October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

                                                               'Believe in Yourself'

Domestic Violence.

  Happens way too often. 

                Not a pretty thought.

Violence of any type is unforgiving to me in this fishlife I live now.  My little fishlips are going to town on this subject – I have a bit of firsthand knowledge about DV.

Once long ago I lived with a man who had a short temper.  Verbal abuse was the mainstay, kicking or throwing objects came later, and a few times I got to experience the threat & action of bodily harm. 

His being an alcoholic and own abusive youth blurred what were healthy relationship boundaries.  

I got out after realizing my life was more important than anything he could offer in marriage.  I’ve been divorced for over 20 years and I don’t look back at all.  I made the decision that Domestic Violence or violence/abuse of any type was not going to be part of my life and would support anyone else looking to leave an abusive relationship.

I now live with a man who thinks the world of me in a healthy loving manner.  He is my biggest supporter of all that I do and encourages me daily!

Violence does not need to happen.  Folks can live without any type of violence or abuse in their life.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month.

I have donated two of my photographs for a upcoming auction; plus one Mixed Media artwork for a public show speaking out against Domestic Violence.

A few sites that can help one learn and find help for Domestic Violence:

The Domestic Violence Awareness Project - http://dvam.vawnet.org/

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence - http://www.ncadv.org/

Color Fall Yellow

Most often by September's end the leaves are gone from the trees in Anchorage.  Its the start of our winter.  This year the weather has been warmer than normal and the leaves are turning beautiful shades of yellow throughout Anchorage.

Reminds one of the fall in St. Louis, Missouri when an old oak tree on a main street where I was raised; this tree would bloom into a golden glow from sunlight filtering over, under and through leaves on branches as thick as my thighs.  The age of the mighty oak had to have been at least two years old.  Massive in size and beauty. 

I need to check with my mother to see if there are any photos of the 'golden globe' in the family photo box she keeps.  A photo of this tree would be a treasure for my memory box.

 Anchorage on Saturday, September 25, 2010

Beauty and Macabre

As September draws to an end many of us think of a day ahead in the coming month: Halloween.

One my favorite authors that became a classic after his death is Edgar Allan Poe.  The truth is known he was not well received in life for his writing of macabre stories.

Unlike writers of today's ghoulish horror stories such as Stephen King, Dean Koonz, Peter Strub which all have my undying love for their fantastic writing talents - their books have been top sellers for well over 30 years and they are all living.

Hollywood has made several novels into movies from these writers.  King and Poe lead the pack for movies that bring you to the edge of your seat.

A quote from Poe a most complex man:

Man's real life is happy, chiefly because he is expecting that it soon will be so.  Edgar Allan Poe