Remembering my IT days

Years ago, and I am going back decades here, I was a single mother, divorced for a few years and at that time recently unengaged. I decided I wanted an entire new life, I had almost, yet again, married the wrong man for me and saw that change was necessary. So I decided that I would turn away from contracting, remodels and interior design and enter the computer industry. So I enrolled back to school, and attended Skidmore College where I obtained a degree in computer sciences. 

Now this was new and exciting, it was the early 90's and technology was the place to be. Problem was I had to gain some experience and to do that required I do some grunt work. For web design, this meant working for porn sites. Believe it or not, this is where the money was and where the ingenuity of web sites were developed. Now, I by no means am a prude (kiddies shield your eyes), but there just so much genital shots, tits, ass oral copulation and so forth before one can begin to freak out. Okay, maybe not freak out, but perhaps be turned off to sex altogether. Since I was NOT going to let that happen, I decided to leave my position (maybe wrong choice of word), anyway I left to seek employment elsewhere. Which led me to the help desk at a Fortune 500 company, in efforts to prevent lawsuits, I will refer to them as XYZ Corporation. Welcome to my HELL!

I know many of you have been disgruntled with your IT department, but trust me when I say we have it bad on the other end of those calls. The reason why I am addressing this today, is because I read something quite comical on a fellow blogger's page. Witty as it was, I could sense his frustration and thought that I would give him some insight to the insanity on the tech's end. So here is a look into some of my typical calls. I worked from 8am until 4pm eventually I was given a pager, but this is where I cut my teeth so to say.

Monday 7:58am (phone rings)

    Me: "Morning XYZ IT department, Chris speaking. How can I help you?"

Caller: "Yes, I can't get my computer on." 

    Me: "Ok sir, let me help you with that. Now is the light on the lower right corner of your monitor on?"

Caller: "What light? I told you it's not working!"

    Me: "I understand, but the monitor would have a separate power source I just want to make sure it is on."

Caller: "Well it isn't on, no light no nothing."

    Me: "OK, can you look behind the monitor and see if the monitor is plugged into the outlet source?"

Caller: "What the hell? Am I suppose to do your job?"

    Me: "No sir, but I need to rule out a few things first."

Caller: "Fine! (muttering a few words) Ok it isn't plugged in, happy now?" 

    Me: "No, now please plug in the monitor into the wall outlet"

Caller: "Still not going to make the computer work,..oh damn now I can see my desktop."

    Me: "Good sir, is there anything else I can help you with?"

<dial tone> 

Now I am muttering. I can see how this Monday is going to be. 

(phone rings)

    Me: "Morning XYZ IT department, Chris speaking. How can I help you?"

Caller: "Yes, I can't open any of my files, I think I have a virus." 

    Me: "Ok ma'am, let's not jump to conclusions, we will figure this out."

Caller: "Yeah, well I am telling you, I heard about viruses entering systems all the time. You people should really know more!"

    Me: "Ok, how about you just tell me what the problem is."

Caller: "I told you already, weren't you listening?"

    Me: "OK, can you tell me again why you say they aren't opening?"

Caller: "Well I try to move the mouse but it won't go over the little picture thingy which means i can't open it! You know I told them I didn't need to have a new computer, this one is too tall and takes up too much room."

    Me: "Well, it actually takes up less space on the tower, and it is an upgrade from the desktop you had before. but let's get to your problem, you say your mouse isn't working? Or is it that the icons aren't ...."

Caller: (interrupting me) "I never used the other computer, our staff secretary did. But what are icons? I was talking about the picture thingys?" 

    Me: "Icons are what the picture thingys are called"

Caller: "Oh,...yes the mouse won't move over them no matter how much I move it."

    Me: "Ok ma'am, are you sure it is plugged into the CPU? That would be the tower thingy."

Caller: "Yes it is plugged in, I am telling you its a virus." 

    Me: "Ok ma'am, let's figure this out together, now does your desk have clear glass on top?."

Caller: "Yes, but what does my desk have to do with the mouse? I think I need to speak with someone else, you don't seem to understand."

    Me: "Well, if you have glass it can effect how the mouse works, which is why we gave you all mouse pads."

 Caller: "I have the mouse pad under it and no matter what I do with it it jumps across the screen, now I still don't get why and you obviously have no idea either!"

    Me: "Ok I will come up and change your mouse and fix the problem for you. Just give me a few minutes."

Caller: "Good, finally something! So they call them icons, that is cool, like the mouse is called that because it hides below your desk."

    Me: "Pardon?"

Caller: "Well it is right?"

    Me: "Just where is your tower located? Because we don't have a cord that long."

Caller: "It's on the floor, (near whispering) I didn't like it on my desk, made it too cluttered, I got Joe in maintenance to move it for me."

   Me: "So just how are you using the mouse?" (bracing myself for the answer)

Caller: "Oh, like a pedal, isn't that how you can use it?"

   Me: (frustrated and annoyed) "No, a mouse is meant to be on your desk and used with your hand! I am going to have someone from your department return the CPU back to its original configuration. That should resolve your problem ma'am."

Caller: "Oh my I feel so silly, well live and learn! But it could still be a virus right?"

    Me: "Just call back IT after the tower and mouse are back on your desk if you still can't access your files. Thank you for calling the help desk."

Caller: "Ok, buh bye!"

<dial tone followed by a thud of my head hitting the desk> I look to the clock, are you kidding me??

8:42am

This was just the beginning of my day at the desk, and this was a good day. I am not replaying the time one of the employees downloaded some porn and in turn downloaded a worm which temporarily had our network in a mess, until we had to immediately take it offline to fix it. Nor am I relaying the adventure of the moron that thought if he simply turned off the PC rather than go to shut it down the machine would last all of these error codes to improper shut down. 

Trust me when I say, a lot of your co-workers have called IT for the dumbest solutions, by the time the rational ones call on us for assistance we have been more than aggravated. More than a few of us have already been beaten down and all before noon and frankly, have begun to lose the will to live. Not to mention PCs and Networks have to be kept cool, so in the middle of January when it is already cold outside, we have to sit in a room that is just as cold. So the next time you are dealing with IT, be patient and give us a break, cause really you have NO CLUE the kind of morning some us may have had before 9am.

Today's quote of the day comes from a football giant, who understood what it was to work with obstacles, plus I like the man; "People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society." -Vince Lombardi

Nipple-Gate 2011

Ok America, I waited, some would say with bated breath, yet you disappointed me today.  How pre tell; it was your lack of OVER reaction. In 2004, during an amazing halftime show of Super Bowl XXXVIII, Janet Jackson had s wardrobe malfunction. This would become the nipple seen round the world, by the time last call at your local sports-bar occurred that Sunday. Personally, I haven't missed a single Super Bowl or halftime show since I realized that I was as old as the Bowl game itself , yet I missed all the hoopla because I turned my head for a few seconds reaching for my drink and some dip. Being a man, my husband caught it, my daughter did not, but much to my chagrin much of America became enthralled and obsessed with her shielded nipple. I only know this because it opened every news program, major newspaper headline, talk show and late night comedy opening monologue. You would have thought that Ms Jackson had attempted to overthrow the government with her nipple. I began to think that most of Americans had not been breast fed and had developed issues over it. That was 2004,...

Monday night, it happened again! Another channel, another celebrity, another wardrobe malfunction and another nipple; exposed to millions of families! Yet, there were a few differences this time around. No one screamed, the censors weren't calling for her head as they had with Ms Jackson. There was not even talk about fining her for having shown her nipple to not only the judges, studio audience but America. This time, I didn't miss it either, I happen to catch the glimpse while flipping through channels. My belief is if I caught it, many more saw it too! However, still today it was merely a blurb and even dare I say it, some sympathy for poor Nancy Grace.

I waited, I watched, surely Fox News will lead the charge and call against indecency! Still nothing! Finally, I had to admit a few things to myself at this point, and before you profess that we have grown as a nation, need I remind you there was a call to boycott this very same program before the "nipple incident" due to the fact there is a transgender male on the show. Yes, seeing a man named Chaz dance across the floor is going to bring down the country, not seeing some older non MILF's teat for a period of time.  

So where is the congressional hearing? Nipplegate II decree, banning all women from going on the air without proper nipple coverage protection? It is nowhere. No one is angered, no parents yelling at the producers about skimpy outfits, no one fining Nancy Grace, and all I want to know is why?  Why was it a horrid travesty that nearly derailed Janet Jackson's career, while Nancy Grace didn't even make it for more than two punch lines? Was this unbalance in the scales occurring because Nancy's dance partner did not throw her under the bus as Justin Timberlake did Janet? Or is it another ugliness that lies deep in our nation? I don't expect you to answer me on this one, but I do want you to think on it. Because seriously, if you have seen Janet Jackson's body in 2004 and Nancy Grace in 2011, well you tell me who looked better. Ladies tell me which of those bodies would you prefer to have and men,..well you can tell me which one you just prefer! Point is, I am watching you America and believe me when I say I am keeping notes.

