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A short scar facelift is a procedure that helps someone to correct the sagging skin around the lower face and jowls, though some people want to manage the skin along the neck as well. More commonly, you may know it as an S-lift or even a ponytail facelift, but they all involve the same methods. It gets the name "ponytail" facelift from the idea that you would want to be able to pull back your hair without seeing all the sagging skin and scarring during activities.
Most people choose this type of face lift to make themselves look years younger. Over time, the natural elasticity, tightness, and collagen production of the skin wanes, which is what forms prominent wrinkles. While there are some creams that help with the condition of the skin, the best way to eliminate this excess of fat and skin on the neck and jawline is through a face lift, like the short scar procedure.
What Makes You a Suitable Candidate?
Before you decide to go through any surgery, you will need a consultation with a doctor to ensure that this procedure is the best one for your needs. The best time to get a procedure like a short scar facelift is during the 40s and 50s, when the skin is only just beginning to lose the enzymes that keep it taut. If you are combining a face lift with another procedure, then your doctor may be able to use this remedy to reduce the overall appearance of wrinkles. While it's important to have a realistic idea of how the skin will look after, consultation with the right doctor will put aside any concerns.
During your consultation with the plastic surgeon, you should let them know about any medical conditions you have, including uncontrolled high blood pressure, or any blood-related issues.
As the date of your face lift gets closer, you will be assigned a regimen that you need to abide by before the surgery. Your doctor will outline the best dietary guidelines to follow, but some of the common recommendations include:
• No smoking, which may be for up to six weeks before the procedure.
• Consume a high protein diet to promote healing.
• Restrict certain medications that can inhibit how the incision closes.
• Abstain from solid foods on the night before the procedure.
• Sleep a full night's rest on the night before the procedure.
Each doctor has a few variations upon this preparation, so you should talk to the specific surgeon to ensure that your body is ready for the procedure and the healing process.
Once you are sedated and properly under anesthesia, the doctor will start off the process by using a small incision right above the ears. This incision will connect with a line that goes across the hairline and meets at the natural crease above the ear, ensuring that it is as inconspicuous as possible.
Once the incision is done, the skin is gently separated from the fat and muscles in this area. There's light liposuction performed at this stage, eradicating the fat that is found in the chin and neck to make a smoother and thinner shape. As the doctor works on this newly shaped area, he will also tighten the muscles and eliminate excess skin formed in the process.
Typically, depending on the severity of the skin and fat, most people have a jawline that looks up to a decade younger than before. The whole procedure can take about 1 to 3 hours.
While you rest at home, lay back and relax. If you have a recliner, that would be your best place to recover, but you want to avoid most facial movements and turning in ways that could pull at the incision. Some people prefer to bring someone to their home to help them get out of bed and avoid strenuous activity. With just a little TLC for yourself, the healing process is actually quite relaxing.
The great part about a short scar facelift is that the recovery time is minimal, usually only taking about 5 to 14 days to see the whole incision fade. However, most doctors will recommend that you avoid anything with vigorous activity for about three weeks.
The biggest appeal of a procedure like this is the nearly invisible scar. Though the healing process may show the incision prominently, treating it properly will ensure that there's no sign you ever had work done.
Maintenance and Follow-Up Care
Even though this procedure is fairly minor, you need to keep up with any appointments after that three-week healing period. Your doctor may want to see you more frequently if you had a pre-existing medical condition. Speak with your doctor about skin care treatments after, or request to be referred to a reputable dermatologist.
Choosing a doctor that can meet your needs is important, and reputation can be a deciding factor for choosing the best one. In Los Angeles, there's Dr. Frankel as a qualified plastic surgeon who specializes in facelifts and other facial rejuvenation procedures. He has earned the title of the best facial plastic surgeon in America.


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RBR Sunday Salon
Volume 1, Issue 8
Happy Sunday, readers! I hope the early autumn season is treating you well, so far, and that you are finding plenty of time for reading and relaxation. As is typical for me, this Sunday leaves me with far too much to do, and far too little time for relaxation; but that's what being a procrastinator gets you!
Once again, there was a lot in the news this week on a variety of topics, and even more great reading to be found in the literary and blog spheres. I couldn't possibly share everything I read, liked, or bookmarked, but here are some I wanted to note. I hope you find something interesting in the links below!
Blog Posts I Loved
- My Untitled Project: Fall. I feel as though all summer I got burnt up, like leaves on a tree, and now I am ready to shed all of these old, dead appendages. I am ready to stand with nothing, to turn inward and hibernate during the cold months, then bloom beautifully in the spring.
- Note to My White Self: In Support of White History Month. Recently, a woman of color asked me, "What do you know about whiteness?" I stumbled through a response, offering some abstract thoughts about white supremacy and privilege. She was not impressed.
- Jess Witkins Happiness Project: What It's Like to Be a Woman in America. Like so many women right now, this past week has made me feel a full cup's worth of anxiety and two tablespoons of crushing grief. Then mix that with a blender powered by my rage with the patriarchy, and you have a slight understanding of where I'm at right now.
Literary Miscellany
- Book Riot: Women, Trauma, and Haunted Houses. But what do women do in the haunted house? How does the haunted house function as the terrain on which women work out their fears and anxieties? In this post, I examine three haunted house books written by women to find out.
- Lit Hub: 30 of the Worst Couples in Literature. All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way, Tolstoy wrote. Same goes for couples. That is, the bad ones may be very bad, but they sure make for some great stories—particularly when everyone involved is fictional, so you can indulge your romantic schadenfreude guilt-free.
History & Politics
- Politico: Why Jane Fonda Doesn't Hate Donald Trump. You want to tell people things they don't know," Fonda said on the podcast. "Just like what changed and saved my life was being told things I didn't know by American soldiers. We have to reach out and listen and then respond in a way that's meaningful."
- Lit Hub: William Faulkner was Really Bad at Being a Postman. The inspector goes on to accuse Faulkner of various faults, including failing to deliver letters, mistreating mail of all types, permitting "unauthorized persons" into the office, and writes that he has heard reports of how Faulkner is "indifferent to interest of patrons, unsocial, rarely ever speak[ing] to patrons of the office unless absolutely necessary.
Culture & Society
- The Boston Globe: The Long, Long History–and Bright Future–of the Generless 'They.' For the average person, using a gender-neutral term such "firefighter" requires no more mental gymnastics than saying "fireman." Yet the pronouns we use in English seem more deeply embedded in the structure of our language than these more specific occupational terms.
- JSTOR Daily: When Do We Have Empathy for the Mentally Ill? There's nothing fair about blaming people for a biological condition they have no control over. That's one reason why efforts to encourage empathy for people with depression, anxiety, or other mental disorders often focus on the biological basis of the conditions.
Science, Tech., & Nature
- The New York Times: Caffeine May Increase Pain Tolerance. The experiment controlled for sex and race, current tobacco use and alcohol consumption, among other variables that could affect pain sensation. Still, they found that the more caffeine consumed, the greater the tolerance for pain.
- CNET: Facebook Breach Put Data of 50-Million Users At Risk. Facebook also said later Friday that the breach also affected third-party apps that you have linked to your Facebook account, including Instagram. As a precautionary measure, Facebook logged about 90 million people out of their accounts, the company said.
Teaching & Writing
- The Chronicle: On Not Reading. The activity of nonreading is something that scholars rarely discuss. When they — or others whose identities are bound up with books — do so, the discussions tend to have a shamefaced quality. Blame "cultural capital" — the sense of superiority associated with laying claim to books that mark one's high social status.
- Good News, Bad News. I get so bogged down in the day-to-day that, much of the time, I forget to do what it is I need to do, which is to write. Hearing from publishers who think your work has value and meaning does much to reinvigorate the spirit!
Recent Posts from Roof Beam Reader
Currently Reading
- The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Thank you for stopping by and taking part in another SUNDAY SALON. There was much to choose from this week, and I hope I have presented you with a decent selection. I would love to hear your thoughts on any of these or the other things you've read this week! (Tell me what I missed!)
All work found on roofbeamreader.com is copyright of the original author and cannot be borrowed, quoted, or reused in any fashion without the express, written permission of the author.

subset: commoncrawl


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Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
With Thanksgiving coming up, Respond Now is looking for donations of turkeys to give to the families they serve.
Respond Now will be collecting turkeys through Friday, November 17th. Donors can drop off turkeys at our Chicago Heights location at 1439 Emerald Avenue, or donate monetarily by visiting www.respondnow.org.


