Things I'm Looking Forward To

Patricia Hejny,
Independent
candidate for
Governor
of Vermont
in 2004
(Photo via Vermont
Public Television)Yesterday (Friday, October 29, 2004) 78-year-old, Independent Candidate for Governor of Vermont and newbie political (granny) political blogger, Patricia Hejny and I went up to Craftsbury Common so she could visit and chat with Sterling College students and interested others concerning issues of import to them and the state.

It was an excellent sunny day for it too, making for a pleasant drive up and back, which is always great for the driver.

The visit to Sterling was a good one, with Pat being able to speak with quite a few people on campus about her campaign as well as the issues she is campaigning on.

Among the things I am looking forward to, at least in the short term, are:

• Eating a fine (free) breakfast and sharing good company in a few moments with some great folks I know at a local church's once a month men's breakfast, which I have been invited to attend on a regular basis -- even though I do not attend the church.



• Sleeping in a real bed, resting, healing and cleaning up (showering, etc.), since I will be heading off today (Saturday) to a place I will be staying at for just short of a two week period.



• Watching some television, as I usually do not have access to one, except those times I have some place to stay where there is one.



• Watching Vermont Public Television's Super Sunday Candidate Debates, especially the debate for Governor aired live at 7:30 P.M. Sunday, October 31st, as Pat will be participating in that one. Someone else will be driving Pat up and back for that event, because yesterday's drive was the last trip I was up to do driving on during the final days of her campaign (due to my being simply too tired to do any more right now).



• Not having to vote come Tuesday, November 2nd: Since I already have done so by absentee ballot [read about it, here] (which makes watching the VPT televised debates on Sunday even better, at least for this political junkie, as I do not have to worry about whom to vote for; due to my having figured that much out a couple of weeks ago or so).

Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, Spring 2004 Edition: Peer Support/Peer Provided Services Underlying Processes, Benefits, and Critical Ingredients

[by] Phyllis Solomon

Article Abstract

The article defines peer support/peer provided services; discusses the underlying psychosocial processes of these services; and delineates the benefits to peer providers, individuals receiving services, and mental health service delivery system. Based on these theoretical processes and research, the critical ingredients of peer provided services, critical characteristics of peer providers, and mental health system principles for achieving maximum benefits are discussed, along with the level of empirical evidence for establishing these elements.

Read article full-text
Feature article for the Spring 2004 Issue

PRJ274Solomon.pdf
Acrobat format

You'll need the free acrobat reader to view this


Phyllis Solomon, PhD, is a Professor at the School of Social Work, University of Pennsylvania


Return to Spring 2004

[via Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, here]

Forbes Magazine: On My Mind: Defining Charity Upward by Mark Redmond

[via Spectrum Youth and Family Services Website]

Spectrum Youth and Family Services is a community-based social service agency committed to working with Vermont youth and families to improve their lives through advocacy, direct service and a continuum of support, in order to work toward a more just and compassionate community.

Have just come across commentary published within the November 15, 2004 edition of Forbes Magazine, written by Spectrum Youth and Family Services executive director Mark Redmond, who poses the question:

Why do wealthy people give to well-endowed universities serving successful kids, instead of to nonprofits that help the truly needy?

[...]

Read the article, here

Chat with Pat Hejny @ Sterling College, Craftsbury Common, Vermont on Friday, October 29th

Patricia Hejny,
Independent
candidate for
Governor
of Vermont
in 2004
(Photo via Vermont
Public Television)
78-year-old, Independent Candidate for Governor of Vermont, Patricia Hejny will be visiting Sterling College to chat with students and interested others concerning issues of import to them and the state.

Pat expects to arrive at Sterling College sometime between 11:30 AM and noontime on Friday, October 29, 2004, making it her final campaign stop prior to appearing on Vermont Public Television's Super Sunday Candidate Debates for Governor aired live at 7:30 P.M. Sunday, October 31st.

Whether you are registered to vote in Vermont or not, please feel free to speak with Pat as well as engage in an active and lively Q&A with her while she is on campus.

