Out of the Woods

*SPOILER ALERT!  The plot of Disney's "Into the Woods" will be revealed.

I was hooked from the very first commercial.  "Into the Woods" looked like it was going to be simply amazing.  And the fact that Chris Pine plays a prince is just the cherry on top.

When I got home from work on Saturday, my husband and I headed out to our favorite movie theater.  We were quite surprised to find that there were only about 20 people in attendance.  I excitedly snuggled into my seat and waited for the lights to dim.

About 30 minutes into the movie, a strange feeling came over me.  I tried to shake it off.  But as the movie continued, it only grew stronger....BOREDOM!

Yes, the film that we had been so anxious to see turned out to be an epic fail.  I actually had thoughts about walking out, but I wanted to get my $40 worth (including popcorn and soda, of course).  In the beginning, the audience is introduced to five main characters:  Cinderella, Jack, a witch, Little Red Riding Hood, and a married couple.  Rapunzel gets tossed in later on.

The main plot is that of the married couple, a baker and his wife.  They have been trying (unsuccessfully) to have a child.  One fated day, the witch from next door blows in to tell them that the reason they are barren is because a curse was placed on the baker for the actions of his father.  In order to reverse the spell, the couple must collect the following items: a cape as red as blood, a  cow as white as snow, a slipper pure as gold and hair as yellow as corn.  And this all must be accomplished in three days by midnight.

Though Disney tried to intertwine all of these differing fairy tales, many of the appearances were short lived.  Little Red Riding Hood is literally on screen for about 15 minutes....then she is eaten by the wolf.  By the way, for all of the hype that Johnny Depp has received about being the wolf, his role was a cameo, at best.  When the baker discovers that the wolf has eaten Little Red and her grandma, he immediately cuts the wolf open, saving the day.

We were then made to suffer through a musical montage recapping the scenes leading up to Red being eaten.  Next came the horrible song that Red sang as she was falling down the wolf's throat.  The background was a swirling purple vortex that appeared to have glitter in it.  Seriously?

Moving on to Cinderella.  I was comforted by the fact that Disney seemed to be staying true to the classic version of the fairy tale.  However, Cinderella not only leaves the ball once...but three times.  She is not bound by any magical spell that would turn her riches to rags at midnight.  What plagues her is doubt about whether or not she should stay with the prince.  By the second time she ran away, I had already lost interest in her story.

The witch (who is the next door neighbor to the baker) we soon find out, is the one who is pretending to be Rapunzel's mother.  Unlike "Tangled," her hair does not have any magic powers.  It appears that the witch genuinely cares about her "daughter" and seeks nothing more than her company and love.

I will not regale you with Jack's story.  It is literally just "Jack and the Beanstalk."  The only twist is that a second beanstalk ends up growing in which the recently widowed female giant comes down to take revenge on Jack (who killed her husband).

Here are my personal thoughts as to why this movie is absolutely horrible:

1. It was virtually a musical.  And I am not talking about a regular musical like "Hello, Dolly," where there is actually dialogue in between songs.  I mean to say that almost every single word was sung.  And not always well.  I was expecting something more along the lines of a traditional Disney movie where there are four to five great songs dispersed between an actual, plausible storyline.  This felt more like an opera.  Unfortunately, it was not in a foreign language.

2. Rapunzel's character really had no relevance.  She lent nothing to the main plot other than the fact that she ended up marrying the prince's brother.  She became a princess...and did nothing more.


3.  The witch's final scene made absolutely not sense whatsoever.  She sang an awful song called "Last Midnight."  Her dress swirled around her as she asked her dearly departed mother to curse her again.  Why?  We don't know.  I suppose that the theme is even though she had her youth, she lost her powers and the only thing that she had ever truly cared about:  Rapunzel.  The witch ends up being swallowed by the ground, leaving a large tar pit in her wake.

4.  In the opening scene, we discover that the witch stole the baker's sister when she was a baby as payment for the father's stealing.  The baker is shocked to find that he has a long lost sister.  So, why does he never try to find her or mention her in the movie ever again?

5.  While in the woods, the baker's wife decides that they should split up in order to find Jack.  As she searches, she crosses paths with the newly married prince (Chris Pine).  His bride is nowhere to be found...and he promptly begins a make-out session with the baker's wife.  He then leaves and she sings a song about wanting to have the baker AND the prince.  So....she turns into a hoe after finally giving birth to the child that she and her husband always wanted?  And why was the audience never privy to the fact that the prince was a womanizer?  He seemed totally devoted to Cinderella.  I think that this was very poor scripting.

6.  The prince and his brother sing an atrocious song about being in agony over not having the loves of their lives.  At first, I had been taking the film seriously.  After I saw this number, I began to view the movie as a spoof.  Much in the vain of Monty Python.  I remained confused throughout the rest of the movie.

7.  I also thought that the film was a bit dark for children.  I think that the rating should have been PG-13 as many of the stories held true to the original Grimm Brothers version and not the squeaky clean Disney version.  Case in point,  Cinderella's evil step mother cut off various parts of her daughters' feet in order to make the golden slipper fit.  Cinderella's bird friends pecked out her step sisters' eyes.  The witch made a thorny brier patch grow in front of where Rapunzel's boyfriend was riding and he fell into the thorns, making him blind.  Not exactly the feel good story of the year.
 
8.  The ending was abominable.  The witch, widowed giant, Jack's mom and baker's wife are all dead.
  Cinderella will be divorcing the prince.  The baker decides that Cinderella, Jack and Little Red Riding Hood can all come and live with him.  As he tries to quiet his crying son, an image of his wife appears to him and he begins to tell the whole story that we (unfortunately) had just witnessed.  A reprise of one of the witch's songs plays as the movie fades to black.  I literally turned to my husband and said, "What did we just see?"


There were several aspects of the film that I did like.  Meryl Streep did a fantastic job in the role as the witch.  She can really act and sing.  Her costume was very beautiful.  James Corden also gave a wonderful performance and to me, was the stand out actor in the movie.

All in all, I don't know what Disney was thinking when they created this film.  I fear that the company may be feeling a bit too comfortable after their huge success with "Frozen."  I hope that they will be able to find their way out of the woods and onto better projects.

Fitness Fallacy

Fitness is a crucial component in my life.  I make exercising a priority five out of the seven days of the week.  Healthy foods have replaced the harmful processed items that I used to binge on at the local McDonald’s.

 

Being physically fit reaps so many benefits other than a nice looking body.  Completing my workouts makes me feel strong.  This strength is felt in my mind as well as my triceps.  I feel more confident in who I am and the decisions that I make.  Taking care of myself aids in the nurturing of my spirit, which is necessary for a healthy soul.

 

Aside from my numerous workout DVD’s (Jillian Micheals, POP Pilates), I also subscribe to both Shape and Self magazines.  These have been instrumental in my journey for a healthier self.  I especially love getting to read about celebrities that actually eat like real people.  No crazy juice diets or pill popping here!

 

As I excitedly leaf through the glossy pages each month, I notice that the “standard” weight that both magazines use to measure how many calories their suggested workouts will burn is based upon a 145 pound woman.  I then discovered a reoccurring theme in the stories in which one reader shares her incredible fitness turnaround:  Size issues.  Many of the woman explain that they were wearing a size 10 in jeans before their transformation.  They go on to talk about how embarrassed they were to have ever been in such a “large” size.  Most are now happily wearing a size 4 or smaller.

 

Why does this strike such a chord with me?    I wear a size 12.  I bet you are trying to visualize what I look like.  By saying “size 12,” I am sure that many of you are picturing a short, rotund woman who spends her mornings at Dunkin Donuts and her evenings at Pizza Hut.

 

Nothing could be further from the truth.  I am 5 ft 11” and weigh a healthy 148 pounds.  Could I fit into a size 10?  Absolutely.  But the problem is not the size of the jeans, it is the length.  Being such a tall person, I have a very difficult time finding pants that fit around my waist AND are long enough to not make me look like Steve Urkel.  A size 10 will fit my waist, but you will definitely be seeing my socks, while wearing a size 12 gives me the necessary length, but is HUGE around my waist.

 

I do not believe that I am the only woman in such a predicament.  And the clothing industry does not make matters any better.  I remember watching a special on TV where they were discussing the ever changing jean sizes.  One of the manufacturers admitted that extra larges are the new large, larges are the new medium and mediums are the new small.  Seriously?  How can something that is medium ever be considered a small?

