I was listed on a thread on ModelMayhem as a “favorite up-and-coming young model.” Many thanks to the photographer who offered up my name 
Sooooo I’m in the process of creating new (and re-vamping old) online modeling portfolios. Some will take a few more days to be approved, but I’ve got a few so far!
Here are all of links:
Check it YO!!
xoxo, J
“The Sun and the Moon”
Mae
Wasted time.
I can not say that I was ready for this.
But, when worlds collide,
And all that I have is all that I want.
The words seem to flow
And the thoughts they keep running.
And all that I have is yours.
All that I am is yours.
Ohh…
Painted skies.
I’ve seen so many that cannot compare,
To your ocean eyes.
The pictures you took
That cover your room,
And it was just like the sun
But more like the moon.
A light that can reach it all.
So now I’m branded for taking the fall.
Ohh…
So when you say forever,
Can’t you see you’ve already captured me.
xoxo, J
I’m in a mushy mood and I’m ecstatic about where I am in life. So sue me. I’ll update this from time to time.
Mae
“The Sun and the Moon“
Wasted time.
I can not say that I was ready for this.
But, when worlds collide,
And all that I have is all that I want.
The words seem to flow
And the thoughts they keep running.
And all that I have is yours.
All that I am is yours.
Ohh…
Painted skies.
I’ve seen so many that cannot compare,
To your ocean eyes.
The pictures you took
That cover your room,
And it was just like the sun
But more like the moon.
A light that can reach it all.
So now I’m branded for taking the fall.
Ohh…
So when you say forever,
Can’t you see you’ve already captured me.
The Used
“Smother Me”
Let me be the one who calls you
baby all the time
Surely you can take some comfort
knowing that you’re mine
Just hold me tight, lay by my side
Let me be the one who calls you
baby all the time
I found my place in the world
Could stare at your face for the rest of
my days
Now I can breathe, turn my insides out
and Smother me
Warm and alive I’m all over you
Would you smother me?
Let me be the one who never leaves you all alone
I hold my breath and lose the feeling that I’m on my own
Hold me too tight, stay by my side
And let me be the one who calls you
baby all the time
I found my place in the world
Could stare at your face for the rest of
my days
Now I can breathe, turn my insides out
and smother me
Warm and alive I’m all over you
Would you smother me?
When I’m alone time goes so slow
I need you here with me
and how my mistakes have made
Your heart break
Still I need you here with me
Baby I’m here
Now I can breathe, turn my insides out
and smother me
Warm and alive I’m all over you
Would you smother me?
Now I can breathe, turn my insides out
and smother me
Warm and alive I’m all over you
Would you smother me?
Let me be the one who calls you
baby all the time
Let me be the one who calls you
baby all the time
Let me be the one who calls you
baby
The Used
“I Caught Fire”
Seem to stop my breath
My head on your chest
Waiting to cave in
From the bottom of my…
Hear your voice again
Could we dim the sun
And wonder where we’ve been
Maybe you and me
So kiss me like you did
My heart has stopped beating
Such a softer sin
(I’m melting, I’m melting)
In your eyes
I lost my place
Could stay a while
And I’m melting
In your eyes
Like my first time
That I caught fire
Just stay with me
Lay with me
Now
Never caught my breath
Every second I’m without you I’m a mess
Ever know each other
Trust these words are stones
My cuts are healing
Learning how to love
I’m melting (I’m melting)
In your eyes
I lost my place
Could stay a while
And I’m melting
In your eyes
Like my first time
That I caught fire
Just stay with me
Lay with me…
(Stay with me lay with me now)
You could stay and watch me fall
And of course I’d ask for help
Just stay with me now
We could take our heads off, stay in bed
Just make love, that’s all
Just stay with me now
I’m melting (I’m melting)
In your eyes
I lost my place
Could stay a while
and I’m melting
In your eyes
Like my first time
That I caught fire
Just stay with me
Lay with me
In your eyes
I lost my place
Could stay a while
and I’m melting
In your eyes
Like my first time
That I caught fire
Just stay with me lay with me
(Stay with me, lay with me)
In your eyes
Lets sleep till the sun burns out
I’m melting in your eyes (I’m melting in your eyes)
Lets sleep till the sun burns out
I’m melting in your eyes
Mae
“The Everglow”
Here’s a night, and it shines.
And it calls us on and on.
So be here by my side, and watch the stars.
They’re ours.
Make a wish or just take charge.
The moment comes get lost and go far.
