So this year is the year I turn 30. Tomorrow, in fact. Twenty nine has been such an unbelievable year in so many ways. Half way through the year I made a list. I am happy to report that like I said, my birthday is tomorrow, and I have completed 21 of the 30 things on my list. A few of those things can’t or just won’t happen (for reasons I’ll go into detail about later), and some I just couldn’t manage to tackle in my 6 month deadline. Overall, I am very pleased with the goals I hit. I managed to knock off some really important ones (like paying off my car, paying off half of my remaining student loan balance, cut down my cost of living, get more involved in my career – which actually took a completely different turn …)

If the last 6 months of 29 proved anything to me, it’s that 30 – and my 30s in general – are going to be a very exciting time indeed. Over the next week, I will create a whole new list of tasks. I hope you’ll stick around to see what I check off next.

Now a little bit of birthday madness.

Last Friday, I hosted a small cocktail party in my apartment. December is an insane month to attempt to get people together for, so I kept it a super low-key gathering of some city friends and family to have a drink with me and help me complete #27 on my list.

Argos was invited. And was enjoying some water at the time under my tissue paper pom poms.

Stencils I created to “help” with the creative process. Best idea ever – and watching them be incorporated was amazing.

And finally … my finished product:

This picture does this painting no justice. You can’t see the texture incorporated — people painted, and layered more paint, and sharpies, and used stencils to trace, and also to layer and give dimension and texture.

The colors are far more vibrant in person. And I can literally pick out what each person contributed. It’s pretty incredible to see how it went from a blank canvas to something wild and a perfect representation of all my friends and family.

Thank you Mom, Kate, Eric, Meaghan, Bob, Dink, Andy, Matt, Jon, Pia, Jean, Julie, Donny, Lisa, Adam, Andrew, Mike, Matt, Tracy & Greg. <3

Part 2 coming next. It’s a good one.

Saturday and the 7 days that follow are going to look a whole lot like this:

No laptop. No cell service. But a whole lot of this:

And a whole lotta them:

Don’t miss hate me too much.

Hello. *tap tap* Is this thing on?

Oh look at that. Still works. I guess I ….. forgot how to use this?

Whatever. I have no excuse. I just didn’t feel like blogging for a bit. But here I am! Triumphant return!

Noteable events/observations from the past several weeks of disappearance:

1) I went to Dallas. Yup. Not really voluntarily. I was there for PCMA 2010. Sorry Dallas readers, but I did not have the best time in your city. The conference was great. But a) I got sick. b) the only food available to me for several days was either covered in, dipped in, or prepared with lard, butter, cheese or ranch dressing. I ordered a salad my first day – just your typical mixed greens with chicken. It came served on a pizza. SERVED ON A PIZZA. Like a full PIZZA. By the end of the conference, I was begging bartenders for their bar fruit (yeah I stole an orange. SO WHAT.) I’m sure Dallas is a lovely city – out of the convention circuit.

2) I recently discovered that every time I try to type “things” on my iPhone, it automatically changes it to “thugs”. I don’t know how many times I’ve substituted “thugs” for “things” to friends, family, clients – but I kind of think that’s awesome.

3) I only discovered the above because post-Dallas my cold continued and I was pretty much banished to the couch and in and out of sleep for the next 5 days, iPhone in hand. I attempted to go out for my friend Grace’s birthday party on Saturday night and nearly fell asleep at the bar. Sorry Grace. I suck. I do have a gift for you though :)

4) After nearly two years of only dreaming about them, I actually got to drink a Blue Bottle latte. It was beautiful and delicious.

5) Ok sooooo… can you keep a secret? I’ve sort of been …. seeing someone for a bit (which might have a litttttle something to do with my lack of updates. Maybe). I probably won’t say too much more – yet. But … suffice it to say he is the kind of man who remembered and filed away a conversation from more than a month ago where I mentioned an early 2008 trip to San Francisco where I had the “best latte I’ve ever had from this place called Blue Bottle”. Last week he knew I was feeling terrible, called the company and asked what kind of espresso bean I may have had in my latte when I was out there, placed the order, and had the beans delivered the day I got back from Dallas. And, if you can believe it, that’s just the beginning of the ridiculous journey this has been. But I’m not going to brag or anything :) I will say that after a relationship gone bad, two years of horrific dates including some recent absolutely terrible events, this …. is an unexpected but welcome turn of events.

6) My friends Sarah aka “Sasky” and Tony aka “Tony” had their very first baby a couple of days ago! They named him Desmond and he is absolutely precious. I would post his pics, but I’m not sure how far out into the internerd they’d like those to go, but here’s a visual: deliciously pudgy, tons of hair (OH THE HAIR!) and absolutely tiny and sweet and adorable.

