It’s been almost a week since I segued back into my life. But that’s not an accurate statement, simply unplugging does not remove me from my life. In fact, after seven days at High Valley Ranch, I’m even more invigorated about each opportunity and have a much clearer path on my journey. Enjoy the Silence [...]
Life
-
Most Topular Stories
-
Segue back into life
L.P. "Neenz" Faleafine27 Jan 2012 | 1:02 am -
Avoiding Surgery in the Elderly
The New Old Age25 Jan 2012 | 2:29 pmIt's gradually becoming clearer that for the very old and frail, hospitals are places to avoid whenever possible, and surgery can become a source of danger in itself. -
Paris glitters with romance, history and possibility
Peterman's Eye27 Jan 2012 | 11:06 pmI've gone to my farm in Kentucky for the weekend. It's a great place to relax, do a little hard physical labor, and forget about the rest of the world. If you don't have such a place, I highly suggest you get one.In the meantime, here's a charming article I found for you to read about the City of Lights. See you on Monday.J. PetermanFrom: The Chicago Tribune Continue reading this post -
Clear Eyes, Full Eyelashes, Can't Lose
Nothing But Bonfires27 Jan 2012 | 11:32 amAlright, let's settle this once and for all: what mascara do you use? read more -
Sorry, Pinterest. I'm a Jerk Sometimes.
Schmutzie.com27 Jan 2012 | 5:12 pmPart of what keeps me away from Pinterest sometimes are the awful typographical posters that keep showing up. It's a trend I'd like to see people move away from. It makes me miss LOLcats. ---------------------------- PS. And then, because I didn't take this far enough, I pinned this to Pinterest.
-
L.P. "Neenz" Faleafine
-
Segue back into life
27 Jan 2012 | 1:02 amIt’s been almost a week since I segued back into my life. But that’s not an accurate statement, simply unplugging does not remove me from my life. In fact, after seven days at High Valley Ranch, I’m even more invigorated about each opportunity and have a much clearer path on my journey. Enjoy the Silence [...] -
Gotta get away for awhile
14 Jan 2012 | 10:26 pmI’m typing this from my hotel room in South San Francisco. At midnight Hawaii Standard time I will be completely unplugging from all things social. In fact, I’ll be completely disconnected from my iPhone, iPad, and MacAir. This means, no email, no social networks, no text messages, and no telephone calls. And, when given the [...] -
Non-review: iPhone 4 accessories
26 Dec 2011 | 11:05 pmUpdate: Since publishing this blog (yesterday), as suspected my other iPhone 4 camera accessories were sitting in our post office box. Below are photos taken with the Sound Logic Telescopic 8X lens and fish eye lens of the iPhone Lens Dial. The best part? Lilinoe is really jazzed about iPhoneography! This is not [...] -
Pigging out Hawaii style
26 Dec 2011 | 8:04 pmFor the past three years my parents have hosted a large gathering at their home during the Christmas season to welcome home Guy Kawasaki and his family. Last year brought buckets of rain, so much so that my Mom’s towel pantry was completely bare and it took her three days to wash, dry, and fold [...] -
Video: Don’t make noise
21 Dec 2011 | 3:13 amEvery so often I Google my name and search the photos and images for what others have captured. I found the video below captured by my social explorer, Jayden Boy. I completely forgot about this because I hadn’t used the app. But, now that I know there are filters, I’ll check it out again. In [...]
-
The New Old Age
-
Avoiding Surgery in the Elderly
25 Jan 2012 | 2:29 pmIt's gradually becoming clearer that for the very old and frail, hospitals are places to avoid whenever possible, and surgery can become a source of danger in itself. -
The Alzheimer's Reading Room
23 Jan 2012 | 12:51 pmBob DeMarco blogs about the day-to-day experiences of caring for his mother with Alzheimer's in the Alzheimer's Reading Room. -
The Caregivers' Bookshelf: An Alzheimer's Classic
20 Jan 2012 | 1:27 pmResearchers update "The 36-Hour Day." -
Older Women and Bone Tests
18 Jan 2012 | 4:40 pmA new study finds that many older women do not need frequent bone testing. But surprisingly few get even a baseline test, experts say. -
Ask the Elder Law Attorney: Disclosures and Loans
18 Jan 2012 | 5:00 amAttorney Craig Reaves on financial disclosures to siblings and repayment of loans.
-
Peterman's Eye
-
Paris glitters with romance, history and possibility
27 Jan 2012 | 11:06 pmI've gone to my farm in Kentucky for the weekend. It's a great place to relax, do a little hard physical labor, and forget about the rest of the world. If you don't have such a place, I highly suggest you get one.In the meantime, here's a charming article I found for you to read about the City of Lights. See you on Monday.J. PetermanFrom: The Chicago Tribune Continue reading this post -
The Master of Suspense
26 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pmWith the Oscars less than a month away, the Academy has just released the Oscar nominees and we've had the usual hand wringing about who was snubbed.Pardon me for not sympathizing.When you consider that the famously snubbed director of “Rebecca,” “Lifeboat,” ”Rear Window,” “Spellbound,” “The 39 Steps,” “Psycho,” and others, never won an Academy Award for Best Director — only winning the Irving G. Thalberg Award late his career.Hollywood’s way of saying, “We hope you'll forgive us.”The oversight is… -
What Makes a Gentleman
25 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pmThe question for today.Oscar Wilde said: “A gentleman is one who never hurts anyone's feelings unintentionally.”Luigi Pirandello put it this way:"Anyone can be heroic from time to time, but a gentleman is something you have to be all the time."Lana Turner? "A gentleman is simply a patient wolf." The dictionary says a gentleman, from 13th century Middle English of gentle and man, is a man of independent means who does not need to have a wage-paying job.And we do know a gentleman would not challenge men of "lower status" to a duel. Clearly we need… -
High Anxiety
24 Jan 2012 | 11:02 pmThe statistics are out there:A National Safety Council study showed flying to be 22 times safer than traveling by car.Flying is safer than riding a bicycle.Riding in a train.A Boeing aircraft takes off or lands every two seconds somewhere in the world, all day, and the odds are about eight million-to-one against anything happening. Not bad odds when you consider a person winning second prize in the lottery is around 1 in 2 million.And...flying is getting safer all the time — especially with increased security.Plane travel, some say, should be your Zen-moment, where you are far above the… -
Man vs. Machine
23 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pmYou remember the old cartoon that went something like this: Dog and man playing checkers:Man: “He’s not so smart. He only beat me three out of four games.”Here's one for today:Man and computer playing checkers:Well, you can supply the punch line.It would help to keep up with your checker computer history.In the 1990 Southern U.S. National, Chinook, a computer program developed by Jonathan Schaeffer of the University of Alberta, was entered in the Man vs. Machine World Championship and checker champion Marion Tinsley beat Chinook 4-2 with 33 draws. Some program…
-
Nothing But Bonfires
-
Clear Eyes, Full Eyelashes, Can't Lose
27 Jan 2012 | 11:32 amAlright, let's settle this once and for all: what mascara do you use? read more -
Back From Alt
26 Jan 2012 | 12:20 amI spent the second half of last week in Salt Lake City, first for the Alt Design Summit—which was wonderful and inspiring and full of people far more fashionably dressed than I will ever be in my life—and then for a quick two-day ski trip, during which I decided that I do not particularly like skiing. Here is the thing about skiing, see: you are cold a lot. You fall down a lot. You wear unflattering clothing that goes swish-swish-swish when you walk. read more -
Splendid Thing: Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm
24 Jan 2012 | 1:00 amLook, I didn't think it would happen either. I didn't think anything would replace my beloved Cover Girl Lipslicks in Daring, which I have written about here and here, and which I fully believe looks fabulous on anyone. read more -
Let's Talk About My Vacation Part 3: Cape Point With a Side Of Penguins
16 Jan 2012 | 1:49 amI am recapping, excruciatingly slowly, the two-week trip we took to South Africa last year. Here is part one, about our layover in Paris, and here is part two, about Cape Town. Expect me to be finished with this sometime in 2014. read more -
I Like Big Books And I Cannot Lie: What I Read in 2011
10 Jan 2012 | 11:39 pmSometime around this time last year, I made a committed decision to try and read two books a month. Two books a month? you're thinking. That's child's play! Why, I read two books before I've even had breakfast in the morning, and then I read a third while I'm brushing my teeth. (You're not really thinking that, are you? And how many times have you accidentally splattered your toothpaste on the pages? Do you wear a bib when you do this? You're crazy, man.) read more
-
Schmutzie.com
-
Sorry, Pinterest. I'm a Jerk Sometimes.
27 Jan 2012 | 5:12 pmPart of what keeps me away from Pinterest sometimes are the awful typographical posters that keep showing up. It's a trend I'd like to see people move away from. It makes me miss LOLcats. ---------------------------- PS. And then, because I didn't take this far enough, I pinned this to Pinterest. -
Five Star Friday's 179th Edition Is Brought to You By Marlo Thomas
27 Jan 2012 | 11:19 am"Five Star Friday's 179th Edition Is Brought to You By Marlo Thomas": This week's Five Star Friday is brought to you by child molestation, being unselfish, sexism and sexual harassment, the delightful creativity of a child, childhood bullying, frank talk about rape, learning a new language, writing what you know, and Marlo Thomas... -
We Are All Children Until We Die
26 Jan 2012 | 10:22 amI've been feeling lost lately. I have felt lost in one way or another for much of my life. I was adrift in a complicated family. I could find no counsel for my desires at puberty. Gender norms made me feel stricken. Depression came again and again, and then again. I fell into the valley of addiction. I loved good people badly and bad people well. I allowed abusive employment to keep me from the things I loved. These are the things I think about when I am feeling lost. I think about all of the terrible things that I had a hand in and how I feel terrible because I am a terrible person. I only… -
Thank God for Pushy Co-Workers; Otherwise, I'd Never Eat.
25 Jan 2012 | 12:21 pmMy co-worker insists that I must eat both breakfast and lunch. He's really pushy about the matter, too. He claims that I never listen. In fact, he won't let me type sometimes until I've eaten something. I think he just wants the opportunity to pilfer some of my buttered toast, but he claims that this all stems from his deep and abiding love for me. Whatever his reasons, the jerk manages to keep me fed, so I guess I'll keep scooping his litter. -
Me at the CWAs: A Discussion of the Health & Wellness Category and the Bias Against Disability
24 Jan 2012 | 12:40 pm"A Discussion of the Health & Wellness Category and the Bias Against Disability": I know that the disabled community is familiar with having their voices silenced, and I do all I can both to have disabled bloggers represented within the Ninjamatics' Canadian Weblog Awards and to keep bias against them out of the jury process. Since receiving Janet's comment, though, I have spent more time thinking through the Awards' process and categories, as I'm sure you have while reading through this entry, and I am opening up the comments to your thoughts and suggestions.
-
Holy Kaw!
-
It Gets Better, the Lady Gaga music video [video]
27 Jan 2012 | 8:14 pmIn collaboration with the LGBT community of Madison and the It Gets Better Project, Colton James Boettcher created this music video to reach out to all of you who feel you’re suffering, all alone, just for being who you are. His words speak most clearly, so we’ll hand the stage over to Boettcher himself: As most of us know, growing up isn't easy. Countless young people are faced with daily tormenting and bullying, causing them to feel isolated and alone. This is an especially harsh reality for LGBT kids and teens, who often hide their sexuality for fear of bullying. In many… -
Mr. Tea offers up one tough beverage
27 Jan 2012 | 4:22 pmWho says tea’s for wimps? Nobody, thanks to the Mr. Tea tea cup by Matt Jones, which comes complete with a cup sporting the requisite bling, golden sugar cubes and stirrer, and a cute Mr. Tea sticking out of the top. They’re currently sold out, but check back to the website if this is something you simply can’t live without. Pity the fool who prefers coffee. (Aw, c’mon, you knew it was coming.) Full story at Best Week Ever via The Mary Sue. That’s some sweet tea. Permalink | Leave a comment » -
See the world as a shrimp views it
27 Jan 2012 | 3:34 pmHave you ever wondered how other animals view the world? A team of researchers from the University of Bristol has created a specialized camera that allows us to see things as reef-dwelling animals do. Project leader Shelby Temple, a researcher at Bristol's Department of Biological Sciences, will take his colleagues to the Lizard Island Research Station off the coast of Queensland to capture images of the Great Barrier Reef and how critters there visually experience their environment. Full story at Discovery News. More news from Discovery Communications. Permalink | Leave a… -
FBI wants to monitor social networks
27 Jan 2012 | 3:33 pmAlthough posting an image onto Facebook of yourself swinging from a chandelier may not be a wise decision, I think we can all agree that posting photos of yourself with the $8,000 you just robbed from a convenience store is incredibly stupid. There's certainly been no shortage of foolish criminals being nabbed after logging on to social media sites to boast of their crimes, so it's natural that law enforcement agencies have been upping their efforts to monitor these websites. But just in case state and local agencies don't spook criminals into wising up, maybe the feds can. Full story at… -
Your privacy on Google: don't panic, do think
27 Jan 2012 | 3:30 pmAlarming news arrived this week about your privacy online. Your Gmail messages, your YouTube viewing habits, the Google Maps directions your Android phone provides and numerous other online activities will get fed into a giant algorithm that shapes the search results you see on Google -- as if one company were seizing control of all those products! Except that one company already owns all those products. You might expect "don't they already do that?" reactions to Google's announcement Tuesday that as of March 1 it would combine data collected through its separate apps to refine search and…
-
meg, now with more tripp.
-
what up, spartacus?
12 Jan 2012 | 3:56 pmLet’s have a little chat about shoes. I’m not known for being practical about shoes. Not at all. I wear ballet flats and flip flops, both notorious for their utter lack of support and protective abilities. In fact, I’d be barefoot most of the time, if someone was willing to walk ahead of me with, say, a yoga mat and a Costco-size vat of Purel. But, in a rare moment of practicality a couple years back, I got Uggs. Yep. Uggs. Go ahead, laugh. My dad bought them for me (HE WANTED ME TO BE WARM) so he will likely cry (OR PUNCH YOU), but mock all you want… my toes go to… -
a much-needed love list.
5 Jan 2012 | 4:20 pmI haven’t written a love list since May. MAY. It’s not like I ceased to love things that day — I mean, the whole wedding thing would have been a bit of a wash if that were the case. Nope, I still love lots of things… just as many as I did when I used to write these lists every Friday. And since this week has achieved new heights of awkward lameness (HAPPY 2012) I figured now was a good time to remember the GREAT in my life. So here they are! (As always, I welcome your lists in the comments or wherever you feel like putting them. Unless it’s in my eye. Don’t… -
delete.
4 Jan 2012 | 11:55 amI have no problem deleting files, texts, emails, blog posts, tweets… anything. I am a confident, swift, positively gleeful deleter if I don’t feel the need to keep something around, either because it has served its purpose… or failed to serve one in the first place. Sometimes I delete things too soon, which requires reproducing them — but they’re usually better the second time, even if I drive myself insane in the process. If I have to request them from someone else, however, I end up feeling like the kind of heedless, irritating person who throws out a birthday… -
fine.
2 Jan 2012 | 12:38 pmI am well acquainted with all things “fine.” Fine hair? Yep, I have it. It frizzes out like cotton candy in humidity… and melts just as quickly, too. Fine jewelry? Yep, I love it. Not that I have much of it, but I am sufficiently enamored of it to drool over auction catalogs full of baubles and sparklers (without actually going to the auction, naturally.) Fines herbes? Yep, they are a good thing. Tarragon is a mainstay in my kitchen, although I always think people in cooking shows are saying “gerbil”, not “chervil.” “Just combine parsley,… -
not-so-auld lang syne.
31 Dec 2011 | 7:45 pmIf you would have told me, even four years ago, that I would be spending New Year’s Eve in a new home in a new neighborhood in Boston, MA, with my new husband and his 13- and 16-year-olds playing video games on multiple devices just feet away from where I type now, I would have given you a bit of a raised eyebrow. And by “bit”, I mean that I would have rolled my eyes and asked if you got a good deal on the crack you were smoking. I mean, come on. Some of it sounds like what I had in mind, sure. Husband? Yep, I always intended to have one of those. Kids? Yep, I always…
-
Simply Jews
-
The Water Libel
28 Jan 2012 | 1:57 amWe all know about this one, don't we? Israel is accused of depriving the Palestinians of their due as regards clean water supplies. Indeed, there are those who claim that there will be "water wars" in the region, whatever the political outcome regarding two states or whatever. However, Petra Marquardt-Bigman, on her JPost blog, isn't one of them. Following a French claim that Israel is depriving the Palestinians of their just (water) desserts - with friends like these… (her report cites an official French report that "blames Israeli “apartheid” water policies for Palestinian water… -
Roger Cohen and the doctrine of being right
27 Jan 2012 | 2:00 amI am starting to suspect that Mr Cohen reads this here puny blog! I swear that he does it, possibly hiding in a closet with his laptop or some iThing, but he does. Well, he surely read the post Roger Cohen: a man who rarely misses an opportunity to miss a point. Proof? Here comes an article Doctrine of Silence, where Mr Cohen has done everything possible in the way of verbal acrobatics to insure that, no matter what the outcome, he will be right. On the subject of silent assassination of terrorist leaders he stated straight away: I approve of the shift even as it makes me uneasy. One day, I… -
The Council Has Spoken!
27 Jan 2012 | 1:00 amCouncil Winners*First place with 3 2/3 votes! The Mellow Jihadi – Lance Corporal Donald Hogan, Marine Hero Second place with 3 1/3 votes – The Right Planet-Are We a Democracy? Third place with 1 2/3 votes – Joshuapundit- Obama’s State Of The Union – The Hollow Man Fourth place *t* with 1 vote – The Colossus of Rhodey-What the Gingrich South Carolina victory could mean Fourth place *t* with 1 vote – The Glittering Eye-You Be the Judge Fifth place *t* with 2/3 vote – The Noisy Room-Revolution Moves Into The Overton Window Fifth place *t* with 2/3 vote – The Razor-A Tale of Two… -
Egypt’s election results are none of Israel’s business? Indeed?
26 Jan 2012 | 12:00 amI just finished reading an article with that intriguing headline: Egypt’s election results are none of Israel’s business. If you click on the link to read it (and I am certain that you could do much worse with your time than reading it), you shall see that it's written in the web magazine +972* by Lisa Goldman, an award-winning freelance journalist and blogger. An excellent reporter, and intrepid and courageous person, Lisa has done a lot during her illustrious journalistic career in and outside of Israel. Some of it, like her reporting from Beirut is widely known and deservedly admired,… -
Russia - Syria Yak-130 deal - bad news for Syria's uprising
25 Jan 2012 | 12:00 amBoth JP and Ha'aretz report, as do some foreign sources, that Russia has signed a contract to sell 36 Yak-130 jets to Syrian regime. If you look at the Yak-130 parameters, one thing becomes clear: this jet, when not used for training air force pilots, is not of any concern to Syria's neighbors: a subsonic trainer, carrying no more than 3 tons of weaponry isn't going to cause sleepless nights to surrounding nations. A ground attack subsonic jet, carrying 3 tons of weaponry is going to be devastating news for military and civilian rebels in Syria, on the other hand. And Russian readiness to…
-
this time - this space
-
Welcome Year of the Dragon 2012
23 Jan 2012 | 10:20 pmChinese New Year (Chinese: 春節, 春节, Chūnjíe; 農曆新年, 农历新年, Nónglì Xīnnián; or 過年, 过年, Guònián), is also known as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival and is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. New Year’s Eve … Continue reading →
-
TIME GOES BY
-
Mr. President: Don't Sell Out American Elders
27 Jan 2012 | 7:30 am[UPDATE: I tried Midori's suggestion of using the email return on White House messages, but it goes to the same page at the White House website that limits messages to 2500 characters. The shortened version that I sent the president really suffers for being cut in half but I had a mini-brainstorm: I've cut the original in half and resent it to the White House in two parts. Maybe someone will notice. Or not. Still, I've done my best. [RONNI HERE: It wears me out that every few months President Barack Obama scares the bejesus out old people by saying something about "strengthening" Social… -
Tribes of Eden by Dr. Bill Thomas
26 Jan 2012 | 7:30 amSo much to read; so little time. Of the 200,000 or so books published each year (that's just in the U.S.), I learn of – oh, maybe several hundred through reviews, advertisements, personal internet alerts, publisher requests for blog mentions and friend suggestions. I would rather not figure out how many I buy each year – too many – and at any given moment there are 20-plus books sitting around the house or on my Kindle that I haven't found time to read yet. One of my regularly occurring dilemmas is choosing the next read. That's never an issue, however, when a friend publishes a book. -
Tales of Old Age Memory
25 Jan 2012 | 7:30 amOn Monday at The Elder Storytelling Place, our friend William Weatherstone entertained us with a 17-year-old column from newspaper editor, Colin McKim, about “losing it” as we get older. A sample line or two: ”These days I find I can’t hold a phone number in my mind long enough to get it punched in. Somewhere between my eyes and my index finger I lose it, or part of it, which amounts to the same thing. “And then there’s the mystery novel on the bedside table. Now that I am losing it, I understand why they call them mysteries.” Which is pretty close to what a 90-something woman… -
Money Saving Tips from the Local Power Company
24 Jan 2012 | 8:04 amAccording to the Congressional Research Service, the median annual income of citizens age 65 and older was $30,770 in 2008. Like most elder women, my income is lower than that (men's is higher on average) and although I get by just fine, I am always looking for ways to stem the outflow. In additional to the electronic bill that arrives via email each month from the local power company, Portland General Electric here in Oregon also sends out a monthly newsletter with information and advice on reducing usage and lowering the bill. Until recently, I hadn't paid much attention but now I have… -
How We Might Come to Terms with Death
23 Jan 2012 | 7:30 amI am aware that what I'm about to write is a long-ish, roundabout way of getting to my point today, but I think it is relevant. If it's not, I'm sure you will let me know. A recent email exchange with Ashleigh Burrows began when she commented on last week's story here about age and the U.S. presidency. “...there you are, up and down ladders and schlepping boxes,” she wrote, “and I remember your post when you moved in and all that work was overwhelming and exhausting and you were bummed. Seriously bummed. And today you write about it in a matter of fact way.” That observation got me to…
-
GirlsAskGuys.com - Recent Questions
-
Codes, how do they work?
27 Jan 2012 | 10:04 amOk, so whenever I buy a code to redeem something, like $10 online gift code for like itunes or xbox or something like that. I enter it, redeem it, but then just for fun, I change like one digit and see if I get something for free. I've done this countless times but its never worked!Maybe its a dumb question, but how do they know? Why is my code so special and all my variations so obviously not? I'm not trying to be a thief here, just curious as to how they secure it so well. -
Dating again to heal/get revenge?
27 Jan 2012 | 10:02 amSo my ex boyfriend is already dating someone else. and it kills me. I'm getting asked out and one seems okay, should I go on a date to help myself heal? I'm literally fallng apart now because I miss my crush and also to maybe make my crush jealous and get revenge? don't tell me its "wrong" just tell me if it'd help ME -
Getting a liposuction?
27 Jan 2012 | 10:02 am1st of all I'm not fat, my BMI is around 22.5. OK, I could lose let's say 5-10 lbs, but the problem will remain.My problem are my thighs: they are big, no matter how much weight I lose. And I don't want to lose weight because than I'll lose my boobs which are now almost perfect (34B or maybe 32C.. so full B). So is it OK to go for a liposuction of thighs? -
What's the truth about men and touching you?
27 Jan 2012 | 9:56 amI know this guy who always touches me in one way or another. Started as a friendly bump to my shoulder to say hi, then a rub to my shoulder, then quick pat on my back, then lingering touch to the middle of my back when he sees me. Now he tweeks my stomach quickly when he is joking with me. Add this to me catching him staring at me a lot, complimenting me A LOT, making up cute nicknames for me and smiling as bright as the sun when he sees me. He admitted to me that he told his guy friends how hot he thinks I am and that his buddies told him they agree. Do guys talk with their buddies about… -
My big brother is depressed. What can I do?
27 Jan 2012 | 9:55 ammy big sister and my big brother were very close, she loved this guy, she was going to marry him, but no matter what we did she wouldn't leave him, he had become extremely abusive, and now she's 6ft under and my brother isn't coping, I don't know what to do. it hurt all of us wen she died, she was only 23 but nomatter what we do dan just wnt tlk he wntsleep, he's 26 I hav no clue why he's acting like this
-
Citizen of the Month
-
Nothing To Say
9 Jan 2012 | 8:10 pmHave you noticed how infrequently I have been blogging? I’m afraid the competition in the blogosphere market is getting to me. There are so many other others out there with something to say — celebrities, comedians, professional authors, journalists, individuals who have overcome incredible obstacles — that I just don’t think my voice matters anymore. My life is not that interesting. Some of have lives worthy of memoirs. The rest of us live small, forgettable existences. Luckily, I have friends who have lives worth caring about. I can admire them from afar. -
Goodbye, Coin-Operated Parking Meter
30 Dec 2011 | 6:20 pmOn the morning I flew from JFK to Los Angeles, I noticed city workers up early in my neighborhood in Queens, drinking their coffee, already at work. They were removing the coin-operated parking meters from the sidewalk, rooting them out from the heavy cement as if they were tiny metallic trees, both ancient and sturdy. It was the end of an era. The city was installing the electronic parking meters that I had seen in newer cities like Seattle and Denver. It was a makeover I didn’t want to happen in New York, something like Robert DeNiro getting plastic surgery to look more like… -
The Sixth Annual Blogger Christmahanukwanzaakah Online Holiday Concert!
18 Dec 2011 | 8:57 amWelcome to the The 2011 Blogger Christmahanukwanzaakah Online Holiday Concert! This is the sixth year of this concert, and each year it gets better. How time flies. Six years! The first year of the concert, all the songs were in mp3 audio. Now 95% of the songs are on video. Next year, maybe we can do it LIVE ON SKYPE! Enjoy. Happy Holidays. And to good blogging in 2012! Click here to view the embedded video. The Dove performed by Tamar of Mining Nuggets Click here to view the embedded video. Ding Dong Merrily on High performed by Loralee of Loralee’s Looney Tunes with the American… -
#blog2012
12 Dec 2011 | 10:18 amDecember is a month where many of us look back, and look forward, preparing ourselves to take the next step into the new year. During the past, this would be a time where I would go into my blog archives and compile my ten favorite posts. This year, I haven’t been motivated to do that. 2011 was an odd year for me online. I felt more isolated as a blogger in 2011, as most of my peers grouped together under the parenting umbrella. The energy moved away from personal blogs to social media and group blogs. I had a troll bugging me for months. I wrote less on the blog, and lost touch with… -
Favorite NYC Instagram Photos – Nov. 2011
1 Dec 2011 | 7:17 pmNovember in NYC was balmy this year. I wore a t-shirt just two weeks ago, walking down Broadway. And then the tree went up in Rockefeller Center, the Christmas shoppers arrived, and winter finally arrived. I like how the photos show a passage of time. December is a month were we traditionally think about our plans for the upcoming year. I have a ticket to return to Los Angeles on December 18th, which means, at least for the month of January, a return to the bright palette and frequently superficial lights of the West Coast. Share
-
Simply Stated Blogs
-
Weekend Project: DIY Chalkboard Frame
27 Jan 2012 | 5:18 pmValentine’s day is closer than you think, and if you’re looking for a great handmade gift to make with your kids, why not try this chalkboard frame idea. Simply paint a plain wooden frame [...] -
Oven-Roasted Meatballs
27 Jan 2012 | 3:16 pmMeet my new (to me) method for meatballs: oven roasting. I almost always sear my meatballs in a skillet before finishing them in marinara. However, our windowless kitchen and aging exhaust fan mean that [...] -
Do You Occasionally Eat Frozen Dinners?
27 Jan 2012 | 2:00 pmEven though I’m sure my colleagues in the Real Simple food department would cringe, I stocked up on frozen meals at the grocery store yesterday. As Heather writes in Bread is the Devil, frozen [...] -
The Drum Teacher Says I Remind Him of the Mother on “Modern Family.” Is This an Insult?
27 Jan 2012 | 9:00 amMy middle son has a wonderful drum teacher. His name is Josh and he is a musician and seems to have boundless energy. He is also a lot of fun, and really appreciates Middle’s [...] -
Hair Tutorial: The Messy Top Knot
27 Jan 2012 | 8:46 amLast week I was lucky enough to attend the Altitude Design Summit in Salt Lake City. I spent 3 1/2 days hanging out with some of the most talented design bloggers out there (and I [...]
-
Are We Still Cool?
-
Visiting Orlando, Part 1: Where to Buy Groceries
25 Jan 2012 | 10:03 amMy first Trader Joe's receipt in six weeks. Wait, why are there nachos on my beautiful grocery memento? Cool Dad! Over Christmas, we spent five weeks in Orlando (my hometown) with friends and different extensions of the Cool Fam. When planning our trip, my first concern was food of course! What would I do without my beloved Trader Joe’s? The six-week TJ’s Break turned out to be a good thing. Prices were so high for organic food in Florida that I began to eat less overall. I also ate a lot more organic bulk-bin dry beans, for better or for worse. Between that and the miles of… -
Baby Exercise: Cool Newbie Does Push-Ups! [video]
20 Jan 2012 | 6:43 amYou know, I wouldn’t like being talked to, picked up, and handled like a baby. I definitely wouldn’t put up with it for a year and a half! I guess Cool Newbie feels the same way, ’cause he’s determined to get buff and hold his own around the house. Check out the staple of his workout: extreme push-ups! -
Cool One Man Band on a Subway Platform [video]
19 Jan 2012 | 3:24 pmAfter that epic novella of how I almost peed on the subway, here’s something quick and more tasteful: A video of a guitarist I came across who had an interesting homemade drum and shaker machine. -
I Almost Peed on the Subway
18 Jan 2012 | 11:35 amBefore every outing, Cool Boy and I engage in this little dance, though it’s not as fun as it sounds. It goes like this: Cool Dad: Noah, try to go pee-pee before we leave. Cool Boy: I don’t have to! CD: You need to try. When we go somewhere, you need to try because we don’t want to be stuck in the (car/subway/bus) and then you have to go pee. CB: I don’t have to! CD: Noah, we go through this every time. Go try so we can leave! (Insert potential disciplinary action depending on how the day has gone.) CB: Okay… (CB drags himself to bathroom. Exits after a minute.)… -
Cool Rewind: Cool Baby Picks the GOP Nominee [video]
17 Jan 2012 | 7:30 amWith the Republican presidential primary elections in full swing, the candidates have engaged in the political traditions of smearing, slamming, and outspending their opponents. Always having to get a word (like glurbschmidt) in regardless of topic, I’ve turned to our bevy of political-minded posts (one) and brought back this timely and timeless classic from December 2007. In it, Cool Boy (then Cool Baby) offered his pick for the 2008 GOP presidential nominee.
-
Truer Words - A Journal
-
2011 Was a Good Year
31 Dec 2011 | 10:55 pmThe year two thousand eleven has come and gone. It was a good year. Not perfect, but lots of happy memories. Lots of learning, lots of work, lots of time with Corinne and Lauren, even some solid time spent with Mike, and Richie and my parents. Some very weird stuff happened with a friend who's now gone, and some new friendships were started. I spent less time on the bike and behind the camera, but have more resources to take care of my family and to help out where I see the need. I've learned I can't do everything, but for 2012 I'd like to shift my personal, work-hobby balance just slightly… -
The Friends We Never Meet
6 Oct 2011 | 8:47 amI have so many things I'd like to say about last night's news. So many people with a more direct connection to Steve Jobs are saying their piece right now that my saying anything at all feels a bit silly. So be it. I'll keep this short. My connection was nearly life long — 30+ years — but very indirect. I saw him in person once, but never met him. My first mac was a 512 Ke in late 1985 or early 86, but I fell in love with the 128 when I saw it at a computer store sometime in 1984. MacPaint was on the screen, and someone had drawn an elephant. For years I'd been programming in basic on a… -
The New BostonGlobe.com
12 Sep 2011 | 1:34 pmI'm beyond impressed with the new Boston Globe web site. It's the best I've ever seen. Congrats to @beep and the rest of the designer/developer team. As +Craig Hockenberry said on Twitter, other newspapers are going to look at it and either realize they need to imitate it, or they'll keep dying. If you have a big monitor, resize your browser window from very narrow through to full screen. Go very slowly, and watch as the layout adapts to the new size, every step of the way. The images resize, the number of columns will change from 1 to 2 to 3, each column's width changes... it's brilliant. -
“Fatten Me Up, Please?”
15 Aug 2011 | 3:01 pmA friend called Corinne today (on her birthday!) and asked, "Please fatten me up?!" (referring to herself). I think she wants to look more matronly. (Personally, I think the children she's corralling do a fine job of matronizing her, but nobody asked for my opinion!) 1. This may be the best birthday present Corinne ever gets. 2. She came to the right place! 3. This friend may not realize what she's in for. Seriously, buy the larger clothes before she delivers your first meal, or you'll have a major problem. -
I Will! I Do! We did! What? That's Love.
3 Aug 2011 | 8:28 pmAs of this afternoon, my lovely wife has been calling me her husband for fourteen years. Fourteen years!! Happy Anniversary, Corinne. :-)
-
turnings :: daniel berlinger
-
Value | The Cynical Musician
26 Jan 2012 | 7:30 pmValue | The Cynical Musician: Google’s greatest fear, however, is that the content that draws the biggest audiences might be placed beyond its reach. It has seen this happen with Facebook. That’s why Google lobbies against copyright enforcement and for and “open internet” – with the special Googley meaning that “open” has here. It doesn’t mean open, as in “open market”(where anyone can set up shop, for fun or profit), it means open as in “you cannot shut Google out”. [snip -Ed] Apple, on the other hand, as Andrew points out: “hasn’t spent one cent on lobbying… -
Hollywood Still Hates You
26 Jan 2012 | 5:16 pmHollywood Still Hates You: Hollywood continues to completely ignore that lesson. It continues to punish the people who play by the rules with an insufferable customer experience. This is the sole reason piracy is up and profits are down: because doing it right totally sucks. And that’s apparently how the studios want it. [Nailed.] Source: Apple Outsider -
Tweets still must flow
26 Jan 2012 | 5:11 pmTweets still must flow: Starting today, we give ourselves the ability to reactively withhold content from users in a specific country — while keeping it available in the rest of the world. We have also built in a way to communicate transparently to users when content is withheld, and why. We haven’t yet used this ability, but if and when we are required to withhold a Tweet in a specific country, we will attempt to let the user know, and we will clearly mark when the content has been withheld. As part of that transparency, we’ve expanded our partnership with Chilling Effects to share… -
Sandi Metz: SOLID Design Principles – Dependency Injection
26 Jan 2012 | 10:59 amSandi Metz: SOLID Design Principles – Dependency Injection: Because of the style of coding in Job, it contains dependencies that effect my ability to refactor and reuse it in the future. [An excellent example of something that was hard to think through in the last significant codebase I worked on. There are always tradeoffs in style, testing, and time spent. We managed as best we could, but I think we should have done more of this (easy to say now.)] Source: brynary -
Cars Kill Cities « Progressive Transit
26 Jan 2012 | 5:35 amCars Kill Cities « Progressive Transit: Contrary to how it may sound, I do not want to rid the earth of cars. I just want to use them smarter. Do you really need a 2-ton vehicle to pickup your dry-cleaning? Probably not. Although I do see the appeal in loading a family of 6 into an SUV and traveling to Florida for vacation. That is a totally reasonable use of an automobile. What I really want is clean, walkable, safe, affordable, and family-friendly cities and towns. [I was just talking to my wife about the impact of living far from work and school. We have no easy solutions at…
-
37days.com - Home of Patti Digh
-
podcast episode 1: why the recognitions?
26 Jan 2012 | 1:56 pmClick here to download the PDF that accompanies this episode (Scroll to the bottom of the page to access the recording) Key Thoughts: Introducing “The Recognitions” – a biweekly podcast series from Patti Digh on living mindfully Exploring ideas, interviewing authors and intellectual mentors, and opening space for discovery Asking provocative questions 5-20 minutes in length, twice a month The root of “recognition” is “to think over again” Ideas in this episode: Our lives are stories. We are storying ourselves at every moment. Story is a yearning… -
poetry wednesday : two heavens in the now.
25 Jan 2012 | 7:29 amHeaven for Helen -Mark Doty Helen says heaven, for her, would be complete immersion in physical process, without self-consciousness— to be the respiration of the grass, or ionized agitation just above the break of a wave, traffic in a sunflower’s thousand golden rooms. Images of exchange, and of untrammeled nature. But if we’re to become part of it all, won’t our paradise also involve participation in being, say, diesel fuel, the impatience of trucks on August pavement, weird glow of service areas along the interstate at night? We’ll be shiny pink egg cartons, and… -
becoming bendy.
24 Jan 2012 | 11:08 amI’m continuing my quest to become bendy in 2012. Sometimes I fall off the wagon. Do you? Here’s the thing I know: I need a community of people to help me, encourage me, keep me accountable, make me laugh and dust off the truffle powder and get back up. Community truly rocks. So, I’m sharing my becoming bendy journey in 2012 again here on 37days. I hope you’ll join me. One thing I know about myself: I like goals. Like races. Or check-off boxes. They keep me moving. And in 2012, in addition to more yoga and more vegan and this amazing class, my goal is to run a race… -
make strong offers.
23 Jan 2012 | 7:28 pmI have made a conscious decision from the moment I started writing 37days that I would not allow ads on this site, though many have asked. That I wouldn’t accept product reviews. That I wouldn’t create affiliate programs or participate in them. This means that if I write about something I love–lavender cake or a Tom Bihn bag or a series of wellness seminars with coaches I admire, I’m writing about it because I love it and want to share my excitement about it, not because I’m going to profit from it at all. I wanted to create a better reading experience–for… -
poetry wednesday : invent one.
18 Jan 2012 | 8:45 amReply to the Question: “How can You Become a Poet?” -Eve Merriam take the leaf of a tree trace its exact shape the outside edges and inner lines memorize the way it is fastened to the twig (and how the twig arches from the branch) how it springs forth in April how it is panoplied in July by late August crumple it in your hand so that you smell its end-of-summer sadness chew its woody stem listen to its autumn rattle watch it as it atomizes in the November air then in winter when there is no leaf left invent one [image from here]
-
Story Bleed Magazine
-
White Ricotta Tart with Sugared Fruit
23 Jan 2012 | 9:27 am{By Heather Baird from Sprinkle Bakes} Oh, January. You are a chilly month. Yesterday we had the kind of snow that makes mighty tree limbs bow in submission. On days like this I’m perfectly content to spend long hours in an oven-warmed kitchen, and that’s just what I did. Many treats were made; some for the book and some for the blog. I’m still determining where some should reside. After much hemming and hawing about what to make for this entry, I decided to revisit an old recipe. I made this tart for Thanksgiving 2 years ago, and at the time decided it was a little too… -
love is watching everyone you love leave you.
17 Jan 2012 | 10:02 am{by Mary Murdoch of Wild Tigers Have I Known} (photo credit) In order to accumulate a soul, you have to suffer. As if, once enough suffering has tumbled down upon you, building up like a mountainside, your second life will begin. Like Athena you will sprout from Zeus’ head and appear in a ball of light, naked and red. Love is what brings all the suffering. Love is watching everyone you love leave, die, perish- each person wilting slowly. Like day old geraniums in a Mason jar that sat on the kitchen counter when I was eight years old. They dried and mummified like King Tut wrapped in… -
Clotting
10 Jan 2012 | 11:58 am{By Brittany Gibbons, The Barefoot Foodie} Have you ever been driving somewhere, and, before you know it, you’re there and you have no idea how you got there? I haven’t been present for a while. My body was here, and every so often, familiar words would escape from my mouth, but for months, my mind was somewhere else, and my heart was off laying in a mud puddle somewhere while someone poked at it with sticks. I’m a cutter. Not that kind. With my brand of cutting, there is no visible blood. All the scars are internal. I was never going to say anything. I was just going to cut. … -
From Forever to the Sea
3 Jan 2012 | 8:38 am{by Whit Honea of The Honea Express} Inland was warmth and sunshine and days of summer stretching wearily. The coast, however, was 20 degrees cooler and worked in so many shades of gray. The sky fell into the sea and the waves rolled across my cold feet before running up the stairs to take their place at the end of the line. Clouds waited patiently. The rocks in the ocean were the size of ships, and ships were the size of small birds flying off in the distance. There was a cave on the beach and in it sat a family around a campfire. Their dog ran free and happy, a green ball held tightly in… -
O Christmas Tree
19 Dec 2011 | 7:46 am{by Alyson of New England Living} Alyson is a mother of four and former California girl living in New Hampshire. She shares gorgeous pictures and words on her blog, New England Living. Alyson is newenglandliving on Instagram. Color Bleed features images captured on mobile devices (phones, iPods, iPads) and shared via social networks (Instagram, twitter, twitpic, Facebook, etc.). Story Bleed consistently insists that art is made and shared online every day. Often casually. Phone photography consistently reveals itself to be breathtaking and insightful. Simply complex, strikingly ordinary.
-
WordPress.com News
-
Chrome Users: Try the WordPress.com Extension
27 Jan 2012 | 1:54 pmWant to receive WordPress.com notifications instantly, even when you’re not on WordPress.com? Add the new WordPress.com extension for Chrome and as soon as you get a new follower or a new like on one of your posts, a notification will appear in your browser: Simply click the icon to view your latest WordPress.com notifications: Start following new blogs without visiting WordPress.com The Chrome extension also makes it easy to follow sites from your WordPress.com account by displaying a Follow button whenever you’re browsing a site that has an RSS feed. Clicking the Follow button… -
Your Stats Have a New Home
26 Jan 2012 | 10:46 amAre you addicted to checking your site stats? You are not alone. The stats dashboard has always been one of the most popular admin screens. It’s gratifying to know that people are visiting your place online. With the WordPress.com front page evolving into a one-stop shop for posting, exploring, following and reading blogs, it seemed natural to put your blog stats there, too. Stats are becoming more and more about interacting with your readers and other bloggers. You’ll still see your summary stats and chart on your main dashboard, and the full stats page in your dashboard will… -
Reblogging is Back!
22 Jan 2012 | 1:27 pmAs we mentioned last week, you can like and reblog posts directly from your reader, which displays a stream of all the updates published on all the blogs you follow from your WordPress.com account. We’ve also brought the reblog button back to the toolbar that appears at the top of the screen when you’re logged into WordPress.com. Note that you’ll only see the like and reblog options while you’re looking at individual posts. For example, you’ll see this on the left side of your toolbar while viewing http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/read-blogs: And your… -
New Theme: Newsy
20 Jan 2012 | 12:18 pmIt’s been an extra big week in the news ’round these parts, so much so that the launch announcement of our latest premium theme seems like an extra extra good way to headline our Friday. Newsy is a versatile business and news-friendly theme that offers up to ten different layouts, four footer columns, custom link and accent colors, and a custom site header. Brand and content-focused editorial teams will love publishing with this theme. Newsy: Home Page Designed by Themify, Newsy comes with an impressive set of Theme Options that afford you a great deal of flexibility with how you… -
Read All Your Favorite Blogs in One Place
19 Jan 2012 | 6:04 pmIf you feel like it’s a chore to keep up with all your favorite blogs, you can now read posts from all the blogs you follow (even the ones that aren’t on WordPress.com!) in one convenient place on the WordPress.com home page: Your reader displays all the posts across all the blogs you follow in the order they were published, with the most recent content appearing at the top. You’ll see an excerpt of the introduction to each post, the first image in the post, and thumbnails of any other images that the post contains. You can even like and reblog WordPress.com content directly…
-
Brody Harper
-
Tree Rings Into Music
22 Jan 2012 | 10:17 amOk, if this is legit, it’s pretty awesome. Check out the whole article here. Tree Rings Into Music is a post from: Brody Harper -
Experts Agree…
19 Jan 2012 | 9:05 amMy friend Todd Tweeted this today and it got me thinking: I ran into a social media pro this weekend and he said I needed to tweet 15-20 times a day. Seems high to me. What do you think? Well first off, yes, that does seem high to me as well. It’s high for me, because I don’t talk that much. It’s not high for some friends of mine that talk quite a bit, or are more clever than myself, or have something more important to say….or…. You see where I’m going right. See there’s these ‘experts’ out there that are basing all of their belief and… -
The Hurt & The Healer
18 Jan 2012 | 2:08 pmCheck it out. This is officially the cover of the new MercyMe record called “The Hurt & The Healer”. Thrilled to be working with the very talented Nate Farro on the packaging for this project. It’s going to be a great record and I’m honored to be a part of it. The Hurt & The Healer is a post from: Brody Harper -
Justice
16 Jan 2012 | 12:30 pm“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” - Martin Luther King, Jr., Letter from Birmingham jail Justice is a post from: Brody Harper -
Pushing The Envelope
5 Jan 2012 | 5:25 pmSo, this morning I noticed a little storm brewing on Instagram. I commented pretty early, but now that it’s been a whole day there are over 50 comments on a photo. There was no text other than a hashtag but it apparently got some folks heated. Now, most of you folks will know who posted the image, and it’s fine if you do. He’s a big boy and can take the heat from the folks on his comments and here too. Also, this is not throwing this guy under the bus by any means, but more of pointing out something that I thought was interesting. Here’s the image: I made the…
-
Apartment Life
-
Moving Checklist for Packing Fragile Items
24 Jan 2012 | 6:15 pmBreakable items are always one of the biggest challenges on a moving checklist. You want to make sure your china, crystal, and other treasured belongings arrive intact. Never fear: You can do it. It just takes some planning, time, and care. Our moving checklist can help. Get the goods. The first step of your moving checklist should be to get the right materials. You’ll need bubble wrap, packing peanuts, craft paper or newsprint, and sturdy boxes as well as tape and a marker. Pack housewares. Gather your dishes, glasses, and decorative items as the next step on your moving checklist. To… -
Moving checklist for a home office
12 Jan 2012 | 6:39 pmA major task on a moving checklist is packing a home office. Most offices contain heavy items like bookshelves and a desk as well as delicate items like a computer and monitor. Organization and careful packing are key to a successful move. Use this moving checklist to ensure a painless home office relocation. 1. Lighten the load. This should be the first step of any moving checklist. Sort and organize papers and office supplies. Toss, donate, or recycle things you don’t need. Books are heavy, so cull ones you won’t use again. Sell them to a used bookstore or donate them to the local… -
Moving Checklist: 8 Steps For Packing A Kitchen
6 Jan 2012 | 3:13 pmWhen you make a moving checklist , packing the kitchen is bound to be one of the biggest jobs. It may seem overwhelming (all those drawers and cabinets …), but we can help. Use these eight simple steps, and you’ll be ready to go faster than you thought possible. 1. Simplify. This should be the first step of your kitchen moving checklist. Go through each drawer and cabinet and get rid of anything you don’t really need. Why pack chipped glasses, nearly empty condiment bottles, or things you never use? Donate useful items to friends or a thrift store. 2. Gather your packing materials. -
Apartment Living: How to Store Decorations
30 Dec 2011 | 2:34 pmApartment living calls for good organization, especially when it comes to storage. With the holidays almost over, it’s time to think about how to stow your Christmas decorations for another year. Taking the time to get organized this year will make next year’s decorating go more smoothly. We’ve got some storage suggestions that can make apartment living a little tidier. Get prepared. To start, gather the materials you’ll need. Good apartment living storage options include clear plastic boxes, shoeboxes, and large zip-top plastic bags. If you have precious ornaments, you may want to… -
Seattle Apartments + Your Activity = Bliss
13 Dec 2011 | 3:45 pmSeattle apartments on your mind? Without a doubt, Seattle is the epitome of Northwest cool. If you’re relocating here, smart move. OK, Seattle apartments ain’t cheap, but you get what you pay for if you consider the gorgeous setting, the thriving economy, the unique art and entertainment scene, and the pure hipness of the Emerald City. But when it comes to Seattle apartments, how can you know where to look? One way is to factor in your favorite activity. Here are some ideas as you hunt for the best Seattle apartments for your needs: If you’re a biker, there’s no limit to where you can…
-
Dave Writes
-
Boston Parents Prepare for Lottery
21 Jan 2012 | 3:03 pmI remember reading Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery when I was ten or twelve years old. It’s a great story that cleverly foreshadows danger, building to the unexpected climax and conclusion: the “winner” of the lottery is stoned to death in a small town ritual to ensure a good harvest. In Boston, we have our own annual ritual and rite of passage for 4-years olds: the Boston Public School Lottery. Starting one year before children are eligible to attend kindergarten, parents visit prospective schools and choose the “best” school for their kids. Parents submit… -
Read, Run, Ride, Write
9 May 2011 | 10:16 pmI got a job and this blog died. We moved and I really had no compelling reason to keep updating http://westwoodblog.org either. My life is pretty full but I do miss expressing myself and creating something here. Partly, I’m also in transition. As we adjusted to a new rhythm of job, home, schools, etc. I dialed back to some of the personal things that mattered to me and found time for some more easily than others. First, I started to read again. When I was working for myself or looking for a job, I don’t think I read anything of significance. Then, in January, faced with a… -
How Can Parents Stop an Educational Race to Nowhere?
1 Mar 2011 | 3:44 pmI watched the documentary Race to Nowhere Sunday morning at the Dedham Community Theatre with a crowd of parents and educators concerned about the direction of K-12 education. Through the stories of students and parents, the movie makes a compelling case that we are headed in the wrong direction. Race to Nowhere profiles students, teachers, and parents across the United States who are increasingly stressed out by the demands of middle and elementary school. The title is a quote from a young man describing his frustration at the growing sense of pointlessness he felt as he was driven to do so… -
Choosing Roslindale: Our Move to Boston
17 Nov 2010 | 5:51 amWe bought a house in Rozzie, and we finally move this Friday. It was not an easy choice to leave the town of Westwood where I’ve been active in several town boards, developed many friendships, and started our oldest daughter in the school system. (And authored the Westwood Blog for the past 3 years.) It was not easy to move past the neighboring town of Dedham either, where we also have many friends and probably would have purchased a house had it not gone under agreement the day we scheduled to go look at it. But I am excited about where we are moving and am thrilled we decided to do… -
No Need to Rush – Right-Sized Community
17 Oct 2010 | 10:13 pmSeveral years ago, we discovered the First Church and Parish in Dedham. When we first attended, we were concerned that although the people were welcoming and the community was obviously strong, we weren’t sure if there was a critical mass of young families like us. We wanted our kids to be a part of a church community with other kids. But in the course of only a few years, the church has grown dramatically in this respect. Every Sunday, I am amazed at how many kids go to the front for the “story for all ages” and then depart to their classes–leaving the church back at…
-
Reality Me
-
From the mouths of babes
23 Jan 2012 | 10:13 amMe: "It’s time to wake up." Evan, 6 years old, stumbles from bed, stomps down the hall: "Argh. Why does this happen every night‽" -
Memory flush
17 Jan 2012 | 10:07 pmIt’s never a good time to suddenly remember that you need to buy a new plunger. -
Mental Me
12 Jan 2012 | 1:12 pmThe stress is far too great today. -
Cross-domain communication
11 Jan 2012 | 8:16 pmIf I have an aspx site on one server, let’s call it foo.com and I have a php site on another server, let’s call it bar.com, and I want to use an iframe to include data from foo.com within the bar.com site, security for iframes prevents this correct? So, if I instead create a subdomain of foo.com, let’s call it bar.foo.com and use bar.foo.com for the aspx site, does that overcome the cross-domain security issue since both sites are now part of the foo.com domain or does the nature of bar.foo.com being a tertiary domain still create the security issue since bar.foo.com is… -
Something has changed
11 Jan 2012 | 8:00 amWhy yes! There’s some before and after and more before and after.
-
This Eclectic Life
-
Perspective
20 Jan 2012 | 8:58 amI rolled down the car window to kiss my husband goodbye before going to town to do errands. Isn’t that special? I still kiss him goodbye before I leave for an hour. However, I might not anymore, if it means rolling down the car window. When I hit the button, that window said, “THUNK…. whhrrrrrr.” That’s how I translated it, anyway. The window rolled down — but it would not roll back up! We opened the car door and stared at it, bumfuzzled. Car manufacturers these days don’t make it obvious how to take a door apart. Not that it would done any good to… -
Sifting The Trinkets and Treasures
16 Jan 2012 | 9:21 amI can’t understand why I am drawn to tiny trinkets. Miniature figurines, toys, beads, and buttons always fascinate me. Do they attract you? I can’t seem to throw them away, so I always just put them in a box in a drawer. No more! Now, I’m putting them out on display for my guests to sift through — if they can snatch one of the silver ladles out of my hands. At a local antique store (about which I will be telling you soon), the owner does a lot of mosaic work using trinkets. She had bowls full of “treasure” all over her shop with tiny wooden scoops in the… -
Scraps of Love
15 Jan 2012 | 12:53 pmThe afghan that is spread on my kitchen island in the morning sunlight is a special one. First of all, it’s for me, and I never rarely make anything for me. Second, it’s made from scraps of yarn. They call using scraps to make something new “upcycling” these days, but my grandmother would have called it “using the brain God gave you.” It’s crazy to waste resources. Third, and most important for me, those scraps of yarn were leftovers from the Share A Square program. Every tiny (colored) thread in it is filled with love. For the third year, volunteers… -
You’d Be Crazy Not To Try This Cafe
7 Jan 2012 | 12:43 pmDoes a sack of flour make a big biscuit? I don’t know for sure because I haven’t tested that theory. I’m told that you really don’t want me to make biscuits for you — biscuits I have made are as hard as rocks and have been termed “lethal weapons.”I can say for sure that Loco Cafe (on Locust Street in Denton) makes a darned big biscuit … and those biscuits are scrumptious to the last bite! You’d be crazy not to try them! Brushed with butter, honey butter or jalapeno, they are a treat that makes my mouth water just to think of them. What I… -
It Was A Sabbatical
6 Jan 2012 | 2:07 pm“Did you get lost in the shopping mall?” my reader asked. “Why aren’t you blogging?” No, I did not get lost in the shopping mall, and clearly she doesn’t know me very well. It takes an act of Congress to get me to enter the mall. Y’all realize, of course, that our current Congress rarely acts, so that pretty much means you won’t see me mall hopping anytime soon (don’t get me wrong: I enjoy shopping, but I get my retail therapy at locally owned businesses and at thrift stores). No! Not at that store! I boycott this particular store, so…
-
sex and the beach
-
Save Matheson Hammock
25 Jan 2012 | 8:28 amTen reasons why a behemoth dry dock boat storage facility should not be developed in Matheson Hammock Park. More reasons here. Please sign the petition to save Miami-Dade's most pristine urban sanctuary from greedy exploitation. Email Coral Gables commissioners, too.You won't see me on the side of the bus! I AM THE BUS! A single woman's guide to chronic living on South Beach. -
You Can't Blame the Guy For Trying
21 Jan 2012 | 2:19 pmI know I said I was going on hiatus and I still am sticking to my word. I'm up to my ass in alligators ... so busy making movies about Hialeah and organizing HeartCamp.However, this story was too good to pass up.I've experienced many strange and exciting things in South Beach, but getting this love note from a German tourist on my windshield -- instead of a parking citation from Miami Dade police -- well, this was simply priceless!I guess this is a new stalker pick-up technique. Hey, it even involves social media.You won't see me on the side of the bus! I AM THE BUS! A single woman's guide to… -
When a Heart Break is a Good Thing
29 Dec 2011 | 7:41 pmPhoto by Carlos Miller. Bad hair by mother nature.This blog is six years old. I feel like an old hag in terms of blogging years. It's like Jurrasic Park around here, minus the velociraptors.And it has paid off.2011 was an incredible year.Nature Girl found herself again. I frolicked with Madagascar lemurs, went fishing and interviewed a python hunter.My co-hosted radio show with Tonya Scholz, Social Chats, turned over a year-old. We interviewed some of the coolest people in South Florida and beyond.I hung out with pirates.I started practicing yoga at a studio again and lost some weight.I… -
Silicone Bitch: South Florida Social Media Year 2011 Review
29 Dec 2011 | 9:37 amNews and notes about the South Florida social media and blogging scene, with a little tech thrown in for good measure. And maybe some other random events, too Silicone Bitch wishes the South Florida and tech scene a great, prosperous and productive 2012. Seen here, year's end old skool tweetup at Monty's in Miami Beach.It was a pretty good year for the South Florida scene. Here are some random notes in no particular order, stream-of-consciousness style ... if we missed anything, feel free to leave a comment!SheCon (@sheconexpo), a blogging conference and new media expo for women but not… -
The 12 Step Become A Pirate Program
22 Dec 2011 | 12:56 pmTrail of the Pirates is a travel series exploring maritime history, culture and lore between Key West and St. Augustine on the east coast of Florida.If you don't want to read this epic post, just watch this video.A funny thing happens when you start investigating and writing a lot about a particular topic -- you get sucked in. And if that topic happens to be pirates, that's a good thing.Nine years ago, Michelle Murillo was a reporter in Florida doing exactly what I did earlier this month. She was on assignment covering Pirates in Paradise in Key West and got hooked. Today, she's still a…
-
verbatim
-
Friday Links
27 Jan 2012 | 1:02 pmI am swamped with work but experiencing attention-span issues today, so I decided to take a minute to share some links with you (in case you need a break from work, too). My Pantone delights continue, with this awesome Pantone Rubik's cube (via Catherine) and this entire Pantone Hotel! Fly me to Brussels, stat! For those of you who love Jacques Pépin as much as I do, watch this wonderful interview he did with Charlie Rose. And yes, of course I have his big new book, but no, I haven't cooked from it yet, or even had a chance to watch the accompanying DVD. These are the most… -
Black
22 Jan 2012 | 5:49 pmTwice in December I totally shocked an African person by guessing what country he was from. The first time I was at the mall with Steph, which means that I was miserable and off-kilter. They have all these people manning kiosks in the middle of the walkway, and I am notoriously incapable of denying them my money. (I was once persuaded to buy a fancy-shmancy nail care kit. Yes, me. In other news, if you ever hear of someone who cares less about how her nails look, please let me know. Or, better yet, if you hear of someone who does care about her nails, I have a completely unused fancy-shmancy… -
Complaining and Cooking
11 Jan 2012 | 7:29 pmYes, I'm still sick! I went to the doctor today and begged him to find something wrong with me that could be treated with antibiotics, but he was all "It's clearly viral...." so I left prescriptionless and still sneezing and coughing. Last night, for the first time in my whole life, I took Nyquil. It allowed me an hour or two of uninterrupted sleep in between bouts of furiously wiping my nose. I will take it again tonight. Speaking of wiping my nose, I am a big fan of Kleenex Ultra-Soft tissues. I do like the ones that have lotion, but they aren't as all-purpose as… -
Flicks
9 Jan 2012 | 12:44 pmWe have been sick. Sick, sick, sick. Pete started off the sickest, and Julie ended up the sickest (so far, anyhow). I think we have used up more Kleenex in the last 3 weeks than in the whole last year. But we have been watching movies too. Remember movies, those things I used to watch all the time and review for you here? Yeah, those. So first was Open Range, which Netflix had mailed to me last April and I just got around to now. It's like Lonesome Dove, but not as good, although it does have Robert Duvall, who is wonderful as always. But instead of Tommy Lee Jones, it has Kevin Costner,… -
Out with the Old
31 Dec 2011 | 2:53 pmHey, where have you all been for 10 days? Oh wait, I'm the one who's been missing. Well, chez Verbatim we decided to ring out the old year by getting sick, serially. We are all finally at the tail end of whatever it was that got us, but we decided not to head north for the weekend anyhow, what with all the sneezing and coughing that's still going on. I wasn't sure Andy could stand the long round-trip car ride yet anyhow. Speaking of Andy, he is coming along, slowly but surely. In the space of less than 6 weeks, he's gone from bedridden to a walker to two crutches to…
-
Geek Mom Mashup
-
I made this! Skyrim-inspired Helmet/Beanie/Hat
6 Jan 2012 | 5:12 pmMy handmade Skyrim "helmet" beanie Happy New Year, everybody! I have a new addiction to confess: SKYRIM! It’s an amazing role-playing game, with a huge story, beautiful landscapes, lush soundtrack, interesting characters, and DRAGONS! The game is too big to describe here, but let me say this: it is immersive, and it sucks you right in! Between Skyrim sessions (while my hubby was playing), I was inspired to design a “helmet” like the Iron Helmet in the video game. Here’s what I came up with! My very own Skyrim-inspired beanie, made with my own little hands. -
Veteran’s Day – Stuff my Grandpa Said
11 Nov 2011 | 10:46 amGrandpa, between his sister and his wife Happy Veterans’ Day! I always think about my grandfather on this day. He died a few years ago, and I never heard him talk about his war experiences. He fought in World War II and the Korean War. He made it home alive, raised children, worked hard, retired, and celebrated 50 years of marriage. During his long life, he shared some wise and funny sayings with us. Here are a few of my favorites: “Clean your plate.” “Gettin’ old is hell.” “I’ll give you 45 minutes to cut that out.” (During a shoulder massage.) “You can curl ‘em,… -
Make a Blog Without Writing? Try Content Curation with Scoop.it!
28 Oct 2011 | 5:00 pmOne of my favorite things about the Internet is finding something new, funny, intriguing, or surprising to share with my friends. Sometimes, I write about the best stuff and share it here on Geek Mom Mashup. Other times, I just share the link, because I don’t feel like writing a whole blog post. Scoop.it Dashboard Heading Recently, I tried Scoop.it‘s content curation system. It’s a cool service that lets you choose a topic and enter some keywords. Scoop.it searches the Internet and brings back news articles, blog posts, Twitter messages, and other stuff that seems related to… -
Geek Crafts: nerdJERK
19 Oct 2011 | 9:56 amMeta Knight by nerdJERK As a geek and crafter, I’m always on the lookout for especially nerdy creations. Here is an excellent example! “nerdJERK” Stephanie Cortes, gamer, blogger, and crafter, does some amazing work with yarn and fabric. Check out this Meta Knight! Stephanie specializes in Nintendo game characters, and you can see more of her amazing work at her Etsy shop and on her Flickr photostream. I salute you for your contributions to Global Geekery, nerdJERK! Keep up the awesomeness! -
Throw This Camera Ball to Take a 360-Degree Panorama
16 Oct 2011 | 6:21 pmVia Scoop.it – Geek and Gamer Stuff It’s a camera! It’s a ball! It’s…both! German researchers come up with the Throwable Panoramic Ball Camera that can take a single, instantaneous 360-degree image.Show original
-
Magpie Musing
-
And There Are So Many
27 Jan 2012 | 3:05 pmI found a diary, of mine, from ninth grade. Yes, it was kicking around under a bed at my mother's house. (Yes, the house is still on the market. Yes, it is still full of stuff. Yes, it is rather a poignant headache.) The diary - an inane piece of gobbledygook - was a school assignment, for an English class. It's full of teachers, dreams, grades, boys, sleepovers, band, dances, "I got a desk chair, yellow" for Christmas. My handwriting changes on every page, the ink color changes almost more frequently, and the diary is called Katherine, Kitty, Kati, You, and Kathy. (Yes, my middle name is… -
Happy Birthday, Bobby Burns!
25 Jan 2012 | 3:09 pmFair fa' your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o' the puddin-race! Once upon a time, we went to a Robert Burns dinner. Actually, we went to the same Burns dinner several years running, a multi-culti fest organized by a Scottish woman and her Japanese-American husband at small Catskills hotel with a French restaurant. I know, the head spins. Men wore kilts, my husband addressed the haggis, Scotch was consumed. And photos were taken, with a disposable film camera that we had kicking around for some odd reason. Many months later, many, I finished the roll of film and had it developed. Much… -
Gluten Free Baking With, Oops...
24 Jan 2012 | 2:51 pmIf you have a gluten-free friend with whom you get together for family meals, you think about gluten-free cooking and baking, at least I do, from time to time. That Deb, at Smitten Kitchen, recently posted a lovely sounding thing called "apple sharlotka", and we were having a pig roast with the gluten-free friend, and dessert was in my hands, and I thought, "oh, the apple thing will work fine with gluten-free flour". So I made some lovely deep dark caramel sauce - another Smitten Kitchen recipe, because, well, let's put it this way, I'm totally buying her cookbook - and I chopped apples and I… -
The Post About Breasts. And Cancer.
22 Jan 2012 | 3:28 pmA long time ago - really, more than 20 years ago - I felt a lump in my breast. I trotted off to my gynecologist, she tried a needle aspiration, and sent me to a surgeon. Both the GYN and the surgeon were pretty sure it was a benign tumor, and I sort of shrugged and figured it wasn't worth doing anything about. Then I told my mother. She freaked - "how could you even think of not having it out?" - so I had it out. It was benign, a fibroadenoma. Having it out was the probably right thing to do - it would likely have gotten bigger, and would have been harder to excise later. But I really did… -
Exploitation, or, Blog Posts Written By Children
21 Jan 2012 | 4:45 pmI'm probably a very bad mother, very bad indeed. I mean, last year, when my iPhone was clearly on its last legs, I replaced it with a new one and gave the old one to the kid. It's not got phone service, and its battery life is farshtinkener, but it does connect to the internet via wi-fi (at home) and she can use it as an iPod and play all manner of zombie games and send emails to her friends and take picture of the cats and make lists. After she fell asleep clutching it in her hot little hands last night, I read all of her emails, looked at all of her pictures, and reviewed her "notes". She…
-
Lisa Sabin-Wilson
-
Stop American Censorship
17 Jan 2012 | 5:58 pm“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead Join me, and countless others, in protesting SOPA/PIPA (Stop Online Piracy Act and the PROTECT IP Act) on January 18th, 2012. This site, and my other web properties, will go dark on 1/18/12 in protest of this freedom-robbing bill. BONUS: If you are a Wisconsin resident, please urge Senator Herb Kohl to discontinue his support of SOPA/PIPA immediately! Call his offices: (202) 224-5653. Take Action: AmericanCensorship.org And while… -
WordPress Developers Course: Multisite Workshop
9 Jan 2012 | 7:49 pmThis week I’m leaving on a jet plane. Destination: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. On Thursday, January 12th, I am kicking off a 4-day WordPress Developers Course for WebDesign.com at TheDIV in OKC by providing a FULL day workshop on WordPress Multisite. This workshop is scheduled for 6 full hours of Multisite goodness - – really, who knew that I could talk for 6 straight hours?? But! There is a lot of information to cover when it comes to Multisite, believe it or not – - have a look at my outline for the workshop: Hour 1: Multisite… -
Speaking at WordCamp Atlanta on WordPress Theme Basics
7 Jan 2012 | 2:07 pmI’m excited to be presenting at WordCamp Atlanta on February 4th, 2012! Atlanta holds a special place for me because I was supposed to be living there by now – -but life intervened and I ended up staying here in Wisconsin. During my ‘moving to Atlanta’ moving phase, however; quite a few members of the WordPress community in Atlanta displayed so much of that famous southern hospitality and reached out to see if they could help in any way – - offering everything from moving boxes to shacking me up in the area while visiting Atlanta, trying to settle… -
Yoga talked me off the ledge
30 Dec 2011 | 12:01 amMy 2011 has been like no other year. Good, in most ways – - but also one of my worst years, at the same time. It started out pretty decent and strong with the launch of my new theme shop at Allure Themes and the release of a whopping three books in April, June and October. As if that weren’t enough to keep me busy, the work I do at E.Webscapes and Convertiv kept me hopping and on my toes. In this economy, I am grateful to have so much work and to be able to do work that I really love; being able to do it in my PJ’s if I want to is definitely a bonus. So, yea –… -
The Economy of WordPress (speaking of that … need work in 2012??)
14 Dec 2011 | 11:06 pmFirst, big thanks to WordPress for keeping me busy and in business. I recently completed a video interview (publish date T.B.A.) where I was asked about the WordPress economy and the commercial ecosystem that has evolved around the WordPress platform. One of the points I made in my answer was that if it were not for the insane popularity and success of the WordPress software, as well as its open source nature and the GPL, the ‘WordPress Economy‘ (as it was put to me) would not be nearly as successful and strong as it now is today – - thank you, WordPress! Yes, I…
-
Stuffleufagus
-
“Undercover Boss”, real-time communications and I sure hope Ray Ozzie builds something amazing
23 Jan 2012 | 1:06 amI like the show “Undercover Boss”. Mostly because I like seeing the CEO’s reactions when they find out what their employees really think about their jobs, the company, policies, etc. Recently our CEO responded to some policy concerns by asking us to tell him what policies we thought were stupid, so they could be fixed, or discontinued completely. He called for a “policy purge” and that very day the first policy was killed. And our CEO is NOT out of touch with employees. He sits 40 feet from me in a cubicle just like I do. With the right arc I can nearly hit him with a Nerf dart. Any… -
Are you looking for me?
22 Nov 2011 | 1:20 amI shared this on Google+ earlier. Decided to share it here as well. I am always amazed by the people that tell me I am “stupid” for sharing my home phone number on Twitter, FaceBook, etc. My job is customer experience – I NEED customers to find me for me to win. What is crazy about making it easy for them? My home number is 210-370-3861. My cell is 210-845-4440. Anyone could find that by digging into a simple Google search. I am not afraid of my customers – especially the unhappy ones – those are the ones I can learn the most from, and drive the best change… -
Random thoughts on things I have learned over time
21 Nov 2011 | 12:22 amI shared this with my Senior Leadership team tonight then thought, “Why not share it with everyone”? When I managed Radio Shack stores I had this crazy-ass District Manager. His name was Charlie, and he was about 4’2″ tall in his lift shoes. But his personality was huge. So huge in fact that he was on 60 Minutes – for selling water filters that did not filter. He went to jail for several years. Mike Wallace buried him. That was several years after I worked for Charlie. That made Charlie a bad guy, but not a completely stupid guy. He taught me a lot of really simple… -
I once rode a mile with a blindfold on
30 Oct 2011 | 4:33 amI do NOT recommend this. I was younger, and times were more simple – and I lived in a very small town. And I was on a motorcycle. I had two friends next to me. guiding me. I was riding a Honda 440 Super Sport – a bike I loved. So why was I riding with a blindfold on? The easy answer is that I was young and stupid. The more complex answer is that I did not know where I was going, so I did not care what direction I took. I just felt I needed to head somewhere – so I did. With the added burden of a blindfold. I made it the mile. It made me smile. In the 25 years since… -
Social Media as a Service
30 Aug 2011 | 2:55 amI get a lot of people telling me how I can make my employer more successful if we would just learn to market on Social Media – especially on Twitter. They have stuff to sell, and they want me to buy. We all need to make a living. I’m not focused on making money from Social Media – I am focused on saving money WITH Social media. Every customer we help in near real time is a customer that that is exposed to Fanatical Support® – often for the first time. And that support is important. It is timely. It is genuine – it is driven by an engineer with a desire to…
-
Life Candy
-
cleanse days 15-16: getting easier.
25 Jan 2012 | 10:08 amOkay, call me weird, but cleanse days are getting easier. Remember, cleanse days are the two back-to-back days where all I take are a handful of Isagenix Snacks, loads of water, and 4 servings of detoxifying liquid infused with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and botanicals. It feels like I'm giving my body a rest. Like Intermittent Fasting. Like what our cave-dwelling ancestors did when they couldn't find a good meat source and only had nuts, berries, and leaves to eat. It's natural and healthy. And probably the reason why they lived disease-free to old… -
cleanse day 10-14: keepin' on.
17 Jan 2012 | 5:02 pmYes, I'm still here. A little less of me, but yes, still here. I'm still with the program, and although some things have kind of slowed a little, all the good stuff continues to happen. I'm so much happier and positive than I've been in a long time. This is the most noticeable change. I'm still sleeping well, still mellow, still free of anxiety. I have a sense of focus I've never had before. My To-Do list is quickly getting demolished. My priorities have shifted to things and activities that would honour my time and my goals. Thanks to some new-found mental clarity,… -
cleanse days 8-9: game changer.
11 Jan 2012 | 12:47 pmIf you're new here, welcome! Please check out my Recent Posts on the sidebar for previous Cleanse entries. I've joined a support group. No, not because of my various unusual tendencies that you've all read about here and questioned my sanity about. (Sorry for the danglies. I'm too mellow to be grammatically correct today.) Upon Sly's urging, I've join the 6-week Game Changer. It's a 6-week challenge where new and veteran Isagenix cleansers (cleansers.. yeah, that sounds weird) support and chat with each other on Facebook, and get great advice from our coaches,… -
cleanse day 4-7: um, are you... high?
9 Jan 2012 | 5:29 amToday is actually Cleanse Day 8, but I have to do some catching-up first. Sly told me that one of the BIGGEST and most unexpected changes to experience on this cleanse was the mental aspect. And she was totally right. I suspect it's because of the flood of vitamins and minerals thanks to all the superfoods in the products. It's been so long since I've felt this good about my life and myself. The energy and clarity is unreal. If you saw pictures of me at Sly's Christmas party before my cleanse, you'd see someone who's run down, tired, and defeated by life. I had… -
cleanse days 2-3: hmmm... this actually works.
5 Jan 2012 | 10:28 amDay 2: Cleanse Day. Day 2 is exactly like Day 1. Another day of no food. Just Cleanse For Life, the cleansing liquid, and some snacks. How did I feel all day? I felt happy and energized -- no anxiety whatsoever. The night before, I slept through without waking to any crazy panic attacks or worried feelings. Okay, I did wake up a couple of times, but it was because Mini was beside me and smacked me on the head in her sleep, and I fell asleep pretty much immediately after. (Before, that meant waking up, and staying awake for hours!) All day I felt relaxed, mellow, and…
-
Joshua Bryce Newman
-
23 Jan 2012 | 9:25 am
23 Jan 2012 | 9:25 amAs a follow-up to “Drag me to Hell(‘s Kitchen): Applebee’s“, an email I received from old friend Krissa “Le Petit Hiboux” Cavouras: In honor of your brave chicken fiesta, here is my favorite story about that Applebee’s, having worked one block from it for five years (though never having been so brave as to EAT there). During Fleet Week one year, [her husband] Stuart and I are walking from my building to the subway, and we pass a young sailor on the phone with a friend, both clearly trying to locate each other in Times Square. Young sailor: “Where the… -
Drag me to Hell(‘s Kitchen): Applebee’s
22 Jan 2012 | 10:06 amI have a business lunch planned; I’m coming from Chelsea, my lunchmate from East Midtown, so he kindly suggests West Midtown as an easy spot for us both. “Do you have any ideas for a restaurant?” he asks. “How about Applebee’s?” I say. “Applebee’s?” Silence. Applebee’s it is. “Where are you visiting us from?” asks the waitress. “Two blocks that way,” I say. “Two blocks that way?” she asks, confused. “I live in that building,” I say, gesturing out the restaurant window. “So why are… -
Drag me to Hell(‘s Kitchen)
17 Jan 2012 | 1:05 pmFor the past eight years or so, I’ve lived on the edge of Times Square. Technically, the neighborhood is “Clinton”, or, when I want to sound less like an asshole, Hell’s Kitchen. But, either way, it’s the border where the new, friendly, post-Giuliani New York City abuts against a two-century-old Irish and then Latino working class neighborhood. On one side, excellent bars and ethnic restaurants abound – the city’s best Thai joints, Italian spots along Restaurant Row, the many new foodie-facing eateries on and around 9th Avenue in the 40′s and… -
The Case for Exercise
17 Jan 2012 | 7:42 am[From "Chronic Exercise Preserves Lean Muscle Mass in Masters Athletes"] -
Shit Girls Say
12 Dec 2011 | 6:20 pmSounds familiar.
-
The Art of Manliness
-
Write This Down: Note-Taking Strategies for Academic Success
27 Jan 2012 | 12:17 amA few weeks ago, we published an article on study tips to help you ace your exams. In that post, I mentioned the possibility of doing a follow-up article on note-taking, and many of you requested that I make that happen. And I’m happy to oblige. Below, I’ve provided a primer on note-taking strategies, many of which I personally used during my academic career. A lot of this is fairly basic stuff–there are no “secrets” to note-taking success. But hopefully a few of these tips will help you start taking notes more effectively. Note-Taking Tools Laptop For most of… -
Ready, Set, Fast: How Strategic Meal-Skipping Can Help You Lose Fat, Gain Muscle, and Get Healthier
24 Jan 2012 | 11:17 pmEditor’s note: This is a guest post by John Berardi, PhD. When we were kids, Mom was always looking out for our health. Chew your food. Eat your vegetables. And always eat breakfast because it’s the most important meal of the day. As busy grown-ups, a good breakfast often falls victim to the time crunch. Who has time to cook and eat a breakfast of champions? It’s so much faster and more convenient to just grab a coffee and a bran muffin. Of course, deep down we know it’s not right. Not only would Mom disapprove, that pudgy physique in the mirror deserves better, too. So what’s a guy… -
Anatomy of a Dopp Kit
23 Jan 2012 | 8:27 pmIllustration by Ted Slampyak See also: Building the Perfect Dopp Kit What do you pack in your Dopp kit? Related Photos -
A Formula for Success: The Power of Implementation Intentions
22 Jan 2012 | 4:45 pmIf you’re like many men across the world, you probably set some new goals for yourself on January 1. Maybe it was to work out regularly or get into the reading habit. Or maybe you wanted to pay off your debt or increase your productivity. Perhaps you did okay for the first week or two, but have already fallen off the goal-achieving wagon. Oh well. There’s always next year, right? Hold on there, chief. No need to wallow in regret for the awesome life that could have been. There’s still hope for you yet. To end this month-o-motivation, I set out to do a comprehensive post… -
Dim & Dash: Picking Up a Date
19 Jan 2012 | 5:01 pmRelated Photos
-
Going The Wong Way
-
Your Word
25 Jan 2012 | 7:56 am# trusting_others.py # How our words affect our interaction with others. You're only as good as your word! # Psuedocode: # Maintain list of trust that others have, which is unknown to you # Interact with people each day # Alter trust with your words # Trust quotient is a quantifier for one person's trust for another TRUST_REWARD = 1 TRUST_PENALTY = 15 # Dictionary containing name and trust quotient values that other people have for you trust = {} for day in days: for person in interactions(day): if person not in trust: # Other people's trust depends on some variables trust[person] =… -
San Diego
16 Dec 2011 | 2:27 amThis was a trip to San Diego, CA that included the zoo, Hash House A Go Go, and a little beach time. Check out more pictures at the San Diego Oct 2011 Gallery. -
Crom, The One Who Loves/Hates His Girlfriend
15 Nov 2011 | 3:10 amSo we know that Crom has a girlfriend. It seems like he likes her a lot. He talks to her on a very frequent basis as far as I can tell. I rather wish that I did not observe so much about him! From what I can recall, he talks to her at least twice a day. Every. Single. Day. The weird thing is that I get the impression that they also see each other quite often (I would guess 4 times a week). Is that the weirdest thing? No not by a long shot. There are plenty of people out there who cannot get enough of seeing and talking to each other. And I am sure that there are plenty… -
Xi’an
24 Oct 2011 | 2:04 amContinuing with the trip to Asia, here are some pictures from the historical city of Xi’an. It is one of the oldest cities, and it was heavily used as the capital of China for several dynasties. Nowadays, though? It’s not as prominent. Nevertheless it had its moments. Check out more at the Xi’an Gallery. -
The Telephone Problem
12 Oct 2011 | 2:44 amThe game telephone (although apparently its original name is a bit more offensive!) is a simple game that teaches us a valuable lesson. From it we learn that people are awful at accurate transmission of information. In the case of the game, it leads to amusement and fun when finding out how quickly and drastically words will change. However the game is not as funny in its everyday depictions. We reference people who reference other people who read about some research piece in a magazine. Other people pass along hearsay as common knowledge, and we grow to have a distorted view of…
-
Hole In The Donut Cultural Travel
-
PHOTO: Locks Along the Erie Canal in Lockport, New York
27 Jan 2012 | 7:30 pmYou might also like:PHOTO: Dia del Muerto Skulls in Playa del Carmen, MexicoPHOTO: Magnificent Frigatebird in Courtship Display on North Seymour Island in the Galapagos Islands...PHOTO: Calle La Ronda in Quito, EcuadorPHOTO: Termas de la Virgen Thermal Baths in Banos, Ecuador Uses Water Heated by the Volcano it AbutsPHOTO: Musicians From All Over the World Come to San Bartolome to Buy These Handmade Guitars -
PHOTO: Vendors Selling Trinkets Line The Streets Around Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal
26 Jan 2012 | 7:45 pmYou might also like:PHOTO: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, DCPHOTO: Khone Phapheng Waterfall on the Mekong River in southern LaosPHOTO: Swimming Through Caves at Rio Secreto, an Underground River in Mexico's Yucatan PeninsulaPHOTO: Juvenile Red-Footed Booby, Galapagos Islands of EcuadorPHOTO: Cerro Santa Ana from Malecon 2000 in Guayaquil, Ecuador -
PHOTO: Evening in the Backpacker District of Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal
25 Jan 2012 | 4:45 pmYou might also like:PHOTO: Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Washington, DCPHOTO: Capitol Building, Washington, DCPHOTO: Historic Great Camp Sagamore, Adirondack Park, in Upstate New YorkPHOTO: Proud Peacock Spreads His Tail Feathers in ScotlandPHOTO: Bikes are the Preferred Method of Travel in Luang Prabang, Laos -
PHOTO: Ancient Palaces in Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Nepal
24 Jan 2012 | 5:30 pmYou might also like:PHOTO: Queen's View of Loch Tummel at Tay Forest Park in the Trossachs National Park, ScotlandPHOTO: Rainbow Over Horseshoe Falls at Niagara Falls, CanadaPHOTO: Cerro Santa Ana from Malecon 2000 in Guayaquil, EcuadorPHOTO: School Bands Perform in Plaza Grande During Special Event in Old Town, Quito, EcuadorPHOTO: One of Many Lovely Churches in the Old Town of Cuenca, Ecuador -
PHOTO: Mayan Ruins of Tulum in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula
23 Jan 2012 | 5:45 pmYou might also like:PHOTO: Capitol Rotunda, Washington, DCPHOTO: Waterfall at Babinda Boulders in the Atherton Tablelands of Northeast AustraliaPHOTO: Sun Sets Over Historic Buildings in Hot Springs, North CarolinaPHOTO: Yellow Crowned Night Heron Runs Across Rocks in the Galapagos Islands of EcuadorPHOTO: Views During Hike to Cheese Factory on Quilotoa Circuit, Near Chugchilan, Ecuador
-
Anne Jackson Writes
-
Hope (A Farewell Post)
5 Jan 2012 | 2:24 pmYou may find yourself without hope today. A little over a year ago, I found myself in the darkest time of my life. My marriage had ended. There were days I couldn’t leave my house. Days I hurt myself. Days I didn’t eat. Or sleep. Or care. I wanted to die. I saw no purpose in life. The only thing I (barely) had strength to do was ask. I needed help, and I knew it. Because of the generosity and insight of my friends, I was able to receive intensive counseling at an inpatient facility in the southwest. Walking in, I thought it was my last chance. Nothing had pulled me out of the… -
Here, Now
25 Oct 2011 | 12:43 amOpen hands. Where are my feet? Here, now. Feeling each breath; no control; automatic. Use them all…my prayer. Use my hands to comfort; Use my feet to explore; Use my breath to show how grateful I am for life. Body and spirit as an act of praise. The only sacrifice you desire; Holy and living for you. -
Drink it Deeply
12 Oct 2011 | 6:02 pm“Drink it deeply,” she said, about the changing colors in the trees and the well-worn paths of the forest. “I forgot how,” I responded. “Will it return to me?” My concern was valid. I stared, parched and thirsty, into the faded and falling leaves. I laid down on a bench, praying the earth would take me and embrace me as her own. The only thing I felt was the wood supporting me. As dusk softened the sunset, I got up from the bench and continued on the trail, not oblivious to the beauty around me. But I was numb to it; maybe even jealous of the communion…
-
DivineCaroline Home Page
-
Falling Back
27 Jan 2012 | 6:10 pmIn every single person's life, is not determined by how many tim... -
Look of the Week: Elizabeth Banks
27 Jan 2012 | 6:09 pmElizabeth Banks reached new fashion heights in a daring Emilio Pucci ... -
A Mother's Legacy
27 Jan 2012 | 6:08 pmExpecting my first child, I was filled with joy and love for him... -
Sugar and Spice and Dressing for Vice
27 Jan 2012 | 6:06 pmI have long ago accepted that clothing retailers consider children a v... -
To Sex or Not to Sex?
27 Jan 2012 | 5:55 pmAs I'm writing this, I'm a little amused that my girlfrien...
-
My Blog
-
Agenda 2012
6 Jan 2012 | 6:08 pmI don’t usually have a real agenda for my reading, unless there are certain texts assigned for work. For the most part, I just make my way through my books (several at a time) as I feel like it. Recently, though, I worked on a list of things that I wanted to read in 2010, focusing on books that are geared to help me become a better writer (specifically, a better writer of speculative poetry). I continued the practice last year, and enjoyed the process once again.I’ve included last year’s list at the bottom. Here, though, is a new list that I will use for 2012. I have decided to read a… -
Hit or Miss, December ’11
31 Dec 2011 | 7:19 amDecember has been a pretty good month of reading and film for me. Most of the movies were things I caught on the plane during our travels to Australia. I also wrapped up some projects in November and December, which allowed me a little more time for leisure reading.Anyway, here’s what I’ve been reading and viewing over the past month...Hit List • Northern Girls: Live Goes On (Sheng Keyi) • remnants (Eddie Tay) • Dark Eden (Lewis Sanders) • Everything Must Go (movie) • The Trotsky (movie) • The Tree of Life (movie) • The Beaver (movie) • The Anatomy Theater (Nadine Sabra… -
The Trotsky (a review)
11 Dec 2011 | 12:54 amI came across the Canadian film The Trotsky while flying to Australia earlier this month. I hadn’t heard of it before, and knew nothing about it until I read the little blurb on the tiny screen embedded into the back of the seat in front of me. I decided to watch it, and I am really glad I did. I thought it was absolutely hilarious, and had a bit of a punch to it as well.The Trotsky is a high school flick with a good dose of political dialogue injected into it. I liked the way the discussion of Marxism(s) past and present were bandied about between the characters, seeing how the issues… -
Hit or Miss, November ’11
30 Nov 2011 | 7:32 pmI did not do as much reading as I expected in November, mostly because I have one book that’s got me bogged down (and I’m still not done with it). I hope to finish that in December, and get on to several of the reading projects I have lined up (including my agenda for this year and the fill in the gaps list on the righthand side of this page).I did get to see a couple of nice shows before leaving Shanghai to head back to Singapore — where I was unable (sadly) to get tickets to see Kevin Spacey play Richard III.Anyway, here’s what I’ve been reading and viewing over the past… -
Hit or Miss, October ’11
1 Nov 2011 | 9:38 pmIs October already over? How did that happen?My Hit or Miss list is a little on the short side again this month, but it was a good month of reading. I’ve spent a lot of time polishing the translation of Northern Girls (《北妹》), and that has been fun. It’s also taken up the bulk of my reading time (along with another writing project I am wrapping up). But reading 《北妹》is always a good thing. It’s a very well-written book.I did manage to make a little progress on my Fill in the Gaps list (see block on the right). I hit the halfway point, and I’ve still got till the end of…
-
VirtualWayfarer
-
Friday’s Weekly Travel Photo – Sunset in Belize
26 Jan 2012 | 2:16 amThe beauty of a seaside sunset is pretty hard to beat. Especially when that sunset is from a tiny island in the middle of Central America, just off the coast of Belize. I snapped today’s Friday Photo from a small wooden dock on the island of Tobacco Caye. The island/caye sits just off the tiny coastal city of Dangriga and is situated along/just inside the world’s second largest barrier reef. The snorkeling off the coast of the island was unreal and full of incredible reef life which ranged from large barracuda to spotted eagle rays. If you have the opportunity to visit… -
Credit Card Fees and Currency Concerns – Ask Alex – Travel Question Wednesdays
25 Jan 2012 | 2:20 amThis post is part of the Ask Alex, Travel Question Wednesdays weekly series. To see previous questions click here. To submit your own; tweet it to @AlexBerger, ask it in a comment on this post or send it in by e-mail. A quick introductory note – When I began authoring VirtualWayfarer in July of 2007 I never expected that I’d still be blogging on travel, adventures, study abroad and everything that goes with it nearly five years later. Over the years I’ve had a lot of questions and luckily my friends, network, and more than a few random strangers have gone well out of… -
A Traveler’s Journal: Meandering Budapest’s Streets
23 Jan 2012 | 8:34 pmWith its origins dating back to the 9th century, Budapest was officially formed in 1873 when the cities of Buda, Pest and Obuda were unified. Once hailed as the heart of Europe and the Pearl of the Danube, it can be easy to overlook Budapest’s rich and influential history. I didn’t know what to expect. I knew that Budapest was a mecca for backpackers and that just about every person I’ve ever met who visited fell in love with the city. Many described it as similar, but uniquely different, from Prague in the Czech Republic, a city I visited in 2007 and found to be… -
Friday’s Weekly Travel Photo – Preikestolen Norway
20 Jan 2012 | 2:50 amToday’s Friday Photo comes from Preikestolen, Norway also known as the Preacher’s Pulpit. This incredible rock formation overlooks the Lysefjorden and consists of a rock outcropping which is about 82 feet by 82 feet and projects out into empty space over the fjord. As you can see from today’s photo the view down is pretty stunning. What you’re looking at is about 1,982 feet of fresh Norwegian air between the ledge, my boots and the fjord below. Due to the nearly square nature of the pulpit and the sturdy nature of the rock which forms it, most visitors pause… -
How To Pick A Travel Partner – Ask Alex – Travel Question Wednesdays
18 Jan 2012 | 6:21 amThis post is part of the Ask Alex, Travel Question Wednesdays weekly series. To see previous questions click here. To submit your own; tweet it to @AlexBerger, ask it in a comment on this post or send it in by e-mail. A quick introductory note – When I began authoring VirtualWayfarer in July of 2007 I never expected that I’d still be blogging on travel, adventures, study abroad and everything that goes with it nearly five years later. Over the years I’ve had a lot of questions and luckily my friends, network, and more than a few random strangers have gone well out of…
-
No Pasa Nada
-
#34: Learn to Snowboard
22 Jan 2012 | 1:50 pm“Enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think.” ~Chinese Proverb Spoiler Alert! I’ve been limping around airports all morning stopping every few feet to massage my right hip. For some inexplicable reason my right shoulder is aching as well and then there’s the wrist problem. No matter because I had fun. In every sense of the word I enjoyed, I smiled, played, fell on my butt and kept on keeping on. Rewind to about a month ago when I ran into a colleague while in the break room to grab eyeglass cleaner and cold medicine. She asked what I had planned for the weekend… -
“I think I could fall madly in bed with you”
17 Jan 2012 | 11:26 pm“I think I could fall madly in bed with you.” ~Author Unknown The end of the 2011 was lovely and then 2012 came and blew my face off with it’s awfulness. Not real awfulness but the type where things keep piling up and then one day you tell your mother to get the fuck off of you as you hop out of moving car. And then you get to walk a mile in the cold without a coat but your body is heated by so much anger. SO MUCH. And you arrive at the bar and say to Favorite Bartender, “I want to get so drunk that I don’t remember my own name” and he says, “I can… -
That’s What Friends Are For
19 Dec 2011 | 7:40 pm“If I had to sum up Friendship in one word, it would be Comfort.” ~Terri Guillemets Me: What will I wear to Utah in January in front of a bunch of design bloggers? Her: What will I wear this weekend? Stupid Christmas. Me: Don’t you own an LBD, cute tights, stacked heels. Statement necklace in gold…? Her: …. Me: I thought you were the expert here! What’s the point of having a best friend who is a stylist. What if you had a Tom Coburn emergency! I’d totally be there for you! -
Life List #57: Wear Real Red Lipstick
18 Dec 2011 | 3:33 pm“Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick.” ~Gwyneth Paltrow In college I had a professor tell me that I have a presence about me. Something that I give off that forces people to pay attention to me. As such I have spent years hiding in corners and behind plants because I do not thrive well with a lot of attention. In fact I will create a diversion in order to keep your eyes off of me but does it work? Hardly ever. In fact it ends up causing people to gravitate towards me even if I’m busying myself with Socially Awkward… -
Southwest New York Needs Some Love
13 Dec 2011 | 3:18 pm“Ironically, rural America has become viewed by a growing number of Americans as having a higher quality of life not because of what it has, but rather because of what it does not have!” ~Don A. Dillman On a trip to the Southern Tier of New York I had a lot of time to think. Think about the weather, what the options might be for dinner, whether or not I should return a statement necklace, if I brought my blush. Clearly the deep, life-changing thoughts that I am prone too. But also the type of thinking one has when faced with miles of nothing; nary a person or a…
-
To Think Is To Create
-
The Promise
25 Jan 2012 | 11:40 pmI wake to two little eyes focused on me. Little eyelashes growing long, coming to have a curl at the end. I see those eyes crinkle into the most quiet of grins, beckoning me to wake for the day. She doesn’t wake me with a cry but with a spirit-nudge. Each morning I gently open my own eyes, sure that it’s the sun and not the baby that woke me — and she’s there awake, waiting.We seem to always wake face to face, eyes focused on the future of our heart bond… {{Click to read the rest about The Promise over at Incourage today}} Share and Enjoy: -
These Are The Days
17 Jan 2012 | 3:32 pmI can’t gulp her in fast enough. Mouth wide, I try. Heart opened to hinge-breaking width, it’s still not enough. Her lashes grow and each day I watch them. Time stands still for those moments. Her eyes are almond shapes that turn up at the corners. They beckon me to a guttural, ancient response of the swooned variety. And still, I wouldn’t be surprised if her brothers tired of her. She does get most of the attention around here right now. Especially when she cried every waking moment those first few months. But they didn’t then, and they don’t now. They… -
In These 2 Years
6 Jan 2012 | 2:14 pmShe died this day that year, and on Sunday we will celebrate the day she was born. Again with the backwards of it all. And it will always be backwards. The finality of it still catches in my throat like a lump of dirt that I still can’t swallow. Brothers request a cake and a party and we will miss and cry and be grateful for what is. And we will have cake. They cry today missing her, even while holding her sister, and I ask myself again how they could feel what I feel so strongly when they weren’t there. But they are of my blood and so much of me that I know. They feel like they… -
Small Style – This Christmas
30 Dec 2011 | 2:39 pmIt was our first Christmas with a baby girl, even though she spent the holiday with roseola and the pitiful attitude to go along with it. It was the first Christmas where vinyl was played, the first with our new vintage tinsel tree, the first where cornbread muffins and cupcakes were from scratch and one where the gifts were not lavish, yet very well received. It was a humble Christmas, and it felt just right. Lots of exciting things coming in 2012 This weekend feels like the quiet before the storm. Here’s to a new year of love and creativity! Wishing so much love and goodness to you… -
Come See The River
7 Dec 2011 | 3:47 amShe is the deep thinker I am. Perplexed by the camera which turns grins into hilarious judgy baby face. She prefers me, which is entirely new to this mama. {swoon to the max} She is having good nights and the evenings are still hard but I know her cries now. I can tell when she just wants me. Or just needs sleep. Or really just hurts. While she sleeps most of the night in her bassinet I can’t wait for the wakeup when I’ll bring her into bed with me to snuggle and connect and stare at her face {I really need to start sleeping one of these days.}. I hear God whisper that this is…
-
CrazyAuntPurl
-
Los Angeles at night
27 Jan 2012 | 3:15 pm -
Raindrops keep falling on my head
23 Jan 2012 | 5:34 pmI love rainy days in Los Angeles. The building next door has tin rain gutters and the sound is surprisingly comforting, like soft southern rain on a barn roof. The bathroom in the hallway has a skylight and the pattering rain there sounds nice, too, though fainter. I amuse myself on rainy days by going to the grocery store and watching people straggle in wearing their pajamas and Ugg boots. There hasn't been much of that lately, though. Since last June we've only had four inches of rain. Today was a nice change, maybe it will rain some more tonight. Other things I like: working (and existing)… -
And then there was the time I pressed that button.
20 Jan 2012 | 4:28 pmComments have been disabled site-wide in preparation for the upcoming software overhaul. It's not a precursor or a dark foreshadowing of a comment-free future, it's just for a few days. So we don't break anything. (Again.) While prepping my server for the upgrade this morning, guess what happened! I sort of deleted the entire database. Yes, that's right, I pressed a button and *poof* like magic all eight years of writing and cat pictures and navel-gazing and comma splices disappeared. Gone. Finished. Luckily I have a remarkable server company (pair.com, if you need the best hosting on the… -
Rise of the machines
17 Jan 2012 | 7:12 pmThe DVR cerebellum is mighty. Somewhere along the line my Tivo developed a brain of its own and grew wise and now outranks me in IQ. Proof? A few weeks ago it spontaneously decided on its own to stop recording The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. While I still plod along in my human toil, looking forward to my trashy hour of Kyle and Kim and Vanderliciousness, my Tivo grew a brain and decided to stop watching the show. Out of contempt for me, perhaps, the Tivo still has the show on its season pass list. Yet nary an episode has been recorded in two months. I have had to catch up on my trash… -
Bold
12 Jan 2012 | 4:11 pmOh Magique! Are you a stripper? A sparkling body spray? A purveyor of magic tricks? A master of disguise? So many questions! So little time at the red light.
-
Confessions of a Pioneer Woman | Ree Drummond
-
Tony, Bill, Football, Food, & Fun
27 Jan 2012 | 6:41 amTomorrow’s show on Food Network is, I think, my favorite one so far. That’s because Tony and Bill, Marlboro Man’s two good friends from college, visit the ranch to watch Arizona State (their alma mater) play Arizona (their arch rival) on TV. I’ve blogged about Tony and Bill here and there, as Marlboro Man has stayed in close touch with them through the years and we get to see them every so often. Tony lives in Virginia, Bill lives in Chicago, and both of them wanted to come to the ranch and sleep in, relax, and watch football. Instead Marlboro Man woke them up… -
Smile!
25 Jan 2012 | 12:46 pm…And the world smiles with you. It takes more muscles to frown than to smile. Turn that frown upside down. Smile – It’s the second best thing you can do with your lips. “A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.” Phyllis Diller “Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” Mother Teresa “One word or a pleasing smile is often enough to raise up a saddened and wounded soul.” Therese Of Lisieux “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” Dr. Seuss “What sunshine… -
The Two Very Best Cats in the World, I Think
23 Jan 2012 | 7:26 amThey’re affectionate. They’re communicative. They lie on their backs and allow me to rub their bellies without instinctively clawing and biting my hand because they’re afraid my hand is going to attack their internal organs. I assume that’s why most cats don’t let people rub their bellies, but I’m not sure. Maybe cats are just ticklish. Either way, I rub my cats’ bellies with impunity. They’re sweet to each other. They lick each other’s ears. They lick each other’s paws. They start purring when anyone starts talking to them. They… -
Cause and Effect
19 Jan 2012 | 7:06 amIf my maternal grandparents had never moved to the town where my paternal grandparents lived, my parents wouldn’t have met. If my parents had never met, they wouldn’t have gotten married. If they’d never gotten married, I wouldn’t have been born. If I’d never been born, I wouldn’t have had a brother. If I’d never had a brother, he wouldn’t have drawn a kindergarten picture of himself sitting alone in a room with a sad expression and a caption underneath that read “I have no dog.” If my brother had never drawn that picture, my dad… -
Walter and Kitten Haiku
17 Jan 2012 | 4:45 amKitten and Walter Make the strangest bedfellows Beauty and the beast. Beautiful Kitten Sleeps facing the other way Afraid of dog breath. Walter hears the click Of my cam’ra and opens His sweet droopy eyes. Walter asks Kitten “Want me to go get a mint?” Kitten says “Please yes.”
-
Jonniker.
-
Three of Us in a Boat
26 Jan 2012 | 10:05 pmCan we talk about personality quirks? I was thinking about this yesterday as Adam and I were getting ready for bed. We are RIDICULOUS about bedtime and we often joke that we’re so prescriptive in the way we get ready for bed NOW that when we’re old, it’s going to be so over-ritualized that we’re going to have to start at 4 p.m. We both wear earplugs (and yes, we can hear Sam, it just muffles the tandem snoring), while I have an eye mask, a specific requirement for pajamas (thin cotton pants, T-shirt) AND sleeping underwear and a certain pattern of left-side, right-side… -
Eat for Two
23 Jan 2012 | 9:47 pmI feel as though I should be over this by now (haaaa, “over”), but nope, I still can’t get over the fact that I’m having two girls. Two girls! Two daughters! No matter what I’d be having, two children are bound to be packed with insanity, but there’s something about two daughters that’s both exhilarating and terrifying. Maybe it’s the teenage years (it so is) or the idea of having multiple females going through PMS at the same time. The expenses! The mean girls! (Please, don’t let my girls be mean girls. PLEASE.) The middle school years! -
And It Spread
17 Jan 2012 | 9:59 pmSo I had my second repeat ultrasound today at 20w1d, and after mentioning the, shall we say, less than stellar experience I had last time, the nurse took pity on me and told me precisely which ultrasound tech to request, and lo, I got her. She also confided in me that the bad ultrasound tech is known for getting the sex of the baby wrong most of the time. Most! Of! The! Time! SAY WHAAAT, AM I RIGHT? At least that explains why she didn’t want to do it. Not that it’s an excuse, but I suppose I’d be reluctant to do something I knew I sucked at. But more likely, I would TRY TO… -
Blood of Eden
12 Jan 2012 | 8:59 pmFirst, I loved all of your comments on the name post, and my only gripe was that every comment wasn’t, oh! I wish I could have named my daughter Samantha! And [baby #2's name]. What is WRONG with you people? I HAVE THE BEST NAMES WE SHOULD ALL USE THEM, THE END. Well, except don’t, because I’m totally kidding, and then we’d all be living in some creepy John Malkovich world. Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich! [Aside: Anyone else find John Malkovich COMPLETELY sexy, or is that just me?] The only comment that perplexed me was Maya’s, because I had not previously heard… -
What’s My Name?
9 Jan 2012 | 9:16 pmIn the event there was any doubt that pregnancy is the most generous state of being, despite being down ten pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight AND being able to throw on my pre-pregnancy jeans with relative, if appropriately belly-tight, ease, oh you guys, MY FACE. It is large. And puffy. And NOTHING ELSE IS. What has happened here? I have Tori Spelling Pregnant Lady Face! I mean, I wasn’t exactly at my fighting weight to begin this whole process, but given that I’ve LITERALLY spent an overwhelming amount of this past year pregnant, I’m not really bothered by THAT. I am,…
-
larry borsato
-
Why the secrecy? He already has the job.
19 Jan 2012 | 9:24 amAfter being President of the United States for almost four years, President Obama still refuses to release his college transcripts (via I Hate The Media): Ed Henry, FOX News: “I don’t know how many years, maybe you do, George Romney released of his college transcripts, but Republicans like to complain that the President has not released his college transcripts. What is the stated reason for that?” Jay Carney, White House: “I would refer you to the campaign. The man already has the job. At this point, even if he was a C student, what is the harm in releasing the… -
Generating outrage.
12 Jan 2012 | 7:17 pmWhat’s wrong with this paragraph in an editorial in The Record? Cures for addiction are seldom pretty. And the cure for a government addicted to overspending is surely so. Drummond appears poised to prescribe massive budget cuts in most provincial ministries — some as deep as 30 per cent — over the next five years. The reins of restraint will tug sharply on health and education spending, too. While McGuinty has planned to scale back the yearly increments in health care funding to three per cent, Drummond says that’s not good enough. He’s pushing for annual increases of just 2.5… -
Leaving well enough alone.
4 Jan 2012 | 9:52 amThis article in the National Post caught my attention today: People from well-educated families are almost twice as likely to suffer from some dangerous food allergies as others — possibly because their bodies’ natural defences have been lowered by rigorous hygiene and infection control, suggests a new Canadian study. I’m not a scientist at all but I have a theory, totally untested and unproven, that using all manner of antibacterial soap and sundries would lead to a lower tolerance for germs. Basically the same goes for avoiding all kinds of foods, such as peanuts, would lead to… -
A country rife with racism and discrimination?
2 Jan 2012 | 10:43 amI came upon this site via a Twitter link today, but I’m really not sure if it is serious, or just some sort of very bad joke. Teaching For Change is apparently an organization that, in their own words, seeks to to transform America into a more “equitable, multicultural society” by implementing “social justice” education in K-12 schools. Now I always have a problem with the term social justice, if only because I just don’t understand who the final arbiters are or what constitutes justice. But as I read I was stunned by this assertion: Proceeding from the premise… -
Words
1 Jan 2012 | 7:54 amI love words. I’ve always had an affinity for words; knowing them, defining them, and using them, especially in unusual ways. I enjoy using 50 cent words as we called them when we were kids – those big words that people rarely use – secure in the knowledge that I also knew the simpler way to say the same thing. And I’ve always enjoyed adding to my vocabulary and playing with words with friends (though I don’t actually play Words With Friends). I’ll credit my parents for helping me to develop that skill; they taught me to read by reading the newspaper, and…
-
WordPress.com News
-
Chrome Users: Try the WordPress.com Extension
27 Jan 2012 | 1:54 pmWant to receive WordPress.com notifications instantly, even when you’re not on WordPress.com? Add the new WordPress.com extension for Chrome and as soon as you get a new follower or a new like on one of your posts, a notification will appear in your browser: Simply click the icon to view your latest WordPress.com notifications: Start following new blogs without visiting WordPress.com The Chrome extension also makes it easy to follow sites from your WordPress.com account by displaying a Follow button whenever you’re browsing a site that has an RSS feed. Clicking the Follow button… -
Your Stats Have a New Home
26 Jan 2012 | 10:46 amAre you addicted to checking your site stats? You are not alone. The stats dashboard has always been one of the most popular admin screens. It’s gratifying to know that people are visiting your place online. With the WordPress.com front page evolving into a one-stop shop for posting, exploring, following and reading blogs, it seemed natural to put your blog stats there, too. Stats are becoming more and more about interacting with your readers and other bloggers. You’ll still see your summary stats and chart on your main dashboard, and the full stats page in your dashboard will… -
Reblogging is Back!
22 Jan 2012 | 1:27 pmAs we mentioned last week, you can like and reblog posts directly from your reader, which displays a stream of all the updates published on all the blogs you follow from your WordPress.com account. We’ve also brought the reblog button back to the toolbar that appears at the top of the screen when you’re logged into WordPress.com. Note that you’ll only see the like and reblog options while you’re looking at individual posts. For example, you’ll see this on the left side of your toolbar while viewing http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/read-blogs: And your… -
New Theme: Newsy
20 Jan 2012 | 12:18 pmIt’s been an extra big week in the news ’round these parts, so much so that the launch announcement of our latest premium theme seems like an extra extra good way to headline our Friday. Newsy is a versatile business and news-friendly theme that offers up to ten different layouts, four footer columns, custom link and accent colors, and a custom site header. Brand and content-focused editorial teams will love publishing with this theme. Newsy: Home Page Designed by Themify, Newsy comes with an impressive set of Theme Options that afford you a great deal of flexibility with how you… -
Read All Your Favorite Blogs in One Place
19 Jan 2012 | 6:04 pmIf you feel like it’s a chore to keep up with all your favorite blogs, you can now read posts from all the blogs you follow (even the ones that aren’t on WordPress.com!) in one convenient place on the WordPress.com home page: Your reader displays all the posts across all the blogs you follow in the order they were published, with the most recent content appearing at the top. You’ll see an excerpt of the introduction to each post, the first image in the post, and thumbnails of any other images that the post contains. You can even like and reblog WordPress.com content directly…
-
Boss Sanders
-
Tater Tot Crack… I mean … Casserole. Another Recipe!
21 Jan 2012 | 8:38 amIngredients 1 (10-ounce ) can cream of mushroom or chicken soup 1 cup milk 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil 1 pound of ground beef 1 teaspoon of minced garlic 1 tablespoon of fresh basil 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme dash of Cayenne pepper dash of Mrs. Dash Southwest Chipotle seasoning Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, divided Velveeta cheese to taste 1 pound package of frozen tater tots Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter or spray a 9 x 9 inch casserole dish with non-stick spray; set aside. Whisk together the cream soup and… -
White Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas — A Recipe!
18 Jan 2012 | 8:26 amThis recipe is one of our all-time favorites! If you like cheesy yumminess and chicken… well, you won’t go wrong with this one! Ingredients 1/2 c green pepper, chopped 2 T butter 2 c cooked chicken 1 4 oz can green chili peppers, chopped 3 T butter 1/4 c flour 1 t ground coriander 3/4 t. salt 2 1/2 c chicken broth 1 c sour cream 6 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded 12 6-inch tortillas Instructions Cook green pepper in 2 T. butter until tender. Combine green pepper in a bowl with chicken and chili peppers; set aside. For sauce, melt 3 T. butter and stir in flour, coriander,… -
Delicious Chocolate Chip Cookies! –A Recipe
16 Jan 2012 | 10:26 pmI’ve been on a search for some “new-to-me” favorite recipes. I think this one has made it onto our family’s list. Ingredients ½ cup unsalted butter, softened 1 cup brown sugar 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 egg 2 teaspoons vanilla extract ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 ½ teaspoons instant coffee powder 1 ¾ cups flour 8 ounces semisweet chocolate chips or chocolate chunks Instructions Cream the butter with the sugars until fluffy. Beat in the egg and the vanilla extract. Combine the dry ingredients and beat into the butter… -
Themes – 2012
8 Jan 2012 | 12:40 pmI believe in prayer, more specifically, I believe in very specific prayer. I also believe in goals and I believe that if you don’t write it down, it’s not a goal. Last year, I kept noticing this recurrent theme in my prayers and life in general: GRACE. It became my prayer and my goal. Much of my daily living became focused on learning and living this one word. This year, my word is PATIENCE. Patience with God’s timing. Patience with others. With my husband. Children. Myself. What is your theme for 2012? If you were to sum up in one word what you are meant to work… -
Fat, Sick And Nearly Dead
6 Jan 2012 | 12:21 pmThose of you who know me, know I am a committed health freak who NEVER sways. (Haha, okay take a moment to go change your pants from laughing so hard…) Anyways, I spotted the film above on Netflix and was admittedly intrigued. So, I dug my Breville Juicer out from beneath layers of dust and tried Joe’s MEAN GREEN juice… MEAN GREEN JUICE: 6 Kale Leaves 1 Cucumber 4 Celery Stalks 2 Green Apples 1/2 Lemon 1 piece of ginger It was… well… GREEN. Have you tried it? What did you think? Are you going to do the 10-30-or-60-day juice cleanse? Do you have any favorite…
-
the slack daily
-
(wo)Man vs. Self
19 Jan 2012 | 2:39 pmI'm working on it. -
The Next Step.
15 Jan 2012 | 2:56 pmWoke up at 4:50am. On the road to Santa Monica by 5:20am. Three blocks away from the preferred parking (which I shelled out an extra $20 for) at 6:10am. The half-marathon was supposed to begin at 7:00am. We were told that preferred parking was going to close at 6:30am. We had 20 minutes to go three blocks. Will had to pee so I let him out and told him I'd meet him at the starting line. At 6:48am I reached preferred parking. I was told by the race official that it was closed. We were dead-ended at the beach, so I asked him where else I could find parking. "On South Venice" he told me and then… -
Present and Produce.
4 Jan 2012 | 1:34 pmTwo blog ladies who I really love - Sizzle and the Hollywood Housewife - put their new year's resolutions in the form of a mantra or an intention, something that is an overall guiding principle for the 365 (366?) days ahead. The last six months has a whirlwind. The second half of 2011 saw me getting back into the writing game full-time as I made my return to tween TV on the new Nickelodeon show How to Rock (premiering February 4!) I went from noodling around on a couple of scripts to run-throughs and tape nights and the writers' room and a regular paycheck and other exciting developments that… -
2012!
1 Jan 2012 | 11:38 amNew Year's was spent as it has been for the past three years: no makeup, in my PJs, drinking champagne, and livetweeting the Twilight Zone Marathon. Sidenote: I am going to be FORTY this year. When did that happen? Daisy was bored by it all. We were asleep before midnight. Hope you had the holiday you wanted. As for us, we have a fridge full of Italian food and a group of friends coming over to eat it. (Which is precisely the holiday I wanted.) I'd like to be here more this year, but as always, you can find me on Tumblr and Twitter. -
The You're Awesome Holiday Letter
19 Dec 2011 | 1:15 pmEvery year instead of getting gifts that are probably awesome but just add to our "stuff" I send out a "you're awesome" letter. To friends, family, or random people on the Internet. Sure, it's not commercialized and it doesn't kill the environment and you can't unwrap it and force a fake smile ("IT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED!") and it's not a Lexus with a shiny bow. But it's free, it's easy, and it just takes a little bit of time to make someone's day. So pretty much not what the holidays are about. But I encourage you to do it anyway.
-
She Just Walks Around With It
-
How Stuff Is And Things
23 Jan 2012 | 7:09 pmIt's always hard for me to write something "real" (not that illustrations of gnomes isn't hardcore blogging) after a long break because I feel like you have no idea what's going on in my life and why would you want to hear about our experience observing a PRESCHOOL when the last time I wrote my kid was barely walking?So here are some completely random udpates. It makes me feel like I'm clearing the decks to write more stuff later.I will also number these updates for no reason.Townsend is a delightful baby. He is happy ALL OF THE TIME.Unless he's cutting teeth AND sick at the same time, which… -
For Football Fans Everywhere - YOU MADE ME WEAR SPARKLES!
17 Jan 2012 | 3:18 pmI was going to get into a long preamble. One about how my father was a nationally recognized athlete and sports fanatic who married a woman who couldn't stand televised competitions of any sort (sports, Olympics, even The Price Is Right) and who raised three daughters who were largely more concerned with halftime shows than anything else happening on the field.My preamble was also going to mention something about how my sister, Healy was living in Boston when the Sox finally won the World Series and how it changed her baseball ambivalence forever. And about how my sister, Samantha, has slowly… -
Where Have All The Burp Cloths Gone Gnome?
13 Jan 2012 | 7:29 pmWhen Eve was a baby big enough to "crawl" (and "crawl" meant, for several months, dragging her tiny body along the floors by her right arm like a wounded soldier), she went through a charming period where she spit up ALL THE TIME. For about three months, Eve would start army-crawling herself across the floor, puke up half her bottle, then slide herself through it. (All of her baby clothes from this period in her life have gray stains down the center.)Now, those of you without children who ever did this sort of thing might be wondering: Um, once she spit up, why didn't you just clean it up… -
The "Let's Ask A Two-Year-Old A Question" Game!
11 Jan 2012 | 3:42 pmMy two-year-old daughter, Eve, is delightful.Most of the time.But some of the time she likes to play the game we call, "I'M TWO & YOU SUCK AT PARENTING!"It begins by one of us, let's say me, asking the happy, bubbly girl a question."Eve? Would you like to wear your pink shoes?"You do this, this question-asking, because you THINK it is a good thing for her development. You THINK it requires her to process and weigh information and then communicate a thought in response.You are so stupid.What you are ACTUALLY doing when you ask a two-year-old a question is, on occasion, offending EVERY… -
The Pinterest Dilemma
10 Jan 2012 | 3:59 pmPinterest is like the best and worst of all worlds. Because one second you're reading inspirational quotes...Sidebar! I hate inspirational quotes. I'm horrible and jaded, sure, but also I tend towards practicality. I absolutely believe you can do almost anything if you put your mind to it, but I prefer prescriptive motivation instead of things that are like, "Dream magical dreams and magically they will come true because of all your magical wish dust!" Whereas I saw this posted yesterday and I want to print it out and tape it to my wall. It just says: DO THE…
-
Indexed
-
Dirt: proof you left the house.
27 Jan 2012 | 11:03 amShare and Enjoy: -
You know they’re out there. Waiting.
26 Jan 2012 | 11:15 amShare and Enjoy: -
It’s corporate science!
25 Jan 2012 | 11:12 amShare and Enjoy: -
They all fall fast and brilliantly.
24 Jan 2012 | 10:44 amShare and Enjoy: -
Flavors of heartache.
23 Jan 2012 | 11:28 amShare and Enjoy:
-
xkcd.com
-
Sigh
26 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm -
Suckville
24 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm -
Sustainable
22 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm -
Sloppier Than Fiction
19 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
-
Sparks and Butterflies
-
My Son Has Been Censored
25 Jan 2012 | 6:20 pmFabulous. My son had to write a story for school that he made up. It will eventually be published in hardback with his illustrations. I won’t tell you the story verbatim, but here’s the basic gist: A boy is out on a boat, and he’s having troubles, so his three friends come to help him. As they’re bringing the boat back, limping along, they come upon a shark (IT WAS A SHARK! – My son has already mastered the “caps is yelling rule.”) So, the three friends harpoon it to save their lives. The come back to shore to have shark sushi. The end. The rough… -
I am Uneasy About Los Angeles Military Training
24 Jan 2012 | 8:47 pmOK. So, the military will be training in Los Angeles. That link is from local news, main stream. It has a tone of, “Don’t worry, nothing to see here.” I live in a suburb town about 10 minutes (ok, an hour with traffic, Good Lord the traffic) from Los Angeles. The “tin foil hat” sites that I frequent are BLOWING.UP. I’m not going to share those links with you. I’m just going to share my thoughts. The military has entire installations with all kinds of settings for training – as well it should. My husband, a former Marine, has trained in whole… -
Is This for Real?
23 Dec 2011 | 3:01 pmI get a lot of pitches. LOTS of pitches. I chuck them daily, and only read the ones addressed to ME, not “Dear Ms.,” “Hi,” or “Dear Mommyblogger.” You see I’m pretty clear on my blog, if you know where to look (and I would think PR folks would know where to look), that I do have a review blog, where to contact me, who I am, etc. I tend to only read the ones from networks I belong to and work with, or the ones addressed to, “Dear Michele.” This one was addressed to ME. So I opened it. Here it is in all its glory. Dear Michele, Happy… -
A Fact I Didn’t Know
20 Dec 2011 | 12:02 pmMy dad is 77 years old. A couple of years ago, he got a computer. You’re looking at “Tech Support.” Anyway, he’s still in the email phase of email forwards of every single funny thing he’s sent. And no, I’m not about to attempt to explain “BCC” to him, so if I have your email address and you didn’t want me to? I apologize. I pick my battles. Anyway, he sent me the following. It’s cute – thought I’d share. According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer… -
Monday Love
19 Dec 2011 | 6:09 pmNothing is wrong, per se. My father and assorted clients are just making today a real Monday, with a capital M, you know? I needed a break, so I thought I’d post something that Carmen posted on her anniversary that really spoke to me. She found it on Pinterest, so hopefully the attribution is correct. He’s not perfect. You aren’t either, and the two of you will never be perfect. But if he can make you laugh at least once, causes you to think twice, and if he admits to being human and making mistakes, hold onto him and give him the most you can. He isn’t going to quote…
-
Skimbaco Lifestyle by Katja Presnal
-
Act to Stop Children’s Obesity With Right Actions & Stop Ashaming Obese Children
27 Jan 2012 | 10:56 amObesity in children is a real issue and we as a nation need a wake up call. However the ad like the one above is NOT the answer. Learn more how to take action to make sure your child is living a healthy lifestyle, read what various experts say, and learn how you can help to spread the word to others as well to fight the obesity in children – with the right tactics. Facts About Childhood Obesity A recent study by University of North Carolina researchers examined whether doctors informed parents that their children were overweight. More accurately, it looked at whether or not parents… -
Are You Keeping Up with the Joneses?
23 Jan 2012 | 12:57 pmAre we just trying to Keep Up with the Joneses? Is it true that in our society “Keeping up with the Joneses” has become more important than happiness? If you think of your goals, dreams, and wants for your life, does your list include items that simply make you happier, make you feel you are living life to the fullest or make you feel that you are growing as a person? Or does your list include items that will improve your standing in the social ladder, makes a great story to tell your friends, or is something great to show off your co-workers? Are you truly living the life you… -
10 Tips How to Keep Your Jeans from Fading
20 Jan 2012 | 12:11 pmHow to Keep Your Jeans Looking Like New I always recommend buying better quality and less and investing in clothing you absolutely love and you will wear again and again. Same applies to jeans. I know you can get cheap jeans, but you know how you will feel in the right pair of fantastic designer jeans – so worth the money!! To protect your denim investment, here are some tips how to take care of your jeans, and keep them looking like new for longer. This way the expensive jeans truly are worth every penny and you can enjoy them again and again. Read first the clothing care tips for… -
World Design Capital Helsinki: Remote Control Café Kauko
20 Jan 2012 | 7:54 amMy old home town Helsinki is the World Design Capital of 2012, and I am so excited that I am able to cover the events and happenings in the city this year. I had in hopes to visit Helsinki at least once during 2012, but now with our move to Sweden, I know I will be visiting Helsinki all the time! Café Kauko Here is one of the first quirky cool things that popped in Helsinki for the WDC 2012: Café Kauko. Café Kauko is a popup café that moves from one place to another during 2012 (currently at the shopping center Forum in the central Helsinki). The coffee shop is sleek with modern… -
H&M David Beckham Bodywear Collection & Super Bowl Ad
19 Jan 2012 | 7:46 amH&M DAVID BECKHAM Bodywear Collection I can’t resist sharing these photos of the H&M DAVID BECKHAM Bodywear collection. Because I know you will want to see the pictures of the latest underwear for men, right? H&M is also giving me one reason to consider watching Super Bowl. H&M will debut a 30-second ad during the Super Bowl to launch the new DAVID BECKHAM Bodywear collection. The commercial, what they call “stimulating”, pops the Super Bowl advertising cherry for both H&M and David Beckham. The H&M and David Beckham alliance is just starting…
-
In Pursuit of Happiness
-
You Know What's Not the Secret to Happiness? Homeschooling.
27 Jan 2012 | 12:01 amLast year about this time, people were just beginning to ask us questions about our plans to quit our jobs, sell our stuff, move into an RV, and travel for a year. I was surprised that one of the most common questions was: What about the kids? I would laugh and say, "we decided to take them with us." I mean, really. What about the kids? I didn't understand what the confusion was about. "What about school?" Oh, that. One of the reasons I wanted to drop out of normal life for a bit was to get my kids out of school. Well, mainly Emma. While Devin has always loved school, Emma has always… -
How I Know that Happiness Is Always an Option
25 Jan 2012 | 12:02 amThere are a lot of clichés about happiness and how to be happy and just, you know, personal growth in general. Figuring out how to be happy is just so damn complicated and unique to each individual; it's too much to sum up in any one motto or mantra or infographic or even one really long book. And so, yes, we try to capture bits and pieces of the puzzle with over simplistic clichés. But, still... I believe in the truth of this one short sentence: Happiness is always an option. While short, I don't believe that declaration to be simple. I mean, sure, some days the option of… -
Happiness Highlights: Investing in That Healthy Thing
23 Jan 2012 | 12:01 amPut my money where my mouth was this week, and it made me happy. -
32 Things I’ve Learned about How to Be Happy
18 Jan 2012 | 12:01 amSomeone told me once that I didn’t share or give anything on this blog, that it was more pontificating than giving. I understand where they were coming from - I talk mostly about myself and what I think about happiness – but I disagree. This blog is my drum song. What I do, who I am, is someone who soaks up the world around me, someone who seeks happiness constantly. That hasn’t left me with a lot of money or a great skill that I can teach. It leaves me mainly with impressions, ideas, and experiences to share. It’s not much, but it’s what I have to give. -
Happiness Highlights: Mothers and Daughters and Beaches
16 Jan 2012 | 1:17 pmEvery Monday, I start my week by highlighting what made me happy during the previous week. Why? Because I believe we multiply what we focus on, and that gratitude is the first step in learning how to be happier. Some weeks are easier than other to find the good, the great and grand and spectacular even. This was one of those weeks. Emma and I spent four days on a press trip at the Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort, an all-inclusive Caribbean resort that caters to families. It was as amazing as you'd imagine - and as volatile as you'd expect a mother-daughter getaway to be, proving you're never…
-
Domestic Psychology
-
not gay
27 Jan 2012 | 7:02 pmCan everyone please stop accusing every homophobe of being in the closet? It isn’t funny. The homophobes are not misguided about their own sexuality. They are not going to have a sudden personal revelation and apologize. They are not cute or pitiful. They are just plain unpleasant. Stop calling them gay. -
Disinformation is dangerous
26 Jan 2012 | 2:12 pmWhen a scripted reality show brought in an anti-vaxer as the special celebrity guest for a family whose youngest child had tetanus, I complained. I didn’t complain about the show. I complained about the inclusion of someone who spreads disinformation. Instead of addressing my concerns, the local PR firm pulled the equivalent of Godwin’s Law. “Some people don’t believe in evolution either.” They should have used that line on the celebrity and found someone else for their show. When an elected TN official states false information about public health, they are a… -
But they were nice
25 Jan 2012 | 10:24 pmDespite my obviously high expectations about what clean-up should include, I do not have any complaints about the workers that the contractor tasked with repairing our house. They sang and danced to cheesy 80′s tunes. They joked with me. They played ball with the dogs. They were extremely interested in my 18-y-o daughter. Okay, EXCEPT for the interest in my teenager, the workers were great. They didn’t even get upset with me when the contractor scolded them for leaving the house without a single exterior light. That wasn’t their fault. The house has no porch lights, flood… -
clean up, clean up
24 Jan 2012 | 10:13 pmLacking experience with professionals working on the house, I don’t know what I should reasonably expect from various home repair specialists when it comes to cleaning up the mess after repairs are completed. I understand the billions of bits of broken glass in the yard. I am less understanding of the broken glass on the street in front of the house. I expected the neatly gathered pile of old light fixtures, doorbell, and other discards. I did not expect light bulbs shoved under bushes. Occasional stray nails in the yard are accidents. An entire box of spilled nails that has been… -
Hot spot
23 Jan 2012 | 10:46 pmI don’t run a fever. Ever. I think it’s because my feet act as a refrigerator. Well, they’re normally a fridge, but in the winter, my feet are ice cubes. Frozen feet make getting comfortable enough to sleep next to impossible. Your spouse may promise to love, honor and warm your feet, but that last part is quickly forgotten and replaced by, “Get those frosty toes away from me!” So, I sleep with a heating pad under my feet. It’s more relaxing than warm milk. As the temperature in my feet rises, I fall deep asleep. Deep, drooling sleep that is only disrupted…
-
kerrianne.org
-
Rivers And Roads
31 Dec 2011 | 4:00 pm[Alternately titled: Story, The Second: The Girl Who Moved To Washington State] It began simply. A direct message on Twitter first, followed by texts; those texts, in turn, begat plans. With those plans came anxiety and apprehension – I didn’t know you, not your face or your voice or anything else, and I wasn’t sure I was ready to – but also something exciting, a strange and unexpected hope hovering quietly on the horizon. And then we met, conversed and laughed oh so easily, and hours bled across hours. (Evaporating time would become a recurring phenomenon for us.)… -
Story, The First: The Pug Who Moved To California
29 Dec 2011 | 4:22 pmStories I said I had. Tangential stories and life-changing ones. Until today I haven’t known where, exactly, to begin. And so quiet this space has mostly been because some beginnings are tricky. Sometimes it’s quite impossible to denote where something ended and something else entirely began. I’m not going to be able to tell you everything, but then the best stories never really do, do they? (That’s not a trick question. I promise they don’t.) (Unless the story was penned by Henry James, in which case he probably really IS going to tell you everything. And… -
Found
18 Dec 2011 | 12:27 pmThis week I’ve been finding pieces of writing long lost and forgotten. Unearthing words belonging to me, and words penned by some of my favorite of all literary voices, collected and saved and scrawled excitedly on pages littered with foggy memories of past lives, obscured now in light of all that was and is and is to come. Of the words not belonging to me, Lucille Clifton’s were the ones I found most often, recounted in notebook after notebook, or inked on napkins from memory during a particularly quiet night behind the bar. It makes sense I would find her again now, as I always… -
On Hoarding
28 Oct 2011 | 5:57 pmI’m collecting my favorite corners, like the one with the stunning oak tree on display for an entire neighborhood to see, its limbs shading a bustling crosswalk shooting confidence into pedestrians like electric currents of white light, fresh graffiti on a nearby curb: an infinity symbol, black and simple. I’m collecting stories about the apartment window filled with small elephant figurines along one of my favorite walking routes. So many trunks standing side-by-side and none of them alive. I’m collecting the surprisingly sweet scent of roses that shouldn’t still be… -
6.2
4 Oct 2011 | 11:32 amWe rose before dawn and drank smoothies and small cups of coffee and danced our way from our sleepy Seaside inn to a bustling Port of Astoria. We boarded a yellow school bus that sent my memory rolling back to high school basketball away games, the sound of tennis shoes scuffing newly polished gym floors while crowds cheered loudly through popcorn kernels in their teeth. We saw the bridge we were going to run up close for the first time, realized just how steep an incline, amended our goal times. We watched the sun rise brilliantly over the Columbia River and we stretched and we waited. We…
-
SIMPLY STORK
-
here we go again…
26 Jan 2012 | 9:33 amSo as the snow began to melt away, I was sitting staring at the pile of snow things that now needed to be washed and stashed away. I wonder if there would be another snow fall to enjoy. I loved staying at home and having an “excuse” not to leave the house. Now is the time, to begin what is… “my schedule.” I have been at it for a week now and I am having a tough time getting back into the swing of things. It’s time to find the rhythm. If only I could remember where I stashed it? ~simply~ -
what?
19 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pmWell I just don’t know what to say about it! We woke up to more snow!!! Ollie loves the snow, and for a dog who would much rather “take care of things” on our deck (ahem) it is nice to see him enjoying himself in it…The kids decided to take him for a walk…or shall we say…he took them. (and yes, one knows they have a lot of snow when we take the time to put on our snowshoes???) now rumor has it, this will be the last day of snow, ice on the other hand, might be another story. So there will be piles of wet coats, boots and hats piled up next to… -
a quiet peace
19 Jan 2012 | 8:30 amI was noticing that along with the snow…a quiet peace comes. I took a walk outside and put together a little mini movie for you. enjoy your peace. a quiet peace -
snow daze…
18 Jan 2012 | 12:19 pmWell…I thought it was supposed to warm up today and begin melting this huge amount of snow we have accumulated. When I woke up this morning…it was still snowing. We are now in a bit of a “snow daze.” I climbed up the back steps, the ones I could find anyway. to see how the chickens are doing. Let’s face it…I was checking to see if our chickens made it another cold night. When I walked up to the chicken coop it was quiet…too quiet. But when I rattled the food jar they came out of their “hiding” spot. Whew! All is well on the… -
let it snow
17 Jan 2012 | 10:13 pmWe went to bed last night…disappointed! It snowed all around us, but we only got a dusting. We got the ice, just no snow…that is until we got up this morning. We received 10”. Maxie and I were thrilled and spent most of the day enjoying all the fun that snow days bring. Hot coco mustaches, cold hands and feet from staying out far too long, snow angels, sledding and more smiles than we can count. Winter is here…if only for a few days. Enjoy it while it lasts. ~simply~
-
iambossy.com
-
Bossy’s State Of The Union
26 Jan 2012 | 12:31 pmMr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans: As most of you are aware, Bossy became separated from her husband last year, and tonight which is actually day, Bossy would like to give you a full update on all aspects of her Undivorce. Restoring the Economy. Bossy is happy to report she is now the recipient of an actual income surrounded by money wrapped around bundles of cash. This is because Bossy got a real job, which led to greater productivity, where greater productivity equals napping in the evenings. The Housing Crisis. It came to a… -
Bossy’s Favorite Things
26 Jan 2012 | 8:58 amDownton Abbey. Even if Bossy thought it was Downtown Abbey for an embarrassing period of time longer than the Victorian era, which draws to a close as this fictional miniseries begins. This is basically like watching The Remains of the Day, except more hours of it. The characters and acting are somewhat less interesting, although Bossy adores Elizabeth McGovern, who reminds Bossy of her grandmother. For those of you with Netflix instant streaming, the first season is available and features seven haughty episodes! -
Yet Another Little Known Fact
26 Jan 2012 | 8:49 amBossy likes a wee bit of sushi with her pickled ginger. -
Everything You Need To Know About The Upcoming Super Bowl According To Bossy
24 Jan 2012 | 6:52 amThe two teams facing off for Super Bowl XLVI are the New York Giants and the New England Patriots Both of these teams have the word new in their names The New York Giants aren’t as new as the New England Patriots, though, because Bossy doesn’t remember hearing about them when she was growing up in 1925 and the Giants were purchased for $500 It now costs the price of a franchise plus one-thousand-nine-hundred-and-ninety-nine more dollars to sit your ass in a Super Bowl seat. When you watch the Giants on TV, the commentators incessantly refer to them as the New York Football Giants… -
Bossy’s Favorite Things
22 Jan 2012 | 5:24 pmThis chair. It belongs to Bossy’s Italian boyfriend Antonio. This is the perch from which he works his hair miracles.
-
WordPress.com News
-
Chrome Users: Try the WordPress.com Extension
27 Jan 2012 | 1:54 pmWant to receive WordPress.com notifications instantly, even when you’re not on WordPress.com? Add the new WordPress.com extension for Chrome and as soon as you get a new follower or a new like on one of your posts, a notification will appear in your browser: Simply click the icon to view your latest WordPress.com notifications: Start following new blogs without visiting WordPress.com The Chrome extension also makes it easy to follow sites from your WordPress.com account by displaying a Follow button whenever you’re browsing a site that has an RSS feed. Clicking the Follow button… -
Your Stats Have a New Home
26 Jan 2012 | 10:46 amAre you addicted to checking your site stats? You are not alone. The stats dashboard has always been one of the most popular admin screens. It’s gratifying to know that people are visiting your place online. With the WordPress.com front page evolving into a one-stop shop for posting, exploring, following and reading blogs, it seemed natural to put your blog stats there, too. Stats are becoming more and more about interacting with your readers and other bloggers. You’ll still see your summary stats and chart on your main dashboard, and the full stats page in your dashboard will… -
Reblogging is Back!
22 Jan 2012 | 1:27 pmAs we mentioned last week, you can like and reblog posts directly from your reader, which displays a stream of all the updates published on all the blogs you follow from your WordPress.com account. We’ve also brought the reblog button back to the toolbar that appears at the top of the screen when you’re logged into WordPress.com. Note that you’ll only see the like and reblog options while you’re looking at individual posts. For example, you’ll see this on the left side of your toolbar while viewing http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/read-blogs: And your… -
New Theme: Newsy
20 Jan 2012 | 12:18 pmIt’s been an extra big week in the news ’round these parts, so much so that the launch announcement of our latest premium theme seems like an extra extra good way to headline our Friday. Newsy is a versatile business and news-friendly theme that offers up to ten different layouts, four footer columns, custom link and accent colors, and a custom site header. Brand and content-focused editorial teams will love publishing with this theme. Newsy: Home Page Designed by Themify, Newsy comes with an impressive set of Theme Options that afford you a great deal of flexibility with how you… -
Read All Your Favorite Blogs in One Place
19 Jan 2012 | 6:04 pmIf you feel like it’s a chore to keep up with all your favorite blogs, you can now read posts from all the blogs you follow (even the ones that aren’t on WordPress.com!) in one convenient place on the WordPress.com home page: Your reader displays all the posts across all the blogs you follow in the order they were published, with the most recent content appearing at the top. You’ll see an excerpt of the introduction to each post, the first image in the post, and thumbnails of any other images that the post contains. You can even like and reblog WordPress.com content directly…
-
Family on Bikes
-
Do you have an exit strategy from your long term travels?
27 Jan 2012 | 8:00 amThere are many wonderful aspects of being a long term perpetual traveler. There are dozens of names for them – digital nomad, lifestyle design, location independent, world wanderer – but they are all basically names for the same thing: a person who travels the world with no plans to ever settle down in one place. It’s a wonderful lifestyle with many benefits. It’s also extremely difficult to break out of when it’s no longer meeting your needs. Many of us head out to travel long term without considering an exit strategy. As we plan our world travels it’s all pie in the sky,… -
Don’t be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling.
25 Jan 2012 | 8:00 amDon’t be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling. Seriously, you’ve got what it takes. It will take everything you have, but you’ve got it. Don’t be afraid to dream. Big. I think we all feel inadequate. We feel like we’re not good enough for our dreams. Dreams are what other people achieve, not me. Sound familiar? It won’t be until you take some big hairy audacious action towards your goal that you’ll start to feel like maybe, just maybe, you CAN do this. You have to take those first scary tentative steps into the unknown and trust you’re up to the task before you’ll… -
A bicycling kind of love story
22 Jan 2012 | 1:04 pm“What on God’s green earth am I doing here?” I thought as I gazed upon the pile of bikes, panniers, and miscellaneous gear strewn about the floor of the Pakistani airport – and at the strange man putting it all together. “How in the heck did I go this far over the deep end?” Let me make this clear from the beginning – I am normally a fairly “together” person. I am intelligent. I’m confident. I’m… well, let’s just say I wouldn’t typically do something quite this stupid. I mean – why on earth would any reasonably sane woman fly to Pakistan with a man she… -
ABCs of Travel – An alphabetized summary of my travels
21 Jan 2012 | 5:57 pmA: Age you went on your first international trip I was 16. My parents took us out of school for a few weeks and we headed to Mexico for Christmas break. It was magical and was the springboard for my life of travel. B: Best beer you’ve had I’m not a beer drinker so if you see a beer in my hand, you can be pretty sure it’s a very atypical situation. For that reason, I can’t really tell you the best beer I’ve had, but I know the worst. While cycling in India, John and I ended up staying with an Indian doctor one night (long story – trust me. Let’s just say it involved sex orgies… -
Dreaming of travel? These resources will help
20 Jan 2012 | 8:00 amLet me guess… You would love to grab your family and head out to see the world, but are feeling a bit overwhelmed about where to start. Right? You’ve come to the right place. Here are some resources that are just what you need. Bottles to Backpacks: The Gypsy Mama’s Guide to REAL Travel With Kids This book is the ultimate guide to travel with kids. Written by a dear friend and fellow biking mama, Jennifer Miller, this guide will take you through every stage of family travel. From the baby stage to teenagers, you’ll find the help here to overcome your fears and get those…
-
wellreadhostess.com
-
Memory Meals
27 Jan 2012 | 10:49 amI never have an answer when someone asks me what my favorite food is. There are certainly things I love to eat, but I am hard pressed to say what my absolute favorite is. I like to go out to eat, but not necessarily to the big time, big name expensive restaurants. I do remember distinctly, growing up, a few special meals. There were meals that signified certain occasions or events or even just represented a celebratory mood. There was crown roast – big event, usually a holiday. A French restaurant in the city – not usually for any occasion but a family affair, time… -
Critical Mass
17 Jan 2012 | 4:07 pmOver the weekend my daughter turned 8. She spent a lot of time making little signs that said, “Happy Birthday!” and sticking them to windows and doors, as if to remind us that we weren’t quite meeting her standards of celebration. Everybody’s a critic. I’d put the picture my brother took of her wearing the outfit her aunt got her for a birthday present up here to show you that she might actually be 17, not 8, but every time I look at it I get hives because she’s too good looking and too saucy for everyone’s good. Yes. I just said… -
Is This a Trick Question?
12 Jan 2012 | 2:12 pmThe title of the book is Why Women Need Fat. At first, the answer seemed obvious…so other women don’t hate them and talk about them behind their backs, duh. I don’t usually review non-fiction books. In fact, I don’t usually read much non-fiction, especially diet related non-fiction. I like to do book reviews, though, and BlogHer’s review program is a good way to keep my hand in and I figured that given my little writing hiatus, I could use the kick in the drawers to get going. The BlogHer review program pays a little bit (a very little bit – as in… -
Tap Tap
8 Jan 2012 | 4:50 pmMy kids started taking karate lessons. We figured we should make it official, as they’d been checking books out of the library about karate and practicing their “moves” on one another for over a year now and it was really only a matter of time before we had to explain a compound fracture or concussion to a suspicious ER doctor. The only downside to karate, as I see it, is the chunk of my paycheck that will be going toward the class. But that is nothing compared to the many upsides, at least at this particular place. The biggest upside, without doubt, being that we no… -
It’s Not the Journey, It’s the Destination…wait that’s not it.
4 Jan 2012 | 1:38 pmWe, and by we I mean HIM because if I had done it the house would probably need to be torn down, recently hung a big, old-timey-lookin’ chalkboard in our kitchen. Last night I watched our kids draw for ages, totally unselfconsciously. People, trains, animals, forests, I believe I saw a surfer being eaten by a shark at one point, but never mind. What is the exact moment that children lose that unselfconsciousness about creative expression? And how the hell can we get it back? I am not aware of consciously thinking it, but I know for certain that when I read some books or…
-
The Imperfect Parent
-
Parenting Outside the Razor Wire
27 Jan 2012 | 12:00 amSingle parents can face some difficult parenting decisions in part because they do not have someone to share parenting responsibilities. Having someone to “share the load” helps decrease stress, increase self-esteem, and reinforce ideas that what the parent is doing is beneficial to a child’s long-term growth and development. What happens, though, when parents are separated by a prison sentence? Essentially, the parent “outside the razor wire” becomes a single parent with only intermittent input into the decisions that parents need to make every day when it comes… -
Calling foul on 'redshirting'
23 Jan 2012 | 2:35 pmFor those unfamiliar with the term "redshirting," it's the act of holding a child back from Kindergarten in order to give them an academic or sports advantage. It gives the child a full year advantage on size and maturity over their peers. For the academic advantage, the thought is that giving them a year to mature and learn more fundamentals will give them a leg up in the classroom. For the sports-minded parent, redshirting gives the child a potential size and strength advantage over other kids. But I call foul. I think redshirting is cheating, sends a bad message to the child and is… -
Coping with the Adoption Option
11 Jan 2012 | 12:00 amI’ve cried myself to sleep every night for months, wondering if my children will ever forgive me. Wondering if I’ll ever forgive myself. The decision wasn’t easy, and I still try to balance the good vs. bad reasons for making it. I still have time; I won’t give birth for at least another week. It’s always my decision, until the very end. Until my baby is legally resting in the hands of her new mother and father. I already have a one-year-old daughter, and a two-year-old son. It’s them I think of when I get a little kick under my ribs. How will they feel… -
'Extreme Couponing': Overindulgent and rude
9 Jan 2012 | 3:22 pmHello. I would like to extend an invitation to every extreme couponer out there. Please feel free to come to my house so that I can kick YOU in the crotch. You deserve it. After watching a handful of people who have found an artful way around the system by making a career out of cutting coupon after coupon after coupon on TLC's 'Extreme Couponing', I had to come here and set the record straight on this latest, something for nothing scheme. I was so pissed after watching these self absorbed drains on society that I turned the channel. Even more obnoxious -- was watching them boast about buying… -
Breastfeeding in public: Is this a made up problem?
29 Dec 2011 | 2:31 pmAnother day, another 'nurse-in'. Time for my quarterly 'I'm too kewl and genius for the room ''cause I breastfeed anywhere I want' story. I write these as often as the new mommy cries for attention get national coverage and then I watch my Facebook and Twitter fans dwindle in response because I have dared to question the sanctity and moral relevance of the breast. I may be an asshole, but I would argue, it's not for this reason. This time, my nurse in eye-roll honors Michelle Hickman, a Houston, Texas mom who reportedly got offended when it was suggested to her that maybe she go into the…
-
David J. Hinson's Logorrhea
-
Lifestyle Businesses
26 Jan 2012 | 6:51 amI’ve written about this in the far past, but I simply don’t get the bias against so-called Lifestyle Businesses. A Lifestyle Business is one where usually one or two founders create a business based upon their talents and abilities, and never intend for it to be a mega-corporation; in fact, most are created by people who want to set their own terms and live their lives they want to live. They’re not out to change the world – they’re out to make a little profit, hire some cool people, and take the afternoon off to see little Suzy’s dance recital. You know… -
Where is My Flying Car?
5 Jan 2012 | 10:36 amOK. So, here it is, 2012. Where is my Flying Car, already? In truth, I’m still saving up for a hooptie that can simply get me from place to place here in town semi-reliably. For now, we are a one car family. But a boy can dream, right? In the absence of a flying car, here’s what I really want: A car that can wirelessly play content from my mobile devices, so that I simply get in the car, press play on my phone, and drive off. A car that can wirelessly play video content over a passenger entertainment system, so I can stream Netflix to my boys in the back on long trips. A car that… -
2011 in review
31 Dec 2011 | 5:19 pmThe WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 50,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 19 sold-out performances for that many people to see it. Click here to see the complete report. -
There’s No Delete Button on the Internet
11 Dec 2011 | 10:12 amI would love to fast-forward five years from now and see how job searches and grad school applications are being impacted by what gets posted online. I know such filtering in the application process is being used extensively even today; but I see no brakes being applied by the Millenials I interact with, and what they choose to share on the interwebz. Maybe it will lead to a more forgiving political climate. Maybe it will lead to a more open social structure. But how will those embarrassing photos from your twenties play out when you’re up for that “big promotion” in your… -
Square
9 Dec 2011 | 4:16 pm
-
Simple Marriage
-
What if things blew up and became dramatically better?
27 Jan 2012 | 11:04 amWe’re almost a month into a new year (man, time flies), and this year may have started out great … or maybe not. Perhaps there’s been a chronic tension in your life or your marriage for months, and your hope that the new year would some how alter things hasn’t come true. You and your spouse may have reached the level of co-existing for a while together. And when friends or family come into the picture you have to “put on a show,” as if everything’s okay. Only, everything’s not okay. It downright sucks. It may not be to the level of divorce or… -
Is Your Marriage Too Close?
24 Jan 2012 | 12:37 pmPost written by Dr. Corey Allan. There’s a popular belief that once a person gets married, everything will be smooth sailing. Romance will naturally occur, your spouse will be your best friend, and there will be plenty of “Hallmark” moments between you. If you’ve been married any length of time you know this simply isn’t true. One of the main problems many couples face in marriage is they create a marriage that’s too close. They strive to capture the illusion of what they thought it would be like in the beginning by getting closer to each other. This… -
6 Tips for Step Parents in a Dominant Parenting Role
22 Jan 2012 | 3:59 pmPost written by Blended Family columnist Melissa Gorzelanczyk of Peace & Projects. Have you ever felt like your family takes you for granted? I know I have. In most households, there is one parent who does a majority of the parenting – the dominant parent responsible for enforcing the rules and routines of the house. This happens naturally for whichever parent spends the most time with the kids. In our family, that’s me – I work as a freelance writer from home, so it makes sense that I’m the one guiding them through homework routines and – to make a long… -
The Power of the Candid Compliment
17 Jan 2012 | 8:32 amPost written by dates and romance columnist Sean Marshall of Family Rocketship. Let’s go on a journey together. Think back to the first time you saw your spouse. Where were you? What were you doing? Who were you with? Do you remember? Now, think about what most impressed you about them at that moment. Maybe she had a beautiful smile. Maybe he had incredible blue eyes. Maybe it was her laugh. Maybe it was his dance moves. With first impressions, it’s typically something physical that’s first appealing. Now fast-forward just a bit to when you were dating. As you got to know your future… -
Lighter Side: More Communication
12 Jan 2012 | 5:01 pmLighter Side: More Communication is a post from: Simple Marriage Click the post title to leave a comment.
-
Abundance Blog at Marelisa Online
-
Writing Tips: Stop Waiting for Your Muse and Get to Work
25 Jan 2012 | 12:17 pmA while ago Elizabeth Gilbert—author of the runaway bestseller “Eat, Pray, Love”—gave a TED.com talk in which she describes how American poet Ruth Stone found inspiration for her poetry. Stone explained to Gilbert that growing up in rural Virginia, she would be working in the fields when, suddenly, she would hear a poem coming at her from over the landscape. Stone would then begin to run as fast as she could toward the house in order to grab a pen and a piece of paper. As she ran, the poem would chase after her. If Rose wasn’t fast enough getting to the house, the poem would pass by… -
The Tao of Abundance
22 Jan 2012 | 4:00 pmIn his book, “The Tao of Abundance”, author and Eastern philosopher Laurence Boldt urges everyone to explore how much of their life is being dictated by a misdirected desire to gain peace of mind through acquiring material wealth. He explains that money is, of course, a factor in our experience of abundance. However, the true expression of abundance is much more than material wealth. Ask yourself if you’re lacking in the following: Do you lack the time to just be and relax, to learn and grow, and to be with friends and family? Do you feel a lack of ease? Are you under constant stress… -
37 Tidbits of Higher Consciousness
20 Jan 2012 | 12:11 pmThe following 37 tidbits of higher consciousness were derived from the perennial bestseller, “Handbook to Higher Consciousness”, written in 1972 by Ken Keyes. This book has helped countless people experience dramatic changes in their lives, and in their ability to experience happiness. It’s a reference book for being at peace with whatever happens in your life. Here, then, are 37 tidbits of higher consciousness: 1. The only real problem in your life is how you’re using your mind. 2. You always have enough to be happy. It’s the patterns in your head that make you unhappy. -
Be More Creative by Stealing, Re-conceptualizing, and Recombining Ideas That Already Exist
16 Jan 2012 | 7:42 pmHow many times have you heard the following: “There’s nothing new under the sun.” It turns out that this is true; sort of. If you think that creative people pull new ideas out of nothing, and that the definition of creativity is “being original”, you’re wrong. The most creative people steal ideas from different sources with impunity, they re-conceptualize existing ideas, and they recombine what is already out there. In this article you’ll discover how to be more creative by stealing, re-conceptualizing, and recombining ideas that already exist. Creativity As a Lego Set… -
Make 2012 the Year You Change Your Life
15 Jan 2012 | 12:06 pmHow would you like to make 2012 the year that you finally change your life for the better? One of the best ways to achieve what you want in life is to find a mentor; someone who’s been there and done that. It’s one of the blessings of this day and age that you can gain the knowledge and expertise of others through your computer. That is, through the eBooks that they’ve written and the multi-media programs that they’ve created, which contain step-by-step instructions so that you, too, can achieve what they’ve accomplished. Now, with The Best Empowering Tools…
-
Handy Man Fix Home Repair
-
The Basics of Drilling 3
28 Jan 2012 | 12:17 pmDrilling without splinters! Drilling a hole completely through a piece of stock is going to leave an edge that is rough and splintery on the way out. In order to create a hole that is clean, you should look for the point of the bit as it is piercing through the back side of your work piece. Pull the bit out, and then use this tiny hole as a center and drill the other way, coming in through the back end. This method works with a number of bits, including but not necessarily limited to spade bits, auger bits, brad point bits and Forstner bits. Using Metal Tips: You can use a high speed steel… -
Choosing Your Discount Power Tools
28 Jan 2012 | 12:10 amPart of the reason that most people decide to do their own repairs and maintenance around the house is because it’s much cheaper than hiring someone else to do it. However, a lot of jobs require specialized tools, and power tools in particular can be very expensive. A lot of do it yourselfers are always on the lookout for some discount power tools to add to their collection. It can be tough to find discount power tools that are both cheap and effective. Here are some tips to help you find the good ones and avoid the rest. There are two big concerns when it comes to buying discount power… -
Using Epoxy
27 Jan 2012 | 12:02 pmHere are some tips for getting the most out of your use of epoxy. How much material needs to be purchased? - A single gallon worth of epoxy is going to be capable of covering 12.8 feet square with a 1/8 inch thickness, or 6.4 feet square with a 1/4 inch thickness. How much temperature is epoxy capable of taking at a maximum? - The maximum amount of a temperature that epoxy should take is around 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Epoxies are generally quite capable of withstanding high temperatures over short periods of time, but it is still recommended that you stay below 200 degrees Fahrenheit. How… -
Guide to Adhesives pt 1
26 Jan 2012 | 11:55 pmHere is a two part guide to adhesives that you can use for home repair, building and other DIY projects. Using the right adhesive is an important part of getting the best results in your do it yourself projects, so consult this guide when you aren't sure which adhesive is going to best meet your needs. Keep in mind that this is only a guideline, and always make sure to read the packaging for the adhesive that you choose so that you are following the directions properly. Acrylic Adhesive - Acrylic adhesive is a two part adhesive that comes with a liquid and a powder, and you only have to mix… -
Solvent Based Stain Application
26 Jan 2012 | 11:37 amStain is something that is really easy to apply when you follow the direction and when you are using all of the right tools and equipment in the process. The instructions in this article pertain specifically to the application of a solvent based stain, rather than a water based stain or an aniline dye. You should always make sure that you test the process out using scrap wood before you use the stain on the real product. Materials: Stain Product White Cotton Cloth Brush Sand Paper Latex Gloves Step #1 - The first thing that you are going to want to do is to make sure to properly prepare the…
-
Life on a Southern Farm
-
New Faces on the Farm
27 Jan 2012 | 6:10 amThis week we happily added many new faces to the farmMeet LadyA nice gentle lady donkey who we hope will be a new friend for Jack. Jack is a gelding so(sadly) there won't be any new baby donkeys though.A Hereford Bull who is very handsome (and very bullish)Jack giving the bull the rules of the farmplus...21 new Kiko Goats!I was calling around trying to find a Kiko buck. I found out from 1 caller -
Funny Farm Faces
24 Jan 2012 | 7:28 amA few funny(and sweet) faces we have seen around the farm. Past and Present.Miracle Eve saying "snakeeeeeeeee!!!"Goldie the Golden Polish HenJackAnybody home?-- AnnieEye to eye...Spoiled baby Miracle Eve sitting in my lap.I'll fly away!Miracle Eve againSweet PeaLionel soaking up some sun. (not particularly in the mood to have his picture taken)Jack. Always in the mood to have his picture -
Farm Friday Jack and Jill Video
20 Jan 2012 | 8:32 amEvery day at 3:00 this is the scene here on the farm.Jack the donkey and Jill the Basset Hound both love this daily routine.This was the short version. Sometimes it goes on and on and on...Have a great weekend!
-
Lyved
-
Make your breaking point your turning point
20 Jan 2012 | 3:24 pmWhen you feel alone… When everything you see is dark and grey… When you taste the bitterness of defeat… When you cannot reach out and touch your dreams… When all hope seems lost… You can either let this be your breaking point. Or make it your turning point. What’s it gonna be? -
Darkness Visible
11 Oct 2011 | 2:29 pmClose your eyes for a moment, and then come back… …How would you describe that darkness? How do you describe darkness like that when you see it all the time—even when your eyes are open—in front of you, behind you, beside you, above you, below you, and when you feel it is inside of you, filling your lungs, stomach, and heart and oozing from every pore of your body? It is very difficult to articulate that sight and those feelings. That is the situation a person who is struggling with depression finds themselves in. They are reluctant to reach out from the darkness for help because few… -
The New Colossus
19 Sep 2011 | 9:30 pmNot like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. “Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I… -
The Road To Somewhere
21 Jun 2011 | 10:22 amThis is a guest post. Have you ever been driving on a long trip and suddenly you realize that forty five minutes have passed and you have no recollection of the journey or how you ended up at that spot? What happened? Is everyone safe? Are there any other vehicles around and how did I not hit any? How many exits have passed by? It takes a minute to orient yourself and to re-establish where you are and what you’re doing… I had been trucking along, on auto pilot really, heading down this familiar highway. After being startled into consciousness and determining my bearings,… -
Eating Well – Eating to Benefit your Nutritional and Mental Health
8 Jun 2011 | 5:13 amThis is a guest post. Although eating “well” can mean a variety of things, in the context of this post and in the context of my mind, eating well is eating to sustain and promote health in body and in mind. While eating can be, of course, full of pleasure and enjoyment, on a most basic level, its purpose is to fuel us with energy to survive. And, when you combine that purpose and goal with the added benefit of seeking to improve your mental strength and a positive mental attitude, you simply can’t go wrong. I’ve dealt with many health issues over the years, most of them related to…
-
メル友から恋人に発展するまで
-
悩みの相談
12 Jan 2012 | 1:54 pm友人はもちろん、恋愛対象に対しても自分の身の上話や悩みの相談、そして生い立ちなんてものを披露してのトラウマなどの紹介なんていうようなものは、相手との親密度を高めるためには、とっても大事な会話であると言えます。 恋愛関係を築きたいと思うならば、これらのおすすめだよ！情報を共有することが大事であると言えるのですよ。… -
18歳未満は相手にしない
28 Dec 2011 | 6:14 pm人それぞれ好みの違いはあると思います。年上が好きだったり、同年代、年下…もちろんアダルトＳＮＳ出会い系サイトでは年齢幅も広く、自分の好みの相手を検索することも可能なので、タイプ別に会うことも出来るでしょう。… -
素顔
14 Dec 2011 | 12:54 pm「私の彼氏って子供っぽくて困る〜・・・」 などと愚痴を言う女性って多くないですか？ 実際、愚痴とまではいかなくても 「子供っぽい」だとか「甘ったれてる」だとか彼に対して感じる時が何回かありました(つω`*) 「もっとしっかりしてよ！」 といいたい気持ちは山々でしたが、それは言わずにいたんです。 何故言わなかったというと・・・。 彼は皆で居る時の態度と私と２人きりの時の態度が少し違う。… -
相手の名前の呼び方
30 Nov 2011 | 6:37 pmあなたは、友達や恋人を呼ぶときの呼び方を意識していますか。呼び方について は、地域差があります。本州だとだいたいは、異性は名字で呼び合ったり、名前 に君・さんづけしていて、間が親しくなったら名前を呼び捨てにしているでしょ う。沖縄になると、異性は親しくなくても、名前を呼び捨てにしています。本州 からヒトからすると、相手の名前の呼び方で、相手との親密差がわかるものです。… -
結婚生活自体は問題
30 Nov 2011 | 5:30 pm…
-
Sparkplugging Blog Network
-
Love Coloring Pages
25 Jan 2012 | 10:42 pmSince June is the month for weddings, we figured we should add a collection of love coloring pages! But these would be great Valentine coloring pages, too. Related coloring pages: Animal Valentine Coloring Pages, Peace Sign Coloring Pages, Wedding Coloring Pages. Related posts: Printable Valentine Mazes, Valentine’s Day Math Worksheets, Valentine Crafts. Love Coloring Page Cartoon Hearts Coloring Page Hearts in Love Coloring Page Love Birds Coloring Page Broken Cartoon Heart Coloring Page L-O-V-E Coloring Page Love Shout Out Coloring Page Cartoon Heart Coloring Page Heart Stamp Coloring… -
Valentine Mad Libs
25 Jan 2012 | 10:39 pmSince our printable mad libs have always been so popular in the past, I’ve been determined to put up a set for each of the major-ish holidays. Here’s the latest group of Valentine mad libs for kids – though you could probably even put a few of these into the hands of much older mad libs lovers! For more Valentine’s Day activities, check out these Valentine mailbox crafts, printable Valentine mazes, and these Valentine math worksheets! Valentines Mad Lib - Cupid's Delivery Valentines Mad Lib - Puppy Love Valentines Mad Lib - Be Mine Be sure to check out all of the… -
Healthy Kid Snack: Fruit and Cheese Kebabs
19 Jan 2012 | 12:14 pmWe’ve been going through a bit of a shift when it comes to kids’ snacks at our house. We usually have a lot of cookies, cupcakes, and other sweets around; and the biggest reason is because I like making them with my little ones. Really, though, there is absolutely no reason we should be eating that much sugar! So, in the last week or two, I’ve been switching us over to healthier kids snacks. So far, it’s going really well, too! Today we experimented with the idea of fruit and cheese kebabs (which I really, really want to spell as “kabob,” despite… -
Kids Winter Crafts
19 Jan 2012 | 11:00 amWinter is the most difficult time of year to live in Chicago. It seems to stretch on for an eternity – we’ve even gotten snow in May! So for days with a house full of kids with cabin fever, I need to be especially creative to keep them busy (and not hitting each other with remote controls). I’ve been enamored lately with my son’s Tony Hawk skateboard video game as a great way to keep them active while indoors. But my girls are more into crafts, so here is a great group of them for kids of all ages. Related Pages: Snowflake crafts, winter coloring pages, winter kids… -
Kid-Friendly Recipe: Buckeyes (aka Peanut Butter Balls)
5 Jan 2012 | 3:08 pmEditor’s Note: If you have a child with a peanut allergy (like my son), you can replace the peanut butter in this recipe with “speculoos spread”, which is very similar in consistency, but made with cookies instead. You can find it under the name “Biscoff Spread” and it should be by the peanut butter section at your regular grocery store. Just note that you will probably have to decrease the amount of sugar you add in this recipe, because speculoos spread is already quite sweet. I didn’t even know that some people called these candies peanut butter balls…
-
Kyle Dylan Conner
-
Centenary College Student Completing Acting Apprenticeship Program at Delaware Shakespeare Festival This Summer (2011) - Warren County Living
23 Jan 2012 | 10:45 pmCentenary College Student Completing Acting Apprenticeship Program at Delaware Shakespeare Festival This Summer (2011) - Warren County Living -
A Christmas Carol, The Musical at the Centenary Stage Company.
10 Dec 2011 | 2:06 amA Christmas Carol, The Musical at the Centenary Stage Company. -
Neil deGrasse Tyson and Stephen Colbert
1 Dec 2011 | 4:45 pmI can’t think of a better duo. I’m pretty sure Dr. Tyson has been the most frequent reoccurring guest on Stephen Colbert’s Colbert Report on Comedy Central. However, Stephen never has a chance to interview folks out of character, which is what makes this clip so fantastic. And as you will see, Colbert is just as brilliantly funny here as he is on his show. This is a wonderful interview. -
A CHRISTMAS CAROL 'Too Big To Fail'
28 Nov 2011 | 12:03 amA CHRISTMAS CAROL 'Too Big To Fail' -
Light Up The Sky at the Centenary Stage Company
22 Oct 2011 | 5:31 amLight Up The Sky at the Centenary Stage Company
-
@iKrissi
-
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-01-15
15 Jan 2012 | 4:59 amGoodbye, for now. If you're looking for me I'm @lullabygrrl until I decide to be myself again… /wave # -
@iKrissi Tweets for 2012-01-10
10 Jan 2012 | 4:59 amGoodbye, for now. If you're looking for me I'm @lullabygrrl until I decide to be myself again… /wave # -
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-01-01
1 Jan 2012 | 4:59 amHappy Holidays… did you notice I'm not here, anymore? Add my new account @LullabyGrrl if you're feeling up to some new fun! # -
@iKrissi Tweets for 2011-12-26
26 Dec 2011 | 4:59 amHappy Holidays… did you notice I'm not here, anymore? Add my new account @LullabyGrrl if you're feeling up to some new fun! # -
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-11-13
13 Nov 2011 | 4:59 am"I know I'm not forgiven / But I hope I'll be given some peace" ♫ (@ Howard Franklin Bridge) http://t.co/Hb4uiJan # My week on twitter: 8 mentions. Via: http://t.co/HuPn1GuK #
-
The Summer House
-
Fabric Journal
26 Jan 2012 | 5:29 pmTorn Paper, Twill Tape, Cotton Duck, String, Thread…..my creative space. Torn paper, twill tape, cotton duck fabric, string, thread and buttonholes. -
Honey Mustard Dressing and Marniade
23 Jan 2012 | 5:27 pmHoney Mustard Dressing and Marinade 1/4 cup Dijon Mustard 1/2 cup Honey 3/4 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar This makes a yummy marinade or it can be used as a salad dressing. This has a thin consistency of a vinaigrette type dressing. I can't remember where I first found it but I do know that this one is not an original. Keep refrigerated. -
Elephant on a Trampoline
13 Jan 2012 | 9:18 amClick on the picture....Really...could anything be more fun. {photo via} -
Take A Risk
9 Jan 2012 | 8:50 pmI did something out of my comfort zone today. I started classes at the community college. Yes I'm 47, yes the other students are young enough to be my children, yes I already have a degree but ....I wanted to do something different. And although it was initially uncomfortable, it wasn't a big deal at all. I'm taking ceramics and graphic design. And it's so delightful to realize that my grades don't matter one bit. I'm still working on the "big dreams" part but for now I'm going to grab a hunk of clay and build something amazing or at least something original. {photo via} -
What is a Trader?
8 Jan 2012 | 6:18 pm2012 is a great year to make you life count for something.......Jessie did. Will you?
-
Eternal Ramblings of a Confused Mind
-
Today
28 Jan 2012 | 1:01 am<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal.dotm 0 0 1 252 1441 Advaia 12 2 1769 12.0 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; -
Nothing Minor...
25 Jan 2012 | 11:51 amFour weeks ago, on my second or third morning in the hospital, I was finally told about my condition. The doctors weren’t keen on telling me due to the added stress issue involved, but I had asked to be released. It seemed that all that I did there was take an endless amount of pills, get my vitals checked and have two or three IV’s. I figured I could take the pills at home and do my IV -
Ulco
23 Jan 2012 | 3:12 am<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal.dotm 0 0 1 428 2443 Advaia 20 4 3000 12.0 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; -
Getting Better...
18 Jan 2012 | 12:23 pm<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal.dotm 0 0 1 879 5013 Advaia 41 10 6156 12.0 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; -
Don't Look Down...
17 Jan 2012 | 11:36 amWhen learning to walk I have one major piece of advice: Don’t look down. And it is almost impossible not to look down, especially when you have a numb leg and a foot on the other leg that seems to only have partial feeling and sometimes decides it is not going anywhere. There is a need to look in on them and make sure they are doing what they are supposed to be doing, taking turns being in
-
But You Dont Look Sick? support for those with invisible illness or chronic illness
-
We have reached over 38,000 “likes” on our facebook fan page!
27 Jan 2012 | 12:14 pmWe are so excited to have over 38,000 “likes” on our facebook fan page! As much as we are excited to have formed this community of great people using technology to share information and support, it of course also makes me sad that we need that support. We as patients need to be empowered to [...] -
Book Review: “The Sjogren’s Book, Fourth Edition”, edited by Daniel J. Wallace, M.D.
23 Jan 2012 | 12:42 pmSjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease that, while not rare, is not widely known. Until tennis star Venus Williams revealed recently that she had been diagnosed with it, most of the general public had not heard of it. That is why this book, published in September, is so necessary. Sjogren’s occurs when the immune system [...] -
January is National Blood Donor Month
18 Jan 2012 | 2:59 pmJanuary is the perfect time to honor the people who help others through the simple act of giving blood. If you can’t give blood due to medical reasons, you can use this time to encourage friends and family to donate, or even help at a local blood drive. Since 1970, January has been known as [...] -
Support I’m a Spoonie! add a #spoonie twibbon to your avatar/ profile now! – OVER 10,000 people have – join us!
17 Jan 2012 | 8:07 pmDo you have a profile picture, icon, or “avatar” that you use on facebook or twitter, etc. Support I’m a Spoonie! add a #spoonie twibbon to your avatar now! People have seen others on facebook and twitter with the spoon on their pics and it is SO easy to do! So many have asked me [...] -
Bed, BACK, and Beyond: The Original Bed Buddy Back Wrap Product Review
17 Jan 2012 | 2:31 pmCriticky Crack, there goes my back. Have you ever felt that type of pain? I have. I’m a California girl which means I’m automatically a warmth-loving, cold-hating, hot shower-praising girl. So, when I moved to the land of no sun Chicago I realized that warmth was a thing of the past. Then there was the [...]
-
quoteflections
-
#168 The Final Wisdom
27 Jan 2012 | 11:01 pmThe final wisdom of life requires not the annulment of incongruity but the achievement of serenity within and above it. ~Reinhold NiebuhrDefinition of incongruous: out of place, inappropriate, unbecoming, not harmonious in character, inconsistentMaxim of the DayGrace is the absence of everything that indicates pain or difficulty, hesitation or incongruity. ~ William Hazlitt -
#167 The Big Picture
26 Jan 2012 | 11:01 pmI do not believe in a simplistic and inflammatory view of good and evil. I believe this is a big world full of men, women, and children who struggle to eat, to love, to work, to protect their families, their beliefs, and their dreams. ~ Sean PennAdditional QuoteEveryone has a right to peaceful coexistence, the basic personal freedoms, the alleviation of suffering, and the opportunity to lead a productive life. ~ Jimmy Carter -
Maya Angelou: Present in All Things
26 Jan 2012 | 7:34 amMaya Angelou (1928-) is an American author and poet who has been called "America's most visible black female autobiographer." She is best known for her series of six autobiographical volumes, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. This critically acclaimed author has been awarded over 30 honorary degrees.Here is a select list of quotations which offer an introduction to her perspectives:-Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.-I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but… -
#166 Nature heals
25 Jan 2012 | 11:01 pmEverybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike. ~ John MuirMaxim of the DayModern technologyOwes ecologyAn apology.~Alan M. Eddison -
#165 Global Human Rights
24 Jan 2012 | 11:01 pmWe, the peoples of the United Nations, determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal right of men and women and of nations large and small....And for these ends to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors...have resolved to combine our efforts to accomplish these aims. ~Preamble, Charter of the United Nations, 1945Additional QuoteFrom this vision of the role…
-
Heather A Goodman
-
In Which Keegan Keeps Me up All Night by Not Waking
23 Jan 2012 | 10:39 amThe past couple of days, Keegan’s been refusing to nurse, and I didn’t know how this would break my heart. Sure, he could be teething, and perhaps he’ll resume, but he could also be done. I had no warning. I thought I’d have more time to watch how he watches me, how he plays with my hair (pulls, yanks, strips it from my head) while nursing, how I cuddle him close to me, how he sometimes falls asleep. And this is motherhood: little goodbyes as they grow up and start walking then start walking away from you. How does a heart handle this? So last night, I woke up when I… -
To Being Known
19 Jan 2012 | 1:43 amSince it’s 1:00 in the morning and I can’t sleep–the reason that I can’t sleep isn’t important (thank you, insurance company of man who rear-ended my husband and son, and may a camel spit in your eye)–and tomorrow will be miserable because of this lack of sleep and I’m not working on my teaching as I should be because I told Chris that if I committed to teaching this semester I’d have at least three, no four, lessons done before we started and I haven’t started on next week’s lesson and next week is the third week, I thought… -
In Which I Throw Chris Under the Bus and Go on a Christian Verbage Rant
12 Jan 2012 | 11:52 amA recent conversation: Chris (to Keegan): You’re doing so good, my boy! Me: So well. Chris: Your mom doesn’t want me to teach you how to speak normal. Me: Normally. I realize I’m throwing Chris under the bus here, but it made me laugh, this and conversations like it in which I attempt to use correct grammar so that we may teach our son when to say “to whom” and when to say “who,” when to use “I” and “me,” the difference between an adverb and an adjective. Not to use “literally” when he’s speaking… -
My Son, the Artist
9 Jan 2012 | 11:27 amThe music plays, and Keegan dances. He dances to Tchaikovsky and Veggie Tales. He dances to jazz and to Kid’s Praise. He dances to his maracas. He dances to the jingles on his toys. He dances to the motor of the blender and to the click of the refridgerator. To Keegan, everyday sounds aren’t random noises; they’re music. And music calls for dancing. Perhaps influenced by John Cage (best known for his 4’33” piece) or the composers of musique concrete, Keegan rejoices in the sounds around him. Or perhaps he hears the praise of the trees clapping their hands, the… -
Seasonal Faves
13 Dec 2011 | 10:58 amI dreamed last night that I blogged. Who says you can’t make your dreams come true? Rather than offer up the repetitious excuses of why I’ve been tacit here, I thought I’d spend the time reveling in my favorite time of year: Christmas. I’ve always loved Christmas. I turn into this sentimental sap, and I confess, my tastes can go a bit Norman Rockwell for the month. I eat up all the ABC Family Christmas movies (not to mention the old standards like White Christmas, Rudolph, and now, Elf). I fill my Pandora radio stations with classic Christmas standards, Indie holiday…
-
Carrie and Danielle
-
Errors People Make When Purchasing Insurance Policies
22 Jan 2012 | 11:19 pmFinancial plans can be scuttled by any catastrophic loss, bringing your savings down to its knees. In order to protect yourself against sudden death, loss of earning power, loss of earning power and medical cots you need an insurance policy. When it comes to insurance coverage, many people are basically [...] No related posts. -
12 Artistic Creations Made From Fruit
16 Jan 2012 | 10:03 pmA painter makes pictures with paint, a sculptor makes statues with clay and a performance artist makes a fool of themselves. But what do you call an artist whose medium is fruit? From the radical to the ridiculous below you will find 12 excellent examples of this flourishing art [...] No related posts. -
Investing, Do Men and Women Do It Differently
13 Jan 2012 | 12:11 amMany years back, there was a very popular book called Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. The very title of the book makes the suggestion that the two sexes are immensely different, specifically when it comes to communication and needs emotionally. Although not everyone is in complete [...] No related posts. -
Ways to Increase your Productivity at Work
5 Jan 2012 | 4:30 pmStaying productive at the office can be difficult given the number of distractions the average employee faces. From engaging in water cooler conversation to attending meetings, marking action items off my to-do list can take some effort. Here are some tips that have worked for me whether I was [...] No related posts. -
Do You Need a Financial Prenuptial Agreement?
22 Dec 2011 | 2:46 pmMost young couples don’t give much thought to creating a prenuptial agreement. Romance and idealism tend to paint a picture of the future in which everything is shared equally, couples grow old together, and arguments can always be resolved with a little effort. But the truth is that half [...] No related posts.
-
Dragos Roua - Brilliantly Better
-
A Crash Course In The Long-Lost Art Of Adaptation
23 Jan 2012 | 8:55 amOne of the biggest lies of my life was this one: if you do your job constantly, if you listen to your folks obediently, nothing bad will happen to you. All you have to do in order to live a happy life is to play by the rules and everyone around you will do the same. If you listen to life, life will listen to you and will reward you back big time. Well, guess what, it didn’t actually happen like this. I mean, I did my best to be obedient, to follow the rules, to do my job and not to harm anyone else, and yet, out of the blue, I got kicked straight in my ass. And not only once. I’m sure… -
Best Empowering Tools
16 Jan 2012 | 4:51 amYeap, I know. This is a very generic title. But, if you clicked through it, you’re gonna be in for a treat. Every once in a while, I get to be involved in specific online events. Sometimes it’s about collective projects, sometimes it’s about some interesting memes and sometimes it’s about specific sales events. This post is about one of these sales events. How are these are working? In short, you put together some top-notch experts in a specific niche, and then try to convince them to lower the price of their products, for a very short amount of time, and to create… -
Are You Staring At Me?
11 Jan 2012 | 5:19 amAs a digital nomad I get to work in public places a lot, especially coffee shops. Every once in a while I run into some mild problems, but, usually, nothing really serious. Until the other day. Sit down, relax, and make sure you don’t read this in a coffee shop too The Premises So, here I am, on a nice Monday morning, unpacking my laptop over a nice small table at my favorite Starbucks, arranging my cup of tea and plugging in the cable. Around, a few people at their own tables, most of them with their own laptops, tapping silently. Soft music, nice light, a perfect atmosphere for… -
Cash, Stubborness and Music
5 Jan 2012 | 9:00 amI had the first cassette recorder when I was around 4. It was called Jola 2, a Polish make. I know, I know, Poland and cassette recorders. But hey, it was the peak of the communist era in the Eastern Europe, in very early seventies. We were all actually eating our own dog food. I still have a very clear recollection of both the actual device and the context which lead to its acquisition. It was a black box with the cassette tray on the left side, with the speaker on the right side (it was an ellipse shaped speaker, I remember how I peaked through the small holes of the black plastic mask and… -
An Tan Tiri Mogo Dan
3 Jan 2012 | 9:00 amOr, to be more precise, “An Tan Tiri Mogo Dan, Cara Cara Si, Princi Pa Ta Morin Go. Tan Go!†In case you didn’t live in the Romania of the seventies, chances to know the meaning of those words are close to zero. Ok, it’s a “countdownâ€. You don’t know what a “countdown†is? It’s a sequence of apparently bogus words, spoken in a certain rhythm, almost like a song, each word being assigned to a certain person. Or, to be even more precise, to a certain kid, because this countdown is actually one of my strongest childhood memories.
-
Steve's Free
-
Hot and Cold in Haiti
27 Jan 2012 | 8:17 amThis is my bathroom sink at home. Last night, returning from a mission trip to Haiti, I got to turn two handles – and get two temperatures of water. Clean water. Plus my first hot shower in a week. In Haiti, by and large, you get one handle that works. If you even have a sink. And clean water comes in plastic containers. After a week there on a construction project, my mind and heart are swirling with so many thoughts and impressions that I hardly know where to begin. So, let’s start with something we in first-world countries take for granted (I certainly do). Water. As you drive… -
For or Against
15 Jan 2012 | 6:42 amFor those who love the Lord, the answer is quite simple. “If God be for us, who is against us?” (Romans 8:31). Case closed. God is for us. But what about those times when His hand seems to be against us? When a job is lost, a child is sick, a parent dies, a cloud of mental illness descends – has God changed His disposition? Faith embraces the promise, and sees past the circumstance. God being for us means that He remains on our side, and by our side, through the inevitable rough patches that are designed for our (ultimate) good. In other words, God’s heart is for us… -
The Attractive Woman
3 Jan 2012 | 2:42 pmI’m a guy, growing up as one of four brothers, and I have five boys. I also have a wonderful wife who has been my companion for over 30 years. I can’t give you much input on fashion or hairstyles, but perhaps I can give you a more sturdy perspective about attractiveness from a man who sees beyond skin deep. I’ve had three thoughts about female beauty rattling around in my head of late, and I’ll just throw them out there. Maybe one of them will touch you. 1. First, regarding young ladies: Aspire to be pretty, according to how Pat Archibold describes it in this post (go… -
Compatibility
1 Jan 2012 | 8:37 amReading this morning in Genesis 24, about the “finding” of Rebekah as a wife for Abraham’s son Isaac (a wonderful story if you’ve never read it before!), I was struck by the importance of compatibility – and by the remarkable providence of God in bringing together a man and woman to carry out His redemptive purposes. Abraham had moved away from his hometown, into the land of Canaan – the Promised Land. But he did not want his son to marry one of the local chicks. He sensed that this would be incompatible with God’s purposes, and a bad match for his… -
Christmas In 4 Words
25 Dec 2011 | 7:05 amGod promised. He delivered. Merry Christmas!
-
Caffeinated Thoughts
-
CyHawkThoughts: College Basketball Insight
27 Jan 2012 | 3:27 pmCollege basketball has been going on for a while now, but Steve & Chuck haven’t had much time to go over Iowa and Iowa State’s teams. This week they look at how the teams are doing and look ahead to what they might accomplish. Will there be post season births for 1, both, or neither teams this season. They have the answer. CyHawkThoughts: College Basketball Insight Please Share: Share with Addthis -
CyHawkThoughts: Football Finale
27 Jan 2012 | 3:26 pmIts been awhile since their last show, but Steve & Chuck are back to recap the football season. They announce the results of the bowl extravaganza and briefly touch on the championship game. They go over Iowa State’s and Iowa’s season and get into some recruiting discussion. The big topic being Barkley Hills’ decommitment from the Cyclones and commitment to the Hawks a week before signing day. Let them know what your thoughts are on the subject by sending a tweet to @cyhawkthoughts or sending an email to cyhawkthoughts@yahoo.com. CyHawkThoughts: Football Finale… -
Gingrich, the Alinsky Republican! Really?
26 Jan 2012 | 4:09 amPhilip Klein of The Washington Examiner wrote a poorly reasoned hit piece against Newt Gingrich. Ironically, I was looking for a little anti-Gingrich material when I came across Klein’s post. It irked me enough to write a rebuttal, so this morning, Gingrich gets a free ride and Klein gets scrutinized. Klein accuses Gingrich of using the tactics of Saul Alinsky. That’s an intriguing assertion, to be sure, but is it true? If it is, Klein fails to make a case for the charge. Charge 1—Gingrich exploits resentment. “Many of the tactics he spoke about—such as exploiting resentment …… -
Video: 1,000 Days Without a Budget
25 Jan 2012 | 8:00 pmThe Heritage Foundation yesterday posted a video that marked the 1000th day since the Democrat controlled U.S. Senate has passed a budget. While the House has put forth (and passed) its own budget, the Senate has failed to do the same. To help illustrate how extraordinary this failure has been, their new video highlights a few of impressive feats in history that have been accomplished in less time. Related articles Labrador: Senate 1,000 Days “Without a Budget, Without a Clue” (caffeinatedthoughts.com) A Thousand Days of Failure (pjmedia.com) Senate Dems signal a… -
Obama’s Lust for Power Revealed in State of the Union Education Remarks
25 Jan 2012 | 4:00 pmPresident Barack Obama had a lot to say in last night’s State of the Union address, I mean a lot… apparently this was the 10th longest in words and 9th longest in time. It was broadcast from 8:00pm – 9:30pm (CST). I frankly don’t have time to dissect everything that he said, but with his comments regarding education it is clear that he does not care about parental or state rights. In a nutshell when he said last night he said, “that government should do for people only what they cannot do better by themselves, and no…
-
Dominick Evans
-
A Transplant for Amelia
14 Jan 2012 | 6:18 pmSeldom am I so touched by the words I read on a screen. I have always been a passionate person, but I seldom show emotions of hurt or pain, if I have them. When something touches me to where I feel hurt, pain, sadness, anger and a myriad of other emotions, I know that whatever it is must be powerful. Today, I felt this. Today, I wanted to cry. Today, I felt appalled, disgusted, furious, and hurt. It was because of Amelia. I don’t know Amelia. I do not even know her mother or her father, Joe. What I do know is that this adorable little girl is facing a battle that could mean life or… -
Why I Admire Erin Kotecki Vest
13 Nov 2011 | 1:34 amYou know what I hate more than anything? When someone says anyone with a disability or illness is an inspiration because they just happen to have a disability or an illness. To me, Erin Koecki Vest is not an inspiration because she is fighting a severe illness. I find her inspiring as a mother, as a passionate advocate for others, for her liberal views, and for her undying love and support for her husband and children. Whether she has Lupus or not is irrelevant. It is her passion for life and zest for equality that inspire me every day. I met Erin on Twitter a few years ago. She is known as… -
Teach Your Kids Those with Differences are Still Human
7 Nov 2011 | 5:45 pmThe new “anti-bullying” bill passed by legislators in Michigan has given me the desire to speak up. Bullying is wrong, no matter the reason given for doing it. However, due to this new legislation, bullies can justify their bullying simply by explaining they have done so due to their religious beliefs. The bill is a joke…a way to allow the Republicans in the State Senate to feel like they’ve passed some legislation that addresses the bullying situation that is too loud to be ignored. Instead, they have taken steps back by justifying bullying. There is NO EXCUSE to… -
Five Misconceptions About Occupy Protesters
15 Oct 2011 | 4:20 pmI have never seen so much hatred for a group of Americans attempting to exercise their Constitutional rights. The right to assemble, to protest peacefully when you feel wronged, is a fundamental right we, as Americans, have partaken in since before the founding of this nation. Protesting has never been popular, but it is a right we are allowed to exercise. The funny part is many of those calling for the Constitution to be upheld, are also part of the people against the Occupy movement. Everywhere I go; the classroom, on campus, even on the bus, I hear people misquoting things about the… -
Lessons Learned on a Web Series Film Set
29 Aug 2011 | 8:09 pmSo, I have neglected my blogs. All of them. I am a bad Dominick. I know that, but it was for a good reason. After two years of writing, character development and script tweaking, Ashtyn and I have gotten FACESPACE off the ground. While the experience has been rewarding, and it has helped to confirm my love of filmmaking, I have also learned many lessons that I will not forget when filming future productions. I thought I would share the list of things so that other, aspiring filmmakers avoid making the same, first-time filmmaker mistakes with their own projects. 1. If casting friends, be…
-
Yellaphant
-
Wednesday's Song of the Week
11 Jan 2012 | 4:34 amI heard the church bells from afar,But we found each other in the dark.And when the smoke does finally passWe will rise above all the ash.Cause we're gonna live, we're gonna live, we're gonna liveWe're gonna live, we're gonna live, we're gonna liveWe're gonna live, we're gonna live, we're gonna liveAt last.So bright, the flames burned in our hearts,That we found each other in the dark.Like beasts out in the wildernessWe are fighting to survive and convalesce.But we're gonna live, we're gonna live, we're gonna liveWe're gonna live, we're gonna live, we're gonna liveWe're gonna live, we're… -
The only tickets we successfully get are speeding tickets ... sike I get out of those too
10 Jan 2012 | 6:57 amI've never fooled myself into thinking that I'm yet an entirely functioning member of adult society. I send clean pants to the dry cleaner just so I don't have to iron them. I routinely set the oven on fire. I trash talk small children to make myself feel better. I occasionally wake up in the bathtub. I don't feel like I need to go on here.I have a laundry list of flaws, but nearing the top of my Get Your Shit Together For Chrissake list is my absentmindedness. I misplace (every)thing(s). I lose iPhones. I screw up reservations. I forget birthdays. I just wish I could be thoughtful and… -
I love you, New York
6 Jan 2012 | 3:54 amA long weekend in New York City with my best friends:After a long weekend in New York City with my best friends: -
The thing about public toilets ...
5 Jan 2012 | 1:43 pmHave you ever had something written in your head and while it's up there bouncing around it seems so great and shiny and maybe even funny? And then when you sit down to put it to paper you can't remember what ever made you think it was any good in the first place but maybe you're just having a day because you've been so sick the past couple of days that the thought alone of putting pants on has been entirely overwhelming? Yeah me too.But anyway. When B and I were driving down to Philadelphia for Christmas I had the audacity to force B to stop at a public restroom not once but twice during the… -
Wednesday's Song of the Week
4 Jan 2012 | 9:44 amLet me start by apologizing for my little holiday hiatus. You know how it is when you go home. Things get busy. And drunk. Then after Christmas in Philly I took a little trip to New York City to celebrate the New Year. And you know how it is when you go to New York City. Only in New York could you be jogging in Central Park one hour, enjoying a glass of red wine in a cafe the next hour hour, sucking down some amazing sushi the next, sipping PBR in the back of a comedy club the next, find yourself in the courtyard of a delicious Belgian Beer Garden the next, and round off the wee morning hours…
-
JordonCooper.com
-
Here we go again
25 Jan 2012 | 8:12 pmTweetThe City of Saskatoon came out with their strategic plan and it reads and looks good. As I was looking through it (finally after saskatoon.ca was down all last night), I couldn’t help but notice three of the photos were taken from my Flickr account without my permission. Again. It’s happened before and I was assured it would never happen again. Well it did. I was initially quite angry but more than anything it shows that copyright and the Creative Commons are not well understood by city employees. My photos can be used if I am given credit (I was told I… -
The State of the Debate on Housing Right Now in Saskatchewan
25 Jan 2012 | 8:43 amTweetThis comes from a December 14, 2011 Question Period in the Legislature. Direct from Hansard Ms. Chartier Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Social Services has been housing many people in hotels like the Coachman, the Sunrise and the Quality Inn in Regina. There’s been one man who’s had to call the Coachman home for seven months, Mr. Speaker. He was housed in the Coachman for seven months at approximately $2,676 a month, or about $90 a day. He asked for an increase in his shelter allowance and was denied. The government has made the choice to house people in hotels rather… -
This and that
23 Jan 2012 | 7:16 pmTweet The ongoing water problems at The Lighthouse continue. Today as they were working on the sprinkler system, a line broke under pressure and flooded out the dining room. In case you are counting, that’s three floods now. Later in the day as Marcel and I were talking the fire alarms went off again and we both went sprinting up the building looking for a fire or water line break. Luckily they were just working on the system but by the end of the day we all had enough. The flood in the dining room was intense but the residents came down and got the dry-vacs… -
My new gig
22 Jan 2012 | 5:46 pmTweetMost of you know I am working at The Lighthouse Supported Living now but I haven’t gotten into much more than that. Partially because when they offered me the job, they didn’t know what to do with me (so many of you feel can sympathize). I was given (half) an office, a computer with a really big monitor (it’s sweet) and kind of left to find my way. My colleagues had some strong ideas of what I need to do as did my boss but they let me find my own way for a bit which I really appreciate. When the dust had settled, I was given the job title General Manager and… -
The story of Mark Horvath
20 Jan 2012 | 9:56 pmTweetI met Mark during his visit to Saskatoon last summer but have been a fan of his work online for sometime. Here is his story and a trailer for a movie about his work. Showing how you can change the world via Twitter and YouTube. You can find more about what Mark is doing at Invisible People.tv
-
It's my life...
-
Embarrassed
26 Jan 2012 | 9:36 pmI live in an amazing area. It's gorgeous here. Gorgeous as in sometimes I want to stop on the side of the road just so I can gawk at the scenery. The weather is amazing -- never too hot or too cold. There are no bugs. (No, really, no bugs.) And even better, the people here are awesome.This place, that I never expected to live in, is amazing in every way possible... except one.The housing prices here are astounding. And not in a good way.This past month, as we've visited countless homes in the hopes of moving to a town that would allow us to reduce the amount of time we spend commuting and… -
On Loss, Love, and Connections
23 Jan 2012 | 3:47 pmI went to a small high school. I had a handful of close friends and a handful of people I knew, but that was pretty much it. Other than the dude who would drink a 6-pack before homeroom and the guy with the drug problem, everyone was pretty much healthy and average.I went to a huge university and attended two programs at once. Overnight the number of people I encountered on a daily basis grew exponentially. Suddenly I knew people, lots and lots of people. People with health issues, people with mental issues, people with family issues, and people who were absolutely totally average.I finished… -
What if you had a drinking problem?
18 Jan 2012 | 11:24 pmLet me preface this by saying that I'm not an alcoholic. I'm not even a heavy drinker. I enjoy a glass of wine here and there at dinner or out with friends, but, in reality, I loathe losing control of myself and my emotions.In fact, I can distinctly remember the handful of times I've drunk myself blotto, and let me assure you, you really only do need one hand to count the occasions.That's why it caught me so off guard this year, when, often after a stressful sleepless night or an intense morning drop off commute, I walked into Starbucks ardently wishing that they sold Irish coffee. I laughed… -
It's like dating... except when it's not.
13 Jan 2012 | 1:44 pmThey say it's like dating. Hunting for an agent I mean. That you put yourself out there, again and again, you meet people, and sometimes you click and sometimes you don't and just like when you date, you can't take it personally when the chemistry doesn't work out. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I feel like I need to mention that I've never dated. I know. It's weird. But I never did the whole, go on a few dates, decide if you like the guy, kiss, etc. In each of my relationships I skipped the whole "does he like me? does he not?" part of things and skipped straight to the kissing.I… -
Bipper for Safety
10 Jan 2012 | 5:07 pmWhen C was a baby I lived in fear of only one thing: that I would be stranded somewhere with her, like in a snowdrift or something, with no access to food and no way to feed her.Now, clearly that spoke more to my underlying issues about not being able to breastfeed her than any actual danger of getting stuck in a snowdrift... in California, but nevertheless, for the first ten months of her life I traveled around with a case of cans of pre-mixed formula in my car. Just. In. Case.Of course, the day I did run out of formula and delved into my emergency stash she found the stuff revolting and…
-
thinkBuddha.org
-
Introducing Happiness
5 Jan 2012 | 9:04 amI’m delighted to say that today is the official launch date for my book Introducing Happiness: A Practical Guide, published by the lovely Icon Books, both in hard copy and also on the Kindle. The book is a brief and breezy guide to various practical and philosophical approaches to happiness, from the world of positive psychology and the so-called “new science of happiness”, to the disreputable behaviour of the Greek philosopher Diogenes, to the intricacies of Buddhist meditation, to the sublime idleness of Zhuangzi. And it’s filled with what I hope are both… -
Gautama Buddha: Interview with Vishvapani Blomfield
7 Dec 2011 | 11:21 amSeveral months ago, I got hold of a copy of the new biography of the Buddha, Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of the Awakened One, written by Vishvapani Blomfield of WiseAttention.org renown. Vishvapani is an old friend of mine (we used to spend time talking about books and Buddhism whilst I lived in Birmingham) and I thought it might be fun to break my monk-like silence over here on thinkBuddha.org, and to interview him about the book. The interview in full (and I mean in full – it is fairly long) is reproduced below. If you would like to get hold of the book — and it is… -
Pick and Mix
26 Aug 2011 | 12:35 pmA few weeks ago, as I mentioned in the news section of this site, I was down in Manchester contributing to the discussion for a show on Western Buddhism for BBC Radio 4’s “Beyond Belief”. I was on the show along with Ani Rinchen Khandro, who was participating from afar up in Scotland, and my good friend Nagapriya, who was also in the Manchester studio. I am not a scholar of Western Buddhism, nor do I have any institutional position when it comes to any of the various branches of Buddhism in the West; so I saw my role as being more or less that of an interested some-time… -
Beyond Belief
8 Aug 2011 | 9:57 amTomorrow I’m heading up to Manchester to record an episode of BBC Radio 4’s regular religion show, Beyond Belief, on the subject of Western Buddhism. I’ll be in the studio along with Ani Rinchen Khandro and Nagapriya Wright. The topic of the show is what, if anything, Western Buddhism is, and what the future might hold for Buddhism in the West. I’m the “Buddhish” representative, I think… I’ll add a link here when the show is broadcast. -
The Trouble with Happiness
6 Jul 2011 | 12:54 pmI have been meaning to write about happiness for some time; and as I turned on the news this evening to hear Martin Seligman, the director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, addressing the British All Party Parliamentary Group on Well-Being earlier today, it seems like as good an occasion as any. I’ve been thinking about happiness for some time now, in part because I’ve been writing a book on the subject for Icon Books. It’s a short, philosophically-slanted book, and is due out next spring – I’ll post to thinkBuddha when it is…
-
salt and lemonade
-
Cranberry Pork Roast (Crock Pot Recipe)
22 Jan 2012 | 8:41 amThis one is for Jenny's crock pot recipe library. Although it has a number of ingredients, it's pretty simple to prepare. You can vary the seasonings as desired - it can even be made with just the pork and cranberry sauce, if you don't have any of the other ingredients available. Serve with mashed potatoes and a strongly flavored green vegetable, like kale or spinach.Ingredients:1 (2-3 lb) boneless pork roast2 cups whole berry cranberry sauce1 teaspoon ground ginger1 tablespoon prepared spicy brown or whole grain mustard1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper1 clove garlic, pressed1/3 cup… -
Newt's Taxes
20 Jan 2012 | 7:45 amWe'll see if the media gives Newt a free pass on his tax return...He released his individual return...however most of his income (2.5 million out of 3.0 million) comes from Gingrich Holdings...and he did NOT release that return. I don't feel it's necessary for a candidate to release their return...but if someone is being holier than thou about the topic, they should at least be held accountable for doing what they said they were going to do. We have no idea what his actual total income was just by looking at his return. -
Turnip and Butternut Squash Puree
8 Nov 2011 | 1:37 pmTurnips (more accurately rutabagas) are an important feature of Thanksgiving in my family of origin. They were actually always there - but no one ate them- until one year my mother decided to skip them. Suddenly 5 teenagers and young adults who had never much cared about the turnips were outraged...as having them was a TRADITION. So, back on the menu they went, and there they've stayed. Not everyone cares for their slightly bitter flavor, however.I recently found myself with a very large basket of butternut squash from Tom's garden, and a single turnip (rutabaga) from Katie's crop share. -
Bulgur Stuffed Red Peppers
21 Sep 2011 | 5:39 pmIf you've been overdoing it on the heavy fare served by chain restaurants such as Olive Garden or Outback, the vegetarian entree I prepared tonight might help get your diet back on track. These stuffed peppers are low-fat, under 200 calories a serving, and filled with vitamins and fiber.Ingredients:*2 red bell peppers *1/3 cup chicken broth*1/3 cup bulgur wheat*1 tablespoon olive oil *1 small onion, finely chopped*1 clove garlic, minced*1 large carrot, finely chopped*1/2 cup parsley, minced*1 egg, beaten*1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground*Non-stick cooking spray*8 tablespoons tomato… -
Heathcare Inequities
18 Sep 2011 | 6:07 pmLet's start by acknowledging that I'm a conservative Republican. I did not vote for Barack Obama, but I'm also not a fan of extremists like Rick Perry and Michelle Bachman. I generally favor fiscal restraint and limited government.That said, I do support the healthcare for all initiative we have in Massachusetts. It just seems right to me to provide a means for all citizens to afford healthcare, to require large corporations to participate in the effort, and to ask citizens who choose to opt out to pay a small portion of the costs the state incurs in providing free care to those who choose to…
-
yes and yes
-
Real Life Style Icon: Rocquelle of 'Consider Me Lovely'
27 Jan 2012 | 6:00 amThis is one of many Real Life Style Icon interviews, in which we talk to funny, smart, painfully cute ladies who we all want to befriend. And then steal their clothes.Name: Rocquelle PorchAge: 26 Location:Houston, TXOnline haunts: blog // twitter Three reasons that you're awesome: God made me, I'm very comfortable in my own skin and I live in life's positivityWhat are you wearing right now, as you type this? Dark flared jeans, a peach and coral striped t-shirt, and gold vintage earringsWhat is the last item of clothing you bought? Do shoes count as clothing? -
My New Online Home
26 Jan 2012 | 6:00 pmHooray! After 10 months of self-employment, I've finally upgraded from my homemade, Blogger-hosted portfolio to something a little splashier. The very, very talented Kim Lawler created a fantastic online home that works with my aesthetic and has just the right number of bells and whistles - rotating testimonials! animated menu bar!I'm totally, totally thrilled with the results. Pop over and have a dig through my offerings or just check out Kim's handiwork! -
Louisiana, Ahoy!
26 Jan 2012 | 6:00 amFriends! This time it is I who need your travel advice.Next month, I'm packing up my tiny car and heading down to Lafayette, Louisiana for four weeks of fun with an old friend from college. She's an actual, proper Cajan and a writer like me, so I'm imaging all sorts of movie-caliber hijinks when we attend Mardi Gras and drink really dark coffee and write on her porch. Overlooking the bayou. (Okay, that last part is a lie and won't actually be happening.)I've been to Lafayette before and loved the sweet bejesus out of it, so I can't wait to get back and eat my weight in hush… -
The Internet Is My Religion. Also: February Ad Space
25 Jan 2012 | 6:00 pmpdf2011 on livestream.com. Broadcast Live FreeDiscuss.And when you're done discussing that - I'd like to discuss February ad space with you!Sponsorships are available in one, two and three month packages with pricing discounts at two and three months. All 150x150 sponsors will be included in the mid-month sponsor introduction post and three month sponsors have the option of a giveaway, if they're interested. Some facts about Yes and YesDaily unique visitors: 3,200 - 3,500 a dayPage views: 150,000+ per monthTwitter followers: 2,580+Facebook fans: 1,600+ Blogspot followers: 2,550+Google Page… -
33 New Things: Do A Polar Plunge
25 Jan 2012 | 6:00 amEvery year I make a list of new things I want to try and do. Some of those things are challenging, some are shockingly mundane. You can check out previous shenanigans here.In case you were wondering how to impress/terrify everyone at a New Year's Eve party, your answer is this:Tell them you're going to jump into a frozen lake at 9:00 am the next morning.All the men will inadvertently clutch their nether regions and the women will probably narrow their eyes at your over their beer.But here's the thing, you guys: It's not really that bad or hard or scary.There is no talent or fitness…
-
ColorMePink!
-
Steelhead Trout with Lemon Butter Sauce with Capers and Garlic
26 Jan 2012 | 7:24 pmIn our effort to get more fish into our diets, we have obviously needed to broaden our horizons as far as types of fish that I cook. We’ll eat anything, but I don’t know how to cook it best… yet. So today when I went to our local fish market – I saw what I thought was salmon and decided to get some. I was quickly informed that the fish in question was not salmon at all, but steelhead trout, which I had never heard of. If you have a good fish monger (which I do), they’ll be happy to tell you about the fish, what to expect, how to cook it – and I rely on… -
I Could Show You My Favorite Obsession
21 Jan 2012 | 7:24 pmSo back in the beginning of January, I talked a bit about the things I was looking to change, create, or get rid, of in my post about my resolutions. One of the first things I did was go see the doctor and I’m mostly on track with that – I may have had a bad day yesterday, but mostly on track and I’m happy with my progress on that front. The second thing I’ve been working on is creativity – I talked in the first post about figuring out what makes my heart sing and taking pictures does that. I don’t know that I’d want to be a pro, but I love… -
Eggs with Cheese, Chorizo, Peppers, Onion and Spinach
16 Jan 2012 | 9:00 amThis is the kind of thing that I imagine eating around a campfire, cooked in an iron skillet with a bunch of cowboys after a particularly grueling round up. You don’t? Just me then? Well, ok. I have mentioned before that we love a good Breakfast for Dinner every once in a while and this one was so good, and so stick to your ribs, with lots of great flavors and some serious nutrients in there. Vitamin C, Iron, Protein, Omega 3s, and Pork. Oh wait. Pork isn’t a nutrient… But it’s so good. Here’s how we got our pig on with breakfast for dinner: 3 onions sliced… -
My Doctor Visit and Our Vitamin Deficiency Issues
14 Jan 2012 | 2:39 pmAll the New Year’s resolutions made, I’m following up on most and I’m pretty happy with my follow through so far. Although we’re not even two weeks into the new year, so I’m not going to strain too hard to pat myself on the back. This week, I followed through with my blood work at the doctor’s office. This is a new doctor and it’s only my second time seeing him. I’ve had the worst luck with doctors for the past couple of years, so I’m being very cautious. The last time I went, he ordered more panels than I have ever had and when I… -
Sautéed Squashes with Baby Carrots, Steak and Salad
12 Jan 2012 | 10:15 amIn our effort to be healthier this year, not only are we limiting our carb intake, but we’re also trying to eat less meat and more vegetables with each meal. I have found that the easiest way to do this, is to fill a plate with all kinds of interesting tastes alongside the protein. This gives your body the protein it needs, but the opportunity to enjoy a more stimulating plate, therefore making you more satiated eating a meal with a little less fat and a lot more fiber. Flat iron steaks are an often overlooked piece of beef. They’re not ridiculously expensive, but cooked…
-
Where's My Damn Answer
-
An Open Letter to the Occupiers from Generation X
23 Jan 2012 | 1:06 pmI am very fascinated with the occupy movement and love hearing all the different viewpoints ~ explanations for why they are feeling this way… Here is another interesting perspective on the Occupy Movement this time from a Generation X’er… Do you agree with her thoughts or disagree?? This article follows another post that we did on the occupy movement from a Mother Perspective http://www.wheresmydamnanswer.com/WP02/occupy-movement-from-a-mothers-perspective/ To the Occupy movement: I know some of you mean well. I even share some of your concerns. The dismal… -
Filling your brain | What are you a student of?
11 Jan 2012 | 12:35 amOver the holidays I took some time to fill my brain with good movies, books and of course basketball . In the evenings Ron, Zac and I have been snuggling up on the couch with blankets and popcorn to watch movies with hot cups of tea. That’s been awesome. I believe that we are all students of something. There is something that interests us enough that we just can’t get enough of it. Sometimes it’s not present 100% of the time, but then it will show up again and pull our attention from everything else. It will make us want to have the emails, phone calls and text… -
The meaning of the “Care Package” to those that serve…
11 Jan 2012 | 12:33 amAs most of you know, and for those that don’t know, I’m a vet of the USAF…proudly served my country during Desert Storm as an Air Defense Controller, but that’s a whole other Oprah. I endured a lot during those few years overseas – a lot of ups and downs with my comrades, colleagues and “family”. Some of the things that I most enjoyed, outside of the travel, the different cultures and cuisines of other countries, were the care packages from home. While I was stationed at my first duty station – NAS Keflavik, Iceland – I shared a… -
Happy 2012
9 Jan 2012 | 12:47 pmHappy 2012 everyone!~ I know that many people at the first of every new year feverishly write down resolutions for the year.. Personally I am not a resolution person, I look at the new year with huge excitement as an opportunity for change! So here is my DAMN question: What opportunities for change are in your 2012 Future??? -
Occupy Movement From a Mothers Perspective
19 Dec 2011 | 2:34 pmI have very mixed emotions about the whole occupy movement. A lot I totally agree with and some I do not – But whatever your political affiliation or feeling on the movement this article and perspective was and is like no other one that I had heard. My friend sent this too me and it really stuck with me and I wanted to pass it along and get your opinion not only on the article but on the whole movement??? WOW~~~~~~ Hitting The Nail On The Head Article written by Marybeth Hicks. Call it an occupational hazard, but I can’t look at the Occupy Wall Street protesters without…
-
anja merret
-
Religion and women’s rights
15 Jan 2012 | 6:44 amJust as I was putting the blame on mother’s for keeping their daughters in the kitchen and out of the boardroom this article appears in the NY Times. And it’s about Israel and what the Orthodox Jewish faith does to women’s rights. Well, actually there are not that many rights it seems. I had some ideas about the Jewish religion and the more orthodox thinking. It was something that concerned me when my younger daughter was dating an orthodox Jew. Lovely boy, but was a bit concerned about the sitting upstairs in the Shul part. Indicative, I felt at the time, of how the women… -
What did your mother teach you?
14 Jan 2012 | 12:10 pmIn the ‘good’ old days sons learned their work skills from their fathers and daughters learned housekeeping and baby care from their mothers. Kids also learned from their mothers that boys need never do housework and that girls should find a husband to obey and clean up after. Or else. So why are we surprised that girls don’t make it into the boardroom, senior positions at Universities, top of the heap in government and other civil services? It’s generations of mothers who have instilled into their girls’ psyche that they should bow before their lord and master. -
Disability is about different abilities
11 Jan 2012 | 12:59 pmThere’s a blog I follow written by a disabled person. And every now and then I want to unsubscribe because his posts are more often than not tirades at the able bodied world and why it’s not taking more notice and making more allowances to the disabled. Then I don’t unsubscribe because I have to remind myself that I have no idea how it must be to move around in this world in a wheelchair. And furthermore I have no idea what it must be like to be physically disabled but not intellectually and yet be treated as a moron just because you are in a wheelchair. And it constantly… -
One week left in Vietnam
20 Nov 2011 | 9:24 pmHanoi! Motor bike ready outfit!Just over two years ago I landed in Hanoi as a VSO volunteer. It was my first visit to Asia, never mind South East Asia. What an adventure it has proved to be. Having met many volunteers from other organisations I must say compliment VSO on their exceptional preparation and induction programmes which they put their volunteers through. Added to that excellent in country support and I felt myself lucky to be part of this organisation. Well done VSO. The year in Hanoi had it’s ups and downs. Learning how to deal with the Asian culture takes time and effort… -
Three Amazing Wooden Houses
16 Nov 2011 | 10:02 amThere is a variety of material used in the building of beautiful houses. One material that has been used to special effect in homes is wood. Some architects and designers have used this material to construct some incredible structures. Tree house by Architect OshatzTree house with a difference One such structures is a house designed by architect Robert Harvey Oshatz for his client Wilkinson. This building, made of wood, takes the concept of a tree house to a new level. Blending into a steep slope this structure blends into the tree canopy which surrounds it. The client wanted the house to…
-
Momma Muse
-
Apple Pie Oatmeal
26 Jan 2012 | 1:54 pmI think I called this Caramel Apple Oatmeal when I took my picture, because I used so much brown sugar and butter… mmm.. it was sooo yummmy. I am a member of Pinterest. If you aren’t, and you like stuff, you ought to be. No, really. Etsy used to be my favorite site, because of all the cool stuff. Since Pinterest, Etsy has had to take a step back (maybe two or three, because I like Pinterest just that much). But that is all beside the point. Apples, cinnamon, nutmeg and oatmeal are spot on the point. I found this pin at pinterest for Apple Pie Oatmeal. It looked so tasty (and I was… -
Oil Cleansing Method – OCM
26 Jan 2012 | 1:30 pmThe Oil Cleansing Method of facial wash, is a healthy and natural alternative to washing with soaps or facial cleansers. There is already a lot of information out there on this method of washing your face, so maybe you’ve already read about and are just looking for more support. I like to read several articles on something before I try it, because everyone has their own reasons, their own method and process. This year, 2012, brings with it my 42nd birthday. And while I hit my 40′s happy, I can say I’ve never been happy with my skin. I’ve always… -
How to Make Powdered Laundry Soap – homemade
22 Jan 2012 | 10:47 pmYou may have seen my post about making Liquid Laundry Soap. Almost two years later, I am finally getting around to adding my Powdered Laundry Soap Tutorial. (About time!) Honestly, I prefer this powdered recipe over the liquid one.. either way, they both save money. Ingredients to gather: Washing Soda (I use Arm & Hammer) Borax (20 Mule Team Laundry Booster) Fels Naptha (stain pre-treatment bar) It shouldn’t be too hard to find the ingredients at your local grocery. If you can’t find something, you can always order it online. Grate about 2 cups of the Fels Naptha. One cup… -
Bean and Rice Salad
22 Jan 2012 | 12:11 pmOne of my favorite dishes is simple and cheap… black beans and rice salad. Rice and beans are a staple I keep on hand, and we almost always have cheese and sour cream.. so when I get in the mood for this, it’s not very costly (just pick up a tomato and avocado). This isn’t one my kids are fond of though. Usually just me & Em. Ingredients – and layer in bowl in this order: Shredded Lettuce Cooked Rice (I like it when it’s still warm off the stove) Black Beans (I use canned and drain/rinse) Salsa or Diced Tomatoes Sour Cream Mashed Avocado Top… -
Cheese Stuffed Pasta Shells
22 Jan 2012 | 12:00 pmThe past few times I’ve picked up the box of large shells in the pasta isle at the grocery, I couldn’t find the recipe I liked to use. Going through all my recipes, I realize I’ve had it all along posted on my other site. So I’m condensing and moving this recipe here to MommaMuse. This is my favorite Cheese stuffed shells recipe. While this may seem like a time consuming meal to prepare (for some reason it always does to me), it really isn’t bad at all. Periodically, I’ll buy ground beef in bulk. I’ll brown and drain it all, then separate it into…
-
Dateline: Oblivion
-
Warning: Consuming too much information can make you fat, clueless -- and dead
27 Jan 2012 | 1:44 pmThe Information Diet: A Case for Conscious Consumption By Clay A. Johnson(O’Reilly, hardback, list price $22.99; Kindle edition, list price $19.99) Book Review We are sitting down too often and too long while we consume information. It pours into our heads from the Web, from TV, from smart phones, from books, and as blather from our car radios while we drive around. Much of the information we consume is drivel and crap – the digital equivalent of high-fat junk food and raw sugar. And some of us are driving ourselves to destructive… -
Need to do a big presentation? There’s a book for that: slide:ology #bookreview
24 Jan 2012 | 4:50 pmslide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great PresentationsBy Nancy Duarte(O’Reilly, paperback, list price $34.99; Kindle edition, list price $27.99) Bet you were thinking I was about to say: "Need to do a big presentation? There's an app for that!" There probably is, or soon will be. Meanwhile, consider this book. Wouldn’t it be great if you could just phone in your PowerPoint slides and audio and stay comfortably ensconced at a Starbucks in Waterloo, Iowa, while 50 managers and executives in Boston huddled in a poorly ventilated conference room and sweated while they marveled at… -
Starting (or revamping) a small business? Three good books
12 Jan 2012 | 9:21 amI have operated a small (very small) business for more than 30 years. I am now in the process of revamping some of what I do and sell. The three books listed below are proving very helpful to my ongoing efforts. If you are starting or restructing a small business, you may find them useful, too. Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinmeir Hansson - A refreshingly snarky alternative to those how-to biz books that have you start out with market studies, mission statements, business plans and rounds of meetings. The New Rules of Marketing & PR by David Meerman Scott - The recently… -
Fighting guns and ghosts with bare hands: An action-horror feature screenplay
11 Jan 2012 | 8:45 amRAVINE Trapped in an isolated ravine, a combat veteran who fears violence must save himself and his family from a crazed gunman, also a combat veteran, who is being driven mad by the ghosts of three men he killed in Iraq. SYNOPSIS JAKE WARREN, his wife KAREN and their young daughter KATIE have no idea why their SUV suddenly is being pursued by an unseen driver steering a hulking black van. And they have no time to figure it out. After a short chase that seems like road rage out of control, the black van slams their SUV through a guard rail and into a deep ravine. The Warrens are all injured,… -
Sometimes, a good Western screenplay needs...a town-saving cavalry charge?
10 Jan 2012 | 9:44 amBATTLE AT BUCK CREEK by Si Dunn (WGA Registration: #1118098) HIGH NOON meets AIR FORCE ONE -- on a moderate budget. BATTLE AT BUCK CREEK An Old West town’s new mayor and its free-spirited school teacher must team up and fight a murderous gang that has seized many hostages and will kill one hostage per hour until the mayor’s father, the state governor, releases the gang leader’s brother from prison. Synopsis WILL HANSON, troubled son of GOV. JEB HANSON, has been sent into the Texas version of political exile by his father. In a sham election, Will has been…
-
Celebrate Love
-
1st Wedding Anniversary Gift Ideas
26 Jan 2012 | 9:56 pmYour first year of wedded bliss—didn’t it go by so quickly? Celebrating your first wedding anniversary is very special—it’s not considered a milestone anniversary, but truly, it is. The first year of marriage is filled with the joy of... Read more... -
Valentine’s Day Is For Everyone You Love!
25 Jan 2012 | 12:36 pmValentine’s Day is a day to celebrate your love, not only with your husband, wife or partner, but to show love for all those you cherish and value. Certainly, you don’t have to buy a gift for everyone, but making … Continue reading... Read more... -
The Best 50th Wedding Anniversary Gift
23 Jan 2012 | 9:03 amCouples who stayed married through thick and thin for 50 years deserve an especially wonderful 50th anniversary celebration, one that celebrates their journey of love. This is a perfect time to have a family & friends reunion, which can be... Read more... -
Family Christmas Tree Ornaments
11 Dec 2011 | 1:42 pmWhat better way to celebrate your family this Christmas than with a personalized Christmas tree ornament! From elegant to whimsical, choose from many themes. You’ll find ornaments for Mom, Dad, grandparents, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, new... Read more... -
Marriage Takes Two to Tango!
1 Dec 2011 | 6:59 pmLast week I wrote about a wife who put her husband up for sale on Craigslist and posted several more unhappy + happy (gasp!) listings about marriage or relationships. Ready to put your husband, wife or partner up for sale … Continue reading... Read more...
-
WebSnacker - Automat For The Web Wanderer - Free Morsels to Read, See, Hear & Experience!
-
Stop SOPA / PIPA - Save The Internet!!
18 Jan 2012 | 12:23 pmAnd its time You did something about it!If you hadn't heard of SOPA before, you probably have by now: Some of the internet's most influential sites—Reddit and Wikipedia among them— have gone dark to protest the much-maligned anti-piracy bill. But other than being a very bad thing, what is SOPA/PIPA? And what will it mean for you if it passes?SOPA/PIPA is an anti-piracy bill working its way through Congress...House Judiciary Committee Chair and Texas Republican Lamar Smith, along with 12 co-sponsors, introduced the Stop Online Piracy Act on October 26th of last year. Debate on H.R. 3261,… -
Waking Life (2001)
6 Jan 2012 | 1:25 pmRichard Linklater's Brilliant Animated MindTripper!!Waking Life (2001) is a dazzling mess. There are probably more ideas generated in those 100 minutes than in all other movies currently playing around town combined, even if its over 10 years old. Richard Linklater's film is presented as one long hallucination by its nameless central character, an observer of conversations about existentialism, rebirth, free will, bereavement, warfare, technology, faith and, most of all, the nature of dreams themselves.Like virtually any work that dares to ask big, unanswerable questions, Waking Life can be… -
The Original Nirvana!
17 Dec 2011 | 1:01 pmStill Smells Like Teen Spirit After All These Years!These are busy days – insanely busy days but I have had Nirvana for company all through last week. Dunno why but Kurt Cobain has been a savior of sorts for me – first during my school, then my confused college days and now in my work life.And the impact of one particularly magnetic song can never be undervalued. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" blasted out of the TV screen in 1991 and literally changed the entire world of music. As my friends and I listened to that song, none of us could really explain exactly why it moved us like it did. The… -
Fly Away Home (1996)
5 Dec 2011 | 1:25 pmAn Outstanding Family Classic from the 90sHollywood may be a moral wasteland, the epicenter of cultural corruption, a modern-day Gomorrah driven by vanity and venality—but what the heck, it sure cranks out some nice movies (as it did in the 90s – 1996 to be specific).Fly Away Home (1996) not only reminded that good movies still happen, but, following as it did on the heels of so many fine children's films, it makes me wonder if the early 1990s weren't the richest period ever for family movies.In 1995, we saw the charming talking-pig movie Babe and the funny, innovative Toy Story. In 1994,… -
Lone Star (1996)
29 Nov 2011 | 1:06 pmA Engaging, Multilayered Murder Mystery from John SaylesJohn Sayles has worked as a screenwriter and script doctor in mainstream Hollywood, but when he creates his own films, he works independently, retaining total control over the writing, directing, and editing. Of the films of his I've seen, I've most enjoyed Matewan (1987), Passion Fish (1992) and Limbo (1999), but they've all been worth a look, because Sayles is that rare commodity: a major independent filmmaker who makes cinema by observing real life, not recycling other movies.His City of Hope (1991) interwove several plot lines to…
-
The Art of Non-Conformity » 3×5
-
Upon Being Deported from Eritrea
26 Jan 2012 | 7:00 amI always knew it would happen one day. Having successfully arrived in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Angola without the necessary visas, I had been pushing my luck. Having challenged Belarus to a blogging duel, complete with a response by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I was no stranger to difficult countries. But last weekend in Eritrea, the luck ran out. Let’s be clear: I’m not interested in taking unnecessary risks. In each case where I’ve had to take my chances on traveling without a visa, it was because all other options had exhausted themselves. I would have much… -
1,000 Days After Overnight Success
23 Jan 2012 | 6:15 amMore than two years ago, I wrote a free manifesto on becoming a professional writer in less than a year. It was called 279 Days to Overnight Success, and the purpose was to outline the roadmap I had followed in crafting a new career after moving back to the U.S. from overseas and finishing grad school. Somewhere around 15% of the total AONC readership can be traced to the worldwide interest in this manifesto, so I thought I’d take a quick look back at the lessons from it. But First, a Disclaimer I almost never look at my old work. The reason is simple: once it’s old, I don’t… -
An Academic Confession
19 Jan 2012 | 10:21 amA long time ago, I sent a thick packet of information to Yale, explaining in considerable detail how awesome I was and why they should accept the honor of my giving them tens of thousands of dollars a year. They sent me back a short, polite letter, saying that while they were happy to accept my initial contribution of $75, they had plenty of other applicants, even more qualified and more awesome than me, all willing to pony up the tens of thousands of dollars for the next few years. Regretfully, I was informed, the $75 was all I’d be able to pay them. “We wish you well in your future… -
Range of Motion: Getting to Tajikistan
16 Jan 2012 | 5:10 amAfter a product launch and a few frantic days copyediting a book manuscript, I got on a plane and left to see the world. It began with a 4:30am alarm and a taxi to the airport. I hopped the early Alaska Air flight down to LAX, took an afternoon American Airlines departure to Kennedy, and another late-night AA flight to Barcelona. Non-stop travel with a lot of stops. In BCN I wandered the empty concourse at 5:45am. Boarding to Madrid was an hour later, but I had to switch to the Euro zone flight area, which means going through immigration and getting an entry stamp. In Madrid I went through… -
Behind the Scenes of the “Unconventional Guide to Publishing” Launch
12 Jan 2012 | 10:53 amI woke up before 6am on Tuesday morning, eager for a big day. A product launch is always filled with lots of emotions, especially in the first few critical hours. What would happen? Dun dun dun… At 7:30 there was a knock on my door. It’s Nicky Hajal! Our genius developer (AKA “kid wonder”) had arrived from New York the previous day. Nicky was in town along with Wes and Tera, our media team, for a tour of venues for this year’s World Domination Summit. More on that process later—for now, Nicky was also here to help out with Tuesday’s launch of the Unconventional…
-
Shiny Bits of Life
-
The Champs-Elysees
24 Jan 2012 | 3:01 amLast summer we went to Paris. I don’t say that to brag. It was part of our visit to my sister and her family, who live in Belgium. Anyhow, one afternoon, my oldest son Jay and I decided to stroll along the Champs-Elysees, a famous avenue in the city known for its romantic cafes and luxury specialty shops. Needless to say, we didn’t sip coffee at a sidewalk cafe. However, we thoroughly enjoyed visiting a Fiat/Lancia/Alfa Romeo shop/museum. (Jay is next to the wonderful Alfa Romeo Mito, a car that sadly won’t be making it to the USA.) One surreal moment was seeing scores of Chinese people… -
Sadness in the life of toothpaste
20 Jan 2012 | 3:01 amIf you haven’t been to to my “cutting floor” blog, head on over: Paul Merrill’s Tumblr. -
Review: Ink Joy
17 Jan 2012 | 3:01 amI love writing. As in, taking a pen out and dragging it across a piece of paper. It’s a dying art. Papermate recently released their InkJoy series of pens. I bought a 6-pack (well, 4) and love the writing pleasure this pen provides. It glides across the page unlike anything else I’ve tried. It’s a ballpoint, so the ink is maybe more permanent than a gel pen’s. And it just glides more smoothly than a gel pen ever could. Oh — my color of choice is blue — people are more prone to believe it’s real. (That line of thinking goes back to the xerox days — when black always meant a… -
Fun for your Friday, number 18
13 Jan 2012 | 3:01 amIt’s hard to operate a remote when you’re asleep. -
Cameras have come so far
11 Jan 2012 | 3:01 amI love digital cameras. I’ve owned something like eight different cameras over the course of roughly ten years. I keep upgrading, as they continue to get more powerful. My latest is a Sony DSC H70, which I’ve had since about June 2011. I made the switch from a beautiful little Canon, as I wanted to zoom while taking video. (We no longer use a traditional video camera for taking family videos.) My Sony is a just few steps above a basic point-and-shoot, and yet it takes HD video and renders amazing sharpness in very low-light situations, such as when I shot this bass guitar. (This…
-
mental_floss
-
The Late Movies: Song and Dance Cows
27 Jan 2012 | 9:00 pmCows are pretty entertaining. When they’re not taking off in UFOs, they are dancing and singing! Tap Dancing Cow For Cadbury! Cows & Cows & Cows Coweography by Cyriak Harris. More Tap Cows have always had a soft spot for the call and response dances. In the Moood The organic dairy cows of Britain are so happy, they dance! I Am Cow Some cows sing! An uplifting song by The Arrogant Worms. Singing Beef Barbecue sauce makes cattle sing? Harmony Even the baby sings! The Army of Cows The cows in this Vietnamese ad sing AND dance! -
Happy Birthday, Patton Oswalt!
27 Jan 2012 | 8:36 pmImage courtesy of Flickr user Gage Skidmore You may know him as the voice of Remy, the amazing rat chef in Ratatouille, for his stand-up routines featured on Comedy Central, or for his role as Spence Olchin in King of Queens. But here are some things you might not know about Patton Oswalt, who happens to be turning 43 today. 1. The comedian’s father, who was a Marine, named him after General Patton. ”He gave me the first name Patton, I’m assuming with very high hopes. When he saw me at age 15, rolling up my eighth Dungeons and Dragons character, he was like, ‘boy, I named this one… -
The 5pm Quiz: Restaurant Apostrophes
27 Jan 2012 | 4:00 pmYou know the restaurants. Do you know whether they use apostrophes on signage? Take the Quiz: Restaurant Apostrophes -
6 Extremely Rare National Animals
27 Jan 2012 | 3:29 pmYou’d think the distinction of National Animal would bring with it some sort of benefit – protection from extinction, for instance. Not so. Take the Bald Eagle, symbol of these United States, which has been on and off the endangered species list for over 40 years. Sadly, this sort of thing is far from unusual. Here are six of the coolest, strangest, and most endangered animals repping countries today. 1. Belize – Baird’s Tapir (Tapirus bairdii) Tapir image via Shutterstock With its stubby prehensile trunk, the Baird’s tapir isn’t the prettiest belle at the ball, but it is the… -
What’s Your All-Time Favorite Amazing Fact?
27 Jan 2012 | 1:23 pmOn Fridays, I post a series of unrelated questions meant to spark conversation in the comments. Answer one, answer all, respond to someone else’s reply, whatever you want. On to this week’s topics of discussion… 1. Besides the thing about John Tyler’s grandsons still being alive, my favorite fact is that the 3 Musketeers was originally three smaller bars (vanilla, strawberry, chocolate). A couple years ago we tried to start a movement to bring it back, but that didn’t go anywhere. And now I’m hungry. While I go rummage around for a candy bar, you tell us…
-
Zoe Rights
-
Irony
2 Jan 2012 | 10:52 pm{Credit} -
It'd be easier if he was stupid.
17 Oct 2011 | 2:04 amThe Man-child is struggling right now. Seriously struggling. I know, I know I'm probably breaking some sort of blogger code right now. One where I'm supposed to hint at having some terrible problem but never actually saying what that problem is... Back of the hand to the forehead, declaring woe is me, exasperating my readers to no end, making you wonder. Is it the kids, I bet it's the kids. Or work, maybe it's work. But nope, I'm going to be all wild and crazy and flat out tell you...it's the Man-child. He's struggling. He's struggling big time with just that...becoming a man. -
May come and go but we always have the East Bay
3 Oct 2011 | 12:20 amWork friends are a weird thing. Sure you go to lunch together, you go out to drinks. Dinner occasionally. Maybe a waterpark or two. You share the ins and outs of your lives. Troubles with kids, the spouse. But are you really friends? Like real friends? Like call to pick you up at 2:00 in the morning when you hooked up with the Miller Light guys and aren't quite sure where you are but know that you have to go home to get ready for the 6:00am conference call with Belgium friends? Or is it some other weird relationship that defies a label. Like trying to determine what to call the… -
No, No everything is fine.
27 Sep 2011 | 1:12 amSo I went to see a movie this week. Because that's what I do. I fill up on real life from dawn to dusk and once a week I sit in a darkened, preferably cool but not too cool room and watch other people's lives. It's my bliss. Sometimes I'm entertained. Sometimes I get to laugh. Sometimes I think well at least my life's not as bad as all that. Sometimes I don't think at all. This week I saw Sarah Jessica Parker try to juggle everything in the latest chick lit turned chick flick. In between wincing at all the ways Hollywood screwed up a perfectly good book and laughing as some of the… -
Go create something
22 Sep 2011 | 8:50 am
-
Everyday Goddess
-
Welcome to the January BuckleDown
4 Jan 2012 | 10:18 amFit October 2011 - unlike Fit October 2010 where I was a Health Ninja - was a bust. I'm big on giving myself enough time for things, and October was too close to the breakup/company's closing/new job trifecta of necessary adjustment. I could tell I needed more time spent relaxing and focusing on my new job, so I quickly let Fit October go to the dogs. I didn't want to get back on the health track in November or December, so Hello, January! (And Hello and Goodbye, Beer Belly!) Welcome to the BuckleDown, which is up and running and already feeling good. I toyed with doing South Beach Phase One… -
Resolved in 2012: Ask. Accept. Give.
1 Jan 2012 | 2:01 amI love New Year's Resolutions. I differentiate them from goals. My workouts and diet goals in January, for example, are goals. I set them short term and revisit frequently. Resolutions, on the other hand, are yearly and more conceptual. I thought long about this year's. For a while, I thought I might not have anything for this year, but that couldn't be. I just needed to work on how to articulate where I'm at and where I'm going. I'm ready to take on some pretty big challenges. And so, here it is. In 2012, I resolve to: Ask for what I need. Accept what others can give. Give what and whenever… -
2011: My Year in Quotes
31 Dec 2011 | 11:00 am2011 wasn't my easiest year, but it was pretty awesome in the end. I had many, many firsts, lots of challenges, and I learned a ton. Got a great new job I love, and really found happiness in myself and my life. And, I decided that my paper calendars are here to stay, for at least a few more years yet. This year's is a fabulous pink color that I love. Gallery Leather makes some seriously beautiful products. In February 2011 I said: 2011: This is the year I find a new full-time position, start plotting my move to Silver Lake, upgrade to a smart phone (is it September yet???), and... get a pad… -
Books I Read in 2011
30 Dec 2011 | 9:23 pmI am sad to report that I did *not* meet my annual goal of 24 books (12 fiction and 12 nonfiction) this year. By my way of counting (where I lump series together if they are easy to digest and I tore through them straight) I read 18 books (9 fiction and 9 nonfiction). Still pretty good, but there were nonreading months this year, clearly. Hat tip to my friend Zandria who read 27 books this year. (How have I not finished Packing for Mars yet??? Someone sent it to me as a present this year, and I haven't read it yet, for shame. Definitely on the short list for 2012.) And my friend Rebecca hit… -
Getting a jump on January
22 Dec 2011 | 9:49 amThis December has been crazywonderful. I guess it proves the pendulum theory - last year was a crazyworkdisaster that dumped me out on December 23 like, Wait? What? Christmas? ---Swing The Pendulum--- This year I have a new job I love, a short commute, and I've been blessed with so many wonderful opportunities to spend time and give thanks with friends this month. I crazylove my Christmas tree this year. I couldn't get one last year, and I just want to give my beautiful tree a hug every time I see it. I usually make sure I have everything Christmas down and put away by January 1st so I can…
-
So Not Zen
-
Party Like a Rock Star
26 Jan 2012 | 9:22 pmYou know you are a mom when...You are extremely excited to spend the night alone in a motel, even a crappy one that smells like nachos and feetYou are in your granny night gown flipping channels at 7 pmYou are thrilled to be in control of the remote even though the TV only has, like, six crappy channelsYou go to the bar for dinner and enjoy wine, happy hour snacks, and a library book, alone, in the most well lit corner of the barThe fun activity you brought with you, just for kicks, is individual false eyelashes and eyelash glue. And a library book -
Adventures in dumpster diving
16 Jan 2012 | 9:12 amWhen we decided to downsize to a condo from a larger home in 2009, we weighed the pros and the cons. Less space but smaller utility bills. No yard, yet no yard work. Losing vintage charm, but gaining modern convenience. In other words, we thought this shit out.Once of the pro/con items that didn't seem significant was the garbage situation. In our old house, we had curbside pickup for garbage and recycling, one day per week. In the condo, we have a dumpster for garbage, plus dumpsters for recycling, that we can use any/every day of the week. We have to walk a skosh farther than the curb, but… -
I am so controversial...
12 Jan 2012 | 11:19 amI received an email about a complaint about my blog, and a link to click to view it, and blah blah blah, SPAM, so I deleted it. Because I? Am no fool. I do not clink links in ridiculous emails.Then today I logged on to take a peek at my blog for the first time in, oh, a while, and lo and behold, a big, bold message greeted me: We have received a DMCA complaint for your blog, So Not Zen. An email with the details of the complaint was sent to you on 11-Jan-2012 , and we reset the post status to "Draft"; you can edit it here. You may republish the post with the offending content and/or link(s)… -
Deck The Halls.,,,
7 Dec 2011 | 7:06 pm... with $1 loofahs from Walmart.This idea? All Carlie. This photo? My new iPhone. Fa la la la la -
Send help, STAT
30 Nov 2011 | 5:50 pm
-
Bath & Body
-
Island Bath
28 Jan 2012 | 3:05 amIsland Bath Floating Island Bath Melt from Lush - Bath Bomb
-
Juan Carlos Hernandez - Life Photographer
-
#photo "Dance Of The Infidels" + Bud Powell #jazz music
19 Jan 2012 | 7:46 amDon't forget to visit my other blog "Juan Carlos Hernandez - Stage and Jazz Photographer" -
Merci et bonne année 2012 !
1 Jan 2012 | 8:51 amMerci et bonne année 2012 !! du 1.1.2011 au 31.12.2011, 23 583 personnes différentes depuis 149 pays ont visité ce blog42 116 pages vues . Ils ont restés 63 secondes en moyenne9573 visites des USA 4435 de France2919 de Suisse1904 d'Espagne1127 du CanadaViennent ensuite le Royaume, le Brésil, l'Allemagne, le Mexique et l'ItalieDon't forget to visit my other blog "Juan Carlos Hernandez - Stage and Jazz Photographer" -
"Ode to my Beloved Anonymous People" by Juan Carlos Hernandez, music by Dinosaur Jr
30 Dec 2011 | 9:23 amEnjoy my new modest creation composed by some films i made in New York during the 2011 Fall and for sure, my photographsYou will see a short film at the beginning with the first demonstration of Occupy Wall Street, the first day, it was the 17th of SeptemberThe music is by Dinosaur Jr, a magnificent song titled "Said the People" from their album "Farm" (2009)Thanks for sharing if you likeHappy 2012jcDon't forget to visit my other blog "Juan Carlos Hernandez - Stage and Jazz Photographer" -
Fin de partie avec le BSC News (nouvelle version)
29 Dec 2011 | 3:49 pmGuillaume Lagree et votre serviteur quittons le BSC News pour les raisons que Guillaume exprime ci-dessous et que j'ai repris de son blog "Le Jars Jase Jazz" .. article original ici : http://lejarsjasejazz.over-blog.com/article-fin-de-partie-avec-le-bsc-news-95235462.html "Selon Frédéric Beigbeder, l'écrivain qui parle des problèmes des gens qui n'ont pas de problème, l'amour dure trois ans. J'ignore s'il a raison mais, trois ans, c'est le temps qu'a duré ma participation au webzine littéraire Best Seller Consulting News où j'animais une rubrique Jazz Club en duo avec le… -
Happy Holidays and my best wishes for 2012 ! ;-)
22 Dec 2011 | 10:12 amPhoto taken at Zucotti Park during Occupy Wall Street, New York, USA, 09.26.2011Don't forget to visit my other blog "Juan Carlos Hernandez - Stage and Jazz Photographer"
-
Fat to Fit by Stefan Pinto
-
Transformation isn’t something that you get around to doing
8 Jan 2012 | 4:58 pmTo all of the unique people who want(ed) their transformation to begin on January 1st because everyone else is doing it, remember: if you go with the flow, you might miss the boat. A transformation isn’t something that happens when you find the time. It isn’t something you can add to your calendar; begin my amazing transformation – and then drag to a new day because there’s a scheduling conflict. Because the calendar says it is time, will not bring about a transformation, because time is not a factor that will change your life. Time is simply a measure of existence and… -
Why when you eat is as important as what you eat
29 Nov 2011 | 6:03 pmMost people don’t eat enough and those that do, eat too much — of the wrong food — at the wrong time. And, consuming poor quality food will result in a poorly performing person. What exactly is “poor quality food?” Food containing artificial ingredients and additives (used to lengthen a food’s shelf life, maybe to enhance food color and or taste or to make preparation of the food easier). Some you may have heard of: Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), Saccharin and Aspartame (sweeteners), FD&C Yellow No. 6 (in macaroni and cheese, cotton candy, soda,… -
Snoring leads to weight gain which leads to binge eating which leads to snoring
22 Nov 2011 | 5:50 amCan snoring make you fat? If the snorer is you or lying next to you, chances are it might. Studies have shown that snoring causes hormonal changes that makes you more hungry, especially for sugary, fatty, ‘comfort’ foods. Although considered a subjectively annoying problem, snoring affects everyone. And, a person who snores excessively and loudly could have an underlying, significantly more serious problem. “The darker side to snoring is obstructive sleep apnea, which snoring is often an indicator of,” advised Dr. Daniel Smith, co-director of the Focus Center of Sleep Apnea and… -
A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips: How “one more bite” will make you fat(ter)
17 Nov 2011 | 11:30 pmEver felt full? You know, the I-just-can’t-eat-another-thing full feeling? Unfortunately, some people only hear “oh hell, what’s one-more-bite going to do?” Those people eventually end up staying fat. Leptin regulates those “feelings” of hunger and ultimately, our weight. In the mid-1990s, scientists discovered leptin. Leptin regulates those “feelings” of hunger and ultimately, our weight. Our brain regulates most of what it is that we do (via neurotransmitters and hormones), and the signals we get are often derived from the foods that we eat — and those that we… -
Does this gym make me look fat? When BDD is your BFF
15 Nov 2011 | 10:14 pmSometimes I schedule (or cancel) meetings around the gym. Otherwise, if I don’t, and end up missing the gym, I feel fat. Although things seem to work out (generally), I now wonder if this is becoming a problem. Is the very act of going to the gym — a habit that changed my life — now a hinderance, preventing me from achieving other goals? “Maybe you have BDD” a friend suggested. Hmm, maybe I do. What is BDD? Body Dysmorphic Disorder occurs when one can’t stop thinking about a flaw with your appearance. It is a disorder characterized by physical symptoms that cannot be…
-
LifeExcursion
-
How Not to Fail at Your New Years Goals
2 Jan 2012 | 11:19 pmThe night came and went with promises made to one another and to ourselves. The fireworks flew overhead and the confetti was strewn about. Then, we came back to reality. New Years came and went. What are you doing to make your big promises a reality now that we are in the new year? What Reality are You Creating Coming back to reality the morning of January 1st may be with a hangover and confusion. I don’t need to explain the reason for the first, but I do want to touch on the second. We set these huge goals for ourselves and, many times, we “knew” we would fail at them before the…
-
Razor Branding Blog
-
Step 3 - Communication to Reinvent Your Brand
26 Jan 2012 | 8:00 amPicking up where we left off from our previous blogs, let the third tip of the 5 C’s and R’s to successful branding through social media and good public relations continue. You have your content and related it to your audience, establishing that emotional connection with your audience. The conversation aspect has been created, and now we are ready to communicate and reinvent. As always – let’s take time to remember what your brand really is. Your brand is NOT your LOGO. Your brand is NOT your PRODUCTS. Your brand is NOT your COMPANY. -
Step 2 - Resolve to Build Your Brand Through Conversations
25 Jan 2012 | 8:06 amContinuing with our tips in our previous blog – Content & Relate – the second tip for improving your brand through social media and good public relations is… Conversation & Resolve. As stated before… Your brand is NOT your LOGO. Your brand is NOT your PRODUCTS. Your brand is NOT your COMPANY. Your brand is made up of a person’s emotional response to a company, product, or service. Through relating your content to your clients/readers, you have established that emotional connection necessary to move the relationship forward. The next step in… -
Step 1 - Develop Content to Relate to Your Brand
24 Jan 2012 | 8:06 amHere at The Russo Group, we absolutely LOVE social media and all of the perks for your business that come along with it. Whether it be a company blog, website, Twitter account, Pinterest account, or Facebook page – there are many ways to promote your business using social media along with great public relations skills. Perking up your company and it’s brand is easier than you think. In our latest eBook, -TRG Brand eBook The 5 C's and R's for Successful Branding, we talked about 5 simple tips that included 5 “C” words and 5 “R” words… -
Brand Buzz: 5 Tips for Successful Branding
23 Jan 2012 | 8:03 amTune in to KPEL 96.5 every Monday at 5:15pm for Brand Buzz. Each week we discuss best practices to improve your brand. Click here to download the ebook, The 5 C's & R's for Successful Branding, and follow along with the show. We will be discussing a different tip each day this week. You may remember last year we talked about The 5 R's of Branding. The focus was on the 5 steps to build your brand. This year, the push is the 5 C's of Branding. The 5 steps to maintain your brand. This week we will look at how the 5 R's and the 5 C's work together. -
Agencies Discuss Building Your Brand
18 Jan 2012 | 7:32 amIn today's issue (January 18, 2012) of The Independent, the article Creative Class - Is Your Business Plan Failing Marketing 101 focuses on the local advertising and marketing agencies and their thoughts on where the advertising industry is heading. Thank you to The Independent for including The Russo Group and recognizing all of these agencies for what they contribute to the growth of businesses in the community. It's interesting to read the similarity in agencies that have been around for 30 years compared to the ones that are only a couple of years old. Every agency is finally…
-
Journey Mama
-
To Leafy on his sixth birthday,
23 Jan 2012 | 1:44 amDear Leafy, A few days ago, you turned six. It's the oldest question in the world, but WHA? When did I blink and suddenly you're a man? Please. Slow down a bit for your poor mother. If my grandmother were here she'd say she was going to put a brick on your head. But. There are many benefits to you getting older! One is that I am always safe. Because you're super strong. A few weeks ago you were telling me about how strong you are, and you offered me a bit of proof, your eyes wide and earnest. (You are very earnest.) "Once, I defeated a whole BASE of Tickle Worms." Tickle worms are part… -
The giant garden post.
18 Jan 2012 | 8:20 pmI have finally gone through the hard drives and found the necessary photos for the big garden post. This is what our house looked like on the day we moved in. This is jumping forward a bit, to the second year we were in the house. This is looking out at the yard from the porch. I can tell it's the second year by the length of Leafy's dreadlocks and the small fence in the front of the yard. When we moved in there were no fences, but gradually, every year when we returned there were more fences, until the seven food stone and concrete fence that keeps us in now. It started to feel ridiculous to… -
Still here.
15 Jan 2012 | 3:48 amI'm feeling quiet. I'm also processing many things. And I can't seem to find a chunk of computer time anywhere in my day. We're very busy. Yesterday I chopped vegetables with M and we made soup for dinner together on the roof, after our devotion circle. Broccoli, carrots, parsnips, tomatoes, mushrooms. Spring onions and cilantro. It was good. Just the kind of soup I needed, since I'm a bit sick. The Turbans are trickling back into town. That means fun and music. Kid A, YaYa, Leafy and I went on a dolphin trip this morning with M and a new friend who is leaving soon. We went out with some… -
(Un)Changeable
7 Jan 2012 | 12:18 amYou could graph my life in a series of waves. Doing well, not doing so well. My mind working with me for a while, then turning against me. The tightening in my gut when I'm asked a series of simple questions. "Do you have any plans today? What should we make for lunch? Can you buy some oil and potatoes?" Each question a lance, probing the fight or flight response that is so woefully out of context. Let's say that I'm not doing so well, lately. I know enough to know I will rise on the next wave. Here are some things that trigger fight or flight, even panic, when I'm not doing so well. The… -
Photos from Christmas
4 Jan 2012 | 3:43 amI promised them a while ago. Time waits for no man, and we're spinning away into the next year. Making palm frond stars with Miriam. This was very soothing to me. I may have to make about a thousand palm frond stars. Jaya helped me make salad for our feast. We decorate our live tree. I love this tree. It was a little Charlie Brown Christmas tree when we first got it, three years ago. Our landlord planted it and now it's a huge wonderful tree, perfect for lighting up. We also decorated our daughter. Actually, our friend Rebekah decorated her. She doesn't look impressed. Lights and a big circle…
-
Chai Life
-
Why you should support SOPA / PIPA
19 Jan 2012 | 9:03 amSource: Why you should support SOPA / PIPA -
TGIF!
17 Jan 2012 | 8:00 amSource: TGIF! -
SOPA / PIPA Infographic & The January 18th Blackout
16 Jan 2012 | 1:35 pmFor those of you unaware of the January 18th blackout, reddit is leading the charge against SOPA/PIPA by completely blacking out the site from 8AM through 8PM on January 18th, 2012. Although Chai Life has no where near the clout and some tiny insignificant fraction of the traffic that reddit gets, I will be blacking out this site in protest during that time as well. When you visit Chai Life on this coming Wednesday, you can expect a blank page with no content and a simple link explaining why. Note: The latest news on this front is that SOPA has been indefinitely shelved in the Congress, but… -
2012 US Terrorist Identification Chart
12 Jan 2012 | 10:17 amSource: 2012 US Terrorist Identification Chart -
Lawrence O’Donnell On Being A Liberal
6 Jan 2012 | 8:44 amWhat did liberals do that was so offensive to the Republican Party? I’ll tell you what they did. Liberals got women the right to vote. Liberals got African-Americans the right to vote. Liberals created Social Security and lifted millions of elderly people out of poverty. Liberals ended segregation. Liberals passed the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act. Liberals created Medicare. Liberals passed the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act. What did Conservatives do? They opposed them on every one of those things, every one. So when you try to hurl that label at my feet,…
-
deCOMPOSE
-
Life’s Not Fair — A List in Progress
27 Jan 2012 | 7:43 amNow that FAIRNESS is officially a campaign issue, I’m in the mood for bitching about things that just aren’t equitable. Sure, it goes against one of my primary Parental Proverbs, something I worked hard to instill in my family — LIFE IS NOT FAIR. But since our society appears intent to correct the scales of justice, I thought that venting might be appropriate. So without further ado, IT’S NOT FAIR THAT… Some people can eat what they want and never get fat. Only women suffer childbirth. Warren Buffet’s secretary makes somewhere between 200 and 500 K a year… -
The Single Worst Piece of Advice You Can Give an Aspiring Writer
26 Jan 2012 | 7:29 amI got a kick out of Nick Mamatas’ Ten Bits of Advice Writers Should Stop Giving Aspiring Writers. (If you’re allergic to profanity, avoid this piece!) Probably because I’m SO tired of hearing some of these things regurgitated SO often. But my favorite, hands down, is number six: We should stop telling aspiring writers… It’s All Subjective Because it’s NOT. It not ALL subjective. The Submission Guidelines to that publisher you hope to land are NOT SUBJECTIVE. Just try ignoring them and find out. You can disagree with the Chicago Manual of Style all you want,… -
Ghost Reviewers (or How to Artificially Drive Up Your Book’s Rankings)
24 Jan 2012 | 7:38 amYou’ve heard of ghostwriters. From Wikipedia: “A ghostwriter is a professional writer who is paid to write books, articles, stories, reports, or other texts that are officially credited to another person.” But have you heard of ghost reviewers? From Mikipedia: “A ghost reviewer is someone — often a member of the author’s own family or circle of friends –who is recruited to write positive reviews, often multiple positive reviews, of the author’s book; these reviews are often credited to a fictitious person.” Call me naive, but I am just now… -
Spot the Lie: Mainstream Media Edition
23 Jan 2012 | 6:13 am“Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.” — The Wizard of Oz One of the reasons for Newt Gingrich’s South Carolina Republican Primary win has been his debate performances. And a key element of Gingrich’s debate performances has been his willingness to attack the mainstream media. Gingrich has not shied away from voicing what many conservative voters deeply believe: The American media is biased. Gingrich’s stance may have reached its zenith in last week’s Republican debate. After a question from CNN’s John King about allegations from… -
On the Need for Affirmation (and its Dangers)
20 Jan 2012 | 9:22 amAs a writer, you’re better off NOT needing affirmation. At least, that’s my going theory. It sounds calloused, I know. Perhaps it’s a result of my upbringing. I learned to survive without praise. If I waited around for pats on the back and encouragement, I wouldn’t have gotten far. I’m better off today having NOT been coddled, raised with the endless accolades and superficial flattery predominant in today’s child-centric culture. Now I’m a firm believer in Neitzsche’s dictum: “That which doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger.”…
-
My Odd Family
-
January 27: Chocolate Cake Day, Sir Thomas Crapper Day
27 Jan 2012 | 5:44 am~★~♥~♥~★~ El Morno! ♥~★~★~♥ ~ January 27 ★~ Today’s Quote: No good fish goes anywhere without a porpoise. Lewis Carroll ★~ Chocolate Cake Day: Cakes have a rich culinary history. In Greece, cakes (or “plakous”) were heavy and flat, and people served them with nuts and honey. The Romans made cakes that were more like [...] -
January 26: Australian Day, Peanut Brittle Day, Pistachio Day
26 Jan 2012 | 5:43 am~★~♥~♥~★~ El Morno! ♥~★~★~♥ ~ January 26 ★~ Today’s Quote: Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. Carl Sagan ★~ Australian Day: Our El Morno Saucy Aussie has left for Philip Island, Australia, an island with no Internet, so we are going to have to do our best to celebrate with her in spirit. [...] -
January 25: Opposite Day, Irish Coffee Day!
25 Jan 2012 | 5:52 am~★~♥~♥~★~ El Morno! ♥~★~★~♥ ~ January 25 ★~ Today’s Quote: Opera is where a guy gets stabbed in the back, and instead of dying, he sings. Robert Burns ★~ Opposite Day: Today isn’t National Opposite Day, so don’t celebrate by doing the opposite of what you mean to do and saying the opposite of what [...] -
January 24: Compliments Day, Belly Laugh Day, Peanut Butter Day
24 Jan 2012 | 5:30 am~★~♥~♥~★~ El Morno! ♥~★~★~♥ ~ January 24 ★~ Today’s Quote: “A compliment is verbal sunshine.” ~ Robert Orben ★~ Compliments Day: You light up my life…make the plain magnificent, the ordinary extraordinary…bring light to a dark world, make the dull shiny, make my heart sing…you are the fairest of them all and my sunshine, my [...] -
January 23: Chinese New Year, Measure Your Feet Day, Pie Day
23 Jan 2012 | 5:52 am~★~♥~♥~★~ El Morno! ♥~★~★~♥ ~ January 23 ★~Today’s Quote: A pound of pluck is worth a ton of luck. James A. Garfield ★~ Chinese New Year: The Year of The Dragon Today is the first day of the Chinese New Year! The traditional Chinese Lunar Year 4710 begins at sunset on the day of the [...]
-
The Mick's Grill
-
Guest Blogger: David Haas
11 Jan 2012 | 5:31 amToday I would like to introduce you to a friend of mine. His name is David Haas. David is from the Mesothelioma cancer Alliance, a great organisation that raise awareness and share stories about those affected by Mesothelioma cancer. Exercise Aids Patients Undergoing Cancer Treatment Keeping physically active and eating a nutritious diet are the best ways to stay healthy and prevent many infections and chronic conditions. But what about if you are already sick? Most medical doctors will say light exercise can be productive when experiencing flu-like symptoms, but it can actually cause… -
Happy New Year
31 Dec 2011 | 5:14 pmHey all. Happy New Year! Wishing you all the best. I want to let you all know that my friend comedian friend Jamie and I have decided to do something about raising the profile of men’s health and have started a Facebook page called Secret Blokes Business. We were both affected by cancer and wanted to do something about it. We know that some issues such as testicular cancer can be prevented if you don’t sit on your hands and do something about it. In short, Ignoring depression and cancer does not make the issue go away. That’s why we started Secret Blokes Business. FYI,… -
Best news ever
28 Dec 2011 | 10:33 pmHi everyone. I thought I’d share some exciting news for those who don’t follow me on Twitter. Yesterday I met with the Oncologist and I won’t have to go through chemo. Fortunately it’s just scans and a blood test every couple of months! Cancer can go and get stuffed. Filed under: Surviving Cancer -
Went and seen the Amish Christmas lights tonight
25 Dec 2011 | 7:01 amFiled under: Humour -
‘Nothing’ says Christmas like…
25 Dec 2011 | 3:58 amMerry Christmas Filed under: That's So Random
-
WordPress.com News
-
Chrome Users: Try the WordPress.com Extension
27 Jan 2012 | 1:54 pmWant to receive WordPress.com notifications instantly, even when you’re not on WordPress.com? Add the new WordPress.com extension for Chrome and as soon as you get a new follower or a new like on one of your posts, a notification will appear in your browser: Simply click the icon to view your latest WordPress.com notifications: Start following new blogs without visiting WordPress.com The Chrome extension also makes it easy to follow sites from your WordPress.com account by displaying a Follow button whenever you’re browsing a site that has an RSS feed. Clicking the Follow button… -
Your Stats Have a New Home
26 Jan 2012 | 10:46 amAre you addicted to checking your site stats? You are not alone. The stats dashboard has always been one of the most popular admin screens. It’s gratifying to know that people are visiting your place online. With the WordPress.com front page evolving into a one-stop shop for posting, exploring, following and reading blogs, it seemed natural to put your blog stats there, too. Stats are becoming more and more about interacting with your readers and other bloggers. You’ll still see your summary stats and chart on your main dashboard, and the full stats page in your dashboard will… -
Reblogging is Back!
22 Jan 2012 | 1:27 pmAs we mentioned last week, you can like and reblog posts directly from your reader, which displays a stream of all the updates published on all the blogs you follow from your WordPress.com account. We’ve also brought the reblog button back to the toolbar that appears at the top of the screen when you’re logged into WordPress.com. Note that you’ll only see the like and reblog options while you’re looking at individual posts. For example, you’ll see this on the left side of your toolbar while viewing http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/read-blogs: And your… -
New Theme: Newsy
20 Jan 2012 | 12:18 pmIt’s been an extra big week in the news ’round these parts, so much so that the launch announcement of our latest premium theme seems like an extra extra good way to headline our Friday. Newsy is a versatile business and news-friendly theme that offers up to ten different layouts, four footer columns, custom link and accent colors, and a custom site header. Brand and content-focused editorial teams will love publishing with this theme. Newsy: Home Page Designed by Themify, Newsy comes with an impressive set of Theme Options that afford you a great deal of flexibility with how you… -
Read All Your Favorite Blogs in One Place
19 Jan 2012 | 6:04 pmIf you feel like it’s a chore to keep up with all your favorite blogs, you can now read posts from all the blogs you follow (even the ones that aren’t on WordPress.com!) in one convenient place on the WordPress.com home page: Your reader displays all the posts across all the blogs you follow in the order they were published, with the most recent content appearing at the top. You’ll see an excerpt of the introduction to each post, the first image in the post, and thumbnails of any other images that the post contains. You can even like and reblog WordPress.com content directly…
-
Leftos - Lessons for the Opposite Sex
-
She wants more too
23 Jan 2012 | 2:33 pmNew Answer - Sounds like she's still interested in you too. I'm with @OohLookasquirrel in that you need to ask her out. From your description it sounds like she's finally moved past her ex and maybe wants to give it a shot. I don't think you've got much to lose. Just go for it! -
ask her out already!
16 Jan 2012 | 9:04 amNew Answer - The fact that she's communicating with you right now seems to be saying that she wants to be part of your life. She may be hoping that you'll ask her out. Some girls always expect the guy to make all the moves, and by dangling herself in front of you again, she could be hoping that you'll bite. Or, maybe she just wants to be friends again. Hard to tell what's going on in someone else's brain. If you don't want to be just friends, then you should go ahead and ask her out. If that's what she wanted, everybody's happy. If she says no, then you should be open and tell her that you'd… -
I'm confused! I need your wise advice.
15 Jan 2012 | 11:32 pmNew Question - Hey guys, I'm need of some advice, this girl that I was kind of seeing a year ago recently messaged me the other day saying that something she saw reminded her of me. We were never officially boyfriend/girlfriend but we were pretty serious and had strong feelings for each other until she told me that she still hadn't gotten over her ex. So I decided it was best for me to step back. We stopped talking altogether a little while after until she recently sent me a message. I still have really strong feelings for her and think about her a lot, even before she had messaged me. I have… -
i get pre ejaculation
15 Jan 2012 | 6:17 pmNew Question - within 2 minutes i think its just because i masterbates too much -
Relationship Older Woman
13 Jan 2012 | 1:30 amNew Answer - The men involved in dating older ladies, as they are more experienced and more capable of dealing with the relationship run smoothly. Older women are more mature, financial integrity and good lovers. Be yourself. It is a local sex relationship you because she loves you; you provide, its spontaneity, and fun. So, do not even think of yourself as someone you're not. Take it somewhere it is by no means been before; show her that you're different from other men your age. Invite a jazz membership, live performance or a unique restaurant. You can change the theme of the discussion. Ask…
-
Life As A Human
-
My “Dominant” Dog and How I Cope
27 Jan 2012 | 10:35 pmIs your dog “dominant” or willing to submit? Could you be living with a dog determined to take over and control your household? Dog Trainer Eric Brad looks as his own dog to see if the “warning signs” described by so many web sites could mean his dog is a tyrant in the making! This week as I was surfing the web I ran across one of the many articles on how to determine if your dog is “dominant.” Those of you who regularly read my writings know how I feel about the whole notion of dogs attempting to “dominate” their owners. Those who may… -
The Stairway To Heaven Is Not For Sale
27 Jan 2012 | 11:00 am“In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.” ~ proverb I believed that an abundance of possessions would make me happy. I bought friends, my entourage following me around faithfully as long as the money and parties flowed. I took security in my future by how much I could stash. During these anxious moments, I felt pressured. Pursued by the need to get more, to be more, to gather and gather until my storehouse was overflowing. The more I gained, the greater the need to protect my belongs. I started packing guns and rigging traps. Becoming… -
“This Language-Soaked Life” Part Four
26 Jan 2012 | 1:00 pmFrom 1975-77 Maybin, still a “non-professional,” taught English as a volunteer for the Immigrant Services Society (ISS) in Vancouver. His students were South Asian women, many of whom had recently arrived and were illiterate, terrified, and desperately in need of language skills that would enable them to navigate the nightmare of shopping for meal ingredients and household supplies in a totally unfamiliar environment. The plight of these unfortunate women made the harried teacher quickly realize the importance of tying language instruction directly to the immediate communication needs of… -
Remember
26 Jan 2012 | 11:00 amDuring the last couple of years I have been exposed to a whole sub culture of people who are presently incarcerated or have recently been incarcerated. A large percentage of these people are caught in a tangled web of addiction and recidivism. It’s heartbreaking to hear the lonely voices, the cries of the broken people wanting their loved ones to understand and give them one more chance. I’ve seen them stranded in the prison, crying out for anyone to know they still exist. Don’t get me wrong, I know most of them deserve what they got. Nearly all of them made choices that… -
Listening to my Gut
25 Jan 2012 | 5:30 amWe all have them from time to time – strong, emotionally-colored urges to act in ways that make no rational sense and are counterproductive in our current modern society. Our forbears, and conservative Christians even today, ascribed this to “Original Sin” and prescribed prayer and penance as a countermeasure. Classical psychiatry presumes that the roots of such behavior lie in early childhood experience and suggests uncovering the experiences that planted seeds of present maladaptive habits as a cure. In recent years anthropologists and evolutionary psychologists have been paying more…
-
Modestly Yours
-
Colorado Teen Fights to Have Racy Senior Picture Published in Yearbook
8 Jan 2012 | 8:17 amI came across this article the other day and thought it would make for an interesting discussion her on Modestly Yours. Recently a Colorado teenager named Sydney Spies was told that her choice for her senior picture would not be published in her school's yearbook because the picture was too racy. In the picture Spies is wearing a short yellow skirt and a black shawl tied about her chest in place of a shirt, leaving her shoulders and midriff bare. Spies was told by the book's editors that the picture did not follow the school's dress code and could not be used as her senior… -
Why My Kids Aren't Going to Date
30 Dec 2011 | 2:32 pmI wrote a blog a bit ago on my site about kids and dating, raising teens, etc. There have been a few books that I have been reading lately on the subject. I just finished The Hurried Child: Growing Up Too Fast Too Soon by David Elkind, Ph.D. I HIGHLY recommend this book. It was extremely illuminating. After much thought and consideration my husband and I have made the decision to help our kids wait to date until they are much older....old enough to consider marriage. This position is obviously going to come under attack, but I don't see the harm… -
Babies Bring Out the Best
24 Dec 2011 | 1:21 pmI recently read a charming little post, the reflections of a new mom (new mom to her 9th child!!) on what a baby can do! I particularly liked this paragraph: I’m walking down the aisle in Walmart, and here comes a wave of teenage girls, with hard mouths and stick thin legs, ironed hair, nasty, razor-slashed clothing, eyes blackened with enough eyeliner to make a raccoon gasp in shame. They strut forward in a loud and arrogant swarm. Once they’re close enough to glimpse the top of my newborn baby’s feathery little head, and they all . . . collapse. They absolutely collapse and turn to… -
Living Plain
25 Oct 2011 | 6:53 pmI have been on a spiritual odyssey lately and part of my wanderings led me to a website by Isabel, also known as "Quaker Jane." In a particularly stirring account of being led to Plain Dress almost in spite of herself, she writes about how she began her shift to plain dress through "a particular style of bonnet": After several months of Googling thousands of pages deep for the word "bonnet," I found what I was looking for on a website about "prayer coverings." This discovery was quite disturbing to my feminist mind. And yet, I would wake up in the… -
More on Sex Ed
7 Sep 2011 | 8:43 pmAfter I read “Why Sex Ed Isn’t Working” a few weeks ago, I thought it might be helpful to share my perspective as a public school graduate who experienced comprehensive sex education (as opposed to abstinence-only sex ed). I’m in college now, but my high school health class promoted abstinence while also teaching us about available birth control methods, their relative effectiveness, and how to use them safely. We also learned about the biology and stages of pregnancy, different types of STDs, and relationship skills to help us discuss our beliefs about sex and our sexual histories…
-
Then Life Happens
-
Groceries or Grass
25 Jan 2012 | 6:00 pmHave you ever had to decide between groceries or grass? Many people are talking about money, including the financial state of the world. An interesting topic for sure and oh so many opinions! While I am not leading into a post about politics and money, perhaps some of what I share sounds familiar to what we are seeing and experiencing from our world leaders. If you live in a homeowner association, which is an official management of a sub-division ( a group of homes within a planned community) you will understand more clearly the challenges and conveniences a homeowner may face. A volunteer… -
Create Better Communication in 2012
18 Jan 2012 | 8:00 pmMany people are talking about new years resolutions like; saving money, exercising and letting go of bad habits. I think anything we can do to improve ourselves and our lives is a good thing! I have reflected these past few months and have concluded that one area I want to focus on and create change in is communication. Have you ever noticed how much communication includes; conflict assumptions judgments How do we create better communication? A lot could be said about each subject, but simply put these three things are apt to be a part of our day-to-day communication with others. If we are… -
Get on the Millionaire Fastlane
10 Jan 2012 | 4:00 amIt’s 2012 and the new year is a great time to get out of the slowlane and into the fastlane! Today’s post is a book review from M.J. DeMarco’s bestseller The Millionaire Fastlane. Demarco shares his thoughts about how he went from living with his mom and mopping floors to creating the life he desired, by getting out of the slowlane and into the fastlane. He did not have anything extraordinary to help him along; he didn’t win the lotto or inherit fortunes, he didn’t develop a widget that sold millions and he didn’t ‘run’ into pure luck while on the slowlane! The… -
A Boy Bullied – This Mother’s Story
8 Jan 2012 | 1:30 pmI have been reading and watching videos from children speaking about bullying. There is so much online about bullying and some of these stories have been so painful for me to watch I literally sit there with tears rolling down my cheeks, rocking back and forth. My boy was a boy bullied and this is my story. The reason this is so near and dear to my heart is that my own family has endured bullying and the consequences it brings. The ongoing bullying of my son changed my entire family, not just him. While it was devastating for him, for us it was as well, to watch him go through this, trying… -
12 Things Learned Reflecting on 2011
3 Jan 2012 | 4:30 amMy reflections for 2011 – I wish you wisdom from your own reflections and a happy road ahead for 2012! As soon as you commit to something, do it now, the opportunity may not come again. Live with and look for integrity in others. Remember that every life matters. Utilize your time in a way that no matter the outcome you are satisfied with how you spent your time. Seek truth. Live truth. Watch for goodness, love and opportunity. It can be found when our heart and mind are open. So, here they are… 12 things learned reflecting on 2011: My biggest regret this year was not acting on…
-
The Homesteading Housewife
-
She's Cooking Like Mommy?
24 Jan 2012 | 8:45 amTonight was a rare night on the farm. My 8 year old daughter and I were home...Alone! No boys to be seen! This just NEVER happens!I wanted it to be a special evening, so I told her we could do "anything she wanted." Guess what she wanted to do? She wanted to cook dinner for the two of us...all by herself.Hmmmm. I figured we would be dining on ice cream and cookies.Instead, she emerged from the pantry carrying two cans of Chef Boyardee Beefaroni.Well that was easy! I thought to myself.But the Little-Foreman-in-Pink IS my daughter, and she informed me that she wanted to cook "like Mommy" and… -
An over-due re-cap
11 Jan 2012 | 11:32 amSo yeah... It's January 11th 2012 and I haven't blogged yet this whole year! ...I kinda suck like that. But in my defense, I HAVE been busy! Let me do a quick re-cap so we can all get on with our lives. ;) 2011 was a year full of changes! These were my children at the beginning on 2011... Now... Worker #1 - - Graduated High School, - Started College to become an electrician. - and moved out of the house! My "Baby"! He's all grown up and gone! ugh! Worker #2 - Graduated High School Moved out and turned into... THIS! Double UGH! He is now stationed in Afghanistan fighting for… -
Perfect setting to ring in the New Year!
31 Dec 2011 | 7:03 pmCampfire by the lake! Happy New Year!! Dana Clover @TxCloverAngel www.DanaClover.com www.3LeafMarketing.com Sent from my pink iPhone ... So expect lots of typos! -
Monday Haiku
5 Dec 2011 | 4:21 pmMy Big Christmas TreeIs Still Up In The AtticMy Kids Think I Suck. ... Dana -
Remembering
30 Nov 2011 | 7:39 amToday I celebrate the 7th anniversary of my 33rd Birthday. As I was sitting here thinking about just how old that makes me, my mind couldn't help but go back in time and remember.... Are YOU old enough to have these memories too? (warning... LOTS of pics to follow!) My brother and I would stay up late to watch... Grizzly Adamsand...EMERGENCY! We LOVED those shows! I cut out and mailed in countless box tops to get my very own... They never grew... They never lived...I was NOT impressed! When my family needed to go shopping, we would all load up in our brand new "fancy"... It was…
-
The Todd Blog
-
E2012 Episode 5: Newt is Forgiven [Digg]
24 Jan 2012 | 4:26 amNewt may have a minor character flaw or two, but needs our forgiveness. -
E2012 Episode 1: The Republican Candidates [Digg]
27 Oct 2011 | 8:31 amBalls captures the idle chatter of twits conversing about the 2012 Presidential Election. -
E2012-Occupy Wall Street [Digg]
26 Oct 2011 | 8:44 amIn part two of Balls' ongoing animated series, the office discussion turns toward the "Occupy Wall Street" demonstrations and its harmful rhetoric for those 'job-creating' corporate heroes at the top. -
E2012 Episode 3- 999!!! [Digg]
26 Oct 2011 | 8:37 amHerman Cain's "999" plan is discussed, with an understanding of how such an ingenious tax code would benefit those who deserve it most. -
Fever Dream by Preston & Child | The Pigeon Post [Digg]
20 Jan 2011 | 1:47 pmFever Dream by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child is a stunning trip into the mind of the criminal, the insane, and downright devilish. Exquisite writing brings the characters and scenes of Fever Dream to vivid life as you meander down the twisted path of discovering ‘who-done-it’ in a twelve-year-old murder only recently uncovered.
-
Pixelonomics
-
Digital retouching before photoshop – 25 years ago (in 1987) USSR
19 Jan 2012 | 11:31 amDigital retouching before photoshop Who would have imagined a digital retouching in process, twenty-five years ago (1987)? Yeah, you read it right! The video below (2:48), takes us through a quick digital retouching process. If our knowledge serves us right, that’s some three years before Photoshop 1.0 was introduced. Some technology, eh? With the use of some brilliant technology (for that time), drum scanners, trackball, magnetic tapes and more; the artists, or rather, engineers in USSR were making it happen. Some of us were not even conceived at that time! Are you not amazed? By the… -
What is SOPA? An Infographic
17 Jan 2012 | 11:41 amWhat is SOPA? An Infographic SOPA is Stop Online Piracy Act Also known as House Bill 3261 or H.R. 3261, SOPA is a bill that was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on October 26, 2011. According to Wikipedia, if this bill is made into a law, it would expand the ability of U.S. law enforcement and copyright holders to fight online trafficking in copyrighted intellectual property and counterfeit goods. By the way, Wikipedia will black out tomorrow i.e. 18th Jan, 2012, for 24 hours, to raise awareness about SOPA. Jimmy wales tweet about Wikipedia blackout… -
15 popular Google doodles of 2011
16 Jan 2012 | 10:40 am15 popular Google doodles of 2011 2011 was a great year! It saw many advancements in the field of sports, internet, show biz, technology and more. It also saw advancements in how one of internet’s most innovative companies, Google, designed its logos, also known as ‘doodles’. They were a lot more interactive, fun, memorable and non-google in 2011! Non-google? Well, this year Google rode less on the visual representation of its logo and more on the thought behind a certain ‘doodle’. And we really respect that! It shows the confidence of a company in its thoughts… -
How to design a countdown in 5 simple steps using photoshop
10 Jan 2012 | 2:11 amHow to design a countdown in 5 simple steps using photoshop We have been getting a lot of tutorial requests from Pixelonomics’ readers. Sincere apologies for not being able to come up with a new tutorial after Geometric poster in photoshop, for long. Off late, we have observed the usage of Countdown as an element for UI, broadcasting and collateral design. Documented below is the process of creating a countdown in 5 simple steps using photoshop. Each step is divided into a couple of sub-steps to make it as simple as possible. Nevertheless, we are looking forward to your feedback, in the… -
What if famous brands had regular fonts? RegulaBrands
6 Jan 2012 | 11:49 amWhat if famous brands had regular fonts? - RegulaBrands Last week, I was having a skype call with a friend in Italy, who also happens to be a communication designer. And like every other time, we took a detour to one of our favorite topics of discussion – ‘clients’. Call it coincidence, fate or a mutual observation, we both have been asked the same question time and again, by our clients. They may pop up as suggestions or doubts. At times, they are more of a threat! The common ones are “all my office computers have Arial. Let’s use it for our logo”…
-
aloftyexistence
-
Dating Survival Tips for the Anxiously Attached
16 Jan 2012 | 10:59 amIf you have an anxious attachment style you may find dating and relationships more difficult than others do. Because you need more reassurance and intimacy, you may feel unsatisfied with dating dynamics which encourage a large amount of self-sufficiency and independence. As someone with an anxious attachment style, it seems clear to me that those with an anxious attachment style, more than any other relationship style, could benefit from understanding and acknowledging their unique approach to relationships. The anxiously attached simply can not afford to be unaware or dismissive of their… -
Women + Men = Competition
12 Jan 2012 | 11:49 amWhat’s a foolproof way to turn women against each other?… Add men. Women are alternately thought of as the gentler, more cooperative gender and as unnecessarily catty and ruthless; society can hardly decide which one represents women’s true nature. But one area where the competitive side of women can be clearly seen is in their dealings with the opposite sex — dating and relationships. Why Do Women Compete Over Men? Women who were once friendly and kind to each other can morph into the greatest of enemies the minute a man becomes involved. The change is so instant and… -
Top Ten Most Missed Celebrities
9 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am2012 is a new year with new beginnings. But the past, and the people who helped create it, can hardly be forgotten. Among these are some public figures who entertained and inspired us in years past, and will continue to influence despite not being physically present. Here is my personal list of the most cherished celebrities and public figures who passed away in the last ten years. They will be most missed in 2012, and beyond. 1. Amy Winehouse (1983-2011) A multi-talented musician, singer, and songwriter Amy Winehouse rose to fame in the UK in the early 2000s and in the world with her albums… -
Crazy, Stupid, Love
4 Jan 2012 | 2:50 pmAlee’s Analysis: A comical look at the familiar bad boy/nice guy dichotomy and what people do for love Crazy, Stupid, Love is a 2011 romantic comedy about middle-aged family man Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) who attempts to find his manhood again after being cheated on by his wife who has asked for a divorce. Drinking his sorrows away at a bar, he is found by Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling), a noted ladies’ man and young bachelor. Jacob volunteers to transform Cal into the stud he has the potential to be, the man his wife would want to have. What neither of them realized is that life has… -
Happy Holidays
22 Dec 2011 | 1:20 pmPosts will resume after the holiday season — somewhere after Christmas (December 25th) but before New Year’s (January 1st). UPDATE: Posting will continue on regular schedule beginning January 4th. Filed under: Journal
-
ColorMePink!
-
Steelhead Trout with Lemon Butter Sauce with Capers and Garlic
26 Jan 2012 | 7:24 pmIn our effort to get more fish into our diets, we have obviously needed to broaden our horizons as far as types of fish that I cook. We’ll eat anything, but I don’t know how to cook it best… yet. So today when I went to our local fish market – I saw what I thought was salmon and decided to get some. I was quickly informed that the fish in question was not salmon at all, but steelhead trout, which I had never heard of. If you have a good fish monger (which I do), they’ll be happy to tell you about the fish, what to expect, how to cook it – and I rely on… -
I Could Show You My Favorite Obsession
21 Jan 2012 | 7:24 pmSo back in the beginning of January, I talked a bit about the things I was looking to change, create, or get rid, of in my post about my resolutions. One of the first things I did was go see the doctor and I’m mostly on track with that – I may have had a bad day yesterday, but mostly on track and I’m happy with my progress on that front. The second thing I’ve been working on is creativity – I talked in the first post about figuring out what makes my heart sing and taking pictures does that. I don’t know that I’d want to be a pro, but I love… -
Eggs with Cheese, Chorizo, Peppers, Onion and Spinach
16 Jan 2012 | 9:00 amThis is the kind of thing that I imagine eating around a campfire, cooked in an iron skillet with a bunch of cowboys after a particularly grueling round up. You don’t? Just me then? Well, ok. I have mentioned before that we love a good Breakfast for Dinner every once in a while and this one was so good, and so stick to your ribs, with lots of great flavors and some serious nutrients in there. Vitamin C, Iron, Protein, Omega 3s, and Pork. Oh wait. Pork isn’t a nutrient… But it’s so good. Here’s how we got our pig on with breakfast for dinner: 3 onions sliced… -
My Doctor Visit and Our Vitamin Deficiency Issues
14 Jan 2012 | 2:39 pmAll the New Year’s resolutions made, I’m following up on most and I’m pretty happy with my follow through so far. Although we’re not even two weeks into the new year, so I’m not going to strain too hard to pat myself on the back. This week, I followed through with my blood work at the doctor’s office. This is a new doctor and it’s only my second time seeing him. I’ve had the worst luck with doctors for the past couple of years, so I’m being very cautious. The last time I went, he ordered more panels than I have ever had and when I… -
Sautéed Squashes with Baby Carrots, Steak and Salad
12 Jan 2012 | 10:15 amIn our effort to be healthier this year, not only are we limiting our carb intake, but we’re also trying to eat less meat and more vegetables with each meal. I have found that the easiest way to do this, is to fill a plate with all kinds of interesting tastes alongside the protein. This gives your body the protein it needs, but the opportunity to enjoy a more stimulating plate, therefore making you more satiated eating a meal with a little less fat and a lot more fiber. Flat iron steaks are an often overlooked piece of beef. They’re not ridiculously expensive, but cooked…
-
What I Say Matters
-
Paper Smooches Challenge 2!
22 Jan 2012 | 11:09 pmHey Yall!! So I did not win the last Paper Smooches Challenge… but I did order a new set of their stamps called “Fall for You”. I LOVE this stamp set. Well the wonderful people at Paper Smooches are having another challenge!! Here is the inspiration pic! So I made this card! I used the apple from the “Fall for You” set and stamped the apple on a piece of white die-cut/embossed paper. I colored the leaf with Copic Marker ( I’m still experimenting with them). I paper pieced the apple and stem with pink polka-dotted (like the walls) and wood grain paper. -
Copic Markers
9 Jan 2012 | 11:09 pmSo I have seen quite a few YouTube videos with people using copic markers to color in their stamped images... So I decided to give it a try! Here is my first go round! Tell me what you think -
Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge!
6 Jan 2012 | 11:50 pmPaper Smooches is a wonderful new stamp company with some awesome and creative stamps. Every month they have a card making challenge using their stamps called the Sparks Challenge. They give you an inspiration photo and then you use that and make a card. It reminds me of our very own Tell Me What You See Challenge! So this month I decided to play along and enter the challenge! Here is the inspiration photo Here is what I came up with So with this card I started with a Nestabilities die cut and cut my card base and the white background. I embossed the edges of the white… -
Better Me Epiphany ~ Eulogy
3 Apr 2011 | 12:12 amMost Christians or people who have grown up in the church have heard the term "I die daily". Basically that entails us killing our flesh or dying to it and living by the spirit or the commandments of God. I must admit that I have heard the term dozens of times before. I understood it but it really never hit home with me. Recently (a few months ago) I got Tye Tribbett's ~gospel singer~ album entitled “Fresh”. It's an interesting album to me because of the instrumentation and song structure (check it out!). Anyways he has a song on there called "Eulogy". The opening words are "I'm writing… -
Better Me Epiphany ~ Sucker Punch
28 Mar 2011 | 10:52 pmHey yall!! Its been quite a while since I've posted anything. I got bogged down with life! Too much to do so I had to take a mini break from blogger. I have started many posts but stopped halfway through because i just couldn't give it what it needed.... so they will come... eventually!Over the weekend I had most of a saturday afternoon off and decided to treat myself to a movie. I gave into the hype and went to see "Sucker Punch". The cinematography was wonderful! The actual story of the movie left a little to be desired but I must admit that the movie was entertaining. I always…
-
Pleasure Notes
-
And So It Begins: 2012
1 Jan 2012 | 9:20 pmHAPPY NEW YEAR, one and all! As the first day of the new year draws to a close, I have the shaky stability of a new colt. I’m not quite settled into 2012 yet. It will probably be weeks before I correctly write the date on a document. I’m still in awe of how quickly this last year passed. I haven’t crystallized my intentions for the coming months – where I wish to go, what I intend to accomplish. So many of the facets of my life reflect a different light now than they did 12 months ago, I have no idea what outlook to expect as I contemplate future reflections, and I… -
Blooming Mondays: Unexpected Greenery
24 Oct 2011 | 11:00 amBlooming Mondays: Unexpected Greenery (green mums & cattails, 10.24.11) I simply couldn’t resist this surprising bit of greenery at the market this weekend. Don’t you just love the unexpected? -
Matches Struck Unexpectedly In The Dark
11 Oct 2011 | 11:00 amstriking the match Lindsey over at A Design So Vast drew my attention to a gorgeous Virginia Woolf quote. I supposed I shouldn’t have been surprised that Woolf’s message moved me. After all, “To The Lighthouse” was one of my favorite books when I was growing up and it was mostly sentiment over story. I am struck by the gift in Woolf’s words. “What is the meaning of life? … a simple question; one that seemed to close in on one with the years. The great revelation had never come. The great revelation perhaps never did come. Instead, there were little… -
Blooming Mondays: Old Is New Again
10 Oct 2011 | 8:00 amBlooming Mondays: Old Is New Again (rose, 10.10.11) Roses. They just never grow old, do they? These are strange days in my life. I’m in a current of change – experiencing moments I never thought I’d have, appreciating anew qualities I used to find mundane and actually enjoying my time smelling the proverbial roses. It’s a very strange current but I’m loving being in it. I simply hope that if there are rapids ahead, I ride them well. Take a minute to be in the moment… just a friendly suggestion. -
It’s Still About The Girl Effect
4 Oct 2011 | 6:08 pmBack in 2009, I was floored by an incredibly powerful video that perfectly communicated a belief I hold dear – girls are the key to peace, prosperity and stability in the world and the fragility of their position in society around the globe must be bolstered. Not much has changed in the intervening two years. Girls are still the key. The social, economic and political position of girls still needs to be strengthened significantly. And the Girl Effect is still incredibly powerful messaging. As a white, middle-class, American girl, I grew up in privilege compared to the majority of girls…
-
Four Leaf Clover
-
Let us fight
24 Jan 2012 | 7:31 pmWow! This video has popped up a few times on my Facebook newsfeed and I finally watched it today. I’ve somehow never watched The Great Dictator, which is the movie that this speech is from and was written by actor and comedian Charlie Chaplin. Take what you will from it. I found it motivational and thought-provoking. The reminder to show love keeps showing itself everywhere. -
New year, new you: love now
16 Jan 2012 | 7:45 pmI hope your new year has started off marvelously! Mine has really been something special and each day brings something new and exciting. Living in the moment makes such a huge positive difference, I wish I’d know this was the way to live from the start of my life. But no worries, I know now and am reaping the benefits. If anything, this is the biggest progress I’ve seen in myself since starting FLC over a year ago. This year, for me (and hopefully for you, too… if it’s not already), will be the year of love. I recently read that we should approach everyone and… -
Happy 2012!
31 Dec 2011 | 10:53 amHeeello!! I am back, hopefully for good! If you’ve visited FLC within the past few weeks, you may have noticed some issues, but those are all gone now and I’m thinking things will be much more stable around here from now on. Because of all of the technical problems, I didn’t even get a chance to celebrate a year of Four Leaf Clover with all of you. It all began in December last year and it definitely has been a better year than before. FLC and all of you have had a huge part in making that happen. I’m sure 2012 will continue on this amazing path. I sure hope it will be… -
Smile-worthy animal videos
12 Dec 2011 | 7:19 pmI realized that it’s been a while since I shared a few adorable and/or interesting animal videos so here are a few I’ve watched and wanted more of the world to see: The first is of the happiest cow I’ve ever seen. I’m envious of him as I’d love to be doing the exact same thing. Where is my snow!? (Found via Greenderella on Facebook -
Something you never did
9 Dec 2011 | 8:51 pmWhen I first got here, I’d see this view from my window on most evenings. I’ve not seen it in ages as the weather has gotten colder and filled with clouds. At the moment, it’s hard to believe that this place had sunsets like this and is near sandy beaches. This quote from an unknown source reminds me of Albert Einstein’s “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” I’ve even tested this with blog posts and noticed that the ones which are completely new and different from others usually get the most attention.
-
Zara Rabinowicz
-
The last 8 months in books: May-December 2011 reads
5 Jan 2012 | 12:07 pmThe amount of books I read is simply getting ridiculous. Not so much for me- I can easily cope with the heightened surge (summer days/holidays= parks/beaches= abundant literature consumed) but trying to carefully write up everything I read coherently is just not working anymore. I’m so far behind on my book updates that I feel I’ll never catch up again, so I’m going to try a new tactic. Rather than read, summarize and elaborate, I’m now going to list what I’ve read and the few key ones that have stood out will get a more in depth evaluation. If you’re… -
The High Tech Home: My Top Ten personal design wishlist
4 Jan 2012 | 10:28 amNow that 2012 has finally arrived, it’s time to start getting revved up for the Olympics (not so far away now), actually start visiting the gym and start tackling some of those resolutions on your list. One of them is bound to be ‘Have a lovely, stylish and geekified home’, so I’ve out together ten great gadget accessories to let you live a lovely geeky life at home. 1. Geek Wall Stickers from Bouf I’m a big fan of wall decals (easy to apply and remove= no landlord surcharge) and Bouf has an amazing selection. My favourite would have to be the Super Mario wall… -
How to make money from blogging in seven steps
20 Dec 2011 | 9:08 amI have worked online for over seven years, and a lot of my time and effort goes into creating blogposts. The subject matter changes- one day I’m reviewing the latest mobile phone, next time it’s a beauty product, but the format is pretty similar and writing online has its own rules and regulations. I’m an online writer, a web journalist, an editor, a social media consultant, a presenter and a blogger. It’s the blogger part of this equation that often produces the most interest and there’s one question I get over and over again. How do you make money from… -
My Body Gallery crowd sources images of Real Women
6 Dec 2011 | 6:09 pmWe all come in different shapes and sizes but this isn’t often very well represented by the mainstream media. Sure, we have ‘real life’ features where the women have been Photoshopped orange with a glossy veneer (a’la TOWIE) or we can read gritty down and out stories where everything looks tinged with canal water, but how about some variety in shop windows and magazine advertisements? I’ve previously looked at the rise and insanity of vanity sizing, where you see how retailers pretty much create their own dress size guidelines, and I’d like to show people… -
Top Twelve Beauty Trends of 2011: Supermarket salons, Lip Tattoos, Home Nail Art, MAC Bloggers Collection and more
5 Dec 2011 | 2:54 pm2011 is making way for 2012 and we get to look forward to a dark January, an escalating Euro crisis and the chaos/excitement of the London 2012 Olympics. It’s not all doom and gloom though as it’s time to take a look back at 2011 and evaluate just who the movers and shakers in the beauty industry were- and think about what will be big in 2012. I’ve previously introduced you to the top ten strange beauty trends in 2010, and in the same vein I’m going to reflect on how the beauty industry has advanced in the last year. Sure there have been the usual celebrity…
-
Articles
-
Cruisin' The High Sea: How Safe Are Cruise Ships?
26 Jan 2012 | 3:05 pmWith the recent capsizing of the Costa Concordia off the coast of the tiny Italian island of Giglio, everybody is starting to question how safe cruise ships really are. I have had the pleasure of being on many cruises in my lifetime. Because I am a North American all the cruises I've been on have been in the Caribbean, but I've been to practically every island from the east caribbean to west caribean, Cozumel to St. Maartens/St. Martins. To be honest when you're on one of these massive ships it's easy to see how someone could get tricked into… -
Share Your Favorite Workout Music and Songs To Run To
25 Jan 2012 | 9:24 pmEvery once in a while it's nice to give back to Mother Internet... Get a karma boost today by submitting your favorite workout songs to Gounce forums. -
A Healthy Breakfast Option: The Protein Smoothie
18 Jan 2012 | 2:25 pmHave you decided to get in shape this year? Well, congratulations to you! You've been hitting the gym, eating healthy, and thinking thin... However, you just can't seem to find a healthy option for breakfast (bagels and toast are big no-nos). Well, I have a great option for you: The protein smoothie... -
Grooveshark Explore: Discover New Indie Music
15 Jan 2012 | 10:42 pmAre you sick of hearing the same tunes on the radio or need to get some fresh tracks for your iPod? Grooveshark's Explore page is a great way to find new (new to you) and old indie songs... -
The Decemberists - Long Live The King Album Review
12 Jan 2012 | 3:01 pmIn my humble opinion The Decemberists are a great band. Their album, "Her Majesty" is one of my all time favorite albums. Their most recent offering is nothing short of magnificent too, and I'd highly recommend giving it a listen. Read on for the full review.
-
Missives from Brooklyn
-
A New Project for 2012
2 Jan 2012 | 12:24 pmMissives from Brooklyn has been a great little project. It started in 2010 as "What should I do with my life," and morphed into "Missives," once the original title had served something of its purpose.In the last few months, I've struggled to integrate regular blogging into my busy schedule. In the New Year, I've decided to focus on quick, daily posts featuring a single image of life in New York.Do check out my new blog-ject, "Just One Thing:" http://hannahpalmeregan.com/news/I promise daily updates, so please check back frequently! -
Natasha Poly at 2012 Pirelli Calendar Launch
11 Dec 2011 | 12:01 pmThe dress is Tom Ford. I just thought this whole look was so interesting. Harsh yet alluring... I couldn't look away... A walking work of art. -
Holiday Windows at Bergdorf's
7 Dec 2011 | 3:21 amEven without seeing much of the other competition, Imma have to say Bergdorf Goodman takes the cake for best Holiday windows this year. In person they are twice as stunning, AND I didn't even post pictures of the most elaborate ones. If you're in the City, GO. CHECK. IT. It's awesome!!! -
Writing Day: T-1700 Words...
2 Dec 2011 | 10:19 amSo, I have a 1700 word editorial due tomorrow for Pork & Mead, and I am sick.Like, called-out-from-work-already-this-week, irreconcilable hacking-cough, can-barely-speak, Nyquil-chugging, Mucinex-popping, wonton-soup-only diet, sick. I am writing from bed today... Hopefully my friends Christmas Cactus and Green Tea with Loads of Honey will help me meet my deadline! So far, I have not one single little word on the page (but I do have lots to write about..) So, Please: wish me luck! -
A Very Bed-Stuy Thanksgiving
26 Nov 2011 | 10:11 amThis year was my second hosting Thanksgiving. With my husband's school schedule and my in-transition job status, we didn't have time to leave town for the holiday (Dan's family celebrated at his sister's house in Massachusetts and my family is of course, in Vermont). So, Thanksgiving came to us instead. We cobbled together tables and dishes enough to accommodate nine for dinner and feasted on yams, hams, carrots and cabbage. Pearl onions, potatoes and turkey. Wine flowed and later turned to whiskey and Super-8 family films (Dan's latest artistic fascination) projected on the wall. …
-
Behind Bars - Life. Motorcycles.
-
Winter Daydreams
26 Jan 2012 | 5:48 amIt'sabout this time of year that I usually tip the mothballs out of thecavity of my guitar, dig through the sofa for a chewed-on guitarpick, and take perfectly good cuts of music and run them through ameat grinder. Well, when I say about this time I'mbeing loose. It's typically around November that the six-string comesoff the wall. I'm a bit late this year. Winterdoes it, I hate winter. Something about the dull slog after Christmasthat wears on until spring. Memories of bland, gray days crammedbehind a school desk only to navigate home in the bitter cold andyearn for the summer again,… -
Salzburg, Austria
19 Jan 2012 | 7:35 amView of Salzburg countryside from our hotel. Photo by author. Swedish, man of the world, college friend, and PhD of neuroscience. A man who will forever live in my mind as a slit-eyed giant with a near-empty space bag (removed from a box of Franzia) on his shoulder came to Munich last week. He crashed through my front door yelling "Folklore!" (his inexplicable nickname for me. In fact, maybe that would be a better name for a blog...) And we set to work making up for lost time. He lives in London these days,… -
GI Joes and Tech School. An Essay on Being Happy.
5 Jan 2012 | 4:37 amAs a kid the coolest thing in the entire world were GI Joes(alternating periodically with Legos and TNMTs.) My collection of Kung-Fu GripAvengers for Justice was small, particularly compared to my friend who had halfa metric shitload, but I had all I was going to get – I went to the grocerystore with my old man often enough (only to emerge from the toy aisle and hearthe words “Put that back,”) to understand that toys are expensive and (in myfather's eyes) I had plenty. In hindsight, I probably did.Still, the mini M-16s, the cool outfits, and the cars! Therewas a vehicle that actually… -
Totier Park with a CB550K. Why Normal People avoid Vintage Bikes
29 Dec 2011 | 8:57 am1978 Honda CB550K. Ragged, but as good as life gets. I got lucky. Kelsie and I both enjoy travel, exploration, and motorcycles– not only that, but her parents do, too. Her folks take opportunities forforeign travel when offered, and make opportunities to explore theUnited States. While we lived in Virginia, they used their Black, HondaGoldwing to ride from South Dakota, cross half the country, and pay us a visitin Virginia. At the time, I was on my second “real” motorcycle – the 1978 CB550K,a beautiful machine ahead of its time in reliability and handling – like aswamp boat in… -
The '85 Nighthawk, A Machine Propelled by Snake Oil, Mystics, and Good Faith
22 Dec 2011 | 5:03 amA few years back I bought a 1985 Honda Nighthawk 450. It was my firstbike, purchased from an average man carrying an aristocratic name – somethinglike Cannonball Bremenhold Jacobson III. The little Honda was was a great firstbike in every respect – it was light, peppy but not dangerously powerful, andhad room for two. It also had the sex appeal as a wet sock, so it collapsed mydesire to showboat. Any attempts at hot dogging caused onlookers to contorttheir faces in confused disbelief, much like the Hugo's Hunchback before hestarted yelling “She gave me water!” There was a small hitch…
-
The Chronicles of R
-
50+ Funny Marriage Quotes
6 Jan 2012 | 1:02 amHere are some 50+ funniest marriage quotes that I have collected over the internet. Hope you would enjoy reading them as much as I did. "Getting married for sex is like buying a 747 for the free peanuts" -Jeff Foxworthy "I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury." -Groucho Marx "The best way to remember your wife's birthday is to forget it once." -H.V. Prochnow "I have learned -
My New Year's Resolutions
29 Dec 2011 | 1:57 amThe dawn of a new year is just round the corner. A new year, a new beginning. Rather befitting for me since I am getting married this year and thus will begin my endeavors into a new world. A new world with a new family, my family. And with this beginning comes a few resolutions. My New Year’s resolutions. Living a successful relationship is an art, living three successful relationships, the -
Phishing Scam: Indian Income Tax Website Hacked
6 Dec 2011 | 12:10 amToday a got a mail in my inbox saying that I got an Income Tax refund for the previous fiscal year. The email looked genuine since it came from ref-init@incometaxindia.gov.in. It contained a link which I needed to click to apply for the refund. Nice scam they have put up this time since on clicking the link I was taken to the website http://www.burlingtonbaycafe.com! Yes ladies and gentlemen, -
It's Christmas Season
2 Dec 2011 | 9:22 pmDo you still leave cookies and milk for Santa under the tree? That's what the Christmas spirit is all about isn't it? It about faith. Faith in God, faith in life, love, happiness, friendship, forgiveness. The time of the year when you let go of all your grudges. A season to decorate, not only the Christmas tree but your life. To be very honest with you, the Christmas season began from the -
El Condor Pasa
1 Dec 2011 | 12:10 amToday is the 1st of December, the beginning of the last month of the year. The month that proclaims the beginning of the end, the dawn of another year. The prelude to the beginning of new dreams, new responsibilities, new memories, faiths, friends, moments. A coup de grace that puts an end to some nightmares. An epilogue that inaugurates a new season, the season of love, of friendship, joy and
-
Tolstoy is my Cat
-
Review: 'Charles Dickens: A Life' by Claire Tomalin
27 Jan 2012 | 4:52 amThe world is a veritable Dickens-fest at the moment, and there is zero point in fighting it. Actually, I wouldn't, because I'm quite enjoying it, not least (smug) for the number of people around me who are happy to rhapsodise on the importance of Dickens whilst having never read a word of it: I know for a fact that there is a certain Head of Something Bookish in my city who only opened a free download of 'Great Expectations' just before Christmas, despite the fact that he'd already been planning all the bicentennial celebrations and related work in schools for the best… -
Lyndsay, Put the Pen Down...
23 Jan 2012 | 5:39 amIt's been a funny couple of weeks, laced with New Year's revelations and a generous amount of carpet-whipping from under feet, disillusionment, and the such like. Look for further details in a novel of mine in twenty years' time. Naturally, this is made me want to work, as writing is therapy to me, as I'm sure it is to you, so I buried my head in my computer this past week, only receiving the odd electric shock. Whilst on my internet travels, I saw that the submission deadline for a lit mag I like was the coming weekend, and I had a piece hanging around my computer that could… -
Review: 'The Artist'
21 Jan 2012 | 4:01 amLast night, I saw 'The Artist', and came away with the following conclusions: Read more » -
Guestpost: 'What I Did To Promote My Book'
19 Jan 2012 | 4:06 amToday I'm hosting a guest post from Sheila Dalton, author of 'The Girl in the Box', a psychological thriller published in 2011 and described as follows: Caitlin Shaughnessy, a Canadian journalist, discovers that Inez, a traumatized young Mayan woman originally from Guatemala, has killed Caitlin's psychoanalyst partner, Dr. Jerry Simpson. Simpson brought the girl, who may be autistic, back to Canada as an act of mercy and to attempt to treat her obvious trauma. Cailin desperately needs to find out why this terrible incident occurred so she can find the strength to forgive and… -
A Miscellany: Stamps, Book Clubs and Blog Carnivals
16 Jan 2012 | 4:08 amFirst of all, how darling are these?! Read more »
-
Ataractic Mind
-
Spice Up Your Life With A Pinch Of Humor
22 Jan 2012 | 12:03 pmA sense of humor… is needed armor. Joy in one’s heart and some laughter on one’s lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life. ~ Hugh Sidey One of my favorite things to do is to just laugh out loud… and the best moment is when I laugh so hard that tears are freely flowing :). I don’t mind being goofy, cracking stupid, dumb jokes if it makes me and everyone around me laugh and have fun. There will be people who may find your humor too stupid and dumb but don’t get discouraged.. they don’t understand the pleasure in… -
Breaking Down Things To Be Successful
18 Jan 2012 | 5:30 amHave you faced a problem that you feel is too big for you to handle? Are you overwhelmed with the amount of tasks you have on hand but so little time? Are you someone who puts off getting things done because they need a lot of time to get done? Well… in that case you are not alone. I am an IT Business Analyst in my day job and there are few techniques used to complete tasks on a project. I feel these techniques are not just meant for IT industry but can also be applied to our day-to-day life, in various other projects and in different ways. One of the techniques I have learned is… -
Making Choices Is Important
14 Jan 2012 | 10:00 amWe can try to avoid making choices by doing nothing, but even that is a decision. ~ Gary Collins In our day-to-day lives we come across so many situations that we need to make decisions on. Whether it be waking up early and exercising or sleeping in and being lazy. At work we have to make decisions that will affect the outcome of a project. With family we have to make decisions that will keep our family safe & happy. It does not matter which direction you look, you have to make a choice. It is the choices we make that carve the paths in our lives. The most important thing is that… -
Stop Procrastinating Today To Get What You Love Tomorrow
1 Jan 2012 | 5:48 pmProcrastination is one of the most common reasons why goals are not achieved. One of the reasons that this post was delayed was because I procrastinated. I am good at multitasking but of course there is a limit to how much one can multitask Ideally 2-3 tasks are manageable. Somehow I cannot stop at 3 :(. There are so many things going on in my mind at one time. There are so many things I want to learn, which are time consuming. Eg. I design websites but I also want to learn the development side because it will only help me in my web design. I want to concentrate on my health so I want to make… -
I Am Great, I Am Awesome
3 Sep 2011 | 11:00 amI recently got a forwarded email from my father, which I have got before too, but for some reason the quote has stuck to me and I cannot get it out of my head. It goes like this “Our Deepest Fear Is Not That We Are Inadequate. Our Deepest Fear Is That We Are Powerful Beyond Measure. It Is Our Light, Not Our Darkness That Most Frightens Us. We Ask Ourselves, ‘Who Am I To Be Brilliant, Gorgeous, Talented, And Fabulous?’ Actually, Who Are You Not To Be? You Are A Child Of God. Your Playing Small Does Not Serve The World. There Is Nothing Enlightened About Shrinking So…
-
A playground for everyone interested in Self Discovery, The Enneagram & Enlightenment
-
Confessions of Changeable Charlie, a Brussels Sprout and Peace
13 Jan 2012 | 3:44 pmBrussels sprouts are named after their home town. I would be called Arlington Heights. You might be called New York or Omaha, but it is likely you aren’t. Brussels sprouts have a problem right out of the gate. While a sprout may be capital baked and with a bit of butter it is the only [...] -
Should Meditation be Legal?
11 Jan 2012 | 9:01 amMore people are meditating than ever before. School teachers do it, so do lawyers and doctors. Psychologists recommend it. Even police officers and other high stress professionals do it. Bums do it to and the other day I saw a sign outside the local Baptist Church offering Yoga classes. To find out what meditation is [...] -
You Are an Asshole: The Erhard Seminar Training
8 Jan 2012 | 7:57 pmYou Are an Asshole That is the message that the Erhard Seminar Training (est) drove home to 500,000 of us between the years of 1971 and 1984. Cher, Diana Ross, Joe Namath, Yoko Ono, John Denver, Jeff Bridges, Raul Julie and Valerie Harper among many others, hung out for two really long weekends and transformed [...] -
Do it Yourself Surgery – The Shame
19 Dec 2011 | 6:00 pmIf you have your doctor on speed dial, know the route to the doctor’s office by heart or rush to doc’s office every time you feel a cold coming on, please do not read any further. But if you think that health care has gotten a bit carried away or would like to try some [...] -
Get Attention Right Now
15 Dec 2011 | 8:56 amEverybody and everything wants your attention. Coke wants it. Your sweetheart wants it. Your Mom wants it. Your friends want it. Your TV set wants it. So obviously do advertisers. Your dog wants your attention, so does your cat but she won’t admit it. Everybody and everything wants your attention. Millionaires want your attention, probably [...]
-
Amy Mac
-
Tips for Stay-At-Home Moms Heading Back to Work
26 Jan 2012 | 3:02 pmI get lots of questions from stay-at-home moms plotting their return to the working world. Sometimes it’s about explaining a ten-year gap in their resume. Other times it’s a query about building a client base as a freelancer, or how to completely switch to a new career. Often it’s all of the above. The easy answer? Volunteer. Ah, I could feel you cringing from here. “My time is too important to work for free!” Or perhaps, “Deciding which cold cuts are best for the ladies luncheon is as torturous as watching the presidential debates on a 24-hour loop!” I feel your pain, but… -
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
16 Jan 2012 | 5:41 pmI hope today, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, you will add these things to your list of things to do: Listen to the "I Have a Dream Speech." Visit the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tenn. Read the book "Hellhound on his Trail" by Memphis native and bestselling author Hampton Sides. Watch the award-winning movie The Help. This Memphis girl has done all of the above, and was reminded each time we are, at the end of the day, all just mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and children. We love our babies fiercely, pray for our loved ones faithfully, crave dignity and… -
Waiting for Inspiration
7 Jan 2012 | 6:26 pmI have a confession: I find New Year's Resolutions a little overwhelming. These big, sweeping decisive goals that are supposed to set your life's course for 12 whole months ... I mean, come ON. Think of all the things that could happen. For example, if your goal is to lose weight, what if a Ben & Jerry's opens right up the street? Obviously this is a sign to skip the bikini on your cruise in June and hit the New York Super Fudge Chunk with total abandon. If your goal is to get organized, I've got bad news. Martha's show has been cancelled. Another sign to throw in the towel, watch… -
Easy Recipe for Christmas Eve Dinner
23 Dec 2011 | 9:42 amY'all, I was writing out my Christmas menu today and have a casserole recipe that is seriously yummy and super-duper easy. I highly recommend you plop this one on your holiday table ... it'll disappear quicker than the paper on all those carefully wrapped gifts. Ingredients: 1 can French-style green beans (drained & rinsed) 1 can white shoe peg corn (drained & rinsed) 1 can cream of mushroom soup 8 oz. sour cream 1/2 cup chopped white onion 3 celery stalks, chopped 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded 3/4 tsp. salt (or to taste) 1/4 tsp. pepper (or to taste) 1/2 stick butter, softened… -
Tips for Last Minute Holiday Shopping
20 Dec 2011 | 3:31 pmThere are only a few days left before Christmas, and perhaps you still have a few gifts to purchase (if not, keep that to yourself. It makes people mad. Instead say “almost there,” then sigh heavily. This prevents you from being socially shunned. You’re welcome.) I find shopping akin to being force-fed live octopus, and I blame sales clerks. Not all of them — many salespeople are delightful. I’m referencing those who look at you like you’ve run over their cat when you say you are not, in fact, a member of their shopping program or continue to pester you after you’ve said “just…
-
JohnRWallace.com
-
Look To Me…
23 Jan 2012 | 9:47 am“Look to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other.” Isaiah 45:22 One of the hardest things to do spiritually, in my opinion, is to stay focused and concentrated on God. And what I mean by that is to stay focused on Him not just during the tough seasons in life but during our rough times as well. With all the distractions that life offers, it is easy for us to give importance to things that should not hold importance. Often times the very blessings of God can be the very thing that trips us up…but is that Gods fault? No. -
Take Heart…He Knows.
20 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 There is so much comfort in this verse. I know I have personally been resting in this verse recently. There have been lots of changes recently in my life and the lives of those closest to me and it can easily start to become overwhelming if I don’t continually build myself up with Scripture. Let this verse be a comfort to you as well. If you are wondering what the next step is in your life…take heart. -
He Understands How You Feel…
19 Jan 2012 | 9:29 amHave you ever had an experience that seemed so strange, or so painful, or so traumatic that you thought, “No one can understand what I’m going through?” I’ve had that thought many times in my life. The absolute truth is that sometimes our friends and family won’t understand the pain that we have experienced, but Jesus will. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so… -
Are You Setting Goals?…
17 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am“If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time.” Unknown With 2011 behind us and 2012 under way, what are your goals for this year? Have you set any yet? Every new year seems to be a great time to press reset and set goals. Even though nothing but the date changes, it’s a good time to reflect on the year that has passed and give some thought to what you want to accomplish in the year that is to come. The truth is, goal setting is extremely important and something I really believe we should all do. If we do not set goals we are far less likely to accomplish what we… -
No Matter What, God Is Faithful…
16 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am“If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.” 2 Timothy 2:13 Not matter what, God is faithful. It is his very nature. He cannot not be faithful. Life is not reliable to lean on. Your friends will not always be reliable to lean on. The only person who we can have full confidence and faith in, 100 % of the time, is God. I need this reminder all the time. It is so easy, when life knocks you down and nothing seems to go your way, to just give up and focus on all the negative around you. I believe this is the wrong mindset. This is exactly how the enemy…
-
Random Ramblings
-
The first Random Rant – Shopping! Today! Really?
1 Jan 2012 | 5:33 pmIt’s the first day of 2012 and my day has been awesome. I woke up (without a hangover I might add), ate breakfast and I went skating. My fiance and I spent almost an hour enjoying the mild winter weather at Rundle Park. I was already looking forward to my wedding this year, my new office and whatever else 2012 brings and the year started great. For weeks I’ve been thinking about how I wanted to start off 2012 on Random Ramblings. And today it came to me. What the hell is going on in the world? It’s crazy out there. I could talk about Jersey Shore or how the Kardashians… -
Remembrance Day – A Day to Honour All Heroes
11 Nov 2011 | 6:11 pm“In Flanders Field, the poppies blow, Between the crosses row on row” Remembrance Day Poppy Today is November 11th. The number, the day and what it stands for are one of the most symbolic in Canada. Each year, on Remembrance Day, we honour those who have fallen in the line of duty. We honour those heroes who put the lives, needs and desires of others ahead of their own. At 11:00 in the morning, we spend a moment and think about those who sacrificed so much to give us the chance to live any life we choose. We spend a moment thinking about those who spent many of their moments… -
Jesse Holley hauls in childhood dream
20 Sep 2011 | 8:58 pmKids who grow up playing sports dream of making it big. We don’t picture ourselves sitting on the practice roster or passing out water bottles. We dream of scoring the winning touchdown, hitting the 9th inning home run or scoring the Stanley Cup winning goal. And on Sunday afternoon, Jesse Holley made that catch. With 12:57 left in overtime, Tony Romo hit a streaking, wide-open Jesse Holley for a 79 yard catch and run that set up the winning field goal. Yes, you read that right. He didn’t hit prolific pass catching Tight End, Jason Witten. He didn’t look for receiver,… -
3 Things PR could learn from TV
14 Sep 2011 | 10:39 pmIt’s the middle of September and as I wait for my favourite TV shows to begin (Fall preview), I started to think about what makes a successful show. I, soon, realized the things that drive a successful TV program are the same things that drive a successful public relations campaign. NCIS is my favourite TV show. It has the perfect mix of character interaction and plot. It perfectly blends humour and the seriousness of the crimes. And the characters are relatable. Every time Agent Gibbs smacks “Very Special Agent” Anthony Dinozzo upside the head, I can’t help but… -
Inspiration with a tool belt
19 Jul 2011 | 9:41 pmNot something I normally wear Fundamentally I’m a lazy person. If I have the choice between driving and walking, I’ll be behind the wheel of my car. If I can talk my way out of it, I will. And if there are tools involved I’m just as likely to help as I would be to watch a hockey game without drinking beer. But something happened recently. I could wax poetic and tell you “A dam burst within me and I found a hidden passion for carpentry,” but that would be a lie. I’d like to tell you that working with my hands offered piece of mind, but I can’t. What I…
-
Mrbonchapeau's Musings
-
Modesty Blaise: a guy's reflections on modesty
17 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pmSource: dreamstimeModesty has had some bad rap As I [Mrbonchapeau] was researching this topic, it became apparent that not many people have written on the topic of physical modesty in a positive light. Modesty, for many, has a legalistic, prudish, Victorian sound to it. It’s entirely possible that women haven’t had much of a say in what they where for a lot of history and various social norms have been imposed on them. Those who wanted to show more skin may well have been perceived as unvirtuous and provocative. Also, female modesty has many been thought of in restrictive, physical… -
Charlie Sheen, Gordon Ramsay and Our Obsession with the Obscene
3 Oct 2011 | 5:29 amSourceOur ObsessionDo you remember the day when you turned fifteen and you were all excited because--wait for it-- you could now watch MA15+ movies? Perhaps that wasn’t your experience (you started when you were 11) but it must be the epitome of how we are obsessed with the restricted. We obsessed with the obscene, the off-limits. Gordon Ramsay and Charlie Sheen are just more examples of how we living in the western world love to play around with the forbidden and taboo as viewers-consumers. We live in an Australia where ‘foul language’ is used for the everyday, as if we’re trying to… -
Inside Look into a Guy's Mind when Shopping for a Smartphone
25 Jul 2011 | 1:50 amSource: Kai HendryI don't know if you've ever bought an item which took you ages to pick, that's special to you and that even the day you bought it you distinctly remember? Well, I recently bought a smart phone and my experience was a bit of everything: I was excited, it was cool, the staff were fun and friendly, and to cap it all off, I still feel pretty good about the whole purchase. Well, kind of. But let's do this in the proper way; let me tell you the story. Well, before I entered the VirginMobile store in Sydney on an overcast day, I had been thinking about getting a new phone. I had… -
Cold Mailman - Time is of the essence
30 Jun 2011 | 10:28 amBrings new significance to the expression 'reading music'. :D -
JULIAN SMITH - I'm Reading a Book
30 Jun 2011 | 10:27 am
-
Bucket List Journey
-
The Alamo is Nice, But Mission San Jose Rocks
27 Jan 2012 | 2:33 pmAs soon as I landed in San Antonio, Texas I was on a mission. A mission that involved racing to The Alamo while it was still lit by the night lights and the moon. I heard this was the best way to see it, sans the crowds. I barely dropped the luggage off in the hotel room before we scooted across the street to witness this well-known attraction in the late evening. Touring a mission was on my bucket list and, even though there were several lovely ones in my neck of the woods, I was obsessed with doing so in Texas, at the Alamo. And it was nice,… -
5 Firsts at the Fancy Food Show | San Francisco
25 Jan 2012 | 8:00 amThe Fancy Food Show is one of the largest in the world with over 1,300 vendors showcasing over 80,000 food products representing 35 different countries. And there are free samples. A lot of them. I arrived at San Francisco's Moscone Center armed only with my the camera on my trusty Iphone and an empty stomach. Turns out that's all I needed. From the looks of the endless rows of booths that lied ahead, this was definitely going to take a lesson in patience and pacing. Both of which I am not very good, especially when eating food is involved. Throughout the dozens of… -
A Chilly 72 Miles Around Lake Tahoe
23 Jan 2012 | 8:00 amAfter our five hour dinner at the Ritz Carlton and a good nights sleep, we woke up refreshed and ready to explore Lake Tahoe. I wanted to make the 72 mile drive around the lake, or rather, I wanted Peter to chauffeur me as I snugly sat in the passenger seat. A prime viewing location. I had heard it would take three hours to make the trek, depending on how much time you spent at each stop. Judging from the below 40 degree weather, most of this trips sightseeing would be done from the car window. Our cabin was a short walk to Kings Beach and this was the perfect place… -
Annette’s ABCs of Travel
19 Jan 2012 | 1:33 pmCutie petootie Ruth, over at at Tanama Tales, nominated little ole' me for the "My Travel ABCs" series. Whoop, Whoop! It's an honor to just be nominated Age you went on your first international trip: On the sixteenth birthday of all of her granddaughters, my nonna took each one of us to her native land, Italy. That was the first time I left the country. Unfortunately, I was way more enchanted with Italian boys than Italian culture. Maybe the boys could be considered an educational part of the culture too? We spent a month touring… -
I Saw Dead People. At the BODIES Exhibition
16 Jan 2012 | 9:45 amI remember a group of us sneaking out of Biology class in college to take a peek at the cadavers in the next classroom. It only took the sight of one tagged big toe before I felt light headed, nauseous and had to escape…quickly. Apparently, I'm a wimp when it comes to dead people. This is why I agreed to see BODIES The Exhibition at the Luxor in Las Vegas. To redeem myself. The exhibition has over 200 human bodies and specimens. The specimens at the exhibit are preserved using a process called polymer preservation where silicone rubber is used to…
-
The Good Life? | dancePROOF
-
The Art of Killing Innocence
15 Jan 2012 | 10:18 amFirst off, start bright. Enjoy nature, enjoy art, enjoy science. Enjoy life. Then get brighter and brighter. Continue to enjoy all these things while others have forgot how (while others never learnt how). Continue while others have found work. Continue while others say that you have to work to fit in, to labour to live (they say ‘to labour’, they mean ‘to suffer’). Everyone saw so much potential in you, why don’t you just use it? But why must you use it you ask? Because, they answer… These are not real answers. But how is to suffer to live you ask? -
Dissatisfaction = Progress?
22 Sep 2011 | 10:11 amWe’re not happy people. Just look at the stats. People are grumpier, sadder, tireder, and meaner than they used to be (no this is not Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs). And why are we unhappy? Is it because the world is a harsher place to live, because we have less than we used to? No, in fact stats prove that the world has been continuously getting better over time. So what’s our problem? Maybe it’s because of where we live, America. We live in a culture that praises material wealth and external richness over internal. We live in a culture in which we are judged by what we… -
Are You Dog or Cat?
1 Sep 2011 | 10:11 amAre you Dog? Listening obediently to some tall figure that feeds you? Trusting? For the tall figure knows all. Unquestioning of the words it speaks? For it’s always right, never wrong. Loyal? Coming to it’s side the moment it calls, sitting when it tells you to sit, and occasionally receiving the one or two orgasmic belly rubs? Are you happily satisfied with what you have? Is your future taken care of? For you handed it to the tall figure, knowing that you’d never experience hardship ever again as long as you didn’t disobey it. Are you man’s best friend? Forever… -
Love Is Stupid.
25 Aug 2011 | 10:11 amLove is stupid. It leaves you breathless for no reason. It buckles your knees and at the worst times. It gives you heart-complications, literally. It makes you care none whatsoever about you’re own survival in this affair. It leaves you sleepless, and mindless at times. … And that’s the point. photo credit: notsogoodphotography Facebook | Twitter | RSS Related posts: Metcalfe’s Law: Why I Use Twitter, Facebook, Buzz, And Other New Technologies Tyler Durden for the Internet Age “I Sleep Two Hours Per Day”- Week Two -
The Complicated Simplicity of the Paradox of Truth
18 Aug 2011 | 10:11 amHave you ever looked at a paradoxical sentence? Have you ever really stared at it? Consumed it with your entire being and let it hang within your soul, stirring around, making all this ruckus within you that makes you shift unevenly in your seat from time to time without knowing why? Being abnormal is normal. Being normal is abnormal. Truths are found in paradoxes. That’s what I believe. Not truth as in knowledge, but as in the truth that’s rarely acquired; wisdom. If I told a computer program that it had to hold the notion “You are unique like no one else,” and the…
-
12 Most
-
12 Most FANtastic Reasons to Love Football By Brian Vickery
27 Jan 2012 | 2:00 pmBy Brian Vickery The NFL football season is winding down, and I feel compelled to squeeze one more football post in my feed before moving on to the basketball season! I love football, and I favor the professional game over the college game. That distinction alone will bring some debate amongst friends and family. Some will argue that the college players have more intensity and care more about the game. However, such a small percentage of college players “make it at the next level.” That is because the professional football players have exceptional skills and speed that separates the men… -
12 Most Life-Changing New Year’s Resolutions That Do Not Have to be Broken By Jeff Willinger
27 Jan 2012 | 9:00 amBy Jeff Willinger So, we are almost through with January, so why not start your resolutions now. Not just any resolutions…let’s shoot high this year! I declare the year 2012, the year of unconditional giving…that’s right…I said it…unconditional giving. That means we are no longer keeping track of who buys for who and how many times your kid gets invited over to the other kid’s house. Just do it…just give like no one is watching or caring. Instead of coming up with the usual list of resolutions that mean nothing to anyone except the person that wrote down the resolution to… -
12 Most Good to Know Goodies about Google Plus (Google+) By Peggy Fitzpatrick
27 Jan 2012 | 8:00 amBy Peggy Fitzpatrick Google Plus has been around since July. However, there are many people who have not embraced it fully. Some of the tips and tricks aren’t easy to find but I am offering 12 goodies to get you going on Google+. No more excuses! I am convinced that your Google+ posts and photos are boosted in the Google rankings; mine appear to be boosted in Google searches. Aaron Lee states that for SEO ”Google+ may be the best way for you to improve your search rankings. Google puts a more weight on content that has more shares or +1’s.” You can click on any photo in… -
12 Most Informed Things You Can Learn from the Penn State and Syracuse Fiascos By Roy Kessel
26 Jan 2012 | 2:00 pmBy Roy Kessel With the passing of Joe Paterno, there is a lot of debate about his legacy and how he will be remembered? It is a shame that a historic coach with over 400 victories even has doubts that his main accomplishments were in mentoring athletes, helping them graduate and teaching them to become better people. Yet, due to a variety of factors (some of his own doing and some outside of his control), Paterno’s reputation will bear a permanent tarnish. Still, I believe that his accomplishments should not be completely nullified by his mistakes. Our legacies are a complex… -
12 Most Savvy Social Media Resources By Ekaterina Walter
26 Jan 2012 | 11:00 amBy Ekaterina Walter Whenever I talk to people about the subject I am very passionate about – social media – inevitably the question comes up “What publications do you subscribe to to keep up to date with the fast-changing world of social and which organizations are you a member of?” In the world of the information overload savvy professionals are always looking for the best resources. Today I am humbly sharing my favorites with you. 1. WOMMA Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) offers both members and non-members a variety of resources and events (online and offline) packed…
-
DC Dana
-
Ethiopia (AKA The Post About Baboons)
20 Jan 2012 | 9:00 amI don't know why it's taken me so long to write about one of my favorite trips. Probably because there were so many things that I loved about it, that it's hard to start telling it all. So I'll give you the short-ish version and some photos instead.My church has sort of a sister church in Addis Ababa and a group of us travelled over there several years ago to help them get started. While Africa was probably the most exotic place I'd visited to date, I did have quite a bit of travel under my belt by that point. As opposed to Sara, this sweet Kentucky girl who roomed with me, who had never… -
Things You Didn't Care to Know About Me This Past Week (but gosh darnit, you're going to hear them anyway)
17 Jan 2012 | 7:31 am-I did finally make it back to Fitness Boot Camp and the next day, my body felt like it was painfully turning to stone. We had done sit ups combined with shoulder presses with weights at one point, and since the extent of my normal workout of core plus arms usually consists of holding myself upright in my office chair while putting a coffee cup to my mouth, this was a shock to my system. So the next day, I felt like I was walking in a weird hunched over yet forward-propelling stance all day. Very attractive.-I also wore makeup that is too dark for my now winter-pasty face… -
The Things We Do For Exercise
9 Jan 2012 | 2:12 pmI'm struggling to get my crap together this week. I'm sorry I don't have any new posts on baboons or boys (although I did just let a guy down using the phrase "I was a little uncomfortable with what felt like aggressive affection on a first date...." which I'll tell you more about later.) But besides being behind on posting here, I'm also behind on work, errands, and keeping up with my Groupon/Living Social Deals.One of those deals being Unlimited Access to a Fitness Boot Camp for the Month of January. (for which I'd like to go back in time and slap my former self when I… -
I Heart New York - even after drama-filled bus rides.
2 Jan 2012 | 5:53 pmI know I should write the obligatory New Year's Resolution post but honestly I typically don't do resolutions at New Years. I make them throughout the year, I feel like they have a better chance of succeeding without all that pressure. But, I am excited to start a year fresh and there are some things I'm hopeful for so I'll keep you posted on developments. For now though, I'm in a New York state of mind...My friend Tiff is an actress who used to live in NYC. This week, she's coming back for a visit and invited me and many others to hang out on Friday night.I'm considering going. Even though… -
Insight Into Where My Oblivion Comes From
29 Dec 2011 | 9:07 amLast weekStranger: I love your ring!Me to stranger: Thanks! Me to my mother: I got that one when I was in Turkey last yearMy mother: You were in Turkey??This weekMe, watching a commercial about a house giveaway in Park City, UT: Oh! Park City is SO gorgeous!My mother: You've been to Utah??Sigh.
-
Look who Found the Marbles
-
How She Found the Marbles: Asking for Help
27 Jan 2012 | 4:00 amIn the post below, Tara Ziegmont shares her story of strength, courage and the importance of asking for help. Over the last 18 months, I have struggled in ways I never thought possible. In that short time, I’ve dealt with an unexpected pregnancy, extended bedrest, serious pregnancy complications, a traumatic birth experience, postpartum depression, a colicky and hospitalized infant, and then a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. In retrospect, I don’t know how I survived it all, except that I just did the next most important thing. I never imagined that I’d make a plan to kill… -
Join Us for the Brave Woman Twitter Party!
26 Jan 2012 | 11:17 pmI am honored to be hosting the upcoming Brave Woman Twitter party sponsored by Collective Bias. Please join us for this very important hour as we discuss the strong women we know and how we can help our friends and family members stay strong in their fight against domestic violence. Here is all the info: When: Thursday, February 2nd at 8:00-9:00 pm EST (7:00-8:00 CST) Where: On Twitter using the hashtag #BraveWoman. Who: Please follow the hosts, @FoundtheMarbles and @MonicaJohnson as well as @Brave_Woman. Prizes: The prizes are in the form of gift cards and we would love for you to use… -
Thoughtful Thursday Blog Hop! Dreaming Big for Africa
25 Jan 2012 | 7:13 pmMalaria No More has just launched it’s newest campaign called, “Dream Big for Africa”. Anyone who texts 85944 will donate $10 to help bring an end to malaria and will also be entered to win a trip to Africa with Smash star Katharine McPhee! Want to help? If so, please tweet, like or +1 about Malaria No More’s “Dream Big for Africa” campaign. You can even copy the following tweet: Text 85944 to donate $10 to @MalariaNoMore and be entered to win a trip to Africa with @NBCSmash star @katharinemcphee. Time to link up! Add your favorite post and be sure to… -
Tips for Getting It All Done When Your Spouse is Away
24 Jan 2012 | 11:23 amLately it seems like there are fewer than 24 hours in a day, doesn’t it? Our time is spread so thin and our brains are in a perpetual state of prioritizing. We are working, parenting, exercising and organizing, cooking, cleaning, carpooling and more. Thank goodness for texting because we don’t even have time for full-length conversations anymore. When our spouse travels frequently for work, our daily responsibilities increase yet the amount of time we have does not change. (Last I checked there are still 24 hours in a day.) Then we must readjust when said spouse is home again. … -
Joe Paterno: Just a Kid from Brooklyn
22 Jan 2012 | 7:18 pmWhen Joe Paterno was a kid he lived in Brooklyn in a time and place when the Italians, Russians and Jews all lived seamlessly together. He and his brother loved spending their days outside with the kids from the neighborhood. In his autobiography, Joe explains that during the Jewish Sabbath, he would go to his friends’ homes to do a favor for their mothers. He would light the ovens in their kitchens so that their dinners could be prepared quickly when the Sabbath was over. Fifteen years ago I read Joe Paterno’s autobiography as well as several biographies about him, including the one…
-
thevoiceofjobseekers.com
-
2012 Career Search Advice: Google Plus Yourself Part 2
25 Jan 2012 | 12:30 amWe have come a long way since Facebook unleashed Facebook fan pages in 2010. Since then there have been many social networking sites that have come and gone. In my opinion, the latest to stand out among the crowd is Google Plus. Some will say it is an expanded version of Facebook, others say it is a better version of Twitter and Facebook combined. I think that out of the many proposed uses for Google Plus for job seekers, the word that stands out is visibility. When I Google myself the Google Plus page comes first Twitter (140) and Facebook (720?) have character limits, Google Plus doesn’t. -
Career Search Advice: Google Plus Yourself Part 1
23 Jan 2012 | 12:30 amJob seekers should use Google Plus as a professional website, especially for those hesitant in building his or her own. It is a way to test drive website functions before investing money in buying a domain name. Then again, if you like what Google Plus offers, then you may not need a personal websites. Learn more about it, but in the long run, it’s smarter to have a blog and a Google Plus page. The purpose of the post is to inspire more job seekers to engage Google Plus as a way to get your online profile and professional attributes in front of the right people. The WHY and benefits of… -
Lost Your Job? Learn to Use The Left Hand
19 Jan 2012 | 12:30 amYears ago, teachers used to make children who were left hand use their right hand. There have been studies that have documented the plight of left-handed people, and especially children. In many ways left-handed people were practically hazed, and treated indifferently. As a society, we are right-handed and refer to the right-hand as the stronger hand. Losing a job under any circumstance is the same as losing your right-hand (or left). For many, self-worth came from the job as did monetary, relationship, and some emotional needs. The right-hand was the primary tool for everything, just like… -
Job Search Hints—MLK’s Letter From A Birmingham Jail
16 Jan 2012 | 12:39 amAmerica is still deciphering and contemplating Dr. Martin Luther King’s message in 2012, or at least looking to understand it. If the only message you gleaned out of it was that black people demanded equality, then please, revisit the link below. A Letter From A Birmingham Jail by Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. King’s ability to communicate across the color lines is a model for all of us. I look at Dr. King’s letter from the Birmingham jail with awe, and admiration—eloquence, courage, and vision. This was an answer to eight white clergymen who wrote, “A Call to Unity” to temper and… -
7 Signs That A Moratorium On Marriage Has Occurred (Until You Find a Job)
11 Jan 2012 | 5:00 amYour spouse has given you at least 100 suggestions, hints, and clues that your search for a job are dormant. Static. An epic fail. You don’t get it. The issue isn’t the number of attempts. The issue could be you are not efficient, discipline, or effective in what you are doing. If you are not yielding results like calls for interviews, or meeting people who can help you, it appears you are not doing enough. Even if, you argued that you have applied to 20 jobs today, the question remains: are you doing everything you can? image: Douglas Bray Your spouse sees that you are home more.
-
Success & Prosperity Blog
-
Asking the Right Question
26 Jan 2012 | 5:54 pmOne of the ways government is so good at programming and controlling people is by getting them to ask the wrong question. And when you ask the wrong question – the answer doesn’t matter! Even more important are the questions you ask yourself… Because you are capable of a tremendous amount of self-programming yourself, whether you are aware of it or not. A big component of this is your expectations, mindset, and how you frame things. For example, you could ask, “Can I do this?’ Or you could ask, “How can I do this?” You could ask, “Can this even be done?” Or you could… -
Be Rich for God!
25 Jan 2012 | 2:18 pmLet them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. As I am preparing the service I will be doing at Unity on the Bay this Sunday, those words from Psalm 35 keep rattling around in my mind. After much reflection, the title I chose for my talk is, “Be Rich for God.” As always, I’m not here to convert anyone. And labels don’t interest me. It doesn’t matter to me what you call your God, or even if you think of it as nature or a universal power. … -
Evil, Money-Grubbing Rich People
24 Jan 2012 | 9:12 amOkay last week I talked about how money is used for manipulation and mind control. That’s a tough post for me to write, because it’s the opposite of my work most of the time. I’m usually in the position of defending money, but the way it is being used for manipulation and mind control in the election was the basis for that post. Now we’re back to normal… The Miami New Times blog has a post up this morning on Mitt Romney’s taxes that is so reeking of negative memes about money it is breathtaking in its scope. (DISCLOSURE: I love New Times, as it is a great alternative… -
Moral Consciousness
23 Jan 2012 | 6:01 amMost people see morality the wrong way, for the wrong reasons. They think if they stop drugging, drinking, or cheating on their spouse that will make them moral. But that is missing the point… The real path is the one where you no longer desire drugs, drink, or cheating. You become the person for whom these things hold no allure. Your morality comes not from obeying rules or laws, but from living in accord with the values you believe in, and the principles you hold. -RG -
Campaign for Evil
21 Jan 2012 | 12:26 pmHow Money is Used for Manipulation and Mind Control… Money is not evil. Money is neutral. But it does amplify what you already are, good or evil. And it certainly can be used for manipulation and mind control for evil ends. You are seeing some breathtaking examples of this in the current presidential primary election taking place here in the States. But the lessons we can learn apply to people everywhere… This election will be the most expensive, bitter, and divisive contest in our lifetime. Money and mind manipulation techniques will be used to pit poor against the wealthy, and…
-
Amusing Planet
-
Camouflaged Self Portraits by Cecilia Paredes
27 Jan 2012 | 7:35 amCecilia Paredes was born in Lima, Peru, and currently lives and works between San Jose, Costa Rica and Philadelphia. Her artistic career began as a painter but her creative concepts evolved, revealing themselves first in three-dimensional objects, then through photography. This works is a series of self portraits where Paredes paints her own body to blend in with the background. Working with her assistants, Cecilia covers herself with make-up, body paint and clothes to literally vanish into the background. Her works reminds me of the Liu Bolin who is a master at disappearing. Read more »… -
Giethoorn: The Village With No Roads
25 Jan 2012 | 10:30 pmGiethoorn is a well-known tourist village in the Netherlands, dubbed the "Venice of the North". This is because of the fact that the village has no motor-able roads, and all transport is done by water over one of the many intersecting canals. The water surrounds came from the big flood of St Elizabeth in 1170, and the village itself was founded and developed back in 1230 when Mediterranean fugitives came to settle here. The fugitives discovered many horns of wild goats which had probably died in the flood, and that is where the name comes from. Originally they called the settlement… -
Calamita Cosmica: The Giant Travelling Skeleton
23 Jan 2012 | 12:57 am‘Calamita Cosmica’ (Cosmic Magnet in English) is a 28 meter long sculpture of a human skeleton created by Italian artist Gino De Dominicis and is on display at the Museo Nazionale della Arti del XXI Secolo – MAXXI museum of contemporary art in Rome, Italy. Except for the strange long nose, is a perfect scaled model of the human skeleton. Before Calamita Cosmica settled at the MAXXI, it toured Europe for a number of years visiting places such as Versailles, Naples, and Milan. The Giant was first unveiled in 1990 at Centre National d’Art Contemporain in Grenoble, France. Thereafter in… -
Paintings by Hubert De Lartigue
23 Jan 2012 | 12:55 amHubert De Lartigue was born in 1963 in Angers, France. He started to work as an illustrator while studying at the Ecole Duperré and the Ecole Estienne and has produced many covers for science fiction books and board games. In the past decade he also starting painting pin-ups. His precise and delicate rendering combines the French pin-up aesthetic of Brénot and Aslan with the American aesthetic of Vargas, Petty and Elvgren. At the end of the millennium Hubert de Lartigue is among the very best of just a few artists who have followed in the steps of the great Pin-up artists of the mid… -
Cross Bones Graveyard: Burial Ground of Medieval Prostitutes
23 Jan 2012 | 12:46 amLocated in stretch of lane between two busy roads just south of the Thames, and within a few minutes walk from the busy Borough Market lies the Cross Bones graveyard. This medieval burial ground is home to more than 15,000 people, mostly prostitutes and later paupers, socially outcast and other victims of misogyny and coercion. Cross Bones graveyard is believed to have been established originally as cemetery for "single women," a euphemism for prostitutes, known locally as "Winchester Geese," because they were licensed by the Bishop of Winchester to work within the Liberty…
-
Life with Boys
-
Hey There, Big, puffy version of Junebug! I loved this movie!...
27 Jan 2012 | 8:04 amHey There, Big, puffy version of Junebug! I loved this movie! And as great as Ellen Page and Michael Cera were in it (and are in most anything) Allison Janney and J.K. Simmons as her parents stole the show for me! -
His name is Blane? Blane? That’s not a name that’s...
27 Jan 2012 | 5:35 amHis name is Blane? Blane? That’s not a name that’s a major appliance! -
Legally Blonde was great, but for some reason I just like this...
27 Jan 2012 | 5:29 amLegally Blonde was great, but for some reason I just like this one better. Reese…she’s just cute as a button! And gee…has to pick between Patrick Dempsey and Josh Lucas…what a tragedy! -
Is this a romantic comedy? I don’t know…but who...
27 Jan 2012 | 5:26 amIs this a romantic comedy? I don’t know…but who doesn’t love a hooker with a heart of gold? -
I love this movie! No matter how many times I have seen it, I...
27 Jan 2012 | 5:25 amI love this movie! No matter how many times I have seen it, I always get a kick out of the clothes (which I wore) the hair (which I teased) and the music.
-
Chic Galleria
-
Sweet and Savory Cranberry Gorgonzola Scones
27 Jan 2012 | 5:46 amScones are one of the easiest baking projects—and as long as you follow a few basic rules of scone making, you should always have tender tasty scones! Use cold (or frozen) butter, and cold liquid Handle the dough minimally—if you overwork or over knead the dough, your result will be scones that resemble stones! Bake in a completely preheated, hot oven (usually 400-425 degrees)—and test for done-ness 2-3 minutes before the recommended baking time. It is always easier to add time than to subtract time! The following scone begins with a good, basic plain scone recipe. The addition of… -
Alexander Newton: British Heartthrob, Actor, Musician
27 Jan 2012 | 5:37 amIntroducing the newest British heartthrob and multi-talented actor/musician, Alexander Newton, star of upcoming thriller JUSTICE/VENGEANCE which is set for a Spring of 2012 release. Newton, who was dubbed “the next Robert Pattinson” by VOGUE UK and featured in a coveted spot in NYLON Magazine’s ‘55 Faces of the Future’ list in their Young Hollywood issue, is definitely one to watch. Newton stars as “Joseph” in JUSTICE/VENGEANCE opposite the late, great Roy Scheider in which he won ‘Best Young Actor’ at the Boston Film Festival for his performance. JUSTICE/VENGEANCE portrays… -
TGIF: Bright Blue
27 Jan 2012 | 5:22 amThe weekend is here and it’s time to kick off the work wear and stilettos and throw on something more comfy and you. Comfortable and chic jeans like this Current/Elliott pair are perfect for a Saturday evening shopping trip or a late Sunday lunch date. Most jobs require you leave the funky nail polish at home so take advantage of your weekend and paint on some Midnight Blue Sinful Colors to match your top! Top: Bailey 44 Jeans: Current/Elliott Shoes: Boutique 9 Earrings: Kate Spade Sunglasses: RayBan Nail Polish: Sinful Colors in Midnight Blue Kaitlin Vocker is the Style and… -
Don’t Stress the Sweat with DNA Renewal Foaming Cleanser
27 Jan 2012 | 5:05 amWaking up early enough in the morning to hit the gym before work is a pain in itself. Why make it more difficult than it needs to be? Grab a cute gym bag and toss this foaming cleanser by DNA right inside. It’ll come in handy after your workout by helping you get the clean skin you need to conquer the work day and feel the most confident you possibly can! I had the opportunity to review this amazing cleanser and not only is it my new go-to after the gym, it’s my bedtime and morning cleanser! You can purchase DNA Renewal Foaming Cleanser for only $28 at www.dnaegfrenewal.com! -
Stuffed Pepper & Mediterranean Salad
26 Jan 2012 | 5:44 amLooking for a light and tasty meal? Instead of the same ol’ Cesar salad that you order, why not try something new? Here is a non- vegetarian dish to try for two. Stuffed Peppers & Mediterranean Salad What You Will Need: 4 large red or orange bell peppers 1 pound ground lamb 1½ cup couscous 6 oz. crushed tomatoes 3 large sprigs rosemary ¼ lb. Macedonian feta 1 Tbsp olive oil 1 pat butter Small bag of baby spinach 1 cup kalamata olives 1 cup garbanzo beans 1 Granny Smith apple 1 cup vinaigrette (or oil & vinegar) Small pot with lid Large skillet Baking pan Preparation: 1.
-
The Accidental Olympian
-
WHY DO SOME WORK WHERE OTHERS FAIL?
27 Jan 2012 | 12:33 pmAs most anyone on the internet already knows, a few weeks ago Heather Armstrong (Dooce) announced that her marriage of ten plus years to her husband John (Blurb) was dissolving. I'm sure most people read these words and felt sadness for the pain Heather and her family were wading through, and most then promptly moved on. Strangely the dissolving of the Dooce-Blurb marriage has stayed with me. Without realizing it each and every one of us sort of falls in love with the bloggers we chose to spend our time reading. Bloggers are classically oversharers, and before we realize it we feel we… -
STELLANATER, 1 YEAR LATER
26 Jan 2012 | 11:30 amWe met Stella, originally named "Dolly" for the very first time on Sunday, January 23rd, 2011. You see, Adam and I had been talking about getting a second dog pretty much since Oly was about 6 months old, but we'd yet to muster the courage to pull the trigger on another dog. Especially if we were unlucky enough to pick another dog with the energy Oly possessed. The idea of two Oly's terrified us for a number of years. Adam wanted a bigger dog for dog number two, and we only made it to one meet-and-greet with the breed of his choice. It was the only time I've ever seen Oly HATE another dog. -
WINTER IN ALASKA -- & WHY WE PUT UP WITH NEGATIVE 20 DEGREE WEATHER
16 Jan 2012 | 2:26 pm -
THE INTERNET IS A MAGICAL & WONDERFUL PLACE
13 Jan 2012 | 6:55 pmWhy you ask? Because turns out when you make friends with people on the internet they will sometimes send you things. Awesome things that make you so happy to say you "online know" these people! Case in point? Jen of One Wandering (one of my first internet friends!) sent me these in the mail. Just because. People, she sent me a tiny stuffed moose and a cookie cutter set that includes a MOOSE COOKIE! Can we say, "Internet friend for the win?" At this rate I'm going to end up a crazy o'l moose lady. And I love it. Continuing with my, "How did I get so lucky to e-know these… -
2011 RESOLUTION #2 -- PAY OFF YOUR DEBT, WOMAN
9 Jan 2012 | 12:24 pmSO, with the whole book resolution out of the way, the second resolution I made was to pay off my credit card by the end of 2011. Yeah… The thing is, I was so there. I was on point to pay off my credit card with a final payment on Dec 31st, 2011. I was making the equivalent of a really fucking expensive car payment TWICE a month and I was taking that card DOWN. Then winter happened. Suddenly I needed snow boots. Snow pants. Beanies. Gloves. Cross-Country Skis. WINTER TIRES. Thermal underwear. Oly's snow boots. On and on and on until I looked at my credit card and didn't even remember…
-
Transforming Seminarian
-
A Brief History of G.B. Blackrock - Part One
27 Jan 2012 | 9:30 amOK. So we've been told that the old Marvel Transformers comic continuity is being picked up again, starting with a Free Comic Book Day issue in May. The good folks at Comic Book Resources have released a preview that gives us a little more information. Obviously, this has generated some speculation about just what lies in store, and I've been following all of that with interest. But what really caught my attention was the fact that G.B. Blackrock was one of the characters "we can expect" to see featured in the new stories. Having used that name as my main Transformers-forum… -
Montreat! Montreat! Montreat!
25 Jan 2012 | 2:00 amAlthough I've certainly shared videos, myself, I have to admit that I really wish that people didn't share videos on Facebook and elsewhere as much as they do. I would much rather everything shared was text. The reason for this is that I do much of my browsing during downtime at work, and I don't wish to disturb my co-workers with the sound (obviously, an audio-only piece can be even worse). Also, it's much easier to leave a page of text alone when a task comes in, and come back to it once I'm done, than it is with video.All this means is that, when I started to see this… -
Year of the Dragon: Let's Update Cryotek
23 Jan 2012 | 9:30 pmI've been getting a lot of e-mails and notices informing me that it's Chinese New Year time, and that specifically this will be the year of the Dragon. I figure it's as good an opportunity as any to revisit one of my dragon-themed Transformers, and quickly realized that my old Cryotek entry had pretty lousy pictures, and that I could almost certainly do better.I invite you to head back to the entry and see the new robot mode and dragon mode images (I confess that I didn't retake the "dragster" picture, which needed it less, anyway). -
Transformers Feature: Gutcruncher with Reprolabels
20 Jan 2012 | 2:00 amThis entry has been a long time in coming.A little less than five years ago, I announced the completion of my collection of American-released Action Master figures with the acquisition of Gutcruncher. I made that claim by the standard of having all of the actual figures themselves, even though I didn't then—and still don't to this day—actually have all of the accessories that came with each figure if one was to buy them at retail in the early 1990s. Although I was able to get all of the accessories for Gutcruncher when I procured the Gutcruncher figure, they came with none of the… -
On Dealing with Bullies
18 Jan 2012 | 2:00 amMark Driscoll is a bully.I'm not unaware that to call someone a "bully" (and I'm not the first person to do so) is to resort to name-calling, and I'm not really a fan of conscious name-calling (not that I advocate for doing it unconsciously, so much as I recognize that—being human—I don't always realize when I've failed to uphold my own ideals). But I find that the only other word I can come up with to describe the man, based on what I've read of his own words and his interactions with other Christian leaders, is "thuggish," and that amounts to…
-
Spy Travelogue
-
A Better Way to Think About Your To Do List
24 Jan 2012 | 1:26 pmI have a confession. I don’t know how to function without a To Do List. Actually, I have multiple To Do Lists. Electronic ones, ones written on post-its, ones written in moleskin notebooks, ones written on a piece of 8.5×11 paper folded in half the long way. There is a complicated system at work between all the different lists and they keep me on task, moving all of my creative endeavors and businesses forward. I also work pretty much non-stop. If it has been a good week, I will allow myself to take half a day off, goof off a little and do what I want. Most of the time, I… -
Ease is an Option
19 Jan 2012 | 8:57 amThe ultimate dream of any creative is to have unlimited (or enough) resources (namely time and money) to do what they love, to practice their art and awake from the pesky daily routine of laundry, bill paying, and livelihood earning, to realize it was all just an uncomfortable, sweat drenched nightmare. For some, the dream reality is a room with a view, a laptop and an endless supply of coffee refilled on demand. Or perhaps, it is the perfect size studio with Les Paul / Fender guitars lined up like toy soldiers and all night jam sessions with mates. For others, it is a passport, accepted in… -
The Mongol Rally
10 Jan 2012 | 1:43 pmI have been grounded in the US for over 6 months now. My last major adventure was India (country 21 for Wok the Dog) and I’ve stayed put for an incredibly long amount of time. These last 6 months have not been without adventures but they have been of a different variety than those I have while traveling abroad. Well….that is about to change. Several months back, I impulsively snagged a spot in the 2012 Mongol Rally. The Mongol Rally is adventure philanthropy at its best. A 10,000 mile overland drive through some of the toughest terrains in the world, going from the UK to… -
Lets Start with A Promise, A Prayer and A Directive
3 Jan 2012 | 1:14 pmWhat a year. What a hard, stressful, infuriating, blessed, expanding, adventure filled, generous, trying, challenging, orgasmic, mind blowing 365 days. 6 group shows, 3 solo exhibits and 1 big country completed for Wok the Dog. A new book is in motion and Wok the Dog is getting closer and closer to becoming the book I dream up so many years ago. I lost a few friends last year and made many more new ones. I wish I could lavish kisses upon those who I cannot longer reach but I sure am glad you are here with me. Tears diluted my coffee on occasion. Your love made me smile ALWAYS and I felt you… -
Broken Open, Good to Great and Why You Don’t Want To Be A Robot
27 Dec 2011 | 2:13 pmI had a lovely meal with Sasha Wolf (fantastic gallery owner and friend) and we talked shop with belly warming fire of Makers Mark. One of the things we talked about is what separates the great artist from merely a good artist. Sasha believes in order for an artist to transcend into “greatness” the artist needs a profound understanding of themselves .. intensely, intimately, painfully so. There are days when I struggle with my “humanness.” On those days, when asked how I am, I would reply, “I’m having trouble with the being human part.” A quizzical…
-
I Really Lived!
-
24 Jan 2012 | 8:59 am
24 Jan 2012 | 8:59 am#27 on my list of things to do is to WRITE A BOOK THAT PEOPLE WILL ACTUALLY READ. I've been thinking a lot about how I am going to accomplish this. I've always wanted to write a book and I actually hope to write a few books during my lifetime. The other night I was in bed and this idea popped into my head and I couldn't sleep because all I could think about was this idea. I am super excited for this little project and have decided that for my first book, I want EACH OF YOU to help me write my book. I am composing a book full of real life stories written by me, and by… -
Church Ball in the Morning + Hiking with Nancy Pelosi = Perfect Day
15 Jan 2012 | 2:15 pmToday was awesome! My morning started with a church basketball game. I have to say that I love my team and we have so much fun playing together. We didn't have any subs so we each got to play the whole game. It was exhausting and my old body is sore today, but man it's fun to be playing basketball! Right after our game I met up with my friend, Nancy Pelosi, to do some hiking in Lamb's Canyon. No, her last name is not really Pelosi, but that is what I have called her since the day I met her. She is one of my most favorite hiking buddies! I have a goal to do 30… -
285 Days Down, 80 More Days to Go!
11 Jan 2012 | 9:40 pmSo today I realized that I have less than 80 days until I turn 30 years old!! So far it has been an amazing journey and I really want to make these last couple of months special. Below is my life of thirty things that I want to do before I turn 30. The items in RED are complete, the ones in GREEN are in process and the ones in BLUE have not been done or started. I still have a lot to do, but I feel so good about what I have done! Watch out 30, here I come!!! I am looking for volunteers to do some of these things with me! Let me know what you want… -
Please Do Not Let Pretty Die!
9 Jan 2012 | 7:34 pmMy sister posted on article on Facebook the other day titled "THE DEATH OF PRETTY." Wow! I think every woman, and every man, should read this article. It says a lot about our society and how women are viewed. The author of the article said, "Once upon a time, women wanted to project an innocence. I am not idealizing another age and I have no illusions about the virtues of our grandparents, concupiscence being what it is. But some things were different in the back then. First and foremost, many beautiful women, whatever the state of their souls, still wished… -
I Love People That Inspire Me
7 Jan 2012 | 11:21 amI love when I come across inspiring stories about people that have done incredible things. I saw this video a few months ago and just found it again and wanted to share it. It's about a girl that was on Biggest Loser and her hard, but amazing journey. It reminds me that we can all do hard things, we just have to want it and be willing to put in the work. Our lives can be what ever we want them to be. Enjoy!
-
Social Butterfly
-
This is a test
3 Jan 2012 | 2:07 pmTesting 123 Permalink | Leave a comment » -
Bikram Adventure: Week 4, Injury and Hot Body Edition
13 Aug 2011 | 2:04 pmSo it's been four weeks since I started on my Bikram adventure. I still love it and learned some new things this week. Quieter mind I have a lot of people asking me how I can stand a 90 minute class. I don't think I could walk on a treadmill, or do anything exercise related for 90 minutes. The thing about Bikram is that each pose is intense and requires great thought and determination. On the days I have walked into the studio with a bad attitude, it dissipates within the first three poses. There just isn't space left in my head for anything else when I focus on class. By the… -
Bikram Yoga Rules FTW
30 Jul 2011 | 5:45 pmIn my two weeks of Bikram Yoga I've heard a lot about the rules of etiquette. Don't be late for class. Don't leave room. I appreciate the need for rules and abide by them... but especially in new situations they can intimidate me. I don't think I am special in this way. Today I learned specifically why some of the rules of Bikram are so important.Ten minutes into class a woman walked in late. For me, it takes 10-15 minutes to silence my brain and place all my focus and energy into the class. The lateness of this individual, paired with her entry into the room mid-pose was frustrating. I… -
How Bikram Yoga Is Changing My LIfe... Already
28 Jul 2011 | 5:13 pmI've been away from blogging lately. Do you ever get into one of those spaces where you can't find time to do anything you want to do? Yeah, that's been me. The most frustrating part? I didn't know how to fix it. I finally found myself in this emotional complaining space... and something needed to be done. My boyfriend suggested I try Bikram Yoga. What is Bikram Yoga? Long story short, Bikram Yoga is one form of hot yoga wherein you do 26 postures in the 90 minute class. It was developed by Bikram Choudhury from Hatha Yoga. The class starts and ends with a breathing exercise. -
Never Miss the Calls You Never Want to Get (Like I Did)
8 May 2011 | 1:16 pmDo you put your phone on silent every night? I do. It's really annoying to me when someone dials the wrong number at 3 am and wakes me up. It is equally annoying when one of my early bird friends calls and I am not on board with rising and shining yet. Hello silent feature. Last night I tweeted praise for Rob Lowe's new book at 1:28 am and put my phone on silent. At 1:43 am I missed a very important call. On further attempts to reach me, my silent function performed as expected and I slept. (FYI- I am fine, my family is fine.) I spent all day wishing my phone had not been on silent. But at…
-
E-stranged
-
Disconnected
27 Jan 2012 | 7:49 pm“Sometimes another woman’s story becomes a mirror that shows me a self I haven’t seen before. When I listen to her tell it, her experience quickens and clarifies my own. Her questions rouse mine. Her conflicts illumine my conflicts. Her resolutions call forth my hope. Her strengths summon my strengths. All of this can happen even when our stories and our lives are very different.” ― Sue Monk Kidd One of the really difficult things about living with family estrangement is our experiences can seem so disconnected from those of other people who aren’t estranged. -
Silent No More
24 Jan 2012 | 7:54 pm” Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. “ - Robert Frost What happens when we actually don’t want to be silent? When we have plenty to say and lots of good reasons to say it, but we find ourselves unable to speak? Maybe we try to raise our thoughts, feelings or issues of concern only to find we are shut down overtly through ridicule, threats, or hostility. Maybe when we try to speak the other person shuts us down covertly, resorting to manipulation, tears, heavy, long-suffering sighs and maybe we find that our efforts to communicate turns… -
When Good People Go Silent
23 Jan 2012 | 2:36 amWhen it is genuine, when it is born of the need to speak, no one can stop the human voice. When denied a mouth, it speaks with the hands or the eyes, or the pores, or anything at all. Because every single one of us has something to say to the others, something that deserves to be celebrated or forgiven by others. ” ― Eduardo Hughes Galeano Not everyone who goes silent is doing so to punish or hurt someone else. Not everyone is using silence as a tool of manipulation or power or control. Sometimes silence is the final frontier and the end of a long journey to communicate, be heard,… -
Triangulation
20 Jan 2012 | 8:48 pm“Keep your communication focused, direct, and free of third party interference. It may not change your family circumstances but it will allow you to maintain your own integrity.” (Gossip) I have spoken before about triangulation, which is the communication strategy of drawing a third party (parties) into a relationship or conflict with the intention of building alliances which disadvantage, punish and ostracise another person. Most of us have done it. Most of us have experienced it. It is a common strategy for reducing emotional intensity for one person,… -
Silence As A Defence, Silence As A Weapon
19 Jan 2012 | 4:04 am“I don’t even call it violence when it’s in self defense; I call it intelligence.” ― Malcolm X Many of us have really good reasons for going silent. Perhaps we have realized that it doesn’t matter what we say, and so we stop saying anything at all. Maybe we have found that engaging leaves us emotionally vulnerable or prone to over reacting. Maybe we think that the best way to make a statement, is to make no statement. It’s not difficult to justify, rationalize and excuse the use of silence, when we are the ones opting to use it. Yet most of us will not permit…
-
{my topography}
-
Taking inventory on my birthday:
26 Jan 2012 | 9:01 pmA year of self portraits on the go, in the middle of the action that is my life. My list for this year turned out better than I imagined. I crossed off more things than from any of my previous ones. I even made croissants over the holidays! A lovely lingering process spread over two days and involving three sticks of butter. I also went ice skating on Frog Pond with T while in Boston, and miraculously managed both a visit to the ocean and making face to face visits with faraway friends happen in the past week. What I love about making these lists is the record they create: of attempting, of… -
A kind of christening
24 Jan 2012 | 9:12 pmI know I promised you all kinds of things: Part 2, a list, posts full of details and whimsy, but here I am, in the middle of things and all I want to tell you about is the hour that I spent on the California coastline this weekend. All I want to do is hit pause. All I want to do is linger. So that I can remember the way the ocean sounded. The way it felt like coming home, and how that feeling hit me so hard it almost took my breath away. I haven’t seen the Pacific since my father was alive. I haven’t been back there, to that familiar geography of rolling hills and gnarled cypress since he… -
When opportunity arrives
17 Jan 2012 | 10:31 pmMy nearly three year old Sprout settles into my arms in a familiar way that I can’t even describe. It is a language we share, between our bodies. Another way of saying LOVE, this thing that we do, folding into each other, his small arms and legs wrapped around my torso, the heft of him against my hip. We haven’t seen each other all day, and now he reaches up and brushes my bangs out of my eyes and says, “I want to rub noses.” And so we rub noses like seals. Across the room Bean is drawing on an index card. In another minute he brings it to me. On one side: a red heart with an arrow… -
Hello January! {A post of updates}
15 Jan 2012 | 10:25 pmWhat a blur, this new year has been! Full of the most exciting things: a trip to Boston with just T last weekend, the start of the snowboarding season, a new job that has the very best job description I could imagine, and a trip to California to see my best friend before she has her baby! I loved reading your responses to my PART 1 post on CREATIVE PROCESS. It’s such a wild ride, to be in the thick of creating, and it made me so satisfied to read about how the process is the same across all mediums. This week I’m resolved to write here daily. To just show up with a few photographs… -
Inspiration, starting in, achievement, and resistance {Creative Cycles Part 1}
6 Jan 2012 | 9:57 pmIt will begin like this: with the sudden irreverent bark of a dog on a cold snowy night; or with the lilting flight of a hundred starlings among the naked poplar branches, or in line somewhere, waiting for a cappuccino, when you pause to take note of what you’re actually thinking, and there it will be. An inkling. An image maybe, a string of notes, or perhaps a phrase. I have a phrase in my head now, for example, that I’ve for a couple of months, rattling around like a magnet in a bucket, attracting fragments of things: filaments, filings, scraps. That inkling will persist if you listen;…
-
Coming to Grips
-
Coming to Grips with Pre-Mature Announcements
6 Jan 2012 | 1:43 pmJake and Polly are proud to announce the birth of their second son Wilford “Ford” Steven Born 8:00AM, May 22, 2012 – via C-Section PredictionsWeight: 8lbs 11ozHeight: 20.867inHair: Dark BrownEyes: Blue -
Coming to Grips with My 2011 Christmas Letter
26 Dec 2011 | 9:16 pmAfter a grueling few months, our son's German is getting much better. Between that, the scuba lessons and his insatiable desire to please us, he rarely gets to do the laundry, one of his favorite things, but one must make sacrifices. Oh, and his ballroom dance lessons always bring a partial smile to his cute two year old face. My husband's swanky downtown job leaves him little time for anything besides polishing all his top leather shoes (also known as full grain for those of you west of the Mississippi). When he does get a little free time, he uses it to lavish me with… -
Coming to Grips with Presents from Toddlers
25 Dec 2011 | 3:11 pmOn a normal morning, my son wakes me up at 6:30AM. "Mom, I'm stuck in here," he says. He's two and a half and does not yet know he is capable of climbing out of his crib. I'm not going to be the one to break it to him. This morning, he gave my husband and I the best present a toddler can give. The gift of sleep. Since we're staying at my parents for Christmas, with everyone else and their dog (literally - a boxer named Dupree), my son's crib is set up in the same room with my husband and I. On non-Christmas Eve nights, he stood up and stared at us at 1:00AM. At 3:00AM… -
Coming to Grips with Needing Forgiveness
15 Dec 2011 | 12:57 pmDes is forgiving and loyal, and I don’t deserve her friendship. After my typical day of staring into space, Des said, “Polly, I made potato soup last night. Let me bring it over. You can have it for dinner.” How could I say no? I was starving and her potato soup is delicious! We ate that soup in seconds. I cleaned out the pot. Then as I went about cleaning my own apartment, found some things that needed a new home. I bought Miralax at Costco, thus had two giant bottles I could never use. I put one bottle of Miralax in the pot. The 17 sticks of… -
Coming to Grips with The Hang Up Window
13 Dec 2011 | 12:31 pmYou’ve missed your sleep window. Which only leads to frenzied late night projects, the hum of infomercials or worse – a personal helping of deviled eggs. I frequently miss my hang up window, the stunted period of time when one is motivated to put clothes on hangers. My husband looks at my clothes piled on the floor, hands on his hips. “I missed my window,” I say. He blinks. “I bet I won’t miss it tomorrow,” I say. One night, long ago, I missed my hang up window. I threw my pants on the floor, woke up the next day, put the same pants back on, and went to…
-
Jude; The diary of a baby and a stroke
-
Nashville
27 Jan 2012 | 10:34 amWell Em and I are in Nashville currently waiting on a room at the hotel we are staying at. We caught the first flight out of DFW this morning. I used to be so afraid to fly. I think after what happened to Jude I changed my views on a lot of the world. I decided to try and put a lot of my fears aside and just enjoy life. I am thankful I have because I am able to spend valuable time with Emily that I would have enjoyed before. I still get a bit jittery boarding the flight, I still do the cross and say a little prayer. However, I no longer panic and I no longer fear planes themselves. I have… -
An anxiety explanation to Emily
25 Jan 2012 | 10:37 amSo I mentioned that things have been overly stressful at work lately...and I wasn't kidding. Anyway, yesterday I realized it's taking a toll on me physically and emotionally. All day at work yesterday I kept getting left arm pain and chest pains.........so I convinced myself it was NOT a heart attack (lol). At the time though I was pretty sure I was dying and then talked myself down off the heart attack cliff. The pain was in the back of the arm in a solitary position......... so it was just anxiety. I have never really struggled with anxiety except when I drive (due to my car wreck). -
Mike's scare, Jude's gift, and Hanging on
24 Jan 2012 | 3:49 pmMike and I try to spend lunch together once a week and today was our weekly visit. We chat about work, home, and play Scramble on our Iphones against each other.........yes we are THAT couple. Anyway, it's nice to spend some time together. Well today at our lunch date Mike said he when he got up this morning he went to check on Jude. He said he stopped suddenly in the doorway because Jude looked "lifeless" and when he touched Jude's hand it was ice cold. I said, "Oh babe he was just sleeping soundly". Mike agreed with me, but you could tell he was a bit shaken up. Quietly he said,… -
nap time!
22 Jan 2012 | 3:42 pmI think it's nap Sunday! I haven't had a nap in forever and I think one is in my future. Jude is with Alan practicing his two words "Hi" and "Up". We did our errands this morning and now we are all taking it easy. I hope everyone had a good weekend. I would also like to thank those that donated items for the friend I mentioned. It means a lot. -
modeling, the GI, and a little help.
21 Jan 2012 | 7:02 pmToday I took Emily to a modeling/commercial audition at her request. I debated taking her all week and it was Mike who finally pulled me aside and said "SHE wants this". So I packed Em in the car and we drove to Dallas for the audition. Emily waited for almost two hours to be seen in a room full off potentials. She was nervous, but I think the pageants helped her stay more calm than I would ever be. She was called back and was asked to read a commercial. She then turned over her pictures and had a conversation. She was quickly dismissed and Emily seemed concerned that her interview was so…
-
Mojito Mother
-
Blogging is a Lot Like Travel
24 Jan 2012 | 2:31 pmI read a beautiful article the other month by Zoey from Good Googs called She’s My Sister. It was as if she took the words from my head and the feelings from my heart and so eloquently weaved them together in a piece that intricately described what a mother and a child go through once a new baby arrives. It was uplifting. Not only was I amazed that she knew my thoughts, I also felt relief that I was not the only one who felt these things. There was someone just like me who understood. There have been so many posts that I have read across many different niches where I have felt the same… -
Have you Really Lived? Make Your Life a Story to Tell
23 Jan 2012 | 2:15 pmPlaying full out I was watching a movie the other night which gave me much cause to think. Actually I wasn’t watching it as I had about five other tasks going at the same time. It started out as background noise, but I was able to pick up enough to know that I loved it without even watching it. A young boy spends time with his two uncles on a farm. I’m not sure why. His uncles have lived an extraordinary life and the young boy becomes addicted to their tales and begs to hear more as he learns of their adventures through Europe and Africa, fighting in World Wars and falling deeply in… -
Podast Episode: 9 Ways to Clear the Crap from Your Life
22 Jan 2012 | 2:07 pmAre you tired of being overwhelmed and overburdened by tasks that pile up around you, and no matter how hard you try, you just can’t clear a path towards what you really want and should be doing? Clearing a path I know how you feel. It took me a visit to the hospital to wake up and realize that I was trying to do way too much and it was bringing me undone. The beginning of this year has set the wheels in motion for me to clear the crap from my life and free up some energy space, so I can focus on what is most important. Health Family My purpose Listen to the podcast to hear the 9… -
Daily Photo: Kalyra on the Beach
20 Jan 2012 | 4:43 amDaily Photo: Kalyra on the Beach Thanks so much for subscribing! Don't forget to join our fan page community and subscribe to my podcast -
On Being Pescatarian
18 Jan 2012 | 8:15 pmI decided to become pescatarian in May 2006. I had always wanted to, but never had anything pushing me. And then one day I read an article by Anthony Robbins on how bad farming is for the environment and my decision was made. I’ve never looked back. My decision was not just based upon environmental ones; it was also based on health, as I knew how bad meat and dairy products are for the body. I chose not to give up seafood. One, because I love it, and two, because it is good for your health. I do my best to eat only wild seafood. It might seem like a contradiction, but seafood does not use…
