How To Change the World One Fire Department at a Time

Photo Credit: Glen Haven Area Volunteer Fire Department

I can’t sit back and do nothing. Especially when I have something to offer that could possibly help those who so unselfishly risk their lives on a daily basis to help the rest of us. The unsung heroes.

My most recent post described the incredible devastation to mountain communities, national parks, and wilderness areas from the current wildfires here in Northern Colorado–the Cameron Peak Fire, the CalWood Fire, East Troublesome Fire, Lefthand Canyon Fire, and smaller spot fires that have ignited as well. Dry conditions, high winds, and beetle-kill pine trees have contributed to two of the largest wildfires in Colorado history; as of this writing, and according to an article in The Coloradoan, an astounding 401,223 acres.

While these fires are temporarily subdued due to recent snowfall in the area, they are expected to resume as the temperature rises and the snow melts.


Small town fire departments struggle to keep up with the increasing demand on their already-depleted resources

Photo Credit: Glen Haven Area Volunteer Fire Department

I reached out to the Windsor Severance Fire Rescue, to find out what I could do to help their firefighters during this harrowing time, and was told by the Fire Chief there, that the Glen Haven Area Volunteer Fire Department was sorely in need of help. GHAVFD’s resources have already been depleted. They’ve spent more than $3,000 in fuel alone for which they will not be reimbursed, and anticipate at least another $10,000 in expenses to cover volunteer costs and other unexpected expenses. The person with whom I was in contact, also mentioned that since GHAVFD is such a small fire department, they are often overlooked when it comes to donations.

Photo Credit: Glen Haven Area Volunteer Fire Department

An offer too good to refuse – everybody wins!

I have several boxes of copies of my book, Dance of the Electric Hummingbird (personally endorsed by rock legend Sammy Hagar, former lead singer of Van Halen) in my office right now, books I’ve purchased personally from my publisher, (yes, I had to buy my own books) so from now until November 30, 2020, (I may extend that timeframe depending on need and interest), I’m donating 100% of the money (minus shipping & sales tax for CO residents) from the sale of my book to the Glen Haven Area Volunteer Fire Department, but my offer only applies to books purchased here, through my website; I have no control over Amazon.com or other outlets. In selling these books, it provides me with the means to donate much more money than I’ve been able to donate on my own.

And… don’t forget–the holidays are coming and books make great holiday gifts! I will even personalize your book for you–make sure you provide me with a name.

Photo Credit: Glen Haven Area Volunteer Fire Department

If you buy a book from my website, you’ll have to pay for shipping, & sales tax for CO residents, but 100% of what you pay for the book will go directly to the Glen Haven Area Volunteer Fire Department.

Dance of the Electric Hummingbird

Thank you for your kind generosity. We are all in this together.

To purchase Dance of the Electric Hummingbird, please click here: http://www.bajarockpat.net/my-book/ordering-information/


(Important: ONLY books purchased through bajarockpat.net are eligible for the GHAVFD donation fund. Offer does not apply to books purchased through other outlets.)

Once Again, I Have Grown As A Human Being

I am grateful for so many things, one of which was the recent privilege of experiencing an incredible opportunity that most will never know—a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where, once again, I have grown as a human being.

I’m grateful for getting to witness a severe rainstorm in Cabo; the loudest thunder and lightning I think I have ever heard; the force of the water creating raging rivers out of ordinary streets and washing away entire cars. I’m grateful for the humility this taught me.

I’m grateful for getting to witness the ocean—her majesty, her beauty and her insistence of respect for the sheer power and magnitude of the giant waves crashing on the beach like twenty locomotives roaring along on the tracks. This reinforced in me, my smallness, yet my attachment to something that is so much greater than I.

I’m grateful for bearing witness to the splendor of the rocks of Land’s End. After not having seen it for several years, I was awestruck all over again, at her magical and mystical beauty that seems surreal—like a human-made sculpture or a painting rising proudly out of the sea and overwhelming me, encouraging me like a loving mother, to pick up my pen and write again because that is respite and freedom for my soul.

