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Originally from New Haven, I have been an active member of the local arts scene as a teacher, administrator, and artist for over a decade.
My work is intentionally heavy and tactile, aiming to establish a human connection all too often lost in our digital age. The process, medium, and materials are all meaningful components.
The intention behind most of my work is to inspire conversation. Previous work explored the tension between manmade and natural landscapes, positioning manmade objects such as telephone and electrical towers as more natural than nature itself. My most recent body of work focuses specifically on gated communities, drawing parallels to what is happening in our country today.
Though primarily self-taught, I studied printmaking and studio arts at New York University (BA, English), Paier College of Art, and Rhode Island School of Design. My work has found homes in private collections worldwide.
b. 1983, Harvey, IL
lives + works in New Haven & Hamden, CT
BA, New York University (2005)
Re:connecting, Kehler Liddell Gallery, New Haven, CT
Space. Travel, curated by Debbie Hesse, Perspectives… The Gallery at Whitney Center, Hamden, CT
Isolate, Hygienic Art Gallery, New London, CT
Expressions in Print, curated by Barbara Harder, Creative Arts Workshop, New Haven, CT
Walls (expanded), Ives Gallery, New Haven Free Public Library, CT (solo show)
Walls, Kehler Liddell Gallery, New Haven, CT (solo show)
Square Footage, Village Inn & Suites, New Haven, CT (solo show)
One Planet. One Home. Artists Confront Climate Change, Kehler Liddell Gallery, New Haven, CT
Inauguration Nation: Artists Respond to the New Administration, Kehler Liddell Gallery, New Haven, CT
Deck the Walls, Kehler Liddell Gallery, New Haven, CT
Faculty Show, Creative Arts Workshop, New Haven, CT
Genius Loci, curated by Elinor Slomba, Village Inn & Suites, New Haven, CT
Special Project @ 193 Winthrop Avenue, curated by Elinor Slomba, Dwelling: City-Wide Open Studios, New Haven, CT
Momentary Landscapes, (solo exhibition), Kehler Liddell Gallery, New Haven, CT
Featured Artist, State House of Representatives, Hartford, CT: one of two artists chosen by House Majority Leader, Joe Aresimowicz
Inside the Box, Kehler Liddell Gallery, New Haven, CT
Featured Artist, Gallery Twelve 24 @ Framed, Hamden, CT
Transported / Illuminated, City-Wide Open Studios, Armory at Goffe Alternative Space, Artspace, New Haven, CT
MetropoLights, (a cityscape of interactive light sculptures for kids, a collaboration w/ Christine Liu), Maker Faire, New York Hall of Sciences, Queens, NY: Best in Class, Red Ribbon Winner / Hall of Sciences, Permanent Collection
Reflection, Navigation, Design / 17th Annual Westville Village ArtWalk, urban seed [ ] ponics lab, New Haven, CT: Chosen as a Project Storefronts Featured Artist
Linear Advantages (solo exhibition), Luck + Levity / Koffee on Auduon, New Haven, CT
City-Wide Open Studios, Artspace, New Haven, CT
Transitories - or - Transitory Stories, (solo exhibition), Muse, Los Angeles, CA
Pancakes and Booze, Lot 613, Los Angeles, CA
the earth is not a cold dead place, Seton Gallery, University of New Haven, CT
Before + After, (solo exhibition), Koffee on Audubon, New Haven, CT
City Wide Open Studios, Artspace, New Haven, CT
FLOCK, Artspace, New Haven, CT Jurors: Patricia Hickson, Emily Hall Termaine Curator of Contemporary Art, Wadsworth Antheneum, Hartford, CT & Kristina Newman, Director of Visual Arts, Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT
Ideat Village Festival, Orbit Gallery, New Haven, CT
Art for Aids, Artspace, Hartford, CT
May Day Festival, Freight Street Gallery, Waterbury, CT
Solo Exhibition, The Space, Hamden, CT
the city dreams, (solo exhibition), Creative Arts Workshop, New Haven, CT
Breaking Ground, Junto Gallery, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY
A Midsummer Night Scene, L'asso, New York, NY
New 'Walls' Spring Up at Ives, by Samantha Sims, The Arts Paper, June 7, 2018: https://www.artspaper.org/yaji-blog/2018/6/7/new-walls-spring-up-at-ives.
Artist Climbs Over the Walls, by Brian Slattery, New Haven Independent, May 16, 2018: https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/walls/.
Kehler Liddell Announces New Director, by Lucy Gellman, The Arts Paper, October 9, 2017: https://www.artspaper.org/articles/2017/10/9/kehler-liddell-announces-new-director.
Linoleum Block Party, Liz Antle-O'Donnell Explores Our Relationship to Nature and Each Other, by Hank Hoffman, Artists Next Door, The Arts Paper, July/August 2017: https://issuu.com/artscouncil9/docs/arts_paper_july_august_final/8.
Walls and Enigmatic Canyons Come to Westville, by Allan Appel, New Haven Independent, April 7, 2017: http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/walls_and_enigmatic_canyons_come_to_westville/.
Art Beat | Liz Antle-O'Donnell, interview Daniel Fitzmaurice (Director of Arts Council of Greater New Haven), WNHH Community Radio, April 2017: https://soundcloud.com/new-haven-independent/artbeat-liz-antle-odonnell.
Artists Take On Global Warming in 'One Planet. One Home,' by Susan Dunne, Hartford Courant, May 10, 2017: http://www.courant.com/entertainment/museums-galleries/hc-climate-change-exhibit-0510-20170510-story.html.
Artists 'Transform' Spaces All Over Town, by Lucy Gellman, New Haven Independent, October 21, 2015: http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/transported_transfixed/.
Artists Mind the Gap, by Allan Appel, New Haven Independent, June 12, 2015: http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/kehler_liddell/.
Sitting Down with Liz Antle-O'Donnell, by Alex Simon, The Yale Herald, April 18, 2014: http://yaleherald.com/voices/sitting-down-with-liz-antle-odonnell/
Connections Made At Two Ville Openings, by David Sepulveda, New Haven Independent, November 26, 2014: http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/art_openings_at_the_two_villes/.
ArtWalk, by Chris Randall, I Love New Haven, May 11, 2014: http://www.ilovenewhaven.org/2014/05/artwalk-chris-randall.html.
the earth is not a cold dead place at the Seton Art Gallery, by Isaak Kifle, Charger Bulletin, April 6, 2011: http://www.chargerbulletin.com/2011/04/06/the-earth-is-not-a-cold-dead-place-at-the-seton-art-gallery/.
the earth is not a cold dead place: Art Explores How Humans Interact With Nature, (feature image), March 28, 2011: http://www.newhaven.edu/news-events/155564/.
Related Writings + Presentations
Lots of Activity at Artspace, Groove Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 2, September 2012, pg. 7.
A Fine Bunch: October 2nd and 3rd in New Haven & Alternative Space, City Wide Open Studios 2010: http://cwos2010.wordpress.com/2010/10/05/a-fine-bunch-october-2nd-and-3rd-in-new-haven/ & http://cwos2010.wordpress.com/2010/10/18/alternative-space/.
John Zinsser '76, (alumni artist profile), Foote Prints Alumni Magazine, Winter/Spring 2011, Vol. 38, No.1, pg. 32: https://issuu.com/footenews/docs/fp_winter_spring_2011_rev/34.
Kwadwo Adae: Paintings as Kinetic Sculptures, Connecticut Creative Online, January 5th, 2010.
Daniel Kaminski: Streams of Subconscious, Connecticut Creative Online, February 22nd, 2010.
Sarah Paolucci: Illustrator, Designer, Portraitist, Connecticut Creative Online, March 17th, 2010.
An Extraordinary Life Drawing Event: Dr. Sketchy's Anti Art School, Connecticut Creative Online, March 17th, 2010.
Related Experience
Gallery Director, Kehler Liddell Gallery, New Haven, CT (present)
Program Director, ArtEcon Initiative, New Haven, CT (present)
Project Manager (2016 & 2012-2014) / Executive Assistant (2010-2012), Site Projects Inc, New Haven, CT
Percent for Art Coordinator, City of New Haven, Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism / New Haven Festivals (2014 - 2015)
Teacher, Preschool @ Neighborhood Music School, (arts-based school), New Haven, CT (2012 - 2015)
Public Relations Specialist, Annie Wharton Gallery, Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles, CA (2012)
Artist Assistant (intern), Kathryn Andrews (represented by David Kordansky), Los Angeles, CA (2011)
Artist Assistant (intern), Mindy Shapero (represented by Marianne Boesky), Los Angeles, CA (2011)
Gallery Coordinator + Administrative Assistant (temporary), Creative Arts Workshop, New Haven, CT (2010)
Assistant Teacher, Calvin Hill Daycare + Kitty Lustman Findling Kindergarten, New Haven, CT (2006 - 2009)
Additional Education
Rhode Island School of Design, studied w/ Henry Ferraria, Head of Printmaking, (Summer 2014)
Paier College of Art, studied w/ Bob Zapolarti, 1st place Honors, Trompe L'Oeil, (2009/2010)
Galleries, Affiliations, Residencies + Collections
Kehler Liddell Gallery, New Haven, CT, (2013 – present)
Westville Village Renaissance Alliance, Board Member, New Haven, CT (2018 – present)
Artist-in-Residence, Creative Arts Workshop, Young People's Department, (2016)
Work in private collections worldwide, including New York, Connecticut, Los Angeles, Copenhagen


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Fitness Copywriter
Five Point Fitness is a small gym in Marin County, California that stays ahead of the curve, both with its equipment and its fitness programs. The range and depth of expertise offered by its personal trainers is a big reason why.
Fitness Trainer Bios
Five Points Fitness
Peter Bartsch
With an M.A. in philosophy, Peter fuses Eastern philosophy with Western sports, applying the principles of yin and yang to muscles "Unfortunately, we often neglect our yin muscles, the ones that we can't see in the mirror, such as our erectus spinae, the muscles that run along the spine" Peter knows on a deep level how critical yin muscles are to wellbeing. Four years ago, he fractured his lumbar four, so he's had firsthand experience rehabbing, learning to rebuild from the bottom up. Peter describes his approach to fitness as holistic and is very clear about the importance of going one step at a time—as tempting as it might be to skip to building visible muscle mass. Applying a keen understanding of biomechanics, Peter tailors athletes' workouts to the specific muscles they use in their sports, helping them both improve their performance and prevent injuries. Whether he's working with young athletes, or with seniors, as he did extensively at the YMCA, Peter connects. He knows both the pleasure of excelling at a sport and how good it feels to be released from pain. He also makes every effort to convey the reason behind everything he asks his clients to do, so they can continue to progress on their own.
Motto: You can't have a healthy mind without a healthy body.
Focus: Neuromuscular training.
Mission: To share my understanding about how to proliferate pathways in the body and mind that led to serenity.
With Peter's guidance, I've developed a new attitude regarding fitness and nutrition and am happy to say I've lost about 30 pounds. Peter has provided me with the knowledge and encouragement I needed to make better health choices. His workout routines have helped me slim down, tone up and feel ten times better than I did when we began our sessions a year ago.
—Geri M., San Rafael
Lauren Dils
Lauren's romance with sports and fitness began during long summers in Alaska where she explored the outdoors with her family—mountain biking, road biking, swimming, camping, whitewater rafting, and hiking, hiking, hiking. Soon, she added competitive downhill skiing, basketball, volleyball, soccer and trail and track running to her repertoire. At Colorado State University, Lauren earned a degree in Health and Exercise Science. She's pushed her limits with endurance running events and triathlons and has dabbled in mountaineering and rock climbing. As a fitness trainer, Lauren aims to be 100-percent present—listening closely then formulating detailed programs tailored to her clients. She first brings people to a steady state then steps up the intensity. Balance training is the kingpin in Lauren's programs: "It sculpts muscles as it helps change posture, asking the body to adjust and make new neurological connections. You hit a lot of things with a simple tool when you're doing a chest press on a fit ball or balancing on a BOSU trainer." Lauren emphasizes functional lifestyle training, showing people exercises to help with things as everyday as carrying groceries or playing with grandkids. With her pilot husband, Lauren started pilotfitness.com for professionals who want to progress toward their fitness goals when they're on the road.
Motto: Be consistent.
Focus: Posture, such as upper cross syndrome, and training runners.
Mission: To create whole-body fitness programs to resonate with individual needs, personalities and potentials.
Lauren's not an in-your-face trainer, but she's helped me transform my body and made working out fun again. She has so much knowledge and creates amazing workouts that work every muscle. I always wonder at the end of a session how she's going to top it next time, but she does.
—Jackie G., Corte Madera
Randy Ramos
Randy has always been an athlete, first playing little league, then in high school, football, basketball and baseball. But he's always seen the physical aspects of life as integrally linked to mind and spirit. Randy grew up in Manhattan and went to college in upstate New York where he expressed that body-mind-spirit continuum through performance art. Even as a kid, Randy's heroes were people who embodied both grace and athleticism, and he tries to bring those qualities to his own pursuits, including his personal training, offering clients a new understanding of the body along with a subtle spiritual component. Working with clients of every age, Randy emphasizes flexibility, in the broadest sense. He feels it's easy, especially as we age, to get stuck in old patterns and attached to old preferences. "To be truly healthy, you've got to keep the mind nimble, too." Randy helps people become self-aware—aware of how they're standing, if their gait is balanced and their arms swinging naturally or, if they're holding their shoulders, of how they're holding them. He feels that many people have had lifelong relationships with their bodies that aren't serving them and that his work as a trainer is to help "undo what's been done." In his training sessions, Randy balances his own natural seriousness and dedication with humor and lightness. Essential to Randy's approach to fitness training, and life, is that we consider equally not just what we intend to do but how we intend to do it.
Motto: This lifetime is a gift.
Focus: Getting people to find the answers on the inside.
Mission: To undo what's been done, empowering people to be in their bodies and enjoy being there.
I'm seventy-five years old and have engaged Randy Ramos as my personal trainer for three hours a week for the past year. I can't express how much he has helped me. I visited my physician for an annual check-up two days ago. The doctor was astonished at my increased strength, good straight posture and overall excellent physical condition. I attribute it all to Randy, who has, in a quiet assured manner, taught me how to sit, lie and walk properly, without falling. Because of Randy, I now understand what and where my core strength is and how to maintain and use it.
—Judith E., Belvedere

