Santa was good to us. He even brought John a washboard tie for special occasions.

Decorating was at a minimum because work took me away the 2 weeks before Christmas. I did add an angel stand to the nativity scene thanks to Mom.

 

The Great Chesapeake Bay Swim

Well I was one of the last to finish, but I finished:
http://www.lin-mark.com/resbay06.htm

Place Bib# Name G Age City St Ftime Pace Div/Tot Div Gen/Tot G
588 65 Jessica Dorr F 28 BLACKSBURG VA 3:26:07 46:51 24/24 F25-29 178/182 F

There were 644 starters with 599 finishers in the 4.4 mile swim. The current in the main channel was very bad. Perhaps if I had really concentrated on staying to the left (near north span) at the beginning I wouldn't have had so much trouble. As a guide to how much time was added to my swim, it usually takes me 28 minutes to swim a mile in a pool so in theory I should be able to swim 4.4 miles in 2 hours and change. I thought I would finish in under 3 hours, but that current and possibly eddies around the south span bridge supports that I was frantically trying to swim around really got me.

What an amazing experience. Maybe I'll try again in a couple years, train more, and get more people involved (training partners).

 

 

Go Helen! 

A break on the boardwalk with Nana.

Weddings

I've been to 7 weddings in the last year. I realize this number of weddings has something to do with my age, but I also think it shows a lot about the faith and hope we still have in this world, our country, and in each other. I wish you all the best in everything that you do.

The happy couple 

Us

Some great dancing. 

Couldn't resist. 

A wedding celebrating northerners and southerners, Judaism and Christianity, and the similarities and love that make us all one family.

 

A Mountain Lake wedding. . . Dirty Dancing anyone? 

Boucher Letter

I received a positive letter from Congressman Rick Boucher in response to my visit and follow-up letter. Still nothing from John Warner's office, but I'll keep you posted:
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/jdorr/Social_Concerns/200605_Boucher.pdf

Texas

The Sisters

An open water test swim in Claytor Lake. Getting ready for the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim.

Friends followed us in a canoe. 

Mom and I made an awesome cake for friend's lingerie shower. 

Young Adult Lobby Weekend

The Friends Committee on National Legislation hosted a Young Adult Lobby Weekend on the first weekend in April. I had the privilege of attending this weekend of training followed by a lobby visit to staff members of two of my legislators, Senator Warner (VA) and Representative Boucher (VA-09).

Please add your own words to the following letters (click on the names for a Word document) and send them to our legislators via U.S. Mail or e-mail:

If you live in Virginia, please write to:
Senator John Warner - senator@warner.senate.gov

If you live in Virginia's 9th district, please write to:
Representative Rick Boucher - ninthnet@mail.house.gov

Otherwise contact your Legislators through FCNL.

Details:
I discussed the need for a gradual withdrawal of troops and bases from Iraq with the staff members. The fact remains that Iraq is in worse shape than it was 3 years ago, from basic services to health care to order and security, and the continued presence of U.S. troops seems to only fuel the fire. A specific step that our senators can take is to support an amendment to the supplemental funding bill to establish no permanent military bases in Iraq. We also urged our representatives to support H.J. Res. 55 – “Homeward Bound Act” requiring the president to develop and implement a plan for withdrawal from Iraq.

In addition to the Iraq War, during the weekend training we discussed nuclear disarmament, heard from Congressional staff members, and learned the ins-and-outs of a successful lobby visit. They taught us to maintain a professional, non-confrontational demeanor throughout, take only 2 or 3 points with us on a lobby visit, and always thank the staff member for their time. But one of the most important things that we can do is follow up on our visits, so send those letters off.

Additional Information:
Good News: House Votes to Block Permanent Iraq Bases

Permanent Bases in Iraq: Where Politics and Law Hit a Brick Wall, by Col. Dan Smith (USA, Ret.). Published in Dan's web log, The Quaker's Colonel.

Senators Scale Back Funding for Building Projects in Iraq (LA Times)

The U.S. Can't Abandon Iraq, But the Troops Must Leave: Join FCNL's Iraq Campaign".

2006 FCNL Young Adult Lobbyists and Gandhi

Here we are on our way to a lovely meeting for worship at Friends Meeting of Washington. Their 1930's stone Meeting House brought the beautiful day indoors as light streamed through large windows. Reflection, thoughts of peace, and our mere presence and breathe filled the room.

I object to violence because when it appears to do good the good in only temporary the evil it does is permanent. -Gandhi. From a 2003 DC protest against the War in Iraq, just weeks before the war began.

A hope for NO WAR in 2003. Protests are good to boost moral, but do little to sway legislators. Visit and write letters to your congressman and senators.

How do we stop this war?
from bus rides to DC protests
Friends, hope, chanting
to signing petitions
Friends, hope, uncertainty
to local protests
Friends, hope, nothing
to letter writing
Friends, hope, keep trying
to lobby visits
How do we stop this war?

Young newlyweds :) 

Lookin' good. 

Friends 

Dance fever!