It’s a rainy day in the dungeon

It’s wet outside.
It seems like it always is
when I write on this blog.
And that’s fine, because
rainy days are probably
some of my favorite days.
Something about the feeling
that comes with a gray day.
They are relaxed from the start.
The lazy,
stay-in-bed just a little longer
stare out the window and dream,
reflect,
breathe in the world outside my window.

The world is beautiful gray.
The ground glistens,
rain drops adorn car windows
like tiny Christmas lights if
the sun hits them just right.
I love it when it’s rainy.
Just thought I’d share.
Time to get to work.

Yesterday was fruitful, for lack of a better adjective

Yesterday was a good day.
It was the Brandcenter Prom.
And everyone came decked out in their best.
A fun time, filled with dancing, eating, drinks and revealing talks.
Just like regular prom.
With adult beverages.
And no one having to hide them.

Yesterday was also our weekly graduate seminar, Culture Crash.
It was and interesting talk about Ethics.
Important, sure.
But moreover, they brought a bunch of cool commercials with them.
Here were the two coolest I saw.

Enjoy. And leave a comment to let me know what you think of 'em.

Just so we're all clear.

Of course, Coach Self isn't going to leave. Who do you think he is? Roy Williams?
We're in the Final Four for the first time in years. Why the heck would he trade that to go to a struggling Oklahoma State? Get real people.

73 degrees. Partly cloudy.

As much as I'm not a fan of the South,
I must admit that it’s blessed me
with a beautiful past couple of days.
Toasty, but not too toasty. Windy, but not overly windy.
If days had flavor to them, the past couple days were delicious.

Great weather for reflection.



As one of my professors, Charles Hall, alluded to,
"who took the fun out of advertising?"
Well, I couldn't agree more.
But I'd like to make this statement a little more personal.

"When did the fun get taken out of me."

Well, I haven't been fun this semester.
I've failed a lot. A whole lot.
And because of that it has been
a very tough semester for me. But all for the better.
Without failure, there is no learning.
And in my case, there's been
a whole lot of learning going on this semester.

With this new weather comes a new perspective.
Toasty, but not too toasty. Windy, but not overly windy.
If it had a flavor to it, this new perspective would be delicious.

My new perspective is to take it all light-hearted.
To stop trying to get everything right
and instead just do. Do what I know.
Do what I like. Do what I feel.
'Cause isn't that what I'm in this business for anyway.

The reality check is
that it is a lot easier to say it than do it.
But to hell with that,
I'm gonna keep trying.
It's my time now.

It's been a bad week

It's not been the best week. Tons of work. Just as much failing. And a shit ton of learning. That was the only good part. My body, my self-esteem and my friends probably all hate me for this week. But, next week is a new one. So to celebrate. I thought I'd share two poems I wrote this week. I hope you enjoy. Tell me what you think. Not that I care.

I'm not perfect
By Kris Kennedy

I used to be a lover,
a rock star, a kid
I used to be a songwriter,
a singer, a dancer, an artist.
I used to be a friend.
I used to be an economist,
a journalist, a leader
I used to be a catalyst, a role model
I used to have my own special place in the world

and I'm not what I what I thought I would be.

'Cause truth is
I'm still struggling to find my voice.

All I know is that I love creating.
I love thinking, telling stories and building culture.
I love being me.

And I would apologize that
it might not show up in my work here,

but I'm not sorry.
I can't be sorry.

‘Cause everyday I’m still fighting to find it.

------------------------------------------------------------

Here's poem #2. Funny, I wrote it almost right after.

Richmond, VA 6:24pm
By Kris Kennedy

Butt asleep against wooden bench seat
Two people, two tables down speaking French
sounds like politics, religion
maybe romance

Runnin' through my own mind
trying to catch a glimpse of something brilliant
but it's just florescent light
not sunlight
like a trickster

Stopped to breathe
watercolor and pencil doodles on the wall
but not for me
not for
what I need

I need brilliance
not French

Today I decided to write a poem

I woke up this morning in a sour mood. Grumpy. Sick. Feeling very hack-ish.
So, for my daily writing exercise, I decided to write a poem.

Poetry used to clog my bloodstream. All through high school and most of college blessed the world with notebooks full of poetry and songs. But for some reason, I stopped. And those notebooks are sittin’ in a box somewhere in my parents' basement I’m sure.

Anyway, here’s my thoughts and feelings from this morning. Well, at least how I felt at my core.


I used to write for me
Poem by Kris Kennedy

When was the last time I wrote from my heart
The last time I gave my brain the day off
And listened
With my eyes closed
When was it?
When was it last my heart lived on my sleeve
With conviction
And left to bleed
Like a declaration of independence from giving a damn
When was it?
‘Cause last I checked,
I’ve been working my rear to the bone.
Just check under my fingernails
The tree rings under my eyes
Or the limp in my heartbeat's syncopation
But what good is that?
What good is jumping
Still staring at the cliff behind me.
Not the clouds.
Not the sky.
Not the patchwork ground below me.
I ask, what good is that?

It's a gray day in richmond

This town can be spooky at times.
Especially, at the end of winter.
Trees creep into the sky, naked and frail.
The sweet scented air tells of coming rains.
Maybe more. It is an interesting place.

Now, it's days like this that are the hardest.
The hardest to stay on task. The hardest
to get busy. The hardest
to sit down, shut up and write.

Today is extra special,
because I'm sick. Now don't take that as an excuse.
Instead, consider it another obstacle.
One that comes in mucus form.

Even on days like this, when it is hard
to get my mind wrapped around my chosen profession,
I can't help but be inspired by creativity.
People like Luke Sullivan.
If you’ve never heard him speak,
I suggest you read his book “Hey Whipple, Squeeze This”
or listen to the newest podcast from American Copywriter.

And no,
I'm not gonna go on some sort of rant about
how much he has inspired me to enter the industry.
(Although, he has.)
I'm just saying love what you do. And when
you can't remember why, keep tabs on people who love it, too.
They'll remind you why you're doing what you're doing.
Even if looking in the mirror doesn't help.