In the meantime, information about Pat and her campaign for Governor can be found on her blog at: Pat Political

In addition, recent media mentions of Pat and her campaign include:

• Monday, October 25, 2004
  Burlington Free Press
  Election notebook
  Free Press Staff Report
  [under heading of "Granny blog" @ bottom of article]




• Friday, October 22, 2004
  Vermont Guardian
  Born to Lead: Candidates seek to be Vermont's CEO
  by Greg Guma
  [under heading of "Hejny stresses independent wisdom" @ mid-article]




• Friday, October 22, 2004
  Caledonian Record
  Political Parade
  by Jim Jardine
  [Print Edition only; could not find it in the online edition]
  Page A6, Top

Must-View 12 Pix Slideshow: "Because nothing's better than a flamboyant Colin Powell"

[via Don't Be Dumb!]

The exact date or timeline of this particular must-view 12-picture online slideshow of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on stage and in action is unknown to me. View it, here.

*Update*

After performing a more thorough search on the subject, I came across various sources including additional information and news reports indicating that the above mentioned event appears to have taken place on July 2nd of this year (2004).

For more information, visit:

FoxNews: Colin Powell Sings Village People's 'YMCA'

Media Mouse (includes link to archived video feed):
Colin Powell puts on Hardhat and Sings Village People Song

Youth for Democracy & Nickel Treasures from the Streets of Burlington, Vermont

*Updated*
(see *Update* after the following excerpts and photo drawn from the V4D Website)

This afternoon, while surfing through some Websites I have bookmark in order to check on them from time to time, I came across the following item on the Youth for Democracy (V4D) Website that gave me some cause for concern.

"5 cents at a time towards Democracy!"



[...] On Saturday, eight volunteers, ranging from age 15 to 78 years old strolled the streets of Burlington in search of the five cent treasures. [...]

*Update*

The above excerpt concerning the street canning portion of their drive, which I was recently informed "about a quarter of the effort was actually in Burlington," has been removed from the informational paragraph regarding their nickel treasures drive apparently for purposes of clarification.

As of this particular update, the paragraph now reads in part (excerpted):

On thursday, October 7, the VCS Youth for Democracy Research and Service Team dropped off 1,410 fliers at residences in Burlington and South Burlington. On Saturday and Sunday October 9th, and 10th, volunteers went to businesses, condos, fraternities, and student housing in Burlington and South Burlington. [...]

[end of 10/27/2004 update; however refer to *Note* at bottom for a small amount of additional information and background re: the update]


Not intended as an excuse on my part, but perhaps in part because of my being rather tired due to a lack of sleep the past two nights and, not feeling all too well in general, I fired off a quick e-mail to them via their online submission form.

So it is not my best phrased writing of course, as I would probably have worded it somewhat differently and not sound like I am coming across as it may appear on a first read -- especially since my intention was to inform, educate and suggest a possible course of action if my assumptions about their drive proved correct. Though it would have been better if I took a deep breath and made a first inquiry before hand.

Anyway, below is what I sent to them, not including a follow-up e-mail shortly after.

Dear Youth for Democracy:

Just wanted to call your attention a problem with your 5 cent treasure drive in Burlington, but first please do know that I fully support what you are trying to do for Democracy. I mean it too. Please also know that I do not bring this up lightly and do not like having to do this at all. That stated, I am compelled to call your attention to the fact that by using (what I assume is) a returnable can and bottle drive to raise some of your funds, that you are -- most likely unintentionally and unknowingly -- depriving a major (and in many cases the only) source of income for people in the area who live homeless (some with no other source of income or very few other available options anyway) as well as other people who may be housed in some form and have a limited income, but whom depend on those nickels to make it through the month. This is serious for such folks. Some of these folks get up really in the morning in order to do their "canning" route even in the cold of winter or the heat of summer and when the usual supply of cans and bottles has already been taken on any given day, it costs them what little money they could have earned (if they lucky enough to get an honest count at the redemption center for what they find) and thusly can further stress their situation as well as health even more than already may be the case. I know some of these people either just as faces I have come across or some I know personally whom I have met when I have been up in Burlington and visiting as a homeless activist or just as a friend. Therefore I must request that in the future you consider doing your nickel treasure drive elsewhere, where people may be less inclined to have as their "canning" route. I am not asking that you give away any funds you may have gotten from your booty in your latest "canning" run in Burlington, however it would be good if you could contribute your energies and time to people who are living homeless in some fashion, especially through yet another long, hard, cold winter beyond anything else you and others may already have either done or are doing. You can meet some of these good people (i.e., my peers who are either living homeless or others whom are housed yet struggling way out on the margins of society) during the daily morning feeding site at the Chittenden County Emergency Food Shelf.

