UMF premiered a new musical this weekend called Route 66. Faculty were invited to be "Red Carpet Judges" and when I wrote and told them that I had season tickets to Musical Theatre Southwest, I was immediately sent a personalized invitation. (Okay, I think any faculty that wrote in were sent personalized invitations but that's beside the point.) And the invitation was good for 2 tickets so I took MRM.
There was a problem with seating and it was 40 minutes before we were seated and the play was over 45 minutes late starting. We were in folding chairs behind a funny banister, but it was worth it. We ran into Alison who is also a new faculty (though she came in the fall). I had met her before but didn't remember it. Fortunately, she did. When the long waiting line twisted around like the lines at Six Flags, we ended up next to her and she struck up the conversation. She's a blast! So she double checked with everyone who was behind us and in front of her and no one had a problem with her "cutting into line" and she joined us. The three of us sat together (she was a Red Carpet Judge as well).
My favorite part was that the character that all 3 of us thought was the best character and had the best actor portraying that character was being played by one of my students!! I didn't even know he was in it so it was a big surprise to look out there and say, "You know, that character looks a little like Tim in my EDU 101 class. WAIT! It IS Tim in my EDU 101 class!" His onstage character was the total opposite of the Tim that participates in my class so I know he really is a great actor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here's more info on the play (and the fact that UMF premiered the play) from my favorite newspaper:
New musical 'Route 66' to premiere at UMF
By BETTY JESPERSEN
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Monday, March 05, 2007
FARMINGTON -- University of Maine at Farmington theater students will have the chance to stage the premiere performance of a new musical this week and in the process, learn about the creative process with its seasoned playwright and composer.
Theatre UMF will present "Route 66," a love story put to music that unfolds on the well-known highway that stretches from Chicago to Los Angeles. Performance dates are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at UMF's Alumni Theater.
"Premieres are always an event. Audiences enjoy being in on something new and it makes the whole thing a lot more fun for everyone," said the musical's co-author, William Squier, in an interview from his Connecticut home.
Squire and lyricist Jerold Goldstein will be in Farmington this week to watch the rehearsals, work with the cast and to sit in the audience for the debut of their latest work.
Directed by UMF's Andrea Southard, with musical direction by Patricia Hayden and choreography by Lauryn Thomas, "Route 66" tells the story of journalist Liz Mitchell, who is hired by a chic magazine to write an article for a photo essay about this historic American highway.
Frustrated with her stalled writing career, she jumps at the chance, even though it means spending a week on the road with a complete stranger -- Arizona photographer Andrew "Drew" Garrett.
"It is a story that celebrates rural America and is one that people in Maine can relate to," Southard said. "The highway is a metaphor for a journey of self-discovery. It's about finding yourself and accepting that what you originally may have thought might indeed turn out to be something quite different. It's about finding a highway home."
"It is very exciting, especially for the students," said Hayden. "It is a great experience to work with professional composers and lyricists but it is also a bit scary that we will be the first ones to interpret what the writers envisioned."
Squier and Goldstein together and separately have written dozens of musicals that have been performed around the country and off-Broadway. The composer is Fred Stark, a top New York recording studio singer. Opening night will represent a culmination of a six-month collaboration between Southard, Hayden and the producers.
"When I first heard about this musical at a workshop last summer, I just knew UMF had to launch it," Southard said. "After I approached the producers, we successfully worked together -- they even wrote a new song for the show."
Squier said there is a growing trend on college campuses to stage new works.
"Universities have discovered that theater departments are very popular and are revenue producers for the college," he said. "For them to be competitive with other programs, they have to come up with interesting and different things to offer students.
"For us, we like academic settings for these productions because they have a decent budget and you can continue working and developing it while it is being produced," he said. "And it gives students a chance to work on something that is still changing."
Goldstein and Squier will present a talk about the creation and theatrical debut of "Route 66" at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in UMF's Thomas Auditorium, located in Preble and Ricker Halls.
Tickets are free for UMF students with a student ID, $8 for adults, $6 for other students, and $4.50 for senior citizens and children under 13. Tickets can be reserved by calling the Theatre UMF box office at 778-7465.
Betty Jespersen -- 778-6991
bjespersen@centralmaine.com
Monday, March 12, 2007
March 12, 2007: The Purest Form of Democracy
I went to my first Town Meeting tonight. It was great. There's a whole vocabulary and culture involved in them. I've been reading newspaper articles about the moderator and how s/he is selected and how s/he can run the meeting (by Robert's Rules of Order or by a set of guidelines developed by the state). There's a good website by the Maine Municipal Association the answers some questions about them.
http://www.memun.org/Public/local_govt/town_meeting.htm
I sat behind an older couple (most people there were probably in their 60's or older with a good representation of folks in their 40's and a crowd of volunteer fire fighters in their 20's and 30's) who knew what was going on. I had a chance to chat with Nancy afterwards. She was delightful and very helpful. She had a wonderful Maine accent . . . the gentle kind, not the harsh one.
There were only two items on the 46 item warrant that really got the crowd riled up in big discussion. There were a few that warranted explanation and some discussion. There were 2 people who proposed alternative amounts of money on some items in an effort to keep taxes down. Most items passed without any discussion. It lasted 3 hours (well, 2 hours and 55 minutes to be exact) which is apparently pretty short for a town meeting.
My favorite part was when there was a whole bunch of beeping, almost siren-like sounds in the balcony (right next to me) and immediately about 12 men stood up. It was all the volunteer fire department folks' beepers/pagers/radios going off. Apparently, there was a traffic accident with at least one injury. They all exited quickly, the moderator wished them godspeed and we continued on.
There was a moment of silence in the opening moments, before the Pledge of Allegiance, for a woman who had passed away a few weeks earlier. She was VERY active in Farmington politics and policies. There were many articles in the paper about her when she passed away. One of the discussion items was about a dam that needed repair on a local pond and one person suggested that at a future town meeting a proposal be made to rename that pond in honor of that woman. Lots of people seemed to like that idea and the Selectmen chimed in that studying appropriate ways to honor that woman were on their to-do list (well, that wasn't their vocabulary for it, but that was the idea).
One item of interest was that a local agency called Work Force Inc. had requested $1,000 and the budget committee and the Select Board had both recommended that that group be given $0. The citizens were really rallying that the Town should show support for this fine organization that was doing great things and was very helpful to the community. Then it was explained that the group had been granted tax exempt status on their property and that was about a $10,000 in-kind donation to the group. The item passed at $0.
The moderator was most impressive in that he knew almost everyone present by name. He introduced every one on the Select Board and the Budget Committee by name and called on most everyone who had a question or comment by name when he gave them the floor. He had great poise and used a little bit of humor when necessary. He knew exactly when to explain stuff or ask for clarification without bringing any personal bias to any of the issues.