 

The problem is that we, as women, are judging ourselves as well as others based on our supposed “size.”  You should NEVER try to ascertain your healthiness based upon the size of pants that you wear.  I remember trying to stick to a 1,200 calorie diet at the very beginning of my journey.  I felt like I was dying.  I would eat my cereal in the morning, a salad for lunch and a salad for dinner.  I would exercise daily and by the time I was ready for bed, my stomach was growling.  I felt like I had not eaten in days.

 

My husband finally said to me, “You know, I don’t think you can sustain yourself on 1,200 calories.  Everyone is different.”  Such a simple, yet profound statement.  I had not considered the fact that being taller adds more muscle mass and that I would need more calories to function.  When I upped my intake to 1, 500 calories, everything fell into place.  I was eating well but not feeling like a ravenous vulture.  I was able to lose weight and tone up while adhering to a plan that works for me.

 

Judging ourselves by the number on the scale is also very dangerous.  For me, weighing 148 pounds is normal.  My doctors always compliment me on being such a healthy individual.  However, if someone were 5 ft. 2”, weighing this much may be seen as being obese.  On the flip side, if someone of my height weighed only 90 pounds, we would swear that she was anorexic or dying due to some terminal illness.

 

*There are numerous factors that need to be considered when deciding what course of action to take in regards to starting a new fitness plan.  Some of these factors include:

 

1.       Weight

2.       Height

3.       Muscle mass

4.       Daily caloric intake

5.       Existing health issues

 

There is no such thing as a cookie cutter person.  We are not all the same and should not be made to feel that there is an “ideal” number we should be trying to ascribe to.  Being different is what makes us the beautiful goddess that we are.  Embrace your beauty and continue to be the best version of yourself.  You are worth it!

 

 

*Please consult with your physician before beginning any type of new fitness regime.

Disasterous Disney

 

For my 30^th birthday, I received the ultimate gift:  a trip to Disney World!  This is literally my favorite place on the entire planet.  When I am there, I feel just like a little kid.  Excitedly racing through the park to ride my favorite rides, standing in line to get a beloved character’s autograph.  Heaven!

 

This was to be my third trip to Disney World.  I could not believe that I was actually going to be in Florida for Christmas!  But our trip did not turn out the way that we had planned…

 

 

 

1.  Rudeness - My husband and I are fairly patient people (me more so than him).  However, the sheet rudeness of many of the park goers was unbelievable.  Adults as well as children were shoving us from all sides.  Parents were actually encouraging their children to get in front of us so that they could get on the rides sooner.  Still, other “parents” were using their strollers as weapons.  They would actually push their strollers (with their children inside) into people like a plow.  No apologies were ever given.

 

Many of the park goers appeared to be sick (me included).  Adults as well as children were freely coughing into the air, not making any attempts to cover their mouths.  While riding on the Disney bus from our hotel to one of the parks, we saw several children run their hands across their running nose and then place their hands on the seat, window, pole support, etc.  Germs were everywhere!  While I had an upper respiratory infection, I still packed medicine and tissues in my purse.  If I felt a sneeze coming, I would whip out a tissue.  And I ALWAYS cover my mouth with my arm when I cough.  This prevents my germs from spraying carelessly into the air (or face of the person next to me) or being spread by my hands.  I cannot understand why people are so careless.

 

2. Disrespect – I was shocked and appalled as I watched waves of children race into shops and begin touching EVERYTHING.  While I understand that they are excited and want to cuddle the plush characters, they were touching glass ornaments, glass mugs, etc.  Not only could they have broken the merchandise, they could have gotten hurt in the process.   And children are not always the cleanest of creatures.  So, if they were sick, about 90% of the store’s items are now covered in their germs.  Ew!

While wandering in the Animal Kingdom, we came across this amazing man from Africa.  He was actually carving a piece of wood into an animal.  Matt and I were fascinated.  This man used different pick axe-like tools and a saw to create a figure without a pattern.  I stood transfixed for about 20 minutes.  In that time, children and several adult couples walked right in front of the man so that they could get through the park quicker.  I was livid.  While I know that this man was doing his “job,” he was skillfully creating something with his hands.  People were watching.  Would that not be a sign for you to go around the group, not through it?  I feel sorry for that wonderful man that has to deal with such disrespect on a daily basis.

 

 

3. Lack of Parenting – This was the most dumbfounding aspect to me.  We saw many children that were unattended.  While Disney World is supposed to be the happiest place on earth, creepers can still purchase a one day pass to the park.  Their children could be taken in seconds.  Maybe that was their plan….

While waiting in line to meet Mary Poppins, there was a rather large Hispanic family in front of us.  One of their children was asleep in a stroller.  After the family posed for their picture with Ms. Poppins, they began to walk away…leaving their sleeping child behind in the line!  Thankfully, another Hispanic family was behind us and they were able to alert the other parents before they got too far away.

 

We went to Epcot on Christmas Day.  Good thing; the Magic Kingdom was so full, they actually had to close the gates and not allow any more people in!  On our way to a shop, we saw the line for Duffy the Bear.  Matt and I passed three children lying on a bench and took our place in line.  Suddenly, the three children got up and ran in front of us.  They cut in line!  We spoke loudly to each other about us being there first and them cutting, just to get the point across.  That is when we hear their mother yelling at them from another bench further down from Duffy.  “Why did you get out of line?” she blared.  Okay, fine.  Let the kiddies cut.  Breath in, breath out.  But it didn’t stop there.  The children were hitting each other with their autograph books, attempting to draw on the Duffy book pedestals with their pens and then CLIMBED onto the pedestals.  They were gyrating around so much that they ended up kicking and stepping on my husband several times.  When we FINALLY got close to Duffy, the children then began to fight about whose pen they were going to use.  Their dad appeared out of nowhere and ended up staying with them for the remaining two minutes.

 

In the meantime, there was a family behind us: mom, two girls, one boy.  Do you know what they were doing?  Quietly sitting on the ground waiting patiently.  There were no fights, no yelling.  Their mom asked them if they had their autograph books and pens ready.  The children held them up eagerly to show their readiness.  I was blown away by the difference in the children’s behavior.  Before we met Duffy (and while the devil children were leaving), I turned around to the woman and said, “Your children are so well behaved.  Thank you for being a great parent.”  She was speechless.  She thanked me up and down and then turned to her children and said, “You all get gold stars.  You just got a compliment.”  I think that good parents should be thanked for the wonderful job that they are doing.  Not everyone is up to par.

 

 

4. Following the Rules -  I do not care what country you come from, I guarantee that you have laws/rules that you are required to follow.  Disney World is no exception.  The one rule that really stands out in my mind is the concept of the line.  A line as defined by Webster is :  “an arrangement or placement of persons or objects of one kind in an orderly series…”  I was simply amazed by the number of people who thought that they shouldn’t have to wait in a line (or queue for my friends in England).  We witnessed people jumping over the velvet ropes to get further ahead.  Others had friends wait in line for them.  People began to flood in out of nowhere and take their place at the head of the line with their “party” while Matt and I (who had been waiting patiently waiting) got pushed further back.  At the risk of sounding like a grumpy old person, that is not fair.  Surely, every country understands the concept of waiting your turn.  Aren’t their lines at banks and grocery stores in China, Japan, India, Mexico, etc.?  The idea of instant gratification has gotten grossly out of hand.  It’s not like the Pirates of the Caribbean ride is going to shut down if you aren’t on the next boat.  Elsa and Anna aren’t going to go to Arendelle and never return.  They are literally back within 5-10 minutes.  Once you’ve waited for 40, what difference does a few more minutes make?

 

 

5.  Complaining – I cannot count the number of times that we heard people complaining….about everything!  Residents of our hotel crabbed every day about how long it took the park buses to pick us up.  They gripped about how long it took to get to the parks, then about the “long” walk to the park gates.  Then there were the complaints about the long lines for the rides, shows, characters, food. 

 

 

6.  Cell Phones – I guess this should come as no surprise, but people of all ages were on their cell phones as they walked throughout the parks.  They were texting, tweeting, Facebooking, etc.  I was so saddened to see how no one seemed to be paying attention to the magic that surrounded them.  It’s not every day that you get to eat at the Beast’s castle or have your picture taken with Princess Jasmine.  Instead of making memories with their loved ones, they were tuning out everything but the technology.  This of course made for hazardous walking conditions because the phoners were not watching where they were going.  Not to mention the pile ups caused by people needing to stop and take a selfie.