subset: commoncrawl


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Look, we only have a limited number of days on this planet. Why waste them living in the beige?
I get it, beige can be comforting (almost). Sometimes the familiar feels safer than the unknown. Sometimes dimming your light for the sake of blending in seems important. And sometimes people spend their entire lives conforming to society's standards. They have trouble identifying who they are and what their true passion is. For them, it is easier to follow than to lead.
I'm not writing this to put people down. I'm writing this from experience. I chose to live in an uneventful mundane existence for many years. If I think about it long enough, I can try to blame it on others. But the truth is we all make choices every single day, every minute of every day. WE are all we have to blame, not out of guilt or shame, but just because we didn't know any better.
For me, I didn't want to rock the boat. I wanted to fit in. I strove to be a part of my community. The only way I knew how to do that was to blend in, like a chameleon. I tried to be like all the other wives, moms, coworkers. I wanted to be liked. I wanted to appear successful. I was insecure, self-conscious. I didn't want anyone to see what was really going on inside me.
We are all we have to blame, not out of guilt or shame, but just because we didn't know any better.
I believe that we are all born with innate abilities and talents to create - to create something, anything. Some of us are slow learners, like me. But that doesn't mean it's impossible to break free from whatever holds us back, no matter how long that takes.
The loves of my life have always been writing and making art. I started at a young age with journaling, sketching and oil paints. But as I grew into the angst of adolescence, my style changed into something edgier, a bit dark and definitely different than pretty landscapes and still-lifes. My tastes in the arts ranged from punk rock, with the soul-shaking voice and lyrics of Joe Strummer, to authors like J. D. Salinger, specifically the book, The Catcher in the Rye; from the funky contemporary artwork of Andy Warhol, to the over-the-top clothing designs of Betsey Johnson.
Somewhere along the way, I got lost. Adulthood came screaming into my life at the young age of 19. Before I even knew what hit me, I was married, had a baby, a mortgage and a business to run. The rat-race had begun, and every day was a "Ready! Set! GO!!" to the finish line - death. Sometimes death sounded like a better solution to me than life. I don't mean that I wanted to die, just that I'd rather close my eyes and fall asleep and never wake up. Some of you will get this, some won't. I had a load of responsibilities, unequipped to handle any of them, and felt like I was drowning most of the time. I wanted so desperately to do everything right, not make mistakes, and to be accepted by everyone.
Somewhere along the way, I got lost.
In a nutshell, I was a ticking time-bomb. I squeezed myself into a little box. It wasn't sparkly or brightly colored. It was beige, camouflaged. I became invisible. I became just like all the other housewives and moms around me. I didn't want to stand out. I didn't want anyone to think I was weird or different. Worst of all, I didn't want anyone to label me as one of those teenage pregnancy statistics. By the time I was 21, I had two babies to care for. Trust me, I got a lot of stares and hurtful comments just about everywhere I went.
Resentments and regrets were swelling up inside of me. My childhood dreams of traveling the world, meeting artists and radicals, and writing books about my experiences were tucked away in my memories until they finally disappeared in the category of "nonsensical things". I learned quickly to become practical and frugal. I got a cookbook and taught myself how to cook dinners for my husband. I stuck to a budget, changed diapers, and did it all with a smile.
It was just a matter of time before I imploded.
My soul was broken.
My record albums got put into boxes. So did my paints and brushes, journals and books. There were more important things to focus on now, like decorating a home (all in beige), grocery shopping for a family of four, balancing the checkbook and paying bills, laundry and cleaning the house. That pretty much summed up my days for a solid decade. I wasn't even 30 yet, and I felt like I was 50.
I got a desk job working for a local municipality. The benefits were great, the pay not so much. But my husband was the breadwinner so I guess it really didn't matter. I got the job because the kids were growing up, in school all day, and I was bored.
We moved into a cookie-cutter neighborhood where all the houses were beige. I hung a wreath on the front door so I'd know which house was ours (true story). My work wardrobe consisted of pleated pants and dress shirts - beige and white - and closed-toe black shoes, with no more than a 2" heel. My hair was pulled back into a ponytail and I didn't wear makeup. I was as beige as beige can be.
My soul was broken. That's the best way I can describe it - when you give up on life, settle for less than you know you deserve. You live a groundhog's day of existence. Day in and day out, you go through the motions. The routine becomes so ingrained that you could do it all in your sleep. That's how I felt for years, like I was in a coma.
There was nothing to look forward to. Spontaneity was gone. There were no surprises. Even hope faded away. There was no color left in my life. But all it took was a little nervous breakdown at age 34 to snap me out of it. Seriously, out of ALL of it!
Periodic meltdowns are important to encourage change in one's life - embrace them. I'm not recommending you force yourself to have one, even if that was a possibility. Trust me, they aren't fun to go through. They are downright messy, and if you're lucky you'll get some good drugs from your therapist. But for me, I chose to go directly through it cold-turkey.
The gory details of why the meltdown happened aren't necessary, they never are. The beauty of it is that it freed me from the life I was living, like being in a hypnotic state and finally opening my eyes. On the couch in a therapist's office, I took my first breath, seriously. I took a deep long breath like I was gasping for air. Sounds like being reborn, doesn't it? I think I was.
Colors started to appear almost immediately. This is no joke. I got my own house and decorated it with lots of vibrant colors. I grew a garden full of flowers. Beige no longer existed in my life. That included my job and the style of clothes I wore. A little bit of makeup and some hair-dye, and I was off and running into my new life. That's exactly what it was, a new life.
Sometimes changes happen quickly, sometimes slowly. In my experience, what appeared to happen quickly slowed down for a number of years. But that didn't mean they went back to beige. Something was percolating under the surface - creative dreams of deep burgundies and bright turquoise. My life was manifesting right before my eyes, like a magical trip filled with pinks and greens. Shimmering and sparkling like fireflies' reflections on a still pond during a warm summer's night, my world was evolving.
Effortlessly, everything blossomed in all of the colors of the spectrum, so vivaciously you could taste them. The sky was bluer, the leaves were greener. The rust-colored tones of the sunrise peered through my bedroom window, gently waking me into a day filled with yellow butterflies, bluebirds, and red roses. The world was more alive, I was grateful for my life just the way it was, and there wasn't a stitch of beige to be found anywhere in this new tapestry.
Look, we only have a limited number of days on this planet. Why waste them living in the beige? Be who you were born to be. Talk to a four-year-old to get perspective on life again. Jump in the mud puddles, sing loud (even if you sing off-key), splatter some paint on a canvas, write something really horrendous, eat a big hunk of chocolate cake and wear your best dress while doing it. Break some rules, skinny-dip, laugh a lot. Stop taking yourself so seriously that you can't even stand to be in your own company. Love your body, color your hair pink or blue or purple. Dig out those old record albums and play them all night long. Dance, act in a play, push your boundaries. Be unapologetically brave. Pull out your courage and expose it to the world. Take back your power and have a whole lot of fun in the process.
Choose to be red, or yellow, or orange, or any other color you want. Live today like it's the last day of your life, and never look back.
Thanks for reading.
e x p o s e dRead Now
s o c i a l m e d i a a p p r o p r i a t e v i d e o
"Two and a half years ago, I wandered into a room in an old-high-school-turned-art-studios, on the side of a mountain - Jerome, Arizona."
Wow, what a great beginning to a story!
Truth is, it's probably one of the best stories of my life. Not because it was easy, but because of its adversities.
I didn't know it in the winter of 2016, but I was headed for a meltdown, one of the biggest and longest I've experienced. It was like crashing in s l o w m o t i o n. And it couldn't have happened to a better person, or in a better place.
My studio provided a safe spot to land. I didn't have a plan, or a clue of what I was going to do. All I knew was, I was supposed to be there. Seriously, it was like one of those moments when you know - you just know that you belong. The studio, and the little town of Jerome itself, made me feel like I was okay.
And it couldn't have come at a better time. Four months later, I became homeless. I spent more and more time in my studio - working at my desk, sleeping on the couch, borrowing a tub from a local musician for baths - you know, the usual.
I spun out out of control, thank God! Control was my middle name, it was about time I lost it. What I gained was more than I could have ever imagined in my wildest dreams.
Today, I look back on the time I've spent in my studio, all of the projects, art shows, music performances, photo workshops, art classes and a whole lot of silliness. And I recognize how different I am now, thanks to all of it. (More on that later.)
What I love is this: the diversity and variety of artists I have been privileged to spend time with, has unexpectedly rubbed off on me - their art forms, their personalities, their lifestyles. I am in the company of greatness.
Here's the thing: Over time I dabbled in photography, specifically in the manipulation of digital images, creating what appear to be gritty, edgy, bizarre photographs. A weed growing through a crack in the steps, shadow and light playing across a blackboard, old paint peeling off a cement wall in a dark basement - odd angles in various stages.
That, combined with this: nude modeling. This was also my path during the meltdown years. What did it bring me? Empowerment, acceptance, badassery - and I'm not talking about the pretty parts.
Here's the deal:
* The glorious rage - raw, real, dirty.
* Being homeless - fear, displaced, broke.
* Total meltdown - surrender, loss, relief.
E v e r y t h i n g spilled out through photos, words, and images splattered with paint, glued onto magazine pages, and turned into animated pop art. And that's just the beginning.
Six months ago, I got focused. I stopped giving myself away. I stopped doing for others what I could be doing for myself. Something was stirring, and I knew I had to clear out all the junk in my life, and in my studio, to get ready. But this time, I did have a plan, I did have a clue.
*e x p o s e d* represents all that. An unveiling of growth, through an art-form I'm not even sure how to describe. Actually, I'm glad there are no words for it, because it is my personal journey, not anyone else's.
So let's have a party! DJ Louder and Boyz Club will be shaking down the building all night, starting with House Music and going into Techno Beats. Good food and good wine throughout the evening, loads of fun people, dancing, laughing, and.... oh yeah, live black-light body painting! All you photographers, bring your cameras.
Friday the 13th of September, 2019
Opening Reception: 6 p.m.
Not Your Typical Art Show: 6 - 11 p.m.
Techno & House Music by Boyz Club & DJ Louder: 8 p.m. - 12 a.m.
Food & Wine
Zushka, the artist: Unusual, Uninhibited, Unorthodox, Unapologetic
#livebodypainting #photography #zushkabirosphotography #redbenchstudios #oldjeromehighschool #jeromeartcenter #jeromeaz #fridaythe13th #september2019 #zushkaexposed #popart @zushka.biros @modelzushka @photographyredbench #mixedmedia #collageart #analogart #psychedelicart #blacklight #supportlocalart
More To Come
I know how the saying goes: we are what we think all day long. I get that. I begin every day feeling happy, truly happy. I'm like a kid on Christmas morning every day, excited about what the day will bring. Now, that doesn't mean I don't get tired, and want to sleep in sometimes. And yes, I do need coffee, because I am addicted to it, to wake up my brain and help my mouth form complete sentences. I may not physically look excited and happy, or even content in the mornings. But the truth is, I am. I love my life. I get to create all day, every day. I have wonderful friends, and the best boyfriend on the planet. Work, for me, is fun. I am happiest when I'm absorbed in a project, and working at it for days at a time. I'm grateful for everything. I wouldn't want anyone else's life, that's for sure.
It takes a lot to bring me down. And it's not something that happens to me very often. I have meltdowns every now and then, but it's been a long time since the last one. I can't even remember when that was. Life isn't something to get over and have a happily-ever-after forever. This isn't a depression, it's not even sadness really. There wasn't any catastrophic event that drug me down into the pit of despair. Nothing at all that dramatic.
But sometimes, life throws so much at me that whatever positive practices or uplifting routines I have just don't do the trick. Does anyone else experience this? I mean, I know for a fact that there are always those in the world who have it worse than I do. I'm not complaining about what I have or don't have. Those aren't even things that matter to me. Things themselves don't matter to me.
This week has been a big wallop, just smacking me down no matter what I do. I had to face a few big hard truths these past few days. Even with that, I still managed to wake up, look outside, watch the sunrise, get up, get dressed and get out of the house. But I found myself not feeling so great. Even during my morning drive, music didn't work its magic on me either.
Coffee, long drive, music - those are usually guaranteed to perk me up.
This isn't a doom and gloom blog post. I think it's important for those of us, who appear blissed-out and eternally positive to the whole wide world, to know it's okay to not feel okay sometimes. I'm not curled up in a ball in the corner, sobbing uncontrollably. I'm not ready for the psych ward, yet. it's just, like a void.
I heard someone in a grocery store this afternoon say to another person "hang in there, not much longer left to this day." And it made me wonder, how many people get up every day and go to a job, or do something that they don't like. And all they can think about is "when will this day be over?" Life becomes a chore that they have to do, every single day. I looked around at the people in the grocery store, and most of them pretty much looked like they just gave up on life. They go through with the routine every day, but do they feel satisfied? They just sort of exist, not really living a fully abundant life.
I don't want that to be me. I am one of the lucky ones, I think. And just because I'm not feeling too positive lately, does not mean that I'm feeling negative at all. I'm just feeling blah, eh, not so hot.
So here's to us, the veterans of the gutter. Those unfortunate souls who get stuck sometimes, even though we're ultra-positive to those in need. I'm going to treat myself to something yummy tonight, and take a long hot bubble bath, watch a movie on Netflix, and enjoy a deep sleep. Maybe I'll even sleep in tomorrow. Who knows, maybe the reset button will kick in and I'll be a totally different person by morning.
Thanks for reading.
Traditional is not a word that I would use to describe myself. I'm not into gender roles or conventional ways. I am far out on the other end of the spectrum of socially acceptable standards. I am the polar-opposite of traditional. That's pretty much how I've always been. Even when I was a kid, I struggled to identify with what I thought I was supposed to be. My choices were limited, and I wasn't having any of it. I've been bucking the system since I was born.
And yet, there are certain charming attributes of a time-gone-by that I find endearing. There are some nostalgic, precious customs that make sense to me. And it only took 53 years for this side of me to be revealed.
Relationships have not been easy for me. I've had my share of difficulties, heartache and trauma. Did I pick the wrong guys? Probably. But those guys were just being who they were, and I chose to jump right into their chaos. I thrived on the drama.
Ten years ago, I learned about myself, erased the victim-role and cleaned up my side of the street. But it didn't happen overnight. During those early years of recovery, I had a short-lived relationship with a drug dealer, a long-distance relationship for several months with someone I barely knew, and a 3-year marriage that ended with a prison sentence (his, not mine). Since that time, I've had unorthodox relationships with a few guys, but I have no regrets. All of them were authentic. I entered into each one with eyes wide open and learned more and more about myself.
What happened next was surprising. Almost 11 months ago to the day, I had a conversation with a friend about dating, specifically dating him. He was someone I liked and trusted, someone who I thought would be able to handle dating me. He was confident and secure, independent and creative. He was self-employed, ambitious and thought outside-the-box, not to mention, tall, dark and gorgeous. But what was interesting then was, I was talking about dating, a word I never used. Dating meant commitment, and I certainly wasn't going down that road, or so I thought.
Was I giving up on life? Was I delusional? Was I having a midlife crisis? The answer was a big NO. Seriously, I woke up one morning with the epiphany that I was ready for a mature committed relationship, and there he was. Not immediately, and certainly not like a knight in shining armor, whisking me away on his white horse to a "happily forever after" nightmare. But, he was there, steady and sure, like a rock.
Here we are, 11 months later, after making a conscious decision to date, communicating what are needs were and putting together a plan of how this would work for us. Again, being unconventional people, we don't follow the rules. However, here's where I ironically discovered my old-fashionedness.
The list looks something like this:
With all that he does for me, the very things that I thought would make me less independent, have actually just simply softened me. Opening my car door, walking street-side, holding my hand, cooking dinner for me, giving me space, taking me out on dates, wanting to be with me when life gets hard, listening to me without fixing me - doesn't take away my strength. I'm still a strong independent woman. What he does for me, complements me. In other words, it adds to my strength, it doesn't take away from it. I have grown accustomed to, and enjoy some beautiful precious old-fashioned customs and ways. I would have never known this about myself if it had not been for him.
I'm happy to report that there is light at the end of the tunnel for us, ladies - those of us badass women who do everything for ourselves, refuse the help of others and take matters into our own control. Listen up! It is okay. Better than that, it is a blessing when a warrior steps up and is honored to be a part of our lives. Let him in. I know, it'll be a challenge at first. You'll want to do things your way. Compromise a little, let him cherish you. Keep being who you are, state your boundaries and communicate at all costs. Then, watch the magic happen. We don't need to be alone, or insist on always doing everything by ourselves. There is something delicate and heart-warming in the ways he will show up and be unwavering. Take him for his word, because it is gold. Trust him completely, because he is safe. Love him for all that he is, because he is honest. Know that all he does is for you, because you are a goddess.
Enjoy the sweet little things he will do for you, because they are huge in comparison to what you've struggled with before. Here's the best part - cherish him back, just as hard and as gently as he does you. You're in for the ride of your life, trust me. And remember, it is absolutely alright to be a little old-fashioned in this day and age. Some things have stood the test of time, and they are still just as important today as they were then.
Thanks for reading.
What I Want to Do With YouRead Now
