It's been several months since I've posted on my blog, but that doesn't really doesn't matter as I have no followers. That's cool. In a way it's sort of liberating, as my thoughts and words will be out there in the cosmos. I've read that when writing a piece, imagine that no one will ever read your work. Only then can you trully feel free to write your deepest thoughts and feelings. In short, if you can shut out the world during the writing process, you should be able to produce your best writing. I've found the technique liberating when writing about personal issues like my husband's illness or subsequent death.
If anyone is interesting in a good online writing site try www.scribophile.com. You can get your work critiqued by several writers in a contructive, helpful manner. You have to write a few critiques to earn enough karma points to do your first post. Being an English Literature major, I've discovered I actually enjoy doing the critiques. The one thing is that you have to be selective of the pieces you choose to read and crit. At first, I got overwhelmed with reading material that really didn't interest me. If you are a writer interested improving your craft and receiving constructive critism on your work, check the site out.
Well, Fall is here. Our garden has come and gone. Todd cleaned it off yesterday. I still have a couple of foxglove blooming and a hollyhock that should bloom any day, if they frost doesn't kill it first. I planted that row of plants from seeds. The ones I bought from QVC last year were monstrous. Two of the set of four died the first year, so they refunded my money. After the three feet of snow melted off the garden in early spring, their leaves where still green and looked like wilted lettuce. After about a week of sunshine, the leaves started to perk up. Before long, the plants were perky and starting to grow, and grow.
The pink one had about thirteen or fourteen stalks and topped out at about six and a half feet. The deep scarlet black one had seven stalks and was about seven and a half feet tall. Needless to say, these were your run of the mill hollyhocks. They are from the Biltmore Collection from Roberta's (I think) on QVC. They had bloom on them for almost two months. I saved all the seeds I could to share with my family and neighbors next spring. I have pictures that I will post at a later date of the hollyhocks and several other items in our garden this summer; however, I have to upload them again from my camera. My PC got a virus, so I lost the ones I had on the PC. Luckily, I don't trust technology, so I still have them on the memory cards.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Yarden
I just got back from a 5 day trip to Charleston. I had two doctor appts, then I spent time w/ my family. I spent 2 days at Esther's, then two days at Aunt Rose's. I went to Borders and Hot Topic w/ Jackie. She gave me an art lesson--I sketched my first Chibi. It's not bad, but hers is awesome.
I am worn out from the trip. We took Aunt Rose on our shopping trip to Gab's, then ate at Cracker Barrel. Next trip we are going to Ryan's. She will love it. It ended up that she got out of the house two days in a row, which is rare.
I bought some cucumber and tomato plants at the Capitol Flea Market. I planted them in the Yarden yesterday. (A yarden is a vegetable/flower garden in your frontyard). We also planted six foxglove and six hollyhocks too. I also planted some bulbs. I have several varieties of tomato plants that will arrive anyday. We're going to plant some cucumbers, early corn, potatoes, and three varieties of melon.
I watched the weather this evening and they are calling for frost Saturday night. (Hope not). I'm hoping for a good year for the apple trees. There's lots of bloom on the oak and beech trees. The game in the woods eat acorns, beech nuts, chestnuts, etc. The bounty (or lack thereof) is called "Mast" here in the mountains. If there's a frost, many people will feed the deer, turkeys and squirrels the next winter.
I've been checking out the website for the West Virginia Writers annual conference June 11-13, 2010. It will be difficult for me because of Joy's passing, but it's something I love. They are offering some interesting workshop's. Although I cut the amount of workshops I attended in half, I ended up walking too much. I was miserable for over two weeks. To make matters worse, I didn't have a current scrip for my pain medication. I ended up suffering alot after that conference, but it was worth it. It was my last Writer's with Joy. We had a ball.
I promise to post some of my kickass butterfly photos in the next few days. I bought a new photography book at Borders. It's one of those books I'll be keeping. I've already learned alot and I've just been skimming through the book...
I am worn out from the trip. We took Aunt Rose on our shopping trip to Gab's, then ate at Cracker Barrel. Next trip we are going to Ryan's. She will love it. It ended up that she got out of the house two days in a row, which is rare.
I bought some cucumber and tomato plants at the Capitol Flea Market. I planted them in the Yarden yesterday. (A yarden is a vegetable/flower garden in your frontyard). We also planted six foxglove and six hollyhocks too. I also planted some bulbs. I have several varieties of tomato plants that will arrive anyday. We're going to plant some cucumbers, early corn, potatoes, and three varieties of melon.
I watched the weather this evening and they are calling for frost Saturday night. (Hope not). I'm hoping for a good year for the apple trees. There's lots of bloom on the oak and beech trees. The game in the woods eat acorns, beech nuts, chestnuts, etc. The bounty (or lack thereof) is called "Mast" here in the mountains. If there's a frost, many people will feed the deer, turkeys and squirrels the next winter.
I've been checking out the website for the West Virginia Writers annual conference June 11-13, 2010. It will be difficult for me because of Joy's passing, but it's something I love. They are offering some interesting workshop's. Although I cut the amount of workshops I attended in half, I ended up walking too much. I was miserable for over two weeks. To make matters worse, I didn't have a current scrip for my pain medication. I ended up suffering alot after that conference, but it was worth it. It was my last Writer's with Joy. We had a ball.
I promise to post some of my kickass butterfly photos in the next few days. I bought a new photography book at Borders. It's one of those books I'll be keeping. I've already learned alot and I've just been skimming through the book...
Monday, April 26, 2010
Reconnecting...
It's been quite a while since I've posted, but I don't suppose that really matters since no one follows my blog. But I digress...
We've had an unusually hard winter here in the mountains of West Virginia. I've been longing for spring since the first big snow in December. I ordered several plants to plant in my yard this spring. I also ordered several tomato plants. I plan to can tomato juice, sauce, salsa, homemade catsup, etc. Hopefully, it will be a good year for apples (crossing my fingers here). If it is, I plan to make apple sauce and canned apples.
I plan to try and document the progress of my flower and vegegtable garden from planting to harvest--then the canning, freezing or drying of the produce. It's something all our parents and ancestors did in the Appalachian Mountains to survive the harsh winters. If you didn't grow your food, you didn't survive the harsh winters of the mountains. Contrary to the stereotypes perpetuated by the media, our ancestors didn't lay around with a jug of moonshine getting drunk. If they did, they would never have survived. In brutual winters of the mountains, only the strongest and smartest survived.
