Find The Beat Again

Finding the beat again. That's what I'm trying to do. As you all know I started a new job last week. While everyone has been amazing, supportive and patient ... it has been a bit overwhelming. There were times last week where I found myself a little dazed and confused! BUT ... I think I may be finding the beat again thanks to a lot of cheerleaders and my co-workers. 

New jobs are always challenging at first but this job is pretty new to me in terms of it not being for a live newscast. So, finding the beat has been a bit challenging sometimes. At times I'm waltzing along. Then, there are times I turn into that spastic dancer you see dancing all alone and you're thinking to yourself, "Oh my lord. What in the world?!" Sometimes I forget the steps to a dance, but then my co-workers show them to me again. Sometimes they have to show me a few more times because well ... I forget them. The good news is I know I'll find the beat again.

So, as I took the train home from work today, my iPod shuffled to Sugarland's "Find The Beat Again." I found myself tapping my toes and bobbing my head as some loud people at the other end of the car debated Caribbean food. 

So if you are having a tough time or a tough day and things just aren't going your way remember ...

Hey! (Hey!)

Things are lookin' better now

Hey! (Hey!)

Nothin' lasts forever if you open up your heart and let it in ...

You'll find the beat again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgCKTGVyCho

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg6vc66foXE

I made it through my first day of work! While it was overwhelming (and am sure will be for the next month as I learn my new job), it was a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious first day! Wow, that is a long word.  I don't think I could have asked for anything more from a first day ... minus the normal computer/human resources glitches that usually come with your first day at a new company. It'll all take care of itself in time. Plus, I'm sure it doesn't help that most people are on vacation for the holiday!

Anyway, it was truly a great day! My co-workers have been really awesome and so was everyone else I met throughout the day or talked to on the phone. I learned some new things about the company as well, and am very excited to learn this new job and conquer the challenges that come with it.

My friends and family also made this day very special. I couldn't check email or texts very often, but when I did there was always a friendly "Good luck" email or "Thinking of you" text. Then I came home to an early Birthday present that brought tears to my eyes. I also had a nice, but quick chat with my parents and bestie.

While it has been a great day it's been an exhausting one too. So ... I'm off to bed to get some zzz's before I head back for Day 2 tomorrow morning.

And remember ... don't forget to wish upon a star tonight ...


Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires 
Will come to you

First Impressions

So it's Sunday night and I'm getting ready for my first day of work. It always feels like the first day of school. You have to pack your backpack. In my case, it's my work bag. I've made sure I have pens, paper, my earbuds (in case I need to listen to some audio), my Social Security card, Passport, and my paperwork I was asked to fill out for orientation. I should probably pack some snacks too, but I'm not bringing my lunch bag AND (okay former co-workers who may be reading this) my Lysol wipes. You tend to share desks, computers and phones in newsrooms so I always have brought Lysol wipes to wipe down everything with! So back to the "backpack." It's packed.


Now to the more important thing: What to wear. OMG it's soooo hard to figure out what to wear. I mean how dressy do you get? You don't want to look too casual and you don't want to look like you are going to cocktail hour! Anyway, my best friend helped pick an outfit for my "first day of school." I like it. Well, I liked it today. We'll see if I like it tomorrow. If I don't,  I have another option that's a little less dressy. I know the whole 'what to wear' dilemma seems superficial, but if you don't feel good about yourself and confident it will show. 


So those two things are all taken care of. Now you just worry about making a good impression ... which happens by just being you. Will I forget co-workers names tomorrow. Sure. I'm horrible with names. Will I be nervous at orientation and maybe say some silly things. Sure, but that's me. Will I worry about whether my co-workers will like me and if I'll like them? Sure. That's totally natural. However, I basically can get along with anyone. Will I ask too many questions? I may, but that's okay. But as I walk in the front doors tomorrow ... excited and nervous ... I will remember something my parents have told me since I was a little girl. "Jess. Just be yourself and do your best. That's all anyone can ask."

