Starting A Sewing School in Haiti

This is a post on my FB wall. I posted it in Novemebr 2013 and within months I had more than triple of what I needed. And so, in June 2014, we started a sewing school.

 WHAT WE NEED TO START OUR SEWING SCHOOL

In Jacmel, Haiti

 

10 working low end, low function  sewing machines.  These machines may be used or purchased.  Singer sells a very basic machine for $54.

20 complete sewing kits:

·      Large scissors

·      Small scissors

·      Measuring tape (metric)

·      30 Safety pins

·      100 straight pins

·      20 Needles- varies sizes

·      20 spools of thread

·      Seam ripper

·      Thimble

·      Small pin cushion

·      Snaps

·      Hooks

·      Crocket hook

·      Seam ribbon

·      Patch fabric

·      Fabric Chalk

·      Embroidery floss

·      Small pad of  paper

50 pounds of fabric.  Pieces may be as small as ½ yard, but nothing smaller please

20 sewing bags- If you have any of those free promotional bags that serve as reusable bags, we will take them.  The women will need a bag to transport their projects.

How can you help?   (1) dig through your closets and donate any sewing tools or materials you have. Nothing needs to be new,  (2) donate or purchase a sewing machine, (3) put together a complete sewing kit.  All donations will be accepted through the Haiti Family initiative and tax deductible. 

Old Friends

Old Friends

My High School Classmates

 A message was waiting for all of us on our high school FB page this morning. One of our classmates informed us that her son just lost his beautiful wife from some rare disease. She was only 33 and she leaves behind a young son. This is just heartbreaking. Our friend was asking for prayers. And in the midst of all this saddness, I found great joy in knowing that Anne Marie wanted to share her very sad news with us. How lucky, after 55 years, are we to be friends who can still offer her some comfort during this very dark moment.

10 Things I love About Teaching In China

I've had the opportunity to teach leadership skills to college women and I just loved it. These young women were so filled with passion and vision and this opportunity changed my life forever. It's left a lasting impact on me.

---

10 Benefits I Received from Teaching Leadership to College Women:

1. Renewed Hope for the Future
   Their energy, passion, and bold vision for the world reminded me that the future is in good hands.

2. Inspiration from Their Courage
   Watching them step out of their comfort zones to grow as leaders inspired me to do the same in my own life.

3. A Sense of Purpose
   Knowing I was helping shape their journeys gave deep meaning to my work and reaffirmed my purpose.

4. Personal Growth as a Leader
   Teaching leadership sharpened my own leadership skills. 

5. Meaningful Relationships
   I developed strong, lasting connections with many of these young women who continue to enrich my life.

6. A New Perspective on Leadership
   They  taught me to see leadership in more inclusive, collaborative ways.

7. Increased Confidence in My Voice
   Standing before them, sharing my journey and insights, helped me embrace and trust my own story more fully.

8. Joy from Giving Back
   There’s a unique joy that comes from mentoring and empowering others.  It filled me with hope.

9. A Deepened Commitment to Equity
   Their stories of overcoming obstacles opened my eyes further to the importance of access, equity, and inclusion.

10. A Life-Changing Experience
    This opportunity transformed me, as a teacher, mentor, and human being.

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Images of Tajikitian

Tajikistan

April 21-28, 2025

 

Photos of Uzbekistan= 2025

 

The Music Men

The Music Men

Dushanbe, Tajikistan 

Gurniji Museum of Musical Instruments

April 24, 2025

It was a treat to hear these old men perform.  They are the last of a dying bred of musicians and they are a national treasure.  They rarely perform together because there just isn't enough interest. But they performed for us in a small room in thier small national museum of traditional instruments.  The oldest man got up and danced for us.  And when I told him he reminded me of Michael Jackson, he laughed.  They all laughed with and at him and the moment was joyful.

 

Lost Planet Brewing Company- PA

 I think this was brewery #413. I'm at #425 at the moment. I liked it.

Birthday Goal #69

Birthday Goal #69

69 Random Acts of Kindness

July 9, 2024 to July 8, 2025

 “Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness." 

From a Stoic viewpoint, the benefits of kindness are twofold: they enhance the well-being of the receiver and enrich the character of the giver. We become better people by practicing kindness.

GiGi and Jackie sent me a video, wishing me a happy birthday. So, three days later when it was GiGi's birthday, I sent her a video as well.  I hope my video doesn't give her nightmares.

