IT'S A NEW YEAR , MAKE IT A GOOD YEAR

2016 is drawing to a close. We lost many talented people in the entertainment and music industry. Many police officers lost their lives in the line of duty. Many in our country were dissatisfied with the outcome of the presidential election. Instead of uniting, we were divided as a country. It made me sad.

I have been trying to work on changing my behavior. I am a very sensitive and emotional person. I have been, and am continuing to, work on controlling the way I react to people and situations. I try not to fly off the handle.   I still make mistakes/. I am not perfect. I always apologize. All I can do is keep trying. I know I am improving.

With the help of The Starkloff  Disability Institute, I am working toward getting some kind of writing job that I can do from the facility. This is the first step in my plan to find a new living situation/ My resume is now completed. I may be physically dependent on other people, but, I am a proud person. I know I can't earn much, but I need
to have a job to feel productive and improve my self-worth.

 I learned that I angered the individual .who forced me from my house. It's true, I yelled, begged and pleaded to remain in my house. If by some remote chance you are reading this, please accept my apology. My whole life was taken away. I am sure, had you been in my position, you would have reacted the same way.

I keep busy. I am even learning Spanish online. People here just exist. I cannot do that. I want a life. For the first time in a very long time, I have hope that positive changes will happen for me in 2017.

I hope the country and the world will become more united in 2017. I pray that the incoming administration does not cut funding to programs needed by so many.

Thank you to my family for their continued love and support this past year. I love you all very much. To all of my readers, I hope the coming year brings many positive changes to your life. Thank you for taking life's journey with me.

HAPPY NEW YEAR. Make it a good year.



 . . .

CHRISTMAS WISHES

When you're little, Christmas is about Santa, toys, and decorations. 

I would beg my mom to let me transform our house into a winter wonderland. We had every Christmas decoration known to mankind,. Well, it seemed that way anyway. Closets were bursting. My mom finally had to tell people to stop giving me decorations because she had no more room to store them.

My brother put lights on the outside too.  No inflatable snowman or Santa for us. We had the big heavy plastic ones from when we were little. My brother worked hard on the house. When he was finished, ours was by far, the best-decorated house on our street.  Christmas was an exciting and magical time when my mom was alive.  My favorite time of year. 

Christmas in a facility is just another day. Many residents have told me that. It is so important to have visitors not only during the holidays but all through the year. My wish for all the residents in long term care is that they may have lots of visitors throughout the year. No one should be forgotten. Everyone should have someone who cares about them. 

It's been almost seven years since my mom died. I have not always treated my family with the respect they deserve. All I want this Christmas is for them to forgive me.  
I am not perfect. I screw up. I keep trying. I am becoming a better person. I appreciate everything that they have done and continue to do. for me. .I love all of them very much.  I am sorry.

My second wish is for the gift of hope.  I hope that I will be given a chance to live outside of this facility. I look forward to working with Paraquad and Starkloff Disability Institute to make my goal a reality. If given the chance, I won't blow it this time.

My wish for the world is that someday, we can accept each other's differences. That we live in peace.

My wishes are not things you can wrap with a bow.-They are the most important things I have ever asked for. 

Happy Holidays.

LAURIE BAKER'S OUTTAKES ARE THE BEST TAKES

Laurie Baker grew up watching Days of Our Lives.  She was just a fan like millions of others. Now, though, she is not only a fan, she is a reporter. Her internet radio show, Outtakes Interviews, is a hit with soap fans.  She has interviewed stars from all four soaps, but Days is still her first love. She gets the answers to questions that fans are dying to know the answers to. 

Laurie has attended major soap events like the 50th-anniversary party of Days of  Our Lives. Her videos and photos of the gala were amazing.  I felt like I had attended the event with her.

I wanted to know more about Laurie and Outtakes Interviews. I emailed her some questions. Thank you, Laurie, for taking the time to answer them

What is your professional background?  Were you a journalist/ reporter?

I have not gone to formal journalism school…but I participated in a lot of writing and acting all throughout high school, college and my early years in New York City.  I think those experiences taught me quite a bit.  And I am still learning all the time.

How long how you been a soap opera fan?

I grew up watching DAYS OF OUR LIVES with my family.  But I really fell in love with the show around 1982 with Tony/Renee, Marlena/Roman, and Liz/Neil.  DAYS was and is my main soap opera.  With the internet, it became easier for me to watch the other soaps.  In 2009, I began watching all the ones that were still around.  And now every televised soap has something about it that I’m in love with.

Where did the idea for your outtakes interviews come from?  The concept is a unique one. you have combined your interest in soaps with reporting.

