I'm not dead

I'm not dead..>Yet I live.
Every year I think "this has been the worst year of my life"...Well this last year has been the same. Not to bring my life back to the Blogosphere on a downer note..but this past year......
My spouse was committed to a hospital for a while for severe depression.

We moved from one town to my hometown.

I continue to care for my elderly beginning Altzheimer's mother who lives with us. My mom was hospitalized about 12 times.

My spouse had both hips replaced (one at a time with the weeks of rehab and hospitilazations that required). He was in intensive care for 2 or 3 days and was mostly dead. I was too exhausted to care much.

We lost a house to foreclosure.

I oversaw the remodeling of the house we moved in to from a distance. There was a bathroom completely tore off...remodeled to be Handicapped accessible, and LOTS of trouble with the City inspectors.

I had emergency Appendectomy 2 weeks after losing health insurance.

I've interviewed for several State postions with no job in site. I keep trying. (and..I still have hope)

I'm going to start writing again..for me. Real. Stuff. The dirty and down. I'm out of time.

Ray Stevens

I've Loved Ray Stevens since the Squirrel got loose in Church.

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Charles Edward Barth Jr. - The Morning Sun Obituaries: Serving Clare, Gratiot and Isabella counties

Charles Edward Barth Jr. - The Morning Sun Obituaries: Serving Clare, Gratiot and Isabella counties

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The Morning Sun (themorningsun.com), Serving Northern Michigan


Obituaries

Charles Edward Barth Jr.
Sunday, March 14, 2010 5:44 AM EDT


Jan. 30, 1939-March 12, 2010

Charles Edward “Ed” Barth Jr. passed away on Friday, March 12, 2010, at Central Michigan Community Hospital.

Ed was born on Jan. 30, 1939, in Marysville, Calif., the son of Charles and Jean Swope Barth Sr. and was raised in Gridley, Calif.

After graduating from Gridley High School, Ed joined the U.S. Navy and was on the maiden voyage of the USS Ranger where he got to see the world. In his late twenties, Ed traveled north, turned right and ended up in Michigan where he spent the next 40 years.

Ed received his BA, MA, and Psych Specialist from Central Michigan University. He worked as a school psychologist for the Gratiot Isabella RESD and as a staff psychologist for the Regional Center.

Ed had a strong musical background and could play several instruments. He enjoyed sailing, books, theater, and his favorite pastime of bringing people together and sharing information.

Ed is survived by his mother, Jeanne Greenley of Mt. Pleasant; a daughter, Dr. Keely Callahan of Tampa, Florida; and his beloved, Jane Wittkopp of Mt. Pleasant.

A celebration of Ed’s life will be held at the Helms Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant on Saturday, March 20, at 1 p.m.

The family will greet friends on Friday, March 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Helms Funeral Home.
Colleen Milligan wrote on Mar 14, 2010 10:23 AM:

" Ed was one of the most generous people I know always giving of himself, his talents and lots of information especially about Tai Chi. He has been a support to many in the community over the years and will be missed by all of us. "


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William Kriss wrote on Mar 14, 2010 2:22 PM:

" Ed was a great friend. He encouraged and supported so many people over the years. He was always a force for the good, not only at places where he worked, but in his community of Mt. Pleasant. I hadn’t seen Ed for awhile (since moving to North Carolina), but I thought of him and Jane and Ed’s mother whenever I thought of the Thursday night small plates crowd at the Brass, where I would run into them quite often. Ed, you were a good man and you will be missed. "
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Dan Bridenstein Memorial Foundation or to the charity of one’s choice. Envelopes are available at the Helms Funeral Home.
Please see www.helmsfuneralhome.com for an online obituary and to leave a message for the family. ‘Serving the Family for Generations’

URL: http://www.themorningsun.com/articles/2010/03/14/obituaries/doc4b9c677d2a1c1496366988.prt

© 2010 themorningsun.com, a Journal Register Property

I'm alive, sortof

Ok...thanks Kathy for worrying. I finally got off my rear and found my sign in and passwword.

Things...meaning life has been as crapppy or worse than it has ever been for me. For those who know me at all..that's saying alot. I may expand on it later, but I don't want to make anyone feel weird or sad. It IS what it IS.

I'll be back more often.

Hub is very sick. Had another outburst/breakdown/fit/something today. I had to give him a shot ..the first and I hope the last time. I'm disjointed, and want to delete this, but want to post something to back into the groove.

This has been my life of late

A trainwreck.....

Caching makes me laugh!!

I thought ..and I was wrong
Everything I thought I knew..I don't.

I'm just going to post some pictures. My friend introduced us to Geocaching....and I love it. I don't have my own "Garmin" yet. Geocaching is when someone hides a stash somewhere, and I (with Garmy) search for it based on Co-ordinates. There are stashes..of all sorts, plastic boxes, ammo boxes....micro key locks. In every stash is a notebook and pencil and when you find it...you sign the log. There are little freebies too from Pencils, keychains, magnets, to of course the Proselytizers Bible portions. Joy Finding the Cache in Binder Park zoo on a trail. Great eye!!
Joy and I decided to take a break from Caching and swing at a park in Ithaca. This one was hidden in a peanut butter jar.
THIS Cache was difficult!! It's by the YMCA near us in Kalamazoo, and it was getting DARK and heavy cover of trees !! Our Friend Mark found it. It was pitch dark!!

This is Mark: our Garmin hero:
While finishing up a move...Don, Mark and I stopped at a Rest Area that had FOUR caches!!

OH MY GAQWD!!

I could actually SIGN IN!! WHOO HOOO!!!...Ok...I'll start blogging again. I don't know WHY I haven't been able to sign in for months. I don't WHY it allowed me to sign in now.
SO..
I've moved
I've moved IN my mom...after a stroke, after her heart rate was 41, after my husband moved out for a job...
The family MOVED to a new city
My kids...are doing ok...are better than me....
and..
I'm doing what I REALLY love....Making NEW Families through foster and adoption.

I'm BACK!

WE NEED MONEY! I have money on the brain.

I FINALLY figured out how to get back to my blog: this after so many incidents I don't know that I will have time to catch up. BUT..Wanted to share THIS important email I got this morning....from Professor Tan Wong. Maybe finally THIS is God's way of reaching me....


Proposal
Saturday, June 13, 2009 10:10 AM
From:
"MR TAN WONG"
Add sender to Contacts
To:
undisclosed-recipients
I am Mr.Tan Wong director of operations,Hang Seng Bank,I have very
confidential business transfer of (Twenty Four millions Five Hundred
Thousand United State Dollar.) I will give you more details as regards of
your interest.

Supreme Court Granholm?

SERIOUSLY? Yes, Let's let Michigan Gov. Granholm run the rest of the Country into bankruptcy as she has Michigan.

This state is NOT great (Except for the 3 deer I am watching in my backyard). I am just sick about this. Love the fact that the State Website is soooo up to date that it's latest Statements are from March.
In Granholms latest cuts: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/EO2009-22_277339_7.pdf
Reducing Human Services by 97 MILLION? What so each Foster Child is seen once every SIX months? So that DHS workers have Caseloads of a THOUSAND?
Reducing Mental Health Substance abuse by 92 thousand, and then Community Substance Abuse programs by a Million...Reducing Protection and Advocacy groups by 97,000, Community Mental Health by 10 Million? While forcing counties to take more extreme Mental Health clients, closing institutions and shipping them "home"...I am scared for the future.
Right now, Day Cares are rarely visited..Licensing is MONTHS behind, and cuts are over 3 million. Training is essential, personnel are abysmal AWCKK!!

I have to stop.

AND SERIOUSLY...can Granholm PLEASE use some of her health care to remove that Nasty mole from her face!!!

My Mom

My Mom had a stroke yesterday. Gerry the guy I hire to check in on her found her lying in a pool of pee a nd poop on her living room floor.
She went to Mt Pleasant Hospital, then I had her transferred to the other hospital where the Old people docotor I just got for her is. She cant feed herself, her right leg drags behind, and it just really sucks.
This..on top of
My job
My interviews
where I going to live
Where I move to
Where kids are going to school
Money
Groceries
Car breaking down
Toxic dump in front yard from Consumers
Computer getting fried from surge from ballast
Fighting with consumers
Fighting with Hysterectomy or not
Kids
Husband living 3 hours away
no church
little support
friend has cancer
and
I'm on my peiriod

You have come out with the Crystalline answer for your soul. Crystalline beings are very reflective. They take a very long time to grow and change but when they do, you can't change them back... it is 'set in stone' so to speak. A crystalline person has an easier time giving than taking. When they do receive something, a debt is naturally implied in their minds whether or not it is expected. This is because of a deep sensitivity to people and objects. Crystalline folks are extremely absorbent of all kinds of energy. They would be wise to trust their instinct when it comes to people and objects in their lives. If it isn't for you, you know.. neutralize, energize, and release. That is the natural flow for crystalline souls.. you must learn about your natural abilities and use them for healing in your life.

Morey Public School Academy

This is my kids school. It is also where I am on the School Board. Tremendous financial decision for EVERY school are having to be made. Michigan economy sucks, the Governor Great "GREEN" Jennifer is cutting the dollars each school will get per pupil, and its tough. Trying to make a budget work in a Charter school, which is FREE Public school, is more challenging because we can't "raise" money through tax bonds etc.
Our school has been a GREAT transition for our kids, coming from Homeschooling for 4 years. This is our last year there. Morey is unusual in that it has a High School. Many Charter schools do not. I hope we can KEEP the high school, as financially High Schools COST money.
This was on the FRONT page of our local morning rag, "The Morning Scum" as we locals call it:


The Morning Sun (themorningsun.com), Serving Northern Michigan

News
Getting their hands dirty: Morey students learn about Earth Day

Thursday, April 23, 2009

By PATRICIA ECKER
Sun Staff Writer

Heidi Fletcher of Morey Public School didn’t mind getting down on her knees to dig into the cold, moist soil work with three kindergartners by her side while working towards “beautifying their school.”

Fletcher, 17, and her fellow classmates were paired with members of the kindergarten class who wore winter coats, hats and gloves on the rather cold spring morning.

Two groups of students, 11 in the 11th grade and 15 kindergartners, collaborated on the Earth Day project to plant perennial and annual plants in front of their school.

“(Our economics class) wanted to do (their project) on Earth Day,” Fletcher said. “It’s cold out here today, but the (kindergartners) are great to work with.

“They listen.”

Fletcher said that she picked her helpers because they stood listening with “their hands behind their backs”, and she felt they would work best with her.

The class project was a learning process, and she said that it was difficult coming up with fundraising ideas, and then the taking steps to implement their strategy for the project in hopes of raising funds.

“You have to sacrifice your time,” Fletcher said. “We had a bake sale (last week).

“We had to learn the best prices. When we started, we thought we would make about $50, but we made over $200.”

Students made the baked goods, and sold their products in the school where they were mindful to make the items affordable for their peers, Kevin Fletcher, student teacher and organizer of the “public good” project, said.

“The students chose Earth Day, and they did the planning for the bake sale,” Kevin Fletcher said. “Their science teacher (Joe Trommeter) tested the soil and worked the soil with a roto tiller.”

Tammy Morrison, kindergarten teacher, said that this gave her class an opportunity to learn about Earth Day.

“We started an experiment on how plants grow, and what they need to grow,” Morrison said. “We used the scientific method in relationship to plants.

“That they need sunlight, water, air, and space to grow. We also talked about dirty water and clean water,” Morrison said.

Jennifer Traynor, paraprofessional, said that the kindergartners “brains are like sponges. They just soak everything right up.”

Marilee Kujat, social studies department head and acting assistant principal, said smiling that she thought the event was “organized chaos.”

“I am really proud of them,” Kujat said. “Most of the kindergartners will be able to watch the stuff grow.

“They will be able to tell others that they helped, and that gives them a sense of community. This is an area that we hope to make into a little park,” she said.

URL: http://www.themorningsun.com/articles/2009/04/23/news/doc49ef7370bc64f186498344.prt

© 2009 themorningsun.com, a Journal Register Property

You might be a mom if...

You get spikey hair, dye your hair blue or green put on goth crap and go to rock concerts. This was last Saturday at a local bar that was having a battle of the bands with 8 different bands as an "All ages" venue. I had a van load of high schoolers.

It's HEADHUNTER time

I've never used a Headhunting search before trying to gain employment..but this one...fell into my lap. I have hope. I am looking for full time employment in Kalamazoo Michigan so my family can be together again. My spouse moved 2 weeks ago, and it is REALLY upsetting 2 of my kids. The other, My semi-goth Asperger boy--not so much.
I love the misson/value statement of this agency. Let's hope it works!!

About Van Popering, McLogan Executive Search, Inc.

Our Mission, Values and Ethics:

Our mission is to further KRISSCOP'S success by identifying HER uncommon ability – the very talented individual to whom our clients might not otherwise have access.

Throughout all phases of the search process, we will use the utmost discretion to guarantee the confidentiality sought by KRISSCOP and potential candidates alike.

We are committed to providing staffing solutions with the highest level of quality and cost efficiency. Our goal is to match the needs of KRISSCOP with the goals of our employees to insure a long-term, productive relationship. (ESPECIALLY $$ PART)

Our goal is to consistently exceed KRISSCOP’s expectations with ‘impeccable’ professionalism in seeking out and finding high caliber EMPLOYMENT.

Our Code of Conduct:

We strive to develop our relationships around four key operating principles:

1. Integrity: We are committed to openness, ethics, honesty, and candor with our clients and candidates at all times.

2. Client focus: Their complete satisfaction is the key measure of our success. Our clients always come first.

3. Innovation: Anticipating and acting on our clients’ need helps us to think creatively and challenge the “status quo.”

4. Teamwork: Cooperation and shared goals among clients and ourselves optimizes performance.

Um...Yah...some items were changed to aid in my positive imagery! "I CHOOSE HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS"...

From one of the motivation emails I get:

Triumphing over negative thoughts:
Negative thought processes ARE negative affirmations.
They use the VERY same processes that Positive Affirmations use, except they enforce feelings and images that deter us from being at Peace.

Breaking the cycle takes time.

Be Patient and Gentle with yourself. Set long term goals. And be persistent! Remember to Stretch, Laugh and be Unshakable!

Whenever you have a thought that disturbs your peace of mind, or makes you feel down, shout “Cancel! Cancel! Cancel!”. Immediately replace your disturbing thought with your Positive Affirmation. Visualize Bright Images and Feel the Glow Sparkling Light Energy flowing into and through your body.

There IS a difference between “grieving” and negativity. When you lose someone you love, there is a natural grieving process that must be gone through. Do not deny yourself your expression of grief.

If you find that your grief is too deep to endure, make sure you speak to a Rabbi, Priest, Counselor or Friends.

There comes a time, however, that you need to move on if your grief turns into negativity. If we examine negativity, we see that it utilizes the VERY same process as Positive Affirmations, except in the reverse!

Only when you have the Resolve and Determination to lead a Happier and more Positive life, will you be Naturally inclined to use the 3-fold Healing Process of Positive Affirmations. You cannot “force” yourself to be Happy. However, you CAN choose to foster Happiness. And when you make this Choice, you can Reinforce and Invigorate the process with Healing and Positive Affirmations. Remember~ Affirm the Good, Visualize Luminous Images and Feel Sparkling Rays of Strength and Courage fill your Being! You can do it!

Parole probation Stories

So I have been thinking alot about other jobs I've had, and how similar they are to teaching High Schoolers Sign Language.

NOT.

I remember a parent in Saginaw, SOOO upset that their daughter had stolen a check and written it out for something she needed (or wanted) for school.
First of all, I wasn't convinced the girl hadn't been given permission to do so, if not THAT time then in the past, and the mom was U-N-S-T-A-B-L-E. As I recall the mom was agrophobic and never left the residence. She had every delivery available on speed dial--groceries, prescriptions, food etc.

In Saginaw..there is a Food Delivery taxi that will pick up from several places and deliver it to one residence. If one wants Chinese and another Pizza...-No prob- the Food Taxi does it all.
But I am getting off track. Yes..I was really GOING to say..But I DIGRESS and stopped myself. Who ever uses DIGRESS except in writing? BLeh
SOO
The mom calls the cops. The kid is in tears. Mom "wants to teach her a lesson"...Cop...TRIES to talk the mom out of it..saying getting kid involved in the criminal justice system is NOT going to help, tries to give alternatives....but NO WAY..Mom Insists.
So..Young girl...ripped from the home goes to Juvy for the night until she is arraigned. Well...Juvenile detention is NOT a good place..even for one night, and horrible things happened.
The story goes on and on..bottom line, the mom just kept getting madder and madder because SHE had to pay for her daughter's attorney, probation costs, supervision costs etc.
BE A GOOD PARENT...IT'S CHEAPER!!!

