Memphis Democrat
March 6, 2003

Hi everyone. This is Alline filling in for Rachel again. This week she's studying the strange reproductive systems of hyenas and other oddities. It's probably better not to ask unless you REALLY want to know.

The Dancing Rabbits have been having a fun week. Thursday was Sol's birthday, and we had dinner and a dance/sing-along party at Sandhill. Chad and Alyson made an incredible burrito dinner, featuring, among other delights, homemade tortillas and tomatillo salsa, crispy tempeh, and tofu cream. Amazing.

Friday night our friend Jacque in Kirksville had a party. Rachel was already in town, and Tony, Cecil, and Alyson drove up (in a bio-diesel powered vehicle). Steph, who is continuing to train for her cross-country bike-trip, and Tom, who is always up for a good time, rode their bikes. Steph was pleased that this proved to be a sheriff-free ride. Whew! Once they all had arrived, they pitched in and made an Asian feast including an excellent Chinese stir-fry (Jacque's specialty, as she just returned from a year of teaching in China) and Japanese miso soup. Yum. Then they watched 'The Princess Bride', and there's been no end to silly recitations of dialogue ever since.

When the weather cooperates, Alyson's been working hard at maple sugaring. We used to call it "doing maple syrup" until Alyson, a native Vermonter with maple sap in her veins and unstoppable enthusiasm for the project, enlightened us. She's got quite a touch, and we can't wait to lap up the results.

Kurt and I took half a day off of work on Friday to drive Penn and Andra to Quincy to catch a bus to Mississippi. (I'm glad to have a chance to write 'Mississippi'. Remember how fun it was to learn to spell that? And spelling it out loud over and over again, faster and faster and faster? Hmmm, maybe you don't - we were easily amused in California...) Anyway, they've gone to meet Penn's family. While I suspect that Andra is a tad nervous, they most assuredly will adore her and adopt her right into the family.

While in town Kurt and I applied for passports for a trip we're taking in May. My old passport from my student days is long expired. Kurt's, from his 1991 Peace Corps stint in Uganda, is no longer valid. So we filled out the applications, and went to Walgreen's for our photos. They were taken by a sales-clerk who stood on a 12-pack of Pepsi to be tall enough to photograph our faces. It was not a flattering angle, and unfortunately we both look like sickly, double-chinned prison inmates from a country that doesn't have very good photo labs. Ah, the glamour of international travel.

Tom continues to work on Bella Ciao, but I won't print the details just in case it's a surprise for Susan B. who will be reading this online in Denver.

All of us, but most especially Steph, were saddened at the news of the death of Mr. Rogers. As a musician, Steph's written many songs, but her song about Mr. Rogers is probably my favorite. She wrote it years ago when he won an Emmy award. Mr. Rogers, we loved you just the way you were. Thanks for loving us right back.

Don and Tony have been interviewing candidates for work exchange positions for this summer, and are excited about the folks that will be coming to stay and help out for awhile. Don't concentrating on folks to help with the gardens, and Tony's wearing two hats, looking for construction help on both Skyhouse and our new Common House.

That's it for now. Dancing Rabbit is a non-profit intentional community demonstrating sustainable living. We will be giving tours in another month or so - when the weather brightens up. Please call before visiting 883-5511. And please see our website http://dancingrabbit.org

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