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Houston's hidden underworld is being revealed. This month local churches are showing special screenings of a new documentary that pulls back the veil on the billion dollar business of sex trafficking.
The 90 minute film is called Nefarious: Merchant of Souls, produced by the international ministry Exodus Cry.
Houston is often seen as the leading city for sex slavery. Each year thousands of women and even girls are being sold for sex on our streets.
Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church sits on one of the main routes for sex trafficking in the United States, the I-10 corridor.
"It made me say, 'Let's pray. Let's start praying for these people who are trafficked," said Catherine Massey, a church member who helped organize the screening of the film.
Wednesday night the faithful filled the sanctuary to watch the hard hitting documentary about the global sex trade.
The film makers traveled across four continents to document disturbing trends, including where the slaves work and are kept confined. But what's on the screen could easily have been filmed in Houston.
"I think the roaring 70s and roaring 80s in Houston probably created a market. There's more sex for sale here than Las Vegas. Why? I'm still perplexed," said Cat French, a former sociology professor who has made it her personal mission to end human trafficking.
Every week French visits local brothels where she meets young girls forced into prostitution after either being abducted or lured with promises of legitimate work.
"One young girl last year she left home and within 15 steps of the front door she was contacted by a pimp. It's happening, and it's going on with complete impunity, complete impunity," said French.
The film's creators say the documentary is raising awareness among a population that tends to be naive about sex trafficking.
"The first response is usually righteous anger and people wonder how this could possibly be happening in my city. The second response is, 'How can I get involved?" said Morgan Goatley, Exodus Cry.
More than ever churches see the problem as theirs and one that can only be helped by prayer.
"We have to have divine help. Everybody would agree. We can't do it. We can't get our arms around it," said French.
If you would like to learn more about the documentary visit www.nefariousdocumentary.com
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oh lordy its all done.
you can see the process of this painting (which i will admit i really sucked at documenting SORRY) over hurr.
but anyway, Norman is coming to CCEE and im mega jazzed, I wanted to have something of mine for him to sign. I'll also be selling prints of it there booya.
(ps kiki this is for you too)
➥ a fascicle of my favourite fictional figures // Daryl Dixon; The Walking Dead
Sorry. Couldn't help myself.

subset: commoncrawl


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SYCAMORE, IL, May 27, 2008 – IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC. a worldwide leader in tools and supplies for professional contractors, announced today that Bob Bukowsky, its Vice President of Sales, is retiring after 22 years of service with the company. IDEAL National Field Sales Manager Joe Saganowich has been appointed to replace Bukowsky following the retirement's effective date of June 30.
A respected leader in the electrical industry, Bukowsky began his career with IDEAL as National Sales Manager in 1985 and was soon promoted to a number of leadership positions within the company. In 1993, he became Vice President of Sales, where he successfully managed and built a network of distributors across the United States.
Commenting on his retirement, Bukowsky stated: "In my two decades at IDEAL, I've been privileged to serve with many outstanding employees whose hard work, talents and professionalism have helped transform this company into a globally recognized brand. I now look forward to spending more time with my family, as well as increasing my involvement in the charities that mean so much to me."
During his tenure with IDEAL, Bukowsky achieved many milestones, most notably the successful transition of the company's product line from primarily wire connectors and hand tools into the IDEAL of today a thriving and innovative supplier of a diverse range of installation and testing solutions across several markets. In addition, Bukowsky played an active role in positioning IDEAL as an industry leader in electrical distributor training, in-store promotion and partnership programs.
"Bob has provided critical leadership for IDEAL for more than 20 years, broadening its sales focus, adding to its distribution network and overseeing a truly impressive period of growth," said Dave Juday, IDEAL's Chairman of the Board and CEO. "It has been an honor to work with him."
In 2007, the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) recognized Bukowsky with its Associate Award for outstanding contributions of an individual to the industry. In addition to serving on several councils for the NAED, Bukowsky has been active in the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), and the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC). He was also appointed to the Manufacturer's Group Council of the National Electrical Manufacturers Representatives Association (NEMRA), and later served as its chairman for a year. He went on to be appointed to the MEMRA board of directors for two years where he received the Association's coveted Manufacturer of the Year award.
Prior to his joining IDEAL, Bukowsky held positions with Dow Jones, Gerber, Koss and Seatt Corporation. He proudly served in the U.S. Marines before graduating from the University of Missouri where he was a receiver on an Orange Bowl football team.
IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC. has been serving the electrical industry since 1916. IDEAL is one of the world's leading manufacturers of professional quality tools and supplies serving installation professionals in the construction, maintenance, data communications and original equipment manufacturing industries.
Dan O'Connell
O'Connell Communications, Inc.
Liz Koley
©2008 IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC. All rights reserved. All products and names mentioned are the property of their respective owners. While IDEAL has made every effort at the time of publication to ensure the accuracy of the information provided herein, product specifications, configurations, prices, system/component/options availability are all subject to change without notice.


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Urticaria, or hives, is a condition in which red, itchy, and swollen areas appear on the skin. This can sometimes occur as an allergic reaction from eating certain foods or taking certain medications, though sometimes the cause may be unknown. Hives can vary in size from one-half inch to several inches in size. Hives can appear all over the body or be limited to one part of the body.
Tree nuts
Anticonvulsant drugs
The following are other possible causes of hives:
Infection. Viral illness
Insect bites or stings
Dermatographism. These hives are caused by scratching the skin, continual stroking of the skin, or wearing tight-fitting clothes that rub the skin.
Cold-induced hives. These hives are caused by exposure to cold air or water.
Exercise-induced urticaria. These allergic symptoms are brought on by physical activity.
Solar hives. These hives are caused by exposure to sunlight or light bulb light.
Chronic urticaria. These are recurrent hives with no known cause.
A diagnosis of hives is usually made based on a complete medical history and physical exam.
Avoidance of the allergen is the best treatment for hives. If the hives were caused by a medication, strict avoidance is necessary.
Specific treatment for hives will be determined by your child's health care provider based on:
Your child's age, overall health, and medical history
Extent of the reaction
Your child's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
Expectations for the course of the reaction
Your opinion or preference
Your child's health care provider may also prescribe the following medications:
Traditional antihistamines. These help to decrease histamine release that may help to decrease the symptoms of urticaria. Some examples are diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or hydroxyzine (Atarax). These medications may make your child drowsy.
Nonsedating antihistamines. These are also antihistamines, but without the side effect of making your child drowsy. These might include cetirizine (Zyrtec) or loratadine (Claritin).
If your child is having difficulty breathing, your child's health care provider might use an injection of epinephrine to help decrease the swelling and the itching. Your child's provider may instruct you on the use of an emergency kit that contains epinephrine to have near your child in case of future episodes. Discuss this with your child's provider.
The third-party content provided in the Health Library of phoebeputney.com is for informational purposes only and is not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your physician. If you or your child has or suspect you may have a health problem, please consult your primary care physician. If you or your child may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 or other emergency health care provider immediately in the United States or the appropriate health agency of your country. For more information regarding site usage, please visit: Privacy Information, Terms of Use or Disclaimer.
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has been to bring the finest medical talent and technology to the citizens of Southwest Georgia, and to serve all citizens of the community regardless of ability to pay.


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Building a Collection Without Breaking the Bank
Published on - February 20th, 2012 (by J.D. Roth)
Before I moved out of the house and into my apartment, my cousin Nick paid a visit to play board games. After some rousing Carcassonne and Ticket to Ride action, I gave him a brief tour of my geek room, which was home to my board games, science fiction novels, and comic books.
"Your comic collection is growing," he told me.
"I know," I said. We talked about the process of building a collection while I showed him some recent additions. "These comics cost a lot of money," I told him, "but it was much less than if I'd bought them piece by piece."
Like me, Nick has been a collector his entire life, so he understood what I meant. But while I've collected comic books, he's collected stamps and coins. We may not be able to compare notes on our specific collections, but we have a good time discussing the process of collecting itself. Nick, too, tries to collect on the cheap.
No matter what you collect, there are ways to enjoy your hobby while spending less. Here are some of the ways I've learned to keep costs low after four decades of collecting.
Narrow your focus
Know what you're collecting — and why. One problem with collecting is knowing when to stop. This topic came up recently at my favorite comic-book discussion forum. "At what point do you have to say enough is enough?" asked one member. How do you know when your collection is finished? How many Magic cards do you need? How many autographs? How many canning jars? How many Hummel figurines? If you don't have a defined stopping point, your collection will never be finished.
When I was paying off debt and building savings, I cut back on my comics spending. Instead of buying everything I wanted, I decided to focus on my favorite niches. For several years, I almost exclusively bought collections of comic strips. Because there weren't many of them, I could afford to buy almost all of the anthologies being released: Peanuts, Dick Tracy, Little Orphan Annie, Bloom County, and so on. By making my collecting more specific, I was able to indulge my hobby on a smaller budget.
Look for sales
Yes, even collectibles go on sale. When I finally found the cash to start collecting comics again in 2009, I was fortunate to discover a place that was selling back issues at 50% off their regular prices. And my favorite local comic store (Excalibur Comics in Portland — that place rocks!) regularly has 50%-off sales. I've been able to pick up tons of my favorite comics from the 1970s at a buck a piece. Yes, please!
