November 19, 2013

Sad Dickie


There is only a three hour time difference between LA and New York, but that ish did me in. By Friday, all I wanted to do was go home and spend the evening with a bottle of Pinot and this guy:







Love me some Keith from DatelineI was in my neighborhood wine shop, trying to decide whether I should spend $13.99 on a corked bottle or $17.99 on a screw top (how can that be?), when I got a text from Nina.

‘What are you doing?’

'About to get Mom drunk.’


'Mom drunk?'


'You know, like how Moms get drunk. A few glasses of wine and they're down for the count.'

‘Not my Mom. Anyway, Brad and I just had biggest fight. Can I come over?’

I went with two bottles of the $13.99.

Nina’s face was swollen and blotchy when she showed up at my door. I've seen Nina cry twice before. Once, when she accidentally missed the deadline for the study abroad program in college, and another time while watching that scene in I Am Legend where Will Smith kills his dog. This had either been a huge fight or a huge overreaction.

“What happened?” I asked. 

“He’s fucking moving to Chicago is what happened.”

“What? Why?”

“He was transferred,” Nina said. 

“Okay, well, it happens”—

“No! It's not like he was transferred and it's out of his hands. He’s been interviewing for the position for two fucking months and he kept it from me. He said he didn’t want to worry me unnecessarily in case he didn’t get it.” 

Oh. 

“He said we’ll be fine. That lots of people do long distance and make it work. Fuck that.” 

“Okay.” I handed her a glass of wine. “Lots of people do do long distance and make it work.”

“Do lots of people go behind their girlfriend’s back and interview for a position that will deliberately put a million miles between them without even telling their girlfriend?”

I didn’t say anything so Nina answered her own question. “Yes, lots of people do that. Lots of people who want to be single but don’t have the balls to break up with someone outright.”

“Oh, come on, Nina,” I said. “He’s not moving to Chicago to get out of being in a relationship with you. That’s insane.”

“I don’t think it’s the only reason,” Nina said. “It's a good job and I know he's excited about it. But he doesn’t seem too torn up about us being apart. It’s kind of like, well, if it works it works but if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”

I didn’t know what to say to that, because I'd probably feel the same way. “So are you guys broken up?” 

Nina sighed. “No.” She took a gulp of wine. “Not yet.”

“It will work out,” I said. “No matter what. It will work out.”

Nina rolled her glass around in her hands. “I guess. Anyway, tell me about LA.”

“Well, I've got a doozy for you...” I launched into a full recap.


"You should start like, The Ian Club with those other girls," Nina said. "Like The First Wives Club or something. Plot your revenge."


"I don't feel like I need revenge," I said. "I really don't think what he did was premeditated. I can see how it just kind of happened. He's gorgeous now...and really, like alpha and confident. I completely believe that those girls wanted to sleep with him because of that, not because he like, manipulated them or something. I was actually more bothered by what he wrote about them. But the more I think about it, I mean, is it really that different from what we do?"


Nina rolled her eyes. "Come on."


"We sit around and judge the guys we've slept with and don't always say the nicest things about them. Hello—Sad Dickie?"


Nina spit out her wine. "Sad Dickie! I haven't thought about him in so long." Sad Dickie was Nina's nickname for a guy she hooked up with in college who could never get it up and refused to talk about it or acknowledge there was a problem. He was also unfortunate enough to be named Damien Dickie. I mean...it was just tragic all around.


"I guess I just feel like it's worse when a guy slams a girl's body," Nina said. "He's in more of a position of power than she is. Guys are just not subjected to the same level of scrutiny about their bodies as we are."


"I know that," I said. "I'm just saying...I get it. And you should have seen him that night—he wouldn't make a move. I initiated it all. Maybe I would feel taken advantage of if he'd come on strong. But he didn't."


"That's probably part of his plan too," Nina said. "Play it innocent. Make you come to him."


Nina was not the person to talk to about this at the moment. Her bitterpants were on good and tight. So I kept it to myself that Ian had texted me since I'd gotten back to New York. He was going to be in New Jersey for a few days next week for Thanksgiving. His exact words: 'This is a long shot, but can we go out for drinks or dinner while I'm in town? I know there's something here. Tell me to fuck off if you want but I know you know it too.' I told him I had to think about it, but to tell you the truth, I was leaning towards yes.

