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A Fragment of Moonswood is available in paperback and ebook format from Amazon.uk and Amazon.com, or order from your local bookshop.
Read the blurb and the first chapter here.
It was a piece of soft white stone. Veins glittered through it like caught moonlight. One face was as smooth as new fallen snow; the other was engraved with a pattern of flowing lines. Gaia traced her fingers along the carvings. After a long time, she looked up at her mother.
'What is it?'
All anyone knows about Gaia's birthday present is that it's a good luck charm that hasn't worked. And it goes on not working: winter brings more than the usual hardships of hunger, cold and dragons to Gaia and her brother Tal. When a savage raid by slavers devastates their family and village, they are left with no choice but to leave their mountain home.
As Gaia and Tal head for the capital city, through the wettest winter in living memory and a land held in the harsh grip of the ruling Fellowship, the moonswood begins to seem not lucky but dangerous, and more full of mystery than anyone at home had ever dreamed. And there will be many more dangers and adventures to come before its secret is finally revealed.
Chapter one: The Story of Chamboleyne and the Children
Tal was running hard, hurtling down the rocky path. He leapt a corner, slid, and fell headlong. No time to stop. Scrambling up, he risked a shout –
– but his voice carried too loud and too far in the clear air, and he didn't dare call again. He pelted on, skidding down the last steep turn onto level scrubby ground where a dozen goats were browsing the spiky bushes. Beyond them was a long crest of rocks where his sister was sitting, with her back turned to him, the goats and the mountains above.
Tal swore silently and glanced back over his shoulder. The thing that had set him running was still there, smudged against the brilliant white of the high snowfields and the clear blue sky above them. Two columns of grey smoke, rising into the air: it didn't make sense, but he couldn't doubt what he was seeing. He swallowed the sudden salt taste of fear, and set off at a run across the stony ground, startling the goats as he hurtled past them. Reaching the rocks, he scrambled up to the high flat stone where Gaia sat.
She had her knees drawn up to her chest and her arms huddled round them, because the air was always cold up here, above the clouds – even in Melisto with a strong summer sun burning overhead. She was staring down towards the unknown land far below, the forbidden country that she would never visit. When she was little, she had asked their mother, 'What's down there?' and Mai had said, 'It's just another part of Assalay. We don't go there.'
'What's it like?' Gaia had insisted.
'I don't know. We don't go there.'
But Gaia still wanted to know, and she went on trying to see. For most of the year, it was hopeless. In autumn, winter and spring, clouds as thick as goats' hair blankets hung heavy around the shoulders of the mountain, hiding the land below. It was only in summer, usually, that the cloud thinned into a wavering mist, letting her see a strange land of brilliant green… Usually. Not this year. This year, the clouds had hardly cleared at all, and when they did it was only for a heartbeat, too briefly for her to see anything.
There! She caught a flash of colour far below, but as she leaned forward to look, Tal grabbed her shoulder.
'You're meant to be watching, Gaia!'
He forced her round to face back up the mountains. The smudgy columns of smoke still drifted in the bright air and she stared in disbelief.
'But… They don't come in summer!'
'They do now.' Tal hauled her to her feet. 'Let's get this lot safe, shall we? If we can.'
She nodded, dry-mouthed. They slid down the rock, gathered the flock and started down the steep path towards home. The goats were restless: flinching at shadows and slight sounds, sniffing the air with flared nostrils. At the first bend in the path, Gaia glanced up to check the drifting lines of ominous grey again. Was she imagining it, or were they nearer now?
'Tal?' she said, and she could see from the grimness in his face that he had realised it too. 'Keep going,' he said. 'Just keep going,' but an instant later a shadow swooped across them and a sickening, retching stench of burnt meat rolled through the air.
Gaia clutched at Tal's hand as the green-grey dragon flew above their heads. It glided away from the face of the mountain on spread wings, banked, turned and flew back again. It was lower this time: close enough for them to feel the wind of its flight, to choke on the rank meat stink of its breath, to see the narrow yellow eyes above the long snout. Gaia closed her eyes, tensed for the savage agony of fire: the smell of roasted flesh, the screaming of burning goats, her own screaming…
'Look,' Tal whispered. She opened her eyes. The dragon was soaring upwards to land on a high pinnacle of rock above the path. It was restless at first, swaying its ugly head, swinging its tail and picking up one clawed foot after another, but slowly it hunkered down on its giant haunches and lowered its head against its scaly chest. It blinked, and yawned out a cloud of grey smoke.
'It's going to sleep, isn't it?' Tal mouthed.
'Think so.' Gaia wrinkled her nose. 'Smells as if it's just eaten.'
'Let's go then. Quietly.'
Gaia tugged at the goats, but they were stubborn with fear and refused to budge. Tal murmured the call that he usually sang out loud to gather them at evening – 'Come away, come away!' – and at last they started to move, but they were skittish: jostling one another in the narrow track, shoving, pushing, and finally breaking into a panicked run. Trapped among them, Tal and Gaia ran too.
They were making too much noise, Tal knew: hooves clattering against rock, dislodged stones tumbling and smashing, his own heart thundering. 'Slow down!' he hissed, but it was impossible; he could only keep running, every nerve alert for the searing breath of the roused dragon at his back. The track zig-zagged steeply down and down, and at last widened out onto the open ground above the village. The goats scattered. Tal stopped and looked back. No dragon.
'Well?' He glared at Gaia.
'What d'you mean? Well?'
'How about sorry, Gaia? You were meant to be watching!'
'Arctos' sake! Nothing's ever your fault, is it, Tal?'
They stared furiously at one another, dark-eyed. 'I'm going to find Mum,' Tal said at last. 'Bring the goats.'
He hurried down towards the village, and Gaia trudged across the open slope to gather the scattered flock. As she rounded them up, a dark-haired, skinny boy, barefoot and ragged, with two shabby goats at his side, came running down the track.
'Jason!' Gaia ran to meet him. 'Are you alright? There was a dragon!'
'Saw it.'
'I didn't,' she admitted. 'I was meant to be watching…'
'Don't tell me. You were looking the wrong way.' He gave a quick smile, bright as clear sun on a mountainside, and she half smiled back, but the memory – the swooping shadow, the stench, the terror – was too vivid for laughter.
'Hey.' Jason touched her hand lightly. 'No-one's eaten. Come on.'
They drove the goats along the rutted path into the village. Just past the crowded market-place, they found Tal with Mai. 'We're fine, Mum,' he was saying. 'There was only one dragon. He flew overhead…'
Tal glanced briefly at Gaia, a don't tell her look. 'Not very close. Anyway, he wouldn't have been interested in us. He'd already eaten.'
'I know.' Mai's face was grim. 'He took one of Selene's goats.'
'That's bad luck,' Tal said quietly. Gaia said nothing, but she was watching the horror in her mind: the shocking attack out of a friendly summer sky: scorching breath, and snatching claws and the high screaming of terrified goats. She shivered.
'It's alright.' Mai put an arm round Gaia's shoulders. 'Nobody's hurt, or… Just one goat. It could be worse.'
'But why was it here at all?' Gaia asked.
'No-one knows.' There was a dizzy, bewildered look in Mai's eyes. 'No-one's ever seen a dragon in summer before.' She stared up at the sky above the mountains, and shook her head. 'You can't go back up today. Let's go home and eat. Have you got any food, Jason?'
Jason gestured up at the mountain. 'Was going to find myself some berries or something.'
'Better share with us, then,' Mai said, and they continued along the track, past houses whose stones had darkened and crumbled with age. Their house was the last in the village. Beyond it was stony ground, bounded by a low wall, and beyond that a cliff that plummeted down and down until it disappeared from sight in the cloud. A gap in the wall led to the top of the rickety wooden ladders that were the only link with the country below. Last summer, Jason had dared Gaia to do the unthinkable thing.
'Climb down the ladder a bit. I will if you will.' They had been caught, already through the gap and sitting uncertainly at the top of the unimaginable drop, by Gaia's great-uncle Ambrose. He had ushered them calmly back onto safe ground before he had let them see how furious he was.
'We don't go off the mountains. You know the story of Chamboleyne,' he had raged. 'What in the name of moonshine were you thinking of?' Gaia, who had never known Ambrose so angry, had been ashamed and frightened, and even Jason had looked abashed. And Mai, when Ambrose had told her, had been angry too, but also scared and so upset, that Gaia still felt hot-faced, remembering it now as she followed her mother up the uneven stone steps into the dwelling-room of the house.
Mai opened the cracked clay pot which held the round flat loaves that she made a couple of times each moon. She peered inside. 'Have you got your lunch, Gaia?'
