Something’s got to give! I’m wearing myself out. I’ve always considered myself a hard worker. Is there such a think as working too hard? In todays society, it’s sadly very rarely seen. I don’t mean to bash America… but face it. We’re flabby, fat and lazy.

Another sad point I have to make is I don’t even have time to cook or grocery shop. So that forces me to eat the unmentionable. (whisper it quietly… fast food…). My sister is a dietician and she coaches people with serious health problems caused by being overweight. She would cringe if she hear me admit I eat fast food almost everyday.

What happened to the lunch box days? I used to pack an acutal lunch for daytime camp every summer for 4+ years. I drowned that habit in a pool with my best friend Kelli. Soggy lunch is to __________ as toy is to happy meal.

So, what is the solution to not having time to exercise and eat right? Organization? Time management? Planning? Remembering? Discipline? And/or all of the above.

I’ve heard simply changing one thing at a time. Take it slow and steady, adding in another challenge when the previous challenge doesn’t feel like deprivation anymore.

I’m very open to suggestions.

Here’s the ‘But’: American Idol doesn’t always work. Isn’t that strange? Why is that? America voted, for crying out loud! This is what the people wanted! (Unlike the folks in Washington…) The American people are heard in this competition!

We have names/voices like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, David Cook & Kris Allen that got their start on American Idol. But not every name that was chosen to be “Idol” winner really won. Why haven’t we heard much from Ruben Studdard, Fantasia, or Taylor Hicks? In contrast, many who didn’t get the “Idol” title have done really well, in fact, better that the winners (almost)

Example: Daughtry, Josh Gracin, Vanessa Hudgens, Adam Lambert, David Archuleta, Kellie Pickler, Katherine McPhee, & Bucky Covington

To sum up it all up… If you get into the Top 10 of American Idol, chances are –if you’ve got what it takes– you’ll end up being a star anyway.

Oh, and I think that Kara DioGuardi is kind of a snob. Sorry, Kara, at least Simon knows he’s arrogant. I don’t think Kara realizes how she comes across to these sweet people who are trying to share their talent with the world. Maybe I’m mistaking her strong opinions as being a know it all. She guest starred on Jimmy Fallon the other day and was so snobby to him. Jimmy is one of the most enthusiastic, caring talk show hosts i’ve seen and of course he was a gentleman. She is very passionate, and definitely gives good advice, and knows her way around the music industry and songwriting… But seriously. She needs some humble pie. It’s like when people don’t really care that she’s famous and they treat her normally, she gets uppity and offended. Snobby. It’s like she’s still trying to prove she’s qualified. I don’t like it.

Ellen has fit in quite nicely next to Randy. She brings much needed humor to the show. Sometimes, though, she doesn’t have any good constructive critisicm or advice. But she is similar to Paula in that she is incredibly encouraging. But she is just a filler judge, like Randy.

I think Randy gets ignored sometimes because he is the oldest. And he always gives his opinion first. It’s almost as if the Idol producers think they are saving the best for last…Simon. Which, as much as I would hate to encourage his ego any more, Simon does give the best advice. And his opinions usually hold up. And he doesn’t care how low his  V-neck’s go. You’d think he always had a temperature or something. Gross.

But, to get to the real point… my favorite contestant for season 9  has to be……

LEE DEWYZE

Love his voice!

And one of my favorite songs …..

-Peace,

Jess

(BTW…He totally won. Score.)

And then I think about what I’ve been doing for a year. And then it seems worth it.

Let me show you.

Portfolio JPEG

And that makes me feel better about having finished school. I don’t get excited about every design project I sit down to do… But trudging on through the toughies gets me to the fun projects faster. Sometimes there are no projects at all. And that’s when I get to do what I like to do.

So the reality check of the day: You are getting older every second of every day. Nothing you can do to change that, unless you know something about LOST and/or time travel (And even so, I believe they are still aging). Youth is kind of wasted on the young.

But the encouragement for the day: With age comes wisdom. I find that to be a good trade-off. I wouldn’t trade even the tiniest lesson I’ve learned for a chance to be younger. I just wouldn’t. It’s what a person overcomes that gives him character. His experiences mold him, and the choices he makes define him.

Even when things seem overwhelming, take the time to stop and look at what you have accomplished. And don’t let anything take away your sense of achievement. It’s what you do that makes you who you are. Not what you say, or what you mean, or what you intend, or what you think. It’s what you DO.

According to my father, a general contractor and business man:”Competition makes me better.”

I find this true in almost every field of a capitalistic society.

