Archive for the ‘Biographical Information’ Category
Friday, July 22nd, 2011
During our recent vacation in Bethany Beach, DE, we spent the better part of a day kayaking on the Assawoman Canal. The canal is a protected natural area, with a greenbelt of trees and shrubs along its banks. Dredged to a depth of 35 feet during the past year, boats that clear the bottom of the low bridges travel the canal. We were fortunate to only have to deal with the heavy pontoon boat traffic on the return leg of our paddle trip.
When we launched our kayaks around 10:00 a.m. from the Guy Street boat launch area, the tide had turned and was running out. That meant that as we paddled to the northwest, we had a moderate current against us. On the return, we drifted along towards our destination when we felt like it. One nice feature of the canal is that most of it has old overhanging trees along the banks; shading boaters from the hot summer sun. A gentle breeze flowed along the length of the canal. When we explored a pond on the northeast side of the canal [before the Route 26 bridge], it was in full sun and alive with jellyfish. It wasn’t a very big pond and it was surrounded by a residential area.
We paddled to an area just north of the Route 26 bridge and then turned around for an easy paddle back to Guy Street. Didn’t see much widlife, but we heard birds calling and saw minnows in the shallows along the banks. Since I had to control my kayak carefully when the pontoon boats passed, you won’t see any pictures of the boats in the slide show I’ve included in the link above. It got interesting to watch the downstream bound boats passing the upstream bound boats. We timed it so that we weren’t next to two boats abreast. Wake wasn’t a real issue, but space was. The biggest wakes we encountered were from three Skidoos that had just launched from Guy Street. They were courteous, but their craft created higher wakes than the pontoon boats did. All in all a nice paddle trip and certainly a place I’d like to return to in cooler weather – and maybe paddle the entire 7-mile distance of the canal from South Bethany Beach to the Indian River Bay.
Tags: Assawoman Canal, Bethany Beach, Delaware, kayak, Kayaking
Posted in Biographical Information, Community, Kayaking | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
Awhile back I heard about an upcoming installment to the “Repossessing Virtue” radio project on public radio. Krista Tippett, the host of “Speaking of Faith,” asked listeners to visit the “Repossessing Virtue” web site and write their story about how they were dealing with the current economic recession. The future radio program would include audio interviews with people from all over the country. Listeners were asked to consider the following questions as they composed their essays:
- Are you experiencing this economic moment as a moral or spiritual crisis as well?
- Do concepts of trust, of living in community, of what sustains you have relevance in new tangible ways as you face changed economic realities?
- What qualities of human nature do you want to cultivate in yourself or your children?
- Who will we be for each other?
In October 2008, my husband and I made some changes when we saw the havoc that tore through what was once our comfortable retirement nest egg. So when I heard Krista’s request, I sat down at my computer and wrote our story.
On April 1, I received an e-mail from Nancy Rosenbaum – Associate Producer of “Speaking of Faith.” She liked my essay and asked if I would like my interview recorded over the phone for possible use on the upcoming program. I was thrilled that my essay had been chosen. A few days later, I read my essay over the phone to Trent Gilliss [Online Editor/Producer] and replied to a few questions – in addition to the ones listed above. At the end of the recording session, I was asked to submit photos of myself and I was told that the program was due to be aired in mid-May. When I asked if my interview would be part of the program, I was told that the editorial staff would listen to all the interviews and make a decision on which ones they would use. As a result, more than half of the recorded interviews would not be used on the program; however, the essays, photos and edited versions of the interviews would be posted at the web site.
This past Friday, Nancy Rosenbaum sent me a link to my essay at the “Speaking of Faith” web site. She told me that my audio interview wouldn’t be used on the radio program, but over the next few weeks, an edited version of my audio interview will be added to the web site. Please visit the web site to read my original essay and check back later to hear the audio interview. I’ll post an update at this blog. A synopsis of the program which airs online on Thursday, May 14 and on public radio stations between May 14 through May 20 is posted below.
“Living Differently, Beyond Economic Crisis.”
A new installment in our ongoing series, Repossessing Virtue, bringing the voices of our listeners into the conversation we’ve been building online and on-air since the economic downturn began last year. Many are grappling with the shame that comes in American culture with the loss of a job, and many are seeking community in old places and new. For some, economic instability — a kind of life on the edge — is not new. They’ve been cultivating virtues of patience, self-examination, service and good humor that might help us all.
I’m blessed and honored to have been selected to participate in this program. My story is just one of many, but apparently it mattered to someone.
