Site Meter Writers Unbound » 2009 » January

Archive for January, 2009

Blogging Tips for beginners and bloggers in the know

Friday, January 30th, 2009
Take the journey: write.

Take the journey: write.


Blogging becomes a twofold venture in itself. Werite your own blogs. Read others blogs. I am amzed at the number of great blogs that I come across everyday. Some inspire me to learn to write better.

Now if you are one of the many who enjoy blogging, may I remind you that there are more and more places to blog and earn money. Over following posts I will occassionally suggest some of the other places. Today, I suggest starting out at 451Press.com, one of the best blog networks to work with. Need more tips before I return to this subject? Go to youtube and learn more.

Also I have had some success with local advertisers. Sometimes you can do a trade, or some with pay you to advertise for them. My greatest luck has been gifts from people who were glad that I blogged about them, just because I wanted to. BY the way, I have another new blog: Albuquerquelive.com

Writing from the heart.

Thursday, January 29th, 2009
Consider this...  photo by Mary MacIntyre

Consider this... photo by Mary MacIntyre

When one writes from his or her heart, the first results may escape technical perspectives. Yep, that sentence could use improvement. I had a talk with a teen this afternoon about her writing. She has a passion for her work and described herself as extremely particular about what and how she says it.

I know however the information she is receiving comes quickly, and possibly in images. I encouraged her to try some automatic stream of consciousness writing. Just write everything down. Don’t worry with what was before. Today’s images, news, information is today. It has a magic and power now. You can revisit the older work anytime and rewrite in a new docuement the changes. As I talked, I could feel her energy rise, her eyes shown brightly. Her excitement increased as if a window had been opened to spring’s first breeze.

In this style of writing she could make no mistakes, and she could write more freely. She might actualy get expansive ideas captured by not thinking as hard. Her Mother grasped what I was discussing and really encouraged her daughter to try some of these suggestions.

This young woman loves writing, words, and complex concepts. I asked her to bring me some of her works. I look forward to her magic. She seems to hold magic with each breath, Her innocence and enthusiasm will craft refreshing perspectives.

If in your heart, you have tales to create, or poetry lingering, you too might take new flight by listening, and just jotting down: everything. Writing will dance upon the page providing you with multiple trails to explore. The garden of life a nd wisedom can be organized when you have nothing better to do.

somewhat related:

Come explore what is in you.

3 in a row: NurseKeith addresses topics avoided

Monday, January 26th, 2009
May your spring be bold  photo by Mary MacIntyre

May your spring be bold photo by Mary MacIntyre

http://digitaldoorway.blogspot.com/2009/01/of-depression-statistics-and-labels.html
If you are a writer who would enjoy being featured on this blog, contact me througha comment. I will ask you to submit some work, and let you know if I can use your material. Submissions should be less than 1000 words. It would be doubly great if you have stories to tell about publishing your work.

Exploring your writing career? Start blogging now.

So one might ask, who is this NurseKeith, and why so many blogs about him??? Nurse Keith is a writer, a man who works a FT Public Health job, a father and a husband. While he has devoted his life to serving others, he also has carried his share of tribulations. He rarely has set down his load of troubles, and he works hard. Comes with the territory some may say. However in a world where people hope for disability checks, and people whine about what they can’t do, or even worse fail to try to make their life better, Keith goes to work, and he somehow makes time also to write. Hopefully you have read some of the previous blogs first, if not return to them and learn more.

http://digitaldoorway.blogspot.com/2009/01/of-depression-statistics-and-labels.html

Of Depression, Statistics and Labels
According to the website of the National Institute of Mental Health, depression is the leading cause of disability among Americans between the ages of 15 and 44. Further statistics show that 6.7 % of the U.S. population (14.8 million adults) are affected by Major Depression in any particular calendar year. And at least in the U.S., more women are diagnosed with depression than men, with the median age of onset being 32 for both genders.

When reading these numbers, please bear in mind that this reflects only the statistics vis-a-vis Major Depression, and does not include significant data concerning Dysthymic Disorder and Bipolar Disorder, as well as the myriad anxiety and personality disorders, phobias, PTSD, and other mental illnesses.

