Happy NEW Year!

So,

Been away for awhile - my New Year's Reso is to focus on what will BUILD ME, GROW ME and HELP ME.... so I'm back on this blog thing to see what I can do with it in the coming year.

Thank you for believing, being so patient and of course, READING what little ol me has to share!

So...............

DRAMA!!!!!!!!!!!

I have NO idea where these writers came from with these "Winter Season" Premieres but OMG! Do you think they could've WARNED US? Or at least given us a chance to replenish our meds - for those of us that NEED them.... for what they clobbered us with this evening?

1st: Desperate Housewives: HF! What one of us did NOT think "what if?" tonight? What one of us did not reflect back and THANK GOD (or whomever) for what we have? AND What we have going forward?!!! Am I the only one that thought this? I thought my heart was going to be ripped out over these - what I thought last December, selfless hussies! I was right there with Susan - when they put "Monica's" fat suit on her, I thought I was going to bust a gut but in retrospect, look about what she thought about, her family and blah, blah, blah! Then there was the whole Gabrielle and Trans-America friend ------ WHO would've thunk THAT one???!!!!! I almost consumed my entire bottle of "Brother's & Sister's Reserve" over that show!

THEN! Did anyone see tonight's episode unfolding like it did?! I love to hate her, even in real life because I didn't like her on 30-something - But Holly sitting there when that Ryan came in....I KNEW his balls were on the chopping block! BUT, I'm sure that Stoic Nora will make everyone forgive and forget his evil doings because he saved Kitty's life!!! And OMG! Can you imagine an more IMPLAUSIBLE and HOAXY relationship than Kitty and Robert??? And the fight with Kevin??? Never judge a book by it's cover! OMG! I never thought I'd be rushing to Walgreen's in the "am" BEFORE work but I need to make sure that I have my antidepressants IN HAND before I walk in and greet the New Year after an evening of heart ache, REFLECTION (in reality) and self, as well as family, reassessment as far as values, contempt and FORGIVENESS! Who woulda thunk that ABC would've and DID in an evening that no therapist, NOR my trip home for the holidays, could've fixed????!!!!!!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Ken & Oliver

Ken's Big Barn Adventure

http://www.muddlake.com/

Still just planning and organizing for the event. 

Meeting with Bob tomorrow to go over the marketing avenues and contacts and getting ready to blow this out of the water! 

This is going to be FUN!!! 

It's a great combo - Ken and Bob! Somewhat an unlikely one but nonetheless, a GOOD ONE! 

Working on a phenomenal one :-) Thanks Bob - you're the best! 

More info on the artists and the event to come. Gotta get back to that planning! It's all in the details people! Details! 

OMG! Where do I begin?!

I have been working on a "Ken event" for the last month. It has finally come to fruition and I couldn't be happier! 

The event is at Mudd Lake  at the end of May. 

May 30 & 31 to be exact. Thank you Bob for this opportunity!!!! 

Bob has let me hand pick TEN artists to be a part of the "Ken Event". 

My artists are: 

1. Westy Caswell Copeland:
2. Linda Thiltgen
3. Todd Waters: Link to come
4. Kathryn Capone Chermak: Link to come
5. Tanya Garvis: 
6. Susan Piazza: 
7. Sue Christiansen:
8. Doug Talalla: 
9. To Be Announced! 
10. To Be announced! 

Here is the event: 

Of course, MORE details are to follow!!!!!  As well as artist's updates and links!!!! 

This IS the LAST weekend in May and should be a great turn out!!! 

If YOU'RE NOT THERE.....well, I don't know .... YOU OUGHT TO BE!!!!! 

THIS is what I have been so excited for! This is our FIRST Bi-Annual event! There will be another come fall and THAT is going to be Spectacular....JUST as the first one is PROMISED to be!!!! 

Stay tuned - there is SO much more to be announced!!!! 

Hope to see everyone there! Stay tuned!!!! 

Ken (and Oliver of course!) 

P.S.

ENJOY! Sorry to have been away for so long! 

Who said: "Do you know how popular I am? I am so popular. Everybody loves me so much at this school."?

So, I guess there's no context as to why I posted what I posted regarding my experiences yesterday at Burnsville High - is some feedback. 

