DECEMBER 1, 2007

Believe it or not, today I've mowed the grass and worked around the yard. I still have a bit to get done outside, but my real success story of the day is that I found the leak in my water line that has caused my water bill for the last two months to be three times what it normally is! Now all I have to do is get someone to come patch the leak, and we're good to go. What a relief! After conversations with the people at the water company, I was bound and determined NOT to fall prey to their suggestion to just install a new line to the tune of a couple thousand dollars or more. No way, José!!

Another success story of the day has to do with Eliza's hair. Last night we put henna on it, and in contrast to our attempts with commercial chemical dyes that produced bright and very obviously purple hair rather than the deep red we anticipated, the henna has added a very lovely touch to her long, thick, beautiful hair. In today's sunlight, her had glistened with a very natural-looking reddish glow. I'm feeling like a real beautician! Call for an appointment!

The greatest celebration today, however, is my father's birthday....87 years old!! I called to wish him a happy day, but between his inability to hear and the difficulty he has holding the phone, I'm not sure he got the message. So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAPA!!!! I LOVE YOU and hope your day has been one of happy memories and a win for Appalachian in the play-offs! I know seeing the Mountaineers (not WVU, ASU, that is) move to the next level toward the championships again would make you very, very happy!

CHECK OUT THIS BLOG AND MEET CHARLIE, THE COYOTE

Check out the folllowing link: http://www.dailycoyote.blogspot.com/ and meet Charlie the Coyote. His story warms the heart. I can see a wonderful movie in the making here.

MY OFFICE MATE WINS GOLDEN PICKLE AWARD

I would be remiss if I did not direct the attention and interest of Namasté blog readers to the exciting news that my beloved office mate, dear friend, fellow Virgo, and kindred spirit--the one and only Ms. Mary Ann Abbott-- won the first Golden Pickle Award ever bestowed upon anyone at our hallowed place of employment. I cannot begin to describe the event and its impact upon her as well as she, so I direct you to her blog to read her first-hand account of the emotional and inspiring event that took place yesterday during our annual end of fall quarter potluck.

The Six Degrees of Separation rule now goes into effect, and all Namasté blog readers can now say they know someone who knows someone who's won a Golden Pickle. WOW !!

FALL QUARTER'S OVER--HOORAY FOR WINTER BREAK!!

Tomorrow morning I don't have to get up for an 8:00 AM class... In fact, I don't have to get up for an 8:00 class until January 7th...YEAH !! Winter break is here, and I'm loving it! (I do have three more classes at Marietta College, but hey, that's a breeze knowing that I won't be returning there for Spring Semester!)

It's been a long quarter. My challenge has been to enlighten students who are surprised Castro uses "torcher" in his prisons, as well as others who are delighted that yoga helps them "relive" their stress and ease their "tention." Over the fall, some students suffered with the "flew," but few checked in to get their "assinemants." And, as one of Mary Ann's students observed, "Not many good things come out of Africa." Oh well, all of us in education know we shouldn't pressure students about correct spelling or drawing sound conclusions because doing so might bring about self-esteem issues and cause irreparable psychological damage.

But, the quarter now qualifies as "water under the bridge," and it's time to think about decorating the house for Christmas, getting a few gifts together, doing a little baking, knitting, watching some good movies, and maybe even reading a book. (What a novel thought!--No pun intended..) Walking in the woods sounds great; practicing a little yoga will keep my body from contracting in the cold; sleeping until I want to get up will satisfy my soul.

So, I officially declare the holidays have begun. May all our days be merry and bright as we approach Hannukkah, Solstice, Christmas, Kwaanza, and life in general.

Peace......Love.....Joy.....Magic.....And lots, lots of laughter.....

THE MOUNTAINS

Thanksgiving vacation just isn't complete for me until I take my annual ride through the mountains near my home, so Saturday afternoon, Tom, Chintu, and I took off on some backroads and around the Grandfather Mountain Viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway to savor the beauty of the land.

The picture to the right is of the back side of Grandfather Mountain. As I gazed up at the huge, outcropped rocks, the sky served as a soft background to the starkness of the leafless trees and few evergreens.

When I did a 180 degree turn, and the view below awaited directly behind me. Miles and miles of rolling, purple hills down in the valley, unobstructed by houses, roads, or anything else manmade that would interrupt the sight.
And then, to top it off, I looked directly above me and saw a huge red-tailed hawk circling in the distance. I did my best hawk call, and sure enough, the bird floated my way and circled directly above my head for a long, long time. Note: I tried to get a photo of the bird as it soared in circles so effortlessly above me, but 1) I got dizzy trying to keep it in view long enough to get the camera adjusted for a shot, and 2) I came close to falling off the trail and down the hillside.

Needless to say, everytime I am in the mountains I feel very, very humbled by the majesty of my surroundings and very, very grateful to have grown up in this beautiful area. I've always felt protected and embraced by the mountains, and it is among them where I feel most at peace and grounded.

OFF TO NORTH CAROLINA FOR TURKEY DAY

Tomorrow morning, I leave for North Carolina to spend the holidays with my parents. Tom and Chintu are going with me, so the three of us should have a really good time in the mountains. I'll be taking lots of photos and visiting my grandmom, Ruth, who is only two months away from turning 106 years old!

If any of my blog readers have any suggestions as to what might be happening with my inability to upload photos after the installation of my new computer, please send some help my way. There were no problems until we installed the new computer, put in a router, and transferred some files from my old computer that's now in Eliza's room. I've read all the help material from blogger.com, I've done all their suggestions, I've called my techie friend, Craig, and I still can't get things to work. I can upload photos from the web, but I am unable to upload photos from my photo folder. This problem did NOT exisit before the new computer arrived. Would the router have a firewall that could be the problem? If so, how does one disable it? Are there other problems about which I'm unaware that might be the problem? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated, especially since I'll want to post photos from the mountains.

Happy Thanksgiving to all...The gratitude list I have going is way too long to post...I'm just grateful for anything and everything (except computer problems).

Namasté.....T.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON TREASURE

Today I left the office right at noon to meet my second year students for lunch at the local Mexican restaurant, and from there, I headed down the street to Goodwill. I had a hunch I was going to find a treasure today, but seeing nothing at Goodwill worth mentioning, I headed to Salvation Army to browse there for a few minutes. Nothing there either, so I started back to the car and decided to peek in to a little antique store on the way to the parking lot.

I poked around in the Tin Rabbit for a moment, decided to check out one more shelf before I left, and stopped when a very elegant, white porcelain hand thrown bowl caught my eye. Immediately I thought of Gwen Hefner, a potter from Kentucky who used to exhibit her pots at the Indian Summer Festival here in town many years ago. Her work was strikingly elegant, yet of simple line and form--beautiful white porcelain vessels with slightly altered rims. I always wanted one!

When I picked up the bowl, I saw the stamp on the base that Gwen used to sign her work and was absolutely ecstatic when I saw the price on the sticker had this piece marked at $8.00 --only $8.00 for this lovely piece of art that cost probably about $60 - $75 twenty years ago.!!Obviously, someone had no idea what he/she was selling. I couldn't believe my eyes or my luck!!

When I went to pay for my find, the little elderly woman in the store remarked on its beauty. She rang up the sale and only charged me $6.80. A Gwen Heffner bowl for under $7.00!! I still can't believe it! I found the Gwen Hefner bowl pictured here on the internet, and it's very similar to the one I found today. Its list value on the site I downloaded it from was $350.

