favorite quotes of the day

so I have returned home to Nashville for Christmas for a few weeks. I've also returned to my old cheesecake factory to do a little bit of workin to pay that rent! Anyway...today was my first day back to my old restaurant, and I must say that I have gained a different perspective on this town since leaving. I love it, but at the same time, living in a place as diverse as LA has really shown me how very un-diverse Nashville is. For example, I am able to tell people "Merry Christmas!" here without the fear of some Jewish person scowling at me. Nothing against Chanukah guys, gotta love the dreidels, but thats just an example. Anyway, I have really missed these people of the South. They really are so much more down to earth and endearing. I've also missed my old coworkers, they were always lots of fun and full of support, example A: Jake Monroe, "Let me know when you become the next Nicole Kidman, because I can see it coming!"

Also gotta love the newbies they've hired since I've left. One such one I encountered today whom I can't remember his name...he was quite interesting, and very interested in California-he's never been there. I can't remember how we got from the subject of what its like in Cali to this quote, but nonetheless, here goes...

"I just like to sit in my truck in the parking lot of Wal-Mart and drink whisky and get drunk and have a good time." (insert heavy southern accent).

I will leave it at that.

Here's something I haven't had to ask anyone in a while...."Would you like SWEET tea, or unsweet tea?"

What, like Boba Fett?

I'll bet you've never had the pleasure of the aquaintence of a bounty hunter. I have. Last weekend while hanging outside the back of the theatre during Act II, some cholo, latino dude was smoking with one of the cast members and came over and introduced himself, saying he was a bounty hunter. "Anybody fucks with you, you come knock on my door and I'll fuck with them!" he exclaimed. Alrighty then. Nice to meet you too! The only bounty hunter I've ever seen is in Star Wars.

Other fun out back of the Sherry Theatre during the one act also includes watching random, funny videos on youtube. This one is my current fav:


For more of that amazingness, go to askaninja.com

In other news, the other night, I went and saw the movie "W." So did Buffy the Vampire Slayer, aka, Sarah Michelle Gellar. She was behind me in line for popcorn. Jake overheard her admiring my outfit. :D She sat right next to us during the movie. Only in this town...

My play is going really well and we still have another weekend to go, so cross your fingers for me and let's hope for someone like an agent or casting director shows up! Yeah! But aside from that, I really like our cast and the girls who are on the board of the "Above the Curve" theatre company. In fact, I think I might join them. They're the only theatre company I've ever heard of that doesn't make you pay dues, and they're an awesome bunch of girls.

So yeah....happy fall!

Tonight a black cat crossed by path...

But I don't believe in such foolish things as superstition! Pshaw! (That would be my sound of disdain...sound it out, its very phonetical.)

Anyway. It has been a tad bit too long since I last wrote. Or, blogged, rather. Since I last wrote, summer came and went, and it was great. There were catnaps on the beach...

British roomies...cheers!

Dances with street performers...


the AMAZING coldplay concert at the forum...

(yeah, chris martin was THAT close to me.)


A visit from Jo...and the birth of a new obsession: frozen yogurt. I convert everyone that comes and visits. Fortunately, this one fell prey to the deliciousness....


nights under the stars at the hollywood bowl...


A visit from Jake's family...and subsequently more trips to the "'bu"


Wasting time and money at Universal studios...here me and Jake are having a dandy time on the studio tour with his mom...yes. that is Jake's mom. good genes.


photography and art gazing at the getty...


Long, exhausting days on sets doing extra work (which kills my soul softly and slowly...by the way....the picture below is of my friends snoozing on set of the starter wife...it was an early call time)


Needless to say, I've kept pretty busy this summer.

Today I was driving to work with the windows down, and the stereo blasting loud, the wind in my hair...and for the first time, I felt...like I was home. Up until this time, I've always felt a little bit off, somewhat awkward about living here, so far away from everything I knew. It almost felt like I was on a long, extended vacation. But this is where I belong, it really is, and I feel that more and more every day. If it hadn't been for Jake, I don't know if I could've ever come to this point, or if I would even be here at all. I've made so many great friends too, and I love them all.


