Bored Much?

Sometimes when I'm bored online I look at the recently added shows on Hulu and try to guess what they're about. It's like balderdash only different.

All the cake shows are an easy guess. There are SO many cake shows. I love cake, but seriously people? How many cake shows are you really interested in watching?

Oooh, what's the cake going to be? Oh, will it fall? Ooh, icing. Oooh, fondant people. Oooh, cake drama.

Note: I'm not hating. I've probably watched more cake shows than anyone. Being unemployed requires that you watch at least three hours of cake shows a week. Food network competitions count.

But I digress.

The point is, there are so many random shows on Hulu that most of the time my guess is nowhere close.

Take for example, this gem; a little show called Yam Roll.

I'm pretty tired and didn't put much effort into it, but I guessed it was a cartoon about the adventures of a dog named Yam Roll.

Man, was I off.

Here's the summary from Hulu:

Yam Roll is the story of an exotic land of sushi and how one of its inhabitants, a super-powered taxi driver named Yam Roll, braves monsters, bad guys and barking dogs all in the name of unrequited love.

Well done, writer of Yam Roll synopsis. Well done.

Like.

Just a friendly reminder that I'm trying to beat Justin Bieber in number of "likes" on my facebook page by tomorrow.

I'm off by about 34 million.

If you're able to click things-- and you are because you got this far-- will you kindly like my Author Page? There are contests (not really), games (made that up), and fun prizes (there are no prizes.)

Thanks a lot. I like you.

Happy Birthday, Mer!

Today is this girl's birthday!

Here's a Top 27 list for her. Top 26 lists are so yesterday.

Meredith, The Top 27 reasons why you're my favorite:

27) You're hilarious. You make me laugh until I cry.

26) You have the best little voices and create the most memorable characters with them. Your accents are also incredible.

25) You always know when a camera is out and can pose perfectly for a candid shot. I'll never ever know how to do that.

24) You're the most thoughtful person I know. You remember so many things about the people in your life and consistently make those closest to you feel special.

23) You are the Queen of the to-do list. It's inspiring to someone like me.

22) You inspire me.

21) The people who have your support have SO MUCH SUPPORT! You're the best cheerleader, believer, high-fiver, smiling face any person who is attempting to do something could ask for. You have complete confidence in the people you love and the proof of it comes in your matter of fact nods when I mention how amazing your friends are. "Yeah. I know. They're wonderful."

20) You're silly! Your funny walks/noises/faces, your insistence on making me blush in public, your childlike wonder for the world and the million other things you do that make me actually giggle, are some of the best things about you.

Mer Thought Bubble: Ok, I'm just going to take your phone from you...

And push you in the pool like so...

Too soon, perhaps?

19) You read children stories better than anyone I know. The way you recite the names from Make Way For Ducklings is AMAZING.

18) You scream in excitement when you see ducks. And hippos. And hedgehogs. And french bulldogs. And baby birds. And baby bunnies. And babies. You're turning 27 but really you're 6.

17) Your voice has so much soul. I love when you really get into a song and put your hands out and spread your fingers and close your eyes and just kill it. Even if it's to Celine. I still effing love it.

16) You swear a lot when driving and clearly learned to drive in Massachusetts, but have learned to let people cross at crosswalks and sometimes even let cars in! You're growing!

15) Best movie buddy a girl could have.

14) When I dance around you never make me feel like I can't dance. Which, obviously, I can't.

13) You love your fam and light up when you tell stories about them.

12) You buy cards for friends months in advance, take pictures of things that remind you of them, and text when remembering inside jokes. You carry the people you love in your heart.

11) You're a wonderful pen-pal and getting mail from you is such a happy feeling.

10) Your eyes

9) Your laugh

8) Your kiss

7) Your heart

6) Your love

5) Your hopes

4) Your girlfriend (she's really something.)

3) The adventures we've shared together.

2) The adventures waiting in the wings. (wings! black swan!)

1) That you gave me a chance to love you.

Spending my Boston years with you is pretty much the best thing to ever happen to me.

You're my best friend, Mer. Happy birthday!

First Book Store Event!

Last Thursday marked the first time I talked about the book to a group of people I didn't know. The previous OES events have basically been love-fests of old friends, new friends, family, and buds of family. When I walked into the Harvard Book Store and recognized no one, I immediately started sweating. I meekly approached the information desk and said, "Hi, I'm Jess Martin... I'm, um, speaking here tonight..."

The night's MC Heather introduced herself and her friendliness put me at ease until she started talking about the works of the other writers who would be speaking that night. One man's story recounted the years spent being schooled under Mussolini's fascist regime after he was taken from his family.

Growing bright red, I quietly begged, "Please don't say I'm following him."

Heather shook her head. "He'll go last."

(Cue audible exhale.)

Could you imagine me following an 80-year-old Italian man and his incredible life story with a talk about why my parents are weird?

Anyway, while I was waiting for Meredith to park the car, I walked around the store airing out my sweaty shirt and ran into a familiar face! Marietta is in town visiting Amalia and was SO incredibly kind to come to the book store! It was such a nice surprise! Thanks again, Marietta!

And then, moments before we started, I saw a smiling bearded face looking at me and I was like, hmm, looks like Jimmy. And it was! Jimmy is the little brother of my best friend growing up and I have not seen him in YEARS. He and his girl Beth drove into town for the event and they're my new favorite couple. Funny, intelligent, well-spoken, adorable. And they both do improv. Hello?! Love. It was totally amazing of them to come! Thanks again you guys!

With that said, I was still a nervous wreck. But I like that I'll be able to remember how nervous/sweaty/shaky I was. It just shows that it was important to me. It was a fun experience and I'm totally grateful to the book store for the opportunity.

Here's the talk: Warning: It's Awkward.

A Book Is Born!

The event last night at Harvard Book Store was amazing and I particularly loved watching the printing of Open-Eyed Sneeze on Paige, the book-making robot from the future, but really from yesterday. Thanks again to everyone at the book store!