Going Going Gone

Hello to all of you that have so given generously to reading my blog. Today I am announcing a time away from writing. I am planning to spend the summer focusing on family. I will miss many of you and at times will definitely read your blogs. At some point, I hope to return with new stories of my adventures as I will be keeping notes of what would be good topics to write about. My children especially inspire funny stories so hopefully by the fall you will get to see some posts from our summer antics.

Much respect to you all and if you want to stay in touch via email just put it in the comments on this post.

Alesia

Clogged Toilets, Bugs, And Mother’s Day

My son when he was a toddler showing me some “attitude.”

You are probably wondering what those three things have in common. It just so happens to be a lot.

My son Elijah is an amazing young man. He has many good points along with a few quirky ones. One of those quirky points is he does not like bugs.

I bet you know where this is heading.

Yesterday I am outside and I hear a scream from the inside of the house. Yes. 16-year-old boys do scream sort of. It goes something like this, ” Aghhhhhh, Mom hurry get in here!”

I walk in rather quickly and approach my son who is looking inside our downstairs toilet, “Mom, I did something.”

As we are both looking down at the toilet. I am thinking he had a big dump and now the toilet is stopped up! “Elijah, how many times have I told you to flush twice if you need to.” This was actually said very calmly for you mothers out there who may be wondering.

“It’s all stopped up.” Elijah says to me. Well I was going to say NO SHIT, but it did not seem like appropriate language in front of my son. Although I felt it would get the message across rather nicely.

It turns out Elijah had not gone to the bathroom. He had taken a paper towel and had killed a big beetle and had flushed both items down the toilet. UGH!!!!

Our toilet does not take kindly to paper towels! Beetles-well the toilet doesn’t give a shit about them. He was gone.

So rather frustrated I gathered my senses and instructed Elijah this was a good time to learn about plunging. So what turned out to possibly being a rather ugly scene turned into a pleasant motherly instructive lesson on bathroom and toilet etiquette and plunging. What more should a mother do , but show her kid how things are done properly. Happy Mother’s Day to me! And to you.

Do me a favor. Enjoy your children. Worry less about the household chores and business the rest of this week. Give your time to the little ones. That is what they will remember.

Getting Inside Your Brain

My son was so proud of this new book he got. Are we as proud of our own blogs like he is of his book?

Good writing on my blog takes time. Actually the truth is sometimes it does not. Sharing of my own personal struggles with a brain tumor and having a son with autism typically make for interesting blogging. It has been easy to formulate my thoughts on these two subjects, and finding a niche in blogging and resonating with others has been a fascinating journey for me.

It has now been a year since Alesiablogs was created. Showing my various sides and moods has been prevalent throughout my writings. Thinking thoughtfully about a topic brings a richness to a subject. However, I have found my most popular posts ( if I judge it on likes and comments) can be the post that took me all of 20 minutes to write. Go Figure.

I am also keenly aware that my style of writing may be what draws someone in along with a subject that needs more light shined upon it. The crazy thing is that I am not an English teacher and have never done any formal writing.

Yet, I feel my voice makes a difference. IT is what brings me to your blog. It is your voice. It just recently hit me that I need to stop worrying about how many followers I have or views of my page. What does it matter? I am not trying to be commercially successful. In fact I could care less.

What do I care about then? I care about a life changed. I care about the young woman who has started to follow me because my words are helping her get through an abusive relationship. I care about the young man inspired by my experiences that is going through something similar like I did and is looking for answers.

I care about people.

So there is no catchy writing here for you to view most of the time. Many times I share from just the top surface of an issue so as to not get too personal about my problems, but it is in the depth I find you all. So depth I try to pursue. It is in these deep blog posts, that your comments flow. Realizing this makes me want to write even better. It makes me realize I am getting in side your brain.

So as I start my second year of blogging, it is my hope my writing would be worthy of you reading. I know your comments and your likes are all I have to go by for now. I value these, but wish there was another way to get graded. I need to clue you in on a little secret. I “like” my own posts routinely. After all I better like what I am sharing.

Trees

Howdy WordPress Friends,

I have been wanting to share my tree photos from my most recent vacation to the state of Hawaii. Nature and Earth are so very important to me. I so enjoy God’s creation and as many of you know, we need to be kind to our planet. Trees were created for many purposes, but today my photos are for you to just visually enjoy. Hopefully their beauty will put a smile on your face and you will be renewed by them in some way.

My Forrest Gump Moment

Today I did not want to blog. My ongoing efforts to write seemed futile.

I grabbed my coffee though and came to the computer and thought about one of my favorite films Forrest Gump! What would Forrest do? Laughing out Loud–I thought-he would continue with the race and run until he was done.

I realized I am not quite done with blogging. I am purpose-driven and working on a goal. I have picked up a few new bloggers that have engaged with me about their lives and I am touched. The blogging is worth the effort I thought. It is helping in a way I did not know it could.

Today is a new day.

Ten years ago most commentary we would read would be one-sided. Your favorite news paper or magazine would run an article perhaps on some political subject that left you fuming. I mean you were pissed off. Today they are dying by the dozens.

Since then a little thing called a blog took over. It popularity soared. Blogging has perhaps become the watchdog for when other forms of media seem to be getting it wrong or missing alternative solutions.

This is what attracted me to it. If you’ve never realized that blogging has an extensive network of helpful links, you would be mistaken. The visibility of what we have is an experience like no other.

It is a wonder that so many that blog are actually writing about the very subject of blogging. I like that because it helps with perspective. So I continue my quest and wait for my Forrest Gump MOMENT. How about you? Can you explain to me what keeps you going on with your blogging?

The Box

Do you collect anything? My collection is boxes. They intrigue me. It could be their design or even the way it latches to lock. Recently when I shared a letter from a box of mine, http://alesiablogs.wordpress.com/2013/04/27/becoming-a-nurse/ , I realized how precious those assorted boxes are. They are representative of something that captured my eye. The contents are attention grabbers for me. Many memories are personal in nature yet my assorted boxes’ contents are a visible reminder of where my life has been and where I have gone.

Can I be frank with you? I am thankful, but feel lost in a world that puts more value on things than people. Under darkened skies, I grasp at the inner most mind games playing within my brain and realize we are not anywhere near where we need to be. There is so much more.

Today I am opening up to you the same way I open up one of my boxes. What we discover together could be poetic. Choosing happiness and joy is on the top of my list. Come with me and see JOY. As I have aged, my life is more and more precious. May you be encouraged to feel that same way. What would we be without each other? This is worthy of being pondered.

God Be With You.

Becoming A Nurse

Today’s post is a letter I received from one of my aunts when she became a nurse. I wanted to share it in honor of her 86 birthday coming up very soon! As a nurse myself, I felt it was inspiring. I hope you do too. I have two retired aunts that were nurses in my family and including my career in nursing we have over 100 years between us of taking care of the public in their time of need:

The year was 1964. I am a high school graduate-the mother of five children ages one to seventeen. I am thirty-eight years old and we live in a farming community. My husband’s income is minimum wage. I am a good manager, but I can no longer make one small paycheck meet the needs of our growing family.

My inspiration is to find a job that will enable me to help meet those needs. I’d never in my life had any desire to be a nurse. My experiences with nurses was very limited and I liked it that way! I’d admire them from afar-and the farther the better.

In spring of 1964, a notice in the local newspaper said a nurses’ assistant class would be taught at the local hospital. It would last six weeks and those accepted in the program would receive seven dollars per day and a certificate of completion of the course of learning. I applied and was accepted.

I was on my way. I had two dollars each day for the babysitter, gas for the car, lunch, and one uniform that was starched and ironed everyday! I would describe myself as hopeful, prayerful, and squeamish, but determined.

Then I met my first Florence Nightingale. She was Ms. Anderson, RN from Hopkins County, KY. She told us what. She showed us how. She told us why. She then watched until she knew we understood. She was the first of many I’d meet in the years to come.

