PERSONAL NEWS #40
[lots of photos too]
Back on Wednesday, October 13th, was the Organizer Meetup session [7pm] here in Manhattan. This two hour event [with refreshment] sponsored by folk at Meetup.com, was to help those who are organizers of particular meetups to do a better job and answer our questions. I am the new organizer for the NYC Friends of Kucinich [plus Sean Bean & Pearl Jam] group(s) and I definitely had some questions that needed addressing. Earlier that evening I met up with Ellen at a Starbucks. She told me about her weekend trip to Cleveland [Eric went with her] and helping out at the Dennis Kucinich campaign office. He's running again in his congressional district. Later on at the Organizer Meetup, many showed up for the session and I was in"group three". Lots of different "organizers" were there, by different I refer to their "interests or groups". Everything ranging from music, books, sci fi, finance and even Wicca’s. We all introduced ourselves and talked about our respective groups and also our concerns regarding meetup.com. Happily my few questions got resolved early on and I received some contact info too. The also served us an assortment of refreshment. Overall a most enjoyable and fascinating evening.

On Saturday, October 16th, I attended the second annual Brooklyn Peace Fair off of Atlantic Avenue. Some of my fellow Kucitizens [ie: Linda, Ellen, Cielito, Thomas, etc] were there volunteering at different tables and also in group discussions. [One was called "Brainstorming for Peace - Creatinga New Social Mindset.]

[Some of the Volunteers at Share International Team Table]

It was lovely seeing them all again. Hooked up with Thomas [enjoyed a delicious hug] at his NO TO BUSH table and picked up a few more nifty t-shirts. This time at a discount.

[Thomas and the Duchess wearing our "Got WMD?" t-shirts. On the back it says "Bush Lied"]

The folks at "The Indypendent" had a table and I picked up several recent additions of their newspaper. [Their website is http://www.nyc.indymedia.org] WorkingFamilies Party also had a table [http://www.workingfamiliesparty.org], as did the Socialist Worker people. There was also refreshment, terrific entertainment [ie: music, poetry, etc], political t-shirts and of course political buttons. Of the latter I purchased four new ones ... "Welcome Peaceful Political Activitists" ... "Dept of Peace - Patriots are never Silent" ... "Dept of Peace - Peace is the Balm!" ... "Don't Blame Me! I Marched on Feb 15 2003".

[Part of the entertainment that day was a group of ladies known as the Dixie Missle Chicks. Here are a few of them posing for me.]

While at the event I met some of the NYC Dept of Peace people, which was a delightful surprise. It’s always cool putting a face with a name and more so for the Wednesday evening conference calls. The whole afternoon very inspiring ... as is evident from the photos above. Next day on October 17th, not only was it my birthday, but I also headed up to CT to visit my dear friend Katherine. Caught up on recent news and gossip. We drove into our ole hometown on the NY/CT border to browse through the annual Art & Craft Show. Before checking that out, we visited her Mom and then had lunch in town at a nice Chinese/Japanese place. The weather held up with some clouds, sunshine, cool and no rain. The show was enjoyable, as it is every year, but we didn't purchase anything. The prices were abit steep for our humble wallets. Did some shopping at a fabric store and also stopped at a Barnes & Noble before heading back to NYC. Before, during and after my birthday I received some great cards and gifts. Many thanks to those who are so thoughtful.

On Wednesday, October 20th, was my third participation in the NYC Dept of Peace conference calls. These take place every other Wednesday evening at 9pm. That evening the call attendees were ... Carol, Kevin, Coco, Dawn and myself. Topics of discussion were ... recap the Brooklyn Peace Fair, NYC DOP made $146 at their table during the fair, DC event in February 2005, training for non-violence and our next conference call with be discussing the November 2nd election.

And to wrap up this Personal News update ... I joined a new gym [LucilleRoberts] last week and there is a branch near my office. Need to get back into the groove and I haven't heard from my personal trainer in over a month.

Spent the past weekend down in DC/VA area visiting my good friends Nancie and Tim. [Took Friday off from work & utilized Amtrak.] They live west of Washington DC or about a 30 minute drive by car.

[Nancie & the Duchess at British Pantry Cafe]

It was such a nice weekend and they're so sweet, thoughtful and hospitable. Some of the highlights of the weekend were ... professional full body massage, utilizing jacuzzi/hottub, shopping, sushi for dinner, Tim's yummy quiche, lunch at a Thai place and a country inn, English afternoon tea, driving Tim's BMW Z3 sports car, checking out the towns of Middleburg/Georgetown. At the Red Fox country inn, Nancie and I noshed on a wonderful Peanut Soup recipe.

[Outside the Red Fox Inn - Middleburg, VA]

Of which the waitress kindly passed on to me and I'll be whipping it up myself this coming weekend. Nancie also informs me that the Red Fox Inn is haunted and a psychic friend of hers encountered one of the spirits in the ladies bathroom. Pretty cool ... huh?!?

NO STOLEN ELECTIONS!! - Pledge of Action to Stop a Stolen Election
Quote from the website ... "I remember the stolen presidential election of 2000 and I am willing to take action in 2004 if the election is stolen again. I support efforts to protect the right to vote leading up to and on Election Day, November 2nd. If that right is systematically violated, I pledge to join nationwide protests starting on November 3rd, either in my community, in the states where the fraud occurred, or in Washington DC." Please check out the link, sign the petition and pass it on to others:
http://www.nov3.us