Category Archives: News and Events

The Smell of Relief with Pasta Salad Followed by Chocolate Bliss

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May 4 2020

The smell of freshly sliced English cucumber. Heavenly, swoon worthy.

May 5 2020

Those cucumbers yesterday were chopped and added to this giant bowl of pasta salad. I’m down to the soft, semi-soft food with these teeth.

Last night I stuck my phone halfway in my mouth and took a picture of just one offending tooth. Sent to the dentist this morning with a message that I’m running out of spots to chew food and I feel awful, and asked if I could get in before the 12th. Guess the picture and fact that I can barely eat did the trick. I’m going in tomorrow morning.

Don’t think I’ve ever been so excited to go to the dentist!!

May 9 2020

Coconut Bliss – Chocolate Hazelnut Decadence. My taste buds approve.

Found Poetry Hidden Within Mailed Books

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April 14 2020

It was a great day to mail books! Thank goodness for these drive through postal drops. And …. thank you to those who are buying books and sharing about books.

May 6 2020

Creating more Found Poetry to hide within Words of Alchemy. Preparing to mail a book to a lovely winner in Massachusetts. Some of these still need a word or two trimmed. Found within books that were destined for the trash.

May 9 2020

Ready to be hidden within outgoing books.

Words of Alchemy – A Celebration of Family and Adaption

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April 22 2020:

“Words of Alchemy is warm and personal, like being invited to sit on the author’s couch and listen to her talk to family and friends. Intimate and loving, these poems are a celebration of family, of friends, of life, of nature, and of adaptation.”  – Amazon Customer

Throwback Post: Parent’s Perspective With No Lunch

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**THROWBACK POST**

May 30 2013:

Just finished speaking to Manal’s class of undergrad med students. Sharing a parent’s perspective regarding advocacy and inclusion. Loved it. Thanks tons for asking me Manal!!

May 30 2013:

Thank you to Frank C. Romano Jr of the The Romano Duo for saving the day this morning. I got halfway to driving Thomas and Lillian to school this morning and realized I forgot Lillian’s lunch and Thomas’ snack. Oops! I was headed to speak to Manal’s UNR class straight from T & L’s school. My fabulous step-daddy went to my house, got the lunch and snack and took up to the school for them! YAY! I’m so blessed to have The Romano Duo! Here’s some throwback pictures …. One on the top is from about 1993. One below that is about 1996 or 1997 and bottom one is 1998.

Vegan Eats: Giant Salad With Sunflower Seed Butter Cups

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April 28 2020

Giant salad for dinner. Good grief. That was good!

I had fun making it. Made my own butter garlic croutons. It had garbanzo beans, white beans, cauliflower, spanish and kalamato olives, artichoke hearts, arugula and romaine lettuce, cashews, raisins, shredded coconut, Daiya cheese shreds, sweet and hot jalapeno, and a kale, cashew, basil pesto.

May 2 2020

With the coffee this morning.

As a child and teen my absolute favorite candy was Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. I stopped eating food with artificial ingredients over 12 years ago and it was such a delight to come across these. They are decadent!!

The Decision to Feel – Camilla on Syllables for Swathi

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April 8 2020:

Thank you to Priya of Syllables for Swathi for having me on her beautiful “all things books” blog … “To Feel or Not to Feel” …

I had a decision to make. I could continue to be stuck in a place of self pity, of feeling like I’m not one of the chosen who gets to have a peaceful, abundant, and joyful life. By no means was this an easy decision to make. I struggled on and off for more than 20 years with a core belief that people like me do not get to have an easy, peaceful life.

A charmed and privileged life of knowing what one wants, how one wants to contribute to society, and for this to effortlessly flow into one’s experience. No, as much as I tried to affirm …. Follow the link to read the full post …

https://syllablesofswathi.com/2020/04/08/guest-camille-downs-on-the-decision-to-feel/

 

Unique Masks and Relaxing Tea – Houston Hemporium

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April 23 2020 – Add their website

Thank you Houston Hemporium!! If you’re going to wear a mask, may as well be made by a fabulous designer artist and made from high quality hemp. Bonus: A package of lovely tea “fell” into the package too!! Thank you Tom and Kimberly!! Tomorrow, I shall venture to the grocery store for the first time since March 14th. ♥️♥️♥️

Purchases of these masks allow Houston Hemporium to make and donate masks to medical professionals and first responders.

There’s much more to this post than meets the eye. I give absolutely zero fucks about fashion. It’s not about that.

I have chosen to wear a mask when in public. I appreciate the material these are made out of as works of art, and environmentally friendly being made out of a combo of hemp/organic cotton.

These masks were made by the competent hands of a dear friend. A friend who has been there for me, supported me in all my endeavors for the past 13 years. She has bought two handfuls of every book I’ve published, she’s purchased at least one, if not more, of any artistic creation I have made over the years, and has purchased one or more of anything Lillian has created. She has randomly sent care packages to my family, including a loaded gas station gift card. She paid to have Lillian’s artwork, Egyptian Eye, made into a hanging quilt.

She and her husband opened Houston Hemporium not too long ago. She is making and donating masks to medical personal and first responders in Houston, using the money from people who buy masks to be able to keep creating masks for those in the medical profession.
Now that I am in a position to help support her and others who have helped my family throughout the years, I plan on doing it. This was my way of supporting a beautiful soul who has been there for Team TLC, when we needed it most. Times when I had about 52 cents in the bank; which was often.

Dentist, Here I Come

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April 21 2020

Just made a dentist appointment as I can put this off no longer. I cried when I hung up. Not sure why. Maybe from the relief of knowing I’ll finally be getting my teeth and gums addressed after years and years of discomfort. Whew .. My teeth and gums continue to cause me to feel sick, and more sick by the day! Hallelujah!! I will have relief soon!! That will call for a celebration!

I’ve got issues that have needed addressed for about 5 or more years, and have not have the finances to address. Well … they’ve just gotten worse. I have a massive headache nearly every day and my shoulders and neck are killing me. Seriously, I feel it in my bones. I am beyond ready to have it ALL fixed.

Anymore, when I feel like crying, I cry. I know it’s good for me, it’s releasing and I feel relaxed afterwards. I was on the verge of making the call before the virus hit, but had been procrastinating. Then, figured I’d wait til it’s over. However, I just cannot take how lousy I feel anymore. I only have a few good days each week. Thank goodness for CBD oil! It has kept me from going insane!

I haven’t had a dentist since I divorced in 2007, nor the money to see one. I’ve gone here and there to address acute issues. But this time, if I’ve found the right dentist for me, I’m getting everything fixed. Appointment set for May 1st … I’m actually excited!