MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY
WEEKEND IN UPSTATE NY

Dad riding in a 1929 Ford

Model A during Memorial

Day parade in Cambridge, NY

Chillin by the

firepit over

the holiday

weekend

Duchess &

her Mom at

the Memorial

Day Parade

in downtown

Cambridge, NY

Views of my

parents gardens

Poster of the

2010 Cambridge

Valley Annual

Balloon Festival

June 4-6

Broomsticks up! NYC's Central Park Hosts Muggle Quidditch Games for College, High School Teams
New York, May 31st

In J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books, Quidditch is a game like soccer played by wizards and witches on flying broomsticks. The real-life version played by non-magical people known as Muggles stays earthbound, but the matches can be exciting nonetheless. The International Quidditch Association staged an exhibition on Sunday in New York's Central Park, with high school and college teams from around the Northeastern U.S. competing.

Youngsters then got to play, with coaching from Quidditch veterans. Nine-year-old Jivan Galper said he came to watch but thought it was pretty cool that he got to play Quidditch himself. Muggle Quidditch started in 2005 at Vermont's Middlebury College. The commissioner is Alex Benepe, the 23-year-old son of New York City Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe.

[Duchess Note - Many thanks to Josee in Canada who shared this article.]

The Learning Curve of Peace
Robert C. Koehler, Common Dreams
http://act.commondreams.org/go/710?akid=64.19616.ahXbYq&t=22

Hanging out with other Losties at the....

LOST Meetup

Irish Rogue Pub

May 18th

Elena's LOST

Button's for

Sale at

Meetup

PERSONAL NEWS #181

Thursday evening, May 13th, I participated on a NYdoPeace CCR team conference call. We were prepping for the “Brooklyn Peace Fair” on May 15th.

Friday evening, May 14th, after another crazy busy work week, I joined my friend Jackie for a movie and dinner out in Times Square area. We went to see the new Russell Crowe film called “Robin Hood”, which we both enjoyed, and then afterwards we caught up on news while enjoying a light repast at Dave & Buster’s.

On Saturday afternoon, May 15th, I joined a few NYdoPeace CCR team members [ie: KF, CA & HR] in tabling at the 7th Annual Brooklyn Peace Fair at Brooklyn College on a sunny spring day. It has been at least three years since we last tabled at the Peace Fair, and it was important that we be a visual presence and do some serious networking. We didn’t take in much in the way of donations, but we made sure we connected with many individuals and organizations, especially regarding NY City Council R14. We gave out many Dept of Peace brochures, postcards and even flyers on Resolution 14. To learn more about Dept of Peace HR808 go to http://www.thepeacealliance.org/ … to learn more about NydoPeace go to http://www.nyc-dop.com/ or drop me an email via my Duchess blog.

On Sunday afternoon, May 16th, my friend Margaret came out to Greenpoint for an afternoon visit. Her parents and grandparents used to live in Greenpoint YEARs ago, and she wanted to see parts of the ole hood. The weather was a nice spring day, so we did lots of walking around northern Williamsburg and parts of Greenpoint. We enjoyed a delicious brunch, with Mimosa’s, at Enid’s on Driggs Avenue. Afterwards we strolled around the hood, enjoyed fruit smoothies at Forest Natural and hung out at my apartment for awhile.

NYdoPeace at the 6th Annual
Brooklyn Peace Fair

Howard, Kevin, Chris and I of NYdoPeace at the Brooklyn Peace Fair on May 15, 2010

[Brooklyn For Peace, the borough's largest and most active peace and justice organization, held its sixth annual Brooklyn Peace Fair at Brooklyn College. It was co-sponsored by the Brooklyn College Art Lab (BCAL) and the Brooklyn College Student Center. Attracting hundreds of Brooklynites and others, the Fair is the largest event of its kind in New York City. Dozens of organizations set up tables in the Student Union Building to promote their activities and recruit members. Other vendors sold their wares from buttons to t-shirts to yoga classes.]

2010 “Peace Wants A Piece of the Pie” Report
The Peace Alliance

For the sixth straight year, we rallied together for a successful Mother's Day action, showing our government that "Peace Wants a Piece of the Pie." Across the nation volunteers visited Senate and Congressional offices in support of our peacebuilding legislation. In Washington D.C., staff and volunteers mirrored the field visits by delivering pies and packets to over 40 offices. There was a definite interest in our work in D.C. -- groups were invited to have full sit-down meetings when they showed up to the office with pies and no appointment! All of this, coupled with over 10,000 letters and calls made in support of our initiatives, will undoubtedly get the message to our leaders that the necessary work of peacebuilding is a strong priority for our growing constituency. It is your continued commitment to this work that will inspire our leadership to take action on important peacebuilding issues.

The other good news we continue to hear from our teams in D.C. and from supporters around the country who visited offices is that, more-so than ever before, congressional staffers shared great interest and openness to the conversation we are promoting. In particular, a number of new Senators and Representatives expressed strong interest in the Youth PROMISE Act (HR 1064/S 435) and are giving serious consideration to supporting the legislation. We hope to see new co-sponsors in the coming weeks for both of our current legislative initiatives.

The letters and calls so many of you made, including through the Change.org petition, will certainly make a difference. Special thanks as well to Yoko Ono for urging her network on Imaginepeace.com to write Congress in support of our campaign! There is still time to sign our petition if you have yet to do so, generating a letter to all your Members of Congress and the President. Congressional office visits are still happening all week in different parts of the country. Your support can still be a big help!

We will keep you posted on any further activity that occurs as a result of our campaign. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with our latest news.

With the deepest gratitude,
Matthew Albracht
Managing Director
The Peace Alliance

[Duchess Note: This year "New Yorkers for a Dept of Peace" created colorful cards with a Mother's Day theme, info on Resolution 14, and the original Mother's Day proclamation by Julia Ward Howe in 1870. These cards were sent to all 50+ New York City Council members. Urging them to become co-sponsors of R14 and push it towards a hearing. NYDoP's next "create a card" campaign will be for Independence Day in July.]

PERSONAL NEWS #180
Sunday, May 2nd, I participated with other members of the “Brooklyn for Peace” group in the Rally/March from Times Square to the UN. It was predominately about 1] abolish nuclear weapons worldwide, 2] peace and human needs, 3] end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. [Photos taken by M.Weinstein from the event were posted below on May 11th.]

Tuesday evening, May 4th, I viewed a new episode of LOST at the Irish Rogue pub with Deborah, Elena, Jenni, Sarah, Greg, Shannon and Erik.