If only we had hooked up when we were young, what would our life together be like today? I could only imagine that it would have been filled with joy and bliss, and a lot of growing-pains as we tried to discover who we were. We would have decades behind us now, but at what cost? Would it have been all that great? I'd like to say yes. Yes, we would have fallen madly in love with each other and faced whatever obstacles life would have thrown at us, because we would have had each other. Yes, we would have grown a future together, and slid gently into our latter years gracefully. The truth is, I don't know what it would have been like.
What we do have is now, this moment. It is the best time of our lives. We were able to be whomever we needed to be when we were young, to prepare for who we are now. We made the necessary mistakes and failures then, so that we could grow from those experiences, and be the best for each other now. I'm glad that we didn't have to go through those younger, inexperienced years together. I'm glad that we waited for each other.
"Before I'm done with this life, I want 50 years with you, at the very least."
I want to be who you choose every day of your life, because you are who I choose every day of mine. I want to be the one you talk to about anything and everything, the one you vent to, complain to, talk about your dreams and your goals to. I want to tell you about all the beauty I see in you, and in our world together. I want to cry and scream and laugh, while I tell you all the things I hide from myself.
I want you to hold me in your arms as I rest my head on your shoulder, and hold onto your long hair like a safety blanket, and melt into your body as our hearts beat to the same rhythm. I want to breath in your calmness and be swept away into an intoxicating slumber. I want to feel your warm body next to mine as I open my eyes to a new day.
Before I'm done with this life, I want 50 years with you, at the very least. The happiness I feel is amplified by the presence of you in my life. I want to be the one who is there with you, through it all, the good and the bad. I want you to be by my side as I face the rest of my life, and know with all of your heart that I will never leave you.
I want to wake up at sunrise and make love with you before we start our day, every day. I want to get sweet little messages from you, just to know that you're thinking of me while we're busy with our lives. I want to cook dinners for you, or at least learn how to. I want to relax in the evenings in a bubble bath with candles burning all around us, with wine and soft music. I want to massage your feet while you massage mine.
I want to travel with you, get a dog and a Toyota FJ Cruiser, and get out on the land with our cameras and explore places that we've never seen before. I want to write stories and drink coffee, and be quiet and still for a moment. I want to be present for you, and for myself. I want to tell you every day of your life that I love you, and I want to show you that you are all I've ever wanted.
I want to do great things with you, like build a little house and grow a garden, expand whatever horizons we want to. I want to bake cookies with you when it gets cold outside, and binge-watch Netflix series. I want to walk beside you up mountains and down through valleys and across rivers. I want to sit with you at sunset and hold your hand. I want you to gaze into my eyes and see the universe that's revealing itself to you.
I want to touch you, and memorize every nuance of your being. I want to be drawn deeply into you, and live there for a while. I want to recognize you in every way, and wash over you like a gentle rain. I want all of this and so much more.
Be with me, here and now, and forever. I can promise you the world, and good food, and warm nights. Give me all of your love and affection, and your humor and child-like nature. Take me for all that I am, and I guarantee that you'll never need another.
(For my Beloved on the anniversary of our 10th month.)
Busy Or Not, Here I Am!Read Now
Being an artist and running a business at the same time can be tricky. It takes balance and consistency, setting priorities and keeping on track.
My schedule gets a little crazy at times, between the volunteer community service I love to do (giving back to the community is a big deal to me); weekly modeling gigs; running art sessions and monthly photo workshops; photo shoots, (where I am the photographer); and creating all the marketing materials, press releases and social media promos for all of the above. It's a full-time+ gig, where I'm busy at odd hours of the day and night.
Morning meetings are held at the kitchen counter via laptop Messenger Chat, while I'm drinking coffee and eating oatmeal.
Having a solid core team is crucial. We are all spread out geographically, making typical conference room meetings a thing of the past. With wonderful digital-age devices, the tools of the trade are now wireless and tele-communicative.
Dress Code consists of leggings and a thermal shirt, fluffy socks, messy hair and no makeup. Comfort is essential and helps me be more productive.
Follow-ups are done through group email. Updates are taken care of by text messages and phone calls. And all of this is done before lunch.
While all of that is taking place, I am busy designing flyers, updating my online store, adding info to my website and responding to people who send messages to my Facebook Events.
After lunch, more coffee and more work. But that's the best thing - it never feels like work. It's fun, all of it, because I only do what I love. And I love running my own business, and I love being an artist. It helps a whole lot too, being a natural-born Multi-Tasker.
I've learned a boat-load of skills during my life, all of which serves me well, now. It's like second nature for me to whip up an Excel Spreadsheet to track progress, log receivables and payables, and review statistics.
I'm all for taking breaks during the day. I go from crazy-busy to calm and relaxed in just a few seconds. It's the best practice I've put into action that benefits everything in my life.
I have designed the best possible solution for my busy work day. Here's a brief snapshot:
#1. Music. I listen to music while I'm working, when I'm driving, pretty much all the time except when I am sleeping. The Ambient Station on Pandora Radio is on nonstop all day.
#2. Naps. Sleeping when you're tired is not being lazy. It's the brain's way of recovering and creating. When I wake up, my subconscious mind shows me what I need to know next, and I'm able to follow through because I am rested.
#3. Food. Healthy, unprocessed foods. I snack all day. My go-to is bell peppers - red, yellow and orange. Cucumber slices with hummus, apples, cashews, and lots of water. My metabolism is sped up, my mind is clear and I am focused.
With my daily routine, productivity is a snap. At the end of the day, I am always amazed at everything I'm able to accomplish.
Spending quality time with my boyfriend helps me unwind at the end of the day, either in person or on the phone. We offer each other a lot of support, encouragement and nurturing. I love the way we motivate one another. We bounce ideas off each other, create projects and launch them together. We have mutual interests and a great passion for the art that we make. This part of my day is just as important as all the work I do in the course of a day.
What does all of this mean? It means when I tell people I'm busy all the time, it actually means *I'm busy all the time.* I'm up at the crack of dawn and fall asleep somewhere around midnight. This is the way my life is at the moment, and I love every second of it.
So, for those of you who follow me on social media, don't be fooled - photographs are nice, and they are stunning for sure, but it's important to understand that being a kickass girl boss is anything but all that. The every-day me in the dress-code I mentioned earlier does not look like all that. Entrepreneurship is a workout, physically, emotionally, financially, you name it! I'm sure the private planes and designer clothes, and trips to Europe are wonderful. But for me, at this moment in my life, I am working my ass off day and night to create something that I love, something to share with all of you. When those nice things come my way, I will appreciate them, but that is not my motivation.
As I finish writing this blog, it is a Saturday morning. I woke up early, fell back to sleep and woke up two hours later, feeling like only five minutes went by. I didn't even know what day it was. I dragged my butt out of bed to the kitchen where I discovered I was out of coffee. I got dressed, put on my dreaded Michigan Coat and hopped into my freezing cold car. It started snowing while I drove to the grocery store. Barely alert, I grabbed a bag of coffee beans and made my way to the ONLY cashier that was open, and of course the person in front of me had a fully loaded cart. She looked at me and waved me ahead of her. It must have been obvious, I needed the coffee!
Now, with my freshly-brewed cup next to my laptop, Mumford & Sons, Eddie Vedder and Dave Matthews playing on Pandora Radio, I am reviewing my up-coming week and what needs to be done.
Building an empire and being a badass entrepreneur isn't for the weak of heart. It takes making tough decisions, facing yourself fearlessly, and learning to have courage you never thought was possible.
Here's what I know today: the rewards, the abundance, the love of what I do, is worth every drop of blood, sweat and tears, because it takes a lot to get through it all. Take this advice from me: work smart, not hard; push yourself; never give up on your dreams; and always have plenty of coffee nearby.
Thanks for reading.
Hey, if you would like to Like, Share or Comment on this Blog, feel free to do so.
Coming up later this year: a new book. Subscribe to my Studio's Blog and get the early-bird details.
So, this just happened! Tim McLellan, of HGTV's "Boomtown Builders", showed up with his film crew to do a Design Consultation with me. I entered a contest and won, but what was really cool was meeting Tim, and his lovely wife and assistant, Ericka. They have ties to the Old Jerome High School Art Center, where my studio is located. Once owners of Western Heritage Furniture in the building right next door, Tim was here in Jerome for over 20 years. With a passion for restoring old historic buildings, and being a Jerome-local, who else better to help me figure out what to do with my studio?
As soon as he walked through the doorway, I knew this was the guy for the job. It always makes me smile when I watch someone walk into my space for the first time, and see the expression on their face, much like the one that was on mine when I first entered this old classroom. High ceiling, old hardwood floor and a wall of tall windows - what's not to love?
After a brief tour of the room we got down to basics: #1 storage, and #2 sprucing up the place. Some of it was easy, like a fresh coat of paint, a light cleaning of the hardwood floor and some track lighting for the ceiling. Some of it, not so easy, like where to put everything. I spent weeks clearing out most of the clutter, but there was still stuff that needed a proper place in the room. Tim surprised me with an idea, floor-to-ceiling cabinets and shelves similar to an old library, with a rolling ladder to get up to the higher shelves (I am kinda short.) The storage structure would be removable, which gave me another idea - painting it a deep teal green - a great contrast color against the freshly painted white walls.
The old classroom is an actual "classroom" for art sessions and photography workshops, making the bright white walls necessary for creating without distractions. But a splash of color on the cabinets and shelves on the one large wall will make me happy.
The surprise of the day was Tim's suggestion for the windows. I hadn't planned on doing anything with the windows, since I love the North-facing natural light. But his two-cents worth made a lot of sense to me. Blocking out the natural light to control lighting in the studio is brilliant, especially with photography. Not every photographer likes natural light. But here's the awesome part - each huge window will have its own tapestry of art, created by yours truly. Each panel will hang from a hinged rod at the top of each window, like sails. Each one will swing open, or shut. This is the kicker - when they are all shut, it will be one huge wall of a piece of my artwork. That deserves a celebration!
I love the idea of controlling the light in my studio with the large banners, opening the ones I want and keeping a few shut, or opening all of them. They can even be easily removed and changed out, as I continue to create more pieces of art for the windowed-wall. Thank you, Tim, for stirring up all kinds of artistic ideas in my brain.
Watch the video and stay tuned for the progress of my studio transformation. Oh, and "Happy Valentine's Day!"
Thanks for reading,
Fine Art ModelRead Now
With an extensive resume in fine art modeling, Zushka is now available for select projects.
Being an Over-50 Model has its perks and demands. With 6 years of vast experience, Zushka offers a variety of diverse skills in both live art modeling and photography.
Click here for a sample of Zushka's online portfolio.
badass is the new prettyRead Now
Detours are great for showing me what I'm really passionate about doing, instead of what I think I'm supposed to want to be doing. Being thrown off-course isn't necessarily a bad thing. I'm returning to my first love - writing.
It's been a long time coming, but there is a new book in the works, and at least the title has been knocked out. Throwing together my insights and experiences into a frank and candid book about what it's like to be a woman in the 21st century, I write just like the way I talk, so expect the F-bomb, hysterical humor and a whole lot of honesty. No matter your age, background or ethnicity, we ladies all go through the same bullshit. It's time to take back our power and own it.
badass is the new pretty will be released at the end of 2019, just in time for the holidays. In the meantime, subscribe to my blog and get periodic updates.
I'm excited about this latest chunk of writing, what this new year has in store for me, and for sharing a big part of it with you.
#relationshipgoalsRead Now
I'm the last person to ask advice from when it comes to relationships, but this is what I know for sure:
Love is a decision. It is not a fairytale. Do you want a relationship that will last? Are you ready for commitment? If you are, you have to be open to compromise, honest communication and making someone else a priority in your life. Create a solid foundation with your partner, built on trust, compassion and understanding. What does that mean? It means talking, a lot. And not just to have a conversation about the weather or small talk about the latest trends, movies, restaurants, blah blah blah. I'm talking, TALKING. Tell him about your fears and insecurities. Show him who you are - the real you, not what the world thinks you are. It takes courage and vulnerability to allow a relationship to grow and expand.
Don't be afraid to speak your truth. Tell him what your boundaries are in a relationship, what your needs are and what you are able to offer him in a partnership. And ask him what his boundaries and needs are, and what he is able to offer you. A good solid relationship that has a chance of lasting has to be based on a decision to do just that, first. It is a decision.
Get deep, even if it scares you a little bit. Make eye contact. Hold his hand, or massage his foot - physical contact is important while reaching out and having meaningful dialogue. Choose your words carefully, speak from your heart and always bring the focus back to you. Give him the opportunity to speak and don't interrupt each other. Listen, and I don't mean just with your ears. Really listen, give each other your full attention.
A strong loving relationship begins long before the bedroom. I know, I know... it's one of the first things we all want to do. But seriously, wait. For some of us, we already know that jumping into bed with someone too quickly, ends the relationship quickly. Be best friends first. Make that phone call in the middle of the day, asking him how his day is going. Tell him about your day. Be the last voice he hears on the phone before he falls asleep at night. Stay connected throughout the day. Send the text, letting him know you're thinking of him. It's okay to be cute and sweet. My guy sends me a corny line once a week for good measure.
Get out and do things that you both love. Take photos when you're out on a hike, see movies together, discover new restaurants or pack a picnic lunch and go to a park. Check out that band, or go to that rave together. Dance. Play. No matter what your age is, loosen up and discover new things with him. Let go of what the world told you you were supposed to be. Get real, and share that with him.
Look, there should be no one else on the planet you should want to be with more than him, so be exactly who you are, without fear. Accept him for exactly who he is, without judgement or criticism. It is true, that we show people how we want to be treated. Show him, by example.
Not everyone is the same. You may not agree on everything. Actually, you probably won't agree on everything, and that is totally okay. Learn each other's quirks and pet-peeves, and don't step all over them. Discuss, negotiate, compromise and adjust. That doesn't mean be a doormat. Find a healthy middle-ground. Trust me, it works.
Mean what you say, keep your promises and hold yourself accountable. It's not that hard. When you love someone, it's pretty easy. Allow trust to grow. Bond with him mentally, emotionally and physically. Make your home together your sacred space. Keep it a safe place where you both feel comfortable and free. Cook meals together, do the household chores together, discuss your finances together. Get ready to be mature and plan your future together.
If you're one of those "flight or fight" types, don't give up. When you feel the urge to bolt, stop. When you want to lash out at him for no apparent reason, don't. Take a moment, or a day or two, to be alone with your feelings, because it's not him that's making you feel that way. There's always stuff from our pasts that pop up when things might seem to be going too well. Don't self-sabotage. Allow yourself to feel what you're feeling, process it, let go of it and move on. Don't leave him in the dark, let him know what you're feeling. He will be glad you did, he will give you your space and he will be there when you get back. Trust him.
What are relationship goals? For me, it means being okay to be not okay, and knowing that he's not going to run away just because of that. It means making time to be together and not wavering from that. It means keeping our private life private, and not allowing drama in. It means keeping toxic people out of our relationship, respecting each other and honoring what we are creating together. It means knowing that I can depend on him, and he can depend on me. It means not making excuses and not holding back. It means believing in each other, supporting and encouraging one another. It means giving each other space when we need it, while still staying connected.
Anything worthwhile in life is worth the effort. And it takes effort to be in a mature committed relationship. But here's the thing - don't settle! Please, for the love of God, don't settle just because you don't want to be alone. You are worth more than that. That guy that's wild and crazy - yea, that's all that he is. Don't go there. That guy that's great in bed, but won't answer your calls any other time. Don't go there either. Respect yourself. Wait as long as it takes. Meet people and be aware of the red-flags. You deserve the best, and you can't make someone be something that they aren't, so don't try that either. We all have potential, but when that's all he's got, move on. When someone shows you who they are, believe them.
That guy that's your best friend, the one who is there for you when a boyfriend dumps you and you're crying in the middle of the night. That guy who listens to you, looks forward to the times when he can spend a few minutes with you. That guy who thinks it's funny when you get tired and whiney. That guy who calls you just to see what's new in your life. That guy who surprises you with your favorite coffee. That guy who binge-watches Netflix and eats pizza with you, while you're in your pajamas all day, and you feel totally at ease with him. That guy who remembers your birthday, and everything else that's important to you. That guy who has seen you at your worst, and at your best, and likes you any way. That guy. Spend time with him.
Wow, I guess I had a lot of advice to give after-all. But remember, this is just one woman's opinion - my own personal experiences with the greatest guy I've ever met in my life. He was so worth the wait.
Thanks for reading.
I am living the dream, one day at a time, and sharing my experiences with you.
If you liked what you read today, you may make a contribution and support my writing. Much gratitude!
July 2019


