Lake County Rowing Club Oct. 15th Kickoff

Olympics+Day+9+Rowing

Thomas Ebert, Morten Joergensen, Mads Christian Kruse Andersen and Eskild Balschmidt Ebbesen of Denmark celebrate their gold medal in the Lightweight Men’s Four at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park during Day 9 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 17, 2008 in Beijing, China.
(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images AsiaPac)

LCRC.UC Founder Morten Bjoern is currently in Denmark and has been working closely with the Danish National Rowing Team.  Plans are being made for 15 rowers to fly over to the US to help us KICKOFF Lake County Rowing Club, train on Lake Minneola and show us how they have become the best rowers in the world!

Rowing is not only an Olympic sport but a wonderful way to stay in great health. Many Danish rowers practice well into their 90′s and are still going strong. For youths rowing is an exceptional way to teach discipline, improve balance, overall health and earn scholarships!

The top ranked, gold medal winning Danish National Team will be coming to Clermont Florida from October 15th til the 25th, 2009 in conjunction with Clermont’s 125th Celebration. If you would like to meet the team in person please contact Morten Bjoern @ 407-391-9383 or (407-770-8537 after Aug. 15th) or e-mail him Morten@lcrc.us. We are currently working on their schedule and would like to reach as many people in the community as possible.

Olympics+Day+9+Rowing+

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wwwmfrmlscomWANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HISTORIC LOW HOME PRICES?

Find a bank owned or foreclosed home here–>

Florida Floreclosures

http://www.myfloridahomesmls.com/kimjohnson

Colbie Caillat, Fallin’ for You

This is Colbie Caillat’s newest musical fairytale. In this video Colbie’s signature “natural surfer blonde chic” falls for a seemingly mismatched average “hot dog stand Joe.” Of course after a trip to the beach, humorous out takes & some toes in the sad…they realize what GOOD PEOPLE everywhere have always known. Sometimes, LOVE jumps up & bites you in the ass. *Giggles…comes from where you least expect it or at times when you aren’t even looking for it.

“ENJOY the video and look around. How many of your friends or co workers have a similar home video? Do you? Love has many shapes and sizes, it’s up to each of us to define it. Happy Hump Day!”

Videos like these are brought to us through the miracle of YouTube. I love it when smart people think quickly…this is the 1st version of the new Colbie Caillat video I could find that would let me copy/paste it into this little blog:D

Great work Deadmau511 !!! Looks like some quick thinking made you grab your cell phone & video the “video.” Way to go…

Hope you all love it as much as I do. I really do believe that REAL LOVE isn’t about what someone looks like, it’s about who they are.  Fall in LOVE with someone beautiful on the INSIDE today. (Crossing my fingers they have a knockout smile on the outside 2!)

plumber kimWANT TO BRING YOUR INNER BEAUTY OUT? Help New Beginnings bring the beauty of CHARITY back into the lives of displaced Women & Children. SHOW UP at the OLD MULBERRY INN in Historic Downtown Clermont anytime today, tomorrow or next week! Wear clothes you can get dirty in because we are working to make this a better community!

Ok…below you will find an area marked COMMENTS. That means fell free to make one. It’s a statement, kind of your way of saying “my opinion matters.”

FEEL FREE to suggest other forms of CHARITY we could help out with. I love feedback:

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Painting the Old Mulberry Inn

Scott Clark Mulberry InnIf you have been following my “Kimberventures” you know my friends at New Beginnings Linda & Steve, are helping the displaced women & children of Lake County by providing much needed housing! Transforming the Old Mulberry Inn into Lake County’s “Home for Women with Children.”

“Making magical transformations happen is not always easy & almost never GLAMOROUS…it takes hard work & a team of people with strong backs & BIG HEARTS.”

cell ScottScott Clark is a General Contractor/Humanitarian here in

Clermont Florida. After working all over central Florida during the week

 as a TOP COMMERCIAL CONTRACTOR, Scott takes a break to

donate his time, crew & materials to help renovate the Old Mulberry Inn.

 

stairwayHelping New Beginnings texture & paint the 1st & 2nd floors of this late

 1800′s home not only gives it a fresh look, it adds up to $5K in value

 to this historic home.  Once a family home before becoming a

bed & breakfast until most recently a European Bistro, Mothers & their

 children will again be able to make memories here.