But besides the drive that competition puts behind our efforts… where can we get these new ideas? Thin air? Hopefully not… A friend of mine said once that he likes to create something new every day. Just one thing. No matter how small or big. Or how long it took. A sketch, an essay, a poem, a story, a photograph, a painting, a song. Anything. Make something that no one else can make but you. No one else sees the world the way you do. It would be depressing and boring if we all had the same opinion about everything. Or if we did everything the same way, all day, everyday.

Random doesn’t have to be chaotic.

It doesn’t have to be correct or even “good.” At the end of the day you can say that you made something interesting. And it’s yours.

A lot of times we lose sight of how interesting the little things in life are. We get distracted or lazy and stop functioning. Our awareness is decreased. At a certain age, we are encouraged to stop being silly and stop using our imagination. Why is that? Don’t kids have a heck of a lot more fun than adults? Heck yes they do!

Ok, adults have jobs and responsibility and busy schedules. Understandable. But I think i’d make time to use my imagination to entertain myself than just watching TV at night. We have all these modern conveniences that make our daily lives quicker and easier. So quick and easy in fact that sometimes we just don’t know what to do with ourselves… so we default to the TV or the Radio or the INTERNET. Maybe the internet is actually what is killing community.

We don’t talk to each other anymore. It’s easier to disengage and communicate via technology. Because it’s easier, yes. I love technology. But what are we losing in the process? The human race moves faster and faster towards some technological awesomeness everyday. But what about the old things?

I don’t know…

-Jess

That said, here’s something I’ve been pondering. There have been many discussions and arguments about the difference between men and women. There is no argument that each is completely opposite from the other. The way God made us. And why we pair so well together. So this post goes out to all my lady friends. A wise (girl) friend named Morgan gave me some sound insight and I wanted to share it with you.

First off, I am a girl that has more male friends than female friends. So my opinion is biased, as is everyone’s. I’ve always had more male friends, not because I’m butch or a flirt….but because most girls tend to be catty, jealous, and backstabbing gossips. I tried my best to stay away from them. I do understand why girls are this way because I am one. Deep down, I am that way. I am condemning no one. I’ve found, it simp

ly comes down to insecurity. We judge each other and ourselves so incredibly harshly. No one can live up to the standards girls set. It is a highly competitive race to be the most beautiful, the best dressed, the smartest, the funniest, the cutest or all of the above. Crazy talk, I know. And for what? What does people’s approval really gain us? A big ego that can be popped at any moment…. or a low self esteem that just leaves broken.

In general, it’s hard to find good, valuable, trustworthy friends.  But the thing about guys, is even in the midst of their insecurities and weaknesses, they don’t turn malicious on other people. Most remain genuine. No they don’t like to talk about their “feelings,” but when they do talk it’s usually worth hearing. And they are not in “competition” with you. Morgana’s insight to me was that guys don’t see levels of pretty or smart or funny the way girls do. They don’t judge the way girls judge. With them, you either are or you aren’t. Everything is more black and white. I don’t think they compare us when they know us. Not based on every finite detail about us. We’re individuals, not used cars.

Granted… I don’t mean to make men sound like saints… some guys have their head stuck up their butt so far they can’t see anything else but themselves. Some are arrogant. Some are pushovers. Some are just plain dumb. But honestly they tend to be more loyal. And in the end, better friends. This confuses me. Because Lord knows we can’t tell them everything, especially if we want to talk about THEM. And they do break our hearts sometimes.

On the other hand, girls are better at doing our nails and talking Gilmore and relating to each other’s problems. Not every girl is out to get the members of her fellow sex. We like the same things. Duh. But….

Girls, if you are tired of judging and being judged I have a proposition. A “call to action” if you will. I say we not only realize that guys actually don’t care as much as we think they do, but also take ourselves out of this rat race to get attention and be noticed. Leave the competition. Check out of the hotel. It’s hard to see how much control such a competition can have on your life if you let it. As cheesy as it sounds,

I think finding out who you are inside and where real value lies is a better use of our time. Not necessarily doing our makeup. (of which I am overly guilty). I think it may be a very freeing experience.

Again, I am not judging. I love both men and women platonically because we all have something to give.

Much love,

Jess

P.S. If you don’t agree or a can’t relate with a word i’ve said, that is awesome. It means we don’t share the same issues. More power too you!

Meet Bill. He’s been running all is life. He knows where he’s going. He’ll get there.  And he knows where he’s been. No regrets. He knows what he wants and he knows he can get it. Time and faith heal all wounds, he’s learned this. Hope and love give him his very next breath. If he wants it done right, he has to do it himself. And there are probably 50 other things to do before he can get started on what he wants to do.

But all those things are pushed aside when Bill decides to run. Run away, run it off. Gain peace of mind when it’s through. Strength and endurence build his form, and for once his mind can have some time off. Put it away, put it off. The center of gravity, the center of the universe. Nothing can touch him.

peace!