"The June Cleaver generation is long gone..." 'Judith Whitehead' (inspiration Sunday)

Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York and has worked in

the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years.

The June Cleaver generation is long gone

A girl born in the 1950s was raised with certain expectations and goals that are much different from the girl born in the 21st century.

My mother was one of those moms from the “June Cleaver” generation, which meant her days were spent cleaning and cooking and having dinner on the table promptly at 5 p.m. to please the breadwinner of the family. My dad did not want my mom to work; that would have meant that he was not a good provider and that’s how the household was run.

I grew up observing my mom cleaning, and ironing every piece of clothing including the sheets and underwear. Her home was beyond spotless and she took great pride in her work. So it wasn’t surprising that I grew up with some of those values and goals to find a good husband to provide for me and get a minimal college education after high school graduation.

So I went to a junior college and obtained a medical assisting degree; I was able to get a position in the medical field and began to realize I could make my own money. I married at a young age, 19, just as my mom had done, and was on my own. It was not until then that I realized that I could be my own person and began to feel fulfilled working in the health fields.

Let me tell you, the skills of cleaning and cooking are not inherited and I gleaned much more pleasure working in the health-related profession and helping people.

I went on to specialize in ophthalmology, became certified in the field and returned to college to obtain my bachelor’s degree in gerontology when I was well into my 30s. I found that it is never too late to get education and an “older” student is much smarter and much more dedicated to learning.

I was lucky enough to realize that if I was going to continue working for many more years, I knew it had to be something that fulfilled me while giving back at the same time. It seems so difficult for our young people to choose something they will be able to spend many years doing that will make them happy. That’s why they need to take the time to choose how they will spend their productive years. Don’t go for just the bucks; that pleasure will last for only so long. Take time to pick a profession that will bring both happiness and make an adequate living. The money will come if you excel in your field and happiness will be yours for all those working years.

Many of us will not be able to retire at age 65 completely; I will always want to do something with the public. My profession has not brought me excessive riches, but it has given me great satisfaction for more than 35 years in the workforce.

I still live by my mantra: Slow and steady wins the race. It may have taken me a few years longer to figure out that I can be a breadwinner as well, and dedication and time in a field does bring not only money but a greater satisfaction for self-worth.

This blog appeared in the 07-12-14 edition of the Buffalo News
with the title,"Take your time when choosing a career."
http://www.buffalonews.com/life-arts/womens-voices/take-your-time-when-choosing-a-career-20140712

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"I Finally Graduated..." 'Bonnie Brenton' (Special Guest-Blogger)

Guest-blogger Bonnie Brenton grew up in Portland, Maine and
 obtained a Masters in counseling from the University of Mass. at Amherst.

I Finally Graduated
                                                           
It took me 10 years, but I finally graduated with my Master’s degree in counseling.  I spent the last six years taking one class at a time.  The normal course load is two classes.  However, I have an anxiety disorder, and by taking only one course, I could actually relax and enjoy myself.  Before this school, I took four years applying to other programs and getting rejected four times.

The academic portion of my sojourn proved relatively easy.  Then it was time for the practicum and internship.  The difference between the two was that the practicum was 10 hours a week, and the internship was 30.  My first practicum placement was working with sex offenders in a program where they learned to recognize and avoid risky situations, such as being alone with potential victims.  I got along well with the offenders, and although they are known for being manipulative, I wasn’t there long enough to experience that.  Instead, I ran into problems with the director.  We did not get along, and she fired me.  I learned the hard way that my relationship with the staff is even more crucial than my relationship with the clients.  This is known as office politics.

I was forced to take a year’s leave of absence and had to apply for an extension because my school required its students to graduate in five years, and it would now take me six.  That year’s “sabbatical” was one of the most relaxing and enjoyable years of my life (simply because I had leisure time)!  Then, it was back to the grindstone as I began 30 hours a week of internship.  Next, you figure in classroom time, assignments, and commuting on the bus, and I was working well over 40 hours a week.  I had never before worked a fulltime job due to my anxiety disorder.  The hours were a challenge.  I became ill with a cold that didn’t get better until after I graduated.