 

 

7.  Character Photos – Matt and I are obsessed with photos.  He loves to take them and I love to post them.  My mom was a complete rock star and purchased the Disney Memory Maker package, allowing us to keep all of the photos that the Disney park photographers had taken of us.  While we didn’t mind waiting in line, we did have a problem with the people that treated a character photo like a family photo session at JC Penny.  For instance, one family had mom, dad, 2 daughters and a son.  When they met Minnie, they had to have a photo of:

 

a.       The entire family w/Minnie

b.      Just mom w/Minnie

c.       Just dad w/Minnie

d.      The children w/Minnie

e.      Each daughter alone w/Minnie

f.        The son alone w/Minnie

 

 You can imagine how lengthy of a process this becomes.  Especially if each family expects this.  I can understand a family photo and then a photo with just the kids.  But, each child does not need an individual picture.  Remember, there is a line full of people waiting for just one photo with the desired character.

 

 

I am greatly saddened that I have seen such a decline in the atmosphere at Disney World from my trips in 2000, 2009 and 2014.  All in all, we did have a wonderful time.  I hope that when we return (whenever that may be) that more of the magic will be restored.  Maybe they need a bit more pixie dust.

Inhumane Humanity

My hands shook as I listened to a voice mail on my cell phone. I could not believe it. I had just received a call for an interview at my dream job!

If everything went well, I would be the newest member of the Missouri Humane Society as an Adoption Counselor. My husband and I visit their Macklindlocation at least once a month to give treats to the animals still searching for their forever homes. To think that I would get to be a part of such a wonderful group was mind blowing.

However, my joy soon diminished as I realized I had gotten an interview for their Chesterfield location. This would mean almost an hour drive every day. Plus, I would have to work on holidays as well as weekends. But my passion for animals is so great that I knew compromises would have to be made.

The doors opened and I stepped into the adoption center. Cute kitties pawed at me from behind their glass enclosures. Animal themed gifts filled the mini gift shop. It was official. I was in heaven!

I immediately hit it off with the manager. *Beth and I had the same passion for saving lives. I was then asked how I felt about euthanasia. “Well, I liken it to deer hunting,” I explained. “I do not participate or support it, but I understand why it is sometimes needed.” She said, “Great analogy! I don’t like hunting either.”

Before I knew it, I had received an offer for immediate employment. While overjoyed, there was still one issue that needed to be addressed: the pay. Accepting this job would mean a HUGE pay cut. My husband was less than thrilled, but wanted to support my dream. He knows that I am not meant for the cut throat office world. I have had my share of that abuse. And I truly do have a talent for working with animals. They seem to instantly trust me. I firmly believe that it is a gift from God.

I do not want to be selfish, but I am ready to do something meaningful with my life. Something that will utilize the skills and talents that God has given me. I no longer want to pretend to be something that I am not.

Taking a deep breath, I brought up the salary. Beth told me that she would see what she could do. Then she began to talk about another position that was still open. The Transport Coordinator would be responsible for going to area shelters and selecting the most adoptable animals to be brought back to the humane society. This person would also assist the Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force in rescuing abused and neglected animals. And Beth thought I would be just perfect for the job!

She raced out of the room in search of her phone. She hoped that she would be able to reach her supervisor so that I could get hired on the spot for that (higher paying) position. I thought that the stars of my life were finally aligning. God did have a plan for me and it was going to be amazing!

Unfortunately, Beth was unable to locate her boss. I left with the understanding that the Adoption Counselor position was mine if I wanted it and that Beth would be contacting me when she heard from her boss.

I left feeling so excited. Beth had given me more compliments than any of my bosses (past and present) ever have. Everything felt so right.

The next morning, I received a call requesting an interview that very day in the afternoon. I readily accepted and watched the clock slowly tick away the minutes until my departure. My phone rang about two hours before the interview. It was *Michelle, Beth’s boss, wanting to conduct a pre-interview. She began by explaining the hours and how they would vary. Some overnight travel may be required. I was nodding my head, as if she could see me. Michelle then asked how I felt about euthanasia. I decided to stick with my hunting analogy since it was such a hit and accurately describes how I feel about the subject.

“You would be performing this,” Michelle stated.

My heart immediately dropped into my stomach. I felt like I was going to throw up. “I would be performing euthanasia?” I asked incredulously.

“Yes, that is a requirement for this job.”

I was completely horrified. I am known as the saver of animal lives, not the destroyer. No way in a million years could I ever kill an animal, no matter how much money was thrown at me.

