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Blue Orange Green Pink Purple

Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.

As I type this, I am not truly sure what the first thing someone may want to read is. This blog is my own and who I am. I've spent about a month importing my thoughts and posts from the last nine years to try to make one comprehensive space to keep all my most tender thoughts.

I update a lot, then rarely, then a lot again. For this I'm sorry. I talk about art and music and handmade wonderfulness and my son. I hope you find yourself happy here. Thank you for visiting.

A call for help. Just a simple email will do.

I am not the type of person to ask for help.  Maybe I should be, but my pride always gets in the way.  Also I hate bugging people with "help me with this cause that you don't care about!"  However, this is different.


A really brief overview that may not do much justice to the story but I'll try.  In preschool I had a best friend.  Who can say they had a best friend in preschool?  I mean a person at the tender age of four that would play with you, hug you, love you just because they were a kind soul.

A person who would become your first kiss at 6 years old, even though it was gross.  A person who when you are being horribly picked on in the 7th grade (because, like most children, you were outright awkward) stood up for you risking his popular reputation to call out the asshole for being so.  A person who never forgot your birthday and no matter how many years has passed, always check to see if you were okay.  A person that when you were 23 years old and you father passed away drove all over your hometown, just to find you, to remind you that they love you, to take you out for a beer.  All just because they are a good person.

A person, that when they opened his wallet after he was killed by a hit-and-run driver, found that it had your father's prayer card in it.  That person to me was my childhood best friend Jerry Masterpol.

If you could just read below about the Masterpol Tragedy and if you could find it in your heart to write an email to extremesyracuse@gmail.com I could not thank you enough.

Written by Jerry & Jeff's Aunt Debbie:
I wanted to ask a favor of anyone who might have known my sister or her family or even if you did not know her and just want to help support them.
The producers of the hit show “Extreme Home Makeover” are looking for nominations of a deserving Central New York family to be on the show.  Nominations may be submitted by the family or by a member of their community.
To nominate someone you can either send an e-mail to extremesyracuse@gmail.com or go to the Extreme Home Makeover website.  Entries must be submitted no later than February 26, 2010.
Each nomination must include the names and ***ages*** of every member of the household along with a description of the  *** major challenges within the home *** (see below)
Ages now: Jerry Masterpol, Sr. – 57, Linda Masterpol – 56, Jeffrey Masterpol – 27, Lindsey Masterpol – 23, and Joey Masterpol – 21.
Anyone submitting a nomination should be sure to explain why the nominated family deserves, heroic and/or a great role model for their community.  All nominations must include a contact phone number (your phone number).
Masterpol Tragedy (January 2006)

Jerry Masterpol and his younger brother, Jeffrey, were trying to help the victim of a hit-and-run accident outside a Mattydale, NY bar on Jan. 21, 2006, when the driver returned for a second time and ran them down.  Jerry died from his injuries the next day.  Jeffrey was paralyzed and is a quadriplegic today.  Their heroic act of saving someone cost them their lives.  The family’s lives have not been the same since. 

Their house to this day is still not handicap accessible.  This summer (Four years later) they finally were allocated some money which helped to have a handicap deck and ramp put on the side of their house so Jeffrey can finally sit outside and enjoy the sun.  Before they only had a narrow ramp with a very small porch.  Last year, some neighbors helped my brother-in-law remove the tub so that Jeffrey could get a handicap shower installed.  There are so many more things that Jeffrey really needs.

He is now 27 years old.  He wants to be more independent.  He cannot fit through all the doorways.  He basically stays in his small bedroom sorting out baseball and basketball cards (a new hobby of his).  It is great therapy for his hands, but does get boring.  He does watch a lot of T.V. too!

As for my sister, Jeff’s mom Linda, she is going all the time, between taking care of Jeffrey, you wouldn’t believe all the paperwork and phone calls she has to make and all the headaches you have to go through to get something done that seems so easy.  She has also become a big advocate for organ donation.  You see my nephew Jerry’s wishes were to donate his organs.  She did this and in doing this has met some wonderful people who received his organs.  This is something my sister said: “Nothing will take the pain away, but just knowing what a great thing my son has done is a comfort to me.”  She said: “It’s a comfort to know another family is not suffering like us.”  My sister is so strong and she has so much faith.  I really do not know how she does it.

She will go and talk at colleges, schools, hospitals, walk in parades, etc. just to get the word out about how important organ donation really is.  Right now there is a real shortage for organ donation, so we need to let others know.  John, the heart recipient and his wife are wonderful people and have become an extended part of my sister’s family now. 

