Jana Says

#allaboutme

June 3, 2015 by Jana 34 Comments

Birthday week continues so we’re going to talk all about me because that’s what you do during birthday week. Today, I’m going to share random facts you might or might not already know but I figured I’d hashtag the shit out of them for extra fun.

My parents’ 41st wedding anniversary was on Monday and, because my birthday is so close to their anniversary, I tell them that I’m the best anniversary present ever (I also use this as justification for not getting them presents on a regular basis because really, how do you top your own birth? That’s right. You can’t. So I don’t). #ididitonpurpose

I was in a sorority in college. Delta Gamma, for those who are curious. #notallsororitygirlsarevapid

I have a dual undergraduate degree in criminal justice and sociology. I have a master’s in public policy. While I don’t work in those fields anymore, this explains nonfiction books I read and discuss. #iusedtobesmart #ipickedthewrongmajor

I don’t chew gum. #hurtsthejaw

I also do not eat anything orange flavored, including oranges and all of its cousins like clementines and tangerines. I don’t even like the way they smell and, confession time, when my daughter asks me to peel one for her, I tell her no. #worstflavorever #exceptforcoconut

When I was a kid, my best friend was named Rachael. Her mom is the one who taught me how to tie my shoes and she taught me to use bunny ears. I still tie my shoes that way. #bunnyearsarebetterthanloopswoopandpull

I have broken bones, gotten stitches, and once, I got hit in the face with a line drive that earned me two black eyes and 3 days home from school. #battlescarsmakegoodstories

I failed my road test 4 times. Passed on the fifth. #parallelparkingishard

Two of my favorite teachers in high school were science teachers. #butistillhatescience

The first concert I went to was New Kids on the Block and Tiffany. The first concert I went to by myself (with friends, no parents) was Warrant and Poison. The last concert I went to was Rush. #evolutionoftaste #istilllistentoallofthem

The only one of the main 4 professional sports I have not seen live is basketball. I have no plans for that either. #squeakingsneakersdrivemecrazy

Now that you know more than you ever cared to about me, share a random fact of two about you!

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Interview with a bookworm: Erin from TexErin in Sydneyland

June 2, 2015 by Jana 23 Comments

This week, I’m pleased to bring you an interview with my musical and literary twin, Erin, who blogs from Australia at TexErin in Sydneyland. Make sure to check out the interview archives when you’re done!

Howdy! I’m Erin, a proud Texas woman who moved to the magical wonderland of Sydney, Australia late 2008. I blog at TexErin-in-SydneyLand. Jana and I connected through the blogger world for our love of books, rock music, and sarcasm. I’m a mama to 5 fur kids, a step-mama to 2 kids, and a wifey to 1 guy. At my blog, you’ll read about all of these things and other random stuff.

Books. I like books. I like books a lot. Let’s talk about books.

Jana: Why do you enjoy reading?

Erin: Escapism. Relaxation. Switching off to the real world, and switching on to imaginary worlds.

Jana: How do you decide what to read?

Erin: Good Reads is helpful. So is the Show Us Your Books link-up. I participate in approximately 4-6 book challenges a year. Plus, I wander around the library or a favorite second hand bookstore and interesting little gems.

Jana: Who are some of your favorite authors and/or genres?

Erin: I read a mix of fiction & non-fiction, mystery/thriller, memoirs (especially rock star bios), YA, historical fiction, and more. If I had to choose just one favorite author, I’d say John Sandford. I’ve read every book the guy has written (except the ones listed in his “ETCETERA” category on his website). In my experience I’ve found that if you are a crime/thriller/mystery reader, you will often find at least one or two authors that you will stay loyal to and read everything in the series that they publish. That’s me with Mr. Sandford. Karin Slaughter is another one, and I’ve recently fallen in love with Melina Marchetta and Jonathan Tropper (who are not crime/mystery/thriller writers).

Jana: What’s your favorite book or a book you always recommend?

