text:
If my best friend hadn't killed his mistress, I wouldn't have had a prayer with his fiancee. Funny how things turn out.
Life would have been much easier if I hadn't been in love with Sarah Reynolds. In fact, being in love with her was so difficult it wasn't something I readily accepted. When it first dawned on me that I was entertaining feelings of love for her, the ink on my divorce papers had scarcely dried. Divorce is not a fun proposition by any stretch of the imagination, no matter how you pretty it up. It hurts like hell. And the pain lasts and lasts. My strong feelings for Sarah, I told myself, were really a reaction to the pain of being dumped by my ex-wife.
Only post-dumping craziness could explain my falling for my best friend's fiancee. To put it mildly, being in love with my best friend's future spouse presented an obstacle or two. And the fact that she and I reported to the same workplace every day only made my life more complicated.
Nope, there was no easy, healthy, happy way for me to love Sarah.
But I did.
And then my best buddy Mike Munro indulged in a little extracurricular nooky and followed that up with a bit of homicide. "Homicide" might be too strong a word. It was always possible that the folks from the District Attorney's office would see it as an accidental death. For that matter, maybe the DA would fasten upon another suspect. But however you sized it up, Mike's behavior had an amazing effect on Sarah and me . . .
You could be forgiven for thinking that I was the one out on a date with Sarah on the summer night that everything began to unravel. My almost-six-foot frame was in a dark-blue pinstripe suit, with a crisp white shirt and bright red tie with paisley pattern — along with my brown hair, blue eyes, and reasonably solid jawline — I was every inch the handsome young success story. This was not my usual work appearance to be sure. I was normally found in a pair of tan slacks and a button-down shirt. "Business casual" as it came to be known late in the 1990s. But that night was different.
Sarah and I were going to a fancy reception that Mike's investment firm was throwing at the River Café on the East River, directly under the Brooklyn Bridge. Since Mike worked in the Wall Street area, he was a quick cab ride away from the Café and traveled there with some of his colleagues. Sarah and I were meeting him there, and we were all dressed-up, journeying together from midtown Manhattan to Brooklyn on the leather seats of an air-conditioned limousine that Mike had arranged.
Sarah looked gorgeous, not that she would ever have believed that. The lovely Ms. Reynolds was incapable of considering herself very attractive. How could she look herself in the mirror every day and take the time and energy she obviously did to dress as well as she did and still not conclude that she was pretty? The answer to that question was a long story tightly wrapped inside the family history of this youngest daughter of a large Irish Catholic brood. Over the five years of knowing and working at the same office as Sarah, I'd found out that her father, as Irish patriarchs are wont to do, had drunk himself to sleep every night for decades. Her mother had clung to sanity with every fiber in her being (and probably every prayer her soul could generate) but hadn't really managed the trick. Despite the booze and mental infirmities, there was enough money for everyone to move along: Sarah's older siblings had gone to famous colleges, had married well, and had solid careers.
But when there was trouble in the Reynolds family, who was the one they all turned to? When her father broke his leg falling down the stairs ("Thank God I had a few drinks in me — it relaxed me enough that the break wasn't worse"), who used her vacation time to stay at home with her mother and care for dear old drunk Dad? When one of her sisters was laid up with the flu, who spent nights and weekends caring for the kids and cleaning up the sister's home? When her older brother was out of work, who moved back into Mom and Dad's place so that the unemployed bum could live in Sarah's apartment rent-free for four months? If anyone needed anything in Reynolds Land, he or she turned to Sarah for help or sympathy. Fortunately for them, she never failed to be a willing patsy. She was aware of her role in all this and was capable of volcanic resentments toward her family members, but every time the lava threatened to flow, she suppressed it completely. Sarah was perpetually to be "little Sarah." Never completely free of her parents' troubles. Never quite at the same level as her siblings. And, by extension, never at the same level as her friends.
Fortunately for Sarah, plenty of people thought she was wonderful. Me, for one. And Mike Munro for another. Although falling into romantic favor with Mike Munro was a mixed blessing for any woman. If only she could have seen herself with our eyes. Well, mine anyway.
Despite her mediocre self-assessment, Ms. Reynolds sat on the seat of the limousine with me, looking very pretty indeed. She had strong blue eyes over a straight nose and a great smile. Her brown hair dropped in a fashionable wave to her shoulders. She wore a sleeveless navy-blue dress with a matching jacket. The dress had a rounded neckline, and she was wearing pearls. Simple and classy. The dress was form-fitting enough to emphasize what most men would describe as a "nice ass." I occasionally struggled to avoid being grouped with most men on matters of chauvinism, but Sarah had a very nice ass.
"You look terrific," I said to her as we crossed the Brooklyn Bridge. I added lightly, "Mike doesn't deserve you."
"It's the other way around."
"Not even close. He doesn't deserve you even if he's tall, dark, and handsome."
"You forgot that he's rich," she said, smiling as she spoke.
"I didn't forget. But money has nothing to do with whether or not he deserves you. Does it?"
"Of course not," she snorted then smiled, "but it doesn't hurt."
"Of course not," I repeated. Then I forced a grin to hide my resentment at Mike's good fortune in being engaged to Sarah.
The limo descended from the Brooklyn Bridge. The driver wound through a couple of turns, and then we were arriving at the River Café with its fantastic view of downtown Manhattan. That view has made the Café very popular for receptions and as a locale for movies. I climbed out of the limo into the pleasantly warm June evening and waved off the driver so I could hold the door for Sarah. She smiled as she got out and slipped her arm through mine as we entered the restaurant. The touch of her hand on my arm sent a spark of excitement through me. I caught a gentle hint of her perfume, which made me painfully aware that she was incredibly close and completely out of reach at the same time. Man does not mess with his best friend's girl. That's an immutable rule right out of the John Wayne Handbook for Living.
Once inside the Café, with barely a moment to absorb the view of the river and the spires of Manhattan, we were greeted by Mike himself. Surrounded by the Wall Street crowd, he was a man in his element. He was at least a couple of inches taller than I and had thick, dark brown hair, dark brown eyes, a year-round tan, and the taut body of a man who worked out religiously. He was so good looking he wouldn't have been out of place modeling the expensive suit he wore, but he made too much money to waste time being a model. Mike swept Sarah off of my arm and into a hug and kiss. He wasn't slipping her the tongue, but it was a kiss to make sure everyone in the place knew the lady was his. She pulled away laughing and a little breathless. With his left arm still around her, Mike turned toward me.
I put my hands up as if to fend him off, "I don't kiss on first dates."
"That's not what I heard," he said, offering his hand. I gripped his hand, and he gave me a firm, Control Master shake. I made sure to grip with equal firmness. Hey, I hit the weight room at the gym, too.
"So, did the limo collect you guys all right?" Mike asked.
"It was wonderful," Sarah said. "Thanks so much for arranging it."
"Yes, thank you," I added and really meant it. I had just had the chance to spend twenty minutes in the back of a well-appointed automobile with a very attractive woman I happened to be in love with. Why wouldn't I be grateful to the man who had arranged it?
"Did you help yourselves to the bar?" Mike asked.
"In the limo?" Sarah asked in good-humored shock. "It's only a short ride to Brooklyn."
"Yes, but Mr. Munro knows that you had to survive the journey in my company," I said. "Mike thinks that no one could travel to Brooklyn and simultaneously put up with me for twenty minutes without a drink."
"Without several drinks," Mike replied. "Doubles."
"There are people in this world who manage to live without consuming mind-numbing quantities of consciousness-altering substances," I said.
"Sure. But why bother?" He was smiling as if he only half-believed his own baloney. "Anyway, would you two like something to drink now that you're here?"
"Yes," Sarah said quickly, cutting me off from making a smart remark. "I'd like a glass of wine, please."
Mike nodded to her and turned to me, "And what about you, Jack?"
"I'll have a beer, thanks."
"Good. You can come with me and get it." He looked back at Sarah and jerked his thumb at me, "I have to introduce Jack to this guy at the firm. Would you mind staying here and looking pretty?"
"I'm not sure about the pretty part."
He turned up the wattage on his smile, "I am." Then he ushered me through the crowd toward the bar.
"Introduce me to what guy?" I asked.
"The partner in charge of our communications department," he said. "He might have a job for you. Something that would pay a lot more than your current job."
"I don't need more than I'm paid at my job."
"Everyone needs more."
"Okay, maybe that's true. But I love my job."
"Who helped you find that job? Who said you'd love it?"
"You did."
"And now I'm telling you that maybe our firm could provide you with another job you'd love and make more money at it. Wouldn't that be the best possible situation?"
"It wouldn't be horrible, I have to admit."
We reached the bar and ordered drinks. Mike sent a waiter over to Sarah with her glass of wine. I saw her lift her glass to us in a toast from across the room. I returned the toast, hoisting my beer. Mike was too busy scanning the crowd to notice. I joined him in looking over the incredibly well-dressed, well-groomed people. This little chunk of society, which made money by playing with money, had been dubbed the "Masters of the Universe" by Tom Wolfe in the '80s. That name was no longer in vogue, and the Great Recession had put a major dent in their self-esteem, but a few recent years of record bonuses had allowed these latter-day Titans to feel plenty potent. Their eyes were sparkling, and their cheeks were tight with forced smiles. Some of them were going to need facial massages to get the muscles working normally again.
Turning to Mike, I asked, "Why are you being so good to me?"
"I've always been good to you, haven't I?"
"Yes. But there's usually an ulterior motive lurking somewhere."
"Am I that transparent?"
"No, actually you're not. But I've been watching you for years. I've finally caught on. So, what's in it for you tonight?"
"Well . . . it's nothing you'll find too painful. I was hoping you could escort Sarah home at the end of the party."
"Isn't escorting Sarah your job? One of the duties of a fiancé?"
"Yeah, sure. Usually. But I need to do something later."
"Need to do something?"
He looked at me for a moment then said, "The limo will be waiting for you outside. It's reserved for the entire night. You two can go someplace fun if you want. Then please make sure Sarah gets home safe and sound. Please?"
"While you're off attending to your needs."
"Exactly," he said with a sly look.
"You're a schmuck." I said, keeping my voice flat.
"Hey, we're not married yet. I need to get this out of my system so I can settle down and be the kind of husband Sarah deserves."
"Yeah, like that will ever happen."
"You're jealous."
I gave that comment the reply it deserved — I took a long sip of my beer.
"Is it my extra-curricular activities or Sarah?" he asked.
"What?" I was starting to heat up. I had passed "Mild" and was headed toward "Medium" on the chili-sauce scale.
"Are you jealous of my going out later or of my being with Sarah? Or both?"
I made a point of looking directly into his eyes and holding eye-contact. "You tell me."
"Both." His sly expression had dissolved into a smirk.
"Screw off."
"Oh, Jack, my boy," he said, clapping me on the back. "You need to loosen up. Take things as they come."
"Advice like this is very precious," I said. There was nothing delicate about my sense of irony. "Where were you when I was getting divorced?"
"Telling you to get laid, as I remember. What was the point of your being faithful? Did it save your marriage?"
I shook my head and laughed softly. "You're a real piece of work."
"Always have been. Now, can I introduce you to this guy, and we'll talk about a great job for you?"
"Well . . ."
"And after that, you have a drink or two with Sarah and take her home. Please?"
"You're still a schmuck."
"Thanks. I knew I could count on you."
After a few minutes of conversation with "the guy with the great job," Mike and I searched for Sarah.
"Well?" he asked me as he scanned the party for sight of his pretty fiancée.
"Well what?"
"Doesn't it sound like a great job?"
"Much as I hate to admit it, it does sound pretty good."
"Come on, pretty good? You get to write, you get to edit, and you'll have to travel to hardship posts like Paris and London for the occasional conference. And you'll get paid more. Pretty good? I'd hate to see you define excellent."
"All of that sounds great, but you ignore the fact that all of the writing and editing would be about financial issues. I'm not looking to cover the Yankees for The Daily News — although I'd gladly sacrifice your left testicle to do that — but I'm not sure I want to spend all of my time covering finance."
He paused for a second then said, "Why my left nut?"
"Would you seriously consider the proposition if I changed it to the right one?"
Sarah glided out of the crowd at that moment, saving Mike from further discussion of testicular sacrifice. He immediately slipped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close for a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Sorry we were gone so long," Mike said. "I'm just trying to get our pal here gainfully employed."
"Are you trying to take him away from the Board?" The Board was the National Board of Business Research, where Sarah and I worked. She looked genuinely dismayed and turned to me, "Are you thinking of leaving the Board?"
"This is all Mike's idea. In his view of the universe, I've served my useful purpose at the Board by introducing you to him, now he wants to line my pockets with Wall Street gold."
Sarah swatted Mike lightly on the arm, "You leave him where he is. Who will I talk to without him?"
"I'm just trying to set him up for the future. Help him earn some real money now."
"Before I become a broken down old has-been," I added. "Look, Mike heard about this opportunity here at his firm, thought I'd be a perfect fit, and wanted to make sure I had a shot at it. He's just looking out for me."
"Are you going to take the job?" Sarah asked.
"We're nowhere near that stage of things. So let's not worry about it tonight," I said.
Mike clearly wasn't worried. He was busy scanning the crowd again and the sudden widening of his smile made me think he had acquired his evening's target.
"No worries," I said to Sarah, lifting my beer in another toast. She clinked her wine glass against mine and took a sip. That gave me a chance to twist ever so slightly and find Mike's target.
She stood out among the carefully polished Wall Street wizards. The swirling blonde hair with highlights, the heavy eye shadow and bright red lipstick, the curves that were gloriously obvious in a clingy black dress — this lady was not in the financial services market. My guess: She was an aspiring actress or a pop singer still waiting to make her breakthrough.
Mike turned back to Sarah and said, "Listen, I hope you don't mind, but I have a bunch of people I need to say hello to, and then a few of us are going out for an after-party party."
