Today is St. Hypatios' (the Wonderworker) Name Day.
Since my Greek name is Hypatia, it is considered my name day. I also wish all the Hypatia's Happy Name Day today!
Below is a link to the Greek Archdiocese' description of this saint:
http://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints/478
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
News about THE GREEK MAIDEN AND THE ENGLISH LORD
I received a nice phone call from Chris Copely today from the local newspaper the Herald-Mail. He wanted to let me know that they will be doing an article about me and my book THE GREEK MAIDEN AND THE ENGLISH LORD this coming Sunday, April 3, 2011. I'm looking forward to reading it!
I also received a nice email from the GreekCircle Magazine in Chicago. They were interested in including my new book in their book section.
These little perks is what makes me want to keep writing! I have decided that if this latest book that I wrote, which is a historical novel, does well, then I will probably write another historical novel for my next book. I will know for sure in the next few months.
I also received a nice email from the GreekCircle Magazine in Chicago. They were interested in including my new book in their book section.
These little perks is what makes me want to keep writing! I have decided that if this latest book that I wrote, which is a historical novel, does well, then I will probably write another historical novel for my next book. I will know for sure in the next few months.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Poem - Japanese Earthquake
The unprecedented earthquake and tsunami that recently took place
in Japan about a week ago left us breathless. We watched the news and our hearts cried out for mercy for the Japanese people that suffered during this difficult time. My poem is written from the angle of a person who witnessed the earthquake firsthand. This is just my imagination at work.
Japanese Earthquake
It does not matter,
Or does it,
I cannot tell, too tired to think,
When the core of the tsunami
Struck hard, so hard it hurts
To be buried in this cold bed
Of broken rubble, waiting for help
The ticking of the heartbeat
Strikes loud, so loud it hurts
To be alone, waiting, wondering
If anyone is alive, or were they
All washed away, like fish in the sea
Except for me
Why did you leave me, God, all alone
To suffer the humility of remembering
The past, which is forever gone
Oh, if only to turn back the time
To know that it was coming
So that I could
Be far away with loved ones
In a safe place
Warm and wonderful, cozy and comfortable
Too dangerous to dream, must keep
My wits about me, try and move out of here
It is getting cold and I am shivering
I try to move, but too heavy a load
Thought I heard someone
Tried to call out, but no one answered back.
Sleep is so inviting....
by Patty Apostolides, 2011
in Japan about a week ago left us breathless. We watched the news and our hearts cried out for mercy for the Japanese people that suffered during this difficult time. My poem is written from the angle of a person who witnessed the earthquake firsthand. This is just my imagination at work.
Japanese Earthquake
It does not matter,
Or does it,
I cannot tell, too tired to think,
When the core of the tsunami
Struck hard, so hard it hurts
To be buried in this cold bed
Of broken rubble, waiting for help
The ticking of the heartbeat
Strikes loud, so loud it hurts
To be alone, waiting, wondering
If anyone is alive, or were they
All washed away, like fish in the sea
Except for me
Why did you leave me, God, all alone
To suffer the humility of remembering
The past, which is forever gone
Oh, if only to turn back the time
To know that it was coming
So that I could
Be far away with loved ones
In a safe place
Warm and wonderful, cozy and comfortable
Too dangerous to dream, must keep
My wits about me, try and move out of here
It is getting cold and I am shivering
I try to move, but too heavy a load
Thought I heard someone
Tried to call out, but no one answered back.
Sleep is so inviting....
by Patty Apostolides, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Letter to the President stating we are against Nuclear Power
Given the recent developments in Japan and its nuclear reactor issues, I felt compelled to write today to our President about our views on Nuclear Power.
Here is the letter below:
"Dear President Obama,
We are very concerned about what happened in Japan regarding their nuclear power plants and the radiation being emitted.
I have worked in the radiobiology field for over a decade. I studied how radiation affected the cells in the laboratory. It was a devastating effect on the cells and although we cannot see, hear, or touch radiation, it can be very harmful.
My husband and I want to inform you, that as citizens of the United States, we do not want any nuclear power plants to exist in this country. It seems that nuclear power plants and earthquakes do not mix. We do not want to have another Katrina or 3 Mile Island on our hands - too big to handle.
