PAIDRA DELAYNO @ DayDreamin' Stories

NonFiction

2008-09-29T00:04:00.000-07:00

Thursday, September 25, 2008
Divide & Conquer! (A Candid Discussion on Spiritual Abuse), Shamielle Alston

There is an epidemic sweeping through many houses of worship today.
This epidemic is crippling is victims and sends them fleeing from the church.

What is this epidemic? Its name is Spiritual Abuse!
I would dare say that Spiritual Abuse is the worst form of abuse, because it attacks the essence of who we are...our soul.
It also has the potential to embrace all other forms of abuse! Clergy and lay members alike have committed suicide because of it.

Divide & Conquer! (A Candid Discussion on Spiritual Abuse), reveals the truth about the brutal effects of Spiritual Abuse.

The book challenges church leaders to evaluate their treatment of members in their flock.
The book also offers help to any who may have been victimized by Spiritual Abuse.

Buy Divide & Conquer! (A Candid Discussion on Spiritual Abuse)

Visit Shamielle Alston's Website

TURN PAGES WITH YOUR CURSOR

2008-09-21T08:05:00.000-07:00

VERIFIABLE EVIDENCE trailer

2008-09-16T07:25:00.001-07:00

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

KAREN CARPENTER - IT DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER

2008-09-14T13:10:00.000-07:00

A TRIBUTE TO FALLEN STARS

2008-09-14T13:02:00.001-07:00

A BEAUTIFUL SUNSET

2008-09-09T07:20:00.000-07:00

'FORTY MILES OF BAD ROAD"

2008-09-04T08:45:00.001-07:00

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Snow Bunny

2008-09-04T07:38:00.001-07:00

Online Videos by Veoh.com

2008-09-03T11:51:00.001-07:00

2008-08-29T13:16:00.000-07:00

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Notice To All My Friends

2008-06-29T07:37:00.000-07:00

Car Race

2008-06-14T10:34:00.000-07:00

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Professional Woman

2008-05-01T19:46:00.001-07:00

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Richard Weatherly @ Work

2008-04-15T18:52:00.000-07:00

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My Friend Richard Weatherly

2008-04-14T22:54:00.000-07:00

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A Little Humor

2008-01-29T22:52:00.001-08:00

"Take your grubby hands off of me, Tex!"

"How 'bout I show you a really good time, Paidra?"

"The only good time you could show me is watching
you walk out the door."

"I love it when you're angry, Paidra," Tex said, grabbing a
handful of her blond hair.

"You're hurting me," she yelled, grabbing onto the bar.

"For a saloon girl, you sure think you're something. I ain't
never been in a saloon with such an uppity wench."

"Let go of my hair," she yelled again.

"I'll let go of your hair when I get you up go my room," Tex said,
more to the men around him then to Paidra.

"Let her go," a voice, cold as steel, from behind Tex commanded.

Tex pushed Paidra away and whirled around. Standing behind
him was Billy the Fig. Fig's hand was inches from the butt of the
iron strapped on his waist.

Tex looked at him for a moment, not failing to notice the holster
tied down to his leg with a leather cord. The look in the Fig's eye
welcomed Tex to draw his own weapon.

"I got no beef with you, Fig."

"You just started one the minute you grabbed my girl's hair."

"You mean Paidra is your girl?"

"I have neither the time or inclination to listen to you any more.
Either draw your gun or get out of town. I really don't care which."

"I'm no fool, Fig?"

"Yes you are, Tex. And you proved it by bothering my girl."

The tension in the saloon was thick enough to cut with a knife.
Tex reached over to the bar and picked up his drink. He downed it in
one gulp and stormed out of the saloon.

Paidra turned to the Fig and threw her arms around him. She then
put her hands on his soft cheeks and pulled him down to her waiting,
sensuous lips.

"I love you, Billy," she cooed after they kissed. "You're always around when I
need you."

Visit A Nursing Home

2007-12-15T23:34:00.000-08:00

Tonight I watched a PBS special. It was a concert where rockers from the 60’s and 70’s were doing a reunion special. Some of these guys looked old. If we saw them on the street we would consider them to be old duffers.

As many of you know, I work in nursing homes. Watching the concert made me think about the folks who are residents in those facilities. Some of the women could be the very same women who were screaming their heads off at the Beatles concert at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. Or any other city they preformed in.

The folks in the nursing homes had lives. We tend to look at older folks and dismiss them as lifeless people waiting to die. These people were war heroes, storekeepers, moms, dads, hard working citizens, spies, race car drivers, milkmen. Some of them even built aircraft and ships for war. And some of them flew the planes and crewed the ships.

The attitude of so many younger people is that the earth just started. They are the first ones to be here. The old people were created that way, just to make the younger ones look good.

How do any of these people think our country became great? By being a panty waste nation? I think not. Good American blood was spilled to make this the land of the free. These good Americans are in nursing homes all across the land. Their hard working widowed wives are there also.

That lady sitting in the wheel chair with saliva dripping from her mouth flew airplanes to England so that our Army Airmen could kick the snot out of the Germans. Or the Japanese for that matter. These are not just words in unread history books. These are real people who have done a real job so that you and I can tell the government to kiss our asses.

