One of my muses gave me the nudge that I havent written here in the longest.
The problem with Facebook is that it is so seemingly benign yet such an insidious distraction.The icon sits there beckoning to you to connect, and, having done so, a smorgasbord of opportunities to check on your friends and relatives is revealed. Additionally, there are photos to peruse and applications to play with, invitations to join various groups, and boundless dangling conversations one can join without the slightest overture of invitation from the participants. The chance for truly random thought publication is nearly overwhelming.
Just yesterday, in fact, one of my employees shared Facebook evidence with me from a forensic investigation she had initiated only days before. The child neglect case involves a mother of two young children who may be abusing medications, as well as having mental health problems. The smoking gun was revealed when we learned of her propensity for Facebooking and read a fascinating series of posts she had made in the wee hours of the night while her children were sleeping. The volume and content of the posted material revealed a pattern of thought processes indicative of a psychotic break. The corroborative information received from collateral interviews confirmed that these breaks are more or less an annual occurence requiring psychiatric hospitalization. Yaay, Facebook.
What we choose to reveal of ourselves in cyberland may tell more about us than we care for others to surmise. Taken over time, patterns are revealed that may, or may not, convey insight into our core personalities. On a more basic level, self disclosure on the internet, everything about our hobbies to the ages and birthdays of our children and everything in between, is out there for scrutiny by almost anyone. There are quite a number of folk in need of some serious boundary corrections posting more self identifying information than is in their best interests.
I was very pleased to see that Facebook published instructions for privatizing much of the personal information shared by its users. It still amazes me that there are parents of young children who are not fully utilizing privacy settings, however. A would- be child molesting cyber stalker can create a user profile as easily as a retired policeman.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Monday, June 8, 2009
It's the Economy, Stoopid!
Anyone remeber that phrase? Turn on your way back machines and transport yourself back in time to when Bill Clinton ran against GW Bush. Remember now?
Congress has a vote this week to pass continuation funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other fronts. Why can't we sway Congressional Democrats to vote NO on this legislation, then immediately withdraw and re-prioritize to cut the military spending bill, put the money to work on pushing through the national healthcare agenda, and push through immediate legislation to force the domestic auto companies to retool into making mass transit available to the public. Like in the run-up to WW2, have the industries retooled to produce energy efficient buses, high speed rail, and light rail. Some of the idle factories could be utilized to build solar and other energy efficient means of providing electricity. The displaced workers whose jobs were shipped off to Mexico reemployed to work for the US in these factories. It could revitalize cities such as Detroit and create new jobs. Put displaced GM and Chrysler workers to work along with the nationally unemployed, to begin construction on high speed rail corridors like they have had in Japan for over 40 years now. America has none. Zero. This public works initiative would not touch the amounts of money being spent on waging war overseas. Bring those soldiers home; keep them under contract with the US to engage in the new warfare- the war to save our ailing cities and infrastructures. We could still maintain an adequate military presence overseas while doing so.
This radical refocusing of our national priorities would dovetail nicely into President Obama's agenda for real change, and could take his leadership of the country to new heights.
And, it's economically feasible. Instead of growing the military, shift the funds into waging peace on the home front in the biggest public initiative since FDR.
And history will be made, as the American people will support it. Obama has the numbers in Congress. He has the bully pulpit, and he has the momentum. The time is ripe to take this huge step away from business as usual and introduce his own new deal with the citizens in full support of his efforts.
Let the special interests fight it, but persevere, Mr. President.
This is the kind of real change a hopeful America was pulling for when I and others voted for you to take over the highest office in the land.
Congress has a vote this week to pass continuation funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other fronts. Why can't we sway Congressional Democrats to vote NO on this legislation, then immediately withdraw and re-prioritize to cut the military spending bill, put the money to work on pushing through the national healthcare agenda, and push through immediate legislation to force the domestic auto companies to retool into making mass transit available to the public. Like in the run-up to WW2, have the industries retooled to produce energy efficient buses, high speed rail, and light rail. Some of the idle factories could be utilized to build solar and other energy efficient means of providing electricity. The displaced workers whose jobs were shipped off to Mexico reemployed to work for the US in these factories. It could revitalize cities such as Detroit and create new jobs. Put displaced GM and Chrysler workers to work along with the nationally unemployed, to begin construction on high speed rail corridors like they have had in Japan for over 40 years now. America has none. Zero. This public works initiative would not touch the amounts of money being spent on waging war overseas. Bring those soldiers home; keep them under contract with the US to engage in the new warfare- the war to save our ailing cities and infrastructures. We could still maintain an adequate military presence overseas while doing so.
This radical refocusing of our national priorities would dovetail nicely into President Obama's agenda for real change, and could take his leadership of the country to new heights.
And, it's economically feasible. Instead of growing the military, shift the funds into waging peace on the home front in the biggest public initiative since FDR.
And history will be made, as the American people will support it. Obama has the numbers in Congress. He has the bully pulpit, and he has the momentum. The time is ripe to take this huge step away from business as usual and introduce his own new deal with the citizens in full support of his efforts.
Let the special interests fight it, but persevere, Mr. President.
This is the kind of real change a hopeful America was pulling for when I and others voted for you to take over the highest office in the land.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Before I address today's topic, a few bits about my "credentials".
I am a Social Services Supervisor lll, employed by Iredell County Department of Social Services in Statesville NC. I have been employed continuosly in the Child Protective Services division since 07/16/1990. I hold a BA Degree from Pfeiffer College in Misenheimer NC from 12/1975 in Christian Education and Economics (Dbl). I hold an MA Degree from Scarritt College in Nashville TN since 1977 in Christian Education and Gerontology.
Prior to Iredell County I was employed from 1979-1990 by Adams County Children Services Board in West Union, OH. I held several positions while at Adams County Children Services Board: CPS Investigations SW, 1979-1988; CPS Investigations/Case Management/Foster Care SW, (Generic SW),1984-1988; Interim Children's Residential Supervisor/CPS Investigations SW, Wilson Children's Home, Adams County Children Services Board, 1988-1990.
Additionally, during graduate school I was employed as a weekend resident counselor at a runaway shelter for juveniles in Nashville.
The topic of concern is funding cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services budget in NC for the next fiscal year. Cuts in the amount of 3.5 billion dollars are contemplated in DHHS and Department of Education budgets. Billions.
The proposed cuts to DHHS budget are at best extremely dangerous and damaging. The context of the proposed cuts must be examined from the local perspective. Most of the cuts are projected to come from programs such as Medicaid. But over a billion and a half in cuts is projected to come from mental health. The Medicaid and mental health budget areas are of critical concern.
Our service delivery system is on the brink of collapse and has been for some time as pertains to the chronically mentally ill population, the untreated mentally ill among us, and those who have not been diagnosed for want of adequate assessment.In child protection we see the effects manifested in recurrent neglect and child abuse among our service population.
Here at Iredell County we currently have very little to offer in the way of community mental health for the families we serve, which is what has been represented over the past several years by the director of Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare here. He has been in Raleigh all this week working to prevent enactment of these budget cuts. David has been in the position of so many mental health providers over the past five-six years putting "lipstick on the pig"- trying to take a positive approach to his duties and the people he serves locally in the face of ever shrinking dollars chasing ever increasing demands.
This budget proposal will do nothing but harm. The system has been broken for a number of years now. But it's all we've got, and there are no real alternatives being floated to provide a solution to the bigger question which looms when the cuts are enacted-what will happen and what will we do to reduce the risks?
There is a term that was used by the neurology team five weeks ago when they were called in for a consult by oncology Dr. Paul Savage at North Carolina Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem NC regarding my 80 year old mother. She was diagnosed with a tumor inside her spinal canal in the curve of her back. Because of the location, there was concern about a biopsy. Oncology didn't want to do it and kicked the ball to neuro. Neurology examined the facts and concluded that a biopsy was too dangerous and posed "unacceptable risk" to the patient. Another approach was called for in her case.
Mom is recovering now after a conservative course of 13 radiation treatments and steroid therapy.
I think the lesson here for the State is that the cuts to DHHS represent unacceptable risk that must not be taken.
I'm not so concerned about the education cuts portion of the proposal and here's why. The education lobby has been long and strong in NC since I was in grade school. There is every reason to suspect that there is a lot of room in the education system for bloat reduction and getting things a little less comfortable for a lot of educators who have built careers on providing the minimally acceptable standards are barely met. But in DHHS, from the local perspective of the folk who are trying to assure that the parenting needs of those children are met before they set foot on the buses that roll across the state , we are unable to provide the essentials to their families to assure that when they get off the buses in the afternoon they are arriving to a safe and sane environment.
Mass. Senator Edward Kennedy sits as chair of the Health Education Labor and Pensions committee in Washington. I have written the senior Senator and asked for his influence to be brought to bear on our situation in North Carolina in some way. Our state legislators and representatives have also been contacted. Thank you for utilizing any of your own circle of influence to convince our governing bodies that the debate on healthcare includes the health and well being of the mind and emotions of the person as well as their physical ailments.
I am a Social Services Supervisor lll, employed by Iredell County Department of Social Services in Statesville NC. I have been employed continuosly in the Child Protective Services division since 07/16/1990. I hold a BA Degree from Pfeiffer College in Misenheimer NC from 12/1975 in Christian Education and Economics (Dbl). I hold an MA Degree from Scarritt College in Nashville TN since 1977 in Christian Education and Gerontology.
Prior to Iredell County I was employed from 1979-1990 by Adams County Children Services Board in West Union, OH. I held several positions while at Adams County Children Services Board: CPS Investigations SW, 1979-1988; CPS Investigations/Case Management/Foster Care SW, (Generic SW),1984-1988; Interim Children's Residential Supervisor/CPS Investigations SW, Wilson Children's Home, Adams County Children Services Board, 1988-1990.
Additionally, during graduate school I was employed as a weekend resident counselor at a runaway shelter for juveniles in Nashville.
The topic of concern is funding cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services budget in NC for the next fiscal year. Cuts in the amount of 3.5 billion dollars are contemplated in DHHS and Department of Education budgets. Billions.
The proposed cuts to DHHS budget are at best extremely dangerous and damaging. The context of the proposed cuts must be examined from the local perspective. Most of the cuts are projected to come from programs such as Medicaid. But over a billion and a half in cuts is projected to come from mental health. The Medicaid and mental health budget areas are of critical concern.
Our service delivery system is on the brink of collapse and has been for some time as pertains to the chronically mentally ill population, the untreated mentally ill among us, and those who have not been diagnosed for want of adequate assessment.In child protection we see the effects manifested in recurrent neglect and child abuse among our service population.
Here at Iredell County we currently have very little to offer in the way of community mental health for the families we serve, which is what has been represented over the past several years by the director of Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare here. He has been in Raleigh all this week working to prevent enactment of these budget cuts. David has been in the position of so many mental health providers over the past five-six years putting "lipstick on the pig"- trying to take a positive approach to his duties and the people he serves locally in the face of ever shrinking dollars chasing ever increasing demands.
This budget proposal will do nothing but harm. The system has been broken for a number of years now. But it's all we've got, and there are no real alternatives being floated to provide a solution to the bigger question which looms when the cuts are enacted-what will happen and what will we do to reduce the risks?
There is a term that was used by the neurology team five weeks ago when they were called in for a consult by oncology Dr. Paul Savage at North Carolina Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem NC regarding my 80 year old mother. She was diagnosed with a tumor inside her spinal canal in the curve of her back. Because of the location, there was concern about a biopsy. Oncology didn't want to do it and kicked the ball to neuro. Neurology examined the facts and concluded that a biopsy was too dangerous and posed "unacceptable risk" to the patient. Another approach was called for in her case.
Mom is recovering now after a conservative course of 13 radiation treatments and steroid therapy.
I think the lesson here for the State is that the cuts to DHHS represent unacceptable risk that must not be taken.
I'm not so concerned about the education cuts portion of the proposal and here's why. The education lobby has been long and strong in NC since I was in grade school. There is every reason to suspect that there is a lot of room in the education system for bloat reduction and getting things a little less comfortable for a lot of educators who have built careers on providing the minimally acceptable standards are barely met. But in DHHS, from the local perspective of the folk who are trying to assure that the parenting needs of those children are met before they set foot on the buses that roll across the state , we are unable to provide the essentials to their families to assure that when they get off the buses in the afternoon they are arriving to a safe and sane environment.
Mass. Senator Edward Kennedy sits as chair of the Health Education Labor and Pensions committee in Washington. I have written the senior Senator and asked for his influence to be brought to bear on our situation in North Carolina in some way. Our state legislators and representatives have also been contacted. Thank you for utilizing any of your own circle of influence to convince our governing bodies that the debate on healthcare includes the health and well being of the mind and emotions of the person as well as their physical ailments.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Happy Motoring?
Happy Motoring?
In its bid for government bailout help GM has conveyed that its restructuring plan includes laying off an additional 47,000 employees. Further, there is every possibility that the immediate infusion of cash will buy a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, but major surgery will still be required to save the patient, and the prospects for survival are not good. Amputating 47,000 laborers and throwing them onto the enormous and expanding heap of the already unemployed will effectively shift the costs from GM to the ever-so-welcoming arms of the remaining employed(-read taxpayers). But that's what unemployment benefits were meant for,eh? How many of those displaced automotive workers do you reckon will go back out and get another job to replace the one they lost? Better yet, how many will actually realize that they have been working for an unsustainable industry and seize the opportunity to retrain for something more meaningful than building horseless carriages? In addition to taking 13.4 billion in bailout money from the taxpayers already, GM says it needs another 16.6 billion besides, and it still may file for chapter 11 by the end of the year!
It may be irrational to do so at this juncture, but the most serious question We the People (-read taxpayers)must answer in regards to the issue of automotive bailouts, and soon, is whether the ability to produce more automotive products than the population of the United States of America can justify purchasing in any economic climate is an appropriate distribution of our wealth and resources? Does the United States(-read taxpayers) need the capacity to provide every household with enough new automotive product to trade cars every two years?
The American automobile manufacturers have attempted to defy the basic economic laws of supply and demand by expanding production to unsustainable proportions. The Unions have hamstrung the companies in their capacity to move in sync with consumer demand. Now that demand is at an all time low, the companies and the Unions are worried enough to ask for government(-read taxpayers) intervention.
The automotive industry is one of the most visible patients in the sick ward of our national economic crisis, for good reason. Consider how much land alone in this country has been devoted to highway infrastructure. Beyond roads, there are the strip malls, service plazas, fast food eateries, motels, car dealerships, and car repair shops. If it’s anyplace, there’s a road that will take you there, and when you arrive there you’ll have everything you need to either stay a while or move on. Day or night, there is always the ability to just up and go on a moment’s notice.
Everything has its price. Is it any wonder that we have arrived at this point in time to face the delusions we have been mindlessly operating under for so long now? At what point in time will it ever make more sense to change? Fuel prices are down. They will return to higher levels as supply diminishes and demand returns. Prices for many consumer electronic products have come down, and will continue to do so until supply diminishes and demand resumes. Pick any market where there is a current glut of merchandise and the story repeats. The companies that have been prudently managed for the future will curtail production in the short term and perhaps refocus on improving their product for the long term when demand returns. Companies will streamline where they can and will attempt to allocate their limited resources more efficiently. The companies that have been unable to sustain the effort to do so will be cleansed from the system.
So, are continued bailouts for these few companies at enormous taxpayer expense, at a time when taxpayers are struggling themselves to survive, in an automobile industry that has consistently missed the mark with product quality and reliability as well as customer satisfaction, are these billions of dollars to be spent on extraordinary measures to save the patient at all costs? Or would the more appropriate course of action at this time be to remove the patient from support and inform the family?
In its bid for government bailout help GM has conveyed that its restructuring plan includes laying off an additional 47,000 employees. Further, there is every possibility that the immediate infusion of cash will buy a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, but major surgery will still be required to save the patient, and the prospects for survival are not good. Amputating 47,000 laborers and throwing them onto the enormous and expanding heap of the already unemployed will effectively shift the costs from GM to the ever-so-welcoming arms of the remaining employed(-read taxpayers). But that's what unemployment benefits were meant for,eh? How many of those displaced automotive workers do you reckon will go back out and get another job to replace the one they lost? Better yet, how many will actually realize that they have been working for an unsustainable industry and seize the opportunity to retrain for something more meaningful than building horseless carriages? In addition to taking 13.4 billion in bailout money from the taxpayers already, GM says it needs another 16.6 billion besides, and it still may file for chapter 11 by the end of the year!
It may be irrational to do so at this juncture, but the most serious question We the People (-read taxpayers)must answer in regards to the issue of automotive bailouts, and soon, is whether the ability to produce more automotive products than the population of the United States of America can justify purchasing in any economic climate is an appropriate distribution of our wealth and resources? Does the United States(-read taxpayers) need the capacity to provide every household with enough new automotive product to trade cars every two years?
The American automobile manufacturers have attempted to defy the basic economic laws of supply and demand by expanding production to unsustainable proportions. The Unions have hamstrung the companies in their capacity to move in sync with consumer demand. Now that demand is at an all time low, the companies and the Unions are worried enough to ask for government(-read taxpayers) intervention.
The automotive industry is one of the most visible patients in the sick ward of our national economic crisis, for good reason. Consider how much land alone in this country has been devoted to highway infrastructure. Beyond roads, there are the strip malls, service plazas, fast food eateries, motels, car dealerships, and car repair shops. If it’s anyplace, there’s a road that will take you there, and when you arrive there you’ll have everything you need to either stay a while or move on. Day or night, there is always the ability to just up and go on a moment’s notice.
Everything has its price. Is it any wonder that we have arrived at this point in time to face the delusions we have been mindlessly operating under for so long now? At what point in time will it ever make more sense to change? Fuel prices are down. They will return to higher levels as supply diminishes and demand returns. Prices for many consumer electronic products have come down, and will continue to do so until supply diminishes and demand resumes. Pick any market where there is a current glut of merchandise and the story repeats. The companies that have been prudently managed for the future will curtail production in the short term and perhaps refocus on improving their product for the long term when demand returns. Companies will streamline where they can and will attempt to allocate their limited resources more efficiently. The companies that have been unable to sustain the effort to do so will be cleansed from the system.
So, are continued bailouts for these few companies at enormous taxpayer expense, at a time when taxpayers are struggling themselves to survive, in an automobile industry that has consistently missed the mark with product quality and reliability as well as customer satisfaction, are these billions of dollars to be spent on extraordinary measures to save the patient at all costs? Or would the more appropriate course of action at this time be to remove the patient from support and inform the family?
Monday, February 9, 2009
25 more things about me that you probably didn't care to really know
I get emails and tags on Facebook occasionally asking me to participate in this or that. I didn't pass this one on, but I decided to complete it nonetheless. Anyway, it came with the following instructions.
"Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose at least 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you. (To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish."
So, here goes:
1. I have many small and large desires which I subvert to practicality. If I had it to spend, I could spend a $200G in a heartbeat, and still probably find a lot more to add to the list.
2. I love my wife Elaine more today than when I first fell in love with her. She is my best friend forever.
3. I sometimes fancy myself a musician, but I really have to work at it to get better, and that frustrates me.
4. I would like to live near a picturesque river or lake before I get too old to enjoy it.
5. I enjoy travelling with Elaine more than I enjoy racing.
6. I typically do for others before doing for myself, but that doesn’t make me noble- just good breeding combined with life’s lessons learned.
7. I regret not having cultivated more lasting relationships with friends I made over the years, but then it’s such a gas when we can reconnect.
8. If granted the opportunity to do it all again, I would have paid others to do the things I attempted to do myself and wound up injured.
9. I’m ready for the day when the kids move out and are on their own.
10. I’m very self conscious about my teeth. I wish I could have afforded to have my teeth fixed when I was first told I needed to have them fixed, because I would have a handsome smile again and I would be able to whistle a tune.
11. I really like pit cooked NC barbecue, Lexington style, with red slaw.
12. My wish for others is for them to be as richly blessed as I have been.
13. I want my children to experience joy and success in their lifetimes.
14. I want to apply myself and once and for all, learn to read music.
15. When my tonsils ruptured at the age of five, and they took me to the hospital in an ambulance in the middle of the night, I thought I was going to die.
