A Week in Review - September 7th 2014

[caption id="attachment_3513" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Danny Arrives for PET Scan[/caption]

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Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. The end of the week has come and it is time for ‘A Week in Review’ here at The Other Shoe. With the publication of this article, I have managed to publish NINE articles in the past seven days. I consider this to be quite an accomplishment, considering what was going on in my life outside this blog. I started the re-publication of a very (initially) popular series of articles; ‘The Story of Daniel’. First published in the late summer to fall of 2012, this series of articles was (originally) written to help you, My Dear Readers, gain an understanding of who I am… where I grew up… and how important it was/is to reach out and help me in a time of great need.

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My motivation for re-publication was the same as when it was first published. The reasoning is the similar, only the circumstances are different. Similar in that when it was originally published I was fighting for my mobility, and now I am fighting for my life. Below are excerpts and comments on the eight articles I have published in the past seven days.

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Now, without further Adieu, I give you ‘A Week in Review’

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The Mars Report – September 1st 2014 : “I would ‘blame myself’, but I strongly feel that; writing and publishing nearly a dozen articles, spending 12, 14, and 16 hours A DAY (promoting, linking, sharing, and writing) on my blog(s) and Facebook, spending money (that I really shouldn’t) to promote even MORE, and generally… lowering myself to daily asking for HELP! I, generally, feel that I have ‘done my part’. There is little more that I can do. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I will be: visiting my Oncologist, having a P.E.T. scan done, and have BONE MARROW removed from my pelvic girdle. I will try to write. However, I do not know how much I can get done… considering I will be out every day for the tests for ‘Staging My Cancer’!” This was the ONLY ‘regular’ articles that I manage to publish, this week, aside fro this “A Week in Review’. To say that the pain was terrible would be redundant. To write about how I really wanted to share, would be futile. To try and explain my frame of mind, my concern for my health and my fear of my cancer. Appears to be honesty of a kind and type that people just do not want to read. I guess.

• The Story of Daniel – Redux – All About Danny : “The reality of my life… is why I wrote ‘The Story of Daniel’ back in September of 2012. I use this story now to maybe help people remember who I am. Remember that I used to stand at their side, remember that I used to work to make them laugh, remember how hard I worked for the plays, remember how important Pearland was-and-is to me. To remember is to relive in our hearts, our minds, our souls. I used to occupy that space in many people’s lives in Pearland.” The whole ‘thought process’ (originally pitched to me by one Jim Thornton) was that if the good people of Pearland could remember; who I was, how I used to entertain them, why they enjoyed my company and my performances that they just might reach out and help me in my time of need. That was the thought process. I just thought that I might try it, again. I have, yet, to decide if next week will se the continuation of this publication. Or, like my efforts to document my trials and battle with cancer, it will be throw to the wayside for something more commercially viable.


• Daniel’s Disability and HOW it ALL Began! – Redux : “See, there is no one to blame, in this matter it is just a matter of ‘bad luck’ or something like that. I don’t hate anyone, or blame anything for the plight I live with… boy, that would be futile, to seek and assign blame. Because it really doesn’t matter, in the large scheme of things, who did what or who didn’t won’t make my pain go away.” Twenty-seven years ago someone, working the electrtonics stockroom at Target in Manhattan Beach, placed a Smith Corona typewriter at the very top of a pile of loosely stacked boxes. The next day that typewriter fell and struck me in the spine and back of the head. That incident set in motion the events of the next twenty-five years of my life. If my assumptions are correct, and the bone graft is/was the source of the Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma… that fateful day is also responsible for my cancer.


• The Story of Daniel – Redux – Episode One – The Beginning : “The Cub Scouts taught me the importance of; self reliance, respect of elders and community, and that knowledge is power. At the same time that I was learning these lessons in Scouts, I was learning even more in my Father’s garage. My father was an X-Ray technician for three orthopedic surgeons in the Herman Professional Building in Houston. They were the ‘Herman Associates’ group. Dr.(s); Hutcherson, Moore and Baker. When my father came home from work, he had dinner with the family only to then go to work in our garage. My father ran a small business out of our garage. We were the owners and operators of ‘K. & M. Electronics’ (Ken and Margie). My father repaired; radios, televisions, clocks and record players, HAM radios and transmitters, teletype machines and pretty much everything if he could get the schematics.” This is the beginning of my story. The formative years of my life, and how my father’s work and profession had a lasting impact on my life and career choices. I have included this part of the story… for one reason. I wanted people to know, to understand, that I was/am a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout. That lots of people have trusted me all my life, and that they too could trust me. Turst! I was trying to instill trust for me in my readers. Trust that if they donated money. That I would USE that money as I explained and as it was intended!


• PRE-CHEMO Appointment, DONE! : “My Dear Readers I have just spent two hours in ‘Orientation’ for Chemotherapy. Unfortunately, due to my lack of financial means, I will be poorly prepared for… and After treatment.” Here, I am trying to relay the events of my life. To tell a tale and to explain the source of my needs and their urgency. To be truthful, and trustworthy.


• The Story of Daniel – Part Two – REDUX! : “The holidays, for the Hanning family, were an enjoyable and busy time. Starting in October, when the air became crisp and temperatures dropped, my father added a new duty to his agenda. He took on the creation and display of festive and seasonal decorations. Though my father never talked of it openly, he loved the holiday season. Oh, not shopping and not the cooking (that was Mother’s job), he just loved decorating the house for the neighbors. It almost seemed as though he regarded it as some ‘social responsibility’ to provide eye candy for the community and neighbors. I never sensed he thought of it as; an obligation or competition it was his way of expressing himself. My father didn’t sing or dance or anything of that nature. Yes, he sang hymns at South Park Baptist Church but you would never see him bursting into song around the house of neighborhood.” My father could have spent his free time, around the holidays, relaxing and enjoying time spent with family. Not my father, he spent is free time setting about wonderful and entertaining decorations and automated displays. He really sought to bring joy and happiness to his friends and neighbors. I have a great deal of respect for him, in that regard. My father was a man of the community and he sought always to give back to those around him. A habit I picked up, and used my singing and acting abilities to follow in his footsteps.


