tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92227434693198459332012-02-10T20:43:04.742-08:00JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.comBlogger941100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-29945434504622830172012-02-03T09:36:00.000-08:002012-02-03T09:56:41.822-08:00

The moment I thought I made peace with turning 30 came, like much of my twenties, in an unexpected way. Having thought about the impending end of my youth since my 29th birthday last year, I imagined a sudden moment of clarity when I would let go of all my reservations about getting older, which would magically prevent me from ever aging and allow me to reach every goal I ever set, growing my

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-39761691265331358132012-01-08T15:53:00.000-08:002012-01-08T15:53:07.623-08:00

This is a little story about karma and the universe that I’ve been waiting to tell until I could do so without any anger or smugness popping up… it’s long, but aren’t the best tales? Just after I got married six years ago, I got a new car. I decided to sell my old Chevy Corsica myself because a car lot would’ve given me roughly $4 for it. To make a long story short, I was approached by a random

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-54529434028048483902012-01-03T20:31:00.000-08:002012-01-03T20:31:46.769-08:00

I believe in a lot of crazy things, so it’s no surprise that I believe this: New Year’s Eve tends to set the tone for the entire following year. I realize that belief puts an enormous amount of stress on a person to have a great effing time on that particular day, but previous experience has led me to believe there’s something to it. I think back on the weirdest New Year’s Eve of my life and

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-4883189943288448732011-12-06T22:41:00.000-08:002011-12-06T22:41:28.372-08:00

The other day one of my friends posted this on his Facebook wall. If you’ve got the time, it’s absolutely hysterical and worth the read (also, the rest of my post will make more sense): http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-reasons-money-can-buy-happiness/ And I laughed, because the writer managed to take some cold hard facts and make them funny while making his point. And he’s right. Whoever truly

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-85194228628622347602011-11-14T09:06:00.000-08:002011-11-14T09:06:38.411-08:00

Every year on the first weekend of November I travel to LA to interview some of my favorite actors for the Day of Days event. I go specifically for the event, which is always amazing. But it’s the things that happen during those hours when I’m not in soap opera mode that are truly magical, and what I’ve come to love the most. Despite the fact that the weather wasn’t much warmer than Seattle—in

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-69746568508020539822011-11-02T22:26:00.000-07:002011-11-02T22:33:22.689-07:00

I don’t know if it just seemed extra-awful because I’m spoiled by the amazing men I surround myself with or if I just haven’t been out in awhile, but recently I was exposed to the most pathetic male I have spoken to in years. And it made me realize… for as much time as men in their 20’s spend trying to get sexual attention from females, you’d think they would actually put some effort into

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-34144615550804060042011-10-22T15:36:00.000-07:002011-10-22T15:37:56.578-07:00

If you would have asked me at the age of 10 what I wanted most in the world, I wouldn’t have said a trip to Disneyland, every toy ever made or every book ever written. I would have told you I wanted a dog. There was a long period where there were no animals at my house. I wanted a pet because pets always loved you, no matter what. Finally, when I was a junior in high school, my dad decided he’d

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-14015775158427807082011-10-02T15:56:00.000-07:002011-10-02T15:56:42.965-07:00

Excuse my month-long hiatus from blogging, but I was enjoying the glorious Indian summer. Summer came late to Seattle this year, but by God, it delivered. We had so many gorgeous, sunny 82 degree days in September that we’ve almost duped ourselves into thinking it will be a tame winter. Naturally Mr. W and I spent ample amounts of time soaking up our Vitamin D while we could. Idaho summers were

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-77915669459378717702011-08-28T17:29:00.000-07:002011-08-28T17:29:58.187-07:00

The other day I stumbled across an article saying that research shows half of all Americans will be obese by 2030. 65 million more Americans will likely become obese within the next 20 years. I want to be confused, because it seems like we know more about how not to become obese than ever. But I’m not confused. I know what it is. With as much good information that’s available, there’s 100 times

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-83579036562716495232011-08-14T13:32:00.000-07:002011-08-14T13:32:48.957-07:00

I consider myself a somewhat cultured person. I enjoy musicals, even symphonies on occasion, and I’ve read plenty of the classics. Yet I love to watch mindless comedies. So the other night when Mr. W came home from work with Hall Pass, I was onboard. Hall Pass is that movie where Pam from The Office and Christina Applegate give their husbands one week off from marriage after some really

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-65221732214345435752011-07-21T08:46:00.000-07:002011-07-21T08:46:29.733-07:00

I knew this whole "life change" thing would be difficult. I knew we'dface challenges and have some bumps in the road. What I didn't expectwas that my dog would face more disasters than anyone in the family.Since we left Idaho in March, a dark cloud of "fail" has hung over thedog and it seems to get worse by the week. It shouldn't be surprising, really. Dexter has been a pain in ourasses since

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-73786910836793535762011-07-02T12:08:00.000-07:002011-07-02T12:08:59.582-07:00

Recently I was helping my bff at an event her company did the PR for (meaning we were “working” aka eating chocolate and drinking wine while making money because we are awesome) and she mentioned that she’d watched Oprah interview Shania Twain that week. Shania recently started talking publicly about finding out in 2008 that her husband was having an affair with one of her best friends… pretty

