~ December 3rd, 2008 ~

Nashville part 2

I’m back in Nashville scurrying around like a little mouse with my bundled up coat on and my little suitcase.

I have had some great meetings..which means wearing heels a lot but I have chosen to be one of those people that pulls my little suitcase around so I don’t have to carry a massive ever-growing purse on one shoulder while I run around in my heels. There is nothing worse than teetering around with a big bag on your shoulder.

This way, I can feel more like an organized stewardess!

This trip has been different from the last because the minute I arrived I went to whole foods and got some snacks…lots of apples, animal crackers,yogurt, bubbly water, granola, and little packages of bubble bath and bath salts so I can come home every night and have a bath and drink water and have my bubbly vitamin stuff that I drink.

Just a tiny bit of home is really comforting….

I am writing with a bunch of people this week that I wrote with the last time I was here.

I wrote with Tebey, a writer that I had mentioned earlier in my blog. We finished an upbeat song that we had started last time I was here…its fun! Anyways I am working like a buzzy bee and should have enough honey made by the holidays to get it out to the market soon! Translation for that is that I should have most of the songs done for this next album by the time I take the turkey out of the oven! Yahhhoooo!

I’m off to a meeting at starbucks around the corner so I’ve got to wash this hair..it’s a bit of a chore seeing as it is getting long!

I will update more soon! xoxoxo

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~ December 1st, 2008 ~

Back in Nashville

I barely made it!!! I took the red eye from Vancouver to Toronto and customs was very very busy!!

I also got in trouble from the customs guy because I had an Alan Jackson all access pass on the back of my passport (from his recent show in Toronto.) The customs guy told me that it was bad and that my passport didn’t belong to me, it belonged to my country…hmmm..I hadn’t looked at it that way.

Anyways, I grabbed the shuttle to go to my gate with 4 minutes to spare and here I am packed like a sardine on a little plane heading to Nashville.

In the Vancouver airport, I met Bruce Allen (kind of a famous Canadian manager for artists like Michael Buble and Martina Mcbride..etc). Anyways I introduced myself and he said he had read about me, which is kind of cool!

Anyways, I had it all planned that when we got off the flight, I would tell him I reallly wanted to do a duet with Michael Buble. But when I had the chance I was a bit tired and hadn’t had a tea and I thought I may screw up the delivery…so next time I see him that will be the plan.

I hope you all have a great week! Check back here for updates from Nashville!

xo Jessie

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~ November 29th, 2008 ~

Black ice & holiday nights

Had a good night last night. The show at the Whitecourt Casino was fun. We are playing there again tonight so if you are in the area come by and say hi!

Black ice took over Whitecourt like a scene in a comic book…Suddenly everyone started to worry about getting home. I was so nervous in the back of the suv that I fell asleep…I did the same thing one time when I was in a tiny helicopter and I got freaked out. I suppose falling asleep is a strange but effective reaction to being nervous.

I’m sure I sound silly to a lot of people who live in ice and snow all winter and who know how to handle it but I’m from Vancouver. I’m only good at wearing gumboots and wearing jeans soaked on the bottom.

My band and I had a lot of fun last night. It was a more intimate room than we have been used to lately. It was fun to play a bunch of covers that we used to play like a Tracy Chapman song and Strong enough by Sheryl Crow and Wildflowers a Tom Petty song…and a bunch more. And of course we played a lot of songs off of Nothing Fancy.

We did this thing that I have called “ Song scrapbooking”..where you go from one song to a piece of another song to a piece of another song and each piece takes you through a memory and a moment in time. It was lots of fun to do that and I played guitar a bunch more than I have been playing lately.

I think my band and I are going bowling this afternoon….should be fun.

Tomorrow we head back to Vancouver and I have about 6 hours at home and then off to Nashville for one more last week of writing for my next album.

I am going to work on some song ideas today so that I have a bunch more ideas before I get there.

I think I’m going to need a really good latte to come up with something clever..oh and maybe a walk down the isles of the local walmart..

But I am very proud of myself, I have been stylishly thrifty as of late (whatever that means)…

I think this year at my house, we are going to go walking in the forest, pick up a bunch of pretty green branches and put them in a big beautiful vase and decorate them with a few quality ornaments…and that ladies and gentleman will be our Christmas tree!

I would love to hear what you are doing to make your xmas holidays easier and more relaxing and more fun!!

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~ November 28th, 2008 ~

Headed to Whitecourt, Alberta

Heading to Whitecourt to play shows tonight and tomorrow at the Eagle River Casino. If you live nearby, it would be great to see you!

Had to be up very early this morning..just after 5am eeeekkkk!
Rain lots of rain.

I called the cab company and normally they are on automatic but this morning a lady with a British accent said,”Where are you heading? I hope you are heading out of this rain!” it was torrential this morning.

I don’t know how I didn’t get swept away into a gutter!

Got on the plane and conked out with my hot tea in my hand. Luckily I didn’t spill it! Waking yourself up with hot tea is NOT a good experience (trust me, it’s happened a few times!)

Now the band and I are driving to the radio station and then the venue for sound check.

The woman Alicia Tait who picked us up and is looking after us is very nice and we are listening to Serena Ryder.

I think Serena is kinda bummed out but very clever!

