Whatever this holiday season means to you, may you be surrounded with health, happiness and love.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Happy Holidays
Whatever this holiday season means to you, may you be surrounded with health, happiness and love.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Amazing Grace
Graceful
Skin so fair
Lips pale, parched
Hair messed
Overwhelming sadness
Walks the earth searching
Cannot find her way
Soul is tortured and lost
Pain is deep
She walks and suffers alone
Nothing is obvious
She cannot go on
Falls to her knees
Questions her journey
Questions her faith
She is weak
Her spirit is broken
The light embraces her
she is free
Fear has become her savior
Love, compassion surround her
So much joy
Understanding of all things
The light envelops her
The light brings her home
Michelle Palmieri Kneute
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Seeing Blind
No colors, no sizes, no shapes
No textures, no guidelines
No judgment on appearance
The darkness is endless and even, calm and consistent
Sound and touch are the eyes and a window to the soul
The world is seen through imagination
The tone of one’s voice gives insight to the listener
There is no discrimination
All is equal
The sounds of the ocean is soothing to the ears
The smell of fresh baked bread warms the heart
The touch of a caring hand comforts the soul
Seeing blind is seeing clearly, open minded, and fair
Michelle Palmieri-Kneute
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is upon us with a weekend of barbecues and the celebration of a long weekend. During that time of fun please remember the reason for the day. It is a day of tribute and thanks to our fallen soldiers. As the saying goes "all give some and some give all." Pray for the living and honor the fallen. God Bless our military.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
New Jersey "Reality" - CNN IReport
New Jersey "Reality" CNN IReport
May 11, 2010
Cliffwood Beach, New Jersey
Vetting explained Posted by:
(me)
CNN producer note
MichellePK says she is from New Jersey.
- nsaidi, CNN iReport producer
iReport — Reality shows about the Garden State have become very popular in the last couple of years. The two that are most familiar to me is “The Jersey Shore” and “Real Housewives of New Jersey”. I admit, I was excited that there were shows about the people in NJ; that is, until I watched an episode. I couldn’t stomach much more than one or two episodes of either show.
These two shows portray the people of New Jersey to be ignorant, self-centered, loud, and tasteless. People who live here and who come here to vacation don’t act that way. I guess the operative word here is “act”. The drama on these shows is strictly for entertainment and to poke fun at New Jersey. Being that I am from New Jersey and I’m also an Italian American, I am not laughing nor am I entertained.
Let me tell you a little bit about the New Jersey that I live in. I work and attend classes at a NJ community college that has 15,000 students, and I have never had contact with anyone that remotely resembles the cast of Jersey Shore. The young people that I see every day are bright stars who are looking to make their way in the world.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey doesn’t offend me as much as it disappoints me. The show makes these women look like immature high school girls acting tough and throwing temper tantrums.
I have been fortunate to know some very creative and caring women from different backgrounds and education levels whom are well informed, work hard outside and inside their home, and they keep the drama at a minimum. There haven’t been any tables flipped at any of the dinner parties I’ve attended.
The bottom line is that these shows may give New Jersey attention, but they are not reality. These are TV shows pretending to by reality. The real New Jersey is a much nicer place with a lot to offer as far as museums, art, restaurants, concerts, theater, beautiful parks --and the list goes on.
May 11, 2010
Cliffwood Beach, New Jersey
Vetting explained Posted by:
(me)
CNN producer note
MichellePK says she is from New Jersey.
- nsaidi, CNN iReport producer
iReport — Reality shows about the Garden State have become very popular in the last couple of years. The two that are most familiar to me is “The Jersey Shore” and “Real Housewives of New Jersey”. I admit, I was excited that there were shows about the people in NJ; that is, until I watched an episode. I couldn’t stomach much more than one or two episodes of either show.
These two shows portray the people of New Jersey to be ignorant, self-centered, loud, and tasteless. People who live here and who come here to vacation don’t act that way. I guess the operative word here is “act”. The drama on these shows is strictly for entertainment and to poke fun at New Jersey. Being that I am from New Jersey and I’m also an Italian American, I am not laughing nor am I entertained.
Let me tell you a little bit about the New Jersey that I live in. I work and attend classes at a NJ community college that has 15,000 students, and I have never had contact with anyone that remotely resembles the cast of Jersey Shore. The young people that I see every day are bright stars who are looking to make their way in the world.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey doesn’t offend me as much as it disappoints me. The show makes these women look like immature high school girls acting tough and throwing temper tantrums.
I have been fortunate to know some very creative and caring women from different backgrounds and education levels whom are well informed, work hard outside and inside their home, and they keep the drama at a minimum. There haven’t been any tables flipped at any of the dinner parties I’ve attended.
The bottom line is that these shows may give New Jersey attention, but they are not reality. These are TV shows pretending to by reality. The real New Jersey is a much nicer place with a lot to offer as far as museums, art, restaurants, concerts, theater, beautiful parks --and the list goes on.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Crossroad of a Nation
History has shown us of the rise and fall of nations, dynasties and empires and how their decisions have caused their governments to soar to power and then plummet to their demise. We in America cannot be so overconfident to believe that we are not subject to the perils that former empires and dynasties have faced.
