Sunday, May 29, 2016

Karen's Kanvas: Where is, The Inspiration? Drafting Outlines

As I sit here drinking my coffee, I’m attempting to draft an outline for my next Toast Masters speech,

Will this goal I reach?

At the moment, I would rather be on the beach,

Watching the waves, feeling the ocean air &   the sand between my toes,

I wish, this outline I could compose,

I know, it won’t happen if I’m writing   some form of poetry instead,

I did begin,but got writers block, so, then, I was led,

To Creativity Avenue, hoping the inspiration I will find,

The topics are there, the words in my mind,

I know the goal that I want to obtain and the objective of this particular speech,

There is a purpose of each,

Speech we do present at our Toast masters Meetings,

But for some reason, help I’m needing.

 

Speech 2 is organizing your speech it does not matter the subject of the presentation,

Could be on work, school, a favorite vacation,

Your interests, hobbies, or a topic related to Current Events and News,

It’s whatever, you, the presentor, choose.

 

It just needs to demonstrate organization, cohesiveness and needs to flow,

Fluidity, and could be something   that is compelling,

Perhaps, a product   that one wants to be selling?

Or about a subject that he or she wants to inform, communicate or inspire,

 

Hope I drafted soon and not wait, till I’m under the wire

 

Where do I start? What do I do?,

The Outline, today, it, I want to be through,

As I said, the ideas are there,

But somehow, on the paper I need to share,

I have writers block for this task,

Come on! God, Help me, that’s all I ask,

Help me, to help myself    finish    this soon, so I can have time to rehearse,

And hopefully, I won’t be as nervous, as I was, presenting the first.

 

The two subjects are:  about my job or on Guide dogs,

Maybe, my experience I will blog?

I am not presenting till June twenty two,

Seems like a lot of time, but I have lots of other things to do,

Between now & then, Work, ACB stuff and begin to think about what to pack for convention,

That, I did not mention,

I will another time, another day,

Time is of Essence   as they say,

, Procrastination is the thief of time,

Now, I need to work on this outline of mine.

 

Sunday, May 01, 2016

Karen's Kanvas: Painting the Picture, A Colorful Canvas

Dear Readers:

 

 

Plese look at the post I sent onWednesday April 27 before you read this.  It will make much more sense.  Thank you, Enjoy!

 

 

  Earlier in the week I wrote a blog post but the picture wasn’t very clear,

I did not paint an accurate image of my world, but will here.

 

Today I will set things straight,

Life as a teen was not at all great,

But there was some good times, not all, bad

Thanks to my Sisters, Mom and my Dad.

 

There were lots of bad times but mostly just at school,

I was not at all popular, a dorke, a freak, definitely, not cool,

I was not in the in crowd,    a scholar or a Homecoming Queen,

I was a shy, antisocial, teen. 

 

As said, I was bullied every day, I did not handle it well,

I turned inward, like a turtle, did not come out of my shell.

 

I felt isolated, alone and like I couldn’t relate,

I only had 1 or 2 friends, and I did not at all date ,

Till   College.   Then, more people accepted me,

It did not matter as much then, that I had low vision, could not see. 

 

In 5th grade, Mrs.  McKeon help build your confidence and your self- esteem,

Believed in all her students, strengthened our character, and enabled us to find our hobbies and our dreams. 

I wish there were more teachers like her out there!

She was wonderful, amazing and truly did care.

 

As a Teenager, Most days were partly cloudy, there were rain clouds.   But also rainbows and sun,

My family was loving, caring and we had fun. 

 

My Parents taught us Values, manners, and helped with homework that was due,

We played cards, Board games   like Scrabble and clue,

Monopoly, had pillow fights and interesting discussions at the table

Played basketball, softball, did not have cable. 

 

We sat as a family at meals, talked about school, played games and had conversation,

Went to Kennebunkport Maine many summers for Vacation. 

 

Dad   played trivia with us and tested our Memory and skill, see how many we would each get right,

He would ask us questions from National Geographic, 60 Minutes and Wild Kingdom that was on Sunday night

 

Also as a teen   I learned how to skateboard, ice skate, and downhill ski and was in the choir   ,

In 1980   had my first job in Cincinnati, Kings Island Amusement Park, me, they did hire,

I babysat, went to Rock Concerts, was a crossing guard and had a pen pal   that lived far away,

So, these fond memories, I still remember today. 

 

Red books,   Beverly Clearly, the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew   and Harlequin   Romances,

Went to home Football games, went to school dances,

Wanted to be a Cheerleader, watched Mary Beth play in the Marching Band,

Climbed trees, played kick the can and did cartwheels in the sand,

Was in Vocal Ensemble, musicals,    and played Flute in the Concert Band. 

 

At the Amusement park, I worked in food Service   where the younger kids liked to go,

I grilled foot long hot   dogs, made cotton candy and drinks I did pour,

Went on picnics, swam and went to the shore. 

 

My favorite Concerts I saw were James Taylor and Bruce Springsteen,

The Eagles and Police I would have liked to have seen.

 

I also saw   Billy Joel, ZZ Top andJethro Tull,                         ,

Those, I do remember, do recall,

I don’t normally like hard rock, but I did some   then at the time. 

 

I composed hand written letters, appreciated Poets and had favorite shows,

Loved to sing, shoot hoops and dance like a ballerina, stand on my toes. 

 

My Favorite Poets were Frost, Dickinson,  Whitman and Poe,

All these things, also made things fun and help me to grow.

 

I enjoyed Mork and Mindy, Happy Days and Mary Tyler Moore,

The love Boat, Fantasy Island and not at all like shopping at the store,

I liked the Odd Couple, MASH, Laverne and Shirley,

Saturday Night Live, and back then, I liked to wake up early.

 

I sometimes ran mid distance, rode my 10 speed bike,  played the piano and swim,

I did not like Math, history and gym. 

 

My adolescent years,

We’re not   totally filled with sorrow and tears,

There were some good times, during those years. 

 

Though, I felt like I was in no man’s land,

And that no one did understand,

I did not know anyone whom was partially sighted or blind till I was 19

  So, I felt out of place as a teen,

Yet, it was not that bad,

As you see here, some fun times I had. 

 I hope I portrayed   a better picture, that it is, more clear?

And now, I am done here.