Jana Says

Living life from cover to cover

Under the Covers with Erin and Jana: A Playlist

by Jana 19 Comments

This entry is part 3 of 8 in the series Playlists

So, about a month ago Erin and I put together this crazy awesome playlist of hairband songs (WHAT?! You missed it? Well, you’re in luck because it’s still available for your listening/reading pleasure) and then we had the idea that we should do yet another crazy awesome playlist. Except this time we decided we’d take rock band covers of non-rock band songs. Think things like Train covering Aerosmith’s “Dream On” (which I suppose is really the reverse of what we’re trying to do here). DAMN. SO GOOD. Also, you should listen to Pat Monahan singing “Love Me Two Times” with the surviving members of the Doors. Well, the ones who were surviving in 2009. I think at least another one is dead now. I’m digressing big time here, as a music fan does when discussing music but perhaps I should circle this back around to the main point of the post.

Cover songs. That Erin and I picked for you to listen to and assembled into a handy list.

Have at it and let your ears feast on these:

Mr. Big, “30 Days in the Hole” (originally by Humble Pie)

Disturbed, “The Sound of Silence” (originally by Simon and Garfunkel)

Social Distortion, “Ring of Fire” (orginally by Johnny Cash)

Guns N Roses, “Live and Let Die” (originally by Wings)

Halestorm, “Bad Romance” (orginally by Lady Gaga)

I Prevail, “Blank Space” (orginally by Taylor Swift)

Steel Panther, “Don’t Stop Believin'” (originally by Journey)

Marilyn Mason, “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” (originally by The Eurythmics)

Seether, “Careless Whisper” (originally by Wham!)

Van Halen, “You Really Got Me” (originally by The Kinks)

Metallica, “Turn the Page” (orginally by Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band)

Shinedown, “Simple Man” (originally by Lynyrd Skynyrd)

Breaking Benjamin, “Enjoy the Silence” (originally by Depeche Mode)

Fall Out Boy ft/ John Mayer, “Beat It” (originally by Michael Jackson)

To summarize:

playlist

There were a TON of great covers we left off the list in the interest of space and time and not wanting to bore anyone. But let us know–what are some of your favorite cover songs?

 

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All the leaves are brown and other things I love about fall

by Jana 40 Comments

And now we begin the basic of all basic posts…

I know that technically fall starts in a few weeks but since school is back in session (yay!), it’s fall in my book. 

I didn’t used to love fall. As a kid, summer was the best for all the reasons you’d think–Sleep-away camp, no school, sleeping late when I wasn’t as camp, swimming all the time, reading all day long…fun, kid stuff. Also, back then, the heat didn’t bother me quite like it does now and I didn’t mind wearing shorts, either. 

But now, as an adult, I much prefer the autumn months for so many reasons.

  1. Cooler weather. Look, I am all for embracing whatever it is you look like and wearing whatever you want but for me, I like to be covered up. Hoodies and yoga pants for this gal.
  2. Soups and casseroles and stews. A girl can only eat so many hot dogs and barbecued chicken before she hates them. Bring on the soups! Bring on the cheesy casseroles! I’m ready for a menu change.
  3. The colors. I adore fall colors. Summer ones are nice but the deep purples and reds and yellows of fall make me feel all cozy.
  4. Staying indoors is preferable. I am of the indoorsy kind (with some exceptions like the beach). Cooler weather means it’s acceptable and guilt free to binge watch Netflix on a Saturday instead of being outside, communing with nature and other people.
  5. Football. Not to watch, of course. But when the husband is watching it, I get hours of uninterrupted reading, cooking, and baking time. It’s relaxing and makes me feel productive.
  6. NO MOSQUITOES!! Die, you insufferable pests!
  7. Thanksgiving. It’s my favorite holiday. No fall, no Thanksgiving.
  8. Turning off the AC and opening the windows. There is nothing like the feeling of fresh air circulating through your home and does anyone else sleep better when the windows are open? Also, no AC means lower electric bills and who doesn’t love saving a little money?
  9. More routine. Yes, the unstructuredness of summer is nice but I function better with a schedule. I have less anxiety, more productivity, and it’s all around easier to manage.
  10. Fall TV!! True, many of the shows I watch exist in 10 episode bursts but fall means some of them are giving me new episodes and there’s new one to try, too. Plus this fall has The Muppets so it’s basically the greatest fall of all time.

15 things I always do

by Jana 43 Comments

This is probably a post that makes more sense at the beginning of the year but with the year being half over, it’s a nice time for reflection. Mostly in reviewing what I wanted to accomplish, how far I’ve come in achieving my goals, and what I still need to do by year’s end. While I was doing that, it occurred to me that there are some things that, no matter what, I do each year without fail.

Let’s dive into some of those.

