Archives for September 2012

Welcome to my blag The Musings of Lanna Lee Maheux.

Are you visiting this page for the first time? From Agents of Change Conference, perhaps? Make yourself at home. I’ve been blagging every day since last November, so there’s a lot of stuff here.

I’ll be talking about Lounging with LannaLee and it’s success. Excited! And terrified! Just a bit!

Working on my first ever indiegogo campaign!

I’ve been working on this for a few days and I’m almost ready to send it out! I still have some tweaks to do. And I need to do (yet ANOTHER) video.

So. You’re kind of a fan of me and whatnot (since you are on my page and all) Can you take a few minutes to check out the write-up below and give me some feedback? Thanks for your time!

Send LannaLee on the Road!

Hi. I’m Lanna Lee Maheux and I’m the host of the digital salon/podcast Lounging with LannaLee. I’m an ex-clown, speaker, podcaster, actor, geek, silly person, femme fatale, singer, lover, twit, and recovering Stand-Up Comic who lives in Westbrook, Maine.

The Lounging with LannaLee digital salon features adventures in conversation, an in-person, heart-to-heart, unedited talk between me and another person. My goal is to inspire, delight and amuse the audicence while promoting the art of conversation. One way to do that is to take Lounging with LannaLee on the road, out of it’s comfort zone; I have been asked to speak at a conference in Kansas. This is a great opporunity for me to talk with new guests and interest new listeners, but in order to do that I need your help.

I need to raise $3000 to cover the cost of train/air travel, hotel and other amenities or I won’t be able to attend this conference. I am turning to you, my friends, fans and family, to ask for contributions. In exchange, I’m offering art, poetry, cushy plushies, and otherwise fantastic perks. Your contribution will help me get to Kansas, and further, it will help Lounging with LannaLee power up to the next level. Thanks!

Support the Show and Get Fabulous Prizes!

Your money will help me get my butt to Kansas, have a place to stay, and eat while I’m there. But I want to take it up a notch! Why not take a train, I thought! Let’s get crazy, this is an epic trip. I’ve never been to the Midwest, and I want to do it right!

The Money will go to:

• $1,000-$1,500 for a Round-Trip Train trip to Hutchinson, Kansas (Deluxe with a Room and everything)
• $800+ for 6+ nights hotel and food 

Leftover money will go to

• indegogo fees
• Postage & Materials for the perks
• promotional materials for Lounging with LannaLee like
  • Stickers
  • Pens

If we go over budget the rest of the money will be used for

• Bringing a travel buddy!
• Future Lounging with LannaLee trips

Because indiegogo has flexible funding, I keep all funds raised for this campaign. That means if I fall short of my goal I can still get the funds I’ve earned.

But enough about that! Let’s hear what you get!

I’ve takens some time to think of some attactive and fun perks to go along with the suggested donation levels. If you want to mix and match something, let me know! I can be very accomodating when suitably bribed!

The perks include:

• Exclusive videos and podcasts
• Original poetry
• Handmade Original Monster Art
• Handmade Original Monster Plush Creature
• Handmade Limted Edition Couch 
• Balloon Twisting for your Holiday Party
• Lounging with LannaLee
• Help producing your own podcast
• Your own LannaLee Digital Salon with a catered meal

The Impact

Lounging with LannaLee is a labor of love for me. I sit down with fascinating people and talk to them about their lives and the cool things they do. I am inspired by their passion and creativity. Your support will help me take Lounging with LannaLee to the next level. 

In this digital age we sometimes forget to have in person and face-to-face conversations. It’s easier to Tweet something or chat on Facebook.

Lounging with LannaLee promotes in-person conversations by doing them on a public scale.  

Other Ways You Can Help

If you are unable to give, you can be a big help by sharing this campaign with your friends and relatives. 

In fact, I ask that you send this along to your friends and family regardless!

And one last request: Use the Indiegogo share tools to share on Twitter, Facebook, Google+!

Tell everyone how awesome I am and that they should give me some monies!

Here are the perks, in detail.