Find dealers you can trust
Try to find someone with tight grading standards. Most collectibles — including comic books — are priced based on their condition. For instance, comic book conditions can be classified as Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, Fine, Very Fine, Near Mint, and Mint. But not everyone grades the same way. What I call Good, you might call Very Good, and somebody else might call Fair. Steer clear of dealers who claim a Good comic is Very Good (or Fine!); gravitate toward those strict graders who will sell you a Good comic for the price of one that's only Fair.
Believe it or not, Kris collects canning jars. She and a friend share this passion, and often swap tips. They've also found a jar dealer they trust (though the guy is a bit of a nut). They're willing to drive out to see him because they know he has good jars. (Here's a story about Kris' canning jar collecting.)
Scout unusual sources
Check out yard sales, antique stores, flea markets, and auctions. If you're patient, you can sometimes find great deals. Once at a garage sale, I found a box of comics from the 1960s in great condition. Unfortunately, this was at the depth of my debt despair. I couldn't afford a single one. In retrospect, I've always regretted not finding a way to just offer a set amount ($20? $100?) for the entire box. There would have been no harm in asking.
While Kris and her friend collect canning jars, their dealer is even more obsessed. He has a house full of them. (As I say, he's a bit of a nut.) He goes to estate sales and asks the people if they have any home-canned food in the pantry they'd sell him. He then eats the food and adds the jars to his collection.
Settle for less
Go for the minimum condition you can live with. Some collectors want their objects to be in perfect condition. They pay a premium. If you're willing to settle for second-best (or third-best or fourth-best), you can have highly desirable objects for cheap.
I'm willing to accept Poor quality comics, for instance. Much of my collection is simply Fair or Good. These are the comics most other collectors reject. But you know what? While they're paying $5000 for a copy of Fantastic Four #1, I paid $500. Sure, mine is falling apart. I don't care. I read it and enjoyed it.
My cousin Nick collects ancient coins. He's not willing to pay top dollar for the best pieces either. In fact, he buys bags of "uncleaned coins" — basically hunks of metal caked with centuries of dirt and grime — and slowly removes the patina in order to discover what's underneath. Most of the coins he finds this way are common, but he's also discovered some gems. Because he's willing to accept poorer quality, he pays far less than he otherwise might.
Buy in bulk
If you have the cash flow, consider buying large lots just to get at a single piece. Buying large lots is generally a much better deal than buying individual pieces. The drawback, of course, is that you usually get stacks of stuff you don't need. You either own the other pieces or you don't want them. This can make buying a large lot to get at a single piece a bad idea, especially if the cost is high.
But if you have plenty of cash, you can actually make a profit doing this. For a while, I was targeting old Wonder Woman comics, for instance. Sometimes the only way to get the comics I was after was to buy six or eight at a time, including several I didn't want or need. I did this, but then set the others aside to resell. (I haven't actually resold anything yet, but I have a huge stack of stuff I'll liquidate when I get the time. In the long-term, this should be very cost effective.)
Avoid temptation
I spend less money on comics when I stay out of comic shops and when I avoid comic blogs. I spend less on board games when I intentionally avoid learning about new games. (I went for years without buying new games, and I was perfectly happy. Now I've bought several in the past few months. Hanging out with Adam Baker has just made the urge to splurge grow stronger. He's loves board games too.)
Be patient
When you find that one thing you've been waiting for in order to complete your collection, it can be tempting to buy it immediately. Don't. Make sure you're getting a good deal. As a collector, you need to know the market, you need to know what things are worth. And as a collector, you'll spend far less if you're willing to wait for the right item at the right price.
This can be easier said than done, of course. When you stumble upon a missing link, you can be afraid you'll never find another one again. You want to buy it now, now, now. Train yourself to be patient. Know your price points. Be smart.
Sometimes you can satisfy your urge to collect by borrowing and sharing. In my case, I was able to curb some of my craving for comics by making use of the public library. The local library system stocks some expensive hardbound compilations. Since the library owns and stores them, I don't have to. This principle can work for other types of collections, too (though admittedly my comics situation is close to ideal).
Or maybe you have a friend with a similar interest. Maybe she collects Wedgwood pottery too. Instead of both buying the same pieces, you could build a short of shared collection, lending items to each other from time to time.
Final thoughts
In general, collecting is not a frugal hobby. My collecting habits have been a constant drain on my bank account. I've come to believe that collecting is merely a form of hoarding. It's a socially acceptable way to acquire Stuff.
As with anything, though, it's okay to collect in moderation. But if you find yourself being sucked into your hobby, that can lead to problems, both mentally and financially. Again, I say this as one who's been there (and may still be there). If you're going to collect, do it right.
I wrote the bulk of this article last June. Because I've made some major changes to my life since then, I've actually called into question my own tendency to collect. If I want to travel, and if I'm going to live in an apartment, is there really a place for building a collection? What's the point? Why don't I "outsource" the collecting — to the public library, for instance.)
Over the past few months, I've put the brakes on my own collecting habits. I've spent $0 on comics since September, and the only books I've bought have been for specific purposes (learning Spanish, our monthly book group, etc.) That's not to say I'm ready to give up collecting completely, of course, but maybe I can finally spend some time reading all of the books I've bought before!
I'm actually curious how many GRS readers are collectors. What do you collect? And how do you do it? What strategies do you use to keep costs down?
This article is about Consumerism, Odds and Ends
Perhaps a companion article then: How to Sell your Collection. Should you just do the opposite of buying?
Lindy Mint over at Minting Nickels has good suggestions for that. http://mintingnickels.com/2012/02/amazon-half-sell-books-fees/
I agree with the suggestion of selling parts of your collection to support your investment. My dad collects paper money, but by flipping pieces and/or sets he wasn't attached to, he built his collection (and paid for my college education). Similarly, we collect stereoviews; once we bought a large box at an auction. We sold two famous baseball player stereoviews (one was Babe Ruth), and that paid for the rest of the box…and several future pieces.
I've turned my collections into passions for more useful things, from the Sandman into pens.
I actually wrote on this in my blog about a week and a half ago. I'm very glad to see your take.
I found myself collecting fabric. See, a while ago I wanted to learn how to sew because we moved into a house and curtains can get expensive plus I was tired of hemming pants and skirts by hand. I bought a cheap sewing machine- so cheap that it's useless. I started taking sewing lessons (which is how I found out the machine is useless and a killjoy because of its problems). And I started buying fabric for various projects that I'll get to 'someday'. My fabric stash is nowhere near as large as some other people's stashes, but there's enough fabric for a dozen projects at least, and it takes up two bins in the closet and one underbed bin. I've figured out that what I really like is looking at the colors, and imagining the process of making the project. I can get my color fix by looking online at fabric-selling websites. If I actually WORK on a project instead of just imagining it, I get better at sewing and also have stuff made by me. When I figured this out, I decided to only buy fabric for specific projects that I know I really really want to make, and also started working on the older projects.
As someone who has more UFOs (Un-Finished Objects) than she'd like to admit, I agree about having to limit what I buy for new projects.
Have you thought about finding a local Rent-A-Table group? Our local quilt shop hosts them a few times a week – you bring whatever you want to work on (knitting, sewing, quilting, etc). I find being around others helps me stay motivated and finish things so I can show them off
Quilt shows are also great for getting ideas (and a color fix) without the temptation of buying materials.
"UFO" Days are a great idea
The quilt store in my home town used to have charity quilt days too. All you had to do was bring a machine and the materials were there to make projects for children in need. If you've got skills, you can often find someone willing to put them to work!
I used to collect baseball cards back in my day. Boy are they sure expensive these days!
Not so sure I could afford to keep up the collection. Baseball cards have plummeted in value, and I don't even watch the sport like I used to.
You know, I'm starting to think the best way to build a collection is to…not build one? One of these days I'll have to part with my collection. I can't even begin to tell you how much these cards have cost me in dollars, cents, time, and storage!
I was a HUGE baseball card collector. I even put on my own baseball card convention in the hay day, back in 1981 when I was 16. I rented tables to other card collector/dealers to sell their wares. I even had a table for my neighbor, and former 1960s Cincinnati Reds pitching ace Jim O'Toole to sign autographs for free.
The hobby changed that year. Topps' monopoly went away. Other card manufacturers came in, but I limited my collecting to Topps. One cannot collect everything. That way lies madness!
I've been teaching a class that addresses collecting, so this is something that I've been interested in lately. To paraphrase the French theorist Jean Baudrillard, through collecting, it is invariably oneself that one collects. Meaning that our collections reflect who we are. So it is more than just an accumulation of Stuff.
I don't really have a collection at the moment, so I don't really know what this says about myself
I have some old film cameras and have wanted to pursue that as a hobby and collection, I'm also interested in numismatics. But so far time and money have prevented me from pursuing either.
I should add, sometimes just letting people know you collect something is a good way to get stuff for your collection, since people might be wanting to get rid their stuff.
