MS Maze » Inside the Maze

Inside the Maze: ASJA All the Way

Ann Pietrangelo — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:51:41 +0000

I am pleased to say that I am now a member of The American Society of Journalists and Authors. It is an honor and a privilege to be counted among the ranks of such a remarkable group.

Founded in 1948, the ASJA is a professional association of independent nonfiction writers, helping freelance writers to advance their careers, and now I’ve got the value of their expertise behind me. Onward and upward!

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Inside the Maze 6/19/10

Ann Pietrangelo — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 01:07:38 +0000

“You either stand for tolerance and diversity or you do not. You can not use such a message as a selling point and then pick and choose where you apply it.”

Care2 writer Steve Williams makes that compelling argument in addressing the controversy over McDonald’s ad campaign. McDonald’s is Only Gay Friendly When it Doesn’t Risk Hurting Sales? Interesting food for thought.

Speaking of restaurants, did you know that a typical restaurant employee cross-contaminates food with pathogens once per hour? Makes you think twice about dining out. Eat Out? Get Sick! Restaurants Are Cross-Contaminating Our Food.

I really had my work cut out for me this week.

The Patient Affordable Health Care Act was signed in March, but the health care crisis is not over. Millions of cancer patients are skipping treatments because of cost, putting long-term health and well-being at risk. And one woman, desperate for health care, shot herself in order to get treatment.

Is modern medicine making you sick? Americans may be over-exposed to radiation from medical testing. And doctors are having to cut medicare patients.

Want to do a good deed? Write a note of encouragement and help a city child experience nature this summer. It’s easy and won’t take long…

Happy summer!

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Inside the Maze 6/14/10

Ann Pietrangelo — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 21:00:37 +0000

Why a memoir? I probably should have asked myself that question when I wrote chapter one. A year later, as the finish line approaches, I am asking that question.

I am an ordinary person who has lived an ordinary life. I have accomplished no great feats, held no public office, achieved no great fame. An auto-biography might well be tedious, but the memoir is not. It is but one slice of one life… no explosions, no vampires, no magic spells. It is the kind of book I like to read, so it is the kind of book I chose to write. I hope to be sharing it with potential literary agents in the very near future.

“If writers stopped writing about what happened to them, then there would be a lot of empty pages.”

-Elaine Liner

That sums it up rather nicely.

Here’s what I’ve been up to lately:

Not a Failure, but a Different Ending: I like the idea of different endings rather than failures. Very few things in my life have actually turned out the way I envisioned, but most of them have turned out well. Some have turned out even better than I dared hope.

Wendy Booker, Mountain Climber with MS: “I have attempted Everest twice. I took multiple sclerosis (MS) to the highest it would allow me to go. As the medical staff at base camp have documented, the bar has been set. I am a mountaineer, an adventurer, an explorer. And I’m not done yet.” – Wendy Booker, May 2010

What’s New in Health Care Reform? Seniors, your check is in the mail: Seniors: Your check is in the mail and the donut hole will be completely closed by 2020. With mid-terms looming and confusion about health care reform still a problem, the administration is looking to clear things up, especially for seniors.

Gates Foundation Pledges $1.5 Billion for Global Maternal and Child Health: The Gates Foundation is pledging to spend $1.5 billion over the next five years to support maternal and child health, family planning, and nutrition programs in developing countries.

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Inside the Maze 6/7/2010

Ann Pietrangelo — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 22:20:41 +0000

In a previous Ruminations, I mentioned my “husband block,” a paralyzing fear of showing my memoir-in-progress to my husband, even though he has a large role in the story.

At 50,000 words and the outline for the ending in place, I figured it was now or never. It is no exaggeration to say that I was experiencing absolute terror as he began to read.

It turns out that my outrageously over-the-top anxiety was for naught. He likes it… he really likes it… and believes a literary agent will bite… and that a publisher with publish it… and that somebody other than ourselves will read it…

He is rarely wrong about such things. As I barrel toward the conclusion I have new energy and enthusiasm for seeing this project through to its conclusion. Sweet.

What I’ve been up to lately:

Are you worshiping at the altar of physical beauty? Do you ever get the feeling that somewhere out there is a mold of what a woman should look like… and that what you see in the mirror bears no resemblance to that mold? However our standards of beauty have come together, I’m not falling for it.