Gosh, I know I wrote a book.  But for those of you that are still with me, I just wanted to tell you how I feel my sister’s family is contributing to the community and that I believe that my nephews are true heroes.  More than anything, I would love to see them get a house that would be handicap friendly for Jeffrey with his own space and a sink and cupboards that he could reach.  I want him to feel independent and to try to do more things for himself, but still have his family so close when he needs them.

His biggest wish would be an enclosed in ground pool.  This is the one thing that he loves to do.  It makes him feel free and normal.  He can actually kind of be upright.  He only gets to be at therapy in water once a week for ½ hour.  However, in the last year he has been unable to attend due to sore on his feet caused by his prolonged time in his chair.

Thank you so much for writing something if you decide to, if not, thanks for reading this anyway.  If you do write something, please read the beginning so you know what to include.

Thanks again,
Deb Braun
-----

Please, find it in your heart to write just a short email.  You can read news articles about the Masterpol family here if you so choose:

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/pain_of_losing_son_wont_end_bu.html

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-141556553.html

http://blog.syracuse.com/opinion/2009/07/crisis_with_a_cure.html

http://www.deadlyroads.com/archives2006jan.shtml

xoxo, 
Andrea
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Friday 5

I know, I'm inconsistent.  I'll get back into the swing of blogging for myself.  Just all my effort has been devoted to Gwyneth Paige and I've left little time to even get in a daily shower, let alone blog.

I digress.  The Friday Five: Last Resorts

What’s something you wear only when you’re just about out of clean clothes?

Anything that has gotten a little too tight to be comfortable and my super soft jeans that are full of holes but still soooooo comfy!

Who’s someone you hang out with only if nobody else is available?

This is such a better question for a decade or so ago when I was in high school and I hung out with people I didn't care for out of kindness. Nowadays the people I spend time with I truly enjoy being around them.  There is no one I can think of that I could put here.

What’s something you eat only when the budget is really, really tight?

Ramen.  Thank goodness I haven't eaten it since Joel and I dated oh 8 years ago.

Who’s someone you call for help only if you absolutely must?

Depends on the need.  Financial? My FIL.  Emotional? My mom. 

What’s something you’ll watch on television only because it’s slightly better than watching nothing?

Anything reality TV
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101 in 1001