One time I said in a status update on Facebook that I wanted to start collecting old cameras. Both my uncle and an old friend responded that they had old cameras that they would give to me if I was interested. One is a Canon ca. 1980 with a great selection of lenses, while the other is a Super 8 in amazing condition. In both cases the cameras were just sitting in storage not being used.
Yea, but then you get 'gifts' from people with strings attached. They don't want to dispose of the item – donate or throw out – so they give it to you – since you collect it – and then whatever the quality, whether it fits into your collection or not – you're expected to 'care' for the item like the treasure they think it is…
I collect electronic items (ebooks, music, videos etc) that way it doesn't clutter my physical space.
We have a lot of gift-giving and gift-getting occasions in our culture and it's really hard to know what to buy for adults. The good thing about having a known collecting personality is that people know exactly what to buy you. In a way, it's almost helpful to family/friends/significant others. If you collect bird figurines, and they see one, they buy it for you for Christmas. I'd like to start a collection of old botanical prints (I have a few). Old maps, too. I'd probably like to collect art, but that seems more expensive. I did read recently that most museums have a policy where they can sell art to buy new art — sounds like a wise idea for collectors of any sort.
It's kind of funny. Just last week I bought a comic book poster for $20 on Ebay that I had coveted when it came out retailing for $30 (in 1994.) I came to the realization I had waited 18 years to save a whopping $10!
Actually, you got it for free if you handled the saved $30 wisely. $30 in 1994, invested for 18 years at 4.5% return would be $66 now. You spent $20 on the poster and have $46 left!
I used to collect all things "happy face" (you know – those yellow happy faces with black eyes and mouth). Lucky for me, most of the items I got for my collection were from the dollar store – but the collection did get OUT OF CONTROL before I had to nip it in the bud and be done with it. I got a happy face tattoo to symbolize the end of my collection… and I haven't purchased a happy face item since!
This made me smile (you know a little happy face). When I was younger i had a ton of happy face stuff. Even a set of six different earring (since i had my ears pierced 3 times). And then one day – i just stopped. But I liek oyur idea of a tattoo.
I collect(ed?) records. I worked in a record store in high school and for a local college radio station so I got tons of stuff. Three years ago when I got my finances in order I ripped all the CDs and records and liquidated everything I didn't love. I made a pretty good amount of $$$ and I've decided the only stuff worth keeping or buying is the stuff I absolutely love.
With music there are usually a lot of ways to get free previews. Also, services like Spotify and Pandora help with the outsourcing that JD discussed. The bands / music I really love I try to buy directly from and see live when they come close.
I halfway collect glass coke bottles. My caveat on them was that I had to drink the coke to get the bottle – no scouring of the internet to buy them. So that limits me to the editions at the store (1-3$ a bottle), or what I can find travelling. A few friends have given me ones as well – I got one from Iceland that a friend found rolling around on the floor of a bus, and one from Morocco from when a friend visited, and so on. Of course, the last time I packed to move, I was –><– close to chucking the whole thing, but didn't quite. Also not quite a collection, when I travel to highly touristy places, to sate my desire to buy some sort of souvenir, I use those rolled penny machines – that is, you pay 50c to get a penny rolled out with a picture from the area. I've got 40 or so of these now. My rule on *these* is that I, personally, have to get them. So I've spent 20-30$ on all these, they fit in one small can, and I actually have a great time flipping through them every couple of months to remember the places
Many years ago, on a trip to Italy, my wife decided to collect the Coke cans depicting Italian soccer teams. She had a week's collection and I wondered how we would pack them to bring them home.
Problem solved: On our last day in Rome, the hotel maid threw them all out.
Heh. Makes perfect sense! I think I would just try and shrug and deal if that happened. One time, however, I was at a cafe in France, and wanted to bring my glass coke bottle. But they actually recycle them there for the deposit, so I had to surreptitiously snatch it. "Oh well".
I realized collecting was taking over our space and finances (I knit and sew – both notorious for building up a huge stash of fabric and yarn). I decided to just one project at a time and that has helped us tremendously.
We also started collecting sterling silver flatware in a pattern we love for our own use. Since our first purchases, the price has doubled. I think this is one collection that makes sense all around!!
I collect duck decoys. I love the craftsmanship that goes into the best ones, but they are way out of my price range. Frustrating!
Collecting can be a fun hobby, I love old classic books and whenever I visit a new town I seek out their used book stores. It's been a great way to explore new areas and have met some interesting people. But I haven't let it consume me, no room full of old books, just one bookcase. I have a list of specific books I will buy (at the right price) and don't deviate from it, so the thrill of finding what I want is the best part of collecting.
I do not collect anything. Maybe I will one day, but for now I do not see any reason to be a collector. I had started buying a jewellery piece/set from each different country I visited, but that started piling up and I stopped.
Collections are a tough one…. for a while I had a HUGE CD library, movie library, and academic library. Then after moving them to a new residence for the third time I realized it was dead weight and lost income. so, I began to sell items. and sell items. and sell items. soon, my collection was down to the essentials, my house was cleaner, and I had extra money in the bank. Now, my hobbies are online and involve learning new skills that bring me additional income and experiences.
I collect nail polish and I have about 200. They fit into a drawer set that is around 3 feet tall and has about a 1′x1′ footprint. I don't really buy anything rare or hard to find (they are out there), but just stuff you can find in stores. Some months I will buy 5-10 and sometimes I will go months and months and not buy any. The prices are anywhere from 50 cents to $20. Probably average $5 each.
I used to collect nail polish too, when I was much younger! I loved having tons of different colors and would often repaint my nails twice a week. Now I only wear boring colors because anything else would be highly unprofessional for my particular career, so I stopped collecting them and only own a few carefully curated colors.
The key to any collection – or hobby for that matter – is being able to let go of it when it no longer holds your interest or suits your lifestyle. I think the fallacy of sunk costs is especially common in the realm of collecting and hobbies.
I tend to think that it's great to pursue hobbies that we really enjoy. However, we must not let our hobbies interfere with more important, pressing issues: such as paying down debt, saving for retirement, etc. To the extent that people can put real priorities first, and then put hobbies in their proper perspective, then why not enjoy collecting? In that case, collecting can be quite fun and rewarding.
Also, one thing to keep in mind is that collectibles often have disproportionate value to the owner, compared to others. In other words, value is subjective and you might not get back what you paid if you try to sell. Just something to think about with certain collectibles, in terms of remembering the distinction between hobby and investment.
I don't agree about the hoarding comment. It's true that collectors by nature can tilt towards the hoarding end. But hoarding is something extreme and unhealthy.
There's nothing socially unacceptable about having things. Collecting is pretty normal and common. What's socially unacceptable is a MESS. So an avid cook may have a large fancy kitchen with all the bells or whistles OR a few good knives and a cutting board. As long as their space is clean and all the tools can be found, there's really no stigma either way. It's when you can't open a cupboard or enjoy the things you have that the stuff in your life becomes unacceptable.
A well displayed or cared for collection carries no more a stigma than bird watching. It's when that collection gets away from you that you need to deal with the issue.
I think messiness is what carries the stigma, not the stuff.
Personally, I buy pieces at full market price. For me, deal hunting only leads to wanting more pieces. If I pay a fair but full price, I know I bought it because I wanted it, not because it was a good deal.
Also, not everything I like to do I consider a collection. I like to read, but I don't consider myself to have a book collection. It's more of a personal library. It's not like my posters or other collections. I keep them because I think I will read or re-read them. I have the room. When I start to think the shelves look full, I start purging and giving away books.
Actually bird watching is collecting too. You keep a life list of the different species you have ID'd; you "collect" them. Even birders can get carried away, either by single-minded chasing of elusive species or by competitively comparing their expensive binoculars.
Actually bird watching is collecting too. You keep a life list of the different species you have ID'd; you "collect" them. Even birders can get carried away, either by single-minded chasing of elusive species or by competitively comparing their expensive binoculars
I've been a quilter for decades but I donated ALL of my fabrics and supplies about six months ago to a group that makes quilts for kids. I simply had too much and it had become a burden and not a pleasure. I kept my expensive sewing machine and sewing/quilting tools as I may get the urge to quilt in the future but for now the empty space feels wonderful!
I collect Alice in Wonderland items. Books, figurines, stuffed animals, whatever, as long as it's Alice in Wonderland. I'm able to control my spending on it with two rules: it has to come out of my (very small) entertainment budget, and I have to have room for it in my display case. I haven't bought anything for it in a very long time, since I lost my job and took a 50% pay cut, and I don't expect to at least until my car is paid off. More likely, not until my student loans are paid off.
@JD – have you thought about donating your collection(s) to a museum? There are lots of niche-type museums that cater to particular things (like comics I am imagining). There is a possible tax write-off that way, plus the knowledge that your collection will be stored appropriately and appreciated by lots of people over time.
I collect Mid Century Norwegian Jewellery. A lot of it is enamelled in lovely bright colours. I have about 80 things… brooches(pins), earrings, bracelet, pendants. I buy mainly off Ebay but also thrift shops (charity shops in the UK). Those who bought the items new are now selling or leaving as inheritance to those who may not like the items so they are not that expensive. I make it s rule never to buy something I would not wear. And I do wear it (and so occasionally lose it)But i always get compliments on the pieces , and I am now known for always appearing with earrings and a brooch..
I collect comic books and I have been shrinking my overall collection during the past 5 years. I started with 16,000 and now down to about 3000 comics. Some I have decided to get in TPB for so I can reread the story and not really have to worry about condition. So while the number of comics have decreased the number of book format comics has increased but not anywhere near the amount I have gotten rid of.
I should also metion the proceeds from selling the comics have allowed us to go on vacation over the last 5 years at no out of pocket cost!!!!
I am not a collector, and I don't understand my husband's collections (right now, N scale trains and guns for target shooting). I think they are both a waste of space and money.
I do, however, like how my husband works his train hobby. He buys lots from Craigslist and estate sales, keeps the pieces he likes, and sells the rest on eBay. This works because of the time factor. The people with lots are typically selling because someone in their lives collected trains and they don't. They don't have the time or expertise to know how to value and sell each piece. My husband offers several hundred to several thousand to take it all away, which is very attractive to the sellers. This has also helped him learn a lot. He bundles them together and sells off 1, 2, or 3 at a time on eBay, where people are willing to spend more per piece, especially internationally.
I'm a historian so I have a book collection, but since it is a working collection, it is relatively easy to keep in order. If I check a book out from the library on more than five separate occasions (e.g. for five different projects or reasons), then I buy a copy because it is something I know I will use regularly. That said, I am not attached to books as objects, but as tools, so I don't fuss over the quality – I generally buy paperbacks and don't worry if they get bent corners or (gasp!) written in. If a book wears out, I just get another copy. I'm a big fan of libraries – I don't need to own a book if I have easy access to it.
That said, I've moved every couple years for the last ten, which has really cut down on my book-buying interests – who wants to move those boxes?
Great article. Really made me think. I collect dragons–I have all kinds in different shapes, sizes, materials. Easy for other people to buy for me, if they know me at all. I usually don't buy those myself unless I stumble across one, ie, I don't go looking for dragons.
Now, my other collections involve books but they have to be by certain authors. Those I do go looking for, and I keep running lists of which ones I "need". I find them at secondhand stores and antique stores when I travel, ebay, Amazon, and I usually try to spend as far under $10 as I can. To me the game is to acquire these at the lowest possible price. That said, if it's a rare find I will spend more. I spend less than $200 a year, as a guesstimate. I have a small home office, with 4 bookshelves stuffed full. I re-read them over and over, and have gotten endless hours of pleasure. The annual Friends of the Library book sale is one of my most favorite days of the year. I've picked up a lot of treasures there.
I've bought thousands of comics over the years, but I've been reducing my physical collection recently. I now read most issues in digital format: I make individual purchases from Comixology and I have a yearly subscription to Marvel's "Digital Comics Unlimited" website. If there are stories that I particularly want to re-read then I'll buy them as paperback/hardback collections, then I'll get rid of the physical copies (if applicable). I've sold some comics at marketplaces in the past, but nowadays I tend to give them away on Freegle. Comixology often have 3-day sales, where they'll sell several issues at $0.99 each (about 70p), e.g. the entire run of "52″. So, that's a good way to get stuff cheaply, if you don't mind waiting a while.
I've never collected anything in my entire life except for books. These days I usually buy e-books. I sold my old books that I bought as an adult and bought their digital versions. I have very very few physical books like less than 50. In the past I used to say that collecting anything but books was a waste of time and I used to see collections as dust collectors.
Now I realize people find happiness through different ways, and sometimes that can be through collecting. Who am I to say what makes other people happy in life?
I was born in the 80s and when I was a kid in the 90s I used to love reading The Sweet Valley Twins series, The Baby-Sitters Club series, Nancy Drew, and Little House on the Prairie. Even today I still love to read a lot.
Now that I'm in my 20s, I've been trying to buy the entire collection of Sweet Valley Twins which is about 200 books and same with the Baby-Sitters Club.
I'm trying to buy the sweet valley twins and baby-sitters club books that were out in the 90s and not the reissues that were updated for the 21st century and came out in the 2000s.
The nice thing is that the Nancy Drew and Little House on the Prairie is still in print so I don't have to worry about those. They were a huge part of my child hood. I'm the type of person that loves re-reading books. The Sweet Valley Twins and the Baby-Sitters Club sell for less than $20 each.
A lot of times they sell for $2-3 dollars on Amazon. My plan is to scan the sweet valley twins and the baby-sitters club books into my computer and back them up on a disk or USB stick, so I'll have them forever to enjoy.
Then I plan on selling the physical books back into the used market so other adults who used to love them can read them. When I was a kid we didn't have a lot of money, so I used to get books from the library.
Nowadays I can buy my own books anytime I want, although I usually buy
e-books since they're so convenient. People might think its juvenile and cheesy to be re-reading childhood books but I honestly don't care. I'm not trying to impress anyone.
I love to read and its fun to look back at the different stages of my life and see what books I've read. Yes I will be re-reading the entire SVT and BSC series. There's no point in buying something unless you're going to enjoy it again
P.S. As for how much is enough. That's easy for SVT and BSC books, because they've only published about 200 in each series I believe. Both series have spin offs but I'm not interested in those since I didn't enjoy the spin-offs as a kid.
You should donate the books to The Internet Archive. They will scan the books professionally, make them available online (copyright permitting), and archive the physical copies for posterity.
Thank you, didn't know about that.
As a kid, I collected stamps and coins. I did actually buy some stamps, but finally gave that whole collection to a friend. The coins I just got from traveling grown-ups (and occasionally finding something in my change). I still collect coins (and occasionally bank notes) when I travel. I did start collecting the 50 state quarters, but they keep adding more, so that just makes me feel like a sucker. I haven't decided what do about the ones I have, but I'm not going to fall for that again–maybe just save the prettiest ones.
Depending on your definition, I also collect books, music, movies, and clothes. I don't ever think a collection is finished, but I can think it is big enough. Once it gets to a certain size, I just get a lot more picky both about what I acquire and what I keep. My coins fit in one notebook (and a couple of booklets). My books, games, and movies fit in two giant bookcases. And my clothes fit in two small closets and a large dresser (plus some boxes in the garage of things that don't currently match anything or aren't my current size).
Maybe I also collect hobbies. I sure do have supplies for way more hobbies than I have time for at any given time, but I do keep going back and forth between the hobbies, so I do like keeping the supplies. For example, I hadn't knitted anything in over a year, but it was nice that when I figured out a perfect present (after my friend complimented my hat for the millionth time and insisted on trying it on–I'm a little slow), I had my fabulous bamboo circular knitting needles and the pattern still there in my knitting supplies box.
There's a Girl Scout badge on collecting (at least there was back in the 1970s) and one of the things you had to do is to find a good way to display or store your collection. I think this is an important part of using, sharing, or enjoying your collection. And if you don't want to go through the trouble of properly storing and caring for your collection, that's a sign that it's not that important to you. (Or maybe real life is intruding a lot right now–could mean a lot of things!)
I tend to collect books and comics in digital format. They don't take up much hard drive space. I have one small bookshelf for only my favorite books and comics.
I have a collection of hardback books, but my goal is not to acquire the largest number possible – instead it is to have a collection that means something to me.
As such I do not horde what I buy, but instead maintain a constant state of flux. I pass on books to friends if I think they will enjoy them and sell on or donate things I no longer value.
This keeps my collection manageable and actually makes it nicer to own as it serves a purpose and the average value (emotional, not monetary) value of the items remains high.
Using the author as an example, think which is more special – 500 comic books stored away or 50 on display, each of which has been chosen and kept for a reason.
Several years ago I decided to re-create the children's book collection I had as a little girl. I decided I would only buy books that I remembered, and only the cheapest prices.
Through Ebay I was able to purchase many of them, but most came in collections with other books.
My best source was estate sales and thrift shops (the creepy kind in old churches), followed by garage sales and library sales. I would haunt the local used bookstore, but no way was I paying $25 for a 1950s Golden Book.
The only problem was, I had grown this inexpensive collection into a monster that filled many large plastic tubs.
I finally broke down and spent several evenings going through the books. I found doubles and triples and quadruples of many. I found a lot were current reprints of older ones I already had.
It took me several trips to drop them off at a donation center where I hope they went to good use (the place was later flooded in the recent East Coast storms).
I still look, I still buy and I'll suppose I'll still be redonating them later.
Now, who wants to buy some fabulous dolls made specially for me by Diana Effner?
I don't collect anything really fancy, like antique glassware, or comic books, etc. But I do have large "collections" of books, DVDs, and my husband loves to collect music (right now CDs, but he's working on vinyl, too).
In order to save money in the course of collecting, I created rules for myself. I couldn't buy a DVD for myself if it cost more than $10. I couldn't buy a book unless I'd already read it and knew I wanted to re-read it. And so on and so forth. These rules have helped me maintain my budget while still satisfying my inner materialist.
I "collect" bikes to work on in my garage workshop… but I sell most of them once I'm done fixing them or building them up. I keep a few around, but the mix does shift.
