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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23190221770345577842018-05-28T22:19:11.238-07:00Stanford FBC: Team BlogPlayers and coaches write about their experiences during the seasonCardinal firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-35719121031440265252017-04-13T19:46:00.000-07:002017-04-13T19:46:32.965-07:00Amy's goodbye

To quote the great philosopher Winnie the Pooh "How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."

With that I am announcing my retirement from coaching. It has been an incredible journey and I am so lucky to have spent the last 32 years at Stanford.

The highlight of coaching for me has always been in the gym. I loved working with players and watching them grow and develop over four years. I loved putting the puzzle together every year with our outstanding staff. I had so many great times with Tara, Kate and Tempie and I will miss our mostly productive staff meetings.

There have been incredible highs over the 32 years. I have coached outstanding players and people and they have made me a better person. I am so proud of the women who have come through our program. I am so proud of the many accomplishments of our program – Pac-12 Championships, Final Fours and National Championships.

To our Fast Break Club members and passionate fansI thank you. There are so many of you I now call friends. Your love and support has meant so much to our team and to me. To the ATFC, you are the best! You are so generous with your support and love of Stanford Women's Basketball. You have all been on this journey with me – we have shared the pure joy of winning a big game and the pain of losing.

Thank you for being a friend!Cardinal firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-76102386641805268242017-03-14T16:36:00.000-07:002017-03-14T16:36:28.809-07:00Memories of home

"Where are you from?" A common question, usually answered simply with the name of a city or state.

When I am asked that question the inquirer is met with a short pause and an uncertain "Wellll, I don't really know...I guess I'm from the United States." Cue the bewildered expression and nervous laugh from me as I go on to explain why my point of origin isn't as simple as it should be.

My journey began in Newark, New Jersey. Most of my family still lives there but we moved when I was three. After September 11th, 2001, my father decided to join the military. Since then my family and I have lived in Arizona, Florida (twice), California, Japan and Virginia. I haven't stayed in one state longer than four years but each place (at least the ones I can remember) parallels a significant period of growth for me.

I spent most of elementary school in Japan. It was amazing to experience living in a different country during those early formative years. We lived on a base but would go into the country to festivals, parades, monuments, restaurants, etc. One of my favorite memories was performing in an annual parade with the baton club at my school (very interesting choice, I know). I was so happy to be there with my silver baton, with it's pink and red caps.

What I remember most about the entirety of my time in Japan was the food…OF COURSE. I have never been a picky eater so being surrounded by so many new and exotic foods was great. I was the first in my family to try sushi. I ate seaweed and dried squid. As you can see, and my parents would probably confirm, my favorite way to experience culture is through a culinary lens.

Living in California was absolutely amazing. There was always so much to do. I started playing basketball with my friends for our community rec team in fourth grade. My dad and I started our 6 am workouts there. Those morning workouts were the foundation for my career.

I played club basketball for the Cal Sparks and the Cal Storm during my seventh grade year. I was on those teams at the same time as Bird and Bri. It's amazing that the girls I looked up to in my early basketball years are now my teammates and some of my closest friends.

Moving to Navarre, Florida was very hard to do. I remember leaving for our cross country road trip from San Pedro to Navarre. It was about three in the morning. We packed the car up and rolled away from our hotel. As we kept driving I watched my favorite places fade behind me. When we arrived it was some strange place. Everything was flat and sandy. There was only one two-lane highway that connected the entire area. The closest mall was thirty five minutes away without traffic. It was hot, humid and rained every day at 2pm.

Even harder than moving to the area, was leaving it. I have so many people there that support me and have become a part of my global family. The administration, my teachers, coaches, classmates and friends that I made at Choctaw and Navarre HS will be with me forever. I miss the beautiful beaches, the sweet tea that always had the right amount of sugar. I miss Whataburger and the gorgeous sunrises over the Gulf.

My life has been an arcade pin-ball game but has resulted in so many experiences essential to my character. Now I know there is a difference between a hometown and where my home is.

My home is at the old house on Campbell Street in New Jersey. My home is at Misawa Air Force Base, riding my bike up and down the street with my friends. My home is in San Pedro overlooking the Pacific Ocean, feeling the cool winds blow against my face. My home is at Choctawhatchee High School, walking the white and green halls of the Big Green Indians. My home is in Virginia surrounded by my family and so much history. My home is at Maples Pavilion.

My home is not a tangible place but where my memories lie.

— Nadia FingallCardinal firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-54175116985829152682017-03-01T20:16:00.001-08:002017-03-01T20:16:47.790-08:00To #24

This number represents pride, emotion, and passion.

When you first put on that jersey remember what's on the front: "Stanford." Take pride in the fact that you attend the best college in the world. A college that not only has the best academics and athletics but also one that has a student culture that can't be matched. Stanford represents excellence on and off the court. Every time I got caught up in my own personal struggles I remembered how blessed I was to attend such a great university with even greater people. With this being said you can't forget the past. Always remember the legacy that came before you. Stanford women's basketball is built off of the history of greats that paved the way for your future. Players like Jennifer Azzi, Chiney and Nneka Ogwumike, Jeanette Pohlen, and Jane Appel were all a part of this amazing, successful Stanford program and you will be a part of as well. Take pride in that.

When I was a junior I began to realize that I was never going to be Stanford's top scorer or rebounder, however there was something that I knew I could be the best at and that was being the most emotional and hyped player Stanford has ever had. Every time I got an And1 or blocked a shot fans knew they were going to get a special treat. Whether it was me yelling at the top of my lungs "And1!" or just jumping up and down in pure excitement from a blocked shot people were going to see a lot of emotion. When you play know that #24 represents heart. I hope you knowing this gives you some type of spark when you play so that everyone can see again that #24 is full of energy and emotion.

Lastly, when you wear #24 always remember your love for the game. Not every practice or game will be the best and there will be days when basketball just seems tough but if you remember your love for the game, you will get through it. Allow this passion for the game to give you motivation to work hard every day. When you love the game, you want to do everything you can do to play at your best. So let that love drive you to always strive for the best whether it's in the games or practice. When people see you wear that jersey, they should see your love for the game when you play. Don't let anyone take that love away from you, because it will lead you to so many great things. When you wake up each day never forget you have the opportunity to play the game that you love, because one day you won't. Basketball isn't forever so when you get the chance to play it, play it with passion.

I look forward to seeing the great things you will do. I know you will do our number justice. Good luck and always have fun!

‐ Erica McCall
#24

Cardinal email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-50385766718531993822017-02-27T09:21:00.000-08:002017-02-27T09:21:36.062-08:00DiJonai thanks the seniors
Dear Seniors,

I would like to take the time to acknowledge the significant impact that each of you have had on me during our short time together.

Karlie, the world knows you as a clutch shooter. They know they can get ready to get out of their seats as soon as the ball leaves your hands. But me, I know you as the person who has always been willing to come early or stay late to ensure that I as well as my other freshmen understood the plays as well as any of the drills we would be doing. You have been a great encourager and someone who has taught me about discipline. Shooting over 50% from 3, yet always being the first one in the gym trying to get better. I want to say thank you for being the leader you are on and off the court. I love you, Karl. #FMS

Erica, the world knows you as a prolific scorer, and one who is always there in clutch time to make the big plays. But me, I know you as the person who I can look to whenever I need to be cheered up. I have truly never seen you upset. Whether you have 25 points or 2 points (which is rare) you have the same blissful spirit that is contagious to all who come in contact with you. Thank you for encouraging me and telling me over and over that "it's okay" when I mess up, with a smile on your face. I will miss our sing-offs, and getting hype over our mutual love for "Cali music" and "jerkin music". I will miss your hilarious storytelling that is impossible to do without using your hands. I will miss your selfie taking and dance skills that I desire to imitate! I love you, Bird. #BAB

Briana, the world knows you as a high energy lockdown defender. But me, I know you as my mentor and the person who is there for everyone through anything. You're so selfless and determined. Your positive attitude and ability to take constructive criticism is something that I truly admire and desire to emulate. I will miss our late night Netflix sessions, that mostly ended up being our social hour. I will miss the unique dynamic of our relationship that will never be matched by anyone else. I will miss you saying "money" every time I shoot the ball (even though half the time it is an air-ball). I will miss pestering you all day long, rolling my eyes at you for every little thing, and delaying my responses whenever you address me. Bri, there are so many characteristics about you that make you someone who I will never forget and someone who will always hold a special place in my heart that cannot replaced. Thank you for being a great role model, someone that I truly look up to (figuratively), and the person I can go to for anything. Thank you for putting up with me, and all of my sassiness. Can't wait to bother you some more when you come back to visit me, frequently. I love you, Briana. #Nevermind

Sincerely,

DiJonai Carrington (NaiNai)
Cardinal email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-70489848485583986302017-02-23T09:04:00.000-08:002017-02-23T09:04:14.701-08:00The Top 10 Things That I liked about 1000 Wins!

I am going to do this Johnny Carson style! (Some of us are old enough to remember his Top 10 List!) Drum roll!!!

#10 - Outstanding attention from the press about Women's Basketball! It was so much fun to have so many of our writers and TV sports announcers document the occasion. Thank you Pac 12 Networks and ESPN for covering the game and postgame ceremony! I am happy to do my part in promoting this terrific game of ours!

#9 - Confetti in Maples! I am so glad that Bri, Karlie and Bird dumped a bucket of confetti on me instead of Gatorade! Thank you to everyone that planned and worked hard to make the postgame celebration so special!

#8 – Getting the win on the first try! I explained to our team that the game was not "just another game" and that in fact it was special with extra pressure. However, I hoped and believed our team would play in much bigger games with more on the line later in the season. We were all thankful that our team really stepped up and played well to get the 1000 Win the first opportunity!

#7 - Distracted me from politics! Enough said!

#6 – Kodye Pugh's (Freshman on the men's team) sketches of me to commemorate my 1000 wins signed by the men's team and framed. Wow I am so touched by this gift.

#5 – Nike's gift of a large black box with clear plexiglass cover engraved with each 100 milestone win. Inside the box on shelves were 4 Nike Air Force One shoes that highlighted special wins! Incredibly creative and beautiful!

#4 - All of the congratulatory texts, emails, letters and phone calls from all over the country! THANK YOU!!! I am copying and saving each one to put in my scrap book!

#3 – The surprise video tribute. I was overwhelmed by the wonderful things that people said. It was so special to hear from former players, (Jennifer Azzi, Trisha Stevens, Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike, Candice Wiggins, Jayne Appel, Jeanette Pohlen, Melanie Murphy, Regan Freuen and so many others) Athletic Directors ( Bernard Muir, Andy Geiger and Phyllis Bailey ) Announcers (Bill Walton and Charles Barkley), and Coaches ( David Shaw, Dawn Staley, Geno Auriemma, Jim Foster Jim Harbaugh, Dick Gould and the BEST from my sister Coach Heidi VanDerveer !!!)

#2 -Sharing this special night with our staff and team. I am so proud of this group. We have outstanding leadership and team camaraderie. This is such a fun and exciting season. The picture of our team will be framed and cherished for the rest of my life.

#1 – Having my 89 year old mother Rita cheering and coaching from courtside seats. I love you Mom! A special thank you to Cindy Pohlen for driving up for the game. Sharing this honor with ALL of our Stanford fans! THANK YOU!!!Cardinal email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-25925700768061104582017-02-20T22:06:00.000-08:002017-02-20T22:06:10.146-08:00Perfect Cardinal careers

For my blog I've been thinking about what my teammates like outside of basketball, so I've come up with a list for what I think each person would be perfect at career wise if they weren't playing basketball.

First is Alanna, she would definitely be a zookeeper or someone who works well with animals. She is always watching animal videos and when we were at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. she literally told me, "I wish I was a zookeeper that sounds like the perfect job."

Bird would be a dancer/singer. She does so well in the spotlight and has such great dance moves and over the years her singing has really improved!

Kaylee—If you couldn't tell by Kaylee's earlier blog post she would be a wedding planner. I actually have already promised her that she can plan my future wedding (if I have one) for me!

Karlie LOVES dogs so if she could become a dog breeder and just raise puppies and train them I think she would love that (along with being a basketball coach on the side of course).

Bri plays video games all the time so if she could get a job creating or testing video games she would be perfect. I tried to play NBA2k with her once and she just schooled me.

Alexa is so amazing at photography. If she could travel the world and earn a living taking photos and helping people out I think she would be living her dream (and I think she probably will do this!).

Marta would be a super good food critique. She really has an eye for nicer things and isn't afraid to tell people when they are not good at something. She would have some pretty high standards for the restaurants around town but would be a very trustworthy reviewer.

Shannon could be an opera singer. We all tell her she should sing the National Anthem before games because she is so good at singing, she belts it out in the locker room!

Mikaela should be a Disney animator. She loves everything Disney and can pretty much sing along to every Disney song + she's an amazing drawer so this is the perfect fit for her.

Anna would be a great fashion designer. She is always wearing the most well thought out and put together outfits. I know her line of clothes would be a huge hit, especially among athletes.

Dijonai would be an amazing makeup artist. I think she has practically done everyone's makeup on the team at least once this year already.

Nadia could be a comedian. She makes jokes 24/7 and keeps everyone in the locker room laughing not matter what.

— BrittanyCardinal firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-21671472425062709622017-02-07T18:07:00.001-08:002017-02-07T18:07:55.604-08:00Melbourne
The city where everybody wears black, drives on the left side of the road and is home to the best coffee. I had lived in Melbourne for 18 years before I moved to Stanford and being away from it has made me truly appreciate it! I truly believe the saying "distance makes the heart grow fonder" is in full effect when in regards to me and Melbourne. Things I used to complain about, I now remember with fondness. For example, the unpredictable weather had me wondering how it went from pouring rain to blistering hot all within a few hours, and now I look back and appreciate the variability and how it kept me on my toes. Or how I would look out across the street and observe a sea of people wearing all black and wonder where all the color was, and now I see the unique fashion and style of the city. I would complain about too many cafes to choose from and now I miss the coffee! One of my favorite cafes, Top Paddock, had the best coffee and the most amazing pancakes that looked so good I didn't want to eat them.

See! It's literally a work of art.

I am so happy I have the opportunity to be here at Stanford and being here has made me appreciate my home city so much. I am discovering new things about Stanford almost every day but always in the back of my mind is my home and the city I will always hold close to my heart.

— Alanna Cardinal firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-21526632249558340632017-01-16T15:12:00.002-08:002017-01-16T15:17:24.101-08:00Karlie reflects on her time at Stanford

Hi Cardinal Fans!

 It is crazy to be writing my last blog as a Senior. Everything that I am doing this year is my final time around. I have grown so much not only as a basketball player but as a person as well. When I think about the time I have had at Stanford, I know I chose the perfect place for me.

 For this blog post, I wanted to reflect back on my first three years here at Stanford and name some of the major highlights.

Freshman year (2013-2014):

Traveling to Italy my first summer for three games. These were my first games with the entire team, and it was very special to be able to play with Chiney and my sister Bonnie. We were there for 10 days and visited Rome, Florence, Venice, and Siena. It was such a memorable experience and my first time traveling out of the country.

Making it to the Final Four in Nashville. Going to the Final Four as a freshman was a crazy experience. I did not completely understand how hard it is to make it that far in the NCAA tournament at the time. I was so glad to be able to play with Chiney her senior year. She was a great role model and leader to play with.

Sophomore year (2014-2015):

Beating UCONN our second game of the season at home in overtime. This was such a fun game and I remember the feeling that we had when Bon passed to Amber to make that three to send us into overtime. I get goosebumps whenever I think about that game. I would love to play them again, hopefully soon at some point in my final season (to play against my little sister Katie Lou would be so fun!).

Not a clear highlight, but when I broke my pinky right before tournament time. I was out for the rest of season. This was not how I wanted to end my sophomore year (especially just because of a pinky!). However, this really taught me how big of an impact you can still have on the bench during a game. Being enthusiastic, communicating, and encouraging can be just as important as hustling on the court or making shots. My injury also opened my eyes to how special it is to be able to play college basketball. I do not take my health for granted and remind myself to enjoy every minute of being able to play this sport. This was also my last time playing with Bonnie and I am so grateful to be able to have experienced my first two years of college with my older sister.

Junior year (2015-2016):

Being named a captain. This was a highlight for me because I wanted to be a leader of the team and being named a captain puts the pressure on you to really try to be your best every day and be a role model. I think being a captain helped me think about the team first and to play my best for my teammates and coaches. This was also the first year that I have ever played on a team without one of my sisters. Finally didn't have to deal with them (just kidding!). It was a difficult transition for me, but luckily Bonnie stayed up in the Bay Area taking extra classes for Optometry School so I got to see her quite a bit.

Beating Notre Dame in the Sweet 16. This was a huge game for our team. We moved the ball well, played together and for each other, and left it all out there on the court. Of course we wanted to win our next game, but this game stands out to me because of the overall team effort to take down that number one seed.

Senior year (2016-2017):

I have to say a highlight of this year is being able to play with Bird and Bri. We have been through a lot together these four years and I love both of them. I love them as people. I love them as players. Bri is someone I can talk to about anything. Bird is one of the most positive people I know and she can always put a smile on my face. One thing we all have in common is a love for this game. Thinking back, these two were a major reason I really re-discovered how much I love playing basketball. I know I am going to have life-long friendships with my two fellow seniors. I cannot wait to see how the rest of our final season goes.

One final highlight that I will mention here is the people that I get to hang out and work with every day. I absolutely love my Stanford family and have so much fun traveling and working with these people. We still have a lot of games left this season. I am excited to see what else is to come for us! I hope it doesn't fly by too fast!

Thank you for supporting Stanford Women's Basketball! I hope to see you at the rest of our home games this season. Go Card!

--Karlie
Cardinal firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-6079477871115872132017-01-02T14:50:00.000-08:002017-01-02T14:50:05.688-08:00Sorry, I'm from Canada, eh?

My name is Mikaela Brewer, and I'm a freshman on the Stanford Women's basketball team! I'm from Barrie, Ontario, Canada, which is a small town just north of Toronto.

You can probably imagine my excitement in coming to Stanford, where it is relatively warm all year round and there is no SNOW! During this winter, my hometown was pounded with cold, snow, ice and your typical Canadian winter, yet, we do not have snow all year round despite what you may think! In my hometown, we actually have extremely hot and humid summers, and regular seasons! Sadly, no, I also do not live in an igloo, or ride a dog sled to school.

Unfortunately, my diet consists of more than bacon and maple syrup, and a 'loonie' is a dollar, not a crazy Canadian, although we do have plenty of those! A 'toque' is also a type of hat, and the 'Canadian tuxedo' is when someone wears jean on jean. Finally, although I do watch hockey, and it is very popular in Canada, it is not the only sport we play!

Some Canadian characteristics are however completely true, and I exhibit them (according to my teammates) extremely often, and believe me, they do not hesitate to point it out!

I do say 'sorry' a lot, and with a very Canadian accent, and am also overly polite to a fault, except on the court that is! I also, as you may have guessed first, say 'eh' A LOT, and my teammates catch it almost every time!

I do spell many words like favourite and honour with a 'u' and although I speak fluent French, not all Canadians do, in fact, most don't!