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-45665676714802610672011-06-26T16:28:00.000-07:002011-06-26T16:28:42.927-07:00

This weekend Seattle is flying the rainbow flags high and taking to the streets for the annual Pride parade. This year’s celebrations are sure to be extra festive as it was announced on Friday evening that New York has legalized gay marriage. Anyone who knows me knows I am extremely passionate and opinionated on this issue. I am more confident debating it than any other issue you could throw

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-45093672593395782922011-06-19T10:20:00.000-07:002011-06-19T10:20:53.991-07:00

In honor of Fathers' Day (and definitely not because I don't have time to blog this week) I've decided to re-post an essay I wrote for a writing contest in 2009. I didn't win, but I'm pretty proud of this piece anyway. “I wish I could get drunk with my dad, just once,” I’ve caught myself saying to my friends and husband.  “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad he quit, but to see that side of him just

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-84510073891365137902011-06-11T08:55:00.000-07:002011-06-11T08:55:28.144-07:00

Do you ever feel like your life is one big Choose-Your-Own Adventure book? You know, those little books we all read in grade school that allowed us to make choices in our stories. That’s kind of how I felt about my day on Thursday. Of course, with those books, I usually ended up in a situation that led to a violent death. Fortunately that didn’t happen. It went something like this: 7:15 AM. Your

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-53720999491233355992011-06-06T11:53:00.000-07:002011-06-06T11:53:38.055-07:00

For about a month now, I’ve officially been a part of the 9-to-5 work crowd. Having been opposed to such a lifestyle for much of my adult life, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it. After all, I’m Jessica, the one who lives on permanent vacation. Yes, I work- hard, actually, since I was 16- but I’ve managed to do so at my convenience for the most part. While I was grateful to land full-time

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-39389764039328360872011-05-30T16:13:00.000-07:002011-05-30T16:15:20.657-07:00

When my brother was in grade school, he attempted nearly every sport out there to help control the constant bursts of energy that coursed through him. As a couch potato and anti-athlete, I watched with disdain, often escaping to the car to read my latest book while he exerted himself needlessly. His basketball phase was particularly disturbing. When he had the ball, he’d run across the court

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-45516901542539327112011-05-22T13:06:00.000-07:002011-05-22T13:09:48.638-07:00

I woke up this morning feeling like I was forgetting something… aside from the fact that I was forgotten in the Rapture which appears to have only claimed Randy “Macho Man" Savage. No, today was significant. And I quickly realized that one year ago today was the day we left our home for The Great Road Trip. 525,600 minutes. Like the song from Rent says, that’s how you measure a year. And what a

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-86519754536861890492011-05-11T08:45:00.000-07:002011-05-11T08:45:13.333-07:00

It always happens at the same place. I’ll be chugging along on my near-daily 3.2 mile run (and by “run” I mean slow spastic jog for one minute and walk for three, then repeat) along Alki Avenue when I’ll hit the spot between Marine drive and 56th where I smell the intoxicating scent of Spud’s Fish and Chips frying cod and potatoes. And I’ll slow down and I’ll look ahead of me at the ground I

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-76640925280963430602011-04-22T09:46:00.000-07:002011-04-22T09:48:29.226-07:00

This week’s life lesson: letting go is hard. I mean, it can be really, really hard. Having done a recent purge of about half of my worldly possessions, I was beginning to pride myself on my ability to be emotionally detached from my “stuff.” The last month has shown me that this is not entirely true. Some things still really hurt to get rid of, especially the last three. It started with the

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-28266723169817837552011-04-13T13:29:00.000-07:002011-04-13T13:29:38.806-07:00

I don’t remember how it started, exactly. The only thing I do remember is that from the age of eight until about fourteen (oh who am I kidding, I still get this way sometimes) I was always obsessing over something. From Archie comic books to Dairy Queen Blizzards, whatever I was interested in, I was really interested in. We’re talking stalker status. By the time I was ten years old my love of

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-31388112218200548732011-04-02T14:13:00.000-07:002011-04-02T14:13:09.767-07:00

“Please, baby,” I whispered to him as his big brown eyes stared up at me with a look of panic mixed with utter despair. “Please pee for mama.” I knew the dog was going to panic when I missed the exit for I 5 South, which would’ve taken me to the West Seattle Bridge, and went through town to find Highway 99 instead. Dexter was used to quiet nights with us in our big house on a suburban street,

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-60139016542042519312011-03-24T14:43:00.000-07:002011-03-24T14:43:10.880-07:00

There’s only so much preparation that can be done in advance for a move. No matter how organized you are, how much planning you do and how ready you think you are, eventually it’s crunch time and you’re left pulling all nighters trying to clean and pack at the same time… then clean and unpack at the same time. Meanwhile, the unexpected expenses start to pile up and your net worth plummets faster

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-6477083507638145792011-03-20T13:55:00.000-07:002011-03-20T13:55:00.517-07:00

