Feeling Just Peachy in Georgia!

Sixth or 6th. Annual Hambone Jam in Fort Valley, Georgia 2011

2011-09-08T16:38:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for information concerning the 6th. Annual Hambone Jam in Fort Valley, Georgia. Please visit Anita's Corner. She has written a wonderful article about it. She has the dates, times, and events listed. She also has provided the prize amounts for competition categories. Here is a link to her site Anita's Corner .

More information about the history of the Hambone Jam can be found on this site - Fort Valley MainStreet

Expungement Forum, March 5, 2011, Macon, Georgia

2011-03-01T06:38:00.000-08:00

Expungement Forum in Macon, Georgia, March 5, 2011

How different my nights use to be....

2011-02-10T20:08:00.000-08:00

Uncle Ezra in the middle of niece Carolyn and baby sister Kathryn

My Uncle Ezra is now in hospice care. He is 97 and some would say that is a long time to live. It is for most but as Uncle Ezra told me a few weeks ago, his drivers license doesn't expire until he is 100. He expected to live that long but it does not see like he will.

My Uncle Ezra always has a funny story to tell you or something to pick on you about. When I was a kid he would tell me and my cousins what pretty little boys we were and the boy cousins would of course be good looking girls. He would tickled you if you walked by him or snatch at you if he could just to see you squeal and run away from him. He would check your oil and look at your tires when you became a teenager and started to drive and continued doing so even after you were an adult. He loved throwing a ball with the little kids and watching them run after it and catch it and he amused himself by walking around and talking to people about the weather and what it was going to do that day or night. For the past several years he has had a steady diet of ritz crackers with peanut butter spread on them and chocolate ensure to drink. He watched Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy every night except for Sunday. Anytime a Braves ballgame was on or any ballgame for that matter you better believe he was watching it.

I moved back to Georgia in 2005 and lived in the basement of my Great Aunt Kathryn's house. It is a fully furnished and finished basement complete with kitchenette. My Uncle Ezra would yell down at me every night before he went to bed to make sure I locked that door with access to the outside. Of course it was still daylight but I assured him anyway and rattled the lock in case he could actually hear the noise to satisfy him that I had checked it. My Uncle always put the house in "lock down mode" around 5 unless I was working late or going to look at houses to buy after work. Then he would call me on his cell phone (he had one with a camera years before alot of us younger generations got one and knew how to use it) to find out what my plans were and would sit up and wait until I came home. Often times he would be waiting for both Granny (AKA: Aunt Kathryn - his baby sister) and me. We were late night party girls as far as he was concerned with our comings and goings after dark. One night Granny and I headed out after dark to a Farm Bureau meeting and didn't come home until 8! We were wild but Uncle Ezra kept us in check.

For a month after I had moved out and was living an hour away in Warner Robins he called me. Each night he wanted to see if I had gotten home safe and sound from work. He would want to know the weather and how my boys were. Then one night he said that he reckoned that I knew how to get home by myself and I would be okay since I always locked my door and let down the garage door before I went to bed. He didn't call me anymore in the evenings but would call me on the weekends to see how the weather was holding up down there and ask if the boys were growing and what they were doing.

Ezra Price Sr. of Locust Grove

As I watch him here in the hospice I realize that they don't make men like him anymore. Then men of my generation will barely open a door for you much less call to check to make sure you made it home okay. I will miss him when he is gone and so will my cousins Kathryn and Francis who can regale everyone with many funny Uncle "E" stories. His grandkids will miss him, the kids that lived next door to Granny's will miss him, and anyone that knew him will miss him.
He had his stories, he had his routine, and how different his nights use to be.

Love your great-niece Holly

Merry Christmas

2010-12-20T19:30:00.000-08:00

There has been a lot of controversy over what people can say to one another during this time of year. I would just like to say to everyone that reads this, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

It is good to be Christian and there should be no one taking offense to our religion and the way that we celebrate it. If you do take offense, perhaps you should try exercising something that we like to call "tolerance" and showing the same courtesy that you would show to anyone else of another religion or someone who does not believe in anything.

Merry Christmas from Holly Michele in Warner Robins, Georgia

Self-soothers

2010-11-21T14:15:00.000-08:00


Imagine what Jason's family has to do to calm down!

I have noticed something lately about people that I see on a daily basis. More and more people are having to self-soothe and are doing things in public that they may not normally do. For example, I have noticed someone that I am around quite often has become more in the habit of talking to themselves in the presence of others. I know every once in awhile I even say something to myself out loud when I am frustrated but who doesn't? Oh sure, the one person that reads this is probably being pious and in self denial saying they don't but I bet if we had a taped version of your life there are times when you have become frustrated and had a dialog with no one else around but you! I was disturbed because many people that this person and I are around had a haughty attitude and claimed the person was just nuts. I disagree, I think the person is under more stress since I know something about the persons personal and professional life. This group of people have decided to make it a habit of pointing out that the person is talking to no one in particular or addressing the person if they ask a question when it is apparent that the person is just talking to themselves. I find this rather cruel and unnecessary. It isn't as if we are in a quiet environment and the only person that is making noise is the one talking to themselves. So why are people making it their mission to make this person more self-conscience and more wound up? Perhaps this is their version of self-soothing?
The talking to themselves person is not the only thing I have noticed. Ticks and twitches, such as clenching and un-clenching jaws, constant wringing of hands, and jiggling of a leg while sitting still. I myself have noticed that I find myself often rubbing my index finger from the base of my nose to the bridge of my forehead. (I wonder if that will stretch out the wrinkles that are forming there from furrowing my brows constantly?)I also bite my nails and have for years. Horrible habit I know but I find myself doing it when I am concentrating or nervous.
I have also known two people, one a man and one a woman who would "rock" themselves to sleep when feeling stressed. I put "rock" in quotations because when we think of someone being rocked to sleep, we see someone who is gently being rocked into a lull in the arms of a loving parent in a rocking chair. This was not the case for either of the two I knew. They were both adults and the rocking motion was almost of a violent nature in my opinion. Somehow this soothed them and they became calm enough to sleep. I of course did not point out that I found it violent rocking and did not understand how it helped because like the saying goes, different strokes for different folks.
Another person that comes to mind is a person that sucked their thumb for years. I only encouraged that person to stop doing it because we grew up together and that persons family found it embarrassing. The person only did it when they became tired and it made them feel better to suck on their thumb in order to calm down enough to fall asleep. As a child I use to think if it embarrassed them so much, why not just get that person home before they get tired? That way no one gets embarrassed and that person can do what comes natural to them and fall asleep? This was not to be though, all kinds of methods were gone through to teach the person to stop but I think that the person still does it today as an adult and I say, Why not? As long as the thumb isn't going to fall off or become infected, let the self-soothing method happen and be happy.

I guess my whole point in writing this is that no matter what, everyone has a self soother. I don't think people should point it out or make the person conscience of it. Leave them alone and let them de-stress in their own soothing way. Only if it doesn't hurt them. I realize there are those out there that do things to themselves that they find soothing but it harms them. I am certainly not advocating anything like that but I am saying that in this day and age, we need to let somethings be and pick our battles more wisely.

A Letter from the Fresh Air Fund

2010-10-08T08:04:00.000-07:00

I received this email from Sara with Fresh Air. I had posted to my blog several ads for their campaign this summer and I am very happy to see the results were really good for this program. It is so important for inner city children to be able to experience life outside the city that they live in. Please feel free to read the email from Sara/Fresh Air:

Hi Holly

I wanted to write you a quick note to thank you for helping us this year with your post on Feeling Just Peachy in Georgia!. The Fresh Air Fund was thrilled with all of the interest generated within the blogosphere for our Fresh Air children. We had close to 5000 volunteer host families open their home to a NYC child and 3000 children visited our camps. It was a great summer! Our Facebook Page continues to be a hub of activity for all things Fresh Air Fund. There are some excellent photos and videos we've posted along with photos from our host families. Please "like" us and it would be great if you could encourage your readers to do the same:

http://www.facebook.com/freshairfund

All of us at The Fresh Air Fund really appreciate your support. Together we can make sure these children have everything they need well in advance: camp counselors, host families, and plenty of resources!

