Smile

The following is from a chain of email that I received quite regularly. Some of this stuff is so good I am sharing it with you. Although I am passing this of to you, I have no idea who the original author is, so I withholding the names of members of my emails group to protect their privacy. The following is entitles "Smile" and it is about life, love, living and most of all friendship.

*******************************************************************

Think about them one at a time BEFORE going on to the next one...
IT DOES MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD, especially the thought at the end.

1. Falling in love.
2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.
3. A hot shower.                                                                    
4. No lines at the supermarket
5. A special glance.
6. Getting mail
7. Taking a drive on a pretty road.
8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio.
9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.
11. Chocolate milkshake. (or vanilla or strawberry!)
12. A bubble bath.
13. Giggling.
14. A good conversation.
15. The beach
16. Finding a 20 dollar bill in your ! coat from last winter.
17. Laughing at yourself.
19. Midnight ph one calls that last for hours.
20. Running through sprinklers.
21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.
22. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.
23. Laughing at an inside joke.
24. Friends.
25. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.
26. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.
27. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner).
28. Spending time with old friends.
29. Playing with a new puppy.
30. Having someone play with your hair.
31. Sweet dreams.
32. Hot chocolate.
33. Road trips with friends.
34. Swinging on swings.
35. Making eye contact with a cute stranger.
36. Making chocolate chip cookies.
37. Having your friends send you homemade cookies.
38. Holding hands with someone you care about.
39. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or
bad) never change.
40. Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much
desired
present from you.
41. Watching the sunrise.
42. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another
beautiful day.
43. Knowing that somebody misses you.
44. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply.
45. Knowing you've done theright thing, no matter what other people
think.

PASS ON THESE NATURAL HIGHS  TO AT LEAST 7 PEOPLE IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR AND SOMETHING FANTASTIC WILL HAPPEN TO YOU IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS.

Be sure to send it back to the person who sent it to you!


Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble
remembering how to fly

Author Unknown

 

Buyers Beware!

Evelyn here,

What - A - Day! I have spent the better part of the day loafing around the house and watching television programs that I recorded earlier this week. When I finally got up and out of the house to buy a few things from the store, I was feeling great and the day was beauty. I purchased a few things to eat from a grocery store and a prepaid phone card from a local drugstore. The name of the drugstore is not important, but what occurred there is important.  

The problem arose with the prepaid phone. After I got home, I called the standard prepaid number on the receipt and keyed in the prepaid pin number. I received the message that the card was invalid. I thought that I had keyed it in wrong so I tried again and I got the same message. Frustrated, I called again and this time got a service rep from the mobile phone company that issues the cards. The service rep told me that the card had already been activated and to return it.

I called the drugstore and told the manager what happened and he appeared to want to help me during the call. However, when I got to the store, and he went through the same steps that I did and got the same invalid message, he then talk to someone else in his company who also talked to me. This someone else told me that the drugstore was not responsible for the card once the customer purchased. This I knew was not true.

Well, I told the drugstore’s service rep and the store's manager that the mobile phone company said that the drugstore was responsible to honor my receipt and correct the problem. I also told them that I was not leaving the store without a refund for the invalid phone card or an exchange for a valid phone card that I could use with my cell phone account.

They did not want to help me, and I was not going to leave the drugstore until they made the situation right. After all, they were asking me to throw away $50.00, which was the cost of the prepaid phone card, and to ignore the fact that they were responsible the situation because they sold me the bad card. My inner most feelings on their attitudes I do not think I have to express to you.

 The drugstore managers left before solving the problem, but not before telling his employee not to honor my receipt. In fact, he did not even want to let me use the store’s phone the try to call the mobile phone rep. I asked him several times before he allowed me. Buyers Beware! My guest is that they wanted me to believe that it was the phone company problem when, in fact, it was the drugstore’s problem, but they never tried to look any further into it. This is what a customer would normally expect and deserves to happen when they purchase a falsity product. Still, I was not leaving that drugstore until they honored that purchase. 