Extrapolating the data to include all mental disorders, the numbers of astounding. It is estimated that 26.2 % of all Americans 18 and older (more than 57 million adults) suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder, however only 6-7 % have a serious mental illness.

Here on Digital Doorway, I have disclosed a number of times that I have lived with Major Depression for many years, dating back at least to adolescence, but most likely into early childhood. Having suffered …
REad on….

digitaldoorway.blogspot.com/2009/01/of-depression-statistics-and-labels.html
To get the real story: go to the links above.

Conversations with Pain, true tales by NurseKeith

Monday, January 26th, 2009

Open to your visions  photo by: Mary MacIntyre

Open to your visions photo by: Mary MacIntyre


Welcome to arena of expanded reality. If you have ever had a period of chronic pain, you know too deeply the canyons you might walk through in wrestling with your altered reality.

Recently on a particularly bad day, two close friends approached me while I was at work and between rage and near collision with tear outburst. The husband, a pyschologist, tried to give me a perspective, which I didn’t really want to hear. I grit my teeth, and said something, and soon they left. Phew. I maintained composure and finished the day’s work. How can we approach pain, and prepare for healing? Talk to my doc, d.o.m., Daniel Cobb he can do phone consultations: (505) 424-9527. He does charge for these calls.

However, there are difficult times, when by yourself, you/me will need to find a way to frame the pain invaders. Nurse Keith tells this tale, perhaps a near life situation.

One aspect of Nurse Ketih’s writing that I love, is how he can report feelings in a way that can make one feel the burden, and inequities that exist in our mindset as well as throughout our body. After reading several of his writings, I felt compeeled to write a response to his story. It was after a long day and my knee shot fire through me. One of those days. I had been very tired, and consoled myself with reality I had hardly slept the night before. I refused to cry. HOwever, I also refused to rebuke my leg that had done so well most of the day. Exhaustion wasn’t so-o-o-o bad in the evening. However, as I wrote, my pain disappeared. I came to peace. Please read on…
http://digitaldoorway.blogspot.com/2009/01/pain-unwanted-passenger.html

ain, the Unwanted Passenger
Pain sits in the passenger seat, contentedly sipping a soda through a straw, watching the scenery go by.

“Do you want some?”, Pain asks, shoving the soda in my face, briefly obscuring my vision.

I look over at the passenger seat, glaring. “No,” I reply angrily, “I don’t want anything from you.”

Looking forlorn, my unwanted passenger pouts and changes the channel on the radio to a Top 40’s station.

“Hey! I was listening to NPR, and you know how I hate Top 40!” I push a button, returning to “Morning Edition”.

Pain replies, “Y’know, listening to the news will only make you feel worse. Listen to some of that depressing music you like so much instead.”

“You’re really getting on my nerves today,” I reply. “Who invited you on this trip anyway?”

I shove a CD in the console: Conor Oberst. Maybe Pain is right. There are several emotionally devastating songs on this CD, but I listen to it over and over again. Am I a glutton for punishment?

We’re both quiet for a while, listening to the music. It’s like reading a tragic novel. It’s cathartic to hear about someone else’s pain, putting one’s own struggles into perspective.

Suddenly, Pain interrupts the music, shouting over the guitars and vocals. “I know you don’t want me to go away. You think you do, but you’re so goddamed identified with me, you wouldn’t know what the fuck to do if I was gone.” He opens the window and throws his empty soda bottle onto the shoulder.

“Hey! Littering’s against the law, and it’s dangerous to throw things out of a car moving at 60 miles per hour!” I glare at him.

“Don’t be such a fuss-budget,” he spits back. “Maybe if you weren’t so worried about everything, you wouldn’t need me around. Just relax, man. You waste so much time on worry, and then you wonder why you feel like shit most of the time.”

“We need gas,” I say as I pull off the highway and into a service station.

“I’ve gotta piss like a race horse,” Pain says, opening the passenger door and trotting off to the men’s room. Looking back, he yells, “Want anything? Tylenol? Advil? Maybe a beer?”