"I'm Moving On"Written by Phillip White and D.Vincent WilliamsPerformed beautifully and poetically by Rascal Flatts I've dealt with my ghosts and I've faced all my demons  Finally content with a past I regret  I've found you find strength in your moments of weakness  For once I'm at peace with myself  I've been burdened with blame, trapped in the past for too long  I'm movin' on  I've

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-27037403042667202812011-03-16T13:13:00.000-07:002011-03-16T13:13:16.172-07:00

Dear Idaho, There’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just going to be blunt: you and I are done. Trust me, this decision did not come without a great deal of careful consideration, heartache and tears. But there comes a point when you can no longer deny that the spark is gone and there’s nothing left to fight for. You and I are at that point. Actually, Idaho, we reached that point long ago. But

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-3825929643876248992011-03-06T22:26:00.000-08:002011-03-07T10:50:30.806-08:00

It started so innocently. All the big revelations do, don’t they? This move means losing much of our square footage. That means downsizing. That means making painful choices about what has to stay and what has to go. Today, I realized that means possibly parting with the beautiful hope chest Russ made me seven years ago. The idea of leaving it crushes me. I remember how excited I was when he

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-83427539483095567892011-02-20T11:33:00.000-08:002011-02-20T11:59:09.339-08:00

“Belief in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes.” That little statement is the actual definition of feminism. Not too scary, right? It conjures images of a peaceful, balanced society where both men and women are free to pursue the same happiness with equal rights. Ah, such a nice thought. And yet, feminism has such a nasty reputation in our society. Windbag douche canoes

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-52200558162542420032011-02-11T16:31:00.000-08:002011-02-11T16:31:22.860-08:00

You might think that the nightlife culture is simply for mindless entertainment with no life lessons to be learned. I disagree. I learned several at last night’s outing alone. One of my Golden Girls owns a promotional company and is, to say the least, quite good at what she does. Her events make you forget that you’re at a bar in Spokane, Washington and, just for an hour or two, you feel like

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-66483515857329213692011-01-29T19:03:00.000-08:002011-01-29T19:03:23.117-08:00

Last year I turned 28 on January 28th, which was considered my “golden birthday.” And it was. I spent the day at the fanciest hotel spa in town getting some kind of Ayurvedic balancing treatment and a facial and sipping a lemon drop in the lounge feeling so good… just peaceful and almost worry-free. What I wouldn’t give to feel that way now, as I turn 29. Last year at this time I was so certain

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-85991145597512481042011-01-15T14:40:00.000-08:002011-01-15T14:40:13.698-08:00

Just when you thought all of the touchy-feely pondery reflecty 2010 review blog posts were over, here I am with another one. But some things take reflection and reflection takes longer than one day… especially when that day involves a hangover. But I digress. Here, in no particular order, are ten big lessons I learned in 2010: No matter how much you think you’ve got something figured out… you

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-23817086897629959392011-01-07T18:19:00.000-08:002011-01-07T18:19:49.305-08:00

Dear 2011 Resolutionists, Congratulations on resolving to lose weight and workout this year. Seriously, that’s awesome and I wish you success. And while I admit I have complained in the past about the way you clog up my machines with your listless attempts and by January 31 you’re back in the couch eating your Fritos… and that I’m annoyed I haven’t been able to secure a treadmill the last two

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-69702573017426333522011-01-02T10:46:00.000-08:002011-01-02T10:46:51.364-08:00

A wise young child (my nephew at age six) once told me that eleven was his favorite number. He said he liked the way it looked on paper, he liked the write it and he liked the simplicity of two ones together. His statement made more sense to me than anything I’d heard that day. Since then, I’ve liked the number eleven too. I’m not much of a numbers person. I hate Math and I don’t have “lucky”

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-42846539475920188932010-12-28T13:24:00.000-08:002011-01-03T20:30:25.199-08:00

Upon hearing that my husband and I were going to spend the following day in Ocean City, Maryland, my mother had just one piece of advice: “Hit the boardwalk. Walk all the way to the end. Get a box of Thrasher’s french fries and cover them in vinegar. They’ll be the best fries you’ve ever had.” Those fries were part of her childhood. Her father’s military career took her family practically

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-14585854398186439592010-12-09T18:29:00.000-08:002010-12-09T18:29:57.916-08:00

“Get me a giant punch bowl,” I called out to my husband Mr. W as I rushed off for a last-minute pre-party workout. “No… get me a trough. I’m going to make a punch with every remaining bottle of booze we have in the bar and throw in some lemonade to make it tasty.” I returned from the gym and laughed. There, on the bar, sat a giant freshly-cleaned clear tote practically big enough to hold our 80

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-18250400110351664442010-12-03T13:01:00.000-08:002010-12-03T13:01:08.830-08:00

If only life had a fast forward button. I couldn’t agree more at the text I read from a good friend the other day. She, like me, is “on hold” in life. Like me, she can see the light at the end of the tunnel (which is actually just the beginning of a whole lot of newness, but I digress) but can also see everything that has to happen in the meantime. It’s frustrating. It’s, at times, very