Thank you so very much,

Sara
--
Sara Wilson,
The Fresh Air Fund
www.freshair.org

International Greeting to my Blog!

2010-09-25T15:49:00.000-07:00

Добре дошли в моя блог ... Чувствам Само Peachy в Грузия!

Selamat datang di blog saya ... Merasa Hanya Peachy di Georgia!

Croeso i fy mlog ... Just Peachy Teimlo'n yn Georgia!

Välkommen till min blogg ... bara känner dig Peachy i Georgien!

Willkommen zu meinem Blog ... Feeling Just Peachy in Georgien!

Welkom op mijn blog ... Feeling Just Peachy in Georgië!

ברוכים הבאים צו מיין בלאָג ... פילינג פונקט פּיטשי אין דזשאָרדזשאַ!

Hambone Jam - Fort Valley, Georgia - September 10 and 11th.

2010-08-21T09:48:00.000-07:00

The Georgia Barbecue Association's official state barbecue cook off contest will take place in Fort Valley, Georgia on September 10 and 11. Barbecue Grill Masters from all over come to this contest to see who has the best barbecue in the State of Georgia! One of the great things about the Hambone Jam is that in addition to the barbecue is the music that will entertain those who attend. Hence, it is called Hambone because of the barbecue and Jam because of the music. Mike Brenan one of the Board Members of the Georgia Barbecue Association said that they will allow non-profits to set up booths for free and they are allowed to sale merchandise to raise money for their organization. They also invite all church choirs, bands, and other musicians to come and sign up to perform at the Hambone Jam for Saturday. Again, registration is for free so please call Mike for registration - 478-397-3366. It was also hinted that small businesses or individuals that would like to take advantage of this event would probably have a registration fee waved if they called him and has a product that would attract larger crowds to the event!

Independent: Vote for the Person, Not the Party!

2010-07-13T17:18:00.000-07:00

There is a lot in the news about those of us that are Independent voters. Who will we vote for in the next elections? Will we lean towards the Republican Party or keep the Democrats in control? Some people view those of us that choose not to join a party as "wild cards". It is as if we are looked down upon for the political belief that we should vote for the person; not for the party.

I think I can speak for all Independents like myself and say that I would rather be perceived as a "wild card" than a mindless drone who will vote for whoever my deems fit to rule.

Not that I am saying all voters that belong to a party are like that but I do know quite a few who during the last election did not even know who their party was rooting for and didn't care because as long as the person belonged to the party and they were told to vote for them, they were good to go.

As I said before, I would rather be what some call a "wild card" than a drone. However, I do disagree with this "wild card" label. I don't think that we are "wild cards" but are not controlled voters and that makes us wild to some.

Here is a definition of ~~Independent~~ stolen by me from the Webster Dictionary site:

Main Entry: ¹in·de·pen·dent

Pronunciation: \ˌin-də-ˈpen-dənt\

Function: adjective

Date: 1611

1 : not dependent: as a (1) : not subject to control by others : self-governing (2) : not affiliated with a larger controlling unit b (1) : not requiring or relying on something else : not contingent (2) : not looking to others for one's opinions or for guidance in conduct (3) : not bound by or committed to a political party c (1) : not requiring or relying on others (as for care or livelihood) parents> (2) : being enough to free one from the necessity of working for a living d : showing a desire for freedom e (1) : not determined by or capable of being deduced or derived from or expressed in terms of members (as axioms or equations) of the set under consideration; especially : having linear independence (2) : having the property that the joint probability (as of events or samples) or the joint probability density function (as of random variables) equals the product of the probabilities or probability density functions of separate occurrence
2 capitalized : of or relating to the Independents
3 a : main 5 b : neither deducible from nor incompatible with another statement

I am free and I live in a free country, I will strive to keep my vote free and independent from the control and influence of others. I believe in the sovereignty of this nation and that the only way to keep her as our Forefathers meant for her to be, is to keep our votes clean. We keep them clean by knowing who, what, and why we vote. Keep it Independent, Vote for the person, not the party!

Holly Michele

Abraham Lincoln - a great leader and an Independent thinker. I believe he would be an Independent Voter if he were here today.

holly michele price smith - in warner robins

Fathers, Kings, and Princes Familiar

2010-06-17T20:25:00.000-07:00

I don't have statistics or any factual information to back up what I am about to type. It is all my own opinion based upon my own observations.
With that being said, I believe that the majority of women dread Valentines Day more than any other holiday.I also believe the reason for this is because either they have no sweetheart or they do and the words "flowers, candy, romance" are not in his vocabulary!

I am not that woman!

Not that my Valentines Day's have all been hearts, flowers, and romance. Most certainly not!

The holiday that I dread, that is made for couples, is Fathers Day. Not your standard sweetheart couple but that special bonded couple that is made up of a Father and his child(ren).

Why do I feel this way? Well it is a long story and a very personal one. One that I do not care to get bogged down in while writing this excerpt of what is on my mind.

Instead, I will just simply say that I miss my father and I have missed having a dad for years now.

Oh what I wouldn't do to be a Father's princess again! The picture to the right is me as a young princess with my Dad.
However, their is a toll to pay to be a princess. You may find yourself locked up in a tower or sleeping on many mattresses with a pea under them and it keeping you up all night. Also, you have to like pointy hats and dealing with wicked witches or fairies wanting to put curses on you. A girl may even have to kiss a frog if she is not careful!
I also wonder if I could submit to being a princess after all these years? Could my independent personality stand to be dependent on the approval of a Father? Could I stand to be the apple of his eye again? Would I break under the pressure of wanting to be the perfect golden apple? I don't know the answer to these questions and I don't expect to ever have the answers.

All I know is that I wish that I could be that gentle thing that needs her Father's shoulder to cry on during those times when the big sea of life has roaring waves tying to drown you, instead of being a person who realizes that her own shoulders are the most reliable ones and will always see her through any stormy seas.

I am celebrating this Father's Day a little different from any other one I have experienced.

It just so happens that I am helping a friend of mine find their Father. This is a different journey for me since I found someones mother last year.

I recently wrote to the man that I think maybe my friend's dad and I found that unlike the information out there on how to contact your birthmom,there is very little advice or information on how to approach a birthfather!

Because there is so little information, I thought I would include a copy of the email that I sent to our possible birthfather for other people out there trying to help loved ones find their dads.

Here is what I wrote (Names have been changed, except my own and dates):

June 1 at 7:29pm

Mr. Doe,

My name is Holly and I am helping a friend of mine who is trying to find his biological Father. His father's name is John Doe and he lived in Anytown, Anystate. He was married to Jane Doe, my friends mother. My friend was born on January 1, 1970. Sometime later, his parents divorced and in 1980, his mother's husband adopted him.
If you are this same John Doe, my friend would simply like to have some sort of contact with you and re-establish a relationship with you. However, he does not want to be intrusive or make you feel forced to communicate with him. If you do not want to re-establish a relationship, he would just simply like to know that his father is still alive and doing well and to let you know that he is well and has a child.
If you are not the John Doe that we are seeking, please respond and let me know so we do not contact you again by mistake.

Thank you,
Holly

So for those of you out there searching, missing, praying, and hoping, I hope you find this blog and know that you are not alone.

To the Dads, Fathers, and Papas, treat your daughters for the princesses that they are and listen to the Alanis Morissette song, "Princes Familiar" - part of that song talks about what you should do as a parent so your princess will find her prince and he will be familiar to her because she is a looking for a reflection of you. The King in her life.

Fresh Start Program in Metro Atlanta

2010-06-15T18:19:00.000-07:00

Due to several request sent to me via email, I am posting links to the Fresh Start Program and another link that list the Georgia Counties that it serves currently. It is expected that this program will expand to other counties throughout Georgia. There is no exact dates on when it will expand but I will keep you posted when I know more. Take care and I hope this helps anyone who needs this information.

God Bless!

Holly Michele in Georgia

Holly Smith in the News!

