MARCH 2011 - Anne Feeney's Fellow Travelers' Advisory - VOLUME SIX #12

6 March 2011
Great Exuma, Bahamas


Hi Folks

After that miserable Pittsburgh winter and being confined to the house for so many months, I am most pleased to report that I'm writing to you from Charlotte and Susan's wonderful winter home in the Bahamas.  Charlotte and Susan and I go way back, and we had a great trip to Ireland together two years ago.  When they invited me to leave frozen Pittsburgh behind to come visit them for a week - I didn't have to mull that invitation over for long!

March has been a great month so far.   I drove down to DC on March 1st to celebrate my friend Shirley's birthday with her.  Elise and Karen were able to join us for dinner, so it was a festive party indeed.  On March 2nd power-driver Elise drove from DC to Savannah, where we spent the night.  The next day, Elise drove straight to Bob and Patty's house in Deerfield Beach, FL.  We had a great night of food and song at Bob and Patty's and the next morning Elise returned to the National Labor College in DC and I landed here.  Woo hoo!

The rest of the month will be pretty exciting, too  ... when I get back to FL I'm planning to visit all my Sunshine State friends and at the end of the month I'll fly from Miami to Guayaquil, Ecuador to meet Dan and Monique and Sebastian.  Quito is out of the question for me while my lungs are so compromsed.  It's 10,000 feet above sea level... not enough oxygen to suit me.  But Guayaquil is on the coast, and from there we are traveling together to the Galapagos for a week.  Dan rented us a cottage.  That is a 'bucket list' destination of mine, and has been ever since I read the LIFE magazine special on the Galapagos when I was about 7 years old.  I'm feeling very lonesome for the world's cutest grandbaby, too! 

There is a very good chance that Dan and Monique will be going next to Zimbabwe next... a destination that I will have to be much stronger than I am now to visit.   So I've got to get these Sebastian visits in while I can!

You can probably tell that I'm feeling much better and stronger. It's a wonderful thing.  I'm hoping to get in better shape now that I'm in good weather where I can walk and swim every day.  My stamina is about 20% of what it was. But I'm optimistic that this month of good weather is going to do me a world of good.

In this issue you'll see some of my favorite news from Wisonsin, some photos from the Oscars dinner, a link to my friend Michael's wonderful guest house in Key West  (he rents it out, too, if  you want to stay there!), two exciting save-the-date
announcements, March birthdays and family news.


On Wisconsin!


My friends here in the Bahamas were stunned to learn that Scott Walker actually had a substantial budget surplus when he took office.  Wisconsin's "economic crisis" is the direct result of a bunch of corporate tax breaks that Walker passed on to his biggest contributors after winning the governorship.

They've banned musical instruments from the Capitol in Madison. There have been some lively cultural moments in Madison.. Here are a few of my favorites:
http://vimeo.com/search/videos/search:lou%20peter%20berryman%20/97fb8bdc
The link above is to Two Traditional Songs tweaked and performed by Lou and Peter Berryman
and sung with thousands of gallant protesters at Madison's Capitol rally, Feb. 18, 2011.  I've added the words below in case you can't make them all out in the video...

BRING BACK WISCONSIN TO ME To My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean (traditional)

Wisconsin whose motto was "Forward"

Was populist as it could be

But now the new motto is "Backward"

Oh bring back Wisconsin to me

CHORUS: Bring back, bring back

Oh bring back Wisconsin to me, to me

Bring back, bring back

Oh bring back Wisconsin to me

Tho we may be"God's frozen people"

We bask in the warmth of our plea

Don't bury my rights in a snowbank

Oh bring back Wisconsin to me (CHORUS)

They're trying to stifle our voices

They're trying to keep us derailed

They'll find it's not easy to do tho

McCarthy once tried and he failed (CHORUS)

-----------------------------------

WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED (traditional), with new verses for today's rally

CHORUS: We shall not, we shall not be moved (x2)

Just like a tree that's planted by the water

We shall not be moved

We'll keep this rally rolling, we shall not be moved

Altho we could be bowling, We shall not be moved.

Just like a tree that's planted by the water

We shall not be moved.

For the teachers who have taught us,

For the folks who drive the school bus, We shall not be moved...

We are teens and tweens and geezers

Like a deer tick in the tweezers, We shall not be moved...

/ Until things get much better

Like a two ton block of cheddar, We shall not be moved...

and Peter Yarrow sang my song at a rally on February 26th....




Chicago songwriter Kristin Lems penned this fine song


Scott Walker was booed and kicked out of a Madison tavern - what was he thinking??


Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain, Algeria, Libya

It's very exciting to watch these democratic movements emerging, but like all of you, I'm holding my breath until they resolve into stable democracies.  We need a UN Peacekeeping force in Libya...

The song that keeps playing in my head as I watch these huge demonstrations is Tommy Makems:

The Winds are Singing Freedom

In the [G] battered [D] streets of [G] Belfast


You can hear the [D] people [G] cry

For [C] justice [D] long [G] denied [Em] them

And their [C] cry will [Am] fill the [D] sky

But the [G] winds of [C] change are [G] blowing

Bringing hope from [C] dark [G] despair

A [C] new [D] day is [G] dawn[Em]ing

You can [C] feel it [D] in the [G] air.



[chorus]

The winds are singing freedom

They sing it everywhere

They sing it on the mountainside

And in the city square

They sing of a new day dawning

When our people shall be free

Come and join the song of freedom

Let it ring from sea to sea.



Too long our people suffered

In misery and tears

And foreign rulers used our land

For about eight hundred years

It's a long road has no turning

And I know that soon will be

A day of justice dawning

When our people shall be free.



There's a time laid out for laughing

And there's a time laid aout to weep

There's a time laid out for sowing

And a time laid out to reap

There's a time to love your brother

There's a time for hate to cease

If we sow the seeds of justice

We can reap the fruits of peace.
 
 
Regina Polk Conference - Chicago, June 1-4

This midwest conference for trade union women is a fantastic opportunity for women seeking to be come more active/more effective in their unions.  Contact Helena Worthern hworthen@uiuc.edu for more information.

New York City - May 13th - Save the Date!!

My fabulous New York colleagues are putting together a benefit concert for my unemployment fund.  The concert is Friday, May 13th - and Pete Seeger is performing!!! Also Bev Grant, George Mann and more tba.

Local 1199's Martin Luther King, Jr. Auditorium
310 W. 43rd Street
New York, NY

Oscars Party Photos...

It was a big year for lost hands in the movies.  Here's an eggplant pate for 127 hours.

I'm serving the "Inception" appetizer.  Potato with sour cream and caviar that looks like a cookie.

Laura and Irene brought fabulous "Social Network" fondues!

The McTiernan bloc routed us in the Oscars pool.  Irene won for the second year in a row!!

New-this-year guest Rosemary  conferring with Sarah...

Doug serves the salmon mousse

We couldn't all fit in  the photo... here's our best effort!

Eric came decked out as Woody from Toy Story and serenaded me with a lovely version of "You've Got a Friend in Me," from Toy Story One

Three of my four cherished caregivers - Hilary, Jeanne and Jan!