I think that we’ve got what it takes, to get this heart start beating again.
So take it all the way.
Whoa, whoa.
And our hearts are on The Everglow.
So just let go and fall into it.
We begin, breathe in.
Here’s our chance to go for something.
So this is where we win, and take the game.
No blame. There’s a neon light inside that shines.
And tearing down the walls in the way.
I think that we’ve got what it takes, to get this heart start beating again.
So take it all the way.
Whoa, whoa.
And our hearts are on The Everglow.
Deep inside we both know it.
Everything’s hanging on this moment.
Whoa, whoa.
And our hearts are on The Everglow.
So just let go and fall into it.
It’s cold inside, but deep in the night.
The light is bright enough to save the weakest ones but you’re in the running.
Oh don’t you give up or fade away.
Whoa, whoa.
And our hearts are on The Everglow.
Whoa, whoa.
So just let go and fall into it.
Whoa, whoa.
And our hearts are on The Everglow.
Deep inside we both know it.
Everything’s hanging on this moment.
Whoa, whoa.
And our hearts are on The Everglow.
Every action makes a reaction.
We’ll figure it out and make it happen.
Whoa, whoa.
And our hearts are on The Everglow.
So just let go and fall into it.
Anberlin
“Inevitable”
Do you remember when we were just kids,
and cardboard boxes took us miles from what we would miss?
School yard conversations taken to heart,
and laughter took the place of everything we knew we were not.
I want to break every clock.
the hands of time could never move again.
We could stay in this moment for the rest of our lives.
Is it over now hey, hey is it over now?
I want to be your last first kiss
that you’ll ever have.
I want to be your last first kiss.
Amazing how life turns out, the way that it does.
We end up hurting the worst, the only ones we really love.
I want to break every clock.
the hands of time could never move again.
We could stay in this moment for the rest of our lives.
Is it over now hey, hey is it over now?
I want to be your last first kiss
that you’ll ever have.
I want to be your last first kiss.
Is it over now hey, hey is it over now?
Is it over now hey, hey it’s not over now.
I want to be your last first kiss
that you’ll ever have.
I want to be your last first love
Lying here beside me with eyes and arms open wide,
I want to be your last first kiss
for all time.
Blink 182
“I Miss You”
(I miss you, miss you)
Hello there, the angel from my nightmare,
The shadow in the background of the moor,
The unsuspecting victim of darkness in the valley
We can live like Jack and Sally if we want
Where you can always find me
We’ll have Halloween on Christmas
And in the night we’ll wish this never ends
We’ll wish this never ends
(I miss you, miss you)
(I miss you, miss you)
Where are you and I’m so sorry
I cannot sleep, I cannot dream tonight
I need somebody and always
This sick strange darkness
Comes creeping on so haunting every time
And as I stared I counted
The webs from all the spiders
Catching things and eating their insides
Like indecision to call you
And hear your voice of treason
Will you come home and stop this pain tonight
Stop this pain tonight
Don’t waste your time on me you’re already
The voice inside my head (I miss you, miss you)
Don’t waste your time on me you’re already
The voice inside my head (I miss you, miss you)
Don’t waste your time on me you’re already
The voice inside my head (I miss you, miss you)
Don’t waste your time on me you’re already
The voice inside my head (I miss you, miss you)
Don’t waste your time on me you’re already
The voice inside my head (I miss you, miss you)
Don’t waste your time on me you’re already
The voice inside my head (I miss you, miss you)
(I miss you, miss you)
(I miss you, miss you)
(I miss you, miss you)
(miss you, miss you)
Conditions
“Keeping Pace with Planes”
I am drowning in dry land
Distance is swallowing me
This keeps my sanity close
But far from inside of my body
Complete lunacy…
I will no longer keep this within me
The closest thing to me at heart
Is the furthest thing away to touch
And all these undeservers take for granted
What we deserve so much
The world has been pulled to my feet
Closer than it’s ever been
This is something to live for
The beautiful mess I am in
I know this feeling’s heaven sent
And I am so confident
I will regain my sanity
When “goodbye” is a memory
The whole entire world
Is not enough to make my body still
And no matter of miles
Could make a mockery of iron will
Mae
“Suspension”
Lately I’m alright
And lately I’m not scared
I’ve figured out
That what you do to me feels like
I’m floating on air
I don’t need to know right now
All I know is I believe
In the very thing that got us here
And now I can’t leave
Say anything, but say what you mean
’cause I’m caught in suspension
Now,
I’m wanting this for sure
And I’ll beg for nothing more
I’ll plan all day and drive all night
You’ll love what’s in store
I can’t seem to stop this now
Even if it’s not so clear
And I’ll take what I can get
If you want me here (If you want me here)
Say anything, but say what you mean.
