Because I Can

New comic to follow!

Planting Seeds by Dredg

I did ABSOLUTELY nothing today

It was fantastic.

Six Underground by Sneaker Pimps

The Pancake House

The three generations of Jen!

The Sopapotomus channeling her inner Cupie Doll.

Roo!

Parachute by Guster

Friday Night Lights

Mike went to the new King Soopers up the street from us to get propane and sweet potatoes for our healthy evening meal. He came back with four bags, including steaks, twice-baked potatos, macaroni & cheese, a bagette for us to split, butter, beer (for him) and wine (for me), and half an apple pie.

"If I was going to all that trouble, I figured I'd make it worthwhile!" m

I love this man; perfect Friday night.


Beautiful Love by The Afters

How many people can you fit in a Ford Fusion?

As my dad would say, it's a trick question!

Talk Down the Girl by The Veils

Baggage

I don't think I could take any professional with this kind of luggage seriously. It doesn't need to be black (shouldn't be, really, unless you want to spend more time at baggage claim), but c'mon! Work with me here!

On a happy note, I found me a tiny suitcase on wheels! Two, in fact. And bought them both to compare when I got home. It's the small successes...

The Bird and the Worm by The Used

Neon

On my lovely drive back to Denver from Casper, I enjoyed what I personally consider to be very beautiful landscape in which to be alone. For some reason, the solitary harshness of the state of Wyoming fascinates me, and I wonder if I'd mind it so much living on a little house on the prairie.

It was along these lines I was pondering when I realized the sky had turned purple with rain and the temperature had dropped from 75 to 58 within the span of 10 minutes. It was in stark contrast to the yellowing landscape, so I rolled down the window to take a photo. In burst the smell of rain and cedar and pine all mixed to make a heady, subtle road trip perfume on a bank of now 60 degree humid air. I didn't roll the window back up until I met Mike at The Happy Sumo for surprise sushi, 2.5 hours later...

Notion by Kings of Leon

Want

1901 by Phoenix

Boulderado

Yet another Sunday afternoon on Pearl St. Love us some Juanita's & Haagendaz!





Punkrocker by Teddybears

Trivial Pursuits

Mike and I usually stick to two games at D&B's: the coin game (you know, the awesome one where you try to make the coins go off the ledge) and the Derby horse racing game where it is very obvious it was developed by people for whom English was not their first language. They're classics, and we have a blast playing them together.

Tonight, however, on a whim, we tried something new. It occured to me at Dave & Buster's that I had an excellent idea for a lengthy blog entry on thoughts of change, the need for it, and how being open to it can be the most rewarding thing in life and in relationships. Thirty games of Trivia, 4000 tickets (Mike and I are apparently very good at Trivia, and attracted quite a crowd of onlookers and challengers), and a Sangria later, it became apparent that it would end up being a photo post instead. Because one thing I'm trying to change is taking myself, and life, too seriously.

So here's to not trying to find a deeper meaning and a need for self-evolution in every little thing, not to mention making the kiddos present very jealous that evening!


Cattle & Cane by The Go Betweens

Cash for Clunkers

This program cannot end soon enough. If you were in the industry and could see just how badly this program was managed by the goverment, you wouldn't think twice about showing up wherever you could to protest government-run healthcare. I'm not even kidding you. We're so screwed if that goes through. Trust me, I know.

On the bright side, this non-clunker graced the parking lot of my dealership today. Beautiful car, reminded me of when we were little riding in my dad's '63 Lincoln Continental convertible, with suicide doors. They just don't make 'em like they used to...

Which, come to think of it, is probably a good thing. Vintage has its place.

Temporary by Rogue Wave

Froggy

My parts managers was a little bit peeved, so I made fun of him. Amazingly enough, this does work most of the time. At least it did today!

She's Electric by Oasis

Do whatever comes naturally

It's amazing what you can get service managers to do in public. Call me quirky, just don't call me Shirley (not you, Gran - it's from "The Three Amigos").

Always Where I Need to Be by Kooks

Toast

We walked across the street to Mangia Bevi for Illy coffee, which was amazing. We so rarely do things like that because we're running so hard with so few people. It was a beautiful day for it; and I love this place.

In particular, this wall art. I would like to copy it. Yes please.

And for your vocabularic edification, it means "toast" (in essence) in Italian.

Dreaming of You by War Tapes

We Are What We Keep

When my parents came up to visit in July, they brought with them the 5 remaining boxes that tied me to my childhood and my Arlington home. They were the remnants that I left until I had my own place where I could keep them. Well...I guess I've grown old enough to have that happen, because they're now nestled in between our bar chairs and the washer and dryer in our small storage garage!

I finally got around to opening them, which was just a trip. It further proved that I am not only Wholly Nostalgic and Entirely Too Sentimental, and, with some finality, dumped me clear over into the I Keep The Weirdest Crap category. I found my Batman the Cartoon trading cards (tell me when those weren't cool........), the Egyptian and Chinese learning kits that still have all the pieces because I didn't want to take away from the entire package (dood, I was such a weird kid), and my Lisa Frank tins still overstuffed with the florescent artifacts of girlyness gone by. Stacks of papers I'd written (including my Epic 49 page US Goverment paper - highest grade EVER in the history of that class), drawings I'd completed (and my almost empty sketch book save for the feather and marbles I drew that I can't seem to throw away), and awards I'd won throughout my illustrious career as a High School Drama Queen (first place senior year at the TAPPS Academic Meet - I beat Ben for the first **only** time in my life).

There was a brick from the building at Cook Children's Hospital where I was treated for Hodgkins disease that they tore down in 2002, almost 10 years later. The book my dad wrote me when I was 12 years old and in love with Colin Irving. Dolls I made at Mindy Trim's birthday slumber party. My beloved Peaches, who still has the hospital bracelet to match mine when she went in to surgery with me the first...second...times. Endless stacks of momentos from trips I'd been on, places I'd seen, friends I'd had. Favorite books that, for whatever reason, hold a special place in my teenage heart that still has a small, soft beat inside me.

On top of one box were full spreads from September 11, 2001. Then - probably worse - September 12. I guess I wanted to remember. Wanted my children to remember. When I was sure I'd have them. When I hadn't been told chemotherapy can cause incurable genetic abnormalities in babies of cancer survivors. The Velveteen Rabbit girl from Target; my sister has her beau with his green velvet Christmas coat and soft bunny ears. My pound puppies looked up at me with their eternally sorrowful eyes from the bottom of the stuffed animal box. My Little Ponies and Lady Lovely Locks spilled out with Ken and Hawaiian Barbie. The tiny blue jean purse my mom sewed me when pastels were so in and blue jeans were recycled in every way possible. I'd stuff that thing til it almost broke with what I thought I'd need should everyone on earth disappear but me. I mean, seriously. What child thinks like that?!

My student Bible from Junior and High school with its colorful chapter labels and irritating spiritual commentary. Reminding me of the saga of youth group and visiting churches and becoming part of an almost-cult in my search for God knows what in high school. There were bulletins still in it on which I'd written notes on the sermon, and notes back and forth between whatever boy had garnered enough guts to sit next to me that Sunday. Because, whether you admit it or not, in high school, wasn't that what we really went to church for?

What was probably craziest were the outpouring of journals. Starting before 1997, I have book after book of Kendra. Some were written to God. Some were just "Journal". So many of them absolutely adolescent. But there, in a few boxes, stacked in various journals, is my life according to me since I was 12...all the way through college. Sometimes, it's hard to stand yourself! What idiots we all were. Will I look back in 10 years and think the same thing about what I'm writing now?

A part of me hopes I do. In doing so, I can see how far I've come. And be happy with where I am right now. Sitting on a crate. Admiring my sticker collection that took me years (and infinite patience) to amass. Realizing without any regret that these boxes will remain exactly like they were brought to me, with each piece of my life still a part of the whole mismatched collection. That now, they will sit in my attic for years. Forgotten for a long time. But worthy of the space for the short, bittersweet pleasure of remembering all over again.

Oh Sherry by Journey

New Adventure

Mike and I were in a completely indifferent mood while trying to figure out what we wanted to do on our Saturday night together. So, after an hour of pondering, exploring the internet, and turning down options, we made the executive decision to head down to Cinebarre to try out dinner and a movie. Literally!

It. Was. AWESOME! Totally retro, black and chrome, with huge vintage movie posters, and a bar! The theater was perfect! Tables in front of comfy theater chairs, and the exciting new-car smell of a new date! We saw District 9, which, the more I think about it, was a fantastic movie. Time with my Mike and a new hangout. What could be better?


So Right by DMB

Soccer Stickies!

Cheering Mike's team on! It was a beautiful day for some soccer. He's so cute!

Sour Girl by Stone Temple Pilots

Cloudy Day

Shanghai by The Free Assocation

Song #6 by Freak Power

Two Words

Ryan took me to visit the two dealerships he was handing off to me and my new zone the day my sister was landing in Denver for my wedding. All I could think about was the next 3 exciting days, seeing my family and friends, marrying the man I love. So I was slightly giddy, and definitely not on my most professional behavior. My new service manager at one particular store was gathering service advisors' cards for me so I could include them in my distribution lists. Steve was one. His last name is Nardone. Which, by itself, is a pretty normal-sounding name.

But his e-mail address is snardone@whatever.com. I took one look at that and burst into fits of laughter, between which I tried to explain that his name, on his card, was "Snardone". Say it with me now. Snardone. Seriously. It's like the last name Shner. It gets me into giggles EVERY time.

He has not since lived this down. So I figured, they didn't have a word of they day; they needed one, since they have a specific place for it and everything. I let them define it...

I didn't need that much trouble.

Come Undone by Duran Duran (just let it roll right past you)

I've got all that I need

Passenger Seat by Stephen Speaks

Survey Says

I'm not sure I can ethically take this survey, as the first question wonders: "Did you buy or lease your new 2010 MKZ?"

Early birthday present? Belated raise? My boss is awesome and gave it to me? I work for Ford? It's my free pimp mobile? That's how I roll? I stole it?

Yeah...not available choices.

But the crispy new dollar totally made my day!

Now We Can See by The Thermals

Small Minded

Little did we know that drinks at Rock Bottom before a late night showing of G.I. Joe wouldn't even help make that movie decent. Take my word for it; it's not even a renter.





Help I'm Alive by Metric

Water World

It's a new tradition!




Banquet by Bloc Party

Law & Order

One of the myriad hats we Parts & Service Zone Managers wear is to represent Ford in mediations, depositions, and - in rare cases - trials wherein Ford is being sued. I love my job because it is never the same from one day - even one hour! - to the next. This is a part of the ever-changing job description that has been slowly going to other providers, or simply not happening at all, and had not been something I had experienced.

Until today!

Our mediation wasn't until 8:30, but I was so nervous about being late for my first ever court case (I sound like the little kid I felt like when I was sitting in the long hall with the mismatched benches watching a strange assortment of people walk by) that I arrived at 7:30 am. The Denver Courthouse is a beautiful, grand old building sitting across two large parks from the Denver Capitol building. I was happily surprised that this was the place I was in, and took the extra time I had to explore.

I'm sure that the prep for mediations and the like is not fun. But what is fun is the fact that I don't have to do ANY of that! I just get to sit in on the exciting part: the court! It was unlike anything I've ever experienced, and definitely wasn't what I expected. But between being bullied by the judge mediator, being intimidated by how much of a clue I didn't have as to what was going on (and when to stand for that matter!), and channeling utter disbelief at peoples' incessant ability to try to stick it to large companies in general when they deserve nothing from them, it could've been a beating of a morning.

I had the time of my life! For three hours, I was Ford Motor Company. It was up to me what we chose to offer, what we chose to take, and how we chose to move forward in the proceedings. And our lawyer was awesome! We both looked like kids sitting in the courtroom. But in the end, it was just like one of those made-for-TV movies where the little guys win. And we were little! The whole corporate thing notwithstanding. But we overcame the angry objections of the judge mediator, despite both our uncertainties, and we stuck to our guns, however young they might've been, which resulted in a surprise acceptance of our final offer, of which we were both very proud.

When the mediator went back in with the plaintiff (oh yeah, I busted that out), and we were left on our own, I looked at our lawyer, he looked at me, and we both grinned. And then, I did a little dance. Don't worry - no one else saw.

I win!

The Outlaw Jimmy Rose by BM Linx

Snuffles

Tonight in my hospital gift shop shift...I arranged these:

I had two of these bears, as did my sister, when she had barely grown hair, and I had almost white-blong curls. It was an especially cold winter, with both of us in our footie PJs, hanging on the floor of the living room with our parents and our Snuffles. As I have always believed, very-loved stuffed animals have feelings, too. Which, regrettably, made my collection add up to an insurmountable amount in the attic because I was so afraid of hurting one's feelings by giving it away. It was in that mindset that I realized Snuffles was cold! So I sat him beside me on the brick hearth to warm his cute little bum.

It wasn't very long until my parents smelled a faint, unfamiliar odor...

And Snuffles #1 since then has had half of his back fur completely melted. The part of his back that wasn't shoved against my leg as I held him lovingly against me had become a thick coat of dishevled plastic.

I still have that bear. I will love him til the day I die. And when I get to heaven, I'm pretty sure my house will have one that is large enough to sit on.

With fire-proof fur.

Delicate by Damien Rice

Rabbit Ears

When I was a little girl, I used to look for these plants when my Gran or my mom would take my sister and I to the Botanical Gardens in Fort Worth. I would find them, take one of the bunny-soft leaves between my index and pointer fingers, and rub. I'm sure that in every botanical place I went there is one leaf on each plant that has a small Kendra-sized imprint. That somehow makes me feel very warm and fuzzy!

The Royal We by Silversun Pickups

With Cheese & Mustard

Mike sent this to me today in an e-mail, which I received on my blackberry while at a dealership. Modern technology is an excellent thing.

As is love! :-D

Never Too Late by Three Day's Grace

Make yourself a dang quesadilla!

Yummy healthy meal! Finally...

Goes well with The Watchmen. If we could just figure out what the heck the point is?!

Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkle

The Strip