Yes, friends, great silences here. I *am* sorry, and no worries, I'm fine, just very busy.

In addition to scrapbooking [ahem] and being the sole editor for 10,000+ web pages, I have applied to be a twice weekly volunteer tutor at one of the library's Centers for Reading and Writing. Last night was a volunteer orientation session where we heard the stories of several students. One man talked of learning to read at 52 (and his path from addiction and homelessness to recovery) and I came home remembering the transformative power of storytelling. Hope I make it through the application and interview to be a volunteer.

I don't have anything profound to say on the eve of September 11th, except that if you are in NYC please join tonight's candlelight vigil in Washington Square Park. The vigil was organized by September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows - a group founded by family members of September Eleventh victims. Their mission is to develop nonviolent responses to terrorism as well as to work to break the endless cycle of violence and retaliation engendered by war. Their name comes from this Martin Luther King, Jr. quote - "wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows."

Bush's lastest antics have Liz completely outraged and she has pulled together some great links to anti-war groups. Go check 'em out.