Enjoy the journey & other lessons learned

Here's a life story about life being a journey and enjoying every step of the way, seeing the possibility, and learning every day.

When I tell people, Iowa, that's where I was born

They tease me about endless flat land and corn

That's where I grew values and how to work hard

Pride in farmers and Americans, things you can't learn from a card

Relatives warned don't go north to Appleton where it's cold

Women wear flannels and hunt deer, young and old

I learned to follow my own dreams with the precision of a bow

Have courage and strength and cheer on my teams, go, go, go!

Elders shook their head about moving to the capitol, Mad Town

Be careful they exclaimed, you could become a politician or clown

That's where I led communities and debate ideas with zeal

The government, the university, all part of the appeal

Friends rolled their eyes, friends don't let friends go to Fort Wyane

Not enough parties or people, you'll have to escape by plane

I only needed to find one person, the love of my life

I loved responsibility, a career, and throwing parties as a wife

Those settled questioned, why Bloomington, a town so small?

Why risk your paycheck and take a chance that you'll fall?

Big ideas from Asia, Africa, Europe, and many states

We triumphed in case studies, internships, a big success at any rate

Classmates pointed out Cincinnati isn't close to a beach
So serious, so focused on industry, life won't be a peach

I learned to turn around businesses in need

With little ones we grew fruit trees, gardens, and good deeds

Collegues warned don't leave for Evansville, a smaller river port

Watch out for cowboys and the religious sort

That's where I feel most comfortable to kick up my boots

And sing praises so loud, a place where kids can grow roots

Neighbors ask why buy property in the mountains, so close to the sky

You could get attacked by a bear, you can't even fly

That's where I appreciate nature so majestic and free

I embrace the danger, the adventure, and all that I can be

Shoot for the stars and don't let anyone hold you back.  Experience new places and cultures, you'll never stop learning.  And whenever you hear negative stereotypes, search for the positive instead.

Ode to Ohio River

"The Ohio is the most beautiful river on earth.  It's current gentle, waters clear, and bosom smooth and unbroken by rocks and rapids, a single instance only expected."  Thomas Jefferson.

Like the Ohio, I am connected to the Mississippi

Born near the Mississippi, living and working near the Ohio, I travel back to the Mississippi

The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, to the Mississippi

Like the Ohio, I believe in freedom

Like the narrow river enabling escape from South to North, from slavery to freedom

Like the Ohio, I live to travel and connect

The river connects communities, I connect people and stories

And whether I'm watching the barges from upon a hill in Cincinnati as I've photographed

Or watching the sun rise and sun set from an Evansville office window

I appreciate the Ohio River, it's beauty, it's peace, and it's ability to change

What beauty do you see in the river?

Hotel or Cabin in the Smokies? My choice for a multi generation gathering.

I've been to thousands of hotels, but when it came to planning our first trip to the Smoky Mountains, I decided to rent a cabin.  Why?  The purpose of the trip was to spend time with extended family and enjoy nature.  I imagined two scenarios.  Scenario One:  Six families relaxing in a cabin, eating together, having fun together whether hopping in the hottub or playing pool or foosball, enjoying nature together.  Scenario Two:  Six separate rooms in a hotel with each of us running from room to room in the hallways trying to find out whether each group was ready or worse, trying to all stand like sardines in one room.  And then searching for each other in the parking lot. 
I'm glad I chose scenario one.  We celebrated my mother and father-in-law's 50th wedding anniversary and had great memories of the sun setting over the mountains.  Can you imagine that this photo was taken right off our deck?  What a view!  I was so inspired by the pristine scenery, I can't wait to return. 
We fell in love with the Smoky Mountains so much that the second time we visited, we bought a cabin and we rent it out so more families can create memories.  For photos of this cabin, click on the link to Lightning Bug Lodge.

Blenko Glass Inspiration in WV

Glass is beautiful to me, especially in an art form like a vase or stained glass window.  William J. Benko is also inspirational to me since he took a risk, moving from Europe to the United States to begin the first US glasshouse that could supply mouth blown (Antique) sheet glass for stained glass windows.  He began his company in 1893 in Kokomo, IN. 

 I became interested in the Blenko Glass company after watching a PBS show about it and then took a road trip to tour the production in West Virginia.  You can watch the glassblowing in action and purchase vases and bowls onsite.


If you visit Aug 6 -7 2010, you can do more than tour, you can take classes at the "Blenko Festival of Glass".  Check out www.blenkoglass.com for classes.  Besides glass blowing, there's less expensive art classes like paperweight class or stepping stone mosaic.  Have you learned to create art with glass and if yes, what or who inspired you?

Loving Rhinos in Cumberland, Ohio!

Thanks to everyone who took the "where did Krenda take this photo?" quiz. The majority of you were correct, the answer is Ohio.

Leaders see beyond the stereotypes they hear

Who would think that the largest conservation parks with endangered animals is located in Ohio? Once again, don't listen to the sterotypes of Ohio as just factories & farms.

The Wilds mission is "advancing conservation through science, education, and personal experience". It's a 9,000 plus acre conservation park that opened to the public in 1994. What a thrill to be so close to these majestic animals. 

There are 27 species of rare or endangered animals living in a 14 square mile area of reclaimed mining land.  This is a family friendly place you can teach your children about conservation.  We went with 3 toddlers and they loved the safari tour.   

Tip:  Bring your hiking shoes!  Even though it's a bus tour, the tour gives you time to walk to ponds or throughout the Carnivore Conservation Center (opened in 2007 with cheetahs and African wild dogs).  You'll see unique animals and wildflowers, so get off the bus.

I hope you can experience it too. Season opens May 2nd.  Camps available June-August.
Learn more at http://www.thewilds.org/.  For a few more photos, go to my personal collection "The Wilds" at http://www.flickr.com/photos/krenda/sets/.

Inspired by Caves in Ohio

Ohio Caverns

If you want to see a seemingly endless amount of cave formations, go to Ohio Caverns.  It's the largest cave in Ohio.

The stalagmites and stalactites are in so many shapes, sizes, and locations.

One shaped like a water pump. (if you don't know what I'm talking about, ask a farm kid)

In front of you, above you. Watch you head. Watch your hands. Just enjoy the magic.

Fun Fact

Family owned, passed down from one generation to the next
Learn more at http://www.ohiocaverns.com/ or visit the caves, just 2 hours North of Cincinnati

Tips

You will feel like you are driving out in no where and perhaps no one else is visiting, is it even open? Very cute entrance sign "yes, we are open". Apparently the owners can hear us thinking.  Bring a picnic basket, there's a picnic shelter on site. 
May you find a path that leads you to intrique & magic around every corner.

Women Inspiring Women, Read all about It

Inspiring Books for Marketers:

Author Mary Lou Quinlan made her debut of her new book What She's Not Telling You at a Procter & Gamble marketing training that I attended.

She inspired us all to do power listening and search for the whole truth. Mary Lou writes about the risks of relying on focus groups and 'literal listening'. I agree, you need to understand at a much deeper level.

I hope the book inspires you too. My favorite quote is "start marketing with women, and stop marketing to them."

I was the Tampax Pearl Assistant Brand Manager and the book mentions one of my commercials as an example in the section about secrets/silent pride (Thanks Mary Lou!): "While it's an easy laugh to see women trying not to be seen buying a pregnancy kit in a drugstore, more marketers in the feminine categories would be wise to help her keep a little dignity in the aisle or "pink ghetto" as Jen calls it. Perhaps the best efforts belong to TAMPAX, who've taken a cue from the youner women's comfort with "down there" and lightened up the tone of the category with commercials that brought tampons front and center, like using one to stop a leak in a rowboat on a date, so that no one needs to feel weird in the drugstore aisle." (page 138, What She's Not Telling You by Mary Lou Quinlan, Jen Drexter, and Tracy Chapman).

If you want to read more about the author, visit http://www.justaskawoman.com/
and if you click on the blog tab, you can read the first chapter for free.

If you want to read more about the commercial, visit the Effie Award website www.effie.org/winners/showcase/2005/56