Friday, May 7th, I volunteered with others from City Harvest at the Union Square farmers market.

Saturday afternoon, May 8th, I attended the “Abolition 2000” annual general meeting at Judson Memorial Church on Thompson Street in Greenwich Village. Learned about this event from Alice Slater, who worked with me during the 2007/2008 Kucinich for president campaign, and I also from PDA. Anyhow, “Abolition 2000” is a global network to eliminate nuclear weapons in our lifetime. Individuals from the US, England, Europe, Asia, Canada, Australia and Latin America came together, and it was a fascinating informative afternoon. To learn more, go to http://www.abolition2000.org/

Sunday, May 9th, was not only Mother’s Day, but also the 4th annual Mother’s Day peace stroll hosted by CodePink and Granny Peace Brigade. First of all the weather was vastly different from a week ago. Last week it was hot and humid, and today it was cold and windy. Where is spring?!? Throughout most of the stroll I was mostly chatting with Anna and her husband Ahmed about local and national politics. Even though I am not a mother, I’ve been participating in this “Peace Stroll” every year. We’re bringing peaceful awareness to New Yorkers. Start out at Columbus Circle, stroll up to Museum of Natural History, and across Central Park to Metropolitan Museum of Art.

[Mother’s Day was NOT invented by Hallmark, or by 1-800-FLOWERS or even See’s Candies. In fact, Julia Ward Howe, the woman credited with initiating Mother’s Day in 1870, would have been appalled by its crass commercialism. Were she alive today, Julia probably would have told her kids to dispense with the roses and chocolates, and instead join her in an anti-war rally. While best known for writing the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and her stance against slavery, Julia was horrified by the carnage and suffering during the Civil War. She used her poetic gift to pen a proclamation against war, a proclamation that birthed Mother’s Day. Yes, Julia Ward Howe was a peacenik.]

Tuesday evening, May 11th, I viewed a new episode of LOST at the Irish Rogue pub with Jax, Deborah, Elena, Jenni, Sarah, Kelli, Greg, Shannon and Erik.

NO NUKES RALLY & MARCH

Sunday, May 2nd, from Times Square to the UN

[Photos by M.Weinstein]

I participated with other members of the “Brooklyn for Peace” group in the Rally/March from Times Square to the UN. It was predominately about 1] abolish nuclear weapons worldwide, 2] peace and human needs, 3] end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Led by a colorful and energetic contingent of 2000 peace activists from Japan, and joined by thousands of New Yorkers and folks from other states, a large and spirited peace parade made its way through the streets of Times Square and over to the United Nations. Their demand? Worldwide nuclear disarmament for peace and human needs now! Adding to the drama and urgency of that demand was the presence of some survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bomb attacks by the U.S. on those cities at the end of World War II. To loud chants of "No nukes!”Peace Now!", "Health Care Not Warfare!", "Money for Jobs, Not for War", the marchers formed a human peace train that stretched for many, many blocks to the thrill, applause and sometime surprise of thousands of tourists and other onlookers crowding the sidewalks of midtown Manhattan.

NEWS OF THE DAY

Mother’s Day Manifesto: 2010
Eileen Fleming, TruthOut
http://www.truthout.org/mothers-day-manifesto-201059302

A Mother’s Day Wish for a Nontoxic World
Elizabeth Arndorfer, RH Reality Check
http://www.truthout.org/a-mother%E2%80%99s-day-wish-a-non-toxic-world59309

How China Holds the American Economy by the Balls
Scott Thill, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/146702/how_china_holds_the_american_economy_by_the_balls

Look Out, Obama Seems to be Planning for a lot More War
Jack A. Smith, Asia Times
http://www.alternet.org/story/146787/look_out%2C_obama_seems_to_be_planning_for_a_lot_more_war

[Duchess Note – The Nobel Peace prize, early this year, went to a war-monger. Obomba is no man of peace. This Manchurian candidate will never embrace peace.]

Bill Moyers TV Farewell with Hightower – The Fight of Our Lives: The Populist Battle with Corporate Power
http://www.alternet.org/story/146698/bill_moyers_tv_farewell_with_hightower_--_the_fight_of_our_lives%3A_the_populist_battle_with_corporate_power

Over 10,000 Thousand Rally in New York for Showdown with Wall Street
Alexander Zaitchik, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/146678/thousands_rally_in_new_york_for_showdown_with_wall_st.

Why the Enlightened Liberal Class is Complicit in the Country’s Downward Spiral
Chris Hedges, Truthdig
http://www.alternet.org/story/146711/why_the_enlightened_liberal_class_is_complicit_in_the_country_downward_spiral

Both Parties Deaf to This Call: 'Fix the Economy, Not Wall Street'
http://act.commondreams.org/go/410?akid=45.19616.eI-kca&t=11

5 Green Groups Declare Senate Climate Bill 'Unacceptable'
http://act.commondreams.org/go/411?akid=45.19616.eI-kca&t=13

Progressive Democrats of America (PDA): Citizens in 18 States Push for State-Level Single-Payer Healthcare
http://act.commondreams.org/go/420?akid=45.19616.eI-kca&t=32

Amy Goodman Boycotting Arizona’s Racism
http://act.commondreams.org/go/414?akid=45.19616.eI-kca&t=20

ACLU to Obama: ‘Entire World Is Not War Zone’
http://act.commondreams.org/go/388?akid=44.19616.5e--YA&t=2

Noam Chomsky A Middle East Peace That Could Happen (But Won’t)
http://act.commondreams.org/go/398?akid=44.19616.5e--YA&t=24

Mother's Day Peacebuilding Petition

Please click on link below and sign this peacebuilding petition. Share with other like minded individuals and honor Mother’s Day by telling our leaders to invest in Peacebuilding.
http://www.change.org/thepeacealliance/petitions/view/honor_mothers_day_by_telling_our_leaders_to_invest_in_peacebuilding

Targeting: The President of the United States, The U.S. Senate and The U.S. House

Started by: The Peace Alliance Early advocates of celebrating Mother's Day in the United States envisioned it as a day of peace, to honor and support mothers who had lost sons and husbands to the carnage of the Civil War.

In 1870 - nearly 40 years before it became an official U.S. holiday in 1914 - social justice pioneer Julia Ward Howe issued her famous Mother's Day Proclamation, which called upon mothers of all nationalities to band together to promote the "amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace."

