Dressing Up

Dressing up always has a good reason (Unless it includes ski masks, thievery and weapons, which I do not condone...). I mean, think about it. What do we dress up for?

-Job Interviews
-Masquerade Balls
-Dances
-Weddings
-Halloween....:)
-Hobbit Parties (Oh yes, you heard me!)
-Mystery Dinners
-Opera/concerts/the arts
-Dates
-Pajama Parties
...and many, many more!

And why do we do it? To impress? Maybe. But I think the reason we dress up (or dress down, depending on the event), is because we want to feel good. We want to look good with and for those who are with because we are human beings who need love, happiness, faith and trust (And maybe just a little pixie dust!). We do it when we want to make major changes in our lives, or we see major change on the horizon and have hope for the better future to come. We want to feel like we are on top of the world, even if that just means we can have fun with life again and again, or if that means starting from scratch. By now we know what the world is like, and sometimes we just need a little bit of something to make us smile. So we pull out an outfit, put it on, and feel absolutely stunning in it. Yes, STUNNING! Then we can meet the world and whatever it wants to throw at us with gusto. So tomorrow I'm going to put on a stunning outfit--and you better watch out, world, 'cause I'm ready to take you on!

The Hudson Diaries is now LIVE!

Friends, Romans, Countrymen! Lend me your ears!
My newest novella, The Hudson Diaries, just came out today!!!
Please follow these steps to buy one:

Go to http://www.untreedreads.com and then go to the "Untreed Reads Store". Once there, you will find a search box on the left hand side, where you can put in the title (The Hudson Diaries) or my name (Kara L. Barney). Then add it to your cart, follow the order instructions and download it! It's $4.99 and you can download it in all formats! Also, please spread the word to all your friends and family who like to read! Thanks!

Miss Havisham and Love

So I just saw the first part of the newest BBC version of Great Expectations (There have been several...This one comes through Masterpiece Theatre on PBS), with Gillian Anderson as Miss Havisham, an obsessive woman who was spurned at the marriage altar. It got me thinking...I hope I don't turn out like that.

The way Ms. Anderson interprets the character is that she is still obsessive, but one who, rather than wild, decays slowly with the passage of time mentally as well as physically. Like her wedding accoutrements, Miss Havisham is someone who can not let go of her past and so is left with a mirthless present and a dim and nearly dead future. She is gentler and more odd rather than completely diabolical. Although this interpretation is somewhat different from the dialogue of the original book--less angry and demeaning--this subtle change makes for a more thought-provoking introspection of the self afterwards.

I am nearly 25 years old, unmarried and a working professional at present. Though I certainly want to be married and have children someday, what is it that I can be doing in the meantime? I definitely do not wish to waste away merely waiting, for that would not be living at all. However, living only to work does not fit for me either, and I do wish to find love. I want it more deeply than I can say.

But like Miss Havisham, I wonder sometimes if I am too odd, too different to be truly acceptable in the place which I live. Unfortunately in this case, I am not a man nor a friend of mine, and so I cannot know what they think of me unless they tell me directly or give me some clue of their thoughts. Communication, of course, is integral in any relationship, and I do not hold these wonderings against anyone, but I must say that they do come to me from time to time.

What is my next step, since I can see my greatest goal met somewhere in the future, but without any specific knowledge of a timetable? Where shall I go to progress toward that, even if it does mean something new or an unexpected turn? These questions have been with me for some time, and I guess were finally culminated in revisiting Great Expectations. If you find yourself looking for a chance to reflect, watch it online at www.kued.org under Masterpiece.

The Hudson Diaries

For anyone who is interested, I have been lucky enough to be published soon! It is my first short story collection, and it is called The Hudson Diaries--yes, you heard me--The Hudson Diaries. It is based on Mrs. Hudson, Sherlock Holmes's landlady, and provides a history for her. For those of you who love Sherlock Holmes and the Victorian England that he is a part of, I deeply respect you. Sherlockians, you know who you are, and I am one of you.

For those of you who know only a little about Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson and all their lovely adventures, I would hope that this might shed some light on him for you. I would also suggest reading the Sherlock Holmes Canon--4 novels and 57 short stories--to get to know this timeless character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Now, back to my book--it will be published by Untreed Reads, an e-book publishing company, sometime in the near future. When I know more about specific dates, I will let you know--but here is basically what you can expect:

Eight short stories told from the perspective of Mrs. Hudson from her first meeting with Sherlock Holmes to just after her marriage to her husband Rupert Hudson. That is all I will tell you for now, but please spread the word that this is happening, and I wish you all well!

Tuesdays with Morrie

Another great book to read, Tuesdays with Morrie is along the same lines as The Fred Factor in some ways...wisdom from an old man to a young man (Mitch Albom) about life's greatest lessons. This is a true story about the discussions between an old professor and his favorite student, the former dying from Lou Gehrig's disease.

Thirteen discussions about the social issues of the world: money, greed, cultural self-serving, etc... but also some of the best things in life: family, love, hope, change etc... and mixing them all together in serious discussion with real-life humor also thrown in.

I would encourage everyone to read it. The end almost made me cry! You get to know Morrie and Mitch both, and discover how much human contact and love are important in any relationship and, if you're willing, what you can learn from the previous generation about how to live your life to find true happiness.

The Fred Factor

Now, here is a book that I would recommend to everyone who wants to do better in their business and make their relationships more meaningful (and that should be everyone)--read The Fred Factor.

It's a small book about a mail carrier who does an extraordinary job at what he does. The author, Mark Sanborn, knows this mail carrier personally, Fred Shea, and uses his example to teach us how to be like Fred. The best thing about the book is that he's an ordinary, real-life example of how to be extraordinary in every sphere of life.

How, do you ask, can we be like Fred? Well, here's the major points I got from the book:

Service: One act of kindness a day, rather than random acts of kindness now and then, will make your life better and better the lives of those you serve. It doesn't have to be something huge--it can be baking cookies for someone, paying a bus fare for someone who forgot their wallet, going the extra mile at work, complementing someone or whatever. Seek out those who need help and be the one to answer the call.

Attitude: Your attitude can change the entire course of your day. If you find yourself getting depressed, start naming things you are grateful for...Look for the things that make you happiest and enjoy them. Love whatever situation your in. If you are going thorough tough times, work hard to solve the problem and think outside the box--You may find that something you never thought you would do might be the answer to your problem.

Love: Love the people you work with, thank the people who inspire you, cherish friendships and family members, and for those who are hardest to love, often they are the ones that need love the most. Include, not exclude. Find something good in everyone, not just in those who are easiest to love.

Value: Add value to your work and relationships--remember birthdays, be creative in every sphere, solve problems that at first might not have an answer, remember to be grateful and say so, improve yourself rather than compare yourself to others...Do everything you can to do your best and it will be best for you in the end.

These, among other things, are what I learned from The Fred Factor. I would definitely encourage anyone who wants to improve their workspace and relationships to read this book!

I am grateful for....

Today I decided that rather than linger on the increasingly awkward and headache-inducing goings on of my day, I would say at least one thing I am grateful for--bus drivers.

Now, for those of us who do not drive in this world--and there are very few of us--bus drivers are an integral part of our day (This also includes train and subway conductors and electric operators, for those of us on the other side of the hemisphere or in very large cities that use the metro more.). They probably get up earlier than most of us and spend all day transporting other people around. Some drivers I know have just come to the five year mark of their bus driving, while others have been doing it longer than I have lived--and that could be considered a while.

So, to those of you who drive day in and day out--bus drivers, taxi drivers, metro controllers and train conductors--I thank you! You make my life a little bit easier with your job. The next time you see one of these guys, make sure to thank them for all their hard work and give them a round of applause.