First: I was asked to come to Burnsville High to share my wealth of knowledge on clothing, the basics - such as "wardrobing" and closet organization all based off of the Startrib article that was run back in February. 

Yesterday, I went to Burnsville High to teach two classes. They were "Fashion Studies" classes and they were a riot! 

Who would've thought that "I" would be going BACK to High School???? to TEACH! 

The following is mental interpretation of how I saw the classes, how I saw myself and why it was such a trip. 

I hope this clarifies the context of my writings. 

My motto is: All 80's, All the Time! 

OMG! Going BACK to High School was a total trip today! 

I graduated in 1988....that would make it 22 years ago! (I graduated in 1988 as a member of that class but I left in 1987 to start college...vocational school at that but nonetheless - I was out of there a whole year early!) 

ANYWAY - I thought I had stepped through a time-warp in all seriousness. 

First, I was so nervous Tuesday night, preparing, picking out the "perfect" teacher outfit and thinking of witty ways that I could express what I was trying to get across to teenage girls and ........yes, there was actually a LITTLE ME in the class - I looked at that kid and thought - "Kenny, How brave of you to take a FASHION class in High School!" A kid after my own heart. AND THEN, when he asked me where to find these hole things that you used for lacing a shirt up - I was like - this kid IS ME! For some ODD reason I knew exactly what he was trying to ask me and I told him they were "grommets" and he could get them at JoAnne's or Michael's. You would've thought I pointed him the direction of Mecca! 

So back to B'ville High. 

My god it was like I was living a John Hughs film in REALITY! 

How can I put it visually??? 

This is how I felt! With my cool outfit and knowledge just waiting to pour out of me! 

My outfit was pretty damn cool AND I got to show them how three pairs of glasses can change an outfit along with a simple pocket square! And trying to convey MY themes to them? Glossed over! 

In scanning each class, all I could think of was: 

 +   +   +   +    = Ken's Day in a nut shell! 

I had the delinquents from "Take the Lead" :

Infax, a couple of these girls wanted to know what "my wife" thought of my spending and all of these clothes.... 

I sid: I'm single. I aint got no wife and that's the reason I kin afford my clothes. Umhmmmmm! Snap! 

"Stay in school and become sumthin!" 

Then I thought....for a brief moment that I had a couple gals from:   &    but then I remembered I was at B'ville High, NOT Edina. Times have certainly changed in ol B'ville. Not what it once was.... 

In my first class, I had this girl that as soon as I saw her, I thought: !!!!!!! 

Totally. She even put her head down and rested for a while but then something made her tune in...maybe it was my take on Michelle Obama or my character change with just THREE different pairs of glasses. Regardless, she was awake the rest of the class and I was afraid to keep looking at her because I was so transfixed that I was talking to Ally Sheedy from THe Breakfast Club!!!! I just wanted to be Clarie and teach her "not to put so much black shit on her eyes". 

 - You can't have ANY High School without THESE girls. And of course I loved them and picked them out immediately!!!! Ummhmmmm. Again, needed a little more work than I thought but I totally had these girls pegged in the second class.....irony in that last statement but true. See, I reverted BACK to High School today and I though I was NEVER going to go back!!!! 

 I had to throw this in because I swear this was the kid from the first group - How can escape your high school past? NEVER! 

Then while I was there, I couldn't help but think of these. My ego may have placed me in Ferris Bueller's Day Off but I also quoted it.....why? It just happened. After asking if there were anymore questions I fell into "Bueller, Bueller, anyone" totally went over THEIR heads but the teacher and I got the inside chuckle. So I hit it off with the teacher as well. :-) Always a plus. 

This dude came to mind too....when looking at the wall of teachers - THIS GUY STILL EXISTS!!!!!! Ieewwwwwww. 

Lastly, these are some of the other girls that were in both classes. Take a look at the covers and yup, all of them could be pin pointed out of my classes. It was such a hoot. Who needs to picture people in their underwear - not to mention that it's illegal with high school students - when you've got the entire decade called the 80's?!!!!!!! 



Did I mention that I get to go back???? That was the best part! A FREE CALL BACK!!!! Or would that be a Call back for FREE?! Regardless - it's an outlet to spread my knowledge and permeate the minds of the young and uncorrupted...still WRONG school! Sorry! 