Saturday morning I was on my way to a yoga class with Ashley when I got a call from Kevin. “Ummmm, did you hook up with Morrison and not tell me you little sloot?”

“What?!” 

“Yeah,” Kevin said, “I went in to get my measurements taken and Morrison said my ‘friend’ is freakier than she looks, winked at me, and then all the other guys in the store laughed.”

“Well, I am freakier than I look but Morrison wouldn’t know that.” I told him what really happened.

Kevin laughed. “Well, that’s not what he’s saying.”

“Do you think I should say something to him?”

“It’s weird," Kevin said, "I actually still think he’s gay. It's like he’s telling people this story about you to prove he isn’t. But you don’t want to get involved with a mess like that, believe me.”

"I don't even have the energy to," I said.

“I’m totally going to hook up with him now,” Kevin said. “Closet cases are the best in bed. They have so much pent up sexual tension from not being able to express it in everyday life. It’s why I’m such a sexual stallion.”

“Right,” I said.

“It’s true,” Kevin said. “Now imagine the two of us together. Fireworks, baby.”

I laughed. “Go for it.”

“Oh, don't you even worry about it,” he said.

We hung up and I hurried out the door to meet Ashley. I am normally anti yoga (the whole time I'm downward doggying I just think about how I should be doing sprints on Harlem Hill, getting a real workout), but Bess had told her it would help her work through her depressive tendencies.

“Wait, you’re depressed?” I asked.

“Josie, it’s why I’m always so angry,” she said. “Depression is anger turned inwards.”

“Shut up,” I said.

“It’s true! Even just recognizing that has made me feel so much better. I’m so much more patient now.”

“Really?”

“Really. So will you go with me, please?”

When I arrived at the yoga studio in Union Square, I was surprised to see how many guys were in the class. Lunks I usually eye molest in the weight room too. The few yoga classes I’ve taken in the city were composed of mostly women and delicate-looking gay men with slender waists I envy. 

Ashley was already in the corner, sitting on a mat. She waved me over. 

“I would have worn the yoga pants that make me look like I have a butt if I’d known,” I said. 

“I know,” Ashley said. “To your left.”

I reached my arms up and yawned, glancing over my shoulder while I ‘stretched’ my neck from side to side. There were two winners in the corner, backs up against the wall, impressive arms folded over their chests.

I turned back to Ashley. “Mama likey.”

“You’re such a sick puppy,” Ashley laughed. It felt like forever since we’d laughed together. 

“Hello, hello!” Announced a lithe women standing at the front of the room. How do I do yoga and look like that? “Welcome to Yoga Match.”

“What’s Yoga Match?” I whispered to Ashley. 

“I think they, like, match your body type to certain moves,” Ashley said.  

“Oh! I love that,” I said. Maybe that’s how you get a body like that, you tailor your moves to your trouble spots. Brilliant.

“Did everyone enter their names in the envelopes when they first walked in the door?" The instructor asked. 

I looked at Ashley. “Did you do that?”

Ashley shook her head. 

“Did anyone not enter their name?” The instructor prompted, and Ashley and I raised our hands meekly.

“Well, hurry up!” She said, motioning us to the front of the room. Everyone watched as we scurried forward, the instructor passing us a shred of paper and a pen, then adding our names to the envelope labeled, 'Girls'.

I was starting to think the class wasn't called Yoga Match because it matched your body type to the moves...

As the instructor began to speak, I realized I was right. This was Yoga Match, as in match.com, as in yoga dating and my worst nightmare not yet realized until that moment. Leslie, the instructor, pulled one name out of the 'Girls' envelope, and one name out of the ‘Guys’ envelope, and the two were introduced and instructed to pair off on mats next to each other.

Of course, Ashley ended up with one of the Baldwins we’d noticed earlier. The other one still hadn’t been matched up yet, and I crossed my fingers and prayed he would be mine when Leslie called out my name. No such luck. I got a guy with a greasy ponytail and a poppy seed stuck between his front teeth.  


"I'm Benji with a G," he said.


So....Ben-Guy? "I'm Josie," I said, stiffly.


"It's phenomenal to meet you, Josie," Ben-Guy said. I glanced over at Ashley. She was too busy twirling her hair and batting her eye lashes at her Yoga Match to catch my death stare.


