Heather

Mark Tears Down His Harley Davidson to Build Something Better

When a Harley starts burning oil, you have two choices. Find out why or ignore the burn and keep a fresh quart in your side bag. Mark’s was burning oil and it’s not that old. It’s a 2013 Street Glide, second owner and the first didn’t ride it a whole lot. I think it had maybe 5,000 miles on it when Mark bought it out of his barn a couple years ago. The burning has been something he keeps an eye on because he doesn't like it but knows it's a pricey repair. There’s a stigma about these bikes leaking oil. It’s accepted because it's just what a Harley does. (Talk about branding!) Mark was a Kawasaki loyalist for a…
Heather
January 16, 2019
Heather

The Good Thing About Bourbon

Do you think people like the taste of bourbon because of how it actually tastes or because of the story on the bottle that is so good you accept their flavor better? I mean…. Nineteen Crimes made me a believer in dry, red Cabernet. Now I have developed the taste for it and love it, but it took practice.  I can’t even consider it cold, let alone a Rose. I giggle when I think I thought it was cool. And don’t worry ladies- I appreciate that you do. Enjoy the journey. I sure did. I’ll keep a sweet, cold one in my fridge…just in case you stop by. So what if bourbon is now the wine of men? When they…
Heather
January 8, 2019
Heather

If the Red Cross is Reading This….

Red Cross I struggle with giving blood. Not the idea of giving it, the actual action of giving it. For reals. It takes a special Red Cross employee to get me flowing without trying and calling over others to help. I have gotten sick, had bruises for weeks, rashes... But I give.  I give 2-3x per year. Yep. I’m a Type O Hero! Every year, my favorite community facilitator, Emily Davis McElroy tells me, "Please just make cookies. It's ok. This is traumatic for me to watch". Aside from doing the most badass part of the magic sauce donation process that is called Red Cross volunteering,  I also love the convenient check-in app that tells you exactly what hospital received…
Heather
January 8, 2019
Food for thoughtHeather

Marwencol: Why The Guardian Gives Me Hope

I genuinely appreciate the truth in this headline by The Guardian. Marwencol: the incredible WWII art project created by a cross-dresser who was beaten up by bigots This poor artist who was beaten wasn't injured by a race, gender, career status, political preference, religion... because it doesn't matter what any of those details are. Most of our media have been loosely focused on journalism writing and more focused on PR/Creative writing skills to find leverage that helps push an agenda beyond stating the unbiased facts and letting the world decide. That headlines could have been rewritten in so many ways to push an agenda. Imagine the channel or website that would have possibly said it one of these ways: Marwencol:…
Heather
December 28, 2018
Heather

Top Five Christmas Gifts for Older Kids

I'd like to begin by saying the results are in. They've been carefully tabulated by office rant sessions, the Christmas party adult circuit, random neighbors, people waiting in long lines to check out next to you... oh and the occasional Kroger run-ins with acquaintances. How many of you have had the colorful conversations that begin with asking your kids, "What do you want for Christmas this year?" or "What can I tell grandma you want for Christmas this year?" Here's the top five teen responses for Christmas wishes this year, in order. "Uhhhh, how about an Amazon gift card?" "Steam card"  (And if you tell someone a Steam card, you get the pleasure of explaining what the hell that is)…
Heather
December 21, 2018
Food for thoughtHeather

5 Ways To Appreciate Ohio Winters

Let's face it. We all wish we could be snow birds but if you're in the thick of life that includes work, school and a mortgage - you have to find the bright side when you truly despise the hard, cold, dark winter months. So how can you look at that proverbial cup as half full (of snow) versus half empty? Here's my top five. 1.When you get groceries, you can accidentally forget them in the trunk. 2.  Your garage becomes the fridge, only bigger. Perfect for those holidays parties or a great deal at Costco.  3. The snow will hide all the leaves and dog poo you didn't get time to clean up. 4. It's not as cold as Iowa.…
Heather
November 29, 2018
Food for thought

What’s Love Got To Do With It?

I get asked a lot about love. I know people who have amazing relationships, tolerable ones, rough ones and some – nothing significant at all. My hope for everyone in the world is that you are able to give and receive unconditional love. I am not sure that immediately happens. Instant attraction? Yes. Instant chemistry? Definitely. But unconditional takes time, commitment and desire. Again and again and again. It’s ok to have someone in your life that you can like for a hundred different reasons. Personality. Sense of humor. Kindness. Intelligence. Perspective on life. Similar interests. Great. If there’s a twinge of doubt in your gut, heart or mind – explore it. Figure out why. Anytime I hear, “But he’s…
Heather
November 18, 2018
Food for thoughtHeather

Keeping Your Vote Valid. So Your Vote Really Matters.

  I wanted to share a post an old colleague pal (He's not old, we just don't work together anymore) wrote about why ethical, legit voting matters and why we should not stand by and accept tampering of any kind by any side. Preach John. Here's his post:   Be Concerned. By John Blabaum, managing partner at Wax Xtatic Record Audio Stereo Shop "Whether you are on the right, the left, extreme left, extreme right, or in the middle.....YOU as an American Citizen and voter should be very concerned about Florida, Arizona, and other places where vote counting has turned into a charade, if not a crime. Our votes are a sacred trust, with one vote counting just that. Allowing those…
Heather
November 13, 2018
Food for thoughtHeather

My Values, Connected to Stress if Breached

Identifying the physical reactions in your body that are tied to anxiety or stress is key to diminishing the chaos swirling within your body.  When I start getting upset with someone, or a situation, it’s because they did something that hit me wrong. If something shocks you, upsets you, angers you, worries you, scares you... the longer it's allowed to manifest in your mind and get playback reviews over and over until you're sick - you have to get to the root of it. If you don't understand why, you can't process it or justify it so that you can move on and preserve your health. So what are the things that I value and need? By identifying them through…
Heather
November 8, 2018
Heather

American Horror Story Review

American Horror Story. Seasons 1 - forever. These writers cause me to salivate on their artistic screenplay among a "what if" scenario of what humans are capable of if it were to happen (or already possibly did) I cannot handle violence, abuse or make you flinch horror. So why am I in awe of AHS? It is dialogue genius. From the best arguments, debates, discussions and manipulations - the story writing of characters is almost as awe inspiring as the actors portraying them. Sometimes I think it works better and better because everyone on both sides of the stage have learned one another and built a solid crew. I love the homage to amazing soundtracks and weaving of one season…
Heather
October 9, 2018
Heather

Oh Hey, Boss… Two Kinds of Bosses. What are the Odds?

When you have to report to someone else, have someone else dictate their work life and goals, let you know if you’re allowed to leave…you know, another rung up the ladder – you’ve got a boss. It’s ok to have a boss. I have a boss. Even if you become your own boss you still have all the people who are paying for what you do as your boss. I read that once. Anyway, You know working up is exactly that. You’re working up. Working up the chain to either learn everything you can or make a lot of money or both and get better perks. Then either start your own, leave and move up again or retire early. (Well…
Heather
October 9, 2018
Heather

Oh Hey, I’m Heather and We Will Disappoint Each Other

Sure, you don't mean to. Everyone begins any discussion with the best intentions. I know I will not intentionally hurt or disappoint anyone. But it will happen. You will be disappointed. It will happen to my colleagues, coworkers and clients. More importantly, it will happen to my family. My spouse. My children. My parents. My brothers. On and On. Funny part, is many of those mentioned all blur together. I have friends I consider clients. Family I call coworkers my children in this thing called running a chore filled home. You get it. And all of them will disappoint me, if they haven't already. How you value the relationship and feel about their character identifies how you decide to handle…
Heather
October 2, 2018
Heather

Shameless Season 8 Episode 10

This episode tells all. 1. She didn't have to show her boobs. 2. She's watched all her children grow up in their special shameless grown yet awesome gift of success. Lip the Mind. Ian the Gift. Carl the Domesticated crazy trust fund girl hubby. Debbie the hard working bad ass hot welder looking for any way to pay for school. Liam, learning a cleaner hustle than they did with Frank. And it keeps him busy. 3. This episode made me tear up three times, laugh a couple and feel heartfelt authenticity the whole time. 4. It has an awesome Fiona and V chat on the stairs. Endearing BFFs catching up.   I haven't felt this much feels since the episode…
Heather
September 22, 2018
Food for thoughtUncategorized

Guns, Trump, #MeToo and knees. Why not? Let’s do this.