ABCDQ123 .. the MTA

So ... I've been in NY for less then two weeks and am really enjoying using the MTA. Now, to be honest ... I wasn't a big CTA fan. Chicago is built differently than NY. I like New York's grid. I find the subway in New York is a ton easier to use. However, I have learned a few things:


1. I can't read on the Subway like everyone else.
2. I think half the people who try to swindle money from you on the train are lying about why they need the money.
3. Wear layers. It's easy to take off a scarf and coat. A sweater ... a bit harder when you are packed like a sardine on the 2 Train.
4. Love the musicians that play their instruments or sing for you on the platforms. They are AWESOME! I mean who doesn't like some salsa music at 9am!? 
5. People-watching on the subway is super fun. I forgot how much fun it is!
6. I am now used to the message about "Look out for suspicious packages and report them..." 




Bottom line ... so far I'm enjoying the subway and am not missing my car ... yet. I feel more free. Ask me how I feel about being without a car in three months. I'll let you know if my opinion changes.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRGFqSkNjHk

Vroom! Vroom! Off To The DMV

Oh The Department of Motor Vehicles. We all have to go to the DMV at some point in our lives. Today, I ventured to the one in Brooklyn. I was prepared to wait and be annoyed like I usually am at the DMV. Plus, it didn't help that everyone I spoke to in the morning were like, "OOOH! Have fun at the DMV. It's like no DMV you've ever seen before." Ummm... it sounded like the Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz was going to greet me at the door or something and then I'd melt away while she cackled at the fact that she wasn't the one turning into a puddle on the floor!!!!


So, I got to the DMV prepared to do battle. Honestly, I thought they'd reject me. First of all ... reading the DMV website was just annoying. It's like just give me the list of what I need! Don't have me click on this link and that link to know what to bring! Oye! Anyhoo, I thought for sure I was missing a document. So I walk in and I think, "Who is going to reject me first? Okay. Three rooms. I'm guessing the one with the line is where I start." Ding Ding! I win the door prize for figuring that out. Anyway, to make a long story short I wasn't rejected! I spent a whopping one hour and maybe 15 minutes at the DMV. Everyone was super nice. Nobody was rude. Even the people waiting for their number to light up on the screen were chill. Speaking of numbers ... I kept thinking of Bingo! When they finally called my first number I wanted to jump up and yell "BINGO!" I didn't though. I figured everyone would look at me like I was a crazy person.


Lesson here. Don't be afraid of your DMV. I walked out of mine with a smile and a temporary drivers license. And for those of you wondering .... I have zero clue if I took a good picture. I'll let you know.

Welcome To Brooklyn

It's a Sunday night here in Brooklyn NY and it's been a long week full of excitement, sadness and happiness. I left Chicago Tuesday to begin a new chapter of my life in the Big Apple. As exciting of a time this is, it was bittersweet to hug my parents goodbye at O'hare Airport. I know it wasn't really "goodbye" because I'll be back in Chicago to visit ... but I found myself a little teary as I hugged my dad and walked though the sliding doors and watched my parents drive off. I'm sure they didn't notice I stood there and waved at them as they drove off. I think they just wanted to get the heck out of there! 


Fast forward a couple of days and I've juggled my luggage into my new home. A picturesque brownstone owned by a lovely family. I looked around the empty apartment ... (wait, do I call a floor of a brownstone an apartment?) and had forgotten how big some areas were. When the movers came hours later some of the "stuff" I talked about in my earlier blog, I forgot I even had some of the stuff they unloaded! While I moaned and groaned about where to put my beautiful liquor cabinet that I forgot I decided to take with me ... I texted pics of suggested spots where it could go to my mom. In the end my "stuff" found places and I began to unpack.