Big Tobacco Says Anti-Smoking Ads Violate First Amendment Rights It’s not easy to picture the big tobacco companies in the role of victim. Philip Morris USA, Lorillard Inc., and RJ Reynolds Tobacco are suing New York City for violating their First Amendment rights.

Rhythm Method Popular Among Sexually Active Teens Forty-two percent of teenagers say they have engaged in sexual intercourse — and a lot of them say they are using the rhythm method of birth control.

How to Control Teen Drinking: Parents Matter: It should come as no surprise. Parents who disapprove of teen alcohol use completely tend to have students who drink less once in college. Teens who have more permissive parents when it comes to teenage drinking have a higher risk factor for later binge drinking.

This one is from last week, but if you missed it, please take a moment to meet an amazing man: Edward Janus, Passionate Online Activism at its Finest: When life drops a mountain in front of you, you can give up or you can forge a path around it. Edward Janus chooses the path every time, all the while trying to help the disabled through online activism.

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Inside the Maze 6/1/10

Ann Pietrangelo — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:56:09 +0000

A lot of people are loathe to join Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, or any other online activity. An often cited reason is that they’ve heard it is addictive and an enormous timesuck. Others look down upon the activity as useless.

I beg to disagree. Not that social networking sites can’t be those things, but because they don’t have to be. Like most things in life, they are best used in moderation.

Facebook, for instance, has many third-party apps and games. Some of the games require constant attention and from what I hear, get quite involved. If you’ve got the time and you find such things pleasant, no harm done. I use Facebook to stay in touch with people I rarely or never get to see face-to-face and for connecting with new people in order to share information. Most days, I spend about 15 minutes or so checking in on Facebook, even fewer on Linkedin, which is geared more toward career connections.

If you are a writer, an avid reader, or news junkie, Twitter is a great source of articles and can be used for networking and promoting your own work. You don’t have to follow the blatherers who insist on tweeting every thought that comes into their heads or every item they intend to ingest. If you carefully choose who you follow, you’ll be fine. Some days I have no time for Twitter, others I check in often. Either way, I’m in control of my own time.

Not all of us who make use of social networking sites are frittering away our time aimlessly. Some of us are being productive and using it for both work and pleasure.

We are not helpless in the face of social networking. The bottom line is you get out what you put in.

My latest on Care2:

Edward Janus, Passionate Online Activism at its Finest: When life drops a mountain in front of you, you can give up or you can forge a path around it. Edward Janus chooses the path every time. “In my own little way, I am trying to help the disabled and others with my online activism.” You’ve got to read this man’s story!

Are We Losing Our Empathy? College students are less empathetic than college students of the past. At least that’s what University of Michigan researchers have concluded. Who or what is to blame for the apparent loss of empathy? After all, the study participants are the offspring of those more empathetic college kids from the 70’s and 80’s.

Warning: Dining Out May Result in Extreme Eating: Extreme calories, extreme fat, extreme sodium, extreme portions…Would you order a meal if you knew it contained more calories than you should eat all day?

Insurance Medical Loss Ratio: Profit vs. Patient Care: Insurers have proven themselves to be a powerful lobby and maximizing profits is the ultimate goal. Consumer advocates have their work cut out for them on this one.

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Inside the Maze 5/24/10

Ann Pietrangelo — Tue, 25 May 2010 02:08:00 +0000

One of our favorite shows is HBO’s Treme. The post-Katrina New Orleans area drama is on our permanent DVR schedule. The draw is, in large part, due to beautiful scriptwriting. Every character is a fully-fleshed out human being possessing both good and bad qualities.

Creighton Bernett, played by John Goodman, is an author who suffers writer’s block after receiving a publisher’s advance. Prompted by his wife and his editor, he stares at the blank screen and begins his work. Later his wife asks how it’s going. I can’t quote the exact dialogue, but it went something like this:

“It’s shit.”

“Well, can I read it?”

“Why would you want to read it when I just told you it’s shit?” Then he rips his manuscript to pieces.

That scene prompted my husband to ask if it is finally time for him to read the story I’ve been working on. “It’s shit,” I said, only half in jest. “Why would you want to read shit?”

