Next week I’m going to deliver the closing keynote at the Caregivers Association Annual conference. In my audience will be five hundred people who truly make a difference. My dear friend, Megon McDonough is singing her song: Amazing Things right after my speech. She’s Amazing!
It’s important work because we will be there to thank them, congratulate them and motivate them. I think of it as a sort of USO event. And I’m really excited. There will be several staff members from my father’s assisted living facility, The Commons on Marice. I see these people every day when I care for and visit my father. They’re always smiling. They inspire me.
And now, I must inspire them.
Thanking them will be easy, creating a congratulatory presentation will be a cakewalk, but the inspiration part… well, let’s just say, I’ve spent a lot of time contemplating what I’m going to say, researching and watching. And some days there simply are no words.
I’ll keep you posted as this presentation changes by the moment. But for now, I’ll have to sign off so I can order the remainder of the animals for the parade and the ticker-tape.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Gettin'Geeky
Gettin’Geeky with Gina Schreck
I have a friend who’s a geek. Not in the looks department. She sports no mechanical pencil or taped glasses. In fact she’ll even admit she has pretty fabulous hair. She’s a geek in the, well, geek department. Twitter, cell phones, I Pods…whathaveyou.
My friend (Gina Schreck) has a new “Getting’Geeky” show and it’s on Blip.tv. You can learn about new gadgets and applications by watching her short video segments. Here you’ll find out about all sorts of cool gadgets and ways to get things done smarter, faster and often fashionably. And the best part of it is that she makes it simple and gives you the most important information right up front. Information such as-- do you have to be smarter than a 5th grader to use it?
Recently she featured Jott.com and I was all over it! The opening of her segment (segment #2) started with her sipping smooth, flavorful, coffee with an exotic earthiness. It was my Friend Blend signature coffee, which made that particular video clip fun. And it proves that she knows what she’s talking about. Seriously, if she’d take the time to get the best coffee, packaged in the cutest packaging, don’t you think she would also show due diligence in other areas of her life?
It turns out I now have to send her shipments of coffee. That’s okay. It’s a fair trade for all the geek advice I’m getting. And, if she was drinking some crappy coffee…her show wouldn’t be as good.
I just can’t let that happen.
Go to: http://blip.tv/file/1406338
I have a friend who’s a geek. Not in the looks department. She sports no mechanical pencil or taped glasses. In fact she’ll even admit she has pretty fabulous hair. She’s a geek in the, well, geek department. Twitter, cell phones, I Pods…whathaveyou.
My friend (Gina Schreck) has a new “Getting’Geeky” show and it’s on Blip.tv. You can learn about new gadgets and applications by watching her short video segments. Here you’ll find out about all sorts of cool gadgets and ways to get things done smarter, faster and often fashionably. And the best part of it is that she makes it simple and gives you the most important information right up front. Information such as-- do you have to be smarter than a 5th grader to use it?
Recently she featured Jott.com and I was all over it! The opening of her segment (segment #2) started with her sipping smooth, flavorful, coffee with an exotic earthiness. It was my Friend Blend signature coffee, which made that particular video clip fun. And it proves that she knows what she’s talking about. Seriously, if she’d take the time to get the best coffee, packaged in the cutest packaging, don’t you think she would also show due diligence in other areas of her life?
It turns out I now have to send her shipments of coffee. That’s okay. It’s a fair trade for all the geek advice I’m getting. And, if she was drinking some crappy coffee…her show wouldn’t be as good.
I just can’t let that happen.
Go to: http://blip.tv/file/1406338
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
One can never, ever have too much coffee
In this short presentation, I learned that it's going to be okay for me to have memory loss.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iMgSNrwv4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iMgSNrwv4
Friday, August 22, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
It's How You See Things
Garrison Keilor recently delivered a keynote at the Erma Bombeck Writers Conference. During the Q & A he was asked: “Is it hard to write humor when bad things happen in your life?” Before he even answered, I laughed. What? It’s the best time.
He said, “It’s great when you’re depressed. Why would you even want to write humor if you’re in a good mood?” Which made me laugh again. I get it. Give me a really horrible situation, something in my family, or the world, something unbelievable, incomprehensible, such as a new patch of cellulite developing on my thigh. I’ll think it’s funny. Well, what am I supposed to do? Go buy a $437 jar of cream that doesn’t work?
The best humor comes from life. It’s not jokes or prefabricated stories. It’s everyday life. Bill Cosby has a long hilarious bit about his root canal. Chris Rock talks about racism. And Ellen DeGeneres finds humor in well, every hardship she’s ever had.
It seriously bugs me when people don’t have a sense of humor. I get concerned.
What’s going to happen if something really bad happens? How will they make it through?
I write humor for a living. I really do try to look at things through humor colored glasses—and often that takes a little time. But eventually, almost everything is funny. Although honestly, I’m not yuckin’ it up about the cellulite like I said I was.
Some things are truly sad.
____
He said, “It’s great when you’re depressed. Why would you even want to write humor if you’re in a good mood?” Which made me laugh again. I get it. Give me a really horrible situation, something in my family, or the world, something unbelievable, incomprehensible, such as a new patch of cellulite developing on my thigh. I’ll think it’s funny. Well, what am I supposed to do? Go buy a $437 jar of cream that doesn’t work?
The best humor comes from life. It’s not jokes or prefabricated stories. It’s everyday life. Bill Cosby has a long hilarious bit about his root canal. Chris Rock talks about racism. And Ellen DeGeneres finds humor in well, every hardship she’s ever had.
It seriously bugs me when people don’t have a sense of humor. I get concerned.
What’s going to happen if something really bad happens? How will they make it through?
I write humor for a living. I really do try to look at things through humor colored glasses—and often that takes a little time. But eventually, almost everything is funny. Although honestly, I’m not yuckin’ it up about the cellulite like I said I was.
Some things are truly sad.
____
Friday, May 30, 2008
Work/ Life Balance-- Hire a Coach!
I just read an article in the Miami Herald about a new trend called, Parent Coaches: For parents who have difficulty raising their children.
That’s a pretty big niche market.
You can get help with everything from thumb sucking, to bratty teen- age behavior. From sassy, disrespectful, dirty- laundry- lugging college students to biting, Lego throwing toddler Rambo’s. A personal Dr. Spock consultation.
Turns out that a lot of parents can run multi- million dollar companies, but they’re at a loss at home.
That’s because (generally speaking) you don’t have to take care of your co- workers diarrhea, night terrors or deal moment- to- moment with their new found pronunciation of the word, “no.” It’s because your boss doesn’t come into bed with you at 3 AM, crying.. (Again, generally speaking.)
And honestly, do you care if the people you work with eat their vegetables?
I’m not saying that I couldn’t have used a coach with my daughter. Although I’m convinced there were times an exorcist would have done the trick. Or, that I couldn’t use some help with my son and his need to leave wrappers and trash around the house, a trail of his every move as evidence he lives in this house-- but it seems to me that all a parent coach does is … give power back to the parents. Where it should have been all along.
How did we get so far away from that one idea? We are the parents.
Great leaders make tough decisions. Business people get things done and shell out consequences to both their peers and subordinates. There are similarities between what we do at work and home, just different vernacular. For instance, at work, a “time out” would be more like an unpaid leave of absence. “You’re grounded for life” would be “you’re now working in the mailroom.”
Great parents make tough decisions everyday. It’s hard work and it’s exhausting.
The pay stinks.
In the words of Erma Bombeck, if your child doesn’t scream the words, I HATE YOU, at least once in their life, you haven’t done your job.
There’s another thing to consider when wondering why home life is so much more difficult than work life. You don’t love, with all your being, your co-workers,
boss or shareholders.
Well, unless you’re one who let’s them crawl into bed with you at 3AM.
That’s a pretty big niche market.
You can get help with everything from thumb sucking, to bratty teen- age behavior. From sassy, disrespectful, dirty- laundry- lugging college students to biting, Lego throwing toddler Rambo’s. A personal Dr. Spock consultation.
Turns out that a lot of parents can run multi- million dollar companies, but they’re at a loss at home.
That’s because (generally speaking) you don’t have to take care of your co- workers diarrhea, night terrors or deal moment- to- moment with their new found pronunciation of the word, “no.” It’s because your boss doesn’t come into bed with you at 3 AM, crying.. (Again, generally speaking.)
And honestly, do you care if the people you work with eat their vegetables?
I’m not saying that I couldn’t have used a coach with my daughter. Although I’m convinced there were times an exorcist would have done the trick. Or, that I couldn’t use some help with my son and his need to leave wrappers and trash around the house, a trail of his every move as evidence he lives in this house-- but it seems to me that all a parent coach does is … give power back to the parents. Where it should have been all along.
How did we get so far away from that one idea? We are the parents.
Great leaders make tough decisions. Business people get things done and shell out consequences to both their peers and subordinates. There are similarities between what we do at work and home, just different vernacular. For instance, at work, a “time out” would be more like an unpaid leave of absence. “You’re grounded for life” would be “you’re now working in the mailroom.”
Great parents make tough decisions everyday. It’s hard work and it’s exhausting.
The pay stinks.
In the words of Erma Bombeck, if your child doesn’t scream the words, I HATE YOU, at least once in their life, you haven’t done your job.
There’s another thing to consider when wondering why home life is so much more difficult than work life. You don’t love, with all your being, your co-workers,
boss or shareholders.
Well, unless you’re one who let’s them crawl into bed with you at 3AM.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Bragging Rights
Last week my brother Chris (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman) earned USC’s highest award for alumni accomplishment. My father, who is 87 years old, earned something as well: his diploma.
During World War II my father (Charles) was a USA senior preparing to graduate when duty called. On his graduation day in June 1943 he was on a shipboard headed for the Philippines, where he joined allied forces in Operation Cartwheel, aimed at isolating the major Japanese base in New Guinea. My father never received his diploma.
So, before presenting the university’s highest award for alumni achievement, USC President Steven B. Sample surprised an audience of nearly 550 and honored my father with the diploma. Something my father had waited 63 years for.
To roaring applause and a standing ovation, Sample handed my father the leather case.
And then something funny happened.
When my father opened the sophisticated leather case, it didn’t contain the diploma. It held a letter congratulating and honoring him with the leather case, the actual diploma would arrive “soon.”
My father raised one eyebrow, turned the case around for President Sample to read. President Sample read it out loud, laughed and said, “63 years and a couple of weeks.”
You can’t write this stuff.
Needless to say, I’m proud of Chris for earning such a great award. He’s an amazing man. But I’m especially proud of the fact that he made “His” night about my father, who obviously stole the show. Tears, laughter, applause…
Good stuff. The stuff memories are made of.
My father has Alzheimer’s and probably doesn’t remember the night. But he was there, in the moment and enjoying every bit of it.
So, each day I’m with my father, I show him the case and retell the story. And he gets to live it again.
In a world of MTV, a psycho- prostitute- soliciting- Governor, and Middle East extremists who hate America, I find this reassuring. There are good people in this world. And they are in my family.
During World War II my father (Charles) was a USA senior preparing to graduate when duty called. On his graduation day in June 1943 he was on a shipboard headed for the Philippines, where he joined allied forces in Operation Cartwheel, aimed at isolating the major Japanese base in New Guinea. My father never received his diploma.
So, before presenting the university’s highest award for alumni achievement, USC President Steven B. Sample surprised an audience of nearly 550 and honored my father with the diploma. Something my father had waited 63 years for.
To roaring applause and a standing ovation, Sample handed my father the leather case.
And then something funny happened.
When my father opened the sophisticated leather case, it didn’t contain the diploma. It held a letter congratulating and honoring him with the leather case, the actual diploma would arrive “soon.”
My father raised one eyebrow, turned the case around for President Sample to read. President Sample read it out loud, laughed and said, “63 years and a couple of weeks.”
You can’t write this stuff.
Needless to say, I’m proud of Chris for earning such a great award. He’s an amazing man. But I’m especially proud of the fact that he made “His” night about my father, who obviously stole the show. Tears, laughter, applause…
Good stuff. The stuff memories are made of.
My father has Alzheimer’s and probably doesn’t remember the night. But he was there, in the moment and enjoying every bit of it.
So, each day I’m with my father, I show him the case and retell the story. And he gets to live it again.
In a world of MTV, a psycho- prostitute- soliciting- Governor, and Middle East extremists who hate America, I find this reassuring. There are good people in this world. And they are in my family.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
2008 Caucus-- A lot like the 1600's
I attended my caucus Tuesday night. Of course I wanted to cast my vote, but I also wanted to present a resolution for increased funding for Alzheimer’s disease research. Maybe the government keeps forgetting…
America is great. We have gadgets and gizmos the size of rice and yet, at our caucus we were greeted by a man inching into his 90’s who ripped small bits of green paper (pilfered from the high school English room supply drawer?) and handed them to each of us. We wrote down who we wanted and he put our votes into an envelope, which he held in his other hand.
A substantial sneeze would have sent that envelope up in the air like a Roman candle. We would have all jumped to help clean up, snatched the candidate votes we didn’t want and shoved them in our pocket. I was waiting for that to happen. The guy had a cold.
The entire event was very secure and technical. At this level, hanging chads would have been a relief. It simultaneously worried and amused me.
The caucus started and we were called on the take positions. Asking us to do the downward facing dog would have been more productive. Not a lot of hands shot up. Luckily one of the neighborhood boys volunteered to lead the rest of the meeting. I think he was 11.
It was a great turnout. Someone even brought muffins, which says a lot about my district. I think the job got done.
I hope the one with the most votes won.
America is great. We have gadgets and gizmos the size of rice and yet, at our caucus we were greeted by a man inching into his 90’s who ripped small bits of green paper (pilfered from the high school English room supply drawer?) and handed them to each of us. We wrote down who we wanted and he put our votes into an envelope, which he held in his other hand.
A substantial sneeze would have sent that envelope up in the air like a Roman candle. We would have all jumped to help clean up, snatched the candidate votes we didn’t want and shoved them in our pocket. I was waiting for that to happen. The guy had a cold.
The entire event was very secure and technical. At this level, hanging chads would have been a relief. It simultaneously worried and amused me.
The caucus started and we were called on the take positions. Asking us to do the downward facing dog would have been more productive. Not a lot of hands shot up. Luckily one of the neighborhood boys volunteered to lead the rest of the meeting. I think he was 11.
It was a great turnout. Someone even brought muffins, which says a lot about my district. I think the job got done.
I hope the one with the most votes won.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Update
Okay, first of all, I know I need to write more Blog postings. Thanks to all who have written me and shown your support. I’m on it for 2008. Seriously.
And to those of you who are less supportive and more snarky about wanting more Blog postings. OKAY-- I’m on it.
It’s not like I’m not writing, people. I’m wrapping up my novel (finally) and I’m going to send it to my agent the first week of February. I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, I’ll be pacing around my kitchen drinking VATS of coffee and wondering, “Why hasn’t she called? Doesn’t she like it? Did I screw up a prepositional phrase?”
I write articles and the humor column for the National Speakers Association Minnesota newsletter. I write speeches for my clients’ and sometimes a sketch
here and there, so …I’m not a complete slacker. Just a Blog slacker.
Get over it.
2008 will be better Blog year for me. I feel it.
Cheers.
Molly
And to those of you who are less supportive and more snarky about wanting more Blog postings. OKAY-- I’m on it.
It’s not like I’m not writing, people. I’m wrapping up my novel (finally) and I’m going to send it to my agent the first week of February. I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, I’ll be pacing around my kitchen drinking VATS of coffee and wondering, “Why hasn’t she called? Doesn’t she like it? Did I screw up a prepositional phrase?”
I write articles and the humor column for the National Speakers Association Minnesota newsletter. I write speeches for my clients’ and sometimes a sketch
here and there, so …I’m not a complete slacker. Just a Blog slacker.
Get over it.
2008 will be better Blog year for me. I feel it.
Cheers.
Molly
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