Bridget Burns, the Writer

There are two people in Kennebunkport named Bridget Burns. There's the one everyone knows... and then there's me. Wherever I am - the bank, the gym, or the town office - there is already a Bridget Burns in the system, and I have to double check to be sure the person helping me has pulled up the correct information on their computer. At this point, I am extremely accustomed to people asking me if I am "Bridget Burns, the hairdresser".

Last night, a parent of one of my high school swimmers came up to me and said, "Are you Bridget Burns, the writer?"

I died.

Art! Surfing!

This past week I interviewed a surfer from the local shop Kennebunk Outdoors Surf & Skate about wall art he is making using fiberglass and surfboard resin.

Surfing a new Art

Not only was Ron so fun to talk to, but he also promised to let me borrow a board this summer to finally (FINALLY!) really learn how to surf.

It's about time.

Dating.

Every few weeks I get curious about the actual population of Kennebunkport. I know it's a small town, infinitely smaller than the "town" where I grew up, but I always forget the exact number of people that live here. So when another member of the swim team mentions that they know where I live, or another person laughs that they recognize my car from being broken down at the Sunoco, I jump online and look up our population. Again. As affirmation that it's not so much that I stick out in a crowd... as it is there is just no crowd to begin with.

It was on one of these information missions that I found an especially interesting town tid bit:

For every 100 females there are 88.0 males.

For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.3 males.

Awesome.

I guess that explains the lack of available dates, Mom.

RAWK!

I am so excited about this week's article and insist, INSIST!, that you all give it a read.

Rock solid kind of Guys

One of things I love most about my job is that it allows me to ask all the dorky questions that I always have, but with solid reason for my curiosity. I have known the Bob in the article for years - ten years in fact - but only recently did we actually become friendly with each other. Conducting this interview of him and Brian, gave me such great insight into his character, and affirmed that he and his roommates are a crew I definitely want to spend more time around.

Plus! I learned a lot about dry lay stonewalling! Which, it turns out, is actually incredibly interesting. Something I never would have guessed about... well... rocks.

The Small Town Adventures of Vicky Fajita

It would seem that when you're speaking to someone elderly and hearing impaired, the name "Bridget" can sound a lot like "Vicky". Especially through the phone lines when they call the store to place a dinner order.

And sometimes your boss will ask if she can call you "Brigitta" and your co-worker will think she said "Fajita" and then boom, you have a new last name, also.

The next thing you know there is a dinner special at work called the "Vicky Fajita" and the locals are coming in declaring, "Good morning, Victoria!"

Oh, Kennebunkport.

Star!

Part of the reason I wanted to start this here log, is to provide one central location with links to everything I write.

Well... not EVERYTHING I write. I'm not linking you right to that private journal, kids.

But nice try.

Anyway, here's a quick wrap up of work I've done for the York County Coast Star, and the York Weekly over the last couple months. I'll list the Phoenix separately. Parental discretion is advised.

Satisfying Curiosity - 11/4/09

Unearthing family sagas - 11/12/09

Revealed: Men of York strut their stuff at American Legion - 11/24/09

Wells-Ogunquit students serve up a feast, make connections with seniors - 11/26/09

Kennebunk artist has found her calling in painting animals - 12/9/09

Like his children's books, Ogunquit artist comes full circle - 12/30/09

Local artist colors his world bold - 12/31/09

Read up!