Tags: American Cancer Society, blog, carol plotnick, Community, economic crisis, economic downturn, free-lance writing, homeless, hungry, interview, kayak, Living Differently, NAMI, public radio, Repossessing Virtue, Road to Recovery, service to others, Speaking of Faith, volunteer
Posted in Biographical Information, Community, Special Events | 2 Comments »
Saturday, April 25th, 2009
I volunteered at a local blood drive today. Friends of mine coordinate 3 or 4 drives each year through their church. They are usually quite successful in rallying blood donors. For the past couple years, I’ve helped out at either the registration table or in the canteen. I particularly enjoy working the canteen because I get to serve the folks who’ve just given blood. They usually want either apple or orange juice, so I pull a cold bottle from the cooler as they sit down at a row of tables, filled with nuts, cookies, fudge, deviled eggs, and other tempting foods. After someone donates blood, the technician tells them to sit down in the canteen area, eat and drink whatever they need, and rest for at least 15 minutes. That’s usually enough time for a donor to regain their strength before going on their way. I know many of the donors, so helping them after they donate blood also gives us a chance to visit. If anyone has a problem, I can always call for assistance from a technician.
Blood donation services, such as the American Red Cross and Inova Blood Donor Services – the two companies that serve the area where I live, always need blood donors. Particularly with summer coming on, the demand for blood increases dramatically. When a person needs blood, receiving it usually makes the difference between life and death. I know. I was on the receiving end of that drama once. Without going into details, I collapsed in Vancouver, BC at the end of a two-week vacation. Not long after I was examined in the ER, I was started on an IV connected to a pint of whole blood. After a couple tests, it was discovered that I had a bleeding ulcer and, in a fairly short period of time prior to my collapse, I had lost 40% of my blood.
After I recovered enough so that I could fly home and some time after the ulcer healed, I got to thinking about giving back; donating blood. I realized that all because some unknown person walked into a clinic somewhere and donated blood, I was pulled through a rather dicey health crisis. Someone literally saved my life. By donating blood I would be able to help someone else. But, at the time I checked into donating, there were a lot of restrictions. Even after my ulcer healed, there was a waiting period. There was also the matter of a medication many folks take for high blood pressure, but which I took because it controlled a heart arrhythmia I developed in my 20s. So when the opportunity to help at a blood drive came up, I decided lending a hand was the least I could do. Until today.
During a slow period between donors, I was talking to my friend and he told me that some of the prescription medication restrictions for blood donors have been relaxed. I walked over to a group of technicians and asked one of the them about the medication I was taking. She looked it up and asked me a few questions. It turns out that because my heart arrhythmia is under control, the medication is not a show stopper. Hooray! I thanked her, walked back to the canteen and signed up to donate blood at the October blood drive. I feel good about it. I know that most of my volunteer work in my community helps others, but there’s something about donating my blood that feels special. You might say I feel it in my blood.
Tags: American Red Cross, blog, blood, blood donor, blood drive, carol plotnick, Community, Inova Blood Donor Services, service to others
Posted in Biographical Information, Community, Special Events | 2 Comments »
Friday, March 20th, 2009
Interest in my column at Examiner.com has started growing. I’m receiving information from a couple volunteer organizations and I am now more aware than ever of how many people and organizations are volunteering in the Laurel, Maryland area. It’s heartwarming! Please visit – and subscribe – to the Laurel Community Volunteer Examiner. A lot of what is happening here is happening across our country. In addition to the articles, there is a growing list of local, regional and national organizations supported by volunteers.
Tags: blog, carol plotnick, volunteer
Posted in Biographical Information, Community | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009
Have you ever wanted to combine work with something you really like to do? Some folks manage that easily, some struggle and others come upon it later in life. I fall into the latter category. I’m a free-lance writer for Examiner.com. The best way I can describe Examiner.com is that it’s a really BIG e-newspaper. Because the organization involves a lot of writers [Examiners], Examiner.com is an e-newspaper that goes far beyond what most newspapers cover in a daily paper. For example, have you ever heard of a Baby Boomer Examiner or a D.C. Technology Examiner? A Cleveland Sports Examiner or a SF Travel Tips Examiner? Writers from all over the country cover something that interests them. As you’ve already seen at this blog, I’m a very active volunteer in my community. Ta Da! I’m Examiner.com’s Laurel [Maryland] Community Volunteer Examiner! I found a way to not only write about the various volunteer opportunities that exist in Laurel, MD, but hopefully, I can encourage more people to become involved in helping their friends, neighbors, and other members of their community. If you’re in the neighborhood and you want to volunteer, check out my web site!