All I could think was, they're not going to make us touch, right? That would be weird if Leslie made us touch. Leslie's so not going to make us touch. 


LESLIE MADE US TOUCH. First, we had to press our palms against each other and maintain eye contact for sixty seconds. You do not realize how long sixty seconds is until you are palm to clammy palm with greasy ponytail guy, him looking into your eyes all pensively like he's fucking Edward Cullen or something.


I didn't think it could get any worse but then Leslie instructed us to 'spot' each other while we assumed a downward dog position. Why do I need a spotter to balance on my hands and knees with my ass in the air? It's like the most stable position ever.


"Would you like to go first?" Ben-Guy asked and I had a split second to decide which was worse—my ass in Ben-Guy's crotch or his in mine? I decided it was the former.


I tried to imagine I was anywhere but where I was as Leslie instructed the downward doggiers to inhale and press 'deeper', which translated to Ben-Guy pushing his butt into my pelvis—nothing but a thin layer of spandex and mesh separating our goodies—and moaning with every exhale. This had to be the universe's way of punishing me for not recycling. 

At the end of the class, Leslie encouraged us all to share our information if we felt a connection to our partner. Ben-Guy said he had a 'transient experience' and asked if he could call me sometime. I mumbled something about just getting out of a relationship and needing to pee and fled.


I hid out in the bathroom until Ashley came to find me. "I need a shower," I wailed.


"Oh my God," Ashley laughed. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea I signed us up for this."
"Please tell me you at least got your guy's number?"


Ashley held up her phone and showed me her new contact for Andrew Engle. I would have held creepy eye contact with Ben-Guy for a million more seconds to see the big grin on Ashley's face again. It had been too long since I'd seen her that happy.

"I can put in a good word for you with the friend if you want," she offered.

"That's okay," I said.

"Jos, just because you don't want something serious doesn't mean you can't have any fun."

I could have told her the truth. Which was that I couldn't stop thinking about Ian. But honestly, I was embarrassed. I'd been all on my high horse about Ashley and Tom, telling her she deserved better. She did, and Ian was in no way as bad as Tom, but still.... I made up some excuse about work being too busy right now. I wanted to explore this thing with Ian on my own first—find out if I could really trust him, if there was something there, or if the Ian I knew was really gone.  

Note to readers 
I know I've been combative in the comments section lately. I'm overworked and hit my breaking point and I apologize. I love the debates about the storyline and Josie. She's meant to be a goofy, flawed character who makes decisions you don't always agree with.  


But it's one thing to not agree with Josie's actions, or voice criticism in a respectful, nuanced way (that I welcome), and another to bash (that is what I was reacting to).  It makes the comments section a nasty, hostile place, and I don't want that and I'm sure you don't either. Many websites have commenting policies in place to protect their writers from unnecessary vitriol, so here is my unofficial policy: Let's not be jerks to each other! Myself included. Also, if you find yourself continuously frustrated or annoyed over some element of the blog, maybe this is not the blog for you. We can break up, no hard feelings! 

Just a heads up that I will not be posting the week of Thanksgiving. I've taken the week off to channel all my creative energy into my book because it is due on December 7th (ah!), and also to spend some much needed downtime with my family and friends and obviously eat my weight in honey baked ham.


Thank you for reading (and for all your kind words in the comments section and in your emails to me) and I'll see you all on Thursday at 2PM!

79 comments:

  1. Jessica, just wanted to write a quick note thanking you for keeping this up so religiously. Reading this blog tuesday and thursday is a little highlight of my day. I love following the story, especially since like many other new yorkers (and non ny-ers too!), I've had dating anecdotes exactly just like Josie's! Thank you so much for continuing to write this, especially after you left Cosmo. It's such a treat to follow it :)

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    1. I agree- I look forward to these days every week! Enjoy your Thanksgiving.

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    2. Already feeling sad that there wont be posts next week, that is how much I love the blog. Keep up the good work Jessica

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  2. Like many of your readers, I have been following Josie pretty much since the beginning and I have to say, I love the way her character has developed! I feel like I really know Josie. She's not perfect and neither is her life, but that's what makes her seem real.

    This blog has really inspired me. I've always wanted to write and I finally started sending some of my short stories out. I also started a blog and hope my readers will be as passionate as yours (More positive, of course, but just as passionate!)