Last night I made chocolate chip cookies. The house smelt how i think heaven would smell!
I’ve got to stop guessing what a teaspoon is because an actual teaspoon is not the right measurement. That might be why my cookies didn’t look like the cookies on the recipe. Oh well. They were hot delicious and there were no complaints in my house.

Rupert and Henry begged for a cookie but they aren’t allowed!

Had the best sleep this winter last night! The key is to make sure the rest of the house is warm when ypu have to get up ..and make sure to have perfect slippers…ease into what can be a shock when you have to leave the snuggle cocoon.

Happy Friday and I recommend sleeping in if possible tomorrow!

Xoxo Jessie

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~ November 26th, 2008 ~

Home with my toes in the mud!

I’m sitting here listening to a Randy Travis (Forever and Ever, Amen) song so I can learn it for my Whitecourt, Alberta shows at coming up on Friday and Saturday. I’m gonna love you forever and ever and ever and ever amen. His songs are so soothing.. If you live near Whitecourt, I hope to see you at the Eagle River Casino!

Jus about to bite into an apple..I love apples. Rupert and Henry are fast asleep next to me and the dishwasher is on. Ahhhhhh. I love being at home!

We went for a beautiful evening walk on the beach last night with hot chocolate. The dogs were a bit scared of the giant puddles but they enjoyed the walk. The city looked incredible from a distance and the world seemed so quiet and peaceful.

Tomorrow we are going for a walk in the forest…looking forward to getting all bundled up! The problem is that it’s getting so dark so early that we might have to bring flashlights!

I had such a great time in Calgary shooting “ Donner Down”. Joel Stewart and his whole crew did such a great job of filming it. They were very patient with the newbie on set ( ME!). I suppose Willie and Aaron were new to acting as well so I don’t feel so bad.

We are sending my Christmas song out this week to stations across Canada..it is called “Christmas at my house”..just a fun little ditty I whipped up about making Christmas fun and not worrying about making things perfect! Christmas shouldn’t be stressful!

Oh and thanks to everyone who has been requesting “I Guess” . It has bounced back and is at #13 on the charts, so all your calls to radio stations requesting it really help!! I hope to make it a Top 10 hit in the next week and your calls are what are needed to make that happen!

Xoxo Jessie

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~ November 23rd, 2008 ~

Pictures from the set

Well today is our last day of filming. Here are some pictures that I’ve taken from my phone from the set. i hope you enjoy them!

On set.  That's Joel (looking at the monitors)

On set. That's Joel (looking at the monitors)

This is a Candle I brought to set.  It smells nice and keeps me relaxed

This is a Candle I brought to set. It smells nice and keeps me relaxed

Yummy snacks!  Keep me going through the day

Yummy snacks! Keep me going through the day

Our Christmas Tree on set!

Our Christmas Tree on set!

Santa & Me

Santa & Me

Santa with his real life twins

Santa with his real life twins

Santa getting his heart checked by Victor

Santa getting his heart checked by Victor

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~ November 22nd, 2008 ~

Saturday night on set

Beautiful day hear on the set of the Xmas cmt movie. Unfortunately rowdy and nudie have left to do another job..it’s a very busy time of year for them!

Just did a scene with max the dog. He has a little cast on and a cone around his neck.

Santa’s twin 13 year old identical sons just showed up.

And Santa is singing in the make up room. I can hear him from 3 rooms over.

I’m a bit sleepy but I’ll have a green tea and get some air!

Two real dogs had to be put down today at the vet so I was pretty upset. But atleast they are free from any pain.

More soon….

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~ November 21st, 2008 ~

Photos from the set

This is kris Kringle...and he's not even in costume! I think he is the real Santa!

This is kris Kringle...and he's not even in costume! I think he is the real Santa!

It’s a long day but I’m really enjoying myself. I just Twittered that Aaron Lines and Willie Mack have shown up on set. They both have roles in the movie.

This is a picture of me in costume.

Me in costume

Me in costume

I’ll keep more updates coming!

xo Jessie

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~ November 21st, 2008 ~

Just shot my first scene!

Adorable sweater!

Miloe the cat!

Just shot my first scene! Yipee!

4 lines. It was manageable. Everyone is really sweet and “Rowdy” (one of the Reindeers) is getting his leg shaved now so as to look like he is hurt…shhhhh can’t tell you anymore details cause it will ruin the surprise! It’s going to air on CMT on Dec 15th. And Victor Atelevich (the actor playing “jake”) says hi!!

xo Jessie

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~ November 21st, 2008 ~

Meet Nudie!

Me and Nudie

Me and Nudie

I’ve just arrived in Didsbury and we are getting ready for a day of shooting. The crew just gave me pretty flowers..a great way to start the day!! However maybe they shouldn’t have given them to me until after they see me act!! Heehee

We are shooting in a veterinarian hospital and dogs are barking everywhere! Reminds me of home!

Victor, the actor playing the vet, is getting his make up on. And I am next.

The craft services (catering) is looking good so far! I am drinking a cup of decaf caramel tea and these really good granola clusters.

The highlight is that they have a thing that is like a pepper shaker but it is sugar and real vanilla and you crush it into your tea.. Kinda cool.

It’s weird eating in an animal hospital.. But I just got over it.

More updates soon!

xo Jessie

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