Jenna Marie Carey

Shoulder Pads

2012-02-08T10:31:00.000-06:00

Comedy Art Show Preview

2011-05-28T12:19:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago the talented Mr. Jonathan Hubbell put together a comedy/performance/art show at Austin Java. The art portion of the show will be on display through the month of August. Here's a teaser, more to come:

a rock in the sky

2011-05-12T01:01:00.000-05:00

If there was a room where the future was contained I would like to spend some time in it. Maybe it's vanity or my lack of trust in what will happen next. Like I dont have control of it. Maybe it's not predestined, but perhaps somebody in a tin foil covered room already knows.

Yesterday it had rained, something that hasn't happened in this city often as of late. The rain brought me back to a memory of my 20th birthday. I was with several close friends and we decided to see a movie after drinking cheap sangria in a warmly lit restaurant, a place nestled behind an alley smelling of hummus and sweat. It was a humid August night and we were all dressed in casual summer wear. It was effortless to dress our bodies for hot summer nights such as this one. After our movie ended and the lights flickered back on we stumbled out of the theatre. Darkness had descended but pushing it's cover aside was a torrential downpour. The rain was fat and wide not unlike thick blankets that shattered upon contact. Sometimes rain is inconvenient and more nuisance than not. On that night it felt like a welcome relief of unspoken tension. It was a release. I was more happy than ever. You can't hide from rain like that. It must be embraced, and my friends and I did just that. We ran and screamed through the streets. We were wild and animals and let instinct trump practicality. We moved as a herd, as one, and were untouchable.

I would very much like for this to be in my future room, if anyone with the key is listening.

sing song

2011-01-04T22:24:00.000-06:00

Greetings from my couch, under a blanket with holes chewed in it by my dog. Luxury! So, the holidays have come and gone, and I'm thankful for the latter happening. Not to be a grinch, but things haven't been the same since I learned the REAL truth about ol' sandy claws. The madness of the season is far too overwhelming. I prefer more laid back holidays such as President's Day. Those guys are super chill. Also, for some reason when I think of President's Day an image of Mount Rushmore pops into my head, like this holiday is actually in celebration of a rock rather than the people it's meant to represent. I guess it doesn't matter since no one celebrates it. If I don't get work off then it's not a real holiday. Truth.

Can someone tell me what are some easy, user friendly, most novice of all novice, made for slightly slow people songs I can learn on guitar? There's peer pressure to become a killer guitar slinger and the stakes are high. I need help (and a brain and hands that work together).

My parting words, shameless self promotion really, are to come and see my level 2 improv graduation recital. You might laugh, you might cry, you might feel nauseous - you are guaranteed to experience some sort of bodily function or feeling. This Saturday at 8pm at The New Movement!

metal from the waist down

2010-12-12T22:01:00.001-06:00

In the past few weeks I received a prescription for glasses and a mouth full of metal. The only things missing are orthopedic shoes and a greasy face covered in acne. Fear not, my nerd quota is more than filled by my senior citizen inspired style and awkward sense of humor.

Next weekend will mark the end of an era - I will attend my last level 2 improv class. This seems impossible. I'm still not funny, I think I'll demand a refund. On a positive note, Mark started level 1 improv today! My little guy is growing up so fast. His class is full of so many talented people, I felt intimidated, I felt like I needed to repeat my grade. Sometimes I feel like I forget what funny is. I can see it so clearly, but to create, oh why has it become so difficult?!

I'm boycotting my car in favor of my bike starting tomorrow. It's my new years resolution and I'm ringing her in early. Just call me an over achiever.

call me

2010-10-31T22:18:00.001-05:00

Ava the Songbird

2010-10-25T22:32:00.002-05:00

My friend, Miss Sarah "Ava" Arenella can belt it out with the best of them. I taught her everything I know - which was very little. I was honored to draw her menacing mug! Go check out her website and see her performing a sultry tune at some smoke filled jazz bar in Austin.

www.avaarenella.com

bored to death

2010-10-25T15:56:00.000-05:00

This past weekend I cut my hair, had dinner with friends, went to a stand-up comedy show, watched some of the friends I had dinner with run a 5k, attended my improv class and planted my fall garden. Phew.

Yet, come Monday morning I find myself incredibly bored. I don't like living for the weekend. Trading five days for two seems a bit disproportionate.

When I was a freshman in high school I was mainly friendless. My best friend from elementary school had moved on to bigger and better things (ie calling me a loser and getting herself pregnant) and my other friends from middle school began drinking and drugging. From a very young age I had developed a strong hatred for drugs and alcohol which stemmed from having an alcoholic and drug dependent mother. So I lost those friends as well. Since I had been raised by television, that is what I naturally fell back to during those lonely afternoons when school was out. I had sort of become obsessed with Saturday Night Live and Kids from the Hall. They played back to back for two hours on Comedy Central. I was pretty convinced I would be on SNL, even though I had never performed comedy and had an all consuming fear of public interactions. Thinking back, my interest beyond the comedy was to be able to be around funny and motivated people.