Land’s End

I am grateful for our friends who invited us to spend an entire day at their home in Cabo—a home with an entire wall of windows that slid open across the whole room—to a patio with overstuffed outdoor furniture, a fire pit, hot tub, infinity pool with its own swim-up bar, and an outdoor gas grille, overlooking the turquoise waters of the Sea of Cortez. The interior of the house was like nothing I have ever seen—heavy wooden furniture, a large kitchen with an island made of more dark wood and granite countertops—three huge bedrooms, two of which had sliding doors to the backyard overlooking the ocean. And all of it in traditional Mexican style, summoning images in my mind of long-forgotten conquistadores and beautiful dark-skinned señoritas with flaming red lips and brightly-colored flowing skirts. I felt like a celebrity there.

Our friends’ house–like nothing I had ever seen before

I’m grateful for the chance to lounge in the hot, hot sun by the pool at our hotel, to float in “my” lagoon, to enjoy too many gloriously yummy chocolate pan dulces (sweet breads), too many plates of delicious thick tortilla chips and creamy guacamole, sweet Miami Vices (half strawberry daiquiri and half piña colada) and wonderful bananas, pineapples and grapefruits.

To have gotten what, to me, was one of the best rooms the small hotel has to offer—not because it really is the best room, but because, to me, it is—with a large patio for sunbathing each morning, my body soaking in the healing golden sun of Mexico, while enjoying an unobstructed view of Land’s End (if there are no cruise ships blocking the view).

I’m grateful for the friends I have, most of whom I was unable to hook up with or was only able to see for a few moments because I arrived there much later than most of them and they already had plans in place. Still—seeing their beautiful faces, looking into their beautiful eyes, and getting long-overdue hugs, meant everything to me. These are people for whom I would do anything and vice versa. And people I would never have met if it hadn’t been for Sammy Hagar.

I am grateful to Sammy and his music, and for the opportunity to attend one of his shows while I was there because he changed my life years ago; he encouraged me to pursue my dream of being a writer and to never give up.

Sammy Hagar and Jerry Cantrell

I am grateful to those who purchased a copy of my book “Dance of the Electric Hummingbird” because it has been a labor of love, one that Sammy once called, “your baby,” because he gets it. The book is now out of print, except for a few remaining copies,* so the ones I have in boxes in my basement, are all that I have left of the dream that I wanted so badly to share with others. There is a piece of one’s soul that goes into creating art—all the time, energy, personal pain and joy, money, etc. Most artists don’t make enough money to support themselves on the sale of their art—we do it because we must; there is no conscious choice in the matter, so when someone purchases your art, it connects creator and observer together on a soul level, and that has value far beyond monetary.

My visit to Cabo went by much too fast, just as my life is going by much too fast. But the older I get, the more I appreciate all that I have and know–and each day, I strive even harder, to be at least a tiny speck of love and light to others.

As I returned home the other day, I attended a memorial service for a friend who was killed in a motorcycle accident a month ago. She was much too young—had everything to live for, and was one of the kindest, gentlest, most loving and giving people I have ever known.

And I realize that what I am most grateful for, is to have awoken this morning so that I may live another day, to hopefully get to experience another Thanksgiving and another Christmas with my family and friends, or even just to hang out on ordinary days, simply being with them and taking in all the beauty that surrounds me, in the small things, in places I’ve been and in the people I love because one thing I know for sure–love is all that matters. 

For these and for each new day, I am most grateful.

*ebook version still available here: Dance of the Electric Hummingbird

or signed by the author copies here: Author Signed Copy DEH

Guest Appearance on Twin Flame Divine Fire Radio Show this Sunday!

Author Patricia Walker is honored to announce her appearance on Twin Flame Divine Fire Radio show this Sunday, April 23, 2017 from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. MT.

Hope you’ll join us!