Except for the fact that I couldn't count myself among one of the younger people who was taking an interest in their government (how did I get to be so old??), I was really glad that I went. It really was what our civics books taught us . . . that the New England Town Meeting is the purest form of democracy. Nobody was there to represent anybody else except themselves and their one vote.
http://www.memun.org/Public/local_govt/town_meeting.htm
I sat behind an older couple (most people there were probably in their 60's or older with a good representation of folks in their 40's and a crowd of volunteer fire fighters in their 20's and 30's) who knew what was going on. I had a chance to chat with Nancy afterwards. She was delightful and very helpful. She had a wonderful Maine accent . . . the gentle kind, not the harsh one.
There were only two items on the 46 item warrant that really got the crowd riled up in big discussion. There were a few that warranted explanation and some discussion. There were 2 people who proposed alternative amounts of money on some items in an effort to keep taxes down. Most items passed without any discussion. It lasted 3 hours (well, 2 hours and 55 minutes to be exact) which is apparently pretty short for a town meeting.
My favorite part was when there was a whole bunch of beeping, almost siren-like sounds in the balcony (right next to me) and immediately about 12 men stood up. It was all the volunteer fire department folks' beepers/pagers/radios going off. Apparently, there was a traffic accident with at least one injury. They all exited quickly, the moderator wished them godspeed and we continued on.
There was a moment of silence in the opening moments, before the Pledge of Allegiance, for a woman who had passed away a few weeks earlier. She was VERY active in Farmington politics and policies. There were many articles in the paper about her when she passed away. One of the discussion items was about a dam that needed repair on a local pond and one person suggested that at a future town meeting a proposal be made to rename that pond in honor of that woman. Lots of people seemed to like that idea and the Selectmen chimed in that studying appropriate ways to honor that woman were on their to-do list (well, that wasn't their vocabulary for it, but that was the idea).
One item of interest was that a local agency called Work Force Inc. had requested $1,000 and the budget committee and the Select Board had both recommended that that group be given $0. The citizens were really rallying that the Town should show support for this fine organization that was doing great things and was very helpful to the community. Then it was explained that the group had been granted tax exempt status on their property and that was about a $10,000 in-kind donation to the group. The item passed at $0.
The moderator was most impressive in that he knew almost everyone present by name. He introduced every one on the Select Board and the Budget Committee by name and called on most everyone who had a question or comment by name when he gave them the floor. He had great poise and used a little bit of humor when necessary. He knew exactly when to explain stuff or ask for clarification without bringing any personal bias to any of the issues.
Except for the fact that I couldn't count myself among one of the younger people who was taking an interest in their government (how did I get to be so old??), I was really glad that I went. It really was what our civics books taught us . . . that the New England Town Meeting is the purest form of democracy. Nobody was there to represent anybody else except themselves and their one vote.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Record Low High
I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but when you look at all the high temperatures on this date over the years, some are higher than others and some are lower than others. For the past few days we've been breaking (actually shattering) those records for the lowest high temperature. I need to look up the exact numbers, but on the TV weather Tuesday, they said we broke the record by 12 degrees. BRRRRR!!
We were having decent maple syrup weather. Apparently you want the temperature during the day to go over freezing but the temperature at night to go below freezing. We did that for a couple of days, but then it's all been below freezing. And the wind's been blowing which doesn't have any effect on maple syrup but oh my, wind chill is REALLY cold when it's already REALLY cold. It's going to stay below freezing through Saturday and then Sunday it will go back over freezing.
I better hurry up and go ice fishing and/or smelting because soon the ice will start thawing.
We were having decent maple syrup weather. Apparently you want the temperature during the day to go over freezing but the temperature at night to go below freezing. We did that for a couple of days, but then it's all been below freezing. And the wind's been blowing which doesn't have any effect on maple syrup but oh my, wind chill is REALLY cold when it's already REALLY cold. It's going to stay below freezing through Saturday and then Sunday it will go back over freezing.
I better hurry up and go ice fishing and/or smelting because soon the ice will start thawing.
March 8, 2007: Half Way Day
I came to Maine on January 8, 2007 and I have to head back to Dallas on May 8, 2007. That makes today, March 8, the halfway point of my 4 months in Maine. I can't believe it's half over. Didn't I just arrive?? And if these 2 months have whipped by so quickly, I don't even want to think about how fast the next 2 months will zip by. Wow.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Moxie and Red Hot Dogs
Lauren and Lindsay (I call them L1 and L2) work in the computer lab. I get to see one or both of them most days when my class is over in that lab . . . they come in right after our class. We were talking about differences between Maine and Texas one day and I was telling them that even little things like food are very different. They couldn't believe that ginger ale wasn't readily available in soft drink machines or convenience store refrigerators in Texas. "What do you drink when you're sick?" Well, some of us were raised on ginger ale but that's because our parents bought it on the aisle with the mixers (club soda and tonic water) not the soft drinks.
They then told me about Red Hot Dogs and Moxie. They don't have to be consumed together, but they are each a Maine tradition. The red hot dogs are really red. I think they must be leftover from red dye #2 days. They don't look natural at all. I bought one at the deli in the grocery store and asked the deli worker how to cook it. She said to boil it (and gave me a look like, "How else would you cook a hot dog?!"). It took me a few days to get up the courage to eat it, but I finally did. It tastes like a hot dog on the inside but the skin is a little thicker than today's hot dog. The skin had a little more flavor to it than "regular" hot dogs. But it wasn't bad. I won't go out of my way to eat another one, but if they're available, I'll gladly eat one again.
I asked MRM and RBF about Moxie. They laughed. They described it as an acquired taste. I kept an eye out for individual bottles (I wasn't going to buy a 6-pack, in case I didn't like it). Then Maggy asked what she could bring to the Texas Independence Day party and we said drinks. Tada! She brought several 2-liter bottles of beverages including one of Moxie! Now's my chance.
I tried it. It wasn't bad. It tasted a little like soda fountain root beer with a punch. Unfortunately, it has caffeine in it and I could taste the caffeine, so I'm not sure if the aftertaste that it had was the Moxie or the caffeine. I think it was the caffeine. I need to see if they make a decaffeinated version, though usually, when they take the caffeine out, they put in an artificial caffeine flavor and it's the flavor of caffeine that I don't like. But again, I wouldn't go out of my way to drink another one, but if someone offered me a Moxie, I'd drink it.
They then told me about Red Hot Dogs and Moxie. They don't have to be consumed together, but they are each a Maine tradition. The red hot dogs are really red. I think they must be leftover from red dye #2 days. They don't look natural at all. I bought one at the deli in the grocery store and asked the deli worker how to cook it. She said to boil it (and gave me a look like, "How else would you cook a hot dog?!"). It took me a few days to get up the courage to eat it, but I finally did. It tastes like a hot dog on the inside but the skin is a little thicker than today's hot dog. The skin had a little more flavor to it than "regular" hot dogs. But it wasn't bad. I won't go out of my way to eat another one, but if they're available, I'll gladly eat one again.
