It has been too long!!

It has been waaaaay too long since I have updated this blog and I apologize.  I promise from now on, I'll be a lot better.

Let me start with Nationals which feels like forever ago.  I won the Tod Mullins Courage Award which was kinda cool, but more importantly I got to meet some really fabulous women.  I learned a lot from them and the opportunities that I have open to me that I hadn't realized before.  Since Nationals, things have been a little bit crazy. It feels like I'm working and going to school and doing homework all the time, so it gets a little tiring.

In August I got to speak at a fundraiser for a summer camp that I used to go to.  It was kind of weird being back at Double H because there were emotions that came out of me that I was not expecting.  Double H is the type of place where you receive more hugs and love in  a week than some people get in a lifetime.  I felt extremely honored to be able to share my feelings and experience with the donors there that night.  I think it really helped them see that the experiences at the camp really do stay with the campers forever.

Last month I was lucky enough to attend a Red Sox game with the Zola Center, so that was really cool.  Our seats were great and the group of people that were there were so nice.  This past week I went to a Girls Night Out for Partners for Youths with Disabilities and will be speaking at their gala in 2 weeks.

As the fall is starting to pick up, so is my schedule and I like it.  I want to be out in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island as much as possible.  Hopefully New Hampshire and Rhode Island can eventually develop their own programs. 

I have a some events coming up over the next couple of weeks, so I will be doing posts much more frequently.

Nationals!!

Okay, so this is getting to the point where I'm extremely excited! I leave for DC tomorrow and seeing that it's 6 am on a Sunday and I'm awake and ready to get the day started, well I think it's clear that I am very anxious about this trip.  I'm just curious to meet people and exchange ideas and learn from the other women there.  Of course I am going to cheer everyone on and be excited for all the women, but I'm not going to lie-I totally want to win!  I think I can do a lot of good over the next year.  But I'm not going to get my hopes up too high because the other women are very extraordinary. I'm up early so I can finish packing this morning and put the finishing touches on my speech! I also have some last minute things to finish up.  I will probably write a little bit more while I'm in DC just to update and everything.

This is going to be an amazing trip!

Disabled Iraqis

Whether you are pro-war or anti-war, there is something we can all agree on: the war has caused several innocent Iraqis many hardships.  Since the beginning of the war back in 2003, over 3 million people in Iraq have become disabled.  That is 1/7 of their population!!  These people do not have the resources that we have been blessed with here and as Americans, it is our duty to help in whatever way we can. 

One mission is The Free Wheelchair Mission which has donated over 9,000 wheelchairs to injured Iraqis.  This is a beautiful cause and anyone that can get involved, should.  This particular blog though is just to shed some light on the situation.  The war has been going on so long now that it's sometimes easy to forget that it's going on and that people are still being hurt all the time.

This war has done a lot to our fellow Americans, but because of it we now have 3 MILLION more fellow disabled people.  It's important for the nation to see these people and see that they're beating the odds.  The Iraqis have been working hard and will be at the parolympics in Beijing.  Let's root them on for overcoming things that some would never imagine possible.

I'll be writing just about every weekend from now on.  During the week I work and I'm usually very tired by the time I get home from work.  I leave for DC and the National Pageant next Monday.  I'm very excited but scared to death at the same time because I really want to represent Massachusetts as best I can.  Thanks so much to my friends and family for being so supportive of me!  Hopefully I'll have the best platform and best answers...for those of you that know me, it'll be a no-brainer that I'm going to have the best outfits and purses. Love you all! :)

2008 Election

I recently had the privilege of attending a rally for the Barack Obama campaign and all I can say is: WOW WOW WOW.  It was one of the most moving experiences I have ever had.  Emotion aside, I want to get down to something serious about the upcoming election that is to take place this fall.  Politically I am normally right in the middle.  There are several issues that I lean to the right about and several issues that I lean to the left about.  In this election part of what is important to me is health care.  As a person who is disabled health care is something I am constantly having to worry about especially with the system in this country right now.  Barack Obama is a breath of fresh air and has a wonderful plan of attack to help Americans like myself and many of you out there.  Please visit his website to read up on what his exact policy is on this issue.  Part of Obama's problem is that sometimes he appears to be too much fluff and not enough raw substance.  This is why it is extremely important that you check out his website because what he will fight for is what we need right now.

I WILL CAMPAIGN AND VOLUNTEER FOR BARACK OBAMA TO ENSURE THAT HE GETS THE DISABLED AMERICAN VOTE.  This is something that means a lot to me and I am sure that good affordable health care is important to many of you as well 

First post

I can't believe that it has taken me this long to start my blog!! For that, I apologize, but I'm really really excited to get going.  I sent in paper work to volunteer at the veterans hospital so I think that will be very rewarding.  I'm also going to start going to a gym that has equipment for disabled people.

I'm very excited about spending the next year at schools, hospitals, political events, etc. all around Massachusetts and doing as much as I can to be a good advocate to those with disabilities.  I'm always looking to learn from others and helping in any way I can.  Feel free to contact me and I will write my first official blog tomorrow.