I’ve got a block, but it’s not exactly writer’s block. It’s husband block. I’ve shown the work to a writer friend, and I’ve shown it to my son, both of whom gave very positive feedback and fabulous suggestions. Yet I continue to stall showing my husband.

Why, I’m not exactly sure, but I’m going to have to get over it soon. After all, the book is a memoir and he is a large part of the story. The fear is that it really is “shit” and that whether he admits it or not, I’ll see it in his eyes. Of course there’s always the possibility that it’s actually good, as my first two critics said. Hmmm… then it would be two to one. Guess there’s only one way to find out.

Here’s what else I’ve been up to lately:

On Care2 Healthy & Green Living

How Pets Raise Spirits and Improve Health: Pets are good for you. Most people who have a pet don’t need scientific proof. Their own experiences are enough to confirm that the bond between humans and pets is enormously beneficial to physical and emotional health.

3 Things You Can Do to Simplify Life with Chronic Illness: Life with chronic illness tends to be stressful, but there are three things you can do right now to simplify your life. It has to do with your home, your sanctuary, and streamlining…

On Care2 Causes

Zuckerberg Admits Facebook Missed the Mark on Privacy: “Our intention was to give you lots of granular controls; but that may not have been what many of you wanted. We just missed the mark.” — Mark Zuckerberg. So what’s next for internet privacy?

Global MOMS Act: What it Means for Global Maternal Health: No woman should have to put her life or her health at risk to give birth. The Global Maternal and Newborn Health Outcomes while Maximizing Successes Act (Global MOMS Act) will expand access to quality maternal health services and greatly reduce maternal mortality. It calls for the development of a strategy to coordinate existing women’s health efforts. (Please sign the petition)

Pesticides May Increase Risk of ADHD in Children: Children who are exposed to organophosphates may have an increased risk of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a study published in the journal, Pediatrics.

BP Oil Spill and the Cost to Human Health: Louisiana Congressman Charlie Melancon sent a letter to Kathleen Sebelius, requesting temporary health care clinics to serve volunteers and workers in Louisiana. He also sought the appointment of a health care coordinator to oversee the health care response… and he thinks BP should pay for it.

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Inside the Maze 5/16/10

Ann Pietrangelo — Sun, 16 May 2010 22:11:55 +0000

Montréal est très beau!

My husband and I recently spent a week in Montreal visiting with extended family. We had such a wonderful time that we decided to try to learn French. For me, it won’t be the first time. As a child, my parents spoke French to each other, but we kids didn’t pick it up, and high school French class was of little help. I’ve never been very good an languages, but I’ll give it another go. Another project we didn’t need, but we do tend to dive headfirst and ask questions later. Here we go again! Devrait être intéressant.

My friend and fellow Care2 writer, Steve Williams, chose to share a very personal story in honor of the International Day Against Homophobia. I was completely blown away by his courage and raw honesty. What was really striking, though, was Steve’s refusal to pin the ‘bad guy’ label on his brother, despite their estrangement. How refreshingly rare.

Whether it is homophobia or something else that has come between you and a loved one, please take the time to read and share this post: We Didn’t Speak, and Now We Can’t

My Latest on Care2 Healthy & Green Living

Improve Mood and Self-Esteem in Minutes with Green Exercise: Forget the gym. If you want to elevate your mood and self-esteem while exercising, think green… and blue. There is evidence to support the claim that green exercise — that is physical activity in the presence of nature — leads to positive short and long-term health outcomes.

On Care2 Causes

Health Care Reform on the Road: Conversations in Canada: The last thing on my mind as my husband and I headed toward our vacation destination was health care reform. It is a topic that has flooded my consciousness for the last several years and I was looking forward to the respite while we got away from it all in Canada… but it wasn’t to be.

Big Soda’s Corporate Responsibility… and Yours: One sugary soft drink a day has been shown to have an impact on overall health. Over the past decade, the consumption of sugary soft drinks has risen dramatically, while consumption of other beverages has declined. Just imagine what we can do if personal responsibility and corporate responsibility come together.

What does F.A.S.T. mean? Knowing the answer could save a life: When the blood supply to the brain is cut off, brain cells die. That’s called a stroke, and it can cause permanent disability or death within minutes. Act F.A.S.T.

