Over on the So Much More Hawaii blog I wrote about our family excursion to Kualoa Ranch. There are many outdoor activities and tours offered by the Ranch. We especially enjoyed learning about ancient innovation of the Hawaiian people of the construction of the still existing, Molii Fishpond. Lilinoe even took her turn throwing a [...]
Life
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From the Mind of NEENZ
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Outdoor Activities: Kualoa Ranch
27 Oct 2009 | 3:15 am -
From the Mind of NEENZ or iNEENZ?
27 Oct 2009 | 2:45 amI really love WordPress and all of the creative geniuses that design themes and plugins that make building and maintaining websites a relatively smooth process. Originally designed as blogging software, WordPress now has become the software of choice. But, in the past year, I’ve really grown to love the ease of using Posterous, especially for [...] -
So Much More Hawaii: A Blogger’s View of Paradise
27 Oct 2009 | 1:52 amEarlier this year, the State of Hawaii, Hawaii Tourism Authority tested the social media waters by launching a familiarization tour using bloggers with a substantial and global reach. Many balked at the idea for their own reasons, but I embraced it because it was a ray of sunlight on social and new media in an [...] -
[re]Think: Hawaii and TEDxHonolulu
27 Oct 2009 | 1:23 amIf you didn’t know, I love my home, Hawaii — unconditionally. Her beauty, her people, our community, our challenges, our success — I am proud, always. It’s no secret that we’re faced with economically challenging times, the toughest I’ve experienced as an adult. These challenges can cause communities to breakdown, feel hopeless, and make irrational [...] -
Pono Media Initiatives: Web Properties
27 Oct 2009 | 12:18 amPart of being an entrepreneur is having a creative mind that is constantly churning out ideas. Call it curse or a blessing, I’d like to think it’s the latter. I wanted to share the current portfolio of web properties owned and managed by Pono Media. Hawaii Tech 5.0 A history of research, science, and technology in Hawaii’s [...]
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The New Old Age
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The Bright Side of C.C.R.C.'s
6 Nov 2009 | 6:00 amOne couple's rationale for moving to a C.C.R.C. -
'Mom Always Liked You Best'
3 Nov 2009 | 10:41 amWhy the favored child, not the most qualified, becomes the caregiver. -
Limited Mobility of Another Sort
28 Oct 2009 | 12:28 pmIn a continuing care retirement community, the nursing home is close at hand, but that doesn't make it easy for residents to move there. -
Maybe Grief Isn't So Bad After All
22 Oct 2009 | 9:30 amAn optimistic new book finds that grief is something people cope with "often more easily than they thought possible." -
Easing Tensions in the Nursing Home
19 Oct 2009 | 9:12 amConflicts between family members and nursing home staff may be familiar, but they are not inevitable, researchers say.
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Peterman's Eye
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Fans hold their breath as Zenyatta takes on the colts in Breeders' Cup Classic
6 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pmAmerica's sweetheart has some stiff competition in the Breeders' Cup ClassicContinue reading this post -
The Long and the Short of it
5 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pmShort words are more powerful than long words, a recent study claims.Continue reading this post -
A Black Eye
4 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pmBullying is a huge problem in our schools. And it's not going away.Continue reading this post -
America's Folk Poet
3 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pmJohnny Mercer was America's Folk Poet. You just have to listen to his words to know why.Continue reading this post -
Redemption
2 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pmThere's nothing like a classic arcade game like Skee-Ball to bring back memories.Continue reading this post
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kirtsy-Popular Stories
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Hilarious Banner Ad for Pringles
6 Nov 2009 | 7:53 pmBet you can't stop clicking!28 Vote(s) -
10 Things Indie Musicians Do That Make People Hate Indie
6 Nov 2009 | 7:53 pmIndie rock is one of the most loved, and most hated, music genres out there. The conundrum is that even though there are plenty of good indie bands, there are also people who have good taste in music, but still hate indie. Here are 10 possible reaso24 Vote(s) -
such a delightful project, it makes my head spin. {that's a good. a very good.}
6 Nov 2009 | 5:50 pmbecause there are so many variations of this one. and it's timely. and recyclish. and i found it via design crush. i don't know why that's relevant, but it makes it sound even cooler, doesn't it? of course it does. enjoy. and xoxo.35 Vote(s) -
Have you met these fabulous, gorgeous Truffle Girls?! The Sweeterie is perfection.
6 Nov 2009 | 3:55 pmThe Sweeterie totally perfect. Go look. Now. Seriously. Love.33 Vote(s) -
This is A Seriously Fantastic Idea...
6 Nov 2009 | 3:01 pmand I fully plan to steal it. You should too!65 Vote(s)
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Nothing But Bonfires
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Brown Friday
5 Nov 2009 | 7:19 pmThe other week I was in a thrift store in San Diego---which sadly turned out to be not so much a thrift store as a giant disappointing pile of the sort of steaming crap that you shouldn't even be able to throw away, let alone sell, but hey that's another story for another time---when I overheard a conversation by some local youths. Do you know how I know I'm turning 30 in a few short months? read more -
Clarisonic Brush
4 Nov 2009 | 10:38 pmAbout six months before my wedding, I decided I needed to sort my skin out. I don't have bad skin, per se but my pores are a little larger than I'd like them to be and I occasionally break out on my chin. For my wedding, I wanted flawless skin, porcelain skin, the kind of skin you see on china dolls or Gap models or trust fund babies. Or, hell, just on babies. read more -
More Reasons To Like Sydney
3 Nov 2009 | 10:20 pmThis is part two of the Sydney portion of our honeymoon, which for some reason I still insist on recapping, even though it happened, like, two months ago and no-one really cares. Part one is here, and the Melbourne portion is here. Also, there are lots of photos. Are you still awake? Oh good, let's begin. read more -
Why We Loved Sydney
2 Nov 2009 | 4:54 pmread more -
The Princess And The Pee
29 Oct 2009 | 10:57 amAttention! I have some things to say about the women's bathroom. Specifically, I have some things to say about the people who are using the women's bathroom, and I don't mean one women's bathroom in particular---although there's one in my office building that's certainly on notice for the moment---but rather all women's bathrooms everywhere. read more
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Schmutzie.com
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Grace in Small Things: Part 349 of 365
6 Nov 2009 | 9:39 pm1. Ciabatta loaf 2. Spewing out a couple thousand words for NaNoWriMo and liking it 3. Singing 1980s tv show theme songs in the car, which devolved into a limping rendition of "Ebony and Ivory" 4. Power tools 5. Husbands what can do the... Click on the title to view the full weblog entry. 10% of Schmutzie.com's ad revenue goes to Kiva.org, so a visit to Schmutzie.com is a donation to a worthy cause. Thank you! -
Five Star Friday's Edition #78
6 Nov 2009 | 7:50 am"Five Star Friday's Edition #78": Today's roundup of good weblog entries is brought to you by growing up, a small kitchen, awol marriage counsellors, therapy, divorce, gravity, dogs, pediatric blood pressure, Canadian heavy metal music, a joke gone... Click on the title to view the full weblog entry. 10% of Schmutzie.com's ad revenue goes to Kiva.org, so a visit to Schmutzie.com is a donation to a worthy cause. Thank you! -
Grace in Small Things: Part 348 of 365
5 Nov 2009 | 9:31 pm1. Mall security 2. That one of my cats hates my singing so much he bites my arms whenever I do it 3. Famous people following me out of the blue on Twitter 4. Finding my voice in a narrative 5. Waiting for that first paycheck from a new... Click on the title to view the full weblog entry. 10% of Schmutzie.com's ad revenue goes to Kiva.org, so a visit to Schmutzie.com is a donation to a worthy cause. Thank you! -
More iPhone Photography, Featuring ColorSplash
5 Nov 2009 | 8:56 amAs you may already know, I have been getting into iPhone photography lately. The camera apps I collect on my iPhone have become go-to tools for me when I find myself without my usual camera, and I have not been disappointed with the results. In... Click on the title to view the full weblog entry. 10% of Schmutzie.com's ad revenue goes to Kiva.org, so a visit to Schmutzie.com is a donation to a worthy cause. Thank you! -
Me at MamaPop: Former *NSYNC Member, Joey Fatone, Has a Sense of Humor About Himself
5 Nov 2009 | 8:03 am"Former *NSYNC Member, Joey Fatone, Has a Sense of Humor About Himself": Former baritone member of the famous boy band *NSYNC, Joey Fatone, 32, has a sense of humor about himself. This is brilliant, especially when so many once-wildly-popular people... Click on the title to view the full weblog entry. 10% of Schmutzie.com's ad revenue goes to Kiva.org, so a visit to Schmutzie.com is a donation to a worthy cause. Thank you!
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Twenty Major
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Soaraway
6 Nov 2009 | 2:20 amThe Sun gives you the news you just can’t get anywhere else: ONE in 20 British schoolkids thinks war-mongering dictator Adolf Hitler was a German football coach, a shock survey has revealed. It’s not that shocking. Most football coaches are genocidal dictators bent on world domination and fascism. Frankly, if you asked me to choose between having a pint with Hitler or Sam Allardyce I’d go with the Nazi who at least doesn’t look as if he suffers from body odour problems. That said, Hitler never shuts up about his favoured formation, 4-4-Jew. Similar posts No Related… -
Now that’s what I call something something
5 Nov 2009 | 4:12 pmI backed away slowly. This was not right. The voice was not right. Hair stood up on the back of my neck. “What do you mean ‘Why am I talking like that?’”, he said. “That’s not your voice”. “We all talk like this now, Twenty”. “No. It can’t be”. “It is. And you know it is”. “Fuck you”. “It’s your turn next”. “Never. I’d kill myself before I let that happen”. He laughed. “Have you noticed the subtle change?”, he asked. “From insistent and… -
Serial killers
5 Nov 2009 | 1:35 amJust reading about this serial killer in the US. Is there some link between size of population and the propensity for killers of this type? Maybe it’s because the more people you have in your country the more likely you are to have mentalists like that. Or maybe it’s because the size of the country means it’s easier to operate in a kind of isolation. I don’t know. We’ve never had a serial killer, have we? That said the numbers of women who have gone missing in Ireland, especially in Leinster, over the last few years would strike you as not particularly random. I… -
Swine Flu vaccine
4 Nov 2009 | 8:01 amI’m not taking it. No fucking way. When Mary Harney wants me to do something I’ll do the opposite. And I’m still to be convinced that Swine Flu® isn’t just a huge scam of a conspiracy of a machination to bump up profits of drug companies and to allow them to inject us with a ‘vaccine’ that is probably some kind of mind-control thing or which inserts a permanent tracking device so we can be monitored from on high. I’ll stick with hot whiskey and the sweats. Similar posts April 30, 2009 — It’s here, it’s here! (37) April 28, 2009… -
The suitcase man
4 Nov 2009 | 1:46 amDid you ever know anyone whose luggage came out on the conveyor belt first after a flight? I did. His name was Malcolm. A tall man with impossibly dry skin. Every time he got on a flight his luggage was first out when he got to his destination. He would tell me this every time I saw him and I had to admit a certain amount of jealousy as my luggage was never first, or second, or even in the top 10. I’d say my bags came out somewhere between 93rd and 145th. Always. Not Malcolm though. He’d position himself somewhere in the middle of the carousel and when the bags started coming he…
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Meg Fowler
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let’s hear it for the boy.
5 Nov 2009 | 9:45 pmI like a good cause. I love a really, really good boy. When you combine the two? I can’t resist. Hopefully, you won’t either. My beloved, Gradon, is raising money to fight men’s cancers, and if you can spare anything for a donation, I’d appreciate it. Even if he IS growing a really skeezy ’stache. :) Thanks, guys. -
many irritating things.
4 Nov 2009 | 4:24 pmLeaky travel mugs Setting off the smoke detector while attempting to make dinner (and without any actual burning going on) Non-burrito, non-souvlaki tortilla/pita wraps (those are the only justifiable wraps) Dry elbows Comments on blogs that say, “First!” The price of anything to do with hairstyling Febreze Migraines The term “cougar” “Save Local TV” pleas on Canadian television (BUT I NEVER WATCHED YOU ANYWAY) Vitamin smell Breaking things like coffeepots and glasses and mugs that shatter unpleasantly How everything runs out at once (shampoo, shower gel,… -
and another sign shall come to them.
3 Nov 2009 | 8:21 pmRED CUP, BABY! The perfect sign of the coming holidays. And something that should always be shared with friends… And with one’s man (long distance, via webcam): -
and so it begins!
1 Nov 2009 | 3:23 pm -
the return of fives!
26 Oct 2009 | 12:10 pmIt’s a Monday. As I said last time, Mondays were made for to-do lists. Or… any lists, really. Time for some fives, people! 1. Five places you have yet to go that you are excited to see (and why!) 2. Five places you have already gone that you can’t wait to get back to 3. Five most important condiments in your life (stuff you put on other stuff) 4. Five songs that make you think of your loved ones 5. Five things that you are really, really terrible at GO!
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wowOwow | The Women on the Web
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From Blah to Bold (Photos)
6 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pmCreate the ultimate smoky eye following these steps by celebrity makeup artist Sue Devitt — and then count the number of heads that turn!Style | Today 12:00 amAu naturel is always charming. But — and there is a but — even on the most beautiful woman, a simply dressed lip often isn’t enough to complement a glamorous outfit. So, the next time you’re attending a gala, dinner party or black-tie event, try this classic, sophisticated and sexy eye look from celebrity makeup artist Sue Devitt. We bet you’ll lose track counting the number of heads that turn when… -
Liz Peek: Obama Deaf to Election Warning But May Get Bailed Out
6 Nov 2009 | 9:45 amAs bad as the recent jobs report is, the president is likely to receive some good news over the next several months …Wall Street Weekly | 11/06/2009 11:45 am Bears, Bulls, Chickens and Pigs: wOw’s Wall Street Weekly with Liz Peek (Week of 11/2) Editor’s Note: Liz Peek is a financial columnist. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the unemployment rate rose from 9.8% to 10.2% in October, the highest level since 1983. Job losses were primarily in construction, manufacturing and retail, and were worse than expected. This is not good news; the terrible job market clearly weighs… -
Liz Smith: The 25 Faces of Anna Deavere Smith
6 Nov 2009 | 3:00 amAnd more from Our Gossip Girl: Is Oscar gleaming for Hal Holbrook? And Margaux Hemingway’s tragic life headed for screenThe Liz Smith Column | 11/06/2009 5:00 am"What do I consider is good for gossip? It depends on the year. One year – Mariah Carey was the gift that kept on giving. Another year, it was Lindsay Lohan. Then Britney Spears. One year it was Michael Jackson. If you look at any of the great train wrecks, just before it gets really messy, they are the gift that keeps on giving." So opined the former gossip writer and current novelist Paula Froelich. *** Many of you… -
Dining room table? Fur coat? A new house? What was your first 'adult' purchase?
6 Nov 2009 | 12:00 amMary Wells, Candice Bergen, Sheila Nevins, Joan Ganz Cooney and Liz Smith share the monetary moment they felt adultQuestion of the Day | 11/06/2009 2:00 amLiz Smith | 11/06/2009 12:00 amLiz Smith's Most Popular Purchase It was in the ’50s. I was living on the Upper West Side with a number of young ladies who were in the same boat with me ... -
Liz Smith Addresses Michael Jackson Movie Rumors (Video)
5 Nov 2009 | 10:30 pmOur Grande Dame of Dish sifts through the whispersLips & Ears | 11/06/2009 12:30 am "This Is It" has spurred so many rumors. From a Michael Jackson body double to astronomical ticket sales, Our Gossip Girl has the scoop. Watch:
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Simply Jews
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Lebanese authorities: probe this...
7 Nov 2009 | 12:08 amOne of the most mind-boggling statements I've ever seen, this time by Lebanese officialdom:"The FRANCOP ship entered Lebanese territorial waters at noon today and, upon its arrival off Beirut port, the navy in cooperation with UN naval forces searched the vessel," an army statement said. Probably searching for the wrappings of the ammo (that never was there to start with, according to same people who are now doing the "search"). And then a topper:Military intelligence began interrogating the crew on the motives for the seizure of the vessel while the concerned authorities... will take all the… -
Rihanna's Forehead - watch it, dudes
6 Nov 2009 | 8:45 pmNow that one is really funny and has a cooling effect of its own. Enjoy. -
Nidal Hasan and sacrifice vs suicide bombing
6 Nov 2009 | 8:14 amThe NYT Lede Blog discovers something that is tentatively attributed to the Fort Hood murderer, psychiatrist turned killer:There was a grenade thrown amongs a group of American soldiers. One of the soldiers, feeling that it was to late for everyone to flee jumped on the grave with the intention of saving his comrades. Indeed he saved them....Scholars have paralled this to suicide bombers whose intention, by sacrificing their lives, is to help save Muslims by killing enemy soldiers.Whether the quote above belongs to the murderer or not, suffice to read this poisonous "essay" and to see how a… -
International law as reported in the media
6 Nov 2009 | 2:09 amIt is a sign of the times, probably, that the term "international law" is brandished like and all-purpose club by some people. Frequently their limited understanding of the law doesn't interfere with the freedom of use of catchy slogans. Some of these people are journalists, needless to say, and unfortunately their references to "international law" frequently mirror their political beliefs instead of anything having to do with law.The highly contentious issue of injudicious use of international law was taken up in a roundtable discussion organized by Just Journalism.The summary of the… -
Nidal Malik Hasan: muslims should rise up against the aggressors
6 Nov 2009 | 1:07 amIt is early days, and the investigation into the murderer's motives has barely started. Meanwhile it looks pretty grim.More from Dick Stanley.
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Delenda Est Carthago
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"Five years, that's all we got"
18 Oct 2009 | 4:27 pmSo I've decided to stop blogging here. I figure five years is a good run. I've just been running out of things to say, I guess. Plus I have some things in the real world that are taking up my time, so I just can't devote as much time to this. I'll still be blogging about my daughters, and I'll still be blogging about comics (I get paid for that, after all, even though it's a miniscule sum), but I just don't feel like writing about myself and my thoughts anymore. I'm too busy trying to take over the world!Thanks for reading, everyone (you know who you are!). I'd tell you to follow me on… -
Horrible self-indulgence, Year Five
8 Oct 2009 | 8:06 amYes, it's the fifth anniversary of when I started this blog, and it's time once again to review the previous year. I hope you will indulge this trip down memory lane. Five years. Wow.This insane world.Man threatens to set his teacher on fire because she assigned "The Crucible."Weird sex stuff. Totally safe for work, though!The hardcore dude at the convenience store.Horrible shoppers on Black Friday.God is mean.The people who named their kid Adolf Hitler.Some odd news: Birmingham, England removes apostrophes from its street signs; Anna Nicole Smith's life is turned into an opera; a 13-year-old… -
Bye Week Blues
5 Oct 2009 | 7:30 pmI didn't learn anything about pro football this week other than what you can glean from the newspapers and ESPN. I barely watched any of the games because the Eagles weren't playing. I did learn that if Oregon beats one of the worst teams in Division 1-A (Washington State) at home while Penn State beats a not-very-good-but-miles-better-than-Wazzou Illinois team on the road, Oregon ought to jump Penn State in the polls, but polls are meaningless anyway, so that doesn't bother me too much.Did anyone learn anything while I had the television turned off? Don't be shy! -
Great songs, according to me (Part 39)
4 Oct 2009 | 11:50 amYes, it's time for another ten great songs! Man, it's been a while! And because I've finally gotten around to labeling my posts, I don't have to link to previous posts. You can just click on the label to find the previous ones. I know my eight readers will be happy about that!381. Next Year (by Foo Fighters on the album There Is Nothing Left To Lose, 1999): Dave and the boys are surprisingly good at writing ballad-like pop songs, and this is one of them. I'd like to say it's off one of their better albums, but all FF albums are good, so it's hard to say where this one ranks. This song,… -
I don't get SpongeBob
3 Oct 2009 | 9:05 amNorah recently discovered SpongeBob SquarePants, and she digs it a lot. Not to the point of obsession, but she still likes it. So I've been watching with her, mainly because I've been sitting in the same room. I know that a while back, SpongeBob was a bit hit with adults as well as kids (my brother-in-law, as far as I know, still likes it), but I just don't get it. SpongeBob is, in a word, annoying. In two words: REALLY ANNOYING. I mean, it's mildly amusing, but I can't imagine anyone over the age of 10 enjoying it for more than five minutes. After about five minutes I just get sick of it.
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this time ~ this space
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Frog Dreaming
3 Nov 2009 | 3:26 pmcolorfall Every year in September the sun crosses the Equator and day and night fall into balance in an event called the autumn equinox. It marks the beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of spring in the Southern Hemisphere. The crossing happens only one other time, at the start of spring, when it is called the vernal equinox. Around the world, day and night are roughly the same length during an equinox. The closet weekend to the Vernal (spring) equinox is the one I choose to bring my flowers out of the winter quarters and place them on my deck. There they fill… -
Silence is Medicine for the Soul
27 Oct 2009 | 8:52 pmIn this mad world filled with video, TV, cell phone mania, and music of all kinds at all times and in all places, how much do you desire and value silence? Do you yearn for silence or view it as an uncomfortable experience? Do you make time for silence or do you avoid it? I choose to start my days in silence with nothing on my agenda other than just being and meditating. I rise early and sit bundled up on deck chair with my cup of cocoa between my hands. As I inhale the aroma my mouth watering in anticipation of the moment the first creamy swallow will glide over my tongue, I sigh a single… -
thistimespace: my new tumblr blog
23 Oct 2009 | 1:24 pmI am constructing a new blog on tumblr thistimespace that contains music, videos, affirmations and quotations which are all focused on personal growth and development through meditation. For notice of updates please follow me on my thistimespace twitter account or subscribe to my blog’s feed http://thistimespace.tumblr.com/rss this time ~ this space.. -
Have a Green Halloween
22 Oct 2009 | 2:05 pmFor Halloween this year I’m dressing up as a leopard and my husband is dressing up as a firefighter. We cannot recall ever having purchased “new” Halloween outfits. We were able to borrow and find all the accouterments required for our costumes at garage sales and in charity shops, just as we have been able to find what we need in the same places for over 30 years. This morning I spotted an excellent article this morning on my feedreader on the subject of green costuming for Halloween that I would like to share with my readers. When it comes to Halloween costumes, scary… -
A time to mourn?
21 Oct 2009 | 5:34 pmPhoto: Fotolia Last winter one of my male friends who suffered from depression committed suicide. It was a devastating loss and all around me I heard words uttered that indicated we have lost the wisdom of the ages and have replaced it with claptrap and cliches. In times gone by grieving was expected and supported, but these days many think we must work to distract ourselves from pain and suffering. Well, that’s what my friend’s wife attempted to do. After her husband’s suicide, she took the advice of her family members and attempted to lose herself in her work . To me…
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TIME GOES BY
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“Gray Matters” Moves from Newsday to Time Goes By
6 Nov 2009 | 2:35 amRegular Time Goes By readers know the twice-monthly Reflections column written by 80-year-old, veteran journalist, Saul Friedman (Bio here). Reflections has become one of the most popular features on Time Goes By. Today I am pleased to announce there will be more of Saul's work in a regular Saturday column titled Gray Matters which, until a week ago, had appeared in the Long Island paper, Newsday, for the past 12 years. Saul made news early this week announcing that he had severed his relationship with Newsday when Cablevision, which owns the paper, placed the online edition behind a paid… -
Health Care Reform (Again)
5 Nov 2009 | 2:38 am[Where Elder Blog: Clarence Bowles of Southern Roomers added his photo to the Where Elders Blog feature. You can see it here, and you can add yours to the collection too. Instructions are here.] The health care reform drum beat in Congress moves forward at the pace and feel of a dirge. Now Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid says there may not be a vote on the Senate bill until 2010. House Leader Nancy Pelosi expects a vote on the merged House bill this week or next weekend or sometime, depending the source you read. But until the Senate votes, there can be no work on a final bill for the… -
Happiness
4 Nov 2009 | 2:39 amI doubt what has happened to the “pursuit of happiness” in recent years is what Thomas Jefferson had in mind when he wrote the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Happiness has become a research industry, being poked and prodded, dissected and investigated with the intensity of fetishists. Hardly a week goes by without a new happiness study. Most surprising to me are untold numbers of people who call themselves “happiness coaches.” Go ahead, google “happiness coach” and see how many returns you get. Never mind – it's nearly 35,000, almost all of whom are selling books and… -
THE TGB ELDER GEEK: Select More Than One
3 Nov 2009 | 2:35 amVirginia DeBolt (bio) writes the bi-weekly Elder Geek column for Time Goes By in which she takes the mystery out of techie things all bloggers and internet users need to know to simplify computer use. She has written several books on technology and keeps two blogs herself, Web Teacher and First 50 Words. You will find links to Virginia's previous Time Goes By Elder Geek columns here. What if you are trying to attach several photos to an email or select more than one item from your hard drive? Do you have to attach the items one at a time or is there a way to select more than one file at a… -
Culture Notes: 2 November 2009
2 Nov 2009 | 2:35 am[WHERE ELDERS BLOG: Joared, who blogs at Along the Way, sent in her photo for the Where Elders Blog feature. You can see it here and you will find instructions on how to add yours here.] Well, THAT was a surprise. On Sunday at about noon (well, not, as you will see), after having been up and about since what I thought was 4:30AM, I discovered all the clocks in the house were wrong. I hadn't noticed the time on the computer, which updates itself, so when I tuned in to one of the morning political chats on television, the program wasn't there yet. The Daylight Savings Time change snuck up on…
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GirlsAskGuys.com - Recent Questions
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How to save this relationship? Help!
6 Nov 2009 | 6:47 pmBeen with my girlfriend for 2 years. Recently she said she wanted a break as she was not sure this is what she wanted anymore and that she's having doubts. But she said she still loves me and don't know what to do.We had a break of only about a week, during which she rang every night, sometimes in tears. So we agreed we will kinda be back together, more just seeing each other/dating, for the next few weeks and then see if we still want to carry on seeing each other after that.I have given it some serious thought and think I realise where I made some mistakes, like not doing the small things… -
What does this mean and how should I react?
6 Nov 2009 | 6:43 pmLast night I stayed at a really close guy friends of mine. We have always had an attraction to each other but never really done anything about it. Well, last night I was in his bed with him and all we were doing was cuddling and talking. Then when waking up he kissed me on the forehead and held me tight...is this something I should just shake off or is there more to read into? -
Has helping others on G.A.G. helped you?
6 Nov 2009 | 6:43 pmFrom answering questions on this site, I have gained a better understanding of individuals that I'm attracted to. Obviously it isn't a psychology understanding (it's not scientific). When I see what several people go through, the knowledge gives me an advantage to understand a similar situation (of my own).Does anyone else feel this way? This excludes derogative comments and unwitting answers. -
How can I make my bleached hair blonde? not white
6 Nov 2009 | 6:34 pmokay well over the weekend I bleached my hair by myself and it was a huge mistake. It looks so fake, its not really blonde its like an extremely bright yellow. I hate it! my friend in cosmotology said she can put a toner in it and she said that will help. But I heard that toner makes it white. I don't want white/platinum blonde hair. I want like a natural light blonde. What can I do without re dying it? is there a certain kind of toner I can use? please help -
Do guys wanna take charge?
6 Nov 2009 | 6:21 pmwhen it comes to making out, getting rough, should I let him lead the way?
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A n n a r c h y
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Georgie: A Rescue Story
6 Nov 2009 | 7:03 amThis morning I got an update on a former foster dog — a Cavalier King Charles spaniel who lived with us two years ago, from just prior to Halloween to just before Christmas. The dog had some kind of skin condition and arrived hairless, itchy, raw, reddened and miserable. He was about as sad as sad can look. He didn’t come with a name, so I named him Georgie, because his naked face reminded me of the illustration of the children’s book character Curious George. Another volunteer, Huntly, picked Georgie up in Vermont and a mutual friend delivered him as far as a highway exit… -
Today’s Guessing Game: What Is It?
3 Nov 2009 | 12:29 pmRemember AOL disks? If you owned a mailbox in the late 1990s or early-2000s, you know what I mean, because America Online’s aggressive direct mail strategy probably distributed CD-ROMs and diskettes into it with irritating frequency. More than a billion disks were mailed between the late 1990s and 2006, when AOL stopped the mass mailing. Or mass irritation. However you look at it. In fact, the end of that era likely came without you being aware that is was, in fact, the end of an era. But that’s how evolution is, right? One day you have to bungee-wrap your trash cans against the… -
Wagging the Dog
13 Oct 2009 | 7:46 amI had some happy news last week: The story of Gigi’s adventure with her beloved green tomato has been picked up by The Bark, a magazine I happen to love. In other words, if I were a dog, my tail would be wagging like that of a retriever with a tennis ball. (Or Gigi herself with a pork chop.) Big shout here to The Bark editor Lisa Wogan for making it happen. If you don’t know The Bark, it’s a bi-monthly magazine about modern dog culture, with a literary twist. If NPR’s office dog hung around after hours, The Bark might be what he’d produce as his moonlighting… -
Now a Mini Motion Picture: ‘Gigi Spies a Green Tomato’
30 Sep 2009 | 10:10 amMy childhood friend Ron Ploof was so inspired by the pathos of Gigi’s story that he adapted it to the small screen. I think he did a fine job with it, and I particularly like the tweak of the ending. So what do you think? Gigi Spies a Green Tomato from Ron Ploof on Vimeo. -
Gigi Spies a Green Tomato: A Tragicomedy in Five Parts
26 Sep 2009 | 6:16 pmThe stage: A small wooden deck with sturdy balusters, overlooking a vegetable garden in late season. Enter main character: Gigi, a 6-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. It’s clear from her saunter that Gigi is unhurried and uncomplicated, and her portly figure implies a dog who is enthusiastic about her meals. Suddenly, Gigi sees something that piques her interest, and a drama ensues. Scene 1: Gigi spies a green tomato that has fallen from its vine in the garden. From the glint in her eye and quickening of her step, it’s clear she considers the green tomato a tasty prize…
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Citizen of the Month
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Delurk 2009: Keep on Rolling
5 Nov 2009 | 10:49 amHey, Reader, Jump Aboard Come Aboard My Train We Travel at the Speed of Light In Snow and Mist and Rain Woo-Hoo, Feel that Mighty Engine Woo-Hoo, See that Hot Steam Rise Nothin’ Stops this Baby When This Locomotive Flies You hear that Whistle Blowing? The Wind Breezing through your Hair? This Train Will Take You Places Without Going Anywhere! All Aboard the Citizen! It’s Quite a Sight to See So Tell Me Your Name, Darlin’ Cause the Ticket’s Always Free Step aboard and introduce yourself to the other passengers and/or hobos. Monday will be the first sign-up day for The… -
Holiday Traditions on Citizen of the Month
1 Nov 2009 | 12:48 pmFor 10 months of the year, I insult my readers and ridicule their ridiculous, poorly-written blogs. But every Halloween, I write a very scary story and all the darkness that was growing in my soul fades, and I see the world in a new brighter way, like a Scrooge reformed. The writing itself frees me of my demons, and all that is left is love towards my fellow blogger. During most of year, I am all about ME, ME, ME! But during the Holiday season, I give back, asking for nothing in return, other than maybe an invitation to a cool New Year’s Party where there are going to be a lot of… -
The Mommyblogger’s Demon Child
31 Oct 2009 | 11:31 am(first part of story here) (continuation) This was the strangest week. I was depressed lately, rarely leaving the house. I spent a lot of time in my office, introducing my mother to new technology. I showed her how to use Firefox on her laptop and how to quick dial on her new phone. My mother is officially the only one I know in real life who has a Barbra Streisand song as her ringtone. On Tuesday, I was invited to this party at a hotel in Midtown. Yes, me — Neil Kramer, who never gets invited anywhere. A group of mommybloggers had started a group website and were having a… -
The Dread Crew Meme
30 Oct 2009 | 11:11 amLong time readers of this blog know that I am too lazy to ever do a meme. They are hard work! Recently, Kate Inglis, who blogs at “Sweet / Salty” put up a meme on her blog as a promotion for her new book, “The Dread Crew.” The fact that I am doing this meme should tell you a lot about what I think about her. She is a special person, soon-to-be big-shot writer or not. I met her at BlogHer and she glows with positive creative energy. I should also admit that doing this meme has been useful for me, so I am glad to did it. I’m realizing now,… -
Exciting World Series Publicity Stunt
27 Oct 2009 | 11:29 am(IM conversation) Neil: I have this fun idea we can do for our blogs. You realize the Phillies and the Yankees are in the World Series. You live in Philadelphia. I live in New York. So, we can do one of those publicity stunts like the mayors of the competing cities do — where if the Yankees win, you are forced to eat a bagel and lox, and if the Phillies win, I will have to eat a Philly Cheesesteak sandwich. And the loser has to post a photo on the blog as punishment. Philly Girl: Doesn’t seem like much of a punishment. I like bagels and lox. Neil: That’s…
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Simply Stated
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Why I Miss the 4:30 Movie.... (AKA McMillan & Wife Makes Me Smile)
6 Nov 2009 | 8:01 amI do quite a bit of my writing at night and often I watch campy old movies to keep me company. I can tell you that "In Like Flint" has come on more than a couple of times in the last year so has "Salt & Pepper". I watch these movies as well as things like "Columbo", "McCloud" and "McMillan & Wife" because they actually remind of when we only had one television in the house. So the whole family watched a whole bunch of campy spy flicks, whodunnits and the like (whether we wanted to or not). The same thing happened at Aunt… -
Do You Put Money into an FSA? POLL
6 Nov 2009 | 5:37 amHave you ever bought aspirin? Filled a prescription? Written a check for a co-pay at the doctor’s office? Sure you have. People spend hundreds—if not thousands—of dollars every year on medical expenses. That’s why Flexible Spending Accounts, or FSAs, are so fantastic: If you use them correctly, they can save you serious cash on expenses you’re incurring anyway.If your employer offers an FSA, it means you can put pre-tax money away to pay for many things health-related: doctor’s visits, over-the-counter meds, band-aids, you name it. What’s the big deal, you ask? I’ll tell… -
A Secret to Happiness? Pick a Favorite.
