Jak Trak's Lensography
Ranked #2,282 in Squidoo Community, #204,827 overall | Donates to National Wildlife Federation's Alaska Regional Center
Jak's Traks: where I've been . . .
I ENJOY: (in no particular order)
reading POETRY and novels,
WRITING poetry and the occasional short story,
trying exotic COFFEES,
NATURE, the earth
wildlife, and not-so-wildlife like my CATS,
learning about PSYCHOLOGY (explains why I'm a psychotherapist),
QUANTUM PHYSICS w/out equations (is there such a thing?),
YOGA and qigong,
computers, WEBSITES, blogging,
sea salt and vinegar potato CHIPS,
PHOTOGRAPHY and graphic design,
mind-bending MOVIES
Home Town
I grew up in Rochester, MN. Its located in the south eastern part of the state, about an hour from the Mississippi, and from Minneapolis.The picture at right is the Plummer Building, one of the original buildings of the Mayo Clinic. The clinic is what Rochester's most known for.
I lived there until I was 32. That's when I walked down the aisle and trekked to Illinois.
Nature or Nurture?
My love of boots started about the time I was 2 years old. My dad, who was only 21 when I was 2, had a pair of black boots I adored - much like the ones pictured above.
I didn't walk around in my mom's high heels. Instead, I clomped around in my dad's boots. When I first started walking in them, they covered my entire leg, so I had to sort of shuffle along.
I still love that kind of boot, and many others as well. Western, engineer, motorcycle, etc.; even some fashion boots. Sometimes I wonder, "Was I born loving boots?" Or was it love at first sight?
Minnesota State Bird: Loon
Piano Lessons
There are 3 reasons why I took piano lessons for years:1) I have piano hands (long fingers)
2) My mom wished she had never quit lessons (after 2 years)
3) We had a piano
I hated practicing. If my parents left the house I'd shuffle my piano books around and pull the bench out, so it looked like I'd practiced.
In my first piano recital (6 yrs old), I wore a dress with a full crinoline under it, black patent leather shoes and the dreaded white anklets. I played a song called Tea and Cookies. After playing a few measures I had a memory glitch. So, I started the song over and played without a hitch. The applause was deafening.
When I was 16-18 years old I stopped playing. Mom was finally tired of fighting with me about practicing. I started playing again after high school and ended up with a B.A. in Music, theory and piano.
Exactly how I felt about practicing the piano!
Twitter Traks
Jak Traks Blog
Mostly Poetry
a little psychology humor
My Animal Traks
More Traks . . .
- My Personal Blog: Jak Traks
- The blog is about whatever comes to mind: animals, nature, coffee, everyday living, humor, psychology, and occasionally science.
- My Expert Page at SelfGrowth.com
- The SelfGrowth site is a phenomenal self-development resource.
- The Common Denominator (website)
- This site is about getting along with one another.
My Book-ette: Elements of Wholeness
It may not be long, but its packed with content.
- Elements of Wholeness
- Inspirational stories, essays and poems on living as a whole human being. Stories and essays are original. Each of the ten chapters focuses on one element of wholeness such as: play, appreciation, importance, etc.
Available as a soft-cover book, or down-loadable ebook. 22 pages, 81/2 x 11
Elements of Wholeness
My Top 15 Lenses
The Common Thread: Poetry
My life feels like a patchwork quilt still in the making, but there is a common thread throughout . . . poetry. I love to read a good poem, and write hopefully good poems.I write poetry in many "styles," but especially love the challenge of using form and/or rhyme. Its difficult to use both well. Usually people like my free verse the best, but there's a deep satisfaction in writing poetry in established form. Its like working a difficult puzzle but you want the final draft to flow over the form, not be stuck in it. Here's one I wrote years ago:
Treasure
This treasure stowed beneath the sand:
A shovel, a pail, a colorful ball,
Hardly a tidal reprimand
This treasure stowed beneath the sand.
If child be parent what loosed the hand
And let the shifting land hold all
This treasure stowed beneath the sand:
A shovel, a pail, a colorful ball.
Poetry
My Muse
My Favorite Quote
"YOU'RE NEVER TO OLD TO DO GOOFY STUFF."
~ Ward Cleaver ~
Twiggy
WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH PUBERTY, TWIGGY WAS THE HOTTEST FASHION MODEL ON THE PLANET. SHE WAS AS THIN AS HER NAME SUGGESTS, AND QUITE FLAT-CHESTED. THAT WAS A BOOST TO A SKINNY, FLAT-CHESTED BUT HORMONE RIDDLED, ALMOST-WOMAN LIKE MYSELF.
The Tallest Cheerleader
I was out of high school before girl's sports became a part of school programs. So, I tried out for cheerleading.Being 5'10", I was always the "peak" in the middle of our line. There were ten of us, all shapes and sizes, but we worked well together and had a blast.
When I was a junior, our squad won 1st place at cheerleading camp. Of course, our routines were not at all like what I see on TV now. I'd never make it as a high school cheerleader today.
Well, none of the NFL teams ever called me to be on their cheerleading squads. I could dance but my bra size didn't pass muster. ha
I tried doing a simple round-off last summer, in the yard. I don't remember feeling like a chunk of lead, when my feet hit the ground, at 17. It was a 3 point landing after a misshapen attempt at what used to be easy. It's a good thing I do yoga, or I'd be on crutches.
My Favorite Junk Food
Kettle Chips, Sea Salt & Vinegar, 5-Ounce Bags (Pack of 15)
Amazon Price: $22.10 (as of 06/02/2012)
Dipped in the Sea and Brushed with Vinegar . . . a harmonic convergence of flavor. Okay, maybe it is. The perfect balance of sea salt, tongue-puckering tang and crunch.
I currently live in the Chicago area.
my jobs so far
-carhop (without skates)
-stock person for a florist
-lab tech (immunology)
-maid / waitress
-pharmacy tech (hospital)
-teacher, piano & music theory
-administrative assistant
-graphic designer
-counselor in community health center
-coordinator of psychosoc rehab: comm hlth center
-freelance writer
The Marriage Thing
I've been divorced more than twice as long as I was married. My husband is the one that wanted out. I wanted to "work on it." My husband had the better idea. I liked my husband a lot. I still do, although I don't keep in touch anymore (his idea, what a shock).I met Tom via a pre-computerized dating service. Living 350 miles apart, we wrote long letters to one another. Not a problem. We both love to write. After 6 months of snail mail, we met face to face, and he proposed a couple months later.
We said the vows in Rochester, MN, in a chapel with a harpsichord rather than an organ. My sister played a Bach piece on her flute, accompanied by the harpsichord. The reception was at the local country club. While guests were arriving, snow started falling . . . fast and heavy. By midnight, there was 18 inches on the ground. It was the end of March.
We spent our wedding night in a hotel that was hosting a high school hockey convention. If you get married, check who's going to be at the hotel before making reservations. Not that I don't like hockey. Once in the room, we counted the gift money (doesn't everyone?). Besides, I had my period and was crampy. No need to dive into bed.
Honeymoon was Galena, IL, for a couple days. Tom had to teach high school (we married on spring break) after that. I have to say that I loved my husband but never liked being a wife. Before the wedding, Tom knew I didn't regularly chase dust bunnies and scrub the toilet bowl; that I had a goal of never making a turkey dinner. But expectations come with the word "wife,"at least in my marriage.
I don't blame Tom for the divorce. Neither of us knew how to resolve any anger between us. We each used our own dysfunctional anger management methods and the gears would grind. I still think of Tom often. A lot of things remind me of him (like pizza and beer). When that happens I send sincere affection to my favorite asshole.
When I Grow Up . . .
I never once thought about becoming a psychotherapist before the age of 39. The counseling world can blame my divorce for my entry into the field. I/we went to a therapist to save the marriage. That was a bust. Then I went to counseling because for the first time in my life, I couldn't control my feelings. I found that unacceptable.In the process of my therapy, I began thinking things like, "This is really a cool process, I'd like to know more about it." For 3 years I kept it on the back burner. I thought my interest in being a therapist might have something to do with the gratitude and affection I felt for my counselor.
After the 3 years of stewing about it, I found a master's degree program close to my home. The classes were on weekends only, so I could continue to work, whether I wanted to or not. I sent in all the application materials and eventually had an interview set up with the head of the psychology department. My career almost ended there. Shortly before leaving work for the interview, I thought, "What in the hell am I doing? I must be out of my mind."
Right after thinking that, it felt like my energy (soul, spirit, stomach?) did a 360 degree spin inside me. In that moment, I knew I needed to follow through and go back to school, so I did. The rest is psychology history (and mayhem).
GapingVoid Cartoon
Word A Day Diet
issues that get my undies in a bunch
Animal Abuse
Destruction of Wildlife and Habitat
Earth Abuse
Lukewarm Coffee
Being Interrupted (when focused on something)
Having to Repeat Myself ("Quit mumbling," my mother always said)
A Few Favorite Books
A Few Favorite Movies
Pandora Traks
My Stations . . .
Guestbook
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Northbright
Jun 13, 2011 @ 8:45 pm | delete
- I practically love and enjoy the same categories you listed above; it almost seems like we're kindred spirit.
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jamespete
May 28, 2011 @ 1:22 pm | delete
- Greetings! I took piano lessons for just three years, but at the behest of my mother. I imagine that's a familiar theme. I like this lens because it saves me time.
If you get time, check out my latest lens, Design the Poem. Thanks.
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tplus
Oct 8, 2008 @ 9:57 pm | delete
- Welcome to the Lensography-ography Group!
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Jewelsofawe Aug 12, 2008 @ 11:27 am | delete
- Like your lensography.
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spirituality Aug 11, 2008 @ 1:54 am | delete
- Interesting lensography. I'll be interested to see what else you come up with :)
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by jaktraks
I'm a Licensed Clinical Counselor, poet and freelance writer. I love animals, playing on the computer, quantum physics, being outside, napping with my... more »
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