<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[RSS Feed]]></title><description><![CDATA[RSS Feed]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com</link><image><url>http://direct.ecency.com/logo512.png</url><title>RSS Feed</title><link>http://direct.ecency.com</link></image><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 02:01:34 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="http://direct.ecency.com/@jlwkolb/rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Of cholera and opium in Turkey]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Misadventure As a 19-year-old who had never been out of the country (besides Tijuana), the task of packing up for my junior year abroad was daunting. Yes, I was studying in the UK, so I wasn’t too worried]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/travel/@jlwkolb/of-cholera-and-opium-in-turkey</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/travel/@jlwkolb/of-cholera-and-opium-in-turkey</guid><category><![CDATA[travel]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jlwkolb]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 23 Jul 2016 23:56:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/x7L2VSNEiyAJGtud5iomHxqv8yu327qaGPGSzBheEnW3uo1vDVEn8MQj61FTm4RrfaTK11Tn8R9N222?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[What it was like working on a book with Julie Andrews]]></title><description><![CDATA[In 2005 I was beginning to get antsy about my work. My children had started preschool which left me some time to start drawing and painting again. Except for a few botanical and insect illustrations I]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/art/@jlwkolb/what-it-was-like-working-on-a-book-with-julie-andrews</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/art/@jlwkolb/what-it-was-like-working-on-a-book-with-julie-andrews</guid><category><![CDATA[art]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jlwkolb]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 22 Jul 2016 00:14:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/hgjbks2vRxvp3qu9YiP5LbshBUFN36zQRZKjdYd5LvNoQ11WUyXVjhLsS1u71WYo18x7bPRxwex7aX41BaVfu7G1Mg?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[A coffee break with Aesop part VIII]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Jackdaw and the Pigeons A jackdaw, which is a kind of crow, once noticed a group of well fed pigeons in a pigeon keep enjoying a protected life and living happily together. These enticing arrangements]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/art/@jlwkolb/a-coffee-break-with-aesop-part-viii</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/art/@jlwkolb/a-coffee-break-with-aesop-part-viii</guid><category><![CDATA[art]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jlwkolb]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 21 Jul 2016 15:11:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/9RTqgzgfVW72JGXr4wPP3pXuaHF8St38QgcuCcJ8f6wKvZRjNfQKyNqJQJu5j6uGEgpNdB3F6W?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Steemit - where a thick skin is required]]></title><description><![CDATA[Beware the Sting Being an introvert is a common personality trait among us Steemians (that is the term, right?). Why wouldn’t it be? We are an alternative bunch who are taking back our creative freedoms]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/life/@jlwkolb/steemit-where-a-thick-skin-is-required</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/life/@jlwkolb/steemit-where-a-thick-skin-is-required</guid><category><![CDATA[life]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jlwkolb]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 20 Jul 2016 18:29:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/2ufhwNgM3qHKRJZpNHQCLfs3rECMifJFPPBpgC7qzBGoouV5VQTXcRSPomWyGRXM3EnfZvage?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Staying for the kids? Think twice]]></title><description><![CDATA[I know what you are thinking. You’re going to be the better couple and stick it through so your children can survive childhood unscathed by their parents’ divorce. Your own parents may have divorced and]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/life/@jlwkolb/staying-for-the-kids-think-twice</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/life/@jlwkolb/staying-for-the-kids-think-twice</guid><category><![CDATA[life]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jlwkolb]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 19 Jul 2016 19:25:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/DVAkPJXe6RxaNGqdGa2zAHH4tCXpanW8Y8JzzpHTZaRFhxjoVf7kJXTDB8zTXCuSWyFJ7FZfBXT1y8?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Elevenses with Aesop part VII]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Lion and the Mouse A lion was stretching out to rest in the shade after a long day in the sun. As he was dozing, a tickle along his body jolted him awake. It seems a small mouse, distracted by the]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/art/@jlwkolb/elevenses-with-aesop-part-vii</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/art/@jlwkolb/elevenses-with-aesop-part-vii</guid><category><![CDATA[art]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jlwkolb]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 19 Jul 2016 15:22:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/DVAkPJXe6RxZgHAgTrkFfjEPWMfykk9yryt6ZLqi7wmJ7fH35c8zhxWhnUy4Ro21p2hBWWwum58SA2?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[This mad addiction]]></title><description><![CDATA[When you have an idea for a steem post So I have been engrossed in steem for the last week. My normal routines have suffered. See, usually I have my Pilates class MWF at 8:30. Last week I was off since]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/life/@jlwkolb/this-mad-addiction</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/life/@jlwkolb/this-mad-addiction</guid><category><![CDATA[life]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jlwkolb]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 18 Jul 2016 19:34:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/2k7TU6R7D8hFW8DgtEPXmmei25zG8ich8SfpAwPLQ4yhzjCpaNsqgAwe93?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Snow White in Los Angeles]]></title><description><![CDATA[It was in early 1968 and my parents were looking for an apartment in the Hollywood area. My mother was pregnant with me, and she was anxious to get settled. One day, they went to go see a place that seemed]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/life/@jlwkolb/snow-white-in-los-angeles</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/life/@jlwkolb/snow-white-in-los-angeles</guid><category><![CDATA[life]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jlwkolb]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 18 Jul 2016 18:16:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/2HeX3Zi2vTf1sLcixZgmQjhQzqzJheLGkdjwpgSuB3WaNh1wDkpQyrBV1v4RkTVJSXL4n?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Coffee Break with Aesop part VI]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Monkey and the Camel During the time of the animal kingdom, the animals used to have periodic gatherings where they would discuss important questions and elect their kings. Very often one or two animals]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/art/@jlwkolb/a-coffee-break-with-aesop-part-vi</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/art/@jlwkolb/a-coffee-break-with-aesop-part-vi</guid><category><![CDATA[art]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jlwkolb]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 18 Jul 2016 14:05:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/S5Eokt4BcQdoHfhdzdyVUPDRkKS5udXta74LW6NeED5t17bzfDiusGbKqdL5XNgMcXdLDP4?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sunday Brunch with Aesop part V]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Mole and His Mother A Mole, a creature normally blind from birth, once said to his Mother, “Why, Mother, you said I was blind! But I am sure I can see!” Mother Mole saw she would have to get such conceit]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/art/@jlwkolb/sunday-brunch-with-aesop-part-v</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/art/@jlwkolb/sunday-brunch-with-aesop-part-v</guid><category><![CDATA[art]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jlwkolb]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 17 Jul 2016 16:11:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/6gUbcKN7UxenqBagCFGX1mTNvKDw8Pn42NjuEViEaCV9mRbKWECKcfc1wDpeyMD8zQzJZC?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[The reply from Virgin]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Johanna Thank you for your email to Richard Branson. Although he is unable to respond personally to everyone that writes to him, Richard is by no means complacent when something like this is brought]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/travel/@jlwkolb/the-reply-from-virgin</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/travel/@jlwkolb/the-reply-from-virgin</guid><category><![CDATA[travel]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jlwkolb]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 17 Jul 2016 04:54:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/3q52Dkr5nBe4KsLQtrLKH2Qss9mB96hYtWhToKZQQykyzEwKuBajiYrEx2BTonqgvzA1sCgDRyWdk?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[My email to Richard Branson that got a response]]></title><description><![CDATA[To those who asked, here is the email I sent to Mr. Branson - I wrote about it the other day here: From: Johanna Westerman Kolb [mailto:jwestermanr@____] Sent: 03 September 2014 19:52 To: Richard Branson]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/travel/@jlwkolb/my-email-to-richard-branson-that-got-a-response</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/travel/@jlwkolb/my-email-to-richard-branson-that-got-a-response</guid><category><![CDATA[travel]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jlwkolb]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 17 Jul 2016 02:31:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/3q52Dkr5nBe4KsLQtrLKH2Qss9mB96hYtWhToKZQQykyzEwKuBajiYrEx2BTonqgvzA1sCgDRyWdk?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[What is it with clowns?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Every time I see Tim Curry. This is hard for me to even write about. I am reinventing myself these days, so I'll put this out there as a way of confronting my fears. But I ask you. What is remotely appealing]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/funny/@jlwkolb/what-is-it-with-clowns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/funny/@jlwkolb/what-is-it-with-clowns</guid><category><![CDATA[funny]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jlwkolb]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 15 Jul 2016 21:31:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/2k7TU6R7D8hFW8DgtEPXmmei25zG8ich65LcTdUqDckqCGmhhwRKmeK39p?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[We are all naked here]]></title><description><![CDATA[We are here, baring our souls. Why not? It feels safe enough. Others are doing it. Let's level the playing field and strip the BS. Chances are, if we made it to Steem, it has taken years in the making.]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/life/@jlwkolb/we-are-all-naked-here</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/life/@jlwkolb/we-are-all-naked-here</guid><category><![CDATA[life]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jlwkolb]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 15 Jul 2016 17:37:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/2HeX3Zi2vTf1sLcixZgmQjhQzqzJheLGeRBPfefa82T8Cs7xJTwoWwTCRZ51APNCTNitE?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Nightmare in Death Valley]]></title><description><![CDATA[A parent’s worst nightmare, if you could even guess that what I’m about to tell you happened. I wrote this right after the incident two years ago. Let me begin by saying I wasn't too wasn’t too keen on]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/travel/@jlwkolb/nightmare-in-death-valley</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/travel/@jlwkolb/nightmare-in-death-valley</guid><category><![CDATA[travel]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jlwkolb]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 15 Jul 2016 17:23:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/8hHVpauQQYxf1Ys1386Spc5S3o1jo4gYCjjPi7ut14szfiGNDYzm1MyKnht?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[And now for something completely different - a coffee break with Aesop part IV]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Crow and the Pitcher A Crow, half-dead with thirst, came upon a Pitcher which had once been full of water; but when the Crow put its beak into the mouth of the Pitcher he found that only very little]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/art/@jlwkolb/and-now-for-something-completely-different-a-coffee-break-with-aesop-part-iv</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/art/@jlwkolb/and-now-for-something-completely-different-a-coffee-break-with-aesop-part-iv</guid><category><![CDATA[art]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jlwkolb]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 15 Jul 2016 14:17:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/5CEvyaWxjaEsop1GVBYLFnX6vZPiz3LkbdSFW6eJj32wqe3P6E17WJv6x17RhQ8otux4a99q1pvyhBFMQ?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[And now for something completely different - a coffee break with Aesop part III]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Bear and the Fox A bear boasted very much of his philanthropy, saying that of all animals he was the most tender in his regard for man, for he had such respect for him that he would not even touch]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/art/@jlwkolb/and-now-for-something-completely-different-a-coffee-break-with-aesop-part-iii</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/art/@jlwkolb/and-now-for-something-completely-different-a-coffee-break-with-aesop-part-iii</guid><category><![CDATA[art]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jlwkolb]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 14 Jul 2016 15:04:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/o1AJ9qDyyJNSg3j52kokyfvD831NZXr3mW31WAfyE6bbzpLt6?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why I don't regret my outrageous 100K student loan debt]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Balancing Act I was in the midst of a divorce. Panicked, I needed to figure out how to get myself out of impending financial doom before I hit the bottom. I could always teach – an art major would need]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/life/@jlwkolb/why-i-don-t-regret-my-outrageous-100k-student-loan-debt</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/life/@jlwkolb/why-i-don-t-regret-my-outrageous-100k-student-loan-debt</guid><category><![CDATA[life]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jlwkolb]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 14 Jul 2016 04:01:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/BRWJ2XuBRXQxQtwjkpK59RMNMgNesD8p53DykWfZN8ejHCdt?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[How Richard Branson changed my life]]></title><description><![CDATA[Yes, he did. Personally. Two years ago I was getting ready to take my four children to London and Paris for the first time. They had never been out of the country. I was particularly interested in the]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/travel/@jlwkolb/how-richard-branson-changed-my-life</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/travel/@jlwkolb/how-richard-branson-changed-my-life</guid><category><![CDATA[travel]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jlwkolb]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 13 Jul 2016 22:34:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/BRWJ2XuBRXQxQtwjkpK59RMNMgNesCqimXPxDEzAhZQFcGxW?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[What I wish my dad knew]]></title><description><![CDATA[What I wish my dad knew I was only a little girl. I couldn’t help having needs. I had to survive, and I trusted you. I didn’t ask to be born. But once I was here, you could have been happy. You could have]]></description><link>http://direct.ecency.com/life/@jlwkolb/what-i-wish-my-dad-knew</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://direct.ecency.com/life/@jlwkolb/what-i-wish-my-dad-knew</guid><category><![CDATA[life]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[jlwkolb]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 13 Jul 2016 19:45:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.ecency.com/p/BRWJ2XuBRXQxQtwjkpK59RMNMgNesCnE12PnWFKELz517Akv?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item></channel></rss>