But, it's not the unpacking that I'll remember of my first few days of the Brooklyn neighborhood in which I know live. It's the people, the sights, the sounds and the smells. Okay ... they are all good smells! I mean the smell of pizza being cooked in a wood burning oven! YUMMO! The people have all been really nice. Even the homeless person who stands outside Key Foods wishing everyone a, "Happy Holidays! By the way can you spare some change on your way out?" seems nice. But it's the sights that have gotten to me. The Christmas trees being sold on every corner ... walking down the brownstone-lined streets seeing families decorating their stoops for the holidays ... the group of people singing carols down 7th Avenue ... the kids all excited as they leave school ... the shops and restaurants all inviting and different in their own ways. There is a book store that reminds me of the store Meg Ryan's character owned in "You've Got Mail" near me. The huge park near me is also amazing. I can't wait to explore it! Really, though it's the brownstones and walking down the streets and peaking through the windows at the people inside that's been really fun. I guess now I'm one of those people.


I live on a ground floor and my shades are usually pulled up during the day. As I was putting away kitchen utensils the other day a number of kids walking to school with their parents stopped to look in at this new person living in the browstone. I waved at these cute kids. A couple waved back, while others just went on their way to school. But it's something I wouldn't be able to experience on the 26th floor of the condo building in Chicago I used to live in. I also wouldn't be able to smell the yummy food my landlords cook every night above me ... the scents filtering through the vents into my place. 


So, as I drink a glass of wine and watch "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" on my first Sunday night in New York ... I am thankful and excited and nervous about my new adventure in this new city ... I am settling in nicely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R45yoW4wxU&feature=related

**Love the above song. It just happens to be titled "Brooklyn"

Home

"When the boxes are gone and you've cleaned up the mess
You'll make a home of the house that was just an address"


That's what I was thinking as movers spent two days packing and loading my belongings onto a truck for its journey to New York. Now, I know I didn't take all my furniture and donated and sold a bunch of clothes ... but I still feel like I have a lot of "stuff." I'm thankful to have stuff, but I took out the drawing my new landlord made for me of my new place and have been trying to figure out what will go where. Let's just say I'll have to figure it out when I get there. I think in the end my folks and I determined it will all fit and that the bedroom will probably be a little tight.


As the movers unpack my stuff later this week at my new casa in New York I'll look at all my "stuff" and remember all the good memories that comes with what I've accumulated over the years. I'll remember the dozens of books that will line my bookshelf and how each one holds a special place in my heart. I'll see my artwork and remember the arguments had over some of the pieces and one piece that always makes me smile. I'll take out my kitchen tools and remember the guacamole I made when I lived in New Mexico.


I'll look around and also notice some of my old "stuff" will look a little new. The matress is the same matress I've had since my journey to New York began in Green Bay. This time though, the matress will be dressed up in a new duvet, new sheets and new pillows. My lovely red couch will be short a piece as to make it small enough to fit my new place. My candles that I burned in Chicago and filled my apartment with the smell of "wood burning fireplaces" will be replaced with red candles that smell like ... umm ... I don't remember!! They smell good though!


Old mixed with new will be my new home in New York. I know that when all the boxes are gone and I've started cleaning up the mess... my new address will start to feel like a home ... thanks to my friends, family and the belongings that will make that tree and brownstone lined block my new home. What will be the most important, though, are the new memories that will be made in that new home and that I know I always have a home to go home to in Chicago.

Pantyhose vs Tights ... The Smackdown!

Pantyhose vs Tights. It’s a discussion me and a few friends I’ve known for a long time debated last night at my “Jess is leaving for NY” dinner. I wear pantyhose, but apparently it’s not cool anymore to slip on the sheer or opaque item of clothing  ... hence the beginning of the debate! 

I live in tights in the winter. I mean tights and pantyhose come in so many patterns and colors I think anyone who wears them is cool. I mean they’ve come a long way from the kind you buy in the eggshell containers at Walgreens. I remember my mom had to repeatedly tell me as a young child not to open up the silvery eggshell that contained something obviously not meant for little girls to be playing with.

Either way ... whether a person spends $1 on their tights or $100 ... the leg-wear serves its purpose. They keep your legs warm in the winter, hide any bruises or marks you may have on your legs, are basically an accessory to your outfit, and get this ... are kind of fun to buy! I’m packing for my move and am about to organize an entire drawer of tights. Okay, okay. Most of them are black but they are different styles! 

