Deborah

Let me know if you want one.

I am taking distance learning classes to maintain my graduate studies until August, when I return to the States to finish my MA. It has been great.

Using Firefox and Thunderbird has allowed me to break free of AOL!!!

It works extremely well, and I haven’t gotten a single pop-up. Even better, it doesn’t block things that I actually want to see. Yippee!

I am still not sure what all of the hype was about, but it hasn’t been a bad thing.

While I still go out for falafel occasionally, I no longer eat fast food. Finding out that McDonald’s uses beef tallow in their French fries really promted me to avoid that type of crap food in general. Ther are enough things that are beyond our control that pollute our bodies every day. Why make it worse?

I really need to sell my car. What a lump. . . What a cash drain! What a wasteful pile of negative energy. It is some much more relaxing to use public transport. No stress! I can read a book! I feel better about my impact on the environment! No complaints.

I love to make my own jewelry. The pieces I wear, I am certain, are humanely made, and I am pleased to have a creative outlet.

I love sewing. I enjoyed learning to sew by machine, but learning individual hand-stiches was even more rewarding. I now sew most of my own linens, make leather-free accessories and personalize my garments. I suppose it does feed into my excessive self-reliance, but I enjoy it as a creative outlet.

I have been eating more whole foods, especially fruits, nuts and seeds for several months now. I feel much healthier and like a much more humane being. Eating more a more fruitarian diet has been a positive change for this vegetarian of 10 years, but I don’t think I could go all the way down the frutarian road. If only I could give up my Gruyere cheese and the milk I still take in my black tea, I would be an honest vegan. If you have any suggestions. . .

Hey hey hey! I feel so happy right now. My husband and I doing Yoga, listening to 60s folk music. . . last night in our living room and again tonight. I feel like it is a real triumph of will. And he enjoyed it, better yet!

I have always been a Mac user, from the age of 6, when I got my first Apple II. . . I am afraid that I am dating myself here. . . Oh well. That said, my husband has been an evilsoft user for years, and I was afraid that he couldn’t break free. However, several weeks ago, we did a clear out. . . His two PC laptops found new homes via eBay, and in their place is now a shiny new iBook to match mine. Although, I have to say the construction of the G4s leaves something to be desired. I prefer my G3 cosmetically. Subtle differences have an impact. We also cleared out all of our non-Mac accessories and replaced them with Mac models. I felt like that crap was emitting so much negative energy. I can feel the Chi flowing now.

More preachy than PP, less interesting than Paradise Lost, ‘nuf said.

Immigrant-hating people from certain areas of Switzerland (you zenophobes know exactly who I mean) make it impossible to settle in here comfortably. I just had my work permit revoked after working here a year and being married to a Swiss citizen for two years. . . The reason - none!!! Furthermore, women were only given the universal right to vote here in ‘96, not 1896, but 1996! I rest my case. I want to relocate to France - fast!!! I have had 2.5 years to much of this country!!!

I said that this is worth doing, but I am only giving it a tepid worth doing. If you live in Tucson, Flagstaff or Nogie, you’ll be OK, but whatever you do, avoid Phoenix and its hang-ons. Talk about bible-thumping neo-con death-cult freakazoids. . .

OK, I know that everyone goes to Dam to get toasted legally, but there are a thousand other reasons to visit this wonderful city. It’s museums are absolutely amazing, and it is so alive, vital, pulsing with energy. It is one of my favourite places in the world.

OK, I was only published in my university’s student literary magazine, pas grande chose, but it was very important to me. It felt like a stepping stone to bigger and better things. . . I still remain hopeful.

I worked on my own minor campaign for a small appointed position in my local Democratic party precinct when I lived in the States. I won my seat as a precinct committee-person, and it was a highly-rewarding experience.

I now buy all of my produce at the local farmer’s market. I feel much better about my health and am proud to support my community’s farmers.

Just to let you know. . . this goal is certainly worth achieving, but you nver really know how living in a new country will change your life. I came to Switzerland 2.5 years ago planning to stay a few weeks and haven’t left since. What’s more, I ending up getting married, despite strong ethical objections concerning the institution. My new home has affected radical changes in my life, many wonderful, others trying. However, I certainly count my life change amongst the best things I’ve ever done for myself.