Grimacing, I give him the finger and start pumping gas into the tank. He emerges from the men’s room and is now inside the little convenience store, amiably chatting with the clerk, buying candy and soda. He waves to me through the window. I glare back and give him the finger again. He feigns hurt feelings and touches his hand to his heart, rolling his eyes up into his head.

I finish pumping the gas and consider what would happen if I hopped back in the car and sped off, leaving him stranded here in the middle of some American suburban purgatory. Then I reconsider. I guess I’m not done with him yet.

He opens the passenger door and sits down with a sigh, noisily rummaging through a plastic bag filled with candy bars, several cans of Red Bull, and a trashy magazine.

“Y’know,” Pain says, looking at me squarely, “while I was standing in line waiting to pay the cashier, I honestly wondered whether you had the balls to drive away and leave me.”

He continues to look at me and I have to look away. It’s too painful to face the truth. He is so much a part of me, a piece of my identity—-like depression. It’s harder to let go than I thought.

“I knew it!” he laughs maniacally, slapping the dashboard several times. “You were thinking about it, and you knew you couldn’t do it!” He laughs again and pops open a can of Red Bull. “It’s a good thing I got some extra caffeine. We have a long day ahead of us!”

I stare straight ahead at the road, gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles are white, and I wonder what I ever did to invite such a passenger into my life, and what I need to do to let him go. I look over at him and I’m disgusted. He’s slurping on hyper-caffeinated soda, eating junk food, reading a shitty magazine and just changed the radio to that horrible Top 40’s station again. He looks back at me like a petulant child and I shake my head in disbelief that I would ever allow such behavior in my car. He sticks out his tongue, laughs, and turns the music louder.

This is of my own making, I tell myself. I invited him in and I can ask him to leave.

Maybe tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow.
Posted by Keith, RN at 1/11/2009 06:41:00 AM
Labels: pain, personal
5 comments:
Binger said…
Very cool, I love it! Keep blogging!
Welcome to China! Your personal trip advisor for China Tour . Discounted China Domestic Flight & China Hotel, Save up to 60%. Visit now! Your Portal to China Travel

7:38 AM
Barbara K. said…
Brilliant! Pain as the passenger from hell. Your style is marvelous and the content is very close to the bone. But will he really leave if you dis-invite him?

7:01 PM
Keith, RN said…
Thank you, Barbara. You are too kind. Will he leave? I may need to get rough…..

7:32 PM
Kim said…
I don’t even know how many levels there are to this portrait of pain, but I think I’ll see a new one each time I re-read this post.

And I will re-read it. Often.

Dang, Keith. To write like you…..

11:15 AM
Makinart said…
Hi Keith,
Great blog. As my knee aches with resurrected knee pain, I have a few old tricks and another perspective. 1) Talk to pain. Ask questions, etc. Listen. 2)Realize pain is you, as you would in gestalt therapy. Go pack and forth, and as pain aske for what you want and need. Then negotiate.
3) Sometimes pain is just pain. I didn’t sleep well last night: exhausted. Got to work, so by the end of the day, I was tired which somehow triggers more inflammation. My tricks weren’t working, my mood shifted. So I let myself juice veggies, cooked a meal and everything but pain was feeling OK. My knee worked hard and did good today, I only had annoying pain in the last hour or less at work. Not too bad considering… Mary MacIntyre,www.lifetipsdaily.com

9:36 PM
Post a Comment

Newer Post Older Post Home
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom) Find Nursing Uniforms!

Name brand medical scrubs from only $9.99. Cherokee Scrubs - Landau - Grey’s Anatomy - Peaches …
Free shipping offer over $99.
Buy medical uniforms & nursing scrubs at discount prices.
MedicalScrubsMall.com

About Me

View my complete profile
My Other Blogs
A Nurse and His Treo
Digital Doorway on Alensa
Fiction, Prose & Ephemera
Latter Day Sparks
Laughter Incorporated
Looking for Scrubs?

