DEAR SANTA

Dear Santa,

It is Christmas Eve Eve. I am having an amazing holiday thanks to my family and friends.

There is one more thing you could do for me. I know this is crunch time for you Santa, but if you have the time, I would really appreciate it. I bet you don't get too many letters from 62-year-old women.  This could be a first. You might want to frame my letter.  Just a suggestion.

I have lived in a group home for a little over a year. it is nothing like I was told it would be. The young staff does not care about the clients. they've been hired to care for. They care about their phones. They care about sleeping...I have had to wake them up. You can't assist anyone when you are lying on your side, facing the back of the couch with earphones in your ears.

Some staff members are consistently late for work. Some staff are only 21 years old. They've received almost no training.in how to care for a person with a disability. before starting at this house. They are certified medical technicians If they have to do too much work they quit. I prefer older staff members who have life experience.

I was sitting in the dark. I asked a young staff member to turn the light on for me. She told me to turn it on myself.  I was reprimanded for talking to a staff member from another house about the lack of a van at this house. I was just making conversation. The staff member reported me to the support coordinator. 

Christmas Day only one staff member is working. This house does not have a van at the present time,  Even if a van was made available there would be no staff member to stay with my housemates so no Christmas at the nursing home for me. The van is always out of commission. No one wants to work on Christma. I am tired. I have stopped caring. It is what it is.

When you visit the nursing home tomorrow night please put in a good word for me. I'd give anything to be in a long-term care facility again.

You may be wondering why I chose you to write to. You are the spirit of love, kindness, and miracles. I could not think of anyone better than you.
,
Merry Christmas. Safe travels.

TIS THE SEASON

Below is my holiday message. It was published in NHC Town and Country's December Newsletter. I tried to write a different message for all of you, but my thoughts kept coming back to the message I'd written for NHC. I hope NHC does not mind if I share that message with all of you. Actually, The Grinch said it better than I ever could. Who knew he was so wise?  Happy Holidays.

December means presents, decking the halls, parties, food, family, and friends.  People believe anything is possible. All of us become children again as we look up at the sky on December 24th. December is a fun and festive month.

While you are enjoying the holidays do not forget the residents of long-term care facilities. They may be feeling lonely and forgotten. Visitors are always important. Visitors help residents stay connected to the world outside of the facility.

During the holidays' visitors are even more important. Take the time to visit someone in a facility. Listen to their stories. Look at old photos together. Stay with then a little longer than you usually do. Bring a favorite holiday treat. Take them home for the day if you can. Sure, it may take extra time, but think of the memories you will be making.

It’s the season of giving. Give a resident the gift that will mean so much to them. The gift of your time.

"It came without ribbons, it came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags. Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more." The Grinch 

THANKSGIVING

It's not about the bird.
It's not about the pie.
It's about what we're thankful for.
You and I.

I have a great family.
I have great friends.
But, I'll admit, I don't always feel blessed.

I see the challenges that my housemates face.
They handle them with dignity and grace.
Better than I ever could.

I always think about what I don't have.
Yeah, it's hard here. That's no lie.
The young staff does not really get it.
The older staff understands.


I am blessed.
I have a big mouth. I use it.
It is more difficult for my housemates.
I speak up for them too

The facility? Their Thanksgiving rocked, and I am grateful they invited me.
I am writing for their newsletter.
I am a volunteer!

My family called.
They shipped my mom's carrot casserole to me. The tradition goes on.
That meant so much.
It was a good Thanksgiving.

Thank you, Lachanddria for the delicious dinner.
I  am stuffed.
I am blessed.

I hope you had a joyful thanksgiving


.

MEET A PT BY DAY WHO'S AN AUTHOR AT NIGHT

Jalpa Williby has been a physical therapist for 26 years. The majority of her patients have cerebral palsy. She is also the award-winning author of nine best-selling novels. Are you wondering what her two careers have in common?  Read on to find out. When you have finished reading about this fascinating woman download one of her books. You won't be disappointed.

What prompted you to choose your career as a physical therapist?

I always knew I wanted to be in the medical field. I like to be able to make a difference in people’s lives. When I found out about physical therapy, I wasn’t quite sure what it was. I decided to volunteer in physical therapy to find out more about it. And instantly, I was drawn to it. I loved the one on one interactions with the patients. I saw the vital role physical therapists played in patients’ lives. I’ve been practicing for 26 years now and have loved every moment of it.

When did you begin working with individuals who have CP?   

I’ve always worked with individuals with CP, but for the last eighteen years, the focus of my practice has been with neuro patients. The majority of my patients have cerebral palsy.

What are the challenges/rewards of being a PT? 

The rewards will always outweigh any challenges. I feel that my patients actually end up being my teachers. I’ve learned so much from them...about courage, positivity, perseverance, motivation. They inspire me to bring the best version of myself every single day. A major challenge I’ve noticed as I’ve gotten older is that my body can feel the aches and pains. Practicing as a physical therapist for twenty-six years has definitely taken a toll on my body. But, I’m going to keep going. That’s what my patients have taught me. Never give up. 

Are there any similarities between being a PT and a writer? Have any of your patients inspired any of your characters? 

Creativity is a huge part of being a physical therapist and writer. Additionally, I think as a physical therapist and as a writer, I know people count on me to do my best. My patients need me to give 100% when I work with them. Likewise, my readers want me to put my best work out there. I expect nothing less from me, both as a physical therapist and as a writer. My patients definitely have inspired me to write My Perfect Imperfections. As a matter of fact, I wrote the story for them. Lily, the character from My Perfect Imperfections, is actually inspired by a beautiful, young woman I met, named Charisse. She also has cerebral palsy, and as I got to know Charisse more, Lily was created. 

Were you nervous about writing a book about a young woman with CP?  Many people do not believe that people who are severely disabled can find happiness and love. My Perfect Imperfections debunks that myth. How much research was involved in writing the book?  If your book was made into a movie who are your top choices to play Chance and Lily? 

Yes, I was nervous, to be honest. I was more nervous because I wanted to get it right. I didn’t want to insult anybody with cerebral palsy. It is a story about a strong, young woman, who has a bit more obstacles than average, to overcome. But, I wanted the audience to fall in love with Lily. I wanted them to see her as a beautiful, young woman, and not as someone with a disability in a wheelchair. This was very important to me. Lily has goals, desires, loves, hurts, falls apart, gets back up, and through it all, she keeps her head up. I wanted her to inspire the readers, and also, see the world of disability differently than what society portrays at times. 

To prepare for this story, I interviewed many individuals with cerebral palsy. Outside of my own patients, I also reached out to individuals out in the community. The age varied, and some were married, some were working, some lived completely independently, and some lived in a facility. I just wanted to really reach out to get the full picture. That’s the beauty of social media. I found many new friends from writing this heartfelt story. 

Man, that would be a dream come true if this was made into a  movie. Here’s a fan-made trailer actually for My Perfect Imperfections (Douglas Booth and Hailee Steinfeld). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S_GKfyL4qg

Tell us about your other novels The Chaysing Dreams Trilogy and The Girl Behind the Veil. Series. These novels are a complete departure from My Perfect Imperfections.  Where did the idea for these books originate? Chaysing Trilogy is my first “baby” as I like to call my books. I got the idea to write this story because I always wondered what dreams really mean. Also, I’ve treated many patients where there’s some anomaly in genes. I always wondered why can’t it go the other way? What if the genes are perfectly aligned or even enhanced? So, this story was created. Chaysing Trilogy is romantic suspense. It has lots of twists and turns, guaranteed to make you cry and laugh.

My most recent books, The Invisible Veil Series, actually focus on human trafficking. I try to write stories that raise awareness of what’s going on around the world. Again, I do this through my characters. It’s also a romantic suspense, a thriller, and truly a story that will stay with you for a long time. I bring up PTSD of an American soldier as well as other issues we may face such as depression, anxiety, and loneliness. I only hope my characters bring hope to my readers when things may seem hopeless.

What is the writing process like for you?  Do you outline first or just start writing?

Actually, I have to outline first, just to keep my thoughts organized. This is not rigid at all. But, it keeps me focused on what I want to include in my story. For example, for My Perfect Imperfections, I made a list of what I wanted to include. I definitely wanted to bring up the stereotypes of people in wheelchairs, the bullying, communication devices, what happens if the wheelchair breaks down, physical or sexual assaults, fitting in socially, and dating/falling in love. These were tough topics to write about, but so vital to the story. Almost always, though, the story changes as I start writing. The characters kind of take over and they dictate how they want their story to go. Lily and Chance were supposed to be best friends only. Originally, I had no plans on them falling in love. But, as I continued to write, as crazy as it may sound, they kind of wrote their own story. 

You and your books have won numerous awards. What’s the most exciting thing that has happened to you since you began writing?  

I never expected to win awards, to be honest. The books also have been best sellers. It’s all been surreal for me. I additionally began writing because it was a challenge to myself. I had no idea how awesome this ride was going to be. The most exciting thing though? I’d definitely say the readers. I love it when I receive a heartfelt review of a story. I love it when I get personal messages that say how much the story helped them see things from a different perspective. If I can help even one person through my stories, then really, what can be more gratifying than that?

Can you give us a hint about your next writing project? 

To be honest, I’m focusing on my family and myself right now. I still work full time as a physical therapist, so writing is typically done late nights and on weekends. I have nine books out right now, but I worked non-stop to get them out. Right now, I think it’s important I spend time with my son and just enjoy him (he’s my last baby). This doesn’t mean my mind is still not going a hundred miles per hour. I’ve been taking notes on a possible story. It would be a young adult dystopian genre. I really want to write it because I bring up a lot of the political mess that’s going on currently in the world. Most will say to stay away from politics, but you know what? I’ve never been the cowering type. I’m very emotionally driven, so I tend to follow my heart first. Perhaps it’s not a good trait, but it is what it is. Hopefully, I’ll get to finish that story one of these days. I do think it’s going to be very intense…

Is there anything else you’d like my readers to know?

First of all, thanks for having me. I’m truly honored to be your guest. I’d like to encourage your readers to try one of my books. They all are different, but each definitely will stay with you for a long time. The books are all available on Amazon. If anybody wants to stalk me, you can find me at the following sites:

Website: https://jalpawilliby.com

FB page: https://www.facebook.com/JalpaWillibyAuthor

FB Reader Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/JalpaWilliby/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jalpaw/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JalpaWilliby

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjalpawilliby/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jalpa-Williby/e/B00EN2ZDCQ Newsletter: http://jalpawilliby.us15.list-manage2.com/subscribe?u=cbb642a06b048ad855d8c8727&id=d6ea8477b0

MY BUCKET LIST 2019

Dinner with my entire family. The best time I have ever had with my family was at my nephew's wedding. I want to feel that way again. Laughter and fun with all of us. An awesome memory to take with me on my journey.

Travel to Mexico to visit The Blue House. The Frida Kahlo Museum.
Meet an actor from a telenovela.
Have a Margarita on a beach in Mexico. It'd really be cool if my bestie was with me.

Write my memoir. Publish it.

Visit the cemetery where my parents and grandparents were laid to rest.

I love dolphins. They are beautiful intelligent, sensitive creatures. They have human-like emotions. They have brought joy to children with disabilities. I know this photo is not on my list. It made me smile. I am sure It is on someone's list.

I have told you what's on my bucket list. What's on yours? Leave a comment for me.

.

ALL IS CALM

There is a new support coordinator at this house. Lachandria.
All is calm.


Yelling has been replaced by soft-spoken voices.
All is calm.

Gossip and drama are a thing of the past.
All is calm.

There are no lectures or reprimands. Only adult conversations. Everyone listens to one another. We are free to express our opinions.
All is calm.

Ultimatums have been replaced by choices. 
All is calm.

There are no favorites anymore. The ladies who live here are treated equally.
All is calm.

There is a new level of respect.
All is calm.

I am no longer afraid at night. I know my needs will be met.
All is calm.

I am not nervous or upset all the time. 
All is calm.

I  no longer live with the fear of being reported to the SC.
All is calm.

I was ready to leave. I couldn't take it anymore.
All is calm.

I may not stay here forever. But for now, I am cool. 
All is calm.

A CLEAN SLATE

I began reading through my blog posts. There were over 300  of them. There was a common theme in many of them/ I was angry. I was negative. I hated being at NHC. I worked hard. I was determined. I got out. My dream had come true. A group home. My hard work had paid off. My prayers answered.

Except...I am not happy here either. Many of the complaints I had about living in a facility have followed me here. Again, the negative blog posts began. This time I was trashing CCL.

I spent my Saturday clicking delete. Purging this blog of negativity. I am ashamed. How could I have written all of those negative posts about NHC?  Was I  really full of that much anger and hate while I lived there? When I visit for Happy Hour every Friday I realize how much the staff cares about me. People there love me warts and all.

NHC Town and Country is like my second family. I celebrate holidays there. I want the door to always be open to me in case I ever need to return. My blog angered many of the staff at NHC. Purging this blog of negativity is a small step toward making amends. I regret the negative posts I wrote while was a  resident. I know deleting them now is too little too late, The staff read them. The damage was done. No matter how much I would like to I can't take back my words. All I can do is apologize, move forward with a positive and grateful heart.

Jaywood is not a bad place to live. In fact, it's a really nice house. It's just different. Jaywood, like NHC, is in a state of transition. I hope for both places the transition is smooth. I want to thank the director of CCL for taking my concerns seriously. I apologize for the negative posts I have written about CCL.

The staff at both CCL and NHC are people who are doing the best they can. They are overworked, underpaid and, sometimes, under-appreciated. Thy did not deserve me lashing out in negative blog posts.

This blog is moving forward with a clean slate. I am moving forward with a grateful heart.

FRAGILE

Life.
We take it for granted.
We think it is owed to us.
Fragile.

Emotions.
Laughter.
Tears.
Anger.
Fear.
Fragile.

Love.
Joyous.
ultimate happiness.
Fragile

Hate.
Overpowering.
Erases all the goodness.
Hate will eat us alive if we let it
Hate is not. fragile.

Time.
We cannot hold onto it.
We always think we have more than we really do.
It runs like water through our fingers.

Death.
Not an ending. A beginning.
Release.
Another chapter.
Another. journey.
Death is not fragile

Cherish. Live. Take nothing for granted.
Don't leave words unspoken.
In the blink of an eye.
We are dust being carried away by the wind.
To faraway places.
That we only dreamed about.
Nothing is permanent.
Everything is fragile.

 

MI AMIGA LYDIA

Dedicated. Kind. Caring. Helpful.
There are not enough adjectives to describe.
This kickass activities director.
Mi amiga Lydia.

She loves all of her residents.
There's nothing she won't do.
Mi amiga Lydia.

Her personality is bubbly.
She loves to dance and sing.
Karaoke is her thing.
Talk Dirty To Me is her fave song to sing.
Mi amiga Lydia.

She stays past quitting time.
To make sure tasks are done.
That's why she's #1.
Mi amiga Lydia.

She's from California.
Eureka!
She's golden.
She's happy she moved to The Lou.
But she does miss the ocean.
Mi amiga Lydia.

She serves up ice cream, and milkshakes,
What more could you ask?
Did you know she made peach salsa in her cooking class?
Mi amiga Lydia.

Hawaii, Paris and A Royal Wedding High Tea,
Trivia, Fun facts and even cuisine.
She takes her residents to places they may never have seen
Mi Amiga Lydia.

A Mexican Sea Breeze, a Margarita or an Apple Pie.
She makes the best cocktails.
Give them a try.
Mi amiga Lydia.

Frida Kahlo. Fiestas. Mariachis. Orchata.
She  brings a bit of Mexico with her
It's fun. and educational too.
Who Knew?