Daniel decked out from "The Social Network."

Mary - straight out of  "True Grit."  Wish we had a photo of the trifle she made for "The King's Speech,"  not to mention Irene's stunning ballerina cake from "The Black Swan."

Sharing hints for the Oscars pool...

Briget's baked beans doubled for "True Grit" and "Gasland!"

Another hand mold... this time salmon mousse... could have been for 127 hours, or Winter's Bone or True Grit... and that doesn't count all the 2011 nominees where hands were injured!

Bill  is enjoying Jim and L.Louise's organic salad from "The Kids are All Right."

MARCH BIRTHDAYS

Wendyl Jay Mar 10th,Griffin Lane McCahil Mar 13th, Rob Shepherd Mar 14th, Ron Berlin Mar 15th, Tom Weldon and Suzie Edkins Mar 17th, John Cunningham Mar 20th, Bette Jacobson Godfrey Mar 26th, Martha Shunn Mar 27th, Mary Weldon Mar 29th, Kelly Grefenstette Mar 31st



FAMILY NEWS...


Sebastian is Six Months Old!!
http://www.flipshare.com/view.aspx?nRecipient=&nFrame=RjdFQTIyNEQtNzJCMy00OTE4LTg3RDQtNzMxNDNBMkY4QTI3&nMedia=RjU1MEFBNkMtMkFEMS00NzQ0LUIzOUYtMTQxNzk1MUU2RDRE&nT=

Looks like Dan and Monique will be headed for Harare, Zimbabwe this summer.  Oy, I will miss them sooooooo much!  And, to add insult to injury, they're taking my grandbaby with them! 

I'll be catching up with my FL cousins soon...

I'm not going to push my luck on this tempermental computer...
My next destination is Michael's place in Key West
http://vacationhomesofkeywest.com/select_property.php?id=175

You can rent it!

That's it!

Love
Anne

FEBRUARY 2011 - Anne Feeney's Fellow Travelers' Advisory - VOLUME SIX #11

                                                                                                                    5 February 2011

                                                                                                                    Pittsburgh,  PA

Hi Folks

Sometimes I wonder if you read this monthly news, but I got enough emails wanting to know if everything was okay that I guess I should start off with an apology for being 5 days late.  I wasn't in Egypt, as some of you suspected (much as I would love to be.)

Thanks to your generosity, I've been able to complete the most urgent home repairs, and my house - which I always consdered the dumpiest stop on my hectic tour schedule for the last four years - is now genuinely cozy and warm.

This is nonetheless the winter of my discontent. I try to feel constant gratitude that my recovery is progressing as well as it is.  The truth is that I can't help feeling trapped here in this Pittsburgh winter.  I don't adjust well to fatigue and weakness. And I can't stand being unable to work.  I'm glad to be mostly able to take care of the house, prepare my meals, do the food shopping.  And slowly but surely I am organizing my office a little in preparation for research and writing about my grandfather. And slowly but surely, my hair is returning!  It looks to be the same color and it's starting to curl.... woo hoo!

I'm very excited to be planning a trip to Florida in March.  I'm going to drive down, so if you're in between Pittsburgh and Jacksonville and you'd welcome an overnight guest, send me an email.  And, my dear Florida friends - if you're going to be out of town or have a house full of snowbirds in March, let me know when, so I can plan my route to see as many of you as possible.  I won't be able to work on this Florida visit, but I hope to see as many of you as possible.

I really love to hear from you.  Reply to this, or send me a Facebook message, or send me a card or letter:

Anne Feeney

2240 Milligan Avenue

Pittsburgh,  PA  15218

Events in Tunisia and Egypt may make this a pivotal era in the earth's history.  A great opportunity.  I hope the forces for a secular democracy prevail.

And the bullies on the right have put Planned Parenthood in their sights.  Please visit http://site.pfaw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=PlannedParenthood&autologin=true&s_src=fb_share_plannedparenthood and sign the petition and notify your member of Congress that you do NOT want to see Planned Parenthood "ACORNed."

With deepest gratitude to all of you,

Anne

MEDICAL NEWS

I'm going to go ahead and try cardioversion for my irregular heartbeat.  Cardioversion is when they break out the paddles and yell "Clear!" and administer an electrical shock to the heart.  Sometimes it puts the heart back into a regular sinus rhythm on the first try.  Sometimes it takes two or three tries.  Sometimes it doesn't work at all.  I'm hoping it works for me, and that I have more energy when it's over.  That will probably happen in the first week in April, which is also when I get the next PET scan.

My radiation oncologist says that he would put the chances of the cancer returning at 60% now that I've had one clean PET scan.  Sometimes I think they make these numbers up.  But it's always nice to get good news. He's going to do regular brain MRIs  for the next two years.  I declined prophylactic global cranial radiation.  It's known to cause confusion and memory loss - two things I'm more afraid of than cancer.

I'll be really glad when "medical news" is no longer a regular feature of my monthly news.

THANKS TO THE WESTERN WORKERS' LABOR HERITAGE FESTIVAL

My beloved Western Workers' Labor Heritage Festival, where I've spent so many happy Martin Luther King  weekends in the Bay Area, designated me as the "Worker in Need," this year.  It's the first time they've ever picked an individual to be the beneficiary of their generosity.  Chris Chandler wrote and performed a moving new piece at the Sunday night concert that was all about me, him, our friendship and our work.  Janet Stecher, Jon Fromer and Steve Jones performed a medley of my songs.  My friend Karen Newman did the fundraising pitch... and the generous festival-goers ponied up $2000 to help me with expenses while I'm laid up.

OSCARS 2011

This was a pretty bleak movie year, despite offering three terrific movies - "The King's Speech,"  "True Grit" and "The Fighter."  I can only hope the Academy was blushing at trying to pick ten nominees for best picture.

And it was a dreadful year for food in the movies - between that and my health problems I was ready to cancel my annual Oscars dinner.  But my creative friends are coming up with great ideas, and we're going to go ahead with dinner...  And I'm presenting our 2011 menu to perhaps inspire some of you to have an Oscars dinner of your own.

Here's the menu (and some of my mini reviews of the films...)

The Social Network -  (I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this film.  It certainly doesn't deserve a "Best Picture" nomination any more than Zuckerberg deserved to be Time's "Person of the Year" in a field that included Julian Assange..  but the overall cinematic field was pretty weak this year.)

Laura and Irene will be serving a very social cheese fondue in honor of "The Social Network."

Now that we have 10 films, we can have more hors d'ouvres, so...

The Fighter - (This was a fabulous fabulous film. Fantastic performances from everyone.  Christian Bale and Melissa Leo turn in superb performances.  I have NO idea how they could have passed over Barbara Hershey for supporting actress in "The Black Swan."  She was the sole saving grace of this hackneyed self-important film. But back to "The Fighter," my only complaint is that every time Hollywood tries to portray the working class, everyone smokes and eats pizza.  Surely we're more complex than that!)

