On February 13th Nancy will be leading a Sandbox Gathering at her home in Columbia MD on Loving your self (based on Gay Hendricks book). Nancy writes:

This is not a drop-in event, so please read the posting below.I'll be using Gay Hendrick's book &
workbook...LOVINGYOURSELF...which has some excellent exercises thatI've found to be useful. I thought this might be awonderful gift to ourselves for Valentine's Day.

Updated news...I now have 3 cats, and the hot tub maynot be repaired by then...we might just have to
cuddleafterwards...Oh, bother! Hope you can join
me,Love to your hearts,Nancy

You are welcome to bring people to my Wednesday gatherings who have not
attended a Sandboxevent before, but who you think share our goals and values. You are expected to be
present if you invitesomeone new and be responsible for his or her conduct. Please go over the following
with your guest.

The Wednesday gathering, 13February, 2008 will be at my house in Columbia, MD,from 6:30pm - 11pm.  We will be having a potluckdinner, doing a community building activity on LOVINGYOURSELF, by Gay Hendricks. I’ll be using his book andworkbook as a reference for the exercises. Socializing and hot tubing afterwards, if the hot tubis repaired by then..  We will ask that everyone wearenough clothing that they wouldn't be arrested if they step outside until the formal activities are over andthe hot tub is open. At that time, clothing is optional inside the house and out on the deck. I nowhave  3 cats for those who are allergic.RSVPs are a must as I limit attendance at these eventsin order to make sure that the activity planned will be accessible and doable forall, given the time constraints.

We want to stick as closely as we can to our schedule:

6:00 - People may begin arriving to socialize and prepare their food offerings.

7:00 - We will begin eating. People who have to arrive between 7:00 and 8:00 should bring an item that doesn't need preparation or should bring a desert. Letme say that again… there is NOT time to cook something once you get here. Please plan on not needing morethan 10 minutes to reheat
something. If you plan on arriving, after 7:30, please plan oneating ahead of time, so that we can get
cleaned up and started on time for the activities.

7:45 -  Start cleaning and putting away the food. If you brought it, pack it away and clean up where it was. We will leave the drinks and desserts out so thatyou can indulge later.

8:00 - Community building activity.  We will not admit anyone once the activity begins in order to create andmaintain a safe container.  Sorry, but I feel a strong commitment to this rule.

9:30 – Start putting the house back together and doing the task that you signed up for. If everybody pitches in, the sooner we get it all done, the sooner the hottub is opened and/or we can start a puppy pile.(cuddle pile for those who haven’t done one.) Dessertsand drinks will getput away at

9:45.WHENEVER? Hot tub open; puppy pile starts, clothingoptional at this point in the houseand on the deck.

10:45 – Lights on, and hot tub gets closed down.

11:00 - Everyone leaves.  You don't have to go home,but you can't stay here <g>.

FOOD: For me,
food is a way of showing love forsomeone else, so
chips and dip won't get it. Pleasebring a dish that is
already prepared, that will feed10 hungry people, and
costs around $10. Please do notfeel obligated to cook
it yourself; email if you needsuggestions. Please
email me what you're bringing so Ican coordinate
things on this end. I have a microwaveand two ovens
for reheating. I'll supply drinks and amasking for a
$10 donation to cover expenses.

PITCHIN' IN: There will
be lists of things that needto be done before we're
finished for the evening, anda sign-up sheet for those
jobs.

CLOTHES: Whatever...sarongs are fun. I love to
dressup and don't get enough chances to wear my
tiaras, sothink outrageous. Please bring a towel if
you want touse the hot tub.

HOT TUB: Once the hot tub
is open, clothing isoptional on the deck and in the
house. Please rememberbare butt etiquette...have
something between you andyour bottom when you're
seated. I ask that if you havean open cut that you not
go in the hot tub.

PARKING: Please park down on the
street. My house isat the top of a short hill. Again,
you’ll need aflashlight to get up and down the hill,
It’s reallydark! Limited parking is available at the
top of thehill if you let me know ahead of
time.

DIRECTIONS: You email me what you're bringing,
andtell me about a guest, if any, and I'll email
youdirections. In other words, RSVPs are a must, as
spaceis limited. INCLUDE:YOUR NAME:YOUR PHONE
NUMBER:WHAT YOU'RE BRINGING FOR THE POT LUCK:In case
you weren’t in time to get on the originalattendance
list, there is a wait list that I can putyou on, if
you like. Please be the kind of person whochecks your
email regularly if you agree to go on thewait list.

TO
BRING/DO LIST:---Potluck offering---Serving utensils,
if needed---Baggie/plastic container to take your food
home inif it’s not all eaten---$10 donation for
expenses---towel for hot tub---flashlight to get you
up and down the hill; pleasemark with your name      
 (It’s really dark down there where you’ll
beparking)---email Nancy what you're bringing for the
potluckand your phone number.*** Please do NOT repost
this message on any othere-list. You are welcome to
bring people to myWednesday gatherings who have not
attended a Sandboxevent before, but who you think
share our goals andvalues. You are expected to be
present if you invitesomeone new and be responsible
for his or her conduct.Please go over the above rules
with your guest.

This entry was posted on January 30, 2008 at 12:26 AM and has received 596 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

With Imbolc on Monday 4th on Wednesday February 6th we will kick off the Valentine erotic theme of the month with a Sensuous Story Telling and Poetry evening. Imbolc means, literally, 'in the belly' (of the Mother). For in the womb of Mother Earth, hidden from our mundane sight but sensed by a keener vision, there are stirrings. The seed that was planted in her womb at the solstice is quickening and the new year grows. Imbolc (or Candlemas)  may then be seen as the Pagan version of Valentine's Day, with a de-emphasis of 'hearts and flowers' and an appropriate re-emphasis of Pagan carnal frivolity. This also re-aligns the holiday with the ancient Roman Lupercalia, a fertility festival held at this time, in which the priests of Pan ran through the streets of Rome whacking young women with goatskin thongs to make them fertile. The women seemed to enjoy the attention and often stripped in order to afford better targets. While I don't see things getting quite that wild we will have  some poems/ stories written by you the participants, and  some that people read that speaks to them. Those not reading cuddle around in various puppy piles...sort of adult bedtime story hour. :-)

It's GREAT, GOOD FUN, and depending on the offerings, can get really hot. It's also very interesting to see what turns various people on, and male vs. female interests. The advantage of being at those events is that you can wander off to frolic in the bedrooms and trysting room(group play) or go disipate some steam in the sandbox or tuck yourself in your own bed,au solo, if thats what you want. I mention this fact as it's important to consider what options there are afterwards when you've got people all juiced up. Of course this being Sandbox you are always at choice and may chose to do nothing sexual at all. And if someone should ask you to hug them or more then at Sandbox you are supported to say No or Yes and your wishes will be respected.

The sexual tension in the room is thick at this one-of-a-kind erotic poetry lounge where the readings are as succulent as the atmosphere.  With a different theme each month this sensual salon is taken to the streets as people find out what limits Eros plays in their lives -- an then write about it. The lines between imagination and experience blur as people "literally" expose their encounters and push the limits of their creativity. Whether it's to listen or to read come be a part of this orgasmic evening where prose, love, sex and verse inextricably entwine.
The reading and cudding begin after dinner at 8pm.  I invite you to join us, though as always what ever choice you make you will be honored in.

This event will be on 2/6/08. More on Wednesday Sandbox Gatherings

This entry was posted on January 30, 2008 at 12:25 AM and has received 559 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Here is the music from this month's trance dance:

1. Flowing (0:04)
2. Gabrielle Roth & The Mirrors - Flowing (6:20)
3. Jaya Lakshmi - Radha Ramana (4:15)
4. Staccato (0:05)
5. UpSurge! JazzPoetry Ensemble - S-K-I-N (4:19)
6. Robin Rene - Jai Ma (9:41)
7. Ace Of Base - All That She Wants (3:34)
8. Chaos (0:04)
9. Telesma - Chapel Perilous (5:34)
10. Marcator - What Is Right (3:00)
11. Lyrical (0:04)
12. Karunesh - Joy Of Life (6:55)
13. Karunesh - Longing For The Unknown (7:21)
14. Stillness (0:08)
15. Harijiwan Singh Khalsa - Drum Thunder (11:30)

This entry was posted on January 21, 2008 at 1:09 AM and has received 1169 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

This Wednesday Sandbox gathering we celebrate Leonard's 40th birthday Sandbox style by doing desert on him. After dinner Leonard will lay on a table and be covered with desert topings, fruit, cream and chocolate then who ever wants to can eat desert off him. A sensuous and yummy experience. (The shower is available after for Leonard to clean up)

If you want to celebrate your birthday or some other special event this way just let me know and we can arrange it! You chose how much clothing to wear (suit suit or birthday suit are suggested attire and what kind of deserts you want putting on you).

The desert begins after dinner at 8pm.  I invite you to join us, though as always what ever choice you make you will be honored in.

This entry was posted on January 18, 2008 at 2:00 AM and has received 550 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

This week we will have the opportunity to dance and play on the pole with the lovely Michelle Carnes. the pole will come out at 8pm! Here is what Michelle says about it:

LET YOUR POLE GOD/DESS COME OUT TO PLAY
WHY: Because pole dancing is sexy, empowering exercise!
WHO: Anyone with an enthusiasm for dance, a willingness to participate/learn, with a supportive spirit (up to 250 lbs)
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
*Comfy, stretchy clothes (yoga pants or booty shorts are great)
*your camera
*boas, zills, feathers, glitter, masks, stripper gear (go for it!)
*a water bottle
*anything you count on for comfort while active
*if you have outrageously sexy shoes you love to strut in, bring them for the finale!
*and bring your inner pole dancer (we know s/he's in there!)
 
This is for both men and women.

MORE ABOUT POLE LOT OF FUN PARTIES...

Shared a FUN, positive, safe environment where you can come out and play, have a BLAST and be supported by your friends!

We take you through basic moves on the pole. We start out with simple moves and build on the basics to fluid, beautiful, yet simple routines.  At the end of the night, we have a grand finale when everyone gets to put on their own show!  YOU pick your moves, your props – EVERYTHING and transform yourself into the god/dess you are!

The evening is totally about FUN! There is no "right" or "wrong" way to experience a pole dancing party. You just have to watch the magic happen as each of you meets the pole. We
facilitate the process through a well-orchestrated system that flows smoothly from start to finish so that every partygoer present (whether shy or gregarious) has an empowering, FUN, supportive evening.

We have discovered that many people have a secret longing to be more seductive, more sensual, more empowered and confident at a deep, personal level that translates into every area of their lives. The beauty of a pole dancing party is that it promotes those feelings organically, while laughing, cheering, hooting and hollering in an amazingly supportive environment!
 
MORE ABOUT THE POLE DANCE INSTRUCTOR
 
Michelle Carnes is a professional pole dance instructor with training in ballet, ballroom, lapdancing and stripping.  Her anthropology doctoral dissertation is a three-year ethnographic study of black women's parties in Washington DC where women strip for women. She never played a traditional sport and was never a star athlete- she believes that everyone can pole dance, no matter what your background or profession. 

I look forward to meeting your diva-licious pole god/desses and see what s/he's got!

More on Wed Sandbox Gatherings here

This entry was posted on January 11, 2008 at 3:06 PM and has received 1175 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Many folks in Sandbox (myself included) have been on a Shalom Mountain Retreat as a way to grow. If you have never experienced the process, this week's gathering will be a unique opportunity to do so.  Roger Telschow, known to many in our community from his work at CSL, has trained extensively at Shalom Mountain and has led Shalom Retreats since 1997.  He has offered to lead what he calls a "Taste of Shalom" evening for us.
 
The Shalom process helps participants move through energetic blocks that prevent us from living to our fullest.  Our lives are informed primarily by images, stories, and primal energies.  We really don't "think" our life.  The Shalom process therefore focuses less on "figuring out" our blocks, and draws more from body-centered wisdom.  Next Wednesday you'll be able to experience a few of these processes.  There will also be time for one or two people to work in the center of the group, much as everyone does at a full Shalom Retreat. It is powerful and moving stuff - so I hope you will join us!

This evnt will be on 1/30/08. More on Wednesday Sandbox Gatherings

This entry was posted on January 11, 2008 at 2:00 AM and has received 641 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

This Wednesday Gathering will be focused on energizing our visions for the new year. It will be a lot of fun and will provide a way for us to spiritually and emotionally support each other in our goals for 2008. The last time we did this sort of thing at Halloween it was a very moving ritual in a circle by the fire. This one will be different but I plan it to be at least as moving! So bring your ideas for what you want to create in 2008 - or if you are not sure what you want to create we can always discuss over dinner to help you out. :-)

It is my experience that putting manifestations not only into words but into energy and vibration is the key to powerfully creating. I look forward to sharing some great creations on Wednesday!

This entry was posted on January 2, 2008 at 1:11 AM and has received 569 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

David Hollies told me that he used to do Christmas big time. He had a big
neighborhood party, a fancy tree, lots of lights, and decorations all over the
place.  Since his brain troubles started a few years ago, he has had to be much
more careful about how he spends his energy.  He had to ask himself what was his
favorite part of Christmas and how could he continue to manifest that piece.
Here is what he figured out:

"Once I posed the question, the answer was obvious.  I just love getting a bunch
of people together and singing.  So a Wednesday Dinner Gathering dedicated to
caroling has become the centerpiece of our Christmas celebration.  We bring the
piano out of mothballs, light a fire in the fireplace, pass out
songbooks, and dive in with enthusiasm."

"Often, someone brings a guitar. We also have an electric piano for anyone who
feels inspired to play that.  I, for one, have a hard time carrying a tune, so I
find it helpful to sing with others.  Musical accompaniment makes it even
easier.  So, if you're a musician, please come and play with us.  Drums, flutes,
didigeroos (however you spell it!), or whatever calls to your musical
expression.  We hope you'll join us."

WHAT:  Come join us for an evening of carol singing and good cheer.

WHERE:  Michael/Michelle's house in Rockville.

WHEN: Wednesday, December 19th from 4:00 - 10:00p.m. Singing after dinner at 8pm

REGISTRATION:  Just show up.

BRING: Your enthusiasm -- good singing voice is NOT a requirement.  We'll
provide songbooks.  Piano fingers (we'll have a piano),
guitars, other instruments, or small percussion items.

COST: $20 - We'll provide drinks and dinner.

More info on Gathering

This entry was posted on December 15, 2007 at 2:28 AM and has received 765 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Here are the songs we danced to at Trance Dance tonight

1. Flowing (0:04)
2. Bryan Ferry & Roxy Music - Love Is The Drug (4:04)
3. Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax (3:56)
4. INXS - Mediate (2:32)
5. Gary Numan - Cars (4:00)
6. Staccato (0:05)
7. Brent Lewis - Dinner At The Sugerbush (5:17)
8. C.I.D. (Commercial Indian Dance) - AaG (4:37)
9. Chaos (0:04)
10. Das Ich - Firmament (5:18)
11. Brent Lewis - The Gates Of Gomorrah (5:20)
12. James Asher - Tantango (5:59)
13. Lyrical (0:04)
14. Brian Eno - No One Receiving (3:52)
15. Juan Carlos Quintero - Jobim (4:50)
16. Stillness (0:08)
17. Loreena McKennitt - Kecharitomene (6:35)
18. Kate Bush - Pi (6:09)

This entry was posted on November 16, 2007 at 9:46 PM and has received 1075 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Interesting theory on how the Bush administration could get their war on Iran
even though most of congress is a "No" on a direct war. By use of an "accidental" war.
   http://conflictsforum.org/2007/ticking-clocks-and-accidental-war/

Make me wonder about how many past "accidental" wars were in fact planned.
I have read books on WWI suggesting that several fugures in the German high command
wanted a war in 1914 rather than later when Russia would be to strong to beat and
that they encouraged Austro-Hungry to push Serbia to war that led to WWI

This entry was posted on November 15, 2007 at 11:26 PM and has received 1648 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.