I went to Nordstrom’s yesterday to get my favorite pair of tights for the winter which are made by Hue. Needless to say, I have that entire drawer dedicated to tights so I really don’t need one more pair. But how can you resist the cornucopia of options. There is fishnet, patterns and colors, opaque, low-rise, footless, and even pantyhose for men! They are called “mantyhose.” I think any guy who can pull off “mantyhose” should get a standing ovation.

The kind of pantyhose or tights you wear can also reflect on your personality. Do you wear bright colored hose or hose with polka dots? Are they lined inside to keep you warm or have a reinforced toe? I think I’m thinking way too much about this topic. Ha Ha! 

This little tidbit is for one of my friends that I sat with around the fondue pot last night. According to Wikipedia, “In British English, these garments are called ‘tights,’ a term that refers to all such garments regardless of whether they are sheer lingeries or sturdy underwear.” So there! Pantyhose and tights are the same thing! So don’t be ashamed to pull out those hose and slide them on. Show off your legs and keep them warm at the same time! And remember ... whatever you wear ... whether it’s “in” or not ... it’s what you feel good wearing that matters. 


*For you men reading this ... you should appreciate all we do to put on hose and tights so ... enjoy this instructional video made from one of the people I follow on YouTube. It starts about 1:15 in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHevLdvdWKI

GTD "Getting Things Done"

Getting Things Done. That's what I've been trying to do. I Googled it and found that GTD is actually a book and a method that Wikipedia describes as "... resting on the principle that a person needs to move tasks out of the mind by recording them externally. That way, the mind is freed from the job of remembering everything that needs to be done, and can concentrate on actually performing tasks." Um, yeah. Where is one of the now seven bottles of wine I need to drink before I move?! That's just way too deep for me.

Anyway .... check. Check. Check. That's what I find myself doing now. The last couple of days I've been checking off things from my "To Do" list for the move. Oye vey! While I'm no stranger to big moves I forgot how many little details there are. Luckily, each day, I continue to check off items and each day I deal with people with patience. Patience. I'll have to remember to put that on my "To Do" list so I remember to pack it! In the meantime, I've found online "To Do" lists that you may find helpful. I haven't used them but they look neat. You can let me know (the link is at the bottom of this post).

One thing that's never being checked off my "To Do" list is enjoying each day in the Windy City, my family, friends and co-workers before I leave for New York. I know they won't be far but it's still bittersweet.

Oh! I've realized over the last couple of days things to add to my mental check list.

Work Hard: Check

Play Hard: Check

Smile: Check

Be Better: Working on it

Tootledo for now!

http://www.solutionwatch.com/450/25-to-do-lists-to-stay-productive/

Footprints In The Sand

Which pieces of your life do you think you ought to leave behind in order for your life to lighten up? This is what I ask myself as I start chipping away at what I’ve accumulated in my apartment and eat way too many peanut butter cups.

I’ve found an old Kansas sweatshirt, a Starbucks gift card, a picture of me holding my friends newborn baby. These are all pieces I take with me, but it’s what I leave behind that’s more important. I’ve always wondered what pieces of me I’ve left behind in each step of my life. I’ve realized that even though I think I’ve left things behind they are always with me.

I’ve left behind the musician, the ballet dancer, the poet, the storyteller, the cheerleader, the spy .... but they are still part of me in a small way. I may not play an instrument anymore but I do go to hear the symphony. I may not wear tutu’s anymore but I do dance. I may not write poems but I write for work and for recreation. I may not stand on the sidelines of a football game and cheer on a team but I cheer on my friends. You get the picture. 

There are parts of me I leave behind whenever I move to a next chapter in my life. I leave footprints on someone’s heart. I always wonder what those footprints are and if the imprint will last. Then I realized this when I was on my fifth peanut butter cup. Footprints in the sand may be washed away, but they are proof that you existed and did something. Even when a footprint disappears in the tide, it’s taking the sand and bringing it elsewhere. Maybe the sand mixes with a new beach or with new footprints left by new people walking along the beach. They are people you probably don’t know. But the sand mixes with their print and in an instant you are connected.