I haven't really revisited my dreams of being on SNL, even though it used make me really happy just to sneak in a daydream about stepping on that stage. My most recent improv class sort of rekindled the fire on those distant ideas of performing. It was week two of character play, something I've found to be extremely uncomfortable. Just the idea of being on stage, alone, and inventing ten characters in a row made me want to die inside a little. But, I did it, without dying or vomiting. And to my surprise, it was fucking exhilarating. It felt good to do something well and have fun. So now, high on one positive experience I've been reliving my SNL dreams. Lorne, call me.

shoop da troupe

2010-10-07T20:02:00.001-05:00

Hello my lovelies. I've missed you so. I've been busy with work, comedy and severe stabbing chest pains that remain a troubling, unsolved mystery. Perhaps these physical pain attacks are evolving from years of emotional distress. How apropos that would be, if true.

So, I performed for the first time in an improv piece de resistance. After the panic attacks were quieted (which I smothered with borrowed Xanax) I had a very pleasurable evening. I may even be joining a "troupe" (aka comedy gang). We need a name with appeal. Something that will speak to the masses, so they'll come and see us, make me famous and give me lots of money. This name holds extreme importance to my future and success. No pressure.

Possibles:
- Shoop da Troupe
- Funny Funny Bang Bang
- Troupe There it is
- Jenna Rules

I started reading this past month, something I've seemingly been unable to do for almost a year. I would read the fluff printed onto glossy magazine pages adorned by skinny airbrushed bitches, but nothing with substance. It was like everything I picked up was awful and unfit for finishing. I had seen a preview for the new movie "Never Let Me Go" and later read a review, which like most novel-turned-movie-reviews was not too favorable. I picked up the book and didn't want to ever let it go. When I reached the last few chapters, I took a few days off from reading because I knew how upset I would be when it was all over. This book was depressing, bleak and awkward. I loved it. I thought I was broken for a while. I grew up reading. "Goosebumps" were my jam during the elementary years. Sylvia Plath was my fave in high school and college was filled with Vonnegut. If I could be buried with books, that would be preferable.

the name's pleasure

2010-09-22T12:07:00.000-05:00

I started my caffeine addiction early.

modern guilt

2010-09-09T19:06:00.005-05:00

Miss you.

oh golly

2010-08-19T21:02:00.000-05:00

Dude, I'm old. Life has been whizzing by like a little italian on a moped. Zoooooooooooooooom.

I've been in a creative hotspot if you will. Well, I put myself there, I didn't actually fall into said spot. I've been writing (obviously not on this blog), taking classes to be funny and drawing (mostly party hats, but hey, it was my birthday). It feels good to be moving forward. I don't wear stagnant very well.

I can't wait for summer to be over. When I lived on the east coast I craved the warmth. In Texas, it's all I can do to keep myself from ruining every shirt I own with sweat stains. The winter's here are pretty stellar, though. Can I skip to age sixty and get a vacation home yet?

put me down, pick me up

2010-08-11T13:06:00.001-05:00

I've been taking improv classes at The New Movement Theatre. I say funny things about dead cats, vomit and plane crashes. Hilarious. I attended a show there and people said funny things about penis', vaginas and wrestling. I wasn't far off.

I'll be heading to the east coast in several weeks to celebrate my sister's wedding and perform bridesmaid duties. I plan to visit the Atlantic as she's been sorely missed. The great white sightings will not deter me from her.

Things have been hard. When I think I've found something that makes me happy, something else happens to counteract whatever I thought I had gained. Complicated relationships, bad timing and distance have conjured mental turbulence.

My heart is with someone I dont even know. These times have been strange.

berfday

2010-08-04T12:53:00.000-05:00

It's my birthday next week. Buy me things! Send me love notes! Adore me!

got my mind on my money and my money on my mind

2010-07-29T09:19:00.001-05:00

A money haiku for you:

Forever poor me.
Until I started saving.
Now I roll in dough.

i, fatty

2010-07-28T10:49:00.000-05:00

I wish I was one of those people who seem to have been genetically programmed to enjoy excercise. Those freaks are out there, leaving the rest of us fatties in their excercise dust. Even though thoughts of water drip torture hold more appeal, I try to blend in with the super humans and attempt a decent workout 2-3 times weekly. I heard it's supposed to be good for me. Whatever. Last Monday as I was mentally preparing myself for leg kicks and clapping push-ups a mircale happened. Someone in the class before mine was injured to the point of ambulance and firefighter involvement, and my class was effectively cancelled. So, I went home and ate some Reese's.

hey big spender

2010-07-22T11:00:00.001-05:00

Hey penny pinchers, tight wads and cheapos. I'm on your side. I'm jumping ship from my overspending, undersaving ways. I'm investing. I'm drinking coffee from work. I'm creating a budget. I'm a new woman.