But it did make the hors d'ouvres selection easier.  Little mini-pizzas.

Inception - (I don't mind working hard to follow a film, but Inception wore me out and it didn't give me much in return.  Oh, the spawn of Memento!  Nothing has come close to catching its cleverness, despite the many progeny.)

This seemed like a good opportunity to break out an appetizer I had quit serving because it doesn't look like what it is.  People always thought this appetizer was some kind of cookie.  They'd pop it into their mouths only to mush-mouth mumble "What is this??"  When I told them it was half a baby redskin potato boiled, topped with sour cream and caviar most of them went ahead to swallow what I consider a delightful appetizer.

127 Hours - (I'll confess I haven't seen this one and probably won't.  What are the odds of having three of the ten Best Picture nominees feature protagonists who lose a hand/arm?  I know James Franco is nominated for Best Actor as well, but if Colin Firth doesn't win Best Actor this year there is no justice.  He was so robbed last year for his amazing performance in "A Single Man."  He's even better this year in "The King's Speech.")

My friend Jeanne has a mold of a human hand, which Barbara will use for a liver pate and a vegetarian pate.

The Kids Are All Right -  (This very intelligent film's fatal flaw is having one of the lesbian protagonists "jump the fence" to have an affair with the father of her children.  Annette Bening is terrific in this film - actually the very talented cast makes the whole preposterous story line pretty credible. And thank goodness - one movie that loves food!)

Organic salad for everyone from Joni and Llouise!

True Grit - (The Coen brothers deliver another terrific film.  A wonderful cast breathes new life into what will be seen as the definitive portrait of Rooster Cogburn.  I still don't get the gratuitous sadistic spanking at the beginning of the film, but this was a very satisfying film.)

Hominy and baked beans from Briget and Joni ...  mmmmmm

Winter's Bone - (Here's an interesting film that will get well-deserved attention by virture of its nomination.  As my pals Jan and Hilary and I speculated after the film... What is 'Winter's Bone'?  If spring's bone is leg of lamb, and summer's bone is spare ribs... "Winter's Bone" must be standing rib...)

Entree: Standing rib roast by Anne and Hilary

The Black Swan - (How many hackneyed dancers' cliches can be squeezed into one film?  If it weren't for Barbara Hershey's performance, this move would be a complete waste of time.)

Still, it's inspired my friend Irene to bake a ballerina cake.

The King's Speech - (a brilliant, perfect film that will move into my all-time top 20 movies.  Flawless performances all around.  Any film that leaves me feeling compassion and sympathy for the plight of royals is pretty remarkable!  It was a good 15 minutes after the film ended before I could say "off with their heads!" with conviction).

My friend Mary is making her very first trifle for "The King's Speech."

Okay, that's only 9 courses.  We're going to have Buzz Lightyear action figures as party favors.  Toy Story 3

makes me very happy to be a grandmother.  I look forward to seeing more films like it in the coming years.

Tomorrow afternoon I'm going to go see "Biutiful."  Pittsburgh is a tough town to catch the foreign films and documentaries.  But if there's anyway at all for you to see "Gasland," you'll know what we in the Marcellus Shale region are up against.  If there's no hydraulic fracturing - aka "fracking" - going on near you, there very likely will be soon.  We couldn't be more thrilled at the Oscar nomination for this important documentary.

So, let me know what you think of my movie reviews and menus.

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS/FAMILY NEWS

Belated Happy Birthdays to Lianna Kennedy - Feb 2, and Kevin Weldon - Feb 3.

Happy Birthday to Ryan Grefenstette - Feb 7, Joe McCahill - Feb 15, Benjamin McCahill - Feb 21,

Anabel Blanco - Feb 22, Ross Chapman - Feb 24, Barney McElhone - Feb 26, and,

in case I'm this late next month -  Mary McCahill Madera and Shirley Shultz Myers

March 1st!

Dan and Monique are vacationing in Colombia.  They've invited me to come to the Galapagos Islands with them in April.  I sure hope I can do that.  I get so lonesome for little Sebastian I can hardly stand it.  He's rolling over now, and he had his first bowl of cereal last weekend.  By May, they'll have left Ecuador for a new destination.  They could end up in Morocco, or Zimbabwe or Kazakhstan

Amy's pipes are frozen in San Marcos, TX.  I guess we exported our Pittsburgh weather to Texas for the Super Bowl.  I'll be glad when it's over.  I've gotten used to being the only person in the room - the store, the theater, the restaurant, the mall - who isn't wearing black and gold.

Julie is back in Sweden.  His back went out just before he left.  When I asked him what the doctor said, he told me "She has prescribed sick gymnastics.  Do you say so?"  I said, "I think we say 'physical therapy,' but I like 'sick gymnastics' a lot."  He's feeling better now, and I hope he continues to improve.

My cousin Karen McCahill is coming to Pittsburgh at the end of the month to help me with the Oscars dinner

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You can buy or download my CDs or single songs at http://cdbaby.com/all/unionmaid

You can donate to my paid sick leave fund through Paypal to getwellanne@annefeeney.com

You can write me at:  Anne Feeney, 2240 Milligan Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA  15218

You can get the latest medical news at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/annefeeney

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You've made it through another episode of the Fellow Travelers' Advisory.  Thanks!

JANUARY 2011 - Anne Feeney's Fellow Travelers' Advisory - VOLUME SIX #10

Hi Folks -

If you'd like to buy my CDs (and I hope you'd like to!)  please visit http://cdbaby.com/all/unionmaid

If you'd like to stay updated on my health news, visit http://caringbridge.org/visit/annefeeney

If you'd like to have my once-a-month news delivered to your inbox, subscribe here, or go to http://annefeeney.com/newsletter.html

If you want to talk to me, call 412-241-7664. If I feel up to it, I'll answer the phone.

Happy New Year!!

I'm so looking forward to 2011.  That noise in the background is my *huge* sigh of relief to get the most recent  PET scan results.  The docs had predicted from the beginning that this tumor (aka "the weasel") would be very chemo-reactive, and it was.  During my radiation treatments I actually got to watch the tumor shrink daily.

However, the dehydration and kidney failure that I suffered as a reaction to the antibiotic therapy for my lung infection made it impossible for the oncologists to give me my last three chemo treatments.  So, of course, it was easy for me to imagine that those final three treatments were essential and that this PET scan, administered 3 months after my last chemo treatment, was going to reveal that we had missed something.

Whew! No.  Cancer lights up the PET scan, and mine was dark as a dungeon - no sign of cancer anywhere.

Woo hoo!  Huzzah!  

They'll repeat the PET scan every three months for the next two years (my next one is April 7th).  This is the scary part:  80% of small cell lung cancer patients who have made it as far as I have and as well as I have will still get a recurrence of the cancer within two years -- and the new tumors will not respond to treatment.  So, it'll really be October of 2012 before I can say I've taken a big step out of the woods.  Most oncology folks will say that you're not cured until you've gone 5 years with clear PET scans.

