Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their blog with you. This week we highlight the blog Yolanda and her creative mind.
My name is Yolanda. From the beginning, I wrote a lot here to teach people about mental illness. I do that sometimes in the present, but now I mostly share my creative perspective in photography, photoshop art, and poetry most of the time.
Yolanda picked up photography when she moved to Stockholm five years ago.
These are one image and one photo she likes and I wanted to share them with you.
Here is a recent favorite of mine.
Yolanda is also a published writer of the book Alternativt.
Baksidan lyder: ”Alternativt” är en bok som jag har skrivit när jag har varit frisk och när jag har varit sjuk. I grunden har jag Aspergers syndrom och lider av bipolär sjukdom. Som person är jag väldigt kreativ. Jag har tidigare givit ut en annan bok, som jag gav namnet ”I skuggan av en siluett skör som glas”. Både den och den här boken är mest baserade på dikter. Den förra boken innehåller även målningar och teckningar. ”Alternativt” bjuder på dikter och texter skrivna av en kreativ och alternativ kvinna, som är mycket mer än bara sina diagnoser.
”Alternativt” finns även att köpa i de flesta nätbokhandlarna!
Here’s a great review.
”Your talent bestowed within u by God endowed you to write and inspire others with the beauty and skills of your royal talent.”_-Van Prince
The interpretation of the photos she takes is amazing. She has Asperger Syndrome which I know very little about but I can feel the world around her and despite her challenges, she gets up and keeps living life. That is what we can all do. Live life.
Be sure to stop by and say hello, not only is she talented, she’s so sweet and grateful. I know you will enjoy her blog, pull up a set and stay awhile.
Many of you know I was extremely close to both of my Grandparents, we loved each other dearly. Not only did they pull me from rock bottom, but they made sure I had the tough love needed to get away from the bad crowd I was hanging with, my drug addiction, and recover from my childhood trauma. It was truly unconditional love. I went to live with them after a year of bad girl boarding school at the age of 14 and they became my legal guardians.
My Granny worked with my Social Worker to find the right type of rehabilitation, it was a boarding school at a Convent that she remembered from her youth. It was just what I needed. They paid for my uniforms, the necessary towels and sheets, and a monthly allowance of $40 to buy a soda pop and a candy bar daily and they bought my cigarettes. Since I was a ward of the State of Texas, the state paid the yearly tuition. They came every Wednesday to the family group sessions and Granny would make enough goodies for my dorm or bring enough of the good candy everyone loved. We weren’t allowed to talk but the nuns let them come in for a minute to give me the goodies to share.
My Gramps had just retired and no doubt thought more about hunting, fishing, and his daily squirrel run to the levees. But he embraced me and taught the lessons of life, the ones that matter, they became my foundation. They cooked every day except for Saturday when they went to El Chico’s for Mexican food, I joined them long after leaving home, it was a special time between us.
A sketch I did of Gramps playing scratch-off games
Gramps enjoyed scratch-off games and we often gave them as treats, he would not but for himself. So we did.
These were his core values:
Work hard
Do it right the first time
If you borrow something, give it back in better shape
Always make time for family
Don’t hate
Stand up for yourself
Marriage was sacred
If you can do it yourself it means more
He was right on target and I have those values today and what I looked for in my husband.
He was very protective all my life but when it came to boys, he was extra tough. With a strict curfew, I couldn’t drive my car on weekends, only to school, to take Granny shopping or doctor appointments, and to work. He knew my schedule like clockwork. I had to pay him 8 dollars a week for gas and 50 dollars for the extra insurance. He taught me responsibility and accountability. There were no excuses unless it was a freak thing and I had to call before my curfew. Even 5 minutes late was late. I can’t thank him enough.
My Gramps was from a very poor family who were sharecroppers and self-taught wielders. He joined the Army in 1939 to leave poverty and build a better life for himself and he did just that. After leaving the Army, he worked as a mechanic for Greyhound Bus Line’s for 38 years, and he never accepted a promotion, he felt most comfortable working with his hands alone and had no BS from management. I can understand that.
He married only once to my Granny and loved her to the day she died. He had the strength to move forward and he built a full life after her death, by going to the recreation center every day, eating a 1 dollar lunch, always giving his milk to a man who needed it, and then playing dominos, for an hour or two. He made great friends there and they were in his life until the end. He tried indoor swimming which shocked me, even had a couple of friends visit him and he visited them. He believed in taking something every time he visited someone.
Money was important to build a simple humble life, never wanting more than he needed to provide. He accepted my Granny’s only son, my father, and no doubt he was a handful. He didn’t discipline my father, that was Granny’s job because he never wanted to impose on her. He was a happy man, witty, like a clean but dirty joke, not raunchy. He accepted people for who they were and felt everyone was equal except for a few. He was racist towards blacks, I’m not sure where that came from. He didn’t hate them but didn’t allow them in his house. He never spoke ill of anyone even though many family members deserved it.
He loved his family and the ones that mattered the most to him who were still alive, visited him during the last few weeks of his life. He didn’t tell anyone until I brought the phone book into the living room one day and said it was time to call family and friends.
The mold was broken when they made my Gramps, he was a proud man, who kept his word and took people at face value even to a fault. There were many hillbilly’s in the family and a few shady dealers but it didn’t matter to him.
Gramps called me Pud since I was a child until the end. It was something just between us and always meant love to me. I’m the person I am today abuse of their love and faith in my future. He only went to 3rd grade and Granny to 5th grade, that is what happens when you are poor and can’t afford the clothes or were needed at home to work. They made sure I went to school every day except the few occasional Granny would write a note so we could go have fun shopping for the formals I needed for high school. We pinched pennies, went to outlets, and found all my formals for under 20 dollars. Gramps wore nothing but Dickies work pants and they wore them out before buying new. I learned late that you don’t need more, but the best you can afford, don’t show off and be proud of what you have.
I spent the last 5 months of his life caring for him around the clock, sleeping in the front bedroom/junk room, and boy was he a handful. He expected me to be like Granny and keep everything like clockwork which is exhausting when you’re a caregiver. He was hard-headed and I get that from him.
My Gramps was a true American, as Toby Kieth sings, he fixed everything with a Craftsman wreck and WD 40, always drove American cars, did all the maintenance and car repairs he could, was an excellent lawnmower repair man, and fixed many for others.
I can go on and on but I will leave it here for another time. He was the only father I had, yes, I had a biological father but he didn’t know how to be a one due to an undiaonosised mental illness and he was an alcoholic.
The video says it all. RIP Keith, your songs added to the fabric of our lives.
Toby Keith – Made In America (Official Music Video)
Here are a few products I’m loving with right now. I hope you find a product to add to your household or self-care routine. The list may also give you ideas for a surprise for friends, and family. Most products are found on Amazon.
Bambaw Insulated Bottle 32 oz
Insulated Water Bottle 32 oz, Blue Water Bottle Stainless Steel, Reusable Water Bottle, BPA Free Water Bottle, Big Water Bottle 32oz, Cold and Hot Water Bottle
The arthritis in my hands has made my old bottles hard to open and these are working much better with the twist of the lid and handle. I love that they are made in Belgium and are a Climate Partner-certified product.
These are YUMMY! I’m underweight and working hard to gain weight the healthy way, these drinks are helping me.
Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics
Original Formula with 3 Year Fermented Prebiotics, Live Active Probiotics, and The only Product with Postbiotic Metabolites, 30 Capsule
DR. OHHIRA’S PROBIOTICS are backed by over 20 scientific studies and recommended by digestive health and immune system health care providers. Does not include artificial additives, chemicals, preservatives, coloring, flavoring, animal by-products, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides. Non-GMO and 100% vegetarian. Hypoallergenic (no dairy or gluten). Guaranteed free of soil-based organisms (SBOs).
Paw & Pantry
2-3″ Soft & Chewy USA-Chicken Mini Bones – Pack of 24 Rawhide Free Chicken Dog Treats – Highly Digestible & Chewy Grain Free Dog Treat Mini Bones – Great Non-Rawhide Chews for Small Dog with 100% REAL USA-sourced chicken as our #1 ingredient, Paw & Pantry dog chicken treats are densely packed with natural protein.
Grain? Gluten? Antibiotics? Never heard of ’em! Our chicken treats for dogs are made without all of that extra junk, creating a highly digestible treat and a great rawhide alternative for every dog to enjoy
Effortless 24/7 continuous attraction works day and night to help protect your family from pesky flying insects. Designed for any room or area of your home where flying insects gather including kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and living spaces.
We checked them on Sunday and they work!
Minera Dead Sea Salt – 2 lb. Bag Fine Grain
Minera Dead Sea Salt dissolves easily in warm water to help cleanse and nourish your skin. Our Minera salt is harvested from the Southern end of the Dead Sea, where the mineral content of the water is at its highest. The salts are delivered to our customers in their pure, raw form, containing all the essential minerals that the Dead Sea is famous for.
I have purchased this brand for years and have never been disappointed. Dead sea salt is like no other, not only does it have minerals that are great for your skin but it also removes dead skin without effort. Be sure to rinse after bathing to remove the remaining salt.
She has such a wealth of knowledge including great cooking skills. This post is great for those who like to experiment with spices or maybe are not as familiar with all the spices available. Be sure to stop by and say hello.
WordPress is jiggy this morning, it won’t let me enlarge or remove the duplicate. The duplicate was added by simply by hitting return on the keyboard. NO problem, they can’t stand between you and me. It’s not even allowing me to use spell checker.
Prince was one of a kind, he helped his hometown by donating, his clothes made there and now doubt he left money for the city as well. His talent was overwhelming at times, he’s the only Superbowl half-time artist I’ve seen play through the rain with his electric guitar and high-heeled boots. Check out the video, he is nothing but pure heart and determination. Let’s dance.
It’s the weekend!!!!!!
I’m glad you joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share.
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
The Story of Hank Williams Jr. is rich in music history but did you know he had an horrific fall during an avalanche that almost took his life. It’s a story of the strength, strength we all have inside to live and to fight for it. It was a catapulting moment for him. Watch the entire video, you’ll see the magic.
A Country Boy Can Survive was written by Toby Keith and his breakout song. He believed strongly in songs he wrote himself and stayed true to his roots. RIP Toby, we know you have the sunshine. The video was taken during a tribute to Country’s Greatest Music Heros. It tells Hank Jr.’s story and you can see him proudly sitting in the front row beaming.
I have no clue why WordPress shows the post correctly as I’m writing yet when I preview and once it’s posted there is all this space between. That’s on WP, as always.
Repost from 2017 and the memory wasn’t a trigger, just life. Be aware of how people with an agenda can reel you in and they can take years to do it. Don’t fall for it.
On my first business trip, I was 24 years old and clueless. The company was celebrating a milestone. Once we were bored, around 20 of us found a bar and settled in. This is the time for a stalker, large groups of people, and pick your target.
First, he sent me a dozen white roses every day to my office. I was young and naive about stalking. I assumed he had money.
The cards started coming and he started asking me to come to Boston. The phone calls were coming more often. I didn’t know how a stalker reeled in their target.
After months of roses and cards, I gave in. Once in Boston, his lies were easy to see. The parents owned the house, he lived over the garage. My radar is up about but nothing else. There was a party at a friend’s house, let’s see how many are losers. The party was fun I talked about food, and one conversation about escargot stood out, they were amazed I knew how to say it right, wine, and traveling. He paraded me around like a 100-lb piece of meat.
We had a selection of drugs, hash, cocaine, and some using a needle. I don’t use a needle period. I enjoyed the selection of smokes. We left heading for his house, he was high and driving. We arrive and had problems with the stairs, we were too high, and laughing our ass off. I told him before arriving, that I would not sleep with him, ok no problem he said. We started doing a line of coke, no memory of how many lines, it didn’t matter
I was stoned. He tried to get to lay on the bed and he wouldn’t touch me. The other sleeping option was the couch, I chose the couch. His personality changed to anger. He begged me for what seemed like an hour. He finally gave up, leaving him to plan his next move.
I left my cell phone at home and used his phone to call Granny. BAD MOVE. We had lunch with his parents. They seemed normal, which was good, maybe the thoughts were a reaction from past experiences.
We went to the mall so he could buy me a leather jacket. WEIRD. Before leaving he takes me to a 5-star restaurant on the water. Then off to the airport, and listened to more lies.
The calls to my office and home were nonstop, leaving messages on my phone with his voice getting angrier, making threats. What can he do to me he’s in Boston. NAIVE.
The fear escalated over six years, always looking over my shoulder, and avoiding crowds. Years went by and I thought it was over, in 1992 I moved to another city 70 miles away for my job. He wrote me a letter at my new address. Dating was worse, you have to tell them about this crazy person. One guy I dated had two boys, and afraid for them he would go to the car alone in case a bomb ignited.
In 2017 someone I knew from WordPress started stalking me only now there was technology that allowed them to intrude on my entire life. I’m not a kid anymore and I still get scared. I thought the stalker had left me alone, yet they were still watching, always there, letting me know via text. This went on for two years and ended with the police pulling a gun on me in front of my house and neighbors.
I wrote in an earlier post about how I taunted the stalker. Don’t take my lead and attack back, by expressing your anger their aggression can escalate.
Don’t keep the secret to yourself, it’s a heavy load.
Don’t allow yourself to become bait, you know when something is off. Your gut will tell you.
RAINN is an organization I strongly believe in and they are on the top of my yearly donation list. The link is to resources for Stalking and Cyberstalking.
I wrote this post in 2015 and ran across it today, Gavin and I are even closer now and I wanted to send him some love. Be sure to check out his blog, you will want to stay a while.
GAVIN THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND
Gavin and I met through the blogosphere on 3/31/14. He is truly amazing with a camera and only started in 2009. He can take everyday objects and present them in different perspective.
He started in color then fell in love with black and white and the rest they say is history. I am amazed at what we can do with light. He doesn’t give himself enough credit, he is a professional without question.
Gavin is a great friend, sometimes we go long periods without talking and when we do, it’s like yesterday. He is a survivor of a traumatic background yet he stands tall. Gavin has taken the smart route, surround yourself with friends and family you can trust.
I’m blessed to have Gavin in my life. We BS, lend a shoulder, and make each other laugh. Please pull up a chair, you’ll be amazed at his artistic ability.
I want to thank everyone for their prayers and notes of encouragement, they have been important to my healing. After resting a little there is more to share. I only recall two other breakdowns, the first when I was nine years old and again at 12 years old.
As the violence in the house escalated, we went to our bedrooms, I left my bedroom door cracked open and watched my step-father beat my mother again. Throwing her head from side to side, hitting the wall each time, you could hear her begging for her life. They stopped in front of my bedroom, he had a knife to her throat and she closed her eyes and begged under her breath.
I was 12 years old, can’t remember the events other than it included my dad and me wanting to kill him. I spent two weeks on my bed catatonic, rocking back and forth.
My childhood was a constant trauma until I was 14 years old. When I was 28 years old, my father committed suicide. He was living with an undiagnosed mental illness with no medication by choice. For seven months after his death, I looked inward and sought out a Psychiatrist. After a few false starts, I found an exceptional Psychopharmacologist and he treated me for over 32 years.
Early on he said I needed therapy and introduced me to my current therapist who I’ve seen for over 30 years. With her I was able to slowly unpack the locked box of memories, sharing my life without emotions. I’ve gone through the first three steps of healing from trauma and have chosen not to take the fourth step which is reliving the memories and feeling the emotions. I won’t feel the pain again.
Monday’s breakdown was a combination of many factors. I’m on a new medication and my mood is not stable, that morning a trauma was triggered that had long been forgotten and packed away since I was 19 years old. The memory didn’t shake me, there was no emotion at the time. I’ve also been watching a violent series mostly centered on gang violence and the trafficking of women. Over the past 5-6 episodes I’ve watched one woman who was broken and dead inside, be beaten again and again. Running for her life, she realized there was nowhere to go, so she went back to the man who broke her.
I cried for her each episode but the reality of her future became clear. It broke me, sitting in the chair I sobbed uncontrollably as I grabbed the sides of my body. I fell to the floor, the pain was overwhelming. My husband came over to help me, and I screamed over and over don’t touch me. I grabbed my Xanax and took two. I started to hyperventilate and reached for another Xanax, my husband said no, and my response was quick. At the top of my voice, Fuck you, Fuck you, Fuck you all the way upstairs to my office. I sat in the dark, took another Xanax, and stayed still, soaking in all the pain over again. A short time later, I packed the night away in my box and went to bed only to spend the night away, crying under my breath.
I have experienced many other traumas in life, including being stalked three times, police pulling a gun on me in front of my house and neighbors, and being raped more times than I care to count, yet here I am.
You may be asking yourself why and how can I write this post without a tear? The short answer is I’m a survivor. Buring your trauma in a box is a coping mechanism I learned at birth, it allows you to move forward in life.
I’m raw but crawling, healing my mind and body, and need time to recover. I will not be writing anything traumatic or deep for some time.
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight the blog Unique Times with Cindy.
Cindy has 35+ years of experience in health and wellness. She studied Occupational and Recreational Therapy with an emphasis in Psychology at San Jose State University. She started her career in wellness offering personal training, leading health facilities, and teaching workshops. She opened her own aerobics studio and has continued to expand.
“It is not always easy to trust ourselves, to venture out of our comfort zones, and go for our dreams, however, Cindy Georgakas has successfully done this in an eloquent way.”—Dr. Chérie Carter-Scott, New York Times Bestselling Author of If Life is a Game, These are the Rules.
Cindy’s book is undoubtedly worth a peak, a read, and a permanent place on your bookshelves.
I have only followed her for a short time but we clicked right away. She is wickedly smart, gracious, very funny, and has a loving heart. She’s a brilliant writer who truly writes from the heart and shares her experiences with those who are searching. Aren’t we all searching?
Be sure to stop by her blog and say hello, no doubt you will pull up a chair and immerse yourself in her words.
Just a note from a blogging perspective, she blogs for the right reasons, her own. She has replied to all of my comments and is part of the community I love.
Being organized can be an effective way to minimize stress and make your life easier. However, it can be tricky to know where to start, particularly if being organized isn’t a natural strong point. To help you implement long-lasting changes, take a look at these five ways you can be more organized in life:
Declutter Your Home
When surrounded by too many things, it can be hard to relax and unwind but, equally, it can be difficult to focus and concentrate. To give yourself a productive environment and calm surroundings, start by decluttering your home. Donating, selling, or discarding the items you no longer need or want will allow you to free up space and make the most of your home.
Streamline Vehicle Ownership
Most people own a car and yet few people are really proactive about the maintenance involved. From knowing when your insurance renewal is due to getting your vehicle serviced, there is a myriad of tasks involved. Start by making sure you have important contact numbers stored in your phone. From a recovery or towing service to your mechanic’s number and the contact details of your insurance company, you should have everything you need on your phone or written down, in case you need it when you’re on the road. Similarly, diarize your vehicle’s service and insurance renewal to book in advance and get the cheapest cover.
Use Time Management Strategies
When you use your time best, you can get more done and increase your productivity levels. Employing a time management strategy can be an easy way to make positive changes in your life. With plenty of software and free apps available, you can take a digital approach to time management and make it work for you.
Stop Multitasking
People tend to assume that multitasking enables them to operate more efficiently but this is rarely the case. Instead, tasks often get left unfinished because you get distracted by something else, or errors are made because you’re not giving a particular job your full attention. Inevitably, this means that things actually take longer to get done.
If you want to be more organized and more productive, stop multitasking and try focusing on one thing at a time instead. This allows you to give it your full attention and complete the task more quickly, before moving on to the next one.
Identify Your Priorities
When you’re living a fast-paced life, it can be difficult to keep track of everything. From managing your kid’s social calendar to furthering your career or running a home, there are endless things to do. However, identifying your priorities can help to streamline your workflows and will ensure that the most important things are always done ahead of time.
Staying Organized
If you want to stay organized, be sure to use habits that are easy to replicate when you’re making your life more structured. Often, it’s the relatively small but sustainable changes that have the biggest impact, so be sure to use these to your advantage as you become more organized.
This is an incredible opportunity to learn, see the expert’s views, and ask questions. The experts have the knowledge, and if the CDC listened to them, healthcare services for all Tick-Borne Diseases would be widely available, and proper testing would happen at your doctor’s office.
Notice how the Center for Disease Control is not part of this meeting. Why is that? MONEY
The CDC sets the standard of care based on paid experts who choose not to believe in Chronic Tick-Borne Diseases that happen within a short period due to inaccurate testing methods used by doctors, proper testing can cost over $1,000, and there are only a few proper testing facilities, they are not covered by insurance and the diseases themselves manifest in undetectable ways, such as not having the Bull’s Eye Rash.
Two infectious diseases are TBD and HIV/AIDS which are extremely complex to diagnose. Why do I mention HIV/AIDS? My Lyme Literate doctor was one of the key players in discovering AIDS, he later took his knowledge to care for people with TBD. He was persecuted by his peers and lost his license, his house, and his practice. A year later his license was approved and he set up another practice focusing on treating TBD. During my 18 months of treatment for Lyme Disease, it was still treated as voodoo but he gave all to save my life. I can never thank him enough.
It also came at a very high price on my health and our finances since none of the treatments was covered. The total cost was well over $150,000, we had to take out a second mortgage on our house but EVERY PENNY was worth it because I’m alive today.
The US Department of Health and Human Services will hold two “public engagement meetings” regarding tick-borne diseases.
The first will be Tuesday, June 11, in San Francisco. The second, in Portland, Maine, has not been scheduled yet.
You can attend the San Francisco meeting either in person or online. Here are details:
When: June 11 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Where: University of California San Francisco Millberry Union Conference Center Golden Gate & City Lights Room 500 Parnassus Avenue San Francisco, CA 94143
. Virtual and in-person registration is available.
Agenda
Agenda times are tentative and subject to change.
Time
Agenda Item
8:30 am – 9:00 am
Registration and Check-in
Morning Session
9:00 am – 9:20 am
Introduction and Welcome RemarksJames Berger, MS, MT(ASCP), SBB Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP)B. Kaye Hayes, MPA Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP)ADM Rachel L. Levine, MD U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
9:20 am – 11:00 am(approx. 20 mins each)
U.S Federal Agency Report-OutsCDC Tick-Borne Disease Updates Ben Beard, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Update on DoD-Funded Research and Activities Focused on Tick-Borne Diseases Gabriela Zollner, PhD, and Angel Davey, PhD U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)Updates on NIAID-funded Research and Activities Focused on Lyme and Other Tickborne DiseasesNadine Bowden, PhD, National Institutes of Health (NIH)National Public Health Strategy to Prevent and Control Vector-Borne Diseases in People Leith J. States, MD MPH MBA FACPM, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH)Surveillance and Integrated Tick Management of Ticks of Human Importance Robert Miller, PhD, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Virtual Poll 1: What themes would you like to see covered in our upcoming community engagement sessions?
11:00 am – 11:20 am
BREAK
Virtual Poll 1 Results
11:20 am – 11:40 am
Epidemiology and Prevention of Tick-Borne Diseases in CaliforniaAnne Kjemtrup, DVM, MPVM, PhD, California Department of Public Health
11:40 am – 12:00 pm
Great Arizona Tick CheckKathleen Walker, PhD, The University of Arizona
Virtual Poll 2: What do you think are the most pressing needs for people with tick-borne diseases and/or associated illnesses?
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Lunch
Virtual Poll 2 Results
Afternoon Session
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Public Comments(10 pre-selected commentators; 3 minutes each)
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Panel Discussion of Questions Pre-Submitted by the Public Moderator: B. Kaye Hayes, MPA (OIDP)Panelists:C. Ben Beard, PhD (CDC)COL Michelle Colacicco-Mayhugh, PhD, PMP (DoD)Samuel Perdue, PhD (NIH)Leith J. States, MD, MPH, MBA, FACPM (OASH)
2:30 pm – 2:45 pm
Concluding Remarks and Adjournment B. Kaye Hayes, MPA (OIDP) James Berger, MS, MT(ASCP), SBB (OIDP)What did we hear today? What’s next?
I’m glad you joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
Thanks for stopping by, I look forward to seeing you again.
Spending some time near water can be healing for the mind and soul. Take yourself to a source of water, such as the ocean, a river, or even a small pond. Close your eyes and take in the sounds.
In France, June 6th will mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day landings during World War II. I imagine young soldiers with so much life ahead of them, facing the battle straight on, fighting for their countries to protect the citizens, not thinking about themselves but focused on their commitment to serving and protecting. How can we ever repay the soldiers who died fighting, how can we make their families whole again, what about the children left without fathers? We can’t repay them for their courageous acts, every single one, down to the last soldier on the ships and ground.
We can acknowledge, and celebrate their lives and thank them for their sacrifices. Without our allies and their military capabilities we would live in a very different world and one I hope to never see. My heart overflows with sadness, joy, and forever gratefulness.
All the countries that fought to abolish Hitler and his unspeakable crimes saved so many Jews and ultimately many other lives who now live in freedom. The concentration camps, the torture, and the sheer evil are a reminder to all that there is evil out there and we must fight to protect the innocent and for freedom for all.
Let’s come together. Put our political and religious differences aside to celebrate and give thanks to those who gave all and those who survived to tell their stories. The story of each individual is important, as is the reason for the war. Never forget the reason behind each war, learn from it, celebrate our heritage, accept one another, and above all else help each other heal.
I celebrate my Gramps for his commitment to our country during WWII, like most who experience wartime trauma, he didn’t share much but I saw the pride in his eyes. He was a proud man and I’m blessed to have had him in my life. He was so young in this photo, and he was decorated with many medals over his career including a Bronze Star which he kept in his dirty toolbox. It was not the medals that made him the man he was. He didn’t want a military funeral but I couldn’t agree, he deserved the respect. I’m so thankful that during a time of war, Fort Hood in Texas found enough soldiers to send him home properly.
I picked this song because these women keep the spirit alive.
Wartime choir The D-Day Darlings DAZZLE the Judges! | Auditions | BGT 2018
An interesting twist on a search I requested from Copilot. I’m so addicted now!!!!!
Flora 🌿
Wildflowers: Sprinkled across the meadow, wildflowers add bursts of color to the otherwise green canvas. Imagine delicate buttercups, vibrant daisies, and perhaps a few shy violets. Their petals sway in harmony with the breeze, creating a soft symphony of hues.\
Tall Grasses: The grasses here are not mere blades; they’re tall and graceful. Their feathery heads catch the sunlight, turning golden as the day progresses. When the wind dances through, the grasses ripple like waves on a tranquil sea.
Ancient Oaks: A few ancient oak trees stand sentinel. Their gnarled trunks tell stories of centuries gone by. Their leaves, a rich emerald, provide dappled shade for our contemplative woman. Perhaps a squirrel or two scampers along their branches, gathering acorns.
Whispering Willows: Down by the water’s edge, willow trees lean gracefully. Their long, slender branches dip into the pond, their leaves trailing like veils. When the wind rustles through, it’s as if the willows murmur secrets to the water.
Ferns and Moss: In the shaded nooks, ferns unfurl their delicate fronds. Their greenery is lush and inviting. Moss clings to rocks and fallen logs, creating a velvety carpet. Tiny insects—nature’s architects—flit about, weaving their own stories.
Fauna 🦋
Butterflies: Butterflies, those ephemeral creatures, flit from flower to flower. Their wings carry patterns of iridescent blue, orange, and black. They sip nectar, their delicate feet barely disturbing the petals.
Songbirds: Hidden among the branches, songbirds serenade the landscape. Robins, sparrows, and finches create a melodic chorus. Their notes blend seamlessly with the rustling leaves and the distant babble of the brook.
Dragonflies: These jewel-toned insects zip through the air, their gossamer wings catching the light.
I take all the pain in, let myself feel all of it, everyone’s pain, the pain I don’t know but know is out there. I ball on the floor, push it in, feel it, harder and harder. I take 3 Xanax and go to my office alone. I breathe, breathe deeper, and think of what has been drug up.
Working to avoid a panic attack, I close my eyes, let the thoughts set in, and remain still. I take a hot bath and scrub my skin hard three times making sure to remove the slime. I listen to Elvis sing “In the Getto” until I no longer cry. I listen to Bad Company sing “Bad Company” to take me back there, and I listen to John Mayer play my favorite live version of “Gravity” twice.
My first go-round with Copilot image creation. I’m so impressed with the product. I’m working on an avatar but not there yet, it’s so hard to create the image and felling you want to represent.
I was 5 years old when this song came out and my father was a huge Elvis fan. He would play the albums over and over and we would dance and sing until we were exhausted. It’s a cherished memory of my father for which I don’t have many.
Elvis Presley – Jailhouse Rock (’68 Comeback Special)
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