Thursday, September 8, 2005

Dee, Reporting for Duty!

I am alive, well and still living in Hurricane Alley. Life had been a little busy. I am spending a lot of my time at the local Red Cross office doing disaster relief case management and outreach. I was on the six o'clock news on the local channel yesterday. Channel 3 came and videotaped our training session. I was not compelled to watch the news just to see myself so I did not tune in. I stopped watching TV a week ago because it saddens me to see the hurricane devastation.

Disaster relief work is emotionally taxing but intrinsically rewarding. I get teary eyed . I hear the victims' sad stories and I hugged and will be hugging a lot of them. I always try to portray a professional but compassionate demeanor so I have yet to bawl infront of my clients. I usually take a break when I start feeling emotionally overwhelmed.

In other news... emeraldcalf tagged me via e-mail. Here's my contribution to the new blog craze:

7 Things I Plan To Do Before I Die:
1. Travel in at least one country in all the continents. I've been to three and I traveled all over North America. Four down, three more to go. Hello, South America; Antartica; and Africa!!!
2. Join the Peace Corps and help people in the third world countries for 2-5 years after my retirement. Yes, I am an egalitarian.
3. Take courses in Quantum Physics to indulge the mad scientist in me. "Quantum foam, makes you roam."
4. Finish post-graduate school just because. I do not wish to join the ivory tower team.
5. Compile a book of my essays and poetries for my children. I want to leave them something simple but priceless, a piece of me.
6. Buy a Harley and hit the road with hubby in the backseat. Nope, he will not be allowed to ride it by himself.
7. Learn to play violin and rock like Vanessa Mae with it. I'll be Granny Mae!


7 Things I Can Do:
1. I can speed read and remember most of what I read.
2. I can understand mathematical concepts.
3. I can crunch numbers like a seasoned accountant.
4. I can bake anything and everything with love.
5. I can sew, crochet, landscape and whip up a themed dinner.
6. I can travel anywhere in the world with confidence.
7. I can be generous with my time, money and other resources to people I love and causes I believe in.

7 Things That Attract Me To The Opposite Sex:
1. Smiling face and eyes.
2. Brains and techie persuasion.
3. Sense of humor. I enjoy a banter with the witty and sarcastic.
4. Taste in food, arts and culture.
5. Loves to travel.
6. Generous and loving heart.
7. Open and honest communication style.


7 Things I Say Most Often:
1. I love you, kid!
2. Have you eaten?
3. Do you want cookies?
4. Goodnight!
5. Good morning, sunshine!
6. Thank you.
7. Yes, sir!/ Yes, Ma'am!


7 Celebrity Crushes:
1. Harrison Ford
2. Kurt Cobain
3. The Ramones (Yes, all of them!)
4. Thomas Dylan
5. David Bowie
6. Albert Einstein
7. Bob Dylan

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

wow you were on the news I missed it,, Thats great you are helping out, I admire you for that, Inm my prayers. take it easy... saying hello to you,,

Anonymous said...

Wow very proud of you for helping out the hurricane victims!!
And some of the best answers I've seen for the tagged game. Oh yes, David Bowie, forgot about him.... :)
Linda

Anonymous said...

heh, i can tell my friends i know a celebrity now.  -=)

i did think of you and your family when the news reported ophelia.  i hope it will be okay.

i really enjoy reading everyone's 7's.  that's cool that you can speed read and retain most of everything.  and harrison ford is a hottie.  

Anonymous said...

Glad you are alive and well - it's wonderful you helping the Red Cross...I saw on sky news some helpers wonder if you were one of them...I am sure you must be overwhelmed by what you are having to deal with. Your answers to things I Plan to do before I die - Things I can do -etc...were great - I hope you achieve them all...Ally

Anonymous said...

I was getting ready to comment when I suddenly glanced up and realized you were listening to the SAW DOCTORS! A fan? We are a small group in AOL-J land, but fierce! I loved your seven thing lists. I realized I had a gift for math during my second try at college. It surprised the hell out of me! It was like after taking an intermediate algebra course to get through calculus.....I went..."oh!" If this gift had been unlocked (?) in high school there is not telling what different path y life would have taken.

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed reading your answers...so you can speed read! Wish I could do that, well, do it and retain what I read!!

