Sat, 25 May 2013 09:02:38 -0800WeeblyMon, 29 Apr 2013 18:05:27 GMThttp://www.marykathrynjohnson.com/1/post/2013/04/give-a-man-a-gun.html

Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left

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]]>Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:01:21 GMThttp://www.marykathrynjohnson.com/1/post/2013/04/my-pixel-pal-caleb-pirtle-iii.html

Whatever you do, don't call him a "Writer!"
He is a thief, and a damn good one.
He is the only thief I know (all the others have not revealed themselves to me as thieves, or at least I haven't tied them to anything missing yet).
He steals the stories of lives, and tells them amazingly well. 
He is a Storyteller, and I would love for you to meet him.

Caleb Pirtle III

The picture to the left is quite misleading, because it looks as if this guy is retired, his only job now might be rocking on the porch or fishing.  Actually, he is one of the most prolific, engaging writers of blogs and books in my Tribe.

Caleb researches, writes and publishes blog posts daily - sometimes two or three a day - and somehow finds time to also write and publish fiction.  I love his writing style, and never stop reading one of his posts once I start, no matter the length.  In a time when lack of time is the driving force, his posts are a relaxation and a discovery all at once.  He always hooks me...always, and I stay to the end and often comment, because he also touches some emotion that makes me want to share.  How could you stop reading a post entitled The Secret of a Long Marriage with the line.... “It’s simple,” he said. “Me and my wife don’t play volleyball.”

Caleb's style is direct, and he hooks his readers with amazingly engaging sentences like, "He knew where the dirt lay and owned the shovel to dig it up" or, "Henrietta Lacks died in anonymity. Her cells were going viral......The men and women in the white coats became famous. The men and women in the gray flannel suits became rich" or, "Life is a cruel and terrible author. But life doesn’t write the final chapter."

I could go on and on, but that would rob you of the discoveries that await.

All of my favorite posts have an "aha" moment - Caleb is very good at creating these, and needs very few words to catch me.  

So, I invite you to sit back and read some stories.  Start here, and just click on a title that sounds interesting.  Before you know it, you will be looking at the clock and cursing.  It's not his fault you missed that appointment, because you were so engrossed in an amazing tale.  I know, I once forgot to pick up my youngest from school for that very same reason.....oops, did I just type that?!

Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left

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]]>Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:29:07 GMThttp://www.marykathrynjohnson.com/1/post/2013/03/i-hate-weeding.html

I am lucky enough to have a partner who loves yard work.

Unfortunately that wonderful, incredibly patient man is also a Tax Man, and is incognito until April 15, but the weeds don't know that.  So, every spring, the boys and I start the yearly clean-up of our yard.  It's the least we can do since he works 16 hours a day, 7 days a week.  I dread the chore at first, but as I get into a rhythm, it's wonderfully satisfying and cathartic.  Am I that messed up that I find writing material amongst the weeds?! 

After a full day of weeding, my hands represent my future 80 year old self, and my back complains louder than my hands......now on to the laundry with a head cleared of weeds just like the yard.

What are your chore comparisons?

Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left

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]]>Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:46:33 GMThttp://www.marykathrynjohnson.com/1/post/2013/03/creating-content-from-facebook.html

Every time I visit the social media giant with a face, I find something that opens my creative book. Whether it's a SomeECards.com cartoon or an Albert Einstein quote, something stirs, and I must write.


I think it's the common thread running through all human life.  All moms go through the same choices and emotions, but some of us do it with more sass or grace than others (guess which group counts me as a member).  All writers go through the same angst, excitement and hope, but some are more commercially successful, some are more tribally successful and some are more poetically successful than others (again, I'm in there somewhere).


Because of the common human thread that weaves this world, we writer-types can always find something to write about while trolling facebook.  I bet you can find lots from that book on this blog if you just read the archives or search the categories, but I want to read what you have written, and I can't wait to weave myself into your thread.


What content have you created from Facebook?


Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left

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]]>Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:21:00 GMThttp://www.marykathrynjohnson.com/1/post/2013/03/how-to-find-amazing-blogs-with-incredible-content.html

As of June 2012, there are 31 Million Bloggers fighting for your attention on the internet.

How is a girl to find material that interests her, you ask?

Triberr!

I thought I had an amazing idea for my favorite blogging network, so I skyped Dino Dogan and pitched it.  Turns out he has already implemented it, of course.  I thought I was being clever, and helping out a platform that has led me to some amazing people with amazing stories.  I'm so glad I took the time to call him and let him help me instead.