This May, at a time when our country is fighting two costly wars abroad and our own communities are torn apart by violence and over-incarceration, it's time for Mother's Day to return to its roots.

We must let our leaders know that "Peace Wants a Piece of the Pie!"

MORE IMAGES OF SPRINGTIME IN BROOKLYN

TOURING MY NEIGHBORHOOD

GRAFFITI IS ART IN LIC

FRESH CUT FLOWERS FROM
LOCAL FARMERS MKT

SPRINGTIME IN BROOKLYN

PERSONAL NEWS # 179
Tuesday evening, April 20th, at 6:30pm I participated in the NydoPeace “creative” meeting at Healthy Body location. The “creative” was regarding making “Mother’s Day” cards with Dept of Peace and Resolution 14 message on the inside. We’ll mail these to all the New York City Council members. Kevin, Marianne, Dawn, Chris and I wrapped up the meeting at 8pm, and from there I headed uptown to the Irish Rogue for the LOST meetup. I hung out with Deborah, Elena, Jax, Greg, Jenni, Sarah, Shannon and Erik at the pub.

Friday, April 23rd, I am once again volunteering with City Harvest at the Union Square farmers market. Afterwards I joined other ladies at the Friday Nite Knits in Kensington.

Tuesday evening, April 27th, I attended the screening of “Plunder: The Crime of our Time”, a documentary by Danny Schechter, at the All Souls Unitarian Church on Lexington Avenue. After the film I chatted briefly with Mary Geissman who is a member of the Peace Task Force at All Souls.

PLUNDER: THE CRIME OF OUR TIME
In 2006 filmmaker Danny Schechter was denounced by some reviewers as an "alarmist" for his film In Debt We Trust, which warned of the coming credit crisis. He was labeled a "doom and gloomer," until the economy melted down vindicating his warnings. His new film, Plunder: The Crime of Our Time, is a hard-hitting investigative film that shows how the financial crisis was built on a foundation of criminal activity.

To tell this story, Schechter speaks with bankers involved in these activities, respected economists, insider experts, top journalists such as Paul Krugman, and even a convicted white-collar criminal who blows the whistle on intentionally dishonest practices.

Plunder: The Crime of Our Time looks into how the crisis developed—from the mysterious collapse of Bear Stearns to the shadowy world of trillion dollar hedge funds. Insiders who work in the industry and know it well tell both of these stories. Plunder also shows how hastily arranged government bailouts did not revive the economy and may have lost billions.

Ultimately the film calls for a full investigation and structural reforms of financial institutions to insure accountability by the white-collar perpetrators who profited from the misery of their victims.

This is a preview showing of this soon-to-be released film. The filmmaker Danny Schechter, who was here one year ago talking about this subject, will host this event and take questions following the showing.

Danny Schechter is the founder and executive editor of Media Channel and founder and Vice President/Executive Producer of GlobalVision, Inc., an award-winning media company formed in 1986. A broadcast and print journalist and internationally recognized speaker and writer on media issues, Schechter has been honored with numerous awards, including the Emmy and George Polk Awards. He was the news director and principal newscaster for WBCN-FM, an on-air reporter for WBGH, and a news program producer and investigative reporter at CNN and ABC.

Wednesday evening, April 28th, I joined Kevin Fagan in having dinner, plus a meeting, with Doug Biviano at SIGGY’S in Brooklyn Heights. Doug ran for City Council in District 33 and I volunteered on his campaign, plus voted for him during the primary. We mostly discussed national/local politics, Dept of Peace, City Council and R14. After the meal, on the way to the subway, Kevin and I ran into an acquaintance of mine [Margorie] and we briefly discussed local politics.

Thursday evening, April 29th, I joined other NydoPeace CCR team members for a conference call and discussion on “next steps” regarding R14.

On Friday, April 30th, I volunteered with City Harvest down at Union Square’s farmers market.

SEAN BEAN FACES THE BLACK DEATH
Alison Maloney, The Sun [UK]
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/film/2950153/Exclusive-trailer-for-Black-Death.html#mySunComments

WHAT’S BEEN IN THE NEWS LATELY?

Noam Chomsky Has ‘Never Seen Anything Like This’
Chris Hedges, TruthDig
http://www.truthdig.com/report/print/noam_chomsky_has_never_seen_anything_like_this_20100419/

How the Sleazy Used-Car Salesmen at Goldman Sachs Tricked Investors into Buying Their Busted Clunkers
Brad Reed, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/146512/how_the_sleazy_used-car_salesmen_at_goldman_sachs_tricked_investors_into_buying_their_busted_clunkers
Goldman Sachs is being sued by the government for allegedly defrauding its investors. Confused? Here’s some plain talk about a mega rip-off.

To Organize Against Wall Street, We Need a Narrative Focusing on Crime and Massive Fraud
Danny Schechter, Media Channel
http://www.alternet.org/story/146463/to_organize_against_wall_st.%2C_we_need_a_narrative_focusing_on_crime_and_massive_fraud
How we can be experiencing the largest economic meltdown in decades with no real mass mobilization or ongoing response from the progressive world?

Obamacare Creates Windfall for Drug Companies
Dr Mercola
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/04/22/obamacare-creates-windfall-for-drug-companies.aspx?aid=CD945

Six Banks Control 60% of Gross National Product – Is the US at the Mercy of an Unstoppable Oligarchy?
Bill Moyers Journal
http://www.alternet.org/story/146528/moyers%3A_six_banks_control_60%25_of_gross_national_product_--_is_the_u.s._at_the_mercy_of_an_unstoppable_oligarchy

Food in the US is Still Tainted with Chemicals that were Banned Decades Ago
Emily Elert, Environmental Health News
http://www.alternet.org/story/146576/food_in_the_u.s._is_still_tainted_with_chemicals_that_were_banned_decades_ago
38 years after DDT was banned, Americans still consume trace amounts of the infamous insecticide every day, along with more than 20 other banned chemicals.

We Want a President Who Won’t Coddle Capitalism
Sally Kohn, Movement Vision Lab
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=ae%2B%2FrZ%2F1fKuIISyVTQeoiLm21Cf3qJMW
The American public ain’t buying the spoon fed load of crap that Wall Street executives had our economic best interests at heart but just somehow, by accident, went astray.