Also complicating my recovery is the nasty MAC infection in my lungs.  MAC is rare.  It's a close cousin of TB.  Only 1 in 100,000 people in the US get MAC.  The MAC bacteria is everywhere.... in soil, in water, in the air.  The only folks who seem to contract an infection from it are those with sharply compromised immune systems - folks with AIDS or cancer and/or undergoing chemotherapy ... and even then, very few of them will contract MAC.  Just my bad luck, I guess.  MAC "cavitates" (i.e. puts holes in) your lungs.  The only treatment is 18 months of daily big doses of really strong antibiotics generally reserved for the treatment of leprosy and TB.  My body is FINALLY adjusting some to this intensive antibiotic regimen.   The probiotic and homeopathic supplements that Pat Humphries and others have recommended are doing me some good, too.  The MAC and/or the antibiotics leave me with a bad stomach, extreme fatigue, and shortness of breath.  It looks like the MAC may have also invaded my heart lining and caused mild pericarditis (water in the sac surrounding the heart). We're doing more tests on that in the coming weeks.

Sooooooo, I wish I were out of the woods and ready to start booking work, but it looks like I'm going to be pretty limited in what I can do for the indefinite future.  Thanks to your overwhelming generosity, money is not one of my worries right now.  Truth be told, I've got more money in the bank now than I have at any point in the last ten years.  But since I don't have any income, I'll be running through this nest egg at a brisk clip until I'm able to return to work.

This is a hell of a time to be riding the pine, stuck on the sidelines ....  Watching this crazy corporate Congress, the inexorable progression of the war in Afghanistan, the rising unemployment and the widening gap between the rich and the poor, not to mention passing the 50 million mark in the uninsured non-elderly population - it certainly has me wishing I could be out there on the frontlines.

These next several months will instead be a time for me to go through my papers and organize them.  I hope it's a time for me to continue the research and writing about my grandfather's life, too.  And I hope to emerge from this enforced down-time with a new CD of  new songs.  We'll see.  I get tired just looking at that list.

I am very much hoping to get around to personally acknowledging all of your generosity and thoughtfulness.  

Another thing I've been doing is participating in a project that local historian Pat Ulbrich is doing on the history of the women's movement in Pittsburgh.  So far we've done 4 hours of video interviews with more to come. And my friend Maria Skoczylas is doing a similar project for her sociology thesis.  We spent two hours today doing an interview on feminism in Pittsburgh.

It's been fun to do some of this introspective stuff since I've spent the last 10 or 15 years running from one event to the next without much time to process or reflect.

Many of my labor friends will get a kick out of this news:  On January 22nd, Pennsylvania Progressives will present me with the Anna Burger Lifetime Achievement Award.  Jesse Jackson will be the keynote speaker at the banquet, to be held at the Sheraton at Station Square.  More info at: http://www.paprogressivesummit.org/

My hair has finally started growing.  I'm very excited about that.

Please keep your cards & letters & emails coming my way.  I miss you all so much, and I love hearing from you.  I don't know what I would have done over the last five months without you.  And what sweet sacrifices, thoughtful gestures and tender loving care my husband, my kids, my sister, my family and friends here in Pittsburgh have lavished on me ...  Despite the cancer and the MAC, I can honestly say that I am a very very very fortunate person.

Love and solidarity,

Anne

To send a donation to help underwrite my paid sick days' fund, click on the Paypal "Donate" button on the right, or send a check to:

Anne Feeney

2240 Milligan Avenue

Pittsburgh,  PA  15218

DECEMBER 2010 - Anne Feeney's Fellow Travelers' Advisory - VOLUME SIX #9

Hi All

You can buy my CDs at http://cdbaby.com/all/unionmaid or by calling 1-800-BUY-MY-CD.  They make great grab-bag gifts!


UPCOMING BENEFIT SHOWS - FT. LAUDERDALE  and PITTSBURGH

Tomorrow afternoon (well, today if you're reading this on Sunday...) some of the finest of Florida's musicians as well as some superb touring musicians will join forces in Ft. Lauderdale at the legendary Labyrinth Cafe in a benefit for my "paid sick days" fund.  It's so overwhelming and very touching to see musicians coming together for me.



Sunday, December 5, 2010

2:00 p.m.
Anne Feeney Benefit Concert
Labyrinth Café
UU Church of Ft. Lauderdale, 3970 NW 21st Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309

http://www.labyrinthcafe.com/Cosponsored.html
Anne Feeney has been a force to be reckoned with for many years. She has sung out and stood up for political and social injustice in every area of her life. She has helped many people in need. Now she is fighting cancer, and we want to help her in her struggle.

Performers include: Ellen Bukstel, Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Ray Del Papa, Jennings & Keller, Rod MacDonald, Marie Nofsinger, The Raging Grannies, Joan Rose, Vicki Ryder, The Solidarity Singers, Amy Speace, Amy Carol Webb, Doug & Telisha Williams, Valerie C. Wisecracker...

For more info about Anne, you can check out her website (http://www.annefeeney.com/) or go to http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/annefeeney  , where you can read the journal updates and/or write in her guest book - Ms. Feeney's Wild Ride indeed!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There is also a raffle planned. You could win a $2000.00 handmade guitar. This guitar, handmade by S. L. Smith, with a hard case is being raffled off for Anne's benefit. There will be only 250 total tickets sold at $10.00 each. For more info about who made the guitar: http://guitars.slsmith.info/


We expect to hold the drawing during the concert on December 5. If all 250 tickets are not sold by that time, an equitable time for the drawing will be determined and the winner will be posted. Michael Stock, of WLRN's Folk and Acoustic Music Show, on Sundays from 2 - 5 PM, has kindly agreed to assist with the drawing and announcement of the winner if it does not take place at the fundraiser.

(Let me know if you're interrested in a raffle ticket.  If they don't sell all the tickets by tomorrow, I'm sure they'll be happy to sell one to you!  email me @ anne@annefeeney.com)


PITTSBURGH, PA -  SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12th - MR. SMALL'S - 7PM

You'd have to be a student of Pittsburgh musical legends to understand how completely amazing the lineup is for the December 12th show at Mr. Small's.  RUSTED ROOT will be turning in a short set.  Blues giant BILLY PRICE will sing.  THE GRANATI BROTHERS will rock out.  Justin Sane from ANTI-FLAG will add some hard edged punk to the show.  Fresh from his night of performing with Bruce Springsteen, JOE GRUSHECKY AND THE HOUSE ROCKERS will dazzle us.  My dear friends THE NEWLANDERS will perform, as will JACK ERDIE, BRAD YODER, TRES LADS, JOE MUNROE, SUE POWERS AND JEFF BERMAN.  This concert was the brainchild of MIKE STOUT and the HUMAN UNION who will perform songs from their fabulous new CD.   Many of Pittsburgh's finest side musicians (ROBBIE KLEIN, NELSON HARRISON and so many more!) will be filling out the lineup, and (I hope) joining me on stage if I feel up to it.  Many many thanks to Senator Jim Ferlo for his generosity, support and guidance in the planning of this event.

