Our elected representatives are playing a silly game of chicken with the country’s reputation as they continue their publicity grab over the debt ceiling. Please tell them that we expect better. You can find links to send them messages in my previous post. Regardless whether or not you agree with my stance, please contact your representatives and insist on better behavior.

Here is the message I just sent to all of them:

Honorable ___________,

I am glad that we are finally taking some serious steps to reduce overall spending.

I am terribly dismayed that the process has devolved into a silly game that politicians are playing for political gain. While it is not one-sided, I think that the Republicans are being far too noisy and recalcitrant.

Tax loopholes are EXPENDITURES just like any other government policy. Tax loopholes need to be closed as part of a process to reduce federal spending. The artificial designation of closing tax loopholes as tax increases is silly grandstanding.

We elect our representatives and pay them handsomely. Please do your part and act like adults who are truly committed to the good of the country. Sensible discussions of the real problems and clear solutions can and must be found.

Thank you,

Dave Bezaire

I imagine many share my sense of unease as the political situation in the Mideast becomes more and more volatile. Our hearts go out to those hurt in the conflict, and we feel angst about the future directions new leadership might take. Now, with talk of military intervention in Libya, I begin to worry that we might be pulled into yet another difficult, expensive, civil war that will guarantee the ugliness of many dead people at our hands, and a further deterioration of our nation’s status in the world community.

Worry hardly seems an adequate response, so yesterday I sent messages to our elected representatives stating my strong opposition to the use of military force. Although I passionately stated my belief, I had precious little “meat” to support my argument. I was pleased to read George Will’s March 8th article, On Libya, too many questions, and sent another round of messages today referencing it.

I encourage everyone to consider these issues carefully, and to make your voice heard. Our elected leaders need our input so that they can make good decisions on our behalf. Easy to use forms are available, so it takes just a couple of minutes to send a note.

• Those of us in Ohio can write to Senator Brown and write to Senator Portman.
• Others can search for a Senator’s website and find his/her “Contact” link.
• All of us can write to our Representative.
• All of us can write to President Obama.

Although I would hope that each person sends their own words, I want to make my feelings clear, so here is the text that I sent to my elected officials:

Dear ___________,

I strongly believe that we should avoid military action in Libya. Please carefully consider the questions posed by George Will in his March 8th article, On Libya, too many questions.

We must avoid engaging in yet another ugly, costly civil war that will result in many dead people at our hands, and a further deterioration of our standing in the world community.

Thank you,

Dave Bezaire

One of the deeper fears Marie ever mentioned was, “losing my mind”. She was at peace with life and ready to face death, but having seen many friends with dementia in their later years, she clearly knew what she did not want to endure. So, it was ironic — and very scary — that her final disease was brain cancer. Read on →

My father had a spokesperson for the past 62 years, and we thought it only fitting that as we honor my mother today that she continue to speak for him. This is a note that Marie dictated two weeks before her death. Read on →

Marie Havens

Marie Havens

Children are the hands by which we take hold of heaven.
– Henry Ward Beecher

June 23, 1927 – January 6, 2011

Beloved wife of Tom Havens

Loving mother of Susi Havens-Bezaire and Tom Havens

Obituary

Eulogy by Dave Bezaire
Read on →

Dear Friends,

Susi and Dave enter this holiday season with a profound sense of the importance of family and friends in their lives, and are very happy to be able to include all of you among that group!

We hope that you enjoy reading our family update letter.

We wish you abundant blessings and peace this holiday season and throughout the coming year,

Dave & Susi

While awaiting our last airline connection on the way home — the one just after arriving into the USA — I again find myself feeling frustrated and taking a few <hundred> deep breaths to settle down. The process of entering our own country is more taxing than that of anyplace else in the world. We were in lines for about 75 minutes, including 20 minutes for passport control, 35 minutes for customs, and 20 minutes for security into the connecting departure concourse. I am proud to be an American, but it is dismaying that travel in our country is more burdensome than we have experienced in visiting 25 or 30 airports in other countries over the last several years. My personal view is that we have swung the pendulum too far. In a quest for some unattainable level of perfect security, we have imposed huge restrictions on individual rights and conveniences. Life will never be without risks. Let’s accept that, bring back some common sense, and make airline travel in the USA enjoyable once again.

Shale has 5 children, ages 29 to 7, and 2 grandchildren that live with her. She is a single mother who travels to Gaborone to work about 1 week a month as a maid. Shale says that she hasn’t been able to find work in Molepolole and relies on her eldest  daughter, Moiponi, to help with expenses.

The 600 pula she earns a month is not enough to pay for rent, electricity, food for 8, and school expenses. In fact, it costs Shale about 2000 pula a year to pay for the school uniforms and supplies!

Shale is looking forward to moving into her Habitat house the second week of August because it is bigger than the one she is renting and will be hers once she pays off the mortgage.

The 29 year old daughter of future homeowner Shale, whose Habitat house we are finishing this week, provided some interesting insights into life in Botswana. Although Moiponi has a full-time job, she struggles financially given that she plans to make most of the monthly payments for her mother’s house. Here is a quick breakdown of her income and expenses. Read on →

If anyone sees either or both of these two puppies, please report them immediately to the Columbus Global Village Team! No, they are not wanted for being so adorably cute. They are wanted for Grand Theft Camera!
The Background: Rebecca, Regina, Sarah, Lisa, Casey, Lauren and Jonathan spent an unintended night in Johannesburg due to a missed flight connection. Delta blamed the delay on a “surprise inspection” by the TSA, and denied vouchers for accommodations and food. Read on →

Tambo International, the huge, modern Johannesburg airport, was remarkably quiet when we arrived at 6:30 p.m., about 1 1/2 hours late after bucking unusual headwinds all the way from Atlanta. “Perfect,” we thought, and began sprinting in hopes that our connection to Gaborone might also run late. Alas, we missed our flight; fortunately we enjoyed an excellent outcome! Read on →

Having traveled a time or two, upon arrival at Port Columbus airport today,  I immediately steered us away from the self-check-in-kiosks toward the agent line because it seems that for international flights the automated systems eventually direct us there anyway. When the helpful Delta employee encouraged us to leave the line and use an available kiosk, I resisted for only a couple of seconds… Read on →

It doesn’t seem that long ago that we raced out of town ahead of the next snow storm last January to head down to Bay St. Louis! We have had a blast working for Habitat through the winter in Mississippi and then were thrilled to fulfill our dream to explore Alaska and Northern Canada from April – September. We will treasure the memories of  our many new friends and fantastic scenery we explored!

Our intent was to sell the RV as we hit Colorado on the return – which we did – but we enjoyed this form of travel so much we  bought another RV that provided us with much more living space without increasing our length!

So, for those of you who have visited this site in 2009, we’ll be back on the road this coming January – headed to work for Habitat for Humanity in Tucson, AZ – I always wanted to paint the desert!

You can also check out our summer 2010 plans to lead 2 Habitat Global Village teams to Botswana. Although we won’t be floating across the ocean in the RV – we look forward to learning how Habitat houses are built in Molepolole and Mahalapye!

Blessings for a happy holidays – Dave & Susi