Archive for August, 2009

This is kind of the week of insanity. Already. And it’s only …. Monday?

So I’m moving. Yes. Again. I had gotten a summer sublet and, well, summer is (I hate to say it) practically over. I’m going to miss my roommates more than they’ll ever know. We’re all going our separate ways tomorrow. Well except for Andrew – he’s coming with me. And the other boys will all be within a few blocks of me still, but it just won’t be the same.

I’ll miss the boys, but things I will not miss? 5 boys, 1 Jenny, 2 bathrooms. Oh and also? FOUR MILLION STAIRS. (Penthouse suite? Awesome. Moving in and out of said penthouse suite? HELL ON EARTH.)

I’m moving into a lovely two bed in a renovated brownstone with an open floorplan, huge closets(!) and a deck. And it’s on the second floor (read ONE flight of stairs. Oh and also MOVERS. Yessssss.)

In other news, I’m going to talk about the thing you’re NOT SUPPOSED TO TALK ABOUT ON YOUR BLOG – what’s the rule? – OH ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever. EVER.

Work.

I had a meeting with my boss today. I’ve been at my job for three and a half year now, doing essentially the same stuff for that time. There is still stuff that I do that I love, but there is also stuff I do that I am bored with. And there’s stuff that we should be doing that we’re not. Stuff that I want to do.

I wrote to my boss a couple of weeks ago and told her I wanted a meeting to talk. That meeting was today. I walked into my boss’s office today with a project plan. I made a list, wrote out a plan, I gave examples, and said “This is what I want to be doing with my life/career. And I’d like to be able to do it here.”

And you know what? My boss liked it. My boss was excited about it. My boss wants me to prepare a formal presentation for the Executive Director for next week.

If all goes well, my title change will go into effect SOON. It’ll be a giant leap, more work, more responsibility. And EXACTLY WHAT I WANT. Something that is totally fun, something I love, something I am absolutely passionate about and getting PAID for it.

New home, new opportunities – I am absolutely positive this fall is going to be full of awesome. I can’t wait.

I have a friend who happens to be a 911 dispatcher. Oh the stories I hear. They are great. But I don’t think anything tops the message I got today:

hi,
the other night at my work a 911 call came in for a street in the south end (said street shall remain nameless as it is not so pertinent to the story) the text verbatim said: Caller states that there are approximately 10 young males in the back of above filming a gay porn. Caller also stated that one of the males was hanging upside down from a tree, naked. Would like a unit to respond.

i immediately thought of you.

love,
[redacted]

I love my friends and my neighborhood so, so much.

In addition to a lot of really great evenings of cooking dinners and drinking wine:

I spent a good portion of everyday blowing bubbles, five year old style. No. Seriously.

And then came the day for Bread and Puppet. What’s Bread and Puppet? I really don’t even think I can explain it.

THIS is Bread and Puppet:

And THIS:

And THIS:

THIS:

THIS:

AND THIS:

IS Bread & Puppet:

Something you can’t tell from these photos is the SCALE of Bread and Puppet. Enter Jean. Five foot six (ish?) Jean.

Yeah. Huge.

Bread and Puppet is a politically radical puppet theatre that dates back to the 1960s. This is one of those things that to truly appreciate the scale, the enormity, the (I have to say it) creepiness of this place, you have to visit.

Don’t get me wrong, there was a lot of insightful information offering up very different points of view and some interesting artwork available at Bread and Puppet – it’s just …. we happened to show up just as a women with glassed-over eyes told us that we “Caught them at lunch.” She disappeared into a small dark room, full of children we could hear but could not see, on the lower level of the barn. We had the place to ourselves. Which I don’t know if it was better or worse for the creep factor.

Read more about them on their Wiki page or visit their site directly.

(I did take some video while I was there, but to be honest, I was so engrossed in the puppets, I kind of forgot to steady the camera. Basically it would make you vomit. So go visit and experience it for yourself.)

For more of my pics, go visit my Bread and Puppet set on Flickr.

Last Tuesday night, I told maybe a grand total of 5 people that I was going on vacation. That night.

I set up my out of office, I pulled the winner for my contest, told my work colleagues, friends and family that once I left they wouldn’t be able to reach me. At all. I would not be calling them (because I couldn’t*), I wouldn’t be updating twitter, flickr, my blog etc (because I couldn’t*).

*To be honest, that was one of the best parts and most appealing parts of this vacation. We got in the car, and once we passed NH, I powered down. For five days. The only electronic device we had (outside of my cameras – of course) was an iPod dock and 3 iPods. It took less than 5 seconds to get used to not reaching for my iPhone every few minutes, and that made me happy.

I took thousands of photos. My friends and I cooked some amazing meals. I swam every day. My ears popped from driving through the mountains. I fell out of a kayak. I drank coffee every morning on the deck and read. We played cards. We listened to music. I didn’t wear make up. My wardrobe for the week consisted of a bathing suit and a sweatshirt when I got cold. I played hide and seek with a horse. I visited a politically radical puppet theater. I rode the big girl rides as the county fair. I laughed harder and longer than I have in a very long time. I have a new and deep appreciation for my friends.

I’m a city girl who secretly loves the country.

I have far too many pictures and stories to ever show and tell. And I’m not sure I want to. What I do feel like sharing, I’ll post here.

I am sad to be back. If you had the week I had, you would be too.

Day One:

It’s the time you’ve all been waiting for! Who wins that $50 gift certificate to The GAP!?!?!

And the winner is …..

(Yeah shut up it’s backwards. Whatever photobooth.)

RHI!!! From Rhi in Pink!

Congrats gal! Now send me an email or DM with your address and I’ll ship off your gift certificate next week ….

for right now? I’M GOING ON VACATION.

I’m going to a land where there are no phones, no tv and GASP, NO INTERNET. You won’t be hearing from me. At all. Until Monday. Ok probably Sunday.

This is AllEyesOnJenny. Signing off suckas!