face everyday.  Ugh, that’s going to be the WORST.

     But this is good for me. Yeah?

Posted by Kendra in 15:57:20 | Permalink | Comments Off

Thursday, April 9, 2009

A Walking Tour, But On My Bike.

     Today’s a day off (get it, because I don’t have a job), so I’ve spent the morning trying to come up with some cool places to ride my bike.  It’s finally not rainy and cold, and I haven’t been on my bike since we moved to Dorchester.  I’m stoked to get out there, but I’m not sure where I’ll go.  I was considering mapping out each of the “Sites of Interest” located on Dorchester’s wikipedia page (You’ll also find, on this page, a list of the notable folk born in Dorchester including 4 of the 5 New Kids.), but they’re all of houses of what I am assuming are lawmakers of the 18oo’s.  BO-RING! Maybe it won’t be so bad.  The Franklin Park Zoo is on the list, and there’s nothing I love more than paying to see some googley-eyed animals that have either been torn from their families and natural habitats, or born into captivity.  Helpless suckers.  Some might argue that zoos allow us the opportunity to learn from some species of animals we might never have the chance to see without extensive travel, when really the only thing I feel like I’d learn is that I just paid money to feel sorry for a gorilla.

     So, Wiki’s Sites of Interest list is out.  What, then?  There’s the JFK Presidential Library.  Also, there’s a ton of parks I hear good things about.  I’ve already found the local public library, and it’s like,the opposite of worth checking out.  I don’t know.  Maybe I’ll just take the train into Boston againtoday.  
 
     Let me refer to my goals list and see if there’s anything I can accomplish today. I could bike to Boston, though technically I’m already in Boston.  I’ll save that one for when I move back to Burlington.  Then I can cross that off along with the one about bike touring.  The one about playing Final Fantasy VII straight through looks pretty sweet right about now, but I guess I’m sort of obligated to go outside because it’s so nice out (It’s supposed to snow on Saturday.).

     Ugh, see, now I’m back to the Wikipedia Sites of Interest again.  

     If that’s what ends up happening, I’ll take pictures because I’m sure none of you want to miss out on the magic that is the William Monroe Trotter House.

      Here goes.

Posted by Kendra in 13:28:20 | Permalink | Comments Off

Friday, April 3, 2009

“It can’t rain all the time- rain all the time- rain all the time . . . ”

     So, my plan for the month of April included lots of bike rides and days in the sun, knitting on the back deck.  Since I’m not working, I figured I could take it easy before heading back to Burlington and, hopefully, finding a full time job that rules.  However, Madre Natura’s plan for the month of April apparently included little more than 40 degree days and a consistent rain.  Today wasn’t rainy, nor was it too cold to ride my bike.  Unfortunately, I got little sick after dinner last night and was couch-bound all day trying to recuperate.  I was able to get quite a bit done on the child’s dress I’m knitting for Seed Stitch Fine Yarn.  It’s the striped dress from the 2nd issue of Debbie Bliss Magazine, and it’s fun as heck to work up.  So, the day wasn’t a total loss.

     So far I really like Dorchester.  I think it gets a bad rep because it’s not the pretties town in the greater Boston area, but so far everyone I’ve met has been really nice, and some neighborhoods are actually very nice.  It also doesn’t hurt being so much closer to our Boston friends.  Hopefully the rain will back up off, and I’ll be able to really explore the town.  Maybe take some pictures.

     It’s also really different living with a roommate again.  We’re living with Chad’s friend, Ken, who seems fun, but he works all the time so he’s not really around that much.  He and Chad work on a lot of the same movies, so that’s cool. And it’s definitely nice having someone else around.  I think the Dorchester/Burlington setup will work out much better than Beverly did.  

     Anyway, look, I’m still kind of screwed up over this food poisoning thing, so I’m not entirely cognitive and therefore I feel like I’m not responsible for ending this post in a clever, snarky way. 

    Cuties.
Posted by Kendra in 01:56:19 | Permalink | Comments Off

Saturday, March 28, 2009

No Country For Old Kendras

     We’re about 3/4 of the way through our move.  All that’s left is the easy big stuff and the annoying little stuff, like filtering out old mail, and trying to cope with having to part with some pretty great old t-shirts.  Apparently 28 is too old to still have a sleeveless, safety-pinned, crusty black shirt that reads “NO HOPE” in huge white letters.  Personally, I was saving it for job interviews, but I guess that’s just one more way society oppresses every human’s basic right to freedom of expression without having to be judged by something as shallow as a t-shirt.  Society’s always holding me down, man . . .

     Anywhoozle, I spent my first real day in Dorchester yesterday and it seems like a nice enough place.  It’s close enough to the city that I was able to head in for the afternoon to see some friends, which was very cool.  The few folks I met around our neighborhood seemed really, really nice.  One lady helped my find a T stop, and our back porch faces several other back porches, so Glenn from across the way introduced himself while he was grilling.  It was very cool.  He said more to us in that one introduction than ANY single person in our entire building in Beverly in the last two-and-a-half years.  I get that Dorchester isn’t the prettiest place in the greater Boston area, but so far it seems sweet.

     Now I have a decision to make: Do I go to Vermont in May for a couple of months, and if it doesn’t work out, I move back here.  Or the other way around?  Chad and I are both talking about some opportunities that are available to me in Burlington, but I’m going there without a job lined up, or an apartment.  At least here, in Boston, I have a place to live and I could start looking for work right away.  I mean, I know I’m going to head for Vermont, I’m just nervous.

     One day at a time, though. Right?  It’s not like I have a mortgage, or a baby (sigh . . . .) to keep me any one place.  Just a super-supportive boyfriend who wants me to be happy wherever that puts me.  I’m lucky, and smart enough to know that I should take advantage of the opportunity.  I just wish I were more ambitious.  There’s more to the planet than Vermont and Boston.  

     One day at a time, though. Right?

Posted by Kendra in 11:35:00 | Permalink | Comments Off

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Turn And Face The Strange.

     I’m changing some of the goals on my list to accomodate the move to Vermont.  They were Beverly-specific things that I’m replacing with other goals because I’d rather not have the Beverly stuff lingering when the deadline hits.  I don’t know if this breaks the 101 Goals In 1001 Days rules, but I make my own rules around her. Got that?!

    In other news, I’m stoked to spend April in Dorchester.  Chad’s new place is really cute, and there’s a huge back porch just right for tea and knitting on the nicer days.  

     I’m stoked on stuff right now. 

Posted by Kendra in 19:40:13 | Permalink | Comments Off