Hey Dick Cheney - don't mess with Vermont!

Tell Dick Cheney to apologise for his offensive remarks to Patrick Leahy via this online petition, here, available on the excellent campaign Website of Jan Backus, candidate for Lt. Governor of Vermont (here).

Please help spread the word concerning this online petition too.


Just came across this too (here):

Leahy Spokesman’s Reaction To Vice President Cheney’s Fox News Interview About His Choice Of Language In An Exchange On The Senate Floor With Senator Leahy Friday, June 25, 2004:

Comment by David Carle, spokesman for Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.):

“It appears the Vice President’s previous calls for civility are now inoperative.”

Silent Cal could not have said it any better.


Came across the above online petition via Candleblog, here (Warning: Crude language in use, though not much worse than what the Vice President of the United States -- and therefore only a breath away from the Presidency -- said on the floor of the United States Senate to Vermont's senior Senator Patrick Leahy of course).

How to Read a Poem

An excellent blog poem by Pam Wagner on her WagBlog: Author and Poet - Pam Wagner's web log about her experiences with schizophrenia and life in general.

How to Read a Poem: Beginner's Manual

First, forget everything you have learned,
that poetry is difficult,
that it cannot be appreciated by the likes of you,
with your high school equivalency diploma
and steel-tipped boots,
your blue collar misunderstandings.

Do not assume meanings hidden from you:
the best poems mean what they say and say it.

[...]

This poem of Pam's is definitely a must-read. To read the entire post and poem, click here.

Virtual July 4th Celebration: Lady Liberty

The other day a friend sent am e-mail to the Homeless People's Network (HPN), a listserv I am subscribed to, about a virtual July 4th celebration, here.

They wrote:

This will help you celebrate the 4th without leaving your desk chair...

And, I found that if you click all over the sky several times and, then keep clicking, it lights up wonderfully as well as colorful wherever your clicking is pointed to. So make certain to sweep the skies of the screen with your mouse pointer, clicking as you go.

Awesome Virtual Tour of the Vermont State House & Grounds!

As I was surfing for something else concerning the state's buildings, I just came across this best kept secret, an awesome virtual tour featuring certain portions of the Vermont State House and grounds, here.

Make sure to check it out!

crows

*Updated*

SB has started and inspired an excellent must-read collaborative poem dance for others to follow along with and contribute to on her Watermark blog, here.

My lengthier contribution, compared to the rest, was:

clever and dark winged fathom,
flying lofty amid brilliant
gray-blue skies with the green
earth below as your hungry trail,
who seems to think itself
as the one and only trickster
with something to crow about

and, then, a shorter version in an attempt on my part to keep in step with the collaborative poem dance concept:

clever and dark winged
trickster with much
within to crow about

This is really great SB and I really like those graphics, particularly the fluttering crow. Thank you for being so deeply creative, imaginative, artistic and poetic.

Rearranging the Deck Chairs on Vermont's Titantic?

An actual, recovered, Titantic deck chair
on display at the Martitime Museum of the Atlantic
(via here; same photo also available here).
 


*Updated*


In what I certainly hope will not end up proving to be merely rearranging the deck chairs on the Titantic, Vermont is currently undergoing a major reorganization of its monstrous AHS.

As part of this process, on June 2nd I was one of several people who was contacted by the regional partnership coordinator for the Central Vermont area (which includes the cities of Barre and Montpelier of course), asking us if we were interested in participating in one of the stages of the interview process for the new AHS regional Field Service Director position for the Barre district, should that particular district be chosen as one of four "first converter" districts.

All the twelve regional partnership coordinators in Vermont had been previously asked to prepare in advance for this process should they end up being picked as one of the four such districts.

For my part, in rather quick order, I replied that I would be interested in participating in this fashion.

Once the information became available, when it was learned that Barre was indeed among the four districts to be chosen as one of the "first converters," I received word that the date for the three panel interviews of the candidates for the Field Director position in our district would be held on June 18th. Included in one of the e-mails I received was this forward of a notice from AHS Secretary Charlie Smith:

To: All AHS Employees
From: Charlie Smith
Re: First Four Districts

I am pleased to announce that the first four districts to convert to our new field structure will be Barre, Bennington, Morrisville and Springfield. I am also pleased to say that many other districts made a strong case that they, too, are ready and enthusiastic to convert in the first wave. Essentially, we settled on two small and two middle sized districts, which have not only shown "readiness" through their task force and community processes, but are also conveniently located so neighboring teams can learn from them.