5 Nov 2009 | 1:35 pmOn our last family trip to visit my parents in my hometown, Kansas City, it occurred to me that one of the reasons we have so much fun there is that we make the rounds of our “favorites” – our favorite hamburger joint, our favorite ice-cream store, our favorite toy store, our favorite book store, our favorite barbeque place (several contenders for this — it’s Kansas City, after all!) For some reason, at home in New York City, we haven’t identified many places this way. Sometimes we go out for brunch on the weekends, and we usually go to the same place, but we don’t say to… -
Granite Countertops or a New Furnace? You Decide.
3 Nov 2009 | 6:27 amIf the wish fairy suddenly granted you a healthy chunk of money wrapped in ribbon made of twenty-dollar bills, what kind of home improvements would you make? Remodel the kitchen and replace the flooring? Or something more practical, like buying new windows and springing for a new furnace? If you’re leaning toward the practical, you’re so last year. Apparently now that the economy is on the up and up, Americans don’t care as much about being energy efficient or saving on utility bills, says a new survey conducted by the Shelton Group. A year ago, we were all about replacing windows and… -
Seriously, Don't Touch That Money
30 Oct 2009 | 5:43 amDo you have a retirement account? A 401(k) or an IRA of some kind? There’s a reason it’s called a “retirement” account: You’re not supposed to touch it until you retire. And yet nearly half of us are cashing out our 401(k) funds when we leave a company, according to a recent study by Hewitt Associates. We’re taking the money and running, so to speak. And why, you might ask, is that so bad? Let me count the ways.1. You’ll have to pay income taxes.2. You’ll have to pay a 10 percent penalty if you’re not yet 55 years old.3. You’ll lose all the growth and compounding that’ll…
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Are We Still Cool?
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Our apple-picking potty sitcom
2 Nov 2009 | 2:05 pmLast Saturday, the Cool Fam went apple picking with our church. About 200 church members descended on a farm in upstate New York to pick apples and enjoy their apple-derived treats like cider, donuts, and Macbooks (not really). Rains fell on and off, but it didn’t dampen our mood. It was fun to gather with friends from the various neighborhood plants of our church in a setting vastly different from the mean streets of Manhattan. I volunteered to drive one of the 15-passenger vans that carried Upper East Side residents. From my years in the band, I have literally dozens of miles of… -
I’m an aficionado of efficiency
28 Oct 2009 | 5:04 amLife has been somewhat crazy and upside-down, but all in a good way. I’m waiting for the subway train to come, questioning myself because I’ve let a couple of local trains (that make every stop) pass by while waiting for an express train (makes only certain stops). I’ve been waiting so long that I think I made a mistake by letting all of those locals pass by. My degree from the University of Florida is a bachelors in industrial engineering. One cornerstone of IE is efficiency – finding the most efficient ways to do tasks to save time and money. Though I realized about 3/4… -
Cool Grandmum and naked New Yorkers
18 Oct 2009 | 9:59 amThere’s more Cool Fam in NYC! At least for the next few days. Cool Grandmum and Cool Cuz – on Cool Dad’s side – arrived in NYC on Thursday. CD’s family used to live in the Northeast, so this is a return to old stomping grounds for CG. These past couple of days have been a mix of city living (laundry and groceries) and tourist living (Times Square and museums) for them. On Friday night, the rain held back, so after a cheap but tasty meal of chicken, rice and beans, and plantains, followed by New York-style cheesecake, we three Filipinos went to Times Square while Cool Mum… -
Cool Duel – Which one is cooler: Twitter or Facebook?
13 Oct 2009 | 11:33 amI haven’t done a Cool Demographic Survey on this, but I bet most of you use either Facebook or Twitter. Many of you probably use both. Cool Mum consistently uses Facebook to keep friends and family updated on our (mis)adventures here. She’s not a Twitterer. And chooses not to be for fear of Cool Baby scaling the Empire State Building a la King Kong while she’s tweeting her latest celeb sighting. He does have apeish tendencies after all. I both tweet and ‘book in waves. I love to communicate, but as work and other projects come and go, so does the time that I can spend… -
You’re stuck with one fast-food place for life – which would you choose?
9 Oct 2009 | 8:42 amI’m in Florida for the weekend to see U2 in Tampa and spend time with family and good friends. And CHICK FIL-A. I’m scheduled to have it in about 23.27 minutes, but who’s counting? As we’re 13 months into our move to NYC and my search for direction in life and I meet people from all different religious, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, I ponder the deep transcendental questions of life, like If I could eat at only one fast-food restaurant for the rest of my life, which would it be? Ok, so I’m a little food-obsessed. My quick answer to this question might…
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Life and Times in Hollyweird (a blog by: John Darko)
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Dear Joseph Gordon-Levitt
29 Oct 2009 | 5:58 pmI think you are an amazing actor with an incredibly bright future. Would like to write something for you; soon. Yes, this was blog post worthy. Keep up the good work.News, news, news - after Nov. 1st folks! Something amazing...JD -
21 Questions with writer/director John Darko
1 Oct 2009 | 12:59 amInterview is conducted by Marc Martinez a current student @ Mt. San Antonio College. Marc is a writer who has taken an interest in the entertainment industry. Enjoy.----- 1. First things first, you’re in the movie business, what turned you on to the industry?Well the industry itself is an ongoing battle; you can be making a feature film one day and be writing in solitude the next. It's a give and take, which I constantly fight with. Now, what got me into the art of filmmaking is a different story. Six years ago when I completed my first script 'Damaged People' I immediately felt a… -
PSA: Screw the Economy!
24 Aug 2009 | 8:06 amGood morning friends, as I write this I am caught in between rest and some sort of massive attack. As you may or may not know, I have been busy with my debut film "5 Ways to Split Apart the Day" you can easily find a back story regarding my exploits into the film industry, just click on anything you see here, I'm hoping you'll find easy navigation seeing that everything I post on this site is more than fitting.Without question; our journey has just begun. Considering the current phase of the economy, ventures seeking opportunity have been without financial reward and it is more than an… -
5waysfilm.com is NOW live!
4 Aug 2009 | 3:10 pmHey everyone!Just wanted to let you know that our official website is now live! You can find us at http://www.5waysfilm.com in regards to content; you'll be able to download our latest press kit and watch the 10 minute promo. You'll also find links to our active blog site and twitter. Take in mind, this is just a small preview of what's to come within the next few months. We intend to be very inclusive when it comes to the production of this project. So expect some behind the scene videos, notes/letters from the staff, pics, rants, news and practically anything else we can fit onto a web… -
"5 Ways" is in the news (CBS, NY)
3 Aug 2009 | 1:59 amQUICK UPDATE: Our film has been mentioned recently on CBS NY http://www.cbs6albany.com/video/?bcpid=1137806146&bclid=1143371794&bctid=29339085001 (HOOPS TO HOLLYWOOD) segment. Check it out...
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Truer Words - A Journal
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Three Legged Stool
3 Nov 2009 | 2:50 pmRetail software is a three legged stool. User Interface Engineering Right? Oh, what? There are only two legs there? Huh. What's missing? Marketing is the third leg. Very rare is the product that can succeed without it, no matter how well crafted. (Yet so many try.) More on this soon. Something very big is brewing. -
Lauren is Home Again
21 Oct 2009 | 12:29 amTonight (er, last night, since it's now 2 am) I had to break a little girl's heart. And mine. Again. She cried. She begged me to stay or take her back to "Oma's house" or just give her one more hug-and-kiss (a dozen times). I won't embarrass her (future self) by telling everybody how bad it was or what else she did, but it was bad. By the time I left her grandmother's house (in NC where the family is living), I was weeping openly too. I finally just handed her to Mike, told her I love her, and went out the door. I wonder how much more this would have to hurt to convince me to stay out of… -
2009 PMC Fundraising is Complete
1 Oct 2009 | 7:21 pmI posted about this on the project's news page, but I should mention it here, too: my goal was $10,000, but we (not I) raised closer to $22,000. Follow that link for details, including some cool stats about the bundles and the project. -
miss lauren
25 Sep 2009 | 11:12 pmopa lay down with metonight I miss her tearsher smileher laugh and the wayshe runspumping for all she's worthwhich is a loteverythingopa I have a present for youa rockor a blade of grasssometimes one of oma's chocolatesor my keys, a pennysometimes a kiss or a hugalways something pricelessopa I miss youyou hurt my feelingshow my darling?you made me live at grampa cowboysI want to stay with youoh dear god what have I done -
Life Never Does
18 Sep 2009 | 12:27 pmShane would have and should have been twenty-nine years old today. Life never does what you think it will, what it should. You never think you'll lose a child. Then when you do, you think life and the world will stop, maybe forever. But it keeps… it just keeps going. On and on. Then you think you'll never have another, you're too old or it's just not in God's plans... and here comes another baby, from out of nowhere, to raise as your own. You can't believe it happened, and how good it is, and she'll never replace the first but she expands your heart and teaches you to love again. Then…
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turnings
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New FTC Guidelines Governing Blogs Featuring Products
3 Nov 2009 | 4:57 amNew FTC Guidelines Governing Blogs Featuring Products: We thought you should know that the Federal Trade Commission just published new guidelines about – among other things – blogs that feature product endorsements. That sure caught my attention. The Guides, which have been around since 1980, have been freshened up to “specify that while decisions will be reached on a case-by-case basis, the post of a blogger who receives cash or in-kind payment to review a product is considered an endorsement. Thus, bloggers who make an endorsement must disclose the material connections… -
Lance Armstrong’s visit to Piermont
2 Nov 2009 | 5:31 pmLance Armstrong’s visit to Piermont: He also told photographer Seth Harrison that he was surprised by how beautiful and challenging the ride was from the city to Piermont. He said this on Twitter, “Done riding. That out/back is one of the best in America.” [I wouldn't have minded discussing it with him. It isn't often a cycling celebrity drop into my backyard. I tried to reach my friends and did reach the bike shop that is right around the corner. But I suspect that they gave that standard I'm too hip for Lance crap that is part and parcel of workin' in many bike shops. I agree with… -
Suffering in November
1 Nov 2009 | 3:58 pmIt never did warm up. Well, maybe it did, but not when we were riding. It stayed cloudy and cool, breezy and chilled, but at least there were hills and suffering. Most of the time, by November I’m in full break mode. It’s often cloudy and uninviting around here. My comrades in bikes are either simply disinterested, not interested in fighting the cold, or healing from a long season. Winter riding is here soon enough and November and December also have holidays and families and other things that seem to severely limit riding time. So I go with the flow and accept the generally… -
Vaccines
31 Oct 2009 | 8:23 pmBrent on his piece on vaccines: An interesting link on Daring Fireball today has me thinking about vaccines. I’m still living with the effects of the chicken pox I had in third grade. As a parent this is a complicated issue. I’ll get back to that. It was the in thing when I was just a wee lad to expose your kids to Chicken Pox when the neighborhood kids etc. got it, because it was usually a fairly benign thing, and it was thought to better get it over with now, and then they’ll be done with it. As Brent points out, that’s not always the case. For better or worse in my… -
WordPress for iPhone 2
29 Oct 2009 | 10:08 amPosted (naturally) from my iPhone…. Seems like a nice improvement. And, of course, still open source. There’s a new dev blog called Making WordPress for iPhone.
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37days
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Send him a holiday, his last.
5 Nov 2009 | 5:38 amI believe we can rock this little boy's world, you and I and all the people we know all around the world.I checked on Snopes; this one is for real: 5-yr old Noah Biorkman is in the last stages of neuroblastoma cancer. His family is celebrating Christmas next week and all he wants are Christmas cards. Let's see how many we can get to him from all over the world very quickly--tell your friends in Japan and Papua New Guinea and South Africa and across the U.S. and beyond. I see thousands - THOUSANDS - of cards telling little Noah (and his grieving family) that in this big wide world, he matters. -
thinking thursday.
4 Nov 2009 | 9:04 pmEvery Thursday, just a few links I've discovered, things I'm thinking about. And, of course, a link somewhere to a man who lives near Paris just because he exists(Where I can follow the serendipitous thread I followed to get there, I'll include a thanks to the person who surfaced it for me.) mind :: my brain and yoursIf this headline is true, then I am obviously the mother of the future leader of the entire galaxy past, present, and future.I sure hope Santa reads 37days.Millenials: The greatest generation (of networkers). Can obsessive networking make you a good employee?body :: my place and… -
poetry wednesday : poetic bloodlines, a word's worth
3 Nov 2009 | 9:01 pmPoetry has a job to do, a bloodline to further. Poets teach people and take back the world. They must be about something.One night, God came to me in a dreamWith a scheme that seemed to be out of this worldHe approached me and opened his robeAnd showed me a hypodermic needle in the shape of a penAnd my first reaction was to step back fastBut then God grabbed me and said“Slow down my child,I’ve got a job for you to do”And with a burst of light God grabbed my armAnd said “I mean you no harm”And he pushed the pen inAnd it filled my arteries and God charted meTo write some new shit,… -
found-art tuesday : shadow
3 Nov 2009 | 2:06 pmThey may as well have called the sun a ball of flaming joy. ~Star RichésFind art in shadow. As Sven Nykvist has written, "Light can be gentle, dangerous, dreamlike, bare, living, dead, misty, clear, hot, dark, violet, springlike, falling, straight, sensual, limited, poisonous, calm and soft."Find light.Find shadow.They are everywhere.(shadows on my living room window, 3 Nov 2009) -
Vote. Or shut up.
2 Nov 2009 | 1:48 pm(photo of a fellow air traveler at 37,000 feet en route to Nebraska, June 2009)
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Blog Nosh Magazine
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Wonderwall
3 Nov 2009 | 1:03 am{Originally Published on Sweetney} When I made my list of the best 25 songs of the last 25 years a few weeks back, I burned, just for my own private listening enjoyment, a mix CD comprised of those select tracks. Since that time its been on heavy rotation during the 20 minute commute to and from M’s camp each weekday — I’m lucky enough to have a kid who’s tolerant of Mommy’s need to CRANK THAT SHIT UP — and in that time she’s absorbed all the songs and picked her favorites, notable among them the well-aged Oasis tune Wonderwall. It’s a song that… -
Leah Giberson: Artists Who Blog
3 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am{Originally Published on Artists Who Blog} Leah Giberson’s paintings are beautiful, and how I wish I could see them in person! I’d love to hop over to Boston and have a studio visit, but for the time being I’ll have to be happy with the possibilities the Internet offers us. Leah is not only a gifted artist herself, she is also one of those artists who encourages others. It’s been great to get to know her online this year, so I am especially happy to have her as a guest this week. Leah sells top quality archival prints of her work, as well as a selection of… -
The Incredible Angry Black Woman
27 Oct 2009 | 2:03 am{Originally Published on The Black Snob} Are you angry? Would we not like you when you’re angry? I got into a discussion with a friend about male/female relationships while I was in Washington, D.C. and we were discussing the Obamas. He saw Michelle Obama, the First Lady, as the dominating figure in the relationship due to the fact that the president sometimes defers to her in his speeches or references her, saying he discussed things with her or so on. After listening to him for a bit, I pointed out that often the Obamas are more of a marital Rorschach test that says more about us than… -
Seeing Clearly
27 Oct 2009 | 2:00 am{Originally published on Sarcastic Mom} A few days ago I was feeling rather icky. You know what I mean. My heart was sticky with the tar of depression, my head was cloudier than a room full of Milton Berles, and my muscles were aching like I had just run a marathon with Sally Struthers strapped to my back. So, I did the thing that generally makes me feel happier, no matter what else is going on: I kicked the dog put on my jacket, grabbed my camera, and went for a walk. Movement in Sunshine. It was about 3:30 and very brisk. Clouds were milling around in the sky,… -
Swing Away
20 Oct 2009 | 2:03 am{Originally posted on Whiskey in My Sippy Cup} I’ve talked before about the craving we as parents have to mold our children into little mini-mes, to see some glimmer of ourselves behind those big, beautiful eyes. I’ve talked about how hard we both have striven to avoid doing just that thing, for the sake of our kids’ sanity. We were both pushed and pushed perhaps a bit too hard as children. We both spent most of our lives trying to live up to some unattainable ideal of perfection that our parents had laid out for us. We both had an absent parent who we alternately tried to…
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In Palinode's Palace
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a musical education
26 Oct 2009 | 4:20 pmModern technology has done plenty for my work environment – advances in the microprocessor, for example, have helped me use the computer I am now typing on, and the replacement of small open fires with the heated electric plate has really brought the coffee break into the twenty-first century. In ancient times, coffee breaks used to take weeks, from the gathering of brush to the selection of a good rock for grinding the beans, and most of the employees would be dead of rickets by the time the water boiled. One thing modern technology has not done for my workplace is put a bathroom in it. -
schmutzie quits smoking
25 Oct 2009 | 9:06 pmAbout a month and a half ago, Schmutzie quit smoking. Since we're married, I get to see all the crazy technicolour effects in person: confusion, irritability, hopelessness, irrational bursts of joy and time dilation. I went through the experience eight years ago, when I decided one day that I no longer needed tobacco. I think the P@xil helped.Anyway, it occurred to me the other day that I had a) an inquiring mind, and b) a cheap camcorder. Our conversation revolved around two subjects: her overweening ambition to rule the world and her fear of death. Usually this makes for a Genghis Khan-like… -
poems for monsters #9: a dream of spiderman (with video!)
8 Oct 2009 | 4:36 pmPoems for Monsters is making the leap to video, which is all in keeping with the tremendous leaps in camcorder technology over the last forty years. If I'd done this in 1973, there's no way I would have been able to afford the equipment and time to bring you my poetry (sic) in such an exciting format. Add to that the complete lack of internet, the absence of Flash video and the fact that I was two years old in 1973. So you can see why it took me so long to put this together.Anyway.Note for Facebook users: If the video isn't showing up on my feed, you can see it on my website In Palinode's… -
living design nightmares
16 Sep 2009 | 2:24 pmToday one of my favourite people of blog, twitter, and flesh, Chookoolonks, linked to this supposedly beautiful living room with a central hearth lit by an overhead skylight. Can anybody spot the glaring problem here?That's right: people will climb onto your roof just to watch you burn things. They'll set up little tables, bring drinks, bet on what you're going to use next as kindling. Eventually they'll start leaving 'requests' at your door. 'Burn some nice fragrant pine'. 'Burn this bloody shirt and pants'. 'Burn a mint condition Game of Life still in original wrapping, straight from… -
Quest for Soda: Jan
15 Sep 2009 | 10:27 pmSo here's what happened. Two things happened. I bought a camcorder not much larger than a deck of cards. And I developed a burning curiosity about soda. I realized that, armed with a camera, there was nothing about soda that I could not ferret out from perplexed bystanders. Also, whom would you punch in the head if you had the chance? If that makes no sense, please watch this short explanatory video.Full disclosure: The soda/headpunch interviews are part of the content I contribute to Tangible.tv, a venture I'm venturing upon with an Iowan-Mexican man who calls himself onlyaman. We go live…
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Brody Harper
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The H1N1 Debate
4 Nov 2009 | 2:49 pmWe are a skeptical culture. We’re paranoid that we are going to get sick from everything. We are concerned that our kids will die from every sickness. We are worried about viruses that are all around us. And at the same time we are paranoid that the Government is pumping us full of useless, dangerous chemicals. We’re vigilant to not let ‘Big Brother’ take over. We’re naturalists. So here’s my question. Did you, or are you planning to get the H1N1 vaccination? And your reasoning. Ready? Go. -
‘Oh My God’
4 Nov 2009 | 12:15 pm(HT: Jeremy Cowart) Thoughts? -
A Night With Steven Curtis Chapman (Again)
3 Nov 2009 | 11:41 amSo, if you remember the other day I had that ’super secret project’ that turned out to be not as much of a ’secret’ so I blogged about it? Well, tonight is sort of a ’round two’ of that only this one isn’t secret at all. This is a full blown broadcasted evening with Steven Curtis Chapman. Turns out the other one went so well that they wanted to do it again, and called me back. So tonight at 9PM Steven will be playing some songs, talking about his record that came out today and answering some questions all from the World Wide Internetland. Now,… -
Everything Is Different, Safe & Alive
3 Nov 2009 | 9:01 amI’m going to ask you to spend another two dollars today. You know why? Well, first because it’s my blog and I can do whatever I want on it, and second, I want you to hear my friend Michael’s new song and also my friend Phil’s new song. Pocket Full Of Rocks released their new song “Alive” today to iTunes and it’s absolutely worth picking up. I’ve known Michael for a while now. Him and his wife live down really close to us, but in ‘Nashville language’ that means that we have to schedule time to get together three months out and… -
Shane & Shane – “Everything Is Different”
3 Nov 2009 | 6:23 amI was first introduced to ‘The Shanes’ in 2001 when I was browsing through some independent music website and stumbled on to Shane Barnard’s indie version of “Psalms”. The first song I listened to was a song called ‘Psalm 145′. I got about thirty-seconds into it and bought the whole record. From that point on Kristin and I have been fans. Obviously now, ‘The Shanes’ have joined forces and become an even better songwriting team. Well, if you haven’t noticed the last month or two has been the season of releasing records and…
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i obsess.
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giving out love by the linkful.
3 Nov 2009 | 3:16 pmDon't you mind me, now. I'm just doing what I ought to have done weeks, nay, MONTHS ago.Glare balefully at me if you must, but I'd be much more pleased if you followed suit. Bless you if you do, too, because you'll be helping. And helping is good. And kind.(And if you hate people who wear t-shirts, especially mildly funny t-shirts, then so be it.It's on you.) -
in pursuit of liberty.
3 Nov 2009 | 12:44 ammy house is cluttered. my mind is equally so. but this place. oh, this, this clean, quiet space. it almost echoes, all of its smooth, glossy panel of white. i want to bathe in it. the milk sliding up along my arms, over my torso. rivulets of it like thick paint all along the achilles tendon of the stem of my brain. like a white apple.oh. steve jobs. you are GOOD.(you may now proceed with the laughing at my blinding funny.)while i washed dishes an hour ago, i recognized my urge to defy commands; even the ones with which i chastise myself. oh dear. this is far less… -
Exit Dreamlessness; Enter Ridiculous/Treasured Family Activities of Pure Corny Corn
30 Oct 2009 | 11:50 amWhen I started taking Klonopin two years ago, and you may well remember my near-breakdown from lack of sleep for so, so long, the thing that helped me recognize the ADD, but, more important, made me get some damn sleep, I really needed it.I don't think I need it so much anymore. Well, I don't care whether I do. I've decided to remove it from my schedule. It's difficult to wean myself from; for two years, I have leaned on it, relied on it, to help me sleep when I simply couldn't believe I'd get through the night without at least one unbearable… -
i'm in kind of a television space.
29 Oct 2009 | 10:28 pmBetween the maddeningly good storytelling on Dexter, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, House MD and The Office (and, sure, yeah, Community, Glee and 30 Rock deserve honorable mention), I don't much feel like resuming writing. Even though there's no reason to do so in the first place.But I want to be writing. Late last night, I wrote in my head, lay in bed and scribbled out thoughts in the margins of my brain, wrote so many pieces, leaping from one target to another, so sure I should be up, writing.Not necessarily here. Just - in a file. Somewhere I could tuck into a slot on the… -
(obsessed about having never) been caught stealing.
22 Sep 2009 | 12:07 pm(Emailed to me by M.)The moment I walk into a shop - any shop - I always, always, always assume the frigging alarm is going to go off the moment I walk out. Probably cos it mostly does... Point being that every second I'm in the shop I'm checking myself to make sure I'm not inadvertently stuffing goods in my pockets or down my bra or pantyhose. On top of that I'm usually scoping out the other patrons waiting for a moment when it will be least embarrassing to have said people turn around to see who that lying, cheating mother fucking scouse is that made the alarm go…
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Apartment Life
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Chicago Apartments: Windy City Livin’
5 Nov 2009 | 8:33 amFrank Sinatra may have said it best: “Bet your bottom dollar, you’ll lose the blues in Chicago.” It’s the third-largest city in America, also known as the Windy City, Chi-town and the Second City. No matter what you call it, though, Chicago is a fantastic place. And those moving there will have plenty of housing options: Chicago apartments and rentals include multi-unit homes, townhomes, lofts and condominiums all over the city. One thing to keep in mind about Chicago apartments is that because the cost of living is significantly above the national average in the city,… -
Looking for Apartments in Houston
27 Oct 2009 | 1:00 pmThe fourth-largest city in America, Houston, Texas is home to over 2.2 million people. Those moving to Houston — which is the largest city in the state of Texas — and are looking for apartments will have quite a number of them to choose from. From high-rise apartments in downtown Houston to Clear Lake apartments convenient to boating and fishing, the city has countless options for housing. Houston Apartments If you’re planning a move to Houston, start off your search for apartments by thinking about what part of the city you’d like to live in. You may already know where… -
Seeking Seattle Apartments?
19 Oct 2009 | 3:23 pmSo you’re moving to Seattle. Apartments are available all over the city, giving prospective renters a wide variety from which to choose. Currently home to over 600,000 people, Seattle is the largest city in the US’ Pacific Northwest region and offers residents and visitors a vibrant arts scene, great live music and more. Here are some tips to help get you started on your search for Seattle apartments. About Seattle Seattle’s many features make it a very desirable place to live. A lot of people know it for being the birthplace of grunge music and Jimi Hendrix, and for all the… -
Where to Start on Your Search for Austin Apartments
14 Oct 2009 | 9:49 amAustin, Texas has no shortage of fans thanks to great weather (besides the many, many 100-degree days this summer!), friendly folks, numerous parks, live music scene and low cost of living. It’s just an all-around fun city. Whether it’s for a job, school or just because, moving to Austin is an easy decision for a lot of people. But once you’ve decided to move, where do you start your search for Austin apartments? Austin Neighborhoods There are a ton of very different Austin neighborhoods, so you’ll want to choose carefully based on criteria most important to you, like… -
Luxury Apartments: Live in Style
2 Oct 2009 | 8:44 amLuxury apartments are a great place to call home. With outstanding amenities like stained concrete floors, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, concierge service and a private roof, these types of apartments are highly desirable. If you’re searching for a new apartment and desire something lavish and higher-end, luxury apartments may be a great option. These types of living spaces can be found all over the country in cities big and small, and the specific amenities and extras depend on the apartment building. In New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles, for example,…
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Dave Writes - Creative Life
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More Experience with COBRA Health Insurance for Unemployed
5 Nov 2009 | 3:02 amThe fact is, when you are laid off, you can lose your health insurance immediately, despite the so-called protections of COBRA. The only thing COBRA does is entitle certain qualififying persons (most people who are laid off) the opportunity to continue their health insurance under the same group plan they were eligible for when they were employed. I've blogged here before about how to maintain health insurance while unemployed--essentially, you should 1) elect COBRA immediately because the Federal Stimulus subsidy means you will have at least 65% of the premium covered for 9 months, and 2)… -
Copenhagen Rolls
30 Oct 2009 | 5:32 amHere is a short video of some serious critical cycling mass in Copenhagen, Denmark... I'm wrapping up a final list of bike racks for our town to obtain through the Metropolitan Area Planning Council's (MAPC) Regional Bike Parking Program. Today is the deadline to order bike racks which are then reimbursed by this program. Our town administrator and school officials are excited to get the racks and hopefully, this will be another small step towards increased biking and walking in Westwood. Here's one of the racks we hope to replace/improve: Powered by b2evolution. -
Fix Beacon Hill with a Constitutional Amendment
28 Oct 2009 | 10:08 pmWhile most people grouse and complain about corrupt Massachusetts politics, one friend of mine is doing something to change the world--or at least our part of it. Westwood resident Chris McKeown explained his non-partisan group's plan to fix Beacon Hill in an Op-Ed piece in the Boston Globe last month. Their website, fixbeaconhill.com, explains a series of proposed changes fundamental to how things operate in the administration of power in the legislature. I'm trying to help and running full-on into the challenge of modern rational communication. It is complex. The changes are not sound-bites… -
Complete Streets for our Future
28 Oct 2009 | 3:45 amThe popular understanding of the origin of street design in Boston goes back to the original wisdom of cows pastured on the common and commuting home to farms. Although this is more folklore than fact, it does reflect the liklihood that streets were developed piecemeal in response to short-term needs and not as a part of an organized plan. Such is always the case, unless a community has a blank canvas upon which to write...and millions of dollars of funding...and popular support for centralized design and planning of an urban utopia. Expect that confluence of opportunity sometime in the next… -
Trick or Treat for your Health
27 Oct 2009 | 3:52 amA few Halloweens ago, I picked up a barrel of "Halloween Pretzels" from Costco--mini-pretzels in orange and black bags in a big plastic container. About the ONLY one happy about that choice was our dog who got into the "treats" when the untouched bowl was left on the floor inadvertently. I believe we finally choked down the last remnant sometime in the following spring. Having learned my lesson, I am happy to see a giant bag full of candy in the kitchen now awaiting Saturday night. Thousands of empty calories await as we prepare to march our children around the neighborhood in this annual…
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Reality Me
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Of Being Dad
6 Nov 2009 | 12:06 pmI just took Sarah’s temperature, 96.8. I think put my hand to her forehead and it was disturbingly hot! My chin dropped, her eyes rolled, and she raised the hair straightener… -
I’m an organ donor
6 Nov 2009 | 10:45 amOn Oct 24, I turned 40. This week I renewed my driver’s license and for the first time checked the organ donor box. -
48 Hour Launch preparty
5 Nov 2009 | 6:07 pmMobile post sent by djuggler using Utterli. Replies. -
5 Nov 2009 | 3:16 pm
5 Nov 2009 | 3:16 pmMobile post sent by djuggler using Utterli. Replies. mp3 [See post to listen to audio] -
The Purge
5 Nov 2009 | 5:13 amA friend of mine used to periodically throw out all his belongings. He was a bit nomadic. I cannot remember the frequency but it seems like he did this annually. Stuff he could not bare to part with would be placed in a box and dated. By the next purge, if it had not been removed, it would be donated to someone who would use it. Our house is probably a little too small for the size of our family and it lacks storage and shelving. As such, we have disorganization in places like the garage. Cathy’s response is to start getting rid of things we don’t use. And she is correct.