On my way to the Fat Lady Brewery, there was a woman who could not figure out where she was going. I was heading away from her when she called to me for help.  I called out that I couldn't help her and started to walk away.  But then I turned around and  stopped to help a her find her venue in Manyaunk.

As I was going through rush hour traffic, I made it a point to let as many cars in the line of traffic.

I went to my bank and one of the regular tellers has left,. He was laid off and isnt coming back.  I made sure his supervisor knew how much I've appreciated his services these last 7 years.

One of the security guard at my apartment is African American. Most of us here are white.  Sometimes, she seems indifferent to us. She was walking around with her dinner the other day.  We were eating in the lounge.  I asked her if she wanted to join us. She didn't want to join us. But she has been much friendlier to us since i asked her to sit with us.

Sue D had knee surgery so i went and picked her up from the hospital and took her home and then spent 6 hours making sure she was comfortable.

Kathi L and Helen P needed a ride to the beach to visit Jane B, So I drove them.

I’m at the airport in Frankfurt Germany. An older woman sits next to me and seemed a little nervous. A flight attendant announces that boarding is now starting. The older want asked what group in in. Four, I tell her. Me too. And as more and more people get in line and push through each other, I turn to her and tel her, ok we are going now. Follow me. She seems relieved that I’ve made this decision and she o Edie try gets up and follows me. And even though group three is still boarding g, we are allowed on without any hesitation. 

An old woman was crossing the street and she walked with so much effort, I didnt think she was going to back it to her destination (wherever that must be).  I drove by her and thought, "go back and help her" so I did. I made an illegal turn on Bryn Mawr Avenue and turned down a street and found her about ten steps away from where I first saw her. I asked her if she needed any help and she seemed a little indignenated. She told she she was fine and almost at her car.  I was taken aback as this woman shouldn't be driving any more. But I just moved on.

Ive attempted to take a few women to their cancer treatments. Arrangments were made but they cancelled at the last minute. Does that count?

Update: it’s a year later and I failed miserably at achieving this goal and documenting this goal. 

Burn the Flag

 Burning The American Flag

 

 

Facebook Posting

 

November 29, 2016 at 8:11 AM ·

 

If this becomes the law, I am going to start burning the flag in support of our 1st Amendment.

CNN

November 29, 2016 at 8:04 AM · 

President-elect Donald J. Trump is now proposing possible jail time or loss of citizenship for burning the American flag, an act that is protected as a form of free speech under the First Amendment

 

 

WWW.CNN.COM

Trump ignores First Amendment, suggests jail time for flag-burning

 

Peoples' responses:

 

Bobbie W It's so frightening. The man doesn't have a clue!

 

Samuel M K I'm never sure if I should be amused or frightened at Trump's lack of knowledge about the Constitution and how it works.

 

Bridget E Kelly i can't decide if he really thinks these things or if he is purposely trying to sabotage himself so he can be impeached and move on with his life.

 

Marilyn V It's really hard to know what goes on in his mind! I really and truly believe he never wanted the job!

 

Samuel M K I'm pretty sure he believes this stuff. I also think he believes himself to be untouchable.

There is also no doubt in my mind that he'll be impeached inside 18 months.

 

Josh V I think he is appeasing his nationalist constituency. Further affirmation that he supports nationalist extremism

 

Joanna R http://mobile.nytimes.com/.../senator-clinton-in-pander.... Not the first time for this

 

NYTIMES.COM

Senator Clinton, in Pander Mode

 

Michael S Bridget E Kelly I've thought forever that he never really wanted to be President. He just wanted to call a lot of attention to himself and shoot his mouth off. Then when he got in too far, his ego wouldn't let him back out.

 

Gloria H Jeff and I have been saying this all along, too!! He wants the title, but not the job!! It is like he just graduated from high school and was offered and took over CEO of a company he knows nothing about.😒

 

Bridget E Kelly Gloria Handling i hope our high school graduates have a better understanding of government.

 

Amanda Dr. Kelly, as much as social studies was not my favorite class, I'm pretty sure I understand more about government than Trump. And I've been out of school a long time. :)

 

Leslie C or if he is causing trouble just to cloud his tremendous conflict of interest issues

 

Chris B He's distracting you from his actions: cabinet picks and self-dealing as he uses his position to enrich himself. Watch his actions when his words are at their most provocative.

 

Samuel M K I think you're giving him too much credit. He's not some master of misdirection, just a loudmouth with a really big bullhorn.

Besides, that would mean he's building a cabinet that isn't a self contained mental hospital in and of itself. Half his picks disagree with him on basic issues. He's selecting people like a CEO instead of with an eye towards political preparedness.

 

Leslie Cn Useful idiot? I think more like Chauncey Gardiner

 

Gina K Wait...didn't we fight the flag-burning amendment thing twenty years ago? Oh, right, we set the clocks back this fall.....

 

Rosina R All kidding aside, his lack of knowledge, understanding of anything about the Constitution and mechanisms of the govt, together with his psycho Twitter rants about imagined, invented crises are really and truly frightening. He is dumb as mud and dangerous as an oil spill. Not to mention completely psychopathic.

 

Beverly S Hmm ... just wonderin', Bridget, if you signed a petition or marched against Ms. Clinton's FLAG PROTECTION ACT of 2005 ... or, is it 'different' when the 'violation' of the First Amendment is proposed by your Goddess?

 

Bridget E Kelly  I was not aware of it but I would have protested that as well. I will not sit back and let our civil rights be eroded.

 

Bridget E Kelly and I don't have a goddess.

 

Melissa R Politicians throw the flag burning nonsense out every few years to get people riled up. He just happens to be unstable enough to try to really do it.

 

 

Augusta C 1. It was not proposed by then Sen. Clinton. 2. It would have made burning the flag to incite violence, intimidating others, or as part of an act of terrorism punishable by no more than a year in jail or a $100,000 fine. 3. No dissidents were threatene…See More

 

Beverly S Bridget E Kelly Okay, I'll admit, the 'goddess' bit was a bite ... ;)

 

Joe M I'll burn it right in front of that draft dodgers face!!!!

 

Kevin Co Big talk!

 

Kevin Ca Same.

 

Jane Asher Oy

 

Greg Sc This is what he's all about: Nationalism not Patriotism. It's not about pride in our country it's about silencing all critics and forcing people to accept all of the country's decisions.

 

Tom B There's already ruling on matter. He can't do anything unless there is amendment

 

 

Bridget E Kelly I know this but he can continue to pit us against each other which is just as dangerous.

 

S Brings to mind a story of two sweet, innocent teens who were removed from the library during study hall one day by one of the school resource officers and brought into your office to be accused by a raving mad man. Okay, so it was me and an unnamed cohort. As the statute of limitations has probably run out after 25 years I can admit that yes, I was skipping class that morning, and for whatever reason, (okay, we were stoned) we decided it was a good idea to go back into the school for lunch.

The story that guy proceeded to tell about chasing us all over town after catching us burning the flags off of veterans graves was total BS. Dude probably saw us walking in and decided to give us a good scare, but all I remember was looking at this guy thinking "I've never seen you before in my life, why are you trying to get us in so much trouble?" while fighting back a raging case of the giggles. I'm not saying that isn't the kind of dumb stuff we would have done, it just wouldn't have crossed our minds to do it.

How on earth you managed to put up with us, and continue to fight for us, I will never understand.

 

Bridget E Kelly Who turned you in? one of the guys from F Troop?

 

Samuel  Oh thanks. Now I've got the theme from F-Troop going through my head.

 

Bridget E Kelly OK but yo know who I mean by F Troop.

 

Samuel M n One of the all time classic comedies. Love that show.

 

Bridget E Kelly No, our security staff at the high school.

 

Samuel M  I guess I need caffeine. No idea how that part went down. Both those officers knew me well (heck, I'd had dinner at both their houses countless times) so I was probably the automatic suspect. How they found us in the library I have no idea, but we were almost always there at that time so it probably wasn't hard to find us.

 

Tracey M How does the burning of our flag(assuming you still feel it is your flag) support your 1st. Amendment rights? In what way do you feel the flag symbolizes an attack on your 1st. Amendment rights? Does the flag NOT represent the sacrifices that many have made to allow us to enjoy freedoms others in the world only dream of? Including your 1st. Amendment right. If you want to support your 1st. Amendment right than utilize peaceful protest and continue to post your opinion in social media. The ironic thing is Trump is utilizing his 1st Amendment right to post his opinion and you don't like it. While I recognize the supreme court's decision that flag burning is protected under the 1st. Amendment I also recognize that it protects my right to think that anyone that can't find a more constructive and less divisive way to support their 1st Amendment rights is simple minded and disrespectful to those who sacrificed so much for others. - GlennJacobi

 

Bridget E Kelly the flag represents our democracy which is based on our freedoms.