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  3. A lovely note to your readers. I've always been a fan of your work even if I disagree with Josie's choices (like her deciding to give Ian a chance which I HATE but will read to see how it goes), and I think you've been fair.

    The Yoga Match scene was really funny and almost makes me want to see if I can find a class like that.

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  4. I have never commented before and I just wanted to tell you how much I love your blog. It is honestly the highlight of my Tuesday and Thursdays. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Jessica.

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  5. I can so relate to Nina and her "Sad Dickie"! Same thing happened to me and it was just plain awful, but I can laugh about it now!

    Have a great Thanksgiving, Jess :)

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  6. I have been ready this blog for many many months and I have never commented on your blog but felt the need to do so today. I read your note to the readers and it baffles me that people take this so seriously that they have to make negative or mean/rude comments. Josie after all is a character and this is not real life. I look forward to Tuesday and Thursdays and cant wait to read my love, sex, pizza. Altho my co workers think Im alittle crazy when I say its Love, Sex, Pizza time.....LOL. Thank you for those few minutes each Tuesday and Thursday where I can escape reality. Cant wait to see what happens on Thursday. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and best of luck with your book.

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  7. I feel so dumb to say I thought, like other things on Cosmopolitan.com, that this was a real life blog. Bummed to realize it's fiction. Oh well, I still Love it!

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  8. I have never commented before but after reading your note I just want to say thanks for keeping up with this blog. I look forward to reading every Tuesday and Thursday! I hope by making that comment about when your book is due means you'll be keeping us updated about when it hits the shelves. No matter what its about I'd love to read it!

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  9. Jessica thank you for this blog. I love it and am totally hooked though i don't always agree with Josie's actions. Josie has truly grown and developed as a character. I don't agree with Josie leaning towards meeting up with Ian. I don't think he is as sincere as he is acting. Yes maybe he is gorgeous now and her classmates were all over him but that didn't justify the disgusting comments in his year book, nor the one about Josie. hoping she runs into nick instead;)

    from my experience long distance relationships rarely work. Nina seems to be into brad but maybe he isn't looking for such a commitment right now or maybe he is internalizing his feelings like most men. I wish I knew more about brad to assess the situation better.

    I'm glad Ashley met a cute guy at yoga. Match yoga, how awesome is that. I would have totally tried that if I were single, in the meanwhile I'll live vicariously through the blog.

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    1. I am glad you said that about Ian Melissa. I agree that something is not right. I think that he is upset he didn't do what he wanted on his terms. He may be good to look at but he seems immature to me. I would rather see Josie focus on the men in NYC, not the long distance stuff. What if Nina moves to Chicago? What would Josie do??? LOL!!

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  10. OMG this was tears rolling down my cheeks, snorting over and over again funny!! "This had to be the universe's way of punishing me for not recycling!!" Thanks so much!! Love this blog!!

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  11. Thank you for continuing this blog! I really appreciate the time and effort. And some of the storylines have really helped me think through and react better to my own relationship issues! Almost a little bit like therapy.

    I also love commenting and I think that it is awesome you take the time to read through them. I'm really looking forward to your book!

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  12. Good entry today...laughed out loud at the part about "being punished for not recycling."

    Josie is a totally believable character. C'mon, y'all! Who among us made the smartest decisions in our 20's? Also, who else misses the bravado that came packed in a 20-something's body? (sigh) The things I could do now with my 26-year-old thighs!

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  13. I also want to say thank you for continuing with this blog. It's a little break in my Tuesdays and Thursdays that I really look forward to. Your writing has a great voice to it which makes the characters easy to relate to. And the anecdotes are mostly hysterical but with just the right amount of real life drama. I love that you've mixed in some contemporary issues that today's 20something women deal with.

    I hope that you can let the negative comments roll off your back. I think it's already pretty apparent that they are in the minority here.

    Looking forward to Thursday!

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  14. I seriously love this blog. I look forward to it all week! Even though I can't relate to Josie at all, or most situations, I still find it an interesting read. I don't know why some people need to be mean. Jessica, I think you handled the situation perfectly, don't be a jerk or get out should be a policy everywhere.

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  15. Jessica,

    First of all, I love your blog - in fact, I love it so much that I started my own! It isn't fictional like yours, but I use it as a diary/entertainment to those who wish to read it. Thank you for inspiring me to channel my inner Carrie Bradshaw and please continue to write because despite what some may think, you are fantastic and your posts never cease to amaze me.

    Secondly, I love all the different things you incoporate in this blog, it's creative and fun,not to mention - realistic! Girls end up in situations like Ashley all the time and they're hard to handle because many of those girls (like Ashley) can't see what's right infront of them.

    Lastly, I'm really happy that you've stood up yourself! I was always so annoyed when I'd read your blog on Cosmo and see all these people complaining... You were kind enough to continue this blog (on your spare time) and I wish people would appreciate that more. Yes, some of Josie's decisions are questionable and frustrating, but people make mistakes! Josie being a fictional character doesn't change that. How boring would this blog be if she was perfect all the time??

    As for the "Josie always assumes people are gay," comments uh hello? It is difficult to tell these days and that isn't an insult to anyone, but men do take much more pride in their appearances and that unfortunately can send the wrong message, okay?! BLAME SOCIETY PEOPLE!

    I hope you see this and remember that there are many people who love this blog and look forward to it and to focus on that. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and again, thank you so much for being so awesome!

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    1. I actually love that Josie always assumes people are gay. It's hilarious. These days young people always say they have the best "Gay-dar" and it's a funny, silly misread for her to keep making. One of those things that will always make the reader go "Oh, Josie..."

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  16. About Ian: I can relate with Jossie, how sometimes you keep giving opportunities to guys that you already know are trouble, unavailable, etc, even though you know you are leading to heartbreak :(

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  17. Thank you so much for continuing to write this blog. I have followed Cosmo's various Bedroom Blogs for years and was seriously upset when previous versions have ended. I even wrote you a personal emailto thank you when you said you were moving here on your own after leaving Cosmo! I honestly ask myself every day which day it is to see if it's time for LSP. No joke! I was thinking to myself last night, as I was vacuuming, that I couldn't wait until tomorrow at 2:00. I hope you plan to continue on into the future. Your writing voice reminds me of one of my best girls from college who moved to NY right after graduation; it's like reading my friend's diary. Best of luck with the book, and enjoy your time off!

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  18. Jessica, WHY are you apologizing?! Oh my gawd people are taking this way, way too seriously! If you don't like it don't read it for cryin' out loud! Simple as that. Sheesh. I, for one, will continue to meet the rest of you back here at 2pm every Tuesday & Thursday because I LOVE Josie :) Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

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  19. I have followed your blog from Cosmo to here (PS....seriously don't follow ANY other blogs.) and I have to say my Tuesdays and Thursdays are brightened by your blog. Don't be discouraged by the rude comments! Some people just don't have enough to busy themselves with so they find ways to pull people who are accomplished and trying to do something great with their lives down. Stay above the fray....WAY easier said that done...and keep at it girly! I hope your much deserved week off turns out well and this comment makes you fell better! P.S.....I'm a 25 year old, single and working woman living in Kansas City, MO and have to say that you have so much truth in your writing that reflects a lot of how being at that stage in your life can be/is.

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  20. Darn it, I thought that this blog was just a little bit real. Boooooo! Still love it but I loved thinking that silly Josie was out there right now

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  21. I love your blog so much. Such a nice thing to look forward to on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Can't wait for your book to come out!

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  22. I feel a little bad for Ian. I'm sure not proud of many things I did/said even just a few years ago, and I'd hate to be judged super harshly for it, because people do change or just become more of who they really are! That was my case anyways- I can totally see how Ian would get satisfaction from people who were mean/dismissive to him in high school. As a big of an ugly duckling/late bloomer myself, there were few feelings more satisfying than see some former bully's jaw drop (though I definitely preferred turning them down to notching them on my belt lol). It may have taken a while for him to let go of that negativity, and it's totally possible that he pulled out his Burn Book due to excitement at finally having a shot with someone he'd truly be interested in all along. That being said, I think it would always bother Josie after reading his judgmental comments- we are all guilty of having not so nice thoughts about people's physical appearance, but saying/writing it really can have a devastating effect. So I think she should steer clear or just be long distance friends with Ian.
    Jessica, this is literally the only blog I follow because it's so entertaining and addictive. People who take time out of their day to read something they don't even like just so they can criticize it are obviously not nearly as successful and fulfilled as you. My only complaint- sometimes, both on my tablet and laptop, the comments glitch and I can no longer type or delete in the comment box, so I have to refresh the page and hope the glitch goes away. I realize you're a writer and not a web designer, but man it can be frustrating when I just wanna say SOMETHING :-P thanks for writing, it's an inspiration!

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  23. I don't think Ian is as bad as Josie and the other readers think. Sure it was immature to write what he did, but like he said he was just out of college, thats to be expected. Plus what he wrote about Josie wasn't condescending...he said he wrote it like a diary entry, I know I've written things like "Will happen" in my journal. I think he was a really unpopular kid in high school, who when he grew older and more confident (like a lot of us do) it took him a few years to figure himself out. I hope Josie gives him a chance. Josie hasn't been the most mature 20 something either... She has grown leaps and bounds, and I'm sure Ian has too.

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    1. PS.

      Keep up the good work Jess. I love the blog!

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  24. You are coming out with a book!?! I hope it is as amazing as this blog. I love Tuesdays and Thursdays for this reason. Thank you for doing what you do. I have been following Josie since the beginning (I would read it on cosmo while in class). Thank you <3

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  25. I find that people complain more than they compliment. I call it a hipster/old person complex. Jessica, I have enjoyed your blog for years and thrilled you have continued it. Hopefully no one starts another change.org petition...

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  26. Just wanted to say I absolutely love this blog to pieces. I check it religiously every Tuesday and Thursday as soon as I get home from work. I think Josie is a believable character and I love how she has developed since the beginning--going from Bill's book assistant (It was Bill right? or Bob?), to Litterati with Megan and William, and now her new boss Frank. I have loved the Justin and Peter storylines too. Always something entertaining. I love how this Yoga Match thing didn't result in a new guy for Josie for once and I was rolling on the floor.

    Please let us know the title of your book and when it will be out. I will definitely buy a copy off Amazon for Kindle on my iPad! ;)

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  27. This is also my first time commenting on one of your posts, but I just had to voice, like the majority of the readers, that I find your blog to be so entertaining. Reading your blog is a weekly phenomenon that is so enjoyable. Thank you so much!

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  28. I have to first time comment as well!! Literally your Blog/Josie is my religion right now. I check in every Tues and Thurs to get my fix. I have been addicted since you starting writing this blog at Cosmo forever ago! Yes, I can say loud and proud, My Name is Autumn and I am a Josie-aholic!!! Thank you so much for writing this awesome entertainment! And way to go responding to the vicious complainers. They certainly can pack their bags and jump off a cliff if they do not like it!!!

    Cannot wait for your book!!!

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  29. Its your blog! You can react however you want to the negative nasty people that bother to comment. I really hope she says no to Ian. What he did majorly creeps me out!

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  30. I just thought of something.........didn't you write the blog about K as well? If so, how fantastic would it be to have K become a sort of mentor to Josie (through work)? I LOVED the K series and was so happy when she married Ben (I know, I know, it's all fake, LOL!). It would be nice to see how K's life has progressed and how great of a mentor she could be to Josie (in the fake world of awesome blogs, haha).

    Thanks for doing what you do, Jess!

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    1. No, she did not write K's bedroom blog on Cosmo. That was Jessica Hulett

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    2. I also thought she wrote K's blog which I loved as much as this and thought ended abruptly. Maybe Jessica changed her name after she got married? It happened just about the time K's blog ended. Just speculating here.

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  31. I love this blog!!! Keep it going!

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  32. I am so in love with this blog. I've been following it like a loyal disciple ever since you started. I loved this one because she didn't end up with some hot guy. It really made me laugh. Thank you for continuing it. Cant wait for Thursday's blog.



    P.S. You go ahead and let them know girl. If they don't like it, don't read it.

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  33. First time comment as well. Love love love this blog, and you Jessica. I seriously look forward to Tues/Thurs just for the new entries on LSP :) you are a wonderful writer and I live vicariously the Josie in the big city. Please don't change anything, people will always be sippin on that hater-aide.

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  34. Really great, seriously love your blog storyline, no debates or hate from me! i eagerly await all your posts and you are a kickass writer and I like that you are developing all the characters so well :)

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  35. Thank you for being such an entertaining part to my week. This blog was my favourite part of Cosmopolitan.com and I so excited you decided to keep writing it when you left!