“No, I could never do that,” I replied.

“Well, it is a requirement for this position,”Michelle commented. She then left a very pregnant pause as if I was going to change my mind.

“I’m sorry, but I could never do that,” I answered.

We thanked each other for our time and hung up. I was enraged. Beth had billed the Transport Coordinator position as one that would SAVE lives. She did not make a single mention of the fact that I would also be responsible for needlessly killing animals. I would have showed no interest in the job if I had known the full details.

This experience has greatly changed my opinion of the Missouri Humane Society and what they stand for. I found out that if they have a large influx of animals, those that have treatable illnesses, such as UTI’s, are euthanized to make space for their healthy, adoptable counterparts. While I understand that overcrowding is a real issue, what I cannot wrap my brain around is the fact that HSMO just received a multimillion dollar grant to build a new, larger facility. Doesn’t this mean that they will have more space for intakes? And they are blessed enough to have 3 locations, unlike most animal shelters and humane societies that are lucky to have just one.

With all of these spaces to house homeless animals, why are they insistent upon killing them? I own several fur babies that I know they would have deemed “unadoptable.”Hope, our double dapple Dachshund, was born without eyes and is completely deaf. She is the biggest inspiration in my life. Even with these“disabilities,” she lives her best life in which her tail is always wagging. Hope holds her head high as she prances from room to room. Had she fallen into the clutches of HSMO, she would have undoubtedly been killed simply because people cannot begin to fathom how any living creature could be happy living a life without sight or sound. Yet, she loves everyone that she meets. Hope will greet you with a wag of her tail and then cover you in the best weenie kisses ever.

Penny is our tripod Chiweenie wonder. She was born with a severe overbite and a deformed front paw. While Penny does hop around like a bunny, she does not allow anything to hold her back. She frequently scales our three foot pet gate and loves to race her furry siblings around in the backyard. Penny is a total love bug who enjoys meeting new people, dogs and cats. Her looks only enhance the awesomeness that is Penny.

Every day, animals just like Hope and Penny are“put to sleep” because they are deemed unworthy of being adopted. How can HSMOplay God? I cannot ever imagine being forced to choose which animals to save and which to kill. It is reminiscent of Sophie’s Choice on a much larger scale. Marc Barone is currently working on an epic project entitled “An Act of Dog” in which he is painting portraits of all of the dogs that have been euthanized across the country for no other reason than a lack of space.

I am then reminded of HSMO’s Second Chances telethon. This annual TV special presentation depicts HSMO as being the guardians of animals and their well-being, all while asking for monetary donations in order to continue providing “protection” for animals in need. What they do not tell viewers is that they are not a no-kill shelter. They are an all access shelter, which means that they will not discriminate against an animal due to age or health issues. I was told this during my interview. The same interview in which I was told that if there was an abundance of animals, those with treatable illnesses would be euthanized first. What a hypocritical organization!

If they truly want to be humane (as in their very name sake), they should try to HELPas many animals as they can. Just like humans, not all animals are born with the same chance at a wonderful life. I had believed that it was the mission of every humane society and rescue group to give these poor creatures a second chance at living the life they truly deserve.

While my dreams of combining my love of animals with a job are sufficiently dashed, I also find that I am feeling somewhat relieved. Knowing how duplicitous HSMO is, I would not want to be employed at their establishment only to watch countless numbers of animals senselessly lose their lives.

*names have been changed

Drifting Dreamers

 We all have dreams.  Some are lofty while others are small.  Each and every dream is important and speaks to who/what we are truly meant to be.

I read the most inspiring quote in one of my Self magazines.  It read:  “It’s not who you are that holds you back.  It’s who you think you’re not.”

This is incredibly true when it comes to chasing down our dreams.  My biggest dream is to become a successful author.  While I feel that I am talented enough to “make it,” there are countless things that bombard me with feelings of doubt.  

I am currently in the process of launching my own publishing company entitled Theuerkauf’s Tails, LLC.  Fear grips me when I realize that I do not know the first thing about owning and running my own business.  Even though I have my Bachelor’s degree and graduated Suma Cum Laude with a 3.8 GPA on a 4.0 scale, I somehow do not feel “smart enough” to figure things out.

Money is also an issue that I worry about constantly.  The costs of creating an LLC are quite high.  Not to mention the cost of purchasing ISBN’s, filing my copyright, filing with the Library of Congress and printing promotional materials.  I do not want to waste my family’s limited resources on something that could turn out to be unsuccessful.

But every time that I talk about my children’s book, Priceless Penny, I become excited.  Then, I start getting ideas for promotions, book signings, merchandise, etc.  I literally feel like this is what I was born to do.  Combining my love of animals and my talent for writing seems as natural to me as breathing.  So, why am I afraid to try?

I am reminded of a family member, *Riley.  She wanted to get her Master’s degree in teaching and was enrolled in the program.  Then, she got married and stopped attending.  When I asked her why she did not continue she simply said, “I wanted to spend time with my husband.”

While I believe that it is important for couples to spend time together, you should not have to give up on your dreams in order to make your significant other happy.  Their happiness should come from seeing you happy (and vice versa).  I also felt like this was extremely unfair to blame her dropping on her husband.  He has always been very supportive of Riley and I am positive that he would have encouraged her to get her Master’s had he known it was so important to her.

Riley also attempted to get her Amateur Radio License.  Her husband has been a ham for many years and she became interested in the hobby.  Riley began attending classes that were taught my Amateur Radio veterans.  But, one teacher made fun of her for not knowing an answer.  She never attended another class.  

I can certainly understand how she was feeling.  Embarrassed, humiliated, stupid.  But, all she did was prove that teacher right.  And she had numerous options than simply quitting.  

Riley could have sought another class with a different teacher.  The more terrifying option would have been to confront the tyrannical teacher and inform him that she had just as much right to be in the class as her male counterparts and that she did not deserve to be treated in such a manner.  Instead, she left and gave up on yet another dream.

While she insists that she is happy, Riley does get a faraway look in her eyes when someone mentions a Master’s degree or when I bring up taking part in a ham event.  My question to her? Why not try to achieve theses dreams now? 

Riley complains that she will be retiring soon.  She does not see the point in getting her Master’s.  I told her to do it for HER, not to advance in her work position.  This would be something that she could be proud of to have earned.  And who knows what the future holds?  She may decide to work part-time in which the degree would be beneficial.  

As far as hamming goes, it is NEVER too late to learn something new!  I purchased the official ARRL (American Radio Relay League) testing guide on my Kindle.  No class (or teacher) required.  There are even online tutorials that can be viewed for free.  The tests are given once every month, so there is no need to rush the learning process or feel like time is running out.

Too many times, we follow in Riley’s footsteps and try to talk ourselves out of following our dreams.  We fear that we are not “good enough” or that we might fail.  However, the true failure is in not trying.

While I am still nervous about the success of Theuerkauf’s Tails, I know that I need to take this risk.  Years from now, I do not want to be filled with regret about all of the things that I did not try.  I want to be able to smile about the things that I did.

*name has been changed

Marvelous Me

As I gaze into the mirror, I realize that they are right.  I am not like most people.  Suddenly, a smile spreads across my face.  Why?  I am proud of the person that I have grown to be.

I am bombarded daily with stares and comments from my fellow co-workers and administrators.  The great powers that be have decided that everyone should look and act exactly as they do.  But, when I look at these individuals, I see people who are unhappy.  Miserable, even.

They are constantly battling for power and praise.  And they are not afraid to lie their way to the top.  I cannot tell you how many times I have been thrown under the proverbial bus for mistakes that were not my fault.

I have tried to imagine myself in their shoes.  I come up with the same conclusion every time:  I would not be able to live with myself.  Knowing that I am making other people’s lives miserable and giving them sleepless nights is something I just could not bare.

The work environment is not the only place that calls for uniformity.  More and more, the entire world appears to be seeking the robot-like mentality.  To quote the movie ‘What a Girl Wants,’ “Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?”

That describes me perfectly.  And I am not ashamed to stand out.  The older I become, the more I embrace my uniqueness and cherish the special individual that I am.