2010-04-05T16:12:00.000-07:00

I have been very fortunate to be in the news a whole lot lately. It is part of my job as a Fatherhood Agent for the State of Georgia's Division of Child Support Services. I cover Crawford, Peach, and Houston County. My office is in Warner Robins, Georgia off of Cohen Walker Drive.
The Fatherhood Program that I work for was a featured piece on Friday's news on Macon's NBC 41. Here is the video of that broadcast.

In addition to this broadcast, there was an article written about the program and mentions me in it. The Houston Home Journal and the Leader Tribune both ran the article. Fatherhood Career Expo Brings Hope
There was also a press release about the Career Expo on the DCSS website - Fatherhood News Release
I am hoping to upload several news channel reports on the Career Expo soon. We had coverage from Fox, ABC, and NBC all from Macon.

Another article in the Leader Tribune was about the Peach Area Habitat for Humanity, Thanks and Share Banquet.Here is that article Fighter Fights The Good Fight.

So that is Holly Smith in the News in Georgia!

State of Georgia Application for TANF, Foodstamps, and Medcaid

2009-12-19T19:55:00.001-08:00

TANF, Foodstamps, and Medicaid Application for the State of Georgia.

Holly's Opinion/Bet on HBO's Fight Night

2009-12-12T21:40:00.000-08:00

I could be wrong but my money is on Klitchko to win. Klitchko just has an awesome reach and he uses it to his advantage. Johnson irritates me with his leaning on the ropes all the time. Of course, if I was going up against Klitchko, I would be on the ropes too! Then again, I would be trying to straddle the ropes as I came to my senses and would get the heck out of there! Klitchko is one big boys, very scary Russian.

Jackie Demons Obituary Notice

2009-09-25T20:11:00.000-07:00

To PAHFH Board and Friends:

Visitation will be: Sunday, September 27,at Edwards Funeral Home, Preston St. Fort Valley, Georgia from 6:00 -7:00 p.m.

Funeral will be: Noon, Monday, September 28 at St. Peter AME Church (not Trinity Baptist) on State University Dr., Fort Valley, Georgia

Family has asked in lieu of flowers, that those wishing to honor Jackie's memory may make donations to Peach Area Habitat for Humanity, Inc.

Joan Abram has been asked to give her reflections of Jackie's love of PAHFH at the funeral Monday.

Jean McDonald

PAHFH Office Manager

2009-09-22T04:36:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I am the Board Secretary for Peach Area Habitat for Humanity,Inc.
Habitat for Humanity is an organization that I hold close to my heart and truly believe that it helps those, who can not help themselves. In part of an effort to reach out to the world, the United Nations has declared October 5, 2009 to be World Habitat Day. Please show your support by donating to the local branch of Habitat for Humanity in your area. Everyone needs a home and what better place to start building that foundation than in your own neighborhood?

~Holly Michele in Warner Robins~

Additional Information
* Habitat for Humanity’s World Habitat Day 2009 Web page
* Ongoing advocacy information and Build Louder updates
* World Habitat Day Handbook
* Shelter Report: building a secure future through effective land policies
* Washington gears up for World Habitat Day 2009

"The Place We Live" www.theplaceswelive.com
A unique, immersive, multimedia installation from Magnum photographer Jonas Bendiksen, "The Places We Live" illuminates what it means to be an urban citizen in the 21st century by presenting views of twenty homes found in the fastest growing human habitat on the planet: the world's slums. The exhibition is sponsored by Canon, and its presentation at the National Building Museum through Nov. 15, is made possible by Cities Alliance, USAID, and The World Bank.

Surgery

2009-09-07T10:55:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a while since I posted anything and I have been saying for weeks now that I would write about my gallbladder surgery. About four weeks ago, I had my gallbladder removed. I can't tell you what a relief it is not to have the pain that I did have while it was in there. As it turns out, my gallbladder had not been functioning for quiet sometime and it was full of gallstones. I had been in a slow decline for years and I was often treated for urinary tract infections, which I did have but I never seemed to quite get over them. I always continued to have pain on my right side and nausea or sometimes even vomiting. I would often wake up at night with a lot of discomfort, as if there was a baseball under my lower rib cage. Then my stomach would begin to cramp and I would double over in pain. My doctor didn't know what the problem was and just thought it was another Urinary Tract Infection - UTI for short, coming on. As I am prone to UTI's and have been since I was a young girl, I assumed he was right.

Then this summer happened. I was up in Pennsylvania with my husband and I kept experiencing a lot of pain, the type that doubles you over. I would have to lay on the bed in a very still fetal position and suffer through it until it eased up. At first I didn't take anything but later I just couldn't stand the pain. I had to try some sort of pain reliever. I took over the counter medicine and it did seem to relieve the pain when it was more potent but I still had a linger ache unlike the other times that I have had this problem. Most of my other "attack" would be a lot of pain for a couple of hours and then for a day or two my side would feel like a pulled muscle. This was different, it lingered and the "attacks" seemed to be getting worse.

I spent a whole week on vacation suffering these sudden "attacks". I wasn't sure what was causing them and I honestly didn't know if I should go to the ER or not. Mainly because I didn't know what brought them on or how long they were going to last. At this point, not only was a I doubling over in pain but my right shoulder had started to ache and it seemed like the muscles were being twisted throughout my arm down to my hand. The pain was a shooting one that started out of my shoulder blade and turned into a dull ache much like my right side of my torso. I started wondering if I was just a hypochondriac, why would I have right shoulder pain and pain in my torso? In my heart though, I knew something major was wrong and I needed to be seen by a doctor. Well I got home finally and my doctor's office was closed until the following Wednesday. I had to find someone to look at me and assure me nothing was wrong and that I was all in my head, at least that is what I wanted to believe.

I remembered two years ago I was in the same predicament and had a soar throat. I had found a doctor with an immediate opening and I was able to see him that day for my soar throat. I had found him congenial and a great bedside manner. I called this doctors office late Friday afternoon and I had an appointment set for Monday morning.

I go and see this doctor and one of the questions on his questionnaire asked if I had a family history of gallstones or gallbladder problems. That was a definite "yes" because two months prior, my Mother had her gallbladder out and several years ago my Grandfather had his taken out. I was later examined by the doctor and he did all this poking and prodding of my stomach area. This didn't get any immediate reaction out of me but it did feel like someone poking at a bruise. He then examined my shoulder and neck and could not believe how tense I was. He prescribed muscle relaxers and a good chiropractor. Then he took samples of urine to test and make sure this wasn't the same old song and dance of a very bad UTI. The test results came back and "nada" so he surmised that I had somehow hurt my arm from over use and he just wasn't sure about my stomach pain. He did believe that if I continued to have it that I should have an ultrasound performed to determine if it was an internal organ that was infected causing pain.

I took my muscle relaxers and I forgot to mention, heartburn medicine. I had been having heartburn in addition to the abdominal pain. I took them with food and became very sick that night and into the early morning hours. I was very weak and home completely by myself. My two sons were visiting their Nana in Maryland and my husband was in another state working. I was finally able to get up and get dressed to take myself to the ER. I felt like I had possibly had an allergic reaction to the muscle relaxers because I had never had that medication before.

I didn't receive a warm welcome at the ER, instead I was treated like the hypochondriac that I thought I might be and given blood test and sent home with the diagnoses of "over use of the right arm and a bacterial infection of the lower intestine" The worse part is, they tested to make sure it wasn't my gallbladder and the ER Doc said that my gallbladder was perfectly fine and working well. At that point, I had no idea that it was my gallbladder causing all my problems but looking back it was the worse part of the whole thing. I think they should have caught on that further testing needed to be done but they were too focused on the fact that I had driving myself to the ER! Everyone handles pain differently and I for one have had more than my share of pain.

After my ER visit I called the Doctor who prescribed the muscle relaxers at nine. The nurse spoke to the doctor and called back to tell me not to take any more and that I would have an ultrasound scheduled for me that week. I later had one scheduled and found the experience to be very unpleasant as the tech rolled the goo around the area of my pain. It hurt and I felt like I was going to pass out. I didn't and I went home to wait the results, the next day the nurse called and confirmed that I had multiple gallstones show up in the pictures and I would have to have surgery to remove the gallbladder with the stones. I was overjoyed and I told the nurse this, that while surgery was a scary way to fix things I was very glad I was not a hypochondriac! She said, no you aren't and you have plenty of stones to cause lots of pain and sickness.

The surgery was scheduled for later that week and four weeks later I feel like a new woman.

I have to acknowledge my gratitude to my Grandmother Christine Price who came down on the day of my surgery to be with me. My two sons who took great care of me during my recovery. My friend Anita Waters, who not only made dinner for my family but also did my grocery shopping for me and helped me to recoup quicker because I wasn't worried about how I was going to keep my household up. My step-father Chris and my mom for bringing me a plant, I really loved it! There was also a special dinner made for my family from Mrs. Sarah Grenade and Reverend Napp Grenade who came to visit me during my recovery. I have many wonderful family and friends that care a great deal about me and I am happy to have them

That is my story of my surgery, I hope that anyone else that have these symptoms and is reading this will take my advice and ask your doctor to perform an ultrasound to look for stones in your gallbladder. No one needs to be in that kind of pain and certainly not for as long as I went through it!

~Holly Michele~

Icons of the late 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, and now, leaving us!

2009-06-25T16:57:00.000-07:00

Holy Cow, Ed McManoh, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson? A small part of my childhood is flashing past my eyes!

I enjoyed watching Johnny Carson and Ed McManoh banter back and forth with humor that flew over my head, as I sat next to my dad and watched television with him. I must admit that Ed's death wasn't such a shock, given his age.

Then there is Farrah. I had hoped that Farrah would make it and marry long time love, Ryan O'Neal, and perhaps stay with us for a little longer. I can remember my Barbie had a red bathing suit very similar to the one that Farrah wore in her famous poster. I don't know any little girl from that time (including myself) that didn't want to be an Angel and marry the Bionic Man!

The first song I can remember that Michael sang was a version of "Rockin Robin", I can remember singing it on the bus with friends. Years later, I waited with bated breath for the World Premier Video of "Thriller". I thought it was cool and I did own a pair or two of parachute pants and folders with Jackson on the front that I proudly took to school and used. This of course was in elementary school, by the time I got to middle school he was totally not cool.

It's a strange thing when people who were such a "Big Deal", are taking their last bow and the lights are dimming for the last time on their stage. I don't know about Ed, but Farrah and Michael believed in Jesus and had said so years ago on interviews (yes, I can remember back that far!) I think we will see them when our time comes to join them. Until then, my prayers are with their families and friends.

Holly Michele in Georgia

Laughing out loud again with Jason Fox

2009-06-20T18:59:00.000-07:00

If you have been reading my blog, then you know that I lost a good friend about a week ago. Today, we had her funeral and I was asked to speak at it and I was able to say what came naturally from my heart. We celebrated her life and expressed our feelings of sorrow that it may be some time before we see her and her mother again. However, life moves on and while she has a place in my heart forever, I know that she would say it is time to move on.

So, as I have said before, Foxtrot with my favorite little nerd, Jason Fox, has lightened my mood. Here is the latest Foxtrot starring Jason and his buddy Marcus. Jason and Marcus have a love of rockets and this comic shows how they use rockets in innovative ways. Read it and you will crack your ribs from all the laughing.

Here are some other strips featuring the antics of Jason.

Jason and the opening of X-Files
Jason and video games

Jason and Politics

Jason and World of Warquest like game
Jason and more Warquest

Jason and Eileen Jacobson
Jason and Fighting

Jason's creative writing
Jason and Marcus playing poker
Jason on itunes
Jason golfing
Jason's Homepage World Wide Web Page

Problems with Comments

2009-06-16T09:38:00.000-07:00

I have been told by some that they are unable to leave comments on this website. If you are having problems and would like to leave a comment, please email me at HollyM1973@windstream.net or new2warnerrobins@yahoo.com I will post your comment for you and you can tell me if you would like to be named or remain anonymous. I will only post comments that are positive ones of the Family of Agnes Stewart and Lilian Graves. I have received several emails that are negative of Lillian Walker but we must remember that she is not on trial here and I have only been updating my website with news and also my feelings on losing such a dear friend and her mother.

Thanks,

Holly

Update on Agnes Stewart and Lillian Graves Case: Funeral Service

2009-06-15T18:38:00.001-07:00

Per Virgil Blalock, Peach Area Habitat for Humanity, Inc. Board Member, the funeral will take place:

Saturday, June 20th, 2:00 P.M.
Peach County High School Auditorium
900 Campus Drive
Ft. Valley, Ga. 31030

C.J. Edwards Funeral Home
409 Preston Street
Ft. Valley, Georgia, 31030

Wake: Friday, June 19th, 6:30 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.
St Peter A.M.E. Church
State University Drive
Ft. Valley, Ga. 31030

This will be a funeral for both Agnes and her mother, Lillian.

Holly

Donations in Memory of Agnes Stewart, Peach Area Habitat for Humanity,Inc.

2009-06-15T11:42:00.000-07:00

I was contacted by the Macon Chapter of Habitat for Humanity about questions in regards to what address donations in memory of Agnes Stewart should be sent to. Our organization has not set up a memorial fund but you can send donations to the following address with a little note letting our Office Manager, Jean McDonald know that it is in memory of Agnes : Jean McDonald/Peach Area Habitat for Humanity, Inc., P.O. Box 101, Fort Valley, GA 31030. Our office number is 478-825-2704, you may leave a message and we will contact you back as soon as possible.

Morning Star Farms and Other Goodies

2009-05-27T10:20:00.000-07:00

I am slowly but surely trying to introduce my kids and myself to more organic and vegetarian foods. I have long been a fan of Morning Star Farms. They offer a variety of foods that cater to the vegetarian palate. I recently discovered their veggie patties We had the spinach and artichoke ones last night with some shrimp and it was delicious. I also like their non-meat hot dogs and some of their non-meat hamburger style patties. My oldest son liked the veggie patties but my youngest wasn't totally sold on them.
I have also introduced them to Silk. It is a soy bean based non dairy milk. I love the chocolate, vanilla, and coffee blends that they have. My oldest son loves the mocha silk but doesn't like the vanilla or chocolate. My youngest loves the vanilla and chocolate but doesn't like the coffee flavor. I can't win!

That is okay though because at least like both like something healthy and are open to trying new foods.

If anyone knows of any other foodlines with this kind of theme, please let me know.

Holly

Party with the Paparazzi - Blog : Jon

2009-05-25T20:37:00.001-07:00

Party with the Paparazzi - Blog : Jon & Kate Plus 8 : TLC

Posted using ShareThis
I don't know about any of you that read this but I got the feeling that the crew that follows the family around, is not happy with Jon. I don't think it is because they are afraid of not having a job but more that they think he is being a jerk. They certainly didn't seem to be trying to catch him in too many good moments. I don't think Kate cheated on him either and I do think that he cheated on her. She comes across as a person who is demanding and not easy to please but if you listen to him closely, he doesn't sound like he is a walk in the park either. I don't know, maybe things will work out and they will stay together. I still like Jon but I hope that he admits more to his short comings and doesn't leave Kate frying out in the glare that is our media. If it doesn't work out,I wonder if the title will be Kate plus 8 or Gosselin 8 and Kate?

It will be a total bummer if that happens and I hope that it doesn't.

Holly Michele

Bay of Kotar, Montenegro

2009-05-16T16:17:00.001-07:00

I had a friend send me a link to a travel blog/guide and said that she thought this was the city that James Bond (aka Daniel Craig) recouped in after the torture scene in Casino Royal. The blog says that it is the Bay of Kotar and is located in the beautiful scenic country of Montenegro. I am not sure if this is the location that they filmed at but it is definitely similar to the scenery that you see as the backdrop in those scenes. It could be the Bay of Kotar in the James Bond movie but I didn't see it credited in the movies. I googled the place and found that it was spelled Kotor on some websites and Kotar on others. All the sites agreed that the Bay of Kotar/Kotor is in the country of Montenegro and I know that is one of the credited countries in the film. If anyone reading knows if this was the place that the recoup scenes were filmed, please email me and let me know. Also, let me know what the correct spelling is! Kotar?or Kotor?

