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The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda, has challenged professional surveyors in the country to ensure that non-professionals or 'quake surveyors' are weeded out of their midst.
This observation was made during the Dinner Awards Night of the Ghana Institute of Surveyors (GIS) 40th Anniversary at the Banquet Hall, State House in Accra over the weekend.
Speaking at the 40th Anniversary and Awards Night Collins Dauda emphasised that self-regulation activities must not be compromised saying, "The practice of the surveyor is very unique, and calls for the exhibition of high professional standards."
The Minister assured the surveyors of government's commitment to making sure the call for legislative support to ensure sanity in the surveying profession was adhered to.
"The government has declared its avowed intent to implement an agenda that will lead to growth and prosperity for all Ghanaians. To this end, pragmatic policies will be put in place to trigger this much expected growth, and propel this country to the anticipated middle-income status," he added.
The Minister noted that achieving these objectives would require massive infrastructure improvement, efficient land administration (in terms of ownership and titling), agriculture development, fair justice system, and efficient urban management.
The awards night witnessed the swearing in of Mr. Kwadwo Osei-Asante, as the new President of the Ghana Institute of Surveyors. Mr. Osei-Asante pledged, to the government of Ghana, the continued support and commitments of the GIS, which would be in line with the developmental agenda, and growth of the economy.
He called for the recognition of the local surveyor's expertise, and advised the government to increase infrastructure developments in the country.
"Instructions of surveyors and planners are disregarded with impunity. Listen to us, the professional, and we will provide better services to curb down cost of production," he added.
Awards were given to deserving members who had distinguished themselves during the past forty years.


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Gordon Brown is expected to come out fighting today with the launch of the Labour election manifesto, a sign that the race for Number 10 is well under way.
A key component appears to be his pledge to hand over public services - including schools, hospital authorities and police forces - to alternative providers in a bid to drive up standards.
While this sounds like a good idea on paper, the proof, as always, is in the pudding and it will be fascinating to see the flesh on the bones as it were.
That aside, the Labour party are staying tight-lipped over what else is in the manifesto but we'll bring you a full report as soon as it is released at around 11.30am.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, The Mirror reported that Bolton North East candidate Deborah Dunleavy - a "Cameron Cutie" - had a "fling" with her boss, behind her husband's back.
Cue sharp intake of breath around the Greaves breakfast table.
Shocked at such allegedly promiscuous behaviour, I just had to read on. Apparently the "fling" happened while the Tory candidate and her now ex-husband were separated...in the early 1990s.
It then goes on to reveal that Ms Dunleavy - who admitted that it was technically adultery because her and her husband at the time were still married - now lives with her former boss and their two daughters.
Hardly Desperate Housewives or Sex In The City is it?
Let's try and keep this election campaign clean, the public's opinion of politicians is already low and the last thing we need is newspapers with political agendas muckraking for the sake of it.
Tomorrow the BBC will be broadcasting from the Bolton West constituency all day, starting with Bill Turnbull on BBC Breakfast from the crack of dawn.
The Beeb recently came into our office to interview me about the race to succeed Ruth Kelly and that will be shown at some point on the show from 7am.
There is also a live televised debate on the BBC News Channel from noon with Julie Hilling, the Labour candidate, Susan Williams, the Conservative hopeful, and Jackie Pearcey from the Liberal Democrats.
You can also follow me on the social networking site Twitter.
I'll be aiming to "tweet" as often as possible with the latest news, links to the best blogs on the web and various other things I find interesting throughout the campaign.
Just log onto www.twitter.com/AndrewGreavesBN

subset: commoncrawl


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Last year I disappeared for a bit because of exam prep and University applications, and last month I received all the decisions. After weighing all my options I have decided to accept an offer to do my degree at a University in New England.
Yeah, what a drastic change, right? From the Caribbean to New England...
I'm not looking forward to the weather so much, but I am happy with my decision.
With all that said, it's been a whirlwind of activity. I haven't had time to cook much, much less write any posts. I tweeted a while back about these amazing make-ahead oatmeal shakes that I have for breakfast on crazy mornings and promised to share the method with you guys. Since then I've seen half a dozen posts about the same idea on other blogs (I still have a secret little surprise kick to mine though, so I'm not discouraged)
I'm saying goodbye to the tiny apartment I've called home for the past year and a half, and moving back to my parents' house to get ready for school. I guess I'm going to miss my kitchen a bit, but it's mainly the freedom I have in it. My mother has an amazing kitchen, but it's not MINE... if you get what I mean. (She reads my blog, I can't say that she's
I'll (hopefully) have a few weeks of peace after I'm back home and not running off to work every day, so I will definitely take the opporunity to write some posts and share some really great recipes I've discovered or made over the two months.
*Spoiler Alert! These recipes include a jerk sausage and herb goat cheese pizza! Sooooo good!!*
Until then, read my Avateur Lasagna recipe from last year this time. The pictures were terrible (my phone again) but that scallion pesto in place of the ricotta was a stroke of genius.. if I do say so myself :)
Thanks for stopping by!!
-The Avateur Chef


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RJ Lewis Electrical are able to under take Fire Alarm Installations, as well as Testing and commissioning at a wide range of industrial and commercial sites within Northampton, and surrounding areas.
Fire Alarms are a vital part of any building, as recently there are more and more cases of buildings catching fire, and the damage being a lot worse because an appropriate fire alarm system was not installed. Excessive costs can be avoided by thinking ahead and installing an Alarm. They can even be linked to the Fire Brigade, so should the alarms sound out of hours, they will be acted on.
Having a properly tested and maintained fire alarm system can save money on Building insurance, also the Fire Brigade are now doing spot checks on Buildings, and can order the system to be updated if they deem it.
We have installed fire alarms in a wide range of installations, including Factories, Care Homes and Office Blocks, so are well suited to serve any needs you may have.
Apart from installation, regular testing of a Fire alarm System is a must, as with all components they deteriorate with age, and just because a fire alarm system is in place does not guarantee it's in good working condition. At RJ Lewis Electrical we recommend a full fire alarm test and inspection to ensure that the system is up to the job.
At RJ Lewis Electrical we carry out all our testing works to the highest standards, we don't take 'short cuts' in the testing or installation procedures.
For a free, friendly, no obligation quote, please contact us today.


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20 Jun Widely Spaced Teeth: Is Invisalign an option?
In the ideal smile, the teeth should all touch each other without crowding. In some patients, a misalignment means that the teeth overlap or are crooked. On the other end of the spectrum, patients may have teeth that are too far apart from each other. This phenomenon can occur when a tooth is missing or when the jaw grows too quickly, leaving more space than needed for the teeth to erupt.
In addition to detracting from the smile's appearance, widely spaced teeth can trap food particles left behind after meals. Those tiny little tidbits can become a feast for the bacteria that live in the mouth, which cause various oral diseases.
Whether the patient has just one gap that needs to be closed or a number of widely, unevenly spaced teeth, the orthodontic system known as Invisalign can help.
Invisalign is a popular option for patients who don't want their smiles obscured by unattractive metal appliances while they're undergoing orthodontic treatment. It repositions the teeth using a series of clear, removable plastic trays. [pullquote]Whether the patient has just one gap that needs to be closed or a number of widely, unevenly spaced teeth, the orthodontic system known as Invisalign can help.[/pullquote]
Your dentist will take impressions of your mouth, and your Invisalign trays will be designed based on that information. The trays exert forces on widely spaced teeth to bring them closer to each other.
The trays are fashioned so that the forces are applied to the teeth in a sequential manner. Patients swap the old tray for a new one every other week or so, and over the course of 12-18 months, a new, properly aligned smile emerges.
Invisalign patients enjoy more convenience than those who opt for conventional orthodontic treatment. The trays can be removed for eating, brushing and flossing, which means that there are no dietary restrictions for these patients. They don't have to alter their oral hygiene routines, either.
If you want to improve the appearance of a smile with widely spaced teeth in the Round Rock area, contact Balcones Family Dental to see if Invisalign might be an option for you.


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Building Partnerships
Honore Properties is a full service investment company focused on building partnerships with real estate developers, brokers, contractors and investors. We look to bring you the best risk adjusted returns by investing in stable markets and areas surrounding established markets already. We have a proven track record of creating value in real estate and delivering great returns for our investors.
Please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com for more information.


