TLDR
2019 was such a great year for me, topping 2018 which I thought would be hard to do, considering I got my van, a brand new wheelchair, and visited family in San Diego.
I ate many meals with new friends and old, and reacquainted myself with a long lost friend (from 35 years ago!) Although I wasn't able to have a meal with him, I was inspired to create art, as many memories, feelings, and questions entered my body, mind, and soul.
I continued my work with Wheelchair Health In Motion (WHIM) as Peer Team Leader and welcomed over 100 individuals to the state of New Hampshire as part of the FSP. I still lead a weekly class in Manchester for exercise and peer support and attend the monthly New Movers Potlucks in both Manchester and now in Dover.
This year I started another adventure and joined a vaudeville/burlesque troupe. I created a new persona Ava Reese, and she's a greedy bitch! I've had a lot of fun playing her, dancing, singing, and researching how to be a better performer. It's been challenging and oh, so much fun!
I hope you can stand (or sit) to read through my year of adventure and enjoy them as I have <3
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| Eternal Flame |
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| BrokenHeartVaginaWings |
January 2019
I'm looking through my google calendar to help myself remember what I did and when I did it, lol. I absolutely remember that my niece and nephew came to visit, we took a trip to Boston for a show and Maine for lobsters. We tried on make up, got a piercing, and even went to the freezing cold beach, it was the first time seeing the Atlantic ocean for the two of them. It was the best trip ever and I wish they could have stayed longer.
January was also the month that I began my live music journey of
2019. This year I went to as many live concerts as I could, that
included Kashmir - a Led Zepplin tribute band, a Prince tribute band, a
U2 tribute band, Peter Frampton, Jason Bonham, Weird Al, and many other
local bands!February 2019
Liberty Forum! The FSP's annual winter conference was held in Manchester and it was the first year I didn't need a room, because I could drive there on my own! I didn't volunteer much for the event, but made sure we had folks at the Meet the Regions event and helped sign people up for PorcFest. Oh yeah, and I attended Vermin Supreme's movie preview at the Q.
March 2019
While not the most adventurous month, I spent time with friends over games and meals, attended a healthy living series led by my friend Dave, celebrated the upcoming birth of my friend's baby, and made new friends 💖
April 2019
Well I'm glad I rested up in March because April 1st I fell out of my wheelchair and broke my leg! I'll just say this my friends, if you're in a wheelchair, put on your damn seat belt! Having a broken leg put a crimp in my style for over 6 months, increasing the muscle spasms I'm already suffering through, and making it just that much harder to get sh*t done, thank you very much.
April also included WHIM's annual spring series #Fit4Wellness. We had adaptive classes for Zumba, Tai Chi, POUND, and yoga. I continued to run the Facebook page and promotions and tried to attend as many of the events around the state as I could.
May 2019
Another busy month, when are they not?! I'm definitely enjoying an active lifestyle and having the van has made my life busier than ever! It frees me to go when and where I please, to enjoy social activities as well as improve my job performance.
WHIM continued it's awesomeness with an art day out in the country and a fundraiser at our local Fisher Cats baseball stadium.
My work for the FSP keeps me going with more movers coming in, now that it's warming up and planning for PorcFest next month. I was the volunteer coordinator and also put together the Meet the Regions panel, so May was chock-a-block full of planning and coordinating for that.
We also had a very successful FSP calling party, reaching over 500 of our most recent signers and energizing our volunteers! Overheard, "Thanks again for organizing. Met two movers, a signer with mutual friends, and got another 5 or so reinvigorated for the move. I'm reinvigorated too, can't wait to do this again!"
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| #DomiMeal |
June 2019
PORCFEST!!! This year I took on the role of Volunteer Coordinator. I know it seems like I have my hand in all the pots FSP, but this is actually the first time I've taken on a leadership role for the Porcupine Freedom Festival (PorcFest), and I've attended all, but 2 of them! I feel as though I did the work before hand to let the volunteers know what to expect and to make sure that the other departments had the volunteers they needed. One of my favorite moments of that week was finding a new volunteer in less than 30 minutes AT PorcFest when we had a no-show. Not only do I have the coolest friends, but I know how to move and shake them ~ with LOVE of course!
I was also very honored to be a part of a celebration of the life of my friend Shem. Much love to his lady love Carla 💝
I should probably write about the fool that I made of myself early on in the week by slicing the top of my hand with a very sharp knife. Let's just say that I was not in full control of my mental facitilities at that point, but anyone present that night will tell you that I am a jolly drunk who thought the whole situation was hilarious! Thank you to my good friends who took care of me and made sure the bleeding stopped before walking me to my room. LOL 🤣
WHIM continues to stay active with a presentation at a local nursing home and a POUND at the Park event in Manchester. I have so many good friends in so many places!
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| I said, put it over there! |
July 2019
As I look back on my calendar my first thoughts are that I could have done more! I remember now being invited to sports and social events that I just couldn't handle physically and emotionally at that point. I really do get worn out after big events, especially ones I help plan. So I may not have gone kayyaking, water skiing, or to the beach, but my summer was still filled with love, laughter, and friendship. I went to Liberty Prom, attended my friend's wedding, went to see Peter Frampton and Weird Al, and topped it off with an amazing catamaran adventure! This last adventure was provided free to me and my peers by an amazing group of people called The ImPossible Dream 🛥
August 2019
OMG Summer is almost over! Or is it? I'm not going to let the last month of summer get me down, why would I? You know I'm a go-getter 🤣
Here are some pic's from the new mover parties, my weekend in Salem MA, a seacoast outing with WHIM, that time I held a sign for #FreeRoss at the presidential visit to NH, and the debut of Ava Reese (greedy bitch!)
September 2019
Wow. Am I already over half way through with the year? I feel like I've already done everything that I should, but at the same time, there's so much more to be done!
So this month I went to the Freecoast Festival, went soaring in the Franconia Notch & had another art day up in the beautiful Sunapee region. So much for work! (right.)
October 2019
The hits keep coming as I continue to develop my charachter of Ava Reese (Greedy Bitch!) researching costuming and make up. I'm practicing the heck out of my performance and hoping to be the best I can be!
October had an awesome Indian Summer and I spent it wine tasting and spending time outdoors with friends 💖
I also started PT to try to relieve some of my abdominal tone (pain) and come to find out, it's likely my hip flexors from sitting all the time and not my abdominal muscles giving me all this grief. The recommendation is to lie flat on my belly for 15 min twice a day. We'll see if that helps and if I actually do that!
November 2019
Birthday Month and all that Jazz 𝄠
Turning 54 isn't anything to sneeze at. I made it this far, wrinkles, smiles, and all. I live with depression, pain, and loneliness, but maintain a positive attitude and try to share my life with as many as I can. Being grateful seems to have helped me keep my youthfulness and I have a feeling I'm not done yet!
The 3rd of this month also featured the debut of the Lawless Libertines and Ms. Ava Reese!
December 2019
Just another normal month welcoming new movers, taking part in another successful FSP calling party, WHIM holiday party, celebrating the Solstice & XMas Eve with food and friends, and a fabulous NYE Roaring Twenties Gala! Again, as I look through my calendar to remind myself about what I did, I see so many "missed" opportunities for activism and social events. I couldn't do them all, but Ava Reese tied one on for all of you, my lovelies 💋
