DOUBLEPOST!  I just visited my friend Robin, and she gave me a TON of gorgeous, comfy clothes.  Also, her possible new housemate and her new sweetheart are both really cool people.  And I'm going to the undisputedly best annual cookout in the Boston area this afternoon!  It sometimes features homemade fireworks (it's hosted by a mad-scientist friend) which always make everything more interesting...  He also brews beer, and one time even made a passable sake (sake is DIFFICULT).  Mad scientists are the best cooks, I'm convinced of it, because we understand what makes flavors go together and precisely how heat, smoke, and marinating can make flavors better.

Love, Columbine

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My SOmething Beautiful is several people! Andi came down and we took the hour ride to Reading to see the Barras for free. They were wonderful, and Stewart reported to us afterwards that he had seen us on Canada AM on the 24th with GBS."Hey, that's Anne and Andi!" he exclaimed as he watched.

And my other SB* person is Vic who accompanied me to the bus station to deliver andi and kept me wake on the way home at 2AM. Love that man!

Anne

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And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com

i wanted to put this in ages ago, but have not been to the okp since i departed for new orleans many weeks ago!

anyhoo, the trip was amazing. we finished the framing on a house for a lady named Bernice, who lost her home to Katrina almost 3 years ago, and her FEMA trailer is being taken away this week. She will be living with her neice until the construction on her Habitat for Humanity home is oompleted.

while in new orleans, it was amazing to drive by acres and acres of formerly booming metropolis which still 3 years after the hurricane, is vacant and deserted. our 45 minute drive from the heart of the city to the worksite on the outskirts was equally depressing and uplifting, while the haunting vacant buildings, even a six flags park were testaments to the damage that was done, the people in the city were clearly moving on. many had "Thou Shalt Not Kill" signs in yards, on street signs. there were many road side memorials to those lost, and to the efforts to rebuild.

in deserted home there were holes in the roofs, where families had cut thru with axes to escape the floods. many homes still had the x marks, that FEMA responders put on every home, checking for people alive or dead. we saw many zeros in the dead quadrant of the insignia, but all to often we saw numbers greater, and therefore too many.

the water lines were imprinted on most structures, deep seeded water lines often closer to the roof than to the ground. three years later it is almost impossible to imagine a city under 30 feet of water, for almost 3 solid weeks.

yet despite all these things, the city was full of hope. we worked on one house, for one elderly lady, though hundereds of thousands still need homes, contruction, freinds. Despite these overwhelming numbers our group was welcomed, thanked, and made to feel like honorary citizens.

although i have been home from the big easy for a few weeks now, the powerful hope of new orleans has remained with me. so it is the jazzy character, the life, the hope of new orleans that has been my something beautiful* all this time.

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it's not so bad.

**before you get mad at someone, walk a mile in their shoes. Because then you will be a mile away, and you will have their shoes**

Anne and Vic are my SB*s too.

Anne for putting up with a very sleep deprived andi  and Vic for being the sweet man he is and getting us rides on the DUCKS. He Captain'ed the Boat and a very nice "team" of Darryl and Tony G made the drive fun and informative.

And the Barras were, as always - woderful, on stage and off.  

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Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus
"Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." E. Wiesel
OKP's Resident B****
Imprudens est draconem vivum de consiliis tuis omittere.
Steet team Leader for NYS, OH and Southern Ontario.

Paula, what an amazing story. One of my former co-workers has gone to New Orleans twice with the Kingston Habitat Chapter and says everything you do...What a gift you both have - first hand sight of Hope....

My SB* is Great Big Sea.

The show last night in Toronto was one of my favorites. The songs were amazing. General Taylor took my breath away, Gallows Pole made my heat stop - it was an incredible night. The news that there will be a Kingston show made me squeee out loud. Finally my boy gets to see the band of his dreams.

 

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be safe,
eb

Three brand-new raccoons, who observed the cookout I attended yesterday from the safety of their penthouse tree condo.  Little babies with stumpy tails and huge heads - way too cute!

Love, Columbine 

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From last night...the Buffalo Philharmonic.

 My friend Trish and I went to see them play yesterday ( yes, Anne After I got home I went straight from the bus to there.) and even as tired and sore as I was, it was an exercise in beauty. The BPO, George Gershwin, Kevin Cole and a couple of Opera Singers = Something not only beautiful, but Amazing.  

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Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus
"Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." E. Wiesel
OKP's Resident B****
Imprudens est draconem vivum de consiliis tuis omittere.
Steet team Leader for NYS, OH and Southern Ontario.

I've had many SB* today....

Janeill is one of my SB* today... =) she knows why...

Meg is another... had a great chat... it's been way to long...

and today marks the 3 year anniversery for me and my GBS partner in crime... today this day three years ago we were on our way to our very first road trip together... to Grande Praire I do believe and Meg and Janeill were there too... =) well actually Meg drove... lol... and look three years later we were on presale mode... lol... I have lots to be greatful for... I have wonderful friends... =)

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~Is a downtown girl cuz I like waking up with my hair messed up!!!

My SB* is andi....

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~Is a downtown girl cuz I like waking up with my hair messed up!!!

Something Beautiful* from last night:

We've had a pair of nesting Red-Tailed Hawks in a tree just over our property line, all spring.  We saw them build, mate and fight off other Red-Tailed agressors.  The chick hatched a few weeks ago, and has been squawking and jumping around from branch to brach exercising it's flight muscles.

Last night we watched as it got flying lessons from Mom and Dad!  It was so cool!  Dad would fly off in a big circle, swwop down and land on another tree.  He'd call to the fledgling, who squawked back, but stayed put.  Then Momma flew into the tree with Pappa.  Poor baby, left alone was crying!  The two adults sat there perched, facing us, only about 50 yards/metres away - that alone was pretty cool!  They called and coaxed their baby to come to them.

And then, it happened!  The fledgling took flight!  He soared up, swooped down, somewhat out of control, stumbling through the air.  The parents were cheering him on in their calls - clearly!  Then the baby made a very clumsy landing next to his parents!  The all celebrated loudly, whistling, squawking, chattering!

But in a matter of moments, the noise spooked the neighbours' horses, who took off at a full gallop through the pasture - a beautiful sight - horses galloping in sillhouette at sunset.  All this commotion caused the parents to return to the nest.  The baby soon followed, awkwardly, but with more skill that his first flight!

It was just a beautiful moment.  We felt ourselves very Fortunate to be able to watch this little bit of nature's wonder right from our back deck.

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Helen




I'm goin' Straight to Hell-On-Wheels!

Wow!  Helen, thanks for sharing that!  I've got redtails for neighbors too, but it's so chaotic here that I don't even know where their nest is, much less get to watch them.  One of the youngsters caused a bit of a stir by parking itself on top of a streetlight.

Love, Columbine 

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My Something Beautiful* was my niece's wedding today. A small gathering at an historic Quaker mansion right on the scenic Delaware RIver in Northeasat Philadelphia. My oldest flew in from Portland with her brother, her sister Michelle came in from Long Beach California, Derek came up from South Carolina, Rob's Family (he's the groom) flew in from Oregon, people came up from Washington DC, down from Boston, and the longest flight was from Taiwan! We are an international family with members from Spain, Panama, Argentina, and now Vietnam!

It was a simple Quaker service where they exchanged vows they had written and the sat in two chairs at the fron of the assembly and whoever was willing, could say something about the couple or either one. What a wonderful tribute to them that about half the people got up and spoke about how wonderful they each were and how each had changed the other one into a better person. It was very touching.

My niece CHandra is the best! Both she and ROb were in the Peace COrps in Africa at about the same time, but on opposite coasts. They met in Washington DC at a soccer game three years ago. They will be going to Ethiopia in October to work for 2 years. Special people, the two of them. I met Rob when Chandra ran the Boston Marathon a few years ago. She has also climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and run marathons in Ireland, Uraguay, and the States. If I was younger, she'd be my role model. Whatever she sets out to do, she does well. I hope she and Rob have the happiest of lives together:

Here is a photo of them at the Boston Marathon. I thought it was obvious when I met him that day, that he was the one. I don't know whether she knew it yet! He was so loving and supportive. A keeper for sure!

That'd be Noemí (sister), Chandra, Rob, Dora (my SIL from Argentina) and Tom, my oldest brother.

Anne

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And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com

Andi is my Something Beautiful* and she knows why   I am blessed to have a friend like her in my life!

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Don't feed the idiots or they'll continue being idiots...

I leave for Australia tomorrow at 6am. I don't have any real plans yet or even know how long I'm staying, but my work visa is good for a year. Growing up is so overrated, so here's to avoiding reality for a bit longer.

Buff

Buff!

I thought you were ensconced where you were! Glad to see you expanding those horizons. Have a great time and report back often.

Anne

---

And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com