some dubya humor
Mood:  mischievious

At the river
Mood:  chillin'
Topic: A family of geese
The weather was clear and sunny; it was hot, actually hot. Ashy and I both got in the river. I dunked my hair, but it was too chilly for the head. I sat there awhile in the bright glow of sunlight from everywhere--above me in a blue sky, and at eye level in a rippling, sparkling green river.

A family of geese floated in a little nook in the river. The pair was ever vigilant of it's brood--must have been at least ten fuzzy moss-colored younguns. I hated to think how mny of these would not make it to maturity. But mom and dad will keep them all safe. They were wary of ashy, that he might get over the river to them. Then they nestled into a grassy mound for awhile. Two long necks and beaks ever

periscoping the environs. Bless us one and all, Mother Nature.

Silent vigil for peace
Mood:  d'oh
Topic: vigil for peace
Wednesday I made it to the vigil for peace in front of the post office. About 7 or 8 of us--some coming late and/or leaving early.
One woman drove by us in her blue sedan with the windows rolled up tight against a most lovely spring day. She looked over at us grimacing and shaking her head...no...Now who in the world would have such an adamant reaction to a small group of people standing on the sidewalk advocating peace? Beyond me...
Another man walked by with a smug grin on his face. He said, "I don't think the world is ready for peace." OK--that seems reasonable. Then he says, "why don't you people go over to Iraq and do this...with Osama." Still the grin. Now of course, that is supremely unreasonable. Excuse me sir--Osama does not live in Iraq. It's that simple, sir: Check your facts?! You vote, and you are that ignorant?

But the UPS man gave us a wave going west, and later a thumbs up going east. And a man appeared before me with his hand out. "Fred ________," he said, "Vietnam 1969." And he shook all our hands and thanked us. He said he was going to The U in Seattle that night to a meeting about allowing recruiters on campus. Thank-you for stopping sir.

Mother's Day
Mood:  incredulous
Topic: humanity
Happy Mother's Day to you...
....and to all those Mother's nearby you.
love, A (one who has been birthed, previously)

meow zora wrote:
Thanks A--
I thought of you today. I was out at the suspension bridge at Uptaneum for the Shrub-Steppe event. I bravely ventured out amidst the people...
I took Ashy on the lead, and he was good. Then I brought him all the way back to the car and...fatal mistake...took the lead off him BEFORE he got in the car. He took off, running straight to the river under the bridge.
Well, all the peoples and their little kinder were there, and a flood of them came pouring over the bridge, because ashy had swum across and was doing his stick thing. I tried to go across the bridge. I asked a few passerby if they could help me, but the people just passed by me and stared at me. I took two steps...vertigo. I turned back to look at a woman who was kind, and burst into tears. I was so frustrated. But she said, here, give me the rope; I will get him for you. So I sat on the rail crying my eyes out.
One of the women I asked for help looked at her watch, saying," I don't have time; we have to go to basketball now. But I feel sorry for you." And I said, "I feel sorry for you." At her quizzical look I added, "because you won't help." A bunch of people stood around looking at me while I cried, but no one came up to me or said anything. Then the nice woman brought ashy across the bridge. I don't know if you remember, but ashy doesn't like the suspension bridge either, so he came very slowly, trembling and straddling the planks.
. I told the nice woman about the time Ashy went running in town and Red Elk met up with him at the Seven Eleven. Red Elk told me he asked Ashy if he wanted to go on an adventure, and Ashy answered "yes." So then Red Elk asked Ashy his name, and Ashy answered. "Blackjack, Roger Blackjack." So now, when Ashy is in river mode, we just call him Roger Blackjack. The kind lady laughed. I wiped my tears and left, humiliated.
All of this is true. Thanks for hearing my story.
thank-you for remembering me on mother's day. Love, Mar
greetings to Roger Blackjack and Family....
....once I was sitting in an Anthropology Lab studying genetics,,,but I was confused and frustrated with the material. The instructor mocked me openly and I began to tear up.
I was turned off from the material by this incident.
Nevertheless, it's an interesting memory.
...happy spring and good job wading out into the sea of humanity, regardless of the adventures of Roger Blackjack!!!
-A

Hemp
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: industrial hemp
I have strong feelings about hemp! Why? Because US laws are antiquated and blind when it comes to separating industrial (non-stoning) hemp from marijuana containing enough chemicals to get someone stoned.
I am a crafter. I made some hemp necklaces, and listed them on ebay today. While at ebay, I found more than 450 such necklaces for sale!
I found this little blurb about the benefits of using industrial hemp, and want to share it.

Hemp Facts Everyone Should Know


Hemp has been around for thousands of years. The U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and many laws were written on hemp paper. The first pair of 501 jeans and the first U.S. flag were made from hemp.

Hemp is considered by many to be the world's most versatile and valuable resource. It provides the raw material for more products (over 50,000) than any other plant. The stems are used to produce fabric, fuel, paper and other commercial products.

The hemp seed is used to produce nutritional oils, lubricants and fuels. Hemp seeds are also an excellent source of protein.

Hemp foliage has also been promoted for its medicinal value in easing pain, relieving stress and treating illnesses from glaucoma to nausea in AIDS and cancer patients. Hemp roots even play an important role by anchoring and invigorating the soil, providing erosion control and preventing mud slides.

Hemp is the only plant that grows up to 20 feet throughout the United States. One acre of hemp can replace five acres of cotton used for material; over 50% of the pesticides applied in the U.S. are used on cotton crops less than 3% kills the insects, the rest goes into the ground water (what a concept!) Hemps abundant yeild can add over a trillion dollars to the U.S. economy and assure us prosperity, plenty and economic stability. These facts are substantial and make the argument for legalization of the hemp industry in the United States... a critical one. Just think, if we grow enough hemp and save enough trees, global warming could be a thing of the past, not to mention the national debt. Hemp can save the planet!

Bun Yom's Book: My Story
Mood:  blue

I made a page for Bun's book today at angelfire--
Bun's Story
--we wanna get some books out there to the people!! I emailed Oprah's website in the hope that they might be interested in Bun's incredible story.
My mom says that Oprah has gotten "uppity", a term I don't really appreciate in that context, except that it's true--she is just too damn rich and uptown to relate to ordinary people. All the same, we will keep trying to reach her because it is Bun's dream.