Well hello all
I am sitting in Detroit airport waiting for my connection to Washington. I have a week in the USA before me. First I am attending a board meeting of the National Advisory Board of the Long Term Ecological research projects funded by the National Science Foundation. Should be interesting...I have just joined the board but this is some of the best long term look at the interactions between humans and environments going on today- so I hope to learn things as well as contribute. From there, on Friday, I go to Madison, where I will hang out for the weekend with old friends. On Monday morning I fly to Boston to work with an interesting woman at Tufts University who is working on an index for human resilience. Back in Waterloo Tuesday night.
I have left Fred and Katie...both anxious about her next step...which will hopefully be entering into Homewood in Guelph for a month or so. This, I believe, has the most innovative rehabilitation program in Canada. Fingers crossed that she will find the help there which she deserves.
Love to you all. And lets do keep writing! Will, I see you are signed on...how about a status update. Dad...great poems...keep them coming
Francie

Afganistan. Seems to me that poppies finance the taliban but if we destroy the poppy fields we just impoverish the farmers and earn thair antagonism. Why, I have thought, not just pay very high prices anf buy all the poppies thus depriving the Taliban and enriching the farmers? The farmers would love us and the taliban would crumble.

another poem:

Laughter spreads meaning
It encloses tenderness
Even when we reach too far
and fall.

Each day opens space for light
Driving back ignorance
Lifting the curtain
So that the play begings.

You are tenderly touching,
Reching and holding possibilities
Including warm delights and
Whispers of relief.

Oh my. Yes indeed! It's coming
te comet of traanscendence
Carrying songsof joy
the heart beat of grace.

Bill westley--Feb 19, 08

experimenting

Well I guess I didn't quite have it right last time since I only responded to a comment. We'll see if this works better. Good to hear from Dawn! But as mentioned I'm not likely to be a great participant here - email works way better for me as it doesn't require an extra step to check. Is there a way to get a notice of new blogs sent to our personal email addresses? That might be better for me. I'll explore.

Had a terrific chat with Katie today (her birthday) - she seemed in very good spit=rits.

Meg

What is lost when dreams fall into the shadows?
When heroes sleep after the dark clouds come
Baring my whole heart to the ugly fate of time?
When there is only the bare cupboard of necessity.

The loss is bitter unless the sunrise warms my heart
Or your smile lights the edges
Where sight finds the golden promise
Passed along by my grandfather.

Each day moves into the center of my longing
Hoping for a place of tenderness and gifts.
Shall we walk together holding hands,
Enclosed in a bubble of love?

Maybe we do have butterfly wings, which grow
With the heart’s warmth, joy and helpfulness.
Yes I know this and seek that warmth
With reckless gladding and keenth.

Bill Westley Feb 11/08

hurrah, great idea,I am in.

Yipee! I'm in!

Hi Family!
How is everyone? This is the first time I have ever posted anything to a blog! This is so exciting -either that or my life is so sad and boring that these are the things that get me excited - very sad.
So I feel a strong need to pontificate about something important - isn;t that what these things are for. OK so here goes:
We need to change our way of life in order to survive and we need to start the change where we live. I think we need to start building houses out of sustainable, durable, non toxic materials such as banboo and hemp. They need to be energy independent, capture and purify there own water and help clean the air. It all sounds like a tall order but technology is getting us closer to this possibility. I for one cannot wait for it to happen. I have decided to go into the building sustainable villages business. I am only in the first steps, but I intend to bring you all along for the ride, drawing on your experience, advice, connections, money. Can't wait to tell you all about it! Love everyone!

Okay, I think I have figured this out

Okay, I think I have figured this out. I will pass on the co-ordinates to the Westley-Birds!

Instructions

I hope you have now managed to start on the blog site.

The way to add something to the blog is to click on the post button, type whatever you want then click Publish Post button at the bottom.

Day 2 entry

Hi Family,
I am still getting used to the blog. Here is my first attempt to post some pictures of Guess who - Eric.

Westley Family Blog

Welcome to the Westley Family Blog


The first entry on February 13 is Neil wishing everyone a happy Valentines day.

If we all enter our news here and read and respond to it, it might lead to better communication.