Dancing on the Beach

I was dancing on the beach, more graceful than ever before. The wind was softly blowing through my hair, as I ran down the beautiful shore. I felt as if I were a graceful dove, gliding as I went. My long flowing dress was softly blowing in the cool breeze. The sea gulls were spreading their wings to take flight. The waves of the ocean and the sounds of nature were singing a love song to me.

I was dancing on the beach, happier than I had been in a long time. The sea's words were carrying me to a place in which I prayed I could live forever. I was filled with content and joy. Until guilt and pain took prisoner of my heart once again. How dare I be dancing in a state of pure bliss, with him gone forever? Never again to see him smile, laugh, or turn my world into sunshine again.

I was dancing on the beach, lost in my own despair. When all at once, the one I knew better than my own soul appeared before me. As he approached closer, my heart screamed for joy. I ran to him, barely feeling the sand beneath my feet. I jumped into his arms and he twirled me around. We began to dance so gloriously.

We were dancing on the beach, my love and I. My heart was filled with the greatest delight, everything was perfect. I was free to be happy once again. He was so handsome with a radiant smile that warmed my heart. He lifted me high into the air. I felt as if I were flying. Then he gently placed me back on my feet. When I looked into his eyes he smiled, so lovingly. Then he whispered, "be happy my love, for I am always with you." Then he turned and walked away fading into the coming sunset, leaving me alone once again.

I was dancing on the beach. My heart full of joy, without feeling the guilt that enveloped me for so long. For I realized that it was okay to be happy, to love again. That is what he wanted the most. So I continued to dance on the beach knowing my angel would always be by my side.

Underemployed with a College Degree!

It is so frustrating looking for a job! I went to college, studied, and functioned on very little sleep! I worked hard for that degree, thought I’d be handed this wonderful job that I would just love after graduation. Well it took a while but eventually I jot a job. I enjoyed it at first, however it was a stressful job that did not pay enough for what I did. To top it off, I had a horrible, crazy boss. I had read about bad bosses, and she pretty much fit the description of a bully in the workplace.

A job is not good, when you absolutely dread going to work every day, except for the days she wasn’t there! It got to where I was literally making myself sick. I feared all my worries and upsets would give me an ulcer. I also wanted to go home and leave work at work and to find a better boss. For my health and state of mind, I decided to leave the job. I thought It would be easy to find a new job, for I have a degree!

Boy was I wrong! It’s been over a year and I still have not found a job. I am currently working a job just barely over minimum wage! I’m fighting egotistical thoughts such as, I’m too good for this place. It is reminding me of what it feels like to be at the bottom of the food chain. The sad part is I’m not the only collage grad in this position. I have a co-worker who is in the same boat as I am. It’s refreshing to talk to him and to know he has the same feelings of drowning with no way out, as I do.

People do not understand why I left that other job, however none of them had walked in my shoes. They have told me “you can’t leave a good job just because you’re not happy!” I was like "why not?" Is it so wrong to have a job that you love, can’t wait to get up and go to work everyday? I still feel like that’s possible, even in the hard situation I am in today. After some soul searching and remembering the college classes I really enjoyed; I realized I am more of a creative person. I have always wanted to write a book. I’m getting more of a clear picture of what I want to do with my life. So maybe that will help in me finding the right job.

What really bothers me is how hard it is to find a good paying job, especially if you have a degree. You fall into the catch twenty-two of being over-qualified or under-qualified. I live in a college town, it has several colleges and universities, yet it does not create jobs to keep many of the college graduates it teaches. How sad is that?

I read an article about the “Underemployed,” in my local newspaper paper. I got excited because it described me! Underemployed was defined as someone with a college degree, working way below their worth. It is comforting and yet sad to know there are others in this situation. There also needs to be more help for the underemployed. Everything is geared towards helping people find any job, well not just any job will do! People cannot survive on a few bucks an hour!

Deep down I know that God has a plan for me, and that He is having me go through this for reasons I may never be fully aware of. So I know I’ll get through this, even though there are times I have doubts.

Karen

State of Veteran Actors on Soap Operas

State of Veteran Actors on Soap Operas

Over recent years there has been a sad trend of losing long established and beloved characters on our favorite soaps. Whether they are being backburned, put on recurring, vanish, or killed off. These veteran actors/characters are being replaced by new characters that are given so much airtime, they almost invade the viewer’s space.

We are not given a chance to get to know them. Then they are gone as quickly as they come. Replaced by a clone like copy of the previous character.

Soaps are a generational, often we watch what our mothers and in some cases fathers watched. There are characters we grew up with, there are characters we grew to love, and then there are characters we love to hate.

There are some soaps that within six months, the cast is almost unrecognizable. Yet two of highest rated soaps, you can tune into years later, and see the same characters, along with new characters. For instance Kay on “Young and the Restless,” and Marlena on “Days of our Lives.”

I tuned into General Hospital one day, and didn’t recognize anyone. Where was Bobbie, Monica, Alan, Edward? The Quartmains were replaced by mobsters being glorified as the "good guys." The one strong female character, is viewed as a shrew, while the other female characters, are belitted by the men in their lives.

The Soap Opera I have been watching is One Life to Live. Granted not many of my friends watch it, they watch Y&R or Days, which still showcase vet characters in viable story lines. Yet I stay faithful to OLTL. The reason I started watching was the character of Nora Buchanan. True she was an older character, not your conventional character. This is one of the reasons I like OLTL they have real characters that the viewer can relate to. We all know people like Vicki, Bo, Nora, Marcie, Natalie, etc.

What I first noticed about her was she had a hot younger doctor madly in love with her. Now that’s romance! Of course my view of that changed when in true soap opera fashion they turned him into a psycho. Now I believe her true soulmate is Bo.

I liked her interaction with all the Lanview characters, especially Lindsay (another character you love to hate, who sadly has been put on recurring status.) Most of all I love her interactions with Bo, another nontypical soap character.

There are rumors going around that we may lose this character, and for some reason this has been the one move that has made me want to stand up and yell no more. We as viewers need to take a stand about this disturbing trend of losing our older characters. What has been so great about soaps is their rich history, and vast array of different characters, there is something for everyone, not just for an isolated set of demographics.

Characters of all ages are valuable to storylines. I just wish soap executives would realize what others already know. Older Characters can create good storylines and increase ratings. Look at “Desperate Housewives” this award winning show consist of characters over forty! The creator Marc Cherry knows the value of older characters, for he also created another award winning TV show about older characters, “The Golden Girls.”

I hope this is just a crazy internet rumor, and Nora will have a long and happy “One Life to Live”, with strong storylines, that I know her portrayer Hillary B. Smith is well qualified to handle.

*Added note* 1/11/2006

HBS has signed a year contract, and the viewer is promised a meaty Nora story line. The verdict is still out as to whether I believe that or not!

HSN

Introduction

Hello everyone, my name is Karen. This is my first endeavor into the blogging world. The goal of this site is to improve my writing skills, to publish stories, and articles on topics of interest. I am hoping to become a professional writer. So I see this as a way to gain valuable experience.

I want to write on varying topics, kind of like journalism articles. I also will publish reflections of situations that occur in my life, the news or entertainment. I tend to be the person that gets on a soapbox, so I'd figure I will give my friends and family a break from my ongoing debates and discussions.

Entries may range from political issues, Religious views, rights of others, to my favorite TV shows or movies. So as you can see, this will be a web page about almost anything! I have always believed variety is the spice of life, so that is how my page will look.

So I hope you enjoy and come back! Karen