hey! it's jenna's blog!

what makes my heart happy: Portland Intergenerational Women's Choir

2011-12-05T22:31:00.002-08:00

Happy holiday season! I hope you all are decking the halls, jingling your bells and getting your wassailing on.

I've been meaning to write about this subject for a long time but just never getting around to it. Well, now with the holiday season here and choir concerts filling the air, I need to tell you about a group that is really dear to me.

Last January I started singing with the Portland Intergenerational Women's Choir. This choir was created and is led by my friend Crystal. She started this choir with the mission to bridge the generation gap through music and service. Rehearsals are held in senior living villages where the residents can come and sing with other women of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life. From the website:

"In today's society there is a disconnect within our communities. A gap has been created between the young and old. Part of the PIWC mission is to mend the gap and change the attitudes we have about our young and old.... We are for every woman that wants music in her life. PIWC believes every individual has a voice and welcomes all singers at all musical levels."

I will admit...I originally joined because my friends were in it and I was jealous that they got to perform at places like The Grotto and the Zoo. At the first rehearsal, two of my friends couldn't come and I started to have my doubts. Is this really what I want to do with my Monday nights if my friends weren't there? Was it even worth it?

However, I kept coming. There were times I had to force myself, but I showed up. Soon though, I noticed that every single time I left rehearsals, I was happier. I had not realize how much I missed singing in a group. When I was singing with these ladies, I felt joy. I felt a connection to the women I was raising my voice with and a sense of community that I think only music can create.

Monday nights are now something I look forward to all week. I have made some fantastic friends and I get to sing my heart out with 40+ women every week. The 1 1/2 hour rehearsals fly by and, without fail, I leave pumped and full of energy.

Now, our Christmas performances are starting! We had our first show last Saturday at the Portland Symphonic Girlchoir Annual Jinglebear show where PIWC were their special guests. We only did four songs, but we tore the roof off that place! It was awesome! Three of the songs were Christmas songs, but our last one was Price Tag by Jessie J (it's apparently on the radio now, but I hadn't heard it before). The message of the song is that life isn't about money and that we should just enjoy life, which is an important message during this season where consumerism can run out of control. I have a solo in this song. It's a rap solo. Yes, I rap now. And I am going to toot my own horn right here...I rock that rap solo! When we were doing that song, the audience got really into it and it was such a rush to be up there watching their reactions. They loved us.

Don't worry if you didn't get to see my rap debut...there are more shows coming up! Four, to be exact (except for we won't be doing Price Tag at The Grotto... it's not exactly appropriate for that place). If you can, I really, really hope you can come out and see a performance. And not just to see me (though I am pretty fabulous). The PIWC performances are fun, lively and will let you see the community I am talking about and am damn proud to be a part of.

Below is a list of our upcoming performances. All of the shows are free except for The Grotto, where you do need to pay admission to their Festival of Lights (which is a great holiday activity in itself).

Friday, December 9, 2011
The Heights at Columbia Knoll - 8320 NE Sandy Blvd Portland, OR 97220
Time: 7 pm

Monday, December 12, 2011
Laurelhurst Village - 3060 SE Stark St Portland, OR 97214
Time: 7 pm

Friday, December 16, 2011
Irvington Village - 420 NE Mason St Portland, OR 97211
Time: 6:30 pm

Thursday, December 22, 2011
The Grotto Festival of Lights - 8840 NE Skidmore St Portland, OR 97220
Time: 5:15 pm

So, that's that! If you are interested in knowing more about PIWC and are maybe even a little bit interested in joining, go to the Portland Intergenerational Women's Choir website and check out some of our performances from last spring on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/PIWCSings). Hope to see you all soon!

i'd really like to be occupying a bloody mary right now

2011-11-20T14:09:00.000-08:00

Hi! How are you? How's the family? Did you see that UO vs. USC game last night? What a heart-breaker!

It's been a crazy/strange/busy time in my life, as always, but I just wanted to post a quick update for y'all...

In September I started choir again with the Portland Intergenerational Women's Choir. We have been learning our Christmas music and it's almost time to start the performances! There are at least four scheduled shows in the month of December and the one I am most looking forward to will be on Dec. 22 at The Grotto. If you want to hear beautiful music, you should check out one of the shows. I think I'll do a separate post on choir later, but if you want to check it out now (and I know you do), go to www.intergenerationalchoir.com.

As I wrote about in my last post, my cat Jelly Bean died on Nov. 3. She was 15 and from what The Momma told me, it doesn't appear that she was suffering. It was just her time. It was really hard on my when I first found out and then last weekend I went to The Momma's house to help clean up the cat stuff. Coming in the door and not having her meowing her greeting was like a stab in the heart. For 15 years, that was her house and she was always there. It doesn't feel right for her not to be there. The Momma said it has been hard for her too, but it gets a little easier. I really do miss my sweet butthead of a cat.

Now the happy news...I got a new job! A real, grown-up, not-temporary job! I am now a full-time employee for Kroger at their benefits center. Remember the job I did this time last year as a temp? I'm back in that office, but this time it's permanent. My first day was last Monday, which was the beginning of the last week of their busiest time of year. I worked 10+ hour days and got some crazy overtime in. I didn't think I'd remember much from last year when I was there, but I only had one day and a couple of hours of training then I was thrown onto the phone by myself. It was the strangest, craziest first weeks of employment ever and I think I'm still recovering from the insanity. However, I am still over-the-moon-happy that I am no longer a temp and that I get to work with some of my good friends. I like helping people understand their medical benefits options. Medical benefits and such can be super-confusing for lots of people and if I can put it in terms that mean something to them and makes them feel more comfortable and confident in their decisions, then I feel that I have done something good and worthwhile in life.

So, those are the biggies in my life right now. I am excited for the holiday season and cannot believe Thanksgiving is in a few days! I hope you are all well and get to be with the ones you love this Turkey Day.

good bye to my wonderful kitty

2011-11-03T21:59:00.000-07:00

My Jelly

Last night, my cat Jelly Bean died.

She was mean, grouchy, never very affectionate. If I was eating something she thought was delicious, she would scratch and paw at me until I gave her some. She would wake me up in the middle of the night because either she wanted a treat or she just thought I should be awake. She was never a lap cat and whenever anyone other than The Momma and I came into the house, she would hiss and scare the crap out of them. When I would come home from college or from being away for a long period of time, she'd ignore me, as if to say, "I no longer care for you. You have no value until you feed me."

But she was my kitty.

I'll miss how she made me laugh when she'd rub her catnip toy all over her face and then run around in her catnip-induced high. I'll miss how she'd knead my chest until I thought she had created multiple bruises and then settle down and take a nap. I'll miss how when I was getting ready for the day in the morning she'd sit on my bathroom counter and then she'd want me to pick her up and cuddle with her as I sat on my bed. I'll miss how she'd go crazy when we'd play with a Chinese yo-yo. I'll even miss how when I was sleeping in she'd get on my night stand and paw at my face as if to say, "You awake yet? You awake yet? Wake up, Sleepy!"

I got her as a kitten right after I had started the 8th grade, 15 years ago. She was my kitty for over half of my life. She wasn't the most loveable cat, but I loved her on her terms. She wasn't going to be the kind of cat that I wanted her to be. But she's the only cat I'd ever want.

I miss you, my stinky butthead kitty, and I will always remember you.

Jelly with her friend Tony

She loved a good bag


Her favorite sleeping position

totally introspective and quite self-indulgent

2011-08-28T17:22:00.000-07:00

WARNING: Very self-centered and personal reflections ahead. Could very possibly sound like crazy, incoherent ramblings of a two-bit writer-wannabe. I don't capitalize my name for aesthetic purposes. She also switches from first to third-person references on a whim. I apologize.

My favorite quote is by Douglas Adams. I never remember the exact wording, but it is something like I am not where I thought I would be, but I am pretty sure I have ended up where I am supposed to be.

Growing up, I knew that I was safe and a valued member of my small community. However I knew that I couldn't stay, though my reasons changed as I became older. First, it was b/c big cities were foreign and and glamorous. They were where the movie theaters and Fred Meyers were. But being what I considered a somebody in Sandy was the best way that I could cope. Not being the popular, pretty and/or athletic type, I found my niche with theater and community involvement. Being involved with plays and being smart served me well. Not being a target of scorn by my peers (that I was directly aware of) made me comfortable and happy. But I knew that Sandy wasn't going to be my first and only home in life. The small-townieness felt like it was closing in on me, so I planned my escape, as many young people in small towns do.

I left and went to college. I went as far away as I could from Sandy while still paying in-state tuition to SOU. I, however, still clung to that familiarity of home though, longer than I should have. I sheltered myself, resisting the rest of the world, knowing that I should have opened up to it. My high school pictures and memories of those glory days were at the same time a life raft keeping me afloat and an anchor pulling me down. In my mind, I was a somebody in Sandy and hanging on to that idea and that my friends and I would never change prevented me from growing up.

Somehow I realized this during my sophomore year. I wouldn't say I knew it at the time, but leaving my childhood friends and going to a school without really knowing anyone set me on my path to freedom. That was my first step toward becoming jenna.

While my days at UO set me on my path, I still was only going waist-deep into the pool that is the real world. I still strove to find the same comfort and familiarity that I had known, just in a different setting and without curfews. Even my initial reason for joining AmeriCorps a year after I graduated was to be in a team where I could recreate that comfort zone of friends that's I'd grown up with, albeit with new people. That first year was the next wake-up slap in the head.

That first year, I found that I really couldn't be that same jenna from Sandy out in the real world. That jenna was needy, selfish and pretty mean. I couldn't get over my insecurities and made others turn away with my passive/aggressive attitudes. True, there were circumstances that I couldn't avoid or change and some really crap things happened to me emotionally that year, but how I wish I could have handled things differently.

I did get a second chance of sorts my second year of AmeriCorps. Signing up for that second year and being accepted as an STL was my attempt to correct mistakes I had made the first year and make my experiences they way I had initially hoped they would be. I still felt regret and pain from the previous year, but I found love and support from wonderful people too that had been missing before. I opened myself up a bit more to discovering who I am. I started to let myself be me, not who I thought others wanted me to be. That was a year where I started to really learn my lesson that not everyone would like me, but that I could be OK with it.

My final year with AmeriCorps was borne from my yet unfulfilled need to be on my own and to help me discover who jenna was. I picked a city on the opposite side of the country where I only knew one other person in the whole state. My Boston year was a year with the fewest safety nets in my life. I was on my own in a brand new, big city were all my needs and decision had to come from myself. Money became an issue for really the first time in my life, but it was also the first time I became truly accountable only to myself. I was in charge of making my own friends, planning my own social activities, ensuring that my needs for food, shelter and safety were met and figuring out how I was to deal with myself. I had to figure things out on my own.

That year gave me my true freedom. No...I gave myself my true freedom. I learned that I could survive in the world by being me. But it couldn't just be the me that I thought I was or that I thought I should be, but the me that included all my flaws and ugliness. I acknowledged the insecurities and jealousy that I had always had and that they were a part of who I was. Knowing this gave me the freedom I had been seeking. After that, I began to see the love, joy and true spirit of jenna. I could be comfortable and happy with this person.

I cannot take all the credit for these discoveries myself. It fills me with great awe and inspiration to see who the true friends in my life are, including my family. These are people who have seen my ugliness and awfulness but for some reason or another have stuck around. They make me feel deserving of love and happiness. They have always been there for me in their ways and it has taken me far too long to realize that. They give me strength to look at myself deep down. They should know who they are. If they don't, just ask. I'll tell you exactly how you have touched my life and how I will spend the rest of my days trying to repay you for it.

Returning to Oregon was an important homecoming. My traveling spirit sated for the time being, I decided I could move foward in life. Comfortable with my planted roots, I am now able to enjoy this newer, grown-up version that I currently am. I feel that this is the closest that "who I am" and "who I want to be" have matched up to each other. Of course there have been setbacks to this since coming home. They have taught me painful lessons and tried to drag me backward. But setbacks will always be a part of life and they will come and go. With every one that gets in my path, I grow and learn to recover more quickly in order to move on to the good stuff in this life.

As I sit writing this during my favorite activity of loitering at a coffee shop on a Sunday afternoon, I am content. Life moves on around me. I still carry those hurts and pains of life and growing up, but every day that I survive, I learn from them. Without them, I couldn't be as happy and at peace with today's jenna. This is a pretty good jenna to be right now.

hello to spring!

2011-04-26T15:07:00.000-07:00

Once again, I have neglected this blog for quite a long time (last post on 1/20/11!?! yikes.) Since it has been so long, let me reintroduce myself and get you all caught up on my life...

Hi! My name is jenna! I am 28(?!) and am currently working for Fred Meyer in their main office in the Rewards department. You know that card that the cashier asks you about when you check out? Did you forget that card and have now missed out on all of those Rewards and fuel points? No worries! Just give me a call and I'll add the points for you! Didn't get your $0.10/gallon discount when you got gas? It's probably your own fault, but I'll try to make you feel better about it. This is not what I want to do for years and years to come, but it's a job and it's comfortable enough (for now).

Since I started working at the FM corporate office last September, I have been staying with my Grammy, who lives much closer to the office than The Momma, who is still in Sandy. It has been a good arrangement, but I defiantly do not brag about still living with my family at my age. College and three years of AmeriCorps did not allow for any type of savings and I know that I have been very blessed to have family that I truly enjoy being with and who will put up with my broke-ass, free-loading shenanigans.

But, little jenna is finally becoming a grown-up. I still have my car Babs and she is totally paid for. I have a job with no end-date. And in May, I'll be moving into a house! My friends Stephanie and Heather currently live in Gresham and they wanted to move into Portland and into a proper house. Two-bedroom houses are hard to come by and I was looking for roommates, so we decided in March to find a place together. It's been a long and painful search, but on Saturday we looked at a house that we all fell in love with as soon as we went in. We had been looking on Craigslist for houses and looked at several. The places were either in sketchy neighborhoods, too small or were already taken by the time we called the property management people. I was also having a hard time swallowing the $30-$45 application fees we were going to have to pay once we decided that we liked a house enough to go through the application process. We saw a "for rent" sign at this particular house when we looked at a house that was three doors down. We filled out the application on Saturday with the owner/landlord of this place and didn't even have to pay an app fee. After the landlord reviewed our app, he called Steph this morning and said the place was ours!!! I'm giddy with joy!

"Where is this house?" you may be asking. To you, I say, "Leave me alone, stalker!"

But really...It's on NE 31st off of Ainsworth and near the McMenamins Kennedy School. It's a super-cute house with four bedrooms, one bath, a nice yard and a bonus/family room in addition to the living room. The living room has a fireplace and built-in bookshelves. The kitchen has new cabinets that are a pretty rosewood and granite countertops. Heather and Steph are going to take the bedrooms on the main floor and I am going to take a room in the downstairs area. The two rooms down there are a bit small, but I might use the bonus/family room as my bedroom instead. I haven't decided. I am so, so happy that we got this house. I can't wait to move in and get settled. I am tired of living a hobo life and don't plan on moving for a long time after this.

So, that's the excitement in my life right now. I might keep up this blog a little better now, but don't bet the farm on it. I am hoping the writing muses visit me more often so I can become a more consistent writer. I don't delude myself by thinking that people who read this hang on my every word and pray for a new post daily. Writing this blog is a process I enjoy and is just another outlet for story-telling. I'm amused by it, anyway...even if I am the only one :)

First Uppydate of 2011!

2011-01-20T18:08:00.001-08:00

Hi all! I really haven't felt like writing for a while but today I got the urge, so here I am. Since my last post, I finished making payments on Babs the Buick (got the title and everything!), had a lovely holiday season, celebrated Grammy's 79th birthday, started singing in a choir, crocheted a bit and generally enjoyed life.

My temp job with the Kroger Benefits ended last Friday but the temp agency did a swell job and had an interview lined up for me before then so this past Monday I started a new gig at the Fred Meyer Rewards center. For those of you that are mildly curious, I am still working in the FM corporate offices (where Benefits was), but now in a new department and new building. No new commute for me! I have now been there four days and all I can say is, well, it's a job.

My other major news is that Nicole and I decided to live together! We had talked about it last September but I wasn't ready to think about it until my bank account was a little more flush. We talked again last week and decided that end of April/beginning of May would be a good time for both of us. It will be me, Nin and my "Godson" Tanner. We have few requirements - 2/3 bedrooms, close to 205, not scary and cheap. Wish us luck!

Other than that, not much else is happening in my life. I wish I had more exciting things to share, but this will have to do. I hope everyone is surviving 2011, especially my New England and northeast friends. I love and miss you guys, but I am damn grateful that I don't live in constant snow :) Cheers!

Christmas Time is Here!

2010-11-28T01:10:00.000-08:00

Happy Beginning of the 2010 Christmas Season!

Now, I do love Halloween and all of the fall festivities that come with the season, climaxing in the big show of autumn, Thanksgiving. But last Thursday when the momma, grammy and I sat down to our feast of turkey and whatnot, I busted out the Christmas music and sang out with gusto between mouthfuls of mashed 'tatos.

I was talking with Abby and Tom last night about the Christmas season. They invited me over for dinner and a cribbage death match (I totally won) and their apartment was already decked out in holiday flare. As we listened to the Pandora selections of Christmas music, I actually realized that, for me, the build up to December 25 is way better than the actual day. From 5 am on black Friday when I am throwing elbows at other shoppers in the sock section of Fred Meyers for 1/2 priced socks and other such deals to the holiday parties with ugly sweaters and white elephant gifts to my family's Christmas eve tradition of Chinese food and driving around to see Christmas lights... the actual Christmas day just pales in comparison when it comes to the build-up of excitement, warmth of feeling and sharing of happy times with family and friends.

