| Filed under Fiction Relationships writing
Welcome to day two of my blog tour on Patty’s World.
To view the original post, visit the Word Crafter blog, you won’t be disappointed.
What do I find the most satisfying about writing? Knowing what I have written means something to another person or reader. I strive to make connections through my writing.
| Filed under Fiction Relationships writing
First Novel Book Tour
with Kaye Lynne Booth and Word Crafter Services and the Writing to be Read blog.
As an added bonus to this fabulous book blog launch, I am inviting you to my book launch presentation and interview at 7:00 p.m. eastern on Thursday, June 16..
Soundscape artist and nonfiction author, Peter Altschul will be interviewing me about the book and the craft of writing followed by an open Q &A.
About the author
Ann Chiappetta
Ann is an artist and often refers to her love of words as a natural compensation after losing her vision in 1993. Once a designer of acrylic displays and furniture, Ann trained her creative senses to flow over from the visual to the literary arts. Years later, she has become a poet and author, honing her talent in various mediums, including web content for nonprofits, regular bylines for online literary publications, poetry, anthologies and guest editing in online literary journals, just to name a few projects of which she has contributed.
The author of five independently published books, Ann possesses a Master of Science in Marriage and family therapy from Iona College and an undergraduate degree from the College of New Rochelle, both located in Westchester County, New York. A consultant and guest presenter, Ann visits schools promoting awareness and equality for people with disabilities. She is the 2015 recipient of the WDOM Spirit of Independence award and the 2019 recipient of the GDUI Leiberg-Metz award for writing.
Find everything Annie on the web: www.annchiappetta.com
Zoom Invitation
Ann Chiappetta is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: BOE Book Launch with Annie Chiappetta
Time: June 16, 2022, 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88208888115?pwd=ZmtnSEkxY3dhUk9WZlQ3NkJyWkpKZz09
Meeting ID: 882 0888 8115
Passcode: 692748
One tap mobile
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Dial by your location
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 882 0888 8115
Passcode: 692748
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbnrlmyTBN
| Filed under writing
Coming Soon June 16, time: 7:00 p.m. eastern via Zoom
The Behind Our Eyes Book Launch program Presents
Author and novelist Ann Chiappetta
Interviewed by fellow author Peter Altschul
Highlighting Ann’s first novel, Hope For the Tarnished © 2022.
Ann and Peter will discuss the novel-writing journey, followed by an open Q & A.
About the author
Ann Chiappetta
Ann is an artist and often refers to her love of words as a natural compensation after losing her vision in 1993. Once a designer of acrylic displays and furniture, Ann trained her creative senses to flow over from the visual to the literary arts. Years later, she has become a poet and author, honing her talent in various mediums, including web content for nonprofits, regular bylines for online literary publications, poetry, anthologies and guest editing in online literary journals, just to name a few projects of which she has contributed.
The author of five independently published books, Ann possesses a Master of Science in Marriage and family therapy from Iona College and an undergraduate degree from the College of New Rochelle, both located in Westchester County, New York. A consultant and guest presenter, Ann visits schools promoting awareness and equality for people with disabilities. She is the 2015 recipient of the WDOM Spirit of Independence award and the 2019 recipient of the GDUI Leiberg-Metz award for writing.
Find everything Annie on the web: www.annchiappetta.com
Zoom Invitation
Ann Chiappetta is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: BOE Book Launch with Annie Chiappetta
Time: June 16, 2022, 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88208888115?pwd=ZmtnSEkxY3dhUk9WZlQ3NkJyWkpKZz09
Meeting ID: 882 0888 8115
Passcode: 692748
One tap mobile
+19292056099,,88208888115#,,,,*692748# US (New York)
+13126266799,,88208888115#,,,,*692748# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 882 0888 8115
Passcode: 692748
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbnrlmyTBN
| Filed under writing
Being a guide dog handler often means added responsibilities and animal husbandry when it comes to our canine partners. We not only practice daily obedience, but also brush their teeth, clean ears, and inspect nails for trimming. We check for changes in their relieving routines and the hands-on attention lets us know when to ask for assistance with identifying a bump or injury.
On the top of the list is eye health. Canine eye health is a primary concern for our dogs. I know, it seems almost trite to say it, but one cannot work a guide dog that has trouble seeing. Dogs are susceptible to eye diseases just like people. This is why the month of April and May has been reserved for free eye exams in a Nationally-recognized program instituted by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, or ACVO.
The ACVO/Epicur National Service Animal Eye Exam event will provide a free screening-wellness eye exam to qualified Service and Working Animals including those providing the following services: guide, hearing assistance, drug detection, police/military, search and rescue, therapy, and those assisting people with disabilities other than blindness. Registration is open annually April 1st – 30th.