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Archive for September 2013
We are Hitch
{hitch} to unite, bind or tie. This word works so perfectly for the gals at hitch since they are literally uniting their business to bring their customers the best experience possible. Not to mention most of their customers are about to participate in the act of getting hitched! Be sure to keep up with what…Read More


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Effective April 1, 2011, the THIEME GmbH & Co. KG recruits Armin Gerland (39) as the new manager of technology and sales for the printing systems division of the company. The graduated mechanical engineer will assume this task as the successor of Peter Geiger, who went into retirement at the end of March after working for almost 34 years at Thieme. Gerland wants to strengthen and further expand Thieme's position as technical market leader in screen and digital printing. His first official "appearance" for Thieme will be in May in Hamburg, where the printing trade fair FESPA Digital will take place.
Prior to joining Thieme, Armin Gerland worked 12 years at Freudenberg Sealing and Vibration Technology, Weinheim/Bergstraße, most recently in a leading position with international responsibility for the technical development of a worldwide operating production division. For his new area of responsibility at Thieme, Gerland will bring his core expertise to the company. Apart from the professional expertise for the development of first-class printing systems, these in particular include innovative capabilities of the employees and the technical market leadership in the field of screen and digital printing systems.
Gerland's personal goal: "I want to benefit from the long-term experience of the employees, learn from them and, for my part, I want to contribute professionally to Thieme." Gerland, who became a citizen from the Black Forest area by choice, puts particular emphasis on the best possible formation of core processes in order to continue to expand Thieme's market position in the graphic and industrial printing market.
As noted, Armin Gerland's first official appearance for Thieme will be on the printing trade fair FESPA Digital in Hamburg, which will take place from 24 May to 27 May 2011. Thieme will be located in the AGFA booth (hall A14, booth B20) and will inform customers and interested people about the newest developments in screen and digital printing.
Additional information can be downloaded:
Armin_Gerland ( JPG 2.87 MB )Start download
THIEME_Introduction_Armin_Gerland ( PDF 78.99 KB )Start download
THIEME Corporation
3605 Swenson Avenue
St. Charles, IL 60174
Phone +1-630-513-1666
Fax +1-630-513-1999
© 2016 Thieme
All rights reserved


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You Are Cordially Invited To Join AZADV
On An A Classic Adventure To South Africa & Botswana
November 2 To 12, 2017
The thrill of spotting any member of the Big Five – Elephant, Leopard, Lion, Rhinoceros, and Cape Buffalo – is reason enough to journey to South Africa and Botswana. But these magnificent creatures aren't the only ones who inhabit the grasslands of the region. Hippos, zebras, giraffes and antelope are just a few other residents that can be spotted during your daily game drives. Join AZADV and wildlife exerts and local residents for an insightful exploration into the habitats and conservation issues surrounding Africa's natural wonders.
Your Itinerary
Day 1 ~ Thursday~ November 2
Atlanta/En Route
Your adventure begins as you board your overnight flight to Johannesburg. (Meals Aloft)
Day 2 ~ Friday ~ November 3
This afternoon arrive in Johannesburg where you will meet your Classic Escapes Guide who will escort you to the Zebra Country Lodge, located just north of Pretoria, the administrative capitol of South Africa.
Located on an almost 1000 acre nature preserve, the Zebra Country Lodge features comfortable accommodations set within the property's lush gardens with stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The nature preserve offers views of free range game – impala, blue wildebeest, waterbuck and giraffe to name a few – your accommodations feature en suite bathrooms, hair dryers, and tea and coffee making facilities.
Overnight at ZEBRA COUNTRY LODGE. (Meals Aloft, D) http://legend-lodges.co.za/properties/zebra-country-lodge/
Day 3 ~ Saturday ~ November 4
Pretoria Zoo
Set out on an exciting tour of the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre. Nestled in the foothills of the Magaliesberg Mountains, De Wildt is renowned for its breeding success of rare endangered species. While the Cheetah project was the base from which the Centre launched its conservation ethic, it soon widened to include other rare and endangered animal species such as wild dog, brown hyena, suni antelope, riverine rabbit and vultures. Many of these have been successfully bred for later reintroduction into the wild. The Centre is a privately owned, non-profit, non-governmental organization, funded by self-endeavor and sponsorship. It has gained national and international recognition for the remarkable successes it has had with the breeding of these scarce species. Encounter a unique wildlife experience right up close and join the Centre for one of their amazing open vehicle guided tours. The De Wildt staff, using their experience and expertise will allow you to enjoy the cheetah along with other animals and birds.
Then later, continue on to the charming and beautiful Zoological Gardens of South Africa (formerly known as the Pretoria Zoo). Situated right against the breathtaking Magliasburg Mountains, the Pretoria Zoo is the largest zoo in the country and the only one with its prestigious national status. Today the zoo holds 3117 animals and boasts the largest inland marine aquarium in the country, as well as its very own reptile park. The zoo also has the third largest collection of exotic trees in the world, making this an unforgettable experience.
Overnight at ZEBRA COUNTRY LODGE. (B, L)
Days 4/5/6 ~ Sunday/Monday/Tuesday ~ November 5/6/7
Entabeni Game Reserve
Today's drive takes you to the 29,650-acre Entabeni Game Reserve, situated in the magnificent, malaria free Waterberg. This unique area offers spectacular scenery consisting of grasslands surrounded by mountains, a mile-long lake, a 2000-foot escarpment, diverse wildlife and 'Big Five' game viewing (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant.) At Entabeni, which means "beyond comparison", the emphasis is on gaining an insight into the wonders of nature. Each well-trained ranger will share his knowledge of the local flora and fauna, as well as cultural heritage, history and geology.
Your exploration will include game drives with professional rangers, guided walks and horseback safaris. Wildlife is abundant with lion sightings during game drives, even as the lions prefer the bushveld environment. Elephants roam the reserve and are often encountered in the vast wilderness areas, and make for awesome viewing. Rhinos are very frequently encountered, and often even in the lodge gardens. There is also a good population of the dangerous Cape buffalo, these large bovids look harmless but can be a highly dangerous member of the animal community. The ever-elusive leopard can also be seen if you are lucky. This animal, however, is a highly elusive, shy and beautiful creature of which even a fleeting glance is a privilege and definitely a highlight of any safari. Besides the cherished Big Five you can expect to see zebra, giraffe, kudu, duiker, eland and oryx. Birdlife is abundant with as many as 380 species in the summer months. There is a colony of Cape Vultures which nest near the Wildside Camp in November and December, as well as Black Eagle and African Fish Eagle. You may also spot Secretary Birds, Black breasted Snake Eagles, Gymnogene and Lizard and Jackal Buzzards. The beautiful Narina Ttrogon is seen from time to time in the valley communities.
Located on the banks of Lake Entabeni, the Lakeside Lodge features 24 individual rooms with en suite bathrooms, connected to the reception area and restaurant by thatched walkways. The lodge also features a pool and spa, available for use for the duration of your stay.
Overnights at LAKESIDE LODGE CAMP. (All Meals Daily) http://legendlodges.co.za/properties/entabeni-safari-conservancy/lakeside-lodge/
Days 4/5/6 ~ Wednesday/Thursday /Friday~ November 8/9/10
Pont Drift/Mashatu Game Reserve
Drive to the border and cross into Botswana at the Pont Drift, where a private road transfer brings you to Mashatu. In the remote eastern corner of Botswana, at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers, lies an area known historically as the Tuli enclave – a diverse wilderness of savannah, riverine forests, marshland, open plains and sandstone outcrops. It is here that the largest of the Rattray Reserves is situated – Mashatu Reserve. The name is derived from the magnificent Mashatu trees, which occur throughout this immense tract of privately owned land. Mashatu is also the home of no less than seven of Africa's giants: the African elephant, the lion, giraffe, the baobab tree, the eland, the ostrich, and the Kori Bustard. Some 366 species of birds may be seen. Mashatu Reserve proudly provides a refuge for the largest, single population of elephant on privately owned land in Africa. Known as the relic herds of Shashe, these elephants are the last
living testament to the great herds that once populated the meandering Limpopo valley. Today, the population on Mashatu Reserve alone is estimated to number in excess of 500.
Here you are offered some of the most exciting wildlife viewing in Africa. It is a place of exceptional beauty where one can explore the rugged, unspoiled African landscapes either in the comfort of open 4-wheel drive vehicles, on a walking safari, on mountain bicycles, or horseback, guided by expert rangers and experienced trackers (some at additional cost.)
Mashatu offers a fabulous opportunity to observe wildlife up close from the safety of a photographic hide. These are separate concessions and run independently from the lodge, and as such there's a fee to enter them, but you can spend uninterrupted time in the hide while animals walk right past you – the ultimate way to obtain that much treasured photograph. ($TBA per person/per use)
Mashatu Main Camp offers 14 authentically decorated suites. Each suite is furnished with two three-quarter beds, a day bed, expansive en suite bathroom with shower, bath, his and hers basins, and a second restroom. A private lounge area overlooks the unfenced surrounding bush and 24 hour temperature control completes the comfort of each suite. Mashatu Main Camp is elevated around a waterhole and offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities from within the camp itself. The dining area, stunning day lounge and "Gin Trap" bar provide diverse lookouts from which to enjoy and appreciate the environment. Facilities within the camp include a swimming pool, an air-conditioned lounge and dining room and a lala-palm enclosed African boma, in which sumptuous s dinners are savored under the magnificent African night sky and around a blazing fire.
Overnights at MASHATU MAIN CAMP. (All Meals Daily) www.mashatu.com
Day 10 ~ Saturday ~ November 11
Mashatu Game Reserve/Johannesburg/En Route
Enjoy one last game drive on the Mashatu Game Reserve, before transferring back to Johannesburg for your return flight to Atlanta.
Day 11 ~ Sunday~ November 12


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Saturday, June 11, 2016
Marc Faber : Brexit Bullish for Global Economic Growth
"I happen to think that a Brexit would be bullish for global economic growth," "It would give other countries incentive to leave the badly organized EU." "On the contrary, it would be the best thing for Britain that would ever happen!""Switzerland is doing much better than any other country in Europe. So maybe Britain would do the same?" Marc Faber told CNBC's "Trading Nation" on this last Wednesday.
Marc Faber is an international investor known for his uncanny predictions of the stock market and futures markets around the world.Dr. Doom also trades currencies and commodity futures like Gold and Oil.
Posted by Nicole Bourbaki
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Ludwig Van Beethoven was an early bird. Pablo Picasso? Not so much. And Franz Kafka, well, he basically subsisted on two long naps each day.
The lives of some of the most creative people history has seen vary not only in length or era, but also routine.
Cloud-based service company Podio, turned bits and pieces of Mason Currey's 2013 book Daily Rituals: How Artists Work into an easily digestible infographic (below). The colorful chart depicts how differently famous creative types have lived, hour by hour, throughout history. Sleep is hardly the only differentiator.
Want to develop a better work routine? Discover how some of the world's greatest minds organized their days.
Click image to see the interactive version (via Podio).
Some of the differences in creative schedules are granular. A select few, for instance, dedicated impressive portions of their day to exercise—Charles Dickens, in particular, who spend more than two hours exercising each day, was a work out fiend. Others, meanwhile, managed to make their art or creative work despite spending a good deal of their time working a separate day job (see Kurt Vonnegut, Wolfgang Mozart, and Sigmund Freud).
In terms of actual time spent working on their craft, Voltaire, who worked tireless and almost without respite throughout the day, appears to have set the standard. Others—most notably Pyotr Tchaikovsky—limited their work in order to spare more time for sleep, food, and leisure.
Keen to develop better work habits? Discover how some of the world's greatest minds scheduled creative work into their daily routines.
Click image to see the interactive version (via Podio).
Everyone, of course, has allocated time for sleep. Just maybe not too much. Especially Mozart, Voltaire, and Freud.
From early birds to night owls – discover the sleeping habits of some of the world's greatest minds.
Click image to see the interactive version (via Podio).


