Enna

You apparently made quite the impression, Ira.

whydoihaveablog:

svnnh:

This is my dad, Derek Pendleton. (He’s adorable, right?)

He’s a sculptor- an amazing and exceptional artist that is painfully modest at times.

For over a decade, he’s worked in the Motion Picture Industry mainly putting his work into the great backdrops and pieces that bring a scene together. However, lately, he hasn’t worked.

My dad was diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in August of 2005. By December, he had an operation to remove his first rib on his left side so it would alleviate some of the pain and the stress on his nerves. It took until February of 2006 to be “healed” enough to go back to work. On his fourth job back (yes, fourth, that’s how the business works) there was an accident. He fell 12 feet off a ladder, crushing his calcaneus bone (the heel) of his right foot and breaking his ankle and cracking a few ribs in the process. That was August 23, 2006.

It’s been 4 years since my dad has had a job. He is the sole bread-winner in my family because my Mom has a slew of other medical problems- she is a cervical cancer survivor and she suffers from Lupus (and has her whole life), both have put her under the knife a total of 5 times and has almost died twice because of anaphylaxis from ingesting a medicine she/we/the doctors didn’t know she would be allergic to. (One is Penicillin. Damn, this story is hardcore, right?) Anyway, my mom chose the stay-at-home route since there are 3 of us and it was just easier on her body.

My parents have taken personal loans from some pretty great friends… and me. I worked as full time as I could and tried to, at the same time, zip through school at full time status. It was worth it.

Dad’s been able to finagle some side jobs, here and there- some bigger projects than others. Some paid decent money, some paid enough to just get a good cart of groceries. But we have debt and rent and bills. We financially couldn’t catch up. He finally got a big break and was invited to go to New Orleans earlier this year to work on a blockbuster but was only able to stay 9 weeks. His leg and his arm were giving up, giving out, and in horrific pain.

That’s the unfortunate thing about my dad: he’s a broken man. He will never get to go back to doing what he used to do. His nerves are twisted, crimped, shot. His career was over at 43 years old. Now 47, he feels like a dried up old man with nothing left to give.

The thing is: he’s ABLE; he needs a break. He needs someone to just see his work and know he is capable. He needs a chance. His family, my family, has nothing but overdue bills and overdraft account. We need help. Desperately.

He has worked with art his entire life, self-taught. He doesn’t have a college degree, but his talent and technique are the kind that you’re born with. He has “retrained” himself in the digital arts world. He’s become comfortable with ZBrush, Maya, Mudbox, Rhino, etc. My dad is amazing at model making and concept designs. He would be an incredible teacher because his knowledge is vast and his passion brings an energy brighter than the sun. Check it out.

Listen, my dad is not a lost dog or a missing person- but Tumblr gods… please. I need the universe to help him out. PLEASE REBLOG THIS LONG ASS POST AND ASK YOUR FOLLOWERS TO REBLOG IT AND ASK THEM TO ASK THEIR FOLLOWERS TO REBLOG IT, ETC. If anything else, to at least feel like maybe I am sending a tiny vibration so a ball, any ball, can get rolling.

Unemployment really, really sucks. It’s even harder to see your dad trying to pick himself back up by his bootstraps only on the verge of giving up because it’s more like spinning his wheels in the mud than moving a few inches. It would be one thing to not try- but he does, so hard. Not exaggerating, my family has one foot in a cardboard box and I’m not there to help them. This is the only way I have. Please help me try, too.

Thank you very, very much.

Dear Ira,

I just called my job. Well, that is to say, my old job. I didn’t recognize the voice on the phone, so I asked for another co-worker.

Then I recognized the voice. It was E, only E was sick as a dog. I remember those times - never taking a day off, always coming into work with one foot in the grave.

I originally called to find out if they saw that I had written about them in my book. I wanted to know if they read it. I wanted to know if they liked it.

But calling there just now, I realized how happy I am that I no longer have to work there.

It’s one of those places that you don’t realize that you’re in the mire or how deep you are in, until you are suddenly out.

E, if you are reading this, and I know you are not, you’re almost out. And I got 6 days of sick time stored up that I wish I could give you.

Ira, I hope you treat your employees right.

-Enna

Dear Ira,

Long time no talk, eh? Things have quieted down here. My fiance is working, I am working. Things are just chugging along.

Someone recently said that if they could sum up life, they would describe it as a game of Monopoly. Some days you win free parking, some days you go to jail, but most of the time, you are just working your way around the board.

That being said, I hate the game of Monopoly. Why would anyone want to play that game? I never understood that.”Hey kids! It’s the game of commerce! Except you have to buy property and not anything cool that a normal 8 year old would want to buy! Gee whiz it sounds like fun!”

In other news, I have been asked to speak to a high school class about my career choice. What should I say, Ira? “Hey kids, did you know that getting a book published is good for the prestige, but otherwise, don’t expect to get paid a whole heck of a lot. Definitely not enough for coke and hookers for the next year, let alone the rest of your life.”

Ok, maybe I should leave out the coke. Parents don’t like their childrens’ speakers to talk about coke. I think.

Pondering the street value of narcotics,

Enna

Dear Ira,

I am having a hard time resisting the urge to make a “sit on your face” joke here…

*giggles*

Enna

In the Fall of 2008 I decided to apply for an internship at This American Life. I lived and breathed NPR and was living abroad for a year. During that time, This American Life was my comfort food. I not only listened religiously every week, but I would listen to at least 1 episode from the…

Dear Ira,

THERE’S A BLOG FOR EVERYTHING NOW. Including people you have rejected.

Wow Ira,

Enna

- Ira Glass, from this episode of This American Life.

Really, Ira? Really? Really, society? Because I essentially wrote the exact. same. thing. in my blog 3 months ago. AND GUESS WHAT, IRA. I’M STILL IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, LIVING WITH MY PARENTS, MAKING 10.25 AN HOUR.

Fuck you, Ira.

(via whydoihaveablog)

Dear Ira,

This bitch is pissed! Maybe an autographed head-shot would calm her stormy seas. Plus then she can say she got head from Ira Glass.

Sincerely,

Enna

Dear Ira,

Today a woman told me that I was making a very bad decision, and that I should listen to her. She said it all motherly and condescendingly that I got pissed off and said “Judging by your hair, yes, you do know an awful lot about bad decisions. Yeeech!”

Ira, when the heck am I going to learn to not mouth off? Is that something someone can learn?

Nice hair,

Enna Stein

of Kosherporkchops.com

PS This is me being funny, because I don’t want to write about how a year ago my friend died today, leaving a husband and a newborn baby behind.

therealestsocksinthegame:

vindyc:hurricane-:morninggloria:bluebears:thinnerthoughts:autismsucks:

hennypotter:alisaferrara:katietatie:andthecityneversleeps:fuckyeahtheuniverse:

fuckyeahgirlcrush:roarcharlie:dorksquad:breeawnuhh:liveinhislove:oligee:

capelesscrusader:littleredboots:

My cousin was telling me about this and I felt that tumblr was a great way to reach more people. I know I am pretty far from here, but I know I have/many people have followers in Canada! Please reblog this. She has been missing since Thursday night (Jan 28th) and the police are saying that she was abducted. Please reblog and be on the lookout! Some of you may see no point if you don’t live there but one of your followers might have seen her or might live in the area (or some of their followers)! Please, everyone, reblog.

It takes .2 seconds to hit reblog and post this. I think it is more than worth the effort.

Reblogging it Ira. How could I not?

Dear Ira,

I often think that maybe I should put my money where my mouth is, like maybe I should start a movement. I have been thinking about this movement for awhile now, but this is the first time I have ever vocalized it. It’s like I have been turning it over and over in my mind, much like the creation of a sword, until I get it perfectly sharp and correct.

Maybe none of us should get married unless all of us could get married. Maybe, as a collective, my generation should shun marriage until it becomes outdated and almost uncool to get married. Then, suddenly, we are all in the same boat when it comes to things like property and children and taxes, and when the majority is getting screwed, then we change things.

Do you think I would be strong enough to lead this kind of movement? Even Gloria Steinem got married in the end. And Ira, I look BEAUTIFUL in my wedding dress. Maybe I am just materialistic and comfortable in my white middle class existence. I once heard someone say that everything you ever wanted is just outside your comfort zone. Maybe that applies to me in this situation.

All I know is this: One day, possibly soon, the national guard is going to force Americans to once again wake up and realize that they are being ignorant and pigheaded. And the national guard is going to roll into town and stand guard while gay people get married because suddenly they have the rights to. There will be riots and protests in the street and everyone will worry about the American family and what is about to become of it.

I won’t be one of the people rioting in the street, but if I don’t make a stand, doesn’t that make me just as guilty?

Just thinking out loud,

Enna

Dear Ira,

Do you drive an Audi? It’s certainly looks like you do…

Just sayin’

Enna

Dear Ira,

Someone asked me over formspring if I really didn’t care what people thought of me. And for the most part, I don’t. I think you have to have a thick skin to write letters on the internet to an intellectual icon who will never write you back.

But that kind of is bullshit, isn’t it Ira? I mean, I care what my boss thinks of me, she pays me. I care what my fiance thinks of me, he is going to marry me. The list goes on and on.

But for the general public, I could care less. My fiance has a saying “Never mistake sarcasm for intelligence.” He’s right too. I often do just that.

Sarcastically and unintelligently yours,

Enna

crbrown:

… I donated to This American Life to keep it on the air and free.

You should too!

Alec Baldwin. (via keepinganotebook)

Dear Ira,

I think I just woke up behind the wheel. One of my favorite sayings is that every second that goes by is another second you could turn it all around.

I’m still a little groggy Ira, but I am getting there,

Enna

All things must come to an end, and this blog is one of those things.

I could come up with some long hyperbole about what I learned and how awesome it was to run this blog, but instead I will just tell you I had a lot of fun, learned absolutely nothing, and now it’s over.

Merry Christmas Thomas.

• --------: 1:45 PM
• LouisTheCat: rick
• LouisTheCat: rick
• LouisTheCat: rick
• LouisTheCat: rick
• --------: 2:22 PM
• LouisTheCat: rick
• RickDickens77: Sorry Lou I was away. It's chaos over here, so what do you need?
• LouisTheCat: i need you to come home its thanksgiving
• RickDickens77: Yeah I'm sorry about that, it's a work crisis, I have to be here.
• LouisTheCat: im having a crisis too
• RickDickens77: Seriously? I need you to be serious. What is it?
• LouisTheCat: my bowl is full of cat food
• LouisTheCat: my bowl is full of cat food on thanksgiving
• RickDickens77: I don't have time for this now, Lou. If I get out of here at a reasonable hour I'll pick up something special from the deli and you can have some.
• LouisTheCat: ill believe that when i see it
• --------: 3:01 PM
• LouisTheCat: rick
• LouisTheCat: rick
• LouisTheCat: rick
• RickDickens77: WHAT
• LouisTheCat: hey how do you make those big letters
• RickDickens77: Shift key.
• LouisTheCat: shift wtf is shift
• RickDickens77: Look at the keyboard, one left and one right. You hold them down and push a letter and it makes it big.
• LouisTheCat: AAAAAZ?"??"
• LouisTheCat: the two at once thing isnt really working for me
• RickDickens77: Yeah. Well, there's the caps lock too.
• LouisTheCat: whats that
• RickDickens77: Never mind. I have to go.
• LouisTheCat: oh
• LouisTheCat: OH
• LouisTheCat: OH MY GOD
• RickDickens77: Christ.
• LouisTheCat: RICK
• LouisTheCat: RICK
• LouisTheCat: RICK
• LouisTheCat: RICK
• LouisTheCat: RICK
• RickDickens77: WHAT
• LouisTheCat: THIS IS AMAZING
• LouisTheCat: WHY DIDNT YOU TELL ME THIS BEFORE
• RickDickens77: Well, it's not really.. I mean, you can use it for certain things, but usually people don't use it because it looks like yelling.
• LouisTheCat: I KNOW ITS PERFECT
• LouisTheCat: CAPS LOCK IS HOW I FEEL INSIDE RICK
• LouisTheCat: ALL THE TIME
• RickDickens77: Well keep it to yourself, I'm trying to get things done so I can bring you dinner.
• LouisTheCat: ITS GONNA BE A WHOLE NEW ME RICK
• --------: 3:56 PM
• LouisTheCat: RICK
• LouisTheCat: RICK
• LouisTheCat: RICK
• RickDickens77: What.
• LouisTheCat: IM THANKFUL FOR YOU
• RickDickens77: Aw, that's sweet Lou. Me too, buddy.
• LouisTheCat: INTRODUCING ME TO CAPS LOCK
• --------: RickDickens77 has gone offline
• LouisTheCat: HAHA BURN

I can’t breathe I am laughing so hard!