Cool stories from the Cape

Though I am a journalism major and should pay major attention to the news all the time, to be honest I slack a bit. But I always notice that when I'm on internship, I pay a lot more attention.

[I know. Duh, right?]

But, this time around is a little different. The Cape Cod Times is a medium-size paper and produces a lot of local content. More than I've seen at other papers their size. Which is actually really awesome.

There's a lot of people from the Cape doing awesome things that I never would have guessed.

Like high school senior Mary Anne Marcondes, whose anti-bullying photo campaign has earned her a finalist spot in the Artists Wanted reception in New York City.

Or Lily Mae Harrington, an 18-year-old from the Cape who is on the upcoming season of 'The Glee Project.'

Then there is Chris Lambton, who was a 'Bachelorette' contestant that married a 'Bachelor' contestant and now they have an HGTV show titled 'Going Yard.' Did you get all that?

In 2010, Siobhan Magnus made it to the final 10 in 'American Idol' before being eliminated.

And then there's the newest star: the Cape Cod Bear. This fella apparently swam across the canal, and has since traipsed all through the Cape, all the way to Provincetown.

Needless to say, there is always something or someone interesting gracing the pages of this lovely newspaper. I'm pretty happy to be here, poor nightlife and all ;)

And a tradition was born

At a time when I had so many other things I should be doing — cleaning, sleeping, homework, planning my mom's trip to the Cape — you know, little things, I spent my time like this instead...

 

It started as just four of us, then grew a bit more. And then we decided we should just make Google+ Hangout a Thursday night tradition this summer. So I can guarantee there will probably be more people next week.

So despite it being 1:35 a.m. and I actually have things I have to do before I sleep, clearly, it was worth it.

Who says you can't have fun with friends 1,000 miles away?

I hope you enjoy that jank PicStitch treatment I spent a whopping 30 seconds on. ;)

You win some, you lose some

I guess no matter where you go there will be things you really love about a place, and then some things that just make you want to scream why.

For instance, I love so many things about my home state of Indiana. My family and friends, the country back roads, the small but progressive downtown of Indy, Indians games, sunsets over cornfields, blah blah blah. But I never fail to question all things good when it is 98 degrees and 99.9% humidity.

Enter Cape Cod. I was initially enamored with the landscape. I am used to one thing, and one thing only. Flat expanses of crops/grass/trees. But out here, you have green hills and rugged rock jetties and ocean. Just so much to look at.

And then there was the weather. Average summer highs are upper 70s, lower 80s from what I've found. That is without the awful humidity I'm accustomed to, so it's even better. Sure, it has been kind "cold" by summer standards lately, but as I'm told, "that's just springtime on the Cape." And I tell you, that is just fine with me.

Then there is the certain charm of all the little villages of Cape Cod, with adorable little shops that will keep you entertained for the good part of the afternoon. The quaintness almost borders on annoying, but not quite.

So what could possibly wrong?

Well, when you're a night person like me, it's the matter of boredom. Everything closes ridiculously early out here. And I think this statement is highlighted best by one fact: bars close at 1 a.m. Now, I'm not one big for going out, but I come from a place where bars are open until at least 3 a.m. But if the official nightlife is closing down that early, I figure you get the picture about how early everything else is closed. 

Come on Cape League baseball. Your beginning will be the one thing to save my evenings!

Mixed Tape Tuesday

So they say that one of the secrets to keeping momentum behind blogging regularly is to have weekly 'columns.' So professional. Mine may not be followed to that kind of extent, but if it keeps me on a blog schedule, then who cares?

That said, I present to you 'Mixed Tape Tuesdays.' I was having some summer nostalgia the other day of being eight years old, boom box at the ready for when that one song came on the radio so that I could record it onto a mixed tape. Cool times. Anyways, that's how this idea was born. And I am pretty eclectic when it comes to...well, everything...but especially music. So here goes.

Here's what is at the top of my playlists this week: '80s tunes that make you move

1. I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston ('87)

2. Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson ('87)

3. Another One Bites the Dust - Queen ('80)

4. Flashdance...What A Feeling - Irene Cara ('83)

5. Footloose - Kenny Loggins ('84)

Want more? // 80s Cardio Radio // Greatest Dance/Jam of 80s // Greatest Dance/Jam of 80s Part II

Rain? Ain't a thing.

So despite a steady run of low 50s and rain today — all day — my intern friend Emily and I still did are best to make the best of an adventure in Chatham. But, half the fun about that town is it's beautiful beaches and lighthouse, so clearly we will have to go back with the weather is less depressing. You could barely see the ocean. And the lighthouse wasn't open for tours.

Regardless, we still had a good time checking out the shops on main street. And I have to say, people out here really take their antiques seriously. Most people only deal in the big ticket items. Luckily on the way back along 6A we found a good ol' "antique" store that is half antiques, half thrift so that things are, ya know, affordable. We also hit up a glass studio. On the downside, we missed the demonstration period of them actually blowing glass, but we did find some cute little dish things to buy. Everything was surprisingly a decent price.

The antique store had some good finds, too. An old wooden crate, some "vintage" pearl necklaces. And we snagged a couple cool prints from a couple other stores. It was hard to choose just one from the fun African prints and the beautiful Massachusetts locations. But in the end, I was happy with my loot.

(I also took a couple adventures last week to Boston and Providence, but more on those later!)

SO MANY IDEAS

You know, that's one of the things I love about summer. I have more time to actually think about stuff other than school and work. And I've had lots of ideas lately! So if I can keep this drive going, you will have a lot more coming your way :)