I have a few things to say to anyone and everyone who is on one side or another of a very divided country. You're making us vulnerable to the entire world - or at least those who give a shit and are watching,  planning their attack. Our global PR needs a major refresh and has for some time. The more we allow ourselves to lie, twist, fake news, attack, bully, become violent and go after our leadership - the more we end up getting more of what we have no understanding of - a deficit of American Pride. We have all lived in a free country our entire lives. We don't know what it's like not to. To us, freedom…
Heather
September 19, 2018
Food for thoughtHeatherUncategorized

What’cha been up to lately? How You Doing?

How do you answer that?  Don't worry. This isn't one of those motivational stories that are gonna help you love yourself more. I mean, yeah, you should but that's not what this about. I'll quit hugging myself and get to the point. This is the worst question I get asked. It's a robotic greeting sub sentence because ended a cheerful greeting/bump in (especially in a small community) because simply saying ,"Hello" and having that awkward, hesitation pause of "Okay, who's going first?" would happen and then you'd have to say something creative. Some people will even add that third...or when very exited to see someone you actually would like to prioritize time to see them more often. "Oh Hey!!!! Oh…
Heather
September 18, 2018
HeatherUncategorized

Greatly Done Shows and Movies Streaming with Some Okay Parts

Shameless. I. Love. Shameless. There is something about how it stirs a full range of different emotions within you because of the amazing acting talent living out a genius script of the human strength to persevere when driven to win at any cost in a local anarchy zone of city poverty. These kids, neighbors and odd friends they pick up season to season - they all are united because they all got dealt a shit hand of their own and persevere with the same hustle and sweat to get out of there. They will get dirty if that's what it takes and they will be loved unconditionally enough to have no fear in finding out who they are and why…
Heather
September 17, 2018
Food for thoughtHeather

20 Things that Prove #Adulting is Worth it.

Sure, we all say #Adulting is real and hard. We laugh at ourselves by posting selfies that tell people we did something that we didn't want to do but we had to because, well, we had to.  But at what point is hashtag adulting actually a good thing that you are proud of? Let's be honest.  If oversharing daily tasks that suck is more fun than the cool things you get to do because of the sucky tasks, maybe it's time to reevaluate why being all grown up is no different than any stage of your life so far. You have to do things you don't like to get the freedom to enjoy the things you do like.  So if…
Heather
September 8, 2018
Uncategorized

Why We Need to Appreciate Memorial Day… Every Day

What is Freedom, Anyway? Thanks to the bravery of our soldiers, we have freedom to be America. We’ve maintained this freedom for more than 200 years and therefore don’t have the experience to know what it’s like not to have it. For our individual freedoms, it's a feeling we pursue for personal gratification. For many, the “freedom” we desire represents things we believe provide us much more satisfaction in our lives. For example, it’s wanting to retire as soon as possible, win the lottery or work hard to earn more. My Dad proudly serving in Vietnam, came home safely. For the many that did not, we honor them today. We want the freedom to own our time and have the…
Heather
May 25, 2018
Heather

Hey Heather, What’s Your Deal…For Real?

The drive, motivation and gratitude that fuels Oh Hey Heather Each entry is purposely shuffled out of ranking order Family, Family, Family I hear so many stories about in-law drama or families that don't come together after their kids are married. I can't say enough about the family I gained when I married Mark. And I know he says the same about mine. We are so very fortunate to have everyone be considerate and caring towards each other. Oh - and fun. Faith, Faith and more Faith. Reading news and hearing podcasts about the monsters out there hurting other people is so scary and horrific. Advocating to make it stop is a very large passion of mine but I don't…
Heather
April 19, 2018
Heather

Oh Hey Heather…Helping People Use Words Better Since 1995

Ok. So why launch a web company? Better yet, why launch a web company for t-shirts when you have another business idea every other week and a really cush, fun position with the best team anyone could ask for?  'Cause you're welcome. See, I appreciate a good-hearted, funny t-shirt. The ones that make you laugh out loud or say, "Now that's funny. I'm ordering that". But here's the deal. I like them enough to know from several online purchases after serious research and obviously bogus reviews - most of them are a waste and disappointment. They're rough, don't fit right, shrink weird, cracks in the printed piece. No. I am not paying $25 bucks for a well-rated-four-or-five-star-Amazon-fulfilled shirt that arrives…
Heather
April 11, 2018
Uncategorized

Cleaning Out the Closet – an Analogy of Clutter

If you’re trying to clean your room, you start by picking up the clutter, then you can sweep the last of the dust. It’s layers. You also have to identify what the clutter is.  Sometimes, when you pick up all the things that don’t belong in that room it doesn’t mean its trash. It may just be misplaced in where it should be kept.  Like legos on the coffee table or shoes in the kitchen for example.  Or, for this analogy – an emotion -let’s say anger. I think it’s absolutely human to feel anger but how long you store it and where you put it and who sees it can make it quickly become a bad thing. No one is…
Heather
April 10, 2018
Uncategorized

Reasons are Optional

Sometimes my brain is so overloaded with thoughts, lists, “I should haves” and fabulous intentions that I find myself frozen. Staring blankly as if in a frazzled state. Getting nothing accomplished but self-loathing and procrastination.  It’s been much worse lately. It’s embarrassing and SO out of character for me. This picture of Teresa helps visualize what I catch myself doing lately: Blank Stare Is it too much to do? Not really. I’ve had longer lists than these before. Is it depression? I don’t think so. I feel pretty good about a lot of things. Is it daunting tasks? Things I don’t like to do? No, for the most part I like what I am doing. So why are there insecurities, self-doubt shrouding over…
Heather
April 10, 2018
Heather

I Love Making Conversation with New People

It doesn’t get old to me. It’s not everyone – it’s not like I go down the street and try to talk to every single person I meet. That would be ridiculous and probably creepy. But when the situation happens, you know it. Where there’s this feeling internally that you kinda want to say something. Like last week. I was sitting in a waiting room at a bank in rural Ohio waiting to talk with a great CEO. I was early. I gave myself time in case I couldn’t find it, and turns out it was easy. I noticed walking in there was a hover round chair outside. The back was decorated with a small American Flag and a bag…
Heather
April 10, 2018
Heather

Stuck in a Rut With an Unsightly Gut

In my third year battle to lose the exact same 20 pounds, I’ve been digging deep into myself to figure out why I don’t break through and get it off of me. I exercise more now than I have in years and am getting quite proud of myself. I know it’s not my output that the problem. It’s my input. But Why? What is that trigger in my brain that puts my willpower on auto pilot? I really like the taste of so many fruits and vegetables and even think I could quite possibly survive as a vegetarian (maybe). So why do I eat all the bad stuff? Why can’t I have just “a” beer? Why do I see a…
Heather
April 10, 2018
Heather

Aging Happens

Relocating to Ohio and finding myself only 2.5 hours from my original childhood area has been an enlightening experience. I’ve spent the past 20 years driving 13 hours to get there maybe (maybe) once a year and trying to cram all grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and their homes into 4-5 days. Living closer has opened that up infinitely. I’ve already been home more times in the past year than in the last decade. I gain longer sits on the porch. Longer conversations. I’ve even re-familiarized myself to many roads and use the GPS less and less. I get to start looking up old friends because I have more time there. I recall more memories and reflect on them. My Dad…
Heather
April 10, 2018
Food for thoughtHeather

Frickin’ Fracking

Last Sunday I was with Mark, the boys and my brother, Adam, hitting the road after a great weekend trip to West Virginia. The guys had a night in Pittsburgh, PA for our cousin’s bachelor party. I had helped with a bridal shower for his betrothed and the boys tagged along with me and camped out at my Dads for the night. All in all, a nice adventure. Having Adam fly in from Nashville to be a part of it was icing on the cake. (Bree! Ahhh move here please! Sorry, no pressure. Lol) When my son Landon insisted our lunch for the ride home not consist of food in a bag – he’s really starting to be aware of…
Heather
April 10, 2018