This blog, my Facebook pages, Pinterest, Tumblr, practically anywhere you look, you are inundated with "feel good" quotes. I love a good quote - when I recall the journals of my youth, they were always filled with quotes and poems and words to make teenage angst less so. When Blue Mountain Cards made their debut in Hallmark stores, I was ALL over them. (I recently found some I bought, probably close to 35 years ago - it's an issue...)

So, when I saw this quote, I laughed.

Plot Twist! Brilliant. A new take on the window/door scenario. Moving on...SO much easier said than done. However, with a little laughter, it makes that which is dark a little brighter.

While researching music last night I listened to a number of songs - I had never heard this particular song and I immediately liked it. A lot. I became familiar with Ben Folds from the show The Sing-Off. His lyrics are clever. The sound is fabulous. Take a listen. 

If your day doesn't present you the opportunities you wanted, or if things go off course, you are now well quipped to yell, "Plot Twist!"

Happy Saturday. xo

All I know is I've gotta be
Where my heart says I oughta be
It often makes no sense in fact,
I never understand these things I feel

http://youtu.be/jb-O9Z8nUnQ

I know, I know - EVERY time this song comes on the radio you want to scream, and yet, you still tap your feet, and your fingers, and perhaps make a heart and twirl a la Stephen Colbert. 'Fess up. You know you do. We (OK, Colleen and I) do randomly dance in the hair salon as long as there aren't scissors in mid-cut.

I totally found this video by accident last night and HAD to share it. It is brilliantly put together and just made me smile from ear to ear. If you love musicals, YOU. WILL. LOVE. THIS.

So, on this the last official Friday of summer (HOW fast did that go?!), I bid you a great morning of dance. Here in our school district, the cherubs return on September 9 - so I really get a whole 'nother week of this fun, and I promise to try to find a different song. (You must realize by now I don't like to repeat the songs I post here, but again, this wins.)

AND...you're welcome. You get a four minute reprieve from cleaning as well. My kindness (piggy backing on yesterday's post) really knows no boundaries.

HAPPY FRIDAY, one and all! xo

THIS is so well done - seriously - WATCH the video - pure genius!
(This song never gets old for me...)

http://youtu.be/-xSFKnldPQ8

I saw the chair image on Pinterest last night and literally gasped. Below it was written one word: ouch

I tried to ignore it. Really, I did. But I couldn't. How often do we not make eye contact? How often do we form opinions before someone even speaks? Probably more than we want to admit.

I find I tend to go to the same words on this blog all the time. Love. (My favorite) Kindness. Gratitude. Peace. Faith. Hope. Joy. Magic.

Reminders to myself and my daily affirmations.

I got a long text from Amy yesterday that was comical as well as serious because that's just how she rolls. The long and the short of this is this: keep sending healing light and prayers and good thoughts and wishes and monkey madness (Jake's favorite stuffed animal of which they now have over a kagillion of...).

They are having issues with Jake's port for his chemo and that's not good. Radiation is going fine. Amy's heart machine literally shut off - SO NOT GOOD - they think it's because she was standing too close to the speaker in her van that has a magnet in it.

As always, contributions greatly appreciated - the cost of gas alone is crippling...

Try a little kindness. xo

http://youtu.be/KKyPBJKTccc

Last Friday, in a moment of motherly frustration, I wrote THIS post. It was really just a rambling babble about toilet paper...and yet it resonated something fierce with so many of you. 

Here's what I realized - every comment, like, text and email made me SO freaking glad to know people who are living this same life.

The shared experiences of kids and parents and teaching them and hoping against all hope that we're not setting them up for many years of therapy...maybe just a couple.

We're all in this together. We ARE the village. And the village has changed over the years. Just as our kids are dependent on social media and screens for their lifelines, so too are we, as is evidenced by the reaction this post got. I subscribe to almost 40 different blogs, many of which are about the human condition of living, loving, and doing the best we can. We like to know we're not alone. We like to know we're not destroying our babies. We like to know we gave them roots, wings, and the best damn toolbox we can create so they can go forth and live. They will stumble, trip, fall, and get up again. We did and we continue to do so. It isn't always easy. It isn't always fun. BUT, and here's the kicker as far as I can figure out, as long as they know we love them and we have their back, they WILL succeed. And probably succeed far beyond our expectations.