We are a very determined and resourceful people here in the United States. However, right now there is one very important element that is missing in the equation, and that is unification. There is no unity among our politicians, our media, and many of our people. I find this interesting because we know a house divided does not stand.
Politicians along with mainstream media have been reduced to taking pot shots at their advisories in an attempt to sabotage each other. This undermining rhetoric has diminished efforts toward an important goal which this country was founded on, and that goal is prosperity. Regardless of political affiliation, we as a nation need to find common ground and push forward on ideas that work and not stonewall because of ideology or political party.
There is plenty of blame to go around on how we got into this mess, but that shouldn’t be the focus of this problem. At this point, we need to focus on how to get out of this mess and then formulate realistic solutions that will keep us from being this vulnerable again.
The United States is at a crossroad. We need more productive and fiscally responsible decisions being made by our government. This means both sides need to work together for the good of the United States of America, not for political reasons or ideology.
I don’t want to see our great nation be another footnote in history along with many other once great but now fallen nations, empires and dynasties.
We are a very determined and resourceful people here in the United States. However, right now there is one very important element that is missing in the equation, and that is unification. There is no unity among our politicians, our media, and many of our people. I find this interesting because we know a house divided does not stand.
Politicians along with mainstream media have been reduced to taking pot shots at their advisories in an attempt to sabotage each other. This undermining rhetoric has diminished efforts toward an important goal which this country was founded on, and that goal is prosperity. Regardless of political affiliation, we as a nation need to find common ground and push forward on ideas that work and not stonewall because of ideology or political party.
There is plenty of blame to go around on how we got into this mess, but that shouldn’t be the focus of this problem. At this point, we need to focus on how to get out of this mess and then formulate realistic solutions that will keep us from being this vulnerable again.
The United States is at a crossroad. We need more productive and fiscally responsible decisions being made by our government. This means both sides need to work together for the good of the United States of America, not for political reasons or ideology.
I don’t want to see our great nation be another footnote in history along with many other once great but now fallen nations, empires and dynasties.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Elance.com - Freelance Employment Website
While reading Woman's Day magazine, I came across Elance.com, which was being recommened in an article for people looking for alternative employment solutions. It is a Freelance website for individuals who are looking for work or need to find someone to get a job done.
If anyone is out of work or looking for extra money, this may be the way to go.
http://www.elance.com/
If anyone is out of work or looking for extra money, this may be the way to go.
http://www.elance.com/
Cauldron of Fire
The flames burn intensely, but I can’t feel the fire
I ache, yet I submerge in my addiction
I rationalize the pain
I pretend to enjoy its scalding heat
I’m engulfed by the flames
Swallowed by my overindulgence
Powerless to move, I want more
The flames feel good now
The colors are vivid and beautiful
No one else sees the beauty that I see
It is only seen through my twisted perception
The cauldron of fire has imprisoned another willing slave
Written by Michelle Palmieri Kneute
I ache, yet I submerge in my addiction
I rationalize the pain
I pretend to enjoy its scalding heat
I’m engulfed by the flames
Swallowed by my overindulgence
Powerless to move, I want more
The flames feel good now
The colors are vivid and beautiful
No one else sees the beauty that I see
It is only seen through my twisted perception
The cauldron of fire has imprisoned another willing slave
Written by Michelle Palmieri Kneute
My Philosophy
I think we gain knowledge in life from different experiences. I was not blessed with good health, but my complex health issues are my life lesson.
I was born NJ in 1964 with multiple heart defects. My pediatrician told my parents that there was nothing that they could do for me and recommended that I be brought to Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City, which was the best hospital for me to be in those days. He sent my parents with a letter of introduction so that I could be seen as a patient. I have since had two open heart surgeries there to alleviate, but not cure these issues.
In 2001, I was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer. After four surgeries and three doses of radioactive iodine, in 2008 I am now in remission.
Regardless of what obstacles are sent my way, I wouldn’t exchange my life for anyone else’s life. God gave me an excellent opportunity to learn and understand and be strong. I am who I am because of my circumstances and that’s a good thing. I’m very fortunate and I don’t take my life for granted. There are so many people who are less fortunate. There are people out there who have never seen the color of the sky or what a rose looks like and others who have never heard the sound of the ocean. I am very blessed indeed.
I was born NJ in 1964 with multiple heart defects. My pediatrician told my parents that there was nothing that they could do for me and recommended that I be brought to Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City, which was the best hospital for me to be in those days. He sent my parents with a letter of introduction so that I could be seen as a patient. I have since had two open heart surgeries there to alleviate, but not cure these issues.
In 2001, I was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer. After four surgeries and three doses of radioactive iodine, in 2008 I am now in remission.
Regardless of what obstacles are sent my way, I wouldn’t exchange my life for anyone else’s life. God gave me an excellent opportunity to learn and understand and be strong. I am who I am because of my circumstances and that’s a good thing. I’m very fortunate and I don’t take my life for granted. There are so many people who are less fortunate. There are people out there who have never seen the color of the sky or what a rose looks like and others who have never heard the sound of the ocean. I am very blessed indeed.
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