My first job was as a surgical technician and emergency room nurse with on the job training and vocational classes at night. I graduated from that vocational school. I worked my first nursing job for 19 years in the hospital. I then worked in a nursing home for five years. I returned to the hospital part time for five more years. I retired at the age of 67 with a nursing career spanning 29 years. The hard work and opportunities I never expected to have with experiences that inspired far beyond my imagination and memories I have now to look back on. Memories that remind me of hopes that are fulfilled and prayers that are answered. I am thankful.

The Boston Marathon’s Other Story

Boston Marathon 2013

Boston Marathon 2013

Simply put the horrific bombings of the Boston Marathon will never be forgotten. What many of us can not seem to get over is the senseless act of these terrorists. Did you ever think to wonder what the news would have been like if the bombings had not occurred? While walking yesterday with my fitness trainer, I was privy to a story not too many folks got to hear and it is worthy of noting.

The Boston Marathon was an exciting event for approximately 30,000 folks that ran it. Many of them were running for the very first time. My fitness instructor was one of those first timers. Her story is probably like so many others. She flew from out-of-state which just so happened to be my home state of Washington to run in the most prestigious event that one can imagine.

Becci told me she was thrilled beyond words to have been there and in fact at one point before the race began, she had to sit down to gather her composure as she was so overtaken with emotion. She had dreamt of being a part of this race for a very long time.

Arriving early for the race, Becci and her husband took in some of the sights of Boston. She had never been to the Atlantic Ocean. It was a mesmerizing experience for her. A better part of her weekend was mentally getting prepared for the race. She and her husband drove to where the starting line and the finish line would be at. The starting line was in a small town. On the actual day of the Boston Marathon, Becci was amazed at the organization of the event and how many police officers she saw all over the streets with volunteers at every checkpoint you could even imagine.

The only complaint Becci had was that the line to go to the bathroom at one point was way too long and it took almost an hour to just pee before the race began.
The contestants started their race in stages. She began her race in the wrong group by accident and was for her pace in a slower crowd. Becci actually had to weave in and out of the contestants as they were running too slow for her. She figured out that she actually tacked on quite a bit more running because of the side to side jogging of going in and around other runners.

As Becci was approaching the finish line, she went across with an exhilaration that perhaps she had never felt before. She looked for her husband and then they went together a short distance from the finish line to receive her medal. It was only 10 short minutes later that the first bomb went off. Someone yelled it is only a transformer. Twenty seconds later the second bomb went off. Becci’s husband said, “That was no transformer!” At this point they both decided to try to leave and get back to their hotel. They noticed people were beginning to run in shere pandemonium.

My fitness instructor’s cell began to go off crazy with one phone call after another of people asking if they were all right. They were able to share with family and their three children that they were fine. Then there was silence. No more cell reception for anyone. The fear was that the bombers might detonate another bomb from a cell phone.

What began as sheer beauty and joy for Becci turned into a nightmare for many. Luckily my friend and trainer came home safely to her family. She had her medal and was so proud of it. I said to her, “If you had not been weaving side to side between other runners, you could have been crossing the finish line right around when the bombs went off.” Becci looked at me and said, “You are absolutely right.”

Without a doubt this was a horrible day for runners. Yet there is a resilience in a runner like Becci. She is thinking of going back next year. She said, ” When you tell a runner they can not do something, they want to prove you wrong.”

Yes. Becci. I think you and many other runners will do just that next year. Terrorists are not the story here. It is the accomplishments of so many that dreamed of going over that finish line in Boston for the very first time. There were probably 4500 folks that did not get a chance to cross the line according to Becci, but in my mind they are all winners. You can not stop the dream of someone with big aspirations. I mean NO ONE!

Tips For Enjoying Your Vacation Even When All Hell Breaks Loose!

Recently many of you knew I had taken a vacation to Hawaii. It was in celebration of turning 50. As a family with two almost grown sons, it is amazing we still enjoy being together. What happens though when all HELL breaks loose while you are on vacation???? It is with some trepidation, I am going to share some of the pitfalls we had happen in hopes you all do not make the same mistakes we did:

1. If you have a long flight, do your best to leave in the am so you arrive to your final destination before dark especially if you are not staying in a hotel.
We stayed in a condo and we had to go through several checkpoints to just get to our place of residence for the week. Putting a key in a keyhole without lights is not cool.

