I Cheated in Las Vegas

How's that title for an attention getter, eh?

It was my New Year's resolution to quit eating sugar. I made this decision because A) sugar is not good for you, and B) I always strive for self-improvement. So, as of Jan 1st, 2009, I went from a sweet tooth giver-inner to a strict, disciplined, healthy eater.

This was really hard for me. I craved sweets everyday for weeks. I don't know how many times I had to tell myself The cravings will pass. It won't be this hard forever and pretty soon you won't even think about it. I actually had to tell myself this many times on a daily basis.

While in Vegas in line for a latte at Coffee Bean, my eyes wandered about the goodies on display. I honed in on a cookie, and thought What the heck? I am in Las Vegas. Things that happen here don't count. You are away from home, it's Sin City, and the rules don't apply. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right?

So I treated myself to said cookie. Since my motto's always been If your going to cross the line, then leap across it, I chose the chocolate cookie dipped in milk chocolate.

Then the strangest thing happened. I sat down with my coffee and had a few bites of what I'd anticipated to be chocolate nirvana...and I just couldn't get into it. Too sweet, not worth it. I couldn't even finish it. Deep down inside I did a little victory dance. I was really, really proud of myself. I had stuck it out, gotten past the hard part, and was no longer taken to that "special place" that chocolate used to take me. Heck yeah...I conquered.













Ok, this isn't the exact cookie, but ya'll get the point :)

My Las Vegas Trip

I just got back from a solo trip to Las Vegas for WPPI and I am wiped out. SO happy to come home to my hubby, my babies, and most of all...my own bed. Here's a picture of my feet last night. So much walking. I rotated through four pairs of shoes, each gave me blisters in their own special places. There were 4 Bandaids that don't show in the picture, for a total of 10.














While at the airport today, I couldn't help but think of something my sister said once. "Vegas is the only airport where you can tell whether people are coming or going". It's so true. I had an inside laugh as I saw person after person, looking haggard, tired, hungover, dehydrated, wallets drained and a look of shame in their eyes.





On the flight home I snapped this picture out the window. I thought this was kind of funny...Perhaps the little symbol is there to say This is a jet engine, not a men's room.

Happy 50th, Monica!

My great friend, Monica, just turned 50. I am lucky to have a person like Monica in my life. She is a talented hygienist who is loved by her patients and is a fun co-worker. I liked her the moment we met and we've been friends since that day.

I admire Monica in many ways...She is caring mother, a genuine person, and she and her husband are still just as in love today as the day they met 31 years ago. She has one mood (happy) and one expression (smiling).

We started running together not long after completed the STP. I thought I was in shape...Right! I definitely have to work hard to keep up with her! Lately we have been kicking around the idea of doing a triathlon together. She doesn't give herself the credit as an athlete that she deserves (I don't know if I could do it! she says). She can, she's strong. She has even beaten cancer twice!

Happy birthday, Monica.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Last night was haircut night at the Ackley house. First I did Rowan, then Bella and Dale last. When I got home from work this evening, I checked my email to find one from our good friend Mike, titled The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Mike, mind you, is also Dale's boss, his wife owns a hair salon, he once attended barber school, and is one of my blog readers.


Jessie,



You are so good at so many things; a mother, a friend, a great hygienist, photography, blogging, and so much more. The bad, haircutting seems to be a talent that has escaped you. The ugly, I must admit that I can’t remember a time that we had so much fun at the expense of Dale. Did all my lessons go to waste? Don’t you care about the way your husband looks at work? Or is it that you see haircutting as a way of getting back at Dale for something he has done in the past. If this is the case, good for you, you evil woman.



Here are some tips for the next haircut.

And he actually pasted in step-by-step haircutting instructions.

I seriously laughed for about 5 minutes strait.

I'd post a picture of Dale's hair, but perhaps deep down I am afraid you will agree with Mike. Really, it's not that bad...He doesn't have patches of bloody scalp showing or anything. Rowan's haircut is actually pretty choppy, but hey, I was literally cutting a moving target. Bella's hair, on the other hand, turned out super cute, but as I was trimming the scraggler hairs along her neck I had the scissors really close to her skin and...












I snipped her skin. She screamed so loud and was crying so hard. I felt so bad...I kept hugging her and telling her how sorry I was. Poor baby.

Maybe haircutting is not my forte. This is weird considering total strangers trust me with sharp instruments near their head all day long, and pay me good for it too.

JessicaJessicaJessica

I received my official name tag for WPPI in the mail yesterday. A bit redundant. I'll be introducing myself like this:

"Hi. I'm Jessica. Jessica Ackley. Jessica Ackley. It's a pleasure meeting you."

Facebook Schmacebook

Several months ago my sister showed me her Facebook page. I had never been on Facebook before. It was crazy...so many of her old highschool friends that I hadn't seen in years. Then I decided right then I want to be on Facebook too! So I created an account. But I didn't make it too far before I quickly came to my senses and realized that A) I don't need to be hooked to yet another internet site, B) to me, there seems to be this whole MySpace/Facebook culture that I do not understand nor have a desire to be a part of, and C) Dale already complains about how much time I spend on the computer. So I create this account (no picture, nothing) then abandon it.

Then I start getting these email requests saying "So and so wants to be your friend on Facebook!" For a while I was just ignoring them (sorry if I've offended anyone ;)) and then I thought duh, just delete your account. Well, I go back to the site that I haven't gone to since I started it months ago...and don't even remember my password.

My formal apologies to Chris, Michelle, Amy, Courtney...and all of the others who wanted to be my Facebook friend. We're friends in real life, and that's what matters!

BTW...Courts, I chose that photo just for you! See you soon!

My Site Meter

So I have this little thing on my blog called a site meter, which tells me, basically, the location of who's reading and when. I have figured out most of my readers, but a few have left me stumped. I am flattered, some of you are very faithful readers. So come out of hiding...leave a comment. Who are you? How did you find my blog? What keeps you coming back?

Who are my Portland and Seattle readers?
Spokane, WA
Hermiston, OR
Renton, WA
Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Come say hi!