We are all connected in one way or another. Through this blog. Through Facebook. Through work. Through school. Through friends. Through family. We are all connected by living on this same planet. Every day we have a chance to make a footprint in someone’s life. Are you ready to walk? Click on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCsZNalcaXM

Fragments of Faith

Austrian writer and journalist Karl Kraus once said, “Journalists write because they have nothing to say, and have something to say because they write.” Well, I think that’s partially true ... at least for me. I tend to be quiet and keep things to myself until I put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. It’s one reason I like writing so much. It’s a conversation with myself, and now a conversation I’m having with you.

Writing is also storytelling, which is why I got into journalism in the first place. Right now, I write and edit stories for a local newscast in a major city. I’ve also spent many years producing local television newscasts around the country. So, embarking on this new tv adventure in New York is a lot like how you see my writing ... a lot of ( ...) and a lot of fragmented sentences. I bet you have noticed that I rarely write in complete sentences! Why? That’s how most of us news writers write our copy for the anchors to read off the teleprompter. 

I do believe life is a bunch of fragments ... and it’s when you put the fragments together you get a whole story. Sometimes the fragments don’t make any sense when you put them together. Sometimes they do. But, that’s what life is all about, right? Taking fragments from your past and applying what worked and did not work for you during those times ... and incorporating them into your life now. I may have flubbed up in the control room a time or two. I mean seriously, what producer hasn’t? We are talking about live television. That’s what so great about live television. You can’t take something back once it’s seen by millions of viewers. What you can do is take the good things from that show and throw away the rest. And another thing about live tv that can relate to life is that once that show is over ... it’s over. Tomorrow is a new day, a fresh start, a clean slate.

The Yellow Brick Road

Hi everyone. I am soooo sorry I haven't posted a new blog in a few days. It's been a pretty busy and exciting time for me. I'll have a lot to share with you over the coming weeks because ... start spreading the news ... I am heading to New York!


Many people who know me may ask, "Why!? She has a good job, etc." Well, a very close friend of mine told me this 6 months ago, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all, and like I always say ... in the end, all you really have is your story, so make it a good one." I kept that email and read it every day I am bored, or lonely, or have a decision to make. It reminds me that life can be short. That we can be alive and breathing in the crisp autumn air one minute and be gone the next. I think that is one lesson I've learned being in the news business for more than a decade.

It was also a decade ago I followed the yellow brick road from Kansas to Green Bay. Probably one of the last cities I thought I'd ever live in, but one of many wonderful, and not so wonderful, life experiences that had me follow the road from the dairyland to places all over the country. Sometimes the journey was rocky. Sometimes it was snowy. Sometimes there were cracks in the pavement ... but it's the journey to each destination that has taught me things about love, life, laughter, and loss.


Destination: New York has been a 13 year journey. (Hey! 13 is one of my two lucky numbers!) Anyway, I digress. 13 years of accomplishing and doing things sometimes people never believed I could do. But, I have always been one to go after my goals and usually reach them. If not, I've at least repeated a saying on a bracelet I wear when I doubt myself. It says, "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars." That's not a bad place to land ... especially when you have an amazing family and friends who love and support you but also tell it like it is. This job gets me closer to my goal of reaching that moon. Am I excited? Yes. Am I scared? Yes! Am I going to miss certain aspects of my life as it is today. Yes. But I always know the worst place I can land is among the the stars.


And yes, I may not be a 20-something just starting off. However, I believe you are never too old to go after your dream. I think novelist George Eliot said it eloquently when he wrote, "It's never too late to be what you might have been. He also said, "The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice." I have decided not to settle for the path of least resistance and take yet another chance in my life story.


So remember, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all, and like I always say ... in the end all you really have is your story, so make it a good one.” Or .. at least an interesting one."