My friend Kelly, who commented on the original post, sent her eldest off to college this week. She posted THIS awesome blog post about the mindset of the students of the Class of 2017. Give it a read. It is fascinating to see what our kids have grown up with versus what we did.

In the end, we all hope we've done our best. We hope they know how much we adore them. We hope they will be productive members of society. We hope they will be happy. We hope they will make a difference and care about stuff that matters - to them, to the world, to their community.

In 1970, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young released "Teach Your Children." Jerry Garcia plays the steel guitar. I was nine. The first chord can come on and I will always know this song. I suspect nearly everyone who reads this blog knows the song. Forty-three years later, the message remains the same. I couldn't find a better song if I really wanted to than this.

So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.

http://youtu.be/EkaKwXddT_I

I am back a day later than I thought I would be.

A digital detox is a lovely break that every one of us needs to take every so often. I thoroughly enjoyed my mini vacation from email, Facebook, the web, blogging...

My kids berate me for rarely having my phone nearby. Frankly, it is usually in my pocketbook on the silent mode, which is the same as not having it nearby. Or it is charging somewhere on mute. I quite like it that way. If I know they have to be in touch, of course, I keep it close at hand, but, if we're all here - I sincerely do not need it. Most everything can wait. I guess I do have a phone detox almost every day.

I went on Facebook for me and me alone these past few days. I didn't go on Pinterest. I skimmed emails. I didn't plan out any future blog posts.

I went to dinner with Bella. As we were leaving, friends were coming in. They invited us to sit with them while they ate their dinner. We ate inside, they were eating outside, a great way to have the ambiance of the whole place without ever leaving. We caught up and had a grand time.

I read five books. Yes, you read that correctly. Five books. Mindless fluff with no deep content to digest. Pure escape. Non-fiction stayed on the bookshelves while the Jenny Han, "The Summer I Turned Pretty" trilogy took up residence in my hands on Sunday. Yesterday, I read the Sophie Kinsella novel, "Wedding Night." I finished an Avon romance Saturday night.

I walked the river with a friend. I pulled a few weeds. I had some Reiki and therapy. I visited with my kids. I watched a show on Hulu and only what I felt like watching on the VMAs via the MTV link. 

Today I plan on doing a little research on sneakers as I really think they are contributing to my pain. I will finally order Peter's senior portrait. I might hang a quilt in the Magic Basement. I may cook a meal. I will actually go through emails and answer them and try to get the calendar up for the rest of the year. Bella mentioned needing a first day of school outfit - apparently, THE right outfit sets the tone for the whole year. Who knew?

Have a terrific day!

A beautiful piano piece to start your day...

http://youtu.be/SN2xoCa4Pvg

I need a little R&R from blogging and FBing, so I granted myself a digital detox weekend. Enjoy your weekend as well.
xo

Summer breeze, makes me feel fine,
blowing through the jasmine in my mind

http://youtu.be/MsW8rXPcnM0

For the past week or so on Facebook, it has been a goodbye fest.  Many of my friends are sending their kids off to college. For a lot of them, it is their first born. For some, they are sending off a kid for their senior year. For others, they are sending more than one kid off in two different directions.

I will have two kids in high school this year. A senior and a junior. Both of them thisclose to no longer being under my roof.

Sometimes, I wonder if I did/do too much for them.

When I was their age, I was already cleaning and cooking and prepping meals for the whole family. You know those conversations WE had as teenagers about what we would never make our kids do? I basically didn't. And as a result, I get concerned about the little things. Will Peter be able to survive on anything other than something he can pop in a microwave? It's not like I didn't try to teach the kid to cook from a very early age, trust me, I did. He just has zero interest. Bella likes to cook, so he counts on her to actually boil water and make pasta for him. Feel free to roll your eyes along with me... Bella has actually said out loud, "I am no good at vacuuming, perhaps I shouldn't do it," and I fall for that. Roll your eyes so hard you can see your brain now...

Early this morning, I realized there was no toilet paper in this house. Yesterday, Peter asked me if there was any in the downstairs bathroom. I told him there was some under his vanity in their bathroom. He neglected to tell me he had already looked and there was none. Can I tell you, that just made me go off this morning. REALLY? You are 17 years old and you couldn't mention there was no TP? So off I went to fill HIS car with gas and buy TP at the A&P at 6:35 in the morning. I thought to myself, I am creating people who can't figure out how to function because I do too much for them.

And then I thought, they are young once. They will work their whole lives. HOPEFULLY, they will work at something they love, because we do this working stuff a long, long time. To be unhappy is no fun. And so, of course, they will make mistakes, and run out of toilet paper, and eat Ramen Noodles for four years even with a meal plan, and some day, they too will have small people, who they will love with every blessed fiber of their being, and they will wonder if they are fucking them up for all eternity as well.

::: taking a deep breath :::

One way or another, they will figure it out. They will cook more than Ramen. They will go grocery shopping and put something other than Goldfish crackers, Pizza Bites and cereal in the cart. They might even put something green. They will make their own money. Someday, they will buy ME breakfast.

My kids are awesome human beings. They are kind. They are considerate. They are thoughtful. They say please and thank you. If you were to see them you would comment to me that they're great kids. Those qualities as a person, far outweigh not telling me we have no toilet paper.

We're only human. I needed to remind myself of that this morning. To take a deep breath and let it go, because I suspect, this year will fly by and before I know it, I will be the one posting something poignant about Peter heading off to college.

Bless them all, no matter how much or how little we have done for them. They are brilliant, beautiful, fantastic human beings who are our future. Long may they reign.

It's alright, it's alright, sometimes that's all it takes
We're only human, we're supposed to make mistakes

http://youtu.be/cLVTrD32Rs8

I know going into it, that today, is a B-U-S-Y day at the salon. The stylists will have about 13 seconds to go from client to client. As people are revving up for school to start again, hair MUST get colored and cut. Eyebrows absolutely must get waxed. The phone will ring, appointments will be made, canceled and rescheduled. Someone will, undoubtedly be late and ultimately mess up everyone after them. (Important note about the hair salon - don't be late. Simple advice.)

At a great salon, you as the client, will NEVER know if one of us is having an utterly crappy day. No way, no how. We put on our big girl panties, give you our biggest smiles and head right into happy mode. We are actors of the highest caliber. Because really, when you go to get coiffed, would you want to deal with a stylist having a bad day? Um, no!

As an aside, many years ago, in a galaxy far, far away I had a stylist whose haircuts were absolutely dependent on her mood that day. A good mood = good cut, a bad mood = really?! You did that to me? I didn't stay with her...

In any event, as the Salon Coordinator, I am usually THE first face you see - you lucky, lucky client - and as such, I find it is my primary responsibility to wish you a lovely day.

If you feel like today isn't gonna be one of those days, might I suggest borrowing an idea from the above list. A cheat sheet for a lovely day.

You're welcome.

I sincerely DO wish you a lovely day! Have at it.

The beauty of having teens is that this kind of music doesn't make me crazy. I really liked this version of this song.
My head was bopping right along to the beat.
http://youtu.be/5XaofiL3y-c

Last year a friend and I decided to get rid of the word "fine" when asking each other how we were. That worked for a little while, but I noticed it slowly crept its way back in our vocabulary. It's the word so many of us use when describing how we're doing. The wordsmith in me can think of eight zillion other words to describe how I feel and yet, you know "fine" makes its way right on into my conversation. It's such an interesting word to think about, isn't it?

Yesterday, my mission was to smile at everyone I saw. I am delighted to share I accomplished this. The return smiles in and out of the A&P made it totally worthwhile.

Today, my mission will be about using any word other than fine to describe how I am. Some words that comes to mind at this exact instant are recharged, anticipatory, excited, hopeful, blessed. 

I have been working on the next phases of TGHR and preparing myself for the actual "business" part of this. It's exciting and scary all at the same time.

Kind of like life...

What's YOUR word?

It's a brand new day.
The sun is shinning.
It's a brand new day.
For the first time in such a long, long time
I know I'll be okay.

http://youtu.be/RiUdM31TN0U

Music today ~ it would not be a lie to say I listened to more than 20 songs last night prepping for today. I experienced many different emotions while listening. This song won because in the end, I totally love the lyrics. The songs speaks of the moon, which as we all know is full and blue (according to some, others say the next blue moon isn't until 2015...), it speaks of emotions, it speaks of the brand new day and what each new day can bring each of us. I hope it brings you something better than fine.

OH - and for the record, Aerosmith wrote a song in 1989 entitled F.I.N.E. There is an amusing read on Wikipedia about it HERE. Not to be outdone, Urban Dictionary is also amusing - click HERE.

Last night, there was a collective gasp heard around my world in reaction to the vicious letter written by an angry mom to the grandmother of a 13 year old boy with autism. If you haven't read it, and you have the stomach for it, you can read it HERE. I am warning you now, it is truly the work of someone who has come unhinged. Yes. That's my professional diagnosis.

Now, I am not saying we have to love each other in a romantic way - that would get crazy. And I am not saying we have to love each other and all live together and sing Kum Ba Yah. But seriously people, we all bleed red. When you look at our skeletons, we are pretty identical. I am not asking everyone to even like one another, because let's face it, sometimes like is harder than love. But WHAT is so hard about tolerance? Kindness? Love in the broadest sense? I don't get it.

My friend Patrice is a gifted writer and mother of three amazing kids. Her middle child is Peter. He has autism and Patrice writes a blog about her experiences raising him. Her response to the letter is heartfelt. I urge you to read it, savor it and share it. You can do so HERE.

So for today, put aside the bullshit and just love. In the general sense. For the good of humanity and for the good of your own heart. Smile at every person you come across today. And if you only see yourself, smile at yourself after you brush your teeth. Spread some love. Spread some cheer. Reach out to someone to tell them you love them - you might not want to do that to someone randomly - but to someone sincerely, who you may not have told in a while.

Go forth and love.

I bruise you
You bruise me
We both bruise too easily
Too easily to let it show
I love you and that's all I know

http://youtu.be/8IanZD91PoY

I drove my darling girl to LaGuardia on Friday so she could leave on yet another jet plane. On the way down, I noticed the traffic heading north via the Whitestone Bridge was awful, so, in a brilliant move, I decided to take the RFK Bridge, formerly known as the Triboro Bridge, home and head up the Major Deegan. It seemed like a fantastic plan except for the other pesky NY bridge, the GW, AKA the George Washington Bridge - a nightmare on a good day, a horror show when construction is going on.

The right lane is the lane to get onto said bridge. This is NY, people. Thus, as many drivers as humanly possible attempt to merge at the bitter end into the one lane (it may be two, but I'm not 100% certain of that) and get onto the bridge. The speed limit was zero. Seriously. That's how fast we were going at one point. And when the NYPD decided to leave the far left lane (he was in front of me) and follow the other boneheads onto the bridge I just banged my head on the steering wheel and sobbed. OK, I didn't do that, but I so wanted to!

IN ANY EVENT, THE best part of my ride was the GRATITUDE sign. It had changed since I last drove here. Same message, new art. I love this billboard. Every time I see it, I feel uplifted. Yes, I was actually able to take this from my 0 MPH moving car. I was thrilled it came out so clear.

I have written out the checks, the envelopes are addressed, stamped, and going out in the mail tomorrow. THANK YOU. Thank you to those who came, you know who you are. Thank you to the envelope givers, you know who you are. Thank you to those who contributed coffee to the event too! (You know who YOU are!)

Our next CFAC is on September 15. I hope you will be able to join us.

Back Row: Peter, Ben & Dareen
Front Row: Anthony, Brian, Justin & Brian

The boys starts doubles practices today. Thanks to my friend Mirene for giving the boys their mohawks last night. They're ready.

Oooh-Aaah don'tcha wish you were a Sailor!

One of my very favorite versions of this song.
When I look and I find, I still love you...

http://youtu.be/Y6n1h_KO8Gg

Ah...but Freddie truly was a gift.

http://youtu.be/jT9X3a4W2ww

Today is the first official Coffee For a Cause - drinking java to make your heart happy. Yes, it's a Sunday. Yes, I know it's at a time when people traditionally head to church. I'm not one of those people.

My parents were raised Catholic. They both went to Catholic school all the way through college. My father was in the seminary. My aunt and Godmother was a nun for nearly 30 years. My father's sister married a former priest late in life. I was surrounded by a lot of organized religion.

And yet, despite their traditional upbringing, when I was a kid, I was exposed to every single religion my parents were interested in. We attended a myriad of churches - Catholic, Methodist, perhaps Baptist (mom?), chapels at Hofstra University and C.W. Post College, temples, at the beach, in our living room - you name it, we experienced it. I attended a traditional Latin mass with a boyfriend and his family.

As an adult, I have been to the Spoken Word in Salt Lake City, Utah several times; a glorious experience! There is nothing, NOTHING, like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on a Sunday morning, I can assure you. I have also attended a traditional LDS Sunday service here in NY. I went on a church tour through Italy and let me tell you, I have see hundreds of Madonna's in gilded frames and relics galore. I have studied the three major religions with an esteemed professor at Pace University who got his doctorate at Yale. I did extensive research on Wicca for a college paper. I am learning about Buddha bit by bit.

I guess you could say, I dabble in learning about how the people I love sustain their faith.

We listened to the Singing Nuns (honestly). We watched the Flying Nun. We saw the play Godspell many, many times. I would suspect my sisters and I could break into the entire soundtrack without too much effort. (I listened to it while writing this.) I could probably sing a best of Jesus Christ Superstar medley fairly easily as well.

Today though, today is for Amy and Jake and Jen. People fighting medical battles with gigantic medical bills. Amy - who single-handedly inspires me EVERY day with her deep, abiding faith. Her beautiful son, Jake - fighting brain cancer with the help of amazing technology and a bracelet that says #JakeStrong on one side and #GodStrong on the other, because at 12, Jake believes that he and God together make THE strongest team. Jen - who heals people through touch when she gives a massage.

In homage to my mama and my sisters, I think Tom was too young.

All good gifts around us
Are sent from Heaven above
So thank the Lord, oh thank the Lord for all his love

http://youtu.be/Nlagfh5eFP4  <-- revival
http://youtu.be/_155n8qPd9A  <-- movie
I couldn't decide...

One of the things I've learned about myself over the years is that when I love a job, I own it. I learn as much about it as possible so I can take pride in my work, whether it's going to a trade show, (SO much fun - SO exhausting), ordering products, booking appointments and of course, the most important, dealing with my adoring public.

My style doesn't work for all businesses, but I am who I am. So far, it's worked out A-OK for me.

I hope when my kids are at work THEY are the best they can be too. You have to take ownership of a job, no matter what it is. You have to take pride. You have to give a shit. And if you find you don't, you are doing yourself and your employer a disservice.

Not all jobs are fantastic. But YOU? YOU are ALWAYS fantastic. If you present your best self you will feel better about whatever job it is you are doing. And if you hate it, and you can afford to quit, do so. You'll be a happier you.

And nobody does it better
Makes me feel sad for the rest
Nobody does it half as good as you
Baby, baby
Darling, you're the best
Baby, you're the best

http://youtu.be/zHPE9FwvE18

I am taking my girl to the airport this morning so she can spend some time with her Grandma Bubbles in Sarasota, Florida for a couple of days.

She is absurdly giddy at being an unaccompanied minor in an airport...perhaps she thinks the movie will come to life?

After spending some quality time with my mom, they are driving to Orlando on Monday where she will connect with my brother and his family at the house of the mouse. She will hang with them until Thursday and then head back home.

It's been a fun summer for Bella. She has had some excellent adventures. This week, a lot of her friends are heading off to college; I know she is going to miss them. Her junior year in high school awaits her on September 9. I am glad she had a summer to decompress before the cycle of homework, quizzes, research papers, and tests takes over. You are only a teen once, I say enjoy it with gusto.

It's Friday - let's dance!

I could show you love
In a tidal wave of mystery

http://youtu.be/47dtFZ8CFo8

Three women.

Three different personalities.

We laughed. We cried. We said, "I love you."

A perfect Wednesday night.

I wish you all time well spent with friends experiencing the gift of each other. It is precious and worth it.

When we were growing up, THIS song played all the time. So, it reminds me of my mom and HER friends. This is a glorious rendition of it.
http://youtu.be/0vXtywOlayc

At some point last summer I asked a friend how they were. They replied, "Fine." I suspected they were anything but fine and I called them on it. They assured me they were, really, in fact, "fine."

I mentioned this to a different friend. A no holds barred looks at life exactly how it is and then tells you friend. (We all need this friend in our life, by the way...)

And their response to me was, "Of course they're fine. If they say they suck they have to admit to sucking and no one wants to admit to that. So they are creating a reality of fine...even if it isn't."

Oooohhhhhhhh.

Now. I am pretty good at this life stuff. But I must admit to stopping for way longer than a second and thinking on this. Because we DO create our own realities. Some days, despite our best efforts, they really do suck. And other days, well, life is, in fact, unicorns, rainbows and flowers.

It is entirely up to us, and, how we handle our current reality, to determine just who we are. Thankfully, that can change pretty rapidly. MOST days I chose to be on the side of unicorns, rainbows and flowers - it really is quite lovely here. There are days of grief and sadness and you know, the "dark side" of life, but I try to snap out of them as quickly as I can.

We've got one try of this thing called life and to be miserable would do me no good.

In the end, was my friend fine? According to them, yes they were.

And that, is all that matters.

How can I measure up to anyone now 
After such a love as this? 

http://youtu.be/PdLIerfXuZ4

This is a magnificent piano piece by the extraordinarily talented Peter Kater. I love his music; it's good for your soul. Take a listen.

http://youtu.be/hbWVHRbIAnA

Each morning, one of my friends from work texts me my daily horoscope. I read it and promptly forget what I just read. However, the past few days have been about removing negative thoughts and people. So, I figured I should spend some time doing that.

Negative thoughts are a little hard to work on. They creep into my head and sometimes take up residence. Only by being aware of them can I get rid of them - and don't they lurk in the shadows JUST as I am falling asleep or when I wake up in the morning. Bastards. It takes energy and work and lots of positive reassurance from myself TO myself to clean up the mess I make in my head on a kind of regular basis. When I can't do it alone I am always delighted to have an excellent therapist ready with my next appointment.

I don't surround myself with negative people. I stopped that in my mid-40's. When I encounter someone who is naturally negative I do my best to bring them "into the light." Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I may have to share the world with them, but I don't have to share MY world with them and that's a bonus. And remember, as my mom says, "may the breath they exhale help the plant life."

Today I am having a colonoscopy. THAT will certainly clear out a lot of the crap now, won't it?! Already, I am thinking of tomorrow as my clean slate day. It will be THE perfect day to reboot my eating, my body and my mind.

Here's to a positive Monday. It's a great way to start the week!

Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing

http://youtu.be/iCQ0vDAbF7s

Because I literally sat at my laptop and could't stop laughing. 

Seriously, how funny would it be to do this?

It's Sunday morning.

It was quite the week. Interesting, funny, stressful, fantastic, busy, wet, humid, dry, teenage boys, teenage girls, one billion weeds pulled later (SO not by me...) kind of a week. 

By the time last night rolled around it was all I could do to keep my eyes open after 9:30pm. I was struggling with what to write about this morning, and then I decided, things that made me laugh. As you know, I am a huge proponent of laughter. And as I went through Pinterst during the week, quite a few things begged to be re-pinned - and some, some needed their own post.

How can you not laugh out loud at this?

I giggle every time I see this and start singing in my head.

And now, let's dance! 

Happy Sunday!
http://youtu.be/wZv62ShoStY

I am not a worrier. I don't know that I ever have been. 

This is not to be confused with not being concerned, because I do get concerned about people. 

But worrying? It doesn't get me anywhere. Whatever is going to be is whatever it is going to be.

My friend Pat always says, "It is what it is." As the mother of three sons, I trust her on this and have adapted this as my own motto many a time.

In my own life, "it" has always worked out. Some how, some way.

Am I manifesting what I need? Maybe. Is the universe sending me what I need? Quite probably. Do I know in my heart of hearts that there really isn't anything I can do to prevent (fill in the blank) from happening? Indeed I do. So rather then focus on the negative, I will always leap to the positive. It drives the worriers in my life bat-shit crazy. But, it works for me. 

I do believe the addition of a little faith in my life has taken away any worrying I may have ever done. I have witnessed it, heard it, and touched people who have deep, abiding faith. THEY remind me that worrying is truly messing with my happiness for the day.

Here's to a worry free weekend.

When the road gets dark
And you can no longer see
Just let my love throw a spark
An' have a little faith in me 

http://youtu.be/RKtQnwfUp9Q

BONUS TRACK: Bon Jovi & Lea Michele
http://youtu.be/MNADxjwWP_k