When you whisper you want this
Your eyes tell the same
We are gaining speed
I can barely breathe
’cause I’m caught in suspension
It’s enough for me to get excited
It’s enough for me to feel…woooooah ooooh oh oh oh
Say anything, but say what you mean
When you whisper you want this(when you whisper you want this)
Your eyes tell the same
Say Anything(suspension)
But say what you mean (Oh, please say what you mean)
I’m caught in suspension (suspension)
I’m caught in suspension
Picking up speed (suspension)
I can barely breathe (Oh, I can barely breathe)
I’m caught in suspension
I’m caught in suspension
Say anything (suspension)
But say what you mean (Oh, I can barely breathe)
I’m caught in suspension
The Starting Line
“The Best of Me”
Tell me what you thought about when you were gone
And so alone
The worst is over
You can have the best of me
We got older
But we’re still young
We never grew out of this feeling that we wont give up
Here we lay again
On two separate beds
Riding phone lines
to meet a familiar voice
And pictures drawn from memory
We reflect on miscommunications
And misunderstandings
And missing each other too
Much to have had to let go
Turn our music down
And we whisper
“Say what you’re thinking right now”
Tell me what you thought about when you were gone
And so alone
The worst is over
You can have the best of me
We got older
But we’re still young
We never grew out of this feeling that we wont give up
Jumping to conclusions
Made me fall away from you
I’m so glad that the truth has brought back together me and you
We’re sitting on the ground and we whisper
“Say what you’re thinking out loud”
Tell me what you thought about when you were gone
And so alone
The worst is over
You can have the best of me
We got older
But we’re still young
We never grew out of this feeling that we wont give up
Turn our music down
And we whisper
We’re sitting on the ground
And we whisper
We turn our music down
We’re sitting on the ground
The next time I’m in town
We will kiss girl
We will kiss girl
Tell me what you thought about when you were gone
And so alone
The worst is over
can have the best of me
We got older
But we’re still young
We never grew out of this feeling that we won’t
Feeling that we can’t
That were not ready to give up
We got older, but we’re still young
We never grew out of this feeling that we wont give up
“Nothing compares with the finding of true love; because once you do your heart is complete.” – Anonymous
“This kind of certainty comes, but once in a lifetime.” – Clint Eastwood, “Bridges of Madison County”
“Love not looked for is love that shall be found.” – Anonymous
“The spaces between your fingers were created so that mine could fill them in.” – Anonymous
Don’t say you love me unless you really mean it, because I might do something crazy . . . like believe it.
xoxo, J
Painted skies.
I’ve seen so many that cannot compare,
To your ocean eyes.
The pictures you took
That cover your room,
And it was just like the sun
But more like the moon.
A light that can reach it all.
So now I’m branded for taking the fall.
Ohh…
So when you say forever,
Can’t you see you’ve already captured me.
Holy Crap. I have a LOT to catch up on. Almost two month’s worth of stuff. Well . . . here’s the quick illustrated version:
Current boyfriend = Ryan.
Current job = Tobacco Company Restaurant: Black Jack dealer.
Current living situation = apartment downtown (with the most amazing view ever) with Ryan and our two cats, Stoli & Kahlua.
Oh and I quit smoking and biting my nails (thanks to Ryan).
FRIENDS AND SUCH:
The Sex & The City Girls are no more. I don’t need those kinds of people in my life. That’s all I’m ever going to say about that matter, because I don’t need to waste my time talking shit. I wish you girls the best. A certain Mariah Carey song comes to mind though . . . “Why you so obsessed with me?”
Manijeh = back from FL, engaged finally, I’m her maid-of-honor. The date is set for June 2010. HOORAY!!
Me and my parents = back on good terms.
I even went to church a few times. Go me! (I still curse like a sailor, though. Sowwy!)
I got the job(s) at Tobacco Co. thanks to Ryan and his friend, Justin. It’s like, impossible to get a job there, so I’m super excited. I learned how to play Black Jack the night before I started. (Thanks Ryan) I’m surprisingly really good at what I do! I love my job and I hope I continue to love it for a looong time to come!
you had me at hello . . .