It was a requirement of my program to divide the 30 hours /week between two different sites one of which was a substance abuse clinic.  Like before, I got along well with the clients but had problems with staff due to my anxiety, which can involve the use of technology.  I was not happy when my supervisor accused me of playing games because I was slow to comprehend a computer program which we used to write notes about the clients.   Even more incomprehensible, was another intern from my school who seemed to hate me.  One day, she bit off my head for not washing the coffee pot when I never knew that was part of my job description!  I can’t figure out why she was kind to everyone else and cruel to me.  She impressed her superiors to the point where they hired her after graduation.  This is one of life’s ironies and mysteries that remains unsolved.  I choose not to worry about it.

I was required to work at two locations, but I didn’t need to work them equally.  The director at my school advised me to leave the substance abuse clinic and work solely at my second site.  However, I felt I was making a difference for my clients, and didn’t want to leave until my discomfort and unhappiness reached the point of sheer agony.  I eventually realized I was sacrificing my own mental health for the sake of my clients.  I finally quit when the pain became unbearable.

My second site involved working at a preschool for children of low income families.  (These were very different populations.)  I don’t have children of my own and had no experience working with kids.  I didn’t even think that I liked children, but time was running out for me find a placement!  

Ironically, in spite of the fact that my major is counseling, I was thrust into the position of teacher’s aide.  However, I learned I could still use my counseling skills so long as I was working with people- in any capacity!  What I appreciated most was how much the teachers appreciated me!  I had felt so little appreciation from staff at my other sites.  I worked in four different classrooms.

One of the most enchanting aspects about working with these three, four, and five year old's was their names.  I have to hand it to their parents.  In order to protect the privacy of these children, I am not going to reveal any of their monikers.  However, I will give examples of similar but different names just so that you, the reader, can taste the flavor.  Here are some comparable names of both boys and girls:  
Sincerity, Jesus, Liberty, Buick, Devotion, Exodus, and Prince Charming!

As a person fascinated by names, how could I not enjoy working with these children?  As a person not used to kids, I must admit, there were times when they were a “pain in the ass” (like when they wouldn't listen).  But there were other times when they touched my heart (with hugs)!

There was one child who proved to be a real challenge.  He would be diagnosed with conduct disorder.  One time he found a brick and through it at me.  Luckily, I saw it coming and managed to catch it.  When he became angry during meals, he would try to upturn the tables.  One time, at recess, I saved the life of a bullfrog he was trying to kill by shooing it to escape under a fence.  Even then he continued throwing rocks and clumps of dirt from the garden.  He needed three teachers and two interns to manage his behavior.  We took him outside to an enclosed area when he acted out.

Before this child came to our attention, the other interns and I complained that what we were doing was not real counseling.  Suddenly, it all became very real!  I also must admit there were times when I felt bored working with the children.  This child cured me of that!

It seemed like my internship would never end, and then all of a sudden, it was over.  I finally graduated!  So what now?  I have a 4 step plan:
1-Throw a graduation party. 
2-Take a break.
3-Figure out what I want to do with my life.
4-Look for a job!

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"Fiction..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic Garden Island of Kaua'i for over 40 years.

Bettejo is a regular opinion writer in the Garden Island news and is the author of the

famed novella, "The Scam."  Her latest fiction

 "Children of extinction" is now  released and available on Amazon!
Mazol Tov & Congratulations to Bettejo!

www.bettejodux.com

Fiction

There's a profound saying, "The best liars are: actors and actresses, fiction writers, politicians.

Actors and actresses?  What could be a more radiant  lie than pretending to be someone else  on stage or screen? I mean, you are you, who you are, and being somebody you're not is a lie performed, hopefully,  well enough  your deceit  makes a captive audience-who knows who you are- believe you're somebody else.

I'm an actress. I love to act. I'm the sort of  actress who suffers opening night nerves every night. My knees knock.I shiver and shake. I'm miserable. Then  the curtain goes up, or I make an entrance, and- whoop-de-do- I'm somebody else. Bettejo's back stage, knees knocking, quaking, miserable. The most difficult role I ever played was Fonzia Dorsey- in The Gin Game- a  self-righteous over- the- hill diabetic in a seedy  old folk's home who I really disliked. There was a humorous quality here but a nastiness slopped through.

