A bit of catching up

While much is happening on Culebra, I'm still here in California enjoying the views and time with my son. It's as beautiful as I always imagined, from way back when I read The Dharma Bums a million years ago. Sort of like a redwood, but different. Even the Hog Farm is just down the road, still going strong after all these years. This is definitely one of the places all the hippies went, including the ones who weren't born when the original hippies wandered into being. I feel fairly at home...

Here are just a few photos of this leg of What I'm Doing On My Summer (now almost Fall) Vacation.

California deer (I've seen a lot of deer here!)

Drive through redwood (no fries with that)

Elijah and me in a redwood!

This place was just 'there' - calling our names

Another part of the place above

I would love to meet the person who created the above and put this sign up!

A very cool beach near the farm

Pebble footsteps

Awesome seaweed(s) here

Heading down the road (maybe one of the most gentle curves - it's crazy twisty here)

Wild pea blossom (very poisonous, I'm told)

I've skipped more than a few Free Range Fridays but this was one of my favorites (and no, it wasn't Friday, it was last night).

Garden Goodness - Go out into your farm garden and gather up the following:
Zuchinni
Broccoli
Flying saucer squash
Onion
Garlic
Tomato

 Some good additions


Bragg's Liquid Amino   (you can get it at Holistica Aimee on Culebra)
Sriacha hot sauce (if you can't find it to buy, you can make your own!)
Salt and pepper to taste

Start up a pot of rice (the slow cooking kind). Chop up all the veggies, garlic and onion and saute it all in a little bit of oil and butter until the tomatoes are squishy. Rice should be done by then. Buen provecho!!

 

And last, but in no ways least...

Don't forget! 5:30 Wednesday morning!

I know some of you reading this won't be on island, but I know you'll want to be supportive regardless. For those of you on island: Wednesday morning at 5:30 a.m. all people who want to exercise their civil rights and express their feelings about what is happening on Culebra will gather at the ferry dock. Prepare to be there awhile - umbrellas for shade, snacks, chairs, water etc as needed. Many of you already know this info, but I was asked to send it out to everyone on my own little list so...I am! If it helps even a little bit, I'm glad to be repetitive.

Sunrise over Culebra from the ferry (remember that?)

For those of us who are off island, we can email and call CNN and other major news outlets about this gathering and tell about the ongoing governmental ignoring of the transportation crisis on Culebra.

Thanks to all who are working to solve these critical issues. Wish I was home, but I'm with you all in spirit and heart and if there is anything else I can do, let me know!

p.s. I'll be traveling most of the day tomorrow to California and am not sure when I'll be able to get online, so if you don't hear from me for a few days...assume I'm hiking around somewhere with my son and having an amazing time in the redwoods and points Pacific.

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This just came in my email; Diane Simard (of Holistica Aimee, the health food store) writes about her take from the meeting Sunday at El Batey. The next piece is from the Culebra Calendar online.The photo is by Amy Jo Ellis and there are links to more on facebook if you want to check them out.

"Hi, The Sunday meeting for the business owners was a strong group and again many people showed up and spoke up. I have a feeling that with every  meeting we are getting more organized and something very positive is happening. Thank You.

 What I left with at the meeting on Sunday was:

Everyone who can could meet at the ferry dock on Wednesday (15 Sept.'10) 5:30 a.m.. We would like to bring our grievance to the Governor directly by showing up in San Juan. Unfortunately we can't all fit on the ferry....  what will they do with all of us.....Vieques is also doing a strike on the same Wednesday so it all coincide and the attention will get to the press.
We are contacting the press and writing a press release both in english and spanish. A meeting is planned with the press on Tuesday evening.
The greater number of resident that show up on Wednesday morning the better. Businesses are planning to close.
Of course if there is any change that I hear I will let Pam know.
We are a beautiful, powerful, and organized island. Peace is the theme for this Wednesday....... Culebra in Peace.

The ferry only holds 150 people, the issues will be that we have our rights to get off the island to exercise our rights."

From: The Culebra Calendar <theculebracalendar@yahoo.com>

Date: Mon, Sep 13, 2010 at 10:23 AM
Subject: Meeting El Batey Sept 12

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  Culebra Forum
  

  Approximately 75-85 people met at El Batey Sunday September 12th to discuss the lack of adequate Ferry Service. The meeting was called by Tomas Ayala President of the Committee for Better Ferry Service
  (COMITÉ PRO MEJOR SERVICIO DE TRANSPORTACIÓN MARÍTIMA PARA CULEBRA ) Tomas Ayala and Vice President Ivan Solís presided with help from Committee officers Joan Colondres and Cindy Villanueva. The meeting was very well managed and bilingual thanks to Carmen Rosa Sabater.
  
  Discussed were the effects of the lack of Ferry service to local businesses and it was estimated business revenues may be down by as much as 85% in some businesses and approximately 150 people have lost their jobs or have been severely cut back.
  
  Because of heavy payrolls, Neil Romero said he may be forced to shutdown the Dinghy Dock and Carmen Rosa Sabater reported that Jose Mayoral of Bahia Marina says the revenue loss was so devastating and considering his payroll, if this keeps up for more than a week he may be forced to shutdown as well.
  
  Several options were discussed and it was proposed and voted on that the businesses would strike on Wednesday the 15th and use the time to make contacts, write letters etc. A contingency of people will also go to the Big Island and seek help from the Government.

  16 minutes ago ·  ·  1 person · 
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  Culebra Forum Photos by Amy Jo Ellis, Gracias Amy!!
  
  
  
  More photos and Spanish later today at the forum:
  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Culebra-Forum/42892999274?ref=mf

Monday Monday

It's not really Monday yet, but after a big day of soccer and post Ryan's birthday day, I'm sort of whipped and want to be up to see the kids off in the morning school bus time...so I'm writing this now and posting it too.

Monday is my last 'full' day here and I'm sorry to see this time of my journey come to an end. Too fast, too fast. But I will wrap up all of these memories in my heart mind, children dance pulling wisp webs round, with cries of spider spider to keep me awake...

Whisper secrets in my ear
The ones that you and I can hear
that lead us up and straight ahead
and make for memories in my head to pack up
take home, unwrap, suck on like a juicy bone of laughing, grinning, growing, wrap it up, wrap you up, take you home in the memory songs...til next time...




Tuesday I'm off to California and my son Elijah...but I'm not leaving before I go.