Here are some of the things that I like most about myself:

1. I have a passion for animals.  I am often teased about having so many fur babies, but I would not have it any other way.  These rescued pooches and kitties have changed my life for the better.  They have helped me grow and taught me many life lessons.  This is especially true of my special needs babies.  Even though they have “disabilities,” they are able to accomplish amazing things and live their best life, which is something I strive to do every day.  My husband and I even like to “shelter hop” on the weekends where we will visit as many animal shelters in the area that we can.  We love to talk to the animals and give them the attention and affection that they deserve.  I cannot imagine a life without each and every one of my fur babies.  I have also become known as the “animal person” at my job and on Facebook.  Numerous people have sent me messages needing help in re-homing their pets.  Others have contacted me about stray animals that they have found.  I love being known as a source of information for helping animals!  Instead of dropping off pets at shelters where they will most likely be euthanized, I am able to provide resources that will see these animals in loving foster homes or no-kill shelters.

2. I am an Amateur Radio Operator (a.k.a. Ham).  My Dad has been a ham for over 40 years!  He inspired me to get my own FCC license.  I studied for the test diligently for a month and passed the Technician Class test with only 3 missed questions.  I am now able to volunteer as the Skywarn Net Control Operator for our weekly Net Nights when my Dad is tied up at work or sick.  In addition, I can use my ham skills while volunteering in our local E.S.D.A. (Emergency Services and Disaster Agency) as a shelter manager or give back up assistance to my Dad who is the E.S.D.A. Coordinator for our town.  My call sign, KC9VZR, is proudly displayed on my special Ham Radio license plates for my car.  As one of the few women “hammers,” I am excited to learn all that I can so that I will be the best ham possible.

3. I have a talent for writing.  Many people struggle to find out what their calling is in life.  Not me.  I was blessed with a talent for writing.  When I was little, I used to create my own newspapers with such captivating headlines as “Cinderella to Wed Prince Charming.”  I even drew my own “photos.”  As I grew, so did my passion for writing.  I won two Young Author Awards in grade school for two original short stories that I wrote.  I pursued my love of writing in college and earned the Outstanding Journalism Student Award at SIUE in 2006.  In 2007, I graduated with my Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications:  Print Journalism.  I was fortunate enough to then land a job as an Editor for two newspapers.  Poetry has always had a special place in my heart.  In 2010, I self-published a book entitled More Than Words, which is a collection of original poetry all about the three stages of love (it is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Borders).  Currently, I am working on my first children’s book entitled Priceless Penny, which chronicles the amazing adoption journey of my tripod dog, Penny.  Even if I never become a millionaire, I will still always love to write.  There is just something so magical about being able to express yourself with words.

4. I love to attend charity walks!  I first learned about the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s annual Light the Night Walk from a former co-worker (and lymphoma survivor).  My Grandmother was diagnosed with Mantel Cell Lymphoma in 2010.  I became the team captain of Memaw’s Mantel Mashers and lead the way on our first walk that same year.  It was truly inspiring to see so much hope and unity.  I later attended my first PurpleStride walk for pancreatic cancer and soon found myself the captain of Leonard’s Legion.  When my Dad was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes, I signed up to be the captain of Gene’s Gladiators for the ADA's annual Step Out Walk.  My love for charities also extends to animal causes such as:  Bark in the Park, Celebrate Spot, Races for Rescues and the Canine Carnival.  I wear seven rubber bracelets on my left wrist every day to show my support for these amazing causes that are close to my heart.  I hope to inspire others to become involved because together, we can change the world.

5. I have my own style.  I love to create different looks by wearing funky jewelry and makeup.  My favorite pieces of jewelry are made by Betsey Johnson.  She is so creative!  I also love how she incorporates animals in almost all of her works.  When it comes to makeup, I am not shy.  I will wear eye shadow in purple, teal, gold, etc.  And I top it all off by wearing Keds in a matching color!  I own over 22 pairs of these fabulous shoes.  While I get some strange looks for my bold statement, I typically receive compliments for not only having matching jewelry and makeup, but shoes as well.  Even my winter coat is a vibrant orange color.  Why would I want to wear just black and white when the world is filled with a rainbow of options?

6. Exercising is essential to my life.  From the moment I bought my first Jillian Michaels DVD, I was hooked.  I was vastly out of shape, but noticed that the more I did her workouts, the stronger I became.  I eagerly gobbled up her new releases and was surprised at how I was able to master the routines in a matter of days.  While I am nowhere near perfect, I am much fitter and stronger.  Now, exercising has become a part of my daily routine.  I work out five days a week.  In discovering a healthier me, I have inspired members of my own family to become proactive about their health.

Like a diamond, I am multifaceted.  When I am being true to myself, I shine.  What makes you glow?