UA Scrubs as low as $6.99.
Select from scrub tops, scrub pants, scrub jackets, lab coats, medical shoes & more.
Shop our medical scrubs & nursing uniforms at discount prices today.
UniformAdvantage.com

Travel Nurse Jobs

Travel Nursing Jobs

Where has Digital Doorway been featured?
Value Care, Value Nurses Blogger Scholarship Winner
2006 Medical Weblog Awards
Alensa.com
Nursing Online Education Database
Thinking Blogger Award
Blog Archive
▼ 2009 (22)
▼ January (22)
Ballast
The Crane and the River
Change of Shift is Up at Emergiblog
Crisis, Opportunity, and a New Reflection
Inauguration Day: Walking Forward
Healthcare Reform and Grand Rounds
Building a Peaceful World
Digital Doorway Celebrates 4 Years!
Keeping Safe in the Bitter Cold
Fiction, Prose and Ephemera
The United States of Tara
Grand Rounds, Vol. 5, No. 17
BlackDoctor.org
Pain, the Unwanted Passenger
CRZEGRL Hosts Change of Shift
Hercules, Sisyphus, and Depression
Reaching Out To the Margins
Grand Rounds: Profit in Medicine
Edwin Leap, M.D.
Loss and Bereavement
Of Depression, Statistics and Labels
Welcoming 2009 With Compassion
► 2008 (247)
► December (21)
My Nomination as a Top 100 Health Blogger
Announcing the Publication of “Final Moments”
The Census and Americans With Disabilities
Personal Suffering and the Experience of Compassio…
Chronic Disease and Optimism for the Future
Honor Those Who Suffer
Happy Holidays to All
Social Justice, Public Health, and the Pursuit of …
The Economy and Its Discontents
The Challenge of Emergency Preparedness
Transplants and Ethical Complications
Public Health and the Economic Downturn: Live Webc…
Marijke Hosts Change of Shift
If the Flu Fits…..
Under the Weather
The Obama-Biden Health Care Agenda
Young Adults, Healthcare and the Economy
Texas Comes Deservedly Under Fire
Gifts That Give More
Worlds AIDS Day, 2008
Temporarily Joining the Ranks
► November (24)
Casualties of Conspicuous Consumption
Thanksgiving Change of Shift
A Thanksgiving Ambulance Ride and the Tectonic Pla…
Food Insecurity on Thanksgiving
The Mathematics of HIV Infection
So, What Does A Public Health Nurse Do, Anyway?
Public Health and Me
► October (25)
► September (19)
► August (21)
► July (17)
► June (20)
► May (18)
► April (17)
► March (24)
► February (19)
► January (22)
► 2007 (280)
► December (24)
► November (26)
► October (21)
► September (17)
► August (17)
► July (14)
► June (23)
► May (28)
► April (28)
► March (27)
► February (26)
► January (29)
► 2006 (256)
► December (23)
► November (22)
► October (29)
► September (16)
► August (24)
► July (20)
► June (22)
► May (18)
► April (24)
► March (21)
► February (23)
► January (14)
► 2005 (240)
► December (16)
► November (14)
► October (14)
► September (11)
► August (21)
► July (23)
► June (22)
► May (25)
► April (21)
► March (25)
► February (22)
► January (26)
NurseKeith on Twitter
Twitter Updates
New blog post: Ballast http://tinyurl.com/bz3c2a 46 minutes ago
follow me on Twitter

