LAUGHTER is the best release!!

I can't sleep--could have something to do with the grave shifts I work that really throw off my circadian rhythms but let's not go there right now--so I thought I would share some absolutely fantastic things that have helped me through the last couple of weeks as I've been trying to wrap up this semester. Most came from viewing them on my friend's blogs or Facebook profiles but MAN I tell you what, all brought a smile to my face and oft times a tear to my eye from laughing!...and as most of you know, I love to laugh :D

1) This, unfortunately, is so popular that you may not have any luck getting through during the day time hours but it is worth persisting in your efforts! Call 1-800-295-0051. This is the Nestle Crunch Hot line. When you are asked if you want English or Spanish just wait quietly and smile--it may take a couple times of them asking but endure. After that make sure to press option 4. At the next menu listen to the options but know that a really great one is #7. Fair warning, the menu options are also voice activated so if you start laughing really loud it will interrupt itself and go back to the old, "I'm sorry, we could not understand you, please try again..."

2) I invite you to check out http://improveverywhere.com/ . On their homepage you will see "Mission Highlights" off to the right. Some of my favorites are...ANY of the Spontaneous Musicals, High Five Escalator, Human Mirror, No Shirts, Frozen Grand Central...maybe I was just in the mood but man, the musicals really got me :)

3) The next two are a duo because it's essentially the same thing...really funny pics. http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/ and http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/ . My Favorite part of the "People of Walmart" is seeing which state it's in by looking at the caption below the pic.

4) My friend Shannon Murdock's Blog...sorry folks, can't share this one, but man! You should write a book Shannon! Her husband Joey takes the most amazing pics as well!!

5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qniwI2hNhDs SHEEP! Who knew! Just cool!

6) SOOOOo AWESOME! I want to do this someday...don't tell my mother! http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1778399&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1

7) So awesome! Reminds me of my dad's ingenious "jimmy-riggin"! http://thereifixedit.com/

8) I could cut and paste all the funny emails, articles, posts, etc., but I'm sure you get enough of those on your own.

9) And finally, last but not least, some of you may have seen me post this on FB already but it's worth a repeat!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQyYgFxRGxY Ellen's book is pretty funny too if you ever get the chance.

So there are a few of the things that successfully distracted me from doing my work. No worries though, it's all done now and I have a small break until Spring classes start.

Send me your funny, cool, interesting stuff so that I can stay equally distracted next semester :D

Psychic Phone!!

I was on the phone with my dad this morning--yes, I'm the typical daughter, I did have an agenda before I called but that quickly flew out the window when I found out he was up in the nether regions of WYOMING! Anyway, he gave the CYA statement of, "If my phone cuts out I'm sorry...please continue..." So there I was explaining to him that I was still sick and my head felt like it was going to explode and my eye wouldn't stop watering so I had decided to stay home from work and he was giving his condolences when the offending--BEEEP, beeEEppp, Beeep--of the busy/you've-just-been-cut-off-by-failed-technology signal was going off in my ear. I looked at my phone with disgust and there was a big warning box across the screen that--no joke--said "Congestion!" Of course that was the reason it was giving me for the malfunction but still!!! Normally it says "Call Failed!" or something! But no! I laughed/hacked up a lung so hard that I almost had to change my pants :) What's even better is right after that I found this link my friend had posted and it speaks to this very situation! I LOVE THIS LINK! Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXStPqhLmIk&feature=related

PS: I don't know how to just put the video on my blog page. When I go to "Add Video" it only lets me browse from my computer folder. If anyone is savvy to this technology fill me in!

Doff thy name? NEVER :)

Ahem...(exaggerated clearing of throat ensues)....I feel I need to make an announcement:

My beloved friend Tammie JEAN has brought to my attention that some may feel slighted upon discovering that "Jo" is in actuality not part of my first name; no, indeed, it is my middle name. (Gasp, awe, shock, horror)...

Just thought I'd clear that up for the official record. Apologies to those who may also feel they were misled. Most authorities agree that the full birth name as recorded on your birth certificate is the name that must be used for all calculations involving name. Nicknames, changed names including marriage name changes do not dilute the importance of the name given to you by your parents.

PEOPLE, a name is a name!! Granted, mothers dote over the ordeal for 9 months (some have thought about it since they were old enough to know where babies came from!) trying to determine what fate they will pin on their unborn child if chosen poorly. I, however, have witnessed many a mother, who undoubtedly held their little bundle of joy and whispered the name to be written on the birth certificate, yell that very name in its entirety at decibels recorded by the satellites they just exploded on the surface of the moon.

Some find it almost offensive or amusing when I introduce myself as "Jessica Jo." They lean back from the implied handshake with a smug grin and say, "Jessica then." To which I reply, "Sure." And then they doubt themselves, "Then what was it?" and they lean in again. I state, "Jessica Jo, to keep things less confusing." And thus they now remember my name because we have an entire conversation where they are trying to figure out if I'm just full of myself and can't drop some high school nickname or if I will be truly offended if they only call me Jessica, or Jess, or heaven forbid, Jessi--which only three people have actually called/still call me on a consistent basis: my dad, my deceased grandpa, and my step-dad...weird how that works out...if anyone else calls me that one I almost cringe.

Thus, when asked if it is a nickname the true answer is, "No." When asked if that is the name I go by my response is, "You can call me whatever you like." I actually think it's interesting to see how people choose to address another person by their name or some form of their name. To me it says a little something about the addressee's personality as well. Reason for the addition of the middle name you may ask...well, it started in college many eons ago (about 2001 to be exact) due to having far too many Jessica's in class. A professor stuck it on and that was the end of that. People simply didn't know you were talking about me unless you identified, "Jessica JO." I found it helped to minimize confusion at church as well (where there is always plenty of Jessica's to be had) so I stuck with it.

So, I am not ashamed to say I like my middle name and I am glad my mother gave it to me--Thanks Mom! (in reality it was the closest thing my father would let her get to Josephine so :) ...)

The webster dictionary definition of a name: 1) A word or words by which an entity is designated and distinguished from others. 2) A word or group of words used to describe or evaluate, often disparagingly. 3) Representation or repute, as opposed to reality: a democracy in name, a police state in fact. 4) a. A reputation: has a bad name. b. A distinguished reputation: made a name for himself. 5) An illustrious or outstanding person.

Choose whatever definition you think best fits for a "name" and then call me according to what you think fulfills that definition.

Giving a nod to the originator of the phrase, "What's in a name?" I now share the quote straight from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, circa 1594:

JULIET:
'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Whithout that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name which is no part of thee
Take all myself.

Take it or leave it folks, that is my name and I'm still the same person with or without the "Jo". I am an Aries, born the 12th of April, 1982. I need to go to sleep! I am sick after all! Alvetazane dear ones :)

Snuffle, Cough, Moan...

Ah, being able to stay home and do nothing...highly overrated! Why is it that when I'm sick and have a perfectly good excuse to be a lump on a log I absolutely do not want to! My skin starts to crawl and I pace holes in the floor right before climbing the wall! Best part is I have all this homework that needs to be addressed and of course it's the last thing to get any attention. Have I mentioned I've started crocheting a blanket...I know, I know, pick your collective jaws up off the floor. Jessica doing anything crafty?! Unbelievable--yes--but it's actually progressing quite nicely and I'll post a pic...when I get a little further :)

Being sick does have a few perks: Yesterday I was able to watch the 6 hour A&E version of Pride & Prejudice without the slightest twinge of guilt! And yes, I watched the new version today. I'll probably be talking with an accent in Old English style for a quite a while. At the risk of sounding like a complete couch potato, I did watch a few other movies too but none worth mentioning since they were just old chick flicks that just needed a re-watch. All in all I feel extraordinarily unproductive.

I did get out and take a nice little turn about a park we have close by; quite underused and under appreciated by the locals; mostly just used by dog walkers in the mornings but it has great little trails among some wild olive trees with a little board walk over a marshy cattail ridden area. Quaint and quiet...and right by the barn I used to keep my horse at, which I also happened to visit and subsequently missed my horse intolerably.

Truth be told it's probably kismet that I fell ill. Since I've happened to have time to really think it through, it's been since January of 2007 that I've been good n' sick! I give a nod to feeding horses most every morning as the reason for my long stint of good health, not to mention being exceedingly blessed! Sure I got a few sore throats and runny noses but nothing that put me out of commission like this. Thus my renewed drive to wake early and get a lung full or two of morning air--horses or not.

I've discovered a Catch-22 of sorts with being sick: You don't want others to catch what you may have so you try to keep your distance, but all you really want is to have someone give you a hug and say it'll be over soon or to sit and watch a movie with you or rub your shoulders or get you more water...There I admitted it, I like being doted on...but not smothered ;) hahaha, not too picky at all I know :)

EDIT: After a re-read I realized I made it sound like I was horribly poor and picked on, which is not the case at all! My mother would've been here in a heart beat if I would've let her, my dad n' Carolyn brought me over dinners and ran errands for me, and my sweet roommate brought her TV into my room for the aforementioned DVD watching and made me brunch...and just told me I may want to "brush up" a bit if I was planning on going out in public--ah, true friendship ;) one always needs someone around that can tell you when you look like a load of douche!

