About Jenn

Hello there,

I’m Jenn.

A Camera and His Girl

100 Things About Me and This Blog

THERE’S YOUR KARMA:

  • “There’s Your Karma” is a quote from the Jack Kerouac’s Desolation Angels (1965)
  • That quote is: “There’s your karma, ripe as peaches.”
  • I started this blog in 2008, but I’ve imported entries dating back to 2004.
  • That’s why you might stumble upon entries about frat parties and Jason Mraz.
  • Sorry about that.
  • PS I like it when you comment.

BACKSTORY:

  • I was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
  • On August 15, 1983
  • Like a true Michigander, I would show you where this is located, using my palm.
  • I was never what they call, uh, “sporty.”
  • I did play basketball in fifth and sixth grade.
  • But I really, really sucked at it. (Sorry, Dad.)
  • My parents put me into dance class because I fell down all the time and walked into walls.
  • It stuck — I was a dancer for fifteen years.
  • A band geek for nine.
  • I played clarinet.
  • I always had crushes on the trumpet players and percussionists.
  • I still do.
  • The first love of my life was John Lennon.
  • My parents didn’t tell me he was dead until like a year later.
  • I pretty much cried for two weeks straight after that.
  • I attended Catholic school from K-8th grade.
  • When they covered the “homosexuality” part of the Catechism in 7th grade, I kind of abandoned ship.
  • Now I have a gay harem.
  • No, seriously. I’m like the Bette Midler of Indianapolis.
  • This could have to do with my love for musicals.
  • I was in three, in high school (Hello Dolly, Guys and Dolls, Bye Bye Birdie)
  • The theatre kids were “my people.”
  • I went to Europe twice in high school (France, Italy)
  • I worked at Vicoria’s Secret
  • The first place I got drunk was in Paris.
  • It was Malibu and Sprite.
  • In March of 2000, I got my first car - a 200o Chevy Cavalier
  • I named it “The Silver Bullet”
  • I still drive that car to this day.
  • A good friend of mine died my junior year.
  • That’s what my tattoo is for.
  • I think about her every day.
  • I went to Indiana University for Journalism.
  • I changed majors because I didn’t like “all the rules.”
  • Ended up with a degree in Telecommunications and a business minor.
  • Out of college, I ended up working in radio.
  • And retail.
  • For the past two years I’ve been working at an advertising agency as a media buyer.
  • I just recently left that job to pursue my dreams of becoming a writer.
  • This might be the most idiotic or most exciting thing I’ve ever done.

FAVORITES:

  • BAND: The Beatles.
  • ALSO: Bob Dylan, Radiohead, Ryan Adams, Rufus Wainwright
  • SONG: Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, Paul Simon
  • ALSO: My Girl, The Temptations
  • Seriously, I think My Girl is musically perfect.
  • AUTHORS: Oates, Klosterman, Hornby, Kerouac, Sedaris
  • POETS: Plath, Collins, Neruda, Cummings
  • TELEVISION: HIMYM, Lost, It’s Always Sunny, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Mad Men
  • I kind of have an unhealthy obsession with Bourdain.
  • FILMS: Lost in Translation, Almost Famous, Gone with the Wind, Meet Me in St. Louis
  • FOOD: Sushi
  • COCKTAIL: Jack and Coke

RANDOM

  • If you look up “Leo” in the dictionary, that’s pretty much me.
  • I’m left-handed.
  • I’m right-brained.
  • I’m an only-child.
  • Both my parents are uber-Republicans.
  • Imagine their disappointment when I voted for Obama.
  • After dying my hair every color, I feel most like myself as a redhead.
  • I’ve been journaling since February 10th, 1992.
  • The first entry I ever wrote was about my Nintendo Gameboy.
  • I can sing.
  • But I cannot whistle in tune to save my life.
  • I. am. messy.
  • I don’t return library books on time.
  • I don’t make the bed.
  • I can name that tune in three notes.
  • A TON of my dreams take place either on an airplane or in an auditorium.
  • I’m also a photographer.
  • So is my dad.
  • I’m a Nikon kinda gal.
  • I’ve done the controversial “Master Cleanse” fast four times.
  • Each time, I convince myself I’m going to go vegan.
  • Instead, I’ve settled on a mainly pescatarian lifestyle.
  • I. adore. traveling.
  • One of my favorite ways to unwind is plan make-believe trips to Europe.
  • I think I might want to elope.
  • And then have a big huge party.
  • I need to get a boyfriend first.
  • Contrary to popular belief, I am not an alcoholic.
  • I’m young; I’m going to make mistakes.
  • I don’t have any pets.
  • However, we often have a raccoon in our attic.
  • When I become an established writer, I hope to get a black and white French bulldog.
  • I will name her Rue McClanahan.
  • Share/Bookmark