PERSONAL NEWS #239

Dec 1^st, I had my private yoga class with Fabrice and Shiva.

Dec 4^th, I attended the monthly BFP board member meeting at Eleanor’s home.

Dec 5^th, I had my private yoga class with Fabrice and Shiva.

Dec 6^th, after Dana cleaned my apt I did some errands, as well as got a manicure / pedicure.

Dec 7^th, I had a much needed acupuncture treatment appt with Dr Tan.

Dec 9^th, I participated in the monthly BFP Fund/PF committee meeting at Ken’s home.

Dec 10^th, I had a much needed chiropractor treatment appt after work.

Dec 12^th, I had another much needed chiropractor treatment appt after work, and then on to my private yoga class with Fabrice and Shiva.

Dec 13^th, I participated with other members of BFP at the hugely attended and peaceful “BlackLivesMatters” march in Manhattan during a sunny, but cold afternoon.  [Photo below of me at the march.]

Dec 14^th, I was invited to Joe & Marie’s annual holiday gathering at Madera Cuban café in Long Island City.  Great time was had by all  J

Dec 15^th, I had my private yoga class with Fabrice and Shiva.

Dec 16^th, I attended the monthly BFP A&C meeting, which was productive and informative.

Dec 18^th, I participated in the BFP phone banking for our annual fund drive.

Dec 19^th, I had a much needed acupuncture treatment at Dr Tan’s office.

Dec 20^th, I met up with friends [ie: Tim, Michelle, Wendy, Pauline, Margaret, Mary and Debbie] for a light brunch at Schnippers before seeing “The Hobbit – The Battle of the Five Armies” at the cinema.  It was a great movie and the end of the trilogy.  Afterwards; a few of us [ie: Wendy, Pauline and Debbie] went for a light dinner at URBO on 8^th Avenue.  Following that I did last minute holiday shopping down on 14^th Street before heading home.

Dec 22^nd, I had my private yoga class with Fabrice and Shiva.

Dec 24^th to 27^th I visited the parents, brother, sister-in-law and some friends in upstate NY for the Christmas holidays.  [Photo below - I was invited afternoon of Christmas Day to Nick and Roberta's home.]

Dec 29^th, I had my private yoga class with Fabrice and Shiva.

Dec 31^st, after doing several errands I got a much needed manicure and pedicure.  In the evening I watched the extended edition of LOTR “The Return of the King” on DVD.  Goodbye 2014 and hello 2015 … may you be a better year.

 Christmas Holiday

in

Upstate NY

2014 MEMORY JAR

* Thankful for Enterprise car rentals

* I am thankful for Dana, my cleaning lady

* Seeing several NY METS baseball games this year with friends
*  As of March 2014 my lung condition has been stable for 2.5 years

* Thankful I passed those five nasty exams at work in Dec 2013 and March 2014,

as well as receiving my EY certificate

* Visited the Far Rockaways for the first time beginning of June
* Love my new Vitamix

* Thankful that Mom broke no bones during her “fall” on August 10]
* Thankful Mom made it through her back surgery 100% in October
and taking care of the parents during that time

* Meeting and speaking with Noam Chomsky and Laura Flanders

at the BFP 30th Anniversary gala

 Joined several Friends in seeing

The Hobbit - Battle of the 5 Armies

on

Saturday, Dec 20th

 Pauline, Deborah, Duchess and Wendy

Marching for Justice in NYC

Saturday, Dec 13th

Commentary by Matt Weinstein

Photos by the Duchess and Matt

Thousands of New Yorkers took to the streets on Saturday demanding an end to racist police violence and seeking justice for those who died at the hands of officers who are never held accountable for their illegal actions.  The crowds of tens of thousands, diverse and overwhelmingly young, were a wonderful representation of New York and they were exuberant and militant in their demands: "No justice, no peace!" rang throughout Washington Square Park which is where they assembled at 2:00 pm on a blustery winter Saturday. The weather proved no deterrent as marchers left the park and headed up Fifth Avenue. "I can't breathe!" "Hands up, don't shoot!" were shouted out, echoing the dying words of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, whose deaths ignited the unending protests that have created, what seems to be, a new civil rights movement in our country - or at least a growing awareness by millions that something is terribly wrong with the so-called justice system in these United States and a determination to demand change to right that wrong.

Washington Square Park

 Matt from BFP at the March

 Hands Up!  Don't Shoot!  I Can't Breathe!

 Marching from Washington Square Park

 Marching Peacefully up Fifth Avenue

 Xmas Time

in

Northern Brooklyn

BFP Statement on Police Killings 

The police killings of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, and Akai Gurley are the most recent examples of the long, brutal history of racial oppression in the US.  Our hearts go out to the families of these young black men, one of them only 12 years old.  We are horrified by the systemic racism of our “justice” system. The tremendous outpouring of protest throughout the country and even the world serves as public indictment of the system which does not even bring to trial the perpetrators of these crimes, modern-day lynchings.

           An increasingly militarized police force oppresses not only black but also Hispanic, white, Muslim, South Asian, and other communities. It is the domestic counterpart of our foreign policy in which whole countries are subjugated to violence. This systemic racism in our police and justice system is the mirror image of our illegal wars in the Middle East and elsewhere, where thousands of completely innocent civilians have been killed in the so-called "war on terror."

         Brooklyn For Peace is committed to eliminating war and the social and economic injustices which lead to war. We see the racist bias of our criminal justice system, alarming environmental destruction, the widening wealth gap, the gentrification of our city centers, the privatization of our public schools, and the decaying infrastructure of the country—as issues which are connected, and which must be urgently addressed. Black lives matter! All lives matter!  All families matter, and need the resources to thrive!  Please join us on Saturday, December 13th in a Day of Anger as Millions March in NYC.  

 Thanksgiving Weekend

up at

the family homestead

PERSONAL NEWS #238

On Nov 1^st, after Dana cleaned my apt, I took care of many errands and chores, plus got a much needed manicure.

Nov 2^nd, I had a much needed appt / treatment with my acupuncturist.

Nov 3^rd, I had my private yoga class with Fabrice and Shiva.

Nov 5^th, I attended the BFP Fund/PF committee meeting, and main topic of discussion was regarding the Nov 15^th gala event.

Nov 6^th, I attended the monthly BFP board meeting in Brooklyn.

Nov 7^th, I had my private yoga class with Fabrice and Shiva.

Nov 8^th, I participated in a 3-hour photo workshop at Green-Wood Cemetery with Antonio.  Workshop was very informative, interesting and fun.

Nov 9^th, I joined Wendy and Debbie to see a costume exhibit at the MmofA.  Afterwards we had a delicious dinner and dessert at Candle79 on the upper Eastside.

Nov 14^th, I had my private yoga class with Fabrice and Shiva.

Nov 15^th, I attended and participated in the successful and awesome BFP Pathmakers to Peace gala event at Plymouth Church in Brooklyn Heights.  The event was also a celebration of Brooklyn for Peace’s 30^th anniversary in the peace and justice movement.  Our guest speaker for the evening was Noam Chomsky.  I was honored to shake his hand, hang up his coat and briefly speak with the great man.

Nov 16^th, I attended the viewing of extended edition of DofS at Stone Creek with other members of “NYC Friends of Tolkien” [Photo L to R - Carole, Pauline, Tim, TJ and me.]  Afterwards Wendy, Pauline and I had dinner at a nice Indian restaurant in the hood.

Nov 17^th, I had my private yoga class with Fabrice and Shiva.

Nov 21^st, I had my private yoga class with Fabrice and Shiva.

On Nov 22^nd, after shopping at the local farmers market, I had a much needed manicure.

On Nov 23^rd, I joined my friends [ie: Debbie S and Nancy] out in Queens for a delicious Asian lunch and conversation.  My friend Debbie S is moving to Salem, MA in two weeks.

On Nov 24^th, I had my private yoga class with Fabrice and Shiva.

On Nov 26^th, I volunteered with Project Find in assembling goodie bags for home bound seniors on Turkey Day.

On Nov 27^th, I volunteered with Project Find to take goodie bags and hot Thanksgiving meals to many home bound seniors in Manhattan.  I worked with Sheilu and her two sons [photo].

Nov 28^th to 30^th, I visited the parents in upstate NY for the holiday weekend.  Got my hair done at salon, shopping, decorate the parents’ home and breakfast with friends at Country Gals café.