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Merrill Lynch, in a New Campaign, Chooses to Promote a Little Dignity
Sure, online investing may be taking the brokerage business by storm, but Merrill Lynch would like it to be known that it operates on a higher plane.
Merrill is rolling out its first new advertising campaign in 5 1/2 years, an array of television, print and Internet ads celebrating "human achievement." The global campaign, whose 1999 budget could top $75 million, will be aired during the Academy Awards show March 21.


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Philippe Armand remembers well the day of the earthquake. Philippe, a former school teacher, is working this week as a translator for a team of Illinois volunteers serving in Haiti. He has done so several times since the January 2010 quake, which killed more than 200,000 in his country.
Philippe was in a meeting when the ground began to shake in the late afternoon January 12. The group thought it was a plane crash, since the meeting was near the Port-au-Prince airport. But when they went outside and saw the great cloud of dust covering their city, "We just thought it was the end of the world," he says.
He started walking home, desperate to see if his wife and children were ok. All the way home, he saw death and destruction- "I can't stop crying," he says, recalling the hour-long walk home. "I tried to call my wife; I can't because there was a problem. You can't find anyone on the phone or text message."
He remembers seeing one large house in ruins and thinking about what might have become of his own small home. When he finally got there, everyone was safe and the house was still standing. But fear had set in. Philippe says people lived outside for a long time, because they thought at any time, the shaking could start again.
Baptist Global Response (BGR), a ministry partner of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, arrived on the scene soon after the quake, first to deliver food and later to help rebuild homes and churches. Including Phillipe's church, Damien Baptist. And because school was out indefinitely, Philippe found a job as a guard at the BGR compound. That's how he met Bob Elmore, the leader of this week's team and several others over the past couple years.
BGR built several hundred homes, and other mission teams left their mark on Haiti too. But the change isn't just physical. "After the earthquake a lot of people accepted Jesus," Philippe says.
"Before the earthquake, there are many religions, many voodoo priests. After the earthquake, even the voodoo priests cry out [to] God. 'God save me! If I am alive right now, [it's] because of God.'"
Philippe Armand (far left) studies a Christian book translated into Haitian Creole in a group led by Brian Harriss (third from left), a volunteer from First Baptist, Columbia, Ill.