Kim & ScottPreferring to be behind the scenes, Scott & his men worked late into the night to ensure everything was done in time for the crew of volunteer painters this morning.

“I know it’s not as much as I would like to do, but it’s what I can do for them. Obviously, if they’re here they could use a helping hand,” soft spoken contractor Scott Clark admits when asked why he does things like this.

shea & erinPeople from all over the community have really pulled together to help make the Old Mulberry Inn something our community can be proud of.

 Mother daughter teams like Erin & Shea Holbrook of Shea Racing have made this home a priority for their volunteer efforts.

Pitching in help fuel the painting crew! Mulberry Inn BEFORE

diningWANT TO HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

Contact us today kim@lcrc.us or http://newbeginningslake.org

fireplacewindows

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Family Values

ugly baby

“Have you ever discover something that made you question reality?”

I guess as a parent you really do view your children through “different” eyes. At least that’s what my mother called it. When she see’s an ugly baby/toddler in a beauty pagent/talent show she will always exclaim, “poor thing, it’s so ugly it’s cute!”

mom Let me explain my mother is Korean, so she has a distinct Asian wisdom behind her statements. I learned this long ago as she told me Korean “fairytales/fables” before bed, translation is a very sardonic mistress.

frog-full“Unquestionably the Hans Christen Andersen of Korea: she had spun webs of reality where baby frogs buried their mother by the sea shore out of love and sisters were washed ashore still embracing after being lost at sea.”

Very heavy material for a four year old, but always with a lesson. Love comes at a price: hard work, patience & usually some type of suffering, just for good measure, lol.
I remember always wondering why all her stories were so sad. Many times while telling the stories she would cry. I always wondered if she was crying because she was sad the frog’s mommy died. Didn’t she know it was only make believe?

pizza nightAs an adult I realize that maybe that’s not the reason she is crying. I came to this realization at 4 am, after opening a box of Pizza my son Jeffrey had ordered for lunch. I haven’t been sleeping well worried about work/economy/election/Jeff and especially my mom’s recent strokes, so I figure the pizza will put me in carb coma for at least a few hours.

“Sausage & pepperoni?” I mutter as I open the box.

Who could have possibly have ordered this I wonder?  Jeff had. “So my son’s favorite pizza is actually sausage & pepperoni…after all this time” I mentally review. Jeff always tries to make people happy so he “goes with the flow,” in most situations. I realize I do the same by always ordering a pizza I think he likes. The Danish irony is, we are both eating pizza that’s not our favorite & pretending it is to make the other happy.

3201975957_b9e1a4753fAs I took a bite of Jeff’s pizza, I thought about how scared I still was about losing my mom. This pizza was a perfect example of what she always conveyed in her bedtime stories. I realized that those last few nights in Denmark actually put me in my mother’s shoes for once. I was a strange person in a foreign land, surrounded by people speaking a language foreign to me, missing my mother & family who could be ill or even dying, but tied steadfast by the love for her husband.

mom and me“By the second bite, I knew why my mother always cried when she told me bedtime stories….”

Telling me bedtime stories was the one time she felt safe sharing her fears, joys & pain. In her web of reality she would weave the pain of missing her mother, fear of her possible death, joys of motherhood and hopes for tomorrow. I realize now her children were possibly her only audience at the time due to the huge cultural gap & racial prejudices. Fairy tales are the perfect way to explain grown up thoughts to tiny minds & still have a happy ending.

My mother always ended her stories by telling me she loved me and that she wished my grandmother were here to see me. “She’d go crazy if she see’s you,” she’d say because we were all so beautiful/smart/good. That was her way of saying, “totally overcome with emotion.” *Giggles

“Reality is perception. I realize life really is a circle. I am my mother and my mother was me. I still have so much to learn and teach but wonderful mentors to guide me.”

I throw the rest of the pizza in the trash. It’s served it’s purpose and fed both my body and mind.
“I’m going to ask more questions and actually listen more.” I promise myself. I don’t want to regret what I didn’t do or say. I want to try to “walk in the other persons shoes more.”
I click off the kitchen light.

kim & morten“I am truly blessed…each time I look at my mother’s smile or see her eyes in my son, I thank GOD for making me a part of their lives.”

Kisses Kimber

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Boogie Woogie Tuesday

I must admit…I’m a sucker for those “Oldies but Goodies.”

Bette Midler always makes me smile & this video made me *Giggle* so here it is.

When I saw it I thought “This is what would happen if Walt Disney

had to direct a broadway show for WWII!”

HOPE IT LIFTS YOUR DAY AS MUCH AS IT DID MINE…see you at the Elks Lodge!

I decorated the whole place for our Island Treasure Steak Night next Friday.

“Come by & tell me what you think…if I’m out tell ‘em Kimber sent you”:D

Kisses Kimber

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South Lake County Historical Society

kern-house
As an Ambassador for the South Lake County Chamber of Commerce, I had the privilege of touring the Historic Village when it first opened. That was the first time I had the honor of meeting Mrs. Dolores Walker.  She delighted me with a magical trip back in time to the early 1900′s.

dolores-walker“As a guide for the Historic Village, Mrs. Walker

has a very important role to play.”


She not only has to know everything about “the Townsend House“, the old train station and “the Kern House“…

she has to find ways to captivate her audiences again and again she guides them, sometimes in temperatures over 90 degrees.

“Dolores Walker must have been born with the gift of story telling

because the minute you step through the door of James & Sallie’s home,

you feel like you have stepped through the looking glass & into history.”

morten-scaleSince my 1st visit the the Historic Village,

I’ve become so captivated by it that I bought a

copy of the book “CLERMONT: Gem of the Hills 1884-1984″

just to learn more about this amazing little community

I now live in.  Dolores opened my eyes to how hard

the people that lived here must have worked, how many changes have our community

has seen & how much such a seemingly TINY CITY has accomplished in such a short time.

original-kern“From “hogs ad fleas galore”, digging the Monte Vista Canal,

Movie Industry, Danish Invasion, Citrus Industry,

Bovingdon’s Castle to modern day

Triathlon Capitol of the WORLD

Clermont really is the ideal setting for the IDEAL COMMUNITY.”

South Lake County Historical Society helps us all remember that & preserve that HISTORY before time & failing memories can steal them away forever…one guided tour (back through time) at a time:D

*Kisses Kimber

dolores

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Sunday Funday

samples2

“In the life of a REALTOR, Sunday’s are a very confusing day.

Our hearts & minds tell us to enjoy the day with our families

& our church, but sometimes… our pocketbooks tempt us to show houses.

*Giggles

morten-kiss1“Today I am RELAXING with my FAMILY!”

My Morten goes back to Denmark on the 14th. So we are trying to spend as much time together as possible…while trying to cram suitcases full of CLEAN clothes, laptops & paperwork!

“Not as easy as it sounds.”

FOOD & FUN at the FARMER\’S MARKET!

“Morten, Jeff & I love to go the the Farmer’s Market.

Not only do they have wonderful fruits, veggies

& home made goodies…we get a chance to bump

into some of Lake Counties finest! “lindas-lites1

kids-samples

“Never a trip goes by that I don’t see…


Dolores Walker, my mentor from the

Historical Society, stocking up on

fresh produce mayor-clermont1after church or Linda Sheets,

from Kiwanis Club, heating things up with

her colorful handcrafted candles.

I look forward to the county fair atmosphere…

just the smell of the kettle corn makes me smile.


keith-mullinskettle-corn


No matter how bad a week I had,

hot-dog-ladywalking hand in hand with my baby

looking at the pretty flowers and

chit chatting about nothing…

makes the troubles of the world seem a little smaller.

“Some weeks we go home with bags,

others empty handed…but always with fuller hearts.”

*Kisses Kimber

richard




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*Don’t worry BE HAPPY…

copenhagen-circle

“Sometimes we forget what is truly IMPORTANT…”

Surround yourself w/ people who help you see the BRIGHTER SIDE OF LIFE.

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” –Winston Churchill

Life is too short not to be happy. _unknown

Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open.
John Barrymore

“Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission.” Eleanor Roosevelt

“If you can’t make it better, at least you can laugh at it.” —Erma Bombeck

“Don’t worry about the world ending today, it’s already tomorrow in Australia.”—Charles Schultz


Don’t Worry, Be Happy Lyrics


Don’t Worry, Be Happy
From the Movie “Cocktails”
Performed by Bobby McFerrin

Here is a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don’t worry be happy
In every life we have some trouble
When you worry you make it double
Don’t worry, be happy……

Ain’t got no place to lay your head
Somebody came and took your bed
Don’t worry, be happy
The land lord say your rent is late
He may have to litigate
Don’t worry, be happy
Lood at me I am happy
Don’t worry, be happy
Here I give you my phone number
When you worry call me
I make you happy
Don’t worry, be happy
Ain’t got no cash, ain’t got no style
Ain’t got not girl to make you smile
But don’t worry be happy
Cause when you worry
Your face will frown
And that will bring everybody down
So don’t worry, be happy (now)…..