This isn't news to any of those who know me, but I hate desk jobs. So much hate. If my job was a living entity, I'd murder it. Dead. Anyways, it's unfortunate but I currently need this job be able to live in a house and eat food. But not forever. Perhaps for the first time ever, I'm planning ahead. I'm attempting to change the course of my life. Things have been stagnant for years. I'm in a rut. Everything has become routine and boring, in the worst way possible. I thought I was crazy for a long while, and that medication would turn on a switch that has been missing. My body did not react well to any drug I tested, and things weren't going to be different just because a doctor told me they would be. So, I'm saving to buy a new life. I want to work for myself, although I haven't gotten the particulars sorted quite yet. I know I'll need money, though. And a plan, coming soon. For certain, whatever path I choose I must be able to travel at will. Any form of transportation will do, just as long as the destination is new and there is adventure to be had.

Any thrifty-nifty people out there that would be so kind to provide insight into how I can become a millionaire on a pauper's paycheck?

hey sailor

2010-07-08T12:53:00.000-05:00

I'm a fairly fickle music lover. Getting into my good musical graces may be harder than sexing up a reborn Christian. Difficult, but not impossible. I found true love with Interpol when I was eighteen. Ah, young lust. I'm older now and still as starry eyed as I was in those early days. There's something about listening to Interpol that makes my desire for a Navy issued peacoat increase dramatically. I live in Texas, the coat would be pointless. But oh, I would look so cool and sophisticated.

fireworks, sparklers, crappy merchandise, AMERICA

2010-07-06T20:33:00.000-05:00

I spent my fourth of July painting a wood-paneled room.

whales and wolves

2010-06-28T22:05:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted in a bit, and I'm going to attribute that to my harrowing experience with the 5k I completed two months ago. Clearly my body wasn't prepared and I just recovered, like, today. Really.

Not much has been missed, my adoring fans and avid blog readers. I joined and quit a softball team (not simultaneously). I started drinking coffee again. I went to Massachusetts to watch a family member pass away and mourn their death. I've been working and keeping sane. Sometimes sane is very boring. Even though I know a routine is best for my mind, my soul is dying. It's withering away behind a wood laminate desk under shitty fluorescent lighting.

Adventure is in the horizon. It has to be.

run run runaway

2010-04-23T10:19:00.000-05:00

I'm training to become a greek-god-esque athlete with olympian dreams. Actually, I'm training to run 3.1 miles without keeling over and dying mid-way through. What I didn't know is that I would turn into an oompa-loompa after each run. My body is rejecting exercise and has become allergic, why else would I turn into a beet after moving a measly 2.2 miles? What the hell is wrong with this pathetic vessel I call a "body"? What if I didn't live in the modern times and had to hunt and gather and all that jazz? I'd be totally screwed. I'd be piggybacking around on some of the stronger people, like a human parasite. However, I would clean and take care of my host, to keep it symbiotic and such.

Running woes.

withdrawal symptoms

2010-04-21T18:48:00.003-05:00

It has been one week since I've had coffee. Don't people win awards for feats of this magnitude? It hasn't been hard giving up the actual beverage, but I seem to miss the routine of it. Going to the coffee shop, sipping on my caffeinated juice, carrying around my cup like a badge of pride. Sweet sweet salvation comes in liquid form. I've been debating whether to fall back into this bad habit, my pro and con list as follows:

PROS
- I look cool holding a coffee cup.
- I feel good holding a coffee cup.
- Coffee tastes really good.

CONS
- Lattes are my beverage of choice.
- Lattes are expensive.
- Sometimes I get coffee hangovers.

Decisions, decisions. Guess I'll have to think about it over a cup of... tea?

MGMT "Flash Delirium"

2010-04-16T10:00:00.003-05:00

This video sort of reminds me of the Royal Tenenbaums, but with the creep factor turned way up.

a tad bookish

2010-04-13T15:45:00.003-05:00

In these modern and crazy days it seems that many of the young folks don't hold much of an appreciation for the traditional paper-bound book. Advancements in technology have left this ancient form of learning in the dust, often overlooked and undervalued. As a child I used books as a form of escapism from a sometimes turbulent and often lonely childhood. My collection has grown impressively over the years. Sometimes I wonder if the walls in my home are holding up the books, or vice-versa. This collection has not only grown out of a love for reading, but also, I must admit, I covet book covers as much as the text within. I judge books by their covers. And for this reason, I have duplicates of many, many books. I'm just like Mel Gibson's character in Conspiracy Theory who HAD to buy Catcher in the Rye each time he had seen a copy. Unlike his character, I haven't resorted to wearing aluminum foil on my head and don't think I'm being watched. I mean, I'm posting about books, who in their right mind would be watching me?

Enjoy a small sampling of some of my favorite covers and interiors (click to enlarge).

weekday woes

2010-04-12T16:19:00.002-05:00

Another week to bare, to fill, to get through as quietly and unassumingly as possible. The past weekend brought progress to the not-so-secret-secret-garden, and then the rain misted its way in. And now it has fled, and tomorrow it will come back in full force for the next week. I've got the rain blues, I wish I had the rain shoes. I want to shake my fist at those fat and water-soaked gray clouds hanging overhead. Feel my fury rain.