SAVE A LIBRARY, READ a book, and GIVE to a (MAYWOOD, IL) Public Library

Good morning bloggers and readers;

I want to apologize for not posting but  again, I'm not really.  Why because I am not really a "techy" kind of person.  I am a bona fide "bookworm".    I like hardback books that are bind in the middle and  the paperback books hung on the racks, big telephone books, dictionaries, and newspapers and maps so I can use my yellow highlighter.  I love the public library and any other libraries that hold books, archived information that is tangible and have that rustic musty smell and sense of history that if you touch it you can travel back in time, across to foreign lands, and into the space galaxies.

Presently, I am  reading a real book, a Jodi Piccoult book, Lone Wolf.  The 10th or 11th book I've read but she has written 19 books last I counted.  Any book I read 99 percent I borrowed from the library and returned it, sometimes  with fines to pay.

But I'm not here to highlight  Jodi, I am here to highlight a certain public library in my previous hometown. The Maywood Public Library was a safe haven appointed by my mother. Most children I grew up with could tell you about their churches in this community  because it was the center of their life, but my world revolved around the Maywood Public Library. The melting pot of  everything and everyone. I was not allowed to go to house parties or "sets" as they were called back then but I would visit some of my friend's churches occasionally. I also visited the parks, played in my friends backyards.    But the heart of my life is from the left and right" articles"  of the library.

Maywood Public Library

Maywood Public Library

When I wanted to get away from home as a teenager my excuse was ' I am going to the library' but that was not a lie, I walked to the library. As a child my this museum of books was my world. You could occasionally meet famous people  like Bozo the clown.  My dreams were infinite when I read a book. Occasionally there were contests,  if read a certain amount of books you would win trips to baseball park like the most covenant park of all; Wrigley Field home of Chicago Cubs.  Actually my elementary teachers started my love for books. Our field trips were frequent to the library because it was only three blocks north  from Emerson Elementary school and we walked as a class there.  There was everything at the library...from movies, to crafts, to puppets, to other activities held there.

The hangout place for me was the library, great place for socialization. Meeting with my high school friends after-school, then for school projects and club meetings Boys and books always seem to come together. There was a boy who lived on the next block asked to take me to my prom at the library. Then there was another boy that annoyed me so much I would hide in the rows of books to avoid him.   Later in life I met my ex-husband at Ft. Worth Public Library when leaned across the library study table and asked me for my name and phone number. 

Mrs. Brooks and Mrs. Ferrari were my librarians. They have both been at Maywood Public Library for ages.  I remember when Mrs. Brooks gave me my first library card in first grade.  Then many years later she gave my oldest child, Donald (Francis) his first library card.  The library card was our license and ticket to dream big.  Acquiring a library card was the beginning of many adventures for  the many dreamers of Maywood. later their dreams became reality and would soon to become history. For my children their dreams were just beginning.

Later in life I briefly worked as a travel agent where I sent others to bathe in the sunshine or Vegas. I was Expedia, Travelocity, and Hotels.com all thanks to the library. When I traveled out of town I would first find the local library, grab information about the area, and then plan my activities. Some of  which included sightseeing, visiting museums, and strolling through a Zoo if there were any.  I could always rely on the library. I recently heard on the news radio WBBM a report that still 1/3 of people do not use the internet or just look up websites only when they do use the internet.  So libraries aren't extinct dinosaurs yet.  Where would we keep the books?  Most people do not live in mansions with rooms of books or computers. Personally, in our family we want to have a room with nothing but books in it.  Sometimes I can't believe that my children who were born into the personal computer  age and smartphones want a tangible book to read!

The library is a place of solitude, a place where I could be by myself but yet not really. Maywood Public Library was a place were I could take my children and hide. Drowning my doubts, fears, sorrows and imagination in a novel, a bible or even a computer.  The library provided a non-expense oasis for my mind to ponder the steps of my life as a single divorced mother.  It provided a place where I could gather resources so I could proceed on with my life's journey.

