To SF Bay Area people ...

On the chance that some Bay Area people come across our a4A KAL/CAL blog, I will mention ...

Tomorrow 10/25, from 3-4, I am speaking at the JCC in Palo Alto on the afghans for Afghans project and Afghanistan with Marsha MacColl from Afghans for Tomorrow. We're showing a lot of slides. Stop by. No charge for this program.

On Sunday, 11/1, a4A is participating with an information table at the annual Rebuild Afghanistan Summit -- this year in San Rafael. Please contact me if you would like to sit at our info table and chat with the public. Those in attendance are mostly Afghan-Americans, although the event is also to reach a wider audience of people to get involved in supporting Afghanistan. Speakers and workshops are listed on the event website. The day will be stimulating with plenty of interesting people and learning about rebuilding projects in the areas of education, health care, and agriculture, for example.

If you would like to help us pack on Wed, Thurs., Fri, or our special Sat session, please email me at afghans4Afghans at aol dot com. Monday, 11/1 is probably ship-out date if all goes as planned -- contact me if you can help lift boxes that weigh 20-25 lbs each for about an hour in the late morning.

What else highly local ... I had dinner last night at the Helmand Restaurant. Ate my favorite heavenly Aushak (sort of ravioli filled with leeks). A sauteed eggplant dish for an appetizer. Chatted with the manager for awhile as I always do. Very resigned about the election. Heart-breaking to hear from those who called Afghanistan home. The restaurant on Van Ness Ave is about 5 blocks -- steep downhill and uphill! -- from my apt. so call me if you want to meet up for a bite anytime. Swensen's is on the return hike. Maybe we'll have a get-together at the Helmand after our campaigns are done and before the year ends.