Fiction? I love writing fiction. I get lost in the story. I love or hate my characters, but every word I put on paper, page after page, is a lie. This is true of any piece of fiction written by any writer. The scary part of this  is when the book is published and you wait for the reader's response. You hope he or she loves it as much as you.

Politicians? Skip it.

The interesting part about fiction and acting, however-the hidden dimension-is that these lies are creative endeavors. One is using the 'gift'-or curse- to lie in a positive manner.  No harm is intended. A story  is to be told. A play  to be performed. The theater goer has come to the theater to be fooled-transported, lost for a while in an other world-as does the reader to a book.

A fictitious piece of story telling  is fantasy and the writer hopes the reader joins her on the journey she's concocted. Some stories are so compelling the reader-and the writer- may want to read it over and over. My husband read  Franny and Zooey once every year. A reader wrote of Salinger that he didn't think he'd like  him because he was such an incredibly believable liar. He missed the point, of course. Salinger told his lies on paper.

As a writer I'd  rather make people laugh. Laughter is good. I think The THE SCAM is a cute, funny, piece about life in the 60's on Kauai. CHILDREN of the EXTINCTION takes a hundred and 180 degree turn. Kauai, in the future, is not funny. But the  characters are very human and laughter is a very human quality. Even in some of the scariest scenes, they find laughter. They also find every emotion humans  can experience. Evil emotions as well. CHILDREN is a most controversial book. I come down hard on a subject one is not supposed to come down on. There is a Dark Side. That's part of the story-telling experience. Will the Dark Side win?

If you read me on Amazon, scan through SCAM  first.

 Bettejo is having her 84th birthday party and book signing! Everyone reading this is invited!
 Please come to Bettejo's Birthday Book Signing Bash at Birdies-in Kalaheo-Sunday, August 16, 3-6PM. It'll be fun. Birdies is a great place. CHILDREN OF THE EXTINCTION is a good read. Hope to see you there. Bettejo 

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"Politicians need to be educated..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Kimo's world #24)

 That's me and Obama Da Dog with the late great Hawai'i Senator Daniel Inouye,
Senator Mazie Hirono and a secret service dude looking on... Everyone please vote!!!!!

Check out my opinion article in the 09-03-14 edition
of the Kaua'i  Garden Island newspaper;
---There needs to be a bar for politicians---

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-wednesday-september/article_3fdbf7dc-332e-11e4-ab1c-0019bb2963f4.html

That's ,Maya Soetoro-Ng  President
Obama's sister along with Obama Da Dog
and James "Kimo" Rosen

Politicians need to be educated...

Politicians  promise change and very rarely deliver. Politicians run the country, yet anybody, even a high school dropout can run for political office. There is no standard. Lawyers must pass the bar exam and we're not talking an alcohol bar. Doctors have approximately 8 years of school, an internship and residency before becoming a full fledged doctor. Politicians need zero education or prior experience, it's usually on the job training. 

 Would you want  a surgeon who was a high school dropout? Would you want a lawyer defending you who was a high school dropout. Do you want a high school dropout as one of your elected Politicians  making major life, death and financial decisions for you?
I believe there should be standard educational backgrounds for those running for public office.  

Many politicians and wanna be politicians think campaigning is all about posing for photos, hand waving and sign waving.  How about some good old fashioned  debates allowing  people to see how your mind works? I personally don't care how well you can wave, however,  I must admit I truly enjoy posing for photos with my favorite politicians as you can see...

There's the famous joke, "How do you know when a politician is lying?" "As soon soon as their lips move." What politician hasn't lied? I cannot think of one. That doesn't mean I dislike every politician. It just means  to keep your nose in the wind and eye on the back trail. A phrase I learned  while hunting in Alaska.

Great politician is somewhat an oxymoron, like jumbo shrimp, how can a politician be great? There are exceptions especially on the beautiful cosmic  Garden Island of Kaua'i.

To my politician friends, you know who you are. This is not about you, it's about the good majority of your fellow politicians that give politicians a bad name. I like to say,"Re-elect nobody unless of course  they're  a somebody."

I like to tell every potential political candidate I meet that I am voting for them even if I have not made up my mind. I'm not really lying, I am just playing politician with a potential politician.

Enjoy the hand and sign waving competition as free entertainment,  for it will soon be over, and make sure to vote for your favorite hand waiver this coming November. I still like the Miss America wave da best!

"Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first."
Ronald Reagan.

According to the late George Carlin, The real reason we cannot have the ten commandments in a courthouse:
You cannot post "Thou shall not steal." Thou shall not commit adultery," and "Thou shall not lie"in a building full of  lawyers, judges and politicians. It creates a hostile work environment."

Two of my favorite politicians Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. in the yellow
polo shirt and Hawaii  State house representative Derek Kawakami on the right in the blue
aloha shirt. These men are the exception and two of the most trustworthy
outstanding citizens of the garden island. Plus they can dance!
Please vote for them!

State Representative Derek Kawakami along
with his wife Monica and yours truly..

Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie takes time out of his busy day to
consult with Obama Da Dog. Obama Da dog   has  consulted with
nearly every politician in the state of Hawaii. Now all I need is
Obama Da dog  posing with President Obama and that
 would be  another check off the bucket list!

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-wednesday-september/article_3fdbf7dc-332e-11e4-ab1c-0019bb2963f4.html P.S
Check out this YouTube of  a dog that is smarter than most 
politicians!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj-Ecw0Vdak


Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...

I predict  Mayor Bernard Carvalho will win re-election in 2014
and come 2018 when his term limits have expired will run for Hawai'i Governor...
After he becomes Governor in 2018 and 2022, come 2026
Derek Kawakami will be ready for the Governorship!
You heard it first form Kimo Da Psychic! I said Psychic, not Psycho!  ;D)

James “Kimo” Rosen is a retired professional photographer living in Kapa'a with his best friend Obama Da Dog, Rosen blogs as a hobby..

The fine print says, unless they are  a somebody!

"Will Rogers Quotes..." 'Chester "Unc" Lau' (Inspiration Sunday) (Source)

Dakinetalks favorite Uncle (Chester Lau)

"Unc"  is really passionate about creating a national Caregivers day.

Any help , support or ideas would be greatly appreciated...

'Unc' currently resides on the Hawai'ian Island of Oahu. 
He is a retired cinematographer,
 and  enjoys giving the politicians a bad time...

Will Rogers Quotes

Will Rogers, who died in a 1935* plane crash, was one of the Greatest political sages this country has ever known. * He said

*"Never squat while wearing your spurs" *

*Enjoy the following:*
*1.*
* Never slap a man who's chewing  tobacco. *
*2.*
* Never kick a cow chip on a hot  day. *
*3.*
* There are two theories to arguing  with a woman. Neither works. *
*4.*
* Never miss a good chance to shut up. *
*5.*
* Always drink upstream from the herd. *
*6.*
* If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. *
*7.*
* The quickest way to double your money is to fold it and put it back into your pocket. *
*8.** There are three kinds of men:*

* The ones that learn by reading.*
*The few who learn by observation.*
*The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence*
*And find out for themselves.*


*9.** Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.*

*10.** If you're riding' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then* *to make sure it's still there.*

*11.** Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier'n puttin' it back.*

*12.** After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring.* *He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him.*
*The moral**:  When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.*


*ABOUT  GROWING OLDER... *
*First  ~**Eventually  you will reach a point when you stop lying* about your age and start bragging about it.*

*Second  ~*
* The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for. *

*Third  ~** Some people try to turn back their odometers.* *Not me; I want people to know 'why' I look this way.* *I've traveled a long way, and some of the roads weren't paved.*

*Fourth  ~** When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth,* *think of Algebra.*

*Fifth  ~*
* You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.

*Sixth  ~** I don't know how I got over the hill without getting to the top.*

*Seventh  ~** One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it's such a nice change from being young.*

*Eighth  ~** One must wait until evening to see how splendid the day has been.*

*Ninth  ~** Being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.*

*Tenth  ~** Long ago, when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks,* *it was called witchcraft.* *Today it's called golf.*

*And,  finally ~** If you don't learn to laugh at trouble,** you won't have anything to laugh at when you're old.*

A not to Chester from Jack Lord of the original
Hawaii Five-0 where Unc was the
cinematographer...