$5	High Five	If we ever meet in person, I will give you an honest to goodness high five. Plus a download of awesome exclusive videos and pods, a listing on the donors page, a hand-written thank-you note, along with my heartfelt thanks.
$25	On the Road Poetry	I will write you one-of-a-kind poem based on any subject you like and I will send you a hand-written thank-you postcard from on the road. Also included: a download of awesome exclusive videos and pods, a listing on the donors page, a hand-written thank-you note, along with my heartfelt thanks.
$35	On the Road Monster Art	I will make you a unique India ink Monster piece of artwork on a half-sheet of paper, and I will send you a hand-written thank-you postcard from on the road. Also included: a download of awesome exclusive videos and pods, a listing on the donors page, a hand-written thank-you note, along with my heartfelt thanks
$50	On the Road Monster Plush	I will hand sew a plush monster/creature I will send you a hand-written thank-you postcard from on the road. Also included: a download of awesome exclusive videos and pods, a listing on the donors page, a hand-written thank-you note, along with my heartfelt thanks
$100	On the Road Trio Grande	Get all Three On the Road art pieces: poem, Monster Art, Monster plush PLUS a surprise item! Of course, I will send you a hand-written thank-you postcard from on the road. Also included: a download of awesome exclusive videos and pods, a listing on the donors page, a hand-written thank-you note, along with my heartfelt thanks
$250	Couch A La Carte	Get your own, limited edition Lounging with LannaLee Couch. Plus! Pick one of the On the Road Perks to go with it: a poem, Monster Art, or a Monster plush. PLUS a surprise item! Of course, I will send you a hand-written thank-you postcard from on the road. Also included: a download of awesome exclusive videos and pods, a listing on the donors page, a hand-written thank-you note, along with my heartfelt thanks
$500	Special Balloon Holiday	For this perk I will provide 1 to 2 hours of balloon twisting for your holiday party. I’ll provide the balloons, you bring the people. NOTE: Subject to schedule availability and location. Portland Maine area only. Of course, I will send you a hand-written thank-you postcard from on the road. Also included: a download of awesome exclusive videos and pods, a listing on the donors page, a hand-written thank-you note, along with my heartfelt thanks.
$500	Lounge with LannaLee	“Here’s your chance, now you can Lounge with LannaLee. We will sit down at your home and have a chat, recorded or not, your choice. Includes the Couch A La Carte perk. NOTE: Subject to schedule availability and location. Portland Maine area only. Of course, I will send you a download of awesome exclusive videos and pods, a listing on the donors page, a hand-written thank-you note, along with my heartfelt thanks.”
$1,000	Podcast Jump Start	Do you want to start a podcast and have no idea where to begin? I will help you design and produce your own podcast and will facilitate up to 10 episodes. [Does not include website or hosting fees.] NOTE: Subject to schedule availability and location. Portland Maine area only. Includes Couch A La Carte Perk with a download of awesome exclusive videos and pods, a listing on the donors page, a hand-written thank-you note, along with my heartfelt thanks.
$2,500	LannaLee Digital Salon	Enjoy a catered dinner in your home, and invite up to 5 guests. We will provide great food, you provide the wine, and the conversation will flow… Includes Couch A La Carte Perk. NOTE: Subject to schedule availability and location. Portland Maine area only.  Of course, I will send you a download of awesome exclusive videos and pods, a listing on the donors page, a hand-written thank-you note, along with my heartfelt thanks.

Watched some Doctor Who and a lot of Leverage today. I’m in love with Leverage. Will be likely buying season 5 so I can watch it on my Kindle Fire.

I also did some dishes. Like a BOSS! They aren’t All done tho.

I guess I should go to bed or something like that.

Hey! Here’s some kitty pictures. You’re welcome.

Squiggy

Lenny in a BOX!

Squiggy and Lenny

Amanda Lounged with LannaLee and got a couch!

So I need something fun. And what’s more fun than sharing a Lounging with LannaLee episode with you?!

Last week I talked with Amanda O’Brien about her work, social media, dogs, and whatnot. When I sit down to talk with someone, I always ask them if there is anything they don’t want to talk about. And Amanda had a secret that she hadn’t shared with the general/online public: she’s pregnant! I sensed her hesitation, so I didn’t ask her about it when we spoke, we had plenty of other things to talk about. Near the end of the episode, however, she mentions it, thereby letting the proverbial cat out of the bag. Fortunately, she was almost ready to come clean and let her adoring internet fans know.

Make your Friday a little more awesome, go on over to Lounging with LannaLee and listen to the episode.

Do eeet!

Steve lounged with LannaLee and got a couch

Steve is kind of a rock star academic. Maybe not quite Buckaroo Banzai, but close. He’s a drummer, a biologist and he has traveled all over doing his thang. A professor for the last 30 years, Steve’s perspective on new new generation of kids coming through the university system is heartening. Click here to listen to it.

Here is my blurb about the episode:

Steve and Lanna have a lively discussion about his work as a conservation biologist, Tolkein, and kids these days. Ever wondered what a landscape biologist does? Find out what makes the drums speak as Steve spins a story of ecology and explains how his students show engagement in the natural world through storytelling. And he answers 10 questions.

Listen. You know you wanna!

Show the love!

Lounging with LannaLee needs your help. Here’s three ways you can show your love!

1. Click: click this link to Subscribe on iTunes.
2. Rate: Once you’ve subscribed on iTunes, rate Lounging with LannaLee inside iTunes
3. Share: Tell ALL your friends. Use the share buttons at the top or bottom of this post.

Thank You!

Shay lounged with LannaLee and got a couch!

Here is what I say about the episode:

LannaLee and Shay talk about Shay’s work with Joyful Biddeford, non-profits, writing, spirituality, mommy bloggers and how much information is too much to share. Shay calls Dooce “The Godmother of Mommy Bloggers.” And she answers 10 questions.

It was a great conversation. I hope you listen to it.

Second post I wrote tonight.

The first one was okay, thought out, it had a theme, even; but then I lost my steam and took some benadryl-derivative.

Yes. I’m taking Benadryl again. I don’t want to talk about it.

So I’m falling asleep. And my brain no worky. So this is the post you get.

To make up for it, here is author Neil Gaiman doing some Bat Training:

And a “Video WTF for the week”

You’re Welcome.