  1. Read Our Town
  2. Watch all 18 episodes of “Freaks and Geeks”
  3. Plan to get a new hairstyle and color. Rethink decision immediately.
  4. Travel somewhere new, even if it’s not somewhere exotic or far away from home.
  5. Revamp my entire makeup collection.
  6. Buy a planner, fill it with important milestone events, anniversary, and birthdays. Forget most of them.
  7. Renew both my blog domain name and my business license because you never know.
  8. Go to the beach.
  9. Cook Thanksgiving dinner. It’s my favorite meal to cook so even if I’m not hosting, I cook half the meal anyway.
  10. Promise not to spend any money on books or magazines until I’m caught up with all the ones I have.
  11. Adamantly insist that this will be the year I relearn conversational French, play the guitar, and learn to sew.
  12. Buy new bras and underwear (I realize some people do this monthly. I’m not in that group of people. #noshame)
  13. Find song I love, listen to it until I can’t stand it.
  14. Say I’m going to be more social and make new friends.
  15. Commit to one blogging or work related conference (anyone want to go to the Book Riot one in November?)

I think there might be a few I’m missing. If so, I’ll fill them in later.

Obviously there are some things on that list I’m quite successful at doing and others, not so much (I’ll let you decide for yourself which is which). But I think having those yearly rituals, failed or not, keeps me focused (a little) on what I want my life to look like. And I’m pretty sure that’s not a bad choice to make.

How about you guys? Do you have recurring yearly rituals or goals?

 

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The ABCs of me

by Jana 33 Comments

You know what I like to do? Steal Borrow post ideas from other people. So that’s what I’m doing today rather than post the long, rambling rant that I’ll probably truncate and stuff into my weekly recap instead. I saw this on Erin’s blog and I thought it’d be a nice break from talking about books (what? I can talk about other things, too).

A- Age: 38. I’m surprisingly okay with this, although I do wonder how I got to actually BE 38.
B- Biggest fear: horses. But not just horses. I’ve written two posts devoted to all my fears (you can read them here and here) so you can enjoy those if you wish to know just how crazy I am.
C- Current Time: 10:47 a.m.(which is when I started writing)
D- Drink you last had: water. I drink a lot of it. I also spend a lot of time in the bathroom. This is not a hard puzzle to figure out.
E- Easiest Person To Talk to: the husband, my friend Jess, Steph
F- Favorite song: nope. I will not answer this one in fear of making all the songs I forget to mention feel bad. But if you’re holding a gun to my head, it’s either “Subdivisions” by Rush, “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” by Meatloaf (you can judge me. It’s okay), or “Amaryllis” by Shinedown. Maybe. Oh! “Maybe” by Sick Puppies! That’s one of them, too. 
G- Grossest Memory: Hmmm…that’s a tough one. I’m pretty desensitized to gross. Probably the time I saw a kid projectile vomit orange soda. This is also why I have an aversion to anything orange.
H- Hometown: I don’t generally disclose the exact town so let’s just say Long Island.
I- In love with: I’d say my husband and child and pets but that’s boring. So how about The Tonight Dough ice cream, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and books instead.
J- Jealous Of: tall people. And, so we’re clear, tall to me is anyone over 5’6″. I’m mostly jealous of your ability to reach things in high places sans ladder or tiptoes.
K- Killed Someone: I feel this is a ridiculous question because if I have, and I’ve gotten away with it thus far, why would I admit it now?
L- Longest Relationship: the one I’m in. We’ll be together 19 years in October, married for 11 this past April.
M- Middle Name: Lynn. I never use it. If you know my last name, you understand why.
N- Number of Siblings: two sisters. One brother in law.
O- One Wish: I have that Skee-Lo song in my head now but if I had a real wish, it would be endless money for anything I wanted. Or a multibook deal with a publisher.
P- Person who you last called: the PR representative for the sponsor of my mentoring session at #FinCon15
Q- Question you’re always asked: “Do you actually read all of those books?”
R- Reason to live: because thought of dying is way worse.
S- Song you last sang: “Banditos” by Refreshments or “On the Radio” by Donna Summer. I say two because it was the former when I started writing and the latter as I finished up.
T- Time you woke up: Somewhere in the neighborhood of 6:30AM. I don’t like that neighborhood. I’m looking to move. Preferably somewhere in the 9:00 hour.
U- Underwear Color: black and white striped (fun fact: I had to check because I couldn’t remember)
V- Vacation Destination: It varies. We try to go somewhere new every year. This year was Disney World. That was not new since we went in 2012. My ideal vacation destination is Australia which is fitting since Erin lives there and I totally ripped this idea off from her. Plus she promised me a beer when I got there and you don’t turn down free beer. That’s a life lesson, kids. You’re welcome.
W- Worst Habit: I pick at my cuticles. Sometimes until they bleed. I know. I’m classy.
X- Xrays you’ve had: For injuries: Broken right arm when I was in second grade. Glass in my left wrist the summer before 5th. Softball to the face junior year of high school. For pregnancy: 800 billion biophysical profiles and a few ultrasounds. Also: routine dental x-rays. I wonder how I’m not radioactive at this point.
Y- Your favorite food: Cheese. All the cheese. And Chinese food.
Z- Zodiac Sign: Gemini (I didn’t have to change this from Erin’s response)

What do your ABCs look like?