Moyers on the Cost of Wars
http://act.commondreams.org/go/286?akid=29.19616.PEzqsA&t=16

Ninety-Four Percent of Kandaharis Want Peace Talks, Not War
http://act.commondreams.org/go/282?akid=29.19616.PEzqsA&t=7

Sanders: Congress Must Make Real Changes on Wall Street
http://act.commondreams.org/go/283?akid=29.19616.PEzqsA&t=9

Peace and Nuclear Abolition Organizations: UN Secretary General to Join International Peace Movement Conference to Abolish Nuclear Weapons on Eve of NPT Review Conference
http://act.commondreams.org/go/296?akid=29.19616.PEzqsA&t=36

PLUNDER: THE CRIME OF OUR TIME
Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 7 P.M.
All Souls Unitarian Church
Reidy Friendship Hall
1157 Lexington Avenue (@ 80 Street)
New York City

In 2006 filmmaker Danny Schechter was denounced by some reviewers as an "alarmist" for his film In Debt We Trust, which warned of the coming credit crisis. He was labeled a "doom and gloomer," until the economy melted down vindicating his warnings.

His new film, Plunder: The Crime of Our Time, is a hard-hitting investigative film that shows how the financial crisis was built on a foundation of criminal activity.

To tell this story, Schechter speaks with bankers involved in these activities, respected economists, insider experts, top journalists such as Paul Krugman, and even a convicted white-collar criminal who blows the whistle on intentionally dishonest practices.

Plunder: The Crime of Our Time looks into how the crisis developed—from the mysterious collapse of Bear Stearns to the shadowy world of trillion dollar hedge funds. Insiders who work in the industry and know it well tell both of these stories. Plunder also shows how hastily arranged government bailouts did not revive the economy and may have lost billions.

Ultimately the film calls for a full investigation and structural reforms of financial institutions to insure accountability by the white-collar perpetrators who profited from the misery of their victims.

This is a preview showing of this soon-to-be released film. The filmmaker Danny Schechter, who was here one year ago talking about this subject, will host this event and take questions following the showing.

Danny Schechter is the founder and executive editor of Media Channel and founder and Vice President/Executive Producer of GlobalVision, Inc., an award-winning media company formed in 1986. A broadcast and print journalist and internationally recognized speaker and writer on media issues, Schechter has been honored with numerous awards, including the Emmy and George Polk Awards. He was the news director and principal newscaster for WBCN-FM, an on-air reporter for WBGH, and a news program producer and investigative reporter at CNN and ABC.

Co-sponsored with Resistance Cinema of Community Church of New York
Free event. Donations appreciated.

PERSONAL NEWS # 178
Thursday evening, April 1st, I attended the monthly TGTSNBN meetup. We met in the back room of the Stone Creek Lounge and watched the amusing, though abit long, “A Very Potter Musical”.

Friday thru Sunday, April 2nd-4th, I visited my family in upstate NY and very much enjoyed the lovely, warm, sunny weather.

Tuesday evening, April 6th, I attended the LOST meetup at the Irish Rogue pub. I hung out with Deborah, Elena, Sarah, Jax, Jenni, Shannon, Erik and Greg.

Wednesday, April 7th, after work I had a chiropractor appt, and at 8:45pm I jumped on the NydoPeace CCR team conference call. We welcomed a new member [ie: Chris Archer] to the team and discussed plans for the Mother’s Day campaign, plus the upcoming Brooklyn Peace Fair in mid-May.

Thursday evening, April 8th, I attended a panel discussion at the NY Society for Ethical Culture regarding “A World without Nuclear Weapons”. The guest speakers were Daniel Ellsberg, Jonathan Schell and Kennette Benedict, along with Phil Donahue as the moderator. This was a free event though donations were welcome. I also ran into Mary Geissman and Alice Slater at the event, which was hosted by Peace Action Fund of NYS and The Nation Institute. Great evening and very informative, and one can watch it on YouTube … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdfSH95cF8w

Friday evening, April 9th, I attended Friday Nite Knits in Kensington section of Brooklyn.

On Saturday, April 10th, I had to work at the office from 10am to 3pm, as it was nearing the end of “Tax Season”. From there I headed up to West 55th Street in the hopes of catching some of the Tartan Day parade on 6th Avenue. I missed it, but was able to catch the “aftermath” of the festivities. Men in kilts ... hell yeah! I took advantage of the sunny weather and strolled along the city blocks down to Grand Central Station to pick up train tix to CT for visit with Katherine on Sunday.

On Sunday afternoon, April 11th, I headed up to CT to take my good friend Katherine out to lunch at Red Lobster for a belated b-day lunch. This is our 20th anniversary in regards to this tradition. Afterwards we went clothes shopping at Dressbarn in Trumbull, and stopped by a Dunkin Donut for some liquid refreshment. We spent the rest of the afternoon into early evening lounging on the back deck her house with her hubby Maurice and their grandson Shane.

Monday evening, April 12th, after work ended at 7pm I rushed over to City Harvest office on 8th Avenue to volunteer with “Skip Lunch” campaign. Ran into Daniel and he informed me that City Harvest volunteers will be needed at the Union Square farmer’s market starting on April 19th.

Tuesday evening, April 13th, I attended the LOST meetup at the Irish Rogue pub. I mostly hung out with Deborah, Kelli, Greg and Erik.

Wednesday evening, April 14th, I attended Deborah’s birthday party, along with several other members of TGTSNBN, at Trattoria Spaghetto on Bleeker Street in Greenwich Village. Really good food and Jennifer created owl cupcakes for dessert. Those in attendance were Linda, Deanna, Jenna, Elena, Jennifer, Margaret, Michelle, Alex, Irvin, Deborah and I. Lots of fun and Deborah received gifts from everyone, including the two pair of bead style earrings I created.

Thursday evening, April 15th, after shopping at Keyfood, I enjoyed a lengthy phone conversation with Josee in Canada. She’s been living in her new digs for two weeks, and it sounds really nice, plus has a balcony.

On Friday evening, April 16th, I enjoyed phone conversations with Gail and Art. The latter I’d been briefly conversing with via email on OKCupid.

My busy Saturday, April 17th, started out with checking out the farmers market in my hood and taking care of several errands. One of which was grocery shopping at The Garden. I really enjoy shopping at several different health food stores in Brooklyn and Manhattan. One never knows what types of goodies one will find for a Vegan. I then headed into Manhattan to attend the reading of a new play by my friend Kristina Latour called “Temping”, which was held at The Metropolitan Room on West 22nd Street. The play was very entertaining with a good cast, plus parts of it reminded me of when I worked at Koll Management in the mid-1990s. It was one of the few jobs, over the years, where I was very unhappy and stressed. [The office manager and VP were such incompetent fools.] Anyhow, that is where I met Kristina, who was temping, back in 1997 and we’ve stayed in touch over the years. Afterwards I checked out the busy farmers market in Union Square and then some shopping at Dressbarn. Very productive, enjoyable day................