 

Greg S How is burning a flag not a form of peaceful protest? If I were inclined to burn a flag in protest to evoke a reaction from people I am exercising my 1st Amendment right to freedom of speech. Burning an American flag is a peaceful way to indicate that …See More

 

Tracey M Greg Schwami are you stating that you don't feel that burning the flag if divisive? How is it that the flying of the flag is considered a hardship for those on the left that aren't happy with the outcome of the election, but the BURNING of the flag is

 

Greg S For one thing I think you're confusing this entire situation. We're talking about people purchasing or making a flag and then burning it. We're NOT talking about people stealing flags that they do not own and burning them; that is theft and it is ill…See More

 

Phillip L This would be another step closer to dictatorship

 

Dawn M Regardless of whether it is against the law or not, it's disgraceful to burn the flag. So many died for our freedoms that many take for granted.

 

Bridget E Kelly When the symbol becomes more important than what it symbolizes, we have lost freedom of speech.

 

Dawn Mh My husband, father, and many others that served our country would disagree. Acting out against Trump is not the answer.

 

Bridget E Kelly I disagree. We can not let him erode our freedoms.

 

Leslie C Dawn Meade Branch if we don't act out now flag burning will become an art form

 

Dawn M I think standing together for what is right and good is better than throwing temper tantrums because of what could go wrong. America has been falling apart for years. It's time to make it right again by leading by example.

 

Leslie Coren I think that you post would be better served if you directed it to Mr. Trump, If You think that America has been falling apart for years and that a childish, dishonest, narcissistic salesman with an anger problem will make it right again you need to think again. As Maya Angelou said, When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time."

 

Dawn M I do not think Trump will make anything right. I said we need to lead by example, we, as in the people. Trump scares me as well but acting like him is not answer.

 

Leslie Coren I don't think that many of us have it in us to act like him

 

Bridget E Kelly Some moments call for civil disobedience. Where would the world be today without Ghandi or MLK or Rosa Parks and other people who stood up and against the injustice.

 

Derek D It's a trap, Trump wants his supporters to see Anti-Trump protestors burning flags.

 

Burn the Confederate flag instead

 

Bridget E Kelly Now that's an idea!!!

 

Derek D I'd like to take credit for that idea but I found it on the internet haha

 

Phillip L See the thing is, the people who are fighting and dying for our freedoms, in the last couple hundred years since the revolution, since the civil war, have been doing so through acts of protest, movements for social justice and human rights. The people …See More

 

Bridget E Kelly My thoughts exactly.

 

Leslie Coren Amen

 

Marilyn V Right on!

 

Mary SHe is so stupid, it is frightening.

 

Phillip L And to the people that want to outlaw flag burning: can you outlaw hate speech first or...?

 

Bridget E Kelly Something to think about as we continue our discussion about respect for our flag.

 

Image may contain: people eating, food and text

 

Josh V Here is what Oliver Byrd's sister Q had to say. I thought it was spot on

 

"I have no issue with a person burning the flag as a form of protest. I have issues with a person disrespecting the flag as a symbol. What does that mean? …See More

 

Marilyn V Josh Vega hmmm ...I see your point,however I am one of those people who use above said items on the Fourth of July and throughout summer holidays. I am very patriotic and don't think that using patriotic materials including images of the flag is being …See More

 

Michael S This is so true. It doesn't have to be hanging from a flagpole or a balcony to be our flag. Great point, Bridget.

 

Bridget E Kelly I've always hated to see people in flag bathing suits. There is something about sitting your wet ass on the flag that is offensive to me.

 

Michael S Bridget E Kelly So true. At least those who are burning it are doing so with the full knowledge of the respect the flag deserves. They burn it as a shocking in-your-face protest that they KNOW will elicit powerful emotions. Napkins, bathing suits, and beach towels disrespect it because there's money to be made, and the people purchasing these items disrespect it out of casual ignorance.

 

Brian C Gotta love the liberal media slant . . . He made no such "proposal" anywhere . . . He tweeted and now CNN makes that a proposal.

 

Michael SWhen you are a big jerk with a Twitter account, you can tweet all kinds of ridiculous stuff and people shrug it off because you're a big jerk. When you're the President-elect of the United States with a Twitter account, EVERY SINGLE DAMN THING YOU SAY …See More

 

Bridget E Kelly His tweet is damaging enough.