The book is beautiful!

I am so excited to share it with everyone! I have been lamenting for years about this project. Seeing it all together is a testament to how much work was involved! It is exciting to see my friends reactions to it. I am grateful labor is over - it is wonderful to finally introduce my new baby! 

 I am on my way to the office to pick up my first proof from the printer of Attempting Flight! I cant wait to see it. This has been such a huge project.  Thanks to Shawn, I also now have a fan page on Facebook on "Soul Soup" and a twitter, tweet, birdie thing at mysoulsoup. It is pretty fun! 

 March 3, 2010

Thanks to my marketing help...er, Shawn- You can now follow me on twitter. If I ever figure out how to use it is a reasonable time frame, you may even get tweets within a week of me typing them. Yippee! I will hook up a link, but for now the monicker is mysoulsoup. Let's try it and give it a whirl! Soul Soup is also set up for facebook. I have show photos, and more! 

Feb 3,

I just finished reading the greatest book. It is called "An Unreasonable Woman" by Diane Wilson. It is no wonder it is referred to as an American classic. This woman is pure inspiration. I highly recommend it. I want my daughters, friends.. basically everyone in my life to read it. 

Feb 3,

I just finished reading the greatest book. It is called "An Unreasonable Woman" by Diane Wilson. It is no wonder it is referred to as an American classic. This woman is pure inspiration. I highly recommend it. I want my daughters, friends.. basically everyone in my life to read it. 

 I just finished reading the greatest book. It is called "An Unreasonable Woman" by Diane Wilson. It is no wonder it is referred to as an American classic. This woman is pure inspiration. 

 I just finished reading the greatest book. It is called "An Unreasonable Woman" by Diane Wilson. It is no wonder it is referred to as an American classic. This woman is pure inspiration. 

 Dec 19, 10

And this followed from Carolyn M Scott. Writer/director/producer

“Kristen Jongen is a rare literary and artistic voice – rare because she combines art & words in a 
new, rich, highly textured and creative composition that is emotionally and psychologically charged.  

Her pungent and irresistible honesty about her personal life is juxtaposed against the whimsy of her painted images.  And both contrive to bring you closer and closer to her – they are a kind of doorway to the inner sanctum of her struggles in life: love, children and the great challenge of being a women who feels deeply.  Reading and taking in the beautiful images in Attempting Flight is a journey toward self.   Kristen’s honesty and vulnerability are disarming, you feel like you are sharing with a dear friend – and some of that sharing is 
both heart breaking and inspirational.  

Kristen stands in a class of writers like Elizabeth Gilbert  (Author Eat, Pray, Love), by exposing the most delicious and intimate details of her life and always promising to save you with her art.  
And she does – her illustrations and words are filled with hope and something almost mythic

Kristen is not afraid to get down and dirty with the suffering we all experience as women in this modern world,  but her art is a healing salve offering peace, regeneration and insight.  Attempting Flight is Kristen’s master work, from the hands and heart of 
someone who understands our need to examine our lives without artifice.  

She is a guide to the journey of the soul.” 

 Dec 19, 10

 12/18/09

I have been sick and in bed for a few days. Grrr!! I have so much to do, but this cold is dragging me down. I am revisiting the argument in my head where I wonder on what planet it is fair that I am asked to pay $14,000 to get my domain name "soulsoup.com" from the people holding it hostage. These people cannot use it, because I have the trademark, and yet it floats freely in cyberspace begging to come home. I really must have time on my hands! 

 Yippee, It's Friday!

I am sitting at out local coffee shop, making a list of things I need to get done before the holiday break. I thought a fresh location was in order. My office (although just down the street) feels too isolated today. I need people! Staring out the window at our downtown's main street, I spy lots of action. A movie is being filmed here for a few months, and this weekend a car crash scene is on the agenda. Shop owners are cleaning up their store fronts and dolling up their windows in case their store is included in the shot! The town is abuzz. It is fun to see clumps of obvious outsiders managing our small dot on the map. Although artsy in its own right, these people look even artsy-er. Skinny, skinny people these Hollywood types are! This is the midwest after all. There is a sea of black clothing and dark shades. I love it! My dad and I both enjoy the influx of excitement. We cant wait to watch the filming this weekend. Chip thinks he is going to finagle a small role somehow. Anya works at a downtown restaurant and will probably get the most eye candy of all of us. The movie is called "A Year in Mooring." It is an Indy, so I don't expect to see it on the big screen, but the guy from Sweet Home Alabama is in it. Since Michigan is giving the biggest tax credits in the country right now to film makers (added to the fact that Michael Moore lives here) we are getting quite a lot of camera action these days. Who knows, maybe someday we will be smug and numb to these interlopers. "The new Aspen" I heard someone say... er, puhleaze! But for now, its a thrill to see a little bulb from the big time marquee shining in our neck of the woods.  