On Sunday afternoon, April 18th, I joined several other TGTSNBN members for the monthly Quidditch up at Riverside Park. Weather was abit cloudy and breezy, and it felt so good when the sun did make an appearance. Centaurs won two games and Dementors won one game. The games were played with enthusiasm, good saves by the keepers and much excitement when the snitch was caught. Since last year I’ve assisted with keeping score of the games, and occasionally take pix with a player’s digital camera. Afterwards, about 12 of us strolled to Broadway to have a leisurely, tasty brunch at TOAST. Also, enjoyed a brief phone conversation with Art later that evening.

[Duchess Note: Stay tuned for some digital pix of hood tour and springtime in NYC.]

AND NOW THE LATEST IN THE NEWS

Peace Activists Extend an Olive Branch to the Tea Party to Talk about War
Medea Benjamin, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/146441/
Tea Partiers who are furious at government spending and soaring deficits should take a hard look at what is the biggest sinkhole of our tax dollars … Pentagon spending.

Wall Street’s Stranglehold on Our Democracy Must be Broken
Zach Carter and Simon Johnson, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/146470/simon_johnson%3A_wall_street%27s_stranglehold_on_our_democracy_must_be_broken
The progressive economist talks about the fight to reform Wall Street, what Robert Rubin should do with his money, and why Jamie Dimon is the most dangerous man in America.

Obama’s Bad Gamble on Afghanistan – 100,000 Soldiers Used as Chips for a Bet the US Can’t Win
Bill Moyers, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/146406/obama%27s_bad_gamble_on_afghanistan_--_100%2C000_soldiers_used_as_chips_for_a_bet_the_us_can%27t_win
We are losing lives for no purpose. The perpetuation of this unnecessary war exacerbates the problems in the Islamic world.

Terrorism: The Nuclear Summit’s ‘Straw Man’
Shibil Siddiqi, Asia Times
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/LD16Ak02.html
'Nuclear' terrorism? In actuality, the threat of terrorists acquiring a working nuclear device are relatively remote. Building nuclear weapons is a complex and resource intensive business; if it were not, more countries would already possess them.

Mind Blowing American Wealth Disparity – The Bottom 50% Have Comparatively Nothing
Grant Lawrence Blog, AlterNet
http://blogs.alternet.org/grantlawrence/2010/04/10/mind-blowing-american-wealth-disparity-the-bottom-50-have-comparatively-nothing/

Small-City Mayor Takes on the Pentagon – War Spending Should be Spent on Americans, Not on Killing Afghans
Jo Comerford, Tomdispatch.com
http://www.alternet.org/story/146408/small-city_mayor_takes_on_the_pentagon_--_war_spending_should_be_spent_on_americans%2C_not_on_killing_afghans_
We don’t just have a revenue problem in this country, we have a values and priorities problem.

US Accuses Goldman Sachs of Fraud
http://act.commondreams.org/go/263?akid=28.19616.wc-F5b&t=5

Green Manifesto in UK Adds 'Radical Change' to Message of 'Hope'
http://act.commondreams.org/go/264?akid=28.19616.wc-F5b&t=7

Kucinich: White House Assassination Policy Is Extrajudicial
http://act.commondreams.org/go/265?akid=28.19616.wc-F5b&t=9

Frida Berrigan: The New Anti-Nuclear Movement
http://act.commondreams.org/go/272?akid=28.19616.wc-F5b&t=24

Tom Turnipseed: A Coal Miner's Catastrophe: Big Coal--Big Lies
http://act.commondreams.org/go/273?akid=28.19616.wc-F5b&t=25

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE NEWS

The Strange Death of Senator Paul Wellstone
From “Ed’s Links” Blog
http://edwardrynearson.wordpress.com/the-strange-death-of-senator-paul-wellstone/

Reaching Zero
Jonathan Schell, The Nation
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20100419/schell

The Tea Parties: Built on Fear, Violence and Race Resentment
Christopher Deis, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/146190/the_tea_parties%3A_built_on_fear%2C_violence_and_race_resentment
Racism and xenophobia have been central to the Tea Party movement from the start; while not all of them are racist, they swim in a sea of white racial resentment.

How the Corporations Broke Ralph Nader and America, Too
Chris Hedges, Truthdig
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/how_the_corporations_broke_ralph_nader_and_america_too_20100405/

The Many Burdens a GI Faces in Afghanistan
Clancy Sigal, The Guardian
http://www.alternet.org/story/146356/the_many_burdens_a_gi_faces_in_afghanistan
The GIs are doing the best they can, in a “job” the politicians command them out of imperial hubris and historical ignorance.

Message from CodePink: Women for Peace
Collateral Murder: Is the Truth A National Security Threat?

This week two media makers, the Times of London and Wikileaks, released ugly truths about US military engagement in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In Afghanistan, after initially denying involvement in the deaths of two pregnant Afghan women and a teenage girl, the US-led military command in Kabul admitted that its forces had killed the women and removed the bullets from their bodies to cover up their crime.

The cover-up continues in Iraq. WikiLeaks obtained and decrypted a previously unreleased video footage from a US Apache helicopter in 2007 showing American soldiers brutally massacring Iraqi civilians and Reuters journalists. The military is now backpedaling, saying that the video lacks context while the Pentagon cannot find its own copy of the tape but has declared war on WikiLeaks, calling it a “national security threat.”

Do not stay silent and complacent to collateral murder. Sign-on to CODEPINK's condemnation of the cover-ups and demand accountability for past and present war crimes.

http://j.mp/WikiLeaks

We strongly condemn the cover-ups and the move to censor media outlets that expose the truth. The truth is not a threat to our national security, however the flagrant lack of accountability is certainly a threat to our democracy.

Duchess Note: Stay tuned for more of my "digital experimentation" photo gallery with walking tours around Brooklyn.

PERSONAL NEWS # 178

Saturday afternoon, March 20th, was Tolkien Reading Day at the Ft Lee Public Library. We in the tri-state area was blessed with lovely warm, sunny weather that day. I wore my new Renaissance gown with jewelry I created. List of the “readings” is as follows. . . .