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June 27, 2016: WTF! A Haitian man visiting from Port-Au-Prince, Haiti contacted La Reine for a possible relation before he leaves town. The man recently visited Orlando but just happened to miss La Reine by one Day. You can hear in the video the man said he has a wife and kids back in Haiti. As you can see, La Reine D'Haiti doesn't seem to be interested in CLOSETED man. The openly gay man whose name on Face as La Reine D'Haiti warns all Haitian women to be very careful about who they pick to be in a relationship with. Obviously, because there is too many diseases out there. Click to play the video below.
La Reine D'Haiti . . . LEAKS a video chat of a Port-Au-Prince man whose wife back in Haiti doesn't know he's been hiding in the closet . . . La Reine warns all
Filed UnderNEWS


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Taraba becomes first state to build capacity on HIV/AIDS programming for adolescents, young people
Taraba has become the first State in Nigeria to build capacity on Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) programming for adolescents and young.
A statement from the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), which was signed by Head of Media, Mrs. Toyin Aderigbigbe, noted: "Taraba is the first state in the country to disseminate the National HIV Strategy for Adolescents and Young People (2016-2020) to stakeholders and build their capacity on its implementation. This activity took place on August 30 to 31, 2016. Participants included representatives from Taraba state ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry Education, State AIDS and STI Control Programme, Local Government Agencies for the Control of AIDS, non-governmental organisations working with young people and network of persons living with HIV. This group could serve as a valuable resource pool to other states.
"Clear action plans have been developed that will ultimately help to reduce new HIV infections among adolescent and young people and ensure access to treatment care and support services to those living with HIV in the state.
"This further emphasises the need for resources to be mobilized to Taraba to address the established need and gaps in the state's HIV response especially as regards adolescents and young people."
Until now, Taraba has a HIV prevalence of 10.5 per cent, which is over three times the national average and the highest in northern Nigeria. Despite this, very few partners have situated their HIV projects and programmes in the state. Only two projects are presently ongoing- the World Bank-supported HIV/AIDS Program Development Project 2, which will end in February next year; and the NACA Comprehensive AIDS Programme with States (formerly known as NACA SURE-P HIV/AIDS Programme). Therefore, Taraba state remains a state in dire need of support to sustain and scale-up the gains made so far in the response to HIV.
Despite these constraints, Taraba state government, through the State Agency for the Control AIDS (TACA) continues to demonstrate great commitment to reducing the HIV burden.
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An Announcement About My Facebook AccountDecember 6, 2009
Hey everyone!
Just a heads up for those of you who read my blog: I've been getting many friend requests on Facebook recently from readers. While I'm glad to see so many of you like my work and want to friend me on Facebook, I will be keeping my Facebook account separate from my activities on this blog, Border House, and Massively.com.
I use Facebook to keep in contact with my close friends and co-workers and it's for that reason that I'd rather not open friend requests with you guys. So, if you send me a Facebook friend invite, you're pretty much going to get a nice note from me and a "request declined" response. Besides, you're not missing much anyway. I'm far more active on Twitter than I am on Facebook. Even more active on this blog than I am on Facebook.
So, if you really want to follow my updates, my best recommendation to you is to jump on over and follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/sera_brennan. It's much more interesting than my Facebook account. Trust me. 🙂
All the best,


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Online Store / Gear & Decals /
Gift Card
The product images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of the product.
Purchasing a $500-$750 gift card? You will also receive:(1) Mystery Custom Offsets Brand Hat
Purchasing a $750+ gift card? You will also receive:
(1) Custom Offsets Branded Buck Knife
What's Included
Included With All Giftcards:
(1) Metal Gift Card
(1) 24" CO Decal
(1) CO Can Koozie
(1) CO Multi Tool
(1) Mystery Custom Offsets Tee
$500+ Receive All Previous Items Plus (1) Mystery Custom Offsets Hat
$750+ Receive All Previous Items Plus (1) CO Buck Knife
About Us
Custom Offsets LLC owns and operates customoffsets.com. We are dedicated to helping you find the perfect fitment for your ride while also bringing you the highest quality, affordable aftermarket parts in the world! We are truck and car enthusiasts who build their dream rides with these very products.
All shipping prices are based on the lower 48 states unless specified otherwise. Many of our products will ship directly to you from our manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers to save you money! Because many of our products are custom, please allow 7-14 business days unless expedited shipping is offered/specified. Always inspect your items immediately upon receipt.
Please look over your purchase completely immediately upon receiving the item and contact us within 3 business days. Once tires are mounted we cannot offer returns. A restocking fee may be charged of 20% to recoup our losses so please contact us with questions if you are unsure of fitment or product quality. To ensure your satisfaction, often we will connect you directly with our manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors if you have detailed questions or issues with product. If there are any additional questions or concerns please notify us promptly at firstname.lastname@example.com
WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm - p65warnings.ca.gov.
See More Gear & Decals See Wheel & Tire Packages See all Store Items Wholesale Program


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The SIUE cross country course is designed to challenge all levels of competition. It is used for prep and collegiate meets and is fan friendly with multiple points where fans can watch the runners. The rolling hills feature of the campus is in place on the course. In 2011, signs were added to the facility to give runners a 24/7 opportunity to challenge their abilities.
Location:off North University Drive, Edwardsville, Ill.
Maps and Directions
5K Course Map
6K Course Map
8K Course Map
10K Course Map


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Warding Off The Evils of Civil War
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The camp is burning in slow motion. While scant food supplies are a big problem at this hastily-built settlement at Anaka, a 2-km-square mess of tightly packed huts protected by government soldiers in the north of Uganda, a bigger one is spontaneous combustion. Here, explains a leader in the camp, where some 23,000 people displaced by the region's civil war make their homes, at least one thatched hut ignites every day. So many are burning, in fact, that most residents remove their belongings when they leave each morning for school or to cultivate crops. Their homes may...


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The New Yorker finally got around to predictive processing with Larissa MacFarquhar's profile of Andy Clark. Clark is the author of Surfing Uncertainty, the premier book on the subject.
Perception did not, then, simply work from the bottom up; it worked first from the top down. What you saw was not just a signal from the eye, say, but a combination of that signal and the brain's own ideas about what it expected to see… Continue reading "The Mind-Expanding Ideas of Andy Clark"


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(date of the letter)
(doctor's name)
(doctor's name)
(doctor's address)
To whom it may concern:
(your name) is a patient who has been under my care since (when you began seeing the doctor). I have first-hand knowledge of (your first name)'s disability and the functional limitations caused by the disability. Due to (his/her) disability, I am prescribing an emotional support dog to assist with limitations caused by (symptoms of disability experienced, such as stress or anxiety).
I will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding my recommendation that (your name) have an emotional support dog.
(doctor's name)


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Fishadelphia is a community-based seafood program located in South Philadelphia.
Fishadelphia connects communities: we bring high quality, fresh seafood from regional harvesters and processors to economically and culturally diverse consumers in Philadelphia at reasonable prices. Fishadelphia's day-to-day operations are planned and coordinated by a group of high school students at Mastery Charter Thomas Campus in South Philadelphia and Mastery Charter Gratz Campus in North Philadelphia.
We are currently in our fall 2019 season
Click here to sign up!


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At the age of 52yrs, Kazu Miura has become the oldest footballer in football history.Miura, is currently in his 32nd season of pro football and plays for Japanese side Yokohama FC. He retired from national team football in 2000, after winning 89 caps for his national side.
After renewing his deal with his club in January, this means that he has lots of time to set a new record in the world of football.


