You all may find this quite difficult to believe, because I am feeling it is all very surreal at present.

Out of a group of 36 applicants, I have been chosen as one of 15 finalists to potentially become part of the 7 people who will write a book for mental health here in the state of Viriginia.

The book will be a compilation of our own stories, personal experiences, and healing processes; which will be made available for others who may be searching for their voices as they live and manage their mental illnesses.

I am honored, and yes, thrilled to be selected as one of the 15 finalists for this project. I look forward to sharing this with my employers, and other friends who will want to know. I have a special friend who told me I should apply to do this thing. I look forward to talking with her when she comes home from a weekend trip on Monday.

Woo-hoo. I really can't believe it is so. I will be speaking by phone to the writing staff who have made their choices thus far, on March 10. If I am chosen as one of the final 7, I will receive a stipend for my part in the project; as well as other monies for travel and lodging to do speaking engagements.

Surreal.

 

I gotta' tell ya. I've linked here before I know; but, this kid grabbed my heart when I first met her through pictures! I love this little gal and her family. You should allow yourself to smile today and visit Words For Snow's photostream over at flickr. Nothing but happiness there you'll find...

Stolen from Presbyterian Gal, I thought this would be quite fun to do. This is quite fun to do. Follow the directions in parenthesis. Yes, this is the correct spelling for more than one set of those brackets there. Go ahead and enjoy yourself. Here are my answers:

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car): SadieMae Blazer

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME (fave ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe): Chocolate Propet' Comfortware

3. YOUR NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Green Dolphin

4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Diane Cleveland

5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first three letters of your last name, first two of your first name): Stutr

6. SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Red Tea

7. NASCAR NAME (the first names of your grandfathers): Edward Joseph

8. STRIPPER NAME ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy): Diva Mallow Cup (yes Diva really is the name of my most favorite perfume in life)

9. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your fifth grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Branham Boston

10. SPY NAME (your favorite season/holiday, flower): Easter Daisy

11. CARTOON NAME (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now): Banana Nightgown

12. HIPPIE NAME (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Cereal Maple

To all you real gentlemen out there, I beg your pardon as I say, my woman Hillary is busting Barack Obama's balls tonight at Cleveland State University! She is calm. She is detailed. She is firm. The woman should not be counted out by a 46 year old Barack who has not been where she has been. I don't give a damn about the twist the media will place on this debate. She is a woman and has been treated unfairly by the media; as women often are. I am watching this program and I know what I am hearing from her. I do not need the news people to tell me something I didn't hear; as they have been doing all along during this campaign between the two. I feel so much better having said this. Thank you.

Our foster daughters whom I have shared pictures of here, and talked with you about here, are preparing to say goodby to their biological parents for awhile. I won't go into detail about the girls' parents or how they related with Sam and myself through the years. It wouldn't be fair. But, I will tell you this much. They are involved in MUCH for their religious beliefs, and presently they are on their way to Africa to rebuild churches in Sierra Leone.

I went to bed thinking about the girls last night. I woke up thinking about them this morning. I know in my heart they are concerned for their parents. I know they are worried. My heart is with them and I feel with them. I can't get it off my mind; the fact that by Friday their parents will be on a plane heading for Africa to serve there for a 3-year period of time.

The oldest of our foster girls has a baby; D. is almost 2 years of age. Steph is not married, and she is managing her life with her child. Her child's father is a good fellow, and is very involved. She lives about 15 minutes or so from her sister. Victoria is managing her life as well. She is working a couple jobs to pay rent in an apartment north of us by 26 miles. There is another of the sisters who lives with her husband in California. She was never involved in the foster care process. I met and spent time with J. when she came to my house to visit Victoria one day while she was home with her parents for a visit. I've also spoken with J. at length by phone once.

My heart aches for the girls much more than I can describe here. They know we love them and that we are here for them always. They are determined to work on their lives on their terms, and in one way I am amazed at their strength. In another, I am frustrated with their pride; a pride their mother and father taught them well. A pride that can lead to huge falls, over and over again in this life. I pray for their well being and I believe in them. They are smart and can handle themselves in many ways. I live with hope that they will make good decisions for themselves and that they don't cry alone; as on they go.