I love the anticipation more than the actual event. It was different when I was younger and all I wanted was to amass an even larger amount of toys and stuff. But, thankfully, that is not my main mode of operation anymore. The Christmas season is a one month period of the year for me to show my love to the people in my life and to do so while wearing red and green. Christmas gives me the freedom to be cheerful at an almost-too-sickeningly-sweet level, fueled by obnoxious Christmas music and peppermint-flavored everything. Once the actual Christmas day hits, it feels anti-climatic. I still enjoy the day thoroughly, but on December 26 the pain of putting away all of the decorations begins. All of the Christmas music, which at that point I will be sick of after listening to it for four weeks straights, gets put back into the closest and I am faced with the "where am I going to be on New Year's Eve" dilemma and then that's it. I don't get psyched about a holiday again until Easter (my birthday, beginning of spring, bunnies, etc...).

So, with that being said, bring on the Jingle Bells! Peppermint Mochas at Starbucks? Yes Please! The healthy stress of finding perfect Christmas gifts? Let me have it! Christmas time is here and I have a whole month to enjoy!

Ooooo-Weeeee! What's Up With That?

2010-11-06T20:35:00.002-07:00

Today I feel like giving y'all, my loyal and maybe not-so-loyal readers, an update about what is going on in my life. I've probably forgotten a lot of details, but I'll do my best to recap.

In August I began applying for jobs and sending my resume to temp agencies. I had a couple of interviews that went nowhere and had not hear a peep from any of the four or so temp agencies I had applied at. In September, I applied for one more temp agency and one week later I got a call from Northwest Staffing Services. I took some very basic computer and typing tests, had a chat with the branch manager and before I left the office that day I had one interview and one working-interview set up. The interview went well in my opinion but I decided to do the working interview just to see what my options were. The working interview was for a consulting firm in West Linn and after 1.5 days of mind-numbingly boring proof-reading, the firm decided not to continue my services. I don't know why they made that decision, but I think that they were so busy that they didn't have time to train anyone for the job. I didn't take it personally. I don't know if I would have enjoyed working there anyway...

As soon as I left the consulting firm, I got a call from the temp agency saying the place I went to the interview really, really wanted me. So as of September 20, I am working at the Kroger Benefits Service Center, located in the Fred Meyer Corporate Office, as a customer service rep during their open enrollment for benefits period for all employees of the Kroger Company. So, to my friends who work for Fred Meyer, are not union, and have questions about your benefits, you can give me a call and I'll tell you all about your benefits for 2011. I started training with a group of temps on September 20 and last Monday was the beginning of the open enrollment, which is a super-busy time for the service center. I will be at this place through at least December. I am hoping a permanent job will open up and I'll be offered the position. I like all the people who work there and I think I'd be happy there with a permanent job. If not, then hopefully I'll be able to get another assignment with the temp agency soon after this one ends.

My office is located on 26th and Powell. That is a long, stinkin' way from Sandy. And when the job starts at 6:45 am, it is a ridiculous commute. So, in order to cut the drive in half, during the work week I am staying with Grammy, who lives on 160th and Powell. My drive in the morning is now about 15 minutes as opposed to an hour from Sandy. I'm staying in Grammy's guest room and am relatively comfortable. Thanks to AmeriCorps, I could probably sleep anywhere. It has been nice just spending time with Grammy in the evenings and I am happy that I can help her out when she needs a hand.

Babs is almost mine! I have one more payment on my 1964 Buick Special and then she is all mine. She still has her little quirks, such as the gas gauge never reads "full", the speedometer is not adjusted correctly, and I'm going to have to spend a considerable chunk of change to get the headlights functioning in a proper manner, but I love her anyway. She gets me to where I need to be and she does so in her own way...that's why Babs is "Special" harharhar!

It has been one year since I returned to Oregon from Boston. It has been one strange year with ups and downs and all-arounds. I can't remember where I thought I would be in one year when I came back to home, but I don't think it was where I am right now. And that's not a bad thing. I've had a hard time recently thinking ahead. Shoot, I can't even plan what I am going to do during the weekends because I really just don't know what will happen in the meantime. I'm pretty sure I'm doing what I need to be doing for myself right now, I just don't know what will come next. I read a really good quote today that, I feel, really sums up my feelings...

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be. - Douglas Adams

So, I'm pretty sure this is what my life is suppose to be right now. Where ever I end up next will be where I'm supposed to be too. Hopefully I reach that place with a permanent job and a fully-paid for car too.

Dear Difficult Times In My Life,

2010-10-26T18:39:00.000-07:00

Hey there. It has been a while since we've talked.

You do remember me, right? You were always there when I felt like the world was crashing down on me and I had no idea how I was going to make it through. Remember the hellish living and work situations, the soul-trampling acquaintances around me, the bleakness that comes with not knowing the direction of my life? Those times when all I could do was cry and wish that the whole world would go away? Remember now?

Anyway, this letter isn't to say that I am done with you for good. For one thing, I know that you are always on the bench ready to jump back into my life. You are going to be there for the rest of my life, as you are for everyone else in the world. I can say that right now I accept that and will deal with you when you make your presence known again. Also, you will not ever be completely gone because things have happened that I know I will never be able to forget and I will carry them with me where ever I go. As small as I try to make the load that you have left with me, you will still make my heart hurt when I remember you and what we went through together.

So no, this isn't a good-bye letter, this is actually a thank you note.

No, seriously... thank you.

I really want to let you know what you have done for me. Bottom line, I wouldn't be the jenna k that I am today without you. Because of you, some of the important thing I know are...

I am a strong, independent woman.
I can survive a huge assortment of living situations.
that just because I failed at one thing it does not make me a failure.
there are some things that I am bad at, but I have also learned things that I rock at.
it is OK if not everyone likes me and that I don't need to change who I am to try to please them.
that the people who don't leave when you are around me are the most wonderful people in the world.

And the latest thing that I continue to learn and accept day-by-day is that you are really pretty insignificant in comparison with my buddies Happy Times In My Life and Peaceful Times In My Life. I have focused on you for so long that I have sometimes forgotten about these friends, which is outrageous since there are twice as many of them as you. You may always be in the background ready to jump up front, but I am really trying to focus on Happy and Peaceful and make up for all the times I've neglected them.

So as well as a thank you note, this is also a warning. The next time you crawl back into my life at full-force, I am going to have my posse of Happy and Peaceful right by my side. We may not defeat you for good, but we will not let you boss us around. And once you go back to your corner, we will realize how you have made a difference in my life and we will reflect on what lessons you have taught me.

So, until we meet again,

jenna k

dear katherine heigl

2010-10-03T14:14:00.000-07:00

Dear Katherine Heigl,

Hi there. You don't know me, but I have a small request that I would appreciate if you would consider...

Please stop making the same movie over and over again.

We all get it; you are the cute girl who is awkward and charming but unlucky in love. You fall in love with the wrong guy while the right guy is right there the whole time. We know that in the end you will end up with the right guy after painful-to-watch mishaps and some kooky antics. True, I have not seen 27 Dresses, The Ugly Truth, Killers or any of the other films in your resume since I do not waste my money on seeing your movies in theaters or clog up my Netflix queue with your painfully predictable drivel. However I must ask you to please stop taking precious commercial air time for your insipid movies from the Old Spice Guy and the Geico commerical with the little piggy going wee wee wee all the way home. If you'd like some tips on what comedy looks like, look no further than these 30-second spots of comic genius.

I am not unreasonable. I understand that actors can change and take on very interesting roles that are worthy of my time and money after some rough starts in show business (i.e. Tom Hanks in Bosom Buddies). So I will retract this comment once I see that you have made something that doesn't make my intelligence hurt. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

jenna

friday favorites: jenna's writin' friends, part II

2010-09-16T12:21:00.000-07:00

Today I share with you the rest of my friends who write their own blogs that I read regularly. If you'd like to check them out you can click on their name below or just look to the right of this blog and see them under the section "hey! it's some blogs i read!"

Nicky O: The Journey of Photographic Vision Nicky O. is one of my dear friends from high school and is one of my "drama girls." After high school she joined the Navy and is now living in San Diego going to school for photography. Her pictures are some of the most beautiful I've ever seen and she shares some of them with the world on this blog. Her beautiful family and friends are often her subjects and she really captures moments of pure joy and of tranquil peace. Y'all should hire her now before she gets super famous, which she is bound to be.

Stuart: Interlocking Systems of Equality I've talked about Stuart before in my support for one of my favorite people post. Stuart went on the Equality Ride earlier this year and he documented his journey in this blog. It is heartbreaking to read of the intolerance and hatred shown to him and his crew, but it is also inspiring and hopeful when they made breakthroughs at their stops across the country. He doesn't update much, especially since the ride ended last spring, but I still encourage everyone to read it.

Brittney: Sand Dollars & Sunflowers Brittney was my dorm roommate freshman year at SOU. I lost touch with her until last year when she found me through Facebook (you can find EVERYONE there, but that's another story). Last month she got married (to a guy I went to high school with and have other random connections to) and since her engagement she has documented her path to wedding happiness. I enjoyed reading about how she got great deals on wedding stuff and about her in general. I don't know if she will keep this blog up, but I'll stay tuned...

Stacey: Untitled...Forever and Always I have known Stacey for years and years and years. Our mothers are besties so that made us playmates by default. She is now a child and family therapist living in Portland and shares her adventures in this blog. I enjoy checking in from time to time to see what she is up to since now we are not playing together just because our moms make us.

So, there are some more blogs that I encourage everyone to check out. If you are reading any good blogs that you think I should read and give a shout-out to or if you yourself are writing and I didn't mention it here, LET ME KNOW! I can never read enough about my friends and hope that this encourages you to read more and to write!

friday favorites: jenna's writin' friends

2010-09-09T13:22:00.002-07:00

If you are not reading this directly from my blog but from the notes section on facebook, I invite you to click over to my blog at www.heyitsjennasblog.blogspot.com to see the layout and what I will be addressing in this post.

I love reading blogs that my friends write. For many of my friends and acquaintances, this is how I keep up to date on their lives and going-ons. I think that it's a more personal type of stalking than what you can do on facebook because this is coming from them in whatever form they choose.

If you look to the right side of this blog you'll see a column with the heading "hey! it's some blogs that i read!" I list blogs here for three reasons:

1. so I can entice my readers to check them out and enjoy reading them along with me
2. to support my friends and
3. whenever any of them posts something new I can read it from there instead of going to the blogs individually and finding out that they haven't posted anything in over a year.

I am confident that everyone who reads this blog does not know everyone on my blog list. They range from life-long friends to college friends to former co-workers and everyone in between. So on this post I will introduce you to four of these folks so that you can know them better and maybe check out what they are writin'

Stephanie: Fat Kid At Heart This is written by a gal that I have known since our days as little Girl Scouts. She's funny, sweet and a kick-in-the-pants good time. She is documenting her journey in becoming fit for life as well as other events in her life that she feels like sharing.

Kiley: K.wolverine I met Kiley when we were in children's plays in Sandy. She is one of the most originally funny people I know and has a dry, sarcastic sense of humor just like or better than mine. She is now living in NYC and our contacts have been few and far between, but I still love reading about her adventures. She hasn't written much this year, but what she does write is gold.

Kate: Your Green Guide: with a little on the side Kate was a support team leader with me in A-Corps. She is sweet, upbeat and very dedicated to service and saving the environment. In this blog she writes about current events in the environment and tips and tricks to make your life greener. She is a great gal and truly a do-gooder for life!

Erika: is that a stoplight? i guess i'm not in la center anymore! I met Erika as a camp counselor and know her by the name Starla. After college she moved to NYC and lives the true New York experience. She sees plays and musicals, goes to cute cafes and lives a pretty hip life. She recently got engaged and I am excited to read about her further adventures.

That's it for today. Until next time, do yourself a solid and check out these gals and their writin's and musin's on life.

Feedback on Temp Agencies

2010-08-05T16:29:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! How's it going? This has been a strange week for me since I thought I'd still be employed and am now not, but I have been keeping busy in the mornings staining the front and back decks of The Momma's house. Listening to podcasts made the time go by quickly, so if this ever gets to the How Stuff Works people, thank you for your informative and entertaining podcasts. Also, thank you to everyone who called, emailed or facebook-messaged me this past week. Your care and concern are sparks of happiness in my day :)

Anyway, today is the day that I start pulling my life back together (for the umpteenth time, I know). I am trying a new job-searching approach and am looking to sign up with a temp agency. I have heard of people getting permanent jobs from their temp jobs and I'd like to try and hop on that wagon. I am really unsure of how to proceed other than doing a Google search of temp agencies in Portland and randomly applying to some. Does anyone have any advice? I'd also like to hear how the process went for you if you ever signed on with a temp agency and if you have any recommendations or tips for what agency to look in to. I'd like to stay in the SE Portland area, but would consider expanding the search. Advance thanks to anyone who can help me out with this :)

change of summer plans

2010-08-01T10:10:00.000-07:00

Hello again, all!

Last time you may have read this blog, I told you that I would be gone for the summer working at a camp. Well, things happen and plans change, so I am not working there anymore. For those of you who know me and would like to know more about this, feel free to ask.

This means I am back in Sandy and looking for what comes next. I really don't know what that next thing is, but hopefully I will figure it out sooner rather than later. I am back to the idea that I want to have employment without a predetermined end date. I have put off making big life decisions for a long time and now I need to be making them so I can become a productive member of society once again.

On another note, Babs is back in my life! Babs is the 1964 Buick Special that was on loan to me from family friends since last November. In May, Babs' transmission decided that it had had enough and was no longer doing whatever it is that transmissions do. So after two months in the shop, she is back with me, where she belongs. And I am finally making the commitment that she has been wanting and am in the process of buying her from the family friends. In a couple of months she will officially be mine! Yay for transportation!

Anyway, that is where my life is at the moment. Done with one job, looking for another job, on my way to becoming the owner of a classic car that makes me smile. If we haven't talked in a while, you should give me a call since I am bad about initiating those kind of things. Hope all is well with everyone :)

a hometown haiku update

2010-05-14T17:11:00.001-07:00

I wrote about this on facebook, but it is too heinous to not share on here. This happened this morning in a coffee shop in my hometown of Sandy...

men drinking coffee

i'm sitting within earshot

red shirt takes out phone

next to him, man asks

"hey, got any pictures of

big-titted women?"

red shirt looks replies

"yeah, but that's besides the point"

they get up and leave

inside, my heart weeps

Sandy disappoints me again

"titted" is a word?

Haiku Update

2010-05-06T14:22:00.000-07:00

I want to write more on here, but never find the time. So, I am going to try and give you snippets of what it going on in my life more frequently in my favorite form of poetry...

Working at Macy's

Passing the time is boring

Camp will soon be here

(found on the web)

friday favorites: bands that make me feel awesome for liking

2010-04-30T13:43:00.004-07:00

I would say that I have a pretty diverse taste in music. However, most people I know will say that they like a little of everything, usually saying that they don't like country and/or rap when saying that on their facebook page. My ipod is pretty diverse when it comes my music selections and I am working on not being ashamed or having to explain when a friend is looking though it ("yeah, I have Peter, Paul and Mary... I like 'em!"). But there are just some bands that I feel give me extra cool points for liking. Maybe they aren't as well-known or mainstream as what is played on the radio or I can say that I loved them before they became big. Or maybe the band is just so unexpected to be a favorite but I love them anyway. And I love sharing these bands with friends and seeing that they like them too. So for today's installment, I give you bands that make me feel cool for liking.

The B-52's - I've loved them since "Love Shack" came out in the late 80's. I still think that they are out-there cool and will forever include "Love Shack" in my top 5 favorite songs of all time.

The Decemberists - Even though both I and the band are from Oregon, I saw them in concert in Boston and have enjoyed them ever since. Their music is distinctive and, at times, epic. Definite cool-points here.

Jenny Lewis (solo and with Rilo Kiley) - I love the fact that the woman who makes interesting and good music is the same person as the daughter of Shelly Long in the movie "Troop Beverly Hills." Awesome.

Kings of Convenience - These guys have a really mellow, chill sound that is perfect for relaxing to. You'd like them, trust me.

Loretta Lynn - This Queen of Country truly kicks butt. Her early, more well-known stuff as well as her collaboration with Jack White on "Van Lear Rose." You must check out the song "Portland, Oregon" on that album. It will make you feel cooler just for listening to it.

Gogol Bordello - my friend just introduced me to these guys. They play gypsy punk which reminds me of Dropkick Murphys but instead of bagpipes, they have accordions and a great, fun gypsy sound. I'd love to see them live some day.

Pink Martini - If my life were a never-ending cocktail party (as it is in my head), this band would be the continuous soundtrack. This is another Portland band and I love their eclectic, jazzy sound. They make me happy.

She and Him - Actress Zooey Deschanel is She and M.Ward is Him. When I first heard her voice on the movie "Elf" I didn't know what to think. But the more I listened (such as her in the role of Lady Larken in the made-for-tv production of the musical "Once Upon a Mattress") the more I fell in love. This duo has two albums out and I really enjoy them both. I recommend!!!

There is more music that makes me feel awesome, but I think that I will save that for another day. In the mean time, you should check these folks out and then we can feel awesome for liking them together.

this year's birthday resolutions

2010-04-05T16:30:00.002-07:00

Last year I decide to do away with new year's resolutions and begin my own birthday resolutions. I feel that birthdays are more of an end to one year and a beginning of another one than new year's day, so I like the idea of starting a new year of life with fresh resolutions. Last year I made the eight resolutions below (in red). How I did, or how I think I did, is in blue:

I, jenna k, in my 26th year of life, will work to improve and better myself in the following ways:
1. Start every day with a positive attitude Did not happen every day, but I tried most of the time
2. Maintain a high level of professionalism at work Umm... I could have done better
3. End my VISTA year with a plan of what to do next with my life Nope. I came back to Oregon with some ideas, but no plan
4. Drink more water I did better on this one
5. Read the books I have before purchasing any more Nope, I bought more books without reading the ones I already had.
6. Finally publish pictures of my life in Boston Yeah! I did this!
7. Write more I don't remember what I meant by writing more, but I did write on this blog a little more frequently
8. Maintain and cultivate my relationships with the people who matter in my life I did OK with this, but it can always be improved

So now it is time for this year's birthday resolutions. Like new year's resolutions, but better because they revolve around my birthday :)

I, jenna k, in my 27th year of life, will work to improve and better myself in the following ways:

1. Begin the process of applying for graduate school to become a school counselor

2. Study and get a high score on the GRE

3. Be accepted into a graduate program

4. Cook more and learn to cook more things

5. Take trips to visit family

6. Floss every day

7. Listen to all of the music on my Ipod

8. Maintain a PFA (positive freakin' attitude) in my day-to-day life

Wish me luck this year!

no foolin', i'm back

2010-04-01T15:45:00.000-07:00

Hello again! It has been almost a month since I last posted. February and March have always been downer months for me and I blame the weather. But now it is April and spring is in the air. It lifts my spirit to see lawns being mowed and flowers beginning to show themselves after months of hiding. Spring is not only the rebirth of nature but an renewal of my attitude and positive outlook on life.