I love how in America it is possible to visit a library to contemplate your life.  Some countries and even our government can and will rule over use of the internet.  What  if all the books, and paper information were to be destroy because everything resided on the internet where would we be if or when the internet gets shutdown?  Where would we find are archives of information?  When towns, cities and provinces are destroy by storms, wind, fire, or earthquakes and there isn't any electricity Where do you run too to settle disputes?  Where would we find proof and examples that will formulate a solution of any kind?  Even Wikipedia can be manipulated.  It's electronic! Where would the general place for the general public to access general public information be? IN A LIBRARY!!!

So why am I ranting, and why is this important for you too read;  I viewed a feed on one of my facebook groups "I grew up in Maywood Illinois/ Friends of Maywood Illinios" and read that the Maywood Public Library is closing because of budget issues. I screamed out loud NO-NO-NO! at the top of my voice so now this  internet has given this me this opportunity to spread my passionate  scream to all Maywood residents and US residents to support your local Public Library and your previous hometown library. 

How many of you remember the library? I am sure you have many great memories. Well, unfortunately the Board voted this evening to give the Director the authority to close it's doors to the community due to fiscal problems. After cut backs and many kind hearted concessions by it's employees, they may be forced to close the doors very, very soon. Please help Save Our Library. Please keep this safe haven available to the children of Maywood. Please send your donations utilizing this form. http://www.maywood.org/library/Donation_Friends_of_the_library.pdf If you would like additional details about this appeal please send me a message with your email address and I will forward the emergency appeal from the Library Board to you.
PLEASE HELP SAVE OUR LIBRARY

If we allow an entity like the Maywood Public Library close it doors to the public you with close the door to poor, disabled, elderly, children, immigrants, students, families, socialites, homeless, orphans, childless, jobless, wealthy,  ................................................................



PS   I have completed reading The Lone Wolf by Jodi Piccoult and without revealing the end of the story I have to give acknowledgement to Jodi because I did not know I going to read this book and write this blog at the same time.   People would think this is a coincidence but my son's says he doesn't believe in that, but it was meant to be.  So thank you Jodi for writing a book about hope, I appreciate it very much.


 









    

Another Honored Day to Live

Sunday, July 7, 2013 was set out to be a special day for an unborn child of my nephew, Vincent.  My great-nephew, Prince Elijah.  Prince being his nickname and Elijah is given name.    Vincent first child and wife, Robin's 3rd child but first and only son.

I have said he is my 2nd great nephew, but technically I can't say I not sure who is the first I haven't done the math but on my maternal side he is.  For the longest time my mother side of my family has always been important to me first.

Above is the best reason why it is so special especially to my nephew, but for me is to live and share this day with him is special to me.  


Update,  my great nephew was born on July 28, 2013.  Prince Elijah  

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My Father's Day Story

Good Morning:

I promised to write in my blog so now it is the time.


     First I like to give honor and respect to my late father Thomas Victor Robinson ( September 13, 1936- May 28, 2013).  His nickname was Brownskin aka Brown.    I don't how he got that name but I remembered family and close friends calling by that name.  I just know him as "Daddy".  My father had been in my life since birth through my early teens.  However, my parents divorced when I about 8 years old.  They were parents of my sister and brother as well that I grew up with.  Later my dad moved back to his hometown, Monroe, Louisiana where he met his second wife, Janice and he fathered four more sons.  I knew of them and met them twice in our life, but now I and Chris, the eldest of the 4 are re-connecting.   This is a blessing.

     I am blessed to be alive because of our dad he had help  me by adding years to my life by donating a kidney to me.  Most people are born with two working kidneys. Some only have one working kidney maybe from birth or it may have been injured in their life.    One of my mother's sister is living with one and it's understood it may had been injured when she was a baby because it was not developed.

   The timing of the donation was awesome but it did not take place until two years later.  During this time I was separated from my spouse and suffering from kidney disease and raising two children who were merely babies.  We were living with my mother.  She gets lots of credit of helping raising them while I was ill.   My son, D. Francis, known by his middle name, was three years old and 2 months and Whitney, my daughter was about to be a year old in two weeks, when my kidneys failed.     I was very sick, sleeping all the time, vomiting, constant diarrhea, and very lethargic (sluggish).    I managed to get to Cook County Hospital for an examination and on that same day the doctor stated I had to be placed on kidney dialysis or I would soon die.

   When I started I began on hemo dialysis with a catheter in my heart.  This is a device that extracted my blood from my body to enter a filtration machine to remove the toxins and excess fluid  from it because my kidneys were no longer working properly.   This machine became my artificial kidney.    I was sick because  my body was being poisoned by it own waste and it was not being excreted.    During this stay at the hospital the surgeon fitted me for a peritoneal catheter in my abdominal.  This device was to become another form of dialyzation.  This catheter was attached to peritoneal tissue that is surrounds our organs in our body.    I would use the device to load saline solution  into the tissue lining and the toxin and fluid exchange would happen there.  I would exchange solution 3x a day. Take out the old and replace with new.  However, this device did not work were long just 5 months when I developed a very severe case of peritonitis which would be fatal if I continued this technique.  So again the catheter was placed back in my heart the other abdominal catheter was removed.   The technique I later used was an A V graft in my lower left arm.  This was surgically placed and had to developed  before it operational to use.

     I was artificially dialyized for two years until that wonderful day happened.  When Daddy gave me his left kidney.  I know because it placed in my right side and he told me it was his left kidney.  My children, D. Francis was 5 years and 2 mos.  and in kindergarten and Whitney was 2 weeks before her 3rd birthday.  

Dad's kidney lasted for me for eleven and half years, from
October 1994 to May 2006.    So regrettably a piece of Dad's body died  before he rested his life.    He sacrificed a piece his life so I could raise my children.    In those 11 and half years my children and I had adventures I can share at a later date.    Yes, I am back on hemo dialysis and another AV graft place in the same arm but upper.  So  now I am waiting for another kidney perhaps a cadaver one.  Then again there is more to my story.  I am still alive and thankful.

To all the Fathers who are actively and not reluctant to be fathers  I salute you for love and labor for your families.   For you were given a responsibility to raise a nation.   I hope many of you have found your calling with God.  For he promise us never to leave us or forsake us.  He will lead to be best you can be.   Happy Father's Day especially to my all 5 brothers,  Thomas Augusta, Chris, Corwin, Cantrell and Chad Robinson as well as my nephew, Vincent Givens.  May God bless you and keep you.

Psalm 103:13
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; (NIV)
Joshua 1:9
Be strong and courageous, Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (NIV)

These pictures were taken in Birmingham, Al., summer of 1993 a year and half before the transplant.

I'm trying this Again Blogging with a Different Attitude :)

Good Evening to you:

I just finished cooking Boston Baked Beans with a few twist. Here is the recipe I used to guide me from Allrecipes. I went to the local food pantry and we received lots of summer beef sausages and Hot and Spicy Beef Summer sausages. So in place of bacon I sliced the sausages and used a can Goya Tomato Sauce along with Hunt's Tomato sauce and 1/4 cup of ketchup (what was left in the bottom of the bottle). The sauce had a very good kicked to it, I believe my children and guest will enjoy it.

 Why I am beginning again because two of my good friends are giving me much support they both believe I have a lot to give as far information about my life on dialysis. My friend, Marcella says there is a need in the our ethnicity community to know about kidney disease. I second that because I have come across blatant ignorance and not enough public awareness campaigns for Kidney disease here. Not only that many people don't understand the struggle I go through to "Stayin' Alive" oooh oh oh I'm stayin' alive, by the grace of God. 
So in these days to come I will share with you my triumphs and gripes of daily grind of living on hemo-dialysis.

Right now,some people (my aunt a former dialysis nurse) know that have some knowledge about the diet of dialysis patients is to eat low-phosphorus to no high phosphorus (Po4) foods and the same with high based potassium (K) foods and no salt (Nacl). So you probably wondering why am I looking forward to eating my homemade baked beans. Because I have been soo-o good in a year not eating any baked beans and I want so so bad. I will eat them with moderation (I will not eat them with green eggs and ham). I will have to sacrifice something else, like my son's barbecue chicken and beef. I will have put aside for the next day. I will eat other sides we will fix like rice/vegetable casserole, garden salad, fruit as well as macaroni cheese in moderation of course. I can make some awesome lemon/lime punch too.

 Oh! I can't forget Renvela I take as an appetizer or either a after-dessert. Mostly an appetizer so I don't neglect it. Hint Renvela is a binder dialysis patients take to make some impurities go to your stool instead urinating it out.. Most patients don't urinate any more....that's why we wait for a kidney transplant. I just remember and sorry I forgot I still have to go to dialysis tomorrow same time and same station, Batman!....and on Labor day no such thing as holidays or Holy Days for me. If you take a day off from dialysis I may take days off my life.

 So I had to stop and call my guest to tell this. No I didn't want to go early even if I planned it with my center because I would come home tired and miserable and not able to enjoy anyone. Dialysis wipes me out, I like a semi zombie don't ask me anything important I will mostly likely forget or get very angry so if you see me in this state of mind.....just me patience and kind.

 Okay I will stop now. I do have another blog I am setting up call "Cruisin' through Life in a Red Corvette" I hope this blog becomes my bucket list of sorts or things I am planning to do that excites me. I give details as I blog.

Please Remember those who have fallen in past, present and  disabled veterans who have returned from war.    

I'm Blessed Today and Yesterday

I have asked forgiveness for being so angry with our previous bus driver. I, too have done someone wrong. I probably had them yelling and screaming for my shortcomings as well. This is why Jesus died on the cross for all of our sins.

Why was I so angry I had a summer I did not expect. My daughter needed so much attention I was not aware of. She is still growing up and have so many challenges. Presently, (I had to get her permission first) she has a mental illness. We discovered when she was in 5th grade, but hindsight I think it has been apart of her since birth. I also discovered before conceiving her I had a kidney disease and my doctor suggested I abort her. No, I did not and she has only been a blessing in my life. Mental illness has been apart of my life by other family members. So, when I begin to see behavior I recognized in my relatives I jumped on it right away. I wanted to get help asap, yesterday.

In our county I live in, the health department were very helpful. We, my little family were a team and still is. Whitney became the best clientele for all the social workers there. She was known as the "functional one". Her social worker and others wanted to know why was Whitney doing so well. Our team had one captain, who is God (Yahweh). We communicated to each other and with others outside our family and we watched our attitudes. We obeyed God's word. So, we were not perfect we made plenty of mistakes, but communicating even when it is bad is only how it gets better.

Whitney came home today from school with a genuine smile on her face and told me how she met her challenges. She told me she had a good day. Praise God!

Tonight we had a bible study and the best scripture out of it, 1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children and have overcome them because He who is in you is greater than " he who is in the world".

The rest of the read verses 5-19 is the continued message for all of us.

"We love Him because He first loved us."

My family use this motto we learned at a YMCA camp I worked at once, "I'm third". This phrase means,God is first, Others are second, and I'm third.

Yes, that's why I'm blessed today and yesterday. Tomorrow belongs to HIM.

Venting

Good evening, I'm trying to keep up a frequent blog. I will not promise to write daily only when the wind blows my way.

What prompt me tonight I have two events that had me shouting out loud this week. The first thing is I have been riding the community public transportation because right now our 1989 Buick has been a lame duck for over a year I think. So, now we ride buses and commuter trains. Well on Monday, I was furious at bus driver I semi know of. I've ridden his bus three times. Each time I had I seen him he was so inconsiderate and behave as it's his personal bus and we have the privilege to ride it.

The first time I encountered his rude behavior is when Whitney, my daughter ran ahead to stop the bus (the tortoise and the hare) she got on and ask to wait I was coming. Well he grumbled to Whitney "don't you know people have to work". How does he know I was going to work too! ( Assisting my daughter to register for school and go to another appointment). Noo... he may be thinking we were going to the Oak Brook shopping Center at the end of line.

The second time I had the privilege of seeing him encounter with another passenger. An independent disabled passenger with a scooter chair. This "young" elderly lady got on a Schiller and Palmer Dr. and was very talkative to the driver and another passenger. I heard her mentioned to the driver she wanted to get off at Vallette, which is about 3/4 of a mile on the route from previous stop she got on. However, he was grumpy he did not willfully want to help her with the locks on the handicapped folding chairs and belts for her scooter. What he did next is missed her stop not by one stop but at 3-4 bus stops, he let her out at Butterfield Rd. a major dangerous stop, after she asked again she wanted to get off a Valette.