"Bonding exercise?" I asked.
He ignored me, "Would you mind if Jack takes you home? The limo's still waiting, and if you want to use it to go somewhere, you can. Make a night of it — on me."
"I don't mind, if Jack doesn't."
"He's happy as a Boy Scout at a Jamboree."
"That's not exactly how I would have put it," I said, "but I'd be delighted to squire you anywhere you wish to go."
"I'm sorry," Mike said, "but I really do have to mingle." He shook my hand and then swept Sarah up in another emphatic kiss. "Have a good time," he said, then winked at me and whispered so that only I could hear, "but not too good a time."
We finished our drinks and decided against another, instead wandering outside to find our driver. He was easy to spot among the numerous limousines; When he'd first picked us up this evening, I'd noticed scruffy red hair curling over his collar, and his face was buried in a Travis McGee novel, Pale Gray for Guilt. As Sarah and I had climbed in, I saw on the front seat next to him copies of The Empty Copper Sea and Darker than Amber. Our driver came prepared to wait-out his passengers no matter how long they stayed at the fair. As he saw us coming out of the River Café, he put down his paperback and made a half-assed effort to get out of the car to hold a door open for Sarah. He was way too slow, and I beat him to it with ease.
Sarah and I had decided to have a nice dinner and had the driver take us to the middle of Greenwich Village, where we cruised the tiny streets looking to be inspired by an interesting looking restaurant. It didn't take long to find a cozy little Italian place not far from Sheridan Square. I hopped out and held the door for Sarah — she hadn't even exited the car by the time the driver had resumed reading about Travis McGee.
Inside, there wasn't a checkered tablecloth or wax-covered Chianti bottle in sight. The host glided up to us, spoke in heavily accented English, and showed us to a very nice table for two. A basket of various breads, a bottle of imported olive oil, and small plates all appeared within seconds of our sitting down. We skipped pre-dinner drinks and ordered a bottle of red wine.
I was feeling guilty for my part in Mike's charade. But what are friends for? I asked myself. When your best buddy asks you to take care of his lady, you do. But when the lady is also a friend, and you're helping your best buddy screw around on her, aren't you helping one friend by screwing another? And if a guy is truly your best buddy, does he get your help by manipulating you? Still, he asked for my help, and I hadn't been able to think of a good way to say "no thanks," especially since he might be helping me acquire ludicrously gainful employment. And then I looked across the table at my lovely, unsuspecting dinner companion and felt like a two-bit con artist.
"This is a nice place," Sarah said. "Did you know about it or did we just stumble upon it?"
"I had a vague memory of it. My ex-wife loved it."
Sarah looked concerned, "Do you want to go somewhere else? Does this have bad memories for you?"
"No, no, we don't need to change restaurants. I told you, I have vague memories, not bad ones. The vagueness is probably a defense mechanism."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," I said smiling comfortably, "I'm sure. Really."
She looked hesitant, as if she wanted to say something else. "Does it —"
The waiter interrupted her by stopping at our table to ask if we were ready to order.
Sarah nodded, and I said, "Yes." We both ordered veal and house salads.
The waiter said, "Very good," and headed for the kitchen. Why did waiters say, "Very good," when you ordered? It reminded me of being in second grade when the teacher would compliment you for holding your pencil correctly. Were you supposed to feel better about yourself because the waiter said, "Very good"? I shook my head a little to snap myself out of this pointless reverie and refocus on Sarah. She had that hesitant look on her face again.
"Does it still hurt?" she asked.
"Does what still hurt?" I asked guardedly.
"Your divorce. Or maybe losing your marriage."
I took a deep breath. I hated having this conversation — even with very close friends. Baring my soul was not something I did easily with anyone. Still, the very fact that Sarah was willing to talk about it made me want to discuss it with her. There was something about her quiet warmth that made me want to open up.
"Getting divorced sucked," I said. "I hated it. Hated joining the pool of People from a Failed Marriage. But what really hurt was losing my wife. I honestly believed that Jennifer and I were going to be together for the rest of our lives. It never occurred to me that we weren't supposed to be together."
"Do you miss her?"
"I did for a long time. The first few months when we separated were terrible. And then, eventually, we got the divorce, and I felt the pain all over again. But now it's been a year since our day in court, and things are better. Who knows, I might even go on a date some time this century."
"You haven't dated at all?"
"Oh, you know, I've gone to the movies once or twice. Had the occasional casual dinner with a nubile young wench. Nothing close to serious."
"Why nothing serious?" Sarah wasn't prying; she was genuinely interested.
"Why are you asking all these questions?"
"I want to know. We talk a lot at the office, but always about the Yankees or movies. It'd be nice to get to know you a little better."
"Know the Real Man?"
"Maybe you're trying to divert attention from yourself."
She gave me a nervous smile in response and said, "You're the one evading my questions. Why nothing serious?"
"Pathetic as this is going to sound; I'm just not ready for anything besides dinner and/or a movie. I never expected to get divorced — I feel as if I don't know anything about how things work between men and women. I'm not ready to find out the hard way."
It went way beyond feeling as if I didn't know how things worked between the male and female branches of homo sapiens. I had felt hollowed-out by the pain of my wife's leaving me. I'd never seen it coming. And I was terrified of being blindsided again, which I fully expected to be since I didn't feel that my separation and divorce had properly educated me in matters romantic.
Sarah looked at me for a long moment, saying nothing.
"What?" I asked. "No encouraging words? Nothing about getting back in the saddle?"
"I'm not qualified to give anybody advice on their love life."
The resignation in her words brought a vision of Mike at play with the blonde from the River Café to my head. By now they were probably in the back of the limo that had brought the blonde to the reception, and Mike was deliberately spilling champagne down her cleavage, drinking it up from her skin. I could imagine him fumbling the champagne bottle back into place on the bar and then gently pushing the girl down on the leather seat as he began to undo her clothing.
"Sure you are — you're a romantic success story," I said, forcing myself to concentrate on Sarah's face and ignore the porn show my imagination was generating for me. "You just got engaged to Tall, Dark, Handsome, and Rich."
At this moment, Tall, Dark, Handsome, and Rich was probably locked in a coital embrace with a woman not his fiancée. Given Mike's sporting temperament, it was easy to picture him casting a glance up front to see if the limo driver was taking in the free entertainment.
Sarah said, "I still don't know what came over him — why he asked me to marry him."
It was difficult to understand why Mike had asked Sarah to marry him. And not because of Sarah. She was beautiful — at least she was to me. I loved the play of light in her blue eyes and the slender curves of her body. Sarah wasn't overpoweringly attractive like the blonde Mike was cavorting with at that split second in time. She didn't have the dark, dazzling sexuality of my ex-wife. But those women were incredibly hot for the short run. Their looks would sear a man — well, me anyway — but Sarah's beauty would wear well for a very long time. A lifetime.
But Mike clearly wasn't ready to settle down. Not for a night, never mind a lifetime. Take his activities on this very evening: After the limo ride, Mike would accompany his blonde companion back to her place, snort a line of cocaine, and have sex again. And then . . .
"You're crazy," I said. "You're one of the loveliest, nicest women I've ever met, and Mike is . . . Mike is . . . a lucky slob that you've agreed to marry him."
"Given that you're a close friend of his, you don't sound very enthusiastic about him."
I said, "Look, Mike and I have been pals since freshman year of college. He fixed me up with lots of dates, introduced me to people on the school newspaper, and even created a study group that got both of us through some tight spots. After college he introduced me to Jennifer and later pushed me to the job at the Board. He's incredibly generous and energetic. But sometimes . . . " I hesitated. Way to go, Jack, I thought to myself. Go ahead and find a diplomatic way to tell Mike's fiancée that he's not the best thing in her life since the training wheels came off her bike. While you're at it, why don't you tell her what he's doing right now?
"Sometimes what?" Sarah asked.
"Oh, I don't know. I guess . . . Mike's always been the epitome of cool, you know? And the thing is, he knew it. He basked in the glow of his own coolness. But me . . . I always wanted to be cool, but I always felt . . ." I hesitated again, searching for the right words, "I always felt about as cool as the proverbial dumb little brother. Even tonight, when he was helping me, he was pushing my 'dumb little brother' buttons. Being friends with Mike has allowed me to bask in the glow of his cool, but — and I hate to admit this — I guess I resent him for being the cool one."
"Sometimes I feel that way," she said. "Like he's too cool for me."
I shook my head, "Believe me, he's not cool enough for you. You're for real. Mike, well, once you've scratched the surface —" I stopped, realizing I was about to do a little character-assassination of this woman's betrothed. "Look, you shouldn't listen to me — I already told you, I don't know how the whole man-woman thing works."
Our food arrived, and I made a mental note to tip very well — the waiter's timely delivery of our meals had saved me from myself.
"How did Mike propose?" I asked as we settled into eating. "Did you know it was coming?"
"I didn't. I thought we might be headed in that direction, but he caught me by surprise. I'm not sure he planned it out. You know how impulsive he can get."
"I know. So, how did he ask you?"
"We were out having dinner about a month ago. It was a nice place, but not the kind of romantic place you take someone if you know you're going to propose. Suddenly, in the middle of a conversation about something else, he popped the question. He didn't have a ring or anything."
I pointed to her hand, "That has since been remedied."
"He took me to Tiffany's the next day."
"Is Mike's impulsiveness the reason you haven't set a date?"
Sarah looked down at the table. I hadn't meant to hit a sore spot. Maybe Mike was hesitating to set a date. Maybe he thought of an engagement as a perpetual dinner reservation — holding his spot with a woman. "Hey, setting dates can be tough," I said. "Getting the church, a place for the reception, making sure that Uncle Henry from Outer Kazoo is going to be there — the whole thing can be next to impossible."
She looked up and smiled weakly, "Something like that."
"Mike would be crazy to let you get away — and he's not crazy."
Her smile strengthened a tiny bit.
"You should just go ahead and set a date," I said. "If Mike doesn't show up, the Best Man will fulfill his duties to ensure a matrimonial ceremony occurs — and I'll marry you."
Sarah laughed softly, "That sounds pretty good."
My heart pumped hard despite the silliness of the conversation. "Sounds good to me, too."
"Thanks for taking me out to dinner."
"My pleasure."
"You're a good friend, Jack."
"Oh yeah, that's me."
Our conversation switched to much safer topics such as movies and baseball. When dinner was finished, Sarah declined coffee or dessert, but I managed to persuade her it was in our best interests if she helped me consume my tiramisu. It was delicious, and after the first bite, she didn't require any more persuading.
She slid her arm through mine as we left the restaurant and crossed the sidewalk to the limo. Inside the car, as we headed toward her apartment, it was all I could do not to lean over and kiss her. Mike and the blonde were probably in a drowsy state of satisfaction, only minutes away from a little more cocaine and a little more nooky. But I couldn't convince myself that Mike's behavior granted me permission to try my hand at romancing his girl. Not to mention the shock it would send through Sarah if I made a move on her.
The limo pulled up in front of her brownstone near Brooklyn Heights, We got out without any help from our driver, and I escorted her up the steps to the front door of the building. We stopped at the top of the steps, a small light above us casting a pale glow on our faces.
"Thanks so much for tonight," Sarah said. "I had a really nice time."
"Me, too."
She threw her arms around me and gave me a big hug, then a quick, friendly kiss. There wasn't a trace of sex in the kiss — I could have been her avuncular grandpa.
"See you tomorrow," I said.
She nodded and disappeared inside.
I walked back down to the limo, vibrating from the contact with her. I wanted to run back up the steps, press her doorbell, and tell her . . . what? That I loved her? That she should forget about Mike?
"Pathetic," I muttered to myself.
I took the last few steps across the sidewalk, turned back to Sarah's brownstone, and gave it one last look. Snap out of it, you idiot. She belongs to Mike, whether he really wants her or not.
Back inside the limo, I barely noticed the spectacular views of Manhattan as we hurtled across the Brooklyn Bridge. I looked at the back of my raggedy-haired driver and wondered what kind of wisdom his Travis McGee books held for a situation like mine. After bumping our way uptown over Manhattan's rough pavement, we reached Columbus Circle, and I said to the driver, "Thanks. I'll walk from here."
The driver flipped me a sarcastic salute and pulled over to the curb on the Central Park side of the circle. I got out, and he practically burned rubber leaving me.
"Very impressive," I said to his retreating taillights. Then I walked the almost-twenty blocks to my cozy little apartment on the Upper West Side. Once inside, I dumped my suit jacket and tie over the back of a chair, grabbed a beer from the fridge, flopped onto my couch, and kicked off my shoes. I turned on the TV and began switching channels. Anything to keep my mind from wondering what I could have done to improve my goodbye with Sarah. Or from contemplating what Mike Munro was up to at that very moment.
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Drug Rehab:
Statistics have shown that their are approximately 68 marijuana users, 29 people abusing prescription drugs, 11 cocaine addicts, and 5 people using hallucinogens that live in Bonduel, Wisconsin.
There will also be close to 8 people arrested for drug charges and around 6 DUIs in Bonduel this year.
If you decide that you will need aid with a chemical addiction you have made the first and hardest step on your path to recovery, but the next step of seeking that help can be a daunting task if you do not know where to look. This page provides you with a list of public, private, non-profit, and Christian drug rehab centers and intervention specialists near Bonduel, Wisconsin.
Bonduel is located in Shawano County and contains the following zip codes:
Addiction Treatment Programs near Bonduel, Wisconsin
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
When I wrote the flip flap album post for today, I didn't think about it being groundhog day.
So you have a bonus, just for fun post today !
When it is single digit temperaures outside
you take photos of the paper punch groundhog and whether or not
it sees it's shadow inside :)
Yes, most definitely a shadow this year which means
six more weeks of winter (according to the old Pennsylvania Dutch superstition) !
Details on how I made the paper punch groundhog here