I also have a bit of good news. I recently got a job as a unit director at a girl scout summer camp! Yay! It is not at a camp that I have attended/worked at before, but I am overjoyed at the prospect of spending another summer surrounded by nature and good times. Plus, the camp is on the Central Oregon coast, so that is a huge bonus in my opinion. I will be working from June 15 to August 25. It is only a seasonal job, but I am excited about it nonetheless. I can't wait to be called punkin! (my camp name) once again.

I have also decided that I am going to pursue a master's degree in school counseling. There are still a lot of things I have to do before I can even apply for a master's program, (like prerequisite classes and figuring out what the hell the GRE is and studying for it), but it makes me feel loads better that I have made a decision and can now go forward. I am not sure if I will go for elementary or high school counseling, but that can wait.

I love these little glimmers of hope. I cannot recall why I have made the big decisions in my life thus far, but I have to think that they came from these glimmers. Once I grab hold of a glimmer, I can move forward. Coming back to Oregon from Boston, I didn't know what my next life adventure would be. While the freedom of not having responsibilities was nice. But after a while, I just felt like I was floating with nothing to reach out to. But now I have a direction and I can move toward the destination. I haven't liked thinking about what happens after I reach the destination, but now maybe I should and try to avoid the floating.

But not today. Today I am just going to enjoy this spring day and try to be content. Now that I have acknowledged the glimmer, I can rest.

takin' a break

2010-03-05T14:43:00.001-08:00

Hello, my few and faithful readers!

You might have noticed that I haven't posted anything in a couple of weeks, including any new "friday favorites." I have decided to take a bit of a hiatus from friday favorites. I haven't been inspired lately to write, so I am going to take a break. While I do, I will be coming up with new topics. I will also have more interesting things to write about and for you to read about instead of my current unemployed status and the fact that I don't know what I am doing with my life. You don't want to read that and I don't want to be a whiner. Don't worry, though, something good will happen soon and I will be sure to share/brag about it.

In the meantime, if you have any ideas or thoughts about what I should explore in my friday favorites posts, please let me know! Thanks for reading my blog!

friday favorites: celebrity crushes through the years

2010-02-15T18:27:00.003-08:00

Happy President's Day! I didn't have time (or any idea of what to write) last Friday for my favorites post, but last night I thought of one, so I am doing it now instead of waiting until next Friday when I will probably forget what it was that I wanted to share with the world.

Since I was in first grade, I have always had one or multiple celebrity crushes. My first one was really a result of being friends with two older girls who were crazy about a popular boy band of that time and I really just wanted to fit in. Since then there have been more crushes. Here is a list of the ones that I can remember (I'll try to get them in order).

Jonathan Knight from New Kids on the Block - Oh, the money spent on Teen Beat and other magazines of the day just to collect all of his posters... I still have the Jonathan Knight Ken doll that was always the ladies man with my Barbies.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas - The cutest of the Home Improvement boys, in my opinion

Gavin Rossdale of Bush - The band Bush was in their prime during my middle school years. I still think he is dreamy.

Leonardo DiCaprio - Mainly in the Titanic hey-day. Don't worry, Jack, I'll never let go!

Prince William - This crush persists to this day. I think I would make a fabulous queen.

George Clooney - He is one sexy, sexy man!

David Beckham - Oh yeah!

And currently there is a tie for my celebrity crush:
Brian Williams and Jon Stewart - Defiantly the sexiest news men ever

friday favorites: house sitting perks

2010-02-05T18:18:00.001-08:00

Happy Friday, everyone! For the first time in a while, I am using my internet inside a house and not a coffee shop (I should probably check in at my usual haunts or else they might worry about me). For the next two weeks I am house sitting for a coworker of The Momma's. This place is fantastic! Aside from the fact that the house and property are gorgeous, there is a huge, flat-screen, HD TV with premium movie channels, a hot tub, Wii, and, as previously mentioned, wi-fi.

I really enjoy house sitting. It's like a vacation without the hassle of actually going anywhere. Today's list is my favorite things about house sitting. If I house sit for you, this is what I will be doing while you are away.

Play with your pets - You all know that I love my kitty, Jelly Bean. But sometimes it's nice to not be ignored and scratched by your own pet. Of course I am going to feed them and let them in and out of the house, but I am also going to play/pet your pets for my own selfish reasons. Right now I am only taking care of three fish tanks, but one of them is a salt water tank and it looks just like "Finding Nemo."

Eat your food - Food always tastes better away from home. It would spoil before you got home anyway, so I am doing you a favor by cleaning out your fridge and pantry.

Watch your TV - You more than likely have a better TV and more channels than I do at home. I won't buy and pay-per-view, so don't worry. I will, however, watch your movies and play your video games if I can figure the systems out. Got an extra rocker on Guitar Hero? It's me, and thanks to you, I rock harder than I did before you left.

Use your products - If the bathroom that I am using has better hair products or good-smelling lotion, I'm going to try it. I won't use a lot, but I will use some.

Read your books and magazines - If it is interesting and I am not finished by the time you get home, I'm going to ask to borrow it. I will also judge you on your choice of reading materials (as well as music and movie selections).

Do my laundry - I'm not going to bring my closet to your house, so I may need to do a load of laundry. I will remember to clean out the lint trap before and after.

Invite The Momma over - She likes your stuff too.

Use your hot tub/ pool/ giant trampoline - C'mon, you know I'm going to have fun with these.

Tidy up a bit - No one wants to come home to a messy house. Of course, all of my messes will be gone, but so will some of yours. You'll want me to house sit again if you come back and the place is nicer than when you left.

And lastly,

Welcome you home...

...and accept any gifts that you bring back for me. :)

friday favorites: as seen on tv products

2010-01-29T17:26:00.003-08:00

Welcome back to friday favorites. I haven't felt inspired the last few weeks to write one of these posts (or much of anything for that matter). But last Saturday night changed that. It was my friend Steph's birthday and she decided to celebrate her day by inviting all of her friends to attend the Portland Snuggie Pub Crawl, sponsored by pdx.fm. Between the four bars that were on the crawl, over 100 people showed up decked out in the infamous blanket with sleeves, the Snuggie. I was resistant at first since I didn't want to spend money on a stupid blanket that i could put my arms through, but I did cave in and bought a knock-off Snuggie, renamed by another friend, the Fuggie, at Ross for $6. I am now glad that I made the purchase. Not only was I comfortably warm the whole night, I had a blast with all of the other lovers of Snuggies. What DID the world do before these blankets with sleeves? Have cold arms, I guess.

My new-found respect for this as seen on tv product has inspired me to look back on some of my favorite products that I have seen advertised during my late night television watching and give you my list of some of these products not available in any store (at least, it wasn't when if first came out). Except for the first and last two items, I do not own what you are about to see so I cannot testify to their effectiveness.

The Snuggie: The blanket with sleeves! If you don't know what this is, below is a picture of me singing karaoke Cher in my zebra-striped Snuggie (knockoff) last Saturday.

Slap Chop: Why yes, I do hate having to chop onions and getting teary-eyed! Of course I want one appliance that dices, chops and minces in seconds! Who wouldn't?!? And I get a free Graty too with my order? And you'll double my order for free?!? Vince, you have me convinced!

Magic Bullet Blender: Wait, wait, wait... not only can this machine do what the Slap Chop does, but it can make me a smoothie and Alfredo sauce too? That's amazing! I would use that every day for every meal! It's the personal, versatile, counter-top magician!

Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer: This thing could get the juice out of an old shoe. I would juice everything! Mmmm, apple and old shoe juice...

Monster 1200 Steam Cleaning Machine: I could clean and sanitize anything with the power of steam! Really, I would love to see if this would really work for my cleaning and sanitizing needs. The commercial looks very convincing.

ShamWow: Vince has another deal for you! The ShamWow can hold up to 12x its weight in liquid. I'd never have to buy paper towels again! Have you seen him pour cola on a carpet and then see him soak it all up by just placing the ShamWow on the top of the carpet? Amazing!

OxiClean: No list is complete without a product from my man Billy Mays. When I add OxiClean to my laundry, my whites can be whiter and my brights can be brighter! It can also make my unsightly wine stains disappear! Oh Billy, I pray that heaven is a little bit cleaner and that you are delighting the angels with the wonders of OxiClean.

George Foreman's Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine: I have knocked-out the fat many a time with my George Foreman Grill. Burgers, steaks and grilled cheese are tastier all because of George and his wonderful machine.

Nads No-Heat Hair Removal Gel: This product looked amazing on tv. An all-natural way to remove unwanted body hair and have silky-smooth skin with no pain, mess or chemicals! Unfortunately, it does not work on my ridiculously unruly, eastern European hairs. It was messy and it was painful. Oh Nads, how I wanted to believe!

So, readers, have you used any of these products? What other commercials/infomercials have motivated you to reach for your phone and place an order? Do the products live up to their claims/awesomeness?

support for one of my favorite people in the world...

2010-01-18T08:18:00.000-08:00

During my first year in AmeriCorps I met a guy named Stuart. He was outgoing, friendly, funny and he seemed like a genuinely nice guy. We were on separate teams and our paths never seemed to cross that first year, but I knew that I wanted to be his friend.

Then my second year comes along and Stuart is hired at the last minute for a vacant support team leader position. This meant that we would both be living and working in Sacramento! Since he was hired late, he didn't go through the team leader training with the rest of the team leaders, but I told anyone who would listen that Stuart was a great guy and everyone would adore him. I was right, I think. Not only did everyone like him throughout the year, but we became good friends. Our shared love for pop culture, inappropriate jokes and being awesome spawned hundreds of memories and inside jokes. Knowing Stuart was one of the top five things about my second year in AmeriCorps and I consider myself very lucky to be counted as one of his friends.

Stuart is also my first good friend who is openly gay. I went to my first gay pride parade and festival with him in Sacramento. Through him, I was able to see more clearly the struggles that he and all homosexuals go through on a daily basis for equal rights in this country. If I had never known him, I would still support gay rights, but I know that because of him I will forever be an ally and friend for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer (LGBTQ) rights.

After we parted ways in Sacramento, Stu moved to Los Angeles and became very happy and comfortable there. Now, over a year later, he is embarking on a scary and exciting ride on the Soulforce Equality Ride. He basically explains what it is on his facebook page:

Since 2006, riders have jumped on a bus and traveled around the US making stops at colleges and universities with discriminatory policies and environments against LGBTQ people. At each stop, riders attempt to help open dialogue and spur community organizing around these issues to that all people - lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and straight - can know they are okay just as they are, and that they are not alone.

I know that at times this will be a scary endeavor as his group will not always be welcomed wherever there go. But I know that he has the strength and the will to fight for his beliefs and for what is right. I am so proud and excited for him and wish him more luck that than he can even imagine or handle.

I wish I could do more for him and his fellow equality riders, especially in the form of monetary support. Alas, I am also seeking donations for the "jenna doesn't have a job" fund. But, I know that some folks that read this blog would perhaps consider sponsoring Stuart and his cause. If you would like to learn more about Stuart and the equality ride, go to https://www.soulforce.org/stuart_brewster. You can also make a donation on this page. He will also be keeping a blog about this journey at http://equalitystu.blogspot.com (I have also added it to the right side of this blog under the section "hey! it's some blogs that i read!".

Stuart and I as STLs, Christmas 2007

Please keep Stuart and the Equality Ride in your thoughts, prayers and/or happy thoughts. And Stu, please remember two things: I love you and check your box :)

what's going on so far in 2010?

2010-01-10T14:37:00.000-08:00

Hello, Bloggians. I thought I'd give you an update about what is going on in my life right now.

My holidays were good! This was the first time in years that I was home for the entire month of December and not had to worry about getting home and try to shove all the holiday merriment into a week or two. Santa was very generous to me this year as he gave me a GPS and a bluetooth as well as a few other bits of car-fun. But, for those of you who know me and have tried to get places with me, if you think that I will now never get lost again, you are sadly mistaken. I've already gotten lost while Richard (the GPS) has tried to tell me where to go.

Between Christmas and New Year's Day I met up with some Sandy High alum at the biker bar in Sandy. It was nice to see old faces and see what they were up to. I hadn't see my friend Grant since I graduated and now he lives in Hollywood and is working as an actor. He has been in some movies and TV shows, so it is neato to think that that guy on my screen is the same guy that I directed in the one-act play my senior year. When he wins an Oscar I fully expect to me mentioned in his acceptance speech :)

On New Year's Eve I went to Alison's house out in Estacada. She and her boyfriend were in town from Boston and it was nice to see them again and play Beatles Rockband with them.

2010 has also begun with me unemployed. My seasonal job at Pier 1 ended and now I am looking for some other activity that I will be expected to perform some type of service for a previously agreed upon fee. In other words, jenna want job so jenna have money.

So since I had nothing to do, last week I volunteered at my old high school. I worked with the drama students to get them ready for the conference-wide acting competition that was held yesterday. It was strange to be back at the high school and in the area that I dedicated my whole high school experience to, but it was also really fun. The school still has the same smell, I still remember where everything is and it was a trip to go back onto the stage and poke around backstage. Ahh, memories! I was able to go to the last part of the acting competition yesterday to watch the awards section and the Sandy kids did well. I was very happy for them.

So, now I am at the beginning of another week and still unsure of what lies ahead. I will continue to apply for jobs. At this point, really any job will do. I feel that I need to build up the bank account again before I seriously consider what my next big adventure will be. Until that happens, I'm afraid that these types of posts will be rather boring. I will try to limit those and be as amusing as I can be. Hopefully that will keep your attention until I can write about something exciting in my life :)

friday favorites: 2009 firsts

2010-01-03T15:10:00.001-08:00

Happy new year hey! it's jenna's blog readers! I hope 2010 is going well for you so far. I, myself enjoy saying "twenty-ten" rather than "two thousand and nine." It just sounds cooler.

The past year was pretty memorable for me. I did more new things this year than I can count. Today's friday favorite entry is about my favorite first experiences from 2009. So, in no particular order...

Attended a Red Sox game (also my first professional sports game)
Went to Washington DC
Went into the Atlantic Ocean (and saw the sunrise over the ocean)
Visited my shiny penny, Erin, in Rhode Island
Lived on two different coasts
Watched the inauguration of President Obama
Read a ridiculous amount of vampire books (Twilight and Sookie Stackhouse series)
Experienced a New England winter with snow on the ground all the time and lived to tell the tale
Saw my first rugby tournament
Abby and Tom came to Boston to visit me and they got married
Became a Godmother to Tanner (hehehe)
Decided that I want to live on the west coast for a good, long while
Saw Keane and The Decemberists live
Thought about going back to school for a Master's degree
Started a (somewhat) regular feature on my blog (you are reading it now)
Participated in the largest shared reading experience in the world, Read for the Record
Got my '64 Buick Special, Babs
Temp job at Pier 1 (and spending more money there than I made. Curse you, 25% discount!)
Became an official adult by drinking coffee daily (damn Dunkin' Donuts)
Reconnected with old friends from high school
Fixed my toilet by installing a new ballcock all by myself :)

That is all I can remember right now. I will probably have a reflection on the past year in my next post. Happy 2010 everyone!

friday favorites: holiday traditions

2009-12-21T17:18:00.000-08:00

Happy holidays, everyone! I may not do another friday favorite for a while since Christmas and New Years Day both fall on Friday this year. I decided that I better not skip this week's entry then, even if it is a few days late. If someone would just start paying me to write these things (or write anything in general) then maybe I'd be able to better adhere to my self-imposed deadlines.

I love traditions. Common ones and my own personal traditions alike. Lots of traditions fall around holidays (I mean, really, what else is a holiday other than celebrating traditions?). So today I'd like to share some of my favorite time-honored activities not just from Christmas, but from holidays throughout the year.

Christmas eve with my family - Ever since I can remember, Christmas eve with the momma and grammy has always been the same. First we go out to eat Chinese food and then we drive around looking at Christmas lights on houses. Last year we couldn't because of the evil snow storm, but this year we will be back on track. Then when the momma and I get home, I get to open one Christmas present. The present is usually a new pair of jammies so I can meet Santa in style when he comes over. In my days of believing, I would leave carrots for the reindeer as well as milk and cookies for Santa and he always thanked me by leaving a little present on the empty cookie plate.

Birthday parties in the nativity scene - Four years ago, the momma got a very nice nativity scene to put on top of the TV in the front room. The porcelain figures are pretty traditional and common to all representations of the birth of Jesus. One year I decided that some of my toys wanted to pay their respects to the baby Jesus. The first time I did it is photographed below. As you can see, Darth Tater and Nunzilla joined the scene much to the chagrin of the momma. Happily, the momma has come around to seeing the joy in my borderline-sacrilegious act and this year has contributed My Little Pony to the scene. MLP is joined this year by none other than President Obama in bobblehead form and Santa on the roof of the manger. I think it is nice when people and toys can come together in a spirit of goodwill to pay homage to the baby Jesus.

The Nativity Scene - 2005

Shopping on the days after Christmas - my favorite way to buy Christmas decorations. Everything is on clearance! Then the next year when I pull out all of the festive fodder, I get the lovely surprise of new decorations.

Easter Bunny! - I have always had an Easter basket. Even when I lived away from home, the Bunny always managed to send my basket via the US Postal Service. I love the bunnies, chickies and lambies associated with this holiday, which is a good thing as my birthday usually is around this holiday and I grew up receiving many items with the aforementioned animals plastered on them.

The Thanksgiving Nap - This one is pretty self-explanatory.

Watching 24 hours of "A Christmas Story" - Thank you, TNT, for broadcasting my favorite Christmas movie from 6pm Christmas eve to 6pm Christmas night. You are always in the background of this holiday and my heart.

Going into downtown Portland before Christmas - I love the downtown area, but it is super-great in the weeks leading up to Christmas. I loved looking at the Meier & Frank holiday window displays, going to Pioneer Courthouse Square to look at the tree and then getting peppermint hot cocoa at Starbucks (which leads me to...)

jenna, Katy & Stephanie at Pioneer Courthouse Square - 2006

Chocolate-peppermint everything - My favorite combination since Lucy and Ethel. Why does it only come out around this time of year? Hot cocoa, mochas, ice cream, candy (especially M&Ms)... you can't go wrong when you add peppermint to chocolate, imho.

My "Christmas Lovin'" music compilations - Every three years starting in 2003, I have made a mixed CD of my favorite Christmas songs. I try to include newer songs mixed in with traditional favorites in versions people may not have heard before. I then give these as gifts to my friends and family. I started doing this when I didn't have much money for gifts, and I continue to not have money for gifts, so I am more than happy to make "Christmas Lovin'" a Christmas CD that people can look forward to (at least I look forward to their reactions to the music I pick).

So, what are some of your favorite holiday traditions? I hope that you get to enjoy some traditions with your family and friends this holiday season. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good blog!

friday favorites: christmas movies

2009-12-15T09:35:00.002-08:00

I apologize for this being late. I'm not sure who I am apologizing to for not doing a blog that I don't know if anybody reads (other than the few faithful) but I'm sorry anyway. I have no excuse...I just didn't do one on Friday.

Anywhoozle, today I will share my favorite Christmas movies. Nothing is terribly shocking about my picks since they are all classics and loved by many, many people. You probably have seen these movies tons of times, so I won't explain what they are about. I will, however, share my favorite quote from the movie (or at least just one of them). Here we go...

Love Actually

Karen: So what's this big news, then?

Daisy: We've been given our parts in the nativity play. And I'm the lobster.

Karen: The lobster?

Daisy: Yeah!

Karen: In the nativity play?

Daisy: Yeah, *first* lobster.

Karen: There was more than one lobster present at the birth of Jesus?

Daisy: Duh.

Elf

"Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?"

A Christmas Story

Mr. Parker: Fra-gee-lay. That must be Italian.

Mrs. Parker: Uh, I think that says FRAGILE, dear.

Mr. Parker: Oh, yeah.

White Christmas

Bob Wallace: When I'm worried and I can't sleep

I count my blessings instead of sheep

And I fall asleep counting my blessings

When my bankroll is getting small

I think of when I had none at all

And I fall asleep counting my blessings

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Linus: I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It's not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love.

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Narrator: He puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more!

And lastly, from the funniest Saturday Night Live sketch ever...

Pete Schweddy (Alec Baldwin): They're made from a secret Schweddy Family recipe. No one can resist my Schweddy Balls.

friday favorites: college football

2009-12-04T14:29:00.000-08:00

University of Oregon Ducks

...and that is all.

On to the Rose Bowl!

Civil War 2005

a holiday edition of things I don't know

2009-12-01T07:46:00.000-08:00

Why do people stand when the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah is sung?

I should probably know why people stand, but I just have no idea why this happens.

Is this Heaven's national anthem? Would they play this song if Jesus won a gold medal in the Olympics? He'd probably enter into the speed skating competition, since he was so good at walking on water and all. I could also see him doing well in synchronized swimming for that matter.

This has been another thing I don't know.

Ahahahaha! I love graphs!

2009-11-27T15:02:00.001-08:00

Here are some funny graphs that I just found on graphjam.com

And here is my favorite---

friday favorites: what I am thankful for

2009-11-27T14:21:00.001-08:00

I hope that everyone had a lovely day yesterday. I enjoyed Thanksgiving with The Momma and Grammy after being out of the state for the last two turkey days. We played games (I won in Scrabble and Rumikub but lost in Yahtzee), laughed as The Momma and I grossed out Grammy at the dinner table and ate delicious food. Ahhh! We also talked about what we wanted for Christmas, and I realized that there wasn't anything that I needed and only a few items that I wanted. This makes me feel incredibly blessed that all of my needs are met and I can enjoy the holiday season without worry. So, as many people reflect on what they are thankful for this time of year, my list today is what I am thankful for (in no particular order [after the first two])

My Family - If you've been keeping up with this blog, you will know that The Momma and Grammy are two terrific ladies and I know that they will always have my back. My blood-related family may be small, but there are also the people who I love like they were related to me. For all of them, I am thankful.

My Friends - After the past few years, I have friends all over the country. Some of my closest friends live thousands of miles away. Some I have known for 85% of my life. The friends that I hold dearest and the ones that I know that I will be friends with forever. You know who yor are...and I am grateful for your love and laughs throughout our friendship :)

Living in Oregon - Oh, how I missed you while I was away.

My car Babs - She is one bad-ass boat and I love her.

My cat - Jelly Bean can be mean and crotchity, but she is my mean and crotchity cat and I love her to bits.

Freedom - I don't just mean freedom in the patriotic sense. I am thankful that the world is open to me and that I have the luxury of figuring out what my next step in life is without mountains of stress or responsibilities.

Glee - By far my favorite TV show. If you haven't seen it yet you MUST watch it!

Coffee - Now that I drink coffee and have admitted I'm a grown-up because of it, this has become a vital part of the beginning of my day.

Everyone who serves their country - Thank you, military folks, for serving and protecting us. And thank you, volunteers. From committing your life to service to helping out in classrooms to donating toys for kids for Christmas, you do make a difference in our lives. The world is better because of people like you.

Books - From "When You Give a Mouse a Cookie" to "To Kill a Mockingbird" to "The Idiot Girl's Action-Adventure Guide," they take me to different places, teach me things and make me laugh. Yay books!

25% employee discount at Pier 1 - Enough said.

My George Foreman Grill - Meat would not be the same without you, George!

...and for all this I am truly grateful!

Dear Contractions,

2009-11-25T14:19:00.001-08:00

Dear Contractions,
I like you, and I am not talking about the kind that preceeds giving birth. I have never had those type of contractions and I hope that I will not for a good, long while. I am talking about smashing two words together, dropping some of the letters and throwing in an apostrophe.

I was forced to stop using you in high school English classes because it was not proper. It was a difficult struggle because I liked you so darn much. And it was useful in all of my school writings from then on. It helped with my word-count and page requirements as well as making my writing look smooth and professionial. I would even hesitate to use you when emailing or IMing friends. Habits are hard to break.

Now I write for my own and other's amusement. Contractions, I am happy to welcome you back on a limited basis. I still under-utilize you, but I enjoy the way you make me sound casual and conversational. And while I may not litter my writing with your apostrophes as frequently as before, y'all will still be in my heart. In fact, the contraction of you all is by far my favorite. I do get teased for saying it, since I grew up in an area where it is not used and looked down upon, but my love for the comfortable y'all cannot be denied. It is part of my daily lexicon and of who I am. I saw you in wonderful form the other day as "y'all'd" and all I could do is stare in awe. Two contractions! Well done!

So thank you, contractions, for keeping writing concise and to the point. Keep up the good work.

love,
jenna'nn

P.S. I also really enjoy using our friend the apostrophe in place of the "g" at the end of words. Writin' that way is super statisfyin'. Sometimes usin' fewer letters is just better :)

friday favorites: laughs

2009-11-19T17:18:00.002-08:00

I have finished my Boston Favorites lists and will now be returning to Friday Favorites, only I will be driving to southern Oregon tomorrow to visit my wonderful friend Kyla, so I am writing one day early. Today I would like to spotlight my favorite things that make me laugh. These things will always and forever make me laugh, and I hope they make you laugh as well.

The Muppets - I am too young to remember the original The Muppet Show, but I grew up watching the Muppet movies and can now watch the show through the magic of DVD. The humor with these characters is universal in it's plain silliness. I find something new everytime I watch the Muppets and catch jokes that I didn't understand when I first watched them. Oh man, they are funny!

Classic Looney Toons - The one where Bugs Bunny goes to Transylvania and meets the vampire is my favorite. Especially when he goes up against the vampire and changes him into different things with "magic words." "Walla Walla Washington." Ha!

People Falling Down - I rarely feel bad when I witness this because I know that I have had some pretty humorous spills myself. This, and people getting hit in the crotch, is why the show America's Funniest Home Videos will always be on and will always make me laugh.

Get Fuzzy - This is my favorite comic strip. I think that most people can see their own cat through Bucky and their dog through Satchel. Oh man, I love this comic.

The Momma and I Ganging Up Against Grammy - I know that Grammy really thinks it's funny when The Momma and I show off our "see-food" at the dinner table and when we trash talk each other when we play games, but she never shows it. It just makes it more of a challenge for The Momma and me.

"The Emperor's New Groove" - This is my favorite Disney animation movie. Just watch the shoulder angels parts and tell me it didn't make you laugh!

Tugboating - This is what I was told to call flatulence while growing up. Call me a 7-year-old, but I still think that tootin' is hilarious. This is why I can't go to yoga classes because whenever someone (or me) rips one, I can't hold in the laughter. It tends to be a mood ruiner in the class. Come on! Tugboats are funny!

I'd love to hear what other people think is funny. What will you always laugh at, no matter if you are 9 or 99 years old?

boston favorites: people

2009-11-13T12:23:00.002-08:00

In my final installment of Boston Favorites, I'd like to spotlight people who made my Boston experience great. So for the folks that though I forgot about them in my places post, it is you that is my favorite, not the place you lived.

Maegan - my first and best Boston friend. I met here during our year as Corps members in Sacramento. She wasn't on my team but we did develop a small friendship. When I was thinking of moving to Boston, she (as well as her terrific roommate, Katie) offered her couch to me for as long as I needed. Luckily, when I found a more permanent place to live, it was only a 10 minute walk from her house. I don't know what I would have done without Maegan. She was my chef, my chaufer, the person I could rant to and one of my best friends. It killed me when she went to do an internship in Africa and she is still trying to convince me to stay in Boston. I am now in the process of convincing her that she needs to move to Portland. Mae, when you read this, know that I miss you bunches and I can't wait until we are in the same country once again and we can have dinner and watch terrible TV together. (below is a picture of Maegan in Africa that I swiped from her facebook. How do we not have a photo of us together?)

Jess and Amanda - while I enjoy these ladies separatly, I have come to view them as a pair. They were Corps members in my unit when I was a support team leader in Sacramento, but I got to know them when I moved to Boston. When they lived together in JP, they were always warm and welcoming, even having a birthday dinner for me. These ladies are very special to me and I hope that we can continue to keep in touch. (This photo was taken when some of their team mates came to Boston for a mini-reunion. Amanda is sitting next to me and Jess is on the top left of the group)

Erin - My shiny penny. I met Erin when we were support team leaders in Sacramento. She is from Rhode Island and, as I mentioned in my last post, showed me the sites around her tiny little state. Even though she was on the other side of the country for most of my time in Boston, when she was home I loved to spend weekends with her. She is another example of how you can find best friends through AmeriCorps. I am working on getting her to move to Portland too. (below is a picture of us at her favorite beach in RI)

My Jumpstart VISTA Sistas - These four ladies, Emily, Monika, Jess and Molly, kept me sane as we served as VISTAs at Jumpstart. I always looked forward to our standing Wednesday lunch dates where we could chat, vent and gossip. Even though we worked in different departments, we had a bond and commeradery that I will always remember and cherish. We have all now finished our year of service at Jumpstart, but to me they will always be my VISTA Sistas and my VISTA Vixens. (below is a photo taken at our last get-together/brunch. Clockwise from top-left is Monika, Molly, Me, Jess and Emily)

Jumpstart Staff - I've said it before, but it bears repeating: the staff at Jumpstart is a really terrific group. They have dedicated their careers to the Jumpstart mission of working toward the day when every child in America enters school prepared to succeed. But I don't only love them for that; they are truly great people. Even with the economic climate the way it is, there was always laughter in the office and friendly smiles as you passed their desk. I was especially sad to be leaving the newly formed performance management team, comprised of the evaluation and operations teams. I left just as the team was coming together as one unit and I wish that I could be a part of the great things that they are doing and are going to do for Jumpstart and early childhood education. So I want to especially mention Dean, Kristen, Ashley, Lauren, Melissa, Regina and Tessa. If any of you read this, please know that I wish you all the luck in the world. (below is a picture taken at the Boston Public Library on Read for the Record day)

Alison - We didn't get to hang out as much as we both would have liked, but Alison still gets on this list because I like her and for sheer coincedence. I met Alison in my sophomore advanced geometry class in high school when she was a freshman. We worked on math homework and projects together that year and the next and we were also in band together. I lost touch with her after I graduated and went to college. She went to college and then moved to Boston to work at MIT (I pick smart friends). Through the power of facebook, we saw that we were both in Boston. Then I find out that she lives in Somerville, where I live. And then I find out that she lives on Highland Ave., the street that I live on. And then I realize that we only live one mile apart! Sometimes I really can't believe what a small world it truly is. Then I find out that she will be (and is now) entering the Harvard PhD program in biology (or something smarty-pants like that) that my then-supervisor's wife was currently in. And one more thing! She went to the same college that one of the new Jumpstart VISTAs went to and was friends with the VISTA's boyfriend! So strange, but totally true! It was really great to reconnect with her and I hope that we can keep in touch. (I don't have any photos of her and I, so here is another one I swiped from her facebook of her looking all deep and pensive)

Brianne and Yami - See Boston Favorites: Places

While Boston and the east coast never felt like home to me, these people made me feel like I belonged. Thank you for the great times and memories!

boston favorites: places

2009-11-09T15:03:00.001-08:00

Today I want to share with you my favorite places in Boston. Some of these were frequent destinations of mine, some I only got to once. There were a lot of places that I wanted to go to while I lived in the city but never got around to it. I guess it is just more motivation for me to visit again someday.

Davis Square - I loved this little area of Somerville. I would walk down to it every day to catch the subway to work. There are cute stores, cafes and bars to frequent. On weekends when I didn't feel like going far from home but wanted to get out, I'd come to Disel, a coffee house, and sip coffee and read while people watching out on the street. Davis Square was my Boston home.

Harvard Square - I loved coming here and feeling like a smart kid as I walked through Harvard Yard. There were also cute shops and restaurants here too. I spent many afternoons at the Harvard Coop (bookstore) reading and browsing. I can totally tell people that I went to Harvard, right?

Boston Harbor Islands - The 20 minute ferry ride is almost reason enough to take an afternoon excursion out to these islands. I went here with Abby and Tom when they came to visit. The day was beautiful and it was so relaxing just to get away from the city and watch the water while sitting out in the sunshine. We went to two of the islands, Georges Island and Spectacle Island. Georges had an old military fort that you could crawl around and explore and Spectacle used to be a landfill until they covered it with dirt from the Big Dig. I only went once but wish I could have gone back once more.

Harpoon Brewery - mmmm, free tastings! The first time I went here was the first Friday after I had started at Jumpstart and it was during a staff outing that I came here. I also brought Abby and Tom here. It is where I fell in love with Harpoon beer, especially the Raspberry UFO.

Providence, R.I. - OK, not a Boston site, but I did take the one hour train ride down here a few times to visit my good friend Erin. These trips were great because not only did I get to see Erin but she showed me around her tiny little state. If I had some reason to live in Providence, I totally would. I thought the town was really fun, but that probably had a lot to do with the company I was with.

Faneuil Hall - very touristy and a lot of fun. Lots of cute shops and the place to go for your tacky Boston souviners. They also have a re-creation of the set of Cheers that is a bar and restaurant. I was quite dissappointed that not a single person knew my name here.

My House! - Sure, I lived in a small apartment on the third floor where birds perched on the other side of the wall where the head of my bed was, but it was home. I got to live with two great women and their two cats and meet their friends who became my friends through association. I will forever love Brianne and Yami for not just being my room mates, but my friends also.

Abby and Tom are Hitched!

2009-11-08T13:35:00.000-08:00

My good friends Abby and Tom got hitched this weekend. The wedding was beautiful and Abby looked gorgeous. I loved everything that they did with their wedding, especially not tossing the bouquet. I don't get embarassed too easily, but there are few things more humiliating than having to go out to the middle of the floor when the call for the single ladies is made and then have to pretend to really want to fight for that bouquet for the bride's and the photographer's sake. Dear friends, I know it is tradition, but stop rubbing in the fact that you are married by calling out all of your still-single friends. It's a good way to "lose" your wedding gift from me (jk).

This is my only photo of Abby and Tom, taken when they came to visit me in Boston. They were enjoying the sunshine and the view at the Boston Harbor Islands.

May love and sunny days be with you two always

boston favorites: food and drink

2009-10-30T15:43:00.002-07:00

If anyone eagerly anticipates my Friday Favorites has been disappointed by my lack of postings lately, I apologize. Moving is always a big to-do, especially when it is all the way across the country, so I have been very busy. But now I am home in Oregon without a job or any real plans set in place, so I am free to post to your and my heart's content.

I am, however, taking a bit of a detour from the Friday Favorites and for the next few posts will be writing about Boston Favorites. I don't know how many posts like this I will do...I guess until I run out of things to rave about. Because while after living in Boston for a year I found that the east coast just wasn't for me right now, there were so many things that I did love about the city. Today's list is some of my favorite food and drink things about the city

Dunkin' Donuts - the coffee isn't great, but damn if it isn't affordable and convenient. There are Dunky D's in Boston like there are hipsters in Portland...EVERYWHERE!