What beautiful weather we had while we were in San Francisco! What a great city! I'm glad I can now check it off my list of big cities to see :)































What can I say...girls gotta have some fun too ;)

















There has to be an easier way to add these pictures!!












Mmmmhmmm, umm, yeah--just imagine this break dancing...

4th of July!












Only way I would (knowingly) let my mom take my picture...and yes, you guessed it, I buggered up my knees and shins on touch down. Wouldn't be the same if I didn't hurt myself doing something odd...









WHO KNEW Scorpions would glow in the dark with a black light?! Well, I guess everyone that lives in scorpion territory--but I didn't--so that's why it was still really awesome to me! Thanks for taking us on the "big hunt" Justin and Kelsey! I still get the heebie-jeebies thinking about it!






















It was super fun to see the kids both times I was able to go! Thanks for taking time out of your busy lives to accommodate us!



And wouldn't you know it, on the way home we stopped off at the Dam and I ran into a group of Deaf people so I offered to take their pic and they about fell over when I started signing to them. It was funny, but needless to say they returned to favor and took our pic. What's even more funny is they had passed us earlier on the road and had been gawking at us from their car so I asked them what they had been doing and they said they were just checking out all the people in the different cars cus they were bored...only the Deaf ;)

Brace for Impact!

I LIVED! ...as is made obvious by this post even existing ;) Sky Diving is a riot! Check out the link to the video which can be found in the side bar at the top of the page!

The time is ripe for school to start and I'm bracing for the impact of what is in store! I'm having mixed emotions about the whole thing. It's been quite an eventful summer and I believe I'm overly ready to slide back into a predictable routine for a few months :)

Pistol went up to my mom's today and it tugged at my heart strings even more than I expected. Ridiculous really since I'll be bringing him back down once I find a place and move AGAIN at the end of this month. But, c'est la vie, I love my tall dark and handsome guy! He gives me purpose and stability and he loves me, so what can I say--he's pretty much my stand in for the time being ;)

Well, I'll add a few pic's to sum up the summer and call it good until next time! Alvedazane!

Pathetic

I can't decide if I keep staring at my blog and messing around with the colors because that's what you do with a blog or if I'm just in that state of mind where it's the only thing I can comprehend since it's 5:00AM...I leave the site and then 2 minutes later find myself gazing once again at my newest work of technological art! The worst part of it is that there's only one post thus why I feel compelled to make it not look so lonely. Kind of obsessive behavior and may turn into something I need to worry about if it continues over the next few days.

I keep visiting my friend's blogs for ideas...especially those who are also still single, just to see what in the world they actually write about! Since I do not have any spawn or a significant other to tout I am resigned to writing about...well ME and how I am experiencing the world right now I guess :) Should be a wild ride ;)

One thing I HAVE noticed while visiting my friend's blogs is that every time I browse to a different one it's like playing roulette--will the music blare or will there be silence; what kind of music will it be; who will come in the room while I'm madly scrolling to find the offending media player or for the mute button--most of the time I forget about that convenient feature on my spiffy laptop because I'm so flustered by the occurrence of the unexpected noise. Sometimes it actually takes me a minute to realize where the noise is coming from--for instance if it's a quite or slow song and it starts faint or their volume is set low (*Thank you for those who do this by the way*) so I find myself doing the "dog-head-cock" and asking those around me if they started hearing music as well. Then I investigate to see if my iTunes spontaneously opened and it takes me this long to realize/remember what is actually happening---enter the scrolling down in search of the source--

WHY IS IT ALWAYS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE PEOPLE?! Isn't there a way to set it so if I wanted to hear the soundtrack to your life I have the option to play it or not?

Dunno, personal preference I guess. ;) Love you all...especially those with media players on your blogs :P

The First...

I am about to write the most cliche sentence in all of "blog-dom"...

I took the leap and started a blog!!

There, I said it :) All it took was a grave shift to get bored out of my mind with nothing but time to kill AND this nagging thought that I can't get rid of, "If one tiny string doesn't do it's job tomorrow then these may be the last words I ever pen..." A little too dramatic...maybe; but whatever.

What is the tiny string aforementioned you may ask...well it relates to the adventure that awaits when the sun peeks over the mountains... Sky Diving! The parachute string is awfully small compared to the ramifications it embodies. I'm so stinkin excited!

It's been a busy summer! ...and my mind hit overdrive as soon as I thought about writing about it all. I'll have to post pictures...as soon as I figure out how to do that.