Canada is not as different from its southern counterpart as many would think, although one thing is for sure: it is very very very cold there right now, and although I miss my family, I do not miss the -40 degree winter weather!

Cardinal email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-85272325390401670522016-12-23T09:09:00.001-08:002016-12-23T09:09:58.467-08:00Kaylee's dream

Not many people know this about me, but it has always been my dream of mine to be a wedding planner. I love everything about it: I love weddings, I love making people happy, and I absolutely love organizing.

Of course when I finish my career with basketball and finish my career as a lawyer, I'd love to get into this; but for now I spend my time imagining my wedding and planning my teammates' weddings. So, I thought I'd share a few.

[Kaylee's incredible blog is way too complicated for Blogger to handle. Click HERE to see it.]

Cardinal email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-45416373719481830092016-12-19T15:37:00.001-08:002016-12-19T15:37:23.059-08:00Favorite Christmas songsHello Stanford fans!

Christmas is nearing and I am so excited!

So in honor of my favorite holiday I have gotten everyone's favorite Christmas songs together! Which is your favorite?

Players:
Mikaela: Silent Night by Kelly Clarkson
Dijonai: Mistletoe by Justin Bieber
Nadia: Wonderful Christmas Song by Paul McCartney
Anna: All I Want by Justin Bieber
Shannon: All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey
Alanna: Jingle Bell Rock, version from the movie Mean Girls
Alexa: Feliz Navidad by José Feliciano
Marta: Santa Baby by Marilyn Monroe
Kaylee: Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Darlene Love
Brittany: Dominic The Donkey by Lou Monte
Karlie: Baby It's Cold Outside by Idina Menzel & Michael Bublé
Bri: Christmas Eve by Justin Bieber
Bird: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Christina Aguilera

Coaches:
Tara: Silent Night by Frank Sinatra
Amy: Little Drummer Boy by Harry Simeone
Kate: Silver Bells by Bing Crosby
Tempie: This Christmas by Donny Hathaway
Katelin: Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays by NSYNC
Brittany: Please Come Home For Christmas by The Eagles
Hana: Baby It's Cold Outside: version in the movie Elf
John: White Christmas by Bing Crosby
Shelbi: Sleigh Ride by TLC
Mary: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Frank Sinatra

— ShannonCardinal firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-3879315981256362032016-12-06T17:10:00.000-08:002016-12-06T17:10:51.231-08:00Anna's storyHi Cardinal Fans,

My name is Anna Wilson, and I am a freshman point guard for Stanford Women's Basketball.

I was born in Virginia then I moved to Washington state for my senior year of high school. I have two older brothers, Harry and Russell, and both of them played dual sports in college. I am the youngest and only girl in my family.

I started playing basketball when I was five years old, and my dad was my first coach. I played with the boys at the YMCA. Those years of playing under my dad and with the boys helped inspire and shape my passion for basketball.

I started playing AAU basketball when I was in sixth grade and that was when I began playing with the girls. These girls were way better than the boys I was playing with. They were faster, stronger, and taller than I was. I guess you could say that trait of height does not run in family (haha), but these girls had all the tangible things I didn't have.

Max Coates, my AAU coach and mentor, who recently passed away, saw something in me that he believed separated me from the rest of the girls I was competing against. These things he saw were the intangibles—the immeasurable and not physical traits I possessed. The intangibles were all based on the things I learned playing at the YMCA: have fun competing, be willing to learn and listen, have meaningful relationships with the people on your team, and always continue to grow and seek out growth in others.

The lessons that I learned way back then have brought me to where I am now. Those lessons are the reasons why I love Stanford Women's Basketball.

Unfortunately, I have not had the ability to play this season. But I hope is that I can bring leadership to the other freshman, a sense of calmness and patience during times of adversity, and to be the best version of myself everyday. I understand that this is all a process, and my ultimate goal is to be completely healthy at the end of it.

I have truly enjoyed my time here so far. I have grown and matured in so many different ways. The reason why people choose Stanford is obviously because of the outstanding education, but in the face what really influences who you become in the future are the experiences you have and people that surround you.

I have been blessed to be surrounded by some of the most talented and compassionate people that I know. I have fun with them everyday, I enjoy the relationships we have built, and we all are steadily growing each and everyday. I am excited to go on this journey with this team and to learn from the best in the game. Go Cardinal!

With much love from #3,
Anna WilsonCardinal firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-88255131141646500572016-11-18T22:05:00.000-08:002016-11-20T13:41:17.031-08:00Reflections from India: Surmounting my Expectations

India. What are some images that come to mind when thinking of this particular country? The Taj Mahal? Colorful clothing? Perhaps crowded streets and bustling markets? I know those images were exactly the ones that came to my mind when I found out that I would be participating in ACE India.

However, what I failed to comprehend was exactly how different the lifestyle in India is from my own and what exactly I would be experiencing during my time there.

Everyday on the way to my volunteer site called Vidya – a school for underprivileged children without access to education – presented the perfect opportunity to observe everyday life. From the very first car ride, I realized just how different the Indian lifestyle was. First of all, no one uses traffic lane lines. Every car is unevenly staggered, aggressively accelerating even if only 5 feet of space is available ahead. There are motorbikes weaving in and out just mere centimeters away from other vehicles. People cross the street, slowly meandering throughout the traffic, but confident they won't get hit amidst the chaos. Horns honk every 3 seconds and the occasional cow or elephant can be spotted lazily making its way through traffic as well. I'm convinced that street life in India is an art.

At the school, from grades pre-k to 11th, students rise up out of their seats to acknowledge us when we enter the classrooms. When we walk by them, each student says, "Good morning ma'am," or "Hello Didi," with a gentle wave and a shy smile. The more I toured the school grounds, the more confident and excited I became to start working. That is, until one of the teachers threw me in an 11th grade class and said, "OK you can start teaching them," and then walked out.

I was left in the classroom with a fellow volunteer feeling extremely unprepared as all the student's eyes fixed upon us in anticipation of what we had to offer. The students told us that they had chosen business as their area of concentration. In my head I was thinking "how in the world am I supposed to teach business to these students?!" I hadn't taken a single business class in my life. I've also never taught in a classroom setting, especially to students only a couple years younger than me. So there I was, half a world away in India, standing in front of a class with no prior experience whatsoever, to teach English to Indian students whose English was already fairly advanced, and to also infuse some principles of business, which I knew nothing about. At that moment, I realized how underrated being a teacher was.

After that initial experience, my volunteer partner and I began brainstorming class activities and lesson plans. I had to adopt this aura of authority and wisdom for the students who were eager to learn, but in reality on the inside, I was terrified and doubtful of my ability to teach. However over time, each day of teaching became better than the one before. I've learned so much about India, my students, the way life goes on here, and so much about myself. I would have never imagined myself in a situation that I described above, but it has been nothing short of phenomenal.

In the classroom I was out of my comfort zone, but on the playground I was more in my element. Kids pulled at our sleeves begging us to play games with them. A group of little girls taught me how to play Kabuddi, the oldest game in India's history. They squealed with laughter as I attempted to play, not knowing the rules.

I also had the opportunity to play some basketball. I remember doing a simple right handed lay up and everyone stopped and clapped in awe as if were some acrobatic feat. It was such a surreal experience. It's hard teaching specific skills to the students because they've been playing basketball in their own style and rules their entire life, but I played along because basketball is basketball nonetheless.

Sometimes on the playground, I just talked to students who weren't playing sports and just learned about their life. I'd ask about their plans after school and hear about the way they thought or the desires and dreams they had. What I heard was sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes amazing, but always interesting. Once I asked a girl about her henna on her hand. It wasn't an intricate pattern at all and I asked why because usually hennas are elaborate. Her response was, "I am a simple girl, and only want simple things." I loved that.

So whether I was observing from a car window, standing in front of classroom, playing my own sport in a foreign country, or simply just asking questions to younger children, I was constantly being introduced to new things. Processing all the information and flinging myself into situations where I have no clue how to respond left me utterly exhausted but also brought me to many new insights and discoveries about myself and about life beyond anything I've ever known.

-- Alexa

Cardinal email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-56681867265972807202016-03-08T18:02:00.000-08:002016-03-08T18:02:12.334-08:00Lessons about teamwork

Basketball is a teacher of many lessons. I learn new lessons everyday through my exposure to basketball. During my time here at Stanford, one of the most important lessons I have learned is the importance of teamwork. Here are a few lessons about teamwork:

Tenacity - As a team, we have a duty to strive and persist to win as many games as possible. As the saying goes, "The game is not over until it's over." We must fight tenaciously until the clock hits 0.0.

Effort - The more work you put in, the better the results. Winning as a team takes consistent effort from each teammate.

Attitude - Attitude is everything. Whether our attitudes are expressed verbally or through body language, a positive or negative attitude can be infectious. Staying positive and working together as a team is a major key to success!

Mindset - Basketball requires mental toughness. As a team, we must keep our minds focused on our goals to be victorious. Without a strong mindset, challenges become obstacles!

Work ethic - A strong work ethic not only builds character, but also produces rewards on and off the court!

Opportunity - At Stanford we have an amazing opportunity to play basketball while obtaining an excellent education, and this should not be taken for granted. We also have an opportunity to bond and grow as a team. Teams with great chemistry win championships.

Repetition - Great practice makes great players, and great players make great teams. The more we practice, the more we sharpen and develop our skills that prepare us for challenging games ahead.

Knowing Who You Are On and Off The Court - Perhaps the most important lesson I have learned is that basketball demands that you know who you are, whether on the court or off. We play the game of basketball and strive to do our best, but basketball does not define us – we define it. If we maintain this perspective, we are free to excel, not just in basketball, but also in all walks of life.

-- Bri
Cardinal firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-12807973422033941712016-03-05T10:28:00.000-08:002016-03-05T10:29:28.493-08:00Spirit animals

Hey Stanford Fans!

Y'all get to see us play every week but how much do you really know about us off the court?! Well… what better way to get to know us than to know which spirit animal each of us most resembles!

Alanna- a wombat! (small animal native to Australia). Alanna is a wombat because she is soft, cuddly, adorable, and…. Australian!
Alexa- a sea turtle! They're laid back, go with the flow, and love to travel!
Marta- a poodle. Confident, proud, and spoiled.
Shannon- a giraffe! Tall and cute!
Britt- an elk. Very competitive with great endurance. Also a high sense of integrity.
Kaylee- a lioness! Because she's always fierce, whether it's the way she acts, looks, hoops, or any other aspect of life.
Bird- an elephant. Wise and peaceful but still enjoys having fun.
Bri- a dog! Loving, playful, and VERY loyal.
Kailee- a wolf. There's no doubt KJ has her packs back!
Karlie- a cheetah. Marvelous, fast, and smooth!
Lili- a bear. Symbolic for strength and courage. Has strong grounding forces and provides stable leadership.
Alex- a sloth. She thinks for herself, moves at her own pace, and just likes to hang out and do her own thing.
Kiran- a deer. Calm, peaceful, and wise.
Tess- a raccoon. Crafty, smart, and willing to eat anything in sight. Also, as long as they are unbothered, they mind their own business and stay under the radar.

Hope that gives you guys some insight into who we really are!

— Kiran
Cardinal firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-45508564278847570912016-03-02T16:39:00.001-08:002016-03-02T16:40:59.348-08:00Coffee Club

As a freshman, I didn't really know what to expect for when we would travel to our away games. For example, where would we eat? Would we have time to see the city we were playing in?

I was imagining our road trips to be like the road trips I would go on during my AAU tournaments…lots of free time, shopping, seeing the iconic places the city I was in had to offer, etc. I love traveling and road trips were especially fun!

However, in college, I quickly realized that road trips for away games were very different. Traveling during season and in the midst of school barely left any free time to do anything. Between practices, watching film, team dinners, shoot-arounds, and of course lots and lots of homework, there was always something to be done at the hotel.

But as someone who loves to travel, I still wanted to experience some aspect and get somewhat of a feel of city we were staying in. That's when I learned about Coffee Club.

Coffee Club, established by previous Stanford Women Basketballers, is a group open to anyone who wants to join. Every morning on road trips, Coffee Club meets in the hotel lobby before breakfast. Tess Picknell, Coffee Club's president, searches for local and unique coffee shops to go to, and then whoever shows up for Coffee Club that morning; we all walk together to that coffee shop.

Consistent members of Coffee Club are myself, Tess, Bird, Hanna (our video coordinator), Kaitlin (our athletic trainer), John (our communications director), and Mary (our intern).

Coffee Club is such an awesome group. It gives me and everyone else an opportunity to explore and experience the city a little bit when time permits us not to.

Coffee Club gets me up early and has me feeling productive. It's a great start to my day! Not to mention, talking with Coffee Club members over warm pastries and delicious cappuccinos unique to each city never fails to put a smile on my face…also Bird always seems to have a funny story to tell.

It's a great bonding experience. I even remember one time a coffee shop in Spokane had board games, so we all gathered around a table and started playing Scrabble! It was so much fun!

Hopefully Coffee Club will continue in the upcoming year. Who knows… maybe after Tess graduates, I will become the next Coffee Club President?

— Alexa

Cardinal firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-12484758982855814312016-02-15T18:03:00.000-08:002016-02-15T18:04:21.868-08:00Cardinal Strengths

A few weeks ago, after one of our practices, Bird mentioned the idea of a super player who had all of my teammates' strengths. She would have:

Karlie's shooting,

Lili's clutchness,

Shannon's post moves,

Bird's shot blocking,

Kailee's basketball IQ,

Kiran's versatility,

Tess's strength,

Bri's ball-handling,

Marta's passing,

Kaylee's rebounding,

Brittany's ability to get to the basket,

Alexa's speed,

and

Alanna's finishing around the rim

I thought about how crazy it would be to play against someone like this because they would be virtually impossible to beat. But then something struck me. I realized that our team can be just like the super player. If we maximize on everyone's strengths, this team can be unstoppable.

However if one strength is lost the capability of the team declines. From seniors to freshman, in order to succeed everyone is needed. As we approach the last third of our season it will be fun to see how we will organize these strengths.

It may take a little while to see the full potential, but once we figure it out I have no doubt in my mind that this team will be stronger than ever.

-- Alex Green

Cardinal email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-24505488286658862542016-02-03T21:21:00.000-08:002016-02-03T21:21:16.243-08:00Translation from the Australian

My commitment to Stanford University meant not only leaving everything I knew and the safety of home behind me in Australia, but also having to adjust my use of language.

Some people say Australian's have their own language and on arriving in the USA in September last year I came to realize that this is somewhat true.

On my first day in Palo Alto I made my way to Target in search for some bedding. I proceeded to ask a store employee where the "doonas" were located. The look I got from the employee was a mixture of confusion and concern. I had to explain that a "doona" was a blanket used to keep you warm at night.

I have experienced countless more instances similar to this one, where no one seems to understand what I am saying. In an effort to help people understand some of the Australian language I have come up with some rough translations.

Doona – blanket used to keep you warm at night
Vegemite – delicious condiment that is commonly spread on toast with butter
Mate – a friend, more than an acquaintance
Barbie – Barbeque
Bikkie – Tasty biscuit
Bloke – man, guy
Brekkie – Breakfast
Crook – sick, unwell
Daks – pants, clothing worn on the bottom half of the body
Dunny – lavatory
Lollies – candy but not chocolate
Corkey – deep bruise, Charlie horse
Maccas – MacDonald's
Spewin' – angry or extremely disappointed

— Alanna
Cardinal firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-158192459570854842016-01-26T18:14:00.001-08:002016-01-26T18:24:38.602-08:00A new look at the JuniorsHi Stanford Fans!

It is crazy being an upperclassman this year. I love my Junior classmates. This is our third year together, and I would not ask for anyone different to spend my four years of college with. Each one of us is very different and this makes us get along so great. To tell you a little bit about each one of us, I wanted to compare each of us to a dog look-alike.

I love dogs. My first dog was a golden retriever named Sami. My family now has a new puppy named Lucy. She is a black lab and no matter how big she is getting, she still thinks she is a lap dog. She constantly jumps up onto the couch and sits right on you. Here are what I think are not only dog look-a-likes for us five juniors, but also similar in personalities.

Bird – St. Bernard

For Bird, I always get a smile on my face when I see her, so I thought a St. Bernard was perfect. When I think of Birdie, I think of a fun-loving, energetic person who's always putting a smile on people's faces. When I see a St. Bernard, I just want to give him or her a big hug. They are gentle, lively, and friendly just like Bird.

Lili – Komondor

Now, I chose the Komondor for Lili because of its dread-like fur. However, looking up the personalities of Komondors actually match Lili quite well. Komondors are intelligent, independent, and protective. When I look to Lili, I always know she has something meaningful to say and I know she has my back.

Kailee – Rhodesian Ridgeback

Kailee is tall, athletic, and tan. So I thought a Rhodesian Ridgeback would be a perfect look alike. Looking at the personalities of these dogs, however, also gave a perfect match. Rhodesian Ridgebacks are strong-willed, dignified, and loyal. I know that Kailee always has my teammates and I's backs and she is always going to be there to fight for herself and her teammates.

Kailee Alternate

Bri – French Bulldog

Bri was a tough one to match. I went with a French Bulldog because she is small and athletic. Bri may be small in size but she does not act small. French bulldogs are easy-going, alert, and playful. Bri is one of the most easy-going people I know.

Karlie – Yellow lab

I just picked a yellow lab for myself because I am blonde and I love them.

And just to throw in some dog pictures for the coaches:

— Karlie

Cardinal firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-79633765841026072462016-01-25T08:12:00.000-08:002016-01-25T08:12:30.034-08:00From one family to the next

I absolutely love when people ask about my family because I always have so much to say about each and every member. I could tell endless crazy stories about my siblings and our adventures, ranging from playing roller-basketball in the driveway to creating slip-n-slides into our pool.

It's safe to say there's never a dull day in the Sniezek household, granted, there are quite a few of us. To be exact, I have six brothers, two sisters, and two parents. When people discover that I come from a large family, I unfailingly receive a variation of the following question, "can you recite all their names?" I'm sure you were all thinking it as well so here it goes, my parents are Edwina and David, and my siblings in chronological order are Sarah, Edward, John, Joseph, Robert, Michael, Matthew, (myself), and Katerina.

Like I mentioned earlier, I could talk forever about my family, but I'll try to keep it short. In my very unbiased opinion, my mom and dad are the epitome of great parenting, that's not to say they're perfect (no offense Mom and Dad), but they taught my siblings and me what to value in life and the importance of strong morals.

As for my siblings, well I can honestly say they're my best friends. Since we're all about a year apart, growing up together was quite entertaining. Imagine having recess all day, everyday with your favorite buddies. That's how I would describe my childhood.

In many aspects, having a big family is quite similar to being a part of a team. I learned a great deal about communication, leadership, and togetherness, so much so, that I attribute much of my success to my family.

Although I miss them everyday, I know my family is proud of me, as well as my decision to attend Stanford.

And what's even better, I've been fortunate to find a second family here at Stanford, my team.

--MartaCardinal email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-42835205478442390232016-01-21T08:29:00.000-08:002016-01-21T08:29:35.104-08:00Memories of Four yearsFreshman Year

First day on campus. Aly Beebe and I went exploring on our bikes (that didn't stop us from getting lost on the way to the gym on the way to our first workout), I had only learned how to ride a bike two weeks before (in preparation for college), I ran into pole and crashed. I bent my handle bars and went flying. I walked into my very first workout at Stanford with four or five grapefruit sized black and purple bruises covering my legs. But I haven't crashed my bike since!

The first time we went to Hawaii, the food was amazing, that was the first time I had experienced the gloriousness that is papua. At breakfast they had this coconut syrup that is just to die for. Two years later and I still remember that syrup, of course the win against Brittany Griner and Baylor at Hawaii was sweeter, but only just.

Sophomore Year

The team trip to Italy was simply amazing. I remember Aly, Amber, Alex and I got completely lost on the first day we were in Rome. But I think that overall the funniest part of that trip was when we were playing our first game. We were about half way through the first quarter and somebody had just delivered some water bottles to our bench, we all took huge drinks of the water, and then almost as one we all choked and spit it out, because unknown to us the water that we were given was sparkling water instead of regular water.

My Sophmore year was also my first year of coffee club, I remember one time Sara James, Mikeala and I walked 30 minutes in the middle of a wind storm before breakfast to get to the cafe. I think that might have been the best coffee I ever tasted…and then we walked back.

The Final Four was pretty awesome as well.

Junior Year

I think that one of the most memorable moments of my Junior year, besides the Connecticut win of course (Amber making the three to tie up the game will always stay firmly in my memory as most awesome moment of all time), is when we finally beat ASU in the PAC-12 tournament. The locker room after that win was crazy, plus I always love it when Bonnie breaks out her AC/DC Dynamite performance.

Senior Year

It's been great so far, but I think that the best moments are still ahead of me.

Tess PicknellCardinal email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-13643768544107269392016-01-04T20:01:00.000-08:002016-01-04T20:01:04.233-08:00Secret Santa

This year our team decided to do a Secret Santa gift exchange, we drew names out of a cup during the Gulf Coast Tournament, we were obviously excited about the Holidays coming up.

The plan was to pick a teammate, get them a small gift, keep it a secret, and we would do the exchange in the locker room on the 21st before we all went home. On a team of 14 girls there aren't many secrets, we hate keeping things to ourselves so we didn't think that the secret part was going to work, but everyone was so excited about our new holiday tradition and lips were sealed!

I was driving back to campus from Target when we got back from the tournament and I don't know what came over me but I decided if we were going to have gifts in the locker room we had to have a tree to put them under so I took a sharp U-Turn to the tree lot I had just passed. The man was nice enough to make a little stand for the mini-tree I got out of a stump. It was the best purchase of the year, it brought a little holiday spirit to the locker room and that tree is still green after a month and I am pretty sure no one ever watered it!

The gifts started to appear under the tree as the 21st was approaching but there were shipping dilemmas that required we push the exchange until the 26th when we were back from our short break. Despite the wait on the 26th the team gathered around the tree to open presents, and I can easily say that this was my favorite ever team activity!

I won't share what everyone got each other or anything like that, mostly because I cannot remember, but it was so exciting to see how happy people were when they opened these small gifts.

It was amazing how perfect people's gifts suited them! Usually at a gift giving event people give and receive random stuff but our gift exchange was so special because it was so THOUGHTFUL! Gifts were really varied, from clothing to tea kettles, but each one had such a story behind it… something someone had mentioned in the locker room one day, something that had a saying on it that the teammate always says, or just a fun gift.

The gift exchange was so much fun for our team and definitely a tradition that is here to stay!

Happy New Years Everyone,

Kailee Johnson

Cardinal email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-57425938626326918732015-12-20T12:02:00.000-08:002015-12-20T13:29:25.498-08:00We Could Be Mechanics

Christmas break can get a little boring after a while. The days we don't have games, we usually just practice and then sit in the hotel. So you can imagine the excitement some of the team and I had when we discovered that I was locked out of my car with no keys…

To give you the background details, I usually just lock my keys in my car and use the keypad on the door to unlock it. So I walked out to my car after practice and as I pressed the keypad, I realized it wasn't working and I was in trouble.

So what does any 20 year old in trouble do? I panicked and called my mom, (because of course she could help me from a thousand miles away). Just as I was realizing that she was no help over the phone, some of the team walked out to rescue me.

Brittany, Alexa, Marta, Kailee, and I: I figured we were the perfect team to break into a car. So after trying to come up with a plan, we realized that I left a light on, which killed my battery (thus, the keypad wouldn't work to unlock the door). All we needed to do was jump the car. Simple right? Wrong. We couldn't pop the hood because that would require pulling a lever that was in the car. So we had to get creative. We looked up Youtube videos, found makeshift tools in Kailee's car to use, and it looked like we were getting close to popping the hood. You would've thought we were true mechanics.

So what started as an unfortunate event was just another teaching experience. It was a reminder to double check my lights before I get out of the car. I learned that if basketball and school doesn't work out for us, we can open up our own shop. And I was reminded of how lucky I am that each person on this team has my back on and off the court.

After all of this and about 20 minutes I was in my car and driving away, feeling thankful for my teammates. And feeling thankful for AAA. (Because we called them pretty much right away).

— Kaylee Johnson
Cardinal firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-75869016576537117752015-12-18T09:04:00.000-08:002015-12-18T09:04:09.144-08:00A Cardinal Chistmas

As the holidays are approaching, between traveling, practices, and games, it can be hard to get into the Christmas spirit.

This year though, our team started a new tradition by doing Secret Santas. For those of you who don't know what that is, everyone secretly draws a teammate's name out of hat and on the 21st everyone is going to give their gift to the person they have. We made a rule that you can ask one other teammate for help in finding a gift but that is it. Everyone is so excited to see what is in store; not only wondering what gift they are going to get but who it is from as well.

To prepare for all the gifts that are coming, Kailee Johnson even went out and bought a little mini Christmas tree to put the presents under in the locker room. Then Bird (Erica McCall) had her Mom bring up Christmas ornaments from home to decorate the tree with. They are even cardinal red and white to match our school colors! Its like our own little celebration. On top of that, most days we will listen to Christmas music in the locker room at some point.

Overall it is a total team effort to get ourselves into the holiday spirit and I wouldn't want to spend the holiday celebrating any other way!

Brittany McPheeCardinal firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319022177034557784.post-32175433668077275172015-12-04T14:15:00.000-08:002015-12-04T14:15:47.103-08:00Things I Miss From OhioHi Fans!

As some of you know I am from Dayton, Ohio (more specifically, Centerville).When I left for Stanford I didn't think I would miss anything about Ohio, but I was so wrong. Here are a couple things I miss:

Bill's Donuts: Bill's is a donut joint in Centerville, Ohio that has become more and more famous for its delicious donuts. The selection of donuts they have is extensive and none of them will disappoint. People from towns all over come to Bill's to try it. It is open 24/7 so it is a really nice midnight snack on summer nights.

Skyline Chili: (I'm starting to notice a theme of food) Skyline is a restaurant that serves conies (mini hotdogs with cheese, onions, and mustard), 3,4, or 5 ways that included chili and cheese on top of spaghetti noodles, a 4- way has beans in addition, and a 5-way has beans and onions. I did not appreciate it as much as I should have, it is SO good.

King's Island: King's Island is an amusement park near Cincinnati, Ohio. I am not really a roller coaster person but it is still a lot of fun. There are a bunch of rides and games, but there is also a water park, which is my favorite. I love all the water slides, the wave pools, and my favorite is the lazy river. But my favorite time for King's Island is around Halloween. During the fall, King's Island has a "Fear Fest". Fear fest is where they turn different parts of the part into "haunted house" type things. You walk through different parts and there are different themed places to match all your worst fears: clowns, hospitals taken over by zombies, werewolves, and much more. So missing Fear Fest this year was very different

Canes Chicken: Canes Chicken, to continue my food theme, is a restaurant that only serves chicken tenders, toasted bread, French fries, and cole slaw. They are the best chicken fingers I have ever had!

Graeters: Graeters is an ice cream place in Ohio. They have an assortment of unique flavors. My favorite is called the Buckeye Blitz, it is chocolate ice cream with huge chocolate chunks and little peanut butter nuggets. It is delicious.

-Shannon
Cardinal email@example.com


text:
Barely LegalBook - 2017
Under the tutelage of Stone Barrington, Herbie Fisher has transformed from a bumbling sad sack into the youngest partner at the white-shoe law firm Woodman & Weld, and a man whose company is in high demand both because of his professional acumen and his savoir faire. But even his newly won composure and finely honed skills can't prepare him for the strange escapade he's unwittingly pulled into, and which--unbeknownst to him--has put him at the center of a bull's-eye. In the city that never sleeps there are always devious schemes afoot, and Herbie will have to be quick on his feet to stay one step ahead of his enemies...and they're closing in.
From the critics
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An improvement over the latest Stone Barrington novels, which have been churned out with increasing regularity and decreasing content. Perhaps the addition of a co-writer has provided inspiration. Unfortunately, Herbie's choice of girlfriends hasn't improved.
Right off the bat I would like to say this is an "ok" book. The reason why it is branded as "ok" is because the book had a rather slow and shaky start (It gets better as the story goes on!) that makes the story seem rather bland. As I said the story gets better as it continues bringing a suspenseful comedy. But be warned that throughout there are many plot holes in the story... But overall this is a wild and crazy ride! Is it worth reading?... Well if you like comedies and mystery of course you should read it but if you would want an overall steady and sound story I would say this is a pass. 2/5 Rating
- @TheCollector of the Teen Review Board at the Hamilton Public Library
Was pleasantly surprised with the story - not going to win any awards but if you like Stuart Woods - you will enjoy this!
Stuart Woods has written an 111 Chapter Page-turner which is action packed and also amusing. If a murder, kidnapping, and drug bust are not enough for you, still keep reading. The characters are very well sketched out and if you are disappointed that there is not enough courtroom drama, well the title did say, "Barely Legal!" A light read that you may not be able to put down.
Stuart Woods is now so lazy that he openly insults his readers with this really lame plot. Herbie Fisher is his most weak character and in this story Herbie reverts to the Fool he was when first introduced by Woods. Woods is certainly no Hemingway or Steinbeck but up to now his silly novels have been entertaining. Now this book is so absurd that I quit it after 100 pages and will probably never read his novels again.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
In his speech given at the 'Annual Dinner of the City's Planning and Transportation', Michael Welbank, Chairman of the P&TC, launched 'The Battle for Bank'
This is a plan to remove all vehicles except buses from Bank Junction and restore it to its traditional role as a major public space in the Square Mile.
Just when you thought it couldn't get any crazier.
After witnessing daily/nightly gridlock, caused by the uncontrolled proliferation of private hire licenses (currently expanding London's minicab fleet by 650 extra vehicles every week), resulting in London being labelled as one of the worst polluted city in Europe, the city planners have dreamt up a scheme to reduce through traffic in the square mile -or the 1.12 sq mile to be precise- regardless of the impact it will have on other parts of the capital.
But will it be fair to all, or will the wealthy and well connected be afforded special privileges plus a get out of jail free card?
Can you really see the noble city fathers arriving at the Mansion house/Guildhall, on a bus! or, God forbid, on a bicycle.
Perhaps their ostentatious fleet of Rollers and Bentleys (the ones that normally wait outside events on double red lines, loading bays and zig-zags) could be replaced by rickshaw bikes, afforded the privilege of pedicab ranks!
Boris is likely to be OK with all this, seen above giving his wife a quick backsie.
The trial seems to be supported by the usual suspects.


text:
David Cameron is under pressure after a member of his top team allegedly branded Tory supporters 'swivel-eyed loons'.
The phrase, which Tory co-chair Lord Feldman denies uttering, trended on Twitter and opened up a new row in the Conservative Party.
But how does it stack up against this lot?
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text:
Where can I buy dance clothes/shoes?
How/Where can I reserve studio space?
-You need to be either a dance major, dance minor, dance certificate, or in a dance class to reserve a studio in Lathrop.
-Studios in Lathrop can be reserved for 2 hours a day per person.
-Dance majors always have priority over Optima rehearsal.
How does the Sunday Optima studio work?
-Typically, on Sunday Optima gets a small studio (studio 510) in Lathrop from 12:00-5:00 pm. One hour long rehearsals will be given to assigned Optima choreographers as discussed at the first choreographer's meeting.
Why am I not getting e-mails from Optima?
-Most likely due to an accidental delete on our part. Email firstname.lastname@example.com to get back on the email list!
How do I know when to audition for pieces?
-Every Sunday night, a giant email with all the Optima information for the week (including auditions and audition times and locations) will be sent out.
-Or, you can look at the Calendar tab
What is a showing?
-Before each show there is a showing and a dress rehearsal. At the first showing, pieces are shown to the rest of the org and choreographers receive feedback from the Exec board. At the dress rehearsal, pieces are videotaped and action photos are taken. Every piece is required to perform at the showing and dress rehearsal.
Who do I email if I have a question about Optima?
-Email the appropriate Executive Board member. Their emails can be found on the contact page
-Otherwise just send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com
Where can I give feedback about Optima?
-Our comment box can now be found online at https://uwmadison.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_5bDZXyjoc4RKVc9. We welcome any suggestions, concerns, questions or feedback.
Is the fall show different from the spring show?
-No, there are no major differences between the fall and spring shows.
How do tickets work?
-This depends on the theater location and how many people are in Optima during that semester. The Executive Board with inform everyone at the general meetings as to how the process will work.
What constitutes "bad standing" in Optima?
-"Bad standing" is when an Optima member or choreographer does not finish their requirements by the end of the semester. The consequence is that he/she will not be allowed to dance in the following semester's show; however, if he/she finishes the requirements the next semester they will be back in "good standing" with Optima.


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on 28th May 2018 at 7:53 am
Good evening and happy Friday! Another busy week's gone by.
We're preparing to do a little spring clean up on the website which means changing the layout for both the main site as well as the comic side of things.
The old design is going away completely, so if you notice anything odd in the coming days we recommend refreshing the page or clearing your browser cache. Things should load a bit quicker from there on.
Elli's still taking commissions! If you'd like your OC drawn or a gift to somebody, you can find her commission information here.


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Request received - loud & clear!
Returning you to where you were...
HSBC offers a spate of banking products in Singapore from credit cards and personal loans to home loans, car loans, investment options, and more. The Bank's personal loan offering is particularly worth mentioning, as the bank offers affordable interest rates and fixed repayments over the period of the loan tenure.
You can avail a personal loan from HSBC to go on your long awaited vacation, to cover your marriage expenses, take care of a financial or medical emergency, renovate your home, or anything for that matter.
The Cash Instalment loan comes with a string of impressive benefits. Let us take a look at the advantages the loan has to offer:
Below is a list of interest rates for loan amounts exceeding S$1,000:
|Loan Tenure
|Applied Interest Rate (% p.a.)
|Effective Interest Rate (% p.a.)
|Loan processing fee (%)
|12 months
|18 months
|24 months
|36 months
Here is a list of documents that you are required to submit along with your loan application:
You can apply for the loan by visiting the official HSBC website and filling out the online loan application form. You will also have to submit relevant loan documents to the bank. The list of documents has already been mentioned above.
Yes, you can close the loan at a charge of 3% of the outstanding loan balance before the completion of your loan tenure. The fee will be deducted from your CIMB credit card account.
Yes. Repayments towards the loan remain fixed all through your loan tenure. If you've opted for a 36 month loan tenure, your monthly repayments will remain fixed throughout that period.


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The uOttawa Refugee Sponsorship Support Program (SSP) brings together sponsorship experts, pro-bono lawyers, law students, and community organizations to offer direct support to Canadians seeking to sponsor refugees.
In the context of this major global refugee crisis, individuals, groups and lawyers across Canada are mobilizing to help. There is an amazing amount of energy, and people are reaching out in a way that has not been seen in decades. There are a large number of individuals who are prepared and able to sponsor Syrian refugees, but these groups require assistance in navigating the process.
The SSP aims to help harness Canada's
compassionate response and channel it towards positive impact by
facilitating and supporting private sponsorships of
refugees across Canada.
The SSP has three primary components:
- A matching program, which provides sponsor groups with direct support from a pro-bono lawyer and law students. This program is available in Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Victoria. Sponsors outside Ottawa should consult our Pro Bono Lawyer list and contact a lawyer directly.
2. A training program in partnership with the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP), which trains lawyers and law students on the completion of sponsorships, and provides ongoing support for their work through sponsorship experts.
3. A public information program, which provides Canadians with easy-to-understand materials regarding sponsorships.
Learn more about becoming a sponsor or supporting as a Pro Bono Lawyer.


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Winnie The Pooh Trailer: Just Like You Remember It
It's basically just a shinier version of the old cartoon.
Here's the first look at Disney's 2011 remake, which appears to be a shinier version of the old cartoon. This is a good thing! No one wants a 3-D Eeyore. (Bonus: Craig Ferguson as Owl.)


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New York City
New York City
'New York City' is printed on 180g matte photo paper in Copenhagen, and signed on the back. Prints are packed in a protective cardboard tube to avoid damage during shipping. This print is ready to ship in 1-3 business days.
Free worldwide shipping on all orders.
This photo was taken in NYC in the fall of 2015.
Add To Cart


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Building Hope:
Homeowner Story – Nazlet Faragallah
Ramses, his wife and three children are Habitat homeowners in Nazlet Faragallah, El Minya. Ramses is a plasterer by trade and has worked on so many Habitat homes in his village that he's lost count. Habitat's work in Nazlet Faragallah has kept Ramses from having to travel to larger cities in search of work to support his family. After working on numerous Habitat homes himself, Ramses is now finally plastering his own home with the help of a Habitat loan and is proud to be able to be able to provide a safe and clean living environment for his own children. Ramses and his wife have a fourth child, a daughter, not pictured here. She is 14 years old and is mentally handicapped.
In Upper Egypt having a child with a mental handicap is often a shameful and stigmatizing experience. Many Egyptians believe that children are afflicted with mental disabilities as a punishment for the sins of their parents. As a result, these children are often kept hidden from the community and many are severely neglected. Despite the cultural stigma surrounding mental disabilities, Ramses and his wife have not only been open with the community about their daughter's handicap but have done everything in their power to ensure that she is able to reach her full potential. Without the resources to care for their daughter, Ramses and his wife have taken her to a home for disabled children in Cairo. They visit as often as they can, usually every other month, but miss having her at home. While they are relieved that she is in a place where her needs are provided for, they are concerned that she is not being educated.
Now that Ramses has a home that is safe and wheel chair accessible, they hope to bring their daughter home to be with her family. It is their dream to find a school near to their home where their daughter could attend special classes. Habitat for Humanity Egypt is working with its local partners in hopes that this dream can someday be achieved. In a culture where the education of girls is not always valued and caring for a handicap child is extremely difficult, Ramses and his family are a shining example of hope.


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Me and Nerf played some Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate recently since he got a Wii U and the game in a sale. We ended up getting joined by some other people who are MUCH higher ranks, so we got a lot of missions done pretty quickly.
Commenting is closed for this article.


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S03 E09 "The Rains of Castamere" – Watch Game of Thrones Episodes Online Free
June 3, 2013 | Season 3 | 3 Comments|
This is, arguably, the most brutal and most shocking episode in the history of the series. Robb presents himself to Walder Frey, and Edmure meets his bride. Jon faces his harshest test yet. Bran discovers a new gift. Daario and Jorah debate how to take Yunkai. House Frey joins with House Tully.
More Episodes
3 Comments


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GREENWICH, Conn. -- The Greenwich Public Schools has a new Special Education Program Coordinator responsible for overseeing the preschool program.
Superintendent of Schools Bill McKersie has announced the appointment of Amy Lynn DeNicola. Her appointment is effective July.
DeNicola is leaving her job as the Assistant Director of Special Education for the Stamford Public Schools and brings 18 years of teaching and leadership experience in special education, as she returns to Greenwich Public Schools.
DeNicola was a special education teacher and coach in the Greenwich school system from 2001 to 2011, before moving to the Stamford Public Schools in an administrative role.
"Her experience in working with preschool staff on incorporating the Early Learning Developmental Standards will help continue the efforts of retiring Preschool Program Coordinator Dr. Dolores Kenny and the GPS preschool staff," said Director of Pupil Personnel Services Mary Forde of her appointment.
The search for candidates involved widespread recruitment efforts, multiple interviews, and extensive reference and background checks, according to the announcement.
As assistant director of special education for the Stamford Public Schools since 2011, DeNicola was responsible for the supervision and evaluation of special education staff, overseeing the assessment of students receiving special education services, and providing professional development, programs and services that support the needs of students and staff.
From 2001 to 2011, DeNicola served as a special education teacher and coach at the elementary and secondary levels for the Greenwich Public Schools.
She began her career as a kindergarten teacher for the City of New York (1996-1998), and then from 1998 to 2001 worked with the special needs population as a homebound instructor for St. Mary's Hospital, Bayside, N.Y. (1998-2000), a special education teacher at Jennie Knauff Children's Center Preschool (1998-2000) and then at John Paulding Elementary School, Tarrytown, N.Y. (2000-2001.)
DeNicola received a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Iona College, New Rochelle, N.Y., in 1996; a master of science degree in early childhood education in 1999 and a master of science degree in special education in 2000 from the College of New Rochelle; and an administrative certification from Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, in 2011.
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I'm going to post these.
One thing I've learned through
'my running years'
is it's important to keep one eye opened at all times
during a race.
camera men are EVERYwhere.
this race was no different.
the hubs & I had a good laugh.
thought I would share a few.
BD loved the garmin
{almost every picture he's making sure we're on pace}
love that man.
::everyone throw your hands in the air::
right as we crossed.
my personal fave:
Exhibit A of crowds:
{makes me want to cry looking at it}
on another note:


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It's been an interesting journey to the Grammys this year for Chance The Rapper. Back in October, the Recording Academy made it clear that Chance's Coloring Book did not play a role in the Grammys rules on what is accepted for nomination. The rule to accept albums of stream was actually a motion put forth in 2014. However, it all works out for Chance.
At the 2017 Grammy Awards, Chance The Rapper celebrated his first Grammy. Taking home the Grammy for Best New Artist, it seemed written to full status for the Chicago-bredded artist.
Drake even sent out a congratulations message to Chance, following his win.


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05 Dec FanFest & Holiday Events Across Major League Baseball
Posted at 07:52h in FanFest 0 Comments
The ticker tape parade down San Francisco's Market Street has come and gone, and the first pitch of the 2015 MLB season is still months away, but baseball fans are already gathering across the country to see their teams. Starting today, teams across the league are launching their annual FanFest or holiday events. First up are the Cincinnati Reds, who will be hosting this year's All-Star Game at Great American Ball Park. Several teams like the Nationals and Astros have made this a single day event, whereas others like the Reds, Red Sox, and Mariners are hosting two or three day evens. As for the Padres, they are hosting a twelve day Holiday Wonderland through the month December. In all, 19 of the 30 MLB teams are hosting a events this winter. Below are all the events arranged by date.


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Just How To Become A Leader
Normally, an official letter is brief and has only a few main body sentences, but in circumstance you should ask about a chain info you might be able to contain everything in your home body, distributed over a number of paragraphs. While performing this, do not overlook that the notice should never sound impolite at any specified point of time. When the intention was created, it is possible to begin composing. Here's a guide that can assist you in the work available. A correspondence could be a created kind of communication. The author should mention their own tackle within the notice they can be writing. Next, mention the goal of the notice. Writing a friendly correspondence includes certain restraints.
This hardwork of yours could be absolutely paid.
If you're composing the correspondence alternatively to typewriting, ensure the hand writing is legible and clear. Just do not forget this format isn't as place as that of the proper notice. Inside this kind, all of the text within the letter is left – aligned. Creating style is among the most crucial facets on paper. Samples and suggestions about how just to write these addresses may enable you to superior paper understand this better. The composing document is a lot more demanding. Studying is a strong instrument which may assist you to build your writing abilities unlike any instrument may.


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Big numbers of used car dealers in NY & NJ claim they are a BHPH which in most cases is not true. A true BHPH dealer operates using its own capital to finance their customers. A Lot of the so-called "BHPH" dealers work with outside lenders with rates averaging from 22,5% to 28% towards your loan.
Beware of BHPH Scams
We have been over 40 years under same ownership and in the same location with over 1.000,000 customers. 85% of our customers coming from referrals, we are proud members of Irvington chambers of commerce. with our 4 stars rating on Google.
How Do I Buy Car with O'gorman Motors
Call us today at 973-547-7760 and scheduled appointment with one of our associates or apply on-line.
This place is Great! George took care me. Such a great a guy. I will send all my family and friends to Georgie.
Joe Frazier
The easiest process I have experienced here. My sales rep Hector was amazing I drove off with the car I wanted and am very happy would definitely refer people to buy a car here
Amina Gaines
Amazing Service! The owner will work with you! Definitely, recommend to a friend. I was looking everywhere for a vehicle.


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This is the officially licensed, collectible sheet music collection from the motion picture, featuring big note piano arrangements of seven standout selections from Alexandre Desplat's acclaimed score, along with several pages of color imagery from the film. Fingering, phrasing, and pedaling are indicated in the score.
* Lily's Theme
* Statues
* Courtyard Apocalypse
* Severus and Lily
* Harry's Sacrifice
* Neville the Hero
* A New Beginning
* Lily's Lullaby


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Never a Dull Moment
Walking into the Atlantic Shores Clubhouse, the Concierge greets you with a smile, and you can't help but notice the wave of friendly energy which fills the air. In the Club, residents attend fitness classes, swim laps in the heated pool, become Wii bowling masters, work on art projects, and attend meetings to make decisions that lay the groundwork for the future of the Atlantic Shores community. A group of friends lounge in the Bistro enjoying their morning coffee, pausing the conversation to wave hello. Later, a resident hurries to catch the beginning of the afternoon movie, running late again since the card game never seems to end on time.
And this is only the first floor.
Upstairs, residents play billiards, read in the library, join in card games, and surf the internet. It's nearly time for happy hour in the Harbour Lounge. The Atlantic Shores lifestyle is active, relaxed, and friendly. We pride ourselves on our commitment to having fun and enjoying every moment of every day. Endless activities on the property, trips to exciting events off the property, and everything in between ensure that there is never a dull moment.


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I started a pet portrait last night. It is of an absolutely adorable westie, named Charlotte. It is my first commission in a while. A looong while. The beginning of the year is always slow for orders, but with the economy, it seems cute paintings of your pet are not high on the ol' priority list. Seems that people want to do crazy things like pay their bills or feed their kids. Bah. Whatever. Hey, what's a little Top Ramen when you can have a painting of Fifi at the beach hanging on your wall?!!? No, really I understand, I do. In February I took a full time job. My first one in 6 years. (the last one was fr a coll design studio and I lasted 4 months before I quit to paint pet portraits. "Hi Mom and Dad! You recovered from your duel heart attacks nicely!!") And I am still wrapping my mind around this new job some days. Luckily I adore my job and my co-workers. I have the most amazing bosses and truly enjoy coming to work. Which freaks me out enough. I think it helps that I have been freelancing for this place for over 7 years. So it is familiar and comfortable and I really believe in the work I create. I juggle anywhere from 4 jobs to 10 jobs at any given time, deal with clients and vendors directly and best of all, I am trusted to handle it all. And ohmigod, they let me leave early every other week to get my kids from school! HELLO AWESOMENESS!! That makes me very loyal to this place. But still, there are days I long for my studio. My cute pink office with the hot pink curtains surrounded by art on every wall. I have amazing memories working there. I got rid of my studio and have an office at home that I have not even organized yet. It is a mess of boxes with a giant dog kennel in it. Only my computer is set up. In my mind I see an adorable, comforting place to work in, but I am not ready to create it yet. It is good that I have not had many commissions yet this year. It makes me feel like the choice to take this job was right. I struggled, lord how I struggled at first when the job opened up. It took probably a full month for my boss to really believe I wanted to go from part time to full time. I think the last she ever heard me say on the topic off full time employment was along the lines of "Heeeeeeell NO, do I want full time work! This girl is a FREE spirit, being in a cube 8 hours a day will KILL me! KILL ME! Did you hear me? HELL NO!" So yeah, I had to jump through a few hoops, go many extra miles just to convince her I was serious. Now, imagine doing all that when deep down you are scared to death about the decision.
I have been a freelancer since day one. I graduated art school 7 1/2 months preggers. Let's just say potential employers aren't exactly lining up to hire you when your belly bumps into them before they even see your portfolio. I LOVE the freelance life. I love hustling. I love knowing that every dime I made was from my own hard work. Oh my gosh, the highs, talk about a rush! There is nothing like getting that check in the bank just in time and the bills get paid and NOTHING bounces! There is nothing like it. And you are on top of the world. For a full TEN minutes sometimes. Then you begin to worry about the next bill, and the next job you need to get. And then there are the lows. Ouch. Like the days the check they promised doesn't come in. The days you didn't make it to the bank in time. The days the lights get turned off on a Friday and you can't get them back until Monday. Oh, those days are no fun at all. And the nights you stay up for hours just thinking about how to juggle what little money you DO have so that everyone gets something and you can still feed your kids. And this is after having stayed up until 3pm to finish a gotta have it RUSH project by your client, just so you can submit an invoice that you won't see the money from until 3 weeks from now IF you are LUCKY and IF they give it to the accountant on time (freelancers are the red-headed step children – we work the hardest get paid LAST.) Or how about the days there is a field trip coming up for both your kids that they need money for and you need gas and you need dog food? Why did I love this life again? Oh, right. Those ten minutes of high are THAT awesome! (this is why I don't try drugs – I imagine I could be in trouble) And I did that for SO many years. But it was worth it. I got to stay home with my kids for 3 1/2 years when they were babies. I got to have the highs and the satisfaction of knowing I did it all on my own. I opened up a studio, ran and art school for kids for a while, and for almost 6 years have been selling original paintings all over the United States.
And I will never stop painting. Ever. And I am about to start advertising my art again. And I have commercial projects in the works that are being considered and having many, many meetings over. And hell, I have a BOOK out! (Have you bought yours yet? No? What the hell are you waiting for??? I don't want to be in this damn cube FOREVER!!! GO BUY IT NOW! Heh. Just kidding. Not really – go!)
Which brings me to my point – especially for the others out there that want to eventually escape the cube. This process is NOT linear. There is no shortest point to get from the cube to working for yourself. It takes time. It takes creativity. Multiple income streams. Figuring out what you are willing to sacrifice to be your won boss. Deciding if you are ready to not have job security any more. Nothing happens overnight. Not even if you DO get Oprah's attention. I guarantee you that before who ever did find their way to Oprah and her show, they struggled for YEARS before the timing was right. You do what you do because you love it. You map out a dream and follow it the best you can. Life will simply not follow all your directions. Sometimes it will. Oh, and the sweetness when it does! When you know you are on the path and every single piece of the puzzle falls into place and you know DAMN well the Big Man is on your side, because it feels like he is holding your hand along the way. But then sometimes the path veers and it veers so far away from what you love, what was working, from a life that you had created through blood, sweat and tears and you can't for the life of you figure out why God is doing this to you. And that? Oh, it is so hard. And you cry, and you cry some more and you try harder. And harder. And harder. And still it won't work. And finally you give in. You have to. Because life just is that way. And if you keep fighting it you get more and more miserable and the perfect life you were loving and so grateful for isn't perfect anymore because for whatever reason you are being taken down another road. And I am on another road. One I thought with all my heart I would never be on.
And I finally gave in and decided not to fight it and see the wonderfulness in it. I have no idea how long I will be here. And lord knows I am still doing my thing on nights and weekends and my dreams are still there, real as ever. I write about them, draw them, dream about then. And I know they WILL happen. I know it. And I will never give up on them. But in the meantime I am here in a cube, hurrying up this entry before I need to get to work. And I love this job. I love the people. And I would be a liar, liarhead if I said I didn't love my nice fat paycheck. Ohmigod! Money!! EVERY month! Deposited RIGHT INTO MY BANK ACCOUNT! And all I have to do is show up for work and do my job. And the insurance? I can not only break every damn finger if I want and have it PAID for, but I can even get my teeth cleaned – for like $15 dollars!!!! And people? There is FREE coffee here! EVERY DAMN DAY! And the sweetest woman on earth MAKES it for us. Like MAGIC. And I laugh all day long, get to design cool stuff and my coworkers know all about my art life. Just yesterday my boss' boss' boss (got that? three tiers up) was in my office joking with me and I gave him a copy of my book. He insisted he pay for it. I said, 'Sounds good!' – Hey he makes big bucks he can afford it!) So I am in a place where I can share my dreams at the same time as make money for my family. And I am thinking this 9-5 life is not as horrible as I have made it out to be. Perhaps you cube people are quite clever with your paychecks, insurance and stability…
So right now I am not steering the ship. And I am ok with it. And I guess I have to just admit that I was never steering in the first place. So any of you out there feeling like your dream is never going to happen? Don't you believe that crap for a second! Just keep plugging along. Do it because you must, because you love it. It will happen. We just don't get to say when it will happen or how it will happen. But I promise you this, if you do not give up, it HAS to happen. Perseverance is what it is all about. Keep putting yourself out there, keep creating, keep trying. The only way you can fail is if you quit. I PROMISE.
Oh. And if by chance you are the lucky .0001% of people that ARE overnight successes and Oprah found you after you mailed her your manuscript written out in a longhand in that spiral notebook and she loved it so much that she single-handedly got you published, put you on her show as soon as it was on the shelves and you now have a dream life after just trying one measly time? WE ALL HATE YOU. Go away. (Just kidding. We love you, we want to be friends with you, we want to have lunch dates with you. And have you introduce us to Oprah.)


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Name: Horia Brebeneanu
Age: 33
Instant tools: Polaroid SX-70 Model 2, Polaroid SX-70 Alpha 1 Gold, Minolta Instant Pro, Polaroid Spectra Onyx, and a quirky one, not really a camera, but quite possibly an inspiration for the Impossible Lab, the Vivitar Instant Slide Printer, which I use to print slides on instant pack film.
Tell us a little (or a lot) about yourself: who are you, where do you live, what inspires you, what made you turn to instant photography and what is your background?
I currently live in Manchester, and work for a big corporation. I got here out of different impulses, but generally by going with the flow of things, to say so… I've initially studied law in Timisoara, but soon after I've graduated I've got a scholarship related to public administration, and got the chance to study for one year in UK, and afterwards to work for the Ministry of Culture in Bucharest. The time spent in Bucharest was amazing, as there are so many things in motion there, and I've got to meet many interesting people. Which led me to start a master in photography at the National University of Arts, partly as a more in depth continuation of a hobby I had for years, and partly to meet and understand better the cultural sector, for which I was actually working, albeit on the public administration side. The master was purely theoretical for me, but offered a very nice vision of what photography means when seen from an arty angle and when placed in the larger contemporary art perspective. And again, I got to meet some great people in the process.
Bucharest was very inspiring from a photographic point of view, and I've carried away shooting in every new place I've moved to when switched to a UK based life. I am curious about all sorts of different ways to take a photograph and record memory, so in a rather fluid way I got to try instant photography. And was hooked, because it clicked with how I see the passage of time and memory…imperfect and with added layers of distorted feelings and a hint of nostalgia. Just like an instant photo and its chemical process captured in a small frame. Plus I like objects, so I guess the tangibility and uniqueness of a Polaroid style photo satisfies my fetishist side. As for what inspires me..day to day experiences, I am a photographer like the other millions of people using different cameras nowadays.
Something nice about the place where you live?
Manchester is not really the prettiest town in a touristy way, but it has a lot of character and an amazing history, especially the musical one, which is also my favourite. People are friendly and proud of their city, and the good vibe can be felt as you step out of the train and start walking towards the city centre.
What is the story behind your most beloved series?
I have loads of favorite so called series, but actually I would like to mention the first Impossible instant film I bought. It was so precious with only 8 frames and marking the beginning of a rescue mission to save instant film for Polaroid cameras, and it had all the quirks of an experimental material, that probably I gave it extra attention…but in the same time I've started using it for what I am still using it: keeping a visual diary, uncluttered by hundreds of photos, but by only a few for each special day, trip, whatever. Back then in 2011, I had a motor bike and I went for a road trip between two towns in UK to visit friends. I had only 5 photos left, as I wasted the other 3 trying to figure out how the film works. The photos I took were of my bike in front of a tower block, and some interiors of my friends' house. The photos are very faded now, but they sum up very well what instant photography is for me: memory, preciousness, bits of everyday life.
A memory you wish you could have imprinted on film but didn't?
I would have loved to be able to shoot my highschool / university years on instant film, mostly because of the fresh and ecstatic view on things you have at that age. But for some reason I wasn't interested much in photography back then, and it is also really hard to imagine how could I have been able to afford to buy film from my student allowance. Although we were always able to find a way to do whatever we wanted under the moniker "we are students", and then everything was allowed and possible.
Recommend us a site/social link you dig that we should know about.
Now that you mentioned dig, cannot help but tell you about a very dear project of my girlfriend's and mine, http://digandgift.co.uk/. It is an on and off project, in the last months on hold, born from our love for random flea market finds, and how they seem to have a connection which can be translated in a beautiful gift. It also has a blog, included in the website.
Besides that, a very cinematic disco music and which does inspire me instant photography wise is anything by Trust, or TR/ST, a Canadian coldwave / darkwave outfit, check them out here.
I also love Polaroid portfolio books, and cannot recommend enough works such as those by Sibylle Bergemann, Andrei Tarkovsky or Mike Brodie. They come from different parts of the world, Russia, East Germany, the States, and used the medium either at the beginning or height of its popularity, or at the end, squeezing photos out of the last packs, but they all caught very well the warm feeling of it when tracing moments of their lives.
Say I give you an instant camera with only one paper left inside. It's the last instant camera in the world. What would you shoot and why?
I would try to shoot something related to the feel of the moment. It would probably be related to nostalgia, to the feeling of losing something dear. I have no clear image in mind, it will depend on where I would be. But it will also be infused with a bright light, as I am sure we always come up with something new to expend on whatever we had and lost.