'Tal has.'
'Good.' Mai took two loaves out of the jar, paused for a moment, put one back and replaced the lid. 'Give this to Jason.'
'What about you?' Gaia said.
'Oh…' Mai waved the question away. 'I'm not that hungry. I'll eat later.'
'Mum?' Gaia lifted the lid off the jar, and opened the big wooden bin which held their precious supplies of grain. There were only a handful of loaves in the jar, and a sprinkling of broken grains and floury dust at the bottom of the bin.
'I was just trying to make it last,' Mai said. 'It'll be fine. The next market's at full moon.'
Fine if the dragon doesn't come again, Gaia thought. But what if it's there tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after, and we can't graze the goats? No goats means no cheese and no wool: nothing to trade, and that means no bread…
'Gaia,' Mai said. 'Let's worry about tomorrow tomorrow, shall we?'
'Fine.' Gaia took a loaf out of the jar and handed it to Mai. 'Let's worry about tomorrow tomorrow.'
There was a strange holiday feeling about that afternoon. They turned the goats loose to browse on the sparse bushes below the house, and sat at the foot of the stone steps, with the sun on their faces. Mai brought her spinning outside, while Tal carved an old length of wood, singing softly to himself. Jason scratched a grid in the dust, gathered a handful of small grey and brown stones and flicked one of them at Gaia, who was leaning against the warm house wall with her eyes closed.
'Want a game of goats and dragons?'
'Alright. I'll be goats.' She knelt by the grid, set out the stones, and manoeuvred them from one side to the other, while Jason's stone dragons tried to snatch them. They played a couple of long, closely fought games, arguing furiously about the rules, and afterwards they lay side by side on the ground, staring up at the sky, watching the clouds gather. A few large splashes of rain fell. Jason clambered to his feet.
'Better be off.'
'You can stay,' Mai said. 'You're always welcome.'
'S'alright.' He called his goats and set off for the tumbledown house where he lived alone. Gaia watched him go: a solitary figure, between the old houses. Under the heavy clouds and the rain and the looming mountains, the little village looked lost and sad. As night closed in, she and Tal gathered the goats, milked them, and penned them safely in the lower room of the house; then they climbed the steps, and shut the door on the rainy evening. A chill had fallen with the darkness and they wrapped themselves in goats' hair blankets and sat at the cold hearth.
'Tell us a story, Mum,' said Tal.
'Which one?'
'You choose.'
Mai picked up her spindle and a handful of wool, drew out a thread and set the spindle turning, teasing the wool into an even yarn.
'This is the story of Chamboleyne and the children,' she said at last. 'A long time ago…'
'How long?' Gaia demanded.
'Oh, shut up, Gaia,' said Tal. 'Just listen.'
'A long time ago,' Mai said, '- and no-one knows when, Gaia – the people in these mountains kept goats, like us, and the goats were life for them, as they are for us. They gave milk and meat for food, wool and skins for warmth, and dung for the fire. It was a hard life. Harder than ours has been, but maybe not harder than it will be soon.' She fell silent, and for a moment Gaia thought that she had forgotten the story, but then she went on.
'Well. Life was quiet as well as hard. The villagers watched the moons and the seasons pass, and everything was always the same – until one day, one year, in the last quarter of Arctos. The days were short and cold, and the winter snow was still deep on the high mountains. A group of goatherds had taken their flocks to find what food they could in one of the lower valleys, and as they shivered and stamped their feet and blew on their fingers, they saw a little group of travellers, dark against the snow on the mountains above.
'The travellers stumbled down the steep slope from the snowfields into the valley, and the villagers saw to their astonishment that, apart from the tall, gaunt man who was leading them, they were all children, the oldest a girl of about thirteen. They were half frozen and half starved, weak and exhausted from the impossible journey across the mountains.
'"Help us," said the man.
'The villagers brought them home, and built fires to warm them. They gave them food, and the children ate eagerly, but the man who had led them waved the food aside.
'"Let me speak first." His voice was weak and the villagers had to lean close to hear him. "I am Chamboleyne. You don't need to know who these children are. All you need to know is that they have been – are – in great danger. But I think – I hope – they could be safe here, if you take them in, and care for them as your own. If you do that, and if they never leave this mountainside, they may be saved."
'"What will you give us in return?" asked one of the goatherds.
'"I can offer you nothing," Chamboleyne said. "Nothing, except our weakness and our need."
'"And danger?' asked the man. 'Might we be in danger too, if we took them?'
'"I can't deny that," said Chamboleyne. "But if you turn us away, you send us to our deaths. The winter is fierce, and we have no strength left." He hesitated before he spoke again. "For my sake. I beg you… Save them for my sake. I have done the worst of things, and the only way I can repair it is by bringing these children to safety. Save them, and you save me. Save them, and one day they may save you."
'The villagers quarrelled about what to do, but they were kind to the children anyway; wrapping them in blankets and laying them on beds of heather to sleep. Chamboleyne sat listening to the argument, too worn out to say more. He watched the children sleep, then he closed his own eyes, and died where he sat.
'Early next morning, six men carried his body to a high ledge, to be picked clean by eagles and dragons. As they returned (still arguing about what to do with the children), one of them slipped, and grabbed at a piece of rock. It came loose in his hand, fell to the ground, and shattered. The broken fragments glittered in the winter sun – and that was how our gold was found.
'Well, after that, the arguments stopped. Chamboleyne and his children had brought the village luck, and that's one thing you don't turn away. In the spring, a travelling trader from the lowlands came to the village, and after him, more and more: their eyes so full of the glitter of gold that they didn't even see the children.
'So the years of gold began. We bought good things then: rich food, fine furniture and clothes. The lowlanders built the ladders so they could trade more easily with us, but we remember Chamboleyne's warning. Many strangers have climbed up. None of us has climbed down, and none of us ever will.'
The gloomy light had almost gone. Mai picked up another handful of wool from the basket and ran the yarn through her seeing fingers. 'That's the end,' she said. 'Go to sleep.'
That isn't the end, Gaia thought. If the story had ended there, where Mai always stopped it, everything would still be alright. In the darkness she told herself the real ending. After many years, finding gold had become more and more difficult and dangerous. There were no more miraculous glittering showers from the cliff. The miners had had to work their way deep into the mountains, cutting gold from the rock walls of caverns and tunnels. Before Gaia was born, even those hard-to-work seams had been exhausted, and the miners had searched desperately for others. Gaia could remember – very dimly, from her early childhood – the men setting off at dawn and returning weary and empty-handed at dusk, to swap grimly humorous accounts of narrow escapes from falling rocks. And then there had been the giant fall, and the end of the golden dream.
So much for Chamboleyne's luck. Chamboleyne's luck had crashed to dust and disaster and death. So many deaths: hardly any child in the village had a living father. Gaia closed her eyes tight, trying to remember her own father, Athanasius, but as usual she could catch only fleeting glimpses – as if someone had opened a door and slammed it shut again a moment later. She could never see his face: it remained a blank. But she knew he had looked like her (just as Tal looked so uncannily like Mai). 'Your father's child,' people always said to her, fondly and sadly, and sometimes Gaia caught her mother looking at her with an odd intensity, and couldn't be sure if Mai was seeing her or the man who would never return from the collapsed mine under the cliffs.
She sighed and turned under her itchy blanket.
'Gaia? What's the matter?' Mai's voice sounded hollow and sad in the darkness. Maybe she, too, had been silently telling the tragedy that had followed the happy ending.
'Nothing,' Gaia lied.
The moon cleared a cloud; through the high window, a shaft of yellow-white light fell into the room. Melisto: bright warm moon: bringer of sweet things: goddess of the late summer. In a few days, she would be full, and the day after that, Gaia would be thirteen. The same age as the girl in the story, and like her, destined to go nowhere but this narrow ledge of rock where the village sat. She turned restlessly again.
'Sleep,' said Mai. She started to sing softly.
Far above the summer pastures,
Golden in the setting sun,
Fly the flocks that tell you, dearest,
I'll be home when day is done.
Far above the snowy mountains,
In the endless autumn sky,
Pale the moon that tells you, dearest,
I'll be home at even tide.
Gaia pressed her fingers against her ears to shut out the song, because no-one was coming home; not today, not tomorrow. Not ever.


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Yes, being a photographer, I take a lot of pictures of my kids. I take pictures of them every single day. But very rarely do I buy them all matching outfits, plan props and take them out at golden hour to take "real" portraits of them. I consider myself more of a documentary/lifestyle photographer, and typically prefer just to capture my kiddos in the everyday. But there is something about Spring, that makes me want to dress them up and capture them in the golden light.
My kids are my favorite subjects to photograph. I know how to make them laugh and give me natural expressions. I know how they interact with each other so I can capture them sharing authentic connections. And they know that it will only take 30 min and mom will buy them ice cream after it is all done! They also enjoy the fact that I never make them "stand and smile" or do anything they wouldn't normally do. I photograph them as they are and never when they don't want to be photographed.
Their favorite part of me taking their picture, is seeing them printed and displayed in our home or in an album. They love sitting together and looking through the photos pointing out "that's me when I ..." Printing my images helps them see why I do what I do and gives them a little more patience while I do it. <3
I hope you enjoy these portraits of my kids this Springs :) <3

subset: commoncrawl


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Monthly Archives: July 2010
var title="When the Sea Saved Humanity";var ergo_id="ergo_5138″;var description="South Africa may have provided refuge when Homo sapiens needed it most.";var embed_url="http://www.scientificamerican.com/assets/zemi/files/embeds/story4.html"; When the Sea Saved HumanityPowered by Ergo:Ux
A couple of weekends ago I was in LA going to a meet-up with biomedical gerontologist Aubrey de Grey to discuss new research on aging. He talked about a new paper he co-authored with a few of his other biogerontologist colleagues. So, I asked him to tell me more. Out of that meeting came a follow-up interview and this article published on KurzweilAI.net. Please read that article as it describes well why… Read More
Michael Holick, MD, PhD, of Boston University Medical Center says he's "just one of the many scientists" exploring vitamin D, but he easily can be considered the world's foremost authority on the sunshine vitamin. In the 1970s, it was Dr. Holick who first isolated the major circulating form of vitamin D in plasma, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, as well as the active form produced by the kidneys. He was also one of the first… Read More


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Think for a moment about a person who compulsively views graphic pictures of children engaged in sexual acts. What should be done with him? "Lock him up!" is probably the first thought that comes to mind—but the answer is not always that simple.
Beliefs and practices about the sexual abuse of children have undergone a dramatic evolution over the years, and some of those changes are affecting policies regarding child pornography. In the 1890s, when Sigmund Freud's woman patients began telling stories of childhood sexual victimization, he believed what he was hearing. Soon, however, Freud became a doubter, dismissing the accounts as fantasies. Sexual abuse of children remained in the shadows until the 1970s, when it became a high-profile crime.
As society became more aware of sexual attacks on children, pornography became a major concern. In 1978 Congress made child pornography illegal, and in1982 the Supreme Court ruled that child pornography was not entitled to First Amendment protection. Law enforcement began a vigorous campaign against adult stores and mail-order firms that trafficked in sexual depictions of children. "The commercial distributors started to go out of business," recalls retired FBI agent Kenneth Lanning.
But then the Internet came along, making child pornography easier to produce, sell, and purchase than ever before. Because users could view pornography in their own homes, investigations and prosecutions became more difficult. The private nature of the crime also gave rise to questions from taxpayers and civil libertarians: Who, they asked, is being harmed? Should society be investing increasingly scarce criminal justice resources in an apparently victimless crime?
More complications arose in 2002, when the US Supreme Court decided that child pornography is protected free speech when the images don't depict actual children. If pictures are taken of consenting adults pretending to be children, no crime has been committed. Similarly it is not a crime to use computer technology to paste a child's face onto the body of an adult depicted in a sexual situation.
With that decision, society dramatically altered its definition of what constitutes a sexual crime against children. No matter how repelled we feel by child pornography, we cannot say that viewing such pictures is, in itself, a criminal act, or that child pornography is illegal because it might provoke a pedophile to commit a crime. A sharp line had been drawn between fantasy sex, which was now permissible, and the real thing, which was still outlawed.
But then a new question arose: If the intent of the person using child pornography doesn't matter, is viewing it a victimless crime? Any sensible person would agree that it's wrong to force children to pose for a sexually graphic picture or film. But once the camera shutter is clicked and the money has changed hands, the victimization is over.
Or is it? Two recent magazine articles are raising provocative questions about child pornography. In "The Science of Sex Abuse" in the January 14, 2013 New Yorker, Rachel Aviv tells the story of a 31-year-old soldier who admits he is addicted to child pornography. "I really don't have enough control over it," he said. "I would like to figure out how to make it stop, I really would. I just don't know how to do it yet."
After serving a prison sentence and undergoing a psychiatric evaluation, "John" (his real name was not given) was judged "sexually dangerous." Although he has never been charged with touching a child inappropriately, he has been placed indefinitely in a treatment program, at taxpayer expense, because he is judged likely to sexually abuse a child if he is released into society.
Some experts on sex abuse argue that John's civil liberties have been violated and he should be released: His private sexual fantasies pose no danger to society, and a study conducted by the Bureau of Justice shows that the re-arrest rate for sex offenders is extremely low.
But a recent New York Times Magazine article about child pornography takes a different stand. In "Money Is No Cure" (January 27, 2013), Emily Bazelton says that the crime of "digitized rape" occurs every time child pornography is viewed online. Its victims, she says, are the children—many of them now grown—who were forced to pose for the pictures and films. Bazelton's article focuses on two young women—"Amy" and "Nicole" (not their real names) who were diagnosed with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder after they learned that sexualized images of themselves from years ago are still circulating online.
Much of the trauma, ironically, was triggered by a legal remedy for victims of child pornography: "Amy" and "Nicole" must receive a legal notice every time a user is arrested for downloading one of their childhood images. Over the years those notices began to pile up, and eventually those once-little girls grew old enough to realize that humiliating pictures of themselves are circulating on some of the millions of pornography websites in cyberspace.
The Supreme Court agrees that child pornography has long-term, damaging effects on children who were forced to participate. In its 1982 decision, Supreme Court Justice Byron White quoted from a book about abused children, "Because the child's actions are reduced to a recording, the pornography may haunt him in future years, long after the original misdeed took place."
But no remedy existed until Attorney John Marsh, who founded the Children's Law Center in Washington, discovered an unexpected resource for those children. A 1994 provision in the Violence Against Women Act mandates restitution or compensation for victims of sex crimes, including psychiatric care, lost income, and legal costs. Both "Amy" and "Nicole" have received money for therapy, tuition and other expenses from convicted pornography users.
Some judges have ruled against restitution in child pornography cases, but at least one judge, Emilio Garza, strongly agrees that child pornography is a crime with real victims—and that they continue to suffer long after the cameras are put away. "It seems to me that we're in this brave new world, where not only was there an actual rape, but I'm going to suggest to you there is a continuing digitized rape," he said. "Possession of the digitized recording of the rape contributes to the system, contributes to the economic benefit of those who produced this thing." "Amy" may have spoken for many child pornography victims when she said, "To hear that from a judge—I couldn't believe it….It was like he really got it. He understood."
To learn more:
Jean Reynolds, Ph.D. is Professor Emeritus of English at Polk State College, where she taught report writing and communication skills in the criminal justice program. She is the author of seven books, including Police Talk (Pearson), co-written with the late Mary Mariani. Visit her website at www.YourPoliceWrite.com for free report writing resources. Go to www.Amazon.com for a free preview of her book The Criminal Justice Report Writing Guide for Officers. Dr. Reynolds is the police report writing expert for Law Enforcement Today.