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"Customer Service Starts at the Top"
Nearly all managers will agree with the expression "customer service starts at the top." They understand that culture change takes leadership and that front line employees learn from example. It is not what you direct and order people to do, but it is how you inspire and show the way by your actions. But how do you as a manager put that into practice?
Here are six concrete actions that you can do as a manager to show that customer service starts at the top.
1. Observe the first impressions as you approach and enter the facility. Make rounds in the facility. Observe the staff. Do they greet you, greet other guests in the facility, and interact with residents? Share your observations with managers. Review the standards for customer service and for hospitality. Remind them about the importance of the standards being posted and visible.
2. Ask for names of families and residents with customer service issues. Refer to the grievance log or generate a list of customers at a meeting with department heads. Discuss with the management team the service issues with these customers. Observe the attitude and language used by the management team. A positive indicator: the team is focused on future solutions and satisfaction? They exhibit a can-do attitude. A negative indicator: the team is focused on the past and offer excuses. They have an attitude about the customer and use negative labels. They say "Nothing will work"? This is an opportunity to coach the team on how to respond.
3. Meet with some of these customers. This is your chance to get the customer perspective. Thank the customer for sharing the concern, express empathy, listen, and explain what you will do. Retain the list in your notes. On your next visit to the facility, review and update the list. Meet with or call any customer that you sensed continued dissatisfaction.
4. Talk with front line staff. Are they aware of the standards? How often are they discussed? Consider conducting a couple of small focus groups or listening sessions. Gather 6-8 employees around a table ask them to rate their satisfaction on a 1-10 scale. Ask them to rate how well everyone works as a team on a 1-10 scale. For any rating less than a 9-10, ask for suggestions on how to improve.
5. Review the last customer satisfaction report. Meet with department managers and ask if they are aware of the report. Are they aware of at least the overall satisfaction score, benchmark, and goal? What is the plan to address issues in the report? Is the plan reasonable and realistic? If not, offer suggestions.
6. Finally, ask managers who are some of the customer service champions in that building. Write a short thank you note to them and personally deliver and thank those people.
Your leadership by doing 1-2 of these tasks on each visit will show that customer service truly starts at the top.


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Remember Einstein's comment, "The problems we face cannot be resolved at the same level of mind at which we created them." The level of mind at which we function can have a huge impact on our lives and on the lives of those around us.So how do we go beyond and climb upt to enjoy a new level of inspired mind?
We usually function during the day from the waking level of consciousness. We're awake and conscious of what's going on in the immediate environment. At night we move into dream and deep sleep consciousness. Meditation and other related practices expand the mind so that we can consciously grow into the regions of higher mind. The Sanskrit term is "buddhi" or higher intellect. Being in this place is like standing up on a mountain top and having a spacious view. Many things can be understood from this perspective and we're able to see connections and have insights that shed new light on how to solve problems and what to do next.
The next time you're faced with a challenging issue, instead of acting (or often reacting) to the situation, choose to sit quietly in meditation for a few minutes. Allow a space to open up by focusing the mind on a candle flame, a sacred object or image. Some people find it easier to use a centering mantra like "shanthi" (peace) or Love, or use a sacred name like Jesus, Allah or Buddha. This takes practice. The mind will wander and it requires gentle effort to bring the mind back to the image or word. With the mind focused, the mind occupied you can expand into the higher mind and become receptive to new solutions and creative ideas. This practice brings about powerful transformation and unexpected insights. It may even open the space to enlightenment.
Bio: Debra Moffitt is the award winning author of Awake in the World: 108 Practices to Live a Divinely Inspired Life and "Garden of Bliss". A visionary, dreamer and teacher, she's devoted to nurturing the spiritual in everyday life. She leads workshops on spiritual practices, writing and creativity in the U.S. and Europe. More at http://www.awakeintheworld.com and on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/DebraMoffittAwakeintheWorld
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Sino(Beijing)Technology Co.,Ltd
Ring Mesh Safety Clothing,Stainless Steel Clothes,Ring Mesh Clothes,Stab Resistant Clothes
We are new and fast growing manufacturer and supplier of stainless steel Ring Mesh Safety Clothing and equipment for the meat and food processing industry and other risky industries. Dubetter is dedicated to providing customers with exceptional, low cost protection against workplace hazards.
The ring mesh safety clothing was made from high quality stainless steel mesh fabric. We can design and produce the safety clothing to different shape and size according to different use. And we also can offer the ring mesh fabric materials if need.


text: No doubt, the thrilling and exciting month of the 21st edition of the FIFA World Cup has come to an end after 64 matches, 169 goals, 49,651 passes and four red cards. Hugo Lloris' France was crowned as the champions of the football world as they scored a 4-2 win against Croatia in the dramatic final. It was surely an entertaining tournament for people from all around the world. From hilarious Neymar diving memes to Cristiano Ronaldo's stunning free kick. People are considering it to be the most entertaining football world cup of all time, especially due mind blowing goals, last minutes victories and performances shown by minnows.Here are some of the top moments in pictures which will be remembered for long time. Cristiano Ronaldo scores a stunning free kick to draw the match 3-3 against Spain in the group stages Neymar Jr's performance did impress pundits but the way his play-acting and antics went viral all over social mediaBelgian star Michy Batshuayi celebrates his team's winning goal against England by kicking the ball against the post, only to see it rebounding to hit his faceGerman star footballer Toni Kroos scored an unbelievable free-kick from the edge of the box against Sweden to give his team the win in group F match at Fisht StadiumIranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand made a brilliant save against Portugal when he stopped Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty and got the whole world talkingYoungest French sensation Kylian Mbappe scored his fourth goal in the World Cup against Croatia in the final which will be remembered for years 25-year-old Brazilian goal keeper Alisson Becker became a famous meme on social media when he popped a massive balloon which was thrown in by a fan Famous Icelandic 'Viking Clap' gave everybody goose bumps in the world Cup 2018


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The Sunseeker 28-Meter distinguishes itself as a jewel that anyone in the yachting world would love to own.
About Sunseeker
In 1969, Robert and John Braithwaite were two brothers with a dream – to create a boat to surpass anything made before. That same year, the Braithwaites built the first Sunseeker. It was the seed of a whole
new world. Steadily and surely, the brothers grew their business from their small shipyard in Poole on the south coast of England. Always seeking better boat building techniques, each craft became more ambitious, more
creative – and consequently more successful – than the last.
Now, 50 years on, Sunseeker International has over 80 dealerships networked around the world, delivering over 150 boats a year globally.
What experts say about Sunseeker 28
Can a megayacht be aggressive and amiable at the same time? The Sunseeker 28 Metre Yacht is. One of the roomiest and swiftest yachts in this size.
There are clients who love the Predator look but want more space. With the 28M we decided to try and bridge the gap between Predators and Yachts, to make a boat that was still a Sunseeker but wasn't obviously a Predator or a Yacht.
The best yacht ever
The Sunseeker 28 Metre Yacht will not only thrill but also inspire. Spacious, elegant and practical, the interior is superbly attractive and benefits from exquisite craftsmanship and cutting-edge design. Wraparound glazing and full height windows give you uninterrupted panoramic views through an optional drop down saloon balcony, while the dining area benefits from ultra-modern surroundings and clever use of space.


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GREENWICH, Conn. — Weekend train riders in Riverside can expect to see some changes for the next few weeks as Eversource begins a project to upgrade a transmission structure in the train station parking lot.
Local traffic flow will be detoured during the weekend work, Eversource said.
As part of an ongoing effort to strengthen the power grid and increase reliability, Eversource will begin the work this weekend. The work will be done at the Metro-North Riverside Station on the southbound side on Oval Avenue in Greenwich.
This work will temporarily affect parking at the southbound station and traffic flow on Oval Avenue. Construction is expected to take place during weekends beginning Sept. 15 and lasting through Oct. 22.
Weather permitting, work will be done between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
To minimize the impact to commuter parking at the train station, parking in the Riverside Station South parking lot will be managed by on-site parking attendants on Fridays during construction.
Attendants will direct drivers to the available parking spots that are safely out of the way of the construction zone, which will be fenced off the night before.
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Good Morning, Kittens.
Yesterday was quite the day. After lunch, I decided to check my bank account to see if I check I had written had cleared. And, SURPRISE!, I had completely forgotten about my student loan payment coming out. So, my bank account was at $19.86. Which would be fine, except the check was for $20. And had been cashed that morning. Normally, when my checking account is getting low, I simply transfer money from my ING Direct savings account. However, that can take up to two business days. Too much time to prevent a check from rubberizing.
Luckily, I happened to have $40 in cash on me, so I left work and hoofed it to the nearest bank (3 metro stops away). I made it. The check cleared late last night. Hurrah.
and *whew*
After work, I went to the pottery studio to pick up some glazed pieces: 2 platter/bowl things, 1 large-ish bowl, 1 vase, and a mug. I still have one plate that needs to be glaze-fired. Picking up the pottery took a lot less time than I thought it would, so -even though I was meeting my friend, CJ, at 7:45- I still had time to go home first. Yay.
And, good thing I did! I had a package waiting for me! A friend of mine in California sent me a bottle of delicious newly pressed extra virgin olive oil and some linen coasters as a thank you gift for the scarf I knit for him. Yay! I am so excited about the olive oil. I may buy some bread on the way home tonight and have some for dinner.
Then, I met CJ at Mi Rancho and ate lots and lots of cheesy enchiladas. mmmm. Tasty.
All in all, a busy good day.
Today is going to be equally as crazy. I have a presentation later this morning. And I have a boatload of errands to run - buy catfood, return cardigan, check on the Washington Sports Club in downtown Silver Spring.
*whew* I'm exhausted just thinking about it.
Have a great day!