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"A priest, a Boy Scout, and Hillary Clinton..." 'Robert Bitos Gandia' (Source)

 Guest-blogger,Robert Bitos Gandia.
Robert is an avid cook (ono gandule rice) and always laughing!!
He works at Syngenta as a Research Associate.
Robert lives in Kekaha on Kauai's west-side and loves football!!

A priest, a Boy Scout, and Hillary Clinton 

A priest, a Boy Scout, and Hillary Clinton were the only passengers on a small plane. The pilot died of a sudden heart attack and since none of the passengers knew how to fly a plane, they knew they were doomed. 

They found two parachutes. Hillary Clinton grabbed one, put it on, and said, "I'm the smartest woman in the world and I'm destined to be President. Sorry, you two." And she jumped out.

The priest turned to the Boy Scout and said, "My son, you take the last parachute. It's time for me to meet the Lord."

The Boy Scout smiled and whipped out a parachute. "The Lord will have to wait a while, Father. The smartest woman in the world jumped out wearing my back pack."

P.S.
1) The other day I came home and was greeted by my wife, dressed only in very sexy underwear and holding a couple of short velvet ropes.
"Tie me up," she purred, "and you can do anything you want."
So, I tied her up and went fishing.

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"Addiction..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic Garden Island of Kaua'i for over 40 years.

Bettejo is a regular opinion writer in the Garden Island news and is the author of the

famed novella, "The Scam."  Her latest fiction

 "Children of extinction" is now  released and available on Amazon!
Mazol Tov & Congratulations to Bettejo!

www.bettejodux.com

Addiction

Is writing an addiction? You bet'cha.

If you're a writer and you don't write everyday, you're a bum.

What's so compelling about putting words on paper or screen? For me, I'm Irish, if I didn't get words out of my head and onto  something substantial, my head would burst. I'm full of words. My mother said I was born with my tongue-tied in the middle and wagging at both ends.

I kid and tell everybody I'm the strong silent type. Some of my dearest friends have adopted the time out two finger gesture. It  makes me laugh and sometimes  shuts me  up. Not always. Also like to joke around, "It's a good thing there's paper, ink, screens, and letters, otherwise the  world would go deaf."

What's my favorite genre of writing?  Letters to the editors, columns, and fiction. Letters to the editors, columns,  essays, and term papers are  similar. Fiction is different. Don't write so many essays anymore.  Loved writing term papers. I could always raise my grade average if an end-of-the-term  paper was part of the deal. One of my favorite stories: Dr. Pencharz.  She wore a red wig and she didn't like me. I was supposed to be the 'goat' and she participated in the harassment. Freshman year in college. Sixteen. Scrawny. Psych 101 was filled to the brim with big kids. Serious business. This was the gateway to their life's work. I think of the horror they must have caused poor patient if they reached their professional goal.

The first nasty tease  I remember vividly. I was sent on an errand. When I came back to the classroom there were two  parallel  lines drawn on the board. One above the other. Equal length. One had arrows pointed out. One had arrows pointed in. The entire class was asked which line was longer. Everyone  said the line with the arrows pointed out was longer. Ridiculous. I was the only one who said they were equal. Wow!  I was yelled at, screamed at, shouted at.  Called stupid-you name it-while Pencharz sat there with a smirk. I never caved and I think that made her mad. I didn't get good grades.

At the end of the year we were allowed to write a term paper which would become 1/3 of our grade average. We numbered our papers because Pencharz knew she could not grade you fairly if she didn't like you. My paper didn't come back. I went to the desk.

"Did you do one?" She had a voice like gravel, tacks, and broken glass shaken in a rusty pot.

I nodded.

She asked for my number. I told her.

She  drew forth  from a spanken clean manila folder a paper. It was, I'll bet, the only A+ paper she ever gave anyone. She crumpled and threw it at me, "Who did it for you," she graveled.

So much for Psych 101.

Next week?  Fiction. CHILDREN of the EXTINCTION. . My new work. Don't forget  my book signing bash at Birdie's Cafe, August 16, 3-6PM.

 Bettejo is having her 84th birthday party and book signing! Everyone reading this is invited!
 Please come to Bettejo's Birthday Book Signing Bash at Birdies-in Kalaheo-Sunday, August 16, 3-6PM. It'll be fun. Birdies is a great place. CHILDREN OF THE EXTINCTION is a good read. Hope to see you there. Bettejo 

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