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Franklin County's expanded jail facility up and running
Franklin County's expanded jail building is open for business, though a few finishing touches are still to come.
Inmates have been moved into the newly built portion of the Franklin County Justice Center, and others are back in the renovated old jail.
Crews removed construction fences that surrounded the facility. North Fifth Avenue behind the jail, where trailers were set up to oversee construction, has been reopened to traffic for the first time since March 2013.
The jail has reached "substantial completion," but won't be fully wrapped up until offices are moved into the renovated part of the courthouse building that the sheriff's office has vacated for its newer digs in the jail building, said Larry Hueter, who is managing the $19.5 million jail project for the county.
The information services department is expected to be in that freed-up space by the end of the year.
County Commission Chairman Bob Koch praised the job Hueter, who will stay on until the project is complete, has done.
"We had a good project manager," he said. "He kept everything running nice and smooth."
The expanded jail holds up to 334 prisoners, up from 105 before work began. It typically has 190 to 200 inmates. Built larger than needed to handle future population growth, Sheriff Richard Lathim said the jail could contract with other jurisdictions to house inmates in the shorter term.
"We might look at that down the road, but the main thing right now is making sure everything is working right," he said.
Inmates in street clothes now wait for court hearings in two dormitory-style holding cells, housing up to 14 and 10 people each. The holding cells were included in the renovation because inmates previously had to go to cells in the general population, then be shuffled back and forth to give their fingerprints, get weighed and have mugshots taken.
"A lot of people that come in are released after they go to court or are bailed out," Lathim said.
The area also includes a room where law enforcement officers can give suspects Breathalyzer tests before they are brought into the jail, which makes the process easier, Lathim said.
Corrections officers moved out of the control room in the old jail, which now serves as a backup to the new facility's master control. The new control room has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking all seven of the new jail's pods or "tanks." Six of the pods have eight cells, each with four beds. A medical area has eight double-occupancy cells.
Officers in the control room also see what's going on in the old jail, as well as in courtrooms, with 10 video monitors, each of which can display four images at a time from the justice center's more than 200 security cameras.
"It's a lot nicer," said Sgt. Arnold Boothe, who looked over the inmates Thursday afternoon.
Inmates can't see the officers in the control room.
"If you're down in the cell block, the light is reduced so it looks like a mirror," Lathim said. "They can't see back up here."
The county plans to add video monitors in the future that will allow family members to visit inmates without having to bring them out of their pod.
The new 10,000-square-foot sheriff's office on the second floor of the justice center has improved audio and video systems in its interview room. It also features upgraded evidence, records and firearms rooms, as well as a workout room.
No grand opening ceremony is planned for the facility. But Commissioner Rick Miller was pleased to learn about a shiny plaque, which has his name and those of fellow commissioners Koch and Brad Peck, as well as Lathim's, near the door to the justice center.
"That's probably the most rewarding thing about the job," Miller said. "It's just neat to be part of the history of the county."
-- Geoff Folsom: 509-582-1543; email@example.com; Twitter: @GeoffFolsom


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Before I say anything, let me announce that my book (coming out September 25th) is now available for pre-order!! This is incredible. I'm so excited to share this with all of you. I'm really proud of it. It's a work I've been perfecting for almost 8 years now at this point. So it's well thought out, practical, intentional, and hopefully as flippin' memorable as possible!
To get your hands on a juicy copy of this book, make sure to order from one of the book retailers below:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1419732560/
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/remember-it-nelson-dellis/1127947250
IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781419732560
BAM: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/product/search/9781419732560
Powell's: http://www.powells.com/book/remember-it-9781419732560
Indigo: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/remember-it/9781419732560-item.html
Abrams Books: https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/remember-it_9781419732560/
And finally, due to popular demand, a memory tips video Q&A answering comments and questions from past videos. Hope you enjoy!


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Favorite Wedding Moments
Looking back on my wedding day, a whole year later, it's fun to recall my favorite moments. The whole wedding was filled with wonderful memories, so I've decided to limit myself to my top 5 favorite moments from that day.
1. Matthew crying when he saw me for the first time that day as I walked down the aisle. This was my all time favorite memory of the wedding. It just shows how overwhelmed he was with love for me. He didn't care what anyone thought of him. It made me feel so incredibly special and loved.
2. Reading our own vows. This was such an intimate touch to the ceremony. I loved hearing Matt's vows in his own words. We still have them and it will be a tradition for us to read them every year on our anniversary to remind ourselves of the promises we have made to each other.
3. Saying "I do". It was surreal. We were finally married. It was such a wonderful feeling, the best feeling I have ever felt. I couldn't believe I was finally a wife and my husband was my favorite person. SURREAL.
4. Our first dance. This was the first time I cried at our wedding. I struggle with crying in front of people, but as Matthew held me in his arms and whispered all the reasons why he loves me, I couldn't contain the tears any longer. He made me feel like the only other person in the room. It was such a special moment, as we danced for the first time as husband and wife in a room full of loved ones.
5. Dancing the night away. People aren't kidding when they say dancing is one of the best parts at a wedding. I loved groovin with all my family and friends! It was such a fun time and I'm glad everyone got to be involved and enjoy their time! It felt like such a big party celebration for Matthew and I.
Overall, it was the best day of my life. It was perfect and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I'm blessed to now be married to the greatest man I know.
End of Part 2.


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Honesty is our best policy. Doing the right thing the first time and every time. To generate new knowledge by engaging in cutting edge research. Transform the society through excellence in education. Computer cultural and Technical Community empowerment, affordable Healthcare and sustained Environmental Protection. The mission of the institution is to be an institution of recognition and improve quality of life of the social fabric by nurturing talent. To provide about the full knowledge about their course. To provide the highest quality education by highly qualified / experienced faculties. To provide our education for the needy student.
Our vision is to impart holistic education to the student teachers for the academic excellence and inculcating National human values in them through academic co-curricular and socially meaningful activities.The vision of the promoting body ( the Trust ) is to important quality education with high standards par excellence in education,
Our vision is to impart holistic education to


text: A modern neurocosmetic recommended for use after laser therapy treatment and other dermatological procedures to alleviate the side effects and accelerate the process of skin regeneration.Laserat™ cream significantly reduces redness, burning sensations, swelling, pain, itching, oversensitivity and irritation of the skin. Minimizes discomfort and quickly brings skin relief. Soothes irritated skin and restores its normal threshold of sensitivity.Thanks to the innovative active ingredient (neuropeptide) contained in the cream, which inhibits the activity of the major mediators of neurogenic inflammation, Laserat™ cream provides a quick recovery and the best protection for the skin after laser therapy and other dermatological procedures.


text: TY - `BOOK` AU - A. R TI - Sunday reading. The divine model; or, the Christian's exemplar PB - Printed and sold by John Marshall, at the Cheap Repository, No. 17, Queen-Street, Cheapside, and No. 4, Aldermary Church-Yard, Bow-Lane, London; and may had of the Booksellers, Newsmen, and Hawkers, in own and Country. Great Allowance to Shopkeepers and Hawkers CY - [London] PY - 1797 LA - eng SE - Online-Ressource (15,[1]p) N1 - At head of titlepage: "Cheap repository. - English Short Title Catalog, T48884. - Price from imprint: Price one penny, Or, 4s. 6d. per 100. - 2s. 6d. for 50. - 1s. 6d. for 25. (entered at Stationers Hall. - Reproduction of original from British Library UR - http://find.galegroup.com/ecco/infomark.do?contentSet=ECCOArticles&docType=ECCOArticles&bookId=0543302600&type=getFullCitation&tabID=T001&prodId=ECCO&docLevel=TEXT_GRAPHICS&version=1.0&source=library AN - UBHD-1680523685 ER -


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Facebook Official
Wellll this was put into my brain at the weekend and if there's anyone who deserves to be inflicted with it too it's you guys
just had a quick look but with no sound as at work.
I don't think i'll be too happy if I do listen. it looks likeone of the most despicable things in existence right now.
Try and get a gig with them.Cementimental this'd this
- DaddyorChips this'd this
That wasn't even a facebook joke
I genuinely do.
The dance break was inspiring stuff.DaddyorChips and Cementimental this'd this
- Cementimental and fihiki this'd this
I think I'm in love with the blond one actually.
his name is Pete and he was born in 1993. wow.
Is this serious?
Do people buy this?
It's 'serious' in that it's not actually a satire/parody tho I assumed so at first
Probably not really.
It's the start that makes me think its a joke.
"Hi babe, Chad here" hahahahahahahahahahahaha
we checked but they have like other tracks and making-ofs and everything
which are not quite bad/funny enough to be deliberate satire, plus it seems that it's the pet project of some guy from N Sync or some other olde boyband...
So when can we expect the autobiography?
On a second viewing they appear to be winking all the time. Which makes them sooooooooooooooo lovable.
I wanna do this in the realest way I know
He's sure to fulfill that ambition when he's sucking old men's cocks in toilets for crack money in a few years after Heart2Heart are dropped by their label.
I love this.
Can't wait until I have the chance to use this on someone I'm d8ing.
Also, I want to swap makeup tips with the blond one - BABE.
Oh wow, they're mentored by Lance Bass.
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3
I love how this has the exact same production values as Samwell:


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1. New Workforce—
New Habits
With Millennials and Gen Xers expected
to comprise over 70 percent of the
workforce by 20202, a demographic tidal
wave is hitting the workplace. Compared
with their Baby Boomer brethren,
Millennials and Gen Xers have fundamentally different attitudes and expectations
towards technology, learning and
communication. Those differences have
profound implications for the way that
corporate managers should engage with
and motivate these employees.
Millennials, the so-called "digital natives,"
have been exposed since early childhood
to digital technologies and entertainment.
Not surprisingly, Millennials, and their
Gen Xer counterparts, display an aptitude
and affinity for all things digital both
at home and work (see Figure 3).
Organizations are responding to the
change. According to a study by the
Entertainment Software Association,
70 percent of major employers utilize
interactive software and games to train
employees. 5
Further complicating the job of corporate
managers, Millennials are likely to ignore
or break corporate technology policies.
According to Accenture research, more
than half of working Millennials are
either unaware of their companies' IT
policies or are not inclined to follow
them. 7 To lure this new workforce, travel
and expense managers must provide
state-of-the-art technologies that engage
employees in the ways they want to
be engaged, without compromising
enterprise security.
Figure 2 | Percentage distribution of the laborforce by generation
Next Generation Millenials Generation X
0% 20% 40%
Source: AARP analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Data
Use Twitter
Figure 3 | Percentage of each generation that say they… Use Twitter
Source: Accenture analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Data2
Baby Boomers
Posted video of themselves onlinePosted video of themselves onlineUse Wireless internet away from homeUse Wireless internet away from homeCreate social networking profileCreate social networking profile
Source: Pew Research6
World War II GenerationNext GenerationMillenialsGeneration XBaby BoomersWorld War II GenerationNext GenerationMillenialsGeneration XBaby BoomersWorld War II Generation


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Home » Cabin Design Ideas » 52 Luxury Barrel Septic Tank Stock
52 Luxury Barrel Septic Tank Stock
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Find out the most recent images of 52 Luxury Barrel Septic Tank Stock here, and also you can get the image here simply image posted uploaded by admin that saved in our collection.
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This item qualifies for free shipping in the US!
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From: TX, United States
Genre: Pop
We have been writing music together for years. Last year around October we decided we should choose a band name and start playing shows. The rest has been really fun. We've written a bunch of new songs, and just finished recording our first album, CMR, which will be released September 11 2010.


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welcome to tasty
Welcome to tasty, a TFL approved fanlisting listed in the Companies category for Whataburger. If you enjoy the delicious food at whataburger, feel free to join! :)
Whataburger is an American privately held regional fast food restaurant chain, based in San Antonio, Texas, that specializes in hamburgers. The company, founded by Harmon Dobson and Paul Burton, opened its first restaurant in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1950. The chain is owned and operated by the Dobson family, along with 25 franchisers. As of April 2017, there are currently 809 Whataburger stores across the Southeastern and Southwestern United States regions. Whataburger was known for many years for its distinct A-framed orange-and-white-stripe-roofed buildings. The first A-frame restaurant was built in Odessa, Texas, and is now a historical landmark. The company's core products includes the "Whataburger", the "Whataburger Jr.", the "Justaburger", the "Whatacatch" (fish sandwich), and the "Whatachick'n". The company also has a breakfast menu.
Last updated: 17th September 2019
Member count: 5, from 1 countries
Pending members: 0
Newest members: Crystal
Growth rate: 0.01 fans/day
what's a fanlisting
A fanlisting is a place for all fans of a particular character, show, movie, actor, singer, etc. to come together and build the biggest listing of people from all around the world who are fans of that subject. A fanlisting is created by an individual and open for fans from all around the world to join. There are no costs, and the only requirements to join a fanlisting are your name and country. Fanlistings do not have to be large sites (although some are); they are just a place where you can sign up with other fans. - The Fanlistings Network.


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I have had several folks ask how I manage the long straight holes for the whistle bores. The answer is "Gun Drills". The drills are used (as the name suggests) in the drilling the bores for rifles/shot gun barrels.
The 1st photo shows the 1/2 inch drill that use in the construction of E, E-flat, D and C whistles. The drill is shown mounted in the lathe tail stock drill chuck. The ruler/scale shown is 12" in length. The photo also shows the air hose that supplies the high pressure air required in the use of this drill.
The need for such a drill comes from need to clear the chips, generated in the drilling of long holes, without having to repeatedly remove the drill from the hole to do so. The gun drill accomplishes this by sending the high pressure air (85 psig in my usage) down a hole in the center of the drill shank. The air exits at the drill face sending the chips back down the drill shank via a large 90 degree clearance section removed and running down the length of the drill shank. This air hole and 90 degree removed section can be seen in the second photo of the drill cutting face.
Due to the need to increase the bore size as the whistle basic pitch is lowered, different size drills are required. As mentioned earlier, I use a 1/2" drill for my E, Eflat, D and C whistles. My A and B whistles use a 9/16" drill, my F and G whistles use a 5/8" drill and my low octave D whistles use a 7/8" drill. They are shown, bottom to top , 1/2', 9/16", 5/8" and 7/8"
The photo below shows the 1/2" drill mounted in the lathe tail stock and a whistle tube mounted in the lathe headstock 3 jaw chuck. While not too obvious, it also demonstrates the limitations of my equipment in the maximum allowable length of whistle tubes.
The required length of the drill, the length of the tail stock drill chuck and the maximum length of the lathe bed, limit the length of the whistle tubes I can drill to about 10". This means I have to build the lower pitched whistle (which require longer tubes) with 2 part tubes. Photo 5 is a shot of one of my Octave D whistles. The tube is separated between the F sharp and G tone holes. The time, materials and effort to bring all of this about really runs up the cost of a whistle and has really limited my desire to build them.
Well, that's about all I can say about gun drills. Well again, if anyone has anything they would like me to discuss let me know!


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News & Media
Negative gearing retention & skills upgrade on REIA's budget watch
8 May 14
The Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) says any change to negative gearing would impact on the supply of housing and the level of rents in an already tight rental market.
In its pre-budget submission, REIA's analysis of the impact of the Henry Review recommendation that deductions and income associated with rental property should be discounted by 40% shows this would result in rent increases of more than 4%.
REIA President Peter Bushby says, "To amend the current negative gearing provisions for housing would be treating real estate differently to other asset classes, create a distortion on the investment landscape and result in a resource misallocation."
"The view that negative gearing is for wealthy investors is a myth. ATO data shows fewer than 80% of the total individual taxpayers that are claiming a tax deduction for property earn less than $80,000 a year."
REIA also wants to see improvement in the quality of delivery of vocational education and training. Mr Bushby says, "We have to ensure that the Australian Skills Quality Authority's (ASQA) funding is enough to see nationally approved quality standards are met for vocational education and training (VET)."
Mr Bushby said he was concerned at Audit Commission recommendations that VET policy and programs should be devolved to the states. "There is a clear role for the federal government in developing national standards to ensure the quality of competency and curriculum through National Training Packages."
"Some self-paced e-learning courses that are offered are of a poor quality and there are weaknesses in the training system due to a lack of rigour in the methods of assessing Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) and in the assessment of student competency."
"These issues need to be tackled head on, not passed on," concluded Mr Bushby.
For REIA's Pre-Budget Submission in full, click here


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The storage of the products is a core function in the production process.
The inefficient management of this phase affect the quality of the final product, increase waste, reduces the profit of the sales and slow down any form of evolution.
Thermobake designed industrial and professional machines for this purpose.
Our machines ensure the respect of the temperatures in any circumstance , even with high loads, and keep constant the values of environmental and products' relative humidity.
Thermogel storage cabinets works both in negative temperature (-25 °C mod.BT) and in positive temperature (-2°/+8°C mod.TN), are made with removable and modular structures, and are equipped by adjustable guides for the trays.
The cabinets have been specifically studied for the following product types :
- fresh pastries
- frozen pastry
- cakes with ice cream or frozen desserts
- cream and desserts
- frozen bread
- chocolate praline
- frozen pizza
etc. .
modular structure and removable insulated panels with high density polyurethane thickness of 100mm for the BT series, 70mm for the TN series.
The covering is made in stainless steel AISI 304.
The floor is composed by insulated panels as the structure.Moreover is equipped by basin edging in order to contain the condensation that can be easily cleaned.
The buffer doors feature industrial hinges and latches on three point, interchangeable gaskets in silicone rubber and heating elements on the doors jambs of BT series to prevent condensation.
The condensing units are designed to work in all environmental conditions, also at temperatures above 45°C.
The units can be remotized and are provided with condenser fans modulated by inverter.
The relative humidity in the cabinet is maintained at the optimal level to respect the product and avoid condensations and drying.
It's made strictly according to CEI and UL regulations, provides all safety devices and actuators with an easy mapping for the control of all the functions and utilities and guarantee an easy maintenance.
DIGITH COLD It's a microprocessor control board with programs for the following functions:
-continuous cooling in positive and negative temperatures with priority of times;
-storage set
-program for adjustable defrosting phases
-malfunction alarms: open door, thermal compressor, defaults set etc.
It provides a buffered memory of the program in case of blackout.


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Going to school together in a small rural town, it seemed that mine and Cam's paths were always crossing. Our lockers were near each other; our little brothers were in the same grade and were friends; we only lived a block apart (of course when you live in the country, that block spans about 2 miles, but still...). While we were friendly, I certainly never would have predicted we'd stay in touch after high school. It wasn't really until we had graduated that got to know each other; we figured out that his birthday was the day after mine in late June, and since we had all the same friends we decided to have one giant birthday party at my house to celebrate. The party was, for lack of a better term, epic, and culminated with a massive bonfire that got a teensy bit out of control and nearly burned down my parents' barn. I guess near-arson can bring people together, because after that we were friends for life.
Cam is one-of-a-kind... he's the kind of person who can tell the filthiest of filthy jokes and yet still somehow completely endear himself to your mom. He grew up in the hospitality business, and it shows- he's the organizer, the one who always has something fun for the group to do, the one whose place everyone is always gathering at. In the few summers after high school graduation and during my college breaks, the phrase "everyone's going to Cam's house tonight," was repeated daily. He was the glue that held together a lot of friendships during those years, and over time became one of my few remaining connections to the small town where I had attended high school.
A few years ago, we began to hear rumblings that he was dating someone. The old high school rumor mill began churning: "Cam's dating someone." "Cam's got a girlfriend!" "She seems cool." "She calls him Derek." (Yes, Cam is not his real name, but to us it might as well be). I'll admit, I was nervous to meet her. We've all had those friends who start dating someone kind of terrible, and then they become kind of terrible themselves, right? Cam is such a unique person, and I feared that a girlfriend would try to reign him in too much, to temper his outgoing personality.
Meeting Megan put all my fears to rest right away. If you ever start to question the idea of a soul mate, you only need to spend a few hours with these two to believe again. Megan is just as friendly and welcoming as Cam, but she's got some sass too. For every crass joke or sarcastic comment Cam has, Megan can dish it right back out to him two-fold. She shares Cam's love of football, beer, and Game of Thrones... but has her own strong interests too (like running marathons!). When she moved in with Cam a couple of years ago, she somehow managed to strike a balance between Cam's man cave and a warm and cozy home with a woman's touch. Above all, she does what any great partner should do- she allows Cam to be himself, only better.
I was so honored to do their engagement photos back in October, which I'm sharing today, and am incredibly excited to be attending their wedding this weekend (as a guest!!! I'm extra excited not to be working at a wedding!). Cam... ahem... Derek and Megan: I'm so very happy for you both, and am so lucky to call you both my dear friends. I know you're going to keep making each other happy for many years to come.
Let's just try not to let the bonfire at your wedding get too out of control, eh?