The decisions were made by a team that included me, Deputy Secretary Eileen Elliott, Commissioner Jim Morse of the future Department of Children and Families (DCF), Steve Dale, future Deputy Commissioner of Field Services, Director of Administrative Services David Yacavone, and Janet Ancel, the Reorganization Project Manager.

The next step will be to select AHS Field Directors in the four districts. Applicants will be interviewed by three community teams in mid to late June. We will communicate with the four districts about the interview process, and send a list of candidates. In July, finalists will be interviewed by commissioners and deputies, and the appointments will be announced in early August.

The other eight districts should expect to conduct field director interviews in September. It is the plan that all districts will have Field Directors in place by year end.

I am grateful for your enthusiasm and commitment to this important process!

Sincerely,
Charlie Smith

As someone who recently participated on the citizens panel during the all-day interviewing by three panels (State, Community Org's and Citizens) of the six (there were seven, but one dropped out at the last minute) candidates for the Field Director's position for the Barre district, I found it to be a very worthwhile and rewarding experience.

However it is my opinion that the AHS would do well if it were to take time to survey and even have input sessions held with those who have already participated on such panels so the AHS and others involved can better learn from us about improving upon these and do an even better job in the future, especially for when the other districts hold the same type of interviewing process for their own Field Service Director positions.

The fact is the AHS could learn a lot from those of us who directly took part as interviewers whether for the Barre position or elsewhere (assuming the other three "first converter" districts have already held theirs as well).

In addition, I hope the AHS will also do the same type of follow-up survey and interview of the candidates (all of them who went through the process), as this will be of great benefit too.

The truth is, I for one have plenty to say on the subject and I am sure others who have participated do as well.

It would best that such follow-up is done sooner rather than later.

My suggestion would include that the facilitator(s) of these events (i.e., the all-day Field Director local district community panel interviews) be the ones who help pull the follow-up together and lead the work, as they have already established a good working relationships and trust with the panelists.

For the Barre District, the ones who come to mind is the person who led the effort there as well as the person who ended up on the last minute filling in as the facilitator for the Citizens panel (they both did very well in my opinion).

This is only being shared in this manner in the hopes that the AHS will make improvements to this process, as there does exist a need of such, especially as the other districts hope to follow down the path we have already embarked upon.

During the all-day interviewing process as well as during breaks, there was many a concern mentioned about the fate of the restructuring process as well as whether or not the people hired as Field Directors will find they have the full backing and support they will need to get the required job done, especially when, how and where it is needed the most.

That of course all depends on if the powers to be have the will to keep this among their major priorities and, then, exercise that will by committing enough resources to addressing the needs of the people the AHS serves in a fashion along the lines of what has been promised by and throughout this AHS restructuring process.

This will require continued monitoring as well as active participation on every level by Vermont citizens to ensure the AHS will steer a steady and careful course through these murky, dangerous and yet uncharted waters, both during restructuring and after the agency has done so of course.

If not, then this will definitely just be yet another example of rearranging the deck chairs on the Titantic and, as such, shall most likely prove to be disastrous for the state of Vermont as well as for those of us who depend upon what are crucial services and community support networks delivered and funded by or through the AHS.

By the way, for those yet unaware of these online resources, it is recommended to visit the AHS Reorganization Rumor Room as well as the AHS Reorganization Forum.


In addition, read a more recent blog post concerning these matters: Within the AHS, the more things change, the more things stay the same.

Nothing about us with us!