1
Build a snowman
2
Attend a roller-derby match
3
Send a secret to PostSecret
4
Make a font out of my handwriting
5
Renew my Passport
6
Get a massage
7
Make bread from scratch
8
Learn to play the ukulele
9
Complete a 365 day photo challenge
10
Meet three online friends in real life (0/3)
11
Meet and befriend at least one family with child in Syracuse
12
Host a game name three times (0/3)
13
Finish my half-sleeve
14
Cover the tattoo on my mid-back
15
Make at least one friend (current or new) close enough to be considered a "best" friend
16
Try a new food
17
Give something I no longer use to a person who will
18
Send a handwritten note to someone every month (0/32)
19
Take Maddox to the Rochester Museum of Play
20
Take Maddox to Sesame Place in PA
21
Attend the Washington, DC Cherry Blossom Festival
22
Tell Adam something unique I love about him every day for a month
23
Invite my mom and sister to dinner once a month for three months
24
Sell all unused electronics
25
Pay off all debt, sans first mortgage
26
Save $10,000 for emergencys
27
Make a career out of Gwyneth Paige
28
Purchase a Crossover Vehicle (CUV)
29
Pay for Christmas only in Cash (NO CREDIT!)
30
Read Maddox a book every day for 1 year
31
Visit Minnesota
32
Visit Florida
33
Make a budget AND STICK TO IT
34
Wash my face every morning for 21 days to become a habit
35
Shine my sine every night for 30 days
36
Tell my Mom I'm an Atheist and a Libertarian
37
Maintain a healthy size for my body type
38
Only trim my hair and bangs for two years, no drastic cuts
39
Fly on a plane by myself
40
Visit NYC
41
Call or Skype with a far-away friend once a week for a month
42
Maintain our landscaping for one season without fail
43
Complete the Couch to 5k challenge
44
Stick to an exercise DVD of my choice for the entire run of the program
45
Attend a Montessori Open House
46
Create a menu for a whole month
47
Drink only one drink per day that is NOT water for an entire month
48
Drink at least 1.5 liters of water a day for one week, five times (0/5)
49
Puchase the Nikkor 50mm 1.4 af/s lens for my camera
50
Donate $1 to charity for each goal I do not complete
51
Play craps at the Casino
52
Post an operationbeautiful.com post-it every day for 30 days
53
Purchase an iPhone
54
Puchase an iMac
55
Wear a dress every day for a week
56
Develop better Marketing/PR skills
57
Host a cookie exchange
58
Host a wine and cheese fancy dress party
59
Play a game a of chess
60
Teach Maddox a new song
61
Save all of my change for six months
62
Finish my home office
63
Send both my moms (and grandmother) flowers for no reason at all
64
Take Connor and Maddox somewhere special, just the two of them
65
Become better known in the printing/wedding/invitation media world
66
Get Gwyneth Paige in a major wedding publication
67
Rent a dress from RTR (rent the runway)
68
Pay for the down payment on our next house in cash
69
Take a 5 hour defensive driving course with Adam
70
Learn a magic trick from Adam
71
Complete a DITL for one month
72
Teach Maddox to ride a trike/bike
73
Take Ein for a walk every day for a month
74
Repaint the Family Room
75
Decorate the guest bathroom
76
Create personal stationery
77
Attend the National Stationery Show
78
Eat at a fancy restaurant, just Adam and me
79
Take Darla out for sushi
80
Make a homemade dinner every night for a week
81
Eat at home (no going out to eat) for an entire month
82
Put the money from not going out to eat for a month in an envelope and buy something fun for Adam
83
Put the money from not going out to eat for ANOTHER month in an envelope and buy something fun for yourself
84
Go without wearing black for one week (this is going to be hard)
85
Do my hair (pony tail doesn't count) every day for a week
86
Open a credit card and only use it weekly for gas
87
Help Adam and Maddox get passports
88
Keep fresh flowers in the house every week for a month
89
Reboot laundy every time needed for one month
90
Order something fun from Moo
91
No alcohol for one month
92
Produce purchased only from the farmer's market for three months
93
Buy a new pre-lit Christmas Tree
94
Vote in a minor election
95
Disconnect from the internet for one entire day.
96
Pre-write a weeks worth of blog posts for the Gwyneth Paige blog
97
Take updated professional family photos
98
Visit Gary, Jen and Ronan three times over the Spring/Summer
99
Spend time with Anita, just her and me
100
Swim every day for a week
101
Listen to a band I have never heard
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Gwyneth Paige lives!

... and lives well!!

Come visit this extremely beautiful project started by the extremely beautiful Jodi Bos!  I am so in love with Gwyneth Paige and I know you will come to love her too!

Gwyneth Paige, Couture Letterpress :: The Blog
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The Friday5


Here's my Friday5 for this week:

1.  Who in your life seems especially resilient?

This is hands down, Seth.  The BFF XY.  He has been handed handful after handful of amazing and awful.  Sometimes back to back.  Yet he never waivers from his happy-go-lucky self and he always sees through the crap to what is truly important to him.  I wish I had once ounce of his resiliency.  

2. What characteristics would a person need to develop in order to become resilient?

I think people just need to come to the realization that they control their path.  They control their choices and they always have a choice.  You are control of your own life and your own happiness.  Nothing happens TO you, things happen around you.  Take control, then you'll find peace and resiliency.

3. In what areas of your life do you think you’ve been resilient?

When things happen that are beyond my control I find myself being most resilient as there is no reason to fight or stress or worry about the things you have no control over.  The weather, changing stocks, things others say, stuff that has already happened.  I am resilient about death.  While I am completely devastated when it happens, it is still just a part of life.

4. It is often said among educators that a strong indicator of resiliency in children is the presence of a “charismatic adult.” In your own childhood, who was the charismatic adult who inspired you to grow positively?

My dad.  Sadly not until the buds of my "childhood" had ended.

5. Can one be tough and resilient at the same time, or are they opposite traits?

I think you can be both at the same time but just because you are tough does not mean you are resilient. 
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Apple Picking


DSC_6992, originally uploaded by andreajoyce.

I'll make a more comprehensive post soon. But last weekend we went apple picking. It was wonderful.

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Maddox & Connor


DSC_7076, originally uploaded by andreajoyce.

Cousins, BFFs, so cute.

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Chubby Dragon


Oct. 2008 Maddox 034, originally uploaded by andreajoyce.

Maddox's halloween costume came the other day. Yes it's a month away, but I'm excited. I love his little chubby dragon-ness from last year. Look how tiny!

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