Sandy Sue

There is a woman on the website that I frequently post on that leaves me the most amazing comments. I mean, like FREAKING amazingly nice comments. The kind that you log on when you are having a bad day to re-read, that is how nice they are.

Like this:

Agreed
Submitted by Sandy Sue on Thu, 10/12/2006 - 11:32.

I agree, Jana (not about the limeade), but about the fact that he is a writer that is publishable. The same may be said of you! To write with humor and feeling is difficult, and really is amazing to me. It requires talent that is not learned in any school of journalism. Were you BOTH in a larger city, I imagine people would be making offers right and left. I am truly impressed with both of your writing abilities, because laughter, and laughing at one's self, is the key to happiness. It is marvelous that you all have this site to place work, but your writing abilities are so much better than just simply posting them on a local small town website. Please explore your options. Perhaps a newspaper in a larger city, or a magazine that takes freelancers, would recognize what they have here! The writing submitted by both of you adds a great deal to this site -- general reporting, events coming up , etc. are needed on the site --- but so is the humor element. I look forward to your postings, and imagine that many others do as well! But broaden your horizons some! Lots of people would enjoy your work!

and this:

My two favorites!
Submitted by Sandy Sue on Tue, 10/17/2006 - 18:06.

Girl! You and Andrew need to start your own newspaper or a magazine! Why not??? Or more to the point, why are you both not in Manhattan or Atlanta, anyhow! (Andrew may wish to stay in the south---so I tossed in the Atlanta reference!) I have an extensive educational background, am well-traveled, etc, and have rarely seen better work than the two of you produce! Hartsville's "journalism representatives" are apparently not in a positon to offer you much, so look out of this area! I hope someone discovers you both!

and this:

readergirl
Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 8 PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 9:30 pm
Post subject: HartsvilleToday.com

What does everyone think of the hartsvilletoday.com? There are two very talented writers currently offering frequent "slice of life" features. I have thought for a long time that the Messenger needed a female columnist. There was a really good one a few years ago called "The Good Life" which ended abruptly. Also, last year I think a woman named Martha started a column that lasted only a couple issues. I nominate Jana for the position. The only other "slice of life" column is the rather jokey one by Scott Davis, which I'm sure is appreciated by many. For something a little more thoughtful, I nominate "Andrew". (Andrew, who are you?") While it's true that a lot of people can enjoy Jana's and Andrew's observations on the net, there is nothing quite like curling up with the newspaper and a cup of coffee. I really think these new additions to the "hands-on" paper would be appreciated by the entire Hartsville community.

sandysue Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 13 Location: South Carolna PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 9:38 am
Post subject: I agree, Readergirl!

Girl, you ain't telling no lies! Those two are my main reason for even going on the site. People all over my office talk about their articles and how well they are written! The columnists you mentioned that are no longer having their work published in The Messenger, were local people, which made sense. The column that IS currently published (the silly one you mentioned by Scott Davis), well that author lives in Sumter--which makes no sense. Sumter is lovely, but I live in Hartsville! Appears to me that local talent, like Jana's, would be a more logical choice in the local paper. Doesn't sound like rocket science to me! It is why I have stated before, on the other site, that the two people you have commented about (Jana and Andrew) ought to move to a larger area---someone would have snapped them both up by now! I am glad USC and The Messenger have provided a forum for us to read such professional work!

and most recently, this:

Send a Smoke Signal
Submitted by Sandy Sue on Wed, 10/25/2006 - 15:34.

Jana: I guess you are going to have to fire a cannonball, or send a flare up or something to make the local paper (or some paper) see your worthiness to be a columnist. At the very least, you need to be a freelancer. This was beyond SUPER! Girl, as long as you are posting this quality work for free, no one is going to feel the need to pay! (Maybe the paper is on to something here!) Lord knows, I'd put you to work! I sure hope someone notices your talents! You make this site what it is! You go, girl!

So, who IS she??

This little city is not very big at all, but it does have a large Fortune 500 world headquarters factory that employs lots of folks, so, she probably works there and travels for them. Still, I always wonder when I am shopping, "is she here somewhere? this guardian angel of the 'net?"

By the way, "Andrew" is my best guy friend here in town, I love him like a brother and he is the yin to my yang, and loves to make me laugh by impersonating Carol Channing to me over the phone.



He is my best person to bounce ideas around, and is generally one of the best things about living in a small southern town. His writing far surpasses mine, he has a damn MASTERS in journalism, but he kindly praises me and encourages me to "observe, appreciate, and write the damn shit down."

I love me some Andy.

I am so hyped up on caffeine and antihistimines now that I swear to God that if I don't get some work done today around this house, it won't ever happen.

What would I rather be doing today? Instead of cleaning this damn house and perhaps clean out the car and take care of this shabby lawn?

Read some more of this: The Lightworkers Way

But that is a post for another day.

Because we all need a hug....

When is the last time you were hugged?

I was sent this video, and it really touched my heart, and got me thinking. The sound is loud, so turn your speakers to a comfortable level.

Free Hugs Video



Read more about this fella, Juan Mann, here: Free Hug man speaks out

On a quest to find out where HE got the idea, I found out that it originated here in the South... more on that below...and I also found a lot of research about how beneficial hugs are to we humans.

Hugs just may be just what the doctor ordered when it comes to stress reduction. Consider this excerpt from a recent USA Today article, Hugs warm the heart, and may protect it

here is an excerpt:

"Cuddling may be good medicine for the heart. A brief hug and 10 minutes of
handholding with a romantic partner greatly reduce the harmful physical
effects of stress, according to a study reported over the weekend at the
American Psychosomatic Society meeting here.
Loving contact before a tough day at work "could carry over and protect you
throughout the day," says psychologist Karen Grewen with the School of
Medicine at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.”
“This is the latest of many studies suggesting humans are "hard-wired" to
thrive as social animals, says Tiffany Field of the Touch Research Institute
at the University of Miami Medical School. Field's research shows touch
lowers output of cortisol, a stress hormone. When cortisol dips, there's a
surge of two "feel good" brain chemicals, serotonin and dopamine.”

Brain chemicals may be the case, but, all I know is that hugging heals. We instinctively embrace someone in pain, whether emotional or physical. There is nothing like the relief of hugging someone you have been worried about, the sweet hug of a child, the embrace of a loved one you haven’t seen in a while.

What about the inspiration for the Australian "Juan Mann"? It was non other than a man from the US, formerly of Miami South Beach, and now in Atlanta, GA, Jason Hunter.




(Jason Hunter, in a rare photograph of him alone, not hugging someone! This was the ONLY alone photograph I could find on his whole website!)

FREE HUGS was inspired by founder Jason Hunter’s mother Mrs. Josephine Clayton Hunter who passed away in 2001. Sitting at his mother’s funeral service, Jason listened as almost every speaker shared how Mrs. Hunter loved hugging people and letting them know how much they matter. Touched by the speakers, Jason acted on this inspiration and walked the streets of his hometown, Miami’s South Beach, with a sign that simply stated “FREE HUGS”. Hence, FREE HUGS was born. Read more about them, here;

Free Hugs

As stated on the website, Research shows that we need at least three hugs a day to grow and become a better person. A hug is a universal symbol of support, concern, or just a way of saying, “I’m here and I matter.” They sell great t-shirts to promote their cause, that say “FREE HUGS we all need one”

Here in my fair adopted city, we have our huggers. The Youth Pastor from the other UMC church in town comes to mind; her “guys and dolls” love her hugs as much as they love her. She shows me through the power of her hugs how much she REALLY CARES about the people that she is talking with, and her hugs make you feel loved. Walk into any restaurant in this city, into any store, and every once in a while you'll witness some serious hugging going on. After church, be warned, my Yankee brothers and sisters, you may get hugged. It may be off putting to some, but to most, it is welcome and encouraged. Because, like the t-shirt says, "we all need one".

That is why people wait in line for hours for a hug from the Indian guru, Amma. Read about her here, Hugging saint is compassion in action

I am reminded of a line from the 2004 movie, “Crash”;

"It's the sense of touch. In any real city, you walk, you know?
You brush past people, people bump into you. In L.A., nobody
touches you. We're always behind this metal and glass. I think
we miss that touch so much, that we crash into each other,
just so we can feel something."

Well, we are certainly not L.A., but we still don’t often brush past each other, either in Wal-Mart or walking along a downtown street shopping. We are polite, we try not to get into each other’s spaces. And that is fine. I certainly appreciate that space from time to time. But, I need a hug some days… and, luckily, I have kids that will indulge me that hug when I ask for it. My friends are all very good at hugging, and I love them all for that. I also work at a very “hug-friendly” church, where it is common for our new minister to hug each person he greets when he arrives to work in the morning. And, being “Jana Banana” to many little friends in our fair city, I get my share of little people hugs a week.

But, I watch others pass my way. Alone. Could they by no fault of their own be raised by a family of non-huggers, or live for years at a time with no hugs at all? And I wonder… what would an invitation to a free hug do for them? Would it be banned by the Police Department? Would it be celebrated as another great thing by the always forward thinking Down Town Development folks?

What about inviting Jason Hunter and his team here to this city, maybe in conjunction with a Walk –a-Thon fundraiser for a worthy charity? I wrote to him via his site, (you can read an excerpt of my e-mail here, HugStories This is one hands-on guy that actually reads and responds to e-mails… here is an excerpt of his reply to me:

Hey Jana!!! Thank you so much for the kind words. I am going to post part of
your email on our "Hugstories" page. I would love to work with you on
planning a Free Hugs day there. That's one of the many things that we do.
And it shouldn't be that hard to work on it, since we are only one state over
from you. Also, thank you so much for writing about us in "Hartsville Today."
You ROCK!!!

We are not connected with Juann Mann, but he did email me once a long
time ago and said that he was going to do what he's doing. So in a way "yeah,"
because we did inspire him to do it. Well, I look forward to hearing from you
and I am so excited about possibly working with you. If you don't mind, please
send us a copy of the article that you will be writing.

Have a awesome rest of the day!!!

Your Friend,

Jason G. Hunter Founder/President Free Hugs LLC

This is my call to readers: if the video, and the website from Atlanta did indeed soften your heart, don’t resist the next time you feel the tiniest urge to hug someone. Your friendly hug may just be what that person needs most in the world, at that moment in time. And, it’s free.

I ordered a shirt, and will be dispensing some Jana Banana hugs soon...and, if you'd like to join me, let's bring some Free Hugs to our towns and cities!

My house

My house looks nothing like this.

but

I wish it did, because I would have big, fabulous parties
and have all my family live with me

and if we needed money, we'd just host another tour
or rent it out for weddings.

For now, I am cleaning up my messy, messy, messy house
while visions of the Biltmore dances in my head

Man of Toys

There are guardian angels. I feel that in my bones, and don’t doubt it one bit. There are also humans on earth that are angels in disguise. How do I know this to be true? I met one, several times. And to this day, I never knew his name.

Back in 1994, my family and I moved south- exactly 1000 miles away from my home in Bath, Maine. I had a two year old girl, and boys 3 and almost 6. I was 27 years old, and with the exception of college in Massachusetts and a few visits to NC, SC and FL, I had never lived away from my Mom very long. It was warm that that Christmas and New Years, which was a novelty. Then, it rained the entire month of February (or so it seemed) and I missed my Mom so much my heart broke each time I heard her voice.

One day, I bundled the kids into raincoats and L.L. Bean rubber boots and drove off to the post office to buy more stamps and mail some photos to Maine. My mind was concerned on unbuckling car seats and chasing little boys, so I never saw him approach until I heard, “Well, good morning, children!”

There before us stood a smiling older gentleman in a black coat and hat, smiling for all the world like a man standing in the sunshine rather than gray rain. His eyes twinkled, and looked at each child lovingly.

“I have something for you, if your mother allows…” and off he went towards his car.

I looked at my eldest son, as his green eyes sparkled in anticipation- ”Who’s that, Mum?”

I shrugged my shoulders, not sure what to make of this little man.