I called the mobile phone company again and finally got through to a service rep and she went through the same steps as we all had and she got the same invalid message. However, she checked further in her records to see exactly why that prepaid card was invalid. As it turned out the card had been activated and the purchase amount added to another cell phone account two months prior to my purchasing it.

Well that helped me, but the drugstore employee was still trying to follow his manager's orders or as the two of them told me “store policy”. Sorry, but that just was not going to wash with me nor was the mobile phone company letting them off the hook especially when the she was sitting on the other end with the facts on that prepaid card. Finally, she spoke with the drugstore’s employee and told him the truth about the card and that the drugstore was responsible selling me a bad prepaid card. The mobile phone rep informed him that he did need to either give me a refund or provide me with a usable phone card. 

It took some time on all ends the conversation, but finally the employee use his own judgment and provided me with another prepaid card. The mobile phone rep was still on the line and after I gave her the new card’s pin number, she transferred the prepaid amount of time to my cell phone account. I love that woman. I thanked her for her wonderful help and for seeing me through the whole situation.

This is an actual event and all I have to say to buyer of prepaid phone cards is to beware if you purchase a bad one. Stand you ground if the store where you purchase it does not want to honor it. However, the thing best to do is refill you cell phone there in the store of purchase, so that if a problem does occur it will be handled before you leave. Also, keep it your receipt should you have to leave the store.

In addition, I think that drugstore should suggest a revision in their policy for prepaid phone cards to their corporation policy makers. The revised policy should reflect and uphold evident that tells them that they are responsible for honoring the customer’s receipt and acknowledge when a customer is right. The way they presented their policy to me made them look very unscrupulous. I will not be buying any more prepaid phone cards from them. 

Once again, "BUYERS BEWARE!"

Stopping Domestic Violence and Abuse caused by Others

A Serious Hour,

The topic of this page is abuse perpetrated by persons other than family members or other love ones.

As women, how do we break the cycle of abuse and/or violence caused by strangers?

These types of abusers can be neighborhood kids, male stalkers, and/or a violently obsessed man or woman. These abusers exist and can not only harm the victim repeatedly, but also can harm and manipulate many other people if they (the abusers) are not caught and brought to justice to answer to their crime(s).

There is so much thrown at us about domestic violence in the home that the above abuses hardly seem has its own category, and to me this is a very, very negligent area within the area of our laws and our law enforcement community.

Harassers and abusers if not caught and stopped become very crafty and the danger to the victim and the victim family increases. Because some abusers are not caught soon enough they become risk takers and in turn more dangerous. Their regard for the victim lessens or ceases to exist altogether.

To me there are two main reasons why such abusers are not caught. The first the victim is not always viewed as serious or his/her compliant does not meet some mystical guidelines that will protect them, which leaves the victim open for further abuses, and second, apparently in order to file a report of abuse there must be tangible proof, something the can to seen and/or touched. In other words, some physical harm to the victim that is visible.

Today’s laws seem to suggest that mental or verbal abuse can be brushed away as harmless or that it will lead to nothing serious (especially if the perpetrator are minors). This is far from the truth and because of the way such complaints are viewed, the abuser walks away and the victim no doubt is suggested to more abuse.

Mind you now, I am neither writing about domestic violence nor am I writing of date violence. I am strictly on the subject of abuses caused directly and/or indirectly by strangers. This includes neighbors who are not friends and have no close ties with the victim.

Am I just ranting? No. This is a strong and valid topic that warrant exploration as to why such situations exist, are allowed to continue, and what can be done the strength the laws to prevent such victimizations and to protect those who have been victimized by such abusers.

