Thursday, March 20, 2008
More Good News
I got into Smith College of Social Work. It's #2 on the list of the three places that I've applied. They have an excellent program! I'm really excited!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
5 long years
I was going to wait until tomorrow to post about the anniversary of the war - but I can't. I'm simply going to post two links.
This is one of the saddest photos I have ever seen - and it really says it all.
And in an alternate universe we have President Jackass -
night all....
This is one of the saddest photos I have ever seen - and it really says it all.
And in an alternate universe we have President Jackass -
night all....
I GRADUATED!!!!!
OK so it's official now - I'm a college graduate!! I presented my thesis on Sunday night and got a standing ovation at the end. My grades come out today and I got an A. That's an A for 12 credits of work - very very exciting. I also stayed for the last 4 nights at Hotel Indigo. They have them throughout the United States and if you ever get a chance to stay in one DO IT - it's beautiful and the service is outstanding!I'm so very happy to finally have my degree - there were times when I thought I wasn't going to make it (really). Now I'm excited to start grad school. Yipppeeeee!
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Art Work
Some people have emailed me and asked me to post some of my more recent work. So here ya go.....
Here is some self pimping - they are all for sale!
Here is some self pimping - they are all for sale!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Where To Start??
Thesis is DONE! I cannot believe it- it feels like I just went through 6.5 months of intensive labor. The final title is:
SHOULD WE SEND THEM IF WE CAN’T TREAT THEM?
An Exploration of Current Military Mental Health Policy & Treatment
During Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Whewww am I glad that's over. Now I just have to write a quick paper over the weekend for my last three credits and I'm DONE DONE DONE.
On March 16th I present my thesis and then on March 17 I graduate. I'm so freakin excited to have my bachelors degree....it's been a long long two years.
I'll be semi absent until then but will be back after graduation.
SHOULD WE SEND THEM IF WE CAN’T TREAT THEM?
An Exploration of Current Military Mental Health Policy & Treatment
During Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Whewww am I glad that's over. Now I just have to write a quick paper over the weekend for my last three credits and I'm DONE DONE DONE.
On March 16th I present my thesis and then on March 17 I graduate. I'm so freakin excited to have my bachelors degree....it's been a long long two years.
I'll be semi absent until then but will be back after graduation.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Something I Forgot....
I haven't been to a good live show in what seems like a really really long time. Well all that changed last night. Last night, two friends of mine and myself went to see The Levon Helm Band. Amazing, what a show. For those of you who don't know Levon Helm was the drummer for the legendary rock group The Band
I loved these guys and have always been sad that I wasn't old enough to see them live. They have each done their solo things since but the combination was just amazing.
Unfortunately we have lost two of the guys. Rick Danko died of an apparent heart attack (I believe) and Richard Manuel who hung himself in the late 80's.
Levon Helm was the drummer and one of the singers for the group. When these were breaking up they invited every musician they knew to a big Thanksgiving Concert filmed it and released it as the movie "The Last Waltz". It was largely a vehicle for Robbie Robertson's ego but nonetheless has great performances by The Band and all kinds of guests. If you haven't seen it I encourage you do do so. Here is a clip of Levon singing "Ophelia" (after a minute of Robbie talking)
Such a distinctive voice on Levon so you can imagine how devastating it was to hear that he had been diagnosed with throat cancer. Well he made it through it and still performs today.
So that brings us to last night....there are no words to express what it is like to see a musician who you have idolized for as long as you can remember and who has come back from the brink of never being able to perform again. This was the feeling that I had forgotten. I had forgotten that a good music actually reaches in and touches your soul and can absolutely bring you to tears (and I was several times). He had a bunch of guests who came out and sang as I'm sure he needs to rest his voice. Catherine Russell (who I had never heard of ) opened for him and was perfect for this crowd. He also had the legendary Phoebe Snow come out and sing and when she did Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic" it was like being in church.
At the end everyone came out and they did "I Will Be Released" it looked something like this but with a different cast of characters:
And before you ask - yes that is Neil Diamond - you have to see The Last Waltz he comes walking out on to the stage with a huge white stain under his nose....but I digress.
The show last night was a religious experience - and I had forgotten music could be like that. I'm so happy I now remember.
I loved these guys and have always been sad that I wasn't old enough to see them live. They have each done their solo things since but the combination was just amazing.
Unfortunately we have lost two of the guys. Rick Danko died of an apparent heart attack (I believe) and Richard Manuel who hung himself in the late 80's.
Levon Helm was the drummer and one of the singers for the group. When these were breaking up they invited every musician they knew to a big Thanksgiving Concert filmed it and released it as the movie "The Last Waltz". It was largely a vehicle for Robbie Robertson's ego but nonetheless has great performances by The Band and all kinds of guests. If you haven't seen it I encourage you do do so. Here is a clip of Levon singing "Ophelia" (after a minute of Robbie talking)
Such a distinctive voice on Levon so you can imagine how devastating it was to hear that he had been diagnosed with throat cancer. Well he made it through it and still performs today.
So that brings us to last night....there are no words to express what it is like to see a musician who you have idolized for as long as you can remember and who has come back from the brink of never being able to perform again. This was the feeling that I had forgotten. I had forgotten that a good music actually reaches in and touches your soul and can absolutely bring you to tears (and I was several times). He had a bunch of guests who came out and sang as I'm sure he needs to rest his voice. Catherine Russell (who I had never heard of ) opened for him and was perfect for this crowd. He also had the legendary Phoebe Snow come out and sing and when she did Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic" it was like being in church.
At the end everyone came out and they did "I Will Be Released" it looked something like this but with a different cast of characters:
And before you ask - yes that is Neil Diamond - you have to see The Last Waltz he comes walking out on to the stage with a huge white stain under his nose....but I digress.
The show last night was a religious experience - and I had forgotten music could be like that. I'm so happy I now remember.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
More Music
Lately I've been thinking a lot about the 80's. Bad hair, bad clothes but some great music. The most obvious band of the 80's was of course U2 but there were lots more.
Here are some classics:
Was there ANYONE hotter than Michael Hutchence? No, I didn't think so
Nice outfit here...kind of a poor man's Wendy O (Who I will not post because I don't want to scare the crap out of people)
Everyone knows Berlin for the crappy song from "Top Gun". They did great msic before that.
Ladies and Gentlemen....Debbie Harry and that's all that needs to be said
This is classic 80's hair and makeup
Hands down Aimee Mann had the best 80's hair
I wonder what these guys think of this when they watch it now
I LOVED these guys (still do) and I LOVED this song (still do)
So very 80's and so very good
Ok just one more - can you believe this was the 80's? It feels like it was just yesterday
Here are some classics:
Was there ANYONE hotter than Michael Hutchence? No, I didn't think so
Nice outfit here...kind of a poor man's Wendy O (Who I will not post because I don't want to scare the crap out of people)
Everyone knows Berlin for the crappy song from "Top Gun". They did great msic before that.
Ladies and Gentlemen....Debbie Harry and that's all that needs to be said
This is classic 80's hair and makeup
Hands down Aimee Mann had the best 80's hair
I wonder what these guys think of this when they watch it now
I LOVED these guys (still do) and I LOVED this song (still do)
So very 80's and so very good
Ok just one more - can you believe this was the 80's? It feels like it was just yesterday
What Now?
OK so my thesis is at the second reader and I probably won't get anything back until Friday. All of my graduate applications are in and I just did my taxes (getting money from the Feds & RI - have to pay MA). So now I'm stuck with the thought....is this what it's going to be like when I'm done with school? It's literally been 2 years since I just come home from work and been able to hang out...I think I'm going to have to learn how to do it all over again. I am definately going to have to get cable again.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Rule Number Two
Did any of you watch MASH? I loved that show. During one episode Hawkeye loses someone he knows on the table and is of course overwrought. Henry Blake the CO talks to him and says "There are two rules in war" Rule number one is that young men die. Rule number two is that doctors can't change rule number one."
Yesteray I was in Borders bookstore buying a reference book called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (light reading). As I always do I perused the war section to see if there were any books on Iraq that I hadn't read yet. There was. I picked up a book called Rule Number Two Lessons I Learned in a Combat Hospital. I had intended to read this book after the weekend while my thesis was at my second reader - but I made the mistake of rading the first chapter while waiting for my lunch to cook. I was hooked.
After a 9 hour day of sitting at my desk writing and editing my thesis I went to bed around 10pm. I picked up the book and didn't put it down until I was finished. Dr. Heidi Squier Kraft, a clincial psychologist who is former Navy active duty, writes about her seven months in Iraq helping men and women of the Marine corp deal with trauma. Her story is amazing and heartbreaking all at the same time.
Most of the time I had tears running down my face as I was reading. I've read alot about Iraq but this book painted a picture in a way that no one really has. Maybe because it's from the perspective that I've been working from - I'm not sure. One thing it did was reinforce what I want to do with my life. I can't wait to be done with school and start my masters so I can be at least placed in a practicum where I am dealing with soldiers directly.
If you are at all interested in this subject I want to encourage you to buy this book. The author is donating 10% of royalties earned to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund which looks like fabulous organization.
This book is not an easy read. Let me be more specific. The book is extremely well written but the subject matter is tough. She has seen things that no one should see and had to deal with situations that no one should have to deal with. Both physical and emotional situations. All while leaving her husband and twins at home in Florida.
We have a lot of hero's in this war. Dr. Heidi Squier Kraft is an example of another type of hero that doesn't get mentioned much. I'm glad her story is being told.
Right before she leaves Iraq she makes a list of things that were good and things that were not good. This list is worth the cost of the book alone. I won't reprint it because I don't have permission but also because I want you guys to read it yourselves. You can find it here.
Yesteray I was in Borders bookstore buying a reference book called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (light reading). As I always do I perused the war section to see if there were any books on Iraq that I hadn't read yet. There was. I picked up a book called Rule Number Two Lessons I Learned in a Combat Hospital. I had intended to read this book after the weekend while my thesis was at my second reader - but I made the mistake of rading the first chapter while waiting for my lunch to cook. I was hooked.
After a 9 hour day of sitting at my desk writing and editing my thesis I went to bed around 10pm. I picked up the book and didn't put it down until I was finished. Dr. Heidi Squier Kraft, a clincial psychologist who is former Navy active duty, writes about her seven months in Iraq helping men and women of the Marine corp deal with trauma. Her story is amazing and heartbreaking all at the same time.
Most of the time I had tears running down my face as I was reading. I've read alot about Iraq but this book painted a picture in a way that no one really has. Maybe because it's from the perspective that I've been working from - I'm not sure. One thing it did was reinforce what I want to do with my life. I can't wait to be done with school and start my masters so I can be at least placed in a practicum where I am dealing with soldiers directly.
If you are at all interested in this subject I want to encourage you to buy this book. The author is donating 10% of royalties earned to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund which looks like fabulous organization.
This book is not an easy read. Let me be more specific. The book is extremely well written but the subject matter is tough. She has seen things that no one should see and had to deal with situations that no one should have to deal with. Both physical and emotional situations. All while leaving her husband and twins at home in Florida.
We have a lot of hero's in this war. Dr. Heidi Squier Kraft is an example of another type of hero that doesn't get mentioned much. I'm glad her story is being told.
Right before she leaves Iraq she makes a list of things that were good and things that were not good. This list is worth the cost of the book alone. I won't reprint it because I don't have permission but also because I want you guys to read it yourselves. You can find it here.
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