[stylist] The ShellBell Report

Wed Jul 1 02:08:15 UTC 2009

My writing is full of opinions. I've always thought I'd like to be a 
journalist the only thing with that is that I only want to report on what 
interests me. So far that has been a lot of different things. I publish my 
writings online and some will appear on my website, soon.
Shelley J. Alongi
Home Office: (714)869-3207
**
To read essays on my journey through the Chatsworth train accident, 
Metrolink 111 or other interests click on 
http://www.storymania.com/cgibin/sm2/smshowauthorbox.cgi?page=&author=AlongiSJ&alpha=A

updated May 9, 2009
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 6:48 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] The ShellBell Report

> Shelly, You have real talent as a journalist.  Your facts are accurate, 
> you don't fill your pages with opinion and stick to the subject.  Recently 
> journalism has taken a few heavy blows.  Perhaps there's a place for you? 
> Judith
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Shelley J. Alongi" <qobells at roadrunner.com>
> To: "NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 10:49 PM
> Subject: [stylist] The ShellBell Report
>
>
>> Hi Guys, Thought you'd like to read this. Have a great convention I'm 
>> looking forward to next year.
>>
>> ***
>>
>> Adventure 101
>>
>> "Chatsworth? That's the San Fernando Valley," said someone, I don't 
>> remember who it was, but the implication to me anyway was that Chatsworth 
>> is hot. Apparently so. A brief glance at the weather forecast informs me 
>> that on Monday June 29 the temperature will be 96 degrees. that means as 
>> I prepare for my inaugural trip to the Chatsworth station I will need to 
>> carry extra water with me. That means a water bottle or two, maybe a soda 
>> for fun, a few granola bars, and maybe some fruit to stave off my enemy: 
>> hunger. Yes I picked the day it would be 96 degrees in Chatsworth to go 
>> off to the station holding a picture of  a Metrolink engineer to see if I 
>> can find people who knew that engineer, Rob Sanchez. Will I get anywhere 
>> and what does that have to do with me? Well since I have finally made the 
>> memorial plaque for him I figured the next step on my journey was to go 
>> out there and see if anyone would be willing to engage me in conversation 
>> about him, if they knew him. I've always wanted to
>> go to that particular station, the station where the Metrolink111 pulled 
>> out at 4:16 pm on September 12, 2008 and met a Union Pacific freight 
>> train LOF6512 at 4:23 pm after that engineer missed what is generally 
>> confirmed by NTSB officials to be a red light. Calling out a flashing 
>> yellow light which was followed by a solid yellow light, apparently not 
>> called out, though officials won't say that the radio transmission might 
>> have occurred and gotten stepped on, and then breaking a switch and 
>> slamming into the 12 car Leesdale Local, ending his and 24 other lives. 
>> Railfans there that day said the light out of the station was green. The 
>> conductor said the light was green. Officials say the light was red. It 
>> was a fatal light and was, apparently, a train which was met every day 
>> around the same time.
>>
>> So what's my interest in all this? You can read about it in my essays if 
>> you want to know the reasons. I'm headed out there to see if anyone knew 
>> him and if they might have an idea about who might accept this memorial 
>> plaque. Tonight I will do some research to see if anyone has done any 
>> more work on memorial plans for the accident victims. I doubt if anyone 
>> has done anything for the engineer. There were plans in the works several 
>> months ago, but I haven't caught up with them since I was focused on not 
>> missing any work so I wouldn't exceed my points and lose my job and so 
>> that I could work enough hours to get vacation time: time which started 
>> Friday at noon when I was released early. I put myself on the ER list and 
>> finally after weeks of asking, was told I could go home since there were 
>> enough people there to handle the calls. the ER list is a voluntary thing 
>> and once in a while I take advantage of it.
>>
>> The idea for going to Chatsworth has always been in the back of my head 
>> and I figure that if I don't find anyone who knew him or anyone willing 
>> to talk, it will be another place to watch trains, and I can do that now 
>> that I have two weeks of free time. I said I wouldn't do any serious 
>> research on where we might put this plaque till I had it in my hand. 
>> Currently that plaque hangs here on the wall above the computer in the 
>> office. Where it will sit later I can't even imagine.
>>
>> Yes, I've been through the chatsworth station at least four times but 
>> this will be my first time to get off there. If I can't find anyone who 
>> will talk I could at least have dinner there and take my journey home 
>> After all this is my vacation I can spend it how I like. Tomorrow it's 
>> all about Chatsworth.
>>
>> So that starts my first official adventure. There will be more in the 
>> next two weeks. I'll watch trains, read books, go to the dentist (that's 
>> a real adventure), celebrate a birthday, and perhaps also meet the woman 
>> who gave me Rob Sanchez's picture. In my own way and style I'll keep you 
>> informed.
>>
>> That's all from the cat castle today. the cats are happy I'm home or 
>> maybe they're just happy they have food. I'm happy. For here, for now, 
>> life is good.
>>
>> Till we meet again in person or online, keep dreaming!
>>
>> Shelley, Pearl, and Brandy
>>
>> Shelley J. Alongi
>> Home Office: (714)869-3207
>> **
>> To read essays on my journey through the Chatsworth train accident, 
>> Metrolink 111 or other interests click on 
>> http://www.storymania.com/cgibin/sm2/smshowauthorbox.cgi?page=&author=AlongiSJ&alpha=A
>>
>> updated May 9, 2009
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>
>
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