I love your graphic...

http://journals.aol.com/derasta/MyBigFatGreekLife/
http://derasta.bravejournal.com/

Anonymous said...

Bless you for volunteering.
It was great to read your "7's".

Anonymous said...

Baking AND number crunching?  Impressive!  And SO not me!

Anonymous said...

What a great list of answers!
I'm so happy you made it through Katrina alright and are there to help those in need. I can only imagine what it's like for you and everyone else. Please take care of yourself too during these times.
Rebecca

Anonymous said...

Hello! This is my first visit to your journal! I enjoyed reading your 7 things answers, lol!  I have some poems i recently wrote, come check them out  ;-D

~Tanya
from--->

Anonymous said...

I'm also spending time at the local Red Cross chapter, finally got through to them after many calls and standing in lines.  The need in Dallas is still overwhelming.  I think of your often and hope you're doing well.  Love your Tag answers, but Kurt Cobain and Bob Dylan?
Best,
Judith
http://journals.aol.com/jtuwliens/MirrorMirrorontheWall

Anonymous said...

I have fallen for another, she can make her own way home...

Anonymous said...

What a great thing you are doing by helping the victims of the hurricane!  Loved your answers for the 7 things. :)

Anonymous said...

So humbled to bear witness to all the great people of J-land helping out in any way they can.  Katrina showed us her worst and America (and the world) have been showing their best!

Kurt Cobain, huh?  Never would have figured that of you....LOL

Tammy

Anonymous said...

WOW love your seven things. One thing with men that attracts me is good with babdies old people and animals. So neat you are helping with the red cross. You so swee.t

Anonymous said...

So what is it about Einstien? The hair?

:P

Gabreael

http://journals.aol.com/gabreaelinfo/GabreaelsBodyMindSpiritJournal/

Anonymous said...

Gabreael: Yes, it's Einstein's crazy hairstyle and the bushy eyebrows! I also want him to talk to me about the theory of relativity and his theories about quantum physics... Don't cha think that's sexy? LOL

Dee

Anonymous said...

Your seven things are SO interesting and reveal a lot about you!  I'm so glad I read them.

Man, you've got a lot of livin' to do!  LOL.

Bless you for the disaster relief work you are doing.  AND, for the shoulder you're offering at the lowest time in many of these folks' lives.

                                                                          Cyndy

Anonymous said...

Tammy and Judith: RE: Kurt Cobain. Why not? He is a very gifted musician. His songs are very personal and sad. The lyrics of his songs expose human nature at its worst but they are for real. Reality is not always rosy. He was brave enough to let us get a glimpse of his mind, and it was a brilliant one... I am no Courtney Love, that's for sure, and I do not want to be her.
 
Judith: RE: Bob Dylan. I also happen to like Paul Simon. Why? Read the lyrics to their songs. They're pure poetry! I really want to be able to write poetry like they do. Their ability to put melody/rhythm on top of the already beautiful prose/poetry is just amazing!!!

I am not very judgemental. I let people live their lives. I admire people who possess extraordinary gifts and I am proud to be the humble recipient of the products of their brilliance.
 

Anonymous said...

Hello, I'm new to your journal. Your seven things is fantastic. It seems to have spread like wild-fire around J-Land and the funny thing is there isn't much repetition between entries. The problem with mine is that I keep remembering things I should have listed!
Tilly
http://journals.aol.co.uk/tillysweetchops/Adventuresofadesperatelyfathouse/

Anonymous said...

what an eclectic mix of crushes, i have to say, curt cobain was very intriguing and i'm a speed reader too!  a great skill when reading journals!

~  www.jerseygirljournal.com  

Anonymous said...

Found you from the link you left at Ryanagi's journal.  Just reading your 7 things.  Wow you are versatile!

Krissy
http://journals.aol.com/fisherkristina/SometimesIThink

Anonymous said...

I love men who  have long hair, love babies are good with animals and elderly.
My celeb crushes are sam elliot, lee horsley, and william katt. thats all I ever had

Anonymous said...

Your 7 crushes I could add to my list too! Plus Jim Morrison...he's not dead ya know! LMAO j/k......Great entry! I love your journal!
Hope you are safe and well on the front lines!
Jodi