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Hives all over body
February 27th, 2010
it's been about 4 months that somethings that looks like Hives grows all over my body's skin, mostly arms, legs, chest that are itchy. sometimes they grow on my face and I ashamed to contact my friends. at first, the doctor at telephone-emergency told me to inject Betamethasone (milk-color one) and see the result. after injecting, my Hives got better; but after 24 hours they came back. at last, after seeing many doctors, one of them prescript me Hydroxyzine syrup 120 ml and it helped me; but not permanently. if I drink one spoon syrup every 6 hours, most of the hives and itchy manner goes away; but still some hives will remain on my skin. and confusingly, every morning I woke up from bed, too many hives appears on my skin again and they are sometimes big!
most of the days, in middle of day in university, when I get tired and my body temperature gets high, hives appears rapidly.
I will appreciate any idea and suggestion, thank you.
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I changed my mind
replied April 10th, 2010
I developed hives after my doctor put me on diovan. He said it wasn''t the diovan and so did the rep who sold it. I continued to have severe hives. I stopped taking it after two months (no longer needed it). Continued taking zyrtec. Hives stayed away. I assumed it was from taking zyrtec everyday. My doctor then put me on high doses of viaming B6 B12 and folic acid. My hives went on a rampage after that. Not one doctor I went to put two and two together, so I suffered for almost a year. Then one day my face swelled up and they sent me to an allergist for test. Everything came up negative. Still had severe hives and every once in awhile my face and throat swelled up. Last time I went to emergency room a doctor told me my facial swelling was due to a condition called angina edema. I was allergic to Nsaids, ace inhibitors, ibuprofen, etc. I was still breaking out into hives but no more facial swelling. I then went to an immunology allergist. He took me off of the B vitamins and folic acid. He knew that that what was causing hives. He said it was a common hive producer that very few people realize that. I have been hive free ever since the day I stopped taking them. Ask you doctor about this and if he says no way, go to a doctor that knows about this allergy.
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text:
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
7 comments:
- kikamz March 23, 2010 at 9:50 PM
congrats chloe! kabalo ka cooks, looking more like u si chloe... and ganda ng boses nya ha. love that song, hawak-kamay...
- Mummy Gwen March 23, 2010 at 11:57 PM
Congrats to Chloe! I'm really proud of her achievement too. :) She sings very well. Whoa..a family of stars. Didn't know you can play the guitar..sexy Mommy..hehe. ^_^
- Me March 24, 2010 at 2:40 AM
nice voice and a good songs...thanks for sharing...
- Cecile March 25, 2010 at 5:00 AM
Congrats, Chloe; very talented talaga anak mo, Cook's :-)
- Dhemz March 25, 2010 at 5:53 AM
congrats ate!....ehehhehe...sos ginoo ko..ka talented sa pamilya woi....:)
- chubskulit March 26, 2010 at 2:49 AM
Congratlations Chloe, ang galing kumnta.. Oiiist galing ng tandem nyong tatlo ah..
Opppps, can you please add my new blog here? Thanks a lot! Please also leave your url/s on the comment section of my blog para madd ko rin sa blog roll.
- kittykat April 9, 2010 at 12:49 PM
congrats pretty Chloe...from tita Kat..and congrats to Mommy Cookie too...


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Home > Admission & Outreach > Outreach > National Mathematical Olympiad of Singapore > Introduction
The National Mathematical Olympiad of Singapore ( NMO∑ ) is an annual national competition organized by the NUS High School of Mathematics and Science since 2006 . This competition, which is open to Primary Five students in all primary schools in Singapore involves two rounds: the Preliminary Round and the Special Round. It has raised interest and enthusiasm in mathematics and is now an event that our primary schools and their students look forward to participate in.
NMO∑ aims to
Identify Singapore's Mathematics representatives for the International Mathematics and Science Olympiad (IMSO)
Generate greater interest in Mathematics among Primary school students
Cultivate enthusiasm and instil a love for Mathematics
Provide an avenue to challenge and stretch our students' mathematical potential
Nurture mathematical talents in our youths
Date: 3rd July 2019, Wednesday
Venue: Respective Primary Schools
All registered participants
Date: 23rd July 2019, Tuesday
Time: 3:30 - 5 pm
Venue: NUS High School
By invitation
An award ceremony will take place on 31st August 2019, Saturday.
The top 20 individual winners of NMO∑ will be shortlisted to join the training squad for International Mathematics & Science Olympiad (IMSO 2019). Within the training squad, a final team of 12 students will be selected to form the Mathematics team for IMSO 2019.


text: Home Food and Wine The Ultimate Gold Label Cabernet Jus Print Share Facebook Twitter Email The Ultimate Gold Label Cabernet Jus 15 June 2016 Makes 1 to 1 1/2 cups 10 minutes 40 minutes Heat the oil in a pan and add the shallots. Caramelise the shallots, taking care not to burn. Add the Cabernet Sauvignon, bay leaf and rosemary, bring to the boil and reduce to about ¾ cup. Set aside. Brown the bones, trimmings and vegetables well in a heavy based frying pan, taking care that they don't burn. Add 1 cup stock and stir to deglaze the pan. Once mostly evaporated, add the remaining stock and the wine mixture previously set aside. Simmer for about 10 minutes to further reduce until it coats the back of a spoon. Strain into a small pan, pressing through the sieve. Check for seasoning and add freshly cracked pepper, sugar and salt if required to taste. Return to the heat, bring to the boil and melt in butter while boiling to finish the jus. Note: if you're cooking a roast, make sure you include the pan scrapings to add extra flavour.


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My Three Favorite Business Reads This Year
As part of my work as a publisher and podcaster I get to read lots of books and interview some great authors. The following three books somehow made my top three list for the year, although ask me on another day and the list could change.
Predictably Irrational – Dan Ariely – Gets at the heart of why we do what we do. Fascinating marketing stuff inside this book.
The Art of Learning – Josh Waitzkin – Taught me a bit about the way people master things – great story too. (Josh on Duct Tape Podcast)
Harmonic Wealth – James Aurthur Ray – Good approach to the art of attracting wealth.
So, what were your favorite business books this year. Any surprises?
Order your copy of
The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur
by John Jantsch
"A book that deserves a spot in every entrepreneur's morning routine."
—Ryan Holiday, #1 Bestselling Author of The Daily Stoic and The Obstacle is the Way


text:
Notes From Carol's Class
Okay, This week I'm supposed to write a one-page synopsis of my book. I have to have it by the end of the week for my special WIFYR Assistants meeting in which we will critique each other's synopses and queries. Oh yeah, I have to write a query, too. So, I'm a little stressed out. And I'm thinking, how am I going to do this? I've tried before and never got it right and never got it right and never got it right. But I was thinking, what would Carol say about this?
She probably has more to say than I can remember--especially in my frantic state--but, I remember one thing she used to make us do in class, and that was to write our novel in 25 words or less.
When 14-year-old Sophie Baretsky is separate from her little sister, everything goes wrong and Sophie doesn't know how long she can keep the secret her mother swore her to. 29
not bad, but not so great either.
Stuck in a small town, unable to see her little sister, 14-year-old Sophie becomes the troubled teenage everyone expected, but what they didn't know is Sophie committed the crime her mother is in prison for. 35
ten words too many
When nobody will listen to 14-year-old Sophie--not even after her mom goes to prison--she begins to lash out until she can't keep her secret any longer. 28
better, but doesn't really do it justice does it?
See, why this is so hard??
Maybe I should write it the way Sophie would?
Small town. Crazy aunt. Mom in prison. Nobody listens. Until 14-year-old Sophie almost kills someone else. 16 --how's that? better?
Can you do it? Write your novel in only 25 words.
Stay tuned. I'm gonna post my query and my synopsis later this week when I get them. I'm sure they'll be bad, but maybe you lovely readers can help me out :)


text:
Acadia Divinity College (ADC) is the Faculty of Theology of Acadia University and is the official seminary of the Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches. ADC attracts students from more than 20 countries and more than 20 denominations, preparing them to serve Christ wherever He calls them.
With a deep sense of mission, we teach and model that faith is crucial and relevant and that rigorous theological study makes a difference. As a result, our graduates leave confident that God will meet them and empower them to engage in today's changing world.
Acadia Divinity College needs your help to equip the next generation of those who will lead us.
The College Building
We must maintain a highly functional facility to continue to provide students with excellent learning spaces and improved access through technology, as well as exposing them to the resources of a contemporary university setting.
We need to renew the College building, to have a suitable and adequate facility for training the next generation for ministry
Key Academic Chairs
Theology made practical, relevant, and compelling for today's culture requires the best faculty. We must continue to provide excellent teachers who understand the needs of the church.
We need to increase our funding of these Chairs, enabling us to attract the best faculty in each of these disciplines.
Scholarships and Bursaries
Education is expensive.
We must remove financial barriers that prevent capable people from faithfully responding to God's call.
We need to strengthen the financial support we give to our students with increased scholarships and bursaries which means we need to add to our existing endowments.
Andrew D. MacRae
Centre for Christian Faith and Culture
The church needs to respond to an ever-changing world.
We are called to help students, alumni, congregations, and others in ministry to navigate Christian life and thought through the complexities of today's world.
We need to create a Centre for Christian Faith and Culture to help Christians engage the world, and the world to engage Christian life and thought.


text: Thanks to everyone who came out to the show last night. It was a lot of fun playing some of the new material, which you can expect to hear on our next album! We are headed into the studio this Friday to begin tracking, so stay tuned for updates on the recording process.


