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Whether you're flying into Namibia for a short break or a longer stay, you can take the stress out of your onward journey by renting a car. With so many car rental companies to choose from, Skyscanner makes it easy to find the best deal. Simply tell us your dates and we'll show you which cars are available from which rental companies. And more importantly, which companies offer the best prices.
You can get more out of your trip if you rent a car. You don't need to rely on public transport in Namibia. Instead, you can step off the plane and start your adventure. No more struggling to squeeze your suitcase onto an overcrowded bus.
Enjoy day trips without the fuss, evenings out without worrying about how you're going to get home and (if you're self-catering) get your groceries home without the sore arms.
Whether you want to rental a people carrier for a big family vacation, a two-seater city car for a romantic getaway, or something in between, we've got it covered. When you compare rental cars in Namibia we'll show you the best deals across a range of vehicles, so you can choose the best car for your trip at a price that suits your wallet.
Our car rental information pages have everything you need to know about the rental companies available in Namibia, and our city guides will help you to plan your onward journey without a backward glance. If you need hotels in Namibia, with Skyscanner you can compare those too and find the best deals.
Remember to bring both parts of your driver's license with you (photo ID and paper counterpart) as most car rental companies in Namibia will ask to see these before letting you drive away.


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A Checklist to Help You Get Started
It's important to review your estate plans regularly to ensure they still accomplish what you want them to, and to make sure they reflect life's changes. Events like births, marriages, even new tax laws, should all trigger a review of your estate plans.
This year, make reviewing (and updating) your plans one of your new year's resolutions. Our checklist can help you get started.
- Review Your Will. Check for any changes that may need to be made because of a change in your life or because you want to add a charitable gift to organizations you care about, such as the Maine Seacoast Mission, in your plans.
- Confirm Your Executor. Make sure the person named is still the qualified individual you want to manage your estate, resolve claims and distribute the designated portions of your estate to your chosen beneficiaries.
- Update Guardians. Make sure you are still comfortable with the guardian named in your will for those under your care. If your dependents were minor children that are grown now, does a guardian still need to be listed?
- Review Your Beneficiaries. Make sure the beneficiaries you have designated for your insurance and retirement plans are up to date. Once you've named someone a beneficiary, let them know so they can claim the proceeds.
- Check Your Power of Attorney. Make sure your durable powers of attorney for financial and health care are current. Provide a copy of your financial power of attorney to the named person. Your health care power of attorney will need a copy, along with your health care provider.
Need Help?
If you have questions about your estate plan, or are interested in including a gift to support the Maine Seacoast Mission in your plans, please contact Chris Stelling at firstname.lastname@example.com or 207-801-6009. We are happy to help.
Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy

subset: commoncrawl


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- Status : Released
- Release Date of film : 2014-01-24
- Original title : I, Frankenstein
- Tagline : In the battle between good and evil, an immortal holds the key
- Movie Genre : Horror, Thriller,
- Languages ??spoken : English
- Film Note : -movie_rating-
- Societies of production : Lakeshore Entertainment
- Vote Count : 208
- Duration of movie : 92
- Average rate : 5.5
- Youtube Id : -youtube_id-
- Aaron Eckhart Character (Adam)
- Yvonne Strahovski Character (Terra)
- Bill Nighy Character (Naberius)
- Jai Courtney Character (Gideon)
- Miranda Otto Character (Leonore)
- Caitlin Stasey Character (Keziah)
- Kevin Grevioux Character (Dekar)
- Aden Young Character (Dr. Frankenstein)
- Deniz Akdeniz Character (Barachel)
- Chris Pang Character (Levi)
- Socratis Otto Character (Zuriel)
- Steve Mouzakis Character (Helek)
- Bruce Spence Character (Molokai)
- Mahesh Jadu Character (Ophir)
I, Frankenstein Synopsis:
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Email : firstname.lastname@example.com
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About Langley & Middleton
The ancient hamlet of Middleton in Manchester boomed in the industrial revolution as a regional silk-weaving centre. That growth continued through the nineteenth and twentieth century, culminating in the building of the Langley estate in the 1950s and 60s. Originally conceived as an overspill estate for slums of Manchester, it is now home to 11,000 people living in a mix of private and social-housing. Middleton has a higher level of nemployment compared to the national average whilst life expectancy is much lower than the national average.
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We have a number of IT classes for older people which have been put together to turn novices into silver surfers. From turning on a computer to using the internet and sending an email, the classes give older people the confidence to use a computer, allowing them to keep in touch with friends, take digital photographs and shop online, allowing them to socialise and interact with the world around them. And because the work of the centre is guided by residents themselves through their management committee, these priorities will continue to reflect the needs and desires of the people who use these services. Please see our courses page for details.
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A bipartisan panel of Illinois lawmakers reported minor progress Monday in negotiations over the state's nearly $100 billion pension crisis, even as another deadline set by Gov. Pat Quinn was set to lapse without a solution.
In a small step forward, the 10-member group prepared to seek a more comprehensive analysis of a university-backed retirement funding proposal after meeting Monday. Quinn gave the committee a Tuesday deadline, but lawmakers repeatedly said they wouldn't meet it.
"We're just brainstorming now," state Rep. Darlene Senger, a Naperville Republican said. "It's really all about the numbers at this point."
Lawmakers moved to form the committee — with members appointed by legislative leaders in each chamber — after a compromise couldn't be reached last month. The panel had invited Quinn to speak at Monday's hearing, their third overall and the first in Springfield. But Quinn declined, saying committee members know where he stands and that his budget office will speak on his behalf.
Presenting were representatives from three of the state's retirement systems and the governor's budget director, Jerry Stermer, who was roundly criticized by committee members for pushing what they considered to be an unreasonable deadline.
Committee chair Kwame Raoul reminded Stermer it takes time to craft legislation and called for the governor to "cast politics aside and allow the conference committee to do the work."
"I share the sense of urgency, but I appreciate the conversations the committee has had under challenging circumstances," Raoul, a Chicago Democrat, said. "We've worked well together in a bipartisan, bicameral manner. I want to make clear, I'm not an actuary. The legislature cannot do anything that has not been appropriately scored," Raoul said.
State Rep. Mike Fortner, a West Chicago Republican, went over his own separate proposal that would require bond payments to be redirected to the state's pension fund once bonds mature. The plan also would increase employee contributions and cap pension benefits.
State Rep. Elaine Nekritz, a leading pension negotiator, said following the meeting the committee likely will send a proposal supported by university presidents off for an analysis of what it would ultimately cost the state. That number crunching process could take several weeks.
The plan, advanced by the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois, requires workers to pay more toward their retirement and links cost-of-living increases to inflation. It also shifts the employer pension contribution — currently paid by the state — to the schools over time, and guarantees the state will make its full annual payment to eliminate the pension debt.
Some lawmakers see the proposal as a possible framework to build on in order to move past a divide over dueling pension plans supported by House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, both Chicago Democrats. The House-backed plan, which would come with significant cost savings, imposes across-the-board changes to pension recipients and raises the retirement age. The Senate plan would give workers a choice in the benefits they'd receive upon retirement, and supporters say it would have a better chance of passing constitutional muster.
"Let's look at the savings in the (university-supported) proposal and see where we land," Nekritz, a Northbrook Democrat, said.
Illinois' unfunded pension liability is hovering around $100 billion due largely to lawmakers voting over decades to either skip or short the state's pension payment. Making that full payment now costs the state more than $6 billion each year, an amount that takes money away from other areas, such as schools and public safety.
The pension mess also has prompted the three major credit-rating agencies to lower Illinois' credit rating to the lowest of any state in the nation.
After signing legislation to combat gang violence in Chicago Monday, Quinn again called on members of the Legislature to put a pension reform bill on his desk.
"They've had one excuse after another for the last two years," Quinn said. "If they don't do their job by tomorrow, there'll be consequences."