I asked MRM and RBF about Moxie. They laughed. They described it as an acquired taste. I kept an eye out for individual bottles (I wasn't going to buy a 6-pack, in case I didn't like it). Then Maggy asked what she could bring to the Texas Independence Day party and we said drinks. Tada! She brought several 2-liter bottles of beverages including one of Moxie! Now's my chance.
I tried it. It wasn't bad. It tasted a little like soda fountain root beer with a punch. Unfortunately, it has caffeine in it and I could taste the caffeine, so I'm not sure if the aftertaste that it had was the Moxie or the caffeine. I think it was the caffeine. I need to see if they make a decaffeinated version, though usually, when they take the caffeine out, they put in an artificial caffeine flavor and it's the flavor of caffeine that I don't like. But again, I wouldn't go out of my way to drink another one, but if someone offered me a Moxie, I'd drink it.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Donkey issue continues
There are 2 sides to every story. Here are the reader comments on the donkey story as of March 3, 2007:
Cindy Ross of Bowdoin, ME
Mar 3, 2007 5:44 PM
It's hard to believe this circus continues. I think I will let my MULE loose, chase it for a few weeks, then get people to donate money to put up some fencing for me.
I guess I do things the hard way. I decided what kind of animals I want on my farm. Then, I spend my own hard earned mony to put up appropriate fencing to keep them safely contained. Then I spend time to learn about the animals I am going to own so I at least know that I own a MULE and won't go around calling it a donkey. And then I make sure to only have animal that I have the skills to handle. I don't expect others to pick up the tab for my irresponsibility.
Jenny the MULE needs be with people that have the experience, skills, and facilities to handle a young, scared mule. I think it would be great for Jenny and Isabella to be reunited. But absolutely NOT with Mary and Joe. I think it also reflect poorly on Karina Lewis that she is helping to perpetuate this circus. But, I guess it's hard to turn down this kind of media attention and free advertising regardless of what is best for Jenny.....the MULE.
Yankee Donkey & Mule Society of Dudley, MA
Mar 2, 2007 8:28 AM
This is a plea to the media establishment. PLEASE do some research!!
These people may have good intentions for this longeared equine but here are a few flags that concern me about this little animal's welfare.
A) First of all they purchased an animal thinking it was an entirely different species! She is most definitely either a mule or a hinny. In fact, the chances of her beign a hinny are rather small as well, since the odds of a female donkey carrying a horse stallion's foal full term are less than 20%. Mules are much more prevalent than hinnies. There currently is no way of determining what her mother was scientfically. Not even a DNA test.
B) Not having done any research, they bring home an animal that they don't have adequate fencing for.
C) Their original purpose was to use the "donkey" for herd protection. Unfortunately, mules are not the animal of choice and neither is a donkey if it hasn't been raised properly for such a purpose. Having purchased the animal at an auction, chances are it's background and handling is unknown. Plus there are many people who believe a miniature donkey (standing 36 inches at their shoulder) may not be able to ward off attacks from predators like a coyote for example.
D) The final point that needs to be addressed is the issue of Isabella's owner. The mule's current owner is now and has been for many years, an upstanding, caring and knowledgeable member of the donkey and mule world. Her animals are well housed, fenced and recieve extraordinary care. She does her research through PROFESSIONAL DONKEY & MULE people. And is very willing to help others in need.
She also is involved in bettering the area's understanding of donkeys and mules by participating in educational demonstrations and shows.
So I beg of this paper to contact those who have a background in such dealings. Donkeys, mules and hinnies are an oddity and need to be handled in their own manner.
Debra Kovac
Yankee Donkey & Mule Society
Leslie Heulitt of Rock Cave, WV
Mar 1, 2007 9:43 PM
If folks want to send money to these irresponsible people to fund their fencing, well, we all know there�s one born every minute. But to dupe people into sending money to purchase Isabella is pretty incredible. Has anyone bothered to ask if she is even for sale? Because she is not. It would be irresponsible for the rescue organization that has Isabella to adopt her out to such a home. These people don�t even know they have a mule. Maybe Jenny�s owners never asked if Isabella is for sale because they didn�t want to hear the answer. People might stop sending them money.
D. G. of Keene, NH
Mar 1, 2007 7:30 PM
It would be good for you at the paper to follow up on the other side of this story. Isabella very much needs her companion, but since the woman caring for her is a close friend of mine, I know that the rescue she works for hasn't even been contacted about the issues of who gets to take over the care and training of both of these animals. It is ASSUMED by Ms Gaeta and Mr. Varricchio that rescue will just give Isabella to them. But both of these animals need a lot of work to get them to trust humans again, and the rescue is the best place for that, since they have a lot of experience working with donkeys and mules. Isabella has come a long way since being with rescue, but it has taken a lot of time on the part of my friend. I hope that Ms Gaeta and Mr. Varricchio will make a CALL to Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue and have a real conversation about where these two will recieve the care they need.
Willie of Belgrade, ME
Mar 1, 2007 2:21 PM
how can you ask people to donate money for a fence and shelter. All you are doing trying to make money on this event. Hope the IRS looks in to this. if you want aminals build your own fence like i did and many more animal lovers do. shame on you. $10.00 a picture come on in IRS
mulewrangler of Casper, WY
Mar 1, 2007 2:11 PM
I am glad Jenny was caught, however it is clear that her owners have no knowledge of longears and their behavior. This is not a guard animal in any way. Perhaps they will consider the donations as payment to allow her to go to the same place as Isabella where she will be trained and understood in the appropriate manner. It takes a long time for a true bonding process with a longear and a new owner, and Isabella is clearly beginning bonding and responding, while Jenny is so upset & unhappy that she ran away and had to be coerced back over a long period of time. Horses and longears are very different and Jenny needs the correct process and sure, steady, slow training to be given a fair shot at a good life. Do what is right for her instead of hoping for monetary gain thru her ownership.
Eliza Williams of Waterville, ME
Mar 1, 2007 11:55 AM
Happy to read that the story isn't over! It's wonderful to see that someone cares enough to try to please this hinny/donkey. Hopefully, she will be 'herself' once again, after she's reunited with her 'sibling.'
I, too, believe she's lonely alone.
A heartwarming story, and please keep us up to date on any progress.
Cindy Ross of Bowdoin, ME
Mar 3, 2007 5:44 PM
It's hard to believe this circus continues. I think I will let my MULE loose, chase it for a few weeks, then get people to donate money to put up some fencing for me.
I guess I do things the hard way. I decided what kind of animals I want on my farm. Then, I spend my own hard earned mony to put up appropriate fencing to keep them safely contained. Then I spend time to learn about the animals I am going to own so I at least know that I own a MULE and won't go around calling it a donkey. And then I make sure to only have animal that I have the skills to handle. I don't expect others to pick up the tab for my irresponsibility.
Jenny the MULE needs be with people that have the experience, skills, and facilities to handle a young, scared mule. I think it would be great for Jenny and Isabella to be reunited. But absolutely NOT with Mary and Joe. I think it also reflect poorly on Karina Lewis that she is helping to perpetuate this circus. But, I guess it's hard to turn down this kind of media attention and free advertising regardless of what is best for Jenny.....the MULE.
Yankee Donkey & Mule Society of Dudley, MA
Mar 2, 2007 8:28 AM
This is a plea to the media establishment. PLEASE do some research!!
These people may have good intentions for this longeared equine but here are a few flags that concern me about this little animal's welfare.
A) First of all they purchased an animal thinking it was an entirely different species! She is most definitely either a mule or a hinny. In fact, the chances of her beign a hinny are rather small as well, since the odds of a female donkey carrying a horse stallion's foal full term are less than 20%. Mules are much more prevalent than hinnies. There currently is no way of determining what her mother was scientfically. Not even a DNA test.
B) Not having done any research, they bring home an animal that they don't have adequate fencing for.
C) Their original purpose was to use the "donkey" for herd protection. Unfortunately, mules are not the animal of choice and neither is a donkey if it hasn't been raised properly for such a purpose. Having purchased the animal at an auction, chances are it's background and handling is unknown. Plus there are many people who believe a miniature donkey (standing 36 inches at their shoulder) may not be able to ward off attacks from predators like a coyote for example.
D) The final point that needs to be addressed is the issue of Isabella's owner. The mule's current owner is now and has been for many years, an upstanding, caring and knowledgeable member of the donkey and mule world. Her animals are well housed, fenced and recieve extraordinary care. She does her research through PROFESSIONAL DONKEY & MULE people. And is very willing to help others in need.
She also is involved in bettering the area's understanding of donkeys and mules by participating in educational demonstrations and shows.
So I beg of this paper to contact those who have a background in such dealings. Donkeys, mules and hinnies are an oddity and need to be handled in their own manner.
Debra Kovac
Yankee Donkey & Mule Society
Leslie Heulitt of Rock Cave, WV
Mar 1, 2007 9:43 PM
If folks want to send money to these irresponsible people to fund their fencing, well, we all know there�s one born every minute. But to dupe people into sending money to purchase Isabella is pretty incredible. Has anyone bothered to ask if she is even for sale? Because she is not. It would be irresponsible for the rescue organization that has Isabella to adopt her out to such a home. These people don�t even know they have a mule. Maybe Jenny�s owners never asked if Isabella is for sale because they didn�t want to hear the answer. People might stop sending them money.
D. G. of Keene, NH
Mar 1, 2007 7:30 PM
It would be good for you at the paper to follow up on the other side of this story. Isabella very much needs her companion, but since the woman caring for her is a close friend of mine, I know that the rescue she works for hasn't even been contacted about the issues of who gets to take over the care and training of both of these animals. It is ASSUMED by Ms Gaeta and Mr. Varricchio that rescue will just give Isabella to them. But both of these animals need a lot of work to get them to trust humans again, and the rescue is the best place for that, since they have a lot of experience working with donkeys and mules. Isabella has come a long way since being with rescue, but it has taken a lot of time on the part of my friend. I hope that Ms Gaeta and Mr. Varricchio will make a CALL to Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue and have a real conversation about where these two will recieve the care they need.
Willie of Belgrade, ME
Mar 1, 2007 2:21 PM
how can you ask people to donate money for a fence and shelter. All you are doing trying to make money on this event. Hope the IRS looks in to this. if you want aminals build your own fence like i did and many more animal lovers do. shame on you. $10.00 a picture come on in IRS
mulewrangler of Casper, WY
Mar 1, 2007 2:11 PM
I am glad Jenny was caught, however it is clear that her owners have no knowledge of longears and their behavior. This is not a guard animal in any way. Perhaps they will consider the donations as payment to allow her to go to the same place as Isabella where she will be trained and understood in the appropriate manner. It takes a long time for a true bonding process with a longear and a new owner, and Isabella is clearly beginning bonding and responding, while Jenny is so upset & unhappy that she ran away and had to be coerced back over a long period of time. Horses and longears are very different and Jenny needs the correct process and sure, steady, slow training to be given a fair shot at a good life. Do what is right for her instead of hoping for monetary gain thru her ownership.
Eliza Williams of Waterville, ME
Mar 1, 2007 11:55 AM
Happy to read that the story isn't over! It's wonderful to see that someone cares enough to try to please this hinny/donkey. Hopefully, she will be 'herself' once again, after she's reunited with her 'sibling.'
I, too, believe she's lonely alone.
A heartwarming story, and please keep us up to date on any progress.
March 2, 2007: Happy Texas Independence Day
I get to celebrate with another snow day! I stayed up until 3am last night/this morning making chili for the Texas Independence Day party on Saturday. There was no snow when I went to bed. I woke up a little after 6 and there was lots of snow. But was it enough? I tried looking it up online but didn't see it posted. I tried calling the information line but got someone's cell number. I obviously misremembered the information phone number. ooops. I turned on my radio that plays the television stations but obviously I can't see the closings scrolling on the bottom of the screen. So I go downstairs and watch TV. Channel 13 lists the closings by category...all the services, all the schools, the universities are all lumped together. They listed a lot of universities but not UMF. I switched to another channel that lists the closings by county but no UMF on that list. Finally, I switched to another channel and there it was. Aaaah. UMF is closed. Then I double checked online and found it. I'm not sure if it wasn't posted earlier or if I just didn't see it the first time I looked.
I went back to sleep until 10. :-)
MRM had to go in to work (she closed the library but she had to turn in her budget to the Town Manager and the Town offices weren't closed). RBF went with her. I had an hour and a half phone call with UNT (they weren't having a snow day with their 70 degree weather) and made a second batch of chili along with corn bread. I tried my hand at pinto beans, Texas Trash (basically a spicy Chex Mix) and jello molds in the shape of Texas and stars. The pinto beans were pretty yummy and I was very pleased with how the Texas Trash turned out (especially considering I had to substitute on some of the spices). But the jello molds weren't very successful. I had too much water in the first batch. It took a while to finally get the jello out of the molds and when it finally did come out, it looked like a star or the outline of the state for a while and then quickly started losing its shape. Oh well.
More details on the party later. But I loved having a snow day today, even though it puts me behind in both of the classes I teach. I did sent out an email on what our modified schedule is going to look like. So who loves snow days more . . . students or teachers??
I went back to sleep until 10. :-)
MRM had to go in to work (she closed the library but she had to turn in her budget to the Town Manager and the Town offices weren't closed). RBF went with her. I had an hour and a half phone call with UNT (they weren't having a snow day with their 70 degree weather) and made a second batch of chili along with corn bread. I tried my hand at pinto beans, Texas Trash (basically a spicy Chex Mix) and jello molds in the shape of Texas and stars. The pinto beans were pretty yummy and I was very pleased with how the Texas Trash turned out (especially considering I had to substitute on some of the spices). But the jello molds weren't very successful. I had too much water in the first batch. It took a while to finally get the jello out of the molds and when it finally did come out, it looked like a star or the outline of the state for a while and then quickly started losing its shape. Oh well.
More details on the party later. But I loved having a snow day today, even though it puts me behind in both of the classes I teach. I did sent out an email on what our modified schedule is going to look like. So who loves snow days more . . . students or teachers??
March 1, 2007: Donkey odyssey inspires donations
Yes, the donkey is still in the news. But this time it's not because she's still on the lam. Now that she's "fenced in" people want to help pay for a new fence and for a reunion.
Donkey odyssey inspires donations
By CRAIG CROSBY
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Thursday, March 01, 2007
PITTSFIELD -- Mary Gaeta sat at her computer desk Wednesday gently pulling letters and cards from envelopes that had arrived from across the country.
With each note, her determination to fulfill the writers' wishes grew.
"They're all saying the same thing," Gaeta said. "They all want to see Jenny and Isabella reunited."
Jenny made headlines across the country after escaping from her pen at Mary's Garden, the Higgins Road farm Gaeta owns with her partner, Joe Varricchio, on Jan. 18.
The donkey -- most now believe she is actually a hinny, the offspring of a male horse and female donkey -- remained on the run until last week despite several capture attempts that included everything from wrangling to sedatives.
Equine expert Karina Lewis spent more than a week bonding with Jenny and ultimately was able to lead the donkey into a makeshift corral.
Lewis believes Jenny was searching for a partner, likely a sibling, that was sold separately at an auction last fall.
That partner, which has been called Isabella, was rescued by the Massachusetts-based Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue and Rehabilitation, an informal donkey and mule rescue league, and lives on a farm in New Hampshire.
A plot that captured attention for its intrigue and rescue has morphed into a love story, and those involved are determined to create a happy ending.
"When we bring Isabella home, she's going to be ecstatic," Lewis said. "That's going to change that little donkey's life, no question about it."
Jenny has already changed the lives of those around her. Just a week after her capture, donations to build Jenny a new fence and reunite her with Isabella have arrived from around the country.
"We're getting donations from all over," said Gaeta, listing gifts from Florida, New Jersey and Maine. "It's unbelievable. And it's not little amounts. This one's 50 bucks."
Gaeta intends to answer every letter she receives and will include a picture of Jenny.
"People are writing lovely letters," she said. "I wish I knew how to make up a Web site because then I could keep everybody posted."
Gaeta attached photos of Jenny to card stock, each signed by Gaeta and Varricchio, that are being sold for $10 apiece at the online auction site, eBay. Gaeta intends to sell the photos -- buyers can pick one of three poses -- at fairs this summer. All of the money will go toward fencing in the couple's 18 acres and purchasing Isabella.
Any remaining money will be donated to an animal shelter, Gaeta said.
Lewis hopes the fenced-in area will include the woods in which Jenny spent much of her time while on the lam.
"She wants it so they can run in the woods and do whatever they want to do," Varricchio said. "She'll be free as a bird."
The couple still gets calls from magazines that are writing stories on the donkey. Varricchio's nephew is even writing a children's book based on Jenny's adventure.
"I was telling someone I wouldn't be surprised if they make a movie," Varricchio said. "Nothing is impossible."
He is anxious for the spring when he hopes children and their parents will come to see Jenny.
"I'm going to buy a buggy," Varricchio said. "That way when the kids come up they can ride. I think the kids would enjoy that."
Considering the progress she has made, Jenny may be able to star in the movie some day.
The donkey is already accepting a bridle and on Wednesday Lewis loaded Jenny into a horse trailer and took her for a ride around the neighborhood.
"She's doing really well," Lewis said. "She's still fairly unsure what's expected of her. We're working through that. Her trust is building every day."
The trailer ride was designed to prepare Jenny for a trip to the Northeast Equestrian Exhibition, which is scheduled for Friday through Sunday at the Treasure Equestrian Center in Manchester.
Lewis has planned a 30-minute presentation on Saturday during which she will talk about her business, The Mirror Effect, which works to solve behavioral problems with horses and their owners. Gaeta, Varricchio and Jenny will take part in the presentation in hopes of generating money for the fundraiser.
"We thought this would be an opportunity for people to meet Jenny," Lewis said. "She's been an inspiration to so many people."
Lewis is working on arranging a visit between Jenny and Isabella or, ideally, bringing the two together permanently.
"We're going to use (the expo) as an opportunity to continue the cause we see here," Lewis said. "In my mind, the story isn't over. She's lonely. She's missing her friend."
retrieved from: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/3667753.html
Donkey odyssey inspires donations
By CRAIG CROSBY
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Thursday, March 01, 2007
PITTSFIELD -- Mary Gaeta sat at her computer desk Wednesday gently pulling letters and cards from envelopes that had arrived from across the country.
With each note, her determination to fulfill the writers' wishes grew.
"They're all saying the same thing," Gaeta said. "They all want to see Jenny and Isabella reunited."
Jenny made headlines across the country after escaping from her pen at Mary's Garden, the Higgins Road farm Gaeta owns with her partner, Joe Varricchio, on Jan. 18.
The donkey -- most now believe she is actually a hinny, the offspring of a male horse and female donkey -- remained on the run until last week despite several capture attempts that included everything from wrangling to sedatives.
Equine expert Karina Lewis spent more than a week bonding with Jenny and ultimately was able to lead the donkey into a makeshift corral.
Lewis believes Jenny was searching for a partner, likely a sibling, that was sold separately at an auction last fall.
That partner, which has been called Isabella, was rescued by the Massachusetts-based Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue and Rehabilitation, an informal donkey and mule rescue league, and lives on a farm in New Hampshire.
A plot that captured attention for its intrigue and rescue has morphed into a love story, and those involved are determined to create a happy ending.
"When we bring Isabella home, she's going to be ecstatic," Lewis said. "That's going to change that little donkey's life, no question about it."
Jenny has already changed the lives of those around her. Just a week after her capture, donations to build Jenny a new fence and reunite her with Isabella have arrived from around the country.
"We're getting donations from all over," said Gaeta, listing gifts from Florida, New Jersey and Maine. "It's unbelievable. And it's not little amounts. This one's 50 bucks."
Gaeta intends to answer every letter she receives and will include a picture of Jenny.
"People are writing lovely letters," she said. "I wish I knew how to make up a Web site because then I could keep everybody posted."
Gaeta attached photos of Jenny to card stock, each signed by Gaeta and Varricchio, that are being sold for $10 apiece at the online auction site, eBay. Gaeta intends to sell the photos -- buyers can pick one of three poses -- at fairs this summer. All of the money will go toward fencing in the couple's 18 acres and purchasing Isabella.
Any remaining money will be donated to an animal shelter, Gaeta said.
Lewis hopes the fenced-in area will include the woods in which Jenny spent much of her time while on the lam.
"She wants it so they can run in the woods and do whatever they want to do," Varricchio said. "She'll be free as a bird."
The couple still gets calls from magazines that are writing stories on the donkey. Varricchio's nephew is even writing a children's book based on Jenny's adventure.
"I was telling someone I wouldn't be surprised if they make a movie," Varricchio said. "Nothing is impossible."
He is anxious for the spring when he hopes children and their parents will come to see Jenny.
"I'm going to buy a buggy," Varricchio said. "That way when the kids come up they can ride. I think the kids would enjoy that."
Considering the progress she has made, Jenny may be able to star in the movie some day.
The donkey is already accepting a bridle and on Wednesday Lewis loaded Jenny into a horse trailer and took her for a ride around the neighborhood.
"She's doing really well," Lewis said. "She's still fairly unsure what's expected of her. We're working through that. Her trust is building every day."
The trailer ride was designed to prepare Jenny for a trip to the Northeast Equestrian Exhibition, which is scheduled for Friday through Sunday at the Treasure Equestrian Center in Manchester.
Lewis has planned a 30-minute presentation on Saturday during which she will talk about her business, The Mirror Effect, which works to solve behavioral problems with horses and their owners. Gaeta, Varricchio and Jenny will take part in the presentation in hopes of generating money for the fundraiser.
"We thought this would be an opportunity for people to meet Jenny," Lewis said. "She's been an inspiration to so many people."
Lewis is working on arranging a visit between Jenny and Isabella or, ideally, bringing the two together permanently.
"We're going to use (the expo) as an opportunity to continue the cause we see here," Lewis said. "In my mind, the story isn't over. She's lonely. She's missing her friend."
retrieved from: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/3667753.html
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Wednesday, February 28, 2007: Walking on Ice
Walking home is getting treacherous. We have "black ice" in Dallas whenever we get precipitation and the temperature goes below freezing, but it's only on roads and only a hazard to drivers and passengers. Here, the sidewalks are made of asphalt, too, and so the sidewalks get black ice. And when you're walking home at night, everything's black. Well, not everything, because I do have street lights on the entire walk all the way home. But it just looks like a glistening spot on the sidewalk. And sometimes, it is just wet and not ice, especially when the temp is just "hovering" around freezing. Sometimes, I'll even walk in the street instead of the sidewalk because most of the moisture on the road has evaporated with all those cars driving over it all day. But the sidewalks see less traffic and have more shady spots. Of course, at night, those spots aren't shady, but during the day you can see where the moisture accumulates. It's either in spots with bad drainage (or good drainage depending how you're looking at it, but the spots where melted snow runs off the yard, across the sidewalk, and into the street) or spots in the shade.
New adventures! Praise God, I haven't had any adventures in falling down. I've slipped a few times but have always been able to regain my balance and get a good footing before letting gravity take total control.
New adventures! Praise God, I haven't had any adventures in falling down. I've slipped a few times but have always been able to regain my balance and get a good footing before letting gravity take total control.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007: Walking
How can it be the last day of February already? Where did the month go? I know it's shorter than the rest, but this one was exceedingly shorter than usual. I've been here 7 weeks now. How did that happen? If time flies when you're having fun then I must be having a giant blast! Oh wait, I am having a blast. No wonder it's flying.
I was leasing a car, but it was outrageous money and most days it sat in the driveway. My original plan was to pay outrageous money to a national company based out of Portland when I first got here because it was convenient (convenient to the airport and allowing me time to search for a cheaper one and if I found one outside of Portland, then arranging for transportation to and from the lease car place). But I've moved on from that plan to my new plan: no car. Yep. I'm not going to have a car at all. I'd say it would be better for me because I'll walk more, but I was already pretty much walking everywhere all the time. I turned in the lease car at the airport when I left for Winter Break on the 17th and MRM and RBF picked me up when I got back to town on the 24th.
There's a rent car place on the outskirts of town that I figured I could rent one for a day or a weekend. There's a taxi service in town (one man, one car) that another faculty member used when she had surgery on her knee and couldn't drive. She highly recommended him. That will take care of trips to the big grocery store or when I buy cases of bottled water. I figured lots of taxi rides and many one- to three- day rentals would still add up to less than one outrageously expensive lease car.
I'm on Day 4 with no car . . . no signs of withdrawal yet; though it is an odd feeling to not have one at my beck and call. Oooh, this plans for planning ahead. I guess that will be good for me, too.
I was leasing a car, but it was outrageous money and most days it sat in the driveway. My original plan was to pay outrageous money to a national company based out of Portland when I first got here because it was convenient (convenient to the airport and allowing me time to search for a cheaper one and if I found one outside of Portland, then arranging for transportation to and from the lease car place). But I've moved on from that plan to my new plan: no car. Yep. I'm not going to have a car at all. I'd say it would be better for me because I'll walk more, but I was already pretty much walking everywhere all the time. I turned in the lease car at the airport when I left for Winter Break on the 17th and MRM and RBF picked me up when I got back to town on the 24th.
There's a rent car place on the outskirts of town that I figured I could rent one for a day or a weekend. There's a taxi service in town (one man, one car) that another faculty member used when she had surgery on her knee and couldn't drive. She highly recommended him. That will take care of trips to the big grocery store or when I buy cases of bottled water. I figured lots of taxi rides and many one- to three- day rentals would still add up to less than one outrageously expensive lease car.
I'm on Day 4 with no car . . . no signs of withdrawal yet; though it is an odd feeling to not have one at my beck and call. Oooh, this plans for planning ahead. I guess that will be good for me, too.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Sunday, February 25, 2007: More about shoes
Sunday morning after church, I change out of church clothes into sweats and sneakers and then start organizing some of the stuff I had unpacked the night before. I walk around the bed and there on the carpet is a giant dirty spot. Where did that come from?! It wasn't there this morning and it wasn't there when I was changing . . . no dogs came in to visit . . . how did that dirty spot get there?!
Hmmmm, so I've gotten much better about taking my outdoor shoes off at the door (no more reverse footprints). But apparently, I took off my sneakers at the door after wearing them outside (before winter break) and then carefully carried them upstairs and put them in my room. Now, 10 days later, the mud has dried and there's just a lot of dirt on the bottom of those sneakers and guess what happens when you walk around on the carpet with dirty shoes? It would have been another case of reverse footprints or "suddenly appearing" footprints except I apparently walked in circles so it was just a big blur of dirt.