Random Acts of Kindness

Random acts of kindness and thoughtfulness. I've always believed in them and I’ve always tried to make sure my friends remember that I think of them daily. Most of them don’t live near me, so I’ve always sent “Thinking of You” cards out. Sometimes I’m consistent with them. Sometimes I’m not. Sometimes they get little gifts in the mail. I’m not a big phone person, so these random acts of thoughtfulness are ones I hope brighten their day or make them smile.

I received a random act of thoughtfulness today. I wasn’t having the best day. If you follow me on Twitter you know I had a terrible dream that had me waking up in tears! I just haven’t really been able to shake the thought of that nightmare all day.

I tried doing things that make me happy. I went shopping. I treated myself to a yummo lunch at Fox & Obel. I was even going to go out tonight but just felt so  blah. So what did I do? I grabbed my coat, put on my Uggs and went out for some hot cocoa. Hot cocoa always warms my soul. It’s sooooo good! Before I headed to Starbucks I checked my mailbox and I saw I had a package! Now, I knew this friend had sent something, but didn’t know what it was or when it would arrive. So I got my cocoa and then picked up the yellow envelope on my way back to my apartment. I ripped it open and found a sweet note and the all around best popcorn in the Midwest. I mean it’s right from the cornfield and just melts in your mouth! You can’t this light, fluffy, buttery popcorn at very many places and this friend knows I just die for it. It made me smile and made me find a cool website. I posted the link below. Maybe if you're having a blah day today you can click on it and it will turn your frown upside-down!

http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/

Love, Life, Death

I live near a hospital. The ambulances rush by, sirens wailing ... taking someone to the emergency room. Almost every day I walk past that emergency room. Sometimes it’s busy. Sometimes it’s not. But, have you ever walked through one? 

Everyone should walk through an emergency room at least once in their life. It makes you realize what your priorities are. It’s not the running around, or the Coach bag you have to have, or the money. It’s the people you love. The fact that one minute they might be there and one minute they might be gone. 

I’ve seen loved ones and friends in the emergency room. Or I’ve heard their stories of their ER experiences. I have been in an ER too ... all alone, behind a curtain, waiting ... waiting. Did you ever wonder who was behind the curtain next to you? Was she a child, scared but comforted by a loving mother? Was it a cute guy who twisted his ankle while trying to show off to his girlfriend that he can skateboard? Was it a 92-year-old woman who was all alone, but who knew she was somewhere where people cared. I did. I wondered.

Lots of times there is not much we can do in an emergency room. We are all supposed to grow old. We are all meant to get sick. We are all meant to die. Emergency room doctors and nurses can dance around all that, but there is no magical response that can change that.

As my 36th Birthday inches closer I realize I am getting older. I am noticing more and more gray hairs on my curly haired head and think to myself “No! Go away! Me no likey you!” But we will all hopefully grow old. 

Love, life and death unfold every single day. It’s something every person in every city, every village, and every suburb in every country deal with every day.

So when life gets crazy, stop and breathe. Think about what your priorities are. It’s not the running around, or the Coach bag you have to have, or the money (though winning the lotto would be nice). It’s the people you love and have around you ... and the fact that one minute they might be there and the next they might be gone. Remember to say “I love you,” even if someone is driving you coo-coo for cocoa puffs. Remember to smile ... because “a smile happens in a flash, but it’s memory can last a lifetime.” And remember, that every day is a day to be thankful for. I am thankful for all of you.

Singing In The Rain

um·brel·la   protective shield or screen, esp of aircraft or gunfire

(click the YouTube link below for a theme-fitting song for this blog)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt96GtufOLI

It’s a rainy day here where I live. It’s also cold and damp. So, when I walked out of work this morning, I took out my $50 Queens Umbrella and braved the elements to get to my car. I remained dry, as the rain drops bounced off the clear dome hanging above my head ... but my Longchamp Le Pliage bag and the entire inside of my car did not get spared!

Okay, I’m going to digress for a moment to highly recommend the Longchamp Le Pliage bag. It’s not the most inexpensive bag but it is the best bag ever! It’s even better than my Coach tote I bought years ago at the outlet mall outside of Palm Springs. Why is it so great you ask? Well, besides the fact it carries everything and the kitchen sink, it's waterproof. 

Sorry. Where was I? Oh! So, I thought about umbrellas as I sat in rush hour traffic. Umbrellas cover us but don’t protect us from the elements entirely. We still can get wet, the wind can easily blow your umbrella inside out, and you can probably be electrocuted.

This morning reminded me that if we were protected from everything in our lives we wouldn't know right from wrong. We wouldn't be able to help the hungry children in Africa, or know how to protect ourselves from someone or something evil. We wouldn't know that a hot oven is dangerous. We probably wouldn't know a lot of things. So, I guess being protected all the time isn’t always a good thing. 

Being sheltered can be safe, but it can also do more harm than good. Sometimes it's okay to put away that umbrella and let the rain hit you.

An Attitude of Gratitude

“It was official. A new season has begun. Maybe our mistakes are what make our fate. Without them, what would shape our lives? Perhaps if we never veered off course we wouldn’t fall in love, or have babies, or be who we are. After all, seasons change ... so do the people who come in and out of our lives. But it’s comforting to know the ones you love are always in your heart, and if you’re very lucky, a plane ticket away.”

   -Carrie Bradshaw

That my friends, is one of my favorite quotes from Sex and the City. I actually wrote it down in an old journal of mine. I was de-cluttering my apartment this morning and came across the journal.

Carrie talked about seasons. Fall is my favorite. Autumn is one of the reasons I moved back to the Midwest from sunny California. Don’t get me wrong. I loved California and the fact that there was no snow or zero degree weather, but I missed the Fall. It’s a magical time of year. The air is crisp, the colors are warm, there’s the crackling of fireplaces, and lots of cute clothes to wear. What is more important, Fall means Thanksgiving. What Carrie says reminds me to be thankful for everything ... not just the usual things (like family) or good things in my life. Thanksgiving reminds me to also be thankful for the times I have fallen off course, had my heart broken, or made horrible mistakes. I’ve done things I have regretted. I’ve not stepped through doors that were open for me and later thought to myself, “Oye vey! Why didn’t I take that chance?!” I am thankful for all that because it has taught me what to do and what not to do ... what I like and don’t like ... and what has changed about me over the years.

If it wasn’t for those experiences I wouldn’t have met the great friends I have. They are spread all over the country ... from coast-to-coast. They all hold special places in my heart. Some of those friends make up the family I wasn’t born into. Some I’ve known since I was little, while others have come in and out of my life. They all have left footprints on my heart. And while, most of the members of my ‘family” don’t live here, it is comforting to know that they are only a plane ticket away.

And The Winner Is...

A new Miss World was crowned today. Miss Venezuela, Ivian Lunasol Sarcos Colmenares, now holds the title. The theme of Beauty With A Purpose is at the heart of the Miss World pageant. I looked at all these beautiful women on one stage united in one purpose and thought to myself, “Wouldn’t that be nice if everyone across the globe could do that and just get along.” Then I flipped to CNN and they were teasing a story about a self-defense class and how women can empower themselves against an attacker. The video showed women kung-fooing men to the ground.

Miss World 2011’s motto is something I found on her profile. Besides the fact she is a journalist ... she lists her favorite book as “The Secret,” and her personal motto as “Everything arrives when it should.” I agree with Ms Ivian’s motto. Of the 7 finalists, she definitely stood out ... confident, goal-oriented and wearing a beautiful pink feathered dress. So dig out your inner beauty queen. Practice your pageant wave, dust off that crown and empower yourself. After all, Beyonce already knows we rule the world. 

For all you guys reading. Don’t worry. There is a Mr World. His name is Kamal Orlando Ibrahim and he is from is from Ireland. His motto, “Everything happens for a reason, never give up!” Let’s raise a pint of Guinness to that!

A Rainy Morn Oft Brings A Pleasant Day

“Every day may not be good … but there is something good in every day.”

A wise Italian friend of mine who once worked in Buckingham Palace posted that on his Facebook page. I loved it. It didn't hurt that he wrote it on a piece of paper and taped it to a window in his villa that looks out to what I can only presume to be a vineyard. Nice, huh? Did I mention he makes his own pasta? Okay, I am digressing and am also getting hungry.

Think about that statement he wrote. Think of your crappiest day. I’m sure there is at least one good thing that happened. It could have been a person who wanted to help you out, or someone who opened the door for you. For me, it can be a simple cup of hot cocoa. Well, that’s what it used to be until a locally owned coffee shop near me closed for some reason. It was the dead of winter and I had just come home from a blech morning at work. I parked my car and crunched through the ice and snow a couple blocks to the coffee shop. I looked up and it said, “Closed Indefinitely.” I was devastated because I could always count on my cup of heaven. I’d be having the worst day ever and go get a hot chocolate from this place and all my troubles would melt away.

The bottom line is that every day isn’t perfect, but sometimes if you add up all the good things that happened to you, you will see your bad day wasn’t really all that bad afterall. If you’re still having a craptastic (yes, another one of my words) day here is one thing I do. I do something nice for someone else. I’ll send a “Thinking of You” card to one of my friends or give a little extra change to the homeless person on the corner that always asks for more money after I’ve already given him some.

Oh! I always try to remind myself these 5 things:

1. I have parents and friends that love me
2. I have a job and am not standing in an unemployment line
3. I’m relatively healthy 
4. I’m not fighting a war, surrounded by chaos
5. I have a roof over my head

So every day may not be good … but there is something good in every day.” Happy Saturday! 

Happiness

“Take a look at yourself in the mirror. 

Who do you see looking back?

Is it the person you want to be?

Or is there someone else you were meant to be ... the person you should have been, but fell short.

Is someone telling you you can't or you won't?  Because you can.

Believe that love is out there.

Believe that dreams come true every day. Because they do.

Sometimes happiness doesn't come from money, or fame, or power.

Sometimes happiness comes from good friends and family .. and from the quiet nobility of leading a good life.

So take a look at yourself in that mirror and remind yourself to be happy, because you deserve to be.

Believe that.

And believe that dreams come true every day. Because they do.”

    -The Cast of One Tree Hill

I just finished watched the Season 6 finale of One Tree Hill and that is the dailogue that ended the episode. I find it poignant since I see myself in my imagination as a different person then as I am today. I haven’t received  something that I have been waiting for. But, every day I get closer to seeing the person who I want to be. 

The line about reminding yourself to be happy is something I need to do more often. Not that I’m not happy, but because I know I can be happier. I think we should all take a look in the mirror and remind ourselves that, because it’s true. Everyone deserves to be happy. Whether it be with work, your relationships, your family, or even something daring you did or accomplished that surprised you. 

So ... as I look back on the yellow brick road I took at KU and skip to my Oz, I will have to remember to look in the mirror and remind myself to be happy. I need to remember to be happy even with things go wrong, or I fall, or I’m feeling blue. Because I deserve to be happy, and happiness is what I hope for you.

Welcome To My World

Hey There! My name is Jessica and I want to formally welcome you to "The World According to JAZ."  Let me introduce myself to those of you who don't know me. I'm a 35, single, Jewish girl living in a major city in the Midwest. I work in television news and have lived on each coast and a few cities in-between. 

You may be wondering where I get JAZ from. They are my initials and my nickname! The first friend to call me JAZ was my friend Sandy. We were in grammar school and she always would be like, "JAZ! What's up?" The nickname has stuck. I'm also known for my vocabulary, which includes words and phrases like: coolio, coo-coo for cocoa puffs, and poopery scoopery.

Anyway, welcome to my blog. It's a bit cooky at times but it's also fantabulous (yes, two more words). So grab a martini or a glass of wine and join me for a jazzalicious journey through my world. I'm happy to have you in it!