[stylist] The ShellBell Report

Wed Jul 1 02:44:58 UTC 2009

Well, that's my opinion.  Anyways, I think journalism seems to fit for you.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Shelley J. Alongi" <qobells at roadrunner.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 10:08 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] The ShellBell Report


> 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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>
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