25 Random Things About Me

Had to come up with 25 random facts about myself as part of my assuming a board position within the Junior League of Cincinnati.

Hope you enjoy these random nuggets as much as I did coming up with them!

1. Grew up in Cincinnati, but am actually a "Southern Belle" by birth, via Charlotte, NC. Have also lived in Minneapolis, MN, Madison, CT and Lexington, KY.

2. Attended Sycamore schools and Ursuline Academy; moved to CT after my freshman year and finished schooling there.

3. Proud graduate of the University of Kentucky!

4. Speaking of my UK years, I came down with mono my freshman year, and doctors said it was the University's worst case on record at the time (1995).

5. I have a degree in Journalism and spent the first nine years of my career working as a news producer for WTVQ, the ABC affiliate in Lexington and WKRC, the CBS affiliate in Cincinnati (Local 12).

6. I am the oldest of three girls and am a textbook "oldest child."

7. Also a textbook Sagittarius. I LOVE adventure!

8. Have traveled extensively in the US and Europe. If you ever want to know about the best Thai food in London, just ask me!

9. Originally, I wanted to major in Voice in college, but my parents weren't keen on that idea.

10. I have performed in front of a packed house at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, and at some of Cincinnati's best karaoke bars!

11. I keep a hard bound copy of the Warren Commission on President Kennedy's assassination, and a paperback of Emily Post's Miss Manners in my powder room as interesting reading material.

12. I met several celebrities during my TV days; once ended up doing shots of tequila with Woody Harrelson.

13. While in college, I was a sports reporter for the school's newspaper for 1.5 years; finished my senior year as a regular editorial columnist.

14. An avid cook and baker, I have a killer pie crust recipe that even my mother is envious of!

15. I tried my hand at a bunch of sports as a kid, including soccer, swimming, tennis, gymnastics, horseback riding, field hockey and even track. Swimming and horseback riding were the only ones I was any good at.

16. I am absolutely terrified of heights. I don't mind flying in planes, but anything else pretty much freaks me out.

17. I am left handed.

18. My favorite restaurant - Slims in Northside. I love going there with 10 people and about 14 bottles of wine... and spend three hours enjoying their prix fixe menu. An incredibly special moment with dear, dear friends.

19. Was once hired by Sophisticated Living magazine to write a restaurant review of Honey, also in Northside. Was an awesome experience at an awesome restaurant.

20. I've walked across Golden Gate Bridge and back! San Francisco is one of my favorite cities in the US.

21. While I am really comfortable with the written word, I absolutely hate numbers. I don't do any math if I can help it, including balancing my checkbook.

22. When I bought my first car out of college, I couldn't even drive it! It was a stick shift. The dealer gave me a 20 minute lesson, and I spent the rest of the day teaching myself! Have only driven manual cars ever since.

23. Believe it or not, I used to have a tongue ring.

24. I've never broken a bone in my body. Yet.

25. I am a huge "culture vulture" and love doing any volunteer work I can for the arts (and for many other worthy organizations in Cincinnati!)



Kate's Random Musings by Kate the Great is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Derby Drinks: Sipping in Seersucker

Forget what my passport says - I am a Kentucky Girl.

Okay, okay. By birth, I claim the South (Nooohth Caralahhhna, to be exact). My rearing happened mostly in the two states from which my parents hail: Minnesota and Ohio. And I was educated in Connecticut.

But my college years - those are claimed by the heart of the Bluegrass.

Lexington.

To say the word brings crinkles to the corners of my blue eyes. In fact, I don't think it's physically possible for me to let that big, beautiful L roll off my tongue without giving rise to a toothy smile. I know so much about that big-town-that-thinks-it's-a-little-city. My life, my memories are ingrained with moments all over that stunning hamlet.

Lexington is my home away from home.

To live any portion of your life in Lexington is to fall in love with horses. Not in a I can't wait to ride 'em way, though more power to you if you're up to squeezing on those rubber riding boots and swinging your right leg over your favorite Bay or Chestnut.

No, people fall in love with horses while wearing their finest linens and Seersucker, clinging to condensation-covered cups filled with Mint Julep.

The cocktail of Kings.

That's an appropriate claim to make, considering horse racing is the Sport of Kings.

My first brush with bourbon wasn't in as genteel environs. It was likely before, during or after a fraternity party on Woodland Avenue, and involved a few hefty swigs right from a bottle of Old Crow. Jim Beam if we were lucky.

I improved with age, and so did my bourbon of choice. I am a Woodford girl, firmly believing it's my obligation to support the distillery closest to Lexington. Others insist on Blanton's, Bulleit or Four Roses.

And though a bottle goes for upwards of $125, I consider myself lucky for having had the pleasure of sipping on Pappy Van Winkle. Neat.

When mixing a Mint Julep, there's no reason to go to such expense, though I do think the potency of the cocktail warrants something smooth.

Saturday marks Derby Day - the day of all days for celebrating with a Mint Julep. I saw my favorite mixologist, the adorable Molly Wellmann, out a couple weeks ago, and asked her to share with me some of the lore about the Mint Julep. Here's what Molly has to say:

"Mint juleps first were seen in print in 1803, but people have been drinking them as far back as the 1700s as a morning drink. In fact, juleps were thought of as medicinal in 1600. Back then they would use rye or rum rather then American bourbon, as those spirits were more abundant in the 1700s. Juleps were also made with Geneva gin during the nineteenth century. The Kentucky Derby adopted the drink in 1938 and the original ones were made with Early Times Kentucky bourbon! They were served in silver souvenir cups for 75 cents! To this day, at Churchill Downs and Keeneland, they will only make mint juleps on Derby Day...  

"A julep was described as a 'dram of spirituous liquor that has mint in it' and is believed to have gotten its name from the an Arabic drink called a julab which was made from water and rose petals. When the drink was introduced to the Mediterranean region, the rose was replaced with mint."

I've been told any good Julep maker will gently crush the mint leaves and wipe them around the inside of the glass to ensure the cocktail is very aromatic.

Below, you'll find Molly Wellmann's Mint Julep recipe, as well as a couple others she passed on as great cocktails for the Kentucky Derby. Enjoy!

Molly's Mint Julep
6 mint leaves (3 sprigs for garnish)
2 oz Four Roses single barrel bourbon
1/2 oz simple syrup
1/2 dark rum ( Myer's works or I like to use Zacapa)

Take 6 mint leaves put in mixing glass and lightly muddle or bruise. Add bourbon and simple syrup. Stir to incorporate all ingredients add crushed ice, and top with rum.Garnish with 3 mint sprigs with the bottoms cut off to allow the mint flavor to bleed out of the bottom of the stalks. Cut 2 straws so they are only 3/4" above the mint and place them in the bouquet so you get a whiff of mint with each sip.


Cognac Julep
As above, but instead of the bourbon, use 2 ounces of nice cognac. After all the muddling, stirring and icing, fill the glass with dry champagne. Decadent and dangerous.


For a lower-octane version for all those people who find bourbon too boozy, you can also make a champagne julep without the brandy — it’s lighter in alcohol, but still incredibly tasty, and has a distinctly festive edge. add some fruit on top ( raspberries , blueberries , pineapple , strawberries , orange) along with the mint


Lemon Julep
6 Mint leaves( 3 sprigs of mint for garnish)
1-oz limoncello
2-oz. Bullet Bourbon
dash of simple syrup to taste
lemon twist for garnish

Take 6 mint leaves and put them into a glass and lightly muddle or bruise. Add limoncello, simple syrup and Bullet Bourbon. Let sit 1 minute. Stir briefly to incorporate all ingredients. Add crushed ice. Garnish with 3 mint sprigs with the bottoms cut off to allow the mint flavor to bleed out of the bottom of the stalks. Cut 2 straws so they are only 3/4" above the mint and place them into the bouquet so each sip you get a whiff of mint . Add lemon twist.

Molly and fellow mixologist Rom Wells will serving up their own spectacular juleps and dishing on the drink's history this Friday at The Rookwood at from 6 to 8 PM. Click here for more information.


Kate's Random Musings by Kate the Great is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Art Saves Lives

You never know where you're going to find a bit of wisdom.

-or-

I had no idea the patrons of the Hofbrauhaus were such culture vultures.

I snapped this pic last month when my friends and I enjoyed one of the first truly gorgeous, sunny afternoons of spring.

We gathered to enjoy the sunshine, and also I was in a bit of a funk, so my dear posse rallied to cheer me up.

I am so grateful for my dear, dear friends.

But I digress.

Art saves lives. The quick quip scrawled on a wooden table in the Hof's outdoor biergarten. I don't know the validity of this claim - surely there's research out there that can either confirm or disprove this argument.

What I do know is, art makes me think and feel. Art makes me appreciate the world around me. Art revives emotions that lay dormant beneath my surface.

Art makes me happy, and I suppose that's one step toward saving my life.

Cincinnati's Fine Arts Fund campaign wraps Thursday. This is an effort to help bring the arts to neighborhoods all over our community. The FAF is pushing to make its goal so it can showcase the arts in local schools and support such beloved venues like The Playhouse in the Park and the Cincinnati Ballet.

Think about how art impacts your life - and what you can do to save it in our community.


Kate's Random Musings by Kate the Great is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Bring Home the Bacon... Fry it Up in a Pan

In work and life, I kick ass and take names.

At home, I really want to sip on a glass of wine, listen to Billie Holiday and stand at the stove in an apron.

I am not a master chef. While my circle of friends is full of many accomplished cooks, I am a bit simpler. Hence last month's presentation on cooking naked. Note: cooking naked is "cooking simple" - see also: Jamie Oliver's body of work. If you're interested in discussing cooking in the nude, I have a few hard rules to apply to that scenario.

Anyway.

Cooking. I have a vast collection of cookbooks - three dozen all told. They cover desserts, quick cooking, Kentucky-themed dishes. I have an anthology of popular White House dishes and several of Martha's tomes. Hell, I published a cookbook.

The thing is, I love cooking on the fly. I just wish I was more dedicated to the vocation.

Being a single gal, sometimes cooking dinner is the last thing I want to do after a long day at the office and an evening meeting/happy hour/whatever.

Especially when the audience is only me.

I started losing weight a couple months ago and am sticking with my plan (which isn't a hard and fast plan at all, actually), which means eating cereal with skim milk for breakfast, a frozen/packaged meal for lunch and then either a reasonable dinner at home/out or nibbles at an event.

Rewind. Did I just say frozen/packaged meal for lunch?

I realize now this is the weak link in my strategy. Those meals are typically full of all kinds of preservatives and chemicals I can barely pronounce, much less know how they affect my body. And a recent evaluation of several offerings has exposed the completely inadequate proportion of carbs to veggies and protein.

Considering my doctor advises me to dial down my carb intake, this isn't a good thing in my book.

I'm trying something different this week.

Armed with a stocked freezer and a good assortment of dry goods in the pantry, I am making it my mission to cook meals at dinner with the intent of having leftovers for lunch during the week. I'm also not opposed to assembling fresh, healthy meals in the morning.

My goal is flavorful, fresh meals that accomplish my dietary objections, all while reducing my dependence on those ready-to-go packaged soups, frozen meals and other processed foods.

This is the latest facet in my diet reinvention. Breakfast was Step 1; Step 2 was drinking more water.

Hopefully I can make Step 3 a regular part of my routine.

Do you have any quick-healthy-tasty recipes in your back pocket that you think I MUST know about?

I'd love to hear it!


Kate's Random Musings by Kate the Great is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

(Never) Too Late to Apologize... Too Late...

Iconic lyrics to an iconic song.

Okay. Maybe not so iconic, but One Republic's tune has certainly resonated with me before.



It's too late to apologize, it's too lateI said it's too late to apologize, it's too late

It's an infectious earworm chorus that has a way of hitting you right in the kisser - in the car, in your shower and while you're sweatin' it out Tony Little style.

This song has struck me intentionally on more than one occasion. It first used to be a little ditty a co-worker and I would secretly sing to each other after another co-worker's increasingly biting remarks dissolved our friendship.

I was also reminded of the lyrics when I weathered a fairly tenuous situation with my family. We're mostly all peace-love-and-happiness now, so I guess it's all good.

The one thing I realize - it's never too late to apologize to family. Never too late.

Friendships, on the other hand. Sometimes we apologize because we want to save something. We value our relationship and concede fault with the intent of relationship preservation.

Sometimes we never do say we're sorry. Our anger or disappointment overshadows the value we see in the relationship, and we end up closing the books on a chapter best left on the shelf.

I got the most unexpected apology this week, by way of a Facebook message. It was from a guy who claims the honor of being my first kiss. We were fifteen, he was pimply and a big Star Trek freak. I was the new girl in town and didn't have a friend to my name.

It was actually kind of cute, now that I think about it - making out in that closet while two other classmates watched the rest of The Life of Brian.

In his message, this boy-now-man said he was sorry for his behavior during our high school years, that, "...the way that I behaved toward you was at times unkind, with turns toward cruel. It seems unreasonable to me now to believe that this would have made your life any better during a time that is difficult for everyone."

I guess we really do grow up at some point, don't we?

The funny thing is, I don't even remember his being douchebaggy to me.

See, I was also a dork in high school, and my sights were likely set on people I deemed more important. This boy fell off my radar at some point, and I guess he didn't like that.

Or maybe not.

Anyway.

His note totally caught me off guard; we're not even Facebook friends. I replied that I am grateful for the apology, but it certainly wasn't needed. Fact is, high school is rough for everyone - no matter where you sit in the pecking order.

I responded, "If I knew then that in my adult years I'd be a mover and shaker and have the world by the balls, then I would have worried a little less about what people thought about me. I guess this is true for everyone..."

Sometimes, even though years and years have passed, and everything has turned out alright, I guess a little apology never hurt anyone.

Right?


Kate's Random Musings by Kate the Great is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Dancing Fool

Well, I didn't win.

But there's now a spectacular photo of my feet and four-inch platform wedges on the Enquirer's website.

I am just glad my toe polish wasn't chipped.

The Cotton Eyed Joe dance competition was a fun preview for Cincinnati's Appalachian Festival - which runs from May 7 to 9 at Coney Island.

Just might be the kind of place your mom would enjoy for Mother's Day weekend!


Kate's Random Musings by Kate the Great is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Kate's A-Cloggin'

I am not opposed to making a fool of myself - especially if it's for some good, clean fun.

I'm dusting off my dancing shoes for a clogging competition on Fountain Square at noon today. The event is a preview for the annual Appalachian Festival, and the field offers some stiff prospects - Amy Scalia of Cincy Chic, Dustin Sproat of the Cincinnati Cyclones and Cincinnati Reds mascot, Gapper.

If you happen to be in the Fountain Square area around noon and have some time to spare, please come down and cheer me on.

It's been a good many years since I actually thought I could clog.


Kate's Random Musings by Kate the Great is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Secret Cincinnati - Ohio Third Frontier

Issue 1 is critical to bringing new business to Ohio.

This issue, which will not raise taxes, would continue support for innovation and entrepreneurship in Ohio.

Here's a quick video that explains a bit more about what Issue 1 is all about, by telling a story about Secret Cincinnati.

I was honored to be a part of the Secret Cincinnati team - if you watch this video, you can catch a couple glimpses of me. The entire team was brilliant and full of energy, and I loved the experience.





Kate's Random Musings by Kate the Great is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Reinvention

Lose 15 pounds, and you soon find yourself itching for a complete transformation.

Saturday came and brought with it my standing, monthly appointment at Aveda Frederic's Institute in Hyde Park. Don't judge, people - it's actually a great salon and an affordable option for this non-profit chick.

Anyway.

Months ago, I had already decided on highlights and a haircut for April, but I had no idea I was in the mood for something drastic until about a week or two ago.

My mother said it was time for a change. "Remember that great haircut you had several years ago?" she waxed. "It was short and very blonde and it was just. so. cute. That's what you need. That haircut will do wonders for you."

I don't know if I buy into that logic, but I was definitely up for revisiting a look from five years in my past.

I sat in the chair as the student stylist weaved a needle through my strands, painting them with bleaching formulas and wrapping with aluminum foil. I always think this stage looks like a mess of hair trapped in an air conditioning unit.

This winter brought my first brush with "brunette." As a chill settled in to the Tri-State, I asked the stylist to use some really dark, chocolate lowlights. Though I always regard myself as a blonde, I was really tickled with the results. That said, there's something comfortable and familiar with the more platinum strands I'm used to, and I was excited this latest occasion in the chair would return my locks to something sassy.

My hair had grown quite a bit these past few months. Well beyond my shoulders, I told the stylist I was hoping for something between my chin and shoulders - maybe three or four inches. As it tuned out, we ended up cutting off six inches. I was excited about the prospect of something so dramatic, but also a little bit hesitant.

The funny thing about salons - we women spend lots of time in them to look more beautiful/sexy/polished whatever. But the fact of the matter is, I've never seen a woman look attractive while getting her hair done. Something about having wet hair bound up by a mess of clips, covered in aluminum foil or wrapped in a towel. I guess hair really is an integral part of looking feminine.

I can only imagine how cancer survivors feel as they battle their disease and cope with hair loss.

Me? If I lost my hair to cancer, I know I'd have a kick ass collection of outrageous wigs. Tina Turner. Cher. Dolly Parton. I could be a different celebrity every day of the week.

But for now, I'm just happy being me.

Sassy me.

Kate's Random Musings by Kate the Great is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

She Smiles and It's a Rainbow

Did Ben Folds write this song about me?
Kate by Ben Folds Five


She never gets wet
She smiles and it's a rainbow
And she speaks and she breathes
I wanna be Kate

Kate's Random Musings by Kate the Great is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

My Hairr Did

Before

After

Here's to hoping your weekend gives you an excuse to get all dolled up!

Kate's Random Musings by Kate the Great is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

See and Be Scene Friday

My life is a hot mess. But you already know this.

Some of you come here, waiting to read about the circus that is my life - car towing fiascoes, peeping toms and other rich drama.

Others of you like to hear about the more glamorous occasions I experience - hobnobbing with Dhani Jones at galas and snapping photos with Paula Deen.

And still others of you are more interested in the dish I serve up on Cincinnati.

Well! This is one of those moments when I am simultaneously bitching stressing because of the chaos on my plate, and filling you in on some of the cool stuff on my schedule.

• Cincinnati Foursquare Day Tweetup - Friday, April 16 from 5:30 to 8:30 PM at Pachinko in Covington - If you're on Foursquare (you'd know if you are), this is a great opportunity to get your Swarm badge, as well as a special Foursquare version. If you're NOT on Foursquare, this is a great opportunity to meet 50 or 60 people who are interesting, fun, and in to social media.
• Cincinnati Roller Girls - Saturday, April 17 at 7 PM at the Cincinnati Gardens - I love a good party, and that's pretty much what the CRG dish up. Entertainment, drama and at $1 PBRs, uber cheap beer. The CRG take on St. Louis Saturday; a good group of people are meeting up to tailgate before hand, and I hear the Wooly Bully mascot may even make an appearance at the pre-bout gathering. Leave me a comment if you're interested in joining, and I'll get you the info.
• Issue 1 Rally - Monday, April 19 from 6 to 8 PM at Mainstay Rock Bar in Downtown Cincinnati - Issue 1 renews state bond funding for Ohio Third Frontier, which supports innovation and new businesses in the Buckeye State. CincyPAC, of which I am on the board, is co-hosting this rally, along with Cincinnatians for Progress, Cincinnati Social Media and Cincy Tech. Come out and support the movement that's trying to make Cincinnati the Silicon Valley of the Midwest.
• Appalachian Festival Hoedown Competition - Tuesday, April 20 at 12 noon on Fountain Square - I am not above making a fool of myself, and if that means dancing in a clogging competition with Gapper, so be it. I'm told some professional dancers will give me the once over on how the Cotton Eyed Joe goes, and then we'll all get a turn to dance our steps. I'm going head to head with Amy Scalia of Cincy Chic, professional comedian Steve Caminiti, Dustin Sproat of the Cincinnati Cyclones and Cincinnati Reds mascot, Gapper, and some other daring souls. Please come out and cheer me on - it's been a while since my show choir days.
• Tweetup for Tarbell - Wednesday, April 21 from 5:30 to 9 pm at Neon's Unplugged in Over-the-Rhine I blogged about this event I'm co-hosting on Monday. Jim Tarbell is a long time Cincinnati progressive who is running for a Hamilton County Commission seat. This guy believes in safe communities, support for the arts and urban revitalization. This is a great opportunity to meet the man and form your own opinion before the May primary.
• Bold Fusion - Thursday, April 29 from 1 to 5 PM at The Westin Cincinnati - The city's annual Young Professional summit gets down and dirty about how innovation is changing the way we do business. I'm excited to get to play a part in this neat event - I'll spill more info on that in the days ahead.
• Cincinnati Ballet Ball After Party - Saturday, May 1 from 10 PM to 2 AM at The Edge Design Center - Every girl (and I am told even some of the guys) like to get all dolled up for a big party. Yes, this is on Derby Day, so you may already be in a festive mood this Saturday night. Let the party continue and join me at yet another event I'm co-hosting to support the Ballet!
• Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon - Sunday, May 2 at 6:30 AM in Cincinnati - I am not a runner. I can walk at a good clip, and am comfortable with walking seven or eight miles in one setting. That said - I don't run unless someone's chasing me or there's a sale on shoes. This year marks the fourth year I'll don a hot pink wig and set up shop along the marathon route as an unofficial cheerleader. I don't know why I started this, but I am looking forward to being joined again by my pal Cincy Spin. If you're up for waking up early, wearing a crazy wig and yelling quite loudly, let me know. We typically go out for brunch and Bloodys afterwords. Note: this is one of the most fun things I do each year. The runners go absolutely crazy over us!

If any of this sounds good to you - let me know. Would love to see you out and about!


Kate's Random Musings by Kate the Great is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Love and Politics

"Katy, I think you're far more centrist than you give yourself credit."

That pith was embedded in a conversation I had while sitting on my front porch on a stunningly sunny afternoon. A chat with Rusty, one of my favorite Righties with a few Leftie tendencies. A Libertarian, he calls himself, but a few of us in our tight group write him off as a big, nasty Republican.

And we love him even more for it.

Let's travel back to the haze of the mid 90s for a moment. The nation's economy was basking in the binge of the dot.com boom bust and property values continued to climb. The American worker was making more money than ever before.

The nation was fat and happy, and so was I.

I trotted off to college in 1995, a flag waving Republican, raised on homespun traditionalism a la Ronald Reagan and George Bush. I loved the GOP, and even had a few elephant motif trinkets to prove it.

As I tell anyone who will listen - the tongue ring I got in college should have clued me in that I was different than the rest of my counterparts on the board of College Republicans.

Times change, and people do, too. I spent a few years working in television news and discovered the massive disparity between my upper middle class, suburban upbringing and that of my counterparts reared in less comfy environs.

Go ahead and groan if you want to about the "liberal media," a good many of my newsroom colleagues were proud believers in the GOP. A few of them even went on to work for big deal state politicians (hat tip to GOP Big Wig!).

The media isn't nearly as liberal as people claim. Exhibit A - Fox News Corp.

Anyway.

As I've gotten older, I've become far more liberal. I think the argument on gay marriage should be a foregone conclusion, and I am bowled over about the changes coming thanks to health care reform.

And I haven't worn a twin set in years.

Now, I know some people argue that love is blind, but I'd say love is definitely a red-blue-purple scenario that has people gravitating toward their own kind. I look back on my dating history and realize I've typically gravitated toward more conservative suitors.

I don't know if this means I'm turned on by the art of political debate, or if I have clandestine conservative leanings that I refuse to admit.

Fellow Twitterati Paul Henrich tweeted yesteray about OkTrends, and I was bowled over by their post on political trends as people age. The piece features all kinds of charts and graphs to drool over; my takeaway was that people need to choose a mate based on either their social or fiscal priorities.

I certainly know what's more important to me. I'll fight to my death to defend the social issues related to human rights and freedoms for others. I get less worked up over financial matters (and I know too well that perhaps this isn't wise).

Politics and love - it's an interesting dynamic to think about regarding relationships.

Twin sets be damned.


Kate's Random Musings by Kate the Great is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Grammar Police: Volunteerism vs. Voluntarism

Accuracy is one of the cornerstones of solid journalism.

And with that accuracy comes the stalwart, resolute fact that you absolutely know something. You have concrete evidence to justify your statement. You have expert testimony that underscores your report.

You have gospel.

Me? I have Merriam-Webster.

The misuse of words and phrases absolutely drives me batty. I especially hate it when I notice "official" messaging like mission statements and brand messaging littered with made up words.

Like volunteerism.

It sounds oh, so, believable. To tag on an -ism is a reasonable assumption, right? That's how so many other English-language words operate.

But in this case, we would be fatally wrong to make that assumption. Okay, Grammar Girl isn't going to slay you with her red pen, but to go with volunteerism is a bad, bad choice.

When we talk about the act of volunteering (read: when we turn the verb into a noun), the word gets converted into voluntarism. Yes, this sounds totally funny, and was foreign to me, too, until I joined a non-profit organization with a heavy concentration on... voluntarism.

Granted, volunteerism may be listed in your copy of the dictionary; it's in mine. But this collegiate dictionary clearly defers to voluntarism in its first reference.

Since I learned the correct usage, I see the proper choice in more respected publications... and I see volunteerism in places it doesn't belong.

Including official mission statements.
______________________________________________
Bonus anal comment: Friends, it is not SITC. It is SATC. HBO created a program that celebrated Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte's amorous antics AND the lovely city of New York. The series/movie is not about them having sex *in* NYC... they were quite successful at gettin' it on no matter the location. Keep that in mind as you exclaim your excitement leading up to the May 27 release.

Whew. Who put a nickel in me today?


Kate's Random Musings by Kate the Great is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Cincinnati is Amazing at Mating Technologies

Bring Google Fiber to Cincinnati.




Kate's Random Musings by Kate the Great is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Tweetup for Tarbell

The first time I saw Jim Tarbell, he was wearing a smashing hat and a sparkle in his eye.

The University Club's grand dining room gleamed with shining fine china and towering flower arrangements. The crowd, dressed in their party finest, all gazed at Cincinnati's favorite son as he regaled the reception with a clever tale about my childhood best friend's family, and then a tune on his trusty harmonica.

Living in Lexington, I had no idea who this gentleman was, or that I'd come to respect him so much in the years ahead.

Moving back to Cincinnati five years ago, I discovered Tarbell was a city politico and small business owner. This Hamilton County Commission candidate is a huge proponent for the arts and Over-the-Rhine, my favorite neighborhood in Cincinnati. He also firmly believes in revitalizing Downtown Cincinnati and making every community safer for the families and individuals calling our region home.

That's something any Hamilton County resident can appreciate.

It didn't take long for me to agree when the Tarbell campaign asked me to host a tweetup for Jim.

Several local bloggers, including Bob Schwartz of 5chw4r7z, Brian Griffin of Cincinnati Blog, Cincinnati Women Bloggers and Julie Niesen of wine me, dine me are joining me to host this Tweetup for Tarbell, which will give folks an opportunity to meet the candidate, as well as other supporters.

For those of you who are not down with the Twitter scene, a Tweetup is just a fancy, social media word for a meetup or event. Everyone's invited - whether you have the hottest smart phone on the market, or if you prefer your classic, rotary dial land line phone.

The Tweetup for Tarbell is scheduled for Wednesday, April 21 at Neon's Unplugged (208 E. 12th St.) from 5:30 to 9 PM. Candidate Tarbell will make an appearance at some point during the evening, which will be a great opportunity to meet other supporters and learn how you can get involved in the campaign.

At the tweetup, you're invited to tweet, take pics and spread the word through your social networks, if that's your bag.

You'll even have an opportunity to pose for a photo in Jim Tarbell's legendary top hat.

I'm anticipating several Facebook profile photo changes in the weeks ahead...

Kate's Random Musings by Kate the Great is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

I'm Still Alive

I remember singing along to Eddie Vedder at a bar in Heidelburg, Germany.



It was 1994. I was about to enter my senior year of high school, celebrating the summer by traveling Europe for a slew of musical performances with my classmates.

We were the musical act in question - not Pearl Jam.

Our set list included a variety of ancient madrigals, John Tavener tunes and Mozart's Requiem. A grueling schedule that dotted a dozen places in France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland in the span of two weeks.

The trip was unforgettable. Every moment.

Including the time when, oh, seven of us or so gathered around a jukebox to play our favorite album of the moment, Pearl Jam's Ten.

It's an album that Double Platinum and I insist is worthy of any Top 10 Albums To Have If You're Stranded on A Deserted Island list.

A few bars of any song on that disc, and I'm instantly transported back to my high school days. Alive reminds me of that time when we were so fresh faced, optimistic and excited about the world around us.

I'd like to think I've held on to some of those characteristics.

Anyway.

I am presently planted in the present, though this week's extremely demanding schedule has put a major dent in my blogging habit.

Just wanted you to know that I did not, in fact, go somewhere far - despite the previous post's wistful musing.

Cheers!
K


Kate's Random Musings by Kate the Great is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

I Want To Go Somewhere Far

I want to feel the dirt from a thousand places beneath my fingertips.

A place, a space where everyone share smiles and compassion and humanity. A place where we celebrate the differences and remark on the undeniable commonality in every single being.

I want to taste the universe. The far flung flavors of Goa or Ibiza or Hanoi. My tastebuds have yet to savor a thousand flavors, my eyes have yet to see a million colors.

A place where time stops and life thrives with experience and exchange. A place where past and present colide with nature and technology. A place where kindness reigns.

I want to dance. Moves my feet and hips have never felt, to music and beats and songs my ears deserve, no, need to hear. Through movement, we can share a ritual that spans any cultural barrier.

A place where raging waters stop with stillness, a place where sunlight is a baptism for hope and optimism. A place where hands are soft and arms are obsolete.

I want to go somewhere far.

Kate's Random Musings by Kate the Great is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

APRIL FOOL'S!!

Do you really think I'm going anywhere?

Didn't you click the link to my "new blog"?!

I love a good Rick Roll...

Here's what you all had to say (via comment or tweet) about my news:

• Say it ain't so!!! Your one of the few blogs I've continued to read on a regular basis!!!
• hoping for that to be an April fools joke.
• best of luck Kate w your new venture.
• transitions are my favorite. hope this is as exciting for you as it sounds to me.
• If you just woke up this morning and schemed all that up. Kudos. And, fun times if you have been planning.
• Look forward to seeing the NEW blog!
• Wow! RT @kate_the_great: Nice While It Lasted: All good things must come to an end, and the same is true for my blog… http://is.gd/b9CLQ
• congrats Kate! Sounds awesome!
• it's plausible, but I'm calling April Fools
• Good one, but... no...
• OK, I'll admit it. @kate_the_great RickRoll'D me this morning. It's cool. I can handle it.
• Congrats on the news w/ your blog. That is pretty freakin' awesome! Rock on girl! :-)
• It was nice while it lasted - thanks for the posts! Happy trails!
• Wow! That makes me sad - but I look forward to continuing to keep up with you and your adventures in your new spot!
• Crazy! thats awesome wild incredible off the map. Now we definitely need to catch up, can't wait to hear about what all is going on. Let us all know when you pop up again 
• DOH, I bit too hard on that one.
• April Fools, right? Your links were a little nuts on this one.
• Doh! I have been roll'd
• Learned something new today - I've been rick rolled! LOL - Hope you have a great weekend Kate the Great!
• I can't believe I fell for it...

Sorry for the silly prank, friends, but I just love a good joke :)

PS - I'm not alone in this - looks like the entire internet loves April Fool's Day!! Click here and here for more wacky examples.


Kate's Random Musings by Kate the Great is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Nice While It Lasted

All good things must come to an end, and the same is true for my blog.

If I've seemed disjointed these past few weeks, it's because I've been weighing a proposal involving my blog, its content and readership.

The great thing about blogging is - it helps us communicate with the masses about things that are sometimes entirely too personal.

We can shout from the rooftops our greatest heartaches, our biggest triumphs, our fears and our failures.

Since I started KRM in August, 2004, I've had the pleasure of sharing so many special things - and I am so grateful you've been here to listen.

If you're reading this, then you know technology is moving at warp speed. People are connecting in so many different capacities that we had no idea would exist just five years ago.

And in five years, life will be infinitely different than it is now.

Yamada Denki is a massive consumer electronics retailer in Japan, selling cameras and computers as well as books.

Here's where my blog fits in.

Yamada Denki is exploring ways to bring content to live streaming technology. The way it's explained to me, they want to develop something that's kind of like Choose Your Own Adventure, but for blogs. Somehow, this technology would fuse other pop culture references like movies, television and music to complement blog text.

The company wants to buy my content because they think it is easily relatable to the library of music, movies and television copyrights they've attained.

My attorney, Candace Klein, has read over the proposal, and advises me to go for it.

Which means, my blogging must come to an end. At least for now.

I plan on launching a new blog in the days and weeks ahead. I hope you all continue to read the crazy content I dish up.

Cheers ;)


Kate's Random Musings by Kate the Great is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.