Flour - Near the office where I worked. The best BLTs and chocolate cupcakes! Also the place where I saw Brooke Shields with her family eating lunch

Kickass Cupcakes - would be a favorite for just the name alone, but also really tasty cupcakes. This place was also just down the street from my house

Mike's Pastries - Holy Canoli! I went here for the first time during my last week in Boston. Everyone told me that I needed to go here and they were not wrong. I took this picture of my chocolate chip canoli. It was so good that it had to be shown in soft focus

Razzy's - A divey little bar that my roommates introduced me to. On the weekends it actually has a line outside. I have only been on the karaoke nights where I rocked out to Tina Turner, Cher and Bonnie Rait. Oh, the fun of listening to drunken renditions of Neil Diamond...

Channel Cafe - also by my office. I am not vegetarian, but this place has the best veggie burger I've ever had. They make them there with a chickpea base and serve it on flat bread. Every vegetarian friend that I have taken there agrees that the veggies burgers are delicious. There is also an art gallery in the cafe.

Mr. Crepe - This place in my neighborhood makes wonderful crepes. I call the place Mr. Creepy because it is funny, not because of the quality of the cafe or the food they serve

There was a lot of other places I could have put on this list, but these were by far my favorites of the favorites.

An Oregonian Once Again

2009-10-27T15:42:00.000-07:00

I made it back to Oregon safe and sound. And what do I come home to? The Momma with H1N1! Ahhh! She is almost herself again, but that still doesn't stop me from making pig jokes. Like does she have to now buy pants with little holes in them for her tail? Things like that keep us laughing.

Last week I was on the go every day trying to see the things I wanted to see before leaving and saying my goodbyes to New Englanders. It was such a bittersweet week. The weather was beautiful for the most part and the foliage was gorgeous. I met another Kangiser who is my fourth cousin and runs a bar in downtown Boston (fantastic guy), saw the first Christian Science church (beautiful), went to the North End with Erin (cannoli at Mike's Pastries...a-maz-ing!), had a final BLT at Flour with Jess (yay!), had a final veggie burger at Channel with the performance management team at Jumpstart (wonderful for both the food and company), a final brunch with my VISTA Sistas (I love you all), a final jazz brunch at Johnny D's with roommate Brianne (wonderful again) and said too many goodbyes to count.

I know that I made the right choice to move back to Oregon. My heart feels at home here. The two ladies that I care the most about in this world are here. I can't wait to see all of my friends here who have only recently known me as the friend who they maybe see once a year. I can't wait to be more a part of their lives and for them to be in mine.

I am starting to feel the tinges of panic over not having a job or a clue as to what I want to do, but so far they are minor. After my a little road trip to visit Ky and Jon in southern Oregon and then down to Calistoga to visit my Aunt Geneva, I will need to make serious decisions about my life. But for now, I will sleep in a little, go to coffee shops for the free wifi and spend time with The Momma and Grammy. I am content for now...

good-bye email i sent to my coworkers yesterday

2009-10-17T07:53:00.003-07:00

Farewell, Jumpstart
A haiku series by jenna

Just one year ago
I began a new journey
To Boston, I came

Jumpstart was the place
As operations VISTA
I would be the first

One. collateral
Two. metrics and child data
Three. umm... oodles more!

From ops and PM
To all my VISTA Sistas
You've taught me so much

I've met some great folks-
Their great love for kids: solid
Dancing skills: iffy

One year in this place
From beginning to the end
I have loved it all

Now my year is done
And westward is where I'm bound
Say it! "OR-E-GUN"

Thank you for the laughs
And warm hearts, ten-times too big
Farewell, Jumpstart friends

Now for stuff that I got tired of counting out the syllables for:
This has been an amazing year for me. A little over one year ago I decided that I wanted to try living on the east coast for a while and knew that if I applied to be an AmeriCorps VISTA in Boston, I could make that move. I accepted the position at Jumpstart because I thought it would be neat to work for a national non-profit that works in the early education field. I underestimated the neat-ness. I can't believe how lucky I am to have worked here or to have been a part of this team. Jumpstart will always have a place in my heart and you better believe that I will be a supporter for life.

I had thought about only sending this farewell to the people that I worked with directly in the office, but then I realized that even if all you and I did was chat in the kitchen while we waited for our lunches to heat up, I have enjoyed getting to know you and will miss you all. I don't know what is in store for me in my LAJ (Life After Jumpstart), but I am not too stressed about that just yet. On October 25 I shall run away from the impeding Boston winter (dumb snow) to the wonderful dampness of Oregon (yay rain!). Many of you know about my love for all things Pacific Northwest, so whenever you are out my way, whether Oregon, Washington or even northern California, I hope you will give me a call so we can meet up and I can show you in person why I love it so much.

OK, I'm getting all misty now because I just read all of my new "t-shirts." You guys are fantastic! I will end this by saying one big THANK YOU for everything.

love,
jenna

Jumpstart's Read for the Record 2009 at the Boston Public Library

Ending this adventure

2009-10-15T18:28:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is my last day at Jumpstart. This whole week has been strange and bittersweet. I really wish I could take all of the people that I have worked with back to Oregon with me. Who they are, what they do, and their dedication to the children in communities across the country will forever hold a place in my heart.

This has been one helluva year for me becoming a grown-up. Yes, I now must catergorize myself as a grown-up since I now drink coffee on a regular basis (I still don't like black coffee or hot coffee, though). I have really lived on my own on the other side of the country, gone through financial stress (oh, the poverty line), and have not been held accountable to anyone. It has been scary and liberating. Liberating in the sense that I know that I could and did handle this by myself. When I think back to my first days as a freshman in college, or rather my entire freshman year, I can't believe that that scared and lost 18-year-old is now the pretty confident and slightly less awkward 26-year-old. I'm still lost, but I am comfortable with not knowing what is around the corner. I haven't made long-term life plans since deciding to go to college and I guess I have just given up being stressed about it.

Anywhoozle, I am still waiting for VISTA to send me a flight itinerary for my trip back to Oregon. Coming here I didn't get one at all, so we shall see if I get a plane ticket before the plane actually takes off. I am hoping to move on Oct. 25. I do not have any plans other than traveling a bit to visit friends and family. Oh, and looking for a job. One that pays me actual money. That'd be nice...

friday favorites: Websites to Waste Time On

2009-10-09T20:55:00.002-07:00

Today's Friday Favorites takes a look at the websites that I enjoy passing the time looking at. They are hilarious, informative, thought-provoking or all three at the same time. You can click on the title of each site to check them out for yourself.

Natalie Dee: This is a web comic that is updated daily. Natalie and her husband Drew also write Married to the Sea and Drew writes Toothpaste for Dinner. They are usually good for a good, immature chuckle. Below are my favorite comics from each of the sites
Natalie Dee:

Married to the Sea:

Toothpaste for Dinner:

mental_floss: This website has a lot of trivia and interesting articles about anything and everything. From pop-culture to sciencey stuff to art, they will get you ready for Jeopardy better than any other site.

PostSecret: This is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. The website is updated every Sunday with new secrets. Below are some secrets from this week.

Pandora: This site is amazing! You just type in a musical artist, genre or song title and the site will play what you selected and other music that the website thinks is similar to what you want to listen to. I love my Dolly Parton/Lorretta Lynn selections!

Internet Movie Database: If I ever have a question about a movie or when I KNOW I have seen that actor before but can't think of what else they have been in, I go to this website, type in the actor or name of the movie or tv show and I can get all the details plus some fun trivia about the movie/tv show or actor.

Cute Overload: C'mon, how can anybody NOT think that these are adorable?

The Very Hungry Jennapillar

2009-10-07T17:02:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, October 8 is Jumpstart's Read for the Record day. For the past 3 years, Jumpstart has attempted to, and succeeded to break the world record for the most people reading the same book on the same day. Each year a new book is picked and this year it is Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar. This has become a pretty huge event. The Today Show is a big promoter of the day, as is a whole mess of celebrities. Yesterday the House of Representatives passed a resoulution to make tomorrow Read for the Record day. Eric Carle, the president of Jumpstart and people from Jumpstart's corporate sponsors rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange today. This is all big-time stuff in my opinion.

But with all the celebrity endorsements, huge events and general glitz of this day, the message speaks above it all. There is a crisis in this country around early childhood education. Children from low-income families are more likely to fall behind in school than their peers. Of 50 children having trouble learning to read in kindergarten, 44 of them will still be having trouble in third grade (www.jumpstart.org). This campaign raises awareness of this crisis and urges Americans to take the time to read with children in their early years and throughout their lives. All the money raised through this event goes directly to buying books for children that may not own any books at all. It also gets the word out about Jumpstart and what our Corps members do in preschool classrooms all year long.

I know this sounds like a shameless plug, but Jumpstart is something that I really believe in, and tomorrow's events are going to be good fun for everyone who participates. If you want more info about Jumpstart and Jumpstart's Read for the Record you can go to www.jumpstart.org and www.readfortherecord.org.

I'm feeling antsy, so I'll do another post...

2009-10-05T19:31:00.000-07:00

1. Put your iPod or other music player on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer. The name of the song is your answer!

1.IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Video Killed the Radio Star

2.WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Three Little Birds

3.WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
You Are My Sunshine

4.WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Midnight Voyage

5.WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
How Should It Be (Sha Sha)

6.WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Ride a White Horse (uh oh)

7.WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Your Southern Can is Mine

8.WHAT IS 2+2?
Legs (hahahaha!)

9.WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND
Grin

10.WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Vanishing

11.WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
United States

12.WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
The Same Person (really. weird)

13.WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Remove This Doubt

14.WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
The Man Who Sold the World

15.WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Before He Cheats (oh brother!)

16.WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Rebel Yell

17.WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Heart of Stone

18.WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
I Never

19.WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Something Funny's Going On

20.WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Knife Going In (ouch)

one year later...

2009-10-05T18:45:00.000-07:00

I have now called Boston home for 51 weeks. I just read my blog postings from last September and October. I was so excited to live on the east coast and to start a new adventure over here! And now...I cannot wait to move back west! My last day in the Jumpstart office will be October 16. If VISTA member support actually comes through for me and does their job, I will return to Oregon on October 25. Or Oregon friends, start inviting me to your Halloween shindigs.

I have missed my friends and family more this year than the previous two years that I was away. I'm not sure if there was an exact moment or event that made my feelings turn this way, but I know that right now Boston, New England and the east coast are just not where I am supposed to be. I need to spend time with my family who have supported me in all of my moves and my friends that I barely even know anymore.

I will miss the friends I have made here. I will miss being able to take public transportation everywhere I need to go. I will miss the lazy weekends walking around Harvard or the Common. But those things are not enough to keep me here. My heart belongs in the cold, dreary rain for nine months a year. In the fir trees and open roads. In the land of microbeers and coffee houses. That is the place where I belong.

Until I decide to move somewhere else...

friday favorites: Autumn Activities

2009-10-03T19:35:00.001-07:00

I have been sick with a wicked cold since Wednesday so I didn't post anything yesterday. I am getting really fed-up with laying in bed, coughing up my lungs and feeling icky all over. I've got things to do! I can't be laying around being sick!

Anyway, I am posting my Friday Favorites today. Autumn has begun and I really love this season. My list today is the things I love about this season. Here we go!

Pretty leaves on the trees (picture taken by me in Eugene in 2005)

Stepping on those pretty leaves when they have fallen and are nice and crunchy

The start of school! (well, this used to be a favorite when I went to school)

College Football...Go Duckies! (Picture taken during the UO vs OSU Civil War in 2005 in Eugene)

Colder weather = hoodies and jeans!

Halloween festivities! (That's Katy being Beyonce if she was a sheriff, Nicole at the Chiquita Banana Lady and me as a scientist of some type).

The smells of pumpkin and apple cider on chilly days

And this year... Moving back to Oregon!

friday favorites: Games

2009-09-25T17:13:00.001-07:00

Last Wednesday night was National Family Game Night. I'm sad I missed it because I love playing board games and I am very competitive. Some people just don't understand that trash talk and cheating is part of the fun. I give you my favorite games.

Cribbage: When I first learned how to play from my mother, I thought she was making most of it up as we went along.She wasn't; it just has crazy point-getting rules

Scattegories: I always win and that's final!

Apples to Apples: Here is a hint when playing with me...I always choose the card that makes me laugh the most. And Helen Keller always wins.

Dream Phone: "She looks cool in whatever she wears."

Scrabble: Again, I always win. Ratnog is to a word!

Sorry: Oh, you think you are going to win because you are so close to home base? SORRY! HAHAHAHA!

I wonder why some people don't like to play games with me anymore?

friday favorites: Musicals!

2009-09-18T16:59:00.003-07:00

fWhile I left my days of high school theater back in, well, high school, I will always and forever love musicals. They are love songs to my soul. The first musical I remember seeing was the movie "The Sound of Music" and the first musical I listened to over and over was "The Phantom of the Opera." In my mind, I always play a part in whatever musical I listen to and if I see a show live, I will most likely listen to the cast recording on repeat for the next three months. Most of these I have only seen recordings of the stage version, but I will get so engrossed in them that I feel like I was there live. With all of the musicals I've seen and enjoyed, the following are the absolute best in my mind.

Aida: With music by Tim Rice and Elton John, this is an awesome, spectacular show. The love triangle is so beautiful and sad.

Into the Woods: Take all kinds of fairy tales, intertwine them and throw in Bernadette Peters and you've got a great show.

Chicago: Murder and jazz in a time when murder and jazz were cooler than they are now.

Pippin: I love the Bob Fosse choreography and the very 70s feel of this musical. Ben Vereen is the MAN in this show as The Leading Player.

Victor/Victoria: A woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman? Crazy! And pretty crazy good.

Mamma Mia!: Ahh, I can't not love the wonderful pop music of ABBA.

And the musicals of my high school days:

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (I wish I was in this one, but alas, I just watched my friends in it from the audience)

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (not on stage here either, but this was my first experience as a stage manager)

Guys and Dolls (my first high school musical. I played the non-singing, non-dancing role of General Cartwright. I embrace the fact that my talents lied elsewhere in the theatre world)

Lucky Stiff (I got to play a nun! among other chorus parts)

friday favorites: Comfort Movies

2009-09-11T15:27:00.002-07:00

My apologies for missing last Friday's post... I was in Washington DC! The TLs from last year had a reunion so I got to see some really great people AND our nation's capital. Life's pretty good sometimes :)

Anywhoozle, on to today's list. Lots of people have comfort food; a food that gives them feelings of security and contentment. I have comfort movies. When I am in an unfamiliar place, can't sleep or just want to feel connected to people I love, I will pop in one of these movies and feel happy and at peace. The same thing goes for music, but this list is about my cinematic favorites that I can watch over and over. Some of these are kids movies, some musicals and some comedies. I love them all.

Clue

Drop Dead Gorgeous

Fiddler on the Roof

The Emperor's New Groove

Mary Poppins

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

A Mighty Wind

Troop Beverly Hills

Dirty Dancing

Bedknobs and Broomsticks

Hatari

Murder By Death

The Parent Trap (the original)

Sister Act I and II

Steel Magnolias

Wayne's World

friday favorites: Young Reader's Book

2009-08-28T15:54:00.003-07:00

For this installment of Friday Favorites, we look continue looking at books I loved growing up. Last week I shared my favorite books for ages 0 to 8. Today I give you my favorite books for ages 9 to 12. What were your favorites?

P.S. Some of these are series of books

The Baby-Sitters Club books by Ann M. Martin

Ramona books by Beverly Cleary

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

Little House on the Prarie books Laura Ingalls Wilder

Matilda by Roald Dahl

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark I, II and III by Alvin Schwartz

The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright

The Fudge Series by Judy Blume

Please allow me to introduce...

2009-08-26T16:15:00.002-07:00

My freshman room mate Brittney! I hadn't seen or talked to her since I left Southern Oregon University and then, through the wonders of the ever-present Facebook, she found me! And get this... she is engaged to a guy who I sat by in high school band and who I met again four (or so) years later through my friend Vickey at UofO. I still get amazed at what a small freaking world it is.

Anyway, this girl likes to write. Lots. This can be seen in the fact that she has THREE blogs. I have trouble keeping up with this one, and I love writing. But the girl is having lots of adventures, so I guess three is a good number. I've added her to my "friends who write" column on the right, so you should check her blogs out. And Brittney, if you read this, let's hang out sometime in November or after that!

sorry sunrise, you are overrated

2009-08-23T19:00:00.003-07:00

Dear Sunrise over the Atlantic,

Hi! We just met this morning. I was the one who woke up at 5:15 a.m. to see my first sunrise over the ocean. First off, it was cloudy, and not the kind of cloudy that makes for pretty pinks and reds in the sky, but the kind that blocks out anything pretty. Secondly, you rose at 6 in the morning! Did you forget it was the weekend and that you could sleep in? Lastly... I was not impressed, sunrise... not impressed at all. You've got nothing on sunsets over the Pacific. Now that is a pretty show! So, I don't think we shall ever meet again, at least not by my choice. I just wanted to let you know that I was a dissatisfied customer and will not be recommending you to my friends.

Sincerely,
jenna

friday favorites: children's books

2009-08-21T21:37:00.017-07:00

A few summers ago I worked with Erika, but who I knew as Starla. She moved to NYC and talks about her exploits on her blog (find it on the right of the screen) Since I was little I wanted to live the New York life, so I live vicariously through her :)

Anyway, today she started a new thing on her blog that she saw on ANOTHER blog called Friday Favorites. I think this is a fine idea and, with giving credit to Starla, I will do this as well. 'Cause, I mean, who doesn't want to know more about me?!?

I love to read. I have The Momma and Grammy to thank for reading to me, with me, and providing for my Baby-Sitters Club habit while growing up. Now that I work for an early childhood literacy nonprofit, I have taken another look at children's literature. Today's list is my favorite books written for children 0-8 that both kids and adults can enjoy. I would love to hear what everyone's favorite children's book is or their thoughts on the list below.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffee Numeroff and Felicia Bonds

Corduroy by Don Freeman

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson

Green Eggs & Ham by Dr. Seuss

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst and Ray Cruz

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

And my list could not be complete with out the 2009 Jumpstart's Read for the Record book:

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Coming Soon: My favorite books for 9 to 13 year-olds

...I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond...

2009-08-09T13:14:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was my one-year anniversary of the last day of being part of the National Civilian Community Corps. The 21 months that I spent there were some of the most challenging, stressful, life-changing and wonderful of my life. I can see that now, but at this time last year all I wanted was to move on to something else. I was anxious to know what I would be doing next and had no clue as to what would happen after that. Turns out, I ran back into the arms of AmeriCorps in the form of a VISTA and moved to the opposite side of the country. Anyway, I wouldn't mind going back now, knowing what I would do differently.

While I was think about this yesterday, I remembered the graduation of my last year in NCCC. Over 400 of us sat in a beautiful theater in downtown Sacramento going through the rigmarole of a graduation ceremony. At the end of the ceremony, we all stood and recited the AmeriCorps pledge. Now, as a team leader, I had to say this pledge after every team leader meeting and said it so much that it was permanently ingrained in my brain. It was just one of those things that you repeat mindlessly without giving thought to what you were saying. Kind of like the Pledge of Alliegance or listening to the Star-Spangled Banner. I had never understood why athletes would tear up when this song was played whenever they won a gold metal at the Olympics. But on that graduation day for Class 14 of the western region of AmeriCorps NCCC, I finally got it. As I repeated the words that I had said ad nauseum for the last two years, they hit home. This is what I had given my life to. Saying these words brought up all of the good times I had had. The wonderful people I had met and the friends that I had made that will forever be in my heart. I looked over at my dear friend Stuart and saw that he was feeling the way I was. Everyone in that theater had been changed over the past year and while they might not have felt the same way that I did right then, I think that they understood.

As I close this sentimental posting, I will leave you with the words that I finally "got" that day. They are a part of who I am now and for that, I am a better woman.

The AmeriCorps Pledge

I will get things done for America -
to make our people safer,
smarter, and healthier.

I will bring Americans together
to strengthen our communities.

Faced with apathy,
I will take action.

Faced with conflict,
I will seek common ground.

Faced with adversity,
I will persevere.

I will carry this commitment
with me this year and beyond.

I am an AmeriCorps member,
and I will get things done.

Well, the first decision is made...

2009-07-17T16:02:00.002-07:00

...so everything will be gravy now, right?

The question that has been plaguing me for the last couple of months (and, really the last few years) is what am I going to do after my year as a VISTA is over? AmeriCorps only lets you be in the program for 3 years, so I've tapped that resource dry. Job openings are scarce right now, but really, I don't know what I'd want to do anyway. My first decision was if I wanted to remain in Boston or move again.

I came to Boston to experience living on the east coast. I came to live in a big city and experience the hustle and bustle. While my time here has not been unpleasant, it has not been comfortable. I don't know how else to explain it other than it just doesn't have the right "feel" for me. Attitudes, atmospheres, rhythms of life here are not what I can get used to for the long term. I have heard that some folks who move from one coast to the other have the same type of feelings that I have, so I know I am not alone in this feeling.

If I stayed here I know that I have some friends here, I would have an awesome place to live with Maegan and Katie, and I'm sure I could find some kind of crap job to get some income flowing, but I don't think I'd be happy.

I think my wanderlust has come to an end for now and i just want to live in one place for more than a year. I want to save up money to replenish the savings that living in Boston has sucked up. I want to be with people that I haven't just met and know what to expect from me. I want to be close to The Momma and Grammy. I want my Oregon back.

At the end of October/beginning of November I will be moving back to the left coast. I will move back home with The Momma for now and cleanse my chi of all the east coast/Bostonian/people-in-business-suits-pushing-you-on-the-subway-while-glued-to-their-blackberry grime and breathing in my pure, tree-hugging, coffee-guzzling, high-unemployment-rate Oregon love.

I have some ideas about what to do after I move again, but I'd like to keep those to myself right now. It feels great to have one big decision made. Hopefully the other decisions will come soon.

"...take a look at yourself and make the CHANGE!"

2009-06-29T08:50:00.004-07:00

I am sure you are all as shocked as I am at the passing of Michael Jackson. It seems surreal, doesn't it? On Saturday, the ladies and I were talking about our favorite MJ songs (mine are Beat It, Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough and Man in the Mirror) and it occurred to me again just how influential he had been to the music that I grew up with. I mean, until he went cukoo-cukoo bananas, MJ was the MAN! And I smile to remember the good times of his career. So MJ, thank you for the music. Your influence on music and pop-culture will never be matched.

Just call me Dorothy Gail...

2009-06-28T10:06:00.002-07:00

...because there is no place like home!

Last Friday I made the 6 hour plane trip from Boston to Oregon. I have been looking forward to this trip for months! If Abby and Tom hadn't come to visit and break up the time between when I purchased the tickets and when I took off, I don't know how I would have made it!

After an uneventful flight (and after my last, VERY eventful trip home, uneventful was welcomed), grammy picked me up at the airport and took me directly to Burgerville. Why, you may be asking, would I go to a fast-food restaurant right as I get here? Because it's fresh strawberry milkshake time!!! I love Burgerville because of their practices of using local foods from sustainable resources, using fresh ingredients and the best damn fast-food in the world! And now they even use all bio-degradable plastics for their containers and utensils. If my non-northwest friends are ever in the area, you must stop at a Burgerville. I even hear that their veggie burgers are yummy.

So after I was fully sated by my fresh strawberry milkshake and my Tillamook cheeseburger, I spent the rest of the afternoon with grammy. This was the first time that she has picked me up for the airport and has seen me before the momma, so I'm sure she was tickled by that. I love that lady! I went to Sandy that evening and I can't begin to tell you how happy I was to see the momma and jelly bean.

Yesterday was wonderful as well. Kyla and Rebecca talked a month ago and decided that all of us girls from high school/ college should have a bit of a reunion during the time I would be home. We all went over to Kyla's mom's house and, oh my goodness, readers, I haven't been so happy in a long time. Kyla, Rebecca (who is pregnant!), Julie, Stephanie, Katy and Nicole (with my Godson Tanner :)) were all there. No matter what I do in life or where we all end up 20 years from now, these girls will always be my girls and I will love them forever. I haven't seen some of them in years, but once we caught everyone up on what we were doing with our lives, it was like we never were apart. I really cherish these friendships and I thank God for these ladies.

Oop, getting a little sappy now. I am in a coffee shop using the wireless internet. It's another lazy Sunday afternoon with nothing ahead of me for the whole day. Ahhh! Vacation!!!

Happy!

2009-06-12T14:02:00.001-07:00

Abby and Tom are here in Boston. With me. In my apartment.

I am very happy.

Dear Camp Arrowhead

2009-06-07T16:41:00.002-07:00

Dear Camp Arrowhead,

It's summer time again, and I'm sure you are gearing up for the incoming campers. You are training the counselors, clearing the trails and getting the cabins and unit houses in shape. The campers are eagerly anticipating receiving their packing lists, buying new camping gear and figuring out how to smuggle in the contraband you have asked them not to bring. I know these things because I have been on both sides, camper and counselor.

My memories of summers will always involve camp. The excitement of meeting my fellow campers, comparing who is the "cool" counselor and trying to guess their real names, night-owl swims in pool, pixie parties, campfires, and all of the other elements that make camp magical.

And then I had the privilege of being a counselor for a summer. I loved the friendships of my co-counselors, learning the secrets of camp that I yearned to discover as a camper, and, most importantly, seeing the girls fall in love with camp as I did. To hear them sing the songs I learned when I was a camper made my heart smile. To hear them 15 times in a row wilted that smile a bit, but that's beside the point.

But now I am in Boston and you, for some reason, are still in Washington. I would love nothing more than to drop everything and join you for another season of songs, crafts, games and sunshine. I will come back to you someday, my beloved Camp Arrowhead. Until then, please continue to inspire hundreds of girls to dream and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. Oh, and please sing a round of "The Donut Shop" just for me.

You've gotta sing from the heart on these

2009-06-07T16:36:00.001-07:00

You just can't sing these songs half-heartedly!

Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen

Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond

'A Mighty Wind' deserves to be watched over and over

2009-06-07T16:28:00.001-07:00

The actors are hilarious. Plus, to reveal a bit of the music dork that I am, I could listen to the music every day

another thing I don't know

2009-06-02T18:56:00.004-07:00

Today on a super-sized edition of "things I don't know"...

I don't understand how libraries can legally operate. The authors of the books don't receive royalties for ever time their work is checked out, do they? If I were Dan Brown or Stephanie Meyer, I might be mad that my best-selling works of popular-reading culture could just be read by anyone with a piece of plastic and I wouldn't see a nickle of profit except for that initial purchase.

And what about movies and music? How is it OK to watch/listen to them without paying for them? Why don't folks in the entertainment business get angry that people are watching their work without them being paid for it? How is that different than media piracy?

This has been "things I don't know"

going going going

2009-05-22T20:39:00.002-07:00

This has been a very busy week. Busy for me, anyway.

Last Thursday my pal Erin came into Boston. I met her last year when we were both STLs in Sacramento. She is now a field TL but came to her home in Rhode Island for a vacation. I hadn’t seen her since last August and was so happy to see her again.

On Saturday I took the train to Providence, RI to visit her. It was my first extended trip to the state and it was beautiful! Erin took me around Providence on Saturday night and on Sunday took me to Newport. Newport was gorgeous! There was a cute little touristy strip with shops and restaurants. We also drove along Ocean Drive where there are dozens of HUGE mansions all along the coast. These houses were magnificent. And for only a few million $$$ I could live there!

Tuesday was a Jumpstart fundraiser to kick off their annual Read for the Record campaign. For the past three years, Jumpstart has set the world record for the most people reading the same book in one day. They pick a new book every year and this year it is The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. I remember this book from 1^st grade and it still holds up today as a classic. I plan on sharing more information about this event as it comes closer (October 8), but if you’d like more information and would like to sign up your classrooms or libraries now, go to www.readforthrecord.org.

Wednesday I had dinner at Mae’s house where her old teammate Casey was visiting.

Thursday I went to see Keane in concert! Why? Because it was FREE!

I’ll back up a bit. On Tuesday I was given a ticket to see the band Keane in concert. A donor had given a bunch of tickets to Jumpstart and one of them was given to me. Yay! I would be going with a couple of other VISTAs. Then on Wednesday I go to my desk and there is another ticket there. They had more extra tickets, so I got to bring a friend. I hadn’t seen my pal Nikkole in a while, so I invited her to come with me. The openers were Helio Sequence, which is two guys from Beaverton, and Mat Kearney, who was really good as well. Then Keane came on and they gave a really good show. Before last night I really couldn’t tell you what songs they sang, but I remembered that they were on Saturday Night Live (how I know that it was the same show that Paris Hilton hosted is a mystery to me). We were sitting 14 rows from the front and center stage. Super cool, in my book. I want to listen to all of the albums from all three of the bands now.

So now it is Memorial Day Weekend. I, thankfully, have no plans. I think weekends with no plans are my favorite because anything can happen and even if I don’t go out and do something, I still have the time to relax and rejuvenate for the work-week ahead.

My internet is acting strangely or else I'd post pictures from the show. I shall do that another time.

Introducing My Pal Abby

2009-05-21T20:24:00.004-07:00

If you've never looked over to the right of my blog, please do so now.

I'd like to direct your attention to a new addition to my "friends who write" column. My good friend Abigail has started a new blog. I met her my junior year of college and she was my first University of Oregon friend. She now lives in Portland with her fiance Tom and two cats. I enjoy her writing since it sounds just like what she would say in real life (as opposed to blog life) and she is just an all around great gal. So I would like to extend a big popsicle press welcome to Abby.

Hi Abby!

Reasons to Not Date a T-Rex

2009-05-20T18:08:00.002-07:00

As found on List of the Day

9 Reasons Not To Date A Tyrannosaurus Rex

A funny from Mingle2.com, by Matthew Inman & Rebecca Kelley

things I don't know

2009-05-12T20:27:00.005-07:00

Tonight I am starting an occasional series called "things I don't know."

I will occasionally post things that I should probably know from my educational experience or just life in general. I either never learned these things or have completely blocked them from my mind somehow. For the inaugural post...

I don't know how birds reproduce

Just one of the many things I don't know.

Call your mother!

2009-05-10T17:07:00.005-07:00

Happy Mother's Day!!!

I know the momma reads this every now and then and prints it out for grammy to read every once in a while, so I just wanted to tell them one more time...

In honor of today, I participated in a time-honored the momma and I tradition...I bought a new purse! It's the first one I've bought since last September, so I think I was way over do for a new one. And while I didn't watch a full episode, I did see a couple of clips from the daytime judge shows that grammy loves so much.

These two ladies are the greatest ladies on earth. I hope you have all called your mother, grandmothers, aunts and/or any maternal ladies in your life and have told them how much you love and appreciate them.

an open apology

2009-04-28T20:27:00.004-07:00

Dear Boston,
For the first time since I arrived here, I saw leaves on trees. They were just budding, but it was so nice to see some green. One thing though... I am apparently allergic to your spring season. I have never had major allergy problems before, but on Saturday morning I woke up and couldn't stop coughing. Not cool, Boston, not cool.

Now I owe you an apology. Boston, I am sorry for all the moaning, groaning and complaining I did about your winter weather. As you know, it got up to 93 degrees here today. I know that that kind of weather is expected, but not until mid-summer. In case you forgot, IT IS STILL APRIL! How about a little more April showers and less April give-jenna-a-frickin'-sunburn. And my bedroom? Yeah, pretty much a greenhouse. So much for me falling asleep tonight.

So, to reiterate, I am sorry for the past four and a half months of my whining about how damn cold it is here and how much I hate snow. I had no idea about how silly I sounded. If you promise not to do another 90+ degree day for another month or so, I promise to not complain about your winters anymore. I hope we can repair this friendship and live peacefully within each other once again.

Love,
jenna

Na-na-na-NA-na-na-na I Wanna Start A FIGHT!

2009-04-22T04:40:00.003-07:00

On Saturday I went to my first rugby tournament and saw my first rugby game.

Maegan invited me to come to Rhode Island to watch her little sister play for The College of New Jersey in the Beast of the East rugby tournament.

I still don't understand the rules to the game, but these things I do know:

1. I wish I would have played rugby in college

2. Guys who play rugby are rather cute

3. By the time Mae and I left, I had a lot of pent up aggression and I wanted to punch someone. Not for any personal reasons, but just to get in a rumble.

Go Rugby!

A New PFA

2009-04-13T20:30:00.001-07:00

With my Birthday Resolutions, I resolved to start every day with a PFA. What is PFA?

Positive
Freakin’
Attitude

I first heard this term in a Saturday Night Live sketch with Chris Farley as the motivational speaker Matt Foley. I then heard it again last year during the team leader mini-project with the Great Basin Institute in Nevada. Our project leaders with GBI told us that it was essential to go through our work of trail-building with a PFA every day. That was over a year ago. I’m not sure what brought it to the forefront of my mind recently, but I think that it is a great acronym and I have decided that it should become my daily goal.

So when I wake up in the morning at 7 a.m. and start to internally whine and moan about having to get up and go to work, what am I going to think?

“Where’s my PFA?”

When I am down about my finances, love life, career path or any of the other inconveniences in life, what do I need to remember?

“PFA, jenna!”

Sure, I could just say “PA” for positive attitude. But when that “F” is added between the “P” and the “A,” I feel a sense of empowerment. It’s saying “Hey! I’m going to have a positive attitude whether I or the world likes it or not! Don’t mess with my PFA!”

So, readers, I encourage you to add this term to your vocabulary. Life is going to suck at times… this we all know. But the suckiness does not have to bring you down (or suck you down, if you’d prefer). Nothing and no one is going to dictate how you feel! We’ve got our PFAs, world. Deal with that!

The NEW new year resolutions

2009-04-05T19:13:00.002-07:00

I'm not sure why I feel this way around my birthday time, as opposed to all of my other 25 birthdays, but I feel the need for change and improvement. I never put much stock in New Year's resolutions. What seems to make more since to me right here and now is to start my 26th year with a list of things to better myself. So, popsicle pressers, here is my inaugural Birthday Resolutions List...

I, jenna k, in my 26th year of life, will work to improve and better myself in the following ways:
1. Start every day with a positive attitude
2. Maintain a high level of professionalism at work
3. End my VISTA year with a plan of what to do next with my life
4. Drink more water
5. Read the books I have before purchasing any more
6. Finally publish pictures of my life in Boston
7. Write more
8. Maintain and cultivate my relationships with the people who matter in my life

A long and daunting list, for sure. But I am excited to be embarking on this next year of my life with some goals in mind. Perhaps Birthday Resolutions will catch on with other folks. Let me know if you think that this is a neato idea and if you will do the same thing.

A lovely night...

2009-04-04T17:17:00.005-07:00

I've just had one of the best birthdays that I have had in a long time. The last two years were very lack-luster, so I was trying not to expect too much this year.

When I walked to my desk at the office in the morning I saw lots of things. My manager, John, had given me a potted calla lily flower that was pink. There was a card signed by all of the VISTAs as well as some other folks from the office. And then the biggest item on display was a card about half the size of a poster board with pictures all over it. These were pictures of nuns, nuns with dogs, and dogs dressed as nuns! Molly and Emily, two of my VISTA buddies, had found these pictures online and had made captions for all over the poster. I almost peed my pants with laughter and smiles. It was a wonderful way to start April 2.

