Midnight Writings

Twitter Twat

2011-11-05T13:24:00.000-07:00

I have been active on FaceBook (mainly for personal fun - lots of family stuff) but have stayed away from Twitter.

Recently, that changed.

Work is requiring us to start "tweeting" while we work.
Needless to say, we've been getting immersed in social media workshops/requirements, etc.

I had to jump in - and am hoping to make a little bit of a splash with it.

Not totally sure about it - but I'm getting my feet wet. I'm on day 7 -- have made more than 15 tweets (that's more than two a day) - follow more than 100 people - and, interesting for me - have 26 followers.

So, I'm officially twitting. All professional tweets - writing, articles, and eventually - updates on my novel - called for now 'September Skies' - but I will change that when I finish my novel. I have a few titles in mind but want to keep that to myself for now.

If anyone wants to find me on twitter - you can do so at: avila_recorder

Change of dreams

2011-11-01T23:00:00.000-07:00

It looks like I will not be making my little get-away room behind my home.

I was totally ready to invest in it and make it a precious writer's getaway but had to re-think things. Turns out my mom is getting weaker and I am now concentrating on another "get away" -- building a studio at her home so that I would have a place to stay when I care for her.
I could not afford to do both, so my little writers paradise will wait.

Of course, I'm still excited about the studio -- and I will incorporate a lot of what I had planned for the cottage -- white wrought iron bed, small wicker furniture sitting area - plants and flowers - and lots of book cases with all my favorite books.
What I want is a retreat - for myself - or whomever might be able to stay there on the days I can't. -- all a dream for now, of course.

But that's ok. I live on dreams.

Summer Cottage Dreams

2011-06-05T15:17:00.000-07:00

When I first moved into my home 18 years ago, there was a small shack in the back yard that I converted into a playhouse for my three little girls. The room had a lot of shelves where tools and who knows what once were - I used it to display/hold dolls and toys. A small table and chairs, "kitchen" area and "sitting" area were added and the rustic little play house was created.

As the girls grew, the little playhouse turned into a very-rustic guestroom. With time, it eventually became a store room.
And now, it's filled with who knows what - everything from Christmas decorations to a lot of miscellaneous everything.

That will soon change. This summer, the girls promised to help me transform that little room into my own pretty little cottage. And with my beautiful 'Morning Glory' growing everywhere, I plan on helping the vine over to the "cottage" - that should make it really pretty.

I am very excited and have so many plans for it. I want to keep it rustic but do plan on adding simple white paneling that I can paint a very light color - mint or cream or kiss of yellow - to cover the dozens of pieces of sheetrock that cover that place.

The floor is not straight but I just plan on putting a large thick plywood and cover it with an indoor/outdoor carpet.

I've been collecting white wrought iron things - an antique bed, frames, candleholders, and bird cage to add to my little room. A wing-tip chair, floor lamp and desk armoire should finish my little vintage room.

I've seen it in my mind for years and now finally I am ready to do it. I plan on taking photos along the way. Here's a few so you can see what I'm working with. Notice the room full of boxes?

That's me. A dreamer - I do it a lot. It keeps me going.

I plan to read and write and dream out there - and add it to my other favorite things about my home - enjoying a cup of coffee on my front porch, hanging out in my tiny little back yard and playing with my doggies and enjoying my rose garden and waterfall pond.

One month later - I can smile!

2010-12-19T20:11:00.001-08:00

It has been one month and one day since my Bells Palsy incident -- and I just want to report that my smile is about 90-percent back. I'm symmetrical, for the most part. Most people think it's completely back - but I can tell the difference -- and if I get tired or have a long day, you can especially tell.

So - let me catch you up.

I've spent the last week resting -- if you can call it that -- out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Cruise! Oh yeah! It was wonderful.

A whole week of fun and relaxing and sun! It was so warm - everyone wore shorts and swimming tops -- hard to believe it was December.

The rest was just what I needed to get completely better. I did a lot of "nothing" and a lot of "partying" (not drinking, just dancing, comedy and other shows, excursions, and having fun with the girls)

I love to read and read a book in a day and a half -- had a margarita in Ensenada -- and basically enjoyed time with my girls.

Food was good too. Not the buffets - the dinners. I am not a buffet person -- don't care for places where a million hands have touched everything. Plus I don't care for places where people can load up their plates like that -- but I did loved the nice three to five-course dinners. Lobster, prime rib, mahi mahi -- Mmmmm.

I slept good too - which I think really helped. I was up at 6 a.m. each day, like normal, but I took short naps and relaxed a lot. Did a little bit of writing too - which I hadn't done in a while.

In Santa Catalina, I rented a golf cart and drove all around the island. In Ensenada, we went to see the beautiful Bufador - one of only three natural blow holes in the world (we've seen the one in Hawaii, the other is in Australia.)

By the last night of the cruise, I felt my lower lip quivering again -- and each time I feel that, I awaken with more of a smile -- and sure enough, my smile returned to almost 100-percent.

See me smiling in the photo above!

emotional - nostalgic -- fairy tales -- whatever it may be .....

2010-12-05T20:44:00.000-08:00

"Be calm, only by a calm consideration of our existence can we achieve our purpose to live together - Be calm - love me - today - yesterday - what tearful longings for you - you - you - my life - my all - farewell. Oh continue to love me - never misjudge the most faithful heart of your beloved. ever thine ever mine ever ours."

Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you

If you’re young at heart

For it’s hard, you will find, to be narrow of mind

If you’re young at heart

You can go to extremes with impossible schemes

You can laugh when your dreams fall apart at the seams

And life gets more exciting with each passing day
And love is either in your heart or on it’s way

Don’t you know that it’s worth every treasure on earth

To be young at heart

For as rich as you are it’s much better by far

To be young at heart

And if you should survive to 105

Look at all you’ll derive out of being alive

(Avila, listen to me)

Then here is the best part
You have a head start

If you are among the very young at heart

taking things for granted.....

2010-11-30T22:42:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, Nov. 30:

I drank a bottled water like a normal person today! I was so excited.
It's funny how you take such simple normal things for granted -- until you can't do it anymore.
There are so many things taken for granted.....

I suddenly realized I am cheating myself from love........three years and counting.....hard to imagine I was once loved....all seems so long ago now. I have the dream often .....running to each other....ha!..... but true.....all of it.....lots of pictures to prove it all....my heart smiles when I think of it...... He may be gone but the memories and love will never leave......... "Fly me to the moon, let me play among the stars, let me feel what spring is like on a jupiter and mars.....In other words -- Baby, I love you!" -- always will.

Thanksgiving - Day 8

2010-11-25T21:35:00.000-08:00

I awoke with yet another surprise! I could actually open my mouth completely for the first time since the incident. May seem simple, but I really couldn't make an "O" with my mouth prior to today. And today I did. :) It was also the very first day I did not feel lightheaded or "odd" all day long. I really believe I am on my way to a total recovery.

Just in time for Thanksgiving.

Enjoyed two Thanksgiving meals. One at home with my immediate family at noon -- and another at night with extended family at my sister's house.

If there's a down side - it's that my left eye is still quite sensitive. It's watered all evening long. But that's about it.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Moving forward

2010-11-24T21:06:00.001-08:00

As I think about this thing that happened to me - I am very grateful for one thing..... that it happened to me and not someone I love.

What happened after the hospital....... I'll catch you up to date.

Friday - Day 2

Home to rest. Looking in the mirror was so odd. For someone who has always been known for her smile, it was strange to see someone else in the mirror -- someone who was not smiling back at me. But that was not my main problem. Ialso didn't feel right -- I was lightheaded, dizzy, and very weak. Just to walk from my bed to the kitchen took a lot of effort.

One obvious thing is that my left eye would not close whatsoever. No blinking, no shutting. Nada. This made the eye very uncomfortable - with light, dust, wind, heat, cold -- everything.
So I had to shut my eye manually with my finger every so often. (and use artificial tears drops)
I tried to watch a half hour television show and it took me more than an hour - I had to keep stopping it. Computer screen too - was hard on the eyes - or should I say, eye.

I noticed one other thing too. My left ear was super sensitive to noise. Not regular noise but "loud" noises. When my little dog, Dakota, barked -- I swear I had an amplifier next to my ear. It hurt so bad!! I had lost the fluid from my tympanic membrane -- therefore, there's nothing to muffle the sound.

I was also concerned about work -- being the workaholoic that I am, I wanted to get right back to work and planned on being there Monday. That was my plan.

Saturday/Sunday Day 3 and 4

It became clear that there was no way I could be at work Monday. Not only did the lightheadedness continued, but I soon realized I couldn't talk well, I couldn't eat well, and I was having a hard time drinking liquids. My eye continued to bother me - ALOT.
I also found that I was starting to hurt myself -- I would unconciously try to rub my eye and actually touch the eyeball itself. Happened a few times.
I worked on some physical therapy - facial exercises - but they were frustrating. No matter how hard I tried, nothing happened.
I spent much of the weekend in bed. I couldn't read but I did log onto FaceBook every so often - not too bad as long as I did not spend more than five minutes at a time on it.

I also did something stupid on Saturday night - I went to see Harry Potter. BIG MISTAKE.
Not only was the flashing light horrible for my eyesight, the noise was almost unbearable. But I did it for Marisa. And I ended up huddling my ear against the seat (which muffled the noise) and with one hand closed my left eye. Eventually I fell asleep and I missed most of the movie, so that wasn't so bad.
When I got home, I had to tape my eye down almost immediately - it was so tired.

Sunday - more of the same tiredness. I wanted to go out and test my driving ability - but there was no way - I couldn't even walk straight, let alone drive.
On the plus side, my drinking ability has improved. I can now successfully, with minimal spilling, drink from a cup like a big girl.

Monday - Day 5
I can close my eye! I can close my eye! With a bit of effort, anyway. But hey, I'll take it. Very exciting. I still can't blink but I can close my left eye. If I try several times, it gets harder.

I saw my doctor today - he was very happy with the eye progress.

He also doubled my medication, which was necessary to control my blood pressure, but suddenly I found myself double exhausted. It is so debilitating to be on them. I hate it.

The prednisone I was placed on makes me sick too. Yuk. Hate those pills. They are soooo bitter.

Tuesday - Day 6
I'm getting tired of soup. I've had nothing but soup for five days. I am craving a taco.
At work, Tuesday is Taco Tuesday. What I wouldn't give to bite down on a crunchy taco.
Eating remains difficult. My mouth does not open properly and I keep biting the top of my left lip. But I remain optimistic.
Also - my lower left lip started quivering today. Not sure what it meant but I took it as a good sign.

Wednesday - Day 7
Woohoo! I looked in the mirror this morning. I woke up with a tiny smile - small upturn to left lip visible - and possible! I was so excited. Dont almost effortless.
I still have my lopsided smile on the outside but inside, I feel as if it's a great, big, even smile!
I know I will get there.

Excuse me, am I in Las Vegas?

2010-11-22T21:43:00.000-08:00

Note: If you want to read these stories in sequence, start with
1. A funny thing happened after work Wednesday
2. Emergency Room Visit - "There's an 8-percent chance you will die."
3. Exuse me, am I in Las Vegas?

Exuse me, am I in Las Vegas?
3:45 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 18

I decided not to write too much here about the transfer from the emergency room to my semi-private room in the cardiac/telemetry unit of the hospital. It was not pleasant -- nor were the next 16 hours that followed any better.

But I will say that you would have never guessed that I was in a hospital. Bright lights, loud noises, including a blaring television all night long, beepings from all directions, clanking, constant hitting of my bed, and freezing room!! And those were the more positive things I can say about the experience.

I'll leave it at that for now. Some things are just too horrible to mention -- and I experienced a couple of those not so nice things during those first few hours. (had to do with roommate care)

But I will share a couple of "funny" moments (if you can call it that) that happened during my stay. Not in any particular order.

Nurse walks in: "Would you like some reading material?"
Me: "Yes! Thank you." (I lOVE to read)
Nurse: hands me a booklet "After your stroke" and walks out.
What the ???? -- I mean, ok, but it just seemed weird.

My mirror on my bed table was broken.
me to nurse: "Oh no! My mirror is broken."
She looks at it, "It's not so bad."
(it was totally shattered in one section and had a huge line all the way through it.)
me: "It doesn't seem very safe. This glass can get on the table and into my food. Can you please find me another bed table."
Nurse: "I don't think that's necessary. It's not like you need it."
WHAT the ??? -- come on now - just what every girl who just suffered through what I did, wants to hear.
Nurse: "I'll see if we have another table, otherwise I'll have to send someone from maintenance to pick it up."

Man walks in with clipboard and tells me his name, which I can't remember.
Man: "I need to look at your laptop."
(I honestly thought he was kidding.)
Me: "Are you from Maintenance?"
Man, looking annoyed: "Why do you say that?"
Me: "Are you here for my mirror? It's broken really bad. It's dangerous."
Man: "I'm here to look at your computer or you will have to put it away. It might be interfering with the equipment."
Me: "Oh, sorry. I thought you were kidding."
Man: "Why would I kid you?" (but he sounded so angry. Geesh.)
He then grabbed it off my lap and turned it around, put a blue sticker on it that said "Electrical Safety tested" and walked out.
Me: "What about my mirror?" (I thought he was rude but I wanted to joke)
Him: "I'll put an order in for it. It will take about 7 days to get it fixed."

Me: "Nurse, this IV is bleeding all over me" -- as I wipe it up with a towellette.
Nurse: "That's normal"
What the????
I said, "Ok - if you want blood all over the place." (it was literally rolling down my arm!!)
Nurse: "Why didn't you tell me it was bleeding."
She tapes over it and pushes it in further.
"There."
Me: "That's it? It's kind of messy. It's all over my gown and all over the sheets." (referring to blood)
Nurse: "We'll take care of it when we come freshen your bed and get you set up for a bath."
Well.....they never came. i spent the whole time in the hospital with a bloody gown in a bloody bed (literal) and no one ever changed it nor offered to give me a clean gown.

Lunch was late -- 1:30 p.m. (and since I never ate breakfast because of what the nurses were doing in my room - I was starving.) Of course, when lunch arrived, the nurses came in and did their thing again -- (did they think I could not hear them - they were right next to me) -- but I will not go into that. So, of course, I couldn't eat much. Too disgusting.

When I went to get my MRI/MRA -- I was gone more than an hour -- we had to stop at the front desk to get disconnected from my wires. The nurse reached under my gown and in front of everyone "ripped" the stuff off me by lifting my gown.

OK -- I was totally embarrassed!! There must have been at least eight people there -- all workers but some were male.

"STOP!" I yelled. "Can't we do this in the room?" (I really had no idea I was getting wheeled to the nurses' station to have that done to me.) The nurse mumbled an apology and said, "all done." and they wheeled me away fast. I covered my face. I was so embarrassed and cried silently all the way to the unit -- which was across a small plaza. Luckily the guy who picked me up gave me a sheet to cover up with and I literally draped it over my head. I didn't want anyone seeing me. We went down the elevator, through a lobby full of people, into the plaza, across a small street thing and into another building. It was probably one of the worst things to happen to me.

When I returned to my room -- my bed was still bloody. My lunch tray was still on the bedside table and the mirror was still broken. My gown was still bloody too. But by now, I didn't give a damn. All I wanted to do was to get out of that hellish place they called a hospital.
I was ready to sign out AMA - Against Medical Advice.

Remember -- I said the earlier thing was worsst (the part I would not print) -- well, that is still true. I don't want to get into it because it is just too horrible -- and now that I was back in the room, I felt that again.

When the physical therapist and his female assistant arrived -- which by the way, was the funnest part of the whole visit (and he made me laugh a lot and vice versa) -- I told him I was ready to go home. That I was signing out AMA.

Then neurologist came by with my results and said I did not have a stroke and I can be moved to another room. YAY!! I was so excited. I needed to get out of that room.

Nurse came in - hospital full. I would have to stay in the room through the night. I had not slept in more than 24 hours, I was in pain, exhausted and humiliated by then...... I couldn't stay. I said no. I wanted to go home.

My doctor came in on rounds, and said I could stay the night or go home if I preferred. I said I'd go home......

UPDATE: A month later, my bill for my one-day stay came in. That one night cost more than $44,000! And since I make less than $2k a month, it would take me two years of work to pay it off! Thank God for health insurance.

Emergency Room visit - "There's an 8-percent chance you will die."

2010-11-21T21:22:00.000-08:00

Note: First read prior post - "A funny thing happened after work Wednesday."

Emergency Room Visist - "There's an 8-percent chance you will die."
10:15 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 17

When the experience first happened, my first thought was Bells Palsy. But, the blood pressure gave me a fright.... so my thought as I rushed to the E.R. was "stroke"

I got to the window....

"What are you being seen for?"

"I think I'm having a stroke. My blood pressure is 200/104, I'm having tingling and numbness to right arm and I have blurry vision -- plus I can't see at all out of my left eye.

"Fill these out and bring them back to this window when you're done."

"Are you serious? I just told you I can't see clearly." (I answered calmly and sweetly.)

"If you need help, return to the window and someone will assist you."

I took the closest seat and could not see the form anymore. I got as far as writing my name when James entered. He filled out the paperwork for me. I returned it to the window. Pretty weak by now. I really thought I would pass out.

Lucky for me, they took everything more serious after they saw my paperwork (or maybe me) and called me in instantly.

Suddenly I was a priority. It was not too busy that night but they still placed me in the trauma - or cardiac - unit and I was immediately clipped to a hundred wires.

They were very thorough. Within minutes, my vitals were taken, an ekg was done, a heparin lock installed in my arm, a chest xray had been done, lab work drawn, they told me I was scheduled for a Cat Scan and that the doctor would see me soon and the on-call neurologist would also see me.

Then they said a stroke consultant was coming in. She walked in, looked around, walked out and said "where's the patient" -- they pointed to me and she said, "Oh. You're too young for a stroke."

Yeah, I know.

The "stroke consultant" - who looked all of 20 years of age, tested me on time, date, President, a simple little drawing I had to explain, etc. I passed with flying colors.

What I didn't pass was the sobriety test that followed -- put arms up, make circles, hold still.... left arm - no matter how hard I tried to keep it up -- my left arm kept pulling down with gravity.

Yikes - not a good sign.

Then - off to the CAT scan -- (I'll keep results of that to myself.)

The doctor came in, said the neurologist was not available until morning.

He explained my CAT scan result and then proceeded to poke me with a needle -- on the right face cheek, and left. I felt the right, not the left....and so he went down the body, arm, legs, to ankles......I could feel the right, but not the left.

He said I had an option to take a certain (very dangerous) medication. It can only be offered within three hours of stroke onset. AND - I was very lucky to be one of the few people who go straight in and do all the testing. I was having a stroke, apparently. He also said there is an 8-percent chance I could die from taking the medicine if it backfired. (mortal side effect)
I declined it. I told him I didn't think I had a stroke. He agreed with my declining - saying he personally did not recommend it because I was not "serious" enough but that he still had to offer it and he still thought I had more of a stroke than Bells Palsy onset because of my lack of feeling in arm and leg and because of the weakness and tingling to my left side.

I was told at 11:30 p.m. that I would be admitted for a stroke - I was scheduled for an MRI and an MRA of the brain and neck veins the next day, so fine -- I'll stay for observation. Afterall, something was definitely not right.

Well, that was about the last time I saw my nurse. (she had been there all along prior to this)
I sent Marisa home with James about 1 a.m.

I soon realized I was freezing. My left eye would not shut and I was staring up at what seemed like a 200-volt light. I tried calling out to the nurse, but nothing. I laid there in a little gown with nothing over me - not even a sheet. (Thank goodness I was wearing yoga exercise pants)

Finally a cleaning person came in and I kindly told her I was freezing and if she could please get me a sheet and turn off the bright lights. She got me the warmest blanket ever - heated - and then turned off the lights for me.

I couldn't rest - no pillow and I was so uncomfortable. I laid there till 3:30 a.m. when I was told my room was ready. I was going to the cardiac unit of the hospital.

That's when my nightmare really begin.......... more tomorrow.

A funny thing happened after work Wednesday.....

2010-11-21T21:00:00.000-08:00

Wow - has it really been more than a year since I last blogged anything?

I guess you could say I have been quite busy between two households in two towns and work (since May) - and traveling to and from visiting my two girls in Santa Barbara. There was also a bit of travel involved prior to May.

But something has happened recently to me and I wanted to share it with you. If it ends up helping just one person - great. If not, well, I still want to share it - because it helps ME.

On Wednesday, Nov. 17, I went to work like normal. I put in a full day as a news reporter -- loved it, as always. Making the day more special -- I got to cover a story about the Porterville College baseball players who took time out from their day to play ball with a lot of little preschoolers. It was such an awesome day/story.

I also covered a tragic car accident - all in a day's work -- again, not to sound cryptic -- but I love the adrenaline rush of hard news. The man did not survive the wreck and I learned later -- that he was a family friend from church.

Well..... to get to what happened to me.

I came home, had dinner, and relaxed with a cup of coffee. I was drinking it fine when suddenly my mouth felt funny. I didn't think much of it but soon found my left eye watering like crazy and my left nostril running. Then I started drooling.

I went to the rest room to get a tissue and that's when I saw it -- my face. It had totally "fallen" on one side. I tried to talk and couldn't talk right.

I still wasn't about to panic so I went and took my blood pressure (automatic thingie) and when it read 200/104 -- time to panic! Straight to the emergency room I went - lucky for me - that means a whole three blocks. I was there in less than two minutes. Normally, I have low blood pressure. It runs 100/70 and sometimes drops lower than that. I usually take it to make sure it's not too low.

But this is where it gets interesting..... follow me to my next post. (break first)

2009-10-23T17:41:00.000-07:00

Marine Band wows Porterville

Several members of The President’s Own, the United States Marine Band, line up across the stage as they played “Semper Fidelis” – the Marine Corps march – before a packed auditorium Wednesday night at the Frank “Buck” Shaffer Theater. The band, under the direction of Col. Michael J. Colburn, received numerous standing ovations throughout their performance. Photo by Jennifer Servantes
CLICK HERE for story

Way to go Granite Hills and Strathmore High School Bands

2009-10-19T20:29:00.000-07:00

Photo by Esther Avila

Congratulations Granite Hills High and Strathmore High bands.

Here are some of the results of the 2009 Visalia "Music in Motion" Band Review - Saturday, October 17, 2009

Granite Hills High School:
Parade: First, majorette team ; Field competition: First, class D
Strathmore High:
Parade: Second, solo majorette, Third - military drum major
Parade: Second place, class E
Exeter High:
Parade: First, class C

Check out the full story: Friday, October 23, in the Southern Sierra Messenger

http://www.sosierramessenger.com/

I will post the story here later - so you may want to check back in a couple of weeks.
In the meantime, here are some of the results:

PARADE:
Majorette Team - Granite Hills High School, Porterville
Solo Majorette - Fowler High School, first place; Strathmore High Shool, second place
Percussion - Buchanan High, first; Tulare Western, Tulare, second; El Diamante, Visalia, third.
Drum Major - Military: Fowler, first; Sierra, second; Strathmore High, third.
Drum Major - Open: Tulare Western
Drum Major - Mace: Golden West, first; Hanford West, second; Edison, third.
Identification category: Buchanan, first; Fowler, second; Tulare West, third.
Flags: Fowler, first; Tulare Union, second; Mission Oak, third.

Parade - Bands:
Class E: Riverdale, 1; Strathmore, 2; Sierra High School, 3.
Class D: Mission Oaks, 1; Edison, 2; Orosi, 3.
Class C: Exeter, 1; Mt. Whitney, Visalia, 2.
Class B: Golden West, Visalia, 1; Tulare Western, 2; Tulare Union, 3.
Class A: Fowler, 1; El Diamante, Visalia, 2; Buchanan, 3.

Parade Music Sweepstakes: Hanford West
Grand Sweepstakes Parade: Hanford West

FIELD: Results below won first, second, and third respectively.
Field Auxilliary - Buchanan High School, El Diamante, Golden West.
Percussion - El Diamante, Buchanan, Tulare Western
Class D - Granite Hills, Orosi, Edison.
Class C - Exeter, Woodlake, Mt. Whitney.
Class B - Golden West, Tulare Western, Hanford West
Class A - Buchanan, Redwood

Field Music - El Diamante
Field Showmanship - Buchanan
Field Sweepstakes - El Diamante
Grand Sweepstakes - El Diamante

I will post middle school results in a couple of days.

Fabulous Studio Band - Seattle, WA - June 2009

2009-09-27T23:46:00.000-07:00

Fabulous Studio Band plays for appreciative Seattle audience
June 15, 2009 9:44 PM

By ESTHER AVILA
FOR THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER
(Photos by Esther Avila)
SEATTLE — Porterville’s Fabulous Studio Band continued to entertain young and old alike Monday afternoon when they performed at the Seattle Center in Seattle during the seventh day of their three-state Pacific Northwest tour.
The band, under the direction of Jim Kusserow, left Porterville June 9.
“This band has performed all over the place. They’ve performed in just about every U.S. Air Force base you can think of, before the U.S. Senate, the White House and Hawaii,” Kusserow said to the crowd gathered at the food court of the Seattle Center House. “We travel a lot, always at no cost to the students.”
The audience responded favorably by cheering, whistling and clapping heartily as the band opened with “I Remember Basie” and continued with “Hello Dolly,” “Georgia on my Mind” — featuring Clark Keele on tenor sax — and “It’s Almost like being in Love,” a number which featured George Andrade on trombone and Kusserow on trumpet.
Ernie and Kathy Lassman of Seattle said they could not resist getting up to dance as the band played “Moonlight Serenade.”
“We have heard a lot of big-band music and we must say, this band is great,” Ernie Lassman said. “They are top notch. We have enjoyed listening to them.”
But big-band music was not all the band played. They also treated the audience to a few contemporary numbers from Chicago; K.C. and the Sunshine Band; and Earth, Wind and Fire.
Sitting in the audience was the McMaster family from Porterville.
“Today is my birthday,” Dawn McMaster said. “What a great way to spend my birthday. We flew into Seattle yesterday and met up with the band in Port Angeles.”
The tour is the family’s last opportunity to see her two sons, Kyle and Kory McMaster, perform with the band, she said. The boys, recent graduates of Porterville High and Porterville College, are heading to Azusa Pacific University in the fall.
Also in the audience was a young woman with two children. The three tapped their feet and danced in their seats as the band played.
“I’m their nanny,” said Shanda Gimbel of Seattle. “We were having lunch here and the music started and the children started dancing like crazy. This was great. I loved it. Big band is still a timeless sound and it is evident that it appeals to all ages. We all loved it.”
The Fabulous Studio Band continues its tour with a performance in Everett, Wash.
All photos by Esther Avila

Fabulous Studio Band - Everett, WA - June 2009

2009-09-27T23:38:00.000-07:00

Fabulous Studio Band continues Pacific NW trip
Tour: Oregon, Washington residents treated to band sound.
June 18, 2009 10:05 AM

By ESTHER AVILA
FOR THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER

(photos by Esther Avila)

EVERETT, Wash. — Members of the Fabulous Studio Band are on their way home from their three-state, 2,869-mile Pacific Northwest tour. They are scheduled to return Friday evening.
The band left Porterville on June 9, and has played in numerous venues in Oregon and Washington.
Tuesday evening they kicked off a summer concert series for the city of Everett, Wash.
With the harbor as their backdrop, the band entertained a large crowd with their big-band and contemporary numbers.
“I was walking by and saw them setting up and I just had to stop,” said Larry Wold of Everett. “I enjoy the big band sound. This group sounds pretty good.”
Estelle and Charles Spaulding of Mill Creek, Ore., said they attended because they heard that big-band music was on the schedule.
“It is our first time here. We enjoy concerts like these — and being out here in front of the waterfront — you can’t beat that.”
It was a sentiment expressed by several in attendance. While some dined or enjoyed a drink from restaurant patios, others brought lawn chairs and blankets and sat on the lawn.
Jordan Donato, 2, could not sit still. The toddler hit the dance floor every time the band played.
“She has always liked to dance. I don’t think she can resist it,” said her mother, 23-year-old Alexandra Donato. “We come often — whenever my mom invites me. I’m enjoying this. It is different from what I usually listen to, but it’s lovely.”
As the band continued to play big-band hits, couples danced. Judging by the hearty applause, they loved it.
“We play all over the country,” said band leader Jim Kusserow. “And next June, some of these kids will be playing at Carnegie Hall when we take the band to New York.”
George Sandia, 62, of Everett, applauded and cheered as the band played “New York, New York.”
“They play so well,” Sandia said. “I can see them playing at big cities. But I’m glad they came here — and are playing for us.”
After its Everett performance, the band performed Wednesday evening in Oak Harbor, on Whidbey Island.
“What we are trying to do, besides keeping the big band sound alive and let people across America know that there are still bands out there performing this music, is recreate what it was like for a traveling big band — letting the kids know what is like to be in a performing big band, whether just traveling up and down the state or across the country,” Kusserow said. “Some of these kids might have aspirations to perform. This gives them a little cross section of all it takes. They learn to work together. Everyone has a job and everything gets done.”
Pianist Jerika Hayes and Suzy Napieralski, who plays clarinet and saxophone, agreed. It was the first band tour for both.
“Setting up has been easy,” Hayes, a junior at Porterville High School, said. “It has been a real unique experience. I wouldn’t say it has been hectic though. Everything has worked out perfect — like a well-oiled machine. We have always had enough time for our performances.”
It was not all work, however. The band’s members had plenty of time for sightseeing.
Band members sand boarded at the sand dunes in Florence, Ore., toured a music and sci-fi museum, visited a rainforest in Olympic National Park, and toured through Forks, Ore. — home to the popular “Twilight” books.
“I was able to tour a lot with [former band director, the late] Buck Shaffer and I am merely trying to pass on the great experience I had,” Kusserow said. “It has been a great reward for me to do so. It has been a great trip.”

Music in Porterville - Fabulous Studio Band and Sierra Vocal Arts - June 2009

2009-09-27T23:30:00.000-07:00

Music in Porterville

By Esther Avila
Southern Sierra Messenger

There is no doubt about it – Porterville is a musical town, not only during the school year but year round. The music is everywhere – with elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as community groups, local bands and individuals performing with choirs, orchestras and bands.

One does not have to look far to find it, either. It is as close as the center of town.
“Music on Main Street” – sponsored by the City of Porterville and the Porterville Chamber of Commerce – continues at 6:30 tonight with Duggin’s Citrus Express taking center stage at Centennial Park. The concerts, which run every Friday night through the end of June, are free and open to the public. Centennial Park is located directly in front of City Hall on Main Street.
I also find it heart-warming that local musicians, such as the Fabulous Studio Band and the Sierra Vocal Arts Ensemble, are currently on tour – sharing their music with the world.

(photo by Esther Avila)
The Fabulous Studio Band, under the direction of Jim Kusserow, left Porterville Tuesday morning. The band is performing in Portland, Oregon tonight and Saturday night before continuing towards Seattle, and Whidbey Island in Washington. They will log more than 2,800 miles as they perform at numerous venues during their 10-day North West Pacific tour.
A small group gathered to see the musicians off. Among them was Dawn McMaster, mother of Kyle and Kory McMaster, recent graduates of Porterville College and Porterville High School.
“This is the last time they will be playing with the band,” McMaster said. “It has been an amazing experience for them. They have grown so much, in music, and as young men. They won’t be here next year. This is it. Both are attending Azusa Pacific next year. Both are majoring in music.”

The Sierra Vocal Arts Ensemble is also on tour. The community choir, celebrating their 20th season, left Thursday and will be visiting and performing in some of the most beautiful and historic cathedrals and churches of the world – London, Salisbury, Stratford-upon-Avon and Cambridge. They will also participate in a workshop with English composer John Rutter.
“There will be something for everyone. There is so much history within the area where we will be traveling that one can’t see it all,” said Fred Knutson, the ensemble’s founding conductor. “I do know that for many of our singers, having the opportunity to have a choral workshop led by internationally renowned composer John Rutter, will be the highlight.”
This is the ensemble’s first extended tour, said Sara Guinn of Hanson Travel Ideas of Porterville. Other than performances in Modesto, the choir has performed only in the Porterville area.
Guinn has arranged for the ensemble to visit many historically important sites, including Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, William Shakespeare’s birthplace, Winston Churchill’s burial site, Anne Hathaway’s cottage, and numerous museums and historic churches.
“We will be performing in some of the most beautiful and historic venues in the world. Salisbury Cathedral was built within a period of 38 years beginning in 1220,” Knutson said. “Imagine something built in the 1200’s that is as beautiful and functional today as when it was built. So much of the music we perform was composed for beautiful buildings much like that cathedral, it brings a singer so close to the original performance sound, which we rarely get to experience in our modern church buildings. Probably the most exciting part will be experiencing so much that’s new with the great friends I have in the Sierra Vocal Arts Ensemble. They are a dynamic group of people and I know that it will be fun to ‘ooo’ and ‘ahhh’ with them.”

Yes - I am still writing.

2009-09-27T23:17:00.000-07:00

I started writing for Exeter Sun Gazette and for Southern Sierra Messenger - and I did freelance a couple of band stories for the Porterville Recorder.

Southern Sierra Messenger has been wonderful. I actually got my own column with them and my editor (not me) named my column "Esther Avila's Porterville."

My column has my memories about a Porterville moment and comments about a current situation, festival, or person from Porterville.

I've talked about meeting Buck Shaffer when I was 4-years old, the old kiddie wading pool at Murry Park, first day of school jitters, the fire pits at Taco Bell, ...... and other such memories.

I love having my own column.

I've also been writing all of the copy for a special publication for an upcoming apple festival. I've written a dozen stories and will spend most of the week as a photographer.

I love my job.

Summer's not over

2009-08-27T23:07:00.000-07:00

Well, since summer was not over, I continued to travel. Jennifer, Marisa and I went to Yuma, Arizona.... 10 hour drive. Fun. We got caught in a nasty sand storm as we arrived.
I did some research for my novel and we visited Richard - we stayed on base.

We left and drove all the way to Oregon -with a stop in Visalia to drop off Jennifer and pick up Catherine. We spent the night in Redding and then spent the next day exploring waterfalls in the Shasta Mountains. (pic is of Catherine at Sweet Briar Falls) Breathtaking beautiful. It was a perfect day.....from there, off to McMinnville for the annual LaMotte/Flores garden party - a perfect end to summer.
(pic: Catherine under one of the arbours at the party - as the sun went in, hundreds of twinkling lights came on.)

What fun!
What a summer!

Long time, no write

2009-07-15T15:04:00.001-07:00

Jennifer and Richard - Mardigras - near Louisiana

Marisa entering Mississippi

Marisa in Alabama

So much has happened this year and I have not written in my blog much - my apologies to myself as much as to others for that. Let's see if I can catch people up.....

January - I lost my dream job. Odd that I call it that. But to me, it was. I loved writing for my home paper and still miss it alot. But, like dozens of others who have been laid off from the newspaper business, I had no choice but to move on. I chose to do so by traveling.

February - Spent Valentines Day in Mississippi. I loved the area. A whole week in Mississippi, Alabama (including a drive to Cuba, AL) and Louisiana. It was fun. I remember stopping in Alabama and seeing a little red-headed, freckled-face, bare-footed boy riding his bicycle down a narrow road. A brown dog ran after him. I loved it. So Norman Rockwell like. At Hardees with Marisa and Jennifer - I'd never been to one before.

March 2009 - NYC

March - Spring Break with my daughter Catherine in New York City. I finally had a dream come true - I ice skated in Central Park - a dream of mine since I was in 7th grade. (and saw it on "Love Story")

April - San Francisco - 4-day band trip with Jennifer.

May - Disneyland and California Adventure with Marisa.

June - Pacific NW - following the Fabulous Studio Band around (and wrote about them while they were in Seattle and in Everett, WA) Included side trips to Forks and Port Angeles in Washington (yes, we are Twilight fans) We did the "Twilight" tour.

July - I am currently writing this from North Carolina - where I am spending a week with Jennifer. (Cherry Point MCAS)

Richard and Jennifer hugging - Atlantic Beach, NC

I promise to return to writing again, and soon -- and I will try to keep this blog up -- but in the meantime, I did learn of Jason Evan's latest contest and couldn't help but enter. I feel everyone who enters (or reads the stories) is a winner. http://clarityofnight.blogspot.com/

2009-01-21T09:25:00.000-08:00

I am very excited and honored to learn that I earned an Honorable Mention - and made it into the "Forties Club" - with the story I submitted into Clarity of Night's recent contest. (Members of the Clarity of Night Forties Club are entries which scored 40 or higher out of 45.)
For those of you who missed my story, here it is:
Entry #125
Waiting on a Miracle
by Esther Avila

Jack watched the television, his mouth open at the scene unfolding at Fashion Point Mall -- police tape, metal, skin, and chaos.

“Unbelievable!” he said to himself as the phone rang.

“Hey, are you watching the news?” Kyle asked. “Can you believe it?”

Just the day before, Jack and Kyle met for dinner -- and a few drinks.

“Stop being such a baby. If I were in that wheelchair, I wouldn’t be such a whiner,” Kyle had said.“I dare you to spend the whole evening in a wheelchair.”

The deal was on. Heading to the mall, Kyle obtained a chair and proceeded to maneuver around the shops.

“Nothing to it,” he said. “I bet my grandma could do this blindfolded.”

“Tell me that after you take the stairs.”

Kyle headed to the escalator, ignoring the warning: Strollers and Wheelchairs Prohibited.

“Don’t do it Kyle. I was kidding.”

Too late.Jack felt helpless as he watched his best friend tumble to the bottom of the stairs.

Laughing, Kyle stood, thankful for the beers that cushioned the fall.

A concerned crowd had gathered around him.“I can walk,” Kyle yelled as he stood and pushed away the chair. “It’s a miracle!”

Jack’s attention turned back to the pretty reporter on the news.

“…..two people are in critical condition and four others in serious condition after they rolled their wheelchairs down the escalator, apparently looking for a miracle. A man in his mid 20s was miraculously healed yesterday …..”

33 Comments:

McKoala said...
Appreciated your twist!
January 15, 2009 12:23 AM

kunal said...
good ending .. riveting in a way.
January 15, 2009 1:01 AM

Lena said...
that was some good twist. but somehow it is good that people still believe in miracles, even though it does not work out always. Well written!
January 15, 2009 1:36 AM

*~*{Sameera}*~* said...
Ha ha!That was a good read,and relieving too :)
January 15, 2009 3:35 AM

K.Lawson Gilbert said...
Unique take. Good writing skills - I like the way the story unfolded. (Kyle needs an attitude adjustment- lol)
January 15, 2009 7:14 AM

Scott said...
Things just work out for some people! I loved your take on the picture; this was a fun-to-read piece.
January 15, 2009 7:35 AM

laughingwolf said...
nice twist :)
January 15, 2009 7:45 AM

Aerin said...
oh, my gosh. such a great story - LOVE this
January 15, 2009 8:35 AM

wrath999 said...
Cool and enjoyable tale
January 15, 2009 9:08 AM

RiverSoul said...
Loved the macabre twist...Heh! Heh! Server them right for blindly believing everything they see.:DDo read my story too.:)#86.:)
January 15, 2009 9:26 AM

peggy said...
what a twisty ending. good job!
January 15, 2009 12:18 PM

BernardL said...
Ouch! Well done.
January 15, 2009 1:11 PM

Aine said...
Oh!! Fabulous! And, sadly, so true to human nature. You had me on the edge of my seat until the scene was revealed.Loved it!!:)
January 15, 2009 4:23 PM

Patsy said...
I wasn't expecting that.
January 15, 2009 4:55 PM

Jaye Wells said...
Loved the punch line. Thanks for the laugh.
January 15, 2009 5:24 PM

Anonymous said...
Wicked! Loved it.John McAuley
January 15, 2009 7:11 PM

bluesugarpoet said...
Nice twist at the end - completely unexpected! - jana
January 15, 2009 9:50 PM

Catvibe said...
I really love the ending!
January 16, 2009 10:52 AM

BrownPhantom said...
Nothing prepared me for the end. Very fuuny :).-Prashant Dhanke
January 16, 2009 12:16 PM

iLL Man said...
Never be shy of a sick joke........... =DMinimal fuss in the telling and the gag came out of nowhere. Nicely done.Ewen.
January 16, 2009 8:44 PM

pjd said...
Like everyone else, I love the brilliant twist. The buildup really sells it.
January 17, 2009 1:53 AM

Senorita said...
LOL...great writing... loved the end :)
January 17, 2009 11:32 AM

September said...
Thank you for reading it and commenting. It sure was fun writing it. I got the idea after my daughter tripped on one and jokingly said the same thing after standing up (though not on stairs)and being a news reporter, I had to throw one into the story. :)I've enjoyed reading all of the other stories too. I am almost done too. There sure were a lot of them. Thanks again.
January 17, 2009 10:55 PM

sawan said...
Esther, tht was a grt grt story and a grt msg too..
January 18, 2009 12:56 PM

Terry said...
Esther, such inspired writing! I could really see your characters, and I loved the line, "...thankful for the beers that cushioned the fall." I've dated this idiot. Fun read with an outrageous twist.
January 18, 2009 3:23 PM

Geraldine said...
Naughty but nice. Tres interesting take on this photo prompt!
January 18, 2009 11:20 PM

September said...
Sawan, Terry and Geraldine - Aww...You guys warmed my heart and made me smile. Thank you so much for the kind and uplifting comments.
January 19, 2009 3:22 AM

ceedy said...
Nice story...and a good message...What the heck take a chance will ya.....
January 19, 2009 12:05 PM

Sarah Hina said...
I loved this one, Esther! Such a natural unfolding of events, making the twist that much more memorable. You did so much right with this joke gone wrong. :) Expertly written, with convincing characters and dialogue. The desire to believe can lead people to do crazy things. Well done!
January 19, 2009 2:11 PM

September said...
Ceedy and Sarah, thank you so very much for your comments. They mean a lot to me.Everyone: Well, I read every single story in the contest - all 125 of them, and some of them I read two to three times. I also commented on each and every one.Wonderful little contests Jason runs. They are fun to write, and even more fun to read and learn.
January 20, 2009 2:40 AM

Terry said...
Thanks for giving us another wonderful example of how it's done! Congratulations on placing so highly in this talented little pond.
January 20, 2009 12:52 PM

jason evans (contest official) said...
Congratulations on the honorable mention!Great job with pacing, entertainment value, technical skill, storytelling, and voice! And welcome to the Forties Club!!Thanks for being a wonderful part of the contest.
January 20, 2009 11:01 PM

September said...
Oh Terry - You're too kind. Thank you.Jason: Thank you for all of the hours you put into this. Your contests and comments are greatly appreciated and have encouraged me to take a leap of faith. I write newspaper articles but my heart and soul wants to move towards short stories again - and I want to continue with my novel once more...thank you for re-firing me up.
January 21, 2009 12:23 PM

Clarity of Night Contest

2009-01-14T23:05:00.000-08:00

Jason at Clarity of Night held another short story contest.
I always love these writing contests.

The contest has ended, but there are plenty of wonderful short stories to read.

Do go and check out some of them. (and of course, make sure and read my entry - entry No. 125)

If you aren't familiar with his contests, let me tell you a little bit about them.....

Jason Evans posts a photo to get our creative writing juices flowing - and using 250 words of less - we write a short short story. Simple.

What I love about the contests is reading all of the entries. I usually comment on every single one of them. :)

At the very end, Jason returns to comment on each story. Wow. That's a lot of work and I am so thankful for all he does.

You can find the site here: www.clarityofnight.blogspot.com

Highlights of 2008

2009-01-03T23:03:00.000-08:00

Wow - another year already.
I always like to reminisce over the past year - and I will do so again - but not at this moment.

Though I will say that I am excited that a story I wrote was named the "Top story of 2008" in my home paper.

More later

:)

2008-12-25T22:57:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone.

I will return soon to post my annual "highlights of 2008" later. I stay in Porterville Mon through Fri - taking care of my mom - and I don't have as much time to devote to writing (other than my work at the newspaper daily) lately.

Christmas morning 2008

Favorite Christmas cities

2008-12-07T10:17:00.000-08:00

A country or small town Christmas experience is beautiful and actually - it is the place that I would want to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - but on the days leading up to Christmas, this country mouse loves to go into the city for a day or two. There are some things that our small towns just can't offer -- the sounds of the city, people everywhere, giant stores with beautiful decorations, ice skating in a central plaza or central park, and one of my favorites - going to a symphony orchestra Christmas concert.

So, with that in mind - Here are some of my favorite cities for Christmas:

Philadelphia
New York City
San Francisco
Disneyland (not a real city, but oh so beautiful)
Seattle/Victoria, B.C.
Portland

"cold" cities - with snow (or if no snow - with rain)

Christmas traditions

2008-12-07T09:41:00.000-08:00

I have several traditions at my home, though they are all quite special, I will share a few of them here.

Every year, since my girls were little, I have bought each of them a special ornament. When the girls were in ballet, I got them little porceline "girls in pink tutus" ornaments. As they grew, and had different interests, they got more individualized ornaments - softball player, musical instruments, and other unique ones -- Paris' eiffel tower, NYC's empire state building - and other gold, silver, and gemstone ones.
Jennifer treasures her Care Bears, Marisa her Back Street Boys ornament s- and Catherine, her Barbie ones.
Someday, when they leave and have their own place -- they will each take their box of special ornaments to hang on their first tree.

There is another tradition we have - shopping in a "big city" --normally that means San Francisco Union Square (always have to go see Santa at Macy's) --The trip is not complete without a special brunch or lunch, hot chocolate and ice skating in the plaza.

Last year was truely magical. It snowed. I was promised a "little girl" Christmas experience I would never forget - and I certainly got it -- an awesome light show and listening to Christmas music played on the largest pipe organs I have ever seen at the biggest, most beautiful Macy's I had ever been to. I will never forget it and will forever treasure the photo with Santa I have as a reminder of that magical day.

Disneyland at Christmas is another tradition. I take the girls twice a year. In the summer, and at Christmas. Disneyland is always magical - but even more so at Christmastime.
We will go on Friday, and I can't wait. Marisa especially, is counting the days. Every day she asks "how many more days?" and she jumps up and down and claps when I tell her.

And, my favorite tradition - opening gifts on Christmas morning. Growing up, it was always done the eve before. I wanted to give my children the excitement of Santa (Marisa still believes.)

Whatever your traditions are, may they leave beautiful memories for your loved ones.

Christmas time is here again....

2008-12-07T09:10:00.001-08:00

It's finally happened.
My home is slowly getting transformed into a glistening Christmas home.
I got a big tree up in the entryway - and decorated it all evening/night. (all by myself.)
I got a smaller 5-ft white tree for my daughter's room. She decorated it in blues, pinks, purples and penguins. It's so pretty.
I placed three smaller trees in the dining room, and a small table top tree in Catherine's room. She returns next weekend from UC Santa Barbara. Yay! I'm so excited. I can't wait for her to see our little winter wonderland sparkling home. Marisa's room is too small for a tree (she has the cutest room - at her request, she wanted that room - think half a dorm size) but we are placing green garland around her window. It's lighted, plays Christmas tunes, and she can hang some of her small ornaments from it.
My mantel and piano is also covered in beautiful rustic garland, with silver and gold accents.
My house smells like gingerbread or home-baked apple pie (depending on which candles I light) and I constantly play Christmas music - I am listening to Eugene Ormandy conduct the Philadelphia Orchestra (Glorious Sound of Christmas album) "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" as I write this.

I have always loved decorating my home for Christmas but it has been a few years since I've really gone all out. It kind of stopped in 2003 when Catherine was dying in the hospital and I "lived" there for a couple of weeks - never coming home. (that year we got our tree the day she came home - Christmas Eve.)
Since then, I've decorated but never the same again....though last year I started getting back into the swing of it.

Yes - it's definitely beginning to smell, sparkle, and look a lot like Christmas at my home.

From Beethoven with love

2008-12-01T22:41:00.000-08:00

Broken hearts do not heal. People say they do, but they don’t.
They are hollow, like a broken drum – silent and undone.
And life goes on but the spirit doesn’t. It remains,
with such longing and such unfulfilled belonging…..

She thought this year would be different.
She thought he was different.
Yet, she’s alone.… through evenings, weekends and holidays.

The heart beats but no rhythm is played......she remains alone....and he does too.

Love letter from Beethoven to his immortal beloved on July 7, 1812

Though still in bed my thoughts go out to you, my Immortal Beloved, now and then joyfully, then sadly, waiting to learn whether or not fate will hear us.

I can live only wholly with you or not at all—yes, I am resolved to wander so long away from you until I can fly to your arms and say that I am really at home, send my soul enwrapped in you into the land of spirits.

—Yes, unhappily it must be so—you will be the more resolved since you know my fidelity—to you, no one can ever again possess my heart—none—never—Oh, God!

why is it necessary to part from one whom one so loves and yet my life in Vienna is now a wretched life—your love makes me at once the happiest and the unhappiest of men—at my age, I need a steady, quiet life—can that be under our conditions?

...Be calm, only by a calm consideration of our existence can we achieve our purpose to live together—be calm—love me—today—yesterday—what tearful longings for you—you—you—my life—my all—farewell—Oh continue to love me—never misjudge the most faithful heart of your beloved.

ever thine
ever mine
ever for each other

Buck Shaffer Community Clock

2008-11-10T23:01:00.000-08:00

All photos by Esther Avila

Saturday was such a bittersweet day for me - very emotional, and yes - along with many others - I cried.

Anyway -- It is official. The beautiful Buck Shaffer Community Clock is definitely up.

If you are in, or anywhere near, Porterville, stop by and take a look and you can probably agree with me and say that it is striking.

An added surprise that we kept secret is the sculpture of Buck- directing the band - that stands on top of the clock.

Saturday was a beautiful day - and, I am very biased, and have to say that listening to Jim Kusserow and the Fabulous Studio Band rated right up there with the unveiling of the clock. What a treat.

REMINDER - Don't forget, if you are in the area, meet at the clock before the parade -- 9 a.m. Tuesday, November 11 -- for the dedication of the clock to the city of Porterville. It will be short and sweet.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. And the Buck Shaffer Band-A-Rama at 2 p.m. - with preshow at 1:15 p.m. at PC's Jamison Stadium.

Hope to see some of you there,

Esther Avila
Class of 1976

I wrote two stories on Saturday's event -- if you missed them, here are the links

Buck Shaffer Community Clock unveiled
Porterville Recorder, CA - 22 hours agoBy ESTHER AVILA
Thousands of community members gathered at the plaza at Centennial Park at noon Saturday with one thing in mind — to see the unveiling of the city's new Buck Shaffer Community Clock.
“A year ago, I was standing here looking at a vacant piece of land, saying ‘The clock will be here,’” Felipe Martinez, a City Council member who is also on the committee that spearheaded the project, said. “Porterville is a community that gives and gives. Buck Shaffer’s soul is here. It’s an amazing feat to come together and do this.” ......click on link to read full story.

Music marches on in Porterville
Porterville Recorder, CA - 23 hours agoBy ESTHER AVILA
Somewhere up in heaven, Frank "Buck" Shaffer is smiling. That’s because music was flowing down Main Street Saturday during the Fabulous Music Jam II, an all-day music festival at the plaza at Centennial Park in downtown Porterville. And because one of the last wishes of his life was made real.

The celebration of sound took place in conjunction with the unveiling of the Buck Shaffer Community Clock, a monument in honor of the late Frank “Buck” Shaffer, Porterville’s musical icon and former Porterville High School band director. ....click on link to read entire story.

We are not alone

2008-11-02T08:42:00.000-08:00

Nov. 1 -- A refreshing rain greeted me when I awoke. Everything was so beautiful and I sat on the porch at 6 a.m. for more than two hours loving every second of it -- listening to the rain, birds, and other early morning sounds.

That was yesterday.

Nov. 2 -- Today I awoke early again (I always do) and everything was still fresh and beautiful. But there was definitely something new in the sky --Contrails.

Now, these are not the typical contrails that I remember as a child. I used to lay on the grass and make up stories about where people were going and what they would do when they got there. Those "trails" dissipated after a few minutes and I had to hurry and finish my not-so-short stories.

These contrails were way too long -- I could actually see it come up behind my home, across the top, and flying beyond anyplace I could trace. Imagine a snow globe....and then imagine an imaginary line inside along the dome - a white line all the way around. Get the picture?

This is what I saw today. BUT...oddly, the line never dissipated. It moved - eastward in the same unbroken line. If there were wind, it would break up or move in sections -- not as one whole entire long line.

Which brings us to the question -- what exactly is it?

I don't know. But I do know what it is not - it is not a normal jet contrail.

I stayed outside and studied the trails -- there were at least three or four being created and I ran to get my camera.

Unfortunately, when I uploaded them, I noticed black marks over all of my photos. I've been taking pics for weeks, and never had these markings.

I'm not ridiculous, I'm not saying that the black marks are unexplicable paranormal creatures coming out of the contrails. I obviously suddenly, out of the blue, got a dirty lens. (But I must say that I don't understand how or when. I used the camera yesterday for a story shoot and the photos were all fine. I put the camera away after and had not used it since.)

Anyway, as I studied the contrails, I noticed something else - something almost angelic about the skies. For every contrail I saw, there were "angelic" cloud creations -- not next to them, but way opposite the sky. In other words, if there is a contrail to my left, I would look right, and way in the distance I could make out an "angel" in the clouds. This happened again and again.

Is this good versus evil? No - that is not what I am saying. I never said the contrails were bad.

Right now, I don't know what any of it means -- but it is interesting to watch.

A friend of mine said that the contrails always appear after a nice refreshing rain.

Hmmm...... Douglas has a point. I'm starting to notice that myself.

Go out and look for them -- and report back. What do you all think?

(there are several more photos on the previous post)

2008-11-02T08:40:00.000-08:00

All of these were purposely taken from my front lawn -- and -- it is the same contrail - or chemtrail -moving eastward over a two-minute timeframe.

Selma Band Review

2008-10-27T23:09:00.000-07:00

Amazing - how Monache High School wins the Grand Sweepstakes again and again.

This year was no exception. They did it again - winning the award for the 24th time and I loved that I was there to see it again.

Competition was tough too -- with only a half of a point separating the top three bands.

Granite Hills High School shined too and brought home a few awards, including first place for their majorettes.

Here is the story that I wrote for the Porterville Recorder:

SELMA — It was icing on the cake Saturday for Monache High School when for the 24th year, the Marauder Marching Band proved nothing could stop them from winning Grand Sweepstakes during the 44th annual Selma Marching Band Festival at Staley Stadium in Selma.

The competition was tougher than previous years — only one half of a point separating the top four bands — so the young Monache musicians wondered what the final results might be.

“I had no idea we were going to win,”Amanda Allen, head field drum major, said. “We thought we had it figured out, so when [the announcer] said ‘For the 24th year,’ — the band didn’t wait for the rest, they jumped up and started screaming. I had not even gotten to the salute yet to receive the trophy. They rushed the field and beat me to the trophy.”

.....read the rest of the story here.

2008 Band Festival Winners:

GRAND SWEEPSTAKES: Monache High School

PARADE SWEEPSTAKES: Fowler High School

FIELD SHOW SWEEPSTAKES: Sanger High School

GRAND MARSHAL'S TROPHY: Mt. Whitney High School

PARADE HIGH MUSIC: Monache High School

FIELD SHOW HIGH MUSIC: Reedley High School

FIELD SHOW GENERAL EFFECT: Reedley High School

DIVISIONAL AWARDSPARADE PLACINGDIVISION A - 1. Monache; 2. Reedley; 3. Redwood

DIVISION B - 1. Washington Union; 2. Mt. Whitney; 3. Kingsburg

DIVISION C - 1. Granite Hills; 2. Edison; 3. Exeter

DIVISION D - 1. Roosevelt; 2. Fresno Christian; 3. Sunnyside

JUNIOR HIGH

DIVISION A - 1. La Joya; 2. Barlett; 3. Rafer Johnson

DIVISION B - 1. Washington Intermediate; 2. El Monte; 3. Burton

FIELD SHOW PLACING

DIVISION A - 1. Reedley; 2. Monache; 3. Stockdale

DIVISION B - 1. Kingsburg; 2. Paso Robles; 3. Mt. Whitney

DIVISION C - 1. Exeter; 2. Selma; 3. Atascadero

DIVISION D - 1. Templeton; 2. Orange Cove; 3. Farmersville

AUXILIARY AWARDS

PARADE HIGH SCHOOL

DRUM MAJOR, MILITARY: 1. Fowler; 2. Reedley; 3. Kerman

DRUM MAJOR, MACE: 1. Hanford West; 2. Sunnyside; 3. Roosevelt.

DRUM MAJOR, OPEN: 1. Redwood; 2. Farmersville

SOLO TWIRLER: 1. Fresno Christian; 2. Mt. Whitney;

MAJORETTE TEAMS: 1. Granite Hills; 2. Monache

IDENTIFICATION UNITS/LETTER CARRIERS: 1. Monache; 2. Washington Union; 3. Reedley

FLAG TEAMS: 1. Dinuba; 2. Washington Union; 3. Fowler

PERCUSSION: 1. Kingsburg; 2. Hanford West; 3. Sanger

PARADE JUNIOR HIGHDRUM MAJOR: 1. La Joya; 2. El Monte; 3. Burton

SOLO TWIRLER: N/A

IDENTIFICATION UNITS/LETTER CARRIERS: 1. Washington Intermediate;2. Burton; 3. Abraham Lincoln

FLAG TEAMS: 1. Burton; 2. Washington Intermediate; 3. La Joya

PERCUSSION: 1. Washington Intermediate; 2. Burton; 3. La Joya

FIELD SHOWSPERCUSSION: 1. Sanger; 2. Kingsburg; 3. Mt. Whitney

ATTACHED UNITS: 1. Sanger; 2. Kingsburg; 3. Paso Robles

DRUM MAJORS: 1. Paso Robles; 2. Hanford West; 3. Stockdale

NON-BAND AWARDSSCHOOLS: 1. Selma FFA; 2. Jackson Elem. School; 3. Indianola

COMMUNITY: 1. Selma Lioness; 2. American Legion; 3. Maravillas

COMMERCIAL: 1. EECU; 2. Quinn Co.; 3. Selma Auto Mall

JUNIOR DRILL/MAJORETTE TEAMS: 1. Dynamic Twirlers

AUTOS - 1935 & NEWER: 1. Elwin W Peak; 2. Selma Masonic Lodge #277

AUTOS - CUSTOM/MODIFIED: 1. Marvin Raven; 2. Great American Hay Rake;3. Latin Angel Car Club

THEME TROPHY: Jackson Elementary School

Granite Hills shines at Visalia Band Review

2008-10-27T23:00:00.000-07:00

We have some amazing school bands in Porterville and Granite Hills High School made us proud at the Visalia Band Review on Saturday, October 18.

VISALIA — A Porterville band took to the streets of Visalia on Saturday and walked away with honors befitting a winner.
Led by parade drum major Erik Bartlett, the Granite Hills High School marching band stepped out to John Philip Sousa’s “Washington Post” during the Visalia Lions’ 28th annual Visalia Invitational Music in Motion in downtown Visalia.

....read the story I wrote about it in the Porterville Recorder here.

photos and story by Esther Avila

Update: September Skies

2008-10-24T02:24:00.000-07:00

SEPTEMBER SKIES
September 2009

“Now do you believe me?”

“No. I don’t. I mean, look at the sky. It’s almost perfect. Perfect blue September skies,” Hannah said, as she rubbed her arms.

She felt chills and she was sure she was trying to convince herself of something. She just wasn’t sure of what.

She was glad Douglas didn’t notice. He was still looking up.
But suddenly he looked at her, his eyes serious as they locked on hers.

He had come to visit and had just spent the past hour explaining it all.

“Exactly. That’s the point. This isn’t 1970 anymore. Look around you. Something is not right. You can’t deny that.”

Truth was, she didn’t want to see it. She didn’t want to believe it. It was the kind of day that she remembered as a child – days filled of running barefoot through green grass, days filled with sunshine and laughter. Days of laying on he grass, looking up at the contrails left by jets – wondering where people were going. She liked to make up stories in her head and occasionally traveled to far away exotic places with them.

The contrails – they were as fun to watch as watching the clouds – white, fluffy ones that looked like puppies chasing butterflies and bunnies hopping through rolling hills.

That memory was fading and it scared her. Whenever the sky looked blue, it was easier to believe that those days still existed. There was a certain tranquility about it.

But then the blue disappeared. It was gradual. Not everyone noticed. They were too busy.

For months, word was officially out – the chemtrails were real. And they had several reasons for existing. Most were composed of barium and aluminum oxide and used for the purpose of attempting to affect the climate by reflecting sunlight in the atmosphere. The result would reduce the world temperature and counteract the greenhouse effect.

But some people were not convinced that was their sole purpose. Some believed that the high-altitude spraying was done to affect human beings in populated areas. Others proposed a different chemical composition -- and a purpose unknown to the general public.

“That’s Douglas,” Hannah thought to herself.

But whatever the reason, and whatever they were, the chemtrails in the prior months had been different and once someone learned to recognize them, they were simple to differentiate from normal contrails.

The chemtrails were thicker and extended across the sky – laid down in varying patterns of Xs, tic-tac-toe grids, cross-hatched and parallel lines. And instead of dissipating into the atmosphere, they expanded and within the hour would open into wispy formations, creating fake cirrus-type clouds.

As strange as days may have been, they remained basically normal – until September 10 of 2008. Then things changed.

That was when the “Big Band” collider – Large Hadron Collider – was fired up in Geneva, Switzerrland, and for the first time proton beams had circulated in the LHC’s main ring.

On September 19, the operations were halted due what scientists said was a serious fault between two superconducting bending magnets.

At least, that was what was reported.

But many believed that was not the case, and that work on had continued as 10,000 of the world’s best scientists and engineers collaborated.

It was confirmed when it caused a nuclear reaction in the center of a supermassive star, causing it to collapse upon itself.

The explosion formed what people had feared – a black hole with a gravity pull so strong it sent scientists scrambling to work together to find answers.

They worked together and found the answer to keeping the hole from pulling the world into itself. But not before the darkness had engulfed three fourths of the world’s sky.

And just like that, the sky – or most of it – was gone.

For two weeks the sky had been dark. Gray at first. Gradually turning darker as more and more people held candlelight vigils in parks, churches, and street corners.

“It’s like the eye of a hurricane, isn’t it?” she finally said.

It was calm. And pretty. For a little while anyway. The storm had come through and settled. Or so a few people thought. The smart ones knew it was only a reprise. It wouldn’t last.

“End times” and “the end of the world” – people everywhere were preaching as they searched for answers.

But answers weren’t coming and people were panicking. Oh sure, they had said it before and had panicked before. It was a cycle. They got used to it and they moved on.

This time it was different and even Hannah couldn’t deny it – to herself. To others, she would.

And just as suddenly, a small blue patch appeared against the black sky. And it did not take long for the chemtrails to return.

“It will turn all blue again,” she said. “All of it.”

Douglas looked sadly at her. He wasn’t mad at her for not believing. He knew she was confused. A lot of people were.

“No,” he shook his head. “It won’t. You can’t live with blinders on.”

Hannah knew he was right. She just wouldn’t admit it. And Douglas knew she knew it. Or he thought she did. But every now and then, he wondered. What if she really didn’t know. What if she had really blocked it out. Was that possible?

“Yes. It will,” she said, interrupting his thoughts.

Sometimes you have to believe. When no one else does. You have to believe, she thought. Isn’t that how she survived all these years. Isn’t that what she had been telling herself?

Douglas looked sad as he placed his hands on her shoulders. He pulled her close and wished it weren’t so – but it was. He could feel her heart beating fast. She was scared, that he knew.

He kissed her head before gently turning her around.

“Look. Please,” he said. “Does that look normal to you?”

Hannah knew he was right but she wouldn’t dare admit it.

(This is still only a partial - more to follow - and I recopied this story here because the other had links attached and I did not want to disable those.)

cute alien

2008-10-24T00:50:00.000-07:00

I picked up this little guy at an event I went to recently - Porterville Art Association sponsor appreciation dinner - at the Porterville Art Gallery.

Ballooney the Clown was there and he made this for me.

Isn't it cute?

I have the coolest job.

Rainy days and Mondays

2008-09-29T21:27:00.000-07:00

I love them both. Always have.
I love rain - it's so refreshing.

Today I was looking out the window when I suddenly noticed the light, but consistent, mist falling. You could almost not call it rain, it was so fine. But I didn't care. I jumped up and ran outside. I love rain. We rarely see it out here. But, as expected, it didn't last. No time to even grab an umbrella. Something about walking in the rain with an umbrella is so precious.

Extra special today - I didn't have to work. A day off - I did plenty of housework and I went to see my Jennifer's tennis match. She's an awesome tennis player. Last year she started playing for the first time and she's on the JV team but frequently plays varsity. She won again today. :) Catherine was on the team when she was there too and went two years undefeated. I love watching my daughters play tennis. Marisa always goes with me and she enjoys it too.

I took my girls to the mall and to In and Out for dinner after. It's so strange not having Catherine here. I miss her. But I did get to spend the weekend in Santa Barbara with my family. It was very special.

Ralph Lauren shoes

2008-09-18T22:33:00.000-07:00

Remember the song by Melanie Safka?
"I've got a brand new pair of roller skates, you've got a brand new key."
Growing up, anytime I got a new pair of shoes, I'd walk about singing it. I've always loved new shoes.
Well..... I've got a brand new pair of Ralph Lauren shoes.....

I had most of the day off today so Catherine and I headed to Fresno for some school clothes (jacket mainly) shopping. She leaves for Santa Barbara this weekend.
Our first stop was Macy's - she fell in love with a nice coat there and picked it up.
I fell in love with the shoe department -- Stuart Weitzman shoes but at $295.00 a pair, they were a bit much. Same thing with a wonderful pair of Vince Camuto's (yeah, for fun I tried them on) and some nice Coach shoes. But then I saw and tried on a pair of Ralph Lauren Shoes and I could not leave them there - so I pampered myself and bought them.

Photo by Bloomingdale's: Ralph Lauren "Hollie" Leather Pumps

Here they are - aren't they pretty?
They're chocolate brown, beautiful, have the sweet RL enamaled ornament, and I love them.
Happy Birthday to me. :)
I hadn't had a pampering "princess" day in a long time and I needed it. And, Macy's is one of my favorite stores - of course, I prefer Boscov's but none of those here.

(I wore them to work Friday and felt like a little girl wearing new shoes.)

September 11

2008-09-12T00:20:00.000-07:00

In honor and memory of September 11, the city of Porterville lowered their flags to half staff.

photo by Esther Avila

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

2008-09-11T23:35:00.000-07:00

I had the most wonderful time tonight. Marisa and I went to see Collin Raye at the Tulare County Fair. It was wonderful. I love Collin Raye and have seen him in concert seven times now.

Tonight was great. Not only did I totally enjoy the concert, but afterwards, the stage manager gave me a song list. They normally don't give them out but I was working (I had my name tag and had been talking to people and taking lots of pictures, so they asked if I was with the press and I said yes.

And not only did I get the song list. I got a guitar pick from Collin Raye and they gave Marisa a glossy 8x10 photograph......

AND......(drumroll) .....I got an exclusive interview with Collin Raye's stage manager! He gave me his business card and asked me to also email him my story and that he will see about placing it online! Oh my gosh....I love my job.

I was so excited. He talked about his new album and where they were heading next.

Oh....another interesting thing....the drummer.

You gotta love the drummers. I'm certainly crazy about mine.

Sam looked so good in his white shirt.

But, during one of the numbers ---- he fell off the stage! Literally.

He actually fell off the platform and all the way off the stage.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

September Skies - The Chemtrails

2008-09-10T00:35:00.000-07:00

SEPTEMBER SKIES

Fact? Fiction? Conspiracy?
I don't know - but just for fun, using this photo and a friend for inspiration, I wrote a 250 word short story on it but liked it and continued.
I've only got a partial here - I deleted a couple of essential parts because I decided to move them to later in the story.
Interesting enough, "September Skies" is the perfect title for this story.

September Skies - The Chemtrails
September 2009

“Now do you believe me?”

“No. I don’t. I mean, look at the sky. It’s almost perfect. Perfect blue September skies,” Hannah said, as she rubbed her arms.

She felt chills and she was sure she was trying to convince herself of something. She just wasn’t sure of what.

She was glad Douglas didn’t notice. He was still looking up.
But suddenly he looked at her, his eyes serious as they locked on hers.

He had come to visit and had just spent the past hour explaining it all.

“Exactly. That’s the point. This isn’t 1970 anymore. Look around you. Something is not right. You can’t deny that.”

Truth was, she didn’t want to see it. She didn’t want to believe it. It was the kind of day that she remembered as a child – days filled of running barefoot through green grass, days filled with sunshine and laughter. Days of laying on he grass, looking up at the contrails left by jets – wondering where people were going. She liked to make up stories in her head and occasionally traveled to far away exotic places with them.

The contrails – they were as fun to watch as watching the clouds – white, fluffy ones that looked like puppies chasing butterflies and bunnies hopping through rolling hills.

That memory was fading and it scared her. Whenever the sky looked blue, it was easier to believe that those days still existed. There was a certain tranquility about it.

But then the blue disappeared. It was gradual. Not everyone noticed. They were too busy.

For months, word was officially out – the chemtrails were real. And they had several reasons for existing. Most were composed of barium and aluminum oxide and used for the purpose of attempting to affect the climate by reflecting sunlight in the atmosphere. The result would reduce the world temperature and counteract the greenhouse effect.

But some people were not convinced that was their sole purpose. Some believed that the high-altitude spraying was done to affect human beings in populated areas. Others proposed a different chemical composition -- and a purpose unknown to the general public.

“That’s Douglas,” Hannah thought to herself.

But whatever the reason, and whatever they were, the chemtrails in the prior months had been different and once someone learned to recognize them, they were simple to differentiate from normal contrails.

The chemtrails were thicker and extended across the sky – laid down in varying patterns of Xs, tic-tac-toe grids, cross-hatched and parallel lines. And instead of dissipating into the atmosphere, they expanded and within the hour would open into wispy formations, creating fake cirrus-type clouds.

As strange as days may have been, they remained basically normal – until September 10 of 2008. Then things changed.

That was when the “Big Band” collider – Large Hadron Collider – was fired up in Geneva, Switzerrland, and for the first time proton beams had circulated in the LHC’s main ring.

On September 19, the operations were halted due what scientists said was a serious fault between two superconducting bending magnets.

At least, that was what was reported.

But many believed that was not the case, and that work on had continued as 10,000 of the world’s best scientists and engineers collaborated.

It was confirmed when it caused a nuclear reaction in the center of a supermassive star, causing it to collapse upon itself.

The explosion formed what people had feared – a black hole with a gravity pull so strong it sent scientists scrambling to work together to find answers.

They worked together and found the answer to keeping the hole from pulling the world into itself. But not before the darkness had engulfed three fourths of the world’s sky.

And just like that, the sky – or most of it – was gone.

For two weeks the sky had been dark. Gray at first. Gradually turning darker as more and more people held candlelight vigils in parks, churches, and street corners.

“It’s like the eye of a hurricane, isn’t it?” she finally said.

It was calm. And pretty. For a little while anyway. The storm had come through and settled. Or so a few people thought. The smart ones knew it was only a reprise. It wouldn’t last.

“End times” and “the end of the world” – people everywhere were preaching as they searched for answers.

But answers weren’t coming and people were panicking. Oh sure, they had said it before and had panicked before. It was a cycle. They got used to it and they moved on.

This time it was different and even Hannah couldn’t deny it – to herself. To others, she would.

And just as suddenly, a small blue patch appeared against the black sky. And it did not take long for the chemtrails to return.

“It will turn all blue again,” she said. “All of it.”

Douglas looked sadly at her. He wasn’t mad at her for not believing. He knew she was confused. A lot of people were.

“No,” he shook his head. “It won’t. You can’t live with blinders on.”

Hannah knew he was right. She just wouldn’t admit it. And Douglas knew she knew it. Or he thought she did. But every now and then, he wondered. What if she really didn’t know. What if she had really blocked it out. Was that possible?

“Yes. It will,” she said, interrupting his thoughts.

Sometimes you have to believe. When no one else does. You have to believe, she thought. Isn’t that how she survived all these years. Isn’t that what she had been telling herself?

Douglas looked sad as he placed his hands on her shoulders. He pulled her close and wished it weren’t so – but it was. He could feel her heart beating fast. She was scared, that he knew.

He kissed her head before gently turning her around.

“Look. Please,” he said. “Does that look normal to you?”

Hannah knew he was right.

(NOTE: THERE’S MORE…… A LOT MORE…… BUT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A TASTE OF IT.)

"Letting Go"

2008-09-10T00:00:00.001-07:00

This past weekend I attended and wrote about the fifth annual "Wish Upon A Star - Shave the Brave" event. Law enforcement, firemen, and military men and women shaved their heads, beards, mustaches - to raise money to make dying children's dreams come true.
After that event, I covered a "Locks of Love" story - two sisters with hair long enough to sit on had never cut their hair in their lives (10 and 12 years) -- I was there for their first cut.

I decided this was a good place to post my last online contest story.
I entered the 250-words or less short story in Jason Evan's Clarity of Night'
The way the contests work: Jason posts a photo and writers are inspired to write a short short story, using the photo as inspiration.
This particular contest sported a photo of a motorcycle.

"Letting Go"

Here's my entry and comments.

Ever since Sarah could remember, Johnny wanted a motorcycle, so it did not surprise her that when he turned 16, it was what he asked for.

“No. Absolutely not,” Sarah said as she turned to face her husband. “You know how I feel about these things. Tommy would still …”

She couldn’t finish the sentence. Her younger brother had been killed on his first motorcycle – at age 16.

“Stop baby,” her husband said as he went to her side and held her. “He’s not Tommy. Look at him. He’s not a little boy anymore. Sooner or later you’ll have to learn to let go.”

She turned to look at Johnny, who had tried so hard to find his identity. Sarah couldn’t help but smile as she saw that the half-man/half-child had fallen asleep on the couch – watching cartoons – his long lean body draped over a stack of pillows on the floor.

She remembered how upset she felt when he cut his hair, first into a Mohawk, later clean-shaven. A lightening bolt tattoo followed and Sarah was relieved when he told her it was only henna.

No matter how big he got, he would always be her little boy, she thought.

“Sweetheart,” her husband interrupted her thoughts, telephone against his chest. “It’s ‘Make a Wish Foundation.’ They are bringing a motorcycle for Johnny to ride.”

Sarah nodded as tears rolled down her face. She knew she couldn’t take Johnny’s last wish away.
******

27 Comments:
*~*{Sameera}*~* said...
That was so heartrending.My heart went out to the family.Hope it might not be his last wish...Very well narrated!
July 15, 2008 1:39 PM
wrath999 said...
Wow sadness at abundance here.Excellent!alex
July 15, 2008 1:58 PM
BernardL said...
Well illustrated sample of a parent's nightmare.
July 15, 2008 2:37 PM
Sarah Hina said...
So heartbreaking. You took this in a completely different direction than I thought. The line about having to "let go" really gets me in retrospect. And I like how he is caught between boyhood and adulthood as all this strikes. Richly drawn tale. Good job!
July 15, 2008 2:49 PM
strugglingwriter said...
Very heartfelt. I could totally hear my Mom saying “No. Absolutely not,” to a motorcycle :)
July 15, 2008 2:55 PM
J.C. Montgomery said...
Wow, what a tug on the heart. Good job on drawing the reader in so well in such a short space of time.
July 15, 2008 3:11 PM
Beth said...
Truly a surprise ending, not what I expected at all. Very good!
July 15, 2008 3:11 PM
kgilbert said...
A superbly woven story. Surprise ending. Very poignant.
July 15, 2008 3:58 PM
JaneyV said...
Esther - a beautiful and poignant story. The ending was both heart-breaking and unexpected. You packed a lot into your 250 words. Well Done.
July 15, 2008 4:35 PM
SzélsőFa said...
Oh, this was painful and haunting. The twist at the end made it sorrowful, and took the meaning of 'letting go' to another, elevated level.
July 15, 2008 5:01 PM
September said...
Thank you, everyone. I actually had three different stories in mind but decided to go with this one because I enjoy writing unexpected endings. I was hoping it was not too obvious but wanted the reader to go back and see it -- the "letting go" and the shaved head. I had a couple other hints in there but removed them because it may have been too obvious.Thank you again for the kind comments.
July 15, 2008 10:15 PM
Lena said...
really a surprise ending, makes me feel so sad after reading it, you have done a great job in just 250 words :)
July 15, 2008 11:26 PM
JR's Thumbprints said...
It's not easy being subtle, but I think you did a good job with it.
July 16, 2008 12:17 AM
Wannabe Writer said...
Not even a hint that Johnny was sick until the end. Good job. -Rita
July 16, 2008 7:53 AM
Scott said...
I was sure this was going to turn bad quickly, but you played it straight. This is a slice of a parent's life, the pain of letting go. Touching.
July 16, 2008 8:05 AM
Dottie said...
Ditto what Scott said. Nice pacing in your piece.
July 17, 2008 11:37 AM
The Grocer said...
Excellent surprise at the end in a totally different way to expectation.
July 17, 2008 12:20 PM
pernille said...
What an ending! I was so surprised. After reading you own comments I found the clues - excellent writing.
July 17, 2008 5:44 PM
angel said...
omg that totally caught me off guard! i have a big lump in my throat now... wonderful!
July 18, 2008 2:52 AM
c.s. said...
beautifully written! i like it a lot!
July 18, 2008 12:40 PM
September said...
Thank you for the supportive comments. I've always enjoyed reading (and writing) stories with twists and turns, and especially enjoy surprise endings. I'm grateful to Jason for running these contests - we all learn so much and it so entertaining to read all of your stories.
July 19, 2008 2:41 AM
Posolxstvo I said...
Nice irony... made us think that mom said no to a bike because someone she loved was killed on one - looks like even she believes that. This was one of my favorites (so far).
July 19, 2008 10:48 AM
Missy said...
beautiful.
July 19, 2008 1:31 PM
September said...
Thank you, missy and posolxstvo i.
July 19, 2008 6:42 PM
laughingwolf said...
well done, esther... hits home on so many levels
July 19, 2008 7:34 PM
September said...
Thank you, laughingwolf.
July 20, 2008 2:20 AM
jason evans said...
Very effective emotional hit. Did not see that coming at all. We were lulled into a sense of normal teenage rebellion. High marks overall.
July 24, 2008 4:57 PM

Reading and more reading

2008-09-02T10:16:00.000-07:00

I guess you could say that if I am not at work, I am reading. Though lately, I've found it harder to read a book a weekend. The last book -- "The last summer of you and me" took me two weekends, but no surprise, as I was also out with my girls doing back-to-school shopping.
(cute little story, by the way - sweet summer read)

It's amazing how much Catherine needs for school. I had never given it much thought until we started picking up things - basically, she needs everything -- but keeping in mind that it all must fit into a dorm room.

She got her new flat screen television (I know, don't say it) but the way I see it, she studies hard and if she wants to watch a program or two, it's fine with me. New printer, new mini refrigerator, iron and board, etc. etc. -- and all of the normal dorm stuff - xl sheets, xl comforter, and cute stuff for her desk -- the list seems endless. How fun.

Well, this weekend was another long weekend. I had Saturday and Sunday off so I picked up a new book -- Nicholas Sparks "The Choice" -- but I just couldn't get into it.
I was too busy Saturday with family -- barbecue at my sister's house -- and on Sunday, just couldn't get into it. It may take me a couple of weekends for this book since this weekend is gone.
Oh, I worked Monday, Labor Day. I'm off today but it's another busy day. I'm taking care of my mom and then have a tennis match, followed by Back to School Night for Jennifer.

So, nothing exciting to report. Oh...yes....there is one thing. Collin Raye will be performing on September 11 at the Tulare County Fair. That's exciting - for me anyway. He has been one of my favorite country singers ever since I can remember....."That's my story and I'm sticking to it."

Countdown with Keith Olbermann

2008-08-04T21:06:00.000-07:00

My angel story has caught the attention of Keith Olbermann - it was mentioned in his "let's play oddball" section of his July 31 "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" show.

That is so cool!

And, more exciting news....my Angel stories are bringing in record hits at the office -- almost 10,000 hits in less than a week!! -- a record for us!

Of course, I've had a few phonecalls from people saying "how dare you write this" -- but I never said I believed or didn't believe it was an angel or Jesus on the Cross -- I simply reported what people out there were doing and saying.

Stay tuned for another story soon. I'm already working on story number three.

If you missed my last story, click here.

Angel gone but Jesus and Virgin Mary in palm tree

2008-07-29T23:37:00.000-07:00

Wow. Just when I thought I had heard it all - something new comes along. The angel on the window is gone but guess what? It was replaced by an image of Jesus on a nearby tree.
I went to report on it tonight and there were so many people, it took forever to get out of there and back to the office. I had to drive through a couple of parking lots and then take the back roads all the way to Morton Avenue and return to the office the long way back.
Talk about a fun day! (I also worked on a couple of other stories - new superintendent for Alta Vista school district and a story about a patient from a developmental center who escaped and is still missing.)
To read the image story - click here.

Angels in the newsroom

2008-07-24T23:19:00.000-07:00

Photo by Esther Avila

I had a most interesting day today - covering everything from visiting with Chinese children, followed by a police chase and shooting, an afternoon covering boat races and photographing children in the lake, and finishing the day by covering the sudden appearance of an angel in a window.
Oh yes, today was a fun news reporting day.
Can my job be any more interesting?
Did I mention that I absolutely love my work?
I do. I do. I do. I do. I do.

Angel appears on local window

Comments 2 Recommended 13

July 24, 2008 - 7:02PM

By ESTHER AVILA

THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER

The appearance of what appears to be the image of an angel on a local business window has several Porterville residents flocking to the location in hopes of seeing the angel, with halo, that appears to be flying.

The image has been appearing after dark for several nights, said Debrah Dattoli, who captured it on video.

People have been gathering after dark at Carpet Plus Colortile, 1043 W. Olive Ave., to catch a glimpse of the angel.

To read the full story - click here.

Story posted

2008-07-15T18:22:00.001-07:00

My story is in. :)
Please go over to Jason's "Clarity of Night" sight to read it.
I'm entry No. 45 but they are alphabetized and I am the fifth one down.....
"Letting Go"

And don't forget to comment. Better yet, enter a story of your own. You have a day left.
I always enjoy entering the contests.

See you all at the finish line!

"Clarity of Night" short fiction contest

2008-07-12T14:53:00.001-07:00

Jason Evans is running his ninth "Clarity of Night" short fiction contest. I'm so excited.
I always enjoy these and encourage all writers to enter the contest.
You can find all of the official rules here: "Running-Wind-Short-Fiction-Contest"
If you have not participated before, it's really quite simple.
Using a photograph (posted on his site) for inspiration, compose a short fiction (or poetry) piece of no more than 250 words in any genre or style. That's it. There are a few prizes just for fun, but really, all participants get so much out of it. Not only do people comment on the stories, but Jason will give you a little evaluation on your writing. (via email)

If you want to read any of my previous entries from other Jason Evans' contests, you can find them here:

"Two Lights" short fiction - I won second place - it was my debut online writing contest
http://clarityofnight.blogspot.com/2006/04/two-lights-short-fiction-contest_27.html
Read story here: http://clarityofnight.blogspot.com/2006/04/entry-6.html
"Endless Hour" short fiction - I won First Runner up, Readers' Choice award
http://clarityofnight.blogspot.com/2007/04/endless-hour-short-fiction-contest_25.html
see story here: http://clarityofnight.blogspot.com/2007/04/entry-31.html
"It is finished" short fiction - http://clarityofnight.blogspot.com/2006/06/entry-9.html
"Silent Grey" - http://clarityofnight.blogspot.com/2007/01/entry-38.html

Skunks, racoons, and UCSB

2008-07-12T12:44:00.000-07:00

I've been at UCSB with Catherine for a two-day Freshman Orientation -- two days of workshops to help scholars and parents transition into college life. I loved it.

I learned so much. Catherine and I were separated into separate groups. Scholars went with peers and parents with parents. They kept us so busy too. I was in "class" from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. the first night.

Thursday night they scheduled a "parent social" but I'm not into those things, so I decided to skip it and I went to the beach and sat there for a long time -- watching the moon dance on the water, listening to the waves, and dreaming.

As I walked down the little pathway back to the dorms (only a couple hundred feet from the ocean) I was startled when out of the bushes came two skunks! Yikes! Right in front of me. I had seen several on campus - (probably saw about 15 of them) - but these came right out and were about five feet from me. I froze. I did not want to get sprayed by them. They stopped and looked at me and I swear, they smiled. I said, "hi little ones" and they kept walking. They were so cute.

AND...I kid you not. Right behind them were a couple of large raccoons. Those scared me. I didn't know if raccoons attacked or not. They walked away and as I looked to the side, one more skunk appeared and the five of them frolicked in the nearby grass - you would think they were the best of friends. I tried taking a photo with my blackberry phone but it was too dark to capture the image. Oh, I bought a new blackberry!

Anyway, I continued on my way back to my room. I was so lucky. I got a room all to myself. When I signed up, I was told I would get a female parent to room with but when I checked in, I was given a single room so I had it all to myself. Once I went back to my room, I showered, and was going to read, but my eyes were tired (I had been up since 2:30 a.m.) so I turned off the light, opened my window (Mine faced the ocean) and fell asleep to the sound of water lapping, birds chirping, crickets and frogs, and occasional other strange noises.

Catherine skipped her teen social too. She and her roommate, who was from Sherman Oaks (her dad graduated from Redwood High School! Wow. Small world) were both tired, so they went to their room to rest. We had left home at 3:30 a.m. so she was exhausted too.

The program ended Friday evening. She's quite excited. She got her new schedule too.
I'm so proud of my little girl. She's a scholar now at one of the most prestigious teaching schools in the world.

Meet my Sweetpea!

2008-07-08T21:22:00.000-07:00

I am in love! Isn't my puppy sweet and adorable? He's my new baby. I bought him today.
I took one look at that little face and I had to have him. So precious.

Escaping into a different world

2008-07-06T10:58:00.000-07:00

I had forgotten how much I enjoyed reading. It's an escape for me. It's how I survived for so many years. I love to read.

With a three-day weekend on my hands, it was the perfect time to escape again. And I certainly did. I picked up a book Friday evening - this time "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" and I just finished it earlier this morning. That's how I read. Once I start reading, I can't put books down....if I get into them and this one I certainly did. it truely was heartwrenching and mesmerizing - especially since I myself have a Down Syndrome little girl.

I'd much rather read than watch a movie. In fact, I'm always disappointed when I see a movie made from a book. The book is always so much better.

As to escaping..... I needed it. That's all I will say for now. Someday when I am ready, I will share more.

Red, White, Blue and spectacular

2008-07-04T23:11:00.000-07:00

I've always been patriotic - ever since I can remember I wished I had been born on the Fourth of July.

I love the holiday. And year after year have watched the fireworks, always wishing there were someone special next to me to enjoy them with. I've had my children, of course, but something always wasn't quite complete.

Until Friday.

I sat there, with my little Marisa, just the two of us as we often do. And suddenly, I realized, she's all I needed at the time. My little precious first baby. She will always be with me and I love her so much.

We danced and ate pink cotton candy and drank diet Coke. I bought her glow sticks and watched her glow. My heart warmed when she got very excited with the flyover. "Did you see the jets, mom?" she asked again and again.

When the fireworks - and all of the patriotic music - started. we oohed and ahhhed together at the beautiful streams of gold and reds, blues, whites, and greens.

It was a night I will remember forever. It did not matter suddenly that my own Cinderella story would never happen. Her's has. And I will be happy for that.

My other two daughters, age 16 and 18, were off celebrating with their own friends. But my Marisa - she's my faithful baby - always at my side.

I love them all, but my Marisa, I treasure her in a special way. I couldn't imagine celebrating without her.

Grieving

2008-07-02T23:12:00.000-07:00

My family is grieving the loss of a tiny baby -- my little nephew.
He was so tiny.
He came here for less than an hour.
Born premature, he died 30 minutes after birth.
What a short life and yet, touched everyone so.
I just attended his funeral.

I could hardly speak. I sat there in the front row and felt so numb.
As I grieved for that child, I grieved for another tiny baby - also lost before he had a chance to live - a dear little baby I miscarried -- seems like so long ago and yet it wasn't.
The pain from that loss extreme.

My heart remains heavy even now and I continue to mourn.... alone.
Sadness lingers but I keep telling myself that the darkest hour is just before the dawn.

George Washington University

2008-06-29T22:06:00.000-07:00

Well, my baby (Jennifer) is back. I missed her so much.

She had gone to George Washington University in Washington D.C. -- only four blocks from the White House -- and loved it. It was so strange that she was not here. Last Wednesday evening she attended a Nationals Baseball game.

I think of last summer, it was so different. We flew all over the place and did so much. Now, all my girls are in school.

Jennifer wanted to be a pediatrician and was taking advantage of a summer intern program at GWU medical center - she won a full scholarship. I'm so proud of her. But now that she's back - she no longer wants to be a pediatrician. She wants to be a surgeon. She's a really bright (4.0 gpa) kid - I'm sure she will succeed in anything she wants to do.

Catherine is off to University California Santa Barbara - also on a full scholarship. Another bright kid (4.67 gpa - graduated 6 out of 300+ students in her class)

And my little Marisa, now 25, loves her music and art. She has her art on display at a local art gallery.

I'm very proud of my three "babies" -- but it also makes me realize they're all grown up now. They're making their dreams come true. I put mine on hold as I help others with their dreams...... but I'm longing for mine. Someday. Somehow. Someway.

Never let go of your dreams!

and they're off........without me

2008-05-26T19:15:00.000-07:00

The Odyssey of the Mind team left today at 1 p.m.
I should have been with them. I was invited.
But I couldn't leave the newspaper, they need me here. I had no choice but to decline. Sigh. East Coast - 10 days. If only.

2008-05-26T18:57:00.000-07:00

Stardust - Frank Sinatra

And now the purple dusk of twilight time
Steals across the meadows of my heart
High up in the sky the little stars climb
Always reminding me that we're apart
You wander down the lane and far away
Leaving me a song that will not die
Love is now the stardust
Of yesterday
The music
Of the years gone by

Sometimes I wonder why I spend
The lonely nights
Dreaming of a song.
The melody haunts my reverie
And I am once again with you.
When our love was new, and each kiss an inspiration.
But that was long ago, and now my consolation
Is in the stardust of a song.
Beside the garden wall, when stars are bright
You are in my arms
The nightingale tells his fairy tale
Of paradise where roses grew.
Though I dream in vain, in my heart you will remain
My stardust melody
The memory of loves refrain.

Frank S - you gotta love him

2008-05-12T16:39:00.000-07:00

Fly Me to the Moon

Fly me to the moon
And let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like
On Jupiter and Mars
In other words hold my hand
In other words darling kiss me

Fill my life with song
And let me sing forevermore
You are all I hope for
All I worship and adore

In other words please be true
In other words I love you

Some of my favorite music to play in the car has always been my Frank Sinatra CDs - and lately I've been playing them a lot every day to and from work. Sometimes I tell myself to stop, but I can't.

Stardust - Fly me to the Moon
I've got you under my Skin
The way you look Tonight
Moonlight Serenade
Young at Heart

Such beautiful music and lyrics. Sigh. I was born in the wrong decade.

Fairytales can come true, it can happen to you
if you're young at heart...."
And here is the best part, you have a head start
If you are among the very young at heart."

keeping busy

2008-05-07T22:37:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a leave from blogging for a little while.... I'm working full time now (lots and lots of hours) for my hometown paper. I went in to talk to them on April 1 and they hired me on the spot - they asked if I could start that same day. I started April 2.

Here is just a sample of what I have been writing the past two weeks. I have written many more stories - two to three a day, and up to four on Saturdays.

[photo by John Tipton - The Porterville Recorder]

One story of particular interest is one I wrote (see red link at bottom of page) about six middle school students who made a prosthetic hand for a little boy who was born without hands. The story has gained international attention. Television news picked it up and now the students have been offered a trip to Washington D.C. -- see second story below. It's all very exciting.

Future engineers head East

Odyssey: A paid trip to Maryland.

May 7, 2008 - 12:20AM

Future engineers head East
Porterville Recorder, CA - 22 hours ago
BY ESTHER AVILA Six students from the Odyssey of the Mind team from Burton Middle School received what they called “the news of a lifetime” at Monday ..
[click on link to read full story]
“We will fly them to Washington DC where they will stay in the dorms at the University of Maryland. We have arranged for them to visit the Bethesda Naval Prosthetic Research Center, the National Cancer Center for Amputee research, and three days just to see Washington DC.”

'Celebrating our History'Porterville Recorder, CA - May 5, 2008
BY ESTHER AVILA Saturday’s Cinco de Mayo parade had everything a Mexican celebration ought to have — piñatas, red, white and green decorations, ...

Civil War era returnsPorterville Recorder, CA - May 3, 2008
BY ESTHER AVILA An era in history long gone returned Friday afternoon when more than 100 students and staff, dressed as Union and Confederate soldiers, ...

Panther band serves up traditional eveningPorterville Recorder, CA - May 2, 2008
BY ESTHER AVILA Once again the Porterville High School Panther Band, under the direction of Jim Kusserow, brought the house down during the 18th annual ...

Man continues battle with cancerPorterville Recorder, CA - May 1, 2008
BY ESTHER AVILA With National [Cancer] Survivor’s Day only a few days away, Porterville’s resident David Gong, 38, said he can say that he has survived ...

Old tires see new life in LindsayPorterville Recorder, CA - Apr 30, 2008
By ESTHER AVILA LINDSAY — Thanks to the City of Lindsay, and a new $100,000 grant, an additional 10000 California tires have been diverted out of landfills ...

Police not ready to release name of homicide victimPorterville Recorder, CA - Apr 30, 2008
By ESTHER AVILA LINDSAY — Authorities have not released the name of an unidentified 24-year-old white male adult whose body was found early Tuesday morning ...

Campus sees musical summer eveningPorterville Recorder, CA - Apr 29, 2008
photo caption: "This was great planning and a perfect way to end the day.” --Contact Esther Avila at 784-5000, Ext. 1047 or eavila@portervillerecorder.com.

Carnegie Hall to Lindsay stagePorterville Recorder, CA - Apr 29, 2008
By ESTHER AVILA LINDSAY — Richard Glazier, a world renowned musician who has performed at Carnegie Hall, will make a one-night-only appearance Saturday at ...

Making life easier for othersPorterville Recorder, CA - Apr 29, 2008
By ESTHER AVILA Monday through Friday, rain or shine, Nellie England wakes up, dresses and heads to the Porterville Developmental Center to see her ...

Literacy fair ‘really cool’Porterville Recorder, CA - Apr 28, 2008
By ESTHER AVILA There was more to the day than simple reading for the hundreds of children Saturday morning attending the 9th annual Margaret J. Slattery ...

Families, friends attend festival in drovesPorterville Recorder, CA - Apr 28, 2008
By ESTHER AVILA Plenty of sunshine and blue skies welcomed the approximate 25000 Porterville residents and visitors attending the 10th annual Porterville ...

Boy Scout to earn his wingsPorterville Recorder, CA - Apr 28, 2008
By ESTHER AVILA A war memorial honoring local residents who died for their country is getting a much-needed facelift, thanks to an Eagle Scout candidate who ...

Bright futures ahead for Gates Millennium ScholarsPorterville Recorder, CA - Apr 24, 2008
By ESTHER AVILA Two Granite Hills High School seniors have been awarded one of the nation’s most prestigious scholarships — the Gates Millennium Scholarship ...

Taking time to smell the flowersPorterville Recorder, CA - Apr 24, 2008
By ESTHER AVILA Walking through some of Porterville’s most beautiful gardens will be possible from 10 am to 3 pm Saturday, May 3, during Porterville Garden ...

Banquet honors Longtime educators and volunteersPorterville Recorder, CA - Apr 24, 2008By ESTHER AVILA “Every day thousands of people go to work, leaving their most precious possessions — their children — to the city’s educators,” said ...

Students give a helping handPorterville Recorder, CA - Apr 23, 2008
By ESTHER AVILA
When it comes to having fun, 9-year-old Matthew Lane is just like any other third-grader at Burton Elementary School. He loves to ride his bicycle, hang out with friends and play video games.

But there are some obvious differences.

Matthew was born with only one leg and no hands. But thanks to six students from Burton Middle School, that has changed. The “Odyssey of the Mind” problem-solving team put their minds to work, came up with a plan for some engineering robotics and built Matthew prosthetic hands.

“I’m like a pirate,” said Matthew. “I only have one [foot] and no hands. I’ve seen a lot of doctors and they said ‘Maybe some people can make you hands.’ And these amazing kids found out a way to do it.”

Matthew said he used to write by holding a pencil, or eat by holding a utensil, between his wrist stumps.

“Now I’m practicing my writing. My hands get sweaty with the leather, but I don’t care. I hope to learn to write in cursive some day,” Matthew said. “I wondered if they could really make it and I was excited.”

The six students that made it possible were seventh-graders Nicolas Garcia, Coral Gardner, Darion Zamora, Matthew Jones and Zeng Cha, and eighth-grader, Satwant Malhi.

“Give them a problem and they will solve it. Our motto is, ‘Take any challenge and we can find a solution,’” said Hoss McNutt, the team’s advisor. “And that is what they did. We talked to him and interviewed him and we talked to his parents. They were excited to see Matt so happy.”

Matthew moved to Porterville from Pismo Beach shortly before Christmas. Teacher, Jeff Bochat, noticed the way Matthew continually held his hands together for various purposes.

“Very efficiently, I might add,” said Bochat. “I asked him if he ever got tired and he said sometimes the middle of his chest [muscles] hurt.”

That is when Bochat wondered if he might be able to help find a solution.

“The first person I thought of was Hoss McNutt. His wife works here as a teacher and I talked to her and she said I should call him.” said McNutt. “Matt’s such a wonderful kid, pretty intelligent and witty, and very outgoing. He never let the lack of hands and feet keep him down.”

Hoss presented the challenge to his “Odyssey of the Mind” team and they were anxious to start,

“We felt bad making him wait. We had hoped to give it to him earlier,” said Coral Gardner, the only girl on the team. “But we had just won [south/central valley national tournament] championships and we were getting ready for State.”

The team received help from a couple of men who were familiar with working with molds — Edwin Batch, an artist who deals with plaster casts, and Randy Krohmer, a Porterville resident who works for special effects for movies and the television industry.

After observing Matthew, a rubber urethane hand was formed for the students to work off of, said Krohmer.

“I gave the students suggestions on what they could do, basically leaving it up to the kids to use their imagination,” said Krohmer.

And that is exactly what the six students did. Molds were started in mid February. Then they used the mold to make and attach a leather sleeve to it.

“The kids learned a lot about engineering along the way,” said McNutt.

The students said they wondered if the device would work.

“I kept thinking, how will he feel when we finish,” said Zamora. “When we started the mold, he was really excited and started jumping up and down.”

The students made two attachments for Matthew’s hand — a pencil holding device and a hook.

All of the students participated in the project. Some mixed glue, others poured plaster, some cut the leather and Garcia hand sewed a herringbone stitch on the leather.

“It’s a special stitch and it had to be done right. The leather is a few centimeters thick. The hardest part was doing the side seams because it was hard to get to the right angle,” said Garcia. “I spent quite a few hours sewing. It was hard work.”

But all of their hard work paid off.

The first time Matthew strapped on the gloved device, the students surprised him with a special water-squirting device.

“He kept saying, ‘All I want to do is shoot a water gun.’ I thought, oh my gosh, we take that for granted,” said Jane Dignam, school secretary.

“He got the water gun and he was laughing and running and shooting us. We stood in a circle around him and he was so happy. He never had a trigger finger before. It is a miracle.”

The students said they are now working on a better model for Matthew. They have also been requested to make an attachment that opens and closes. The class will research and look for ideas on how to make the new contraption, while improving the original devices.

“We’re so happy with the result,” said Gardner. “But that was just the prototype. Now the real work begins.”

Contact Esther Avila at 784-5000, Ext. 1047 or eavila@portervillerecorder.com

"Just do it Missy"

2008-02-29T21:27:00.000-08:00

"Just do it, Missy!"

I've been trying to get back into my short story and novel writing lately but there is always something to keep me from really getting into it. I do write a little here and there, but not like before....not like the midnight writing nights when I couldn't wait till 11 p.m. so that I could tap away at my computer till 2 or 3 a.m.

I was telling my best friend about it and he said, "Just do it, Missy" - so I'm back to writing! Yes! And I feel so excited. I really get into my characters and into my story line - to the point where I think I am really there - in that scene, in that town, in that era.

I will be covering California Music Educators Association -CMEA - music festival all next week. And - after filing my daily story, I will be working on my novel. Once next week is over, I will be writing even more.

I'm just going to do it.

World Ag Expo and a Russian journalist

2008-02-11T23:00:00.001-08:00

Rudy Giuliani at World Ag Expo 2007

Click here: For World Ag Expo Live Cam

I always enjoy covering the World Ag Expo. The event attracts thousands of people from all over the world and it is always a very exciting event to cover. Last year I got to meet and write about Rudy Giuliani, the year before it was Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The three-day event starts tomorrow but today was Media Day - a day set aside for the media (we join the World Ag Expo volunteers and exhibitors the day prior to the official opening) - for breakfast. We enjoyed a private, leisure, chauffeured tour of the show grounds.

Media Day is also the perfect opportunity to view the 2008 World Ag Expo before the crowds arrive on Tuesday.

Highlighting the morning was the unveiling of the New Product Center and the Top Ten New Products, the opening of the new Dairy Technology Center and the recognition of the Top Five New Dairy Products. Following a breakfast, the media had an opportunity to talk to exhibitors.

But something else happened. Beside interviewing and story writing, I had the opportunity to meet a journalist from Russia who was looking for a freelance writer to write some ag stories for their magazine. How exciting!

Living in the Central San Joaquin Valley - I have covered the World Ag Expo for several years. And I have been writing about Tulare County's top 10 commodities for several years. I feel confident that I can write the stories we talked about.

It has been a very exciting day and I look forward to covering the World Ag Expo this week - I am writing two stories daily on it.

And, I especially look forward to hearing from the Russian journalist.

Academic Decathlon

2008-02-02T21:59:00.000-08:00

I am always amazed at how much I enjoy this particular event. Teams compete in 10 subjects, present impromptu speeches and are interviewed by a panel of judges. What is a lot of fun to watch is what they call the "Super Quiz" - the students have seven seconds to answer a series of questions - this year on the topic of The Civil War.

The Awards Ceremony is fun to watch.
Congratulations Granite Hills High School, Team A - for winning the event and earning the honor of representing Tulare County at State.

photo by Esther Avila from the 2007
Academic decathlon at Porterville College

By ESTHER AVILA
For the Porterville Recorder

VISALIA — It was more about having fun than scoring big Saturday for Granite Hills High School as they captured the overall scoring trophy at the 2008 Tulare County Academic Decathlon at College of the Sequoias in Visalia. Before a packed theater, Granite Hill students laughed, cheered, and formed a line across the stage, kicking up their legs in a New York Radio City Music Hall “Rockettes” kick before taking a simultaneous bow – evidence to the fun the team was enjoying with their win.

“It never gets old,” said GHHS team coach Mark Harriger. “It is always fun and that is what drives all of us. The kids remember the fun of winning and they come after school – faithfully – to study. They like each other, plus they work hard.”

Harriger’s daughter, Karen, walked away with the top-scoring individual plaques in Language-Literature, Music, Science, and Art. Tracey Harriger captured the individual high-scoring plaque in economics and speech, while teammate Jennifer Spangler took home the Math plaque.

Watching from the audience and not a part of the team for the first time in years was Lorraine Harriger who graduated last year from GHHS.

“It was still excited for them, for all of them,” said Lorraine Harriger. “I was here to support them all. They worked so hard and I wanted to see it culminate.”

High School teams from throughout Tulare County competed for two days in ten subjects: economics, mathematics, music, art, language and literature, science, prepared and impromptu speeches, and a written essay. In addition they were interviewed by a panel of judges.

The “Super Quiz” – with this year’s theme being the Civil War – was held at the COS gymnasium and opened to the public.

And for the first time in years, the California Academic Decathlon Foundation awarded scholarships. Two local students were nominated and both received the scholarships – Daniel Hensley and Ivan Portillo, both from GHHS.

By the end of the day, GHHS, Team A, had racked up 38,419 points – earning the privilege to represent Tulare County in March at the state competition in Sacramento.

“If they can raise that score to about 40,000 points, they have a really good chance at State,” said Carmen Friesen, county coordinator of the event.

Awards at the State level will be awarded by members of the State Legislature. Maria Shriver, First Lady of California, will present the overall trophy.

Granite Hills High School, represented by two teams, also walked away with more than 45 bronze, silver, and gold medals, seven plaques, and four individual trophies, a team trophy, and the large –school trophy.

Walking away with more than 20 medals and the overall-small-school trophy was Lindsay High School who scored 28,682 points.

“I’m always proud of my students. We have won [overall] Small-School [honors] for four out of the past five years,” said LHS academic coach Brett Pierrote.

Monache High, Porterville High, and Strathmore High all shined – winning more than 65 medals. In addition, Monache captured one individual trophy, Strathmore, two plaques, and Porterville High, two plaques.

I Love you baby and if it's quite alright......

2008-01-22T17:19:00.000-08:00

I love you baby...and if it's quite alright, I need you baby.....
Click here to see the scene on YouTube.
There is one scene from "Ten Things I Hate About You" that I don't mind seeing again and again... when the girls' soccer team is practicing on the field, and Patrick (Heath Ledger) is up in the stands, microphone in hand, and suddenly over the loudspeaker, you can hear him singing to Kat (Julia Stiles) - while the high school band accompanies him. I will drop everything I am doing and, being the hopeless romantic that I am, will watch blissfully. -I absolutely LOVE that scene!

Heath died today. Ironically, this song is associated with another really good friend I lost recently, making it a very, very sad day for me. It's been quite the day and more than I could take in one day. (sigh) Heath, why did you have to do that? And baby, this is for you. I will never stop loving you. You will live in my heart forever.

"You're just too good to be true.
Can't take my eyes off you.
You'd be like Heaven to touch.
I wanna hold you so much.
At long last love has arrived
And I thank God I'm alive.
You're just too good to be true.
Can't take my eyes off you.

I love you, baby,
And if it's quite alright,
I need you, baby,
To warm a lonely night.
I love you, baby.
Trust in me when I say:
Oh, pretty baby,
Don't bring me down, I pray.
Oh, pretty baby, now that I found you, stay
And let me love you, baby.
Let me love you.

You're just too good to be true.
Can't take my eyes off you.
You'd be like Heaven to touch.
I wanna hold you so much.
At long last love has arrived
And I thank God I'm alive.
You're just too good to be true.
Can't take my eyes off you.

I love you, baby,
And if it's quite alright,
I need you, baby,
To warm a lonely night.
I love you, baby.
Trust in me when I say:
Oh, pretty baby,
Don't bring me down, I pray.
Oh, pretty baby, now that I found you, stay.."

Reflecting on the past year

2008-01-01T22:38:00.001-08:00

Happy New year everyone!

What a blessed year it has been.

I would have to say I put in more frequent flying miles this year than the past five years combined - I have spent much of the year traveling - from coast to coast, literally. I spent early months working with, or visiting children, all of July was spent away from home - from Hawaii to Texas for a couple of weeks to several other parts of the country - Chicago, Denver, Phoenix and Las Vegas. I spent Thanksgiving with family in Oregon, and Christmas to New Year's with family in Southern California.

This was a year of learning. My daughter has a weighted 4.6 GPA (she is a straight-A student and she carries six AP classes, therefore her gpa is higher than the usual 4.0) Anyway, she was accepted to UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis, UC Merced, UC Irvine, UC Santa Cruz - and a variety of other universities. We spent most of November and part of December checking out schools, filling out scholarship applications, and writing/editing essays.

I did plenty of news-reporting & writing but very little novel-writing this past year. But I did start writing for a new publication - Tulare County Magazine. And I got an interview with a world-renowned chef for an upcoming story in a national magazine.

In addition, I continued writing weekly articles for the Fresno Bee and frequent stories for the Porterville Recorder, in addition to a couple for the Visalia Times Delta and Tulare Advance Register newspapers.

Reflections and Highlights of 2007:

January: For the fifth consecutive year, I offered a class "Journalism 101" to middle school students - that is always fun - talking to groups of students about writing. I love that. I also worked on a tab of farming stories - covering the top 10 commodities in Tulare County.

February: I continued working on the farming tab stories and also covered the 2007 World Ag Expo - where I got to meet and write about Rudy Giuliani . I also attended a very special concert that I shall never forget.

March: Continued covering local events and started working on stories for Tulare County Style Magazine - now called Tulare County magazine. I also covered the CMEA - California Music Educators Association - music festival. It was four days of band music - heaven!

April: Who can forget Opening Day of Oaks Baseball? Loved every minute of it. I also covered a tab of stories and photos for the Iris Festival.

May: I covered the Porterville Fair. That is always fun.

June: Took a break and enjoyed Hawaii with my children for 10 days before taking a 12-hr flight to Pennsylvania and W. Virginia to cover the tour of the Fabulous Studio Band.

July: Returned in time to travel to Texas by mid month for a couple of weeks. Enjoyed writing while I was there and toured George W. Bush' childhood home. I also entered the July contest for a national writing group and won "Best Short Story" for my story "Christmas 1942 - A Means to Mighty Ends." I had such fun writing it.

August: I turned down an all-expense paid trip to a luxury resort hotel to the Philippine Islands (two weeks room/board, airfare, etc) - poor timing. I had been gone almost all summer and needed time at home - girls returning to school. Instead, I spent a week on the shore, went to see lighthouses, made tacos and drank and sipped on delicious imported teas and coffees. Also this month - I wrote a series of stories about the Porterville Historical Museum.

September: Covered the Tulare County Fair - 2 stories a day during the course of the fair - and worked on stories for the "Living Here" magazine tab. My story on Valley Fever came out in Tulare County Magazine. One very special highlight was to receive 49 long-stem white roses for my birthday.

October: I wrote the "Women in Business" tab and covered the 2007 California Business Expo - where I got to meet and write about former President Fox of Mexico. I also did a little bit of traveling this month.

November: Worked on most of the stories for the Veterans Day tab in addition to covering the usual Veterans' Day events - The annual Veterans Day Old Timers' Tea and the Buck Shaffer Band-A-Rama. Again, a little travel, short but magical. And I spent an extended Thanksgiving holiday in Portland, Oregon.

December: I continued visiting schools with my daughter and basically took December off to work on scholarship applications and enjoy the holidays with family and loved ones in the Valley and Southern California.

Goals for 2008:

To continue writing and traveling and breaking into magazines. I would like to finally start writing for national magazines. My goal is to submit queries to national magazines and continue writing short stories for an upcoming anthology.

A very Merry and Blessed Christmas

2007-12-25T06:30:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas from my family to you!

Christmas 2007

Esther and girls: Catherine, Marisa, Jennifer (and Meeko)

2007-11-08T22:41:00.000-08:00

"Restless Dawn" Short Fiction Contest

Jason Evans announces his 7th
Clarity of Night contest. Using the photograph for inspiration, compose a short fiction piece of no more than 250 words in any genre or style. Complete rules at:
Clarity of Night

The Tule Fog

2007-11-03T22:02:00.000-07:00

It happens every year -- the California Tule Fog sneaks in - sometimes causing zero visibility. It is something that has scared me since I was a child. And every single year, there is at least one disastrous pileup on our Freeway 99. Usually I try to avoid traveling too early or too late - waiting for the fog to lift. There is nothing worse than driving along and suddenly hitting a white wall of nothing. I remember as a young nursing student - in 1978 - coming upon such an accident - and upon arriving at Tulare County Hospital, being assigned to care for a patient who had broken his back in the accident - and he turned out to be a 1976 classmate from my school.

Earlier today I was talking to my newspaper photographer John Tipton when he came upon this horrible pileup. So sad.

***** also*****

Micky Padilla of Porterville was driving with his family to a baptism in Fresno when he slammed into a Nissan Maxima.

"It was just bang, bang all around us," Padilla said. "I can't believe I still have my wife and my kids. Someone was looking out for us."

Massive Pileup Closes California Highway

By GARANCE BURKE,

Posted: 2007-11-03 19:08:31

Filed Under: Nation News

FRESNO, Calif. (Nov. 3) - More than 100 cars and trucks crashed on a fog-shrouded freeway Saturday, killing at least two people and injuring dozens more, the California Highway Patrol said.

Eighteen big rigs were involved in the massive pileup on Highway 99 just south of Fresno as patches of dense fog obscured visibility on the heavily traveled roadway, CHP officials said.

Photo Gallery: Highway 99 Pileup

Gary Kazanjian, AP

The wreckage of more than 100 cars is seen here on a Fresno, Calif., highway after dense fog led to a pileup that killed at least two people.

A 6-year-old boy and a 28-year-old man traveling in separate vehicles were killed in the chain-reaction collisions around 7:45 a.m. , said CHP Officer Paul Solorzano, Jr., who described it as one of the Central Valley's worst freeway crashes in years.

"It looked like something out of a movie, walking up and seeing all the cars mangled and crushed," Solorzano said.

Rescuers had to extract several people trapped in the wreckage, and paramedics transported more than three dozen patients to the hospital with injuries, Fresno City Fire Department spokesman Ken Shockley said.

The freeway's northbound lanes around Clovis Avenue were shut down indefinitely as investigators worked to determine the cause of the crash. Traffic backed up for miles south of the wreckage. Southbound lanes remained opened.

Two of the big rigs leaked 90 gallons of diesel fuel onto the freeway when their fuel tanks ruptured, but the diesel was contained. No hazardous materials were spilled, CHP officials said.

Hours after the accident, the freeway was littered with smashed cars and trucks, broken glass, auto parts and blood. A big rig carrying stacked crates of live turkeys was stranded in the middle of the normally busy highway.

Crash victims gathered on the freeway shoulder near the wreckage, waiting to be interviewed by investigators.

Cindy Ramirez, 21, of Selma, said her purple Mazda pickup truck was rear-ended as she was driving to her job washing windows in Shaver Lake.

"Everybody was trying to miss everybody, but it was impossible not to get hit," Ramirez said. "I'm fine physically, but I keep thinking about all of the things that could have happened."

Omar Macias, 33, was hauling asphalt from Bakersfield to Elk Grove when his truck was caught in the pileup.

"I got out to check on people at first, and then I heard more crashes around me, so I got right back in," said Macias of Bakersfield. "I feel OK, but I don't what OK means right now. People got hurt."

Even as investigators interviewed dazed drivers on the roadside, crews began sprinkling sand on the freeway and sweeping up shattered glass.

Thick seasonal fog known as "Tule fog" typically occurs in Central California in the late fall and winter. Two people died along a nearby stretch of fog-blanketed Highway 99 in an 87-vehicle pileup in 2002, and another section of the roadway several miles south was the scene of a 74-vehicle crash that left two dead nearly a decade ago.

"There was probably two-foot visibility in the fog when I got here. It was really bad," said Mike Bowman, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. "It looked like chaos. Cars were backed up on top of each other."

Micky Padilla of Porterville was driving with his family to a baptism when they heard the sound of metal screeching, struggled to brake and slammed into a Nissan Maxima.

Padilla ran out and found a man bleeding in a white pickup. The man was still breathing minutes later when firefighters arrived, but later died on the highway, Padilla said.

"It was just bang, bang all around us," Padilla said, shaking his head as he stood next to a puddle of blood on the blacktop. "I can't believe I still have my wife and my kids. Someone was looking out for us."

Associated Press writer Marcus Wohlsen contributed to this report from San Francisco.

Selma Band Review: Monache Sweeps Up Awards

2007-10-27T21:58:00.001-07:00

Photos by Esther Avila

They did it again!

For the 23rd time, the Monache Marauder Marching Band from Porterville, CA took home the grand sweepstakes at the 43rd annual Selma Marching Band Festival and Field Show Competition at Staley Stadium in Selma Saturday. Click here for full story.

Congratulations, Justin Adams, band director, Monache High School; Troy Rexell, band director, Granite Hills High School; and Donna Steigleder, band director, Burton Middle School, Porterville, CA. You've made our town proud!

AWARDS EARNED

Burton Middle School:
Second- Percussion, middle schools
Third - Parade Band, division A, middle schools
Third - ID unit, middle schools
Third - Flag Team, middle schools

Granite Hills High School:
Second - Majorettes
Third - Field Show Drum Major
Third - Parade Band, division D
Second - Field Show Performance, division B

Monache High School:
Grand Sweepstakes
Half-Time Sweepstakes
Field Show - General Effect
Field Show- High Music
First - Majorettes
First - ID unit / shields
First - Band Parade, division A
First - Field Show Drum Major
Second - Field Show Attachments
Third - Parade Percussion
Third - Flag Team

The "Greatest Generation"

2007-10-26T23:18:00.000-07:00

Story by Esther Avila

Contributed photo / Ivanhoe watchtower
The Fresno Bee / October 26, 2007

Watchtowers sprang up all over Tulare County after the attack on Pearl Harbor. They served as lookouts for incoming Japanese aircraft.

Stories of the 'Greatest Generation'

Tulare County members of the 'Greatest Generation' share memories of World War II era.

TULARE -- They remember rationing their food, school air raid drills and blackouts.

More than 100 Tulare County residents who are members of the "Greatest Generation" have shared memories of their experiences during the World War II era as part of an ambitious project aimed at preserving history. These "oral histories" are now available to the public.

The stories, part of a Tulare County history project, span from 1941 to 1946.

"This whole program was conceived in 2003 when I needed to write a grant," said Judith Wood, county reference librarian and project director at an Oct. 14 celebration party for the people involved at the Tulare Historical Museum. "I thought it would be good to get California stories of what the people were doing here in Tulare County during World War II."

The project, titled "Years of Valor, Years of Hope: Tulare County and the Years 1941-1946," was born.

"The main question we wanted answered was how that time frame affected them and how it affected the way they are today," Wood said.

They recruited 20 people who were then trained to do the oral histories, she said. In addition, they found 100 people who lived in Tulare County during that time frame.

"We started interviewing in 2003 and started editing the stories in 2005," Wood said. "We ended with five boxes of tapes and transcripts of 104 different interviews."

Among the stories is that of Strathmore resident Ted H. Iles who was 70 in October 2003 when he was interviewed by Kris Gray for the project.

When Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese in December of 1941, Iles said he was 8. Because his family was poor, the rationing that followed of meat, sugar and other essentials did not create a great impact on his family. But something else did. He could not understand why his Japanese-American friends suddenly disappeared.

"They were gone. They were essentially rounded up with their families and sent all over the country to relocation centers," said Iles during that interview. "Suddenly our friends were gone, and we couldn't understand it."

Iles also said he remembers the original flag salute, which included extending the arm towards the flag.

"This continued until the early days of the war -- until they decided that Hitler's salute and that of Mussolini in Italy were too similar," Iles told Gray. "So they terminated the extending of the arm [to] just a laying of the hand over the heart the way we do today."

Iles' stories are but a few of many that have been transcribed into hard copies. The original tapes, as well as transcriptions, can be reviewed at the Annie Mitchell History Room at the Visalia Library.

Five other libraries and museums are also recipients of the four-year project: the Tulare County Historical Museum, the Tulare Historical Museum, the Porterville City Library and the Fresno County Historical Society.

"It is such a great contribution to our local history room," said Sandi Farnsworth with the Porterville Library. "We are losing the history so rapidly. This is great for future generations and a great way to honor our veterans."

Ellen Gorelick, executive director and chief curator of the Tulare Historical Museum, agreed.

"We're losing people of that era. It is a wonderful project that Judith has gotten involved in," Gorelick said. "The project is a combination of a lot of people's hard work. It has been very successful, and we will all benefit from it."

WORLD SERIES: Rockies pitchers Jeff Francis and Ubaldo Jimenez and my daughters

2007-10-24T18:13:00.000-07:00

It is so exciting to watch baseball when your boys are playing - and I mean that literally. The great thing about minor league baseball is that you get to know the players before they disappear into the big leagues .

Jeff Francis with my daughter Jennifer / May 2003
Jeff Francis with my daughter Catherine / August 2003

Sometimes, as in Jeff Francis' case, they are here only for a little while. Other times they stay for a couple of seasons before we have to say goodbye.

But because I was an active member in the Visalia Oaks Booster Club since 1998 (six years as secretary and board member, wrote mission statement) we knew our boys very well.

In fact, several of them have eaten in our home. And Jeff Francis' family (Uncle) used to invite my children and I to their home in British Columbia. Now it is so exciting to see Jeff Francis pitching the first game of the World Series - needless to say I am cheering for the Colorado Rockies!

Jeff Francis is not the only one - we have several - FIVE - former players -- representing our Visalia Oaks in the World Series.

In the National League - left-hander Jeff Francis (2003) is starting - impressive - he only lasted in Single A one season and quickly moved up - making it to the majors for a cup of coffee his second season - eventually staying there for good. Now he's their No. 1 pitcher. He has been outstanding in his two post-season starts, boasting a 2-0 record and a 2.13 ERA. Jeff has had unbelievable control, striking out 12 and walking just 3 in 12.2 innings.

The Rockies second starter is also someone we know - Ubaldo Jimenez (2003-2004) - and he is just as impressive as Jeff Francis. He has a quick fastball and a 1.59 ERA. Ubaldo has plenty of "swings and misses" - striking out 11 in 11 1/2 innings.

Ryan Speier (2003) has yet to give up an earned run in the 2007 postseason. He has collected one save in two outings and has given up one hit and no walks in 2.1 innings pitched.

Rockies outfielders Ryan Spilborghs (2004) -- batting .300 through five of seven games, scoring three times, and has an on-base percentage upwards of .450
and Jeff Baker (2004) batting .667 (2 for 3) and has one RBI

sidenote: When the Rockies played the Diamondbacks in the playoffs - I got to see three more Oaks players there -- Justin Upton(2007 Oaks player - imagine going from Single A to the majors in the same year) Jeff Salazar (2003-2004 Oaks player) and Eric Byrnes (1998 Oaks
player)

Jeff offers advice on how to hold and throw a baseball correctly

Jeff Francis watches Jennifer pitch

Jeff Francis pitching to Jennifer

Jennifer at bat - Jeff Francis pitches to her

(all photos by Esther Avila)

Ubaldo Jimenez with Catherine and Jennifer, 2003

Miss Porterville - Emmylou Downling

2007-10-20T22:57:00.000-07:00

story by Esther Avila/photo by Chieko Hara
The Porterville Recorder - Monday, Oct. 22, 2007

Dowling crowned queen
Homecoming: Queen carries double honor.

Emmylou Dowling earned double honors Saturday night when she was named Miss Congeniality by her peers and minutes later crowned Miss Porterville and the 2007-08 Veterans Homecoming Queen in front of a packed crowd at the Frank “Buck” Shaffer Theater inside the Porterville Memorial Auditorium.

“I wasn’t expecting this,” Dowling said as she wiped away tears of joy. “It has been a wonderful evening. All of the contestants deserve this crown. I am honored to become the homecoming queen.”

Also wiping away tears were Dowling’s parents, Robert and Patricia Dowling. Approximately 50 family members attended, including her three siblings, Bobby, Mario and Tiffany, Patricia Dowling said.

“She’s so excited. She deserves and earned this,” Robert Dowling said. “She’s always been involved in many clubs and many [extracurricular] high school activities — and has kept her No. 1 ranking for four hears of high school a GPA of 4.2. Ever since she was little, she’s been really outgoing and a little aggressive. If she wants something, she goes out and gets it.”

The Granite Hills High School straight A honor student, one of 13 young women vying for the title, sang a patriotic medley of “God Bless America,” “This is my Country” and “The Star-Spangled Banner” for her talent portion of the competition.

The girls were judged by a panel of five out-of-town judges on four areas, each worth 25 points: a 200-word essay, interviews with the judges, poise and the way they presented themselves, and talent.

In addition, the contestants were asked three questions on stage by returning master of ceremonies Jamie McGlasson.

When asked if she could spend an afternoon with one person from any time in history, who it would be, Dowling’s answer brought a hearty applause from the audience.

“My savior, Jesus Christ,” Dowling said. “I believe he was a real man who walked the earth — definitely who I would like to spend the afternoon with.”

Joining Dowling in her royal court are Sammie Jo Stone, senior princess; Crystal Ervin, first attendant; Sabrina Ziegler, second attendant; and Sarah Chandler, third attendant.

“The girls were all wonderful. They are the cream of the crop,” Monique Page, coordinator of the event, said. “They have been very supportive of each other. Any of them could have won the title.”

Former queen Katie Lopez spoke on her experience as Miss Porterville and offered words of advice to any young girl who may have her sight on the crown -- encouraging them to believe and to enter the pageant if they have the slightest spark of interest.

“This has been the most wonderful year,” Lopez said before the program started. “For me it was life-changing and something I wanted so much. It has given me such a positive outlook on life. It was unexpected and it happened. That is how it is: When you least expect it, it shines on you. It’s a little sad that it is ending but I also know that it is something that will never go away, this feeling that I accomplished something I wanted so much, and that I was Miss Porterville and the Veterans Homecoming Queen. That will always stay with me.”

The evening began with a welcome by Don Dowling, general chairman of the Veterans Homecoming Committee, posting of the colors and the Pledge of Allegiance by Ruben Bonilla, commander of American Legion Post 20 and Tom Jacobs, commander of VFW Post 2001. The National Anthem was performed by five brass members from the Monache High School band.

In addition, a spirit dance performed by all of the contestants was choreographed by Pam Sheldon of Deenie’s Dance Studio, as well as two presentations by Deenie’s dance performers.

A touching patriotic slide show — including photographs of Washington, D.C., Arlington National Cemetery, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and various other war memorial sculptures, and recent photos of the U.S. military in the Middle East — had several people in the audience wiping tears as solemn patriotic music filled the auditorium.

The 62nd annual Veterans Homecoming Queen, Miss Porterville Pageant was sponsored by American Legion Post 20; and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2001. Emmylou Dowling and her court will preside over the Veterans Day activities on Nov. 11 — the Veterans Memorial Service, Veterans Day Parade and the Veterans Day Band-A-Rama.

Moon River

2007-09-29T11:03:00.000-07:00

Moon River -- I can't play the song without crying - I don't know why. I love this song. It is so beautiful. And as of recently, I have been playing it daily - along with hundreds of other favorites.

I got a new phonograph player for my birthday! I love this thing. I have a couple of record players, part of complete stereo systems, but they were so bulky and took up so much space, I finally stored them. But this little baby, is all inclusive - and looks great.

I am having the time of my life playing all my music. The very first LP I played was Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D Major.

I am currently playing Antonio Vivaldi's Four Seasons as I write. Life is good.

Yes, I kept most of my LPs and have hundreds of them - everything from classical and opera to jazz, Broadway and big band, and from oldies to rock. My kids laugh every time I play Donny Osmond LPs - my favorite in the early 70s.

Here are just a few of the classical and big band albums in my collection. I also have hundreds of 45-rpm records.

"Moon River"

music by Henry Mancini, lyrics by Johnny Mercer

"Moon River, wider than a mile,
I'm crossing you in style some day.
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker,
wherever you're going I'm going your way.
Two drifters off to see the world.
There's such a lot of world to see.
We're after the same rainbow's end--
waiting 'round the bend,
my huckleberry friend,
Moon River and me."

September Skies

2007-09-29T09:49:00.001-07:00

September -- my favorite time of the year - weather starts changing, school starts, and its my birthday! And though I'm not big on birthdays, I do love the day.

I never had a birthday party until I was 40 - so I feel as if I am catching up on them. So far my birthday weekend has been full of surprises - from a group of first-graders serenading me with songs, to white roses - my favorite - and 49 of them! Aren't they absolutely gorgeous? I love them! They look beautiful and they smell great.

Yes, I am almost half-a-century years old. But I love it. I don't feel my age - I'm always writing, working, attending sports, bands, concerts or club events - or doing something fun with my family, that I don't have time to feel older. But, if I could have the perfect birthday weekend, it would include writing! There is nothing I would like more than to have an entire weekend to write. Not newspaper or magazine articles, I write plenty of those all the time - in fact, I am still working on an entire series for the Women in Business local newspaper-magazine tab. Today my "Living Here" tab published - a series of stories about Porterville and the surrounding communities.
I love my work, but I want to get back to my short stories and novel. Two years ago I participated in Nanowrimo for the first time, and I loved it. It really kicked off my September Skies novel.

November is National Novel Writing Month. Even though it is it still a month away, I can't help but get excited over it. I'm not sure if I will participate - a lot of it depends on what family activities are happening that month.

"Time Marches On" - Buck Shaffer Town Clock

2007-09-18T22:48:00.000-07:00

This photo of Centennial Park has been altered to depict what a town clock might look like at the location. Porterville High School of Class of 1975 is spearheading a move to place a clock there in honor of band director Frank ‘Buck’ Shaffer. (Contributed Photo)

PHS students push Shaffer’s vision for town clock

Committee: Time Marches On’s goal is to raise $22,000.

By ESTHER AVILA

FOR THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER

September 4, 2007 12:46 AM

When Centennial Park was being planned, the late Frank “Buck” Shaffer, Porterville’s musical icon and Porterville High School’s former band director, went to City Hall to offer music ideas and other suggestions for the new park.

“Buck had a vision for a clock — a town clock,” said Felipe Martinez, mayor pro tem. “He had already done some research of different styles and different clocks and brought in pictures of what he had in mind. This was a month or so before his stroke. His vision did not come to fruition.”

Now the Porterville High School Class of 1975 would like to see Buck’s dream come true. They are spearheading the “Time Marches On” committee to raise an approximate $22,000 to purchase and install a four-dial Howard- or Seth Thomas-type street clock to place in Centennial Park at the corner of Main Street and Cleveland Avenue.

The clocks and their bases can have heights up to 20 feet, and can weigh up to 400 pounds. Though an actual clock has not been selected for Centennial Park, the committee does know that it must have four faces — one in each direction. The words “Time Marches On” will also be inscribed on the clock. The clock will stand inside a planter and be surrounded by bench seats.

All work provided for the clock, and surrounding setting — from the electrical to the masonry — will be donated. And the committee is hoping that local high schools’ horticulture departments will donate and plant flowers and plants.

“We want this to be a true community effort,” said Robert Roman, head of the committee and a drummer in the Panther Band under Shaffer from 1972 to 1975. “I don’t want it to be just labor. I want the community to come out and have fun doing it. But we want to start raising the money and get it going.”

Before they can order the clock, an approximately 40-percent down payment is needed. Once ordered, it will take 15 to 20 weeks for delivery.

“We want to place either a bronzed sculpture — a band director with his wand — or music notes on top of the clock,” Roman said. “There is not enough that Porterville can do to repay this gentleman.”

When he first heard about Shaffer and the town clock suggestion, Roman discussed the matter with friends — other former band members who graduated in 1975 — and they all decided to do something about it. They changed the name of the committee from “Class of 75” to “Time Marches On” to be more inclusive of all years and of the community in general.

“We are asking all former band members to help. Imagine if every band member who ever marched under or knew of Buck Shaffer, pitched in five bucks — that would cover it,” Roman said. “What better way to honor him than by carrying on with the dream that he started?”

Martinez, also a PHS Class of 1975 graduate, echoed the sentiment.

“There are usually about 400 kids each and every year in the band — and Buck came to Porterville in 1953 — that is a lot of kids,” Martinez said. “There are two things that Porterville is known for. One is patriotism and the other is music — and Buck represented both. He was a very patriotic individual and music was his passion.”

Martinez also pointed out that some local families have two or three generations of children who played under, or were influenced by, Shaffer, a 53-year music instructor who was still teaching music until his stroke in October 2006. He died Dec. 1.

Shaffer’s son, Skip Shaffer of New Jersey, said he was unaware of Buck Shaffer’s clock dream but is pleased with the prospect.
“My father was very civic minded. People were always suggesting he run for mayor. The clock gives him a connection to Main Street — the center of the city and the heart of town,” Skip Shaffer said. “It is nice to have him recognized by the city of Porterville.”

To kick off the fundraising, the committee is planning a “Fabulous Music Jam” for Oct. 27 at Centennial Park.

“Lots of music by lots of groups — many of them band alumni. Nostalgia, Latin Friends, and the Crash Street Kids from the ’70s will reunite and play. We’re also trying to get [band] San Andreas Fault to play,” Roman said. “But it’s not limited to band alumni. We have a wide variety of music planned. We will have Mariachi music there. All of the musicians are donating their time.”

A request to close Main Street and Cleveland Avenue has been submitted to the city and Roman said they plan on having lots of vendors, food, arts and crafts at the musical celebration.

Jugfest - Visalia , CA

2007-09-18T22:35:00.000-07:00

Another fringe benefit of writing articles is - getting the whole scoop on upcoming events.
Here is one event that I am looking forward to attending.

Country music fest to rock Visalia

Jugfest to feature some of country's biggest entertainers Sept. 22.

By Esther Avila / Special to The Bee

09/14/07 05:34:27

More information

If you go

What: Jugfest 2007 -- 10 artists in back-to-back country music performances, with opportunities to meet and greet the artists; kids' activities.
When: Sept. 22, starting at 11 a.m.
Where: Plaza Park, Plaza Drive and Highway 198, Visalia.
Tickets: Advance -- all day and evening $15, general admission and $25 for preferred seating. At the gate, tickets $5 for daytime only or $25 and $35 all day/evening. Advance tickets available online at www.kjug.com or www.gorillatix.com and at Best Buy Market, 1300 W. Walnut Ave., Visalia; 1798 N. 10th Ave., Hanford and 1135 W. Bush St., Lemoore.
Details: (559) 553-1500.

A country music festival Sept. 22 will feature performances by 10 country artists at Jugfest, a day filled with back-to-back performances and opportunities for fans to meet several of the artists.

"We are excited to offer an event of this magnitude to the Central Valley. Currently there are no other country music festivals in our area," said Melinda Caz, marketing director at KJUG FM 106.7, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

"There'll be something for everyone -- for all ages," she said. "The best deal is to come early and stay all day, especially through the evening when we have our grand finale, a tribute to our troops."

The day kicks off at 11 a.m with performances on two stages by country artists Dusty Drake, John Berry, Ty Herndon, Whiskey Falls, Lance Miller and Sarah Buxton.

But Jugfest will offer more than just country music. A Kids' Zone area will offer a children's bounce houses, bungee run, jousting activities and a trampoline euro-power jump. In addition, there will be free face painting, magic shows and strolling clowns making balloon animals for the children. Plenty of local food vendors and craft booths will also be on site.

"Country music isn't what it was when I was a kid," Caz said. "With artists like Bon Jovi and Sheryl Crow releasing country songs, country music is expanding its fan base -- and, on the day of Jugfest, I think we are going to see that. We are expecting big groups of country music fans and families."

The station has received confirmations from people who will attend from San Diego, San Francisco, Arizona and Miami, she said.

As evening arrives, the main stage will heat up with more acts. At 7 p.m., country group Cole Deggs and The Lonesome will light up the main stage. They will be followed by recording artist Paul Overstreet. Overstreet has written hit songs for George Jones, Randy Travis, Tanya Tucker and Marie Osmond. Country group Little Texas will follow and is expected to rev up the audience with some of its greatest hits, including "God Blessed Texas" and "Amy's Back in Austin."

But it will be Darryl Worley who will take the stage and rock the arena with the grand finale -- a tribute to United States military men and women. Program listeners were encouraged to send a photo of someone in the military or a veteran to honor in a presentation at the evening concert.

Lawn chairs or blankets are recommended for the daytime concerts.

"Don't underestimate the power of country music; it's electrifying and the listeners are loyal," said Dave Daniels, program director for Westcoast Broadcasting, owner of KJUG. "Not everyone has the opportunity to go to Nashville and experience country music one on one."

Nothing like checking out the backyard

2007-09-18T20:56:00.001-07:00

I've been very busy the past two months - writing. I don't even know how many stories I've written.I wrote a batch of stories for our local museum (at least 10) I had a lot of fun writing them and learned alot. Here is one story about the Yokut Indians and reed boats.

Then our Tulare County Fair came into town and I covered the fair daily - two days stand out for me - Physics Day (students rode the carnival rides with intention of collecting data to use in graphs) - and Auction day for 4-H and FFA students - always one of my favorite events - It is what the fair was all about. It was not about rides and hundreds of commercial exhibitors.

But that wasn't all - I have also been writing stories about our surrounding communities for our "Living Here" tab magazine.

My home town - Porterville - is the gateway and headquarters to Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument - it's absolutely breath taking.

I loved working on the "Living Here" stories - I was reminded how great my area of the world is.

Click here for cam

These trees are huge! Can you spot the people next to the trees?

Sequoia National Forest
1839 South Newcomb Street
Porterville, CA 93257
559-784-1500

Living Here: Porterville - Visalia - Springville - Tulare - Exeter - Lindsay - Tulare County
(I will place links to my stories after the "Living Here" tab is published on 9/30)

Nothing like checking out the backyard

2007-09-18T20:56:00.000-07:00

Country music fest to rock Visalia

Jugfest to feature some of country's biggest entertainers Sept. 22.

By Esther Avila / Special to The Bee

09/14/07 05:34:27

More information

A country music festival Sept. 22 will feature performances by 10 country artists at Jugfest, a day filled with back-to-back performances and opportunities for fans to meet several of the artists.

The day kicks off at 11 a.m with performances on two stages by country artists Dusty Drake, John Berry, Ty Herndon, Whiskey Falls, Lance Miller and Sarah Buxton.

The station has received confirmations from people who will attend from San Diego, San Francisco, Arizona and Miami, she said.

Lawn chairs or blankets are recommended for the daytime concerts.

Please send Miss Eleanor a postcard

2007-08-16T23:01:00.000-07:00

UP DATE: September 5, 2007 - I drove by her work, and there she was - wearing a "thank you" on her outfit. Isn't she beautiful?

How it started:

I printed the request below on my writers online community - and I have been really pleased with the positive response I've received from everyone. It is all in fun - so I'd thought I'd share it here too.

Please send Missy a postcard

There is a mannequin near my home in front of a restaurant-supply store (about two blocks from my house) She sits out there every day - dressed in a professional chef coat and chef hat. We call her "Missy" and ever since the kids were little, we'd wave at her every time we drove by. It all started innocently about several years ago - I told them she was a real person who was out there. We met her when I took a wrong turn on the way to school and the girls asked where I was going...

"I want to drive this way to wave to my friend Eleanor," I said and then pointed to her as we drove by. They said it was a fake person, I claimed she was real. We still call her Eleanor when we drive by and a postcard or two has her listed as Eleanor -- but later, when we wrote Ms.Mannequin on the card, we started calling her Missy.

While in Hawaii recently, one daughter said, "Lets send Missy a postcard" -- so we did and we had such fun, we have sent her cards from everywhere we have gone this summer -- Texas, Oregon, etc.

We never really say who we are, just that we are thinking of her and hope that someday she can join us or that someday she can take a trip or we just ask how she is and how the restaurant business is going, etc. Very G-rated. Nothing bad.

It suddenly reminded me of the gnome story -- obviously we can't steal "Missy" to photograph her all over the world - she's human size - not a little gnome.

But I do wonder what the heck the business owner must think every time a card comes in. We've sent at least a dozen.

So, here is my request: If you can, can you please send "Missy" a postcard from where ever you live? And when you do - let me know here so that I can keep track as to how many states are sending (sent) a card. I'd love for her to get them from all over - from California to Seattle to New York to Florida - and from other countries too -- from Canada to Mexico and across the oceans from India to Australia - where ever you all are. You don't have to write much, "hello from Alabama" or whatever state or country will suffice.

But PLEASE - if you do write something -- keep it very clean. It is nothing illegal - just sending friendly post cards.

Miss Eleanor Mannequin
C/O Handley's Restaurant Equipment
400 N. Johnson St.
Visalia, CA 93291

Thanks, everyone.
Missy (Eleanor) thanks you too!

__________________

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

2007-08-14T22:55:00.000-07:00

Does anyone remember seeing the stationary-store commercial? -- parents smiling and laughing and dancing through the store hallways, filling their cart with paper and binders and pencils and pens -- as the Christmas song plays. Then they focus on a little boy and a little girl - frowning.

1998: Jennifer and Catherine - posing for annual "First Day of School" photo - which I have taken every year on the steps of our home for the past 13 years. (Catherine is a senior this year)

BACK TO SCHOOL time!
Both of my girls were very excited about going back to school and seeing all of their friends. I am lucky my children love school as much as I did. Of course, both of my high school girls are involved in band, sports and service clubs - and both both are honor students and have been inducted into the National Honor Roll Hall in Washington D.C.

School started today. It seems as if each year it starts earlier in the year. Whatever happened to school starting the day after Labor Day?

After the traditional "Stand in front of the house" back to school photograph - which I've been taking since kindergarten, the girls were off to school -- they start at 7 a.m. and do not return until almost 6 p.m. -- Very long days for them.

And - being the studious kids that they are -- they had plenty of homework on day one! And so did I! It took me more than an hour to sign dozens of "contract" forms from each classroom. It took another hour to fill my calendar with their tennis matches, band practices, band reviews, band Disneyland and San Diego trips, etc. etc.

How do they do it? I browsed through the tennis calendar -- there are 23 matches, starting next week through October 24! Including Sept. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, skip a Sunday, again Monday. Skip a Tuesday, again Wednesday, skip Thursday, and again on Sept. 14, 15, 17...... the list went on and on. I was exhausted by the time I finished jotting down everything.

I also noticed they have band practice every Tuesday night.

"Can you girls handle all this?" I asked. They looked at me as if there was something wrong with me.

Later, Catherine, a senior, was at the kitchen nook table.

"Oh! I love this! I actually understand it all," she said as she worked on her AP calculus. I looked at it. Looked foreign to me.

"I've joined the math club," she said nonchalantly and then sighed, "I guess that means I have meetings every day at lunch."

Math club meets Tuesdays at lunch, Wednesdays is Key Club, Thursdays is Future Business Leaders, and Link Crew meets as needed on rotating days.

At the dining room table, Jennifer worked on her homework and talked excitedly about biology and other courses.

I smiled. Inside I was beaming. These are my babies. I am so blessed.

I love Back To School time.

Eight Interesting Things About Myself

2007-07-22T22:17:00.000-07:00

Joanne from "Write after dark" has tagged me into writing eight interesting things about myself. I am not sure just how interesting it may really be...

1. I didn't speak much when I was young. As it turned out, there was a good reason. I was tongue-tied - literally. I was diagnosed with Ankyloglossia - my tongue was attached to the plate of my mouth. The tendon was slightly cut, making it easier for me to speak - but too late, I had already gone through much of my school life without speaking, labeled as shy. I was never shy. I was quiet. There is a difference. About five years ago, I had some oral surgery at UCLA Medical Center -- I quickly became a central focus as interns gathered around me to see my tongue. They suggested severing the rest of the tendon but there were some risks and I decided against it. I've gone this long and have done alright.

2. I grew up in a home that did not believe in going to the movies. But in 1970, my older sister took me to see Erich Segal's "Love Story" - I loved it. It was the first movie I ever saw at the theater. My parents never knew I went.

3. I was a tomboy as a kid. I'd hang out with my brother, climb trees, jump fences and spend all day at the river. I wouldn't change a thing if I could.

4. I always wanted a Barbie as a child. I asked for one many times. I came from a large family and money was tight. Still, my little sister got one -- but I never did. I did however, become a Barbizon Model. How many people can say that? I didn't get a barbie but I looked like one.

5. I loved school and rarely missed. Favorite subjects: English and U.S. History. Now I love writing and historical places.

6. In college I was a Barbizon Model, a cheerleader and ran track and cross country. I set ten school track records in college. I ran cross country and track. When I wasn't on the track, I was cheering at football or basketball games. I was a cheerleader and loved it.

7. In 1976 I wrote a letter to the editor (hometown paper) during my senior year in high school. When I saw it - with my name - I knew then that someday I'd like to write for the paper. That dream came true. I love writing and write for several newspapers and magazines - I can't believe it is my job. I love it.

8. Frank "Buck" Shaffer was the best thing that happened to me in high school. I was an Orange Blossom - a letter girl in the band. In 1976, Buck Shaffer took us on a ten-day bicentennial tour with stops in Boston, NYC, Washington D.C., Gettysburg, Mt. Vernon, Amish country (Intercourse, Bird in Hand) and Philadelphia. I've never forgotten it and believe it changed my life forever. I was already patriotic, but even more so after that. I returned last year with the same Panther Band, now under direction of then classmate Jim Kusserow, for a similar trip. But I've actually made the trips several times. I love the east coast. and would live there if I could. My life is blessed.

Miscellaneous Update

2007-07-22T20:40:00.000-07:00

Well, good news - my eyes are just a little strained - tired - need rest, etc. I've been driving a lot lately and the "reading a book for eight hours" thing didn't help.

A lot has been happening around my home. I've driven to Sacramento three times this week (family flying out to see sick loved one) - Today we had a death in the family. I will fly out Tuesday to meet up with family in Texas.

On AW - I recently entered the July contest and won "Best Short Story" for my story "Christmas 1942 - A Means to Mighty Ends." It was fun writing it.

Also - I was tagged today by Joanne - and I will return and do the tag game before I leave for Texas but I'm not sure I know eight people I can tag that have not already been tagged.
So, I will leave the tagging off this time.

Blurry Vision

2007-07-15T20:53:00.001-07:00

I have always loved to read and am an avid reader - educational and entertainment values. There was a time when I used to read a book every weekend. But I hadn't done that in a long time.

Today, I literally spent all day reading - from the moment I woke up until one hour ago - stopping only long enough to make coffee and lunch. Never even made dinner. Luckily my kids can fend for themselves.

The book I read was "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold. The story is told from the point of view of a murdered 14-year-old girl who was raped and killed. She tells the story herself - from heaven - or her version of heaven. I liked the setting of the story because I knew the places -- Fairfax, VA; Valley Forge, Philadelphia -- places recently visited. When they talked of the woods, I felt as if I had been there.

I was a bit disappointed in the ending. I kept reading because I wanted to see if they would ever catch the killer or find her missing body. I won't say if they did or not.

But one thing happened .... now I have to go see a doctor. I struggled to read - and my eyes got so tired. Now, everything is so blurry. I put the book down an hour ago and my sight is still blurry. I guess I will have to make an appointment to see an optometrist in the morning.

My father was blind. I can't imagine going through life without seeing. I keep telling myself I overdid it. I hope that is all it is.

Ralph "Sonny" Arbitelle

2007-07-14T15:49:00.000-07:00

I love feature and human-interest stories. (story below)

I just spent a couple of hours with a very interesting man -- Ralph "Sonny" Arbitelle. I honestly could have stayed there talking with him all day. He was so interesting. He is not only a former (38 years) professional illusionist (has been on Johnny Carson show and numerous other shows) and a member of the Academy of Magical Arts but he is also an artist, a member of the clergy, a published poet and writer and -- he believes strongly that one man can make a BIG difference. He's ready to prove it too.

Today is his 75th birthday and I can't believe I had the honor of spending the morning with him - interviewing him. I feel as if I were the one treated to a great birthday present.

Mr. Arbitelle will be riding cross country -- motorcycle -- to raise awareness and funds for the Susan G. Kommen Breast Cancer Foundation. He had such a wonderful outlook on life - so positive. You couldn't help but get caught up in the excitement of how he looks at life.

He leaves next week and will ride to Connecticut, down to Florida, across the panhandle and across the southwestern states back to California -- 7,500 miles in all. His journey will be made into a Discovery Channel documentary and the motorcycle he is raffling off along the way may be featured in "Deal or No Deal" on television.

When we were done with our interview, he surprised me by autographing two of his books and giving them to me - "The Bingo Farm" and "The Letter." I was so honored.

I am always amazed as to how many interesting people live right where I live -- whether artists, writers, musicians or athletes.

I love my job! And after my story on this man prints, I can come in and share it. But in the meantime, be forewarned - if you happen to hear of this man stopping by your town - go out and support him. He's amazing.

************************************

Esther Avila / Special To The Bee

Ralph "Sonny" Arbitelle, 75, will travel about 7,500 miles to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. The "Pink Lady"motorcycle will be raffled off after the ride.

Visalia man takes cancer fight across the country on motorcycle

By Esther Avila / Special To The Bee

07/27/07 04:44:32

Editor's note: This is an occasional feature in the South Valley Bee in which we profile members of our various communities. We hope readers will provide suggestions for possible profiles, and while we are at it, a name for the feature. Please send those suggestions to southvalley@fresnobee.com or call (559) 622-2420 or fax to (559) 733-1825.

VISALIA -- Believing one man can make a difference, Ralph "Sonny" Arbitelle said he is ready to prove it.

"I used to think one person could not make much of a difference. But I was wrong," Arbitelle said. "You don't have to live a long time to do something and leave a legacy."

Arbitelle, who turned 75 on Saturday, will be making a 7,500-mile round-trip motorcycle journey from California to Connecticut. He plans to raise significant funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer, while celebrating breast cancer survival and honoring those who have lost their battle to the disease.

Having lost his father, mother, sister, two aunts, an uncle and cousins, including one who was only 18 years old, to cancer, Arbitelle was still stunned when his daughter, Melanie Roth, developed breast cancer three years ago. After chemo and radiation, she was declared a survivor. But recently, Arbitelle said he learned her cancer had metastasized to her bones. Miraculously, it was ruled out. That is when Arbitelle said he remembered a promise he had made her.

"She was a fighter and I saw how tough it was for her," Arbitelle said. "I told her that one day I was going to get out there and do something."

Arbitelle said he intended on keeping his promise. After brainstorming ideas, he decided on a road trip. He purchased and donated a new 2007 Yamaha V Star 1300.

After dubbing the bike "Pink Lady" for its pink and white custom paint job by Darwin Ward, Arbitelle has been asking for a donation of $25 each per ticket, or five for $100. The bike, on display at D & E Yamaha, 1745 E. Mineral King in Visalia, will be raffled when he returns. And because of Arbitelle's professional connections, it may happen on television's "Deal or No Deal" reality show.

Arbitelle, a 38-year professional illusionist, author of numerous books, a poet and ordained minister, started planning his trip last March. He will leave Visalia on Tuesday and plans to return Aug. 31 or Sept. 1.

But that is just the beginning. Two cameras will be installed on Arbitelle's motorbike, and he has been collaborating with Brooks Wachtel, a writer and producer of the Discovery Channel, for a documentary on the road trip.

With the support of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, the journey will begin in Visalia, with stops scheduled for Reno, Nev.; Salt Lake City; Davenport, Iowa; Louisville, Ky.; Cleveland; Scranton, Penn.; and Hartford, Conn. -- where Arbitelle has scheduled a few days of rest.

On the return trip, he will stop in New Jersey, North and South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Las Vegas before returning to California.

"I will limit my riding to an average of 310 miles a day, six hours a day -- with four layovers built in," said Arbitelle, who recently broke a couple of ribs during a fall. "Everyone has been so supportive."

Along the way, several bikers from each region will join him for some portions with the motto: "We will not give up, be turned back, nor stop riding hard until breast cancer is history."

Still, Arbitelle is also asking for the public's support, locally and on the road. All proceeds from the ride, excluding meals, gasoline and occasional paid shelter, will benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Esther Avila / Special To The Bee

The "Pink Lady" motorcycle, above, on display at D & E Yamaha in Visalia, will be raffled, with proceeds going to fight breast cancer.

Happy Fourth of July

2007-07-03T23:09:00.001-07:00

I was looking through some old photos and found this one when my daughter Jennifer won Tulare County "Little Miss Fourth of July" - 1999
That was a very special day in her young life.

Jennifer had heard about the contest and kept asking me to take her to the mall to sign up. I did not want her to because I knew there would be many little girls trying for the title and I didn't want her disappointed when she did not win. One day, while at the mall, she got a little form and was filling it out herself. My heart broke. She really wanted to try so I decided to let her enter the contest but I kept reminding her that she may not win.
But she knew - she was confident. And she won!

Back from vacation

2007-06-23T21:33:00.000-07:00

Kailua Beach is so beautiful. It is located on the windward side of Oahu island and has been voted "the most beautiful beach in the United States" - it literally is picture-perfect. White powder sand, clear turquoise waters and turtles swim with you! I love sea turtles!

Cathy, Jennnifer and Marisa - Hawaii 2007

Anyway -- I am temporarily back. I was gone for two weeks and it was nice coming home. But, I had a great time in Hawaii and at a couple of other places I visited. Though I must admit, traveling 10 hours on the plane from Hawaii to get there was very exhausting. And it looks like I am not done. I'll be sending my children to Oregon to visit family while I take care of some business travel.

But not all travel is business, once the girls return, we will have a little fun before school starts in August. Catherine is a senior in high school and we will be visiting a couple of schools this summer - UC Santa Barbara and Pepperdine University - we'll stay with my sister in Camarillo - so that'll be fun. We also plan on traveling north to see San Francisco State University and UC Homboldt.

If there is time, I will take my mother to Phoenix to visit my sister for a few days. I took her two years ago and I guess it is time to go again.

As to writing - I'm still writing news stories here and there, but I hope to get back to my "fun" writing soon.

Until then - aloha. (I'm still wishing I were back on Kailua)

Take Out Your Mont Blancs

2007-04-29T20:53:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited! -- I made the Readers' Choice category.

April 23: Alright writers -- time to write.
There are only two days left to enter Jason Evan's - Clarity of Night - "Endless Hours" Short-fiction Contest. If you don't want to enter - at least read some of the entries and don't forget to read mine: "Table for Eight"

April 29: Winners announced

1st Place--TREVOR RECORD, Sleep
2nd Place--SEAN FERRELL, Talking Down the Flames
3rd Place--REBECCA HENDRICKS, Superstar
4th Place--JAYE WELLS, Werewife
5th Place--KATHERINE NAPIER, Reality Bytes
Honorable Mention--JUDE ENSAFF, Case #453
Honorable Mention--BRILLIANT DONKEY, It's All Relative
Honorable Mention--BETH, Things We Cannot Say
Honorable Mention--G. LI, Afterglow
Honorable Mention--JOHN MCAULEY, Steak & Pork Brains
Readers' Choice--JAYE WELLS, Werewife
Readers' Choice, 1st Runner-Up --ESTHER AVILA, Table for Eight

*******************

ALSO - I want to let you know about another writing opportunity. My blog friend, Bhaswati, has posted about a project about an author calling upon other writers to help compile and publish a book to raise funds for a young child who suffers from apraxia. Check it out.

Jim Kusserow and Fabulous Studio Band to visit Shinnston

2007-04-29T18:52:00.000-07:00

Porterville Panther Band Concert

If you're in the Porterville (California) area, and you want to catch some great music, Jim Kusserow's Porterville Panther Band will be performing Saturday, May 5 at the Frank "Buck" Shaffer Theater inside the Porterville Memorial Auditorium.

You won't be disappointed. His concerts are amazing. They really are and you are in for a treat if you attend.

I will look around for my newspaper story on last year's concert and return to post it. (I'm not sure I still have it.) But I did blog about the concert - click HERE to read - and scroll down to the May 13 posts. OR to read lots of band stories, CLICK HERE.

Prom night - two down, one to go

2007-04-28T22:01:00.000-07:00

For the second time in my life, I helped one of my little girls get ready for prom. I have three girls. Jennifer is a freshman in high school this year - but she is already picking out prom dresses and she is hoping she can attend next year.

2001: I remember helping Marisa prepare for prom. Even though Marisa is Down Syndrome - when it came to preparing for prom - she was like any other teen girl. She was excited. She loved her dress - loved getting her hair and nails done - loved going out to dinner and loved dancing the night away. It was a very special evening. And, yes, I cried when I saw her. I took her to my sisters house. She cried. I took her to my niece's house - she cried. It was a beautiful night to remember.

Tonight it happened again. My second daughter prepared for prom. And yes, I cried. She looked like an angel. She looked beautiful.

I never went to prom. My father did not allow me to date in high school. I never had one date or attended one dance.

[Catherine at home before leaving for prom]

Papa was my Hero

2007-04-20T15:06:00.000-07:00

Me at age 7
I was only four years old when I fell from a tall wooden fence. But a large nail caught me – or my arm – and there I hung, hooked to a rusty nail as cherry-colored blood squirted in all directions.

It was Father’s Day and all of the children were playing outside. I was told I passed out. I do not remember the fall, but I do remember what happened next.

My papa saved me.

Hearing the screams of children, papa ran out of the house and through the yard in the direction of the screams – tripping twice and getting up, his trousers torn and face scraped.

You see, papa was blind. He could not see but he knew something horrible had happened.

“She’s up there, she’s up there,” the other kids cried as they pointed, as if my father could see them. He couldn’t, of course.

Yet, somehow, he reached up, found me, lifted me off the nail and got me down. Taking a handkerchief out of his pocket, he pushed it against my skinny left arm and pressed tight to prevent more blood loss as he commanded to someone to call an ambulance.

“You saved her life,” the ambulance attendant told my father. “She cut her main artery and she lost a lot of blood. Any more and she would not be here.”

I remember seeing my mother crying in the ambulance and as the sirens took me away, I remember looking out the window and seeing my papa's worried face, his shirt covered in my blood. He couldn't see that I was fine. But his face, at that moment, is one that I will never forget.

That was my papa. That was my hero.

I do not remember how old I was when I learned that he was blind. I simply remember always knowing it. By the time I was born, my papa had already been blind for several years. But that did not keep papa from loving life -- or living it.

I believed my papa could do anything. And Papa made me believe that I could too.

“You can be anything you want to,” he would tell me all the time. “You can do it.”

I believed it because he believed it. Together we were invincible. My papa was so powerful. Or, so I thought.

The day came when I realized my papa was not powerful. That’s just the way things were. Some things were stronger. And papa and I could not fight it.

I was 16 the spring that Papa was diagnosed with cancer. I did not realize how serious it was. I kept waiting for him to get better. That is how things worked. People got sick. People got better.

Spring turned to summer and Papa did not get better. Instead he was told that he had only three-to six-months to live.

Never in my mind did I ever imagine it would be the last Father’s Day I would ever spend with my father.

Oh how I remember that day. It was not every year that all of my 10 siblings made it home on the same day – not for Mother’s Day, not for Christmas, not ever. There was always at least one person missing. But that day, everyone came.

By then Papa was in a hospital bed. He called us into the room, one at a time. Because he tired easily, someone – not sure who made up the rule – told us we had 10 minutes to talk to him.

“I’m so proud of you,” he told me as I nodded – forgetting he could not see me. “You have made me proud.”

I had just made the Orange Blossom line – the marching band’s elite front-line of marching girls – something I had wanted for 10 years.

Papa had encouraged me to audition for one of the 12 coveted spots.

“Of course you’ll get it,” he had told me. “Why wouldn’t you?”

Now, there I was – tears streaking my face.

Papa could not see my tear-streaked face, but he knew I was crying. With all the strength he had left in his weak arm, he reached his hand to my face and brushed away a tear.

“You’re going to get better, Papa,” I said. “Of course you will. Why wouldn’t you?”

“Not this time, little one,” he said. “Not this time.”

I remember looking at the clock and each time, he sensed it.

“I don’t have much time,” he would say and I would kick myself for looking at the clock.

I do not remember what else we talked about but I do know we talked for 20 minutes before I was told I needed to step out and let someone else in.

“Thank you for being my Papa,” I whispered to him. “And thank you for saving my life when I was little. You're my hero."

“No,” Papa said. “You are mine."

Lily and I - circa 1965

I am back!

2007-04-20T13:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Somehow -- and I have no idea when, why or even how -- I changed my password and for the life of me, could not figure out what it was changed to. Attempting to contact administrators to reset the password was not working. Every time I did that, they would refer me to another blog I created for a friend.

But persistence paid off -- and here I am. Finally!

A lot has happened since January. I once again covered the World Ag Expo and got to meet (and write about) presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani. I also started writing for TC Style Magazine and have been writing a lot for three newspapers.

I have a short story I wrote for an online contest. For now, I will paste that here -- but I promise to return to blogging regularly soon.

~ Esther

Rose Parade

2007-01-16T22:48:00.000-08:00

January has been amazing for me.
So much has happened in such a short length of time.

I ended the year and started the new one traveling with the Porterville Panther Band -- to Disneyland and Pasadena for performances at the amusement park and at the famed Rose Parade.

Though I have attended the viewing of the floats before, I had never gone to an actual Rose Parade. I loved it. I could really smell the flowers as the floats went by.

Of course, it was especially special to me because my own alma mater Panther Band, under the direction of Jim Kusserow, was marching in the parade. How honored I felt to be with them, covering the stories.

Click below to read stories (must scroll down on page)
Panther band heads to Southern California
PHS band performs at Disneyland's Christmas parade
PHS band brings crowd to its feet at annual bandfest
Panthers march with the roses

ALSO this month:
I started writing for the Visalia Times Delta and the Tulare Advance Register; I landed some writing assignments for TC Style magazine.

And I entered two short-short story contests. One at Clarity of Night -- Though I didn't place, I did get a lot of positive feedback from quite a few people on my story. Jason (who runs the contest) contacted me and said my story was right up there with the best of them when he was judging them.

The other contest was through Absolute Write and it involved a Father's Day story -- my entry earned me a third-place win.

I am already excited about what February might have to offer. :)
In the meantime, I'll be right here.... writing.

Merry Christmas

2006-12-25T12:46:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a blessed
and beautiful Christmas

Michael, Marisa, Catherine, me - and Jennifer. Christmas morning 2006

2006 Writing Accomplishments

2006-12-13T21:18:00.000-08:00

I have been gone from blogging and from AW - AbsoluteWrite - my favorite writers' forum for only three weeks -- but my sabbatical is over and I am back.

Is it really December already? The month came too fast -- how can it be the end of the year?

I recently read my list of accomplishments for 2005 and read my goals for 2006 (jan 2006 archives) -- yikes -- oh well.

Even though I did not accomplish all I wrote about, I'm not disappointed. That was just me thinking out loud at the time. I actually feel I accomplished plenty in my writing career this year.

Writing accomplishments in 2006:

* Covered the World Ag Expo -- writing 2 to 3 stories a day
* Wrote several stories for Salser and Dillard (for funeral industry magazines)
* Continued freelancing for The Fresno Bee, South Valley Bee (newspapers)
* Continued freelancing for The Porterville Recorder (newspaper)
* Started freelancing for Valley Voice (newspaper)
* Wrote the majority of stories (20) for "Living Here" publication
* Wrote all of the agriculture stories for the "South County Pride - Ag" publication
* Wrote one story for the "South County Pride - People" publication (Frank "Buck" Shaffer)
* Started BuckShaffer.com
* Worked on several other websites
* Attended my first Writers' Conference
* Presented six classes of "Journalism 101" -- Career Day presentations for jr. high students.
* Entered my first internet short story contest on Jason Evan's site, Clarity of Night -- AND WON SECOND PLACE!
* Reviewed a book for the first time ever -- The Pacific Between by Ray Wong
* Traveled with Porterville Panther Band to the East Coast -- writing daily band stories
* Had my blog site and website reviewed by Cobwebs of the Mind
* Wrote the "Women in Business" stories for Porterville publication
* Had a story published in Fall/Winter edition of Discover Magazine (distributed all over the Valley)
* Had a story accepted by Overture Magazine (Hollywood musicians' magazine - runs in January)
* Recorded television commercials (English & Spanish) for Bakersfield Californian newspaper
* Recorded radio commercial (English & Spanish) for Bakersfield Californian newspaper
* Was asked to contribute stories to two local magazines (starting soon)
* Will travel with Porterville Panther Band Dec. 29 - Jan. 2 to the Rose Parade - will write daily stories for the local paper.

Goals for 2007:
Continue to expand my writing portfolio.

Buck Shaffer dies

2006-12-08T18:12:00.000-08:00

‘Buck' laid to rest

By Esther Avila, for the Porterville Recorder

This story was published in The Porterville Recorder on Dec. 7, 2006

From the moment Frank “Buck” Shaffer's casket entered the sanctuary at First Baptist Church in Porterville, it was obvious that the service would not be an ordinary one. It couldn't be. It was Frank “Buck” Shaffer's funeral - and, wanting to keep it short and simple, he had planned it all months ago.

“It was just like Buck planned and we tried to do it exactly how Buck wanted,” said son Bill Shaffer. “The main point I wanted to get across, and [the] Rev. [John] Eby did just that, is that God is in charge now. Buck is no longer in charge.”

With Jim Turner playing “All the Things You Are” on piano, the 500-plus people in the sanctuary, balcony, chapel and social hall grew silent as Miguel Soto, Porterville Panther Band drum major solemnly led the way as seven other Panther Band members - in full uniform - served as pallbearers for Mr. Shaffer.

The day was to honor a man who touched with his influence and his personality, not only the people in the room or the people across Porterville, but people across the United States, said Eby.

After vocalist Doug Scarbrough singing of “Amazing Grace,” Eby read a couple of scriptures before his short sermon on Second Corinthians, Chapter 13, verse 11. - a verse, he said, commemorates Mr. Shaffer's life.

“Finally, brothers, goodbye. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you,” Eby read. “This service is to focus not on him, but the things he loved - focus on his church, focus on his God, focus on his country. More than anything else, Buck wanted the focus not on him but rather on his vision.”

Eby talked of Mr. Shaffer as a visionary - dreaming big and when learning of a need, envisioning ways to fill the need. Big dreams included the Porterville Christmas parade and the Band-A-Rama - both started by Mr. Shaffer. Eby talked of Mr. Shaffer's musical excellence and joked about Mr. Shaffer's political preference before continuing with more scriptures and prayer - thanking God for Mr. Shaffer's life, and for his vision - before reading the sermon verse again, this time changing the words.

“Finally, Lil gal - and lil fellow - goodbye,” Eby finished the verse. “That is his advice to you and to me.” And as Turner played “Stardust” on the piano, the Panther Band pallbearers led Mr. Shaffer out of the sanctuary.

Outside, the Panther Band Orange Blossoms waited for Mr. Shaffer, to salute the man they held in high respect and honor.

At Old Porterville Cemetery, the entire Porterville Panther Band waited for Mr. Shaffer, and after a cadence drum beat, played “Abide with Me.” American Legion Post 20 presented the American flag draped on Mr. Shaffer's casket to his widow, Peggy Shaffer.

And as the pallbearers laid their white band gloves on the casket, tears could be seen flowing down the faces of many in the crowd.

“I usually release a white dove but Buck was one of a kind,” said Jonell Webb as she prepared to release a special gray-colored dove. Webb, who releases doves every Band-A-Rama, said she told Mr. Shaffer that she would release more doves than ever during his funeral - two representing each year that Mr. Shaffer was loved in Porterville.

After Honor Guard members of the firing squad fired a three-volley salute, the band played “America” as the doves - 106 of them - flew overhead. The audience grew silent once more as Jim Kusserow started playing “Taps” - the silence broken only by the sound of subdued crying from people in the crowd.

After the graveside ceremony, hundreds headed to the Porterville Veterans Memorial Building. One section of the hall - a close replica of Mr. Shaffer's office - was created by Bill Shaffer. From Mr. Shaffer's glasses on his desk and other memorabilia on the wall to the tape recorder Mr. Shaffer used - the room was admired by those in attendance.

“I wanted to do something neat,” said Bill Shaffer. “Everything on the desk is verbatim. The eagle [above the desk] is placed in the exact position and the trophies date back to the 1960s - and as far as I know, it includes every plaque he has ever gotten.”

And through the evening, people stopped to laugh, reminisce and share stories about a man they say they will never forget - Porterville's own - Frank “Buck” Shaffer.

for more stories on Frank "Buck" Shaffer - visit www.buckshaffer.com

The American Flag

2006-11-17T09:03:00.000-08:00

There was an article in yesterday's issue of USA Today that caught my eye -- “‘Old Glory’ is the Flag to Fly in Pahrump.”

Mark Memmott wrote about banning foreign flags in Pahrump, Nevada, a small community west of Las Vegas. The town board voted this week to make it illegal to hang a foreign nation’s flag by itself or higher than the American flag. The city will issue $50 fines and require thirty hours of community service to individuals guilty of being non compliant with the statute. The approval (3-2) of the ordinance drew a standing ovation at the city council meeting.

I know I will get a little hate mail by saying this, but I do not care about that. I have as much freedom of speech as the next guy, so I will say it anyway.

Good for you, Pahrump!

First - let me say that I do understand that the First Amendment guarantees everyone in this country the right of free speech. And I am exercising that right as I type. I also realize that I may not like what others are saying or doing and that our Constitution defends other's rights to do that which I may find most offensive. (ok, so I took this line from Michael Douglas in "The American President" but I agree with him.) I know that our American Constitution protects freedom of speech and expression without consideration of the person's country of origin or nationality.

But I also know that our Republic is being inundated by foreigners who come to this country and refuse to learn the language or accept our patriotic love of flag and country.

I believe that the primary flag of this country should be the U.S. flag. And I have said this before, if someone feels so attached to their country and flag - what the heck are they doing here? Go home! I knew some foreign (not from Mexico) students while at Porterville College who hated the American flag and hated everything "American." It drove me insane to listen to them. If it was up to me, I would have deported them all. And I told them so. We were friends, so they would laugh and sometimes I think they did it just to get to me. But I had no problem telling them to leave. We do not need people like that here.

I have no problem if people feel adamant about displaying a different flag. (I do not care for it, but I can live with it) But I do have a problem if they disrespect our flag in the process. Flying a foreign flag above ours would bother me. (As flying the flag upside down. I often travel to the local Indian reservation and it really bothers me to see the flag flying like that in a couple of places. That is a sign of distress. They are simply doing it as some kind of protest or to make a point. I do not like it. I find it disrespectful.) The same holds true with flying a foreign flag higher than the American flag - it diminishes (mainly in their eyes) the patriotic standing of our country.

I am proud of the little town in Nevada. By taking a stand against foreign encroachment, this one small community has spoken out with what (I hope) the majority of Americans believe but are too timid - or too frightened from being politically incorrect - to say.

On death and dying

2006-11-17T07:51:00.000-08:00

I attended a colleague's funeral this week. He was my age - only 47 - definitely too young to die. I sat quietly through the Catholic service at St. Mary's. Though not Catholic, I love their services. I find them interesting. I always feel peace in there. The singing (? not sure if it is called singing or chanting) is kind of haunting but a good haunting - I love it.

Nick was one of my first friends at the newspaper. He always waved when I saw him outside or he would stop by my desk on his way in, to see how I was. I remember he always had a smile for everyone. Sometimes we would chat for a minute before he would continue on to his own desk on the other side of the building.

I could not stop thinking of how young he was. One should not die at that age. But I guess it should not surprise me. I mean, I have lost many loved ones at young ages. My father was only 56 when he died. My oldest brother was 53. Nothing is certain....

At the graveside, I glanced around. Finally we had a cooler day. The leaves had started turning and were falling off the trees. This may sound strange, but it was a perfect funeral day. When I die, I want it to be fall -- it is my favorite time of the year and just seems right for a funeral. I would be more perfect if it rained. I love rain and there is something about standing at a graveside under black umbrellas seems right. Not that I want everything to be gloomy, that is so not it. It is just that I love fall and I love rain - so why would I not want that? (But then again, I love cemeteries, especially old ones or foreign ones - like Pere Lachaise in Paris - I can literally spend hours there.)

Sadly, Nick's passing has really brought Albert to mind lately. Albert was actually my brother-in-law but I was so close to him. I loved him dearly and my children adored him. He lived with us off and on through the years and thought the world of my kids. Albert was a free-spirit type of guy. He kind of came and went. He was an artist and died while photographing the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge a couple of years ago. He loved photographing it and painting it. A huge wave came out of nowhere and knocked him off a rock, camera and all.

I still remember the screams from my children when he died. I think that scene will haunt me forever. Marisa still cries for him. But he left behind some awesome work. I have several windows painted by Albert in my home. For Jenna, he painted "Winnie The Pooh" on her bedroom window (she was only 3 at the time) and for Catherine, "Hello Kitty." Marisa picked Brian, who she was crazy about at the time - from the Back Street Boys. Brian is wearing a cap with Marisa's name on it. Those paintings are precious to me. For my window, I just asked for a vine, small yellow flowers and small birds - which he did for me. And since I love cats, he put a small kitty on one window. But my front two windows have Christmas paintings on them -- a snowman on one and Bambi on the other. I can still see Albert's handiwork here and at several businesses in Porterville -- he designed and painted several signs. But he was mainly known for his Christmas windows around town during the holidays - he did everything in 3D. Amazing stuff.

Anyway, when Nick died, I started thinking of Albert. Albert was only 45 when he died - like Nick, way too young. I especially miss Albert during the holidays, because he would always come stay with us during that time. I now this holiday season will be really hard for Nick's family -- I guess there is no such thing as a good time to die...

My blog was reviewed....

2006-11-03T16:27:00.000-08:00

What a nice surprise I got yesterday when I woke up. I had an email informing me that my blog had been reviewed.

Not having any idea what to expect, I held my breath as I nervously skipped over to Cobwebs of the Mind -- a site by (author of several books) Ted William Gross of Jerusalem.

But it was pretty cool. I was not disappointed and I almost forgot I was reading about myself. Ted gave me a very nice review. He called my accomplishments "awesome and intimidating" -- it certainly made me smile. That never would have crossed my mind.

I'm not used to praise and I'm sure I was blushing as I read about myself. But even so, heck - admit it - we all love reading wonderful things about ourselves.

I won't go into the entire review here, but Ted did write:

There is something very uplifting about "Midnight Writings", Esther's blog (and there is an accompanying web site Estheravila.com) and something that we should all learn from. There is a quiet, serene osmosis between an individual and her profession. Esther is not just a woman who happens to be a journalist. She is a woman who part of her being is being a journalist. Sometimes, yes, she must write dry facts (though they don't appear in her blog for the most part). Mostly you can see her own thoughts and feelings within the posts on her blog. This allows for the mother, the individual and the professional to all merge as one into a coherent, though certainly emotional and deeply feeling individual.

And after talking about several of my posts, Ted ended by saying:

"Midnight Writings" is not just a blog. It is the heart of a woman, mother, journalist. It is a journey from time to time into the soul of the woman who always smiles, names Esther Avila. Her writing friends at AW know her as "September Skies". And thus when I always think of her I think of a clear blue sky in the heavens on a warm, breezy day. It is always a day that brings a smile to one's face. Esther's heart and soul, with the hope that she portrays in her blog, leaves us with such a smile.
Read "Midnight Writings". Visit "Midnight Writings". You will not be disappointed.

Now, isn't that the sweetest review? If you can, and you have not visited there yet, do take a detour to Ted's Cobwebs of the Mind site and check out the review. And, please....leave him a comment. He didn't have to do the review and I just feel honored that he did.