A numbing realization washes over me
Defined by nothing more than this throbbing agony
Too many hours of seclusion, anger and discomfort
Stumbling over routine actions contain an illusion of normal for me
So tired of being helpless and needing assistance to perform the simplest of tasks
Nothing more can be done like it used to be
There is a smile I keep in my pocket that is used occasionally to disguise my face
As not a soul can understand I will never again be able expose the tangible me
Longing for a little more time of standard
Praying …

By Dawn Thayer
another holiday recipe
SPICED PUDDING SQUARES:
Yields approximately 24 squares
Prep time: 25 minutes
total time : 2 hours, 25 minutes
1/2 cup melted butter then cooled
1 egg
1 pkg spiced cake mix ( or make from scratch)
1 pkg (3.4 oz) vanilla flavor instant pudding
1 cup cold milk
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp ground all spice
1/8 ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cup thawed cool whip
2 tbsp toffee bits
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 375ºF. Mix first 3 ingredients just until blended; press onto bottom of 13×9-inch pan sprayed with cooking spray.
2. Bake 15 to 17 min. …

-By Dawn Thayer
With the holidays just around the corner I thought I would start sharing some festive recipes that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
Today We will start with :
Cumin Pumpkin Soup – Yield approximately 1 quart- 32 oz.
Prep time 5-10 minutes
cook time 10- 15 minutes
Ingredients
1 lb. Fresh Pumpkin puree or [1 - 15 ounce can pumpkin puree (NOT pie filling)]
1 1/2 cups Chicken stock or Vegetable stock
1 cup low-fat milk
2 tsp ground cumin
1  tsp sage
1/2 cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 bay leaves
Salt and pepper
Fresh sage leaves
pumpkin seeds, for garnish
Directions
1.) In …

The music of my heart
Beats within my soul
When I feel the rhythm
Never will I grow old
Listening to the melody
The harmonies ring clear
Singing the songs of my continuation
Vitality changes with every animation
Beautiful is life’s music
Sensation in my heart
Fusion within my soul
Silence flows with an aura of endless time

By Dawn Thayer
Wasp spray…who knew ???
I know some of you own guns, have taken martial arts classes and even self-defense but this is something to think about…
If you don’t have any of these things or even if you do, here’s a more humane way to wreck someone’s evil plans for you.
Did you know this? I didn’t. I had never really thought of it before either.
Wasp Spray !!!
A friend who is a receptionist in a church, in a high risk area was concerned about someone coming into the office on Monday …

by Dawn Thayer
Reporter/Poet
I am sending a shout out to all the poets, young, old, student, teacher, out there in our Owens Community. I am looking to start a Owens poetry club/society, we can do poetry reading and discuss our work together and grow as poets, writers and friends. Meeting schedules would be discussed once I get enough interest to actually start the club. Also I have been working on a way to copyright any work we do as individuals so that you can be sure that your work and creativity …

Owens is preparing for a spring musical in mid-April, and the auditions are open to the student body. The spring musical is a comedy by the name of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’’. Auditions will be held in Performing Arts room 111 on both January 30 and 31 from 6-9 p.m. Please come out and have a one minute monologue, a song prepared and a smile on your face. A sign-up sheet for audition times is located on the white wall by the box office in CFPA. Good …

By Dawn Thayer
Reporter
I would like to thank everyone who participated in the Biggest Loser Competition and would like to congratulate our winners. Our competition was a good one and I hope everyone continues to seek their weight loss goals. The grand prize winner of $200 was Andrew Mikolajczyk. The second place winners, the new owners of a set of weights and yoga mats were Jacalyn Deselms as our female winner and Sean Taylor as our male winner. Third place winners of a $10 Subway gift card were female contestant Shevonne Snowden …

By Dawn Thayer
Poet & Reporter
The Darkness surrounds me
And silence is deadly
I turn to you for help
But you are no where around
My mind is made up
Today’s the day
I’m putting on my wings
I’m gonna fly away
The higher I go
The further I fall
Away from the light
I’m sick of it all
Back in the darkness is where I belong
Sitting alone in the silence
Listening to death’s lonely song
 

By Dawn Thayer
Poet & Reporter
This is from the little girl who never spoke
Until you
A scarred, frightened animal
Mishandled and mislead
You threw her a line
Helping her aboard
She caught the winning ride
As time went by
She grew older
She had to leave what she called home
Going to another family
Saying goodbye again to a hero, a friend, a father
Being bounced from home to home
Trying to protect her being
Only words of anger and betrayal are spoken
For the child who stays withdrawn
You were never the one at fault
Then dismissed once again
To a world where she’s not wanted
In her …