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-37993631774540217582010-11-27T18:47:00.000-08:002010-11-27T18:48:35.128-08:00

photo courtesy of progressivepuppy.com It’s that time of year again. From now until Christmas, every time you go to get groceries or that extra stick of butter for your Christmas cookies you’ll be assaulted by a bell ringer from the Salvation Army. And, unless you’re a heartless jerk, you’ll probably drop your spare change in their bucket. Why wouldn’t you? Your spare change will go on to

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-49635637650648768162010-11-24T09:29:00.000-08:002010-11-24T09:29:14.017-08:00

The holidays got here quickly this year. I realize that makes no sense whatsoever and makes me sound like a complete moron who doesn’t understand the way time works (I actually don’t fully understand time, to be honest, but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t speed up when I stop paying attention). But really, it seems as if one day we were unpacking our van from the cross country road trip in hot July

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-45946512619076443082010-11-17T13:48:00.000-08:002010-11-17T13:55:37.554-08:00

I can’t think of a time in my life when I didn’t want to travel. For as long as I’ve been alive it has been as essential to me as air. My very first memory is of being on a plane, wedged in between my mother and grandmother, on our way to Maryland to visit relatives. We didn’t travel extensively during my childhood and teenage years, but the trips we took are permanently etched in my memory.I

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-29463519544367483612010-11-03T16:00:00.001-07:002010-11-03T16:09:28.417-07:00

I walk a fine line between being insanely grateful for everything that happens to me to worrying over whether it’s too much… as if someone shouldn’t really get to experience as many amazing things as I have… or, worst of all, if somehow I’m going to start feeling entitled to having nothing but the best. I don’t ever want to be someone who feels entitled to something simply because I’m alive. So

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-5464634488345340812010-10-23T17:08:00.000-07:002010-10-23T17:20:00.051-07:00

Every October, it’s the same damn thing. Haunted houses. Haunted theme parks. New movies released with people dying frightfully and gruesomely with another Saw flick thrown in for good measure. Motion sensitive lawn decorations meant make you piss your pants. Vampires, zombies, demons. Oh yay, Halloween.I like Halloween, but not for the reasons most do. I like it, mainly, for the same reason

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-82028474170830227802010-09-24T18:58:00.000-07:002010-09-24T19:05:21.838-07:00

Dear Senator John McCain,After a decade of (sort of) paying attention and (sort of) giving a damn who you are, I’m afraid I’m still not sure what to make of you. During the 2000 elections when I was newly 18, not yet jaded and convinced that my vote mattered (ha!) I prided myself on researching the potential Presidential candidates. I wanted to like you. Yes, you had some ideas that differed from

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-56216490053911075222010-09-19T19:28:00.000-07:002010-09-20T11:39:29.887-07:00

Today my dog turns eight years old. Today I find myself wondering how eight years have passed since I saw the ad in the Spokesman-Review and called and reserved a puppy for my then fairly new boyfriend. I couldn’t really afford one, but Russ wanted a boxer and by God, he was going to have one. And one Sunday in late October, we made the trip up to Post Falls and came home with Dexter (and some

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-67713338100720184642010-09-04T18:28:00.000-07:002010-09-04T18:30:04.268-07:00

Oh, you people who refuse to learn anything about nutrition and live your lives in a state of blissful food ignorance, eating fast food burgers like champions… you have it so good. Sure, you’re probably consuming unknown levels of chemicals, hormones and possibly enough sugar, sodium and saturated fat to give you numerous health problems or kill you. But you just don’t give a damn, do you?

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-42893008963152862802010-08-22T18:16:00.000-07:002010-08-22T18:20:47.017-07:00

2009 was, hands down, the best year of my entire life. Though New Year’s Eve was a really amazing night for me, I couldn’t deny having somewhat of a sense of dread as we rang in 2010. I felt like, no matter what, last year was never going to be topped. I also felt somewhat ridiculous for thinking that a calendar year had anything to do with my happiness and that I would simply choose to continue

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-90640130911855656562010-08-03T13:06:00.000-07:002010-08-03T13:10:51.376-07:00

I always say I’m the gayest straight person I know. I don’t mean that in a condescending way, like the term “gay” is often used, either. I mean that, though I’m happily married to a very manly man, I get extremely offended when someone suggests that a gay person should have fewer rights than a straight person. I’m extremely outspoken when it comes to gay rights. It makes no sense to me that

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-38446284339650929892010-07-27T17:51:00.000-07:002010-07-27T17:59:46.120-07:00

Since we’ve been home, rather than immediately falling back into our old routine, Russ and I have been in a constant state of readjustment. Our trip across the country was more than a long vacation. We agreed beforehand that it would be a “reset” button for us in some ways. We didn’t realize just how true that would be or how far we’d go with it.Those last two weeks, when every day meant long

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-45122160006884190152010-05-20T22:39:00.000-07:002010-05-20T22:42:58.072-07:00

I've been neglecting this blog severely, but for good reason. I'm about to drive across the country with my husband in a van. No, I'm not kidding. Yes, I'm sober(ish). Please follow our journey at the travel blog, www.thestatesoflove.com. I'll return to my regularly scheduled Blue Eyes blogging when we return. I'm sure there will be no shortage of topics....

