The Incredible Parkie Pet

HERSHEY!  Our chocolate lab is featured in a short "Incredibles" film on today's column published on healthunion.net!  Here is the link...

https://parkinsonsdisease.net/caregiver/comfort-pets-super-heroes/

I want to hear about your special fury friend too.

Nightmare on Parkinson's Street

I kinda don't like reading this article; makes my stomach upset.  But here is the link to today's column posted on ParkinsonsDisease.net.  Check it out...if you want..., click below:

Nightmare on Parkinson's Street

(Thanks for reading.  And, please share, maybe someone will sleep a little better tonight!"

Hershey...the Wonder Dog is Featured in Health Union Article

Kinda excited about this article!

It's about our Chocolate Lab, Hershey!....Check it out here, and please do share on the article about your special pet too!

(click here:)  "Parkie Pets"

love,
a

Sing Big Review with Black Cat Music Coop

Your Turn! We're Counting "Blessings"

parkinsonsdisease.net graphic of Pap singing "Showers of Blessings"

I know. 

Sometimes we need to look really hard, right?

That's why I am excited to share my last article from ParkinsonsDisease.net.  Check out the super cool picture of my Pap singing that old time song "Showers of Blessings" then click on the link to connect both to the article and, a storm of blessings and connections waiting for you.
Parkinson's Disease: A Blessing in Disguise

Susan "Wazowski's" Train Wreck of a YouTube Channel +TanaCon

A Levi Hott Film...from his youtube station.

Man Tries Food For The First Time | EVERY BUZZFEED VIDEO EVER

Sharing and sending a big thank YOU to Shamus Cleveland for inspiring students following his Art Integration Film Class with the Morgan Arts Council:  A Levi Hott Film

Morgan County, WV, Proclaims April 2018 as #Parkinsons Awareness Month

Joining the nation in an effort to raise awareness for those living with Parkinson's Disease, Morgan County, WV, proclaims April 2018 as "Parkinson's Awareness Month"!

Thank you to the residents of this county for supporting the Hott Family!  As we personally advocate for federal funding for research with the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research and the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, Dan and I are happy to share our community's Proclaimation of support!  Thank you Joel Tuttle, President of the Morgan County Commission, for placing this on your busy agenda! 

Dan and I with Morgan County's Proclamation

The proclamation looks like this:

Pretty cool, right!?!  I can't wait to show the students in Positive Actions this beautiful example of a community that cares! 

Stay tuned for future pictures of Dan with our County Commissioners!  (I promise not to talk too much and miss you next time!)

#WearGray4PD

#WearGray4PD

Link above published today on HealthUnion.net!  Check it out!

And, here we are in 2012 wearing our gray....

Small Town Advocate for Big Time Issue

Small Town Advocate for Big Time Issue

Sharing the above article that published on Health Union's ParkinsonsDisease.net while Violet and I are attending the Parkinson's Policy Forum in Washington, DC.  Today, March 21st, is Parkinson's Advocacy Day where 300 people from across the country will contact our Members in Congress to fund critical research for NIH and DOD. 

More cool news to come!

Martinsburg Journal Parkinson's Feataure

Family to Attend Parkinson's Forum

(Link above) Thank you to reporter Tricia Strader for talking with us about our experience with Parkinson's Disease and participation in the upcoming advocacy forum in Washington, DC.

Advocates for Parkinson's disease go to D.C.

Advocates for Parkinson's disease go to D.C.: Families have their ups and their downs, but sticking together when times get rough makes bonds stronger than ever.



In preparation to attend the Parkinson's Policy Forum, Dan was interviewed by local WDVM.  Check it out

My Dad Has Parkinson's

My Dad Had Parkinson's

Health Union published my second article today on ParkinsonDisease.net!  Woot Woot!  (Link is above...please comment/and share!)

This features a very adorable Film Director, Levi Hott, sharing his story.  We are excited to share this for the Parkinson's Policy Forum in Washington, DC, and show our representatives!

2018 Entry: Why I Think Neuroscience Is...™ Cool Levi Hott

Parkinson's Advocacy is All in the Family

As Dannypoo and I prepare to return to the Parkinson's Policy Forum for Advocacy Day March 21st with Violet and Levi, I am excited to share this feature on the Michael J. Fox Foundation's blog:

Advocacy Is All in the Family

How to Disagree using Positive Actions

The craziest coincidence occurred to me this morning.