Why not look for alternative energy sources that do not pose a risk to public health like nuclear power does? Given that our future is uncertain in relation to the impending solar maximum and its effect on our earth, including coronal mass ejections and earthquakes, it just does NOT make sense that nuclear energy is the way to go. It is too dangerous!
Please, Mr. President, say NO to nuclear power.
We personally have solar power on our house, and a lot of insulation for energy conservation. We support that type of alternative energy. If more people/industry used that kind of alternative energy, it would be a better and much safer future for all of us.
We don't want to go in the footsteps of Japan or France. The U.S. should go on its own alternative energy future (that does not include nuclear energy), and let the others
follow."
Here is the letter below:
"Dear President Obama,
We are very concerned about what happened in Japan regarding their nuclear power plants and the radiation being emitted.
I have worked in the radiobiology field for over a decade. I studied how radiation affected the cells in the laboratory. It was a devastating effect on the cells and although we cannot see, hear, or touch radiation, it can be very harmful.
My husband and I want to inform you, that as citizens of the United States, we do not want any nuclear power plants to exist in this country. It seems that nuclear power plants and earthquakes do not mix. We do not want to have another Katrina or 3 Mile Island on our hands - too big to handle.
Why not look for alternative energy sources that do not pose a risk to public health like nuclear power does? Given that our future is uncertain in relation to the impending solar maximum and its effect on our earth, including coronal mass ejections and earthquakes, it just does NOT make sense that nuclear energy is the way to go. It is too dangerous!
Please, Mr. President, say NO to nuclear power.
We personally have solar power on our house, and a lot of insulation for energy conservation. We support that type of alternative energy. If more people/industry used that kind of alternative energy, it would be a better and much safer future for all of us.
We don't want to go in the footsteps of Japan or France. The U.S. should go on its own alternative energy future (that does not include nuclear energy), and let the others
follow."
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Nuclear Power Plants and Earthquakes Don't Mix
Having much respect for earthquakes, given that Greece tends to be prone to them, I have signed up with the USGS to have them send earthquake alerts to my email box on a daily basis. Although Greece has not been in the earthquake radar recently, unfortunately, Japan has.
With much consternation and dismay, we have been watching the latest news on the earthquake(s) in the Honshu area of Japan. The 8.9 earthquake that blasted the area on early Friday, March 11, 2011 was preceded by several smaller earthquakes and followed by hundreds more (in the 5-6 richter regions). The devastation and loss is horrifying to witness, but even more so, is the long term potential of this terrible event.
What puzzles me greatly to the point of disbelief, is that a country like Japan, with its educated people and cosmopolitan cities, has built 55 nuclear plants in its country. Now what will happen, as the scene unfolds, when these recently affected nuclear power plants melt down and emit all kinds of radiation into the atmosphere? Another Chernobyl, some may ask? You have guessed right. According to the website www.beyondnuclear.org, the area around the Fukushima reactor site has witnessed around 190 people being treated for radiation poisoning. That is very serious. It is just a matter of time before this radiation seeps into the universe.
My humble advice? An earthquake prone country has no business building nuclear power plants. Because it is just a matter of time before an earthquake will come along and break them apart. It does not require a rocket scientist to figure this one out. It is so distressing to see authorities make these kind of rash decisions of building nuclear power plants without adding earthquakes into the formula.
I suggest that all countries that are prone to earthquakes, to be not allowed to have nuclear power plants built there. It is sad to see how "clean" energy can hurt so many people in such a short term and long term effect. Hiroshima's survivors felt the effect for a long time. It is too bad that Japan has not learned from its history and tried to make its country a safer place to live in.
Now, I understand that it is a matter of days before the radiation from the nuclear reactor in Japan reaches the United States. I will be checking the radiation on a daily basis in my area in Maryland.
With much consternation and dismay, we have been watching the latest news on the earthquake(s) in the Honshu area of Japan. The 8.9 earthquake that blasted the area on early Friday, March 11, 2011 was preceded by several smaller earthquakes and followed by hundreds more (in the 5-6 richter regions). The devastation and loss is horrifying to witness, but even more so, is the long term potential of this terrible event.