Let’s start back in July when I met Ryan. I’m not gonna go into the whole story (okay, yes I am), but it comes down to us meeting at a bar. Typical Jenna, right? One night, after Lucky’s, Hayley, her boyfriend, and I went to Hayley’s friend, Jacki’s, apartment right down the street from the bar. Ryan and I had spoken a few times that night at the bar, texted here and there, what have you. On a whim, I texted him and asked if he wanted to chill. He did I met him outside of Jacki’s apartment and we went inside and drank and hung out with everyone for a bit. Then Hayley comes in like, screaming; she was wasted and she had a flat tire. So we all went outside and sat with her while her boyfriend changed her tire. Hayley was SUPPOSED to be my ride home that night, but Ryan said he’d take me home so of course I chose that option instead 
He and I headed back inside to the apartment to get my purse, and he made a joke about climbing over the gate and sneaking into the pool. I looked at him and said “Let’s do it!” So. We did it! We swam around for damn near 45 minutes before the security guard came over and kicked us out. We went back into the building soaking wet, and got my stuff, then walked out to his car. My car was parked somewhere off Main St and Hayley said she’d drive me back to my car the next morning. Anywho, Ryan drove me home, top down, wind blowin’ — we listened to his iPod on the way there and we found out we had common taste in music. “You’ve actually heard of Conditions?!?” Haha.
you gave me butterflies at the mailbox . . .
We sat in front of my mailbox in the convertible for 20 minutes, just chit-chatting away. He asked me questions about the house and the renovation and such and I was like “Why don’t you just come in and I’ll show you?” So I took him in, gave him a quick tour, then once we got to my room, Family Guy was in the DVD player and we both looked at each other like “OMGWEHAVETOWATCHITNOW!” So I hit play and we watched an episode . . . then another . . . then another . . . and another. We woke up sometime in the early afternoon and were like “Weird . . . we didn’t do it. That’s neat.” Haha. Hayley wasn’t home yet, so Ryan offered to drop me off at my car on his way to work. I had to be at work a couple hours from then, too. Again, of course, I said yes. We got downtown and he was like “Eh, I got like an hour before I have to go in; I’m gonna hold onto you a little longer.” Pffffttttttt, OKAY! So we drove around listening to ridiculous music like Will Smith and the Punk goes Crunk album. He finally dropped me off at my car and I drove away thinking “Damn . . . I’ll probably never hear from him again.” I called my manager — he said I didn’t need to come in. I was like well shit . . . now what am I gonna do all day? Ryan texted me “Sweet! No work!” I was like “Me neither!” “Well . . . do you wanna come hang out with me and my British friends?” “I love British people!!!!” (Okay so that’s not exactly how the conversation went, but you get the gist). So I drove over to the Brit’s apartment. Good. Freaking. God. I love those Brits.
what have i gotten into this time around . . . ?
I found out Ryan was leaving for Australia for a MONTH from the 23rd of July to the 21st of August. Bummer. I hung out with the him and the Brits or just Ryan every single day up until the day he left for Aussieland. We had a lot of funny, drunken nights together playing PhotoHunt at the bars, shooting Nerf guns and throwing water balloons at each other, peeing on cars in the rain, and stumbling around the Morris St apartment. July 21 was Ryan’s 25th birthday and we all got drunky at the Brit’s place, then headed to ChaCha’s for drinks. Ryan asked me to be his girlfriend I said yes . . . and then we got PLASTERED. We woke up the next morning and looked at each other and just busted out laughing. Holy hell, what an awesome night. Here’s a bunch of pictures of all the good times with Ryan and the Brits:
and i’m wasting away, away from you . . .
Ryan left for Australia on the 23rd; he and I followed his parents to the airport and we all said our goodbyes. I almost didn’t cry 
When we hugged goodbye, I looked deep into his eyes; I didn’t want him to forget my face. I stayed strong until I got in my car; that’s when the tears started flowing. After seeing Ryan’s parents hug and kiss him goodbye, I felt a huge pang in my heart. I really missed my family. I hadn’t spoken to any of them since May. I went home and picked up Chandler, took him to lunch, then invited my mom and sister over to see my new house. I’m so glad I did that. I missed my family so so so much. The month of August is kind of a blur. I honest to God hardly did anything. I went to Dana’s wedding on the 1st with Hayley, but of course you already knew that from my last post. I got a job with Gold’s Gym as a marketing/promotions director . . . but the manager was a fucking chump and dicked me over, so I started looking for another job. Geez, NO ONE was hiring that month. NO ONE. And I’m sorry, but I can not work at McDonald’s. I’d rather live out of my car (which I’ve done before, with my dog Bella, and it’s really not that bad). Thank goodness for this Tobacco Co job What did I do in August? Hmm . . . I rescued a kitten! I found a 3 week-old kitten in a parking lot off Broad Street; he was getting beat up by a big, mean cat. I saved him and took him home and bottle-fed him for 2 weeks until he was big enough to eat on his own. He is now the newest addition to the family His name is Stoli and he’s the love of my life!
