Lydia Long for Justice of the Peace

Lydia Long

My friend, Lydia Long, is currently a candidate in the 

Republican primary on May 29th to replace Bryans Smith as justice of the peace for Place 1, Precinct 1

(Smith is not seeking re-election.)

She moved to Abilene in 2003 with her husband, Bob Bailey

I met Lydia through our Kiwanis Club and have also worked with her to help raise funds for Camp Barekely

Because her father was serving in the U.S. Army in Germany, Long was born in Nuremburg.  She has a long family history of immigration and hard work.  Her grandparents, Porfidio Villa Serrano and Maria Guadalupe Saucedo Serrano, moved from Mexico to Dallas, Texas, in the 1920s to become U.S. citizens.  Porfidio worked as a landscaper, served in World War II, and was stationed at 

Camp Barkeley for which Abilene’s’ dog park is named.  Lupe worked as a seamstress for Neiman- Marcus department store. 

She and friend Martin Jensen, founded the West Texas Park People and were instrumental in raising over $100,000 for Camp Barkley, Abilene’s park for dogs and their owners. 

  Have you been to Camp Barkeley? 

(it's next to the Abilene Zoo)

It's great!

Lydia graduated from high school in Red Oak, Texas, and, because of her desire to serve others, pursued a degree in Criminal Justice.  She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Central Missouri State University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University.

Early in her career, Lydia was invited to attend the First International Symposium on the Future of Law Enforcement. The event was by invitation only and hosted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Quantico, Virginia.  She has attended and spoke at numerous conferences on a variety of criminal justice issues.

After surgery for thyroid cancer damaged her vocal chords, Lydia retired from teaching Criminal Justice at the University of Houston.  Lydia, her husband, and children chose Abilene above any other city in Texas and relocated here. A year of intensive therapy allowed her to begin teaching again.  Today four generations of Lydia’s family live in Abilene, and she is eager to share her experience and passion for service with her adopted community.

Since moving to Abilene, she has shown her commitment to community service through serving on the Abilene Planning and Zoning Commission and the Abilene Reporter-News Editorial Board. 

 She also spearheaded the creation of the Old Town Abilene Neighborhood Association, which produced a recycling center and a neighborhood park.

She currently serves on the board of the Center of Contemporary Arts, volunteers for the International Rescue Committee and is a member of the Taylor County Historic Commission.

Lydia’s passion for the position of the Justice of the Peace involves opportunities to help her fellow citizens be heard.  “Justice of the Peace,” she says, is the legal jurisdiction closest to the average citizen. 

 It is often referred to as "The People's Court" because it is an access point for the average citizen who can bring a case and be heard.”

Lydia would like to step out of the classroom, where she has spent many years teaching, writing and studying about our justice system, and use that experience and education to have a hands-on impact for the people of the community.

What I know and love about Lydia is this:

She loves Jazz music

She loves animals

She is a Republican environmentalist (rare breed)

She is fun

She stands up for what she believes

She is the PERFECT candidate for this position

And she drives a smart car:

 So, show your support and get out and vote!

Early Voting May 14- 25th at

Books a Million

Hastings

United

K-mart.

I'll Have Another

Kentucky Derby Party 

at Mom & Dad's on Saturday

Mint for the Mint Julips

(I discovered that I like them diluted with some Ginger Ale :-)

As you can see, they were a hit! 

(no one drank the iced tea)

$5.00 to draw a Horse's Name for a chance to win the pot of money

Mom was the winner and she was clearly excited!

Cash decided to nap, despite the festivities going on around him :-)

Dad's step-brother, Jim, was in town from Philadelphia.

Jim and Clell:

If there had been a contest for "Best Hat" Cathy would have won!

Cathy and Neal Cannon:

Sunday, I attended an afternoon "TEA" at the Grace Lutheran Church:

Diana, looking stunning, as always......

More Pretty Ladies: Linsey, Belinda and Julianna:

(I love the flower in Julianna's hair )

Linsey and Tara:

 

......and Baby Hudson 

(I must have said something wrong! I'm sorry Hudson! LOL)

Me and Beck Mac, our FABULOUS hostess:

Thank you Becky for hosting a great afternoon TEA!

The Gurgle Pot

So, this week has been a little ho-hum......

until Thursday afternoon.

 I get home from work to discover a package on my front steps. I quickly start searching my brain...did I order something from E-Bay and forget I ordered it? Etsy maybe??

(I have been out of sorts lately and a little more "scattered" than usual, so it would not surprise myself if I did something and then completely forgot)

So I take the package inside...

(the mere fact that I was so intrigued and documented this through pictures tells you exactly HOW hum-drum this week has been :-)

So I take out all of the packing peanuts to find a GURGLE POT!!!!!

I love these things! Clell and I got everyone Gurgle Pots for Christmas, but have been putting off buying one for ourselves. And it is in blue, which is our color theme throughout the house.

Inside I find a tiny little note with the purchasers name: Jane Bye.

Let me tell you about Jane:

She was one of my college social work professors.
 She took our class to "Peace Camp." She loves Bruce Springsteen.
She is uber-liberal. 

She taught us social welfare policy and research and actually made it FUN.
She is a kind, gentle spirit.

She is one-of-a kind.
She now lives in Alaska.

I am so proud to call her my mentor and friend.

Thank you so much Jane, for brightening my week.


XOXO

(this is the first week I haven't cried every single day, so that's progress...:-)

And for those of you who don't know the story of the Gurgle Pots, here it is:

(for those of you who live in Abilene, you can purchase these at "It's About Time")





http://www.gurglepot.com/Assets/gurgle.wav

TGIF

Cowboys, Cuisine & Cabernet

This weekend, Clell and I attended the Buffalo Gap Wine & Food Summit at Perini Ranch. 

This was our second year to attend.

We arrived a little early.. it's fun to nose around before it gets super crowded....

This event is a Foodie and Wine Lover's HEAVEN.

There were wine makers and chefs from across the country.. how AWESOME is it that they are interested in coming to this event in our little neck of the woods?

Specialty items included Citrus-Crab Lollipops, Banana Leaf Tamale Veracruzana, and Peruvian Chocolate Mousse, Foie Gras Caramel, Pistachios and Kumquat Jam.....and that's just getting started...! I'm not even sure that I made it to every booth..

There were some specialty cheeses and I tried a Cheese Ball  rolled in freshly ground black pepper...I think that I am going to try this next Christmas rather than rolling the cheese in traditional pecans..

Our favorite wine of the evening was a Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from "Ladera" in Napa Valley..

We were super delighted when  Roy Helen Ackers (A.K.A. Miss Cheevus), decided to join our table.

She was a hoot and as sweet as she could be.

We had fun listening and dancing to Free Ride later that evening.

Can't wait to do it again next year!

Also worthy of mentioning is my parents trip to Forth Worth to witness my Dad's long time friend, Keith Chapman, being inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame:

Until next time......

Tenets of Companioning

Companioning is about honoring all parts of the spirit; it is not about focusing only on intellect.

Companioning is more about curiosity; it is less about expertise.

Companioning is about walking alongside; it is not always about urgent movement forward.

Companioning means discovering the gifts of sacred silence; it is not about filling every moment with talk.

Companioning is about being present to another person's emotional and spiritual pain; it is not about taking away or fixing the pain.

Companioning is about respecting disorder and confusion; it is not about imposing order and logic.

Companioning is about going into the wilderness of the soul with another human being; it is not about thinking you are responsible for finding the way out....

"As we understand companioning at deeper levels, we become freed from the illusion that our job is to prevent existential suffering. When our belief system begins to change, we become less apt to interfere with what is already progressing, as it is supposed to."

By Greg Yoder