There's going to be an incredible silent auction during the show with some impossible-to-find-anywhere-else items donated by local musicians and artists.  All the musicians will have CDs on sale, so please come to buy some recordings too - support all our fabulous live local musicians!

Advance tickets available at http://ticketweb.com/mrsmalls or charge by phone @ 866-468-3401 and various locations around Pittsburgh.

I hope to have some photos from this for the January Fellow Travelers' Advisory.

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Many many thanks to the Mother Jones Committee in Springfield, IL who dedicated their 2010 annual banquet to me.  They had a silent auction before dinner and a hat pass afterward, and folks were exceedingly generous.

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STRANGELY ABSENT FROM THE ELECTORAL DEBATE

You would have never guess we're still in the middle of two wars.  All during the recent election campaigns there was hardly any mention of the high cost of the 2 invasions and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. Besides the deaths often estimated over 1 million people, over $1.1 trillion or more has already been spent with no end in sight. It is estimated that it has cost the U.S. $50 million to kill each Taliban. The proposed U.S. embassy to be built in Kabul will cost $500 million. A new audit shows that the U.S. cannot account for nearly $18 billion earmarked for the Afghan occupation. (Democracy Now, 10/29/10). U.S. soldiers sent to Iraq and injured will need $600 billion for their healthcare. However, there is hardly a peep from the Tea Party, which usually vehemently complains about the overspending of tax payer money. Over 55% of federal taxes are spent by military bureaucrats and lobbyists at the Pentagon. If we cut military spending by only 1% we could completely eliminate poverty in the U.S. (Online Journal Sentinel, 11/19/10). If we used the tax money for basic human needs instead of invading and occupying countries for economic reasons we could guarantee all our citizens, not just some, education and healthcare. In other words, we could have what most Europeans already have. All we have to do is follow their example and drastically cut military spending. It would be a step in the right direction towards a more peaceful and just world. We get what we pay for. -------Don Timmerman

This piece appeared in "The Sparrow Sings" - the wonderful monthly newsletter from my friends Don Timmerman and Roberta Thurstin.  If you'd like to subscribe, send an email to: don2roberta@yahoo.com and tell them so.

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SOAW UPDATE

This just in from Don and Roberta:  Some of the 29 people taken into custody outside Ft. Benning during the rally at the annual School of the Americas Watch Vigil on Nov. 20 in Columbus GA were undercover agents, one of whom was arrested with the others. Fr. Bill Brennan, S.J., a former Casa Maria community member, at 90 years old, was one of those arrested and later released. Good going, Bill! Fr. Louis Vilale and Davvid Omondi, both Catholic Workers, were arrested for civil disobedience or divine obedience and sentenced to 6 months in prison. -----SOA Watch Enjoying your freedom? Thank a protester!


I was so sorry to miss the gathering at the gates of SOA this year.  The musical collective was in grand form, with the lovely new addition of our pal Roy Zimmerman.  It's hard to say how long it will take to close this evil place, but I believe that we will.  I was very pleased to hear that the musical collective sang "Have You Been to Jail for Justice?" on Saturday, and dedicated it to me.

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I LOVE HEARING FROM YOU!

Please keep the cards and letters coming.  I get so stir-crazy sitting at home day after day after week after month (although it sure beats being in the hospital...).  I wish I felt up to more phone calls, but my energy level is VERY low.  That's why I love reading your comments at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/annefeeney and getting mail from you.  As soon as I feel up to it, I'm hitting the road to come and thank you all in person.  That could be a while though.  In the meantime, know how very much I cherish our connection and look forward to our next meeting.

Anne Feeney
2240 Milligan Avenue
Pittsburgh,  PA  15218

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SEBASTIAN

I don't know if  you all will be able to see this 54 second video of my grandson, Sebastian, at home in Ecuador. (If not, trust me, he's cute.  Very cute.)  I'm so looking forward to having him and the rest of my family here from December 18-26th.  It will be wonderful!  http://sharing.theflip.com/session/b65c0d92ccb4955b65d476a038bf2729/video/31896261

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WHATEVER YOU'RE CELEBRATING

I  hope the coming weeks bring you plenty of days off, the light and love of family and friends, good health and that 2011 will be a wonderful healthy year for us all.

NOVEMBER 2010 - Anne Feeney's Fellow Travelers' Advisory - VOLUME SIX #8

NOVEMBER 2010 - Anne Feeney's Fellow Travelers' Advisory - VOLUME SIX #8




That election.  Yuck.  Stop banging your head against the wall.  Leave the punching  bag alone.

I can think of no possible better way to cope with the last election than for you to join me next Saturday - November 13th - at Allegheny Unitarian Church when my fabulous friends, Lou and Peter Berryman will put on a concert you'll be chuckling about for the rest of the month.  If you've seen them before, I know you're marking your calendars now.  If you haven't seen them before - TRUST ME.  They are national treasures making a rare Pittsburgh appearance.  And I couldn't talk them into taking all the concert proceeds.  They are insisting on contributing to my "paid sick days" fund.     I've been out of work now since August 5th with no relief in sight. Just getting to hear Lou and Peter will probably be a great boost to my immune system, though!  I'm so looking forward to an evening out on the town.  (My immune system is still waaay compromised, so I hope you'll refrain from hugs/handshakes etc unless you've been boiled recently.)

Here's the release that Lou and Peter sent out for the show....  Hope to see you there!!!


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


An evening of intelligent musical comedy with Wisconsin singers and songwriters Lou & Peter Berryman. A benefit, in part, for Anne Feeney

Nov 13, 2010 8:00 PM

Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church
416 W. North Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA  15212

Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/135648 $15 adv. (+$1.99 surchage for internet orders) or $20 at the door

Information: 412-877-6480 or 608-257-7750



Take the elegant wit of Cole Porter, the topical satire of Tom Lehrer and the absurdity of Flanders and Swann; blend with down-home Wisconsin cheese, wacky harmonies, accordion and 12-string guitar, and -- voila! the wickedly funny, uniquely entertaining team of Lou & Peter Berryman. From cleaning the fridge ("When Did We Have Sauerkraut") to impending environmental catastrophe ("Why Am I Painting the Livingroom?") to the eternal folly of youth ("A Chat with Your Mother" aka "The F-Word"), no subject escapes their keen and quirky observation.



In almost 30 years together, Lou & Peter have recorded 16 albums of their original songs, and produced 2 songbooks. Such venerable and prestigious venues as Berkeley's Freight & Salvage, The Old Town School of Music in Chicago, The Ark in Ann Arbor, New York's Caffe Lena and Passim in Cambridge have hosted them regularly. They have performed frequently on national public radio including Minnesota's A Prairie Home Companion, and they have played at most major folk festivals across North America. They tour throughout the year, and make their homes in Madison, Wisconsin.



"Rhymes that rhyme! I love your stuff, and if I were still performing, I'd steal it!" Tom Lehrer



"When it comes to being funny, I think I've spent the first thirty years trying to be as funny as Tom Lehrer and the last part will be trying to be as funny as the Berrymans. They don't come any funnier than that." Tom Paxton



"Lou & Peter Berryman! Long may they wave! Their song, "A Chat with your Mother" is one of the great American folksongs of the 20th century." Pete Seeger



More about Lou & Peter Berryman at LOUANDPETER.COM



Lou & Peter are dedicating this concert to their dear friend Anne Feeney. Anne is a beloved Pittburgh singer and songwriter who has been travelling the world for decades. Her music has inspired and comforted working people everywhere, but her work has been interrupted by a bout with cancer. A portion of the evening's proceeds will go to Anne, for her recovery fund. More about Anne and her music at www.annefeeney.com

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IF YOU'RE IN CLEVELAND -  LOU and PETER WILL DO A SHOW FOR ME THERE THE NIGHT BEFORE!!

Friday, November 12th, 2010 8:00 PM

Peter and Lou Berryman in Concert with special guest Deborah Van Kleef

UU Society of Cleveland
2728 Lancashire Road
Cleveland Heights, OH

http://uusocietyofcleveland.tripod.com/index.html
Price: $15 suggested

This concert is, in part, a benefit for Anne Feeney's "paid sick days fund."

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THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Thanks to Kristin Lems for organizing a star-studded fundraiser for me in Chicago!  Thanks to Mark Ross for organizing a wonderful fundraiser for me in Eugene.   Thanks to Gene and Natasha for sending me one night's proceeeds from their Lexington, KY production of "Marx in Soho."  I understand there are still some upcoming shows in Florida and a huge one here in Pittsburgh on December 12th.  Your generosity has been overwhelming... and taken all the financial anxiety out of this devastating illness.  Your cards and letters lift me.  I cannot imagine that this story does not have a happy ending.  Your love and support is such a constant presence in my life.

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HAPPY NOVEMBER 6th 40th BIRTHDAY to MY NIECE, KIMBERLY ANNE SEVER!

Happy Nov 11th birthday to Mary Lane McCahill, Nov 12th birthday to Julie Leonardsson, Nov 18th birthday to John Morber, and Nov 25th birthday to Kathleen Mumphrey Chapman (who just celebrated her 10th wedding anniversary to Ross Chapman..... mazel tov, you two!)

The highlight of last month was the visit from my grandson Sebastian all the way from Ecuador.  He brought his parents along, too, which was wonderful.  And Amy arrived the same day.  It's such an incredible joy to have my kids under one roof - and Sebastian added a most wonderful dimension!  I think I'm going to like this grandma gig a LOT.  Amy is still here, and Dan and Monique and Sebastian will be back here on December 18th.  YAY!

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You can buy my cds at http://cdbaby.com/all/unionmaid
You can stay on top of my health news at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/annefeeney
You can donate to my recovery by clicking on the "Donate" button about 4 inches down the page on the right, or send a check (or a letter, or a card... to anne feeney, 2240 Milligan Ave, pittsburgh, pa  15218

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Saturday, November 13th, 2010 8:00 PM
Peter and Lou Berryman in Concert
Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church
416 W North Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
412.877-6480
Price: $15 advance, $20 at the door
Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/135648 $15 adv. (+$1.99 surchage for internet orders) or $20 at the door

This concert is, in part, a benefit for my "recovery fund."

OCTOBER 2010 - Anne Feeney's Fellow Travelers' Advisory - VOLUME SIX #7

This little stuffed weasel showed up on my porch last week.  Here I am, preparing to give him hell.



I'm feeling really droopy today, and have been pretty low for a week or so. There is so much more I wanted to say this month. I love you and I'm holding you in my heart. I'll try to make sure the caring bridge page is current with health news.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/annefeeney/journal

At least I didn't get raided by the FBI this month ......

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UNION SONG CONTEST - PLEASE VOTE FOR ME!!!

The folks who offer the "Union Privilege" Credit Card are sponsoring a Union Song Contest. Forty five union members have entered songs in the contest. The winner will receive $2000.

So far, I'm in the lead by 24 votes. My entry is "War on the Workers." There are only a couple days left to vote, so please vote now! It only takes a couple minutes.

http://members.unionsongcontest.org/entries#47275

In order to vote you have to register your name and email (to prevent multiple votes), and click on the link in the confirmation email that they send to you. (Some folks reported that the confirmation email went to their 'spam' filters... so don't forget to check there!) There are songs there by lots of great folks - Bev Grant, John McCutcheon, Andy Antipin, Evan Greer, Peter Alsop and many many more.

http://members.unionsongcontest.org/entries#47275

The link above will take you to my song. Click on it and it will begin to play. If you think it's the best song, I hope you'll vote for it. I'd appreciate it!

Thanks so much!



HEALTH NEWS


It's almost two months since I found out about the tumor in my lungs ... Since then it's been a maze of doctors' offices, hospital rooms, IVs, medications etc etc. There are many aspects of this process that are dehumanizing... lots and lots of hours waiting waiting waiting.

How incredibly uplifting your cards and letters have been. You've reminded me again and again that you remember me, that you're thinking of me, that I mean something to you, and that I am loved. All of those things are hard to keep in focus when you're wearing a hospital gown on a gurney sitting in some hallway and everyone seems to find a new way to mispronounce your name. So many thoughtful, loving and generous gestures from all of you! I cannot thank you enough or ever express my gratitude sufficiently. I'm overwhelmed.

The latest medical setback is a rampant infection of MAC bacteria in my upper right lung. One of the three antibiotics, Rifampin, is being administered intravenously, at a cost of $186.30/day. Another prescription had a $300 co-pay for a month's supply... And I may be on these three antibiotics for 18 months! If I were one of the 40+ million uninsured, I would certainly be denied this treatment.

This current half-assed health care bill does nothing to address the soaring costs of health care.... in fact, it guarantees insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies huge profits. As I sang all last summer - WE NEED NATIONAL HEALTH CARE NOW!!!



SOME CANCER "DO'S & DON'T'S"

(These are just my personal observations, so take 'em with a grain of salt..)

DO's

How I've loved the teas, cookies, scarves, hats, miso soup mix, books and cds that y'all sent me. The hilarious cards and heartfelt notes have been fantastic! The money has been most appreciated, and has relieved me of the grinding anxiety of living on the financial edge. (If you'd still like to help me out there's a paypal "donate" box about four inches down from the top on the right hand side of this page - Or you can send a check to Anne Feeney, 2240 Milligan Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15218.) It's hard to imagine anyone who wouldn't appreciate some cash in the face of such a sudden escalation of expenses AND simultaneous loss of income. Any heartfelt expression of affection in a card is so appreciated by anyone! I've been particularly touched by folks who reminded me of fun things we did together - picket lines, rallies, riots, etc.

One of my favorite cards was from Molly Rush:

Great reasons to love being bald:

1) No more expensive hair products.
2) No more bed head.
3) Gray? What gray?
4) Look more like your adorable baby pictures.
5) More places to kiss!


DON'Ts

Don't bother sending the recipe for the flaxseed enema that supposedly saved someone's life.

Don't bother sending the novena, scapular, relic or special prayer that cures cancer unless you're sure that the person shares your spirituality.

Don't send the "75 affirmations that must be said daily in order to effect a cure, and then ONLY if you send the affirmations to 20 people within 24 hours -- or something awful will happen to you!"

Don't assume that the only thing your friend with cancer wants to talk about is cancer. It's actually my least favorite thing to talk about.

Don't tell your friend that "attitude is everything." Of course a hopeful and positive outlook is helpful, but it doesn't cure cancer any more than a moment of sadness, frustration or doubt kills you. Give your friend room to express his/her feelings.


Don't stay away. A quart of homemade soup makes up for almost any other oversight.

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You can still buy my cds at CDBaby - http://cdbaby.com/all/unionmaid

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Some benefit shows for me coming up in Pittsburgh, Chicago, Miami and the Bay Area. Thanks to the Eugene folks who put together a show on October 2nd... and the Johnstown folks who did a Labor Day show. You're all wonderful.  I'll try to get all the details for these benefit shows onto http://annefeeney.com/calendar.html soon.

SEPTEMBER 2010 - Anne Feeney's Fellow Travelers' Advisory - VOLUME SIX #6

SEPTEMBER 2010 - Anne Feeney's Fellow Travelers' Advisory - VOLUME SIX #6

Immediate Destinations:  Radiation and Chemotherapy...

IN THIS ISSUE:

Health News
Thank you thank you thank you thank you
I'm a GRANDMA!!
Union Song Contest
Labor Day 2010
Family News - Happy Birthday Amy!
Photo Archive Request

September 1, 2010
Pittsburgh, PA

Health News...

In the words of William Bendix (The Life of Riley) - What a revolting development this is!
My hair mostly fell out yesterday, so Julie gave me a buzz cut with his beard trimmer.
Now I know why Chandler wears a hat - It's cold with no hair!

It was a month ago that Julie's best friend, Per Forsberg, ordered a lung CT scan for me.  (He's a doctor in Julie's hometown of Smedjebacken.)  He was afraid I might have blood clots in my lungs the way that I was coughing.  I had to go to the next little town over, Ludvika, for the test.  They did it at the hospital there.

A young medical student was in charge at the ER that day.  When the CT results came back I could tell from the look on his face that he had devastating news for me.  What he said though, was:  "I am so sorry to tell you that we have found a fast growing tumor on your esophagus and windpipe.  It's very large - around 11 cm - and in addition to the complications with your esophagus and windpipe this tumor is also putting terrible pressure some major weasels."

The dead serious look on his face as he described the pressure on my major weasels made me start to laugh.  He was embarrassed, of course, realizing he had grabbed the wrong word.  His mind racing, he started again...

"Wessels!  Major Wessels!"

I think I had already figured out that he meant vessels.  But I will be forever grateful to this young doctor for making me laugh - not just at that moment - but every time I've told anyone the story of my diagnosis.   Indeed, from that day on, we have referred to this tumor as "the weasel."  Sometimes when the weasel is in there doing rodeo tricks with my esophagus or windpipe I have had these terrible chest pains.  I think this first round of chemo has finally subdued the weasel to the point that those episodes are over.

I returned to Pittsburgh and had a bronchoscopy and biopsy at Shadyside Hospital.  It's small cell lung cancer, caused by smoking.  This tumor couldn't really be surgically removed without completely resectioning lots of parts.  But the oncologist says that this type of tumor is very "chemo-reactive" and will disappear entirely with an aggressive course of chemo and radiation. Subsequent brain MRI, CT scans, bone scans and Pet Scans have confirmed that the cancer is confined to the tumor and to the nearest lymph node.  Because it hasn't spread anywhere else, I have a 20% chance of living out my lifespan.  Four out of five people with my diagnosis will have a recurrence of the cancer within two years and it will not respond to treatment.  I think I'm a likely candidate for the 20% group.  It's been almost ten years since I quit smoking.  I'm in great health otherwise.  Singing all these years has kept my lungs very healthy and young.   I am treating at the Hillman Cancer Center.  It's part of the UPMC behemoth.  People travel from all over to get to this center for cancer treatment, so I'm lucky to have it in my own back yard.

Starting on Tuesday, I'll be having two radiation treatments daily for three weeks.  In addition to that, on Wednesday I'll have six hours of chemo, Thursday two hours of chemo, and Friday, two hours of chemo.

When I've finished up the radiation, I'll do another round of Chemo on September 29, 30 and October 1st.

Three weeks later, another round of chemo, and then I'm finished with treatment.

There are a number of possible complications, but I'm hoping to avoid them.
For ongoing medical updates, please visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/annefeeney

Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank You THANK YOU!!

One of my huge concerns as I began canceling all of my shows for 2010 and 2011 was certainly financial.  The bills are rolling in at a startling rate.  Even though my insurance is pretty good, I've had about $8000 in uncovered medical bills since July.  Even if I manage to get Social Security Disability and the Musicians' Union Disability Pension, I won't receive my first payments until at least February of 2011.

I know that so many people are really struggling right now that I was reluctant to ask for financial help from you.  It looks like most people really took my request of last month to heart.  People who are indeed struggling sent me their best wishes (lots of them are on my guestbook ... http://annefeeney.com/guestbook.html ),  some hilarious and touching letters and cards, and their prayers and hopes for my recovery.  Perfect!

And lots of you with an extra $50 sent it my way. I am so touched, so heartened by this rally to my recovery.  I won't have to worry about money for a while.  It's amazing to me. I have almost 10 months of basic expenses sitting in the bank right now.  I'm working on individual thank you notes, but I have so little energy, it's going to take me a while to get everyone thanked.  Please don't send me more than $50 - I'm hoping enough folks will come through at $50 that I won't have to seek out any larger donors... 

I would still welcome your contribution.  You can send it to:

Anne Feeney
2240 Milligan Ave
Pittsburgh  PA  15218

or via the "Donate" button located about 5 inches down on the right hand side this page.

I hear there are some benefit shows being planned in Detroit, Eugene, Pittsburgh ... It's all very overwhelming and inspiring to me.  If I had ever had any doubt about my so-called career choice, it's been put to rest by this amazing outpouring of love and affection and generosity from you, my friends.    I've so loved the reminiscences enclosed in your letters.  I've been feeling a little like Tom Sawyer at my own funeral .... some of these notes are practically eulogies.  I'm glad that folks are feeling a little sentimental when they write.  I'm feeling pretty sentimental these days myself.

So keep those cards & letters & love tokens coming - they absolutely are the highlight of every day. 



I'm a GRANDMA!!

Little Sebastian Edward Berlin arrived five days early on August 22, 2010 weighing in at 5 lbs. 4 oz and almost 19 inches.  He's perfect in every way.  Monique is doing well after an emergency C-Section.  Her Mom and Dad were in Quito for the birth.  Dan was in the delivery room.  I can't wait to hold the little fella in my arms!  In the meantime, we have webcams, and I get to see Sebastian almost every day on the camera.  He is so precious.

