Of Course I Hear Voices: I Own Parrots

I've always had really weird and vivid dreams. I may not always remember them, but sometimes it is how real they felt that messes with me the most. Some nights its nightmares (like when a bunch of random friends from through out my life and i were stuck in the premise of a cheesy slasher movie). I can be reliving a horrible experience, or Dreaming said experience had a different outcome (that only is a nightmare when I wake up and it isn't true). Other times it is just random craziness. During my first semester  of college, I had a reoccurring dream that my roommates, a friend  of mine from Portage Valley (work), and friends from summer camp were all living in my boyfriend's (at the time) apartment. The problem: Mike's apartment was a tiny one bedroom, and there were eight of us living there. The other problem: his apartment was located on the Northside of Toledo. In my dream, the apartment was in Des Moines. It made no sense. If had only happened once, that would h...

Well yes this blog has been mostly dead for a while now, but that ends now. I am back and I have every intention of getting her back on her feet again. I'm ready to write again, and it is an amazing feeling. I have a fiction project I'm working on, and I actually really love it. I feel ready to start blogging again. Here are the new rules: 1) At least 1 post a day, even if it is a short one from my blackberry. 2) I  get one pass a month, unless I'm truely ill, have a dad emergency, or other major issue. 3) For every sad/uber serious post I have to come up with 2 lighter ones. This will be a challenge, but I think it is a good idea. I will cross post many of these blogs on Redgage (where I showcase my photography...and that will be gearing up too). You can check out my current photo portfolio here. I'm going to start doing the writing prompt workshop with Mama Kat and get back to using Plinky to get the ideas rolling. I'm also contemplating a redesign ...

In May, my year and a half year old cockatiel and her  22 old mate laid eggs. I was supportive and bought them a nest and I would retrieve the eggs from the far corners of my apartment. I was told the male was probably to old for the eggs to be viable. The professionals were wrong. I returned home from working my second job to find a chick had hatched. The next night, another hatched. The next day one hatched in my car as I drove down the turnpike and finished hatching at the parsonage. The last baby hatched some time in the next week. You see my life went sort of crazy and I epic failed at good bird breeding. I had people from mom's church feeding the parent birds (who were feeding the babies), but I know they probably ran out of fresh food and water at times. I know the daily cage and nest cleanings didn't happen. When baby cockatiels hatch they are featherless (naked), droopy winged, eyes are closed and they resemble the bad guys from the Dark Crystal. By two months they a...

Over the past 8 months, one phrase has become a staple "Shut up and listen." This is internally and externally. There is the obvious external part: Since day one we have had people telling us what we should do. Some people just wanted to help. Other people were just being self centered and ignorant. Just last week, my father was back in the hospital. A person who I thought would be empathetic only wanted to tell me what I "needed" to do and how I was wrong about things this person knew nothing about. Not cool. I'm going to let everyone in on a big secret: When people are having a bad day or going through a rough time, if they want advice  they will ask for it. Really, what they usually want is for you to STFU and listen.This is especially true when you don't know the whole story. I get that you did *fill in the blank* for your loved one, but you are not us. We have a whole additional can of worms to deal with. Our situation may be no worse than yours, bu...

Maybe I am old fashioned, but I do not hate Valentines Day. I am not big into celebrating, but it isn't all bad. Yes, I have been known to say "Why Valentines Day is bad" but it may not be in the way you think.               Black Baccara rose       While I think it is crazy to spend tons of money in an elaborate display of love, I don't hate the day. I don't think it is a "Hallmark" Holiday. It may be over commercialized for my taste, but it works for some people and that is all that matters. Hallmark didn't make this holiday. There was a pagan festival the Christian church wanted to do away with so they attached St. Valentine to one of the dates and made it more wholesome. Blame Rome for that, not Hallmark. If you choose not to celebrate, that is your call. If you are single, you don't have to be bitter and miserable. Love comes in all kinds. While you may not have romantic love, you can always share...

I moved away almost a decade ago, and I never had any intention of going back. I will never live there again (despite owning a house there now), but my perception of the town has changed. When I was growing up my hometown was a jail cell. I hated it there. I hated being an outsider. I hated that everyone knew my business. felt trapped and judged by those deemed popular. I longed for bigger and better things, and my parents were not surprised when I packed up and headed to Indianapolis the first chance I had. I still do not want to live in my hometown. I have become accustomed to city life. I'm not a fan of having to drive 15-20 minutes away to get caffeine after 11:00. I like that the grocery store is open past 8. I like that going to the store without make up on won't be city wide gossip within the hour. Really, the list could go on and on. However, there is one thing a small town offers that bigger communities just can't: community support. There is just somet...

A friend of mine from high school recently lost her brother in a tragic car accident. My heart breaks for her and her family. As I sat back and watched the flood of comments on her Facebook page, the friend requests from people she hadn't heard from in years, and seeing all these people from back home sending prayers her way, I had mixed feelings. I 100% believe that most (I'm talking like 99%) of those people really do feel awful about what happened, and they want to do what ever they can to help. It isn't fake. It isn't malicious. They really want to be there for her. It is awesome to see a community rally around a family that needs lifted up. As genuine as all that love is, it is amazing how quickly it fades away and sometimes leaves you even more alienated. Yes, true friends, people who have been through similar situations and family will still be there when the rest fades, but it is interesting to see it first hand. After our accident, people just kept coming o...

I love to travel. I wish I had more time to do it. There are 3 places that top my list of destinations. Kinosaki by Night – Japan Australia: All the poisonous stuff there scares me, but I think it would be worth it. France: I was there once many years ago but I would like to return. I would like to see it with "grown up" eyes and enjoy in a different way. Japan:I love Japanese Culture. This is the one place I have always wanted to go. I would love to spend a few weeks sight seeing and just soaking up the culture.

June 1989: I was just short of my tenth birthday. I remember my parents watching news reports of the students in Tiananmen Square. I asked what was going on, and my parents' explanation was that China was a Communist Country and these students we're standing up to the government to have the same rights we had. I was 10, and that was good enough for me. I didn't know the whole story, and the only images I remember is the "Tank Man" footage. Honestly, I cant tell you that my "memory" of that footage s real or just a result of seeing it over the years. It wasn't until years later that I really learned about the protests and the tragedy and death that happened there. Now it is almost 22 years later, and now we are faced with civil unrest in Cario. It isn't the same, I know. I read something on CNN about how it is suspected that the government paid people to sabotage peaceful demonstrations. Still it is interesting to see that over 2 decades later w...

 

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/jhammitt

I'm pretty easy to please.If you treat me with respect,and care about me for who I really am we can be friends. These days I try to find at least little joy in everything, but there are some things that are guaranteed to make me happy. Halloween It is the best time of the year. I can be me, and it isn't frowned on. I love the costumes, make up and creativity. Vacations I love being able to get away and not worry about the 101 things I have swimming in my head. I like seeing new places, learning new things, and finding new favorite places to visit. Diet Dr Pepper It is my caffeine of choice. There is just something about it that lifts my spirits, and helps me function. My family and friends being happy Helping others enjoy life and knowing they are content makes me feel accomplished. Scary Movies I'm not sure why. Maybe it is because they are so easy to critique. I don't mean that in I watch them to be negative. I typically enjoy even the ...

If my place was on fire, I would be heartbroken. If there was time after I got the birds and my laptop out, there are a few things I would like to grab. Red Table It is one of the last antiques I bought with my parents. Base Rocker and matching chair They were my mom's. She died in June and I they remind me of her. Clover table Same as number 2, but this one has a little bit more of an emotional attachment. Mom and I were looking for a similar table for me every time we went antiquing. My Blanket My mamaw made it for me when I was young. I finally grew into it when I grew up. Dugan He's a stuffed dog. A huge stuffed dog. I've had him since I was smaller than him!

Yes I celebrate Halloween. I celebrate big every year. It may be an understatement to say I love Halloween. I am a huge Halloween fan. I love scary movies (even the cheesy ones), costumes, the decorations and pretty much everything that makes the holiday. I'll admit I watch the cheesy horror movie marathons all month long. I decorate my office. I spend most of the month of September thinking up the perfect costume and how I am going to make it unique. I used to be goth...deep down I probably still am one I just don't dress the part anymore. I'm already all about the bats, dark eye make up, fun clothes, and totally unsensable boots/shoes. This just gives me an excuse to wear it all. My favorite part of the holiday is the creativity. I love challenging myself to come up an amazing costume,and I love seeing what others come up with. This year will be no different. The costume, shoes and accessories are bought. Now I am just trying to settle on the eye make up. Each year I a...

I have been asking myself one question lately, but with different circumstances. "What if" has been plaguing me lately. How would things be different? 1) What if the doctors at Fulton County would have done their jobs? 2) What if KISS FM would have actually been taking the storm seriously and keeping their listeners informed instead of playing Lady Gaga? 3) What if I had been in mom's car? 4) What if I could have gotten to my cell phone? 5) What if she would have pulled over? I keep playing these scenarios in my head. What would life be like now? My initial answer always is: She would still be alive. Dad may still be recovering, but he would have mom by his side. She would still be here to take care of us and keep this family together. But here is the reality: 1 and 2: Okay these two are the ones that make me mad because these are the true ones. I will always blame Fulton County Health Center for my mother's death. Had they properly diagnosed Dad, we would n...

I have broken my nose twice. Once playing softball and once in color guard. I have broken my toes more times than I can count! Ask me anything

Currently Crest, but really I'm not a brand snob. Ask me anything

right now it is my Halloween costume...but that is subject to change Ask me anything

What happened to us on June 5-6. I've tried to stick to the facts as much as possible. Yes this is about our father, but to totally understand where we are coming from you need to know our whole story. Our father has had a stroke, my mother is dead, and my sister and I have had a front row seat to her death. We are one of a kind, and that makes it hard because no one can truly relate to us. Yes if you have lost a parent or had a very sick parent you sort of get it, but it isn't the same. We haven't been through the worst experience ever. I would be naive to think that there are not more traumatic things to go through, but we are the only 2 people who have been through something like this. There isn't a support group for us (although I am looking to start with a support group to see if that helps ). June 5: I had to work that morning, but I had already made up my mind to go home. Mom was down playing how serious it was and trying to get me to wait until they had heard...

This is what my sister Amy wrote up for our lawyers when we were looking to see if we had a case against the hospital. Our lawyer said since we cannot prove dad's stroke did not actually start the night before, we did not have a strong case. We will not be pursuing a case against them. I am using my sister's words here because she was there. I can give my perspective, but this isn't about me or what I went through that day. This part of the story is about dad. There will be more to come tomorrow on what happened June 5 and 6. Friday June 4, 2010 my mother (Kathleen Hammitt) and I (Amy Hammitt) took my father (Norm Hammitt) to the Fulton County Hospital ER for treatment. We arrived around 11:00 a.m. and my father was admitted to the ER shortly after. The ER doctor’s name was Dr. Hoffman. My father wascomplaining of chest pain, weakness, and numbness in his right side. His skin tone was grey, he was having problems with confusion, and over all did not look well. After answeri...