Monday, November 19, 2012

Help me hook Kelly Clarkson

I need a date to our company Christmas party. It's December 1in Dallas. Kelly Clarkson has a copy of this letter and even read some of it out loud when I was backstage with her. She stopped right after the Facebook comment portion of the letter. I think that if she sees the whole thing and that I still love here as much as I did before...in spite of her bearded boyfriend...she will agree to be my date.So your mission is to get Kelly to love me. And be my Christmas party date. OK she doesn't even have to love me. I love her enough that I might have exhausted all the love that two people could have in a relationship. Thanks for your help!


Shanon


Dear Kelly Clarkson-

Hello Kelly Clarkson. My name is Shanon Kay Murphy. The name Shanon comes from that song about the dog. And it's spelled with one "N" because my mom mis-spelled it because she was overmedicated when she filled out my birth certificate. Kay and Murphy are both family names. Murphy is my maiden name because I'm not married. I'm a lesbian and, even if I had someone who wanted to marry me, it's not legal here. Dang the luck.

I have Facebooked you many a times, but have never gotten a reply. I will admit that I'm pretty upset by this news, but I know you're a big celebrity and probably don't have time for fans such as me. I know that you're composing some of the biggest songs of all time, like Stronger, Mr. Know It All, Grown Up Christmas List, I Do Not Hook Up (although I wish you did), My Life Would Suck Without You, Miss Independent, The Trouble With Love Is, Since U Been Gone, A Moment Like This, O Holy Night, Breakaway, Behind These Hazel Eyes, Walk Away, Breakaway, Never Again, and the Star Spangled Banner. Good job on those, Kelly Clarkson? 

I feel like I should make a list of all the reasons why I love you the way I do. Because I really do love you. On behalf of all those who claim to love you as much as I do, I will compose my list now.
1. You have cute puppies
2. You love Donny Osmond
3. You have pretty eyes
4. I love the pants you wear in the video for "Walk Away." Can I please have them?
5. You let my good friend Matt Nathanson open for you. I love his song "Run"
6. You have a fun accent. I like accents
7. If you would facebook me back, Im pretty sure we could be best friends

That's just a few of the reasons why I love you. I could go on, but I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable. 

Please email me and let me know where to pick you up for our date. shanon@kiddlive.com

I love you always and forever, Kelly Clarkson!

XOXO
Shanon Kay Murphy

Monday, November 12, 2012

Kidd's Kids 2012 Wrap Up


Wow. It’s the last day of another Kidd’s Kids trip. I am exhausted, but I wouldn’t change it. I got to spend my weekend with some incredible people. I’m sure that people think that I am the number one Kellie Rasberry butt kisser in the world. And you know what? I would be more than happy to hold that position if she would be comfortable with it. But I don’t think she could ever be ok with that. But I would do it in a heartbeat. I consider myself to be a pretty good judge of character and, in my eyes, she walks the walk. On the radio, Kellie is funny and quick and smart and well spoken and just captures your attention. Off the air she is exactly the same. The Kellie that you guys know from the radio is authentic Kellie. Brilliance. I’ve been lucky enough the past 3 years or so to be in Kellie’s “pod” on the Kidd’s Kids Trip. That means that I am with Kellie for the majority of the trip. I’m kind of her right hand man. And I can tell you that I’m not the only person who thinks that she hung the moon. The families here adore her as well. And, after this trip, I see where she gets it from. Mr. and Mrs. Rasberry flew in to see what this trip is all about and I seriously enjoyed getting to spend some time with them. With my lifestyle and their religious beliefs, it would be easy for them not to even give me a chance. But they do. Mr. Rasberry is one of the most considerate people I’ve met. He’s always asking how you’re doing and helping out. He made the kids feel like the stars they are on this trip by getting all of their autographs. He’s just a genuinely good, nice human being who I can say I’m proud to know. Mrs. Rasberry is the same way. Always there to lend a hand when it’s needed. She’s a momma at heart and it shows in the way that she treats those around her. And then there’s Emma Kelly. I held that little girl the day she was born, and I’ve not had that much opportunity to really hang out with her. But Kellie wanted her to experience this trip and see how other kids live their lives, so she paid for her to come to WDW. Emma Kelly has empathy and patience and all of the qualities that parents want their child to have. She gets the fact that she is fortunate to be healthy and happy. She adores her mom and is so sweet in showing it. She and I hung out enough this trip that she held my hand while we were walking through the park. She would walk up and hug me. She made friends with the Kidd’s Kids who hung out with us. She is seriously a cool kid and I’m feeling seriously lucky to have seen it first hand this weekend. But that’s just the first part of the awesomeness of Kidd’s Kids 2012.

     I said in one of my Facebook posts that every year there’s a kid or two that just steals my heart. This year was no exception. Victoria is one of those kids. I put pictures of her on every social feed I could. In fact I attribute the fact that I used all of the data allotted on my cell phone plan to posting pictures and other stuff about her. I mean that. I got a text yesterday that said that I only have 10% of my data left. Ahhhh! But it was worth it to share it with you guys who made this trip happen. She is an inspiration that I wish every person I know could meet. She smiles all the time. She wasn’t expected to be able to walk or talk, but who walked with me through Hollywood Studios and said grace before we could eat lunch? Uhm that would be Victoria. The miracle child. There are about 56 miracle children on this trip, not including the amazing siblings that have to bear the burden of stuff themselves.  There are some teenage girls here who put most teenage girls to shame. For real. Most 15 year olds pitch a fit if they’re not the center of attention. But the kids on this trip. Get what it means to have empathy. If their sister can’t ride, they don’t ride. Even if we ask them 10 times if they’re sure they don’t want to ride something, they stick with NO! I’ve met some pretty cool teenagers before, but I have to be honest and tell you that most of them have been on a Kidd’s Kids trip. Unbelievable people.

I just finished learning how to do the double shuffle from one of the kids. I think I’m officially old because that stuff wore me out. But it was great.

And I have to be honest with another fact. That while this trip puts the greatness of some people into perspective, it also makes me realize that some people just suck at life. They cut off a wheelchair and then give the kid an evil look for being in their way.  And I can’t even tell you the horrible thoughts that go through my head and the kick in the gut I feel when I’m walking with a kid who has some form of Cancer and there’s a smoker sitting there lighting up, not even remotely recognizing the irony of the situation. Here you are CHOOSING to do damage to yourself and the people around you while this poor child has no choice but to bear this burden. It makes me want to just scream at them the ignorance I know that they have with every puff. And I know that we are all entitled to making our own choices and I’m not going to judge them for smoking. It’s just under the circumstances and seeing all of these kids who did nothing to bring this stuff on themselves…it makes me angry. I’m angry because of this amazing little guy who has Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy who will likely not live past his 20’s and has so much potential that he will likely never get to fulfill. And then there are all of those people who have the world at their fingertips and they take a break from it every fifteen minutes to puff away at something that’s doing them nothing but harm. Ugh.

Back to the positive stuff. Derrick Brown is a saint among men. He is the guy in charge of Kidd’s Kids. He takes care of every little detail we could imagine and then the ones that come up during the trip. You would think that the man has a direct line to Mickey Mouse and Jesus because he does his job with such intensity and passion that I can’t explain it any other way. Lyndsay Davis is Derrick’s right hand woman. All the guys in the office appreciate the fact that she is HOT. I get it. She is. But she’s not one of those who skates through life with her looks. She has learned from Derrick how to make dreams come true. She does her job with grace and calmness and I’m in awe of her as well. Of course Kidd is the man who started all of this and continues this amazing tradition year after year. And he has done a fabulous job of surrounding himself with people who give a damn. In today’s world it seems like that’s hard to come by. I am so incredibly blessed to be able to call these people my family. Very lucky. I hope that I continue to be blessed for a long time to come. 

Oh, a couple more things. Todd Graves from Raising Canes did an incredible thing when he gave every Kidd's Kid an iPad. I have seen more parents taking pictures and videos with the iPads than normal cameras. And, as always, Southwest Airlines. What can I possibly say to give justice to a company that donates an airplane and fuel and staff to take care of us. They throw the coolest going away party in a private hanger. And they have a smile on their faces throughout the whole thing. At the end of the day, so many people come together to make this trip once in a lifetime. And our listeners who donate the money to fund all that isn't donated. AMAZING!!! I am proud to know that I work for  an organization you trust enough to give your hard earned money to. THANK YOU!