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While, yes, Rock Band is extremely popular, the series isn't cheap to make. The franchise has been a money loser for parent company Viacom — not because nobody is buying (tons are!), but because of the plastic instruments.
It's costly to make and ship the plastic instruments to retailers around the world from plants in China. Viacom is hoping that The Beatles: Rock Band, with a broad consumer base, will allow them to recoup costs on Day One, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The game looks to be a big money maker for those connected with The Beatles — namely fab four music catalogue owner EMI Music and Apple Corps, which represents Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, the John Lennon estate and the George Harrison estate.
"The royalty rates on this are not even comparable to anything that has been done before," Martin Bandier, chairman of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, told The Los Angeles Times. ATV Music Publishing is a joint venture of Sony Corp. and Michael Jackson's estate, which controls the publishing rights to most of the Beatles catalog.
In short: Lots of people are going to buy this game and lots of people are going to make money. That, and the love you take is equal to the love you make. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Viacom hopes the Beatles: Rock Band game sets stage for rebound [LA Times]


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I just thought I'd give a shout out to Bruno Saille, one of our Senior Systems Engineers in France, who developed the "Opalis VSD Generator". Since I saw the first version of this tool just over a week ago, Bruno has made a LOT of improvements to it. It's really not fair to call it the "VSD Generator" anymore since it now also exports Word docs. It's really cool and can really save you a lot of time if you're needing to document your workflows.
It's really simple to use, with a quick configuration dialog:
…and a simple tree view:
…and one click to quickly generate a Visio diagram:
You can get the latest release at the Opalis CodePlex site: http://opalis.codeplex.com/releases/view/57084


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The use of model fusion in the development of 'plug and play' catastrophe models
Royse, Katherine; Hughes, A.; Hillier, J.; O'Neill, J.; Wang, L.; Kingdon, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4979-588X. 2011 The use of model fusion in the development of 'plug and play' catastrophe models. In: Model Fusion Conference, London, UK, 28-29 Nov 2011. (Unpublished)Before downloading, please read NORA policies.
Download (21kB)
Disaster-related economic losses are increasing globally; for example, in the 1st quarter of 2010 alone, earthquakes in Haiti and Chile and the European storm Xynthia together resulted in losses of US$16 billion. Catastrophe or 'CAT' models are stochastic event-set based computer models that have been used for the last 25 years by the insurance and reinsurance industry to assess risk by estimating likely losses from extreme events, whether natural or manmade (e.g. terrorism). Their key application is in the assessment of risk to a portfolio of exposures, which are then used (i) to inform an insurer's underwriting strategy (ii) to determine the premiums charged in hazard prone areas (iii) to assess the financial strength of insurers that take on catastrophe risk (iv)to price reinsurance treaties Most CAT models are 'black boxes' which have traditionally limited the level of user interaction. New European regulations (Solvency II) require firms to understand the assumptions made in any CAT model used as part of their solvency calculations, resulting in the industry pushing for greater transparency from the modelling community. One of the issues arising is that CAT models can, in certain circumstances, underestimate financial losses, for example by overestimating building resilience in relation to hurricane models. The insurance industry needs clarity on the assumptions included in CAT models; for example, which components are well understood and which are uncertain? Therefore the insurance industry needs the flexibility, for example, to pick and choose hazard vulnerability and economic loss models from multiple vendors. Crucially, they need to be able to critique similar CAT models and understand the impact that changing single components will have on the outputs, thus requiring the development of open-access 'plug and play' catastrophe models. The NERC PURE (Predicting Uncertainty and Risk in the Environment) Research and Knowledge Exchange programme (co-sponsored by EPSRC, EA and TSB) is developing an experimental zone with the aim of producing a web-enabled zone to give unrestricted access to publicly available risk and uncertainty tools. This will enable the development of open-access 'plug and play' catastrophe models. Users will gain access to the best available models, tools and algorithms, linked using OpenMI and will enable data and model linkage within both an open and secure environment. OpenMI provides a standard interface, allowing models to exchange data with each other and other tools at runtime, facilitating the modelling of process interactions. Crucially, it allows models from different suppliers that represent processes based on different concepts and different spatial and temporal resolutions, even with no spatial references, to be joined together. This talk discusses how the PURE programme is engaging with the insurance and reinsurance industry to develop a prototype for 'plug and play' catastrophe models using model fusion, and looks forward to the possible impact of open-access modelling. As a proof-of-concept, a linked series of components which calculates the cost of damage from groundwater flood events has been created using OpenMI. This is based on a groundwater model of Marlborough and the Berkshire Downs, converted to flood depth, and combined with an economic damage model to produce occurrence exceedance probability curves for typical UK housing types
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|BGS Programmes 2010 > Information and Knowledge Exchange (Information Products)
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|GroundwaterBGS, Groundwater, Groundwater modelling
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|30 Nov 2011 15:30 +0 (UTC)
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Frames are an easy and inexpensive way to accessorize any room in your home. They also make fabulous gifts and can be tailored to anyone's tastes. These wooden frames are only a dollar at most craft stores, making them a really frugal gift too! This vintage looking frame holds a simple quotation and it's very easy to make.
I put this together for Michael's Craft Stores via DecoArt. I used Craft Smart paint, which is an inexpensive paint only available from Michael's. It's great for easy projects like this and ideal for kid's crafts too!
After painting the frame with the Vanilla paint, I did a little extra distressing by digging into the wood a bit using some wire cutters.
Then I added a coat of Espresso, then dry brushed on some Robins Egg Blue.
Lastly I added some more dry brushed Vanilla over the top and sanded. Then cover with matte varnish and insert the quotation. Done!
Vintage Quotation Frame
- Matte Varnish
- Square wooden frame
- Quotation print out
Craft Smart Paint:
- Vanilla
- Robins Egg Blue
- Espresso
- Paint the frame with Vanilla.
- Use something hard to scratch indentations into the wood. A small pair of pliers or even the little dowel from the back of the frame works great.
- Paint over the Vanilla with a layer of Espresso.
- Dry brush Robins Egg Blue over the dry Espresso layer, wiping excess paint off the brush before applying. Leave some areas with the Espresso showing through.
- Dry brush Vanilla over the Robins Egg Blue in various areas of the frame.
- When everything is dry, use a sander to remove paint from the edges and corners, and go over the entire thing lightly. It's alright if you remove a little of the paint along the way.
Amanda Formaro
Latest posts by Amanda Formaro (see all)
- 30 DIY Christmas Wreaths - December 9, 2019
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Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Be the first OregonLive.com user to add photos or videos of Tillamook Fire Station 72
Tillamook Fire Station 72 can be found at S Prairie Rd 9975. The following is offered: Fire Protection. The entry is present with us since Sep 10, 2010 and was last updated on Nov 14, 2013. In Tillamook there are 2 other Fire Protection. An overview can be found here.
Tillamook Fire Station 72 is located at 9975 S Prairie Rd, Tillamook, OR. This business specializes in Fire Protection.


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As a beginning teacher, I was full of energy and love for the creativity of planning lessons, then going into a room full of students and seeing if my ideas worked. I read everything I could get my hands on. I went to workshops and conferences. I took part in the Writing Project and got my master's degree in English education. I fell in love with my students as we struggled and grew together.
Then, I found my true calling helping to create the first Glasser Quality Public High School, based on William Glasser's Choice Theory. Here, students and teachers work together to create a school filled with happiness and fellowship.
I pursued National Board Certification to freshen my skills, and now, after 30 years of teaching, I am grateful to still feel energized and enriched, every single day. I wouldn't trade careers with anyone else on earth.
Charlotte WellenMurray High School, Charlottesville, Virginia30 years of teaching
When there is a teacher absence, rarely is there time to plan significant learning activities, so too often "busywork" becomes the assignment for the day. This book solves that problem by suggesting ideas for meaningful, short-term classroom activities, with an emphasis on the processes of speaking, listening, and writing in the classroom. Many of the activities include reproducible artwork in an 8 1/2" X 11" format.
Effective student writing begins with well-designed classroom assignments. In Designing Writing Assignments, veteran educator Traci Gardner offers practical ways for teachers to develop assignments that will allow students to express their creativity and grow as writers and thinkers while still addressing the many demands of resource-stretched classrooms.
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Trout Opening Day 2008
The opening day of trout season was Saturday, April 5 in 2008. The day dawned overcast with some localized showers, but by afternoon was bright and sunny. The photos below provide a sampling of the action - with big lunkers coming out of Bonus Broodstock Lakes.
Click on each photo for an enlarged view.
to Opening Day Recap
Photo credits: Heather Swanson (Blue Mountain Lake), Dahnerts Lake (Bob Papson), Mountain Farm Pond (Shawn Crouse), Dave Devicchio (Oak Pond), Jim Velcheck (Lake Papaianni), Jeff Matthews (Pequest River), Jerry Benfer (Shaws Mill Pond).


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HMRC is getting tougher on businesses which are late to pay their taxes, according to latest statistics.
The data from accountants Wilkins Kennedy reveals that in the 2011-12 tax year HMRC sought to wind up 5,302 companies due to late tax payments, 57% more than in the previous year.
HMRC also seems to be making more use of its 'distraint' tactics, where goods are seized from companies who owe tax. The data shows that HMRC used this aggressive tactic on 10,577 businesses in the last tax year, up from 5,520 in 2010-2911.
Anthony Cork, partner at Wilkins Kennedy, warns that it's not worth dodging the taxman, especially for small businesses struggling with money. He explains: "When businesses run into trouble, often one of the first things they do is try to delay tax payments to help manage their cashflow. This puts businesses on a collision course with HMRC."
He goes on to advise: "Businesses need to be very careful about getting on the wrong side of HMRC. These figures show HMRC has become increasingly unwilling to compromise in its pursuit of missing taxes."


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Aviation History
AUGUST I3TH, 1942 FLIGHT V Side view of a com plete unit taken from a Dornier 217 bomber. One of the blower intakes is on the lower left. The internal air sooop is attached to the cowl ing. A panel re moved from the nose gives access to the magneto. THE B.M.W. 801A Details of Germany's Latest Twin-row Radial Power Plant By F. C. SHEFFIELD IT would be somewhat misleading to refer to the power unit employed on the Focke-Wulf 190 and Dornier 217 machines merely as the B.M.W. engine. In the fullest sense it is a complete power plant, conceived and constructed as a compact whole. Here is no question of an engine fitted with a number of auxiliaries and enclosed •• a cowling whilst coolers and air bops are added externally. The idea maj' not be novel in conception, but the practice is new in production and of outstanding interest. Using the fourtetn-cylinder air- cooled twin-row radial B.M.W. engine as a basis, the aim was to obtain the maximum power output whilst reducing overall dimensions and frontal area to a minimum and presenting an aerodynamically smooth exterior. Every thing is subordinated to this end. Many ingenious constructional features are employed, and the practical result must be regarded as a justification of the design. Within a cowling of 52m. diameter and baving-an overall length of 58111. is packed a remarkable power output. The rating under various conditions is as follows: — Boost r.p.m. b.h.p. Altitude Takeoff 1.32 atm. 2,700 1,580 Emergency maximum 1.3 ,, 2,550 1,585 15,750ft. International rating .. 1.27 ,, 2,400 1,460 16,300ft. Continuous maximum 1.15 ,, 2,300 1,280 18,500ft. Economical cruising .. 1.1 ,, 2,100 1,125 19,500ft. To achieve the low overall diameter the cowling closely encircled the 5oin. diameter engine and is supported by front and rear rings and an inter-cylinder baffle ring, all attached to the valve rocker s by rubber-bushed bolts. Special measures ere taken both to introduce the requisite amount of air and to ensure its distribution throughout the in terior. Cooling' Fan At the front end the cowl ing is faired down to shroud a twelve-bladed magnesium alloy fan of 32m. diameter. The fan is driven from the air screw- reduction gear at 1.72 times crankshaft speed, which is equivalent to 3.17 times the airscrew speed. An adequate air flow is thus assured when the engine is running on the ground or in flight at low speeds. Of course, considerable power is required to drive a fan of this size, and it is esti mated that 100 h.p. is needed B.M.W. 801A Type ..... 14-cylinder, twin row, radial. Bore and Stroke - 6.15in. X 6.15in. Swept capacity 42 litres. Overall dimensions ... 52in. dia. X 58in. long. Rated Output - 1.460 b.h.p. at 16,300ft. Take-ofl power - 1,580 b.h.p. for 3 min. Front view showing the fan which is driven at 1.72 times crankshaft speed. It supplies all air for the engine, cylinder cooling, oil cooling, and cabin and wing heating. for this purpose at the take-off. When the aircraft has a forward speed of 170 miles per hour, however, the fan is motored round by the air stream, and no power is absorbed directly. The loss of 100 h.p. of the critical take-off output must be reckoiied a disadvantage, but this is offset by the advantages in flight conferred by a positive cool ing air flow and by the small diameter low-drag cowling. It is an indication of how the unit is considered as a whole. Exit of air from the interior of the cowling is by way of two circumferential slots controlled by sliding gill rings, as indicated in the diagram of the airflow system. Each of these gill rings is actuated by an electric jack and a push-pull cable. A series of bell crank levers spaced around the diameter of the support member and coupled to the gill ring and an equaliser ring ensure axial move ment, giving a uniform annular slot. The rear ring, con trolling the airflow past the cylinders, has two positions only, with an axial movement of 3.12m. Maximum and minimum discharge areas, after deducting the cross-sec tional area of the exhaust pipes which project through this slot, are 3.7 sq. ft. and 1.2 sq. ft. respectively. The forward ring, sealed to the shrouding of the cooling fan by a flexible rubber joint, is variable throughout its permissible axial movement of i.i2in. to control the reverse flow of air from the interior of the cowl ing through the oil coolers. This slot has a maximum area of 0.73 sq. ft. Internal Air Scoops The air intake for the super charger is also completely in side the cowling, and fed from the air delivered by the fan. Two shallow segmental scoops are fitted inside detachable sections of the cowling on each side of the engine. It is, of course, not practical to make a normal bolted connection, and actually the junction is effected by the flange of the D
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Succulent trailing foliage becomes a mass of blue bells, each with an accentuated yellow and white throat. Plants show great drought resistance and will look stunning all summer grown in baskets, containers or as a ground cover plant in hot sunny borders. The plant has long bloom time, which starts in June and lasts until the first frost. Height 15-20cm.
Sow February-May. Place container in a propagator or seal inside a polythene bag and place at a temperature of 18-20C. Germination usually takes 7-21 days.


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Cristián de la Fuente has had a long and fruitful career, but the 39-year-old counts his family as his biggest achievement. This is why it's so important to de la Fuente to participate in the the 6th Annual Nautica South Beach Triathlon benefiting St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. He understands how an entire family can be affected when a child becomes ill, putting himself in their shoes as a father of an 7-year-old girl.
"My family and I have always been involved with organizations that have to do with children," de la Fuente said. "I look at my daughter Laura, and God forbid anything happened to her, I would be devastated. So it's important for me to do something to help the families and the kids of St. Jude Hospital even if it's just with a little thing like participating in a triathlon to raise money.
All kids deserve to be happy and healthy; to grow up just like my daughter. "
The race has succesfully raised more than one million dollars to date for the organization started by Danny Thomas that works to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.
VIDEO: Watch Christian de la Fuente talk about triathlon.
Race Day this year will take place on Sunday, April 7th from 5:30am to noon at Miami's Lummus Park, located at 501 Ocean Drive. Also lending their star power alongside de la Fuente are Colin Egglesfield, James Marsden, Josh Hopkins, Geoff Stults, Jason Kennedy, and Greg Ellis.
"This is going to be my 6th triathlon, but I only do the relay; I cheat a little bit! I'm not doing the whole thing but I am hoping that I do better this year than I did last year."
To register to participate or to learn more about attending the race to cheer on your favorite celebrity, click here.


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January 2011
It was hardest at night.
When the moon took over the sky, she couldn't cope. Not with Nathaniel's arms cocooned around her, his sweet Altoid breath browsing her skin with each exhalation.
She just couldn't cope.
Dishonesty had a way of eating at your interior, deteriorating your soul until there was nothing left of you but Empty. These lies on top of lies on top of … more lies, had simply hollowed her. This guilt was digging a grand canyon day by day. She hated regret, hated the missteps that happened when she chose want over gut.
"You awake?" Nate's groggy voice filtered into her ear through the thick beige comforter pulled tightly over it. His body on the outside, tightly formed to hers. No matter what the weather, he hated sleeping under the covers.
He shifted, leaned his concerned forehead to her cheek. "Something wrong?"
"No." Attempts at full sentences failed, wetness gathering anytime she'd tried to have a real conversation with him in the last week.
She was depleted of all will. A well of emptiness about to run over.
Each time her cell rang, she nearly jumped. Anticipating the inevitable call from Nigel had her almost shaking, worry chasing through her veins like a bitter shot of whiskey. She didn't know if she should be more concerned that he hadn't called, or that he would. That she'd had to leave a message so impersonal, so desperate, on his voice mail, left her fighting tears and the urge to spill all to Nate, just to spite Nigel.
Who had she become? This jittery, nervous, timid woman was not her. She used to laugh at fear until it bowed its head. The concept of being unsure of oneself was all but foreign to her once upon a time. So brash, so confident in her perception and grasp of the world around her. Her former self, the assertive badass she once was, seemed only a vision she'd dreamed up, now.
Telling him she'd not had the abortion via phone hadn't been her choice. She'd only wanted to talk to him. To be so demeaning, to not even acknowledge the fact that she was calling, and calling, and calling again, was too much. Nathaniel's loving stare only made it worse, torturous and soothing all in one.
It was selfish to decide not to have the baby. It was a selfish decision to keep it. But what was she supposed to do? Either way, someone would end up hurt. Either way, a heart would break. The sweat rushing down her temples as she lay in that too-cheery hospital room that bleak morning had forced her to run to the nearest exit.
She wasn't supposed to do it. She couldn't.
The night before, lying in the guest room in Nina's home, the one that still smelled of the cinnamon her mother used to infuse the house with, she'd dreamed of a beautiful little boy, with midnight skin and brass eyes, a mesmerizing combination of both Nigel and Nathaniel. A little boy staring at her with eyes that drew her close, whispered to her that he already, Was. He wasn't a zygote. Not a spec in a sac of fluid like she'd been telling herself. He was a manchild, destined to one day call her mommy and look at her with that same serious stare Nigel had cast so often since being made aware of the life in her womb.
Not for the lack of trying, she couldn't abandon that image the next morning. It followed her closed eyelids, and when they opened she saw him curled in the posters on the wall informing her of her right to choose. She knew in her heart, looking at the pretty doctor, staring at her name tag, that she'd already chosen.
She now knew with acute certainty that she was carrying a boy. A boy that could be some young woman's husband, father. Her son could grow up to love a woman like her. A woman who would know what it meant to be irreplaceable. To be truly loved. She couldn't be so cruel to deny him the world. She couldn't be so selfish to deny the world of him. In her womb could be the man that would save a young girl like her from herself, when she couldn't even imagine sky above her on a clear day.
Her son would be to someone what she never fully had. Everything she'd want a man, no, a human being to be. A better man than Nigel. A better person than she.
His name would be uttered amongst royalty. She was nurturing a King.
"You can't use my phone. I hope you know that." Mara stared at Nigel's cell lying in pieces amid the glass rubble formerly known as a vase.
Her usual sarcasm was ill-placed. He was not in the mood. Salt in a wound was not what he needed right now.
"I'm good." He let her words fall on the bed as he stood, leaving her sitting there. "Have you seen my shirt?"
"You're obviously not good Nigel. Come here. What did you hear on that message?" She extended a lanky arm, lean muscle stretching, still reflective of the days of endless ballet classes.
"No, really. I just want my shirt."
"You're such a runner."
"Can't a man want to be alone? Shit."
His shirt came hurdling to him. "Of course. You, are a runner, though. Go talk to the woman. You're obviously upset."
"I don't care about any of that anymore. I'm moving, remember. They can all kiss my ass."
Mara sent her eyes up into her head and down again dismissively. "You don't mean that. You're not one of those assholes I date. You're a good man, despite your egregious ass acts. You have a heart. And I'm willing to bet that heart is telling you to go see that woman. And talk to your brother. Man up Nigel. You're fucking his wife, for Christ's sake."
Nigel snatched his coat up, anger flinging across the spacious hotel room as he took one last look around. He needed to vacate before his anger cost her another room damage fee. He'd almost forgotten about Mara's inability to see the intimated stop signs of a man's body language. Or rather, her complete disregard for them. Her mouth had been the source of more than a few "problems" he'd had to handle for her at Columbia.
"Thanks for such helpful fucking advice right now."
"You're welcome."
He'd opened up too soon. This Mara was not the one he'd been so close with. He couldn't blame her for changing though. With time, it was inevitable. She'd been harboring anger at him for years, an intractable grudge holding her back from ever loving him like she'd done before. Stunting their friendship to a time when studying was the major of their concerns.
He held her tight, close, before he left. Smelled the brown strands of silk on her head. Committed her perfect face to the part of his memory only meant for reminiscing on good times. Knew this first time in a long time was also likely the last time they'd see each other in this capacity, if at all.
She didn't ask him to keep in touch. He didn't offer.
The soft thud of an MGM Skyloft door was their goodbye. What happened in Vegas always stayed just that.
"Someone's sitting there." A young girl with cherry Kool-aid hair and too-bright blue nails flicked her eyes rudely from Nigel to the seat he was descending on. Her words didn't stop his Levis from meeting the cushion.
So. That was exactly how he felt at this moment. Right now, he didn't care about anyone, anything. Fuck them all. So disgusted was he with his situation that he hated everyone with ovaries, even a young white girl with blue nails. Waiting for Jade in this grand hotel lobby was already straining his nerves. His life was becoming one big joke these days. He'd waited a week to contact her after hearing the message, needed to let some of the heat rise from him, cool his hot anger off. And he'd cooled alright. Maybe too much. He tried to fight the coldness slowly encasing his heart, he tried to care, but he just … didn't anymore. The layers of his emotional entrenchment with Jade had been shedding like reptile skin, slight and imperceptible even to him, until now.
The realization that he no longer cared like he once did was abrupt, jarring. He felt only disgust. Pity. Regret for ever involving himself with such a conniving woman.
The old apathetic Nigel he'd worked so hard to discard was reemerging.
Jade seemed to float down the long hall leading to the atrium, weaving around numerous members of camera crew as he watched her near him. A royal green dress gracefully poured over her belly and down to mid-calf like handmade drapery. It'd been almost a month since he last saw her. The mound resting under her dress sobered him. It was so real. So there. A person growing inside of her. A real person who would never know his real father to be that.
Jade paused in front of him. Frozen. Here they stood, finally within presence, her nerves like electric blue cords running with anxiety. She fiddled, folded her fingers into each other to give them something to fuss with besides rubbing her hair into place, smoothing her dress.
He stared at her, a null, quiet space where there used to flow such intense love. She was just Jade now. Just a woman.
"Nigel." Her voice was softer, quieter than he remembered, like the sass had been cold knocked out of her. He stood up from the soft lavender chair he sat in, walked with her to a quiet corner in the hotel Nathaniel and their father would later be honored at for their contributions to its new business center.
"I can't talk long." He was gruff, impatient, once they'd stepped into a conference room known as The Presidential Quarters. He let the door stay open, gave himself a buffer of reality in case his loins overtook his common sense.
"I'm sorry, Nigel. I just … I just couldn't." Her eyes detoured, avoided his. Moved to the wall behind him adorned with Lincoln, Kennedy, Roosevelt; the high-backed leather chair his left hand rested on.
Nigel's head shook, leaned towards the ceiling and back down, before he finally spoke. "I'm not interested in the details. What's done is done. Or … undone. It's fine. I'm out of your way."
"I don't know what to do anymore, Nigel."
"You know that if he did a DNA test, they wouldn't be able to tell who the father is between me and Nate. So, just go about your life. Don't worry about me. He'll never know." Fatigue had settled in. This whole situation had overstayed its welcome in his life, in his heart. He was done. Done with it all.
"I know very well how twin DNA works, thank you."
"Oh, don't I know it."
Her syrupy eyes tried to pry into him, tried to reach him one last time. Hands went to her belly as if to shield it from his words. Pregnancy had softened her.
He shifted his head, looked away from her pain.
No matter how much he wanted this to be over, he'd loved her for so long, so intensely, he didn't like seeing the ring of sadness encircling her eyes. Didn't like the arousal he'd experienced upon her entrance to the lobby. Hated that he was so fucking attracted to her, even after this. After all of this.
She reached her ringed hand towards his, hurt seizing her eyes when he pulled back before she could touch him.
"It isn't like you to be this cold to me, Nigel."
"Well, now it is."
In the last six years, Nathaniel to become an expert at keeping his composure. Back straight, assured hazel gaze, hands and voice steady and confident, just like the trained politician he was. Skinny crimson tie hanging over a crisp white shirt, cuffed at the sleeve. Always "on."
No fits of rage, no sudden outbursts of emotion. Those were left in the days of yester-year.
But, he didn't like this.
Didn't like how close the two of them were standing, the intimacy of their body language, like a secret was being exchanged, kept. Didn't like the pained look on Jade's face, the anger painting his brother's. He'd come down after Jade, thinking something was wrong. She'd been acting so odd the last few weeks, almost recoiling under his touch, unable to hold eye contact for more than a few seconds. Watching her eyes collect light and reflect it back in dancing twinkles as she told him about her day had long been one of his favorite things to do. Something was off. He didn't like watching this scene, knowing they didn't know he was watching. It seemed as if they were arguing. But what about?
He contemplated walking over, approaching casually as if he'd just happened upon them. He thought about taking the direct approach and marching over to their quiet, conflicted corner with brows raised, expectant. His tendency for immediate anger might have been quelled, but still, the embers smoldering in his gut watching this scene were telling him something wasn't right. Jade had been acting so strange, so disconnected, that he kept arriving at the ludicrous assumption that she'd been sharing the rights of their marriage, her vow to him, with another man.
Even thinking about it sent a sharp pain spiraling through his chest. Daggered him. The mother of his child, cheating? Jade was the love of his life. She couldn't do that, wouldn't. She'd done so much to get him, it'd be foolish to give it all up for some man who was undoubtedly less of one than he.
He watched a while longer, noting the pained pauses she took, the way she grasped for his arm, the way he walked avoided her touch. Her soulless eyes told him something wasn't right.
Something was going on. Something foul. He was damn sure going to find out what.
"Everything alright?" His Chief of Staff, Brian, was behind him, eyeing the choke hold he didn't realize he had on his phone with a wary eye.
He decided to stay where he was. Whatever his wife and Nigel were discussing could wait until after he'd addressed the crowd. There were a lot of important people watching him today, and he couldn't afford to have a scene be made this evening. He'd just make sure everything was alright.
Nate tapped the screen, dialed a number. "Yeah. And if it isn't, it will be."
"It doesn't matter anymore, Jade. I'm done with this. I really, truly do not care, I'm sorry. I think it's best we just remove ourselves from each others lives. This shit isn't healthy. You wanted Nathaniel, remember? You did all that shit to get him, to get me back, and you did it. You got what you wanted, remember? You win." His tone was cold, harsh, deliberate. Pangs of guilt coursed, racked his body as the words left his mouth, but he needed to drive his point home. Needed her to not want anything to do with him anymore.
Now the tears came, spilled down her cheeks, leaked years of stupid decisions, dripped onto her protruding belly. Her hands found their way to her jet black pixie cut, planted there in frustration. "How can you say that to me? You know it's always been you I wanted. Always you, Nigel." Her voice was a whisper, nearly unable to leave her throat.
She was broken. Shattered into a thousand pieces right before his eyes. He was sure the life growing in her stomach was the only reason she could still stand. The baby was the only thing holding her together.
"Because I mean it, Jade. I mean it with such sincerity it's almost unfathomable, even to me, but I mean it." He ran an exasperated hand over his face, checked the time on the watch below it.
Nigel's phone buzzed then, interrupted him. He hoped it was something important, something that would give him a reason to leave this uncomfortable room.
Nathaniel. He looked at it for a while, watched it buzz three times. He didn't answer.
A call that only further confirmed the reality of this situation, the seriousness of this offense. Brewed his anger again at himself, at Jade, at his life in its current state. It was hard to believe he'd let himself slip this far.
"And what will I tell your child? Your son?"
"Not my child. Your child. Nate's child. His son!" He hissed, jabbing a finger toward his phone.
Her head snapped sideways, as if some invisible hand had pushed it with a loud smack. The words spat at her with such conviction she could almost feel the sting on her cheek. She knew she deserved every one of the painful remarks he was piling on.
She also knew Nigel was nothing close to innocent in this. Nowhere near just a bystander. She'd not just tied him down and gotten pregnant. Hadn't forced him to disrupt her life with Nathaniel, a life she'd thought was happy. He was just as guilty, just as wrong in his betrayal of Nathaniel.
She swatted the tears away with a quick brush of her hand. No more. She had no more. No more to give to this man. This time, she met his eyes. An arid, blank stare gazed into the darkness of his irises. "You are being a horrible, horrible man. And it will not go without karma getting her just do, Nigel."
Her words were dismissed with a flick of his hand. "You're educating me on the laws of karma?" The corners of his mouth curled into a smirk. "That's funny."
"You know-"
He cut her off. "Honestly, it's better this way, you know? You can go and have your happy life with Nate, and I'll do what I do."
"Do what you do? Run, right."
"No. Fuck beautiful women, freely and without discretion. This love shit? Not for me."
Her chest went concave, gasped to replace the air his words had just taken from her. "I can't believe you. Last month you were crying. Crying because I wanted an abortion. Now you're acting as though you want to be rid of us?"
"There's no us." His eyes shot around the room. He was bored with this conversation, with her. He was tired of giving a damn. Tired of his heart feeling like it was in a grinder. He'd simply shut off. A natural gift he'd been born with, the ability to remove himself emotionally from a situation like the flick of a switch. An ability Jade had somehow disabled for all this time.
A gift he was happy to reclaim.
"Goodbye my almost lover, goodbye my hopeless dream…" The awkwardly appropriate music played in the corners of the room. Nigel's eyebrows went up. "Hm. Well there you have it."
"This isn't funny Nigel."
"At all." He took a step back. "I have to go."
"Ask me if I love you." She stared into him, past his eyes, into his soul, bypassed the barrier he'd erected. "You ask me if I love you every time I see you. Ask me today."
"I've gotta go, Jade." His voice bent a little, expressed the sinking inside. He didn't want to entertain this, willed the feeling away with clenched teeth. He turned, took another step towards the door.
"Ask me, Nigel."
And just like that, he was back in a lowly lit hotel room lying under a high penthouse ceiling, an onyx interruption on a bed of plush white down. Jade was atop him, breasts adorned in a blue lacy number he was calculating how long he'd wait to remove. "Do you love me?" He asked, gazing up at her, drinking in a face he swore he could never get tired of.
Her mouth, full, open in a bow, smiled. "You know I love you."
"I do. I just like to hear that you know it, too."
She leaned her smile to his, kissed him softly along his angles again and again. He couldn't remember a day he'd been so happy, so desirous of a woman. Even the coldest of hearts warmed when love that sweet wrapped itself around it. That day, a long, steamy one filled with intense lovemaking and whispered affirmations.
The day they conceived the child that would cause this tumultuous separation.
"So long, my luckless romance. My back is turned on you…"
The song, this horribly appropriate song, pierced his thoughts, brought him back to the present. Returned him squarely in front of her intense eyes, asking him to remember the time. He remembered. If he could pull an Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind right now though, he would. He'd erase her completely.
"Don't do this, Jade. I have to let go." He paused, air deflating like a weary balloon, he folded her hands in his. "And you need to do the same. We can't be. I think we both know this. And as much as this hurts, it's best for everyone." He placed a hand on her stomach, felt the life he'd helped create, one last time. "Everyone."
He'd thought he couldn't feel anymore pain, that'd he'd hit bottom a few weeks ago. He was wrong. Pain spilled, filled the air around them, seeped into the crevices in each corner. He couldn't breathe.
"Should've known you'd bring me heartache, almost lovers always do…"
They'd had too many of these moments. Too many hail marys launched from his lips or hers, last attempts to salvage this … whatever it was. Too many times one heart had turned away from the other, only to desperately come running back.
Her gaze broke, found the ground. She slipped her hands from his. "Go, then."
She didn't look back up until he was well into the parking lot. His life was becoming a series of fucked up goodbyes.
January 2004
This boring, dying city was her home now. She'd gone to the airport and picked the first departing flight she saw.
Starting over was starting to be a regular part of her life. Moving, loving, ending. Then starting the whole thing over again in a new city, desperately trying not to become the jaded, scorned woman with a heart ravaged with battle scars like her mother. She refused.
The air was somehow different here. It wrapped around her lungs like an overbearing husband, suffocated her already. It'd only been 48 hours. 48 hours since she'd be comfortably sitting in her grape drenched kitchen, sipping wine in the nook of her sofa.
She wanted Nigel to call.
Her phone had only sat there lifeless, stubborn. No word from him at all.
Wash, rinse, repeat, lose.
She was always the girl who lost. Never the one who got the last name.
She'd been a fool to think otherwise.
She needed a new outlook. A new life. One that didn't follow her with shadows of a past that spoke of sliding down disinfected poles and musty single dollar bills. One that didn't remind her of the previous life she desperately wanted to outrun. She already knew what needed to be done. The balance in her account seemed unreal. This money, this bribe money from what had to be the craziest bitch alive, would change her life.
It'd change everything. She was going to make sure of it.
March 2004
"You sure you want this?" The kind doctor asked, silver hair lining his edges like tinsel on eaves. His face was imperceptibly youthful. She wondered if he'd had work done or if God had given him such a chiseled face. He looked like he bathed in Evian and ate berries from the Garden of Life. He looked like money. She wanted to look like money.
She was absolutely sure.
"Yes." She said, smiling.
"So … nose, chin, eyes. Very small incisions will be placed here, here," he slid gloved fingers along her face in three points, "and here." He stopped then, studied her for a long time. "I know it's my job to tell you everything that is wrong with you, that something needs to be fixed, but the truth is, you don't need me to fix anything. You're very beautiful."
Rosy threads flushed up his perfectly tanned face and down his neck, his own boldness seeming to impress and embarrass him all at once.
"Thank you," she eyed his ring-less left hand, noted the glints of admiration in his eyes. "But I don't want to not look like me, I just want to look like a perfect me."
"Ah." he nodded, the glint in his eye toning back to a business dull. "It will take 4 days until the pain subsides. Two weeks to two months until you'll see the full effects."
She nodded, thoughts of her fresh new life and new look consuming her mind.
"Ah, she joins us finally." a nurse's voice echoed through the fog, seemingly far away.
"Am I alive?" Jade heard her voice floating out as if she were under water, then a throb pierced through the sedation. Hints of vanilla floated in the air around her, otherwise smelling of sterility and cold.
"Of course you are. Do you have someone to drive you home?" The nurse, she could tell, was cute. Her hair had struck Jade right away when she walked into the bright office this morning for her procedures. Jet black, cut in tiny layers, with a bang that jetted out like a cliff over right eye and bridge of her nose. Bold, fun, funky, yet still elegant, without trying to hard. It was perfect. She was inspired. She'd told her as much, too.
"I need a mirror." She stretched her arm out, pulled it back in front of her face when she felt cold plastic touch her palm.
A mummy. A zombie-mummy, with black eyes, swollen lips, and long honey brown hair. This was not what she had signed up for.
"Give it a few days, swelling will go down. "
"I hope so." She tried to laugh but the swelling wrapped her face in its tight grip, her words marbled and lips sore. Still, she managed, "Can I take a picture of your hair before I leave?"
"My God, woman."
His hands were thick, veins protruding in rebellion under smooth skin and neglected nails. Upon first glance, you'd label them blue collar.
Until you witnessed them work.
Nimbly, gently, yet firmly skating across her body, landing at her hips, the intensity, applying pressure in grips, urgency in fingerprints. Always artful, knowing. Smooth operators.
A doctor's hands.
She'd never been with an older man before Dr. Saroyan. Was this why so many girls from her previous life of smokey rooms and skin let the men who'd lived long enough to call them daughter take them home? They stayed planted in rotations longer than even celebrities, and lonely men with no families and loads of disposable income to blow.
It felt good to be Jade again. In control and so sure of what she wanted. Nigel had been a detour, a hiccup. She should send a thank you note to the woman she'd forever refer to as The Bitch.
Sixty thousand dollars wasn't a lot of money.
But sixty thousand dollars had opened doors to a lot of money. To wake up and see your bank account go from five-thousand to sixty-thousand overnight, was a powerful feeling. It gave her an inkling of hope, of possibilities. It allowed her to think creatively, to craft a plan and a new life.
Thus far, she'd done just that.
In the few months living in Detroit, she'd learned more than ever that money, attracts money. No one had to know that her well wasn't an overflowing sea of residual income. No one knew that this was her starting point. All they knew was that she could afford what she wanted, by herself. And that was all the information they needed.
She was becoming a master of reinvention.
To Dr. Jivan Sorayan, she wasn't a dancer collecting sweaty bills in a musty building with "Daddy's House glowing above it in offensive blue neon. She was Jade Monroe, small business owner, portfolio extraordinaire, and soon to be graduate of the University of Michigan. At least two of those were true, and that was good enough for now.
"You like?"
"I love." His voice was gruff, exhausted. A weekend spent making love under his plush covers, as white as cotton balls and just as soft, was showing his age.
"Well, it was exactly what the doctor ordered." She smirked, slid glossed lips up his nude body and to his mouth, let him taste remnants of his magic.
He traced his finger along the now slightly sharper bridge of her nose, a small smile spreading on his face.
"Your work, or me?" Jade snuggled her face onto the fine gray-black hairs sprouting from his surprisingly firm chest, smoothed it with her hand, over and over. He became a cat during these moments, purring, whimpering at her slightest touch.
"Both." He was whispering, eyes closed, enjoying her fingers softly play.
She put her lips there now, kissed it with the touch of a feather. He fondled her short tresses, the new jet black cut with the jetted bang.
"What are you doing to me?"
She smiled. That was becoming her favorite phrase. The power in being a sexy woman was undeniable. Her mind flashed briefly to a midnight-skinned man with swaying locs and onyx eyes.
He used to say those very same words.
She wondered, during still moments, what he was doing. If he still hated her, if he still loved her. They hadn't spoken since that day in her living room, the image of him shutting down, all feelings draining like color from a painting right before her eyes, still hurt when she let it, still a ebbed with ache when she sat still for too long.
She knew not to though, not to give it space to grow and fester. She knew to focus on the here and now. On her new life.
She kissed the good doctor again. "Whatever I want."
Her house was silent save for the quiet hum of the stainless steel Kenmore in her open kitchen, and Jivan's soft snore. The condo she'd furnished compliments of Jivan after a particularly steamy night, was modern, spacious, full of whites, blacks, creams. Accented with pops of color that made her home actually feel like home.
She missed the buzz of New York, the exciting array of people, the mass transit when she didn't feel like driving. She missed the California sun, high and confident, ruling the sky and temperatures nearly year round.
But this, was nice.
Peace. The kind of peace that someone whose life was normal, not full of drama, experienced.
Ever so often she got up at 3am, walked into her office, blew a kiss to the poster of Lauryn Hill above the desk.
How you gon win when you ain't right within?
It was a reminder, a life motto she'd adopted to remind herself to choose peace. To stay right, within. To never go back go back to that person she was. Peace, above all.
Her iMac whirred on, its sleek screen illuminating the room in a soft blue glow.
Midnight marked March 15th. Her birthday.
She did what she'd been doing for the last seven years since that fateful day she'd discovered the documents that stole what she knew to be true about herself, that deleted Jade Monroe's whole existence, in her father's dark cherry liquor cabinet that'd been turned into a home for her mother's nice dishes. The one he pretended not to know she "borrowed" from sometimes when she was a teenager.
She woke at 3am, she remembered that day.
Her Myspace home page was a harsh white against her eyes. She winced, let her pupils constrict, eyes adjust to the brightness.
Her fingers knew the rhythm by heart. Knew what she would type before her brain could give the command.
Melanie Joy Jones, they typed, clicked search. On her screen appeared a private profile, a pretty, beaming face with long silver earrings sparkling on either side. A face that displayed Jade's nose, her eyes. her lips. A face shockingly identical to her own, even now, with her new refined features.
March 15th. Just one month before, she'd joined this site and immediately searched the name she'd been typing in searches across the internet for the last four years.
She moved her mouse, hovered it over the 'Add To Friends' link beneath her profile. Fear gripped her just as it had that day, had her trembling before she could press the button. Thinking about how her life would change, how shocked this stranger would be to know that there was another her roaming only a few states away. Communicating with the woman beaming at her from her computer screen would make it too real.
She couldn't do it. She didn't know if she'd ever be able to.
"Happy birthday, sis." She stared, brown eyes glazing over the loss of a life she never lived, a love she never knew.
"Enjoy it."


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|Price on Request
|Size of house
|320 m²
|Area Land
|2.67 hectares
|Town / Village
House > Grasse
A haven of peace in the Cannes CountrysideLocated at the intersection of the charming countryside villages of Opio, and Chateauneuf de Grasse and at the outer limits of the city of Grasse, celebrated for being the perfume capital of the world, this authentic manor house or Provencal Bastide, in outstanding condition, enjoys complete peace and quiet. South facing with spacious, bright rooms, the superb grounds, laid mainly to lawns with Mediterranean flowering plants and shrubs extends to 2,7 hectares of very gently sloping land, this lovely home benefits from total privacy throughout. The property comprises the main house, a guest house and garage with storage facilities easily adaptable to create caretaker's accommodation. Large terraces and a generous swimming pool add to the charm of this wonderful home.Ref:5234


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Foursquare, American Express Roll Out Nationwide Check-in Deals
Foursquare and American Express announced a nationwide partnership today that will reward users by crediting their cards when they take advantage of Foursquare specials.
Three months ago, American Express and Foursquare tested their partnership program, powered by the American Express Smart Offer APIs, at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, and now they are rolling it out nationwide. The new partnership enables American Express card members to link their Foursquare profiles to their cards to earn loyalty-like rewards.
"The success of our pilot just a few months ago proved that American Express' digital capabilities and Foursquare's expanding application created something extremely powerful. We're thrilled to take this partnership to the next level. For us, this is just the beginning," American Express vice chairman Ed Gilligan said in a statement.
Users won't receive any coupons, special codes, or badges, and they won't even need to show their mobile devices to cashiers to claim their reward. When users see a special on Foursquare that they want to take advantage of, they simply need to check into the merchant and load the special to their card. After paying with the card, they will receive an American Express credit after three to five days.
For example, starting today, if users spend $75 at H&M, they get $10 back, or if they spend $50 at Sports Authority, they will get $20 back. "Our national launch with Foursquare reflects our continued focus on digital innovation aimed at bringing value to cardmembers and merchants where they're already engaged and focused," said Gilligan.
The offers will also launch at New York City restaurants that are part of the Union Square Hospitality Group, including Blue Smoke, The Modern, Untitled, and Union Square Café. Foursquare and American Express expect to "expand rapidly to include additional national and local merchant offers in the coming weeks and months."
Proving that it has the ability to reach consumers, Foursquare announced this week that its two-year-old service has crossed the 10-million user mark. Although the company will not be receiving any revenue from the deals, it will provide the opportunity for the service to expand to new areas, become more mainstream, and perhaps help form a profit stream in the future.
As far as deals go, Foursquare will face some tough competition from well established companies, like Google, Groupon, Living Social, Facebook, and Amazon.


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The Northwest and Roe Valley Bereaved by Suicide Support Groups will hold their annual 'Memory Tree of Lights' ceremonies next month.
The Northwest group will hold their event on Sunday December 3 at 5.30pm in Foyle Search and Rescue Headquarters at Prehen.
The Roe Valley Bereaved By Suicide Support Group meanwhile will hold their event on Sunday, December 17 at 5.30pm in the Body, Mind and Soul Centre, 101 Irish Green Street, Limavady.
The events are held to remember loved ones lost to suicide and to support family and friends during the holiday season, which can be an especially difficult time.
Both ceremonies are supported by the Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust), CLEAR, The Big Lottery, The Public Health Agency, Salvation Army, Body, Mind and Soul Centre and Foyle Search and Rescue.
The simple ceremony involves members of the Support Group reading some poetry and prayers, which have particular significance to them and music will be provided.
Family and friends will be invited to take part in a candlelight ceremony and to leave a message to their loved one on the Christmas tree.
Fidelis Simpson, Suicide Liaison Officer for the Western Trust said: "We recognise how devastating a death by suicide can be but we believe by coming together with others bereaved by suicide this can offer hope and support."
Fidelis continued: "When someone dies by suicide many people are affected; families, friends and work colleagues, but all too often no one gets the opportunity to talk about how they feel.
"The journey for those left behind after the loss of a loved one can be excruciatingly painful, devastating and traumatic.
"Many people who have been bereaved in this way have sought and benefitted from a support group. Evidence shows that support groups are a powerful and constructive way for people to help both themselves and others.
"Grief associated with bereavement by suicide is unique. The coming together of those similarly bereaved, regardless of when the death occurred, can provide the opportunity to be with other people who can really understand.
"They have been through the same experience and can offer the opportunity to gain strength and understanding from the individuals within the group."
The event originated in the USA and has been replicated throughout Ireland within towns and communities affected by suicide.
The Northwest Bereaved by Suicide Support Group meets the first and third Monday of the month in Foyle Search and Rescue Headquarters at 7.30pm and the Roe Valley Bereaved by Suicide Support Group meets the second Tuesday of each month in the Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre at 7.30pm.
For more information, contact Fidelis Simpson, Suicide Liaison Officer for the Western Trust on Tel: (028) 028 71 320 138 or Mobile: 07841569000.
*The Lifeline helpline is open 24 hours a day, every day. Anyone of any age living in the North can call the Lifeline helpline for free on 0808 808 8000 if they are experiencing distress or despair. At Lifeline you can talk to a professionally trained counsellor who will listen, give help and support, in confidence.


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A flyer designed for GC De Kluize highlighting theater and movies suitable for the entire family.
ISBERG is another word for ICEBERG, a metaphor for our work, except for the coldness - the metaphor didn't work out entirely. The most substantial part of an iceberg exists under the surface, representing the process of designing, everything that takes place between the first rough idea and the last finishing touch. The ice above the surface is the result. We focus on both, with dedication, love and ability.


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Diabetes Risk may be Lowered by Consuming Certain Dairy Foods
Scientists and researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in collaboration with several other institutions identified a substance that naturally occurs in dairy fat that may significantly reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
The Compound Trans-Palmitoleic Acid
The compound called trans-palmitoleic acid is a fatty acid found in milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter. It is not produced naturally by the body so the only way the compound trans-palmitoleic acid can enter the body is through consuming the dairy products that contain it.
Diet Rich in Dairy Foods
A 20 year long study that had 3,736 participants who were evaluated for blood glucose and insulin levels, and also levels of circulating blood fatty acids, including trans-palmitoleic acid were followed to see how many developed type 2 diabetes over the course of the study.
Over the 20 year study the participants were 60% less likely to develop diabetes following a diet that contained the trans-palmitoleic acid.
Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/212136.php