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This Eclectic Life
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My Optimism is Challenged
6 Nov 2009 | 6:54 amEuphoria overwhelmed me yesterday as I finished my day of work. I had painted most of a closet and had my accounting paperwork close to orderly. My blog post of the day had been one for Mimi’s BlogBlast for Peace. In unison with thousands of other bloggers across the world, I had voiced a desire for peace … and it filled me with hope. I even knew what I wanted to write today for Only The Good Friday. Then, I watched the evening news. I sat in stunned silence as the television bombarded me with news of the violence at Fort Hood. “How could that have happened?” I… -
Dona Nobis Pacem. Doing Our Part.
5 Nov 2009 | 1:59 amRabbit was hopping along one day, when he stumbled over Hummingbird, who was lying flat on his back in the middle of the path. He had his feet sticking straight up in the air. “Are you sick?” asked Rabbit. “Nope,” said Hummingbird. “Are you hurt?” Rabbit inquired. “Nope,” said Hummingbird. “What’s going on?” cried Rabbit. “Why are you on the path with your legs in the air?” “Haven’t you heard?” replied Hummingbird. “The sky is falling, and I’m going to hold it up.”… -
Creating Art At Sunrise Pottery
3 Nov 2009 | 4:31 amI went to Artisan’s Alley in San Antonio with little hopes of holding on to my pocketbook. I had visited the shops there before and I knew that temptation awaited me. A collection of delightful shops The tiny shopping center is located at 555 W. Bitters Rd., and you won’t find it unless you are looking for it. I definitely recommend looking for it! You can spend hours there window shopping. I hoped I might find something interesting to photograph to distract me from spending money. It didn’t work, y’all; I spent money! My hopes for something I’d enjoy… -
Tattooed Librarians?
1 Nov 2009 | 9:09 pmYou could have knocked me over with a feather when I read that the Texas Library Association had a calendar for next year featuring librarians with tattoos. Yes, they really do! They are raising money for the TLA Library Disaster Relief Fund … and I suppose they are also trying to change the image of librarians as the “women who wear sensible shoes.” Take a gander at this, and tell me they didn’t succeed in busting the stereotype, so to speak! I tell you whut! If librarians work in the library dressed like this the teenage boys will be lining up at the door to check… -
The Potter’s Hands
1 Nov 2009 | 8:06 amI was fortunate this week to be able to watch a potter create his art. Although I took a pottery class in college, the skill eluded me (I dropped the class so it wouldn’t destroy my grade point average). Most of the few items I made were heavy enough to use as weapons and did not resemble any item of pottery ever seen by man. I suppose one could kindly call them “unique.” This man, however, knew his craft and was kind enough to share it with me. I’ll be posting more fully about it later this week, with an entire series of photos that I snapped as he worked. Lifting the…
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Extraordinique
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Extraordinique Turns Two
6 Nov 2009 | 6:02 pmIt's amazing to believe that two years ago today, Team Extraordinique launched this site in Las Vegas, during Blog World Expo. We had a great party to launch the site and we have been enjoying writing, receiving your comments and suggestions ever since.On this day, we want to thank you the readers for supporting Extraordinique. In these crazy economic times, we've found amazing and resilient artists and entrepreneurs defying the odds and creating with extraordinary outcomes.We hope as we continue to find new ways to share what we think is Extraordinique, you'll find the time to enjoy and… -
Using What's Natural to Do Your Dirty Work
18 Sep 2009 | 6:30 pmDoing some remodeling recently, I have never been more aware of the amount of chemicals and cleaning products you can bring in to your home to finish the job. Cleaning was a big effort after our home improvements and cleaning supplies, like detergents, brushes, scrubbers all seemed both wasteful and un-recyclable once they were used up.I came across some great environmentally-friendly cleaning products that I thought I would share. Check out Goodbye Detergent! They have interesting scrub, scouring and cleaning pads made with unique materials such as recycled corn cobs, peach pits, &… -
V-Moda - A Remix of High Fashion & High Fidelity
21 Aug 2009 | 10:51 pmMy iPhone is always on. Whether I'm talking on the phone or listening to Pandora while I work, a good headset is such a integrated part of my daily experience.I've tried thinking of the best way to describe how much I love the new V-Moda Vibe II earbuds and microphone. It seems crazy, but when you are tethered as much as I am, having a good, crisp, sharp sound means the world to me. Not only that, since it's an "always on" device, having a headset that looks sleek, is such an appreciated and coveted bonus.I have not been impressed with the iPhone standard headphones and have been searching… -
It's ok to play with stickers by dvider
21 Aug 2009 | 9:05 pmWe're always telling the kids not to write or put stickers on the wall, but what if mom wants to? Camilla Slattery, owner and creative director of the DUMBO based stickers by dvider, announced some fresh new designs, in particular a new line called "eclectic." I thought for all those moms out there wanting to do something new and fresh for their kids room, this is a great way to give a room personality and style. Check out a bunch of the new designs in action on Camilla's site - stickers by dvider.Also check out their gallery to get some great ideas for a great nursery, playroom or "tweenie"… -
Use it. Love it. Green Science.
21 Aug 2009 | 3:29 pmI'm kinda fickle when it comes to beauty products. I'll use a product half way and then get bored of it. My salon though encouraged me to try Green Science - a face cream that my skin just drinks up! I'm on my third container, so I figure at this point, I'm smitten.If you like a light, yet emollient face cream, this one is delicious for your skin!If you are in the Sacramento area, check out Salon B. They are running product specials in September, so don't miss out.Aveda is recognized for their sustainable practices and beauty productsAveda received the Gold Standard of Cradle to Cradle (C2C)…
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sex and the beach
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SoFla Blogup 2009
27 Oct 2009 | 10:59 amI fondly recall the first blogger meetup in Miami ... though Hidden City has told me that proto-bloggers socialized in Miami as far back as the dawn of the interwebs.But in recent history, circa 2006, several established bloggers who are still active today got together for conversation, drinks and food at Tobacco Road. The meetup was inspired by the fact that Stormhoek Winery had put together blogger shindig in South Beach for a Gaping Void campaign. A few people were turned off by the commercial nature of the event and decided that "we" could meet up all on our own. I don't remember who "we"… -
Local: Holy Moly Redlands Guacamole!
24 Oct 2009 | 12:51 pmOn October 10, Schnebly Redland's Winery in Homestead hosted a special event to benefit four local high schools with culinary arts and agricultural programs. The goal was to beat the Guinness World Record for largest guacamole and they did it!Under the supervision of their chef instructors, students mashed 3,428 pounds of avocados, diced 489 pounds of tomatoes and squeezed the juice out of 478 pounds of limes. Mixed together with 98.5 pounds of mayonnaise, the guacamole beat the previous record by 103 pounds for a whopping 4,114 pounds of the green stuff.Later, the guacamole was seasoned with… -
Sex and the Beach Author Still Crazy After Four Years of Blogging
14 Oct 2009 | 12:36 pmWow, it's hard to believe that four years have gone by. So much so, that I totally forgot to celebrate this blog's anniversary. If I were married to me, I'd expect roses, champagne and an honest apology!It's amazing that I didn't even know what a blog was just weeks before my first post.It all started on October 10, 2005, when the newly created Manola Blablablanik pondered about things that no longer even cross her mind, unless, of course, she's giving advice to some wayward newbie just entering the mauling claws of life on South Beach.Seven months after breaking up with her boyfriend, with… -
Ford Fiesta: Cracker Country Gator Wrastlin' Adventure!
7 Oct 2009 | 3:21 pmOur fifth mission was one of the best yet. Brad and I went to Gatorland in Orlando to fulfill his lifelong dream of wrestling an alligator. Ever the closet country boy, my buddy Brad grew up on a farm and wrestled juvenile livestock when he himself was a kid. At long last, Brad was ready for the challenge.I've also had a special place in my heart for the reptiles, since I used to come across them in my hardcore Everglades fishing days -- sometimes a little too close for comfort.Even though Brad got all the hot reptile action on this mission, believe me, I was no less shy. Whenever he was in… -
Book Review: Tantric Sex for Busy Couples
6 Oct 2009 | 11:01 amYou're probably wondering why I'm reviewing a book for couples on a blog for single women, but knowing what you want from a potential sex life is important homework on the path to coupledom.Though Tantric Sex for Busy Couples (Hunter House, 2009) is aimed mainly at heterosexual, established relationships, it's chock full of information that will help anyone -- gay or straight -- looking for skills in intimacy both inside and outside of the bedroom.Diana Daffner, a certified sexologist and Tai Chi instructor living on the west coast of Florida, authored the book with contributions from her…
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verbatim
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Photo Phinish
6 Nov 2009 | 5:03 pmRemember that yummy pasta dish I made a couple of months ago? Well, I made it again tonight, and this time I remembered to take a photo: -
Friday iPod Random Ten
6 Nov 2009 | 5:00 pm1. Spirits in the Night - Bruce Springstee2. Down to the River to Pray - Alison Krauss3. Blue Highway - Eilen Jewell4. Prison Girls - Neko Case5. Rock n' Roll Doctor (live) - Little Feat6. I Fought the Law - The Clash 7. Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise - The Avett Brothers8. Rainy Day Blues Willie Nelson & Johnny Lang9. Girlfriend Is Better - Talking Heads20 Love Is the Seventh Wave - The Duhks -
Paper Towels, I Wish I Could Quit You
5 Nov 2009 | 7:11 pmI try very hard to be as "green" as possible. Sure, there are certain conveniences I will never give up, because the environmentally friendly alternatives are pretty distasteful (reusable tampons, I'm talkin' to you!), but for the most part I do all the right things. I try to buy products with minimal packaging, I reuse bags and plastic containers as much as I can until they're dead, I recycle everything I possibly can (about this I'm downright OCD, salvaging every tiny scrap of paper and bit of aluminum foil), and so on. I am lucky that my city picks up pretty… -
Where Did the Fall Go?
4 Nov 2009 | 7:48 pmI just realized that Thanksgiving is THREE weeks from tomorrow, and I haven't done a thing about it. I do happen to know that we'll be down to 17 from the usual 26, which might mean that I can get away with one turkey instead of two—whattaya think? Although a bunch of my Twitter pals just invited themselves, and you never know when people are serious or just joking around by the way they type.... I wish I could just skip right to the leftover stuffing and gravy the next day. -
The Future Is Now
3 Nov 2009 | 6:30 pmIf you had told me just a few years ago that I could elect a black man (with a strange first name) as my mayor, my governor, and my president, I would have rolled my eyes and snorted. But as of today's local election, it's true.My mayor, Setti Warren: My governor, Deval Patrick:My president, Barack Obama:My kids don't know what the big deal is. Isn't that great?
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Geek Mom Mashup
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Really, CNN? That’s your top story?
4 Nov 2009 | 11:58 amThis is what I saw when I checked my CNN headlines widget a few minutes ago: Jessica Simpson's Bosom is the Top Story? Did you see the headline for the Top Story? “Jessica Simpson finds a bosom buddy…” Oh. My. Goodness. I don’t know whether to be amused and relieved that there’s nothing more important than Jessica’s bosom in the news at the moment, or annoyed at CNN for leading with such a ridiculous headline. A bit of both, I guess. And since you’re probably dying to know what the story is about, here’s the blurb: Jessica Simpson and Dolly… -
Geek Halloween Costume Idea: Facebook Profile Page!
30 Oct 2009 | 5:16 pmFacebook Halloween Costumes If you’re familiar with Facebook (and the amount of time it can suck from your life) you might enjoy this costume idea! I resisted joining Facebook for a while, mostly because I figured it was probably like MySpace, which wasn’t that impressive to me. But once I opened my FB account, I was amazed by the number of old friends I found there. It’s like a mega-reunion of everybody I’ve ever known, from kindergarten classmates to sorority sisters to distant relatives you never see in person. It’s fun! Facebook Poke Costumes If you’re… -
Netflix and PlayStation are a Perfect Match
26 Oct 2009 | 8:23 pmNetflix and PlayStation 3 Netflix and PlayStation are teaming up to allow Netflix subscribers to play streaming video on the game system! I’m so happy! I made a recent post on my love of Netflix, and how I enjoy watching the instant movies on my laptop. Now, we’ll be able to watch instant movies on our big screen television, through our PlayStation 3 console! Here is an excerpt of the announcement posted on the PlayStation blog today: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA) and Netflix, Inc. [Nasdaq: NFLX] today announced that they are joining forces to make thousands of… -
Great Gadget for Twilight Geeks: New Moon USB Drive
19 Oct 2009 | 6:49 pmNew Moon Soundtrack USB Drive Here’s a short intro for a new product coming out any day now! I will be carrying these in my Twilight shop, and I’m pretty excited! This is an officially licensed Twilight product, and it is a sweet combination of style and function. It’s a 2GB USB flash drive, with the Cullen family crest on the outside, and the New Moon movie soundtrack pre-loaded on the inside. You can read the details and pre-order the New Moon USB drive now. I expect to have them ready to ship in late October 2009. Cheers! -
I give Netflix two thumbs up! GeekMom’s Netflix review.
15 Oct 2009 | 4:25 pmIf you know me, I rarely include ads in my posts. In the sidebar, yes, but rarely in my posts. I have to really, sincerely like something before I’ll put an ad for it here. I’ll just say it now: I like love Netflix! I was skeptical at first. I didn’t sign up right away. In fact, this is a bit embarrassing to admit, but I initially joined Netflix mostly to get “points” for some Facebook game. Probably Mafia Wars or something like that. I had intended to use the service during the free trial period, and then cancel it. But that was several months ago, and the free…
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Yes to Me
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Starseeds: Blueprinters 2 Blueprint Technicians
1 Nov 2009 | 7:07 pmBlueprint Technicians form a subcategory within the Blueprinters group. All Blueprinters share a lot of characteristics, so before we get to the specific characteristics of Blueprint Technicians, please read the first post on Blueprinters if you haven’t done so already. (Photo credit) After Blueprint Originators worked on the general concept of the Earth experiment and Blueprint Designers worked on the aesthetic aspect of the blueprints, Blueprint Technicians worked on the technical side of blueprints. This includes (but probably not limited to) the energetic grid system on Earth, the… -
Online Gratitude Journal October 2009 Edition #34
30 Oct 2009 | 1:51 pmHappy Halloween! I have the feeling Halloween is big in this small town. Maybe I will take my camera out. Hope you are having fun and enjoying the fall colors, too. (Photo credit) October in Review I spent a lot of time thinking and writing about foods this month. I do believe physical health is important in spiritual growth. We are spiritual being incarnated in the flesh. The content is of course important, but the package is part of the deal, too. So if you haven’t, please check this out. And this. And let’s treat our bodies with gratitude! My eBook “Lightworker’s Guide to… -
Demystifying Starseeds, Walk-Ins, And Lightworkers
27 Oct 2009 | 2:10 pmI’ve received some questions about starseeds, walk-ins, and lightworkers in general. So let me explain my understanding about these concepts. (Photo credit) Starseeds Souls can be categorized into two groups depending on their history: souls that started right from this planet Earth and souls that have been to other star system(s) prior to coming to Earth. I call each Earth souls and starseed souls. This is a soul level issue. Being starseed does NOT mean an alien came down and impregnated your mother. On the physical level, you are the product of your biological parents. On the soul… -
Dogma, Anti-Dogma, And Choosing Your Path In Diet And Spirituality
22 Oct 2009 | 3:15 pmDon’t be like a religious fundamentalist with your diet. Always consult your current body, not the dogma. — my recent tweet I’ve devoted three posts exploring the best way to eat for our physical and spiritual health: Meat Eaters vs Vegetarians In Spirituality Eat For Your Health And Spirituality Detox Your Body And Mind In this post, I want to sum up the discussion. We are still talking about foods, but the point is our relationship with foods, or the way we choose to eat. And the way we choose to live in general, including our spiritual journey. (Photo credit) The objective of… -
Review: Ancient Secret Of The Fountain Of Youth By Peter Kelder
20 Oct 2009 | 12:43 pmI’m so impressed with this little book that I feel obligated to introduce it to you. It’s a small book of a 100 pages or so, no frills. The simplicity and its longevity (the current version was first published in 1985. It says the book was first published in the 1930s) show there is something remarkable about the book. I’m often disappointed with books that come with so many frills. Quite often, the latter half of the book is a rehash of the first half so I can just scan through quickly once I read 50 to 60% of the book. It leaves me wondering why the author had to do this — if…
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Magpie Musing
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I've Spawned an Auteur
4 Nov 2009 | 1:00 pmIf you give a kid a camera, she's going to want to make a movie. -
Foreign Phrases
3 Nov 2009 | 1:00 pmThe Bloggess is in Japan. Her Japanese is, apparently, lacking. My foreign language skills are mediocre, though je parle un peu Français and ich spreche ein bißchen Deutsch.The only thing that my husband knows how to say in Italian is "your eyes are the color of my Ferrari" (which, if you think about it, is damning with faint praise, since a Ferrari is nearly always red). I can say "you're dog shit" in Chinese, but that's it.And once upon a time, my sister got off an airplane in Brazil having memorized only one phrase out of her guidebook, from the going-to-the-doctor section, namely… -
Savory Sweet Potatoes
2 Nov 2009 | 2:00 pmI know I've said this before, but one of the things about the CSA is that it is strangely liberating to have no choice in what you get. You must cook the sweet potatoes, even though you'd never have bought them in the first place. So you try to find a way to like the sweet potatoes (or fill-in-the-blank with your own personal bête noire).Yesterday, when faced with a need to make dinner and a need to address the largish bag of sweet potatoes, I turned to Twitter/Facebook, and asked for help.The replies poured in. Apparently people have strong feelings about sweet potatoes. Go figure. However,… -
Let's Review: The Prima Princessa Nutcracker
1 Nov 2009 | 2:00 pmA big part of my childhood was seeing the New York City Ballet Nutcracker every couple of years. For me, it's the ur Nutcracker: the sets, the costumes, the choreography, the specifics of the plot. I love the movie of it that was made in 1997, even though Macaulay Caulkin should have been left on the cutting room floor - all he does is mug for the camera - but I guess they felt that they needed a "name" "star" for a theatrical release. I digress.The child has been captivated by the Prima Princessa Swan Lake that I brought home from BlogHer, so I was happy when they offered to send me their… -
The Nightgown
30 Oct 2009 | 8:46 amShe went off to the undertaker in a nightgown. A soft cotton-knit nightgown from Lands' End. Heather grey, with a henley neck and a handful of buttons and long sleeves. It hung to below the knee, and had side slits at the hem. I'd bought it for her around the time she started sleeping in the living room. All of her other nightgowns were cotton flannel, and harder to get on and off; the stretchy knit was easier. Over time, though, both side slits tore farther up the seam. All of that pulling and rolling and tugging - to change the diaper, change the bedding, get her positioned in her bed just…
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Kam Family Blog - Life in Hawaii as we live and enjoy it!
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KISS Halloween Goodbye…
2 Nov 2009 | 11:20 pmUncle Kevin and Paul "Little E" Stanley. Another fantastic Halloween in the books. What has become a family tradition, we headed down to Kailua to trick or treat with the family and Ensen gave fellow ghouls and goblins his best KISS (Paul Stanley) impersonation. Kelly sewed his costume and the little guy even let her paint his face. Doesn’t he look like a true rocker? He got a lot of nice comments from passersby and from the family. Now the big question is, what should he be next year? Before you answer that, here’s a few more photos to recap the night. The hunt is on… -
Photos with cat-itude!
23 Oct 2009 | 9:00 amHad some fun last night photographing our girl cat Tikki with the Canon EOS Rebel T1i. She was quite the model for the first 30 shots…then as you can tell by the last photo she had just about enough. We did reward her with extra pets which she thoroughly enjoyed. He doesn’t know it yet, but I’ll soon be her brother Jabbey’s turn for his photo session. Stay tuned for those photos of our masked tuxedo cat. -NGK Posted in Da Kine, Family Fun, Pets Tagged: Canon EOS Rebel T1i, cat, photography -
Maui Wowie!
21 Oct 2009 | 9:00 amSunset at the Sheraton Maui. In most cases, pictures speak louder than words, so I’m going to let the photos do the talking in this post. But first a brief overview of what’s going on here. The Kam family enjoyed spending time this past weekend at the Sheraton Maui. It was a mix of business and leisure as I attended the Hawaii Hotel and Lodging Association’s Annual Membership Meeting and brought Kelly and Ensen along too. Ensen was especially glad Uncle Jon flew up to join us and was excited to cruise with Maui Grandma, Uncle Frank, and other family as well. By the end of… -
Unleashing the Rebel (T1i) within!
12 Oct 2009 | 7:43 pmI finally did it! After months of research and changing my mind from Canon to Nikon to Canon, I finally purchased my first DSLR camera yesterday from Costco. Yes, Costco! I’ve had my eyes on the Canon EOS Rebel T1i for quite some time and took the plunge yesterday after stumbling upon a $1,049 kit at Costco that included the camera with a EF-S 18-55mm IS lens, an additional EF-S 55-250 mm F/4-5.6 IS lens, gadget bag, 4GB SDHC memory card, mini-HDMI cable, and a bunch of tutorial stuff. It seemed like a good deal for a beginner like me that I couldn’t pass up. And I’ve been a… -
Aboard the USS Nimitz – Part 3 of 3
27 Sep 2009 | 8:47 pmThis is the final video of my three part series showcasing the fun we had aboard the USS Nimitz. In this video, we explore the flight deck from back to front, visit the ship’s nurse to find out about medical capabilities, and visit a Magazine Room to learn about weapons. Truly an experience I’ll never forget. -NGK Posted in Da Kine, Rants and Raves Tagged: aircraft carrier, distinguished visitor, F18 Hornet, Hawaii, overnight embark, U.S. Navy, U.S. Pacific Fleet, USS Nimitz
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37days
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Send him a holiday, his last.
5 Nov 2009 | 5:38 amI believe we can rock this little boy's world, you and I and all the people we know all around the world.I checked on Snopes; this one is for real: 5-yr old Noah Biorkman is in the last stages of neuroblastoma cancer. His family is celebrating Christmas next week and all he wants are Christmas cards. Let's see how many we can get to him from all over the world very quickly--tell your friends in Japan and Papua New Guinea and South Africa and across the U.S. and beyond. I see thousands - THOUSANDS - of cards telling little Noah (and his grieving family) that in this big wide world, he matters. -
thinking thursday.
4 Nov 2009 | 9:04 pmEvery Thursday, just a few links I've discovered, things I'm thinking about. And, of course, a link somewhere to a man who lives near Paris just because he exists(Where I can follow the serendipitous thread I followed to get there, I'll include a thanks to the person who surfaced it for me.) mind :: my brain and yoursIf this headline is true, then I am obviously the mother of the future leader of the entire galaxy past, present, and future.I sure hope Santa reads 37days.Millenials: The greatest generation (of networkers). Can obsessive networking make you a good employee?body :: my place and… -
poetry wednesday : poetic bloodlines, a word's worth
3 Nov 2009 | 9:01 pmPoetry has a job to do, a bloodline to further. Poets teach people and take back the world. They must be about something.One night, God came to me in a dreamWith a scheme that seemed to be out of this worldHe approached me and opened his robeAnd showed me a hypodermic needle in the shape of a penAnd my first reaction was to step back fastBut then God grabbed me and said“Slow down my child,I’ve got a job for you to do”And with a burst of light God grabbed my armAnd said “I mean you no harm”And he pushed the pen inAnd it filled my arteries and God charted meTo write some new shit,… -
found-art tuesday : shadow
3 Nov 2009 | 2:06 pmThey may as well have called the sun a ball of flaming joy. ~Star RichésFind art in shadow. As Sven Nykvist has written, "Light can be gentle, dangerous, dreamlike, bare, living, dead, misty, clear, hot, dark, violet, springlike, falling, straight, sensual, limited, poisonous, calm and soft."Find light.Find shadow.They are everywhere.(shadows on my living room window, 3 Nov 2009) -
Vote. Or shut up.
2 Nov 2009 | 1:48 pm(photo of a fellow air traveler at 37,000 feet en route to Nebraska, June 2009)
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It's my life...
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Prolific Tweeter and Proud of it
6 Nov 2009 | 9:49 pmAt the end of the work day I attended an office Beer Bash designed to help the newbies get to know the people who have been there for a bit longer and to help the different teams get to know each other a bit better. To get us mingling, the organizers prepared a round of Human Bingo.We walked around, paper and pen clasped in hand, looking for the person who had played pro-ball in college, a driver of a hybrid, someone with 2+ kids. I approached a girl I hadn't yet met and introduce myself. "Wait, Jessica? As in Jessica Rosenberg?" She replies, looking both shocked and delighted. I just… -
Winter flip-flops - perfect California wear
5 Nov 2009 | 10:21 pmThere was a moment, sometime this summer, when I realized I had finally fully given in and admitted that I was officially a Californian. It wasn't the avocados. It wasn't the love of the mountains. It wasn't even my acceptance of the insanely expensive lifestyle.It was the flip-flops. Sometime this summer I realized that I was wearing flip-flops for more than just getting the mail, taking out the trash, and going to the pool/beach.And now that summer is finally waning my feet are cold. So, I ask you, would it be very wrong to get these?I know that they're sold as slippers, but I think they'd… -
Parties in the past
4 Nov 2009 | 11:03 pmMy grandmother had a home in the town of Briare, France, about an hour south of Paris. She didn't actually live there though, the house sat empty, waiting for whatever family member wanted to escape Paris for a weekend in the country.Often that family member was me, usually accompanied by some of my closest friends.Man did we have some rocking parties at that house.The checkered living room tiles just begged to be turned into a dance floor. And the many bedrooms were the perfect place for everyone to pitch a sleeping bag for when we were finally too tired to party.It never occurred to me to… -
Five jobs and counting, but still sane
3 Nov 2009 | 10:28 pmBy the time I dropped off the girls at daycare this morning I had already conducted a phone meeting for one of my jobs - managing editor at a local parenting newspaper. I kissed them goodbye, reminded them to make good choices, and headed a half hour south for a second meeting for a second job - co-creator of a website. (Still in very early days. Incredibly exciting.)After a quick lunch with an old co-worker I raced to my new job (job #3) at Tiny Prints. For four hours I worked nonstop on a number of projects* and then I tidied up my desk and hurried back out. I had 15 minutes to go get C and… -
The Princess Cowgirl and the Princess Witch Halloween it up
2 Nov 2009 | 9:14 pmTheir mother is a mommy blogging novelist marketer, their daddy is a ukulele playing lawyer, so is it really all that surprising that C and Little L couldn't decide on just one costume for this Halloween? Beautiful Princess Witch."Because witches are kind of like princesses, right mommy?"Cowgirl princess!Complete with cowgirl hat, cowgirl boots, and hand-me-down Gymboree jeans. We did some afternoon trick-or-treating in town.And we faced the hordes of other candy hungry kids.Little L was delighted with the whole thing.Her hat, curls, boots, and blue eyes delighted everyone else.We also did…
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Lisa Sabin-Wilson
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WordCamp NYC, BuddyPress & Me!
5 Nov 2009 | 5:46 pmI am very excited, and honored, to be speaking at WordCamp NYC next weekend. I have grown very fond of WordCamp get togethers whenever I have the time, and opportunity to attend. It is great fun for every type of WordPress user out there – - from total beginners to advanced developers, there is literally something for every single type of user. If you get the chance to attend a WordCamp – definitely DO – just meeting other people, networking and sharing experiences is worth the price of admission alone! When I saw that WordCamp was organizing in NYC this month, it was… -
Out From Under . .