• The Story of Daniel – Part Three – REDUX! : “As I have told you, much of elementary school at Pearland is just gone, “dust in the wind”. For what ever reason, though, my memories of the time that I spent in the (then) new ‘Middle School’ are pretty clear and there a good many of them, too. Now, I really do wish that my parents had purchased those ‘Year Books’. I was never really big on buying them, as a boy. Now that may have been merely because my mother and father both never really showed any interest in buying them, and I was just following their lead or it could be because our family just budgeted out money so frugally that it seemed a frivolous expenditure. What ever the reason, I am working without a net here, so IF I get some dates wrong, or places please be kind.” This is the third part of ‘The Story of Daniel’. I explain my time coming to Pearland, starting at the Elementary school and then on to Pearland Middle School. The best I can figure the Hannings arrived in Pearland in, like, 1965 or 1966. We lived on Francis street, there in Pearland, until my mother passed away in 1987. Twenty-plus years in Pearland… and not the “couple of years” some would have me believe.


• Radioactive Dan! : “Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. My apologies for my absence, these past two days, as I have been involved in the ‘Staging’ process with my cancer. Yesterday, the topic of this article, was full of fun and excitement with a P.E.T. (Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography) scan. I know how could something like that be… entertaining? Well, I will tell you just how and give you; videos from the day, images from the day, and images of/about P.E.T. scans and the process. At the end of this article, I will share some of the actual images from my scan! Tell me that is not exciting!” This was my very FIRST P.E.T. scan. I had never been directly injected with a radioactive sugar compound, before. Looking back, I just wish I had the… resources to eat the correct foods prior to the scan. I was unable to eat a “high Protein, Low Carbohydrate” diet the way they had instructed.


• The Hardest Decision of My Life : “With less than three weeks left, to the campaign, I have made a difficult and hard decision. I will no longer write articles about; my cancer, my adventure with cancer, my visits to doctors, my chemotherapy, or anything to do with my treatment or condition. I have seen my traffic decline, and with more than 210 ‘Shares’ on Facebook I have garnered only the support of two people. I fear that I risk loosing more of you, My Dear Readers, if I continue to write about my disease and my battle with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.” IF I could find a hole big enough, I would crawl into it and just disappear. That is how I felt, when I wrote this article, it is how I feel as I write this review. I have, obviously, offended… upset… ‘puched away’ people by just talking about my disease and asking for assistance. Who would’ve thunk it? Facts are facts, traffic was in a downward spiral (again, that could have been because of the of new material and/or the regular article series), I will never know. I am just stopping writing about my battle with cancer. I will write, when I am able, the regular articles everyone enjoys. Maybe… somehow, someway, I will be able to afford to eat properly… and get to and from treatments and pay my rent. However, as I have stated… if the costs of treatment and everything… take out of rent.. I WILL STOP treatments to pay my rent. Roof comes first!

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Well, My Dear Readers, that brings us to the end of this week’s ‘A Week in Review’! As well, it brings to a close a very; tiring, trying and painful seven days. Next week, it will be just the regular articles. I do not believe I will continue the re-publication of ‘The Story of Daniel’. I know that nobody wants to hear about my battle with cancer. However, I will continue to make videos… and keep a journal of my journey… because that is what writers do!

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Thank you for dropping by, and thank you for your kindness and support. I look forward to writing and publishing as my health and time allows. I do hope to have more of ‘The Horror in Smithville’ ready for next Friday. I look forward to seeing you, My Dear Readers, right here.

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Adieu!

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Thank YOU!

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PLEASE DONATE to

Danny's Cancer Treatment Fund @ Indiegogo

[caption id="attachment_3338" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Danny in Rolling Hills Estates August 12, 2014[/caption]

PLEASE GIVE!?!

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© 2010 – 2014 Hanning Web Wurx and The Other Shoe

The Story of Daniel - Redux - Episode One - The Beginning

[caption id="attachment_187" align="aligncenter" width="286"] Danny in 1965[/caption]

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 Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. This week I will be very much engrossed in; scans, tests, appointments, and a surgery. I do not think I will have the strength and the focus to write they I have and the way I enjoy. To all of you, My Dear Readers, I sincerely apologize for this… vacuum in my body of work here at The Other Shoe. Today marks the end of two weeks working at my campaign to raise the money I need to successfully fight my cancer. Danny’s Cancer Treatment Fund @ Indiegogo[1] needs your support.

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This is the beginning of ‘The Story of Daniel’. This is the beginning of my life. Read… and Enjoy!

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Episode One - The Beginning

I was born, November 20, 1957, @ St. Joseph’s Hospital in Houston Texas. My first year of life I spent on 'Foster Street' in Houston Texas, while my parents had our family's new home built. In November 1958 my family moved to 5757 Thrush Street in an area refereed to as 'Beldart', right off of South Park Blvd. I grew up and attended Mading Elementary, where I made many good friends; Desiree Kahlee and Walt LaVern to name the ones I remember most. My family attended South Park Baptist Church, where I was Baptized and my father (Kenneth Urban Hanning) served as an Usher and sometimes Deacon.

Very early, even before we moved to Pearland, I was a Cub Scout. My Mother (Margaret Nora Hanning) served as 'Den Mother' for my Cub Scout pack and Dad served as the Troop's treasurer. I remember going to the 'Blue & Gold' banquets (held in the Cafeteria of Madding elementary) and it was in that same room that I 'graduated' from Cub Scouts to Webelows. I remember the night that I turned in my Cub Scout cap and scarf and received my Webelow cap and scarf.

The Cub Scouts taught me the importance of; self reliance, respect of elders and community, and that knowledge is power. At the same time that I was learning these lessons in Scouts, I was learning even more in my Father's garage. My father was an X-Ray technician for three orthopedic surgeons in the Herman Professional Building in Houston. They were the 'Herman Associates' group. Dr.(s); Hutcherson, Moore and Baker. When my father came home from work, he had dinner with the family only to then go to work in our garage. My father ran a small business out of our garage. We were the owners and operators of 'K. & M. Electronics' (Ken and Margie). My father repaired; radios, televisions, clocks and record players, HAM radios and transmitters, teletype machines and pretty much everything if he could get the schematics. When work was done he spent time on his Ham radio. This garage is where I learned electronics and satisfied my curiosity for 'HOW' things worked. It was also 'how' our family could afford a 'Summer Vacation' every year. It also forced me to see just how 'Large' our world was outside our little corner.

