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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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