Altrusan of the Year and more

I have been so behind on blogging that I haven't gotten a chance to say congratulations to Shanna, who was named Altrusan of the Year on Aug. 22. Shanna is someone I've known for a long time - we both worked at Hutchinson Community College at the same time years ago. She's also on my board of directors.

Shanna is one of the reasons I stay in Altrusa. There are some wonderful ladies in that group and she is one of them. She does a ton of stuff behind the scenes for Altrusa and for many other groups.

Debbie had also arranged for January Jackson to perform for us that evening. She has a beautiful voice and was very generous to share her talent with us. She had performed for the Volunteer Center's annual dinner.
Debbie's beautiful sunflowers that we used for the decorations really perked up the room. I'm always amazed at what bright colors can do for a room. It's amazing the transformation that occurs.

Debbie did the presentation that night and did a great job. We had six nominees for Altrusan of the Year and any one of them was deserving.




Before heading out to Altrusa that night, I went to Skaets to see Steve. He stopped through Wichita on his way back to Iowa to see some baseball. He drove up to Hutch to visit with Greg a bit. I couldn't eat dinner with them but I wanted to see him. Of course, Ace Jackalope was in attendance.

On the way I was witness to an accident at Third and Severance, the same intersection where I was hit by a drunk driver a year or two ago. I know a number of people who have had accidents there, so it's obviously a dangerous intersection. I was stopped at the light, just like when I was hit, the first car in line. Thank goodness, I'm a person who always stops far behind the line because the car that was hit came to rest inches from my front bumper. If I were one of those people who pulled halfway through the intersection when I stopped I would have been involved in it. I was so thankful to avoid it.

I gave my card to both the drivers in case they needed testimony but I haven't heard from them. I don't know where the woman came from that hit this guy, but he was completely in the right. He was going through the intersection and she banged into him. Not sure if she ran a red light or turned into him. But, of course, we've all done stupid things in the car. I was just thankful to avoid the accident.

Becky!

Saturday Greg and I went to Roy's for Barbecue. I think I could eat Roy's every day.

I told him I wanted to stop by Diana's store on the way home, just to see how things looked now that they were all set up. Diana moved The Dancing Grouse to 125 N. Main this past week and I went in to help some on Tuesday, but she had her reopening on Wednesday and I hadn't had a chance to see it since she was all set up. This is great space and the street scape has been finished in this block, which is a bonus.




When we popped into Diana's, I was surprised to see Becky there. It was great to see her. She moved to St. Louis last year and I've really missed her.

She and Rob had decided about four o'clock Friday afternoon to come to Hutch for the weekend. So, it was just a bonus that I happened to pop in while she was there.

To top it off, Teresa was in, so I got to see her too. She had brought in freshly made scones. Oh my gosh, they were amazing.

Greg snapped some pix of all of us together. L-R is Diana, Becky, me and Teresa.




It was so neat to see everyone. Nancy came in just as Greg and I were getting ready to leave so I got to visit with her just briefly. I also saw Austin and Amy for just a couple of minutes.

I was showing Becky, Diana and Teresa the cutest little lipstick holder I'd gotten at Target the night before in the dollar section. It's metallic pink and looks like a tiny little purse. Greg was making fun of how excited women get about such things. But, hey, I recommend you get to your local Target and pick one up as soon as possible.

Coming up

One of the things I've been doing recently - besides digging out from the tea - is preparing for the next month. I've got a lot of things on the agenda for September - some fun and some work.

Although it hasn't been announced officially yet, I'm going to be part of the Reno County Leadership class this fall. This is the first time they've done a fall one and it is better for my schedule. We have an overnight retreat so I'm making plans for that.

I'm also teaching a journalling class later this month. Although that's largely straightforward, it does require some preparation. I'm wondering what, exactly, I want to do for the class. It's hard to know what to focus on, but obviously I have to do some planning for it.

Also, Greg and I are going on a trip to Seattle and Portland next month so I need to plan for that a bit too. We haven't traveled together for awhile and I'm really looking forward to going. It will be interesting to see if we still travel well together. Neither of us has been to that area of the country, so it will be good. With just some preliminary reading I know I'm going to want more time there.

I've been working on getting ahead on my podcasts and cookbook reviews. I've got the Route 66 Minute ready through October. I'd like to get a few Art of Gracious Living podcasts recorded too. Just like when I was in radio, I don't like the production part of it. Sitting down and recording them is a breeze. But, then the post production has to happen - music added, converted to mp3, etc. - I just don't care for all that. But, it has to be done. I want to get a couple of reviews for Kansas Country Living written, too.

The State Fair starts on Friday and runs for 10 days. I haven't committed yet, but I will probably help work out there a bit. Other than that, we will just be out there a lot enjoying the fair.