My father taught me that a hobby could help create financial security for a family, that a father's work was never done, and that 'self-reliance' was not a burden, it was an honor. I helped my father, every night, in that garage. Once my homework was done and all my chores, I would ask my mother "Can I go out and help Dad?". "Yes' she would respond "But try not to get in his way, and be careful!" (Even at this young age, I seemed to have a bit of a problem being in the wrong place, at the wrong time) I would go out and, if Dad was working on some electronics I would, hold a light for him, or hold the solder as he replaced parts in a broken radio or television.

I was an unusually curious boy. My father used to say (a lot) "Look with your eyes, not your fingers" and "There are no eyeballs in the tips of your fingers!" Reason being, seemingly on a regular basis, I got shocked and electrocuted. It was not a fault of my father; it was just the sharp end of my curiosity getting the better of me. But I learned. I learned basics of electronics, I learned how to use the tools, I learned about the larger world outside our garage, our city, our state and our nation. I learned, at six and seven, where China was and the U.S.S.R. and India and Japan. I heard the voices of people from these far away lands as they crackled over the speaker from my father's ham radio receiver.

I remember helping my father erect his first fifty foot aluminum tower in the back yard (on Thrush Street), and watched as he and friends lifted his first 'Di-Pole' antenna to the top of that tower. Late at night, I would sit by the window in my room and look up at the red blinking light on the top of the tower, and think about 'far-away' lands and the people that lived in these lands.

Coming Wednesday September 3rd, 2014 - Formative Years & The Hannings Move to Pearland.

Hope to see you here!

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My Dear Readers this is the story of my life. I share it with great hesitancy and trepidation. However, I am at a point… in my life and in my campaign Danny’s Cancer Treatment Fund[1] where my comfort cannot be an issue. I simply must PREVAIL! I must garner the support and DONATIONS to continue my life. This story will continue… for the weeks and months to come.

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Adieu!

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Thank YOU!

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PLEASE DONATE to

Danny's Cancer Treatment Fund @ Indiegogo

[caption id="attachment_3338" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Danny in Rolling Hills Estates August 12, 2014[/caption]

PLEASE GIVE!?!

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© 2010 – 2014 Hanning Web Wurx and The Other Shoe

400th Article Here at The Other Shoe!

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[caption id="attachment_2203" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Daniel Hanning of The Other Shoe[/caption]

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Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Today March 19^th, 2014 I am happy to announce that this article is my 400^th article here @ The Other Shoe (@ Blog.com). Now, I have reached the 400 mark for my primary blog (location) @ blog.com. I will be posting this article at both my blog locations. This article will mark my 302^rd article at Word Press. Once I reach 350 at the secondary location (at Word Press) I will be marking, and celebrating, that publishing milestone, too. My Dear Readers, I have been pretty darn sick for the past six weeks.

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I feel better for a week, or so, then my fever skyrockets again and I feel poorly. This cycle has plagued me now for the past six to eight weeks. This week I have to take time out to help Allen with a legal matter. I will be gone all day Friday, and there is a great deal of preparation that I have to undertake throughout this week, starting later today. Monday I foresaw these upcoming anniversaries, yet my health kept me bedridden. Today, I awoke to no fever and a strong desire to write and publish. Though I have not published them all, today, since I woke up at 5AM I have written and finished three articles.

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So involved in these anniversaries I have been completely remiss in reporting the actual FIRST DEATH in the conflict in the Ukraine. On Sunday, for the very first time since 1945, one European country has annexed land in another country. Crimea has been annexed into Russia. This is a violation of United Nations sanctions, at least ONE NATO treaty and brought about the ire of the new leadership of the Ukraine. President Obama has spoken out against the move by Russia, and vowed further action by the United States and the United Nations for the Ukraine.

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So busy, I have been, working to prepare as much content for these anniversaries, that this development has taken a backseat to my celebration. If I manage to carve out enough time, later this week, I really hope to write further about this grave development and harmful action to the peace of the European Union. Now, back to the advent of THIS my 400^th Article @ The Other Shoe!

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I welcome this milestone in my publishing/writing career at this time. I have just taken a dive into the horror genre, here at The Other Shoe, with the publication of ‘The Horror in Smithville’. My Dear Readers, you are most likely unawares that I am writing this horror story ‘on-the-fly’. Yes, I have written the essential sentence. From this sentence I build out, like a flower. I have my plot sentence, names of characters, list of locations, plot points, and all of the essential bones and organs. However, unlike anything I have ever written, or published at either The Other Shoe? This horror story is read by you, My Dear Readers, as I write it. You are seeing this story the same day that I am writing.

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This is a major experiment for a writer’s point of view, and… so far? It is a resounding success! I have received over FIFTY ‘Likes’ for Part One, and a growing number for Part Two. My Dear Readers, you are registering your delight with this new experiment and my first venture into the horror genre. Thank YOU!
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When I write, I write from the heart. I read a substantial amount of resource material prior to even naming an article. I do my level best to find out both sides of the issue I plan on writing. If you look at the bottom of any of the political works I publish? You will see a listing of all the resource articles and materials I have used to bring my opinion to fruition.

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I do my best to use materials from, what other people may consider, both ‘Liberal’ and ‘Conservative’ sources. That we do not always agree? Is a good sign of a healthy dialogue. How boring would it be, to only keep company with people that say the same thing as I do. That we ‘see’ every news worthy event the ‘same’? To go through life in complete conformity and in lock-step unison would be to deprive myself and you, My Dear Readers, of the spice in life.

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Now on with this wonderful celebration of FOUR hundred articles published right here at The Other Shoe. My very first article was quite simple in its title and its content. Here is the very first article published by me here at The Other Shoe.