Stermer expressed concerns about the pace of work being done by the committee, although he didn't propose any alternative solutions or spell out what "consequences" Quinn was referring to if the deadline passes.
"As you know I'm an optimist but we've been working on this for two years and haven't seen (progress)," he said. "The proof is in the pudding so when the bill is on the governor's desk I'll be able to feel comfortable."
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Artist Dave Lowe's wonderful 2010 display.
More images at the Dave Lowe Design blog.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Patrick O'Treaty And Peter Pumpkin
Artist Dave Lowe's wonderful 2010 display.
Posted by Rot at 5:38 PM
Labels: dave lowe, frankenstein, patrick o'treaty, peter pumpkin, pumpkins, witches, yard haunt, yard haunts
2 comments:
- Pam Morris said...
I LOVE this display. "Patrick O'Treaty" is just delightful!
- November 4, 2010 at 6:19 PM
- Chris 'Frog Queen' Davis said...
One of my very favorite haunters. I wish I was that creative. :)
- November 5, 2010 at 2:45 AM
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Whenever you apply for credit, you can be sure the potential lender will check your credit score. They do this to judge what sort of risk you pose. It's called "risk-based pricing" and it's a common practice, especially with credit cards.
If the risk seems too high, you'll be rejected. If your credit score is excellent, you can expect to be offered the best terms (such as interest rate and credit limit) available.
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So what if your score is less than perfect, but the lender still wants your business? You'll be approved with a higher interest rate and a smaller credit limit.
"Until now, people would apply for an advertised low rate but get a higher rate, says Gail Hillebrand, staff attorney at Consumers Union. "But they would never be told exactly why they were being offered that higher rate."
That changed on Jan. 1, when a long-awaited rule took effect. It's based on the same law that gives you the right to receive a free copy of your credit report from the big three credit bureaus every 12 months. (To get your free report use this site: annualcreditreport.com.)
Under the new rule, lenders who use risk-based pricing must send one of two disclosure notices to customers who are offered credit with less than the most favorable terms. One of the options is the Risk-Based Pricing notice, which advises applicants that their credit history was used to set the terms of the offer. It also explains where to get a free credit report within 60 days.
The other option is to send the Credit Score Disclosure notice. With this option, the lender discloses the actual credit score used to make the lending decision, the date that score was pulled and the credit reporting agency whose information was used to generate it. The notice also explains how your score compares to others.
The Credit Score Disclosure is clearly more useful because it gives you a hard number that you don't have to interpret and you don't get with a credit history.
But will lenders choose that option?
I contacted nine major lenders and asked what they're doing with credit card applications. Six responded. Wells Fargo and Capital One say they use the Credit Score Disclosure for credit card customers. But Bank of America, Discover, American Express, and SunTrust Bank have opted for the Risk-Based Pricing notice – the one that does not include the free credit score.
What do you do with that score?
Your first step is to get your free credit report from the credit bureau listed on the notice you receive from the lender. This does not count as the free report you are entitled to each year. Look for any errors and challenge them.
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Has the market volatility got you nervous? These cartoons may give you a little comic relief.
- Cyber-thieves create fake Kelley Blue Book site
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- Wild Wall St.
If there are no errors in your credit file and your score is not doing too well, you're going to have to find ways to change your credit behavior that will bring up that score, such as lowering your credit card balances and always paying on time.
"Unless you take the next steps to improve your credit history, you won't be any better off than you were before," notes Linda Sherry, director of national priorities at Consumer Action.
You can learn more about the new rules and the new disclosure notices at a new site, scoreinfo.org, just launched by the company that created the widely used FICO score. The site also explains the basics of credit scores and how to improve them.
More free scores on the way this summer
Starting in July, another new federal rule takes effect. It eliminates the two disclosure options and requires all lenders to give free credit scores to applicants who are either denied or given approval – but at less than the best terms – based on that score.
More significantly, the new rule expands these rights to anysort of adverse decision made using a credit score, not just for loans, credit cards and other financial services.
"So if you get an increase in your insurance premium or a landlord does not rent to you because of your credit score, you must be given a copy of the score that was used to make that decision," says John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education at SmartCredit.com.
Do you need your credit score?
Maybe you don't plan to apply for credit anytime soon. Should you bother to keep track of your credit score? It's probably a good idea, because that score is constantly being viewed by someone.
"Your credit score is much more important than just applying for loans," notes financial expert Jordan Goodman, who runs the website MoneyAnswers.com. "It affects many more things than most people realize."
These days, when you try to rent an apartment, get cell phone service, order cable/satellite TV or buy insurance, they look at your credit score. That's why Goodman believes people who can afford it, should sign up for a credit score monitoring service. They range in price from around $85 to $170 a year.
"A credit score is not something you see once and it's fine, because it's constantly changing," he says. "Something could happen the next day and you wouldn't know that your credit score plunged, maybe because of some error."
John Ulzheimer of SmartCredit.com points out that most credit card companies pull their customers' credit reports and scores every month. It's called account maintenance.
"So even if you're not out there actively shopping for something your score is still under scrutiny," he says. "The reason why you get credit line decreases and interest rate increases, in many cases, is because your credit score has dropped and you weren't paying any attention to it."
You can monitor your FICO score from the company that creates it at MyFico.com. It's $14.95 a month.
ConsumerMan warning
Be skeptical of all offers of "free" credit scores. They're used as come-ons to get you to sign up for monitoring services. So in most cases, it's not really free. And is it a FICO score they're offering, which most lenders use? If the advertisement or website does not specifically call it a FICO score, then assume it's not.
© 2013 msnbc.com. Reprints


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Soldiers, researchers brace for shutdown impact
News3 talked with local representatives about impending shutdownSoldiers, researchers brace for shutdown impact
MADISON, Wis. — Members of the Wisconsin National Guard and those who rely on federal funding for research in the state are closely monitoring whether the federal government heads for a shutdown Monday night.
More than a thousand members of the National Guard with dual federal and state status will be furloughed if the government runs out of money.
"It will be tough," said Maj. Paul Rickert, public affairs officer for the Wisconsin National Guard. "A lot of those federal technicians were already hit by a furlough earlier in the year, so this will be an additional impact."
Rickert is one of 210 in that group considered "essential" personnel who will continue to come to work without pay during the shutdown, along with any active-duty military members. The people in the rest of those positions may not get paid at all for time spent not working during a shutdown. The guard's drill weekend this month could even be in jeopardy.
"We would have to look at postponing that," said Rickert. "It is important that we do our drill because there's important training we have to conduct to maintain proficiencies."
Also watching closely are researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison, where hundreds of millions in federal dollars are on the line.
"Many of us are writing grants, as there's a deadline of Oct. 7 for grants to be due," said biochemistry researcher Laura Kiessling. "We don't know what's going to happen to those grants. We don't know if there's any reason to even be applying for them."
Kiessling said a grant she's applying for would fund research grants for 10 to 12 graduate students, and that's all in limbo.
"These interruptions or uncertainties make it feel like these kinds of careers are something you can't count on," said Kiessling. "Like there's not infrastructure or support in the U.S. for our next generation of scientists."
UW-Madison's total share of federal grants for this year tops $620 million and is in the top five of research universities in the country.
A number of private companies in the city also have a few million in grants. The president of one of those told WISC-TV Monday it is waiting to see how things shake out.
Two local representatives, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., talked with News3 in the middle of the gridlock in Washington about the possibility of a government shutdown.


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We have a high-efficiency furnace. Two pipes are coming outside the house as expected. However, right now, there is at least 2 feet or more of extra PVC on the exterior showing.
Is there any harm in removing this extra length for cosmetic reasons? Also, what is best to use on the endcap to prevent debris, etc. from entering? I have seen these triangular looking endcaps, but not sure of the name.
There is an overhang above the pipe. I'm guessing 1.5 - 2 feet.