But I think the thing I love most about being here is the independence. There truly is nothing that can compare to waking up every day and deciding what you will do with yourself. I can stay out all night....or not. I can vacuum every week, or not. (Usually its not). But still, its great to do whatever I feel like.

Of course, I miss my family, everyday. I can't wait to go home and see them. But for now, I'm happy right where I am.

ps...tonight I was watching Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia....and I actually recognized one of the extras as a girl I met on another set I worked on. Is that lame that I'm starting to recognize extras? hmm...

Close Enounters of the Celebrity kind...

so, today I waited on slash....


honestly, I didn't even know it was him until someone said something to me...still. It's kinda cool, I guess.

DAAAAD...Tom Cruise won't come out of the closet!

As my Nana likes to say, you can plan your steps, but the LORD knows your future....or, something like that...

anyhoo, tonight, I planned to go pick up my friend Kelly, head down to Hollywood, and go see a free Q and A screening of that new, really hot movie "Wanted." You know, the one with Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy...


The confirmation email clearly did state that they DO overbook these free screenings, and that you should arrive plenty early to get admitted. Kelly and I showed up an hour and ten minutes early, and the line was already wrapping around the Los Angeles Film School building. We stood in line for about 2 minutes, then realized that the theater was most likely not big enough to seat everyone in line up until us. So we walked west on Sunset and hit up a coffee bean, then had the brilliant idea to go stop in at the church of Scientology building on Hollywood. It was close by, and we were both up for an adventure, plus we were just down right curious.

So we walk in, and its a very nice building, which I'm sure is funded by its many celeb and otherwise richy rich church members, and behind the front desk sits a very pretty, perfect skin, perfect smile, perfect hair, perfect little size zero, woman, who greeted us with a smile and asked how she could help us. I quickly said, "ah, yes, we would like to take the tour."
"Very good, it will take about 40 minutes to walk through. If you will just take a seat, and I'll get there receptionist."

So, Kelly and I took a seat and read all the nicely illuminated quotes about how amazing and wonderful Scientology and its founder, L. Ron Hubbard are. Of course, Tom Cruise, Kirstie Alley, and John Travolta were among the quotees. We were soon ushered into the tour by the same girl who greeted us, I guess she couldn't find the "receptionist" who was supposed to take us through the tour herself, so she did it.

It was really all about L. Ron Hubbard....which, after you've heard L. Ron enough, you start to think of that rather unfortunate company that went under a few years back....but anyway, apparently he was some Navy officer son who grew up with indians and was some prodigy eagle scout who traveled the world on Naval ships and studied EXACTLY 21 different cultures, always in pursuit of answering the deep questions of life, such as the existence of Man and Life and all that jazz. He studied engineering in college so he was pretty scientific, but he also was really intruiged by eastern religions he came in contact with in his travels, so he tried to find a way to apply the reason of science to...eastern mysticism. Seems kinda contradictory, but oh well.

He was also a very prolific writer of pulp fiction and sci fi novels. That's what he's most known for really. He then wrote this very famous book called "Dianetics," which attempts to answer questions of people's mental state and how they come to behave in certain ways. They think that every condition is linked to an event that happened in your life, because you have a part of your brain called your "reactive mind," which is constantly recording everything that happens to you in your life, while your are conscious OR EVEN UNCONSCIOUS. (dun dun dun....) Let's say you are afraid of clowns. Now, most people would call you crazy and irrational to have a fear of clowns right? Why on earth are you afraid of clowns?! For the life of you, you cant' remember. Scientology has the answer. You go to "auditing," which is basically their spiritual mentoring, and you sit down and hold an "e- meter" (which is basically some weird dial with two wires attached to two tin cans which you hold in your hand) and you go back to that first traumatic experience you had with clowns that made you act in your irrational manner. Through your auditing, you work to get over all your fears and whatnot, so that you are now a normal person who is unafraid of clowns.

