http://jimblount.gather.com Recent Articles on Gather by Karen Irene B. en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:36:09 GMT 2010-01-03T17:36:09Z en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 http://www.gather.com/images/header/logo_gather.gif http://www.gather.com/ http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977929518 Sorry to unload but must tell about my last two months.  I was on vacation in Panama City Beach mid October when I got a call my Mom was in the hospital with Pneumonia.  They operated to scoop . . . Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:09:03 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977929518 Karen Irene B. 2009-12-03T21:09:03Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977753855 I was trying to teach my young daughter how to fish with a bamboo pole. After chumming up some bream and shinners with bread, I baited her hook with a worm and threw it into the water.  . . . Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:41:51 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977753855 Karen Irene B. 2009-07-28T18:41:51Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977753848 I have been seeing some posts about the homeless.  I know a story of a woman who was homeless by choice but not of her chosing.   That may seem confusing.  This woman was very . . . Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:35:45 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977753848 Karen Irene B. 2009-07-28T18:35:45Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977752674 A woman took a trip to a remote island.  There she sees beautiful weavings done by the indigenous women. Asking what they wanted for them, she could see a very large profit for herself selling them . . . Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:07:20 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977752674 Karen Irene B. 2009-07-27T20:07:20Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977752650 I know the genre is fable but I have a true story to tell.   My husband’s aunt was a bit eccentric.  Her husband left her very wealthy but she would only buy two dresses at Goodwill . . . Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:47:39 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977752650 Karen Irene B. 2009-07-27T19:47:39Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977743953 The brochure said a trip of a lifetime, a two week “cruise” of the universe.  It went on to talk about space “folds” and time “strings” and a bunch of other scientific . . . Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:58:14 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977743953 Karen Irene B. 2009-07-20T21:58:14Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977733396 This isn't a pleasant story and I debated if I should even post it. Last week an 8ft albino python strangled to death a two year old living in the next county over.  The mother's live-in . . . Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:29:54 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977733396 Karen Irene B. 2009-07-10T00:29:54Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977733389 I just saw a video of someone catching a large fish and it brought back memories.  When I was eleven or twelve I went to visit my grandparents in Miami.  Grandpa presented me with a shiny metalic . . . Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:14:17 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977733389 Karen Irene B. 2009-07-10T00:14:17Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977732131 Florida has laws against any fireworks that go into the air.  The exception is if you are going to use them for agricultural purposes.  All the buyer has to do is sign a paper that they will . . . Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:56:19 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977732131 Karen Irene B. 2009-07-08T14:56:19Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977717753 My kids are all up and grown but I would babysit my granddaughter while her mother worked.  Each day I would lie in bed and read her a story at nap time.  She would often read along with me.  . . . Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:55:49 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977717753 Karen Irene B. 2009-06-21T23:55:49Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977717710 I remember this from when I was around 6.  My Dad was raised on a farm and never walked around barefoot outdoors.  My Mom convinced him how nice it was to feel the clover beneath one's feet. . . . Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:31:31 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977717710 Karen Irene B. 2009-06-21T22:31:31Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977716027 I have to do just one more today.  Another funeral story.  A friend of ours father died.  They didn't have much money so he was cremated and they carried his ashes to the National Cemetery themselves . . . Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:39:58 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977716027 Karen Irene B. 2009-06-19T20:39:58Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977715966 This story is about my grandmother's funeral.   After the Church services and we were in the family Limo supplied by the funeral home, the driver found out that that my dad had been out . . . Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:40:00 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977715966 Karen Irene B. 2009-06-19T19:40:00Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977715780 Here's another example of humor during stressful times.  I was going to have surgery for a complete bowel obstruction caused by colon cancer.  I had less than two weeks to live if nothing was . . . Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:18:56 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977715780 Karen Irene B. 2009-06-19T16:18:56Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977715755 Humor can show up at the oddest times.  An example:  My husband was having a serious heart attack and we were rushing from the Emergency room to the elevator to cardiac surgery.  