As the internet kept growing, some websites came along that were very inspiring to me.  “Daytime Confidential” and “We Love Soaps” were two of them that really would write good articles, have wonderful podcasts and do great interviews with soap opera actors.  And I said to myself, “I would love to do that.”  I am also a fan of “Inside the Actor’s Studio”.  I love to find out what makes actors tick…and so many soap opera actors are brushed off…although that form of acting under such high pressure with little rehearsal time is probably the hardest type of acting there is.  And I am interested in finding out their real insight into the characters they play.  I don’t particularly care for fluffy questions.  And I rarely ask about what will happen next in the soap opera because the actor would only get in trouble by answering anyway

Who was your first outtakes interview subject? Who has been your most memorable interview subject/experience?

James Reynolds (Abe from DAYS OF OUR LIVES) was the first actor to give me a yes.  We did an interview about a play he was doing at Cape May Stage in New Jersey.  I was nervous…and there were some tech problems with the first radio show, but James was gracious and wonderful about it.

It is hard to pick the most memorable because there have been a lot of interviews I’ve cherished.  The show with the all-time highest listen count I did was with Eric Martsolf (Brady DAYS) and Christian LeBlanc (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) where they were promoting a Christmas comedy event that they were doing together.  They were so wild and crazy!  It was hysterical.  Some were on my wish list from day one…and when I got them, it was terrific!  Matthew Ashford, Patsy Pease, Charles Shaughnessy, Thaao Penghlis and John de Lancie (yes, all DAYS actors!) were a few that come to mind.

How do stars react when they learn you want to interview them?

Usually, it is either “Sure, let’s do it”; or no reply at all.

Have you ever had a star react negatively?

No.

Is there anyone you are dying to interview but haven't yet? 

Joseph Mascolo, Michael T. Weiss, Charlotte Ross, Roger Howarth, Kassie dePaiva and Peter Bergman.  I am sure there are more that I am forgetting!

What's it like to cover major events like day of days or days 50th anniversary?

The DAYS 50^th Anniversary Gala was surreal.  It was like a dream where every actor you ever watched on the show was right there.  And I was like…do I want to talk to this actor who I’ve loved forever on my right?  Or this actor who I’ve loved forever on my left?  And meanwhile, Stephen Nichols, Ari Zucker, Eric Martsolf and others were all singing these terrific songs on stage.  So I was trying to film some of that…but I also wanted to socialize at the same time.  Not complaining…but truly a situation where there was too much of a good thing!

By doing interviews at Day of DAYS, I just try to focus on my love of DAYS OF OUR LIVES and the actors/characters involved.  And I try to go for questions that I am guessing fans would want to know about specifically for each character/actor.  Not anything too general or cookie cutter.  In the press room, they bring in two actors at a time to interview every ten minutes; so you have to be prepared and ready to go at a moment’s notice.

How long does the editing process take?

It truly depends on the interview itself.  Sometimes with audio, there are technical problems with volume or static that have to be edited out.  The video itself does not take as long, except for montages, etc.

What are your future plans for outtakes interviews?

I would love to do more interviews on-site and on camera as opposed to long-distance and audio.  But that is a matter of opportunity more than anything else.  Mainly it is just a matter of persistence, continuing to look for good guests and building up more audience.  I just hope to keep the momentum going!

Links:

outtakesinterviews.com – Website
@LauriesOutTakes – Twitter
OutTakes Interviews on Blogtalkradio – Facebook page
outtakesinterviews -- Instagram

I AM THANKFUL FOR...

This past weekend was one of the worst weekends I have had in the two years I have been here. I won't go into detail Unerstaffing is a major problem here. Aides don't show u[. This leaves the staff that is here scrambling to fill the void. Aides don't come in on time. Either way, this leaves just one aide on the floor. If you are not a resident in that aide's assigned area, most of the time, they will not help you.

Sundays are the worst.  A lot of aides are just here for a paycheck.  I know this is true because most of the time when two aides are helping me, they are talking to each other about personal issues or other residents. Sometimes I wonder if they are paying any attention to me at all. I am not bashing this facility, I know the staff is doing the best they can to meet everyone's needs.

Wait. Don't stop reading., There is a silver lining, I have an aide who is kind and caring. She does everything she can to make sure I get the best care. Her name is Tiffany. Tiffany works part-time. When she is here I am up on time and all my needs are met. She is considerate. She treats me like a person. Tiffany listens.

I tried to nominate Tiffany for a caregiver of the year award, That is an award given by Voyce to a caregiver that goes above and beyond their caregiving duties.  Unfortunately, I was too late. There is always next year.

Thursday is Thanksgiving. Tiffany is off. I am wondering who'll be here to help us. Will it be someone who is kind and listens like Tiffany? Or someone who is just doing their job for the money? I am praying for the former.

