Diane DeVillers (girlpower)

I am a strong woman raised in the 60's and 70's in Wisconsin, who moved west to Oregon thirty years ago. I worked with people with disabilites and elderly, then took a five year break from social services to work as a forester as a timber cruiser for five years. I lived in the woods during summer, wintered in Alsea valley. I developed a tough skin working in a camp with mostly men. They called me the queen of the comeback.

I am a gentle feminist and progressive baby boomer that considers myself a world citizen, I am a songwriter and play guitar and sing in a acoustic rock band called Nervous Rex. See some of our work on myspace under SmartyPants196 link http://www.myspace.com/smartypants196

I wrote journals all my adult life and am in the process of writing two novels, and short stories. I have published in Oregon Coast Magazine and upcoming winter issue of Eugene Magazine an aritcle about watsu water massageYou can read some of my hubs or articles at hubpages under hubs go to girlpower..http://hubpages.com/search/include:hubs+girlpower

After 30 years of service to others I myself am disabled with multiple sclerosis and retired at 52. I now have a life other than work.. My life now is simple, i am limited in how much activity i can do before i have to lay prone to re-coop my energy. I lost the use of one leg and use wheelchair when out in community and cane inside my house. I spend my time doing advocacy and activism for people with disabilities and other subjects by writing my congress people and attending phone conferences and following bill progress in both wash dc and salem on legislative issues. I am an avid reader of fiction and short stories. I enjoy organic gardening in my potted garden on my driveway. I spend alot of time on the phone talking to friends and old aquatinences the people i had limited time to call as i was so busy with my life.work.

I enjoy feeding hummingbirds and growing habitat that encourages them to my garden. I have coneflowers, red salvias, fushias,petunias, sweet potatoe vine, calla lillies, stargazer lilies, cannas, yuccas, palm tree, banana tree. I am told I have a green thumb as my house plants are thriving.my specialty is raising african violets and orchids under grow light on my kitchen cupboards. Prayer plants, banana plants, shamrock plants, fern, dracena.

MS has taught me patience, grace and knowing my physical limitations. It is like having a bucketful of water each day and i can use it ladel by ladel full and i dip it out, but i only have about 12 ladels full to use each day, so i use it sparingly so i have enough to last the whole day. I have to nap in the late afternoon to have enough energy for the night time. My beloved takes good care of me, helping me to do many things i cant do by myself anymore. he is my rock, my buddy, my soulmate.

Listen to my latest song named Sweet Love of Mine a song written for peace activist Cindy Sheehan after the dead of her son in Iraq.

I recently published three of my novels, fictionalized memoirs go to smashwords.com or amazon.com and look for books by Diane DeVillers, my pen name, and the books"From the Waters of Coyote Springs", Felix and Eve" and "The Arrangment" Only 2.99 each and are short novels so easy to read, comes in digital format only, or you can download them to your computer, or to your reading device. You can also find them on Barnes and Noble for Nooks, Sony, Kobo and Apple store. Check them out.

In the Spotlight

A Short story about the Touching Relationship Between an Elderly Man in a Nursing Home and his Nurse's Aid.

A nurses aid develops a special fondness for a man who suffered a stroke. She learns his language now reduced to only one word.

In the Spotlight

Short Story About a Displaced Homemaker/ A story about my mother

My mother was a"Displaced Homemaker" after her divorce during the seventies. Her coming of age showed her true heart and determination.

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  American Literature

  Getting Multiple Sclerosis Was One of the Best Things That Happened in My Life

  2 years ago

  My story is about how everything in life has a silver lining.

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  Health Care, Drugs & Insurance

  I'm a Person With a Pre-Existing Condition and I'm Scared

  2 years ago

  The House of Representatives passed a bad health care bill that is on its way to the Senate. 24 million people currently on Medicaid will lose their benefits.

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  Movies & Movie Reviews

  The Change of a Lifetime. a Woman's Story About Having Multiple Sclerosis

  2 years ago

  Multiple Sclerosis does not mean you have to give up anything. Adapting is the first thing to do. Watch the story of a woman who keeps learning new ways to live with the hand she's been dealth.

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  Pollution

  Why Oregon Banned Offshore Drilling Weeks Before Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill, A Historical Hub About the BP Spill.

  2 years ago

  Oregon is well known for their values to keep their state from being exploited. Off shore drilling has been banned and will continue to be banned if its up to the people of Oregon.

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  Folk Music

  Eugene Songwriter Shares Inspiration for folk song: "Let you in"

  2 years ago

  Songwriter from Eugene, Oregon writes a song about a tumultuous love affair that turns out badly. The two remaining players of the band "Nervous Rex" play locally.

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  Rock Music

  Pacific Northwest Rock song : "Just One More" by girlpower

  2 years ago

  Original rock song by girlpower and the other member of the Nervous Rex band from Eugene, Oregon. The song "Just One More" is about the excessive nature of our modern world.

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  Multiple Sclerosis

  Newly Diagnosed With Multiple Sclerosis? Don't Freak out there Is Hope to Overcoming the Disease

  2 years ago

  Newly diagnosed with MS? Don't worry it' not as bad as you think. In fact,when I finally found out what was wrong with me, it was a relief. That explained all the mini vibrations, balance issues....

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  Folk Music

  Pacific Northwest Musician Creates Original folk music: Listen to the song "Noah the Goat"

  2 years ago

  Eugene Oregon has been called the best little town for original music on the West Coast, where girlpower performs her acoustic guitar every chance she gets playing out all over town.

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  Activism

  IBaby Boomers in Need of in Home Supports

  2 years ago

  With over 10,000 baby boomers retiring every day, the need for home based services is growing at a increasing rate. Staying in your own home and having services coming to you is optimal

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  Activism

  Contemporary Pacific NW Woman Songwriter Novelist / A Gentle Feminist

  2 years ago

  A contemporary, liberated woman living on the West Coast in the beautiful Willamette Valley in Eugene OR, a town full of artists, writers and free thinkers.