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  36. I have a class on Tuesdays and thursdays at 230 and I spend the whole class in josie land. you are the only reason I show up for class because I need the free wifi to read the blog. my boyfriend thinks a bedroom blog means I read about some girls sexual experiences as well. this whole blog makes me hope post university life will be a bit more exciting and less revolving around my empty wallet. if you ever end this blog and I'm still with my boyfriend I will need to find single friends to live a wild life through. love that you do this still. please never stop

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  37. This is my 2nd time commenting, 1st being the last post. I have just caught up after reading the blog over the past week and this is the first time I have had to wait for an entry which was hell as I just want to keep reading. You have me on the hook.

    I don't understand why people have to share their negativity, it is disrespectful and uneccessary. I guess if they don't enjoy it then just stop reading it, isn't that the wiser and adult choice?

    Good luck with your book, I am so excited to hear that you will be publishing something! Please keep us in the loop! I will definitely be purchasing it, I hope it is more Josie/ similar adventures.

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  38. Screw them all, I love your blog so much and it really helps me get through my week. I now love Mondays because I know the there's only one more day till I will get to read about Josie. Don't ever stop writing.

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  39. Just wanted to add my thanks to you, Jessica, for keeping up with this blog. Life as everyone knows gets busy, so it's humbling to know that a talented writer like you takes time out of writing her book (so exciting!) to put this out for us every week. I know my life gets so busy sometimes that I forget what day it is and when I realize it's a Tuesday or Thursday after 2pm I do a little happy dance in my head because I'm excited to read about what Josie's been up to—the good, the bad and the crazy!

    I used to live in NY and reading about Josie's shenanigans reminds me of the crazy (and fun) single life I had during my stint there that made me ready for the amazing relationship I'm in now. Today's post about Yoga Match had me cracking up as I've definitely experienced my share of accidental single events. Josie's experience was definitely much closer to the real thing than Ashley's!

    So THANK YOU JESSICA! Hope you have a much deserved break and some fun with your friends and family during the Thanksgiving holiday. xo

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  40. Thank you for this blog Jessica! We appreciate more than you'll ever know. I've been reading religiously since the beginning and I have to say its been getting better and better! Looking forward to Thursdays post.

    Love,
    Kay, A Canadian Reader :)

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  41. I absolutely love this blog! I admire how well you are able to portray Josie and i love following her story week by week. As for all the people who bash this blog, they probably don't realize this is purely fictional. In my opinion, it is a relaxing, humorous, and exiting escape to reality.Other people get to serious and turn it into a debate. But that's not the point! It's a shame they can't enjoy it as much as many of us do :) can't wait until Thursday!

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  42. LESLIE MADE US TOUCH!
    Dying. Too funny. Hahaha
    Keep up the great work! :))

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  43. I love this blog! screw the haters.

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  44. Oh nooooo!! I don't even bother reading the comments, but I'm sorry to hear that! I've been reading this blog since it started in Cosmo in 2006. I was a little nervous I wouldn't like it anymore after the author change, but your blogs are engaging and funny! Cherry on top-it's amazing how reliable you are with the posts!!

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  45. Don't read the comments! Only look at the number of views on your website and you know how many people love, love, love Josie and your writing! I find myself checking the website multiple times a week, hoping you might post an extra story. But please, take your time, have a wonderful Thanksgiving and maybe even Christmas and then share all your wonderful, new, creative stories with us.

    Love from the Netherlands!

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  46. Just wanna voice my thanks as well Jessica. Also, I wanted to let you know that for people like me who are not native English speakers, nor live in an Englis speaking country, blogs like yours are so helpful. These readings keep my vocabulary up to date, so when I meet my American friends I don't sound like an eighteenth century book. Which I love. Thanks!

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  47. I won't lie, I wrote a negative comment about Josie about a month ago. However, that was absolutely NOTHING against the wonderful author Jessica. I think the fact that I'm so engaged and empathetic towards the characters show how much I LOVE your blog! I tried getting into other blogs, but nothing compares to yours. I hope Josie's journey goes on! And you are a genius writer! LOVE your work! Have a fantastic break! :)

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  48. I have to say, I love the outpouring of support. I've followed this blog since the beginning and was so pleased that you continued it after your days at Cosmo came to pass. It always seriously annoyed me to hear all the negativity. This is a fictional 20something. Your 20s are the time for making mistakes! For all those people who judge Josie's every move & criticize you, they must not have many friends, but I certainly wouldn't want to be around someone so rude & judgmental.

    Also, I'd like to say that even my husband knows when the blog comes out every week, I'm religious about reading & often re-read, as I did today. I wasn't going to comment, but I was compelled after seeing so many supportive readers! (:

    Enjoy your holiday. The blog posts will be sorely missed next week!

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  49. Hmmm, I hope something good can off with Ian, like to see how this goes.

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  50. The Yoga Match scene was hysterical, in an icky, creepy sort of way. Who wants to work out like that?? Eww...!! LOL. I can't say I blame her for wanting to see what's up with Ian. That nice kid she knew in school is still in there, still awkward underneath the buff body and good looks.

    The Keith from Dateline reference cracked me up. mum

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    1. Agree. I also can't blame Josie for wanting to see what's up with Ian!

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  51. I almost spit out my coffee reading the yoga match scene. Too funny. Love your blog! :)

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  52. Jessica, the blog is good. Stay focused and don't mind the negativity. I like that you address real issues - feminism, domestic violence, etc. Please keep working in real issues; that makes it more than just brain candy.

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  53. Hey Jessica. I don't usually comment but wanted to let you know that I loooooooooove your blog. I'm a mom and work full time there's no way I would have the time to read a book. But josie's blog is an awesome way to take a little me time twice a week! Thank you soooooo much for keeping the posts coming!

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  54. Love the blog. Haters gonna hate. Happy Thanksgiving!

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  55. Totally hope Ian will stick around. I have great hopes that he will redeem himself and possibly win Josie over (and also win some you blog readers over?) haha :)

    And his text msg? I like the intensity of the tone in that text. Definitely alpha & confident.

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  56. I laughed so hard reading this post. And the Cullen line about made me pee! -escott816

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  57. I LOVE the mom drunk analogy. Because that's exactly what I was doing when I was reading this last night!

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  58. Loved the yoga scene! I could not stop laughing, especially the Cullen comparison, HILARIOUS! I like Ian, he seems like a good guy at heart, hopefully he and Josie can make things work somehow.

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  59. My forest comment ever is to say I will really miss your entries over Thanksgiving, but am so glad you are taking time for yourself. Thank you for posting the extra note to your readers. It was appropriate. Get that book done! And please be sure to let us know where to find it. You know you have a lot of support here. :-)

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  60. I normally don't read the comments after the entries on this blog. However, I scrolled back after reading the note following yesterday's post. It's frustrating that one's creative outlet has turned into a punching bag for so many. Jessica, I love that you take the time to comment, to read others' comments, and to write this blog during your spare time after Cosmo. I've never commented on one of your posts, but all of this negativity drove me to do so. You have so many readers who don't always speak out. I'm trying so hard to bite my tongue about the 'fan' actions that started all this, as it'll make my intense love for profanity and sarcasm surface, and it's really not worth the time..
    I don't really have shit going my way right now, but it's nice to take a brief break from reality a couple times a week to read your posts. I just wanted to take a minute and say thanks for taking the time to share your work.

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  61. I love your blog and sorry for the negativity some people have sent your way. Keep writing and all the best with your book. Happy holidays, ciao!

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  62. I love your blog and sorry for the negativity some people have sent your way. Keep writing and all the best with your book. Happy holidays, ciao!

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  63. omg! i love this blog so much. thank you! im wicked excited for Ian and Josie!

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  64. What's wrong with bashing? Anyone is allowed to read this blog and has the right to say whatever they want about it. You're not writing this for an English class so why does negativity have to be in the form of constructive criticism. So not to hurt your feelings? Really if you want to protect your feelings turn off the comments section or don't read them. People are going to and should be allowed to write anything they please as long as you give them the option.

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  65. Puh-LEASE let us know when your book comes out! As I've said before I would so read a book you wrote. I even went as far as to google you (stalkerish I know) just to see if you had any books out yet. It's the way you write this blog and some of K's blog. It's light, yet addicting and down right entertaining!!

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  66. Jessica,

    Don't let haters get you down. This is a great blog and you do a great job. I love it and look forward to the end of my work day to catch up on Tuesdays and Thursdays posts. Keep it up girl.

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  67. I just wanted to say I love your blog and thank you for continuing to write it:-)

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