Keith . Nursing

View my page on medXcentral

Global Nursing Community

Nurse Bloggers
20 Out Of 10 About a Nurse Adrenalin Rush Adventures in Anesthesia Adventures of GuitarGirl RN Angela Posey-Arnold, RN At Your Cervix Blissful Entropy Blogger: Content Warning Call A Code Calling All Pennsylvania Nurses Chocolate and Raspberries Code Blog Cooking Nurse Crass-Pollination: An ER blog crzegrl, flight nurse Dear Nurses Death Maiden Diary of a Nurse DisappearingJohn RN Emergiblog ER Murse Head Nurse ImpactED Nurse It’s A Nursing Thing Livin’ Large Marijke: Nurse Turned Writer Mediblogopathy - A Nurse Blog Mental Nurse Musings of a Highly Trained Monkey My Strong Medicine National Nurse New FNP Nighttime Nursing NP’s Place Nurse Ratched’s Place Nurse Sean NurseReview.Org Nurse’s Life Blog NurseTips Nursing Around Nursing Research: Show me the evidence! NursingZen oncRN Paging Dr.Nurse Phil Baumann, RN PixelRN Raspberry Blase Running Wildly shrimplate talking RN Tangled Chain~A Nurse Perspective The Nurse Practitioner’s Place This Won’t Hurt a Bit Thoughts From the Night Shift Undergrad RN Young and Restless Nurse Blog Carnivals/Compendiums
Blog Carnival
Change of Shift
Grand Rounds
Oriented x 3
Doctor Bloggers
Blogborygmi
Digestion, Health and Nutrition
Doctor Anonymous
Dr. Deborah Serani
Edwin Leap, MD
The Examining Room of Dr. Charles
Fat Doctor
From Medskool
Grunt Doc
Intueri
Mexico Medical Student
Over My Med Body
Therapy Doc
UroStream
Alternative/Complementary Medicine, Mindfulness, Healing
Live Mindfully
Natural Physicians
Tengsha: Sound for Healing
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Bonafrutta
Grieving Loss
Living in a Chemical Soup
Living with MCS
The Masked Avenger
The Canary Report
Suz’ Clues
Advocacy and Activism
Amnesty International
Human Rights Campaign
Human Rights Watch
Physicians for Human Rights
(RED)
Save Darfur
STAND
Death, Dying, Grief, Loss
Loss, Grief, and Renewal
Patients/Healthcare Consumer Bloggers
Chiari Malformation Blog
Chronic Babe
Diabetes Mine
In Sickness and In Health
Lisa’s Page
The Blah Blog
The Pink Tee Shirt
Second Chance to Live
Other Professionals
Donor Cycle
Everyone Needs Therapy
Health and Fitness
In Sickness and in Health
The Angry Pharmacist
The Happystance Project
Your Pharmacist May Hate You
Favorite Blogs
arse poetica
Electile Dysfunction
Enchanted Living Arts
Eschara
Genre Cookshop
Graceful Presence
Journey to Center
Old Girl From the North Country
Swamp Things
Visionary Notes
Whiskey River
Healthcare Advocacy/Policy
AlignMap
Disabilityblog
Nat’l Family Caregivers Ass’n
Health Care Policy and Marketplace Review
Health Populi
The National Nurse
Universal Health
Other Sites of Interest
Air Quality Tips
Laughter Yoga
Quantum Cafe

http://digitaldoorway.blogspot.com/2009/01/pain-unwanted-passenger.html

NurseKeith Friend and author: Inspiration Followed

Saturday, January 24th, 2009

Pink Mountain Changes the world

Pink Mountain Changes the world


Photo by Mary MacIntyre
Proper introduction? Find Nursekeith on Twitter.com Also visit his blogs. Great writers sometime haunt blog corridors, and may not be easily discoverd. Here I set forth to reveal many talents and styles of bloggers and writers. NurseKeith has kindly offered several stories both non-fiction and fiction to share.

I decided not to choose which peice to publish, I will do a blog for each one. Here’s a rare glimpse into the musings of a man well spoken.

First though, on one of his blogs he creates six word stories. Try some on your own. My first: snack. i ate pecans. peace.

http://digitaldoorway.blogspot.com/2009/01/reaching-out-to-margins.html Use this link for the rest of the story…

Yesterday, I received a call from a young college student with an interest in Public Health who wants to volunteer at our health department. After a telephone conversation and a string of emails, I gleaned that she is from Cape Verde, speaks Cape Verdean Creole (Portuguese married with African dialects) as her first language, and also speaks and understands some Spanish. Thinking quickly, I realized that this is a golden opportunity to utilize this individual’s language and cultural knowledge to reach out to the Cape Verdean community in our town. While not as sizeable as our Chinese, Tibetan, Cambodian, and Latino communities, I know for a fact that a pocket of Cape Verdeans are scattered amongst the population, and this young woman may be the key to doing some important outreach to a marginalized segment of our municipality.