Each time an episode happened I said nothing. First, I was delaying the bus, I did say I was sorry that I had hard time running (I am a turtle) I walk slow too. Second time, I was trying to believe perhaps the other passenger asked for the stop because she got off the Vallette stop. Noo I was sure it the 'scooter chair lady' because she just talking all the time she rode. Again, the bus driver was rude to her when she found out she had missed her stop too.

Yesterday was the last straw. I HAD IT WITH THIS BUS DRIVER, I want his number I want to report him. This time he put me in a bad mood and I was going with Whitney to assure her about the route to school. This situation did not help Whitney's nervousness. What he did I'm sure is not in the job description. Whitney and I got on bus at Metra train station parking lot, each bus I ever taken here has always waited at least 5 MINUTES before departing. Each bus north and southbound. The station is only a few yards from the bus sign. (I'm terrible with measurements so I'm not going to guess-timate it.) Whitney and I were sitting in the bus shelter ( we were counting our money) when the bus drove up quietly, not breaking, mind you when you hear the breaks spitting out air to stop. He dro-ve right by us. Previous drivers have stopped and open the bus doors to see if anyone is boarding or looking towards the train station doors for would be passengers. Not Mr. Grumpy Pacebus driver he just drove right by with no hesitation. Again, I asked Whitney (the hare) to catch the bus. She was able to because the train gates were slowing rising and he saw her and open HIS doors to HIS bus. She asked him what was direction was he going. We did not even read the sign on the front of the bus. We were blessed he was not going our way.

I still want to make a formal complaint. I just need his number. Or should I just confront and tell him about his behavior then get arrested that I'm harassing the driver. However, my mood was bad when we did get the correct bus I told that Mr. Nice Pacebus driver about the previous driver. Pause

I found the Executive Inspector online where I can get form on pdf file. So, now I'm ready I will not sit nonchalantly while riding your bus Mr. Grumpy.

The other event has to do with Pioneer Woman on the Foodnetwork. I think I tell you another time. I got a chicken to brine for tomorrow dinner. I feel better. I get to shout quietly!

Good night, May God Bless you night, sweet dreams.

Continuation of My Sister's Keeper

I completed the book. I enjoyed the read. The ending made the story more real.

The issues of the bioethics. The parents had another child to save their first born. Is this right or wrong? This question to me is seems to be an alternative to hope or divine truth.

I am a believer of a divine God who made all things and set a book of instructions to live by,the Bible. Having his holy spirit as a guide he can lead to the right decision and a peace of mind.

Someone who does not have this kind of faith whether they believe it or not may not have a reassuring moral answer. The results of the decision will manifest itself in time from the donor and recipient response and its benefits and consequences.
What is important that support is given to all party s involved.

As a christian who had a transplant there has been good times and trying times. The donor who gave me one their kidneys is doing well today. The benefits of having the kidney were good. I even improved my health by eating better and exercising. The down side of having the transplant is the immunosuppression. I caught a fungus that weaken my body and kidney began a deteriorating spiral. Until later it was removed and now I'm dialysis again.

However it took awhile before I decided I want to try another transplant. Mainly I had to decide where I am placing my trust. Where does my faith lie? Will I have another family donate a kidney or am I willing to have a cadaver kidney? Am I ready for the next round of intense treatment for the months that follow? The emotional, mental, and physical stress I will be subject too. My family is older now and ready to take the next go round.

The book possess the fight against death with all cost. It seems to me the abandonment to other members of the family was so apparent. The lack of support was not present. In this day and time no family should be an island. Anna had good sense of self preservation to seek help for situation from outside her family. She was drowning and she could see there was light in the outside world. Kate was a fighter but near the end she accepted death. She begin to count the cost and tow it was affecting her family. So Kate the afflicted one realized she could stop the cycle.

The ending was a good set up. No one wanted Anna to die but anticipating what she was going to do next, wondering will Sara accept Kate prognosis. Anna was a star that burned out too soon. Her story untold was a story not read. Brian breakdown was predicted. He was such a rock and sometimes parents don't see what right under their noses.

I am looking for another book this this one.