Desperately Seeking Oprah

Welcome to my blog!

Teachers, dreamers, Oprah fans and to anyone in a life transition who feels the need for hope and persistence – this book is for you!

Forget Plan A or Plan B – I've discovered that they fall be the wayside pretty quickly in real life! Plan K or Plan R or Plan Y is where it's at for me, that is, getting creative and having fun pursuing my passions when the going gets tough.

That's really what my new book, Desperately Seeking Oprah Reservations is all about.

Sure we were trying to get tickets to Oprah. But what we were really trying to teach each other, our kids, our families and ourselves was that persistence pays off!

It all got started when Michelle – a former 4th-grade teacher in Shoreview, Minnesota – and I got to talking about her dream to see Oprah live. She told me she had tried to get tickets for two years, but with no luck at all.

Then there was Katie, a 5th-grade teacher who said she'd also love to go, after all, she taped the Oprah show every day!

MariPat – another 5th-grade teacher – overheard all of us and said, "I'd like to go, too! And you should also ask Liz (a 3rd-grade teacher). You have asked her, haven't you?"

No I had not.

But I did. And that's how our quest began ...

I created this blog to get a lot of conversations going about all the stuff about our adventure that never made it into the book. (But I hope you buy the book, too!)

Thanks for visiting. This is going to be fun.

tags: Oprah books  teachers

My book-writing adventure

What I feel is important about this book is the background to getting the tickets and in writing the book—both tremendous obstacles requiring persistence and determination.

I've been an attorney for over 20 years never having had a sick day.  Three years ago, I began battling a mysterious illness and began treating at Mayo Clinic.

The uncertainty of the process has taken its toll and so to avoid the trap of self-absorption, I've given my time, energy and resources to doing for others.  Hence, the pursuit of Oprah tickets for my friends.  It is hard to feel sorry for oneself when absorbed in doing for others.

The process to get these tickets was difficult.  I had many ideas, all of which resulted in no tickets, including making and sending over 40 video tapes to Oprah requesting tickets!  I dressed up in costumes such as Harpo and asked for tickets.

There was no response.  I then decided to write a book about the experience with the hope I would get tickets.  In the process, Mark the Painter happened along and through him the tickets finally came, so I stopped writing the book.  But Karen at the St. Paul Eye Clinic in Roseville encouraged me to continue writing and I did.

After reading my manuscript, my good friend Connie said, “I think you might be on to something.” With that encouragement, I thought, "Go for it!"  And I have.  I've learned a great deal about self publishing.  It's costly and everyone has their hand in your pocket.  It's difficult, if not impossible to make money, let alone break even.

During this process, my health has deteriorated to the point I'm not currently working as an attorney. I've been diagnosed with a connective-tissue disease with central nervous system symptoms and I'm on more medicine than you can believe.  This has been hard. My job and my life has changed.  The process has been life altering.   We all need affirmation and to feel we have a purpose. Besides my family, this book has been my inspiration and has given me a lift at a difficult time.  Honestly, I hope it takes off  – I would love to continue writing, speaking consulting and training others to help them through transitions, change and pursuing dreams.  It can be done. I know first-hand.

I'd to thank John Nielson of Picklefeather who helped me create this blog. I just met him through my daughter’s hockey team and he has graciously and kindly given me a hand to help me.  I can’t thank him enough.  I also want to thank Mark Johnson the Painter who really got us the tickets to Oprah.  His dream is to become a nursing home administrator.  Anyone who can help Mark network, let me know.  He is a good, decent and hard-working man!!! You'll be lucky to get this guy!