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-85199736913325110402010-04-23T08:52:00.000-07:002010-08-22T18:23:12.751-07:00

I wasn’t allowed to watch The Simpsons when I was little. Looking back, it was probably for the best. But still, little eight year old me wanted so desperately to watch the antics of Bart and Lisa Simpson and laugh at the inappropriate humor. Perhaps that’s what led to my current obsession with humorous, offensive, over-the-top adult cartoons. I love Family Guy, The Simpsons and American Dad. And

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-28364105880569487932010-04-14T15:54:00.000-07:002010-08-22T18:23:34.035-07:00

There are many things that I fully admit that I do not understand. I failed Chemistry in high school not because I didn’t try, but because for some reason my brain was incapable of processing the information it was being given. I don’t consider myself a stupid person (usually) but I do think my intelligence has limits. If not, maybe it would be easier for me to understand the following. But right

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-61715886711537847272010-03-30T12:29:00.000-07:002010-03-30T13:11:24.913-07:00

Across the USA, sales of Jose Cuervo and Plan B skyrocket as college students are either recovering from, enjoying or about to embark on their Spring Break adventures. While my college Spring Breaks usually just meant doing laundry at my parents' house, many more fortunate students take epic vacations to Cancun or the Bahamas for a week of fun in the sun.I recently returned from yet another

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-47538606335971373412010-03-21T16:22:00.001-07:002010-03-21T16:29:59.725-07:00

Since good old Jared Fogle lost 245 pounds walking to Subway and stuffing his face with a daily veggie sub, Subway has been hailed for its healthy menu choices and its ability to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to nutrition. Normally when people select Subway as their lunch of choice they think they are doing themselves a nutritional favor instead of hitting the Burger King Drive Thru for a

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-21947725593909484192010-03-19T13:09:00.000-07:002010-11-23T13:17:46.810-08:00

I don’t care what skeptics say. There are moments, now and then, where you can look at a couple and just know in your heart that they are absolutely going to be together forever. It was Sunday night in Sin City and the eight remaining members of the Wolf Pack who hadn’t flown home after Saturday’s debauchery had just enjoyed the Penn & Teller show at the Rio. N was craving dessert so we headed

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-16543678188942815982010-03-03T14:32:00.001-08:002010-03-03T14:39:17.836-08:00

Today is National “I want you to be happy” Day. That’s a nice concept, isn’t it? It seems like most of us don’t have many nice things to say about each other these days. Try to have a religious or political “discussion” with someone with opposing views or read the comments on internet message boards and you’ll see what I mean. I think most people are good at heart, but we’re pretty angry and

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-65133333252703298912010-02-25T11:58:00.000-08:002010-11-23T11:59:07.837-08:00

Dear K, The next time he punches you, kicks you and shoves you… the next time he insults you or spits on you or punches your car window...remember, you chose this. You literally chose him over everyone else. The next time he throws a lit cigarette at you…the next time he tells you he’s going to cut you and watch you bleed… the next time he actually does cut you…remember, we spent 18 long months

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-66716180567584296282010-02-22T15:30:00.001-08:002010-02-22T15:34:23.215-08:00

It has been over a year since I decided to take the biggest gamble of my entire life and try to make it as a writer. In that time, some good things have happened. Obviously I’m not an insanely famous writer who never has to worry about money or even being offered more work than she can handle (yet). But I’ve learned a lot, changed a lot, grown as a writer and person and done a few things right. I

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-19221188389236294452010-02-02T21:44:00.000-08:002010-02-02T21:54:46.184-08:00

The more I learn about nutrition, the more I realize I have to learn. With all the new discoveries and breakthroughs, it’s almost impossible to be truly nutritionally knowledgeable these days. This realization that I’m just smart enough to know how ignorant I am keeps me from being smug and acting like a know-it-all to the general public, for the most part. I don’t open my mouth when someone

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-4330314112096401042010-01-28T14:00:00.000-08:002011-01-29T18:47:39.652-08:00

The top 28 moments of my life, in no particular order, as they came to me… some are sweet, some are shallow, all were significant… there are so many more, so many I’m sure I’ve forgotten, but today, these are the moments that come to mind as the best of the best: Holding my baby brother for the first time at age five. Standing inside the Sistine Chapel, staring up at that oh so famous ceiling.

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-29225255209112238022010-01-06T10:58:00.000-08:002010-01-06T11:01:06.857-08:00

Apparently we’re not supposed to make New Year’s Resolutions because all it does is set us up for disappointment. I certainly see how that could easily happen. After all, some resolutions involve overnight changes and dramatic impossible goals… “I’m going to lose 30 pounds in a month!” or “I’m going to quit smoking, cold turkey, tomorrow!” for example. Others are too vague… “I’m going to lose

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-80701868366246281412009-12-30T11:46:00.000-08:002010-11-23T11:51:10.547-08:00

Good one, Christmas 2009. You almost had us fooled into thinking this would be the year that we could enjoy our family, friends, food and gifts with no disaster or drama. The drive to Yakima went smoothly. We were in great spirits when we arrived and miraculously, so was my mother. We had a great evening with Yennifer, who made me the most beautiful picture frame. Eccentric Grandma T was