Monday, September 17, 2012

It's a long one, so get ready. Feel free to break and come back at any point.


So it has been brought to my attention that people feel the need to go and assume that they know whom I’m talking about when I write very non-specific stuff. So to those people I say GET A LIFE. There’s no need to go telling people what I’ve said if I name no names. You don’t know what or who is going on in my world. Mind your own damn business and don’t read my stuff if you’re just gonna go assuming stuff and being a kindergarten tattle tail. I’m not stupid and I know who it was who felt the need to “report” me to the person they assumed part of my last blog was about. To this person, who I will not name (but I’ve got you figured out), I say THANK YOU for creating more drama than I have a tolerance for. Your allegiance is obviously not to me, so please save us all a LOT of trouble and just unfriend me. If you don’t, I will just unfriend you by the end of the week. Your choice.


With that being said, I will move on. I can tell you that when I try and sum stuff up in my little world right now, the first thing that comes to mind is the B.O.B. song “Out Of My Mind.” Here’s a link to the music video if you’re not familiar with the song. It has bad, bad words in it. You’ve been warned.

This past weekend was Pride weekend, but I didn’t take part in the events. I was kind of a wasted existence this week and weekend. I woke up at 3PM yesterday. I got very little done except for a couple loads of laundry, went to SAMS and bought chicken, and made dinner. How lame am I? I don’t really need you to answer that. I already know. I spent some time in the SAMS club trying to find the bulk package of umbrellas. I know that at some point in the last week, I saw a 2 pack for $19.99 or something. Which is a heck of a bargain considering the ones at other stores average about $14.99 a piece. I’ve never stressed about an umbrella before, but the way the covered parking is set up at my apartments, I have to walk quite a ways to get to my car in the morning. So with the weather changing, I’m sure I will have to walk in a downpour at some point and an umbrella will certainly come in handy. I searched all of the aisles, but I didn’t find them. So I still don’t own an umbrella. I guess I can just go with a trash bag over the head if need be. I did buy a bulk box of those. Like 120 of them for $10 or so. That’s practically trash bag stealing!


I had to go to Wal Mart today to buy some of the usual small stuff I use during the week. Steam in a bag carrots, tortillas, beans, peanut butter crackers, Rain Berry Gatorade (it’s the best…especially if you dilute it)…and that kind of stuff. I tried to buy an LED MagLite the other day because it was on a rack that said it was $7.99, but when the lady rang it up it was like $30! So I didn’t buy it. Gotta be financially responsible, you know? So anyway, walking down the aisles I realized that my brain is my own worst enemy. I over think everything to the point of a panic attack. Buying a gift for a kid has taken me up to 3 hours before because I cannot make up my mind. How much is appropriate to spend? Well this toy requires batteries and makes loud noises…but the kid wants it. I know this toy says it’s for ages 6 and up, but man those cars are little. What if the cars get lost within a day? Then it was a wasted gift and a waste of money. I can make a decision and talk myself out of it in seconds. And by the end of the 3 hours I go right back to where I started. The same toys end up in my same hands and I could have saved myself an awful lot of time, energy, and thought if I would just shut up already! I exhaust myself.