Bailey passed his exam with great tolerance and a huge sneeze, which isn’t an uncommon reaction when getting one’s big Labrador eyes inspected with one of those newfangled blue light thingies. 😊
Below is Bailey sitting and looking at the camera wearing his new black ACVO bandana. What a good boy! 🦮
| Filed under Guide dogs Poem
I thought I’d share a slice of life with our best friends.
Poo on a shoe
By Ann Chiappetta
The day began in good faith and plan
Rising at six a.m.
Busy with brewing dark roast
coffee aroma disguising the odiferous
Tang of poo
Deposited along my route to the office
Unknowingly I cam across it
And tracked the goop hither and yon
And blithely carried on
It was the second time that did it
My sneaker stepped in the middle
Of the big pile with a squelch
And , slip and slide
Then the smell arrived.
Dog shit on my best Merrills
And stuck in this muck
What was I going to do?
I, of course yelled down the hall for my husband
And as we coordinated the clean-up
With gagging and nose plugs
He said,
“Honey, why did it have to be you?”
Dedicated to the family dogs, Bailey and May
Ann M. Chiappetta, M.S.
Making Meaningful ConnectionsThrough Media
914.393.6605 USA
All things Annie: www.annchiappetta.com
| Filed under writing
Feline Revenge
This is about inter-species communication. No it’s not about extra-terrestrials, it’s about cats and dogs.
Jerry and I were in bed listening to an audio book, Bailey was on the dog bed and May was laying between us on our bed. In saunters Papa, our tuxedo cat. He and I have this routine of him coming onto my side of the bed and onto my lap, then we proceed with the human-feline interactions, the feline sucklying and kneading the blanket and me petting him until he relaxes and rests. But this night May and Pappa are competing for the blanket space and my lap. So Pappa, not happy with May being so close to “his” place, begins to rub on her; he dives in, his face and upper body rubbing her face and shoulders. He continues until she is twitching in annoyance and begins to scratch her face and neck. By this time Jerry and I are trying not to laugh . The cat is giving May the feline version of the canine nose boop. We want to cheer Pappa on, knowing he is doing his best to conquer the space on the human bed and in five minutes, May gets off the bed and Pappa has what he wants. Smart kitty cat. It makes up for all the times when May annoys him while he’s cat-loafing on the coffee table trying to catnap. 🐱🐱
| Filed under nonfiction Poem writing
Springtime Bliss with Valentina
Blessed to have been invited to submit something for Valentina’s blog.
https://valentinaexpressions.com/2022/04/26/spring-beauty-and-books-ann-chiappetta/
| Filed under blindness Guide dogs writing
Want to check out what I’ve been up to ? Thanks to Dream Young Arts and Media co-founders Nicky and Otis, I shared parts of my life, struggles and successes before and after blindness.
After watching it on YouTube, why not like and share it?
More about DYAM:
Dream Young Arts & Media (DYAM) focuses on helping people with disabilities to develop social and fundamental skills. DYAM will support our member’s goals and help them co-exist in their communities through the use of educational and social skills, music, and media creation with our Podcast (@dreamyoungmedia on YouTube).
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Photo of Ann at Harbor Island Park, Mamaroneck, NY West Basin. She is with her guide dog, Verona and is smiling.
| Filed under blindness Guide dogs Relationships
We walked into the holiday party. I was already anticipating a good time with friends after the imposed bouts of social isolation as a result of Covid.
We were greeted and directed to our table by a pleasant staff person. Bailey, my guide dog, was excited to see our good friends and greeted one of them. I pulled out my chair, settled my coat and bag and asked Bailey to lay down under the table when the two women to my right became hysterical upon noticing him.
“I can’t stay here, the dog will eat all my food,” and “That dog is going to bite me,” and “I can’t relax with that dog so close,”.
My heart sunk and I put on the blank face. The face that tries to hide the disappointment and frustration brought on by ignorance and fear of my guide dog by others.
My friend tells them the dog won’t do that, it’s trained. Still they go on and I feel the anxiety build. Will I have to leave? I do my best to ignore them, but one person continued to go on about “that dog, will bite me,” “I can’t stay here with that dog,”, etc.
I grope for my water glass and wait it out.
I don’t want to be here, don’t want to eat, I feel like these people just stole it all from me. I almost got up to leave, was close to tears but I refused to let them see me cry. I had a right to be there, too, and because I am blind, my guide dog did, too.
a person sitting on the other side of our table spoke to the person who was now almost yelling about “that dog,” — and quieted them. It took me some time to refocus on my meal and my friends. My guide dog curled up for a nap under the table.
The rest of the afternoon was fun thanks to a stranger who knew how to handle another stranger’s fear of dogs.
The thing is even though I stayed quiet, I was angry. Being subjected to reactions like this, while infrequent, still happen and still affect me in a powerful way. I felt confused and hurt by their reactions. I hope they will remember how “that woman with the dog,” kept her cool and shared a meal. I hope they will one day understand how much it cost me personally to shelf the feelings and get past their outburst.
Ann and Bailey on bench: Both looking straight on