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-10355206131360053832009-12-21T11:15:00.000-08:002009-12-21T11:24:06.400-08:00

Every year, I get excited for Christmas. And every year, it ends up being a huge pain in my ass. Usually, I get post-traumatic amnesia and by the time December rolls around again, I've forgotten what a pain in the ass it is and get all excited again until the cycle repeats itself and crushes my soul. But last year's journey home was so exceptionally ridiculous, I haven't forgotten. I anticipate

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-70260066270793160052009-12-15T17:19:00.000-08:002009-12-15T17:49:09.027-08:00

Every year, you spend a lot of time and money finding the perfect gifts for those you love. You want to get them something they will love because you want to make them as happy as their presence in your life has made you.But what about those people in your inner circle that, honestly, you don’t really care for? From that “frenemy” in your office to your bitchy whore of a sister-in-law, sometimes

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-9754337978329559742009-12-12T12:48:00.000-08:002010-11-23T12:56:10.249-08:00

…things look brighter on the other side. I met him in the third grade. Boys were still yucky then. We had assigned seats, otherwise I would’ve surrounded myself with females.Back then, of course, he annoyed me. He used to squish flies with his ruler and flick them onto my desk, laughing as I shrieked in horror. He’d tease me relentlessly, but in his defense, he always knew when to back off. By

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-61317805375182986282009-12-07T18:44:00.000-08:002009-12-07T18:48:57.967-08:00

Many years ago, while riding in the car with my mother, I noticed she always swerved to avoid any trash blowing in the street. One day, I asked her why.“I don’t want it to get sucked up into the exhaust!” she exclaimed. “I always worry about that happening.”Even very young me knew that this was highly unlikely to happen. I couldn’t believe the lengths she went to avoid driving over things. She

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-68152104190889456472009-12-01T13:29:00.000-08:002010-11-23T13:31:48.892-08:00

I put my best friend's birthdays at the top of my priority list for two reasons: 1. I love her and 2. They're always so entertaining. So as soon as I slept off my Thanksgiving food hangover, I rushed home so that I wouldn’t miss Yennifer’s 28th birthday celebration. Mr. W and I headed into Spokane and met Yennifer, her sister, her mother, her boyfriend and numerous friends. One of those friends

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-77546240271145649902009-11-24T17:58:00.000-08:002009-11-24T18:06:43.971-08:00

It’s no secret that I am appalled and disgusted by the fact that America is such a fat, unhealthy nation. Don’t get me wrong, I love food and rarely turn down a piece of chocolate or a dish of creamy pasta. But I also eat lots of fruits and veggies and exercise four to six times per week. I am a reformed lazy slob junk food addict with asthma, so I know how difficult it is to change a lifestyle.

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-4504993190549707872009-11-17T19:40:00.000-08:002009-11-17T19:42:24.799-08:00

The more people learn about the FDA, the less they trust it, and with good reason. Horror stories about factory farming and processed foods have caused many people to eat more whole foods and less meat. But what about Thanksgiving? The holiday dedicated to eating a huge meal, a dead bird being the main course, may make it difficult to stick to a new chemical-free eating plan.Good news: you do not

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-89215772868162383242009-10-27T18:19:00.000-07:002009-10-27T18:20:59.802-07:00

So, you know all these posts of mine about eliminating “I can’t,” stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things? I admit that I fight a daily battle to follow my own advice.I am not a natural risk taker. I’ve always preferred what is safe, what is familiar, and situations that won’t leave me looking or feeling like a jackass. I never joined any groups or clubs when I was young. I never

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-1890206826592277732009-10-20T16:37:00.000-07:002009-10-20T16:55:54.858-07:00

I’ll be the first to admit we’ve come a long way toward eliminating racism and discrimination in this country. The segregated drinking fountains are gone. No one but Ann Coulter and her crazy cronies believe women shouldn’t be allowed to vote. More often than not, people are judged on their merits rather than their race or gender.But recently, it feels as if we as a society have stalled. People

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-91276543390180920092009-10-14T12:43:00.000-07:002010-11-23T12:47:52.667-08:00

Each of us goes through this life knowing that nothing is certain. We hope for the best, we pray for the best, and we take measures to keep ourselves healthy and safe. And though we are aware that terrible things can happen, it doesn’t make it any easier when they do. On Friday night in Leavenworth, Mr. W and I had spent a blissful day and night completely cut off from the world. While we enjoyed

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-51205980461017408162009-09-30T16:52:00.000-07:002009-09-30T16:54:40.221-07:00

To the outside world, my husband and I probably look like crazy idiots. On paper, we don’t exactly look like geniuses. At the end of 2008, I quit my full-time job to focus my attention entirely on my writing. He works a full-time job that barely covers our basic necessities while going to college in the evening to pursue a degree in Environmental Science. We also have a huge mortgage, student

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-40625584202573092392009-09-25T12:40:00.000-07:002010-11-23T12:43:43.276-08:00

On Christmas night in 1977, a young married couple found themselves to be “in the mood.”The problem? They were at the wife’s mother’s house for the holidays, and because they didn’t expect to be “in the mood” there, they hadn’t brought adequate protection.“Come on,” urged the husband. “We’re careful every single time. Surely just one time without a condom won’t hurt.”The wife agreed. After all,

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-82078146599904595592009-09-22T19:29:00.000-07:002009-09-22T19:35:00.235-07:00

I’ve been doing my own grocery shopping for over seven years now. Overall, I love it. There’s something therapeutic about strolling through the produce department listening to cheesy elevator music looking for the best deals. I also love to pretend that, just maybe, this will be the week where I eat only healthy foods and magically lose those last ten pounds. It never is that week. But it’s nice

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-25040845878757343812009-09-14T17:03:00.000-07:002009-09-14T17:05:40.253-07:00

I don’t normally watch awards shows. It’s not because I think I’m above celebrity gossip or seeing who had the best dresses. It’s simply because I watch entirely too much TV as it is and I figure I’ll catch the highlights on various blogs and news stations.But as soon as the people of Twitter started raising hell about what Kanye West did to Taylor Swift during last night’s Video Music Awards on

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-79336962759240962452009-09-01T12:14:00.000-07:002009-09-01T12:15:13.443-07:00

It is the scariest adventure you may or may not ever attempt. It comes with no real guarantees. You put your heart and soul into it, and still it can leave you broke, alone, bitter and broken-hearted.I’m talking, of course, about marriage. The technical definition of marriage has remained the same throughout the ages, but the structure has changed drastically. It’s no longer (thank God) about a

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-11447923452395639482009-08-26T21:46:00.000-07:002009-08-26T21:57:27.391-07:00

As I write this, I’m nursing a major travel hangover. Symptoms of a travel hangover include fatigue, dehydration, a suitcase that needs unpacking, an angry liver, dirty laundry, an empty wallet, a dead camera battery, a distended gut from regrettable but delicious food choices, and a lack of desire to move from the couch.Several times, I have been asked why I travel. After all, it’s expensive,

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-8366061130793908932009-08-21T12:30:00.000-07:002010-11-23T12:39:29.329-08:00

It’s great to re-discover the things that make your city wonderful. The best way to do that, I’ve found, is through the eyes of someone visiting for the first time. I’ve lived in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho for almost six years. Finally, after all this time, Sydney was able to visit me here. Due to the fact that the woman is busier than God and spent five years producing a fashion show held in August,

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-60539372854007838672009-08-14T18:31:00.000-07:002009-08-14T18:33:58.727-07:00

We’ve all heard the expression “You are what you eat.” Now, studies indicate that a more accurate statement may be “You are what you think.”I’ve been a huge advocate of positive thinking for years. Not only is it extremely helpful when making goals and striving for success, it’s just more fun. I always admired the positive people in my life and spent years re-training my brain so that I, too,

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-58730478019816099042009-08-06T22:21:00.000-07:002010-11-23T12:30:37.085-08:00

Every writer knows that he or she is just a little bit different than everyone else. For the most part, writers weren’t the popular kids in high school. They weren’t voted “Most Likely to Succeed.” They weren’t on the prom court. They were, for the most part, forgotten and ignored, quiet, blending in with the crowd. They weren’t sure quite how to fit in. They may have said the wrong things at

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-85923601467936390452009-07-25T15:09:00.001-07:002009-07-25T15:36:36.929-07:00

Imagine if a plant existed that could single-handedly reduce our carbon footprint on the Earth. Imagine if it could be made into paper and fabrics with fibers more absorbent, longer and stronger than cotton and be pulped using fewer chemicals than with wood. What if it could produce three to eight tons of fiber per acre, four times what an average forest can yield? What if its oil was a major

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-2083168471266487232009-07-16T21:22:00.000-07:002009-07-16T23:00:42.292-07:00

Not all stereotypes are true. In fact, some of them are downright idiotic. But sometimes…. sometimes, certain groups of people make it too easy.I’ve walked into Starbucks located in the most random, small, backwoods country farming communities and found yuppies where there should be none. I’ve been to Wal Marts in extremely affluent communities and found rednecks where there should be none. Not

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-25536770854765060112009-06-26T18:45:00.000-07:002009-06-26T18:49:25.774-07:00

It was November 2003 and, thanks to the generosity of a good friend, I had blown off my college classes to attend the Radio Music Awards in Las Vegas. I was 21 and had my priorities, after all. Never being one to let my college student induced poverty stop me, I was shopping my way through the Aladdin Hotel’s shops (now Planet Hollywood) when I came upon a huge mob surrounding a guitar

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-87340911431153683852009-06-25T10:05:00.000-07:002009-06-25T10:06:52.315-07:00

It was a hot summer day in 1994 as I lay sprawled on a float in my friends’ above ground pool. I was perfectly content, not a care in the world. Nothing could’ve made me get out of that pool- nothing, that is, except the words that followed.“It’s almost 3:00. We have to watch Days of our Lives today,” Mandi said to Jaime. “We have to see if Carly is really going to get buried alive.”My

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-64651504444716000962009-06-19T10:34:00.001-07:002009-07-24T21:37:34.976-07:00