Surprisingly, my quote is one to think on, let it marinate for a while; "Guilt has very quick ears to an accusation." - Henry Fielding

The times they are a changing

I just adore Bob Dylan, his music and poetry is always on point. This could not be more true then with those words. Today, I actually took time out of my day to watch a Soap Opera that I haven't viewed in a long time,I did it to say farewell. See in these hard economic times, crazy political rhetoric and just ridiculousness of everyday world, we no longer seem to reach out to the same things as we did in the 60's, 70's or 80's. I do not mention the 90's because I believe collectively, we were high on our own bullshit, thinking life was just gravy. Some of us forgot what goes up, must come down; but I digress.

We had once been a society, that turned to fantasy to alleviate our troubles and get lost in the stories of Erica Kane, or going back even further the romance of Joe Martin and his wife Ruth, their son Tad the Cad, and his sister Jenny. This tribute goes out to Palmer Cortlandt, Angie and Jesse and to the Chandlers.  More importantly to the memory of those days when turning on the tube to see if JR would get over his rage, or if Erica would ever finally see that she is the reason why she is without true love and to just go with Jackson already! 

Life always felt a little better after the melodrama and visiting  the citizens of Pine valley for an hour. We cried at many weddings (most of them Erica's), saw the creation of families and frankly dysfunction at its best. We were shocked to the twists and turns, the greed and manipulation and deceit that lied in the hearts of many a character, yet to our astonishment always found they had some redeeming allure. This is why for forty one years we came back day after day, Monday through Friday, week after week, year after year, decade by decade.

For me Pine Valley and the cast of All My Children were walking talking mementos of my past.  I remember being at my babysitter's home when it was on, usually following Edge of Night, or when in high school and look to Liza, Tad, Jenny, Greg, Angie and Jesse. Always cheering for the "good" couple to overcome their obstacle. When I was getting divorced, I again stopped by the channel and let them take me away from my worries. For a time my MS forced me to a rehab to recover from a serious exacerbation, and what helped the time move between therapies and my constant pain was All My Children. 

So for me, like it is for millions of fans, today is a sad chapter in what we had assumed would always be there. I bid adieu to those characters past and present. Thank you to the writers, the actors and most of all to Ms Agnes Nixon. She thought of a town, a story, characters and brought them to life. On occasion in turn, brought us all to life, sharing a commonality, even if it was just for an hour.

Today's quote comes from the show's creator Agnes Nixon; after all who else right?:" The Great and the Least, The Rich and the Poor, The Weak and the Strong,
In Sickness and in Health, In Joy and Sorrow, In Tragedy and Triumph, You are ALL MY CHILDREN"

All My Children 1970-2011

 

Hectic week on the home front

Well as it turns out life is never that easy! Here I thought having the little one in school I would have more "me" time, turns out that was a fallacy! Once you are a parent the "me" days are behind you. 

I have been running around, getting supplies, alleviating fears and exorcising bad thoughts for a four year old. Not to mention contending with her asthma, which for some ungodly reason has chosen now to flare up! 

I am also up earlier which means I have to go to bed earlier, and this is causing my body to revolt. Do you know that a person can actually fall asleep if they are exhausted simply by sitting still?! Well I had no idea, I feel like I have narcolepsy. 

Meanwhile, I try to sneak off to write a few lines in my novel, and if I do that late at night i get lost in the story and begin to lose track of time. Which means I am going to bed at 3 or 4 am, only to have to wake up at 7:30am and the battle of being awake begins. Sheesh! I am exhausted just thinking about it. I know that eventually I will find my rhythm, I just wish it were now.

However, between the lack of sleep, a toddler having some anxiety about school (although she loves it there), a teen who is in the college preparation process and a husband who is being seriously neglected, I am trying to remain focus on my goal and not let this static non writing period of my blog or novel exist any longer. 

That being said, I am going to leave you now, but will return later today when I am more rested and taking a breath for myself. After all this is all the "me time" I am going to have.

First Day of School

Today is a very important day in our house, our youngest turned four! Better than that however, she is beginning her education. Believe it or not she is more excited about the latter. It makes me proud to say that she is enthusiastic about going to school, then again at four what is there not to look forward to. Room filled with other little people such as herself, along with books, toys and a playground.

Now you might be asking why is she starting so late? The reality is I could not register her in March of last year since she was not yet fully immunized or potty trained. She accomplished both and this made us late with registration, (June of 2011) putting her on a waiting list. Her name was drawn in a lottery when a spot opened up and now she begins a new chapter in her life and I too!

Pre-K is what Kindergarten had been when I was a kid. Half days in a classroom with kids five days a week. She is so looking forward to it and I will get a few hours back to myself. I cannot wait for next year when she is in school from 8am until 3pm! I am already singing "OH HAPPY DAY!" in anticipation.  

It is not that I mind being a mom with a toddler all day long to entertain and teach, but frankly I went through this chapter and my eldest is now a senior in high school looking at colleges. Seems as though both my babies are growing up! 

I have done my best with the little one, teaching her the alphabet, how to spell her name, sound out words and add. Just as I had done with her sister. Because I have an affinity for words and books I have tried to pass this on to my kids by reading to them and making books as exciting for them as possible. Showing them that between the covers lies a world onto itself that they can travel to anytime they pick up a book. This gave my oldest daughter a veracious appetite for books, and is always seen reading books for enjoyment, the little one is not too far behind, only asking that we read constantly to her. 

On the eve before her first day I find myself reminiscing about the first day of my oldest daughter in school. I had prepared myself for her tears as I would have to turn and leave her with strangers. I just knew she would want me to stay. To my utter surprise and dismay, she ushered me out the door and was quick to say goodbye. Only to find it was me that wasn't ready, and sat in my car in the parking lot crying at my loss of a baby and the beginning of watching my little girl. So tomorrow I will again be steadfast and try to be brave for her and will hang around in case she needs me, only this time I will bring Kleenex for myself, just in case I am told to leave yet again.

Computer problems and revelation!

It is amazing how life advances forward and things you once thought you would NEVER be dependent on become your life's blood. I am sorry you have been missing me of late, this is not due to the crash of my beautiful MacBook Pro! No the crash was that of my 17 year old daughter's small IBM clone problematic laptop! I know, I know; other Mac users are saying  "BOOO!", her using a PC versus a Mac was not my decision but one made by her father a die-hard Windows user. The one of the many incompatibilities between my ex-husband and myself. Since she is in her senior year and taking an all AP course load, I had to be sympathetic when she hi-jacked my laptop. Not happy, but understanding. This dilemma and sudden seizure of my laptop prevented me from posting to my blog. Since I am a mom who finds the time to write only if the  rest of the family is preoccupied; if your laptop is away, blogging is too.

Which got me to thinking, recently there was an article regarding the technology and things how children born today, will never use as part of their everyday or even know about outside of a museum. When I was my daughter's age, computers existed in few homes and in one classroom, the concept of owning a computer or more than one, was alien to most of us then. This article made me realize that I have been fortunate in having bear witness to many devices that have made life easier; although perhaps a little less social on a personal level. This wave of new technology has brought new language to the Webster dictionary, that years ago my English teacher Mrs. Lorraine Brooks would have been red lettering my paper for. (On a side-note; Thank you my dear Mrs Brooks for making me have a greater appreciation for sentence structure and clearly conveying a scene, thought, or emotion to my readers).

When I was a kid, the birth of the modern arcades existed; with games like Centipede, Pac-Man, Asteroids and Space Invaders; and every kid had a stash of quarters in their pockets. Evolving to home systems from Atari to today's XBox 360, PS3. I saw television go from rabbit ear antennas to cable offering a few extra channels. Today we have satellites and we all said goodbye to analog. Televisions themselves transformed from monstrous tubes to flat panels. If you have an iPad you can use this as your portable television, as long as you have wi-fi.

My youngest child will never know what a phonograph is, cassette tapes or perhaps even CDs. Meanwhile, I can recall 78's to 33's. If you don't know what I am talking about, go ask your parents. I also have seen the ever changing guard of the telephone.  Landlines were the only option and everyone had that one phone with the ever-so-long cord that would twist endlessly as you walked around your house, seeking privacy for your phone call. Today homes are beginning to do away with landlines, opting for wireless phones which have undergone their own progression into the future. Personally, I am waiting for a cell phone that comes in pill form. Used to be cell phones came with its own suitcase, now its down to one that fits in your pocket. Today, you can use you iPhone to make calls, be your map and surf the net to buy tickets for a movie after watching the trailer online. WOW! Times have most definitely changed.

My little one will also never know of a VCR; which was every working woman or man's and college student's salvation to record endless episodes of soap operas and miscellaneous shows. Gone also is the day of the soap opera, only to be replaced with what I lovingly refer to as filler television, aka reality series. She also will not know of walkmans, pagers, floppy disks and typewriters, most of which was a large part of my young adulthood.

In my lifetime, I can say that as we evolved and technology grew, we got to see some pretty remarkable things. Still it is the smile, my now almost four year old, gets when she sees empty laundry baskets and constructs a "car" and I realize that simplicity is best for some of us. Perhaps to keep the kid alive in all of us we need to hold on to some of the past. So pardon me as I go and create a world made from empty tissue boxes and toilet paper rolls. Don't worry though, I will be listening to my music over my iPod touch.

Today's quote and really it is something to think about;“As technology advances, it reverses the characteristics of every situation again and again. The age of automation is going to be the age of "do it yourself".” Marshall McLuhan

Remembrance

Today is September 11th, a dreadful day from our recent history. Today is a solemn day, and frankly it has been a solemn week. I have not been able to focus on writing, or blogging because of what today is. This day changed not only a nation but my life directly as well as indirectly. It is a day that will live in the hearts and minds of most Americans, every New Yorker, especially those of us that once had offices in the Towers.

Ten years ago, what had been the nicest of days, not a cloud in the sky, warm but not hot and no humidity; by all accounts it began as a perfect day. Who knew, that before my scheduled ten o'clock meeting, the very core of our unity, strength and love for one another, first responders, military personnel and ourselves would be tested so fiercely.

I lost friends, co-workers, acquaintances, former classmates and old lovers on that day. Gone are the men from Ladder 10 that I would flirt with on my way to work, always with a smile and hello for me. Gone is the guy I would get annoyed with for taking forever to order his lunch at Sabarro's. Gone is the spot I took visiting friends to see my city from the greatest view. Gone. Gone. Gone. The most heart wrenching thing is that I was not alone in my grief. It was shared by thousands of families. Two thousand nine hundred and seventy-seven to be exact. That is how many mothers, and fathers lost a child, it is the number of how many people did not come home from work for dinner, celebrate another birthday, holiday or graced us with their presence. They died just going to work, doing what should have been just another Tuesday with one more day till the hump day.

Within moments of the attacks on the Towers, the Pentagon, and Flight 93 we were a country at war. It had come to our doorsteps and rocked us to our knees, but we did not fall. What we did was stand up, wrapped ourselves in Old Glory and moved forward. We were in unison ONE NATION UNDER GOD, we were the UNITED STATES. Now a decade later I cry again, not only for the pain of the loss of innocent lives, but for the division that exists in our nation today.  There is an old saying; "One finger won't make an impact, but you ball all those fingers into a fist, and you can strike a mighty blow." We need to be united to make that mighty blow, back to prosperity, and possibilities.  The division that exists today holds us back from achieving our potential, and defeats us at every turn.

This is also not honoring the memory of the fallen. Think on that for a moment, reflect back to September 12th when the streets were draped in American Flags, when we were proud and we did not see defeat. We did not see red states, or blue states, we knew only of red, white and blue.  We should all honor their lives, and live with purpose. We cannot change what happened that Tuesday morning not so long ago, but we can change our tomorrow. It is my intention to continue to do so in everything i do.

I have not been back to the site since that fateful day, it weighs too heavy still on my heart. There are some who have never been recovered, but we knew them. I try to make my life mean something, I made amends with a lot of people I swore I would never bother with, and forgave those who trespassed, as I hope they forgive my own transgressions.

What I do on this day is pray, reflect, cry and hope. Hope for a better tomorrow, a better future and a day when this can never happen again. So I ask you to join me and give them a moment of silence in a prayer, or hopeful thought  at 8:46am and again at 9:05am. 

Today I leave you with this quote, which still applies; “We are citizens of the world. The tragedy of our times is that we do not know this.”~Woodrow T. Wilson

In Remembrance to the Lives Lost on 9 11. 

To the families my heart is still with you. 

We will never forget. 

Farah Jeudy    Joey Maio    Christoper Scudder  

 

Continuing onto Hallowed Hills

After having recieved some nice comments and emails, regarding my story of Hallowed Hills, I am posting more as promised. Enjoy learning more about Jonah and Raven along with their friends. Again, please leave comments (good or bad) or email me at chriscoupet@gmail.com

Enjoy reading... 

The first bell rang and the hallways began to flood with movement of students rushing to class. Lingering in the hall Astrid and Lucas continued chatting, delaying the inevitable split for their respective class. Jonah began nudging Lucas to get moving along. 

“Brilliant way to start avoiding summer school,” he balked sarcastically.

“Summer what?” Astrid quizzed.

Looking flustered and agitated, “Nothing,” Lucas affirmed, “see ya fifth period.”

“And that is our cue”, Raven observed, as she rushed Astrid down the hall.

Astrid made it into her English class with time to spare, but Raven still had to make it up to the second floor for physics. Just as she arrived st the door the second bell rang.

“Oh no,” Raven thought to herself.

Raven knew she could not afford to be late again for Mr. Pritchard’s class this week. She quietly muttered a few words under her breath as the door to class began to close. Her teacher took a sweep of the room with his eyes and did not know how Raven got into her seat so quickly, when he could swear he had seen her outside the door a moment ago.

“Hmm...It must have been my eyes,” he pondered, “maybe a reflection in the glass.”

It was not the first time that he felt surprised by Raven Salome. He had been teaching at the high school for nearly twenty years. He knew that Raven was able to grasp the science of physics with ease; especially showing marked advancement in practical use of the subject in her labs. Returning to the front of the class and he commenced the review for finals.

By the time fourth period rolled around, the faculty and students were sweltering in the old high school building. No air conditioning was proving difficult for everyone to focus and nearly impossible to tolerate.

“Attention students and faculty,” the announcement croaked from speakers on the wall, “Due to extreme heat the school administration has determined to have early dismissal today...” The students cheering and revelry made it hard to hear the rest.

“Again, faculty and students, today there will be an early dismissal beginning at twelve noon,” Ms. Baker, the principal, repeated on the loudspeaker. Continuing the broadcast, “Parents have been notified and buses will be available, all after school activities have been cancelled.”

Raven couldn’t believe her luck; tonight she had to help her family with an important celebration. When class was dismissed she dashed to her locker.

“No point in going to the cafeteria to be dismissed”, she believed.

Next to her locker she could see Autumm Goodwynne, Astrid’s twin.

“Hey, can you believe the school finally got something right” she said facetiously.

“I know”, Autumm agreed, “at least now we have time to get ready for tonight!” The two girls could hear the laughter from Astrid coming down the hall piggybacked on Lucas.

“Sheesh Lucas, aren’t you too hot for that?” Raven indicated.

“Never too hot or too tired!” he answered with a sly smile.

The final bell rang and students scrambled for their lockers and the doors.

“Thank you for the lift kind sir,” Astrid said with a giggle as she got down.

They continued to flirt and tease each other when Jonah approached them. He grabbed his belongings out of the locker, relieved to have a longer weekend. While chatting with Lucas, he took notice of the girls who were nodding and carrying on a conversation in silence.

Raven, Autumm and Astrid began what the boys called their head speak. It was one thing for the twins to be able to communicate with one another without many words, but for Raven to be able to join in made him feel a little uneasy. It was another check on the list of bizarre things regarding Raven.

“So what are you ladies planning on doing with all this free time?” Lucas asked as the group was making their way to the doors.

“Well...” Autumm, the more responsible of the twins spoke first, “as much fun as I’m sure you boys can provide, I think we should head home.”

“Oh come on!” Lucas objected, “you can’t be serious, we weren’t even suppose to be out yet!”

“Seriously,” Astrid quipped, “I’d rather just hang out, maybe go to the lake!”

Cooling off by the lake did sound like a good idea to everyone. Upon entering the parking lot, Jonah bumped into Brent. A stereotypical popular guy in their high school, a senior quarterback dating the head cheerleader Celeste MacGregor.

Walking past, glances were exchanged between Jonah and Brent. Jonah was not a part of his clique and Brent gave him a disapproving look for the group he kept. That is when Raven could hear Celeste calling out to boyfriend. Celeste’s voice grated her nerves and she really did not feel like having to deal with her at the moment. Shortly after deducing the possibility of facing her nemesis, Celeste and her friends pulled up in a shiny bright read sports car. Raven knew anything spoken would be simply to get under her skin.

“Nice outfit Raven,” Celeste sneered.

“Nice face,” Raven retorted.

“Still shopping at the Bargain Bin?” Celeste taunted.    

Halfheartedly clapping Raven snapped back, “Did you rehearse that one? Cause we all know you aren’t that smart.”

Lucas uttered a yowl, similar to that of an aggressive feline in a battle.

“Cat fight!” he declared. Astrid swiftly punched him in the arm.

“Jealous much?” Celeste cackled as she drove off.

Although the ancestors of the Goodwynne’s, Salome’s and MacGregor’s were part of the original thirteen founders of Hallowed Hills, there existed a great divide amongst them. To outsiders, one would have thought it was a question of the MacGregor’s wealth, but Jonah could sense it was somehow deeper. Besides, he had seen Mrs. MacGregor at the Salome home many times in the past. Raven rolled her eyes in disgust knowing she had to hold her temper.

“Let’s go,” she uttered. There were things Raven could envy of course, like the fact that MacGregor’s had money or that on the hottest day of the year their house had air-conditioning and Celeste had a car to drive home in. These things however were not on Raven’s list of things to covet in others well, maybe the air-conditioning.

Post Interrupted

I was going to call this post girl interrupted, but then I am not the one who was having a crisis of the mind, nor am I a girl anymore. Perhaps that is what makes this mini saga all the more sad. There comes a time in most people's lives that we will find ourselves in a darkness that seems endless, an abyss of sadness, disappointment and regret. The measure of who we are is not how we barrel through or overcome it, but rather how we deal with it when it hits us. Are you going to reach for the hands stretched out to pull you in? Or are you going to go on the self pity brigade and fall deeper into that sea of nothing? 

