tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339880612012-02-16T14:44:00.458-05:00Jessica, Etceterame, my life & everything inbetweenJessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.comBlogger311100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-82642935920094225922011-01-03T20:26:00.002-05:002011-01-03T20:33:48.504-05:00SO SAD. I KNOW. Wow. This is just sad. I'm so ashamed. I'm cringing with embarrasment. I claim to be a writer. I profess my love for writing and reading and devouring books and words. And yet, there are a good solid 6 months between my last blog post and now. Tragic, really. Sigh.
I wont give you the excuses that I could - well, if you want, I'll tell you, but they are not that exciting. I'm notJessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-72013576451552072542010-07-10T07:38:00.003-05:002010-07-15T11:40:04.834-05:00SLACKING AGAIN, I know, I know. Its been crazy the last few weeks. The beau is finishing up his last week of riding with a training officer and I've been maintaining the household while they send him on these crazy shifts. All while I had finished working an awesome wedding Ihad been working on for over a year, had minor surgery, went out of town, booked some awesome events at work, tried to lookJessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-11161420296609018252010-07-02T11:27:00.004-05:002010-07-02T11:33:52.384-05:00CONFESSION: I HEART giveaways! And I HEART spa days! This totally combines the two! I've really been wanting to check out Spa Bleu here in the S-A-V. I think an mani/pedi is in my future for sure.Check it out here and help me to help you to help me! :)JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-45003984801860819132010-06-17T21:16:00.004-05:002010-06-17T21:43:23.233-05:00UGH-HERE IS AN ETCETRA FOR YA! I have such a yucky taste in my mouth after JoyBehar - who I usually like - hassled blogger Perez Hilton - who I love and have followed for a long time - about his twitpic of an image from a photo service of poplet Miley Cyrus.Miss Can't Be Tamed was exiting a car in a linen-like dress. Hilton tweeted it as an example of the unladylike manner in which she was JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-88834440064617601662010-06-15T18:19:00.011-05:002010-06-15T19:24:12.247-05:00VACAY AWAY - Hey ya'll,I'm chilling for a bit on vacay with my mom and grandma in an undisclosed locale. I'll tell you this tho - its hotter than Hades here. My sister, her boo and my aunt were here too, but they had to cut their holiday short to get back to work.Nothing like getting up when you want, eating breakfast when you want, napping when you want, going to the beach when you want. Love itJessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-61559289819872552012010-06-02T11:02:00.003-05:002010-06-03T18:03:23.735-05:00ONE MORE TIME, FROM THE TOP.....Lets try this again. I really am trying to blog. I have a thousand and one things to talk about and can't seem to find the time to type a post. Geez - how do some people do it? I have friends like Angie and Joe over at The Schlosser Adventures or Kendall and Jeff at News from the Neelys who have jobs, and children, and familes and still find time to post. Hats off JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-20041363392656217072010-03-23T13:18:00.001-05:002010-03-23T13:19:49.230-05:00COMING SOON.....Ugh, here I am again, neglecting the blog. After being inspired by the Beau and so many of my friends, I'm promising a comeback shortly. Then you wont be able to get rid of me and you will all be following me like crazy. Lots to blog about....Coming Soon!JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-33480024345887416802009-10-28T14:35:00.004-05:002009-10-28T15:02:52.367-05:00After a delicious soda shoppe lunch today, I drifted down past Wright Square Cafe (go ahead and say yum!) on my way back to work to see if they had some delicious chocolate covered marshmallows (one of my fave afternoon snacks). Well, they did have them, but they also had a display of cupcakes (also Yum!). What to do? How to proceed? Cupcakes! Marshmallows! Cupcakes! Marshmallows! I decided to goJessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-12277119805206843122009-10-21T14:00:00.003-05:002009-10-21T14:18:24.251-05:00Once again I neglect you dear blog. So sad I know. And I'm sorry. I hope that you will forgive me. I actually have lots of things to say. I randomly think to myself, "this is awesome. i should blog about it" or "uggggh, i hate this. i am totally blogging about it" and yet, never do. There are actually several things I'd like to chat about, so I might as well get on with some of it at least. JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-67772162663550503822009-06-22T08:14:00.002-05:002009-06-22T08:21:01.256-05:00Hi again kids!I know, I know! Its been for-ev-er! But life's been a little hectics to say the least. Between getting the boot from a reasonably good corporate job, to waiting tables in 100-degree heat, to bouncing around to several part-time jobs, and FINALLY, landing a really cool one at an amazing museum, I think I finally have it together. Lots of things have happened, aside from the job thingJessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-67403760914172298022008-03-19T11:15:00.004-05:002008-03-19T11:47:07.948-05:00CHARITY GIRL by Michael LowenthalAs some of you may know, I tend to read some pretty odd-content books. CHARITY GIRL was no exception. Not only was a