*Note*: Made several edits for the purposes of clarification and readability: last updated on Friday, July 2, 2004 at 10:21 AM [EDT].

time to pause

As I cannot recall when or where I may have formerly posted this on what is now Norsehorse's Old Home Turf and since it is still timely (no pun intended), I am posting this old poem of mine that was brought to mind this morning when someone shared their comments with me concerning their observations of my time management skills, something I have had plenty of varied experience with over the years of course.

time to pause


time and time again
time keeps flying by
as if i'm having fun
giving me reason to pause
as time winds on past

time and time again
i'm looking for time to pause

people keep rushing by
as if i'm invisible still
giving me nobody to pause with
as people continue passing on

words keep rushing in and out
as if they speak to or for me
giving language reason to pause
as words pass through me

time and time again
i'm seeking voice to pause

thoughts keep rushing in
as if they were mine to think
giving my mind reason to pause
as thoughts beat paths inside me

feelings keep rushing through
as if they're emotions i can bear
giving my soul reason to pause
as feelings pulse within me

time and time again
i'm pondering thoughts to pause

time and time again
i'm needing pause of feelings

time and time again
time keeps pushing and pulling
as if i still can be moved
as time continues winding me

time and time again
i can't get time to pause

time and time again
time keeps wearing me down


by Morgan W. Brown
August 31, 1997
Montpelier, Vermont

Am Doing Okay

*Updated*

Someone recently took note that I have not been blogging at all either here or elsewhere for more than a few days and e-mailed me to ask if I was okay.

Besides being otherwise preoccupied by the Community Service Challenge Gmail Swap Initiative the last couple of weeks, since last Thursday morning (June 24, 2004) I have been back in the country for a short four night house/pet sit trade gig that gave me a place to stay (as well as plenty of time to rest) in return while I was here.

As my friend and his family had to return late last night or, let's say very early this morning, I stayed put and will return to Montpelier sometime later today once they get up and are ready to head into town.

There is no rush on my end, as I am enjoying part of yet another quiet, peaceful and restful day out here in the Vermont countryside.

Though I had all the online access I could want during my stay, I was not online as much as I usually would take advantage of due to being really tired and needing to take time away from online stuff.

This gave me time to rest and do other things that I found helpful (e.g., here).

As my housing situation is still very fluid and, once I get back into Montpelier today, I have a housing gap until July 2nd (when I will be holing up elsewhere for a seven night stretch [during which I may go off-line for at least a few days]).

Yet, in the meantime, it appears that I do have some place to stay at night in between within Montpelier, though it is on a strickly night to night basis.

Have not had to camp out yet, though it may eventually come to it this summer and into the autumn.

All to say that, though I have been struggling of late, I have been okay (which is far better than not of course).


*Note*: Made a few, mostly minor, edits for the purposes of clarification: last updated on Tuesday, June 29, 2004 at 1:14 PM [EDT].

From Bad to Worse: What kind of disease are you?

What kind of disease are you?


Me, you ask?

Well, as I could not resist finding out, I literally ended up going ...

From Bad:

What kind of disease are you? norsehorse:
norsehorse is caused by monkeys.	A case of norsehorse complex is characterized by a constant impersonation of Hitler. To cure norsehorse, successfully take over the free world.
Name?

To Worse:

What kind of disease are you? morgan:
morgan is caused by Satan.	An infection of morgan will cause you to become a Jedi. The only cure for morgan is to drink fresh spring water from the mystical spring of ixthapa.
Name?

Ugh!

Believe you me, it is bad enough to first be compared to Hitler, of all those who have committed such evil amid the world, he is among the most hideous or, as using that word makes for being too much of an understatement, the most monstrous rather.

Then, since I figured it could not get worse and had to only get better (boy, was I ever wrong), I tried it once again. Should have known better to leave well (well, you call that well?!) enough alone.

Being referred to as someone with a complex characterized by a constant impersonation of Hitler was bad enough.

Of course as the first one does mention, this is just a bunch of monkey business, right? Right.

Yet to end up finding out that I am somehow been caused by or, the result of, Satan, well just how low can one sink anyway?

Let me tell you, just in case it could manage to become more terrible than that, I am not going to try this type of thing again and, then, find out it is quite possible indeed.

Like they say, "curiosity killed the cat." Hmmm.

Good thing this is something to take in a light hearted manner, because if it were anything more heavier, I would be in real trouble.

Plus I also know there are some who would gladly agree with such analogies of or about me (who me paranoid? Nah!).

Don't even go there!


Enjoy finding out, if you dare: What kind of disease are you? (here)


By the way, please do not expect to hear from me for sometime, as I am headed off to drink fresh spring water from the mystical spring of ixthapa as suggested above and it could be a lengthy, as well as extremely risky, journey. Though, as it is the only cure and all, it should prove to be worth it.

Too bad the mystical spring in question was not down in Ixtapa, Mexico instead however. Now that would make for a nice vacation, huh?


;->

via Crystal Evans: The thoughts and opinions of a homeless girl blog, here.

Another Community Service Gmail Swap: This one for a "good deed"

Helping People Living Homeless ...

One Gmail Invitation at a Time


This is my brief account of how a person, who on their very own initiate, posted to the Gmail Swap Website with an offer to do a good deed in the form of community service within their local area (here) in return for a Gmail invitation (which is something I noticed a few people doing Saturday afternoon).

Their initial post caught my attention rather quickly. It read:

A good deed

I will go down to the nearest shelter or thrift store and donate some items.

After a little bit of drama on my end and, also having to allow for some time to pass because of it, once we traded several e-mails back and forth to each other about the matter, it worked out for me to send joyfuldreamer an invitation to join Gmail on Sunday.

This morning I received the following two photo's by e-mail from them.



Picture of goods to be given to a homeless shelter, which will then be distributed to someone in need. This as well as the following (side-shot of the same items in the) photo does not include the food goods which also will be given as well.
 



Photo of the same items from a different view.
 


Read about what inspired all of this on my part and, what was originally brought about as a result: Gmail Swap Community Service Challenge.

Gmail Swap Community Service Challenge

Helping People Who Are Living Homeless ...

One Gmail Invitation at a Time


Community Service Challenge Gmail Swap Anyone?


***Updated***

This is an account of a recent Gmail Swap Community Service Challenge initiative.


First of all however, there is need of a very brief commercial break in order to make sure to mention:

Many thanks to the folks at Gmail (i.e., Google's new e-mail service currently being beta tested, hence by invitation only at this point in time), Gmail Swap (who is not associated with Google) as well as Blogger (Google bought up Pyra Labs, parent company of Blogger and, a little while ago, Blogger made Gmail invitations available to bloggers who have been with them a while -- of which I am one of course; as you would not be reading this otherwise mind you) for making all this possible.

:-) [smile]


***Update***

Secondly, all future updates and information concerning the initative will be posted on the Community Service Challenge Gmail Swap Initiative blog, which has been set up solely for these purposes.

That is the blog to visit if you want to read about any news regarding the status of my available Gmail invitations or additional posts about the other swaps, how they worked out and what may have been brought about as a result of them.


Now on to the original post:

Being a Gmail e-mail account holder and having three invitations made available to me just recently, using Gmail Swap, over the weekend I offered a community service challenge to certain individuals whom had posted to the Gmail Swap message board.

These people were making their best as well as, in many cases, most creative efforts to pitch (and plea within) their Gmail Swap offers in the hope of receiving an invitation from some Gmail user who had an available invitation remaining.

Still, it was rather amazing to me just how many people had posted in apparent frustration that they had nothing to offer however, as I felt this was in many cases probably not so true.

The fact is that most of us have at least something to give or offer to others, especially to those who among the most in need living either within or nearby our own communities.

That is if we take a little time to really think about it and are able to recognize the worth of doing something that may be of benefit and value to someone else who is in need and, then, be willing enough to actually follow through by acting upon it in a meaningful manner.

In trying to choose carefully among the many posts I scanned throughout the day on Saturday (June 12, 2004), I asked those I happened to choose if they would be willing to help out in their community by doing something -- in a predetermined and specified way worked out between us -- that would benefit people living homeless in their own area in return for one of the two Gmail invitations I still had available; being careful of course to tailor each swap arrangement differently for each individual, depending on what they had offered in their own initial post.

My first such swap was with Schmidtie (and, can be read in part [as this does not include our e-mail exchanges, which I am not sharing here either], here).

Their original offer read:

If you swap with me, I will take a digital photo of one of my eternally goofy friends or myself holding a sign with your message on it at the top of the steepest incline plane tram in the US, right here in Johnstown, PA and I will also collect 10 postcards from the state and send them along with the photo.

After receiving my response, which included my counter-proposal of a community service challenge to them, Schmidtie wrote:

It's funny that you bring up some sort of community service, because this weekend I am serving as a chaperone to a church youth event where we will be making sleeping bags and blankets for the homeless. These will then be distributed to area shelters from State College to Johnstown. My group is making 2 of these and I just bought all of the materials. We also are bringing canned goods and other non parishables to the event to donate as well, which the youth and myself have been collecting for the last two weeks. I can provide pictures from the event if you would like to see them if that will even suffice. I would do as you asked, but while I do not do work specifically for the shelters and help centers you've listed, I am spread quite thin between graduate classes, youth group advising and other community projects. I also do work with the volunteer fire company and serve the community in various ways there. I live about a half hour from Johnstown and it just isn't practical for me to go there when I can do just as much good locally.

As far as blogging, I have a journal on livejournal.com and will definitely fullfill my original request in that aspect or create a new account on the site you recommended.

I am not trying to cop out on your offer, just amend it a little.

Thanks for replying!

Being flexible in return, as well as completely satisfied with their response of course, I wrote back:

Okay, all I ask is (while I know you are spread thin already), that you do as you state, plus if and when you can go some extra miles as well. Here is your invite as promised.

Enjoy.

Please keep me informed when you can.

Shortly after that, Schmidtie posted the following to the Gmail Swap board within their particular message string:

Thank you for the invite!! I am leaving for my weekend in about an hour, but wanted to thank you post haste! Now, if you could please clarify a few things so we have an even deal. Do you want me to post some photos from this weekend in my LiveJournal or a blog? Also, do you want me to do the original swap I posted with the picture at the Inclined Plane and postcards? If so, I will need your address to send the post cards! You may just email me also. Take care and have a nice day!


Thanks to everyone else who offered to swap, but I am already committed.

To which I replied accordingly (emphasis mine, of course]:

You're most welcome Schmidtie. Am pleased that it worked out as it has. Have already e-mailed you my reply to this post of yours, but just wanted to post a brief follow-up to it here as well. Will do. Thank you. You too. Enjoy your *well-deserved* Gmail account. It has indeed been a pleasure swapping with you.

Then bright and early this morning I received a link in my e-mail inbox from Schmidtie leading to a new blog they created in order to fulfill their end of our swap agreement.

The blog is: A Schmidtie Story and the post, complete with four huge color photo's (two of which are shared below) is Community Service for Gmail.

Within their blog post, Schmidtie wrote:

[...]

The following are pictures of the group making our "ugly sleeping bag". The idea with the ugly sleeping bag is that the more ratty it looks the less likely it is to be stolen on the street from a homeless person. We could easily go and buy new sleeping bags, but more than likely they would be stolen right away. These sleeping bags were made out of material that was 7 feet long and 7 feet wide. We then gathered donated t-shirts and ties. The material was laid flat and spread across the floor, the t-shirts were layered and lined on top of the material then sewn onto the material for a lining. We then folded the whole thing in half, sewed the bottom and half way up one side. The old neck ties were used to tied the bag after it was rolled up. It took my group about 4 hours to finish 2 of them. Our bags will taken en masse with the other 99 and distributed around the Southwest and Southcentral parts of the state from State College to Altoona to Johnstown to Pittsburgh.

Junior high church youth pictured making one of two homemade sleeping bags for people living homeless in the Southwestern Pennsylvania area this past weekend.
 



Church youth group picture of junior high school students and their college-aged mentor. The group made two sleeping bags this weekend for people who live homeless in their area of Southwestern Pennsylvania as well as having done a food drive for the same.
 


Yesterday (Sunday, June 13, 2004) I also managed to come to agreement with yet another person, this for my last available invite on this latest Gmail invitation go around. This particular person is also planning on taking and presenting pictures as part of our mutual swap agreement as well.


Many thanks also go out to Schmidtie, the junior high youth group and anyone else involved either directly or indirectly as well as the other person I swapped with on Sunday morning.

It could not have happened without you!

Thank you once again!

In closing, I have to state that this turn of events is something I am rather pleased about. It really means a lot to me that is has worked out in the manner it has.


Read a much shorter blog post of mine about (complete with photo's of course):

Another Community Service Gmail Swap: This one for a "good deed".


*Note*: Made several edits (and a few additions too), mostly minor in nature however, for the sake of clarification and readability as well as for informational purposes; Deleted the previous updates concerning what had been earlier invitation status and, then, posted a new update giving notice as well as a link to a new blog dedicated to providing news and information regarding this particular initative: last updated on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 at 11:30 PM [EDT].

Older Stock Revisited

Just came across some of my older stock of earlier poems, which were recently republished in the Spring 2004 edition of Wyoming Winds, a publication of the Wyoming Coalition for the Homeless (WCH), which has previously published these and other works of mine.

flowers of hope (I)


searching for flowers of hope
within the snow and ice of a cold,
indifferent and hostile world;
growing impatient for life's endless
winter to pass, since spring's warmth
may not be enough to compel these
expectant blossoms to rise and flower.

like so many others mindlessly
trampled, leaving the world barren;
desolate of those whose faith, beauty,
passion, strength and resolve would
usually still be able to rise, had they not
had that spirit carelessly plucked from them.

by Morgan W. Brown
White River Junction, Vermont
March 1999



We are a work in progress


spring
thaw
flowers
blossom
rain
renewal
nature
reborn

life
hope
meaning
purpose

arisen

by Morgan W. Brown
Montpelier, Vermont
April or May, 1999 or 2000 (?)

WCH, an all volunteer advocacy and empowerment agency, is celebrating ten (10) years of service to their community and region.

In a follow-up to my earlier poem, flowers of hope (I), in March of this year I wrote and posted (here) the following:


flowers of hope (II)


hope still abides, deep within;
waiting only to blossom,
once the warmth of Spring
beckons it forth again,
so it may grow and become
fruitful; after hibernating
during yet another of life's
long, bitterly cold, winter seasons.


by Morgan W. Brown
March 9, 2004
Montpelier, Vermont

Yet another related poem, provided below for certain contextual purposes, was written roughly two months after flowers of hope (I).


a home is a garden of life


let people find a place
where they can plant
fertile seeds-that contain
their own hopes and dreams,
from which they may then
draw harvests of plenty to
share with others and,
which they will call home,
for it is a garden where
lives thrive and are grown.

by Morgan W. Brown
Montpelier, Vermont
May 1999


By the way, in March of this year (2004) -- just a little while after I (re)posted three of the above poems of mine on my blog at the time, a post that mentioned certain Welcome Signs I had come across the day before -- a letter to the editor of mine on the subject of those most welcome signs of Spring was published in the Times Argus (here [6th letter down of seven published]) about a week later.

Thank you for reading.

Latest blog Creation

My latest, well actually it is merely a continuation of my recent fun with the Blogaholics Anonymous blog being that I have blogged so much about it of late and may in the future on that blog as well, is the creation of the Central Vermont Blog Addiction Rehab Treatment Center Website.

The Website description reads:

Our treatment center offers a safe harbor of hope to those suffering from blog addiction or blogaholism, no matter how severe or long lasting.

Enjoy!

Soon I hope to begin blogging some additional blog and blogger profiles for the Blogaholics Anonymous blog once again, though I will be spreading these out a little more than when I first started doing them, as they take a bit of work and time to do.

Congrats Kevin: The Homeless Guy, Now Formerly So

Was very pleased upon visiting The Homeless Guy blog today (Tuesday, June 8, 2004) to happen to come across Kevin's most recent post there and read that he is now among those whom have become housed once again and, as such, is now formerly homeless (here).

In his words:

Drum Roll Please (cymbal crash)

Yesterday evening I moved into the house. There is much to write about this house, but will have to wait until I there's more time.

Karl Meyer is the owner of the house. The house is officially called Greenlands. If you do a search on either name, you'll find some info about them on the internet. Other things to look up would be the Catholic Worker Movement, and Dorothy Day.

Wa Hoo.

Kevin first blogged a short post about the possibility of getting an available room in a house over a week ago, back on Saturday, May 29, 2004 (here):

Life

I have just learned of a place, a house with an available room. I have yet to talk to the guy who owns the place, but friends of mine, who also know the owner of this house, think that there's a good chance for me to move in.

I dare not share any more - don't want to jinx it.

It would be the end of my homelessness, and the beginning of a new life.

Peace.

In between those two posts, Kevin had blogged a few other posts either about or related to this possible housing situation (here, here, here, here, here-[last paragraph only] and, here-[and, once again, the last paragraph only])

During a Google search, as Kevin suggested in his blog post today, I found this item (here):

Nashville Greenlands

We are a non-sectarian community, affiliated with the Catholic Worker movement through many years of personal association, and a deeply shared ethical and social vision, although we do not claim a Catholic religious identity. Our common purpose is to explore and demonstrate an ecologically sustainable way of life within a city, based on agricultural use of available open land, and a simple common life to minimize our consumption of world resources. We also practice radical direct action for justice and peace, and use our houses and land for education about peacemaking and the nonviolent life we seek to develop.

We own land and housing sufficient for a community of eight members. We welcome visits and inquiries from people who might be interested in joining us, or investing in similar land and houses that are available at very reasonable cost, nearby in our neighborhood. We also welcome visits from travelers interested in our vision and work.

[...]

In reading Kevin's blog for a while as I have, plus reading some of the other information I just came across online concerning this particular house and the owner of it, this does sounds like a truly good fit on all ends that I can tell.

Congratulations Kevin! Way to go!

It is my hope that you enjoy, as well as grow into, your new room. Rest and be well Kevin, you surely deserve it.

Out of Rehab?

Except for part of Saturday afternoon when I was in Montpelier for a few hours, I spent rest of the weekend staying put at the place where I was resting up.

In addition, I stayed put all of yesterday (Monday), as I did not come into town then either.

Did not sleep well or long last night however (it just happens sometimes), so I am feeling a bit tired and am in very low energy mode.

Have not gotten too much done today, nor do I expect to be able to do much better during the next couple of days or so for that matter.

Day Two or, is it?

Had a really good long sleep last night, falling asleep at about 7:00 PM.

Got up sometime around 1:30 AM, for about an hour or so however, after a rough dreaming period. So I sat up watching television, consuming a pint of my one and only anti-depressant: i.e., Ice Cream.

More specifically it was a pint of Ben and Jerry's Organic Strawberry Ice Cream. Mighty Good stuff too!

Was able to get back to sleep without any trouble too. Woke up late this morning and, though it took me awhile to actually wake up, I managed to get into town just prior to noontime.

Am feeling a little better, but am feeling really tired after spending the entire afternoon blogging.

Will be heading back shortly, once I get offline (have a few more things online to check out first however) and, then, run a few personal errands anyway.


Just got done blogging a follow up post on the one (here) had I blogged and referenced on my personal blog (here), yesterday, as well.

The new post is: Day One, On and On Anon: One Day @ a Time.

Enjoy!


P.S.

Within that blog post blogged on the Blogaholics Anonymous blog today I mentioned taking the local public transit bus into town.

Actually, the truth is, to save a dollar I hitched in, thanks to someone giving me a ride that is. However as my energy level is seriously low these days, I will be taking the bus in and back tomorrow and then in again on Monday when I leave the place I am currently staying.

Shhhhh though, please don't tell the folks at the rehab center on me. They may take it as some sort of a bad sign and may put me on blogging restrictions, ya' know.

Hmmm, I wonder if they are reading this blog.

;->


*Note*: Made several, mostly minor, edits for the purposes of clarification and readability: last updated on Friday, June 4, 2004 at 5:58 PM [EDT].

Off to Rehab?

Who me? Nah!

Actually I am heading off to spend four days and nights holed up resting and healing, while I can. Though I will not be off-line the entire time, coming into town both tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday to check my e-mail and possibly do a little blogging or related work for a time.

By the way, I just got done blogging a couple of posts on the Blogaholics Anonymous blog, including one about my heading off to rehab shortly, as well as a profile on a new Vermont-based travelblog: i.e., Stef, NTodd and Cairo: Our Vermont Travelblog.

Behind the scenes with your friendly recovering blogaholic @ work

Had been hoping for a way to get some sort of actual or even a virtual picture or image of myself posted on the recently created Blogaholics Anonymous blog, as well as having one for use on this personal blog of mine too, but up until now I was unable to do so.

Fortunately, thank's to a Melanie: Althaea Originalis blog post today (here [who came across it via dyfferent]) that provided me with the heads up about an excellent virtual Portrait Illustration Maker, I finally have created a virtual image of myself using this fun, easy and simple to use site.

In fact, I have one virtual image for use on this particular blog and yet another (which is only just slightly different of course) for use on Blogaholics Anonymous blog. The other image I am using on that blog is:




Thank you Melanie and dyfferent! Much appreciated!