I’m sitting in my new office, which is a lovely room, but so full of piles of things to be sorted that it’s a daunting place to be. My bedroom isn’t much better. Instead of tackling the mess, I’m reading an online book on how to avoid procrastination…
This is the time of year when many of us are taking stock of ourselves… are we still “on the path”? have we taken a detour? 2008 is taking me on some new journeys. I hope that this new year is kinder to us all than 2007 was.

NEW ADDRESS

I moved in 2007. For those of you who haven’t updated your records, you might want to do that now… the forwarding order will expire soon –

Anne Feeney
2240 Milligan Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15218


2007 IN THE REARVIEW

2007 was a fantastic year for me – full of challenges and obstacles, but for the most part, all well-met with lots of help from my friends. For the first time in my life, I was alone at Christmas this year. My husband went back to Sweden, my son to his wife’s family in California, and my daughter and her boyfriend went to Mexico. I curled up with Barbara Kingsolver’s fabulous “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle,” and Barack Obama’s “Dreams fro my Father “. This very unusual vantage point for me left me as a spectator on the season, with plenty of time to think. As most Americans are wallowing in stuff right now, I’m looking for ways to simplify my life. If you haven’t visited http://thestoryofstuff.com this would be a great time to do it. I’m planning a more sustainable 2008.

THE NURSES’ STRIKE IS OVER!

My holidays were brightened considerably by the news that the valiant UAN nurses on strike against Appalachian Regional Health Systems ratified a good contract that will have them all back to work no later than March 31, 2008. Keeping the scabs on the payroll isn’t my favorite way of achieving safer staffing levels… I’ll look forward to new from the nurses on how that works out.

WILL THIS CD EVER GET FINISHED??????

These next two months at home would be a great time to finish “Dump the Bosses Off Your Back” – my new CD… Many many thanks to the dozen folks who sent me sponsorship money last month when I asked for it… Unfortunately, that’s not enough to get the project finished, but it will get me back in the studio for a couple more days. If you’d like to see your name in the liner notes of my new CD, or if you’d just like to help me get this album finished and out there, please send $100 to Anne Feeney, 2240 Milligan Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15218.

I GET A GRANT!!

2008 is taking me on several new, but still familiar paths… Thanks to a grant from the Labor Center at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, I will spend the first couple months of 2008 researching and writing on the life William Patrick Feeney – immigrant, coal miner, fearless union organizer for the United Mineworkers of America, one-term legislator in Pennsylvania, accomplished violinist, labor singer – and my grandfather.

This means that I *won’t* be at the Western Workers’ Heritage Festival – or anywhere on the left coast – in January and February, as I have been for the past 7 years or more.

FLORIDA IN MARCH??

I’m still hoping to do my Florida tour in early March … anyone interested? With the closing of two of my favorite venues - Fogartyville and the Main St Café – it’s harder to plan a Florida tour. Florida – let me hear from you!!


NEW PRODUCTIONS OF BURIED
In early April, I’ll be performing in a production of Jerry Starr’s powerful play, “Buried: The Story of the Sago Mine Disaster.” I may be doing another two or three productions of the play as the year unfolds. There is a great deal of interest in the play these days.


COMING IN 2008

I’m looking forward to the familiarity and welcome of the Regina Polk Conference for Labor Union Women, Susquehanna Music and Arts Fest, Labor Notes, Mayday at Botto House, Radio Live!, the Debs Dinner … as well as the excitement of some new opportunities – Cleveland, St. Catherine’s, Ontario, and the Association for Humanist Sociology conference.


COME TO IRELAND WITH ME!

I may spend most of the summer of 2008 in Europe … I hope by now you know that I’m taking three groups of friends on fabulous music/history/politics and poetry tours of western Ireland … There are still seats available on all three tours, although August is almost full. I’m very grateful to the folks who have signed up early for these tours… it’s making it possible for Tom Pigott and me to plan fantastic trips. It’s not too late to sign up, and the earlier that you do, the easier it is to make great plans. Email me for more information: anne@annefeeney.com

SCANDINAVIA IN JULY/AUGUST
I haven’t decided if I’m going to spend the time in between the tours in Europe or on the left coast. Invitations to a few festivals on one side of the pond or the other would clinch my decision pretty quickly.

THE ELECTION

Now more than ever I think it’s essential to focus on issues, not candidates. If we keep the heat on for an immediate end to the war and for national health care now, we might get both. If we invest all our energy in trying to decide which candidate has the best of the lousy plans to phase down the war and tack some hopeless bandaid on the health care crisis, that’s what we’ll get….



That’s it. No immediate destinations.

Drop me a line and tell me what you’re up to.

Happy New Year!

Love and peace

Anne