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CINCINNATI, OHIO – A complete-game effort from senior hurler Madisyn Walter (Hanna, Ind.) combined with a five-run comeback over the final three frames lifted Manchester University past Mt. St. Joseph University in game one of a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday, March 31.
Walter, evening her season record at 4-4, put in a strong effort, weaving around five walks and four Lion hits that led to three runs for a complete game. Despite not registering a strikeout, it was more than enough for the Black and Gold offense. MU (9-11 overall, 1-1 HCAC) registered six hits which included extra-base swats from freshman catcher Alexis Mokos (St. John, Ind.) and senior second baseman Laurren Ladwig (Crown Point, Ind.). Mokos drilled a key two-run double in the seventh, and Ladwig crunched her 12th round-tripper of the year, a two-run bomb in the first, which set a new program single-season mark.
An eight-run second inning outburst by the hosts turned away a chance for a sweep by Coach Josh Dzurick's crew. MSJ's 8-3 decision came despite home runs from Ladwig and junior third baseman Kate Skeens (Gas City, Ind.) and more stellar relief pitching from freshman Haley Perez (Portage, Ind.). Just two days removed from her first collegiate victory at Hope College, she came back and stopped a Lions' offense that got to fellow freshman pitcher Alex Whittig (Hartford City, Ind.) for six runs on seven hits over an inning plus. Perez kept her Spartans' teammates within striking distance by allowing only two runs on five hits over the final five innings.
Manchester University resumes league play and winds down a six-game road trip with a visit to Anderson University Wednesday, April 4. First pitch at AU's Raven Softball Field is 3:30 p.m.


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Furniture | Spaces | Installations
Observer is a chair which brings eye level to a height of 5.2 metres and which therefore shifts the boundaries between heaven and earth, or at least the horizon. Sitting on Observer, you can theoretically see for a distance of 8 kilometres, 1.75 times further than at normal eye level. Users gain a different view of the world and can distance themselves from the earth and its inhabitants. A comfortable Series 7 seat by Arne Jacobsen crowns the steel construction.
Picture 1-3 : Minh-Sohn Nguyen
Picture 4 : Luca Beel
Picture 5-6 : Bo Baccarne
Picture 6 : Marc Van Put


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Is It The Right Time To Hire A New Employee?
If your business is growing, you might be thinking about hiring a new employee. Of course, you should never play down the decision to hire a new employee. It's a big decision, it'll take time, and it'll cost you money. It'll also cost you in the long-run if it turns out you didn't really need an employee after all, or if they turned out to be the wrong person. So, is it the right time?
You Have More Business Than You Can Keep Up With
If you have more business than you can keep up with, your natural reaction will be to think about hiring a new employee. However, this doesn't have to be your immediate solution. You could also bump up your prices. Of course, you should think about this carefully and figure out whether it's the right thing to do. Many businesses actually don't charge what they are worth. If you bump up your prices, you may get less business but you'll be making more money/the same amount, and you'll have a workload that your team are actually able to handle.
You Have A Specific Role In Mind
If you have a specific role in mind, then it could very well be a good time to hire. Maybe you want a social media manager, or something to that effect. If you have staff members that are doing more than their assigned roles right now, they are likely diluting their talents and efforts and not getting the best results. This doesn't mean they can't multi task or anything; it just means that you can't expect each one to be jack of all trades. Having a specific role in mind will give you a good idea of whether this hire is worth the cost.
credit to ftworkforce.com.au


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Study to Evaluate Vectical in Combination With Clobex Spray to Treatment Plaque Psoriasis
|The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01205880
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : September 21, 2010
Last Update Posted : September 21, 2010
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- Results Submitted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
|Condition or disease
|Drug: Calcitriol ointment Drug: Clobetasol spray
|Phase 4
This is an investigator-blinded, bilateral comparison study. A total of up to 12 subjects with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis will be enrolled in this study, so that at least 10 subjects complete the 4 week trial. These 12 subjects will receive the combination therapy of Clobex® Spray and Vectical® Ointment to treat their psoriatic lesions (except those on the scalp, face, groin, axillae or other intertriginous areas). Half of the subjects will first apply the Clobex® Spray followed by the Vectical ointment to lesions on the right side of their bodies, and Vectical® Ointment first followed by Clobex® Spray to the lesions of the left side of their bodies. The other half of the subjects will first apply Clobex® Spray followed by Vectical® Ointment to the lesions of the left side of their bodies, and Vectical® Ointment first followed by Clobex® Spray to the lesions on right side of their bodies. Treatment will be applied twice daily for 4 weeks. One target area on each side of the subject's body will be chosen for target lesion assessment.
All subjects will be consented prior to any study evaluations/procedures. Study evaluations including Target Lesion Severity Score (TLSS) and photography will be performed at Baseline/Day 0, week 2 and week 4.
|Study Type :
|Interventional (Clinical Trial)
|Actual Enrollment :
|12 participants
|Single (Investigator)
|Primary Purpose:
|Official Title:
|Spray® and Vectical Ointment® in the Treatment of Plaque Psoriasis
|Study Start Date :
|December 2009
|Actual Primary Completion Date :
|January 2010
|Actual Study Completion Date :
|January 2010
Active Comparator: vectical ointment and clobex spray
patients were assigned to apply vectical ointment first then clobex spray on one target lesion and also apply clobex spray first then vectical ointment on a different target lesion on the opposite side of the body.
Drug: Calcitriol ointment
twice daily
Other Name: Vectical Ointment
Drug: Clobetasol spray
twice daily
Other Name: Clobex spray
- improvement in target lesion severity score (TLSS) [ Time Frame: 4 weeks ]
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Subjects must be at least 18 years of age and in good general health as confirmed by a medical history.
- Females of childbearing potential must have a negative urine pregnancy test on Baseline/Day 0 and must agree to use adequate birth control methods during the entire study (a barrier method {condoms, diaphragm}; hormonal contraceptives {birth control pills, implants [Norplant] or injections [DepoProvera]}; intrauterine device {IUD}; or abstinence {no sexual activity}).
- Subjects must be diagnosed with plaque psoriasis affecting < 20% body surface area, with at least one discreet plaque on the each side of the body (excluding the face, scalp, groin, axillae or other intertriginous areas).
- Subjects must have at least 2 lesions suitable for evaluating response to test agents (one on the right side and one on the left side of the body). The severity of the disease for each target lesion at Baseline/Day 0 must be rated at least 2 (Mild) for each of the key psoriasis characteristics (scaling, erythema, and plaque elevation).
- Subjects must be able to understand the requirements of the study abide by the restrictions and return for the required examinations.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Female subjects who are pregnant, nursing or planning a pregnancy during the study.
- Subjects with known hypersensitivity to any components of the test medication.
- Subjects with non-plaque psoriasis (e.g. guttate, erythrodermic) or other related diseases not classified as plaque psoriasis.
- Subjects whose psoriasis involves only the scalp, face, groin, axillae, and/or other intertriginous areas.
- Subjects who have surface area involvement too large (>20% BSA) that would require more than 59 ml/week (50 g/week) of Clobex® spray and/or more than 200 g/week of Vectical® ointment.
- Subjects requiring any other medication (topical or systemic) that may affect the course of the disease during the study period as determined by the study investigators.
- Subjects using biologics or any other systemic treatment (e.g. immunosuppressants, acitretin) for psoriasis within 12 weeks of entering the study.
- Subjects using systemic corticosteroids within 28 days of entering the study
- Subjects using topical corticosteroids or other topical therapies (other than emollients) at the target area locations within 2 weeks of entering the study
- Subjects using phototherapy (UVB, PUVA) within 4 weeks of entering the study.
- Subjects with overt pre-existing telangiectasias or skin atrophy at intended treatment sites (target areas).
- Subjects with intakes of more than 2,000 IU/day (50 mcg/day) of vitamin D (tolerable upper intake level) and/or more than 1,000 mg/day of calcium (based on Dietary Reference Intakes developed by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences).
- Subjects who have participated in another investigational drug or device research study (at the target areas) within 30 days of enrollment.
- Subjects who are using any medication or has any disease which in the judgment of the investigator will interfere with the conduct or interpretation of the study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01205880
|United States, New York
|Mount Sinai School of Medicine
|New York, New York, United States, 10029
|Principal Investigator:
|Jason J Emer, MD
|Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
|Responsible Party:
|Jason Emer, M.D., Mount Sinai School of Medicine
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01205880 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|First Posted:
|September 21, 2010 Key Record Dates
|Last Update Posted:
|September 21, 2010
|Last Verified:
|September 2010
combination treatment
topical corticosteroid
vitamin D analogue
Skin Diseases, Papulosquamous
Skin Diseases
Calcium-Regulating Hormones and Agents
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Calcium Channel Agonists
Membrane Transport Modulators
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Vasoconstrictor Agents
Growth Substances
Bone Density Conservation Agents
Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists