The Passion of a Dragon's Heart

WooHoo, HNSCA has been able to help.  We were able to distribute all of our fans out to needy families affected by Hurricane Ike!  Employees where I work were in the Alvin area and was able to distribute all the remaining fans.

We still have window locks, deadbolts, and door locks to give out if needed.  It would be advantageous to make sure you can lock up your residence if you are still out of power and such.  Wile we have not had as much theft and looting as expected, there are still those out there that think YOUR houst is an easy target because no one is home and the neighbors are gone as well.  Let me know if I can be of assistance.

I know times will be tough, but if you still would like to assist, we could use more fans, locks, smoke/fire alarms, fire extinguishers, etc.

PassionateDragon

www.hnsca.org

WooHoo, HNSCA has been able to help.  We were able to distribute all of our fans out to needy families affected by Hurricane Ike!  Employees where I work were in the Alvin area and was able to distribute all the remaining fans.

We still have window locks, deadbolts, and door locks to give out if needed.  It would be advantageous to make sure you can lock up your residence if you are still out of power and such.  Wile we have not had as much theft and looting as expected, there are still those out there that think YOUR houst is an easy target because no one is home and the neighbors are gone as well.  Let me know if I can be of assistance.

I know times will be tough, but if you still would like to assist, we could use more fans, locks, smoke/fire alarms, fire extinguishers, etc.

PassionateDragon

www.hnsca.org

Sorry I haven't been on in a while.  I have been really busy, with 3 of my 4 children living with me.  I have been in a lot of stress lately.The 2 youngest (14) have not been doing well in school, my 18 yo daughter just recently found out she is pregnant, I am still in a 1 br apt (for now), I am still making the same amount of money, it may be soon that my 18 yo's boyfriend (and the father) may be coming down.  Once again I am stressing over finances.  We need to move into a bigger place, but I cannot afford it.I am also concerned about the fact that the father is black and we are white.  I myself don't have a problem with it, but I have seen what happens to mixed relationships.  I have tried to prepare her for what may be coming, and I just pray she doesn't have to go through what I suspect.  People can be so cruel.   Anyways, I don't want to just ramble, and I know I will because it is late and I am tired.  Just wanted to let everyone know I am still here.  I need a break!

PassionateDragon

I think I had mentioned before that my youngest daughter is living with me.  I am in a small 1 br apartment at the moment and it has been a bit of a chore with her living here.  After 13 years, I have one of my kids.  Yesterday, I got a phone call from my son and now he is comming here to live.  His mother is moving back to Hearn up by Bryan/Collage Station.  She was suppose to wait until the end of the school year, but for reasons I am not sure of, she is moving sooner.  My son doesn't want to move back there so he is comming here.  Besides, he wants to be with his sister.  This all hit me so sudden and I have been trying to figure out what we are going to do.  Small apartment, not much income, and now 2 14 year olds.  Whew, is this a lil stressful.  Ok, today, I get another phone call from my 17 (18 next month) daughter.  She is the one that quit high school and went to job corp.  She also wants to come live here.  MAN, what to do?  It's not like I am going to tell them they can't live here.  At least she will be able to get a job and help out with bills.  So, in the last 2 days, my household has doubled.  Jessica will be here sometime tomorrow around noon, and Travis will be here this weekend.  Now my stress level has tripled because I know it will be a VERY hard road for the next few months.  We will have to find a larger place to live (preferably in the Alief School district), Try to keep an eye on the electricity bill, food, school and supplies, more household items, sleeping arraingements, etc.  I have been thinking about all this for the last 2 days and I am simply overwhelmed.  I fought for custody from the begining and now it is happening.  I am excited, happy, stressed, overwhelmed, and worried.  How will we manage when I am not bringing in more money?  Well, I have to have faith.  We will make things work.  We will get by, we will survive.  Although I am not sure how.

Passionatedragon

I am not sure if this blog will get through, but here goes.

If you live in the Westchase district and have the time, you might want to consider joining the Westchase District Lions Club.  We have become desperate for new members.  We are not yet an independant club but a sister club to Southwest Lions Club.  The club got started just over a year ago and we seem to have a time with member commitment.  I am one of the founding members and have just been appointed "acting" president for the time being.  Our membership has dropped because of "other" commitments by members and we are looking to renew the ranks.  We meet every 1st and 3rd Wednesday's for lunch at Piatto’s Itlaian Restrurant 11693 Westheimer.  The next meeting will take place on 2/13/08 instead of the 6th.  If you are interested in participating and becoming a member, please contact me via a response to this blog or email me at passionatedragon@gmail.com.  The Lions Club is known worldwide and together we can achieve remarkable things.

PassionateDragon

I woke up around 11:00am this morning, laid back down and got back up around 12:00.  It was time to get up, get dressed, and go to the office so I caould make me something to eat.  I had to go to the office because I am still withou power at the apartment.  I have been without power since LAST Saturday and "supposedly" it is to be turned on Monday.  I have still been fighting with RIVERWAY POWER to get electricity turned on.  I initially called them on December 17th to apply for service, and due to a mistake on their part (I believe it was their mistake) I STILL have no power.  Anyways, that is another story.  I got to the office to find my boss and 2 other co-workers working overtime to get the end of year financials done.  I made me an omelett (sp), sat down and ate.  Checked my emails, chit-chatted a little with co-workers, then began to play World of Warcraft on my office PC.  We ordered Chinese for lunch, lol, I had just ate and was ordering lunch.  I ate while playing.  Just after 5:00p, I decided I was going to treat myself to a movie.  So I went to the theater and saw "I am legend".  Good Movie!  Then came back to the office just in time to see everyone leaving.  Here it is Saturday night and I am spending it at the office playing WOW and waiting for time to go by so I can go home and go to bed.  Sometimes life sux, but you just have to make the best of it.  I have been without power for 7 days now.  Wow, what a New Years beginning.  But, I still have a good outlook on life.  It "could" be worse.  Even with what I am going through, I know there are people out there having a worse time of it.  I at lease HAVE a place to go and a bed to sleep in.  An office to goto with a fridge, microwave, hotplate, and a bathroom down the hall.  Now it is almost 9:00p and I am about to head out to the apartment.  It is a nice night and I won't require all the candles to keep warm by.  Maybe I will only need 3 or 4 sitting on the table so I can see to write in my book.  If only I wasn't having writers block and can get through this part.  Maybe I can finish chapter 3 soon.  Oh well, all I can do is sit there and stare at the pages untill something presents itself :).  On to the night and the next day.  Have a wonderful weekend as best YOU can.

PassionateDragon

How many of you remember this guy?

My mom has had this thing for a very long time.  I can remember the commercials and I thought they were great.  I WISH THEY WOULD BRING HIM BACK!!!

What do you think?

PassionateDragon

Ok, so I call around to try to get electricity in my name because the apartment complex is no longer doing the all bills paid.  Because of bad credit, I already know I will have to pay a deposit.  I still call around, and most of the companies will require a $400 to $450 deposit.  Wow, I didn't realize I had to be rich to get a utility in my name.  Anyways, I finally find this small company that will give me service for $200 deposit.  I have to take it because I only have about $210 in the bank.  The complex is suppose to turn on the power on the 22nd of December so I am desperatly trying to get power in my name and switched over by the 21st.  I called and applied on the 18th and they tyell me that there would be no problem with switching by the 21st.  All my worries are over.  Yea right.  I get a call from this new company ON the 21st (the day it is supposed to be switched), and I am told that they are having trouble getting approval from ERCOT because thier systems are down, and that my power will not be switched untill after the holidays.  Ok, so now I will not have any power for the Christmas holidays.  I guess its a good thing I will be spending it with my mom.  Now Christmas is over, and I head back to the apt because I have to work the 26th.  Hmmm, I still have power but not by the new company.  I finish out the week (expecting power to go out at anytime.  I had to go out of town Friday on a service call that lasted until Sat afternoon.  I get home around 6:30pm Sat night and NOW I have no power. I make the best of it and lite many candles (being safe with them - all are placed where no problems "should" occur).  You know, with out power, no TV, no Internet, no lights, no stove/microwave, it makes for a VERY boring night.  So I sat down and was able to get another page or two written in my book, by candlelight.  It would have been a romantic night if there were someone else besides me, lol.  I called the company today (Sunday) to get a status, and surprise!, they will have to call me back Monday to give me an update.  Sooo, I spend the day at the office where I have a fridge, microwave, hotplate, bbq pit, etc.  I also have a computer with internet and TV.  I spend some time playing WOW on my PC, then decided to go out for a movie.  Now it is time to head back to the apt still without power.  Fortunately, it is not as cold tonight as it was last night.  So I will make the best of it, maybe get another page or two written, and hope I can get the wakeup call for the morning.  Back to work for the week and in hopes of getting the power turned on in the next day or two.  Have a great week and a wonderful New Year!  I am trying to start MY New Year off right, lol, alone and no power.  Fortunatly my daughter is out of school and at her oldest sisters through all of this.  See you when I have power again!

PassionateDragon

I just wanted to say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone.  Yes, I am still alive, I have just been more involved with my daughter and still just making it.

PassionateDragon

Many thanks to David Roberts and Lou Keels at Interfaith Ministries.  Because the Meals on Wheels are out in the communities, the drivers were able to take a count on families and elderly that could benifit from HNSCA's fans.  I met with them yesterday and dropped off 19 fans to be distributed.  It was really fun to try to get 20 fans in my little Saturn, but I did it.  Driving to IFM was a bit of a task but worth it. 

I know that the weather has turned cooler, but these fans will still get to good use.  At least the people that need them will have them when they are needed.

Let's keep this up.  I am now getting into wanting donations for smoke/fire alarms and fire extinguishers.  Next I will be thinking of outside lighting.

Have a GREAT All Hallows Eve.

PassionateDragon

When was the last time you checked YOUR smoke detector?

1. This week

2. Last week

3. 2 Weeks ago

4. A month ago

5. More than a month ago

6. What smoke detector

Smoke detectors can save lives, but not if they don't work.  Check your smoke/fire alarms regularly.  Replace the battery when it needs it.  Mine gets checked everytime I cook.  :)

PassionateDragon

Tonight, I feel as though my heart has been ripped out.  Everything has been going great for the last couple of month.  My youngest daughter came to live with me, and even tho I knew it wasn't because she wanted to, I was very happy and excited and happy about it.  I knew the reason she wanted to be here:  It was because her mother was trying to make her believe in something she didn't, and because her mother doesn't really approve of her being bi-sexual.  I am WAY more open minded about things and she knew that I would not force my beliefs on her or downgrade her for her preferences.  With all that aside, we have had a great relationship and a great time.  She has a girlfriend living in the area where her older sister lives, and I have tried to accomodate her by taking her to spend the weekends with her sister.  It is only about 100 miles round trip, so thats not too bad.  But I am living on a VERY tight budget.  The paperwork has not cleared yet for the custody change and we are struggling VERY hard to make ends meet.  We have almost no food in the apt, and I am already depressed because I am concerned if I will even have enough money for rent.  Because of that, I am not sure if I will be able to take her to see her sister.  So as she is on the phone with her brother, he is consistantly asking if we she is going to be able to come down.  I keep explaining to him that I am not sure because of money, but he is being persistant.  My daughter is now depressed because she is really missing her brother AND her girlfriend.  So she makes the comment of "Daddy, how soon do you think it will be before I can go live with my sister?"  Ok, so I have not been the best dad in the world, but I am trying.  I now feel like a failure because I cannot provide for my kids like I want to.  I have made some really bad choices in my life and I have had to deal with them.  And this hurts.  I have tried explaining that sometime life doesnt go like you plan.  You have to make sacrifices sometime in order to make life better for yourself and the ones around you.  I have learned this lesson the hard way.  But this isn't helping.  What am I to do?  I feel like I am a bad father.  I cannot provide enough food for the both of us on a regular basis.  We eat quick and easy meals (for which I have gotten used to being on my own).  I have asked GOD for direction, but at this moment, it has not eased my troubled mind.  There has to be a better path for me to follow.  I have been hurt in the past to the point where I cannot even cry about things like this anymore.  I feel like giving up....Like falling into that black abiss of society where everyone feels the same.  Where emotions don't matter....I am trying to be faithful and hold on to what I believe, but sometimes that even fails me.  The edge of the abiss is near and I am shaking with fear.  To see myself falling terrorizes me and I find myself looking for a way to hold on.  I do realize there are others out there in worse shape than me, but I can only see my own problems right now.  Dear Lord, I pray for guidance.

PassionateDragon

Sorry for the ramble, but it helps to clear my head.  Maybe I need to go write in my book for a while.

Sorry....As you can probably tell, I am a little depressed and lonely.  I just have a lot going on and need to get it out.

PassionateDragon