text:
Natasha + Nico's Midsummer Night's Dream at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and Mendocino Grove complete with live dinner theater and the most magical ochre skirt. Photos from Diana Rothery
Jennet + Jared's homegrown soiree on family land in Point Arena, CA. Photos from Lucille Lawrence
KC + Ben's weekend camp out at Rivers Bend Retreat in Philo, CA with a feast from their friends at Kronnerburger in Oakland. Photos from Lucille Lawrence
Vanessa + Ernie's golden sunshine in the lush gardens at Campovida in Hopland, CA. Photos from Lucille Lawrence
Rachel + Andrew's bohemian meets modern wedding at Cuffey's Cove Ranch in Elk, CA featuring Fern Foot Events' own bell tent as a late night tea lounge. Photos from Sara K Byrne
Hannah + Tommy's woodland weekend at Ellie's Farmhouse in Mendocino, CA. Photos from Diana Rothery
Victoria + Jonathan's blending of honored family tradition and their own personal touches at Rivers Bend Retreat Center in Philo, CA. Photos from Kim Heath
Robyn + Brian's golden winter wedding at Spring Ranch in Little River, CA. Photos from Holly Shankland
Mary Beth + Austin's cozy, casual, dog and kid filled campout at Jughandle Creek Farm with floral design from Fern Foot Events. Photos from Jordan Quinn
Karyssa and Andrew's festival of friends, food, live entertainment, and ample design elements at Cuffey's Cove in Elk, CA. Photos from Kristen Marie Parker
Anna + Jordan's modern meets retro glamour at Piedmont Community Hall in Piedmont, CA. Photos from Sun + Life Photography
Amanda + Dylan's indigo and agate inspired Autumn wedding at Spring Ranch, Little River, CA. Photos from Gabriel Harber
Lauren + Andy's personal blend of whiskey, moody floral, a pug in pearls, and queso fountain at Spring Ranch, Little River, CA. Photos by From the Daisies
Caitlin + Tom's breezy fall wedding at Spring Ranch, Little River, CA. Photos from Anni Graham
Caro + Matt's lush hilltop vineyard wedding at Wild Iris Retreat in Philo, CA. Photos from Lucille Lawrence


text:
Business Insurance coverage protects businesses from losses that may occur during the normal course of business. It is important that business owners carefully consider and evaluate their business insurance needs because of the financial exposure they may have in the event of a loss. Insurance carriers will evaluate business owners insurance needs based on potential risks, which can vary depending on the type of environment in which the company operates. With Business Insurance, there are many different parts to it.
Business Insurance Types:
Most types of Business Insurance are optional and some are only recommended for certain types of businesses. However, while not required by law, an insurance policy is highly recommended for all business owners. Further, your landlord may require that you carry insurance.
American Integrity Insurance Solutions is an independent insurance consulting agency that partners with dozens of carriers to provide people with unbiased advice on a variety of insurance products.
Our team is readily available to craft a policy that custom fits to your needs. We promise to not only provide a policy fulfilling your specific needs, but also to help you understand how and what it protects you against.


text:
Football Review Committee proposes four eight-county provinces
Unlikely to be a decision for the best partof two years at the earliest
St Brigid's players celebrate winning last year's All-Ireland club final on St Patrick's day, a major event in the GAA calender. Photograph: Inpho/Ryan Byrne
The first thing to bear in mind about yesterday's second report of the Football Review Committee – focusing on competition structures and fixtures scheduling – is it is largely aspirational and intended as the trigger for further national discussions rather than immediate or even medium-term delivery.
It will not be discussed at next year's annual congress and therefore unlikely to be decided on for the best part of two years at the earliest.
Unlike the FRC's first report on improving football, which yielded a number of controversial proposals for inter alia tightening up on discipline a number of which were passed by this year's congress, there will be no campaign of advocacy to try to persuade GAA units to accept the above findings.
FRC chair Eugene McGee, who launched the report, which he described as a "discussion document", at Croke Park yesterday, confirmed he has finished his work with the committee, which has now officially been stood down.
The key proposal is the regularisation of the provincial championships into four eight-county championships, simply by diverting three counties from Leinster and one from Ulster into Munster and Connacht. This according to McGee was overwhelmingly the most popular proposal during the consultative process with counties. "We felt that we were obliged to discuss it and justified in discussing it."
Migrating counties
Ingeniously, the FRC have recommended that these migrating counties will be decided on an annual basis by the outcome of preliminary matches in the two provinces. This circumvents previous speculation individual counties such as, for instance, Longford or Donegal might be asked to relocate to Connacht.
"The difficulty in doing that would be immense," said McGee, "because it would mean certain counties would have to be picked out and designated. I was warned by some very wise people in recent years: you can't pick out a county and say 'you have to do that'. We consider this to be a fairer method. Any changes involved would be based purely on match results so it's as fair as can possibly be."
When it was put to him that the format would allow some counties to lose three matches (the preliminary round in Leinster or Ulster, the quarter-final in Munster or Connacht and finally a qualifier or All-Ireland match) whereas provincial champions are still not allowed to lose even one, McGee replied: "We don't see anything wrong with getting three chances or losing three times because we can't get perfection. We think it's the fairest and the word 'fair' is important here. There's very little about this which is unfair."
He countered the argument that by reducing the provincial championships to six weeks of sustained activity (a fortnight for quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals respectively) the GAA would lose promotional opportunities by arguing that the more symmetrical system would enable the start of the championships to be promoted more effectively, describing the current format as "dribbling into action".
"Unfortunately, that's just the way it is apart from the odd exceptional match like Donegal and Tyrone. This new thing would allow the GAA to launch their biggest competition of the year, the All-Ireland championship, the Sam Maguire Cup, in the same way as American football launch theirs and (the same as) any of the biggest sports around the world. That has always been a big complaint even with the public and I'm sure the TV people as well that the GAA didn't have that option because of the present system."
Next step
Asked what happens next in the deliberative process, GAA president Liam O'Neill said that that still has to be determined. "We'll put this out to our Central Council first. We'll discuss it at our meeting in January and decide what the process is from there. It'll go through the channels. Coiste Bainistí will be made aware of it immediately – our meeting is next week, next Friday.
"So that process will start and we'll decide – depending on what the initial reaction to it is – where it'll go but it won't be going to Congress '14."
McGee reacted forcefully to the suggestion completing the All-Ireland club championships before Christmas was unrealistic, saying there was unhappiness amongst players at having to break for two months before completing the All-Ireland series. "We feel it's not just an aspiration, we feel it should be a necessity because the starting point for improving the club situation nationally would be that the date is set for the All-Ireland club final."
Asked about losing St Patrick's Day (the date of the senior club finals) as a major event in the GAA calendar, McGee said that there were plenty of intercounty alternatives that could keep the date as an important part of the season.
The FRC also proposed retention of the Interprovincial competition and the International Rules series as well as leaving the Sigerson Cup in January and February, as the semester system and end-of-year exams in third-level institutions makes reverting to the autumn impractical.
The FRC II proposals, like those of last year's first report, would apply only to football.
Main Points
l Croke Park Central Competitions Control Committee should have overall responsibility for co-ordinating all fixtures at national, provincial, county club, third level and schools
l Period of mid-April to early August to see a significant amount of club championship activity
lAll-Ireland club season to conclude by December
l Championship to be organised on basis of four eight-county provinces with additional counties going into Connacht and Munster to be determined by outcome of preliminary rounds in Ulster and Leinster championships
l Provincial championships would be run off over six weeks
l Minor grade to be reduced from under-18 to under-17


text:
Desperately Seeking Mexican: How to Make Corn Tortillas/
by Elissa
One of the things I miss most about living in California (besides my family and the weather, of course) is good Mexican food. Most of the Mexican food in DC just can't compare. I had read about making corn tortillas from scratch, and last weekend I decided that we were going to attempt the project. The only ingredients are masa harina (a special kind of corn flour) and water. A tortilla press isn't strictly necessary, but after doing some reading I decided that we'd have a much better final product if I acquired a press. I found the masa harina at Whole Foods and the tortilla press at Sur la Table, and we were ready to get started.
I combined the masa harina with hot water according to the directions on the package and let the dough sit for an hour. Then it was time to get our tortilla assembly line going--fortunately Lane agreed to be my helper. We rolled the dough into plum-sized balls, pressed them in the tortilla press, and cooked them quickly on the griddle. Lane also worked on the guacamole--thank goodness for child labor!
The raw tortillas were very fragile--it was easy to tear the edges when extracting them from the press. I used Kenji Lopez-Alt's trick of lining the press with a cut open Ziploc bag, which worked pretty well. I was amazed at how quickly they cooked--just a minute or two per side, which made it hard to multi-task while making them. But the tortillas stayed warm wrapped in a dish towel for a little while. I decided to use our tortilla masterpieces in this fish taco recipe from Sam Sifton of the New York times--even though it was freezing last weekend I was determined to enjoy a dinner that reminded me of sunshine and the beach.
The kids refused to eat any fish or cabbage, but they were enthusiastic about the fresh tortillas with guacamole and shredded cheese. While these weren't the best tortillas I've ever eaten, they were a huge step up from store-bought corn tortillas. And Josh and I thought that the fish tacos were terrific. Now we just need to plan a family vacation to Baja to compare our handiwork to the real thing!