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• Welcome to The Other Shoe : “My name is      Daniel and today is the first day of this blog. Over the coming; days,      weeks, months (and hopefully) years I hope to share my view on current      political and social events and news. I will be the first to admit that I      a dyed-in-the-wool ‘Liberal’ American. I started voting in Pearland Texas      in 1975 by pulling the straight Democratic ticket lever in the mechanical      voting machines that were used in South East Texas at the time. I am not      adamantly against Republicans or (reasonable) Conservative ideals, I just      think that they generally work for the few, not the many.” You      see? From the very beginning I have been; honest, forthright, and genuine      in everything I write and publish. I did not lie about how I voted      in my first election. Nor did I try to confuse My Dear Readers by      capitalizing off of my eventual political growth into a ‘Reagan-Democrat’.      I kept, and keep, my work as simple and as genuinely honest as I can. This      is how it all began, back in March 22^nd, 2010. now we      are nearly four years later, and 350 articles since this very first one.     

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Next, My Dear Readers, is my seventh article. In this article I prove that I am not some lackey for the Democrat party and also show that not everything the Republican Party tells its base, is true. This article is a prime example of the integrity and honesty in writing that I work everyday to achieve.

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• The Truth about the      ‘Individual Mandate’ : “Having said, I must be honest, I never agreed      with the Individual Mandate. Even when it was first proposed in 1993. For      those of you that were not paying attention in 1993, or just tuned into      politics since the last election,we can thank Senator Orin Hatch and      Senator Chuck Grassley for the first introduction of the ‘Individual      Mandate’ that has ruffled so many feathers with the Republican party, and      Tea Partiers. That’s right, two Republican Senators first introduced the      wonderful Individual Mandate in 1993 and hear you have been told that this      is some ‘Left Wing Conspiracy’ to ‘take over’ health care and destroy individual      rights.” See, right there I am enlightening and explaining to my      Republican readers that they are being mislead. Mislead by the ‘Talking      Heads’ into believing that the ‘Individual Mandate’ is a Democrat idea,      when the FACTS bear out that it was (originally in 1993) created by the      Heritage Society and offered up by TWO Republican Senators and the      Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich! I was working to dispel      falsehoods, and if you read further… I do even MORE. I tell you, My      Dear Readers, that I do not agree with Democrats in including the      ‘Individual Mandate’ and that I ”hope they throw it out”. It was only my      seventh article and already I was setting a tone of honesty and      honor in publication that is (today) rarely seen.

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I am very proud of those original articles. Early on I was setting a tone and raising the bar of journalistic integrity. I refused to merely kowtow to Democrats and lambaste Republicans. I had a deep desire to treat, My Dear Readers, with honesty and integrity from the onset. I knew then, as I know now, that I could have a larger readership… and even make money, if I would just go for the extreme of one side of the political debate or the other. I could plainly see how quickly Fox News was growing and just how much MORE Rush was making each and every time he renegotiated his contract.

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My Dear Readers this brings us to the end of Part One of my 400^th article here at The Other Shoe. Now, for a moment of embarrassing honesty by your truly. As I explained I ‘saw’ this culmination of 400 articles and FOUR YEARS coming as far back as February. I has so wanted to… offer… something for you, My Dear Readers, to mark this pivotal anniversary. I had contacted a printer, regarding printing; bumper stickers, pens, note pads, or T-Shirts with a logo and noting the Four Year 400 Article milestone for myself and this wonderful blog.

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My Dear Readers, I would like to extend my deep and heartfelt apology! I sincerely apologize that I was completely unable to scrape together enough funds for the purchase of any of these items for me to share with you, My Dear Readers. I have produced a logo, picked out font and wording and even a rudimentary design for a T-Shirt, bumper sticker, or pen for use as a celebratory gift for this anniversary. I deeply felt that I wanted to share, with at least a handful of you, My Dear Readers. I know that I have regulars. A very few of you I know who you are. A couple of you… have even reached out and helped put food on my table! I wanted to return your kindness and mark/share this anniversary with you. I apologize that I was unable to make this happen. Once rent was paid, and my cell phone bill… I only had enough money for one week’s food.

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So, I wanted to offer some neat little nick-nack to mail to a few of you… to mark this Four year, 400 article milestone here at The Other Shoe. Please accept my apology. I hope that you understand… and that the knowledge that I genuinely wanted to share in this anniversary and mark (that was the whole idea behind the pen idea… to ‘mark’ the occasion… hehehe) this shared anniversary.

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I look forward to the continuation of this series, and I look forward to you input and support.

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As always I am deeply honored that you come here and read my work.

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Thank YOU!

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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="234"] The Other Shoe eBay Store[/caption]

http://www.ebay.com/usr/enzomatrixlt

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[caption id="attachment_2296" align="aligncenter" width="630"] The Other Shoe's Daniel Hanning 2/2014[/caption]

March 10th Personal/Medical Update and Blog Status

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[caption id="attachment_2203" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Daniel Hanning of The Other Shoe[/caption]

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            Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. This morning I awoke to the sound of my own coughing. This time it is much deeper, and the raspy quality is replaced with a rattling sound. Deep in my chest something is rattling like dried bones in a bag, and I am… well, kind of scared. For a moment, let me look on the bright side of things. Last week, for the very first time since my first bout with this respiratory infection, I managed to publish ten articles in seven days. My Dear Readers I want you to know, to completely understand, what you and your readership here at The Other Shoe  means to me.

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My Dear Readers just prior to the first onset of my respiratory infection? The traffic at just the primary location of my blog was peaking at about 150 visitors per week. That is an average of twenty visitors per day, but some days (of course) saw more traffic. I understand… I accept the reality of blogging. I understand the fickle nature of traffic and the genuine need of people for new content. Whereas I do not mean to judge, really I am the same way. I am a ‘news junkie’ and I read three to four different source for news every single day. Not six months ago I would watch MSNBC non-stop from 7AM until 7PM six days a week.

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I have broken my news addiction, and with it my (rather mellow) political partisanship. My Dear Readers until my doctors find out just exactly what is wrong with me. Why I cannot throw this respiratory infection, why I have low-grade fevers nightly or the chronic fatigue I experience. Until that time my ability to regularly provide the requisite level of content is greatly hampered. I met, and exceeded, my goal for content this past week. Yet, in the process I have caused my infection to return and started the cycle of illness yet again.