The good thing about "collecting" this way is that I actually make enough off doing this so that my hobby is (more than) self-funded. The rules about purchasing prices still apply though – I hardly ever pay retail for anything (even parts), and tend to get my best buys at garage/yard sales.
Another good rule, when buying anything used: know the value (at least roughly) before you buy. I spend a few minutes each day perusing Craigslist and online bike shops – partially to hunt for good deals on stuff I know I need, and partially to develop/maintain an awareness of value.


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MCN, 03 May 2011 17:47
I have a Suzuki GSX1400 and I have just fitted a four-into-one Akrapovic exhaust system. When I start it up and it's ticking over, my exhaust headers glow bright red. Could you tell me why this is happening as I didn't have this problem with the original exhaust?Gsxken, MCN forums Aftermarket exhausts are often single-skinned, while standard pipes have a ...
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Report: Team Ninja Exodus Follows Itagaki Departure, More Lawsuits on the WayAs many as three dozen members of Team Ninja may be following former studio chief and Ninja Gaiden II (360) director Tomonobu Itagaki after his sudden resignation and lawsuit against parent company Tecmo earlier this month.
According to a report from 1UP, the departing team members will also serve Tecmo with a class action lawsuit over unpaid bonuses for previously completed games. In filing his own lawsuit last month, Itagaki claimed damages of more than $1.4M in unpaid bonuses.
Moreover, the report adds that Tecmo may have violated Japanese law by withholding information about Itagaki's suit from its shareholders. Corporate law in Japan states that any lawsuit filed against a publicly-traded company must be reported to its shareholders on the same day, but Itagaki's suit—filed on May 14—was not revealed until the developer himself issued a public statement on June 2.
In addition to unpaid bonuses, the developer also cited "significant emotional distress" caused by Tecmo president Yoshimi Yasuda as impetus for the legal action. Following Itagaki's departure from Team Ninja and subsequent litigation, Tecmo's stock tumbled more than 10%.
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We all have to be mum until the end of Wave 3. Hopefully everyone on here will honor that this time. No posting from conference. That is strictly forbidden during National Conference.
Okay, so who's gonna let those of us who are not going to conference
know about all the new stuff???
For spring, people posted pictures and described the new products.
I had originally planned on going, but since I quit my job in May, I had to change that plan.
We all have to be mum until the end of Wave 3. Hopefully everyone on here will honor that this time. No posting from conference. That is strictly forbidden during National Conference.
However...after wave 3 has gone it will be a free for all!!! Don't forget to go to your July cluster meeting to learn all of the goodies and see some of the new information and what not.
That's right. spring was different, because there's only 1 Leadership conference. But this time, we all have to keep it zipped about products and other announcements.
When is Wave 3 over? I am excited to see what is going to come out. I'll be back in Guam then so hoping to use new products as a way to get some hosts!!!
Wave 3 is July 16-18. We'll probably get the OK from Deb or Greg on the 19th, unless they restrain us because then the Canadian conference will be starting.
Well, that should probably give me enough time to make my 5 day trek back to Guam....ahhhh....not looking forward to that at all.
wah! pout! Oh well, that'll teach me to quit a job before conference again
But...I do feel much better being out of that stress Health is more important.
Try to have fun everone & go home & tell your doggies & kitties if you can't keep a secret
5 days are ya swimmin ?Quote by cookingmommy
5 days?? are you taking the slow boat back???? LOLQuote by cookingmommy
It feel like it.
Actually I fly back to Sacramento to meet up with a girlfriend and her daughter. Then we take an hour long shuttle to Travis Air Force Base where we hopefully can find an air force flight to Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii. Then from Hawaii we try to get on a flight to Guam. It takes about two days regardless but if we do an overnight or two in either place (which is very possible) then it extends the trip. The Air Force fllights are free. A normal roundtrip ticket from Guam to CT is around $2000. Plus, I have a 30 lb. 17 month old that I would need to buy a ticket for or spend 20 hours of flight time with him on my lap. This way he gets his own seat on the Air Force flights and I spend about $1000 total for the flights/possible hotels/transportation/food and he is only on my lap for about 10 hours of a 40-45 hour roundtrip flight.
I really don't dislike Guam but trying to get home to see loved ones is really hard and expensive and while I am en route I am usually cursing Guam to all heavens.
And I thought when we had orders to WA that it was the furthest place from home.....boy was I wrong,lol.
I am an Army Brat myself.... My dad was stationed in Germany when I was born...... it is funny what the military does !!


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Grreat Choice Holiday Tennis Balls
(4 out of 5)
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Editor's Review
Grreat Choice Holiday Tennis Balls add some seasonal fun to games of fetch.
November 24, 2011 10:46 pm | By Zootoo Editor Flinn D.
When planning a game of fetch with your dog, snowflakes may seem at odds with hitting the dog park for a rousing session of playtime. But the Grreat Choice Holiday Tennis Balls, available in a range of wintry styles, may change your mind about the perfect time of year to play with your pooch.
Like other products in the Grreat Choice line, the Holiday Tennis Balls put a fun spin on an old classic, without trying to reinvent the wheel (or in this case, the ball). The toy itself is straightforward and simple, but well made and durable enough to make you want to invest in these Tennis Balls.
Also, the range of styles for the Grreat Choice Holiday Tennis Balls offers a solid selection. For those wanting to put a little bit of Christmas festiveness into their dog's toy, the balls are available in a red-and-green color scheme. And for folks who would prefer a more subtle "Winter Wonderland" motif, the balls are also available in a cool blue-and-white design.
The price of the Grreat Choice Holiday Tennis Balls — about $3 for a pack of six during some online sales — is also worth celebrating if you're looking for a reasonably priced holiday toy. And with two sizes to choose from (either 2 or 2.5 inches in diameter), you shouldn't have a problem pleasing your pooch with this seasonal gift.
Pros: Fun design; available in a range of styles and sizes.
Cons: May be unnecessary if you have a fetch ball - but that's part of the fun.
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text: Comments on: Anthony Hamilton is 'Back to Love' at DAR Constitution Hall Back to the article » Marie Gullard • | September 13, 2012 | 12:00 am Fans of Anthony Hamilton's smooth-as-silk voice will be able to experience his music live when he performs Saturday night at D.C.'s DAR Constitution Hall with his "Back to Love Tour." The Grammy Award-winning, multiplatinum-selling R&B vocalist (his duet "So in Love" with Jill Scott set a record 18 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Urban Adult Contemporary chart) is also bringing along special... Web URL: http://washingtonexaminer.com/article/2507919 Share this article on Facebook or Twitter Print this article


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Coming out & Overseas Relationships
February 18, 2013
I finally came out to myself, my therapist and my mom. And I am in a deep overseas relationship with a guy that I met online from South America. Where do I go from here? Lots of details inside.
Hello! I am a 23 year old man and have been struggling with accepting my sexuality for my entire life. About 8 months ago, my life began to change when I met a guy online from a country in South America and fell in love with him. I worry that it will be hard for people to believe that you can fall in love like this (just as it was for me), but it did happen. Such passionate, deep sweet love. We really are lucky to have found each other's soulmate.
Since then, we've spent every day talking on video chat, phone, writing long letters, etc. We spent months dreaming about the moment that we would actually meet and be together. And then just two and half weeks ago that moment finally came true. I flew down to South America to meet him. We traveled together for two weeks and it was absolutely amazing.
While on the one hand I was so happy during the months leading up to this moment, I have also never felt so alone and sad in life. I live alone, and nobody knew about my sexuality nor this relationship. But then about 3-4 weeks ago I decided that I needed to talk to someone about this. The happiness that I was feeling about this relationship was so much stronger and more powerful than the pain and secret of my sexuality that I was repressing for so many years. So I found a therapist (who also happens to be gay, older, very understanding, perfect mentor). And I came out to him about my sexuality and about my relationship right before I left. It felt amazing - like my system finally relaxed a bit.
Then I went on the trip, and just came back yesterday - to my empty apartment. And all I can say is that I felt a great deal of happiness and calm confused with a sense of sadness and pain. I miss my guy so much. Every little thing reminds me of him. And I can't seem to let it go. Having to say good bye to him at the end of the trip was the hardest moment of my life. I cried (and I never do that) for many hours during my 30 hour flight back home. When I got home, I entered the shower and was finally by myself and I just wept out loud and cried again, hyperventilating. Then I took a nap, and when I woke up, I was so delirious and confused for a few seconds. Crazy thoughts were running in my head... where am I? What time is it? I started to say the name of my guy out loud several times and looked around for him. And then suddenly the scary reality kicked in and I realized he was not there. I kinda freaked out, and just felt so broken. How can we be together again? So many logistics to overcome. And a long journey ahead of us.
Then I went to bed again and woke up at about 4am in the morning. I called my parents (7am their time) and told them that I was very sad that my trip is over and that my normal routine is starting again (they don't know the real reason for my trip and about my sexuality..) I told them that I feel like I have nothing exciting to look forward to. They tried to be very supportive and were really nice and said some comforting things. But then I started crying and getting super emotional. My dad had to leave, but my mom wanted to keep talking to me - because she felt like something deeper was up. We decided to video on Skype (haha just like how I met my guy).