text:
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Home > Publications > International Concrete Abstracts Portal
The International Concrete Abstracts Portal is an ACI led collaboration with leading technical organizations from within the international concrete industry and offers the most comprehensive collection of published concrete abstracts.
Title: ACI 376 Code and Commentary: Construction Performance Requirements
Author(s): Neven Krstulovic-Opara
Publication: Web Session
Volume: Opara.pdf
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords: LNG tank, RLG tank, concrete tanks, refrigerated liquefied gas containment
Date: 3/20/2012
Abstract:This comprehensive session on the design and construction of concrete tanks for refrigerated liquefied gas containment with a primary focus on large-scale LNG tanks. The sessions will start with an introduction to concrete LNG and RLG tanks and move into detailed coverage of the provisions of the new ACI 376 Code Requirements for Design and Construction of Concrete Structures for the Containment of Refrigerated Liquefied Gases and Commentary. Finally, the session will include presentations on the construction of several concrete LNG tanks around the world.
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White Grub
- Skunks and raccoons will pull back the turf to feed on grubs in the spring or fall. Flocks of birds such as starlings and blackbirds feeding on the lawn are also signs of a grub infestation. Many people notice animals digging as the first indicator.
- As the roots are eaten the turf will begin to wilt and turn brown.
- Affected areas will feel soft and spongy to walk on.
- Turf in affected areas can be pulled back and up with ease, like a carpet. Once you pull back the turf the grubs will be visible.
If you notice any of these issues in your lawn immediately check for white grubs. If you suspect that you have grubs please call our customer service team before any significant damage starts to occur.
White grubs are the larvae of three species of beetles and are one of the most difficult lawn pests to deal with. If left untreated they can easily destroy a lawn. The most common white grubs inOntarioare the June beetle or June bug, the European chafer and the Japanese beetle. Grubs in a lawn feed on the roots of many plants, but prefer the fibrous roots of grass. Grub damage is most severe in the spring and fall when moisture levels in the soil are high. This moisture allows the grub to move easily in the soil. White grubs can be found near the surface in the late spring and early fall when they are actively feeding.
Cultural practices are the best way to ensure the health of your lawn before any problems arise. A strong and healthy lawn can tolerate more grub feeding than a stressed lawn because damage to one root is compensated for by others. Healthy lawns will also have strong leaf tissue that will provide important nutrients and energy to repair the root damage. Deep and infrequent watering will encourage deep rooted and drought tolerant lawns. Make sure that you are fertilizing your lawn on a regular basis. Aeration and seeding your lawn in the spring and fall is also highly recommended. When choosing a seed make sure to use grasses containing an endophytic fungus such as fescues and ryegrasses. This type of fungus naturally repels white grubs.
When a lawn has been damaged by grubs it will need to be repaired. If the lawn has simply been pulled back by digging animals it should be placed back on the soil, pushed down and heavily watered. However more serious lawn renovations that include aeration and seeding are often required. Topsoil should be applied and raked in at no more then 3/8of an inch in depth. More then this may damage existing grass by smothering it. When choosing a seed make sure to use grasses containing an endophytic fungus such as fescues and ryegrasses.


