Saturday, May 22, 2010
Made it to D.C. - can you imagine?
Well, we made it all the way the Nation's Capitol. All three of us. All the birthday comments were enough to psyche me up for the final push. They made me feel supported. Al and Mary Lou took me out for dinner and gave me a present. Now we have the final mission to talk with our legislators.
So far we are scheduled to meet with Roland Burris and another congressman from Illinois. We plan on stopping by Dick Durbin's, Melissa Bean's, Mark Kirk's offices to request a meeting. We are carrying our message all the way to Washington D.C. that supportive housing for individuals living with mental illness in Illinois is both a necessity and a great set of benefits for the individual, the community and the state. Not to mention the nation. As it stands, people in the North and Northwest suburbs of Chicago need to leave their home communities for housing only available elsewhere.
The rezoning request was denied by the village council in Arlington Heights. We have some reorganizing and rethinking to do to prepare another option. We still have our basic message to bring to the legislators.
I guess we could ask anyone for something we might need to remember to mention. Leave a comment if you wish. Maybe you have a personal story. You can email me at maier.nathan@gmail.com. We will be meeting Tuesday with Illinois legislators.
So far we are scheduled to meet with Roland Burris and another congressman from Illinois. We plan on stopping by Dick Durbin's, Melissa Bean's, Mark Kirk's offices to request a meeting. We are carrying our message all the way to Washington D.C. that supportive housing for individuals living with mental illness in Illinois is both a necessity and a great set of benefits for the individual, the community and the state. Not to mention the nation. As it stands, people in the North and Northwest suburbs of Chicago need to leave their home communities for housing only available elsewhere.
The rezoning request was denied by the village council in Arlington Heights. We have some reorganizing and rethinking to do to prepare another option. We still have our basic message to bring to the legislators.
I guess we could ask anyone for something we might need to remember to mention. Leave a comment if you wish. Maybe you have a personal story. You can email me at maier.nathan@gmail.com. We will be meeting Tuesday with Illinois legislators.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
birthday in appalachia
Much fun celebrating my birthday riding for supportive housing. Nestle
d in the mountains.
Hope everyone is doing well in Illinois.
Next trail is either c 'n o toe path or w 'm id path.
d in the mountains.
Hope everyone is doing well in Illinois.
Next trail is either c 'n o toe path or w 'm id path.
Friday, May 14, 2010
A note on the Amish
I assume that if you're reading this, you're not Amish.
But I'd like to express my amazement at their capabilities. I think that it's remarkable that they still use horse and buggy, and horse and plow.
We went up and down some steep hills with an Amish horse and buggy. We met in passing them, a family on a buggy or wagon. There's a sign on the roads to let you know that there will be horse and buggy. But you can also tell Amish farms by the fact that there is no electical lines or telephone lines going to the farmhouses. Some of them are pretty large with alot of acreage to cover.
They wear plain black, brown, and white clothes and the men have beards. The kids play in the front yard. It's remarkable.
-Nate
But I'd like to express my amazement at their capabilities. I think that it's remarkable that they still use horse and buggy, and horse and plow.
We went up and down some steep hills with an Amish horse and buggy. We met in passing them, a family on a buggy or wagon. There's a sign on the roads to let you know that there will be horse and buggy. But you can also tell Amish farms by the fact that there is no electical lines or telephone lines going to the farmhouses. Some of them are pretty large with alot of acreage to cover.
They wear plain black, brown, and white clothes and the men have beards. The kids play in the front yard. It's remarkable.
-Nate
Day 14 - Friday to Pennsboro
It's been a while since I've been able to get to a computer. Here in Pennsboro, although there is no cell phone service, there is a computer with internet at the B&B.
Can't really tell you accurately how beautiful it is here. It's amazing what you see when you step outside your own town. So far we are just in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, though these hills are not small. We have had a lot of ups and downs... physically. I mean that before we got on the "Rails to Trails," trail at Parkersberg, WV, the roads went up and down. Lots of speed on the downhill, carrying you up as much as possible to the next hill.
You can imagine that we have to keep our bikes in top shape, and so our bodies. Although Mary Lou and Al don't seem to agree, I'm sure we get stronger every day.
We got a donation last night in Parkersberg and the couple was very enthusiastic about our ride. I just hope we can really follow through with the legislators.
BTW, I am wondering about the Town Hall meeting. I haven't heard anything here.
Can't really tell you accurately how beautiful it is here. It's amazing what you see when you step outside your own town. So far we are just in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, though these hills are not small. We have had a lot of ups and downs... physically. I mean that before we got on the "Rails to Trails," trail at Parkersberg, WV, the roads went up and down. Lots of speed on the downhill, carrying you up as much as possible to the next hill.
You can imagine that we have to keep our bikes in top shape, and so our bodies. Although Mary Lou and Al don't seem to agree, I'm sure we get stronger every day.
We got a donation last night in Parkersberg and the couple was very enthusiastic about our ride. I just hope we can really follow through with the legislators.
BTW, I am wondering about the Town Hall meeting. I haven't heard anything here.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
The "Monstrous" Dam.
The Circus Arts Center in Peru, IN.
The Kankakee River
The Kankakee RiverIn Richmond, Indiana
This is day 7, and Al, Mary Lou and I are in Richmond, Indiana. Our early mornings have been filled with country roads, bike paths and fresh air.
We haven't gotten in contact with anyone from NAMIs along the way. We will work on doing that.
As far as sites, we went past a monstrous dam in Indiana between Peru and Muncie. We will post pictures. Pictures can be very fun as opposed to words describing sites.
We also haven't had opportunities to take donations. We are, however, making our way to Washington,DC. We have gone about 325 miles so far.
That's all for now,
Nate, Al and Mary Lou.
We haven't gotten in contact with anyone from NAMIs along the way. We will work on doing that.
As far as sites, we went past a monstrous dam in Indiana between Peru and Muncie. We will post pictures. Pictures can be very fun as opposed to words describing sites.
We also haven't had opportunities to take donations. We are, however, making our way to Washington,DC. We have gone about 325 miles so far.
That's all for now,
Nate, Al and Mary Lou.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Day 2 - Glen Ellyn to Matteson,IL - 47 miles.
Great pace. A little worried that I am using adrenaline. May slow down and have to take time to recover.
Last night we ate salad (everything couldn't let spoil in house) and rhubarb pie made by Al Lowery.
Comment: We will probably make more left turns than right.
Discussed who, we'd like to be me
eting with in Capitol. Have appointment wit
h Roland Burris so far. Would like Dick Durbin, Melissa Bean, and Mark Kirk.
Discussed medications. We think there's still a lot of research for psyche meds and how they work.
Trying to contact local NAMIs. WWW.bank.org; il.nami.org.;www.namiindiana.org.
Self CareEating proper foods - chocolate mousse included. vegetarian diet. Slept ten hours okay for now. Smoked 5 cigarettes. Did yoga in morning. Will do more tonight. Lots of fresh air on ride, but also indoors until camping starts.
That's about it for now.
Housing Task Force
namiccns
Last night we ate salad (everything couldn't let spoil in house) and rhubarb pie made by Al Lowery.
Comment: We will probably make more left turns than right.
Discussed who, we'd like to be me
eting with in Capitol. Have appointment wit
h Roland Burris so far. Would like Dick Durbin, Melissa Bean, and Mark Kirk.
Discussed medications. We think there's still a lot of research for psyche meds and how they work.
Trying to contact local NAMIs. WWW.bank.org; il.nami.org.;www.namiindiana.org.
Self CareEating proper foods - chocolate mousse included. vegetarian diet. Slept ten hours okay for now. Smoked 5 cigarettes. Did yoga in morning. Will do more tonight. Lots of fresh air on ride, but also indoors until camping starts.
That's about it for now.
Housing Task Force
namiccns
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