37 times around the sun

My Birthday is in about 37 minutes from the time I started this posting, I will be 37. The first 36 years have been so interesting at times intense, comical, magical, frustrating, but wow... I'm walking on the earth, i'm driving in an automobile, I'm on a airplane, I'm standing in front of the Taj Mahal, I'm crying uncontrollably, I'm so angry, I'm laughing so hard, I'm skiing, climbing, biking, running, questioning, meditating...

I think of all the people that have come and gone in my life. the ones that I love, some I did not give a chance, some that inspired me, some that made me look, some who would not let me feel sorry for myself, some I hurt, some that I would jump through fire for, some I see everyday at lunch but do not know there name..... all have a powerful message for me if I am open and ready.

I think about my 30th my 20th my 10th my 1st and I think about my 40th my 50th my 60th I see myself in all those ages.

My wonderful, beautiful Mom, Ms. Sandra Loftus gave birth to me on her 29th Birthday 37 years ago. We celebrate together!

I had one of my best thanksgivings in a long time, probably since I was a child at My Aunt Jeanette's when I felt so much love. It was the first time my Sister, Brother and Mom were together since 02... we sat by the fire, we shared a table together, we formed a family band, I play bass, my bro drums, my sister lead vocals and guitar and my nephew Dustin on lead! We ROCK.

I went to Burlington over the weekend with some good friends, we went and saw the Nate Wilson Group. 5 of not only my favorite musicians but 5 of the greatest folks as well. They play Rock and Roll Music... check out their music at http://www.myspace.com/natewilsongroupmusic

In lieu of gifts for my 37th birthday I ask you to reach enlightenment for all of us!

A picture from Halloween 2000 with my friend John and Benji... (Kimmie, Fat Tammy and Helga)

Astro and Old 37

This is ASTRO: she has been my companion, my home, my ride... In the short time we've been together we have seen so much, traveled so many places and slept wherever the wind blows us. I trust her with my life everyday, She is a true friend and I love her dearly!

This is OLD 37. She is currently with my friend Ned, am I jealous? Yeah a little but who wouldn't be, look at her... When she pulls up you can feel all others just staring in awe. She is rugged and beautiful. One minute she can be hauling hundreds of pounds of wood or a used refrigerator and the next gliding down Market st. with the ease and class of Cleopatra. I value my time with her and grateful she is in my life.

Pema Samye Ling

These pictures are from my recent trip to Trout Creek, NY to the Pema Samye Ling retreat center with my friend Derek. We cooked, we cleaned, we laughed, we practiced, we listened, we dreamed. I had a powerful expereince and met amazing, kind, happy, hard working folk who tell you they love you and treat you like family immediatly and mean it. The teachings are ancient and beautiful! If you want to hear more send me an email I'd love to share!

Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche during the Nyungne Retreat at Palden Padma Samye Ling, October 8, 2006.

"The gracious and kind Buddha gave many teachings on the Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana, and Dzogchen paths. The essence of all of these teachings is to bring more
peace, calm, and joy to ourselves and others".

Letter to the new Mayor of Portsmouth!

Dear Mayor Elect Ferrini:

I love Portsmouth our little city by the sea.
but why does it have to be so clean?
why so neat?
What's wrong with people dancing,
singing and carrying on?
Don't you miss the punks, weirdos and crazy freaks?
Why all the fancy brick up in the air and under our feet?
I can't lie I like a little graffiti
and people celebrating on our streets
what do you think about once a week?
Congratulations to you and the new city council
may you serve all the people with much love, fairness and less need
for our hardworking police...

Peter Hamelin
Portsmouthish, NH

Do you ever have the urge to write but really do not have anything pertinent to say? Do you ever feel like you should be doing something but the one thing that is making you happy is doing nothing?

This picture is of some friends I met at a retreat outside of Nagpur, India in Feb 07.

On Thursday I'm leaving for New York to the Padmasambhava Buddhist Center with my friend Derek. I'm looking forward to a week of practice, solitude, work and breathing! Derek has been working with the centers teachers Venerable Khenpo Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Venerable Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche on their food service for retreats. They have asked Derek to start traveling with them to provide food at their off site retreats. It looks like we will be traveling to Florida in January for a 7 day retreat. Where the goal will to be create fresh vegatarian fare for 120 people at a budget of $5 per person.

I just bought a Hank Williams 3 CD, yes the grandson of Hank Williams Sr. He is an outlaw and pens songs like Trashville a song about how lame and cheap Nashville has become "they don't care about the music, you see" he growls.... http://www.hank3.com/ I don't believe Hank3 is a Buddhist but maybe an Anarchist? I like him!

it's Friday!

I came back to the farm to find Some fine folk (Kurt, McKenzie and Pauly) preparing to create Apple Pies, me hoping some lands on my doorstep when completed!

Amanda's Garden!

Homelessness, the Whites and the Open Seas.

On Sunday My Mom, sister and I roadtripped it up to Mt Washington, We stopped in Jackson for some lunch, went for a short hike and stopped in Wolfboro to check out Lake Winneaupausaukee. I hadn't spent time with my sister for about 5 years and it has been great to reconnect and feel like a brother again.

On Monday my friend Herman took me out on his boat as it was 80 degrees, and the water ways were pretty mellow except for some fishing vessels, a couple of sail boats and a number of different species of birds. I took a swim off of Odiorne Point, the water was nice. Herman is an excellent captain. We talked politics, capitalism, Cuba, women and spent most of the day verbally high fiving each other for having the flexibility to take advantage of a perfect day! We docked as the sun splashed down over the city of Portsmouth about 7 hours later.

On Tuesday Morning I had a cup of tea with Chris Sterndale, he is the executive Director of the Crossroads House, a transitional home for the homeless. Just this weekend a resident of 2 months overdosed of heroin. We talked about the issue and the population. Their are many factors, lack of low income housing options, mental illness, addiction and the what is sad a general hopelessness. I'm hoping to spend some time volunteering as I am drawn to this population as I understand we they are. It is easy for people to look and say isn't that sad, or their just lazy, or they create crime and suck up our tax money. Others with resources donate much needed funds and some other volunteer time, but what I have found is most people don't need sympathy and they sure don't need to be looked down upon. I'm not sure exactly what they need, but how about starting with a smile, or an invitation to have a cup of coffee or just a simple hello and a recognition that this person is you, you are this person.

Tuesday afternoon my friend Derek, Kurt and I played some horseshoes as the warm breeze off the Pisquataqua River created a downpour of leaves from the tree in Amanda's Garden. I ate the vegetable Chili brought over that he just made for Mizuna... I ate it trying to stop thinking about the inevitable end to this delicious, healthy bowl of goodness. Later I drove over to the Aryaloka Center to join the Sangha for it's Tuesday night gathering. We did a Puja and I focused on the words and breathed up the back of my spine!

Do you think this quote by Emma Goldman is controversial?
"If voting mattered it would be against the law?"