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Sherri Hill Fitted Long Dress 50952ID# 15550952
with learn more
This regal Sherri Hill prom dress 50952 features a fitted silhouette with dramatic organza overlay. Stunning bead work encrust the silhouette beautifully adding the perfect sparkle while the organza overlay adds volume and a dramatic finish. Find this and more Sherri Hill styles at Peaches Boutique today.
- Back Style Back Zipper
- Length Long, 45" Waist to Hem
- Material Beaded, Fully Beaded, Organza
- Style Fitted
This is a final sale item. No returns/exchanges.


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Have a prayer need?
Fill out the form below,
email firstname.lastname@example.com,
call or text Briana at 336.409.9814
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.


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About Music House
Mission Statement: To become a parent's destination as their premier musical instrument company focused on student and midrange band and orchestra instruments while striving to educate our clientele in an appreciation for what a quality instrument's effect has on their child's successful enjoyment and achievement as an amateur musician. Our friendly, knowledgeable and professional staff will help inspire, educate and problem-solve for our customers. We will maximize shareholder value by tirelessly pursuing new growth opportunities by creating superior value for our customers while continually improving profitability for our associates and business partners through superior customer service, innovation and commitment !
Manufacture and Distributor of Musical Instruments . . .
The Music House is a manufacture and distributer of musical instruments. As an eTailor - the company sells and rents instruments through the internet. As a Retailer - distributes its products through music retailers and company owned outlet locations. Since 1974 the organization has supplied its retail dealers, schools and affiliate locations throughout the United States with name brand band & orchestra instruments as well its proprietary products Zephyr Band Instruments, Molinari Strings and Danco Reeds. Corporate headquarters and distributing facilities are based in Southern California.
Proprietary Brands
Zephyr - Molinari - Danco . . .
The products are manufactured in Europe and Asia and equal to any quality name brand. At Zephyr, global manufacturing is nothing new. Our established network of suppliers combined with state-of-the-art manufacturing partner facilities, allows Zephyr to deliver controlled, consistent quality and unprecedented value. The instrument lines are the definition of (Quality+Price)=Value!
Always committed to serving the needs of students and music educators, Zephyr has grown steadily over the years, recognized for craftsmanship, quality and value. Zephyr's commitment to world class quality provides students with their best chance for initial success by meeting the high performance needs of their instructors.
Zephyr Band Instruments and its Molinari String lines are developed and tested by employing the expert guidance of qualified repair technicians, music educators, and professional musicians. With the advancement of technology, sophisticated machinery enables a level of precision and consistency that was once uncontrollable. But, it is the human touch that properly fits and regulates each instrument to reach optimum sound quality and harmonization
The craftspeople at Zephyr test each instrument prior to shipment and take pride in placing the Zephyr and Molinari name on every instrument.
Musical Instrument Rentals
OnLine & Affiliate Locations . . .
The Music House rents band and orchestra instruments through its Affiliate Network locations supplying them with propritary name brand instruments to rent and sell to the parents of children participating in school instrumental music. All billing is transacted through The Music House. Click Here for Rental Locations.>
You can also rent an instrument and purchase books and accessories On-Line through our shopping cart.
Become a Music House Affiliate . . .
Music Retailers, School Band Booster and Foundation Organizations qualify. Find Out More
To all of you, from all of us at MusicHouse.com
Thank you and happy shopping!


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You can almost think about the process of getting car loans to be similar to the game of golf; whoever gets the lowest score – in this case that score would be the interest rates you pay on loans – wins! But, on the flip side of the coin, you most definitely don't feel like a winner in the competition to get a car loan if your bureau score is on the low end of the credit score spectrum. The simple fact is the difference between bad interest rates and a good rate can amount to thousands of dollars in unnecessary interest charges. In some cases these bad rates can increase your monthly payment from fifty to seventy five dollars a month. What we're getting at here, is it's great to find low bad credit car loan rates, but it's not so great to have a bureau score so low that you have to worry about whether or not you'll get approved for your loan. So what are you to do?
It's time to start feeling better about your prognosis for getting a decent car loan. First let me share with you this simple fact: bad credit today is far different than it was maybe only 5 years ago. The big banks considers bad credit now to be anything below a 700 FICO, whereas just a few years back individuals with a low FICO of 630 or higher could walk into any bank and walk out with an automatic approval at the best available rates. As you can see the definition of bad credit has changed pretty dramatically in a very short time. In many instances you can find a rate for new or used car loans as low as 4 or 5% and that isn't bad at all. We work with individuals every day – some of whom have very bad credit histories – and we assist these folks in finding financing for the auto loans they need. In this post, we're going to answer some questions we hear a lot from folks looking for the best bad credit car loans rates. And we'll tell you the exact steps you can take to find a lender that can help you get a fair car financing package today.
Why Won't Banks Give Me a Car Loan??
People often think that they can go to their neighborhood bank and walk out with a sweet new or used car loan. After a bit of frustration, though, many people find that their banks simply don't want to approve car loans for people with damaged credit. It seems unfair, and perhaps is. However, you need to know that the larger financial institutions – banks, captive auto finance companies, etc… – consider people with bad credit to be too "high risk" to lend to. That's okay, though, because there are other lending companies out there that are staffed with experienced financial pros who actually specialize in helping people with bad credit. We'll talk more about those types of lenders in just a few minutes…
Can I Really Find Better Bad Credit Car Loans Rates?
People often find that even when they get their auto loans from online lenders that specialize in bad credit auto financing, that they still can't get interest rates that are as low as they'd like. You can actually do some things to help improve the loan offers that you receive. Here are a few things you might want to try:
Pay off some small loan balances on bank cards or consumer loans.
Become current with any creditors you are behind payments for.
Take some money out of savings and pay off a larger bank card balance, or at least pay it down substantially.
These things can help to raise your low or bad score up a bit. These efforts may not be enough to make your overall personal financial history strong, but even raising your score by a few points can help you to secure a low interest rate on your upcoming car loan.
Getting a Bad Credit Auto Loan after a Bankruptcy
As long as your bankruptcy case is closed, you can pursue a damaged credit auto loans. If you are living life post-bankruptcy, and want to rebuild your personal profile, simply getting an auto loan and making timely payments every month may be just what the doctor ordered.
Isn't it time you got a better car loan with bad credit?
Be sure to take note of the bad credit car loan application located on this site. Filling it out is your one-way ticket to working with the top lenders in the nation. These lending companies are ready, willing and able to provide car loans – sometime low interest rate car loans to people with bad credit. You won't get these types of loan offers anywhere else, so be sure to fill out the loan application form for fast processing and approval!


