It took a bit longer than it was scheduled to, but my new EP "Coffee & Men (An EP For Childish Adults)" is finally up on iTunes!! If any of you have been waiting for the ability to download the album, it's calling your name.... As a reminder, this album was done for the purposes of tv & film music placement, so it is not intended to be a follow up to my first album. It is quite a bit on the sillier and quirkier side than "Breating Room". I hope you will enjoy it just the same! Thanks for your continued support of my music! -Jenna

I finally released my new EP  "Coffee & Men (An EP For Childish Adults)"! Currently, it is only available on my site store: http://www.jennavonoy.com/store.php. In the next two weeks, it should also be available for download, on iTunes! Please check out the three tracks I uploaded here on Myspace today ("Lucky Penny", Coffee & Men" & "Coffee Shop Guy"), and visit my site store to purchase the whole darn kitschy thing!! -Jenna

While I hate to state the obvious, I suppose I should mention that my MySpace profile has recently undergone a face-lift! Of course, I realize most of you who take the time to read my ever-so-silly blogs have already noted this, but I figured I would give some credit where credit is due. As Chris in Toledo, Ohio pointed out, I must have an incredible "virtual interior decorator"! (Clearly not me. Although I fancy myself one hell of an interior designer, I'm sure you are all familiar by now with my lack of web skill… ) Anyhow, I give all of the praise & accolade to my dear friend, Mitch Ballard, and the guys at WV Magic Web Design (http://www.wvmagicdesign.com) They are unbelievable! I guess it truly IS all in who you know ;)

The Question: What do you get when you cross thousands of screaming country music fans, hundreds of George Strait belt buckles & Wynnona T-shirts, and one little ol' me? The answer: The CMA Music Festival. And that's no joke. Many of you have been writing to inquire about CMA Music Festival week, and my acoustic performance. Suffice it to say, I survived. I know this deserves a detailed (and trust me, comedic) narrative, but I'm just not sure I'm in the mood today to wax poetic about a sea of pink cowboy hats. I'll give you the Reader's Digest version: We had a blast, the performance went well (though my nerves got the better of my guitar playing…) and I met some wonderful people. It was an exhausting but exhilarating, two-venti-Starbucks-per-day kind of week!!


And now for a "Pup"date : As always, Bruiser is amazing. He has an affinity for the summer, because it means he gets special privileges that the girls do not. As he is the only dog who listens, and won't run off on me, he gets to accompany me outside to the grill. His little (ok, big and bulging) eyes light up as soon as I head toward the back door with a plate. This also means he gets a morsel of steak here and there, which would make any dog happy, much less a pug who thinks the world revolves around food. Bailey, on the other hand, isn't such a fan of this time of year. The poor thing has been terrified during our sometimes severe, Nashville summer storms. Thunder & lightning have turned my aloof, not-so-affectionate dog into something resembling a shivering, shaking, barnacle with fur. It's sort of pitiful, really… Last, but not least, I've come to the conclusion that I may have an idiot savant for a dog. God bless my sweet little Mia (Moose). As was made perfectly clear by the "Pottery Barn Bench Bolt Saga" a few months ago (for more info., read my blog "The CMA Music Festival, Mia's Medical Mess, & Other Pet Peeves"), Mia is sort of a Hoover. As in: the vacuum cleaner. She will eat damn near anything, which has somewhat been the bane of my dog-owner existence. This morning, however, she proved that she might just have some smarts after all… (please note: For all of you who think I'm being a cruel mother by saying this, you've never owned a Basset Hound. Sometimes there is a fine line between stubborn and dopey. She is intelligent only when she feels like it, but remains my sweet baby regardless!)

So the story goes like this:

Two days ago, as much as I hate to admit this to myself, I spotted a cockroach in my house. Insert a plethora of obscenities here. I went to grab a shoe so I could… well, use your imagination… but the little bugger ran off before I could catch him. I was NOT a happy woman. I have an old house, and we've had damp weather, so I shouldn't take it personally, but I do. He is an unwelcome guest, and I have enough pets already. Pets who don't turn my stomach, and who don't require me to purchase vats of Raid. Anyhow, I called Terminix and scheduled an appointment, so they can do what they do… a.k.a kill the little *@! CUT TO: This morning, I was in my kitchen, drinking my coffee, and checking my e-mail. Mia started getting vocal. This is generally how she lets me know she needs to go outside, but she'd just been out, so I chose to ignore her. Finally, she gave me no choice, as she was "shouting" at me. I turned to look at her... Damned if she wasn't standing over that cockroach! (Or at least a close relative) He was on his back, and she was ready to pounce if he tried to make an escape. My goofy girl, the cockroach-catcher! Some dogs fetch Frisbees, some locate missing children, mine is the Gladiator of Bugs. Go figure. I will say one thing, God has a sense of humor… So do dogs, evidently, which brings me to: If you have the opportunity to pick up a book on a rainy day, and you are as much of a dog-lover as I am ( even half of that would suffice), pick up "The Art Of Racing In The Rain" by Garth Stein. I'm laughing, I'm crying, and I'm giving my dogs extra attention. If that's possible... -Jenna

