0821EST 1321UTC 0121NZ September 20, 2007 Phenomenal Thursday Hugs. It is just so gorgeous!! A visiting road trip to NY!! To Promote or to Publish, that is the question! What's next... OceansWatch update! Inspired Insanity..torn apart...again. Will I leave her behind for this next stretch? Transition time... It is all good. I have to keep reminding myself that all this is just the icing on the cake of being happy intrinsically. The day the icing is just too sweet and creates more stress than benefit... time to reflect. Above all else must be inward peace. To operate from any other place is not creating healthy growth. It isn't pruning. It is poisoning the system. It takes more energy to heal. So I am contemplating. I have some committments..my family, my debts and staying in contact with friends, to somehow be a healing force in the world. But at this point, I am finding that I am still creating more stress than healing in my own being with my process. Land.. Humanity.. control and power.. greed.. .. Caring, giving, interconnectedness, life.. It was a privilege that good friend, Davison, offered to chauffeur me around to visit family this last few days. Given his love of the historical and traditional, we combined visiting family with detours through the countryside of NY, Utica, Amish country, the Taconics,and Berkshire mountains, magical meetings of old friends, spontaneous marvels of artistry, galleries.. beautiful people and their expressions on canvas or music.. a night on the mountain in Petersburg with the freshest organic family and farm.. a dash back on Wednesday so I could work at the Cafe.. My family is a wonder to me, so lovely, giving and welcoming... greatest of friends who have stood by me, supported and been terrified..forgiving me for all the worry I have caused them... focused energy!! To promote or to Publish? I see promoting myself as trying to win a job or position, an award. Promoting is about selling, pros and cons... I just can't do that.. I am not selling anything. I believe I am publishing something.. Making people aware of a gift I feel I have to offer, not that it is necessarily free but I don't want to sell them on it...It is a take it or leave it thing. just offering it. anyway. It feels much better for me to handle it this way. just symantics I guess. But it is more correct to say publish for me... so, on to publishing!!!! OceansWatch is steaming ahead. check out the site www.oceanswatch.co.nz. amazing. www.sail-world.com/nz OceansWatch heads for Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea Tues, Sept 18th, edition (check out the archives) I'll try to get the pdf on the website.. Still learning the ropes on the web... for sure.. Plans for Inspired Insanity are in flux as I found out that the deck is not dangerously wet so I could leave it in New England and it wouldn't destroy the deck. but the thought of her spending a winter alone is alot to consider.. She'll only deteriorate..we'll see. all good. Transition is ahead. I have had so so many opportunities to get involved in projects here that it is interesting to consider leaving.. yet, I have always set that as the premise. so..onward..ho!! But I am hoping to get as many people as I can together before I leave, sustainability people, marine industry people, preservation people, music people, great amazing caring community people... I love it.. What a privilege it is to be a part of such a dynamic world. Yes, lots of stimuli for this ole simple girl from the countryside of NY..its all good. Please do keep the charity organizations (phebejo1@yahoo.fr)I have been publishing in your hearts. I hear often from the Samaritan School in Haiti. Please do get in contact with them. Get to know them. Yes they need help... biggest hugs xoxoxoxo d "Keepin On, Keepin On, Keepin On Caring...as life unfolds in the community near and globally..interconnectedness" www.donnalange.org developing. http://www.staynout.org/serendipity www.oceanswatch.org; http://www.pacificyachtdeliveries.co.nz/pacific%20guardian.htm : phebejo1@yahoo.fr(Schools and orphanage needing desks and teacher salaries desperately) www.womensheart.org (Education, funding for Women's Heart Foundation. the statistics regarding women dying of heart disease are staggering) www.reddressracing.org (Women's Sailing racing organization supporting the WHF above) www.coming-about.com (Women's sailing school focusing on alot more than sailing skills.) www.women-without-borders.com (workshops and tremendous support for women worldwide in critical conditions to make a difference in their own countries) www.casaamiga.com (a women's support program in a domestic violence torn Mexico) --------------------------- 0805EST 1302UTC 0102NZ September 7th, 2007 Fabulous Friday hugs!!xo INSPIRED INSANITY GOES GREEN!!! Great Nights at the Barrington Library and STella Blues Restaurant!! More big wows!! Update on Inspired Insanity Still in the boatyard at Bristol Marine under the good care of Andy Tyska and his crew, Peter, Billy, Cody. last week I began the refit on II including the normal maintnance of cleaning the bottom, repairs to the glass, bottom paint. I pulled all the broken rigging off the mast, finding more damage than I thought. The STBD spreader fitting washer had corroded to the point of allowing the attaching bolt to slip into the hole in the fitting.. The stresses on that fitting were holding the fitting to the mast but once the rigging was down, the fitting is completely loose. Also the innerforestay wire has somehow been damaged in the process of taking down the mast. The mast head fitting for the spinnaker block is completely broken, bent and will need to be replaced. It was the culprit in the impingment of the furling system that eventually caused the forestay to pull out from the staylock fitting at the mast head. But it is all in good hands as Andy's team will make these repairs. There are other smaller issues, but the other main question was about the engine. AS I suspected, once the starter was rebuilt (the new starter put in in Bermuda had become damaged and needed a rebuild, thanks Will Barbeau and a good friend of his who generously did the rebuild) the same issue we found in Bermuda persisted. The fuel injector pump was not spitting out fuel on all cylinders. There was not room to take off the pump without taking out the engine.. they fellas were able to come to a conclusion to fix the pump and were researching the parts... I went down into the salon and peered at the empty space where the engine had been, all the wires undone. the bilge exposed to be cleaned once more.. The smell of oil, diesel permeating the environment.. From the onset of my sailing, my mentor Michael BEans at the helm.. I knew that I was meant to be a natural sailor. Part of my journey has been to become in tuned and connected to nature and the chemicals, invasion of that environment has always upset me. I have suffered damage to my lungs and voice living so close to the diesel.. It was obvious to me that it was time to loose myself from the repairs and constant maintenance, caustic chemicals and reliance on this Iron Genny.. Yes there will be times I will be required to be more patient, wait on the wind... but I won't be sucking diesel fumes off the stern to allow myself to 'be in a hurry'. It will change my sailing, limit my timeframes, even limit my potential landfalls at times, and will require I become more in tuned with current adn tidal levels when I am sailing. All good. All sailing.. I would like to even like to really get celestial navigation under my belt as a skill, another opportunity to become in tuned. Life is grand... So as Andy and his gang along with my hands to pull things apart and do my own part..Will and I will continue on our original course to help promote the Marine INdustry in Bristol in cohesion with the overall sustainability of the community and environmentally careful goals of organizations so wonderfully concerned about the balance of man and nature in the Harbor.. it is all good. This week has also been a brilliant oportunity for me to share my journey, both in a slide show for the Summer Travelogue Program at the Barrington Library and an amazing Music Gig at STella Blues joined by Derek Escher and guest players, Hugh PUrcell, John Forrest, Joe Colpit, and Tim Richards. What a blast. The Library program was the first opportunity I have had to actually do a 90min talk using a photoshow, all my props and music to boot... The audience was fabulous... it was moving for me to share with them. Will Barbeau graced me by being there, camera in hand, and Davison Bolster was also there with his artwork, the Whales and Dolphins.... It was a blessing.. My deepest thanks to Lauri Burke who so graciously arranged for me to be an added speaker to the Summer Travelogue series. She has become an instant dear friend... Stella Blues Restaurant was an amazing host for the session on Thursday. The owner of the pub treated the band as a true pub does, a round of drinks for the musicians and even a tip for the band. It was a great night as groupies, Bonnie and Cathy, Sarah, the bartender from Aidans...wow!!! and so so many local friends.. Mitch and Matt. A special guest appearance from dear neighbor Mary Anne...and many more who came... Many thanks Next week we have the FAMILY NIGHT at the WARREN LIBRARY starting at 6:30pm and on Friday, I have the privilege of filling in or Manny and Cathy as host for the Open Mic at COFFEE DEPOT, as well as be the featured artist.all starting at 7:30p.. Saturday, the 15th, I will be participating in the National Coastal Cleanup organized by Ocean Conservancy and locally facilitated by the Audubon Society. If I can get a hold of a boat to use, I am going to try to organize a party to go out to Little Gould Island and Dyer Island. But otherwise will joint one of the other Audubon locations locally... an awesome project...!! Working a bit at the Cafe... Inspired Insanity is progressing. Peter is tackling the rigging.. the glass work to sure up the holes left from the extraction of the engine...shaft tube, exhaust hole....yahoo... going green and going to take a serious look at celestial Navigation... I have always said that I will not be able to call myself a 'real sailor' until i have navigated myself by celestial navigation...it's coming...The wind generator is once again whizzing away making energy Ihope.. i wasn't able to test it as there wasn't enough wind when i got it back up....all good. All my best to all.. please do keep in touch. i love hearing from so many. Kevin Rose who was very helpful with weather forecasting during the storm in April and home, was nearby visiting. Though we weren't able to make 'contact' we did talk on the phone... Please do keep me in yourlink especially if you are to be nearing RI.. I recently heard from Rusty Wiltjer, in Maine, who will be sailing south soon.. You never know who you wil meet on the sea.!!! On my trip rom Bermuda to BRistol, I actually came across a sailboat with Joshua,the son of a good friend from the caribbean, on board.. We were able to get a visual and a hello by radio.... Yahoo!! great stuff... family..Keep just runnin into great people...!! biggest hugs xoxoxoxoxox d --------------------------- A recent letter to the local, Rhode Island family...passin it on... Hello all “For the Love of Oceans”…. It is just about time for a new schedule of events and an update on all going on “For the Love of Oceans”.. It has been a dynamic time since the amazing 4th of July Parade. I can’t extend enough thanks to all who made the Parade such a blast and fantastic success, sharing our ‘love of the oceans’ with all enjoying the parade.… Life is a incredible: a weekend in a Maryland for a Benefit Sailing Event for the Paralympic Sailing Team, Sailing for Life… The opportunity to do offshore sailing on the Historic 12M America’s Cup Yacht “Onawa’ with amazing Captain Barry Bourdon, my friend around the world and host to the welcome in New Zealand I received. A fantastic experience singing for many concerned for the ocean preservation issues in Bristol at the Save Bristol Harbor Benefit at Ira and Suzanne Magaziner’s home. Putting my hands again to baking the amazing original recipes of the Cavallero family and serving the best coffee at the Beehive Café… Finally getting down to business on the refit on sv_Inspired Insanity, sanding the bottom, rewiring the windgenerator, disassembled for the parade and stripping the mast of the fittings needing repair, … Bristol Marina has graciously offered to help me get this classic yacht back on the water..the engine is once again on the ground outside the boat as they diagnose the issues with the fuel injector pump. Decisions to be made.. Some great opportunities to share my journey are planned in the next few weeks. All different venues sharing all different aspects of my journey, music, allowing me to once again enjoy the JAM session when many join in together… I am blessed: Upcoming Events Barrington Public Library, September 5th. (from the library website) Thursday, September 6th- Stella Blues Restaurant – Just Music: starting after dinner, 9 ish-Joined by Derek Escher on Mandolin and guitar, plus special guest appearances and jam by Hughy, Chris Martin and John Forrest often heard at Aidan’s Pub in Bristol hosting Sunday afternoon’s irish session. It will be a fantastic night of original and classic songs with a BAND… Heaven for me and should be great fun… other musicians will be encouraged to join… Spontaneous Combustion. I love it. Wednesday, September 12th- Warren Public Library!! –6:30pm, a family night program featuring stories, photos, music and more interactive for the kids. The infamous artwork of Davison Bolster in the form of Whales and Dolphins, Turtles and fish will also be featured… a conch shell horn blow off…. And more. Friday September 14th – Coffee Depot Open Mic!!- Cathy and Manny needed a week off and offered me to do a featured artist night so we have combined the night… I’ll bring my gear and have a great night of musicians playing music. Saturday September 15th is International Coastal Cleanup Day sponsored by Ocean Conservancy… I hope to join either a group in Bristol or to create a group for Little Gould Island or Dyer Island on the Sakonnet river.. Please contact me if you would like to be part of this both effective clean up but also a survey of the kind of the conditions now present in these coastal areas. Friday, and Saturday, September 21 and 22. International Day of Peace www.peaceflagproject.org… project… There is a gathering in Providence, please see the upcoming events section in my website for the details…. Next gig: Saturday, September 29th – Stone Church Coffeehouse in Bristol- starting at 7:30pm, doors open at 6:45pm.. Music, stories, Whales…. Derek Escher will be joining me on mandolin and guitar facilitating my playing the steel pan…. Fantastic… and maybe my last gig for the season as start to look for a window to sail Inspired Insanity south for her winter season drying out in the sun… I have hopes of planning a gig in NY for the wonderful friends near my home town of Burnt Hills New York.. “For the Love of Oceans” is going forward as Light and myself take over, with guidance, the amazing website work of Neil Vangundy and work with Personal News Network to develop the critical thinking tool web tools through “Youth4Oceans.pnn.com and Fortheloveofoceans.pnn.com. I still look forward to getting a regular column written for Latitudes and Attitudes Magazine… This winter will be time for the book… Lots on my Writers Palette…. By next spring I hope to have a program to introduce to ocean preservation organizations, marine educational programs and public summer reading programs to develop grassroots advocacy writing… regardless of the cause…. Lets get thinking and writing!!!!! My very best to all as the autumn breezes start to blow. It has been breathtakingly beautiful here in Coastal Rhode Island… only more beauty to come as the leaves turn their shades of red and orange…. It has been many years since I have enjoyed this refreshing, contemplative season as we wind into the winter…. I have to say though, I am a bit relieved that I will be spending the cold months in the warm… I haven’t had one “all over tan” opportunity all summer!!! I look forward to seeing many of you at these upcoming events. Feel free to give me a ring as I have gotten a cell phone 401 323 1484… if you have any questions at all or just to say hi…. Biggest Hugs xoxoxoxoxo d "Keepin On Keepin On Keepin On Caring.... keepin the Jam happenin... great momentum of energies creating waves of peace and cammaradarie to effect the world consciousness" --------------------------- 2121EST 0221UTC 1421NZ August 28, 2007 Tuesday blue day hugs! SAiling for LIfe Paralympic Sailing team competes in the Clagget Regatta in Newport!! Gorgeous day in RI!! Hard core working on INspired Insanity. I fell off to sleep last night under a clear nearly full moon beaming across Newport Harbor on a lovely 43 OYster belonging to Al Towle. He is an amazing supporter of the US Paralympic Team of Karen Mitchel and JP. He has totally given himself and his resources to help them to place well in the World Cup coming up and to make the team in the Paralypmic team trials coming up soon in Newport. I had the privilege of joining the support boat this morn as in a light breeze of 5kn NE, the boats took off from the start line.. Karen and JP had a rough first race. I look forward to catching up with them about how the rest of the day went.....I just did!!! They came in 1st and 2nd in the next 2 races of the day!! congratulations! GReat job.. I am hoping to be there for some of hte races on Thursday as well... Good luck Karen, Jp and all the competitors and huge thanks to you Al... I spent the rest of the day under the sander, preparing the bottom of Inspired Insanity for new bottom paint, pulling the mast apart so the riggers can get working on it.. Will Barbeau, rescues me again, with a rebuild on the "new Starter" that managed to ceize up in such a short time since I am on land and not using the engine.. Now Cody and Peter and continue to diagnose the issues with the engine and we can decide how to proceed. All good. Tomorrow morn, I want to get the wind generator up and running again. I have to repair a chaff area in the wire and then put her back on her tall stand... wire her up to the regulator, hope for a good breeze and some voltage . the batteries are pretty depleted from some minimal use and lack of charging.. Good progress.. good sailing Karen and JP.. Good friends as I ran into Joe Brito, Steve Robinson, Al Silvan and was joined by Davison at the yacht club.. New friends met and lovely chats. Davison treated me to a gourmet pizza for dinner. off to sleep. I got something in my eye this eve and i am ready to lay down and rest it...all good. I also had a nice chat with Stu and he is looking forward to sailing this winter...UNfortunately, he has not regained vision in his eye but is adjusting to the change in his vision and recovering from the process.. He is amazing... yes,wonderful.. life is grande!!! Biggest hugs to all, loves to ZEB and JAEL. I got to chat with them both for a bit this morn!!! getting big. New babe due in December... Ptarmi is doing great. Big thanks again to all on ONAWA.. Barry and Willem for such a great time in Nantucket and on return. A great Crew! Do Keep Roz Savage in your heart too, as she is working to get back on her "Kayak" and continue to forge across the Pacific ocean. www.rozsavage.com big hugs xoxoxoox d --------------------------- 0659EST 1159UTC 2359NZ August 25, 2007 Saturday Hugs!! Belated Happy Birthday (yesterday)to my Big brother Jeffery!! big loves And Happy Birthday to me! 46years old today.. a letter I wrote to my brother: a good update. Happy Birthday Jeffery!!!!! big loves to you!! I hope you had a fantastic party as I suspect you did..I am 46 today, incase you lost track. LIfe is GRAnde.. busy... had an incredible 10 days on the 12M vintage race boat Onawa with Barry... wow!! Came back determined to get my boat back in the water... but realizing that she is in worse shape than i thought. found more issues with the rigging. actually, it was scary to realize that the starboard spreader is absolutely loose, the anchoring bolt washer broke allowing the bolt to actually fit through the hole in the fitting. Luckily the stresses that had been on the spreader were holding it to the mast. Shouldn't be hard to fix, but man, it is scary seeing it like that. I have questions. use of galvanized washers?.. aluminum fittings that broke?.. should have been stainless. anyway. I made it. I have to have it all fixed though. Will Barbeau has worked out a trade with Andy Tyska at Bristol Marine to do the work in turn for his publicity help. amazing..Inpsired Insanity is looking so bad right now. she always does out of the water. I spent yesterday pulling the seacocks apart. They are pretty worn but not brittle. May leak but won't sink me. We'll see if Andy is considering replacing them... if so, i'll go with new ones. but i hate to give up the old ones. they are so simple. 2 pieces. easily seviced.. and i am sure that it would be expensive to replace these with new bronze ones. I may be able to find replacement cores at the local consighnment shop. they carry bronze seacocks.. the refit part search begins. I am settling into a bit of normalcy i hope these next few weeks. work at the cafe, gigs, and work on the boat. Being a part of the community. I can have the boat back in the water soon if I just stay on the tasks. Today, I am going to get more boxes and get more stuff off the boat. All the books and such are so moldy smelling.. I slept on the boat last night and woke up feeling like my lungs are inflamed.. coughing and irritated. So.. today and tomorrow, I'll clean.. Monday, meet with Andy and get a plan underway for the repairs. all good. This next week I don't have any gigs or other distractions so I hope to make headway. but come september, i have quite a few gigs, though mostly evenings. Well, biggest hugs big brother, Happy Birthday to you... xoxoxoxoxo little sis NOtable Days coming up: INternational Day of Peace September 21 In RI, at noon, all the church bells are to toll!! On September 23rd, 3-5pm Program at the DAvey Lopes Rec Center Park in Providence. www.peaceflagproject.org. On Thursday Night, I joined the Sierra Club membership in Newport or a talk on Peace Flags. It was amazing because of the people there, it had turned out that Ihad met several before whether in peace rally's, protests or even at the sustainability seminar I had gone to. Little did I know about the very 'Tibetian Peace Flags" I have on my boat given to me by Stu and Sherry Kahn before I left on my journey. Ginny Fox and Jane Maguire did a lovely talk about hte origins of the peace flags in Tibet which gave so much more meaning to them. I will now not worry when i fly them when the threads seem to come apart. It is part of the process of the prayers going out to nature. Ginny and Jane had blank red, blue, green, white and yellow flags there for us all to make our own peace flags with. The blue representing prayers to the god of sky, white being to the clouds, red to fire, green to the earth, yellow the water...A lovely project we all shared together. I asked them if I can incorporate this kind of project into my programs with children which they were happy to have me do. Soon I will take out my prayer flags on my boat and fly them often.. Thanks Ginny and Jane for your program, STu and Sherry for my own peace flags.. biggest hugs xoxoxoxo d "keepin on, keepin on, keepin on caring...lifting our dreams and wishes before us as mantras of probability... if we can dream and see peace, we can attain it". www.donnalange.pnn.com www.youth4oceans.pnn.com www.fortheloveofoceans.pnn.com www.yoloadventure.com www.ushuaialogistics.com www.xaxero.com www.gmn-usa.com www.pacificyachtdeliveries.co.nz www.sail-world.com www.internationalmarinebrokers.co.nz www.mtiadventurewear.com www.caphorn.com www.savebristolharbor.org CABRAL'S cHICKEN,best roast chicken in the world, BRistol RI 5 SECOND RULE,www.fivesecondrule.com, the best band in NE. Topside Tavern, home sweet home.Bristol RI Newport Nautical, consignment and marine store in one. Brewer's Sakonnet Marina Bristol Marina Bermuda Yacht SErvices ST George's Dinghy and Sport Club --------------------------- 0732EST 1232UTC 0032NZ August 23,2007 Thursday happiness!! Delivering Onawa Home to Newport! On the sea. It is remarkable to me that even amidst the nearly deafening roar of the diesel engine, the sickening smell of the fumes creeping even below as we motor downwind, I am mentally freed rolling to and fro, far from human energy. Well, far enough, I guess. Barry is content driving the 'ole girl'under power, a task I tolerate only as a necessity. I am tucked below out of the worst of the fumes. Once the early morning dampness burns off a bit more, hopefully I can at least hang on the foredeck.. ONawa has such a vast foredeck compared to Inspired Insanity that I can truly be at leisure up there and out of fumes way. What amazes me is how quickly my thoughts become freed up to consider, ingest, digest life's stimuli once offshore a bit. A few days ago I was pleasantly surprised when some treasured books that had been misplaced since NZ revealed their hiding in the front pocket of my classical Fender guitar case. Memory returned. I had leant Chris Bone the books to read during a delivery he had in the pacific and when I went to visit the farm he returned them. I tucked the books away in the guitar case of the guitar I had brought with me to accompany evenings. A true smile reached across my face as a realization of the importance of their re-enterance into my life came to me. Lo and behold, it was Andrew De Mello's "The way of Love" that I opened as I lay here in the rumble and sway. The book was out because I had offered it to Willem, the mate of ONawa, a very bright, open minded young man with tremendous potential. It had been a gift to me from Ron Holland in Ireland. I have given it away and bought new copies many times. Happiness. What is it? How do we get it? Or do we have it already? What prevents the experience of happiness or the ability to live life in a happy state? The mind... Where do our thoughts and ideas originate? OUr they our own or those of others? Truth? Do the ideas programmed into our internal computers allow us to experience happiness? What are we programmed to think? What is the purpose of the programming? Questions....Simple truth.. The basics... STart from the beginning. all are created valuable, useful, powerful, gifted, needed, loving and loveable....able to fullfill the potential within if the purpose of life is to do so... Or we become puppets of an entity that has chosen for us what purpose we should have and then programmed our beliefs to accomplish their purpose with our life... Happiness..Beauty..love, loving and being loved. Appreciation, Gratitude.. experiencing the energy of life, connectedness, belonging, perfection, integration with health, the development of our potential, our skills, strength, investing and accomplishing, maturing, excellence, prosperity of life and process, knowing and coming to know, enlightenment, joy. pleasure. Energy!! flowing energy. Intoxicating energy. Light. Peace, Oneness, celebration. Giving of all we are to the benefit of all we (collectively) are. To increase the energy flow for all to be increased in health and ability.. All these considerations are the basis for Youth4Oceans and For the LOve of Oceans grassroots advocacy critical thinking projects. My first reading of the book "The WAy to Love" occured sailing south along the west coast of Africa after leaving Ireland and was a beginning in my process to living in a happy state. AS I read it again now it is opening my eyes in my present to see how far from happiness I exist at times, but also how happiness has become the basis of my true self.. I am happy. Yes.. Integrating my happy self with this world is a challenge. I lose my experience as I try to help others experience happiness. My methods of helping others and forging a landbased life are falling short of maintaining my principles of happiness. I can best help others by maintaining my own personal state of happiness..(p.6 The Way of Love) The world is pressing me every moment to join into its' programming of living in fear, anxiety, worry, tension, insecurity... I am being pressed.. It is stealing my presence in happiness. My mind is cluttered with noise. a million needs and sadnesses, struggles, pains, abuses, discouragments...yet others happy.. yes, many are happy. How do I keep my center in Happiness? By exercising my thoughts in happiness in personal times alone with nature and peaceful input. By examining my thoughts and feelings for their origin and then considering those thoughts in relation to the basic truths of happiness. Why am I feeling insecure, afraid, sad, anxious, tense? I can accept those feelings as revealing my state inwardly and then draw near to my own essence, then make decisions about what is true and make changes in my world or invest in issues to be reconsidered...going fromt he premise of knowing that I am valuable, able, caring, loving, desiring the most beneficial outcome for my self and others around me.. no guilt. I can let go of shame from decisions that may have produced undesirable outcomes and learn from them. I can accept my humanness but not walk away from the process of growing and coming to know. Choice... I can stop the whirling energy of emotions that are undefined and driving my responses.. Consider.. I strongly recommend this little book to all.. I am looking forward to this reread and many more..More time on the sea. I am ready to start the refit on Inspired Insanity.. choices. Upon arriving in Newport, I look forward to meeting up with new friends from Maryland, members of the paralympic sailing team I met there as well as continue to be involved with conservation projects moving forward. Days are full, but even more the reason to spend time centering... in happiness.. biggest hugs to all... Thanks so much Neil V and Light for getting the log update page back up and running...Do keep eyes also on the other websites, www.donna.pnn.com, www.youth4oceans.pnn.com, www.fortheloveofoceans.pnn.com. The www.donnalange.org site will also start to become a collective focal point for all the various projects I am involved with including charitable works and a blog format for keeping better in touch with you all. big hugs xoxoxoxo d "Keepin On, Keepin On, Keepin On Caring.... to keep life centered in happiness, not straying into trends of insecurity, fear, tensions, anxiety, worry" --------------------------- 1527EST 2027UTC 0827NZ August 20, 2007 Monday Hugs xoxoxo Benefit success!!! Back in Nantucket! Miracles never cease. I was able to make all the connections and arrive in New Bedford in plenty of time. DAvison and I were able to grab my gear and set up the sound system for hte program in plenty of time. There was a resounding response to the causes of SAve Bristol Harbor including management of the development of the waterfront, limiting the effects of new marinas on the harbor, heading off the use of the Narragansett bay for dangerous transport of LNG to Providence... and many other issues effecting the harbor, bay, and community of Bristol. There was a tremendous turnout including many political figures involved in the concerns of the area, mayors of Fall River and Providence, representatives. The distinquished hosts, Ira and Suzanne Magaziner were lovely, their home a fantastic setting for such an occasion. I had originally called Mary Kay Right, the coordinator, asking if I could be of any help in the program or with music. she responded very enthusiastically to my request and interest in the Cause. They already had music scheduled but she graciously invited us to be a guest for the day. It turned out that my sound system came in handy for the days presenters. Amazing day. a privilege to attend and to see a communtiy truly taking advantage of their rights to participate and influence the outcomes in the issues that effect the well being of their community... My hats off to the entire committee and wishing them the very best in their endeavors. It was a grand pleasure to share my songs of care for the sea, for man, with a group of people who truly appreciated them... I was able to book a flight back to Nantucket which enabled me to be there for the morning charter. Barry was glad to see me coming up the dock as his replacement had canceled that morning and they indeed needed me for the charter.. All good. Luckily this is a paying crew job... Thanks Barry, Willem who have been great to work with. We had a lovely morn with a family charter. WE have one more charter tomorrow and will head back to Newport early wednesday morn. We should be in well before dark and settled back into Newport. I will certainly miss sy_Onawa upon my return but will be available for future needs. Unfortunately, the daily crew pay is quite limited and less appealing otherwise I would be enticed to stay on... all good. Back to focus soon...a visit from Al Towle, websites(www.youth4oceans.pnn.com, www.fortheloveofoceans.pnn.com), upcoming gigs, presentations and forward motion for potential future endeavors, racing, the book, youth initiative groups.I have dropped the ball on some options which I need to move forward with.. hoping to catch up with the Ladies at Serendipity again soon. I am due for a visit to see my grandchildren, daughters and sometime this fall before sailing south, I look forward to getting out to see my sons whom I haven't seen for over a year now... very long....Plans with Stu are still moving forward. Big hugs to all xoxoxxoox d "Keepin On, Keepin On, Keepin On Caring... day to day to day, keeping the fires burning, heart warm, passions enticed, friends near in love....the sea close at hand" --------------------------- 0936EST 1436UTC 0237NZ August 19, 2007 Sunday Hugs Mom and Ernie!!! Days of travel! Benefit: Save Bristol Harbor 2-6pm today! I am sitting in the airport in Nantucket. Somehow, though I was up early this morn, I managed to miss the ferry to Hyannis Massachusetts from Nantucket... I watched it pull out as I was dashing down the dock.... heart in my throat.. I had researched all the ferries and bus connections.. This was the only one I knew of that would get me back to Bristol on time and it was going to be close.. a 3 hour bus ride. I have to say I was upset.. at myself.. where is my head.. The woman at the counter at the Ferry was terrific and seeing my obvious need to make some kind of connection, she started to check around. She knew, which I didn't, that there was very good small airplane services between Nantucket and the mainland. Also to Martha's vineyard which has a ferry that goes to New Bedford, much closer than Hyannis to RI.. Sure enough, after a couple of phone calls, we realized that I had a shot at better connections through the airline.. it was on the way to the airport talking to the cab driver, that I wondered about he flight service to Martha's vineyard.. some plans came to light. The flight service is very good. though the flight direcdt to providence was booked full, as was the flight to New Bedford, there is a flight to MV which will allow me to connect with the 1145 ferry to New Bedford, only 30min from Bristol... So sigh's beginning to come, I booked that flight to the vineyard, not too expensive..and I am on standby for a flight direct to new bedford.. so all is well. I will arrive in RI in time to get to the benefit.. full on. Really, everyone here is great and beyond helpful.. They really were self initiating to try to help me find a way to get back...I can't say how I appreciate that. Barry has been great.. Davison patient as a saint as I have to change plans..Tomorrow morn I head back to Nantucket.. a bit more sailing..I will be missing the Opera House Regatta Today though..Wishing the team on board ONawa the very best of luck... good luck Roy and the Barry and Will.... Big hugs xoxoxoxo Thanks to LIght, LUis and Neil, we are up and running with a log. Global Marine Network sp0onsored me with a .org site back when my site went down in Ushuaia and I haven't had the chance to develope the site, but it has been carrying the log updates and been a great backup.. in time it will be the site to carry all the non for profit ventures and sponsors, friends as well as other blogs for my internet family for us to get to know each other better and interact... big hugs xoxoxo d Keepin on Keepin ON Keepin ON CAring... networking with love and purpose...I am blessed" --------------------------- 1415EST 1915UTC 0715NZ August 14,2007 Happy Tuesday Hugs!!! Nantucket in the SUmmer!! What a blessing... Barry Bourdon, the amazing californian savior who found me on the internet Feb 2006, just as I was rounding Cape Hope and has become an amazing friend. He put together the NZ welcome committee that greeted me in Opua along with Richard Thorpe.. He has since moved east from LA to skipper the incredible classic 12m America's Cup wooden yacht, Onawa. Luck had it for me that he had need of a crew member for an offshore charter schedule in Nantucket. Jen, my boss at the Beehive, graciously found a way for me to be able to take the time from the cafe to join Barry and his fulltime crew member Willem. Davison kindly dropped me at the ferry in New Bedford where I caught a ride to Martha's Vineyard where I met up with Onawa. We had a glorious gentle motoring to Nantucket yesterday. Today is a full day of preparation for a full week of non stop day sails and regatta racing. I have to say that I feel renewed, just a few nights sleeping on board in the beauty of the islands mystique. Home.. I awoke this morn to a lovely sunrise, did as much of my brocades and yoga that I dare seeing I have been out of it for a while.... A real respite from the challenges of transitioning.. finding my footing on land and trying to carry on with diligence to develpe the programs and speaking opportunities ahead.. I am breathing easy, fresh air and sunshine, I have to say.. The team though is developing to go forward with Y4O and FLOO(youth4oceans and For the Love of Oceans). Light, Neil and Luis are working to get my .com site all back up and running. The log and update page haveing been down.. you know that... as you haven't been able to get this log until it has come back up.. I am hoping it hasn't been down long.. I will be returning to Bristol on Sunday morn to be able to join in the Benefit Barbeque for Save Bristol Harbor 2-6pm. On Monday, a new friend I met in Baltimore is due to arrive from Annapolis on his yacht, Al Towle. The amazing energy of spontaneous meetings, connections, collaborations... just fun times. Enjoy!!! biggest hugs xoxoxo d Hi Mom and Ernie.. I missed you sunday. loves and hugs. "Keepin On, Keepin On, Keepin On caring.....to invest in life, choices, faith, meeting life and all her opportunities as they come with renewed care and trust. We can make a difference" --------------------------- LKPY Peace Grant Launch LKPY is excited to Launch its new project... THE LKPY PEACE GRANT One fortunate person will be awarded AUD$5000 on September 21st 2007, international peace day... Could that be you or your friends? So what's it all about? The LKPY Peace Grant aims to support a project each year that is initiated by a young person or a group of young people. The project is aimed at achieving outcomes focused on peace: celebrating diversity, connecting with others, building community, resolving conflict, offering help, encouraging expression and developing talents. How do I get involved? Email us for details and the application form info@lkpy.org... If you have a project idea just read the details, fill out the application form and email it into us, by the 31st of August 2007. If you know others who might be interested then forward this on to them. If your keen to come along to the special Peace Grant Dinner on September 21st in Sydney to celebrate the winner then email us and we will let you know the details. Remember... They say a waterfall starts from just one drop of water, LKPY says peace starts from just one person. So no matter how big or small your project idea is, we want to hear from you! Keep smiling The LKPY Crew. --------------------------- 0752EST 1252UTC 2352NZ August 9, 2007 Happy Thursday Hugs!!! big Hellos... I will try to do a bit..often. REcreating the sea!! I have the privilege of addressing families in Barrington RI this evening about my journey, sharing my songs and enjoying the community here while passing on some passion for preservation, and the need to be thinkers in this day and age, dealing with fear whether alone at sea or dealing with an intimidating human space or making daily decisions... but mostly, we will have fun.... I have all the beautiful Whales and dolphins, turtles and fish from the parade float Davison created to decorate the auditorium, lots of photos... amazing..My voice is still in dire condition but I will find a few songs to share and hope the steel pan skills perk up for the task... All wonderful. I really enjoyed a catch up with Will Barbeau yesterday. It is so great to have him so near and dear. We will get together with Andy at the Boatyard next week and commense the refit to restoration... and sailing once more.. Neil has successfully opened up the access to working on the website to Light and myself so we will begin the transfer of skills necessary to keep the site the amazing resource it has always been thanks to Neil. Thank you Light... Hellos to all. Please do email in and say hi..biggest hugs xoxoxoxo d "Keepin On, Keepin On, Keepin On, CAring... in truth, facts, dignity, tenacity and love.." www.donnalange.org www.yoloadventure.com www.beansmusic.com www.ushuaialogistics.com www.xaxero.com www.gmn-usa.com www.pacificyachtdeliveries.co.nz www.sail-world.com www.internationalmarinebrokers.co.nz www.mtiadventurewear.com www.caphorn.com CABRAL'S cHICKEN,best roast chicken in the world, BRistol RI 5 SECOND RULE,www.fivesecondrule.com, the best band in NE. Topside Tavern, home sweet home.Bristol RI Newport Nautical, consignment and marine store in one. Brewer's Sakonnet Marina www.ferroweathervane.com --------------------------- 0815EST 0015NZ August 8th, 2007 Wednesday HUgs!!! I Miss you all!!! August 9 @ 6:30pm. Barrington Library Family Night sharing!!! Sorry to be so long away and long winded.... I have just been realizing the true nature of the very intimate relationship I have had with you all over these past nearly 9months in these email logs, enduring all that has been a part of this second half of the world journey. My transition back to 'society' or into closer human energy bombardment has been no less a journey or challenge, yet as challenges are, it has revealed more and more and been a brilliant opportunity. Somehow, I have drawn away.. or just become so consumed with dealing with the present world in my physical space that I have not yet set aside the time to 'keep in touch'. I miss you all. I had a wonderful skype call with Chris Bone, founder of OceansWatch and Jane Pares, the wonderful writer of so many of the articles on the site and those published in Sail-World. They both know me so very well. my very heart. They are able to read me like a 'barometer' and know right where my pressure lies. I feel like everytime we talk, I am low and needing encouragement... it is always the same,.. I am tired, low energy, have a cold, voice is so hoarse. the answer always the same, 'Donna, you need to let your body heal. You need to take better care for yourself '. Light, Will too try to calm my tendency to drive myself. As I felt the capacity this morn and began to write, I realized that I have been so transparent on this log all these months, that "all of you" know me so genuinely. We are all very close and have shared this incredible journey together. As I am still forging new territory, new challenges, the same challenges that you face each day, I dare say, that there is no reason to stop sharing this path together. You too, have the same desires, losses, tremendous magical encounters, successes, days of just doing what needs to be done, finding a way to make it through a situation.. but now we have a richer faith of knowing the great potential capacity we all have to accomplish these tasks, dreams, passions,adventures and great fun experiences. We can all live more full-on by faith, giving of all we are, not attaching anything to the reality of our intrinsic happiness in being alive and so full of life. Talking with Jane so recentered me.. We need each other. So... what have I been up to? Integrating all that has been surrounding me physically, in society, and inwardly... Energy wise, I am missing the continual effects of all of your focus of energy toward me and I must be more aware of keeping energized. Truth is, I just don't have as much energy to work with. I am a bit tender. Now that I have gotten a cold, totally lost my voice, I am finding that I am very susceptible to decompensating and actually, my ability to have my voice, and especially sing becomes a barometer for me of my energy or stress level and overall feeling of health. This week, instead of getting well, I have gotten a bit worse. so I am looking at all the factors and I need to concentrate on healing. But all around me, Magic is still scattering fairy dust before me. Oooooooh!! a Bit of news. A million and million millions of thanks to Neil Vangundy who has orchestrated all that has had to do with this incredibly heartfelt, demanding, effective website these past 4 years. He has asked for a sebatical... He is going SAILING!! Yahoo! Miracles, Light has come on board to do my website!!! She now has access and is getting a handle on how to work with the site and all. I am getting access too so I can slowly get up to web speed... Praise be the powers of love....Feel free to email with ideas and imput. stories...yes, we all want to hear more from all of you...I wouldn't publish past emails as they weren't sent with the intention of being published, but please feel free to give me your permission to publish your letter you send on to me. I want the help site to share our journeys. I have come to a lovely community of really honest, careful and enlightened people who have looked beyond all the mainstream facade or highly biased information rivers, to seek out real data and make real decisions about what is going on in our country, our world, our communities.. It has been a journey in itself. I have to purpose to keep calm and become part of the solutions while not letting the intensity of the system totally consume my being.. I am a flower in a powerful field of Duster Grass ( an overtaking, bully tall marsh grass imported in, looking like Cat Tails but offering little or none of the ecosystem benefits of the Cat Tail. They have absolutely destroyed the waterfront marsh ecosystem along the river from Bristol to Warren along the bikepath). Maybe we all feel like one of the habitants of this marsh; the egret, the bumblebees, insects, butterflies, rabbits and endless birds and creatures that have no where to go and not be choked out by a dominating system. Anyone who does not earn 100,000$ a year, is feeling this incredible pressure, stress, fear... What has happened to the day when we all gathered in barns for a local barn dance every saturday night, lifting our feet to live instruments, sharing the food grown in our family garden and the peace of knowing that we 'have enough'? Throughout history, it has been much rarer the moment when natural disaster has starved us out. It has been the overseer who has made our existence a tenament farmer's, never owning our land, always oweing the keeper.... Enough... this is what happens when I go so long without writing... Davison has become a wonderful personal support in my world as well as continues to offer his talents and expertise in graphics, design, plus all the hands on help of being a 'roady'... tough one. A million thanks.....to all who have welcomed me to this community, the library staffs, neighbors, pubs, rallies, picnics, and into their hearts. Will is still a huge presence and savior.... Bristol Marina coming to my rescue. I have a job!! A bit of a finance base to hang on to until Stu is ready to sail.. helping bake amazing original recipes and serving the 'best' coffee in RI at The Beehive Cafe on Franklin St in Bristol RI. The projects: OceansWatch is growing wonderfully. The works are forging ahead as Chris Bone has been so focused with his energy as to bring so many amazing people to join the efforts. During his deliveries in the Pacific Islands he has been able to personally meet and become a vital resource to several islands as a developer of sustainable economic progress and humanitarian work. so much of the humanitarian work is based in an erroding economic system.. The reefs are inadvertently used as the communities struggle to survive. Each time Chris goes back to the islands, he has more team members, more hands on ways to effectively help. The need for the OceansWatch Wharram 65 is growing as the process goes from information research and resource development, to hands on research, surveying, restructuring, reef restoration or humanitarian projects. Julia has been focused on finalizing all the foundational structures; Jane is on the go getting the word out to the sailing community (www.sail-world.com) of how we can all get involved as well as home team; the brains of the biological, sociological work, Peter and David; Lilly the web guru and communication developer, home team... the team is growing with more professionals, biologists, caring , giving commarades. "For the LOve of Oceans" and "YOuth 4 Oceans" are in the developmental stage of building the actual websites, solidifying the actual nuts and bolts of the implimentation of the writing programs. Promo material has to be developed so that we can actually present a "Critical Thinking Writing Program" to all the potential youth, advocacy, conservation, marine education and yacht community organizations. Personal News Network's, Lauren Elliot and his team is working with me. It is hard to get as much done as we would like by internet. Skype has been a bit difficult. but we are moving forward... I have many directions I can go with my own writing.... I have to say that I need more mental energy and concentrated hours of time, space in order to move more in this direction. Interestingly, though it is probably the most important direction for me to go for my own journey and for effectiveness, but it requires I be the most rested, focused and free energy wise.. It is a rare moment, though I have them, when I am writing...like this morning.... I have many open doors though.......... thanks to so many who have taken the time to journey with me and have shown me such amazing interest in my writing... Tomorrow night is my first library talk. I put the sched on the last log. maybe I will copy it at the end of every other log or so until we get a place for the sched on the home page or another page. Got to scoot. I will try to keep in touch more often, not so long winded.... loves and hugs xoxoxoxoxo truly xoxoxo d "keepin On, Keepin On, Keepin On, Caring...with all your heart, yet allowing faith and personal happiness to calm the impulses to want to know the future, to impact it, to see results now...allowing that it is the whole earth that is creating all we see. We will all come along together..eventually. I just need to keep on keepin on" Schedule: Most Thursday afternoons, Warren Farmer's Market, music and steel pan, with guests 4:00-8:00pm Thursday,August 9th, Family Night at the Barrington Library starting at 6:30pm, storytelling and music,slides Friday, August 17th Open Mic Featured Artist at the Coffee Depot, starts at 7:30pm, just music and a great open mic to follow Sunday, August 19th Summer Barbeque to Benefit SAVE BRISTOL HARBOR, 2-6pm, a few songs and steel pan for the kids Wednesday, Sept 5th Summer Travel Log Barrington Library, 7:30pm, travel log around the world, mixed with music Thursday, Sept 6th Summer Night Out at Stella Blues Restaurant in Warren on corner of Water St and Miller St., 9:00pm All Music, with guests Wednesday, Sept 12th Family Night at the Warren Library starting at 6:30pm, storytelling and music, slides Saturday, Sept 29th Donna Lange and guest at Stone Church Coffeehouse, begins 8:00pm, Stories and Music, special guest www.youth4oceans.pnn.com www.fortheloveofoceans.pnn.com www.donnalange.pnn.com http://www.staynout.org/serendipity www.oceanswatch.org; http://www.pacificyachtdeliveries.co.nz/pacific%20guardian.htm : phebejo1@yahoo.fr(Schools and orphanage needing desks and teacher salaries desperately) www.womensheart.org (Education, funding for Women's Heart Foundation. the statistics regarding women dying of heart disease are staggering) www.reddressracing.org (Women's Sailing racing organization supporting the WHF above) www.coming-about.com (Women's sailing school focusing on alot more than sailing skills.) www.women-without-borders.com (workshops and tremendous support for women worldwide in critical conditions to make a difference in their own countries) www.casaamiga.com (a women's support program in a domestic violence torn Mexico) --------------------------- HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR PTARMIGAN, MY BIRDIE, MY LOVE HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!! --------------------------- Where in the World is Donna Lange? Playing Music and speaking!!! Most Thursday afternoons, Warren Farmer's Market, music and steel pan, with guests 4:00-8:00pm Thursday,August 9th, Family Night at the Barrington Library starting at 6:30pm, storytelling and music,slides Friday, August 17th Open Mic Featured Artist at the Coffee Depot, starts at 7:30pm, just music and a great open mic to follow Sunday, August 19th Summer Barbeque to Benefit SAVE BRISTOL HARBOR, 2-6pm, a few songs and steel pan for the kids Wednesday, Sept 5th Summer Travel Log Barrington Library, 7:30pm, travel log around the world, mixed with music Thursday, Sept 6th Summer Night Out at Stella Blues Restaurant in Warren on corner of Water St and Miller St., 9:00pm All Music, with guests Wednesday, Sept 12th Family Night at the Warren Library starting at 6:30pm, storytelling and music, slides Saturday, Sept 29th Donna Lange and guest at Stone Church Coffeehouse, begins 8:00pm, Stories and Music, special guest Hoping to be giging at Melville Grill Restaurant Saturday afternoons in the Melville Boat Basin in Portsmouth soon. --------------------------- UTC 1451 0951MD 0951RI 0251nz July 21, 2007 Saturday surprise hugs!! Racing!! And with the best in the world! I'm in Baltimore for a Celebrity sail event.. Crazy!!! but great! Should be interesting. It will be interesting to see if I have an aptitude to racing. All the other celeb sailors are world class racers, some paralympic world class racers. There will also be Tv and sports personalities and a couple of local political figures. Beth Perry has done an incredible job putting the Benefit event together to promote the "Downtown Sailing Center for Accessible Boating Program", and the Paralympic Sailing Team, "Team Sailing for Life". It should be great fun, but I will be nervous. I already know that. I race 3 times over the day so hopefully I will get the hang of the race scene and feel more comfotable by the end of the day. I am more afraid of being too aggressive and hitting someone. Oh Well, we'll see. Beth Perry is amazing as the organizer of the event. It was because of a chance meeting at the Newport Yacht Club, when I went to join friends from Bermuda visiting for the start of the Bermuda-Newport Race, that I ran into Beth. Wildness! And here I am. The log at the end of the day should be interesting. She is going to have me sing "For the Love of Oceans" to start us off too. A couple of my Cds will be given as gifts which will give me a bit of extra publicity too. Beth is all about promoting sailors. If I do seem to have the knack for racing, who knows... maybe there will be a race ahead for me. Regardless I am determined to enjoy the events and not get too competitive. I would like to discover that racing is an option for me. All good! I had a great time with my daughter and grandchildren, though it rained and poured, we also had some delightful bits of sunshine, walks along an incredibly beautiful whitewater river stretch, and exciting times at the Wild Center Adirondack Museum in TupperLake. Thank goodness for public Libraries. And we even did some do-see-does at a square dance!! Ptarmigan was the artist of 'finding a kid friendly' activity and we had lots of fun. Thanks Jan and others for continueing to promote my cd's. Right now, amidst the transition to 'land life', building the foundation of YOuth4Oceans and For the Love of Oceans, those sales are keeping me going. I so appreciate your support. Opportunities to speak and share my dream are beginning to book. Music gigs are starting to fall into place. Thanks again all. We are beginning to look to book a fall concert in the NY Capital District area so I can catch up with so so many that have supported me along my journey from my original hometown around Burnt Hills NY. So be on the lookout, NYer's.. biggest hugs xooxoxoxo d "Keepin On, Keepin On, Keepin On Caring...the small world is even smaller when the smile on your face is reflected back with momentum.." --------------------------- 1907RI 0007UTC 1307NZ July 15, 2007 Happy Sunday Mom and Ernie!! Settling into Warren,Rhode Island and the next stage! Aug 9th - Barrington LIbrary - A Family Night "Round the World For the Love of Oceans" Program. 6:30 - 8pm Sept 5th - Barrington Library - Summer TRavel Log Series will present "Round the World with Donna Lange"7:30pm Sept 12th - Warren Library - A Family Night "Round the World For the Love of Oceans" Program. 6;30pm Warren Farmers Market on Thursdays 4-8pm, I'll be playing steel pan and guitar with local friends.... festival time!! AS I just reread my account of the Parade, I can hear the frantic rambling as I was trying so hard to thank so so many people. The whole aura around the project was so giving and sharing.. there was sheer excitement as the float began to take shape. It was such a flow of love and creative freedom. Yet is was tremendous committment of many people that made the day so magical. Davison Bolster was truly a partner in the project once we met that day on the street in Barrington. Between he and Bill and Linda, they kept the momentum moving, the details. Yet the magic stretched even to my brother, who just happened to have 10 blow up globe beach balls... amazing. Not only was the day so special because the float was so cool, the work so professional, Tom and Porky and their families were so wonderful as hosts to Inspired Insanity, an original song, but also I had so many of my family here with me. My mom was just so proud to be greeting the world from the bow of II. My brothers were amazed at the beauty of the float. MY daughter Kristy and Becca, my son Keel's girlfriend, came from far away and were so excited to be at the Parade. It was just a wonderful time. Once we crossed the judges stand, Joe Britto kindly standing in acknowlegement of my accomplishment, the sighs of awesome contemplating began. What had just happened? As the float went quite quickly through the streets, the kids had to really work to carry the banners and globes. But especially, the few times the parade did stop and allow us to be heard, the song,"For Love of Oceans" sunk in.. And applause burst from the crowds. So many friends along the path, Tina and April, Manny and Cathy and their family, the whole Aidans sunday jam session gang was at John and Kathy Forrest's home on the route. So so many. Kristy, Becca and Scott shouted from the center of town near Topside..It was amazing to realize how far Inspired Insantiy and I had come. Even now as I reminisce... tears well... Wow!!So much we have been through and now go forward to do.. Much is begun.. I am barrelling into the state of affairs in this world... The ostrich neck pulling my head out of the sand. It is a rude and strange awakening.. though not a real surprise. Throughout my life, in my marriage with Fletcher, we have always sought a simple, sustainable life. Long ago we knew that the world system is wrought with ego, power and greed gone insane at every level.. but just how insane?... But the only way to be part of the life of the world and healing is to keep this great momentum of truth,love and caring surging forward. It is from within that framework that we can effect the world in a positive, uniting, caring way. My hope is that through "For the Love of Oceans" and YOuth 4 Oceans, that I can help encourage, empower and ignite each individual to take up their powerful ability to effect the world around them. It is not about telling people what to think, but empowering each to think critically for themselves, reaching beyond the preconcieved ideas, the shroud of fraud created by ego, propaganda and greed, control mechanisms. Research, question, consider. Instead we can live in peace, and the right to know who we are in our own being, not conforming, but discovering and investing in our incredible potential. Caring is the essence of the life I have found in nature, the sea, life energy... We will developing that caring, concern, unifying desire to see the world healed and prospering at all levels. Life Growing!!! Sustainable life!! But then again, these are my thoughts that have come after my months journeying on the sea. We all have our own journey to knowing...our journey to living. I am settling in...my direction is becoming clearer and a focus developing. It is a relief as my mind now has a more finite "refit" list... the massive pages of "To be done"...are writable. After the amazing parade reviews and so many interested in my journey, I am getting the promo material together and beginning to approach local libraries for summer programs. All the whales and dolphins need homes and I am so anxious to be sharing all that my journey has given me. Aug 9th - Barrington LIbrary - A Family Night "Round the World For the Love of Oceans" Program. 6:30 - 8pm Sept 5th - Barrington Library - Summer TRavel Log Series will present "Round the World with Donna Lange"7:30pm Sept 12th - Warren Library - A Family Night "Round the World For the Love of Oceans" Program. 6;30pm The family nights will be a lively mix of slideshow, story telling and music, interactive and fun.. For the Travel Log, I will have an adult group so present a talk about my journey, share photos and songs, and share about my experiences traveling around the world. I will be sending out the promo package to the area yacht clubs. I already have an invitation to the Bristol Yacht Club. This process will open up the potential of a later fall tour along the coast and farther reaching next spring and summer.. The wonderful meeting with Bob and Jody Lipkin from Latitudes and Attitudes magazine has opened up a world of possibility and helps. Bob is going to get the first "For the Love of Oceans" column into the next magazine and we'll see how it goes... He has offered to put one of my songs on his next Lattitudes and Attitudes CD, he is writing books, speaking... he is amazing and has gone before me successfully in all of these areas. My many thanks to them for their encouragement. Thanks Tom and Sharon!! The promo package will be developed for a professional speaking tour as well. The Book is coming along... I am mentally working it through and as my world settles into a schedule I will finally be able to truly reminisce and get the writing underway. Getting paying work is a challenge as my goals are so strongly set to develop the 'cause', but I have to make some money. I am getting opportunity to play in pubs and farmers markets. The job at Blackstone hasn't worked out at this point. It has been a pattern in traveling that it takes about 3 months on land before I can network to the point where I am able to start to make some money. I have to say that the task of getting acclamated to land is daunting still. I borrowed a car and the clutch broke.... life in the earth lane...I do appreciate with all my heart whatever support is out there to help me keep the "For Love of Oceans" project as a priority in the transition. Any financial support available will give me opportunity to use the present pubilicity to further the goals..it is appreciated with all my heart. By all means "buy a CD"... thanks. I am going full ahead developing the non for profit organization "For the Love of Oceans". This is quite a procress. I am working with Lawyer, Diane Krausz, to get the details underway as well as to try to get an agent who can help catalyze my process of getting into professional speaking or other ventures. I am also remaining closely in touch with the process of doing the same with OceansWatch on the other side of the world, in New zealand. Chris Bone is just back from an incredible time in the Pacific islands, fired up as he can see the endless needs for support to the cultures and people there who are being devasted by the steamrolling of "progress" that is carelessly abusing the people and natural resources of the islands. The islanders have lived sustainably for so so many years. Chris, Julia, Lilly, Peter, David, Jane and myself, more in spirit, are hard at work getting the foundation built. Anyone wishing to join OceansWatch, please click on the website on my home page!!.. soon soon I hope to head south for a recording session in St Thomas!!! I am on the look for help.... *Neil is heading out "CRusing" soon and can't continue to run my website.. He has been so so amazing!!! I need a web guru...I have 4 websites to develop; donnalange.com (my for profit site), For the love of Oceans and Youth 4 oceans(grassroots advocacy teaching, action and publishing sites) as well as donnalange.org, an overall charitable site. I am heading west as I type, once again on a bus for NY, but this time, to spend time with Ptarmigan and my grandchildren and my mom. My granddaughter, Jael, hasn't been feeling well so I am really looking forward to being there with Ptarmi and giving a hand. Next weekend I will be a guest at an amazing sailing event in Baltimore MD, with Beth Perry arranging it all. I will fly in on friday night and participate on Saturday, then fly back to Providence to be a part of the Southern Cross Owner's Association yearly cook off on Sunday!!! I am looking forward to this week in the woods with my daughter as a real breather and refreshment. Mentally, I am feeling tired, but exhilerated to go on.. It is a good moment to take a break as I feel I can let go for this week. I have the present projects that I am planning to go forward with in the initial stages and developed so that there is a framework now. I have some sense of where I am going, though life will always be bringing newness and direction. I am beginning to feel some sense of stability. The job will come... The whole picture will fill in... People are coming with the desire to take "For the Love of Oceans" forward, repair Inspired Insanity and get her back in shape for her trip south... it is amazing.... Biggest hugs xoxoxoox and loves xoxo d "Keepin On, Keepin On, Keepin On Caring...through the transitions, the day to day challenges no less than those amidst the adventure of the sea, but often not heralded with the same value... Keepin on Caring every day, for all we come to know and be, for all we've come to love and ...there is peace." www.donnalange.com www.youth4oceans.pnn.com www.fortheloveofoceans.pnn.com --------------------------- 0921 RI 1421UTC July 5, 2007 HAPPY DAY AFTER the 4th!!! Abosolutely BRILLIANT, as spoken by the group of young british soccer players that gathered round last night at the pub to congratulate us for the parade, and for my sail around the world. The entire parade day was magic just as the preparation had been. EVerything that could have gone right, did!!!!! WE kicked Murphy into orbit.. What fun. The THANK YOUS are enormous. I'll put them in order of when I met folks.. Will Barbeau, the master mind behind getting me invited to the parade. Who would have thought? Will Barbeau!!! Then it was Bill and LInda Knowles who first invited me to be able to arrive at the Herreshoff Museum Dock upon my completion of the circumnavigation. That was furthered by Will and the Museum celebration. To the Town of Bristol who graciously invited me to participate. Tom Brownell was the key man in making it to happen when he volunteered his truck and trailer to haul Inspired Insanity around the streets of Bristol. Thank you Tom and Sharon. Then it was an old friend who had done the original painting of INspried INsanity on the stern before I left to sail the world, Tom Weathers, who began the magic. He volunteered to paint "For the Love of Oceans" on the topsides of my boat. The magic surrounding my developing YOuth4Oceans and For the Love of Oceans was begun by Jay Miller when he so amazingly offered to host me to Washington DC for Oceans Week. It began the momentum to create a grassroots advocacy project in America to augment my work with OceansWatch. Then it was Bill and Linda again, who offered my their home as a base to work from and gave of all their organizational talents, and resourced to get me off the ground. The Bristol Boatshow was a kick off for YOuth4Oceans!! Thanks Sean Sullivan and the Harbormasters. Then whilst I was waiting at a bus stop in Barrington RI, on my way to meet Bermuda friends at the Newport Yacht Club, I got bored waiting. I wondered if I would get a lift if I hitch hiked in such an upscale town in RI.... Low and Behold, Davison Bolster stopped and offered me a lift, restoring my faith in humanity as he opened his door. Davison has become a key component in facilitating For the Love of Oceans. He created logos for both For the Love of Oceans, YOuth4Oceans and created the front banner design for the parade. Round the World For the LOve of Oceans... The planning meeting was a great success. 10days later, Tom and Porky (the driver for Tom) arrived at Bristol Marina, thanks Andy Tyska, to load Inspired Insanity. The creative process began. At every step everything we needed arrived, often before we knew what we needed it for. Kim Wetherald arrived with Manny Perry from YOung Mariners. She jumped right in and asked what we needed... Well, she must have a huge garage as from it came huge bundles of blue tarps, all sorts of red/white/ and blue banners and flags... coolers, snacks for the parade day... more and more.. Manny and his brother in law dreamed up a great solution to guards for the wheels, and constructed, from conduit, the rail that would end up supporting our overflowing water keeping it off the trailer wheels.. Tom Weathers was completing his masterpiece of For the Love of Oceans on the side of Inspired Insanity.. Other younguns and parents came to help with the process, thanks Tye and your dad.. Then the reality of the talent that stood around me set in as Davison began to paint and create lifelike whales, dolphins, turtles, fish for the ocean... Gary Fish had found hundreds of feet of old fishing nets... Moment by moment, the float began to take shape. Then it was a visit by Tom and Sharon that re-directed our efforts, both for the safety of the truck but truly it set us on a better path. The water began to flow over the wheels, concealing them... somehow, Tom weathers found more energy and in his midnight hours began making banners, looking like old scrolls, all done absolutely professinally with vinyl... we were styling... Others offered help. Communication was a problem as I don't have a cell phone. Lots of people ended up trying to get involved but couldn't find us. Sierra Club was one of those, Lisa Allen too... but somehow, amidst it all, the float came together magically. Herb Williams took on creating flag poles and found flags for us... The float became a rolling ocean, with a platform for me to sing on. Derek Escher would join me with mandolin and guitar. We worked out the sound system electric need by using a transformer off the cigarette lighter... miracles... The day ws approaching and I had a vision of writing a song, For the Love of Oceans... in a moment of energy 2 nights before the parade, the words came. a simple chord progression.... When Derek and I got together that night to practice, the song was born.... It worked.. The parade day was amazing as Tom, Sharon, their grandson, Porky and his wife and girls arrived at 6am., My mom and 2 brothers arrived ahead of us.. the energy was gathering.. The first test was to get the float through town to the start without hitting any powerlines. We had maxed every size limit with the float constructin. 13.5' high and 10'wide. Will Barbeau met us at the start on his bicycle with camera in hand. Kids started arriving... T-shirts handed out. snacks and drinks.. Extra parents to go along side. mIchelle and Jim. The kids, please forgive me if I miss a name... Ally, stephen, kate, remmy, tye, geneva, tye 2, sarah, charlotte, Teddy, and there were 2 more... sorry... but thanks so much all of you for being there... you were so so so awesome. They totally cooperated with our safety rules... The parade was ;magic. was televised. I sang For the love of oceans all the way and stopped 2 times to sing America the Beautiful. We all had so so much fun and our message was heard!!!! The response was phenomenal. ! Thank you Town of Bristol... all of our sponsors. biggest hugs and loves, xoxoxoxoo d --------------------------- 0921 RI 1421UTC July 5, 2007 HAPPY DAY AFTER the 4th!!! Abosolutely BRILLIANT, as spoken by the group of young british soccer players that gathered round last night at the pub to congratulate us for the parade, and for my sail around the world. The entire parade day was magic just as the preparation had been. EVerything that could have gone right, did!!!!! WE kicked Murphy into orbit.. What fun. The THANK YOUS are enormous. I'll put them in order of when I met folks.. Will Barbeau, the master mind behind getting me invited to the parade. Who would have thought? Will Barbeau!!! Then it was Bill and LInda Knowles who first invited me to be able to arrive at the Herreshoff Museum Dock upon my completion of the circumnavigation. That was furthered by Will and the Museum celebration. To the Town of Bristol who graciously invited me to participate. Tom Brownell was the key man in making it to happen when he volunteered his truck and trailer to haul Inspired Insanity around the streets of Bristol. Thank you Tom and Sharon. Then it was an old friend who had done the original painting of INspried INsanity on the stern before I left to sail the world, Tom Weathers, who began the magic. He volunteered to paint "For the Love of Oceans" on the topsides of my boat. The magic surrounding my developing YOuth4Oceans and For the Love of Oceans was begun by Jay Miller when he so amazingly offered to host me to Washington DC for Oceans Week. It began the momentum to create a grassroots advocacy project in America to augment my work with OceansWatch. Then it was Bill and Linda again, who offered my their home as a base to work from and gave of all their organizational talents, and resourced to get me off the ground. The Bristol Boatshow was a kick off for YOuth4Oceans!! Thanks Sean Sullivan and the Harbormasters. Then whilst I was waiting at a bus stop in Barrington RI, on my way to meet Bermuda friends at the Newport Yacht Club, I got bored waiting. I wondered if I would get a lift if I hitch hiked in such an upscale town in RI.... Low and Behold, Davison Bolster stopped and offered me a lift, restoring my faith in humanity as he opened his door. Davison has become a key component in facilitating For the Love of Oceans. He created logos for both For the Love of Oceans, YOuth4Oceans and created the front banner design for the parade. Round the World For the LOve of Oceans... The planning meeting was a great success. 10days later, Tom and Porky (the driver for Tom) arrived at Bristol Marina, thanks Andy Tyska, to load Inspired Insanity. The creative process began. At every step everything we needed arrived, often before we knew what we needed it for. Kim Wetherald arrived with Manny Perry from YOung Mariners. She jumped right in and asked what we needed... Well, she must have a huge garage as from it came huge bundles of blue tarps, all sorts of red/white/ and blue banners and flags... coolers, snacks for the parade day... more and more.. Manny and his brother in law dreamed up a great solution to guards for the wheels, and constructed, from conduit, the rail that would end up supporting our overflowing water keeping it off the trailer wheels.. Tom Weathers was completing his masterpiece of For the Love of Oceans on the side of Inspired Insanity.. Other younguns and parents came to help with the process, thanks Tye and your dad.. Then the reality of the talent that stood around me set in as Davison began to paint and create lifelike whales, dolphins, turtles, fish for the ocean... Gary Fish had found hundreds of feet of old fishing nets... Moment by moment, the float began to take shape. Then it was a visit by Tom and Sharon that re-directed our efforts, both for the safety of the truck but truly it set us on a better path. The water began to flow over the wheels, concealing them... somehow, Tom weathers found more energy and in his midnight hours began making banners, looking like old scrolls, all done absolutely professinally with vinyl... we were styling... Others offered help. Communication was a problem as I don't have a cell phone. Lots of people ended up trying to get involved but couldn't find us. Sierra Club was one of those, Lisa Allen too... but somehow, amidst it all, the float came together magically. Herb Williams took on creating flag poles and found flags for us... The float became a rolling ocean, with a platform for me to sing on. Derek Escher would join me with mandolin and guitar. We worked out the sound system electric need by using a transformer off the cigarette lighter... miracles... The day ws approaching and I had a vision of writing a song, For the Love of Oceans... in a moment of energy 2 nights before the parade, the words came. a simple chord progression.... When Derek and I got together that night to practice, the song was born.... It worked.. The parade day was amazing as Tom, Sharon, their grandson, Porky and his wife and girls arrived at 6am., My mom and 2 brothers arrived ahead of us.. the energy was gathering.. The first test was to get the float through town to the start without hitting any powerlines. We had maxed every size limit with the float constructin. 13.5' high and 10'wide. Will Barbeau met us at the start on his bicycle with camera in hand. Kids started arriving... T-shirts handed out. snacks and drinks.. Extra parents to go along side. mIchelle and Jim. The kids, please forgive me if I miss a name... Ally, stephen, kate, remmy, tye, geneva, tye 2, sarah, charlotte, Teddy, and there were 2 more... sorry... but thanks so much all of you for being there... you were so so so awesome. They totally cooperated with our safety rules... The parade was ;magic. was televised. I sang For the love of oceans all the way and stopped 2 times to sing America the Beautiful. We all had so so much fun and our message was heard!!!! The response was phenomenal. ! Thank you Town of Bristol... all of our sponsors. biggest hugs and loves, xoxoxoxoo d --------------------------- 0804RI 1304UTC July 3rd, 2007 Tuesday Hugs and huge waves of Patriotic Joys!!! The Float is Magnificent!!! The float is just out of this world. Davison and Tom Weathers have been masterfully painting away. It is absolutely life like, 8'whales and 5' dolphins, mahi and fish. the fish net serves 2 purposes depending on how serious people look at it. Either the float suggests the damage of nets on fish or others will just see it as the backdrop for the float. We have globes painted with my trek on them, plus beach ball globes with "For the Love of Oceans" around them. The wind generator is secure short enough to get under the street wires. There is a banner along the very bottom of the back with all the sponsors on it.. It has all been painted professionally by Tom and Davison... It is so top notch.. I am blown away.. The front banner is done in vinyl. It is all essentially ready. Davison will continue to add more fish and I will finish securing the coral and fish to the netting today. The rest is really done. We have the t-shirts, plenty of kids,drinks and food. I practiced music last night with Derek Escher, a mandolin player and good friend from the Carib who lives in Tiverton. I wrote the song "For the LOve of Oceans". It came out great for a parade. All has come together so incredibly well. The judges may find it a bit 'preachy' but.... hopefully it will all go down with sugar... The whole front where we will be playing music from is red/white/and blue. we have lots of flags... I included Ocean Revolution and Ocean Champions as well as Sierra club and Save the Bay. Lots of people too on the sponsor list more so to promote them all. Lyrics For the love of oceans, I ve sailed round the world for the cause of caring, the whales , sea turtles, The albatross flight, dolphin migratory, the oceans our lungs, keeps the air that we breathe. For the love of oceans, for the love of man for the love of God we must care For the love of Oceans for the love of man for the love of God we must care, we must stand for the love of oceans, Ive sailed round the world i've seen the sea torrents, too warm and too cold for human consumption, there is nothing now sacred We must save creation our lives it does hold For the love of oceans, for the love of man for the love of God we must care, For the love of oceans for the love of man for the love of God, we must care, we must stand.... The magic of synchronicity has blown me away... every step, exactly what we need has been here. Davison has been masterful at painting the animals...and has been committed day and night to the whole planning. wowow!! Tom Weathers has really taken so much more time than I could have hoped and just made things happen. Kim wetherald ended up providing so many materials that were 'just hanging around' her house...wow!! Nancy has been there everyday helping. Manny and STeve designed the structure to get over and around the wheels. Herb Williams made beautiful flag poles. Even DAve's 30' battens from a sail, came in handy... wowo!!! Magic. Tom and sandy have been wonderful. Bill and LInda Knowles have been completely available to help with so many aspects and securing the sponsors, shirts, food.... on and on I can go.... Gob shop made the t-shirts Silktone is making the Banner Sierra Club is making a banner for the back about wind power... Cool Cities. All Magic.. So many thanks to all of you who may feel distant but are not in our hearts. YOur energy and love for all that we are doing is supporting us in ways we can not even know.... Especially, me. I am nervous. Big hugs and loves to you all. xoxoxooxxo d "Keepin On, Keepin ON, Keepin On Caring....is demonstrated beyond my imagination day by day in the love you all share". --------------------------- 0800RI 1300UTC 0900Bermuda 0100NZ Wow!! already June 26th, 2007 Tuesday Hugs!! 4th of July PARADE is cOMING!! Position: 11 Manor in Barrington Rhode Island, at Bill and LInda Knowles home. Parade planning is going great guns. But I have to say, my energy is waning and I am not surprised. I am sorry for not keeping the log more up-to-date. Believe me, I can feel it as I am not supporting you to support me. It took all of you to keep my energy up going around the world and by golly, it will take all of you to help me to impact the world for Ocean Preservation!!! PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SEND IDEAS, JOIN US IN ANY WAY IF YOU ARE LOCAL TO RHODE ISLAND, OR IF YOUR SKILLS ARE INTERNET, WEBSITE BUILDING, OR COMMUNICATIONS, BUSINESS, NON FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION BASED!!!! I NEED YOU!! The Pot-Luck Planning meeting was fabulous. The most amazing food, great friends and a successful planning meeting.. MY greatest thanks to Bill and LInda Knowles who sat me down one day and set me on the path to getting organized so that others can help me. They were incredible hosts of the party. Thank you to Davison Bolster who has not only designed great logos for both youth4Oceans, and "For the Love of Oceans" but he was our barbecue chef and helped Bill as food organizer for the party. Somehow, when I put my guitar down at the nights end, the dishes were all done. I am spoiled. AT the plannng meeting we discussed * Float logistics and safety by Tom Brownell * the float design * FRont Banner- Silktones is doing this for nearly material cost. Designwork donated by Davison, graphics digitalized by Bonnie Blue. It is amazing!! * Tom Weathers will paint the slogan and logo, "For the Love of Oceans" on my boat topsides! WOW! * flag poles for burgees and old flags by Herb Williams * creating globes-beach balls(brother Jeff and exercise balls * Sail signing along the route (sails on trolleys) * Organizing a youth coalition to be the parade workers (hold banners, globes, pull trolleys, ride bikes, etc Manny Perry's Young Mariners will be part of that group. * T-Shirts (GOB Shop sponsor), and Stickers (Graphics Plus is giving a good deal) for passing out * Supplies and resource ideas for the float from fishing nets and ocean paraphernalia, to getting ahold of Eco friendly and alternative energy materials. An action oriented float. what we can do. * Work days June 30, July 1,2,3 at Bristol Marina's Storage shed on Franklin St Bristol. * refreshments for parade- Shaw's is providing drinks. It will be an early morn and through lunch so we will come up with snacks Since the Party * NGO Organizations supporting us allowing us to fly their websites on the float "Save the Bay" who also have stickers and bumper stickers, "Sierra Club's "Cool Cities"" project, * Deb Hogan and I are routing up more youth's for the parade and to initiate with them, Community Boating, Bristol Yacht clubs youth sailing school. East Bay Sailing foundation's youth program, and just in talking with kids who sail and enjoy boating. All GREAT!!! Amazing! the support that has surrounded me here. ONWARD, FORWARD! My weekend in NYC was very successful.. The time with the ladies at Serendipity 1 was so inspirational to me.. They are AMAZING women. Thanks Stu for that contact! I have an upcoming oportunity to meet with Bob and JOdy Lipkin from the Magazine Latitudes and ATTitudes and introduce the idea of taking my concept to the magazine. I would like to develop a 'For the Love of Oceans' column to mirror these advocacy programs to the greater world yachting community via magazine and papers. I will begin to write this here once the parade is past and I can center my creative energy a bit. So There!!! Some asked for it. An update. Sorry to be so tardy. I won't let it happen again.. biggest hugs and loves oxoxoxoxoo d "Keepin on Keepin ON Keepin ON Caring...seeing the whole of the vision, realizing the abosolute spontaneous, direct impact we have upon each other. all for one, one for all." www.fortheloveofoceans.org developing www.Youth4Oceans.PNN.com www.oceanswatch.org; www.donnalange.pnn.com www.donnalange.org developing. http://www.staynout.org/serendipity phebejo1@yahoo.fr(Schools and orphanage needing desks and teacher salaries desperately) www.womensheart.org (Education, funding for Women's Heart Foundation. the statistics regarding women dying of heart disease are staggering) www.reddressracing.org (Women's Sailing racing organization supporting the WHF above) www.coming-about.com (Women's sailing school focusing on alot more than sailing skills.) www.women-without-borders.com (workshops and tremendous support for women worldwide in critical conditions to make a difference in their own countries) www.casaamiga.com (a women's support program in a domestic violence torn Mexico) --------------------------- 1346UTC 0846RI 0946Bermuda 0146NZ June 14, 2007 Thursday hugs !!! xoxoxo It is great to be able to continue to update my logs from a home base!! Thanks Luis and all at Global Marine Network. Many thanks to Bill and Linda Knowles who have opened their home to me as well are absolutely supportive of all my efforts offering so much input as I get organized. I'm getting settled a bit, email accessibility, a space to sprawl and continue working toward new goals, new horizons. AFter a week of traveling, thanks to Will Barbeau, I am setting to the task of getting a clearer vision that I can then run with with all the amazing contacts I have made. New Networks for plugging in the vision for advocacy are developing every day. It is very exciting. I have been offered a position with Blackstone Valley Tourism as a Skipper and tour assistant, working primarily with school aged children and wildlife appreciation. I will be able to introduce a framework for advocacy into their program which will be able to overflow into the school classrooms via the teachers and parent excorts. this is very exciting as the nuts and bolts start to create a working model. I enjoyed a complimentary tour yesterday and was thrilled as the young kids grasped the idea of having a voice and were very excited about helping to protect their future and that of the living world around them. Patricia, the education coordinator at Blackstone is fantastic. Of course Bob Billington, the Executive Director has been an amazing visionary with me. I am heading to NYC tomorrow early by bus to continue the process of finding a support structure for future speaking, writing, singing opportunities. Very exciting. UNfortunately, I couldn't coordinate to also meet with the ladies at Serendipity as they are not free until Monday and I don't have a way to stay in the city all weekend.. but soon. I am so looking forward to a time with them, such amazing women also with a vision to successfully re-enter society and the working world. My hats off to them as they courageously forge forward. Plans for INspired Insanity to be a float in the Bristol Parade for the 4th of July are going great. A fantastic group of creative and energetic folks are gathering to get II fashioned into a singing, sailing boat down the streets of Bristol sponsored by the Marine Industry in the area, Tom Brownell's trailor, all dolled up with the slogan "For The LOve Of the OCEANS!!" . My vision to have a voice to advocate for the ocean is taking form.. 'For the Love of Oceans!" the slogan we'll be flying. With conservation and advocacy organizations represented all over the float. My sails will be wheeled along the float for all to sign. Hopefully we will gather more email addresses of folks available to join a corps ready to write letters, editorials, respond to what is going on with a voice. So many thanks. There are musicians gathering to play along with me on the float. Tom Brownell, amazingly available to create a platform for us to play from. All fantastic. Such open available people. Andy Tyska of Bristol Marina hauled my boat yesterday. Thanks Andy and Bristol Marina. The work begins. I'll be at the boat over the weekend emptying and getting her cleaned out. Feel free to stop by the yard and check us out. be sure to give an email so i can be sure to be there. continued thanks to Neil V who keeps on top of the website. There are some new team members here and the team is growing as hands get involved. Sean Sullivan is so available to help and has allocated some funding raised from the boatshow to help get the balls rolling for YOUth4Nature.pnn.com. ( I am going to try to change this to YOuth4Oceans.pnn,com just to add that focus of the sea). Davison Bolster is coming on board with broad skills from design work to grant writing, painting.. amazing. All good.. Keep an eye out for me if you are from the area in RI or going to be visiting near here. I would love to meet all of you who have been so faithful to stay in touch and keep your energy supporting my continuing journey. Biggest hugs and loves xoxoxoxo d --------------------------- June 10,2007 Sunday I was looking for an old email and found this letter in my drafts.. I never sent it to Kevin. As I say, the real Donna, stand up. people always ask me about getting scared.. here is a letter I wrote. I was scared. tired and frustrated. I go through these points all the time on my way to peace. In the process of writing this, I realize the peace and find faith to keep going and trusting.. In fact, I became very positive shortly after this and the winds swapped around to be perfect.. it's amazing to me, Kevin, that with all the information i have gotten, this as pegged today, sunday. I'm in 30-40kn of NNE winds. It is a bit scary having lost my forestay and relying on the halyard rig. Plus the only sail I have to fly is too big so I am overpowered, the last thing I want to be.. But if I hove to or any other sail pattern. I go backwards....and fast.. I tried hoving to and was cruising 2+ kn due S. I'd be back in the stream by morn... so, we are sailing... trusting... I tried to get in the rig and put a new block for the jib that swivels right to decrease the chaffing... but as I was climbing the rig, the winds catapulted, from 20 to 30+kn and the seas came right up to 8', not so big but way big swaying in the air.... I couldnt' get the last 5' up the rig. I am just too exposed and not enough support to hang on... shit... So, I am just believing we'll be alright... The spinnaker halyard block was not set up to do what it is doing.. I had planned to sort it out in Bermuda but it was a lost task to all the 'more important' and got lost as the repairs were all put off...Life... The times I have not gotten to something and it has bit me... I have been just keeping a close eye on the halyard. I had it down and cut back the chaff and put her back up with fresh lead. But I got a look at the block when i was up there, though I couldn't touch it... It is just too small... and I can see the metal in the block is getting bent... just trusting it will hold on... but shit man, the wind is screaming... sun just set and it is still escallating... I am just so worn out with shit forecasting and just hugeness of it all... I really needed the 20kn grib forecast to be true... Now even the gribs are saying the sw winds will escalate to 40kn.. and seeing as I am not making any great progress beating into these winds, I won't have that great a point for the SW winds. I'll still be barely off closereaching...my Cog needs to be 330. and there will be growing seas for sure....Man...I cant even make westing on these northerlies as I am beating too hard..2kn at best...I may have to just hold up til the winds die down on Wed and Thurs... to really get an angle in...I'll miss the whole USA....imagine that...Kevin, I am really sad.....It has just been so hard....Some of it is my own fault, not enough maintanence and focus on the boat....I really needed to look at the furler, the forestay and the spinnaker block in Bermuda...they had been giving me trouble...Now I am pussy footing when I need to be able to hammer away with confidence...plus, loose footed, the jib just can't point...I cna't furl it to the right balance...the seas do seem to be flattening out some....I am having such a sad space. The whales were just so incredible.. magnificent. I love the sea so so much, but it is always just so so hard.. I just can't seem to get a decent run lately...the north atlantic is just kicking my ass.. The boat is so much... I am broke....Yet I know with all my guts that it will all be awesome in hindsight...Like having a baby... I won't be able to resist getting back out there.didn't plan to get personal.. I don't know you... maybe that is why i feel i can. So many, if I admit it is hard they worry....they get all flustered... Ihave to keep the gang from worry. I have already put them all through so much... 2 days. just 2 days. I can't get 2 more good days.. It has to be a frickin gale...I may not be able to get in until the winds die down as I said. I won't be able to fight the currents and waves...to stay close enough to the wind..Not sure I will make my point at all with 40kn of wind in the face.. I'll be hoping to get to land somewhere before cape cod..I have been focusing so much on staying postive.... I have to believe I will get in. but this 40 kn can turn into a tropical storm the way things are going lately... Please tell me not.. Noneof this looks tame to me... It has all been very intense. getting through the stream.. even the whales.. they were so massive and so many so very right on top of the boat..swimming under me and across the bow... it was incredible.. In fact, if it mellows out, I wouldn't be surprised if they are still with me...Welll , the reall Donna just stood up... I am scared...I just push the feelings down and down and down and cry, and have to just keep going trusting we will be fine...the boat won't sink.....she is so solid... luckily she is small and a halyard can take the forces... I do have an inner forestay, thank god as well. but the winds are still building... I am going to have to hove to soon... just too big...shoot... shoot.. shoot.. i have to know it will abate soon....sorry to blabber on.. I feel better... at least human....big hugs Kevin.. xoxoxox d ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kevin Rose" To: "'Donna Lange'" Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 22:10 Subject: RE: Weather > Donna, > > Quite soon (Saturday afternoon/evening) you'll be seeing the winds turn north. (There a frontal boundary that is right along the stream at the moment - SW winds below the stream and NE winds above.) Things are going to get bumpy out there tomorrow as the high pushes through with some 30K winds. If all goes well, you'll be out of the stream before it kicks things up. After what you sailed through on your way to Bermuda, it'll probably feel pretty tame. On Monday you'll be back to SW winds for what looks like the duration of your passage into RI. All the best, Kevin --------------------------- 0649UTC 0149RI 1949NZ June 6,2007 Wednesday Hugs!!! Boatshow and Conference, DC!! Hi to all, Life is sure speeding along.. plenty to do. The Bristol Boatshow was a success.. the rain held off, bands were great, and lots of people gathered round the new boats and exhibits. Given the boatshow had been rained out the previous years, it was great to see so many out.. and I had the privilege of meeting most of them.. Will Barbeau went to the creative realm and put together a photo display of my journey as well as got promo material together for OceansWatch and Youth4Nature for a second board. The response was overwelming in favor of both. I spent 2 days telling seastories and relating those stories to the desperate state of the earth as the temperature warms in global warming... The constant barrage of tropical storms, endless instability in weather, total unpredictable nature of the weather patterns due to those warming effects on the atmospheric environment, warming and cooling air, which creates weather. With the added experiences with wildlife and the mentorship I share by the sea herself, all ears and hearts seemed to open.. YOung people gathered around my mainsail and drew pictures, signed their names all to be flown as I sail, representing their support of solutions to globalwarming, and caring about the ocean, her wildlife and that of the world. Already young people are answering emails to write and get involved with the decision making process of the USA by giving a voice to their caring..biggest thanks to The Town, Harbormaster office, Sean Sullivan, and each one that signed my sail, my guest book.. leant support. signed up for youth 4 nature and oceanswatch... big huge hugs xoxoxo Thanks you to Jay Miller, Vice Chair of the Sierra Club in RI and member of the newly created marine committee nationally, who is hosting me at the The Oceans Week Conference in Washington Dc. It has been absolutely eye opening experience for me.. With all the PR, films and documentaries on the oceans and marine wildlife, it seems inconceivable that the legislative representatives are desperate for the outcry of concern that they can use to forward the cause of saving our endangered ocean creatures and the habitats they live in. Desperate to build support for the agencies that maintain the weather satelites, NOAA, research, education. There are trust foundations anxious to further the dedication of ocean frontage to sanctuaries ensuring vital critically endangered ecosystems are not destroyed by the careless furthering of capitalistic goals, with total disregard for the impact on life. During the opening statements today, Leon Penneta, once Chief of Staff for President Clinton and continued activist for Ocean related preservation issues, dynamically verbalized what all there felt, great passion to see the ocean environment protected and the incredible challenge before each to relate to the whole country(not just coastal America) the intricate,vital interdependance of man with the ocean, regardless of where we live. The Ocean is the cleanser of the atmosphere, the reservoir of water covering 70% of the earth's surface. The issues of the ocean's preservation are issues that effect every aspect of our life. The air we breath, "our health, recreation, economy, our soul as a country". "What must we do to protect this legacy for our children? " I didn't realize that 50% of our GDP(gross domestic product) comes from Coastal Communities. This is about economy.. But the most astounding thing was to hear the legislative representatives beseech the audience, Non gov't organizations, organizations representing the consciousness of the populace to create a voice... They are working hard to create bills and policy that will protect our ocean and marine wildlife,the coast for access by all, but when they go to the legislature, they have no power to wield...There are no calls, no letters, no emails, no voices crying... We Need To TAke Care Of The Ocean!!!!! Yes, nature preservation has a voice,though not loud enough, the land!! but not the sea... It is hard enough to get a commercial, money driven lobby fed busy congress to consider the future, the beauty and impact of wildlife, but the sea? Is she impervious to this horendous assault? No way.. but the issues most concerning to the constituents, those voices that are screaming for resolution...those are the ones who get policy, funding and support..."We need to hear from diverse groups with a unified voice" states Eric Webster, Director of NOAA Legislative Affairs. Beyond this the legislative representatives emplore us that there is tremendous power at the state and local government level to deal with much of the real, 'at the source' issues facing the environment and wildlife today... We CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.. THERE ARE EARS WAITING TO HEAR, THERE IS A PROCESS BY WHICH OUR CONCERNS, WHEN VOICED WILL EFFECT LAWS TO BE PASSED TO SUPPORT OCEAN PRESERVATION POLICY, MANAGEMENT OF ALL USING THE OCEAN, PROTECTION FOR THE VAST NUMBERS OF ENDANGERED SPECIES FROM FISH, TO WHALE, TO CORAL... TO PREVENT MORE SHRINKING OF THE ICE AND INCREASE IN THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS GLOBALWARMING IS ALREADY HAVING. HOW MANY MORE UNPRECIDENTED EVENTS.. Not only can we make that difference in Washington, but there are real effective changes that can be made on the state, local and personal level that will make a difference...We don't need to wait for a president to sign a law to create a difference. NO matter the policy made by the government, laws are only as good as those who implement them... We can implement great changes now...There will be educational information coming... Ok, off my soap box.. It is moving.. I had never been to Washington DC. The ideals upon which she was built...are still etched in the very life of the walls of these most majestic buildings... Ancestors.. the battles that have gone before, won and lost.. the landmark decisions that have changed the life of every one who calls themself an American.. We can envision landmark decisions made today for the ocean's protection, sanctuaries, management of the resources and those who have self destructively anhilated the very life forms upon which their economy exists, by greed and ignorance, neither of which are excusable. So... This is a beginning... Ihope to begin a new section in the website about how we can help.. the simplicity of writing letters and making a phone call at a strategic moment. Getting involved in fun, group activities to clean and restore. To develope the critical thinking skills that allow a person to see issues, consider the impact those issues have on themself and the world, to consider solutions then evolve with caring to act upon those solutions. Sierra Club has dedicated all their over 100yrs of experience in promoting grassroots change, to as effectively as possible bring action toward creating Cool Cities, Cities which have reduced the human effects on the environment to stop the further devastating effects of Global Warming all over America. There is a place for me to work with the Sierra Club of Rhode Island as a liason to the yachting and marine organizations, health care organizations(as a professional nurse) and schools (having worked with young people for so many years, even a pediatric nurse) to present the Cool City Campaign, Climate Protection Agreement to the local government which will bring the necessary changes to decrease the furthering of Global Warming in the Coastal Rhode Island area. It will give me an opportunity to share my journey, music, but also my deep longing to share the understanding of the unified interdependent nature of humanity and all nature, hoping to help bring postive momentum to needed changes. Check out www.oceanswatch.com Also reaching out to that community closest to the sea, the yachting community to build that coalition to effect change, to add their responsible voice as it is the very ocean they rely on for their lifestyle we must work together to protect. Yachtsmen and women are most often very willing to support change but need encouragement to get involved as they have often gone to the sea for solace, not to have a voice, as I did. But let us raise an accountability and standard of caring and doing to decrease the impetous for global warming, stewarding the sea which we use every day. check out www.youth4nature.pnn.com A new format I set up for young people to publish their findings, ideas, stories, letters, photos regarding policy and whatever event or issue is pending in the world regarding wildlife and marine preservation... If our youth can think clearly, creatively figure it out and then write about it, they can effect change. And when this is young people thinking and writing, doing...caring... things change... the next generation has the tools to create a world they want to live in.. Inconvenience today is just habit tomorrow once we begin to honor the code of conduct that will protect our future. check out www.ocean revolution.com.. GEtting young people involved, excited and having a blast learning about and caring for the ocean and becoming more effective adults in the process all over the world. www.bluefront.com; This is for all ages.. got to get some sleep. biggest hugs...xoxoxoxoxo d "Keepin ON, Keepin On, Keepin On CAring...stretching our skills, talents, time to look forward..caring in eternity, not short sighted suddenly finding ourself caught in the biggest storm ever to be." --------------------------- 1221UTC 0721RI 0821Bermuda 1121NZ May 31,2007 Thursday Big Hugs!!! Moving forward!!! check out www.Youth4Nature.pnn.com Everyday since off the sea has been filled with new challenges, new opportunity, new connections...life is busy. There is much to do. First, many thanks again to Billy Black who truly defines professional photographer when you see what happens when a true pro gets behind a camera.. Check out the photos taken before I came through the cut into the Narraganset Bay..Wow!! And Billy has kindly offered these for use in the site. Amazing!! We look so cool! I can't thank Billy without thanking Maureen(the primary conspirator), Gretchen and Kitty Martin (Cruising World),who also joined Billy on those 8'swells. Thanks again. Will Barbeau is back from Europe, a bit of recovering to do as they face the ills of springtime pollen. But nothing stops Will. He is already busy giving me a hand, getting ready for the boatshow and following up on all that comes my way. Neil V is still hard at work keeping the Website up. Mom is still mailing out CDs and thank yous; Stu is recovering and going forward in all his endeavors, the anniversary for the STay'n Out program coming up next weekend, Tom planning a visit north as soon as things settle down for me a bit. An incredible team. And now there are many who are helping me get involved and considering getting involved themselves with projects that are spontaneously emerging to help locally and in the USA. The Oceanswatch team is going full force ahead as Chris Bone is in the Pacific Islands getting involved with the tremendous efforts going on and those spearheading those works. Great collaborations are becoming evident. Once the Oceanswatch Wharram Catamaran is earmarked for these needed works, the funding and next stages can fall into place. The work has begun. All are welcome!! WArning!! A Soap Box moment coming: Jay Miller is opening my eyes to the intense age we are in, critical mass timing of so many endangered species, one of which is our very earth's atmosphere.. Though I will be on the move this next year, my hands, feet, mind and heart will be collaboring in the upcoming initiatives in Rhode Island and the US to help go beyond informing, but to doing..The general Population of America is against commercial whaling, is willing to suffer inconvenience and evolve their lifestyle, car preferences, use of plastic, to stop the snowballing effects of these last years of misunderstanding.. We must understand ..Caring for the world, nature around us is the only way to protect the very life energy that sustains our existence. Man is a vital symbiotic creature. The earth needs us, we need the earth. We can use the talents and brilliance so graciously bestowed to the human being to further the effective co-existence!! Even greater unity. Will we allow the few who benefit from the abuses of all others to get away with it? As a whole, people care.. I have seen that at every port, in nearly every heart on my journey as each one has abandoned themself to my heart to allow me the privilege of the pilgrimage on the sea and certainly the ocean and earth has been willing to give of herself for all of us. We can see the solution. The technology is way ahead of our need. There is no excuse. If there is no market for the selling of whale, seal skins.... there will be no commercial hunting. There is no need to slaughter the endangered whale, commute to work with one person to a car,in a billowing cloud, starve or neglect those needing help, incarcerate where caring, nurturing and education will reveal a citizen...the resources are abounding..The waste appalling.. I know I am "talking to the choir", Bonnie Blue warmly encouraged me.. People are willing. It is only those few who intimidate and perfect manuevering the 'commercial system' who manage to drive their own agendas to the trampling of everything in their path. Let's be real.. Enjoying the company of amazing caring people, some funny, some strong, some bright, some intense, some light hearted, all sizes, cultures, doing things that make our world beautiful, ensuring the inheritance to our children, bringing smiles to those hurting, giving hope to those left behind, is a BLAST!! Creative, energizing, exciting, fun...And there is still plenty of time to mow the lawn. Getting involved feels good. OUr YOUTH is waiting for leaders, parents, adults to validate what is their natural endowment, caring about life.. The whole of life.. Thanks to Sean Sullivan and all connected, I will be at the Bristol Boatshow this weekend, June 2 and 3, with a table set apart to let the youth know that they can join efforts in every way, in every arena to impact their community and country to "wake up" in regards to Wildlife and environmental preservation. Check out www.youth4nature.pnn.com (thank you Lauren Elliot of Personal News Network, PNN, who is wholeheartedly supportive nationally to give young people a voice) just off the web as a communication catalyst to collaborating..encouragement as young people start to exercise more and more their endowed talents to care, their right to care. Working with Non Government and government organizatons, their projects, the youth created projects, they will be able to see their efforts blossom. Thank You SEan Sullivan, already a voice and hand to investing in the youth through marine vocational training and support, for working with me in developing Youth4Nature. This is an open invitation to all to lend their talents, energy, effort in any way to help. NWSA, The National Women's Sailing Association is also going forward caring with their AdventureSail® program on Saturday, June 9 at Courageous Sailing Center in Charlestown, MA. Young girls are paired with volunteers from the Big Sister Organization of Greater Boston. The whole idea behind AdSail is to provide role-models and mentors for these girls....as well as to introduce them to sailing a life mentoring endeavor. I am very excited about being there!! I just got off the phone with Susan Epstein, the main organizer, an incredible woman. So high energy; so caring; so involved; just having celebrated her 70th birthday and making a difference every day. She has been for many years. CErtainly a role model for me!!! It will be such an honor to meet the young women at the Courageous Sailing center and participate.. My Thanks to the magazines, electronic magazines, especially Sail-world.com (Jane Pares), Cruising world.com (Kitty Martin, Billy Black), Cruising World (Fatty Goodlander) Up and coming 'Soundings'(Jason Fell), All at Sea, ..I check google everyonce in a while and articles pop up all over. The Southern Cross Assoc newsletter..Josh Slocum Society paper. So many thanks to all who follow what I do and allow me to give a voice to these causes. Other news: Island Sound Works Recording studio and publishing company has gotten back to me and we are all excited about working together. Thank you Dan McGuiness, Derrick Moore, Faye Perkins, of course my dear friend Morgan Rael for encouraging me forward..Music is magic!!! Though, I have been on the go, I am reading and getting situated to begin seriously working on the book... Thank you Pat Henry for your incredibly practical means, nurturing heart and wisdom... To all at Aidan's sunday sessions, Tina, Colby and Sean, Corky, 5 second rule, all in the music realms of Bristol..many thanks for your welcome and support.. Always, the best roast chicken in RI, Paul Cabral's Chicken... love it.. Thank You Ken Barnes and CAthy Chambers with whom I share such a tremendous camaradarie... xo My love to all...to all who have leant donations..always send letters of encouragement, support and great ideas....Thank you. "Keepin ON Keepin ON Keepin On Caring.... that natural endowment within to use our bestowed gifts and talents to the unity and health of all life." www.Youth4Nature.PNN.com www.donnalange.pnn.com www.donnalange.org developing. http://www.staynout.org/serendipity www.oceanswatch.org; http://www.pacificyachtdeliveries.co.nz/pacific%20guardian.htm : phebejo1@yahoo.fr(Schools and orphanage needing desks and teacher salaries desperately) www.womensheart.org (Education, funding for Women's Heart Foundation. the statistics regarding women dying of heart disease are staggering) www.reddressracing.org (Women's Sailing racing organization supporting the WHF above) www.coming-about.com (Women's sailing school focusing on alot more than sailing skills.) www.women-without-borders.com (workshops and tremendous support for women worldwide in critical conditions to make a difference in their own countries) www.casaamiga.com (a women's support program in a domestic violence torn Mexico) --------------------------- 1231UTC 0731RI 0631Bermuda 0131NZ May 26, 2007 Saturday sunshine hugs!!! Finally II is getting some attention. position: II is happily on the town dock in BRistol RI!! Finally, I got all the sails off II rinsed with fresh water and dried again. Today I will hope to get the canned food boxed up and maybe the clothes consolidated. The canned food lockers are pretty aweful. But it will only take another couple of days to have her more live-able. Bill and Linda Knowles, friends met in Tortolla at a gig I was singing in Soper's Hole, but who are from Barrington and were my first connection to the Herreshoff museum, have now offered me a room in their house. Wow! These kind of provisions really help me to be able to focus on getting the book going and causes addressed. We are getting ready for the Bristol Boatshow coming next weekend June 2&3. Inspired Insanity will be placed right along Independence Park's stone wall as long as the weather isn't tempestuous, giving all who come to the fair a look and feel for the living conditions that added to my experience. I'll be playing music alongside friends and the bands scheduled to play from 11-3pm. To all the local followers, Please come by and enjoy the days!! Money raised will be used to further young people in marine vocations. Anything that brings us closer to the sea, is a wonderful experience as she is such a mentor in life. WE are talking about doing a raffle of come CD's. For the raffle cost, each can sign my sail which I will have at a table with CD's to purchase, the money raised going to the benefit. Plans to go to Capitol Hill are made. I'll be on my way a week Monday. I am doing alot of talking these days about the issues of waterways and ocean front land uses, the effects of man on our sea..the greenhouse effect, our precious sea and terra firma family, the wildlife. The more I learn, the scarier it is. There isn't time to waste. And somewhere deep within, I am realizing the necessity of saving the natural kingdom. Truly it is the source of the energy of life, health, goodness on earth. I am more certain than ever that it is in understanding our oneness with this life giving force and the ability to care for her that the like tragedy destroying humanity is also saved. We need the mother earth and sea to heal the abuses to humanity as well. I don't know if I feel the natural kingdom is more or less a victim than the human being being raised in the unatural separatist indoctrination of culture and socialization today, but we are all in this together. The challenge is to visualize health, visualize a world where we belong, steward and share the resources of the world. I had the privilege of spending a week with Angie Diester who spent 14 years sailing and living in the islands of the Pacific. She has been able to share with me the visualization of peoples who are natural and have total belonging, sharing as the basis of their communities. If we can see it we can begin to help to draw it to us at all levels of our lives. I am experiencing it as provisions seem to come on after another...What an amazing potential. A friend recently said as I entered their kitchen, "Mia Casa, Tu Casa", MY home is your home. What an amazing thing to say. Bill and Linda, Will and Melissa, Moe Roddy, the Bristol Yacht Club, Herreshoff Museum, BRistal Marina, Brewer's Marina, Billy Black, last night sailing with Chris Meusler and Jay Miller... So so many. Yes! the Sailing Was Wonderful on Chris's beautiful wooden 46' Sailboat,(the make escapes me) Chris and I had met while I was working on my boat in Sakonnet Marina. While on the inaugural sail on II, chris was out sailing Macanac (sp? sorry) and is she gorgeous on the water. Well even more so from the foredeck. Thanks Chris and Jay. I am starting to see a vision to do some racing. I would love to race with Red Dress RAcing. The cause of educating women about the devistating effects of neglecting our health, the outcome heart disease, is right up my ally..The old Nurse in me, even a cardiac nurse, is riled as Moe has filled me in on the statistics. Check out that website in the "causes" sites at the end of the logs. Possibly by racing, too, I can gain some increased visibility in the yachting community forwarding all the other goals. Life is an open book. What do we really want to do with our lives? Biggest Hugs to all xoxoxox d "Keepin on Keepin On Keepin On Caring.. stewarding our gift, talents, resources in our world as it builds the world's resources for health." www.donnalange.org www.yoloadventure.com www.ushuaialogistics.com www.xaxero.com www.gmn-usa.com www.pacificyachtdeliveries.co.nz www.sail-world.com www.internationalmarinebrokers.co.nz www.mtiadventurewear.com www.caphorn.com CABRAL'S cHICKEN,best roast chicken in the world, BRistol RI 5 SECOND RULE,www.fivesecondrule.com, the best band in NE. Topside Tavern, home sweet home.Bristol RI Newport Nautical, consignment and marine store in one. Brewer's Sakonnet Marina Herreshoff Marine Museum Bristol Marina Bermuda Yacht SErvices ST George's Dinghy and Sport Club --------------------------- 1800UTC 1300NY 1200Bermuda 0700NZ May 24, 2007 Thursday Hugss!!!xoxox LIfe is grand! Heading back to BRistol Big hellos to all: The last few days have been refreshing and delightful as I have enjoyed the company of friends, Angie and her daughter, Lilly visiting from NZ. My daughter, Kristy came down for the weekend and then drove us halfway to NY to visit Ptarmigan and spend some time with my grand children.. They are 'full of energy', growing so fast. Continuing my research on 'the nature of man' as we all watch them grown and develope. It has been fantastic. It was hard to say good bye to Angie and lilly as NZ is just so far away, but it was absolutely brilliant to have the time together here. It was Angie's first time in the USA and after 15years of cruising on a sailboat, living a natural, simple lifestyle, she has an incredible view of the world. I have learned so much from her and look forward to spending more time together. thanks Angie and LIlly for coming!!!! Thanks again , Maureen Roddy who has let us stay in her house in Newport. It so facilitated a restful and great time for all of us. I have had a change in my summer plans as the injury to STu Kahn's eye is requiring more time to recover. He has decided to leave SV_Sherry Lee in Florida for the summer as he concentrates on resting and laying low, not easy to do. We can all keep our healing energy focused there. Life 'after the sail'is developing and starting to take on form as I make headway with the amazing contacts that have come my way, from thrilling possibilities wrting 'the book, to getting involve with wildlife conservation at a policy making level, to follow up with magazines, . Pat Henry has become very successful as a writer having taught herself the skills necessary while writing her book "By The Grace Of The SEa" (available through her website www.pathenry.com). She is determined to help me avoid the pitfalls and struggles she encountered deciphering and maneuvering this world of writing, publishing and distributing books as well as speaking professionally. I am so very privileged. I highly recommend her book to any consious, growing person, sailor or not. It is incredible as it so beautifully shares the journey of an incredible woman. I will be accompanying Jay Miller to Captitol Hill in Washington DC the first week of June for the congressional ocean week conference. He is abandoned to the environmental conservation cause as a long time component in the USA wildlife forum in Washington DC to work to preserve both creature and environment all over the world, There will be opportunity to listen and learn from politicians, non'-profit organizations, like Oceans Watch, as well as research experts devoted to finding the answers to changing the world's views, policies, and actions regarding how we use and abuse the world of nature. It will be interesting to see how I navigate this world and if I feel I can make a difference at this level as a liason to the Yachting Community, the essential mission of OceansWatch, The boatshow in Bristol is coming up next weekend so I will be spending the next days getting Inspired Insanity cleaned, sails aired, food growth under control. I can only go so far though as they really want II to look her role as folks have the opportunity to climb on board.. she has to smell like diesel and a rotten can or two or it just wouldnt' be authentic!!! With the weather and then visits, I have been delayed in attending to her so I doubt there is much that will totally eradicate that 'authenticity'. So so many thanks again, to the Marine Industry, The BRistol Yacht Club for their wonderful support of my arrival and generous support as I get back on my feet on land in BRistol, preparing for the show and the parade. The Yacht club, Joe Britto, have opened their heart and facility to me allowing me to have the necessities while I live on board II. A true family and community of lovely people. Bristol Marina is keepin an eye on II while I am away as she sits on one of their moorings. As soon as we can, we will move II over to the town dock so I can begin that preparation and clean up. Thank you all so very much.. I want to thank all of you who have donated financially, through these last months of this journey especially.. So many have responded to Neil's plea for help as the costs for email and commnication became exorbitant. As there were unexpected costs incurred because of the great storm and my reroute to BErmuda. The folks in BErmuda volunteered so so much, the docking and all, yet still there were repairs to be made, big costs for parts and the cost of travel to the homecoming. You have all cared so deeply for me and held on to me.. even to the extent that there is a little cushion for me so that I can concentrate on advancing the real goals of this journey verses having to abandon my causes to find full time work right away.. I will of course be seeking to work as a skipper, deliveries, music gigs and but can take some time to focus on getting the book off the ground and moving forward with the true Mission.. My greatest thanks to you all. I so appreciate being able to take this journey's fruit and plant it now, while it is still filled with all your energy and momentum..I am so very confident the harvest will be amazing... I look forward to the continued logs and input from all of you, the true base of all that is to come. Your ideas, passions, and help is cherished; needed. WE are all on this earth together as I know you area all so aware of... biggest hugs and loves xoxoxoxo d 'Keepin On Keepin On Keepin On caring ... to invest the life found in journeying to bring more health everywhere the sunshine falls." www.donnalange.org developing. http://www.staynout.org/serendipity www.oceanswatch.org; http://www.pacificyachtdeliveries.co.nz/pacific%20guardian.htm : phebejo1@yahoo.fr(Schools and orphanage needing desks and teacher salaries desperately) www.womensheart.org (Education, funding for Women's Heart Foundation. the statistics regarding women dying of heart disease are staggering) www.reddressracing.org (Women's Sailing racing organization supporting the WHF above