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Anyone familiar with the Pennsylvania landscape has grown quite fond of its quaint countryside passages and would place a high value on preserving its charming appeal. Pennsylvania's landmark bridges are the epitome of efforts aimed at historic protection, claiming devotees from private and public sectors alike. As the Nation's leading host of authentic covered bridges, The Greater Philadelphia Region alone has North America's largest population of stone arch highway bridges. Pre-dating motorized vehicles, traffic, and the need to accommodate two-way travel, these single-lane icons are becoming increasingly difficult to protect, and any success in doing so is quickly touted as a victory. Rehabilitation of the double-barrel stone masonry arch crossing Macoby Creek along Eleventh Street in Upper Hanover Township, PA, undertaken by the Montgomery County Department of Roads and Bridges, presents such a victory.
Originally constructed in 1906, the aging bridge was experiencing an ever-worsening condition as deterioration of the concrete arch culverts and footers was progressing in a downward spiral fashion. Large cracks and spalling along the underside of each barrel was compounded by scoured footers and an eroded foundation. Already operating with a reduced load rating of ten tons, the bridge was being slated for decommissioning until load capacity could be increased to current standards. The daunting question was whether to replace the structure, possibly including an upgrade to AASHTO standards for a two-lane bridge, or rehabilitate the long-standing beauty.
The decision was made to preserve the structure to the extent possible by implementing a number of improvements to increase structural capacity and enhance right-of-way safety. The chief component needed to address structural deficiencies was corrugated steel structural plate, an engineering material long
recognized as a standalone product but becoming used more and more as a relining material in rehabilitating aging infrastructure. To accommodate the relining the design engineer specified two 22-ft long, 19′-0″ x 5′-9½" structural plate arches.
To view the full case study click here
For more information on this and the many other benefits of Corrugated Steel Pipe, contact us by calling (972) 850-1907 or visiting NCSPA.org.


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Saptaswara Musicals- World of Musical Instruments, Mylapore
Chennai Musical Shops: Saptaswara Musicals- World of Musical InstrumentsAddress, Contacts, Phone Numbers, Email Id,etc.,
New No: 290, Old No: 165, R.H. Road,,
Opp. Anjaneya Temple, Mylapore,
Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600004,India.
044 2499 6498,24986498,42146498
Saptaswara Musicals in Mylapore,Chennai
World of Musical Instruments
Manufacturer and Exporter of Musical instruments
Musical instruments, veena, flute, drums, guitar and other classical musical instruments, mridangam, electronic musical instruments
Musical instruments in Chennai.
Hits: 886, Rating : ( 5 ) by 1 User(s).


text: Climbing guides services in Yangshuo started in 2002, when Echo Wu a chinese lady from Hangzhou started Karst Climber a restaurant, bar and climbing guides service for travellers and tourists. The adventure sports industry in China is not regulated and to this day non of the climbing guides businesses are licensed tax paying organisations, rather they are setup as voluntary clubs or run under the guise of another kind of business. However there has only ever been 1 fatality caused by a guided abseil on Moon hill in Yangshuo and the establishment involved has now closed down. You cannot expect the same standards for climbing guiding in Yangshuo as you would find in Europe but the cost is also much lower, ranging from 60rmb a day to 600rmb a day. If you stick to the middle / upper end of this price range then the service is usually of reasonable quality. You can find climbing guides services on our adventure sports providers page.


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In this Article You will find many Images about Connecting. Hopefully these will give you some good ideas also. This Images is part of our Article – a curated list of images that will get you Good ideas and Inspiration.
Connecting is a part of 10 Awesome IKEA Billy Bookcases Ideas For Your Home pictures gallery. To download this Connecting in High Resolution, right click on the image and choose "Save Image As" and then you will get this image about Connecting.


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April 1, 1976 saw Belgium celebrate the 25th Jubilee of King Baudouin. Here are public and private scenes from some of the celebrations.
Tag Archives: De koningen der Belgen
King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola in JAPAN
In 1964, British Pathé took footage during King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola's official state visit to the Empire of Japan. Enjoy lovely Crown Princess Michiko – always chic and beautiful. There is a charming true story that unites King Baudouin with then Crown Prince Akohito. During a diplomatic stop-over for the King in Japan, Crown Prince Akihito requested to speak to Baudouin privately.
This generated much nervous buzz in the Belgian embassy, as it was highly unusual. Akihito requested Baudouin's help getting his letters to Michiko in Europe, since she was supposedly sent there to separate the two. Baudouin took all of the letters Akihito had been trying to get the Japanese diplomatic corps to deliver to Europe in the pouches and the King delivered them himself to Michiko.
Additionally, he spoke to the Emperor on the behalf of Akihito and Michiko, helping pave the way for a beautiful marriage of the now Emperor and Empress of Japan. That is why Akihito and Michiko felt quite close to Baudouin and Fabiola and undoubtedly why Michiko paid her respects at Fabiola's funeral in December 2014.
This footage is the sole property of British Pathé and they retain all legal rights. It is only presented here within the YouTube Plugin.
Dry Cheese and Milk On The Windowsill
This week we will start a new series from the German magazine, Story. They have done a special edition in honor of Queen Fabiola after her death on 5 December 2014. Their story is Fabiola in 7 Anecdotes.
Dry Cheese and Milk On The Windowsill
During Baudouin's reign, the menu was very basic at the Castle of Laken. It was the royal couple themselves who often turned out the lights at night. According to close aids, the motto of the royal couple was "no ostentatious luxury" and as the saying goes in Dutch, "every nickel was turned seven times before being spent."
Even the receptions at the castle couldn't be too expensive. A worker at the palace said that "it was a public secret that one didn't eat very well at the palace back then." At official ceremonies, staff had to make the rounds with "plates with dry cheese chunks, until people started laughing with it."
Baudouin's grand Marshal, Herman Liebaers, told how the royal couple received a thousand bottles of the grand-cru wine Hospice de Beaune as a wedding present. Sixteen years later, only fourteen bottles were empty. "When the weather was cold, the queen put the milk outside on the windowsill" says another worker at the palace. "She thought it was cozier and more homey than milk out of the fridge. But it was a strange sight seeing bottles of milk outside the window of the Palace of Laeken."
Long after King Baudouin's death, Fabiola took her own sandwiches with her when she was away during lunch. She would ask her chauffeur to stop for a while in a parking lot, so she could eat in the backseat. When she went away with her nieces and nephews on private occasions, she made the sandwiches herself.
I would like to thank a dear friend, Isabelle from Belgium, for her work as translator of this story. Thank you, my friend.
King Baudouin I – Ready To Give Up A Throne For Belgian Children
Blog Origins
I've always been a casual student of royal history and particularly certain families which spark my interest. Recently I've been philosophically reflecting upon biblical and historical teachings on righteousness. There are some people that truly seem to live out Romans 6 as slaves to sin, but King Baudouin of Belgium certainly wasn't one. He was a slave to righteousness. God reckoned him righteous and he was, indeed, a righteous man. And, when it came time to choose his queen, he likewise chose a righteous woman. This is where two of my interests intersected. The more I studied Baudouin and Fabiola, the more I was inspired by their lives, their words, their smiles. I had some rather good (I hope you agree) posts on some royal forums and didn't want to lose track of any of that information, so I decided to start this blog. There is a companion YouTube Playlist and Pinterest board where I try to bring something NEW, not just the same pictures and the same subjective ideas. I hope you enjoy this blog. It is meant to inspire as I have been inspired by these two righteous souls.
Baudouin I : Common King – Uncommon Man
Born Sept. 7, 1930, Stuyvenberg Castle, near Brussels, Belgium
Died July 31, 1993, VIlla Astrida – Motril, Spain
King of the Belgians – The son of King Leopold III, Baudouin lived with his family under house arrest in German-occupied Belgium during World War II. After postwar exile in Switzerland, Baudouin became king on his father's abdication (1951). He helped restore confidence in the monarchy after the stormy reign of his father and became a unifying force in a country divided between Flemish- (Dutch- ) and French-speaking factions. Because Baudouin and his wife, Fabiola, were childless, he was succeeded by his brother, Albert II.
Music: Salvation for a Proud Nation – Immediate – Trailerhead: Saga
No Copyright Intended or implied
No copyright is claimed and to the extent that material may appear to be infringed, I assert that such alleged infringement is permissible under fair use principles in U.S. copyright laws. If you believe material has been used in an unauthorized manner, please contact the poster.


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Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Planning for Thanksgiving 2009
Anyway, here's what I have. This year I did my searches in old magazines, so I haven't found the links to all of these yet, but once I find them I'll update the list.
Thanksgiving Menu 2009
Cocktail Shirmp
Baked Crab Rangoons
Spinach Dip + bread + chips
Quiche (bacon and onion, jalapeno)
Deep Fried Turkey
Mashed Potatoes
Mac and Cheese
Cole Slaw
Quinoa with Butternut squash, Bacon, and Walnuts
(or asparagus rice pilaf)
BBQ Pork Skewers (?)
Steamed California Blend Veggies (Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower)
No Knead Bread
Apple Pie (?) -- got some apples so why not... right?
Pumpkin Roll (?) -- depending on availability of pumpkin (I heard there was a shortage eeek!)
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream - probably just going to pick up a Dreyers unless any of you have a good suggestion for this.
I was definitely much more prepared for thanksgiving last year... luckily the same general time line will work this time around.
What are you cooking for thanksgiving?
6 comments:
- Captain Monkeypants said...
This sounds delicious! Do you have a recipe for the Quinoa? That sounds awesome. Then again, this whole things sounds unbelievably good? We're making the standard Thanksgiving trimmings but I think I'm going to attempt to do some roasted root vegetables and a soup for a starter....I don't know though, I think I might come to yours for the holidays! :)
- November 19, 2009 at 6:38 AM
- Ladyaero said...
We're having dinner at my folk's house (their first Thanksgiving there) and I have been placed in charge of baking. There will be Cherry Pie (an easy one to make without sugar for Bryce), Pumpkin Egg-Nog Pie and Pecan Tassies (little mini pecan tartlets). Oh, and I always carry a couple of cans of cranberry sauce with me, 'cause I can't do Thanksgiving without something cranberry-ish (there was a sad year where there was none, so now I go prepared). ;-P
- November 19, 2009 at 8:37 AM
- Ladyaero said...
Oh, on a side (ha!) note- I was interested to see coleslaw on your side dish list, as I am eating some for breakfast right now...I have taken to making it with broccoli slaw, though (it's the insides of the stalks, not the tops, miked with a little shredded carrot and a little purple cabbage for color- I get a bag of it from over by the bagged veggies), instead of all cabbage. I can make it the night before and it is still crispy the next day- doesn't get soggy like regular coleslaw. Yummy.
- November 19, 2009 at 8:42 AM
- Fe said...
@Capt. Monkeypants - Thanks, I just updated the post and added the link to the Quinoa recipe. Good luck with your roasted root veggies and soup, I'm sure it'll turn out excellent. (or you can totally just come by. :-)... I wanna play Guitar Hero!)
@Ladyaero - That sounds delicious. I have done my stuffing with dried cranberries in the past... I might do that again (as I just realized that I don't have any cranberry dishes). Oh... and it didn't even occur to me to make broccoli slaw this year. I've made some a couple of years ago that turned out good. hmmm... Thanks for the idea. Good luck with your deserts.
- November 19, 2009 at 8:55 AM
- Not The Norm said...
Ya-Um! I'm makin your punkin log. Don't forget SF on December 5th! that's definitely a plan sister!!
- November 19, 2009 at 11:03 AM
- Fe said...
@Not The Norm - Sounds like a fun trip. Can't wait. William Sonoma, here we come. ;-)
- November 19, 2009 at 11:26 AM


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Music Systems
Music Systems allow you to get the best audio quality out to your customers. Sound FX designs specialized Music Systems to suite your exact needs and budget. Our systems only use the highest quality of professional audio brands. Compare these with an automation system and you've got yourself a happening business!


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C. sp. 'Sumatra - Indragiri East 3' - a collected spathe that bloomed in my friend's farm
C. sp. 'Kota Tinggi, Johore' - another cultivated spathe
C. sp. 'Sumatra - Indragiri East 3' - a collected spathe that bloomed in my friend's farm
C cf. xpurpurea 'Malacca' - a blooming spathe in the wild, notice the long limb
C. schulzei 'Mersing, Johore' - a blooming spathe in the wild
C. lingua - a cultivated spathe from Mr Teo's aquatic farm in Singapore
C. moehlmannii - 'Aceh, Sumatra' - a cultivated spathe
poison poison poison...........
trying things out. How I wish I can grow them like that.....mission still unsuccessful😒
Hi, very nice pics, are you still active in cultivating crypts, would be very keen to try! Thanks
Hi, yes I am still cultivating but my collection has reduced tremendously due to my poor cultivation skills.
Hi, glad to hear that, would you have some advices, do's and don'ts ? Planning to try at small scale in semi humid tank with a plastic lid to retain humidity! What soil mix would you recommend?


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The experiences of two entrepreneurs on eBay. Interviews by Diana McAdam
Andrew and Kirsten Dudley run Postalsupplies, a business that keeps eBay's army of sellers stocked with Jiffy bags, bubblewrap and boxes.
They operate from an industrial estate in Merseyside and employ three people to keep up with demand.
Andrew first got the idea of selling on eBay when he heard about a woman in Indiana who did much the same and he set out to emulate her success this side of the Atlantic.
"It started small, just selling a few rolls of tape," says Andrew. "We grew so quickly that we were pushed out of the house by the stock. It was everywhere - the bedrooms, the hall. You couldn't move." Andrew, Kirsten and their six children went to live with relatives until premises were found.
Andrew says new sellers should "just go for it" rather than spending too long researching and planning. "It's a vibrant marketplace and it pays to see what works and what doesn't."
But in retrospect he does wish he'd been more concerned about keeping his paperwork organised from the start. Kirsten deals with the customer support side of the business, ensuring customers are happy and know how their order is progressing. Keeping the customers satisfied is crucial and Postalsupplies' impressive feedback, which shows lots of repeat buyers, suggests they are succeeding. Kirsten believes that it's the little touches that make all the difference: every shipment that leaves the warehouse is completed with a "thank you" sticker drawn by the children.
Andrew is planning to diversify into other areas and is already thinking about new products to sell. His advice for sourcing goods at the best price? "Getting as close to the manufacturer as possible."
Sue Bailey had dabbled with eBay for a while, but it took a timely windfall to make her fully appreciate the eBay opportunity. "It meant that we could do what we'd always fantasised about and buy a Breton farmhouse to do up. My French was nowhere near good enough to get a job in France and I knew I'd have to work for myself.
"The normal gites and B&Bs that English people do here frankly seemed far too much like hard work, so I had the idea that I would 'find something to sell on eBay' ."
Sue hasn't looked back and now runs a successful business selling beads. She has a remarkable feedback record with nearly 10,000 unique buyers snapping up more than 50,000 packs of beads. "eBay provides me with more buyers than I could ever attract if I was simply running a shop on a high street."
Working from France and selling predominantly to Brits has advantages and disadvantages. "I can have a nice big room totally devoted to my business," says Sue, "and that's something I could never have afforded in London."
But "inevitably", she says, some buyers are put off buying from France, despite the fact that the cost of sending the parcel from France to the UK is often cheaper than the price of Royal Mail's domestic service.
Sue buys beads from all over the world, sourcing her goods from European wholesalers as well as manufacturers in India and China.
"One of the important things about selling 'pretty things' is the constant need for new lines, new things for your buyers to look at. I have to constantly think about new stock.
"Not that I mind - my job is about buying beautiful things, and who could complain about that?"


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By John Tabak
Reading the ploneering principles, works, and purposes that experience made math the language of technology, arithmetic and the legislation of Nature appears to be like on the some ways within which so-called "pure" math has been utilized in the technologies. for instance, the amount explores how mathematical theories contributed to the advance of Kepler's legislation of planetary movement, in addition to to that of combustion modeling and hydrodynamics. providing many examples exhibiting how nature might be defined mathematically and the way the actual sciences and math are attached, this attention-holding and easy-to-understand quantity offers scholars an perception into the ways in which math is used to give an explanation for the area round them.
Quick preview of Mathematics and the Laws of Nature: Developing the Language of Science (History of Mathematics) PDF
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Selected Works of Giuseppe Peano
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Thought of to be the toughest mathematical difficulties to unravel, observe difficulties proceed to terrify scholars throughout all math disciplines. This new identify on this planet difficulties sequence demystifies those tricky difficulties as soon as and for all by means of exhibiting even the main math-phobic readers basic, step by step information and methods.
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Additional resources for Mathematics and the Laws of Nature: Developing the Language of Science (History of Mathematics)
What Kelvin well-known is that warmth dissipation is inevitable. It frequently happens slowly, however it is going on regularly. In his booklet Carnot emphasised the rationale energy of warmth. warmth drives the entire tactics on which lifestyles relies, yet warmth flows in basic terms while there are temperature changes. those temperature transformations are slowly, consistently, and inexorably disappearing. because the temperature transformations disappear, so does the intent energy of warmth. every thing that is determined by the transmission of warmth starts off to sluggish and at last every thing stops.
Neither Copernicus nor an individual else might discover this impact. Copernicus purposes that the impression exists yet that the universe is way greater than had formerly been assumed. If the celebs are sufficiently distant the impact is just too small to be detected. So one logical final result of Copernicus's version of the sunlight procedure is a big universe. The 3rd distinction among Copernican idea and sleek principles approximately astronomy is that Copernicus doesn't rather have any convincing theoretical rules to counter Ptolemy's arguments opposed to a rotating Earth (see the sidebar within the part A Rotating Earth in bankruptcy 2 to learn an excerpt from Ptolemy's arguments opposed to a rotating Earth.
The algebraic formulation bearing on potency to the temperatures of the reservoirs is Graph demonstrating how the effisimple. allow the letter E repciency of a Carnot engine raises as resent the potency of the the temperature distinction among engine. An potency ranking the higher and reduce reservoirs of 100% signifies that all raises. The temperature of the of the warmth is switched over into reduce reservoir is generally taken to paintings. (An potency ranking of be that of our surroundings, a tem100 percentage isn't attainable.
The smaller TL/TH is, the better the potency of the Carnot engine. detect, too, that considering that TL/TH isn't zero, the engine can't function at one hundred pc potency. This formulation additionally exhibits that engines that function among temperature reservoirs which are at virtually an analogous temperature will not be in any respect effective. for instance, warmth engines were designed to supply electrical energy via working among the nice and cozy, higher layers of tropical ocean water and the cool waters that circulate alongside the sea ground.
Carnot visualized caloric a lot as we've simply defined water. He observed a steam engine as operating in a lot an identical method because the water turbine we've simply defined. The hot temperature of the boiler of a steam engine corresponds to the upstream facet of the dam. The low temperature of our environment corresponds to the downstream aspect of the dam. simply because the water flows downstream, Carnot imagined the caloric flowing from the warmer thermal reservoir to the cooler thermal reservoir. (The expression thermal reservoir, or just reservoir, has due to the fact turn into a part of the normal vocabulary within the technological know-how of thermodynamics.


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FootLOL Embraces The Silliness Of The Beautiful Game
Football (or soccer if you're inclined) is a hell of a drug, I spent this past Sunday sprawled on at least two couches glued to the TV watching some fine matches. It's easily my favourite sport but if the recent transfer madness has taught me anything it's that this sport is unexpected and deranged at the best of times.
It's filled with biters, sociopaths, egomaniacs, potential James Bond villains and the most mind-boggling footwork this side of a tap dancing troupe. Lions Shade is embracing all of that with FootLOL: Epic Fail League. Think Worms but with a novel twist on everything. The game is published by HeroCraft, a company with "Top Developer" status on the Play Store.
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The premise is rather simple. Have you ever been watching a match and wishing that some sort of miracle would happen so that your team can just win? Maybe the opposition's star player gets injured or a rabid sheep bursts onto the field and scores a goal for your team. Well this game takes that idea and blows it up.
You will sabotage the match with all manner of gadgets and traps from UFO's to bombs and airstrikes. Also a stampeding herd of mad cows.
As a manger you will be able to upgrade your team's skills through training and gadgets. This in turn unlocks more planets to take the action to. There are four unique planets with a total of around 60 levels across them in the game's tournament mode. Each level has specific conditions which must be met and sometimes this might involve parking the bus or even losing the game. Once you've cleared that you could launch into online multiplayer or play against the computer.
Andrey Babak, CEO & Co-Founder of Lions Shade: "In fact, I couldn't care less about football (sorry all you footy fans out there) and know nothing about Ronaldo, Messi, Ben Affleck and the rest. So, I wasn't ignoring the game rules per se, so much as acting in total ignorance of them. I was just focused on making a fun, addictive, silly little game – and I think I succeeded."
"We really liked working with the super-talented guys at Lions Shade. Their irreverent, affection attitude resulted in a great atmosphere – and in a game that everyone at HeroCraft truly loves to play", says Alexey Sazonov, Sales and Marketing Director of HeroCraft.
The game is currently awaiting approval on Steam Greenlight although you can also expect it to release on iOS and Android


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i killed one of my beloved chickens last week.
at 8 pm, i went outside to lock them up in their coop for the night. i closed the guillotine-style door, moved three hens from the hutch to the roosting bars in the coop so they wouldn't shit where they lay eggs, and closed and latched the hutch lid. all secure, all done.
i went to bed. at 12:30 am, jenn woke me up and said she thought something just attacked the chickens. she said she heard a bunch of thumping and a loud "squawk." i thought, "i locked it all up so she must be mistaken," but i went outside to check anyway. when i got to the pen, there was winnie, my last silver-laced wyandotte: writhing, gasping for breath, and now faceless. even her beak appeared to be ripped off but it was hard to tell exactly what was left beneath the gore.
i looked over at the coop, and there was the guillotine door, still wide open.
i stood on winnie's neck until she stopped struggling. i wanted to puke. i let our dog bark at the raccoons that were now up a tree — too little, too late, of course. i stared at the guillotine door and my mind reeled. i was absolutely positive up until the moment i saw it open that i had closed it that night. if someone had offered to make me a $100 bet on it, i would have taken it without hesitation. but clearly, i hadn't closed it, and somehow my mind convinced itself that i had — it created a false memory. i found that terrifying. what other false memories do i have? what else do i think has happened but actually hasn't? what if all of my memories aren't real and my whole life actually never occurred? on top of the loss of one of my dear hens, i began tumbling down a paranoid, conspiracy theory-laden path usually reserved for acid heads. what a night.
it just goes to show why eyewitness testimony is not considered very reliable in court these days. our memories are capable of being completely incorrect while we remain utterly convinced of their veracity.
RIP winnie. you were a lovely hen.


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TROGLOSOUND mixtape
TROGLOBATEM MIXTAPE Double cassette C-60 black + C-70 white, with insert, limited edition of 98 copies
" Double cassette featuring almost all artists that performed at the epic Troglobatem Festival, Stuttgart, 25/26 September 2015. Abstract, free, transporting and metaphisical, this art-crafted mixtape includes long pieces by Fuchs Flamingos (= Limpe Fuchs and Flamingo Creatures), Hartmut Geerken & Jooklo Duo, Head Of Wantastiquet, Bear Bones Lay Low, Sinergia Elettronica, Eugene Chadbourne & Schroeder, Günther Schlienz, Amanita Vulva, Fifty Fifty, and many more, from kraut to experimental electronics to free form and improv jazz. All previously unreleased tracks! Artwork designed by Virginia Genta in Degenfeld, and rizo-printed on 3 different kinds of colored paper (white, pink, light green) by Jelle Crama in Antwerp. Released in collaboration with Sumsilobatem Studio. "
Releasing date: 25 september 2015
no more available


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Use precipitous in a sentence
- The impulse of this was so strong, that they slipped, and quivered on the precipitous edge: but Pierre righted then, and presently they were safe. [11]
- The descent of the pass on that side is precipitous and exciting. [4]
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- And at this moment I discovered that the bridge had ceased, and we must trust for a foothold to the slippery and precipitous rocks. [5]
- So precipitous are its sides of rock, that there are only two fit boat-landings, the marina on the north side, and a smaller place opposite. [4]
- The island stands high up out of the sea, and has precipitous walls. [5]
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Example sentences with the word precipitous, a sentence example for precipitous, and precipitous in sample sentence.


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Flower power!
Flower bomb
If romance was a dress it would be the Loretta dress by The Pretty Dress Company. This is hands-down one of the prettiest dresses I own and I was happy to wear it just a few weeks ago at the beautiful Montelago Village for lunch with friends. It has a gorgeous floral print with the most glamorous sheer sleeves. I love black floral prints. The print on this is so good, it camoflaged so well with my flowers! I also want to mention its lined and super comfortable. I love that PDC creates dresses that are both fashionable and functional because there is nothing worse than wearing a gorgeous dress you feel super uncomfortable in. This one also has a little stretch so my curves can move freely. Since the dress is such a statement piece, I paired it with some vintage/vintage style accessories. My jewelry and purse are vintage and my hair flower is from Nic Coco Creations. As for my shoes, I wore the most perfect springolators by Long Gone Shoes. They are black satin with a cute jewel toe design. See images inside!
Images by @DMRDepictions.
8 Comments on "Flower bomb"
WOWZA that dress is gorgeous!Normally I don't like butterfly sleeves but on this dress they are perfection!
xoxo Christie
Ok I love those flowers!!


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Cajun sautéed Mississippi Gulf Shrimp and smoked sausage in a homemade BBQ sauce, piled high on goat-cheese grits.
Southern Mississippi Gulf BBQ Shrimp
45 minutes
spring, summer, fall, winter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 8 oz smoked sausage
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 white onion, chopped
- 3 stalks celery, chopped
- 1/4 bunch parsley, chopped
- 2 cups shrimp stock
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 cup white corn grits
- 4 oz goat cheese
- 6 tbsp butter
- 1 bunch green onions, chopped
- 1 1/2 lb jumbo Mississippi Gulf Shrimp, peeled and deveined (tail on)
- 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 white onion, chopped
- 1 cup shrimp stock
- 12 oz dark beer
- 1–2 tsp Tabasco sauce
- 3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- fresh cracked pepper, to taste
- juice of 1 lemon
- 1 sprig rosemary
- 3 tbsp veal demi-glace
- 6 tbsp butter
- Start with the grits. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add oil and sauté smoked sausage for 5 minutes. Add bell pepper, white onion and celery, and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. When cool, add chopped parsley.
- In medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine shrimp stock, milk, heavy cream, salt and Cajun seasoning, then bring to a boil. Slowly add the grits, stirring constantly until smooth.
- Reduce heat to low and cook for 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally until grits are cooked and liquid is absorbed.
- Stir in goat cheese, green onions, butter and sausage mixture.
- Season with salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more Cajun seasoning if necessary. Reserve warm.
- Next, season Mississippi Gulf Shrimp with Cajun seasoning.
- In large sauté pan over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and seasoned shrimp. Cook for 3–4 minutes, turning once or until just cooked through. Remove from pan and reserve.
- Lastly, for the sauce, add olive oil, garlic and onion to the sauté pan and cook 30 seconds. Add the shrimp stock, beer, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, cracked pepper, lemon juice, rosemary and demi-glace, and stir well. Cook for 10 minutes or until slightly thickened. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Strain sauce and then stir in butter.
- To serve, spoon grits into a bowl and place shrimp on top. Pour sauce over and garnish with green onions.
Serving Suggestion: Skewer and grill the shrimp for a more dramatic presentation.