And then all of a sudden, I just felt this intense urge to tell her everything. Through Skype (OMG!!). I was just so vulnerable and emotional and broken and confused. But at the same time, for the first time in my life I felt so ready to just talk. And she was soooooo supportive and it felt amazing. She sent me this text afterwards:
"It's about time you felt good, really good about yourself. You are an amazing person and I'm so proud to be your mom. Thinking about you and sending you so much light and love. I'm very proud of you and love you so much! Everything will fall into place, just be patient. If you and [name of my guy] are meant to be together, you will. Take one step at a time. Love you always!!"
I literally almost started to cry (AGAIN) haha. And I'm at work right now just thinking about it and about my guy and about everything. Anyways - sorry for my stream of consciousness but had to write about this to just let it out. I guess I also just wanted some validation, because I really feel proud of myself and just want to scream to the whole world about it. Never thought I would be able to get to this place. I have a LOT of work ahead of me still to do, but for the first time in my life I feel like I truly accept myself and love myself.
Would love to hear any thoughts or advice on where to go from here. I have a great job and not sure if it's worth moving away in the near future to be with him... yet at the same time I don't feel like I have any roots anywhere. He's in graduate school in a very specialized field in his country, very rooted, but also a bit lost yet open minded. We are both flexible and willing to think about all possibilities/options. Lots of things to face. I guess I just took the first step by talking to my mom about it. Thanks so much for listening!! Sorry my thoughts are not fully coherent.
posted by
Human Relations
(11 answers total)
2 users marked this as a favorite
I'm not sure what the question is, but it sounds like your mom has terrific advice (and is also fucking awesome.)
posted by
on February 18, 2013 [
12 favorites
First off... Congrats! While it sucks being apart from someone you love, keep in mind that the separation makes the next reunion... 'sweeter'.
More importantly, I think your ma is offering some excellent advice - especially since this sounds like your first experience (and DOUBLE especially after coming out to yourself and others) with 'head over heels OMG I'm in LOVE!!!' emotions... "Take one step at a time." Let yourself get used to the feelings, and remember this... ALWAYS remember this:
Learn how to cultivate your self-worth now that you've come to terms with your sexuality, discover the ability to make yourself happy while living on your own, and foster an identity for yourself that is not dependent on your relationship.
It's great, great, GREAT that you've met that someone special - but don't let not being around him cripple you.
You're 23... young enough to cut out on a great adventure and still have plenty of time to recover from any unforeseen disaster. So how would your beau feel about you moving out be closer to him and see how things work out? Like you said, you don't really feel rooted anywhere - so go explore!
Congrats again!
posted by
on February 18, 2013 [
5 favorites
Be careful - it's lovely that you're happy and that you're in love, but please be realistic when it comes to quitting your good job here/asking your beau to leave grad school. Even the strongest and most amazing relationships can be put to the test when it comes to uprooting lives after only two weeks together. Spend as much time together as possible (within reason) before making drastic, drastic steps to be together. Don't go into credit card debt to buy plane tickets, don't lose your job by taking off too many days, don't alienate friends by only talking to your dude on the phone/Skype 24 hours a day, don't become sleep deprived if you are in a different time zone and stay up all hours to be "together."
If you are willing and flexible to think about all the possibilities and money for travel is plentiful, see how your relationship is going in a few months after either side has gone to visit one another on a few different occasions AND THEN begin to talk about moving in together. If this is a same-sex relationship, you will have to take into consideration which country (yours/his) is better for getting greencards/visas for same-sex couples, or, alternatively, help find the other a job that will sponsor a visa/greencard, so your time together will not be interrupted by having to leave the country every few months to maintain a visitor pass.
posted by
on February 18, 2013 [
5 favorites
I think the question may be...is this a normal feeling, coming out and feeling great and feeling alone and feeling...well, everything?
YES. I came out a very long time ago, but I remember exactly what that feels like, and it's nothing less than being yourself for the very first time. And it's an astounding thing.
posted by
on February 18, 2013 [
1 favorite
Congrats on your new relationship, on coming out, and on getting such an awesome response from your mom. Sounds like many things are falling into place.
Just for the record, I had very much the same reaction as you the first time I spent a week with my long-distance love and then had to go home without him. I cried at the airport, cried all the way home on the plane, missed him terribly for days until I settled back into my normal life and started just regular-missing him again.
We eventually started living together, but it took months and several more visits before we were ready to make that step. And moving away from my family was a big leap of faith for me, not knowing how our relationship would be once we were together day to day. There were some bumps in the road... no matter how deep you think you know someone online, there are things you just can't know about them and about the two of you as a couple until you've spent a good deal of time in the same geographical place, dating and hanging out and living together and all that.
Just take it one step at a time. Write, Skype, etc as much as you can but also make an effort to visit many more times before you start thinking too far ahead in the future. And just know at some point if it feels worth it, you will have to take your leap of faith and move heaven and earth to be together. But give it the time it needs to grow and don't try to rush things.
posted by
Serene Empress Dork
on February 18, 2013 [
1 favorite
I was in a long distance relationship for a while last year and I can tell you that the feelings of being alone and 'lost', are totally normal!!
Congrats on coming out, finding love and yay for your mom!
My advice is to start planning your next trip so you have something to look foward to and do lots of research on long distance relationships. There is some fabulous advice on things to do to make you feel closer. Have as much fun as you can and when you feel up to it, TELL PEOPLE!! It's wonderful news!
What I used to do right after a trip was spend 2 weeks making up a package of things that represented the time we had together and then posting it off.
Good luck with it all. I'm happy for you.
posted by
on February 18, 2013
I also came home from an intense trip and cried in the shower at 23. Not to diminish in any way shape or form your transformative experience but now you know who you are better, you had a great trip, you have a fan-freaking-tastic mother and a long life of awesome experiences ahead of you. So, I also don't know your exact question but congratulations, don't quit your job yet and keep seeing your awesome-sounding therapist.
posted by
on February 18, 2013 [
1 favorite
I think it sounds like things are going pretty well for you, actually!
I would just caution you to try to keep your feelings about coming out and your feelings about this relationship as separate as possible. It sounds like this relationship is awesome, but since you are so overwhelmed and relieved about coming out and about finding a great therapist and your family's positive reaction, it is possible you might transfer some of this feelings onto your relationship. Coming out is probably the biggest, most transformative (and so far positive) experience of your life. The relationship may or may not be. Don't confuse them. At least, don't quit your job until you are totally sure you are not confusing them.
posted by
on February 18, 2013 [
6 favorites
I think you know this, but do be careful. You're in a perfect position to make bad choices. I speak only as someone who has done exactly that, for exactly the same reason. I've also made good choices, and have been happy with my guy I met on the internet, for 15 years. But oh, boy, can this kind of situation cause trouble.
If you find yourself feeling sick over the loneliness, seek diversion. Seriously. You can't make sane choices over this if you're feeling everything so strong you're getting sick (I got sick). Pull it together and work toward a rational goal, staying well. It's really the only way.
posted by
on February 19, 2013
It's hard. It doesn't get un-hard. But with time, sanity returns. Haha, sounds pretty damn bleak, but basically long-distance relationships suck even without the whole trauma of coming to grips with one's identity... though in a sense all first time relationships have that element. So yeah, it's going to be a bumpy ride.
One major thing is how well do you deal with your emotions in general, and besides how well, just
. Dealing with emotional excess healthily is sort of like draining pus from a wound (sounds lovely), but it needs to be done safely and properly. Some things that people use are the usual: meditation, exercise, friendship/group support, art, therapy. It's going to be intense for awhile. Make sure you have an outlet outside your bf or therapy or it'll all be too much for any relationship to handle the strain. One thing that may help is throwing yourself into something-- again, depends on you, it could be anything from a creative project to the gay community in your area. Try to funnel some of this feeling somewhere. At first it's exhilarating but not bad-- this much feeling quickly sours (if not dealt with or channeled) into bitterness, loneliness, frustration, insecurity/anxiety/fear, and does serious damage. Take advantage of any period of clear-mindedness to figure out what to do with yourself so you don't go stir-crazy, thinking of talking to him all the time you aren't, etc.
This (coming to terms with yourself and long-distance relationships) are long-haul things. You're not going to know how it 'turns out' for a long time. Focus on taking care of yourself and pace yourself. Don't overdose on contact or withdraw for too long. Remain honest with yourself and with him (but maybe not too honest-- avoid drama if possible, it's wearying on the endurance). Crying and talking to people helps takes the edge off, so you've done really well. But yeah, we all just muddle through, though the way is long and the drop is steep, but there are people who love you and you know now that you are not alone.
posted by
on February 19, 2013
Thank you all so much for such thoughtful and insightful comments. The past two weeks have been very difficult at first. But like some of you said - it is already becoming a little easier in terms of getting my focus and sanity back.
Anyway - I completely agree with everyone that even though we feel madly in love, the best thing to do for now is to take one step at a time and see how things feel in a few months from now. In the meantime, we are planning on visiting each other every few months (I could probably have flexibility of working remotely) to help us cope with our emotional need to be together but in a rational way.