So there you go. I hope I fulfilled at least a bit of my “where has she been?”/”Jen-gossip” quota for the day.

Last year I wrote a Top 10 Things I Will Do In 2009 list. Let’s look it over and see what, if anything I accomplished shall we? (Tomorrow I will write my new Top 10 Things)

1) Travel. This I did do. ISH. I did manage to take more time off and go away. I did a week in Vermont on a lake in the woods, I spent a weekend in Provincetown, I flew to Miami and had a long weekend in Atlanta.

2) Spend More Time Outside. I did do this …. ish. I don’t think I quite accomplished getting away from my desk during the day as much as I would like, but I ran several road races this year which forced me to train outside. I spent that week in Vermont almost entirely outside. I made it to the beach half a dozen times this summer! It was a good outdoor year.

3) Get Back to Creating Art for FUN. I kind of sucked at this goal. I did rediscover a love for my (good) camera …. even if it was only a handful of times throughout the year.

4) Take More Risks In My Career. This I DEFINITELY did. I pitched a job that didn’t exist to the Executive Director of my company. Within two weeks I got promoted and am doing what I love.

5) Continue to Trim the Fat. Not physically — more like life clutter-wise. I was really great at this this year. That could have to do with moving twice though ….

6) Date More Wisely. I FAILED BIG TIME at this in 2009. BIG. HUGE. Like could not fail any worse. Until about a month ago.

7) Talk To More Strangers.I planned myself and helped plan a few really great networking events this year. I flew to conferences out of state and walked up to people I did not know. I did end up on one (unfortunate) dating rollercoaster (crash and burn) as a direct result of walking up to someone on the street. Whether the connection worked out or not, I definitely did this more.

8) A New Home. I got not one new home but two. That’s right. I moved from Dorchester into my first South End home (sublet) and then into the place I’m in now. I couldn’t be happier. I love my apartment.

9) More Random Acts of Kindness. I’m not going to say WHAT I did because that defeats the purpose of these, but I did a few this year. Not as many as I would like, but I did some nice anonymous things.

10) I’m stealing this from an article I read on the internet: Use this decade year to go to extremes. “Climb the tallest mountain you can find. Picnic at midnight. Learn to sail. Talk to strangers. Road trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Take a midnight drive to the beach -– then stick around for dawn. Take advantage of what you have: energy, idealism, enthusiasm, a willingness to experiment, a lack of encumbrances, a desire to learn and grow. Enjoy — and you’ll be better able to appreciate the next stage.”

I think I definitely learned to take responsibility for my own happiness this year. And that it’s ok to just let some things go, let some things happen, let some emotion out, let my guard down. I’m still working on all this, but I’m getting there.

All and all I’m pretty pleased with what I’ve done.

What did YOU accomplish in 2009?

PostSecret: Confessions on Life, Death and God from Frank Warren on Vimeo.

My secret? I don’t think I know how to let my guard down anymore. It’s like a skill I lost and I’m not sure I’ll ever get it back. I’m also not entirely sure I want to. To be completely honest? I don’t even know how much of a secret this is … if you know me.

What’s yours?

Wednesday
Go out of work early! Yay! Went home and had some dinner with my roommate and then headed to Boston’s left bank (Cambridge) to see my friend Jay’s band – the Bodega Girls. I can’t even tell you how fun and amazing this band is. If they’re in your area, go see them. They have some songs on MySpace but to be honest, their recordings don’t even do them justice. You have to see them live. Absolutely worth it.

Thursday
Awesome day with these awesome people:

There was pie, and food, and pie, and more food, and coffee, and Baileys and more pie. SO MUCH PIE.

During the evening my sister put on an episode of Hoarders. Have you seen this show? Oh my god. I threw up in my mouth. Twice. And then proceeded to go home and stay up until 1:30 in the morning cleaning and disinfecting my apartment from top to bottom.

Friday
Headed back over to Cambridge for brunch at the Friendly Toast. Great food. Terrible service.

Later in the evening, a group of us headed over to Harvard Square to see the Donkey Show. This was by far the highlight of the weekend. The show is so fun – you dance, you sing, you’re part of the show … but you’re not. It’s rather impossible to explain. Go see it for yourself. Tickets are $25 for standing room, and trust me, you want standing.

Post Donkey Show a group of us headed to our gayborhood bar for some alcohol-fueled group antics. PS. Thanks SE boys. Hearts, hugs and laughs.

Saturday
This was a very productive day actually. I got a lot of work done (who works on a holiday weekend? THIS ONE RIGHT HERE.) Due to the ridiculous ASSUMPTION that baby showers are held on Sundays and the fact that I didn’t think to check the invitation sitting on top of the gift, I worked through the afternoon only to discover I missed by friend Sarah’s baby shower. Because I’m a terrible friend. Getting sucked into work is a vicious cycle of disaster.

The evening was spent at Danny’s with the Usual Suspects and Danny’s adorable parents. Where Danny’s adorable dad schooled us in Apple to Apples.

Sunday
Sunday was a Tour de el South End. My friends and I started with brunch at Metropolis (great food, again terrible service. UGH), followed by a quick shopping stop at Flock, my new favorite boutique, followed by cocktails first at Ginger Park (formally Banq), then, per usual, at Stella. Eventually we all made our way over to Joe V’s for pizza, wine and trip making plans.

Yeah that’s right. Trip making plans. Vieques? Yeah I’ll be seeing you for a week in March. Bioluminescent plankton? Get ready to get swam with. I’m coming to get you. Oh yeah – and Jean? You better start getting ready NOW. This birthday is going to be the best one yet…

After all … you made it this far :P

It’s about that time of again: I am absolutely bored with my hair. BUT I’m growing it out. AND I swore my stylist to an absolute hair grow outness pact.

I will not cut my hair. I will not cut my hair. I will not cut my hair.

But, guys? I kind of want bangs again.

Mostly because … I fell in love with this girl’s bangs:

(Things that change over the years? My hair. On a regular basis. Things that don’t? My omnipresent pack of gays.)

So if you want bangs so much Jenny, why don’t you STILL have them? Good question guys!

Well A) like I said, I easily get bored with my hair and change it constantly. And B) I had them, I loved the bangs, – I hated the length of my hair paired with the bangs because I looked even younger than I already do. Chin length hair + blunt bangs = not good on Jenny. Fine. Lesson learned. But … my hair is kind of getting long now. It is a good 3.5ish inches past my shoulders (yes 3.5ISH is an official measurement).

Soooooooo to bang or not to bang? That is the question. Please leave your thought in the comments. Thank you.

I reread my blog entry from earlier today and realized I totally forgot to mention one other thing that happened this week. You know, that time I had a surprise root canal.

Omg whoops! How did that slip my mind?

So a long time ago (December 2005) in a land far away (Dorchester), I went out shopping. For a grab gift. For a holiday party. I was going to. That night. (Nothing like leaving things til the last minute, huh Jenny?) I remember the afternoon exactly. It was cloudy out, it had been raining and was still misting. As I approached the intersection at the end of my street, I saw the light had turned yellow so I slowed to a stop. Just as the guy behind me decided to floor it.

Weeeee! Rear ended. Not just rear ended. My face slammed on the steering wheel, and I later found out my car was totaled. Not just totaled but the frame of the car had been bent. The guy who hit me? The front of his car shattered. No seriously. Like glass.

Though I don’t entirely remember, I exchanged information with the driver and got myself home.

Then the pain set in. I couldn’t see. I literally could not open my eyes my head hurt so bad.

I called my Dad and he brought me to the ER where they told me (and this is exactly how they explained it to me. Or at least how I remember them explaining it to me.) “Basically you were hit so hard that your brain hit your skull and that’s what’s causing the pain and photophobia.”

My Dad had to wake me up every hour that night to make sure I wasn’t dead. Or something. Again, I had just been hit. The details are fuzzy. But that’s the gist.

Over the next couple of weeks I got to have CAT scans and face exams. Exciting.

After it all, I was deemed fine. Except FOUR YEARS LATER. By my dentist.

“Remember that car accident …. yeah sometimes things pop up later. I’m sending you to an endodontist for a second opinion on this tooth.”

Cut to Tuesday. My consultation. For the second opinion.

“Yeah, you need a root canal. So do you wanna just do it or make an appointment and come back.”

“Um. What?”

“Do you have an hour?”

“Huh? I guess? Is this going to hurt? Wait! Am I going to hear anything? Like drilling?! (yeah pause for laughter here folks) I passed out watching the video about getting my wisdom teeth out! I get nervous about this stuff. OMG. Can I wear my iPod??”

I laid down in the chair, shaking. YES SHAKING. White knuckled. iPod turned up all the way and that endodontist had at my mouth.

And what I’m about to tell you might shock you: I didn’t feel a thing. It didn’t hurt. At all. Shot of Novocaine and I was good to go. I literally felt the oddly painless sensation of him MOVING MY ROOT, but was fine.

I’m apparently a tougher broad than I thought. I guess after you slam your face on a steering wheel in a car totaling mess of a car accident you toughen up.

Thank you man who hit me in 2005. You’re like the gift that keeps on giving*. Year after freaking year.