I really think the bowl called me to it because I had no intention of stopping at another store as I returned to the car from the Salvation Army store. It's now cleaned up and beautifully positioned on the buffet in the dining room, and I'm feeling very, very happy, grateful, and excited.

Maybe this afternoon's stroke of luck means Mercury's out of retrograde...Halleleujah!!! It's about time!!!

SCORPIO GIRLS - SWEET 16 AND FABULOUS 40

Both my daughters are Scorpio girls...witty, bright, beautiful, funny, and very unique. A week ago, Eliza turned 16 and proudly wore a sparkly tiara and a pink sash with "Sweet Sixteen" printed on the front all day at school. Bobbi, Scorpio gal #2, turns 40 tomorrow, and I'm sure everyone within the range of her energy field will be tagged to help her celebrate. For all I know, she might play her tuba on the street corner in her own honor.

I recently read the following excerpt about Scorpio women and found it to pretty much sums up my two:

"The Scorpio woman has great charm, allure, and inner strength, and is able to overcome most any obstacle in life. She comes across as self-confident and self-possessed and men are drawn to her for that reason. There is a mysterious quality about the Scorpio woman because she is intensely private, discrete and secretive. Soon she will learn everything about you, but later you will realize that she hasn't given you many details about herself--that's Scorpio's natural reticence.

Finally, the operative word to best understand your Scorpio is "passion." One Scorpio once said to me that passion was the single most important ingredient in life, that is, to be passionate about one's loved ones, one's career, one's lifestyle, for without passion, what kind of life would we have in the end?"

Happy birthday to Eliza and Bobbi, two passionate women who live their lives to the fullest. They love each other dearly, have a great time together, and fill our family's life with joy and happiness. The photo says it all!

MERCURY'S IN RETROGRADE

Yes indeed! My favorite family astrologer, Bobbi, has officially confirmed Mercury is in full-blown retrograde. So, what's up with that? Some refer to Mercury's retrograde as being Murphy's Law of the Cosmos. From the information I understand about this phenomena, it's one of those times that if something can go wrong, it will.

Historically, when I am "tagged" by the retrograde energy, things around the house go haywire, i.e., appliances stop working, unexpected expenses abound, the check engine light in the car comes on and won't go off, etc. For me, this time around, it's been all about a leak in my water line somewhere between the top of the driveway to my house (a distance of a tenth of a mile or so) that no one can tell me how to fix short of digging up the entire line. It's been about unexpected bills that have appeared from nowhere, lost checks, and computer glitches.

But the culmination of my retrograde moments happened this morning as I was walking out to the car at 6:45 in an attempt to get to the office early to complete some work. I "bulls-eyed" a huge pile of dog caca in my brand new shoes that have grated rubber soles. I couldn't have made a more perfect landing in the middle of this pile of s*&@ if I had intentionally tried. I had to take tooth picks covered with paper towels to dig out the poop from the various grooves in the soles of my shoes. How's that for starting off one's day???

To make a long story short, I arrived at work an hour later with a clean but still very smelly shoe. I've walked around school all day in my trouser sock feet.

(You might ask why I didn't just change shoes and leave the cleaning for later..??..Well, I was determined to wear these new shoes on a day when I had only a few classes to teach so I could break them in without having to wear them on a full-scheduled day. )

So, my thought at the moment is that I'll stop by the store on the way home, pick up a bottle of wine, and have a glass or two on the deck, toasting the supposed end of Mercury's crazy cycle and hoping like the dickens that the plumber who's going to call in the morning is a heck of a dowser!

Cheers....

A FEW EXTRA POUNDS

On my way to school this morning, I heard that a recently published medical investigation has concluded that having a few extra pounds on one's body is really a good thing. DUH !!!!!

According to the study, people with a moderate amount of extra body fat are actually healthier and tend to bounce back from illnesses quicker than the "skinny Minnies" of the world. DUH!!!

The moderately chubby group were also described as being happier, more upbeat people that the emaciated 0% body fat clan. DUH !!!

My mom, an RN from the Clara Barton days, and my grandmom, age 106 and the mother of 10 children who lives back in the "holler" in Pigeon Roost, NC, could have told the researchers that at a fraction of the cost spent in this clinical study.

So, here's to a little body fat and a happier, healthier life! Treat yourself to a couple of pieces of chocolate today! :0) :0)

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS. SO,WHAT'S THE HIGH THOUGHT HERE?

In the last week...

1. I had to have a repairman in to work on the furnace. Cost: $293.00
2. Car insurance came due. Cost: $300.00
3. Mortgage payment time rolls around: Cost: More than I care to divulge. (The thought that I'm paying for the farm a second time doesn't put me in a great mood.)
4. I had to get two new tires for the car before I travel in the next week. Cost: $160.00
5. The water company reported I have a leak in my water line somewhere between the house and the end of the driveway. Cost: $1,000 minimum and possibly as much as 5 times that. (I'm trying really hard not to cry about this!)
6. We had an unexpected but necessary trip to the vet. Cost: $104.00

Note: With the exception of car insurance / mortgage, the above items were not included in this month's budget and far exceed my fairly meager catastrophe savings fund.

Then there's the trip to Indianapolis next week to see Eliza in the Grand National competition with the high school band. Cost: $400.00 (minimum)

And next month, it's Christmas. Cost (including gas for travel / gifts etc.) $500.00 (minimum)
(Thank goodness I've done some shopping along the way and have found some great gifts at thrift stores.)

And, both Samuel and Eliza have birthdays here at the end of the year. Cost: $150 (mimimum)

Now, if I add up all the expenses I've mentioned,(note again: those do NOT include monthly bills), the amount of cash flowing out of my checking account, pocket, and change jars far exceeds the amount coming in from my TWO jobs.

(Advice to anyone considering a career in teaching: THINK TWICE!! MANY of my former students leave college and enter their first job at a salary that far surpasses what I make with 31 years of experience and lots of nice professional awards.)

So, I ask myself, what really is the high thought here?

1. It's yet another opportunity to trust in the Universe. (I just wish I could get to the point of not panicking when the "trust" opportunities come my way.)

2. I probably qualify for a loan.

3. It's yet another opportunity for me to take a look at my relationship with money and my fear of not having enough of it. (Oh, how I love to take a look at that one over and over!)

4. I can probably pick up a third job. I can wash dishes or wait tables if necessary.

5. It's yet another opportunity to realize that I am safe, that I will be cared for, that the Universe will look out for me.

6. I'm healthy and happy, making it possible for me to get past the momentary glitches with a smile on my face. (I really, really am trying!)

7. It's yet another opportunity for me to take a close look at those things for which I am deeply grateful. (I'm doing my exercise gratitude lists as I write this.)

8. Many people love me, and I love many people.

9. It's yet another opportunity for me to realize I'm intelligent enough to figure out how to best work this financial snafu out.

10. If I created this reality, I can recreate something better.

So, if the Creator / the Goddess / the Great Orchestrator of the Universe just happens to read my blog, please know that I'm learning whatever the lesson of the moment is and it's really very OK not to send anymore stuff my way. Let me process this for now, and I'd be really, really grateful for a break, AND I'll do my best to share all I can with others.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Namasté and Peace to all...

PS: I am totally open to receiving a winning lottery ticket.

THE OFFICIAL CEREMONY-PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM

If any of my few blog readers are interested in the ceremony held today at the White House honoring Dr. Biscet and others, check out the Coalition of Cuba-American Women's website. There you can read the text of the president's speech OR you can click a link to watch it.