With the way events of the world are going right now… it’s sure easy to complain, isn’t it? Among other things, we’ve got North Korea on our asses, we’re losing lives and money in Iraq, not to mention this business with Iran. There’s a lot to bitch about here, too. Everyone is broke. The economy sucks. Our nation is more divided than ever. Stimulus funds are being misspent, you aren’t an

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-88138862288063760692009-06-16T12:05:00.000-07:002010-11-23T12:12:23.548-08:00

My friend S. is a comedic genius. No joke, she can write humor like nothing I’ve ever seen. So imagine my excitement when she discovered those crazy Craigslist personal ads and decided to try her hand at one. Check it out, here: Personal ad Hilarious, right? Note that, at the end of the post, she asks her audience what their ads would say. As inspired as I was to write a humorous ad for

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-185587075670820412009-06-10T15:40:00.000-07:002010-02-12T08:48:11.380-08:00

Our relationship has survived nasty rumors of increased risks of breast cancer and hypertension. We’ve been together through high school, college, every job and every journey. It’s what lures me out of bed every morning, clearing the fog and allowing me to think. I wouldn’t call myself addicted, because being without it doesn’t cause withdrawals. I just love it. I love the way it smells, the

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-471495549861879782009-06-01T12:12:00.000-07:002010-11-23T12:20:51.836-08:00

Each one of my friends is so completely different from each other.  If they were flowers and you put them all together, they’d be one big crazy gorgeous mixed bouquet.  Some of them might give you allergies, but they’d all be beautiful in their own way. But Sydney…she’s really different.  For one, she told me that if I was going to blog about her, I had to use her real name. “What’s up with that

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-42760021384269750112009-05-31T21:10:00.000-07:002009-05-31T21:20:06.316-07:00

If I hear one more person complain about the hot weather we’ve had lately, I just might punch him or her in the face.People in the Inland Northwest have severe amnesia when it comes to weather. For approximately nine (sometimes ten) months out of the year, the weather here flat out sucks. During the winter, we have outright scary snowstorms that not only shut down airports and cause local

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-20839513072562019202009-05-27T19:11:00.001-07:002009-05-27T19:13:07.973-07:00

When I first moved to North Idaho, my girlfriends introduced me to The White House Grill. It’s a Mediterranean restaurant with loud music, attentive service, belly dancers on Thursdays, and more garlic than you could possibly imagine. Their slogan is “You love garlic, we love you.” I read once that The White House goes through 150 pounds of garlic per week, and honestly, that number seems low.

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-86125942408510640852009-05-16T11:59:00.000-07:002010-11-23T12:04:40.230-08:00

They say that if at the end of your life you can count your true friends on one hand, you’re lucky. I don’t know who “they” are, where that quote originated, or how badly I just butchered it. But it’s true, isn’t it? We have acquaintances, and we have friends. And then, if we’re lucky, we have a few of those lifelong, tried and true, there for you no matter what, there for the good times and

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-48292738875805175842009-05-09T17:02:00.000-07:002009-05-09T18:17:07.173-07:00

I don't know if I necessarily believe in heroes- at least, not for myself. We are all human, and we all have the ability to be extraordinary at times as well as make giant asses out of ourselves at others. For me, the latter is normally done after an abundance of wine. But I digress.I do, however, believe that extraordinary people should be commended. In a world where so many are satisfied

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-14072367636809258202009-04-25T18:27:00.000-07:002009-07-24T21:39:09.492-07:00

A conversation I literally just had with my husband:Me: Remember that old cartoon, CatDog?Husband: Ha! Yeah.Me: I knew this chick once- her boyfriend got her a ferret, and she named it CatDog.Husband: *Laughs* That’s awesome!Me: Yeah, but do you know what was fucked up? Her boyfriend had cheated on her and she decided to take him back. That’s why he got her the ferret. He got her the

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-70337959027482081262009-04-22T18:53:00.000-07:002009-07-24T21:38:12.069-07:00

When it comes to healthy eating, everyone knows the basics by now: lots of fruits and veggies, limited saturated fats, trans fats are the devil and will kill you where you stand. Also, it appears that everyone in the world finally understands that taco "salad" is not, in fact, good for you.Despite vacation splurges and the occasional premenstrual ice cream binge, I always thought I did fairly

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-29675347261035231402009-04-11T09:35:00.000-07:002009-07-24T21:40:26.006-07:00

It never fails.  The trip I've been looking forward to for months is on the horizon.  I've confirmed my reservation, made plans, started packing.... and, out of nowhere, I come down with the world's worst head cold.  If, by some miracle, I escape disease and have a lovely trip, I always sit next to some asshole on the plane with malaria who coughs and sneezes all over me.  Within a week, my

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222743469319845933.post-75911834418252646602009-04-09T20:25:00.000-07:002009-07-24T21:41:30.676-07:00

We all know that what happens in Vegas does not actually stay in Vegas.Blisters, stories, and photographic evidence return with you. I personally know of two children who were conceived there. The only thing that really stays in Vegas is your money.M.A.D.D taught us not to drink and drive. “Knocked Up” taught us not to drink and bone. And a recent trip to Sin City taught me not to drink and

JessicaLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981623373181208943noreply@blogger.com0