Sept. 10 at Watkins Glen Zippo Vintage Grand Prix

If you love cars as I do, you think you died and went to heaven. Thirty thousand people gathered here in this little mountain town in NYS yesterday for the annual Vintage Grand Prix Race. It coincides with the harvest of the grape at the numerous vineyards located high on the hills sloping down to Lake Seneca, one of the Finger Lakes. The wine is superb! I had lunch yesterday at a Vineyard Cafe. Roast beef ribs done outdoors on a grill, served on a crisp, crunchy sesame hard roll with a horseradish/ mustard sauce. I accompanied it with their wine, a cabernet. To finish the meal, I indulged in a grape cream pie. I had never had anything like it before and would really like the recipe. Wow! Sebastian was allowed in the restaurant with me since I was eating on the deck overlooking the Lake. He is such a good dog. Just lay down under my table. I don't think anyone even knew he was there. I want to post pics but this wireless service here will not allow me.

September 7, 2005

I love this picture of two of my granddaughters with a baby bunny.
First day back on the road to Virginia. I am parked at the Turning Stone RV park in Verona, NY just off I90. The people from the Oneida Nation run this park in conjunction with their interest in the casino. It has been a beautiful day to travel. We left Hartford at 11:15 a.m. because I had a call from my son. It was good to catch up and I don't really have a schedule. I arrived here about 3:30 p.m. or so. Sebastian seems to remember that he was here last year at just this time. There are alot of big rigs in here and I mean BIG. I have internet service and cable tv on site here at no extra charge. Everything is very clean and neat with concrete pads for each site. We are on a pull through site so i don't have to detach my car. I will just unhook the utilities tomorrow morning and pull on out. We are going down to Watkins Glen, NY tomorrow. Rt. 14 runs right along Lake Cayuga, one of the Finger Lakes. There are lots of beautiful vineyards all the way down to the Glen. Last year I was able to catch the vintage MG races being reinacted on the village streets of Watkins Glen. Now they have a modern oval racetrack up on the hill but yearly they allow the autos to run through the old course down the steep, sweeping streets, lining the corners with hay bales. It is noisey and fun when they roar through, down shifting as they come through town. Drivers and partners are dressed in vintage racing costumes too.
I just watched Opra Winfrey as she did a special in New Orleans plus I am so impressed by Anderson Cooper of CNN. As i watch this continuing tragedy unfold, I am moved beyond just tears to a deep heart pain for those folks. The nation is once again pulling together to help heal people affected. I hope and I pray that this compassion will continue longer than it did after the 9/11 disaster. Tests of our compassion, preparing us for unconditional love of one another.

September 4, 2005

It has been six days since hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast. We have followed the news broadcasts on CNN and NBC. Our media has been accused in the past of exageration and sensasionalism but in this case, I couldn't be more grateful to them for showing the politicians and the American people what is really happening post-storm. The human suffering is appalling in its scope and proportions. I shudder to think what will happen in this Country if we should have a nuclear attack for example on one of our larger cities. We are obviously not prepared. Oh there is plenty of rhetoric but no real plan with qualified people in key positions of authority.

For hundreds of years, the Native American people have been warning of a purification action taking place on Earth. Actually, it is described in the Christian Bible as well. For every action there is a reaction. Let's pray the reaction to Katrina's death and destruction will pull together more people in this country and elsewhere, opening their hearts and homes to those affected. This is the beginning of the expression of unconditional love, a state we as humans strive for. I gave to the American Red Cross and as soon as they are ready, I will donate my time to Habitat for Humanity in the rebuilding of the homes. I would urge everyone to give whatever you can from your heart. It is the opening of our hearts to love that is most important at this time. We all can pray for the healing of the region. We need to pray for the purification of the polluted waters there since those waters will soon be pumped out to sea further spreading the pollution. Let us pray for the displaced people and animals.