The Pets of Home of Guiding Hands

Home of Guiding Hands is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public benefit corporation (Tax ID # 95-6058273) located in eastern San Diego County, California. For over 40 years, they have provided ongoing educational, social, medical and familial support for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

A few years ago, Home of Guiding Hands sold their big campus in Lakeside and purchased 28 individual group homes offering around the clock caregivers and support staff to their clientele. It has truly become a home for the 400 plus people they work with on a daily basis.

Not only do they need to upkeep and maintain 28 individual group homes, but there are pets who live in most of the houses, sometimes several pets live in just one house. Shots, veterinarian visits, and food have no designated funding in the organization’s budget. State funding cannot be used to pay for extras, like pets.  Yet, many agree that the residents love their dogs, cats, fish and birds. Their pets make the houses feel like real homes.

Most of the individuals in HGH’s programs are very low income and cannot afford these pets on their own. The caregivers often donate their own funds to provide pet care and food when needed, but nothing is in place for long-term provisions for these animals.

A gift designated for Home of Guiding Hands’ pets would provide much needed support for ongoing pet therapies, emergency veterinarian services, yearly shots and special treats, as well as, providing funds for replacement of damaged items, furnishings, carpets and screens, occasionally caused by the pets. Please help the people and pets of Home of Guiding Hands by donating today. Visit their website at http://www.guidinghands.org/ for more information about this wonderful organization.

Thank you!

P.S.
I wrote this essay for a contest I wanted to enter.  Unfortunately, after writing this piece, I found out that I could not submit it due to my age.  I decided to go ahead and post it here. 

On a side note: I worked for this organization for two years.  The above info is based on my own personal experiences in the Development Department.  I have often felt the pets were an integral part of making houses into actual homes and the residents were so attached to them.  I remember when one dog required surgery, it was like pulling teeth to get funding for it.  The staff and the residents of that home were blessed when someone came through with a donation to help out so the dog did not have to be put to sleep.  Many of the dogs in the homes are retired seeing eye dogs and have served our community so admirably.  They are the gentlest animals, obedient and well trained, but they are older and require medical treatment. 

So please, if you love pets, if you love helping people with developmental disabilities, consider contacting HGH and offering your support.  Trust me, any dog and cat toys, aquariums and supplies, bird cages, pet food for all types of animals, gift cards to Petco or any pet store is needed.  So even if you can't donate money, but if you have new pet items you could donate to the pets of HGH, I'm sure it would be very much appreciated.-Angie

Duplication-A Poem

So I began thinking about poetry in a different way.  I still think I hate it, but I'm giving it my best try.  Below you will find an idea I had to make a poem out of one word lines. 

Duplication-

A.D. Swader

Flirtation
Attraction
Fascination
Temptation

Suggestion
Location
Vacation
Destination

Assumption
Protection
Eruption
Malfunction

Ovulation
Implantation
Consternation
Protestation

Resignation
Procreation
Gestation
Regurgitation

Concentration
Perspiration
Acceleration
Navigation

Preparation
Presentation
New Relation
Congratulations!

Still Trying to Focus on Poetry

So in my goal to finish this poetry class, I've taken to reading poetry.  I've been reading Shakespeare's Sonnets.  I thought I'd share my favorite so far and then my version of it in modern language.  See what you think and let me know.

Sonnet XLIII
When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see,
For all the day they view things unrespected;
But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee,
And, darkly bright, are bright in dark directed.
Then thou, whose shadow shadows doth make bright,
How would thy shadow's form form happy show
To the clear day with thy much clearer light,
When to unseeing eyes thy shade shines so!
How would, I say, mine eyes be blessed made
By looking on thee in the living day,
When in dead night thy fair imperfect shade
Through heavy sleep on sightless eyes doth stay!
  All days are nights to see till I see thee,
  And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me.
  -William Shakespeare


Dreams


Days are nights and nights are day,
When you and I are far apart.
In my dreams is where you’ll stay,
Filling up my lonely heart.
I wish to gaze upon your form,
But only in my mind.
This separation’s such a storm.
I wish I could go blind!
For then, I’d see you constantly,
Even when you're afar,
I'd hold you close and tenderly,
My reality is bizarre.
When I open my eyes,
I’m reminded of our truth,
I’m so sad, my heart cries,
Our wedding bands, the only proof.
I pray the time flies by,
Then we’ll be together,
Until then I’ll dream sky high,
Embraced by them, you’ll be forever.

-A. D. Swader

Kids or No Kids-That is the question?

I was married 10 years before we had our first kid.

The benefits of no kids...movies at an actual theater, dinner in any restaurant I choose (no kiddie menus), never being embarrassed in church when my kid throws a fit, never having to worry about finding a sitter when my sister or mom is unavailable, having sex whenever I want, where ever I want, filling my time with various interests and never having to attend a single parent teacher conference or sell cookie dough to my co-workers, and I'd have a lot more money.