They say laughter is the best medicine, and I couldn't agree more… When I was in Los Angeles recently, I was asked to guest in a comedy skit, and I jumped at the chance to have a little fun. Adam Karell, a friend of mine who has done stand-up at some pretty impressive venues, such as the Improv and The Comedy Store, is in a comedy group who call themselves "Rigor Tortoise". They have been writing and filming their own skits for a while now, and I thought it might be fun to hang with the guys for a day, and get silly. The result, is a skit called "Bedtime". Not only do I sing a bit at the end, you guys might even be pleasantly surprised at my novice guitar skills! Check it out... And while you are at it, check out their other stuff too! Go to Youtube.com, and search: Rigor Tortoise Bedtime

I hope you laugh out loud! -Jenna

Go ahead and say it. I've owed you guys a blog for months! And how on earth do I intend to make it up to you, you ask? With one unbelievably loquacious blog, beginning… now.
First things first. In case some of you do not get all the way through this discourse of mine ( and I promise not to hold that against you), I want to disclose some exciting news… I am now officially confirmed as an artist at this year's CMA Music Festival! The festival, which takes place in Nashville from June 5-8th, features performances by your favorite Country artists, as well as their merchandise booths. It is quite an honor to be a part of the festival this year, and I hope some of you will consider coming out to Nashville for this amazing, four-day event! You can go to www.cmamusicfest.com for tickets and details. I will have my own booth in the Fanfair Hall, where I will be introducing brand new "Breathing Room" merchandise… Come check out my new t-shirts, baseball caps, photos and more! I will be signing autographs virtually every day, and I will also be performing on Friday, June 6th, at the Acoustic Corner. If you are planning to attend, please be sure to do the following:

1. Feel free to e-mail my assistant/ fan liaison extraordinaire, Brad, at Brad@jennavonoy.com , so we know you will be stopping by. He will answer any questions you have, and make sure you know where to find us. We are looking forward to meeting you!

2. Be sure to check back for the exact time I will be performing at the Acoustic Corner. I would love to have you all out there cheering me on! See you there!!

Next up: a small diatribe about Los Angeles, which ultimately gives way to some wishy-washy appreciation for it...
I am currently in Los Angeles for a few weeks, and I have been known to emphatically declare that this town is best experienced in small doses. And by small doses, I mean that a few days will generally suffice. The last few times I've visited, I have become increasingly discouraged by the lack of common courtesy and compassion. Perhaps I should preface this, by dispelling the myth that it is the people from Los Angeles who are callous and rude. I would strongly disagree with that statement. In fact, I have many friends who were born and raised here, and who are some of the most incredible and thoughtful people I know. However, in a city which is entertainment industry driven, where it sometimes becomes essential to drive and act offensively in order to survive, it can be tough to remember to let down the wall. I noticed a license plate the other day that read "Smyl", and joked to a friend "See? Apparently smiling is something folks in LA do so infrequently, they've forgotten how to spell it!" After living in Nashville for several years now, where small considerations are extended more often than not, LA is a culture shock. I forget that most strangers don't talk in elevators here, or pause to let a car in front of them on the freeway, or wave "hello" to random folks on the street. On the very first day of my last trip to town, I was walking into a Starbucks (go figure), and stopped to hold the door open for a woman juggling her purse, coffee, and cell phone. She not only failed to say "thank you", she didn't even hazard a glance in my direction. I won't lie… it got to me. All it takes is a second, to smile and thank someone. I realize we've all been guilty a time or two of missing our moment to be gracious, but come on! There were far too many similarly absurd incidents that week. I was raised on smiles and handshakes, and I have to believe that most people would rather walk on the kind side. I made a conscious decision… On this trip, I opted to rebel against the madness. I decided to cast my newly acquired southern charm at everyone, and watch them all squirm. It was my little experiment. Here's what I discovered. I have had more people rise to the occasion than I thought possible. I think when you can extend kindness, without expectation, it bounces back. I know this may come across as some cheesy Dr. Phil epiphany, but I can't complain… today someone helped me carry my bags to my car, three people waved me onto the freeway, I had a conversation in an elevator, and everyone I held the door open for said "thank you". A few people even held the door open for me! It's a beautiful thing…