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Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart
I'm coming for you.
The whispers haunt her dreams and fill her waking hours with dread. Something odd is happening. Something...unnatural.
Possession of the living. Resurrection of the dead. And Natalie Stewart is caught right in the middle. Jonathon, the one person she thought she could trust, has become a double agent for the dark side. But he plays the part so well, Natalie has to wonder just how much he's really acting.
She can't even see what it is she's fighting. But the cost of losing her heart, her sanity...her soul.
Magic Most Foul Series:
Darker Still (Book 1)
The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart (Book 2)
Praise for Darker Still, an Indie Next Selection:
"Original, haunting, and romantic." -YA Bound
"This chilling tale will draw you in and keep you guessing until the very last page." -Seventeen.com
Product Details
|Publication date:
|Magic Most Foul Series , #2
|Sales rank:
|Product dimensions:
|5.00(w) x 7.70(h) x 0.90(d)
|740L (what's this?)
|Age Range:
|12 - 17 Years
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Chapter 1
June 1880
Isn't that the man wanted for those murders in New York City?"
I tried not to let my face betray the panic flooding through my body. I'd thought once we made it out of New York City and onto the train we'd be safe.
A man in a dusty suit and cap had a conductor by the elbow, pointing at the cushioned benches where I sat with Jonathon. The wide-brimmed felt hat he'd been keeping low over his head had fallen back, revealing his face. It was a face hard not to notice. I nudged Jonathon awake, trying not to be too obvious about it. He blinked sleepily. If he hadn't been wanted for murder, I might have thought he looked adorable.
"Hello there, beautiful," he murmured in his refined London accent.
"Look sharp," I whispered. My anxious tone doused his smile. "Someone recognized you. Whatever I say, just...nod in agreement."
I could feel my voice fumble in my throat. Oh no. Words, do not fail me now.
"Miss? Sir?" The conductor approached, swaying slightly as the train curved around a bend and plunged into a tunnel cutting through the mountains of Pennsylvania. Jonathon's accuser hung back, his haggard face scared. I wondered if I looked scared too.
"Yes? Hello," I said softly. Just focus on one word at a time.
"You...and this gentleman here," the conductor said carefully. "Are you acquainted?"
"Oh, yes," I said with a sad smile. "Cousins. We're off to see our uncle on his deathbed. We hope we make it in time..." I turned ruefully to Jonathon, who nodded, squeezing my gloved hand in comfort. The conductor glanced back at the man who was gesturing toward Jonathon. A few other heads, men in top hats and ladies in feathers and ribbons, turned our way.
"Is there a problem, sir? Do you need to see our tickets again?" I rummaged in my bag. Jonathon reached into his coat pocket and held his out.
"No, no, it's just...there were murders in the papers, in New York-"
"Oh! That madness in the Five Points?" I shuddered. "Horrifying, isn't it? What about it?"
"He looks just like the man in the sketch!" the man hanging back shouted. There was a murmur of shock from the compartment. That would teach us to not pay the extra dollars for a private compartment. But runaways have limited spending cash. Jonathon assured me of finances secure in England that demons could not have seized, but those were of little use at the moment. Mrs. Northe had been generous to us both, but we'd played things safe. A tired-looking woman reached a hand up, begging the man to sit and leave things to the authorities.
"I know the likeness is unmistakable," Jonathon broke in. "That's what I thought, too. I promise you, the last thing a man wants to look like is a murderer."
I stared at him. Jonathon Whitby, Lord Denbury, had just spoken in an uncannily perfect American accent. Impressive.
"But," Jonathon shrugged casually, "I'm not British. I'm from New York. And my eyes aren't dark like his. See? It's a difference one really can't mistake." He widened his ice-blue eyes for effect. He was right to bring it up. In that respect he was a far cry from the rough portrait that sensation-driven papers had been eager to publish. The conductor looked embarrassed.
"Don't worry," Jonathon added. "I'm used to it. I've been stopped a few times since the sketch. But if you could just let me and my cousin go in peace to our family, we'd sure be grateful."
That was no lie. All we wanted was to be left alone.
Nor was it a lie to say that Jonathon wasn't the murderer. But telling a train car full of people that a demon had possessed his body wouldn't have helped. It's why we were fleeing. We couldn't trust the police to believe us either.
"Sorry to trouble you both," the conductor said, tipping his hat. The man who had caused the disruption looked at Jonathon warily and finally heeded his wife's urging to sit down again and drink a beer. Awkward silence descended. There is nothing more unnerving than a train car full of people staring at you. And I've stared down a demon, full in the face. The decision of whether we would stay in that car was mitigated by the announcement that we would soon be arriving in Chicago.
Thank you, Chicago, for your kindness.
While I'd risked my life to save his, Jonathon Whitby, Lord Denbury, could yet be the death of me. But here I am, at his side. What is wrong with me?
Well, look at him.
A girl would be kidding herself if she wouldn't attempt the impossible for a face like his. The gas-lit sconces of the train cast him in a golden light. His black hair, slightly wavy, framed features carved in classic lines. Shocking blue eyes could cut the breath out of a person as if his gaze were a surgeon's knife. The train's whistle blew as it pulled onto tracks in a crowded station.
"We've got to mail your diary back to your father," Jonathon murmured in my ear, regaining his delicious accent again. "A telegram cannot possibly explain everything, and otherwise he won't know what's happened to you. I'd rather he not kill me when I ask to court you properly."
I bit my lip at the word "court" and blushed to the tips of my ears.
We disembarked onto a platform that was too small for the crowds. Signs promised that a new Union Depot would be opening next year. Chicago clearly needed it.
Jonathon helped me down the train stairs, and my blush heightened as I thought of all the kissing parts in my diary that I hadn't thought to redact. It was too late. We only had twenty minutes before the next train.
No matter the contents, the diary was the only way to explain what really had happened. Even if Father couldn't believe the account, we needed to try to make things right with him. Unless Mrs. Evelyn Northe, our benefactor and all-around guardian angel, could make him believe in what sounded impossible. She'd thought of most everything, so perhaps she'd even solve the crimes in our absence.
The station was hectic, but the postal counter was clearly marked and we eased our way to the ornate brass counter. As we bought an envelope and postage, the clerk gave us such an odd look that even Jonathon noticed.
"Is there a problem, sir?" he asked, again in an American accent.
"No, sir, it's just that..."
"She's very pretty, I know, but you needn't make it so obvious that you think so too, sir," Jonathon chided. My blush returned.
"No, sir, I mean no offense. It's just..." The poor man, who was now as red as I was, slid a note across the counter. "This came in earlier, so you see I'm just..."
I glanced at the note, transcribed from a telegraph onto Western Union labeled paper.
New York City Police Department reports missing girl. Natalie Stewart. Age 17. Auburn hair. Green eyes. Pretty. Presumed traveling alone? Mute.
Jonathon read over my shoulder and didn't miss a beat. "Sarah here, while I agree she fits the description, isn't traveling alone but with me-her cousin."
Father must have reported me missing before Mrs. Northe could get to him. But Father didn't know I could speak, that saving Jonathon had cured my voice. Speech still wasn't always easy, but talking would further disprove the cable.
Words. Come on, Natalie. I took a deep, long breath.
"And I'm hardly mute now, am I?" I replied, sliding the paper back to the clerk. The man still looked wary but didn't immediately call for the police. I tried to steady my shaking hand as I addressed the envelope and handed him the package.
"But whoever she is, I hope you find her," Jonathon offered with a winning smile. He sounded as if he'd grown up here. He was so aware of his details and yet so unruffled that the man would make an excellent spy.
"Have a lovely day," I offered.
"And you, miss. Sir. Travel safely." The clerk nodded to us, throwing the package in a bin.
As we turned away, Jonathon grabbed my elbow. "What if he sees the Stewart name on the package? Won't he-"
"I sent it to Mrs. Northe. Without a return address," I replied.
"I could kiss you for your cleverness," he replied near my ear, smirking at me and dropping the American accent for his tantalizing British one.
"No, no, none of that," I giggled. "We're family, remember?"
"Kissing cousins?" he grinned. "I thought you loved Edgar Allan Poe. He married his cousin."
"True. And she died a tragic, early death. Stay sharp. We're hardly out of the woods," I said, trying to stay serious and on task. But it was hard to remain focused with that half-dimpled smirk of his and the heat of his hand on my elbow.
"No, there are no woods here," Jonathon said, looking around him and up at the soot coating the station beams. "The woods are ahead of us in the wilds of Minnesota. Wait, what are you-" he cut short as I dragged him suddenly in the opposite direction toward something I saw across the station foyer.
"I've an idea," I declared, stepping into the light of a general store selling everything a traveler might need, have forgotten, or have lost. I went to a rack of eyeglasses on display.
"I told you, you oughtn't have dozed off on the train with your glasses on, Humphrey dear. Slid right off and underfoot," I crowed for the shop-girl's benefit, plucking a wide-rimmed, clunky pair of glasses from a display and sliding them onto Jonathon's face.
"Oh, those look nice," the lady said, bored, as if that's what she said to everyone who put something on their nose. And no they didn't; they looked hideous.
Jonathon thought so too. I could tell from the clench of his jaw and the flash of his blue eyes beneath the thick, fishbowl glass. I wanted to roar a laugh but held it back admirably.
"We'll take them," I said, rummaging in my reticule for one of the larger bills Mrs. Northe had sent me off with. The bored clerk took it.
Walking away, Jonathon fumbled for me, his case and my knapsack on one of his arms, reaching for me with the other.
"I can't see," he hissed, his British accent particularly sharp in annoyance. "These things are for a blind man. I have perfect vision-"
"Yes, but they entirely distract from your handsome face, my dear Lord Denbury, and that is a distinct advantage," I replied, steadying him toward the westbound platforms.
"You'll have to guide me closely," he declared.
"And is that so bad?" I teased. He offered a rakish grin that even the glasses couldn't make unattractive.
"I'll suffer the fashion if it means you'll cling to me."
I giggled and slid my arm around his, entwining our fingertips. My blush returned.
"Humphrey, though? Really?" Jonathon scoffed. "At least I gave you a normal name with Sarah. I could've gone for Irma or Wilhelmina, something stuffy and matronly." He stumbled as we took a step up onto the platforms, the bags swaying.
"Oh, but I love the name Mina," I replied airily, guiding him toward our train.
"Wilhelmina. I didn't say Mina. Wilhelmina Irma Persnickety and her blind cousin, Humphrey Fitzwilliam Persnickety," he said, reaching out as if he were falling and finding my face and petting it. I let loose the laugh I'd held back earlier.
"Fitzwilliam? Oh, no, you're not allowed to allude to Mr. Darcy. Darcy would not be caught dead in those glasses," I teased and jumped aside as Jonathon crowed in protest. I ran a few steps ahead, thinking of the most random name I could come up with. "You're helpless without me, Humphrey...Pindarus Persnickety."
Pained by the name I'd plucked from Julius Caesar, he shook his fist in the air quoting, "Pindarus? Where art thou, Pindarus?" He slid his glasses down his nose to look at me. "If you dare match wits with me about Shakespeare, I'll rename you one of Lear's daughters. How about Goneril?"
"That sounds like some horrid disease." I tried to shush our laughter, afraid we'd attract unwanted attention, as I moved to Jonathon's side to guide him up the train stairs. "Where are we going again, coz?" I asked, checking our printed schedule.
"St. Paul, Minnesota, to throw ourselves at the mercy of my friend Samuel Neumann," Jonathon replied.
My smile faded. Passengers jostled around us. More trains pulled in, making the air wet with steam and smelling thickly of coal. Jonathon set his case and my bag down, and removed his glasses to adjust their thick bridge. A train whistle screamed.
"Jonathon," I murmured. "I'll be at the mercy of two men. One I don't know. You, I barely know. And...I have to ask. Am I a reminder of terrible things? In the light of day, in a world free of magic-"
His gloved finger lifted my chin gently. The lamp post above us cast his elegant features partly into shadow, but his eyes blazed into me and stopped my breath as they so often did. "Here in the light of day I care about you more than ever. You're the angel that freed me from a curse, not a reminder of it." He smiled, putting on the ridiculous glasses again. "If you're worried about me falling further for you-"
I laughed, giving him a swift kiss on the mouth. "I'm not. Just...keep falling for me." With a look I hoped was flirtatious and alluring-I was still practicing my feminine wiles-I picked up my skirts and darted up the train steps.
"I will most certainly keep falling if you don't help me up these stairs," Jonathon called. With a giggle, I aided him up and into the aisle between the compartments. "A private compartment, if you please, Miss Persnickety," he said pointedly. "Let's avoid another incident like we had on our last train."
"A private compartment?" I breathed. A thrill raced up my spine at the prospect.
A conductor with the logo of the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railway prominent on his vest and hat came to collect our tickets.
"We'd like a private compartment, please," Jonathon stated.
"Of course, sir." The man eyed us. "Newlyweds?"
Jonathon and I scoffed at the same time. "Cousins," I replied. The conductor just eyed us some more and showed us to a small compartment with frosted glass doors.
"Where to?" the conductor asked as we entered the narrow compartment, which had two small beds and a long bench.
"St. Paul," Jonathon replied. The conductor stamped our tickets and slid them into a clip by the compartment doors. I bobbed my head at him as he closed the doors, and we were alone for the first time since our hasty flight out of Manhattan.
"Think he believed us?" I asked.
"Not for a second." Jonathon took off his hat, threw his glasses onto one of the beds, and pulled me into a deep kiss.
Next thing I knew, we were in a mess of entangled fabric, my skirts around his legs and the bones of my corset pressing hard against the bones of my rib cage.
I was afire with the dangerous thrill of something that we shouldn't be doing, wondering just how far I'd dare go. Before I'd rescued Jonathon, he'd been trapped in a portrait. The demon might have had Jonathon's body, but his soul was free. We had met in the world of the portrait. Sometimes in dreams. There, we had first tasted passion. But flesh-and-blood was far sweeter. It was so scorchingly real that I almost couldn't breathe. Well, perhaps my corset was laced a bit too tightly...
Jonathon, balancing on one hand, nearly had his cravat free when the train rolled out with a lurch. He lost his balance, tumbling away from me and onto the floor of the car.
My cry of concern joined his laughter as he lay splayed on the floor, the silk of his neckwear pushed aside and revealing the hollow of his throat and a few undone buttons of his vest. I shifted on my elbow to look down at him.
"I could kiss you forever," he said, gazing up at me hungrily. "But I'd want more."
My nerves fluttered, my voice failing. "I...can't...not that I don't-"
He sat up, face to face with me, pressing a bare fingertip to my lips. "I know what a woman's virtue is worth. I'll wait as long as it takes. I know what you're worth-"
I turned away. While his gentlemanly words were indeed comforting, another boundary worried me more. Worth.
"Worth has a whole new meaning with you, Jonathon. You're from generations of nobility. I'm the daughter of a museum curator. I have nothing to offer you. You could ruin me, and no one would-"
"I'd never ruin you, Natalie. And what, saving my life isn't dowry enough? To hell with class, society, and expectations. I'd have wanted you no matter how I met you."
"Our paths would never have crossed if not for the painting and the dark magic."
"And if I had to, I'd suffer everything I went through again just to meet you," he declared. "My soul split from my body, the curse, the prison, the scars, the sleepless nights-I'd suffer it all again for you."
I stopped him with another kiss, slow and passionate, running my fingers through his black locks, but careful. Tender. These sorts of kisses were generally reserved only for the engaged or married, but kissing Lord Denbury was its own point of no return.
Finally breaking away, he stared again into my eyes. "Do you trust me?"
"Why do you ask?"
Jonathon furrowed his brow, sliding away to lean against one of the beds.
"With everything that's been assumed of me, I just...don't want you to be frightened of me." An awkward discomfort I'd rarely seen from him now surfaced.
"I do...trust you." There were times when words came so easily. Other times not. Selective Mutism meant that for most of my life, I hadn't spoken. I was four when I stopped speaking. Words, out loud, are still quite new to me. And evidently they fail most often when I'm self-conscious. But believing in him steadied me. "I wouldn't have risked what I did if I didn't believe in you."
Jonathon grimaced. "Am I a reminder of terrible things? When you look at me, do you think of the demon?"
"He looked like you. But wasn't you. His eyes were the reflective eyes of an animal. When I look at you, I see..." I blushed. "Wonderful."
Jonathon smiled a moment before his expression turned calculating. "That's what gave him away to you? The eyes? What else?"
"His voice was lower, his cadence uneven. He was rude. But his eyes were yours, until I looked straight at them. That's when the difference was clear. Looking into his eyes, I saw the abyss. Why?"
"I may need to become him." Jonathon looked at me as I swallowed hard. "I may need to act the part." I started shaking. That might do my head in, watching Jonathon play his evil half. "Trust is the only thing that's going to get us through the coming months," he added, collapsing upon the uppermost bed. "So that's all I'm going to ask of you."
"You have my trust," I said quietly, even if the last thing on earth I wanted to see was him playing the part of a fiend.
The reply must have soothed him, for several moments later I could hear the even breaths of his slumber. The poor thing hadn't had much chance to sleep in recent days.
I watched him for a long time, the gaslight of the compartment flickering across his fine features, his long black lashes hiding his oceanic eyes from me, hiding the dreams we might share if we both were asleep. It was true about trust and the future. So many terrible loose ends. Too many. But we'll sort them out. Together. We've no choice.
What People are Saying About This
"Readers...will enjoy not only the dark, supernatural mystery and then-daring romance but also the Victorian setting of elegant houses, beautiful gowns, and historical yet surprisingly contemporary New York City." - Booklist
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Leanna Renee Hieber has done it again! This time, she re-imagines the classic Frankenstein by Mary Shelley - with her own gasping twists and turns! The Twisted Tragedy of Natalie Stewart immediately picks up where Darker Still left off, not a moment or minute was spared in between these two books! Right from the beginning we're on another journey with Natalie and Lord Denbury, leaving New York City to try to leave behind the nightmare and dark magic that had tried to kill them both. But as soon as they get to their destination they learn of more gruesome things that are at play due to the demons they thought they had destroyed and Natalie must return to New York as soon as possible while Lord Denbury returns to England to further investigate what had happen to him, his family and their estate and who is responsible for all of their misfortunes. Leanna Renee Hieber's storytelling is impeccable! This story is just as eerie, dark and mysterious as the first - and the Frankenstein references had me at the edge of my seat! If I say anymore, I will truly be spoiling it for you! All fans of classic gothic-type horrors will truly appreciate this book, this series!
The thing I loved best about Darker Still - besides the ever-increasing stakes and thrills - was the relationship between the characters. Jonathon and Natalie knew that this was instalove, knew it probably shouldn't be, and decided to screw social norms - but be careful about it. They poked fun at the trope that so irritates me and then managed to pull of their own in a way that I didn't feel screwed over. And like Darker Still, The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart failed to disappoint in the area of relationships - and I don't just mean the one between Natalie and Jonathan. I loved the family dynamics of Evelyn and Natalie and her father and their adjustment to an ever-changing family life. I loved the friendship dynamics between Rachel and Natalie and Natalie and Maggie, and how each needed the other in different ways. I loved the relationship between Jonathan and Natalie and how Natalie worries about their relationship, questions it, questions them, and yet at the end of the day- well, no spoilers. You'll have to see for yourself if they survive all of their trials and tribulations. I loved the suspense throughout the story as well; I wasn't certain what was going to happen from moment to moment involving Jonathan's double agenting and Rachel's powers and Evelyn's actions. There was only one predictable occurrence, which is foreshadowed so heavily that even Natalie knows it (and yet she does nothing about it?), but it didn't take away from the rest of the story. All in all, it was a fairly fast-paced paranormal romp that I rather enjoyed.
So I think I enjoyed this book more than I did the first one. Not only did I find this one to be a quicker read, but I found that I enjoyed the story line a little bit better and Natalie and Jonathan fought to break free from this twisted plot that they got dragged into. I felt a little jarred as to how long the events of this book too place over, but I assume it was an extended amount of time. I like that Natalie stuck by her guns in this book when it came to standing by Denbury. No matter how much she was afraid that the demon took him over again, she still stood by him, showing that trust that is so important in relationships. Especially ones that require running into danger. I also loved how there was this added element of a real relationship that wasn't in the first book. In this one you have Natalie and Denbury traveling and having to pretend to be related because of the inappropriateness of a female traveling alone. I also adored how true to the period this book stayed. Between the carriages, and the need to court a lady and how the social hierarchy worked, I completely appreciated it. The same with the first book too, I loved all the occult details and facts that found their way into the book especially dealing with the priest came on board. I do wish that this book had followed the same format of the first book in the sense that it was Natalie's journal, especially since she explains that she does have a new one. This new cast of characters in this book were all really fun and helped keep the plot moving along smoothly. All in all...WHEN CAN I GET THE NEXT BOOK!? 'Nuff said.
The third book in the series, THE DOUBLE LIFE OF INCORPORATE THINGS, is now available.
Does anyone know when the third book is supposed to be published????
¿¿¿¿½ Oh, Lord Denbury. {le sigh...} The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart is everything a good sequel should be - more of everything I love about the first book. More excitement, more adventure, more world, more danger, more creepiness, more sinister plots and devious villains, more answers, more questions, more friends and allies, more romance, more Denbury...... more kissing. {ahem} It is also fantastic to watch Natalie's character growth continue. She's always been an independently-minded, strong young woman, but finding herself herself in the middle of yet another supernatural mystery (and at the crux of a supernatural battle) forces her into more of a leadership role. While Natalie doesn't openly flaunt societal convention regarding her role as a woman, per se, she doesn't necessarily adhere to it either. She's her own person, and it makes me wanna, "You go, girl!" and fistpump repeatedly. And the romance! {fans self} Leanna Renee, you definitely know how to bring the swoon. Overall, I'm extremely eager to start the third and final book, The Double Life of Incorporate Things, which Leanna is publishing as a weekly serial on her blog.
I adored the first book. It was so poignant and wonderful. This book was all that and more. Johnathan's character was astonishing in the way he was able to switch between roles, human to demon and back again. I really can't wait for the next book-- because one of my favorite things about this author is that she doesn't include the title somehow in her dialogue or prose.
So going into this book I was pretty excited, I loved the characters of Natalie and Jonathan 'Lord Denbury' in the previous book and I was interested to see where this book would take them on their journey to defeat the evil that we met in the first book 'Darker Still'. This book starts off straight after the ending in the debut book in the series, Natalie and Jonathan are on a train to meet up with an old friend of his, when they arrive they discover that the Majesty Society who were in cahoots with the demon who actually imprisoned him in the painting are immersing themselves into his friends lives, they are also experimenting in 're-animation' of the dead, but they aren't exactly aware that the demon is no longer possessing Jonathan's body and so he acts the part to find out information as to what they are up to and becomes a double agent for both sides. He plays the part so well that Natalie sometimes wonders whether it is an act, and with her prophetic dreams playing a part in all the madness, she knows something bad is coming! As in the first book I loved how the story is told through Natalie's diary entries and letters, it's something different but really enjoyable as well. Add in a couple of new characters to help in their fight: Rachel who was Natalie's best-friend in the asylum and who is a psychic and Reverend Blessing a friend of Mrs Northe and they have a well developed 'team' I guess you could call it. And alas like all books in a series there is always something that happens at the end that makes you anxious to get your hands on the next book, and after the note I'm desperate for the next book. I highly recommend this series to those who like gothic, dark fiction.