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First, My Dear Readers I cannot put into words the excitement I felt writing Part One of ‘The Horror in Smithville’!  I just love a well-written and suspenseful horror story. Let me be crystal clear, I do not include works like the ‘Twilight’ series. From what I read, of these books, they were a mix between sugary sweet horror and soft-core teenage porn. My very first exposure to the genre, horror, was one common and familiar to my generation. ‘The Twilight Zone’, ‘The Outer Limits’ and (later) ‘Night Gallery’ were my introduction to the genre(s) of horror and suspense and science fiction. Written by; Rod Serling, Ray Bradbury, Gene Roddenberry, and even Isaac Asimov these works were literary gold and my first and most impressionable impressions of these genres. That and… a little known (and I have looked and could not find these books) series of books by Playboy. They were sold together and each book was devoted to one genre. I found them at a garage sale, when I was about 8. You cannot imagine the fast-talking, wheeling, and dealing I had to engage in order to get my mother’s permission to purchase the boxed set.

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After these golden nuggets of horror and science fiction, both genres floundered for many years. George Lucas rejuvenated science fiction with ‘Star Wars’, while the horror genre was brought back to life by Stephen King’s brilliant abilities. Stephen King defined the horror genre for decades to come, and (believe it or not) caused me great hesitation writing and publishing in his genre. Last week I put my fears aside, embraced my nightmares and put pen to paper for my very first venture into the horror genre. I tread gently, into Mr. King’s territory, and have made the conscious decision to write for young adults, first.

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Come to think of it, ‘The Horror in Smithville’ and ‘The Adventures of Princess Nadia’ are both written for the young adult – pre-teen audience. I do this, intentionally, for two reasons. The first of which is the most important. I do not feel as though there is enough well written and thoughtful science fiction and horror for young adults and pre-teens. I see a real need for more quality writing in both of these genres. Second, My Dear Readers I will be the very first to admit I need more experience… more education under my belt before I wade into the same waters occupied by greats like Stephen King.

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I would like to think that someday I might be able to create imagery, bring to life endearing characters, share memorable settings, and spin tales that weave all these elements together into a work of art. I know my ultimate goal, I can feel my limitations and I see the path clearly in front of me. Then there is my physical condition, my degenerative disease state and the unknown disease/condition that plagues me, today. All too familiar, am I , with how quickly I burn through my stamina. That is just what happened last week, rather over the weekend and today as a direct result of my workload last week.

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My Dear Readers I longed to present you all with a full week of content. My desire to reestablish the traffic I had worked my fingers to the bone to achieve. You see, I do not fear the work… the workload. Honestly, I do not fear the pain that comes as a direct result of working (sitting behind a keyboard every day for hours at a time). I do not fear the resulting illness or pain and suffering. I do not fear most likely due to the fact of this reality for now, going on, the better part of a decade. It is the resulting pain, suffering, fevers, and (most of all) the raspy to bone rattling sounds in my lungs.  It is not fear that stops me, it is the disabling; pain, popping and snapping in my  neck, the fevers, the flu-like aches and pains, the shooting pains into my hands, fingers, arms, shoulders, neck face and chest.

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This morning, as I awoke to a fever rattling in my lungs and numbness in my left arm and hand, I turned my head to look at the clock and a tooth grating and deafening pop/snap in my neck echoes in my ears. All I wanted to do was to get up, take my medications, read some news, start up my computer, get behind the keyboard, and weave tales for you, My Dear Readers, to enjoy. It was not meant to be.

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It is now 5:30PM and I am just now finishing up writing this update/communiqué to you, My Dear Readers. I did not want to just leave you all (after ten articles in seven days) with silence from me. However, I am an thinking clearly and even my most simple and rudimentary writing skills escape me. I pus too hard, and for too long, and then I am incapable to get back up get behind the keyboard and spin the tales I so love to tell.

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I apologize for pushing so hard that it has damaged my health and find myself quite incapable of completing the work. MY Dear readers it is my intention and desire to present to you, as this week progresses; Part Two of ‘The Horror in Smithville’, a new edition of ‘The Mars Report’, an update on ‘Bridgegate’ in New Jersey and more and more engaging articles and stories. For the rest of today, I will rest. Tomorrow I will work to get my much needed appointments confirmed and scheduled. Just as soon as I am able, I plan of working as hard as I can to write and publish the works outlined above. Regardless of pain. Regardless of fevers. Regardless of aches and raspy-rattling coughs. I promise to do my best to provide the content you, My Dear Readers, desire and that I have inside my head… just waiting to be put down into words.

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Today, I wanted to share my dilemma, and hopefully engage your understanding. Yes, I also would like to illicit support and loyalty. However, I know that these must be earned. For four years I have worked to earn your support and loyalty. Oh, FYI this week I will publish the 390^th article at my primary blog location. As well, in just twelve days we will be celebrating my Fourth Anniversary here at The Other Shoe! Hopefully that will coincide with the publication of my 400^th article! By March 22^nd, 2014 we WILL be celebrating 400 articles and FOUR YEARS here at The Other Shoe!

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ENJOY!

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As always I am deeply honored that you come here and read my work.

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Thank YOU!

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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="234"] The Other Shoe eBay Store[/caption]

www.ebay.com/usr/enzomatrixlt

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[caption id="attachment_2296" align="aligncenter" width="630"] The Other Shoe's Daniel Hanning[/caption]

A Week in Fevers and Sickness

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[caption id="attachment_2203" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Daniel Hanning of The Other Shoe[/caption]

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            Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Well, I am not back to 100%, that is going to take some time. Although, I wanted to talk to you, My Dear Readers, for a moment. First, to everyone that has shown support over the past two weeks. I would like to express a deep and heartfelt “Thank you!” It is only through the kindness and generosity of others that I am here today and on the mend. Very special thanks to my friend from across the pond, Ian Cottier.  I ate, for the first time in days, thanks to his generosity.

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First, what I had was an acute bacterial infection of the upper respiratory system. This pathogen was acquired, most likely, via my roommate and caregiver, Allen. He works at a local Kohl’s department store and he remembers a customer, a traveler from Israel, that displayed a raspy cough, while in line. Money… and jet speed international travel are going to be the new ‘lice on rats’ of the next Black Plague.