Live! Laugh and have a cocktail! The hard part is over! 

checking in

So, it seems that I have fallen off the face of BlogSpot....one would think over to FaceBook, but sadly not. 

I have not had computer time for either, let alone Twitter. Dropped that the day AFTER I started it. There's just SO much to keep up with now a days. Not to sound like an old fart at the ripe old age of 39 but .......

We don't get FB time at work - nor do I blame my employer for that - hello??? We're they're to work, not socialize and reconnect with all of our "friends" and/or classmates from high school or college. Damn, isn't it fun though? 

After I put in a day's work, where's the TIME to do anything else let alone the computer!? There's always something to do afterwards - well for responsible adults anyway :-) So I've heard AND actually participated in: Childcare pick up, child after school/dinner activities, homework, homes, dogs, kids, chores, groceries, cleaning, play dates, running here, running there and being EVERYWHERE without computer time in mind. 

I don't really LIVE with all of those reasons but I know of them! 

My story? Time waster! Hence, the 12:am hr and I find myself doing my  blog usually around this time. 

Granted, I have Oliver. I drop him off in the morning and pick him up after work. We come home, throw the work bag on the table, grab a diet coke and plop down on the couch and turn on the tube. Oh, did I mention that I also grab my computer so I can check emails, check accounts, pay bills and still never get to my blog or FaceBook?? WHY? 

It's so much fun for me, I GET THAT! But when your day is running out of hours and you desperately need sleep, which wins out? It's obvious that Blogging an FaceBook do for me :-) at least tonight they do. Just not on a regular basis which I'm going to work on getting back to! 

It's my chance to reconnect with so many people - FaceBook has changed my life! It's not only networking, but reconnecting, communicating with and even ADDING new friends with the old. I LOVE IT! 

I also love my blog. It's lost a little of the "informative side" that I had initially intended but I'm getting back there - really. I want to share all of the tid bits that I've learned and continue to learn. 

I cant wait to do so with: "My favorite LOCAL artists", "My Home", "My Glasses", and so much more. 

I love talking/writing and whether anyone is out there and reads these rants and raves - thank you - but the thing I like the best about it is that it's a writing outlet for me - something I so enjoy. I'm writing!!!! That's the best part. That, and I truly think it's the excitement of THAT possibility and the fact that I just think (in my head) that I'm a version - I know this is a stretch-  a little Carrie Bradshaw - here is Mpls, looking out -of my WAY TOO SMALL condo bedroom window - at the city, typing nonsensical gibberish, and thinking (knowing) my life is just as cool as hers and I'm just as happy as she was on the show, if not more so knowing that I'm writing, believing in myself, and I too have some pretty frickin cool friends. I'm creative, I'm talented, I have a lot in me and I'm just beginning to scratch the surface of "knowing" who I am. From what I can see, it's going to be a pretty interesting year :-) It's an evolution and every time I write on my blog, it's an inspiration to me. I reread it and if I smile and get something back from it, I post it. If not, I delete, delete, delete and wait for something to come. Obviously, when I start typing, the words just keep coming. These posts have gotten longer and longer too. That's the A.D.D. of course :-) 

As Betty Davis once said: "Fasten your seatbelts. Its going to be a bumpy night!" 

Happy Late Sunday early Monday! This week is going to FLY by! 

The best thing about today?

Is that it's OVER! OMG, I thought today was never going to end. 

After I blogged last eve, figured out today's outfit, and so forth, one would think I'd be exhausted from the recovery weekend and Nurse Oliver and on and on??? Me too! Nope, once I settled in, took my c's, advils, musinex and decongestant...yup, WIDE EYED staring at the ceiling! Until 5:AM!!!!! I thought I was going to die today! Thank god I had the legitimate excuse of being sick all weekend. Whew. 

So, came home took a small nap and dashed off to Michael's for a little of this and a little of that and PRESTO, GAY-O I have a NEW pair of "Irish Jeans" to wear tomorrow! I have actual "Irish genes" but I wanted JEANS to make the outfit for tomorrow. Just took an old pair of jeans that I dug out of the 100 and some pair, turned 'em over, threw the colors of the Irish flag on them, waiting for those to dry and I'll put the finishing touch on them in the morning - "Kiss me, I'm Irish" grosgrain ribbon down the sides. 