5 Nov 2009 | 1:33 pmSeriously, I haven’t updated this site since JULY – almost 4 months ago. I’m surprised I still have subscribers and that you are still here reading this .. but thank you for sticking around! So much as been going on since I last updated here, I don’t even know where to begin. Maybe if I just blank out the last 4 months and start over and pretend like some of this stuff never happened…would you still love me in the morning? We moved! For reasons too hairy to discuss, Chris and I had been renting a home over the past 6 years. It was a large… -
It’s Official – BuddyPress For Dummies
16 Jul 2009 | 11:25 amThe Amazon.com placeholder makes it official, I guess! I haven’t officially announced it yet – so I guess now is as good a time as any! I know I’ve been a little book title neurotic over here, having announced my intention to write TypePad For Dummies just a few months ago – but as with everything else in this world of technology, things move rather fast! Wiley Publishing has made a commitment to put out a series of different WordPress related books over the next year, it’s exciting! My own book, WordPress For Dummies, was so well received with sales that… -
Keeping my focus on WordPress
12 Jun 2009 | 11:40 amBack in mid-May, I made an announcement here about a new book that I was contracted to write for Wiley Publishing, TypePad For Dummies. I’m still very active in my WordPress For Dummies project, as a matter of fact, I just updated the book recently for a reprint and a 3rd edition of WordPress For Dummies is scheduled to start this year. Since I did not have any other books on my schedule for 2009, I took the opportunity offered by Wiley to write the TypePad book. That has now changed, however; a lot can happen in 2-3 weeks – - keeping up with technology in print is a… -
WordPress 2.8 Goodness
10 Jun 2009 | 8:45 pmI’ve been using 2.8 beta since it’s release and upgraded this evening to 2.8 (Baker) this evening and nothing broke – that is always a bonus! Loving the upgrades to the WordPress platform and how everything is pretty much automated for users – - now not only can you upgrade your WordPress installation directly from your Dashboard AND search for, install and activate new plugins (and upgrade existing ones) directly from your WordPress Dashboard – but you can do the same with free WordPress Themes from the official themes directory. A true WordPress Trifecta…
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Random Musings of The Wild Mind
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How Rushing A Sorority Is Like Online Dating
26 Oct 2009 | 1:00 amI’ve recently come to realize how many things in life are analogous to many other things in life. One pretty benign, or so it seems, event turns out to represent what happens in another completely unrelated area of life. So it is with the sorority rush process and online dating. I know, I know. It seems like a real leap here, but go with me for a minute. Way back in the day, when I was even more naive and wide-eyed than I am now, I had the opportunity to go through sorority rush, bid night, pledge a sorority and eventually be initiated. At the time it intrigued me, but over the… -
Goodbyes
25 Oct 2009 | 1:00 amThe song, Porcelain, by Moby is haunting me these days. Actually, it’s haunted me on and off for the last two years. Here’s the story behind this song for me. Shortly after leaving my second ex, I wasted no time getting into the dating scene. Well, wait. That’s not totally true. I gave it about 4 months, then tentatively decided to test the dating waters, before my divorce was completely final, but well after I knew it was going to be a done deal. Having dealt with so much angst and drama during the marriage, I was quite certain I’d dealt with all the “stuff” and was… -
Heads Up! Seven Up!
24 Oct 2009 | 3:44 pmI remember it well. The childhood game where seven children in the class are chosen to go to the front of the room. On the directive, “Heads down thumbs up”, the seven students travel around the room, one by one touching the thumb of one of their classmates and returning to the front of the room. When all seven are back in their places the invitation, “Heads up, seven up” is issued and those seven students whose thumbs where chosen get to stand and try to guess who picked them. If guessed accurately, they replace their classmate at the front of the room and then… -
Procrastinatory Paring and Sharing
18 Oct 2009 | 11:49 amSo, today, in my usual procrastinatory (is that even a word) I decided to go through each of the links on my blog roll in an attempt to clarify two things. First, I wanted to see if the bloggers were even still active. I mean, no good sending you to someone really cool who hasn’t written anything really cool since last year…or the year before. I hate that when that happens! I find a blogger I love reading then realize I’m reading something that happened years ago and this person, for all digital intents and purposes, no longer exists. I usually figure this out… -
Consulting: Famine or Feast?
16 Oct 2009 | 9:07 pmIt’s feast or famine isn’t it? Nothing is more true for anyone than the self-employed freelancer or consultant. I knew this from others’ reports. This week, I’m finding it out first hand for myself. No, I haven’t quit my day job. I can’t do that quite yet. But some good stuff is happening to The Wild Mind in this arena this month. I just picked up three additional speaking engagements this last week. All three of them strategically significant for me and two of them paying gigs. The nice little caveat is that throughout the course of the…
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Stuffleufagus
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Sometimes there are a lot of servers in service. But it is still the service that matters.
20 Oct 2009 | 6:34 pmI don’t hide the fact that I work for the world’s largest hosting company. And there is very little doubt that you have surfed on a server that was serviced by our company. When you have more servers than almost anyone in the world, you can host a lot of sites. Hosting them is one thing – servicing them is another issue completely. We are a hosting company with a service problem. See – we just love serving customers. Sure, we serve billions (or more) web pages a year – but we do that by focusing on serving customers. People serving people. Sounds… -
Some good traits for “online media” people
20 Sep 2009 | 3:34 pmIt’s been about 8 months that my primary role has been something “social media” related. I make the role work for me, and that includes a lot of business development, social networking, and “social marketing”. You need to find your own path. As long as it is focused on customers, I imagine you can make it work. But you have to start with loving to be “helpful”. That is a powerful word that your customers will respect. Anyway, here are some of my pointers: You are hyper-connected, and loving it that way. You are “always” online,… -
Don’t think I’ve done this before
8 Sep 2009 | 10:32 pmBut I might have. Probably even did. (linking to an external interview I did). Anyway, here is a link to an interview I gave with B2B – a business website. I was happy with it. I love customers, and I love working for a company that loves customers. What is building43—and should you want one? -
Me – on a conference panel? Really?
4 Sep 2009 | 8:16 pmYeah – those of you that know me well, or have known me for a long time would be shocked by this. I am NOT a very public/sociable guy – which is weird, because I get paid to be one! I love customers. Hate cameras. I’ve always focused on making sure the focus is on someone else. So how in the heck did I get nominated for several panels at SXSW Interactive? Blame it on the PR machine I do. And they spelled my name wrong – it is “La Gesse” But whatever – it is what it is – and I love these panels. I could talk about most of this in my sleep so I… -
Bitter with Twitter
23 Aug 2009 | 4:43 pmFor some time, I followed most (obvious) non-spammers that followed me on Twitter. I expected Twitter to give me better tools, and better filters over time. They haven’t. Today I started unfollowing people that weren’t adding any value to my social graph. I am sure I made some mistakes, and unfollowed a few people I should not have – if that is true in your case – if we know each other, please email me and I will follow you back. I am doing this manually, one account at a time – so I am trying to be careful. I meet so many people in so many different…
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The Art of Manliness
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A Man’s Guide to Dry Cleaning
5 Nov 2009 | 7:27 pmImage from Millie Motts Why should a man care about dry cleaning? When your expensive clothing is damaged or lost, what can you do? I’m sure many of you reading this have been burned when it comes to having a garment come back missing buttons, torn, or in the worst case scenario-doesn’t come back at all. You may have purchased your suit for $2,000, but if it vanishes you’ll be lucky to see 1/10th of that. The key to preventing a loss is up-front preparation – which we’ll discuss below. Dry cleaning your clothing unnecessarily shortens the usable life of your garments. -
Lessons in Manliness: Jimmy Stewart
4 Nov 2009 | 7:03 pmShare “His type is as normally average as the hot dog and pop at Coney Island. He is good looking without being handsome, quiet without being a bore, ambitious without taking either himself or his job too seriously and unassuming without being dull. Stewart’s growing appeal has sometimes been difficult to peg. He’s no Gable and certainly has none of the qualities of a Valentino. A sixteen-year-old fan seems to have hit it when she wrote to him, ‘I like you because you’re like the boy next door.”-1938 MGM biography of James Stewart James “Jimmy” Stewart was an… -
Toolmanship: How to Use a Handsaw
3 Nov 2009 | 6:34 pmShare Today we return to our monthly series called Toolmanship. The goal of this series is to pass on the basics of tool use to a generation of men who never got around to learning how to be handy. In this edition, we take a look at how to properly use a handsaw. We’ll give a rundown on the different types of handsaws out there and tips to get you sawing like a carpenter. Crosscut Saw or Rip Saw Before you put saw to wood, you need to determine what sort of saw you’ll need for your job. In the pantheon of saws, two basic designs exist: the crosscut saw and the rip saw. Which one you use… -
Choosing a Good Cigar: Beer and Cigar of the Month Club Subscription Giveaway
2 Nov 2009 | 9:02 pmEditor’s note: This is a guest post from Andre Naser at Club-Offers.com. To learn how to win a 3 month membership into their beer and cigar clubs, see the details below. There was once a time when a man with a cigar in his mouth was held in high regard; a time when a young man toasted farewell to adolescence by igniting the end of a cigar that “just happened” to slip out of his father’s humidor. A time where the arrival of a man’s progeny was celebrated with cigars in the hospital’s waiting room. A time when one could find a guillotine right alongside a man’s… -
The Art of Manliness Podcast Episode #7: Rules for My Unborn Son with Walker Lamond
2 Nov 2009 | 5:17 pmShare Welcome back to another edition of the Art of Manliness podcast. In this week’s episode we talk to Walker Lamond, author of the new book Rules for My Unborn Son. Walker’s book is based on his popular blog, 1001 Rules for My Unborn Son. We discuss the inspiration for the book, wheelie luggage, and required listening for boys. Pick up the book from Amazon.com today! Full of advice both insightful and humorous, I highly recommend it. It makes a great stocking stuffer this Christmas for any man in your life, not just dads. Listen to Podcast! Other ways to listen to the Art of…
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Going The Wong Way
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Public Restrooms Are Scary
5 Nov 2009 | 11:16 am# use_public_toilet.py # # Algorithm for using a public toilet. Success will vary based on the # toilet/situation (obviously). However, this seems to be a generally safe # way to approach using a toilet. # # Handles both male and female needs as well as exceptional cases such as # no available toilet, getting dirty, and entering the wrong gender's # bathroom. # # Algorithm is roughly: # 1) Enter bathroom # 2) Find suitable toilet # 3) Protect yourself if it's a stall toilet that you sit on # 4) Do your business # 5) Finish up import common_sense # Sometimes even nature's calling cannot… -
Assumptions Cause Tumbles
30 Oct 2009 | 2:01 pmWhile I am happy about the fact that I have become someone who questions a lot of what I hear, I readily admit that we all need to live using assumptions. We do not check every fact each and every time otherwise we would go insane! We sit on chairs without checking that the legs will support our weight (although sometimes the chair unfortunately does not support our weight). We figure that our car engine is going to work even though we don’t check it before turning it on everyday. Staplers have staples, light switches will turn on lights, and our e-mail is accessible. These assumptions… -
iPhone ADD
16 Oct 2009 | 12:14 amWhile there are many advances in mobile technology, there is none more prominent than the iPhone by Apple Inc. After only releasing in June 2007, it has made its mark on society one person at a time. It has created huge lines, buzz in media, envy in people’s eyes, and a huge increase in revenue for the companies involved. Despite much hype and doubt, it has been a game-changing device. It has a user interface that is the standard to which all others are (now) compared, it is sleek, it is expensive enough to stay out of the hands of the less privileged (like Coach purses for girls), and… -
Health Care Reform
9 Oct 2009 | 12:10 amNobody likes to pay for health services. And health services are not perfect at all. They (medical professionals) charge more than what seems reasonable, and they do not seem to have to answer to anybody except for the health insurance companies because they only listen to the money. It would be nice to have personal doctors and nurses to tend to your every whim. And it would be nice if you did not have to pay anything for it. But this is not how the world works. For one, medical professionals are people as well. They are individuals who have gone to school, invested hours and nights to their… -
Sensitive To Humor
2 Oct 2009 | 12:20 amI was watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail recently with some other people. I thought that the movie was amusing. It was not uproarious, but I was definitely amused. It was just in line with Monty Python and the Flying Circus (the TV show), of which I occasionally partake of. A TV show very well remembered for its SPAM. However everyone else did not find it amusing at all. As in, they thought the 90 odd minutes spent watching it were painful. Non sequiturs, absurdism, plays on words, and more. These are all things that make some people SPAMMILY laugh. And apparently some people cannot…
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Hole In The Donut Travels
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Jammin’ at Pastry Art’s Open MIC Night
5 Nov 2009 | 5:57 amSarasota’s split personality has always intrigued me. As a retirement community, the average age of its residents is well above the national average and even significantly above the Florida average. On the other hand, several universities and community colleges located in Sarasota County, including the renowned Ringling College of Art and Design, infuse the community with vibrant, creative young people. This youthful energy translates into quirky fashion; unique art; and always, music, music, music. Most any day of the week I can find live music in downtown Sarasota, but my favorite… -
Peace River Wildlife Center – Rescuing Animals and Educating Humans
3 Nov 2009 | 6:06 amWhen John Audubon first visited the Punta Gorda area on Florida’s Gulf coast in the early 19th century, he wrote that wading birds were so numerous that thousands flying overhead transformed daylight into darkness. Yet less than 100 years later the profligate population had been decimated. In small part, the decline was caused by homesteaders moving in by the droves and spoiling habitats. Far more destructive, however, was the quest for plumage to decorate ladies’ hats. Hired by fashion houses in Paris, New York and London, poachers and hunters slaughtered millions of birds in… -
Blogging Boomers Carnival #137 Hosted By Fabulous After 40
2 Nov 2009 | 10:38 amThe Blogging Boomers are at it again, discussing everything under the sun. Check out the conversation summaries at Fabulous After 40 this week, then click-through to read the full versions. You just never know what you’ll find, but one thing is sure: you’ll never be bored or disappointed by this group of eclectic baby boomers. -
If You Travel and Have an iPhone, You Must Try This App
31 Oct 2009 | 6:50 amI first learned about HotelPal from my friend Anil, who publishes the travel blog foXnoMad.com. This free application for the iPhone and iPod Touch allows users to search for accommodations at more than 100,000 hotels, inns, resorts, and B&B’s worldwide, making it’s among the most complete hotel databases available anywhere. HotelPal app for the iPhone and iPod Touch Immediately, I downloaded it and browsed around the interface. It seemed fairly easy to use: I simply needed to choose a hotel, type in my billing info, and tap “Book Now.” This week I finally had an… -
I Am Not A Fan of Bach…Unless It Is Played By Yo-Yo Ma
29 Oct 2009 | 7:00 amThe first time I ever heard cello music was at a screening of the Chinese film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Although the movie featured astonishing cinematography and mystical martial arts scenes set against a background of exquisite Chinese landscapes, it was the music that made my jaw drop. I stayed for the credits; I had to know more about the haunting score. I never forgot that music, nor the artist who performed it, Yo-Yo Ma, so when I discovered the famous cellist was scheduled to give a solo recital at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida I immediately purchased a ticket. I had…
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FlowerDust.net
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Drenched & Whole & Healed
4 Nov 2009 | 5:30 amI heard somewhere once that during Billy Graham’s crusades, after he finishes his message, he returns to a chair and closes his eyes and prays. From what I understand, he doesn’t want to see how many people were (or were not) coming forward, and just wanted to pray for the change that was happening. Granted, I’ve never been to a Billy Graham crusade and I am probably a terrible Christian for even admitting I don’t know that much about them to validate if this actually happens or not. However, as I’ve had the opportunity to speak at several churches in a variety… -
Big News about Summer 2010
3 Nov 2009 | 6:11 amWatch the video below for some big news about how I’m spending my summer vacation! *Even though the crazy-eyed freeze frame implies it, I will not eat you. Or, if you’re lazy and don’t watch videos… 3100 miles + 2 months in the Summer + Bike + Raising $$ for Water in Africa = Me on the Ride:Well 2010 Tour. Learn more or come on the trip with me. Related posts:community… I have heard the blogging community compared to a real...interconnected [through flesh & 0s and 1s] i’ve been officially blogging since early 2004, so, a good...Uganda or Bust so, who… -
It’s Cheap
2 Nov 2009 | 5:30 amI got word a couple days ago that Mad Church Disease is on its fourth printing. Especially considering it’s a niche book in a struggling economy, I am so thankful that the words are bringing hope and healing to many people. It’s not like it’s sold a billion copies, but I think it’s tracking well and really appreciate the stories you have shared with me as you have read it, or passed it on to friends. It is amazing to see how God can redeem our mistakes and brokenness so we can be a healthy hope for the world. To celebrate the fourth printing, I’d like to offer… -
The Sex and The City
26 Oct 2009 | 6:30 amI’ve been in New York City over the weekend…a last minute trip to meet with some amazing people and hopefully share a very powerful story in Permission to Speak Freely. It was a spur of the moment trip, sans The Hubs. Thankfully, we were just here a couple of weeks ago, so the subway maps and schedules were fresh in my mind. My flight got in after dark on Saturday night because of some delays, and being on my own plus the torrential rain storm that hit the Northeast, I decided that paying a little more for a cab instead of taking two trains and two subways would be a safer way to… -
The Boy Made of Post-Its
22 Oct 2009 | 6:30 amSorry it’s been quiet here lately. Really quiet. The manuscript for Permission to Speak Freely is due in a couple of weeks, and I’m traveling to six cities (from San Diego to NYC and everything in between) and speaking while trying to finish writing the book…so…it’s been a bit hectic, but wonderful and stretching at the same time. I am looking forward to some much needed down time over the holidays! Last night I spoke at The Walk, which is the college & young adults ministry at Sevier Heights Baptist Church in Knoxville, TN. It was an honor to hang out with…
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DivineCaroline Home Page
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Are Chiropractors Safe? The Bare Bones
6 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm"Snap! Crackle! Pop!" No, it's not your morning cere... -
The Best Running Surfaces: Why What's Underfoot Matters
6 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pmMost people consider running a pretty easy sport to get into. You lace... -
Beyond Brushing: Fifteen Creative Uses for Toothpaste
6 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pmToothpaste: it whitens, brightens, deodorizes, removes stains, and res... -
You Are the Center of the Universe
6 Nov 2009 | 3:18 pmPart Two of a two part exercise that began with considering that &ldqu... -
Choices
6 Nov 2009 | 3:03 pmI have choices, but I choose to love and care. I have choices, so I&rs...
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Mange Merde
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Our Awesome New Electric Snowblower!
28 Oct 2009 | 2:26 pmIt's the first big snow of the season! I love living somewhere where we have seasons again! But it is true that removing snow from the sidewalk and driveway can be hard, especially with a bad back and hip. We only have a few major snowfalls every year, but now, when we do, we break out our awesome new electric snowblower! -
What Exactly is a ‘Bra Fitting Destination’?
14 Sep 2009 | 7:35 amIf you've seen the ads - "Your bra fitting destination" - you may be wondering just what exactly a bra fitting destination is. I certainly was. It turns out that the ads are for Sol Lingerie. Sol Lingerie specializes in bra fitting. Now, you guys can stop reading right here (save for your prurient interest), but us gals can attest that one of the most vexing parts of life as someone with two X chromosomes is finding a bra that fits well. -
Slashdot and the Baltimore Sun “Discover” Unschooling
4 Sep 2009 | 7:05 pmI suppose I shouldn't be surprised when mainstream media gets something so spectactularly wrong, but I expect better from the brainiacs at Slashdot. So imagine my surprise to read the headline "Schooling, Homeschooling, and Now, "Unschooling" " on Slashdot today, and to learn that unschooling, a method of homeschooling that I and many of my homeschooling friends have personally known about for at least a decade - and which has been around since at least the 70s when John Holt wrote about it - is something new and now. -
Slashdot and the Baltimore Sun “Discover” Unschooling
4 Sep 2009 | 6:59 pmI suppose I shouldn't be surprised when mainstream media gets something so spectactularly wrong, but I expect better from the brainiacs at Slashdot. So imagine my surprise to read the headline "Schooling, Homeschooling, and Now, "Unschooling" " on Slashdot today, and to learn that unschooling, a method of homeschooling that I and many of my homeschooling friends have personally known about for at least a decade - and which has been around since at least the 70s when John Holt wrote about it - is something new and now. -
Urgent Need for O Negative Blood Donors to Help Young Boy Scout
28 Jul 2009 | 8:12 pmHere are the details on the young Boy Scout here in Colorado who desperately needs O Negative blood. He is in one of our local Boy Scout councils, and that's how I got involved in trying to help find donors for him.
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MWGblog
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Halloween – spooks
1 Nov 2009 | 1:39 pmNick left, Jack center and Will right. -
Twitter for Law Enforcement
25 Oct 2009 | 10:00 amTwitter – Orange county Sheriff’s Department from Michael Geoghegan on Vimeo. I forgot to post this news story about my assistance in setting up the Orange County Sheriff Department’s Twitter feed. Good coverage, part of what I do (in addition to Search and Rescue) as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff. -
VoloMedia Podcast Patent… Remember When?
30 Jul 2009 | 2:14 amVia the Association for Downloadable Media (ADM) website, VoloMedia (formerly PodBridge) explained the patent just issued to them for “podcasting.” I use quotes because they say it is for “podcasting.” Patent #7,568,213 actually covers a “Method for Providing Episodic Media.” You know, like TV and soap operas. My guess is they posted it to the ADM website because no one noticed it on the VoloMedia website. Reading about this recent success just takes me down memory lane. Remember when… Adam Curry, Dave Winer and VoloMedia came up with that crazy idea about… -
Miramonte Latin Class Bisio Fans
19 Jul 2009 | 2:33 pmMy parents kept everything! When they retired they were kind enough to send it all my way. I’m overwhelmed with nastalgia. Via Facebook and other social networks I am still connected to many grade school/high school friends. For those that took Latin at Miramonte high during 85-87 here is a relic. My guess is, thanks to my parents, I have the only existing copy of out Latin Class Cut Out trip t-shirt. Best I can remember it was artfully designed by Mitch Gardener and Chip Beal. We Came. We Saw. We Left. -
The Death Threats Continue
14 Jul 2009 | 1:58 pmNo big surprise, I have a unique name: Michael Geoghegan (MG). Given proper spelling, I am the #1 Google result. However, it turns out there is another popular MG, he is CEO of HSBC, one of the world’s largest banking companies. He has an entire P.R. department at his disposal, but little old me is still the #1 organic search result. Apparently HSBC is not good about allowing consumer feedback. I on the other hand, am accessible which means I get much of the venom aimed at HSBC via email and phone calls including the monthly death threat. Here is today’s winner: CADCYG@Gmail.com BILL…
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My Blog
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Hit (or Miss) List, October ’09
31 Oct 2009 | 8:22 amIt was a slower-than-usual reading month for me in October, but I did get to read some fun things, at least. I did not, however, make much of a dent in my Fill in the Gaps list of 100 books to be read over the next 5 years. I hope to get more of that done in November.Here’s what I’ve been reading and watching in October:Hit List • Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (Susanna Clarke) • Night and Day (Virginia Woolf) • The Lover (onstage, in Mandarin) • Some of Washington Irving’s short stories: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, The Spectre Bridegroom, Mountjoy, The Pride of the Village… -
Reflections on dark ‘til dawn
23 Oct 2009 | 6:06 pmThere was really only one thing that ever kept me from becoming a visual artist of some sort — a decided lack of talent. I don’t have a steady hand. My fine motor skills are, well, less than fine. I have never been able to put the pictures in my mind onto the page without recourse to words. Words, it seems, are the only chance I have at producing art. I have always felt it a pitiable lack in myself, that I did not have even a shred of talent that would allow me to enter the world of visual arts.Because of this particular ineptitude that I’ve always known was mine, collaborating on the… -
About Free Audiobooks
16 Oct 2009 | 10:26 pmIt was with some reluctance that I finally began listening to audiobooks. My dad was probably the first person who tried to convince me that I would love them, but I was skeptical. After a while, though, I finally decided to give it a try by downloading several titles from Audible.com and listening to them on my iPod during long flights and my daily commutes.That was somewhere around ten years ago, and I have listened to a lot of audiobooks since then. I won’t say I am exactly a convert, or that I am 100% in love with the listening experience when contrasted to holding a book in hand and… -
Upcoming Projects
9 Oct 2009 | 5:56 pmCyborg ChimeraMy first poetry collection, published by Sam’s Dot Publishing, has been released. The poems probe into questions of programming and free will, hybridity, the subconscious, and all sorts of control mechanisms. You can order your copy of Cyborg Chimera from The Genre Mall.Speculative Poetry Anthology (a call for submissions)Firstfruits Publications, Singapore's most renown publisher of poetry books, seeks submissions for a poetry anthology slated for late 2010. The anthology will aim to introduce speculative poetry to a Singapore audience. We hope that this will generate more… -
Hit (or Miss) List, September ’09
2 Oct 2009 | 9:27 amI finally had a little more time for some reading and movie-watching. I made a little headway on my Fill in the Gaps list in September, which was fun, and also got to catch up on some other reading/viewing I’d left hanging for a while. And I had a lot of fun catching a few old movies on the MGM channel while I was unexpectedly back in Singapore for a week to settle matters for my China visa. Here’s what I’ve been reading and watching for the past month:Hit List • Quantum Lyrics (A Van Jordan) — see my review at Sloth Jockey • Velocity (Dean Koontz) — see my response at Fill in…
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VirtualWayfarer - A Place For Intellectual Musings
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Reflecting on Ignite Phoenix
6 Nov 2009 | 2:11 pmI had the pleasure of sharing the stage this past Tuesday with 16 incredible presenters. Together, we all overcame our fear of the stage, of the spotlight and of failure to ascend one of the valley’s largest soap boxes for 300 seconds. During the course of our 5 minute presentations we battled our nerves, time and the intense desire to ramble in order to share our passion with some 600+ attendees. Truly, the Ignite Phoenix experience is a rare and incredible opportunity. It is a synergy of random ideas and passions. An assemblage that transcends genre in a way that has become… -
From Ballroom to Boardroom – Ignite Phoenix 5
2 Nov 2009 | 10:14 pmHello friends! First and foremost thank you for allowing me to share my passion for Ballroom dancing! I’ve put this post together as a follow up to my Ignite Phoenix 5 Presentation in order to share more information with anyone inspired to try Ballroom dance. The valley has a plethora of wonderful social dance venues, most of which offer a lesson as part of the evening’s cover. Average price for the lesson/evening of dancing varies, but it’s typically under $10. The venues themselves come in all types and shapes from Bars to Dance Studios. The really exciting part is that… -
Belize Bound – What Should I See?
28 Oct 2009 | 10:43 amMy next trip is booked. Well, the airfare and time off work is at least! I’m now in that month(s) long stage of tantalizing anticipation as I eagerly wait to throw my gear in a backpack, fold myself into a crappy airline sardine can and kick off another adventure. The Trip I’ll be departing Phoenix on December 16th with a round trip ticket to Cancun, Mexico with a return date set for January 4th. Wait, why Cancun? Airfare! The cost of a round trip ticket to Cancun was some $200-$400 cheaper than airfare into Belize proper and having never been to Cancun before, I figured why not… -
Stand As One for the Future – Blog Action Day 2009
15 Oct 2009 | 12:49 amIn honor of Blog Action Day 2009 VirtualWayfarer is joining thousands of blogs throughout the world as we stand as one against climate change. In place of a written post I’ve put the following video together. Please take a few moments and watch it, then consider what you can do to preserve the earth for future generations. Regardless of your feelings about the details surrounding Global Warming we can all agree that humanity’s impact on the earth is profound. -
Ignite Phoenix 5
14 Oct 2009 | 10:29 amI’m very excited to announce that I will be speaking at Ignite Phoenix #5. I’ve been a huge fan of the Ignite series since I discovered it just under a year ago. It embodies a somewhat random, haphazard pursuit of knowledge and wisdom which I absolutely love. Late last week I was informed that my talk “From Ballroom to Boardroom: Three Steps in the Right Direction” had been chosen as one of 18 presentations for Ignite Phoenix #5 which will be taking place November 3rd (tickets go on sale on the 16th!). It truly is an honor to have been selected, with over 100+…
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No Pasa Nada
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New gig
6 Nov 2009 | 5:18 pmI will be writing here three times a week: http://www.wisechoice.com/blog/ It’s bringing up a lot of past insecurities and anxieties and did I ever tell you about that time my mother was driving across the Delaware Memorial Bridge on my way to college and I sobbed, grabbed her arm and told her to turn around? No? Remind me to tell you about that someday. It was a pretty awesome -
Cure your winter doldrums
5 Nov 2009 | 6:10 pm“It doesn’t hurt to be optimistic. You can always cry later.” ~Lucimar Santos de Lima Yesterday I posted this over at BlogHer. I claimed that cream blush could clear you of your winter doldrums because it made you all glowy. Fuck that noise. It’s been ‘winter’ for five minutes and I’m already MEHHHHH about the whole thing. My only cure is the promise of vitamin D within the next few weeks. Santa Fe (do you know the way?) followed by Atlanta. And then it’s Christmas which does not produce vitamin D but does produce a stocking full of gummie… -
November
4 Nov 2009 | 6:19 pm“It was one day in November when we said we could and so we did. We hoped and then we changed.” – Me. This gives me chills. Even better, I wrote it and it gives me chills which is narcissism at it’s finest. I can’t believe it’s been a year. It feels like longer and less all at the same time. You all keep asking me how I feel about what’s been going on politically and that is a far longer piece of writing. One that requires a bit of soul searching and coming to grips with the reality of democracy. One the one hand I am a bit angry and perplexed by some… -
The most wonderful time of the year
3 Nov 2009 | 4:21 pm“Seven days without laughter makes one weak.” ~Mort Walker Today is Election Day and because I cannot breathe, I was unable to enjoy it with my normal exuberance. This means that I didn’t get all excited and flip between CNN and FOX News all day long. I didn’t wake up early and listen to NPR. I just didn’t care. So much of the tiniest joys in life are lost when you are sick. My most favorite day in the world is Election Day and I missed the thrill of democracy because I forgot to get Vick’s Vapo Rub. Speaking of my cold; after I left you pretty people last… -
Better than ‘No Pasa Nada’
2 Nov 2009 | 6:02 pm“When an illness knocks you on your ass, you should stay down and relax for a while before trying to get back up.” ~Candea Core-Starke If I renamed this site my choices would be: www.Ican’tbreathe.com www.oopstheregoesmylung.com www.it’sbusinessclassnotthequietcar,asshole.com www.openwide.com www.articulateyoungandblack.com www.wouldratherspitthanswallow.com www.Ican’tswallowsoit’smoot.com www.WINE.com www.mehhhhh.com www.creakydoornoise.com www.noreallylookatmythroat.com www.mouthbreathing.com www.IwonderhowmuchtimeandmoneyIcouldspendatTarget.com…
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red stapler
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The promised details
5 Nov 2009 | 8:53 pmI was ready to get laid off when I dressed for work this morning. I just felt it would be today, and something inside me said "I am not going to look like a schlub in front of these human resources people."So I put on nice slacks and a colorful top and accessorized appropriately, just in case. And I was right - by 9:30, I had gotten the speech ("the economy, necessary streamlining of operations blah blah blah") and the big green folder of paperwork and had to make the Walk of Shame across CubicleLand.I almost wanted to write "UNION" on my notepad and hold it above my head just for fun, a la… -
Unemployed
5 Nov 2009 | 3:38 pm30 days notice, decent severance package, our team decimated.More deets later. I'm ok. -
No one appreciates what I do
4 Nov 2009 | 8:48 pmMatt, Rachel and I were walking to lunch."Holy sh*t!! What is that....""SMELL????""Oh my gah. Are there DEAD PEOPLE in there or something?"We began staggering around, clutching our noses in a dramatic fashion.We had walked by a parked tractor-trailer truck that a horrible rotten fish smell was blowing up from in giant green clouds. Well, not literally, but still."Something is seriously wrong with that," I said. "Who leaves a trailer full of rotten fish?"When we came back from lunch, the reeking thing was still there, and though we cut across the parking lot and walked far away, it the stinky… -
Question du Jour
3 Nov 2009 | 9:11 pmThere's that old notion that men who drive huuuuuge monster trucks must be compensating for a lack *ahem* somewhere else in their lives, right?The guys at work want to know - does that make women a little more interested in guys who drive Mini Coopers or SmartCars? Inquiring minds want to know. -
I guess this means I am NaBloPoMoing or something
2 Nov 2009 | 10:29 pmThe latest rumor flying around - and who knows if it is true - is that layoffs will be conducted in a staged fashion, a bunch every so often 'til the end of the year. Or maybe longer.Yes! This is SO good for my mental health. I am SO GOOD at handling this kind of stress. Almost as good as I am at riding a unicycle on a tightrope while juggling flaming Barbie dolls!Please send Xanax. Or Oxycontin. At this point, I have no room to be picky.*I am joking about sending me drugs. Please do not break any local, state or federal laws on my behalf.
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To Think Is To Create
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Spooky Fun
30 Oct 2009 | 8:16 amAs we pack up everything except the fun Halloween costumes (for a party tonight and trick or treating tomorrow!), I wanted to make sure you knew about these super fun and spooky Halloween features that Picnik has right now. I’ve already professed my Picnik love in the past, and that love burns brightly still. I can’t wait to see what they’ll do for Christmas! I don’t like to get too scary for Halloween, because the scary stuff just creeps me out in how real some of it is, but Jonah in a cute mask, with a totally friendly and not scary ghost next to him is harmless,… -
Final Fall
28 Oct 2009 | 8:55 pmToday while out at the store, I noticed this gorgeous Ginkgo tree. Almost all the leaves were still on it, having turned this luminous golden heavenly color. I did a very unladylike thing and traipsed into the mulch and discreetly snagged a handful of leaves off the tree and shoved them into my purse. I thought about those leaves all the way home. Once home, I was able to share my bounty. Just long enough for them to release said bounty to the sky… I picked a few up to add color to my fresh olive wreath, impressing my five year old with my improvisational skills. He appreciates a… -
Sunshine
28 Oct 2009 | 8:35 amThis brought me sunshine, and swept out the dirt and gunk from my spirit this morning… “…but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Excerpted from Romans 8:5-6 Here’s to a “big picture” kind of day… Share and Enjoy: -
Irritating.
27 Oct 2009 | 9:48 amI find myself noticing every buzz, whir, sigh of everything in the room. He won’t listen. He keeps doing that one thing I’ve asked him not to. He won’t leave me alone. It’s all so irritating, like sand in your swimsuit. Or that tiny rock in your boot, it’s always there, small and menacing. Grind grind grind go my teeth. I reflect, and deflect, and try to steer this boat back to the Purpose. Back to what life is about. Oh the blessings — that’s right. They are immense lately. Humbling, beautiful. Perfect. Why did I fall into this trap… -
Links for 2009-10-26 [del.icio.us]
27 Oct 2009 | 12:00 amWhat to wear with sweatpants. | Fashion Advice for Moms from Audrey Fab tips on still being chic while comfy.
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Kevin Charnas
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How To Be An 88 Year Old Badass
6 Nov 2009 | 6:18 amAn 88-year-old woman has walked 10-thousand miles in memory of her late husband. * How To Live To 100* Three Easy Beginner Meditation Techniques (To reduce stress, bishes...)* The Other 90% Of Your Brain***************************** -
WOO! WOO! WOO! (That's suppose to be a siren, bishes... Not because there's three of them.)
5 Nov 2009 | 7:10 amNew Jersey's triple threat: the Koralja triplets—Andrew, Joseph, and Robert, from left— photo by Michael S. Yamashita.Is it me, or is this photo slightly disturbing? * I don't know if it's the mustaches?* That they have sirens mounted on a taxi? * That there's three of the same person? * Or whether it's because they're probably not wearing pants when this was taken? * Or whether it's all the above? When I look at it, I feel like someone just roofied me and I'm about to be upside-down with an audience... of at least three.(Please feel free to click on photo to… -
Chasing Pirates, Bishes...
4 Nov 2009 | 7:41 amThanks, Bubba! For this fantastic contribution... I love it. And I love her too. And her voice just makes me want to tear my pants off. She's so damn cute I can hardly STAND IT, BISHES!!******************************* -
I Thought Maine Was Pretty, But I Guess There's Nothing Upstairs...
4 Nov 2009 | 6:58 amDefeat in Maine a harsh blow to gay-marriage driveSo, this video contribution comes to us from our brilliant playwright/composer correspondent, Ryan. Thanks, Ryan! At first I felt kind of bad for the little scared black cat fella. I always have a soft spot in my heart for the under-dog. Then, I put Maine in his place, and suddenly, I found myself the bitchy one all ready to rip some serious fur... Sorry, bigotry and oppression does that to me.(Copyright - The New Yorker)*************************************** -
Día de los Muertos
1 Nov 2009 | 6:53 amWhen I was first introduced to "Dia de los Muertos", the Mexican Day of the Dead Celebration, by Will, being still kind of a gringo from Ohio, I really wasn't sure what to make of it. At St. Pius Catholic Church in Warren, Ohio, they had tainted the water with the thoughts that we should be afraid of skulls and skeletons, even though the last time I checked, I'm pretty sure we all have them tucked behind our facades. And if I'm not mistaken, they're actually what's holding us up, no?Will and his Mom took me by train from Santa Barbara down to Olvera Street in Los Angeles and I fell in love…
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iVillage - This Fish
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let's get physical (and maybe a little irritable)
4 Nov 2009 | 8:44 amAfter weeks of shoulder pain, I had to break it to the boot camp trainers this morning that I would not being doing anything that involved jerky upper body movements. Jumping jacks? Sure. Push ups? Urgh, I guess so. I mean, I hate them but I'll play along. But these crazy hopping, squat thrust things they call burpies? Um, no. I like having feeling in my pinky fingers. At one point, we were supposed to be "popping out" of a push up position to do shuttle drills (formerly known as 'suicide' drills - though I feel like we should use the old name; call a spade a spade). And having learned that… -
sundial. safe.
2 Nov 2009 | 8:17 amI own one of those alarm clocks that just knows what time it is. Something to do with magical signals from space or some such. And because of those magical space signals, at 2AM on Sunday, bloop! the time fell back automatically, without a bit of assistance from me. So low maintenance, my little alarm clock! Only, apparently, it decided that once wasn't enough and bloop! the time fell back AGAIN lat night while I was sleeping. I struggled from sleep at 5AM to head out to boot camp, only to learn from the microwave that it was 6AM and camp was going on without me. Are you sure, Microwave?The… -
yesterday, illustrated
30 Oct 2009 | 7:26 amI found a hair in my salad. At lunch with a potentially very important client. I very quietly removed the offending gag-worthy hair and ate the damn salad. Now I'm waiting for the communicable, debilitating disease to kick in. In three, two, one...We celebrated the one year anniversary of our meeting, in the same pub, in the same booth. Then we bought a mullet wig at Walmart. Because that is what love is about. The best part of it was, when I suggested dinner Thursday night at The Restaurant Where We Met, his response:"Sure. What's Thursday?""Um, the day we met?"FAIL. Though, I suppose the… -
find a penny...
27 Oct 2009 | 7:31 amWhen Penny was born yesterday afternoon, she was scuttled away to the NICU for some special attention, and in the first picture I saw, her sweet round face was covered with tubes and bands and cords. My first thought was a shout out to the Universe to tread lightly with this one, please and thank you. My second was a shout out to my brother."Penny looks like an X-wing pilot.""That's my girl."His girl. That my brother has a child is so far out, I can hardly stand it. He will be a great, if absurd, daddy. Frankly, I'm a little surprised she wasn't named after a Transformer, but I assume that… -
feelin' groovy (from the waist up)
23 Oct 2009 | 8:27 amI feel really good today - mentally, that is. Boot camp this morning was all about sprinting (it's cold; they wanted to keep our muscles warm. Mmm hmmm) so physically, I'm all wobbly legged and still haven't lost that heaving feeling, whoa, that heaving feeeeeeling. But! Since today was the last day of the four-week camp, I ventured onto the scale and was greeted with a number eight and a half pounds lower than when I began. This makes me very happy. True, due to some very stubborn saddlebags, I'm still approximately eighty THOUSAND squat jacks away from fitting into jeans I don't hate…
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CrazyAuntPurl
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Dallas Raines and Ralph, my two favorite men
5 Nov 2009 | 10:33 amThe beginning of the week brought November and summer, it was ninety degrees downtown. Dallas promises that summer will end eventually and I hold onto hope: Doesn't he look like he's delivering the bad news with that stern expression, telling his fans that sad but true we'll have to endure several days of partly cloudy. However will we manage? At least it's not going to be ninety degrees today again. I have the physique of someone better suited to winter wear than summer attire, it would be nice to finally get the accompanying weather. - - - This week I splurged and bought a beautiful orchid… -
Procrasticleaning for the masses
2 Nov 2009 | 1:16 pmI completely missed my calling as a peeping tom. If only peeping tom didn't have such a negative connotation, what with the perversity and sneakiness and dirty-old-man-in-raincoat and so on, because really I do love looking inside people's lives. I like to see their houses and what's on their kitchen tables, and how they managed to make their TV set look always somehow better than mine does in my own living room. I often stare at my TV set and wonder why it never seems to look right in the room, no matter where I put it. Mostly I am speaking of a decorator peeping tom here. Like, more of a… -
Shake shake shake your little red handknit Mary Jane booties!
30 Oct 2009 | 11:01 amWe're only now getting around to having the baby shower for the coworker that I made my first-ever sweater for. I already blabbered on and on about the sweater here, but to go with it I also made the cutest knitted shoes EVER! If I do say so myself. I did however neglect to block them, so I stuffed them with tissue paper instead. Ah, it happens. I am IN LOVE with this pattern, it's the Tiny Shoes pattern from Ysolda. When I ordered it the charge to my paypal account was $3.40 (that's the conversion from the British pound) and it is SO worth it! This is another very well-written pattern, easy… -
In the city ladies look pretty, guys tell jokes so they can seem witty
29 Oct 2009 | 11:20 amOne of my hidden talents is that I have a freakishly vast knowledge of song lyrics from the 1980s. I can conduct an entire conversation in random song lyrics, which I do sometimes at work accidentally and then I find myself on a conference call saying something like, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life ..." Which goes over really well. As you can imagine. Crosswords fascinate me. Not the actual completion or challenge of the crossword puzzle -- the only ones I have a shot of getting right are the crosswords in the back of People magazine. What… -
Reader Q&A Day
28 Oct 2009 | 12:36 pmThe immediacy of email still surprises me, mostly because I am not very immediate about it on my end. But just imagine you post some little essay and then you go get coffee, wash your hands repeatedly, flip through an Avon catalog, stare out the window, and fifteen minutes later you check your inbox and you have 149 emails about your forgotten essay's factual inaccuracies. How else would I know when I had neglected to talk up Alaska's tax-free status? I tell this to my friend Work-Jennifer and she says, "Doesn't it bother you that an essay about people pointing out flaws in your fantasies…
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The Pioneer Woman
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Oh No I Di-in’t
5 Nov 2009 | 1:50 pmOh yes… I did. And I might have completely blocked it from my memory had my sister-in-law Missy not snapped these photos. So thank you, Missy. No, really. Thank you. It’s best that I see the truth. I apologize to all of Salt Lake City, Ethel -
Thelma, Louise, and Their Mother-in-Law
4 Nov 2009 | 5:26 amI’m on my Griswold-Style Book Trip right now, and because Marlboro Man and the kids had cow, soccer, calf, and manure obligations this week, I dragged along both his mom and Missy, Pesky Tim’s wife. We blazed first to Denver so I could sign cookbooks and meet some very nice people while trying to figure out exactly how to breath at high altitudes while wearing Spanx (I never quite figured it out), then to Salt Lake City, where I’ll be signing cookbooks tonight. It’s the first time I’ve set foot in the state of Utah and I’m looking forward to meeting some… -
A Grandmother and a Gentleman
2 Nov 2009 | 7:10 amMike and Ga-Ga drove out to the ranch Saturday to spend the day with my mom, the kids, and me. Ga-Ga wanted to see my mom on her birthday, and Mike wanted to fold my laundry. Ga-Ga drove. Mike navigated. Mike doesn’t drive. Mike rides. Mike rides in cars, taxis, airport shuttles, and fire engines. And ambulances. And police cars. Mike can drive. We used to have a golf cart, and he drove that sucker like the wind—not just up and down the golf course (much to the consternation of Eddie, the head greenskeeper), but also up and down the neighborhood. My dad… -
Hooker: The Next Generation
31 Oct 2009 | 1:04 pmShe’s one of Hooker’s puppies. Remember Hooker? Remember the puppies? It wasn’t that long ago. I love her. And she loves me. I know it. I can just tell these things. I communicate with all animals on a very deep level. Call me Dr. Reelittle. And okay, maybe I had a pork chop in my hand. But I still say the love is there. -
We’ll Get Back to This Baby in a Minute
30 Oct 2009 | 8:21 amBut first… Some scenes from last night. It was Oklahoma City, my second home turf next to Tulsa. It was a wonderful, magical night. When I signed these gals’ cookbooks, I wrote which article of clothing they were wearing that I loved. For example: that gal’s leopard print cardigan. It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen and I want one. But I’m not cool enough to know where to obtain a leopard print cardigan, and if I ever wore one, I’d probably look like a desperate 40-year-old woman wearing a leopard print cardigan. And I just don’t…
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Jonniker.
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November
1 Nov 2009 | 6:30 pmI thought about doing NaBloPoMo this month, believe it or not, but I later realized that while I liked the idea of posting every day, it would probably be boring as hell, because some days, to be honest, nothing happens. Some days, the biggest thrill of my day is that my kid had a double blowout and the washing machine hummed its hot-water wash all. day. long. (Hello, that would be TODAY.) NaNoWriMo doesn’t appeal to me, either, because while I DO want to write a novel some day, it seems a bit silly for me to condense it all in one month. (Incidentally, the only goal I have for said… -
Chips and Dip
27 Oct 2009 | 6:00 pmSeveral random bits of varia, in no particular order, offering no brevity: Of the sad but true variety You know, sometimes I wish I could get someone to come over here for an hour so that I can just CLEAN. Now THERE’S a sentence I never thought I’d say, but Jesus, if it isn’t true. I sit here some days fantasizing about 60 minutes to myself not so that I can take a bubble bath and knock back a dirty martini or two, but so that I could really go to town on our baseboards and really hit up those toilets. The other night I cleaned our bathrooms before bed, and I couldn’t… -
Magic in the Air
26 Oct 2009 | 7:22 pmSo! What did you do this weekend? Because I guarantee it wasn’t what I did, no matter who you are. We … well, folks, we went to a Quidditch match — the World Cup, in fact. Yes, QUIDDITCH. The mythical Harry Potter game? Yes, THAT. It seems something like five or six years ago, some college students decided to, uh, make it a real game and now there are TWENTY ONE COLLEGES with Quidditch teams. No, I don’t know why. But you guys, it’s … well, it’s serious, it what it is, with actual scores and these big HOOPS and seekers and bludgers and I don’t… -
Pumpkin Soup
20 Oct 2009 | 5:28 pmYes, I’m STILL ON A BOAT and have been for, oh, three days now, and if Andy Samberg could very nicely get out of my head now, please and fracking THANK YOU. I find myself disturbed, by the way, that lately I’ve been finding Andy … a little attractive, especially when he acts like Mark Wahlberg. I ALSO found him attractive in “I Love You, Man,” which I saw on Saturday night thanks to Amazon rentals. That, by the way, was the first feature-length film I’ve watched with Adam ALL AT ONCE since Sam’s been born. Yes, yes, sure, I watched Twilight and Sex… -
I’m on a Boat
19 Oct 2009 | 5:25 pmSo! My baby slept through the night the other day. Through. The. Night. The WHOLE one. From 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., and at 5, I brought her into bed to feed her and snuggle until our eyes (well, mine) could open all the way, because for some reason, no matter WHEN I go to bed, 5 a.m. is a miserable, miserable challenge. It’s all mental, I realize, but dude, it’s still DARK OUT and when it’s dark out, it is nighttime, end of story, and no one should be up and about unless they are still awake from the day prior, obviously. Totally worth getting up at 5 a.m. for, though, right? But…
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larry borsato
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What social media can and can’t do.
6 Nov 2009 | 10:16 amA couple of days ago, Adverstising Age publised an article by B.L.Ochman on Ten Things Social Media Can’t Do. The article is excellent and worth reading, but these are the things that social media can’t do: Substitute for marketing strategy. Succeed without top management buy-in. Be viewed as a short-term project. Produce meaningful, measurable results quickly. Be done in-house by the vast majority of companies. Provide a quick fix to the bottom line or a tarnished reputation. Be done without a realistic budget. Guarantee sales or influence. Be done by "kids" who… -
They didn’t read the treaty either.
5 Nov 2009 | 6:30 amAccording to Intellectual Property Watch: A bipartisan group of 42 of the 100 United States senators sent a letter to US negotiators in global climate talks in Barcelona this week urging the protection of intellectual property rights over any technologies developed to address climate change. In the 2 November letter, available here [pdf], they cautioned against allowing developing countries to obtain technologies to address climate problems without recognising intellectual property rights, which grant a monopoly to their owners. They must have missed my last post on the Copenhagen treaty: (c)… -
Is your dog a victim?
5 Nov 2009 | 6:17 amI got a form in the mail the other day to renew my dog’s licence from the city of Waterloo, Canada. It contained this note: Failure to purchase a 2010 dog license prior to March 1, 2010 may result in a $125.00 fine plus a $30.00 victim surcharge fee. Now forget the fact that a $125 fine is ridiculous for failing to purchase a dog licence, but Waterloo is desperate for cash so I guess that’s just a given. And I can understand a victim surcharge fee for a criminal violation where there is an actual victim. But if I don’t buy a dog licence, who is the victim? My dog? When… -
Social media strategies.
4 Nov 2009 | 8:18 amI gave a presentation the morning for Communitech’s Senior Sales and Business Development Peer2Peer group. The presentation was geared for that audience, with concrete examples of sales generated using social media. Though I haven’t presented on that topic before, the presentation went quite well, with some excellent discussion throughout. Social Media StrategiesView more presentations from lborsato. You can find the presentation here. Technorati: social media strategies Powered by Bleezer -
When ads attack.
1 Nov 2009 | 6:13 amI went to The Globe and Mail newspaper’s website this morning to get the number for the circulation department to ask about my missing New York Times (yes I still read a newspaper). While I couldn’t find it, I did locate the main number. However, just as I was about to read it and dial, a pop up ad, I believe for ScotiaBank, appeared, obscuring the number completely.No close button, so I was forced to wait until the ad decided on its own to disappear before I could get the number. Note to marketers: If your ad keeps me from doing what I am trying to do, I promise I will remember…
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Marisa's Dandelion Patch
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Aunt Jo Always In Our Hearts
27 Oct 2009 | 8:28 amIt’s been four years since our family lost our Aunt Jo. No matter how I try I cannot capture Aunt Jo as well as my sister did in this eulogy. Thank you, Monette. Aunt Jo’s Eulogy Written and delivered by Monette Myers Writing a eulogy about someone who has been intertwined in your life through every age and on a day-to-day basis, and who has 95 years worth of living, is a mammoth task. How do you do this person justice as well as all who have known her? How do you describe the life of Aunt Jo? How do you summarize a life that spans 4, or is it 5, generations, and all it has… -
Birthdays Will Never Be The Same
5 Oct 2009 | 9:22 pmIt’s been just over 5 months since my son Jesse lost his best friend. At the time I couldn’t write much about it. Our family was dealing with some pretty heavy stuff and the loss of Moe just threw us all into a tailspin. Moe was so much more than my son’s friend. Jesse and Moe were born on the very same day, one in Ohio and the other in Wyoming. Jesse and Moe met when their older brothers played baseball together, before the two of them even started kindergarten. I’m not sure Jesse has much memory of childhood before Moe. Jesse’s great Uncle Joe was married to… -
“Dread”ing It
4 Sep 2009 | 8:09 amOnce again we are going to try to get Boomer’s hair into dreadlocks. We did this last year around this time and the dreads looked great. Unfortunately, they didn’t stay in. Boomer’s hair is just so soft and pretty. We’re going to tonight for a consultation to determine what method, if any, would work best and how much they’ll cost. He really wants these for his senior pictures. I’m not sure how my mom and mother-in-law will react to a graduation announcement with Boomer’s hair in dreadlocks but if it’s what he want’s I’m okay with… -
Getting Back To Blogging
2 Sep 2009 | 11:37 amI’m not easily silenced. I tend to speak out when I have something to say, whether anyone wants to hear me or not. That, I suppose, would explain why I blog. Explaining why I would stop blogging is a whole other story. At some point I may tell that story but not now. Not yet. The dust hasn’t quite settled and I’m still not sure what I should share. I am coming back to blogging, slowly. Even though I can’t yet share the events of these past several months, I still have much to say. Despite all the drama around here, regular life has continued. Kids in school, a new… -
Moe: RIP
28 Apr 2009 | 12:47 pmJason “Moe” Sadler (left) October 6, 1981 – April 28, 2009
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Boss Sanders
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changeling
6 Nov 2009 | 6:34 amGod is really rocking my world. He’s molding me, and I’m grateful (although that doesn’t always mean it’s fun.) Wednesday, I resigned from my out-of-the-home job. It was a difficult thing to do, but it was the right thing to do. I adore the people there, I adore the ministry, I adored what I did — but, it was taking me away from my first ministry that God had called me to - my children. Our lives have seasons, and I am so thankful for the one I had there…and I really believe I’ll be back there in a different season of my life. Just not now. … -
Book Review: Big Thoughts for Little People by Kenneth Taylor
6 Nov 2009 | 4:51 amBig Thoughts for Little People by Kenneth N. Taylor Ages 3-7 Hardcover retails for $14.99 Big Thoughts for Little People is an illustrated book that uses the ABCs to teach children morals and valuable Christian answers. Each letter corresponds with a lesson/word that most of us would love for our children to learn. I really expected for this book to be a great fit for Lala as she is becoming more familiar with her ABCs, however I’m afraid the “lessons” in this book are a little too much for her since she falls at the lower end of the age range. HOWEVER, for older children, I… -
Rora Bites
5 Nov 2009 | 4:30 am“Mama! Rora bites you! No, baby!” Lorelei said with great worry as she came into the room, seeing me breastfeeding her baby sister. “No, sweetie. Rora isn’t biting mommy. Mommy is just nursing and Rora is eating!” (Pause with Lala still looking concerned.) i realized quickly that I’d used the term ‘eating’ which sounds a lot like biting and chewing and knew I had to backtrack quickly. “You see, mommy has baby milk in here,” I said, being sure to emphasize BABY lest she get any ideas and putting my hand over my breast. … -
Book Review: Tallest Of Smalls by Max Lucado
3 Nov 2009 | 4:02 amThe Tallest of Smalls by Max Lucado Ages 4-7 Retails for $16.99 My toddler goes through books like some kids go through candy. Okay, so maybe that’s not an entirely fair statement. To be completely honest, some of it’s my fault. Lala ADORES books (as do I), but as new ones find their way to us, I tend to shuffle through them, pulling out the ones I think she can most relate to…or, ones that I simply fall in love with. We read every toddler book that comes our way. Some, we read once and then pass it on to a new home, and some, we read over and over and over again. Tallest Of… -
Today
2 Nov 2009 | 4:39 pmFOR TODAY November 2… Outside my window… It’s dark. I am just now getting around to free time and it’s disgustingly smoky outside. Like, you can’t breathe out there. Someone decided to burn something. ~ I am thankful… for people who reach out when we seem to need it most. ~ From our studies… I’ve slacked completely it seems in Lala’s studies :( I’m having the worst time keeping things running… ~ From the kitchen… Chocolate chip cookies…and halloween candy…and corn dogs (thank you.) ~ I am…
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Menstrual Poetry
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The Good, The Bad and The Burning
Warning: This post is mostly about “lady parts” and “lady problems.” If the words vagina, menstruation, bleeding, tampon, pad, and/or urinary tract infection or any variation of the previous words offend you, it would be wise on your part to cease reading the following post. I had always loved that Renee over at Womanist Musings posted [...] -
Friends Don’t Let Friends Fat Talk
Considering my last post, I probably could not have found out about Fat Talk Free Week at a better time! Check out this awesome video from Tri Delta’s Fat Talk Free Week: Fat Talk Free Week is an international body activism campaign spanning over five days (October 19th-23rd) that draws attention to the damaging impact of the [...] -
Fat: Masculinity & Sexist Put-Downs
I probably should have prefaced this post with an earlier one containing a more detailed explanation of where this post originated, but just bear with me for a bit here. Over the past few days I have been marinating on a series of complicated, highly-stressful, mind-boggling, eye-roll-inducing, leave-you-utterly-exacerbated events. I have been compelled more-so now [...] -
Oklahoma Will Soon Start Publicly Shaming Women Who Have an Abortion
On November 1st, a new Oklahoma law will go into effect that will collect personal details about every abortion performed in the state and post the information collected on a public website for every person with an internet connection to access. The information that will be asked of women who have an abortion includes: 1. [...] -
Late Memo: When a 43 Year Old Man Drugs and Rapes a 13 Year Old Girl, That’s Called ‘Rape-Rape’
In March of 1977, Roman Polanski, who was 43 at the time, invited a 13 year old girl to pose for pictures in a magazine he was guest-editing. He gave this 13 year old girl champagne and a Quaalude. He knew that she was 13 years old and even called her mother to tell her [...]
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the slack daily
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A Special BetheMarriage...
5 Nov 2009 | 10:42 amThis Saturday night, Will and I are bringing back BetheMarriage at a special time to honor Dad of Boy with an hour (or more) of toasts and tales like these.Join us at 6pm PST (that's 9pm Eastern) on Saturday, November 7th for BetheMarriage: Remembering Dad of Boy. (He would have loved that he was our greatest source of material.) Thank you all for your kindness, and we'll see you on Saturday night! -
The Power of Now.
3 Nov 2009 | 10:21 amTwitter is all about the power of now. It was one of the things I stressed in my talk at the 140 Conference last week. Right after I spoke, I had an idea. As many of you know, I wrote the ARG (Alternate Reality Game) for Valemont which takes place over multiple platforms (ValemontU.com, Facebook, Twitter, Poppy's Blog, with a healthy dose of help from the fan-run Valemont Commons.) I also tweet as multiple characters in the show.Tonight marks our last on-air episodes on MTV; we currently air at 9:57pm (before the Hills) and at 11:00pm (after the City.) A Big Secret is revealed tonight at the… -
How I Became a Zombie (Amongst Other Things) on Twitter.
2 Nov 2009 | 7:25 pmMy talk at the 140 Conference last week: This past weekend I had a realization: I need to stop selling myself as a TV Writer who dabbles in Web TV. I do more than dabble. And transmedia storytelling is the first thing that I have been truly excited about since I got my first writing job. I have lived and played and created online since 1997. When I started, there wasn't a word for that. And now? I'm an ARG Creator and a Transmedia Storyteller. (Who needs business cards.) While we're on the subject, check out my friend Taryn O'Neill's new series "Hurtling Through Space at an… -
My Interview with Hotel Roger Smith!
30 Oct 2009 | 12:33 pmThe Hotel Roger Smith was at the 140 Conference. They asked me how I used Twitter...so I told them. (And called Matt "kind of a jerk.") -
How I Became a Zombie on Twitter
29 Oct 2009 | 3:00 pmIf the time it took me to get from the Kodak Theatre exit to the DeVries Lounge was any indication, my talk at the 140 Conference "How I Became a Zombie on Twitter" went pretty damned okay even if I had to face my fear of having my face projected on a ginormous screen. The events of the past 48 hours have been amazing and inspiring and thought-provoking. I have a stack of business cards and a slew of ideas that I need to sort through. Many thanks to everyone at Kodak - Tina, Mary, Jenny, and Kodak CMO Jeffrey Hayzlett. In the meantime...check out my episode of Woke Up Dead written…
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She Just Walks Around With It
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The Sammis Family, Circa 1978
6 Nov 2009 | 10:38 pmI spent all day today writing my holiday gift guide for guys (for BlogHer) which I can't even link to yet because it's not live. It took me forever and at the end of the day, I'm not sure there's anything there that will help anyone.I bring this up because after a full day of writing, I'm not sure how I'm supposed to blog here. And normally I wouldn't -- I'd wait until I was coherent in the morning. But that's not how this "blog every day" thing works.So I did what I said I'd do last night. I went perusing my iPhoto files and chose this photo to post and say a few words about:This is, perhaps… -
Well, That Solved *That* Problem
5 Nov 2009 | 11:28 pmEvery single word of this is true.I was lying (laying? God, I will never know) in bed, contemplating the aspects of this season's Project Runway that make it so much less interesting than any previous season, when it occurred to me that I hadn't blogged yet today. Crap! What am I going to blog about at this late hour? I wondered as I stared at HGTV's Property Virgins and their out-of-control Canadian accents. I decided I'd just search my iPhoto library (migrated successfully earlier today, thankyouverymuch) and pick out some crazy photo and tell you about its circumstances.Ish was not in bed… -
I'll "Known Issue" YOU
4 Nov 2009 | 7:55 pmMy new MacBook arrived today and I was pee-my-pants excited to open it and get it going. My ex El_Gallo is (among other things) a SysAdmin and a Mac/Linux guy, and he told me that migrating from my old machine to my new one would be a snap. For this reason, I decided I would have no problem setting up my new Mac with a teething 4-month old.Have I never met me?It's now 8 p.m. and I feel like I've been through war and am about to fall over exhausted. Here is what happened, probably unedited. (STUPID NABLOPOMO.)Open box. SO PRETTY. Set up computers side-by-side in dining room on large table. -
M2
3 Nov 2009 | 7:12 pmFrom a fantastic collection of photos of Eve and our housewhich you can see here (no login required).Last week we had an influx of grandparents.Ish's parents have some business doings in Sonoma and Tahoe, so they have been coming to visit us Eve about once a month. Which is really great and I totally eat it up. I mean, it should go without saying that I miss my parents as much as (if not more than) ever, now that I have a child. I fall apart when I think about how Eve will never get to meet my mom or dad -- it just...ugh, it just weighs on my heart all the time. So yeah, I love having… -
I Can Always Write About Swim Class. Also, I Need Suggestions...
2 Nov 2009 | 10:32 pmThis is utterly bizarre, the concept of posting every day just to post every day. It's 10:30 at night and there's no humanly way I can be coherent now, but I also can't fail at NaBloPoMo on day two. (Well, I mean, I COULD. But I would feel a terrible sense of disgrace. Sort of like that semi-diet thing I started when I started going to the gym 3 days a week. Because while I've kept up with the gym (except for last week, shush) there was also a little matter of Halloween and all its amazing candy that I would never otherwise have in the house.)* * * * * * * *Hey, are you guys playing…
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Sarcomical
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All Hallows Rarity at the SarcomiHaus
5 Nov 2009 | 1:11 amWe typically don't pay a lot of attention to Halloween here in the SarcomiHaus. Sure, it's nice to see the neighborhood children dressed up when they come knocking on the door, but as a standard Mr. S. and I barely otherwise acknowledge the holiday. For some reason, this year I had an impulse to stop into the Halloween superstore driving by it a few days prior. I was thinking it might be fun to get Mr. S. a wig or mask since he would be walking around with his brother and two of our nieces to trick-or-treat. Well, what began as a quick errand resulted in me wandering aisles of smelly plastic… -
The Entertainress [Flickr]
Melissa Glenn posted a photo: -
The Entertainress [Flickr]
Melissa Glenn posted a photo: -
The Entertainress [Flickr]
Melissa Glenn posted a photo: -
The Entertainress [Flickr]
Melissa Glenn posted a photo:
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Indexed
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Piranhas, chainsaws, wolves, knives, whatnot.
6 Nov 2009 | 7:58 am -
Ordinary is abundant.
5 Nov 2009 | 7:50 am -
The Queen declares, “No chips for you!”
4 Nov 2009 | 7:50 am -
A helping hand or the finger.
3 Nov 2009 | 8:16 am -
Too bad.
2 Nov 2009 | 7:41 am
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xkcd.com
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Lego
5 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm -
Orbitals
3 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm -
Movie Narrative Charts
1 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm -
October 30th
29 Oct 2009 | 9:00 pm
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Sparks and Butterflies
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Welcome to Friday
6 Nov 2009 | 10:13 amYAY! I cannot tell you how happy I am that it’s Friday! Beyond that – I’ve got nothing to say. I’m quite busy with client work, the week was all funky with a different schedule for the kids, and so I’m just done. I might be having a friend over for dinner tonight, so I’m excited about that. Tomorrow is my “day off.” No chores, no work, no nothing. Lazy day. I will, of course, be here. Idea – anyone have any questions? I’m pretty open about my life, so nothing (this may bite me later) is off limits. Ask away! Religion,… -
Daily Log
5 Nov 2009 | 7:53 amBoring title. Boring entry. I don’t have time to write today (really write.) I have a bunch of client work, errands, two school conferences, and a cardiologist appointment, not to mention kid pickups, homework, and feeding them lunch and dinner. And housework. I really dislike school half days. I’m doing NaBloPoMo, are you? -
Can you stop kicking me?
4 Nov 2009 | 6:45 amI must get this recorded for posterity. This morning, Poe and I were having our first coffee, and he was telling me about his dream. It was a long convoluted story, as most dreams are. How he ended it: “James Earl Jones was our neighbor; he was a guru spy.” How can I not note that? Today is to be full of work, as yesterday was full of taking care of life. There will be writing and conference calls and email checking and webinars and thinking to do. Tomorrow, there are two conferences and a cardiologist appointment at the same time. Because I’m just THAT… -
How to Know When They’re No Longer Babies
3 Nov 2009 | 7:23 amKids grow up by increments. Little by little. But I think, now that I’ve been through two, I know when they’re well and truly no longer babies. It’s not walking and being a “toddler.” It’s not pre-school. It’s not that all imporant Big Boy 5. Not even the start of kindergarten. It’s when they’ve lost both their front teeth, and both front big teeth come in. That’s when they truly become gangly little smelly boys instead of you seeing that little baby inside. They’ll always be my babies… But they’re… -
The Juggle
2 Nov 2009 | 12:26 pmThe carpet installers are hours – yes HOURS – late. I’m juggling three clients. I got a call from school that Joseph is refusing his lunch. I have to finish the three clients’ work for the day, pick up the kids, supervise the installation, and help move all our living room furniture back into the house. Tick tock… Tick tock… How do you juggle? I suppose that’s the age old question. I don’t care if you stay at home, work a paying gig at home, work a paying gig outside of the home – juggling. It’s absolutely great that I’ve…
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Skimbaco Lifestyle
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Holiday Greeting Card Guide
6 Nov 2009 | 12:04 pmIt’s time to order the Holiday cards! This Holiday season I am showing more and more my “true colors” and featuring things that have a little bit of a Scandinavian look, even if they are not Scandinavian. Here are some suggestions for your personalized cards this Holiday season, and they all remind me of home in a way or another; reindeers, snow, simplistic beauty and nature. Also I included a few eco-friendly options. Most card prices vary by the quantity, so please check with each company the exact pricing. PEAR TREE GREETINGS Pear Tree Greetings doesn’t just offer… -
Fashion Clutch Giveaway – from dressbarn
5 Nov 2009 | 5:52 pmI have a confession to make… I wear dressbarn clothing. I had never visited dressbarn before, and was invited to a special VIP evening of shopping while I was at Type-A Mom Conference a while ago. The evening was so much fun – they had closed the store down for our visit and we had snacks and live music – and a nice staff helping us to shop! Photo: Michelle Lane, the Secret Agent Mama. A fun evening. Friends. And shopping. I have to confess… I can not wear polyester, at all. I don’t know why, probably because I never wore polyester or acrylic when growing up, my… -
Maribowl – a Finnish Design Stable
4 Nov 2009 | 3:53 pmOne of the Finnish Design stables is Maribowl, a glass bowl that started as a sugar bowl, but now is used in numerous homes around the world serving so many additional purposes. The design is originally from the 1800’s, and not even from Finland, but from Germany. The first manufacturer for the bowl in Finland was Riihimäen Lasi, and there were other similar type of glass products in the same series, but Maribowl is the one that really took off. It is unknown how the sugar bowl became Maribowl, or Mariskooli, as it is called in Finland, but Armi Ratia, the mother and the legend of… -
Scandinavian Holiday Special Coming!
2 Nov 2009 | 2:50 amI will be have my annual Holiday Gift Guide this year too, and in addition I will feature Scandinavian Holiday traditions, gift ideas and even some recipes this Holiday season here at Skimbaco Lifestyle and as well at Skimbaco Home. I’m kicking this off in a few days with a Very Cool Giveaway, stay tuned! PS. If you know a great product to be featured, contact me! Like it? Share it! -
Jimmy Choo fans… Counting days!
1 Nov 2009 | 3:29 amLike it? Share it!
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Miguelina
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Rollercoaster...
5 Nov 2009 | 7:45 amSo, to answer the question everyone keeps asking me: How am I doing?Fine. Just fine. Which doesn't mean that life with three kids isn't a roller coaster, and that I'm not barely hanging on some days, while other days I'm just coasting along, enjoying the ride. It's...a lot. The three kids part. Kind of shocking, actually. And then it's not. I'm extremely lucky - my husband is a class-A father and partner, most of my family has come to visit and help out, even though they live in Miami and I'm up here in Boston - and my friends have been nothing short… -
Matthias!
26 Oct 2009 | 10:18 amMeet Matthias. (His name is the Spanish/German version of Matthew. It's pronounced Ma-TEE-us.)He's already 14 days old, but he was only an hour old when I took this picture.He was born at 9:05 AM on October 12. It seems like he's been a part of our family all along. Isn't it funny how that works out?Matthias has been a model baby so far. I'm exhausted, of course, but I can't really blame it on sleep deprivation - at least not yet. He's dozing peacefully in this picture, but he was born with his eyes wide open, and he's always looking around - I think he… -
I'm the Rip Van Winkle of Pregnant Women
6 Oct 2009 | 12:46 pmNo, really. I'm STILL pregnant. I know you've heard this one before, but I've been pregnant since January, and since it is now October, you will forgive me for being a bit repetitive. I'm scheduled for an induction, but that's still a week away. I'm scheduled for a battery of tests, but those won't happen until the weekend. I'm starting to think that my OBGYN is running some sort of evil experiment where she is testing just how much pregnancy a female body can handle. My bones hurt, that's how heavy this belly is. My back spasms and contractions… -
October 1
1 Oct 2009 | 5:34 pmAnd just like that, it's October.The pumpkins are out. The spiders are in (I found one inside the baby's carseat -- eek!). It's chilly. Summer came very late, but fall is coming right on time. Of course, this baby is taking his sweet time. Nothing to report there, other than the usual. I'm exhausted.And because I know how lucky I am, I'll just leave it at that. I'm tired. And waiting. And doing my best to enjoy fall while I can. -
The One Where I Get To Quote Betty Draper
21 Sep 2009 | 1:19 pmHow is it possible that today is September 21? And that the last time I posted was September 9th? If this was a job I'd be FIRED by now. Good thing I'm the boss and I play favorites. Shameless!So, nothing new to report. I'm inching closer to my due date with nothing to show for it other than my HUGE belly, which causes a commotion so great every time we go out in public that my mild-mannered mother has started growling at strangers. Seriously. I can't walk out in public without having every third person (male or female, young or old) try to engage me in conversation. Add…
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Miss Britt
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You Ever Write Something And Then Go “It’s Just Easier To Hit Publish Then Delete, So Screw It”? Yeah.
5 Nov 2009 | 6:12 amFair Warning: The first person who lectures me after reading this post gets virtually punched in the nose. And with that warm welcome… The old adage says that I’m “burning the candle at both ends”. In reality, I’ve got a freaking candelabra burning up in here. And not a pretty, dainty, simple candelabra like this: Oh, no. No. That would be too easy. My proverbial candle burning more closely resembles something like this: In other words, I have a lot going on right now. For example: >> I’m hosting a party for Nintendo in less than two weeks –… -
I have no idea why she’s friends with me.
4 Nov 2009 | 5:43 amWe met for the first time in the hallway of a Philadelphia hotel room. I had just convinced all of her friends to ditch her at the airport and make her get a cab to the hotel. I was sure she’d understand why we’d rather do tequila shots than greet her personally. It’s a miracle she didn’t immediately denounce me as her nemesis. Instead, she exploded out of the elevator and into the hall of the Philadelphia Sheraton with more life and animation than I had ever seen in another human being. (Which is saying something, because I’d already met Becky.) The… -
My Marriage Counselor Is Going To Have To Pay That Hooker He Stiffs.
2 Nov 2009 | 8:01 pmWe pulled into the parking lot for our counseling appointment last week and I noted that our counselor’s car wasn’t there yet. “Ohhh, shit,” Jared and I realized in unison that we had scheduled the appointment for a half an hour earlier than usual, and that we were late rather than a few minutes early. We stood in front of the locked door to the building that housed her office and I flipped through my phone to try to find her number. I noticed a missed call from 40 minutes earlier. I called and she confirmed that she had long gone and we’d have to postpone… -
The Halloween That Almost Wasn’t
1 Nov 2009 | 8:01 pmTwo weeks ago, I dragged two three children to the grocery store for our weekly shopping trip. After they had endured more time than anyone should ever have to endure in a Wal-Mart, I took them to the nearby party supply store that had been converted into a costume shop for the Halloween season. Emma had known for weeks what she wanted to dress up as for Halloween. No, she assured me, she had not changed her mind. Yes, she repeated, she was sure. It took us less than five minutes to find exactly what she wanted. For those of you who don’t have little girls (or boys), that is the Red… -
If you saw this, would you hire me?
30 Oct 2009 | 12:47 pm(Hint: the only right answer here is, YES!) After much consideration and ample poking and prodding from Jared, I’ve decided to apply for a temporary travel job from TheBigTrip.com. The deal is, basically, that you spend 3 months traveling – all expenses paid – and you earn a $50,000 salary for those 3 months. Part of the submission process includes a video application. I made mine today. If you can’t see the video player, the direct link is here.
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2Dolphins
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Halloween ’09 Highlights
2 Nov 2009 | 7:06 pmOur 2nd Halloween with Liam was another eventful holiday! It was the first time either Rob or Liam had ever carved a Jack-o’-Lantern. The results were pretty good for a rookie effort:Here are more photos of the pumpkin carving.For Liam’s costume this year, we pieced together a "Bob the Builder" outfit from borrowed work boots (Thanks Katherine!), a new pair of denim overalls & a flannel shirt found on eBay, and a toy toolbelt & hardhat from Amazon.com. Then for his daycare’s "Barnyard Day" theme day, we just omitted the… -
iTunes Hero
26 Oct 2009 | 4:33 amThinking back on the song "Juke Box Hero," I started wondering if that has any context with today’s music fans. I mean really, a jukebox? In this age of white earbuds, how many Gen Y or Zers have ever even touched a jukebox?I fondly recall plunking coins into a flashy old Wurlitzer, watching the machine magically come to life, clicking and whirring as the Rube Goldberg-esqe mechanism whisked the 45 RPM records off the rack and plopped them gingerly down on the turntable, and finally hearing the slight hiss & crackle as the diamond needle met the black vinyl. -
Pumpkin Patch 2009
17 Oct 2009 | 7:42 pmWe finally had a chance to go to the pumpkin patch today. We had originally planned on going last weekend but the weather didn’t cooperate. It was a great opportunity to get some camera practice in on my favorite subject and Liam loved running around through all the pumpkins.We bought a pumpkin to carve — which will be a first for both Rob and Liam — and we also bought a baby pumpkin.We followed up our trip to the pumpkin patch with a stop off at Barnes and Noble for some complimentary hot chocolates that came with our pumpkin purchase.Here’s a shot of… -
Dolphin-Safe Tuna - Anything But Safe
28 Sep 2009 | 4:23 am"You’ll be damned if you do, and damned if you don’t."There never ceases to be good examples of just how true Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote is. Via Jason Kottke’s blog, I discovered marine biology grad student Dave Shiffman’s interesting debate The Ecological Disaster That Is Dolphin-Safe Tuna that sheds some unique perspectives on the concept of "dolphin-safe" tuna, its effects on sustainable commercial tuna fishing, and the impacts of bycatch.The gist of the article is that we’ve blindly allowed activists to recklessly prioritize the… -
Gitar
20 Sep 2009 | 2:36 pmWe often fondly think back to our time in Moscow in Dec. ’07 when we first met Liam. Our driver / translator / guide for that first trip to Russia was a great fellow named Pashe (pronounced Pasha). Among other things, I got a big kick out of his ghetto cell phone ("Bluetooth?! No, my phone doesn’t have Bluetooth; it has duct tape.") that he used almost continuously. When we met up with him on our 2nd trip to Moscow in Feb. ’08, he was quite proud of his new cell phone and the funny ringtone he had at the time. In fact, Pashe and Liam danced to…
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GenerationXpert
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Who delegates the best?
28 Oct 2009 | 2:43 pmSo I came across this blog that was discussing delegating - and said that the Boomers are the "masters" of delegating. This has not been my experience, but then again, it is possible that my experience is unique. A lot of the Boomers I've worked with have had a hard time letting go of things, because they want the process to be a certain way and - even if you come to desired result.While I'm writing this, the blogger in question has not yet chimed in on how Xers and Millennials delegate, but I'm assuming she will say that we're not as good as the Boomers (which is fine for her to say, because… -
Why I won't be seing Where the Wild Things Are
14 Oct 2009 | 4:48 pmSo I guess you could say I'm more than a little pissed off that they've turned the children's book Where The Wild Things Are into a movie. I posted something to my Facebook page about it this morning - and I got nine comments. I was really surprised that of those comments only my husband and my friend Kathy agreed with me. There were two main reasons my Facebook friends thought making the movie is okay - 1) Maurice Sendak approved of the project and 2) We should embrace other people's interpretations of books through the medium of film.Those are legitimate reasons. However, nobody will ever… -
How being like Hannibal Lector can help your career
29 Sep 2009 | 5:18 amI’ve been thinking a lot about career issues lately. Mostly because someone very close to me is having career issues – and they aren’t really issues you think you’re going to have mid-career.A lot of Gen Xers are struggling with this. It’s the square-peg effect. I thought it was just me for a lot a years, but when I talked to other Gen Xers it seems there’s a whole bunch of us who feel like we don’t fit the mold.What I’ve come up with (through the studies and other writings I’ve found along with my own observations) is that Gen X is simply doing it differently than those who… -
Have Woodstock stories just become background noise?
3 Sep 2009 | 5:39 amChez Pazienza wrote what I would call an amusing attack on the Babyboomers recently that ran in The Huffington Post.I say amusing, because it did make me laugh. It is fun to make fun of the hippies rolling around in the mud at Woodstock. But it also got me thinking about the attacks on Boomers that the anniversary of Woodstock has brought on, why they are really being written, and do Gen Xers really care about that anymore?What I mean is that we have heard about Woodstock, Studio 54, whatever, blah blah blah, for our whole lives. By now, doesn't it go in one ear and out the other? Like when… -
Check out MomCrusades!
21 Aug 2009 | 8:28 amMy friend has started her own blog and I want to give it an enthusiastic endorsement. Check it out here!http://www.momcrusades.blogspot.com/
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Domestic Psychology
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again with the body fluids
6 Nov 2009 | 8:29 pmWednesday, Amy had to visit the dentist for a small filling on one tooth and sealant on a molar. My job during this adventure was to be reassuring and stay out of the way. Amy hopped in the dental chair and they leaned the chair back to work on her mouth. The assistant pulled Amy’s shoulders and slid her until Amy’s tiny head rested squarely on the head cushion. This parked her bottom on the area of the chair designed to be a back rest and her legs magically floated over the fold in the chair where booties belong. An orange mask was gently draped over Amy’s nose and two… -
bad patient
5 Nov 2009 | 8:22 pm4:00 pm – Sarah enters the house, vomits and goes to bed. Her temperature is 101. “I stayed up too late last night. I’ll be fine after a quick nap. I have to go to a football game tomorrow night.” 10:00 pm – After a six hour nap, Sarah’s temperature is 102. “I think I just ate too much Halloween candy this week. I’ll be fine for the football game.” I told Sarah that I have never heard of anyone running a fever from eating too much candy. Doug and I took turns trying to explain that she needs to be fever free for 24 hours before she is… -
food talk
4 Nov 2009 | 2:25 pmMe: “Evan, do you want some chicken?” Evan: “With ketchup.” Me: “What sound does a chicken make?” Evan: “Bawk-bawk-bawk.” Me: “Right! Would you like some green beans.” Evan: “Put them beside the chicken.” Me: “What sound do green beans make?” Evan: drops to the floor and curls up in a ball “Bu-bu-bu-bu.” Amy: rolling eyes “He’s so weird.” Me: “Amy, what sound does bread make?” Amy: crosses arms and glares at me silently Evan: “Amy doesn’t know. Want me to… -
if I don’t do it . . .
2 Nov 2009 | 8:41 pmI spent Sunday with no voice, a hacking cough, stuffy nose and an assortment of aches and pains. The cough medicine made me feel like I was sleepwalking in a fog, but it didn’t help reduce the coughing. I swallowed Tylenol just before a coughing fit and one of the pills shot back out. I didn’t know that was even possible. Doug looked up from his day long Roomba repair and told me to go back to bed. I looked at him through my eyebrows. “Everything will be fine up here. I’ll even wash the dishes.” I sat in a chair and folded clothes in slow motion until I… -
Halloween gets tricky
30 Oct 2009 | 6:46 pmWhat is the Halloween version of the Grinch? Me. Well, if you ask my teenagers, it’s me. Tommy hasn’t gone trick or treating for years, but suddenly he has started mumbling that trick or treating sounds like fun. It’s only mumbling though. He is happy with the long-standing deal that when you stop trick or treating, mom treats you with a bag of candy. Sarah didn’t go out for the past two years because of school. This year, Halloween is on a Saturday and she is adamant that she will be trick or treating with her 17-y-o boyfriend. I am equally determined that my child…
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kerrianne.org
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Of Mice And Men(acing) Car Batteries
4 Nov 2009 | 8:39 pmIt’s visual picture-painting time here at kerrianne.org, and kids, do I have a story for you! Everyone gather round the circle with your milk and cookies. On second thought, you better forget the milk and cookies. In fact, you might want to stop (thinking about or actually) eating anything for the remainder of this post. Ready now? OK, then. Back to the story. It was a dark and stormy night the end of a very long work day, not my favorite work day to be honest, and while there were definitely some high notes, it was mostly stressful and filled with a lot of hurry up and wait! moments,… -
This Is Something; This Is Nothing
27 Oct 2009 | 9:05 amMy friend Carrisa (who is having a birthday! today, what what) wrote a post awhile back about things which she does not like, and I was laughing (a lot), and not only because her list included “peppers,” “underwire” and “Ninjas.” It also included “spiders,” to which I said I wanted to meet the person who actually LIKES spiders. I’m sure that person exists, but I want to know if they can also form coherent sentences, or if they tell girls at the bottom of a well in their basement “It puts the lotion on its skin.” (Why hello! -
“It was a rectopactum.” “Retrospective, dummy.” “That’s what I said!”
20 Oct 2009 | 1:30 pmAlternately titled: Updates and News and Writing, Oh My! On Things I Want, A List: Daylight Savings Time to end already, so that I can start seeing actual daylight before 7:30am. To find and again know that place where I’m able to laugh the way I used to laugh: a hearty, happy laugh devoid of cynicism, not stinking of fresh loss. This tree bookshelf. To be able to slice through delusion with my Magic Sword of Truth. To realize it’s not my job to slice through anyone’s delusion with my Magic Sword of Truth (and anyway, I don’t actually have one). Pumpkin-flavored… -
“There’s water all over the place!”
12 Oct 2009 | 12:01 amAlternately titled: Portraits Of A Weekend: Dykstra! Edition. This weekend Angella, Matthew, Graham, Nathan & Emily were in the Pacific Northwest celebrating their Canadian Thanksgiving by stimulating our economy (See? There is no end to The Canadian Nice!) and visiting friends and family. I feel lucky to be counted in that former relational group and have actually been able to see Angella more this year than any other year, which has made this year quite awesome. Enter, The Mush(y). I’ve watched myriad people who occupy this great big online space so dubbed “The… -
Do Your Worst (Halloween Costume), Sir
1 Oct 2009 | 12:01 amI love the phrase “Do you worst,” especially when coupled with the pronoun, “Sir,” quite possibly because whenever I say it aloud or read it to myself in my head it’s always highly exaggerated and British-sounding. Or quite possibly drunk-sounding. Or: all three! Awhile back I used it for the title of this post, wherein I was posting about the 5 Worst Ways To Die, Cinematically-Speaking, and today I thought a modified version of the same title would do splendidly for the question I’m about to ask all of you. (Remember I’m asking it in my best…
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Simply Stork
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The changing seasons
4 Nov 2009 | 6:08 amI am so enthralled by the changing of the seasons. I believe change is always good. I am trying to live "in the moment." To be present in each moment as it happens is not such a bad idea. I know God has me right where he wants me, even if it is just changing a dirty diaper or schlepping the kids across town.I pass these trees on the way to the home school center. They always give quite a show during the fall season. One rainy day-I brought my camera. I stood there, trying to live "in the moment." The wind took my breath away...and that is when I noticed it. The little yellow leaf.A yellow… -
Pumpkins...
30 Oct 2009 | 5:54 pmHappy Halloween!~simply~ -
still crafting...
27 Oct 2009 | 8:02 amAlthough I am living more "simply" these days, I have still managed to make some crafts along the way. This little doily was a birthday gift for a friend of mine from the home school center. It was given a few weeks ago. I realized I had taken some photos of it when I recently downloaded my camera- thank goodness for procrastination {{whew}} I love it when I get a little un-expected blessing like a photo of a project I thought I lost during the recent computer crash.I will be posting when I can-please hang in there while I work through some things :o)blessings to you today~~simply~ -
live simply...
26 Oct 2009 | 9:57 am(click on photo for a larger image)I would like to thank you all for your warm wishes and e-mails during this difficult time for me. We recently had a computer crash that deleted all my files and photos (arg!) I had been getting the important photos onto discs so I was covered there but it is very sad to know how many were lost.I have been just taking this time to 'live simply.' It is quite strange to be 'unplugged' for a while. I will be posting when the time seems right-not sure what that means exactly. I'm sure I will work my way back to daily but for now it will just be as the mood hits… -
alopecia
4 Oct 2009 | 5:00 pmI was standing in the ladies room one day when a young lady with big, thick and flowing hair stepped out of a stall and glanced into the mirror..."ugggg I am having such a bad hair day!..." The day my mirror was taken away...I think it all started pretty simply...I know, how ironic. I remember looking in a mirror one day and I just could not get my hair to lay right. That is when I noticed the first bald spot. I brushed it off. My hair has always been thin so I assumed that I had just been extra crazy with the pulling out of a recent rubber band. I think it was just about the time I noticed…
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i am bossy
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Dear Bossy’s Son, Bossy Can Finally Tell You About This Close Call. Heck, Let’s Make It A Giveaway
6 Nov 2009 | 6:02 amMeet Bossy’s new cat! Almost. It all began innocently enough one day a few weeks ago, when Bossy spied a white cat outside her dining room window. Fast forward a few days when this very cat found its way up on Bossy’s front porch. The first thing Bossy did was notice its little tag on its little collar, so she phoned the little number. And when she says she phoned the number she means she made her husband do it. And guess what? The number was disconnected, and there was no other information on the cat’s collar, except a name: Snow Flake. The next thing Bossy did was fall in… -
Bossy’s Favorite Things
6 Nov 2009 | 4:54 amBossy has made a fuss before — right here in these very pages that aren’t pages at all and gah just how unsettling is that — about how lucky Bossy’s daughter is to have all of these cool Aunts who aren’t really Aunts but rather Bossy’s best grrrlfriends. Well here is just another example: one night last week, as Bossy’s brother and Bossy’s husband and the rest of their rock band rehearsed in the Bossy pergatory basement for a few upcoming shows, Bossy and her mother and her friend Martha were upstairs drinking Cabernet while Bossy’s… -
Yet Another Little Known Fact
6 Nov 2009 | 4:52 amA few weeks ago, when Bossy was tackling her New Year’s resolution in time to break new ones, Bossy came across this Mother’s Day card from her daughter. It must be four years old at least since Bossy is described as an Interior Decorator, but some things never change. And about that, do you think the other nine-year-olds described their mothers as wine drinkers? And Bossy inadvertently cut off her favorite line, the last. Because apparently Bossy is a Go practice violin articulator. -
Bossy’s Ear Worm
5 Nov 2009 | 3:11 pmWelcome to Bossy’s Ear Worm, which features songs currently in Bossy’s headphones. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Air, Cherry Blossom Girl. Sometimes Bossy can’t even believe when a song so perfectly suited to her taste manages to elude her. Such is the case with this tune off of French duo Air’s 2004 record, Talkie Walkie. It’s reminiscent of the airy moody stuff by artists such as Zero 7 and Esthero and even Frou Frou — and why all the sudden does Bossy feel as though she’s typing with marbles in her mouth? In… -
Bossy’s Favorite Thing
5 Nov 2009 | 4:47 amWatching Bossy’s sports teams in a big pile of friends and family. It was a good run, Phillies, thanks.
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Married And Happy
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Your Wife Has No Desire For Sex? You Better Read This
5 Nov 2009 | 7:59 amRecently, a man asked me the following question:"Calle, can you tell me what's going on? My wife and I have been married for 15 years and after the first year, the sex started becoming less and less frequent. My wife simply wasn't in the mood for it...she didn't feel like having sex...she had a "headache"...she was "tired" or whatever.Now, if we make love once a month it's a miracle and even then, she's clearly and obviously just "giving it" to me so I'll shut up and go away. It doesn't seem to matter what I say or do, my wife just doesn't seem to have any interest in sex. And, that's how… -
Bob's Wife Cheated On Him…And What YOU Need To Learn From Bob!
31 Oct 2009 | 8:33 amFellow husband, are you falling short in satisfying and fulfilling your wife? I'm wondering this because I see the same "pattern" emerge again and again when a wife cheats on her husband.As someone who does extensive research into marriage relationships, I frequently get to interact with men whose wife has cheated on them. And, what's interesting is that these men "thought" they knew their wife...they thought they knew what she wanted...and what she liked and didn't like...and who she really was. But, when these men contrasted what they "knew" with what their wife and her lover actually DID,… -
Would Fixing This Mistake Turn On Your Wife Sexually?
15 Oct 2009 | 1:26 pmThere's a serious mistake that some men make in the way they think about their wife and their marriage and this error causes them to lose out on a LOT of intimacy that they'd otherwise get to enjoy. Even worse, it eventually drives their woman to either leave the marriage or to seek out a more satisfying partner on the side.We have a word for this mistake; it's called entitlement and here's just one example of how the line of thought behind this mistake goes..."I am the husband and my job is to "work" and provide for my family. I take responsibility for our financial welfare and all money… -
What Is Love? Happily Married People Say It Is...
13 Oct 2009 | 10:00 amWhat is love?Well, unhappily married people would say it's that "magic" feeling that "just happens" between two people...it's not something you can consciously create...it's that "spark" that's either there or it isn't.And, with a definition like that, you know WHY these people are unhappily married.Love is the thing that people want more than anything else in life...and unhappily married people have defined it as something that's completely outside of their control.They've defined it as a WHIM that can come AND go...it's something that's unbelievably exciting when it's there and intolerable… -
Do It Yourself Marriage Counseling: Try This...
12 Oct 2009 | 9:00 amWhen a married couple finds themselves needing help in their marriage, the generally accepted "solution" is to seek out a marriage counselor / therapist. Well, at $75 - $200 per hour and a weekly session for both the husband and the wife and appointments scheduled well into the future, this option can quickly become prohibitively expensive.Moreover, there's usually the issue of participation and cooperation. There's almost always one spouse who really wants to get help...and one who doesn't.Further, there's usually a problem related to privacy. There's usually at least one spouse who is not…
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A Wayward Journey
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Mountains of Hope
6 Nov 2009 | 3:00 pmWe are staying here in Pimampiro for a month. The first place we went when we arrived was the house of the only Americans in town - Paul and Sue. They work with an organization called Mountains of Hope. They are helping out at the school by teaching art, making a library, buying uniforms, and paying for transportation for the girls who have to pay to come down from the mountain villages. They also bought 12 soccer balls for the school. Paul and Sue don’t only work at the school - they help out at 22 other villages around Pimampiro. They built a woodshop in one of the villages… -
Pasto, Colombia to Pimampiro, Ecuador
4 Nov 2009 | 6:48 amLoaded up and headed out of town. Pasto The Andes mountains are carved up into family farming plots like a patchwork quilt. Our friend, Carlos, joined us for the ride out of Pasto. Carlos took us to stay with some family members in Pilcuan, where we took over an empty house for the night. When Davy woke up sick, we decided we had had enough. Davy and I loaded all our panniers into a wheelbarrow to take them to a bus; John and Daryl continued on without us. We will eventually go back and get the bikes - after Davy gets his toe surgery and recovers from his stomach bug. Climbing out of the… -
Colombia - Popayan to Pasto
4 Nov 2009 | 6:18 amLeaving Popayan This whole area is hill after hill after hill We turned a corner and all of a sudden, the hills were dry and barren! Gotta love those descents! These mountains are certainly more rugged than they were earlier! Rosas An unexpected rain day - it POURED! Yet another hill… What a coincidence!! While we were taking a break a couple from Arizona who were driving to Patagonia stopped to chat with us. While we were chatting a motorcyclist who was doing the Prudhoe Bay - Ushuaia route stopped. That was the first time we even saw a gringo in at least a month. Down in the middle of… -
Photos of Colombia - Manizales to Popayàn
4 Nov 2009 | 6:09 amJohn finally got the photos up! He hasn’t completely overcome the virus that attacked our computers, but is making headway. Yesterday he was able to get one of the computers conected to the internet, so put these up. Enjoy! Packing up in front of our house in Manizales hillsides covered with coffee A group of skateboarders raced down the hill with us! Heading into Santa Rosa to find a hotel Leaving Pereira behind. We dropped down into the Cauca River valley - pancake flat! Unfortunately, it was hot in the valley too. Lunch in a truck stop in Tulua DAryl reading on his new Kindle… -
Going to Ibarra
2 Nov 2009 | 3:00 pmToday we went to Ibarra. We started with an hour long bus ride. Then we got to Ibarra. First we went to a mall type things where we are. We had pizza. Then we went to a glasses place to fix Daddy’s glasses. After a long time there we went to look for shoes. When we were looking we found a prated movie shop and got 4 movies: Ice Age 3, Aliens in the Attic, Pirates of the Caribbean 3, and The Conquerers. Then we went looking for shoes again. After a while, we found Eragon 2 and got that. After we were done with that we decided shoes were too expensive. We got some…
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Well Read Hostess
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Ten Things I Hate About Me, Part Something or Other: Soul Stealing Suckfest
6 Nov 2009 | 10:01 amThings I am reluctant to say goodbye to:The space where my son's front baby teeth used to be.The way my daughter still says, "incept" instead of "except."The fact that the puppy is already too big for me to pick up and carry when I want her to come in the house.My student teacher, who rocks, and who has been doing all of my work for weeks now.My red leather bag, whose handles are getting worn out.Thing I am desperate to say goodbye to:My abject terror of and the crippling anxiety caused by having my picture taken.I need some photographs of myself for a project, so I arranged with a student,… -
I Kissed A Girl
5 Nov 2009 | 4:48 amWell. I would anyway if she'd just return my calls.I love Gail Collins. And I love that the Old Gray Lady has a place for someone who is not afraid to go where she goes; she is sometimes downright silly and sarcastic, yes she remains likable and trustworthy.I hate what I just wrote up there. Bland platitudes. Unlike Gail Collins, today I am struggling to find the right words. I woke up this morning and decided that I would write something today about how the mainstream media is making a big deal over the election results from Tuesday. Results which,… -
A Rose By Any Other Name WOULD Smell As Sweet, As Luck Would Have It
3 Nov 2009 | 12:36 pmIf you do a quick search for reviews of Nick Hornby's work, not exclusively his latest, Juliet, Naked, but any of it, you are bound to run into the following phrases: edgy, hip, ironic, fresh, contemporary.Check. … -
Memento Mori
1 Nov 2009 | 6:52 pmI was supposed to be writing today about Nick Hornby's Juliet, Naked. I'm having trouble figuring out what I want to say about this novel, other than the fact that I love it so much I want to marry it. But I'm stalling. I need another day to get my head in the game, so to speak, and articulate my thoughts about it such that they make even a tiny bit of sense and accurately reflect what I'm thinking and feeling. Please come back tomorrow and read whatever I come up with and supply your own musings - the comments people leave for these Virtually Well Read Book Club… -
Smell My Feet
30 Oct 2009 | 5:27 amAll Hallows by Louise Glück Even now this landscape is assembling. The hills darken. The oxen sleep in their blue yoke, the fields having been picked clean, the sheaves bound evenly and piled at the roadside among cinquefoil, as the toothed moon rises: This is the barrenness of harvest or pestilence. And the wife leaning out the window with her hand extended, as in payment, and the seeds distinct, gold, calling Come here Come here, little one And the soul creeps out of the…
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David J. Hinson's Logorrhea
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iPhone Template
6 Nov 2009 | 2:38 pm -
Park Mapping Application – Augmented Reality “Walkabout”
5 Nov 2009 | 5:33 am -
Conflict Resolution
1 Nov 2009 | 1:05 pmAh, the running theme in my life this week – professionally and personally. Conflict Resolution. Many people mistake this for Conflict Avoidance. Or Conflict Deterrence. Make no mistake – conflicts are best handled by recognizing them when they occur, determining what the best possible choices are for resolving the conflict (hopefully, amicably), and taking action to see the resolution fulfilled. How did I do this week? OK in some cases. Great in others. Less than what I had hoped for in still others. Even so, I consider all conflict resolutions to be positive, even when… -
An Open Note to Mobile Ad Networks – Show Me The Money
26 Oct 2009 | 5:25 amIt seems like once every couple of weeks I’m complaining about the see-saw nature of mobile advertising rates. Of late, the rates have been what I consider to be abysmal (sub $4 to low $3 CPM). This is particularly frustrating if you’re serving up between 500,000 and 1,000,000 impressions per month. And seemingly, just as often, I’m approached by competing ad networks wanting me to switch to their platform. They always want to talk about how they can pick and choose between several publishers and that their tech is superior. You know what I want to know? How much am I… -
Take It Easy
20 Oct 2009 | 3:21 pm
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Simple Marriage
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Do You Just Want To Be Happy?
5 Nov 2009 | 8:07 amAt the beginning of 2009, I wrote this post – What’s Your Big Idea? In it, I discussed my reaction to Steve and Erin Pavlina’s decision to explore the realm of a polyamorous marriage. For those not familiar with this term, polyamory is the practice or acceptance of having more than one intimate relationship at a time with the full knowledge and consent of all involved. If you’re relatively new to Simple Marriage, I’d suggest you follow this link and read the post before proceeding. See you again in a few minutes. Okay, now that you’re back, allow me to give… -
Why you shouldn’t have the goal of “I just want to be happy”
4 Nov 2009 | 6:08 amIt’s too vague and elusive. Photo courtesy lilit Want more? A Simple Marriage – Corey’s book written to assist you in amping up your marriage. Check out the Simple Marriage Community. Get the Steps to a Simple Marriage EBook here. No related posts. -
Two New Free Marriage Courses
2 Nov 2009 | 3:39 pmLast week I announced the addition of a new area here at Simple Marriage – Free Marriage Courses. The launch began with a course on Communication in Marriage. Now there are two new courses: Let’s Talk About Sex and Family Life and Parenting. Follow this link to find out more. Enjoy. Want more? A Simple Marriage – Corey’s book written to assist you in amping up your marriage. Check out the Simple Marriage Community. Get the Steps to a Simple Marriage EBook here. Related posts:What Do You Know About Sex?13 Ways To Make Your Spouse Hate SexHow Pornography Impacts Marriage… -
In One Word – Marriage Is …
29 Oct 2009 | 5:02 pmThis ask the readers question was posed at the beginning of summer. It received some great responses. Now I’d like to narrow the replies down even more … to one word. So here you go - In one word, Marriage is … Photo courtesy pedrosimoes7 Want more? A Simple Marriage – Corey’s book written to assist you in amping up your marriage. Check out the Simple Marriage Community. Get the Steps to a Simple Marriage EBook here. Related posts:Could Too Much Sex Negatively Impact Your Marriage?8 Principles for a Zen MarriageIf Your Marriage Were A Movie, Would You Want To Go… -
Improve Your Marriage and Life by Eating Slower
28 Oct 2009 | 7:22 amOne of the problems in our daily lives is that many of us rush through the day, with no time for anything … and when we have time to get a bite to eat, we gobble it down. That leads to stressful, unhealthy living. And with the simple but powerful act of eating slower, we can begin to reverse that lifestyle immediately. How hard is it? You take smaller bites, you chew each bite slower and longer, and you enjoy your meal longer. It takes a few minutes extra each meal, and yet it can have profound effects. As we head into the Holiday season, where food is often prevalent, if you slow down when…
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Abundance Blog at Marelisa Online
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Have Fun at Work and Increase the Bottom Line
4 Nov 2009 | 11:59 pm“The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found.” -Calvin Trillin Traditional wisdom states the following: “Work is not supposed to be fun. That’s why it’s called work.” A corollary of this principle states that if you see someone having fun at work, that person is slacking off. However, research shows that this dismal view of work is completely wrong. In “The Levity Effect: Why it Pays to Lighten Up”, bestselling author Adrian Gostick and humorist Scott… -
Finding Your Life’s Passion: Conduct Experiments
1 Nov 2009 | 9:51 pm“The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he’s always doing both.” -James A. Michener Seventy percent of white collar workers are unhappy with their jobs, but they continue to spend more and more time in the office. This startling pronouncement is made by… -
Get A Motivation Boost From Nike
28 Oct 2009 | 10:29 pmHere are some fabulous quotes and videos from Nike to give your motivation a boost: “The only one who can tell you ‘you can’t’ is you. And you don’t have to listen.” – Nike “All your life you are told the things you cannot do. All your life they will say you’re not good enough or strong enough or talented enough; they will say you’re the wrong height or the wrong weight or the wrong type to play this or be this or achieve this. THEY WILL TELL YOU NO, a thousand times no, until all the no’s become meaningless. All your life they… -
The 10 Habits of Zen to Done
26 Oct 2009 | 9:59 pmI’ve already reviewed two of the major productivity systems out there on this blog: Simpleology and Mark Foster’s Do It Tomorrow. Today, Leo Babauta’s productivity system, “Zen to Done”, is up for review. Zen to Done (ZTD) is based on David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” (GTD), as well as on the work of Stephen Covey and others. It’s a set of 10 habits that will help you get organized, simplify your life, get things under control, and get things done. Instead of trying to implement all 10 habits at once, Leo recommends that you choose one… -
I Give Myself Permission To . . .
22 Oct 2009 | 9:12 pmIDEO, an award-winning design and innovation firm located in Palo Alto, California, created orange tickets that give people ten minutes of free play. On a Thursday evening, two IDEO employees started giving out the tickets on their Caltrain ride back to San Francisco. (You can see photos of the passengers’ reactions here.) They wrote the following over at their blog: “IDEO believes in the seriousness of play. It is a big part of our design culture. We encourage playfulness in everyday life. But sometimes it’s hard to get permission to play – so we’re giving out…
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Handy Man Fix Home Repair
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9 Home Improvement Ideas
6 Nov 2009 | 6:00 amA great way to save money around the home is to make use of home DIY projects. These projects are typically an exchange of money and time; for putting in a little time and effort, the homeowner will save money in the long run. Listed are nine projects that are within your capability and that will help save you money or boost the value of your home. - Replace the siding and windows of your home. Both projects rated the top in terms recouping the cost of carrying out the upgrade. This is a result of the value put into the beauty of such upgrades, as opposed to the relatively low cost of the… -
Changing Out your Shower Head
6 Nov 2009 | 3:35 amSometimes it becomes necessary for you to replace your existing shower head with a brand new one. There are several different available models when it comes to shower heads, some of which have special massage settings and rain settings that contribute to a much more pleasurable experience in the shower. Whether you are changing your shower head to replace a unit that has become broken or simply trying to enhance your bath, the following tips will prove useful in helping you get the job done. To get this job done you are going to need the new shower head, a pair of channel pliers and a roll of… -
Book Review: Insulate and Weatherize – Expert Advice from Start to Finish By Bruce Harley
5 Nov 2009 | 5:48 amAs energy costs continue to rise, many homeowners are starting to get serious about how much money they are wasting on home heating costs. In reality, if your home is poorly insulated, and you have not taken the steps to weatherize it properly, the fact is, your money is going out right through the roof. But, what are the best techniques to get this done? Many homeowners just aren’t aware of how to properly weatherize their homes, and due to this problem, they may not be able to see a big difference in their utility bills. Enter the latest book in the Build Like a Pro series, Insulate and… -
The Benefits of using CFL Lighting
5 Nov 2009 | 3:27 am25 percent of a regular home electrical budget is sadly spent only on lighting as a result of using incandescent style light bulbs, which are wholly inefficient. Typical light bulbs can cost between 5 and 10 times their own cost in electricity despite their relatively short period of life. However, there are a number of alternatives to consider. One such alternative that is well worth considering is the CFL or Compact Fluorescent Light bulb, which is a miniature version of full-sized fluorescent lighting, and they are capable of screwing right into a traditional light fitting. CFL bulbs tend… -
How to Replace Window Screens
4 Nov 2009 | 5:33 amWindows screens may look tough, but many times they are all too fragile. One small tear can mean a house filled with bugs, but thankfully, it’s easy enough to fix them if you have the right tools. Here’s a quick guide to replacing and repairing window screens that anyone can use. Before you get started, you’ll need to get a roll of screening material, or several, depending on the size of the project, as well as stripping, and a screening material tool. These materials can be purchased at most local hardware stores. It is a good idea to measure your windows before you purchase the…
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Life on a Southern Farm
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Farm Friday Photos
6 Nov 2009 | 12:00 amFall is just about to peak here on the farm.I took these pictures Wednesday evening at the old pond.Just as the sun was setting.The back of the house faces toward the pond.This is all the Muscovy ducks we have left now. 3 males. There are so many varmits around here that love to eat ducks.These pictures I took Thursday afternoon.This buck is one of Annie's first babies. He was a twin to the -
Jack and Another Mint Video
4 Nov 2009 | 6:05 amYes, more pictures and video of Jack and his breathe saver mints.It is a daily routine. As soon as Jack sees the truck, he is there in a flash with his head stuck inside looking for mints.and we always have one ready for him.The Video.I suppose Jack may be a tad spoiled.It is hard to refuse a face like this, though.The End.Have a great day! -
The Farm's 1960 Ford dump truck video
3 Nov 2009 | 12:03 amThis is our farm truck. It is a 1960 Ford F600 dump truckand it works as hard as we do around here.it has hauled it's share of hay over the yearsIt even has a working AM radio and an 8 track player!It has hauled logs to the farm's sawmill.The sawmill is older than the dump truck!The Ford dump truck was a big help when we were putting the new roof on the house.FarmMan bought the truck years ago -
Links for 2007-11-26 [del.icio.us]
The Canine Kids 1st tag
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Lyved
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Treat Time as a Resource – Don’t Waste It Feeling Sorry for Yourself!
30 Oct 2009 | 8:05 amThis is a guest post. We’ll never have enough time. Paradoxically, understanding that concept allows us the potential to wisely utilize the time we have! Using time to overcome life’s challenges is a topic I cover extensively in my book, THE POWER OF ADVERSITY: Tough Times Can Make You Stronger, Wiser, and Better. I know from personal experience that the advice I share with you here is incredibly effective. Transforming time from an adversary into an ally has helped me develop the positive mindset to be able to dust myself off from early business failures and build my company,… -
Unachieved Goals in the 11th Hour
26 Oct 2009 | 11:03 amYou set a deadline and you’ve worked your ass off day in and day out. You’ve remained positive and you’ve jumped over and busted through any obstacles that stood in your way, but still, time is not on your side and it looks like you aren’t going to achieve your goal before the timer that you created is up. This feeling is extremely frustrating and causes many people to fail. So what can you do when it turns to the 11th hour and it feels like time is up? Create a new deadline Give yourself a fresh start and created a new deadline. It’s not glamorous to keep pushing and overcoming… -
Turning water into wine: 4 ways to make miracles happen
12 Oct 2009 | 1:15 pmLife is full of miracles. Many times the miracles are performed by ordinary people and not by divine intervention or a higher power. You too can make miracles happen. Here are four ways you can do the “impossible,” accomplish amazing feats, change lives, and perform miracles. 1. Know that one person’s miracle is another person’s goal Doing the “impossible” sometimes seems like performing miracles to the onlooker, but to the doer it’s not miracle work. It’s hard work; work that requires patience, persistence, and different thinking. One person views it as a miracle that somehow… -
The Zombies Of Life
8 Oct 2009 | 8:39 amThis is a guest post. No, this isn’t a post about an upcoming horror movie, but a troublesome group of people in society. They’re Zombies. Negative, dreamless, bitter and lazy people. Zombies don’t want to excel in anything which challenges them to think and make improvements in their lives. They blame the world for their problems. Membership is open to anyone feeling hopeless, unloved or dissatisfied with life. Subdivisions of the Zombies group are Party People, Disgruntled Workers and Dream Smashers. PARTY PEOPLE: These people want to have a good time ALL THE TIME! Once in awhile… -
Experience is not what happens to you, it’s what you do with what happens to you
5 Oct 2009 | 6:57 amThis is a guest post. I believe everyone living or has lived has been gifted with wisdom to solve one problem or another; wisdom needed to go beyond our limitations; wisdom to make the right choices to allow the right people into our lives; wisdom to discern and watch over our young ones, protecting them from any form of harm, the list goes on and on……Most of the people I coach have come to a crossroad in certain areas of their lives where they have needed a bout of wisdom to direct them to the next phase, direction, junction etc. This wisdom that we so earnestly and some times…
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Shelby Shares
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Thankful Thursday
5 Nov 2009 | 5:40 amMuch to be thankful for today: My son is hale and hearty once again My husband's surgery went well and he is recovering without complication My Father above is with me and faithful to me even in the midst of the latest sea change in my life. It is a big one and I haven't really processed it yet but He has given me reserves of strength that I didn't have even a year ago and I'm so thankful to him -
Big Doings
31 Oct 2009 | 5:25 amOkay, I'm not the most dedicated blogger but this time there's a reason for my overall internet blackout through the 13th and I'm finally able to share it with you. My husband had a scheduled surgery on Tuesday to try to regain the use of his left arm, rendered useless in a fall nearly three years ago. Because his legs don't work, it seemed pretty vital to take every opportunity to get the arm -
Offline Through November 13
25 Oct 2009 | 4:24 amI'll be offline pretty much completely through November 13. You guys be happy, healthy and blessed. Love ya! -
Through The Storm
18 Oct 2009 | 4:19 amThank you. Thank you for your prayers, your emails, your comments, your encouragement. What a fabulous group of people you are. We have come through the worst of the storm. My son is beginning to be on the mend after nearly 6 weeks of being increasingly sick. He ran a course of bronchitis, followed by a fairly serious bout of H1N1 (confirmed), followed by the pneumonia that is a secondary -
Becoming A Yes Girl
5 Oct 2009 | 12:50 pmI want to be a yes girl. The kind of girl who says yes to God no matter what He asks of me. Whether it sounds crazy or makes sense, whether it's convenient or not, whether there seems to be a reason behind the request or not, I want to just say yes. I'm working on this. A study at Spiritually Unequal Marriage is helping. Yesterday was a great "yes" day. I did church online at home in the
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michael-moniz.com
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3 Perspective Shifts
6 Nov 2009 | 8:36 amThe universe sent this to me: I do believe, Michael, that if people would just start by saying “it’s fun,” when it seems hard; “I’m happy,” when they seem sad; and “I know,” when it seems as if they don’t, they’d finally discover that it really is, they really are, and they always have. Works for me, The Universe Isn’t this a better way to start your day, or face a challenge? Post from: 3 Perspective Shifts -
Generation Y
5 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pmPost from: Generation Y -
Knowing Too Much
4 Nov 2009 | 8:52 amI love the fact we receive information faster than ever before. We are able to keep track of friends and family and learn more about them than before. We receive news updates almost as they happen. We also can find out information on any topic and from 5 to 5000 sources all on our phones. I wonder if it is too much information for our own good. My cat has bladder stones and is having surgery today. I am able to look up the procedure, treatment, what can go wrong, people’s experiences, what I did wrong, what Piper did wrong, what her genes did wrong and all the possible outcomes that… -
NaNoWriMo
2 Nov 2009 | 8:00 amYes, I am participating in NaNoWriMo otherwise known as National Novel Writing Month. I have done it before and I am excited to be participating again. I will be working on completing the book that has been taking me much longer than I expected. I have not been taking the time to really dedicate on it and so I am jumping in and making it happen! Below is a badge to link you to my account if you want to track my progress. It will not be easy but I am up for a challenge. It is the right time to make this happen. No time like the present! So my journey begins… Post from: NaNoWriMo -
Happy Halloween!
31 Oct 2009 | 7:00 amTry JibJab Sendables® eCards today! Post from: Happy Halloween!
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Sparkplugging Blog Network
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Thanksgiving Cupcakes
6 Nov 2009 | 10:18 amI’ve been super busy this fall getting Thanksgiving activities together for the Woo! Jr. websites. I was even all set to spin off my creative recipes into a new food blog for the holiday season, but I had to put that idea on hold – too much is happening this year for me to take on yet another blog! I’m traveling a long way for Thanksgiving this year, so I’m going to have to live vicariously though all of you who get to cook up yummy stuff for the holiday. But I’m having Christmas Eve at my house, so get ready to be blasted with tons of Christmas cooking ideas… -
Anise Cookie Recipes
6 Nov 2009 | 9:56 amI am the designated Christmas cookie maker every year. And my mom slyly depends on me to make her (and my!!!) favorite cookies – anise cookies. It doesn’t matter which recipe I use, as long as I show up at her house with anise cookies. This year I’ll definitely be breaking out my springerle molds, but I have my own anise spritz cookie recipe that is really both the easiest and my absolute favorite. I’ll get that up on the site soon! Springerle Recipe Glazed Anise Cookies Fennel Blackberry Cookie Recipe Pizzelle Cookies Crisp Anise Cookies Anise Star Cookies Anise… -
Anise Cookie Recipes
6 Nov 2009 | 9:56 amI am the designated Christmas cookie maker every year. And my mom slyly depends on me to make her (and my!!!) favorite cookies – anise cookies. It doesn’t matter which recipe I use, as long as I show up at her house with anise cookies. This year I’ll definitely be breaking out my springerle molds, but I have my own anise spritz cookie recipe that is really both the easiest and my absolute favorite. I’ll get that up on the site soon! Springerle Recipe Glazed Anise Cookies Fennel Blackberry Cookie Recipe Pizzelle Cookies Crisp Anise Cookies Anise Star Cookies Anise… -
Cartoon Dinosaur Coloring Pages
6 Nov 2009 | 9:37 amOur cartoon dragon coloring pages are a big hit over at Fantasy Jr., so I figured we should put together some cute cartoon dinosaurs over here! And did you know that we have over 45 sets of animal coloring pages?! Some of the most popular are these zoo coloring pages, cute animal coloring pages, rainforest animal coloring pages and our animal masks to color. Cartoon Dinosaur Coloring Page Cute Dinosaur Coloring Page Cartoon Girl Dinosaur Coloring Page Winking Dinosaur Coloring Page Dinosaurs in Love Coloring Page Laughing Dinosaur Coloring Page Mom and Baby Dinosaurs Coloring Page Dancing… -
Branding Friday: Learning to Say No
6 Nov 2009 | 4:03 amAs I’m shaping Egg Marketing & PR toward my new goal of focusing on consumer products, I realize I’m going to have to say no more. No to projects that aren’t a good fit. No to potential clients I know will be difficult to work with. This will be hard. When I started Egg, I found myself an accidental entrepreneur. I had quit/gotten fired a bad job with a horrible boss. I started writing press releases. And stock tips. And emails. And resumes. And anything that would pay the bills. In some ways, I still have that mindset. As an entrepreneur who is struggling (is there any…
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Kyle Dylan Conner
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via i.imgur.com
5 Nov 2009 | 6:26 pmvia i.imgur.com -
What is up with...
4 Nov 2009 | 1:47 pm -
Drunk Ewoks on Today Show
2 Nov 2009 | 7:10 pmDrunk Ewoks on Today Show -
Finished carving pumpkins
31 Oct 2009 | 1:03 pmFinished carving pumpkins -
Frightland Makeup
30 Oct 2009 | 10:55 pmDead tired. Heading to bed.
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Divine Purpose Unleashed - New Articles and News!
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Live Your Life Purpose And Benefit Everyone!
30 Oct 2009 | 12:10 pmI wish you knew how much you matter! Part of the shame I lived with was that I didn’t matter, so it only makes sense that once I recognized my own significance I would want you to recognize yours. My work consists of empowering people through their darkest shame and into their brightest light, which naturally leads to a life of contributing your most powerful gifts. I’m still stepping into my light, and so I can’t really be angry at you for holding back yours. Right? It’s funny when I think about it… I’m asking you to share your gifts; I’m… -
Michelle’s Life Purpose – Conscious Livelihood Thoughts
28 Oct 2009 | 12:01 pmMobile post sent by MichelleVandepas using Utterli. Replies. mp3 Free Subscriber Only Downloads: Free Myths Report: 7 Myths, 8 Lies, and 35 Excuses People Use For Not Living Their Divine Purpose. Download your free Myths Report Here Copyright © 2009 Divine Purpose Unleashed, Live Your Life Purpose. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact legal@divinepurposeunleashed.com so we can take legal action immediately.Plugin… -
Headed to Authorfest!
1 Oct 2009 | 4:13 pmSay Hi if you are at Authorfest! Mobile post sent by MichelleVandepas using Utterli. Replies. Free Subscriber Only Downloads: Free Myths Report: 7 Myths, 8 Lies, and 35 Excuses People Use For Not Living Their Divine Purpose. Download your free Myths Report Here Copyright © 2009 Divine Purpose Unleashed, Live Your Life Purpose. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact legal@divinepurposeunleashed.com so we can take legal action… -
Michelle’s Thoughts from the Road
30 Sep 2009 | 8:23 amMobile post sent by MichelleVandepas using Utterli. Replies. mp3 Free Subscriber Only Downloads: Free Myths Report: 7 Myths, 8 Lies, and 35 Excuses People Use For Not Living Their Divine Purpose. Download your free Myths Report Here EFT Article and Podcast transcript Copyright © 2009 Divine Purpose Unleashed, Live Your Life Purpose. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact legal@divinepurposeunleashed.com so we can… -
Tap Into Your Potential & Unleash Your Contribution
8 Sep 2009 | 11:33 amAre you living below your potential? If you have a sense that there is more to life than you’re currently experiencing, you’re right. If you know that you have a significant contribution to make (even if you don’t know what it is), you’re right. If, somewhere deep inside you know there is something you were put on this planet to do, you’re right. You are here to have a positive impact, even if you don’t know what it is or if you feel it’s beyond your capability. “God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.” You are…
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THE MBTI BLOG
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"Shhhh....I'm an ISTJ. Don't tell."
5 Nov 2009 | 6:32 pmMyers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) practitioners will be the first to tell you that all personality types are created equal. There is no one best or worst personality type. And yet, even the most experienced type practitioners may admit that at times, they wish they had a different personality type. Do we just want what we don't have? Ladies, you will understand this analogy- if you have curly hair, what do you wish you had? Straight hair. If you have straight for, what do you spend hundreds of dollars trying to make your hair do? Be curly.I don't generally think there's a problem with type… -
The Obligatory Halloween-Themed Post- I'm Going as an ENFP This Year!
28 Oct 2009 | 10:46 pmAside from the fact that it's only 2 days until Halloween, and it's necessary for all bloggers to write a Halloween-themed post, I happen toLOVE Halloween. It is by far my favorite holiday.What's not to like? Dressing up as someone/something else? Randomly bugging neighbors you would normally never acknowledge? Getting to peek inside of your neighbors houses? FREE CANDY? The question of whether you will get a trick OR a treat? Wearing a mask so no one knows who you are? The ability to remain in character as long as you want? Making art out of vegetables? Watching "It's the Great Pumpkin,… -
Money, Money, Money, money, MONEY....and Type- a webinar.
19 Oct 2009 | 4:23 pmSorry...every time I talk about money I get "For the Love of Money" by The O'Jays in my head. Seriously, though, couldn't we all use a little bit of money advice these days?Well, the latest APT eChapter webinar talks about just that...The 8 Functions of MoneyUsing the Function Attitudes to Understand and Improve Your Money ManagementFacilitated by Ray Linder, MBA, Owner of Goodstewardship and APTi's Vice President of Finance TUESDAY, NOV. 10, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. EDT/ 12:30 PDT PLEASE CHECK DAY for PACIFIC RIM TIME ZONES (www.timeanddate.com) Friday in NZ, AUS, HK The program: Money can wreak… -
Guest Blog Sharing an Activity for the FIRO-B or FIRO- Business instrument
7 Oct 2009 | 7:25 pmReaders have submitted questions over the past few months asking for new activities to help create those wonderful "a ha" moments during training. Specifically, one reader asked for help with the FIRO instrument. Because she is certified to administer the MBTI, she is also qualified to purchase and administer the FIRO-B and new FIRO Business tools.I've asked Sherrie Hayne, a consultant with CPP, to share one of her favorite FIRO activities, and she was kind enough to agree. Sherrie is a MBTI Master Practitioner and is also a MBTI Certification Trainer. She has had extensive experience… -
More Ways to Extend Your MBTI Training Experience
5 Oct 2009 | 7:34 pmCheck out these great programs by APT International for ways to extend your MBTI training knowledge and acquire Continuing Education Credits for MBTI Master Practitioner status:___________________________________________Register now for the APT International Final Trainings 2009Application: Conflict Management is Self-Management: The Role of Psychological Type in Managing Conflict November 5 & 6, 2009in Seattle, Washington with Chuck PrattCost: $550 APTi Members, $610 Non-Members This two-day workshop will explore the connections between two powerful tools/models – psychological type…
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THE SUMMER HOUSE
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Toms Shoes-Simple and Inspiring
5 Nov 2009 | 5:51 pmToms Shoes is a new company with a simple idea. For every pair of shoes they sell, they will give away a pair of shoes to an underprivileged child. I love this business model! And the shoes are cute too!My oldest son Josh, was the first one to tell me about Tom's shoes. He purchased a pair about a month ago after hearing about them from friends. He loves his Toms and he loves how comfortable they are. If you are looking to do some early Christmas shopping-take a look at Toms shoes. It's a great way to give back and treat yourself or someone you love to a new pair of shoes. -
Maple Syrup
5 Nov 2009 | 5:03 pmWe have added in more maple syrup to our diet. According to what I've read online, Grade B Organic Maple syrup is the healthiest so that's what we use. Here's our favorite ways to eat maple syrup...On pancakes....buttermilk pancakes especially!Drizzle over steel cut oats. Steel cut oats take a little time to cook but they are delicious and nutritious and oh so filling when served with maple syrup and a pat of creamy butter.Use in place of corn syrup in recipes. I just discovered this wonderful recipe for carmel popcorn. Unfortunately I didn't have corn syrup in the house so I… -
Ants, Ants Ants....
30 Oct 2009 | 2:22 pmI remember waking up one morning when I was 8 months pregnant and walking into the kitchen only to find my pantry covered in ants. I just wanted to cry. I couldn't use any chemicals and I didn't know how I would get rid of the ants.That "baby" is now almost 18 and I am much more into natural products than I was back then. If I hadn't been pregnant I probably would have pulled out the poison and started spraying....not on the food of course but on the trail across my kitchen floor.I am forever on the lookout for ways to use everyday items around the house to clean with. For… -
5 Easy Changes That Will Improve Your Health
5 Oct 2009 | 2:55 pmI'm on a health kick but instead of making all kinds of changes at once, I've been trying to make small changes that I can stick with. Here are some of the things I've researched and changed.1. Coconut Oil- I add it to smoothies and use it as a skin moisturizer.2. Dry Brushing- Super Inexpensive-Dry brushing exfoliates the skin -gets the harmful stuff out of your skin and feels great. For more information about dry brushing, look here.3. Whole Milk Products-I've gone back to whole milk (raw milk actually-but that may be a stretch for some people) and whole butter after reading Eat Fat, Lose… -
Friday Good Reads....
25 Sep 2009 | 12:12 pmKnow anyone going through a tough time in their marriage-here's an article from the New York Times about how one woman handled her husband's mid-life crisis.Ann Jackson's new website is up Permission to Speak Freely. Add your confession or read other's confessions.
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Eternal Ramblings of a Confused Mind
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Ready For My Close-Up
12 Oct 2009 | 2:25 amSeptember 21, 2009 It is now 22:00 and I should be going to sleep. I need to go to sleep. Really, I do. I want to be fresh for tomorrow, alive and full of all those things that make me so incredible and easy to like. I was planning on being in bed on my way to sleep already over thirty minutes ago. That was the plan. But who can sleep on a night like tonight? Tomorrow is a huge day. HUGE. It -
My New Roommate
17 Sep 2009 | 5:08 amI have a new roommate. He’s quite cute, very quiet and has a thing for bugs. I don’t mean he likes them, I mean he eats them. He chases them around the wall and before you know it, there he is, chomping away on a yummy moth. My house is surrounded by parks, and in these parks live all sorts of creatures from peacocks to deer to bats to ducks to moths. As my living area opens onto a terrace I -
McBlog
16 Sep 2009 | 4:24 amWhen I a slightly younger man living in the US, there were a few eating places that for me were just not done, like McDonalds and KFC.Yes, I have eaten at McDonalds, but for most of my life, the bulk of that had all taken place before I had reached the age of consent. I was entirely the victim, but this was back in the 70’s when the golden arches were for special occasions, like say a birthday, -
A New Beginning
12 Sep 2009 | 2:21 amAfter a fantastic and amazing time in Amritsar and McLeod Ganj, I am back in Delhi and Ulco is en route to St. Petersburg after a few days stop over in Dubai. I myself, am facing what is one of the most exciting times in my life and have that feeling, and the knowledge, that I am on the edge of something big, HUGE, happening. It all started back in June. After months and months of not working and -
McLeod Ganj
3 Sep 2009 | 5:02 amI am sitting in the room of the hotel in front of the big window as the rain continues to pour down as it has done almost non-stop since something in the middle of the night. The windows are open and fresh, chilly mountain air pours in while the thunder booms and echoes all around. The view from where I am sitting is nothing but trees and cloudy skies. It all feels light years away from Delhi.
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ButYouDontLookSick.com
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Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace Oh My! ButYouDontLookSick.com on the web!
2 Nov 2009 | 10:10 amWe love being connected with our readers! Since we have added those "handy dandy" features at the bottom of every article, we have noticed our readers have shared our articles, posted them on their personal profiles and more. We can not thank you enough for sharing this site with your friends and family. Even though we hope you come to ButYouDontLookSick.com every day for our new articles and tips.. we know there are other places on the web where you guys like to hang out. Social Networking is more and more popular and we like to stay connected! We can use technology as a tool to help each… -
National Heath Awareness Months List
1 Nov 2009 | 10:38 amEvery month usually has an "awareness" campaign associated with it. A time of year, when during that month or week that organization combines their efforts to get information out to the public. For example October is Lupus Awareness Month and also Breast Cancer Awareness. You might notice more public service advertisments, or local fundraising walks in your area during these months. I thought it was interesting and important to have 1 list with all the national health awareness months. I have listed what I could find below. It is so important for all patients to support each other. Click to… -
Long Island Business News Honors Christine Miserandino Donato as a "Heathcare Hero"
29 Oct 2009 | 8:22 amLong Island Business News Honors Christine Miserandino Donato as a "Heathcare Hero" Long Island Business News and Hofstra University have recognized Christine Miserandino Donato for her work on ButYouDontLookSick.com and with the Lupus Alliance of America - Long Island/ Queens affiliate. Click to read more ... -
Everything I thought I knew about going to the hospital. ( also known as do what you gotta do)
23 Oct 2009 | 9:19 pmUnfortunately when you have a child with a chronic illness, you come to think of yourself as some sort of expert on the subject. It's not exactly a specialty that you dreamt of having, but one nonetheless that you take ownership of with some sense of pride. Click to read more ... -
Sometimes when it rains, you need to make rainbows! TEAM CHRISTINE raised $10,145 for the Lupus Walk
23 Oct 2009 | 8:19 amI am so happy to announce that TEAM CHRISTINE raised $10,145 for the Lupus Walk!!!! Thank you everyone for your donations and support! As, of now we are the top fundraising team for this walk as we have been for many years. What a great legacy and tradition. We still have some checks comin in-- so hopefully we can reach for that $10,000 goal. If not, we are SO proud of how much we raised and our continued positive spirit as a team. We couldn't do it without all of your support and donations!! You can still donate here: http://www.firstgiving.com/cdonato Sometimes when it rains, you need to…
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quoteflections
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Education: Sprint or Marathon?
6 Nov 2009 | 5:42 am'Marathon: a musing in metaphor' is a short video which explores the perspective of education in film, books, Oprah... There is the suggestion that education involves quick fixes, heroic achievements, easy formulas...But what if education is more a marathon than a sprint? Does the video go far enough?See my answer at John Spencer's blog.What's yours? -
Wall Calendar Blues
5 Nov 2009 | 5:54 amAre wall calendars becoming as obsolete as the wrist watch? With the prevalence of the cell phone, home computers, and digital calendar clocks, the traditional wall accessory has become somewhat of an artifact. Google Calendar and iPhone Calendar may be all you need in this hyper digital world.However, as I type, a Monet calendar displays November with gorgeous brush strokes of a pastoral scene. Another calendar in our home entitled 'Simplicity: Inspiration for a simpler life' has a scene of a virginal forest with a quote by John Muir.Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in… -
Tame your Bag Monster
4 Nov 2009 | 5:34 amOne shopper, one year, 500 bags. It's not hard to imagine this scenario. In the U.S. alone this translates to over 100 billion plastic bags which find their way to landfill sites.Then there are plastic water bottles, many of which do not get recycled and find a similar nondestructable home for hundreds of years.Imagine if there was a paradigm shift in society and everyone carried ecofriendly reusable bags made from plastic water bottles.ChicoBags provide the answer. They also chronicle in a newsletter the travels of the Bag Monster who wonders why all the fuss?Does the bag monster have you in… -
Can't Judge a Book...
3 Nov 2009 | 6:06 amCome on; admit it. An effective cover illustration often entices us to buy the book.One of the master illustrators, Don Punchatz, passed away at 73 recently who created hyperrealist art, mixing the fantastic and absurd.He produced images for the works of Isaac Asimov, Harlan Ellison, Ray Bradbury and worked for the paperback publishers Ace, Dell, Avon, Warner, and New American Library.In 1970 he opened Sketch Pad Studio where his apprentices learned the trade and helped complete the prolific works of the artist. One artist called it a Renaissance workshop.In the 90's his studio worked on… -
A Welcome Oasis?
2 Nov 2009 | 7:09 amDoes the novelty of the world's biggest cruise ship conjure up Romantic thoughts? The 20 storey Oasis of the Seas left a Danish harbour two days ago bound to reach Port Everglades, Florida on November 20, its home port.Everything about the ship is grand in scale. It's 5 times larger than the Titanic and can carry over 6,300 passengers and 2,100 crew. It has seven neighbourhoods, a 750 seat outdoor amphitheater, numerous pools, a park with over 12,000 plants on board, recreational areas, a handcrafted carousel. The owners, Royal Caribbean, also wanted an environmentally friendly ship, reusing…
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Heather Goodman's Blog -
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What She Said
28 Oct 2009 | 7:24 amLast night, before watching the latest episode of Flash Forward, Chris said, "Remind me how the last one ended." My reply: "The guy from Coupling who was in the girl from Lost's flash forward got a call from Charlie from Lost saying something about them being responsible, and the Shakespeare guy told his coworker to call the hacker." Oddly enough, he understood me. -
Tips for a Trip to Israel
26 Oct 2009 | 8:15 amAfter returning from Israel (and having some sense of coherence return to my life--although not much), I thought I'd compile a list of tips for those of you out there desiring to make a trip to the Holy Lands. Or for those of you armchair travelers who prefer seeing the world through the travel channel. You still may need these tips before the Israel episode. Travel with cynical writers. I worried the trip would be made up of constant emotional breakdowns and holy moments. Israel's a great place for them. But as Keith, one of my fellow travelers, said, "All of creation is holy… -
Tales from the Crypt
19 Oct 2009 | 11:34 amAre you thinking what I'm thinking? -
Dancing on the Sea of Galilee
17 Oct 2009 | 10:22 amJesus said we'd do greater things than he. He walked on water. Today, we danced on it. This morning, our group went out on the Sea of Galilee in a replica of a first-century boat. A couple in our group used this opportunity to renew our wedding vows. Which evolved into traditional Jewish wedding music. Which evolved (devolved, perhaps) into ABBA. And Cotton-Eyed Joe. And Israeli techno music. And we danced. Someone noted today that the trip isn't as spiritual as she expected. But here's how I see it: the people of the Bible may have lived in a different culture, but they were human with human… -
Raw Thoughts #1
16 Oct 2009 | 10:45 amWe missed out on Cana. Drove through, but didn't get to stop at the church that's built over the traditional site of the wedding. Too bad. I was looking forward to a good glass of wine. In Caesarea, there are ruins underwater from this pier Herod built (it was destroyed by tsunami) as well as wrecks from ships. I asked if it's open to the public for diving. It is. Someday I'd like to return and see the ruins down there. I ran out of room on the camera within an hour. So I went back and deleted some of the pics I took, switched it to snapshot, and took much fewer pictures than I would've liked…
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Diet Coke-Fueled Life
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Look how special you are! (or: This special is for you)
1 Nov 2009 | 8:45 pmI know you are young and beautiful and, by the way, have I mentioned how pretty you look today? Did you know you can keep on looking that gorgeous for a good long time, giving the finger to the aging elves? (Not elves that are getting up there in years. I mean the little b*st*rds that throw wear and tear at you, making your skin have that not-so-sparkling feeling.)This is like kryptonite for the aging elves--this collection of products will be the force field that keeps them away. You'll be like The Boy in the Plastic Bubble. Except you'll be a girl. Although you don't have to be--this stuff… -
OMG: The food edition (or: There was no room for cake, which is why I got mine to go*)
1 Nov 2009 | 5:47 pmIn honor of the MOST AMAZING MEAL I HAVE EVER EATEN in my whole wide life, I give you sailboat-themed cakes. Why?No, I did not eat on a boat. But I DID have dinner at The Candy Store in The Clarke Cooke House on Bannister's Wharf in Newport, RI. See that picture below? The table in the far right upper corner? There's one more table there and that's where we sat. That's where I had pomegranate martinis, a filet mignon the side of a small child, mashed potatoes with leeks and green onions, and red onion marmalade with cranberries. Oh. My. God. And for dessert? Chocolate roulade topped with… -
Tale from the Crypt or: Kids say the gol-durndest things
28 Oct 2009 | 7:56 amFrom a student essay, although not one of mine. (You know, sharing is a big part of being a successful teacher. And by "sharing," I mean openly mocking student gaffes.)"Marriage is not so different than it used to be back around mid-evil times."Discuss. -
A favor, a prize, a good deed
25 Oct 2009 | 7:24 amGo here and vote for my friend Eric, please.* You can vote once a day.Good Mood Gig from SAM-eOnce you've voted, please leave a comment on this post each time you vote and I'll have a drawing at the end of the week--next Sunday, let's say. What will you win? I'm not giving you a kidney. Or a lung. But you WILL receive $15 worth of Mary Kay products**--although you can only use it on this site***--not just anywhere!!!*All you have to do is click the button.**Gentlemen: We have a bunch of men's stuff too. Oh! Or you could use the credit to purchase something for a nice lady in your life--Aunt… -
Halloween is just another hurdle to get through before my birthday. or: More Cakes!!!
25 Oct 2009 | 5:53 amI may be the Halloween Grinch, but I can still appreciate a good looking cake. Whimsy Cakes Leah's Cakes Doris Pepsi (I know--by all that's right and holy, I shouldn't include this cake just because of her last name.)http://www.deiaschwarz.com/ http://www.tortasencantadas.com.ar/http://thefrostedcakencookie.blogspot.com/
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Let Your Life Bloom
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The guide for letting your life bloom
21 Oct 2009 | 3:21 pmA quick guide for exploring Let Your Life Bloom while I'm on a blog hiatus during my spiritual nourishment adventure is now available below for your viewing pleasure. At the start of the year, I decided to write 5 days a week, each day being a different health oriented theme. More about that here. Each theme, in addition to the general categories that I write about - health, intuition, and coaching - gives you a strong foundation of health and clarity. When you have this, you can truly let your life bloom. Here's the snapshot: Movin' On Mondays - All about movement and the body. Tasty… -
Thinking of you
12 Oct 2009 | 6:37 pmHello blog world and readers of Let Your Life Bloom, I hope you're doing well, enjoying the season change, and up to whatever fulfills you. If you've read any of my posts on intuition, or have attended my Get Clear series, you know that I first and foremost trust my inner guidance. In doing so, it sometimes directs me in different ways than what my ego wants or expects. In learning to go with the flow of my own natural rhythm, it's become clear that for right now, it's time to step back from posting while other seeds are germinating. Last week was the first time I didn't… -
I love Coconut Bliss ice cream
7 Oct 2009 | 11:13 amMany of you may know I feel this way since I tend to pimp out this delicious, healthy, flavorful ice cream to whoever I come across. When I stumbled upon this contest by Luna & Larry of Coconut Bliss, I couldn't resist creating an entry. Here it is: -
Creating health through Nia
5 Oct 2009 | 11:57 pm*Posts will be short & sweet this week with a focus on sharing a resource or two, as I'm up in Oregon for a family reunion and other unexpected adventures...Thanks again for reading!" Have you heard of Nia? It's a combination of martial arts, dance, and the healing arts. The philosophy of it is - "Through movement we find health." At the end of the week I'll be in Portland, Oregon, home to Nia founders and a mecca of fun and healing movement. Attending a class there is an opportunity I can't pass up. To find a Nia class in your area, click here. -
Peaceful images
2 Oct 2009 | 3:33 pmThe theme of this week has definitely been one of healing and clearing out the old no longer working stuck stuff. We all go through versions of this. It seems to take on more intensity at the changing of the seasons. I first heard this song in a Kundalini Yoga class. It's been one of my favorites for being loving, mellow, and affirming. Hope you enjoy listening, as well as the beautiful images that go along with it.
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Carrie and Danielle
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Unbelievable Designer Cell Phones
6 Nov 2009 | 8:44 pmWhile a flashy car is still a great way to pick up chicks in high school, the luxury cell phone now reigns supreme as the king of bling. Conspicuous consumers are no longer satisfied by buying the most expensive cell phones you can get straight from AT&T or Verizon – instead, they escalate to the sinfully indulgent world of high fashion to get the flashiest phones that money can buy. Read on to find out what the richest of the rich demand from their phones – though you may need to pinch yourself midway through. 24K Yellow Gold White Snakeskin Apple 3GS iPhone Apple’s quintessential… -
The Flashiest Luxury Cell Phones You’ll Never Own
6 Nov 2009 | 8:19 pmWe’ve all read the blogs about how expensive the iPhone cell phone plans are over time and how parading around the coffee shop with your $299+ smartphone is just so much geeky conspicuous consumption. But wait until you get a load of these jaw dropping luxury cell phones. While most of us spend our time hunting for cell phone plans that let us talk more for less, these sky high class cell phones are designed to make a simple, yet effective, statement: I have lots and lots of money. Bargain aficionados beware – the price tags on these luxury cell phone may induce fainting. Read on at your… -
Kids are people, too. – PITCH TO SIMPLE MOM
6 Nov 2009 | 6:23 pmWhen I approach a child, he inspires in me two sentiments; tenderness for what he is, and respect for what he may become. - Louis Pasteur How would you feel if, when you first met someone new, they said to you, “Are you going to play shy?” or “Looks like someone’s in a bad mood.” What would you think if, when you needed a good boo-hoo, your friend said, “You’re fine. Don’t cry.” And if someone had an issue with you and they let you know about it in front of everyone in the room, how would that go down with you? Grown ups say the darnedest things to kids – things we’d… -
Love those butterflies.
6 Nov 2009 | 6:23 pmI remember being nervous and terrified and stricken and energized, and it was the first time I realized that, okay, I had to find a way to take this adrenaline and this fear and these butterflies and turn them into a performance. It was a feeling that stuck with me for life, because if I don’t have some of those feelings before a show, the juice is not flowing. - Anthony Kiedis, lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers Whether it’s hosting a party, presenting at a meeting, or speaking to thousands, anxiety may be par for the course. Embrace the jitters. Butterflies are a sign that… -
Thinking Simply Now: The Tina Su Interview
6 Nov 2009 | 6:22 pmTina recently left her corporate job to focus on her passions fulltime. (link to TODO). She spends her time learning and teaching topics surrounding personal happiness. Tina writes weekly at Think Simple Now on personal happiness and wellbeing. (link to http://thinksimplenow.com) Help her out and subscribe today for free. See a more casual side of her everyday life and goals at SimplyTina (link to http://thinksimplenow.com/simplytina) Which books, movies, or CDs have been most helpful or inspiring to you? Books can be incredible teachers, packed with wisdom, value and inspiration. When you…
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Dragos Roua - Brilliantly Better
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Lifestyle Design
4 Nov 2009 | 12:42 amEvery house you see has a blueprint behind. Before it was built in real bricks and mortar, it existed in somebody’s mind. It was first a drawing on a drawing board. A wireframe. A scheme. A design. Your life as you live it right now has a blueprint behind. A set of rules and values. Every day you live your life according to that blueprint. You’re building your life based on your own lifestyle design. What’s Your Lifestyle Design? From my experience there are at least 3 ways in which you can design your lifestyle (and more than 100 ways to improve your life, for what matters). Think… -
November Mariner Promo Code
2 Nov 2009 | 1:42 amWe’re almost there. This is the last month of our year-long promotion on Mariner Software. We started last year and had each month a different, exclusive promo code which gave you an instant 15% discount to ALL Mariner products. I would like to tell you more about this, but I know you’re eager to get your discount, so, without further ado, the November Mariner Promo Code: eagle How to Use It Go to Mariner eStore, add this code to the designated field and start shopping. What You Get You get a nice piece of software, called MacJournal, which is my blogging and journaling software… -
How to Overcome Frustration in 3 Easy Steps
31 Oct 2009 | 10:57 pm“Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion . . . I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward.” – Kurt Vonnegut Jr. I used to totally, utterly, absolutely, downright hate frustration. It was an emotional reaction, I just couldn’t help it. Whenever I got caught in its the subtle yet powerful chains I felt like crap. I think you know the feeling. Hands tied up, no possible solution to the current situation and a lot of mess to deal with. Yes, frustration can do that to you. Being so keen on doing things, starting new… -
44 Tips for Traveling Long Distance
30 Oct 2009 | 12:39 amLast year I traveled more than I traveled in my entire life. I’ve been on 4 continents and circled the Earth 2 times by plane. It was an exciting time, knowing my propensity for travel as a personal development tool, but it was also pretty draining. Never having long distance trips until that was definitely a huge roadblock for me. I had to learn on the fly (sometimes, literally on the fly). Somewhere between my 2nd and 3rd trip I started to write down some simple steps I should follow, sort of self directed tutorial. For your information, long distance traveling means for me one to two… -
Twitter versus Facebook
29 Oct 2009 | 12:20 amIn the last 5 years, the most important digital places I spend time in are Twitter and Facebook. Surprisingly enough, they seem to be the most popular social networking sites too. Recently, I had a short morning conversation on Twitter with one of my followers about what question these sites are answering. What is the reason Twitter and Facebook exists, after all? The following post was born out of this interaction. Twitter and Facebook Question The Twitter question is undoubtly: “What are you doing?”. As simple and dumb as it seems it responds to a fundamental need of human beings: …
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Let's Live Forever!
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Ego Is Not A Dirty Word
25 Oct 2009 | 10:04 pmShirley Strachan of Skyhooks singing Ego Is Not A Dirty Word Ego is not a dirty word Ego is not a dirty word Ego is not a dirty word Don’t you believe what you’ve seen or you’ve heard This is from the 1975 song Ego Is Not A Dirty Word, by popular Australian band Skyhooks. I agree… I don’t think “ego” is a dirty word. The healthy ego If I did not have an ego I would not be here tonight If I did not have an ego I might not think that I was right If you did not have an ego you might not care the way you dressed If you did not have an ego you’d just be… -
Keeping Body And Soul Together
18 Oct 2009 | 10:56 pmDeepak Chopra brought out a new book last week, Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul: How to Create a New You. The webpage for the book, here, says: Using Deepak Chopra’s ten steps to wholeness, you can harness those basic elements [awareness and energy] to change the distorted energy patterns that are the root cause of aging, infirmity, and disease. So, he is saying “distorted energy patterns” are the cause of aging, and these patterns can be healed. He is saying aging does not have to happen. This is what physical immortality writers have been saying for um, oh…… -
Can Limitations Be Useful?
5 Oct 2009 | 8:07 pmSaturn, the planet of manifestation through constriction, in astrology. Image from NASA. Sometimes there are things we just can’t do. Not right now, anyway. I’m all for unlimited thinking and believing we can do anything, but I also think we can choose to see the limitations we are stuck with right now as helping us. When I was about 21, I went skiing for the first time. I was hopeless! I liked the idea of it, but the bit where you had to stand up after falling over while wearing boots that didn’t bend at the ankles didn’t quite work for me. I persevered, mainly… -
Relaaaaaaaaaaax
28 Sep 2009 | 3:57 pmPhoto by Tiago Rïbeiro The other day for some reason I decided to really stay in present time as much as I could, while not actually doing anything. I was feeling quite at peace with my world and had no particular reason to stress about anything. I relaxed into feeling very happy and content, lazing in a comfy chair under a bright window—tuning in to the moment. Then I became aware of subliminal, almost pre-verbal concerns… “is there something I should watch out for? Shouldn’t I be keeping a better lookout? Am I being careful enough? If I stay right in the present I might… -
When Someone Close To Us Is Struggling
20 Sep 2009 | 8:18 pmImage by visulogik What to do when someone close to us is struggling in life? We have tried to help them as best as we can, with ideas, support and practical help, but they don’t “get it”. Or maybe we are not even in contact with them to do that much. It can be painful watching them suffer, especially if we feel there are things “out there” that they could find helpful, but they aren’t interested. A proverb featuring a horse and water might spring to mind. For a long time I’ve thought that the best thing we can do for people close to us (or anyone,…
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Steve's Leaves
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Hitting the Wall
28 Oct 2009 | 4:16 pmI’ve often stated something like, “she/he won’t really learn this lesson until they hit the wall.” In other words, you can say it 55 times, but somehow, there’s a lead-lined box around the judgment or conscience of the intended audience, and only by getting smacked upside-the-head by some circumstance will the truth finally sink in. I always assumed that certain PEOPLE are just that way. Then I started wondering yesterday – is it really that simplistic? Or maybe we ALL have our “hit-the-wall” areas – selective or situational stupidity… -
Bad Parents!!
25 Oct 2009 | 4:17 amOne of the disadvantages of living in our hyper-networked world is that many of our mistakes are captured and magnified. And when something disastrous (or nearly so) happens to a child, there tends to be a knee-jerk reaction on the part of some to condemn the parents, even before knowing the facts. Bad parents! It’s likely that those who are eager to cast the first stone have not, in fact, ever brought up children. Because as every parent can attest – every good and caring and attentive parent – near-disaster seems to hide around the corner at least once a day, and kids have… -
Known
18 Oct 2009 | 3:50 amSeth Godin wrote an intriguing little post yesterday, on the theme, “Notice me.” It is certainly true that we will go to extraordinary lengths to be noticed by others, to gain attention. But I think the true need is much deeper. We want to be known. And not merely known, but valued and loved even when that knowledge encompasses our dark and broken places. There can be no better comfort than the words of Psalm 139. A few excerpts: O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my… -
Weariness
13 Oct 2009 | 4:36 amFound myself thinking about weariness last night. Not just the tiredness of a long day, or the exhaustion of a long gym workout. I’m talking about the long-term weariness that comes from labors of love that seem to have no end. Sowing, watering, weeding, cultivating, pruning…sometimes the reward seems very far away, while the labor of the day is always close at hand. True of parenting. Business-building. Church-planting. Writing. Network-building. Job-hunting. Living. A most comforting passage for me in these times is Psalm 126:5-6 – “Those who sow in tears shall reap… -
Why I Plan to Vote for Chris Daggett for NJ Governor
11 Oct 2009 | 1:43 pmLet me begin by saying that I very rarely make public any voting choices that I make, especially in advance. And, generally speaking, I vote for the candidate that most closely reflects my principles (what are those? -see this post from a year ago on Principled Independent Patriots, or PIPs). I’m going to make an exception this time. There’s something I’m going to vote against, and it’s not a person. It’s a dysfunctional and broken political system in New Jersey, dominated by two parties who seem utterly unable to govern effectively. Like the Newark Star-Ledger…
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Caffeinated Thoughts
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A Christ-Follower’s Standing Before God
6 Nov 2009 | 9:44 pmHow many people who know Christ still behave as though they are still condemned? That’s not the Gospel. Some encouraging words from the late Welsh pastor, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in The Christian Soldier: …when the devil comes and says, “You have no standing, you are condemned, you are finished”, you must say, “No! my position did not depend upon what I was doing, or not doing; it is always dependant upon the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Turn to the devil and tell him, “My relationship to God is not a variable one. The case is not that I am a child of God,… -
Latte Links (11/6)
6 Nov 2009 | 6:27 pmMiscellany to kick off the weekend. John Piper: 9 Ways to Know the Gospel of Christ Is True Principled Discovery: Why I’m not a “crunchy con” The Foundry: New Study Shows Tax Cuts Most Effective Stimulus Investors Business Daily: Power To Spare (their take on Sarah Palin vs. Vice President Joe Biden on energy policy) The Iowa Republican: My Free Advice to Terry Branstad by Krusty Konservative Principalities and Powers: Mapping the Uninsured Mike Demastus: Winning the debate on the “terms” Stop The ACLU: The Hero of Fort Hood Al Mohler: Is Truth Really Plural? Postmodernism in… -
Watch The "Let Me Rise" Video
6 Nov 2009 | 12:10 pmMake some time to watch this video. It’s not short but it’s powerful. Juan Williams (Fox News contributor and NPR host) guides the viewer through a powerful and factual case for the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship program and rightfully shames the NEA and members of Congress hell-bent on holding children back from their true potential in the name of dues, power, and the perpetuation of the status quo. It’s one of the best videos I’ve seen on School Choice and Parental Rights. Click here to watch the video or watch below and tell me what you think: Cross-posted… -
Big Tent…
6 Nov 2009 | 12:05 pmHonestly, I think that is probably the term I dislike the most when referring to politics. For me it rates right up there with the term common ground. I’m not sure how you feel, but to me it seems that a lot of times we could just translate these words as “compromise”. Last year, during the presidential elections, I have to admit I was less than excited with the choice for a “conservative” candidate that was being presented. Of course, on theological grounds, there are many times when I am going to have issues with candidates however, if a candidate is a TRUE… -
Abortion & the House Health Care Bill (Update: Vote on Abortion Funding Tomorrow)
6 Nov 2009 | 11:27 amHouse Democratic leaders are proposing a rule for the current House version of the health care reform bill – HR 3962. This rule will insert language written by Congressman Brad Ellsworth (D-IN). It would also exclude a House vote on an amendment that has been proposed by Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI). National Right to Life issued a statement regarding Ellsworth Amendment: Any House member who votes for the Pelosi rule is voting to establish a federal government insurance plan, the public option, that the bill explicitly authorizes to pay for all elective abortions. When…
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Blogs Are Stupid
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A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Master Bathroom today.....
28 Oct 2009 | 5:47 pmOh...hello interwebs. Long time no see. S'up? Me? Oh nothing. Same ole, same ole. Oh wait, there was that thing on Saturday, where I inadvertantly seared my eyeballs with a caustic substance known to cause permanent blindness. Good Lord...wouldn't you think the Antagonist family has met their quota of crises this year? Well...you would be wrong. Saturday, after waking early to walk at -
Face It
21 Oct 2009 | 3:02 pmI've written a couple times about the evils of Social Media. And I meant everything I said. But I find that being employed full time seriously infringes upon my freedom to waste time, as I simply have no time to waste. I find that blogging is a time suck that I just don't have time to indulge the way I used to; reading or writing. And I miss everyone, yannow? I feel disconnected and out of the -
Thankful
14 Oct 2009 | 12:21 pmI try really hard to keep the lines of communication open with my kids. I want them to know that they can come to me with any problem, dilemma, or decision. I want them to know I will always give them the truth, no matter how difficult that might be. I had great parents, but there wasn't a lot of real nitty gritty discussion going on between parents and kids in those days. I wouldn't have -
No Wait....This One Is Even Better....
12 Oct 2009 | 6:37 pmMy Mom was like..."I don't even remember the circumstances behind this picture. But why in the world wouldn't I have waited until my hair was dry and combed out? Personally, I think there's a larger question at issue here, Mom. -
Nostalgia
10 Oct 2009 | 10:32 amThose of you who have been reading me for any period of time, know that I am a girly girl. I love make-up, nail polish, hair doo-dads, shoes, clothes, jewelry. And you also know that my proclivity towards hyper feminism, is due to the fact that my mother was a hairdresser during my formative years. She tells of how, even as a young child, I would sit quite happily and let her put my hair in
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Yellaphant
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All you need is love
6 Nov 2009 | 4:56 amBA DA DA DA DA.So you know how we took our wedding pictures here?Well now I'm always going to remember it here.Do you have ANY idea how hard it is to get a good picture of a white ink tattoo? I could have played an entire game of Risk -- The Game of Global Domination -- TWICE in the time it took me to get something that remotely resembled what my wrist looks like now but I couldn't so I quit. Not that I've ever played Risk before. I don't do well with board games that don't entail constant action and/or drinking. Something about short attention spans and ADD or whatever. Unless it involves… -
Wednesday's Song of the Week
4 Nov 2009 | 4:43 amThe voice of Joshua James (no relation to Jim James) (who now refers to himself as Yim Yames) (otherwise known as the voice behind the wonder that is My Morning Jacket and one of the members of Monsters of Folk) (who B and I are seeing in concert next week) (which is also comprised of Conor Oberst) (otherwise known as Bright Eyes), Mike Mogis (who I don't know anything about), and M. Ward (also of She and Him) (with Zooey Deschanal) (who starred in my favorite movie of the year) (500 Days of Summer) (with Joseph Gordon-Levitt) (MARRY ME, JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT)) (not that this Joshua James has… -
When blog vomit becomes real life vomit
3 Nov 2009 | 4:50 amLast Wednesday, I was sitting at the bar, watching the Phils clobber the Yanks when I was overcome with the overwhelming desire to go. And not just go, but GO. Like, right now. As I've talked about a brazillion times here, my sense of mental stability has been walking around with a limp and a couple black eyes recently. I'm perfectly fine one minute, then with a single thought, my anxiety is through the roof and the next thing I know I'm crawling around the back of my closet pulling coats and shoes over top of me and doing some really heavy mouth breathing.I had given my final notice to work… -
Mac's Love Letter t