Saturday, December 24, 2011

Home Sweet Home

MARCIA POWELL -- Blog article – December 24, 2011

In my last blog of September 23rd , I relayed the good news that I started upper level 5. I did indeed complete that level, which is a big win. However, my resources were not enough to stay and get onto upper levels 6 and 7 (sniff).

As mentioned in my last blog, I did get the Clearwater choir established. By the time I left, the core choir numbered around 25. More people are planning to come aboard in January. Best of all, I found someone who is EXCITED about being the musical director (David Dempster), and someone who is EXCITED about being the Executive Director (and a lead baritone) (Nick Anderson), and someone who is EXCITED about being the choir’s Communicator (Rebecca Weiss, who I first met on the ship in 1971!), and someone who is wearing (maybe not excited, but doing it) the librarian hat (Rick Crites). And Maddie Pfeiffer is not only a lead alto, but also a musical director and in charge of the young persons octet. And Paul Polivnick, a professional orchestra conductor has agreed to help train the musical directors in conducting techniques. What a team!

This choir went from nothing to performance level capability in about ten weeks. Truly a miracle! They are now in communication with the L.A. choir, which is also doing well under the leadership of Anoush Nevart. When the new “mecca” building has its grand opening (probably some time this spring), I/we are postulating that when people tour the building, the choir will be in the chapel singing beautiful music. The choir could number 60-80 people if all the singers in Clearwater are joined by singers from L.A., and other places in the world.

My plan is to be a consultant for choirs in Scientology churches all over the world in relation to how to get started, what to sing, etc.

In addition to making a lot of progress spiritually, I met a lot of wonderful people from all over the world. This makes Marcia, “The Connector,” very happy.

Shellah Garrett is doing a marvelous job of keeping the political forum group going in California. Brett Miller, curiously enough, like me grew up on a farm near Champaign-Urbana, and, like me, is now an upper level Scientologist actually doing something to bring sanity to government. He’s way ahead of me, and an inspiration as to how to go about it. So Florida is in good hands. Now, I’ll have to see what I can do in Illinois.

And, yes, I am now back in central Illinois, currently staying with my sister Jane while looking for a place to live. It’s a 1200 mile drive from Clearwater to Urbana. Left CW around 2 on Tuesday. A major accident occurred south of Gainesville that actually stopped all 3 lanes of traffic. Myself and others sat on the guardrail for nearly an hour, them talking, me reading my book. Stayed at a motel in Valdosta, GA; then on Wednesday, rolled through Macon, Atlanta, Chatanooga, Nashville, Bowling Green, Louisville, and made it to my niece’s house in New Albany, Indiana, by 10 p.m. Slept 9 hours (!), had a good visit, and made it to my sister’s house by 4:00 p.m. She still lives in the remodeled schoolhouse we grew up in, so it is truly Home Sweet Home.

The Indiana gang (4) drove up, so Christmas will be with them, plus my nephew and his wife and 2 daughters, plus my brother-in-law’s sister and husband, making a total of 13! Note that I’m usually in L.A. at Christmas due to all the choir performances, so this is quite a change.

Daughter Ashley completed her 2-1/2 month trip to the Far East (Thailand, Cambodia, South Korea) and is now back in Portland building up her massage therapy business, and, of course, doing some singing for fun.

Now I gotta find a place to live, promote the Affinity Exchange, starting learning how to transition my 20 acres to sustainable farming, help grow the local mission, etc. etc.

To All: Best wishes for wonderful holidays and a new year that is better than the last!

Love to all, Marcia (818) 552-2211 cell

Marcia@affinity-exchange.com

Or marpo3344@gmail.com

www.Message-from-Marcia.com

http://messagesfrommarcia.blogspot.com/

Friday, September 23, 2011

MARCIA POWELL -- Blog article – September 23, 2011

Picking up from my last blog of Aug 20th, the big news is that I did indeed recently make it onto upper level five!! (For my non-Scientology friends, please know that I can’t really explain what this is, but just know that it is a BIG DEAL.)

My life is pretty routine—wake up (6:15-ish!), exercise, eat, do my counseling or training, come home in the evening and do my work, go to bed, wake up, exercise, etc. I especially enjoy my lunches in the Sandcastle Restaurant—right on the water with a great view of the Bay. But better than the view even is the pleasure of visiting with old friends and meeting new people—always a win for Marcia “The Connector.”

I did, however, decide I should get the Clearwater choir up and running. I knew there were some good singers here, but no one was taking on the job of getting them organized, etc. So I started networking and found a classical cellist (Joan Lunde) who was willing to let us rehearse in her living room where she has a grand piano. So now I’m promoting and hope to have a decent group show up this Sunday evening.

It was good I arrived in Florida in July, as then I knew the heat would be getting better (i.e., less) as time went by. Most of the time I’m in air-conditioned buildings, so it really wasn’t that bad. Now the days are averaging 91 degrees instead of 94. And I’m getting used to the almost-daily rain and lightning storms. The downpours usually last only 10 minutes or so, but yesterday I got caught in my car for 30 minutes! (Of course I had a book in my car and so enjoyed a little “enforced” pleasure reading!) Otherwise the main challenge environmentally is not stepping on the little lizards (from 1” to 4”) that run across the stepping stones on my way to my car.

My friend Paola Lombardi has wanted to have a “Marcia’s-in-town” party ever since I arrived. We finally found someone who has a BIG house, so the party will probably be on October 15th. It’s open to Affinity Exchange singles and also to my personal friends, and anyone else who wants to come. They just need to let me know.

Anyway, that’s the update. If you send me an email and I don’t reply immediately, please understand that it’s hard for me to keep up, so don’t take it personally. I DO want to stay in comm with everyone.

Love to all, Marcia (818) 552-2211 cell

Marcia@affinity-exchange.com

Or marpo3344@gmail.com

www.Message-from-Marcia.com

http://messagesfrommarcia.blogspot.com/

Saturday, August 20, 2011

MARCIA POWELL -- Blog article – August 20, 2011

Picking up from my last blog of July 17th, I enjoyed six days in a big house on the beach in North Carolina with a bunch of family. My sister Jane and her husband Don just celebrated their 50th anniversary! I flew Ashley out from Portland so she could spend some time with her Midwest family. Took a spill playing basketball one evening—bruised my cheek, ribs, and took some skin off my shoulder. I asked myself what you’re probably asking-- “What are you doing playing basketball at 67?!” Couldn’t come up with a logical answer…

Packed my car for the trip to Florida, put ‘er into gear, and… gravel started flying as the wheels spun into the sand under the gravel. Had to call a tow truck to pull it out! It spit gravel for the next 20 miles!

Made it to Orlando in time to have a lovely dinner with my cousin Beau and his friend Jill. In addition to being a talented pianist, composer, and arranger, I find now he is also a talented cook! I look forward to seeing him more during my stay in Florida.

I am renting a little room in my friend Sioux Hart’s little house—the one with the big alligator in the front yard. It is a couple of houses away from the Pinellas Trail—a great place to take my walks.

For those who don’t already know, the “Mecca” of Scientology is in Clearwater. People come there from all over the world for the upper levels. I’ve run into many old friends here and have now made numerous new friends.

My goal is to do the training and counseling needed to get onto upper level 7. It will probably take me till at least January, maybe longer. Once I accomplish that, I will take up residence in Illinois (Urbana).

My schedule is pretty intense—studying/counseling all day, and doing my work (Affinity Exchange) and life stuff in the evenings. Hard just to keep up with my email traffic, so if I don’t answer your communication right away, please understand.

The weekend of August 13th-14th, I flew from Tampa to Indianapolis, rented a car, and drove to Urbana, Illinois for my 50th High School Reunion!! It was fun connecting with people I hadn’t seen for 50 years! Stayed all night at Jane’s and drove/flew back the next day.

Speaking of Jane, I recently got to read her two books, “The Heron Stayed,” and “When the War Came to Hannah.” Although her target audience is young adults, every adult I know who have read them really like them. Go to www.amazon.com and enter her name: Jane Creason, and they should come up. Also, while there, enter her son’s name, Todd Creason, as his new novel is there: “One Last Shot.” A very good read as well!

For those who know my daughter Ashley, she is preparing to leave on September 14th for a 3-month trip to Thailand where she will be training in Thai massage, plus some time to tour the country.

For my Scientology readers, I am making progress on my preparations for upper level 5. My next blog may well be when I start that level, as that will be a red-letter day!

Another accomplishment was making donations to the International Association of Scientologists and achieving the status of Patron. Many good things are achieved worldwide by these donations, so I’m proud to help mankind in this way.

Love to all, Marcia (818) 552-2211 cell

Marcia@affinity-exchange.com

Or marpo3344@gmail.com

www.Message-from-Marcia.com

Sunday, July 17, 2011

From Illinois to North Carolina...

MARCIA POWELL -- Blog article – July 17, 2011

Well, dear friends, I managed to handle most of the items on my “Do in Illinois” list.

The day I left, I got up at 6:30 and started packing. Took till 6:30 p.m. (!) as I had to decide what to leave in Illinois and what to take with me to North Carolina and Florida. For weeks I’d been worried about it all fitting into my little Mazda—but, by golly, it DID!

For years I’ve had a problem with leg pain when I drive over 45 minutes, so wasn’t sure what to expect driving 1000 (approx.) miles by myself! The M.O. was to stop at every rest stop, take off my shoes (grounding—heard of it?), lie on the ground and do a series of exercises. Might’ve looked funny to passersby, but it worked!

These rest stops are really quite beautiful. However, I realized how irritated I get when the toilet flushes on its own. It’s like, Hey! Who said I was ready to flush? Then it’s done before I get the paper thrown in, causing the next person to think it hadn’t flushed. So they flush again, which WASTES WATER! I just read the issue of “Yes!” magazine about the planetary water shortage, and we all need to stop wasting water.

Anyway, I asked myself if these AFT’s (Automatic Flushing Toilets) are run by electricity. If so, what happens if the electricity goes off? Eeeeooooou! Maybe I’m just becoming a reactionary conservative in my old age… or maybe it’s just that I want to be CAUSE OVER FLUSHING. So now I’m into the game of it. First I have to learn to recognize an AFT—like pay attention when I first walk in. Is it me against the robot, or not? Also I think it’s important not to lean forward, which can lean to premature flushing. And maybe wiping from the back will prevent it. I recall previously being irritated by this phenomena, but I think it was after a movie and I didn’t have attention units to put on the problem. That’s what driving alone across the country does—allows you to put attention units on previously unimportant matters. Oh well, it’s always good to have another game to play!

Anyway, Kentucky is beautiful, as is West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina. It was hard to enjoy the corn and soybeans in Illinois, as I think soy is not that healthful, nor is corn and its products. I just went to ask.com and asked about the ethanol issue. Didn’t have time to research it properly, but intend to, as I think there’s downsides to it. Part of my work in Illinois was to figure out what to do with my 22 acres. For starters, I plan to grow alfalfa (hay) next growing season as a way to start the transition to sustainable farming.

As I got further and further east, I enjoyed seeing animals grazing on grass (as opposed to eating grain in huge cattle farms)--and other crops being grown, and BIG farmers markets.

You may or may not know I’m somewhat of an NPR (Natl Public Radio) junkie. But as I was driving across the sound to the Outer Banks, I realized I wanted to hear beautiful music to go along with the beautiful scenery. Realized again the beauty of small white fluffy clouds in a blue sky, over green foliage. I think it’s most beautiful in a ratio of 2/5th clouds to 3/5th blue sky. Isn’t it odd that I’d think that way… go figure… (tee hee) ?!

Miraculously, my sister and husband (one car), niece and family (another car), and I all managed to arrive (without caravanning) at our destination within an hour of each other. Stay tuned…

Love to all, Marcia (818) 552-2211 cell

Monday, July 4, 2011

Life in the Heartland

Thought I was going to leave for Florida on July 5th, but decided it was silly to drive to Florida and then, a few days later, drive to North Carolina. Thus, I am staying at my sister Jane’s until we all leave on July 14th for a family reunion at the beach. She and Don have been married for 50 years!! Then I’ll drive to Clearwater, arriving around July 25th.

My sister and her husband live in the house I grew up in—the remodeled schoolhouse—so I’m back home. Don has surrounded the house with many beautiful trees, and he and Jane spend hours each week mowing the grass for the ½ acre plot. Quite lovely. Nearly every morning I take a 2-mile walk, watching the birds and rabbits, and the corn growing by inches each day. Too bad it’s Monsanto GMO corn! (Read another article about Monsanto’s suppressive activities—really yucky—raises my activist hackles!)

Am continuing my research re what to do with my land. Met with a great lady who lives nearby. She has 20 acres, raises some livestock and sheep. Shears the sheep herself and spins yarn!! Chickens, organic garden, etc. She works with the Land Connection, training new farmers, and trying to match absentee landowners with aspiring farmers. Of course, I’m going to try to improve their “matchmaking” program.

Found out about an intentional community about 50 miles away, but will probably not have time to visit them until my return to the area. If you’re not knowledgeable about intentional or sustainable communities, Google it. I’m getting more and more into it.

Wanna make a plug here for a magazine entitled “Yes!” Google it.

Anyway, I’ve found the local health food store, and a different store that sells jicama, as well as some organic produce. (Was amazed at how difficult it’s been to find romaine lettuce!) So my rent this month is making salads for my sister—plus a few piano lessons and allowing her to beat me at Scrabble (if you believe THAT one…?!). She’s been wonderful about allowing me to stake out a corner of the living room for my “office,” and having a bunch of bankers boxes there as well. So I’m chipping away at my Inbox, which got pretty backlogged, as well as doing various projects.

Interstate route 74 went through our land back when I was 10 years old. When they dug the hole to build the bridge, it was in our land, so Jane and Don own the pond. Don has done a great job of landscaping it over the years, plus my Dad built a “pavilion.” Don created a roasting pit. There’s a couple of piers out into the water, and some fish in it. Yesterday we had a pond party with a bunch of relatives. Went off my diet and had a couple of hot dogs, baked beans, slaw, roasted marshmallows, cupcakes and rootbeer. It caught up with me at midnight. Had to read magazines until I stopped blowing my nose and could breathe again.

Went to the local 4th of July parade in the nearby town (1600 people) of Oakwood. Lots of fire trucks and tractors and local beauty queens and a few ex-Marines. Parades nearly always make me choke up—this one no exception. But in addition to the “normal” restimulation from soldiers marching, there’s an additional misemotion related to these lovely people who are pretty clueless about what’s REALLY going on.

Following the advice in “Crisis by Design,” I made an 80-mile trip to purchase silver coins from a dealer that my brother-in-law recommended. Then I buried them and drew a map (just kidding—sort of…)

Purchased the AquaRain water filter so if I had to, I/we could drink the water from the pond. (Please, my friends, take steps to prepare for any possible disasters.) Am glad Don is a good shot—he could keep the family alive eating rabbits, pheasants, etc—plus the fish in the pond. When I get back, I plan to have him teach me how to shoot—and fish.

Stay tuned…

Love, Marcia (818) 552-2211 cell