good read and generally well-written, but it told of a relatively unknown chapter in US history of moral and medical campaigning that lead to the detainment of nearly 30,000 women at over 40 sites around the country.Having left her home and Russian JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-89090559082138708482008-03-19T10:44:00.006-05:002008-03-19T11:15:01.612-05:00DREAM WHEN YOU ARE FEELING BLUE by Elizabeth Berg.I'll be honest. I picked up this book based on its title (a line from a 1940's Johnny Mercer song) and its cover. I briefly skimmed the back and thought, this sounds good. I'm a sucker for 1940's war-time nostalgia (hello Swing Kids anyone?) and DREAM WHEN YOU ARE FEELING BLUE definitely fit the bill, right down to the meat rationing, coffee JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-90216062257259844362008-02-01T11:46:00.000-05:002008-02-01T11:48:25.063-05:00FIVE THINGS I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT by Holly Shumas1.Books 2. my family and friends (no that does not count as 2 separate things) 3. margaritas on the rocks, no salt 4. Chapstick5. a good hairbrushYou should have known this review would start like that. I encourage you to do your own as well. And yes, its okay if it changes now and then. FIVE THINGS I CANT LIVE WITHOUT by Holly Shumas was one I had JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-40454188160582951752007-11-25T21:04:00.000-05:002007-11-25T21:06:17.019-05:00THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, by Mark Haddon is probably the book with the best voice that I’ve read in a long time. Voice is important in any story but particularly interesting and enticing when the story is told by an 15-year-old English boy living with Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism.Haddon’s remarkable character Christopher John Francis Boone find a neighbor’s dog JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-60739082452433416522007-11-04T20:32:00.001-05:002007-11-04T20:32:25.771-05:00SUMMER AT TIFFANY by Marjorie HartYet another recommendation from Trashionista, SUMMER AT TIFFANY was a great end-of-summer read for me. Marjorie Hart’s true-life account of the summer 1945 as a shop girl at Tiffany of New York (yes, that Tiffany) is as sweet as she and her friend Marty seem to be during their season in the city. Turned away from the stores they thought they wanted to work for, JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-67579495207375629422007-11-04T19:58:00.000-05:002007-11-04T19:59:23.230-05:00EAT, PRAY, LOVE by Elizabeth GilbertI’m not one to read the Oprah book selections because she said so. However, I did feel justifiably smart and ahead-of-the-times when I had already started reading EAT, PRAY, LOVE because I saw it on my fave-o blog Trashionista and then saw that Oprah had approved it for her book club.I could not have read it at a better time in my life. Much like the author, I JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-60737589468005850382007-11-04T18:30:00.000-05:002007-11-04T18:34:06.910-05:00Banned Books Week September 29 - October 6Yesterday, September 29, began Banned Books Week which runs until October 6. The American Library Association's slogan for Banned Books Week is "Free people read freely." And that meant a lot to me.On this year's list includes "And Tango Makes Three" by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell. An award-winning book featuring two male penguins who raise a babyJessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-14050216757307056902007-07-28T17:04:00.000-05:002007-07-28T17:22:52.573-05:00SAMMY'S HOUSE by Kristen GoreWhen I read that there was a sequel to my premier review Sammy's Hill, I couldnt get to the library fast enough. Thank goodness for home delivery! Samantha "Sammy" Joyce, fresh off the campaign trail for her vice-presidential boss RG and fresh in love with Washington Post reporter and boyfriend Charlie, has her work cut out for her in the WHite House under the JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-47123009447430025292007-06-17T19:53:00.001-05:002007-06-17T19:53:56.350-05:00THE WILDE WOMEN by Paula WallWhile I had not read anything by Paula Wall prior, she authored The Rock Orchard to favorable reviews, I am a self-admitted fan of Southern Literature, and so thought it right up my alley. I chalk it up to being from the same town as Flannery O’Conner – Savannah in the house. But whatever the reason, THE WILDE WOMEN, wears the label well and appropriately.Wall’s JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-1172971782865496542007-03-03T20:05:00.000-05:002007-03-03T20:29:42.880-05:00THE QUALITY OF LIFE REPORT by Meghan DaumWhen NYC lifestyle reporter Lucinda Trout travels to the midwest to produce a research piece on crystal-meth addicted housewives, she leaves behind a miniscule apartment and a DOA love life in search of what she deems The Quality of Life Report. Her series of Little House on the Prairie meets Sex and the City-esque productions prove not only popular to JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-1172970101364024042007-03-03T18:51:00.000-05:002007-03-03T20:01:43.443-05:00WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by Sara GuenI dont remember where I had first heard about Water for Elephants. Perhaps it was while perusing my latest issue of Jane magazine; or the best seller list on nytimes.com; or even a passing mention on my Borders books emailed newsletter but it was on my