We need more aides here. We need more aides who listen and care. We need more aides like Tiffany.

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for Tiffany. She comes in on time. She does her job, She makes life here better.

THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN

Donald Trump will be the next president of the United States. I spent the majority of today wondering what that would mean for all of us with disabilities. And, yeah, I cried. 

My tears were born out of fear and frustration. Fear that funding will be cut on services those of us with disabilities require in order to live independently. /Frustration that if the dire predictions of funds being come to fruition, I will never get out of here. Disabled Americans currently living independently, may be forced to live in nursing homes. .I don't wish my situation on anyone/ Disabled Americans deserves to keep the quality of life they now enjoy. 

.If I lived in Great Britain, I would not have been forced out of my home. I have been told that in Great Britain, people with disabilities are treated with respect and dignity. They are treated just like everyone else. 

I have begun looking at my options. Currently, the state pays for just six hours of attendant care,  You can get up to eleven hours, but that's difficult/ People more disabled than I am are living in apartments with assistance. I deserve a chance too.I will continue to explore my options and learn how others manage  I don't need to be in a facility. After meeting other people with disabilities who live in the community, I believe that now more than ever. 

I am not angry. I am not going to rant and rave. The people made their choice. Now, we have to work together to make this country the best nation it can be.

I am just going to remind the incoming administration that there are 57 million disabled Americans. We fight daily to be heard, to get the services we need and to be treated equally. 

All I am asking for is a chance. That all anyone with a disability wants. To be able to choose where and how we live, to be able to work so that we have a sense of self-worth and can be proud of the contribution we are making.  

I have said all of this before. I pray funding is not cut. Cutting funding will mean that people with disabilities don't matter. But we do matter. I ask one thing of the incoming administration. Please don't forget about the disabled community. Show us that we matter.

MY MICAH FOWLER INTERVIEW

Ever since the first episode of Speechless aired I have wanted to Interview Micah Fowler. Wait, that's not entirely true. I should have said, ever since I wrote my first piece on the show last August, I have wanted to interview Micah Fowler.

The road to this interview began when I messaged Micah via Twitter. After countless emails to his agents, and with the assistance of entertainment reporter, M.A.Cassata, my interview was granted Thank you, Micah, for this awesome interview.

What do you like best about being on Speechless?

This really is a groundbreaking experience, a person with a disability portraying a main, lead character who has cerebral palsy on primetime television!  Growing up a huge television and movie fan, I couldn’t help but notice the lack of representation, the lack of “lead characters” diagnosed with disabilities. So the fact that I get to portray a lead character dealing with cerebral palsy is what I like best. It is so exciting for me to be able to show that people with disabilities are diverse, have personality and can achieve! The best part about being on Speechless is that I get to inspire people to follow their dreams and achieve

Who are some of the actors/actresses that you look up to and why?

I'm a huge Mark Hamill fan because I LOVE Star Wars and he brought one of my favorite characters to life and did an incredible job at it. He also voiced The Joker in the animated series Batman and I'm a big fan there as well.

Chloe Bennet is a favorite because she is such a talented actress and makes it seem so easy. I love her show, Agents of Shield, and have loved watching her portray Skye/Daisy/Quake. I met her once and she was so nice and down-to-earth. It's been fun to watch her grow on that show. 

I also really look up to my sister Kelsey. By the time she was 16, she had been in four Broadway musicals. She taught me the fundamentals of acting. It is because of her that I became interested in acting.

What was the audition process like for the part of JJ?

About two years ago, my agent asked me to send in a "personality tape" for an "untitled Scott Silveri project".  I put together a tape of me just talking about myself and joking around. Time went by and never heard anything else.  A year later, my agent called and said they had requested another personality tape for the same project, now titled, "Speechless". So I again put together a personality tape just talking about my interests and joking around.  A few days later the agent said the casting director was sending 6 scenes over.  I spent an entire Saturday putting together the tape of the six scenes. My parents verbalized all of the other characters' lines (off-camera) while I reacted to all of the dialogue on camera. My sister was at school, so my mom sent her the audition footage to upload to the agent. She texted my mom, "this is hilarious, he is totally going to book this".  How crazy is that? She called it.  The agent told us they loved the tape and would be in touch. About 2 months later, I found out I booked the role on the day of my 18th Birthday, BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER!!!

How difficult is it to portray a nonverbal character?

JJ uses a laser pointer and aide to communicate so I have to compensate physically by being extremely expressive with my facial expressions and body movements. It’s not hard for me to convey emotions, as I have always been a very expressive person. The challenging part is getting each expression just right, I mean conveying the exact emotions the scenes are making JJ feel and making his personality come through. My goal is to make sure the audience knows what JJ is thinking and feeling at all times. I think it is really unique that you get to know JJ without him ever speaking

Do you have any input on storylines or certain scenes that involve JJ?