That evening, Jumpstart held their annual Scribble to Novels benefit at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Boston. Four authors, including the woman who wrote "The Red Tent" and the man who wrote "Election" and "Little Children" were invited to sign books and talk to about 200 guests. The ticket price for the event was $500 per person. Two of the board members spoke, as well as the president to Jumpstart and two Corps members who are twin sisters working through two different Boston colleges. I helped with the registration table, so my job was done pretty quickly. After my job was done I was able to enjoy the program and the open bar. If there had been tables with empty seats, I would have been able to sit with the guests and eat dinner with them. Most of the seats were full, though, so the hotel served the Jumpstart staff in a room off to the side of the ballroom. After the party, all of the Jumpstart staff went down to the hotel bar for an afterparty. The event went off without a hitch and it seemed like everyone had a good time. I had a good time and felt very fancy-pants and proud to be a part of this organization.

Knowing that I probably would get home late on Thursday night (1:30 as it turned out) I took Friday off as a birthday present to myself. After a lovely sleep-in, I went over to Jess and Amanda's house where they had made dinner for me and decorated the place for my birthday. Their team mate from last year, Jen, was visiting them, so it was nice to see here as well.

It was a really great way to ring in my 26th year. All of the calls and text messages and cards really made me feel loved and thought of. Thank you everyone for your well-wishes.

Two Baker's Dozens

2009-03-31T19:46:00.001-07:00

Please don't think that I intend to keep you, the popsicle press peeps, in the dark about the happenings of my life. It's just that I had been in a bit of a funk and couldn't bring myself to whine and carry on and make you endure my downer-ness.

But as spring slowly emerges in Boston, so to am I beginning to come out of the gloom hibernation and become the happy flower of Jenna. Pretty fancy talkin' coming from me, huh?

In two days I gain another year on the calendar. Yes, dear friends, I am moving over to the other side of mid-twenties. On April 2 I will be 26 years old.

It seems so common and almost fashionable to bemoan the fact of getting older. I have fallen for it and have also poked fun at people for getting up there in age. But why? Age should be something to be proud of! This means that you have survived another year of the crap that life can throw at you. The biggest and most impressive trees on earth and hundreds of years old! We should be proud to get another ring around our trunks, so to speak.

I am damn proud of what I have done in my 25th year of life. I completed my second term of AmeriCorps, began a third and final term, moved across the country (all by myself!), survived going home for Christmas during the worst snow storm in 30 years, and have become more independent and grown-up than I ever have been before. If I continue growing as a person at this rate, I am going to be one kickass old lady. I only have to look at the incredible ladies of my family to know that I have a good shot at this. Ooo, if The Momma is reading this, I wasn't calling you and old lady, I swear.

As spring is seen as a time of growth and renewal, so to is it a chance for me to reflect on my own growth. The jenna you have today is flawed and scared by events that have transpired in her life. But this jenna is also beautiful because of and in spite of her failings.

So, here is to another ring on the trunk!

A little taste of freedom

2009-03-09T17:48:00.003-07:00

I'm a darn good friend.

Last Friday I drove a friend to the airport at 4 in the morning.

Maegan is my Boston angel. She took me in for almost a month when I first came here. She is one of my best friends from my N C C C days. I'm happy that I could do this favor for her.

But, I'm not that altruistic. While she is on spring break in Guatemala, I get her car. On Saturday, I used it.

I haven't been out of Boston and into the rest of Mass. since I got here, and now I have the means to break free. Driving down a highway at 65 mph was glorious! I felt like I was in a bit of control of where I was in life. I wasn't constrained by public transit or work or by the real likelihood that I would get lost in this city. Yeah, I got lost trying to get out of the city and getting back in, but the point is that I got out.

I miss open spaces. While I love the city life, I miss mountains. I miss seeing farm lands and pine trees for miles and miles and feeling like I have some breathing room. I miss the west.

I went to Crane Beach in Ipswich about 45 minutes northeast of Boston. It had been recommended to me from several people when I said I wanted to go to the beach and I wanted to go north. I got a late start, plus I got lost in Cambridge a couple of times trying to find the highway. By the time I got to the beach, I was told that the beach was going to close in 30 minutes. I went in anyway because I had yet to see the Atlantic Ocean. So I parked, walked up the hill, and saw the Atlantic. Had a couple take my picture and then hopped back in the car and drove back to Somerville.

For right now, anyway, I had a taste of freedom on Highway 93. I got out and I was free. I need to get out more often.

Graphs of the Day

2009-03-01T01:46:00.002-08:00

Holy crap, these are funny! I found these on listoftheday.blogspot.com. Hope you enjoy a giggle!

courtesy of GraphJam.com.

Owwww!

2009-02-19T12:16:00.002-08:00

1. A bunch of folks from my office got together yesterday to go ice skating in the Boston Common.

2. I have not been ice skating since I was 15.

3. I have issues with staying upright on my own two feet.

4. To use the Boston term: I'm wicked sore.

5. Never let me go ice skating again.

Damn Vampires

2009-02-17T16:45:00.002-08:00

I finally caved and started to read the Twilight series. Last September, The Momma and I were in Powell's and I saw a display for the books by Stephanie Meyer. I told The Momma that I'd heard good things about the books and bought it with my gift card. The Momma started reading it first and before I knew it had burned through all four books. But for some reason, I did not start reading them. Maybe I knew that I would most likely get addicted and spend hours devouring the books.

I held off. People all around me talked about the books and I tuned them out because I knew I'd get to reading them sometime.

I finally got tired of not listening. So this past Friday I started. I read the first book in two days and am now halfway through the second. I alternate between reading and listening to the audiobook. As I thought would happen...I'm hooked. Good thing I have all the books. Will there be a 5th? When will it come out?

I guess I'm a 14 year-old girl...

Return of jenna

2009-02-09T19:52:00.003-08:00

The pains from losing Lappy are still fresh, but my new electronic love, Yukon Cornelius, or Corny, is helping to ease the pain. A week and a half ago I purchased an Acer Aspire laptop. Yeah, I had never heard of Acer before either, but the IT guy at work who was working on Lappy, recommended this one as an affordable laptop that would serve all my mobile computer needs. It is a young, exciting love between Corny and I and I hope we can have many years together.

Anyway...

I last left you all right before the holidays. After two and a half days in both the Salt Lake City and Sea-Tac airports. It was quite the nightmare. Who'd have thunk it back in October when I booked the ticket home that I would be flying into the worst snow storm the NW has seen in 30 years. Oddly enough, the whole horrible ordeal still wasn't as bad as being in a certain state for a month last year.

It was wonderful being home for two weeks over Christmas. But, alas, I needed to go back east to return to Jumpstart. I don't know why I didn't understand this about New England in the winter before I came here, but THIS PLACE IS F***ING COLD! I am so sad to think that the one or two times it has gotten up to 40F it has felt down-right balmy. I am sure I was warned about this, but why didn't I listen? Why?

Life is pretty plain right now. Has been for a while. I hang out with my BBFF (Boston Best Friend Forever) Maegan at least once a week and I spend time with Jess and Amanda from the Silver Unit last year often. The VISTAs at Jumpstart are great, but we live so far from each other that it is hard to do anything outside of work together. My roomies and I seem to be warming up to each other as well, so that's nice. Other than that, I spend most of my free time watching seasons of TV shows, walking around parts of Boston (never too far from my subway line) and sleeping.

That pretty much sums up my life since Thanksgiving. I may have forgotten something, but I don't think I did. Life is vanilla right now. That's ok, but I wouldn't holler if I got a bit of peppermint right about now. So long for now!

A Eulogy for Lappy

2009-02-06T15:55:00.001-08:00

Lap E. Top aka Lappy
Summer 2005 - November 2008

The week before Thanksgiving 2008, Lappy gave up the fight and faded away. Literally, his screen went dim. I brought him in to Dr. Jon, IT guy at my work, to see if there was anything he could do to change Lappy's fate. Two LCD screens, one inverter, one motherboard and two months later, Dr. Jon told me there was nothing more he could do and Lappy was gone.

Lappy was a good laptop. He held my pictures and music, allowed me to connect with my family and friends all over the country and provided me with hours of entertainment. Sure, his sound never worked quite right and I could never play DVDs on him, but he was my college graduation gift and I love him, imperfections and all.

You never forget your first, and Lappy, where ever you are, you were the best.

Lappy is sick and so am I :(

2008-12-16T09:11:00.004-08:00

Hello fellow popsiclers! I am sorry I haven't written anything in nearly a month. Last week I came down with a nasty cold. I just went to the doctor's, however, so I should be right as rain in no time. It was also a month ago that the screen on my laptop went permanently dim. Nooooo! Lappy!

Ta da! Here comes networking to the rescue! One of the technology guys at Jumpstart agreed to take a look at Lappy. He told me I needed some new parts, sent me the Ebay links to purchase them, offered to boost my memory or RAM or whatever, and to add any programs that I'd like onto Lappy. And all for just the cost of the parts! Every computer owner should have a techy friend. Jon is definitely my tech hero. Hopefully I can get Lappy back before this coming Saturday.

Why Saturday, you ask? BECAUSE I'M COMING HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!! Yup, another jenna k Oregon adventure from December 20 to January 3. And I only had to take three personal days off because the whole Jumpstart network closes down from Christmas day until Jan. 5.

I think that the last time I was so excited to come home was the first time I did last year after being in California and Louisiana for 5 months. I miss my two ladies and the west coast. I really never thought that there would be such a difference between the west and east coasts, but I sure do feel out of place here sometimes. It's hard to describe what exactly it is, but I'm sure others who have swapped coasts (or countries) at one time or another know what I mean.

I am pretty sure I have more to talk about, but I am typing this at work during my lunch time and there is other stuff I need to get done. If you will be in Oregon when I am, please give me a call. Let's celebrate the holidays and get Blitzened! (not really, I just thought that was clever. Call me anyway and let's catch up.)

Phabulous Philly!

2008-11-26T18:11:00.002-08:00

Last week I was sent to Philadelphia for the VISTA Pre-service Orientation training. I was a bit ahead of the game since I had been with my organization for a month. I went with two other VISTAs from the national office of Jumpstart. We were going to meet 7 other Jumpstart VISTAs from across the network as well as a large chunk of the other VISTAs from the east coast.

I chose to take the train from Boston to Philly, not realizing that the trip was SIX HOURS! But I did get to travel through Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Most exciting was that for the first time in my life I actually saw the New York skyline. We stopped in Grand Central Station and I can say that I was in NYC. I didn't leave the train though, but I GOT TO SEE THE SKYLINE!!!! A big highlight, for sure.

This was my first time in Philly and I LOVED IT! I did not get to see all the things I wanted to, like the Rocky steps or many of historic things, but what I did see was great. It was a slower pace than Boston, which makes me think that Philly would have made my transition to Boston a little easier. The other Jumpstart VISTAs were super nice and fun to hang out with, but I most enjoyed getting to know and hanging out with the VISTAs that I came from the national office with, Monika and Jessica. The trainings were pretty boring and did not have much to do with my position. Being a VISTA is all about fighting poverty and my job is two or three steps removed from the face of poverty. The facilitator in my group was very cute, so I tolerated the all day training sessions.

I really would like to make it back to Philadelphia some day.

Ecomomy affects jenna too

2008-11-26T18:02:00.002-08:00

I did not think that as a VISTA that the crap economy would hit me. I am paid through the federal government and have committed one year to AmeriCorps. But it came around to me when I got back from Philadelphia this past week (more on Philly next post).

All non-profit organizations are beginning to cut back due to the projected loss of funds from donors. Some are cutting the budget up to 30%. The senior management cut 10%, which doesn't seem as dramatic, but the cuts included layoffs. The national office saw a lot of fantastic workers let go, including a person in my department. It hurt. I had done quite a bit of training with this person and I regarded her as a good work friend. All of this happened in the office when I was away in Philly for a week, so I came in and was briefed by my supervisor. After my wonderful week of training in Philly, this was the worst way to come back.

I don't even know what to say about this. My position is not in danger because I am not paid by Jumpstart. There was a change in attitude and morale in the office from what I could tell. I am going to miss the people who are gone, but more importantly, the organization is going to miss them and their brilliant work.

Stupid economy...

For a good laugh

2008-11-14T15:43:00.002-08:00

I found this on the blog listoftheday.blogspot.com. I couldn't help laughing out loud at these. I especially like the instructions for bonding with baby.

Baby Care Tips Of The Day

My life right now (and from the past couple weeks)

2008-11-04T14:42:00.002-08:00

Hi everyone. I'm sorry that I haven't updated y'all about my east coast adventures, but I haven't been in a writing mood lately. I'm kinda forcing myself on this one, but I want to let the 3 people who read this know what is going on.

I spent my first three weeks sleeping on a couch in Maegan's house in Cambridge. It was a little awkward living out of my suitcase, but everything else was fantastic. Maegan and her roomie Katie were so great. I felt right at home and dubbed myself the faux roommate. Their hospitality was phenomenal and as soon as I'm a little more flush, I intend on giving them a huge thank you of some type.

I was sad to leave them, but on Nov. 1 I moved into my new place half a mile away from Maegan in Somerville. I am renting a room from Brianne and Yami and their two cats, Gilbert and Bianco, in a third-floor apartment. The apartment is very cosy, as in small, but it really does have character. My room is furnished with a bed, a wardrobe and a t.v., which I probably wouldn't have anywhere else. It is a 10 minute walk to my subway stop and Davis Square, which is kind of like a cafe and restaurant-heavy Hawthorne Dist. in Portland. We are just doing a month-to-month thing, so if I come to dislike the place, I'll just find a new apartment. It's a good situation.

Oh, now for the reason I came to Boston...my new job!

I started at Jumpstart on Oct. 20. The week was nothing but orientation meetings where someone from each department would talk with me and tell me about what they do to help keep Jumpstart running. I've never worked with such friendly and cool people. And it just so happened that at the end of my first week the whole office had an outting to the Harpoon Brewery for beer tasting. Just for kicks and a morale booster. What a change from the last two years when you could hardly even mention the word 'alcohol' around the supervisors. I've had drinks with my department twice after work already.

Right now I am still settling in to my position. There is a lot I am confused about and I have moments of "oh crap, I can't do what they expect of me" at least once a day. Everybody is very supportive though and I feel like I can ask questions of anyone when I need to. Right now my first task is organizing the weekly newsletter that goes out to all the national staff and executive directors from the 5 regions across the country. It's not difficult, but I want to do a not-horrible job. I am also taking over some duties that were previously in another department, so I'm learning all of that stuff. I know it will take time to get comfortable here, as it would in any job, but it will happen.

My main concern right now is money, as in I don't have any. I've never been this poor in my adult life. It scares me that I am alone out here without the safety net of my family or student loans or n c c c supporting me. I am not even sure when I will get paid my pittiful stipend. I almost got sick last Friday night when I bought my plane ticket home for Christmas because it was $600 that I had to put on my credit card. I knew I had to but it, though, because it made me feel even more sick to think that I wouldn't be home with The Momma and Grammy for the holidays.

That is enough sadness for one post, I think! I'm going to figure out what to eat now and then watch some of the election results, get bored with election results and find something else to watch. Hopefully the next time I write will be when Obama is president-elect! Barock the Vote!

The first week (almost)

2008-10-17T13:44:00.002-07:00

I've been in Boston for almost a week. Time has been moving slowly and ridiculously fast at the same time. I've found where I need to go on Monday to start my job with Jumpstart, walked around parts of the city including Davis Square, Porter Square, Harvard and Downtown Crossing. And...

I think I found a place to live! Yay!

It is in a two bedroom apartment on the third floor of a house 5 minutes away from the subway line I take to get to Jumpstart. I will be renting a room from a lady couple who are both 30. The apartment is small and cozy and the room comes furnished with a futon, wardrobe and TV. The couple seem really nice and laid-back. One is a third-grade teacher and the other is a full-time culinary student. Two drawbacks: the heater doesn't work in my room, so they are giving me a space heater and there are pigeons living in the walls. Anybody who knows me should be utterly shocked that I am choosing to live with birds. But I like the place enough to overlook that. I'm pretty excited to move in, which will probably be next weekend or the weekend after that.

Tonight Maegan and I are staying in, drinking beer and watching movies. Oh, and eating chicken. I stuck my hand up a chicken's ass. This week is full of new experiences!

Top Ten Embarrassing Music Selections

2008-10-14T16:41:00.002-07:00

For this installment of Top Ten, I have chosen to reveal things I am not terribly proud of. We all have them and always make excuses when people find them on our Ipods or CD collections. Embarrassing music. I will hide no longer, though. Since I am sharing these albums with you, no judging! You may even like them as well. I now give you jenna's Top Ten Embarrassing Music Selections...

1. The Best of Peter Paul and Mary: Their harmonies are so pretty. I still get weepy sometimes when I hear Puff the Magic Dragon.

2. Celtic Woman: Brought to fame by PBS specials, these 5 women sing together and solo beautiful Celtic and Pop songs with passion and grace.

3. ABBA and the Mamma Mia! soundtrack: These are damn catchy songs.

4. The Carpenters Greatest Hits: Karen Carpenter has the most beautiful alto voice ever.

5. The Bangles Greatest Hits: Reminds me of happy childhood times. Also my first CD ever.

6. Gregorian Chants: Very soothing.

7. The Essential Neil Diamond: I grew up listening to Neil as he is The Momma's absolute favorite musician. I resented and despised his music for a good long while. But now I cannot deny his catchy pop music and longevity. I even want to name my first daughter Caroline so I can sing "Sweet Caroline" to her.

8. Select songs from Amy Grant and Wilson Phillips: Again, happy childhood memories. I remember singing with these songs over and over again.

9. New Kids on the Block Greatest Hits: All of you haters need to shut it! NKOTB is back!

10. The sheer amount of Broadway Musicals I have: Great to sing along to. I will always have that inner high school drama kid in me. I don't really have anything more recent than Wicked, so I don't actively pursue or listen to any recent musicals.

There you have it. There are more on my Ipod, but I don't need you to be mocking me any more than what you are now able to.

I have cool, more socially acceptable music too, I swear!

Happy 100th Blog!

