Knitting, Singing, the Universe and all....

Watch this short video - and then go to The Public Option.com and sign up - give them a few bucks while you're at it... If the polls are correct, and over 70% of Americans WANT and NEED a Public Option for Health Insurance, we need to be sure that our Senators and Representatives know that it is OUR voices that need to determine their votes. It's time to take back our healthcare system from those who profit mightily - PEOPLE, not PROFIT.

My brother-in-law, Ned, an extraordinary 5th grade teacher, introduced me to Taylor Mali - and I'd love to introduce him to you :-) Taylor Mali is one of the most well-known poets to have emerged from the poetry slam movement and one of the few people in the world to have no job other than that of poet . Eloquent, accessible, passionate, and often downright hilarious, Mali studied drama in Oxford with members of The Royal Shakespeare Company and puts those skills of presentation to work in all his performances. Mali is vocal advocate of teachers and the nobility of teaching, having himself spent nine years in the classroom teaching everything from English and history to math and S.A.T. test preparation. He has performed and lectured for teachers all over the world, and his New Teacher Project has a goal of creating 1,000 new teachers through "poetry, persuasion, and perseverance." Here is his poem that made my day today - I hope it gives you a chuckle. After that- g...

We have had Ned & Louise & Austin here (part of the Portland wing of our clan) for a fabulous time of food, home brew, and catching up... Stan and & Bev came down last night for dinner, and we surprised them with their in-laws, Jim and Pat - who dropped in via their motor home all the way from Tuscon! Today we are floating the river, and having a great Saturday feast of Marinated Chicken and Bratwursts on the Bar B Q, fresh cabbage slaw and corn on the cob from the farmer's market, and seeing Cindy, Vicki and Amelia as well. The only ones missing are Stella and Marcus - who are still in Portland because Stell is playing in the Zombie Opera (see below). But I'll be going back for a few days with N & L & A to all go see it!! I'll try to post some pictures later -whew!

Stella's dancing fingers have been working on music for a new opera production which PREMIERES this weekend in Portland Oregon. (pssst, she's the tiny blonde concert mistress in the pit!) Here's a little bit about Stella: A student of Carol Sindell, Stella studies violin performance at Portland State University. She is a member of the PSU Symphony Orchestra as well as concertmaster of the New Music Ensemble at Portland State. As an advocate and fan of New Music, Stella is proud to be friends with some of Portland's most talented young composers (Reed Reimer and Ben Larson included), who give her lots of great opportunities to perform their work. Originally from Missoula, Montana, Stella lives in Portland with her partner Marcus. She loves to make art and surround herself with the lovely people she's lucky to call her friends and family. "Ah, music. A magic beyond all we do here at Hogwarts!"- Dumbledore ...