Now, do I have this straight. Outdoor shoes really are just for wearing outdoors and indoor shoes are for indoors and the reason you carry your indoor shoes with you is to change into them when you get there. But then you have to remember to change out of them when you leave and put your outdoor shoes back on. Eeegads, who would've guessed the hardest part about a winter wardrobe would've been the shoes?
Hmmmm, so I've gotten much better about taking my outdoor shoes off at the door (no more reverse footprints). But apparently, I took off my sneakers at the door after wearing them outside (before winter break) and then carefully carried them upstairs and put them in my room. Now, 10 days later, the mud has dried and there's just a lot of dirt on the bottom of those sneakers and guess what happens when you walk around on the carpet with dirty shoes? It would have been another case of reverse footprints or "suddenly appearing" footprints except I apparently walked in circles so it was just a big blur of dirt.
Now, do I have this straight. Outdoor shoes really are just for wearing outdoors and indoor shoes are for indoors and the reason you carry your indoor shoes with you is to change into them when you get there. But then you have to remember to change out of them when you leave and put your outdoor shoes back on. Eeegads, who would've guessed the hardest part about a winter wardrobe would've been the shoes?
February 27, 2007: Unique Opportunity
Check out this email that I received today. It went to all UMF Staff and Faculty. I already thought it was pretty cool that UMF has a Ski Industries program. But I never thought about what the final exam would look like for a student who's taking classes in how to teach skiing. Well, now I know: this is what it look like! I only wish I didn't have to teach class on Wednesday. :-) NOTE: Sugarloaf is only 40 miles north of Farmington. Here's the email:
To: All UMF Staff & Faculty
From: Leigh xxx
Re: Volunteers for Ski & Snowboard Lessons
When: Wednesday March 7 and Wednesday March 14
Cost: All day lift ticket at Sugarloaf $10
Rental Equipment: $10
Ability Levels: Never-ever Beginners to Black Diamond Experts
Lessons Time: 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
The UMF Ski Industries Practicums are offering free ski and snowboard
lessons as part of their teaching practical.
If you have never skied or snowboarded this is your chance. If you are an
intermediate skier/rider looking to jump to a new level...this is your
chance. If you are an expert skier wondering how to use those funny shaped
skis ...this is your chance.
If you are interested in joining us for a day of spring skiing, please
contact me by Monday, March 5.
Questions: call ext. xxx or e-mail me at: xxx
********************************
Leigh xxx Director, UMF Ski Industries University of Maine at
Farmington
*********************************
To: All UMF Staff & Faculty
From: Leigh xxx
Re: Volunteers for Ski & Snowboard Lessons
When: Wednesday March 7 and Wednesday March 14
Cost: All day lift ticket at Sugarloaf $10
Rental Equipment: $10
Ability Levels: Never-ever Beginners to Black Diamond Experts
Lessons Time: 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
The UMF Ski Industries Practicums are offering free ski and snowboard
lessons as part of their teaching practical.
If you have never skied or snowboarded this is your chance. If you are an
intermediate skier/rider looking to jump to a new level...this is your
chance. If you are an expert skier wondering how to use those funny shaped
skis ...this is your chance.
If you are interested in joining us for a day of spring skiing, please
contact me by Monday, March 5.
Questions: call ext. xxx or e-mail me at: xxx
********************************
Leigh xxx Director, UMF Ski Industries University of Maine at
Farmington
*********************************
Friday, February 23, 2007
Headline: Donkey OK
By CRAIG CROSBY
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Thursday, February 22, 2007
PITTSFIELD -- In the end, she went in quietly, led into captivity by a trusted friend.
After more than a month on the loose and numerous vain capture attempts, Jenny the donkey simply walked back into captivity Wednesday morning.
As she pranced around her temporary corral, the donkey, whose stranglehold on freedom made national headlines, already seemed at home.
"I'm thrilled that she's safe," said Mary Gaeta, whose life had been turned upside down since the donkey's Jan. 18 escape from Gaeta's Higgins Road farm. "I'm sure everyone is going to be pleased, now she's been caught."
Jenny, who is actually believed to be a hinny, the offspring of a male horse and female donkey, was led into captivity, more than caught. Karina Lewis, an equine behavior specialist, had spent more than a week earning Jenny's trust and building a rapport.
"We spent a lot of cold days out there," Lewis said. "I spent a lot of time just shivering on the ground and respecting her."
Lewis spent Tuesday in the woods behind Gaeta's farm, where Jenny ran whenever she felt threatened. There was a major breakthrough when Jenny started following Lewis. Lewis walked through the corral area with Jenny on her heels, an act that set the stage for Wednesday's capture.
"So today, when it came down to doing that, it was a natural process," Lewis said.
Jenny followed Lewis into the three-sided corral, which is an amalgamation of pallets and wire fencing reinforced by snow banks, and waited patiently as Lewis and her partner, Kirk Stanley, erected the fourth side to complete the enclosure.
"We let things be her idea and we didn't force it," Lewis said.
The temporary corral will be replaced by a sturdier pipe fence by the end of the weekend, Lewis said.
"That will be a more permanent structure (Jenny) can't jump or get hurt on," Lewis said.
She is hoping Jenny's notoriety will lead people to donate money for a new fence to enclose Gaeta's 18-acre farm. Lewis estimates the project will cost $10,000.
Anyone who wishes to donate may send a check payable to Jenny's Fund to Bangor Savings Bank, 83 Somerset Plaza, Pittsfield, ME 049677. Any leftover money will be given to a mule rescue organization.
Throughout her escape, Jenny had continued to return to the farm for food, but would never allow Gaeta or her partner, Joe Varricchio, to get closer than 10 feet before fleeing into the woods. Attempts to tranquilize Jenny's food, and even an injection fired from a dart gun, failed to take the animal down.
The experience left Jenny no worse for wear, according to Lewis.
"She's in very good health," Lewis said. "She's very cute and she's just as smart as they come."
Lewis believes Jenny's travels, which rarely went beyond Gaeta's farm and the surrounding woods and fields, were motivated by a lost companion that was sold separately from Jenny at an auction last fall.
The companion, which Lewis believes is a twin sibling, is living at a New Hampshire farm after being acquired by a rescue organization.
Lewis hopes to build appropriate facilities that would allow the two animals to be reunited at Gaeta's farm.
"That sure would be neat if we could get her twin here," Stanley said. "It would be a gift to her."
Lewis said she plans to continue to work with Jenny, Gaeta and Varricchio to develop a trusting relationship.
"We want her to get better conditioned to humans and not be afraid," Lewis said.
Gaeta was served with a subpoena on Tuesday charging her with animal trespassing, a civil violation that was leveled after a neighbor filed a complaint, according to Sgt. Tim Roussin of the Pittsfield Police Department.
Overall, though, Gaeta and Varricchio said the experience has only fostered hope and friendships.
The couple had dozens if not hundreds of calls from across the country from people offering help and, in some cases, prayers.
The couple holds particular affection for Lewis and Stanley.
"I'll tell you, they are great people," Varricchio said. "They're a godsend really. There's still a lot of nice people in the world. It's gives you a good feeling."
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Thursday, February 22, 2007
PITTSFIELD -- In the end, she went in quietly, led into captivity by a trusted friend.
After more than a month on the loose and numerous vain capture attempts, Jenny the donkey simply walked back into captivity Wednesday morning.
As she pranced around her temporary corral, the donkey, whose stranglehold on freedom made national headlines, already seemed at home.
"I'm thrilled that she's safe," said Mary Gaeta, whose life had been turned upside down since the donkey's Jan. 18 escape from Gaeta's Higgins Road farm. "I'm sure everyone is going to be pleased, now she's been caught."
Jenny, who is actually believed to be a hinny, the offspring of a male horse and female donkey, was led into captivity, more than caught. Karina Lewis, an equine behavior specialist, had spent more than a week earning Jenny's trust and building a rapport.
"We spent a lot of cold days out there," Lewis said. "I spent a lot of time just shivering on the ground and respecting her."
Lewis spent Tuesday in the woods behind Gaeta's farm, where Jenny ran whenever she felt threatened. There was a major breakthrough when Jenny started following Lewis. Lewis walked through the corral area with Jenny on her heels, an act that set the stage for Wednesday's capture.
"So today, when it came down to doing that, it was a natural process," Lewis said.
Jenny followed Lewis into the three-sided corral, which is an amalgamation of pallets and wire fencing reinforced by snow banks, and waited patiently as Lewis and her partner, Kirk Stanley, erected the fourth side to complete the enclosure.
"We let things be her idea and we didn't force it," Lewis said.
The temporary corral will be replaced by a sturdier pipe fence by the end of the weekend, Lewis said.
"That will be a more permanent structure (Jenny) can't jump or get hurt on," Lewis said.
She is hoping Jenny's notoriety will lead people to donate money for a new fence to enclose Gaeta's 18-acre farm. Lewis estimates the project will cost $10,000.
Anyone who wishes to donate may send a check payable to Jenny's Fund to Bangor Savings Bank, 83 Somerset Plaza, Pittsfield, ME 049677. Any leftover money will be given to a mule rescue organization.
Throughout her escape, Jenny had continued to return to the farm for food, but would never allow Gaeta or her partner, Joe Varricchio, to get closer than 10 feet before fleeing into the woods. Attempts to tranquilize Jenny's food, and even an injection fired from a dart gun, failed to take the animal down.
The experience left Jenny no worse for wear, according to Lewis.
"She's in very good health," Lewis said. "She's very cute and she's just as smart as they come."
Lewis believes Jenny's travels, which rarely went beyond Gaeta's farm and the surrounding woods and fields, were motivated by a lost companion that was sold separately from Jenny at an auction last fall.
The companion, which Lewis believes is a twin sibling, is living at a New Hampshire farm after being acquired by a rescue organization.
Lewis hopes to build appropriate facilities that would allow the two animals to be reunited at Gaeta's farm.
"That sure would be neat if we could get her twin here," Stanley said. "It would be a gift to her."
Lewis said she plans to continue to work with Jenny, Gaeta and Varricchio to develop a trusting relationship.
"We want her to get better conditioned to humans and not be afraid," Lewis said.
Gaeta was served with a subpoena on Tuesday charging her with animal trespassing, a civil violation that was leveled after a neighbor filed a complaint, according to Sgt. Tim Roussin of the Pittsfield Police Department.
Overall, though, Gaeta and Varricchio said the experience has only fostered hope and friendships.
The couple had dozens if not hundreds of calls from across the country from people offering help and, in some cases, prayers.
The couple holds particular affection for Lewis and Stanley.
"I'll tell you, they are great people," Varricchio said. "They're a godsend really. There's still a lot of nice people in the world. It's gives you a good feeling."
February 22, 2007: Donkey News!!!!
That was the subject line in an email I received from RBF while on winter break in Texas. And I was just telling Dana and Bridget last night over dinner that I really needed to go online to The Maine Sentinel and see if the donkey had been "captured". I didn't want to miss any big news.
Here's the body of the email:
Hi Theresa,
I hope that you are having an enjoyable week. Just in case it did not make the front page news down there in Texas although I am thinking it certainly would….the Pittsfield donkey safely returned to home yesterday. I know that you had been following this story and that it has probably consumed many of your waking moments this week wondering about the welfare of said donkey. You may now rest easy!
Here's the body of the email:
Hi Theresa,
I hope that you are having an enjoyable week. Just in case it did not make the front page news down there in Texas although I am thinking it certainly would….the Pittsfield donkey safely returned to home yesterday. I know that you had been following this story and that it has probably consumed many of your waking moments this week wondering about the welfare of said donkey. You may now rest easy!
Sunday, February 18, 2007
February 17, 2007: More about US Air
This has happened before but I always forget to write about it. Apparently, US Airways is a conglomerate or association of some kind of a bunch of little airlines. They all operate now under the US Airways name and all the employees wear US Airways uniforms and all the planes are painted the same, but the small companies still exist. The identification badges for the employees all show their small airline name on them. And the reservation listing and the boarding passes all show the small airline name. And they even say it in their onboard announcements. "US Airways operated by [insert airline name here]."
On the flights from Portland to Dallas, I flew Chautauqua Airlines (doing business as US Airways Express) on the first leg, Piedmont Airlines (what I always flew to and from Roanoke when I went to Hollins) on the second leg, and Republic Airways (doing business as US Airways Express) on the third leg. I've also flown Air Wisconsin as a part of the US Airways system. I wonder how many of them there are and what they all are. I think it's fascinating.
In the CEO's letter in the January magazine, he mentioned one computer system for reservations and something else that made me wonder if the smaller airline identities were going to go away. I'll be curious to watch it over time.
On the flights from Portland to Dallas, I flew Chautauqua Airlines (doing business as US Airways Express) on the first leg, Piedmont Airlines (what I always flew to and from Roanoke when I went to Hollins) on the second leg, and Republic Airways (doing business as US Airways Express) on the third leg. I've also flown Air Wisconsin as a part of the US Airways system. I wonder how many of them there are and what they all are. I think it's fascinating.
In the CEO's letter in the January magazine, he mentioned one computer system for reservations and something else that made me wonder if the smaller airline identities were going to go away. I'll be curious to watch it over time.
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