Goodnight,

Evelyn

My Artwork - Faces of Jesus

Hi there,

Above are two drawing of Jesus that I did because a priest from my parish once asked a group of us if Jesus came today what He would look like to us. Many in the group had a clear idea of what Jesus would look like to them. However, I was the oddball, and I stated that I had no idea because after having seen so many paintings of Jesus from many perspectives and cultures, He could look like whomever I needed him to look like at that time. I was told that this was an honest answer, but it troubled me, and the question kept returning to me. Then one night I so weighted down by the thought that I in turn started drawing and using different graphic programs until I product my first drawing, which is entitled "The Face- An Image of Jesus". I did it in 2004. It was not an easy thing to do because I did not and still do not have any formal art training. Yet, although I am no Michelangelo, I am still expressed with my first attempt which is all computer generated. My second drawing "I See Your Face" was done in July 2005, and is a combination of a hand drawing that I made and then later scanned into my computer. I then used several computer graphic programs effects to enhance the image. I am pleased with the results, and the original sketch is hanging on my wall. In the beginning, I admit to feeling a little childish, but during the time that has passed since I did the first two drawings, I have looked other artwork that has made me feel proud of my final efforts. Art is so expressive and interpretive that I feel comfortable with it now. Recently, I have started a third drawing based on the face of Jesus but from a different angle, and I want to make Him face as full of emotion as possible. I am looking to create a series of faces. In addition, I like creating pictures that tell a story by using regular paint brush tools, png, jpeg, PSP tubes, and gif graphic formats. The third picture entitled "Revenville" is example of what I call Graphic Stories. It has many other names and is an art form used by others artists. To make this drawing and the one that follow, I used free pngs that I gathered from the Web and many PNGs that I made myself. I found making PNGs easy and fun. Revenville is the first of three graphic stories I have done based on the same theme. I like this form art. My fourth piece is entitled "Tears of Time". It also tells and tale. It is easy to see that the story is a sad one. These two drawings were completed in 2003 and beforethe Jesus’drawings. In the past few years, I have spent many hours creating these images, and these are just a few. Well, I could go on and on with this topic, but I will end it here. One more thing. All of these drawings I have used as wallpaper for my desktop. Goodnight, Evelyn

The Announcement

Evelyn here,

I saw my son today and he has agreed to do some of the graphic artwork for this blog. He is a good artist and he will receive both monetary and written credit for the work he does for these entries. I also think that may have to open a homepage with an art galley and a page for written work. I may also need a forum along with this blog. 

I since my ideas tend to span from one end of the spectrum to the other, I will probably create some unconventional art myself. In fact, after church I spent the rest on the afternoon and evening reloading much of the graphic art I created over the past five years. I am a little dismayed to know that some of it I no longer have on file. I had created some great religious art, and I can not find any of it now. It is frustrating to crate something and then can not find it. However, I think I overwrote it or erased it when I changed computers.

Well, I have more inspiration, and I will no doubt be preoccupied with creating something new. I did not lose my "Faces of Christ". Thank God. I spent a little time this summer trying to improve drawing faces because I have developed this thing about Jesus' face. Drawing His face is something that I am only compelled to do occasionally. I view it as I view my compulsion to write. My need to create will not cease until I have either finish the drawing or the written work. 

When creating computer artwork I use different graphic art programs, and I am much better at computer graphics than with regular drawing tools. Go figure.

I like this blog, and time will show where it will take me. Well, it is after midnight here and I must work in the morning, so good night.

Oh, if anyone has any ideas that I can use to make this blog better, leave a comment.

Cycle of the Mother Or The Transcendental Woman

Below is my first official entry. While I waited for a group of ESL students in the tutoring lab of the St. Petersburg College, I wrote this paper back in 2000.  It is based on my thoughts on the spirit and/or progression of women in society from pre-Christianity and to modern day.

********************************************************

Cycle of the Mother

Or

The Transcendental Woman

by

Evelyn Fr. Altheimer-Fain

Neither the eating of the apple, nor the seven demons who were said to have possessed and were later cast from me caused this much distrust and fear of womankind. My existence extends far beyond these events.

Since the beginning of what man calls the end of darkness or Genesis and throughout Christianity, it has always been the threat of the Seven Angels bearing the Seven Seals who inspired the destruction of women’s freewill.

                But before the time comes when I must garb myself in the battle-torn wings of some androgynous or sexless, avenging angel, I need to tell of the times when I was highly revered.

Times when --

While I sat bare-breasted upon the back of a gleaming, sweat drenched horn-headed horse, I swung the blood stained sword of Astarte in defense of the poor then rode on to renew and protect the summer fields from disease. Or, the time when I drew back the silver arrows of Artemis to hunt the sacred forest beast and to protect the dewy eyed youth. Tirelessly, in another place, another time, as Isis, I conceived Horus from the seed of a dead Osiris. As Juno, I answered the anguished cries of barren women asking for bright and lively fruit, and later changed into the temperamental warrior Athena, who if of a mind, would sometimes guide lost and frightened seamen safely home. Effortlessly, I raced through the void to become the lusty Ishtar. Then on a moment notice as Aphrodite, I cast a harmless spell of love, or I float along a future life stream to become the wise Frigga who protected and healed the ailing warriors.  Yet, for all my apparent mercies, when angered, I easily become Kali wearing my necklace and belt of skulls, while sitting upon the duo corpse of Shiva, dispensing death and destruction in the guile of justice.

Yes, I am timeless and my faces are many.

                As Ruth, I married a divined king by exposing the selfish plan of a deceiving husband. Afterward, I continued onward with my travel through the life stream, until, to save a nation I became the widow Judith and lopped off the head of an evil king. Then forward, ever forward, until I paused long enough to taste upon my lips the salty tears of the redeemed Susanna, falsely accused by two licentious judges of habitual infidelity.

                But with this passage into the Modern, I have sometimes been called the unholy, the unclean, the witch, and the whore. I have been murdered, tortured, tormented, shunned, and made the outcast.

Yes I, I who am the first. I who am timeless. I who am endless.  I who am Mother.

No matter what face I have worn, what name I have been called, or what nation I have reigned, I still exist -- I still survive.

I am forever, and when this present incarnation ends -- I who shared the coming vision of the revelation through Daniel’s eyes, and bathed and anointed the hands and feet of the One, and heard the fearful shouts of the disbelieving saying, “Hush, Magdalene, the dead do not rise”. -- I with my soot covered wings and battle scarred limbs will stand with Michael to the right and Gabriel to the left to greet all at the gates of judgment

               As for my sword, it will be where it has always been--embedded in the heart of God.

********************************************************

Evelyn Fr. Altheimer-Fain© 02/26/00

*This was inspired by Joseph Campbell - Transformations of Myth Through Time

                                           Joseph Campbell - Mythology

                                           T. S. Elliot - The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

                                            Edith Hamilton - Mythology

                                            Cliffs Notes - Mythology

In addition, selected verses from the Good News Bible and the Holy Roman Catholic Bible, Study Edition were used.

Evelyn out.

Who am I?

Hi, I am Evelyn F. Altheimer-Fain, and I am your hostess for “The Woman Within”. So, is a little about me.

I a 54 year old Black American woman and I have lives in St. Petersburg Florida for nearly twenty years. I presently work as a secretary but my real joy comes from working with computers, computer graphic (I am an amateur), singing in the choir, writing poetry and short stories. I will probably post some of my written work here for open review and discussion. I also have a strong interest in many forms of arts and music. I am interested in woman issues, and I must admit to enjoying the occasional lite-hearted male bashing. I also tend to watch television series and movies that have strong women characters. I am a mother of two adult children. I am a practicing Catholic. I like dogs but love cats. I enjoy gardening but have not done much lately. I hate housework but I can not afford a maid Ha, Ha, Ha. Well, there is a lot more about me that I could write, however, these are the highlights.