I know because I already have on several occasions and they deserve not only our respect but whatever else we can find within our hearts to provide, but if nothing else, then in the future please leave their nickel treasures alone.

Thank you in advance for any consideration you give to this matter.

Sincerely,

Morgan
Morgan W. Brown
[...]

If they respond to me with information that calls into question my quick assumptions regarding the information that gave rise to my concerns, as I mentioned to them within my follow-up message, I will make sure to note it here in an update and also send out an update to those I had e-mailed it out to on my e-network earlier.


*Note*: added a limited update to provide and reflect current information as was recently either personally received or otherwise come across online concerning the matter; therefore, most likely or hopefully anyway, end of issue: last updated on Wednesday, October 27, 2004 at 7:35 PM [EDT].

My Account of an Interesting Day

Nader/Camejo 2004 Corporate Crime Busters Tour Van 1 Visits Vermont

[via my unofficial Vote4Nader blog]

Granny Blogger & Independent Candidate for Governor Patricia Hejny Recent Media Mentions

Patricia Hejny,
Independent
candidate for
Governor
of Vermont
in 2004
(Photo via Vermont
Public Television)If you have not already come across it yet, granny blogger and Independent candidate for Governor Patricia Hejny received mention within today's (Monday. October 25, 2004) Burlington Free Press (though I *never* expected to be mentioned within the article too! [smile], here):

Election notebook

Free Press Staff Report

[...]

Granny blog

How can a 78-year-old grandmother running for governor as an independent get her political message out to the young voters she really wants to reach?

With a blog, of course.

Patricia Hejny of Williamstown doesn't have a campaign staff and isn't invited to many debates. Thanks to a friend she met at a soup kitchen, she has set up a political blog on the Internet where she has begun posting almost daily stream-of-consciousness musings about issues and her campaign.

Hejny has a Web site she shares with three other women: www.womansvoice.org.

"The big problem I have had is getting people to look at it," she said. "Morgan tells me people are more likely to log onto a blog to get some fast information." Morgan is Morgan Brown, a homeless man and her mentor.

Hejny began blogging this month. She has written about the promise of biomass fuels, the flu and the joys of campaigning.

"Blogging is a conversation," she said. To have a dialogue with Hejny, go to http://patpolitical.typepad.com/.

Free Press Staff Writers Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen contributed to this report. [...]

Read the entire article, here.


In addition, last Friday (October 22, 2004) Pat also received mentions within the print editions of both the Caledonian Record and the Vermont Guardian.

While I have not been able to find the Caledonian Record's article in their online edition, the Vermont Guardian has their article available on their online edition (here):

Born to Lead: Candidates seek to be Vermont's CEO

By Greg Guma Vermont Guardian

[...]

Hejny stresses independent wisdom

This is Patricia Hejny's second run for governor. A mother of five and grandmother of seven, she retired and moved to Vermont in 1992. Ten years later, she became the Grassroots Party candidate, because "hemp has always been an issue with me. I'm concerned about health problems that pollution from oil visits on our children."

Ask her "why hemp," and you get a knowledgeable review of its many uses, particularly as "a biomass fuel for diesel engines that isn’t powered by a carcinogenic fuel." Encouraged by the passage of the medical marijuana law, she now sees the possibility of hemp’s legalization for other economic uses. This is part of her plan for a vigorous, alternative, non-polluting local economy in areas such as solar and wind energy, and organically raised crops and animals.

"Hemp used to be the most important crop in the Northeast Kingdom," she noted, "a great source of fiber. You know, making it illegal may have helped plunge that area into its problems."

Unlike some long-shot candidates, Hejny readily admits that she won't win. But that's not the point. As a result of her candidacy, she believes she will be taken more seriously. "I won't stop being active after the election," she explained. "I will accumulate a list of names to get the Legislature to look at this matter [hemp]."

But her concerns go beyond one issue. A supporter of universal, single-payer health care, she thinks Medicare is the "mechanism" to make it happen. "I propose an extension of Medicare into Vermont as a whole." And since she believes that "taxes should be based on wealth," she argues for the end of school funding through property taxes and the substitution of a mandatory, tiered tax on all income, "including all the big box businesses, which only contribute minimally at the moment."

Assessing the two candidates most likely to be elected, she expressed disappointment with Douglas. "I am deeply distressed by what calls itself the Republican Party," she said. "Douglas is constantly talking about being business friendly. I want to know what business will do to be friendly to Vermont." Clavelle is "a very nice man who has done a lot for Burlington," she added. "But he’s a bit corporate friendly, too."

[...]

Read the article in full, here.

Cold cases: Sterling College offers four-year degree in northern studies

The above linked item leads to what is an excellent must-read article, published within this morning's (Monday, October 18, 2004) edition of Barre - Montpelier Times Argus (here), concerning a new major offering in Northern Studies (and more information, here, as well) at Sterling College, which is situated in Craftbury Common, Vermont.

This sounds like a truly superb course of study and it comforts my soul to know that such a quality course offering is being undertaken by serious students. Our younger generation and, the world they are becoming the future leaders of, will be that much better off as a result.

It makes me wish to be only thirty-years younger again and ready to venture off to college, as if this was the case, I would be wanting to attend Sterling College and certainly would know what course of study I would want as my major.

The Art of Politics at Street Level: Political Folk Artist Pat Hejny

Patricia Hejny,
Independent
candidate for
Governor
of Vermont
in 2004
(Photo via Vermont
Public Television)This afternoon (Sunday) I spent time with 78-year-old Patricia Hejny, making a trip up to Burlington with her.

Pat went there to spend as much as time she could manage out on the streets of Vermont's most populated city, despite what was cooler, damp and overcast weather, in order to speak with people as they passed by her as well as offering them campaign literature, as part of her run as an Independent candidate for Governor in 2004.

Of those whom she spoke with that resided in Burlington and had cable television, Pat made sure to informed them that she would be participating in the live televised debate of candidates for Governor, which will be hosted and aired by local cable access channel 17 tomorrow evening (Monday, October 18, 2004).

Will be making that trip with Pat as well, as I will be doing the driving up and back for her as i did today.

In the title of this blog post, I refer to Pat as being a Political Folk Artist. This is because, at least in my humble opinion, she is to the world of politics (or, rather, what the world of politics has become), what a folk artist is to the world of art (or, rather, what the world of art has become).*(1 [see below])

What I have been able to observe of her in action so far, both recently and also on previous occasions over the course of two years now, is that Pat is not a politician, not a typical one anyway -- as most of people have come to either know or perceive politicians to be.

To my way of thinking, she is what some of us might hope politicians would aspire to be and eventually become or, at least remain what they initially appeared to us to be when they wanted our vote that very first time out: i.e., honest, truthful, forthcoming and accountable to those who elected them. Of course they very seldom manage to do so, in fact the opposite appears to be true.

And I am not saying that Pat is perfect either for that matter, as she is not, nor does she profess to be. She has strong opinions of her own on various matters, yet is willing as well as able to listen and learn, especially when one presses their case openly and honestly without a hidden agenda.

Even when she may not agree with someone's statement or position on an issue or matter of concern, she takes note of it and will think it over, getting back to the person about it later one way or another.

Now many a politician will say they already do all this, etc. and, even provide what they believe is evidence of such, yet their practice and deeds often speak otherwise. Not with Pat though.

Of course, yes, in very general terms it is definitely true that it is one thing to be a candidate running for political office and, then, entirely another matter altogether once they become elected to office and have the actual reins of power. Only then do we end up finding out and finally learn if they are or, rather, will remain truly whom as well as what they say they are.

It will be very interesting to be able to watch the debate both live as well as up close and personal behind the scenes, instead of solely what the television cameras catch. Viewing it in this way will of course make for some good blogging material, which shall find its way either on this personal blog of mine or my unofficial Nader blog, I am not sure yet which one.


Speaking of my Nader blog, for more about today's goings on while I was up in Burlington as well as concerning someone I met at the Church Street Marketplace, read my blog post on the subject:

Saluting a Longtime Nader Supporter


*(1): Let me make it clear however, that when I employ the term folk artist in either context as I have used them here, it is paid by me as the highest compliment concerning both the person as well as to the craft as they practice it.