 Halloween candy and PMS- a weighty combination. 

I have been stuffing my face for days. I cant remember ever feeling this full! Much is going on, and through the eating and chaos I am excited to say that my new book "Attempting flight" is officially out of my hands. It has been edited, re-edited and gruelingly picked over in what has amounted to an emotionally taxing process... but it is in the very capable hands of my designer Robin now. It is so pretty, I cant even stand it (in a good way!) I hope you all find value in some of my truth. It should be ready for launch at the beginning of the year!! Yippee! 

 This was on of those forwarded emails that really got me thinking. What a cool way to start a Monday. 

           ...something to think about...

(I wish I could figure out how to upload the picture of him!!!)

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:

the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:

The musician played continuously.  Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.  The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:  If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made..... How many other things are we missing?

           ...something to think about...

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:

the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:

The musician played continuously.  Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.  The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:  If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made..... How many other things are we missing?

July 2, 09

I have just confirmed that I will be the guest artist on two Disney Cruises! The dates start July 26, 09 for a 4 day cruise, immedietely followed by a 3 day cruise! I will write more to confirm exact dates and times, but my plan as of now is to travel with my four year old son, Van! It is the first time we will be alone together on a vacation. I am looking forward to sharing Mickey and Minnie with him. If any of you are looking for a last minute get away, I would love to meet you! I will do a book signing and there will be an auction for paintings and canvas pieces that are exclusive...only for Disney. Cant wait!- K

July 2, 09

I have just confirmed that I will be the guest artist on two Disney Cruises! The dates start July 26, 09 for a 4 day cruise, immedietely followed by a 3 day cruise! I will write more to confirm exact dates and times, but my plan as of now is to travel with my four year old son, Van! It is the first time we will be alone together on a vacation. I am looking forward to sharing Mickey and Minnie with him. If any of you are looking for a last minute get away, I would love to meet you! I will do a book signing and there will be an auction for paintings and canvas pieces that are exclusive...only for Disney. Cant wait!- K

June 25, 09

For the past five summers, I have declared the end of the winter and the beginning of the sunny stuff the "Summer of Fun." I invite my friends and neighbors to participate. The first year, everyone was in. People would yell from their cars "Smile Super K, it's the SOF!"  It was a declaration! A proclamation! A decision to enjoy the sunshine, and only participate in things that are funny, relaxing, joy filled and irresponsible. To date, every Summer of Fun has sadly fizzled. There was the summer of Tired and Crabby, the Summer of Fat and Flabby, the Summer of Leave me Alone, followed by last year’s Coup de Grace;  the Summer of Despair.

However, this is the year my friends!
We will boat! We will laugh! We will romance! We will smile! We will eat! We will drink! I invite you to join me during a tough time in the US (particularly here in Michigan) to re-investigate what is important. To remember what real fun is and get back to the basics. I’d like to  thank the sun for not forsaking us after such a harsh winter.
We will deal with diets, rehab and our floundering 401K’s  in the fall!

Cheers! Here’s to the first ever Summer of Fun! Please email me and send pictures of your fun activities! It must be something that made you genuinely belly laugh. I will post them! Laughing is still free, you know J

There seems to be such a sense of rebirth in the air. Literally. Massive changes suround me and everyone I know. Living in Michigan, I have seen a lot of collapsing for the last decade. We have been the national canary in the coal mine for what the entire country is feeling today. I am reminded that often when problems are ignored long enough, a complete overhaul is necessary in order to rebuild with a clean slate. The other night when I was out at our ski lounge bar, I saw President Obama on the news for the first time since Jan 20, already in office giving Wall Street a tongue lashing. Since I dont have a TV at home, I jumped out of my seat. How incredibly hopeful, and exciting to see him acting as president and actually addressing the crisis we are facing with responsibility and leadership. We are going to rebuild this country. I can feel it! I want to be a part of the solution.

-I'm off to sweat my brains out
-K

Dec 17,08

My days as the village idiot, eventually have to come to an end...dont they? I dont know if my little heart can take anymore. I have had so many embarrassing moments in my life. My cup runneth over.

Admittedly my mind has been overloaded with so much, I am overwhelmed. I am preparing for the show season, and Christmas all at once. I volunteered today to be a driver at my 11 year old daughters Christmas concert. Impressed with myself for even volunteering, waves of memories spilled forward. Mia was so excited that I was going to be a driver. I used to volunteer all the time for Anya (now almost 16) I ran the art education program for her elementary school, and volunteered at upteen events. Mia has gotten the short end of the stick.

