Bags are almost packed
Five days on Whidbey Island
Leaving snow at home
I'll be back next week.
Five days on Whidbey Island
Leaving snow at home
I'll be back next week.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Eight Years
Imagine what it would be like if another country were to invade us and then continue to bomb and kill and wreak havoc on our lives FOR EIGHT YEARS.
Imagine living with high unemployment, much poverty, and constant war.
How would you feel about the country who brought you those eight years of violence?
Next month marks the 8th anniversary of the war in Afghanistan.
We are ruining the lives of many people who are just like us.
Let your legislators know that
enough is enough.
To find a showing of Rethink Afghanistan near you or to host a showing yourself, click here.
Imagine living with high unemployment, much poverty, and constant war.
How would you feel about the country who brought you those eight years of violence?
Next month marks the 8th anniversary of the war in Afghanistan.
We are ruining the lives of many people who are just like us.
Let your legislators know that
enough is enough.
To find a showing of Rethink Afghanistan near you or to host a showing yourself, click here.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
The Morning After
Thank you to all who contributed to our Friendship Bridge Dance Party! Because of you, there will be funds available to women in Guatemala so they can support their families. Because of you, education centers in Guatemala will be able to serve women who want to improve their lives.
As promised, here are a couple of photos of me boogying last night (Dance partner and personal shopping assistant: Diane).
From the Friendship Bridge website (bolding is mine): "57% of Friendship Bridge’s clients cannot read or write and the average number of years any client has attended school is 2.5. Although these women have little education, they have a great aptitude and desire to learn and better themselves. Friendship Bridge believes the best way to share important information with them is through the participatory education methods that it offers through its non-formal education program."
As promised, here are a couple of photos of me boogying last night (Dance partner and personal shopping assistant: Diane).
From the Friendship Bridge website (bolding is mine): "57% of Friendship Bridge’s clients cannot read or write and the average number of years any client has attended school is 2.5. Although these women have little education, they have a great aptitude and desire to learn and better themselves. Friendship Bridge believes the best way to share important information with them is through the participatory education methods that it offers through its non-formal education program."
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Mr. Smiley Face
I don't kill spiders unless it's absolutely necessary for the safety of all humankind. I figure there's a reason that spiders exist and it's not for my slaying pleasure. Plus, I can't figure out how I have more of a right to this space than any other living creature. Okay, I do have my limits - mice, as cute as they are, are not welcome here. I CAN figure out why I have more of a right to this space than they do. Anyone and anything that eats holes in my walls and crawls into my food, leaving its pee and poop all over my stuff is out of here.
But this spider who has been building and rebuilding his intricate silken web right outside our screened-in porch... this spider that I can barely stand to look at... he has rights to that part of "my" territory as long as he stays in that part of "my" territory. I have decided that he is NOT a house spider (so I hope that his lifespan doesn't span into the winter when he'll want to find warmer climes).
Are you ready to see Mr. Smiley Face?
If you have arachnophobia, this is your chance to click over to a more palatable site.
Okay, I warned you!
You can probably click to embiggen, if you are so inclined.
I had to take his photo from inside the screen in order to be able to show you his smiling face. He's almost cute. I think, by the look on that face, that he likes it here. What do you think?
But this spider who has been building and rebuilding his intricate silken web right outside our screened-in porch... this spider that I can barely stand to look at... he has rights to that part of "my" territory as long as he stays in that part of "my" territory. I have decided that he is NOT a house spider (so I hope that his lifespan doesn't span into the winter when he'll want to find warmer climes).
Are you ready to see Mr. Smiley Face?
If you have arachnophobia, this is your chance to click over to a more palatable site.
Okay, I warned you!
You can probably click to embiggen, if you are so inclined.I had to take his photo from inside the screen in order to be able to show you his smiling face. He's almost cute. I think, by the look on that face, that he likes it here. What do you think?
Friday, September 18, 2009
Heroes (#2)
"Let us not become the evil that we deplore." Those were Congresswoman Barbara Lee's words on September 14, 2001 when she was the only person in both the House and Senate to stand against authorizing the war in Afghanistan. Now, eight years later, with 838 Americans (a total of 1403 coalition soldiers) and countless Afghan citizens dead and no end to the "War on Terror" in sight, I wonder how long we will continue to kill as a response to killing.
The video below is only one minute long. It gives me goosebumps. May I have the courage and strength to always speak my beliefs, even when no one agrees with me.
The video below is only one minute long. It gives me goosebumps. May I have the courage and strength to always speak my beliefs, even when no one agrees with me.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Heroes (#1)
I just watched a video of Edward Kimmel, as he was escorted through the crowd that rallied in D.C. this past weekend. (See the video over at Joe.My.God's place.) I was impressed by Kimmel's bravery and peaceful, open countenance as he carried a "Public Option Now!" flag through an angry, angry mob of men and women protesting Obama's healthcare reform. You might say that it would be easy to do what he did since he had police protection to get out of there, but I know that I would find it challenging to keep such equanimity in that situation even with a police escort.
People like Edward, those willing to walk straight into the fire, remind me to walk this life fearlessly.
I think that we all need to shine a little more light into this world where many people seem to value darkness.
People like Edward, those willing to walk straight into the fire, remind me to walk this life fearlessly.
I think that we all need to shine a little more light into this world where many people seem to value darkness.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Cottonwood, Aspen or Oak?
Today I nearly froze my you-know-what off while standing in our Women in Black vigil. It felt like WINTER! I would have been more comfortable in my down coat! I even had on gloves for goodness sake!
The temperature was in the 50s (around 10 C), but there was a breeze and the air was full of the moisture that is now finally coming down. My body is used to dry air and temps in the 80s. This drastic drop was a shocker!