Before . . . Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:54:25 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977715755 Karen Irene B. 2009-06-19T15:54:25Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977706242 Article from the St. Petersburg Times,  June 9th, 2009 It is unusual for a game of fetch with your dog to turn deadly, but a woman playing with her dog in Erkrath, Germany, had to call the police . . . Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:50:08 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977706242 Karen Irene B. 2009-06-09T18:50:08Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977705049 This was in the Citrus County Chronicle  June 8th, 2009 GRANTSBURG, Wis.-- It was no honey pot like in "Winnie the Pooh" but a bear cub in Wisconsin was spotted with a bird feeder stuck on his . . . Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:02:18 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977705049 Karen Irene B. 2009-06-08T17:02:18Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977705040 From the Citrus County Chronicle June 8th, 2009 GROVELAND-- A Florida woman's barking dog saved her from a fire at her home. Lillian Miller, 58, thought that her Chihuahua mix Spaz just needed to . . . Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:52:56 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977705040 Karen Irene B. 2009-06-08T16:52:56Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977704255 This is taken from an article by Betty Berger reported in the Inverness Pioneer, June 4, 2009 Dr. John  Hamlet was a naturalist with the Homosassa Springs Attraction....He missed having a dog around.  . . . Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:26:44 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977704255 Karen Irene B. 2009-06-07T21:26:44Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977689471 It seems once you start to volunteer, all types of oportunities to learn and expand your experiences open to you.  This week I was asked to help update the information in the data base of people . . . Fri, 22 May 2009 22:50:33 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977689471 Karen Irene B. 2009-05-22T22:50:33Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977670583 The past two weeks have been pretty uneventful so I had very little to write about.  One of my clients went into an assisted living home.  I had to drop her right away because we are now so . . . Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:45:32 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977670583 Karen Irene B. 2009-04-30T23:45:32Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977658666 This is the editorial in today's Citrus County Chronicle: Annual Event Honors Those Who Share Themselves If you have anything to do with Score, Citrus County Chamber of Commerce, the . . . Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:57:05 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977658666 Karen Irene B. 2009-04-17T14:57:05Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977654070 Skywarn.  This is another volunteer opportunity in my area. It is through the National Weather Service.  Because of the curvature of the earth the weather service can only see into the . . . Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:33:36 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977654070 Karen Irene B. 2009-04-12T22:33:36Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977647088 I have a couple of small irritations.  I have members of my husband's family who are on a branch that always looked down and were "better" than my husband's branch.  They . . . Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:06:15 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977647088 Karen Irene B. 2009-04-05T15:06:15Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977647063 This week was like most.  Not a lot new happening.  I turned in my time and mileage sheets on Monday. I get reimbursed for my mileage.  I am trying for a presidental award ( A certificate, . . . Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:32:26 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977647063 Karen Irene B. 2009-04-05T14:32:26Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977640836 I just got a call that a client of mine who had been put in Hospice care has died.  That is three in the past two months.  Volunteering sometimes can take an emotional toll but the pluses still . . . Sun, 29 Mar 2009 22:45:59 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977640836 Karen Irene B. 2009-03-29T22:45:59Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977640245 I learned of a local volunteer opportunity that is new to me.  They are looking for foster homes for police dog puppies.  They have families raise the pups, taking them into crowds, malls, and . . . Sun, 29 Mar 2009 02:19:04 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977640245 Karen Irene B. 2009-03-29T02:19:04Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977638245 Did you know that even though you can not deduct the value of your time as a charitable deduction when you volunteer,  you can get a deduction for your travel expenses to and from the site.  . . . Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:27:11 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977638245 Karen Irene B. 2009-03-26T20:27:11Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977637373 " A volunteer is a person who is a light to others, giving witness in a mixed-up age, doing well and willingly the tasks at hand- namely, being aware of another's needs and doing something about . . . Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:14:03 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977637373 Karen Irene B. 2009-03-26T00:14:03Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977637362 Today the Nature Coast Volunteer Center, an umbrella group that matches volunteers with sites, had one of two dinners to honor volunteers with at least 24 hours of service during the year.  We were . . . Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:59:30 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977637362 Karen Irene B. 2009-03-25T23:59:30Z