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Monday. We are in Hunger Moon now—that's what the Indians around here called February. Aptly named. We just passed Broken Trees Moon, and they weren't referring to the old Christmas trees on the side of the road.

Last night I got back from a wonderful weekend at a retreat center up in Vermont. It's a small center run by a couple from the Boston area. I always have a wonderful time when I go, but I only go once or twice a year. I think that might have to change.

On Sunday morning, someone mentioned that it was Groundhog Day. Which also means that it's Imbolc. For some reason, Imbolc just snuck up on me this year, even though I knew it was coming. Kathleen Jenks does a good job of describing how this holiday is celebrated throughout the world: http://www.mythinglinks.org/Imbolc.html The page is large, but worth the download time.

On the WBUR Website: Phyllis Wheatley, Slave and Poet Books About Phyllis Wheatley on Amazon: Phyllis Wheatley: Poet Story of Phyllis Wheatley: Poetess of the American Revolution Simple Matter of Justice: The Phyllis Wheatley YWCA Story Don't want to give Amazon.com your money? Use the ISBN or Title/Author info from these pages to buy them from your favorite indy bookstore, Better yet, see if you can find her actual book of poems at your local library, and email me the title!

Interesting piece of information on NPR: Phyllis Wheatley was the first African-American woman to publish a book of poetry. She was taken from her home in West Africa at the age of seven and sold to a wealthy family in Boston. Those crazy Yanks actually educated her (please note the sarcasm here) and she went on to become a celebrity, writing eulogies and other poetry. Then her owners actually had a book of her poetry published.

Apparently, some Europeans just couldn't believe a Negro ::gasp:: could have actually written the poetry in the volume. The challenge to the book's authorship is the subject of a new, original play at Bridgewater State College. It's playing next Friday and Saturday (Feb. 7 and 8 at 8PM) in lovely Bridgewater, Mass. From the sound clips on the radio, I doubt it'll be of Broadway calibre, but will no doubt be a lot more interesting that that stupid Copenhagen play at the Colonial.

Here's more information: http://www.bridgew.edu/NewsEvnt/BridToday/03jan08/play.cfm

In other news, I'm hanging out a shingle. Need a web developer? You know you want to hire me.