In fact, Kelly and I got to experience this emeter thing first hand. The girl told us to hold a tin can in each hand and think of something that makes us angry. I did it, and sure enough, the little arrow on the dial shot from the left to the right. On Kelly it did the same thing. I asked, "are you sure this has nothing to do with rising blood pressure, or anything like that?"
"Oh, no, your thoughts are energy, this machine sends a current of energy through your body, and your thoughts exert a certain resistance to the energy current."

ah...its all so clear now.

Of course you don't learn the REALLY creepy things about scientology by going on the tour. That knowledge only comes with being a member of the church for many years. Fortunately, a girl left the church not long ago and posted all this top secret info on her website, which the peeps at South Park found and made a show out of. Apparently, everything in this episode is real...watch it. It's pretty gosh darn funny as well as informative.

TRAPPED IN THE CLOSET
http://www.southparkstudios.com/guide/912

corporate nit-picky insanity!

So, you may or may not be aware that to survive, I work at a very popular, very corporate restaurant. Thats sells a lot of cheesecake.

It pays the bills, ok?

But anyway, every 6 months or so, they like to shake things up a bit, and add a few new things to the already novel size menu. There's a lot of hoopla involved in this process. In the week leading up to the day when we release the new menu, a bunch of corporate people I've never seen before are in the restaurant, inspecting everything and making everyone a little nervous. But one thing that always throws me for a loop every time this time of year rolls around, is their meticulous attention to detail. We're talking crazy meticulous. If you have ever watched one of my favorite shows, Monk, then you think you know an obsessive compulsive person. But Monk pales in comparison.

Today, while walking through the kitchen, I heard one of them say, "I think we need to move this patty a little closer to the edge of the bun." They were, of course, referring to a hamburger. I took a quick glance to glimpse the hamburger in question. Seriously, the patty and the bun were the same size. I have no idea how they could've moved it any closer to the edge.

But then again, I'm not pulling out a ruler to make sure the opening of a sandwhich is exactly 2 inches wide.

And yes, I do realize that was the most pointless and random entry ever. But next time you dine out at a large corporate chain, think of how much time and effort they put into making sure your bun and your patty match up just so.

~*Jessica*~

Back in Bizness

So. After quite the hiatus from my blog, I am back. My dear little macbook was having some issues, but thanks to the fantabulous geniuses at the genius bar at the mac store, my baby is even better than new. Things have been pretty good during my silence. A few eventful events occured, such as my 20th birthday. It was pretty fun, thanks to my awesome boyfriend Jake who made it all possible. I originally had expressed a wish to spend my DOB at the beach, and all week long I anticipated that lovely day off which I would spend in the sun. Unfortunately, I think I looked forward to it so much that even the clouds heard my inner monologue and decided to rain, just for my birthday, just out of spite. Seriously, my birthday is the one and only day that it has actually rained during my entire life here in California. But, all was not lost. Jake and I went to see the much anticipated Indiana Jones movie, and I must say, despite what everyone else says, I really enjoyed it. Then, Jake took me out to Katsuya on Hollywood and Highland, quite the trendy sushi joint. And, to top it all off, he got me a surfboard for my bday! Now, if I could just get myself to the beach to ride it...that would be ideal.

I also had my first gig, ever. Well, it wasn't much, i'll admit, just a background role on Cold Case. But hey, it was fun anyway! Nothing like getting your hair and makeup done, then waiting around forever, chatting up your fellow extras, all while eating all the goodies from the very well stocked craft services. Actually, that day was a bit commical for me as they asked for all the girls to have their hair set and dried in sponge rollers. Just to be safe, I put mine in first thing in the morning and wore them the whole day up until the shoot. To hide the curlers, I wrapped my head in this scarf. Needless to say, as I strolled the well stocked aisles of Costco, I got some double takes.



It was only a 4 hour shoot, but I think I'll definitely be in the shot. So watch for me in the flashback scene of the season premiere of Cold Case this fall...or whenever its premiering... I'll definitely look that up and get back to you on the date of that.

Downside of the shoot: I lost my favorite yellow patent leather ballet flats. The world isn't quite the same without them.

Today was pretty wonderful. I had a day off, and a much needed day off it was too. I went to Kickboxing class, went shopping at forever 21, and came home and cleaned in preparation of showing the vacant room to a potential roommate. Well, the potential roommate was a no show, so I decided to take my slightly unride-able bike to this great placed called the bicycle kitchen.

They're a non-profit, volunteer run shop at Helliotrope and Melrose who are there to teach you how to fix your bike, among other bike related things. Basically, they just want people to ride their bikes more, and drive less. And with gas prices at around 4.50 a gallon, I'm all for that too. Everyone was really nice and helpful. The idea of the place is that you fix your bike through their teaching. Well, I didn't really fix much. The guy who helped me did most the work, but props to him for doing it one handed: he was eating an icecream cone of gelato from the ice cream shop next door. pretty impressive. His gelato looked so good in fact, that I decided to have gelato for dinner, and what a good decision that was. (I pretty much can't resist gelato, its a fact.) Its this great place called "Scoops." It doesn't look like much, but damn is it ever good! and their flavor choices are so original...they had banana mint, chocolate cinnamon, pistachio and dates....i went with a scoop of raisins and marsala wine and brown bread, which was kinda brown sugary with crunchyness in it.

After shoving my bike into the trunk of my Jetta the best I could (it didn't quite fit, I had to tie it down and let the back tire stick out of the trunk a bit), I got home, hopped on my bike, and headed off. I rode around for about 2 hours, in which time I went to the 99 cent store (talk about a cheapo night) and long's drugs. As I was searching for a place to lock my bike to at the drugstore, some punk teenage boys pulled up and asked me if I was russian. I said not a bit. Then they asked if I was italian, to which i replied, not very much. Hispanic? I'm portuguese I said. The dude behind the passenger seat asked me to marry him. I laughed and said I was taken. He threw a mini temper tantrum and stepped on the gas.

LA. What a strange town it is, indeed.

Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore...

Ok, my bad. It's Tennessee in my case. Sometimes, I wish I was from Kansas just so I could say that anytime I left home. And then, about a split second later, I recall my memories of Kansas...boring...backwoods...bad roads...good for nothing but the Wizard of Oz....and I quickly change my mind. But you get the point....I'm a loooong way from home.

The first week or so was a little rough. Ok, example. Jake and I are driving down a side street, without a clue of where we're going, but we're going a little bit on the slow side because I am trying desperately to copy down a phone number from a street sign. So engrossed are we in getting this phone number as we are passing it at 10 mph, that we don't realize the people behind us getting quite angry. Of course, there was honking involved, that's a given in this town, but as the windowless white van (which looked like it could belong to a child abductor) passed us, the dude in the passenger seat threw his soft drink at our windshield.

To be sure, Jake and I were quite dumbfounded.

Hey, you gotta learn to adapt to your surroundings. Here's some ways in which I have changed a bit....

-- Gas. I laugh when I recall the days I used to splutter and fuss over "high" gas prices in TN. I mean, if gas got anywhere around $2.80 a gallon, I started to seriously consider getting around on my bike. Here, that price seems like heaven, or maybe a former life. Now, I'm pretty conditioned to seeing this at the pump:



Thus, my only option is to go this route:



And trust me. Those lines in that picture, those are pretty short for Costco. Usually they're much longer.

-- Driving. Tennesseans, you know not the meaning of a true rush hour. Oh, no. You think that sitting on I-65 for 30 minutes is bad? Puh-leeze! Try sitting on the 405 and going about 5 miles in 30 minutes. Or getting on the 101 at 3 in the afternoon and running into bumper to bumper traffic. Three in the afternoon! It's ridiculous really. Even at 11 pm, the highways are pretty busy. In Nashville, I considered a nice open freeway on which I could go a cool 80 mph good. Now, I'm delighted to go 60.

-- video guys. They're everywhere. They're shooting everything. You can't even go grocery shopping without seeing 'em. These pictures I took at Ralph's the other day. They were filming an episode of "Super Nanny." Sorry, there aren't any clear pictures of the actual super nanny....give me a break! I was looking conspicuous taking these pictures really quickly as it was!


However, I'm also getting quite used to all the perks....

-- Shopping. Hello. Anything and everything you could want, it's here. I recently bought the cutest of cute vintage Oscar de la Renta dress, for 40 bucks. not joking.

-- The beach. I could get used to this. It's a mere 20 minute drive away. While the water remains absolutely frigid, the beach itself is always a nice gettaway. For one thing, it's always ten degrees cooler than the valley, and always breezy. Its also a great place to get some exercise in. Jake and I rented a tandem bike the other day and rode it up and down the beach, which was really fun (pics coming soon for that).

-- concerts. Every band comes through this town, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Someone I like is always playing somewhere. For instance, Nada Surf at the Music Box...


-- Robek's Juice. Ok, random, I know. Before moving out here, friends of mine from the West Coast always used to boast of the wonders of Jamba Juice. I've tried Jamba...but its nothing compared to Robek's. They have this one smoothie...the Acai (pronounced Ah-sci-ee) Energizer that I can't get enough of....luckily for me, there's a Robek's in the mall where I work, so I can go for some anytime I want.

you wanna be on top?!

Yes. So America's Next Top Model Cycle 11 auditions are tomorrow.

I had many weird and coincidental run-ins with the show in general in the past few days, you know, having a marathon watching all the ones I've missed from this season at Kelly's house, joking about being on there, secretly really wanting to be on there, etc. Then the other day I walked into work and the hostess at Cheesecake Factory handed me the business card of the casting director for the show. I shot this CD an email with my stats and pictures and whatnot, as to gain knowledge of the wheres and whens of this audition. Then it was posted on the CW's website tonight. It's an open call tomorrow from 10 am- 3pm.

At first, I was sure I wanted to do this. I mean, common, it's crazy exposure, and its probably a blast to do. Plus, if you won your life would be changed forever. If nothing else, you can't beat having it on a resume.

Then I really started to think about it...
- I can't exactly go to the audition tomorrow because I have a shift. (A shift which I released, but doubt anyone would want) Plus, hello, its an open call. You might as well say cattle call. Every girl and her grandmother is going to be lining up to go to that audition.
- As a result, I'd end up camping out in line with my pictures and bathing suit in hand, but by the time it actually came to be my turn, I'm sure I would not be looking so hot. (Waiting in line doesn't do much for me).
- Plus, anyone who watches this show knows very well what they do in the second epsiode: Makeovers. Sure, it sounds fun. You've got these amazing makeup and hair stylists on hand to make you into the best looking you possible. But for some reason, they have a nasty habit of forcing the girls with pretty, long, gorgeous hair to cut it short. I don't know how I could handle this. I mean, I could handle it. Tears would be shed...buckets of tears...but it is hair, and it does grow back. I'd suck it up I'm sure...but still....
- And lastly, there's always some photo shoot where they wear next to nothing, or less. That might be a little difficult to do. Lord knows the 'rents sure would not appreciate it. And I don't think I would like doing it so much either.

Plus, I could stand to loose 5 pounds or so before going out for a thing like that. It would stink to be known as the "plus size girl" even though I'm a size four.

happy monday....

You know you live in LA when you walk into the grocery store and there's a video crew filming the Super Nanny at work turning another bratty kid into an angel. I'm just sayin'.

In other news...Its monday! swell. I'm sitting at home, alone, taking care of business while Jake is at work. Its his first day, so yay for Jake and his awesome new job!

Anyhoo...since arriving in la la land (as my dad so fondly calls this town), I've gotten quite a few calls from old friends and family wanting to hear the latest about my new life. And in all these conversations, one question is always the constant: "So, how's the acting career?"