Jason On Twitter

2009-05-16T15:16:00.001-07:00

My kids and I are big fans of the comic strip "Foxtrot". If you follow the strip, you will know that many times current trends are satire in the comic.

The cartoonist that creates Foxtrot,Bill Amend, has once again taken something that is in our cultural mainstream and made us laugh at it and at ourselves.

I, along with Jason's mom, Andy, are Twits! We are subscribers and use Twitter to let people know what we are doing, even if no one cares.

In this case, Jason cares! Jason as always, knows how to use this cutting edge technology to his advantage.

Here is a link to the twitter strip - - -> Jason on Twitter

There are additional samples of the comic featuring my favorite character, Jason and his brilliant 10 year old mind!!!

Here is a link to Jason's biography on Wikipedia -->Jason Bio<--- , he maybe only ten, but he has a lot to say and a lot to teach us! I love this little guy, maybe he can teach us how to fix the economy and the real estate market?!? I can just imagine a class taught by him, it would have all the technology bells and whistles. Forget a PowerPoint presentation of current Real Estate trends in South Florida. He would have a Smart board presentation and a difficult real estate test centering on equations for figuring out the current interest rate of 30 year loans for a client with a 650 credit score and a bad debt income ratio!

Enjoy Jason and his antics, I know that I do!

Alan Keyes the next Abraham Lincoln

2009-05-15T14:21:00.000-07:00

Alan Keyes should have been our first black president. He is a peaceful, intelligent, and honorable man. He had my vote, I just wish the GOP had been smart enough to see what a treasure he is. Electing him would have been like electing Abraham Lincoln all over again. He would have brought together a nation divided and peace of mind to us all that the country is being run by an honest leader. Honest Al and Honest Abe, no difference. Mr. Keyes should not have been arrested for leading a peaceful protest.

Picture of Alan Keyes

Fiddler On The Roof Jr.

2009-05-02T19:57:00.000-07:00

My son Logan was in a production of Fiddler On The Roof Jr. this weekend and I wanted to share the pictures. He was in the role of Lazar Wolf or is it Lazur Wolf? I am not sure of the spelling but I do know my kid was really good in it. I am really proud of my boy. He was something else. I hope that he does more theater in the future and will perhaps maybe someday do something with his talent. A school play is a good start though and I am happy that he tried out for it and got a good part.

Addictions, Self-respect, and Bad Habits

2009-04-29T20:40:00.000-07:00

I have a friend that is spiraling downwards into a whirlpool and doesn't seem to realize that she is drowning. It is as if I am watching from the sides of a river as I watch her go around and around, slowly slipping out of sight. The biggest problem is that she is laughing and euphoric about the whole thing. How do you save someone who is going under as you watch and you throw the lifesaver to them and they refuse to put it around themselves and let you pull them in?

She has decided that a man she has met only once face to face is the guy for her. She has been talking to him for three weeks over the internet through a Christian dating website and she has decided to move in with him over the weekend. Uprooting her five year old daughter, who already has issues from a long history of her mother uprooting her and moving in with men, family, or friends. I myself took her in and took care of her daughter for over a month this year while she did a stint in rehab.

She has drug addiction, addiction to prescription drugs, and is an alcoholic. There are also mental health issues and she has been diagnosed as bi-polar with schizophrenia.

How can this man possibly think that he can handle all of this after knowing her for only three weeks? Then again, I bet he doesn't know and what will happen when he realizes what a mess she is.

I wonder if he knows that she is a habitual liar and will tell you anything to get her way about things so she can feed her bad habitats? Does he realize that she doesn't have self-respect and will do anything to please someone?
I wonder these things, but I know this is probably what attracts him to someone like her.

I can only pray that this falls apart and she comes back home to where she belongs and will get her head screwed on straight.

Free Cell Phone and Airtime for Low Income

2009-03-25T19:57:00.000-07:00

Here is a resource that was sent to me by email from a friend of mine. SafeLink Wireless This is a free cell phone service for low income people or persons. It gives instructions on how a person can qualify and resources in your area by inputting your zip code. If you don't want to use the website, you can call them at safelink: 1-800-977-3768.

My understanding is that this is for people throughout the United States. I believe that almost anyone can put in their zip code and find a resource somewhere close to them. Again, this is for low-income person's or families. To qualify you must meet the following criteria.

The process to qualify for Lifeline Service depends on the State you live in. In general, you may qualify if...

1. You already participate in other State or Federal assistance program such as Federal Public Housing Assistance, Food Stamps and Medicaid.
OR
2. Your total household income is at or below 135% of the poverty guidelines set by your State and/or the Federal Government.
AND
3. No one in your household currently receives Lifeline Service through another phone carrier.
4. You have a valid United States Postal Address. In order for us to ship you your free phone you must live at a residence that can receive mail from the US Post Office. Sorry, but P.O. Boxes cannot be accepted.

In addition to meeting the guidelines above you will also be required to provide proof of your participation in an assistance program, or proof of your income level.

Free Cell Phones for Low - Income!!! That is great. I hope this resource helps someone in need or any of my friends that read my blogs and have clients that can benefit.

~Holly Michele in Warner Robins

HUD $1.6 Billion in Coc Grant Awards

2009-02-25T08:18:00.000-08:00

I just received this article by email. I thought it might interest some of the people who read my blog.

HUD Announces $1.6 Billion in CoC Grant Awards

WASHINGTON – Hundreds of thousands of homeless individuals and families will find a stable home and be offered critically needed services as a result of nearly $1.6 billion in homeless assistance announced by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan. President Obama has also signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law, which will provide an additional $1.5 billion in funding for homeless prevention.

The grants announced here are being awarded through HUD's Continuum of Care programs and will assist approximately 6,300 local homeless assistance projects throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For a local summary of the grant funding announced today, click here.

"With the foreclosure and unemployment crisis looming, millions of families – both homeowners and renters – are in danger of losing their homes so we must focus substantial resources to help those families find stable housing," said Donovan. "The grants being awarded today, along with the recovery plan's additional $1.5 billion, will offer a critical lifeline to those persons and families who, after a foreclosure or job loss, might otherwise be faced with homelessness. Today we are announcing an unprecedented commitment to fund programs that have a proven track record of providing real housing solutions for our most vulnerable neighbors."

HUD is awarding $24 million to create new pilot programs in 23 local communities to rapidly rehouse homeless families with children, which will be critical during these difficult economic times. These local pilot programs (view chart by clicking here) will become the basis of a significantly expanded $1.5 billion federal effort, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to offer quick housing assistance to homeless families and to prevent homelessness among those facing a sudden economic crisis.

The additional funding provided in the recovery plan is a dramatic increase in funding to support local programs to keep persons and families from becoming homeless, including the large number of low-income renters who are at high-risk of becoming homeless because their landlords' properties are foreclosed upon. This funding will have an immediate impact by offering these families short-term rental assistance, housing relocation, or security and utility deposits.

HUD's homelessness grants have made a measurable difference in reducing long-term or chronic homelessness in America. Based on the Department's latest homeless assessment, chronic homelessness has declined an average of 15 percent annually from 2005 to 2007. This decline is directly attributed to HUD's homeless grants helping to create significantly more permanent housing for those who might otherwise be living on the streets.

Also see my blogs about "Red Flag Rules" and Grant Writing Refresher Courses!!! For links to these blog entries, look to the right and scroll down... way down!! Hope this info helps ~ Holly in Warner Robins

Let's find Amber

2009-02-22T19:13:00.000-08:00

I decided to blog about this missing girl because she is so close in age to my own son's and I don't feel that it is getting the media attention that it should. Not that I feel my little blog will give it the attention it needs, but at least it is one more place that someone may look and find information about her disappearance. I hope that Amber is found soon and is as she was when she disappeared.

LETS FIND Amber LeeAnne DuBois

Federal Trade Comissions "Red Flag Rules"

2009-01-28T06:10:00.000-08:00

I belong to the Peach Area Habitat for Humanity, Inc., Board of Directors. In October of last year, we were advised that we needed to establish procedures and rules for our organization in the event that identity theft should occur involving one of our participants.

I have worked closely with Jean McDonald, our office manager in deciding what rules and procedures we needed. A template was provided by Habitat for Humanity International, Inc. and the majority of it did not apply to our small organization.

We only build one house a year and we have never had a problem with anyone who should not have participant information getting it.

If you come from a small town or a tight knit community like Fort Valley, then you know how the place works. For those of you who do not have experience with small town life, well everyone knows everyone and our office manager knows who is suppose to have what and who isn't!

With that being said, Jean and I decided to go with the full template sent to us for the "Red Flag Rules" just in case our organization grows and we need some of the components that do not apply right now.

I have included the template below in the event that anyone would like to look at it to get an idea of what the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) means by "Red Flag Rules".

I hope that this will help anyone looking for an explanation of what should and shouldn't be included in the rules. If you should have any questions, please email me at new2warnerrobins@yahoo.com.

~Holly Michele~

FACT Act Identity Theft Red Flag Rules
Peach Area Habitat for Humanity, Inc.

Purpose:

To implement a program that formulates guidelines to maintain an identity theft program in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA); and using these guidelines that are appropriate to provide a policy and procedures that meet the requirements of the final rules.

Definitions:

Identity Theft: A fraud that is committed or attempted using a person’s identifying information with authority.

Covered Accounts: Accounts that are used primarily for personal, family, household or business purposes that involved or are designed to permit multiple payments or transactions. Any account where there is a reasonably foreseeable risk to members or the safety and soundness of Peach Area Habitat for Humanity, Inc. Covered Accounts included, but is not limited to, mortgage loans.

Responsibility:

The Peach Area Habitat for Humanity, Inc. Board of Directors will approve the written program and approve any material changes; Agnes Stewart, President of The Peach Area Habitat for Humanity, Inc. Board of Directors, a senior management employee, will oversee the development, implementation and administration, ensuring that staff are trained and oversee service provider arrangements.

Administration methods for the program will include:

•Training staff members on specific responsibility for the program.
•Prepare and deliver to the board of directors an annual report regarding compliance with Red Flag rules. This report will address the issues and matters of:
o Effectiveness of the policies and procedures that address the risk of identity theft in connection with the opening of covered accounts or existing covered accounts, service provider arrangements.
o Significant incidents of identity theft and response to such incidents.
o Recommendations to improve and update program.

•Providing guidance for the board of directors to approve material changes to the program.

Requirements:

If service providers are used in connections with covered accounts, Peach Area Habitat for Humanity, Inc. will ensure that the activities of service providers are conducted pursuant to reasonable policies and procedures that comply with the rules.

Peach Area Habitat for Humanity, Inc. will implement procedures to:

•Identify relevant red flags for covered accounts
•Detect red flags
•Respond appropriately to red flags to prevent and mitigate identity theft in connection with the opening of certain accounts or certain existing accounts.
•Ensure policy and procedures are updated periodically to reflect changes in risks to members and Peach Area Habitat for Humanity, Inc.

Peach Area Habitat for Humanity, Inc. will identify relevant red flags and conduct a risk assessment that includes—financial, operations, compliance, reputation, and litigation; and determine whether it offers or maintains covered accounts taking into consideration:

•Types of covered accounts offered or maintained
•Methods provided to open accounts
•Methods provided to access accounts
•Previous experiences with identity theft
•Methods used to reflect changes in identity theft

Peach Habitat for Humanity, Inc. will address the detection of red flags: (1) by obtaining identifying information about and verifying the identity of the partner family members, (2) monitoring monthly mortgage payments, and (3) verifying the validity of change of address requests.

Possible sources used for detecting red flags include:

•Alerts, notifications or other warnings received from consumer reporting agencies or service providers, such as fraud detection services
•Presentation of suspicious or altered documents
•Presentation of suspicious, inconsistent or altered personal identifying information such as a suspicious address change
•Attempts to access an account by unauthorized users
•Unusual use of or other suspicious activity related to a covered account
•Notice from members, victims of identity theft, law enforcement authorities or other persons regarding possible identity theft in connection with covered accounts

Response Program: Peach Area Habitat for Humanity, Inc. will provide appropriate responses for preventing and mitigating identity theft. These responses will consider factors that may heighten the risk such as a data security breach; notification that a partner family member has provided account information to someone claiming to represent Peach Habitat for Humanity, Inc.; has provided information on a fraudulent website. These responses may include:

•Monitoring a covered account for evidence of identity theft
•Contacting the partner family
•Changing any passwords, security codes, or other security device that permit access to a covered account
•Reopening a covered account with a new account number
•Not opening a new covered account
•Closing an existing covered account
•Not attempting to collect on a covered account or not selling a covering account to a debt collector
•Notifying law enforcement
•Determining that no response is warranted under the particular circumstances

Updates: The policy and procedures will be updated periodically to reflect and respond to:

•Experiences with identity theft
•Changes in methods of identity theft
•Changes in methods to detect, prevent, and mitigate identity theft
•Changes in the business arrangements of Peach Area Habitat for Humanity, Inc. including mergers, acquisitions, alliances, joint ventures, and service provider arrangements

First Blog of 2009

2009-01-02T10:22:00.000-08:00

Well, I have changed my background yet again. I love the color purple and with the new year starting, I thought I would give my blog a fresh face and take down the holiday themed one I did have up.
I was raised to believe that if you leave up Christmas decorations past New Years Day, that you would have bad luck. I am not sure if blog background are included in that supersition but I didn't want to take any chances!

I was also raised to eat ham, black eyed peas, and red-eye gravy on New Years day. This supper supposedly brings good luck and money to you in the new year. I did have some ham but I didn't eat any black eyed peas due to me being sick. I could barely tolerate the ham! I have been sticking to liquids and I hope to feel better soon.

I have rang in the New Year with being sick and luckily I have a loving husband who is willing to fix me chicken noodle soup and hot tea and serves it to me in bed. I hope that he is lucky enough that he won't get sick from taking care of me. He has really been pitching in around the house and doing my chores for me.

It has been nice but I hope to be back up on my feet soon. Men doing chores just isn't the same when women do them! I know, I sound sexist but men just do things differently and their version of clean is usually totally different from our version of it.

I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year and 2009 will be better financial for the world than the end of 2008. I include myself in the well wishes since I lost a lot of money in my IRA, Money Market, and almost all of my two son's college fund money due to the low stocks. It hasn't gotten any better either. Much of the money I made off of a house I sold in 2005 was lost in the Money Market account. I should have listened to my instincts and withdrawn the money when I still had the majority of it. Instead, I let it ride taking the gamble that the Market would bounce back quickly. Another thing that has taken a toll on me is the way that I invest, I took my late Uncle J.R.'s advice and I only invest in Utility companies, such as Energy, Waste, Water,and Sewage. He was a multi-millionaire and many of my cousins that were older than him but are still living took his advice. They live quite well off the dividends they have made from their investments. I just hope I can recover and get things rolling again. My IRA is still struggling and everything else is just about non-existent.

I am still the optimist and I know things will get better. I just have to keep a stiff upper lip and go with the flow. I just hope the rest of the world will pick themselves up by the bootstraps and do the same. I still say it is light at the end of the tunnel and not a train heading towards us!

~Holly Michele in Warner Robins, Georgia~

Happy Holidays!!!

2008-12-09T19:46:00.000-08:00

We are getting into the happy time of season again here at my house. My boys are growing up so fast and I know it will only be a matter of time before I am visiting their homes for the holidays.

I changed my blog's background to fit the mood of the season. This is always a happy and stressful time of the year. I can say this it is especially stressful right now for me because I didn't do my early Christmas shopping like I usually do. I often shop during the year and stock up for the holidays. This year was different since I was doing a lot of unexpected traveling with my husband as he worked in Texas during the summer and several cities in Georgia during the rest of the year. My kids and I did a lot of great stuff in all the places that we visited and we made many memories that will last a lifetime.I can say that is probably better than any Christmas gift they will get this year.