It's finally arrived and I'm really enjoying it. I try to spend a little time outside each day, especially when it's pretty weather. I have a canvas lounge chair on the porch, then another one I sit in over at the edge of the yard by my bushes. You have a beautiful view in any direction, plus you can watch the clouds and daydream.
I've been taking pictures of the butterflys visiting my flowering quinces and lilacs. Some turned out great. I got a few shots of them in flight and a few with two butterflys in the same shot. I love to take pictures. I will post some of them in the next day or two.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The Haitian Spirit Survives
The next two posts are videos of a gathering of thousands of people in Port-au-Prince marking the one month anniversary of the powerful earthquake that devastated the country and killed over 200,000 people.
I will be traveling to Haiti the last of March with a medical team. I plan to take hundreds of pictures and video some interviews with the people living in the outlying villages. IMO is setting up a tent city at Boutin, the village where their main medical clinic is located. I plan to compile my photos and video clips into mini-documentaries for IMO to use at the annual conference. They have used several of my photos for PR for the organization.
I wrote a pamphlet for IMO to recruit medical teams and financial support for the medical clinics. On my last trip, I revised the prescription form used by the doctors in our clinics. It's faster and easier for both the doctors and the people filling the prescriptions.
Although I have major problems with back and leg pain, I can manage it with strategic use of pain meds and muscle relaxers, when necessary.
Pray for the people of Haiti. They had nothing, and now what little they had has been destroyed.
I will be traveling to Haiti the last of March with a medical team. I plan to take hundreds of pictures and video some interviews with the people living in the outlying villages. IMO is setting up a tent city at Boutin, the village where their main medical clinic is located. I plan to compile my photos and video clips into mini-documentaries for IMO to use at the annual conference. They have used several of my photos for PR for the organization.
I wrote a pamphlet for IMO to recruit medical teams and financial support for the medical clinics. On my last trip, I revised the prescription form used by the doctors in our clinics. It's faster and easier for both the doctors and the people filling the prescriptions.
Although I have major problems with back and leg pain, I can manage it with strategic use of pain meds and muscle relaxers, when necessary.
Pray for the people of Haiti. They had nothing, and now what little they had has been destroyed.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Remembering the Harshness of Winter
This has been the coldest and snowiest winter since 1995-96. That was my first winter alone. My husband had gotten sick and was in a nursing home. I spent alot of time outside that winter. We heated our home with a wood and coal stove. Clennie had always taken care of keeping the fire,. carrying in the wood and coal, and taking out the ashes. I fixed it at night before I went to bed.
It was something I never had to take care of...that is until he got sick. It was a very difficult time for me on many levels. My life had totally changed because of my husband's illness. We'd been married for 25 years when he got sick.
I visited him everyday, sitting with him for an hour or longer just to get him to take a bite of food or a drink of Ensure. The aides didn't have the time to do that for him, they had 19 other patients to take care of. I felt like it was my responsibility to care for him. I was all he had and he needed me to be there for him when he was sick. I couldn't imagine NOT being there for him in his time of need. That's the way we were raised, you do whatever you can to help your loved ones.
I spent 8 hours at my dull, mind-numbing job each day, then I went up to the hospital and spent 1-2 hours with him. I would have stayed longer, but I had to get home to look about the fire. If I didn't keep a fire going, my water would freeze.
I developed a system for carrying in the buckets of coal. On the weekend, I'd go out and dig out around Clennie's little 4-wheel drive truck so I could get out. I'd take about 8 of those white 5 gallon buckets out to the coal pile. I'd fill up the bucket about 1/2 to 2/3's full, then carry them back to the end of my porch. I couldn't carry a full bucket of coal because I'd hurt my back helping care for Clennie at the hospital. It have me trouble for several months. The man I bought wood from would stack as much of it as he could on the porch, then stack the rest of it beside the porch. Then he'd cover the wood with the plastic tarps I'd bought.
On the weekends, after I'd filled and carried the buckets of coal to the house, I placed them in between the edge of my porch and my stack of wood. Everything was close at hand when I came home from the hospital. I bought those little starter logs at Wally World. I got to where I could get a fire started with just half of a log. They were a life-saver for me.
I had to carry in enough wood and coal to start up the fire, plus what I'd needed to fix the fire in the morning too. I couldn't carry in as much wood either, so I had to make extra trips to get enough in. Then I set to rekindling or building a fire. You had to shake all the ashes out of the grate with a metal handle. I have asthma, so as you can imagine it bothered me all winter. After shaking down the ashes, I had to carry out the ash pan and empty it. I usually dumped them along side the road or where I parked.
I was outside all the time. It was a snowy, cold and miserable winter. I got discouraged alot, but I couldn't give in to my dispair. I often thought of my two grandmothers as I worked to carry in wood and coal. I just had one winter to get through, while they lived with no water or electricity, had to carry in wood & coal everyday, and had several children to raise. I had it easy compared to them.
We had 2 snows in January and February 1996 where we got 2 feet of snow. Beckley and Princeton, to the south of where I live got 3 feet. Hundreds of people were without power for about a week and a half. The roof of a grocery store collapsed under the weight of the snow.
It was the longest winter of my life. But finally, the first promise of spring arrived. My crocuses started to bloom. My heart soared. The days got longer and the temperature gradually warmed. Then one day when I came home from work, I noticed a daffodil had bloomed.
With the arrival of spring, came the realization my husband was not going to be coming home. It difficult for me, but it was the reality of the situation, of my life. I was lucky enough to learn several valuable life lessons early on in his illness. Those lessons helped prepare me for his inevitable decline and eventual death.
The weather this winter reminds of that first winter alone. Now I'm struggling mobility issues and the death of a dear friend. I don't have to worry about keeping warm or getting out in the winter weather anymore. Now I have time for my writing, knitting and reading. I can sit and watch it snow, sip a cup of herbal cinnamon tea and read. It isn't what I envisioned all those years ago before my husband got sick. I never dreamed I would have such a leisurely existence as I struggled to survive that first winter living alone.