And the last weekend of the fair is the Arlington tea. I enjoy that tea so very much. It will be so nice to have tea instead of creating tea.

Catching Up

I have been so occupied that I've not been blogging much lately. However, on my list of things to do this weekend is get caught up a bit. We'll see if I manage.

But in the interest of getting started on that...

A couple of nights ago Greg and I went out to the Dutch Kitchen. It seems whenever we travel that direction we are blessed with an interesting sunset and Friday night was no different.





Dinner at the Dutch Kitchen was good, and they're famous for their pie. We both had some pecan pie to top off the meal. I realized after the tea that I never even sampled any of the tea goodies, other than while I was cooking.

I'm still cleaning up from the tea - there are a dozen tablecloths to wash and tons of napkins, not to mention re-integrating all my dishes back into my stash. I'm amazed at how women will just wipe their lipstick onto a cloth napkin. I used almost a whole bottle of stain remover on the napkins. I've had them soaking all day in a borax wash, so hopefully tonight I'll be able to finish them. I wonder what has happened to our society that we think this is appropriate behavior.

Art of Gracious Living Podcast #37

I recently visited the Cathedral of the Plains at Victoria, Kansas. The Art of Gracious Living Podcast this week is about how we all need sacred spaces in our lives. You can listen using the player below.

What is a sacred space varies from one person to another but we must have those safe havens to turn to in times of need. They restore us and help us find our way in the world once again.

I encourage you to find your own sacred spaces.



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Art of Gracious Living Webpage

Archaic Mail

I bought an airline ticket today, using a travel voucher I got last year as a result of the hell trip home from Puerto Rico. I haven't used a travel voucher in awhile and never on this particular airline. There were some surprises.

First, I couldn't just use the voucher online. I could make the reservation and hold it on the website, but then I had to call to make payment arrangements.

Second, after all that was done, the final step is for me to MAIL the travel voucher. It seemed so archaic to be physically mailing someone a piece of paper when I can choose my flights and seats online, and even pay online with a credit card. But I can't pay with their own internally generated payment system. Very odd.

Oh well, it's fixed up and ready to go. It was just a moment of oddness when they told me to mail it to them. I mail many things because I still write letters, but I just never think of business involving the mail anymore. Interesting how our viewpoints change.

Creative Sisterhood

Tonight my Creative Sisterhood group gathered at Virginia's cabin to celebrate our third anniversary. Technically, it will be Sunday - September 3 - but tonight was the night we chose to gather. It was a wonderful evening.

We had the windows open and the bugs were singing and we had a fabulous meal. We did a potluck and it was incredible.

Virginia grilled chicken breasts and squash, Teresa made a Vietnamese noodle salad that was amazing, as well as a fresh peach pie. Diana brought corn casserole and I took green beans with fresh basil and also baked potatoes. Julie made rice and Martha brought some great bread. We coordinated a little bit so we ended up with a nice mix. It was a very tasty meal.

It has cooled off her a bit in the last few days and tonight was perfectly lovely. As we were finishing up it started lightning and now we're expecting rain. I'll be so happy to get some rain. I continue to water my plants but they just couldn't make it through the horrific heat. Things are looking puny.

This morning was the United Way kick off breakfast and it went really well.It's always good to see people and visit a bit.

I had scheduled breakfast with Peggy afterwards and visited with her while she had breakfast since I'd already eaten. We didn't get done with our planning so we're going to get together again in the morning.

I also looked at a garden for the Tenth Annual Hutchinson Garden Tour set for June 24, 2007. This is the second one I have lined up now so it's shaping up.

Well, I am headed upstairs shortly. I got up at 5 this morning and have been going pretty much constantly since then so it's time for a little rest. I am so glad it's a holiday weekend. I need a little time to think.

I've got a lot on my mind these days.

Water, Water, Water

I'm watching yet another program about global warming and how it's going to cause a dramatic rise in sea level, while at the same time dramatically diminishing the fresh water supply. That, of course, will mean a lack of food.

We have known about this for a very long time. We remain unwilling to give up our gas guzzling vehicles, to not water our lawns or even to use compact flourescent blubs on a large scale. We continue to forge ahead as if there is no problem. We give a lot of lip service to "our children and grandchildren" but we don't change our ways.

I have officially given up trying to affect this, on anything other than a personal level. I'm just thankful I did not bring any children into the world. And I certainly do not intend to.

Ultimately, the Earth will survive in some fashion, and life will survive in some fashion, it simply may not be human life. So be it.

Digging Out Life

It has been another full day. Once I get through this week I'm going to take a day or two to gather my thoughts. I have some personal projects I need to work on. Thank goodness it's a holiday weekend coming up. Even though I might not get a lot done, at least others will stop for a day and that means more new things won't come into my world. That is a huge bonus at this point.

However, I did take time at lunch today to go to Diana's store and help her a bit. She has moved the Dancing Grouse to 125 N. Main, right across the street from my office. I went in and helped put jewelry into the counter and move some things around. Things look really good for having just moved everything in yesterday. Apparently, numerous people have helped, including Debbie and Teresa. I wish I could inspire people to help me with projects. Others seem to have some magic I don't possess. It was good to get to help out.

Tonight was a gathering for the NewComer's group. I hadn't seen Peggy in quite a while, so it was good to connect with her. I'm really optimistic about the NewComer's group this time around - we've got more people involved and that's good.

Well, I need to find a bit more energy to do a few more things in the house before I go up to bed. I'm trying to get things a little bit more normal in my world. When I do a tea I use a lot of my own things and it takes a while to get everything washed and put away afterwards. This time I have all the new table cloths to wash too, so it will really take some time.

I don't have anything time specific until 2 tomorrow afternoon so I think I will spend the morning working on digging out my life a bit.

A 10 Year Plan

Tonight was Chicks and it was a great evening. Almost everyone was able to come and that was great. One of the topics was a suggestion to set a goal for 10 years in the future and think about what you need to do today for your health in order to be able to enjoy your life ten years from now.

That theme was one that everyone kept coming back to. When it was my turn I said that I didn't expect to be alive in 10 years so I couldn't imagine planning for it. Everyone was obviously shocked by my statement, so I had to explain further. I don't expect to be alive in the morning, much less a decade from now. For me, that is the ultimate presumption - that we will continue living. It's why I'm so adamant about living fully every day - it may be my last.

I'm all for tempting fate, but I'm not brave enough to tempt it so much to be planning for the future. Plus, why would I want to limit myself with plans.

My life is so different now than it was 10 years ago. If I'd had a "plan" that I made up a decade ago that I was still following, I wouldn't live in this house, I wouldn't be debt free, I wouldn't have been to Egypt, I wouldn't have been with my last two lovers, I wouldn't have watched a meteor shower in Honduras, I wouldn't have the career I have now, and I wouldn't have the friends I have now. Why? Because none of those things were possibilities for me 10 years ago - my life was very different than it is now.

On the other hand, one has to always consider what one is missing by not having a plan. I don't know. I firmly believe in thinking about what you want and then leaving that up to the universe to create, but to actually plan what you want - to have a goal to be doing x-y-z in 10 years - I can't imagine how you could ever do that.

Mental Health Association Victorian Tea

Yesterday was our annual Victorian Tea for the MHA in Reno County (Mental Health Association). Grace Episcopal Church let us hold it in their facility and it was just perfect! I'm so thankful for their generosity.

I do all the cooking for it, other than the scones, which Nancy Murry makes for us every time. I just ate a leftover one and it was delicious. I hope all the things I made were good. I realized last night that I never sampled anything, other than as I was cooking.

Something new this time was trifle in individual punch cups. The church has snack trays and punch cups we could use, so that worked out great.




I had a volunteer who agreed to make table cloths for us, and I used fresh flowers on the tables. The theme was Lavendar and Lace. I also used some of the linens I've collected over the years. For some reason I seem to think it's my purpose in life to preserve such things. But, I just cannot imagine wanting to let go of embroidery or crochet work that had been done by my loved ones.

Some of the people who were there are friends, and some are people who come everytime. We also have new people everytime. Some of my regulars were occupied with the United Way workday on Saturday and couldn't come. I was really sorry to learn that was scheduled on the same day as our tea, but it's just the way it worked out. It was a nice group overall.




Teresa brought her granddaughters. That's Kylie sitting all prim and proper having tea with her grandma, and Kenzie is telling grandma a secret.

I really enjoy planning tea, and thinking through all the details, but it is a lot of work. I cannot imagine doing this for a living. It's great for a once a year fundraiser, and at the moment I'm all excited about doing it again. But I'll be happy to just think about it for a bit, and go to other people's teas.

In fact, I'm going to one in Arlington next month. This is one of my very favorite teas. They didn't have it last year and I really missed it. I generally attend the St. John's tea in November, but they're not having theirs this year. I am turning www.mhatea.com into a website for fundraiser teas in Kansas. Frankly, they're much nicer than the typical tea you get in a tea room - and no wonder - there's no way anyone could make money paying for all the labor that volunteers donate for us to put on tea.

Three of my board members, as well as Nancy, helped pour tea yesterday. We had multiple comments that the tea was hot, which they liked. And people loved it that their cups were always full. That's one of my big deals - keeping people's cups full.

Susan came, along with her friend Kathleen, who I met when we all went to tea in Hiawatha. I wish I could find other fundraiser teas to go to. Maybe as www.mhatea.com grows I'll learn about more.




I asked "Scarlett," who has attended our teas, as well as the St. John one, before, to regale us with some tales. She most graciously agreed to do so. I think the ladies all enjoyed her stories.

I think people are eager to have a reason to dress up a little bit and do something out of the ordinary. I'm always struck by how much people are enjoying just talking with each other. I think it's because we don't do it very much anymore. I almost hate to talk because I interrupt their conversation. But, people like to have a little program of some sort.

All in all I think everyone had a good time. Now I just have to get everything reorganized and then I can start thinking about another one.



















Because it is summer I was able to use some things from my garden for the tea, including some fresh herbs.

The Menu from the
Lavendar and Lace Tea
August 26, 2006

Cucumber Sandwich
Egg Salad with fresh royal pepper
Tuna Salad on Seven Grain Bread
Bacon - Basil Tomato Bites
Prosciutto and Rosemary on Carrot Chips
Calla Lily with Herb Filling

Traditional Scones and Clotted Cream
Pumpkin Bread

Butter Cake with Cherry Topping
English Berry Trifle
Chocolate Heaven
Lemon Tart
Sugar Cookie
Raisin Walnut Fudge Cookie
Frosted Petite Grapes

The news today has been filled with word of the air crash in Lexington, Kentucky. It's always odd when something like this happens in an area you know. I used to live just a few miles down the road from that airport. I've been to Keeneland, which is practically across the road from the airport, many times. When they show the maps of the area I know all those places. That's always odd.

I don't know anyone who was on the plane - that I know of, anyway. I haven't lived there for many years, but spent some very happy times in Lexington.

Long Lost Me

Well... I have been largely absent here for a few days - very unlike me. But, we had our Victorian tea fundraiser yesterday and I was very busy preparing for it and cooking and organizing and decorating and well - you get the idea. It went very well. We had a good turn out and I think everyone had a good time. Now I have to clean up and reorganize and get things back to "normal."

Greg came and took some pix at the tea yesterday and I will share some, along with the menu, but today I'm just trying to get my life back in a bit of order. I've got so many things on my agenda to take care of and some of them have fast approaching deadlines.

A Cooking Fiend

I have been a cooking fiend today. But, I've gotten a lot done for the tea. I'm right on track - actually maybe a little bit ahead. However, I know from experience that there are so many details that I'll be up against the deadline at the end - it's always that way.

I've finished the sugar cookies, the pound cake for the trifle, the pumpkin bread and the miniature butter cakes. I've also got the filling for one of the sandwiches made so it can meld the flavors together. I also cooked the bacon for another one. Tomorrow I'll mix the tuna salad and the cucumber sandwich filling.

I did stop by Grace Episcopal church today, where it's being held, and double checked a few things. They have been so very helpful, which I genuinely appreciate.

Oddly enough, one of the big challenges for the tea will be keeping that much hot tea made at all times. It's something I always remind people of when they contact me about doing a tea. People often don't pay much attention to that and it's a critical part of the whole thing. I always have someone who's job it is to keep tea made. And that person is busy the whole time.

Well, it's 3:16 a.m. and I've been doing constantly since I got up. I think it's time for me to sleep a bit - not too much - just a bit.

Feeling Better

I have been cooking for the tea today. On Saturday the MHA is holding its fourth Victorian tea. It will be at Grace Episcopal Church in Hutchinson from 3:30-5. The theme is lavendar and lace and I'm having a great time pulling it all together.

This is a fundraiser for the MHA and fundraiser teas are always the best. I love going to those kind of teas. Because we're doing them only once a year we can pour a lot of energy into them, unlike if you're doing it for a business and you're doing it every day. We sell our tickets for $20 each and it's a bargain compared to what I've paid to go to tea at various places around the country.

I'm still working on the menu, but I know I'm serving pumpkin bread - always a favorite. I'm also making individual trifles for everyone this time. I'll serve them in punch cups. They'll be pretty on the table. I'm always looking for color.

In other news, I'm feeling MUCH better. I didn't mention it here but I went to the doctor on Friday. I generally just beg for antibiotics when I'm sick, but this was weird. I had a little sore throat on Sunday after getting back from Colby. Monday I was pretty worn out but getting better, and I had no symptoms except a sore throat and earache. I didn't even feel bad.

On Friday morning I woke up completely congested, could barely talk or breathe. I had volunteers coming that afternoon to do things for the tea. Fortunately, Greg went to the office with me and helped get them setup, and I went to the doctor. He gave me some mega drugs and told me to go home and rest all weekend, which I did quite a bit of. Even yesterday I was not feeling great, but today I am much, much better. I'm such a horrible patient.

I've got to get a few more things done for the tea and then I'm hitting the sack. I've got some "real life" things to deal with tomorrow so I have to get some sleep tonight. It's going to be a busy day.

This I Believe - in My Own Voice

I recently posted the presentation I did at Kansas Dialogue about my belief that life is about the little things. That generated a lot of interest from readers and some commented they would like to hear me read it. If you would like to hear it in my own voice, just click here and wait for it to download on your computer. You can then listen at your convenience.

Art of Gracious Living #36

I was recently asked to give a brief presentation about one of my "core beliefs." I chose to talk about how I believe life is all about the little things that happen in a day.

I decided to share it with listeners as part of Art of Gracious Living because it sums up part of why I decided to start this podcast - to encourage people to appreciate daily life, and not just live for the special occasions.

A small excerpt: "Wonder at new life, honor those who are dying, appreciate the gift that is living. Drink in the smell of coffee in the morning and sink your bare feet into freshly plowed fields. Eat the best chocolate - before meals. Wish on shooting stars, climb trees and pinky-swear with your best friend. Take responsibility and forgive yourself and others. Whisper "I Love you" in the dark, sleep with lightning bugs in a jar by your bed, jump in puddles and always stop to watch the snow fall. Live every moment like it's your last and never forget to be amazed. I believe life is all about the little things."

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The Groom Wore Tennis Shoes

Today was Austin and Amy's wedding day. Austin is Diana's son, and has been a delight to know since I first met him. He has a great sense of humor, as evidenced by the lime green tennis shoes he was wearing today, which perfectly matched his tie.

Amy chose green and blue as her colors and it really turned out pretty. She was truly a radiant bride.




They were married at St. Teresa's church in Hutchinson, which is a gorgeous facility.







They both said their vows without tears as far as I could tell. I think they'll be a happy couple.







They did something I thought was neat. Instead of having the ushers come and lead everyone out, Austin and Amy came back into the church and took time to hug everyone and exchange a few words with them as they left the pews. It was a nice touch.

It's especially a good idea for people who are having their photos taken after the wedding and before the reception. It gives the bride and groom a moment with everyone, without a receiving line. And if someone doesn't go to the reception or leaves before pix are done they got a chance to say hello to them.

They had bubbles for everyone as they left the church.




Everyone was invited to a reception at another location, which was a tiki/luau theme. I've never been to a wedding reception with that theme, but it was really neat. It lends itself to some beautiful touches. They had leis for everyone at the front door, so we are all colorful in the photos.

The table decorations were neat and included shells and lots of other touches that went with the theme.

At the reception, Amy's uncle sang "Mr. Bojangles" because Amy's mom said when Amy was a kid she would come home from spending the night with her cousins and say she wanted her Uncle Jim to sing "Mr. Bojangles" at her wedding. So, he did. Well, at the reception.

Lily was the flower girl, and was really enjoying herself at the reception. Grandma said she was bouncing off the walls from the four marshmallows she had let her have, and goodness knows how many she'd had that others had let her eat.

She sported pink cowboy boots during her walk down the aisle. She was none too happy at the prospect of sitting still once her part was over, however. Rebecca, who was taking care of her during the wedding, had to take her out.




Taylor and Sarah (left) did a nice toast involving a letter Austin had written to Santa when he was a kid.

Meeting a Blog Reader

Last weekend at Kansas Dialogue, I had barely arrived when a nice lady walked up and looked at my name tag and said, "Oh! I read your blog." That was Kathy, who's photo I posted last weekend.

It was only a little bit later when I had the same basic conversation with Wendee, seen here.

It's incredibly flattering that people take time to read the blog and share in my life. I would love to post more photos of readers, so if you're willing to share your thoughts, email me at patsyterrell@gmail.com and I'll put you up here, along with a link to your website if you wish.

Wendee is going to be work with Marci at the Sampler Foundation. You know I've gone on and on about Marci's "The Kansas Guidebook" and other projects of this organization devoted to preserving rural life. I know Wendee will be a big help and I will get to see her again when doing Explorer functions. Find more info about all those things at http://www.kansassampler.org/

Our Own Florida

In my little burg of Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas - a town of about 50,000, we have our own Florida happening. And I'm no happier about this one than I was about that one. It's not even that it's "my guy" who's involved - I can't vote for him, he's not in my district. It's that the laws we have are not being followed and therefore the playing field is not fair.

In the 101st district, one term incumbent Mark Treaster is running for re-election. I have mentioned him on this blog before, and shown photos. Even though I don't live in his district, I supported his first campaign and also support this one because we need good legislators and he's one of them. He's a good guy, with reasonable ideas. To top it off, he didn't miss a vote in his first year, telling me he's also devoted to the process. He is a democrat, but I am not a "party line" person - I'm a "who's best for the job" person.

Republicans have decided that the 101st should be their district. So, they recruited a candidate - but not in time for him to get on the ballot. Instead, he waged a write-in campaign, and did a good job - no question about it.

Kansas law says that in order to be on the November ballot, a write in candidate must get at least 10% of the number of total votes cast in that district for the Secretary of State in the previous general election. This seems a bizarre way to determine it to me, but that's the law, and it's something that can be measured, or so you would think.

After recounts, we know that the write in candidate received 598 votes. Fair enough.

The Secretary of State's staff looked at the number of votes cast on Election Day 2002 for Secretary of State and came up with 573 as the number needed, which means the write in candidate would be on the November ballot. However, they did not include advance ballots, which are a big factor in general elections.

The Secretary of State's office, which happens to be headed by Republican Ron Thornburgh, says they didn't include advance ballots because they couldn't verify how many voted for a Secretary of State Candidate.

However, that's not really a true concern when you look at the math involved.

We know the following:
4,171 advance ballots were cast in all of Reno County in 2002
1,149 of those were in the 101st district, the one in question

159 of the 4,171 voters in all of Reno County did not vote for a Secretary of State candidate. Even if all of those happened to be in Mark Treaster's district, that would leave 990 votes cast in the 101st district for Secretary of State. So, the 10% would mean that the write in candidate would need 672 votes to be on the ballot. The write-in candidate did not reach that number.

It's now a committee that gets to decide - our Governor, Secretary of State and Attorney General. Our governor is a Democrat and the other two are Republicans.

At worst it appears the Secretary of State's office is not following the law, they're interpreting it. That is not the job of the Secretary of State's office, it is the job of the judicial system. At best it looks like the Secretary of State's office made a mathematical error. There's no shame in admitting when you're wrong. On the contrary, it's a true sign of character.

Why does this matter so much? Well, it matters because regardless of your party affiliation or your belief in one candidate or another, the system needs to be fair. Next time the tables could be turned and it's "your candidate" on the other side of the fence. The system should be equal for anyone who wants to enter into it - that's why we have laws to determine such things.

The Secretary of State's office is essentially saying that anyone who casts an advance ballot doesn't count. If that's the case, we need to do away with that system. I'm certain that no one who went to the effort to cast an advance ballot expected that their votes would not be considered.

This is not a situation that requires interpretation. The math is clear. The write in candidate did not receive the necessary 10% of votes cast for Secretary of State in that district in the 2002 general election. Therefore, he is not entitled to be on the November ballot.

The Kansas Secretary of State's website says, "In addition to many legislative duties, we are responsible for overseeing the administration of all national and state elections in Kansas. Elections are the cornerstone of democracy, and we are committed to protecting the sanctity of the democratic process." If they are really committed to the sanctity of the democratic process, Mark Treaster will not have an opponent on the November ballot.

We must not let Kansas become yet another example of election corruption.

Living to Work

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Being Bigger

The last couple of days have been busy. I'm hoping tomorrow slows down a bit.

The high point of my day was getting to have lunch with Trish. She just returned from a rafting trip with her son, Nick, in the Grand Canyon. They've done the trip before, but this one was really exceptional. She said she is feeling more "herself" than before the trip. I know just what she means. I sometimes can tell that I *need* to do something dramatic. And you come home feeling "bigger" and "more."

We were talking today about how people make their lives busy so they don't have to make any decisions about them. You "don't have time" for anything so you can just drift from one day to another. This is probably one of the reasons organized sports for kids have increased 200% in the past 20 years - what better excuse than "it's for the kids." You can get life so busy that there's no time, so you never take the initiative to make plans for a trip through the grand canyon so you don't have the risk of getting out of your comfort zone. It's easy to keep your life "small," with little chance for growth, when you heap on so many things that you "don't have time" for anything other than the ordinary. It's a mentality that has created a nation of zombies going through daily life with little true pleasure in it - always planning for "some day" - when the kids are grown, I lose weight, or there's money in the bank. People... This is it... It's all we get... Don't squander it.

Ask yourself...

When was the last time you did something that scared you? Really scared you? Made your heart pound and your palms sweat because it was unknown? If it has been more than a couple of months you're overdue.

When was the last time you had the same excitement you feel over a first kiss? I'm not suggesting you should go kiss someone new if you're in a relationship, I'm saying look for the feeling - the anticipation, the thrill, the excitement. When were you last that excited about anything?

Don't let life slip by going from one of your kid's ballgames to another one, drifting between work and dinner and then tv at home, without living somewhere inbetween.

Cathedral of the Plains at Victoria, Kansas

On Sunday when we were coming back from Kansas Dialogue in Colby, I asked Martha - our chauffer extraordinaire - if we could stop at Cathedral of the Plains in Victoria. She, Andrea and Teresa love it just as I do, so we stopped.

There was a tour bus there when we arrived, but fortunately they left shortly after we went in. Not until after one of them snapped a photo of me saying a prayer after lighting a candle. I swear, I don't know what is wrong with people sometimes. But I know that everything that is wrong with them is magnified in a tour group.

I'm not Catholic, but this cathedral is an amazing place to be, regardless of your religious affiliation, or lack thereof. It is truly a sacred space. I generally stop on every trip that direction, and I am always moved to tears.

The other day when we were there there was a brief thunderstorm, complete with thunderclaps, while we were inside. We came out to find everything freshly washed from the rain and the temperature a bit cooler. That was certainly welcome because there is no air conditioning in the building. They have fans around, but no AC.

It was started in 1908 and finished in 1911. The German immigrants who settled this area sacrificed much to bring this building into being. Stunningly beautiful bits and pieces were gathered from Europe and moved to the site from railroad some distance away. Our forefathers were made of much stronger stuff than most of us are.

Art of Gracious Living #35

Click here for show #35 and it will automatically download for you. You can listen to podcasts on your computer. You don't need an iPod or any additional software.

Loneliness has become an epidemic in the United States. We have more people than ever living in this country and we're increasingly isolated.

Being connected with our fellow humans is essential to our own well-being and to the health of our society. We cannot lead gracious lives without having relationships with others.

This week make an effort to reach out to someone in your world.

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Voting for Jack Wempe

I'm working on a post about Jack Wempe's run for the State Board of Education. We desperately need him. Ken Willard, his incumbent opponent, is a right winger who thinks we should ignore science and teach religion instead. He and the other fools have made Kansas a laughing stock. They talk a lot about "brain drain" here - well, no wonder - what self-respecting, intelligent parent of young children would want to "educate" them in a state where we just decide to ignore basic science?

I saw Jack this weekend at Kansas Dialogue and we talked about the election just briefly. Jack is a great guy - one of the most thoughtful people you'd ever want to meet. He is coming to this race with great credentials and I know he will do a fabulous job for the 7th, and all of Kansas as a member of the state board of education. Look for more about him here soon.

Donna Viola, who lost to Willard in the primary, has thrown her support to Wempe, too. I hope the voters pay attention and do the right thing. I think given the way the primaries turned out that we're going to end up with a more moderate board, regardless, but Willard is one of the WORST offenders and he needs to go. To top it off, we can get rid of him and put in Jack Wempe, who's a great choice all around.

Sometimes I wish I didn't care so much about politics, but it's so important. I'm only the second generation of women in my family to have the right to vote and I always exercise it.

Monday

I have been droopy today - maybe a little allergy from something on the farm Saturday afternoon. I went to bed very early last night and at 3 woke up with a horrible sore throat. I went out to buy some zinc and started taking it immediately and although I was pretty tired today the other symptoms are better. I wasn't going to take a chance on it being a cold and not getting zinc into my system quickly.

We were supposed to have a board meeting tonight for Arts and Humanities but it was cancelled so I didn't have to do that, either. Unfortunately, I did not get a whole lot done today, so I'll have to work harder tomorrow. But, sometimes your body says "rest," and if you don't let it have what it wants you find yourself sick in bed for a very long time.

This I Believe...

I have returned home from Colby and Kansas Dialogue. It was an exceptional weekend. I think this was my favorite of the four I've been to.

The last session this morning was a takeoff on "This I Believe." I was invited, along with five other people, to give a brief talk about a core belief.

I had practised many times, to try and get through it without getting too emotional. However, when you get to the point where you're talking about your core beliefs, it's likely to be emotional, and it was for me. I only cracked up once, and it wasn't even in the place where I expected it to be. To top it off, Teresa and I talked a long time last night and then I talked a lot this morning so I started off raspy, but that's the way it goes. I guess it was as it was meant to be.

********


This I Believe

I believe life is all about the little things. Life happens in the moments we're not paying attention. It's never the things we plan for that are the turning points - it's the things that blindside us on an idle Tuesday when we aren't watching. They come out of nowhere, hit us with a fury we couldn't have imagined an instant before, and move on - leaving us to pick up the pieces or revel in the celebration.

It's the things that happen every day that make up a life - the little things - the things we take for granted. Life is not the well planned, long imagined and carefully orchestrated moments. It's the little snippets we don't give a second thought to until we're wishing for them once they're gone.

For many years when I would visit my mother on her Kentucky farm, I would lie awake in the mornings and let the sounds of her daily life wash over me. I would hear the clink of dishes in the sink, the front door opening and closing, and her side of phone conversations. I would close my eyes and commit everything to memory - the sounds, the smells, the feelings - for I knew these times when I could eavesdrop on Mama's life were fleeting. I knew there would come a time when I would be desperate to have just one more of those ordinary mornings.

Life is not made up of the milestones we celebrate with cakes and parties. It's made up of ordinary days that slip into the past without us noting them. We don't long for more weddings and Christmases. We long for more Thursdays and Saturdays. We long for more every days and the routine little things that happen in them.

I believe we should live every day consciously aware that it could be our last. I believe we should try to capture those every day bits - live them fully. and take those memories with us into tomorrow - provided we get tomorrow. These small moments that make up a life are all there is. All relationships end - by choice or by death - we must not let a single second of any we have slip by unnoticed, unappreciated or misunderstood

I've always known death is close. Life is here and death is right there. It truly is a thin veil and it's easy for you or anyone else to cross over. That's why every ounce of life is a gift to be relished, soaked up, lived with complete abandon. The past is over and done with - not even God changes it. We have no guarantees of tomorrow, or even today. We have only this one moment and all that is precious about it, so live it.

Bake bread, treasure your true friends, and tempt fate... take long walks, make snow cream, and wander in distant lands... sing - even if you can't... live in awe every day... smell the lilacs in the spring and touch the smooth skin of pumpkins in the fall... cherish being on thin ice... dance...forget regret and embrace joy... stay up all night just to see the sunrise... learn something new every day... grow tomatoes, pick tulips and give more of yourself than you think you can.

Grieve when necessary, but be happy whenever possible. It's allowed, it's even encouraged. Marvel at a tree, love like your heart can never break, and have tea and cookies every afternoon. Say I love you, say I'm sorry and say I understand. Laugh, give in to your whims and cut everyone some slack, including yourself. Have conversation, give generously and stare at the moon. Listen more than you talk. Write letters, read books and indulge yourself. Be kind, be honest, be gracious, be grateful. Paint your walls red and play in piles of autumn leaves. Question everything, break the rules and respect your elders. Actually, respect everyone.

Wonder at new life, honor those who are dying, appreciate the gift that is living. Drink in the smell of coffee in the morning and sink your bare feet into freshly plowed fields. Eat the best chocolate - before meals. Wish on shooting stars, climb trees and pinky-swear with your best friend. Take responsibility and forgive yourself and others. Whisper "I Love you" in the dark, sleep with lightning bugs in a jar by your bed, jump in puddles and always stop to watch the snow fall. Live every moment like it's your last and never forget to be amazed.

I believe life is all about the little things.

--------copyright Patsy Terrell, August 2006, www.patsyterrell.com

Frahm Farmland

I have spent a fascinating afternoon at Frahm Farmland near Colby. Lon Frahm, who's another person involved with Kansas Dialogue, has been very generous and given us an upclose view of farming in today's world. It's very, very different than the farming I know about from childhood.




They have very little equipment as he does no-till farming. He has 11,000 acres, and the majority of them are in corn. Corn is a very hot commodity these days because of the need for ethanol.

The corn he raises all goes to a feedlot a short distance away. Of course, this makes perfect sense given the cost of transportation. He works with brokers who schedule trucks not only to deliver products, but also fot the "haul back," meaning they return to wherever with another load of something.

We had three sessions this afternoon, one of which was about water. Water is in short supply almost everywhere, and certainly in parts of Kansas.

I'm generally impressed with the overall intelligence of this group, but they have some serious misconceptions about farming. One of the things that's talked about often in Kansas is the divide between urban and rural. Urban people always blame the declining water on the farmers irrigating their crops. Of course, they never consider that they like their golf courses green and the backyard tomatoes watered. And, sure, they're using less water per household, but there's 100,000 households in their town.

It's always so easy to tell the other guy he needs to stop what he's doing, as long as you get to keep doing what you're doing.

And, of course, these are the people who are buying the beef, that's processed down the road at the plant that's pumping money into the state's economy, after beind fed on the corn that's raised with the water.

Corn is a major crop at the moment because it's anticipated that more ethanol will be produced in coming years. I can guarantee you that if there's a market for corn, farmers are going to grow corn, and that's going to take water. So, instead of getting high and mighty about the farmer's water usage, take a look at your own use of the product being made from that corn. If you don't want to eat beef anymore, and there's no need for ethanol and there's no market for corn, farmers will stop growing it. It's very simple, but people are unwilling to take responsibility for their own part in the puzzle.

This afternoon was a prime example of rural vs. urban in Kansas. There were only a few of us in that session who have rural backgrounds, although mine is not in Kansas, and largely we kept quiet, but as one person summed it as we were leaving, "It's easy for suburban dwellers to sit here and say stop doing it. It's not their livelihood."

People use all kinds of resources that are non-renewable (like oil) and create all kinds of negative impact (like pollution), but that's OK because it's their livelihood, not someone else's. I hate the hypocricy of it and, of course, these people would be the first ones to complain about hypocricy.

I did learn something fascinating about sunflowers today. Lon doesn't grow them anymore because they deplete water and nutrients more than any other crop. They also cause combine fires because of the oil that builds up. Apparently they have a very long tap root that sucks water up. Of course, they're essentially a weed, so they're very efficient!

It was a great way to spend an afternoon and the weather even cooperated a bit - it was well over 100 yesterday and at least 15 degrees cooler today. So, that was a bonus.