Anyways. I stayed home a lot and talked to Ryan whenever I could. I ghetto-rigged the cable up to my computer; I didn’t have cable for a month but I DID have internet. Any time Ryan got on Facebook or Skype (which was VERY rarely due to internet costs/time zone differences), I was able to talk to him. He could only call at certain hours, so I found myself staying awake between the hours of 5pm and 8am just so I’d be able to talk to him. I’d just sleep the rest of the day. I’d wake up every now and then to check Facebook or send him an e-mail. God, that month was fucking miserable. I don’t know why I missed him so much . . . we JUST met. I shouldn’t have been that heart -sick, but I was. God, I constantly prayed, please don’t let him forget about me. I worked so hard to remember his face, his voice, his big smile, the way he bites his lower lip . . . Sitting here, typing about how I felt while Ryan was gone, I can like . . . feel it again. My heart is sinking just thinking about it It sucked. I did go out — went to the bars a few times, hung out at the river with friends, saw my friend Brittany’s new baby, Madison, went to church, hung out with my family . . . but honest to God, other than the few times I was out doing those things, I just slept and watched movies that entire month. I cried myself to sleep on more than one occasion. Why did I miss him so much? What’s so special about this one? Man . . . August sucked. End of story.
would it be okay if i took your breath away . . . ?
Ryan came back August 21st. I went to his parents house and met up with them, then rode with them to the airport. I damn near peed myself on the ride to the airport, I was so anxious. We walked to the top of the escalators and waited outside the terminal for Ryan. So many thoughts were racing through my mind: Will he be happy to see me? Is he going to remember what we’re like together? Are we going to change the way we act around each other? Will we hang out every day like we did before he left? Did he do anything bad in Australia? Is he even going to like me anymore?! I was freaking myself out! The second I saw his face, my worries flew out of my head and completely melted away. I dropped my purse, ran, and jumped on him. I hugged his neck so tight. I don’t think I had ever been that happy before in my entire life! I was beaming from ear to ear, and I just couldn’t stop looking at him. I grabbed his hand immediately and didn’t let go until we arrived at his parents’ house. Ryan unpacked a few things and gave out several presents. He stayed at my house that night and we didn’t get to talk much because he was sick and tired and jet-lagged. I had a photoshoot in DC the next morning; I had to leave at 7am. I didn’t want to leave his side. It was SO hard for me to walk out of my door that day. I went to DC though and did an amaaazing photoshoot for Camille Gabriele handbags with the fabulous Tony Veloz. I’ll post some photos in another blog post because for some reason, the pictures in this post keep screwing up.
After the shoot, I sped home to Ryan and we haven’t left each others’ sides since. We’ve stayed at my house ONCE since the night he got back from Australia. I used to drive back and forth every other day, sometimes every day, to feed the cats and scoop their litter box and such. Finally, I put Malibu on Craigslist — she was given to me by a friend who wanted to find a good home for her. A sweet middle-aged couple met with me and ended up taking Malibu home with them. The lady has e-mailed a couple times with pictures; Malibu is doing great! I brought the baby, Stoli, over to Ryan’s apartment. Kahlua and Jordi stayed at my house for a few weeks. I eventually took Jordi back to Corey’s house (God knows what he’s done with her), and brought Kahlua to Ryan’s to give Stoli a little company.
i know the signs are on and i feel this too . . .
September 5th: Ryan’s roommate moved out of the apartment. Ryan asked me to move in. We talked about it for a long time. Move in? After a month and a half of dating!? We must be out of our god damned minds . . .
‘Cause here I am. On his laptop, in our apartment, on our couch, watching “Without a Trace” on our tv, with our kitten sleeping on my chest. I stayed awake to finish this blog; Ryan’s asleep on our bed, in our room. God, it still sounds so weird when I say that out loud: our apartment. We moved my furniture in a couple days ago. We’re gonna have to do a little Ikea shopping, hang some photos and art, paint the walls, decorate the balcony and such, but after that . . . it’s done. Our apartment will be done. Our home. This is the best decision I have ever made in my entire life.