It was something I never had to take care of...that is until he got sick. It was a very difficult time for me on many levels. My life had totally changed because of my husband's illness. We'd been married for 25 years when he got sick.
I visited him everyday, sitting with him for an hour or longer just to get him to take a bite of food or a drink of Ensure. The aides didn't have the time to do that for him, they had 19 other patients to take care of. I felt like it was my responsibility to care for him. I was all he had and he needed me to be there for him when he was sick. I couldn't imagine NOT being there for him in his time of need. That's the way we were raised, you do whatever you can to help your loved ones.
I spent 8 hours at my dull, mind-numbing job each day, then I went up to the hospital and spent 1-2 hours with him. I would have stayed longer, but I had to get home to look about the fire. If I didn't keep a fire going, my water would freeze.
I developed a system for carrying in the buckets of coal. On the weekend, I'd go out and dig out around Clennie's little 4-wheel drive truck so I could get out. I'd take about 8 of those white 5 gallon buckets out to the coal pile. I'd fill up the bucket about 1/2 to 2/3's full, then carry them back to the end of my porch. I couldn't carry a full bucket of coal because I'd hurt my back helping care for Clennie at the hospital. It have me trouble for several months. The man I bought wood from would stack as much of it as he could on the porch, then stack the rest of it beside the porch. Then he'd cover the wood with the plastic tarps I'd bought.
On the weekends, after I'd filled and carried the buckets of coal to the house, I placed them in between the edge of my porch and my stack of wood. Everything was close at hand when I came home from the hospital. I bought those little starter logs at Wally World. I got to where I could get a fire started with just half of a log. They were a life-saver for me.
I had to carry in enough wood and coal to start up the fire, plus what I'd needed to fix the fire in the morning too. I couldn't carry in as much wood either, so I had to make extra trips to get enough in. Then I set to rekindling or building a fire. You had to shake all the ashes out of the grate with a metal handle. I have asthma, so as you can imagine it bothered me all winter. After shaking down the ashes, I had to carry out the ash pan and empty it. I usually dumped them along side the road or where I parked.
I was outside all the time. It was a snowy, cold and miserable winter. I got discouraged alot, but I couldn't give in to my dispair. I often thought of my two grandmothers as I worked to carry in wood and coal. I just had one winter to get through, while they lived with no water or electricity, had to carry in wood & coal everyday, and had several children to raise. I had it easy compared to them.
We had 2 snows in January and February 1996 where we got 2 feet of snow. Beckley and Princeton, to the south of where I live got 3 feet. Hundreds of people were without power for about a week and a half. The roof of a grocery store collapsed under the weight of the snow.
It was the longest winter of my life. But finally, the first promise of spring arrived. My crocuses started to bloom. My heart soared. The days got longer and the temperature gradually warmed. Then one day when I came home from work, I noticed a daffodil had bloomed.
With the arrival of spring, came the realization my husband was not going to be coming home. It difficult for me, but it was the reality of the situation, of my life. I was lucky enough to learn several valuable life lessons early on in his illness. Those lessons helped prepare me for his inevitable decline and eventual death.
The weather this winter reminds of that first winter alone. Now I'm struggling mobility issues and the death of a dear friend. I don't have to worry about keeping warm or getting out in the winter weather anymore. Now I have time for my writing, knitting and reading. I can sit and watch it snow, sip a cup of herbal cinnamon tea and read. It isn't what I envisioned all those years ago before my husband got sick. I never dreamed I would have such a leisurely existence as I struggled to survive that first winter living alone.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Brodie-My Bodacious Buddy Photo Gallery - Photo 2 of 9 by Patti - MySpace Photos
Brodie-My Bodacious Buddy Photo Gallery - Photo 2 of 9 by Patti - MySpace Photos
This is another shot of Brodie (Buddy). Brodie is a fictional little brown dog that gets into all kinds of adventures with his redneck master, Axel. They go on beer runs, ride an old office chair down over the hill to the main road in the middle of the night, check out the hot chicks and canine bitches at the local gas station, do roving patrol on the strip and the prep plant...basically just have fun.
This is another shot of Brodie (Buddy). Brodie is a fictional little brown dog that gets into all kinds of adventures with his redneck master, Axel. They go on beer runs, ride an old office chair down over the hill to the main road in the middle of the night, check out the hot chicks and canine bitches at the local gas station, do roving patrol on the strip and the prep plant...basically just have fun.
Brodie-My Bodacious Buddy Photo Gallery - Photo 4 of 9 by Patti - MySpace Photos
Brodie-My Bodacious Buddy Photo Gallery - Photo 4 of 9 by Patti - MySpace Photos
This is my little chocolate Mini Pin. His name is Bodacious Buddy, but we call him Buddy. My cousin Jackie took this photo and did a water color of it for me for Christmas. That cute little face is sticking out of a thicket of flowers.
We hadn't had him very long when this picture was taken. He looks deceiptfully innocent and sweet (and he is). Yet he killed a 16 1/2 inch wood rat up on the strip job where my boyfriend works.
This is my little chocolate Mini Pin. His name is Bodacious Buddy, but we call him Buddy. My cousin Jackie took this photo and did a water color of it for me for Christmas. That cute little face is sticking out of a thicket of flowers.
We hadn't had him very long when this picture was taken. He looks deceiptfully innocent and sweet (and he is). Yet he killed a 16 1/2 inch wood rat up on the strip job where my boyfriend works.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Facebook | International Missions Outreach's Photos - Repairs on IMO Headquarter Buildings and Security Wall
Facebook | International Missions Outreach's Photos - Repairs on IMO Headquarter Buildings and Security Wall
Several of these pictures are of the IMO Guest House where we stay when visiting Haiti. It's on the second floor. Pastor John and Joyce's apartment are on the third floor. Thankfully, none of the structures on the IMO Compound collapsed, however, they did sustain structural cracks. Most of the houses in this area collapsed.
Several of these pictures are of the IMO Guest House where we stay when visiting Haiti. It's on the second floor. Pastor John and Joyce's apartment are on the third floor. Thankfully, none of the structures on the IMO Compound collapsed, however, they did sustain structural cracks. Most of the houses in this area collapsed.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
ANOTHER LOSS
A few hours ago I got the news that my best friend, Joy Lackey, passed away at her home yesterday morning. Her husband called and told me. I am in shock. She was not only my best friend, she was my mentor. I am a writer today because of Joy. She encouraged me to pursue my interest in writing, while dealing with my late husband's prolonged illness and death. She edited my book of short stories. She saw the potential in each story and encouraged me to push myself to make each story the best it could be.
I've started working on a second book of short stories and she read three of my stories. I haven't seriously pursued my writing for years. I was busy finishing my degree in English Literature, so I really didn't have time to write, except for class. When I started writing again in spring of 2009, Joy encouraged me. I was working through a serious bout of depression. I am struggling with the radical changes in my life because of my back injury. It's difficult to accept the fact you are disabled, but I am. My mobility is limited and I'm in constant pain.
I finally realized that I could still do things I enjoyed, even though I spend most of my time reclining on the couch. On occasion I have to lay down in bed. I like to write, read, knit, and work on the PC. I can do all of that, even with my physical limitations. Once I realized I could partake of activities I enjoy, some of the depression started to recede.
I started writing down ideas for stories--actually memories of my childhood. I'm writing a memoir of my early years. I went back to the basics, a notebook and pencil. It was the first thing I learned from Joy when I started attending the local writers group. Carry a notebook and pencil with you all the time. It was a difficult time for me, but everyone in the group, especially Joy encouraged me to write. She saw my talent and potential. We quickly became friends. Not just friends, but writer friends. Whenever we talked, or spent time together we talkeed about writing.
The reality of the situation hasn't set in yet. I feel so sorry for her husband, Dave. He is such a sweet person. I've lived through the loss of my spouse, but I had three and a half years to prepare myself (if that's possible) for the inevitable. I can't begin to imagine what he's going through right now.
I'm in so much physical pain right now. The pain medication isn't helping at all. It's probably because I'm in shock over Joy's death. I don't know what to do. With Clennie, my late husband I had my sister-in-law and my Aunt Erma.
I had a faux friend that pretended to be interested, but she was just fishing for information so she could tell everyone at work what was going on with me. Then too, she viewed me as a "Mark". My family lived out in CA at the time. She took advantage of the fact I was vulnerable and I actually named her as executor in my will. I also named her as a beneficiary on an annuity. I finally realized what was going on when I fell and broke my back in 2 places. (Oh yes, I'd named her as my Medical Power of Attorney too). I tried to call her several times a day (at least 8 to 10 times a day) at various times through the day. I did this for 10 days, but I knew what was going on. She was screening her calls. She couldn't be bothered with the likes of me. On the 10th day, I went to her sister's house because we were planning to attend a NAMI meeting.
When I saw her sitting there, all flirty and full of herself, I got pissed off. I said something to her about trying to call her because I'd fallen. I reminded her that she was my Medical Power of Attorney and I could be dead and in the ground before she'd answer her phone. She screamed at me she didn't want to be my MPOA, so I said that was fine with me. I figured if she couldn't be bothered with that responsibility, then I didn't want her as executor of my will. So within a week I changed everything. Would any rational person blame me? I don't want someone like her deciding whether the doctors should pull the plug or not. It was crystal clear from that point on that her only interest in me was what money and material possessions I had. She and her family are Grifters and I was one of her "Marks". For 25 years I considered her a friend, but she saw me as her next victim.
As soon as she found out I'd changed my will, everything changed. I'd started seeing her niece's ex-husband. Her niece didn't want him, but she didn't want anyone else to have him, so she told my former "friend" a bunch of lies. That provided my "friend" the "Out" she needed to get rid of me as a friend, plain and simple.
Joy was the kind of friend where you could go for months and never have any contact; yet the moment we saw each other, we picked up right where we left off. She was a true friend that was always there for me and vice versa. We were planning a weekend in Charleston to celebrate the fact I'd started receiving my Social Security Disability. I was going to introduce her to my Aunt Rose and all my cousins. But it wasn't meant to be...The last time we were in Charleston for the book festival, she was proofing a couple of my stories. We ordered Chinese from Main Kwon. She ate and ate all evening long. She used an eyeliner pencil to do some edits on my stories. Then we went down to the lobby and the area where they serve breakfast. We filled our pockets with packets of jelly and peanut butter and tea bags. The next morning, we loaded up again. We had so much fun. Little did I know that it would be our last road trip, ever...
Dear little Joyful, I will miss my visits to your home, our mini writer's meetings, our long phone conversations, our witty emails--I will miss my best friend...Rest in Peace Bunny Rabbit.
I've started working on a second book of short stories and she read three of my stories. I haven't seriously pursued my writing for years. I was busy finishing my degree in English Literature, so I really didn't have time to write, except for class. When I started writing again in spring of 2009, Joy encouraged me. I was working through a serious bout of depression. I am struggling with the radical changes in my life because of my back injury. It's difficult to accept the fact you are disabled, but I am. My mobility is limited and I'm in constant pain.
I finally realized that I could still do things I enjoyed, even though I spend most of my time reclining on the couch. On occasion I have to lay down in bed. I like to write, read, knit, and work on the PC. I can do all of that, even with my physical limitations. Once I realized I could partake of activities I enjoy, some of the depression started to recede.
I started writing down ideas for stories--actually memories of my childhood. I'm writing a memoir of my early years. I went back to the basics, a notebook and pencil. It was the first thing I learned from Joy when I started attending the local writers group. Carry a notebook and pencil with you all the time. It was a difficult time for me, but everyone in the group, especially Joy encouraged me to write. She saw my talent and potential. We quickly became friends. Not just friends, but writer friends. Whenever we talked, or spent time together we talkeed about writing.
The reality of the situation hasn't set in yet. I feel so sorry for her husband, Dave. He is such a sweet person. I've lived through the loss of my spouse, but I had three and a half years to prepare myself (if that's possible) for the inevitable. I can't begin to imagine what he's going through right now.
I'm in so much physical pain right now. The pain medication isn't helping at all. It's probably because I'm in shock over Joy's death. I don't know what to do. With Clennie, my late husband I had my sister-in-law and my Aunt Erma.
I had a faux friend that pretended to be interested, but she was just fishing for information so she could tell everyone at work what was going on with me. Then too, she viewed me as a "Mark". My family lived out in CA at the time. She took advantage of the fact I was vulnerable and I actually named her as executor in my will. I also named her as a beneficiary on an annuity. I finally realized what was going on when I fell and broke my back in 2 places. (Oh yes, I'd named her as my Medical Power of Attorney too). I tried to call her several times a day (at least 8 to 10 times a day) at various times through the day. I did this for 10 days, but I knew what was going on. She was screening her calls. She couldn't be bothered with the likes of me. On the 10th day, I went to her sister's house because we were planning to attend a NAMI meeting.
When I saw her sitting there, all flirty and full of herself, I got pissed off. I said something to her about trying to call her because I'd fallen. I reminded her that she was my Medical Power of Attorney and I could be dead and in the ground before she'd answer her phone. She screamed at me she didn't want to be my MPOA, so I said that was fine with me. I figured if she couldn't be bothered with that responsibility, then I didn't want her as executor of my will. So within a week I changed everything. Would any rational person blame me? I don't want someone like her deciding whether the doctors should pull the plug or not. It was crystal clear from that point on that her only interest in me was what money and material possessions I had. She and her family are Grifters and I was one of her "Marks". For 25 years I considered her a friend, but she saw me as her next victim.
As soon as she found out I'd changed my will, everything changed. I'd started seeing her niece's ex-husband. Her niece didn't want him, but she didn't want anyone else to have him, so she told my former "friend" a bunch of lies. That provided my "friend" the "Out" she needed to get rid of me as a friend, plain and simple.
Joy was the kind of friend where you could go for months and never have any contact; yet the moment we saw each other, we picked up right where we left off. She was a true friend that was always there for me and vice versa. We were planning a weekend in Charleston to celebrate the fact I'd started receiving my Social Security Disability. I was going to introduce her to my Aunt Rose and all my cousins. But it wasn't meant to be...The last time we were in Charleston for the book festival, she was proofing a couple of my stories. We ordered Chinese from Main Kwon. She ate and ate all evening long. She used an eyeliner pencil to do some edits on my stories. Then we went down to the lobby and the area where they serve breakfast. We filled our pockets with packets of jelly and peanut butter and tea bags. The next morning, we loaded up again. We had so much fun. Little did I know that it would be our last road trip, ever...
Dear little Joyful, I will miss my visits to your home, our mini writer's meetings, our long phone conversations, our witty emails--I will miss my best friend...Rest in Peace Bunny Rabbit.
Friday, February 5, 2010
IMO HAITI: IMO EARTHQUAKE UPDATES
Here is a link to IMO's site and an update on what they are doing to help the people of Haiti. Please take the time to read this information. This is a faith-based organization run by a husband and wife team from WV. They have been in Haiti for over 35 years. They have an exemplary reputation with the government and the people of the country. They are they 4th largest faith-based missionary organization in Haiti. The 1st being the Catholic Church, 2nd & 3rd are the Baptist and Methodist Churches. They trully have the best interests of the Haitians at heart.
IMO HAITI: IMO EARTHQUAKE UPDATES
IMO HAITI: IMO EARTHQUAKE UPDATES
BBC News - Haiti's 'ghost' tent villages
Please read the following article. The organization I work with, International Missions Outreach, www.imohaiti.org is in the process of purchasing tents that can be shared by multiple families as money is donated. This organization has built over 50 churches, schools and clinics throughout the country. It's run by a husband and wife team that's been in the country for over 35 years. I've been on 4 trips to Haiti and worked with this organization. I can quarantee you that every red cent you donate will be used to help the Haitians.
BBC News - Haiti's 'ghost' tent villages
BBC News - Haiti's 'ghost' tent villages
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Overwhelmed by life and chonic pain...
I got ready to go eat lunch with my boyfriend's mom. She was fairly nice today, but she had a few "moments". When he was away from the table she launched into a sermon/rant about that he was drunk. Well, he does have a drinking problem, but this morning he was busy running to town and getting things done on my car. He wasn't drunk. Of course, she knows everything and I know nothing.
For instance, she thinks that my back should be getting better. Well, it's never going to get better. I've had 3 compression fractures and two disks are messed up. I also have arthritis in my spine and in my bones throughout my body. I told her I wish I could grow a new spine, you know like a lizard can grow a new tail; but it didn't work like that for people. She sort of laughed, but I think she might have got my point.
Well, it was nice to get out for a little while and enjoy myself. We have to go to Beckley tomorrow. I finally rolled over my 401K from the State of WV, so I have to visit my financial advisor. I also have a sizeable amount of backpay from my Social Security that I want to invest. I've been dirt poor my whole life, so I'm conservative when it comes to taking care of my money. I want to do so much while we're there, but I know it's physically impossible. I will just have to pick a few places to visit.
I definitely plan to visit the Soc. Sec. office. I had to send in original documents when I made my application. I had my late husband's Soc. Sec. card that was issued in 1938. It's something I planned to hand down to one of his granddaughters. They better not tell me they lost it. I worked for a state agency for almost 27 years. Things like that don't get lost.
I'm so tired, I need to log off and get some rest. More later...
For instance, she thinks that my back should be getting better. Well, it's never going to get better. I've had 3 compression fractures and two disks are messed up. I also have arthritis in my spine and in my bones throughout my body. I told her I wish I could grow a new spine, you know like a lizard can grow a new tail; but it didn't work like that for people. She sort of laughed, but I think she might have got my point.
Well, it was nice to get out for a little while and enjoy myself. We have to go to Beckley tomorrow. I finally rolled over my 401K from the State of WV, so I have to visit my financial advisor. I also have a sizeable amount of backpay from my Social Security that I want to invest. I've been dirt poor my whole life, so I'm conservative when it comes to taking care of my money. I want to do so much while we're there, but I know it's physically impossible. I will just have to pick a few places to visit.
I definitely plan to visit the Soc. Sec. office. I had to send in original documents when I made my application. I had my late husband's Soc. Sec. card that was issued in 1938. It's something I planned to hand down to one of his granddaughters. They better not tell me they lost it. I worked for a state agency for almost 27 years. Things like that don't get lost.
I'm so tired, I need to log off and get some rest. More later...
Monday, February 1, 2010
Ready for Bed
I'm in bed, ready to crash for the night. Buddy is snuggled up beside me. He's got two or three of his toys at the food of the bed. He's so funny and so much company to me. I've suffered through a tremendous amount of depression due to my back injury, the intense, and continual pain, plus my inability to resume my life prior to the injury. I've been trying to work through the depression and learn to life with the physical limitations I face daily. It's been difficult, but I think I've turned the corner, so to speak. I've determined the tasks I can accomplish while the scope of my limitations. I have to recline on the couch (I can't sit for long anywhere), or I prop myself up in bed. Well, some of my favorite activities can be done within those convines of my mobility issuesl. I can write, read, knit and work on my new PC on the couch or in bed, or out on the porch in my lounge chair. That way, I feel like I've accomplished something at the end of the day. I want my talents and my life to count for something. I'm still able to make a contribution to society.
I'm about to fall to sleep, so I will close for now. More later...
I'm about to fall to sleep, so I will close for now. More later...
Sunday, January 31, 2010
A Sunny, Snowy Sunday
I got up just as my boyfriend was getting ready for work, about 10:00 am. I was wore out, which isn't unusual for me. I almost always wake up as tired and achy as when I went to sleep. But the last few days have been different. I've been staying up til about 3:00 am, however it's not working out well for me. Todd works the evening shift, so I try to stay up with him for awhile...but this morning I realized I need my rest.
After I got up, I started working on my blog. I found a great site with headers, backgrounds, etc. It's called "Cute N Cool" Blog Stuff by Itkupilli. All the artwork is original. I worked on my blog for awhile, then had to lay down for awhile because I was exhausted.
My dog, a chocolate Mini Pin wanted out, so I put him on his leash. (We live right beside a road, so I don't let him run loose. That's not to say that he doesn't escape from me ever so often). Before long, he started barking his "Help me Mommy, I'm stuck" bark. I looked out the window and sure enough, he was wrapped around a bush in the corner of the yard. I had to put on my Timberland boots, coat and scarf to rescue the little monkey.
I have to be careful about falling when getting out in the snow like that. I've had a couple of minor falls since my initial accident and it's made my back pain much worse. The doctors always say, don't fall anymore, but that's not something you plan. You can be careful, but sometimes it just happens, no matter what. My last fall seemed really minor at first. I twisted my ankle and it seemed like I just sat down a little harder than normal. NOT. That was in Sept. and I'm still feeling the results of that fall.
Back to the rescue of Buddy, the little brown monkey dog. I got him loose and got him back in the house. I dried him off with a towel and I lay down on the couch. He loves to get all snuggled up in the blanket with me. I dozed off to sleep watching some special on BET about Michael Jackson. After I got roused up from my 3 hour nap, I decided to work a little more on my blog. It's starting to shape up nicely.
I love photography and I plan to start posting some of my photos within my blogs. I have two photos of my little furry neighbors on my page. We feed them, along with dozens of birds, sunflower seeds and cracked corn. They drive Buddy crazy. He will tolerate the birds if they are around the feeders, but he doesn't allow them to light in the yard. He's the only dog I've ever seen that will bay at (or tree) a bird. If you're not familar with this terminology, it's what a hunting dog does when he spots a racoon or squirrel in a tree. I realize not everyone speaks and understands Appalachian dialect.
I love to photograph nature scenes, but I also love to take pictures of the Haitian people that visit the medical clinics I've worked in. I plan to post some of my favorite photos, along with some comments about where they were taken. I'd like to hear your opinions about my photos and comments.
My back and neck pain is starting to get the best of me, so I think I better wrap this up for the evening. I've learned you have to listen to what your body's telling you. If you don't, then there's heck to pay for several days. Just let Buddy back in, so we are going to retire to the couch. If I feel like it, I will probably knit a little. We'll see.
Au Voir
(Orevwa in Haitian Creole)
After I got up, I started working on my blog. I found a great site with headers, backgrounds, etc. It's called "Cute N Cool" Blog Stuff by Itkupilli. All the artwork is original. I worked on my blog for awhile, then had to lay down for awhile because I was exhausted.
My dog, a chocolate Mini Pin wanted out, so I put him on his leash. (We live right beside a road, so I don't let him run loose. That's not to say that he doesn't escape from me ever so often). Before long, he started barking his "Help me Mommy, I'm stuck" bark. I looked out the window and sure enough, he was wrapped around a bush in the corner of the yard. I had to put on my Timberland boots, coat and scarf to rescue the little monkey.
I have to be careful about falling when getting out in the snow like that. I've had a couple of minor falls since my initial accident and it's made my back pain much worse. The doctors always say, don't fall anymore, but that's not something you plan. You can be careful, but sometimes it just happens, no matter what. My last fall seemed really minor at first. I twisted my ankle and it seemed like I just sat down a little harder than normal. NOT. That was in Sept. and I'm still feeling the results of that fall.
Back to the rescue of Buddy, the little brown monkey dog. I got him loose and got him back in the house. I dried him off with a towel and I lay down on the couch. He loves to get all snuggled up in the blanket with me. I dozed off to sleep watching some special on BET about Michael Jackson. After I got roused up from my 3 hour nap, I decided to work a little more on my blog. It's starting to shape up nicely.
I love photography and I plan to start posting some of my photos within my blogs. I have two photos of my little furry neighbors on my page. We feed them, along with dozens of birds, sunflower seeds and cracked corn. They drive Buddy crazy. He will tolerate the birds if they are around the feeders, but he doesn't allow them to light in the yard. He's the only dog I've ever seen that will bay at (or tree) a bird. If you're not familar with this terminology, it's what a hunting dog does when he spots a racoon or squirrel in a tree. I realize not everyone speaks and understands Appalachian dialect.
I love to photograph nature scenes, but I also love to take pictures of the Haitian people that visit the medical clinics I've worked in. I plan to post some of my favorite photos, along with some comments about where they were taken. I'd like to hear your opinions about my photos and comments.
My back and neck pain is starting to get the best of me, so I think I better wrap this up for the evening. I've learned you have to listen to what your body's telling you. If you don't, then there's heck to pay for several days. Just let Buddy back in, so we are going to retire to the couch. If I feel like it, I will probably knit a little. We'll see.
Au Voir
(Orevwa in Haitian Creole)
Saturday, January 30, 2010
My Friends of Haiti
After almost 3 weeks, it's still hard to believe all the devastation that has befallen Port-au-Prince, Haiti. I've been there 4 times with medical missionary teams. I've spent a total of 5 weeks working with the people living in the outlying villages. We work with a wonderful organization, International Missions Outreach. It is a faith-based organization run by a husband and wife team from West Va. They have been in the country for over 35 years. They have built over 50 churches, schools and two medical clinics. When we're in Haiti, we always visit the village of Boutin, where one of their medical clinics is located. The clinic serves the people of 5 villages; Coutin, Bois Leger, and Drouillard Bel Bel to name a few.
Boutin has a church, a school, and a medical clinic. IMO also built several cinderblock homes in order to house the sick and elderly that have no one to care for them. It's IMO's version of an American assisted living home. However, Boutin sustained severe damage from the quake. Most people in the outlying villages live in mud huts with thatched roofs. A few of the people can afford to build a cinder block house. Every building in the country is built out of masonry.
IMO is trying to raise the money to buy 20 ft by 20 ft tents, and 30 ft. by 60 tents to house the homeless. I read on Facebook, they are going to house 1500 refugees at Boutin. If you are interested in learning more about the organization go to www.imohaiti.org. On Facebook, search for John or Joyce Hanson, or Faithe Hanson Claxton.
It was a miracle that John and Joyce, along with the IMO staff at the Compound survived the quake. The buildings on the compound are still standing, although some of them have foundational cracks that have worsened with the aftershocks. Almost all the IMO staff lost their homes. One teacher at the Delmas school died in the quake. She at home. A student at the Bible School (where students study for 3 years to become a pastor) also died. Paulette, one of the women that cook for us lost her teenage daughter when the school where she was attending collapsed.
I see places where I've been, and now it's totally destroyed. I have hundreds of pictures of street scenes (along with the Presidential Palace), the people at the clinics, the mud huts, etc. It breaks my heart to know that people that were already struggling to survive have yet another devastating blow. The quake has set the country back decades. They had little infastructure such as roads, bridges, schools or hospitals due to the widespread corruption of government officials. They have no social programs-period. If you don't work-you don't eat. It's a sad situation that's been magnified a thousand fold.
Pastor John and Joyce are desperately working to secure food, water, medicine and shelter for the homeless. The rainy season starts sometime in late April. The people need to have some type of temporary dwellings to protect them from the rain, mosquitos and disease.
Boutin has a church, a school, and a medical clinic. IMO also built several cinderblock homes in order to house the sick and elderly that have no one to care for them. It's IMO's version of an American assisted living home. However, Boutin sustained severe damage from the quake. Most people in the outlying villages live in mud huts with thatched roofs. A few of the people can afford to build a cinder block house. Every building in the country is built out of masonry.
IMO is trying to raise the money to buy 20 ft by 20 ft tents, and 30 ft. by 60 tents to house the homeless. I read on Facebook, they are going to house 1500 refugees at Boutin. If you are interested in learning more about the organization go to www.imohaiti.org. On Facebook, search for John or Joyce Hanson, or Faithe Hanson Claxton.
It was a miracle that John and Joyce, along with the IMO staff at the Compound survived the quake. The buildings on the compound are still standing, although some of them have foundational cracks that have worsened with the aftershocks. Almost all the IMO staff lost their homes. One teacher at the Delmas school died in the quake. She at home. A student at the Bible School (where students study for 3 years to become a pastor) also died. Paulette, one of the women that cook for us lost her teenage daughter when the school where she was attending collapsed.
I see places where I've been, and now it's totally destroyed. I have hundreds of pictures of street scenes (along with the Presidential Palace), the people at the clinics, the mud huts, etc. It breaks my heart to know that people that were already struggling to survive have yet another devastating blow. The quake has set the country back decades. They had little infastructure such as roads, bridges, schools or hospitals due to the widespread corruption of government officials. They have no social programs-period. If you don't work-you don't eat. It's a sad situation that's been magnified a thousand fold.
Pastor John and Joyce are desperately working to secure food, water, medicine and shelter for the homeless. The rainy season starts sometime in late April. The people need to have some type of temporary dwellings to protect them from the rain, mosquitos and disease.
Friday, January 29, 2010
This is my first attempt at writing a blog on the Internet.
I am a published author. I've had five articles published in GOLDENSEAL, a magazine published by the WV Division of Culture and History. It publishes stories about traditional WV life (see links). I wrote a personal interest column in the NICHOLAS CHRONICLE for approximately eight years.
I compiled a book of short stories about my late husband and published them in 1998. It was stories he'd told me about his childhood and living through the Great Depression. I'd grown up hearing similar stories from my Mom and grandparents. Over the years, I always thought about writing his stories down, but my life was busy...And I didn't think of myself as a writer.
I was busy with my job at the WV DHHR (aka the Welfare Office) and being a wife. After going to work at the office, I decided to start college classes. I took a computer class at the Vo-Tech and enjoyed it. I decided I wanted to try taking a few English classes to develop my writing skills further. Part of my job was to attend a unit meeting every month and take notes of the topics discussed. My job title was Clerk I. I was assigned to a specific unit to do their clerical work and filing, in addition to writing the minutes. I also did administrative assistant work for the supervisor or acting supervisor.
From day one, I was assigned to attend the monthly meetings, take notes, and write detailed minutes directly from my notes. At first it was a difficult task, but I quickly learned to take good notes. (This was an invaluable asset when I started taking classes). I was forced to write a draft of the minutes, then submit them a Services Coordinator for review. After she was finished critiquing them, I got them back to correct. THEN, the corrected copy was sent to the Area Administrator for his approval. Then again, I had to re-type the minutes with his corrections.
All this intense focus on note-taking, writing the minutes from my notes, having two bureaucratic buffoons picking my work apart honed my writing skills. I did the minutes and clerical work for that unit for ten years. I gained lots and lots of hands on experience writing technical, bureaucratic gibberish. However, by virtue of that monthly task, my skills as a writer came to the forefront.
My quest to take a couple of college classes to improve my writing skills turned out well. I ended up taking classes part-time for about six years. I had 62 credit hours. I got stressed out thinking I had to study to make an A on every test. I developed health issues and one of my late husband's granddaugther's was killed in an accident. My break of a couple of semesters turned into a few years.
I was ready to start back and my husband got sick. He was in the nursing home for three and a half years. He passed away in 1999. I knew I'd go back and finish my degree, but it took me four years to get to the point I could handle the stress and disciple college demanded.
I earned an Associate Degree in General Studies (with Honors) in Dec. 2003. I continued my studies and earned Board of Regents BA in English Literature in August 2006 (Summa Cum Laude). I earned 103 classroom hours and I wrote an 80,000 word Board of Regents portfolio for the additional 25 hours I needed to graduate. In the end, I earned 39 hours from the portfolio. When I finished, I had 31 thick notebooks full of information and evidence to support my claims.
I received credits in Secretarial Sciences from New River, credits for writing classes from Bluefield State College and Marshall University. Most of my credits for writing were upper division llevel. All of my experience of writing for the paper, the magazine articles, my book, attending writer's workshops and even my work experience ended up working to my favor with the Board of Regents. Another aspect I revel in is that the state paid for approximately 90% of my college education. It's really ironic that the people in the office where I worked never chose to utilize my intellect and willingness to learn. Their loss, my gain.
It was only five months after I received my degree in the mail, that I suffered a devastating back injury. I fell on the stoop of my front porch and broke my back in two places. It was a week before my 54th birthday. I was in major pain for months from the initial injury. As it started to heal, the residual pain started to set in. As time as passes, my back and leg pain has gotten progressively worse.
When I turned 55, I was eligible for retirement from the state because of my years of tenure. I wasn't planning on retiring so young, but I really didn't have any choice. Luckily, I had a retirement to fall back on.
Again, they treated me like crap when I worked there, never giving me a chance to do anything but exactly what they dictated...lock step, Nazi-like. But in the end, I have prevailed. They paid for my college education and I have a retirement for the rest of my life. Now I have an additional blessing. I was approved for my Social Security Disability in December.
Daily life involves constant pain and limitations to my mobility, but I'm slowly learning how to deal with it, yet try to be productive. It's an ongoing journey...
I am a published author. I've had five articles published in GOLDENSEAL, a magazine published by the WV Division of Culture and History. It publishes stories about traditional WV life (see links). I wrote a personal interest column in the NICHOLAS CHRONICLE for approximately eight years.
I compiled a book of short stories about my late husband and published them in 1998. It was stories he'd told me about his childhood and living through the Great Depression. I'd grown up hearing similar stories from my Mom and grandparents. Over the years, I always thought about writing his stories down, but my life was busy...And I didn't think of myself as a writer.
I was busy with my job at the WV DHHR (aka the Welfare Office) and being a wife. After going to work at the office, I decided to start college classes. I took a computer class at the Vo-Tech and enjoyed it. I decided I wanted to try taking a few English classes to develop my writing skills further. Part of my job was to attend a unit meeting every month and take notes of the topics discussed. My job title was Clerk I. I was assigned to a specific unit to do their clerical work and filing, in addition to writing the minutes. I also did administrative assistant work for the supervisor or acting supervisor.
From day one, I was assigned to attend the monthly meetings, take notes, and write detailed minutes directly from my notes. At first it was a difficult task, but I quickly learned to take good notes. (This was an invaluable asset when I started taking classes). I was forced to write a draft of the minutes, then submit them a Services Coordinator for review. After she was finished critiquing them, I got them back to correct. THEN, the corrected copy was sent to the Area Administrator for his approval. Then again, I had to re-type the minutes with his corrections.
All this intense focus on note-taking, writing the minutes from my notes, having two bureaucratic buffoons picking my work apart honed my writing skills. I did the minutes and clerical work for that unit for ten years. I gained lots and lots of hands on experience writing technical, bureaucratic gibberish. However, by virtue of that monthly task, my skills as a writer came to the forefront.
My quest to take a couple of college classes to improve my writing skills turned out well. I ended up taking classes part-time for about six years. I had 62 credit hours. I got stressed out thinking I had to study to make an A on every test. I developed health issues and one of my late husband's granddaugther's was killed in an accident. My break of a couple of semesters turned into a few years.
I was ready to start back and my husband got sick. He was in the nursing home for three and a half years. He passed away in 1999. I knew I'd go back and finish my degree, but it took me four years to get to the point I could handle the stress and disciple college demanded.
I earned an Associate Degree in General Studies (with Honors) in Dec. 2003. I continued my studies and earned Board of Regents BA in English Literature in August 2006 (Summa Cum Laude). I earned 103 classroom hours and I wrote an 80,000 word Board of Regents portfolio for the additional 25 hours I needed to graduate. In the end, I earned 39 hours from the portfolio. When I finished, I had 31 thick notebooks full of information and evidence to support my claims.
I received credits in Secretarial Sciences from New River, credits for writing classes from Bluefield State College and Marshall University. Most of my credits for writing were upper division llevel. All of my experience of writing for the paper, the magazine articles, my book, attending writer's workshops and even my work experience ended up working to my favor with the Board of Regents. Another aspect I revel in is that the state paid for approximately 90% of my college education. It's really ironic that the people in the office where I worked never chose to utilize my intellect and willingness to learn. Their loss, my gain.
It was only five months after I received my degree in the mail, that I suffered a devastating back injury. I fell on the stoop of my front porch and broke my back in two places. It was a week before my 54th birthday. I was in major pain for months from the initial injury. As it started to heal, the residual pain started to set in. As time as passes, my back and leg pain has gotten progressively worse.
When I turned 55, I was eligible for retirement from the state because of my years of tenure. I wasn't planning on retiring so young, but I really didn't have any choice. Luckily, I had a retirement to fall back on.
Again, they treated me like crap when I worked there, never giving me a chance to do anything but exactly what they dictated...lock step, Nazi-like. But in the end, I have prevailed. They paid for my college education and I have a retirement for the rest of my life. Now I have an additional blessing. I was approved for my Social Security Disability in December.
Daily life involves constant pain and limitations to my mobility, but I'm slowly learning how to deal with it, yet try to be productive. It's an ongoing journey...
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