Yes. I understand that this is what I came out here for, so why shouldn't they ask this? That being said, I've been in the LA area for roughly...three weeks, and moved in for about two. Now that I feel that I've finally got everything together, I'm going to start hacking away at the acting career. I'm not going to lie, I feel totally overwhelmed every time I think about all the things there are to do...researching agents, finding reputable, good ones, what is my "type?!" (showbiz is certainly not for those who don't like to have labels slapped on them, that's for sure) is my current headshot ok? if so, I gotta mail a hell of a lot of headshots out...if not...what photographer is the best person I can hire without paying them with my right arm, leg, and first born child? And then, hell, where am I gonna find the money for all this?!

so to answer all your questions...yes, I am in the process of beginning the process of having an acting career in Los Angeles. Its very daunting though...give me some slack!

Thanks.

In an effort to make sense of this craziness, here are my first orders of business:

1. call the contacts my dad sent me
2. get registered at an extras casting agency...GET THAT SAG CARD
3. research acting classes (perhaps some improv to get started? hm.)
4. research headshots in LA
5. research photographers of headshots

that's all I can think of for now....for the time being I'm just hitting craigslist up like crazy and seeing if I can snag anything there.

peace, love, and 140 calorie, lowfat, cookies and cream ice cream! ;)

beaches, stars, and parties...oh my!

So, Jake and I did indeed make it safely to LA, CA, found a place to live, unpacked the boxes, and got settled. However, in the midst of work, we found some time to have some fun and see some sights. One sight which I was desperate to see was Santa Monica. But first, Jake insisted he introduce me to an old, west coast friend of his:

mmmm mmm...my fellow tennesseans at home, all those crazy rumors are true, these really ARE the best burgers everywhere, especially when you get them "protein style," which substitutes lettuce for a bun to be super Jessie friendly. Their strawberry milkshakes will rock your world too.

This, obviously, is Santa Monica


this is a crazy chinese man on the boardwalk who claimed to have an "amazing balancing show..."

it wasn't really so amazing. I wasn't coughing up any dollars.

Jake is always hungry. espcially for crappy food that I just don't let myself eat...but wish I could...


lucky duck.


some guys doing amazing capoirera stuff on the lawn...


the hug deli...i wasn't sure if the girls in the booth were famous or not...the girl on the left side of the screen proclaimed to them that she would have them up on "perez" by the end of that night though...


some guys playing raegae in venice


sunset on the beach


Ok. A few days later, I insisted we go to Hollywood, because I'd never been.

I thought that billboard proclaimed a strange but profound message....


Jake walking the walk of fame


Graumann's Chinese


sean connery


clint eastwood


woohoo! had to do it...japanese tourists and their tourguide be damned....




A few days later, we decided to take a trek back to the beach to show Jake's cousin Stephanie the sights.



You probably can't tell...but this dude is wearing a turban, a visor, some sort of middle eastern garb, and jumbo sized roller skates. He is also playing a strat via a portable amp that is attatched to his belt. Kinda wild.


view from the back


nowhere else in the country do you see this....


of course, we had to take a spin on the pacific wheel, however long of a line or over priced the tickets were...

Views from the top:




Stephanie, Jake, and me










In other news... thanks to a wonderful new friend of ours, Jake and I were invited to a very exclusive party the other night. It was the Scandinavian Style Mansion soiree, hosted by Lindsay Lohan herself and sponsored by Skyy vodka (which was the base for every drink mixed, shaken, or stirred up by the bartenders), and Paris Hilton Handbags.
There was a red carpet set up and everything...apparently Britney Spears was orginally the hostess, but she was "relieved" of such duties after being admitted to the psych ward. Lindsay was given her spot.
This article will tell you all about it much better:
http://www.eonline.com/gossip/hum/detail/index.jsp?uuid=21111aea-93be-4342-80f0-8e1b03ce5302


did I mention Paris Hilton was there? Yeah. Before the celebs showed up, it basically went like this: You walk around to the various designers, and pick out whatever you want, be it clothes, cool tee shirts, sunglasses, watches, kids clothes, kitchen stuff, or cosmetics, put them in a bag, and they're yours, for free. yeah, crazy huh? It ROCKED.

It was also kind of bizarre to be so close to Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton. I literally rubbed shoulders with Paris at one point.

Life in CA is pretty interesting, I must say. ;)