Riding on the Coattails of Fame
by Lisa A Kramer
I heard a radio advertisement yesterday that the great great (great?) grandson of Charles Dickens would be presenting a reading of A Christmas Carol somewhere, creating different voices of all the characters.
Image via Wikipedia
Interesting? Perhaps, but it got me thinking about how many people get opportunities to publish, to speak, to act, to . . . whatever, simply because of their relationship to someone famous. They may not have a single talent in their own right, but a distant link to a distant relative gets their foot in the door like nothing else can.
I suppose the children of writers, artists, actors, great politicians (if there is such a thing), speakers, etc. have it in their blood, but...
Image via Wikipedia
Interesting? Perhaps, but it got me thinking about how many people get opportunities to publish, to speak, to act, to . . . whatever, simply because of their relationship to someone famous. They may not have a single talent in their own right, but a distant link to a distant relative gets their foot in the door like nothing else can.
I suppose the children of writers, artists, actors, great politicians (if there is such a thing), speakers, etc. have it in their blood, but...
Life's Wisdom Learned in Works for Children
by Lisa A Kramer
Whenever the craziness and insanity of our world gets to be too much, I find myself turning to old favorite things for comfort. Sometimes that means putting in a good romantic comedy (When Harry Met Sally, You've Got Mail, Notting Hill, or The Holiday are my recent go to picks). But, more often than not, I search for comfort in all things related to children--movies, books, and television shows (even the most obnoxious ones from Disney). Of course, some of my go to comforts aren't specifically for children, but most of them filter the world through the eyes of childhood and reveal that children are much closer to simple truth than so many adults who think they know everything.
The past...
The past...
Farewell is a Hard Word to Say
by Lisa A Kramer
Sometimes I wish I had been one of those people who never left home, and was content staying in the town she grew up in living among family and friends who have known her forever.
But I'm not. Instead I have been a person who travels, gathering experiences and friends wherever I go.
Yet, I find it difficult to make friends, difficult to trust. Not because of my travelling ways but for numerous other reasons that are difficult to explain or understand. I am shy. I doubt my worthiness as a friend. I don't feel cool enough. I don't want to intrude. All of these reasons and more make it challenging for me to become close to people.
So when I connect with...
But I'm not. Instead I have been a person who travels, gathering experiences and friends wherever I go.
Yet, I find it difficult to make friends, difficult to trust. Not because of my travelling ways but for numerous other reasons that are difficult to explain or understand. I am shy. I doubt my worthiness as a friend. I don't feel cool enough. I don't want to intrude. All of these reasons and more make it challenging for me to become close to people.
So when I connect with...
The Journey as Sestina
by Lisa A Kramer
I felt like writing poetry today, and decided to challenge myself by writing in a form called Sestina. I've only used this form once before, in a poem I wrote years ago for my sister called "A Sestina from the Heart".
MOVING INTO THE UNKNOWN
Box by box, item by item, I pack for our move
to a place both familiar and yet unknown
pursuing a life or perhaps a dream
of days filled with fulfilling work and challenges
met with a smile, a laugh, and joy
and evenings filled with stars, friends, and peace.
What will it take to find that peace?
Does the solution lie with this next move?
Or does the truth lie with inner joy
and acceptance that life is a journey into the unknown
with every day...
"A Dog's Purpose" Meets the Journey
by Lisa A Kramer
[slideshow]
"Can you give away your dogs?"
That question, from a rental agent, hit me in the gut as I began searching for a place to live as we make this next move. We still do not know for sure where we will live, because the simple answer to that question was "No."
Can we give away our dogs? Why should we have to?
This morning, as I avoided packing some more, I finished reading A Dog's Purpose: A Novel for Humans by W. Bruce Cameron. The book tells the story of a dog's many lives, a warm and wonderful creature who yearns to find the purpose in his existence--a purpose that ultimately relates to loving and being loved in return. Shouldn't that be the...
"Can you give away your dogs?"
That question, from a rental agent, hit me in the gut as I began searching for a place to live as we make this next move. We still do not know for sure where we will live, because the simple answer to that question was "No."
Can we give away our dogs? Why should we have to?