Anyway, as I stood, I played with being a tree. I think of trees often as I stand. Just standing silently as people and vehicles pass by, I feel like a tree. Winds blow on me, sun shines on me, people pass by and notice or don't notice. Today, though, I started wondering if trees know that people pass by. There is no way that I can answer that question. Do trees have any kind of consciousness? Can't answer that, either. Then I wondered what it would be like to be standing there with no consciousness of people coming or going, no preference for hot temps or a dry day. As a human, that sounds very boring, but trees do that for many years. They may not be conscious of that, but still...
Some of our vigilers, as they stand in silence for an hour, count cars that pass; some make up their grocery lists; some meditate.
I am a tree.
The temperature was in the 50s (around 10 C), but there was a breeze and the air was full of the moisture that is now finally coming down. My body is used to dry air and temps in the 80s. This drastic drop was a shocker!
Anyway, as I stood, I played with being a tree. I think of trees often as I stand. Just standing silently as people and vehicles pass by, I feel like a tree. Winds blow on me, sun shines on me, people pass by and notice or don't notice. Today, though, I started wondering if trees know that people pass by. There is no way that I can answer that question. Do trees have any kind of consciousness? Can't answer that, either. Then I wondered what it would be like to be standing there with no consciousness of people coming or going, no preference for hot temps or a dry day. As a human, that sounds very boring, but trees do that for many years. They may not be conscious of that, but still...
Some of our vigilers, as they stand in silence for an hour, count cars that pass; some make up their grocery lists; some meditate.
I am a tree.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Dancing for Dollars
For those of you in the U.S., I hope that you had a fun and relaxing Labor Day weekend. Mine was a nice mixture of learning, housework (very little), and relaxing.
My fellow Friendship Bridge women and I are preparing for our big, annual fundraiser. The last two years, we have hosted Salsa nights, complete with lessons. (I think I flunked Salsa 101...) This year, we are just having a big dance party with a band that plays music from many eras. That sounds more my style. Just movin' to the groovin'.
Here is a pic from a couple of years ago. Some friends, along with Mr. Carol For Peace, are following the "easy" step-by-step Salsa instructions:
The money that we raise through this fundraiser and other creative means throughout the year helps to create micro credit loans for women in Guatemala.
From the Friendship Bridge website:
My challenge to you:
For every donation of $10 to this cause, I promise that I will post a photo on my blog of myself dancing the night away. All you need to do is write me here telling me that you want to contribute and I'll email you back with the address of where to send the money.
I want you to know that I don't like getting my photo taken - and to have one of me dancing , well, I guess I'll do almost anything to raise money for these women and children who don't have enough for food and education. (And yes, I am also donating much more than $10 myself).
Of course, if you live in the Denver area, you can come to our event at the D-Note on September 19th at 7:30 and dance with me!
There are tons of worthy causes. We all have the freedom to contribute where our heart calls us. I appreciate anyone who takes the time to read my blog. Therefore, if you are not called to contribute to this cause, I truly, truly understand (and still love you!).
I also understand that it just might not make your day to see a photo of a middle-aged woman dancing her heart out. ;-)
If you don't know about the Guatemalan Civil War, which lasted THIRTY-SIX YEARS, you can read about it here (you will also find there a little bit about U.S. involvement.) The women we help are survivors of the brutal violence that killed 200,000 people. Because of the horrors of that time, they were left with no education and no means to support their children.
My fellow Friendship Bridge women and I are preparing for our big, annual fundraiser. The last two years, we have hosted Salsa nights, complete with lessons. (I think I flunked Salsa 101...) This year, we are just having a big dance party with a band that plays music from many eras. That sounds more my style. Just movin' to the groovin'.
Here is a pic from a couple of years ago. Some friends, along with Mr. Carol For Peace, are following the "easy" step-by-step Salsa instructions:
The money that we raise through this fundraiser and other creative means throughout the year helps to create micro credit loans for women in Guatemala.
From the Friendship Bridge website:
Friendship Bridge is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that provides microcredit and educational programs so women and their families can create their own solutions to poverty.
Friendship Bridge blends the short-term economic development needs of women through access to credit and education with the long-term goal of breaking the generational cycle of poverty by providing educational opportunities for their children.
Friendship Bridge has affected the lives of hundreds of thousands of rural people by investing in women entrepreneurs, first in Vietnam and now in rural Guatemala – women who become leaders and agents of change for themselves, their families and communities.
My challenge to you:
For every donation of $10 to this cause, I promise that I will post a photo on my blog of myself dancing the night away. All you need to do is write me here telling me that you want to contribute and I'll email you back with the address of where to send the money.
I want you to know that I don't like getting my photo taken - and to have one of me dancing , well, I guess I'll do almost anything to raise money for these women and children who don't have enough for food and education. (And yes, I am also donating much more than $10 myself).
Of course, if you live in the Denver area, you can come to our event at the D-Note on September 19th at 7:30 and dance with me!
There are tons of worthy causes. We all have the freedom to contribute where our heart calls us. I appreciate anyone who takes the time to read my blog. Therefore, if you are not called to contribute to this cause, I truly, truly understand (and still love you!).
I also understand that it just might not make your day to see a photo of a middle-aged woman dancing her heart out. ;-)
If you don't know about the Guatemalan Civil War, which lasted THIRTY-SIX YEARS, you can read about it here (you will also find there a little bit about U.S. involvement.) The women we help are survivors of the brutal violence that killed 200,000 people. Because of the horrors of that time, they were left with no education and no means to support their children.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Wildlife - or It's a Wild Life
Baby mountain goat
He's SO CUTE! 
Less-than-wild-horse with wild woman
Camera-eyed belly roller
Bighorn sheep
Some kind of small 4-legged creature that takes the time to stop and smell the flowers
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