I should probably introduce you to the protagonist ( or antagonist, depending on how you look at it!) of my next story. Her name is Mia, and she is my Basset Hound puppy. Did I mention I am now the proud owner of three dogs? That's right, THREE… Does that qualify as a gaggle? I actually got her almost a year ago, but since I seem to be remarkably bad at this whole taking-the-time-to-write-a–blog thing, you are just now finding out. Consider yourself officially in the loop… you can also check out the photos I posted, if you are up for a good laugh! Mia is a piece of work, to put it mildly. She has already acquired several nicknames, particularly "The Moo", and "Moose". She answers to all of the above. She is the goofiest, dopiest, longest-eared, most loveable, vocal, mama's-girl I have ever known. She is also driven by her nose, as Basset Hounds often are…. Which brings me to our story. One afternoon, about three months ago, I was building one of those Crate and Barrel benches. You know the kind you order on-line, and spend hours trying to put together yourself? Only to realize halfway through, inevitably, that side B is facing the wrong direction, and you've lost one of the screws needed to attach the leg? Well, that's what I was attempting to muddle my way through. I had my three necessities for such a project… my drill, a fresh pot of coffee, and Girl Scout cookies. I was highly focused on that bench. So focused, in fact, that I failed to notice my sweet little (otherwise known as: troublemaker) Mia, come into the room. Now, one would assume this story concludes with her eating the Girl Scout cookies, right? Wrong. Oh, so wrong. Apparently, cam-locks ( one of the plethora of nuts and bolts that I was working with…), are very tasty to a puppy. Who would have guessed? I'll spare you the vile details of how I discovered she had eaten not one, but two of the metal pieces. Suffice it to say, she was NOT a happy hound, I felt like the worst Mommy in the world, and together, we were vet-bound. They took X-rays, which oddly looked as though the "Ally McBeal" baby was lodged in her stomach, and they informed me that she would be going directly into surgery. They had to remove the aforementioned cam-lock culprits immediately. I was devastated. I truly thought I had been careful, by keeping the nuts and bolts in a bowl out of her reach. I guess my mistake was putting the project together on top of a rug… I never heard those little suckers fall out of the bench. Mia was a trooper. A doped up trooper, but a trooper none-the-less! (As a side note: Have you ever seen a Basset on sedatives? As if they aren't droopy-eyed enough! It would have been hysterical, if I hadn't been so concerned about her…) She had to stay at the emergency vet for four days, the poor thing. I can't tell you how thrilled she was to see Bruiser and Bailey again, and to be playing in her own yard. Thankfully, she's back to normal… you know, eating anything she can find. God help me.

I suppose that's all for now. Thanks for taking the time to read my long-winded blog… If you still have some time on your hands; you like funny, raunchy movies; and you are old enough to see it (please note: it's rated "R" for a reason…); go check out my best friend (Kal Penn)'s movie "Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay". The movie opened on Friday, and I know Kal would appreciate the support! Since he has been kind enough to let me stay with him while I am in LA (a.k.a take over his house…), the least I can do is shamelessly plug his new movie ☺. -Jenna

Good news for those of you who wanted to watch my interview this morning, but who live outside of Los Angeles... It turns out they are airing the clip of my KTLA News appearance, on KTLA.com. You can check it out by going to the "Morning News" section of the website, and clicking on "More Video". If you happen to check it out before they adjust the spelling of my name, don't panic... they are in the process of fixing their faux-pas!

I know you all deserve a far lengthier update than this one, and I promise it is on its way shortly... In the meantime, I wanted to give a quick plug for my upcoming appearance tomorrow, April 15th, on the KTLA morning news show in Los Angeles. I will be doing an interview and an acoustic performance, around 8:30 am, to promote the album. Please tune in while you are caffeinating! I'm sorry to say it won't be airing outside of the Los Angeles area, but I'll be back soon with some other opportunities to catch a performance! -Jenna

With the holidays quickly approaching, I realize many of you are emptying your wallets on all sorts of goodies and gifts for your friends and family. But if any of you are up for spreading some holiday cheer in the form of charity, here's one I would like mention:

I recently did an interview for www.star-country.net, a site that's written and run by a sweetheart named Estella. She took it upon herself to start an organization a few years ago, the Country Angel's Network, and has succeeded in raising money for various charities through auctioning country music artist's memorabilia. I am really impressed by her selflessness and motivation, and very moved by the beneficiary she has chosen this year. She is raising money to help a family fund a new home, as three out of four of their children have Cystic Fibrosis, and are allergic to the mold in their current house. PLEASE read more than my mere synopsis at : www.ahouseformykids.com Their story is heart wrenching. You have two opportunities to help this family. You can bid on my "Fun FAN Pack" (which consists of a signed poster and CD) on E Bay- it is up for bidding until Dec. 19th, or you can donate directly to the family at www.countryangel.net Thank you in advance for your kindness. A little goes a long way! -Jenna

Here's the sad truth about having been on a successful show once upon a time... sometimes people don't want you to be successful at something else... After the excitement of finding out yesterday that iTunes listed me on their "staff favorites" list (a MASSIVE accomplishment for an independent artist!!!), it became apparent that there are a lot of hateful peope out there... A bunch of folks are writing reviews on my iTunes page based on my having been on "Blossom", and not giving the music a chance. I can appreciate constructive criticism... I can also appreciate that my music isn't for everyone. However, giving me a one star review just because I was on a television show before I made my album, is just plain hurtful. If any of you are enjoying my album, and feel inclined to give it a good review on there, I would be extremely grateful. Maybe some of those narrow-minded 90's television watchers will give it the chance it deserves... Thanks in advance for your loyalty... -Jenna