In MSFocus Magazine (The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation)

The online version isn’t available yet, but the spring issue is carrying an article by yours truly: Victory for Common Sense, Victory for People with MS.

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Inside the Maze 5/1/10

Ann Pietrangelo — Sat, 01 May 2010 13:00:12 +0000

Random Ruminations

I had that dream again. It varies in the details but it always revolves around a cupcake with pink icing. It’s a delicate yellow cake with creamy pink frosting — not the kind you get from a can, but fluffy and light, and not too sweet.

In last night’s version, I was being chased by… I don’t know who. All I cared about was that I could eat the cupcake before I was captured. Sure enough, I enjoyed my cupcake to its fullest even as I was being tackled from behind.

Whenever I have this dream, I awake feeling satisfied — as if I’d really enjoyed the cupcake.

It’s not my first recurring dream. Others have involved murder, and repeated run-ins with alligators. This one is much more pleasant, and I turned to a dream dictionary for answers.

It seems that the color pink represents love, joy, sweetness, happiness, affection, kindness, being in love, or healing through love. That would certainly explain the good feeling I have when I awaken, and I’m definitely in a loving and kind relationship.

So on to the cupcake. The dream dictionary suggests that I am treating myself to a little sweet reward. Quite believable. Alternatively, it may represent my need to downsize something in my life in order to make it more palatable or manageable — take a little bit at a time. That makes sense, too. I do want some things in my life to be more streamlined. I don’t think I quite qualify as a minimalist, but in my heart of hearts I believe less is more.

It’s a recurring dream, and sometimes the cupcake is a full-size cake, still with the same creamy pink icing. According to the dream dictionary, cake might mean that I need to learn to allocate my workload — that doesn’t seem to fit. It may also symbolize a feeling that I’m not getting my fair share. Hmmm…. not convinced of that one either. Lastly, cake may represent accomplishments and achievements that are a “piece of cake.” No, not that one either. Maybe I just like cake.

I’m hoping that cupcake dream pops up again tonight. All the fun with none of the calories. Oh… that does sound like a piece of cake.

This Week On Care2 Causes

Retiring Chimps, Archie Comics and Fighting Malaria – It’s Care2 Friday Wrap Time! by Steve Williams

And My Contributions for the Week in Causes…

Archie, Betty, Veronica… and Kevin: The New Kid in School is Gay: Perennial high school student Archie has spent decades trying to decide between Betty and Veronica. Some things never change in Riverdale. But some things do. Archie Comics announced the introduction of the first openly gay character to join the student body of Riverdale High School.

Presumed Consent for Organ Donation: Smart Move or Orwellian Prophecy Come True? Let’s presume you want to donate your organs. It’s very generous of you. Unless you don’t. Can’t wait to see the poll results on this one.

You didn’t think the health care crisis was over, did you? Change is in the air, but Americans are still flocking to free health clinics and flying overseas to avail themselves of needed health care. While some provisions of the bill will come into play before the end of this year, the full roll-out will take until 2018. In the meantime, people are still facing a lack of access to needed medical care and the threat of medical bankruptcy.

Homebound and Lonely on Mother’s Day: How You Can Make Her Day: What comes to mind when you think about Mother’s Day? Most of us think about flowers and gifts, family gatherings and brunches, hugs and kisses, loved ones all around… but for some moms, Mother’s Day will be spent alone behind closed doors.

…and in Healthy & Green Living

Surviving Summer with MS: Spring is in full bloom and summer is beckoning. It’s a lovely and uplifting time of year, but for people with multiple sclerosis, summer’s heat and humidity can cause symptoms to become more extreme.

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Contact: writer@webcampone.com

Inside the Maze 4/23/10

Ann Pietrangelo — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 19:25:51 +0000

On Writing

I write in my sleep, and I’m not kidding. Sometimes I go weeks at a time struggling to find my way in my manuscript, every word an excruciating reach. Then there are those days — and nights — when I can’t stop the train of thought. Last night I must have written 20 pages but, alas, they were only in my thoughts. Let’s call that Phase I. Phase II will be to get them written and Phase III to get them re-written, of course. It’s a process and I’m all in.

As of this moment, 42,039 words have made it from my head onto the manuscript, but my end-of-week goal remains to be completed. I’m quite confident that it shall be done.