I didnt sleep last night, for fear that I might forget. I was afraid of either showing up late  (I have a reputation) or completely forgetting altogether. (Like I said, I have a reputation.) I didnt want to give the school moms any more ammunition, or one more flaky example for the gossip mill. Am I paranoid? Or simply PMS'ing?

I showed up at the school, with too much on my mind. My artwork hadn’t been photographed and was trapped in California. The graphics for my table were due, plus the banner. I ran into my graphic designer at the school. He was also volunteering…no wonder he hadn’t answered my email from earlier. Why did he look so calm? The crate needed to be shipped by Friday, and no one was answering in Atlanta... teacher gifts. All three kids have a cluster of about 375 teachers that need gifts, and the dog ate half of the chocolate buckeyes off the counter that I made in the morning.

Walking down the hall, I looked from door to door. Mrs. Roberts. There she was. Her name was printed neatly on the door. Fourth Grade. I looked through the glass in the door and didn’t recognize anybody. Mrs. Roberts looked up, but didn’t look familiar. Did she? I wandered to the front of the class. Thirty three sets of eyes followed  me. “Is Mia here?,” I asked looking around? She produced a big grin. "No?" I intercepted ,“Mia is not in your class, is she?” I said beating her to the punch. “No”, she said chuckling. My heart leapt into my throat. "Hmm.. Mia’s not in fourth grade, is she?" I asked dryly. "No." she said again. "My God, I can’t even remember what grade the girl is in. She was in fourth grade once, right?" I blurted.  Mrs. Roberts nodded. Did Anya have her? Why do I know this name? I turned beat red and hastily left. A few doors down, Mrs. Nelson waved me in. That's right. she looked like the one from the conferences. She is the one I emailed three timed this week. Mia is in fifth grade. That's right. Anya is in 10th. OK.

The looming sense that I am possibly the stupidest mother on earth, is always and ever present. People mistake me for an airhead. If I was an airhead, I wouldn’t care about my stupid antics. The problem is, I care too much. I take it all personally. I have no sense of humor left. I kept this little tee- hee to myself.

My greatness was only intensified this evening, after delivering our Christmas chocolates to the neighbors. I had pictured in my mind, standing at the edge of the driveway, with a silver engraved brandy snifter waving at the neighbors "Hi, Fred! Happy Holidays… What?” “ Why no, we wont be in Veil this year, just hunkering down for some old fashioned family bonding. We will be baking, and singing...things like that." "Hmm?" “Oh, you’r very welcome”. “Yes, it’s a secret recipe”. “Ho, Ho, ho!"

Instead, Mia snuck into the Christmas gifts early and helped herself to a few items. She was royally chewed out before we left the house for our walk. Tears streaming down her face, she sulked most of the way. No brandy snifter. I don’t even like brandy. Van slipped and fell on the ice every few feet. Free from her leash, (because we were in the neighborhood) Darma was running around like a gazelle in the snow.

I played it safe (I thought) We only made three stops. Every single person graciously invited us in. "Not tonight.." I hollered, as my 120 lb. Great Dane broke free of my grip and barreled into the first neighbors house. I hadn’t foreseen this. "We love Darma." she said, as I scrambled to grab her collar. She ran straight into the house, into the basement then upstairs to the third floor, and trampled their toddler. I was a nervous wreck and couldn’t catch her.

The second home, they left the door open, and chatted, waving me forward. I tried to stay a safe distance away. “Come on in! Come on in!” I wrestled my dog and she eventually won.  Darma forced her way in, got in a fight with their poor unsuspecting dog. The husband panicked when my dog went downstairs and followed after her, she ran upstairs and knocked over the doll house with her tail. All the while I was trying to get her out of the house. I was so embarrassed, I started to choke up. My idiotic dog, was on crack. My idiotic self was over the top. Tears were welling in my eyes, and I couldn’t take it. Van cried most of the walk home, and I blew my cork. The holidays really suck. I am sorry, but for now, they really do. I am tired of my role as the village idiot. I'd like to be Mrs. Valium Claus next time around.

I am contemplating the next few days. My shrink says I can do it. I can make it. I think a trip to the loony bin sounds like just the vacation I need. My kids really do love me. This is all going to be worth it someday, right?

God grant me the serenity, to accept the jingle bells and Ho, ho, ho, the courage to keep from lighting myself on fire, and the wisdom to know that none of this really matters.

Happy Santa- K

Sept 15, 08
I just finished watching video from CNN online, related to the recent hurrincanes. There was a photo of a pick up stacked with mud covered babies and other dead children. Considering that Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world, the level of this devastation is unbelievably heartwrenching. There is no clean water and there are people in remote areas of the country that haven't eaten in two weeks. Websites recommended for relief are: www.yele.org  and www.onexone.org  I urge anyone reading this to contribute, even if it is a small amount. Do what you can.There are Americans, of course suffering as a result of Hurricane Ike as well. I do not have the name of a local relief fund, but do know that the American Red Cross is a trustworthy charity as is Word Vision (I work with them).

We have a moral responsibility to at the very least, not allow children in any nation,  under any circumstances to starve.

Sept 9, 08

OK, OK, I've been a terrible blogger. I admit it! I knew it was not current, but Dec. 2nd? Wow. Today is a good Tuesday. After a pretty lousy summer, I have committed to staying focused, and getting some things done. I think I am rounding the corner and crawling out from under the dark cloud that has consumed me. In the past few months, both of my Grandparents, my aunt, and my best dog buddy Babe have died. Those are just a few things that top the list. I have attended more funerals than I want to remember. However, I do know by now that there are no guarantees. Life continues with or without us. The good news is that my new book is being edited as you read this. It is finally written! I cant wait to hear what you think. As soon as I get a suitable chapter, I will post it on my site for a preview. Thanks for your patience and support. Its been a rough few years.

Dec 2, 07

Last night our city passed a resolution to support a national Department of Peace. After months of hard work (phone calls, emails, meetings) our mayor took a chance and broke the tie in our favor.

This fall has been extremely stressful for me. For a variety of reasons my life has tipped into the greatest state of imbalance in years. This being said, I plugged on with the Department of Peace legislation and our group saw it through to the end. Watching democracy in action last night was a high I will never forget. I was awake all night, grateful to be an American. People from our community came forward to support this resolution, and angels appeared at the eleventh hour. I came away re-inspired; knowing that this can work. After eight years of feeling completely ignored by our current administration, it was an enormous emotional exhale to see that city politics and grass roots activism still matter.

It is sometimes frightening to stand up straight and fill my own shoes. To be the woman, that I say I want to be. I get overwhelmed and depressed easily. At one point I wanted to quit this campaign. I felt publicly ridiculed and increasingly alone. At another point I wanted to quit my aggressive pilots training program also. It was simply to hard. I have wanted to quit college, motherhood, Soul Soup and everything that ever mattered to me at one time or another in my life. Standing alone and speaking my truth is frequently terrifying. My legs and hands were physically trembling until 2am last night from speaking aloud before our commission. 

They don’t show that in the movies. 

Today, I am reminded of the women suffragettes, the abolitionists and the rebels that left convention behind. This county was founded on principles that were outrageous, for the times. They were pie in the sky notions of "freedom". All of us, have within our lineage a rebel, that came to this country with a belief in a better way. I bet their knees were knocking too.

I share a legacy with my children that includes many awkward public moments, and random clumsy attempts at changing the world. I am also grateful to share the moments when my kids can see that even though my hands are shaking, I will still move forward and give voice to the rebel that lives within my soul… the one that houses the bravery of my ancestors and believes in a better way.

Never, never, never, never, never, give up- Winston Churchill.

*Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.- Margaret Mead

Oct 9, 07

Today is my little girls birthday. Mia is ten. Since Tuesdays are my "day off" I have about 15 things Id like to cram in before she gets home from school. I have started writing my third book, and through the hectic pace of  simultaneously cleaning the house and thwarting Van from destroying everything in it, I am dying to give voice to the words piling up inside my head. I would also like to squeeze in a nap (since nobody in our house slept last night), some house cleaning, studying, cake baking, present wrapping, excercise and quality painting time (I just had a great idea for a new piece)... in the next two and a half hours.

When I write, it is a strange phenomenom. I desperately yearn for the mental and physical space to indulge uninterupted for as long as it takes. This never happens, so I steal moments of inappropriate time (like when I should be working.) Other times, when I am finally alone, with pen in hand, I cave under the weight of opportunity. I will sit paralyzed because I feel overwhelmed.  Guilt and excitement wrestle for a front slot in my psyche. Thoughts like "I should use this time to deal with the mold problem..." are overrun with others like "you could totally go for a great hike right now... and dont you need new lingerie?" It finally turns into "You need your rest, why dont you go to the movies? Better yet, get the grocery shopping over with, and then do those horribly smelling dishes." on and on it goes. I might go so far as to get depressed from my mental exhaustion, when all I really want to do is write.

...and I have a few minutes, and instead I stare at the book I want to read next to me, and think about the cake I should bake, and feel the painting behind me burning a hole in my skull and type this blog. Hmmm.... maybe a nap would help?