I already belong to several Tribes - Writers and Readers, Writers and Publishers and Parenting  - but I wanted a way to find other Tribes to visit, Tribes that represented amazing content providers in niches that interested me.  I wanted ways to let my friends use Triberr to find bloggers with expertise in the areas that interested them, even if my friends weren't bloggers themselves.

Triberr isn't just for bloggers to network with other bloggers to maximize their reach.

Triberr is a blogging search engine all its own!

The best part about it?

IT'S FREE, and anyone can use it.  Just check out the "Discover" tab under the search bar on the left after you log in using either Facebook or Twitter.

You can choose from Tribes of bloggers in 34 different categories, like Business, DIY, Film, Parenting, Pets and, of course, Writing.

You then follow the Tribes that post content that interests you, and get that content delivered right to your tribal stream.  You can then visit the amazing blogs with great content you just found, subscribe, and get them delivered to your Reader or email.

It's that simple.

Go try it, I guarantee you will learn something, and enjoy yourself in the process!

Tell them Mary sent you.....no I'm not an affiliate, just a loyal fan ~ Thanks for the chat, Dino!


Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left

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]]>Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:39:52 GMThttp://www.marykathrynjohnson.com/1/post/2013/03/hope-faith-courage.html

Hope is wishing you could change your life.

Faith is believing you could change your life.

Courage is changing your life.

The ONLY requirement for change is Courage.  All else is pavement of the path to courage. 

What in your life do you have the courage to change?


Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left

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]]>Tue, 19 Feb 2013 21:46:11 GMThttp://www.marykathrynjohnson.com/1/post/2013/02/hold-on-10-years.html

The business I started after breaking both my legs at 8 months pregnant will turn 10 next month.  Many waves have crashed my bow, but the resulting rainbows have made the storms worth the energy!
Join me for an amazing celebration with giveaways worthy of any birthday party.  Keep an eye on the horizon, and hang on for the ride!  The rainbow is forming...


Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left

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]]>Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:49:23 GMThttp://www.marykathrynjohnson.com/1/post/2013/02/attitude-marriage.htmlHere is the second installment of my blog series for Venture Galleries, and I hope it saves a few well-meaning, but typical men from countless hours of torture from their wonderful, hardworking wives.




One touch is all it took.

A hand on the shoulder would have done it.

She had all the power, and all the anger, and she just couldn’t do it.  She couldn’t give him the satisfaction of being the one to make up first.

Walking into Starbucks for her morning Soy, Nonfat Mocha after Kindergarten drop-off, Jude was so engrossed in the events of last night, and the search for her debit card in her purse that she bumped into the person holding the door open for her.

Jude was surprised to see she had run into another Kindergartener mother – the one with the long salt-and-pepper hair.

“Oh, I’m sorry, how silly of me.  I wasn’t paying attention.  Thank you.” Jude said as both women walked to the back of the line.

“No worries,” replied the woman. “Having one of those mornings?”

“Yes!” was Jude’s exasperated response.

“Sorry to hear it,” the woman said. “Maybe the firefighters coming to school later this morning will take your mind off your troubles.”

“Oh My Gosh, I forgot all about that!” said Jude, sighing heavily.

The front of the line reached, they both ordered their respective drinks, and headed for the only available table, and with smiles, agreed to share it.

“How could you forget about the firefighters, most of the moms have been looking forward to their visit all week,”  the other mother said with a sly smile.

“I know, right,” Jude replied. “It’s just my stupid husband.”

“Uh-oh”

Bursting at the seems to commiserate with a comrade, Jude explained, “You know, is it too much to ask for him to help with the chaos at bedtime by clearing the table and putting the dishes in the dishwasher? But, getting him to do just that one little thing is like pulling teeth! He just plops down on the couch after dinner, watching ‘Pawn Stars', while I have to get baths done, and get the girls in bed,” Jude spewed in one breath, then sighed.  “Last night, I was tired, and asked again if he could just help me out this one time while I got the girls ready for bed, and we got into a fight, because he wouldn’t do it.”

Jude took a sip from her Mocha, and asked, “Does your husband help with the dishes?”

The woman took her time with a sip of her French Roast before she replied calmly...(Read on)





Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
MommyLoves to Chat!
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left
]]>Mon, 11 Feb 2013 01:07:16 GMThttp://www.marykathrynjohnson.com/1/post/2013/02/attitude-age.htmlI was asked by Caleb Pirtle III to write a blog series on his widely popular site Venture Galleries, and I am very honored to accept.  Here is the first installment, and while you are on the Venture Galleries site, browse around...the photos are amazing!



Jude froze, standing in the dirt parking lot, and looked around to see if anyone heard her daughter’s comment.

“What, honey?” she whispered.

“I saw it sticking straight up, mommy, it looked like a white hair,” Alicia said while carefully navigating the wide chasm every five year old must brave getting out of a Ford Expedition.

A few other late arrivals to Kindergarten were jogging with kids in tow, but no one was paying them any attention in their haste.

With Alicia standing in the dirt, Jude opened the passenger door, jumped in and flipped the visor to reveal the mirror.

“Shit!” she breathed while smoothing the hair at the back of her part.

The bell rang.

“Come on, Mommy, we’re late!” yelled Alicia.

Jude slammed the visor up, jumped down from the seat, slammed the door, and pushed the lock button on her key fob.

She grabbed Alicia’s hand, and said, “Mommy’s going to go potty when we get in class, okay, honey?” while pulling her across the street and up the steps.

“But, Mommy, you promised to read with me!” Alicia whined, running to keep up.

“I will, honey, I just need to go the bathroom first, okay?”

All the students were sitting on the alphabet rug with their little red paper books, reading to their respective partners when Jude and Alicia entered the classroom.

Jude ushered Alicia past the teacher with an apologetic, exasperated roll of her eyes, and pulled her daughter to an empty space on the rug.

Smoothing the hair on the top of her head, she glanced around the room and assessed which adults were present.  The same few moms she saw during the daily drop off of kindergarteners – all in their mom uniforms of t-shirts and jeans or sweat pants, and one rather good looking father obviously on his way to work, looking uncomfortable sitting on the rug in his grey suit.

One adult and child were off to the side near the hallway to the bathroom, the little girl crying, while the adult, who Jude could only assume was her grandmother with long salt and pepper hair hanging over her face, bent low and spoke in soft, comforting tones.  There was at least one student almost every day with separation anxiety, and this one looked like she didn’t want grandma to leave.

Jude thought the women’s healthy thick hair would be beautiful if she would just dye it, for Christ’s sake!

“Mommy will be right back, Alicia, so go get your book, and start practicing your reading, okay?!”  And, without waiting for an answer, she was walking toward the restroom sign.

Safely inside with the door locked, she took her nail clippers out of her makeup bag...(Read on)


Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
MommyLoves to Chat!
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left

]]>Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:52:16 GMThttp://www.marykathrynjohnson.com/1/post/2013/02/you.html

Are you getting discouraged with your goal to lose weight or get healthy in 2013, just like every other year?  Well, I have a secret that could just be the magic pill!

Ready?


This isn't a call to...follow this particular weight loss technique, and you, too, could look like me!  If you looked like me, there would be two of us, and you would have to be the evil twin.

Find what is right for YOU!

How?  Start by sitting down, taking a deep breath, and shutting up!  That includes your thoughts, don't let them shout at you that you should be vacuuming, or fixing dinner, or writing that blogpost, or finding out what your silent toddler is up to...well, that one you better listen to.  Go ahead, I'll wait.

When you sit and listen, you just might see where you need to put the most energy to make yourself a better version of yourself.

• Is it what you eat?
• Is it how fast you eat?
• Is it how often you eat?
• Is it your activity level? (or lack thereof)
• Is it your activity frequency? (or lack thereof)
• Is it your triggers to eat, like stress, boredom, TV watching, picking off the kids' plates, tasting while cooking?
• Is it your late night snacking?
• Is it that you DON'T eating breakfast?

I guarantee that if you sit quietly for a few minutes a day, and focus on just one change you want to make in your life, you will start acting toward that change.  It takes 21 days of daily focus to change a habit.  We have passed that date in the New Year, and will pass it again next month, and next year.

You might as well focus now for long term change, because no "diet" will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle once you lose weight.  Only your daily focus will do that.

If, after listening quietly, you find that you are just fine the way you are, then Fantastic!  I bet you have more to learn in life, because you are human, by the way, and that means decidedly not perfect.  There must be something you need to do to improve upon that amazing package?  Internal and external change have their roots in your mind and attitude every time.

So sit and listen at least once a day.  Call it whatever you want...taking a breath...me time...meditation...finding your smile...calming down so you don't spew at someone...whatever!  We all need a moment, and if that moment moves us forward toward our goals, 


THAT'S THE POINT!


Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
MommyLoves to Chat!
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left

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