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This pathogen started its assault on Saturday February the 15^th. Yes, I was still writing at that point, good catch! Honestly, My Dear Readers, I tried to keep writing through the life of this pathogen, but was unable towards the end. Your readership means the world to me, and I know that your need for content is voracious. I have reviewed the traffic reports, and last week is a huge hole in a month of tremendous traffic. I diligently worked to publish nearly fifty articles in a period of five weeks, and it showed.

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I just couldn’t have planned this sickness; one never can plan on when they will fall ill. However, for my traffic and future viability of my blog, this was the worst possible time for me to fall ill. I managed to write and publish the regular articles; ‘A Week in Review’ and ‘Sunday Funnies’ on the 14^th and 15^th. However, on Monday the 17^th  (through waves of fever and a growing altered state of mind) I managed to publish two more articles about the California Drought and an insanely persistent dome of high pressure.

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By Monday noon I reached 102.4-degree temp and had begun coughing up something that looked with cream of wheat with ketchup missed in. I feared for the worst, both about my health and the health of this blog. For the next hour, or so, I rode the fence of setting up three or four articles to ‘re-publish’ on a schedule. At one PM, Monday the 17^th, I knew I was going to be unable to write or publish for at least a week… and I was right. This is one of the times where I would give anything to have a partner/writer or editor here at The Other Shoe. I have asked a couple of people, that I genuinely trust (and that have not used friendship as a toy to play with for their entertainment).

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My Dear Readers I respect your need for new and timely content. For the most part, I am able to meet (and often exceed) your needs. Starting the 17^th of this month I failed to meet that need. By 3PM on the 17^th my fever reached 103 degrees and my body became a playing field for all types of fever related symptoms. Monday night, I did not sleep for more than a half an hour at a time. My coughing became very raspy, each breath rattled in my chest like bones in a bag. My muscles ached, my head split with pain. About 3AM I actually broke down in tears out of fear of failure.

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Tuesday I awoke at 4AM (after sleeping less than an hour) to Allen preparing to leave for his very last day of his work-release program. Since October of last year, Tuesdays Allen spent working for the county of Orange. He rose, every Tuesday, at 4AM and spent nine hours working at a community service location. As much as I (genuinely) needed Allen at my side, he had to leave me alone with my; fever, chills, coughing, aches, pains and a total lack of food.

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I neither resented his departure or the circumstance, it was a reality I learned to live through. I wished him well, when he walked out the door. By 6AM my fever was on the rise reaching 101.8 before the sun rose. At 10AM I was torn between hunger pains, and coughing so hard it caused black circles under my eyes (I looked like a raccoon). When it came time for my noon medications my fever was 103.6 degrees. I began slipping in and out of an altered state of awareness, and reality. It is somewhere around this time, and when my temp peaked that day at 104.2 degrees, that I had my (I use this word for a lack of a better word… available to me right now) vision.

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Tuesday is when… … … I saw Princess Nadia for the first time since her passing. Now, My Dear Readers, I fully understand that Princess Nadia s dead, I buried her myself. Even though, it was Tuesday February 18^th, 2014 at approximately 2PM that I honestly had a discussion with my beloved little girl.

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I am planning on sharing that experience tomorrow… or the next day in another article. I sustained a fever of 104 (or greater) for the next three hours. It was not until 5PM that my fever fell to 103.8 degrees. My Dear Readers, The fear I felt (during this time) was palatable. I was genuinely afraid. Afraid that the extended time spent suffering with this abnormally high fever might well... do damage to my organs… or worse, my brain. When Allen came home, and walked through the door… now I did not tell him this, then… I have yet to tell him… if he reads this article will be when he finds out. I did not recognize Allen… at all.

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I did not recognize the room I was living. It looked like a storage room, and not the apartment I was currently renting. I had so lost my sense of time, I honestly thought we had been evicted (for this apartment) and forced to move into a storage… facility. The room looked half the size I knew it to be, the doorway that leads to our kitchen and bathroom areas? I did not see the doorway, I saw a wall. I saw our HDTV, I heard the sound… I could not see the images on the screen. We have several prints on the walls, if you have watched any of the recent videos (since October of 2013) you have seen the prints.

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On Tuesday evening? They looked like large red and black squares on the wall. I saw nothing of the images. Having not recognized Allen, when he came in the door, I climbed into bed… pulled the covers over my head… and silently wept into the pillow, fearing who had I just let into my home?!?!? My Dear Readers I honestly was in fear that I had let a stranger into my home and that my safety was at risk.

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I have not mentioned this to anyone. This is the first I have written about this week… and what went on in my fever-addled brain. I have yet to tell Allen, but he will find out.. most likely tonight, when he reads this article. I am going to take a break… writing this... was upset me. Thinking about telling this story… and writing this story, are two different things. Please check back tomorrow, for more of this story.

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As always I am deeply honored that you come here and read my work.

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Thank YOU!

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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="234"] The Other Shoe eBay Store[/caption]

 

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[caption id="attachment_2296" align="aligncenter" width="630"] The Other Shoe's Daniel Hanning[/caption]

Disneyland 50th Anniversary Annual Passholders

Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Today I am making a departure from my usual faire, and format. Necessity dictates that I push the limits of my creativity, and what I am willing to part with… in order to pay rent, and perhaps to keep my cellular phone. I am posting this article, again, and the items for sale at eBay in hopes of doing just that, pay my rent and keep my cell phone. I am not greedy, nor is my heart filled with avarice. To merely desire three meals in a given day, instead of the one. That is not greed. To desire to keep one's only means of communication, with which to find solace of the soul by talking with long lost friends. Surely this is not greed?

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My Dear Readers, I come here today to ask for your frogiveness. Forgiveness for seeking assistance, in a time where millions are in need. I know that many suffer, greatly. That, in comparison, my one meal a day is more than they. I ask for forgiveness that I seek to eat more healthy, and more often. That I seek to keep the roof, I fought so hard to obtain, still over my head this day. This is the reason that I come here and post this atricle, again. If it is in you, that you might share, and share alike. Share so that I might eat more healthy. Share that I might keep a line of communication open, to give solace to a mind bent with hurt and pain.

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The year was 2005. The date was May 4^th. Disney and Disneyland were kicking off a six-month Celebration. This was my friend Allen’s fifth year working for Disneyland at the Blue Bayou restaurant. For the next six months all employees were asked to postpone vacations, curtail sick days and come to work every day scheduled and not miss a beat.