I know it’s all happened reallyreallyreally fast and you’re probably sitting there thinking “Damn girl, you replaced your ex really fast . . . whore” or “Stupid kids, wait one year THEN see how you feel about each other.” Or maybe you church-folk are like my Nana, and sitting there thinking “Suga, you ain’t livin’ in the way of the Lawwwd! You can’t sleep with a man till you’re married, child!” I can’t read your mind, but I know for a fact that you think we’re idiots.
Answer me this: Have you ever been so in love, you could touch the moonlight? When your heart’s shooting stars, you’re holding heaven in your arms. Hahaha, I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist. But Celine Dion is kinda . . . right. I can’t wait to get home from work every day because I know Ryan will be waiting for me, sitting on the couch, catching up on old episodes of House. I fall asleep in his arms every night . . . until the kittens wedge their way into the warm crevice of blanket between the two of us. When I wake up in the morning, he’s right there beside me (mouth open, drool dripping from his chin, legs sprawled across the bed — haha, only kidding). I didn’t want this blog to turn into an incredibly mushy diary entry . . . but I’m feeling sappy. I can do anything with Ryan by my side. I can be anything with him by my side. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love his flaws, he loves mine. I love him and want him for everything that he is. He wants to travel the world; I’m okay with that. I do too. Neither of us want to stay in Richmond. Where we’ll go, I don’t know for sure, but I know that we’re both ready for life to take us both wherever it pleases. Ryan goes out of his way to do sweet things for me, like bring me Starbucks in bed when he gets a break between his morning classes or bring home dinner after I’ve had a long day at work. And I do the same things for him. Neither of us ever expects anything in return for our kindness, but we always receive it. We work so well together.
I am crazy about this guy. We are so incredibly happy together. You know that one couple in your group of friends that is SO perfect, it makes you sick to your stomach to watch their love and happiness ooze out of their smiling faces? Yeah . . . we’re that couple. We do the dumbest shit! We cook dinner using the most random things in the kitchen (ex: Spaghetti-O Surprise — Spaghetti-O’s, tomato paste, corn muffin mix, parmesan cheese, chunks of grilled chicken; all baked in a casserole dish for about 25 mins), we dance around the living room with no music playing, we take turns playing Call of Duty and killing Nazi Zombies with his friends, we sneak up and break into/onto the roof of the apartment building, we go to bars every now and then and get hammered and make out a lot in front of everyone (lol), we videotape ourselves eating pop rocks and dancing & singing in the car, we steal food from Shafer in Ziploc baggies like a modern-day Bonnie & Clyde, we dress up super hot and attend lingerie parties together and end up being the life of the party, we lay on the couch and read /b/ on 4chan or watch TrueBlood for HOURS on end, we put the hamster in his ball and videotape the cats as they bat him around the floor, we host awesome football parties and I make lots of awesome food and a bunch of our awesome friends come over and we have a BLAST . . . I’m sure NONE of that sounds exciting to you, but all of those things just make my day. And people like us! People actually like being around us and invite us to do fun things with them because we’re really fucking fun to be around!
I am so incredibly happy with my life right now. I love my boyfriend, I love our home, I love my job, I love my family, and I love my friends. The timing may have been a little weird, but I’m happy. Ryan’s happy. I love him. He loves me. And we’re perfect together. It may all have happened very fast, but it’s RIGHT. The end
You Had Me At Hello — A Day To Remember
I’m missing you so much, I’ll see you die tonight
Just so I can get to you before the sun will rise
I know the signs are on and I feel this too
None of that ever seems to matter when I’m holding you
And I’m wasting away, away from you
What have I gotten into this time around?
I know that I had sworn I’d never trust anyone again but I didn’t have to
You had me at hello.
I’ve never seen a smile that can light the room like yours
It’s simply radiant, I feel more with everyday that goes by
I watch the clock so I can make my timing just right
Would it be okay,
Would it be okay if I took your breath away?
And I’m wasting away, away from you.
What have I gotten into this time around?
I know that I had sworn I’d never trust anyone again but I didn’t have to
You had me at hello
You gave me butterflies at the mailbox
You had me at hello.
xoxo, J
Dana and Zach got married yesterday, August 1, 2009 — yay! They are now officially Mr. and Mrs. Pilkington. (Finally! Haha!) Here’s some photos from the ceremony and reception; enjoy!
The most perfect bride, EVAR!
Only Dana would wear those on her wedding day. How fitting, haha
Me with the beautiful bride!
Dana's horse-drawn carriage -- how sweet!
Me with the handsome groom!
Here comes the bride!!
You may now kiss the bride!
Officially Mr. and Mrs. Pilkington
"Let me be the one who calls you baby all the time"
Such a beautiful cake!
Just one more of me and the bride
The wedding was small, quick, and so sweet. Dana hitched up her dress and ran (in her black and white striped socks) halfway down the aisle, cried while Zach said his vows, giggled while saying her own, and made everyone tear up a bit. The reception afterwards was filled with love, laughter, bubbles, dancing, and delicious food! I know the mothers of the bride and groom were proud mamas yesterday, and Dana, I know your dad is proud of you. Thank you so much for inviting me to the wedding; Hayley and I had a BALL! (Hope we didn’t get you in too much trouble for throwing the fake bouquet, hehe) I love you both so much and I wish you guys many, many, many happy years together!
xoxo, J
Please go see that movie. It is a w e s o m e. Long movie though; 2 h 20 m.
The New York Times
Comedy is always serious business, whether the joke is on the funnyman with the pie in the kisser or the woman trying, really trying, to fall for the schnook who didn’t use the condom. “Funny People,” the latest from Judd Apatow, the director of the hit comedies “Knocked Up” and “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and a prolific producer, is being pitched as a bid at gravity, earnestness, adulthood, whatever. It’s an angle that sounds as if it had been cooked up by a studio flack to explain how words like divorce and death got tangled in with all the penis (and thereabouts) jokes. But the only difference is that now Mr. Apatow also seems lethally serious about being Judd Apatow.
“Funny People,” which he wrote and directed, stars Adam Sandler as George Simmons, a onetime stand-up nobody who has become fantastically successful by starring in the kind of crummy high-concept Hollywood comedies — in one, he plays an adult with the body of a baby — that have been the creative ruin of Eddie Murphy.
Shortly after the movie opens, George learns that he has a rare, almost certainly fatal blood disease. Shaken up, he returns home and watches images of himself on five television screens in his mansion, a nice touch for any professional narcissist. He also pursues an experimental treatment and hires an assistant, a fledgling Los Angeles stand-up, Ira (Seth Rogen).
The first section of “Funny People” buzzes along on George and Ira’s relationship and the modestly comic, often unsettling give and take between the famous and the not famous, which in Hollywood terms means the powerful and the weak. Ira is flattered by the attention, but he’s hungry too. He wants a piece of the other man’s show-business action, which, as is evident in one pathetic scene of two hot numbers turned on by George’s fame, is the only action he has hopes of getting.
Neutered in spirit, he might not service his boss sexually, like those two eager stargazers — I have a boyfriend, one woman announces to Ira, right before heading off with George — but he nonetheless assumes the assistant’s requisite submissive position.
Mr. Rogen, who has blown up professionally and slimmed down physically since his breakout role in “Knocked Up” two years ago, makes a cute puppy. He tags after George, loyally wagging his tail and begging for scraps, which is what he receives. When he writes jokes for George’s appearance at a MySpace corporate event, he earns $1,000 as his headlining boss pockets the $299,000 balance. Like the backstage scenes of stand-up comics anxiously swapping phony compliments and phonier insults, the MySpace scene conveys the surreality of the celebrity circuit in which name personalities are trotted out for pricey dog and pony entertainment. (MySpace sponsored a contest where the prize was a walk-on role in the movie.)
The stand-up scenes, with their bad lighting and air of flop-sweat, have the sting of truth. But they are also disappointingly brief, while the onstage routines, with the exception of one of Ira’s bits about being a polite womanizer, are neither especially funny nor memorable. The deep rituals of the comedy circuit aren’t really the point here, as becomes clear as Mr. Apatow forges into increasingly sticky territory, lavishing time on George’s contrition tour as he unconvincingly mends fences with his estranged family and socializes with equal opportunity comedy offenders like Sarah Silverman and Norm Macdonald. (Eminem, as himself, trumps those jokers by threatening to beat up the real Ray Romano.) Then George reaches out to an old lover, the laughs give way to tears and this promising comedy bloats, sags and dies.