In the past several weeks I’ve come to realize that the process is more important than the end result. I started this thing with the goal of getting it published. Now don’t get me wrong, that’s still something I strongly desire, but I’m learning along the way that there are more important things to consider. I want it done right. I want it to mean something. I want my husband and the people who care about me to approve, and I especially want it to have my own seal of approval. Then I’ll know I’ve completed something meaningful. Scoring an agent and a publishing deal would be the icing on the cake.

This Week on Care2

The Care2 Causes Weekly Wrap up: Every Day Is Earth Day, and Every Friday We Give You The Friday Wrap! by Suzi Parrasch

And my humble contributions for the week:

50 Years on the Pill: Our Bodies, Our Choices, Our Lives: Did the Pill cause the cause the sweeping sexual, gender, and societal shifts of the 60’s and 70’s… or was it simply one wave in a sea of revolutionary changes? One could ask the same question about The Beatles. War; civil rights; the women’s liberation movement, as it was called then; the smashing of gender and sexual stereotypes; rock ’n roll… oh, the times they were a-changin’.

If laughter is the best medicine, I’ll be fine: I don’t know if laughter is the best medicine, but it is certainly good medicine.The ability to laugh at our own foibles and missteps is sometimes just the tonic we need, like the time when having MS became the excuse that got me out of an absurdly awkward situation worthy of a sitcom.

The Rush of the Tanning Bed Do you feel a rush when you get a tan? Do you feel anxious when you don’t? If you need a tanning booth fix, those could be warning signs that you are addicted to tanning… but is that such a big deal?

School Lunches and Childhood Obesity and a Military at Risk: “Being overweight or obese turns out to be the leading medical reason why applicants fail to qualify for military service. Today, otherwise excellent recruit prospects, some of them with generations of sterling military service in their family history, are being turned away because they are just too overweight.”

2010 Intent Web Awards: Care2 has been nominated for “Best Sustainability Site.” If you are so inclined, please click on over and cast your vote for Care2 — VOTE HERE – Thank you.

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Contact: writer@webcampone.com

Inside the Maze 4/16/10

Ann Pietrangelo — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:33:22 +0000

On Writing

The first draft is the hardest. That blank screen can suck every last thought out of your head. Rather than fear it, I’ve learned to just do it… just start writing anything at all, let my fingers do the walking and see where they go. It doesn’t have to be good, grammatically correct, or in an order that makes sense. The second draft is bliss. Playing editor and making that mess into a cohesive blog post or memoir chapter is where I get my kicks. Apparently, I’m not alone in my madness:

“Writing the last page of the first draft is the most enjoyable moment in writing. It’s one of the most enjoyable moments in life, period.” – Nicholas Sparks

Random Rumination

My contact lens boxes are labeled L and R. In order to differentiate which lens belongs in which eye, they circle either the L or the R… however the L on the right side and the R on the left side… like this: R L. Are they trying to mess with my head?

This Week On Care2

Care2 Causes Weekly Wrap-Up: It’s Time For The Friday Wrap of Vital and Sometimes Bizarre News by Sharon Seltzer

And My Contributions for the Week:

Loneliness Harms Health: Why You Need Friends: Even as modern technology increases our access to other people, our intimate relationships are becoming more scarce. Families are smaller and relatives don’t always live in close proximity anymore. More people work from home, and busy schedules and “to do” lists keep us from connecting in a meaningful way. Studies show that loneliness can harm your health… what defines loneliness, anyway?

One Year Later: Assessing the H1N1 Pandemic Response: What went right? What went wrong? The process of reviewing the world’s reaction to the 2009 H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic is officially underway, with no shortage of controversy. Will the panel selected by WHO be biased? How we handle future global health concerns is at stake.

What You Don’t Know About Your Bladder Can Hurt You: Nobody wants to talk about bladders… but if you are one of the millions of people living with a painful bladder disorder, it is unavoidable.

One Embryo + Three Parents = Ethical Dilemma: It is a form of genetic engineering, a subject long on controversy and rife with ethical dilemma. Scientists have developed a technique which enables them to successfully transfer DNA between two human eggs. The resulting embryos would contain the genes from both parents and a tiny amount from the donor egg — that’s three genetic parents.

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Contact: writer@webcampone.com