LABOR DAY 2010

My plan was to be in Pullman, in Chicago, for Labor Day this year.  My friend Mike Hobbs has written a beautiful article about the Pullman Strike.  I'm sure he'd be happy to send you a copy.  You can write him at mhobbs(@)grics.net to request a copy.  His article concludes with a quote about the strike from historian Virgil J. Vogel - "(The Pullman Strike) was a glowing light to prove that in a world governed largely by acquisitiveness and rapacity, there were still enough people responding to a different drummer, to give promise that freedom for the oppressed was not a utopian dream but a practical goal.." 


This Labor Day I salute all my brothers and sisters who have made the same idealistic stand against corporate greed - at Hormel, at Eastern Airlines, at Pittston, at Staley, at Bridgestone/Firestone, at Caterpillar, at MSI, at AK, at Conn-Selmer, at PAL Technologies, at Pottsville Hospital, at Canonsburg Hospital, at Ravenswood, at Hercules and at countless other places.  It's been my honor and privilege to stand with you, then and now.


UNION SONG CONTEST

It's still too soon to actually vote in the union song contest, but you can go and preview  the entries at http://members.unionsongcontest.org/entries    There are some great songs to listen to there.  And I hope you'll all vote for my entry, "War on the Workers," when the contest officially begins on Labor Day. 


FAMILY NEWS/BIRTHDAYS

Obviously, Sebastian's arrival is the big big family news this month.

But this newsletter is going out on my beautiful daughter Amy's 29th birthday... Happy Happy Birthday, darling!  She and her dad leave soon for Quito to personally welcome Sebastian into the world.  


My husband, Julie Leonardsson, is here from Sweden and taking fantastic care of me.  He gave me the buzz cut last night with his beard trimmer once my hair began falling out in clumps.


My cousin Karen McCahill got to go to London to visit Kristin and Anthony and Anabel and Antonito.  Condolences to all my McCahill cousins on the recent death of their Aunt Mary McCahill Ryan - a great lady, whose hospitality I enjoyed many times growing up.


BIRTHDAYS


Christina Mumphrey - September 3rd, Mary (Mimi) Grefenstette - September 11th, Kris Deelane - September 12th, Faith Petric - September 13th, Danny Donnelly - September 13th, Tod Faller - September 14th, Mardy Weber McCahill September 21st, Kay McCahill Mumphrey - September 25th, Charlie Warren - September 27th


Photo Archive Request

My pal George Mann has offered to create a photo archive for me.  If you're sitting on some photos of me at your picket line, convention, rally, riot, party, house concert or riot, how about sending a copy to annefeeneypics@gmail.com

 Be sure to include any information you have about the photo - when it was taken and where, by whom, the names of any other folks in the photo, etc.

THE TOUR

The tour is on hold, indefinitely.  I'm hoping to be well enough to join you at Allegheny Unitarian Church on November 13th when my wonderful pals - Lou and Peter Berryman - come here to perform.  In the meantime, if your travels bring you to Pittsburgh, call 412-241-7664 and see if it's a good day for a visit.  I look forward to seeing lots of you here at my house while I "battle the weasel."  My love and gratitude to all of you.

You can still buy my CDs at http://cdbaby.com/all/unionmaid- and I hope you will!

Sad health news from Anne Feeney ... can you help?

How much one conversation with a doctor can change your life!

This time last week I thought the next time I'd be writing to you would be with my exciting September news and Labor Day special...

This time last week I thought I'd be in Sweden tonight  packing to go to Ireland to meet up with all my wonderful tourmates.

Instead, here I am in Pittsburgh packing to go Shadyside Hospital.  On August 3rd, in Sweden, a lung specialist advised me that I have an 11 cm tumor on my lung that is stressing both my heart and lungs in dangerous ways.  As terrifying as this diagnosis is, it is in many ways a relief to get an explanation for the several mysterious and troubling symptoms I've had for the past few months... including increasing fatigue, shortness of breath, terrible coughing, and bizarre heart rhythms. 

I could have stayed in Sweden for the bronchoscopy, biopsy and surgery ... my health insurance would have covered everything in Sweden that it covers here.  But even the best case scenario here will involve a protracted recovery period and probably at least six months out of work.  It was also hard to think about being so seriously ill so far away from my children, and my lifelong network of friends in Pittsburgh.

So here I am, at home in Pittsburgh, surrounded by friends and family.

Luckily, Tom Pigott and I have been able to arrange full and wonderful coverage for both the Ireland tours in August.  The wonderful Charlie King will be joining the August 10-19th tour, and Tom will be hosting the August 22-31st tour with some of my favorite folks in Ireland.  Both tours will continue uninterrupted, but, alas, without me this year.


My friend Jan Boyd has set up a Caring Bridge page for those of you who want regular medical updates on my condition.  The URL is http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/annefeeney ...  (The only reason you have to log in to the site is to keep spam robots from posting stupid messages...)

I hope to be posting updates on Facebook as well as soon as I feel up to it.

I'm pretty sure it will be difficult for me to talk on the phone for a while.  I would love it if you'd post get well wishes, stories & jokes for me on my guestbook... http://annefeeney.com/guestbook.html  ... (It's a moderated guestbook, so what you write won't appear on the guestbook until I read it and approve it--- otherwise I'm pretty sure the guestbook would be nothing but ads for viagra and such..)

This diagnosis has wiped out most of my meager folksinger's savings.  I've had to cancel a lot of work that I was counting on, and incurred a lot of unexpected travel expenses.  Although most of my medical bills will be covered (now that I've come up with the $6000 in deductibles and copay), it seems unlikely that I'll be able to return to my hectic tour schedule, or any full time work, for several months.

If you want to help me out with what are going to be fairly staggering expenses by folksinger's standards... I'm hoping to find 1000 folks who'll pony up $50 ...   I really *don't* want any larger donations ... I don't want anyone to dig deep for this... and if $50 is hard for you to come by, PLEASE don't think about sending me a cent.   I know I have enough dear friends who are doing okay that those of you who are struggling shouldn't spend a second worrying about my finances.

You could send a check to me:

Anne Feeney
2240 Milligan Ave
Pittsburgh  PA 15218

or you can send a donation via Paypal to getwellanne@annefeeney.com.  If you're not sure how to do that...  there's also a "donate" button you can click about 4 inches down on the right hand side of  this page.. clicking on that "donate" button will also allow you to make a safely encrypted online donation.


I'll have a lot more to say and share about health care... especially the amazing Swedish health care system, when I'm not so tired.

I hope that you'll spread the word to any of our friends that may not subscribe to the Fellow Travelers' Advisory.

As I'm wandering around the sweet little house I get to spend so little time in, I keep finding boxes and boxes of thank you cards that I have purchased and never mailed.  So many of you reading this are on my list of people to write and thank ... You're a generous group and there are no words to thank you for the countless things you do to make this a better world for all of us.   My heart overflows with gratitude to all of you for your daily work for justice, art and truth - for your steadfast support of the many projects I've brought to you in the past...   I am so honored to call you my friend.

Many of my oldest and dearest friends are gathering here with me at the house to help me prepare for the coming ordeal.  I cherish them, and you, and hope to be in touch with all of you soon.