Well the reason I told you about that is this. I am in a rut. One of those ruts where I don’t want to leave the house. Every text message chime makes me want to break my phone in half. And today was an interesting one for me. The morning show is on Dish Nation now. I’m very happy for them. But with the TV show, I seem to be in the way most of the time or just invisible. I knew that I felt something was off, but I didn’t know what words to use for it until our HR director came in today and gave me a pep talk. She said that I’ve allowed myself to become invisible. Hearing those words come out of her mouth was like getting kicked in the chest. Here I thought that I was feeling uneasy with the transition and finding my place with a new purpose and new people, but I mean really…she’s right. I’m not exactly sure where I have gone wrong in allowing myself to get to this point. I just know that I don’t want to be here. I know that I have so much to offer in whatever capacity is thrown at me, so it’s time to step it up. I’ve got to pull myself out of my funk and get my butt in gear. I should be the go to DJ for the gay and lesbian community around here. I’m not. Why is that? Because I haven’t hit the ground running. That’s why. I shouldn’t have to have my bank app on my phone to make sure I am ok with money. I should be at a point in my life where I just know it’s ok. And I can go buy the Beats By Dre headphones I’ve been wanting or the Adidas hi tops I want and not feel incredible guilt afterwards. I have worked my ass off for as long as I can remember. It’s time for me to start leveraging the name recognition that I have and do big things. This isn’t one of those things where I post on facebook that I’m ready to become a runner or something. I think that getting myself driven and going again is what I need for my sanity. To take all the crap that goes on in my head and make something of it. I owe that to myself. Now I just need to put together a plan on how to do this.

I know that my confidence is not where it should be. My personal relationships are suffering because of this. There are several conversations that I need to have with people, but I haven’t done that because I’m not convinced that my thoughts are valid. Really? I mean seriously Shanon. Get a grip. If I feel it, there must be some driving force behind it. I’m a girl and a lesbian and I know that we create our own drama. I get that. But I have taken it to a level that is unacceptable. I’ve got to get my head on straight and get my stuff done. I think that I am probably too money driven and that I’m never going to be happy until I feel financially successful. Of course I want to have passion for what I do as well, so money can’t be the only driving factor. But in reality…it’s a big one. So I’m going to work on this. Our HR manager said that she will sit down with me and help me work out a plan to get this thing going already. I’ve got so many ideas, but now I’m finally finding the drive to put them into action. So I GOT THIS. I’m going to learn to be happy with myself again. Then my confidence will show and I can start to take control of all the other stuff I’ve allowed to slip away.

This is really long at this point. It’s important stuff though people. Maybe my introspection can help you get your junk in gear and make some moves and changes. When all I do is sit in my apartment playing SongPop for days on end, what do I have to lose? Maybe the same applies to you.

Thanks for reading. I hope you have a fantastic week.


Shanon

Oh and P.S. I apologize to those who have gotten the wrath of my crazy mind set lately. I’m working on it. 

Monday, September 10, 2012


Alright. Let’s give this “blogging on my own” thing a try. Assuming I can figure out how to post this. I’m going to give it my best shot.  I’m going to try and not make this 7 pages long, but no promises. I have a lot on my brain these days.

I’m trying to get myself motivated to do the things I’m good at again. Working out is such an amazing release, but I haven’ been able to force myself to do it. I have to do something. Have to. I’m hoping that putting my “need to do’s” in writing will make me more accountable for them.

Random…I watch Married to Jonas. I really don’t like Mama Jonas. She is nosy and inappropriate. Manipulative and thrives on guilt trips. I won’t even say what I think about Kevin Jonas. I think that he and Kelly Clarkson would make really great friends, though. Danielle is too shy for the lifestyle she has chosen. I don’t get it. I love the show, but I SO needed to share my thoughts on those things.

Do you know what I think about people who short hand text? It drives me CRAZY. Why would anyone say “txt” instead of adding in the “e” and completely typing out the words text? I don’t get it. At all. Referring to me as “u” instead of “you” makes me feel like I hold very little value to you as a person. Is what you’re saying to me not worth typing out a full three letter word? I might be kind of harsh with my thoughts on short hand texting, but I think it’s a little out of control. When I text a person, I want them to know that they are worth the time it takes for me to type in all the letters in a word. It means something more to me than just a casual message being sent to me. It’s a statement of the value I hold in your life. Period. End of story.


Anyway, I know that I said I would try and keep this short, so I’m going to end it there. I do have a memo in my phone of things that I am going to be writing about. I’m sorry that I fell off the blogging bandwagon when the show website was redesigned and a link to all things me was not on there. I hope that this blogger.com site works for me and that at least a few people care enough to read. And I may try the vlog thing at some point. I have to learn to be more concise with my thoughts though.

Thanks and have an amazing week!

Shanon