HAPPY!

I'm putting SRHS to bed this weekend and am going to revel in my excitement! :)

Two Announcements:

1) I'm going to be an aunt again! My sister, Denise, is having a baby in February.

Different baby projects have been dancing through my head and one that I definitely want to tackle is Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket. I'm thrilled! Denise? She's nervous and happy. Denise stated [to paraphrase], "When this baby's 16 years old and learning to drive, I'll be 52!"


Denise, this photo's for you: (ROTFLMAO)

2.) The Sedalia Spring Fiber Festival is May 16, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Freeman Exchange

And Mr. Stump replied to my last message with the following:

QUOTE

Please contact my secretary to set up an appointment. I feel that all your questions can be answered in a much more adequate manner in a face to face meeting. Thank you for your concern.

END QUOTE


Not wanting to be deterred, I e-mailed Ken Freeman Ministries:

Messsage No. 4:

Hi Dana,

Pastor Rick was my contact (senior pastor) or Morgans Baptist Church :)

Thanks!
Blessings:)Deondra

Message No. 3:

On Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 3:20 PM, <clansoltan@aol.com> wrote:
Hello Deondra,
Thank you for your message. If I may inquire, who is your contact at Morgan's Baptist? Again, thank you!
Dana Soltani

Reply No. 2:

-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Freeman Ministries <booking@kenfreeman.com>
To: clansoltan@aol.com
Sent: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 4:14 pm
Subject: Re: Not Sure

Hi Dana,
Sorry for any confusion. My name is Deondra and I do Ken's booking events. I have only been in contact with Morgan Baptist Church. The contact that I have from Morgan Baptist Church was able to get Ken into the high school. I wasn't familiar with the name of that high school, but am familiar with Morgan Baptist Church, because that has been my contact. My apologies for the miscommunication:) Have a wonderful day! Blessings:) Deondra

Message No. 2:

On Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 2:57 PM, clansoltan@aol.com wrote:
Good afternoon,
You spoke at SRHS of Moneta, VA on Monday, August 25th (three days ago). Again, you cannot recall the name of the person who invited you to the school? The school, itself, did not appear on your calendar of events so I would assume that sometime, recently, during your tenure with Morgan Baptist Church, you were invited to appear at SRHS. Thank you,Dana Soltani

Reply No.1:

-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Freeman Ministries booking@kenfreeman.com
To: clansoltan@aol.com
Sent: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 2:28 pm
Subject: Not Sure
Hi Dana,
I'm not sure where this high school or whom specifically requested a speaking date at this school. Thanks!


Message No. 1:
Name: Dana Soltani
Email: clansoltan@aol.com
Message: When you have an opportunity, would you please give me the name of the individual who invited you to Staunton River High School? Thank you.


***Yesterday evening, I e-mailed Pastor Rick at the church asking the name of the "inviter" (assuming that's a word).*** Nothing yet.

More Dialogue

Dear Mr. Stump,

Personally, I feel it is of the utmost importance to know exactly what was said during Mr. Freeman's speech. Bearing that in mind and if I may ask, who, precisely, invited Mr. Freeman to SRHS? Secondly, would that individual be able to ask Mr. Freeman for a copy of his speech? Was Mr. Freeman's speech reviewed by anyone prior to the assembly? Approximately how many times did Mr. Freeman reference is web site, www.KenFreeman.com in his speech to the best of your recollection?

Dana Soltani

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Stump <rstump@bedford.k12.va.us>
To: clansoltan@aol.com
Sent: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 9:39 am
Subject: RE: Re:

I am sorry to say that we did not have it taped nor did we take official notes but at no time was religion interjected into this presentation. He did make the statement that he not only spoke at high schools but also prisons, camps and that on the next 3 days he would be speaking at a local church. He stated that he had to have faith and believe in himself to make it through what he did as a child. I would like to welcome you to set up an appointment with my secretary to meet if you wish. Thanks you for your comments and your concern.

Let the Dialogue Begin...

Good morning Mr. Stump,

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this inappropriate speech with you. Sweeping the subject of religion to the side, I do not like the fact that Mr. Freeman's speech addressed, rape, pedophilia and alcoholism. Would you you feel comfortable if a total stranger approached your child and introduced the topics of sodomy or drug addiction without your prior knowledge or consent? Of course not. I feel that the trust I placed in SRHS has been betrayed.