Yes, my parents and I have shared many of our personal experiences with the writers; some have already been used in episodes we have shot.  I have also given input during filming certain scenes, input concerning JJ’s disability level and the equipment he uses.

What's it like hanging out with your TV family in between scenes? What do you do?

We laugh a lot while filming and in-between scenes we chat, share stories, talk about songs, movies, and television shows and even do magic tricks for each other. Kyla Kenedy and I sometimes sing and listen to music as well. She knows a lot of songs. Mason and I goof off quite a bit. It's a ton of fun!

 What do you think about your fans? What kinds of gifts have you received from your fans?

I have received such wonderful feedback from the fans. Before this all happened I didn't even have Facebook, Twitter or Instagram! Every day I get messages of support from people telling me how much they like the show. But the ones that touch me the most are from people with disabilities telling me I've given them the hope or courage to do things they never thought they could do.

In the long run, what do you hope to achieve with your career?

I loving acting and I would like to have a very long, diverse acting career. I hope that I can have opportunities to portray many different types of characters during my acting career. I love Mark Hamill and Michael Rosenbaum. (I'm a big Smallville fan too and Marvel, DC, pretty much anything superhero). My dream role would be to play a villain in a Star Wars movie

INCLUSION WORKS

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The title of this post is this year's theme. There are approximately 57 million disabled Americans. We are the largest minority group.  

According to an article written for CNN Money, in July of 2015. " In the early 1990s, about half of disabled Americans were employed, according to Census data. Today that has fallen to just 41%. Some of the declines are due to an aging population. Older workers are more likely to have disabilities, especially physical ones." http://money.cnn.com/2015/07/26/news/economy/americans-with-disabilities-act-problems-remain/

Many disabled Americans. like me, want to work, but we are afraid of losing our benefits. There is no incentive to work because of the restrictions that have been placed on us by the government.

People with disabilities are more conscientious and appreciative than most non-disabled workers. That is because we know that we must prove that we can do the job that we were hired to do. If an employer is willing to make the reasonable accommodations that may be necessary so that a disabled worker can do their job effectually, the employer will find that hiring someone with a disability is an asset to the job, rather than a liability.

The best example of the postie effect of inclusion in the workforce can be found on the television show Speechless. Instead of hiring a non-disabled actor for the role of JJ DiMeo, The show hired Micah Fowler. As you know, Fowler, like the character he portrays, has cerebral palsy. He is a working actor on a hit sitcom. He is part of the cast. He is doing his job. He is contributing.

Micah has the largest trailer of any of the actors on the show. His trailer has a ramp to accommodate his wheelchair. He also has his own makeup chair on the back patio of his trailer.

Inclusion works. .Just give us a chance.












 ,

SHE WENT TO VISIT THE QUEEN

Photo credit  We Love Soaps 

American television viewers will remember Emma Samms from her 80's television roles  Fans first saw her in the short-lived TV series, Models Inc.

Audiences remember her as  Holly Sutton, the con artist with a heart of gold on General Hospital. Holly won Luke Spencer's heart after his beloved Laura was presumed dead. Emma Samms made fans forget Pamela Sue Martin ever existed. She took over the role of Fallon Carrington Colby on Dynasty and The Colbys and made it her own.

In 1982, Emma co-founded The Starlight Children's  Foundation with her cousin, Peter Samuelson. Starlight has chapters in the United Kingdom, the U.S. Canada, Australia, and  Puerto Rico. http://www.starlight.org/

Starlight is a non-profit organization. Its mission is to brighten the lives of seriously ill children. The organization partners with other non-profits and children's health organizations to accomplish its goal. Starlight lessens a child's fear by bringing entertainment, innovations in technology, and education to them during their treatment or hospital stay.

Recently, Emma was awarded an MBE for her work with Starlight and other children's charities. She was made a  Member of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.  http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/actress-emma-samms-receives-mbe-from-the-queen/story-29840301-detail/story.html

I met  Emma and her sister, Louise, in the '80s, when she played Holly on General Hospital. I never thought, when I wrote a fan letter to Emma that I would receive a reply. I received a handwritten note from Louise. That note started a friendship between Louise and me.  Louise and Emma invited me to the studio for lunch when we were on vacation in California. I have some lovely memories of that day as well as the day I attended Emma's fan club luncheon and year or two later. 

Life got in the way. Louise and I lost touch for many years. I always tried to keep up with what Emma was doing. Thanks to social media, Louise and I have reconnected. I love hearing about her life and seeing her photos. Facebook has bridged the continent between us. Twitter helps me stay connected with Emma. She and I have something in common now. She is a writer too.

Congratulations Emma, on your well-deserved honor. I loved seeing the photos.  I know that you will continue helping others an continue to d bring them joy. Louise, thank you for your friendship. Keep those photos coming. I am proud to call both of you my friends. 

And, It all started with a simple fan letter.





   

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD

Someone on Facebook asked me to defend my reason for supporting Hillary Clinton. Senator Clinton has brought disability rights to the forefront of her campaign, She is the first candidate to endorse The Disability Integration Act http://www.adapt.org/main.diamain,

The DIA was introduced by Senator Chuck Schumer. Its purpose is to ensure that people like me, who were forced to live in long term care facilities or other institutions be given the supports and services needed so that they may be integrated back into the community. ADAPT a grassroots organization, works tirelessly to ensure that the rights and freedom of people with disabilities are protected,  

You can read Senator Clinton's statement regarding the DIA here: https://www.hillaryclinton.com/briefing/statements/2016/04/06/statement-by-hillary-clinton-on-the-disability-integration-act/

No one who is not sick and has a good mind should have to live with limited rights and freedom. I can get out, but getting transportation can be a hassle. Getting aides to cooperate can be an even bigger challenge. I wish the state had contacted an independent living center about support services for me. Instead, they just dumped me here.  It's been two years. It feels like ten.

When I look in the mirror, I see a person with many challenges whose body has betrayed her. Recently, I visited the Starkloff Disability Institute.  Starkloff helps people with disabilities gain employment and be part of their community. I saw people with many more challenges than I have. I visited a gentleman's apartment. I learned how he manages caregivers so that he is safe. He works. He lives his life. I hope  Staekloff can help me too. starkloff.org

Someone on Facebook asked why they should vote for Hillary Clinton.. Donald Trump has mocked people with disabilities, insulted every minority group, and spoken about women as though they were less than human  He believes a woman's only purpose is to sexually satisfy men. 

I am not telling anyone why they should vote for one candidate or the other. The most important thing is to vote. Let your voice be heard.

I WANTED TO...

October 4, 2016, is Ballet Day at The Royal Opera House in London. A friend posted this video on my Facebook page. I was so moved by the video that I had to share it.  https://www.facebook.com/royaloperahouse/videos/10154170899857579

October 5, 2016, is World CP  Day/ 
According to their page on Facebook, "World Cerebral Palsy Day is a movement of people with cerebral palsy and their families, and the organizations that support them, in more than 50 countries. "

"Our vision is to ensure that children and adults with cerebral palsy (CP) have the same rights, access, and opportunities as anyone else in our society. It is only together, that we can make that happen."

World CP Day seeks to "Empower people with a cerebral palsy to have a voice about changing their world."

The video of Charlotte realizing her dream of participating in ballet is a perfect example of what World CP Day is all about.  Inclusion and acceptance.

There have been positive changes.  We still have a long way to go before we are truly accepted. I constantly have to tell any new aide I am grateful that there is nothing wrong with my mind. My limbs don't work the way they should. I hope the day comes when people truly see me as a person with abilities, not just someone with a  disability. I hope the day comes when people with CP aren't forced to be in nursing homes just because they need care.

I wanted to write something profound. I wanted to write what this day means to me and everyone with cerebral palsy. .I wanted to, but I'm not. Instead, I am going to encourage you to watch the video of Charlotte. I am going to encourage you to watch Speechless tomorrow night.  You can also catch up on by clicking  on this link..  http://abc.go.com/shows/speechless  Doing those two things will tell you so much more than I ever could.

HAPPY WORLD CEREBRAL PALSY DAY!

A BIG DEAL

I don't know how to write about ABC's new comedy, Speechless, without making it personal. The pilot is streaming now at www.abc.com It is available until September twentieth.  The show premieres on September twenty-first. 

Ever since watching the pilot., I have wanted blog about it. I started a post many times. They all sounded like a review. That's not what I wanted to write. I hope you read the piece I wrote about the show for The Mac Wire a few months ago. http://www.themacwire.com/abcs-speechless-not-your-typical-sitcom/ Writing a post about the show became a big deal in my mind. I wanted my post to be the kind of post that would make people want to watch. I wanted people to know what an important show Speechless is and why some reviewers are calling it "groundbreaking television." I was putting a lot of pressure on myself.   I shut down. I didn't write anything.

There are two reasons, in my opinion, to watch Speechless. Viewers will gain insights into what's like to raise a child with a disability. They will see a mother's fierce determination to give her child the best life possible while struggling not to neglect the needs of her other children.

The second reason to watch is  Micah Fowler, the actor who plays JJ DiMeo on the show. Like his character, Micah Fowler has Cerebral Palsy.  How cool is that?  He knows what it is like to have CP. He brings a certain realism to the show that an able-bodied actor could not.  

If there had been a show like this when I was growing up, it would have shown me that people with disabilities can achieve things in life. When I was young, we were not told what we could, do, only what we couldn't.  Today we have Speechless and Micah Fowler  to send a positive message to young people with disabilities/

I hope you'll watch Speechless. I hope it will get people talking. I hope it gives people a new perspective. 

Watch the promo below. Then watch the pilot.

Speechless. It's funny/ It's real. It's a very big deal.

 

SCOTT CLARKE MAKES PEOPLE SMILE ONE TOON AT A TIME

I have never met artist Scott Clarke in person. We became Facebook friends, in 2014, during Cher's Dressed to Kill Tour. 

I began seeing his toons on Facebook.  Scott's toons are unique in that he adds a verse to his drawings. The verse may be a quote from the celebrity featured in the toon or a line from a movie they may have been in. Whatever the verse may be, it is always positive and fun.

Scott doesn't remember how old was when he started drawing. He remembers sitting next to a girl when he was in the third grade, who drew well. He coped some of her techniques. He believes all artists influence each other, no matter what age they are.  Being an only child meant he spent a lot of time alone. Drawing helped fill that time.

Scott's first drawings were of The Flintstones/ He liked the drawing style of Hanna Barbera. He even created his own versions of TV shows like Gilligan's Island and I Dream of Jeannie. As a teenager, he became fascinated with designer Bob Mackie and Cher. He began drawing his own versions of Mackie's creations for her. He/loves drawing Cher/ He has drawn over three hundred toons of her. He has drawn over one hundred toons of Barbra Streisand and three hundred other stars.  He also has a greeting card line called Crabby Cards.

Scott has taken a few classes. He did not like the structure of a class. He likes to find his way on his own. If he needs direction, he'll ask.

Scott's celebrity toons started when he posted a toon of Cher on Facebook.  "People seemed to like it so I  dove into it!"

"The first toons I did were people/celebrities that were cartoonish, larger than life characters with incredibly recognizable characteristics. I still find those kinds the MOST enjoyable to do. Cher, Barbra, Dolly, Bette, Liza!!! All fabulous and FUN!"

Drawing a toon is not just about the drawing. Scott researches a celebrity by watching videos and reading the person's bio/ This helps him get to know the artist as well the person/ It helps in the creative process.  It takes about twenty minutes for Scott to draw a toon. He may draw a toon and write the verse for it later. He draws and writes whenever the inspiration strikes him/.

Scott has never had a negative response to his art. Most celebrates are flattered. He does his best to make his toons positive and flattering. Scott leaves the negativity to the political cartoonists/ His goal is to make people happy, to inspire, entertain and to help people remember happy moments from the entertainment industry/

Scott has a list of celebrities he has yet to honor with a  toon. His shining moment came last year, Cher used one of his toons on her birthday cake. Scott spoke to Cher on the phone/ She asked him to do a toon for her mom, Georgia. Georgia's happiness made Scott happy too.

Both Cher and Barbra have seen Scott's toons and they approve.

Scott also draws toons for various charitable organizations. A portion of the proceeds from Scott's Cher-toon bool are going to Cher's favorite charity, Children's Craniofacial Association. ccakids.org

The Barbra-toon and Cher toon books are just the beginning. More books are coming. Even coloring books, A portion of the profits will go to charity because to Scott that's giving two smiles in one.

Scott Clarke is making people smile one toon at a time.

 Barbra-toons  https://www.amazon.com/Barbra-toons-illustrated-tribute-Scott-clarke/dp/1535196629/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472052174&sr=8-1&keywords=scott+clarke+barbra-toons

Cher-toons  https://www.amazon.com/Cher-toons-heartfelt-tribute-illustration-Clarke/dp/1535196327/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1472052418&sr=1-1&keywords=cher+toons

Crabby Cards  http://www.zazzle.com/crabbycards/products


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GOING HOME

I always looked forward to the weekend when I lived at home. Especially summer weekends when it was warm and the darkness did not come until almost nine o'clock.

. My caregiver would arrive at four o'clock. It took a few minutes to get ready, but as soon as we were, we'd get in my van and drive to Pietro's, my favorite restaurant., http://www.pietrosdining.com/ My mom and I ate there almost every Saturday night for many years. After she died I couldn't imagine going anywhere else most Saturday nights.

We would ask for our favorite waitress, Julie. Julie only worked at the restaurant on Saturdays. Her husband taught at Meramec too. Julie would always keep me informed of anything new happening there.