The director of our health department is dedicated to issues of racial justice and social equality, and a significant multi-year social justice grant has given our department just the push it needed to bring to life her much appreciated vision. With a part-time worker devoted to fulfilling the social justice grant and a Cambodian outreach worker dedicated to the Khmer community in our area, we are well aware that there are ethnic and racial groups that also deserve our attention.

While public health does indeed involve immunizations and infectious disease surveillance, the 21st century has brought the very enlightened awareness that the control of chronic disease is where we should be focusing in the wake of the 20th century’s successes vis-a-vis the virtual eradication of vaccine-preventable diseases such as polio and measles. However, to control chronic diseases and improve quality of life and lifespan, we must also ascertain why and how health disparities occur amongst various ethnic, racial and socioeconomic groups, subsequently taking concerted action to assuage those disparities. From infant mortality to rates of diabetes, people of color are more burdened than their caucasian counterparts. While some genetic differences may account for a small portion of these differences, it has been demonstrated time and again that socioeconomics and the very stress of living in a racist society can indeed have a significant impact on health outcomes. Of this we are now certain, although some are still not convinced.
(This story just gets better…click the link and then send messages to NurseKeith at twitter, or leave comments on his blog). Mary

Nursekeith may be a blogger for hire…

Food writers Weston Price and Sally Fallon

Saturday, January 24th, 2009

img_2634_3

Writing about food, health, and nutrition is big business. Writers can find lots of jobs and opportunities writing about food. Writing also has expanded from print media to all forms of media. Therefore, if you are crazy about food, mini-screen plays could make fantastic and popular Youtube videos. Each video can also be placed on many other sites too.

If you love books, as many writers do, then you can also sell books online by your blog, affiliates, and other venues. I’ve recently been chatting with a local author who has been online for years. SHe makes additional income from being an Amazon.com affiliate. She has quoted some very good ( for passive income) numbers. One thing I love about her is that she is in her seventies and still is learning more about online bizes, and still keeps writing.

If you were to take a minute, you could make a long list of places to write food articles for. Juststart noting where you see writers fine-tuning their craft. Tonight I want to focus on two writers who have made considerable impact on the world with their research and publishing. These are not new spritely writers. They may not even be househld names. Yet what they have given the world has started a whole new/old food movement. Watch these videos to learn more.

Here you can see how several people have built upon the research and writings of Weston Price. They offer detailed information about nutritional needs and preparation of foods. Using videos, DVD’s, lectures, and resources in their foundation’s libraries, they have promoted and made much of the written docuementation to a larger audience.
Obviously these techniques and process can be duplicated for any topic regarding food. A writer’s expression thus can be expanded and provide multiple sreams of income and publication. Visit the food blogs on 451Press.com
or coachingcooking.com

Let your words flow. Please leave comments often. Thanks. Mary MacIntyre

Blogs,publishing,articles,purpose?

Thursday, January 22nd, 2009

Move beyond the obvious...dream a little

Move beyond the obvious...dream a little


I tend to start with the creative aspect: writing. I’m mostly in it for the story, or the poem that transends the word. The fun,yet hard work stuff. Research used to be my next flair. Discovery and organizing critical thought jouneys. I’m less proficient at journalism. I used to be a pretty good copywriter.

I also have not developed an outstanding writing career. Mostly because I chose different directions. In today’s marketing frenzy and changing mediums, writers have many more options to publish their work. Yes a few diligent people with great networking skills and contacts will land the big contracts. However many witers have discovered that the internet provides a multitude of avenues to publish your work and make oodles of money.

Thus while you pursue your greatest dreams, you might find ways to market your skills through Ebook publishing, blogging, free lance writing, article submission, short stories. Start making a list of where you’d like to begin and the earnings you want to make monthly.

Sporadically I will address each subject listed above. I also welcome your input, especially your stories. Any one making $30,000 a year as a writer online? Talk to me.

As you begin your writing venture consider 2 objectives: first can you develop part of your business around something that you love? Though it need not be a full blown niche category, pick a topic that you’d never get tired of writing about. Then create a flow chart with the ways that could make you $$$. Core: blog, affiliate earning related, articles, and ebook, a short book that would work on a publishing site, products that relate to your topic, multiple places where you can sell variations of the original article.