For info, please click here: Twin Flame Divine Fire Radio Show

From their website:

Twin Flame Divine Fire Radio Show on Truth Frequency Radio

Sandra and Alan are dedicated to having guests on that enhance spiritual tools available in a variety of healing areas and teaching tools of which music plays a big part! They also bring guests on from the secular world who are making a difference around the globe with their special gifts of music, writing and various healing modalities just to name a few. It is designed to be lighthearted and fun but informative!

Truth Frequency Radio is a team of individuals focused on expanding the consciousness of humanity by shining the light in the darkness. We are here to promote love, unity, and respect for every human being, as we combat and expose the elements that systematically divide and enslave mankind. While our opinions may sometimes be the opposite of one another, the foundation and goals upon which we stand are always aimed at forging a better world for the next generation.

Truth Frequency Radio was established on November 5, 2009 (remember, remember, the “Fifth Of November”) and has since operated on a 100% listener supported basis with continual growth and evolution. We do not censor, regulate, or micro-manage the content on our airwaves, therefore the views and opinions expressed on TFR are of those who make them. We do however ask that our team minimizes foul-language in order to keep our station classy and safe enough to listen at work or school.

Our promise to you is that you will always be able to trust what you hear on our station.

We are TFR. Your protection from deception.

Tune in and support Twin Flame Divine Fire Radio Show every Sunday 11am – 1pm mst:

http://truthfrequencyradio.com/listen-live/
http://truthfrequencyradio.com/iheartradio/
http://truthfrequencyradio.com/chat/

Rocker Lita Ford Rocks My World

IMG_2107I wish I could bottle the feeling inside of me right now and give you all a big swig. I apologize if this post is fraught with incongrity; I am still high from what happened the other night, but I wanted to share it right away while the feeling was fresh within me. WHAT A FEELING!!!! An effervescent, sparkling, dizzy, fizzy, in-love type of ecstasy!

Friday night, I met the indomitable Lita Ford.

How is it that rock stars can make me feel this way? Is it their celebrity status and the fact that they sometimes take time for little ol’ me? Is it their music? Music has to be the most effective tool in the universe for transmitting feelings and emotions—those of power, or those of destruction and depression. Those of helplessness or those of joy, accomplishment, self-confidence and of making a difference in the world. Like that of a true friend, holding your hand when you’re down and celebrating your achievements when you’re higher than a kite with joy. I’m not talking about drug use here. I’m talking about the sort of high that comes from living life to its fullest and appreciating every strand of it.

I can’t imagine my life without music.

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So… The rep from my publishing house contacted me the other day and told me that rocker Lita Ford, former award-winning guitarist of The Runaways, had just published her new memoir, Living Like a Runaway. He said that she and I wrote about many of the same things—abuse, rock and roll, the deaths of our parents, and a rebirth and re-emergence of sorts because of rock music, coupled with a burning desire to bring awareness to the issue of the crippling jaws of abuse and to make a difference in the world. Of course there are differences between Lita and me, I mean, she’s a rock star; I’m just a small town author, but we also know a few of the same people.

The world is a funny and small place sometimes, and I’ve learned, through the writing of my book, that celebrities are people just like the rest of us. However, the other night, when I offered to give Lita a copy of my book, Dance of the Electric Hummingbird, and she asked me to sign it for her, offering me her silver, thick-tipped sharpie and I went to write, my hand was shaking so badly I could hardly write. The thoughts going through my mind were, “I’m writing her name—To Lita!” and “There are a lot of people behind me in line and I’m taking up too much of her time. I shouldn’t!”

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But she didn’t seem to be in a hurry. We chatted for quite a while, and I felt like I could have talked to her for much longer than I did.

When I mentioned some of the things we had in common, and that my book was fully endorsed by rock star Sammy Hagar, she seemed impressed. When I told her that I, too, had been abused by my first husband, I could see the compassion and sorrow in her eyes. When I mentioned the names of a few of the people we both knew, she laughed. She knew exactly who they were, and she gave me a message to deliver to one of them.