This is because I view a folk artist to be the real thing: i.e., someone who is better or, rather, most in touch with what is around (as well as within) them(selves) in the state or nature it actually is with its many facsets both the perfect along with the flawed; and, *not* merely what is hoped it will become -- or, otherwise, only certain acceptable or, rather, respectable components of the same.

Double Outhouse

Get the Picture?!



Any Questions?!


A really good friend forwarded this photo my way, which had been sent to them as well (thank you Bill and Nancy. much appreciated).

By the way, while the title read as is indicated above (i.e., Double Outhouse), there was a different sub-heading than what I am using just above the photo; plus I have posted a caption below it as well of course.

Enjoy!

VPT Super Sunday Candidate Debates

Super Sunday Candidate Debates
Sun., Oct. 31, 3 - 9 PM

VPT's signature event is a day of live 90-minute debates on the Sunday before the general election. We have invited all the candidates who appear on the Vermont ballot for the offices of U.S. House, U.S. Senate, Lieutenant Governor and Governor.

Do you have questions for the candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, U.S. House or U.S. Senate? Call our Super Sunday Hotline at 802-655-8045 right now and leave your question. Phone messages are taken 24 hours a day.

The debate schedule is as follows:

3:00 PM U.S. House of Representatives
4:30 PM U.S. Senate
6:00 PM Lieutenant Governor
7:30 PM Governor

[via Vermont Public Television (VPT), here]

Fairly Full Day(s)

*Updated*
(see below @ *Update*)


The night before last (Wednesday evening) only brought me about 3 1/2 hours of sleep if that, yet somehow I was not showing it as much until the late afternoon, when due to exhaustion I tried to nap a little where I could though was only able to sneak in a very small one.

Yesterday (Thursday) morning, prior to getting online and while I still had some energy remaining, I thought to work on a project I had to have done for that evening. The only problem with it is that it brought me even more labor as someone needed something else done, which was somewhat related, so I did it. Yet I paid a price for it, since my body was then even more tired as well as really sore and stiff with pain, something it still very much is experiencing.

Should not have done everything I did, but I was asked and it definitely needed doing, so there was not much choice in the matter. Plus if I had not helped out as I did, then it either would not have gotten done or someone else who has better things to do as well as whom should not be doing such chores themselves, would have had to do it. They are in the habit of helping me out in various ways, so I was not going to refuse them.

Luckily, even though I had to do so on the floor all night, I slept from about 9:00 PM last night until roughly 6:00 AM this morning. Though I do not feel so good right now and am need of some good food right now, which is not available, hopefully I will improve through the day.

Will be able to get a fairly decent lunch this afternoon most of my day will be spent attending the annual Vermont Association for Mental Health conference.

When I can do so, I hope to get online here and there when I can mange to take a break away from the conference.


*Update*: Be sure to read my blog post on my unofficial Nader blog concerning: Report from the Field: Priceless Opportunity of Making a Quiet Political Statement -- Nader/Camejo 2004 Campaign Visibility Moment(s).

Tomorrow (Saturday) will be a regular day without much to do, but Sunday and Monday will be busier with possible traveling plans doing some driving for someone.

Tuesday afternoon I will be attending a long meeting of the Central Vermont Community Partnership who will have Don Mandelkorn on hand to discuss the local aspects of the Vermont Agency of Human Services Reorganization Project as concerns the Washington County area, etc.

Since I was one of those who participated on the citizen panel during the full day three panel interview process of the AHS Field Director Barre district position, which CVCP facilitated, I am trying to make sure I stay in the loop and follow the process of AHS reorganization -- especially at the local level, but also statewide as well, as much as is possible anyway.

Time Well Spent

Had been meaning to cast my vote in the upcoming general election recently by absentee ballot, but have been a little busy and very tired, as well as not being entirely sure until just the last day or two exactly whom I would vote for in certain statewide races.

My mind having finally been made up in those particular races, I am proud to say I voted just prior to noontime today (Wednesday, October 13, 2004). Only wish I had a digital camera so I could have taken a photo of my ballot and post it here for all to see. Maybe I will be able to do so in some future election.

Usually I vote quite traditionally for an Independent voter, typically choosing from either Democratic or Republican candidates, yet without a preference to the party they may belong to.

However not this year, since the two major parties both at the national and statewide (local) level and even the progressives (or, rather sadly, as in the case of one particular Congressional candidate who is labeled as an Independent, but is in truth nothing more in practice than [and, barely so] an in the closet Democrat) have managed to disgust me enough to not give them a free pass this time around (with a few minor exceptions in certain cases: e.g., one candidate labeled as a Democrat got my vote because they only recently became a Democrat, yet I like some of what they seem to be saying, even if it may just be campaign rhetoric, etc. In the case of the race they are in, it is high time for a change, as the incumbent has been in office for far too long now and it truly shows).

That said, make no mistake, the votes I cast today were not made in protest whatsoever. Instead my votes were one's cast solely as a matter of conscience for those candidates I either strongly believe in or otherwise felt they deserved a chance even if they have little chance of ever getting elected.

This I did rather than voting for candidates whose main loyalty (for many of them, but not all of them, anyway) would be to their political party along with of course to corporate interests as well as the agenda's of these, instead of to the citizens who elect them and to the interests, needs and well being of the people to whom they are supposed to be serving.

In fact, while I have cast such votes for certain political offices in times past, never have I done so as across the board as I have done this time around. In addition, I only cast votes in contested races: i.e., ones in which there were candidates challenging each other.

How I voted you ask? Those I can easily recall, include the following:


Presidential/Vice-Presidential Race:
(as if there were any doubt)

Ralph Nader/Peter Camejo, Independent


Congressional Races:

U.S. Senate: Keith Stern, Independent


Patricia Hejny,
Independent
candidate for
Governor
of Vermont
in 2004
(Photo via Vermont
Public Television)U.S House: Larry Drown, Democrat
(here, for additional information too)


Vermont's Statewide Races:

Governor: Patricia Hejny, Independent

Lieutenant Governor: Peter Stevenson, Liberty Union

State Auditor of Accounts: Elizabeth Ready, Democrat

State Attorney General: Sue Davis, Progressive

Pat Political: Pat Hejny's Political blog

Patricia Hejny,
Independent
candidate for
Governor
of Vermont
in 2004
(Photo via Vermont
Public Television)*Updated* (see below @ *Update*)

Patricia Hejny, a 78-year-old grandmother, is on the statewide ballot in Vermont for the upcoming general election on November 2nd running as an Independent candidate for Governor.

Actually this is Pat's second time around, having run in 2002 as a candidate for Governor on the Vermont Grassroots Party ticket.

About three weeks ago or so I helped tutor Pat as the first person I have tutored so far as part of Blogging 101 at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier.

Only a week after that initial tutoring session, she began setting up her very own political blog, Pat Political, which she intends to use both in her campaign for Governor as well as beyond it too of course.

Last week Pat and I started getting more of the blog set up and she recently composed and then published her first blog post.

Welcome Pat as the newest Vermont-based political blogger I am aware of, whom just happens to be a granny political blogger and, now, two time candidate for Governor.


*Update*

For additional information concerning Pat's positions on various issues, visit the VPT Online: Candidates Commentaries: Patricia Hejny page.


*Note*: The above blog post is edited from an earlier version originally posted on my unofficial Nader blog, here; replaced photo with a more recent one of Pat; added an update to provide a link to additional information: last updated on Friday, October 15, 2004 at 4:51 PM [EDT].

Driven to Distraction

*Updated*

As any visitor to this blog can tell, especially those who have been regular readers, I have not been blogging very regularly on this particular blog for a while.

Several things have driven me to distraction from time to time*[1], including when my entire focus has been on blogging my unofficial Nader blog.

When that is not the case, I may be doing other blog work or, otherwise, off-line activities or, simply am trying to rest up.

There are those times of course when I have little energy to blog anything, especially of a personal nature or when it seems, to me anyway, there is not much worth mentioning to blog about.

Last month was fairly busy, however this month has been getting even busier. Have had plenty of different projects to work on, including lots of politically related things.

Speaking of being driven to distraction, today a kind soul must have read my mind and, while they did not have to and I never spoke of it to anyone as to my great desire to view the Autumn foliage (and, here) in those areas not far from here where it is still of peak variety, they offered to have us go for a ride out in the country so I could partake of some before it is past peak in most of the state. It was glorious and quite the sight to behold.

Am really glad I was able to view some, as I have not had the chance yet this year and it is a little saddening to me that despite living up here, I am not always able to enjoy some of the many blessings of living within Vermont, unless and until someone thinks to offer me the opportunity just as the person whom chose to do such today did. It truly meant a lot to me, more than they may ever know or appreciate. Plus they let me drive, which I enjoyed a lot too of course.

Concerning Vermont's awesome Fall foliage, read this recent Boston Globe Magazine article on the subject (Sunday, October 10, 2004): Peep Show.

In addition, make sure to check out some Fall foliage photo's by going to the Burlington Free Press *Foliage Watch* page and, then, clicking onto their Readers Gallery of photo's submitted by readers of the newspaper.

*Update*

Below is a sample from the, above mentioned, Burlington Free Press Foliage Watch Readers Gallery, thanks to Bob Zatzke, who took the photo and granted me permission to include it on this blog (thanks Bob!):


Looking west toward the Adirondacks, taken on the conserved
land in the Bolton Uplands. Photo courtesy Bob Zatzke
Source: Burlington Free Press Foliage Watch Readers Gallery
Posted with direct permission received from Bob Zatzke


Just wanted to also note that I was not yet able to get anything blogged up yet concerning my take in attending Ralph Nader's speech in Burlington a week ago Tuesday night (October 5th). Not sure when or if I will be able to do so as well.


*[1]: [which is not always such a bad thing, because as much as I enjoy blogging about *life* in general, living *it* is an even better experience of course and, as such, offers its own rich rewards]

Vermont Blogger Conference '04

*Updated*
(See below @ *Update*)


Cathy Resmer is:

... organizing a Vermont Bloggercon for Saturday, October 23rd, at Vermont Technical College in Randolph. Actually, I'm making all the arrangements and hoping it will sort of organize itself. If you're a blogger who lives in Vermont or any of the surrounding areas, you're invited! ...

[...]

We will meet at the college, in Conant 102. It's a lecture room, and it has wi-fi. The time and agenda are still up for discussion, so please comment to this post with your suggestions.

Time: We have the room from 9-2, but I'm thinking of starting at 10 or 11 to give stragglers from various parts of our rural state enough time to get out there.

[...]

Read Cathy's entire blog post, here.

For those not so familiar with where or how to get to Vermont Technical College (VTC), they do have a page with directions to the Randolph campus.

In addition, for the more visually-oriented like myself, they do have a good Randolph VTC campus map, as well as a state map, birds eye view and a to and from I-89 map available online, which may prove helpful to some.

This is one Vermont-based blogger who is planning on attending, as early as is possible to get myself there, since I should have wheels to use on that particular day.


*Update*

After having recently checked the Central Vermont Blog Addiction Rehab Treatment Center Website to see what if anything new was posted there, I came across this particular item (see below) of possible interest to anyone interested in the Vermont Bloggercon or otherwise simply blogs and blogging in general:

Open Letter to the Organizers & Attendees of the 2004 Vermont Bloggercon by Our Founder, Ira Asa McIntosh

Seven Days: The Blogger

Cathy Resmer, a freelance writer and poet, and frequent contributor to Seven Days newspaper in Burlington, Vermont, wrote a feature article published within today's (Wednesday, October 13, 2004) edition of that particular weekly publication (here).

For those who have not already come across it, yours truly and this blog was among the local bloggers and blogs profiled (check out the yellow sidebar in the online edition; or, right hand column of page 29A within the print edition [in fact the pirnt edition includes great screen captures of the local blogs profiled]).

Welcome to readers from Seven Days.

Ralph Nader in Vermont on Tuesday, October 5th: UVM Ira Allen Chapel @ 8:00 P.M.

*Updated*
(see below @ *Update*)


Are You Heading There From (around) Here?



*Note*: Tickets are $10.00
($5.00 with valid student ID)


*Update*

*Note*: As I have been able to arrange transportation up and back for this evening, I will be attending Ralph Nader's speech at UVM's Ira Allen Chapel, etc. Will try to blog something about it in a separate post when I get back tonight if possible or, if not, then tomorrow morning first thing. Stayed tuned ...
-- mwb (updated on Tuesday, Oct. 5th)


If you are driving either from or by the Montpelier area in order to attend this event?

If so, please read here (the entire post), especially as I am looking for a ride from someone who is willing and able to kindly provide me with transportation there and back.