tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21821185772094405462024-03-19T22:35:49.540-07:00Hygge HutRandom thoughts on life from the Larson LodgeKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-58620773703776614932014-12-24T09:01:00.005-08:002014-12-30T18:50:52.958-08:00What I learned in 2014I've not been writing here this year, since I've focused all my efforts on my real estate related blog, Katie on Long Beach (<a href="http://www.katieonlongbeach.com/">www.katieonlongbeach.com</a>). However, this is the place for the annual accounting of the knowledge I've gained during the last year. You might not be able to teach this old dog new tricks, but you sure can teach me new things. This has been a year of personal growth, of pain, of triumphs and validation, of challenges I could not have imagined, as well as a year to celebrate successes and changes. "All stages of life are transitional."<br />
<br />
Things I learned in 2014:<br />
<br />
1. The Serenity Prayer works. Try it and keep trying it until you get it.<br />
2. Being a Realtor has little to do with sales, it's about being of service to people in a challenging time and impacting lives in a positive way.<br />
3. It's okay to state what you want and/or need and neither apologize for it nor explain yourself.<br />
4. Handing someone keys to their new home is an awesome feeling.<br />
5. Hosting 10 UCLA students for a dinner taught me our future is in good hands.<br />
6. Watching collegiate level water polo is fun, exciting, and really great when Stanford wins (or UCLA, but only when not playing Stanford).<br />
7. Becoming part of a church community is rewarding, uplifting and comforting. And you get to sing Christmas carols at Advent.<br />
8. Paso wines just keep getting better and sharing with friends is the best.<br />
9. Friendships forged in challenges are sometimes the strongest bonds.<br />
10. A broken heart can mend, although the crack will always show.<br />
11. Sorority sisters are always there for you. Always. Through anything. For decades.<br />
12. Being my own boss means I really am my own boss. I can dress how I want and attend sales meetings or not, work or not. Get paid, or not. It's all up to me. What a concept. Wish I'd learned this one a while ago.<br />
13. Having a good car mechanic is crucial.<br />
14. Having a good therapist rivals having a good mechanic. I am fortunate to have both.<br />
15. Time spent in Hawaii is good for the soul, and the more time in the water, the better.<br />
16. Family isn't always there for you, but they try the best they know how.<br />
17. Admitting I have little control of anything and surrendering to that has been life changing.<br />
18. I prefer my hair a little less blonde.<br />
19. I love my niece and nephew more every day and can't see enough of them.<br />
20. People can be incredibly cruel.<br />
21. People will remember what you did in the '80's and bring it up in mixed company.<br />
22. Mama's Fish House on Maui deserves all the raves.<br />
23. Many people who say they are looking for a house are flakey (but not my clients).<br />
24. Not everyone has the same work ethic or professional standard I do.<br />
25. We still have a magic carpet with my flight benefits, but we should use it more.<br />
26. Cancer sucks. I already knew that, but each time I lose someone to it, I am reminded how insidious it is.<br />
27. Self-care is underrated and so very important: put on your own oxygen mask before helping those around you.<br />
28. Life is a blessing and opportunities to enjoy it and to prosper are everywhere, no matter what challenges arise. Just open your eyes and your heart.<br />
29. Vin Scully is a national treasure.<br />
30. Old age is always about 10-15 years older than you are.<br />
<br />
Wishing you and those you care about a most healthy and prosperous 2015. Seize the day!<br />
<br />
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-70471773934639710852014-01-01T12:03:00.001-08:002014-12-24T09:03:28.981-08:00What I Learned in 2013It's time again for my annual post about what I learned in the year just closing. I'm happy to say that I can still learn something every year - every day - and I hope I am a kinder, gentler person because of it. With tongue firmly in cheek on a few of these and hand to my heart on others, here are some of the things I learned in 2013:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>There is life after United.</li>
<li>Watching those we love grow older and more frail makes me feel helpless. </li>
<li>Buying a real airline ticket to make sure you get on the flight is pretty cool. And miles are earned, too.</li>
<li>Money can change lives and change people, although not always for the better. </li>
<li>Just when I thought I had enough friends, my life expanded to welcome in more. Those I'm talking about know who you are.</li>
<li>I am still good at taking exams, and I'm still the first one done.</li>
<li>People you least suspect can have terrible, hurtful secrets. </li>
<li>At 56 years old I can find a new career and love it with the enthusiasm of someone much younger. </li>
<li>My skills are transferable. </li>
<li>Therapy is a gift.</li>
<li>Real estate sales are far more about customer service than they are sales, which is why I love the new career.</li>
<li>Our capacity to love and forgive is immense.</li>
<li>65 miles is really, really, REALLY far away when it's the distance between you and a 5 year old.</li>
<li>Saying I love you to people you love is important, no matter how much they know it.</li>
<li>A heart can be shattered, but love, time, understanding and attention will usually help mend it. </li>
<li>Some things are worth working on. </li>
<li>Some things are not worth working on. </li>
<li>I can root against the UCLA Bruins when they are playing against my nephew and his Stanford Cardinal team.</li>
<li>Exercise really does help. </li>
<li>Watching a 5 year old learn letters, numbers, concepts and more is the coolest thing. </li>
<li>Traveling with friends can surprise you. </li>
<li>I love to zipline.</li>
<li>Stanford is my 2nd favorite team, except when the Cardinal Men's water polo team is playing UCLA, then they are my favorite. </li>
<li>I despise studying, regardless of subject. Not much has changed there in decades or ever.</li>
<li>Stopping the mind to just be in the moment is very, very hard.</li>
<li>Sometimes a box wine is just fine, although not all box wine is fine.</li>
<li>I don't miss my job at United. Aside from the regular paycheck, that is.</li>
<li>Becoming friends with winery owners is fun and leads to good times with really good people.</li>
<li>I have a vital support system with some incredible friends.</li>
<li>Cancers still sucks.</li>
<li>"The Power of Now" is more like a super power. </li>
<li>I really can't sing, no matter how much I try.</li>
<li>My husband loves to take dance lessons.</li>
<li>Good intentions can be misconstrued and people can accuse you of things you never did, with no way to ever convince them otherwise. </li>
<li>I can survive anything. Well, so far!</li>
</ol>
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-28394955717240141122013-12-09T22:30:00.000-08:002013-12-09T22:33:14.819-08:00JoyThe other day while browsing Facebook I happened on a link to a song a dear friend posted. Appreciating many of this friend's prior posts, I clicked on it and was delighted to listen to "Happy" by Pharrell Williams.<br />
<br />
That song changed my entire mood, although I was not in a bad one to start. It had me moving in my chair, then I started clapping my hands and, finally, I was up out of my chair dancing. What I felt was joy. Pure, unfiltered, unbridled and unrestrained joy.<br />
<br />
When was the last time I had felt that way?<br />
<br />
The last 24 months have been full of challenges: good ones, terrible ones, not great ones, and ones easily overcome. You won't read about those on Facebook, you probably won't hear me speak of them in conversation. The worst part is, in facing those challenges, even those over which I triumphed, I had lost my joy. I'm not saying I wasn't happy, either. Those who know me know I'm generally a very happy person and certainly I have been happy, but joy was elusive.<br />
<br />
<i>Caveat: The exceptions have been moments with my now 5 year old niece. A toddler (and now a youngster) knows pure joy and can give it if you are open to accepting it.</i> <i>I am wide open to accepting her joy and it feeds my soul.</i><br />
<br />
I never stopped working on the challenges to take a break, to maybe even celebrate the victory over them. I don't remember the last time I completely let joy overtake me, that I was able to live in that moment, in only that moment.<br />
<br />
Eckert Tolle's book "The Power of Now" is about living in the moment, so is the concept of "Be here now". However, it's almost impossible to be in the moment with all of our phones, tablets, computers, media and distracted driving pulling at our attention. With the multitasking (or what we think is multitasking, but is really scattered productivity), it's impossible to fully experience one thing and only one thing.<br />
<br />
How much richer could an experience be if it had our full attention? A conversation where we didn't check our phone? A drive where we didn't listen to news? Watching "Homeland" without playing Candy Crush Saga? Enjoying a meal without taking a photo of it to post to a social media site?<br />
<br />
What if we just stopped.<br />
<br />
What if we just stopped and lived in that moment? Would that let joy back in? Would stopping to let the sadness, the gladness, the emotion of the moment wash over us make it better?<br />
<br />
I believe it would. I am actively working to focus on the now. To feel the water over my hands as I wash them. To look up at the sky and see the clouds, feel the breeze. I'm working to not be electronically connected ALL the time, but to be truly connected to the moment.<br />
<br />
I want to again know that joy that "Happy" gave me for that instant. I want to know and experience joy over things more than a song. That means that I want to fully experience grief when it comes, to feel and acknowledge pain when I'm hurt emotionally as only through that do I believe I can heal from these things and move forward into joy.<br />
<br />
Today I will take 10 minutes for me and be only in that moment, not thinking about what is going to happen after that 10 minutes or what happened before it. Only what happens during it. <br />
<br />
And then I'll listen to "Happy" and I believe I'll dance. You can, too. Here's the link, below.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM" target="_blank">Pharrell Williams, "Happy"</a><br />
<br />
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-2586529922794381292013-08-02T10:25:00.000-07:002013-08-02T10:26:00.474-07:00Who Wants a House?Here is the letter I sent out to my "sphere of influence" to announce my career change:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EBP2NFdr7uxk4ZhjWoj_iRc_tcDpvFa9HMPgIxLsrBoKeUNgdBLU-57GOwOsM7nVhGTRa5OlczLk2FCQOePpChLt4cjaVDd4uv-wcCYtZ-zW94_o9vGNlWY9ecF7rIZ-Xd-uN7zBcngq/s1600/IMG_0137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EBP2NFdr7uxk4ZhjWoj_iRc_tcDpvFa9HMPgIxLsrBoKeUNgdBLU-57GOwOsM7nVhGTRa5OlczLk2FCQOePpChLt4cjaVDd4uv-wcCYtZ-zW94_o9vGNlWY9ecF7rIZ-Xd-uN7zBcngq/s200/IMG_0137.JPG" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKTglDHOq2LrrbRyJOKB7KhnVxHhARTP5x8yGKE06mlZIrg3v0zmOwmxmjtB0HD-R9aaSDYD993EHcT4zCtacdfo76B4g9p0J_IGN-p6IjWrYfV-o8tUJ30rcjnSRG3ktqpf11xy7FQF-/s1600/linen+starfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKTglDHOq2LrrbRyJOKB7KhnVxHhARTP5x8yGKE06mlZIrg3v0zmOwmxmjtB0HD-R9aaSDYD993EHcT4zCtacdfo76B4g9p0J_IGN-p6IjWrYfV-o8tUJ30rcjnSRG3ktqpf11xy7FQF-/s200/linen+starfish.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Friends and Family,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hello from the Larson Lodge in Long Beach!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope this letter finds you and your loved
ones well and enjoying the summer of 2013.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Cameron and I are doing great and have some news to share with you about
a big change in our lives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As you might be aware, I retired from United Airlines
earlier this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an opportunity
for an early buyout with retirement benefits of flight privileges and healthcare
for life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sweet!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cameron was fully supportive and encouraging
of the move so we made the leap in February.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was also perfect timing for me, as I was already preparing to return
to an interest I started almost 10 years ago in Illinois:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Real Estate.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, I am now a Realtor!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I initially received my license in Illinois in 2004 and had been meaning
to do the same in California when we moved home in 2005, but my full-time work
took my attention and I put it on the backburner of priorities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is now the center of my focus and has my
full attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m so excited about
this venture and the opportunities to help people with some of their biggest
decisions in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The job and field
are tailor made for my skills, my interests and my passions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In May I affiliated with a phenomenal brokerage here in Long
Beach: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keller Williams Pacific Estates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keller Williams is the #1 real estate company
in the country by agent count.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Pacific Estates location is just under 2 years old, but one of the fastest
growing offices in the country, attracting top talent from other real estate
offices in the area and me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The team is
welcoming, willing to share experiences and the support system is very
strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have already established
valuable relationships with lenders, title reps, inspectors, appraisers and
other team members that are vital to successful transactions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so ready to GO and start making a
difference here!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I will be primarily focusing on the East Long
Beach/Seal Beach/Los Alamitos areas to start, I am ready to help you with
whatever real estate needs you might have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you’re not here in Southern California, I can refer you to agents who
specialize in your area, as I already have an excellent network of trusted
Realtors in many parts of the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
can answer questions for you and I can help point you in the right direction
for things real estate related.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
or someone you know has a real estate license, I’m also happy to take your
referrals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know I’ll take excellent
care of them for you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Enclosed with this letter are two of my business cards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please keep one and pass the other one on to
someone you know who might be able to use my help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might already be in your forever home or
have a really good friend or family member already serving your real estate
needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is great!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re not, or know someone who is looking
to buy or sell, please tell them about me and send them my way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bring the same enthusiasm, integrity, quick
response time, confidence, organization and collaborative approach to this
endeavor that was the foundation of my successes at United Airlines and in my
personal relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To continue my work in the community, I will also be
donating a portion of any earned commissions to local organizations, such as
Pathways to Independence and the Long Beach Basket Brigade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can also work with the buyer or seller to benefit
one of their preferred charities.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thank you for your support these many years and I look
forward to a great future with that continued support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wishing you the best – make it a great day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-38728619842782928562013-05-05T10:56:00.000-07:002013-05-05T10:56:04.307-07:00If you want to be interesting, be interested!Some simple things can be forgotten in the rush of life and all that goes on in a typical day. Having just returned from a great trip to Costa Rica with 7 others and recently chatting with a member of the Millennial generation, one of these simple things was brought home:<br />
<br />
<em><strong>If you want to be interesting to others, you need to be interested in others.</strong></em><br />
<br />
I am guilty of the info dump, focusing on me, me, me and what happened to me, forgetting that the person on whom I am dumping (usually my patient husband) might also have something to share. He routinely calls me during the work day and before he can say much more than hello, I immediately bring him up to date on my day, my conversations, our niece's latest antics, our nephew's water polo schedule, my Facebook news before even letting him tell me WHY he called or asking him how he is. Uh, yeah. I do that.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, if I call someone, I try to start the conversation by asking them if this is a good time to chat and asking them about their day/trip/work/etc. So, I'm not all clueless all the time.<br />
<br />
In the last week we had some fabulous adventures in Costa Rica: ziplining, sport fishing, diving, surfing, spice farm visits, horseback rides, relaxing, nature hikes, animal spotting and more. Not everybody did everything together, so there were times when we wanted to share with each other what WE did. On a few occasions someone would share how their adventure went, regale us with the tales (which each of us loved to hear) and then leave the room, completely forgetting to ask anyone else how their day was and what adventures they had had. Certainly everyone is responsible for speaking up for themselves, but it's nice to be asked, too. It's nice to know someone might be interested in you and what you did.<br />
<br />
In my conversation with a Millennial (those 18-20 somethings), I was hearing really great stuff from them but was never asked about what I was doing or how that week we just spent in Costa Rica went. I volunteered how our week went, then thanked them for inspiring me to write this post. It was a sincere thanks and a good reminder for me.<br />
<br />
Facebook posts an interesting (if you're interested!) dilemma: the primary function is to tell people what YOU are doing, how You are feeling, where You are. It is a product of the Millennials, who tend to be somewhat self-absorbed anyway, but we Boomers just might be the biggest users of the program. If you want someone to care that your cat did something funny, that you had an awesome meal or were at an airport, make sure you check out, comment on or like the posts by your friends and family, too. They posted something for a reason (and not the "I have a headache" or "I'm hungry" type posts - those don't necessarily merit comments), thinking someone - YOU - might be interested. Show them you are and they are more likely to be interested in what you're doing, eating, seeing, hearing.<br />
<br />
Yes, there are times when we MUST get our information out and want to share it right NOW, but if you want someone to be interested in what you have to say, best you ask them how their day/trip/work was, too.<br />
<br />
I promise to try to be better about that with the patient and quiet man I married, too.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jYrXZYqA9JT5jtjP8J9Oo-m_0HaXh443mIA6ctyzXxrpPcdxnvXjqC8msjr8jYMfOg3Nf9vgAWavev-JgDLrAQrsd9NqYpBUvUsn09H-Qu_Pl1ddvHexxRbxT4L9ErrVNwEWA5KycBhyphenhyphen/s1600/DSC_0075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jYrXZYqA9JT5jtjP8J9Oo-m_0HaXh443mIA6ctyzXxrpPcdxnvXjqC8msjr8jYMfOg3Nf9vgAWavev-JgDLrAQrsd9NqYpBUvUsn09H-Qu_Pl1ddvHexxRbxT4L9ErrVNwEWA5KycBhyphenhyphen/s320/DSC_0075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-52105460703956775402013-01-01T21:01:00.001-08:002013-01-01T21:01:44.910-08:00As long as we're talking travel...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">2009:</span></strong> Sydney, Melbourne, Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Vancouver Island, Chicago, Honolulu, San Franciso, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Brisbane, Whitsundays, Dallas, Houston, Sydney (yes, Australia 3 times this year), Chicago: 74,570 miles<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3-7qWMiD4G1zOCWgLOwNr0EyhEoZAiScklKx-udXAQkntdVrXCEAuRZP_lwwWx-e0QyGV67dk1iX0VmEtJaJP9bI3o6pPM_Smw9LZZ23z-G-7iTetktMqdC2Gf-in-VE5Ul10P4h0aM2/s1600/102+Happy+2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3-7qWMiD4G1zOCWgLOwNr0EyhEoZAiScklKx-udXAQkntdVrXCEAuRZP_lwwWx-e0QyGV67dk1iX0VmEtJaJP9bI3o6pPM_Smw9LZZ23z-G-7iTetktMqdC2Gf-in-VE5Ul10P4h0aM2/s320/102+Happy+2009.jpg" width="320" /></a> New Year's Eve/Day on Sydney Harbour</div>
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Jimmy Buffett in Honolulu<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-X29rwUelXQz0G6drOEjk9xYP3bDmXNblVD_ihCS-HV6zaF0yM_kE532W86fivst546jTu026EHw3L24nEG5HfPoldNhvI4-6D98TbVWnUjo-5LnOIW8GD9SQeN_49srOlz1Acv1P8L-/s1600/032+Life+is+a+Buffett+lyric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-X29rwUelXQz0G6drOEjk9xYP3bDmXNblVD_ihCS-HV6zaF0yM_kE532W86fivst546jTu026EHw3L24nEG5HfPoldNhvI4-6D98TbVWnUjo-5LnOIW8GD9SQeN_49srOlz1Acv1P8L-/s320/032+Life+is+a+Buffett+lyric.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3aDIGXGkTOjqVsjceelonxL1Y9R9nOGHkIGPOx2gvSTXbYDi6ruHBU7AreC7sQliVzZorht-oHuEN1MM6DLbBK2zc7EbrrTazL5Y5ImH2qenMFvemE7cJf8xitSI6upENmm9kp3zCQVr/s1600/0105+Aphelion+at+Whitehaven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3aDIGXGkTOjqVsjceelonxL1Y9R9nOGHkIGPOx2gvSTXbYDi6ruHBU7AreC7sQliVzZorht-oHuEN1MM6DLbBK2zc7EbrrTazL5Y5ImH2qenMFvemE7cJf8xitSI6upENmm9kp3zCQVr/s320/0105+Aphelion+at+Whitehaven.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3aDIGXGkTOjqVsjceelonxL1Y9R9nOGHkIGPOx2gvSTXbYDi6ruHBU7AreC7sQliVzZorht-oHuEN1MM6DLbBK2zc7EbrrTazL5Y5ImH2qenMFvemE7cJf8xitSI6upENmm9kp3zCQVr/s1600/0105+Aphelion+at+Whitehaven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</a> Aphelion off Whitehaven Beach, Oz<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">2010:</span></strong> Chicago, Palm Springs, Tucson, Austin, Madrid, Sacramento, Oakland, Seattle, Kauai, Virginia, Austin: 32,869 miles<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LeNkkjIvTCi2f4y4-0uKodlb3EAA-sJerYUGVycTMZvXCp8FVfMCUdTqZ49phEduE2BPKEhWp4vpAAOhTR7yPavlGXPvaEkGAgAfO54TZn7_XeCmW8sHgWF8xJY5JUUF4w3Dw990etJB/s1600/0123+La+Rioja+28Apr10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LeNkkjIvTCi2f4y4-0uKodlb3EAA-sJerYUGVycTMZvXCp8FVfMCUdTqZ49phEduE2BPKEhWp4vpAAOhTR7yPavlGXPvaEkGAgAfO54TZn7_XeCmW8sHgWF8xJY5JUUF4w3Dw990etJB/s320/0123+La+Rioja+28Apr10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LeNkkjIvTCi2f4y4-0uKodlb3EAA-sJerYUGVycTMZvXCp8FVfMCUdTqZ49phEduE2BPKEhWp4vpAAOhTR7yPavlGXPvaEkGAgAfO54TZn7_XeCmW8sHgWF8xJY5JUUF4w3Dw990etJB/s1600/0123+La+Rioja+28Apr10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</a> Rioja region of Spain<br />
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Austin, TX <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53qxxp6MoH_XckHFSpeRmfrc6uR8P_93ohlVJ0MXvyM3051hYlXUaYBUc4RF-86JvB3wTcqzxy6EBlmmvZzlXV_qIV2FQ0y2l1IUBfYPhJyGG2U93hT1F91yY_dpsSWzEIvpAvPPE72PD/s1600/5Dec10+Austin+City+Limits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53qxxp6MoH_XckHFSpeRmfrc6uR8P_93ohlVJ0MXvyM3051hYlXUaYBUc4RF-86JvB3wTcqzxy6EBlmmvZzlXV_qIV2FQ0y2l1IUBfYPhJyGG2U93hT1F91yY_dpsSWzEIvpAvPPE72PD/s320/5Dec10+Austin+City+Limits.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53qxxp6MoH_XckHFSpeRmfrc6uR8P_93ohlVJ0MXvyM3051hYlXUaYBUc4RF-86JvB3wTcqzxy6EBlmmvZzlXV_qIV2FQ0y2l1IUBfYPhJyGG2U93hT1F91yY_dpsSWzEIvpAvPPE72PD/s1600/5Dec10+Austin+City+Limits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div style="text-align: left;">
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</a><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">2011:</span></strong> Sydney, Sacramento, San Francisco, Atlanta, New York, Sacramento, Kona, Chicago, Houston, Jackson Hole, Houston, New York, Israel, Jordan, Austin: 65,613 miles<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxKPAgT6WQ6y4IavOX-ZWmwwfiSg-6LxNPctNemM82vJUSaeeUUWrZuH2-3w2GQrH_xZMEsIPU5xz2XwZbfcRZkkEdYdnzZVZaL_NttT9rw7a6FhiObxF_6rK-oprXM2kffwZdsDqoa22/s1600/042+Buffett+Sydney+sunset+24Jan11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxKPAgT6WQ6y4IavOX-ZWmwwfiSg-6LxNPctNemM82vJUSaeeUUWrZuH2-3w2GQrH_xZMEsIPU5xz2XwZbfcRZkkEdYdnzZVZaL_NttT9rw7a6FhiObxF_6rK-oprXM2kffwZdsDqoa22/s320/042+Buffett+Sydney+sunset+24Jan11.jpg" width="320" /></a> Jimmy Buffett concert in Sydney</div>
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Kayaking in Kona<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwWNqh7cZ7n_sWxTSmj7LD5UsBNfnd5eroIUkd3jRpVpdnZcxPRTU75y9FualkJXepbAsK8G7BcgJ41IW4GBE1lWAaSp6GCsg-m7yLMmAk9JMfZu5qk5pDAtwusc4VHDgplJx41uLBVen/s1600/IMG_5864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwWNqh7cZ7n_sWxTSmj7LD5UsBNfnd5eroIUkd3jRpVpdnZcxPRTU75y9FualkJXepbAsK8G7BcgJ41IW4GBE1lWAaSp6GCsg-m7yLMmAk9JMfZu5qk5pDAtwusc4VHDgplJx41uLBVen/s320/IMG_5864.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Israel<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTd1XqkxQ_blApKtorXMMG8fMRQZEwr80SzGRVqoEOqYYqWokSG_Ffhfn9ANu64cgy-vTz-bayHkH_p7h7TsymCF4R-Rp_E4HMrAujRQbeafoF_ilbYTclVv34ffsPJPx9x0wP7GNBYPe/s1600/Israel+0097+the+Wall+27Oct11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTd1XqkxQ_blApKtorXMMG8fMRQZEwr80SzGRVqoEOqYYqWokSG_Ffhfn9ANu64cgy-vTz-bayHkH_p7h7TsymCF4R-Rp_E4HMrAujRQbeafoF_ilbYTclVv34ffsPJPx9x0wP7GNBYPe/s320/Israel+0097+the+Wall+27Oct11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">2012:</span></strong> San Francisco, Chicaago, Atlanta, (double knee replacements kept me off planes for 3 months), Maui, Houston, Melbourne, Sydney, Jackson Hole, San Francisco, New York, Cedar Rapids, Denmark, Prague, Austin: 60,317 miles<br />
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Denmark with the cousins<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxNZSJrIHPls-MQ_clguQsAuWx5qO-lqZAECRj0cXZuD0lUDk6F-Ue7h-E2Uyb27V6QUpXVfDQV56ZAtWbjYfA64Ljv-vAz5S3cBUmezNXoBEsbKqfjjaslGrB9kM6wb-Z0EeiQTAJl61/s1600/IMG_0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxNZSJrIHPls-MQ_clguQsAuWx5qO-lqZAECRj0cXZuD0lUDk6F-Ue7h-E2Uyb27V6QUpXVfDQV56ZAtWbjYfA64Ljv-vAz5S3cBUmezNXoBEsbKqfjjaslGrB9kM6wb-Z0EeiQTAJl61/s320/IMG_0116.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFwNtNl-6asvHBI09XeKBrqk1zcBT-jKgfzOntN-vyHu4j350srZmdpXQAm7hxzy2YP4z4LBef4BcMVBRHO8J5Ajpw3CzW8HoZWvE_BlOZw0fJvnL1dhEkoGSg7MVAzPhrHCebSuhh8EG/s1600/IMG_0199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFwNtNl-6asvHBI09XeKBrqk1zcBT-jKgfzOntN-vyHu4j350srZmdpXQAm7hxzy2YP4z4LBef4BcMVBRHO8J5Ajpw3CzW8HoZWvE_BlOZw0fJvnL1dhEkoGSg7MVAzPhrHCebSuhh8EG/s320/IMG_0199.JPG" width="320" /></a> Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic</div>
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I could probably rebuild years further back but those are the ones I have in my BlackBerry right now, with all the connections and miles by segment. I didn't count the drives to Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, Big Bear and San Diego. What will 2013 bring? We already have Chicago, Atlanta, San Diego and Costa Rica planned. What else?Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-11199724053607300692012-12-31T17:17:00.002-08:002012-12-31T17:18:19.671-08:00What I learned in 2012I started these posts a couple of years ago and found they're a good way to remind me of the year just ended and to be grateful for each day, as you never know what the next one will bring.<br />
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<span style="background-color: blue;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">What I learned in 2012</span></span></span></i></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: small;">Starting a new year off with friends is always a good idea - thanks, Ray and Becky for your January 1st soiree to set the tone for the year <span style="font-size: small;">with</span> good wine, good friends, good food</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> Insurance companies can be very, very frustrating</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Orthopedic surgeons are rock stars</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Good friends who live far away can always be visited with a plane flight to Atlanta, San Francisco, Chicago or Austin. (And a few other places...)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Our parents are not <span style="font-size: small;">indestructible</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Having two knee replacements at the same time is better than two separate times. (Well, I only did the former, so the latter is <span style="font-size: small;">purely</span> speculation.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Laguna Beach for a weekend with dear friends can feel like a week's vacation</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Turning 55 is great - it opens up opportunities that weren't there a day earlier</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">USC isn't so bad, at least their orthopedic doctors aren't<span style="font-size: small;"> - </span>I love my Trojan knees</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">We live in the best neighborhood, with the best neighbors</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">I was not bored being off work for 6 weeks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Cameron can be a very good caregiver</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Friday assistants make the world go round</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">As proud as I am of my nephew, he continues to do things that make me even more proud. I'll probably burst next year when he graduates high school and starts Stanford.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Some people are just rude and thoughtless, and you can't change them</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Paso wines keep getting better<span style="font-size: small;"> (I'm talking about you Daou, Ecluse, Dark Star...)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Good friends who live far away can always visit us with a plane flight from San Francisco, Sydney, New York, Chicago and Austin</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">You can decide on Monday night to fly to Australia on Tuesday<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> and actually do it</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">There is an ocean called The Southern Ocean. And I've seen it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Pathways continues to inspire me and we keep raising more money through the efforts of the amazing women who are Friends of Pathways.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Watching a 4 year old grow and learn is pure delight and awe. Listening to "Call <span style="font-size: small;">Me Maybe" over and over and over and over and over and over...not so much</span> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Enough is sometimes enough and there comes time to say good-bye</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Being a Bruin on a police escorted bus from DIA to the hotel in Westminster, CO, is really cool!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Cancer sucks and is totally unfair. It can take a vibrant 24 year old with a stellar future and not care about the wreckage left in the wake</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">A city covered in cobblestones (hello, Prague!) is beautiful but you end up with sore feet </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Everyone has their price</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Coming up with 26 random acts of kindness is not easy but it's wonderful to try</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Our parents are not im<span style="font-size: small;">mortal</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who can never repay you." - John Wooden </span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> The very best of the 2013 to you and those <span style="font-size: small;">you hold dear. <span style="font-size: small;">Give them an extra hug when you see them and never leave or end a call without telling them you love them. When we lost Cameron's <span style="font-size: small;">father</span> this month we knew, without question, that the last words we <span style="font-size: small;">exchanged</span> with him were "I love you". It is a comfort. It's also good to hear, even if you know it. If you need practice saying it, start with the person in the mirror.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Happy New Year!</span></span></span><br />
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Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-50680043363018011652012-12-26T16:35:00.001-08:002012-12-26T16:35:19.611-08:00Because of United...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's a time of reflection as the new year stands waiting there, next week, just a few days away. Whether I stop to think about the past or not, 2013 will be here and then it will become the past, too. Time marches on and all that. <br />
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Today I am thinking about all that my employment at United has brought me: a spouse, friends, travels, education, enlightenment, frustration, tears, family time, a good salary, security, health care, a future with a small pension, a 401(k), health benefits and flight benefits for life. It might take me a few posts to highlight them all. Let me reflect on the travel I have done because I have worked for an airline. I'm sure I'll forget some places, there have been so many...<br />
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I grew up traveling, with my first plane flight on American Airlines to El Paso when I was not yet 3 years old. That was followed by family vacations in the station wagon, driving across country to see my grandparents in Virginia and in Iowa (sometimes at their summer home in Minnesota); to see my mother's childhood home in Iowa and my dad's in Arkansas, to see every national and state park we could. I hopped over the border to Mexico and to Canada. I took my first trip to Europe in 1985, followed by one in 1986. I left my job at EF Hutton Life Insurance/1st Capital Life Insurance with a one way ticket to Europe and stayed almost 6 months.<br />
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When I came back I needed a job. What would better suit my wanderlust than a job with an airline? When I started with United, in the Los Angeles reservations office, you had to work for the company for a year before you received flight benefits, but you were given 1 trip prior to that to try the product. I flew to New York City for the very first time with my classmate and friend Claudia Blancett. From there I hopped down to Washington, DC to visit my grandmother in Woodbridge, VA, then home. Just a few months later the rules were changed to only 6 months seniority for the flight benefits and off to Maui I went with Kathi Porter. And then you couldn't stop me.<br />
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New Orleans, Kauai, Honolulu, San Francisco, New York again, Washington again, Maine for shopping, anywhere in New England for snow and foliage, Colorado, Texas, Utah for skiing. Buenos Aires with Carol Dreher and Costa Rica with Marcy Clarke for vacations. France with Peggy, Italy with Jayne. Denmark to see family, England with Teri, Scotland with Laura, Ireland with Troy, cruises with Sharon, John and Keary. I reacquainted with Cameron Larson, a guy from UCLA days, while on a connection in Denver. We started dating and then it was Hawaii, New Orleans, San Francisco, Chicago, London and Paris with Cam.<br />
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In 1998 I took a job with United in Chicago, moving from my beloved San Diego to the Chicago suburbs in January. This job with United Services, my favorite of my UA career, was selling line maintenance services to other airlines. Airlines around the world. This meant 200,000 miles a year in travel, negotiating contracts in Australia, China, Korea, Spain, England, Argentina, Thailand, and other places around the globe. That photo at the top is me sitting in the captain's seat of the British Airways SST Concorde at Heathrow. That's Matt Robinson on the right, to whom I was turning over the BA account when I left that job. My first trip with the United Services job was to China.<br />
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I'll pick up on the next post where I went from there.<br />
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-87435872153397213562012-12-26T14:28:00.001-08:002012-12-26T14:28:28.003-08:00McKennaA draft I found from 2010...<br />
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In a very fortunate life, filled with lots of good stuff, one of my joys is my 28 month old niece McKenna. She is so funny, loving, smart, stubborn and you might get that I am totally in love with her. That's how it just is sometimes. I'm not a mom, but I am a darned good aunt.
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Yesterday, during Thanksgiving festivities at her house, we were running up and down the hall. She would should "RUN, KK! RUN FAST!" and off we would go, faster than I thought I could move this large 53+ year old body, but McKenna can make me do just about anything. On a few of the runs down the very long hallway I would duck into a doorway and wait for her to notice. She would come running back to find me.
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Finally, after the third or fourth time of my ducking out, she ran up to me and said "I love you", and just as my heart was melting, she took off running and called over her shoulder :"RUN, KK!" and off we went.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-9518002747253669672012-12-26T14:26:00.001-08:002012-12-26T14:26:58.298-08:00Vernon Maitland Larson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE0M64RjbQlh-FAcojrxhQZt5sBY2yJya9TzmKR4s7l3aej7IYfHw3fiASI8xMh5yLtHRStMtEQXvsDoDolgv65EwTEVSWkBthLYDajmXlRkwPty7ICOFMDV9YZEXE8xg8uEzcrjRwnJ_v/s1600/168938_1812032310421_4433337_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE0M64RjbQlh-FAcojrxhQZt5sBY2yJya9TzmKR4s7l3aej7IYfHw3fiASI8xMh5yLtHRStMtEQXvsDoDolgv65EwTEVSWkBthLYDajmXlRkwPty7ICOFMDV9YZEXE8xg8uEzcrjRwnJ_v/s320/168938_1812032310421_4433337_n.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My father-in-law, Vern Larson, passed away the morning of December 4, 2012. He was 91 years and 10 months old, in good spirits, good mind and good health. We don't know exactly why he passed or what. We know he went to breakfast that day in his assisted living home, Bradford Square, but he did not go to lunch ad he was found, passed, on the floor in his room. Cameron and his sister, Karen, opted to not have an autopsy done. They didn't see what good it could possibly have done and didn't want to further disturb him or them. I agree with that. 91 years well lived, through much sadness and adventure, did not need that kind of ending.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is the biography of Vern I wrote for the memorial services program:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Born in Little Cedar, IA, to Hans
Larson, owner of a creamery, and his wife, Anna, Vern was one of 5 children and
one of 4 very busy and athletic brothers.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: right 4.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>He attended high school in Riceville
and went on to attend Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, until the winds of war
took him and his brothers to faraway places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While his brothers all served in the Pacific, Vern went to Europe with
the Army Air Forces, being among the first to enter Paris and Berlin after VE
Day.<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>
</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>After the war Vern and his brother
Wendell found sunny Southern California.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They both attended UCLA and Vern’s love of UCLA continued for the rest
of his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vern transferred to UC
Berkeley to finish his Engineering degree and started his career at Factory
Mutual in San Francisco.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also met his
wife, Doris Termes, there.<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>
</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Vern and Doris had two children –
Karen and Cameron.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doris passed away
from cancer in 1961.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The young widower
found love again with Mae Loucks, whom he married in late 1962.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They moved the family to Southern California
in 1964 and eventually settled in Placentia.<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: right 4.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Karen married Frank Bello and had
two children, Christine and Michael.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Frank passed away in 2003.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Cameron married Joanne Whitbread and had two children, Anna and Eric.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cameron divorced in 1990 and married Katie
Kimbell in 1999.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vern delighted in his family
and their successes, and he loved being a grandfather.<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></span></div>
<em>
</em><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Vern retired from Factory Mutual in
1983 and spent many days on the Alta Vista golf course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had two holes in one and shot his age several
times – great accomplishments for a golfer!<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>
</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>We lost Mae in 1998 and Vern again
settled into being a widower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At age 82
Ruth Schroeder walked into Vern’s life and he was like a love smitten
teenager.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ruth and Vern married in 2005,
at age 84.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We lost Ruth in 2009 and Vern
moved into Bradford Square.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He threw
himself into life there, delighting in Bingo games, cribbage, Wii Bowling and
each and every meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are grateful for
the love and care they gave him at Bradford Square.<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>
</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Throughout his life Vern remained
passionate about golf, family and UCLA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With his quick chuckle and twinkling blue eyes he touched lives and made
friends wherever he went.<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here is my eulogy I read at the service on December 10, 2012:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>With his matinee idol mustache, his sparkling blue eyes and
his passion for all things UCLA, I loved my father-in-law, Vern Larson.<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>
<span style="line-height: 150%;">We first met at “The Club”, Alta Vista Country Club in
Placentia, where Vern delighted in playing and in treating his family to Sunday
brunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cam had brought me out to meet
the family for the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vern was
warm and welcoming to me.<o:p></o:p></span></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>
<span style="line-height: 150%;">As my relationship with Cameron deepened, I grew closer to
Vern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grieved alongside him at Mae’s
passing and then was overjoyed at becoming his daughter-in-law.<o:p></o:p></span></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>
<span style="line-height: 150%;">As many of you know, Vern never forgot a birthday or an
anniversary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like clockwork, always in
time, a card would arrive in the mail for us with a sweet note and a generous
gift.<o:p></o:p></span></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>He loved UCLA and what fun we had watching games – like the
USC game with the Farmers – and listening to him talk about the Bruins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as a game would end our phone would
ring and he would be calling Cam to talk about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last one they had a chance to talk about
was this year’s Bruin vitory over the Trojans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thanks, guys, for giving him that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He loved the Bruins so much he named Cameron after a UCLA football
player and his email address was “Bruin 49er”.<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>
<span style="line-height: 150%;">In 1999, shortly after Cameron and I were married, Vern came
out to visit us in Illinois.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a
couple days Cam had to go back to work and I drove Vern from our home to the
annual Larson family reunion in Cresco, Iowa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For more than 5 hours Vern talked and talked, and talked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told me about his growing up in Iowa, about
his brothers, World War II, moving to California and his family with Doris and
Mae.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was given a crash course in the
Larsons and he wanted to make sure I knew everything I should know about my new
family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a Larson now!</span></em></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em></em></span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>
<span style="line-height: 150%;">When we arrived in Iowa that year I had the rare treat of
seeing all four of the Larson brothers together, Harold, David, Vern and
Wendell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That year was the last time
they were all together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also got to
meet all the cousins and really felt like a Larson, afterall I’d had my 5 hour
crash course!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could not have been
happier to have joined this family.</span></em></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em></em></span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>
<span style="line-height: 150%;">Vern’s visits to our Illinois home the week before the Larson
reunion became annual events we looked forward to and we had fun taking him to
Arlington Park for the horse races, cooking for him and just visiting.<o:p></o:p></span></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>After Mae no one expected him to find the love and life he
found with Ruth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their love was tangible
and they were as affectionate as teenagers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She brought Vern to life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those
sparkling blue eyes danced when they looked at Ruth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her vigor, golf game, faith and cooking made
him happy, incredibly happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also
brought him here, to Brea United Methodist Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He and Ruth found love at 82 years old – may
we all be so lucky.<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>
<span style="line-height: 150%;">The last 3 ½ years since Ruth’s passing we’ve watched Vern
make difficult decisions, but he made them independently, with
forethought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He moved into assisted
living at Bradford Square.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave up
golf and he gave up driving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
eventually gave up walking much and just used his scooter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rode that thing around Bradford Square,
down the sidewalk to the drugstore and to our last outing last month at The
Whole Enchilada with Karen, Michael, Christine, Cameron and me.<o:p></o:p></span></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Just as in golf you play it as it lies, Vern played his life
as it lay – working with whatever life threw at him, in sad times and in good
times, with integrity, perseverance and focus.<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>
</em></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>“So, anyhow…” was how Vern segued conversations and “Love
you” was how he ended them.<o:p></o:p></em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>So, anyhow, Vern, love you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And we miss him every day.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXPCqAe7i4j24CeTDer8dgExC_ifR0VhjNDhM_-3p4ieXaByGh23fD42lVVx_aG0LZZIX4eCseiC8V2CDxma5wi3Yx1Phv2DZpVQLbLsbRCzc0LXYc8PG2Qdio2BKOZuUbo-cqht2W_Y7/s1600/Larson+Thanksgiving+2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXPCqAe7i4j24CeTDer8dgExC_ifR0VhjNDhM_-3p4ieXaByGh23fD42lVVx_aG0LZZIX4eCseiC8V2CDxma5wi3Yx1Phv2DZpVQLbLsbRCzc0LXYc8PG2Qdio2BKOZuUbo-cqht2W_Y7/s320/Larson+Thanksgiving+2009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-13339730100601146952012-08-08T22:59:00.000-07:002012-08-08T22:59:19.027-07:00Friends of Pathways Request 2012<h2>
This is my annual letter sent to many friends and family looking for support for the charity that is my passion: Pathways to Independence. I welcome all supporters and donations!</h2>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dearest Family and Friends:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s Pathways season and I’m baaaack!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the 5<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> year I am deeply involved in the annual
Friends of Pathways fundraising event, an annual party held in the Park Estates
section of Long Beach to raise money for Pathways to Independence (PTI).
Yes, that same organization you’ve been seeing in my signature line for the
last few years. There are many, many fine charities, causes and
organizations out there to support; many focus on finding cures and treatments
for diseases, education, helping children who are sick or starving, helping the
homeless, the helpless and the deserving. I have gladly written checks
over the years and most of my money was channeled toward health issues (MS
Society, City of Hope, American Cancer Society, Team in Training, etc.).
It was when Cam and I attended this event ourselves, as guests, in 2007, that I
was finally moved to action, to do more than write a check.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">PTI serves the Orange County and Long Beach area and it has
grown now to 42 women in the program with over 260 graduates. PTI
provides housing, healthcare, educational costs, car repair, psychological services
and mentoring to young women who come from the most horrific backgrounds and
who have been living below the poverty level. These women, who come from
all ethnic backgrounds, commit to attending school full time with the goal of a
B.A./B.S., they commit to working part time, to keeping up with their
healthcare (dentist, eye doctor, general doctor visits), seeing a psychologist
once a week and working with a mentor. Over 100 medical professionals
donate their services and they are joined by auto mechanics and other service
providers in a network of 300+ volunteers who support Pathways to
Independence. Some of their stories are told in a book that came out last
year titled “Butterfly Tears”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While not everyone makes it through the program, the success
rate at PTI is over 80%. Pathways graduates are now teachers, attorneys,
social workers, nurses, in medical school and are changing our world as we
helped them change theirs. More than 90% of every dollar raised go right
back to the program. This event raises one third of the annual budget for
Pathways. Last year we raised $320,000 net for PTI. Stop and think
about that amount of money. It’s really overwhelming and it’s all pulled
together from May to the event in October by a group of women, like me, who are
passionate about this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is the 16<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> year of the Friends of Pathways
event, started by 4 women who wanted to keep PTI from closing its doors.
Three of these women, Lisa Mais, Gayle Wright and Johnna Bryant, still head up
the event. I’ve worked on the auction committee the last 4 events,
running the silent auction tent for the past 3. Cam started volunteering
at the events in 2009. This year I stepped up to the steering committee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>So</b>, let me tell you that I know you are asked
frequently to give and that you can’t say yes to everyone. I respect and
honor that. If you’re at all interested, I encourage you to check out the
website below and maybe to pick up the book about PTI, “Butterfly Tears”.
It’s available on the PTI website, the book website below, on Amazon or by
Kindle. Proceeds of the sale go back to PTI. <b><i><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">If I’ve peaked your interest a
bit more than that, I have some options for you to consider, and these can even
be combined!</span></i><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Attend our event “Rockin’ Memphis in the Park” on Saturday,
October 6th. The cost is $100 per person ($75 tax deductible) and
includes food from </span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">31</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Long Beach/OC area fine restaurants, beer, wine, soda and water, dancing,
FABULOUS silent and live auctions. We’ll have rock-n-roll music from
The Hodads all evening long as we stroll a street in Park Estates that’s
been turned into Memphis, complete with Graceland and Beale Street. <u>As
this event sells out every year we are expanding the event to 500 people
for the first time this year. We still expect a sellout, so buy your
tickets <b>NOW</b> at <a href="http://www.pathwaystoindependence.org/"><span style="color: blue;">www.pathwaystoindependence.org</span></a>
.</u><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Buy some
raffle tickets.</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
$100 buys you 12 tickets, $25 for 3 or I’ll even sell you 1 for $10.
The Grand Prize is a trip to anywhere, with a credit for $3,500 to plan a
trip with Surf City Travel. 2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup> prize is $1,000 and 3<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup>
prize is an iPad 2. Send me a check (made out to Friends of
Pathways) and I’ll get you in the raffle and send you the stubs. I
have sold the Grand Prize winning ticket 2 of the last 4 years, so I’m a
lucky person to buy them from!<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ol>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<ol start="3" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Purchase a sponsorship. It starts at just $500 and gets you some advertising. More money gets you more exposure, tickets and reserved tables. (Contact me for specifics)<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ol>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<ol start="4" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Donate an item we can put in our silent auction.
If you have something from your business, contacts, a week in a vacation
home, something you bought and would like to donate, please let me
know. Our event is known for having the best silent auction around,
with most items and baskets starting at a $100 value. Our live auctions
items are exciting, too! <o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ol>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Send in a donation through the web address below or
send me a check made out to Friends of Pathways. <o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<ol start="6" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b><span style="color: #0f243e; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">JUST
WISH US LUCK WITH THE EVENT!</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <b>You mean so much to me that I wanted to share
this passion with you, but I’m happy if you just give me your well wishes
and save your dollars for something that moves you as much as this does
me, something about which you are passionate. It doesn’t matter
where we do good, just do good.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></li>
</ol>
Thanks for reading and thanks for supporting me, in whatever way is best for you.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-90595942919358197612012-06-22T22:07:00.000-07:002012-06-22T22:10:35.528-07:0050 and Fabulous (redux)<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<h2>
</h2>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"> First posted January 31, 2010, I just reread this entry below and, at 55, it seems to bear a repost... (and if you're looking for the Jen Lancaster post it's the next one down) </span></div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://hyggehut.blogspot.com/2010/01/50-and-fabulous.html">50 and fabulous</a>
</h3>
<div class="post-header">
</div>
A dear friend of mine turned 50 on Friday and I was trying to tell her
how great it is to be in your 50's. Now, for those youngsters out there
still in their 40's, it's not that I don't wish I were younger
(thinner, richer, healthier, prettier, funnier), but there is something
so freeing about hitting the big 5-0.<br />
<br />
Like, you no longer have to wonder if that cute young guy is looking at you. He isn't. Unless you remind him of his mom.<br />
<br />
You
know you're not ever going to the Olympics as anything other than a
spectator, so you can stop worrying about when to start training.<br />
<br />
What you're going to be when you grow up has already been decided.<br />
<br />
You know what you like, you often know what you want and sometimes you remember both of those.<br />
<br />
Sometimes you get the seat because you're the oldest one around.<br />
<br />
You
don't really care what others think any more because you have
confidence and experience. You know who you are and if others don't
like it, well... You still might want to change out of the slippers when
you leave the house. Or not.<br />
<br />
The President of the United States
is younger than you are. I don't know that that is a good thing about
being in your 50's, but it's a fact. Like when you realized that Miss
America was younger than you...that the NFL football players were all
younger than you...then you realized that you could be the mother of
Miss America or an NFL football player. But not the POTUS. <br />
<br />
Not yet, anyway.<br />
<br />
(And still not yet, regardless of who wins the election this year.)Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-83839551786510823722012-06-22T12:36:00.000-07:002012-06-22T12:59:44.687-07:00Social Media ExperimentOne of my favorite authors, Jen Lancaster (<a href="http://www.jennsylvania.com/">www.jennsylvania.com</a>), is doing a social media experiment, asking folks to post, blog, tweet about her and/or her work. Okay, Jen, here ya go and this is probably overdue, anyway:<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A couple years ago I joined my friend Gloria, her husband
and some friends for a few days in Hawaii.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I asked Gloria about the book she was reading with the intriguing title, "Such a Pretty
Fat", and she told me about one of her favorite authors, Jen Lancaster,
and that she reads one of her books for fun every year when she goes to Hawaii.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Having just finished a serious novel ("Cutting for Stone" by Abraham Verghese, which I loved), I was
looking for a little lighter reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
Googled Jen Lancaster (doesn't everyone do a background check on an author before you read?), read up a little, got caught up in her blog and discovered she writes memoirs where
the action mostly takes place in my old home of Chicago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I downloaded "Bitter is the New
Black" to my Kindle and was instantly smitten.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although not quite a decade older, I could relate to some of the stories and certainly the terrain. No, I'm not snarky or the mean girl to my colleagues, but
I secretly enjoyed the thought of having the nerve to unleash one at one of my accounts, at just the
perfect opportunity. I did it vicariously through Jen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I couldn't get enough of Jen's sarcasm, her wit and her
humor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband would get annoyed when
I'd open the Kindle in bed, "Going to bed with Jen again?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My guffaws would be louder than my husband's
snoring; my snickers while reading in the doctor's office would turn heads, and
I became a citizen of Jennsylvania.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
caught up on all of her books (because I always read my authors in the order their books are published) just as "If You Were Here" came out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I had to wait a whole year before the
latest one, "Jeneration X" came out. Just like when I caught up with "Weeds", "24" and "Dexter as new seasons started and had to wait another week to watch Jack Bauer save the world. Hate. to. wait.</span><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, I had a secret weapon - if I can't Read Ms. Lancaster, then I'll read what she recommends! That's how I came to read a non-fiction book about cells: "The
Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
So, then I had to "like" her page on Facebook, keep up with her blog and I have her autograph on a bookplate for "Jeneration X" stuck to my Kindle cover. <span style="font-family: Calibri;">I find myself talking about the Jen Lancaster books to
my friends, especially my Chicago area friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I even prescribe her books to
friends going through tumultuous times. The ol' laughter is the best medicine thingy.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I shipped off "Bitter is the New Black and
"Bright Lights Big Ass" to a friend (who had lived in Chicago) who
was going through marital strife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just
bought "Bitter is the New Black" for a friend in a mid-life
crisis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really, if you can laugh - and I dare you not to as you make your way from Bitter to Bright Lights to Pretty (x2) to Lazy and to her first novel before landing at Jeneration - it will
give you some respite from the crap we all go through. If we can laugh with Jen
and Jen's faults, foibles and fun, then we know we will be fine, too.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks, Jen, for being there when we need you. Good luck with your social media experiment and please come to Long Beach/Orange County on your next book tour.</span><br />
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-18814551262655277242012-05-06T16:35:00.001-07:002012-05-06T16:36:50.059-07:00I'll be your friend, except when it's uncomfortable or inconvenientIllness, tragedy and medical matters can each bring out the worst and the very best in friends. Heck, in family. Many people just don't know what to do or say when someone they know and may even love is going through one of these events. If they ignore it, then maybe they can just act as though it didn't happen, or no one told them about it, the next time they see the person. They dont have to worry that they might do or say the wrong thing. It's all about their comfort level. Right? Wrong.<br />
<br />
I learned, not early enough, that ignoring the event or loss is the worst possible thing you can do. A family member was killed in a terrible and tragic circumstance when I was in my early 30's. Her family was embraced by the community, by relatives and friends from across the globe; the outpouring of love was overwhelming. Even so, her mother told me how much it hurt to not hear from friends, including those she considered very close friends. I was someone who had ignored losses and medical situations in the past. I didn't want to say the wrong thing, I didn't know what to say, I would pretend like I didn't know. That made <i>me</i> feel better. I told her that and asked "Well, what if I say the wrong thing?". She told me "Saying nothing is the wrong thing." From that day forward I have made a conscious effort to acknowledge losses and illnesses of close friends, of aquaintances, of clients.<br />
<br />
It was after a recent surgery when some of this was brought to mind again. Certainly my circumstances were not tragic and I was not ill, but I did go through a major operation and spent 5 days in the hospital, 6 weeks out of work. I was amazed and humbled at the outpouring of good wishes from friends, family, co-workers and clients. And equally amazed by the silence from others. I received cards from people I speak to once a year or only interact with on Facebook. They actually took the time to buy (or make) a card, write it out and put a $.45 stamp on it. Calls and emails came in, Facebook posts were made, people visited. A friend drove down from the Bay area to spend 4 days taking care of me, knowing I was housebound and not able to do much for myself. It all helped and really did make me feel better. It even made me want to work at recovery for them, to not let them down, as they were cheering for me. I am so appreciative of the time and efforts spent to let me know they had thought of me, that they had taken the time to reach out and let me know.<br />
<br />
The silence from others? Hurtful in some cases, curious in others. I wonder if the ones I didn't hear from were in the same place I was so long ago. Were they afraid to say the wrong thing? Not certain what to say? Too much time had gone by? <br />
<br />
The next time something happens to someone you know, whether it's a tragic loss or an unexpected illness; a cosmetic surgery or the surgery of someone close to them - say <i>something</i>. Let them know you're aware they are going through a situation that causes pain, be it emotional, physical or both. That little comment, that reaching out to let them know that you know and you care? It makes a difference and it helps them. It's about being kind.<br />
<br />
"Saying nothing is the wrong thing."Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-85298365684017766712011-12-30T21:44:00.000-08:002011-12-30T22:11:20.803-08:00What I learned in 2011Each year, for the past couple of years, I've looked back to see what insights I have gained over the last 12 months. Every day and situation is certainly a learning opportunity; it's up to me what I choose to do with it. Here are a few things I believe I've learned or had reinforced this year:<br /><br />Giving and kind acts beget more giving and kind acts.<br /><br />Sitting court-side in Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open finals is very, very cool.<br /><br />A great Buffett concert in a world landmark is worth flying 14 hours in Coach - and back 13 hours in 1st Class. Over a weekend.<br /><br />Spending time with our Danish relatives makes the world that much smaller. And that much better.<br /><br />There just might be a Jimmy Buffett lyric for every situation.<br /><br />Good health and being pain-free can never be overrated.<br /><br />If you don't A.S.K., you don't G.E.T when it comes to fundraising.<br /><br />Stove top popcorn is still the best.<br /><br />My family and friends are amazingly generous of time, spirit, love and resources.<br /><br />Spending time with a 3 year old expands your imagination and makes you laugh a lot.<br /><br />I love watching my nephew play water polo and win championships.<br /><br />Being a good patient really does lead to faster recovery - do what the doctor says.<br /><br />My husband is very, very funny and very sweet (okay, I knew that already).<br /><br />Pathways to Independence has taken root in my heart.<br /><br />Traveling in the Middle East is easier than it sounds and absolutely fascinating.<br /><br />A Jeroboam isn't so hard to open.<br /><br />FaceBook remains an excellent way to stay in touch, communicate and expand charitable works.<br /><br />Paso Robles wine continues to impress, from Ecluse to Daou and I love going there, sharing it with friends.<br /><br />Cancer is not fair. It can strike an otherwise healthy, active, hiking and ice-dancing 76 year old and a lively, brilliant, bungee jumping, world traveling, 23 year old engineering student.<br /><br />Winning awards is fun, especially when an iPad and a free vacation is included.<br /><br />Adding fiber to your diet is important.<br /><br />Not everything that happens needs to be posted on Facebook.<br /><br />Friday assistants are important.<br /><br />Always take the Bear Valley cutoff, don't go straight on the 18 to the 15. Ever.<br /><br />John's Burgers has the best turkey burgers and Carino's in La Jolla is still the best (standard) pizza on the planet.<br /><br />Love is a 3 year old in your arms who just melts into you.<br /><br />10 years later, my memories of 9/11 can still bring me to tears.<br /><br />There is always more to do.<br /><br />We live close enough to the beach to hear the fog horns (that's what I'm hearing as I type).<br /><br />Flossing daily is a good habit to get in to.<br /><br />A grateful heart is a happy heart.<br /><br />Being kind is always the best choice.<br /><br />I am blessed, but that's another one I already knew...<br /><br />Bring on 2012, I'm ready to learn more!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-24865086975852280552011-12-08T18:49:00.000-08:002011-12-08T18:57:56.377-08:00A Year in the Life 2011This is our holiday letter for the year, although with the overexposure on Facebook they are hardly needed anymore. Nevertheless, for those technically challenged or who just haven't had enough of the Larsons this year, here's the recap:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">A Year in the Life 2011: Cameron and Katie Larson</span><br /><br />Yes, even though we’re on Facebook and email, I’m still writing one of these letters. They are probably destined for a museum, but if you will indulge me, I’ll write this one and see where we are a year from now. Didn’t I say that last year?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">January:</span> The height of indulgence here – we fly to Sydney, Australia, to see Jimmy Buffett perform (for the 25th and 35th times) at the Sydney Opera House, introducing friends Peter and Elizabeth Horscroft to the Parrothead lifestyle. An amazing trip and concert. We also hosted Danish cousin Steffen and his friend Taus on their week stopover between New Zealand and Denmark.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">February</span>: Cameron gears up for a big project at work and one of us turns 54. We take in a Lakers game, with a UA customer. Cam’s dad celebrates his 90th birthday.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">March:</span> A trip to Atlanta for Katie to visit Stephanie Fager and a knee surgery. We demolish the hall bathroom. Niece McKenna Kimbell gets into the groove of spending Fridays with Aunt KK as her Friday assistant. Katie interviews for her job as United and Continental move closer in their merger and combine sales forces.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">April:</span> We celebrate 12 years of marriage with a Segway tour on the beach and a boat load of friends enjoying fine wine together. Katie gets in a quick work trip to New York and Cam is an integral part of the Gas Co. work on a Public Utilities Commission report. Katie signs on with the ‘new’ UA to continue her job. The family joins us at the Larson Lodge for Easter.<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">May:</span> Vacation? Please! 4 days on the Big Island of Hawaii with a magical night time scuba dive with manta rays. The month ends with the United sales conference and Katie winning “Outstanding Sales Achievement” award which includes a trophy, extra vacation days, a vacation (flights and hotel) and an iPad.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">June:</span> Cam gets some golf in, work on our 2nd bathroom remodel continues. Jayne Schultz comes to visit and our house gets tented. Summer water polo season starts for Jackson.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">July:</span> Katie gears up for Pathways to Independence fundraiser work and makes a quick trip to Jackson, WY, to visit a new account. Hall bath completed after 4 months of work. We attend a few Dodger games (Dug Out Club) with United and Cameron hits his mid-50’s.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">August:</span> “Friday assistant”/niece McKenna turns 3 and the Danes are back again – Elin and Bjarne come to visit for a week and we celebrate cousin Dave Alpert’s 60th and Alperts’ 35th wedding anniversary with a party. Daughter Anna turns 26, living and working in the Washington, D.C. area; niece Christine is 30 and Katie heads back to Houston for more training with the new UA in 100+ degree weather. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">September:</span> Jackson turns 17 and high school water polo season starts. My dad is 79, still in good health. We escort UA customers to the Women’s Final of the US Open –courtside! - and we are in NYC for the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Another Emmy Nominee reception where I ask ‘Claire Dunphy’ to please hand me a napkin. Stephanie Fager comes to visit and we take her to Paso Robles to celebrate her 50th birthday and enjoy the wine.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">October:</span> My mom turns 76 and the Pathways to Independence fundraiser raises $310K – the most ever. Son Eric turns 23 years old, living in Rochester, NY. We celebrate the engagement of cousin Darin and his bride-to-be, Alex, then Cameron and I embark on an amazing trip to Israel which included Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Eilat, scuba diving in Egypt and a day in Petra, Jordan. And 500+ photos to go through.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">November:</span> The big event this month was Jackson and his Wilson High water polo team winning the Division 2 CIF Championship. Very exciting and we’re all so proud of his achievements as he also maintains a 4.0+ GPA. Talented, smart and good looking – like his aunt. We attended a couple winning UCLA Bruin football games, as well as Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Kappa and Rieber Hall reunions. Debra Gurriere visited on her way to and from the Sigma Kappa reunion in Palm Springs.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">December:</span> For the second year we started the month with a trip to Austin to visit Jayne Schultz and Christian Wildfeuer. Jackson is awarded CIF Player of the Year, the highest athletic honor in high school sports. We host a customer at a UCLA basketball game one day, followed by hosting another the next day at the San Diego- Buffalo NFL football game. The 5th annual Holiday Hygge event is held at the Larson Lodge. We celebrate Christmas, again, in Long Beach, Orange, Placentia, San Dimas and Big Bear. <br /><br />We look forward to an exciting 2012, with hopes for good health, good travels and good times with family and friends. <br />Cameron and I wish you all a healthy, happy, and love-filled 2012. See you on Facebook (Cameron Alan Larson and Katie Kimbell Larson) or emailKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-88254572346812881002011-09-09T20:19:00.000-07:002011-09-09T20:34:14.206-07:00A Day Like Any Other, 10 years ago<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDnJ-kXStl27jAt6_018Zfn2Uiybb7_dRfLgKNjWur1d1eO6uN9G6UrhhAJZRwsQZaIWyhkEWKx-0Vx0PxHPo1Y3zigZhjU8rDudlH8FwdEYS0U3824rIfyKxoSwPr0p2a5NIqKpmOI5U/s1600/A%2526K.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDnJ-kXStl27jAt6_018Zfn2Uiybb7_dRfLgKNjWur1d1eO6uN9G6UrhhAJZRwsQZaIWyhkEWKx-0Vx0PxHPo1Y3zigZhjU8rDudlH8FwdEYS0U3824rIfyKxoSwPr0p2a5NIqKpmOI5U/s200/A%2526K.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650568067177113218" /></a><br />I wrote this entry last September 11th and Brian Grigory asked if I would post it again. I had been thinking about it, but wasn't sure. Brian's comment had me pull it up again and revisit. Now that I read it again, another year past and tears still falling, I shall post.<br /><br />Strangely, I will be in New York City on the 10th anniversary of September 11th. I don't know if I'll go to Ground Zero. There is a lot going on that day, including escorting customers to the rescheduled Women's Final of the US Open, the whole reason we're going to New York this weekend. I might get to see Allison, daughter of Kristin White Gould, while we're there. I hope so. <br /><br />September 11, 2001, changed me. I think it made me a kinder person, a more giving person; I think it made me focus on what's important in life and what is just stuff. No, I don't get it right all the time - I still screw up - but I know that day changed me, through the horror and tragedy, a little bit to the good.<br /><br />*****************************<br />It was a Tuesday morning and I was facilitating a class on Applied Behavioral Science - teaching supervisors of flight attendants how to get the best performance from their teams. We had supervisors from Boston, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco with us.<br /><br />We were covering a section on managing through irregular operations when someone threw open the classroom door and excitedly blurted out, "Two planes have hit the World Trade Center!" The class turned expectantly to me, thinking this was part of the exercise in dealing with the unexpected. I was confused.<br /><br />"Come!" the person said, "It's on the TV!" My co-facilitator and I agreed that we wouldn't be able to continue until we sorted this out, so we all filed out, hushed and excited voices hubbubbing about what it could be. We gathered around the TV set in the lounge area of the training center. Then a buzz started somewhere..."it's one of ours"...."it could be one of ours..." "what if it's one of ours???"<br /><br />A manager came around the corner and went straight to the supervisor from Boston. UA175 from Boston was confirmed as one of the planes. These were HER flight attendants on board, her friends, our colleagues. She was led away, arrangements to be made to get her to Boston as soon as possible.<br /><br />I left the group and went up to the 8th floor of the building, where the managers were. We were all part of the emergency response team and needed to decide who would go where, and when. One facilitator was pacing around, shouting out gibberish about pulling people back into class, using this as a real-life experience in dealing with the unexpected. He was new to the airlines. He didn't understand.<br /><br />I decided to drive to our Chicago Reservations office, the emergency response team's headquarters in case of... I found a couple other people downstairs who were headed there and off we went. Once there, there was controlled anxiety and we were assigned rooms. "Go into that classroom and sit. We will be with you as soon as possible."<br /><br />The room I was assigned was where I would spend the next 10 days, in 12 hour shifts once we got through that first day, which was endless. I was in the room assigned to 'handle' Flight 93, which was missing at the time we first went into the room. A director came into the room and confirmed that UA93 had gone down in a field in western Pennsylvania. She had the manifest and they went row by row, assigning us names of passengers. Crew members were being handled by a team from Onboard Service, by those who knew and worked with them.<br /><br />"Katie, you have Mark Bingham. He was on a companion pass, so we have some information on him. We'll get that to you." Ziad Jarrah and Ahmed Haznawi were assigned, as well. Lauren Grandcolas, Todd Beamer, Nicole Miller, Honor Waino, ...We ran out of people in the room and I was also assigned Kristin White Gould.<br /><br />We only had names, so we waited. We talked in quiet tones, we shared where we were, what we knew, what we had seen. The room was full of United colleagues, most of whom I'd not met before. We were all there for the same reason. We were going to reach out to the families to tell them that their loved ones were on UA93, that they were gone.<br /><br />I don't talk about this day, nor the 9 that followed it. I know I was a completely different person when I walked out of that room around midnight on September 11th than I was when I got up that morning. Perhaps I should have taken a picture of who I was that morning to see if she resembled the woman I was that night.<br /><br />The next 9 days consisted of phone calls with the Bingham and Gould families. My contact with the Binghams was Mark's mother and aunt, both UA flight attendants. Mark had been on his aunt's companion passes. Mark was one of the team who rushed the cockpit and brought down the plane. When I called Mark's mother to tell her he was on the plane, she told me she knew - he had called her. Others were hearing similar stories and that's when we found out about the phone calls, the actions, the heroes of flight 93. Those of us who had passengers who made the calls heard heartbreaking tales from their families.<br /><br />Kristin's daughter Allison and I spoke daily, several times a day. I had to ask her detailed questions to, hopefully, identify her mother's body or, in truth, what we might find. We requested DNA evidence from the families - hair dumped out of a shaver, a toothbrush, a hair brush...<br /><br />Coming to work every day for those 12 hours was living in an alternate universe. The office is right next to O'Hare and there were no airplanes in the sky. My world was helping Allison, helping Mark's mother, father, step-mother, boyfriend and the man who drove him to the airport that morning. Giving them information, getting information, setting up funeral arrangements and just talking with them through this nightmare.<br /><br />I keep a folder on that time and I haven't opened it in a few years until now. There is a card written by Allison the day after her mother's memorial service, September 29, 2001. Cameron and I flew out for the service and to meet the family I had come to know over the phone.<br /><br />"I pray God gives you the strength not to dwell on this horrible accident. You have touched every last member of my family. You've been our guardian angel with a soft feather mattress that cushions us and has softened the blow through these past three weeks." <br /><br />In the last 9 years Allison and I have stayed in touched, we've visited each other a couple of times, but time goes by. She doesn't know she was my guardian angel and we helped each other. That's the two of us in my FaceBook profile photo, taken on a trip we did to San Francisco. I call her every September 11th, as well.<br /><br />I didn't think I could cry over this any more. I was wrong.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfcjSYvdYJ13tVsepY9T-X8t9bYB2m8-u_eHB3N3Whmq6iRAg__COrxU355922N4uXFVyGwCROwsfNImsAjoxFm0xjAWnqlJMVA0j9xiAwevJAoPk6e2ej3yU9qmsjLbyvz-hWIpV3F_k/s1600/Flight+93+memorial.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfcjSYvdYJ13tVsepY9T-X8t9bYB2m8-u_eHB3N3Whmq6iRAg__COrxU355922N4uXFVyGwCROwsfNImsAjoxFm0xjAWnqlJMVA0j9xiAwevJAoPk6e2ej3yU9qmsjLbyvz-hWIpV3F_k/s200/Flight+93+memorial.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650568898319947874" /></a>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-47542453348833729232011-01-30T21:33:00.000-08:002011-02-05T15:12:54.408-08:00Life Really is a Buffett Lyric Part 1<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDaK-XXdCjw8-IWme3jZH-HMu5xRN4MVhtww5lrp3ZSZ7SQZrmoUMAbLzTa_bJf4UJ6JY5SkkJUtM5yrzfG3KYeUrSjL7d5HpQ6OgqZI02PtR561fyCAF8pj2b_mFXKfZItc0pA4BqtTlo/s1600/004+Buffett+at+Park+Hyatt.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDaK-XXdCjw8-IWme3jZH-HMu5xRN4MVhtww5lrp3ZSZ7SQZrmoUMAbLzTa_bJf4UJ6JY5SkkJUtM5yrzfG3KYeUrSjL7d5HpQ6OgqZI02PtR561fyCAF8pj2b_mFXKfZItc0pA4BqtTlo/s320/004+Buffett+at+Park+Hyatt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570347326091416994" /></a><br /><strong>"Changes in latitude, changes in attitude..."</strong><br />I'll start by saying I am lucky. I am blessed. I am fortunate. I've made [mostly] good choices in life. Let me tell you about last weekend...<br /><br />Friday Janauary 21st we both worked a full day, we fixed a little dinner and then packed our suitcases. We were heading out to Oz that evening. The flight had looked promising two weeks ago, with 1st or Business Class assured. It had fallen apart this week and we packed for coach, if we got on at all - Cam took his pillow and I threw in a Snuggie, eye shades, ear plugs and some Tylenol PM.<br /><br />Arriving about 90 minutes before flight we relaxed in the International First Class Lounge. I send lots of customers up there and we got to try the product out and give some feedback to the manager (thanks Shelley and Ruby!). Ruby was working the lounge and told us it looked very bad to get on the flight, that we were not likely to get out tonight. In my head I was going through the schedule to Hawaii the next morning, as we'd packed tropical clothes... <br /><br /><strong>"Still six thousand miles away from where I'd really rather be"</strong><br />At the gate, 30 minutes before departure, we could see there were 4 seats left on the flight, in coach, and we were #2-3 on the list. Ruby came to tell us the 4 seats would be going out empty, as there were weight restrictions (typical this time of year). 22 years of flying stand-by have taught me you *never* leave the gate until the airplane pushes back. <br /><br /><br />Good things don't always come to those who wait, but tonight they did. "Larson, party of 2" was called and we were given seats 45J and 33J, middle seats but exit rows at aircraft doors, so about 4 feet of leg room in front of us. The flight is scheduled at 14 hours and 35 minutes. We made it to Sydney in 13 hours and 20 minutes and I slept at least 7 of those hours. No photos were taken, but I'm sure I was the envy of all in coach with my UCLA snuggie, my high-end eye shades and my ear plugs. When I awoke the woman next to me started and said "I thought you were dead!" Why, thank you, I did have a nice sleep! Cam fared almost as well in his seat with his pillow from our bed.<br /><br /><strong>"The weather is here"</strong><br />Coming out of Customs about 10 minutes after we got off the plane, we looked around for our friend Peter who said he might pick us up if we weren't in too early. As we were in more than an hour early, we didn't see him. A quick stop at the ATM and we turned toward the train into the city. I stopped Cam and said let's take one more look around for Peter and there he was!<br /><br />Peter and wife Elizabeth had just returned from 2 weeks in Tahiti the day before. He drove us to our hotel, where it was to early to get in. We decided to stop for a coffee while we waited for Elizabeth to get up and stopped in the Park Hyatt. Enjoying a beautiful flat white, the first since I was last in Sydney in November 2009, I looked up to see a familiar man walking in the restaurant. It was Jimmy Buffett.<br /><br /><strong>"I heard I was in town"</strong><br />Spending so much of my job protecting celebrities from fans and paparazzi and looking like we'd just gotten off a 14 hour flight, I wasn't about to go over. But Peter did!<br /><br />Peter went over to tell Mr. Buffett that Cameron and I had just flown in to see his concert the next night and that we were going back on Tuesday. That we were seeing Jimmy for the 25th (Cameron) and 35th (me) time. Yes, indeed, we had flown to Sydney for the Jimmy Buffett concert at the Sydney Opera House.<br /><br />Mr. Buffett was gracious, explained that he was doing an interview and would be over to say hello once he was done. Elizabeth joined us a few minutes later and we sat as long as we could, but left before Mr. Buffett finished his interview. Yes, we are fans. Big fans who have seen him in California, Washington, Illinois, Wisconsin, Colorado and Hawaii. Big fans who just flew halfway around the planet to see him, but we are not stalkers. No, we are not. Nope. Just one little photo with the BlackBerry camera and the satisfaction of knowing we had made the journey and been rewarded with good friends, a flat white and sharing the restaurant with Jimmy.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-62239759518777077802011-01-02T19:29:00.000-08:002011-01-02T20:26:19.451-08:00What I learned in 2010Last year I posted a note on Facebook titled "What I learned in 2009". I'm taking a look back today to see what I learned in 2010:<br /><br />Dancing with a two year old is good for anything that ails you.<br /><br />It's okay to not give to every charity that asks and not have to explain nor feel guilty about it.<br /><br />My husband is my best friend, as well as my lover, my partner, my roommate, my co-chef, co-host, confidante, sounding board, reality check and one of the funniest people I know.<br /><br />Spending more time on your BlackBerry/iPhone/Droid/computer than talking with the ones you're physically with is, actually, quite rude.<br /><br />Sometimes love isn't enough and we have to know when to stop trying and let go.<br /><br />Texting only at stop lights and during slow traffic still isn't a good idea.<br /><br />Clients are clients 100% of the time and only really, truly friends about 1% of the time.<br /><br />Skype is a great way to keep friends and family close, and I should use it more.<br /><br />There is a heck of a lot of nothing between Tucson and Austin.<br /><br />I can learn current music by watching "Glee".<br /><br />Traveling with other couples and sharing a house can be really fun, especially when cooking and wine pairing are involved.<br /><br />Giving our elite flyers free domestic upgrades has altered where I sit in the airplane.<br /><br />I am only 13.5 months away from the senior discount at the Edwards Cinema. (WTH?@$%#%#@!)<br /><br />Apologizing, no matter whose fault it is, doesn't make me weak; it's not saying it that does.<br /><br />Wine touring and tasting continue to fascinate me, whether it's in Spain, Paso or a new wine at the Larson Lodge.<br /><br />There is still room for new friends in my life (Lora, Liz, Greg, Pat, Larry, Holly, Libby...).<br /><br />A merger is a scary thing, no matter how much you're told it's a good thing. It very well may be a great thing, but it's still scary.<br /><br />I am really good at organizing a project and making it successful.<br /><br />A good fitting bra cannot be underestimated nor overrated.<br /><br />Our parents are aging and they can be fragile; we need to keep them close and let them know how much we love and appreciate them.<br /><br />Traveling with friends is not always a good idea.<br /><br />I can watch "Finding Nemo" four times in one day if a two year old asks me to.<br /><br />Watching a high school water polo team lose a big game can make me cry and my heart ache.<br /><br />My family, on the whole, is pretty great.<br /><br />Every day, no matter what happens, I am blessed and so amazingly lucky.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-74090274255758133992010-10-30T18:50:00.000-07:002010-10-30T19:31:01.207-07:00I don't understand...Today, at the Rose Bowl, I was standing behind a very pretty young woman who was wearing a tank top and carrying a cute baby. Her tank top allowed me to see that her entire back and neck and most of one arm had been tattooed. I didn't understand.<br /><br />That led my mind to wander to what else I don't understand....<br /><br />I don't understand:<br /><br />Ketchup on scrambled eggs.<br />Saying, let alone believing "9/11 was an inside job".<br />Pants belted around the bottom of your butt.<br />55 MPH speed limit on the freeway. <br />Negative political ads - can't you just tell me why I should vote for you without telling me why I shouldn't vote for the other candidate?<br />Not returning/acknowledging phone or email messages.<br />Stiletto heels.<br />Snooki.<br />Holding a grudge. Life is too short and you just might end up being really, really sorry.<br />Wanting to look excessively younger.<br />Gangsta rap (the kind with mysogynistic and cop-killing lyrics).<br />Twitter.<br />When people use "LOL" on everything they write. Everything.<br />Hate journalism.<br />Hating anyone/any group, but I understand hating liver.<br />Random violence.<br />Targeted violence.<br />Violence.<br />Why our friends moved to Texas and Georgia.<br />That day-glow orange sauce they put on 'nachos' at ballparks and theaters.<br />How putting logos all over something makes it 'designer' and expensive.<br />Margarine.<br />Chinese. Literally, I don't speak or understand it.<br />Not being able to or not wanting to cook, ever.<br />Not being the best you can be at least 90% of the time. Okay, 80%.<br />Celebrating another's failure. (Unless it's a USC loss, but hey...)<br />Making blanket assumptions based on race, religion or any other differentiating factor.<br />Gloria Allred.<br />Sashimi.<br />Why Cameron snores every night, no matter what position he's in.<br /><br />There are far more things I don't understand, but that's enough for now. Maybe next I'll tell you what I do understand. I wonder which list would be longer?Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-44254905013092935812010-09-11T07:49:00.000-07:002010-09-11T09:04:33.852-07:00A day like any otherIt was a Tuesday morning and I was facilitating a class on Applied Behavioral Science - teaching supervisors of flight attendants how to get the best performance from their teams. We had supervisors from Boston, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco with us.<br /><br />We were covering a section on managing through irregular operations when someone threw open the classroom door and excitedly blurted out, "Two planes have hit the World Trade Center!" The class turned expectantly to me, thinking this was part of the exercise in dealing with the unexpected. I was confused.<br /><br />"Come!" the person said, "It's on the TV!" My co-facilitator and I agreed that we wouldn't be able to continue until we sorted this out, so we all filed out, hushed and excited voices hubbubbing about what it could be. We gathered around the TV set in the lounge area of the training center. Then a buzz started somewhere..."it's one of ours"...."it could be one of ours..." "what if it's one of ours???"<br /><br />A manager came around the corner and went straight to the supervisor from Boston. UA175 from Boston was confirmed as one of the planes. These were HER flight attendants on board, her friends, our colleagues. She was led away, arangements to be made to get her to Boston as soon as possible.<br /><br />I left the group and went up to the 8th floor of the building, where the managers were. We were all part of the emergency response team and needed to decide who would go where, and when. One facilitator was pacing around, shouting out gibberish about pulling people back into class, using this as a real-life experience in dealing with the unexpected. He was new to the airlines. He didn't understand.<br /><br />I decided to drive to our Chicago Reservations office, the emergency response team's headquarters in case of... I found a couple other people downstairs who were headed there and off we went. Once there, there was controlled anxiety and we were assigned rooms. "Go into that classroom and sit. We will be with you as soon as possible."<br /><br />The room I was assigned was where I would spend the next 10 days, in 12 hour shifts once we got through that first day, which was endless. I was in the room assigned to 'handle' Flight 93, which was missing at the time we first went into the room. A director came into the room and confirmed that UA93 had gone down in a field in western Pennsylvania. She had the manifest and they went row by row, assigning us names of passengers. Crew members were being handled by a team from Onboard Service, by those who knew and worked with them.<br /><br />"Katie, you have Mark Bingham. He was on a companion pass, so we have some information on him. We'll get that to you." Ziad Jarrah and Ahmed Haznawi were assigned, as well. Lauren Grandcolas, Todd Beamer, Nicole Miller, Honor Waino, ...We ran out of people in the room and I was also assigned Kristin White Gould.<br /><br />We only had names, so we waited. We talked in quiet tones, we shared where we were, what we knew, what we had seen. The room was full of United colleagues, most of whom I'd not met before. We were all there for the same reason. We were going to reach out to the families to tell them that their loved ones were on UA93, that they were gone.<br /><br />I don't talk about this day, nor the 9 that followed it. I know I was a completely different person when I walked out of that room around midnight on September 11th than I was when I got up that morning. Perhaps I should have taken a picture of who I was that morning to see if she resembled the woman I was that night.<br /><br />The next 9 days consisted of phone calls with the Bingham and Gould family. My contact with the Binghams was Mark's mother and aunt, both UA flight attendants. Mark had been on his aunt's companion passes. Mark was one of the team who rushed the cockpit and brought down the plane. When I called Mark's mother to tell her he was on the plane, she told me she knew - he had called her. Other's were hearing similar stories and that's when we found out about the phone calls, the actions, the heroes of flight 93. Those of us who had passengers who made the calls heard heartbreaking tales from their families.<br /><br />Kristin's daughter Allison and I spoke daily, several times a day. I had to ask her detailed questions to, hopefully, identify her mother's body or, in truth, what we might find. We requested DNA evidence from the families - hair dumped out of a shaver, a toothbrush, a hair brush...<br /><br />Coming to work every day for those 12 hours was living in an alternate universe. The office is right next to O'Hare and there were no airplanes in the sky. My world was helping Allison, helping Mark's mother, father, step-mother, boyfriend and the man who drove him to the airport that morning. Giving them information, getting information, setting up funeral arrangements and just talking with them through this nightmare.<br /><br />I keep a folder on that time and I haven't opened it in a few years until now. There is a card written by Allison the day after her mother's memorial service, September 29, 2001. Cameron and I flew out for the service and to meet the family I had come to know over the phone.<br /><br />"I pray God gives you the strength not to dwell on this horrible acident. You have touched every last member of my family. You've been our guardian angel with a soft feather mattress that cushions us and has softened the blow through these past three weeks." <br /><br />In the last 9 years Allison and I have stayed in touched, we've visited each other a couple of times, but time goes by. She doesn't know she was my guradian angel and we helped each other. That's the two of us in my Facebook profile photo, taken on a trip we did to San Francisco. I call her every September 11th, as well.<br /><br />I didn't think I could cry over this any more. I was wrong.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-81698272946325784862010-03-13T09:42:00.000-08:002010-03-13T11:22:19.465-08:00What I really meant was (Part II)My job isn't rocket science, I don't save lives, I don't contribute toward world peace or solve world hunger. I do delight some customers and travel agents, though, and I do add to the bottom line of my airline. Mostly I keep my management team happy, too.<br /><br />And United, on the whole, when I get past the trite and annoying stuff that is part of almost any job, has been good to me. Very good to me. It has changed my life.<br /><br />Because of United, I was in the Denver airport that day in May 1991 when I ran into Cameron Larson after 12 years. Because of United, I was able to fly often to LAX to start and keep the relationship going. We dated long distance Fresno to LA, San Diego to LA, San Diego to Detroit, Detroit to Chicago. UA helped keep us going.<br /><br />Because of United I reunited with Cam and we married and life is good.<br /><br />Because of United I have flown First Class to London on BA, to Tokyo on JAL, Business Class to Copenhagen on SAS, Business Class to Brussels on City Bird. I've flown First or Business Class on United to Paris, Buenos Aires, Osaka, Sydney, London, Frankfurt, Milan, Melbourne, Montevideo, Hong Kong, Geneva, Dusseldorf, Bangkok, Jamaica and many domestic destinations.<br /><br />I could go into what I was able to do at those destinations: scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef, sail the Whitsundays, drink wine in Argentina, whitewater rafting in Costa Rica, see family in Denmark, but that would be several more posts...<br /><br />Because of United I have seen much of the world and will continue to see more and life is good.<br /><br />Because of United I have flown in the cockpit of a DC-10 freighter out of Anchorage, over glaciers, past Denali and into Chicago. I have sat in the cockpit of the Concorde at the BA hanger in Heathrow. <br /><br />Because of United I have been the only caucasian female in a room full of Chinese men in Beijing, negotiating a contract on maintenance services for Air China at UA staffed airports. I have toured aircraft maintenance facilities in Mallorca, Taiwan, Uruguay, San Francisco. I have been the United representative to international conferences on Line Maintenance in Bangkok and Vancouver.<br /><br />I have coached senior leadership in divisions that were new to me and had them value my opinion. They have made changes based on my input. I have presented to the CEO, Chairman of the Board, President, numerous officers and management on how to make the airline better. I have had a hand in saving UA $20 million following the dark times of 9/11.<br /><br />I worked with two families of passengers who were lost on UA93 on September 11, 2001 in a field in Western Pennsylvania. I shared their grief and for 10 days I was their connection. I don't talk about that much, but it has profoundly impacted me and I am probably better becasue of that experience.<br /><br />Because of United I have lived in LA, Fresno, San Diego and the Chicago suburbs, and I have been able to see my family every year at Christmas. <br /><br />Because of United I spent a week on Maui, a long weekend in New York, 5 days in Sydney, and ridden the Eastern Orient Express through Southeast Asia, all expenses paid.<br /><br />I have survived the elimination of my job twice and landed each time in a great gig. I have made life long friends who enrich my life daily. I have someone on an airplane right now coming to visit, because of United.<br /><br />I have spent 21 years 3 months and 15 days as a proud UA employee.<br /><br />What I really meant to say was thank you United for supporting me and giving me incredible opportunities. Life is good.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-4859062535342965602010-02-26T21:21:00.000-08:002010-02-26T22:14:48.991-08:00What I really meant wasI work for United Airlines and I am a Key Account Manager. I have an assigned account base, worth about $90 million in annual revenue to United. I have two corporate accounts and I have seven travel agencies (some with mulitple branches) whom I see every two weeks, once a month or once every six weeks, depending on the size of the account and what works best for them. Oh, travel agencies are now called Travel Management Companies (TMCs), FYI. Now I can use that lingo later on in this post. <br /><br />You with me?<br /><br />On my calls (known as customer meetings or sales calls or account visits) to TMCs I either make a presentation to a group of agents about what the latest news is with United (#1 on-time in 2009, new routes, B777 conversion to new lie-flat Business Class seats, etc.) and how their account is performing on their expected sales targets or I walk around the TMC and talk to agents individually about their accounts, help with seat assignments, upgrade space, refund issues, pricing questions, etc. In some accounts I do both. I'm usually in an account anywhere from an hour to 4 hours a visit.<br /><br />Still with me?<br /><br />The agents are in their twenties, with just a couple of years experience up to an agent who is 93. Really. Most are wonderfully respectful and knowledgeable and kind and appreciative. Some are not the sharpest pencil in the box. Or they're one card short of a deck. Pick your cliche', I know them, I call on them. For those of you who are professional and polite, this is not about you. For those of you who aren't all that, well you won't read this anyway. = ]<br /><br />Here are some things I wish I could say, but I never will. Except here.<br /><br />To those cackling agents who think it's funny to say "Are you going to charge to go to the bathroom on the plane?", it might have been funny when I first heard it 10 years ago, but not so funny the zillionth time. No, that's not an exaggeration, I've made a tick mark for everytime I've heard that. <br /><br />When I'm trying to answer your dumb questions about charging for blankets (that's the other guy) stop interrupting me and thinking it's hilarious when you yell out "but you don't clean your blankets" and when I assure you that not only do we clean them, but we then seal them in plastic to assure cleanliness, it's not a gigglefest when you say, "but you don't clean them, you just put them in plastic".<br /><br />Don't ask me what the fare is. You're the travel agent.<br /><br />Don't ask me how to get help on another airline because that rep won't answer your calls. I don't work for that airline. Don't sell them if they can't help you. You want my help? Sell United. I'll help you.<br /><br />Please don't threaten me with selling another airline if I don't do what you unrealistically demand ("I'll just sell brand X if you won't give me a free upgrade on this $150 fare to New York") because I will call your bluff. Or dial the phone for you. I don't care if the other guy gives it away, I don't.<br /><br />I know we outsource, I know your feelings about it, I've been hearing it for years, so why do you act like no one's ever told me? And our sales support agents aren't in India, they're in the Philippines. Yes, they both have accents, no they are not the same. I use the same folks for my support, so don't tell me they can't speak or understand English. They understand me fine. And we record their calls, so if you tell me a story about how terrible they are, I will ask you for the details of the call and advise you we will listen to it so we can instruct the agent how to better handle a call. What? Never mind, you say...??<br /><br />If I tell you a flight is full in First Class and that I can't clear an upgrade, I'm telling you the truth. Saying "but I never ask for anything" or "but this is a really important client to me" doesn't make someone suddenly disappear off the plane to give your passenger the seat. Really. I tried, I told you the truth.<br /><br />I was called a "vendor" this week. I wasn't referred to by name but by "vendor". As in "oh, there's a vendor out in the lobby". It kind of took the wind out of my sails that this office I'd been visiting for almost two years, for whom I've done a lot of work and made exceptions and waivers and answered emails at 11:00 p.m. and on weekends... I'm just a vendor and nothing I do makes a difference.<br /><br />But it does to many. "You rock" and "thank you" and "I appreciate it" and "wow! that's great!" are heard more often than the other and that makes me keeping coming back for more. I have made great friends and have so much respect for many in this industry that I shouldn't let the dim bulbs and poor business people get me down.<br /><br />What I really meant was "Thanks for your support of United."Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-32521244530554886112010-01-31T19:50:00.000-08:002010-01-31T20:02:43.500-08:0050 and fabulousA dear friend of mine turned 50 on Friday and I was trying to tell her how great it is to be in your 50's. Now, for those youngsters out there still in their 40's, it's not that I don't wish I were younger (thinner, richer, healthier, prettier, funnier), but there is something so freeing about hitting the big 5-0.<br /><br />Like, you no longer have to wonder if that cute young guy is looking at you. He isn't. Unless you remind him of his mom.<br /><br />You know you're not ever going to the Olympics as anything other than a spectator, so you can stop worrying about when to start training.<br /><br />What you're going to be when you grow up has already been decided.<br /><br />You know what you like, you often know what you want and sometimes you remember both of those.<br /><br />Sometimes you get the seat because you're the oldest one around.<br /><br />You don't really care what others think any more because you have confidence and experience. You know who you are and if others don't like it, well... You still might want to change out of the slippers when you leave the house. Or not.<br /><br />The President of the United States is younger than you are. I don't know that that is a good thing about being in your 50's, but it's a fact. Like when you realized that Miss America was younger than you...that the NFL football players were all younger than you...then you realized that you could be the mother of Miss America or an NFL football player. But not the POTUS. <br /><br />Not yet, anyway.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182118577209440546.post-28711102824505293692010-01-10T11:36:00.000-08:002010-01-10T11:54:13.136-08:00Queen Anne vs CraftsmanAt two of the charity events I attended last year, I was the highest bidder for interior design consultations. One was for an initial consultation and one for three hours. We all think we have good taste, but I'm woman enough to admit I need help and to know my stuff doesn't really go together. I'm also frugal enough to try and get advice for cheap.<br /><br />I had the "initial" consultation on Friday. It was enlightening, as I've never dabbled in professional decorating advice before. (You might note that it's obvious...) The designer, Mickey, wisely did not come in and tell me that my mish-mosh (it's "our" mish-mosh, but stay with me) of stuff sucked and had to go. Her approach isn't to clean out a room and have you start from scratch (unless you have a gazillion $$), but to work with what you have and advise on spacial planning and accessories. Cool, I can work with that, my ego still intact.<br /><br />She didn't even speak unkindly about the Craftsman style rocker with the tropical print next to the Queen Anne style cherry wood coffee table and the rustic cedar chest. I like Mickey.<br /><br />I love our media room and it is mostly my creation, done while Cameron was away on a business trip a couple years ago. Mickey gently told me that the shiny pillows really didn't go with the texture of the couch and that brocade drapes don't work with tropical print pillows and that blue in the UA print on the wall (which I love) only matched my heating pad and dust rag that were out.<br /><br />Yikes. But she did it nicely. I still like Mickey. We turned the coffee table, took down the drapes and removed the shiny pillows. Not bad. I'm seeing some improvement. Oh, and removed the UA print. Not happy about that, but I'll figure that out. I get the point.<br /><br />Before she ended the iniital consultation, the cherry wood coffee table and end tables were out, the living room rearranged and the cedar chest became the coffee table. I can already see the benefit of my "free" advice. I'm thinking about hiring Mickey for a few more hours of advice.<br /><br />But, first I need to use the other three hours from another designer. Oh, no, what if she tells me I need broacade drapes and shiny pillows?<br /><br />Stay tuned.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12537584960474419928noreply@blogger.com2