in need of patience

In need of a balm for my aching soul, with a dancing heart that has lost its ability to keep a steady rhythm, tonight I wandered into Kiva... and found Patience.

Right place, right time.

How was I assured that my travel there was no accident?

There was actually money in my account, ready to be lent again.

Plus, there was the name of the country, hinting at freedom from care.

And, the woman sells fruits and vegetables - to help keep others healthy.

Definitely right place, right time!

i thank You, God.

Here is the story, from Patience herself, via a translator:

"Meet 40 years old Patience, from Liberia, seller of fruits and vegetables.

She is a widow with 4 children, they are schooling and live at home.

She is a hardworking business woman who sells. She sells palm nuts, potatoes, cassava, plantain, garie and other items. Her mother taught her how to sell and she started these businesses with her own savings.

She uses car to transport supplies to her business site. She sells Monday through Saturday, from 7:30 am up to 6:30 pm. She faces no problems with her business.

She requires for a loan through BRAC Liberia and Kiva Field Partner. The loan will be used to buy more palm nuts, potatoes, cassava, plantain, garie and other items to sell in order to further build her business and increase her income.

In the future, She wants to educate her children.

She says thanks to all lenders around the world."

My thanks to her for helping to soothe my heart, as well as bringing me fond thoughts of my first niece, just a year younger than Patience.

I hope her loan will be successful and her children grow to be educated leaders like her.

making my first niece 1 of 103

You see, she just had her 39th birthday last Tuesday.

Today, I bestowed upon her two of my favorite kickstarter rewards.

Both are musicals... and she and I love those!

We 'inherited' the love of that genre from my Mother, her Grammy.

Gifting these two musicals to Christina Ann can actually be considered a gift not only from me, but also from Mama, as well as my stepdad.

That's because they were the source of the 'free money' that allowed me to become Fliss of Kickstarter, after all.

(smile!)

So, just what does that title mean?

That refers to me being 1 of 103 backers who donated $150 to Stuart Murdoch's quest to turn his album concept into a musical film, way back in 2012.

For my belief in, and support of, his dream, I have received a digital postcard that was so gorgeous that I printed it out and framed it;  my name listed on their website with all who supported the project; a lovely t-shirt and two beautiful pins; a preview of the movie at a small cinema, in the company of my blue-sky cousin Penny and my physicist bfe; and, after the festival run was through and she had won awards and viewers' hearts, my very own copy of the movie on dvd.

Now, as of two hours ago, the dvd belongs to my dearly loved first niece.

Forever.

What's the movie all about?

The girl on the left is Eve, a talented young woman who lands in trouble when she moves to a new place and stops eating, among other things.

At a concert on a day away from the institute she meets James, a musician as well.

Then she is introduced to Cassie, a quirky and joyful person taking music lessons from James.

Next thing you know, the trio has formed a band, and all is working out well, until Eve takes a fancy to a a fellow to stuck on himself to treat her right.

That leads to a backslide on her part, but James and Cassie are right by her side, supporting her musical talents and goals.

When the summer ends, Eve is going off to study music at an academy, James is following his own path, and Cassie... is her same delightful self.

It's such a good film, and I do so love the pop tunes throughout, and I am sure my niece will, too!

(smile!)

So, what was the other musical?

Well, as well as being a long-time favorite of mine - like, for a dozen years now - it's a short, clocking in at just under 20 minutes.

Honestly, I think that may be one of the things my niece loves most about it.

She's never owned a short film before!

And she'll be 1 of 7  to possess an autographed copy of this one.

That's right, Adam Hall signed it!!!

That makes this video even more special, as if "Sudden Death!" wasn't already priceless to me.

Now, Christina will get to watch the singing and dancing, the formation of the 'death blossom' (shown in the photo and caused when the folks afflicted by the 'musical theatre disease' suddenly collapse and die), and the unfolding romance between two of the scientists... and she'll get to do so over and over and over!

It's a short!

Every time she needs a break, she can pop it in and watch!

I sure hope she'll invite me over for one of those viewings!

(smile!)

standing with helen on this!

Hey, did you know today was International Women's Day?

I certainly did not, as none of the 'mercials on tv even whispered of it.

Shame on them!

So I'm very glad my Alpha Chi Sigma brother sent out an email about this special day.

Here it is, for your perusal.

 

*****

"Dear Brother,
Happy International Women’s Day!
This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is “Breaking the Bias.”
Alpha Chi Sigma is proud to be ahead of the curve by “breaking the bias” more than 50 years ago when we initiated the first women into our bond. We are so proud of the fact that nearly 50% of our current collegiate membership is made up of young women, seeking a career in science.
Since 1971, we’ve seen women rise in our ranks, hold offices in our local chapters, as well as on the National level. I’m proud to belong to Alpha Chi Sigma. I am also proud to be among many other women who have served as Grand Master Alchemist and those who are members of the Order of Altotus.
I invite you to join me in celebrating and supporting the women in our Brotherhood with a gift to Alpha Chi Sigma.
Yours in the Double Bond,
Helen M.M. Webster, Alpha Rho ’94
Grand Vizier" 

*****

And just what sum would be most fitting to mark the date?

$19.71, naturally!

Little things build into big ones!

(smile!)

keeping farms green and growing for Georgians

The places that supply our tables and restaurants with produce are in danger of being bought out by entities with no concern for our citizens.

Protect Georgia brought this to my attention and asked for my help.

Would I please contact my elected officials and ask them to take a stand for the farmers?

Of course I would!

Vegetables and fruits are some of my favorite foods, and I prefer to buy local!

So here is a copy of the letter sent to the three electees.

Let's hope they look out for those that put them in office!

*****

Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan (R)
Sen. Lester Jackson (D-GA-002)
Rep. Edna Jackson (D-GA-165)

Dear Lt. Governor Duncan:
Dear Senator Jackson:
Dear Representative Jackson:

Stop the corporate takeover of Georgia's farms.
Stop the Bad Neighbor Bill, HB 1150.

Georgia-grown and Georgia-owned farms keep food on our tables. These local farmers and landowners need you to stop the Bad Neighbor Bill, HB 1150.

Since 1989, Georgia laws have protected our local farmers from frivolous nuisance lawsuits. These laws also protect Georgians' property rights.

But recently, these laws have come under attack from multinational meat corporations and insurance company lobbyists.

Mark Israel, a 6th-generation GA farmer from Sumter County captured the problem well in his letter to the editor:

"Farmers like me and my neighbors have farmed under the existing Right to Farm Law for more than 30 years. There's nothing wrong with the law we have, nothing at all, and no epidemic of lawsuits against farmers. . . The [effort to change Georgia's existing law] is about opening the floodgates for corporate animal feeding operations with giant waste lagoons. It's about immunizing these operations when they move into Georgia and harm you by taking away your more than 150-year-old property rights."
His full letter to the editor is linked here: https://tinyurl.com/y6xf7vvm