I was preparing my weekly Positive Action lesson plans and Daily Community Vlogcasts.  For the second week in a row, I was unsure whether or not there would be school tomorrow due to the teacher strikes occurring here in West Virginia.  I am not an employee of a county Board of Education; however, I am an hourly facilitator for character education class provided by our Morgan County Partnership. So, inadvertently my job has also been affected by the stike too (and, I have two students in WV public school).

Please allow me to explain.  In the school where I work, I write a daily vlog with content concerning character education and material related to raising student assets with promoting students social and emotional well being in order to achieve academic success.  Much of the content I prepared happened over the summer months before school even started; writing blogs, filming videos, and researching videos to correlate with daily themes that encourage students to make positive choices, being kind to one another, and creating a caring climate.

Imagine my surprise when this week's feature scheduled for March 8th is Kid President talking about "How to Disagree"...check it out.

Pause.
Breathe.
LOVE.

To see the vlogcast in its entirety that is scheduled to post THIS Thursday, March 8th, click here:  How to Disagree by Kid President

Crazy how this vlog was scheduled this week!

An American Pie Parody Returns for West Virginia Teachers, and Tax Payers

As I was writing our Community Vlogcasts for Positive Actions this week, not knowing if I would get to go to work while waiting to hear if the teacher's strike would continue here in Morgan County, well... here in West Virginia..., all the news of unions, PEIA, teacher's salaries, health coverage, WV public employees, tax payers,... it all got me thinking about a little parody I prepared nearly five years ago.  

Here is my revised version, now sadly #2 version, of American Pie, utilizing a little liberty with the "levee" and hoping we all will start "thinkin' past tomorrow."

Sing along with me.  Come on....I know you know the melody!

 A long, long time ago

I can still remember how that teacher used to make me smile

And I knew if I had my chance

That I could make those students dance

And maybe they'd be happy for a while

But now May 8th makes me shiver

With every Facebook post I quiver

Bad news on the doorstep

I couldn't take more more ed-

itorial in the Morgan Mess

When I read about the other side

But something touched me deep inside

The day the teachers cried

So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie

Drove my School Board to the Levy

But the Levy was dry

And the ole Sheetz boys were drinkin' coffee and high

Singing this'll be the day that they cry

This'll be the day that they cry

Did you vote for the Levy then

In the 50's it was when

Morgan County they began

Do you believe in your success

Can schools save us from the rest

And can you teach me how to do with less

'Cause I saw you spendin in the store

You both bought brand news shoes and more

Man, I want some of those too

I was a lonely tax payin' broncin buck

With bills and kids in a Suburban truck

But, I knew I was out of luck

The day the levy died

I started singin'

Bye-bye, Miss American Pie

Drove my School Board to the Levy

But the Levy was dry
Banks left town, with others not far behind

Singing this'll be the day that they cry

This'll be the day that they cry

For five decades, we've been on our own

Now, May and his teachers strikin' all alone

But that's not how it might soon be

With the levy gone jobs at the Dairy Queen

will be all our kids have seen

Said a voice that came from you and me

Oh, and while the King was looking down

And Brooks tried again to steal His thorny crown

The courtroom was adjourned

Kate's verdict was returned

And while Lenin read a book on Marx

The band still practiced in the park

Parents sang dirges in the dark

The day the levy dies

We'll be singing...

Bye-bye, Miss American Pie

Drove my School Board to the levy

But the Levy was dry

And the ole Sheetz boys are drinkin' coffee and high

Singing this'll be the day that they cry

This'll be the day that they cry

I met a mom who sang the blues

And I asked her for some happy news

But she just smiled and turned away

I too have bills at the sacred store

Where my kids need fed like yours before

But the man there said the levy wouldn't pay

And in the streets the students screamed

The teachers cried, and the parents dreamed

But not a word was spoken

School buildings all were broken

And the three men I admire the most

The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost

They caught the last train for the coast

The day the levy died

And they were singing

Bye-bye, Miss American Pie

Have we learned anything?

With the Levy gone dry?

And the ole Sheetz boys still drinkin' coffee and high

Singing this'll be the day that they cry

This'll be the day that they cry