Here's your link: http://www.coalitionofcubanamericanwomen.blogspot.com/

In addition, the post just before the one of the ceremony is an article on Dr. Biscet by Mary Anastasia O'Grady from today's Wall Street Journal. It's worth the read.

My students and I watched the event on my office computer, and as hard as I tried, I still sniffled. I was so proud to see Winnie, Dr. Biscet's daughter, on stage to accept the award. She's a good kid, and she will follow in her father's footsteps. The young man who actually sat on stage representing the family is NOT Dr. Biscet's son. His mother is Biscet's wife, and Oscar Elías helped raise him, but he's biologically not related. Winnie is Biscet's only biological child. She's 19 and possesses her father's love for life and fiery spirit. Thanks to Laida Carro, Winnie was included in the ceremony.

Keep your fingers crossed that Biscet will not be further tortured or mistreated as a result of the honor. He's not at all "loved" by the Cuban government, and officials there could make it very hard for him.

I dream of the day I will have a shack on the beach somewhere in Cuba. All Namasté blog readers will have an open invitation to come down for a visit!

GOSH, I HATE TO ADMIT IT, BUT SCORE ANOTHER ONE FOR GEORGE BUSH

I'm not totally sure why all of a sudden the President has begun to champion the cause of Cuban dissidents publically (except for the fact that he wouldn't have beaten Al Gore in 2000 without the Cuban vote in southern Florida and he currently needs to "woo" Cuban voters for support of the Republican candidate in 2008), but in the last month he has held a private audience with Yamilé Llanes Labrada, wife of political prisoner and prisoner of conscience, José Luis García Paneque and invited families of political prisoners to the White House for the reiteration of his policy toward Cuba. Then, on Monday (10/29) came the official announcement that President Bush has chosen to award one of the six Presidential Medals of Freedom to Dr. Oscar Elías Biscet González, an internal medicine specialist and highly respected symbol of opposition to the Castro regime, in a ceremony at the White House this coming Monday, November 5th.

It is because of Dr. Biscet's case that I became so interested in human rights work on behalf of political prisoners in Cuba. It is through a pursuit of information on Dr. Biscet that I met Laida Carro, a woman who works tirelessly on behalf of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Cuba. And, it is with Laida that I began to work in human rights affairs and still stay busy translating articles, organizing conferences, and talking to people around the world about the tragic situation Cuban political prisoners and prisoners of conscience suffer in Cuba. My heart rejoices in the fact that Laida will be present at the White House for the award ceremony. She, more than anyone, brought his situation into the world spotlight. She is devoted to his cause. In fact, Laida is solely responsible for arranging for Dr. Biscet's daughter, who currently lives in Virginia, to receive the award on his behalf.

My interest in Oscar Elías Biscet González began about 10 years ago when one of my students came across information about him while doing research on a project for my fifth quarter Spanish class. The more I read about this man, who is a student of Gandi, Martin Luther King, and other advocates of non-violent civil disobedience, the more I wanted to know about what had landed him in jail in Cuba. I read incessantly about his struggle as a voice for human rights for the Cuban people, and I learned that he had had the courage to publish a report on Rivanol, a drug used to produce spontaneous abortions in women so that fetal tissue could be used in research. Laida happened to be the person who translated the report and got it to the United Nations. And, as one would anticipate, shortly thereafter, Biscet was barred from practicing medicine and began receiving intense harassment from the Cuban authorities. Ultimately, he was arrested for attending a meeting of human rights activists and supposedly for flying the Cuban flag upside down.

At present, Dr. Biscet still remains in prison outisde of Havana. Because he has become an international symbol of opposition to the Castro regime, prison authorities have moved him from solitary confinement, and he is receiving a little better treatment than before. Until recently, he was housed in a very small cell with no light, no running water, and a hole in the floor to be used for bathroom purposes. There were many occasions when the prison sewer backed up through that hole, and he his cell floor was covered with human waste. He was given putrid food through a slot in the bottom of his cell door, and he lived with rats invading his cell at any given hour. At one point, he was not allowed any reading or writing material and never got to leave his cell to go outside in the sun.

A healthy man when he went into prison, Biscet now suffers from a myriad of problems. He's lost almost all his teeth to a nasty gum disease, and he has everything from high blood pressure to pretty severe intestinal problems. Despite physical and psychological torture, he remains firm about not wearing the uniform of the common prisoner as dictated by Cuban penal code, and he refuses to participate in prison "education." In short, he's a real pain in the rear end for the Cuban government.

I know Dr. Biscet would consider this award as one that represents the Cuban people and their struggle rather than his own. He's a humble man of great faith and courage, a person I foresee as a key figure in the future of his country.

So again, I have to say thanks to George W. Bush. Regardless of any political motive he attaches to this award, for the Cuban people and especially for the political prisoners and prisoners of conscience who are heinously mistreated in Cuban prisons, the award is a great source of strength and hope.

Gracias, Señor Presidente.

BURGER KING MAKES APPEARANCE AT LOCAL HALLOWEEN PARTY

Much to the surprise of all gathered for a local annual Halloween Party, the Burger King paid a surprise visit, complete with crowns for everyone and a plate of cheeseburgers for anyone willing to tackle his cholesterol-packed signature sandwiches. Upon arrival, he stood quietly at the window and waved until folks noticed him. (As you might have seen on his TV commercials, he's never been one to make a boisterous entrance. Some believe he's somewhat of a voyeur, but in reality, he's really justpainfully shy.) Over the course of the evening, he handed out crowns and packets of sugar as party favors and tried to recruit everyone from Scarlet O'Hara to a couple of pirates to invest in a franchise. Regretfully for BK, no one seemed too interested.

It was not until last evening that BK has ever considered changing his batchelor status, but the minute he finally walked into the house, the woman of his dreams strolled in (somewhat feebly) from the kitchen. Despite a few hugs along the way, nothing came of his many efforts to woo the "old wretch." BK finally concluded her rejection was a blessing in disguise once she confessed to owning stock in McDonald's.

HALLOWEEN PHOTOS

I spent today with ....

Jack & the Beanstalk

Twin Dinosaurs

And a couple of other good witches!

It was the BEST !!!!!!!

YELLOW DATURA - FINALLY IN BLOOM !!!!!!

This week's rainfall, although still very sparse for this time of year, has been a veritable lifesaver for my yellow datura plants that have tried to bloom since late June. Honestly, I had given up on them and came quite close to pulling them up a couple of weeks ago when it seemed like there was no way they could muster up the stamina to survive the continued heat, much less produce a bloom. Now I'm really glad I didn't pull cast them to the compost pile.

The blooms are a littly puny (probably due to the drought) in comparison to the white daturas. They're more spiked around the edges like wild datura, and their color is a soft, pastel yellow. I'm hoping these blooms will leave me a pod or two so I can gather some seeds and start thinking about new year's plants.

Here are the photos....

And, I just threw in a shot of the sassafras tree along the fence line. The sun reflecting off its leaves this afternoon was BRILLIANT!

Enjoy....Namasté....

TRIAL AND TRIAL AND ERROR AND ERROR

I've spent the last hour and a half trying to figure out how to size photos to fit the header on my blog, and what now appears is the best I've been able to do. I feel pretty brainless. After I go in to all the blog help windows and try to attempt everything they instruct me to do, I still have no success. I've tried about 15 different sizes of photos and have yet to find what I need to cover the heading space and place the photo where I want it.

So, for the time being, I'm giving up and going to bed.

Buenas noches...

BEAUTY

Night-Blooming Sirius

(Photo taken at the flea market today)

The flowers last only one day and have a sweet, intoxicating smell.

SCORE ONE FOR GEORGE W. BUSH

I am not a fan of President George W. Bush. In fact, I can hardly listen to him without feeling ill, and I certainly don't agree with anything he has done for our country. I agree with former President Carter that George Bush's presidency will go down in history as the worst in our country's history...

But last week, George did one thing that redeemed him just a little bit (and I mean just a tiny little bit in the overall grand scheme of things) in my eyes.

Last Wednesday, October 10, 2007, my beloved friend, Laida Carro, with whom I do human rights work on behalf of Cuban political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, traveled to Washington, DC, to update the Inter-American Commisson on Human Rights of the Organization of American States on the health situation of Cuban political prisoners, many of whom are in danger of dying in prison from everything from tuberculosis to cancer. She arranged for Yamile Llanes Labrada, the wife of Dr. Jose Luis Garcia Paneque, one of the prisoners for whom we have done a tremendous amount of work lately, to accompany her.

Dr. Garcia Paneque, a plastic surgeon, independent librarian, and independent journalist, has been in jail since March 19, 2003, at which time he was arbitrarily arrested and summarily tried along with 74 other leading non-violent opposition leaders on the island. Since then, he has developed Intestinal Mal Absorption Syndrome, chronic diarrhea, anemia, and pneumonia. In addition, he has lost half of his body weight (he's below 100 lbs. now), and he is housed in the psychiatric ward among the most dangerous criminals in one of the worst prisons in Cuba.

Yamile, a lawyer, has suffered tremendously since her husband's incarceration. To make a long story short, after suffering four years of continuous harassment and experiencing the terrible psychological impact her husband's situation was having on their children, she agreed to her husband's wish to leave him and bring the children to the United States. She and the children arrived recently.

Here's where George Bush comes in. It just so happened the president learned of Yamile's trip to DC to testify, and he requested a personal audience with her to learn of her story. Yamile's daughter, Shirlen, and Yamile were invited to meet with him in the Oval Office, and when they entered the Oval Office, Yamile told the president she would not have been able to come to the States, let alone adjust to life here, had it not been for Laida Carro. So Laida, who had been waiting for Yamile outside the president's office was also invited in. (In the photo, Laida is sitting on the couch with Shirlen, and Yamile is in the chair to Bush's right. The man in between her and the president it the interpreter.)

Laida said she thinks the president was genuinely touched by Yamile and Shirlen's presence. She said he listened attentively to Yamile's story and her description of what her life was like in Cuba. He wrote down Dr. Garcia Paneque's name, practiced it in Spanish, and then invited them to accompany him down to the Rose Garden for his speech in honor of Hispanic Heritage Day. (That's Yamile to the right of the president.)

As the president spoke to the dignitaries assembled in the Rose Garden, he mentioned Yamile and Dr. Paneque not once, but three times (!) in his speech. For Yamile, who has endured such tremendous sadness that she once said she could never laugh again, the experience was life-changing. She feels like there is hope for her husband, and she has heard the president of what she considers to the be the most powerful nation on earth call for his freedom. Laida said it has been a transformational experience for this woman who has watched her husband waste away and her children withdraw from life.

I have the text of Bush's speech posted on The Coalition of Cuban-American Women's blog: http://www.coalitionofcubanamericanwoman.blogspot.com/

I believe at this point it's the third post down on the blog.

I've also posted the testimony Laida and Yamile gave at the OAS on the post before the Bush speech. Both women give powerful testimonies (in Spanish). You can click on the site to either hear or watch the speeches. And, if you "google" Yamile Llanes Bush, you'll see that news of President Bush's interest in Yamile's situation has made news across the globe.

Laida and I frequently talk about how human rights work is about disseminating information, making contacts, connecting people to people, persistence, and patience. While the world is very aware of the recent situation in Myanmaar, human rights violations in China, the atrocities of Darfur, and the famine in Somalia, relatively little attention has been focused on Cuba. With this surprise meeting last week, people heard about one situation out of many that take place in Cuba on a daily basis.

So, thank you, George Bush, for taking time with Yamile. She now feels some hope. All of us who work with matters in Cuba are very appreciative. Even I say ¡muchismas gracias!

WEEKEND UPDATE

~Had some wine and cheese with Dr. Tom Friday afternoon

~Went to the flea market, Salvation Army, and Goodwill with Dr. Tom Saturday morning

~Watched the Warren High School Warriors Marching Band at the Band-o-rama Competition in Marietta. Eliza's grace and beauty on the field is awesome!

~Took a few photos downtown

~Went to the flea market with Dr. Tom again this morning

~Helped a friend move some furniture this afternoon

That's all folks...

SMALL BITS OF HAPPY

(Another of Mary Ann's lists. Thanks, dear, for reminding us to make this one.)

~ kitten play

~silence

~Rink's, Salvation Army, and Goodwill on Saturday morning with Dr. Tom

~office laughter with Mary Ann

~kitten play

~text messages from my beloveds

~fall mornings and evenings

~music (highly recommended on-line listening: http://www.radioparadise.com/)

~my mom's voice

~a long, hot shower

~kitten play

FALL'S FINALLY HERE

A cold front blew in night before last, and the 90-ish temperatures from the beginning of the week have taken a plunge into more season-like ranges, the low 40's at night and mid-50's during the day. I brought my orchids in this evening so they wouldn't have to withstand a cold night. There are more than a dozen or so other potted wonders to bring in with time, but I got cold while I was out and decided to wait on the other ones.

It's interesting this fall. First of all, everyone's talking about the heat and lack of rain. The trees are beginning to turn, but I don't anticipate vivid colors this year. As it would appear, the leaves are just going to turn brown and fall off. There is little color in the side yard maple leaves, and on my walk the other day, I noticed even the poplar and sycamore leaves were not the brilliant yellow one normally sees at this time of year. My old friend of many years ago, Mr. Henry Miller, would have had some words of wisdom about these weird weather days, I'm sure. He talked about climate changes and global warming long before the topic became so up front.

In other farm news, I spent a good bit of time last evening on the internet in search of ideas for my Halloween costume this year, and I think I've got a good one! In fact, I can pull it off with an appropriate mask (which I found) and a couple of trips to Goodwill. I'm stoked! Two years ago, my aging Elvis costume won a prize at Beth and Sherm's party, and I hope to be in the running this year. I'm not giving ANY clues. My few blog readers will just have to wait for a photo. Of course, for the children at the college day care, I'll be a witch....a nice witch, as always.

My internet surfing last night also landed some great sites for Christmas gifts. All I'm going to say is that when Mary Ann saw them in the office today, she laughed big time. In fact, I think we're going in together on a couple for some of our campus celebrities. I love funny, corny gifts, and I think I've scored!

Tomorrow's Friday, thank goodness!! I'm so looking forward to a couple of days at home.

I apologize for yet another lame post....There's just not a lot in the super exciting category happening around The Farm these days....

Love and thanks to all who read my ramblings.....T.

EXPERIMENT

I think I've figured out how to post photos from my new camera, so here's just a random sample of some shots I took last weekend. When I started to install the software that comes with the camera, I had to adjust the resolution on my monitor, and I'm still not sure I have all the adjustments made correctly. Seems like there's always something to figure out about all this technology stuff.

(Clousseau - a rare still moment)

(Begonia hanging from Tom & Chintu's porch)

(Probably my favorite photo of Chintu)

(Reena, a friend of Chintu's--Isn't she beautiful?)

MISCELLANEOUS NOTHINGS..

I've spent the day basically doing nothing. The house needs a good cleaning, there are always chores to be done outside, certainly the garage and basement could use some attention, and the side yard is covered with leaves. I just haven't been able to muster up the motivation to do ANYTHING today. As Grandma would say, I'm feeling "right triflin." I have no energy. I feel like I have jet lag.

Dr. Tom and I have been going to flea markets and the Salvation Army Thrift Store on Saturday mornings lately, and I've found some nice things for really good prices. With Dr. T.'s assistance, I'm trying to learn about antique glass and pottery. Last week I got a plate for $1.99 and found it on the internet priced at $45.00. I think I'm hooked. Maybe I'll become an addicted E-bay seller.

Clousseau and Cato are not good bed pals. It's like having two kids around. When they decide to play, i.e., attack my feet, mess around with my hair, jump with full force onto my stomach, there's no rest for the weary. I think they'll be sleeping outside pretty soon.

It's hot!! I'm not a fan of winter, but 90 degrees in October is a bit much. And, on top of that, it's frightfully dry! I'd like several days of steady rain and cooler temperatures.

I'm already tired of the politic-ing for the 2008 elections. It would be nice if we could vote right now, get GWBush out of the White House, and move on. I'm voting for Ms. Potato Head. (see past blog posts)

This is one of my favorite new blogs (also located on my blog list): Bent Objects

That's it for now....Stay tuned....Namasté

SECRET CONFESSIONS

I'd like to hang glide.

I'd like to learn the salsa really well.

I'd like to meet and hang out with the Dalai Lama.

I'd like to have a home in Cuba, the Southwest, the mountains of North Carolina, somewhere in Europe, and perhaps Nepal..and other places...

I'd like to be a fly on the wall in the room wherever it is that Castro's convalescing.

I'd like to be wealthy.

I'd like to share my wealth with others.

I'd like to be in the Olympics, as a figure skater, maybe in ice dancing.

I'd like to join the Peace Corps.

I'd like to swim with dolphins.

I'd like to play in a symphony...percussion section, of course.

I'd like not to have to wear clothes.
____________________________
(Secret Confessions is a Mary Ann idea.... And now I've 'fessed up.....Who's next? It's really fun thinking...If you don't have a blog, you can leave an anonymous comment on mine...)

CAMERA UPDATE..

My new camera arrived yesterday, and although I wasn't "blown away" by it immediately, I think I'll come to like it quite a bit. Plans for the afternoon, after I teach one more class, are to get outside, take a long walk, and see if I can take a few photos. Maybe I'll have a couple of photos to upload this evening.

Off to class....eergh!

MY CAMERA'S BROKEN

...and I'm feeling somewhat at a loss. At this very moment, the sun is in perfect position from the west to photograph some great fall flower shots in the yard and down by the garden.

I realized some time back my camera seemed a bit frail. After all, it's two years old, has taken 1,000's of shots, has been dropped several times, and has been transported all over the world in a lousy, non-cushioned camera case. And, quite frankly, I've been thinking of upgrading so I can reproduce larger photos nicely.

So, I just ordered a new camera, an 8 megapixel Canon PowerShot A680. I like Canons, and I don't think the learning curve with this one will be too much of a challenge. I feel like I need another camera's worth of experience before I really take the plunge for a fine, professional-type, top-of-the line, spend-more-money-than-I-have -now camera.

It should be here in the next couple days, so I'm forward to shooting zillions of photos this coming weekend.

Namasté...

PS: Apologies to my readers, whoever you are / wherever you are...This is a totally boring post... I'm just sitting at the computer and thinking about customizing my blog, but I'm chicken to go ahead and do so because I have no idea what I'm getting in to or what the consequences of my lack of expertise could produce...Mary Ann, I need help!

And, does anyone know how to post slideshows on a blog? Do I have to have Picasa, Flickr, or something similar?

ANDREW'S IN JAPAN

Andrew, a farm kid since birth, Samuel's best friend, and son of Norm and Diane is a junior at the College of Wooster and is spending fall semester in Japan. He's blogging his experience, and you can get to his blog from my blog roll or by clicking the following link:

http://nagasakinotes.blogspot.com/

I can well remember the days of Samuel and Andrew watching "Big Bird Goes to Japan." Now big Andrew's in Japan, and his adventures will surely be worth the read!

RAMBLINGS...

Those of you who know me well know how much I love life...You also know I'm pretty earthy, not given to superficialities, really fond of laughter, and always in search of the next lesson to catapult me into greater awareness and understanding. Sometimes the "catapult" is a direct result of some personal foible, lack of awareness, or monumental screw-up, but I'm pretty willing to admit my shortcomings, make a pact to learn from the lesson, and move on. At least, I strive to go in that direction. I love to step back and witness how life unfolds and observe how people deal with the curves that get thrown their way. And ultimately, I am fascinated by how we are all constantly evolving, regardless of age or other factors.

There have been events in my life I would have never predicted....things like divorce....the untimely death of close friends....unforeseen opportunities that seemingly pop up out of nowhere...the arrival of amazing, new people in my life...Shifts happen, for better or worse, and they become a part of the process of our greater knowledge... the acceptance of our human-ness... lessons in forgiveness (particularly of ourselves)..... giant steps toward understanding... greater compassion and love.

I truly believe that every one of us is exactly where we are right now as a result of our own creation in the overall journey of what is it that we have to learn this time around as incarnate beings on the planet. Sometimes we are in co-creation with others in our lives, but even then, we construct the events that determine of our happiness (or lack thereof) and life direction. This notion is rejected and denied by many; the idea that we create every aspect of our reality intimidates even the most "intelligent" among us because it requires us to assume responsibility for everything that plays out in our lives and erase blame...It's so easy to pass the buck!

But, I really like the idea that only I create my life...I find it empowering and very, very humbling....I want to be in charge of my life..I want no one else determining my path....If I am in co-creation with another, I want my part of that creation to be positive and life affirming. not crippling or stifling. I enjoy and celebrate my power as the one who designs my life, and I am humbled the Universe guides me and allows me to grow. If I get stuck along the way, it's my task to get unstuck. If I experience injustice or unfairness in my life, it's my job to fix it. If I find myself in an unpleasant situation or relationship, then I must decide how to best remedy the situation.... It's not just me....everyone has choices and the power to create and define his/her life.

So, why do some people have such difficulty actualizing happiness? Why do they seem to be cemented in darkness, fear, unhappiness, manipulation, and the like? Why can't people escape the chains that bind them? Why do they allow themselves to be a slave to others?

I understand there are no simple answers. I understand a lifetime of behavioral patterns imprinted and embedded in our subconscious can seem insurmountable and very intimidating when it comes time to face them and initiate a change. Creating change in one's life is not an easy task. My compassion for those who are "stuck" in suffocating situations is HUGE, regardless of whether the suffocation is a result of emotional distraught, an unbalanced relationship, or a series of hard knocks.

But, I do believe everyone has the capacity to find freedom and happiness in his/her life. It's our choice to be happy or not...It's within our power to find laughter and love....It's our birthright as divine manifestations on the planet to love our lives.

My wish tonight is that we all grow in greater understanding of the sacredness of our existence and learn to acknowledge the gifts life has to offer, especially those of happiness and love.

Namasté

(I dedicate this post to a friend with whom I had unexpected contact last week and who, I believe, deserves a world of happiness he/she has yet to manifest in his/her life.)

IT'S THE LAST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER AND IT'S 94 DEGREES OUTSIDE!

OK...There have been a few times since I've lived at The Farm that the last week of September has been warm enough to wear shorts and a sleeveless shirt, but never, ever, do I remember the temperature in the mid-90's at this time of year. Yesterday and today have been almost unbearable, and I'm really trying NOT to turn on the air conditioner again, but as the sweat rolls off of me as I write this post, I'm quite tempted to do so. And furthermore, since we've gone without ANY rain for at least 2 months, the Earth is so incredibly parched that one little spark could literally torch 1000's of acres around here in no time flat. Actually, I'm a more than a little concerned about everything from low water tables to the animals in the wild. The streams dried up two weeks ago; there just isn't any water for them to drink.

I contemplated the drought during my celebration of the equinox over the weekend. Supposedly, it's a time of balance as we move into Libra....a time of equal light and dark, a celebration of the harvest yielded from our gardens, a time to bring the summer's work to an end and prepare for rest during the approaching cold, winter months. In my personal world, I feel balance and equilibrium for the most part. But as I listen to the screech owls howl, the hawks scream from above, and the coyotes in song at night, I wonder what they're sensing. They, much more than we humans, must feel the incredible Earth changes that are taking place now.

My hope is for a steady, lasting rain to come tomorrow.

On a lighter note, Eliza had a wonderful, perfect Homecoming evening with her date and friends. She looked so, so beautiful and radiant, and her boyfriend seems like he's a really, really good guy. I was very impressed with the ease with which he met and talked to me and with the courtesy and gentleman-ness with which he treated / treats Eliza. That girl has a pretty wonderful ability to magnetize and manifest good things in her life! Aren't they a "cute" couple?

And continuing on a lighter note, "catspunk" (a term invented by Brett) abounds in the house these days as Clousseau and Cato bounce around with unlimited energy. They make me laugh until I cry, and their antics almost always lead to some sort of blunder. Just like children, they play until they collapse, sleep a bit, and get up for another round of chase, attack, and wrestle. Clousseau is a bit larger and a little more coordinated and independent than Cato, but in the last couple of days, Cato has caught Clousseau off guard at the most opportune moments, and he's landed a few good blows. I have made a couple of videos of them on my camera, but so far, I haven't been successful at downloading them on my blog. I will keep trying, however. For the moment, here's a photo I took tonight.

I'm off to shower all the sweat rolling down my body...Peace to all Namasté readers..And, infinite love from The Farm....Love life!

T.

THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

I came home, changed clothes, stretched out on the bed and opened my eyes 2 hours later....

Then, Annie, Molly, and I took a walk around the field....Molly rolled in the muddy creekbed...she stinks...

We saw two does and three fawns at the back of the field. One of the little ones has lots of white fur.. elegant, graceful animals....

One of our farm pair of hawks was perched up on the limb of one of the tallest trees in the distance...

Then, I watered the plants.....I think I could stand there for days, and the plants would still be thirsty...

Then, I talked to Debbie Thomas, and we had a kitten catch-up / update. She has three new kittens, all siblings.

Then, I watched the sunset from the deck...a huge, orange ball sank on the horizon..Thought of my mom....

A big flock of geese flew across the horizon....perfect V formation...

A single bat came flying around ....

Then, I checked in on farm kids.....

And then, I sat on the deck for a goodwhile....deeply grateful for silence and quietness...Ahhhhhhhhhh.. . .

Off to a long, warm shower and bed....

I feel good.......

Namasté....

NAME CHANGE #2

After hanging out for almost a week with the kittens and really observing their antics and personality, I have decided I must make a change in their names yet again.

These guys are never still, and their kitten-ness has provided some hard core belly laughs around here. Their inquisitiveness, catspunk, incessant energy, and penchant for "stupid cat tricks" crack me up, and I laugh at them like I laugh at Chief Inspecteur Jacques Clousseau and his bumblings.

So, in honor of my favorite movie character of all times, I've officially changed Ed's name to Clousseau, and Norge now becomes Cato, Clousseau's sparring partner and side-kick.

Clousseau Wilder does things like jump after a fly and land in the water bowl while Cato takes quite unexpected dips in the toilet as he swats at the water inside the bowl. Tuesday evening, Clousseau crouched down on the side of the bed to attack Cato, and when Cato walked by, Clousseau took a flying leap, right off the side of the bed. And yesterday, Cato's curiosity led him to get shut inside the dishwasher while Clousseau was scoping out the refrigerator.

These two represent the best of unadulterated innocence and play....In serious moments, Clousseau and Cato will come to my rescue, I'm sure.

DOUBLE NICKELS

Wednesday, I turned 55 years old. When I asked my students to guess my age, no one chose a number above 48, which made me feel pretty good. In fact, one young woman said if my hair weren't so gray, she would have guessed 40. Hmmmm....Should I consider a trip to the salon?

The day itself was glorious...sunny, clear skies, warm, but not extraordinarily hot like it's been in the last couple of weeks. I had a wonderful day with many good wishes, lots of cards and phone calls, some beautiful gifts and great surprises. I felt really blessed and loved by many.

So, a huge thanks to all who contributed to the specialness of my birthday....Tom and Chintu, your e-card began my day with lovely images and music...MaryAnn, you're the queen of celebration and unique gifts. I love the orchid book and farm ribbon...Quite unique! Deb, the light will come in really handy at the farm...Just last week, when the electricity shut off, I was fumbling around in the dark to try to find a flashlight..Mickey, luxury baths are a favorite farm activity...Candles, a glass or wine, nice handmade soap and music or a good novel to read make for hours in the tub...Dr. Tom, thanks for the ecletic package and the wonderful meal at the Blennerhassett. It was scrumptious! Lori, aka Cleveland, the gift of your presence at the farm lately has been wonderful, and walking in to the house and seeing the decorations, gifts, and cake you made took me back to that special feeling one feels as a child on her special day! It made me so, so very happy!

I am reminded births are life's greatest miracles, everyone's presence on the planet is divinely orchestrated, and life is meant to be lived fully and in happiness. I am also reminded of the preciousness of my family and friends, and for all, I am deeply, deeply grateful. What would I do without you???

Blessed be....Namasté...

NAME CHANGE

After hanging out with the kittens for 24 hours now, it's very obvious that Pomeroy does NOT fit the personality of the kitten, so during a brainstorm over Quiznos sandwiches, Eliza and I have officially changed Pomeroy's name to ED. Yep, he's Ed now, and it suits him much, much better.

NEW ADDITIONS

Since the feline population at The Farm is aging, I have told a few folks recently I would entertain the idea of getting a couple of kittens to rejuvenate the Mouse Patrol around the house and barn. As many of you already know, just the mention that one might offer a home to a kitten immediately produces call upon call from someone who knows someone who has kittens to give away. So, when a friend called Thursday to say three sweet little white kittens had been dropped off at her house, I agreed to take two of them. (She kept the third.)

So, here's the official introduction....Norge and Pomeroy....so similar that Eliza had to mark an "N" with a Sharpie pen on Norge so I could tell the two apart. They are pretty flea-ridden and definitely in need of a worming. But, they are really, really bright, intelligent, sweet and loving little white furballs. Molly (particularly Molly), Annie, and Loonis are in adjustment mode at the moment and haven't welcomed the babies with open paws, so to speak, but the older cats don't seem to care too much that there are some "new kids on the block."

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

Oh, I went to the animal fair....The birds and the geese were there....

As were the sow and her piglets, goats, all sorts of funky fowl, and sweet, adorable bunnies.

The Labor Day weekend was a busy one here at The Farm. Friday night, I ventured over to watch Eliza in the band. She told me the game started at 7:00 PM, so I waited until 7:30 to go, hoping to get to the game at half time. However, as luck would have it, the game started at 7:30, and I had to watch the entire first half to see the band. A middle-aged woman going alone to a ballgame is a sure way to get lots of weird looks, especially from die-hard, rural southeastern Ohio fans. Sitting two rows behind me were two men who had to qualify as the world's worst sports; I got a really good taste of yelling at the referees, shouting at the boys on the field, and stomping the stands in disgust when the "our team" didn't make any yardage for most of the first half. I left after half-time, feeling very proud of the band and grateful my children never played sports. It's a good thing I never had to deal with the likes of the two red-necks behind me.

Saturday, I went downtown to watch Eliza as she marched in the County Fair Parade, and Sunday evening, I went to a friend's house for a cookout. It was a really nice time, and I fell in love with an independent and incredibly bright two-year old named Raven, a child whose premature birth to incompetent parents got her off to a doubtful start. Fortunately, an incredible woman and her two daughters took Raven in early on and have given her the loving and nurturing that has this little one on really sure footing in every sense of the word. She is an amazing child, and all the credit in the world goes to her foster mom and sisters for their unconditional love and commitment to her.

Then, yesterday, I made grape juice and took Eliza to the mall. Then, it was back to the fair to see the loud, big-engined things pull massive weights. A friend had two vehicles entered in the truck pull, so I learned a bit about racing, engines, and NOISE!!! I also noticed that not many of the hard core racing fans were interested in answering my unintelligent questions about the event....Oh well, I really do prefer the animals!

FRUIT OF THE VINE

From the vine....

to the sink ...

to the glass!

In celebration of my successful pruning efforts last spring and in honor of the beautiful grapes that just couldn't go to waste, I spent the late afternoon and early evening making grape juice the old fashioned way. I cooked the grapes, smashed them up, and ran the "mash" through cheese cloth to extract the juice.

Boy, oh boy, was it worth the effort!! Totally organic, no sugar added, thick, pulpy, tart juice. When I drink it, I'll probably add a little water to cut down on the thickness and perhaps a tiny bit of stevia to balance the tartness, but it's really quite succulent without any "doctoring." (It reminds me of communion juice when I was a kid.)

The deep red color makes me think I could color paper pulp with it. The stains on my wall from where I slopped it around a couple of times indicate that the color sticks without any trouble. Perhaps, I'll save the "mash" and see if I can make some paper before it ferments. (Then I'd have alcoholic paper! What a concept!)

I share the spirit of "the fruit of the vine" with all...I have to boast a bit...I've really been into reclaiming the grapes, and I think I've succeeded!!!

Namasté.....

BUSY WEEKEND AND ANNUAL WHINE...

It's been a work weekend here at The Farm, and with the exception of last evening when I persuaded Dr. Tom to go with me to a friend's 50th birthday party, I've had my nose to the grindstone.

Friday and yesterday, I worked up about 2 bushels of tomatoes. I froze several quarts and made up a couple of gallons of spaghetti sauce / soup stock to use for the winter. My freezor is about to burst open with all the stored up goodies. I also made three huge rounds of pesto, adding enough garlic to keep all the not nice spirits away. I'm sure it will be too strong for Eliza, but Samuel and I will eat it and have garlic breath for days on end. Pesto pizza, made with summer farm pesto, is a staple at our annual New Year's Eve Party.

This afternoon my thoughts were to try to get in the garden and pull out as many weeds as I can. Unfortunately, somewhere in all the weeds, one could possibly find the prettiest beans I've had all summer, probably more tomatoes (although I'm not looking for them too hard), and a least a dozen large winter squashes. (Alas! The squash borers attacked the luscious yellow squash and zucchini plants while I was gone, and they're now at the base of the new compost pile I've got going by the garden.) And, if one cared to cook okra that's about a foot long, I have plenty. Maybe I'll save them for seed next year.

To top off the farm produce list, I am ecstatic to announce that I have BEAUTIFUL, abundant, and very ripe grapes. Anybody want some? They're the first grapes that I've had since I took over the pruning in the last few years. My ex-husband used to be the farm pruner, and for a couple of years after he transitioned to another life --no, he didn't die; he just moved away for good--I just whacked away at the grapes in late winter so that the vines wouldn't get out of control. However, for the last two years, I have taken the pruning instructions I ran off from the internet out with my clippers and painstakingly followed the directions. The result = One heck of a grape harvest. YEAH ME!!!! So, tomorrow, I'm going to make grape juice all day. If I had any notion of how to make wine, I would give it a try, but I think that's a project for the future now that I know my vines are back in production.

OK, here's the BIG whine you've been waiting for...I have to start back to work on Tuesday...a half day of in-service at the community college and two full classes I teach as adjunct at the local college. Yuk, yuk, yuk! The high thought is that I might possibly see a light at the end of the tunnel...I'm going to make an appointment with a retirement counselor later this fall and dream about the time when this time of year rolls around and I DON'T have to go back to work......Ahhhhhhh!!! What a great thought!

INFERNO

Oh, boy, it's hot in the Mid-Ohio Valley today....The temperature will surpass 98 degrees, and factoring in the humidity, the real heat index will reach about 104...

It's too hot to work, too hot to eat, too hot to do anything...I could be ready for fall.

I'm off to swoon and sit in front of a fan.

P & T

We were never cheerleaders or members of the popular crowd in school. We've gotten into as many outrageous predicaments as Ethel and Lucy. We had special voices for our dogs, Nickles and Fern, that only we could understand. We had secret hideaways in the woods. We had funerals for our salamanders. We sat in front of Bobby Kennedy's children at the Turtles and Every Mother's Sons' concert at Expo '66 (?) in Montreal. We went into a swanky Parisian restaurant and realized we didn't have enough money to buy anything but appertizers. We got my father's relatively new station wagon stuck on the side of a mountain in rattlesnake country not far from Boone and had to walk three miles to the nearest house to call home, confess to our mishap, and wait for the tow truck and my very disgruntled mother to come to our rescue. We forgot all about our music lessons one Saturday morning because we were jumping in the autumn leaves, so we set our watches back an hour to pretend we arrived on time, thinking for sure our teacher would believe us. We had beauty pageants in which we were extremely voluptuous contestants with really hilarious talents. We spent almost every weekend together, watching scary movies and crawling under the covers to scream. Our names are still written in chalk on the cement blocks in my grandmother's basement where we played hopscotch with my cousins. We played in the high school band together, but neither of us made the chorus. When we traveled to Mexico together in the summer of 1976, we did everything from eat tripe soup to down too many shots of tequila, resulting in two broken ribs for P. and one hellacious case of amoebic dysentery for T.

We've known each other since birth. I am a year and three months older than P., and our moms were with each other when we were born. Our mothers worked together in the infirmary at Appalachian State University, knitted all our sweaters together, traveled to meetings together, and were the best of friends. P and I attended the same schools, had many of the same teachers, and spent a sizeable portion of our childhood together. We went to the same church and got kicked out of Sunday school for not paying attention to Mrs. Kay Wilson's morning lesson. (It was incredibly boring, and as I recall, we were making silly comments aout her flowered hat that was attracting bees when she asked us to leave!)

We have always been and will always be the very best of friends. And yes, as is readily observable, neither of us have ever won a Miss Photogenic award, except in our own beauty pageants! (The following is a classic P & T photo...Notice how we both have our eyes closed in this picture, something we've always been able to execute perfectly in front of the camera lens.)

So here we are...P (Peggy) and T (Tanya)....together for a brief visit at The Farm yesterday as P. and her amazing and beautiful daughter, Alex, stopped in to spend the night on their return trip to Regina, Sasketchewan. I'm sure Alex learned a heck of a lot about her mom as we entertained her with accounts of our lives.

Oh how we laughed, reminisced, and laughed some more!! It's been about 10 years since we last saw each other, but something tells me we'll be together more and more as we get older Who knows what we'll get into in our golden years?????...Watch out world, here we come!!!

HOME, YET AGAIN....

I'm back at The Farm after having been in Miami for 10 days. It's good to be home, but I really miss the tropical beauty of that area and my Cuban friends whom I see only once or twice a year. I am blessed to be loved by so many people there, and I am always energized to continue my human rights work after spending time with so many people who long to return to their native island.

While in Miami, I had the opportunity to see former political prisoners who have become close friends, visit with family members of human rights leaders who still remain on the island, see my goddaughter, Gabriela, and her mom, Rosa, attend a wonderful concert by Carlos & Marta (a duo whose "trova" type music is reminiscent of the 60's folk songs that are re-emerging and popular these days), eat some really succulent Cuban food, spend time in the ocean, have lunch with my former professor, Eduardo Zayas-Bazán, and some of his friends who also participated in the Bay of Pigs, attend a meeting of the Coalition of Cuban-American Women, visit the Casa de los Presos with my friend, Rodolfo San Román, hand out for an afternoon with Laida's daughter, Tania, and do a live, direct interview to Cuba on Radio Martí. Most importantly, however, I got to be with my dear friend, Laida, and visit her mother, Liana, who has had a difficult year and who is now being cared for in a special home not far from Laida's house.

(Liana Prieto Arcia, Laida's mom, & Laida)

(Pepín & Laida Carro - Miami Beach)

The week flew by....I could have stayed much longer! For now, I'm savoring and storing all the memories in an easily accessible file in my mind. They'll come in handy next week as I sit in in-service meetings all day at work!

OFF TO MIAMI....

Hasta luego, mis amigos...I'm off to Miami for 10 days...to the beach, good restaurants, a couple of concerts, a gallery hop, and most importantly, to visit with my Cuban friends whom I love and adore.

I'll have stories when I return...

Namasté...

NATURAL PROGRESSION

9 AM - 08/08/07

7PM - 08/08/07

9 AM - 08-09-07

By dark, this white datura bloom will have wilted away. By tomorrow morning, it will have fallen off the stalk, and the spiny seed pod will start to form. I LOVE growing these exquisite flowers, and I hope the other species I have in the ground will bloom before frost. (I got them started and into the ground a bit late.) Hopefully, I'll have some of the double purple flowers I grew last year, as well as some new varieties I've never seen in bloom.

Would anyone like seeds if I have extras?

(A great source for datura and brugmansia seeds: www.seedman.com aka, Jim Johnson, Seedman / 3421 Bream Street / Gautier, MS 39553)

MS. POTATO HEAD AND RUNNING MATE, MS. GNOME RETURN

After realizing she declared her candidacy for president about and year and a half before she really needed to, Ms. Potato Head along with her running mate, Ms. Gnome, held a news conference today to say "Hi, we're back!" and introduce their respective significant others to the public.

When someone asked her where she and Ms. Gnome had been since their premature announcement, Ms. PH replied,"We made a group decision to go to a tropical island, hang out all day on the beach, talk about a few details, and basically, stay on vacation until it was time to get serious about the upcoming election. Recently, when Mr. Gnome mentioned his water was heating up considerably in the tropical sun, we all agreed it was a good time to return to the area. The four of us are quite adept at consensus."

Mr. Potato Head, known by many as "Spud," stood proudly by his wife while Mr. Gnome, affectionately referred to as "Wrinkles" by Ms. Gnome, offered a friendly smile from his portable bath tub from which he never emerges. All four appeared very relaxed and happy, the result, no doubt, of 15 months of vacation.

In unexpected news, Ms. PH and Ms. Gnome., took advantage of the occasion to introduce their good friend and confidante, Mr. Gonk, who will assume the responsibility as their personal organizer for the duration of the election season.

Mr. Gonk, a self-confessed worrier, nervous sort, and coffee addict, brings a rather frenzied balance to the happy-go-lucky Ms. PH and unfailingly mellow Ms. Gnome. Reputed to lovingly but constantly badger his girlfriends into action, he also knows when it's time "to throw in the towel" when dealing with the unconventional political duo.

"We don't know what we'd do without him," the two women chimed in simultaneously.

Their respective spouses agreed. "Spud and I think the world of Gonk, and we're glad he's around to take care of details. I understand he just traded his latest Blackberry for an IPhone so he can keep the girls on task," Wrinkles added from his tub.

"Gonk's a really good guy and an efficient manager. Despite his frazzled look, he can mellow out when he hangs out with Wrinkles and me," Spud said while adjusting his fire-engine red construction hat.

After the PH's and Gnomes left the conference, Mr. Gonk told members of the press in attendance that he would keep them apprised of his candidates' schedule once they decided what they wanted to do next.

"I can assure you Ms. Potato Head and Ms. Gnome will bring an element of uniqueness and spontaneity to the upcoming election. Their 'We Embrace All' campaign theme has touched the heart of the entire planet. I expect them to spend a good time abroad as well as on the domestic campaign trail. However, I would caution the press and the voting public that one never knows what they've got planned from one moment to the next.," Gonk concluded.

Stay tuned......

LAMMAS - AUGUST 1st

In honor of Lammas, the pagan celebration of the miracle of the harvest, I decided that our evening meal last night would be almost exclusively fare from the garden, so I cooked some green beans, made some yummy collard greens (yes, made with bacon grease), threw together a yellow squash dish with hot peppers and dill, and sliced some ruby-red tomatoes. Along with the veggies, I served a free-range rotisserie chicken from the store and some organic rice.

I can't begin to describe the joy I feel when I eat produce that I've grown. Good, organically-raised vegetables taste so much better than shipped-in wax-coated ones from the store, and I love the satisfaction of knowing that what my family consumes is basically free (to the extent it's possible in the area in which we live) of all those nasty things which come with non-organically grown items.

According to my Llewellyn's Witches Calendar, the time around Lammas was also recognized by the Native Americans as The Green Corn Moon, a period of joy and feasting. It's a time of ripeness,fullfillment, and gratitude for all one has, and it's a time to share with others. I like that idea; it always gives me great pleasure to share the bounty of my garden with other people.

Around Lammas, the grain fields were believed to "be inhabited by a harvest spirit. As the harvesting advanced across the field, the spirit fled into the grain still standing. The last stand of grain was left standing until next year, or else a young girl was selected to cut the last bit of grain--hence the belief in the Corn Maiden...Life-sized female figures known as Harvest Queen were made from the grain....The Harvest Queen would be brought to the door or yard of the farmhouse, a huge supper would be served, and many times, folks would make music and dance, a tradition that probably gave birth to county fairs and the like."(-James Kambos, August: Llewellyns' Witches Calendar)

Appropriately enough, two nights ago, I pulled up my two rows of corn that the raccoons had thoroughly stripped and placed the cornstalks around the bells I had hung as a critter deterrent earlier in the summer. They sort of looked like a corn person standing there, so now I'll just dub the drying stalks as my Harvest Queen and let her take reign over the garden.

(Harvest Queen art credit: Jennifer Hewiston / August / Llewellyn's Witches Calendar)