Erin: I have so many that I love and adore but to narrow down to the top that I always mention and/or recommend: 102 Minutes by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (That’s two interviewees recommending this book, plus me. If you have not, get on this book), The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx (YES!!!), The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (DOUBLE YES!!!)

Jana: Do you watch movie adaptations of books? What do you think of them?

Erin: Sure. Mostly, the book is better…but every now and then, a movie surprises me and is really, really, realllly good.

Jana: Ebooks, paper books, audiobooks, or a combination? Why?

Erin: Paper books. Always and forever. Except when I visit my dad and he has a new book on his e-reader that I can’t wait to read.

Jana: Do you use the library or buy books?

Erin: Both. I’ve been using the library more and more. I’m a fan and supporter of local second hand bookstores. I’ve pretty much stopped buying books from the big guns unless I show no self-control. It can happen.

Jana: Does it offend you when people call you a bookworm or book nerd? Why or why not?

Erin: Absolutely not. I embrace it. Most people that say this mean it as a term of endearment. And, if they don’t, they don’t know what they’re missing.

Jana: How do you find time to read?

Erin: I commute via train approximately 12 hours a week. Plus, most nights, I take a hot bath and read some more. I’ve pretty much eliminated most of my television watching.

Jana: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to people who say they don’t enjoy reading or don’t have time to read?

Erin: Find something to read about that you do enjoy, even if it is a weekly magazine. Then, be open to someone who knows you well and is an avid reader to recommend or buy you a book. Try it. Turn off the tv for a week, and try reading.

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38 Life Lessons

June 1, 2015 by Jana 23 Comments

This Friday is my 38th birthday. Like most people, I’ve gathered a whole bunch of knowledge in my years and, because I’m generous, I’m going to share some of it with you. 38 pearls of wisdom (which is actually more clever than it sounds because I’m going to be 38 and pearl is my (hideous) birthstone), if you will. Or 38 life lessons. Whatever you’d like to call them.

You’re welcome.

Your strengths, flaws, quirks, skills, dreams, failures…they all make you you. Embrace them all.
Don’t worry about what people say about you behind your back. I always remind myself that if the best they can do is talk about me, their own lives must not be that interesting. Because I’m pretty damn boring.
It’s never too late to start working on a dream.
Goals are important. Have them. Work towards them. When you achieve them, set new ones. Never stop dreaming (while you’re at it, don’t stop believin’, either).
Be responsible with your money.
Travel. Experience new people and places. You never know how they’ll change your mind about something.
Surround yourself with people that make you feel good. Ain’t nobody got time for toxic friends.
Have a pet, even if it’s a fish. They have a way of making lonely days a little less lonely.
Speaking of lonely, it’s okay to spend time by yourself. In fact, I recommend it.
“No” is a perfectly acceptable sentence and it can be applicable in any situation.
Don’t overobligate or overschedule yourself (or your children, if you have them). Know your priorities. Make time for people, places, and things that matter. Don’t waste time on the ones that don’t.
Smile at strangers. Say hello once and awhile, too.
Force yourself to do things that intimidate or scare you. Unless that thing is ride a horse. Then you have my permission to avoid it.
Learn proper grammar. Then write it and speak it.
Have good manners. Say please and thank you and excuse me and bless you and I’m sorry and cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze. Hold the door open for the person behind you, especially if that person is elderly or has a stroller. Don’t park in the handicap spot or the spot for pregnant mothers if you’re not one of those.
Perfect your “autograph signature” because you never know.
Forge friendships with people of all ages.
Read. Books, magazines, blogs, even the back of shampoo bottles. Anything. Just read.
Keep private matters off of Facebook.
Watch a sunrise or sunset at least once a year.
Know what you believe in and stand for. But don’t be a dick about it. If someone has a differing opinion, respect that.
Vote.
Learn to cook one great dish or dessert. You never know when you’ll need to make one or have someone you want to impress.
Nostalgia is good but don’t live in the past.
Practice compassion, empathy, and generosity. But don’t let yourself be taken advantage of. Know when to draw the line.
Wear sunscreen. Go to the dentist. Eat your vegetables.
Understand that there will be bad days. Some will be very bad. But no matter how bad they seem, they will pass. Things will get easier, days will get better and you will be amazed at how much stronger you are than you think.
Be kind to animals.
Personal responsibility and accountability are two of the best qualities you can have.
Put your cell phone away when you’re paying for something. Cashiers and sales clerks are not invisible and having a conversation in front of them like they’re not there is rude and obnoxious. Your call can wait. If it can’t, step out of line.
Do what works for you and your family and don’t worry what anyone else says (there are certain caveats like, you know, illegal behavior).
Never pass up the chance to take a nap.
Call your parents and grandparents.
Don’t underestimate the value or a rainy day spent inside in your pajamas.
Have a personal anthem, motto, quote, or saying. Use it on the days that are really hard.
Never, EVER be ashamed of anything you’re good at. Or bad at.
Win and lose gracefully and graciously.
Keep a sense of humor about you. Laugh at yourself and laugh with others. Don’t take anything too seriously that doesn’t need to be taken seriously. Life’s too short for that shit.

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This week in…: Volume 19

May 29, 2015 by Jana 14 Comments

Weekly recap. Let’s get to it for this very slow, boring, uneventful week.

This week in reading…In the middle of Wonder and The Leisure Seeker. Alex Woods, Some Luck, and Big Little Lies are next. Also, this is your friendly reminder for the next Show Us Your Books linkup which happens on June 9.

This week in cooking…I made the easiest dinner the other night, one pot pasta with vegetables. Here’s what you do: Mix 2 cups of sauce (I make my own but you can use jarred as well) with two cups of water. Bring to a boil. Add roughly 8 oz of pasta (or, if you’re like me, just dump in a bunch of noodles until you think it’s enough) and a bag of frozen vegetables. Cook until the pasta is done. Add cheese if you want.

This week in TV watching…Thanks to Kathy, I plan to check out Bosch because you can never have too many gritty cop shows in your life. I also decided that I’m finally going to watch How To Get Away with Murder because I meant to watch it when it aired (and by watch, I mean DVR) and never did. Summer TV sucks so I figure it’s a good time to catch up.

This week in gardening…The husband one again created a huge garden in the backyard. Some plants are doing well (corn, pumpkins), and others (peppers, cucumbers), not so much. He did bring volunteers (I call them tributes) home from my in-laws’ and they seem to be surviving thus far. Our garden is officially the hunger games.

This week in what the fuck…So where I live has two main residents groups. One is public, anyone can join and the other is a private/secret/whatever group. I was a member of both. I’m not very active on Facebook at all so I didn’t visit or post in the secret group with any sort of regularity. I was removed from the group as a result. I know they do that, cull people who they think are lurkers or spies from the public residents group (I know) but seriously, what the fuck?

This week in WHY???…Another installment of The Human Centipede is on its way. I can’t even. If you aren’t familiar with The Human Centipede, please look it up. It is the most disturbing, fucked up thing in the history of everything and I don’t want to describe it or even link to it.

This week in things that are awesome…Did you guys read that Jon Stewart bought a farm in NJ to use as an animal sanctuary for homeless animals? Could he be any more fantastic?

This week in internet reads…Loved this post from The Accidental Missionary (not a blog I read regularly but someone I follow posted a link to this post) about how moms need to stop being overachievers. This post on Social Media Week calls those of us born in the late 70s/early 80s The Oregon Trail Generation since we never really feel like Gen X or Millennials, and how we’re different and why we don’t identify fully with either group. Then there was this list of 14 Things Every Fat Girl Needs to Hear (although I feel like we can take out the word “fat” because every girl needs to hear these). And finally, this interview with Amy Schumer, Kate McKinnon, Ellie Kemper, Lena Dunham, Gina Rodriguez, and Tracee Ellis Ross in The Hollywood Reporter. Ladies are fucking funny, yo.

This week in funnies…

That’s it for this week. Have a great weekend, y’all! See you back on Monday!

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Stuff, things, things, stuff

May 28, 2015 by Jana 29 Comments

It’s been awhile so let’s link up with Kristin and Joey today.

Yesterday was lady doctor day. I treated myself to a s’mores frappuccino when I was done because that’s totally what you do after you go to the lady doctor. It’s also what you do for no reason at all because those things are delicious.

Hey there, turtle. You can kindly go away now.

Yesterday was also do battle with a turtle day because OF COURSE there was a turtle on the outside of my fence when I got home from the doctor. Big son of bitch, too. This living in the country thing gets less and less appealing every day. It’s why I never leave the house. Not because I don’t want to deal with people (which I don’t) but because nature can go fuck itself.

And the icing on the shitcake that was yesterday? My car needs 4 new tires. FOUR. We thought it was just 2 and had budgeted for that. But now we need 4. And my car, which is already overdue for the registration renewal, didn’t pass inspection and thus, we could not renew the registration. DMV gave us 10 days to fix the problem. Awesome.

Reader poll–anyone use melatonin to help them sleep? I have terrible sleeping issues and I’ve heard it helps. But I’m curious about anyone’s personal experience with it, good or bad.

I cannot believe my daughter’s last day of second grade is next week. I swear, we just had meet the teacher night last month. I have got to figure out a way to slow down time.

Speaking of school ending, my daughter’s summer homework came home last week. It’s only a reading log and then a small assignment, so I’m not overly annoyed with the fact that she has to do it. But I am a tad bit concerned that the school is still recommending picture books for third graders. Shouldn’t they have moved past those by now? Am I overreacting?

While at my in-laws’ house this past weekend, I had creme brulee flavored coffee. You guys. I do drink coffee now (which is weird) but I’m extremely picky about what I do drink because I still loathe most flavors but this stuff was AMAZING. If you can find some of it near you, get it.

Current events rant: I had a whole post written about the Duggar family but I didn’t post it for various reasons. What I will say is this: I am disgusted and appalled by Josh’s actions, TLC’s blatant disregard for knowledge I am 100% confident they had (not to mention its current silence and inaction, but I guess that makes sense when you’re talking about a cash cow), the homeschool curriculum and organizations the family affiliates with, the number of politicians siding with the family, and the fact that the records have been destroyed. Josh is a vile human being, filled with an unnecessary level of hatred I will never comprehend, and learning about his actions in the context of his beliefs makes me loathe him even more. But I am done trying to make sense of the parents’ course of action after they found out. Not because I support their choices. Not even close. Covering it up was wrong, and showed a complete lack of care and consideration for their daughters and the other victims. But they are so indoctrinated and enmeshed in a cult culture that handles sex abuse in an entirely fucked up manner that, in their minds, they did the right thing. And, much like I had to do with my clients, trying to understand their thought process in the context of my values will only give me a headache. Nothing in that culture, or the Duggar mindset, will change unless they are removed from it and comprehend just how utterly wrong it is. There’s also this–I get that people want to bring them down. I do. They are hypocritical hate mongers with an entirely too big platform on which to spew their vicious rhetoric. Their behavior is reprehensible and, despite the pretty, smiling, color coordinated package they’re wrapped in, you cannot hide the fact that, once they open their mouths away from the cameras, they are repugnant. But bringing them down at the expense of the victims is also reprehensible and I wonder how much thought was given to them when In Touch decided to released the redacted police report (like people couldn’t figure it out). I cannot even imagine what those girls are going through right now and my heart breaks for them. Oh, and did anyone else catch in the police report that they discipline their kids using a rod? Maybe we need to talk about that, too. /rant

And because I need to end on something less serious, this truth:

Let's ignore the word "romantic" because really? And let's focus on the hilarious truth instead. — Let’s ignore the word “romantic” because really? And let’s focus on the hilarious truth instead.

What are some things going on with you?

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#allaboutme

Interview with a bookworm: Erin from TexErin in Sydneyland

38 Life Lessons

This week in…: Volume 19

Stuff, things, things, stuff

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