Hello. My name is Denese
Straughn. Thank you for stopping by my homepage. Please read on to the
directory. I hope that will help you to find information with ease.
Who I am - I always find that such a difficult
question to respond to. It really depends on what is happening at the current
moment. I am a good friend, always ready to listen and comment IF you want me
to. I am a grandmother - but the children know me as "Nana". I love them
dearly and am so enjoying watching them grow and learn about everything around
them an themselves. I hold the title of Administrative Specialist at work.
(We'll talk about that a bit more later). I am a mother. I am a 'networker'
at heart, enjoying very much gathering the right people together to reach
common goals. I am sometimes a hermit, content to be at home in my space,
reenergizing. I am a woman who believes in many things, am just now learning a
lot about myself, which tells me that perhaps we aren't supposed to know 'who'
we are until we've lived for a while.
My family is truly connected in each and every way.
We even live in lose proximity to one another, although we've had to be
separated from time to time, due to employment opportunities. While I am not
longer married to him, my ex-husband and are truly friends. We've worked
very hard to keep our family close, even in spite of the trials and
tribulations that we, as a couple encountered. We have two children, both of
whom are grown and living their own lives. My daughter, Alexis, is 30,
married to a great guy, Jason and they have two children. A son, Nathan, who
is 7. and a daughter, Sydney, who is 18 months old. (Sydney and Nathan are
below)
My son, David's profession is in the culinary arts but
his heart lies with his music. This talented young man, not only writes the
lyrics but composes a lot of the music for his band, Synergy and sings
lead vocals. Not necessarily my genre of music, Synergy performs hard rock,
mostly in downtown Richmond and also at college campus events. He has the
pleasure of performing once so far in New York City. An introverted young man
throughout his adolescence, he found his voice in high school, performing in
many of the drama department's plays and musicals and, having fun as the
athlete teams mascot, the Louisa Lion. He had the privilege to conduct the
advanced chorus during his last senior concert and sang a duet of the Star
Spangled Banner prior to a basketball game at Louisa County High School. It
wasn't until then that I realized what a talented tenor he was.
As shared with you, I work as an administrative
specialist for the Faculty and Employee Assistance Program ("FEAP") at the
University of Virginia. I have been there for approximately 8 years, with a
90 day break to try life in the academic arena. Let's just say, that work
didn't touch my heart - a nurturer at heart, I need to feel as though I am
helping someone. The clinical activities that go on in the FEAP program, heals
my soul and allows me to support others when in need. Over the past 10 years,
I have certainly learned a lot about what I don't like to do, which then
helped me to decide, where I want to be in terms of employment. I've got to
work an awfully long time; there is no need to be unhappy when there are so
many directions in which to go. I could tell you an awful lot about the FEAP
and the clinicians who work there and how it's mission is performed each day.
Rather than do that, how about I just insert a link for you so that you can
visit that website and read the parts that interest you.
Homepage for FEAP.
One of my favorite things are music
Miss Patti LaBelle is my favorite entertainer. There
isn't anything that I know about Miss Patti that I do not like or
aspire to. I think she is a wonderful role model for everyone, but especially
for women. She has a longevity about her that is priceless. She believes in
giving the best of herself in all areas of her life. I have attended a few of
her concerts and each has been unique. No two shows are alike and she puts
155% into each and every show. She is 60 glorious years old, and is a great
mentor to those who work for and around her. I also love that she never has a
'look' for too long. In fact, I don't believe that I've ever seen her with
the same clothes or hair style. And, yet, she can sing, "Over the Rainbow" I
don't know how many times and it sounds more amazing with each rendition.
Recently, in order to try on a 'new thing', she started a television show
called, Living it Up With Patti LaBelle, which gives one insight into her
world, rehearsals, photo shoots, promoting other African-American women
entrepreneurs. She also does a lot of promotion and fund-raising for research
for diabetes and cancer, as she lost all three of her sisters to cancer, each
before they were 50 years old. I could go on and on about this amazing woman.
Rather than do that, allow me to suggest that you visit one of the following
websites to read more about Ms. LaBelle.
Lastly, I'd like to share with you my two of my goals,
one shorter term, the other a longer term goal. My shorter term goal, one that
I'm awfully excited about is that of coordinating and offering themed retreats
for women. I don't think that women yet really understand the need to step back
and take time for themselves. I began doing this twice annually and it has
allowed for major growth on my part. In doing so, I have decided to that change
cannot happen by itself.
Some of the themes in development are New Mothers -
Remembering to Take Time for Self; Mothers and Adolescent Daughters - We Can
Really Enjoy One Another's Company; Adult Women and Their Mothers - When Was
the Last Time We Spent Time Together and Let's No Lie About it - I'm Going to
Concentrate on Me Today.
My longer term goal is to attain a degree in communications - which will give
those who need it more confidence in my credibility.