Second look for opportunities where you can take assignments. My attitude due to career experiences and being able to do research sithat I can write about almost anything. I can learn about a topic, interview people if needed, find resources and write. MY passion in this case is the writing. My mind like a cat harbors a hefty appetite for curiousity.

By combining your inherent talent, desire, and passion you most likely can create a flow chart filled with options and opportunities. Once you’ve completed this assignment, you are ready to begin the search. As most writers realize, concurrently, research, research, research.

Well, as you can see, youtube again is a fast way to get down to earth tips. In an upcoming blog we’ll continue. Begin thinking of your purpose for for/as a writer. Balancing what you want to accomplish, and various assignments will make a far more productive journey.

Lowrey:A prayer from a great tradition

Wednesday, January 21st, 2009
Speak clearly your truth

Speak clearly your truth


There’s power in the word. This benediction draws from a long tradition where the orator opens insight and faith to call ordinary people to come forth and do good in this world. Bold and elegant his words now reach millions once again.

Reverend Lowrey did not need to cut many corners. His boldness welcomed consideration. His humor allowed people to laugh as well. Yet in a few minutes he shown a light on places we might venture.

Did you hear the stories about homeland security’s effort for major crowd control? Thousands of people who may not have made it to the mall or even in the city found refuge secretly in churches throughout the city. They slep on pews, under pews and in ront of pews. I praise the creativity of the churches to invite the travellers into their parishes. Many who woud have been turned away found respite their, and managed to be part of this historic event. Other slept in the subways. SOme were finally allowed to walk a few miles from A Virgina bridge. The people determined to witness and participate on this great day persevered, and many felt achievement at having arrived on the mall today.

I honor the versality,power, and variety of word. I honor the power of prayer. I welcome those calling us to awaken and work together. I celebrate the challenge and joy that our new President expresses. OUr determination can inspire many. OUr efforts can help many to create new jobs, rebuild our confidence, and design stronger, safer communities. May you join the call, and give thanks.

Elizabeth Alexander

Wednesday, January 21st, 2009

winter-sunset-031

Obama Day! It was an fun filled day for me. I arrived at a friend’s about 9AM to watch the 10AM MST inaugaration. My friend made me a small pancake. We watched and had our own sidebar commentary. We also had many silent points too. Then I took her to lunch and for a ride partway up the mountain. Afterall it was a day to celebrate! From there I arrived at the pool, and since Iwas early, I went for a walk. Later swam after a fine sit in the sun (it was a warm sunny day!) Later after other events, I returned to see what the balls would be like. Home late.

I loved the class presented with music and speakers at the inauguration. I was especially thankful for the poet. Only for poets have been invited for presidential inaugurations. SO I bring you Elizabeth Alexander for you to listen to and learn about.

Elizabeth Alexander poet:

Here’s a short bio from her website

Elizabeth Alexander

Elizabeth Alexander is a poet, essayist, playwright, and teacher born in New York City and raised in Washington, DC. Alexander has degrees from Yale University and Boston University and completed her Ph.D. in English at the University of Pennsylvania. She has published five books of poems: The Venus Hottentot (1990), Body of Life (1996), Antebellum Dream Book (2001), American Sublime (2005), which was one of three finalists for the Pulitzer Prize and was one of the American Library Association’s “Notable Books of the Year;” and, most recently, her first young adult collection (co-authored with Marilyn Nelson), Miss Crandall’s School for Young Ladies and Little Misses of Color (2008 Connecticut Book Award). Her two collections of essays are The Black Interior (2004) and Power and Possibility (2007), and her play, “Diva Studies,” was produced at the Yale School of Drama.

http://www.elizabethalexander.net/home.html

I hope you replay this poem as it is well written and presents a fine vision.

MLK Yeah! Freedom! Let’s all stand up for freedom.

Monday, January 19th, 2009
Yes!  Keep dreaming...watch for amazing results! Photo by Mary MacIntyre

Yes! Keep dreaming...watch for amazing results! Photo by Mary MacIntyre

Words inspires. Words invoke feelings. Words Project Possibility. The roads Martin Luther King Jr travelled were long and journeyed to ordinary people. His visions were meant to touch all of us. Some have been inspired to do great achievements. Some never left troubled, hard lives. Some have only discovered greater bondage through drugs and violence. Many are still imprisoned, more now than ever in our history. Forget not these people. Forget not the mothers with babes in hand who still struggle to get by, forget not the hungry or those Katrina survivors.

Yes we can reach to a renew dignity. Yes we can change our lives. Yes we can allow spirit to shower us with abundance, love and strength. We have a long road to walk. We have many towns to organize. We have opportunities to be brave. Most of all we can take responsibility for our own lives.

What to me is very important today is to weave the power of the drums, the power of youth, and the power of idealism to change the world. Listen to the drums. The paths still are there, perhaps few walk upon them, but now so many have opened their eyes again, and are looking at what visions they might create for to strengthen thier towns, their states, and our beloved country. Sit with your own words. Count what you do to contribute to a peaceful world. See what you can do to add to justice. “Now is the time!” Martin Luther King Jr. I welcome you to our new beginning, renewed again, we all can create change. (PS write!)

About Writers Unbound

Writers Unbound aims to be your one-stop shop for the writing business. Whether you’re a veteran or a newbie aspiring to publish your first works, we want to be your resource. We’ll share success stories in publishing, tips from working writers on style and craft, and keep you in touch with developments and changes in the publishing world. We’ll cover fiction, poetry and nonfiction. We’ll also profile different publications who offer pay for content. Looking for a network? We plan to provide information about professional networks that may be of benefit to you. We invite you to email us with questions about writing—we’ll feature some of those in upcoming columns. Meanwhile, check out Writers Unbound each weekday. We promise you a lively journey into the world of words.

Writers Unbound Author(s)
    » Mary-MacIntyre

Blogging Flair

Books & Writing Channel Posts

  • Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Chapter Twenty-Nine Wrap Up
    Chapter Twenty-Nine of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is called "The Phoenix Lament." Ginny gets Harry up from Dumbledore's body and leads him back to the castle. Ginny takes him to the [...]
  • Call for Submissions: Warren Alder Short Story Contest
    Spring/Summer 2009 Contest Theme: Short Fiction in Varied Genres Submit Your Stories Now! The Warren Adler Short Story Contest is fast becoming the most prestigious online short [...]
  • Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Chapter Twenty-Eight Wrap Up
    Chapter Twenty-Eight of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is called "Flight of the Prince." Snape rushes the Death Eaters out of the tower after the killing Dumbledore. Harry soon realizes [...]
  • Dog Train
    By Sandra Boynton Energetic, moody, and unpredictable new songs written and illustrated by the energetic, moody, and unpredictable Sandra Boynton. And performed by the most unusual mix of [...]
  • Friday Fill-Ins 131
    Wow, talk about a stressful day. I don't know what I'd do if it wasn't Friday as well. Maybe declare some sort of holiday or take a sick day... Wow. So glad it's Friday! And...here we [...]
  • Ten Minutes with Author Brian Sandell
    Hello and welcome to Fiction Scribe Mr. Sandell! Thank you! I am very glad, and excited to stop by and visit your blog today. I think we are going to have lots of fun! List five words that [...]
  • Mr. JM Book Review - Eon by Greg Bear
    Eon, by Greg Bear, is a book that I can only call Mind Boggling! (the capitals are deliberate) Eon is set in our near future, when Astronomers find an asteroid heading our way. If you don’t know, [...]
  • Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Chapter Twenty-Seven Wrap Up
    Chapter Twenty-Seven of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is called "The Lightning-Struck Tower." Harry successfully aparrates back to Hogsmeade with him guiding Dumbledore this time. Harry [...]
  • The Dog Who Saved Santa
      By True Kelley  This tale of a naughty Santa Claus--and the dog who refuses to let a sleeping Santa lie--will have kids rolling with laughter.  It's Christmastime, and young Santa is barely [...]
  • Gluten Free Book Reviews? Explore Reading List
    [caption id="attachment_719" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="journeys call us to return; walking always photo by Mary MacIntyre"][/caption] I have share a reading list that may give you [...]

Hot Off The Press