wRItEbRaIN

comedy of errors.

2009-12-16T22:08:12Z

The moment I walked into Kinkos this afternoon, I knew I was in for a treat. But this wasn't the normal treat I get when I am able to be in the midst of creativity, and production... this was fifteem minutes of pure comedic heaven. The comedy was embodied by the Production Manager - who must have found a fly in her Egg McMuffin that morning, as she was an absolute terror. She reminded me of the sea witch from Little Mermaid - Ursula, in appearance (minus the blue) and character.

In the 9.5 minutes I stood in line waiting to drop off some holiday cards to print, my amusement was captured by the following:

Ursula publicly flipped out on three production assistants in a period of 4 minutes. She made no attempts to hide her frustration, nor the embarrassment she was causing. After her moment of heated disillussionment was complete with each of her victims, she proceeded in making a joke to lighten up the atmosphere... unsuccessfully.

While my cards were being printed, I left to grab lunch, and returned within about 30 minutes. As I stood at the front of the line, waiting for a production assistant to acknowledge that I was back for my order - Ursula asked the three people behind me if she could assist them with anything. My initial assumption was that Ursula remembered me from 30 minutes prior, and understood that I was being helped by someone else. Not the case. Finally, someone behind me responded to Ursula with 'I believe she (pointing to me) was next in line.' Ursula looks at me, looks back at her production assistant, and says, 'I'm so sorry, I didn't even notice you there.' Mmm hmmm.

In the midst of Ursula's apology to me - an older gentleman bum-rushed the line in an apparent flustered state. He explained at a pitch right below yelling, that he did not approve the proof, yet he was still sent 50 copies of the presentation - and his credit card was charged. As Ursula attempted to back pedal her way out of her newly added frustration, the older gentleman got so outraged, that he loosened his tie, and began to take off his coat. The bystandards (myself included) were sure that a boxing match was about to ensue. Instead, the man threw down the printed presentations - and stormed out. Unfortunately, in his dramatic exit, he left his coat. Smooth move dude.

Finally - the existing state of affiars taking place at the production desk had the cashier flusterd and her head in a tizzy. This resulted in her ringing me up wrong. In my elevated state of amusement, I didn't even realize until I was walking out of the door that I only paid $17 for what should have cost over $60. I told myself that I didn't turn around and correct the mistake because I didn't want to get the cashier in trouble... she was the only one that hadn't got yelled at by Ursula in the brief time I was there.

To the unfortunate chagrin of the Kinkos staff, my mid-day yesterday was truly an epic comedy. It would have made for a perfect episode of "The Office." And to add to the irony - I attempted to write about this experience yesterday - but as I was finishing up, the internet froze and shut down - any my post went to cyber-heaven. Perhaps that was a sign from God - underwhelmed at my delight in the frustration of others. Yes, I admit, I had a weak moment...

... But it truly was a comedy of errors.

write away.

2009-12-15T14:39:56Z

Last week's mindset:

I'm not a writer. I'm really not. I love to write, but I'm not a writer. If you asked me to write about the divine prosperity in West India - I would look at you sideways and might flip you the bird. I can't write well about something that I don't understand, agree with, or like. So that makes me a person that loves to write. Not a writer. No? If Michael Jordan could only score when he was wide open... would he be a basketball legend? I think not. If you can only read music when you know the song, can you really read music? That would be a negative.

This week's mindset:

I genuinely love to write. I love the feeling of aligning the perfect words side by side to create a beautiful thought... that would in turn transform someone else's thought. It's magical. Really. If I don't genuinely feel it, however, it's not happening - it comes out as pure cockamamy (sp?) BS. Maybe I am a writer. Yep, I said it. Maybe I'm just a writer with a few caveats:

Caveat #1: If I don't agree with it, I won't write about it.

Caveat #2: If I don't like it (the subject), or you, I won't write about it.

Caveat #3: If I don't understand it, I might try to write about it, but I might lie in the process.

Caveat #4: I can't write on demand - it takes me 3-5 hours over the course of a few days, a Chai Latte or two, a long shower, and about 5 miles worth of running, to formulate my thoughts often.

Caveat #5: If I'm hungry or cold, I refuse to even talk, more or less write.

Caveat #6: If I'm bored, I make a point to make sure the audience is as well.

Caveat #7: Big words turn me on - even if they don't make sense in a sentence.

Conclusion:

I will never get hired as a writer. But I will always love to write.

master of none

2009-11-24T15:32:59Z

I blame it on the overwhelming capacity at which I suck in information from all corners of the atmosphere. Or, it could be all of the sugar I consume... whatever the case my lack of focus and scatter-brained tendencies have left me with being really good at a lot of things... but phenomenal at nothing. Let us back up for a moment to allow me to preface this post:

This is not a self-deprecating moment in which I rant and rave about how the world is against me and everyone should feel sorry for lil 'ole me. Not even a little bit. So keep reading...

Being "phenomenal" is clearly relative to an individual's context as to what is good and bad. Some would argue that my lasagna is "phenomenal" - and it's likely because they haven't tasted anything better. However, I have tasted better, so I would rate my lasagna as "damn good... but still needs work". I came to this series of thought because it's the end of the year... and at the end of every year (for the last few years at least) I begin to rethink the focus of my blog. What I really want to do is be the authority on something... just one thing... but I'm having a hard time on figuring out what I know enough about.

I would love to write about travel, but I don't do it nearly enough (nor can I afford to) - so my blog posts would be sparse at best. I love to eat, so I thought about a food blog... but I don't need another reason to indulge myself further in the world of food... if anything, I need to indulge less.

Herein lies my conclusion... I'm good at a lot of things... so I need to continue to write about just that... alot of things. Every last one of them... until the flame burns out.

italy unveiled.

2009-11-20T20:13:23Z

There were very few things I had on my to-do list this summer as I stepped off the plane, onto Italian territory. I was completely open to the experience that was before me, and made a point to refrain from forming "a plan." However... there were three things that were on my list... and I absolutely stood my ground on them. Number 1: do not be a wine racist. No matter the color, or region... don't discriminate. Number 2: do not turn your nose up at any food... even horse. Number 3: (the most important of them all) do not leave this country without something leather.

I managed to accomplish all three, quite successfully. I even ate horse - which, in hindsight, tasted like steak, but made me quite squeamish at the thought of eating a household pet for the rich and famous. The third goal was the most difficult. Because Italy is world-reknowned for their leather - I could not cross back over the Atlantic without something fabulously unique. I hadn't made up in my mind what that special something was (e.g. boots, a jacket, a belt), I just knew that I would know, when I saw it.

It wasn't long before I was staring at my reflection in the mirror in the dressing room, and knew I had found "IT." It was as if God himself took the time to hand-stitch the intricate weavings on the camel-colored beauty that was this blazer-style jacket. I neglected to look at the price tag prior to falling in love, unfortunately - and found myself in negotiations with a very convincing Italian lady (it didn't hurt that she kept calling me an Italian Queen). With the help of my roommates, I managed to get her down to a little less than a mortgage payment, and apparently, that was a 'steal.' While I had never swiped my debit card for anything that expensive in my life, I had to agree... this was truly a one-of-a-kind purchase.

Herein lies my dilemma. Where in the world do I unveil such a one-of-a-kind purchase? It's not something you just throw on to go to the grocery store! The weather is about right here in Atlanta, and I want this jacket to be seen by the masses. After what I paid for it, the whole damn world needs to take a glimpse... but that's besides the point. There are some holiday parties coming up that may make for the right 'unveiling' environment. Had I known that it would have been so hard to find a time and place to where the darn thing... I may have reconsidered the purchase....

...ha, yea right.

playing with fire.

2009-11-18T20:52:15Z

Someone who doesn't know me told me today "you are really cool." When I asked him 'why' - he replied, "because you are talking to someone you don't even know."

.....hmmm.

While i'm not sure I follow his rationalization for what makes me, or anyone else for that matter, 'cool' - it did get me thinking. I realized that as outgoing as I consider myself to be, as open as I am to genuine conversation with strangers, and as much as I love to hear myself talk.... I am completely shy and anti-brave when it comes to social marketing (for my personal business). There are many ironies in this that don't require elaboration, but the biggest irony in my shyness is that I am an account manager at a web design and development agency... and we build social marketing campaigns for businesses. But when it comes to my personal ventures... I'm totally reluctant and shy. It's like playing with fire.

Half of me argues that my shyness comes from the whole 'ignorance is bliss' belief. Because I am in the web business, and I have created social marketing campaigns for a good number of companies, I know it's power. I have seen its successes, and I have seen its failures. It is my lack of ignorance to the topic that has me nervous, and cautious.

The other half of me (yes, I have arguments with myself) argues that my shyness comes from fear of failure. I know that getting up my website will lend credibilty, and printing out my business cards will decrease those awkward moments at networking functions when the question right before the conversation ends is 'do you have a card?' I know that a FaceBook page for my business will keep my friends, current clients, and potential clients in the loop. I also know that people don't forget, and if I start out wrong, it may be a difficult mistake to rectify.

That said, today I entered a brave new world, played with fire, and finally created a FaceBook page for my personal business, Unscriptd. In filling out my profile for Unscriptd, I was asked what year we were founded. I debated this for a whole 5 minutes. This business has been a part of me for years. But it just began to take flight this year... so 2009 it is. Why it took me so long to do... the argument continues... but it's done. One step closer to being socialized.

rule #3: know the game

2009-11-17T19:10:12Z

In my journey to become a better woman, friend, sister, daughter, girl friend, role model and confidant - a recurring theme presides at every stop... and that's "knowing the game."

Growing up, I cheered on the Redskins through their ups and downs (mostly downs) with my father... being none the wiser as to why in the world the 'Skins were THE team, or what in the world they were doing to get all of my fathers admiration. I thought watching the cheerleaders was fun... and half time usually provided some source of enterainment... and the commercials always seemed more interesting during football games. But the nonesense of men beating up men over a ball was simply incomprehensible.