On the otherhand, without my children I would continue to be a selfish, self absorbed person, never knowing the true meaning of love. Never knowing how a simple dandelion picked by a tiny little hand with a "for you mommy" can twist your heart. How rushing your child to the ER can be the most heartbreaking experience. Sitting up all night with your baby while they suffer through croup, will renew your faith in the power of prayer. I would never appreciate the shapes in the clouds or the colors of vegetables.  I'd never have grown up or learned patience. I understand my mother and my mother-in-law far better than before.  I love them for being good mothers and setting such good examples for me to follow.  

The blessings far outweigh the maledictions.  I wouldn't change my life for anything. I never look back and wish I didn't have children. My husband doesn't either.  No matter what challenges we face with our children, we will face them together.  I look forward to coming years of laughter and tears, with humilty and awe at the powerful gift each child is to me.

So the question, Kids or No Kids....well that's just silly.  Of course, the answer is and will always be kids!  Definitely! 

Live Life Passionately

A few months ago, I got into an argument with a friend about passion.  Writing passionately, living passionately, being passionate.  I may have written about this before, but as the months have gone by, I can see his side more clearly.  So the question I'm asking is how to live life more passionately?

Passionate means "strong intense emotional response, whether sexual, loving, angry, or hateful."  As a woman, I've often thought of passion in the loving and sexual sense.  I am a woman of the heart and I love to love.  For me, that is being passionate, loving my husband, my family, my kids, my friends.  I am passionate about them.  I want to see them happy and successful.  I care intensely about them and their welfare.  They inspire in me strong emotional responses from extreme joy to the depths of despair.  This constant emotional rollar coaster is exhausting, but I wouldn't want it any other way.

Now my friend, he's passionate about bikes.  He lives, eats, drinks, breathes bmx.  He wants nothing more than to ride.  He writes about it.  He has a bike team.  He has an online store that sells bmx stuff.  That is his passion.  See for yourself at http://www.plussizebmx.com/.

My husband is passionate about beer.  Everything about it, makes him happy.  He loves to brew it, to drink it, to talk and joke about it.  He writes a blog about it too at http://www.hop-daddy.blogspot.com/.  He visits breweries and plans our date nights around where he can find a new beer to try.  Beer is his passion.

So seeing their enthusiasm, seeing their passion for something outside of themselves, makes me question my own passions.  If I find that the most passionate things in my life are other people, then my happiness will always be determined by their happiness, which is completely out of my control.   I will be doomed to a passionate but heartbreaking future.  So how do I live life passionately, if it's not to love the people who mean the most to me?

I write, but do I write passionately?  Nah.  I write a bunch of crap that nobody really wants to read.  I mainly write for therapy so I don't loose my mind.  Is that passionate?  No, it's more like life preserving.  Would I want to write everyday?  Would I want to make a living writing?  Yes.  I'd love to write and be successful.  But is that passion?

I bake cupcakes.  Do I bake them passionately?  I do like them.  They provide a certain amount of comfort and homeiness to my life.  But would I want to bake cupcakes all day long, everyday?  No because then it wouldn't be fun anymore.

So here I am back to the beginning again.  How can I live my life more passionately?  I'm still trying to figure it out.  In the meantime, maybe I'll go call my best friend and say hi. 

The Shout House-Part Two

Girl's night had finally arrived.  After much planning and trying to coordinate everyone's busy schedule, we'd finally made plans to meet at the Shout House.  As many of you know, it is one of my favorite places to go hang out.  It's casual, entertaining and always educational. I'm amazed at the talent of the guys who play.  The dexterity of the wait staff.  The enthusiasm of the crowd.  Unlike karaoke, no one is put on the spot and yet everyone sings as loud as they can.  It is so much fun, but not for the faint of heart.  If you are easily offended, you know who you are, then this may not be the place for you.  The entertainers switch up the lyrics and add rowdy naughty lyrics occasionally, don't go if that could upset you.  However, the food is good and hot.  The drinks are ice cold.  If you drink cheap yellow beer this may be the place for you, because on Wednesday nights their special is $1.50 domestic bottles and $3.00 fish tacos and there is no cover charge on Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday.  Talk about some cheap entertainment.

A special thanks to Sarah and Aryn.  Since relocating last year, starting a new job, working from home, and caring for three kids under seven, well it hasn't been easy.  There have been a few times when I was honestly deeply depressed and melancholy.  I love my family, don't get me wrong, but I never have any private time anymore to do anything just for myself.  Girl's night was exactly what I needed and I got to hang out with two of my best buddies.  Thanks girls for being there for me and making time for me in your busy schedules.