What puzzles me greatly to the point of disbelief, is that a country like Japan, with its educated people and cosmopolitan cities, has built 55 nuclear plants in its country. Now what will happen, as the scene unfolds, when these recently affected nuclear power plants melt down and emit all kinds of radiation into the atmosphere? Another Chernobyl, some may ask? You have guessed right. According to the website www.beyondnuclear.org, the area around the Fukushima reactor site has witnessed around 190 people being treated for radiation poisoning. That is very serious. It is just a matter of time before this radiation seeps into the universe.
My humble advice? An earthquake prone country has no business building nuclear power plants. Because it is just a matter of time before an earthquake will come along and break them apart. It does not require a rocket scientist to figure this one out. It is so distressing to see authorities make these kind of rash decisions of building nuclear power plants without adding earthquakes into the formula.
I suggest that all countries that are prone to earthquakes, to be not allowed to have nuclear power plants built there. It is sad to see how "clean" energy can hurt so many people in such a short term and long term effect. Hiroshima's survivors felt the effect for a long time. It is too bad that Japan has not learned from its history and tried to make its country a safer place to live in.
Now, I understand that it is a matter of days before the radiation from the nuclear reactor in Japan reaches the United States. I will be checking the radiation on a daily basis in my area in Maryland.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Sweet and Sour Musings
There are times in our lives where decisions need to be made, not because we chose them, but the universe/God decided to land them in our lap. There are small, daily decisions that we make, like what to wear or eat, then there are the Big, once in a lifetime decisions to make, like getting married or losing a house to flooding or a storm and where to go from there.
This poem focuses on the big decisions that we've had to make recently. It's always hoped for that they turn out sweet and rosy.
Sweet and Sour Musings
Flowing streams of thoughts,
Like taffy candy, search
My consciousness for clues
That solidify the decision
Until it is hardened.
Yet it is not brittle,
So that if I were to tap it,
It would not break into little
Tiny pieces, littering the landscape
Of my mind.
The excruciating moment comes,
Whether I like it or not,
To make a decision that
Will move forward until the
Unknown outcome sprouts forth,
Which, hopefully, would
Be a beautiful thing -
Like a luxuriant flower
Or, if not, sadly one
That turns into dry dust -
Scattering our life away with the wind.
Time will only tell
If what we chose will be right for us.
by Patty Apostolides, 2011
This poem focuses on the big decisions that we've had to make recently. It's always hoped for that they turn out sweet and rosy.
Sweet and Sour Musings
Flowing streams of thoughts,
Like taffy candy, search
My consciousness for clues
That solidify the decision
Until it is hardened.
Yet it is not brittle,
So that if I were to tap it,
It would not break into little
Tiny pieces, littering the landscape
Of my mind.
The excruciating moment comes,
Whether I like it or not,
To make a decision that
Will move forward until the
Unknown outcome sprouts forth,
Which, hopefully, would
Be a beautiful thing -
Like a luxuriant flower
Or, if not, sadly one
That turns into dry dust -
Scattering our life away with the wind.
Time will only tell
If what we chose will be right for us.
by Patty Apostolides, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Why Fiction is Important (and other thoughts)
Our lives are so much more complicated these days than our parents times, given the technology that we have at our fingertips - computers, iphones, GPS, DVDs, wifi, and so on. It can be downright stressful at times!
We live in an information age almost spiraling out of control. The Internet is brimming with information, and so are the news. With so much negative news coming at us (riots in Egypt, 2012 dire predictions, global economic issues, etc.) it seems that it is never ending. In addition, there are life issues that can be traumatic, depressing, or downright ugly, and coupled with the negative news it can be very stressful living in this current world.
I find during these times, that just switching gears for a few minutes or even an hour or two here or there to read fiction, is a great respite and escape from the world we live in.
My latest novel THE GREEK MAIDEN AND THE ENGLISH LORD was intended to be an entertaining escape from the modern world as well as a stressbuster. I am very content with happy endings in the novels I read and write. I stay away from reading novels that are too realistic and depressing. I get enough of that from reading the news.
Here is a short poem I wrote:
Dare to Dream
Dare to dream with hopes filled high -
To fly with eagles in the sky
Lured by promises of happy thoughts,
Dare to dream what life dares naught.
Focus on the positive, uplifting, loving, and good things in life, and they will come abundantly to you.
We live in an information age almost spiraling out of control. The Internet is brimming with information, and so are the news. With so much negative news coming at us (riots in Egypt, 2012 dire predictions, global economic issues, etc.) it seems that it is never ending. In addition, there are life issues that can be traumatic, depressing, or downright ugly, and coupled with the negative news it can be very stressful living in this current world.
I find during these times, that just switching gears for a few minutes or even an hour or two here or there to read fiction, is a great respite and escape from the world we live in.
My latest novel THE GREEK MAIDEN AND THE ENGLISH LORD was intended to be an entertaining escape from the modern world as well as a stressbuster. I am very content with happy endings in the novels I read and write. I stay away from reading novels that are too realistic and depressing. I get enough of that from reading the news.
Here is a short poem I wrote:
Dare to Dream
Dare to dream with hopes filled high -
To fly with eagles in the sky
Lured by promises of happy thoughts,
Dare to dream what life dares naught.
Focus on the positive, uplifting, loving, and good things in life, and they will come abundantly to you.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Poem on Cancer
Hello again,
The following poem was written recently. It's on a topic that is close to my heart. I spent many years doing cancer research in the laboratory. I also witnessed several close family members succumbing to the disease. This poem is a result of my feelings about it.
Patty
Cancer
How often must we hear
this word before we wake up
to the truth?
I read the statistics -
Millions of Americans have died from cancer
since 1975. How many more
before we do something about it?
Forever and ever we are
caught in its snare
as we watch
parent or sibling or friend
struggle against its
lethal clutches,
their very life choking from the chemicals -
the poisons they ingest to survive
one minute more only to die forever
lost to conventional treatment,
causing us
to mourn forever and ever
the loss of beautiful people,
gracious souls that somehow
never ripened to old age.
I struggled just like them, but knew
it was not my time for I wanted to live,
but didn't they also?
I told them to stay away from the chemicals,
and eat organic fruits and vegetables,
drink pure water, breathe clean air,
and take vitamins and supplements,
But instead they listened to their doctor
and no longer are around to listen to me.
Where did I go wrong?
Maybe I forgot to tell them to pray?
Why didn't they listen?
Where did medicine go wrong?
Why do they poison and radiate the body
Instead of helping to prevent it in the first place?
Maybe they forgot to listen to the patient's
soul?
Or maybe they don't have one themselves...
I listened to my husband, I read,
I ate organic foods and drank pure water...
I listened to my intuition
and I'm still around.
by Patty Apostolides, 2010
The following poem was written recently. It's on a topic that is close to my heart. I spent many years doing cancer research in the laboratory. I also witnessed several close family members succumbing to the disease. This poem is a result of my feelings about it.
Patty
Cancer
How often must we hear
this word before we wake up
to the truth?
I read the statistics -
Millions of Americans have died from cancer
since 1975. How many more
before we do something about it?
Forever and ever we are
caught in its snare
as we watch
parent or sibling or friend
struggle against its
lethal clutches,
their very life choking from the chemicals -
the poisons they ingest to survive
one minute more only to die forever
lost to conventional treatment,
causing us
to mourn forever and ever
the loss of beautiful people,
gracious souls that somehow
never ripened to old age.
I struggled just like them, but knew
it was not my time for I wanted to live,
but didn't they also?
I told them to stay away from the chemicals,
and eat organic fruits and vegetables,
drink pure water, breathe clean air,
and take vitamins and supplements,
But instead they listened to their doctor
and no longer are around to listen to me.
Where did I go wrong?
Maybe I forgot to tell them to pray?
Why didn't they listen?
Where did medicine go wrong?
Why do they poison and radiate the body
Instead of helping to prevent it in the first place?
Maybe they forgot to listen to the patient's
soul?
Or maybe they don't have one themselves...
I listened to my husband, I read,
I ate organic foods and drank pure water...
I listened to my intuition
and I'm still around.
by Patty Apostolides, 2010
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