These were the folks who sent their sons and daughters off to Vietnam. These are the folks who have a folded American flag stored in the hall closet. Or the woman whose husbands never came home from Korea. We owe them and it’s time for them to collect.

Instead of turning on some stupid television programme, or playing some worthless video game, how about visiting a nursing home and listen to what these folks have to say. Or maybe just sitting and reading to them. This is a fact. When we are that age, the young people then will be thinking the same things as they are now. Except then, it will be you and I with our lunch on our dresses.

GUEST AUTHOR

2007-10-14T11:20:00.000-07:00

When it comes to prioritizing, you may have heard it said, "Eat the biggest frog first." That simply means begin with the tasks that are most unpleasant and then, tackle the lesser evils. All too often, we want lots of playtime and minimal work time. But life doesn't work that way.

In order to be successful, you must make some serious sacrifices. Now, I don't mean neglect your spiritual and familial obligations. If you do that, you're setting yourself up for failure anyway. Instead, I am suggesting that you release those non-essential things that monopolize your time and minimize your productivity.

For you, it may be excessively long telephone conversations with friends and family. Or, too many hours of television. Or, sleeping too much. Or, any number of things. Now ask yourself, "Do I need to re-prioritize specific areas of my life? Am I working against myself by wasting precious time?"

I want you to think about how you’re spending your days. Otherwise, life will pass you by and you’ll be left feeling unfulfilled and frustrated. Today, begin focusing on your goals for your life and start working tirelessly to reach them.

Surely, there will always be that nagging temptation to shun your responsibilities and ignore the "big frog." But don't do it. After all, neglecting your obligations certainly won't make them go away. In fact, things can spiral out of control relatively quickly.

What happened the last time you: skipped a week of laundry, didn't pay a bill on time, didn't fill up the tank in time (hope you had Triple AAA or a family member close by), didn't exercise for months on end, didn't put adequate time into your growing your business, didn't pray, worship, or read God's word for a prolonged period...?

Do you see where I'm going with all this? My point is, each time you fail to do the things necessary to sustain, as well as, advance you, you lose momentum. You unnecessarily set yourself up for a setback.

You don't have to live this way. Recommit to your vision for your life. Take life's challenges head on. And most importantly, trust God to give you the strength and wisdom to overcome.

Until next time... may you be empowered to prosper.

© 2007 EEW Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

Dianna Hobbs is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Empowering Everyday Women Online Magazine, the premier online magazine for African American Christian women. This article is taken from Dianna's highly popular blog series called, Dianna Hobbs: Empowering Everyday Women. It is circulated to thousands of Christian women in search of inspiration for their ministerial and entrepreneurial efforts. To receive these exceptional articles directly, simply log onto http://www.diannahobbs.typepad.com and subscribe to our email updates. To read EEW Magazine log onto http://www.eewmagazine.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dianna_Hobbs

Guest Author - Laura Gillson

2007-08-31T21:43:00.000-07:00

As America’s “baby boomer” generation enters the second half of their lives, we face some heartbreaking choices as to how best to care for our aging parents. Many families are already struggling to cope with these issues, as they are caring for their elderly parents while raising their own children who are still living at home. Stretched to the limit of their physical and personal resources, these families must face the realization that it is time to hire an in-home health care provider. If you are at a loss as to where to begin, below are some tips that will help you to evaluate your needs, as well as those of your loved ones, and to make decisions that will give everyone peace of mind.

First, decide whether you want to hire a caregiver from a state agency or private agency. Usually, a state agency is funded by the state in which it operates, and is considered to be a state subcontractor. A private agency is just as it sounds. It is independently owned and operated, and its clients are called private pay clients. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. A caregiver from a government agency is subject to hiring practices that are standardized. Accountability and administrative procedures are taken care of at the agency. Private pay companies are often staffed by a small group of hourly workers. They have their own accountability standards, as with any sole proprietorship. The option you choose may depend upon your financial situation. Private pay service is usually much more expensive.

Get it in writing: Assess the needs of both the family caregiver and the person for whom care will be provided. Use a worksheet to create a “contract for services,” so that it is clear exactly what is expected of the care provider.

Generally, caregivers provide four categories of services (think of the acronym H.E.L.P.): Health Care Services, Emotional Care, Living Independently, and Personal Care Services. Health care services can include managing medical appointments, medications, and physical therapy. Emotional care consists of meaningful social activities, hobbies, a creative outlet or simply companionship. Living independently can require that the caregiver run errands, fulfill transportation needs, go shopping, cook, clean and performs other household chores. Personal care services can include bathing, dressing, and using the toilet.

Both you and your parent should actively participate in the hiring process. Your loved one may have strong preferences about the type of person he or she wants to hire. Make sure that these preferences are clearly expressed in writing. For example, your parent may prefer one gender over the other, cultural similarities, a non-smoker, and so on. You may also want to make note of what type of cooking, shopping and housekeeping routines you prefer.

Get all the info: Most agencies and private pay companies run background checks on their care workers; however, get all the information that is available about the person who will have full access to your loved ones and their home. Be as thorough as you would be for child care.

Check in on occasion. By checking in on your loved ones, you are letting the care providers know they are being supervised. While you may adore the young lady or gentleman who is caring for your elderly mother, you may not know who or what is being brought into the house during your absence.

Recognize the signs of abuse: Isolation from family and friends is one of the first signs of abuse. If you are not allowed unfettered access to your family member, or you believe excuses are being made for your parent’s absence or lack of availability via phone or in person, be sure to look closely at the situation.

Call for backup: Know what options are available for last-minute services should a care provider become unavailable. Have backup options ready. Even caregivers need to call in sick on occasion.

Reevaluate regularly: As health requirements and personal preferences change, so must the services provided. Establish a pre-set date for periodic review of the personal services contract. This allows for maximum flexibility and will give you the breathing room you need to modify or amend the contract, if changes are warranted.

Finally, be sure to express your gratitude. You are hiring a care provider because you either cannot or will not take up this immense task. The person taking care of your parent’s needs is giving the greatest gift they could give. Theirs is a noble profession, one that requires compassion and infinite patience. Be certain that you acknowledge their efforts and show your appreciation for a job well done.

Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.

Laura Gillson is a speaker, author and educator specializing in disability awareness, advocacy, accessibility and assistive technology. For corporate, community or caregiver training, visit Eloquent Insights at http://www.eloquentinsights.com If you need help with in-home care, you’ll find it at In-Home Insights at http://www.inhomeinsights.com Finally, you’ll discover a site for sore eyes at Accessible Insights at http://www.accessibleinsights.com The author's email address is lgillson@eloquentinsights.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_Gillson

Guest Author - Sheila Korn

2007-08-30T21:43:00.000-07:00

So the “Aha” moment arrives. Circumstances make you realize two things. 1) I’m not as young as I used to be, and 2.) “Old age ain’t for sissies” as the great Bette Davis once said.

Gradually, or sometimes suddenly, it happens… we can’t keep up with household chores, we can’t see the street signs to drive safely, we give up cooking or we can’t walk without holding on to the furniture. And it begins, a nagging fear that we’re losing our independence. In fact, loss of independence is the biggest fear among seniors. So what is the typical senior response? Pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and keep on going, of course! Call in the kids to help out! They’re supposed to take care of us in our old age, aren’t they? Unfortunately, the kids have spouses and children of their own. And they have full time jobs, not to mention they live out of town. It’s time for a new strategy.

Many seniors are finding the solution to remaining independent at home lies outside the family circle with paid caregivers. At Seniors at Home, Inc. we find that most seniors find caregivers in two ways. The old way is to run a classified ad or hire through a temporary service. The senior bears all the “employer” responsibility for this kind of caregiver.”

It is my recommendation that seniors ask the following questions of independent caregivers:
1. What client references can you provide?
2. What is your experience/background?
3. Do you have any certificates or training? Is it current?
4. Have you worked with ( Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, etc)?
5. What would you do if I had medical emergency?
6. How much notice would I have if you could not come in for a day? Can you arrange your own substitutes?
7. How do I contact you?
8. Are you bonded? Have you ever been convicted of a crime?
9. Do you have liability insurance?

These folks are usually less expensive but there’s a lot of risk involved in hiring them. The downside is:  It‘s difficult to find the right person.
 You are responsible for performing a criminal background check
 You are responsible for finding a replacement if the caregiver is absent
 You bear the burden for withholding payroll taxes, and providing state mandated worker’s compensation coverage.
 You bear the burden for liability problems like theft from or damage to your property. “

The new way is to contract with a Companion Care Agency. These private agencies provide “in-home, non-medical care”. The number of agencies is growing quickly to meet the demands of a fast-growing senior population. They provide a wide range of services including light housekeeping, meal preparation, laundry, transportation, shopping & errands, and in many states including California, assistance with personal care. These one on one services can continue should the senior move into assisted living or even a nursing facility or hospital.

Request an Assessment Interview so that we can learn more about your unique situation and share how our caregivers can improve the quality of your life!

"Stay at Home but not alone."

www.seniors-at-home.net

sheila@seniors-at-home.net

(619)291-4663

Sheila Korn is the Director and President of Seniors At Home, Inc. Sheila is in charge of all the people who are at Seniors at Home, Inc. This includes overseeing all client activities and the staff. She makes sure that everything is okay with the care plans and programs. Sheila is always happy to answer any of your questions. She is a Certified Senior Advisor. She has taken the educational initiative to become a professional leader in meeting the key needs and issues concerning mature adults. As a Certified Senior Advisor and President of Seniors At Home, she personally meets every client and assess each family's needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sheila_Korn

Guest Author - Sara Goldstein

2007-08-29T21:11:00.000-07:00

Nursing homes are being occupied in record numbers. Unfortunately, as nursing home residency increases, so do reports of widespread neglect and abuse.

The U.S. Administration on Aging estimates that over one million aging Americans are being exploited or abused. Further aggravating the problem is that many cases of neglect and abuse in nursing homes go unreported by staff. Lastly, several government studies suggest that about 90 percent of nursing homes are understaffed to begin with. The sad truth about nursing homes is that a large number of them focus more on profit than on providing quality resident care.

Lowry and Associates, a personal injury law firm based in Maine that provides legal services to victims of nursing home abuse, offer the following tips on what to look for when choosing a nursing home for a loved one:

Look for well-groomed residents who are actively engaged in scheduled activities.