[Banners of Rohan and Gondor]

Tim: "The Ring Verse "in 3 languages, then 4 excerpts from "On Faerie Stories"
Carole: The true "death of Denethor", then "Namarie"
Charlene: Boromir/Frodo at Amon Hen / Breaking of the Fellowship
Mary: Bilbo presents Arkenstone to dwarves' "enemies"
Adam: Bilbo and Smaug dialogue from The Hobbit, then Bilbo's 111st b'day speech
Dennis: Bilbo and Gandalf meeting from The Hobbit, with assist from Timdalf
Group: “New York Friends of Tolkien” excerpt from the "Council of Elrond" dramatic reading




[Dennis and Timdalf]


[The proud Lady Boromir from Gondor]

Afterwards a group of us went out for Chinese food at a local place in Ft Lee, NJ, before heading off to our respective homes.

Sunday afternoon, March 21st, I joined other members of TGTSNBN at Fort Tryon Park for Winter/Spring Cosplay. The weather was sunny, warm and the park was busy. We made quite a stir with our Harry Potter style of costumes...............

[The Hufflepuff witch posing with Hedwig]


[TGTSNBN posing at Ft Tryon Park]





[Gryffindors are Courageous]


[Ravenclaws are Smarties]

Tuesday evening, March 23rd, I hung out with other Losties [ie: Deborah, Jax, Elena, Jenni, Sarah, Shannon and Tony] at the Irish Rogue pub to watch the latest episode featuring Richard.

Wednesday evening, March 24th, I jumped on the NYDoP CCR team conference call at 8:45pm.

Friday evening, March 26th, I joined other ladies at Friday Nite Knits in Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Sunday afternoon, March 28th, I joined other members of TGTSNBN in Riverside Park for Quidditch. Afterwards several of us headed over to TOAST for a late brunch, and diverse conversations.

Tuesday evening, March 30th, after I went to my foot doctor appt, I stopped by Borders in Columbus Circle and then off to the LOST meetup at Irish Rogue pub.

PERSONAL NEWS # 176

Tuesday evening, March 2nd, after I went to my foot doctor appt, I stopped by Borders in Columbus Circle and then off to the LOST meetup at Irish Rogue pub.

Early Thursday evening, March 4th, I joined Cielito and Judy at MoMA for the Tim Burton exhibit, which was quiet awesome and impressive. Lots of film footage, costumes, drawings and sculptures of Burton’s unusual work since the mid-1970s. Afterwards we walked over to 8th Avenue to nosh on some food at Cosmic Diner, and catch up on news/gossip.

Friday, March 5th, ended up being the most stressful day of the whole work week. What with work and the entire crazy BS swirling around TRD, well, I finally snapped and was in an empty partner’s office in tears. Want nothing more to do with A&J, via Heren Istarion, plus their friggin stubborn obstructionism with regards to NETS / TRD. Can the “dramatic reading” for the Council of Elrond script be salvaged at this point in time remain to be seen? I’m working with Dennis, Tim and Carole on this endeavor.

Saturday morning, March 6th, I joined several other TGTSNBN members at Simple Studios for our first yearbook two-hour meeting. Later that evening I headed back into lower Manhattan [after getting some pampering at my local nail salon] and attended the “Potter Pundits Live” event at Pace University. It was very enjoyable, enlightening and informative. The pundits were Travis Prinzi, John Granger and James Thomas. Plus I purchased a few of their books regarding the Harry Potter lexicon and phenomenon. I talked with fellow TGTSNBN member [Jim] after the event about LOST.

Tuesday evening, March 9th, I attended the LOST meetup at the Irish Rogue pub.

Wednesday evening, March 10th, I participated in the NYdoPeace CCR team conference call regarding R14. Those in attendance on the call were Kevin, Joe, Dawn and I. Dawn announced she is about 11 week’s preggers.

Thursday evening, March 11th, I joined a few others of the newly formed “New York Friends of Tolkien” group to start rehearsals for the dramatic reading of “Council of Elrond”. In attendance were Adam, Carole, Tim, Dennis and I. The rehearsal was held at Carole’s home in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.

Sunday afternoon, March 14th, I attended the fantastic “Pier Antiques Show” at Pier 94. I haven’t been to a Pier Antiques Show since February 2002. I used to go with a few friends since the early 1990s. One friend has since passed away, and the other severed our 20-year friendship in 2003. [That last one caused me mental and emotional pain.] It felt good to go back to the “Pier Antiques Show”, like visiting a long lost friend. I checked out every booth and even purchased some pendants at 50% off.

Tuesday evening, March 16th, was a busy one with the NYDoP meeting at 6:30pm and then afterwards racing uptown for the LOST meetup at Irish Rogue pub.

On Thursday evening, March 18th, I attended a “New York Friends of Tolkien” mini meeting at Carole’s place in Chelsea. The overall meeting was productive even with Timdalf’s temperamental outbursts.

Duchess Note: Stay tuned for more "personal news" updates, news articles and photos from recent events.

LATEST NEWS ON HEALTHCARE REFORM & USA CONTINUED OCCUPATION IN MIDDLE EAST

Vanity of Vanities: The Iraq War Seven Years Later
Truthout Staff Editorial
http://www.truthout.org/vanity-vanities-the-iraq-war-seven-years-later57824

A Civilized Riot: A Movement for Healthcare Justice
Jeanine Molloff, Truthout
http://www.truthout.org/a-civilized-riot-a-movement-health-care-justice57833

Health Care is a Civil Right
by Congressman Kucinich

Each generation has had to take up the question of how to provide for the health of the people of our nation. And each generation has grappled with difficult questions of how to meet the needs of our people. I believe health care is a civil right. Each time as a nation we have reached to expand our basic rights, we have witnessed a slow and painful unfolding of a democratic pageant of striving, of resistance, of breakthroughs, of opposition, of unrelenting efforts and of eventual triumph.

I have spent my life struggling for the rights of working class people and for health care. I grew up understanding firsthand what it meant for families who did not get access to needed care. I lived in 21 different places by the time I was 17, including in a couple of cars. I understand the connection between poverty and poor health care, the deeper meaning of what Native Americans have called "hole in the body, hole in the spirit." I struggled with Crohn's disease much of my adult life, to discover sixteen years ago a near-cure in alternative medicine and following a plant-based diet. I have learned with difficulty the benefits of taking charge personally of my own health care. On those few occasions when I have needed it, I have had access to the best allopathic practitioners. As a result I have received the blessings of vitality and high energy. Health and health care is personal for each one of us. As a former surgical technician I know that there are many people who dedicate their lives to helping others improve theirs. I also know their struggles with an insufficient health care system.