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If an employee did this, at the end of that six month period they would receive; a two week paid vacation, favored status for next promotion and a collection of Commemorative pins and plates. Allen made it to the end of the six months, and worked there another five years. He was quite proud of himself fpr the accomplishment he had undertaken. They bestowed the gifts, just as promised, with a commemorative plaque. He received Six Disneyland DESSERT PLATE Sleeping Beauty Castle 50th Anniversary Disney crownsand five of the pins (One - Disney 50th Anniversary Main Street Popcorn Cart Walt & Mickey Jumbo Easel Pin)

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For the past eight years he has treasured these items like no other. They have been kept safely in their boxes, padded with their pads, and (most) never used at all. The plates have never been out of the boxes for more than a min. and never used to eat!

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I am leaning toward setting the whole sets for higher price because of the rare items. With all the items and ‘sets’ what is posted is the ‘Suggested Contribution’ to get the corresponding perk. As a donor you always have the option of donating larger amounts and taking the desired perk.

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This was a difficult decision for both of us and more so for Allen because he went six months without; being late once, calling in sick, over staying a lunch and accepting all offered open shifts. He really put his nose to the grindstone and is/was extremely proud when he was awarded these 50^th Anniversary Annual Passholder Exclusive Commemorative items. I am hesitant to offer them for this purpose. However, this first week has given me grave concerns and I realize something has to change. I am hoping that this might be part of that change.

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The first shot is of all six Disneyland 50^th Anniversary Annual Passholders Exclusive Dessert Plates:

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[caption id="attachment_1056" align="aligncenter" width="630"] All SIX Dessert Plates n Crft authticity[/caption]

(All Six 50^th Anniversary Dessert Plates)

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Next I will show each of the six dessert plates with notes on the special or rare plates. First will be the most sought of the six, Disneyland Sleeping Beauty’s Castle:

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[caption id="attachment_1066" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Plate Number Six Sleeping Beauty's Castle[/caption]

(Number Six Sleeping Beauty’s Castle Dessert Plate)

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Next will be Number Five Tinkerbelle’s plate;

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[caption id="attachment_1065" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Plate Number Five TINKER BELL[/caption]

(Plate #5 Tinkerbelle’s Dessert Plate)

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Next is one of the ‘Crowns’ dessert plates. I do not know of their rarity or special designations, like Blue Fairy or Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. This is plate number four;

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[caption id="attachment_1064" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Plate number 4[/caption]

(Plate Number Four – Crowns)

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Next is my personal favorite, number three plate the ‘Blue Fairy’ plate;\

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[caption id="attachment_1063" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Plate number 3 Blue Fairy rare[/caption]

(Plate Number Three Blue Fairy)

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Next is the number two ‘Crowns’ dessert plate;

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[caption id="attachment_1060" align="aligncenter" width="630"] dessert plate number 2[/caption]

(Number Two Dessert Plate)

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Finally, plate number one the last of the ‘Crowns’ plates.

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[caption id="attachment_1062" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Plate Number 1[/caption]

(Number One ‘Crowns’ Dessert Plate);

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That finishes up the amazing dessert plates that I will have posted as perks. They each come with the Certificate of Authenticity pictured below;

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[caption id="attachment_1059" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Gold Ink Certificate of Authenticity[/caption]

(Certificate of Authenticity)

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That completely wraps up the dessert plates that are going to be offered. They are all in pristine condition. Never out of the box for more than the time it took to take these pictures. Never used for eating, no chips or defects.

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Really tired and a lot of pain. Last I am going to display the pins that are going to be available. They are all 50^th Anniversary Annual Passholders Exclusive Frequent Diners Reward Pins. The first image is of the whole set, all four types of pins I have available.

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[caption id="attachment_1054" align="aligncenter" width="630"] All Four Pin Types 2005[/caption]

(All FOUR Types of 50^th Anniversary APH Exclusive Pins)

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First shot is of the Casa Mexicana pin; (there are two available)

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[caption id="attachment_1057" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Casa Mexicana APE Pin[/caption]

(Casa Mexicana APH Reward Pin Full Box)

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Next is Tomorrowland Terrace:

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[caption id="attachment_1071" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Tomorrowland Terrace Full box[/caption]

(Tomorrowland Terrace APH Reward Pin)

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Next, the Tahitian Terrace pin;

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[caption id="attachment_1068" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Tahitian Terrace Annual Passholder Exclsv Pin and box[/caption]

Tahitian Terrace APH Reward Pin with Box)

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Last, but the very best and rarest ‘Walt & Mickey Stand-Up Pin;

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[caption id="attachment_1067" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Standup wlat mickey popcorn stand pin[/caption]

(50^th Anniversary APH reward Walt/Mickey Stand-Up Pin)

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That, My Dear Readers, brings us (mercifully) to the end of this article, and the end of the work I have to do, today. Thank you. Thank you for your time and efforts. Thank you for your ‘Like’s and ‘Share’s. I am honored that you take the time to come here and read.

Thank you!

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P.S. I am still without much food in my home. I do my best, honest I really do. I am not lying about how much money I make… I do not lie about the lack of food I suffer. I sincerely apologize for even mentioning this problem. However, it was a good friend that told me… “Danny, if you don’t tell people your needs… there is no way those that want to help, know when they CAN help.” I am asking for help. I have written in many articles how to help. One way is to click the link below to my eBay Store for The Other Shoe. Please… if you can… Please do help.

. [PayPal account is Daniel Hanning enzomatrix@earthlink.net all contributions are private and greatly appreciated Thank you]

Please Share!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="234"] The Other Shoe eBay Store[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_2296" align="aligncenter" width="630"] The Other Shoe's Daniel Hanning[/caption]

One Week Until Christmas, An Update from Danny...

                        Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. It has been five days since my last article published, and five days of my primary blog location not working. I long to write. I long to publish. I long to be heard. I long to share. I do not like publishing articles to just one of my two blog locations. I feel as though I am leaving half my family out in the cold. In the past five days I have written nearly a dozen requests for assistance. I have yet to receive any answer to my pleas, and my blog is still malfunctioning.