Look for homes with pressure sore survey ratings at near zero.

Look for homes with physical restraint survey ratings at near zero. A high incidence of physical restraints may indicate a home that substitutes restraints for proper staffing levels.

Even if a home has appropriate staffing levels, take note of the quality of interaction between residents and the staff.

Gauge reactions to resident complaints. You can also get an idea of the relative number of complaints among nursing homes in an area by contacting Maine’s long-term care ombudsman.

Consider a non-profit home since these generally have lower deficiency ratings and higher levels of staffing. (Harder to find - Paidra)

For more information on what to look for in a prospective nursing home, or if you suspect that a loved one is a victim of nursing home neglect or abuse in Maine, contact Lowry and Associates at 1-800-999-LEGAL or visit their website at http://www.lowrylaw.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sara_Goldstein

Guest Author - Ron King

2007-08-28T18:37:00.001-07:00

Many elderly people dread going to nursing homes because of the bad reputation that nursing homes have in our society. Nursing homes have had some problems over the past several decades, but there are still good, reputable homes. Even so, being placed in a home will force your loved one to give up their personal freedom, privacy, and independence. If your loved one does not yet need constant medical care, there isn't a necessity to place them in a nursing home. Try considering another option.

The alternative to a nursing home is an Assisted Living Facilities, popularly known as ALF. These facilities are for people needing assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), but who want to live as independently as possible for as long as possible. Assisted living purpose is to bridge the gap between independent living and nursing homes.

Level of Freedom

Residents in assisted living centers are not able to live by themselves, yet do not require constant care either. Assisted living facilities offer help with ADLs such as eating, bathing, dressing, laundry, housekeeping, and assistance with medications. Many facilities also have centers for medical care; however, the care offered may not be as intensive or available to residents as the care offered at a nursing home.

Understanding the Differences

The decision on whether to send your loved one to an assisted living facility or a nursing home rests on many factors, such as the following.

* Cost: Assisted living is rather costly because individuals live in apartment-like settings. Nursing homes are cheaper because the elderly live in a more communal space, with little private space.

* Medicare is frequently available for someone in a nursing home. It may not be for someone living in Assisted Living Facility.

* Facilities: Assisted living facilities are focused on individuals. Nursing homes are focused on the collective group.

* Place: While assisted living facility is a place for one or few particular aged at a time, a nursing home houses many patients. The former house an individual who is given all the help and assistance he or she needs, while the nursing home gives far less individual care.

* Nursing homes are meant to care for people who have a number of health care requirements, and cannot care for themselves. Assisted living facilities are meant to assist elderly persons who can basically care for many of their personal needs themselves.

* In an assisted living facility, skilled nursing care is not usually available except on an as-needed basis. A nursing home is more similar to a hospital environment and provides full-scale, skilled nursing care.

* Assisted living facilities are meant to assist people in preparing meals, bathing, dressing or performing household chores. If your loved one is often confused or experiencing memory problems, assisted living might be the answer. If they have a debilitating disease or condition, they might need a nursing home.

Consider Their Welfare

When deciding on either a nursing home or an assisted living facility, your major concern should be the welfare of your loved one. It may be necessary to factor in the reality of costs, but there are ways of obtaining financial aid and in the long run, you'll rest easier knowing your loved one is being well cared for. Just keep in mind that if you end up with a situation that is fraught with problems, the effort and stress you invest in resolving the situation may not be worth the dollars you thought you might save.

For more info, see Long Term Care and Long Term Care. Ron King is a web developer; visit his website Authoring Articles.

Copyright 2007 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact and the links live.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_King

Who Is Paidra Delayno - Really

2007-08-27T22:21:00.000-07:00

Hopefully, obvious to anybody reading this blog, I’m here primarily to sell books. You can see my name and picture not only here but several places around the internet. But always selling books written by Loren Douglas.

If you scroll down to my first entry, you’ll find a few tidbits about me personally, but not much more then that. In today’s society, that’s about all we want to know about each other. Not much.

One of my other blogs (http://profit-loss.blogspot.com) goes into more detail regarding my feelings on one or two issues. More then that, do we make any attempt to learn anything about the people we cross paths with every day? Not really.

As several of the articles I have published state, I work in the senior healthcare industry. For eight years I worked in the marketing department of several nursing homes. As they sometimes do, things changed in my life just before I was fortunate to move up the food chain into a corporate position.

I’ve quit several jobs to take another I felt was more advantageous to me. And, like so many in the nursing home business, I was fired from one position. Nursing home corporations can be brutal. Not all corporations, but some.

The number of residents in a nursing home is referred to as the census. One of the first questions asked in the morning is, “What’s the census?” So much depends on that number. The facility operates on what is considered as “par.” A set census level is needed for the facility to break even in their operating expenses. If the census is below that number, corporate is carrying them. Corporate does not like to carry a facility.

If the census is down, it has to be somebody’s fault. The first person management looks at is marketing. And it seems to make no difference that the census is down all over town. “The hospital isn’t discharging anybody” is not an acceptable excuse. I thought about going out and running a few people down with my car. Anything to help.