text:
Apple Pie Cookies may just be the perfect treat. Grated fresh apple is blended with apple pie spices. Soft, sweet and chewy all in one little package.
How can there be so many cookie recipes! That wasn't a question but a statement of awe. It always blows my mind how there are new recipes popping up on the internet by cooks and bakers around the world.
Even cookies that are vegan with no eggs or dairy are endless. They look beautiful and taste even better.
I love that there are no bake cookies now too. They are so easy and perfect for summertime.
Truthfully, that type is pretty much like cookie dough but who doesn't like cookie dough!
My husband is always trying to think up new recipes for me. He thinks there are only just so many.
I have told him that all those notebooks that I have been writing in are full of ideas, inspiration, and recipes.
My mind is so full of ideas I even have to let them go sometimes. I don't think he believes me because he keeps being concerned.
I told him to just think of recipes like faces. How can there be so many different faces with just two eyes, a nose, and a mouth? It didn't help.
So, here I am with a new recipe, Apple Pie Cookies, and it is good! Thank goodness you can find great apples year round.
Oh, oh. Here come the ideas. I could do a cookie that mimics everyone's favorite pies. How about pecan pie cookies or blueberry pie cookies? Maybe I'll do that one next.
P.S. I have lots more.
Want to try these Apple Pie Cookies?
PIN IT to your Cookies or Treats board to save for later!
Find me on Pinterest for more great recipes!
This post contains affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
Apple Pie Cookies
For the cookies:
- 1/2 cup shortening organic vegan
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- 1 egg substitute
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup apple - McIntosh, Granny Smith & Gala are grest but use your favorite, peeled and chopped very fine or grated
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
Cinnamon/sugar mixture:
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix the cookies:
- With a hand mixer cream the sugar and shortening together for about 2 minutes.
- Stir in the prepared egg substitute, vanilla and prepared apple.
- In a separate bowl sift together the flour, salt and baking powder.
- Combine the dry mixture with the wet mixture and just blend.
- Scoop into heaping tablespoons full and roll into balls.
Mix the cinnamon/sugar mixture:
- Combine the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger in a small bowl.
- Roll each ball in the sugar/cinnamon mixture.
- Place on the parchment covered baking sheet about 2" apart.
- Slightly flatten.
- Bake at 350 degrees 12 minutes.
- Do not over bake. They will be a little soft when they are removed from the oven but they will harden.
- Remove to a rack to cool.
- The photo makes them look larger than they are in reality. They are about 2" in diameter.
There are two times you can freeze these cookies.
Freeze the balls of raw dough. Then when you want to bake them defrost and bake as instructed above.
After they have cooled you may freeze them in any of the methods How to Freeze.
They defrost quickly so it really doesn't take any planning. Just put them on a plate for an hour or so and enjoy.