The new life begins

2008-10-14T14:55:00.003-07:00

Today is my second full day in Boston. After an infuriating 2 hour delay on the tarmac of the Portland airport, a missed connection to Boston and the later flight that left three hours after my original departure time and three hours after I was supposed to arrive in Boston, I was finally at the casa de Maegan at a quarter to midnight. But I made it!

Mae lives in Cambridge which is just north of Boston proper in a pretty neat-o house with two roommates, one of which I worked with as a Corps Member in Beaumont, TX (she was from the Denver campus). I have not yet met the third roommate. Mae and Katie (the Denver NCCC alum) have been wonderful. I feel right at home, except for the fact that I sleep on the couch. I will hopefully be looking at some places to live this week.

I have not yet ventured to Boston. The subway line that I will be taking to Jumpstart is just a 15 min. walk from the house. Sometime this week I will take a test-run of the commute to see how long it will take to get there. Yesterday and today I wandered around a bit, drank coffee (Dunkin Donuts for all my east coast homies) and people watched.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous or scared to be here on my own. I've never been as truly independent as I am right now. Several times I day I need to take a deep breath, close my eyes and remind myself that I am going to be just fine. Hopefully as the days and weeks pass, I'll need to do that less often. Life is sweet, remember?

Boston day

2008-10-12T07:55:00.006-07:00

Today is Boston day! I'm in the airport waiting to board a plane for Phoenix and then off to Boston. And now...a little ditty that is befitting this day. The Peter, Paul and Mary version is my favorite...

All my bags are packed
I'm ready to go,
I'm standing here outside your door,
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye...
But the dawn is breakin'
It's early morn
The taxi's waitin'
He's blowin' his horn
Already I'm so lonesome
I could die

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

There's so many times I've let you down
So many times I've played around
I tell you now, they don't mean a thing
Every place I go, I'll think of you
Every song I sing, I'll sing for you
When I come back, I'll wear your wedding ring

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Now the time has come to leave you
One more time
Let me kiss you
Then close your eyes
I'll be on my way
Dream about the days to come
When I won't have to leave alone
About the times, I won't have to say

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

I'm ready for my next adventure.

New name, same jenna

2008-10-10T16:43:00.002-07:00

I've decide that I want a bit of a change on my blog. With the coming changes I've decided to redub my blog "the popsicle press". Because I realized in some half-assed zen moment that life really is pretty sweet, so I need to enjoy it while I can before it melts. Deep, huh?

I'm experimenting with new looks. I change my mind a lot, so you may see something one day and it is gone the next. Such is life.

...and counting

2008-10-07T13:48:00.001-07:00

Four and a half days until BOSTON!!!

Love Letter to Oregon

2008-09-29T14:28:00.003-07:00

As the time of my departure for Boston is close, I am giving to you the Ten Things I Love About Oregon.

Unless otherwise noted, I am speaking of northwest Oregon and the Portland-Metro area. In no particular order, here are just ten reasons I am proud to be an Oregonian...

1. No sales tax. The sticker price that you read is the price you are going to pay, and that's that!

2. No self-serve gasoline. I still look awkward when I am in another state and I have to pump my own gas. We have people to do that for us in Oregon! And it does not make the gas more expensive, either!

3. Green. The fir trees of northwest Oregon stay green all year long. I cannot picture living without the green. It makes a gal feel alive!

4. The Oregon Coast. For those of you who have been there, this isn't your bikini-wearing, sun-bathing type of beach. It's cold, windy, rainy and rocky. But I love it more than any other place in Oregon. The waves crashing onto the beach, building sand castles and burying your friends, the rock cliffs, bonfires and kite-flying are what you do here. The best coast isn't only the west coast, but it is the Oregon Coast.

5. Mt. Hood. True, I don't ski, snowboard and I generally avoid all snow if possible. But I grew up with Mt. Hood in my backyard. I, like many folks, consider it to be "my" mountain. It is a beautiful site and helps me figure out which way is east (mountain = east, ocean = west).

6. University of Oregon. Of course I am biased because I went to this school. It is also where the movie Animal House was filmed (watch it with me and I'll point out all the sites that I know) They have the best journalism school in the west (which I graduated from), a beautiful campus and an exciting football team. I was never into college football before I became a Duck. Did you see us cream WSU last Saturday? Yeah, awesome.

7. Awesome town names. The best one being Boring. Yup, Boring, OR. I went to middle school here. There is also Drain, Zig Zag, Rufus, Tangent, Halfway, Dundee (Like Crocodile Dundee), Progress, Fossil, Ontario, Paris, Phoenix and more. All states have crazy town names, but can any of them beat Boring?

8. Everyone played the Oregon Trail game on the computer in grade school. C'mon, you know you always went hunting and shot too much for you to carry back to your wagon train. It wasn't until later in my k-12 experience that I realized that there weren't Montana Trail or Florida Trail games in the respective states.

9. Delicious Beer! Oregon and Portland in particular have more microbreweries than you can shake a stick at. Yet Portland is the #1 marked for Pabst Blue Ribbon. Oregonians know how to drink!

10. Oregon is hip. Especially Portland. And I get to be hip by association. Oregon is beautiful, diverese in geography, newly trendy-ish, and it is the state I grew up in. On the west coast, there isn't anywhere else I'd choose to live (except when I buy that B&B in Napa Valley ;)).

2008-09-23T15:22:00.002-07:00

This is what the job description for the Jumpstart Operations VISTA looks like:

Member Duties : The Operations VISTA will work within the operations department to identify, design, develop, and manage key systems that effectively facilitate the communication and support between field, region and national offices. The Operations VISTA will participate as a central coordinator and project manager for national office initiatives that have a direct impact on regional and field operations. The Operations VISTA will participate in decisions, project plans, and programs being rolled out by the national office from a field perspective and will think through the potential challenges and impact of planned projects on the field. Additionally, the Operations VISTA will support and maintain a process that tightly manages the information flow to and from the field, including performance metrics, Jumpstart site data, and weekly communication. Site, regional, and national needs will heavily influence project priorities for the position.

Yeah, that is what I'll be doing starting October 20. If my excitement didn't come through on the last post...I CAN'T FREAKIN' WAIT TO START!

From what I've read about Jumpstart, they sound like a phenomenal organization that helps a population that could be so easily overlooked; pre-k children from under-privileged situations. I can't wait to work for them, to live in and explore Boston, to be an east-coaster, and to and to take this huge step in a new direction of my life. I am going to try to make the move to the right coast around the 13th of October so I can begin my adjustment to the city before I start work.

Oh, and I was told I do not have to be a Red Sox fan. That's good, because baseball is really boring anyway. What Boston or New England sport/team should I become a fan of? The University of Oregon Ducks already have their place in my college football heart, but I have no alligance to any other sport/team. Your thoughts?

It's back on like Donkey Kong!

2008-09-19T16:53:00.002-07:00

Last week I decided that a great way to get to the east coast was to apply, once again, to be an AmeriCorps member. This time I would be a VISTA, which is different than NCCC which I was with the past two years. I submitted my application to 10 organizations on the east coast in MA, CT, MD and DC. I submitted my application last Monday. Tuesday, the first person to respond was Jumpstart, a national program that's mission is to make sure that every child enters school ready to succeed. The national office is in Boston. I interviewed with John Thursday morning and had a second interview with Kristen that afternoon. Both interviews went very well, but I was trying not to get my hopes up. They told me I'd probably hear back from them next week. Today, Friday, I got a call at 3 p.m. and was informed that I got the job! I'm moving to Boston! With a job!

I'm going back into a life of virtual poverty, but I'll be working in a national office and have input on how the Jumpstart program can run more effeciently and all that good stuff that goes with national non-profits. I am so excited I could just pee my pants!

My starting date is either Oct 14 or Oct 20. I will be staying with my friend Maegan whom I was a Corps Member with last year until I find a place to live. I'll be there for at least a year.

I think I need to become a Red Sox fan now... and also a baseball fan.

Are you happy for me? Cause I'm damn happy right now. So long West Coast, I'll see you later!

Big, Scary move on hold

2008-09-03T10:26:00.002-07:00

As the title says, my big scary move to Boston is on hold. I have cold feet about the whole thing, as you and I knew would happen.

What am I thinking moving across the country? I don't have any money, job or place to live there. All I've got going for me is a friend who would let me stay with her but I don't want to wear out my welcome and have one less friend in the world.

So, no moving to the east coast in October. You can go ahead and say "I told you so."

Ok, now shut up.

I honestly, 100% don't know what is going to happen next in my life. I need to get a job, even a crappy retail or food service job would do right now. I feel that once I have the comfort of not having to worry about money so much I will be able to plan my next step better and more carefully.

Let's not talk about this anymore right now.

Call me Townie Jenna.

A big, scary decision

2008-08-26T14:27:00.003-07:00

It has been two and a half weeks since my return to The Homeland aka Sandy, Oregon and I am starting to feel like a townie again.

NOOOOOOO!

I love Oregon with all of my tree-loving and Mt. Hood-enjoying heart, but I can't settle here for long. I've been somewhat on the move for the last two years and I'm not ready for small-town life again. Portland is always calling, but what else is out there in this big country? I haven't seen half of it yet!

In my heart, I know that I will grow old in Oregon, but I need to see what else is out there first.

In AmeriCorps, a big topic of conversation is Life After AmeriCorps. Questions such as if someone is going back to school, getting a job or is a person is crazy enough to do AmeriCorps for another year fly around pretty much all year.

I have my undergrad degree and not knowing what I want to do when I grow up puts further schooling and a big-person job out of my consideration right now.

So, Jenna, what exactly is it that you are going to do?

I dunno! Leave me alone!

Oh wait, I ask myself the same question every day and I'm tired of telling myself to shut the hell up.

So, friends, I have started seriously thinking of what comes next. I'm going to...

a. Become a clown for the circus!

b. Drive a big rig!

c. Join a convent!

d. Be an astronaut!

e. None of the above!

Yeah, the answer is e.

Actually, I am scared to say it out loud because when I do, I will actually have to follow through. But I'm going to put on my big-girl pants and commit.

In October I will be traveling to Boston. I have a good friend from my Corps Member year going to Boston University and I will crash on her couch for a bit. After I get there, I will get a job at either a big-kid employer or a crap job such as Starbucks, find a place to live and try to survive in Beantown. This is the first truly independent step in my life where I take care of myself. I am just packing up and going there. I am scared and incredibly excited at the same time. What will it be like? My family and wonderful Oregon friends will be thousands of miles away. The only people I'll know are AmeriCorps friends and we all know that they, like myself, are all dirt-poor and trying to figure out their own lives. I'm leaving everything I've known for a new city where I don't have a job or a place to live and where I'll have to pay sales tax and become a Red Sox fan.

I have no idea what the future holds, but I know that if I stay in Oregon right now I will regret it. I do have the security of knowing that I will ALWAYS have a place to come back to with The Momma. She hasn't told me how she really feels about my foggy plans except that she will support and love me in whatever I do. I couldn't ask for anything more than that.

I could use some encouragement for this move, so please write or call me. I hope this is the right move for me. I'm not sure of this decision or myself right now. I've got a little over a month left...

Oregonian again

2008-08-19T23:53:00.003-07:00

Well friends, my AmeriAdventures are over. On August 8 I flew into Portland after completing 19 total months of service with NCCC. It has been over a week and it still does not feel real that I am no longer an STL. I feel like I will be back in the office next week and carry on with business as usual. I prolonged my AmeriCorps experience last week when my dear friend and co-STL Stuart stayed a night with me on his drive home and we met up with another TL, Caitlin, in Portland. Then another dear TL friend, Kathryn, stayed a night on the way back to her home with her younger sister. I had a great time taking them to Powell's (Mecca for people who like books, in my opinion) and showing off the beauty of my home state.

I am taking it easy these days. I wake up late, laze around the house, go to coffee shops and read, talk to the townies and that's about it.

Today, the townies I talked to had a 10-week old puppy that I held for a good half-hour. Totally the highlight of my day.

This lifestyle is going to get old really soon, but for now, I am content.

The Funniest Story I’ve Heard in a While

2008-07-22T14:49:00.001-07:00

I laughed so hard that I cried when I heard this story. It’s a two-parter.

Part One:
For the teams that had environmental projects in Oregon, what was one invasive species that you all hated with all your heart to remove? The Himalaya Blackberry, right? Remember this for later.

Part Two:
Facebook is a great thing, isn’t it? A few months ago I received a friend request from a woman with my last name. We began talking and figured that we were third cousins. I told her that I don’t know anything about the Kangiser side of my family, so she said she would ask her dad if he knew anything.

A few weeks later her father sent me two letters, one from his father and one from his aunt. These are relatives that get into the “second cousin, once removed” and all of that technical stuff that I don’t understand. I just call them all “cousin.”

Anyway, these letters went into a bit of detail about my great-grandfather, Konstantine Kangiser, or Kon for short. From what I read, Kon was quite the character. He always smoked a corncob pipe and had a mean temper. When he would get really mad he would throw his hat to the ground and jump up and down on it. He also had a foul mouth and whenever he was trying to keep it clean he would yell “Son of a sea cook!” He seems cartoonish, huh?

Despite these faults, Kon was an incredibly hard worker. His homestead is a bit of land near the Oregon coast and he would spend night and day, rain and shine clearing his land. Now, what do you think he worked so hard to plant in neat rows on his?

The Himalaya Blackberry!

My great-grandfather is the man responsible for bringing this invasive species to Oregon.

I about busted my sides laughing when I realized that this is what the teams sent up to Oregon had worked hours on removing, giving their blood and sweat and sanity to this task. Needless to say, when I told Rachel Jacobson and Jenny Jerusal about this, they were not amused.

I have an infamous legacy…who knew?

Best. Story. Ever.

It's getting hot in hurrre

2008-07-10T10:45:00.003-07:00

...but I will not be taking off all my clothes. That would be a uniform violation.

It has been a month since my last post (does this sound like a confession?). Some highlights since June 10 (if I can remember them...)

~I went home the first weekend of June to see my great friend Nicole get married to the love of her life, Charlie. On this trip I was able to get a taste for the real world again and to be with people who are not in AmeriCorps. It was so nice to mingle with old friends that I have done a sucky job keeping in touch with and to see Nin so happy. Congrats to the Randalls!

~A distant cousin on the Kangiser side made contact with me through facebook and now I am getting to know a whole new side of my family and myself. I have a great story about my Great Grandfather Kon Kangiser, but I will save that for another time.

~The Summer of Service program began. It is like a summer camp with service thrown in for 14-17 year olds. The Team Leaders and Corps Members who are leading the teams are crazy busy. I help where I'm needed and have fun with the Crews.

~One more month of AmeriCorps and I'm done. I'll be back in Oregon on August 8. I really don't know what I am going to do next. It kinda scares me, but I've been in this position before and I have always found something, so I'm not too overly stressed like some of my fellow TLs.

I think those are all the highlights. It's hotter than Satan's You-Know-Whats down here. Yesterday it was 110 degrees and today it is supposed to get to 108 degrees. That on top of smoke blowing this way from forest fires up north make for pretty miserable conditions here in Sac. My room in the dorms is chilly, so things even out as long as I don't have to go outside.

So, back to the life after AmeriCorps plans. What do you think I should do? What would be the perfect job/career, location, living situation for me. What I am asking is for you to plan my life. I'll take any and all input. No suggestion is too dumb. Would I be a great circus performer? do you have connections? Can I live with you? Feedback!

jenna k: kickin' it since 1983

2008-06-10T09:36:00.003-07:00

Hi everyone! I'm finished with my list! Now you know 100 things about me. Pretty exciting, no?

Back to real life, though, lots of things have happened in the past month or so. Let's get updated, shall we?

The Momma came for a visit to Sacramento on May 18. We went to Reno for a few days and I showed her around Old Sac. It was so great to have her visit and to show off what I've been working on and working toward for the past year and a half. I introduced her to some of the staff memebers while I was showing her the Admin building and my office. Everyone was very happy to meet The Momma and one of my coworker even said that The Momma was really beautiful. I agree!

The next weekend was Memorial Day Weekend and I just hung out around campus and Sac. The next weekend, however, Kyla came to visit! Nobody had come to visit all year and now I get two visitors in one month! Kyla came on a Friday night and Saturday we went to San Francisco and did the touristy thing at Fisherman's Wharf. It was so great spending time with her, especially since it was the first time in forever that we were just together to hang out, neither one of us just passing through town or only being able to see each other for a couple hours. Yay, friends for life!

Speaking of friends for life, last weekend I went home to attend the wedding of my good friend Nicole. I've known Nicole since middle school and went to high school and two years of college with her. She is another one of those friends for life people that I will always love and cherish. She married her love and it was really touching and beautiful. I saw Kyla again along with her husband Jon and her brother Brandon. There were also people there that are very dear to me that I got to see and it was so nice to actually feel like I was home for a while. It made me excited and less scared for my life after August 8. After hearing what everyone was doing with their lives, it made me realize how grown-up they all are, and how I may be ready to become a grown-up myself. Baby steps, jenna...baby steps.

I'm back in AmeriWorld now. It is transition week, so I have one team on campus that is getting ready to go to their next and final project in South Dakota. Next week the Summer of Service training for the Crew Leaders will start and I am sure I will be helping with that in some way, shape or form. I need to get ready for a staff/TL check-in, so I'll end this update. Take care, y'all!

Ta-Dah!

2008-06-05T11:33:00.002-07:00

Finally! The last installment of 100 random facts about jenna. Hope you've enjoyed getting to know me better.

91. I like maps
92. I love the idea of journals, but I just never write in one (that doesn't count this blog)
93. I love starting projects but often have a hard time following through
94. As challenging as this year as a Support Team Leader has been, I wouldn't have wanted to do anything else
95. I'm scared to death about possibly becoming a townie
96. I try to encourage people and show my love for them with words and gifts of some type because that is how I want to be shown love
97. My favorite smell is lavender.
98. I want a puppy or kitten
99. Singing is my release from everything
100. Considering all the trouble and strife I see in the world and thanks to the people who have touched my life in some way, I am incredibly, ridiculously, disgustingly lucky and happy to be me.