gafferbear is one of the most amazing human beings I think I've ever met. Given the (truly high) quality of people in my life (yes, I'm talking about you!) that's really saying something. He is a harpist, among many other things, and one of those people you find yourself talking with for hours upon end ... and then realizing that every single word he said was worth listening to. He normally spends his days busking, or travelling to retirement homes to share the joy and serenity he creates with his music and do what he can to make the world a better place.

Gaffer lives in Boulder CO, which is really freaking cold right about now, as it normally is at the turn of the year. Part of what this means is that busking isn't really an option right now, so his income has been cut pretty drastically. And, unfortunately, he's just had an emergency come up that requires him to find new living space and get moved into it on very very short notice. In short, he needs a miracle. Gaffer is physically pretty fragile and isn't going to be able to do all this himself. He could also use some help finding a new place that (a) fulfills his own needs and (b) he's able to afford on his fairly limited housing budget.

There may also be some other stuff people who don't live in Boulder could do to help--I'll be talking with him tonight to find out the details and will share them as they become available. Some of it will be simple financial help, other parts will be things like helping him to set up a website to sell his CD's.

For now, if you live in Boulder, or if you have friends or family or community in Boulder who might be able to help in some way, please, please ... Gaffer is one of the most wonderful human beings you will ever meet, and he can and will fill your world with heartbreakingly lovely harp music in exchange for anything you can do to help, not to mention his (and my) deep appreciation.

His post with the initial information is here.

Please feel free to repost and spread the word--the more people who hear about this, the easier it's going to be for us to create the magic to get this fixed.

(reposted from damiana_swan )

Gaffer is a damned amazing wise elf of a human being, and after only having hung out with him for a weekend in October, I know that he's my brother.  He reminded me recently that we don't work for a living, we PLAY for a living, and for that reminder I'll always love him.  omnisti  and I won't be back in CO until Jan 7 or so, but we're going to let our Colorado allies know about this and hope that they are willing to help a brother out.  You please do the same.

Current Location: safe
Current Mood: anxious
Current Music: Mirrormask soundtrack

renaissance2010
Turning to photography as a creative outlet during a valiant fight with breast cancer at age 34, renaissance10 survived and set up a photo contest to help raise funds for the Lavender Trust, a nonprofit that provides information and support to younger women with breast cancer. In the first two years, the competition brought in over £65,000 (that's $107,260.73 U.S.!), with entries from 130 countries last year. Renaissance10 recently joined LiveJournal to meet other passionate photographers and find supportive friends.

Tags: cancer, renaissance2010

curiouscupcakes
Holy buttercream frosting! If you have a sweet tooth for sugary goodness or a wandering eye for whimsical confection, this is pure ecstasy iced in deliciousness. Hailing the beloved cupcake as the artisinal canvas of choice, you'll enjoy recipes, photos, and bountiful tips to bake up a batch, whether your taste leans toward French classics or funky and flavorful.

Tags: cupcakes, curiouscupcakes, desserts

mission101
With New Years in the offing, it's an ideal time to reflect on past accomplishments, make peace with disappointments, and refocus the lens on future goals. This community welcomes you to create a bucket list of 101 things you plan to accomplish in the next 1,001 days. Offering support, guidance, and inspiration, this is a great way to jumpstart those pesky resolutions.

Tags: bucket list, mission101

i_hope_that
For many of us, the holidays can be kind of rough. If you're searching for a network of understanding friends, this ultra-nurturing community encourages you to express your heartfelt wishes and offer other members encouragement and acceptance. Not for the terminally snarky or emotionally-challenged, this is a good-spirited place to lend comfort and support.

Tags: i_hope_that, support, wishes

diygifts
Feeling crafty? If you've got a few last folks on your holiday gift list, this is a great place to seed your creativity and generosity. You'll also discover wonderful DIY tips to decorate your home and entertain guests. Offering a no-frills-no-skills attitude that welcomes the cash-challenged and arts-phobic, you're sure to get ideas and make friends in the process.

Tags: crafts, diygifts, do it yourself

cooking_club
A fun and friendly community dedicated to those who love to cook, whether you're a meat-and-potatoes type, an aspiring gourmand, and/or a vegan. In search of a brilliant dish to use up those weekly leftovers? Post your ingredients and you'll be whipping up a feast by dinner. You can also share favorite recipes. For Type A chefs, you can spice up your culinary repertoire with exciting cooking challenges.

Tags: cooking_club

I'm confident that most of us are aware of this by now, but just in case: karnythia (author and independent publisher, writer of the well-received "Adele" story on MU, and general person of awesomeness) has kin that's gone missing. The information is here.

EDIT: according to many reliable folk, she's found, she's alive, and she's with her family. Whew!

stepstomarrow
When granddaughter, Jada, was born with leukemia, a donor-match was located and Jada made a miraculous recovery. In honor of her grandaughter's health, Jeanna has decided to walk across the country (in the dead of winter) to raise awareness and build support for the bone marrow registry (all that's required is a cheek swab). Follow Jeanna's remarkable journey as she travels the United States by foot.