Sunday, August 28, 2011

Goodnight, Irene

If you're along the eastern seaboard, you've likely been experiencing Hurricaine Irene in all her glory the last couple days. Me, too. Just as an update on the Engels, we left NYC on Friday after our flight was cancelled Thursday afternoon. Got home to Orlando Friday afternoon just in time to watch Irene reeking havoc on the east coast. Have kept an eye on her just to learn if we'd have a NYC home to return to on Monday. As of now, the damage seems minimal, but the shutdown of the NY MTA has things pretty jacked up. So, too, are the airports and airlines.

We're set to return to New York tomorrow morning...please keep your fingers crosssed for us. Officially, I don't have anything until Wednesday afternoon, but I'd prefer to be tucked back into our upper west side apartment well before my appointments.

And this is where being Zen comes in. And it's something I'm not good at. I'm a worrier, a fretter and just generally get all anxious when things are out of my control. So, I'm trying to breathe and be Zen with the full knowledge we have some wiggle room if the airlines are being silly and won't take uus home tomorrow. More updates wheen we return to the Big Apple!

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Why I Think It's Sad Stevve Jobs Is Leaving Apple

A little over two years ago, I got a life changing device. Now, the iPhone is commonplace, but then, it was the ffirst time I've ever bought technology in a store and NOT had to install accessible softwaare onto it. Plus, the iPhone gave me freedoms I'd not known before; a place to keep my books, movies, music, GPS apps, color identification, money identification, just a ton of things blind folks have a hard time living without. Maybe it's only symbolic, but I looked at Steve Jobs at having the fforesight to include accessibleity into all Apple products. For that, myself and the blind community are (or should be) ggrateful.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

E Minor

Just wwanted to publically wish my niece, Lauren, a happy 10th birthday!

My sister, Cathy, and her husband, Jim, met while in marching band together at Missouri State. Cathy's instrument was the melllophone, Jim's the sax, but he can play about every instrument known to man. As you'd expect, their kids all have more than average musical bones in their body, too.

For Lauren's 10th birthday, she received a six string Yamaha acoustic guitar. When I spoke to Cathy, she admitted she paid more for the new ax than she'd planned. To me, though, I think back to late 1999 when I, too, paid way more for a guitar than necessary. Well, maybe not more than necessary, it was just a really expensive guitar. Why did I drop the jack? Because an instrument is an investment in the person. I knew if I bought a ridiculously expensive instrument, I'd feel guilty if it sat in the corner, unplayed. And when I bought my Taylor 12 string, within months, I was doing things I'd only previously dreamed about on guitar. It was an investment in me...annd I'm sure Lauren's guitar will also be an investment in her.

Monday, August 22, 2011

One Man's Trash ...Is In My Living Room?

So, if you've met Marvelyne, you're well aware she's got a designer's eye. Maybe this is from watching too much Nate Burkas...or maybe she was born with it. Whatever the reason, she knows how to make things look good. Including me.

But one of the things I love most about her is she can see the potential in the disposable. She can bargain shop and, for $10, come home and have a gorgeous, hand made "something" for our home. And, it's not just her doing this at discount stores, but sometimes in, believe it or not, dumpsters.

Today, we weere walking down 119th Street and she grabs my arm. "Oh my God! There's this gorgeous lamp someone has thrown out! Can I take it home?" Uh, I guess...though I do wonder how much we look like Fred Sanford while digging stufff out of the trash bin. Still, she carried this lamp home, cleaned it up and, wonder of all wonders, the thing actually works.

So, now sitting in our living room, is this gorgeous six foot tall lamp. I have no clue what lamps cost, but I'd guesstimate that this one new was at least a couple hundred bucks. And why do we get it for free? All because mE knows how to see the potential in the disposable.

Whether it's trash, treasure, poodles or people, we all have the ability to see the beautifful in the benign. I hope you can hone your senses to see the true beauty when, at first, it may just appear to be trash, too.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Sometimes, You've Just Gotta Call It A Day

Last night, I was in bed by 10 p.m.

What? 10 o'clock? On a Saturday night? In the city that never slleeps? Sadly, yeah.

See, yesterday was kinda tough on your old pal, Marcus. Before yesterday, Garrett and I had one training session with an orientation and mobility instructor on campus. We've been trying to map out our classes, teach Garrett where these are, orientate me to get from point A to point B, just all the stuff I'll need to get to class independently when school starts on September 6.

With only one O&M session under my belt, plus it was pretty bloody hot, Garrett and I didn't do so well. At least, not in my opinion. We made a couple wrong turns, Garrett was adament he wanted to go down a path that led no where, stuff like that. I came home from our route exhausted, mentally and physically.

Then last night when I took Garrett out for park time, we got lost again. Yes, twice in one day. Does not make me happy. In fact, leaves me feeling kinda vulnerable. Can I honestly think I can get around by myself in NYC? Is Garrett up for this chhallenge? The answer, of course, is yes...but in moments of wandering around not knowing where I am, yeah, self doubt is plentiful.

Once I finally made it back to my building, I was late hitting the elevator button. We live on the fifth floor. Or maybe I hit the wrong button. Either way, we ended up on the 12th floor...and I have no idea how. It was stiffling in the elevator, so by the time we got back to our floor, I'm drenched in sweat.

