practical/philosophical question

is there anything I can actually do to help out with Iraq, or Somalia, or Darfur, or Tibet...?

I'm getting sick of hearing about situations overseas, year after year, and always thinking vaguely that there is something I could be doing. let's consider:

1. write letters to congress or somewhere. sounds very unrewarding. I doubt that would change anything, despite what activist ppls advocate....
2. donate money. sounds unrewarding too. I know that anything I can give is a literal drop in a bucket, compared to what is needed. also, there are sooooo many places that could use donations, just thinking about it is mind-boggling.
3. pray? I heard Pope John Paul used to pray for 7 hours a day. that's a serious use of his time resources - he must have thought it to be a good use of time.
4. make carepacks with a note; just let people know that someone is thinking about them...?

I think the last one speaks to wanting to personally touch the situation, which seems to be more the point than anything for me. looking at it that way, it seems like such an american thing - the exact reason why we're so unpopular anyway, thinking we're justified in poking our noses in....... yet it sounds kind to me - hmmmmmmm.... maybe I'll check out some of the yoga ppls thoughts on this....
YIKES -boring!!!

meanwhile, I've been out shopping this weekend for plants for my classroom and Valentine's gifts for my class (I'm going to bake individual heart-shaped treats with their name on it!), trying to make it a special place for all of us. many of my kids are in pretty serious poverty; maybe just trying to create a safe and nurturing place and going around trying to get better coats for them and the suchlike that I do, is my bit of helping this planet......

any thoughts....?

the expanding o' the family

two recent baby newses:

first, I've yet to mention that my good friends Ximena and Fernando welcomed their new son, Sebastian, to the world on December 29, 2006! he's super-cute and growing like a weed. congratulations to the happy family!

meanwhile, other good friends BRITEW and Anonymous have decided to adopt a lil' kitty-cat. they're thinking of getting a grown-up, reject cat to assuage their first-world, consumptionist throw-away guilt, but I really think they should get a cute lil' kitten, like so:

















awwwwwwwwwwwww!

in other family-expansion news, Marie's wedding-planning is thrilling her SO MUCH that she has begged me for some yoga lessons so she can make it through the summer without developing a permanent one-eyed squint. happy to oblige, Marie, happy to do it.....
NOW MAKE WITH THE FOIE GRAS!!!!!!

yay! going to VT in 2 weeks!

(that's Vermont to you foreigners)

my dad and I have our winter breaks at the same time this year (yeah, you wish you were a teacher... winter break and, oh yeah, I'm at home today because -boohoo- it's too COLD for our kids to go to school.... brrrrrrr!), so I'm going to visit him, my stepma, my grandma, maybe my brother-in-law will be in town too? plus, we'll be moving my grandpa from the cape (that's Cape Cod, Massachusetts to you foreigners - near Boston, you know?). he needs to go to assisted care... :( sad to see, but it's definitely time.

only thing is, nobody's told him yet! (remember - it's in 2 weeks!!) well, he has a whole memory problem and the thinking is he'll forget what the important news is, but remember to be upset.... I dunno. seems kind of strange, but my family's thought a lot about it and is getting advice from specialists.

anyway, my dad and I'll do the move, while my stepma escorts my grandpa to Verde-mont. despite having to catch a 6:45 am flight (does time actually GO that early?) and doing the hauling, driving, & hauling, I'm looking forward to it - I always like to spend time with my Dad. I'm sure I'll learn something - he's a super-smart guy.

well folks, it's grand to be on-line; I'd love to stay and chat... but I have a kitty on my feet who neds some petting....... enjoy your day at work & ciao!