This morning, as I avoided packing some more, I finished reading A Dog's Purpose: A Novel for Humans by W. Bruce Cameron. The book tells the story of a dog's many lives, a warm and wonderful creature who yearns to find the purpose in his existence--a purpose that ultimately relates to loving and being loved in return. Shouldn't that be the...
Been There, Done That, Got the T-Shirt
by Lisa A Kramer
I am doing it. The ultimate sacrifice. In the name of a lighter load, I am purging my t-shirt collection. Now, to be fair, I believe I have done this a few times before, as many of my t-shirts seem to have disappeared, but it is never easy.
Have you ever thought about the story of your life as it is told through fashion? Well, obviously we all go through trends and stages of fashion in our life. But, since I avoid the camera and haven't really kept up with fashion trends (or really shopped for myself) for a long time, I can't share that story here. I can, however, share part of my story as it is told through t-shirts....
The Path Forward (100 word challenge)
by Lisa A Kramer
As you can tell, my posts seem to be following a theme this week. Please forgive. ;)
The sun shone but could not penetrate the shadowy darkness under the trees, except in tiny ribbons reflecting through dancing leaves. Elaina could only see a few feet down the rough dirt path. She hesitated, looking back, before entering the dimness, fearful of what lay ahead. Four steps in and the silence grew overpowering. Her skin tingled with the feeling of eyes watching, hidden in the depths of the silent trees. “You can do this,” she whispered to herself. “Your future lies ahead.” Slowly she moved deeper into the mysterious trees, accompanied only by the knowledge that this was the path meant for her.
[caption...
The sun shone but could not penetrate the shadowy darkness under the trees, except in tiny ribbons reflecting through dancing leaves. Elaina could only see a few feet down the rough dirt path. She hesitated, looking back, before entering the dimness, fearful of what lay ahead. Four steps in and the silence grew overpowering. Her skin tingled with the feeling of eyes watching, hidden in the depths of the silent trees. “You can do this,” she whispered to herself. “Your future lies ahead.” Slowly she moved deeper into the mysterious trees, accompanied only by the knowledge that this was the path meant for her.
[caption...
The Journey in Etheree
by Lisa A Kramer
For the poem, I attempted another etheree, as I thought it would create the image of words moving into the distance down the road. It reads as follows: Now Begins The Journey Moving onward into the unknown. In the distance, a choice as yet unseen, a tunnel a fork in the road to somewhere beyond the knowledge and the dreams and plans of the woman who moves forward bravely. ____________________ Today's Quote:
"It is better to travel well than to arrive. " Buddha
On the Road Again . . . Into the Unknown
by Lisa A Kramer
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v9-InvDwMw]
I've always had the secret fantasy of becoming a singer in a band, sharing music with the masses as I travel from town to town. I have the hidden urge to be a song writer, but that would require me to become much more fluent in the language of music then I currently am. Of course, I can read it a little better now, since I decided to start studying piano last year, but I lost the fluency of my youth.
But this post isn't about music, or about my secret dreams. It is about journeys and our path through life. I would have to argue that "journey of life" is one of my guiding metaphors, but I've forgotten that recently....
I've always had the secret fantasy of becoming a singer in a band, sharing music with the masses as I travel from town to town. I have the hidden urge to be a song writer, but that would require me to become much more fluent in the language of music then I currently am. Of course, I can read it a little better now, since I decided to start studying piano last year, but I lost the fluency of my youth.
But this post isn't about music, or about my secret dreams. It is about journeys and our path through life. I would have to argue that "journey of life" is one of my guiding metaphors, but I've forgotten that recently....
Luck, Life, and Inspiration
by Lisa A Kramer
My mind is working at a frenetic pace, bouncing from thought to thought, image to image, idea to idea. It almost feels like my brain is full of thousands of fireflies, butterflies, and hummingbirds racing around in a magical dance whose meaning I could understand and interpret if only I knew the secret language of their nearly silent song.
Despite this chaotic dance, I feel the need to post. Writing for me is a way of making meaning, yet, even as I write I still feel confused. So today I want to share some of the fleeting thoughts and images that have added to the mental disarray.
This week the world offered me many messages. So I will share with you the...
Despite this chaotic dance, I feel the need to post. Writing for me is a way of making meaning, yet, even as I write I still feel confused. So today I want to share some of the fleeting thoughts and images that have added to the mental disarray.
This week the world offered me many messages. So I will share with you the...
Advertising Self
by Lisa A Kramer
Our world runs on advertising. Homes for sale or rent, products to sell, places to visit, services . . . we all find them through advertisements.
But advertising, as I was reminded quite painfully yesterday, can be false. (Where do people think of these scams?)
I've been thinking a lot about advertising lately, as I try to figure out how best to move forward into the next adventure of my life. I have to advertise myself. I have to advocate for myself as well. I have to promote and sell myself, and I simply don't know how. I can do it for other people really well, but when it comes to self-promotion or self-advertising I...
"Put Your Own Oxygen Mask on First"
by Lisa A Kramer
The logic of this advice given by most airlines makes sense. You cannot help your child get her oxygen mask on if you are gasping for breath yourself.
Yet how often do we ignore this idea in our own lives? I am guilty. I have spent many years giving everyone else the oxygen they need, little recognizing my own blueness of face and gasps for air.
Yesterday, as Nathan and I took a walk in nature lit by moonlight, we talked about the future and what this upcoming move meant for us as a family and for me as an individual. We had just finished watching Crazy, Stupid, Love which, while fun and funny, also hit a few nerves in some ways. The...
Yet how often do we ignore this idea in our own lives? I am guilty. I have spent many years giving everyone else the oxygen they need, little recognizing my own blueness of face and gasps for air.
Yesterday, as Nathan and I took a walk in nature lit by moonlight, we talked about the future and what this upcoming move meant for us as a family and for me as an individual. We had just finished watching Crazy, Stupid, Love which, while fun and funny, also hit a few nerves in some ways. The...
It's All in the Perspective
by Lisa A Kramer
"I can't believe we have a summer home!" Sarah KramerLee
Nathan and I couldn't help but laugh at Sarah's perspective on our summer lives. While my idea of a summer home might be more like this:
with the ability to do this on a regular basis:
to Sarah that doesn't matter. In her mind, and her perspective, this simple little cabin is our "summer home."
To Nathan this place is "like going back for a family reunion after not seeing them for a while." It is a place...
with the ability to do this on a regular basis:
to Sarah that doesn't matter. In her mind, and her perspective, this simple little cabin is our "summer home."
To Nathan this place is "like going back for a family reunion after not seeing them for a while." It is a place...
All We Need to Know About Life
by Lisa A Kramer
I don't know where this originated but I stole . . . um borrowed this from my friend's Facebook page because I found it full of inspiration and truth.
Here's the thing, life is not worth living if we spend all our time worrying and stressing over things beyond our control. Life should be something we embrace every day with passion and joy.
I am hereby making a promise to myself to live my life as joyously as possible. I'm going to trust the universe to provide what I need, and meanwhile I am going to continue to work towards achieving the dreams and goals that I have for my life.
What exactly are those dreams and goals? Well they seem to be...
Here's the thing, life is not worth living if we spend all our time worrying and stressing over things beyond our control. Life should be something we embrace every day with passion and joy.
I am hereby making a promise to myself to live my life as joyously as possible. I'm going to trust the universe to provide what I need, and meanwhile I am going to continue to work towards achieving the dreams and goals that I have for my life.
What exactly are those dreams and goals? Well they seem to be...
Pursuing Passion and Creating a Life in a World Gone Mad
by Lisa A Kramer
I have never really followed a traditional career path.
Don't get me wrong, I've had tons of jobs, and have been successful at each one. Give me a challenge and I live up to it and surpass that challenge. Most of my employers would hire me back in a second.
But I'm not really a 9-5 kind of gal. I can work 40 hour weeks, and I often work more than that, but I function best in jobs that offer variety and flexibility. When I do have full-time office jobs with regular hours, I tend to fill my other time with other kinds of work to fulfill this need for diversity. At the same time, I try to go above and beyond...
Don't get me wrong, I've had tons of jobs, and have been successful at each one. Give me a challenge and I live up to it and surpass that challenge. Most of my employers would hire me back in a second.
But I'm not really a 9-5 kind of gal. I can work 40 hour weeks, and I often work more than that, but I function best in jobs that offer variety and flexibility. When I do have full-time office jobs with regular hours, I tend to fill my other time with other kinds of work to fulfill this need for diversity. At the same time, I try to go above and beyond...