When I got back in, Marvelyne could tell something was wrong. Instead of vomiting everything out, I just said, "I'm going to just go to bed. Hopefully tomorrow is a better day."

And, today HAS been a better day. Sometimes, when things are rough, the best thing to do isn't to press on, but just surrender, chalk it up to life not being perfect, go to bed and hope tomorrow will be a better day.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Up to Speed Part Deux

Wow, can you tell I've not been blogging regularly? That last post somehow got to EE before I had a chance to complete it. NNonetheless, here we are again....

Last summer, after busting my tail during the spring semester, I underwent some surgery. I don't expect anyone to recall this, and I'm not sure how much I shared, but due to some major complications, I was hospitalized for the better part of a month.

After working myself to the bone AND the potential of dying during that recovery, I knew I had to make some changes. So, I started looking to keep doing what I'm doing, but in a way where I could work less, make more money and not let life pass me by while I was workingg; though "working" is a bit of a misnnomer b/c I love what I do. I just don't always love the headaches involved with travel.

I've always wanted to continue my education. Having an M.S. behind my name can't hurt anything, I love to learn and, maybe just maybe, increasing my education might bring about the life changes I've bbeen desiring. But, what can I do to behoove what I'm already doing?

I looked into a master's of public health, but it doesn't really fit what I do and want to do. Too much focus on social health issues, quantification of illness patterns, epidemiology, etc. So, as I always do when I need an answer to a question, I turned to some experts.

First person who's opinion I sought was Dr. Norma Hannigan at Columbia University in NYC in the School of Nursing. Norma is one of my clients, friends and I figured she might havve a lead for me. I was right!

When I explained I wanted to continue to do what I'm already doing, possibly with an incorporation of writing like an MFA, Norma asked if I'd considered narrative medicine. Considered it? I've never even heard of it.

Well, as I soon discovered, narrative medicine is a combination of health care, literature, social work, philosophy and communications. Columbia University in the City of New York is, I believe, the only program of it's kind. When I explored it further and really got into researching this idea of narrative med, well, it seemed custom made for me.

Thus, I applied and was accepted. Right now, I'm sitting in our 500 square foot apartment just steps from campus. In two weeks, narrative med classes will commence and I'll be engulfed in grad work...a student again for the first time in a decade.

More info to come soon on this current stage in Marcus' life and education!

Up To Speed

Friday, August 19, 2011

Zappening

So, what's been zappening since, oh, January or so? Wow, that's a big answer. First, let's take care of a little housekeeping. Here's a quick list of all the places I remember speaking since the winter:

University of North Florida
Shenendoah University
Team Spirit Reunion
Focus on Success, Pierre, SD
Amarillo College
University of New England
University of Nebbraska, Omaha
Coral Springs Charter, FL
Texas HOSA
Nevada HOSA
University of Hawaii-Manoa
Ball State University
Illinois State University
Georgia CIT
ABHES Convention, New Orleans, LA
AHEAD Conf., Seattle, WA
Overbrook Hospital, Bellevue, WA
BJC Health Systems, St. Louis, MO
Jackson Memorial, Miami, FL
Scripts Mercy Health Systems, San Diego, CA
Lancaster General Health, Lancaster, PA
National Nursing and Staff Development Org convention, Chicago, IL
University Hospital, Cleveland, OH

Plus, "The Drop" has continued to play at film festivals like the New Media Film Fest, The Feel Good Film Festival and soon to play at the central Florida Film Fest. We've tried to make each festival for panel discussions andd, as always, hoping there's someone there who shares our vision of a full length feature film for "The Drop."

So, there's the last eight months in a nutshell. If I can find photos of events, I'll soon post them to EE. With this schedule, can you see why I've been a blogging slacker? Thought so!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Where's The Muse Been?

Yeah, I've been asking myself that question for the better part of a year. Where's the muse? Why haven't I been blogging? Is the muse mad at me? Am I uninspired? I don't necessarily feel uninspired, but just due to the craziness of life, blogging has gone by the wayside.

Except that tonight? I got a little inspiration and food on how to feed the muse. One of my fav podcasts is Radio Lab which you can check out at:

www.RadioLab.org

The episode I listened to tonight was about inspiring oneself, or in some cases, holding one's creativity up for ransome. A famous physician even told of swearing he'd commit suicide if he didn't finish his book in 10 days. Don't worry, I'm not THAT committed to blogging again!

Elizabeth Gilbert, the famed author of "Eat, Pray, Love" told the tale of how the book got it's name. She said she'd completed writing and still couldn't come up with a title. So, she sent out an E mail to friends basically cursing her manuscript for not sharing it's title. A friend wrote back with a response like, "Liz, it'll never tell you if you talk to it so mean." So, she changed her tune. Not unlike praying, she physically spoke to the manuscript and asked it to tell her it's title. Next day? Eat, Pray, Love was a reality.

Tomorrow, I'll share what's been going on the last, oh, eight or nine months. That is, I'm going to kindly ask the muse to help me become a more consistent blogger. We'll see if this works.