Live free or die, baby....

I know that New Hampshire hosts the first presidential primary in the country, but I really didn't understand the scope. When a campaign solicitor called for Johnny from the John Edward's camp, asking for him to come to a speech that was going to take place in town, I didn't completely dismiss the woman when she said she would call back for him later. While in Seattle, she called again and left a message with the day and time that he would be in Peterborough. Even though I had taken an unexpectedly long hike around the Edward MacDowell Lake, I thought, when am I going to have another chance to witness a speech first hand by a presidential candidate? I found out, while talking to some other ladies at the speech, that Giuliani visited the Peterborough Diner last week and that Bill Richardson was to visit the next day. OK, so ALL the presidential candidates come through Peterborough...wow, I really have a chance to get a feel from these folks firsthand.

So I headed down to Depot Square this past Thursday, signed in and slapped a John Edwards '08 sticker on my chest. I got to town at 4pm, with the appearance to begin at 4:15. The chairs were set up in four or five rows of concentric circles and I thought, what the heck, screw it, I'm going to push off my urge to stand or sit in the back and instead, sit in the front row. Since I was in the front row, I was given a sign to hold and had a perfect view of John and his wife, Elizabeth, and snapped some pics. They came down into the middle of the circle of chairs at 4:45. After a very brief introduction, Elizabeth Edwards spoke for a few minutes, which gave me time to really take the both of them in. He was very serious and his expression didn't really change. I guess I was kind of surprised how informal the whole thing was. Elizabeth, wearing her oversize, somewhat hippie shoes and John in a dress shirt and slacks, but rolled up sleeves and sand all over his shoes. Their daughter with her kids, also in the front row, having to leave 1/3 of the way through, because they got so restless. He spoke and answered questions for about 40 minutes.

John Edwards came across to me as a straight-talker....he didn't seem to overly rely on what I expected to be his brand of southern charm. But he was a lawyer for over 20 years, so I'm sure that he knows well how to craft his words. And I'm sure I went into it looking for a good alternative. I've been a bit of a Chris Dodd supporter, but can feel his campaign slowing down (even though I haven't paid much attention lately, and did it really get off the ground in the first place?) and am really looking for an alternative to Obama and Hillary. I tell ya, Edwards might be the person. I was wary of him at first, but he seems to have views that I can support. Closing Gitmo on his first day in office. Beginning to pull out troops out of Iraq 50,000 at a time once his presidency starts and doing so in a reasonable amount of time. Universal helathcare. Cutting 80% of our carbon emissions by 2050, if not more. Building no more coal fired plants, unless the technology is there to create 0 emissions of CO2 (it's not). Diversifying our fuel base, but no more nuclear. Investing in hybrid car technology. Rebuilding the middle class. Boosting the poor. No more signing statements without the authors name. Accountability and transparency in the Executive Branch. Johnny tells me that I fall into the liberal democrat category almost perfectly - maybe I do. I still believe in grassroots efforts. I still believe in individuals making a difference. I'm an idealist, perhaps to a fault. I can be realistic, but don't take my idealism from me, I would completely deflate. I still hope that real, palpable transformation can take place in this country, so that I'm not, at times, questioning the legitimacy of my belief in this country. Will Edwards be the man? Did I shake the hand and listen to a speech only eight feet away from me of the next President of the United States? Perhaps....

The Magic Forest , beautiful birches and picking roadside flowers

How lucky am I, to have Edward MacDowell Lake, about a 1/2 mile down the road. More than just a lake, there are hiking trails and a dam from the Merrimack Water Basin, which originates in the White Mountains. The dam controls the Nubanusit Brook, a beautiful waterway that runs through Peterborough, not far from our home. I've been walking/hiking in MacDowell Lake park, since it is so close, and it has provided a wonderful place to exercise and explore. I curse myself for not taking a camera every time I go there. About a month ago, I saw a blue heron fly out from a purple lily-padded area of the lake. I'll have to make a point of it next time.

There is a way to take different trails all around the lake, which I finally figured out and conquered after several attempts. It looks simple enough on the trail map, but in reality, is much more complex. I walk to the lake from my house, which my guess is that it is about a 1/2 mile to 3/4 miles away. After walking past the dam and through the park, I then headed down the Wetlands Wonder Trail, that travels along the right side of the lake. This is a sandy, exposed trail, that cuts through some marsh land before coming out on Richardson Road. I had been confused about how to make it around the lake and finally just took the plunge by turning onto Spring Road after coming to the end of Richardson Road. I walked down the public road for a bit and overshot the trail, which I realized when I backtracked and saw blue trail blazes marking the way. The hike into the woods was difficult and took a good bit of time, because there was no trail to speak of, so I had to go from trail blaze to trail blaze, which wasn't always easy, especially on terrain that is hilly, full of granite, ferns and trees. But the journey was worth it, especially when I came upon a sign in the woods that said 'The Magic Forest', because it encapsulated exactly how I felt about it. Not only were the trees beautiful, I found toads, many varieties of fungus growing on trees and moss-covered rocks and boulders. There was also what I originally thought was a gravestone, but ended up being the spot that marked the founding of Dublin, NH, a neighboring town. I was able to read a bit of the stone, where I gleaned that Dublin was founded in 1752. After doing a tiny bit of research, I found out that the town was founded by William Thornton in that very spot.

Right where 'The Magic Forest' sign was posted, marked a change of trail blazes, where there was a beautiful brook right in the middle of the woods. Full of rocks and frogs, I went down to check out the waterway. I stayed for a few minutes, but had to move on to avoid being bit by mosquitoes. I started down the other side of the lake, on the West Ridge Trail, which took me on a defined path, through an area that contained dozens and dozens of beautiful birches and pines. I recently saw an amazing three-part series on PBS called Craft in America, where in one segment, a woman named Dona Look creates white birch bark vessels. I was really taken by the innovation and the unique quality of this particular craft. As I came upon the birch bark, I began collecting it, and wondered how Dona selected and compiled her birch bark creations. I've begun to learn that being artistic isn't just about coming up with something completely unique and creative, which some prolific people are able to do, but also learning from others, experimenting and creating something interesting and different in the process. I'm thinking of creating some birch-bark votives, so stay tuned for this in the future.

Meanwhile, with my hands full of birch, I finally made it out of the woods and began the walk home. Along the way, I picked some lovely roadside black-eyed susans and queen anne's lace to adorn my kitchen and living room. There are so many things that I love about New Hampshire so far, with roadside flowers and the gorgeous mountains being two of them.

Back from Seattle means back in the saddle...

Gorgeous Seattle in August...I underestimated this city the last time that I was here. Of course, it may have been tainted by the fact that it was for work, accompanied by a colleague with a serious fear of flying, in March, when the Columbine tragedy happened. John mentioned that if we ever become independently wealthy, that we need to have a place in Seattle in July and August. I agree.

John served as the best man in a wedding of his friend Gene, a fellow that I knew back at the University of Pittsburgh a good 15 years ago. We arrived on a Monday and stayed at a beautiful hotel in downtown Seattle - the Seattle Westin. A renovated hotel, it is right on 5th Avenue downtown, with easy access to just about everything. After two days, we headed to West Seattle, which was easier access to the wedding location, at our friend's new home. We enjoyed gorgeous weather, took in the sights of Pike Place Market, checked out Pioneer Square, hit some really nice restaurants and spent time with friends. One of the best suggestions I received, for anyone who will be in West Seattle, near the Alki Peninsula, is Matador. With great Mexican food and a wonderful old world atmosphere, I would have to say that this was my favorite place to eat. While the guys were at the bachelor party, three of us ladies made our way over there for a delicious dinner and a couple of really great local beers. Mack and Jack was one that I really liked.

One thing that was really cool about Seattle, besides it being an amazing port city, was the influence of the Inuit culture. I was able to see several totem poles, like the one here, which was in Pioneer Square. We also were able to visit the Seattle Aquarium, which was fun. The best part for me was the touch ponds, where we could touch starfish and other underwater life. I also got to scratch my shopping itch at a really cute little boutique called Violette. Fortunately, I was able to find a couple of really good deals. In NH, the shopping aspect is not really stressed, so it was nice to add a couple of practical but unique pieces of clothing to my wardrobe. I may be looking to simplify my life, but I'm still a girl!

Then onto the wedding, which was very sweet and fun, in the backyard of our friend's home. With 50 people, it was quaint and intimate, and even a bit of rain couldn't break our spirits. Now I'm back home and it is time to return to the job search and establishing a life in New Hampshire. With summer winding down, that means less travel and really starting to call this place home.

At the beginning...

Life is full of funny ironies. Katcha and I met on the first day of school in fifth grade. My family had moved from Boiling Springs, PA, a quaint town on the Appalachian trail in Central, PA, to Elizabethtown. One of the ironies comes in that Katcha just moved from Boiling Springs, where she lived for several years, to Elizabethtown, just two weeks ago. But more about that later. On that first day of school, there was a contest at the blackboard involving math. Being the new kid on the block and not really knowing anyone, I was nervous. Well, needless to say, I cheated by looking at my neighbors math problem beside me and won the round. Katcha saw me. For years, she wouldn't let me live that story down. But for some reason, fortunately, she decided to befriend me anyway. So our friendship began as classmates, playing kickball, dodge ball and four-square, and girls softball in the summers. Her home became my second home, where I was able to hang out and watch MTV, which we were both enthralled with. These were simpler times, consisting of bike riding and exploring.

We grew up together, through middle school and into high school. We both played field hockey and softball together, and basketball for one disastrous year, as part of the 3rd string. We were competitive, but great friends nonetheless. Growing up in a small town, we dreamed of getting out to bigger and better things, while driving around on back roads in our cars and often partaking in 30 packs of Busch or White Mountain coolers when we could. In looking back, growing up in E-town was probably a really good thing for us - just about as safe as you can get and having everything we would need, but way too conservative for either of our liberal leanings. When college was coming onto our radar, she wanted to go to the city and I wanted to go to Penn State. We were good students and got our wishes - I attended Penn State the fall of 1987 and she went to the University of Pittsburgh.

We were a bit big for our britches at the time. That first year, for both of us, was hell. Alot of homesickness, tears and struggles, but we both seemed to make it through. Katcha met her husband and now has two awesome boys. She's lived in many places and was in the navy for a stint during college. But I'll let her tell you her story.

As for me, when I graduated Penn State, I moved to Pittsburgh, PA, where my parents relocated the day after I graduated from high school. Dad had gotten a job in Pittsburgh the year before and was kind enough to let me finish high school in E-town. When I moved back, Katcha and her man were still finishing college, since both of them went into the military for a stint. They were planning to live right in Oakland, where the university is located, along with a fraternity brother of her now-husband Merritt and needed one more person. I was that person. It was a funny year, because I was getting to know Pittsburgh, and she and Merritt were settling into their relationship, so we were in very different places. A short while later, Katcha and Merritt moved to Denver, CO, for a spell and then moved around a bit for Merritt's work. I stayed in Pittsburgh and lived there for 16 years, up until this past July. I was married in 1998 and then divorced a couple of years later. Katcha and I grew apart, but never completely. When she and Merritt moved back to PA, after they began having kids, we became closer again.

I find Katcha to be an inspirational person. She is incredibly independent-minded and isn't one of those people who will just follow the pack. Very early on, she formed ideas about how to school her children, and has successfully home-schooled both kids and continues to do so. She's interested in bio-diesel, theater, philosophy, edible plants and raising chickens. She understands my thoughts and intentions and the way I view things better than anyone else I know.

So now I've left Pittsburgh, to be in southwestern New Hampshire, to start a new relationship and a new life. And Katcha has left Boiling Springs with her family, to live in a mill house in our old hometown on almost 40 acres. But again, I'll let her tell you her side of the story. We are both embarking on new lives and new adventures and thought this would be a good place to document them. More to come!