text:
This section contains the info files for recordings of Rockwell Church's live shows. Many of them were at some point available for download through the old RC fansite (.org). New recordings may still be available in the future.
Each show is graded on recording quality and some have notes on the performance. If you'd like a copy of one of these shows, check out the trading section.
Each show is graded on recording quality and some have notes on the performance. If you'd like a copy of one of these shows, check out the trading section.
2002-11-02 @ the point - byrn mawr, pa (late show)
- a little boomy, sounds same as early show
performance notes:
- n/a
info file:
Rockwell Church 11.02.02 (late show) The Point Bryn Mawr, PA Taper: Samantha Zline
Source: Sony Mic > Sony Minidisc Conversion: Sony MDS-JE510 > MAudio Delta Dio > Soundforge 6 > cdwav > mkwact [Disc One] ----------------------------------------------------- 01 Bad Vacation 08:00 02 Lonely 09:05 03 Ohio in a Bucket 06:45 04 Easier on Me 08:27 05 She Hung the Moon 08:31 06 How the West Was Won 08:20 07 Romeo 05:10 08 Soap and Rain 04:57 09 Lullaby 05:20 10 I Know You Forget Me Everyday 04:50 ----------------------------------------------------- Total: 69:25 ----------------------------------------------------- [Disc Two] ----------------------------------------------------- 01 Good Ol' Boys $ 01:43 02 Long Lost Someone Elegy 05:51 03 Jack and Jill 04:22 04 Mullet Dog 06:22 05 Chemical 05:24 06 Complicated ! 05:31 ----------------------------------------------------- Total: 29:13 ----------------------------------------------------- Notes: ! Avril Lavigne Cover # Variation on "Hobo Dog" $ Theme Song from TV's "The Dukes Of Hazards"
Helpful Programs
Upcoming Shows
there are a few things
i remember, and they're
playing on my fears
i remember, and they're
playing on my fears
all content licensed to rockwell church and management


text:
Today I visited this really cool craft store called UPXCHANGE in St. Louis. Here's how the store works…
The store is filled with all sorts of craft supplies/notions that have been either donated or exchanged. You come in, see something you like, decide how much YOU want to pay for it, pay for it and leave.
Sounds to good to be true huh??
Well I "bought" 4.5 yards of upholstery weight fabric for $5.42! (I brought in about 4yrds of fabric to exchange).


text:
Supreme Court decision on Vancouver supervised injection site could have broad implications
Arguments will be made Thursday (May 11) in a Supreme Court case that will determine the future of Insite, Vancouver's supervised injection facility.
While the court's ruling will decide the fate of the Downtown Eastside clinic, the case could also have broader implications for the future of harm reduction services like supervised injection.
The Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation, which is one of over a dozen intervenors that will be presenting arguments in Canada's top court Thursday, also does supervised injection, as part of a broad range of health care services for HIV/AIDS patients.
The organization has been offering the service since 2002. Unlike Insite, which in 2003 became the only supervised injection facility in the country to be sanctioned by the federal government, the Dr. Peter Centre did not apply for an exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
According to executive director Maxine Davis, the facility operates under the premise that supervised injection services, for the purposes of preventing illness and promoting health, are within the scope of registered nursing practice, as designated by the B.C. College of Registered Nurses.
"We did not apply for a section 56 exemption, and our perspective on that was we were upholding provincial law and we were doing everything reasonably possible to uphold federal law in that nurses do not touch the drugs, they do not inject the drugs, and they do not provide the drugs," said Davis.
The Harper government's decision in 2008 to discontinue Insite's exemption from federal drug laws granted by Health Canada is what led to the court battle over the facility.
Insite operator the Portland Hotel Society argued in a court challenge that enforcing federal drug laws at the safe injection facility violated section 7 of the Charter of Rights, which protects life, liberty and security of the person. They also argued that federal criminal laws shouldn't entrench on the provincial health authority.
Two B.C. court rulings have sided with Insite, but the facility's future now awaits the outcome of the Supreme Court case.
The federal government argues that supervised injection services offered at the provincially funded Insite program are in conflict with drug laws, and that federal criminal laws should take precedence over provincial government jurisdiction.
According to a spokesperson for Canada's minister of health, the federal government's national anti-drug strategy focuses on prevention and treatment for people with drug dependencies.
But Davis argues that treatment and injection supervision services for drug users shouldn't be considered as either/or options.
"We need services on the continuum for injection drug users," said Davis. "So one part of the continuum is actually getting people in the door with health care, and when they are able to take steps towards treatment, then that's there for them as well."
The Dr. Peter Centre also helps HIV/AIDS patients with services such as wound care dressings, medication management, meals and counseling. The Vancouver facility has about 350 registered participants in its day health program and 24 people living in the centre's nursing care residence.
Davis wants to see supervised drug injection services integrated into public health services, as recommended in a report issued by B.C.'s provincial medical officer in March.
The report by Dr. Perry Kendall showed there are fewer cases of HIV among injection drug users in B.C., and recommended that harm reduction services, including access to supervised injection, be expanded in the province.
The report is part of a growing pile of research that supporters say point to the benefits of Insite. A study published in the medical journal The Lancet in April indicated that fatal overdoses in the Downtown Eastside decreased by 35 percent after the facility opened.
Supporters of the supervised injection facility include Mayor Gregor Robertson and five former city mayors, who signed an open letter this week asking the federal government to drop its appeal of the earlier court decisions that supported Insite.
Insite operators say drug users who inject at the facility are statistically more likely to access detox than those who don't.
According to Davis, there is also a high correlation between HIV/AIDS patients who use the supervised injection service at the Dr. Peter Centre, and those who get help with their medication.
"The more we can engage people in the door into their HIV treatment and having a place for them to inject where they're not sharing needles, we are on the path of being very much a part of helping reduce HIV transmission in this province," she said.
Davis said that while all of the facility's clients are HIV positive, 100 percent of them have also experienced trauma in their lives.
"Most of the individuals here have long-standing mental illness," she said. "Their addictions are years of addiction, and a lot of that is literally self-medication to overcome some of the emotional and physical issues in their lives."
Davis said if the court rules in favour of Insite, there's the potential for more injection drug users across the country to benefit from similar harm reduction services.
"The Dr. Peter Centre has had health care leaders and health care policy makers from across the province, across the country and internationally at our door, wanting to learn more about how we do this, and there are certainly places in the country that would want to implement this service tomorrow if they could," she said.
She noted that HIV transmission rates in British Columbia have been reduced by nearly 60 percent, and by 50 percent among injection drug users.
"That's phenomenal, when there's areas of the world where HIV transmission with injection drug use is out of control," she said. "So there's an opportunity for Canada as a whole to get a grip on HIV transmission, and not just British Columbia."
Other intervenors in the Supreme Court case include the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, the B.C. Nurses' Union and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network.


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I have often wondered if this time of my life is a 'phase' or a 'season'. Often strangers and friends have said to me that perhaps it's just a phase I have to go through and then things will go back to how they were. It's all fine and dandy to have such a spiritual high in life and then return to what is normal. I'm re-reading the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis and have run across a passage in it that illustrates such a quandary I find myself in repeatedly.
"A direct attack on his faith..persuading him that 'his religious phase ' is just going to die away like all his previous phases? The mere word 'phase' will likely do the trick. You keep him well fed on hazy ideas of Progress and Development and the Historical Point of View, I trust, and give him lots of modern biographies to read? The people in them are always emerging from Phases, aren't they?"
There was one distinct time I remember while in Africa and after I just found the school near the border of Kenya and Uganda. I had just spend about 4 weeks in Kenya and not all of it was a blessing like most think will happen when serving God. Often we never see the blessings that come from our labor but we have faith some good will come out of our strife. My health was poor and my spirits were low but I was hopeful God would still follow through on his promise to show me the widows and orphans he kept speaking of to me. It was an amazing story of how I found the school and if you care to read it again you can follow this link, Coincidences lead to truth.
But it was that very night after being blessed by God that the devil or evil one, however you want to label that unnerving feeling, decided to slither on it and put doubts in my head. He used some other foreigners visiting the area to put the word 'phase' into my heart. One lady said to me, 'maybe it's all a phase in your life and you can go back to graphic design, but it's great your doing what your doing'. Just like that the familiar doubt creeped back in and I went to bed crying and with a tight chest full of doubt and fear.
Maybe I am crazy!
Maybe I did go too far in all this hope and faith crap and now I am stuck in the middle of Africa with no one to bail me out. Literally alone in a jungle sleeping in a tent with the realization of how stupid all of this was. Since something like this happened before I tried to repeat words in my head, 'No it isn't a phase and that I experienced too many coincidences to not see them as miracles and guidance from God'. I like proof and God did give me proof that day and so I pushed back the evil thoughts of doubt and phases to eventually fall asleep in the pitch-black darkness of the night.
You see it's right when we learn something new or get closer to affirmation that God exists and that our purpose in life is simple. The evil will creep in and stomp on those hopes the instant we find answers to that small voice in our hearts. In Africa it is a full frontal attack on people because they don't have all the comforts of modern civilization to lull them into a 'normal' life of ease. I never want to return to thinking that 'religion is all very well up to a point'. Neither do I want to fall into the habit of thinking my religion is better than other religions when life comes down to Love and Compassion! Not taking what is given to us at face value in the bible and questioning it all and reading it and willingly asking God to explain it to me with any method he chooses. If it's by throwing me in a third world country with only faith than I'll do it because that is living…that is truly seeing faith in action…and it is about bring 'flavor' to the world we live in and not mediocrity. Likewise God can use people in modern life to make a difference in those around them even if its by living vicariously through those God says, 'Go', to.


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Mindfulness Meditation: Benefits from an Author, Entrepreneur, and Educator
The word "meditation" has been defined in various ways, and in Western culture can be conceptualized as a distinct psychological practice from its original religious and cultural roots and philosophies. Furthermore, from a non-sectarian point of view, meditation practice can be explained as the deliberate self-regulation of attention in the present moment and typically comprises concentration, relaxation, altered states of consciousness, suspension of logical thought, and maintenance of a self-observing attitude. As as an entrepreneur, author, and educator, Mindfulness Meditation has greatly enhanced my personal as well as professional productivity, emotional stability, and overall awareness. It is my belief that when utilized as a single tool in a tool-kit of various practices and methodologies, it can be extremely effective for anyone seeking to rise above the infinite variables and instability associated with todays new global knowledge-based economy.
Many friends, family, and associates often ask me about my practice of Mindfulness Meditation. Having been raised a Christian, and with most of those around me sharing such ideological underpinnings, I very well understand the many stigmas associated with the practice. For those who happen to be apprehensive, I encourage them to scour the bible where they will find the terms "meditate" or "meditation" mentioned roughly 20 times. Personally, I meditate on average 2-3 times daily, and also do so with my own family consistently every morning. Our organization also partners with corporations in order to use the practice to enhance employee productivity and wellness. In my own professional life, it cannot be overstated how the practice of mindfulness has greatly attributed to much of my success.
As an Author - On July 4th, 2014, I released my second book and first novel, "The Immovable Race: Rise of the Plebeians." Although i found the experience of writing a novel to be extremely stimulating and fulfilling creatively, there were times that I became overwhelmed with writers block. Some days creative visions would pour out into my Moleskine, and other days not so much. In an effort to try and overcome my writers block, I began an experiment with meditation. Instead of first trying to decide what to write, and then attempting to transfer thoughts onto paper, I began to simply meditate and verbally regurgitate the visions that immediately came to mind, using nothing more than the record feature on my iPhone, later transferring such recordings into my Moleskine before finalizing them in typed form. The end result was staggering. After my first attempt, I was able to push out two entire chapters within 25 minutes with minimal revisions, and ultimately I discovered a much more efficient way to produce content, while also defeating the notorious conundrum of writers block.
As an Entrepreneur - While in the midst of the heated pursuit of entrepreneurial endeavors, it can be easy to get sidetracked. After continuously hitting roadblock after roadblock, it's natural for your focus and determination to become bruised in the process. There are many times after a disappointment or even a success that I retreat to my closet for a 20 minute mindfulness session to meditate on what it all means. What was it that I did wrong? In the solidification of a meeting for a prospective sale, what did I do right? Did I miss any details that are essential to completing the puzzle as I envisioned it in my mind? Over the past few years, I've found that relaxing my mind and mentally removing myself from the stress and chaos of the daily pursuit, allows for greater objectivity of my performance, external environment, and inner state of being, thus giving me a more enhanced perspective of what was, what is, and what could become.
As an Educator - As the head of an organization which seeks to enhance the productivity, adaptability, and overall resiliency of human capital in the new knowledge-based economy, in an effort to discover methods to prepare human capital for the unpredictability of the world we now live in and the future world to come, we are constantly seeking to innovate. This past year, our organization was approached by an early childhood provider, who requested that we adapt our existing non-cognitive development curriculum for the early childhood sector. This task forced me to not only study the content of existing popular early childhood curriculums, such as High Scope, Abeka, and Creative Curriculum, as well as the top educational paradigms in the world (China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Finland), but it also forced me to ponder what was missing?
As the former national spokesperson for MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership for 11 years, and a former mentee and at-risk youth from a background of deep poverty, after delivering many keynotes around the country, afterwards many would often ask me how had I made it? What was it that I did that gave me the ability to succeed where others had failed? It wasn't until I began the rigorous practice of meditation that I discovered the answer.
While dealing with hardship and adversity, I had been practicing a form of meditation all along. I would mentally remove myself from the powerful stormy winds that surrounded me, and place myself in its eye, therefore finding peace and more importantly becoming aware of the power I possessed in my mind to remove myself, and remain unaffected regardless of what took place all around me. But what if I had learned to hone this skill at an even earlier age? And so it become increasing obvious that Mindfulness Meditation was an essential component that had to be included in any early childhood curriculum we created.
As of today, we are piloting the curriculum with 22 trained early childhood providers, who are working with ages as early as a few months to five years old, the majority being at-risk youth who are also practicing Mindfulness Meditation. If we can give them the gift of meditation early, and help them learn how to mentally control their inner environment and overall receptivity to instability or negativity, I believe we will greatly enhance their ability to adapt and remain resilient in the face of all adversity, including any they may face as they seek to thrive in our increasingly complex world. We will keep you updated as our pilots progress.
In my experience I have found Mindfulness Meditation to serve as a powerful tool to increase productivity, mental and emotional stability, as well as awareness in my personal and professional life. It has been a gift that I hope to pass on to future generations who will need tenacity and resiliency to solve many of the worlds greatest problems. I have faith that through its consistent application and implementation, that Mindfulness Meditation can and will be just as beneficial for you.
Ean Garrett, J.D., is the author of two books, "Rebirth of a Dream" and "The Immovable Race", as well as the Chief Innovation Officer of the consulting firm, Infinite 8 Institute, L3C, specializing in education and social innovation. Follow him on Twitter & IG: @eangarrett


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But now there's *really* no reason to tan; 7-dehydrocholesterol, the precursor to vitamin D that protects skin against hyperpigmentation and other sun-related damage, is available in a cream. Use it to spot-treat wrinkles around your eyes and forehead, or all over to keep skin glowy.\\n\\nA vial of Masqueology by Beauty Architects Advanced 7D Solution, $68 for four, packs a week's supply.\\nRetinol may be a star for gorgeous skin, but it can cause irritation. If you're prone to peeling, try gentle-but-it-works retinyl palmitate instead. 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Enter liposomes, \\"delivery systems\\" of teeny-tiny spheres that encapsulate active ingredients and make their way into your skin. The newest liposomes (sometimes called nanospheres) are much smaller than old-school versions, so your body can absorb them faster and easier.\\n\\nThe liposomes in Murad Firm and Tone Serum, $77, send cellulite blasters below skin.\\nMore love for algae: Alguronic acid, a compound that protects algae in the ocean, also has skin bennies.\\n\\nA dose of sea-sourced goodness (get it from Algenist Regenerative Anti-Aging Moisturizer, $90) helps regenerate tired cells so your [complexion](/beauty/2008/03/perfect-complexion) holds moisture better, making it firmer, smoother and soft as a baby's tush.\\nThink of it as [Botox](/beauty/2011/04/skin-treatments-guide) without the needles. GABA, which naturally exists in your body as a neurotransmitter, can block signals between nerves in your skin and the muscles below, says Tina S. Alster, M.D., a dermatologist in Washington, D.C. But don't worry: You can't overrelax muscles with the cream. A GABA-laced eye cream may slow crow's-feet caused by squinting in the sun. (Diva shades help, too.)\\n\\nDab Freeze 24-7 Eyecing Fatigue-Fighting Eye Cream, $115, on lines daily.\\nCopper peptides—a cocktail of copper and proteins—can help you heal faster. How? They increase collagen production to [repair wounds](/beauty/2009/10/solve-skin-problems). Derms say adding them to cream can also tighten skin.\\n\\nPamper and protect before bed with Neova Night Therapy, $85, which also has humectants to hydrate as it firms.\\nThere's no ctrl+z for wrinkles or oversize pores, but silicon dioxide is about as close as it gets, Dr. Alster says. Its micro molecules stick to the surface of your skin and refract light to [blur pores and wrinkles](/beauty/2009/08/amazing-antiaging-smart-concealers) until you wash it off. Use it daily as a primer under makeup. It's like having a concealer for creases and craters.\\n\\nA squeeze of silicon dioxide–enhanced Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner, $45, also cuts oil.\\nLignin peroxidase is a tree-fungus enzyme. And, yes, we want you to put it on your face. Stay with us: It can actually break down excess melanin, the source of uneven pigment, helping [restore your skin's glow](/fooddiet/2011/09/superfoods-for-glowing-skin). \\"It's great for reducing the appearance of melasma and uneven tone,\\" Dr. Alster says.\\n\\nTry Elure Advanced Skin Lightening Lotion, $150, to minimize brown splotches as you hydrate.\\n\\n \\n__[Your Age-Fighting (Noncrazy) Liquid Diet](/beauty/2012/08/age-fighting-liquid-diet-slideshow)__ \\n \\n__[Easy Ways to Add Energy & Years to Your Life](/beauty/2012/08/add-energy-and-years-to-your-life-slideshow)__ \\n \\n__[Age-Erasing Treatments That Really Work!](/beauty/2012/08/age-erasing-treatments-slideshow)__