Tags: carol plotnick, Chrysalis Publications, Community, Community Volunteer Examiner, Examiner, Examiner.com, free-lance writing, Laurel, Laurel Maryland, volunteer
Posted in Biographical Information, Community | 1 Comment »
Saturday, March 14th, 2009
Flying Wires is now available for download to your Kindle, Kindle 2 or iPhone [also iPod Touch]. That’s right. After a February announcement about Amazon.com’s Kindle 2, the e-books available for the Kindle products are now available for the iPhone. Perhaps Amazon.com is responding to the demand for the popular e-book format to be available on other media players besides the Kindle and Kindle 2. In this struggling economy, companies often fall back to the “whatever sells” game plan. For Kindle and Kindle for iPhone owners, take a sneak peak at Flying Wires. [See link for "Try it free."] Don’t have a Kindle or iPhone? Click here to see a sample from one of the chapters.
Click Kindle for additional information about this product; and for Kindle for iPhone.
Tags: carol plotnick, Chrysalis Publications, company profile, e-book, flying, Flying Wires, iPhone, iPod Touch, kindle, Kindle 2, publishing, ultralight, Ultralight Flying
Posted in Aviation, Biographical Information, Company Information, Flying Wires, Kindle Products, Products, Self Publishing, Technology | No Comments »
Thursday, March 12th, 2009
My novel, Flying Wires, is mentioned in this week’s issue of the Howard County Times and Laurel Leader newspapers. In his column, John Hayes highlights the books published by four members of the Savage Writers’ Circle. The writers meet at the Savage, Maryland library on the second Monday of each month. John – also an accomplished writer – has had poems published and a couple of his plays performed. Read about these five writers’ accomplishments here.
Tags: aircraft, Aviation, carol plotnick, Chrysalis Publications, Community, flying, Flying Wires, Light Sport and Ultralight Flying magazine, pdf, publishing, Savage Writers' Circle, ultralight, Ultralight Flying, virtual assistant
Posted in Aviation, Biographical Information, Community, Company Information, Flying Wires, PDF Products, Products, Self Publishing | No Comments »
Saturday, February 7th, 2009
Our new web site is online! If you visited our old site, you’ll notice a number of changes. Foremost, is the ability to pay for and then immediately download the PDF version of Carol Plotnick’s Flying Wires – still offered at the low, introductory price of $4.50. We want to thank Arron Rasmussen at iDEVSPOT for, DigiVendor, a software package that made the magic happen! Arron helped this newbie over the hurdles I encountered while working with html in cyber space.
Perhaps the most notable addition to the Chrysalis Publications, LLC organization is our new virtual assistant division. The company is now offering various services online which a few years ago were only performed in an office environment. I will post our services, along with the hourly rates. Depending on the project, some services may be negotiated on a fixed fee basis. If you need the services of an experienced administrative assistant, please complete the online form and we will call you back within 1 to 2 business days.
Another important part of the web site is this blog. So as not to update and re-publish the web site frequently, this blog will serve as a bulletin board. In addition to announcements about the latest changes, services and products, there will also be note-worthy personal posts. I have been doing volunteer community service for a number of years and it means a lot to me to be of service to people in my community. With hard economic times facing most of us, I will share with you some of the activities I’ve been involved in and I will write a few good words about the organizations I feel make a difference in peoples’ lives. I feel that now, more than ever, volunteer service is so important.
As for a brief explanation of the blog for visitors not familiar with the news format, you may see what looks like a hodge-podge of unrelated posts and comments. However, by using the Search, Categories list and Archives features, you will be able to view a page with only the posts you want to read. For example, you want to see what was written about “self publishing.” Type “self publishing” in the Search box and click the “Search” button. If you want to browse the Category list, click on the arrows next to “Select Category” and a drop-down box will appear. Choose a category and all posts labeled for that category will appear. If you read a post in January, but aren’t sure what category or word to search for, click on the January archives and you’ll see only the posts written in that month.
Along the right side of the blog, you’ll find links to various web sites – some specialized and some of personal interest. Under the W.W.W. heading – what we refer to as the World Wide Workplace – is a list of clients or organizations we have worked with. A few of these will also appear under other headings because of the nature of their business.
Feel free to look around and become familiar with our web site and blog. Bookmark our web site and subscribe to our blog – we look forward to hearing from you!
Tags: Add new tag, blog, carol plotnick, Chrysalis Publications, Community, DigiVendor, flying, Flying Wires, pdf, virtual assistant
Posted in Biographical Information, Community, Company Information, Flying Wires, Products | No Comments »