Yes, my heart aches. Victoria just recently made contact with her parents again. She needed to close a chapter on the destructive way she was feeling about them. She has done that. And now they are leaving her to attend to something they truely believe in; another world from here.

We were not perfect parents by any stretch of the imagination. But, the girls knew we loved them. They know this now. I hope the knowing alone helps them cope in some way.

All I can do is be here. All I can do is be here for them.

If you've read my "Where I'm From" article, you know I hail from two different places. In all honesty, I spent almost as much time of my young life in my birth state of Ohio, as I spent in West Virginia; the state where I grew up as a coal miner's daughter. (because my grandfather was really my only true father in life)

West Virginia disappointed me when all 18 delegates of the state voted unanimously for Huckabee during their Super Tuesday primary election. It is not that I expected all 18 to vote for my woman Hillary so much, as I am feeling that, for all the wrong reasons West Virginia is no longer the democratic state I once knew. 

On another note, I am getting just sick and tired of the Obama crowd buying into the idealism he offers us. He wants us all to believe that he could do in a term, or even two, all the many things he claims he will do for this fair country. Hogwash!!! I don't know what is in the air of late, but I hope if the scent comes near me, I don't become wide-eyed and sniff the poison; because it must be some super kind of smell for so many to be sucking it into their lungs and brains as they are.

Don't let it enter your brain that my feelings have anything to do with race because that is far from the truth of me. My feelings about Obama have nothing to do with race. Some of you might remember my post about the Jena 6. For me, and possibly other people, the whole aggravation with Barack's campaign is not about race. I simply believe Obama is smooth. I am careful not to buy into smooth. I know smooth all too well.

So PLEASE, Ohio. Don't disappoint me. I know you have the good sense that it takes to make a sound decision for yourselves, and our country.

I purchased the cactus two years ago. It was not in bloom then and has never bloomed since; until now. I purchased the plant because it looked so healthy and I just knew it would produce lovely blooms. I have been caring for the thing all this time; disappointed that I'd not seen the first bloom. This is what I found when I awoke two days ago! My heart lept for joy.

Sam and I have lost many shingles from our roof on this our cozy abode, due to the high winds during the month of February. We must needs be doing something about it all before March!

Our insurance reinspector dropped by a few days ago, and wrote up the claim for our loss. We received the check this morning. I think we are going to have a metal roof put on the place. It will last longer and look better. Of course it will cost more than the amount of our check; but, so would a new shingled roof. Just when you think you can get ahead...

Couldn't help but think of this ole' song in regards to our presently pitiful roof. It's a great flick...

 

You don't have what it takes to make the changes you speak of!!!!

Young people, and idealists, WAKE THE HELL UP!!

Obama did not work his whole life for the fame he is now receiving. In this life, it is all too often that we see through a glass darkly.

* If you are campaigning for Barack or plan to vote for the man, then you won't like this post. I believe the man has a great deal of potential for a future in politics, but is in no way ready for the daunting task that faces him in the white house. This is my site, and I reserve the right to say this here. Oh, and I approve this message...

Lately the news people, and other media sources such as the link below, have been offering up the idea that people are beginning to view Barack Obama as a messiah figure.

Are we as a nation losing our collective minds?

Barack Obama is a man; who happens to be in the senate, and has spent time on the streets of Chicago, doing.... well we really don't know what exactly he was doing, now do we?

He has a beautiful way of speaking about change that magnetizes the general public; but folks, watch out! My gal Hillary said, "words are cheap". I can't assume what I think she meant to say here, but I can tell you what I believe. I don't believe words are cheap. However, I do believe talk is cheap, and there is a huge difference.

 A true messiah, Barack Obama certainly is not!

I am hoping beyond hope that there is enough intelligence left in this country, for people to begin to see through the rose-colored glasses they seem to be wearing when gazing upon the man, Barack.

I hope the world will wake up and get busy with the seriousness we face on our planet today. Otherwise, we are screwed....collectively, I might add!!