text: WWE Brings in New Women Rather than Write for the Ones it Has Last week, two teams of newcomers shook up up the Raw and Smackdown Live women's divisions. Monday night on Raw, Paige returned and brought with her Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville. The next night, Ruby Riot, Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan interrupted a Smackdown Live Women's Championship rematch between Charlotte Flair and Natalya. The impact of Riot, Morgan and Logan's move from NXT to the WWE main roster was muted by doing the same thing that Paige, Rose and Deville did the night before—shitkick the other women on the roster. Read more about WWE Brings in New Women Rather than Write for the Ones it HasAdd new comment


text:
Welcome, Golden Bears!
New student convocation
Moving in: A #CalWelcome in photos
A welcome from Chancellor Dirks
Revamped and remarkable ASUC Student Union
Campus's first 24/7 library space
Nasir to lead Equity & Inclusion
Power soccer to join athletics lineup
A student-to-student welcome
Student deals at Cal Performances
Incoming students talk global poverty in 'On the Same Page'
On Berkeley time? He keeps Campanile's clocks ticking
New staff to advocate for undocumented students, families
New this fall: Data literacy
Modern Icelandic now offered
Impacting the world through lacrosse
Students keep their pledge to New Orleans 10 years after Hurricane Katrina
Stepping it up with Cal Band
Move over, Hogwarts: Bowles Hall is coming back
Global Edge gives freshmen a jumpstart
Coming this fall: Berkeley RADICAL, Ira Glass, Twyla Tharp and issues of global significance


text:
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Christopher Chiu-Tabet 7 July 2017
How the Marvel Cinematic Universe has united directors religious and non-religious alike for an ongoing cycle of rebirth,written by Christopher… read more
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Stephen Graham 24 January 2017
Donald Trump's inauguration was full of religious trappings: kicking off the day with a service and inviting several religious representatives… read more
Sacred Politics—Trump, Brexit and Civil Religion
Abdul-Azim Ahmed 6 December 2016
During the US elections, President-elect Trump's comments about Muslims were uniquely inflammatory. He called for a ban on Muslims entering… read more
The Changing Nature of Faith in Britain
Alex Klaushofer 29 July 2016
Mainstream thinking about religion in Britain is in a curious place. On one side are the atheists, loudly proclaiming that… read more
Religion in a post-Secular post-Christian Britain
Abdul-Azim Ahmed 12 July 2016
A summary of the report issued by the Commission on Religion and Belief in British Public Life A familiar flurry… read more
The US 'Culture Wars' as We Know Them Might be Over
Ben Woodfinden 13 December 2015
Ben Woodfinden considers what the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage will mean for the long fought culture wars of… read more
How Military Adventurism and Suspicion of Islam Have Become Part Of The British Political Landscape
Abdul-Azim Ahmed 23 October 2015
"The neocon ascendency is total". These words were written by associate editor of the Spectator Peter Oborne, describing the political… read more
Religion, Culture or a Bit of Both? The Case of Northern Irish Protestants
John Roberts 17 October 2015
John Roberts explores the often blurred lines between religion and culture through the lens of the conflict in Northern Ireland.… read more
The Challenges and Changes of Religious Broadcasting in Britain
Abdul-Azim Ahmed 17 October 2015
Abdul-Azim Ahmed explores the changing face of religious broadcasting in the UK by discussing events at the Sandford St Martin… read more
Why I am Glad the Pope and Archbishop are Leading on Climate Change
Andrew Grey 4 October 2015
By Andrew Grey Why are Christians so obsessed with sex? People are asking this all the time; after all, it… read more
7 Facts About Religious Harassment Wordwide
Lucy Smith 2 November 2014
Lucy Smith reviews some of the key points from the Pew Religious Harassment Index. The Pew Research Center conducts the… read more
Saudi Arabia, Atheism and the Brotherhood
On Religion Team 5 July 2014
Saudi Arabia's most recent royal edict shines a light on tensions in the Middle-East and has had an impact in… read more
Doing God at Westminster
On Religion Team 2 July 2014
The past few months saw increasing discussions about faith by politicians, from talks of Britain being a 'Christian country' to… read more
DNA as Destiny?
Chris Bateman 8 December 2013
Chris Bateman examines how modern attitudes towards genetics can influence discussions about discrimination. Do the arguments mounted against religion rely… read more
The US, Christianity and Guns
TJ Pearce 19 August 2013
A professor at my Alma Mater, Moody Bible Institute, once posed this question to his students: "Do we love God… read more
What is the Deep State?
Abdul-Azim Ahmed 4 July 2013
Those following commentary from within the Middle-East on the most recent military coup in Egypt will have perhaps run across… read more
5 things worth knowing about the Egyptian military coup
Abdul-Azim Ahmed 4 July 2013
1) This isn't the first military coup in the Middle East Recent history has shown that the military of Middle-Eastern… read more
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Shariah has become an ominous term in discussion today. Even the erudite former Archbishop Rowan Williams was viciously attacked in… read more
What does a Retired Pope do?
Karen Willows 2 May 2013
Pope Benedict XVI became the first Pope to retire from his position in six centuries. This doesn't leave much precedence… read more
Faith in Conflict
Andy Trenier 1 May 2013
Andy Trenier reviews the Archbishop of Canterbury's conference on dialogue and conflict. In his book 'Great Hatred, Little Room: Making… read more
Where is the faith?
Helen Traill 1 May 2013
Is religion becoming toxic in contemporary Britain? Is the Christian tradition becoming obsolete in British society? The rise of humanist… read more
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Recent protests in Bangladesh have raised old questions and challenged new leadership. A Storm Gathers Bangladesh erupted in a mass… read more
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text: Mousa's father said he hoped the inquiry would bring 'accountability' for his son's death [GALLO/GETTY] Painful positions Gerard Elias, lead counsel to the inquiry, showed a video of a British soldier screaming at hooded prisoners which he said was probably filmed during the initial hours of the Iraqis' detention. In video UK opens Iraq detainee death probe The video showed corporal Donald Payne, who was jailed for inhumane treatment in 2007, screaming abuse at the Iraqi detainees as they were forced to maintain painful "stress" positions. Elias said witnesses had suggested that Payne was trying to restrain Mousa by putting his knee on the detainee's back and pulling his arm back to put plastic handcuffs on him. The lawyer said: "It has been suggested that Baha Mousa's head was banged on the floor or wall as this was happening." Pathologists gave varying causes of death for Mousa, ranging from a combination of asphyxia and multiple injuries or asphyxia alone, the inquiry heard. Payne became the first member of the British armed forces to admit a war crime when he pleaded guilty to inhumanely treating civilians at a court martial in September 2006. He was dismissed from the army and sentenced to one year in a civilian prison. Six other soldiers were cleared of war crimes by the court martial. 'Urinated' on Elias said the Iraqi detainees claimed the abuse started immediately after they were arrested by British troops at the Ibn Al Haitham hotel six months after the US-led invasion of Iraq. Payne admitted inhumanely treating civilians at a court martial in 2006 [GALLO/GETTY] He said: "Some of them allege that they and Baha Mousa were stepped on when they were made to lie on the floor of the lobby." Some detainees claimed they were urinated on and forced to lie face down over a hole in the ground filled with excrement, he said. Detailing other abuses, Elias said: "One man says he was made to dance in the style of Michael Jackson." The inquiry would also hear "scandalous accounts" of detainees being forced to scream in an "orchestrated choir", Elias said. 'Accountability' Mousa's father Daoud, an Iraqi police colonel, said he hoped the probe would bring "accountability" for his son's death. The court martial in 2006 heard a claim from a British major that he was instructed to use "conditioning" techniques to soften up detainees for interrogation by those higher up the chain of command. The procedures included hooding people and depriving them of sleep. Britain's defence ministry has agreed to pay $4.8m in compensation to the families of Mousa and the nine other Iraqis arrested by the British troops. Elias' opening statement is expected to take two weeks, and the inquiry about one year. SOURCE: Agencies


