Jess' Blog

I love creative people. I love the courage it takes to be an unconventional visionary in a sea full of people just trying to fit in. I respect people willing to take a risk to express themselves. Who doesn't have even the slightest fascination with Lady Gaga? She's a total freak. And yet you can't stop watching. She's dripping with self confidence and enthusiasm, performing in hideously bold outfits full of shock value, and she owns every second of it. And while she might be totally over the top, I confess I am morbidly fascinated and cannot get enough of her....

By the time you read this I will be en route to the best sourdough on the planet. 500 miles might seem like a long ways to go for this, but it's been 5 years since I've had a fresh, warm sourdough bowl filled with clam chowder from Boudin bakery in San Francisco, and tomorrow I get to go back. If you've been there, you get it. This will be my daughter's first trip to S.F. and I can't wait to stroll through Fisherman's Warf with her, explore Alcatraz, surprise her with Pier 39's sea lions, drive down Lombard Street,...

Facebook. What a blessing and what a curse. This year, Dodge awarded $20,000 truck vouchers to all event winners at the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo. That's $160,000 in vouchers. Wow. Shortly after this rodeo, I had the unfortunate opportunity to stumble on a Facebook post from someone congratulating all RNCFR winners, and telling them to essentially throw their vouchers away and buy ANY other brand truck besides Dodge. Ford, Chevy...anything but Dodge! Now this person happens to be fairly well-known and influential in the rodeo world, with their livelihood dependant on the sport of rodeo, so this public post...

When I was 17 I had a job doing telemarketing for an insurance company in Vancouver, WA. I was that annoying person who called during dinner to offer you a "Free quote on your Auto or Home Owners insurance." The job paid good (for a high school kid), the hours were flexible, and that's where the positive part ends. My boss smelled like B.O., the other employees were middle aged women with bad hair who showed up to work with remnants of baby spit up on their shoulders and had NO sense of humor, the office was always cold, and...