There is this little song I wrote
I hope you learn it note for note
Like good little children
Don’t worry, be happy
Listen to what I say
In your life expect some trouble
But when you worry
You make it double
Don’t worry, be happy……
Don’t worry don’t do it, be happy
Put a smile on your face
Don’t bring everybody down like this
Don’t worry, it will soon past
Whatever it is
Don’t worry, be happy

WANT TO KICK IT “OLD SCHOOL?

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Confession…Jean-Jacques Rousseau

jean-jacques_rousseau_painted_portrait
Recently I met a new friend on Blip/Twitter that had a link to this really cool video about China & their Yangtz hydroelectric project there. UP THE YANGTZE. Watching it made me realize how many lives are effected by every decision people make.


tmb_dam_tourist_uty1

I wanted to learn more about this country that was Asian but so different from my own.


I GOOGLED Yangtz & wiki to get to the Three Gorges Dam Wikipedia page I needed. After learning more about the project, I wanted to learn more about COMMUNISM & exactly why so may people hated it. Funny, I am still not completely sure. I think it’s more the failed attempts and bad role models that have really given it such a bad rap. *Plus not much fun it seems.

I did find one nugget of info I would have never found otherwise, “Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Geneva, 28 June 1712 – Ermenonville, 2 July 1778) was a major philosopher, writer, and composer of the eighteenth-century Enlightenment, whose political philosophy influenced the French Revolution and the development of modern political and educational thought.” from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Jacques_Rousseau

“His candid confession about his relationship with his father & their stolen moments together made me smile. The sentiment is timeless.

father-son-readingEvery night, after supper, we read some part of a small collection of romances [i.e., adventure stories], which had been my mother’s.

My father’s design was only to improve me in reading, and he thought these entertaining works were calculated to give me a fondness for it; but we soon found ourselves so interested in the adventures they contained, that we alternately read whole nights together and could not bear to give over until at the conclusion of a volume.

Sometimes, in the morning, on hearing the swallows at our window, my father, quite ashamed of this weakness, would cry,

“Come, come, let us go to bed; I am more a child than thou art.”

—Confessions, Book 1 Jean-Jacques Rouseau

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BAH @ Sonny’s BBQ

chamber-joe

“One of the “perks” of being a member of the South Lake Chamber of Commerce…

is all the fun we have when we get together:D”

Once a month one of the local businesses will sponsor what we like to call: Business After Hours.

Basically it’s a networking version of happy hour or a tweet up but UP CLOSE & IN PERSON. A chance for you to meet the people in your community you may actually need help from sometime in the future. YES…it is one of those things you should bring business cards too & YES there are some people there you will never do business with, but we all live here & most are here to stay. We share the same community so knowing your neighbors DOES enrich your life.

ann-morten

In Clermont we believe in working hard, taking pride in our community & working with people that we know & trust.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have met some of my best friends

at After Hours events. It’s always a good time & I know I will see

my old friends there. Hopefully, I’ll make some new ones too.”

Think about it. As a card carrying member of the Chamber your membership gets you “in” FREE to Sonny’s BBQ for an event that is catered, has fabulous refreshments & tons of people JUST LIKE YOU. We all know we have to work twice as hard, especially NOW to succeed. We all know that making the right connections can make or break our careers. Meeting our communities business professionals in a casual atmosphere allows us all to judge for ourselves who we trust doing business with.

hawaian-bbq“If my son knocks the faucet off the wall & water is going everywhere, I know a GREAT plumber to call…I met them @ an After Hours along with my chiropractor, car detailer, carpet cleaner & my dry cleaner. I also met & hired two assistants there. It’s just an amazing way to really get to know people you would never normally see in this setting.”

Hope to see everyone tonight!

chamber-2008-logo1soonnys-bbq

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