Over he walked with three stuffed animals under his coat, and handed a pink bear to my little girl on my hip, a blue bear to my three year old, and a green monkey to my kindergarten son.

They smiled and hugged their stuffed animals close, and all said an excited “Thank you!”

Needless to say, they talked about it the whole way home. My heavy heart, missing my home and my family was lifted, and I felt the warmth of a good deed.

This occurred several other times, once in the parking lot of Winn Dixie, once while eating at the buffet restaurant, and once more at the post office. My children never asked his name, and neither did I. I asked about him once or twice, and if I was told his name, I did not commit it to memory… I preferred to imagine him as an angel, a leprechaun, a magical man that seemed to appear out of thin air with a gift just when my spirit was lowest.

Twelve years later, I still get a sensation of a heart overflowing and tears in my eyes when I think of that man, and how his magical stuffed animals made my children feel so special, and made their mother believe in earth angels. I want to thank him somehow, honor his memory, and do good deeds in his name. Better than any greeting to a transplanted Yankee, that man made me feel welcome, and gave me the courage to bloom where I was planted.

I thought of him years later when I saw the film, “Pay it Forward”. Wouldn’t it be great to be remembered by people in such a wonderful way, for such kind deeds?

Bless you, Man of Toys, wherever you may be…. you’ll always live in my heart, among my fondest memories of living in the heart of the South.

hey, look up, my face is up here ^

Okay, I already know that I happen to have a larger chest.

I've known this since I was in 5th grade.

Sometimes I wear really baggy stuff so that it is not so noticeable.

Sometimes, I just throw on some clothes and it seems to be okay, then I get to work, or the store, or out anywhere and instead of looking at my eyes, people talk to my chest. Not just men, women included.

So, out comes the digital camera, just to see what it is that everyone is looking at:
I don't get it. Not like I am some kind of Victoria's Secret or Playboy girl with perfectly plastic breasts. These are the breasts of a woman that is 39, nursed three kids, and is pretty comfortable with herself. That doesn't necessarily want all the attention to be here, but is sick of wearing loose baggy clothing that makes me look like a farm woman from the 1800's.
So, look. I have breasts. I wear a bra all the time, even to bed, because I read long ago that Marilyn Monroe did that, that she swore by it...and I am fearful of having National Geographic breasts that hang low. So, is that vain? Probably. Does it work? Seems to have worked so far, they aren't too bad if I say so myself. Do I want to have people looking at my chest?

no.

What I would like them to do, is to ask me about this necklace.

I used to alternate wearing these pendants on a thin silver chain. Then one day, I decided to put them all on at one time and that is how they have stayed. They jingle jangle around, when I am nervous I play with them, when I am bored I finger them. 1. The center is a cross- not a crucifix, but a lovely, swirly cross. It reminds me that my faith is pure and beautiful. 2. Underneath it is a heart locket, with three flowers on it. It represents my heart, my love, my three children. 3. The final is a handmade pendant that I got for my birthday a few years ago from my daughter, a handblown clear bead with taupe and white polka dots and a lovely spiral. This represents my creativity and sense of humor. This necklace is what I want people to look at, to ask me about, to notice.

So, why do people look at breasts? They are there to nourish children, and really that is their only real function. They are sensual, and very pleasurable to the touch, which makes them sexual. Does that make people look because they are exhibiting a primal urge to be an infant again, or to procreate? Advertising studies have found that the female body enhances ads for both sexes of all ages, as it is intrinsically pleasing to the eye.

There is so much in the media this month for breast cancer awareness. If your read Louise Hay, that somehow we will ourselves to be ill and to have certain diseases...what does that say about the proliferance of breast culture in our country? Is it that we have more toxins over here, or is it that we as women are somehow not comfortable with our breasts, harbor conflicted feelings about our feminity, ourselves, our sexuality? Our very essence of what protrudes from our body, as our sex organs are hidden and protected.... our breasts are out there for view. Or to hide.

I kinda think we need to celebrate our bodies, breasts included. I am glad that mine were able to nourish my kids, and that they were healthy babies because of them. I used to be shy about them, but now I can just accept. I like 'em.

violette is my new hero

Who could love glitter even more than me? This lady.

I seriously love her, love her artwork, love her van, love her blog, she is effervescent and adorable and looking at her site just makes me smile.

Go see for yourself: Violette's Folk Art

cards

Try this: Lightworker Cards

Child of Hearts
Goldilocks

Goldilocks represents a child's curiosity, innocence, and eagerness while searching for a true sense of home, identity, and family ties. Goldilocks is the child in each of us, the Child of Hearts who gains a beautiful vision of another world.

When Goldilocks appears in your reading, open your childlike heart to the spirit of home and hearth. Be more accepting about a loved one's lifestyle. Explore your in depth feelings with a sense of exuberance and wonder. See the world from a new vantage point. Realize that the three bears' sense of organization and structure may reflect your own behavior patterns and crystalized habits. A guest or friend may be coming to visit you. Will you scare away your new companion or welcome the person with open arms?

Hmm. Very interesting thing to come upon this night. Cards are a cool oracle kind of thing if done in a lighthearted way. Some people get all serious about them, or think they are somehow bad or negative...but, they can be perfectly fine if used correctly. In my case, just as another way to tap into the collective unconsciousness to see what the universe is trying to tell me; messages about myself are all too often accurate. This is a fun one, too: Ask Fortuna

Meeting Politicians

U.S. Rep. John Spratt at Kalmia Gardens


Yesterday afternoon I had the pleasure of meeting U.S. Rep. John Spratt and his lovely wife Jane at a drop in hosted by S.C. Sen. Gerald Malloy and his equally lovely wife, Davita, at Kalmia Gardens.

Rep. Spratt had the opportunity to speak to the large crowd, answer questions, and share his vision for the growth of his native state of South Carolina. You can read more about him Here and more Here

It was wonderful to see so many people who live and work in Darlington County, such as individuals from Coker College, South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics, Darlington County School District, Sonoco, local businesses, clergy, and retirees. There were over 300 people total that visited the drop in, and John and Jane greeted them all.

Once again, I am struck by how affable people are in the South. I cannot imagine another state where you can call your politicians by name as easily as you can in South Carolina! Jane Spratt greeted people as they arrived; when she asked where I was from, she shared memories of time she spent in my home state. Rep. John Spratt shared with the guests a phone call he received from an elderly woman; she had seen an ad, and was afraid he was cutting her Social Security. It bothered him so much that he felt the need to share it with the crowd. That connection to real people is a common thread that I have witnessed since I moved here. People call their elected officials by their first names, and that speaks volumes for the style of government that is uniquely South Carolinian.

The issue of negative campaign ads was brought up by several of the people I spoke with, and the concensus seems to be "what a waste of money on all these negative ads!" It is a shame that the money spent on all that couldn't be funneled into more needed, worthwhile charities. Not to mention how ridiculous some of the claims end up being when properly researched. One older gentleman said that he had a very disturbing phone call from a campaign group that asked very personal questions. One can certainly hope that this type of behavior will not be allowed to continue.

Unfortunately, we live in a society that is driven by our media, so we must suffer through a deluge of print, television and radio campaigns for weeks prior to November 7. Some may be true, some not. What you can do, however, is to arm yourself with the truth. I urge you to research each person running for office with an open mind.

Personally, I was raised to vote for the PERSON, not the party. I love the former Sen. Bill Cohen, Republican from Maine just as much as I loved Gov. Ann Richards, Democrat from Texas. Likewise, I cannot imagine any men that are more committed to their office and their constituents than Sen. Gerald Malloy, D. and Rep. Jay Lucas, R. The people in office that can walk across party lines to work together to come up with workable solutions for the greater good for local, state and national issues are the ones that deserve our vote.

The person running for office should be how you make your choice in the ballot booth; no one is in there but you. We are so fortunate as Americans to have the right to vote, so use that vote responsibly. Don't blindly follow a party; don't blindly believe each e-mail you receive nor negative ad you watch.

This season, get out and meet everyone running if you have the opportunity. Go to their websites, read non-partisan accounts of their records.

Don't forget to VOTE!