The Power of Social Media, College Networks, and Support Systems
by Lisa A Kramer
I have made a discovery!
In my panic of the past few days as I struggle to figure out how to move a family from Kansas to Massachusetts in less than a month without having to give up my dog babies, I have tried to expand my search for both housing and work. I announced the move on Facebook. I've updated my LinkedIn profile. I joined an alumnae group for Smith College on LinkedIn. And I've written posts here.
An amazing thing has started to happen. No, I haven't found a place to live or a house yet, but suddenly I feel less alone. First came the wonderful and supportive comments on my posts here. Then came e-mails from the alumnae group--one...
In my panic of the past few days as I struggle to figure out how to move a family from Kansas to Massachusetts in less than a month without having to give up my dog babies, I have tried to expand my search for both housing and work. I announced the move on Facebook. I've updated my LinkedIn profile. I joined an alumnae group for Smith College on LinkedIn. And I've written posts here.
An amazing thing has started to happen. No, I haven't found a place to live or a house yet, but suddenly I feel less alone. First came the wonderful and supportive comments on my posts here. Then came e-mails from the alumnae group--one...
A Letter of Apology
by Lisa A Kramer
Dear Kansas,
I am sorry if you think I hate you. I don't. I have struggled in my time here, but only because of my own problems not because of you.
I recognize the many wonderful things about you. I've been so impressed by the volunteerism in this community, from helping with arts programming to giving time and supplies after natural disasters, this community supports each other. I've met incredible people here, especially some lovely women who have become the woman I want to be, living vibrant fulfilled lives fighting for what they believe in, and creating what they want to see happen. I have had great opportunities here, to do interesting work with wonderful people.
Yet,...
Speeding Back into the Unknown
by Lisa A Kramer
It looks like I’m back on that speeding roller coaster carrying me on a crazy ride to destinations unknown. While this change was something I’ve been looking for, now that it is here I feel overwhelmed with the speed and the unclear destination at the end. Will I crash into a brick wall? Will I be flung off the track into the icy waters lying below? Will I pull safely into a station and be welcomed with open arms? Only time and the ride will tell.
Okay, time to leave this metaphor behind and be specific. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XWYefe9EzI] At the end of August, we are going to leave Kansas and move to Massachusetts as Nathan has accepted a position as technical director at Worcester...
Okay, time to leave this metaphor behind and be specific. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XWYefe9EzI] At the end of August, we are going to leave Kansas and move to Massachusetts as Nathan has accepted a position as technical director at Worcester...
Pompous Verbosity for Fun (100 Word Challenge)
by Lisa A Kramer
For this weeks 100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups, we must incorporate the following words into our post: Ripple Brood Evocative Lilt Untoward. These five words come from the list of "103 Most Beautiful Words" posted by another blogger. I, in my state of (I'm making up a word here) frustratedboredommixedwithwriter'sblocktiredofwaitinglimbo decided to extend my own challenge by using as many of the beautiful words as I could in my post, knowing--of course--that I would come off sounding like a pompous jerk who uses big words when simple ones will do. The red highlighted words are from the challenge. The purple highlighted words are from the list. Enjoy, join the challenge, and visit some of the other participants.
As I sit in limbo brooding...
As I sit in limbo brooding...
Lost in Limbo
by Lisa A Kramer
I am so tired of waiting. It seems like I am consistently lost in limbo, waiting for someone or something to happen so that I can take the next steps that I need to take.
I'm sure some of you are thinking, "Well then, don't wait. make things happen on your own. Take action."
I'd love to, but sometimes the next step, the next action is dictated by something outside yourself. So, here I am stuck waiting.
And the clock ticks slowly . . . tic tic tic tic.
There is no speeding up time. There is no making days move faster either, and sometimes the waiting depends on days rather than minutes.
Waiting for bureaucracy. Waiting for returned phone calls. Waiting for the next...
I'm sure some of you are thinking, "Well then, don't wait. make things happen on your own. Take action."
I'd love to, but sometimes the next step, the next action is dictated by something outside yourself. So, here I am stuck waiting.
And the clock ticks slowly . . . tic tic tic tic.
There is no speeding up time. There is no making days move faster either, and sometimes the waiting depends on days rather than minutes.
Waiting for bureaucracy. Waiting for returned phone calls. Waiting for the next...