2. If you are going to an area with a fairly big time change, try not to eat supper late. We ate at 7pm Hawaii time the second day which was 10pm our time Seattle. My youngest son was sick for two days afterward. I ate nothing as I am just not that hungry usually on trips like this, but I would highly encourage family members next time to stick to basics on a menu. He decided to eat some kind of exotic food and he paid dearly.

3. Try to be flexible while on vacation. WE had to change days renting a car because our son was too sick to sit in a car. Make sure you are dealing with a good rental car company for such disasters that will not charge you an arm and a leg.

4. Do not schedule any kind of “timeshare” presentations that someone off the street is trying to get you to do. WE went to one, but decided to leave. They were giving you ( not really giving but for $20 per person) a luau ticket for that night. It is a good thing we did not do the luau because that was the one night it poured down rain!

5. Do not rent a condo that is too small for four people! Try your best to get as much information as possible about a place so you feel comfortable with your choice. I usually get a much bigger condo so we were not too happy with our place.

6. If at all possible take all vitamins known to man kind so that you do not get sick. The day after arriving home I got pneumonia.

Now you ask why would I share all this with you? My point is really simple. Shit Happens. It is how you deal with it. Keep a good Attitude and remembering life is not based on some kind of fake barometer measuring happiness. Do not Worry. Be Happy. Seriously be happy through all adversities and reframe your thinking on what in life is worthwhile. Control what you can and let the uncontrollable factors be in God’s Hands.

As many of you know I love photography. I take many photos trying to depict areas of our trip that possibly others may have never seen before. I lived on Oahu for several years and have come to know parts of the island. I also added a couple of must see photos taken at places you need to put on your to do list when site seeing including the:
1. Polynesian Center.
2. Pearl Harbor.
3. Punch Bowl.
4. Diamond Head ( The scenery in a couple of these shots were taken from Diamond Head).
5. North Shore.
6. Waianae Mountains.

Also I hope you ENJOY the one photo I did NOT take. It is of your blogger when she arrived for the very first time as an Army Brat at the age of 7 years old!!!

Snakes In A Library

Fish Belong in Water. Where Do You Think Snakes Belong? Ponder That Question With Me!

Do you ever think a change of venue could improve your creativity when it comes to writing? Hearing of others inspirations while sitting in a park seemed plausible, but not necessary in my opinion. I thought why not go somewhere anyway? Knowing where great illumination should come from, I headed to my brand new public library. On the car ride over I imagined a flash of genius writing flowing from my inner being! It would be an incredible blog post that would come slithering right out of my once brain tumored head as soon as I opened the doors to the new smells of my community library.

As I entered in and go up to the counter to get the computer I reserved, I feel inspiration all ready crawling up the back of my neck literally. With some distraction I noticed next to me a young man with tattoos, greased hair, and pants down to his knees applying for a library card. Why not I think? The library is for everyone. He turned to look at me and I smiled. He smiled back very nicely and I could not help to notice his interesting bracelet. It was wrapped three times around his wrist, but then it started to move. At this moment, I could have screamed. I thought that would not be a good idea and geez it is a library for goodness sake.

Calmly on my outside persona I said, “Is that for real?” He said with a slight smirk, “Yeah. I bought it for my baby daughter, but her mother would not let me give it to her.”

“What kind is it?” I asked.

“A rattlesnake.” Ok truth is I am not sure what kind of snake he said it was. For all I know he could have said Red-Tail, Water-Moccasin, Cobra, or whatever the hell other snake there could be on the planet.

All I know is I lied and said how nice of a pet he had there. After a few moments, he went to get on one of those cool, new computers sitting next to a young lady less than 18 inches away with his wrist and that snake pounding on a new keyboard. No one said a word.

It was at that moment, my great idea of the library being a stimulating venue for creativity was squished. I high-tailed my ass out of their faster than my Nike tennis shoes had seen in quite a while or ever.