Grassblade~~ Grief 101 is the only way out of the pain is thru the middle of it. No shortcuts or loopholes. Feel it, face it, grieve it. But I also think you can get a smidge of Post Traumatic Stress watching fires or trauma like that.

writerdave~~when I started working in homicide I always requested a certain reporter who was not a "Trauma Voyeur" he actually recorded the emotionality of the event in a non-Jerry Springer way. So anytime I had to give a story about a murder, I wanted this guy. You remind me of him. Well, this 'guy' went on to win a Pultizer for his sensitive reporting. He's quite famous in his circles now.

LOLO~ Ah, the narcissism of small paying markets, eh? I think a Long Island Ice Tea ought to put you out of your pain. What do ya think??

I think I need a rum and coke please. My mind is numb, as with my illness I do way too much. I try to write and go blank. I try to clean house and forget where I am. I hoped to have a lot more writing done by next week. No way I could make that goal now. My home businesses are not getting any customers. My husband asked me last night if I wanted a part time job! I am getting ready to cut back on my volunteer work, because it is taking up so much time we have other plans for already. After the last two days of foggy mind, I am afraid to try to drive again, though I want to, and friends keep asking me when I plan to start driving again. We live in an area with no safe mass transit, and none here, so they are used to everyone over 15 driving. I would like to be able to drive sometimes, to take some of the burden off my husband. We are going shopping to buy a new vehicle tomorrow, after an appointment with a nutritionist and my physical therapist. People wonder why I write sad stories.

On the other hand, I finally found a story I want to write that the main characters do NOT have PTSD from past abuse events.

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Writing on the wings of dreams

You might try EMDR for the PTSD.

P.S. Adeil, you also need to make sure your nutritionist is treating the overactive adrenal gland and abundance of cortisol that PTSD produces. Self hypnosis tapes are good too--or make your own, ones that (I know this sounds weird) speaks directly to the adrenal gland to slow down while you are in a slight trance state (which if you have PTSD is ALOT of the time). Also, it might be interesting for you to read up on psycho-neuro-immunology. This is where you will learn the effects of the hyper adrenal state on your foggy thinking, general health, and PTSD.

That's true, and although it is too hard for many people to do, and they either shut off their hearts to do it or, like me, have to pursue a different area, the world really does need more reporters that touch on the reality of the things that happen. Not the reality that a house burned down, but the reality that this family has lost everything they worked for, this little girl has lost her home, and hearts were broken because of it.

I just can't bring myself to do it, even by approaching it in a heartfelt way, but I sure am glad there are people like you in the world who can.

Oh, look~~it's Happy Hour -OR- Grippy Hour, however you are feeling!

Jmitch, you are right, but I also see that, even in the midst of the tragedy, there are beautiful things amok (the teddy bear, the wooden train).

writerdave

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right or wrong, write

Ahh, the trained eye of a mystic!

I'm glad you do, Dave, I wish there were more people who did.

Oh, Bartender, can I have another Margarita, I want to celebrate that it is Happy Hour

Here's to the Happy Hour....Salt or No Salt??

Salt, please.

Oh, and can you stick a lime wedge in there?

Thanks, here's a tip.
:D

Frozen Margarita with salt ... sounds real good. (Wife calls me a salt addict)

It's Friday ... couple of things bouncing around in my head.

1) ... Dave ... I couldn't be a "reporter" ... it's very hard to distance myself from the story and write "just the facts" ... I prefer the human interest type of story.

2) ... Been wracking my brain here trying to come up with something special ... our 25th wedding anniversary is Tuesday... 25 years is the Styrofoam anniversary ... right ???

3) ... With all the talk about media bias in reporting the news ... (going back to #1) ... I think it is rooted in the deteriorating work ethic in society in general ... it’s HARD WORK to keep personal opinion out of a news piece. Every adjective ... inflection ... choice of words ... it all reflects your personal feelings ... either consciously or subconsciously.

4) ... Willow ... hurry up with that Margarita.

:-)

_________________
Life is like a roll of toilet paper ...
The closer to the end it gets ... the faster it goes.

George, let the debate begin! (Shame it's too early here for a drink).

I believe one can write the human interest story and write facts. One has to be most careful doing so, but it can be done.

When it comes to media bias, to be absolutely true to the God of Fact, we should removed all adjectives from our vocabulary. It's not going to happen. But I think bias comes into play more when reporters/editors/publishers decide WHAT is going to be reported on, rather than exactly HOW to report about it.

writerdave

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right or wrong, write

Writer George; if you want a wedding anniversary beyond this 25th, I wouldn't suggest Styrofoam. Or any synthetic. Google creative wedding anniversaries or something like that...if all else fails most women (but not me) like jewlery, trips, personal written love poem, George Clooney (oops, that was me...), or really great furniture (oops, that was me too!). Anyway, you'll figure it out, or you'll be single.