“Breathe, Pat,” I reminded myself.

Okay, so I’m on the fringes of this rock music business; I’m not on the inside and that’s okay. I’m not trying to get on the inside. I honestly don’t want to be in the limelight, but I wouldn’t mind my work speaking for itself. However, I find it fascinating that I am where I am. Before any of this stuff happened to me (the events I wrote about in Dance), I was just a stay-at-home mom quietly raising three teenage sons in suburbia, driving them to soccer practice and viola lessons in my minivan and finding innovative ways to combine Bisquick with whatever I had in the freezer to make something for dinner each night that bore at least a slight resemblance to a healthy meal that tasted good. As Sammy Hagar so eloquently put it, “Pat was just a fucking housewife; she had nothing going on!” Ahem. Well…

While I was waiting in line for Lita to sign her book the other night, I met a man from San Diego named Robert Yehling. Bob is also an author, and he had planned to give Lita a copy of his book, Stevie Salas: When We Were the Boys that he co-wrote with rock musician Stevie Salas. Bob told me that he had been a journalist and had interviewed a lot of rock stars. He’d also ghostwritten many books for and with them.

My heart began to sing! I want to do this too! Right now, my book, Dance of the Electric Hummingbird, is lying on my garage-sale-purchased, pitted and beat-up wooden desk all by itself, (on top of all the clutter, I mean) and it’s been screaming for a companion for a very long time. I still get letters from readers all over the world telling me that my book changed their lives and asking me when I’m going to write another. And I need to because something is churning inside of me like a volcano ready to explode.

Chatting with Bob, I began to feel like I’d known him for years. He said I needed to get my book on the shelves at the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver (which is like THE biggest bookstore in Colorado; it’s like OD’ing on books for a book junkie) and proceeded to introduce me to one of the managers there so we could begin to make that happen. Bob said that he and I should do some book signings together since we both wrote about rock music themes. I replied, “YES! Let’s DO this!!!”With Robert Yehling

At the end of the evening, Bob and I bought each other’s books and had each other sign them, vowing that we would keep in touch. Holding each other’s books, we posed next to the poster of Lita Ford.

By the time I walked out of the Tattered Cover, I was so high, that my friend Carol, who was with me, had to catch me before I stepped off the curb into oncoming traffic as I went to cross the street. If I’d been hit by a car that night, I don’t think I would have even felt it; it would have bounced right off me.

I didn’t get the chance to tell Lita everything I wanted to tell her. I wanted to tell her how I plan to donate copies of my book to women’s shelters and women’s organizations to demonstrate to abused women that they don’t deserve to be treated like that. To show them that there is hope, and that they have a choice. My book is the perfect example of how I went from being a victim of severe abuse to realizing my lifelong dream of being a writer, and if I can do it, so can everyone else.

But even if I never hear from Lita again, what she gave me Friday night is something I will never forget. I mean, a big star asking me to sign my book at the expense of taking up time for all those other people in line. Of her taking the time to connect with me… I felt like a star myself.

Sammy Hagar has made me feel like this before too—many times. If you haven’t read my book, you should. It’s all in there.

How I wish I could bottle this feeling and share it with you. Everyone deserves to feel this way at least once in his or her life, an ecstasy resulting from hard work, accomplishment, perseverance and from a belief in one’s self that transcends reality, combined with being recognized for having done so.

Here’s to YOUR joy! Cheers!

Order Lita’s book here: Living Like A Runaway

Lita is raising awareness for this cause: Parental Alienation

Order Robert Yehling’s book here: When We Were the Boys

Please help save my book from the shredder

Dance of the Electric Hummingbird

It is with great sadness and humility that I announce that since my book, the award-winning DANCE OF THE ELECTRIC HUMMINGBIRD, is no longer one of the top-selling books in the publisher’s catalog, 3,500 copies need to be removed from the warehouse asap to make room for faster-moving titles.

And those left unsold will be destroyed.

If you or your store would like to purchase copies of DANCE OF THE ELECTRIC HUMMINGBIRD at a deep discount, please contact me immediately.

Retail price is $17.95 (plus shipping), but I am offering copies for HALF PRICE!—$9.00 each, plus shipping.

For 10 or more, the price is $7.00 each plus shipping.

Sorry, no refunds.

A few copies of DANCE OF THE ELECTRIC HUMMINGBIRD will still be available from amazon.com, at bajarockpat.net, and in ebook format, but those in the warehouse that go unsold will soon be destroyed.

For more information, please contact me immediately at info@bajarockpat.net.

Discount price is for books ordered through me ONLY.

Thank you for your kind support.

HOLIDAY SPECIAL! Don’t Miss it!

Snowman GraphicHappy Holidays and Joyous New Year!

As a way of saying, “Thank you” for all your support, for a limited time, I’m offering autographed and personalized copies of DANCE OF THE ELECTRIC HUMMINGBIRD for the special holiday price of ONLY $10 plus shipping and handling!

Books make the perfect holiday gift. Order one for a friend and one for yourself! At this price, they won’t last long!

HURRY! GET YOUR COPY TODAY!

For fast and easy ordering, click here: DANCE HOLIDAY SPECIAL

Wishing you and yours a new year filled with health, wealth and joy.

~Baja Rock Pat

Reach For It Radio features Patricia Walker

christina winslowA heartfelt THANK YOU to host Christina Winslow, for having me on her show, “Reach For It Radio” last week. We had soooo much fun laughing and talking about out-of-body experiences, enlightenment, rock concerts and Sammy Hagar.

If you missed the live broadcast, you can still listen for free here:

Reach For It Radio on BBS Radio

Reach For It Radio™ is a live weekly broadcast on BBS Radio, hosted by best selling author Christina Calisto Winslow. Tune in every Thursday at 11am PST, 2pm ET, for an enlightening and entertaining hour about life, love, finances, spirituality, health, and business as Christina challenges the status quo. This show is dedicated to assisting listeners to reach higher to attain what they really want out of life. Christina brings no-nonsense and practical tools to her listeners though her interviews with great thinkers, healers, and spiritual teachers of the world combined with her intuitive coaching abilities. Callers will be given the assistance to remove blocks and become empowered to see what is actually possible in their life. Reach For It Radio™ is a catalyst for change and provides new ways for you to reach for the stars!

 

Radio Show this Thursday, Aug. 27

I’m super excited to be a guest on “Reach For It” radio show with host Christina Winslow, this coming Thursday, Aug. 27 from noon to 1:00 Mountain time. It’s going to be a great show! Hope you’ll tune in!

Reach For It Radio Show on BBS Radio

Book Sales to Benefit Public Library

I’m honored to be one of 60 local authors participating in the Poudre River Library District’s Poudre River Local Authors Fair this Saturday, August 8, 2015 from 11-4 at

Old Town Library
201 Peterson Street
Fort Collins, CO 80524

I’ll be reading excerpts from DANCE OF THE ELECTRIC HUMMINGBIRD and signing copies as well. Please stop by and say hello. I’d love to meet you!

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Participating author’s publications will be available for purchase with 20% of each sale going to support the Poudre River Friends of the Library.

Books make great gifts–especially those signed by the author!

Thank you for supporting your local authors and the public library. We couldn’t do what we do without YOU!

For more information, please click here: Poudre River Public Library

Podcast of The Law of Distraction and Interruption

3/31/12 and 4/1/12: Podcast of The Law of Distraction and Interruption
Please join host  and guests Patricia Walker, Author of “Dance with the Electric Hummingbird” and Nadine Lajoie, Championship Motorcycle Racer, Speaker and Author on “Spirituality, Money and FEAR”.

Listen here: