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The quilting was as challenging as I expected, but not for the reasons I had imagined. I planned to do simple cross-hatching through the minky squares, to keep it as trouble-free as possible. Once I had that part finished (or so I thought), I realized that there was all kinds of stitch skipping going on on the back of the quilt and had to completely UN-sew everything I had done so far. (All of the diagonal lines you see here.)
Isn't this a gorgeous print? ("Fabulous Finds," a Stonehill Collection by Donna Wilder for Fabric Traditions © 2011) My niece chose all of the fabrics for this quilt. Such a unique and pretty combination! (If you like her style, I'm sure she'd love to have you check out her interior design website here and/or her blog here.)
I nearly pulled my hair out trying to figure out the stitch-skipping problem. I tried re-threading, a new needle, multiple tension adjustments, cleaned my machine (long overdue anyway)... NOTHING worked. Straight-stitching on the cotton sections went fine, but on the minky, skipped stitches. Finally, at the end of my rope, I decided to try my other machine, usually NOT the best quilting machine.
It had no problem at all with the minky. It wasn't the fabric, it was the machine. Lesson learned.
The rest of the quilting was done on my usual quilting machine. Stitch in the ditch around each heart, straight line quilting on the borders, and some free-motion daisies in the heart centers...
We originally planned to bind it in the red gingham, but in the end, went with a 1/2" single-fold binding of the minky, machine-stitched to the front, hand-stitched to the back. Again, it was a tad bit trickier to work with than the usual cotton, but I think it really adds a lot to the overall effect. Nice frame, nice balance of textures.
After the final wash and dry shrinkage, there was a little more skewing of the blocks than I'm used to, but it seems to work with the overall cushiness of the quilt.
My niece has only seen pictures so far, but she thinks her friend, the expectant mommy, "is going to flip out." LoL I hope they both will love it.
Linking up today with:
Sew & Tell Friday at Amylouwho's.
TGIFF, hosted today by Rhonda at Quilter in the Gap
Link a Finish Friday at Richard Quilts
Finish it Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts, and
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? at Confessions of a Fabric Addict!
Thanks for visiting! ♥


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Category Archives: Gillian Welch
Gillian Welch
Never knew anything about this woman until yesterday, when I was hanging with my friend (and current musical collaborator) Renee. She is a big fan of hers, and shared some of of Gillian's tunes with me and we played a few together. I was instantly in love with Gillian's music and voice. Take a listen.

subset: commoncrawl


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Visiting the Island of La Digue in Seychelles
La Digue is the third largest inhabited island in the Seychelles, although it only has a population of 3000. It's an absolute dream though and everything you would expect from a small tropical island.
How to get to La Digue
The easiest ( and cheapest ) way of getting to La Dique is with the local ferry. It costs about 15 euro per person from Praslin to La Digue on the Cat Cocos ferry we took. It only takes about fifteen minutes and it's perfect for day trips as they come and go more than once a day. You can also get a ferry from Mahe but it is slightly more expensive starting at 61 euros per person.
I loved coming into the little harbour with its gorgeous turquoise water. It really gives you that sense of excitement and adventure!
How to get around the island
Transport on La Digue was one of the things I really loved! There are only a handful of cars allowed on the island and its mostly hotel cars. The rest of the people use either buggy's or bicycles.
There are loads of guys selling tours and renting out bikes as you get off the ferry so you definitely wont have trouble finding a ride! They even have some epic tricycles for people like me that can't ride a bike! It really gives you that awesome island vibe seeing people out on their bicycles.
We got some awesome VIP treatment though with Melvin driving us around in a really cool green buggy. Melvin was an awesome guide, showing us some great spots around the island. We even had a tourist on his bike come pose on one of our shots with us and the car as he loved it!
What do do on La Digue
The island might be small but a few hours just wasn't enough for us on this little piece of paradise. I would say spend at least two or three days there to really explore and get a feel for the island.
- Visit the L'Union Estate Park with it's vanilla plantation
- Head to Anse Source d'Argent, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world!
- Drink fresh juice at one of the local beach bars at Anse Source d'Argent. They play reggae music and you can even bring your own rum for a juice cocktail!
- Explore the island on a bicycle.
- Go for a hike and explore some hidden beaches.
- Hang out in the little town of La Passe
NataliOctober 30, 2017
Such a great photo diary! I hope to visit Seychelles someday!
November 5, 2017
Great article. It's beautiful!!
October 30, 2017
ivanasworldNovember 2, 2017
Beautiful place 🙂
November 4, 2017
Loving all the pictures, it looks amazing! 🙂
November 4, 2017
Wow beautiful place
IlinaNovember 23, 2017
lovely pictures and great tips. I cant ride a bike and was looking for options and landed here on your page. how/where did you book your guide and the buggy? i would love to book something similar for me as i am not much of a walking person but dont wanna miss out this lovely island.
IlinaNovember 23, 2017
Thanks 🙂 this helps! Excited!!!
GrahamDecember 20, 2017
I've read more than once that the Seychelles are the closest thing to paradise on earth. I've not been there (yet) but would love to know what you think?


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How It Happened
Rhode Island hot shooting for all 40 minutes helped pave the way to a 77-74 victory over Duquesne.
The Rams connected on 61.5% from the floor over the first 20 minutes of play (16-26), making 6-of-10 from the outside. URI led by as many as 11 points, after a jumper by Hassan Martin made it 26-15 with 8:18 to go in the period.
The Dukes would go on a 9-2 push, capped by a Micah Mason 3-ball,, to cut it to four (28-24) with 5:00 left in the half. Rhody took a 42-35 lead at the half, as Jared Terrell drained a 3-pointer in front of the Duquesne bench with two seconds remaining.
In the second half, two Martin FT with 18:01 left made it 46-39. Duquesne would then begin a 14-4 run over the next 4:25, taking its first and only lead of the night as a Mason three made it 51-50 with 13:36.
Tied at 60-60 with 8:27, the Rams held the Dukes scoreless over the next four minutes of play, taking a 66-60 lead with 4:31 to play. Rhody led by as many as eight late (74-66) with 1:09 to play, but Duquesne would not go away quietly, chipping away at the Rhody lead down the stretch.
Inside the Box Score
- Jared Terrell led the Rams with 20 points - his sixth 20-point performance in his last eight games. The sophomore guard was 5-of-10 from the floor (3-6 3FG) and a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe. He added five assists and a steal in 37 minutes of action.
- Hassan Martin had 19 points and four blocked shots. Martin made 9-of-11 from the line and connected on 5-of-9 shots from the field.
- Jarvis Garrett tallied 17 points, eight assists, four rebounds and a career-best four steals. He now has 117 assists - the most by a Rhody guard in a single season since Marquis Jones had 128 assists (34 games) in 2010-11.
- Kuran Iverson grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds to go along with seven points and two steals. It was his sixth game with 10 or more rebounds this season.
- Rhody connected on 54.5% of its shots from the floor - the 10th time that the squad has shot 50.0% or better from the floor. The Rams are 10-0 in those games.
- URI's bench was outscored 18-6 on the night. Over the last six games, Rams' reserves have been outscored 87-24.
- The Rams' four offensive rebounds tied a season-low, set on two other occasions (at GW; vs. George Mason).
Stat of the Game, pt. I
62.5% - Rhode Island registered 15 assists on 24 made field goals - an assist rate of 62.5%. It is the second-best assist rate of the season (68.0% vs. Iona; 17 assists to 25 FG)
Stat of the Game, pt. II
37:34 - The Rams led for the majority of the game - more than 37 minutes. Duquesne led for just 25 seconds. The game was tied for 2:01.
What's Next
Next up for Rhode Island is a road trip to Davidson on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at Belk Arena.
The Rams and Wildcats tip off at 6 p.m. in a game televised live nationally on CBS Sports Network.
John Sadak and Alaa Abdelnaby will provide the broadcast call, with John Schriffen on the sidelines.
The Rhody Sports Network will also carry this - and every game - live on B101 (101.5 FM), with Steve McDonald and Don Kaull.


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Militants carried out a series of apparently coordinated attacks against Iraqi security forces in and around Baghdad on Tuesday, killing nine and wounding 19, according to reports.
In Tarmiyah, north of the capital, militants attacked a police station with two car bombs, rocket-propelled grenades and Kalashnikov assault rifles, killing one policeman and wounding two, an interior ministry official and a medical source said.
Gunmen also attacked a checkpoint in Zayouna in east Baghdad, killing two police and wounding three, the interior ministry official said.
In Al-Amriyah in west Baghdad, gunmen killed army Brigadier General Saleh Hassan Fezaa, while others attacked a checkpoint in Al-Amil in the south of the capital, killing two soldiers and wounding three.
While insurgents opposed to the Baghdad government are regarded as weaker than in past years, they have shown they can strike at even the most highly-secured sites in the country.
Targets in recent months included a military base, the anti-terrorism directorate in Baghdad, a prison, and an entrance to Baghdad's heavily-fortified Green Zone, where the Iraqi government is headquartered.
Violence in Iraq is down from its peak in 2006 and 2007, but deadly attacks are still carried out almost every day.
With the latest violence, at least 187 people have been killed and 685 wounded in attacks so far this month, according to an AFP tally based on security and medical sources.


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Police are searching for a suspect who assaulted and stabbed a man outside a Queens mosque while yelling anti-Muslim statements.
Bashir Ahmad told NBC 4 New York he was opening the door to the Masjid Al-Saaliheen mosque in Kew Gardens Hills Sunday morning, when a man he'd never seen before came up from behind him, bit his nose, threatened to kill him, and yelled anti-Muslim comments before stabbing and slashing him with a knife 12 times.
"It was crazy," said 57-year-old Ahmad, an Afghan immigrant who operates a food cart in Manhattan, and issues the daily morning call to prayer at the mosque.
After the attack, Ahmad stumbled to a nearby car service company for help. He was then treated at a hospital and released.
Bervaiz Sheik, the owner of the car service, said he thought the attacker targeted Ahmad solely because he was Muslim.
"We are scared," Sheik said. "It could happen at any time."
Police released a sketch of the attacker who is described as being between 35 and 45 years old, 6 feet tall, approximately 180 pounds, with blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue baseball cap, a black jacket and blue jeans, and was possibly wearing glasses.
Meanwhile, Ahmad, who said he never misses work, is recovering at home, unable to return to his food cart for at least a week, he said.


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Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Monday Color: Black & White
This Monday, I'm taking a short break from "color" and bringing you a big dose of Black and White for my weekly pairing. This combination runs rampant in ultra contemporary decors, but has also found its grounding in every style, from transitional to coastal.
Images above:
1. Black and white rooms can easily go stiff and cold, but this living room strikes a perfect balance of contrast and warmth.
2. This black and white bedroom is easy on the eyes, with ebony nightstands, simple bedding, cowhide poofs, and abundant gray mid tones (found on www.decorationchannel.com)
3. This youthful take on black and white was one of the few kids rooms I was able to find in which the parents didn't sneak in at least another accent color, from a round-up on The Boo and the Boy.
4. Found on decor pad, I love the way the white sofa pops on the black wall, as does the stunning Roberto Dutesco photograph.
5. This bathroom found on www.housetohome.co.uk avoids starkness by sticking to the classics (i.e.: the wainscoting, the black and white floor, the black seat on white porcelain toilet).
6. A gorgeous black and white living area found in Celerie Kemble's famed book Black & White (via Casa Sugar).
7. Black and white pattern used sparingly is simultaneously playful and sophisticated, as evidenced in this bedroom found on decor pad.
8. Soft angles keep this contemporary black and white living room from being too cold.
9. Double-Sided Damask Canvas Room Divider from Wayfair.
10. Madeline Weinrib's Black and White Zig Zag Rug.
11.Reversible Montecito Bedding from Z Gallerie.
12. The Pierre Paulin Butterfly Chair puts a funky twist on this simple, timeless form (available through Hive Modern).
13. Graham & Brown's Reflection Wallpaper takes basic stripes to another level.
14. Black and White Ikat Throw Pillow from Etsy Shop pillowhomedecor.
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Louise Lasser
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Up 3,321 this week
The daughter of tax specialist S. J. Lasser, comedy actress Louise Lasser must have started off lightening things up considerably in her own household. She first won notice singing in Greenwich Village dives, improvisational revues and on Broadway in the early 1960s. Probably best known as the second Mrs. Woody Allen, Louise appeared with the ... See full bio »
Born:in New York City, New York, USA


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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Like a Fish Out of Water (10/24/13)
- TITLE: Battlefield Of Daily Living
By Debbie Rutter
I flounder about in a sea of turmoil. Challenging the daily waves that threaten to lower me into a darkened place, to unleash me into a void of nothingness. I need to draw breath and view my surroundings without the current barraging me, forcibly directing me into a never land of indecision and uncertainty.
I yearn for the essential element of human life, air. A moment to inflate my lungs, to pull back into myself the bellows of oxygen that is capable of flooding my mind with critical life, seconds that can render me helpless or harnessed with energy and clarity.
The intensity of choice, without time to discern, flings me to the depths of despair and desire to retreat unto my place of sanctuary. To seek a place where time stands still, a place where I can organize my thoughts and direct my dreams, a place where my path has been cleared and all forms of assaulters have been rendered useless, a place where I can rest and find peace within the battlefield of daily living.
So many alien forces threaten to chain me upon the ocean floor where I cannot escape, where I cannot breathe, where all light has been filtered and dulled until my view is stilled by the covering of water mirroring back at me, confirming my fragile battle-scarred self.
This must be who I am! I have fought so long within the jungle of my life, trying to escape the familiar, that which had adhered to me and absorbed into my being, seeking out the place in me that is the Ark of my truth, that which is me, my soul. Have I become a shell, a place where the life's waters infiltrates all of my layers, life that comes and goes with the ebb and flow of life's changes, challenges and altered dreams?
I see my mirrored image as the gentle rock of the surface water's reduces me into fragmented facets. Here I have found my time. Here I can look back at my life and witness all the destruction and construction that life has offered me. It is here within this discernment that I can clarify my choices, my weaknesses, my fears and my desires. It is now that I can define the generosity of life, the wealth of wisdom that has been offered to me and I can find myself within the jungle that challenges me.
Rest easy my soul. God held me in his arms and raised me beyond the waves and misted waters that suppressed me. The layers that existed beyond my true self have been left behind to remain among the victims of life that the ocean has accepted. I have become cleansed. I am renewed in faith. My eyes beheld the majestic light of Christ and I breathed in, filling my lungs with the sweet, fresh air of hope and obtainable love. I am at peace, I flounder no more.
Daily challenges may threaten me but I have come to see the truth of who I am and it is through this truth that I am capable of unleashing the love and peace that has freed me, liberated me with the new found strength of hope, that which is Jesus.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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The ride home was thankfully uneventful, with little traffic north of New Haven and sunny skies. To other DBS patients, I'd say I could have gone home the day after discharge, if it wasn't for the complication.
That complication will keep me grounded for most of the week. I'll explain tomorrow. In the meantime, thanks again for all the kind words.


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FRONTLINE Pet Care Daily Spritz is an effective daily use spray specifically designed for cats and dogs to help maintain a healthy coat.
A daily conditioning spray for dogs and cats. Contains Macadamia oil and wheat extract create a double hydration film, refreshing and protecting the skin. Rhamnose controls odours and Luminescine gives antioxidant protection while reviving the coat's natural shine.
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FRONTLINE Pet Care products feature a new formula to make sure that being healthy feels good. This new range of pet care products is developed by experts and from the makers of FRONTLINE, a brand you know you can trust.
All our products are suitable for puppies and kittens from two months of age and our range includes a Puppy & Kitten Shampoo with an extra mild formulation.
FRONTLINE Pet Care products don't have expiry dates. However, they should be used within 12 months of opening.
* We don't sell food to non-UK addresses. If you order food & non-food lines these orders will be shipped separately. A delivery charge will still be applied.
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UK, Channel Islands, N Ireland, Highlands and Islands - Standard delivery arrives 2-3 days after dispatch or for heavy parcels Courier next day after dispatch Mon-Thu.
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Payment & Security Information


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How do I get out of safe mode? The words safe mode are in all four corners. I have tried F8, i have tried system restore, nothing helps. HELP!
Holding F8 while starting up?
Well, as a last resort you could power off your computer while Win7 is still loading and it should prompt on the next startup.
Tried F8 on startup again and still did not reset it. Anything else I could try?
Shutdown or restart the system.
When u start the system it goes direct to safe mode right? when u tap f8 what do u see on the screen?
We can not fight new wars with old weapons, let he who desires peace prepare for war - PROPHET.
type ms config in the run box and go to boot, uncheck safe mode startup.
i hate computers!
but cant help myself....
How do I get to the Run box? Is there another name for it?
This is to kuwes - When I start it up and hit F8, I get the black screen that gives me options of different safe modes, and other options for repairing, but I don't know what they all do. I go to the last option which says "Start Windows Normally" and it doesn't work. I've read every option, but find I'm a little more computer illiterate than I thought. Dang it. I do want to learn though.
Windows key and R = Run
start by holding windows key first
u need to type "msconfig" without ".
We can not fight new wars with old weapons, let he who desires peace prepare for war - PROPHET.
Hey you are both geniuses! I didn't know what that windows key was for EVER! it worked. Thank you so much. I can learn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YESSSSS!


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Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images
Lilacs, members of the genus Syringa, are enjoyed for their springtime colour and fragrance. Lilacs most commonly are thought of as large shrubs or small trees, but several compact, or miniature, lilacs are available that occupy considerably less space than their larger relatives, which can reach heights of 15 to 20 feet with a similar spread. For example, Syringa patula features dense lavender flowers and grows only about 10 feet tall. Syringa palibiniana, the dwarf Korean lilac, rarely grows taller than 4 feet. Although these plants are known for compactness, regular and properly performed pruning will help to maintain vigorous growth. An occasional "rejuvenation" pruning will help older or overgrown lilacs regain good growth habits.
Prune out one-third of the oldest stems at ground level in late winter or early spring. Do not do this if the lilac is newly transplanted or less than 5 years old and does not have an undesirable spindly or otherwise unattractive appearance that calls for the more extreme rejuvenation pruning.
Remove dead flowers as soon as they turn brown and shrivel in late spring or early summer to improve the plant's appearance. Cut off flowering stems as close to a herbaceous joint as possible to minimise unsightly, bare stems.
Prune the lilac immediately following bloom. This type of pruning should occur annually. If rejuvenation pruning is not also being performed, remove a few of the oldest stems at ground level. It is ideal to maintain a clump of about 20 stems of varying ages.
Thin out vigorous top growth immediately following bloom. This will allow more sunlight to reach the centre of the plant and increase flowering.
Prune out any diseased, damaged, especially vigorous, out-of-place or pest-infested branches or stems as they appear, regardless of the time of year.
Remove one-half of the remaining old stems, as well as less-vigorous new shoots in late winter or early spring of the second year if rejuvenation pruning is being performed.
Perform the annual pruning to thin out vigorous top growth immediately following bloom. This is when the majority of shaping to maintain ideal form should occur.
Remove any old stems still present in the third spring pruning if a rejuvenation pruning is being performed.
Most recent
- Iowa State University Extension; Pruning Lilacs and Removing Mulch from Strawberries; James Romer; March 09, 2009
- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County; "Lilacs"
- Oregon State University Extension Service; Prune Lilacs Soon After Bloom
- Colorado State University Cooperative Extension; Renewing Lilacs; Judy Sedbrook and Carl Wilson; Jan. 05, 2010
- North Dakota State University Extension Service; Questions on Lilacs; Ron Smith
- If the miniature lilac is large, overgrown and has not been maintained well, it may benefit from a complete renewal. Cut the entire plant back to about 6 inches above the soil level in late winter or early spring. Although the lilac will not flower in the spring immediately following pruning, the shrub will send up a large number of shoots throughout the growing season. The next spring, retain several healthy, vigorous shoots and head them back to encourage branching.
- Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images


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We are a trade company from Holland.
Our companies name is Brothers-int.
We are looking for aluminum scrap.
That could be Taint,Tabor, profile, or any other aluminium scrap.
Loose or pressed or melt anything has us interest.
What i like to know is what you have on stock.
What you can deliver a month.
Your best price CIF any port in Turkey
Payment policy Accept bank L/C or TT
We want to visit you before we will do business at your company, just due the fact that there are allot of hackers operating.
Therefor it also would be nice if you can give us your website address also if you have a website!
I hope to hear from you, with best regards,
Rene Zonneveld
Send a message to Brothers-int


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The Veterans Administration has granted accreditation to U.S. Xpress as part of the Post 9/11 GI Bill Apprenticeship Program that allows eligible veterans to receive educational benefits from the VA while training as a driver or technician for the company.
Veterans who enter the program can receive their tax-free educational benefits as an income supplement on top of their U.S. Xpress salary. These benefits can be upwards of $25,700, depending on years of service.
Typically a truck driver coming to U.S. Xpress can earn between $50,000 and $70,000 depending on which driving opportunity he or she qualifies for, according to the company. U.S. Xpress said that with the VA benefits, veterans in the training program can now earn up to $82,000 in their first year with the company.
"At U.S. Xpress, we value the strong work ethic and leadership experience veterans can bring to our company," said Eric Fuller, president and chief operating officer of U.S. Xpress. "Beyond that, veterans have a sense of productivity, accountability and a 'can-do' attitude that will serve them well in the trucking industry, which is why we actively look to hire veterans in every aspect of our company."
Upon enrolling in the Post 9/11 GI Bill Apprenticeship Program, veterans are allowed to draw their GI Bill benefits for up to 24 months, giving them additional compensation and financial stability as they transition from military to civilian life.
The amount each veteran is entitled to receive depends upon the length of service and service type (Active Duty, National Guard or Reserve). After completing the Apprenticeship Program, veterans will become a certified Heavy Duty Truck Driver or Diesel Technician for U.S. Xpress.
U.S. Xpress launched its Military Recruitment Initiative in July 2016 as part of the company's commitment to providing veterans with opportunities to join the trucking industry.
"Our veterans have always played an essential role in keeping our country strong, and now, we want veterans to put their skills to work as a U.S. Xpress truck driver and serve our country in a new way – one that will help keep the transportation industry moving forward and our economy strong," said Fuller. "I truly believe our new apprenticeship program will help make this possible by giving veterans added financial stability as they transition out of the military and into a new career path as a professional truck driver or diesel technician at U.S. Xpress."


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My most favorite style in clothing and furnishings is the 1930 Art Deco style, apart from the Art Nouveau style of the 1920s. Some folks might be offended, but fashion is one particular of those items I joke about or never take as well seriously. With that getting said, if you are reading an write-up getting to do with dressing like Johnny Depp, style is almost certainly of some importance to you. If you choose a style like the Fryes (shown under) that also features a narrow calf circumference, you shouldn't even have to tighten all that considerably. The expansion of industrial air travel in Australia after the Second World War triggered significant alterations to women's style and its marketing in this nation.
By the end of the sixties, fashion began to adjust as hems started to drop once again and bright bold coloured fabrics with psychedelic patterns have been utilised for both guys and women's wear, an influence heightened by the hippie movement. The general effect is modern, without having descending into high fashion sillywear or retro pastiche. Several goths now wear clothes influenced by 18th or early 19th century fashion in fabrics such as silk, velvet and lace. When it comes to place, you want to keep two things in thoughts: The style of clothes you will be promoting and where you'll locate these who appreciate that style.
I have a powerful scottish background and so I am in favor of guys wearing kilts as portion of history and extended-standing tradition, but in addition to that I virtually believe it is patronizing the culture (and other folks) by turning it into a style statement. My idea of showing off is relatively conservative, but like most women, I do like style in a shoe. Frederick Worth's sketches and designs, and magazines started to consist of sketches and sepia photographs of haute couture styles, and this additional had a profound impact on public tastes.
Women's clothing became far more ornate, waistlines rose, and skirts became enormous as the century progressed into Victorian style. The production of style goods by designers, companies, contractors, and others. Onii/Oniikei (お兄、お兄系): is the male equivalent (older brother), can be confused with Visual Kei style. The Eton Crop appeared about 1927 and hair would often have brilliantine to increase the skull like appearance of the hair style. A maxi length Bohemian, Gypsy, hippie style dress is produced of flowing, airy light fabric.
The Pin-up style is just an additional element of the female Rockabilly style and specifically encompasses an even far more retro style from the forties. A boutonniere is a little accessory that is worn by guys and appears like a tiny flower (and it can occasionally really be a flower).To wear one, you slip it securely by way of the lapel buttonhole on your suit jacket so that it pops, adding colour and style to your suit much in the exact same way as a pocket square does. Offered that style designers began to …


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Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Limited (MGVCL) has republished a notification for recruitment to 51 Security Watchman cum Fireman posts at various field offices of the Company. Online applications are invited till 26th November 2016.
Number of Posts : 51 Posts (SC-03, ST-01, SEBC-16, UR-31)
Scale of Pay : Initial salary will be approximately Rs. 16,500/- per month in pay scale Rs. 7300-17940
Age Limit : Maximum age limit is 40 years for General (UR) Candidates and 45 years for SC/ST/S.E.B.C. Candidates as on 6th November 2016
Education Qualification : (i) Candidate must have passed 10th Standard examination. (ii) Candidate should have completed 06 month Fireman Training course from All India Institute of Local Self Government, Nehru Bhavan, Vadodara or equivalent. (iii) Candidate should have knowledge of Computer operations and Gujarati language
Selection Process : Recruitment Process will consist of Physical Standard Verification, Endurance Test and Written test. Candidates have to clear each stage to qualify for next stage.
Read : Gujarat PSC Recruitment 2016 Apply Online for 72 I.C.T. Officer Posts
Read : Gujarat PSC Recruitment 2016 Apply Online for 72 I.C.T. Officer Posts
Application Fee : Application fees (Non Refundable) charges are Rs.500 for General (UR)/S.E.B.C. Candidates and Rs.250 for Schedule Caste/ Schedule Tribe Candidates. Candidates can either deposit fee in any of the Branches of State Bank of India (SBI) or can pay online using Credit Card or Debit Card or Net Banking
How to Apply : Candidates can apply online through MGVCL website www.mgvcl.com on or before 26th November 2016, 06.00 P.M.Candidates also have to send print out of finally submitted application along with two recent passport size photographs, attested copies of School Leaving Certificate, Fireman Training course certificate, Mark sheet etc to The DY.GENERAL MANAGER (LEGAL&IR), Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Limited 3rd Floor HR Department, Sardar Patel Vidyut Bhavan, Race Course, Vadodara 390 007 till 5th December 2016 by Speed Post or RPAD only. Envelope containing application have to be superscribed as "APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF- SECURITY WATCHMAN (CUM FIREMAN) : ONLINE APPLICATION NO._______"
Important Dates
Closing Date for Online Application Submission : 26.11.2016
Closing Date for Submission of Application Print out : 05.12.2016
Official Detailed Notification
Apply Online
Official Detailed Notification
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Related Govt Jobs


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- country line dancing
- Dancing at Nashvilles in Rochester is my favorite! And I really want to go back. (Thank you to my deaf/Deaf and hard of hearing peers who introduced me to it.)
- square dancing
- contra dancing
- swing dancing
- ballroom dancing
Rock Climbing
I was recently introduced to Brooklyn Boulders and loved it! I felt happy like I do when I dance. Yay.
Top-roping is my favorite! The endurance test is great, and I love the feeling of just getting to let go and fall down.
I'm a Level 1 Certified Archery Instructor.
- psychology, especially positive psychology
- Agatha Christie
- Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney series
- Professor Layton series
- Tetris
- Minecraft
Escape Rooms
Freelining (freeline skates)
What is it? Here's a video.
- Priceless Pets
- Ontario City Library (Star Volunteer: volunteered for over 700 hours)
I was the protagonist of a four-person play called Proof.
I apparently wrote over 2,000 lines of poetry!
Learning a New Keyboard
I thought that learning to touch type was one of my greatest accomplishments as a kid. I felt so pleased. So one New Year's Eve as I was bored, I decided I would learn Dvorak. I love knowing two keyboards.
I work at the National Museum of Mathematics and love it! It reminds me of when I used to volunteer at the library. I enjoy getting to help people understand our exhibits and have fun all throughout the day.


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Piper Griffiths wants one thing in life: To become a Consul, a keeper of the peace between humans and daemons. There are precisely three obstacles in her way.
The first is Lyre. Incubus. Hotter than hell and with a wicked streak to match. His greatest mission in life is to get Piper into bed and otherwise annoy the crap out of her. The second is Ash. Draconian. Powerful. Dangerous. He knows too much and reveals nothing. Also, disturbingly attractive — and scary. Did she mention scary?
The third is the Sahar Stone. Top secret magical weapon of mass destruction. Previously hidden in her Consulate until thieves broke in, went on a murder spree, and disappeared with the weapon.
And they left Piper to take the fall for their crimes.
Now she's on the run, her dreams of becoming a Consul shattered and every daemon in the city gunning to kill her. She's dead on her own, but there's no one she can trust — no one except two entirely untrustworthy daemons… See problems one and two.
To know more about the author, click here : ANNETTE MARIE
PURCHASE LINKS : Amazon / B&N
#Paranormal #UrbanFantasy #ComingOfAge #Magical
I loved this!!!!
We got two sexy daemon heroes. First, there's Lyre an Incubus who is "hotter than hell", he has a fun and flirtatious personality and loves to constantly tease Piper. Then there's Ash, a Draconian. He is powerful, dangerous and scary. Personality wise, he is the exact opposite of Lyre. Both makes the perfect heroes. But yes, I do love one of them more :D… I am a sucker for powerful and intense alpha. And Ash pretty much falls into that category. 😉
Now the heroine, Piper, a Haemon, meaning she is half human, half daemon. She also has a quite loveable character. She is sweet and although she lacks magic, she can kick ass! Her sole purpose is to become a Consul, a keeper of the peace between humans and daemons, and make her father proud, who happens to be the head of the Consulate.
But when someone went to steal the Sahar Stone, a top secret magical weapon of mass destruction, leaving behind bodies of dead people… Piper was left to take the fall for the crime.
So now, Piper is on the run with no one to trust except the two daemon, Lyre and Ash. But could she trust them?
This is a fast paced, heart pumping action packed book. Given there is no romance involved (yet), it is high on sexual tension! And with just the right amount of humour.
It didn't take long for me to be drawn in the story. It comes with a lot of surprising twists. It is magical, we got all sorts of daemons and underworld creatures… And great world building.
Since this is just the start of a series, the ending left me desperate for the next book… which is already out for pre-order in Amazon. And, incidentally, the first book is free for kindle unlimited subscribers.
Ms. Annette Marie is definitely going up on my list of authors to watch for.
One of my favourite scenes were when Piper, in exchanged for an information they needed, ended up in the fight ring. A no-holds-barred fight… with daemons… Not to the death, but the fighters will not stop until someone is beaten unconscious. It is a must-read. I wanted to copy that scene here but considering I think it is one of the highlight of the story, I should refrain from doing so. 😀


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The technical definition of a terpenes probably won't clear much up, but here it is: Any of a large group of volatile, unsaturated hydrocarbons found in the essential oils of plants, especially conifers and citrus trees. They are based on a cyclic molecule having the formula C10H16. They are the main plant resin or "essential oils" and contribute to the scent, flavor and colors of plants.
Here is a short video from Leafly, an recognized industry partner, with an Introduction on Terpenes that Relate to Cannabis
As that video closes with, Terpenes are The Next Frontier of Discovery.
The easiest way to get your mind around them (albeit not 100% correct) is to think of them as essential oils. Essential oils typically have effects on people. For instance, Lavender typically causes one to be sleepy. Various terpenes also have effects on people. And, that's what we're aiming for…their effects. For most people, they are subtle effects, but they are definite effects none the less.


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Voice From the Field
Fairfax, Virginia – Virginia International University (VIU)'s School of Education announces its inaugural "Voices from the Field" speaker series. This innovative speaker series highlights local community leaders, teachers, and visionaries to speak on the ever expanding field of education. The Director of the School of Education, Kevin Martin stated that the series "seeks to promote learning beyond the classroom that will allow for engagement with professionals in the community."
The first event in the series features the Director of Program Evaluation, Mika Hama from The Global Language Network on the topic of "Taking Advantage of Service-Learning Opportunities for Teachers". The event will take place on September 19th from 2:00pm to 3:00 pm at Waples Mill campus located at 11200 Waples Mill Rd, Fairfax, VA 22030.
The second event in the series will feature Executive Director, George Rado from Capital English Academy speaking on the topic of "Language Program Administration". The event will take place on October 3rd from 2:00pm to 3:00 pm at Waples Mill campus located at 11200 Waples Mill Rd, Fairfax, VA 22030.
The "Voices from the Field" events are free and open to the public.
Follow the VIU School of Education on social media @SEDatVIU and @TESOLVIU or www.viu.edu/sed for up to the minute information on events and activities.


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Michael Duarte interviews Erik Hersman, an influential blogger, TED Fellow, and founder of iHub, an organization designed to create a supportive hub for Africa's tech community. Erik discusses his organization, and how presentations have affected his journey from startup to success.
Erik Hersman Interview with Michael Duarte from Duarte on Vimeo.


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Man vs. Wild
Complete the "Rocky Mountains" campaign.
Locate all the Gold Rush Trash in the Rockies
Locate all Animals of Interest in the Rockies
Locate the Rare Plants in the Rockies
Complete the "Everglades" campaign.
Bob's Boats20
Find all of Bob McClure's Boats in the Everglades
Find all the animals of interest in the Everglades
Tag all the Junk in the Everglades
Complete the "Sahara" campaign.
Find all the Camel Bones in the Sahara
Find all the WWII Artifacts in the Sahara
Find all the Ancient Artifacts in the Sahara
Complete the "Deserted Island" campaign.
Flight 81520
Find all the Plane Debris in Deserted Island
Casted Away20
Find all the Man Made Items in Deserted Island
Complete the "Patagonia" campaign.
Locate all the Trash in Patagonia
Find all Five Andiperla Willinkis in Patagonia
Wild, Man!40
Completed the Tutorial in Base Camp
Bear Grylls100
Reach the Level "Bear Grylls"
Born Survivor100
Complete all episodes without passing out
- Developer
- Floor 84 Studios
- Publisher
- Crave Entertainment
- Platform
- Xbox 360


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Are you a biological error?
Or are you trying to stop Dr. Laura from saying that, based on her religious beliefs, certain people are biological errors?
Are you "morally straight," as a Boy Scout should be?
Or do you know a former Scout who may not qualify for membership anymore, but he's still your good friend and not some biological error?
Hey, did you notice that Will & Grace, a show about a gay guy and his female straight friend, got the Emmy for best comedy television series?
If I am rambling, it's for good reason. I am collecting donations for United Way, and in Orlando, that means explaining to people why the agency wants to make sure that all of the area's 90 social-service providers do not discriminate based on race, sex, ethnicity and, yes, sexual orientation.
This has caused quite a ruckus because the Scouts organization receives contributions from United Way, which collects from big businesses that have corporate policies against discrimination. That would seem to conflict with the Scouts' national policy that does not allow homosexuals to volunteer as Scout leaders.
Let me be clear in a very non-subliminal way: Rats!
As a United Way supporter, I feel like a cross between Rodney Dangerfield, the comedian, and Rodney King, the Los Angeles man whose brutal police beating eventually sparked a riot: Something about respecting others and getting along comes to mind.
I never would have thought that tolerance was something one had to explain to a predominantly Christian community. Wasn't it Jesus who said love your neighbor and let he who is without sin cast the first stone?
Doesn't the Bible tell us to punish the sin and love the sinner?
I won't quote chapter and verse. There are plenty of people who could do that, each one using a biblical quote to explain his or her opinion about homosexuality, con or pro. Each one explaining why I am wrong.
Let Dr. Laura Schlessinger figure this one out. Radio Mouth started her new television talk show this week after months of protests from people who feel that her statements on her radio program about homosexuality are, to put it mildly, unkind. Statements such as: "If you're gay or lesbian, it's a biological error."
I don't know where we go from this slippery slope. Do we fight Dr. Laura's "fighting words"?
Or do we fight the gay lobby's insistence that a private organization, such as the Scouts, must be open to people whose lifestyle may not be acceptable to certain parents?
Do we have to fight at all?
Tolerance doesn't mean accepting the unacceptable, but it should mean being able to talk about differences of opinion without casting aspersions on those who think differently.
And it should mean being able to laugh from time to time about one's life, which brings me to Will & Grace executive producer Max Mutchinick who, holding the Emmy statuette of a nude woman, quipped, "She is so beautiful. As a gay man, I cannot believe I'm saying this, but I think I've finally met a girl I want to sleep with."
In a column last Wednesday, I mistakenly implied that Citizens for a Sound Economy was among several stealth organizations that ran political-issue advertisements on television during the primary-election season. In fact, the 40,000-member Florida chapter of Citizens for a Sound Economy is a non-profit, non-partisan, free-market group that ran some ads in South Florida in 1999 but did not run any ads in Central Florida.


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Software is not a fixed point in time
That's why business struggles with agile. It wants to freeze software and treat it like a building rather than a support tool for a process. It's also why business has to spend a long time "evaluating" new operating systems, browsers, devices,… because change is not built in to how many businesses do business. Businesses don't … More Software is not a fixed point in time


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Philosophy and Mission
Additional Resources
What People are Saying
In the News
Contact Us
Our Instructors
Mark Motsko: Communications Specialist
A recent retiree from the National Park Service, Mark dedicated over 30 years to the protection our nation's natural and cultural resources. He became a law enforcement ranger in 1980 assigned to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Over the next nine years, Mark honed his backcountry man tracking skills spending countless hours in the Park investigating wildlife violations and searching for lost hikers. He gained additional experience through subsequent assignments to National Parks in Arkansas, Wyoming, Oregon, North Dakota and Alaska. Mark was a member of the National Park Service Special Events Team and responded to numerous felonious incidents including a
manhunt in the Grand Canyon
and the apprehension of a
survivalist at Glacier Bay National Park
. Mark completed several tactical training classes taught by state police/troopers and special military units. He was a small arms armorer and firearms instructor. He currently resides in Central Oregon
To schedule a class or for additional information email:
[email protected]
Phone: 828-736-1213
TACTICAL WOODLAND OPERATIONS SCHOOL LLC ® Cullowhee, NC 28723
Mike has over 37 years of varied Law Enforcement experience. He has worked as a subject matter expert in tracking and woodland operations for National Park Rangers at Shenandoah National park, Blue Ridge Parkway and Smoky Mountains. Hull has also taught as a subject matter expert in tracking for The Border Hunter Course at Fort Bliss-Texas, Combat Hunter Course at Camp Lejeune-NC and when not teaching Tracking, he works part time for Wintergreen Police Department and is a Special Deputy in three counties.
Hull specializes in the use of visual tracking in law enforcement, tactical tracking for armed and dangerous persons, use of tracking in SAR, foot impression evidence collection and preservation, camouflage and concealment and reconnaissance of rural environments.
VITALE's clientele has included federal agencies such as DEA, ATF, FBI, US Border Patrol, US Marshalls, US Park Rangers and Local Officers and SWAT teams, State Police, Conservation Police, and Corrections Officers.
Mike is the owner of
Hull's Tracking School
Patrick Patten: Founder and President
I grew up in rural Alabama where I was an avid outdoorsman. This passion for the outdoors helped shape my life and career direction. My educational and instructional achievements include the following:
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center: Lead Instructor/SME Woodland Operations: 2008 - 2012
Adjunct Instructor Federal Law Enforcement Training Center – Backcountry Tactical Tracking Training
Program : 2013 - present
Adjunct Instructor - Southwestern Community College Public Safety Training Center:1990 - present
Use of Force Instructor Certification 2008
Instructor: NPS Special OPS School, 2000 - 2003
Graduated from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, 1986
B.S Degree in Outdoor Resource Management, University of Southern Mississippi, 1982
Law Enforcement Ranger at Great Smoky Mountains National Park: 1983 - 2008.
Lead Tracker on the Eric Rudolph manhunt: 1998 – 2003
Team Leader of Tactical Tracking Team- 1999 - 2006
Team Leader of counter-drug operations on the U.S. southern border 2000 - 2003
Conference Speaker at National Association of Fugitive Investigators – 2001
Conference speaker at NCTOA Conference - 2013
Tracker and command on numerous large scale fugitive manhunts
Tactical Search Consultant on Eric Rudolph, Christopher Dorner, and Eric Frein
Tracker and command on numerous Search and Rescue Operations
Qualified Expert witness in Federal Courts in Visual Tracking
Extensive experience in woodland crime scene reconstruction
Founder/Senior Instructor Tactical Woodland Operations School
Extensive field experience in counter-poaching operations and rural surveillance operations
Featured on Discovery Channel/Canada, CNN Anderson Cooper 360; Subject Matter Expert
for Reuters, Associated Press, People and others
I have been developing and instructing woodland operations training since the early 1990's. I have trained numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies including the FBI, ATF, USFS, NPS, BLM, USFWS, DOD, BIA, TRIBAL POLICE, USMS, NC Highway Patrol, U.S. Army Special Forces, Kansas State Patrol, Texas Fish and Game.
Pat Patten instructing a tracking class
Mike Hull
Philosophy and Mission
Additional Resources
What People are Saying
In the News
Contact Us
John Garrison
John has over 27 years as a federal law enforcement officer, John worked in both woodland and urban environments. During that time he was involved in manhunts for the killers of police officers as well as other fugitives. His background also includes membership on a special event and tactics team, command positions on regional and national incident teams and incident commander for a variety of woodland incidents.
Currently serving as an adjunct instructor in both state and federal accredited law enforcement programs at Southwestern Community College, he also worked as a contract instructor for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and has provided training and consultation on law enforcement programs at the international, national and local levels. He retired as a chief, giving him insight into both on the ground operations and the management of them.
Basic Law Enforcement Training, SCC SLET 17
Basic Police Training, FLETC 9PT407,
Criminal Investigator Training, FLETC CITP321Z,
Visual Tracking Instructor Training, GRSM
Wildland Arson Investigator Training, FLETC/NWCG
Operations Section Chief T2 Training, NWCG
Law Enforcement Instructor Training, NCJS & FLETC
Consultation to National Government of Hungary
BA Recreation Administration, UNC Chapel Hill 1977


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StreetScout / SEARCH: Call for Details Phoenix, AZ 85042
- 3 beds
- 2 baths
- $362,990 price
- 1536989 listing id
- Square Feet: 2,261 sqft
- Neighborhood: Arbors
Listing Description
If you love stunning views, quick commutes, and unique open floor plans – Arbors is perfect for you.. Located near downtown Phoenix, the gated Arbors neighborhood features innovative one- and two-story new construction homes that feature open concept gathering rooms and culinary kitchens.
Community Information
- New Construction Yes
- Builder Website
Subdivision: Arbors
- Price Range $312.9K - $408.9K
- Subdivision StatusActive
- Subdivision Website
Courtesy of: Pulte Homes
Office Phone: 602-584-7605
Copyright Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. All rights reserved. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Updated: 12th December, 2019 6:17 PM.
Call for Details Phoenix, AZ
Streetscout Powered by Placester


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This page may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through any of these links, I may make a small commission. Click here for my full disclosure statement.
Last week I finally bought myself a pair of Adidas Tubular X Primeknits. Ever since they were released last year, I grew obsessed with them and needed them in the Forest Green colorway. But I couldn't pay $169.99 for them, so I never did.
However, just last week I bought them for $70 – brand new.
How did I?
There were a number of contributing factors as to how I got damn near 60% off. First, I had a 20% off coupon at Caliroots. They were also on clearance. It also helped that my feet are small enough to fit into a youth size shoe.
I was lucky to have all 3 odds in my favor at the same time, but I don't always get this lucky.
Over the years, I've followed many sneaker blogs and craved for certain shoes so badly I had to cut myself off of all social media in order to resist temptation. I've stood in line with friends for the newest Jordan, the next Yeezy. I've staked out at my computer to purchase a pair of NMDs. What I learned about collecting shoes is that ultimately, it is a very expensive hobby that most people simply can't afford.
Fortunately, there are a few different ways to get sneakers for less than retail price. Just like collecting shoes, finding deals is also an art form that requires patience and a bit of time. Here are some of my most tried and true tips for purchasing shoes.
More Smart Shopping Tips:
- How I Bought a BMW with $7300 Cash
- Spruced: The Affordable Luxury Spa Experience
- Spring Clearance Sales: $20 Swimsuits, $4 Dresses & More
- Diamond Candles: A Ring in Every Candle (Review)
- 2016 Holiday Giveaway!
If your feet are small enough, shop in the youth section.
I wear almost a 7.5-8 in Women's sneakers. This still translates to a 5.5 in Youth sizing. So if you're around there, chances are, you'll be able to shop in the Youth section. Youth-size shoes are significantly cheaper in price compared to Men's sizing, and are still a few dollars cheaper than Women's sizing as well. Jordans usually run for about $169 in Mens, but I can snag them for $129, and that saves me $40 off, even at MSRP.
Bonus: Because the majority of shoe collectors are male, you'll have an easier time finding the latest colorways in your size!
Try the shoes in-store, but shop online.
We all know well enough that products big companies like Adidas and Nike hardly ever go on sale in-store. This is why I choose to make most, if not all of my purchases online. However, what good is the shoe if it doesn't fit? Visit a local retailer in the shoe style you're interested in, and regardless of the color they have in-stock, try it on anyway. Once you know your true shoe size, make the purchase online.
Bonus: You don't have to fight people in-store or stand for hours in line!
Additional Bonus: Not all sneakers fit the same. It's super important that you try on the shoe in-person before buying!
Did you try looking for a coupon code?
Online retailers always have promotions going. If you've never shopped on a certain website before, chances are, they may even have a coupon just for creating an account or subscribing to their email newsletter. Try searching for coupon codes online, and try punching them in at checkout.
Bonus: Sometimes coupons can stack! You never know until you try.
Try online outlet streetwear retailers.
Websites like Karmaloop and Caliroots specialize in streetwear clothing and footwear for outlet prices. These stores are my favorite outlet stores online, and I've snagged some pretty nice sneakers from each one.
You'd be surprised what you would find at Ross.
My boyfriend's brother has so much luck finding sneakers at Ross. His latest pick-up: Adidas Samba snow boots normally priced at $250, for $20! He also recently bought my boyfriend a pair of Nike Air Command Forces for $65, normally $200. Another great steal!
Wait until the end of the season.
People always flock to buy the latest colorways as soon as they are released. I used to do this out of excitement, but the more I continued that habit, the more money I wasted. It's always a great feeling to be able to own the latest sneakers, but it simply isn't worth the potential savings to get them at the time of release. After a few months, new colorways come out, and retailers will put the older ones on sale. Unless it's a limited edition, chances are, you'll find a retailer who will have that color in your size.
One of my favorite websites Sneakersnstuff has end-of-the-season and mid-season sales often. In fact, they're having a mid-season sale right now!
eBay will carry the classics, if you don't mind a pre-owned pair.
Last year I was on the hunt for a pair of Jordan Retro 4s in the Military Blue colorway. The Retros were released in 2006, and they never graced store shelves again after they sold out. I saw them on eBay selling around $400, and almost gave up my pursuit. However, after digging through eBay, I snagged a pair of gently used ones for $130. Of course, in Youth sizing this would have been the price brand new – but since this was a rare colorway, I still saved a lot of money, judging from the others that were up for sale.
There you have it! I've done all of the above and had some great finds. What have you tried so far that's worked for you? Comment below!
Liked this post? Subscribe to my newsletter below to receive more fashion posts by email!
More Smart Shopping Tips:
- 2019 Baller on a Budget $20 Gift Guide For Him
- Groupon: 20% Off Up to 3 Local Deals
- Recipe: $10 Red Velvet Cake Truffles
- The Ultimate 2018 Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals Guide
- 25 Gift Sets For Korean Skincare Addicts


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Snorkelling and diving the Great Barrier Reef
Exploring the magnificent Great Barrier Reef is on the top of many traveller's to-do lists when they visit Australia. Getting below the surface of the water and discovering the dizzying array of marine life that lives beneath is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The reef is the perfect place for experienced divers and complete beginners, offering up some of the best ocean views in the world. There are plenty of places to learn how to dive if you're a newbie, as well as some incredible dive spots for the more experienced diver.
There really is something for everyone, whether you're looking for calm, protected spots that flank paradise islands, or outer reefs that offer up rarer marine life and deeper exploration points for more experienced visitors. All of the sites in the Great Barrier Reef can be reached by boat, which you can pick up from around the coast of Australia in numerous different spots.
The sites in the Great Barrier Reef are shallow enough so that you can easily explore everything below the water's surface. The water in these parts is pleasantly warm and ideal for novices.
There are plenty of companies that run snorkelling expeditions from the main towns along the coasts, each of which will show you the ropes with the equipment and brief you on where to go and what to see.
Likewise, there are numerous companies that will give you an introduction into diving, so if you're new to the activity you'll be able to pick it up quickly.
The Marine Life
The Great Barrier Reef is home to some incredibly exotic marine life, much of which can only be found in this part of the world. While below the water's surface, you might be able to spot one of the six species of turtle that live in the reef, as well as dolphins, whales, and porpoises. There's also the chance to spot dugongs, sharks, and colourful exotic fish that weave in and out of the pretty corals. When it comes to corals, there are more than 400 species of both soft and hard coral, giving you plenty to discover and learn about while you are scuba diving or diving in the reef.
This really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will expose you to the mesmerising underwater world that characterises this part of the world.
If you would like spend more time on the reef, check out our 2 Day or 3 Day Great Barrier Reef Liveaboard Tour!


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Attorney Profile
The Mobile, Alabama bankruptcy lawyers of Brenda Drendel Hetrick, PC understand that the process of bankruptcy can be a stressful and frustrating experience. Attorney Brenda Drendel Hetrick provides a comfortable yet professional atmosphere at her Firm - meeting personally with each client and striving to make the bankruptcy and/or debt consolidation process as smooth and stress-free as possible. Each client is important to Brenda Drendel Hetrick, PC, and is provided with respectful and effective legal advice and representation.
Please call Brenda Drendel Hetrick, PC, today at 866-733-6001, or use the contact form provided on this site to begin your free consultation with a trusted Mobile, Alabama bankruptcy lawyer.
Firm Address:
Brenda Drendel Hetrick, PC
Brenda Drendel Hetrick, Attorney
Courts Admitted:
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Professional Affiliations:


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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will discourage students from volunteering in the Philippines in summer if the diplomatic row with Manila over the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman is not resolved by then, a ministry official said yesterday.
Taiwan has since May 15 imposed 11 sanctions on the Philippines after expressing dissatisfaction with Manila's response to its four demands: a formal apology, compensation, punishment of the guilty officers and fishery talks.
Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lin (林永樂) has said that the sanctions will remain in place as long as it takes unless the four demands are met.
Wu Rong-chuan (吳榮泉), deputy chairman of the ministry's Non-governmental Organization (NGO) Affairs Committee, told a routine press briefing yesterday that the ministry hoped the NGOs and students would support the government's efforts and suspend exchanges with the Philippines to show the public's dissatisfaction with its handling of the issue.
Wu said about 80 percent of 300 groups of college students travel to countries in Southeast Asia to participate in volunteer services during summer vacation, mostly in India, Indonesia, Thailand and Nepal, and some in the Philippines.
If the NGOs insist on carrying out their plans despite the sanctions, the ministry may cancel its financial assistance, Wu said.
Separately, the World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce decided on Wednesday last week to call off a plan to donate 400 tonnes of rice to the Philippines because of the spat. The donation was scheduled to be delivered to the Philippines on June 12.
In related developments, Chot Reyes, head coach of the Philippine national basketball team, wrote on his Facebook page on Monday that Taiwan had informed him that his team would not be invited to this year's William Jones Cup International Basketball Tournament, which will take place in New Taipei City (新北市) from July 6 to July 14.
Chinese Taipei Basketball Association secretary-general Lee Yi-chung (李一中) yesterday confirmed that the Philippines would not be invited to the tournament, in line with the official sanctions on Manila.
The association will invite seven foreign teams to join two Taiwanese teams in this year's tournament, Lee said.
Additional reporting by CNA


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Example: "They announced a two-for-one split of the common stock"
Example: "He was winning until he got a split in the tenth frame"
Example: "He inserted the wedge into a split in the log"
Example: "He demanded his split before they disbanded"
Example: "My friend and I split up"
Example: "Split between love and hate"
Example: "After the thunderstorm we found a tree with a split trunk"
Example: "We bought split logs for the fireplace"
Example: "A split lip"
Example: "A split group"
Related words...
(New!) Usage examples...
Descriptive words...


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It's too wet for gardening today and I'm stuck in the house. The car could do with a wash but it's my least favourite job and I'd much rather do another blog. Since disappearing golden eagles and the illegal use of pesticides have been in the news recently here is a tale from my second book, The Thin Green Line:
The Outer Hebrides, possibly because of the absence of commercial game management, is almost free from the scourge of poisoning wildlife that affects much of mainland UK. In October 2005 Constable Martin Macrae was stationed at the village of Balallan, (Gaelic: Baile Ailein meaning Allan's town) which has the distinction of being the longest village in northern Scotland. It is four miles from end to end along the head of a sea loch and developed due to a mixture of crofting and fishing. As the wildlife crime officer for the Outer Isles, Martin was made aware of the tragic poisoning of a golden eagle at Coduinn on Morsquil Estate on the Isle of Lewis. Tests at the Scottish Agriculture Science Agency (now Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture) in Edinburgh confirmed that the bird had died from eating the pesticide carbofuran, the main pesticide of abuse in Scotland. The scientists at the lab were also able to state that the contaminated bait that had been eaten was a rabbit.
Martin suspected that the culprit had been a crofter trying to (illegally) control the raven population to protect his sheep flock. As would happen on any mainland poisoning investigation he called in some help, this taking the form of staff from the then Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD), now the Scottish Government Rural Payment Inspections Department (SGRPID). He also called in some help from Scottish Natural Heritage and RSPB Scotland. The estate was searched, as were some crofts, but after all this Martin was no further forward.
The following month Martin and a colleague were carrying out a completely unconnected enquiry on Lewis in relation to a firearm certificate renewal. Part of this process entails a check of the firearms held by the applicant, and also the security of the place they are kept. In this case this gentleman – we'll call him the Man from Lewis – wished to renew his certificate to possess a .222 rifle. The rifle was examined by the officers and he was asked the reason he required it. 'For deer control,' was the answer. Only roe deer in Scotland can legally be shot with a .222 rifle, and under the Deer (Firearms etc) (Scotland) Order 1885 the bullet needs to be of an expanding type of not less than 50 grains, with muzzle velocity of not less than 2450 feet per second and muzzle energy not less than 1000 foot pounds. Worse, there are no roe deer on the Outer Isles, with the only species being the biggest, the red deer. This was the first of the Man from Lewis's problems. This was explained to him, and he changed his mind. 'It's for shooting vermin. Ravens,' he said. Ravens are one of the two members of the corvidae family that are completely protected, the other being the chough. He had no licence to shoot ravens and now had a second problem.
Martin and his colleague continued their questioning and asked the red-faced islander if he had shot any red deer with the rifle but the answer, not surprisingly, was in the negative. The same answer was given when he was asked if he had shot any ravens. The question then had to be asked as to why he needed authority to have a .222 rifle.
If there was some doubt beginning to emerge that the firearm certificate was close to being revoked and the rifle seized by the police, the next find sealed its fate. On a shelf at the back of the gun cabinet Martin spotted a jar that was half-full of dark blue granules, innocently labelled 'celery.' In the recoveries made by the police of illegally-held pesticides they are invariably decanted into a container such as a coffee jar, a juice bottle or a smaller receptacle such as a 35mm film tub. In many cases the label of the original product remains and in one case in Tayside in 1995, while still a police officer, I recovered the most deadly of all pesticides, the liquid pesticide mevinphos, in a Lea and Perrins sauce bottle, two products of a similar colour. In that case there was a real risk of death to anyone who ventured to open the bottle and I charged the person concerned with the common law charge of culpable and reckless conduct.
Because of the infamy of carbofuran as a killer of wildlife it is well-known to all wildlife crime officers. Martin asked the Man from Lewis what the substance in the jar was, but he said he couldn't remember the name. Maybe, maybe not, but Martin knew that he would be aware of its illegal use. He asked him what he had the granules for. 'It was for the turnips.' was the answer. It was the stock answer, sometimes varied to 'It's for the carrots.' He elaborated. 'You spread it on the turnips.' Wrong! 'You hand-spread it on the turnips when the stem is about four inches tall.' Worse! Whatever you would do with carbofuran you wouldn't want to handle it. Whatever other outcome there may be he could now safely say goodbye to his firearms certificate.
There have been countless instances throughout the UK where the police have recovered pesticides in circumstances where they are perfectly well aware that they were held for an illegal purpose. The main legislative difficulty was that until recently this was not an offence in itself. It was an offence to use the pesticide in circumstances outwith its government approval, or to store it outwith the terms of approval on the container, most usually violated by transferring it into another container. Even so, these offences were under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 and only incurred a moderate monetary penalty. It was not until 2005 – and only in Scotland – that possession of the most commonly abused pesticide became an offence in its own right, though there was an exception if the person could show that he had a good reason for possessing it. Carbofuran is top of the list of 'prescribed' pesticides, as they are termed, because of its widespread abuse.
So Martin had a coincidental recovery of carbofuran while investigating the poisoning of a golden eagle, the very bird many visitors go to the Western Isles to see. Whether or not the Man from Lewis had played any part in this crime his excuse that the carbofuran was for nurturing turnips was a lie. Though the approved use for the chemical was as an insecticide on root crops, including of course turnips, it requires to be drilled into the ground by machinery to place it in a position to kill soil-dwelling pests.
The charge of possession of a banned pesticide now carries a penalty of £5000 and/or 6 months imprisonment. The Man from Lewis was fined £50. Had there been evidence he was involved in the killing of the golden eagle this penalty would have been considerably increased, though in fairness to him he may not have been in any way involved and his possession of carbofuran purely coincidental. And unfortunate!
At least ravens and red deer would be safeguarded against being shot by a .222 rifle!
I'm happy to post out a copy of The Thin Green Line (RRP £11.99) free with the purchase of any other of my books. See https://wildlifedetective.wordpress.com/books/


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Category: Bereavement
1423 days
I have survived 1423 days (3 years, 10 months, 23 days) without my beloved child.
It has become easier. I am used to the pain. I am at peace with the fact that my child's suffering is over. I honor her memory every day of my life. Every day, when I walk through the In-Patient-Unit of Stepping Stone Hospice I thank her for her selfless request that "no-one should suffer the way she did".
Families talk to me about my brave little warrior and thank me. Thank me? I don't think so. I would never have had the guts to start a Hospice. I would still be lying in my bed grieving.
Life has been hard without Vic. It was so difficult getting my life back on track after she died. I have missed her wisdom and guidance with the boys, I have resented the fact that I have become a backup mother to my precious grandsons. I wanted to be a mother and a grandmother. I hated being a bereaved mother. I still do.
Our lives have settled. Until May this year.
On the 31st of May, I received a phone call from Jared (eldest grandson) to tell me his father had died. I was filled with terror, heartache, and fear. My go-to person was no longer around to advise me and run interference with the boys.
I was in England at the time of Colin's death. I flew back the same afternoon. All I can remember of the flight was how my face ached from crying. I was heartbroken leaving my little UK granddaughters behind. They sobbed. I sobbed. We all sobbed. I dreaded arriving in South Africa and facing the boys' heartache. I was consumed with guilt that I wasn't with them on that horrible day.
I arrived in South Africa to meet two dazed young men. I had to go and identify Colin at the mortuary and once again arrange the funeral of a child.
On the surface, the boys were brave and yet so devastated. I was heartbroken. At a certain level, Colin's funeral was more difficult than Vic's. Colin was young and healthy. He had truly connected with the boys and they loved spending time with him and his new family to be. They loved being part of a family. Vic had been ill for so many years and her suffering inhuman. I was relieved that her suffering was over.
But Colin was so young and alive. He had so much to live for. So much to give. He was at peace with his life and in love with a wonderful woman.
The day Colin's clothes were brought into Stepping Stone Hospice, as a donation, I had a total meltdown. It was the second time a child of mine's clothes were donated to Hospice.
Yet, time passed and I am once again getting used to the pain. That horrible empty feeling in your heart when you suffer a great loss…
I read many blogs and I often wondered why people remained stuck in their grief. I wondered why they were unable to move forward…
Vic's eldest son started displaying signs of PTS (Post-traumatic stress). He suffers from panic attacks and stopped wanting to be home. He was angry with the world and especially me.
There are many reasons for this and it is not for me to write about his reasons.
What I am able to write about is the fact that Jared was trying so hard to protect his little brother and I from the pain and trauma of Vic's death that he never dealt with it for himself. He spread his angel wings over us and never stopped looking to see whether we are okay or not.
Now this beautiful, "parentified" young man is caught up in a cycle of trying to deal with the layers of grief resulting from his parents' deaths. He is working so hard to learn how to deal with his complicated/compound grief. He is brave and beautiful. He is in so much pain.
But, I know that in time he will heal. He is no longer avoiding his grief. He is dealing with the cancer in his heart eating away at the very grain of his soul.
I pray that I will have the wisdom to guide him through this difficult time in his life as he guided his brother and me through the first years after Vic's passing. I pray that he will always remember my love for him. I pray that I will learn to cope with my guilt of not protecting him from something that I was aware of…
I now know why people remain locked into that cycle of grief.
Vic succeeded at life…
Vic often said "I must be such a disappointment to you. I have done nothing with my life!"
This morning I read these beautiful words and so wished I could have shared it with Vic.
"This is to have succeeded" posted on June 4, 2013 by Dr Bill http://drbillwooten.com/2013/06/04/this-is-to-have-succeeded
"To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one's self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived—this is to have succeeded." ~ Bessie Anderson Stanley
To laugh often and love much – That Vic did. She always had a smile on her precious face. Even when she was in dreadful pain she would try to smile. When she was in a lot of pain her laugh was shrill. Pain seldom stopped her from laughing… In 2007 I said to Vic that my life was sad.
"That is terrible Mommy. Why?"
I felt like hitting my head against a wall! What did the child think? In 2007 Vic must have had 18 operations; developed every hospital superbug in the book; developed septicaemia, had a high output fistula; developed Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome; spend months in ICU and survived having the ventilator turned off… Vic was op TPN (Total Parental Nutrition) for months…she had a massive open wound that we could not keep covered with a colostomy bag. It was too big and positioned very low down.
"I worry about you every second of the day baby. I worry whether you have vomited and how much you vomited; I worry whether you have been able to eat anything… I worry about your wound. I worry about your pain control…."
"Mommy, that is so sad. At least once a week the boys and I laugh so much that my tummy hurts from it…"
Vic in 2007
Vic loved unconditionally and with every fibre of her body. She gave everything! She was a wonderful daughter, mother, friend…She loved her family, her siblings, her friends and her boys. She LIVED love.
Her last words ever were "I love you Mommy"
… to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; Worldwide, intelligent people, respected and admired Vic for her courage, tenacity… We called Vic the "baby whisperer". Children loved her. She loved children. Her only ambition as a toddler and teenager was to be a Mommy. She loved her sons beyond comprehension…
The Baby Whisperer
…… to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; Vic suffered a lot of betrayal in her little life. People got tired of waiting for her to die. "Friends" spoke about her "addiction" to pain medication behind her back… They used her illness as a weapon against her when she was at her most vulnerable. False friends (and loved ones) spoke their "minds" and condemned and judged Vic for choices she made… Because she was ill people thought they could say what they wanted, when they wanted.
….. to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; My precious child was so naïve. She refused to see the bad in people! The only time she got irritated and miserable was in hospital. She always found the good in people. She did not speak badly of people. When I was angry with someone she would placate me…point out their good points… She knew that if she voiced her own anger it would have driven me over the edge. Vic taught me unconditional love, forgiveness and tolerance. Vic brought out the best in me and the most other people.
…..to give of one's self; Vic was a people pleaser. She would turn down MY bed!!!! She made sacrifices for each and every person in her life. Even in death she worried about other dying people who were less privileged than she was. I promised her at 2 am on the 16th of November 2012, a mere 2 months and 2 days before she died, that I would start Stepping Stone Hospice! She kept talking to me about Stepping Stone until she lapsed into a coma. We started on the 1st of January 2013 and Vic died on the 18th of January. Our first patient. Our first death.
…..to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; Vic left the world a better place. Her sons are monuments of the person she was; her dream of a Hospice has been realized.
Vic's monuments…
……to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; With the 2010 Soccer World Cup Vic went crazy with enthusiasm; she bought every gimmick that hit the shops; she went of the "soccer train" in her wheelchair, she watched every single soccer game.
Vic loving World Cup 2010
……to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived Vic's legacy will live on through her sons and Stepping Stone Hospice. Long after I have died, people will continue to benefit from Vic's dreams and goodness.
—this is to have succeeded." My angel child – you succeeded! You succeeded in life and with living. You made the world a beautiful place filled with goodness and hope. I am so proud of you. You lived life to the full. You made a difference! You lived a greater and more successful life than most people. You have put the world to shame. You are my hero!
Mother found pushing a dead toddler on a park swing…
I read a heartbreaking article that truly hit home
"A mother was discovered pushing her dead son in a swing late last week. The unnamed woman is believed to have spent hours with the toddler's body at a local park in Maryland—she had possibly been there with the dead child for the entire night, according to neighbors. Police were called after concerned neighbors noticed the mother at Wills Memorial Park in La Plata for "an unusually long time." " http://firsttoknow.com/watch-mother-found-pushing-dead-toddler-on-park-swings/?utm_source=ftk_nwsltrF
More disturbing were the comments:
"People who are mentally unfit should never have children. My God this news of the father wanting custody set off this unfit mentally ill mother yet again. It is just to much strain for people who are mentally ill to bring up a child safely. The father is just as much to blame by marrying a mentally ill person in the first place to have children. God help them."
"why are good baby given to bad mothers like this they dont deserve to have children I hope god punish her."
Thank goodness that some sanity prevailed in some of the comments:
"I feel bad for the mother. When people grieve they can fall apart mentally, especially when a parent loses their child."
"How do you know she was a bad mother? She was obviously in shock to be doing what she did. Aren't you quick to judge?"
This is the world we live in. A world that consists of two sets of people… Those who have lost a child and know the devastation of mourning a child every single day of their lives and those who can pick up a phone and talk to a living child; who can go visit, hug and hold their child(ren).
The first will more than likely comment "why are good baby given to bad mothers like this they dont deserve to have children I hope god punish her." and a parent who knows the devastation of losing a child will potentially comment "How do you know she was a bad mother? She was obviously in shock to be doing what she did. Aren't you quick to judge?"
I know that Vic's death left me reeling from pain, anger and loss. It was so hard letting her go. It was impossibly hard seeing her little body leave home for the last time.
Yet, some Facebook friends will pass snide comments about people posting photographs on their Facebook pages of the dead child and soppy messages… Yes, I am guilty. I post photos of Vic and soppy messages that convey my longing for my beautiful little girl.
Unfriend me if I get up your nose. I will grieve whichever way I chose. Your child(ren) are alive and you have absolutely no idea of what true loss is.
My child is dead. I burn candles for her and sometimes I fall asleep holding a photograph of her. I have sat sobbing just hugging her ashes. Does that make me mentally unfit? No, I am just another grieving mother and you will never understand. And, I hope you never have to understand!
Ebb and flow of grief…
How do we deal with life's losses and move forward? People far wiser than I am, said that we never do get back to normal. That a time of numbness, confusion and uncertainty eventually merges into a new "normal".
I am often filled with profound sadness over what will never be. Vic will never see her boys graduate. She will never have that mother and son dance at their weddings. She will never know the joy of being a grandparent.
Jared and I were chatting the other evening and he said "Most of the time I bury my sorrow. I try not to think how much I miss Mummy. But sometimes when I lie in bed the tears just start…"
I told him how guilty I feel because at first, in a perverse way, I enjoyed the freedom of snap decisions to go away for a weekend or dinner without having to make elaborate plans for Vic's care.
The house is too big … too empty … too quiet. How can one tiny little person leave such a humongous void?
Are we moving forward? Yes, I believe we are. We are healing very slowly. We are functioning well in the "other" world. That world that has no understanding of our world. The boys are both excelling in their studies. They have lovely friends. They have good lives. But, they do not have their Mummy. It breaks my heart thinking how deprived they are of maturing under the loving care of their mother.
I read once that healing is a journey, not a destination or a point in time. I know we are scarred. When we light candles for my beautiful baby girl I know that grief will remain a part of our lives forever. But we will go with the ebb and flow of our grief – it is part of our journeys.
Navigating the Ebb and Flow of Grief Posted on June 28, 2013 by Maria Kubitz
Grief is fickle. Unpredictable. And indifferent to whatever mood I'm in. Most days my grief lies dormant under the activities of everyday life. Little triggers will continually remind me its there. A sad news story on the TV. A girl at the park who reminds me of my daughter. But I can go about my regular routines with no interruptions. Other times, the triggers are bigger, and the grief bubbles up and takes over my mood. Tears well up behind my eyes, ready to release at the first opportunity. My patience seems to evaporate and everyday tasks become cumbersome, meaningless, and even difficult. Usually the bursts of grief from larger triggers only last a few hours or at most a few days.
But sometimes it lingers and grows.
What I didn't expect is that even coming on four years after her death, I still find myself in situations where grief becomes so overwhelming again that it feels like I've gone right back to the debilitating early days of grief. Feelings of sadness, pain, lethargy, dis-interest in things I normally enjoy. Going to work becomes a struggle. Even taking care of my kids feels like a burden. I know these periods require extra attention and care, and I navigate through the best I can, asking for support along the way. I just wonder if these episodes will ease over time, or if I should just expect them to become a permanent fixture of my "new normal" life?
If the death of my daughter has taught me anything — and it has taught me A LOT — it has taught me that we have more inner strength than we can ever imagine, and that with time, attention, and support, we can navigate through just about anything life might throw at us.
850 days
It is a mere 850 days since Vic died. 2 years and 4 months seems so short… 850 days seems far more representative of the longing. It seems "longer"….
I woke up this morning with tears pouring down my cheeks. I so longed to hold my child. I know that the boys remembered too. Jon-Daniel posted on his Facebook "Appreciate your Mom, tell her you love her, make her smile – because the only time she ever smiled while you were crying was when you were born!" The first to "like" his post was his brother.
I imagined that the longing would get better. It doesn't!
At first it felt as if I was overseas – away from the trauma of Vic being ill. I always felt guilty at the "reprieves" I had when I was travelling for work. Now I would give anything and everything for just an extra minute with my child.
It was hard standing next to Vic's bed hearing her cries of pain. It was even harder seeing the despair in the eyes of her precious boys when they stood next to their mom's bed helpless to ease her pain and fears.
So often over the years I wanted to run away. In the end, when Vic cried from fear of dying, I felt the need to put an end to her suffering well up in me. I put my hands over my ears and screamed in my head.
How do you answer your child when she cries "I am so scared"?
We have a patient at Hospice who vocalises her fear the way Vic did. Today I just held her. How do you still the fear of the unknown in a dying person? And NO!!!! It has nothing to do with religion. Everybody is scared.
From that dreaded moment when a patient is told they are terminally ill an avalanche of shock and fear hits them. It is called actually "named" – terminal fear. Vic (and Elizabeth*) fear dying, pain, saying goodbye, loss of control and mostly all-encompassing the fear of the unknown.
Vic's overwhelming fear was that people would forget her – that she would be replaced…. Vic questioned her life's worth. She did not work and in her mind that meant it that she had not achieved anything. That she would leave no legacy. No matter how many times we reassured her that she inspired hundreds of people worldwide, the fear never left. I hope that she now knows how powerful her legacy is! That hundreds of patients have benefitted from her death wish and, most importantly, that her sons are her true legacy.
I have witnessed that grieving starts the moment of handing down the sentence. It is a long and hard journey for the dying person, their loved ones and friends.
And, today that Elizabeth's* fear rests heavy on my heart, I know that we will provide her a safe haven where she can relax into death. We will hold her hand and guide her family through this dreadful trauma of saying goodbye to a wife, mother, grandmother and friend.
I pray for wisdom and strength to handle the déjà vu of Elizabeth's* final journey.
Time to say goodbye
Time to say Goodbye is a beautiful song and I especially enjoy the André Bochelli and Sarah Brightman version. It was the boys and my theme song on this holiday. A Time to Say Goodbye and heal….
As we toured Europe we lived Vic's dream. It was her dream to go to Italy, stand in the Cistern Chapel, drink cuppachino's on the streets of Rome, wander through the Christmas Mart stalls savouring the smell of Gluhwein and melted cheese….
I am filled with profound sadness every time I think of my child. Even if she lived Vic would never have been able to make the trip. The flight would have been too long, the cobblestone streets impossible for her wheelchair, the bus trips too long…
I cried when I saw the Pietà in the Cistern Chapel. This beautiful piece of art in a convoluted way symbolised Vic and my lives…
Both Mary and I were child brides. She was much younger than I was when she gave birth to Jesus – it is written that Mary was 12 years old at the time of her Son's birth. Her child filled with wisdom and teaching as was mine… I once again realised, on this trip, how infinitely wise Vic was. She knew that I would have to remove myself from everyday life to heal.
She made me promise to do this trip with the boys.
Looking at the Pietà I saw a mother holding the body of her lifeless child. Tears filled my soul when I remembered holding the body of my lifeless child. For a fleeting moment I felt the heat that radiated from her fever wracked little body. I could hear the thundering silence from her breathing that had stopped…
I saw the lonely sadness of a mother isolated from the world in her grief. I recognised that isolation that I experienced at the second of Vicky's death.
I stood there and realised that it will never change. I will always be isolated in my grief and longing for the child that I lived for. No one in the world could possibly love her the way I did. She was blood of my blood.
She loved her boys the way I loved her. She loved her boys with every fibre in her body. Her thoughts, fears and sorrow centred on her sons until she breathed her last breath. The blood of her blood. Her future…
Standing in front of the Pietà I realised that the closest bond is the bond between a mother and a child. Not a child and a mother…. Children move on and live for their children
Walking the streets of Europe I was filled with an all-consuming anger. Anger at God, anger at careless doctors; angry at a horrific disease called Osteogenesis Imperfecta. I was angry at the fact that my child was robbed. Robbed of a life with her boys. That I was robbed of a lifetime with my child.
As the old Year is edging towards the New I am filled with trepidation and horrific sadness. Not only for my Vic but for the many who crossed my path this year and who are enfolded in their own grief.
So much pain, longing and sadness as we look to starting another year without our loved ones.
I have survived my birthday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Jared's birthday. I have cried on my own, in the shower, in shops. I have been filled with rage and despair when I saw all the Christmas cards "For my Daughter"… I will never buy another card for my precious child. I will never be able to open gifts with her under the Christmas tree. Nothing will ever be the same again.
In three weeks' time it will be Vic's 2 year anniversary. Two long years without my child, my best friend…
I read that it gets worse as time goes by. It does get worse. The raw sadness has dissolved into a steady all-consuming pain. The longing to hold her one more time overwhelming.
And, although I know that it is Time to Say Goodbye I know I will never move on.
57.144387 -4.680699


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Family Home
The Family Home is a private, nonprofit facility at 4300 West Markham Street. It is owned by the board of Parents and Friends of Children and Adults, Inc., and their mission is "to operate a facility that will provide affordable lodging in a home-like setting for cancer patients and parents of premature infants being cared for at the UAMS Medical Center and to provide a cancer support center where education, fellowship and nurturing can take place in a supportive atmosphere."
The Family Home is a spacious 13,500 square foot house with two guest wings: one has a kitchen, laundry, and five bedrooms and baths for parents who have babies in the UAMS Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the other has two kitchens, laundry and 10 bedrooms and baths for cancer patients and their caregivers. In addition to an office, conference room, meditation area, and manager's apartment, the home also includes the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Auxiliary Cancer Support Center comprised of a library, kitchen, activities room, covered porch and great room where functions for cancer patients are held.
In order to stay at the Family Home, all guests must be referred by a social worker at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, NICU or the inpatient oncology unit. If you and/or your family members need additional details, please contact your social worker.
If you, your company or your organization are interested in contributing money or other resources to this project, please call 501-978-2900 or see how you can help.


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U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx yesterday unveiled a four-year, $302 billion transportation bill.
The plan, called the Grow America Act, covers 12 different transportation needs ranging from environmental protection, to freight transport, rural needs, public transportation and more.
"This proposal offers the kind of job creation and certainty that the American people want and deserve. I have been pleased to see that members of both parties are already working together to solve these challenges, and I look forward to continuing our discussion and to supporting and building on the good work that's already been done," Foxx said in a prepared statement.
For public transportation, the plan commits $72 billion to address current challenges.
"The Administration's proposal would help address the large backlog of state-of-good-repair needs related to bus and rail transit and help expand the public transportation infrastructure to meet the growing demand. Last year 10.7 billion trips were taken on U.S. public transportation, which is the highest ridership number in 57 years. Clearly, people want better transportation options and it should be a national priority to expand public transit services, including intercity passenger rail," said American Public Transportation Association President and CEO Michael Melaniphy.
Click here to read more about the Grow America Act and the 12 areas of transportation need.
Obama transportation plan sent to Congress [AP via The Washington Post]