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Home » Education & Discovery » Educational Visits » Travel Visits for Summer& Autumn Terms 2020 » The Beech Tree - also available as a STATION VISIT
The Beech Tree - also available as a STATION VISIT
Visits with train travel available on running days from the beginning of May till the end of September 2020.
Also available as a Station Visit on weekdays during October, November, February, March and April.
This Railway Experience visit uses the changes our old Beech Tree had witnessed, as a hook to a wide range of hands on activities and opportunities to question, explore the station and engine yard and for role play.
The session will include:
A return journey behind one of our heritage engines
The opportunity to explore a restored period station
Education activities lead by the Watercress Line Education Department
A wide range of curriculum topics to choose from
The choice of educational activities includes:
What did the tree witness? History, chronological order, drama
Where did that come from! The Kings Cross Foot Bridge and its journey to the Watercress Line. Design and technology
Memories of sad times; when the line went quiet in the 1970's. Discover why the line was under threat and what happened to the station during the subsequent closure. History in living memory; Conservation.
Did the tree move at night? Creative writing skills
Line on the Line: writing an Acrostic Poem around 'The Beech Tree'. Literacy - poetry
How high and how old? Maths, estimating and science
Runaway train! A Victorian drama.
Portraits of trees. Art and design or photography.
The educational activities are also available from February to November as a Station Visit (ie without train travel) at £3.50 / pupil
We are continuing to add more strands to this session, currently under development is 'How to work the railway safely;' the tree has seen some near misses in the railway's early years. This session will teach your class how to move trains safely and provides opportunities for writing lists, instructions and technical descriptions and will include a Signal Box visit.
Please click to download full session details.
Children £9, Adults £14 but 1 adult free for every 10 fare paying children, including train travel. Please book your session early to avoid disappointment.
For more information or to book please email email@example.com


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19th June 2019 10:00 am - 11:00 am All Saints Parish Church Wokingham
A Communion service for parents and carers of pre-school age children. We gather in a circle around the nave altar. There are toys and books available for the children and babies to play with during the service and then everyone goes to the Cornerstone for coffee.


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We like to keep things simple, so we ask please only a couple of things in order to keep a balance on TMC:
1. That sponsors offering deals to members post about it in their own Sponsors' Corner area with reference to a thread in the Members' Clubroom containing full details and any link. This ensures that offers intended for members are reserved for members, but the existence of the offer can be seen in public by all. Of course, anyone is free to join TMC and take advantage of member offers. We think this is fair to everyone.
2. We ask sponsors to keep all promotional posting to Sponsors' Corner. Of course sponsors are free to respond to member driven queries anywhere.
That's about it. If anyone is ever unsure or needs a hand, please ask the team on email@example.com or firstname.lastname@example.com, thanks.
For more details about sponsoring on TMC contact us for a details and a chat at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Unfortunately shipping to the following countries is currently not possible, due to missing transport capacities of the Deutsche Post and import restrictions in the destination countries.
Australia, Chile, Kuwait, New Zealand, United States.
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By creating an affiliate account at POPoNAUT - Ticket- und Musikversand you will be able to earn valuable extra revenue by referring your website's visitors to us.
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It began as a whisper… a promise… the lightest of breezes danced above the cries of men and women cheering him on in little league. That breeze became a wind. A wind of freedom… a wind of justice… a wind of vengeance. The time has come, my Beddictites, to prepare yourselves for a breakout of epic proportions. I speak not of the Herp, but of the Harp; Bryce Harper to be clear.
Some would argue that Nostradamus's greatest prophesy was made in the year 1566, mere days before his horrific case of the Gout brought him to his death bed. "What prophesy is this you speak of, oh wise and charming Beddict?" Ask and thou shalt receive. A deep search into the annals of Nostradamus's journals produced this historic find– "In the year of our Elder Gods, 2014, a breathtakingly handsome young writer will come out of the shadows and change the world forever. He will no doubt be criticized by many a troglodyte [Ed. Note– Good word usage bro.], but he shall not hold it against them, for they not know better. On March 10, 2014, this debonaire young man, who will be known as the Mark Twain/William Shakespeare of his generation, will make a prediction about another chosen one, another young man I have seen in my dreams, an athlete of sorts. These overwhelmingly powerful visions of this brutish boy swinging what seems to be a wooden stick at a bloodless round object have seemingly pushed me to the brink of my grave. It's either these visions or this Mother F'ing gout! Anyway, I know not what this prediction shall be, but whatever it is, it will have an 85 percent chance of coming to fruition. These two young men's futures will be forever intertwined for better or for worse. Take heed, for it has been written. I can now die in peace knowing my last true vision has been recorded in my leather-bound and padlocked journal. Now, if only this useless peasant, wife of mine would bring me my favorite chocolate sprinkled crepes along with some brie. Tis a virtual certainty she's yet again, getting bent over in the barn by my stable boy, Mortimer. By the Gods, I despise that whore." It's been said those were the last sentences ever written by Damus, as he passed and now resides with Hood in "House Death."Please, blog, may I have some more?


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So I'm guessing you all want a race report with complete pictures and the whole 9 yards. You're lucky because I am excited to tell you that I PR'd by roughly 10 minutes. Yes. I think this is very odd too, especially since I didn't train for this race and signed up on Monday when it was on Saturday. It almost makes me mad, because I didn't really try and I still did much better than my first real race. Anyways, the night before, Mr. R and I searched for something for my toe, but with no success and my forgetting of my moleskin from home, I figured if I got some bloody socks, oh well. Then we went to dinner at Macaroni Grill and it was delicious. I got some pasta and tried to fall asleep early.
It was nice to have the race so close to my house because I literally woke up at 6:15 and left the house at 6:30. I decided on wearing the pink long sleeve with my Nike Half Marathon underneath. My good friend Billy said he would take my pink shirt if I wanted, though I did run part of the race with it tied around my shoulders, which was weird, but totally worked. I ate a bowl of oatmeal and drove about .5 miles to the parking area. I then met up with Billy and his gf Sara, who are two of the coolest/nicest people EVER, and then a whole bunch of people from the CA Runner's World Forum, which looks to be yet another thing for me to be addicted too.
Sara and I talking before the race, yea I was freezing, and I don't know why I look cross eyed.
She's for sure going to Boston soon… :)
So Sara and I positioned ourselves at the front of the pack and lined up about 5 minutes before the horn went off. I plugged in my revived plus and once the horn blared we took off. Sara left me in her dust and I had to remind myself that the race was a workout for me, not a race to kill myself in.
This was me, around the 2 mile marker. I look like I'm laughing to myself. Embarrassing.
The first few miles were good and I oddly enough ran almost perfect even splits. The course was a lot of out and back and it was fun to watch the runners in the front of the pack and the winners so far out ahead of me. I tried to calculate my time in my head and my pace that I was on and I realized I was running decently well for my goals that I previously set for myself. I remembered at mile 4 that one of my goals was to drink water along the race. I started to take water from almost every aid station and pinched the cup and tried to get as much down as I could. This worked REALLY well and I thank the guys before for the pinching cup tip. I didn't spill any water on myself and took a cup about 5 times, and only slightly choked during drinking twice.
Around mile 6. I look like I was winning! Only in my dreams.
By the way, was a little nervous about the skirt. It was AMAZING! I loved running in it, and can't wait to find some more deals on them so I can get some more.
Around mile eight, I died. I wanted to stop running, I was tired and I wanted to walk. I have NEVER had this much of an urge to walk. I knew if I walked though it would be even harder to keep going so I continued to slow down my pace just a little bit and kept running. By mile nine, I wanted to quit. It was odd because I am not a quitter, but I knew it was because I didn't have the mileage under my belt. My feet were hurting a little bit and I was just tired. I continued to trek on and Billy was SUCH an encouragement the entire way. Every time I saw him I laughed.
By mile 10 I was cruising and just kept thinking I only had a 5k left. Once I start a half marathon, it's all about ticking off the miles. Getting to 10, I was just thinking, you have to run 3 10 minute miles and you will do better than the Long Beach Marathon. I KNEW I could run 10 minute miles. Heck, I could run three 9 minute miles so I continued on. This is where Billy asked me if I wanted my Power Gels. I took two and they just sat in my mouth for about eight minutes until they dissolved. They were more of a hassle than a booster. Chewing and running was not as easy as I thought, but I cannot even imagine eating a GU either. This is something I'm going to have to do some more experimentation on.
My music during the race was really great, I felt like I barely ever had to change it, but of course, Billy somehow managed to get a shot of me changing my music.
Finally I reached mile 12 and thought okay, you are going to finish this beast right here, right now. I knew the area and I knew once I rounded the corner where the finish line was.
Ya, see those two guys on the right side in the white and gray. They totally cut me after the finish before the chute narrowed down. I didn't care but seriously. Whatever. I thought it was funny. I knew I was on pace for a 1:40ish so I was glad I could keep it up. I didn't feel like I had a bloody sock during the race at all, but alas,
The balls of my feet were killing me the entire race and I had to keep reminding myself that the end was near and I was going to finish. I finally finished with a time of 1:48:41, and 480th overall. After everything, I am super excited about the Surf City half now. I know I can hopefully PR again and with proper training I know I can do well. Another thing I'm excited about Surf City is that I know Sara will BQ there and it will be super exciting for her.
Sunday Mr. R and I went for a short 2.5 mile run and I again got another bloody sock. It is now a different toe that it was before, which is weird, but I will be getting something to stop the bleeding soon. Tonight I'm going to hit up the gym and do 40 minutes of cardio and some hardcore weights. I'm really going to train hard with weights these weeks leading up to Surf City because last week I didn't want to load up with weights and be SUPER sore for the race this past Saturday.
Overall the race was a success and I really enjoyed it. It was a little bit too warm for the weather to be comfortable for a run of such distance, but the skirt worked perfectly and the l/s was great for the beginning and short sleeve was great for the remainder of the race. It was also somewhat windy and running into the wind was NO FUN. I will post my splits later this week for the race according to my Nike+, which is off by .6 of the total race distance, and some official race pictures once they are posted. I worked a lot on drinking water and getting hydrated and I'm not too sore today still but my quads are pretty sore. It was GREAT meeting up with so many bloggers and runners and I can't wait to meet up with more of you guys out there!
Today on the other hand, is a really big day for me and if it does happen it will be an exciting and needed change for me I'll post about it tomorrow.


text:
|Acasa :: Hoteluri :: Contul meu :: Cosul meu
Old Postcard of the Prado & Sevilla Hotel
Hotel Sevilla Swimming Pool
Pre-1959 Sevilla owner Amleto Battisti (mobster!), & Family
55 Chevrolet Out Front
Hotel Sevilla
Sevilla Restaurant
Sevilla Hotel Coutyard
The Sevilla Biltmore, as it was known before the Revolution, was one of the establishments (from 1939) owned & run by Havana's Mafia network. Santo Trafficante Junior had shares in it, & its principal owner, the Corsican-Uraguayan Amletto Battisti, was the kingpin of "La Bolita", the city's lottery racket, the Oriental Park racecourse, & the Casino Nacional.
The Sevilla hotel has a rather curious layout but its public areas are very attractive. The prevailing decorative style is, as one might expect, Moorish-Andalusian, with a profusion of lustre-glazed cuerda seca tiles.
The lobby and courtyard bar are welcoming and the Hotel Sevilla is one of the only three hotels in the area with a pool (the other two are the Parque Central and the Saratoga).
The Hotel Sevilla is located just off the elegant Paseo del Prado, the public promenade which links Parque Central with the Malecon Ocean Drive; so is ideally placed for exploration of Havana's historical centre.
The rooms are very satisfactory, but the very best part of the Sevilla, much frequented by those in the know, is its rooftop restaurant in what was once the hotel's grand ballroom. It has wonderful views of the city & the sea, & if you can get a table next to one of the balconies you can revel in blissful ocean breezes on hot summer nights. The food is very good, owing, we assume, to the hotel's French ownership.
Until 31st December 2018, the hotel was know as Hotel Mercure Sevilla and was managed by the French company Accor Hotels and previously, until about 2005 it was known as Hotel Sofitel Sevilla.
© 2018 Nigel Hunt
Air conditioning
Busy street
Car rental desk
Conference halls & rooms
Disabled facilities
Elevators / lifts
Evening entertainment - cabarets
International cuisine
Internet on hotel's PCs
Laundry & Ironing Service
Lobby bar
Malecon max 5min walk
Mastercard & Visa (not USA bank issued) accepted
Money exchange
Nightclub nearby
Old building restored
Poolside snack bar
Private secure off-street parking
Reception staff speak Spanish, English, French, German, Italian
Safety - front desk safe deposit box
Safety - uniformed security personnel 24hrs
Shop(s) with basic supplies, souvenirs & gifts
Shops max 2min walk
Snacks and drinks 24 hours a day
Swimming pool
Taxis desk
Telephone - national & international calls
Tours & tourist information desk
TV room/bar (international channels & videos)
Standard rooms at the Sevilla are delightful: light and spacious, with original Colonial furniture mixed with good replicas. The walls are rag-painted in sunny yellow, the curtains are bright and cheerful and the cool tiled floors a blessing to hot, weary sightseers' feet. The clean, bright bathrooms are tiled in white and grey. There are excellent views over Havana from rooms on the higher floors.
© 2018 Nigel Hunt
Air conditioning
Baby's cot (on request)
Bathroom (ensuite)
Disabled facilities
Double bed
Hot & cold water
In-room safe
King size bed
Minibar / Fridge
Room service
Satellite TV
Twin beds
The Sevilla's junior suites are a slight disappointment in terms of size, for although they have small sitting rooms separated from the bedrooms by a short corridor, the sizes of both sitting room and bedroom are fairly small. However the decorative style of both rooms and bathrooms is the same pretty combination of yellow and Provençal colours as that of standard rooms and there are some delightful touches of extra luxury such as the Empire style day beds upon which one feels virtually compelled to recline in a silk tunic, tossing one's ringlets a la Meduse and requesting one's partner to peel one another grape.
© 2018 Nigel Hunt
Air conditioning
Baby's cot (on request)
Bathroom (ensuite)
Double bed
Hot & cold water
In-room safe
King size bed
Minibar / Fridge
Room service
Satellite TV
Twin beds
More Hotels in Old Havana:
UK Sales :: Audrey :: +44 20 7498 8555 or 0800 298 9555
USA & Canada Sales :: Jeffery or Bastien :: Toll Free 888 361 9555
Havana Tourist Center :: Idelsis :: +53 7 863 9555
(mai putin de 10 zile)


text:
Happy Last day of November :) So last night the hubbinator and I went to our 1st "Great Expectations" class (aka Lamaze). When we first got there, we got to watch a Billy Cosby stand up of him explaining childbirth. 1 word: HILARIOUS! I told Nick we have to rent that because I was crying from how hard I was laughing. This has been something I've experience throughout this whole pregnancy. I take something that in truth IS funny, but my emotions cannot contain themselves and I start to cry and can't stop! Total, there were about 26 people or so including the partners, so I tried to keep my hysterics to a dull roar. When the class actually started we all had to do the classic "icebreaker" and go around the room and introduce ourselves, our due dates, our hobbies, and how pregnancy has been treating us. Even the dad's had to play along (mine was uh-mazing, duh!) so it was a lot of fun. My due date is the soonest out of all the girls, but I was figuring that'd be the case since we are taking the class later in our pregnancy. Everyone else is due around beginning of March/end of February time frame.
Since it was the 1st class, we were all introduced to some charts and shown what the female anatomy looked like before (How could I forget?!) pregnancy and what it looks like now (hello uterus that has blown up 3x from what it was). So it was all the basics with this 1st class. At the end we had to get on the floor (the guys too) and do pelvic tilt exercises (which MY husband referred to as humping), and squats. Then we were all told about a very important exercise: Kegals. Of course, she didn't make us demonstrate them. The best part of the night? During our break, we got candy!!! Chocolate candy :) All the women were happy with this. I really wanted to sneak another handful on my way out the door, but I was way too tired to care. Next Monday, it's breathing techniques and more on the floor exercises.
I think it's gonna be a fun experience. Sadly, Nicky poo and I won't be able to finish the class out since it ends the week after Troy is due and I'm really confident that I won't miss things I already don't know thanks to all my friends who've had babies and I've picked their brains for hours on ends.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Great Expectations
Happy Last day of November :) So last night the hubbinator and I went to our 1st "Great Expectations" class (aka Lamaze). When we first got there, we got to watch a Billy Cosby stand up of him explaining childbirth. 1 word: HILARIOUS! I told Nick we have to rent that because I was crying from how hard I was laughing. This has been something I've experience throughout this whole pregnancy. I take something that in truth IS funny, but my emotions cannot contain themselves and I start to cry and can't stop! Total, there were about 26 people or so including the partners, so I tried to keep my hysterics to a dull roar. When the class actually started we all had to do the classic "icebreaker" and go around the room and introduce ourselves, our due dates, our hobbies, and how pregnancy has been treating us. Even the dad's had to play along (mine was uh-mazing, duh!) so it was a lot of fun. My due date is the soonest out of all the girls, but I was figuring that'd be the case since we are taking the class later in our pregnancy. Everyone else is due around beginning of March/end of February time frame.
Posted by californiadreamin at Tuesday, November 30, 2010 0 comments Links to this post
12 Days of Christmas Day 8
Day 8: Least favorite thing about the Holidays - I don't really hate much about the holidays which is obvious because I've been talking about Christmas since October! However, here ya go: the things that I least like about the holidays
1. Spending money - this is by far hands down my least favorite thing. HOWEVER, it's also not THAT bad. Does that make sense? I am the girl who hates having to pay rent because I want my money I worked hard (er, hardley worked) for! BUT, the thing with Christmas and the holidays, is I want to give people amazing gifts. So I don't mind spending the money on them. This year since I did all my Christmas shopping at once and the money is already out of my checking account, it won't seem as bad around the holidays.
Posted by californiadreamin at Tuesday, November 30, 2010 2 comments Links to this post
Monday, November 29, 2010
Lets get this show on the road
Welcome back to Monday ladies! Thought you could run from it, didn't ya? Ugh, me too. But you know what? I am SO thankful I had such a great long weekend. I had a 5 day weekend (thanks to my office manager who gave us last Wednesday off) and it was a weekend that didn't go by too fast. To be honest, I always feel like a 3 day weekend should be the norm for the whole weekends off thing. I never feel quite rested with just 2. Then again, maybe if I got 3 days off, I would start to say I need 4? Or how about I just get money deposited magically into my bank account every 2 weeks and I never have to work? That sounds more like it :) I hope you all had a fabulous weekend and enjoyed your time with family (and enjoyed your time with that delicious pumpkin pie). Were any of you brave (or crazy depending on who you ask) enough to venture out on Black Friday to get some shopping done? In my previous post, I mentioned how I have everyone done off my Christmas list, but actually I have 1 more person to shop for. So I get to partake in the holiday shopping some more :) I think I got people really good gifts too and I can't wait to give them. I don't know if your like me, but I'm that person who gives someone a certain gift cause I cannot wait to see their faces when they open it which makes it even harder to get my shopping done early in the month - I have a hard time keeping the secret of what I got them. Poor Nick, I'm constantly saying "you just wait till you see what I got you, it's good" and the crap of it is, is if I tell him that too much, he can usually Houdini his way into figuring out what it is.
Now that Thanksgiving is outta the way (not that I'm not thankful), we can get the Christmas show on the road!!! 25 days, 16 hours and 1 minute ladies!! I am chomping at the bit to go get a Christmas tree (we put it up at my parents), so I'm thinking not this weekend (baby shower weekend, duh!), but the next!!! I've seen so many people driving with their Christmas tree's this past weekend and I am jealous. OOOO and tonight we got our 1st "Great Expectations (aka Lamaze)" class!! I will be sure to fill you all in tomorrow. Another fun countdown? 21.5 working days till I'm on maternity leave!!
Posted by californiadreamin at Monday, November 29, 2010 4 comments Links to this post
Saturday, November 27, 2010
27 days!
That's right ladies and gents - twenty 27 days till the most joyous day of the year - CHRISTMAS!!!!!!
Break out the hot coco and hot apple cider and start the decorating folks! Here is my decorating job at the California Dreamin casa. I'm actually contemplating getting a little something else for next to the fire place (other than Ms. Daisy Mae)
Posted by californiadreamin at Saturday, November 27, 2010 3 comments Links to this post
Labels: Christmas, decorating, Troy
Friday, November 26, 2010
Day 4 of Christmas Challenge
Day 4: Tips/Tricks to a Budget Friendly Holiday Season
Well since I just finished my Christmas shopping for EVERYONE (snaps for me!), I would recommend shopping sales. You don't have to go on out on Black Friday like I did to find the sales, but ad surfing is a great way to find the sales. First, make a list with everyone's names on it that you need to shop for, write down what it is that you want to get people and grab the ads and computer. If I don't see what I want in an ad, I will go to a stores website (like Target.com) and look to see how much they sell the product for. That's when I set a challenge for myself to find the best deal! I go on froogle.com, search for the item, and look who has the best price. If it's an online store, I'l even google to see if I can find a coupon for that store.
To be totally honest, I don't know what I'm getting people until I see something in an ad or in a store. Another thing to consider - a store online maybe have the same or 5-10 dollar cheaper asking price for an item. If you see the item at say Target or Kohls, look at their specials. A lot of the time (Kohls is famous for this) depending on how much you spend, you will get $10-$15 voucher to use in the store. Today, Target had that sorta sale goin on - I got my bunny boo's Christmas gift and it was offering a $10 gift card with the purchase of this certain game. So it was a great deal! Then if I spent over $100 (who DOESN'T spend over $100 at Target?), then I get another $10 gift card. BAM! $20 to use next time.
Another great gift/budget friendly gift I love, is homemade gifts. There are so many different cookie exchanges you can do, or even homemade popcorn/cookie mix jars that can be a lot more meaningful as well as easier on the wallet.
Posted by californiadreamin at Friday, November 26, 2010 0 comments Links to this post
Oh My Goodness!
I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving and had a piece of delicious pumpkin pie for me. It's a funny story, but I didn't get to enjoy my pumpkin pie - mom forgot to add the sugar to the recipe, HA!! It was actually really funny and please don't think my mom is not the Martha Stewart of baking because she is. That women just has got too much goin on, so she forgot the sugar in our Thanksgiving dessert, haha. Love you mom!
Last night, all us girls made our lists of where we wanted to go, what we wanted to get and had a plan to meet up at my place at 1:30 AM. So that's what happened and let me tell you, I am exhausted. I am going to take a nice nap as soon as I hit "publish post", but I had to post a pic of my bags after I got home. I pretty much just dropped them in front of the door. Oh, and I have all my Christmas decorations up :) Those pics will be posted before Monday, but to be honest my feet are too sore to get my preggo ass of the couch, ha!
Oh and I WISH I could have taken an Aeriel picture from the ceiling of Target. It was crazy! The line to the cash registers, wrapped all the way around the entire store to where you walk in! We were standing in line for about an hour and 15 minutes. I am always curious as to what the heck people could be buying to justify this sort of waiting (I'm not revealing since the things I bought are going to people who read the blog) and there really wasn't anything THAT great. Funny side story, we saw this young couple try to fit 2 42inch flat screens in the back of a mustang- with a hard top! Good.luck.with.that! Oh and we tried to go into Kohls and THAT line was ridiculous! We would have been there fo r4 hours EASY! We were shocked at how many people were there because Kohls has those sorts of deals going all every weekend. So why do you need to buy that flannel sheet set NOW? Just sayin, it's gonna be 40% off next weekend too.
Troy treated his mama so good today - other than my back hurting a little bit, he was just content and stretching about in my belly as I walked around & wasn't pushing on my bladder like he normally does- thank you little T, mama loves you! So let's discuss him shall we? I'm 33 weeks today!! 4 more weeks and I"ll be full term (it will also be Christmas Eve)!
How far along? 33 weeks and starting to feel it
Baby's size? The size of a pineapple (sounds so refreshing!)- about 17 inches
Weight Gain? I'm going to copy Ashley's answer over at For the Love of Shoes and a Baby 2, and say I will just tell you all at the end how much I gained total. I don't weigh myself at home, so I can't accurately tell you
Stretch marks? Nope! Let's keep the weeks rollin with none of those suckers
Belly button in or out? Half in half out. It all depends on how he's laying. If he lays directly under it, it pushes out even more!
Sleep? I am feeling exhausted lately, but I'm sleeping so good this past week
Foods I am loving? I could eat Greek yogurt with Kashi Go Lean cereal alllllll day everyday. I was strictly a scrambled egg whites and toast kinda gal in the morning, but now, its the parfait I make
Foods I am hating? Chinese food
Best moment this week? Getting to spend time and share laughs with family on Thanksgiving. And the shopping afterwards :)
Movement? LOTS of stretching and every now and again, he'll jerk about really fast
Symptoms? Lower back pain, hunger, sleepines. Oh and for some reason, my workout on Wednesday was REALLY hard when it came to the cardio. I did 30 minutes on the elliptical and walked 30 minutes for a cool down on my one and only boyfriend, Tread. The elliptical owned my ass! What the heck and where the heck did that come from!? My legs felt like rocks and I was dripping buckets!
Gender? a little mister
What I miss? Running and having some adult beverages around the holidays - of course my little man is worth it though.
What I will miss? Feeling him move and rubbing my belly at random moments during the day. Hmmm...I just might continue this?
What I'm looking forward to? My baby shower next weekend! I have my outfit all planned out and everything!
Weekly Wisdom: Sleep and rest when you can. You deserve it and your body is working hard to grow another human life - it's exhausting
Milestone: Buying my first maternity bra!! Picked up my first 3 bras and I managed to find some not so grandma/nursing looking ones.
Emotions: "Oh crap, we're about to have a baby!" Does that work? ;)
Posted by californiadreamin at Friday, November 26, 2010 0 comments Links to this post
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Day 3 of 12 Day of Christmas Challenge
Woops, totally slacked yesterday on blogging and I have no excuse since I had the day off. The only excuse I got is I was in MAYJA' nesting mode. I cleaned out 3 different closets (of of which still needs to be sorted through a tad more) and cleaned the rest of the place up spick and span! Onto the best blogger challenge of them all - The 12 day of Christmas Challenge!!!!!
Day 3: Most meaningful gift/best gift you've received
This is so hard for me because I feel as though I have been blessed with such an amazing family, that I can't pick just 1 gift that was the best for me. As an adult, I think my #1 gift has been having a husband who is home from war. Christmas 2005, the hubbinator was deployed and it was also our 1st Christmas as a married couple. It was so hard to be without him, and I was so thankful to have him home the next Christmas.
So that was the best gift I can think of for adulthood. As a kid, my FAVORITE ('s) were:
My hot pink barbie corvette that I could drive everywhere
My pony, Dolly <------ The cuteset little pony ever (According to horse show judges) (I don't have any pictures of Dolly on my computer, but this one is very similar)
Posted by californiadreamin at Thursday, November 25, 2010 1 comments Links to this post
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
12 Days of Christmas Challenge - Day 2
Im greeting you with a chattery jaw cause my husband like to keep the place fu-reeeezing! I am in yoga pants, and a thermal w/a giant sweater on top and ugg slippers. He is wearing a t shirt and lounge pants. Tonight is supposed to be in the mid 20's. The same temp as they are predicting Thanksgiving morning! But enough about weather, let's get to the 12 days of Christmas Challenge day dos!
Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks
I have only gone out 3 times and I have to admit...I LOVE IT! I love the crowds, I love the Starbucks I see in everyone hands, I love the bags and bags of stuff I see people walk out with. I don't really have any tips or tricks other than compare prices and look for printable coupons. I go to this website and they have every black Friday ad out on the market and then once I know where Im going, I google coupons for that store and print em'. Mama loves a deal. I have to admit, I have a horrible time not being selfish and buying at least a couple things for me that early morning, and I cave all the time & walk out of the store with more things for myself than others. But hey, I NEVER shop for myself. I always talk myself out of how I don't NEED that new sweater that would go great with some leggings, or I don't NEED some new workout carpi's (ummm, yes I do. My workout clothes are looking pretty sad and worn out). Anyways, always look for extra coupons you can use by google or this link that Kristin over at Live, Laugh, Frappy sent me.
My tip is to make a list and stick to it! Don't impulse buy as hard as it is not to ($3 toaster anyone? <---- can be found at Target). Make a list, check it twice, figure out who's been naughty or nice, and get them ONLY what you set out to get them. Another way of doing this is creating a budget for the people your shopping for and sticking hardcore to that. Your bank will be much happier this way. Plus, let's not forget what Christmas is really about, people.
Posted by californiadreamin at Tuesday, November 23, 2010 2 comments Links to this post
Labels: Christmas
Monday, November 22, 2010
Day 1 of The 12 Days of Christmas Challenge
I've seen a few blogs that I follow are linking up to participate in Aly's, over at Analyze This, 12 days of Christmas Challenge. We all know my obsession with Christmas, so let's do it!
Day 1 - Christmas/Holiday Tradition
My family has a HUGE tradition that I have gotten to participate in ever since I discovered Santa Clause wasn't real - after we get home from Christmas Eve dinner at my aunts house, we all come back to my parents house and go into separate rooms and wrap all of our presents. This task lasts well into the middle of the night. I'm talking 2 or 3 in the morning people. We don't get home from our Christmas Eve dinner/celebration until about 9 or 10, so it's a few hours of switching rooms to help other people, and bringing packages out for under the tree. We all end up crashing at my parents house of course - some of us in front of the wood stove, some in bed, some on the couch. Since my niecey poo still has the energy, she makes sure we are all awake no later than 6 or 7. My dad and mom take fooooooooreeeeeeeeevvvvvveeeeerrrrrrrrrr getting out of bed. Not only that, but once they DO wake up, they have to make their pots of coffee and this takes foooooooooorrrrreeeeeevvvvvvveeeeeer! We have packages to open people, let's not drag our feet! While we wait for the less than energetic folks to wake up, us eager beavers open our stockings. I have LOVED stockings since I was little. I actually think stockings are just as good as the present part. My mom always had such cool fun things in my stocking: candy, neon colored hair brushes, hair ties/sparkly head bands, fun notepads, one time there was even a pair of cute underwear (good thing I open the stocking w/out my dad and brother watching). It's tradition to take the opening gifts part 1 package at a time. We all watch 1 person open their gift and we rotate around in an organized order. My dad is usually playing the part of 'Santa'. Oh and let's not forget the little whispers "Can so and so open this one yet?" to the gift giver. Of course in our pure exhausted state, you cannot remember what the hell you wrapped in the package, so you answer everything with 'sure'. You can't deny it, we all have that 'special gift' we want someone to open last. Since I love Christmas and never want it to end, I welcome the hours we all spend around the tree just unwrapping gifts and laughing. After that, we all eat some breakfast, usually eggs and toast, and wait for the rest of the family to come on over for an early dinner and Christmas celebration.
Link up everyone, this is gonna be a fun one!!
Posted by californiadreamin at Monday, November 22, 2010 4 comments Links to this post
Its beginning to FEEL a lot like Christmas...
Well my friends, it's Monday and a short week at that! So really, today is like a Wednesday and that is something I can get down and jiggy with. The weather this weekend was amazingly winter like and I loved it! Just above my parents house, people were getting snow. The rest of the week is said to be in the low 50's during the day with low 30's at night, possible showers. Mama like, mama like a LOT! Perfect cozy fire in sweats weather.
This weekend the mister and I house sat for my parents while they were in Mexico (where it's not winter like) and it made me appreciate the fact that I will never own cats again. Don't get me wrong, I don't HATE cats and actually had 2 little bundles of fur when we lived in North Carolina. As much as I loved these 2 knuckleheads, they were little demons in sheep's (or cats) clothing! We couldn't keep blankets on the couch, because they pee'd on them, or they'd pee or throw up in Daisy Mae's bed, or they'd leave track of cat litter kernels all over the bathroom floor. This is not a welcoming feeling when you get out of a nice clean shower, to just step on grains of cat litter, blah! My parents have about 6 or 7 cats. 2 of them are my sisters (her and the Bunny boo live with them for the time being), 1 being one I first got when Nick and I got married, then my DAD fell in love with so I gave to him, and the others are from when I was a teenager or younger. 1 of them in particular is senile! I'm not kidding. She will eat some cat food for dinner, walk out of the kitchen then come back and acts as though she hasn't eaten yet. Oh and if YOU are in the kitchen for any reason: getting water, cooking yourself some grub, picking a wedgie, etc., she will meow and meow and meow until you go mad! Even if you put them all outside, your still ambushed - meow, meow meow meow meow meow is all you will hear until their faces are eating Friskies.
Today I am giving my employer my Maternity leave letter. EEEK! I don't know why, but I always get SUPER nervous prior to something that is out of the normal. Whether going to the doctor (I go so much now, this doesn't happen anymore), going to the dentist (who can blame me?), telling my employer I'll be going on leave (even though it's obvious I am going to..hello baby bump!), or even riding a roller coaster! I guess the part that has me nervous is I am going to confirm and iron out the details of me working from home p/t while on leave and I guess since I've only had a couple verbal confirmations on this, it makes me nervous that my office manager COULD back out. Do I think he will? No, but you just never know. BLAH! I will be a much calmer blogger around 9am when I know the conversation will have already happened.
Have a wonderful Monday (kinda like a Wednesday) ladies!! It's almost Thanksgiving!!!
Posted by californiadreamin at Monday, November 22, 2010 3 comments Links to this post
Labels: weekend recap
Friday, November 19, 2010
32 weeks
Yup, it's coming down to the nitty gritty, woo hoo!! Can anyone believe we only have 35 days until Christmas?! I need to get the Christmas decorations out STAT! I've already browsed a few stores and have some pretty sweet ideas on what Im getting. Next year will be 10 times as much fun with Troy being here.
How far along? Three two week-o-la's!
Baby's size? My last appointment they told me he was weighing in about 3.5-4lbs. But I know there is never a for sure weight. All I know is this little man is getting bigger and is getting heavier on my bladder and on my poor back
Weight Gain? 23 el bee's
Stretch marks? No, but tons of blue veins and with my tummy getting tighter by the day, I'm staying hydrated and keeping oily with some EVOO
Belly button in or out? I've had to take one of the balls off my pregnancy belly button ring because it was starting to hurt, but I'm keeping the flexible bar bell in there with 1 of the balls. This is all due to my belly button popping out! I'll say it again: by my shower (Dec 4), I bet the belly button is totally out!
Sleep? Now that my cough and bronchitis is gone, I sleep really sound. I get up about 2-3 times to pee still, but other than that, I'm still sleeping 6 hours a night. During mid day, I most def feel like I need a 2 hour nap.
Foods I am loving? I've been crazy thirsty this week. Lots and lots of water. Oh and I could eat papa murphy's Chicago stuffed pizza EVERY.DAY! No exaggeration. I seem to be craving lots of carbs and Im thinking I actually need to listen to my body and bump up my carb intake since it's not that much.
Foods I am hating? Hmmm just Chinese food
Best moment this week? Feeling amazing at week 32 and getting back into my workouts after a sick 2 weeks with bronchitis
Movement? lots of rolls, but not as many kicks. He likes to stretch into my rib cage and after eating or drinking too much water, it get soooo uncomfortable
Symptoms? Having to pee all the time and my ribs/upper back area have been hurting
Gender? A little man
What I miss? Having a refreshing adult beverage and my runs. I drive by the trails near my house and I CRAVE to feel that runners high. Cannot wait to hit the pavement again
What I will miss? Honestly? Eating certain things and not feeling remorse
What I'm looking forward to? Thanksgiving and my baby shower in 2 weeks. Oh and we start our baby classes in a week and a half! So excited!! Bring on the labor breathing and crazy videos that are guaranteed to make Nick squirm
Weekly Wisdom: Always have water and a bathroom near by. And practice those kegal exercises. They come in handy when you sneeze
Milestone: My stomach constantly being firm
Emotions: HUNGER! I am hungry but can't eat as much as I want, grrrrr
I hope you all have an amazing weekend! It seems like this week draaaaaagged by. Time to relax in this stormy weather that is welcomed by moi with open arms (and cozy blanket and hot apple cider)
Posted by californiadreamin at Friday, November 19, 2010 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: Troy
I am loving...
Pandora's Christmas station - listening to it at work makes my mood way better and makes being at work less painful
My hair - after my session with my hair dresser, I'm loving the pearl toner she used and with my cut, my layers and the feel of it in general are outta amazing
Moroccan Hair Oil - This stuff makes my hair soooo soft and silky and smells even more amazing. Every hair dresser has sworn if you want your hair to be healthy and GROW (<---- YES PLEASE!!), invest in some good hair oil. Most def worth every penny. You can get it for a really decent price on Amazon rather than the salon. Click here for a a sweet deal on it
{I've only been using it for about a week now, but I'll let you all know my thoughts in about a month}
Thanksgiving is next week! Food, family and laughs...and FOOD haha
Black Friday sales! I am going to be a crazy going to Old Navy at midnight, Target at 4 AM and Kohls right after that. Click here to see banana sale ads! You cannot beat some of these prices! I want many of the things at Old Navy. I will have my sweats, uggs and coffee in hand!
Posted by californiadreamin at Friday, November 19, 2010 3 comments Links to this post
Labels: loving
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Busy bee
Holy moly life has been busy for me. Mostly work has been busy so from the time I get into the office to the time I leave, I have zero time to blog and by the time I leave I hit the gym, make dinner, eat, visit, and we go to bed. Updates on moi - eating has been a challenge. I want to eat SO much more than I do, but I am unable to do so due to a certain little someone in my belly taking up all the space. At the moment my stomach is SOOOO uncomfortably tight and I last ate at 1:30 (it's 3pm now) and all I had was a small-medium size salad w/1 cup of apple slices and water. I want to eat so bad, but can't. Oh and with the little man doing his own yoga class in there, every time he stretches, my ribs and my sternum get a nice rub. By nice I mean SORE. I know, I know, he's only gonna get bigger, right?
Another random update - what the HECK is up with all these celebrities!? People are either breaking up, getting engaged, or getting pregnant. Don't believe me? Lets run down the list shall we?
Prince William and (soon to be Princess) Kate Middleton <---- I had the biggest crush on him. Until he started to bald and started to resemble his father more and more. He seems like he has Diana's personality though, so Kate's one lucky lady. I'm still unsure how I feel about her wearing his dead mother's engagement ring to the guy who had an affair (I don't care if there is proof or not, he did!), and died tragically. However, your speech with how it's your way to keep your mom apart of the excitement I understood and respect, so carry on!
Nick Lachey and Vanessa Millano - ENGAGED
Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson - ENGAGED <---- I give 2 years tops. I'm sorry, but it was just WAY to fishy for your ex to pop the question to the girl he's been with for years, and then the guy your with for 5 months to pop the question to you? Sorry Jessica, as much as I love your 'I don't care what people think' attitude, I think your bound for a life like Jennifer Aniston
Cary Hart and Pink - PREGGO
Rachel Zoe - PREGGO <----- I hope she eats!
Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon - PREGGO (but we already knew that months ago!)
Brian Austin Greene and Megan Fox - SPLIT <---- I just heard this a couple hours ago, no surprise. I give them 2-3 more months and their back together. Supposedly BAG says the fame got to his bag of bones wifey's head. Please sweetheart, your a horrible actress, the only reason your relevant is cause people like to look at you
Eva Longoria Parker and Tony Parker - SPLIT <---- I don't really like her
Christina Aguilera and Jordan whatshisface <----- I DID NOT see this coming at all. They really seemed like that 'Naked Sunday' she always talked about was working for them
I could go on all day ladies, but you get the point. There is something in that water, so I'm happy I'm living upstream from it all if ya know what I mean.
Hope you are all having a fabulous hump day dolls!
Posted by californiadreamin at Wednesday, November 17, 2010 4 comments Links to this post
Labels: celeb gossip, pregnancy, Troy


text:
The CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership, recently announced a milestone in the fight against poverty through food security.
With an increase in funding from US$500 million in 2008 to US$1 billion in 2013, donors have demonstrated confidence in CGIAR's ability to fight hunger, enhance nutrition, and improve the lives of billions around the world. The US$1 billion in funding will help finance CGIAR's 16 global research programs, one of which is the Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP), the CGIAR Research Program for Rice. Since its launch in December 2010, GRiSP has been steadily delivering significant results.
Southeast Asian rice farmers are already harvesting an additional US$1.46 billion worth of rice a year as a result of global rice breeding and innovations that help them manage their crops better. In the same region, there is a demonstrated 25–43% return on investment upon delivery of improved rice management technologies. New water management technologies can reduce the use of precious irrigation water by 10–30% while reducing methane emissions by 35–75%.
Moreover, farmers are becoming more resilient to the effects of climate change by growing drought-, flood-, heat-, and salt-tolerant rice varieties. For example, in South Asia alone, more than 4 million farmers are already using flood-tolerant varieties. And, recently published research suggests that those who suffer most from societal neglect and climate change are benefiting from this technology. These are but a few of GRiSP's many accomplishments for over the last 3 years.
"GRiSP represents—for the first time ever—a single strategic blueprint for rice research on a global scale," says Bas Bouman, GRiSP director. "It will extend the positive impact of rice research in ways we only dreamed of just a few years ago." Around 3.5 billion people—half of the world's population—depend on rice as a food staple and source of livelihood.
GRiSP has laid out concrete and measurable key impacts to benefit the poor, the hungry, and the environment in the next 25 years. "By 2035, GRiSP aims to lift 150 million people above the US$1.25 poverty line and alleviate malnourishment for 70 million people," says Dr. Bouman. "And, by 2020, in Africa, GRiSP will boost 11 million people above the US$1.25 poverty line while 5.6 million undernourished people will reach caloric adequacy."
"As the largest innovative program on rice, GRiSP mobilizes the best scientists in the world and involves the widest range of stakeholders in developing and disseminating technologies," says Dr. Bouman.
"Our traditional varieties could not survive submergence, so the introduction of IRRI's flood-tolerant Swarna Sub1 for testing holds big promise for our farmers in the south," he added.
More than 900 organizations are working together to help the GRiSP mission. It is led by IRRI in collaboration with other institutes such as the Africa Rice Center, the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development, the French Research Institute for Development, and the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences.
"Working together with partners around the globe is now a necessity for a more efficient way of finding solutions to today's challenges in rice production," says Robert Zeigler, director general at the International Rice Research Institute. "For every 1 billion people added to the world's population, 100 million tons of rice need to be produced each year with less land, less water, and less labor but in a sustainable way. Moreover, it must be ready to withstand the threats brought about by climate change.
"And, it always pays to invest in rice research and development because for every US$20 of investment, one person is lifted out of poverty. This clearly shows an efficient development investment that has a high return in poverty eradication," he adds.
Dr. Zeigler notes that "the transformation of Thailand, Vietnam, and India, among other countries on becoming leaders in the rice industry, could not have occurred without a revolution in rice cultivation. Now, with GRiSP's concretely laid-out vision of success, innovative and holistic approach, and the concerted efforts of hundreds of institutions that share a similar vision, the future will be transformed as the lives of the poor are improved around the world."
He is hopeful that, "through GRiSP, we can advance rice science and its application to reduce poverty and hunger, improve human health and nutrition, and create a better environment."


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Traditional pasta primavera uses a heavy cream sauce. This lighter version is much lower in calories, fat and sodium, and has a fresher taste. It isn't intended to be saucy like its traditional counterpart.
In a large pot fitted with a steamer basket, bring about 1 inch of water to boil. Add the broccoli, mushrooms, zucchini and peppers. Cover and steam until tender-crisp, about 10 minutes. Remove from the pot.
In large saucepan, heat the olive oil and saute the onion and garlic over medium heat. Add the steamed vegetables and stir or shake to coat the vegetables with the onion and garlic mixture. Remove from heat but keep warm.
In another large saucepan, heat the butter, evaporated milk and Parmesan cheese. Stir over moderate heat until somewhat thickened and heated through. Stir continuously and don't scald. Remove from heat but keep warm.
In the meantime, fill a large pot 3/4 full with water and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente (tender), about 10 to 12 minutes, or according to package directions. Drain the pasta thoroughly.
Divide the pasta evenly among individual plates. Top with vegetables and pour the sauce over the vegetables and pasta. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
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"On one level the book is a straightforward memoir; on another it's a thoughtful, painfully honest, multi-angled, constant self-interrogation about himself and about the health implications of being black…" A Doctor Navigates Bruising Terrain
The Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics and the Libraries of the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio have chosen Black Man in a White Coat: A Doctor's Reflections on Race and Medicine by Damon Tweedy, MD, JD as the basis for a Community Discussions in Social Justice program.
Damon Tweedy, MD, JD serves as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center and as a staff physician at the Durham VA Medical Center. Following his completion of a medical degree at Duke University School of Medicine, as well as an internship and psychiatry residency at Duke Hospital, Dr. Tweedy earned a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School. He has published articles about the relationship between medicine and race in the Journal of the American Medical Association and the Annals of Internal Medicine. His columns and op-ed writings have also appeared in the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Washington Post, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and the Raleigh News & Observer.
In Black Man in a White Coat: A Doctor's Reflections on Race and Medicine, Dr. Tweedy examines the intersection of race and medicine. First, this memoir details his personal experiences as an African American male from a working-class family while attending Duke University Medical School. Second, he explores the cultural and socioeconomic causes of health disparities, especially in diseases that disproportionately affect African American patients. He also examines the three layers that contribute to these health challenges, namely, institutional systems, physician-patient relationships, and individual choices. Through it all, the author hopes to inspire others from similar backgrounds to believe that they can likewise achieve their goals.
Dr. Damon Tweedy will deliver the Frank Bryant Jr, MD Memorial Lecture in Medical Ethics on April 19, 2016 at 12 noon in the Holly Auditorium, followed by a reception and book-signing. To register for this free event, visit http://www.texashumanities.org/.
For more information on Community Discussions in Social Justice, contact Lisa Matye Finnie, Special Collections Librarian, at firstname.lastname@example.com or 210-567-2406.
Community Discussions in Social Justice is a project of The Libraries and the Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics. This program was made possible in part with a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.