PULEASE! Over the Top? None sense - I'm Irish, I'm a fashionista and I'm GAY! Hello? Who else do you think would be able to pull this off as wearable art - aside from my inspirational Jodi Hills - I just didn't have anything other than "Go Irish" to write and I didn't want that across my butt.....so I just went very "Rothko" with the design. Actually, much more literal, who am I kidding? But still pretty cool for "St Patty's Day Attire" .... plus I have two outfits for the "top" that I can't decide between so I'll take both to work and change into the other at lunch so I can get a wearing out of each :-) 

I'm off to Toast after work. Scott (the owner) is going to make ME something very "Irish" for the occasion. So, I can't wait to report back what that was. He's an amazing cook so I'm sure it will be nothing less than. No green beer though. He said he likes the Irish (he has to - Erin, his wife, IS!) but he draws the line at artificial colorings. I can respect that. I guess I better leave my green food coloring at home that I thought I'd splash into my wine. Oh, fine. I get it. I'm not in Chicago. :-) 

So, with all of that said, fashion dilemmas averted, after work plans in place and transportation home lined up....I only live a half a block away...I bid you adieu this eve of St Patty's. 

Take Care! Be responsible tomorrow and live like you were Irish....I don't know what that means but it sounded profound and it will sound even more profound tomorrow eve. :-) 

See y'all Weds :am at O'Fords! 

Betty will muffins and aspirins for all, along with the usual admissions slips. 

I got it! 

I know what I can write on my jeans....like my mom always told me:  "if it weren't for bad luck, you'd have no luck at all."  Gotta love those words of wisdom that have shaped our lives into what they are today. 

Or my other favorite - but it's more of a Swedish saying - the other half of my genes....there's  a WHOLE new pair of jeans just waiting to be painted!!!!!  

"Out of the mouths of babes and drunkards comes the truth".....can I get an AMEN for that one? 

Ousta La Visa Baby! 

Do I dare say? Thank God it's Sunday???

Hell, I just did! Must be the cold medicine that I was forced to DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO TARGET FOR....yesterday..... and today! :-) Woohoo! Feelin much better! And I owe it all to Target AND Visa! Woohoo!!!!!!! 

Friday totally kicked my A**! Saturday wasn't much better but like I realized in talking to my parents, the only thing for me to do when I get sick is to sleep! I have since childhood and that's how my mom knew I was never faking it. I actually thought my mom was going to volunteer to fly up to take care of me...then Oliver woke me up to go outside! Or to see if I was breathing.... I forget which, but I guess it was all a dream! Or was it....mom coming was anyway :-( 

Feeling MUCH better today. Actually felt better once I got out and got to Target - yes, subconsciously or whatever you want to call it, just pulling into that big parking lot with the bulls eye high in the sky, I knew relief was just a cart and a few aisles away. 

Of course, then I needed this and that and one of these things and being that I was in such a hurry to get Advil and Tylenol, I of course forgot the heating pad so where did I find myself today? Yup, I know I'm on the mend when I'm taking cold medicine to make me coherent enough to get to Target and back!!!!!!! 

So that was the extent of my "weekend", two trips to Target, had to stop into Home Depot being that it's right next door and I needed some potting soil - like that couldn't wait.... does anyone think I got to those plants yesterday or today - I think not. But boy it sure felt good getting something accomplished....I mean stimulating that economy. 

Did we go there today or yesterday??? Who cares, like I said, "Thank God it's Sunday, and I'm not even religious." 

So much for my canine bedside nurse! 

Let me review with you Oliver's version of bedside care: 

1. Let's LAY on the patient's chest so it improves breathing! (not!) 

2. Let's lean in REALLY close and start licking patient's face IF breathing. Yup! He's breathing alright. Licky! Licky Licky! "Just checking patient. You're always asleep so how was I to know?"

3. To ensure that patient is not resting too much, let's push "rat" or "guinea" in his face. He should be up exercising, (aka playing with me!) not all of this sleeping! Please! Sleep is for the weak! (Thank you Nurse Oliver! Sleep is just what "I" had ordered!) 

4. In the midst of all of this "medicinal sleepage" Oliver decides that he now thinks he has to relieve himself and if patient doesn't want him to do so in condo - HE better get patient up....NOW! 

So, what better way to let him know than to walk all over patient's head! then jump down off of resting bed and shout to him! In the highest, most piercing emergency bark possible. 

Oh, good the patient gets up, gets dressed, takes Oliver outside thinking that Oliver really has to go....

at least he PIDDLED outside! Not peed, not tapped a kidney or experienced a laborious bowel movement..... nope, JUST PIDDLED! 

At least Oliver knows how to get patient out of bed next time! You never know when it's going to mean something and Oliver would HATE to ruin patient's hardwood floors with urine SO patient knows that he HAS to listen to Oliver's bathroom pleas......see, being a bedside care giving nurse isn't all that hard after all. If Oliver can do it, so can any of you pets :-) 

Let me know when you're ill, I'll gladly volunteer Oliver's services. 

Did I mention that Nurse Oliver 

5. doesn't allow phone usage in bed either? 

Nope, crawls right up in my face, stands, stretches on my chest, licks my face and as soon as I start to converse, tries to give me mouth to mouth. "Not in this care giving facility Mr Patient and Hell no, not on my dime! You don't want to exercise with "rat" or "guinea" when "I" offered, there will be NO phone then while you're sick either! Two can play this game!" 

Then there's 

6. computer time - not as bad as phone time but let me tell you, he know how to push all the wrong buttons and does. Just walks across the keyboard, or plops right down it, why not, it's warm? 

Luckily, for me, I'm felling somewhat better and I've relieved him of his duties as of this evening. 

He's now sleeping off the hard weekend's work on the pillow next to me. 

After I washed all of the sheets, aired this germ infested residence out and cleaned up...some. I was weak, sweating and in need of a diet coke! Did Oliver go get me one? I don't think so. But when I realized I HAD to go to Target to replenish, did I take Nurse Oliver with me? Hell no :-) I ran for it, and he knew it. 

It was a like a nine alarm when I got off of the elevator when I returned. 

You'd think someone was HURTING a dog in the condo or even worse....nope, just Oliver gathering up the neighbors outside of my condo, gettin' everyone wondering what was going on being that they all knew I was sick to begin with, all weekend and sure as crap, if little Nurse Oliver didn't rouse the troops! For what? just to make sure someone would hear him should SOMETHING happen, I'm sure! That and to let me know that I wont be making a run for it again without taking his canine butt with me and I know that NOW!! .....god love the little revenge artist!  

Did I mention, Thank God it's Sunday? I GET to go back to work tomorrow! 

Chew on that one  Nurse Oliver :-) 

P.S.

 There's still a lot brewin, just a little slower. Didn't get to any of that being that my mind couldn't go anywhere but to sleep. Stay tuned though. You'll see. :-) 

P.S.S.

We had the "Last Supper" for the Good Life on Saturday eve too. Talk about a wrist splitter. I mean, nothing against the gesture of the dinner and Anne's Dad and Stepmom picking up the tab for it - the whole staff....but Anne's dad started it with his "toast" and being that I had done nothing but lye in bed all - ooooohhhh wait, I made it to Target yesterday! That's right! I DID DO something productive! - day and think about the POSSIBILITY of preparing something eloquent to say of course. So after he spoke, everyone got to dry their eyes, I of course, as the BEST MAID/MAN of HONOR EVER and carry the certificate with me at all times! - just simply had to stand to say a few words, which made me cry and then everyone else cry and thank god dinner came right after that! Cry, cry, eat, let's do this one more time! Thank god my cold meds starting wearing off and I had to leave...honestly. I guess another round ensued and that's when Jodi and Deb couldn't take anymore and had to leave too. Really, it's ok. Anne is at a good place with this, we all are. It's not the END of something, well, technically yes it is but she's looking FORWARD to her new beginning and with that each of us have a new beginning ahead of us as well. So anyway, just had to throw that A.D.D. moment in there. It's not a "Ken Writing" without them. 

NOW, I'm done! For today. 

Really, 

THE END! (for Today) 

How do you win getting the last word in when it's just you writing? Who wins? Who gets the last word?! Dang it! 

The End!