Ch-ch-changes!

Turn and face the strain, ch-ch-changes!

No, I am not referring to some future David Bowie tribute at karaoke night. Nor am I referring to this most wonderful season of fall.

I am referring to this page! The one you're on right now. Take a good look around, kids. Things done gone and got all kinds of spruced up.

Cute, right?

My "non-traditional student" friend Amanda likes to tell people that her major at the University of Southern Maine is "not sucking at life". Taking some inspiration from her blunt way of putting things, I decided that right now is as good a time as any to get my own butt in gear, life-not-sucking wise.

And so, welcome, to an old blog with a new facelift, both visual, and in content.

While, for the past year, this space has served a productive purpose in showcasing links to my news articles, it has seriously lacked in creativity. Realizing that a writer, like any artist, needs a venue, I've decided to repurpose this blog as a place to showcase my projects. I will still post links as I am published, but I am also resolved to make a greater effort to write. Purely for the sake of writing.

Ha! Hahahahaha! Oh, man I almost believed myself there.

Always the multi-tasker, I admit that I will not actually be writing purely for the sake of writing. I will be writing as a way of motivating myself through other life-not-sucking projects about to get underway.

That's right, kids. Join me as I remake my wardrobe with help of fashionista friend Mariah. Come along for the ride as I finish building my in-home dance studio. Live the day-to-day life of the roommate of a Manimal. Watch as I recruit builder, electrician, and plumber friends to remake this barn into a rentable property.

I probably should have titled the blog So You Think You Can-Wear-Property-Wars. A crazy mash up of the best of prime time HGTV, TLC, and... well... Fox.

Instead I titled it The Small Town Adventures of Vicky Fajita. Because this is the epitome of a small town. I have what one could call... adventures. And to the shock and horror of my mother and father, the townies continue to call me Vicky.

Oh, look out you rock n rollers

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!

August Anxiety.

I have this thing I've termed my August Anxiety. You know, as opposed to my other year-round anxieties. My August Anxiety was born out of the fact that each of the last two Augusts has brought a totally unexpected and life-changing event.

August 7, 2008 my brother-in-law found out he was about to be deployed. My sister was pregnant. When he asked if could move back to Maine to help out with the new baby while he was away, I of course said yes.

August 12, 2009 I was called into a meeting at my office and was told my position in sales had been eliminated. Suddenly unemployed, and suddenly having to cancel the upcoming closing on my dream home, my life again changed direction.

It's now August 16, 2010 and my life-changing event has yet to happen. So, if any of you have the means to publish a novel, I'd officially like to invite you to a reading I am a part of, tomorrow night, Tuesday, in Portland, Maine.

Maybe we can stave off a traumatic event with an incredibly exciting one?

Buh-bylines!

I realize it has been forever AND A DAY since I wrote anything in this here blog and for that I apologize. It's summer. I'm party boating. What else can I say?

Here's a quick rundown of what you've missed:

Port Selectmen discuss goals, Cape Porpoise Harbor regulations - 7/15/10

Live in Ogunquit: Jonathan's has musicians calling - 7/21/10

Music Seen: La Strada with Jakob Battick and Friends at SPACE Gallery - 8/4/10

St. Martha's completes new access road despite pending court appeal - 8/5/10

Maestro has grown Colony series into Sunday must-see - 8/12/10

Make these last!

I'm taking a three week break!

Back to the boat!!!

Uncle Billy

My Uncle Billy is in town and I am so excited. Did you know that I judge people entirely on their ability to tell a good story? Well, I do. And as storytellers go, Uncle Billy is TOPS.

Tonight we went out for dinner and Billy and I both got seafood. Me, because I never see a reason NOT to get seafood, and Billy because, hey! It's Maine! Let's get some seafood!

I went with fish and chips, while Billy went with fried clams.

"I haven't had fried clam bellies in five years!" he exclaimed.

Luckily they lived up.

"Man, these are good. Remember when we would get these down at the Connecticut shore? And they'd be all mushy? And have sand in them? And sometimes parts of cars? Like a piece of a key? Or maybe a syringe? Like, hey! [picks at tooth] What is that? Oh. A needle."

No needles tonight, kids.

They should put that testimonial on the menu!

Ace Reporter I am NOT.

While I admittedly was the first to hear of Taylor Swift's arrival in town, it has recently come to my attention that I am by no means worthy of any "Scoop" like nicknames.

According to an article posted by none other than my own newspaper, George Bush Sr.'s boat, Fidelity IV, ran aground at Gooch's Beach around 3 PM yesterday.

Ace Reporter that I am, I arrived at the scene by 4 PM.

Ace Reporter that I am NOT, I arrived, blanket in hand, for a late afternoon nap after working the 5 AM shift.

I slept like a baby, fetal position and all, on that beach, until my pre-set alarm rang at 5:30 PM. Then, I stared at the water for a while deciding whether or not I needed a swim to wake me up. Thinking the waves looked a little rough for my liking, I packed up my things and left.

I NEVER NOTICED THE BOAT.

It could be time for me to find a new line of work.

Shake that thang, hey mama mama!

Remember when my dad and I... and our friend Paul... and then later my friend Sean built that dance studio in my barn? Well, I've been using it. And let me tell you, 85 degree heat makes this dancer a little cranky.

That said, I figured I'd try to catch some of the action on film.

Whoops, that's a little blurry. Let's try this again.

A little better... Question. Does the fact that my feet are too fast to be caught on film make me a total rock star?

Apparently I think so.

T-8 weeks until my Irish Dance exam. Let's do this.

I love me some lobster...

...and so does the Travel Channel!

And so they traveled to Kennebunkport for a Lobster Roll showdown as part of Food Wars.

The contestants? Alisson's and The Clam Shack.

The winner? ...We don't know yet.

But what we do know is that the after party at Alisson's rocked, and I was there to cover it.

Music Seen: Brian Johnson at Alisson's Restaurant, June 27 - 6/30/10