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2014 Varsity Tennis Schedule/Results
Below is the 2014 South High Bison Varsity Tennis Schedule. This schedule is up to date as of September 29, 2014 and can be changed at anytime. If and when changes are made we will update this schedule as soon as possible. If you have any questions about the schedule, please contact the Head Coach for the Bison Tennis Team.
Head Coach: Eric Haag
Contact: 307-996-6380
[table caption="2014 Varsity Tennis Schedule" table tablesorter="0" class="table-bordered"]
Date~~Day, Time, Opponent~~Tournament, Location, Results
Sat~~Aug. 30, 10:00am, Torrington, Torrington HS, Results
Tue~~Sep. 2, 10:00am, Sheridan, Kelly Walsh HS, –
Fri~~Sep. 5, 4:00pm, Rawlins, SOUTH, –
Sat~~Sep. 6, TBD, Scottsbluff Invite, Scottsbluff HS, –
Sat~~Sep. 6, 12:00pm, Gillette, Gillette HS, –
Mon~~Sep. 15, 2:00pm, East, SOUTH, Results
Mon~~Sep. 15, 5:00pm, Laramie, SOUTH, Results
Wed~~Sep. 17, 4:00pm, Central, SOUTH, Results
Fri~~Sep. 19, 12:00pm, Green River, Green River HS, Results
Fri~~Sep. 19, 4:00pm, Rock Springs, Rock Springs HS, Results
Fri-Sat~~Sep. 26-27, TBD, 4A South~~Regionals, Laramie HS, Results
Congratulations to~~Lincoln Trujillo~~for winning the~~#1 Boys Singles~~4A South~~Regional Tournament
Thu-Sat~~Oct. 2-4, #1 Singles~~ Brackets~~Here~~Lincoln Trujillo~~#1 South~~Seed, 4A State~~Championships, Gillette HS, –
Thu-Sat~~Oct. 2-4, #2 Singles~~Brackets~~Here~~Lencho Beltran~~competing~~here, 4A State~~Championships, Gillette HS, –


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This past Sunday, I was able to get back into the pulpit. We returned to our study in Mark's gospel. We looked at part one of a two part message on "Preparation for Ministry." Jesus was first of all prepared for ministry through Obedience. We examined His Affirmation of the act of baptism. Why was Jesus, the sinless Son of God baptized? We then saw His Anointing by the Holy Spirit and His Acceptance by the Father. We don't believe that baptism saves us. We are saved by grace through faith, not of works. Because we are not saved by baptism, there is a tendency to pass baptism off as just some kind of religious ritual that really isn't that important. Jesus, by His example at the Jordan, affirms the importance of baptism. This is a practical message that encourages each one of us to first of all obey God, but to specifically obey God in baptism. You can listen to this message by following this link or visit our sermons page.
Month: January 2008
Update on Eye Surgery
It has been a couple of weeks since I posted. I'm doing well following the PRK laser surgery from a couple of weeks ago. The recovery was a little more difficult than I would have liked. I was never in any real pain, just a lot of irritation in my eyes. I had surgery on Thursday and went back to the doctor on Friday. My vision was 20-15 which is better than normal. They said that my vision would actually get worse and then get better as the eye healed. On Saturday I was very blurry and almost seeing double. That gave me a little bit of nausea and I slept a lot on Saturday. Pastor Mike, our youth pastor, preached for me during both services on Sunday. Again, I slept most of the day. I was encouraged to be able to participate in the worship service on Sunday morning from home. Our church broadcasts live over a local AM radio station. This was the first time I listened to a service from our church over the radio. Pastor Mike did an excellent job preaching a relevant message on the book of Ecclesiastes. On Monday, I went back to the doctor and they removed the contact lens bandages. On Tuesday, I was back in the office and made a couple of visits. My eyes were tired so I took a little nap that afternoon. When I awoke, I was in misery with my left eye watering. I felt like I had an eye lash in my eye that I could not remove. We called the doctor and he said it sounded like I had a slough in my eye. I went back to the doctor on Wednesday and he confirmed that the the tissue in the epithelium had sloughed off and it had left a little filament or a little piece of tissue that was flapping on the cornea. He put some drops in my eye to numb the eye and then trimmed off that tissue. He then placed another contact lens bandage on my eye. I immediately felt relief. I preached on Wednesday night, but near the end of my message I saw a couple of people cringe in the back of the church. Apparently, I had rubbed my right eye. A couple of minutes later my right eye started watering just like my left eye had the day before. I just knew I had the same problem with a slough now in my right eye. I went back to the doctor on Thursday. My left eye was healing well enough to remove the contact lens bandage. The doctor said I was right about my right eye. He said it looked like a "knuckle shot." Apparently I had pushed on my right eye with my knuckle and cracked the healing epithelium. There was no filament or anything like that so he encouraged me to use the artificial tears every half hour. Ever since last Thursday, I have done much better. My vision was 20-40 and it appears to be getting better. I preached both messages on Sunday and I am now functioning as normal. I'm still using the tears regularly. If you are reading this please pray that I'll continue to heal. The doctors actually said that I am healing quicker than most people.
Improving Our Vision
For several year I have considered having laser surgery on my eyes to correct my nearsightedness. Yesterday morning Joanna and I traveled over to Raleigh, NC, about 45 minutes away to LasikPlus. I had gone for a preliminary appointment a couple of weeks ago that determined I was a good candidate for laser surgery. I had planned on having Lasik, but the surgeon said there was a danger for my eyes of complications so instead I had PRK. This surgery is also done with a laser, but it is a little more invasive and requires a little more time for healing. After the surgery which only took about five minutes per eye, I could see 20/20. I'm using four different eye drops four times a day. I'm also taking Motrim to help with inflamation. They recommend 1000 mg. of Vitamin C each day also. I was given a prescription for pain pill which I took yesterday to help me relax. Pray that the healing will take place quickly and that there will be no complications. I am scheduled for a day after appointment this morning and then on Monday I'll go back again for the doctor to remove the contact lens bandage.
The Beginning of the Gospel
Yesterday morning we began our expository journey through the gospel of Mark. This is going to be an exciting series. Mark's gospel is the shortest of all of the gospels, but it packs a mighty punch. More miracles are recorded in Mark than in Matthew, Luke, and John, even though Mark is a much shorter book. Jesus is all action in Mark's gospel. Yesterday, we looked at verses 1-8, a message entitled: "The Beginning of the Gospel." You can listen to this message by following this link, or visit our sermons page.
Caleb Basketball
Caleb has been having a good season as the starting point guard for the Wilson Christian Academy Chargers. He is in the tenth grade this year. He and his teammates seem to be getting better each game. Tonight was Homecoming. We beat Greenville Christian in a hard fought game. Caleb had a good game with several assists and 13 points. He hit another buzzer beating three pointer at the end of the first quarter. He has had several of those last second shots this year. He has a great bunch of guys on the team. Malcolm Deans is their coach and does a tremendous job teaching these young men. I found a couple of picture albums on the Raleigh Christian Academy website from their past couple of games against us. I've compiled a little photo collage of Caleb below. For some great action shots. You can visit these albums by clicking on the following links. Caleb is #11. Be sure to click through the different pages.
- http://raleighchristian.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album135&page=4
- http://raleighchristian.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album145&page=2
Vision Day 2008
I think that I shall never see, a church that's all it ought to be;
A church whose members never stray, beyond the straight and narrow way;
A church that has no empty pews; whose pastor never has the blues…
A church whose deacons always "deak," and none are proud and all are meek;
Where gossips never peddle lies, or make complaints or criticize;
Where all are always sweet and kind, and all to other's faults are blind.
Such perfect churches there may be, but none of them are known to me.
But still I'll work and pray and plan, to make our own the best we can.
Yesterday was Vision Day at Tabernacle Baptist Church. You can listen to the message by clicking on this link: Vision Day 2008, or visit our sermons page.
Update on Reagan
Hello everyone.Sophia, Reagan and I want to thank each of you for your prayers. We also want to give a quick summary of our trip to Johns Hopkins and communicate to you how your prayers were answered. One thing that was very apparent to us was the direction God has given for months now.This was actually the 3rd time this year that Reagan was scheduled for an MRI. For various reasons, the first 2 MRIs could not taken place. On the first day at Johns Hopkins the original research study that we were scheduled to take part in was changed to a new drug research study which did not require an MRI. Sophia and I were very excited not to have to place Reagan under sedation and at the end of the first day, Sophia just looked at me and said, 'you know David, God just doesn't want Reagan to have an MRI.' How awesome it is to see how God directed our paths even when things did not make sense to us. Bottom line: God answered your prayers we requested regarding the MRI.The flying experience went better than we expected. She was content listening to her Baby Einstein music, watching her movies and eating every peanut we placed in front of her……again, answered prayer. The last minute research study schedule change did negatively impact our return trip Wednesday night and after various delays we finally arrived home at 2am..The testing performed was exhausting for Reagan and us. However, she was very brave and did well for the most part. The swallowing test/tube in stomach went much smoother than we could have hoped as well.….again, answered prayer.Being at Johns Hopkins was also a constant reminder of why we were there. Living/breathing Rett's Syndrome for 3 solid days was emotionally exhausting. It was disappointing to see just how little is still known about this rare disease, even by those who have studied it for so many years. However, God understands it fully and as He sees fit, will allow us to as well. I was reminded often that God is at work, in every circumstance of our life, building our faith.The drug study that she is now taking part of is in no way a cure. It is only attempting to decrease a specific enzyme that seems to be high(almost to toxic levels) in girls with Rett's Syndrome. The current theory is that these levels are at their peak in these girls between the ages of 2-4 years old. We pray that Reagan will benefit from this drug with little/no side affects. We also pray that this will unlock even more doors for help to Reagan and other girls with this disease. We will have to return to Baltimore now in 6 months instead of 2-4 years for a follow up. We do not look forward to having to repeat many of the tests that she has just now gone through but we trust that you will hold her up in your prayers then as you did last week.Jeremiah 29:11 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.thanks again!David, Sophia & Reagan


text: First Winter 2015/16 Snows in Niseko Posted on October 14, 2015October 14, 2015 by Julian Suddenly feels like winter is here in Niseko! Woke up this morning to new snow after crisp temperatures overnight. If this keeps up we'll be on track for a November start for the ski hill 🙂 Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window) Related