IN MEMORY OF A GREAT AMERICAN...AND HIS HEAVENLY COMPANION

EDWARD JOHN GOMEAU

JUNE 24,1933-March 30,2010

It was September 1998, and I was jubilant to be making my way across the desert for the last time, having found a way to escape from Las Vegas to beautiful Carlsbad, CA, with both U-Haul and an adventurous golden retriever - Simon Peter- in tow.

Ed Gomeau was recommended to me as a bookkeeper for a small business that I was forming in the San Diego area called: Interiors By Faith. He burst into my office in full military uniform on that first day, and thus began what would evolve into an 11 year business/friendship alliance.

Twice a month, Ed would find comfort in the routine of the computer in my home office, while Simon-Peter nestled happily at his feet. He was the father I lost at twenty years old, and I learned to view him with the same exasperation and fondness I had always reserved for my own dad. As the business grew he methodically kept me on track, grudgingly insisting that his job was to simply “keep me out of jail.” At tax time, as I was typically formulating yet another creative venture, Ed would routinely parade up and down my desk like an officer of the marines, to lecture me on the benefits of long-term financial securities.

Ed never missed a beat when it came to finding every penny for the business, and - as if to confirm his respect for the slipping values of today's currency - held a certain penchant for old coins. For every penny he found on the floor, he would pick it up and scratch the year for the date, urging me to keep it for leaner times. Later, when he assumed bookkeeping services for my husband Bo, he continued to faithfully keep up with every detail of our home businesses. He enjoyed played Santa Claus at Christmas, and once a month, after the grueling query of the months financial records would finally end, Ed would relax with a cup of coffee while he and Bo discussed the latest news and events over raised eyebrows for my next enthusiastic scheme.

When Simon-Peter passed away, Ed was crushed, and I let him know that of course, Simon would one day be his escort into heaven. He kept a photo of Simon on his desk at home to remind him of that promise.

On March 30th, my new bookkeeper, Cheryl, began her first day at Interiors By Faith.

It was no coincidence that Cheryl’s first days of work, marked the day America lost a great man.....Edward John Gomeau. He loved his family, his wife, his children, his grandchildren, his many friends, his Catholicism, America, and all things furry and four-legged. Though he did'nt always understand my entrepreneurial instincts, Ed supported me on every cause, buying copies of my published book, Popcorn Poppin on the Apricot Tree, and Back To The Tap filtered water bottles for every member of the family.

While consolidating Ed’s precise ledgers that day, I asked Cheryl to hand me my purse and an old penny dropped out. Cheryl, herself a long times coins collector, suggested I scratch off the date. She added that the oldest penny in her collection was from 1933. We held it up to the light of the window, and rubbed off the year: 1920. It’s a 'Penny from Heaven' I whispered to Cheryl as I handed it to her for her collection. I was sure that in this unspoken gesture, that the proverbial Torch was being passed from one coin-collector Bookkeeper to the next – and more importantly, after years of scrutinizing appropriate replacements, that Ed finally approved of this bookkeeper-his newest prodigy.

We will miss Ed at every Holiday, at every Padres game, and especially on every April 15^th, at Tax Time. And I know in my heart, that Simon-Peter is still nestled at Eds feet while the two of them keep guard on all of us - until the day we will surely meet again.

FAITH PAULUS

Author - Popcorn Poppin on the Apricot Tree

A LESSON FROM MICHIGAN ABOUT TAKING PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

As a self-proclaimed 'Michigander" I am proud to say that those old fashioned values of pulling together as a community still exist.

This text is from a county emergency manager out in the western part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan after a severe snow storm.


The Mining Journal, Marquette, MI

WEATHER BULLETIN

Up here in the Northern part of Michigan we just recovered from a Historic event --- may I even say a weather event of Biblical Proportions --- with an historic blizzard of up to 44" inches of snow and winds to 90 MPH that broke trees in half, knocked down utility poles, stranded hundreds of motorists in lethal snow banks, closed ALL roads, isolated scores of communities and cut power to 10's of thousands.

FEMA did nothing.
No one howled for the government.
No one blamed the government.
No one even uttered an expletive on TV.
Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton did not visit.
Our Mayor's did not blame Obama or anyone else.
Our Governor did not blame Obama or anyone else either.
CNN, ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC did not visit - or even report on this category 5 snow storm.

Nobody demanded $2,000 debit cards.
No one asked for a FEMA Trailer House.
No one looted.

Nobody - I mean Nobody demanded the government do something.
Nobody expected the government to do anything either.
No Larry King, No Bill O'Rielly, No Oprah, No Chris Mathews and No Geraldo Rivera.
No Shaun Penn, No Barbara Striesand,
No Brad Pitts, No Hollywood types to be found.

Nope, we just melted the snow for water.
Sent out caravans of SUV's to pluck people out of snow engulfed cars.
The truck drivers pulled people out of snow banks and didn't ask for a penny.
Local restaurants made food, and the police and fire departments delivered it to the snow bound families..
Families took in the stranded people - total strangers.

We fired up wood stoves, broke out coal oil lanterns or Coleman lanterns.
We put on an extra layers of clothes because up here it is "Work or Die".
We did not wait for some affirmative action government to get us out of a mess created by being immobilized by a welfare program that trades votes for 'sittin at home' checks.

Even though a Category 5 blizzard of this scale is not usual, we know it can happen and how to deal with it ourselves.

I hope this gets passed on.
Maybe .....
SOME people will get the message ......
The world, including the U.S. government, does Not owe you a living.

Thank you for your support in Healing The Planet one bottle at a Time!

Faith Paulus

Founder – Back To The Tap…for a Healthier Planet

www.backtothetap.com

President – Interiors By Faith www.interiorsbyfaith.com

Author of Popcorn Poppin on the Apricot Tree

We believe the lack of safe drinking water and sanitation facilities are the root causes of hunger, disease and poverty throughout the developing world.

~globalwater.org

UNHEALTHY TAP WATER? BACK TO THE TAP HAS THE SOLUTION WITH ITS PURIFICATION SYSTEM.

By now, everyone has probably at least heard about the New York Times 6 page report, and its candid investigation of the Los Angeles Reservoirs - and the mysterious black plastic balls which have been neatly laid to prevent sunlight from reacting with the potential 60,000 cancer-causing chemicals contained within our confused waters. The initial fact that the Joneses were not happy with the cosmetic appeal of this obvious environmental faux paus, covered up the more startling questions that lie beneath that blanket of balls - the quality of our drinking water.

Okay, so this is not fresh news - we KNOW that the same regulations that have been used for the last 35 years are still being utilized for our federal drinking water standards - even though the number of contaminants that we are being exposed to - as well as their known perils - have multiplied tremendously. The National Academy of Sciences, suggests that millions of Americans become sick each year from drinking contaminated water, with maladies from upset stomachs to cancer and birth defects.

But then, why are we continually expecting our government institutions to babysit us? The EPA testing for all of our drinking water is mandated by ONE - we repeat ONE person - to uphold and mandate those regulations. And we simply cannot expect an overnight miracle within our federal and state budgets for improving those current conditions. The fact is that we Americans have become very complacent with our way of doing things - and often refuse to change our habits until its WAY too late.

It's time to stop playing the "victim role" and take responsibility for learning about alternatives for our health, and likewise making pro-active choices for our families.

So, we urge you to 1)take a deep breath, and slowly unleash your grip from that disposable water bottle (easy now...we know you can do it) 2)properly dispose of it in a plastic bin if you can find one in your community, and 3)consider this new resolve for 2010:

Here's the deal. Now, you have a choice of a safer and healthier drinking water Alternative with the new Back To The Tap Purification System. This advanced Filter treats up to 100 gallons from any source except salt water,(even converts river and pool water to safe standards!)and the very sleek, cobalt blue Stainless Steel bottle is curvy, fun, and durable enough that you should do as we encourage....keep it for years, and every 8 months or so, buy an Advanced Replacement Filter that comes complete with the Flip Top that acts as a straw. And this, my friends is how we begin to Heal The Planet one Bottle at a Time.....and while we're at it, we can begin the process of healing our bodies from the damaging affects of toxic chemicals.

The Back To The Tap Purification System offers an Advanced technology filter which eliminates an amazing 99.99% of chemicals, parasites and other biological impurities, including Trichloroethylenem, and arsenic with all the advantages of a long lasting Stainless Steel Bottle.

At just $35.00 for each Back To The Tap™ Purification System, we found a Win-Win Solution for creating an alternative to costly bottled water - while insuring the safest drinking water available in todays portable water systems.

SEE OUR COMPOSITE TEST RESULTS http://www.backtothetap.com/compositeresults.htm

For Emergency Preparation insurance and for Travel to questionable areas, you will want to have a Back To The Tap Purification System available for each member of your family. Makes an attractive and environmentally conscious gift for everyone on your list!

And by the way, to all you Disposable Water Bottle people that have not yet 'seen the light'......The truth is those same black balls would be needed to keep the Bisphenol from leaching into the atmosphere, if someone wanted to 'Foot The Bill' for doing so.

However, do we really need our Martian neighbors turning up their little green noses at our earthly taste as they try to comprehend the blankets of black balls covering our water reservoirs and landfills? I think not....After all, we just back into the good graces of our European friends since (You Know Who) got out of office.....

The Back To The Tap Campaign thanks you in advance for helping us Heal The Planet one bottle at a Time!

FAITH PAULUS

FOUNDER - BACK TO THE TAP.....FOR A HEALTHIER PLANET

www.backtothetap.com

Turn your Wounds into Wisdom

~ Oprah Winfrey

That Tap Water is Legal but may be Unhealthy
New York Times
Published December 16th, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/us/17water.html?pagewanted=4&_r=1

BACK TO THE TAP'S SECRET IS OUT!

Okay, so a while back I hinted at The Big Secret that we have been harboring here at the Back To The Tap Campaign headquarters.....and with that, I have a confession to make:
Growing up, my sister Jean and I were notorious for not keeping a secret. We would pester our father to death for hints regarding our upcoming birthday presents, just so that we could bribe the other siblings with this superior knowledge. Christmas at our house in Midwestern Michigan meant months of climbing into the attic for whatever pre-Christmas sales may have been lurking about; always carefully sealing the gift of whatever child we planned to torment in a quest to obtain the material comforts that guaranteed our survival.

"I know what Santa got you!", we would threaten, which usually resulted in an extra piece of chocolate cake that the curious sibling would timidly offer up, in hopes of discovering what the big hoopla was all about.

So, the fact that I have been harboring this secret for months has made everyone crazy for answers - including the ADPR Global people, our savvy PR firm who has become somewhat demanding in their quest for answers.
Hey, can't a gal keep a secret anymore? Must be that Christmas karma coming back to haunt me.

So, here it is and its absolutely, gushingly delicious. Are you ready?
The Back to the Tap Campaign is pleased to introduce the new ECO bottle within their innovative line of filtered water bottle technologies. The ECO bottle features a very sexy, flip-top straw filter in a long lasting BPA Free, biodegradable translucent container. The safety and convenience of NSF certified drinking water, drawn straight from any commercial or residential tap source, has always made Back To The Tap filtered water bottles the clear winner in both spending a fortune and risking your health over that next Arrowhead bottle.
(Do people still drink those?)

But here's where it gets really good. What makes the ECO bottle unique is that this same carbon device now attaches to a Straw! No more tipping your head back to drink from your reusable container while taking your eyes off the road just to take a swig. Just think, those seconds gained could mean everything in that next bikers marathon. And, with your new savvy Filtered tap water System, you vehicle drivers will have more time to stare in the rearview mirror to yell at your kids. The cool looking straw, (okay so its a platinum based medical tubing which repels bacteria, but call it what you will) tucks ever-so-neatly under its own little round hood to prevent leaking when not in use. Just fill at any water fountain, bathroom sink, or McDonalds, (get an egg mcMuffin to go with it and you won't get a dirty look on your way out)

We gotta warn you however, your ECO bottle will be the envy of every kid in your car pool so you may just command some really interesting new respect, since this safety feature just happens to be encased within a sleek looking sports bottle, that will appeal to every generation. However what is even more promising about this product is the positive impact that can be had on our growing landfills from a plastic container that will biodegrade within a year’s time!

Yeah, thats right, The Back To The Tap Campaign is prepared to make a a dent in that absurd Great Pacific Plastic Garbage Patch that, for some reason, everyone likes to compare to the state of Texas. However, the stunning impact of two times the size of that state is pretty mind boggling for those of us who have traveled wearily through that vast, dusty land - UHaul in tow - eagerly seeking the next new frontier which would lead us straight into the right careers, husbands, and perfect life. That is if the truck did'nt break down in the middle of nowhere and you could successfully find a clean outhouse, while searching for your cat who just came too from the travel tranquilers, and decided to bolt into the nearest oil well.

Might take us a few trillion of these babies to get there, but remember our humble claim: One Bottle at a Time.
And as Obama says: Gotta start somewhere.....(or something like that).

So the question remains: Are you in or are you out? Take the plunge and get your ECO Bottle now. Better yet, invest in one for each of those darling children and you never have to pull over for one of those disposable numbers again. My suggestion is to put the money towards that new racing bike and keep your competition guessing, as you covertly keep your eyes on the road.

See, Secrets can be Good!!!!!

Bottles and filters can be ordered online at www.backtothetap.com. The company donates $1 for every bottle sold to the programs of Earth Share, supporting environmental and conservation organizations and efforts.

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."~ Barack Obama

MEET DENISE LACAYO - BACK TO THE TAP'S REAL GENIUS!

When I was a young girl, I wanted a Pen Pal. Someone who lived in another country and who could share cultural differences, ideas, dreams, and the synergy that comes when two Great Minds think alike. So for a while, I communicated with another little 8 year old girl who lived in Africa ~ determined to make a difference by at least sending a few of my unworn lace dresses to take the place of her tattered one.

Unfortunately, other than a badly damaged photo of my shy, intangible friend, our slow postal services and distance proved to be a serious obstacle to gaining any ground as far as a long term friendship was concerned. So I mentally bid little Luciana farewell ~ but not without a silent pledge to one day know many other Luciana's of the world.

In fact, my fantasy was that if every child in America could have an African child delivered on their doorstep complete with its own instruction booklet for proper feeding and caring ~ we would have no more world hunger. Oh, the simplicity of it all!!!!

Denise Lacayo and I met over 18 months ago, (and 40 years after my last Pen Pal) when I was searching for a Creative Director for Back To The Tap. I knew it was essential to have someone young, trendy, knowledgeable of e-commerce, and most of all - as quirky and creative as I am.
Somewhere, in one of those vast virtual employment networks from India, we stumbled onto each other and were immediately smitten. Denise found the concept of Back To The Tap to be as intriguing as I, and wholeheartedly understood the importance of this movement to minimize global plastic waste through a Sports Bottle System that could Filter as you Drink.

I also have to admit a certain relief that she could answer the inevitable question: Do you like Curry? And quickly found I had hit on a goldmine when Denise admitted she did not live in India ~ but actually had a firm based in Florida. Which meant, normal working hours for the Back To The Tap website development process. Perfect!

From that moment on, the flurry of images, ideas, text, editing, more text, more editing, more photos, more ideas, and more changes began. We phoned each other constantly, and what at first appeared to be a language barrier ~ Denise is from Ecuador originally ~ and I from the United States ~we quickly learned that the unspoken language of creativity ~ and the more ancient art of our own women archetypical inheritances ~ quickly surpassed any perceived obstacles.
We often prayed for the success of Back To The Tap, as well as for our individual families, our loyal, loving and understanding husbands, (who continue to wait patiently for our return from these enlightened paths) and for insight into the world of big business. Sharing our knowledge ~ and always laughing like two schoolgirls, before we hung up the phone.

Denise was a brand new mom with a two month old child when we met. I would hear his quiet coos late into the night, as she would rock the baby on her lap without missing a beat while we discussed the important movement of Back To The Tap. I knew that together, we were making a contribution that was more global than we knew and will someday benefit those babies who deserve to have a green sustainable earth.

Her two beautiful boys: Dega and Dante, have grown quickly into toddlers now - their voices maturing into young little replicas of Denise's raspy quiet tones. The youngest baby has acquired a new vocabulary that includes the words: "Hi Faith!", as some of his first.
The African children I longed to care for our now as real as ever ~ as the Back To The Tap Campaign plans to offer proceeds from its sales to help those without safe drinking water.

Unfortunately , the global efforts that were needed in the sixties seem much closer to home as we discover the children in areas of our own country that are in desperate need of help for both proper drinking water and poverty issues.

The valuable conservation efforts and cost effective solutions of Back To The Tap are becoming apparent as the Campaign continues to be a magnet for the media ~ hungry for the ideas of those of us who have simply envisioned these pressing enviromental issues a little earlier than some.

We environmentalists are only too aware that along with that vision , comes the responsibility of providing tangible solutions that must be left behind for the next generation. Juggling our families, our friends, our spiritual growth, our budgets, along with our own physical and mental health becomes a reluctantly lesser priority, as future thinkers band together and furiously combine our talents to the tune of an oblivious ticking universal clock that does not heed the urgency that we know.

My friend Denise of DL Designs is the best Pen Pal I could ever have hoped for. She is someone who brings knowledge from another country and who can share cultural differences, ideas, dreams, and the synergy that comes when two Great Minds think alike.

Denise is a shining example of how creativity and compassion can be united within a joint passion that is bound to provide a universal need. I am thankful for her presence in my life and with luck this summer, will be joyfully looking forward to officially meeting the face behind the soul.

Whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name....there is love.