One of my favorite dishes to order was Pasta Florentine. If I had room, the dessert would be a slice of Tiramisu. Oh, and my dinner would not be complete with a glass of Pinot  Grigio. A good dinner in a friendly atmosphere. A nice way to spend a Saturday night.

I am now thirteen miles away from the city. Call-A-Ride doesn't come out here on weekends because this area doesn't have regular bus service on weekends. They have to make a route. It costs almost as much as my dinner to go into the city on weekends. Needless to say, I have not done it that often. I hope that Call-A-Ride will provide disabled people weekend service sometime without charging us high fares

I'm sure that there are restaurants out here I could go to. I am also sure that those restaurants serve delicious food. Going to Pietro's is like going home for me. It's not only about the food, but it's also about the memories. We had dinner, with friends, at Pietro's before going to a Cher concert years ago. Our church held luncheons there too.

We went to lunch at Pietro's after my mother's funeral. She always ordered decaf coffee with Kahlua. She would make sure to add, "And don't forget the whipped cream."  That day, in her honor, I ordered decaf coffee with Kahlua. And, I made sure they didn't forget the whipped cream.

AN HISTORIC NIGHT

I wanted to blog about the groundbreaking events of last week. Not only did a woman accept the nomination for President of the United States, but Disability Rights were front and center at the DNC. 

What could I add about the ADA and the Disability Integration Act that hadn't already been said by Anastasia Somoza, a young woman with CP, and Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa?

Plus, I am a week late. I have learned, by , writing for The Mac Wire, how fast stories become old news. You have had probably forgotten all about the speeches made last week concerning Disability Rights. I have not.

I am including them in this post. The messages in the videos are important to me and every Disabled American. Please take a moment to watch them.

Senator Tom Harkin 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXCI6TxOeOM

Anastasia Somoza
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TqWpj9Sqfk

Nursing homes are for those who are sick. I am not sick. I will not die here. I should not have been institutionalized because I need care. I am a person with goals. I need to be productive. I need to be a part of my community again.

 I do not know where the funds should be allocated from in order to make the necessary changes. I just know changes need to be made.  I hope that the incoming administration does not forget. about the disabled community. There are 56 million of us. We are too important to ignore.

On the twenty-sixth anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, a group of disabled Americans marched in Washington. I will end this post with the words they chanted.

"Our homes, not nursing homes."

STOP THE PRESSES

I wanted to go back to school.  I wanted to study journalism. Two obstacles stood in my way.  I did not have the funds to pay for classes. Vocational Rehabilitation assisted in paying for my degrees in social work. They refused to pay for another. I do not have the stamina I used to take several classes. By the time I earned my degree. I'd be close to seventy. Too old to be embarking on a second career.

I have been writing for a local online newspaper for a little over two years. I am paid once a month. My column even made it into the paper's print edition twice. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to write and be paid/ I felt appreciated. My name was listed as a columnist. Toward the end of my writing for the paper, there were times when my columns would be lost. I have submitted the same column numerous times and never received a response.

This blog is extremely important to me. I need to know my work is valued.  Perhaps my blog is not the right fit for the paper anymore. Or perhaps, it's just time for me to move on. Whatever the reason, I am glad to have had the experience.

Writing for The Mac Wire allows me to combine two things I love. Writing and celebrity entertainment news. I am learning so much. The first thing I learned was that to report effectively I have to stop thinking like a fan. I am a journalist reporting news. It has nothing to do with me personally I am learning how to build a story around a celebrity quote, gather additional information to support the quote, and find the right photo to enhance the story.   I am seeing firsthand how quickly news becomes outdated.  

I had a deadline for a story before it became old news. I was tired. I did not know if I could write the story in time. I pushed myself. I did it. I felt like a journalist.

For the young girl inside of me who dreamed of being Rona Barrett, writing for The Mac Wire is a dream come true.

WE INSTEAD OF ME

Someone cursed me out the other day. I'm talking about the full-on Shut the Front Door F Word. The reason,? I said they'd have to wait their turn to be served, in the dining room, like everyone else. They informed me they don't like to wait while waving their arm for faster service,.They cursed again. I asked them to stop. "I'm sixty-six years old, I'll curse if I want," was their reply.

I asked for the rest of my food, ate hurriedly and left. I was angry and hurt. I didn't eat lunch that day. I ate early that evening. I was finished by the time the other person arrived. I like eating before everyone comes.in the dining room. I enjoy the peace and quiet.

The incident angered me because I  had been disrespected. I am a woman and a fellow resident. I had been waiting too. Why should someone who'd just arrived get served before me?

I wait for my turn. If I do complain, I try to as respectful as I can.. I am not perfect. I get angry, but no matter what, I always say please and thank you to anyone who has helped me. 

The Human Race as a whole has forgotten that we are all doing the same thing. We are all trying to live life the best way we can. We should be trying to help one another, not just help ourselves. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.  Everyone has a purpose. Everyone matters 

I still have not gotten an apology from the person who cursed. I do not expect one. We are not speaking yet. That may or may not change. I don't know. I would have appreciated an apology or a kind word.  I guess the person doesn't feel they need to offer one.

My prayer is that someday the people of the world stop thinking only of Me and start thinking of We. I pray that someday the world will be peaceful again. I believe it can happen if We work together.

CHER, FRAMBOISE AND CENSORSHIP

I tried it!!

Cher has just returned from a vacation on the French and Italian Rivieras. There were many tweets
from her.  There were so many photos, I felt as though I  was vacationing with her.  A virtual vacation is not the same as actually being there, but it's better than nothing.

Cher tweeted about drinking Framboise. Whenever Cher mentions a certain food, drink or something else she likes, I google it. (I once ordered her favorite drink, frozen hot chocolate, from her Favorite New York restaurant, Serendipity 3. Pacts of the hot chocolate mix were delivered to me. I am sure Serendipity 3's frozen hot chocolate is much better than the mix that I ordered, but at least I can say I tried it.)  I wanted to know what Framboise was. I googled. I saw links for it, but when I clicked on one of the links, Forbidden was the message I received again and again.

I am a writer  It felt as though my internet searching was being censored. I was not googling pornography. .I was googling to learn. I was googling gain knowledge.  I didn't understand what the issue was. This facility is part of a public corporation. As such, it can do whatever it wants. I understood this in theory My issue was that if I am to regard this facility as my home, then allow me to search the internet freely without restrictions, the way I did when  I lived in my own home.

My Facebook friends came to my rescue. They googled Framboise for me. It is a French raspberry beer. I love anything French. I hope to try Framboise soon.

I wanted the filters on the Internet to be changed. I was determined to make that happen. I spoke to the administrator, explained my issue and the filters were removed. It feels good to know that I helped make a positive change at this facility. However, I also learned that sites may be blocked because they contain harmful viruses. NHC needs to protect its computer system.  It's vital to this facility. NHC was protecting my rights, not censoring them.

MY DAD

My father wasn't home very much. It wasn't because he didn't love us. In fact, it was just the opposite. He wasn't home much because he was working. Our family had a grocery store. Grana's IGA Market. My mother and brothers worked in the store too, They all worked hard, but my dad worked the hardest out of all. of them.

I  could call my dad and ask him to bring home  Tootsie Pops and Bazooka Bubble Gum whenever I wanted. When you're seven, that's a big deal. None of my friend's fathers could do that.

On Sundays, we'd go to church. My dad was so tired that he'd fall asleep during the service. I'd be embarrassed because he snored. I was afraid others would hear him.  The minute I saw his eyes were closed, I'd begin gently poking him to make sure he stayed awake. I felt it was my job. Sunday was also the day he'd play his Herb Alpert albums. He loved them. He also played my Mary Poppins and Sound of Music albums because he knew I loved them. If I happen to hear any of this music now, I immediately smile remembering those Sundays. Before the day ended, he'd make a trip to the store too. He had to make sure things were in order for the coming week. Even Sunday wasn't a total day of rest for him.

My dad was the one I'd call to bring me a glass of water at night. He was the one who would pick me up from the floor after I'd fallen out of bed. He'd also stay with me until I fell back to sleep when I had a bad dream.

When I was eleven, and in Shriners Hospital, my dad asked the driver who delivered the Hostess Snack Cakes, to donate treats for everyone in my ward. Because the hospital only allowed visitors for an hour a day during the week and two and a half hours on Sunday, I only got to see my dad once a week. The hospital didn't allow phone calls in the evening, so he couldn't even call me. It was a long three months and ten days for both of us.

My favorite memory is watching a TV show called The Mothers-In-Law with my dad. The show starred Eve  Arden and Kaye Ballard. It was about two couples who lived next door to each other. The couples children marry. The marriage of their children forces them to become closer. The reason I enjoyed watching this show with my dad was that Kaye Ballard's character was. Italian and so was my dad was too. Every time Kaye Ballard's character would get upset on the show, she'd begin speaking in Italian. I would keep asking my dad to tell me what she said. I don't remember if he told me. I do remember we both laughed a lot.

My dad died on January 18, 1970.  I was twelve years old.  He didn't get to see many of my accomplishments. I hope he would be proud of me. .My dad didn't say I love you a lot. He just worked hard. That's how I knew he loved us.





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