There are some who believe that health care is a privilege based on ability to pay. This is the model President Obama is dealing with, attempting to open up health care to another 30 million people, within the context of the for-profit insurance system. There are others who believe that health care is a basic right and ought to be provided through a not-for-profit plan. This is what I have tirelessly advocated.

I have carried the banner of national health care in two presidential campaigns, in party platform meetings, and as co-author of HR676, Medicare for All. I have worked to expand the health care debate beyond the current for-profit system, to include a public option and an amendment to free the states to pursue single payer. The first version of the health care bill, while badly flawed, contained provisions which I believed made the bill worth supporting in committee. The provisions were taken out of the bill after it passed committee.

I joined with the Progressive Caucus saying that I would not support the bill unless it had a strong public option and unless it protected the right of people to pursue single payer at a state level. It did not. I kept my pledge and voted against the bill. I have continued to oppose it while trying to get the provisions back into the bill. Some have speculated I may be in a position of casting the deciding vote. The President's visit to my district on Monday underscored the urgency of this moment. I have taken this fight farther than many in Congress cared to carry it because I know what my constituents experience on a daily basis. Come to my district in Cleveland and you will understand.

The people of Ohio's 10th district have been hard hit by an economy where wealth has accelerated upwards through plant closings, massive unemployment, small business failings, lack of access to credit, foreclosures and the high cost of health care and limited access to care. I take my responsibilities to the people of my district personally. The focus of my district office is constituent service, which more often than not involves social work to help people survive economic perils. It also involves intervening with insurance companies.

In the past week it has become clear that the vote on the final health care bill will be very close. I take this vote with the utmost seriousness. I am quite aware of the historic fight that has lasted the better part of the last century to bring America in line with other modern democracies in providing single payer health care. I have seen the political pressure and the financial pressure being asserted to prevent a minimal recognition of this right, even within the context of a system dominated by private insurance companies.

I know I have to make a decision, not on the bill as I would like to see it, but the bill as it is. My criticisms of the legislation have been well reported. I do not retract them. I incorporate them in this statement. They still stand as legitimate and cautionary. I still have doubts about the bill. I do not think it is a first step toward anything I have supported in the past. This is not the bill I wanted to support, even as I continue efforts until the last minute to modify the bill.

However after careful discussions with the President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, Elizabeth my wife and close friends, I have decided to cast a vote in favor of the legislation. If my vote is to be counted, let it now count for passage of the bill, hopefully in the direction of comprehensive health care reform. We must include coverage for those excluded from this bill. We must free the states. We must have control over private insurance companies and the cost their very existence imposes on American families. We must strive to provide a significant place for alternative and complementary medicine, religious health science practice, and the personal responsibility aspects of health care which include diet, nutrition, and exercise.

The health care debate has been severely hampered by fear, myths, and by hyper-partisanship. The President clearly does not advocate socialism or a government takeover of health care. The fear that this legislation has engendered has deep roots, not in foreign ideology but in a lack of confidence, a timidity, mistrust and fear which post 911 America has been unable to shake.

This fear has so infected our politics, our economics and our international relations that as a nation we are losing sight of the expanded vision, the electrifying potential we caught a glimpse of with the election of Barack Obama. The transformational potential of his presidency, and of ourselves, can still be courageously summoned in ways that will reconnect America to our hopes for expanded opportunities for jobs, housing, education, peace, and yes, health care.

I want to thank those who have supported me personally and politically as I have struggled with this decision. I ask for your continued support in our ongoing efforts to bring about meaningful change. As this bill passes I will renew my efforts to help those state organizations which are aimed at stirring a single payer movement which eliminates the predatory role of private insurers who make money not providing health care. I have taken a detour through supporting this bill, but I know the destination I will continue to lead, for as long as it takes, whatever it takes to an America where health care will be firmly established as a civil right.

No Insurance Company Left Behind
Katie Robbins, Healthcare NOW
http://www.healthcare-now.org/no-insurance-company-left-behind/

Obama’s Budget Revealed: Money for Wars and Weapons, While More Americas Face Joblessness and Hunger
Jo Comerford, Tomdispatch.com
http://www.alternet.org/story/145857/obama

US House Votes to Bail Out the Healthcare Industry – The Health Care Hindenburg Has Landed
Chris Hedges, Green Change
http://www.greenchange.org/article.php?id=5693

Woolsey to Introduce Public Option Bill ASAP
Suzy Khimm, Mother Jones
http://motherjones.com/mojo/2010/03/woolsey-will-introduce-public-option-bill-asap

Eraser Duty for Bart?
Maureen Dowd, NY Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/21/opinion/21dowd.html

15 Executives Who Get Paid Millions to Deny You Health Care Coverage
Gregory White and Gus Lubin, Business Insider
http://www.businessinsider.com/here-are-the-15-health-care-big-wigs-who-cant-sleep-because-of-health-care-reform-2010-3?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Kucinich Challenges Gates on Civilians Killed in Afghanistan
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/02/23-6

US Advice to Europe: Spend More on War-Making
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/02/23-4

Air Strike on Civilians Reverberates Beyond Afghanistan
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/02/23-0

Plan B? US Plans for Possible Delay in Iraq Withdrawal
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/02/23-9

Message from, Louis Nuyens III, at Thom Hartmann's "Hour One: Health care" Blog

Here are some things about the current health insurance "reform" legislation that most people do not know (which make it worse than no change at all). . . .

1. (Almost certainly) PROHIBIT states adoption of single payer systems! Study after study has shown that a single-payer system is the only economically sustainable health insurance system for the U.S. Surely you know that? And comparisons with other "first world" countries demonstrate vast superiority of single-payer systems over for-profit systems. It is absolutely vital to preserve the rights of states and local municipalities to establish single-payer systems in order to create models that would break the resistance in DC for a national system, similar to what happened in Canada. (To kill state-level single-payer, the insurance companies would happily be willing to tolerate a limited "Public Option" -- especially one that is rigged to fail.)

2. FORCE people to buy overpriced insurance, whether they can afford it or not -- guaranteeing massive profits to private insurers -- under risk of penalties including jail-time for those who do not comply. That is a pretty sick kind of "universal coverage."

3. RIG the "public option" to fail -- part of that current legislation would require Public Option services to be priced at "market rate". Also, the Public Option system is likely to end up with the sickest of the sick, increasing likelihood of failure. (There are other trap-doors built in, as well.)

4. Allow insurers and HMOs to continue to titrate care (e.g. By rewarding providers who deny care, instead of freeing physicians to order the best options, and by allowing continued bureaucratic and cost-based decision-making to override physician recommendations regarding evaluation and treatment options).

5. Single-payer systems have already gotten as far as the Governor's desk in California (only to be killed by Schwarzenegger), and appear on the verge of success in several other states.

6. Remember -- for-profit health insurance companies make money by NOT providing care! "Public Option" is just a ruse -- a rotten carrot being used to sell a very, very bad bill that is little more than a give-away to the health insurance companies.

7. WE SHOULD OPPOSE OBAMA'S BILL AND FIGHT FOR A SINGLE-PAYER SYSTEM. At the very least, we should oppose this bill unless it adopts protections for the rights of states and local municipalities to adopt single-payer systems.

Snowy Winter in Brooklyn

[Morning of December 31st – last day of 2009]


[Snowy visions around my hood in January]


[Waiting for the #7 during a snowy commute]


[The blizzard on Feb 10th 2010]


[Fred Flare shop stayed open during the Feb 10th blizzard]


[A lonely snowman braves the snowstorm in Feb 2010]


[Snowfall in my hood on Feb 26th]


[The back courtyard of my apartment bldg on Feb 26]


[Waiting for the #7 during a wintery morning commute]

[Duchess Note: More updates with News articles, Photos and Personal News over the next week or so. Stay tuned.......................]

PERSONAL NEWS #175

[Duchess Note - Sincere and humble apologies for the long delay in posting news, articles or pix on my blog. Its been a hectic time at work and in other area's of my life. Hopefully things will calm down abit going forward. In the meantime, enjoy the latest in "personal news".]

Monday, Feb 1st, had a foot doctor appt in the late afternoon.

Tuesday evening, Feb 2nd, I attended the LOST meetup at Irish Rogue pub for the premiere of Season 6th of the TV series. I hung out with Jax and Elena from TGTSNBN at the LOST meetup. Both episodes 1 and 2 were awesome, as well as clearing up [somewhat] the Smoke Monster theory, but also causing more confusion on other fronts. This is typical of LOST.

Thursday evening, Feb 4th, at 8:30pm I participated in the NYdoPeace CCR team conference call regarding a DoP resolution.

Friday evening, Feb 5th, at 7pm I joined several other ladies at Friday Nite Knits.

Saturday afternoon, Feb 6th, at 1:30pm I attended “The Gathering to Celebrate Howard Zinn” at Revolution Books on West 26th Street. Afterwards, I walked down to Union Square to check out B&N, farmers market and Whole Foods.

Monday evening, Feb 8th, I attended an event at Park Slope United Methodist Church hosted by “Brooklyn for Peace”. The event was titled “Which Way Afghanistan?” and featured guest speakers [ie: Congressman Nadler and Anand Gopal from the WSJ]. Saw Josh Skaller and Doug Biviano at the event, and sat next to Debra Sweet of WCW.

Tuesday evening, Feb 9th, I attended the LOST meetup at the Irish Rogue pub for episode three. This time I arrived early enough to obtain a cozy seat and didn’t move until 10pm.

On Wednesday, Feb 10th, we got slammed with another large snowstorm of the winter season. Those of us who made it into the office were allowed to leave early at 4pm. From there I went to my chiropractor appt. On the way home through the snowy streets of my Brooklyn hood, I saw, and photographed, a lonely snowman on the snow covered sidewalk. I don’t think anyone’s ever made a snowman on my street block.

Thursday evening, Feb 11th, I jumped on the World Can’t Wait conference call and the topic was mostly on STUPAK bill and pro-choice rights for women.

On Friday evening, Feb 12th, I joined other ladies at the Friday Nite Knits group in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Tuesday evening, Feb 16th, I attended the LOST meetup at the Irish Rogue pub for episode four. I mostly hung out with Jenni, Elena and Greg from TGTSNBN. Plus I even won one of the raffle prizes [ie: LOST video game] at the end of the episode.

Thursday evening, Feb 18th, I participated in the NydoPeace CCR team conference call. The main topic for the call was prepping for the team’s upcoming meeting with Councilmember Mendez office on Feb 24th near City Hall.

Friday evening, Feb 19th, I joined several other ladies at the Friday Nite Knits.

Sunday afternoon into evening, Feb 21st, I joined in with several of TGTSNBN activities. The main event was the celebration of the 200th meetup at Hurley’s pub off of Broadway. Good turnout at Hurley’s, wildly fun times, videos, music, Death Eaters performance, dancing, food, drink and much hilarity.

Tuesday evening, Feb 23rd, I attended the LOST meetup at the Irish Rogue pub for episode five.

Wednesday afternoon into evening, Feb 24th, I took half a personal day from work, so that I could join Kevin Fagan in a meeting with Councilmember Mendez at her legislative office. It was a good meeting, very informative, and we were happy to learn the councilmember re-introduced the DoP resolution on Feb 3rd. It is now known as Resolution 14. Afterwards I headed back to Brooklyn to a health food café to utilize free Internet service. Typed up the notes from meeting with Mendez and emailed it to Kevin, plus surfed the net abit, and made phone calls. I then headed back into Manhattan and went to my friend Larry’s place. I purchased Chinese take-out for us both while he worked on my 2009 taxes.

Friday evening, Feb 26th, I joined a small dinner party [ie: Karen, Carol & Gary] at a Thai restaurant on West 48th Street. Good food, interesting conversations, and it was great seeing Karen. She was visiting NYC for a few weeks before heading back to Montana.

On Sunday, Feb 28th, I headed up to CT, via MetroNorth, to hang out with my good friend Katherine. We mostly hung out in the Stamford and Norwalk area. I paid my respects at the gravesite of an acquaintance of mine [from my youth in Pound Ridge] that passed away in June 2009. We hung out at the Stamford Mall to do some shopping and nosh on a leisurely lunch. From there we headed up to Norwalk for abit more shopping, as we were hunting for some gifties for Katherine’s grandson. Throughout all this we caught up on news, gossip and other bits of info, plus finally got to exchange Xmas gifts.

[Duchess Note - Will be posting some of my experimentation with new digital camera. Stay tuned. . . .]