list nonetheeless when headed to the library during the most recent venture to grab reading material for a JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-1168400205500399582007-01-09T21:39:00.000-05:002007-01-20T23:37:46.036-05:00TALES FROM THE BED by Jenifer Estess.Do not, I repeat, do not read this book for a feel-good laugh out loud simple read. Tales from the Bed, a memoir told to one sister by another sister dying of ALS, aka the uncurable Lou Gehrig's Disease, is nothing short of tear-jearkingly poignant, but so motivating that you feel as though you have done nothing with your JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-1162765144032968522006-11-05T16:24:00.000-05:002006-11-12T20:54:34.283-05:00LITTLE EARTHQUAKES by Jennifer WeinerBy one of the best authors of "chick-lit," Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner, is more like "mommy-lit" but nonetheless relatable. Told in four separate narrations by four women - three soon-to-be mommies and one former starlet turned mourning mother - Little Earthquakes flows freely and with wit standard of Weiner's work. The four voices - Rebecca, a chef JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-1162180377611602342006-10-29T22:06:00.000-05:002006-11-05T16:21:37.033-05:00THE GLASS CASTLE by Jeannette WallsDespite living a life with no food, no toys, very little clothing and virtually no "parental supervision," Jeannette Walls, author/narrarator of The Glass Castle, was, if nothing else, rich in a unique love unlike any other I've ever encountered in a work of non-fiction, fiction or otherwise.Shuttled around the country in what her alcoholic, rootless father and JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-1161055641482821812006-10-16T21:44:00.000-05:002006-10-16T22:27:21.493-05:00BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN by Annie ProulxHaving read Brokeback Mountain prior to seeing the movie, I found this more of a love story than anything else. The too-short story of two people who meet under certain circumstances, fall in what can only be called love, are torn apart and reconnect time and time again, could fill any gender, race or age into the blanks. Once I saw the movie, my opinion only JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-1161053009344159572006-10-16T20:20:00.000-05:002006-10-16T21:43:29.506-05:00WAKE UP CALL: THE POLITICAL EDUCATION OF A 9/11 WIDOW by Kristen BreitweiserIronically, I began reading Wake Up Call: the political educaiton of a 9/11 widow, by Kristen Breitweiser, a 9/11 widow and now author, just a few days before the fifth anniversary of the tragic attacks that rocked New York City, the Nation and ultimately the world. As I neared the middle of the book, I found myself withJessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-1161008207099654032006-10-16T08:35:00.000-05:002006-10-16T13:00:44.053-05:00THE LOBOTOMIST: A MAVERICK MEDICAL GENIUS AND HIS TRAGIC QUEST TO RID THE WORLD OF MENTAL ILLNESS by Jack El-HaiA squeamish subject to say the least, lobotomies and the subject of psycho-surgery and mental illness is not traditional reading material. When I picked up freelancer Jack El-Hai's The Lobotomist..., I thought it would be one person's experience with having a lobotomy as a result of JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-1159243492020806202006-09-25T23:04:00.000-05:002006-09-25T23:04:52.036-05:00THE LONG LISTThe list of "to be reviewed" is long and dare i say, arduous. Lying ahead of me like the Everest of my imagination, its a task to be tackled one review at a time. But should you wish to somewhat skip ahead in the Choose Your Own Adventure book that is being friends with Jessica and/or reading her blog, below is the list of the "to be reviewed." I wont reveal the "to be read" pile, JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-1159152952648018042006-09-24T21:17:00.001-05:002006-10-16T08:34:27.340-05:00SAMMIE'S HILL by Kristen GoreI am a firm believer in things happening for a reason and karma and what goes around comes around. This book not only came into my life at an appropriate time and gave me a ultra-witty way of observing my current situation but was also a way to get lost in someone else's situation without the cliche "get away from it all" feel.A 20-something political aide on Capital JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-1158283858376397452006-09-14T20:09:00.000-05:002006-10-16T08:34:57.566-05:00I REALLY AM DOING SOMETHING.I really am doing something. I am. I'm compiling a list of all books I can remember reading in the last few months. A somewhat daunting task being as how I devour books like Jessica Simpsons love life chews up tabloids.I call my friendly library the other day in hopes of obtaining a list of all the books I've read in the last, oh say, 2 years. But alas,contrary to JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33988061.post-1157599996138715712006-09-06T22:13:00.000-05:002006-10-16T08:35:16.223-05:00WELCOME TO JESSICA, ETCETERA. Aside from being my first attempt at "blogging," JESSICA, ETCETERA, is really just an outlet and response to my friends and family saying, 'please, stop telling us about these books you read.' I read all genres, for the most part, and will definitely give an opinion vastly different from that which you would read in the famed New York Times on books that you may or JessicaEtceterahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08018554085613056544noreply@blogger.com0