The company I work for now seems to operate their facilities differently. I don’t hear much about employees getting fired. That’s a good thing. I worked at one facility where nobody knew if they would be employed by the end of the day. What a great way to live.

Hello Kim

2007-08-26T17:30:00.000-07:00

Greetings to all of my friends. A special hello to Kim, a new friend of mine up in Washington. She lowered the boom on me for not posting anything lately. Kim is a businesswoman who helps folks interested in producing Booklets. Do you have a business in need of any kind of booklet? Advertisement? Introduction? Whatever you want. Go and see Kim and she'll help you. If you are interested in her services, drop me a line and I'll send you the infro.

Booklets can really help a business introduce themselves in the community. If you haven't a clue how to put one together, Kim can either help you along the way or do the entire operation for you. Her company can do everything from writing the booklet to printing it for you. My e-mail address is ddinpaidra@yahoo.com.

Be sure to check out my pictures on the left side of this blog. Some are new, some older. Check 'em out.

Paidra

Hello Skip

2007-07-14T17:22:00.000-07:00

Have you sent off for your copy of “Verifiable Evidence” by Loren Douglas yet? If you haven’t, you’re missing a good detective story. Douglas is working on a sequel and it promises to be every bit as good (if not better) then the first.

You get the best deal on shipping from Amazon.com. Go to Amazon.com and put in “Verifiable Evidence” to find Douglas’ book page. I received an e-mail from a lady who had read the book. She was hoping the sequel would be available soon. What better advertisement is there?

I had a chance to visit my friend Skip in Auburn, Washington not long ago. We went to a meeting together where a lawyer was speaking. I’m going to be putting out an article soon on what he had to say. Some valuable information was given out and I want to pass it around if I can.

I realize I’ve been neglecting my blogs lately but hope to correct the situation. Marketing Douglas’ book consumes a big chunk of my time. There is so much on the net about marketing that I just don’t have the time to read it all. If DayDreamin’ Stories is going to succeed, I have to get it in gear.

If you are interested in reading any of my articles, Google me and see both what they are and where all they go. It’s fun to see all the different sites that pick up an article. Not because I’ve written them but because so many things interest so many people.

I want to get this posted so will sign off for now. If you’re reading this Skip, I want you to know how much I enjoyed our time together. Sometimes things are simply out of our hands so we have to move on.

Warm Regards,
Paidra

2007-07-08T15:35:00.001-07:00

MONEY SMART WOMAN

2007-05-06T15:01:00.000-07:00

Not long ago I was in Hood River, a small town in the Columbia River Gorge. It was fun watching the wind surfers and kite boarders. Also I had a chance to hook up with my friend Cindy Morus.

I'm sure most of my friends and readers know I have an e-book available entitled TAKE TIME OUT FOR ME. This book deals with STRESS. It gives some information regarding the causes of STRESS and then goes on to show various ways to help reduce it.

One of the things I discuss in the book is the relationship between money and stress. This is where my friend Cindy comes in. She owns a business called "MONEY SMART WOMAN (TM)" For a very REASONABLE price, she is able to lead her clients out of the financial pits of despair to being out of debt. She know a whole lot more about this subject so the best thing to do is contact her at: info@moneysmartwoman.com

She also has two free e-books well worth sending off for.

Credit Card Insider Tips at: www.CreditCardInsiderTips.com

Easy Budget Guide at: www.EasyBudgetGuide.com

Cindy's website is: http://www.MoneySmartWoman.com

If money management problems are causing stress, be sure at least to vist her web site and find out if she has something which will help you.
Thanks for spending a few minutes with me

JACK COLE, PI

2007-04-27T22:27:00.000-07:00

Higher profile citizens usually find satisfaction from the police when trouble comes knocking on their door. For those not privileged to be in this station of life, there are men and women like Jack Cole, private investigator. Trouble comes in all shapes and sizes. Perhaps the problem is simple, such as a young man taking advantage of a friend's daughter. Perhaps a husband has gone missing.

Diane Stone is in the latter category. Her husband has been missing for over a month and the police are unable to shed any light on the situation. A friend recommends Cole. A man of his capabilities doesn't need to advertise. Trouble finds him.

The case's epée center is Portland, Oregon but escalates up and down the western states. Cole has no problem establishing himself as a player in the national arena. The playing field is occupied by evil, greedy men on one side and FBI and CIA agents on the other. When Cole turns up the heat the tentacles of duplicity reach as far east as the White House.

As a former CIA agent, Cole knows the rules of the game. Two younger women come into his life which blur the picture slightly. When most of the cards are on the table he knows who the players are and what he has to do to bring them to justice. What he doesn't know is the CIA has their own agenda.

CIA agents are always in the fold, whether out in the cold or retired. The Agency never forgets their own and Jack Cole is still standing when the smoke finally clears. He finishes what he started but the spoils of war go to the Agency.

Verifiable Evidence is an easy read detective story written strictly for the enjoyment of anybody who's mind allows them to become involved in the story. All of the DayDreamin' Stories publications tend to leave out the parts most readers skip over when reading lengthy, heavily detailed books. Come and let your imagination put you into this adventure.

About the Author
Loren Douglas lives in the Salem, Oregon area with his wife. Their home is at the base of the Oregon Coastal Range and affords a peaceful environment for writing.