*So help me god, if there are anymore weird face things that are a result of this accident, I will hunt you down. And bitch slap you. Cause really? It’s 2009. I would have liked to have left you back in 2005 where you belong.

Good question. And I have an equally good answer: busy. I’ve been busy. And to prove it I’m going to let you into my crazy life. Here’s what I’ve been up to:

I went to Miami. It was amazing. I laid on the beach, by the pool, drank some cocktails, went shopping and I hit the spa. I hit the spa HARD. If you ever have some extra vacation days (HA!) and some extra cash lying around (HA! HA!) head to the Fontainebleau. It was a vacation within a vacation there. Also, if you do go – go to Sushi Samba. Go twice. I did. Yum.

I helped organize and attended Dinkstock 2. Eleven bands, Ten hours, One Dink. It was a crazy week leading up to Dinkstock 2, and even crazier morning, but the event turn out was fantastic. My friends and Dink never cease to amaze me with their generosity and talent. My new favorite band officially is Where the Land Meets the Sea. Good god they are awesome. I’ve been listening to their album ever since and I can not wait to see them again.

I hosted my weekly dinner/Glee party. I made baked chicken stuffed with sundried tomato pesto, goat cheese and fresh basil. And it was phenomenal if I do say so myself. Make it. It’s easy. Like your mom. WHOA.

I’ve been working non-stop on my new site design/relaunch. I did a soft launch for about 20 people to get some feedback and constructive criticism so that when I launch it to the masses (you know, the other 20 readers) it will be perfect.

And now on to what I’m doing in the future … future …. future ……..

Attending the Social Branding Event. Tonight. In Cambridge. Will you be there? Come say hello if so.

Working on the Mega Tweet Up! Have you heard about it yet? Has Joselin been on your case to RSVP? If not, I will be from here on out. It’s going to be an amazing event. We’re meeting tomorrow to work on the remaining details and we better see you all, dressed to the nines, ready to walk the red carpet on December 3rd!

So there you go. Happy now? GOOD.

*PS I miss your face! How have you been? Tell me all about YOU now. No really. GO.

Radio Program Crush:
Ira Glass. No surprise here. I’ve been in sweet love with this man and his radio program This American Life for years. I crawl into bed with him (aka my iPod) every night.

Writer/Director Film Crush:
Hal Hartley. I rewatched Trust last night and forgot just how amazing that film is. If you haven’t seen it, please NetFlix the hell out of it (it’s available to watch instantly on a computer).

Literary Crush:
John Steinbeck. East of Eden is one of the best books written of all time. End of story.

Coding Crush:
Dan Cederholm. The things this man does with CSS is magic. I have been so very, very inspired by him and have learned so much from him, his site, and his books over the past couple of years. It really paid off — which you’ll see in the redesign of my website – to launch in the very near future.

Mentor Crush:
Matt Sanocki. Sure he’s an ex. But I (luckily!) still consider him to be one of my best friends. I met him when we were both “youngins”. When he was working at a radio station, playing in a band. Seven years later, he’s lived in San Francisco and New York City. Been a part of creating a company that I have a lot of respect for. Working on at least a billion side projects. The man has a killer work ethic. And all the while taking time to help me make decisions, give me critiques, tell me to shut up when necessary. Everyone needs a friend like that. Plus he lets me crash at all his fabulous pads.

Cartoon Crush:
Fail Whale. He’s freaking adorable.

Twitter Crush:
Joselin Mane. This guy is just as passionate about Boston, events, and community as I am. If you’re not following him, you should be.

(Photo stolen from CC Chapman)

Overall Social Media Crush:
Pete Cashmore. Oh holy jesus. Helllo Pete. You are delicious. You are bloody brilliant. And hilarious to boot. Remember those times we met and both freaking times I looked like a hobo? I bet you don’t. I do. And am ashamed of my hoboness.

And now for the eye candy …

Film Actor Crush:
Colin Firth. Yup. It’s overkill. I know. But Sarah reminded me: “Once a hottie, always a hottie.” We did have a fan club after all “Who’s on Firth”.

TV Actor Crush:
Hugh Laurie. Delicious.

The Common Thread:
I have crushes on smart men. Men who are driven. Who are passionate about what they do. And are proud of the work they produce. Men who are involved in community. And want to be a part of something bigger. Who want to make a difference. Men who speak and write eloquently (*note, if you write to me and use awful text type like “C U L8R”, you lose major points. Good grammar goes a long way. I have a legit crush on John Steinbeck for god’s sake). Men who have a sense of humor. Who are comfortable enough in their own skin to laugh at themselves. And finally, men who know who they are, what they are capable of, what they want and how to get it.

Who are your crushes? Tell me all about them school girl/boy style.