That rekindled flame, Laura, is played by Mr. Apatow’s wife, Leslie Mann, a brittle, lightweight comic talent who giggles and flutters right on cue, widening her eyes at George with obligatory adoration. She’s fine, but the gushy romance she brings with her is a drag. As is true of almost all the female characters in Mr. Apatow’s movies, Laura’s role is to help George grow up, to get out of both his own head and insular masculine world. Yet while this dynamic worked in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and to a lesser extent in “Knocked Up,” in this movie the romantic complications are primarily situational: she’s married. Honor, rather than George’s ego (it isn’t in remission) stands in their way, which gives him — and Mr. Apatow — an easy out.
That’s too bad because while Mr. Sandler doesn’t have the necessary acting technique or even the natural warmth to convince you that his character cares about anyone else, he is undeniably a star, the movie’s biggest draw and its most effective and powerful presence. It’s easy to buy him as both a selfish jerk and a maudlin self-pitier, whether George is weeping alone into his designer sheets or confiding some medical news to his housekeeper, the only sympathetic ear around. With his flatline drone, stand-and-deliver gestural performance and prickliness, Mr. Sandler is effortlessly charmless, and in his performance you see the risky movie this might have been if Mr. Apatow had pushed harder.
There’s something irritatingly self-satisfied about “Funny People,” which explains why, though it glances on the perils of fame, it mostly affirms its pleasures. Part of this stems from the autobiographical touches. George doesn’t double for Mr. Apatow, though the filmmaker’s sympathies keep the character on the safe side. But this is Mr. Apatow’s world, his friends, his wife. His and Ms. Mann’s daughters even play Laura’s children. If the fear of death haunts George only briefly it isn’t only because his disease goes on hiatus, it’s also because Mr. Apatow seems to have become uncomfortable with or perhaps immune to the messiness of life. This, he seems to be saying, is as good as it gets, and man, is it ever good. He’s sentimentalized himself.
That’s nice, I suppose, but nice can be murder on comedy and drama alike. (Comedy is a man in trouble, not a man at peace with himself.) It’s telling that when Mr. Apatow isn’t trying to get in touch with George’s (gentler, kinder) feelings, the movie pleasurably pops. The scenes, for instance, of Ira and his greedily ambitious friends, the globular Leo (Jonah Hill) and ramrod-straight Mark (Jason Schwartzman), who together form a walking, talking exclamation point, have a lightness of touch and palpable warmth. They’re also seamlessly, easily comic because of the push-pull between the friends’ ambition and camaraderie, their hopes for one another and their competitive ruthlessness. Watching “Funny People,” you get the sense that Mr. Apatow, one of the most successful filmmakers working in Hollywood, is very happy. Bummer.
xoxo, J
“Sparks Fly” - Taylor Swift
The way you move is like a full on rainstorm
And I’m a house of cards
You say my name for the first time, baby, and I
Fall for you in an empty bar
And you stood there in front of me just
Close enough to touch
Close enough to hope you couldn’t see
What I was thinking of
Drop everything now
Meet me in the pouring rain
Kiss me on the sidewalk
Take away the pain
‘Cause I see, sparks fly whenever you smile
Hit me with those green eyes, baby
As the lights go down
Something that’ll haunt me when you’re not around
‘Cause I see, sparks fly whenever you smile
So reach out open handed
And lead me out to that floor
Well I don’t need more paper lanterns
Take me down, baby bring on the movie star
‘Cause my heart is beating fast
And you are beautiful
I could wait patiently but
I really wish you would
Drop everything now
Meet me in the pouring rain
Kiss me on the sidewalk
Take away the pain
Cause I see, sparks fly whenever you smile
Hit me with those green eyes, baby
As the lights go down
Something that’ll haunt me when you’re not around
Cause I see, sparks fly whenever you smile
I run my fingers through your hair
And watch the lights go out
Just keep your beautiful eyes on me
Gonna strike this match tonight
Lead me up the staircase
Won’t you whisper soft and slow
I’d love to hate it
But you make it like a fireworks show
Drop everything now
Meet me in the pouring rain
Kiss me on the sidewalk
Take away the pain
Cause I see, sparks fly whenever you smile
Hit me with those green eyes, baby
As the lights go down
Something that’ll haunt me when you’re not around
Cause I see, sparks fly whenever you smile
Sparks fly, baby smile, sparks fly
xoxo, J
Ya know, I was gonna rant about how people at West End Assembly of God are hypocrites, but I feel like saving that for another time. I’ll come back to this and update it when I feel like writing a novel about judgemental people. Not in the mood for it at the moment.
xoxo, J
xoxo, J