"ZOG"

2007-04-21T20:40:00.000-07:00

HERE IS A SAMPLE FROM LOREN DOUGLAS' SCI/FI OUTER SPACE ADVENTURE. IT IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ONLY IN E-BOOK FORM FROM thereadersretreat.com LATER THIS SUMMER IT WILL BE OUT IN PRINT.

When Shahaillian asked me about doing this project, I was not interested. My time in San Francisco convinced me people are unwilling to think outside the area considered normal.
What is normal? And who decides? Do the Chevv-Rons decide? Do the Xeros decide? Perhaps it is the Trians. If you except their standards, then capturing a starship in outer space is very comparable to deer hunting. The outcome is the same. The captured prey is eaten.
I had to decide if sharing my innermost thoughts with a reader of this chronicle was something I wanted to do. Naturally, being a man, I declined the offer. Shahallian has her ways which convinced me to change my mind. We have since worked closely on the project and I have come to realize I just don't care if anybody knows how much I love her. Besides, working closely with Shahallian has it's advantages.

Guarday Zografos
Commander - Tartainia

Prolog

Truth is based on understanding. Understanding is based on perception of events. The story we will be telling is the truth. The reader's perception of the events stated perhaps will require an expandion of one's horizons, literally. In order for an opinion to be reached, the facts must be scrutinized. If the facts are distorted, so will the opinion be. Unlike stories told by fiction writers, we have stayed the course of truth.
Think about being outside on a crystal clear night and gazing into the heavens. One can only do this out in less populated areas because the lights of cities interfere with the sumptuous light show which cannot be duplicated by man, no matter what species.
As a person sits drinking in the night sky, could the possibility cross one's mind just perhaps there are other people living where the line of vision ends? I understand this concept is not one encouraged by either the Earth's scientist or it's religious leaders. Would it be possible for one to alter their thinking a bit and allow for just a few minutes the possibility of life existing beyond Earth's stratosphere?
I would guess one needs to have some sort of foundation blocks laid in order to build a theory which will eventually become fact in the recesses of the mind. One of the blocks required has to be trust. "Trust in what?" is the first question which comes to the mind of most people. My answer is, trust in me. Me, as a story teller. One who strives for accuracy.
The entire universe is broken up into only three things. The same three which exist in any galaxy, no matter who, or what the species. These three things are Time, Space, and Matter.
Time is broken down into past, present, and future. Space is length, width, and height. Matter is energy, motion, and phenomena. Together, as you read this account, you will travel through time and space, constantly in motion.
As a matter of introduction, I am a woman named Shahailian. I come from the planet Chimanay. On a very clear night, one can see Chimanay from the southern hemisphere of Earth.
More about me will develop in the events about to be told. The real focal point of this series of recollections is a man named Guarday Zografos, known to his friends simply as Zog. The commander of a star ship named Tartainia, a hunter/killer vessel, Zog formerly was in the employ of the Allied Galaxy Alliance.
To refer to the Tartainia simply as a star ship encompasses a vast array of ships. Mentioning a star ship is like referring to one of Earth's automobiles without mentioning the brand or style. If I said I drove a 1940 would the reader know what I was referring to?
At first Zog was not interested in relating these events to anybody. It took some doing (women all over the universe know what I am referring to) to impress upon him the advantages of doing so. The things written here are parts of the everyday life of someone in Zog's occupation and therefore not of any particular significance to him.
It is my hope the reader of this document will feel otherwise. The story will be told by him, by me, the computer journal and the recollections of his crew along with a few close friends. I trust it will be profitable to read. At least keep an open mind to its possibilities.

VERIFIABLE EVIDENCE

2007-04-21T20:31:00.000-07:00

These are two sample chapters from our lastest detective adventure entitled "VERIFIABLE EVIDENCE" YOU CAN PURCHASE A COPY AT OUR BOOK PAGE. http://www.booklocker.com/books/2812.html OR IF YOU PERFER, IT IS AVAILABLE FROM AMAZON.COM

- 31 -

WHILE CAUSALLY WALKING down the amusement park arcade, Jack Cole enjoyed watching people on the rides. He stopped and was paying particular attention to the roller coaster. The weather was beautiful; the sun shining on his face felt wonderful.
After a few minutes he unconsciously jumped slightly. A woman was standing next to him and had spoken.
“If it interests you so much, why don’t you go on it?” she asked.
“I guess it’s one of those things you’d like to try but never do.”
“You’re not afraid of it, are you? I must say you don’t look the type.”
“I’ve never been on one so I don’t know if I would be or not.”
“Would you go on it say," she hesitated for a moment, "if I went with you?”
“How could I refuse such an offer?” Thinking to himself, 'Only in Santa Cruz could a guy be standing here minding his own business when a gorgeous blond comes up and starts talking.' Maybe his luck was changing, he thought.
Without giving it much thought, he told her his name. She said her’s was Jenny Cummings. As the morning progressed he found her company to be enjoyable and invited her to have lunch.
“You a policeman?” she asked as they were leaving the Boardwalk.
“Do I look like one?”
“Yea, you do” she mused, looking at his face. “You have a very strong face. Set in your ways, I imagine.”
“I guess I am, at that.”
“You’re not married, are you.” She was making a statement instead of asking a question.
“No, I’m not”
“Good”
“Why good?”
“I don’t like dating married men. You didn’t answer my question.”
“Is that what this is?”
“What’d ya mean?”
“A date. Is this a date?”
“We’re having lunch, aren’t we?”
“Having lunch constitutes a date?”
“Where I come from it does. You still haven’t answered my question.”
“You asked several, which one?”
“Are you a policeman?”
“No, I’m a private investigator.”
“You’re a PI, huh... you in town on a case or just visiting?”
“I’m working” he answered in a tone which said, don’t ask any more questions.
“Where would you like to eat,” she asked, knowing when to change the subject.
“It’s been years since I’ve been here. Surprise me. My car’s parked near by.”
“How do I know I’m safe in your car?”
“You read faces, don’t you? Did you see any sign in mine that would make you uneasy?”
“No, but maybe you’re a closet bad guy. You like seafood?”
“Does that mean I would only be bad if we were in a closet? Yes, if it’s fixed right.”
“Remind me not to go in any closets with you. Do you always have two conversations going at the same time?”
“Hey, don’t blame me. You started it.”
“Okay wiseguy, let’s go out to Capitola. There’s a place there right down on the water that knows how good food is supposed to taste.”
True to her word Cole enjoyed the lunch. Remaining at the table after eating a meal of clams on the half shell, they spent at least an hour talking. He knew he should be trying to gather information on Stevens but the sun was shining, the food was delicious, and the company was excellent.

- 33 -

AS JACOBSON PREPARED TO LEAVE his office for the day, the telephone started ringing. He answered it and was surprised to hear from Captain Carol Dye. “Colonel, this is Dye. I have some good news.”
“I could use some.”
“I was at the Boardwalk, investigating of course, and guess who I ran into?”
“You know I can’t stand guessing games.”
“The guy in the picture.”
“You mean the guy from Phoenix?”
“Yes, sir. In the flesh. He says his name’s Jack Cole. He claims to be a PI out of Portland, Oregon.”
“Jack Cole, huh? That’s him all right. I knew the face was familiar but I couldn't place him. I had no idea he was anywhere around here.”
“You know him, Sir?”
“I never had the pleasure of meeting him but everybody whose been in the business for any time at all knows Jack Cole, if only by name. He’s one of the standards. He tell you anything?”
“Nothing at all”
“That doesn’t surprise me. Be careful with him, Carol. He might not be a kid anymore but he’s most likely just as dangerous. We don’t know what his interest in this game is.”
Dye recounted everything Cole had said to her. She did fail to mention how attractive she found him. Finishing her conversation with the Colonel, she sat on her bed thinking. She already knew Jack Cole to be someone she could be very comfortable with. So many of the men she had met in the last several years fell far short of being anyone she would have the remotest interest in. In a word, they were wimps.
Obviously Jack was at least twenty years older than her, but for some reason she didn’t care. At twenty nine years old, she had suppressed allowing herself to even think about men any more than for a casual acquaintance. Her work with the DIA required her full concentration. She smiled to herself when she thought that perhaps it was time to re-think that position.

"VERIFABLE EVIDENCE" by LOREN DOUGLAS

2007-04-06T23:54:00.000-07:00

A NOTE FROM PAIDRA

2007-03-24T15:21:00.000-07:00

A NOTE FROM PAIDRA

I'm sitting here at my computer thinking back on the week. It's late and this particular work week is a thing of the past. I must say it's been an exciting week for me. I have ventured out a little further into the wide world of the Internet. I submitted some articles to GoArticles.com and started this blog. For me, that's a giant step forward.

Thirty-Four people read my articles. I realize that number might not be large in the scheme of things, but for me it wouldn't have been any different if it was one hundred and thirty four. Well, maybe a little different.

The reason I started all this internet activity was to advertise the fictional works of Loren Douglas. Who's he, you ask. Loren Douglas is a writer I'm convinced you the readers will be hearing a lot more from. I also realize the arena is getting crowded with wanna-be authors looking to publish their stuff. Douglas has at least five novels finished and several others well on their way.

Douglas released his first novel, entitled "ZOG," (an outer space adventure) a year ago as an e-book. Tough Sell! We was disappointed with the sales but refused to give up. His second book, "Verifiable Evidence" (a detective story) has been released through Booklocker.com, a Print On Demand company.

Before Douglas submitted anything, we were talking about it one day at lunch. One thing led to another. I make my living doing nursing home marketing. He felt marketing a book couldn't be any different than marketing a business. Wrong! At this point I should perhaps insert that my mouth nicely accommodates my foot because I sure stuck it in there.

I don't know if he did it intentionally or not but before our conversation was finished, we had bet I could market his books. To make matters worse, I boasted I could do it without spending one dollar. That was before I had any idea how to market a book. And fiction at that. Everybody in the world is marketing fiction these days. An e-book is even harder to market. What was I thinking?

Sean Mize, a really nice internet marketer, gave me some wise words. He said, "Paidra...people will evaluate your for-sale information on the quality of your free information." He proceeded to explain the benefits of writing and submitting articles.