 

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Mid-year recap: Must-Read books

by Jana 14 Comments

Since June is halfway done, which means the year is almost halfway done (which is crazy), and I’m way more than halfway done with my Goodreads reading challenge, I figured it’d be a good time to go over my favorite books of the year so far. I know my list won’t look like anyone else’s since I’ve read some different books and have different taste and I’ll probably do a follow up in December with my favorite books from the second half of the year.

To decide this, I went with my 5 star Goodreads ratings as well as the ones that struck me the most emotionally, intellectually, creatively, and/or some combination of the three. It’s mostly fiction with a couple of nonfiction on the list. And, as always, I’m long winded so for the skimmers, there’s a “why you should read it” at the beginning of each paragraph.

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You by Caroline Kepnes Why you should read it: Who doesn’t need a good mindfuck every now and then? It’s a quick, face paced read that will fuck with your mind. Joe is a psycho stalker killer yet you find yourself actually liking him and, at times, being sympathetic towards him and hating the people he stalks. Which is weird. This book will make you question your social media use and also maybe make you just a tiny bit paranoid. But it also is a book you can’t put down and I am currently in the middle of the follow-up, Hidden Bodies. I want more books about Joe and when (not if. WHEN) this becomes a movie, I totally see someone like Elijah Wood or Jake Gyllenhaal playing him.

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Nevin  Why you should read it: It helps destigmatize mental health by opening up the subject for discussion through the characters’ relationships. One of the most honest books about mental health and depression I’ve ever read. This book wrecked me for days after I read it and I was glad to be home alone when I finished it because I ugly cried. UGLY. For hours. Violet is a bit annoying but the way she writes Finch is heartbreaking and unbelievably realistic and his descent into depression gutted me. It’s not an easy book to read given the age of the characters (they’re teenagers) and the subject matter but well worth it.

The Martian by Andy Weir Why you should read it: It’s funny, well-written, and makes you think about the good parts of humanity. We need that right now. I was nervous to read this one because I do not like science fiction. And the beginning didn’t help that with all its math and science. BUT. The sarcasm and humor and great writing and oddly, an element of plausibility, made this something both my husband and I loved and that never, ever happens. If there were ever two people who could not agree on a book, it’s the two of us yet we both are crazy in love with this story. That should say all about it you need.

Stolen: A Letter To My Captor by Lucy Christopher Why you should read it: It’s just a good book and it never quite goes the way you think it will. And a camel will make you cry. That should be enough to want to check it out. A book about Stockholm Syndrome in the Australian Outback, written as a letter from the kidnapped girl to her kidnapper with an ending that is definitely up for interpretation. The author makes both central characters, Gemma and Ty sympathetic and complex and you’ll feel so many feels and want to keep reading to find out what happens next. It’s not a perfect book, I’ll admit, but put this on your list.

Wonder by RJ Palacio I don’t know what to say about this book except you should read it. Why? Because it’s a story everyone, EVERYONE, needs to read. It will make you think about acceptance and differences and seeing people for who they are, not what the look like.

True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa by Michael Finkel  Why you should read it: This book isn’t for everyone but if you like criminal justice and memoirs, this is probably one of the best I’ve read. The epitome of a truth is stranger than fiction story told from the perspective a disgraced journalist. I enjoyed how open and truthful the author was about his feelings towards Christian Longo, the suspected murderer, as well as his feelings towards his own actions and the subsequent consequences.

The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace by Jeff Hobbs Why you should read it: It’s eye opening regarding the struggles faced by inner city kids and their parents who want to break the cycle of poverty. An honest, first person look at the life a brilliant student torn between his academic life and opportunities (he went to Yale) and his family and friends on the streets of Newark, NJ. It ends, sadly and predictably, how you think but to watch his complicated ascent, struggle, and decline makes for an eye opening book. Warning: the author, who was Robert’s roommate at Yale, includes himself in a bit too much of the story. Just glance over those parts.

What I’m most looking forward to reading in the second half of 2015: In fiction, Summerlong by Dean Bakopolous, Love May Fail by Matthew Quick, Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner, Every Day by David Levithan, and In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume. In nonfiction, Do Over by Jon Acuff, The Boy Kings of Texas by Domingo Martinez, Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson, Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling, and The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck.

How about you guys? What’s at the top of your list?

 

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