text:
This has been quite a week!
Ever since the movers arrived last Thursday, Chad and I have basically been unpacking fourteen hours a day. My arms are permanently sore from lugging boxes, and poor Chad has suffered some brutal cardboard-box-paper-cuts (poor thing). Calvin and Coco were pretty freaked out when the movers were actually bringing stuff into our apartment, but as soon as they realized that all our stuff was finally back, they were pretty psyched.
This is only a temporary space — if all goes well, we're hoping to buy a place next spring or summer! But while we didn't actually buy any new furniture for this apartment, somehow it manages to look completely different from our old place in New York (which you can see pictures of here and here)!
I'm slowly adjusting to life outside NYC — it's crazy how friendly everyone is here! Almost every interaction — from buying groceries to standing in line at the post office — involves someone asking 'how are you?' and actually seeming like they care about the answer. It's also cooled down a bit to a balmy eighty or so degrees, so I'm a pretty happy camper this week.
And now that our living space is so cozy and settled, I can start organizing my closet!
And after!


text:
Ponderosa's debut album Moonlight Revival was a full-on rootsy, Southern rock jangler. That said, with the release of their sophomore album Pool Party, you can forget most everything you know about Ponderosa.
Pool Party is 10 ethereal, floating songs that take time to inhale and calmly exhale as they shimmer across an expansive soundscape, with only the hypnotic, monochromatic drum beat keeping the tracks tethered to the ground. You probably won't be surprised to find out David Fridmann, who has produced most all the Flaming Lips' records, produced this one as well.
"Black Hill Smoke" is a stoney grower that'll lure you in with an almost coaxing laziness before lifting you off the couch and up, out of your body with soaring, fuzzed out monster riffs. You can pick it up for free below


text: Project photography of a new pain and sleep clinic that Pulse Design Group recently renovated and relocated. The Pain clinic is an outpatient facility that includes four exam rooms, one ultrasound room, two procedure rooms, four prep/recovery bays, administrative spaces and support areas. The Sleep Lab is also an outpatient clinic and consists of two sleep rooms, each with a private bathroom. To minimize the total square footage, many support spaces are shared by the two clinics. The adjacent public circulation area was also given a finish upgrade with additional amenities.


text:
Kenneth Folk, Vince Horn, and myself will be hosting a Buddhist Geeks Pragmatic Dharma Unconference Afterparty on Aug 19th from 10am to midnight at the Boulder Center for Conscious Community.
It will be a time for people to hang out, talk about practice, and basically do whatever we want. It may end up having some structure to it at points, depending on the needs of the crowd. We will figure that out when we get there.


text:
Recent scandals in the California Senate continue to cause ripples throughout the Capitol. Now an effort is underway to broaden the options for dealing with misbehaving lawmakers.
Democratic Senators Leland Yee, Rod Wright and Ron Calderon are all currently suspended from the legislature because of legal problems, but each continues to receive a paycheck. That's because the state Constitution currently doesn't allow the Senate or Assembly to suspend a member without pay.
Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg is proposing a new Constitutional Amendment that would give lawmakers that option. He noted the more severe punishment of expulsion remains available.
"None of this changes the discretion of a legislature to expel a member with two-thirds of the membership approving," he says.
Steinberg's proposal would not apply retroactively. If approved by two-thirds of the Senate and Assembly the amendment could go to voters this November.


text:
If you attended Modern Art 2012 at the Modern Hotel, it would have been pretty hard to miss the wall cover made out of knitted and crocheted videotape.
Adrian Kershaw, a Boise artist, created the wall cover specifically for the event. The 30-foot by 6½-foot piece was created with 100 percent recycled VHS tape. The project took three weeks and more than a dozen volunteers to create.
On May 24, a hotel employee noticed some burns on the piece.
"The bartender said that she noticed it right away when she came to work," said Kershaw. "It hadn't been there the day before."
Kershaw and friends decided to go back Friday and take it down themselves, for fear of further damage.
"When we came to remove the cover Friday afternoon, Adrian found new burns that were not there Thursday, on the back of the wall," said Lauren Kistner, a contributing artist to the piece.
Kistner said the burns most probably were not an accident.
"It had to be burned with a lighter or something stronger," said Kistner said. "It melts and is dry and flaky when burned. You can use heat to mold it, but the extent of the material destroyed and char marks on the wall behind the crochet cover insist upon a flame. A cigarette would not have enough heat to burn the Mylar to the extent that it was."
Volunteers spent more than 500 hours to complete the piece in the weeks leading up to Modern Art. Local artists Amy O'Brien, Seth Randall, Brian Anthony Moore and Kistner all worked with Kershaw on the piece.
Kershaw is staying positive. Working this weekend to help prepare the stage drama War Horse, which opens at the Morrison Center in a week, she hung the damaged piece off the back railing of the venue and friends came by to see it.
"We may also take it camping as a shade shelter," Kershaw said.
She also said some of the staff working with her on War Horse have asked her to work on projects in the future, since they have seen what she can do.
"It's not the way I wanted more people to find out about my art," she said. "But hopefully, there's some silver linings in here."
Anyone with information regarding the vandalism is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 343-2677 (COPS).
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If you know, let us know. Send your responses to [email protected] or phone (631) 749-1000, extension 354. (more…)
If you know, let us know. Send your responses to [email protected] or phone (631) 749-1000, extension 354. (more…)
Sometimes in a dream, I open a door in my house, and find a room behind it that I never knew existed. (more…)
Without notice or regard
To the Editor:
I am writing to ensure that the Shelter Island community is aware that a valuable environmental and charitable resource — the "Goody Pile" — has been essentially taken away from our residents without notice or public discussion. (more…)
The Crew, as I call them, came out recently. It comprises my wife's son and daughter, their spouses, two kids (son) and two dogs (daughter). Excellent humans and animals all, but there is, for me, a disorder dynamic that accompanies their arrival, which I have been working on to handle, not that anyone would recognize this effort.
This time, they came out on Friday and we came out on Saturday morning and spent a perfect day at Wades. The son's wife had purchased one of those tent-like beach enclosures, large enough for all of us to recline in our chairs without fighting for our small circles of individual umbrella shade. It felt like the Ritz.
On Sunday morning, as is his wont, grandson Max arose early and crossed the second floor landing to tentatively open our bedroom door, which reliably creaks to announce his arrival. I say, "Hi, Fuzzball," a reference to a time not long ago when we shared amusement at a Harrison Ford moment in a Star Wars movie when he upbraided his Wookie sidekick. This remark no longer has any effect and I will retire it. He climbs between us, into The Cave, where in the past we have imagined wild animals benignly threatening him from outside. From deep brain recesses, I resurrected my guttural tiger snarl, which like the failed Fuzzball gambit, no longer sends him burrowing to the back of The Cave for safety. It's mostly iPad games now.
My wife asks him what he wants to do. A couple ideas are thrown out. He says, "I want to play baseball with Grandpa."
We go to the garage to select a bat. There are two slender yellow Wiffle Ball bats and a fat red one that seems appropriate for Sammy Sosa in his juicing days. We go with one of the Wiffles and a styrene ball from the recreational spheroid collection.
We head to the diamond, which is in fact the turnaround of the cul-de-sac we live on. My pitching is terrible, too often inside or low. But he whacks away, spraying balls to the first and third base side, to which I say, "Good hit, but I think you nailed a fan." He pays no heed to my chatter. He does have an innate sense to make me fetch a ball in the tall grass, somehow grasping the notion of bugs and ticks.
My wife comes out and we go into a pitcher/catcher mode that speeds up the action big time. She quickly takes over the hurling duties and puts me to shame, laying in gopher ball after gopher ball. Then Dad and then Mom show up and we have some actual fielding going on. I make several sensational plays but no one seems to notice. The one-on-one grandpa/grandkid spell has long been broken, but you take what you can get.
Next up is the Coecles Harbor Marina pool, where a dear friend allows us entry. Mom and Dad are with the one-year-old girl so we still have custody of Max. The idea is to go swimming, but Dear Friend offers to take us out in her Whaler. This is a no-brainer, but I wonder how Max will react. His sister, if magically endowed with speech and sufficient cognition, would eagerly assent to sky diving. Max has a more deliberative world view.
We inch out of the marina and the time comes to put on some speed. Dear Friend has been in this situation dozens of times. She tells Max it's all about his comfort zone and gives the throttle a little push. He's cool with that and then she adds a bit more and then we're flying. On the phone we record a big smile, absent two front teeth. We bounce through our first wake. The smile endures, bigger maybe.
As we head to Reel Point, Dear Friend asks him to step up to the wheel and he grabs on. He understands this is serious stuff and affects an ancient mariner pose. Then Dear Friend starts a lazy right-hand turn and he's totally into it as we head back to the marina.
Next up is the Whale's Tale. He is no young Tiger Woods. His game is all mulligans and herding the ball into the cup. Then, mid-way through, we encounter a hole with no gimmicks, obstacles or undulating carpet. He puts his orange ball into the dimple. From the instant he starts his tiny back swing I know he made unconscious calculations for force and speed and the ball takes off accordingly. He drains it, a no-doubter.
Jubilation? Nope. He wants a do-over.
We'll take a do-over of the entire day.


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Who We Are
UARK Federal Credit Union was founded in 1965 by the University of Arkansas Physical Plant. Since that time we have expanded to serve various medical, municipal, non-profit and industrial employer groups. Members' immediate family members are also eligible.
UARK Federal Credit Union aspires to be the trusted lifetime financial partner of our members.
Collectively, UARK Federal Credit Union has established a set of core values which, as an organization we will adhere to, concerning all aspects of credit union business. Our core values are as follows:
People helping people, building trust and confidence by providing an exceptional member experience.
Treat all members equally with respect, sincerity, and warmth.
Responsive to members; anticipating and accommodating their financial needs.
Provide ongoing professional development to build knowledgeable, confident, caring employees.
Continuous refinement and enhancement of our products and services.
Member elected, volunteer Board of Directors providing accountability and strategic direction.
Because credit unions, like UARK, are not-for-profit financial cooperatives, a small deposit gives you a share in ownership. As a member, you democratically control the operation of your financial institution by participating in the election of a Board of Directors.
Membership affiliation with UARK not only gives you ownership but also gives you a share in the earnings. Earnings come to you in the form of dividends and low-cost financial services.
UARK offers a wide variety of loans at very competitive rates. Some of our low-cost or no-cost convenience services include checking, home banking, payroll deduction, credit and check cards, online loans, and much, much more. The more you use our services, the more you benefit!
In addition, you'll have the security of knowing that your funds are insured to $250,000 by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), an agency of the United States government. Savings or checking accounts in different forms of ownership may each be separately insured; ask us for a copy of "Your Insured Funds" if you have questions.
Select Employee Groups
Arkansas Alumni Association Members
Arkansas Sports Therapy Clinic
Bioengineering Resources
Central EMS
City of Fayetteville
City of Springdale
Collier Drug Store
Community Blood Center of the Ozarks
Daisy Manufacturing Company
Economic Opportunity Agency of Washington County
Eureka Pizza
The Eye Center
Fayetteville City Hospital
Farmington Public Schools
Fayetteville Auto Park
Fayetteville Diagnostic Clinic
Fayetteville Public Library
Fayetteville Public Schools
Fayetteville Youth Center
First Care Family Doctors
Fujicolor Processing
Humane Society of the Ozarks
Karcher North America
Necessary Construction Company
Newly Weds Foods
Northwest AR Heart & Vascular Center
Northwest Arkansas Center for Equality
Northwest Arkansas Clinic for Women
Northwest Arkansas Rehabilitation Hospital
Northwest Energy Systems
Northwest Medical Center
NW Nursing Center
Ozark Natural Foods Employees and Members
Ozark Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Clinic
Ozark Regional Transit
Parkhill Clinic for Women
Cyril Raben, M.D. Ortho. Medicine
Regency Hospital
The Richardson Center
Rogers Water Utilities
Specialty Fasteners
Springdale Public Schools
Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital
Sugar Creek Animal Hospital
Terra Studios
University of Arkansas- Fayetteville: Faculty, Staff and Students
University of Arkansas- Little Rock
University of Arkansas Medical Center
Washington County
Washington Regional Medical Center
Washington Water Authority
Wilson/Jackson & Associates
World Gym Employees
Youth Bridge, Inc


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Today's criminals are shrewd scammers and utilize the most modern technology to steal your money. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates 25 million people have been affected by fraudulent activity.
Please use these tips by the FTC to help protect you, and stop them!
Spot phonies. If it seems too good to be true, it is! Scammers pretend to be someone you trust. Don't send money or give out personal information in response to any request whether it comes as a text, a phone call, or an email. Even if they tell you someone is in trouble and they need money now, ask for return contact information so you can do some research. Chances are they will hang up.
Use the Internet. Search the company or product name and add "review," "complaint" or "scam" to your search criteria. Do a search describing your situation, like "IRS call." Did you receive a phone call or text, then search the number to see if other people have reported them.
Caller ID is not effective. Technology makes it easy to fake caller ID. The name and number you see are most likely fake. If someone calls asking for money or information, hang up. If they are a legitimate business they will give you their contact information and respect that you need time to research them.
Do not pay in advance for a service. Regardless of what you think you might be getting, scammers will take that money and disappear. Just don't do it. There are no prizes to collect, no one is miraculously going to get your debt cancelled or IRS issues resolved. Again, do not send money or give account info! Think about all the other services you use, they all get paid after work is completed!
How you pay matters. Reputable business will not ask you to pay via unsecured methods. Credit cards have fraud protection built in, but wiring money, reloadable cards and MoneyGram type services are not only risky but you will not get your money back if there is an issue. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0090-using-money-transfer-services
Hang up on Robocalls. A robocall is a phone call with a pre-recorded message. Hang up and report it to the FTC. These calls are illegal, don't press any numbers to continue, that actually creates more calls.
Free trial offers are never free. Companies use free trials to sign you up and bill you every month until you cancel. As we said above do your research and try to find others using the product or service for a personal review.
If you have given your credit card number make sure to check the statement every month for charges and read the fine print.
If it seems fishy it is. Don't deposit a check into your account from a stranger and wire money back. By law, banks must make funds from deposited checks available within days. However, uncovering a fake check can take weeks and if your deposit turns out to be a fake, you're responsible for the bounced check fee to the bank with no chance of getting your money back.
If you are the victim of fraud do not be ashamed. Criminals make a living out of scamming people and they need to be reported. The FTC reports that $744 million was paid out to scammers in 2016. The majority of these were payments made over the phone. Check in with younger kids you know who may not have the experience to recognize scams. Elderly people are at the top of a scammer's list. They can be confused easily, mistake a person for someone they know and easily fall victim to these crimes. Teach them tips to handle these calls.


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Ten Days of Prayer
Add to Calendar
January 9, 2019 – January 19, 2019 all-day
"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
Welcome to Ten Days of Prayer 2019! We are so thankful that we can start this year with prayer. God has worked many miracles in past years as we have sought Him in prayer and fasting. The Holy Spirit has wrought revival, conversions, renewed passion for evangelism, and healed relationships. Truly, prayer is the birthplace of revival!
We believe your life and the lives of those you pray for will be changed as you join fellow church members in praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, whom the Father has promised to give to those who ask Him.
For resources and more information visit tendaysofprayer.org


