Plans

posted by Patty James @ 9:37am, Tuesday 13 July 2010.

I didn't quite finish last night's post and stopped at 'Plans,' the most exciting part! As anyone who knows me knows, I have always been a hard worker and once I set my mind to something it will happen. So with this in mind, here goes.

First and foremost I need to refill my deleted coffers! I have spent every dime I have on this project. I truly mean that quite literally. I need to explain why I had to do this and there are reasons I knew and reasons I didn't know then. Living in Sonoma County, we have fresh food almost all year, we have a very mild climate and it's a rather affluent area (compared to most of the country.) These aspects together did not make for a true picture of kid's health in this country. It is crystal clear to me now that I am on the home stretch that this journey was absolutely necessary in order to do a good job developing health programs for all kids. I don't regret one moment or one dime spent.

I will be home August 6th. I am able to park my RV at my brother in law's parents house in Petaluma for 2 weeks while they're in Germany. I have decided not to rent a place to live, but to live in the RV until I have steady income coming in. I have been offered some 1 bedroom places, but that would mean I would have to move again later and I would rather live in my RV and only move once and into at least a 2 bedroom house.

Here's what I have happening. By the way, when you direct a non-profit, your finances are an open book, not that I don't continually blab about everything anyway...:)

My friend Elson has offered me some part time work and we're chatting about that. I received an email just this morning from Jan O'Connell from The Vine Hill House (great Pinot Noirs, event center, etc.) and she wants to work together. I prepared a meal to support the Laguna (a wetlands) and she and her husband Dan opened their beautiful property for this event last fall. They also had my 'Launch' party at their place. Now we're chatting about putting on more food and wine events. So much fun and another income potential. I have tons of Bay Area connections and I am in contact with many people for work.

I also have continuing work with The Green Polka Dot Box. I analyze product information and will help develop a 'Learn' section for their customers. The owner, Rod, and I have also chatted about a chef training program and so much more. The Green Polka Dot box is an on-line store that will sell natural and organic foods and it will be delivered to your home in a green polka dot box. The prices are incredible by the way. I'm not sure how Rod has negotiated these prices. After almost 2 years of work, the site goes live on August 17th. Very exciting. Here's the link-  www.greenpolkadotbox.com

Let me know if you can think of someone for me to work with/for-nutrition counseling, developing wellness programs, writing health articles, cooking classes, a personal chef, etc., etc. I also, of course, have one book out. I was pretty silly during the divorce proceedings in that I forgot I received the advance while married and I have to pay that back out of my royalties until it is paid back. Major slip on my part-and my attorney's part. No biggie in the scheme of things. I also have started writing the next book based on this journey-a nutrition/cookbook based on what the kids want and need with great quips and quotes all through from the kids. My publicist, who has been turning down books, is very excited about this book and think it's going to be big. I am speaking with a literary agent from Chicago this month about representing me on this book and the next book which will be about my personal journey. The first book will be a big part of curriculum for the kid's health programs. It will take until the end of the year for Sonoma State to analyze the date (BIG push for written surveys-HELP!) and I can't apply for grants until this part is done. That's actually o.k., because, again, I need income. I can't help anyone if I'm not o.k. and right now, money wise, I'm not o.k. ....but absolutely will be.

There's more...

~A DVD based on the interviews that will be also used in curriculum.
~A great PowerPoint presentation that Olivia is working on to be used for presentations for service clubs such as Rotary, and schools, etc. Donations should fly in after they see it!
~My daughter's and I are chatting about some other aspects of what I can do. On-line videos and classes. There's another thing or two, but believe it or not, I'm not ready to discuss it quite yet.

If you want to help, either donate to Shine The Light On America's Kids (it's a non-profit and gives you a tax break of course) or help me find work beginning mid-August- or both! I also need a kitchen to work in sometimes for videos, classes, etc. I can always use my friend Ann's kitchens for videos but don't want to ask too much of one friend. How about having a cooking class at your home for friends on a Friday night? ..as just one example.

More soon! A year from now, this money stuff will all be behind me, we'll have incredible programs developed for the kids across the country, my book will be done and so much more! I do know this to be true...

The second part of what I learned is about me. I didn't leave to go 'find myself' but that is pretty much what happened. I am more confidant personally, but acknowledge that I have a long ways to go. I may come off as a confident person, but (this is much harder to talk about than work and money stuff) but as far as relating to men, I'm lousy. There you have it. I am hard on myself personally-too hard. I have always thought that I was pretty forgettable and frankly that the men in my life simply stop seeing me. This I know is true, it's not what I think. Olivia tells me I have a 'really weird body image Mom,' and I'm working on that as well. There's more, but it sounds too self....something. I would rather chat about my work and work quietly on the other aspects of my life that are a little messed up!