Airport John

This, is AIRPORT JOHN. The photo was taken by Holly MaHaffey on a photo shoot at the Mt. Pleasant Airport. I had suggested the article on Leni, the AIRPORT DOG. He died the August after this photo was taken.
John, is currently in the hospital after having a Stroke of sorts. He is/was an amazing guy. Friend, kind, funny, but not without his demons. I fear he will die. I fear he won't.

You Raise Me Up....

http://www.faithtap.com/4435/young-duo-sings-a-spine-tingling-version-of-you-raise-me-up/

YOU Raise me up to more..than I can be.

http://www.faithtap.com/4435/young-duo-sings-a-spine-tingling-version-of-you-raise-me-up/

Broken Bone pictures Wordless Sunday

Grad Student

I decided with my recent broken leg adventure, that once again, only I am in control of what I do with my life. This of course is influenced by the kids, money, yeah..maybe I am NOT in control of my life.

This recently happened in February of 2015. 

It is on the same leg as I crushed in 1998. the top portion is the "old "L " Plate and screws, the bottom is the L shape and 14 screws I got recently. My ankle is really acting up not liking the new hardware I think I have to blow some sage over it, and try to get it to accept it. NO hardware will ever be coming out. 

While laying in the hospital bed in my living room, I decided to start Graduate School for Counseling. I had two six week classes this summer, and have 3 classes (9 credits which is like carrying 18 undergrad credits) now. 

It's another journey. AND...I feel like I am EXACTLY where I am supposed to be and that is the first time in years that has happened. It's not about being "mom" or "Sort of some wife that isn't a wife", its about ME. And...that feels pretty damn strange my friends, pretty strange. 

Freindship

I don't have a lot of friends. That's ok, just saying it like I feel it. I do have people I can call on. Well hell, to be truthful, I wouldn't have to call them, the calls would be made for me.

Shelly, bottom right, Me, top right, Lori Top Left

This picture is of friends. Lori and I were very close for a long time. We met in  a church "small group" that was meeting at my house at the time in St. Louis. We mentioned "beer" one night...and after that we laughed and had a blast. Something happened, her son got cancer (and lived), at a time when my youngest was diagnosed with Pneumonia (again). There was some break in the friendship, I don't know over what now, but it was renewed once  when we discussed the book "THE SECRET". This book was instrumental in changing the way that many of my "fundamental" friends "saw" the Universe, and God, and how things happen. Great phrases that only now while I'm writing I had forgotten where they came from --"You do not have to create what you want - it already exists"  "

"Your body works like a movie projector, and the film running through the projector is all of your thoughts. What thoughts are you choosing?" 

Anyways, for a while things were ok, now they moved, we moved, life happened, its one of those horrible "oh we have to get together" things, that never seems to make it to reality. It is always disappointing. 

Then..my friend Angie  (not the slightly crazed meth head Angie addicted to Vicodin and Methodone, but the OTHER Angie inserting "Faces Of Meth here, she could have been included : http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/faces-meth-horrific-transformation-fresh-faced-4705220). THAT Angie deserves a long post on only her. This is NOT her, but she was losing teeth because of drugs that when one fell out she could blithely say, "Oh, here's another one". 

This OTHER Angie, She is simply amazing. She has taught me so much about being real, and even when I told her some really freaky stuff, didn't freak out. When I think of her, I smile. How cool is that. I can't think of a time that I didn't want to be better around her. One thing is...She simply GETS me. She understands my complex relationship with God, the Universe, the Auras, My Dreams that come true, and how I can still swear and be very spiritual. 

THIS Angie, cracks me up. She is meticulous in her work, which helps me want to be. She is methodical and will keep investigating until she turns over the pebbles that are hidden under the rocks. 

We actually have a pretty long history. As any woman knows, there are defining moments in life. I can say...Hey I knew her "BEFORE" She had kids! BOOM. There it is. That is one thing. We were traveling for a fundraiser and she was "heavy with child". I caught her a couple times out of the corner of my eye, and she was sort of sickly green all around her. Nobody seemed to be noticing that this HUGELY Pregnant woman was in crisis. I don't even know if SHE got it. It was very disturbing. Well, we worked closely together for about 2 years. Then, the gig we had was up and I sort of lost her for a while. 

While delivering food to a shelter, I found her again!! I was volunteering at the food bank, picking up Panera Bread a couple times a week and taking it to various non profits. Angie was the Counselor at one of them. 

We have recently been being more faithful to our friendship, and that makes me happy. It's 5:05 in the morning, I don't think I will sleep tonight, but I"m done writing for now. I'll come back and edit later. 

Native American Investigations

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Continuing to investigate The Mide Society, Eddie Benton ..very interesting stuff.

Break a Leg sister....

Broadway Theatre’s “Acting Can Be Murder” sends up murder plays

Mark Carpenter and Kendall Farnum rehearse a scene from "Acting Can Be Murder," at the Broadway Theatre on Monday. ìActing Can Be Murder,î will be held at the Broadway Theatre, 216 E. Broadway St., Mt. Pleasant, on March 6, 7, 13, 14 at 7 p.m. and March 8, 15 at 2 p.m. Kelly Rocheleau - The Morning Sun. 