I hope that everyone has a joyous Christmas and that they remember that this is all about the Savior and the beginning of his fantastic life and sacrifice that he made for us. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Love to all,
Holly Michele in Georgia

First Turkey

2008-11-30T14:34:00.000-08:00

I cooked my first turkey this year and it was delicious. My husband and kids loved it and said it was juicy and tender. I was so proud of myself that I just had to blog about it!

I was so afraid that my turkey would turn out like the one from National Lampoons Christmas Vacation that I stayed up until 1:00 AM the prior night to Thanksgiving and basted the heck out of the thing. I also made dressing, sweet potato casserole, pumpkin pie, real mashed potatoes, croissant rolls, and of course cranberry sauce. The last two items on my menu came out of cans and one of them I didn't cook. Can you imagine having cooked cranberry sauce? Yuck!

My family also watched the Jon and Kate plus 8 marathon on TLC with me. It was great and I love seeing those kids being kids. It reminds me of my boys when they were that little and all the fun we had together. I still of course have fun with them but it is nice to reminisce about the good ole days!

While I am on the subject of Jon and Kate plus 8, I just want to say that I have seen Aunt Jodi's sister blog and I disagree with all the harsh things that have been said about Jon and Kate. They are being accused of working their children to death and causing them to be over exposed. All I can say is that if I had an opportunity and that many kids at once... I would do the same thing. Besides, it isn't like the kids have lines or they are made to behave a certain way. Instead, they just get to be themselves and it is recorded and shared with the world. There are many videos on Utube of cute kids being themselves and also on personal websites. Does that mean they are bad parents and shouldn't proudly show off their kids? I really don't think the show is that big of a deal to the kids nor to their parents and I wish them well on this incredible journey called life with eight children in tow.

I hope everyone had an excellent turkey day and will have a beautiful holiday!

~Holly Michele~

Voting

2008-11-04T10:34:00.000-08:00

I voted and I hope anyone reading this has voted also!!!

~Holly Michele~
Warner Robins, Georgia

Grant Writing Class

2008-10-28T16:05:00.000-07:00

I just took an Advance Grant Writing class at the Georgia Nonprofit Center. It was great to be able to get some tips and also a refresher on grant writing. I also became familiar again with the type of grants that are out there and what they can be used for. It is was a really great course and I would recommend it to anyone. If you have any questions about the grant writing course I took, you can email me at new2warnerrobins@yahoo.com - Holly Michele

It isn't a train heading for us!

2008-10-03T20:32:00.000-07:00

Everyone seems to only see a train at the end of the tunnel instead of the light. The above cartoon is more macabre that it is funny. It seems to me that too many people are preparing for the worst and hoping for the worst. I know this country has been through a great depression and many doom sayers are predicting another one because of the mortgage mess. If everyone will take a moment and study the history of our housing market this kind of thing has happened before. The early 70's and the early 90's were not the best of times for the industry. Still it bounced back and we had booms in the 80's and early 00's. It took awhile but that is the nature of the beast. Like the old saying: What goes up must come down. Our housing market is in the valley and it isn't a pleasant valley but it will start to climb back up the hill. It just may take it longer than we as an impatient nation would like.

I say we assume the light at the end of the tunnel is the sun and not a train about to hit us head on!

~Holly Michele ~

Bailing Out the Mortgage Industry And The Monopolies That Control These Industries

2008-09-26T13:27:00.000-07:00

WaMu is no more and JP Morgan Chase has snatched it up. Our government endorsed an arrangement made between JP Morgan Chase and Bear Stearns Cos. for JP to bail out them out. Isn't this the blueprint of the crisis our Government is facing now? We let huge giants like JP Morgan Chase monopolizes the banking/mortgage industry and cut out the little guys (independent mortgage companies, small town banks, etc.) and flood the market with impersonal service and a chevalier attitude towards rules and common sense on how and why they gave people mortgages.

I myself have been through two major companies to obtain mortgages and one small. I did most of the paperwork myself with the two major companies and was constantly having to resend copies because they got lost in the paperwork shuffle or I was asked for unnecessary paperwork because someone got confused and didn't know what they were doing. The only way I know that I was asked for unnecessary paperwork was because the private mortgage company I had been through asked me why I was requesting paperwork I had from my mortgage through them. How I wished at that moment that I had stuck with the smaller guys and not been pulled in by the bigger giant. Of course like a kid with a stranger handing out candy (mortgages) I got suckered in!

Now all these giants want us the tax payers to pick up the pieces and put Humpty Dumpty back up on the wall. All the "fat cats" are still going to make money off of it all. WaMu cut jobs but their top executives will still possibly walk away from their mess with millions. What can the government do?!? If they don't bail them out and fix things, will it ever get fixed? Is it a good idea to partner with such giants as JP Morgan Chase to bail out belly up companies? Maybe all of this is just over my head and I don't understand it as well as I think I do.

I digress, I do think I understand it and I feel helpless to do anything about it because corporate America's Fat Cats run the country and everything in it!!!!

~Holly Michele Smith~
(Feeling not so Peachy in Warner Robins, Georgia)

Moral Compass??!!

2008-08-24T11:10:00.000-07:00

I just read that Madonna kicked off her "Sticky and Sweet" tour in Cardiff, Wales this weekend. She took some shots at Senator John McCain during the interlude between acts and flashed his picture up there with the likes of Adolf Hitler, images of destruction, global warming, and Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe. I don't belong to any political party and I don't consider myself a conservative or a liberal. I do however consider myself an American and a voter who doesn't understand nor need a "Moral Compass" such as Madonna or any other politically motivated celebutant or celebrity to show me the enlightened way to vote. Who does this woman think she is anyway? Just because her parents gave her a holier-than-though middle name, doesn't mean she is actually that. I could think of a couple of people that I would flash Madonna's face up on a giant screen with if I could. Hmmmm...lets see, Salome (if we had a picture), Mata Hari, Tokyo Rose..... just to name a few. I don't think she would like that too much. Why can't entertainers just entertain and not use their status to impress upon their fans their opinions?! I also want to say that I don't think there is anything "Sticky or Sweet" about Madonna and there hasn't been for years!!! Just entertain us people.... don't try to motivate us. Our own moral compass should be from what we feel and think. Judge for yourself don't let the media hype and the celebrities get to you. It truly is the worst form of idol worship and we just keep letting it happen.

Shamwow

2008-08-17T13:49:00.000-07:00

Just when I thought I could get away from that Shamwow dude that always seems to be on the boob tube when I turn it on.... he is on the radio! I have satellite radio in my car but I decided to turn it to the regular radio the other day (Friday) on my way home from work. There he is Mr. Shamwow dude and his little sales pitch.

I don't watch television much because it is usually preoccupied with some sort of Doomsday or COPS show because of my three guys. I read a good bit but sometimes I like to watch a show or two on History, Nat Geo, or A&E. I also watch Tori and Dean Home Sweet Hollywood, but we just won't go there. I have never watched 90210? I think that was the right zip code? so I am not a fan of Tori Spellings, but for some reason I am drawn to the show like a moth to a flame. I don't know how I get caught up in that show or why, but I do. Maybe Tori and Dean have the Shamwow guy doing subliminal messages all during their show and that is how I am getting sucked in?!

So anyway even when I am on one of my nerd channels, I still can't get away from Mr. Shamwow. What really annoys me is when he goes "Are you following me camera guy?" What? He doesn't bother to know the name of the person he is working with? I mean really? How many people did it take to set up that commercial shoot? I am betting from the quality it was Mr. Shamwow and the camera guy probably in someones basement in lets say.... New Jersey? I am guessing because I am not good with Northern accents and I can't guess where this dude is from. Also, is it just me or does he look like Bill the Cat from Bloom County?

Then he talks about the Germans and they always invent good stuff?? Really? This is common knowledge?! I wonder if the German version of this commercial says Shamwow was created by Americans and that we always invent good stuff too? I also want to know who the heck spends that much money on paper towels in a month? I don't think I spent $20.00 on paper towels when my kids were toddlers.

In the words of Mr. Shamwow "I don't know... it sells itself, you're gonna love it!" I am gonna love it when this commercial runs its course and is off the air!

My Book Review of Philippa Gregory Book Series and the Tudor Dynasty

2008-07-14T20:51:00.000-07:00

I just finished the book called "The Constant Princess", it is about Kathryn of Aragon. For those of you not familiar with Henry the VIII and his wives, she was the first. They were married for over 20 years and she was bullied and pushed off the throne by Henry and his mistress Anne Boleyn. That is what most of history concentrates on in regards to how she is remembered. Ms. Phillippa takes us beyond the Tudor hype and shows us a different Kathryn, a woman who was raised by what some historians view as the greatest monarch marriage in history - Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain, her parents. She grew up in Spain during tumulteous times when her parents were fighting the Moors or as we know them now, Muslims. I don't want to give too much away about her and the things the book reveals about her. If you choose to read the book you will find out more about her childhood and how the author invisions how she grew up and what her personality was like. Ms.Phillippa of course backs all of this up with social and historical records and gives a list of the books and sometimes accounts of the places that she has actually visited to experience things first hand.

If you have not read any of her books then I suggest that you start with this one and then read "The Other Boleyn Girl" and finally "The Boleyn Inheritence". There is also a book about Elizabeth I called "The Virgin's Lover" and it focus is on Robert Dudley and the ancient mystery surrounding the death of his wife.Did he kill his wife to try and be Elizabeth I husband? It too is good and I believe that all of the character portrayals are accurate.You can search for yourself and see historical evidence from letters and other peoples accounts at that time match up to Ms. Phillippa's vision.

I enjoy these types of novels because they aren't "bodice rippers" and they are somewhat historically acurate with a bit of imagination thrown in by the author!

Happy Reading!

~Holly~

Hulk Hogan, SimCity, and Earthquakes

2008-06-03T14:29:00.000-07:00

Every morning I wake up and watch the news channels. I also do this in the evening when I come home, just 30 minutes of sound bites to keep up with the times. Today I heard something really interesting. The news guy on Headline News was shocked that Hulk Hogan was, as he put it, "A money grubbing jerk!" What was so funny was that they showed a picture of Mr. Hogan with his family at a red carpet event and he was all gussied up in a flashy gold leisure style suit with sunglasses and a feather boa! If an outfit like that doesn't say "I'm obsessed with fame, money, and being a big tacky jerk!" then I don't know what does.

The other thing I have been doing - since I have my evenings to myself for the next two weeks - I have been playing SimCity 4 on my PC. I love playing it and building cities and towns. I have even named them because they have this really cool tool that you can use to show the name of the city, street, or section of town from an aerial view. You can also make volcano's, lightning, and tornadoes reek havoc on your cities. There is also a disaster mode for Aliens and Robots. Gee - do I sound like a total nerd or what? That was rhetorical of course.

What is with all the earth quakes? There was one off the coast of Taiwan, one in the Philippines, and in Iceland. If you go to MSN.com, you can see the fissures blowing steam and boiling mud in Iceland. My husband loves all the doomsday shows that they show on the History channel, Learning Channel, etc. and he tells me that this is the start of the end for us. The shows he has watched say that according to the Aztec calendar that it will all be over in December 2012. The Aztec also supposedly predicted several famous events in history thousands of years before they happened. I personally don't worry about that stuff because I am a Christian and Jesus said more than once in the Bible that not even he knows when the last days are coming, only GOD knows. That is okay with me, as long as when I leave this earth..... I go in the right direction!!!!!

Marriage

2008-05-23T21:00:00.000-07:00

I recently got married on Janurary 30, 2008. I didn't think it would ever happen, but I am very glad that it did. I think with all my talk about my own goals and ambitions that I have made him want more out of life than he ever has before.He seems to have finally come around and realized that his life means something and he can obtain the things he wants and not have to daydream about them. I don't think I have met a man that I respect or have such regard for. He is very intelligent and often under estimated because of his sometimes shy demeanor when he first meets people. His patients is great and especially so when he is dealing with people that are unaware of how ignorant they are and how intelligent he is. I love him dearly and he is my greatest friend and definately a gift from God and one that I thank every morning and night for. I have made some sketches of him and I will post them once I have perfected them.

Some of My Pictures

2008-03-11T17:22:00.000-07:00

Here are some doodles and watercolors that I have made over the years. I think my favorite is "Puppy Love" and the "Black Bunny". I hope to sketch pictures of my boys soon. I may try to sketch pictures of them when they were younger by looking at their old pictures and then I hope to sketch them as they are now. That all depends on if they will pose for me or not!

I also would like to attempt to sketch the famous Mercer-Williams house in Savannah and if there are any other old homes that catch my fancy a may attempt them. I would also like to sketch and make watercolored paintings out of the houses in Charleston and I hope to find some old photos of the homes that were in New Orleans several years before Katrina. I wish to goodness that I had been smart enough to have taken this man that I was in love with on his offer to give me a picture of those old houses. I loved that picture and I would look at it all the time. It was a row of houses in one of the lower quadrants and they looked to me like little doll houses all lined up. He had that picture and another one in his master bedroom in Jacksonville. They had been his mother's pictures but she had given them to her bachelor son upon moving out of their home and moving into her late mother in laws place down in Florida. I think she would have been mad at him if he had given them to me, especially since it had not been that long since she had been down there and had hung them up herself on the walls of his new house. Still, I regret not taking them when he offered. I just know that I would have appreciated them alot more than him or anyone else he is with now. I may attempt to sketch them from memory of that picture. If I do I will post them on here.

Well, I hope you like my pictures and will share your thoughts on them.

Enjoy the pictures!

~Holly Michele Smith~

Abandoned Dads

2008-03-09T09:05:00.000-07:00

I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but the tides are changing for men in a dramatic way. I see it in the office that I work in as a TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) Specialist .

Prior to that I worked as a Child Support Services Enforcement Agent and both of the jobs exposed me to the growing trend of women walking away from their children and leaving them on the father's doorstep. It shocks people to think of a woman doing this but men have been doing it for years.

I am not a man basher by any means but the fact remains that many men no longer have the freedom to not worry about getting pregnant. I have seen one-night stand fathers in both the real world and through my employment, who had no clue they were a dad and found out because she dropped the child off or waited to tell him when the child became older and started having uncontrollable behavior. I admit that I have a lot more empathy for these dads because I know that our society is just not built to support single dads.

To illustrate, picture yourself as an independent business owner or a blue collar guy, both men have the ability to work early or very late, travel for work purposes, play golf or play poker and smoke cigars all weekend. They can do this and have kids if they are single dads. They may have curved their activities and habits since having kids because they probably see them every other weekend or hopefully during the week. Still their lives are very different from the mother's of their children.

Now more Dads are being left to raise they children on their own; ready or not. There are those dads that want this and relish their fatherhood. Then their are the dads that have the "deer in headlights" look when fatherhood is thrust onto them. It can be compared to a woman when she first finds out that she is going to be visited by the stork when she least expected it !!

Dads have to scramble to find adequate child care so they can work. They face the task of trying to explain to their boss their absence at work if they can't and hopefully hang onto their jobs. This of course is something that working single moms have dealt with for years.

Men usually find all this as unfamiliar territory and find their world turned upside down. No more late nights of work to impress the boss because you have to be at the daycare center before they close at six. Poker, watching the game, a round of golf? Those things will become alien when you have dinner to cook, homework to help with, and deal with bath time/bedtime all week. You will be grateful to lay your head to a pillow by eleven o'clock every night and you will pray that your child will sleep in late on the weekends so that you can. Then there are the extracurricular activities and special school projects that your adorable child or their teacher usually hits you with at last minute like a linebacker to an unsuspecting water boy on the sidelines.

What does a guy do if he doesn't have enough money to cover the extra cost of food, clothing, childcare, and shelter??? If he is lucky, someone will direct him to his local State agency or community resources that can either offset the cost of those things or provided them on a temporary basis.

Men are hunter/providers and they have conquered impenetrable fortresses throughout history, so what is a tiny nine pound bundle of joy that poops, pees, and cries to communicate, or a surly teenager testing their boundaries, or a toddler without the concept of anyone else in their world but themselves?

I would love to see our society change to accommodate this growing trend of single working dads, but I know that like single, working moms of the late seventies and early eighties that guys have a long way to go, baby.