The best way for me to be fully informed is to see or read the speech myself. Was it videotaped? Do you have a copy of the text? If so, may I have a one? I do understand that the principal topic of discussion was "choices." However, when I read the following comment by SRHS teacher, Danielle Plomaritas, on Mr. Freeman's guestbook, I was left with the impression that faith played a role too. QUOTE:

Ken, I heard you speak at Staunton River High School today. The Lord touched me and the kids. Thank you so much for coming. Your message was exactly what we needed to start our year. I cannot convey how moving your testimony was and how the Lord is using you. Please keep doing what you are doing, the Lord is saving lives through your ministry! END QUOTE

I look forward to your reply,
Dana Soltani

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Stump rstump@bedford.k12.va.us
To: clansoltan@aol.comSent: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 7:57 am
Subject: RE:

I am sorry that you were misinformed about our guest speaker. He is simply Ken Freeman. He spoke about choices and how they change your life. He did not speak about religion in anyway. This meesage relates to our "Be an 11". The idea that you are repnsible for your actions and that if the appropriate choices are made then the consequences will not be present. I am sorry that you do not feel that this presenter was appropriate and would be happy to speak to you at your convenience.

School Daze

Dear Superintendent Blevins, Principal Stump et al,


Last year, Staunton River High School made headline news throughout the United States due to the unfortunate MRSA-related death of one of its own, Ashton Bonds. I, like many other parents and county residents, was stricken by the loss and hoped for an infinitely less painful school year in 2009.

You have already disappointed me. My son came home from his first day in high school describing a guest speaker, Minister Ken Freeman. In his speech, Freeman addressed a variety of topics to include the rape of his then five year old sister and his mother's alcoholism. How is this school appropriate? What is a minister doing in a public school?

Let me make this point crystal clear. You keep a clean, germ-free, non-MRSA infected school. I and I alone will watch out for my son's soul.

Shame on you!

Dana Soltani

[End Note: I cc'ed the ACLU, CNN, the Washington Post, and others on that message].

Bits & Pieces

Bits & Pieces....that's what I've been up to lately as there's been a variety of things going on.

• School. My son, Skander, is entering high school and my daughter, Andie, is going into the eighth grade. There's supplies, clothing, haircuts, new glasses and assorted crises to include, "OH MY GOD, I don't want Ms. So-n-So for gym. Mom, you have to change my schedule right now."

• Knitting Projects. I finished Larry's felted slippers and I loved the fiber I used, Wool Pak of New Zealand. What I don't love is that I forgot to put a second, knitted sole on one of the slippers. Arrrrghhhh. In a nutshell, I have two different slippers; one has a thick, squishy sole and the other has a thin sole. Needless to say, I have to redo a slipper and will be picking up another skein of Wool Pak at Knitters Knook this weekend.
  
  
• Needle Project. Have you seen the "The Circular Solution" before? I've always thought that the idea was brilliant, but I didn't care much for its looks. Their idea was to use a regular hanger and hang your needles in the closet. See the below.....

• I wanted a needle hanger that I could hang where I knit. Something a little prettier than the original. With the help of my neighbor, who's a retired Saks Fifth Avenue [from the actual Saks store on Fifth Avenue in NY] seamstress, I got this.....
  

I bought some heart-shaped mini quilt dowels, some tapestry-like, heavy fabric and Muriyea did the sewing. In exchange for the sewing, I'm knitting a baby blanket for her first grandchild (once we know the gender) and teaching her to knit too. We're "trading skills" as it were.

• Stash Project. The stash has moved out of the laundry basket and onto shelving. I've got this little "knit center/corner" thing going on in the living room.
  

The focus and flash aren't working well on my camera anymore. I need to ship it off and get it fixed (festival season will be starting soon).

"Shear Spirit" was a birthday gift from Dianne. It's a "yarn pilgrimage" book and pictures are amazing. I love it & thank you so much Dianne!

Lara brought me this sweet sheep from her Maine vacation and it's now the centerpiece of the coffee table. Thank you Lara! :)

Yes, little by little, the family is being run out of the living room and the knitting is taking over. Muhahahaha.

Vacation Knits

My vacation was wonderful! I spent a whole week just relaxing and visiting with my sister, her two sons and my father. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures (I was too "into the moment" to even think of it).

We swam at the lake, went out to dinner, played miniature golf and simply "hung out" together. Quantity & quality time at its best. :D

I did get a bit of knitting done during my time off. I finished Austin's second square for the RVSpinKnit blanket that's being made for him. If case you didn't know, Austin was badly burned in an accident and is now in the Shriner's Hospital of Ohio. His mother, Christina, is in the RVSpinKnit group.

(P.S. Many thanks to Becky at Knitters Knook for the Mission Falls!)

I worked on my Dragon Scales a little bit and...

knitted up a new pair of slippers/clogs!



These slippers are for Larry. Larry, too, was injured in a recent fire and is the spouse of another RVSpinKnit member, Diana. I understand from one of Diana's posts that Larry had a pair of felted slippers and actually wore a hole through them. At the time of this photo, I had only finished one, but now, both clogs are done and I'll be felting them tonight.

I bought the yarn at Knitters Knook and it's wonderful. It's "Wool Pak" in the "Bracken" colorway.

FYI: Nikki & Pam have organized a raffle to benefit both Austin & Larry. The details (and the wonderful prizes) can be found on Ravelry/R.V.S.K. Raffle.