Someplace else I read something about the necessity of becoming a 'presence' on the internet. My articles at GoArticle.com will, hopefully, do just that. What I like about the articles is I enjoy sharing things with other people I have learned. I certainly don't count myself as anybody special, but each of us knows things others can profit by.

I've read a lot of articles written by internet marketers which really didn't say anything a dozen other people were already saying. My intention is to post articles about things people can actually learn something from. Check out GoArticles.com and put in my name. You'll see what I mean. For that matter, Google me. That sounds a little kinky doesn't it?

I've written a 68 page e-book on Stress entitled, "Take Time Out For Me." The great thing about the book is the price. It's free. If you would like a PDF copy, simply e-mail me at: ddinpaidra@yahoo.com Be sure to include the word STRESS on the subject line. If you would like to see the table of contents, go to:
www.squidoo.com/pollyklass/lessStress

I'm also offering two short stories written by Loren Douglas. The first is entitled, "The Barbeque." It about some folks who live in an assisted living facility and have very little to do. Mischief is always easy to find, especially when one has time on their hands. Write me for it at ddinpaidra@yahoo.com Please put The Barbeque on the subject line.

The second story is entitled, "The Devil Drives A Ferrari" When we're doing something we shouldn't be, we often times think we're getting away with it. Guess again! If you think you would enjoy reading this story, e-mail me at:
ddinpaidra@yahoo.com Be sure to put TDDAF on the subject line. If you enjoy either of these stories, let me know and I'll send you something else.

Both of these stories are in PDF and as with "Take Time Out For Me," they are FREE. I want readers to get a taste of Douglas' work and what better way then to offer it up at no cost. I would really enjoy hearing from you. Please leave a message and thanks for spending a few minutes with me.

Paidra Delayno

LOANING STUFF TO FRIENDS

2007-03-22T13:25:00.000-07:00

Before I met my wife, she was the proud owner of a VW bug. I owned one of them myself before I married her. The only thing they were useful for was getting from point A to point B. What good is a vehicle that won't even carry three or four sacks of concrete or animal feed. You couldn't pull anything. You couldn't push anything, either.

My father passed on from this world shortly after I took my bride. (No connection) He drove a newer blue bug that my aunt had given him when her husband had passed on. My mother sold it to me because she had no use for it, or me for that matter.

The car's owner manual clearly stated a valve job would be a recommended thing to do at fifty thousand miles. The car had enough miles on it to qualify so into the shop it went. The day we got it back, my wife and I went out for a drive in our VW with a fresh valve job. We came home on the back of a tow truck. The rest of the engine had blown up. It couldn't handle the valve job.

I have allowed my personal viewpoint regarding the VW to cloud the story I wanted to share. (Don't you hate when people want to 'share' something with you? How did this word 'share' come to be included in someone telling us something we probably didn't want to know?) Besides that, I don't even know why I'm telling this account because it has nothing to do with my story.
Besides that, I'm getting ahead of myself.

My wife, shortly before we were married, loaned her trusty bug to her sister and brother-in-law. It had plenty of fuel in it when the transfer was made. When she got the car back the gas gauge was anemic. She didn't worry because the bug was equipped with a reserve tank. One would simply reach down to the floor and pull the lever.

Quite unintentionally, the car did in fact run out of gas. No problem. She simply reached down and pulled the lever. It seems the brother-in-law had already performed this function and kept it to himself. She had to walk home, which in itself was not a bad thing because she was out in the redwoods of the Santa Cruz mountains. It was the part about not being told that irked her.

One time I lent a belt sander to one of my friends. After six months or so I couldn't remember who I had lent it to. I assume he must still have it. I told everybody I knew about it being missing and nobody fessed up. I guess my wife should be thankful she even got the car back. Of course, she is a little brighter then me and wouldn't have forgotten who she had lent it too.

Years later, when I was contracting, I found an old newspaper from the day after Pearl Harbor. The man I was working with asked to borrow the newspaper a few days after the great find. No problem. I'm not stingy. A week or two later I asked if he was finished with it.

"Oh," he said, "I didn't know you wanted it back. I threw it away."

A friend once asked if he could borrow my chain saw. He needed to cut fire wood because his family was cold. The normal borrowing time came and went but no returned chainsaw. I finally had to ask him about it. He brought it over to my house. In a box.

"It quit running so I tried to fix it."

I didn't know anything about putting a chain saw together so it had to go into the shop. Who paid for it? Who do you think?

I must have something stamped on my forehead. It says SUCKER. Now that I think about it, this has been going on for a long time. When I went off to basic training, I leant my '55 Chevy Nomad to my brother because it had insurance time left on it.

When I came home ten weeks later, the clutch was shot. It wouldn't move and I needed to sell it. I asked my brother what had happened.

"I don't know" he said. "I had no problem with it."

Of course that was better then my '54 Stude. The same brother chopped it up and made a dune buggy out of it. At least he gave me a ride in it.

Memories

2007-03-21T17:42:00.000-07:00

Hello, my name is Paidra Delayno. My day job is working in a nursing home but for fun I am marketing the fictional works of Loren Douglas. I do a bit of writing myself and would like to share some of his life experiences with you. He and his family might have been considered pioneers in days gone by but these days they were just lower income folks trying to get by.