Quiz? Who Am I?

I know I am brilliant, but I DO believe in the "Supernatural"...



Donna completed the quiz "Which House M.D, character are you?" with the result You are House.
Dangerously observant, highly self-confident with incredibly smart wits to match. You do what you want, when you because you felt like it - and occasionally save a life. Although you have no beliefs in the "supernatural" you're hyper passionate about the human race, and have a higher sense of morals than your counter parts would care to believe. It may all sound good, but because you live life on the edge, you're often found partying alone..

Power of a Positive No

How to Say No and Still Get to Yes
GREAT BOOK...
Article below on Harvard Site:

by William Ury
This challenge is vividly captured in an old Japanese story about a samurai and a fisherman. One day, the samurai went to collect a debt from the fisherman. “I’m sorry,” the fisherman said, “but this last year has been a very bad one for me, and I regret to say I do not have the money to repay you.” Quick to anger, the samurai drew his sword and prepared to kill the fisherman on the spot. Thinking fast, the fisherman boldly said, “I have been studying martial arts and my master teaches that you should never strike out of anger.”

The samurai looked at him for a minute, then slowly lowered his sword. “Your master is wise,” he said quietly. “My master used to teach the same lesson. Sometimes my anger gets the better of me. I will give you one more year to repay your debt, but if you fail by even a penny, I will surely kill you.”

The samurai returned to his house, arriving late at night. He crept in quietly, not wishing to wake his wife, but to his shock, he found two people in the bed, his wife and a stranger dressed in samurai clothing. With a surge of jealousy and anger, he raised his sword to slay them both, but suddenly the fisherman’s words came back to him: “Do not strike out of anger.” The samurai stopped for a moment, took a deep breath, and then deliberately made a loud noise. His wife instantly woke up, as did the “stranger,” who turned out to be his mother.

“What is the meaning of this?” he yelled. “I almost killed you both!”

“We were afraid of robbers,” his wife explained. “So I dressed your mother up in your samurai clothes to scare them off.”

A year passed and the fisherman came to see the samurai. “I had an excellent year, so here is your money back and with interest,” the fisherman said happily to him.

“Keep your money,” replied the samurai. “You repaid your debt long ago.”

When you want to say No, remember the samurai’s lesson: do not react out of anger — or indeed out of any negative emotion such as fear or guilt. Take a deep breath and focus on your purpose — your Yes — in this situation. Ask yourself what you really want and what is really important here. In other words, shift from being reactive focused on No, to being proactive focused on Yes.




No is perhaps the most important and certainly the most powerful word in the language. Every day we find ourselves in situations where we need to say No — to people at work, at home, and in our communities — because No is the word we must use to protect ourselves and to stand up for everything and everyone that matters to us.
But as we all know, the wrong No can also destroy what we most value by alienating and angering people. That's why saying No the right way is crucial. The secret to saying No without destroying relationships lies in the art of the Positive No, a proven technique that anyone can learn.

This indispensable book gives you a simple three-step method for saying a Positive No. It will show you how to assert and defend your key interests; how to make your No firm and strong; how to resist the other side's aggression and manipulation; and how to do all this while still getting to Yes. In the end, the Positive No will help you get not just to any Yes but to the right Yes, the one that truly serves your interests.

The Power of a Positive No offers concrete advice and practical examples for saying No in virtually any situation. Whether you need to say No to your customer or your coworker, your employee or your CEO, your child or your spouse, you will find in this book the secret to saying No clearly, respectfully, and effectively.

A world-renowned negotiator, mediator and bestselling author, William Ury is a co-founder of the Program on Negotiation and the director of the Global Negotiation Project.

Purchase the book now at the PON Clearinghouse.

Gordon Zubelek

A friend from high school...

gordonzoob's Gallery at Zazzle

St. Pat's Day 2009 Collage