One of a kind.
A friend til the end.
I am blessed to call her...
Mi amiga Lydia.
.

THE TABLE

Three ladies and me.
Have dinner together.
Once a week.
They include me even though I am no longer a resident.
I am one of them.
The table.

They waited to order Chinese take-out.
Until I could join them.
Proof that I belonged.
The table.

We talk about our week.
The food.
How.many trays were dropped.
You name it. We discuss it.
The table.

All of us are in wheelchairs.
We understand.
We know what is like to depend on others for our care.
We appreciate, but we are frustrated too.
We say what we feel.
Without fear of being judged.
The table.

We laugh. We listen. We support
We talked about moving to the same facility.
The Golden Girls on Wheels. I can see us now.
I  doubt it will happen.
Fun to think about.
The table.

It took leaving NHC for me to make some friends there.
I was too focused on getting out/
I was not open to friendships. I was stupid//narrow-minded.

But now...

Never know what the conversation will be.
The Table.

DOGS MAKE EVERYTHING BETTER

My Lucie

Tammy, Skippy, Inky, Carmel, Cinnamon, Frosty, and Lucie. My dad did not like dogs, but he let us have them.
Dogs make everything better.

I miss having a dog.
Especially Lucie. She helped me through Mom's illness and death.
Dogs make everything better.

I wasn't there for Lucie at the end.
I hope she understood.
Dogs make everything better.

I looked forward to pet therapy each week at the facility because of Harvey.
Recently, when I visited, I saw a Maltese. Happy tears.
Dogs make everything better.

My friend Ellie's dogs Luci and Beau visited me.
Dogs make everything better.

 I did not think I'd see a  dog in this house.

I was wrong. A staff member brought her dog, Buster, for the day.
Dogs make everything better.

Buster. Light brown pointed ears, dark eyes.
Remnants of pink dye. I'm guessing his punk rocker phase.
Dogs make everything better.

Buster stood on his back legs at the side of my chair.
I scratched the top of his head.
Dogs make everything better.

Buster explored my room.
Stared at me while I ate hoping for a crumb.
Dogs make everything better.

I want to thank the dogs that I have loved throughout my life.
Bailey and Abby, I did not forget you.

Thank you, Ebony and Buster.

You made my Saturday better.

TRUE FRIENDSHIP

This story was part of my newsfeed on Facebook this morning. The text and photos are from the Creative Concepts Facebook page. This story moved me to tears. I had to share it. We should all be as blessed as these two ladies

This lovely lady has had no vision in one of her eyes for as long as she can remember. Recently, she was told by her eye doctor that she was on the brink of losing her vision in her other eye. When she was asked by her team about how she could be best supported through this transition, she replied that she wanted to go visit her friend while she could still see her. 

These two ladies joined us at CCL together as roommates over 12 years ago and had lived together for maybe 20 years prior to that. Her roommate had to move to a nursing home a few years back. It broke both of their hearts, and many hearts @ CCL. 

But they stay in touch and visit. As soon as they met up, she told her friend:  “I’m going blind in my good eye and I wanted to come to see you while I could still see you!”  She chucked through her tears

with the news. They cried together and laughed together and griped about medical problems and aging and said maybe they will be roommates again one day. 

Our employee, who shared these photos and this story, was part of it all. This moment, and also all the years leading up to it. And she was brought to tears. She added that their friendship is absolutely precious & she hopes to have friends like this when she is their age. Don’t we all? 

❤️

Beyond Community, Beyond Ability.

Real Life, Real Friends, Real People.

IT''S NOT JUST ABOUT MARGARITAS

My apologies to anyone who saw the image I chose for this post and was expecting a post about how much I love T.G.I. Fridays. I do love their loaded potato skins. I may write more about my love of loaded potato skins in a future post.

Despite your disappointment, I hope you'll read this post. It's not about food, but there are ideas in this post that might give you something to think about. I guess you could think of this post as brain food.

The house van is broken again. I missed happy hour this week. That's okay though because I got to spend time at the nursing home earlier in the week. I was able to attend a friend's goodbye party. I stayed for dinner and had Chinese food with my friends. The day meant so much to me. I want to thank this agency for getting a van to transport me.

I was told that the house van is really to be used to transport my housemates to any appointments that have been scheduled for them. Driving me to the nursing home every Friday is not considered a necessity. It is not an organized activity in the community. CCL does not have to take to the nursing hor for Happy Hour. The staff member went on to say that I might want to reapply for Call-A-Ride if Jaywood no longer has a van of its own. 

The support coordinator, the program manager, and the case manager, for this house and I, have discussed this. Call-A-Ride is eight dollars round trip. There can be long waits for a pickup or drop-off I have waited as long as an hour and a half. If you are not outside waiting for them, within five minutes, the van leaves. When I was using the service I had more money.

Happy hour is not just about margaritas.  It is about the calm, warm feeling I have as soon as I roll through the doors. I feel welcome. I feel like I belong.

I need to see my friends for my emotional health. Friends are better than a therapist. They listen. They make me laugh. Laughter is the best medicine.

There are days when I wish I lived in a facility again to be with other people. I could ask the staff about their lives. No staff member at NHC ever told me to stop talking to them. I was never told to "shut your damn mouth," when I was speaking.

Thank you, to this agency for taking me to Happy Hour every Friday. I know the staff doesn't have to. I know it's a privilege. I hope this house is allowed to have its own van again soon

Nursing home visits...It's not just about  Margaritas.

SHE''S A TELLER OF STORIES

Kristen Skeet has been writing for as long as she can remember. She wrote X-Files fanfiction about the stories she felt There's left untold by the series. She is working a sequel to her novel Down Went  Alice. 

Kristen can now add filmmaker to her many accomplishments. Her short independent film, Murder Creek,. is about to premiere at the Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival. On August 27th  Her film has been nominated for outstanding Western New York Short Film at the festival.

I hope you find Kristen's interview as fascinating as I did.  Remember her name because I have a feeling that Murder Creek is just the beginning.

1. How long have you been a writer/storyteller?
I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I would write X-Files fanfiction on my parents’ computer before I knew what fanfiction was. This was before we even had Internet access. There were stories I wanted to see from the characters of Mulder and Skully that weren’t being provided us on the show, so I wrote them myself. It was about 10 years ago that I started calling myself a writer and sharing my writing with the world.

2. What is your favorite writing genre and why?
I like writing drama with some comedic relief dropped in. There also tends to be a tragic arc in my stories too and I’m not quite sure why. I’m a huge fan of music and musicians so a lot of my stories are set in the music world. I’ll still dabble in fanfiction from time to time as a guilty pleasure.

3. Do you outline a story first or just start writing?
I haven’t written an outline since we learned how to do it in school. I prefer to just sit down and start writing. It may take me more time to figure out where the story is going than it would if I outlined, but I’d never start a story if I had to outline the whole story first.

4. How difficult was the transition from writer to filmmaker?
Not too difficult. I tend to be reclusive so the hardest part of it was crawling out of my hermit hole and working with other people instead of by myself. Once I was out though, I found the entire process enjoyable.


5. What is the premise of your short film Murder Creek? 
Murder Creek is set in my hometown of Akron in New York where there is a real creek called Murder Creek. The creek runs through our local park, Akron Falls Park. The film is the fictional tale of a young woman who comes to Akron to investigate serial killings happening on the bed of the creek. While she’s there, she interacts with residents of the village to learn about the ghostly legends behind the name of the creek.

6. Where did the idea for Murder Creek come from?
I hike along Murder Creek and the scenery is beautiful. For years, I’ve wanted to film something there for this reason alone. About five years ago, I wrote a simple four-page script that was something that could someday be filmed there. Once we decided to shoot the film, I added some of the true legends behind the name of the creek and worked those into our fictional story.

7. What was the best/worst part about making your film?
I can’t say there has been a worst part about making the film. I’ve enjoyed every aspect of it. I think my favorite part has been the people I’ve met, and the personal and professional connections that came from that.

8. Murder Creek is about to premiere at the Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival. On August 27th. Congratulations. You must be excited.
I am! Just yesterday, we learned we’ve also been nominated for Outstanding Western New York Short Film at the festival. It’s truly heartwarming to know that everybody’s hard work is being validated in this way. This is my first experience having a film in a festival, and it’s been incredible so far. It’s been a dream of mine for a long time to see a film of mine up on the big screen and now it’s happening

9. Can you give us a hint regarding future projects?

I’ve just started a film project called Alive: Fallout with Ty Cheman. Ty was our cinematographer for Murder Creek and is an accomplished writer and filmmaker in Western New York. He did an incredible job for us on Murder Creek and I’ve very excited to be working together with him on this next project. Ty wrote the script for Fallout (it’s based on his previous film, Alive) and I’ll be directing the film so he can focus on the cinematography. He’s generously given me some creative control over the script as director which is greatly appreciated. I’ve also got a sequel to my novel Down Went Alice in the works.

10. Is there anything else you’d like my readers to know?

I’ve recently begun freelance writing and specialize in content writing for crowdfunding campaigns. You can find more information at my website: kristenskeet.com/crowdfunding. You can also follow me on Twitter (@castawaykristen) and Instagram (@kristenskeet) and Facebook at facebook.com/kristenskeet. 

SHE'S NOT JUST A CHER FAN

Gabrielle D. is a diehard Cher fan.  She has seen
Cher in concert 30 times. She has even met the legendary icon Read on to find out all the details.

Gabrielle is a graphic designer and an avid photographer, She has traveled the globe chronicling her journeys through her amazing photos.

I wanted all of my readers to know about this creatively talented young woman, so I messaged her some questions These are her responses Thank you, Gabrielle, for this informative and fun interview.

1. What prompted you to choose a career in graphic design? 

I’ve always had an interest in art and computers. Even when I was really young, I would stand at the computer, barely able to see over the keyboard and I would create little designs and pictures and print them out. I love anything artistic and I also love technology. 

2. Tell us what a graphic designer does.

A graphic designer works with images and typography to create visual concepts and layouts for advertisements or other purposes…anything from print ads to brochures, to billboards, signage, vehicle wraps, websites, web banners, etc.

3. What’s been the most memorable project you’ve worked on so far?
I’ve done a lot of work for a ferry company in NYC, which has also allowed me to use my own photography in my layouts, which is another big interest of mine. Some of the most fun projects I’ve done for them are bus wraps and taxi tops. Getting to see them out on the streets is always cool. 

4. What do you enjoy most about being a graphic designer? 

I like the creative freedom of being able to create your own look for a campaign from scratch and see it through to various media. 

5. What was the experience of using a drone like? The video was amazing. 

Thank you! I got a drone because it merged my love of technology and photography. It’s so much fun being able to take photos from a different vantage point, getting that birds-eye view. To me, it’s more unique than getting that same photo or footage from the ground. It took some time getting used to at first, but after a few flights, you get the hang of it.

6. You have traveled all over the world. What’s been your favorite destination so far? Why? 

They’ve all been so amazing and unique, it’s hard to pick one, but I really loved Brazil. Rio de Janeiro is beautiful! Taking the tram up Sugarloaf Mountain is unreal. The views of Copacabana, Ipanema and beyond are incredible! Another really interesting city is La Paz, Bolivia. It’s so unique compared to other places in South America. They’ve got the longest cable cars in the world, which are their main form of transportation and of course, the views from them are awesome! There’s also a place there called Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon.) It was created by the erosion of mountains which left tall spires, and it looks like you’re walking on the moon. I’ve never seen anything like it! Another beautiful country to visit is Panama. 

7. Where will your travels take you next?

Probably Uruguay. It’s still in the planning phase.

8. You are an awesome photographer. Your photos are like paintings How long have you been interested in photography?

I’ve loved photography ever since I was young, way back in the film days. I’ve taken photography courses in school and never stopped taking photos. I’m still taking photography courses online these days, always trying to improve. I also love editing photos, applying filters and making them look their best.

9. You’ve been to some epic concerts. Most recently Hootie and the Blowfish and Jlo. Tell us about one of your most memorable concert experiences?
Seeing Cher front and center in Philly was amazing! Getting to meet her that same night was even more incredible!

Another cool concert moment was at a Cyndi Lauper concert when she came out into the audience and stood on the chair RIGHT next to me MID-SONG and continued to sing from there.

10. What was it like meeting Cher? How did the meeting come about? How nervous were you?  

I won a contest through Cher’s fan club and got to meet her backstage at a concert of my choice. I was nervous, but as soon as she came out and starting talking to us, she’s so down to earth, that your nerves disappear. She was SO nice to us, signed autographs, took photos, just the coolest person! It was the best experience and one I’ll never forget! I’ve seen her over 30 times in concert. She puts on an incredible show!

Check out Gabrielle's travel photos on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/g_dezigner/?fbclid=IwAR2NT1Zi9jWO6ETEoaOjpoF0jtRtmsf9ENuU6H-UfuWk_34SFetyuagKRmg

TAKE ME TO...

Photo Credit Julie Boyer

Take me away from.

Stress.

Silence.

Loneliness.

Take me away from...

Closed doors.

Loud voices.

Speakerphones.

Take me to...

Palm trees.

An unbelievably blue sky.

Crystal blue water.

Mexico.

Take me to...

Mariachis

Margaritas.

Sushi.

Mexico.

Take me to...

Sun-filled days

 A beach wheelchair.

Rolled up to the water's edge.

The water is warm.

As it laps at my toes.

The spray from a wave leaves a taste of salt on my lips.

Mexico

Take me to...

Blue skies.

Slowly replaced.

With shades of pink, and orange.

A  hint of red and yellow.

Sunset.

Mexico.

Take me to...

Dinner.

People watch.

Imagine. their stories.

Mexico.

Take me to...

Lovers.

Friends.

Strangers.

Together

In this magical place.

.Mexico

CHILL-OUT

Everyone needs a day.
A day to clear the cobwebs from their head.
Chill-out

Conversations.
Opinions.
Accusations,
Judgments.
Negativity 
Leave it all behind.
Chill-out. 

A day to reflect.
A day to dream.
Of faraway places,
I've never seen.
Chill-out.

Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia.
Lucky Charms.
Chicken strips.
Comfort food.
Chill-out.

I'm gaining weight.
Won't stress
I am blessed.
Chill-out.

My problems won't vanish.
I've no magic wand.
Just for one day.
I want them gone.
Chill-out.

Take my advice.
It's free.
Don't think.
Just be. 
Chill-out.

Everyone needs a day.
Today's mine.
When's yours?
Chill-out.

.

ART IS HER PASSION

Lori Peterson has been an artist for her entire life.

Lori credits her mother for sparking her interest in photography at a young age. Her mom taught her how to take photos with a Brownie camera. teaching  Lori how to look through the lens to set up a shot and get the shot right on her first try..Film and film developing was expensive, so getting it right was a necessity.

Lori's passion for photography grew. She bought her own camera when she was in her teens. As a college student, she worked in a darkroom learning how to develop photos herself. 

Lori loves the horror genre. Most of her photos she describes as"dark and twisted." 

Her grandmother taught her to sew. Lori makes her own costumes and props for her photos. She loves to go to abandoned buildings and take photos. She checks out a building first to make sure it is safe. Her dream is to set up a vintage webcam in an abandoned building for her horror genre shots. She likes to use old shop lighting for some of her shots.

While her photographs are dark, her paintings are the opposite. Lori uses bright, vibrant colors when she paints. She describes her painting style as "very flowery with lots of colors. ".

Lori credits two art teachers for encouraging her. Dean Bray who was her first art teacher. Ann Walker was her art teacher in high school. Lori and Ann have remained friends Lor wrote an art and photography book and dedicated it to Ann and another high school art teacher. Lori has another book on art and photography in the works as well as a book of poetry.

Her favorite artist is Frida Kahlo. Lor loves Frida's use of color. Frida used her pain in her art. Frida Kahlo was not afraid to be bold. Lori believes her art was a testament to who Frida was as a person. Lori thinks that there should always be a little piece of the artist in their art.

Lori enjoys going to cemeteries. Cemeteries were the first parks. They were outside of town. Cemeteries were a place for families to visit  She finds them peaceful and comforting because of all the trees and statues. 

Lori is a mom first and foremost. She is an animal lover who describes herself as "a crazy cat lady." She enjoys learning about people. She enjoys history. Lori studied Geneology after her mother passed away. Her great-aunt told her many family stories. He great-aunt's stories allowed Lori to connect with relatives she had been previously unaware of. She found out that some of them were also into art.

Lori sold her at art shows when she lived in New Orleans. She hopes to do art shows in St. Louis as well. If you hear that Lori's showing her work at an art show, check it out, you will not be disappointed.


Visit her website for more information

https://www.loripetersonphotography.com/?fbclid=IwAR29Bx_X0YdBvaXAxOFnEOVK3Cm0NnWIC6KfHcS4NfuWRutasekhAhgDrwE

WHAT'S YOUR SONG?

Photo Credit Facebook Page  Zen to Zany

Songs are people. Songs are places. Songs are life events. Songs are memories.
What's your song?

Songs transport us back to another time in our lives.
What's your song?

70's  Cher songs.
Our living room.
My grandma is listening to the new album I have just purchased.
My grandma is my best friend.
Who else would I share the awesome experience of listening to new Cher album with?
My grandma was no old lady. My grandma was cool.
What's your song?

Songs make us laugh//cry.
I am 13 years old.
The Partridge Family's rendition of Rockin Around the Christmas Tree is playing.
My mom is dancing around in our living room.
I think Mom loved their Christmas album eve more than I did.
Every year I listen to the song on YouTube.
Merry Christmas, Mom.
What's your song?

Songs provide comfort.
I listened to Cher's Song For The Lonely when my mom got sick.
I was lonely, but I was not alone.
Cher's rendition of A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes played as I wrote my eulogy for my mom.
What's your song?

Songs encourage
Pink's Song Try is beautiful.
No matter how bleak life seems.
You have to keep moving forward.
Life won't kill you.
Your only failure is in failing to try.
What's your song?

Songs offer support
Lady Gaga's Born This Way.
One simple message.
Be who you are.
It's okay.
Be proud.
What's your song?

Songs are friendships.
Aleks Syntek's El Email
NHC
Mi Fiesta
Goodbyes suck.
What's your song?

California.
Going to see a play.
My friend Roberta's driving
The radio's blasting ...
She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals
Roberta and me singing at the top of our lungs.
Forgetting my mom is in the backseat.
Forgetting I am disabled
What's your song?

Songs are family
Proud Mary by Tina Turner
My nephew's wedding.
He and his bride took me out on the dance floor.
My nephew is controlling the joystick of my power chair.
Back and forth.
Turning in circles.
Spinning
I'm laughing.
I'm dizzy.
I am dancing.
Best time ever with my family.
What's your song?

Songs are the road map of our lives.
What's your road map sound like?

SHE LIKES TO DREAM BIG

“I’m Palestinian, Muslim, I’m a woman of color, I’m disabled, and I live in New Jersey.”

That's how actress, writer, comedienne, advocate/activist, and self-professed cat whisperer, to her cat, Beyonce, Maysoon Zayid describes herself.

She does not make a big deal about having cerebral palsy. It's just one of the 99 problems she has.

Her Ted Talk was the most-watched talk of 2014. She has been a columnist. Maysoon political humor was featured on Countdown with Keith Oberman She had a role in Adam Sandler's movie You Don't Mess With The Zohan. She has tapped-danced on Broadway.

Using humor she tries to dispel stereotypes, She believes humor can help heal our broken world. Maysoon believes in equality for all. She believes your only failure is in failing to try. She has toured the world spearing her message, "I am not your inspiration and you can do it. Yes, you can-can."

With all of her success, she still had one dream. Her dream was to appear on her favorite daytime drama General Hospital. In June 2019 that dream became a reality when she was cast as Zahra Amir. Zahra arrived in Port Charles on June 21 to defend cult leader Shiloh in a custody dispute.

I became a fan of Mayson's after seeing her Ted Talk. When I learned she'd been cast on GH  I knew I had to get an interview with her. I asked. She said yes. I emailed her some questions. she graciously took the time to answer them.

What was your life like when you were growing up? 

I had a very American pie childhood topped with a scoop of the Middle East. I spent my school days in the predominantly Italian Catholic New Jersey town of Cliffside Park. I grew up within walking distance of New York City and saw my first Broadway show by the age of 8. I started watching General Hospital with my three older sisters at the age of five. My parents should have been better at monitoring my TV intake but thankfully they were not. I was the only disabled kid in my class in public school all the way through graduating high school. After graduation, I headed to Arizona State to pursue my dream of being on General Hospital. I majored in theater.

Were you treated any differently because you had CP by your family/or your peers?

I was never bullied. I was never made fun of. My friends, my mom, dad, and sisters all treated me equally. I always wondered if my kindergarten teacher took my friends aside and warned them not to make fun of me. My friends swore that never happened, they were just raised right. I never noticed people looking at me differently in public, but my sisters say they did. I started being treated differently when I started college. Suddenly everyone around me was obsessed with my ability. 

You’ve said that when you were born the doctor told your parents that you would never walk.  Your father was determined to prove him wrong. He did. Tells us about the phrase “Yes you can-can.” Did he really dangle a dollar bill in front of you to encourage you to walk?  Tell us about learning to tap-dance.

 My dad 100% dangled a dollar bill in front of me, which is kind of the same thing that my agents do today to get me to move. Yes, you can-can comes from a ShopRite Supermarket commercial. It was a cartoon ad that featured Can-Can girls. So I think that’s where my dad got the second ”can” from. My parents couldn’t afford physical therapy so they sent me to tap class. My walking improved immensely because I learned to tap dance in heels. I also took piano for seven years as occupational therapy for my hands. I tap-danced on Broadway during one of my comedy shows.

Did people try to discourage you from becoming an actress/comedian?     

The head of the theater department at Arizona State definitely discouraged me. My parents would have preferred I was a lawyer, doctor, or engineer but they have always supported my career. Comedy-wise, no-one discouraged me because I became a paid comic by my third show. It is rare for artists to make a living so everyone around me was surprised and supportive. My worst experience has been with casting directors. Very few are willing to give me a chance. Of course, Mark Teschner is the exception to that rule.

What's the most frustrating thing for you about having CP?

 The most frustrating thing for me about having CP is that I shake all the time and it's exhausting. I would love to have just one day off. I can walk, I can dance, but I can’t stand. I fall right over. So that’s annoying too. Not being able to stand is really challenging as a performer and socially. Finally, I’m sick and tired of having to explain what’s going on with me to people seeing me for the first time. If I choose not to explain it, they start guessing. Is it a stroke? Is she drunk? Is she nervous?

Congratulations on your recurring role of Zarah Amir on General Hospital. What was the first thing that went through your mind when you found out your dream of being on GH was becoming a reality?  Zarah’s adversary in court, Diane Miller,  How would you describe her? In what ways are Maysoon and Zarah alike?  Is there a possibility your role might be expanded into a permanent one?  What’s been the most surprising thing about being on GH? If you could write your own GH storyline what would it be?

I still can’t believe it’s real. I remain in shock from the moment when Executive Producer, Frank Valentini told me ’til this very moment. I cried when I got my first script, not because I had so much to memorize but because it was one of the happiest days of my life. Diane Miller is one of my favorite characters in daytime history. 

Zarah is funny, independent, smart, sassy, and a great dresser. I love Alexis for a lot of the same reasons. Carolyn Hennesy is a pure joy to work with. She is so sharp and gives amazing advice. Zarah and I both have Cerebral Palsy and we are both Arabs! We both find Sonny irresistibly charming. That is where the similarities end. 

You know I can’t answer if my role will be expanded or not.) Soap secrets are safe with me. The most surprising thing is how unbelievably COOL  and friendly the entire cast and crew are. I thought it would be like the first day of high school when you’re the new kid. I expected the stars to be mean girls. Everyone was lovely, welcoming, and helpful. It exceeded all of my expectations. Being on set is so much fun. It really is a dream come true and I’ve learned so much. If I could write my own storyline, I would make Zarah Brenda’s long-lost twin. CP occurs more commonly in twins, so it would totally make sense.

You have achieved your dream of being on GH. What is your new dream?

I have a bunch of really exciting things in the works. I am developing a TV series that I am also starring in for TNT called Sanctuary. I have a book that’s being published by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine coming out on Audible in November and I am developing a talk show. No dream will ever exceed the reality of being on General Hospital, but my next big dream is to make sure that kids with disabilities are mainstreamed into the education system. I like to dream big.

Thank you Maysoon for this awesome interview.

Please visit her website https://maysoon.com/

Look for her weekdays on General Hospital on ABC

GH  Clip https://www.facebook.com/generalhospital/videos/475632423009287/






,

WHO KNEW?

Estonia, Japan, Greece, England, Mexico, Brazil,  Pakistan, Spain the USA are just a few.
Who knew that my diva blog would reach so many of you?

This blog was a challenge/ To see if I could write posts of interest. I'm boring. Would anyone care?
Who knew?

From For The Love of Lucie to  You Wanna Know a Secret? 7 years,  286 posts. 86,224  hits in the past 7 years. You kept reading.
Who knew?

Typos, grammatical errors, misspelled words, omitted words. imperfect. Like me. None of this seemed to matter to you.
Who knew?.

Negative, positive.
Happy, sad.
Angry, overwhelmed.
Afraid.
Confused.
I felt your support.
Who knew?

Interviews.
Micah Fowler, actor
Scott Clarke, writer/illustrator
Laurie Baker, Outtakes Interviews
M.A. Cassata, Author/Celebrity News Journalist,
So many more I hope to do
Are you Listening, Rona Barrett?
My posts on Cher got the most hits.
Who knew?

There is a fine line between anger and advocating.
Who knew?

Long Term Care, Group Homes.
All the same.
The care can be fabulous.
Or it can suck.
That's life.
You wanted to know.
I tried to show.
Anger.
Apologies.
Deleted posts.
Who knew?

My blog doesn't have hits in the millions.
It has loyal readers .worldwide
Thank you.
Who knew?