As ever, this child continues to be one of my favorite kids. I've had the pleasure of knowing Miss Josie through cyberspace! What a dollbaby. As I see each photo, I smile with my heart. Thank you so much Suzie; for sharing your little one....

When I reach the place I'm goin', I will surely know my way. And I will turn and look inside me, and bid farewell to one more day.

Every life begins with darkness; every flower was once a seed. And with the sun and wind to test us, we are bound to be released.

I will fly beyond this valley. I will open up the gate. And when I reach the place I'm goin', I will surely know my way.

We have hands to hold our sorrow. We have tears to heal the pain. And though your eyes ask many questions, on your lips I hear my name.

I was born without a whisper. I was born beneath the rain. But, when I reach the place I'm goin', I will surely know my way.

(Wynonna Judd)

Update: I mentioned that I have a new category over on my sidebar. I have changed the title, though I failed to mention the title to you in the first place. Welcome to: "Waypoints For Mental Wellness".

Hello All ~

The knees continue to be a mess; and unfortunately, the specialist I started with last year is quite conservative about doing surgery on me because of my age and my weight.

So the deal is, I began the synthetic shots last Thursday, and have had quite a miserable reaction to them. They are produced with chicken fat; and, no, I am not allergic to chicken or feathers of any kind. But, my legs have been stiff and swollen, and I have been so unable to walk normally, that I finally bought some Benadryl a couple nights ago just to see if some of the problem might subside. Sure enough, the stuff worked; at least enough for me to walk more normally, though I am still really sore in my calves and my thighs.

This is not good. I am scheduled for an MRI on my left knee on Friday. This is because for the past couple months I have really had a tough time with the left knee locking and sharp pains in the bend, etc. This. Is. Not. Good. I phoned the doctor's office yesterday morning and left word with him that I refuse to continue with the shots. I received a call back from the office, to find that he would not want me to continue the shots; so, I didn't have to be so abrupt in my message to him. It's just that I'm really suffering dammit; and I'm tired of all the misery at this point. I will have the MRI with this doctor because I am in mid-stream right now, and then I will make an appointment with him to talk about the results of the MRI. If he still resists doing more for me, I will start over yet again, searching for another specialist who will not wish to continue letting me suffer.

In other news, my job is great! I am networking and doing lots of speaking engagements in which I share the goals of our program, and tell some of my personal story of survival in managing my own mental health diagnosis. Spiritually I feel good; if I could only get better physically now.

The book project I am working on along with the 6 other people across the state who were also chosen, is going well. I will be doing my interviews and sharing on July 18th, in Charlottesville, VA. This is a big deal for my life, and I hope it all continues smoothly and serves the purpose for which it is intended.

On my sidebar over there to your right,  I have created a new category! I will be listing places and people that will serve as good resources for those folks who are managing mental health issues. Take a gander, and feel free to share with those you know who have a diagnosis, or simply questions regarding resources. Also, if you have a family member or friends who you know might benefit from these links, please let them know. Some of the people I have already listed, are pioneers of the wellness and recovery models that are being used today in our mental health systems across the country.

Have a great day, and know I've missed my writing here. Hopefully, I'll get into shape soon, and spend more regular time at the ole' "Pointe".

Oh, and I love strawberries!!

 

* This is a cute tale; but it must be realized that Christian people are just that--people. Christians are not beyond cursing, anger, and frustration. It is only the self-righteous, so-called Christian people who make these kinds of issues such a hoot; and a crying shame as well. A truely good person doesn't need a damn bumper sticker to help them along in proving themselves. A life well-lived with humility, is much more believable to me.

A man was being tailgated by a stressed out woman on a busy boulevard.
Suddenly, the light turned yellow just in front of him. He did the right thing;
stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beat the red light by
accelerating through the intersection.

The tailgating woman was furious and honked her horn. She was screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get through the intersection; dropping her cell phone and makeup.

As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face
of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up.
He took her to the police station where she was searched; finger-printed; photographed,
and placed in a holding cell. After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell
and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting
officer was waiting with her personal effects.

