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You're probably one of the many millions of people using Pinterest. And probably using it for a way to keep ideas cataloged or just to find inspiration. But it actually has another really great use for you if you run a creative business, blog, or website.
Just as with all social media, you can use these platforms to better what you're doing and better connect with your audience. Wouldn't it be great to know what content you put out really resonates with your readers? Pinterest is a great way to gauge that and here's how:
In your web browser, simply type in http://pinterest.com/source/yourwebaddresshere For example, to see what's being pinned from my blog, here is what I'd type in: http://pinterest.com/source/thefarmchicks.typepad.com
Today, this is what comes up. I can scroll and scroll to see what is being pinned from my site:
One day, I was surprised to see my How to Make a Cloud project pinned a huge number of times and proceeded to have more than 10,000 visitors to the blog in a few hours. Other days I can see that readers are enjoying what I posted that day. The more interesting to my readers, the more pins I see.
Of course, I'm always going to post about what interests me, but it's helpful to know what my audience enjoys as well.
I was recently asked to join Sulia as a featured expert, posting about things such as travel, baking, crafting, shopping, life, and more.
Today I wrote about a farm tour on the island of Maui. Sounds perfect, doesn't it? When I look out my snowy window, I have to admit, it does sound a bit dreamy to me.
This morning I thought I'd Share a recent feature from Spokane Coeur d'Alene Woman magazine. Special thanks to the magazine and writer Judith Spitzer for their support by writing about women such as myself in small business.
It is 8:15 a.m. on day one of the Farm Chicks Antique Show and founder Serena Thompson props open a door to the entrance of the main County Fairgrounds Building in Spokane. