The past doesn’t exist because it’s already gone. The future doesn’t exist because it hasn’t arrived. The present becomes the past instantaneously. Therefore I believe we all live in a dream. Some are shackled by the dream of the past. Some are harnessed to the dream of the future. We are all being spun like a dreidel by the whirlwind of fabric that constitutes the coming and passing of time. Your dream, your choice.
If I had five minutes to talk to a kid entering foster care, here’s what I’d say to them. And if I could talk with them every day, I’d go over these things with them again and again. But I can’t. So I wrote them down. Please share. Thanks, Ken
This pocket-guide offers easy tips, which are often overlooked, for success in the foster care system and beyond. Drawing on his past experiences as a system kid, Mr. Marteney, offers insightful advice on how a few simple actions can have a huge impact on a foster child’s experience in the system.
Ken Marteney is a third-generation foster kid from the Los Angeles area, having lived in foster homes, boys’ homes, and group homes. After successfully navigating the system, Ken worked his way around the globe traveling as far east as England and as far west as Hawaii.
He’s a normal guy that just happened to have grown up in extraordinary circumstances. He is passionate about kids not only surviving, but thriving while in foster care.
Ken feels like he’s won the lottery every day. He currently resides in Texas, happily married with three kids.
Sending gratitude out to Moorbey over at Moorbey’z Blog for awarding me the Versatile Blogger award. If you haven’t checked out his site please head over and have a look around. I’m truly honored to have received this award from such a passionate and empowered individual.
THE RULES:
1-Thank and link back to the person who awarded you.
2-Nominate 15 bloggers for The Versatile Blogger Award and include a link to their site (and tell them that you have nominated them).
3-State 7 things about yourself.
7 THINGS ABOUT ME:
1. I used to have a problem with authority, now I just call it living against the grain
2. I grew up in Los Angeles and now live in a small Texas town
3. I drink crazy strong coffee
4. I just finished coaching my first season of U8 soccer
5. I’ve got two screenplay projects in development
6. Actively looking for distribution channels to get my book into foster kids’ hands
7. Goals: set up a global organization for lifetime mentoring for foster kids and set up a global organization for investigating and filing charges against those that prey on foster kids
MY NOMINATIONS:
1. http://becomingcliche.wordpress.com/
2. http://lifewithpethairhairballs.wordpress.com/
4. http://ashadeofpen.wordpress.com/
6. http://myparentsarecrazierthanyours.com/
7. http://waywardspirit.wordpress.com/
8. http://mymeanderingtrail.com/
9. http://funkangeles.wordpress.com/
10. http://adoptiveperspective.wordpress.com/
11. http://festivalking.wordpress.com/
12. http://palestinerose.wordpress.com/
13. http://vodkawasmymuse.wordpress.com/
14. http://jamesthedriver.wordpress.com/
15. http://merryfrolics.wordpress.com/
Congratulations to all the nominees!
Under the sun
Looking for fun
Flirting with the sea of darkness
Take drink
Try not to sink
Escaping into the sea of darkness
All your troubles
Tiny air bubbles
Sinking into the sea of darkness
Take a toot
Soul becomes mute
Drowning in the sea of darkness
Out of the dark
Come the sharks
Prowling in the sea of darkness
In the midst of strife
Better fight for your life
In the sea of darkness
Illicit bait
Opens the gates
Into the sea of darkness
Don’t be confused
As you’re consumed
In the sea of darkness
It was your sin
Jumping in
Into the sea of darkness
Open your eyes
And begin to rise
Out of the sea of darkness
Cut your ties
To all the lies
Trapping you in the sea of darkness
It’s never too late
To change your fate
Concerning the sea of darkness
Liebster Award given to Potentially Disruptive by Billie at Ireland, MS and Me
I was recently nominated for a Liebster Award. It basically means “lovely” in German, but also — sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome. It’s an award for up-and-coming bloggers with less than 200 followers. I’m honored to have been nominated for it. Thank you to Billie, a truly inspirational blogger over at Ireland, MS and Me, for the nomination. Be sure to check her out — the girl LOVES Ireland! And, as the definition reads, “welcome” to my blog and I hope you find yourself “welcome” at the blogs I’ve nominated at the end of this post. Check them out, too!
Here are the Liebster Rules:
1. List 11 facts about yourself.
2. Answer the 11 questions given to you.
3. Create 11 new questions for the bloggers you nominate for the award.
4. Choose 11 bloggers with 200 or less followers to nominate.
5. Go to each bloggers page and let them know about the award.
6. Thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog.
11 Facts about Me:
1. I’m a third generation foster kid who has broken the cycle
2. I like popcorn popped in coconut oil
3. When I was a toddler I had long curly hair and people thought I was a girl
4. These days I have very little hair on my head — it’s mostly on my back
5. I’m a caveman
6. I think I’m superman
7. The Mega Stuff Oreo is the only Oreo I don’t pull apart to eat
8. I like alcohol but not drunks (sorry to any of you reading)
9. I’m originally from California but now live in Texas
10. I’m always striving to be a better husband and father
11. My wife says I might be lying about #10
11 Questions Answered:
1. What does blogging mean to you?
Transparency.
2. Does everyone you know love the idea of you putting your words out there in the blogging world?
No. Not really. A lot of my subject matter is touchy to my inner-circles.
3. If you could be published, would you write things you do not stand behind?
Heck no.
4. If you could return or go to college, would you pick the same subjects you initially studied?
I only took two classes at a community college — volleyball and weight lifting. At the time it was cheaper than a gym membership. I always wanted to be a yogi, but there just wasn’t enough punching and kicking involved. Seriously though, information is pretty much free now. You can learn anything you want these days.
5. What do books mean to you?
Thoughts from the greats.
6. Did blogging change your mindset about life, i.e. do you look at yourself the same way you did before starting a blog?
It’s been a huge paradigm shift. Thoughts and information can now be shared freely. There’s not some old man in a suit deciding which ideas are good and which are bad. People get to decide that for themselves.
7. Who is your favorite author and why?
Kahlil Gibran. His words are like honey.
8. Did life turn out the way you thought it would?
Nope. No way. When I was little I thought I would be a bank robber.
9. Aside from blogging, what other interests do you have?
Pretty much any outdoor activity with my family, playing chess and coaching soccer.
10. Do you want to be inspirational or be inspired yourself?
That’s like reading or writing — which would you choose? The two ideas are intertwined. To be inspirational and to be inspired are one in the same. And I actively participate in both.
11. Fun fact: just tell us a funny story or fact to end this long blog post to keep a positive imprint of your words on our brains 🙂
You know why it’s dangerous for birds to kiss? They might get cherpies.
The Bloggers I’ve Nominated for the Liebster Award
http://pagesonadoption.wordpress.com/
http://ericamclellan.wordpress.com/
http://euclidfireflies.wordpress.com/
http://isabellakai.wordpress.com/
http://beerandamovie.wordpress.com/
http://beboldbaltimore.wordpress.com/
http://staceyvalley.wordpress.com/
http://candidred.wordpress.com/
http://unspokenblog.wordpress.com/
11 New Questions
If you were nominated, these questions are for you.
1. Tell me in three words what you would say if you could whisper to a billion people and they were actively listening?
2. If you were in command of a billion people and they had to follow your orders, what would be the first order you gave them?
3. What is your favorite dish to cook? If you don’t cook, what’s your favorite dish a friend makes for you?
4. What’s the recipe? I’m gonna try it.
5. What is your favorite all time song?
6. What would you be if you could be anything that you wanted to be?
7. In three words describe what writing/blogging means to you?
8. If you could do a road trip anywhere in the world what vehicle would you drive?
9. Who is humanities ultimate hero?
10. Tell me a mystery from your family history.
11. Write me a Haiku. Just kidding. No seriously. Write me one. Just kidding.
12. What is your one favorite word? Not concept. Word. Mine is Cucamonga. Doesn’t it feel like it gets all the cobwebs out of your mouth?
Flying down the road
The kids think I’m a troll
Because I’ll only play rock and roll
I sing loud and proud
I like the windows down
Still everybody frowns
They all want to hear one thing
And it’s not music from the king
I raised them on Miles and Coltrane
Mozart and Beethoven
Elvis and Frank
When did their musical tastes tank
They are fanatics about country
Since some of those weenies
Started wearing beanies
I would rather commit harry carry
Than listen to those fairies
About dirt and trucks
And dogs wagging their tails for good luck
I would rather stab myself in the neck
Than to sit back and say what the heck
I was told
I’m just getting old
Better roll up the windows before you catch a cold
Just another old man
Driving a bunch of kids in a mini van
Beware of the energy vamp
Beware of where they camp
They are looking for you
To turn your mind into goo
With their senseless stories
Feels like your head’s been hit by a lorry
Over and over again
The pain never seems to end
All that useless chatter
What does it really matter
On and on, and on and on they go
Where they stop nobody knows
They’re filling my head full of junk
It’s putting me in a funk
None of it makes any sense
Is there a way to build a mental fence
To stop the onslaught
I’m always getting caught
How does speech
Morph into a leech
To tap you dry
I’m gonna cry
Not really
I’m just being silly
They all need a group hug
And a big sloppy kiss on the mug
I almost forgot to mention
They need YOUR attention
This is a public service announcement from potentially disruptive.
Undefeated!
We won district!
We won first playoff game for state!
Go Flames!
“Save the Dinosaurs”
Don’t delay
On helping someone today
Even if it is just a smile
MARTENEY MEDIA 