"The year 2005 has been without a doubt, one
of the most jam-packed years I have ever experienced. It
started out as a rather run-of-the-mill year and we just
kept doing more interesting things until it was almost
breathtaking.
For some time I had been discussing with my writing partner
Glen Merzer the idea of writing a new book about various
diets. The project really got a boost when, at
a dinner party at Glen’s home, we along with some
good friends, came up with the title, “No
More Bull!” From this point on the book just seemed
to fall into place. When Glens wife Joanna agreed to
do a number of the recipes along with the support of
some of the best chefs in North America, we completed
what I consider a terrific book for a person who is wondering
what do I eat now. We actually had the book in
hand in time for the fall tour thanks to our publisher
Simon and Schuster.
The next thing on the schedule was the completion of
the Mad Cowboy Documentary. With over three years
in the making, 150 hours of raw film footage, it seemed
to be an unending project. With Michael Tobias
as the director and Pat Fitzgerald doing the producing
and editing, we finally had a first draft in early summer.
We started out with 120 minutes which was reduced to
80 minutes and now finally we are at 58 minutes. This
version has been accepted by PBS to be shown on Earth
Day 2006 nationwide. We have a verbal commitment
which should be signed sealed and delivered by the end
of the year. Many thanks to the many who had a
part in making this dream come to life.
In June my wife and I lived a dream we had for years which
was to raft down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Along
with a number of family members, we spent a week on the
river traveling 188 miles through some of the most beautiful
country we had ever seen [Pix01, Pix02]. We did this
at the same time eating a vegan diet among a group of folks
eating
the standard American diet. We had a fabulous time
and educated some folks along the way.
We got off the river in time to attend the summer conferences
of both Summerfest
and AR2005. Both were educational
and refreshing.
August gave me time to prepare for the fall tour which
was to commence on the 28th and continue for the next couple
of months. Willow Jeane agreed to accompany me as
we had decided in the midst of the hectic summer to sell
our home in Virginia and move to Ellensburg, WA after the
tour.
We hit the trail at the end of August and travel over 15,000
miles before we moved into our new rental home in Ellensburg. The
tour was fantastic as well as tiring. We did over
sixty events in all parts of the country from the East
Coast to the West Coast and then down to Florida before
we headed back to Virginia. We dodged snow storms
and hurricanes with some 17 hour drives, and which my wife
told me in no uncertain terms were not to be repeated. The
support we received during the tour reinforced my faith
in the plant eating community as the greatest group of
folks in the world. I cannot express my thanks to
so many that did so much to make the tour a resounding
success.
We are now settled in Ellensburg, WA and every day we are
here we are more convinced we picked the correct place
to live. I sincerely hope that all of our friends
know that our successes this year were the fruit of our
many friends and for that we are eternally grateful.
From Willow Jeane and myself, may you all have the
most wonderful holiday season."
Howard F. Lyman, LL.D.
President, Voice For A Viable Future
PO Box 1240
Ellensburg, WA 98926
