Karla Bowen Herman
Bio
I've always wanted to be an author, ever since I was a little girl. Time has a way of flying by when you're raising a family. But, I've discovered you're never too old to start! May something I write someday, lift someone's heart.
Stories (41/0)
How We Can Help the Oceans Even From a Land-locked State
I’m responsible for the oceans, even though I live in a land-locked state… Why? Every time water runs off my yard into the storm sewer, it eventually ends up in the ocean. The same goes for every time water runs down my sink drain. 94% of Earth’s wildlife is found in the ocean! So, what I do not only affects the water that covers 70% of Earth’s surface, it also affects most of the wildlife on Earth!
By Karla Bowen Herman3 years ago in Earth
The Mural
Russell Storm’s ignored conscience had become so calloused from decades of neglect, that it was hard as rock. Not just any rock… his conscience was as impenetrable as granite. Scratch as one might to tug at his cold heart for even a flicker of remorse or guilt; the only emotion that would scrape forth was amused annoyance.
By Karla Bowen Herman3 years ago in Horror
Stuck in a Soda Pop Bottle
When I was young, soda pop only came in bottles. One day, I thought it would be clever to show off to my siblings a trick of how I could suck my upper lip inside the bottle top of my Mr. Pibb, then let go of the bottle and stretch my arms out, holding the entire weight of that Mr. Pibb with nothing but the amazing strength of my upper lip. “Ta da!” I managed to shout with just my teeth and my lower lip. "What a marvelous accomplishment,” I gleefully thought to myself. “This will give me bragging rights over my poor, lesser-accomplished siblings!” But my bravado came to a shrieking halt when when I suddenly realized—I was stuck!
By Karla Bowen Herman3 years ago in Confessions
My Merry-go-round Fail
At recess, the boys thought it was great fun to twirl the girls faster and faster on the merry-go-round, as we held on for dear life. It was a boy's wildest dream to send a girl sailing through the air, to her demise... Of course, I was the only girl who ever forgot you should NEVER let go. I don’t 100% recall why I let go after the merry-go-round had gathered too much speed… Looking back, that was just craziness on my part!
By Karla Bowen Herman3 years ago in Confessions
Pedal Pusher Picture Day
In 3rd grade, I wore some capris to school for the very first time; they were hand-me-downs from my cousin. (Of course, back then we called them “pedal pushers”.) As fate would have it, it happened to be Picture Day, the day I wore those pedal pushers. Not understanding that I was supposed to wear them with either anklets, bobby socks, or nothing besides flip-flops; I somehow managed to leave the house without Mama noticing that I had kicked off my flip-flops and pulled up really high fuzzy brown knee socks over the bottom of my red pedal pushers, so my legs wouldn’t get cold. “What kind of mother sends me to school with such high-water trousers?” I wondered.
By Karla Bowen Herman3 years ago in Confessions
I'm a Hot Mess of Cringe-worthy Moments
I am a big ol' hot mess; and when I was young, I was a little hot mess. I've had so many cringe-worthy moments throughout my life, I’ve lost count. Unfortunately, I never outgrew making a fool of myself. **sigh** It seems to be getting worse, the older I get! Let’s face it, some of y’all are shaped to shine, while others of us are fashioned for faux pas. I’ve divided up my embarrassing moments into four parts: 1) 'Younger Years'; 2) 'Terrible Tween & Teen Tales'; 3) 'Dating & Romance Sagas' (Lord, have mercy); and 4) 'A Grown Woman Should Know Better By Now' Moments. Here goes Part 1. Be kind—I was just a kid!
By Karla Bowen Herman3 years ago in Confessions
My Healing MRI Playlist
Recovering from multiple surgeries is stressful—and boring. I've got a couple more surgeries to go, probably... It's hard to relax when you're in pain. The normal Zen meditative playlists do nothing for me! Instrumentals don't work, either; whether they are classical or jazz. I've found I need songs with lyrics in order to distract my mind from the pain. Having to get multiple MRI's, the technician had a playlist that worked for me! Yay! I don't care that these aren't modern songs. All that matters is that I can close my eyes to these songs and let the music take me away. Here are my 12 favorite tunes I discovered while in the MRI machines, which continue to help me to calm down:
By Karla Bowen Herman3 years ago in Beat
Coco—The Prescription Puppy
Through tear-filled eyes, I pleaded with the pediatrician: “Doctor, what can I do to help my little boy? Every single time L.J. sees a dog, he instantly becomes SO terrified, the blood rushes out of his face, he bursts into screaming tears, and he scrambles up me; desperately clinging to my neck.”
By Karla Bowen Herman3 years ago in Petlife
Heroic, Hard-Hitting Hedy Lamarr
Dear Hedy, You affect our lives EVERY SINGLE DAY... How can I thank you for teaching me so much? Little did people realize that behind that pretty face of yours, was the powerful brain of an inventor and the valorous spirit of a righteous fighter. You escaped the Nazi's and became obsessed with defeating them. You had to battle so many people—including the top brass of the USA military—to be taken seriously. Your brilliant innovations are STILL changing our world today, with satellite and cellular phone technology, WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS! Below are five lessons I've learned from you:
By Karla Bowen Herman3 years ago in Humans
The Chaperones
“They were made for each other,” John said, as he looked in the bedroom mirror to straighten his tie. “It’s like they’re both out of a former century; neither one of them has a clue how to romance someone in modern times. They’re both so nerdy and hopeless.”
By Karla Bowen Herman3 years ago in Families
Simple “Finds" for 12 Rooms, that will Start Putting Your Home in Order
Are you in the mood to put your home in order, now that spring has sprung? Do you scramble to tackle the shambles that is your cluttered home? Help is on the way... I’m going to share a few easy ‘finds’ for 12 rooms in your home—simple items that will soon make you say, “Where have you been all my life?” (Note: I do not have any financial interest in any of these products, their manufacturers or sellers.) But, where and how to begin? You don’t have to proceed in the same order of rooms I’ve listed below… The important thing is just to start SOMEWHERE!
By Karla Bowen Herman3 years ago in Lifehack