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New Skin
May 11, 2012 § Leave a comment
I'm glad to see you! Please bear with me as I am in process (and I do mean PROCESS!) of shedding skin & relocating here: melhunt.com
The spaces between words and The Neverending Story
May 3, 2012 § 2 Comments
I never told you about hiking in Norway, falling in love with Aurland and Tone. Or about the week we spent exploring Tad's Swedish heritage and the intense bonds developed there. Or that I began to teach. I never told you the story of how we found ourselves in India and how I threw down my heart in Varanasi and again in Macleod Ganj. Or how we lost both remaining pets and how that feels after 15 years. Or that we finally put our house on the market. I haven't shared the revelations, love, confusion, heartbreak, exhaustion, connections, the LIFE that has been going on. All these many pieces of where I've been and who I am becoming. Much of it is recorded on the scrawled pages of blank books or buried in the folds of wrinkled skin, bedsheets and grey matter. These stories are still shifting, still being made – this recent past still struggling to be seen and understood. Which makes it that much harder to know where to begin. (Begin again. Just begin.)
On Sunday, I "finished" reading The NeverEnding Story by Michael Ende (the story of how I found it, who it's tied to, what it means to me – another story, for another time). About mid-way through I closed the cover, my receipt from the used bookshop marking the page where these words appeared in green ink, my heart thumping as it often does when encountering a significant truth: "'A story can be new and yet tell about olden times. The past comes into existence with the story.'" I've been returning to these words again and again, as I knew I would in the moment my eyes traced them into my heart. So many meanings.
If I were to read a factual accounting of the events of my life, word for word, would it change my experience of it? The understanding of my history comes into existence with the stories I have told myself. And my past shifts as current events shape my perspective. The truth of the past always exists – the actual events, that is; but the way we frame it can change (if we allow ourselves that), just as the framing of the same events differs from person to person based on the perspective.
It's only recently that the story of how I talked myself out of teaching has been written – and the associated events remembered. How much of that is fact and how much is still a distortion? How much of it was obscured and comes to light only because I can now look on it with love? The past can be a thing that I bend to my own purpose, hiding hard truths from myself, or it can shed new light on my life, showing me the way. Sometimes I use the stories to assign meaning and sometimes they seem full of meaning independent of my curation… Do as you wish, sometimes the wishes of the heart are deeply buried and hard to find. The stories help me see the wishes that have been there all along. I am no longer the confused child, wanting ever to please and ever to rebel. I am the one who knows the middle way (for the moment at least). I am the student. I am the teacher. It is so humbling, and so very RIGHT.
What a human thing, that the stories we tell ourselves shape our experience and our emotions. The olden times we tell about, this is our humanity. Our new stories about our old experiences. The past matters because of who it has created. The present matters because of how it shapes the past and who it IS creating. The snakes biting each other's tails. Neverending and on it goes. I am bound to revisit my experiences, again and again, until I step in with a proclamation, a new name, a new perspective and a new story. I am bound to this, maybe, until I step into my Self. The past does not matter to this eternal piece of me. I have no stories at all, except the new one being created right now, and now and now and now.
If you have not read this book, I highly recommend it. Sometimes I feel that fantasy can address questions of consciousness and history and love more readily than other types of fiction, because these things can be so…Fantastic. I've never thought myself a story-teller. But clearly, in my own way for my own self, I am.
May I tell myself stories that contain Truth even as the details, circumstances, and perception shift. May I forgive the dark spaces that accompany the manipulations of my memories. May I step in when necessary, to begin the story again with more clarity, reshaping the past, the present and my future.
Are there any books that read like Truth to you? Or a story of your own life that you've begun to see differently?
Ingredients {Thoughts on Morning Practice}
January 26, 2012 § 1 Comment
Ask questions. "what if?" "why?" "what do i need?"
Apply effort. Imperfectly. Repeatedly. Until there are worn spots on your mat, your heart, the soles of your boots, the letters on the keys beneath your fingertips.
Try something you'd given up on months ago (see, "what if?") and find that your imperfect effort, over time, has prepared you well. Give yourself the space to unfold into this moment. With stability, grace, and joy.
Let this fill you with new possibilities, new questions. Let it shatter your old images of who and what you were. Go ahead, take it further and fall flat. Fail. Awkwardly, spectacularly.
Laugh (loudly, as your face meets the floor. it's nicer and funnier if you aren't that far away to start*).
Resolve to remember this the next time you feel inadequate (or over-confident). The feeling is not so important as asking the question, as trying; the unfolding or awkwardness not so important as the laughter, the release.
Breathe. Rest. Write.
*Disclaimer. safety, safety, safety. Do not be reckless. Listen to your body.
January 6, 2012 § 8 Comments
It is Wednesday, and by now the soreness in my hamstrings should be subtle, a gentle reminder of the fire-y work of Sunday's sun salutes (108. What a way to begin.) When I'm seated, that's true. It's the type of pleasant soreness that says I've worked hard, leaving me feeling humbled (because it was difficult) and grateful (Because I am blessed simply to be healthy – sun salutes are a gift). When I stand up however, my tender muscles protest loudly and I stoop for a step or two. They creak and groan as I take a moment to slowly, gently straighten, and they remind me that it's not always the things I think that need the strengthening (shouldn't it be my shoulders?) Sometimes I'm certain it's will I am lacking, when actually it's my ability to let go that's in need of exercise.
I could just sit all day. I could not move and I wouldn't have to feel the pain. But if I choose to avoid this discomfort, I will get stuck. Another reminder, of course. It is so easy to allow even minor discomfort to keep me static, fearful, resistant. Paying attention, and gently probing those tender spots, massaging those muscles, is the only way out.
This is why I love asana. The body is such an amazing teacher when we pay it some attention.
December 30, 2011 § 5 Comments
Evolve. Ani D says "I'm trying to" – and I have loved the lyrics of that song for years – but mostly I'm thinking lately that the evolution is something that happens when I STOP trying. Stop trying so damn hard and wanting so damn much. I could tell you my stories (the ones I've fabricated and the ones that might have some actual truth to them), or most especially, the ones that began in the weeks before my mother died. But I think I can sum them all up in a word. Evolution.
When it becomes blood-red-stark-and-unmistakably clear that everything you have been doing does not matter – not in the way you thought, maybe even not at all – you have no other (or conscious) choice. This evolution comes in the quiet blink (or permanent close) of eyelids. When your vision returns, the old habits left behind take longer to rub away – and then it begins: When the only thing you are sure of is what is NOT worthwhile, then you have got to fill that void with something. (Eventually, you will come to look on this emptiness – though not necessarily the loss itself – as a painful but great gift). There will be many worthy pursuits ready to occupy your attention and 'make up for lost time'… eventually, you will learn that no time spent is ever 'lost' and nothing can be forced. The immense power of your will alone is not enough if it is misguided. You will simply have to try, experiment, gently tug on threads and follow old paths. What you think about all this and most especially what you think may come of it are details that will only distract you from your hard-won heart-wisdom. The only certainty is the answer to this question of passion and purpose is circumstantial and it will change. (If there ever WERE an answer to begin with – I think there might be actually, cloaked in any number of broad or narrow possibilities) It's possible that it will be buried under so many layers and memories that it pre-dates every single one of your all-important stories. It's possible too, that the answer IS Evolve (or some combination of those letters), and that the only real and lasting contentment lies in the evolution itself.
Bring me the Sunflower
August 1, 2011 § 2 Comments
Flowers and words from dear dear friends. I hope that you enjoy them too:
Bring me the sunflower, let me plant it
in my field porched by the salt sea wind,
and let it show the blue reflecting sky
the yearning of it's yellow face all day.
Dark things tend to brightness, bodies
fade out in a flood of colors,
colors in music. So disappearring is
the destiny of destinies.
Bring me the plant that leads the way
to where blood transparencies
rise, and life as essence turns to haze;
bring me the sunflower crazed with light.
Portami il girasole ch'io lo trapianti
nel mio terreno bruciato dal salino,
e mostri tutto il giorno agli azzurri specchianti
del cielo l'ansietà del suo volto giallino.
Tendono alla chiarità le cose oscure,
si esauriscono i corpi in un fluire
di tinte: queste in musiche. Svanire
é dunque la ventura delle venture.
Portami tu la pianta che conduce
dove sorgono bionde trasparenze
e vapora la vita quale essenza;
portami il girasole impazzito di luce.
-Eugenio Montale
a little kindness
July 28, 2011 § 7 Comments
I suffer* through some stupid stuff sometimes, due to pure stubborn bull-headedness.
Do you know what I mean? The kind of thing that in the scheme of things is so NOT a big deal, but in the minutia of the day to day, or in combination becomes enough to effect your outlook, your emotions, and your ability to effectively manage what's on deck? Getting enough sleep for instance (actually, this is a big thing. But I'm not talking about serious insomnia. I'm talking about a random night of sleeplessness) Ok. Enough qualifications and explanations.
See, I have this thing about whining. To a fault.
I'm working on it. Not on trying to whine *MORE*, but on the background, the attitudes and habits that this intolerance implies. Like being able to accept help (or god forbid, ask for it). Or being able to make a subtle shift that allows more joy into my day – and maybe, to the people who cross my path.
I have been working on self-kindness for years now. I have made some huge strides I am happy [happier!] to say. You would think I'd have it down by now. Sometimes, I think I do. But in the last 24 hours, I've had to admit (again) that I have more to learn. The bits of unkindness that remain reflect a disregard that startles me a little. Simple stuff. Big impact.
A tiny bit of context: When I was a kid, I had serious insomnia. I have no idea how I functioned through high school. I didn't function well. But, (so says the story), a big change in my senior year brought consistent, deep, restful sleep. Since that time, I have never had more than brief issues; I sleep like a stone. If you think I'm lucid and speak with me, I may not recall it in the morning. I love my sleep and I am so grateful for it, because I remember what it was like not to.
Last night, I woke around midnight. I lay awake for awhile. I tossed and turned and tried not to disturb the soundly sleeping cat or T beside me. I had a headache. I was hungry. My knee felt a little tweaky. (Minor things, not like when I was a kid. I feel like a whiner, writing these things. I feel like a whiner telling you about when I was a kid). I began to get frustrated, but it didn't even occur to me – no, that's not true. I flat-out refused to get up and take care of the tiny things in the way of getting a few more hours of solid sleep. Finally, I realized that I was being ridiculous, and gently picked up my sweet kitty and placed her to the side. I climbed out of bed and had tylenol, a snack, and some tea. Tucked a pillow under the covers for my knee, smiled to myself and put some lavender on my pillow for good measure. And fell into such a deep sweet sleep.
Was that so hard?? A few simple actions, a night of good rest, and a more pleasant me.
Then today, a lovely, lovely day. I headed out to a doctor's appt. Great mood, well rested, beautiful sun, tunes on the stereo, singing along. I got close to the clinic and felt some slight unease. About silly stuff. Parking. Doctor. Ugh. No big story here, it's a ridiculously little thing. No big issue, no history. And so I was prepared to just do it as I have many times before. It's not a big deal (NO WHINING! ESPECIALLY ABOUT RIDICULOUS STUFF!) It wouldn't have negatively impacted my day or my mood.
But then, instead of fighting for a space in the dark, damp garage, I made a left turn and parked at the gardens backing up to the clinic. I had a lovely walk on through the grounds, entering the clinic in an even better mood. I practically sang hello to the kind woman who checked me in. I visit these gardens periodically. They are beautiful and one of my favorite close by spaces. Why then, has it never occurred to me to do this before?
I'm still pondering, and shaking my head a bit. Because my sensible, no-whining self says, that I get to choose how I respond to lack of sleep or a ridiculously little thing like parking. She's right – I do. But my softer self is looking for a little more lee-way, a little more love. She says that continuing to do things the hard way and choosing to be in a good mood anyway doesn't make me a better person. So how about a little more kindness? How about a little more joy?
I think she's on to something.
Deep thanks to Kylie for this post. When I read it I thought I had learned this already, but I would be wrong – I would be shy of sleep and deprived of a lovely walk in the gardens.