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My time is not wasted for I am busy creating my world, the world of 'The Adventures of Princess Nadia'. With every passing day, the world comes more into focus, the characters fill out in my mind. My only fear? That someone… perhaps even someone I know takes my idea. I think that is a common fear among struggling artists of all disciplines. For me, they are not just characters in a book, they live in my heart, mind and soul. They tell me their secrets, they share with me their fears.

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For me, they are quite real. Their namesakes I have raised, loved and lost. Though it is not apparent. You do not see it or hear my words, each and every day I write. Writing in life, there is no life without my words. When I am absent, I am in pain. Yes, physically I am in pain each and every day. So much worse, of late. Yet, I speak of another pain. A pain spawn of longing, desire. My Dear Readers, you know it not, but you give purpose to my life.

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I struggle with darkness. I live in poverty, but I struggle with a growing darkness. I must thank two of you, My Dear Readers, two of you that have reached out from your world and into mine and shared. Shared of themselves so that I might have some short respite from my fiduciary woes. Because of their kindness, I will have a turkey this Christmas Day. From the very depths of my heart and soul I say “Thank you!” … You know who you are.

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I am not much for begging. Not much for asking for help. Each time I have sought to raise money, I have worked ever so hard. Hard to write, to entertain, and to repay. Repay the kindness that has come my way. My works… my articles, and yes even 'The Adventures of Princess Nadia' I write out of love... but I also write, to repay. For the debts that I owe, they are debts I fear I may never be able to repay. Repay the kindness that has come my way. When I am absent… this is what darkens my mind, most. That I am failing to repay, your kindness most dear.

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I write, today, because I do so deeply care. One blog, only, on which this will appear…. I fear. Better one blog… one article… One “Thank you!” Tis better than none.

 

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I fight with the darkness, the darkness that seeks to surround. In each and every day, I fight with every fiber of my being, I fight the growing darkness. For those that have never known… poverty… being without. This is a darkness I hope that you never know. It is a darkness that comes from without, yet it grows within. It weakens the ground beneath your very feet. It attacks your sense of self & selfworth, and works behind your back to darken your tomorrows. I am far from alone. I know this to be true. This darkness I share with millions, unknown.

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We suffer in darkness, we suffer in silence. For (some bloody reason) it is taboo to speak of what one is without, but not taboo to boast of what one does have. A world, upside down, it would appear. A world of grim darkness, for some so dear.

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I cherish my time in the light of other’s kindness and support. I write in hopes that one day… this darkness I will banish from my life, for all time. With each and every work that I write, I take a step out of darkness and into the light. The light of your kindness. The light of your ‘Like’(s). The light that I feel when, your smile, I make bright. Since childhood I have bathed in this light. At first while singing in choir, at my school. Actually, I sang in choirs in each and every school I attended, since Mading Elementary in Houston in grade three.

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From grade third until I graduated at Pearland High School, I sang and I sang and I cherished those smiles… the longest of all. Once I moved, and was in Middle School I stepped out from the crowd of my choral group. I stood out in front, and sang… all alone. That was the beginning, ‘Fiddler on the Roof’. I sang all alone, in front of so many… and I made them laugh… and I made them smile.

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From that point, all the way through college, I stood (without singing) in front of large crowds… and with the words of other men (or women) I made them smile! For the next nine years I stood before crowds. Small crowds, and large.. sometimes as many as twelve hundred… and I made them smile. I breathed life into the words of another, and I did it quite well. Looking back… on that decade… I was happiest, up on that stage. I won awards, and accolades. But, most of all… I made them smile.

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Know only to a handful of friends, all the time I was singing… all the time I was on those stages… I was doing this. Behind the curtains… when not on a stage… I was writing. Back then, hardly anyone had read my works. I understand, my long curly locks, my presence on stage… and my voice. They all worked to upstage what I was doing (myself) with words. I put them on paper, and most of the time that is where they hid. I doubt, that if you knew me at all, back then,… and are reading these words, you can (for the life of you) remember one thing I wrote.

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I am not hurt by that reality. Nope, not one bit. During most of that time I was bathing, regularly, in applause. I wrote, for myself. I wrote, because I love words. On more than one occasion, I have been told, that those words… they do love me back.

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Finally, again I do apologize for the absence this past week. I do despise writing for just one blog. I (honestly) feel, when I publish to just one blog, that I am having an affair. An affair behind the backs of My Dear Readers of the other blog of mine. I am hoping and praying that soon they will fix, the problems that are hampering The Other Shoe at blog.com. I do sincerely promise, that as soon as it is fixed? I will write everyday that my health possibly allows. I still have plans of making a video. A video present of ‘The Night Before Christmas’ performed by me!

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At the company Christmas Party of Domino Realty in 2002, I did perform that very poem in front of a crowd. It was the very first time I had been on a stage, in decades and decades. God how I loved those moments, and the smiles! The owner of Domino Realty called me, the next day. Stephen Gordon told me that I was “the best act, last night…”. This is a man worth millions, and a man whom I had a deep respect and adoration. Stephen was the man that imported Jordache Jeans, all those years ago. That put Brooke Shields in that commercial, in jeans he imported from France. He took the millions he made, from that venture, and put it into real estate in Southern California.

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For many years, I honestly thought my time with words, had passed. Replaced with an ability to lease properties… like few men he had seen. I was being groomed for an executive position, for Domino Realty, when my spine started attacking me… causing me growing pain. Earlier this week, I published copies of old newsletters that I wrote, edited and published for another landowner. For several years, I had a captive audience, the residents of Plaza Woods Apartments. If you haven’t checked them out, I think that you should. A long way I have come, since writing those newsletters. However, it gives you a chance to see just how far I have come.

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            “I cherish my time in the light of other’s gains. I write in hopes that one day… this darkness I will banish, for all time. With each and every work that I write, I take a step out of darkness and into the light. The light of your kindness. The light of your ‘Like’(s). The light that I feel when, your smile, I make bright.”

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As always I am deeply honored that you come here and read my work.

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Thank you!

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P.S. Look for pictures, after Christmas, of the feast I will soon make… thanks to the kindness of two of My Dear Readers. Thank you!

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[caption id="attachment_1812" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Just a shot of a VERY thankful Danny in His Power Chair[/caption]