Now the rational mind will choose the former, but there is the rub, it is not a rational mind we are dealing with when the point of their supposed "no return" comes a calling, it is fear, trepidation, irrational thoughts and feelings that will more than likely steer them. This is when you have to decide to keep the one hand out for help and the other grabbing onto something to secure yourself, or it may take you as well. Times like this will test a friendship, family ties and intimate relationships. I ask you however to hear me loud and clear, this is a mental disorder and unless you are a professional in the field it is not your job to fix it or them. 

What is your job is to be the brother, sister, mother or father you would want for yourself. Be the friend, husband, lover or guardian that you hope for yourself and be supportive and guide that person, who is lost in their own temporary madness to find the proper help they so rightly and most definitely deserve. Do not judge them, do not push them, anyone can become unhinged, life is that fragile. Remind them that you care for their well being, but explain that you can't fix them. 

There is however a job that we, as a collective need to do, and that is to remove the stigma of mental illness. Look at those words again, mental illness, the keyword here is illness. It is a malady, sometimes genetically given or caused by brain injury or trauma. Whatever the case, it is not contagious and most often can be managed with therapy and/or medication. Trust me, no one woke up in the morning and said; "I will take mental disorder for one thousand Alex!" So when it happens, be concerned, be as helpful and sympathetic as you can be, but guide that person to help! Don't be afraid of what they think of you at the moment of the crisis, just do the right thing for the right reasons and this too shall pass.

To those in the darkness; I have this to say, reach out for help. It isn't your fault that you feel like you do, and it can get better. Sometimes when we find ourselves in a pit of despair we reach for the light outside of us, only to find it was within us all along. With much love I say, go and get healed.

Today's inspirational quote: "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."-Helen Keller

Almost to Hallowed Hills

My heart was hanging heavy, due to the longing of my fingers clicking away on my MAC becoming ever so overwhelming. Only a week now since I made my return to the writing "stage", following an albeit brief absence, I am writing diligently. I honestly did not realize just how important my characters had become to me. I was feeling as though I had abandoned them in limbo! Not to mention, I was missing my blog! That's right, writing in the vast spacious portal of the internet, where I am never certain if my words are reaching anyone, due to lack of comments, I missed the routine and release. So tonight I decided to switch up things and not leave you with a quote at the end, but with my work. So take your time and read, please leave your comments!! I want to know your opinion and if you don't know how to leave a comment here, tweet me or comment in Facebook.

Now, in efforts to get you all into the spirit of my end goal here is a brief synopsis of my  novel. The title is Hallowed Hills and it is a four part fantasy fiction series.

The setting is a quaint small New England college town, where most people who live there appear normal. However, somethings in Hallowed Hills are not what they appear to be.
 
Young Jonah MacAllister will discover the truth about his family's connection to the town and it's founders. Jonah will begin on a quest with Raven Salome and try to solve a centuries old question that has haunted some members of this town. Legends that were told to them as children will link them to the past and discover truths about their present, finding that destiny has many hands in their lives.

There is murder, witchcraft and family secrets revealed as the search for the answers begins and will forever change Raven and Jonah.

Now to entice you more here is an excerpt from the book;(I will post more if there is only demand for it

Springtime in New England was just what the natives needed after a harsh winter. It was an unseasonably hot and humid day for this time of year. The unexpected heat wave was a drastic change that none of the students were ready for. Usual morning rumblings of being in school were met with some lighter affect since it was Friday, officially marking the beginning of the weekend. Two more weeks of school and they could begin to embark on truly enjoying the rare weather, a preview of things to come. 

Eighteen-year-old Jonah McAllister was a tall athletically built young man with shaggy ashen blonde hair, that always appeared tussled. His very casual demeanor, made others consider him an introvert. While opening his locker before morning class, he listened to his best friend Lucas Campbell go on about his latest dilemma.  Lucas and Jonah had been best of friends since Jonah came to live with his grandparents. A car accident had killed his parents when he was merely six years old. The boys had met in first grade when Lucas was evading the substitute teacher after pulling a prank in class. It had always been that way with them; whenever the two boys had gotten into mischief, it had been at the encouragement if not the complete folly of Lucas.

“This is bullshit! Complete bullshit!” Lucas protested, “You realize if I fail gym this cancels any plans for our summer?”

“Our summer? You mean your summer, cause I don’t have a thing to do with your gym class bro.” Jonah teased.

“Come on man, who else are you going to chill with, your gramps?” Lucas sneered.

Jonah glanced over his shoulder and could see Raven and Astrid approaching. “Well you better get with the make up classes,” he stated as he closed his locker, ”Because I don’t see Astrid as the forgiving type if you screw up her summer by doing gym over again.”

“What are you guys talking about?” Astrid inquired, as she grabbed onto Lucas’s hand. Astrid had been dating Lucas since the Winter Formal. Jonah found their pairing a little unusual since she, like her twin Autumm, was studious. Like many of the residents in the small town of Hallowed Hills, the twins descended from a family that had resided in the hamlet for centuries. The Goodwynne’s owned the local market close to the center of town.

Slightly startled, Lucas gave Jonah a sharp look to stop talking. “Nothing babe,” he replied, “Just talking about finding a way to get cool ASAP!”

“For real. It is way too hot for me,” Astrid began, “I can’t take another day of listening to these teachers while I am sweating to death!”

“Plus look at what it’s done to my hair!” she whined.

“You’re beautiful babe,” Lucas cooed, gently placing his hand on the nape of her neck, pulling her towards him and kissing her forehead affectionately.

“Hey Raven,” Jonah spoke as she opened her locker, three down from his own.

“Hi,” she whispered quietly, not looking up.

Raven Salome was the opposite of her best friends; she, like Jonah, was more subdued and she conveyed an intensity, as if driven with purpose. Whereas her best friends Astrid and Autumm were petite brunettes with brown eyes, Raven had hair black as her name implied and the bluest of eyes. She was tall and could possibly have been a wonderful athlete, but never felt the compulsion to participate in competitive sports. The Salome women could have been noted for their beautiful exotic looks and, had Raven been from any other family she surely would have been the most sought after of girls. Even though her lineage went back to the founder’s of Hallowed Hills, many in the community still ostracized them. This was mostly due many small town rumors and innuendos.

Raven’s grandmother Edith Salome was perhaps the most legendary one in the family, known for her eccentric way of dress with long robes and odd talismans that hung from her neck. She did not hold her tongue, often speaking her mind too freely; over the years people had even claimed that she was a witch. Utter nonsense was what Jonah thought of it now, but when he was younger he had hopes of catching someone leaving the Salome residence on a broomstick.

Serena Salome, Raven’s mother, was thought to be a flighty and promiscuous woman. Following high school, Serena left town for a short time, only to return pregnant and without a husband. This only gave people in town more fuel to gossip. It was however, the inexplicable and strange goings on that were in addition to the townsfolk continued speculation regarding who the Salome women really were for centuries.

Similar to Jonah, Raven was the third wheel in Astrid’s romance with Lucas, which gave them an opportunity to get know each other better over the recent months. A girl he had once viewed as strange was an amazingly calm presence in the group, balancing the erratic foolishness of Lucas and temperamental Astrid.

and so it goes...

I made a conscience decision to follow through with some poetry this week in my blog. After having a day of peace and tranquility with no kids and no husband (yeah), I was able to chat with many of my girlfriends and such. I was reflecting back on my VERY colorful past. Before I became the woman who; now worried about kids, schools, bills, landscaping, HOA and PTAs, I was a divorced single mom just entering my thirties. 

I had spent my twenties married to the wrong man for me for ten years, shortly after having my eldest I got out. Children have a knack of forcing you to do the right thing. Having my daughter watch me settle for what did not make me happy, but miserable was NOT the image of womanhood I wanted to give her. However, dating as a single mom became a balancing act. I didn't want her to meet men, and I had to figure out how to go out and explore the world, yet still find my own happiness at the same time. Fortunately for me I was able to do it and took my time before I remarried again, this time to the right guy for me.

Now don't get me wrong, remember I said it was a colorful past that I had led. There were a few frogs and trouble that laid in my path of self discovery. These men who came into my life helped shaped the poetry I am posting. My women friends also influenced my writings. The culmination of these experiences, whether they were mine or shared, gave me something more than the common tangible things to write about. 

This is one of those;

Dream

I don't know what to say,

What to feel or 

What to believe

Were you a dream

A miracle or merely

A figment of my imagination

I thought you were real

I felt you, I touched you

But most of all you touched me

I believed you were real

I kissed you, I tasted you

Hell, I breathed you in

Now, as quickly as you 

Appeared in my life

"POOF", you're gone

I want to hate you

Be angry at you

But I can't, 'cause

I am not even sure if you're real

or if you were ever here to begin with

I only hope wherever you are,

Whatever you are

That you are okay, 

that you are in God's hands

And that He is protecting you

I pray that soon

I will find you again, 

So I can know if you are real

Or only a dream I just woke from

I chose today's quote because we don't know where or when inspiration will inspire creativity!: “Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will"-George Bernard Shaw