Adrienne Jenkins Lensography & More About Me
Ranked #2,010 in Squidoo Community, #172,376 overall
Hi, I'm Adrienne
It was a bit scary the first time I wrote down gardener as my occupation on our tax forms instead of Marketing Director. That was 7 years ago. I've been fortunate enough to be able to follow my passion to garden for a living rather than be stuck in a cubicle.
SEMI-RETIRED AT AGE 40
For the past couple of years, you could say I'm partially retired having enjoyed what 4 Hour Work Week lifestyle guru, Tim Ferriss dubs as mini-retirements. In 2007, I took 4 months off to spend time with my parents in Vancouver. In 2008, I managed to flip the equation and took 8 months off and only worked 4 months instead.
I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A WRITER
One of the things I've always wanted to do is write a book. But I love the immediacy of instantly publishing on both Associated Content and Squidoo. I haven't abandoned the idea of getting my book finished, it's just that I decided to stop being a dilettante about online writing and indulge my passion for writing online to see where it leads.
FIND YOUR PASSION
I find Squidoo tremendously addicting. I enjoy it both as a writer and a reader. With Squidoo, it's easy to write from morning to night. Here's my online writing portfolio with a lensography of the many fascinating things which capture my attention.
Following My Passions
- My Life As A Gardener
- My Life As A Disc Jockey
- My Life As A Music Writer
- My Life As An Entertainment Reporter
- My Life As An Arts Reviewer
- My Life As A Book Reviewer
- My Life As An Obituary Writer
- My Life As A Political Blogger
- My Life As A Food Writer
- My Life As A Technology Reporter
- My Life As A Lifestyle Writer
- My Life As A Travel Writer
- My Life As A Self-Help Writer
- My Life As An Online Writer
- My Top 10 Lenses
Do What You Love For A Living
My Life As A Gardener
Lawn and Garden Manager / Plant & Pottery Buyer / Merchandiser
Every morning, when I get up to go to work as a garden center merchandiser, I can't wait to get to work. How many people get to say that about their jobs? I'm absolutely committed to the idea of finding meaningful work so it doesn't feel like a job.
Fed up with office politics, seven years ago, I walked away from a generous pay check, retirement plan and benefits, with only a vague plan of action to follow my passion for gardening. Without a formal college degree in horticulture, in less than a couple of years, I was managing a lawn and garden department in a funky old-fashioned hardware store in Washington, D.C.
Getting Dirty: Quit Your Job & Get Paid to Garden For a Living
More About the Book I'm Writing On Green Jobs
Top 12 Worries About Pursuing Gardening As a Living
This article addresses issues and concerns with reassurance that gardening for a living is a viable, meaningful career choice not reserved solely for daydreamers.
Have I Ever Met the President of the United States?
Working on Capitol Hill, people ask if I've ever met the President of the United States? Actually, I have. That's me in the straw hat in the picture below. Plus I've helped other politicians such as Senators Barbara Boxer, Dick Gephart, Katherine Harris & DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton as well as political strategist Donna Brazille. I think it's kinda nice these busy people find time to putter around in their gardens.

George Bush At Frager's Hardware on Capitol Hill
Green Is The New Internet
Green Collar Jobs Are A Growing Trend
Books About Gardening For a Living
My Life As A Garden Writer
Garden Columnist Hill Rag
Here are gardening articles I wrote online for Associated Content.Do It Yourself Wildflower Wedding Bouquets
Create a Scented Mother's Day Flower Arrangement
Mother's Day Homemade Floral Bouquet
Annual Orchid Exhibit in Washington, DC
The First Day of Spring Gardening
Easy Landscaping Ideas For Winter
Ikea's $20 Cheap Christmas Tree Promotion
For three years, I used to write a monthly garden column called "Hill Gardener" for a local community newspaper with information on how to garden on Capitol Hill.
Books About Green Careers
Follow Your Passion
Books To Inspire You
Follow Your Bliss
My Life As A Disc Jockey
I Tend To Make A Major Career Change About Every Seven Years
All the Jobs I've Ever Had...Director of Marketing
Dot.com Analyst washingtonpost.com
E-mail Product Manger
Marketing Analyst
Freelance Writer of Soap Opera & Movie Updates
Top 40 Radio Disc Jockey Announcer
Wedding DJ
Office Temp Receptionist Typist
I used to be radio announcer back in the '80s playing everything from the Judds to Nirvana. This was before CDs & digitized music. We were still playing albums and 45s. Commercials were recorded on reel-to-reel tape and a multi-track machine that was about the size of a dishwasher.
This is the automation machine which played overnight, playing pre-recorded announcements, music and commercials. When you got home that night you were supposed to listen to the radio before you went to sleep just to make sure any of the tapes didn't get stuck which if it did, meant I'd have to trudge back in the snow after midnight and hit the automation machine with a hammer to unjam it.
Movies On Making a Life Not Just a Living

My Love Of Music Lead Me To Be A DJ
My Life As A Music Writer
Get Paid to Write About Music on Squidoo
What's On My IPOD
I'm Still A Pop Music Princess
Grammy Award Nominees I Also Love
American Boy - Estelle Featuring Kanye West | Chasing Pavement - Adele
Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis | Better in Time - Leona Lewis
Much More Music
Cover Tunes
Feeling Good Original Version By Nina Simone
Beyond mere karaoke, cover songs whether remakes or samples showcase an artist's versatility & originality with fresh interpretations that dare listeners to enjoy a new take on an old favorite.
Cover versions by Michael Buble, George Michael, Muse and The Pussycat Dolls can be found here.
