PERSONAL NEWS #115
On Sunday, January 7th, I attended the New Yorkers for a Dept of Peace “Reflection Day Part 2” event. This was a continuation of part one from November 2006, as certain issues needed to be addressed. Personally, I was abit disappointed that not as many “core team” members attended this event, as were at the first one. [Those in attendance were Carol, Joe, Kevin, Norma, Susan, Karen, Eileen, Liz and I.] Dian Killan was moderator during the first 1 ½ hours of the event and helping with the “issues”. Happily they were resolved and we all moved on to the next stage of the agenda. Must get a book that Kevin mentioned and seems many others have; it’s called “Practicing Peace in Times of War”. A friend of Carol, whose name I cannot recall, was there to walk us threw a learning process and provide us with tools on becoming a better “core team”. First we were paired in two’s and discuss what conflict, nonviolence and dept of peace mean to us. I was paired with Liz and it’s always a joy talking about anything with her. She is such an inspiring, caring individual. One of my comments that Liz agreed with me on was … “in dealing with conflict that there has to be love, honor and respect from each other”. Then we worked on a project called “Your Thinking Profile” by FourSight. After answering questions, it basically tells what ones strengths are, plus how it relates to others. Mine said I am an “Implementer” and an “Integrator”. It was determined that our “core team” had a suitable amount of the four preferences; which are clarifiers, ideators, developers and implementers. Overall, it was a most productive day for NYDoP.

On Tuesday evening, January 9th; I participated at the “People for an American Way” town hall meeting at their office on Fifth Avenue. A good turnout of about 30+ folk and some I’ve seen over the last 2 to 3 years at rallies, protests, campaigns and meetings with other organizations. Some of the main concerns were “election reform & accountability”. Other topics of intense discussion were independent judiciary, separation of church/state, impeachment, Constitution, civil liberties, schools and action campaigns. There followed a Q&A segment with attendees asking detailed questions of PFAW staff. I did not stay for the social part of the evening, but had to rush home and jump on a Dept of Peace NY State CDTL conference call at 9pm. This call was being hosted by Kevin, our NYDoP vice chair. Most of the discussion was on the upcoming 4th Annual Peace conference in DC. There was also mention of a website at www.3Dsecurity.org

On Thursday evening, January 11th, I joined fellow NYC Kucitizen [Stephanie] at Broadway and West 96th Street intersection to participate with other activists in the UFPJ “America Says NO” demonstration. There were dozens of these demonstrations going on in NYC and throughout the US. Three years ago many of the responses from pedestrians to these demonstrations would have been quite negative, but now it’s a different kettle of fish. Many folk on foot and in vehicles took flyers, plus sign petitions. Many gave us the thumbs up or honked their horns regarding our activism. As with the November 2006 elections, more Americans are expressing their desire for change in this country and demanding no more war. It’s up to us to continually contact Congress and Senate. Let them know we don’t want war, we want peace and we demand that situations/issues be resolved here.

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Early Saturday afternoon, January 13th, I headed up to Yonkers to do my usual volunteer work at the Ferret Shelter. Weather is finally behaving like winter and turned colder. Always great seeing Joanne and catching up on news. Many new ferrets at the shelter and sadly, very few adoptions since my last visit in early November. I took care of my duties in the shelter and the grooming of the adorable furballs. I also brought with me two paper bags from my grocery store. A few days before my visit, I kept some of my dirty socks wrapped inside them. Ferrets love the smell of dirty socks and romping inside boxes or paper bags. The combination of the two was a treat for them and they so enjoyed “exploring & sniffing” the bags. Their antics were so amusing to behold and a form of therapy or detoxification.

On Tuesday, January 16th, I participated in another “New Yorkers for a Dept of Peace” congressional district team leader [CDTL] conference call regarding the upcoming 4th Annual Peace Conference in Washington DC. Of which I’m so looking forward to attending. Afterwards I received a terrific phone call from Walter and we had such an interesting two hour chat with much humor.

[Duchess Note: Regarding the above paragraph, Dr Kirshenbaum explains in detail in her wonderful book "Everything Happens for a Reason". When I typed the above "personal news" recently, I knew in my heart that the wonderful, long phone calls with Walter were now at an end. Is anyone to blame? No, not really, and things really do happen for a reason. It saddens me that our brief friendship is at a demise. Within the short time we had conversed over the phone; I found moments of joy, laughter, understanding, reflection and commonalities. My only wish, is that his days will be blessed and that his future endeavors are successful. I send you one last spiritual hug & many thanks.]

THE POLICE GET THE GRAMMY CROWD GOING
Moldovia.org
The 49th Grammy Awards opened with huge applause in Los Angeles as The Police, reunited for the occasion, proclaimed: We are The Police and we are back. Opening the awards ceremony with Roxanne, The Police received a standing ovation as members Sting, Stewart Copeland, and Andy Summers bowed in unison and left the stage. The performance was the bands first in more than 20 years. Keep it going, keep it going for The Police now, Jamie Foxx encouraged the audience as he presented the first award of the night. Come on and get with it and make some noise. Foxx referred to the collaboration of The Police when he announced the winner of Pop Collaboration with Vocals, Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder for For Once in My Life.


[Duchess Note: From L to R … Sting, Stewart Copeland & Andy Summers of the Police … my fav band from the 1980s & I can’t wait to see them tour. It’ll be so friggin exciting.]

The Police Lay Down the Law at Grammy’s
http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_5206232?source=rss

The Police Return for Grammy Awards
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/12022007/344/police-return-grammy-awards.html
There was a rare moment of British glory at the Grammy Awards when The Police reunited to open the show with a rendition of breakthrough hit Roxanne 23 years after splitting up.

Police Reunion Tour Announced
http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/P/Police/2007/02/12/3596271.html
LOS ANGELES -- The Police 30th Anniversary reunion world tour will kick off May 28 at Vancouver's GM Place and travel through North America until early August, Sun Media has exclusively learned.

QUOTE ON RELATIONSHIPS ... “Relationships are like crystals, you don't realize how much you love it until it breaks.”

Some People
A Poem by Robert Bly
Some people ascend out of our life,
some people enter our life, uninvited and sit down,
some people calmly walk by,
some people give you a rose, or buy you a new car,
some people stand so close to you,
some people you've entirely forgotten
some people are actually you,
some people you've never seen at all,
some people eat asparagus,
some people are children,
some people climb up on the roof, sit down at table,
lie around in hammocks, take walks with their red umbrella,
some people look at you,
some people have never noticed you at all,
some people want to take your hand,
some people die during the night,
some people are other people,
some people are you,
some people don't exist,
some people do.