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Krista Stringer, MS, CCLS
Krista's undergraduate work is in child life and child development from The University of Alabama. She also holds a Master's degree in child development from Texas Woman's University. Krista has been a child life specialist at Children's Health: Children's Medical Center Dallas for 11 years. Her current role includes serving as a child life specialist in surgery/radiology, serving as a Team Leader and also as the Education Coordinator. Krista completed her child life internship at Children's Medical Center Dallas in 2005, and has been blessed to work there ever since. Krista also serves as the co-chair on the ACLP Education and Training Committee where she works with others to help continue to grow and shape the child life educational opportunities for students. She also has the privilege to serve on the ACLP Internship Accreditation Oversight Committee and ACLP Mentor Committee to continue to help ensure best practices and help support and grow staff in our profession. Krista served on the founding TACLP board and is excited to serve two more years on this board to continue to do even more amazing things for our region!
Christy Lange, MS, CCLS
Christy graduated from Illinois State University in 2008 with an undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Resources and continued at Illinois State to obtain a Master's degree in Family and Consumer Sciences in 2010. Following an internship at Advocate Children's Hospital Park Ridge in the Chicago suburbs, Christy worked at Starlight Children's Foundation Midwest as a hospital programs coordinator for a year. She ventured to Texas in 2012 joining the child life team with Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. She currently works on the inpatient surgical trauma unit and serves in the department's Student Committee where she has overseen the practicum program and is now co-leading the internship program. She looks forward to bringing her passion for accounting and budget management in addition to her strong organization skills as the Treasurer for the TACLP.
Zenia Hudson, MS, CCLS, CIMI
Zenia obtained her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. She received her Masters of Science from Texas State University in Family and Child Studies with an emphasis in Child Life. After completing her internship at Driscoll Children's Hospital in Corpus Christi, TX, she obtained employment at the Harris Health System in Houston, TX. Zenia worked at both Ben Taub and LBJ Hospital for 3 years and then became exclusively a Child Life Specialist at Ben Taub Hospital. Zenia has collaborated with colleagues to grow the CAPES (Children of Adult Patients Enduring Stressors) program at the Harris Health System, including expanding services to an outpatient clinic. Zenia also serves as a practicum student coordinator and is actively involved in the Neonatal Palliative Care Committee as secretary.
Sarah Davis, MS, CCLS
Sarah is a Certified Child Life Specialist at The Children's Hospital of San Antonio. Sarah holds a master's degree from Texas State University in Family and Child Studies with an emphasis in child life. Sarah completed her child life practicum at Children's Health in Dallas and her internship at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. After working at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, Sarah moved back to Texas and assisted in the introduction of child life services to the radiology department at The Children's Hospital of San Antonio. Sarah currently coordinates the child life practicum program at The Children's Hospital of San Antonio while also participating on multiple teams at the hospital, including the Adolescent Transition Committee and the Ethics Consult Team. On the national level, Sarah has presented at the Annual ACLP conference and is currently serving on the ACLP's Education and Training Committee. Sarah is also on the planning committee for the Arthritis Foundation's Juvenile Arthritis Conference and has presented at multiple Juvenile Arthritis Conferences throughout the country. Additionally, Sarah has presented for The Alamo Chapter of the Texas Association for Play Therapy, and the Texas Association of Child Life Professional Conference. As the webmaster for TACLP, Sarah hopes to assist in the continued growth of this wonderful organization.
Conference Planning Chair
Audra Trussell
Audra Trussell is the Program Coordinator for the Child Life Department at Cook Children's in Fort Worth, Texas. She holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of North Texas with emphasis on child development, management, and rehabilitative studies. Audra's career at Cook Children's started in 2001 as an activity coordinator on the weekends and then in the hematology/oncology inpatient and outpatient clinic. By 2008, Audra moved to the main office to provide program support to the child life director, managers and child life staff, as well as supervise the staff of activity coordinators and community program coordinator. Throughout the years, Audra has helped to establish, grow and support programming throughout the child life department.
Audra has consistently strived to support and advocate for the professional growth of the activity coordinator role within Cook Children's and throughout the child life professional field. She played an active role on the conference planning committee for two conferences held at Cook Children's and has sat on the TACLP conference planning committee for 2017.
Outreach Committee Chair
Riley Hammond, MS, CCLS
Riley is a passionate creative with a heart for children. She is committed to using child life to impact families and change lives for the better through a play and joy-centered approach. She love crafting, goals, and do-goodery. Riley graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Texas A&M University and a Master of Science in Child and Family Studies from Texas State University. She completed her child life internship at MUSC Children's Hospital and Riley has been a CCLS for 4 years and worked at Texas Children's Hospital (TCH) - West Campus for 3 years. She has experience working in the Emergency Center and currently covers an acute care unit and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Prior to working for TCH, she worked at Children's Hospital of San Antonio as a CCLS in dialysis and the intermediate care unit. Professionally, she's presented at ACLP Annual Conference and is published in the ACLP Bulletin. She is a member of ACLP's Web and Online Networking Advisory Committee and is currently chair elect. She served as a member of the TACLP Professional Development Committee from 2016-2017. As the Outreach Committee Chair for the TACLP, Riley's primary goal is to grow the membership of the association to include clinicians, educators, health care partners, and child life students and assist in TACLP communication.
Professional Development Chair
Amber Hill, CCLS
Amber has been a child life specialist for over 10 years. She graduated with honors, obtaining a Bachelor's degree in Psychology at the University of Kansas with a minor in Applied Behavioral Analysis. She obtained her Master's degree in Human Developmental and Family Studies, emphasis Child Life from the University of Alabama. Amber completed her internship at Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth. Shortly after an opportunity for an international internship experience took her to Melbourne, Australia at the beginning of 2008. A 4-month long internship turned into a job working for 8 years as a CCLS at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. At RCH Amber got clinical experience across a variety of areas including the emergency department, infusion clinics, and PICU. She gained a leadership role with experience supporting and building teams and was a member of the Australian Association of Child Life Therapists executive board. She has recently relocated to Houston and is enjoying work as a CCLS at Texas Children's Hospital – West Campus in Katy, Texas. Amber has had the privilege to serve on various Child Life Council Committees including the Evidenced Based Practice Committee, Webinar Committee, and currently the Certification Committee. She is passionate about Child Life and growing the professionalism of the field.
Students Committee Chair
Laura Wiedemann, MS, CCLS
Laura obtained her Bachelors of Science in Child Development from the University of Arkansas and received a Master's of Science in Child Life at Texas State University in 2013. Her career as a child life specialist started at Children's Hospital of San Antonio, where she completed her internship. Laura obtained employment following her internship and spent 2 years in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children's Hospital of San Antonio. An opportunity arose at MD Anderson's Proton Therapy Center, where Laura has enjoyed working since December 2014. She currently serves as the student program coordinator at MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital, and is involved with the Texas Child Life Student Coordinator & Education Think Tank. As the Student Education Committee Chair, Laura hopes to assist with collaboration and relationships between Child Life Student Programs and Texas educators. She hopes to increase a common approach to facilitating child life students in both hospital and educational settings.