When Artists Sing Each Other's Songs
Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
My Life As An Entertainment Reporter
My Life As An Arts Reviewer
Featured Artists
My Life As A Book Reviewer
My Life As An Obituary Writer
Most Touching Obituary
If There's Only One Tribute You Read
Last January, I heard about Last Lecture Professor, Randy Pausch from the Washington Post's 2008 "What's Hot List". I watched his inspiring Last Lecture on YouTube. Fom time to time, I'd visit his blog where he posted updates on his battle with pancreatic cancer -- actor Patrick Swayze has been diagnosed with the same terminal illness.
One day, I checked in and was saddened to hear Randy's body had finally succumbed to the ravages of pancreatic cancer yet his spirit lives on through his love for his children, his wife Jai and his willingness to pass on his life lessons. I quickly set up an online guestbook for people to share their condolences. The outpouring of grief and support for Randy's family was touching.
The Last Lecture
Randy Pausch is dying and he's having to weigh his own desire to leave a lasting legacy for his children with finding precious private time to spend with his wife and kids. Read how Pausch successfully lobbies with his wife to prepare The Last Lecture which ends up with her sacrificing her last birthday dinner with her husband.
Yet it is because of his willingess to press on with the idea of The Last Lecture that Pausch's impact leaves an even more powerful and enduring legacy that has far greater reach. Carnegie Mellon has made Randy's lecture and transcripts available in perpetuity for free online and links are included here.
My Life As A Political Blogger
Writing Online for Associated Content & Squidoo
My Life As A Food Writer
My Life As A Technology Reporter
My Life As A Lifestyle Writer
Writing About Quirky, Fun Things
My Life As A Travel Writer
Favorite Travel Destinations
My Life As A Self-Help Writer
Follow Your Passion
Follow Your Bliss
Joseph Campbell
When I met my husband, it set in motion a life adventure that continues to this day, leaving behind the safety and security of living in the city I grew up in to move to the East Coast, leaving behind friends and family. Co-workers at my steady but boring job at the phone company wished me well and sent me off with a copy of this amazing book.
The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell is the perfect gift for graduation, retirement, milestone birthdays and more. There is a less expensive paperback but this illustrated version makes the text come alive. If there's one book I'd recommend about answering the call to adventure, this is it. Check your local library or Netflix to view the companion DVDs with Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers.
The Power of Myth
Amazon Price: $3.74 (as of 02/18/2012)![]()
Following one's bliss, as Campbell saw it, isn't merely a matter of doing whatever you like, and certainly not doing simply as you are told. It is a matter of identifying that pursuit which you are truly passionate about and attempting to give yourself absolutely to it. In so doing, you will find your fullest potential and serve your community to the greatest possible extent.
- Joseph Campbell Foundation
My Life As An Online Writer
Blogging, Squidoo, Associated Content
What I'm Currently Reading
Seth Godin's Tribes
The year before in 2007 in re-working my schedule to take 4 months off every year, Tim Ferriss' The Four Hour Work Week helped shape my thinking. This year, it's Seth Godin's Tribes.
Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us
Amazon Price: $11.42 (as of 02/18/2012)![]()
Excerpt From Seth's Blog on Tribe Management
Brand management is so 1999. Brand management was top down. It involved an MBA managing the brand, the ads, the shelf space, etc. Tribe management is a whole different way of looking at the world.
What people really want is the ability to connect to each other, not to companies. It starts with permission to deliver anticipated, personal and relevant messages to people who want to get them.
So the permission is used to build a tribe of people who want to hear from the company because it helps them connect, it helps them find each other, it gives them a story to tell and something to talk about.
I'd Love To Get Paid to Write For a Living
Wait A Minute, I'm Kind Of Doing That Now
Now, more than ever people are eagerly embracing the possibility of taking extended periods of time off to accomplish personal goals such as taking a writing sabbatical.
How to Write a Great Bestselling Book Title: Tips from Timothy Ferriss
Friends and family offer soft research when it comes to writing a bestselling book title. Timothy Ferris, bestselling author of The Four Hour Work Week offers two brilliant tips using Google adwords and observational in store research.
Write Everyday, Practice Makes Profit
Writing is a muscle which only improves with daily practice. The easiest way to make more money on Associated Content is to make writing a regular habit.
Why I Love Associated Content
The real benefit to writing for Associated Content is getting to write about whatever you're most passionate about which in my case is about everything from entertainment gossip, music, movies, travel, food, politics and more.
About Me
This Year I Pledge to Write Everyday
How's Your Writing Portfolio?
Please Rate, Favorite My Lens, Join My Fan Club
If you would like to make a little extra money writing, click here to sign up for
Squidoo & Associated Content.
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aj2008
Jul 19, 2011 @ 4:52 am | delete
- You joined Squidoo roughly about the time I did and I have watched as you have found your way and your niches. Adrienne I like your outlook and the way you are so prepared to share what you have learned on Squidoo. I wish you every success in everything you do :)
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TrinaSonnenberg May 28, 2011 @ 9:25 am | delete
- I wrote and self published my book. It took more time to edit than to write. I had a blast though. http://stores.lulu.com/triizine Terrific lens!
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whitemoss Apr 11, 2010 @ 2:18 am | delete
- What a fascintaing life and lens!
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WhiteOak50
Jan 24, 2010 @ 1:44 pm | delete
- Very good Lensography!! "Blessed by a SquidAngel"
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spirituality
Oct 11, 2009 @ 11:28 am | delete
- Just featured you here: http://squidoo.crabbysbeach.com/blogs/2009/10/11/adriennejenkins/
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P.S. One More Thing - Bad 80s Grad Picture
My Top 10 Lenses
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Eat, Write, Love. I'm currently living "La Dolce Vita" in Rome, Italy with my husband who's a professor of architecture. I'm getting to fulfill the dr... more »
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