He looked at her and said, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him. I noticed the "What Would Jesus Do?" bumper sticker; the "Choose Life" license plate holder; the "Follow Me to Sunday-School" bumper sticker; and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk. Naturally, I just assumed you had stolen the car."

Father's day will never be the same for me again; since my sweet grandfather, who WAS my father, died in 1980 at the age of 79. I love you papa...dearly!

Sam is a wonderful man. He has made a great husband and a great foster daddy to the girls, as well as all the other foster kids who came and went from our lives; as some of them stayed for a few weeks or just during holidays.

Sam loved his own father very much and held him in high regard. When he lost his dad at too young an age for them both, he felt he'd lost his best friend. Though I was not fortunate enough to know my husband's father, I honor him and all the stories I've heard about him. I know Sam thinks about his dad more than he speaks of him. It's just his way...

My grandfather was the only real father I ever really had in this life. I was 19 years old when he died. He died in June of 80, and I turned 20 in December of that same year. That's the thing about growing up with your grandparents as parents, they die way too soon for you to have to lose them. I miss papa so much after all these years. He never leaves my memory...

My own biological father claims a lot. He claims to have loved me. He claims to love me now. He claims to be a strong man of great will power. He speaks as though he is right up there with God, he does. BUT, my biological father brought nothing to my life but pain. I have nothing to remember him for as there was never much context between the two of us. The only thing I did receive from my biological father was my gabby personality. And, in some ways I'm glad for that part....on good days.

Yes, I love you my papa. I love you forever and a day. I know I will see you again. I believe it to be so. I am always, Your "Birdie".

Happy Father's Day!

Finally!! An icon of the news industry speaks out against the dirty ways the media has handled the news and discussions on Hillary Clinton! There is a God after all...

Tom addresses the exact frustrations myself and so many thousands of other american citizens have been feeling.  I know this because american people everywhere have spoken about the issues; and, I definitely know how I have been feeling. Old school though he may be, this country stands to learn a great deal from great american icons such as Tom, who have reported the issues in a news worthy manner in years past! Also, back in the day, the biases were not quite so obvious among news people as they most certainly are now.

Lately, I'm feeling there is very little that we as ameicans honor anymore; collectively speaking, of course.

A woman of grace.

A woman of pride in family.

A woman who knows the meaning of what she says, and who says what she means.

A woman of humility.

A woman of class.

A woman of outstanding character.

A woman who tried to shake every hand while on her campain trail.

A daughter; a mother; a sister; a wife; and a friend to so many.

A woman who won the support of 18 million American voters.

A woman I love...

Yep. I'm doggie-sitting for my aunt's lab. as she attends my baby cousin's highschool graduation. I'll have to catch up yet again when I arrive home; due to the fact that my poor aunt's space for working on the computer is tight at best. It's difficult to explain, but I am not in a most comfortable position to either write or read at present.

It seems I'm always behind anymore...time moves swiftly, and there are never enough hours in a day.

My radiator hose in the blazer busted all to hell today. It was probably already leaking a bit. Sometime last week, I smelled strange odors within my vehicle and I asked someone about them then and there. But, the guy felt that it was nothing. (I do know that I'm not supposed to begin a sentence with a "but"---uuum, another thought just came--- no, I must go on) Sam worked a lot last week and I'm not even sure if I mentioned it to him. Anyways, here I be, in another part of Virginia; waiting for my uncle to arrive home on Monday night. He will fix the thing on Tuesday, at which time I will be on my way back home again having missed a meeting at work and two, not one, but 2 doctor's appointments.

Aaaah life is just full of living.

Talk to ya' from my computer soon. Peace...

It's all winding down within the democratic party of this country; and soon we who are democrats will have a democratic nominee who will face the general election in November.

If Mr. Obama wins this nomination for the party, and that looks to be the case at present, then...

My vote will not count. As it will be with thousands of of other voters, my concerns and opinions regarding the upcoming election will be null and void.

I will not vote for Barack Obama for president of these United States. Likewise, I will not vote for John McCain. I will be writing in my vote on election day, and my vote will neither be considered, nor will it count for squat. At this point, my vote does not matter one way or another. This is how we do things here in America. In other words, my not voting for Barack Obama will not keep him from winning the election any more than my voting for him will cause him to win.

Soooo, I have the right as a citizen of this country to write in my vote on election day; and that is exactly what I intend to do. I will still exercise my right to bitch and moan about what goes on in this country as well. Afterall, I intend to cast my vote in good conscience. I will stand behind whom and what I believe.

If Barack does indeed secure the nomination for the democratic party, I would not be voting in good conscience if I were to vote for him. You can give me heck if ya' wanna', but what I am saying here and now is no different than what I've been reading from others here in the blogsphere, and who are liberal democrats, commenting that they will not vote for Hillary Clinton even if it means they would have to cast their vote for McCain instead.

I have been reading over and over on many different blogsites, the expressions of our democrats everywhere regarding this crucial time in our country; and in the life of the democratic party. The common bond we share is that we all want to see something different. We want to see something change. We want and need our hope back as citizens. The way we view things may be totally different, but we can all agree on these simple truths, I think.

I am just so not ready to put my faith and heart into a man I know very little about. And, what little I do know about Obama, is shady at best. If he is elected, and turns out to be a really fine president whom we can all love and trust, I will say I was wrong about him; and I will shout hallelujah to the rooftops I will.

What it all boils down to in a nutshell, is that it matters not whether you are liberal, wet-the-bed liberal, or something in between. If the super delegates decide someone is going to become the nominee for president of the United States of America, then that someone is exactly who will be the nominee for the democratic party.

That is all I have to say on voting in this country. Feel free to comment and discuss your thoughts. As always, they are welcomed here.

*PS. I obviously watched the news today; though it was on my list of things not to do--in regard to my previous article.

I grabbed this from Typical Momma; who grabbed it from Kazoofus; who seems to have gotten wind of the fun from Cursing Mama. Why the heck not? There's always room for reflection...

What was I doing 10 years ago?

Ten years ago, my husband and I were involved in an extensive and intense training for several weeks, in order to become foster parents. We were also preparing our home to receive children. 

Five things on my to-do list for today:

1) Do not watch the news.

2) Finish projects in new home office.

3) Place ad in paper to inform the public about our new support group sponsored by the program I manage.

4) Schedule appointments for meetings this week.

5) Again, do not watch the news.

My favorite snacks:

Presently, I enjoy Jello's sugar-free rice pudding; Utz no-salt potato chips; Planters lightly salted mixed nuts; (shut up) and, light (with half the fat) Edy's Grand Gourmet Caramel Swirl ice cream

If I were a billionaire what would I do?

I would donate a huge amount of money to St. Jude's Childrens' Hospital; The Children's Miracle Network; our United States Veterans; a transportation system for mental health consumers in this area...I would also purchase Sam a brand spanking new truck of his choice, fully loaded; myself, a brand spanking new Honda, Toyota, or Subaru of choice, fully loaded. Purchase a new modular home for this very piece of land we sit on now; and travel, travel, travel! 

Places I’ve lived:

Crumpler, West Virginia; Huntington, and Charleston, West Virginia; Cleveland, Ohio; Gallipolis, Ohio; Marietta, Ohio; Cambridge, Ohio; and two cities in Virginia, including where I live now. 

Jobs I’ve had:

At 15 years old, I babysat on a regular basis, until I graduated from highschool in 1979.

Newspaper Office--copy work; from 1979 to 1981.

I worked in several different areas of my college campus; and had a variety of jobs there, from 1981-85.

Speech/Language Pathologist from 1986 to 1990.

Other jobs include, Pre-school Handicapped Cooordinator; Receptionist; Hotel Desk Clerk; Secretary; Substitute Teacher; Foster Parent; Wife; Homemaker...and now, "Turning Point" Manager for mental health consumer services.