By Kelly Rocheleau, krocheleau@michigannewspapers.com, @KellyRocheleau on Twitter

POSTED: 03/04/15, 4:04 PM EST |

0 COMMENTS

It sounds like a joke: The lead actress in a play about a stand-in actress replaced by a stand-in.

Yet that was the exact situation the Broadway Theatre in Mt. Pleasant dealt with when Donna Kriss, star of the murder mystery spoof “Acting Can Be Murder,” broke her leg 10 days before the shows opens Friday.

As a result, actress Kendall Farnum took over for Kriss in the role of Dolores Gordon, an understudy in the murder mystery play “Which Butler Did It?”.

Within the first three minutes of “Murder” – no spoiler warning needed- Dolores kills the lead actress of the play-with-in-a play and usurps her role. This kicks off a murder mystery on the set of a murder mystery.

Farnum, previously cast as the play-within-a-play’s director, said she feels OK about memorizing 300 lines worth of dialogue within a small window of time.

“The lines are just – some of it I had, because I was in a number of scenes already with Donna [playing] Dolores, so some of those exchanges were [between] us, so I had the general gist of some of it anyway,” Farnum said with the show’s script in her hand.

Farnum said she has prepared for her first-ever lead role by looking at the script when she wakes up in morning, another point each afternoon, and at night to prepare for her new part.

“I try every time I look at it [to] have another section that I know what’s where,” Farnum said.

The director of the actual play, Broadway staple Cindy Kilmer, describes the show.

“It’s a farce and a spoof of murder mysteries,” Kilmer said. “The curtain opens and somebody makes a confession, but the mystery is not who killed the person, the mystery is [about] what’s become of the person’s body and whatnot.

Kilmer said she asked Kriss’ permission before beseeching Farnum via text message to take on the part the production’s plot largely revolves around at the eleventh hour.

“I said [to Kriss] I needed her blessing. She said, ‘By all means, that would be great,’ so it’s been a Herculean effort for Kendall to learn 300 lines in 10 days,” Farnum said.

Despite the friendly faces and laughter emanating throughout the theatre during rehearsal, Kilmer said mounting a show with a massive last-second casting change added more challenge to the already daunting task of directing a comedy with a large cast.

“I would say the stress levels are higher than any shows I’ve ever done before. We’ve never had a person actually not be able to do the play they’ve been training for for weeks, so this is a first. So yeah, stress levels have been running kind of high,” Kilmer said

Kilmer glances at her surroundings as she speaks, as stage hands prepare lights and set pieces and cast members dressed as maids and ghosts scurry across the stage. As the old saying goes, the show must go on.

“It’s been going really well. Kendall’s a champ,” Kilmer said.

Kilmer’s nerves deflate for a moment. “She’s doing really [well,]” Kilmer says with a laugh of relief. “I’ve been just astounded by how she’s been able to step into that part.”

Others in the 17-member cast include Gail Caleca as Isabella, an actress who discovers her husband is having an affair, assistant director Lindsey Read-Smith as the play-within-a-play’s director – the part Farnum was originally cast for – and Mount Pleasant High School foreign exchange students Mo Wagner and Alfonso Boron Martin, from Germany and Spain, respectively, in their English acting debuts.

Wagner and Martin got involved with the show through Kriss, their host while they stay in the U.S.

“Here I need to play an American accent, and it’s hard for me. Nervous, you know?” Martin said.

Martin smiles as he turns to Kilmer.

“I imagine you said they needed a sexy guy, and Donna said, ‘I know who!’ Martin jokes as the nearby cast erupts into laughter.

Considering the play’s subject matter, the irony of how Farnum was cast is not lost on the cast, as Kilmer’s husband Bruce, a frequent flier in shows his wife directs, often appearing in some role or another, points to the new leading lady in a mock accusatory fashion.

“She broke the lead’s leg so she could get the part,” Bruce jokes to Farnum. “At least you didn’t murder her.”

Farnum shakes her head.

“I was nowhere near,” Farnum said. “My husband’s put on Facebook to my kids, ‘Okay, this is just a little suspicious….”

“Acting Can Be Murder,” will be held at the Broadway Theatre, 216 E. Broadway St., Mt. Pleasant, on March 6, 7, 13, 14 at 7 p.m. and March 8, 15 at 2 p.m. Tickets available at Ric’s and Aces of Diamonds for $8 or at www.friendsofthebroadway.com for 8.50.

Outstanding Volunteer

This is from a year or so ago, but I recently ran across it and am putting it so I have access to it. Pretty nice, I never found out who suggested me for the award.

From The Morning Sun

Outstanding Volunteerism Project: Profiles of altruism

·         By Holly Mahaffey/@hollymahaffey

·         Posted: Monday, 02/25/13 02:03 pm
Updated: Monday, 02/25/13 02:07 pm

 

·         By Holly Mahaffey/@hollymahaffey

·         The Morning Sun recently asked readers to nominate members of our community for a project recognizing the many altruistic people doing good things in the community. Nominations from Clare, Isabella and Gratiot counties came in, and out of these one volunteer was picked randomly to be featured – Sherry Pulverente of Mt. Pleasant, for her work with small business networking and keeping local dollars local.

·         Donna Kriss - Mt. Pleasant
Nomination: “Donna is the unofficial ambassador of Mt. Pleasant, via our airport, and puts many many long hours into making this town a better place. For all her work at the airport, her work with kids who need that extra help, feeding hungry people, and her pleasant chit-chat for all traveling into our city, she deserves to be recognized for her outstanding volunteerism.”

Grad School- Statement. "This is Me".

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

I attended CMU and graduated with a Bachelor of Science. My time at CMU was extended as I took on various life events. I finished my degree in 1991 having started it after high school in 1978. It was one of my most successful goals I completed.

I have worked using my degree for over 20 years in various State Agencies and privately. Each of my experiences would have benefitted from having a Masters in Counseling degree. The time for me, is now. My children are of an age they do not need my constant intervention, and I desire to continue and complete this goal. 

I was a “Resident Care Aide” for the State of Michigan at the Mt. Pleasant Center working with clients with various degrees of mental illnesses. I cared for clients in the least restrictive environment while helping them maintain a sense of dignity which was my goal (and the law). This involved doing IEP’s (Individual Educational Plans), personal care and activities of daily living, along with medical treatments. I  was thrilled to continue this position at the Michigan School for the Blind while it was located in Lansing Michigan. I worked in a school setting with Visually Impaired (and Multiply Impaired) Students in all grade levels. I have a son with Autism-(Asperger Syndrome) with whom we had to navigate the school system involved with his education. He is currently a Junior at a State University.  I have mentored many parents helping them with their child’s needs and getting school systems to assist them.

 I have been a State of Michigan Department of Corrections Parole/Probation Agent in the City of Saginaw and surrounding counties. Involved in this work was everything from counseling on jobs, relationship issues, employment options, drug addiction and civic duties. I enjoyed working within the Court system and seeing Offenders better their own situations. I currently work in Attorneys’ Offices, with cases ranging from Criminal to Civil, from child protective services (CPS), divorces, custody, bankruptcy, Heroin/Crack/Methadone users which then involve the entire family. It will be with these types of families I will continue to work with after my Master’s completion.

  I have worked as a Foster/Adoptive Recruiter/Trainer. My heart is here. I taught parenting classes for the Court system-everything from training adults in the Michigan based Adoptive courses to “Love and Logic” parenting classes both for the Courts, individuals and in School settings for parents and teachers.

 I taught for 7 years at Davenport University in the Criminal Justice Program. My involvement was instructing in Introductory Courses that Corrections Officer’s are required to take (Introduction to Corrections, Prison Life, Deviant Behavior, and also Personal Communications (Speech)).  

 I taught American Sign Language (although I am not licensed) through Gratiot-Isabella RESD ITV Program for 2 ½ years. I had perhaps one “live” class of students in front of me and 1-2 on TV monitors across the State. Schools included Dewitt, Central Montcalm, Breckenridge, Carson City, and Fulton. I also volunteered at St. Louis Michigan Alternative School.

I have been fortunate to have received many hours of training in Leadership Skills. Through the National Children’s Defense fund, I was an “Emerging Leader” of the Class of 2004. The Emerging Leaders project trained us to be social change activists.  We traveled to Washington DC several times and studied how to approach Lawmakers on the Hill and frame messages so they can be heard quickly.

I also completed Gratiot Counties “Leadership” program,  and Michigan’s Children “VOICES” academy- each training me how to be a more effective advocate for individuals, how to change Public Policy, and influence others toward good.

I am active in my community and currently serve as the President of the Airport Advisory Board for the City of Mt. Pleasant and as Secretary for International Relationship council of Mt. Pleasant. I am helping with the planned visit to our Sister city OKAYA Japan in August 2015.

My goals for completing my Master’s program are to continue Public Service. While not employed I always stayed busy volunteering in a Food Bank Program, Schools, Churches and supporting families. There is a huge need for compassionate trained personnel in this field. I see my future role continuing to do much the same my life path has already brought me. I want to be able to counsel women to make better life choices, to be able to give themselves better options and improve the lives of their children. I have worked counseling Felony Offenders to take parenting classes to regain custody of their children, and have worked with Foster families to gain skills needed for working with the children of Offenders. I have also had to guide both sides of families when a final placement of adoption was needed. My Master’s degree will assist me in doing this more effectively.

I love CMU. I love the Mt. Pleasant area. I want to attend classes and be involved in Campus activities and that is why I chose CMU over other learning programs. I look forward to beginning classes and starting this new chapter. 

 

Donna Husted Kriss
Foreign Student Host Family Recruiter
Mt. Pleasant Airport Advisory Board
International Relations Council Board
Love and Logic Facilitator
Gratiot County Leadership
Children's Defense Fund Emerging Leader
Michigan Children's VOICES
Mom