A couple years ago, I discovered the value of understanding football. I used the 2007 NFL / NCAA football season as my reference, and I overloaded my patient boyfriend with tons of questions..... every... single....game. Part of the reason (obviously) was so that I could still spend time with him during the season... but the bigger reason was because the more I knew, the more fascinating it became. I still don't completely get it, but I enjoy watching the games now, I have my personal reasons for a team preference, and I still get to keep my boyfriend during football games.

All jokes aside - there's a bigger theme to this than "great, KP understands football, big deal." The theme is that there is a huge world out there that's open for the taking - you just have to want to take it. With knowledge comes understanding, and with understanding... well... your options are limitless. The more you take the time to know someone, or something, or somewhere - the more appreciation there is to be had. I'm probably just glorifying a cliche we all have heard a million times... but every now and then, we just need a little reminder.

Go Vikings!

groundbreaking.

2009-11-16T21:04:45Z

There is a ceaseless quandary... in my head... but when this quandary is revealed in its meta-physical form, ever so articulately - it provides a mysterious yet enlightening epiphany.

In other words...

I have a dilemma that won't go away. But there are moments where this dilemma presents itself to me in a particular situation or circumstance, and I am provided with more enlightenment than I ever expected.

So why didn't I just say it like that the first go 'round versus trying to sound all smart? Good question - but it was an attempt to further my point [that I haven't gotten to yet]. So what's my dilemma? My dilemma is grounded in the notion that we have to lose ground to make ground. The first time I made my statement - it may have sounded nice to the common poet, but what did it really mean? The second attempt at the statment was me stepping back, and acknowledging that if I choose not to simplify what I just said, I will lose people at the second sentence. So while I may be 'losing ground' in furthering my point (e.g. taking more time to think through a simpler way)... I will certainly make it up in the long run.

I have a complex, like many women do, to want to "fix" everything. I'm relentless, persistent and damn near pushy when it comes to finding resolve in a situation - particularly if its a subject near and dear to my heart. I fear regression, and stagnation - and find myself stressed and anxious when I am at a loss. But sometimes... dare I say most times... stepping back, accepting the loss ground for all that its worth and storing it to the mental post-it note to prepare for forward progression - is the best medicine? I haven't really done a swell job at this in the past... so unfortunately I can't testify on the mountain top with an awe-inspiring success story... but my theory is... I'm on the right track.

I have been told this very same thing, over the course of my life, a good number of times. I just think now, I'm ready to hear it.

keeping me up at night.

2009-11-11T17:33:15Z

I have been on this so-called mission to launch my new business, for... hmmm... a WHOLE YEAR. I started this year with a re-kindled spirit to stop procrastinating on my long sought after vision - and make it work for me. I started conversations with people, but never finished. I started writing my business plan, but never finished. I started and restarted my logo about 22 times... and after 6 months of my own under-whleming design, I finally finished that chapter after a 20 minute intervention with a fellow designer friend.

What I have managed to finish on my own was my chai tea latte (every day), the perfect self-motivational speech that I recite daily, and my quasi-website. So nearly a year later, what do I have to show?

Well, by the grace of God, I have a handful of happy clients who allowed me to craft their vision (though mine was still in progress), a growing portfolio, and... my quasi-website. Lately, I have been working on two weddings that are a week apart next June... so you can imagine the late night conversations I have been having.

That said... i'm done with the frill of a "renewed spirit" or an "invigorated sense of purpose" - it's time to gett'r done... or someone else will.

when it rains.

2009-11-03T02:48:43Z

...there's usually a rainbow.

It may pour... it may be crazy windy, and scary... but at the end of it all - there's usually a rainbow. Ironically enough, not everyone can see the rainbow. Sometimes you have to believe that its there, to see it. Sometimes you have to be looking for it, to see it. But most times, the perfect light, mixed with the perfect angle, and the patience to wait...lends a magnificent sight. It's a perfect metaphor to positive living, I think. We all know the saying, "when it rains, it pours" - but through the thunderstorm - if we can just make it to the end - isn't there something amazing at the end? A burden lifted, an understanding, a learning experience, a sense of relief? But we have to look for it... and we have to be equipped with the right frame of mind, and peace of spirit to see it.

I know, i'm sounding alot like a motivational speaker right now, but it was sitting on my heart - and thought I would share.

peek-a-boo.

2009-10-14T02:13:18Z

While taking my photo journalism course in Italy this summer, I was tasked with doing a series on the "Cats of Cagli." Turns out, stray cats are not only commonplace in this small town, but accepted. Should a cat call your porch their home for the evening - there's a good chance they will get fed as well. Must be nice to be an outlaw yet, so accepted.

This particular feline friend of mine was not a fan of my lens in her face during her feasting hour. All she wanted was a peaceful dinner, no interruptions...

Ah well... she'll get over it.