Men's Brunch - John Armstrong hosting Sunday Dec 20

Here is how I found John ready to serve up wonderful omelets in his clear and free colorful space. Wow, I am so happy I made the trip to N Golden Valley on this sunday morning on my way to St Cloud to work with Jesse, my son who knows about backing up my iMac that died to my new 21.5 " desk top. I am a grateful and fortunate man and father! Thanks John for your gracious hosting!

Here are Hiram Titus and Bob Senden in John's colorful kitchen space on the receiving end of the omelet serving. Thanks for the great energy. Perhaps we can partner in your space, John, for a healing event, spa party in 2010. Thanks for your kind consideration. Peace, love, joy and beauty on your earth walk

Christmas Eve 2009 Remembering Paul H Weaver b Dec 24, 1910

Thinking of my dad, Paul H Weaver, b Dec 24, 1910 in West Carrollton Ohio, and today would be his 99th birthday. Thanks Dad for your values of education music and learning about the human condition. I well remember visiting your family home at 321 E Main St there as a kid and then when your dad, Noah Elwood died in 1973 and I starting collecting the family stories from your cousins. Grateful for your cousins Bill Eicher and Betty Eicher, whom I had a chance to meet face to face beginning in 1984. Here you are in the late 1950's with the Christmas tree in the background in Faribault. I am so grateful for being raised in the prairie lakes area of Minnesota. I miss sharing stories with you, and sad that you left the planet so early, late January of 1981, And your legacy, your pipe smoking and the stories of your loving your jugs of Muscatel wine live on in a good way. I am inspired by reading Bill Holm and his China memoir "Coming Home Crazy" 1990. I have had a passion to learn about China, especially the culture that produced Lao Tze and the Taoist traditions with connection to nature. Thanks dad for your curiosity about language and your risk taking to subscribe to Pravda during the Cold War. Perhaps that led to my driving to the Soviet Union in 1971. I love to meet people, where they are and avoid the politics. People to people is where I live. Thanks Dad for the inspiration to continue to live a life of integrity.


When Noah Elwood Weaver came to visit, he took many photos, Here in 1951, is my dad with the current camera technology. I know the spirit of both NEW (Noah Elwood Weaver, Great initials for a man who experimented with new technologies a century ago, and PHW (Paul Henry Weaver - Paul is a family name, Lena Paul married Henry Eicher, so dad reflected the two lines of the German heritage that came together in the Miami River valley back in the late 1800's in his name!


Likely another NEW photo, this is our family in Faribault around 1950. Likely this is taken in the sunporch of the 425 SW 3rd St Home. Interesting to read the energy of the family power dynamics in this photo. My Mom Peg, older brother Jim, standing, second brother Jack, sitting below, my Dad holding me on his lap with my big brown eye staring into the ether.

My Sister Jane's Birthday! Comfort with friends

Jane wanted hot tomato bisque soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Ah, comfort food. I remember my mom making tomato soup and having melted cheese sandwiches. So I called in the spirit of Peg and Julia Child and here are Steven and Don arriving before the honored guest in my kitchen, the heart of my home. Thanks for sharing in my space brothers!



Don relaxing on my couch talking with Jane as she drives through the traffic from St Paul. Notice Steven's Maodao "hairy young soy beans" and the cheese and crackers awaiting the guest. :-)



Jane arriving with her stylish winter sweater!



After the soup and sandwiches, of course the chocolate, chocolate chip birthday cake! Ready to extinguish the candles. Ageless living... in abundance. Wichozani wookiye May you walk in the center of your life in abundance!

Cultivating the Trees - Art Gallery Metaphor - Enter in Peace

Such a nice piece of art, evocative of my life long earth walk and breathing into the Peace that passeth all understanding and the Tree of Life concept of all beings being connected. Mitakuye Oyasin! A wonderful loving time to be alive on the planet.

Steven XL found a link on line to a Gallery, on Washington Ave near the Mill Cill Museum and the same block as the Open Book where I have taken Loft Classes. This is one of the images that struck me. Thanks Steven for your enthusiasm for trees and life. Xie Xie, Pidamiyayedo!

Canasta Teaching by Jane and Dinner with Friends

Having been adopted into the Newell family, it has been important to learn the finer points of Canasta. Here is Jane teaching Steven the finer points of the game. We drove back after her granddaughters performance to my apartment in the cold, to await Don's arrival after a day at his work at Landmark Education.


Here are Steven XL, Don and Jane sharing the Beouf Bourguignon over rice. I felt so honored to have these wonderful souls to share the loving cheer in my "cozy nest "apartment this chilly evening. Thanks so much Pilamiyayelo!

Mariah, Jane's Granddaughter supported by her wider family

Mariah and the teacher at Edinbrook who coached and created the performance.

Here is Mariah with a couple of her friends after the Edinbrook Elementary Showtime Performance.

Supporting Mariah here are Steven Xiaosong Liu, Jasmin, Jane Newell, Mariah, Dee, Kiana and Eliza in the school cafeteria after the event.

Jasmin, Jane, Kiana, Dee, Mariah, Tom W (this author) and Eliza

While the pot cooked, Lluvia Spa Party with Jane and Steven

Here is how the pot looked as I cooked the Beouf Bourguignon, that warmed my apartment with amazing smells during the day.



One of the Amazon Herb Products that I find so wonderful, is the Lluvia line of pure organic botanicals. Here are Jane and Steven testing out some of the products with the mats and mirror set up. Notice the reflection from the mirror on Stevens face.


Here is Steven with the glow on his skin after the Cumu Serum and other products are applied. These products are so pure and without petroleum distillates that they can safely be eaten. What a relaxing beautiful time to share with friends and family before Don arrived. Thanks for your caring and trust!

Warm Family French Cooking - Celebrating Sharing with I widening circle of Friends

Warm Family French Cooking - Celebrating Sharing with I widening circle of Friends 

After Denise and Marks party celebration, I sensed an opening and possibility (Landmark Forum language I think) Thanks Steve Wolfe, Jane, Don, Byron and others for your introduction over the past years, to go see a film at the Hopkins Theater as the stores all close at 6 PM. Well, as luck would have it, Julie and Julia, I film I had heard about was playing at just the right time! Steven even had the number programmed into his cell phone. xie xie, thanks comes to mind. What a great flim to share and bring my French heritage to action! I was inspired to get out the Julie Child cookbook that I had used to make a stew for my mom and friends for my 60th birthday celebration at the Colony in Eden Prairie where I spent so much quality time with Peg. And voila' here is the set up in my apartment kitchen as I prepared the Boeuf Borguignon, a la Julia Child in my orange Le Creuset pot that I so well remember buying in Appleton WI back in the day. To celebrate Jane's last day handing in her assignments at the U of M and going to her granddaughters holiday dance-musical performance in Brooklyn Center as family in the evening.

Here are Jane and Steve Xiaosong bringing joy and friendship to my apartment space. After Denise and Marks party celebration, I sensed an opening and possibility (Landmark Forum language I think) Thanks Steve Wolfe, Jane, Don, Byron and others for your introduction over the past years, to go see a film at the Hopkins Theater as the stores all close at 6 PM. Well, as luck would have it, Julie and Julia, I film I had heard about was playing at just the right time! Steven even had the number programmed into his cell phone. xie xie, thanks comes to mind. What a great flim to share and bring my French heritage to action! I was inspired to get out the Julie Child cookbook that I had used to make a stew for my mom and friends for my 60th birthday celebration at the Colony in Eden Prairie where I spent so much quality time with Peg. And voila' here is the set up in my apartment kitchen as I prepared the Boeuf Borguignon, a la Julia Child in my orange Le Creuset pot that I so well remember buying in Appleton WI back in the day. To celebrate Jane's last day handing in her assignments at the U of M and going to her granddaughters holiday dance-musical performance in Brooklyn Center as family in the evening.

Here are Jane and Steve Xiaosong bringing joy and friendship to my apartment space.

Pierre's Move Sunday Nov 30 2009

Here are the cars and people in action, orchestrating the move in a good way!

Sam Ryan checking out the back yard and garage.

Moving crew sharing food in the new space. Steve Wolfe, Alex Macgillis, Andrew, Jim Macgillis, Chris, Julie Bates. Pierre.

Supporting Pierre Macgillis' Move

Here is Pierre and a member of the former owners family passing on the key at the threshold of his new home just as we are readying for the move. I am grateful for having a functional van and a camera to be of support for Pierre's move. For me, moving is one of my most vulnerable times and I am so grateful for those who share of their time and energy. I see this as an expression of love and caring and it was an honor to be part of Pierre's friends and family who moved him out of his comfort zone in S Minneapolis, to a new beginning in NW Minneapolis. Wow, thanks Pierre for modeling the courage to ask for support here!

Chris, Jim and Steve, loading furniture from the apartment onto Jim's trailer.

Pierre waving good bye to the apartment as we load the cars! :-)

Denise and Marks Sixth Month Wedding Celebration Continued

More family and friends who have been of support to Denise and Mark.

Steven Xiaosong Liu and Denise

Steven sharing images with Denise and Mark

Denise and Marks Sixth Month Wedding Celebration Party

Here are Denise and Mark, cutting the celebratory cake for their Dec 6 party to celebrate with friends.

The colorful spread of pot luck food in their new Golden Valley apartment.

Friends and family toasting in fruit juices and non alcoholic organic beverages.

Splitting Wood - Preparing for winter inipi

Randy Peck has shared his space and woodland for the past several years as a place to pray and connect with Creation. Here is a view of the initi and space that some of us have used to connect with the earth. Pidamiya tehanshi Randy.

Here are Randy Peck, Bob Senden and Joe Mayer providing some of the labor to support Randy in a good way on Thanksgiving Friday.

Thanksgiving Toast at Jesse Weaver's new home.

Toasting everyone's health, with dark ale from Trader Joes. Paul Mote, Nate Weaver, Sue Weaver, Don Roden, Jane Newell, Amy Brown, Cory Wood, Jesse Weaver. Great to share in Jesse's first home and meet new people who are a part of his life. Thanks!

Nate Weaver, Don Roden and Jesse Weaver

Nate made up some killer gaucamole to share with the Thanksgiving crew. Don Roden and Jesse Weaver share in the guac at the breakfast island in his kitchen space. It is fun for me to see how Jesse shares his space during this new beginning for him.

Jesse Weaver's Home - Basement Set Up with Don and Jane

Here is Jesse working on my computers to up grade the RAM. He is a network administrator and works on computer set up at eBureau in St Cloud and has learned how to set up and maintain PC's. Here are Don Roden and Jane Newell, part of my expanding family of choice in the 21st Century. Great to see Jesse having so much useable space that he shares with his roommates Eric and Cory

Jesse Weaver's Home and New Thanksgiving Family Ritual

I am so grateful for the space Jesse has been creating for himself in St Cloud. Thanks Jess and Amy for hosting an extended family gathering at your new home, where folks could bring treats, share stories and activities from our hearts. The space is so welcoming with your basement the reflects your living style and the art that Amy is providing. Grateful to meet your newest roommate Cory and know with Eric you have a nice core community of like minded people to be with. I am grateful for my friend Steven Xiaosong Liu and his teaching me about Maoduo,"hairy beans" :-) Chinese Edamame seasoned with Sichuan Pepper. Here are Jesse, Amy, Don Roden and Jane Newell sampling the fresh boiled young soy beans that I prepared as a first course and welcoming to the energy of new beginnings. I like to think of the east and Asia as a connection to life and new interests.
This is a treat I will continue to share in the spirit of health. Thanks Jess, Amy, Don and Jane for your radiant presence last Saturday. Thanks for the growing memories of co creation. in admiration...

Betty Eicher - Ethyl Elizabeth Eicher 1913 - 1992 My Lesbian 2nd Cousin

Betty Eicher in Miamisburg OH. From the archives of Bill Eicher and Betty Eicher and Mary Parker Brown Dec 24 1884 - May 5 1961.
When I met my second cousin Bill Eicher who was 20 years my senior and the youngest of my parents generation, back in 1984 I was doing my "gay adolescence" as a gay dad, son and husband to Susan. I was struggling with clear boundaries without having a solid role model in my life to respect Susan, and my first son Nate, right after the death of my dad in Jan 1982. I now have a huge level of compassion for the emerging culture of LGBTQ communities throughout the world. Learning about the history of Schwuler Leute "gay people" for 200 years in Berlin Last summer through the connection with Jeremy Minsberg, formerly of St Paul and now in Berlin was a great boon to my understanding of my German heritage and the culture in Germany before the Nazi repression. Living in Minnesota and serving on the Twin Cities Men's Center Board as an openly gay man is the level of comfort I now have of being my authentic self. So grateful for the support of my spiritual sister, Jane Newell, who still grieves the loss of her Stevie, her blood brother Stephen Scott, who took his own life in the year 2000 with an overdose of cocaine, without integrating his true nature as a gay soul as we see it, living a double life, successful suburban school teacher and closeted urban addictive lifestyle. I dedicate my story telling and work to those LGBTQ souls who are here to live authentic lives in whatever culture or setting they are born into. To Stephen Scott, Matt Shepard, Harvey Milk and others, including those who died along side of the Jews, Romany, Jehovah Witnessnesse etc,, wearing the Pink Triangle during the Holocaust of the 20th C. I know I have been coming out at different levels since my introduction to the Program in Human Sexuality at the U of Minnesota Medical School in the early 1970's. Through my work at TCMC and Mankind Project International, I now am learning at a deeper level about being gay from other perspectives including Asian cultures like China and Korea. While cleaning out my files (Thanks China Stevie!) I just discovered a letter I sent to Jonathan Ned Katz at the Advocate in 1989 commenting on his article about Evangeline Whipple's relationship with Rose Cleveland, sister of the President. Happy more of the truth of relationships can make ours more real today too! See http://www.outhistory.org/wiki/Rose_Cleveland_and_Evangeline_Marrs_Simpson_Whipple:_1889-1918

Eicher's of Miamisburg OH Betty, Billy and Minnie Stupp Eicher ca 1930's

This is a photo of Bill Eichers Aunt Betty, his dad, William Eicher and his grandmother Minnie Stupp Eicher, wife of Charles.
Bill and I sat in his home in N Lakeland FL area and looked at a box of old photos and diplomas related to his aunt, Betty, born in 1913, Ethyl Elizabeth Eicher, in Miamisburg, 14 years before William H Eicher, Billy was born in Feb 1927. Here with their Mom, Minnie, at the Charles Eicher home in Miamisburg. This is a time for me to get clear on the chronology of the relationship of the only other LGBTQ person I have discovered within my own family tree. And very healing for me to learn more of their story. Thanks Bill Sr and Jr for sharing your archives and stories with me. Tom Weaver, second cousin to William and Betty Eicher. My grandmother Edna Helena Eicher and Bills grandfather, Charles Eicher were sister and brother.

Lakeland Florida Eicher Family History -Sharing with Cousin Bill Eicher

Bill Eicher and I first met at the big cemetery, Woodland, the highest hill in Dayton Ohio after his dad passed over in Florida back in March of 2006. His father, William H Eicher, b Feb 16 1927, was a family connection I began to reconnect with after Sue and I visited Steinwenden Germany in the late 1970's to visit the land of our German Eicher ancestors. Bill had contracted a man, Roland Paul in Kaiserslautern to trace back the family roots and generously send the work to his first cousin Paul Henry Weaver, my dad after his trip to Steinwenden in 1977. After regular Christmas communications, Susan, Nathan and I visit his home in Kettering, suburban Dayton on our way to Vermont in 1984. While driving the roads of Montgomery County, West Carrollton, Ellerton and Miamisburg and as I told him my coming out story, he mentioned, "It must be genetic, my sister, Betty, has lived with a woman since she left Ohio State, and they moved to Lakeland, Florida together years ago." I felt such a great relief back then.
So here is Bill Sr's son, Bill of Florida, who lived with his mom in Ft Lauderdale area in S Florida, until he moved up to Lakeland where he met Shiela, his wife who is from the area. Grateful Bill could take out the archives so I could begin to make photos. even with only my I Phone. Thanks Bill!

Theralac TruFiber National Autism Conference in Ft Lauderdale

Thanks to Jeff Thurston of Master Suppliements for continuing to share in the education around marketing and teaching about functional digestion and the upgrade of the T- cells and the the eubiosis of the human gut. Gratitude for the human strains of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacilli. Check out Master Supplements and the linked websites at: http://www.master-supplements.com/

Happy to be able to have my XL supported growing wardrobe, purchased at a local XL store in Richfield. THanks XL for the sartorial eye and feng shui. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_shui

I am expanding my Chinese Consciousness and grateful for the Tao of wind and water. Thanks Lao tse!

From wiki "The original designation for the discipline is Kan Yu (simplified Chinese: 堪舆; traditional Chinese: 堪輿; pinyin: kānyú; literally: Tao of heaven and earth).[4]

The term feng shui literally translates as "wind-water" in English. This is a cultural shorthand taken from the following passage of the Zangshu (Book of Burial) by Guo Pu of the Jin Dynasty:[5]

Qi rides the wind and scatters, but is retained when encountering water.[5]

Traditional feng shui practice always requires an extremely accurate Chinese compass, or luo pan, in order to determine the directions in finding any auspicious sector in a desired location."

Regarding direction in my life, and finding balance by serving others.

I am grateful to be of service to support the intestinal fortitude of families with compromised digestion and immune function. THanks for the vision of Randy Porubcan and Jeff Thurston in creating this business that support the health of many in a good way.

Jupiter Lighthouse - Volunteer Servant on the East Coast Jupiter Inlet. -

Here I am for my first I phone photo, as my Canon decided to have a lens issue. Grateful for Patty Strunk who could walk me through learning about the I phone application at a watering hole just across the inlet where we were sitting with Harry Strunk from the Key Largo area, and Ed Sasso and Heather Neville who live in Jupiter. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter_Inlet_Light, for more history!

Thanks for Xiaosong in leading me to find this sea blue T shirt on the Goodwill Store in Minneapolis on S Nicollet. What a great $.99 bargain and in 2 XL. I am so grateful to Creator for XL. Thanks Xiaosong Liu for your shining light! Xie Xie 谢谢 :-)


THanks for Ed's support in learning more about the area and the local community in a good way. At this location I learned about the oldest brewery in the US, that I had heard about, since the Schell Brewery in New Ulm MN is the second oldest family brewery. The name looks more Chinese as Yeuegling and then it makes sense as the orginal German was Juengling as learned on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D.G._Yuengling_&_Son
"The German brewer David G. Jüngling immigrated to the United States in 1823 from Aldingen in the Kingdom of Württemberg. He anglicized his surname from Jüngling to Yuengling and began the "Eagle Brewery" on Center Street in Pottsville in 1829. His eldest son, David, Jr., left the Eagle Brewery to establish the James River Steam Brewery along the James River in Richmond, Virginia"
Always like to learn about the stories of the German ancestors. My Weaver anglicised from Weber came from Baden Wurttemburg in 1751 to the Pine Grove Twp area of Skulykill County PA. So the brewing tradition of the German Volk still is passed on.



Here I am at Amazon Herb Warehouse where the corporate headquarters used to be prior to the Zamu years. Ed and I picked up some Treaure Tea and Warrior here after we got the tour of the new executive offices in Jupiter. Cheers

Hollow Horn Bear Sundance Grounds by Xiaosong

When I first ventured out to the St Francis area to support the sun dance here in 1990, I was mentored by a traditional teacher who lived on this land, by the name of Joe Eagle Elk. Since then, one of my teachers,  who has come to Minnesota off and on,  still jokes with me "there are no trees here to spoil the view!" The joy and laughter are one of the things that keeps me coming back to visit my friends here. After honoring the tree and the give away of the Chan Oyate (Tree Nation) at the sundance grounds for a monthly tree sweat, Steven Xiaosong Liu, took this photo of our traveling companions Coby and Blaine with a back drop of the mahkpiya oyate, the cloud nation. Ask about the story of the first son,Eya, of Tate the wind and how the cloud nation, Mahkpia Oyate can be teachers about our addictions-compulsions and block out our connection with the light of the sun and create a shadow. So wonderful to share this journey and this place with my Zhongguo pengyou, Xiaosong.  Revisiting this page in 2013 to edit, I am so grateful for Steve X Liu's openness to visit and his  curiosity and openness and willingness to learn back in November of 2009.  And that he could visit the home of Lekshi Albert White Hat, 1938-2013, who modeled the humility of a traditional elder and teacher. Pilamiya Lekshi Albert. Xie xie ni pengyou Xiasong. 

  Check that out with your spiritual mentor to learn in a good way. Aho. Mitakuye Oyasin.

St Francis South Dakota - Gratitude Wopila Feast after Tree Inipi Ceremony

One of the times I especially enjoy is sitting with friends and sharing food after a ceremony. Somehow, the human desire to share stories and share food is a universal way to connect and be in the present as a soul. Here are some of my friends I have gotten to connect with over the past 20 years or so of travel to this heartland of Turtle Island. Fred the fire coordinator of our Hollowhorn Bear Sundance, Albert White Hat Sr, Marliese White Hat, Steven Xiaosong Liu are sharing stores over food in a good way here in St Francis at the White Hat home. Pilamiyayelo tunkashila.. Mitakuye Oyasin.

St Francis South Dakota - Lavender Church - Pejuta Oyate Teachings

Over the past 20 some years, I have been going out to the Rosebud Reservation to pray and connect with the Hollow Horn Bear Sundance as part of the Minnesota Tiospaye. Xiaosong took this photo of me in front of the old mission church that is part of the Buechel museum complex and all. As a pejuta wichasha "plant person" I am grateful for the ongoing connection to the spirit of the plants, as taught through traditional D/Lakota ceremony. This bundle of lavender I have carried on my dashboard since it called to me in Abuiqui NM at the time of the Peace Teachings on the high desert this past summer. So grateful to the healing energy of lavender, a plant from the area of my French ancestors.

Regarding the history of Father Buechel and the St Francis mission wori, I recommend as a useful bridging resource, a book "Lakota Names and Traditional Uses of Native Plants by Sicangu (Brule) People in the Rosebud Area, South Dakota, A Study Based on Father Eugene Buechel's Collection of Plants on Rosebud around 1920" 1980 by Dilwyn Rogers, Professor of Biology, Augustana College, Sioux Falls SD, c The Rosebud Educational Society Inc, St Francis SD. One of the plants that has been special over the years, English "Prairie turnip" in Lakota, translated in the book as "prairie rice" Lakota tinpsila. Perhaps from psin from wild rice, the most important food for energy for the Dakota people living in Minnesota . Albert White Hat descibed that during our visit to his home when Xiaosong notice the strand of tinpsala on the wall by the family kitchen and dining area. Funny to hear about rice on the prairie in this multicultural context. Pidamiya tunkashila. Thanks for the teaching>>


Xie, Xie for Liu Xiaosong, ta shi wo de hao pengyou. He seems so happy and peaceful here on the prairie in November 2009. (I was learning a little pinyin - putonghua  in 2010-11 to honor Xiaosong and his language and people .Zhongguoren....)