Thank you again so much. I can't even tell you how much all of your comments helped and comforted me.
posted by
on March 3, 2013
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Firesteel - Local Area Photos and Information
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Firesteel is a populated place located in Dewey County at latitude 45.425 and longitude -101.285.
The elevation is 2,352 feet. Firesteel appears on the Firesteel U.S. Geological Survey Map. Dewey County is in the Mountain Time Zone (UTC -7 hours).
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A Wake Up Call For Penguins' Coach Dan Bylsma
October 19, 2010 11:30 AM
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Gregg wants to wake up the the headline writers for the James Harrison Hurting player quotes. Paul wants to wake up Dan Bylsma and stop playing the cat and mouse game when telling the media "it's a game time decision," even though the decision has already been made. Jim wants to wake up everyone and watch out for deer after a co-worker was hit in the side of the car by a deer while driving.
Jim Colony Reads Athletes Tweets
With Jim's new introduction he reads one of his best tweets from John Flowers.
The guys read the latest entries in the Name the Morning Show contest. If you have a better name, make sure you enter so you can meet Dave Wannstedt and get the ultimate tailgating experience.


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Does anyone here like creepypasta? And by like I mean sleep with a Jeff the Killer plush. No? Just me? Damn. I love creepypasta but so far I've mostly had to tell people about it and then we can successfully send each other different pastas to read or listen to. I know a lot of people get their pants in a bunchel about different types of pasta fans. I could care less which category you're in, if you choose to even pick one. If you don't know there are about three types. The people who take it really seriously as scary stories and that should never be joked with. Okay, maybe not that serious. But usually they have some of the best ideas about the stories (like deeper meanings). Then there are the people who seem to forget that they are murderers and focus on shipping them with other characters and making them cute. Then there's the neutrality zone. I'm half shipper half neutral. I can't help it, shipping is so fun. *hides* Anyway, this is just a small little snippet of my thoughts of creepypasta's fandom, and I have to say it's one of the nicest fandoms I've been in.J The people are as great as the stories so I guess that's it. If you like creepypasta be sure to message me, I'd love to hear about what you think about it and if you're starting to get into the fandom here are some stories I'd recommend.
Dear Abby
Candle Cove
Laughing Jack
Happy Appy
Who was Phone?
These are just some of my favorites. Who was Phone is actually a crappypasta but I like it, and the end of Happy Appy is a bit farfetched. But oh well.
Err, I'd appreciate no flames but if you have the undying erg to make someone sad I'm afraid I cannot stop you. But for others who have non-sadistic tendencies I'll leave you with some of my favorite pastas.
And, as always, creepypasta has no cool slogan. J


text:
Renna, my makeover of sim4 by Simbic at The Big Trade-off Makeover Challenge. I meant to do all of them, but as I quickly learned, I was running low on inspiration. Thus why I didn't end up participating in the GOS secret event or CIJ.
Oh she is adorable, I love the outfit
Oh she is precious and I love her outfit. :D


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Wellness works at DU.
The vision of the well@du program is to create a culture of wellness at the University of Denver. The well@du program is focused on proactive and preventative employee health aimed at enhancing individual and community well-being while mitigating health care costs.
well@du this summer:
Register now for the 2nd Annual Crimson Classic 5K Run & 1.5 Mile Walk
DU named Gold Fit-Friendly Worksite by the American Heart Assosciation.
Try a walking meeting or lunchtime stroll around campus with our walking routes.


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StartUpHire is the place to find Product Manager, Digital Media jobs. Review the list of Product Manager, Digital Media career opportunities to the left. These Product Manager, Digital Media jobs represent some of the most rewarding careers available.
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Zouq is a brand with a purpose: "connecting cultures through the medium of food." The first line of Zouq products - Zouq South Asian Snacks - are a line of truly delicious, natural snack foods that are exotic and uniquely different in every way.9/16/2014 Los Angeles, CA Save This Job
Roll up your sleeves to amplify our messages to a global marketplace. Work closely with all members of the team to create and execute consumer and B2B programs to reinforce product positioning, market value and grow revenue.9/9/2014 Concord, MA Save This Job
Job Description Complex Media is looking for a talented Product Manager to join the team and be involved in driving innovation and managing product development for Complex.com, our flagship site, and the editorial toolsets in our proprietary content management system powering our9/8/2014 New York, NY Save This Job
Job Description We are seeking an Ad Product Manager to take ownership in developing new concepts and bring products through the full lifecycle from ideation through delivery. This individual will be responsible for creating and driving product requirements, and determining8/9/2014 New York, NY Save This Job
Say Media is reinventing digital media and we?re looking for an experienced Product Manager to drive innovation on our market-disrupting Tempest publishing platform and our growing list of premium lifestyle brands including xoJane.com, Remodelista.com, ReadWrite.com,8/2/2014 San Francisco, CA Save This Job
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Acquia is seeking a talented eCommerce Product manager to define, and take to market a roadmap of eCommerce products that work with Acquia?s existing Engagement Services and Cloud Platform. The ideal person will have business level experience with the needs of a merchant,9/19/2014 Burlington, MA Save This Job
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Who we are: AppFolio was founded by the team that built GoToMeeting, a market leading enterprise software solution. We have extensive experience in building great technology products. Think of us as a successful Silicon Valley style start up with offices in Santa Barbara (HQ),9/2/2014 Santa Barbara, CA Save This Job
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Hearsay Social is the first social sales platform to revolutionize how Fortune 500 companies manage their brand, reps, and customers. What digital did for advertising, social is doing for selling. Hearsay is a pioneer and leader in this space. We?re looking for a self-driven9/12/2014 San Francisco, CA Save This Job
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text:
Got some T's done from my WU design, out now over at the Dilate store
You can check out a quick article about them over here at iloveyourtshirt.com too
Got some T's done from my WU design, out now over at the Dilate store
You can check out a quick article about them over here at iloveyourtshirt.com too
sir Tom Waits
New illustration
digi prints here, T's soon…
"Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better", wise words by Albert Einstein. New illustration
Posted in Drawing
So much love to all involved with Assembly House Studios; all you studio holders, all the friends who pitched in for free, everyone who donated equipment and materials, all the acts who played for us, and to everyone who came along to the grand opening last week. Here's some shots from the evening, 35m 3200 ISO
Some shots I took of the Assembly House studio space after the renovation, before we started working in there.
Been quiet on the artwork front lately as all my energy's been going into a new project… Assembly House Studios is a newly-renovated artist-run studio within an old Victorian textiles mill. Myself and a group of other graduates from Leeds have been getting our hands dirty for the last few months clearing, cleaning, painting and building a space for ourselves. For more details about the project, check out the website
All shots my own, 35mm…stupidly out of date film. Studio-porn shots to follow
Assembly House Studios is kindly supported by East Street Arts
Posted in Photography
Just found a roll of film from last summer that I forgot to develop. Had no idea what was on it but it turned out to be a load of snaps from the last days of uni…
3rd new T out today,
re-print of a drawing from a while back. If you didn't manage to cop one of the original screenprints now's your chance.
Inked up by hand in Leeds, courtesy of the crew at Dots Printhaus
100% Organic ringspun cotton, £20. Buy it here
Posted in Print
Jumpin' on the crystal-meth bandwagon both feet first.
Handprinted by Dots Printhaus meth-chemist style using Discharge inks to bleach on the design.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged breaking bad, chemist, cook, crystal meth, drawing, heisenberg, illustration, poster, print, shirt, tshirt, walter white


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Book Description:Written by Mark Erickson, Shawn O. Farrell, and Courtney A. Farrell, the Student Solutions Manual is a comprehensive guide to working the solutions to the odd-numbered end-of-chapter problems in the text. The best way for students to learn and understand the concepts is to work multiple, relevant problems on a daily basis. The Student Solutions Manual provides instant feedback to students by not only giving the answers but also giving detailed explanations.
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Township committee members voted to move forward with the demolition of Barone's, the former service station the township bought that sits on the corner of Route 130 and Highland Avenue.
The vote authorizes the township to go out for demolition bids to remove the empty building. Township solicitor John Gillespie will put together specifications.
using monies from the Route 130 reconfiguration project. That money is earmarked for Route 130 improvements only.
The township purchased the land for about $355,000 but held back about $50,000 in the event of any further contamination work, Gillespie said at the Nov. 19 township committee meeting.
Gas tanks there were removed about 15 years ago—the last time there was a station there. Township committee members have said it's environmentally clean but the money is still put aside just in case.
"We should end up with a whole lot less than $355,000 spent," Gillespie added.
Gillespie suggested the township go into the building to see if there is anything left to salvage, although Committeeman Ben Young said the car lifts were removed some time ago.
The plan for the lot would be to knock down the building and grass over the lot. This would also provide a safe bus stop there.
The only potential buyer the lot had since Barone's closed last year was from Goodwill, whose officials expressed an interest in putting a clothing donation box there, Deputy Mayor Anthony Minniti said.
That sort of use is not permitted along the Route 130 business corridor without a variance from the township's zoning board.
Stay with Patch as we bring you exclusive updates to this story.


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Haunted theaters : playhouse phantoms, opera house horrors, and backstage banshe
Ogden, Tom.
Adult Nonfiction BF1477.5 .O33 2009
Ogden, Tom.
Adult Nonfiction BF1477.5 .O33 2009
Summary: Haunted Theaters comprises more than two dozen suspenseful stories of spooky happenings and ghostly tales in historic theaters, opera houses, and other stages in the United States (Broadway and beyond), Canada, and England. Some of the spirits are actors; some are members of the audience; others are theater owners, dedicated workers, or volunteers. All of these tales are guaranteed to entertain-and have readers clenching their teeth as that ghostly curtain rises again and again. . . .
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You're leaving Wedding Paper Divas to see the Deal of the Day at our parent site, Tiny Prints.
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"I am so excited to send these out to my family and friends. The perfect invitation for my special day. My husband to be loves them."
"If you order the light pink, it is actually Peach. Just beware, color is not as depicted in the images. Beautiful, but very different."
"I absoulutely love my invitations! Everything about it is PERFECT for my wedding, our venue is a place called Roaring Camp Railroads, were everyone (including guests) rides a steam train up to the ceremony site, so again.... this was PERFECT to fit the theme. Besides fitting the theme, i loved that it was not so formal. seriously.... why would i spell out the date as "The Twenty Eighth of September Two Thousand and Fourteen" I chose the "ticket trim" to give it a real ticket feel. I also opted to add one of our engagement photos to the backside which came out great!(at no extra cost....why not!) i am very sentimental and it seemed like the right time to show off our "mushy" love. :P"
"Love this invitation. I was able to have it say just what I wanted. We got the shimmer paper which is so pretty. The pink matches great with our pink and grey wedding colors. Everyone loves them. Thank you WPD!"
"Fell in love with these immediately and after shopping around, nothing else compared so we bought them. I just did regular paper, nothing fancy, and they look great. We are sending them out with the invite, reply card, and a small note on parchment paper to get more info on our matching website, and are bounding the invite package with burlap ribbon. Looks awesome and "vintage-y" :)"


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I have to confess that this month's Recipe ReDux theme, Pumpkin, really threw me for a loop!
Conceived by Gretchen of one of my favorite gluten-free blogs, Kumquat, pumpkin really should be a "no brainer" for a fall themed recipe.
But here's the kicker…
The challenge was to use FRESH pumpkin if at all possible.
So, first step, I had to find a "cooking" pumpkin…
Off I went to Whole Foods, thinking surely they would have some. And, they did, but I almost thought they didn't…
You see, the big thing these days at my local Whole Foods is to have a seasonal and local display at the front of the store right when you walk in. And, believe me, if the goal of Whole Foods is to get you to buy more seasonal and local produce it works. I wish I had photos to show you, but trust me, the displays are gorgeous. I have tried many a new fruit or veggie from Whole Foods, lured in by their smashing displays.
And, I almost grabbed one of the cute little "display" pumpkins to take home with me when at first I couldn't find any "cooking" pumpkins.
But, eventually, I discovered these little beauties way in the BACK of the produce section co-mingling with the potatoes, onions and squash.
Step one completed. Time to move on to step two…
How the @**#*(%()#(%*) do I cook one of these things???
Thank goodness for the internet!
A quick Google search revealed 26,000,000 results on my query "How to cook a pumpkin."
Not having the time to go through all them, I narrowed it down to this method over at Maris Callahan's fabulous website, In Good Taste.
And, finally, step three…
What do I make with fresh pumpkin???
{Canned} pumpkin reins supreme at my house in the form of gluten-free pumpkin pancakes a la Bobs Red Mill {follow the recipe for BRM pancakes, then add 1/2 can pumpkin puree and 1 teaspoon cinnamon}.
SUPER easy pumpkin pancakes.
But, really not Recipe ReDux worthy…
I needed to come up with something new.
So, I racked my brain for what to make with fresh pumpkin…
Decision #1-I would experiment with a savory recipe.
Decision #2-It would need to combine several flavors {which is how I tend to come up with most of my recipes} such as sweet, salty, tangy, etc. to dazzle the taste buds.
And finally, decision #3-Make pumpkin pesto bruschetta!
Pumpkin Pesto Bruschetta {Gluten-Free}
Roasted Pumpkin
Follow instructions here. In addition, drizzle pumpkin with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper before roasting.
Pesto {This is my "go-to" recipe adapted from my ginormous bag of Kirkland Signature pine nuts from Costco.}
- 1/2 cup pine nuts
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves {packed tight}
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- fresh ground black pepper
Combine ingredients and puree in a food processor or blender.
Pumpkin Pesto Bruschetta
- 2 loaves Gluten-Free Bread, sliced in half on the diagonal {I used Udi's gluten-free bread. Use any bread of choice for non gluten-free version.}
- 1 roasted pumpkin, skin removed {See above}
- 1 sweet onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Pesto {See above}
- 6 ounces goat cheese
{Makes approximately 50 "appetizer" servings.} Roast pumpkin per instructions. While pumpkin is roasting, prepare pesto per instructions. {This can be made ahead, OR you can use your favorite store bought pesto. REALLY, it's ok :-)} Heat olive oil in pan on high heat and add chopped onions. Sautee until brown, approximately 5 minutes. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Slice bread on the diagonal, and toast in the oven for approximately 4-6 minutes. Combine roasted pumpkin and chopped onions in mixing bowl, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
To assemble: Spread pesto on toast. Top with pumpkin and goat cheese.
Serve and enjoy!
And, in case your wondering, how does this taste…
I had three male tasters at my house {my husband and two neighborhood friends} to test my recipe.
I'm always a little apprehensive about the reaction I will get when testing a new recipe…
In this case, the reaction was three {well, four counting me} thumbs up!
My test tasting guys seriously inhaled it!
And, I got the ultimate compliment from my husband
This one's a keeper!
Hope you like it too, and be sure and check out all the other fabulous Recipe ReDux pumpkin recipes! {Note: If a links not working, check back later as the deadline to post is noon ET on 11/21. Thanks!}
Cherie Schetselaar – Grain Crazy Fresh Pumpkin Risotto
Alexandra Caspero- Delicious Knowledge Pumpkin Enchiladas
Katie Hamm – Healthy & Happy Hour Pumpkin-Bacon Penne
Alysa Bajenaru – Inspired RD Sweet & Spicy Pumpkin Fries
Everyday Tastiness Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
Dr Barb, Nutriton Budgeteer Pumpkin Chili Chicken Pizza
Elizabeth Jarrard- Don't (White) Sugar Coat It Vegan Pumpkin Soup
Kristen Bourque- Swanky Dietitian baked pumpkin oatmeal
Marie Spano Cream cheese Pumpkin muffins
Regan @ The Professional Palate Pumpkin Ravioli in a Walnut-Sage Cider Sauce
Danielle Omar – Food Confidence RD Pumpkin Goulash
Emma @ The Hearty Heart (Vegan) Cocoa Pumpkin (Whiskey) Mousse
gretchen – kumquat baked mini pumpkins
Emma Stirling – The Scoop on Nutrition Recipe Redux Chermoula Chickpea & Pumpkin Sliders
Janel Funk: Eat Well with Janel Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
Nicole @ Whole Health RD Kaddo Bourani – Candied Pumpkin with Yogurt and Meat Sauce
Yuri – Chef Pandita Pumpkin Apple Soup
Lisa @ Healthful Sense Pumpkin Cream Pie Filling & Pudding
Jessica Fishman Levinson – Nutritioulicious Recipe Redux: Pumpkin Pancakes
Jane Schwartz, RD Pumpkin Coconut Soup
Kat Lynch – Eating The Week Pumpkin yogurt dip for waffle sticks
Katie Caputo- East Meats West Pumpkin Stuffing
Serena @ Teaspoon of Spice Whole Pumpkin Cheddar Gratin
Kristina @ Love and Zest Pumpkin Mash
Carrie Miller – Nutrition Know How Baked Stuffed Pumpkin & Pumpkin Orange Muffins
Ann Dunaway Teh – Eat to Nourish, Energize & Flourish Pumpkin, Squash and Apple Soup
Kara Lydon – Peace, Love, and Food Pumpkin Yogurt Dip
Stephanie Howard – Give Them Something Better Fall Harvest Chili
Karman Meyer-Nutrition Adventures Pumpkin-Potato Breakfast Hash
Ayla Withee- Eat Simply Salt and Vinegar Pumpkin Seeds
Heather Calcote – Dietitian on the Run Pumpkin Rosemary & Mushroom Quinoa
Jill Melton-The Relish Dish Ham and Cheese Stuffed Pumpkin
EA-The Spicy RD Pumpkin Pesto Bruschetta
Liz Weiss & Janice Newell Bissex – Meal Makeover Moms' Kitchen Ghoulishly Good Stuffed Sugar Pumpkin
Diane Welland – Eat Well, Eat Clean Pumpkin Cranberry Scones
Rebecca Noseworthy – It's a Savoury Life Fall Pumpkin Chili
Have you ever roasted a fresh pumpkin before? What's your favorite pumpkin recipe?
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