Jen Takes on the World: Episode 2

   Not only did I get to try kayaking for the first time, in the ocean no less, on my Charleston adventure, but BOTH times we went out, we saw dolphins just 10-20 feet from our kayaks. I am a lucky girl. So, planning out the next episode of my proposed TV series, "Jen Takes on the World" was a no-brainer: exploring the inlets of the Atlantic ocean by kayak; baking in the sun; swatting mosquitos as big as my arm; dragging the kayak along and trudging through the thigh-high plough (pluff?) mud during low tide. And my animal companion would be a dolphin. It was fun to watch them splash and play—possibly hunting?—along the shoreline.

   Charleston had a wide variety of waterfowl, too: great blue and green herons, brown pelicans, seagulls, snowy egrets, bitterns, laughing gulls, and more. Photos to come... for now, some videos!

Jen Takes on the World: Episode 1

G1988: Opening Tomorrow!

Jen Takes on the World

  This morning Gary told me I should have my own show on the Travel Channel: "Jen Takes on the World," with a different animal mascot in each place. For Alaska, I think it would have to be my lil' buddy, the marmot. Ohhhh how I can't wait to share photos of my marmot...  (((squeee)))
   Oh, and by the way, awesome-est news EVER: "Travel makes you smarter, sexier and more productive".

Best Week Ever!

   In the last week I've had two people tell me I look like I walked off "Mad Men" & a third person say that I look like Reese Witherspoon. Me? Happier? Never! Best. Week. Ever.

SUMO, NO!!!

   So I was at the gym the other day & saw an ad for an upcoming episode of "1000 ways to die" on Spike network. And it showed a clip of a guy in a Sumo suit just like the one I wore at the Japan Festival, so I had to watch. Apparently the show is all about stupid people doing stupid things that causes them to die in a really stupid way. This was no exception.
   Apparently a guy with a huge ego & sense of entitlement challenged his resentful coworkers to a "team-building" round of Sumo. On top of a building. Next to a very steep hill. He beat one of the women, & in celebration, lost his balance & toppled off the edge, rolling down the hill. He landed in a road & was hit by a speeding car, causing massive damage & hemorrhaging, and he died.
   Tragic, yes. But I take issue with the show's reenactment, which portrays the guy rolling down the hill, then standing up & celebrating his survival in the street, just before the impact. Having been in one of those suits I can tell you: you cannot stand up in them without assistance. They're too heavy & bulky & awkward. You have to be lifted. I call foul!
   In any case, I am quite thankful that neither Patty nor Joe nor I died in that hot, sweaty suit.

Westminster dog show

I DVR'd both nights of Westminster, but haven't had the chance to watch any of it yet. Bummer. My hope is to get around to that, and to do my annual "draw every single breed in the show without pausing the TV" in my sketchbook. Did it last year & it was fast, furious & fun. So when/if I do that, you'll see it here. Until then, enjoy these links: Westminster round-up from Best Week Ever / shiba inu puppy cam

Really, PR?

So the next season of Project Runway started tonight, & we're doing our usual office pool in order to keep it interesting. And the designer I drew... PLAYS A FREAKIN' PIRATE AT WALT DISNEY WORLD IN HIS SPARE TIME!!! Epic fail. And, oh look! Here he is now:

(thanks to Tina for her WDW vacation photos!)

My text to Liz when I discovered this fiasco: 

"Omfg my f*ing designer is an f*ing PIRATE?!!? LOL"