Trying yet again

Trying yet again to update my blog.

Been talking to my sister, learning stuff.

Looking forward to The Great New York State Fair this month, and The Durham Fair in September. The Durham Fair is in Connecticut.

Heidi turns 50 this year. Hope to make it to Indiana to celebrate!

Consistency

I think the only consistent thing I do is to be inconsistent. I want to update my blog more frequently, but I've never been one to be able to keep a daily diary. Similarly, writing intentionally, which I advise workshop participants to do, is very hard for me. It was easy when I was still in school, and occasionally had to show my daily journal to my professor. I guess I just need that structure.

My writing group, although I have only met with them once so far, can help me be accountable, I hope.

I'm coughing again. I thought it was just allergies, but I think it's hanging on too long, and I should probably call my doctor.

I am finally working on "The Hike," a prose poem about scattering my brother's ashes at his favorite place. The writing is coming easy for that, although not every day.

I have to learn a new way to live: NOT in crisis mode. I lived for so long that way, due to financial difficulties, changes in health status of both my wife and me, trouble in some classes in school...I didn't know how to live freely, without anxiety and depression. Now, I'm not saying that anxiety and depression are completely free from my life, but I am feeling much better now, so...

Doing some new things: giving a presentation on writing for healing at a friend's church later this month, volunteering to be a reader at a poetry publisher, and doing some solo readings at local venues, co-reading with a fellow poet and former classmate at the renovated Caffe Lena, in Saratoga Springs, NY, was invited to submit a poem to a new venture another friend is involved with.

Still writing. Still learning.

It's January 12, 2017. I know it's been entirely too long since I last entered a post here. I was busy with crises: financial, health, school. I lived in crisis mode the entire time. Now the crises have passed, and if/when new ones arise, we (my wife and I) get through them together.

I graduated from the College of Saint Rose, with an MFA in Creative Writing (Poetry) in December 2016. I actually did it! I am very proud of my thesis, and have also been getting poems published on a semi-regular basis. Am trying to figure out contests for poetry manuscripts, so as to get my thesis published.

Another thing that happened is that our daughter, Lily, had a beautiful son in May 2015. We are so blessed.

BUT, YOU DON'T LOOK SICK!!

   Disability isn't always about illness, but illness can result in disability. If you can't see it, it's considered hidden or invisible. But that does not make it any less real. You can't see some of my disabilities, but you can see their results, how they've made me make changes in my life.  Maybe you still don't understand, but at least have the decency to respect me and the choices i make.

Long overdue update

Long overdue update, short on details:
August 2012: Accepted into CSR MFA program (poetry).
January 2013: Lung biopsy.
February 2013: Sarcoidosis diagnosis.

can't stop thinking thinking thinking

June 6, 2012 update

I'm going to an open house at the College of St. Rose tonight. I am going to find out more (I hope!) about their recently-approved MFA in Poetry. I am excited about applying for this, even though I know it will be a lot of work, put me deeper in debt, and maybe provide some other complications I haven't thought of yet. In any case, Becky and I will go tonight and find out more.
In other news, now seeing another specialist about my lungs. More tests upcoming; fun times!