16. I have enjoyed hiking with Elaine to the waterfalls and Sentinel Dome in Yosemite, Eagle Lake in Tahoe, Cat’s Bells in England, the summit trail to Mt. Mitchell, Cadillac Mountain on Mt. Desert Island in Maine, Roan Mt. in TN, Blackwater Canyon in West Virginia, and many others all over the Blue Ridge in North Carolina.
17. I would like to do more racing. I have had the good fortune of having driven some very fast and expensive automobiles during my membership in the Sports Car Club of America, I have the skill and ability it takes to win, and have won a regional championship driving my own car in competition. I have instructed other drivers who went on to become competitive in our sport, and I lead the solo safety program with our regional Club.
18. When I was a kid I pretended to be a cowboy, a race car driver, a secret agent man, a civil war hero, a knight of the round table, a green beret, an astronaut, Superman, Batman, a steam locomotive engineer, the Lone Ranger, Jesse James, Billy the Kid, the Rifleman- but mostly, the Singing Cowboy, Roy Rogers.
19. I shot a bird with my BB gun when I was 10 or 11 and after, I cried all the way home.
20. I want to learn to speak French.
21. I wish Harry Chapin was still alive.
22. My favorite whiskey is 12 yr or older Oban Scotch, single malt. I have sampled most of the others and none can compare.
23. I have begun writing a book I hope to someday publish.
24. I think I would enjoy kayaking the lake region of the Florida panhandle someday.
25. I want to travel Scotland with Elaine and a few musician friends.
"Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose at least 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you. (To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish."
So, here goes:
1. I have many small and large desires which I subvert to practicality. If I had it to spend, I could spend a $200G in a heartbeat, and still probably find a lot more to add to the list.
2. I love my wife Elaine more today than when I first fell in love with her. She is my best friend forever.
3. I sometimes fancy myself a musician, but I really have to work at it to get better, and that frustrates me.
4. I would like to live near a picturesque river or lake before I get too old to enjoy it.
5. I enjoy travelling with Elaine more than I enjoy racing.
6. I typically do for others before doing for myself, but that doesn’t make me noble- just good breeding combined with life’s lessons learned.
7. I regret not having cultivated more lasting relationships with friends I made over the years, but then it’s such a gas when we can reconnect.
8. If granted the opportunity to do it all again, I would have paid others to do the things I attempted to do myself and wound up injured.
9. I’m ready for the day when the kids move out and are on their own.
10. I’m very self conscious about my teeth. I wish I could have afforded to have my teeth fixed when I was first told I needed to have them fixed, because I would have a handsome smile again and I would be able to whistle a tune.
11. I really like pit cooked NC barbecue, Lexington style, with red slaw.
12. My wish for others is for them to be as richly blessed as I have been.
13. I want my children to experience joy and success in their lifetimes.
14. I want to apply myself and once and for all, learn to read music.
15. When my tonsils ruptured at the age of five, and they took me to the hospital in an ambulance in the middle of the night, I thought I was going to die.
16. I have enjoyed hiking with Elaine to the waterfalls and Sentinel Dome in Yosemite, Eagle Lake in Tahoe, Cat’s Bells in England, the summit trail to Mt. Mitchell, Cadillac Mountain on Mt. Desert Island in Maine, Roan Mt. in TN, Blackwater Canyon in West Virginia, and many others all over the Blue Ridge in North Carolina.
17. I would like to do more racing. I have had the good fortune of having driven some very fast and expensive automobiles during my membership in the Sports Car Club of America, I have the skill and ability it takes to win, and have won a regional championship driving my own car in competition. I have instructed other drivers who went on to become competitive in our sport, and I lead the solo safety program with our regional Club.
18. When I was a kid I pretended to be a cowboy, a race car driver, a secret agent man, a civil war hero, a knight of the round table, a green beret, an astronaut, Superman, Batman, a steam locomotive engineer, the Lone Ranger, Jesse James, Billy the Kid, the Rifleman- but mostly, the Singing Cowboy, Roy Rogers.
19. I shot a bird with my BB gun when I was 10 or 11 and after, I cried all the way home.
20. I want to learn to speak French.
21. I wish Harry Chapin was still alive.
22. My favorite whiskey is 12 yr or older Oban Scotch, single malt. I have sampled most of the others and none can compare.
23. I have begun writing a book I hope to someday publish.
24. I think I would enjoy kayaking the lake region of the Florida panhandle someday.
25. I want to travel Scotland with Elaine and a few musician friends.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Anniversary
September 1, 1920- January13, 2005
William Camby Crummett was the son of the late Aaron Camby Crummett and Mary Virginia Armstrong. He was born on September 1, 1920 in Highland County, in the Shenandoah Valley at Headwaters Virginia. He departed this life during his sleep, at home in Winston- Salem, North Carolina, January 13, 2005.
Everyone knew William as Bill. Bill was fond of telling about his childhood, of attending a one- roomed schoolhouse in the valley, of him and his brothers playing in the Cowpasture River that flowed across their property in front of the old home place. He would tell of boyhood mischief, taking leave from school at recess and romping through the woods, sometimes across the river and up the opposite mountainside, playing “Fox and Hounds”. He told of how his father was a hard working man, a farmer and a county constable. He would tell of how being in a farm family meant each of them helped each other, whether feeding the chickens, drawing water from the well, working in the fields or stringing green beans on the porch with their mother, which was one of his tasks.
Bill accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior while attending the Headwaters Presbyterian Church.
When he was 13 years old Bill contracted polio. For three years he was confined to the use of a wheelchair in a full body cast. It was during this time of confinement that Bill watched his mother and learned about food preparation and cooking. The doctors prepared Bill and his parents for the inevitable fact that he would never survive to adulthood. It was sometime during this period that Bill made a promise to God that if God allowed him to live, he would enter the ministry.
Bill went on to complete the 8th grade at Headwaters School, and then went to McDowell High School where he graduated with eleven other students.
In spite of the fact that he was told that he could not attend college because of lack of funds, Bill attended Lees McRae college in Banner Elk NC and received his Associate of Arts degree in 1945. From there he went to then Appalachian State Teachers College, obtaining his BS degree in 1948; having worked his way through both colleges.
During his days at Appalachian Bill met two Methodist ministers, Curtis Murray and Worth Sweet. Both of these ministers were serving Methodist charges while attending college. Through Murray’s and Sweet’s encouragement they convinced Bill that he could join the Methodist church on profession of faith and thereby get on with preaching the gospels. Eager to serve his calling, Bill left the Presbyterian Church for Methodism in just that manner. The next week, he was serving six Methodist churches on the West Jefferson charge, among them Nathan’s Creek.
Bill attended Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He was admitted on trial to the Western North Carolina Conference of the Methodist Church in 1949.He was ordained a Deacon in 1951, full membership in 1952, and Elder in 1953.
Bill was introduced to June M. Brincefield by fellow pastor Jack Cooke in 1949, while serving on the Union Grove-Zion charge in the Statesville District. Recapping the events of their first date, Bill told Jack “I’m gonna marry that girl.” They married November 4, 1950. William Jr was born October the 15th, 1954, while Bill was serving the Crouse charge in the Gastonia District. Son Robert Stephen was born June 7th, 1956 during Bill’s tenure at Hoyle Memorial in Shelby.
Bill loved his boys. He would probably tell you that one of his best accomplishments in life was raising two fine boys. He played with them, took them everywhere- to the Blue Ridge Parkway for Sunday picnics, to Tanglewood Park to go fishing, trick or treating at Halloween, Windy Hill Beach , Boy Scouts and Vacation Bible School. He read to them from storybooks, watched cartoons with them (a favorite was Roadrunner and Wiley Coyote), took them to the movies, and at bedtime, prayed with them.
Bill was a stamp and coin collector and a photographer. He also was an automobile enthusiast, enjoying classic cars. He had a preference for Chrysler products, and he enjoyed attending antique automobile shows with son Robert for many years.
Bill will be remembered for his gardening, especially roses. He enjoyed cooking, and was quite accomplished in the kitchen- his world traveled Christmas “Crummett” fudge, his macaroni and cheese, and his lasagna- as well as being a gracious host.
Bill was a faithful husband and a helpmate to June all of their 54 years. He faithfully prepared most of the meals and helped maintain the household while June worked outside the home once the children were of school age.
Bill’s history with the United Methodist Church could be characterized as a building ministry. When church plants needed to expand or when parsonages needed to be built, it seemed the District Superintendents were always calling on Bill. Through Bill’s leadership and encouragement, several churches “went station.” Congregations were strengthened, and multiple church pastorates became single ones under Bill’s guiding hand.
Bill was known and revered by all for his visitation ministry. He ministered to the shut- ins, and as he itinerated among the Districts, he also visited in all of the hospitals, ministering to the sick of the congregation and their loved ones.
In the pulpit Bill was a storyteller. His sermons, like parables, would weave in and out of the scriptures with living illustrations drawn from literature, current events, poetry, music, and life experience. Through stories and examples, Bill shared the richness and wonder of God’s love for His creation. When Bill would stand in the pulpit and the Spirit of the Lord would come over him, Bill was emboldened and enlivened, preaching with power and conviction.
Bill enjoyed congregational singing. Not surprisingly, perhaps, a favorite was “The Church in the Wildwood”.
Bill’s “first” retirement date was in 1987. After that time he returned to do supply work on the Forsyth Stokes charge in the Winston-Salem District. He preached his final sermon on August 24 2003 at Antioch United Methodist Church in Crouse on the occasion of their homecoming.
Bill sustained a ministry of 53 years in 27 Methodist churches in dedication and commitment to serving the Gospel message. He touched the lives of many, many people with his kind and gentle spirit, a reflection of the love and new life which had been given him through faith so long ago in that little weatherboarded Presbyterian church in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
William Camby Crummett was the son of the late Aaron Camby Crummett and Mary Virginia Armstrong. He was born on September 1, 1920 in Highland County, in the Shenandoah Valley at Headwaters Virginia. He departed this life during his sleep, at home in Winston- Salem, North Carolina, January 13, 2005.
Everyone knew William as Bill. Bill was fond of telling about his childhood, of attending a one- roomed schoolhouse in the valley, of him and his brothers playing in the Cowpasture River that flowed across their property in front of the old home place. He would tell of boyhood mischief, taking leave from school at recess and romping through the woods, sometimes across the river and up the opposite mountainside, playing “Fox and Hounds”. He told of how his father was a hard working man, a farmer and a county constable. He would tell of how being in a farm family meant each of them helped each other, whether feeding the chickens, drawing water from the well, working in the fields or stringing green beans on the porch with their mother, which was one of his tasks.
Bill accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior while attending the Headwaters Presbyterian Church.
When he was 13 years old Bill contracted polio. For three years he was confined to the use of a wheelchair in a full body cast. It was during this time of confinement that Bill watched his mother and learned about food preparation and cooking. The doctors prepared Bill and his parents for the inevitable fact that he would never survive to adulthood. It was sometime during this period that Bill made a promise to God that if God allowed him to live, he would enter the ministry.
Bill went on to complete the 8th grade at Headwaters School, and then went to McDowell High School where he graduated with eleven other students.
In spite of the fact that he was told that he could not attend college because of lack of funds, Bill attended Lees McRae college in Banner Elk NC and received his Associate of Arts degree in 1945. From there he went to then Appalachian State Teachers College, obtaining his BS degree in 1948; having worked his way through both colleges.
During his days at Appalachian Bill met two Methodist ministers, Curtis Murray and Worth Sweet. Both of these ministers were serving Methodist charges while attending college. Through Murray’s and Sweet’s encouragement they convinced Bill that he could join the Methodist church on profession of faith and thereby get on with preaching the gospels. Eager to serve his calling, Bill left the Presbyterian Church for Methodism in just that manner. The next week, he was serving six Methodist churches on the West Jefferson charge, among them Nathan’s Creek.
Bill attended Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He was admitted on trial to the Western North Carolina Conference of the Methodist Church in 1949.He was ordained a Deacon in 1951, full membership in 1952, and Elder in 1953.
Bill was introduced to June M. Brincefield by fellow pastor Jack Cooke in 1949, while serving on the Union Grove-Zion charge in the Statesville District. Recapping the events of their first date, Bill told Jack “I’m gonna marry that girl.” They married November 4, 1950. William Jr was born October the 15th, 1954, while Bill was serving the Crouse charge in the Gastonia District. Son Robert Stephen was born June 7th, 1956 during Bill’s tenure at Hoyle Memorial in Shelby.
Bill loved his boys. He would probably tell you that one of his best accomplishments in life was raising two fine boys. He played with them, took them everywhere- to the Blue Ridge Parkway for Sunday picnics, to Tanglewood Park to go fishing, trick or treating at Halloween, Windy Hill Beach , Boy Scouts and Vacation Bible School. He read to them from storybooks, watched cartoons with them (a favorite was Roadrunner and Wiley Coyote), took them to the movies, and at bedtime, prayed with them.
Bill was a stamp and coin collector and a photographer. He also was an automobile enthusiast, enjoying classic cars. He had a preference for Chrysler products, and he enjoyed attending antique automobile shows with son Robert for many years.
Bill will be remembered for his gardening, especially roses. He enjoyed cooking, and was quite accomplished in the kitchen- his world traveled Christmas “Crummett” fudge, his macaroni and cheese, and his lasagna- as well as being a gracious host.
Bill was a faithful husband and a helpmate to June all of their 54 years. He faithfully prepared most of the meals and helped maintain the household while June worked outside the home once the children were of school age.
Bill’s history with the United Methodist Church could be characterized as a building ministry. When church plants needed to expand or when parsonages needed to be built, it seemed the District Superintendents were always calling on Bill. Through Bill’s leadership and encouragement, several churches “went station.” Congregations were strengthened, and multiple church pastorates became single ones under Bill’s guiding hand.
Bill was known and revered by all for his visitation ministry. He ministered to the shut- ins, and as he itinerated among the Districts, he also visited in all of the hospitals, ministering to the sick of the congregation and their loved ones.
In the pulpit Bill was a storyteller. His sermons, like parables, would weave in and out of the scriptures with living illustrations drawn from literature, current events, poetry, music, and life experience. Through stories and examples, Bill shared the richness and wonder of God’s love for His creation. When Bill would stand in the pulpit and the Spirit of the Lord would come over him, Bill was emboldened and enlivened, preaching with power and conviction.
Bill enjoyed congregational singing. Not surprisingly, perhaps, a favorite was “The Church in the Wildwood”.
Bill’s “first” retirement date was in 1987. After that time he returned to do supply work on the Forsyth Stokes charge in the Winston-Salem District. He preached his final sermon on August 24 2003 at Antioch United Methodist Church in Crouse on the occasion of their homecoming.
Bill sustained a ministry of 53 years in 27 Methodist churches in dedication and commitment to serving the Gospel message. He touched the lives of many, many people with his kind and gentle spirit, a reflection of the love and new life which had been given him through faith so long ago in that little weatherboarded Presbyterian church in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
A Meme of my own
I got the idea from my friend, what can I say?
1. Hard wood floors or wall-to-wall? hard wood . Don't like sweeping? Buy a Roomba.
2. What is a nickname a former (or present) lover gave you? Um, it sounded like " ahhhhhhhhhhhhuuuuuunhhhhhhhhhhggghhhhooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHMIIIIIIIIGGGGGGOOOOOODDDDDDDDDHHHHH"
3. What was the best party you have ever been to? Party of two, the Jarrod House, Dillsboro, NC, October 15, 1991
4. How many colors are you wearing right now? Dress Campbell boxers (red, navy, black and yellow), blue jeans, brown shoes, black socks, plaid shirt (green, khaki, navy and black. That makes 7.
5. Are you an introvert or extrovert? I am an introvert, but I could be wrong, I've been wrong before.
6. What was the last book you read? I am reading "A Dirty Job" by Christopher Moore. I just finished "Looking for Alaska" by John Green, author of "An Abundance of Catherines"
7. What's one piece of fiction that changed your life? The Holy Bible
8. What is your favorite comic strip and why? Calvin and Hobbes. For obvious reasons.
9. Is there anything that has made you unhappy recently? Yes.
10. What's your favorite dessert? After dinner drinks
11. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? Depends on whether the alarm went off. I have been known to get to work unshaven and totally devoid of a pit check. Thank god for my coworkers it has been a rare occurence, usually preceded by extreme samplings of strong drink.
12. Name one website that you visit daily? That would be Yahoo. Why do you read it? I'm cheap and it's free
13. Could you make it 39 days on "Survivor"? Probably. I'm cunning, I have incredible skills, I was an honor camper in the Order of the Arrow in Boy Scouts, I'm an outdoorsman, and I'm stubborn enough to outlast outplay out whatever. I have a strong stomach and I'm old enough to know better.
14. Do you like to clean? I like a clean habitat, and I constantly endeavor to maintain it despite kids and hair in the sink, on the floor, ad infinitum.
15. What was the last song to get stuck in your head? O' Carolan's Concierto. Or, Yellow by Coldplay.
16. What's the last movie you saw? On DVD, it was "Spring Summer Fall Winter and Spring"
17. Pirates or Ninjas? Totally ninjas. No argument. They're like totally stealthy and nearly invisible and they can kill in so many ways. Pirates are all ropes cannons and swords. And most are unsteady on their feet.
18. Cats or dogs? Dogs. More specifically, Wiener dawgs.
19. Chunky or smooth peanut butter? Smooth. Chunky only makes devastation of white bread. Smooth on Ritz crackers or grahams, both are the yes.
20. What are you most looking forward to in the next six weeks? that seventh week.
1. Hard wood floors or wall-to-wall? hard wood . Don't like sweeping? Buy a Roomba.
2. What is a nickname a former (or present) lover gave you? Um, it sounded like " ahhhhhhhhhhhhuuuuuunhhhhhhhhhhggghhhhooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHMIIIIIIIIGGGGGGOOOOOODDDDDDDDDHHHHH"
3. What was the best party you have ever been to? Party of two, the Jarrod House, Dillsboro, NC, October 15, 1991
4. How many colors are you wearing right now? Dress Campbell boxers (red, navy, black and yellow), blue jeans, brown shoes, black socks, plaid shirt (green, khaki, navy and black. That makes 7.
5. Are you an introvert or extrovert? I am an introvert, but I could be wrong, I've been wrong before.
6. What was the last book you read? I am reading "A Dirty Job" by Christopher Moore. I just finished "Looking for Alaska" by John Green, author of "An Abundance of Catherines"
7. What's one piece of fiction that changed your life? The Holy Bible
8. What is your favorite comic strip and why? Calvin and Hobbes. For obvious reasons.
9. Is there anything that has made you unhappy recently? Yes.
10. What's your favorite dessert? After dinner drinks
11. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? Depends on whether the alarm went off. I have been known to get to work unshaven and totally devoid of a pit check. Thank god for my coworkers it has been a rare occurence, usually preceded by extreme samplings of strong drink.
12. Name one website that you visit daily? That would be Yahoo. Why do you read it? I'm cheap and it's free
13. Could you make it 39 days on "Survivor"? Probably. I'm cunning, I have incredible skills, I was an honor camper in the Order of the Arrow in Boy Scouts, I'm an outdoorsman, and I'm stubborn enough to outlast outplay out whatever. I have a strong stomach and I'm old enough to know better.
14. Do you like to clean? I like a clean habitat, and I constantly endeavor to maintain it despite kids and hair in the sink, on the floor, ad infinitum.
15. What was the last song to get stuck in your head? O' Carolan's Concierto. Or, Yellow by Coldplay.
16. What's the last movie you saw? On DVD, it was "Spring Summer Fall Winter and Spring"
17. Pirates or Ninjas? Totally ninjas. No argument. They're like totally stealthy and nearly invisible and they can kill in so many ways. Pirates are all ropes cannons and swords. And most are unsteady on their feet.
18. Cats or dogs? Dogs. More specifically, Wiener dawgs.
19. Chunky or smooth peanut butter? Smooth. Chunky only makes devastation of white bread. Smooth on Ritz crackers or grahams, both are the yes.
20. What are you most looking forward to in the next six weeks? that seventh week.
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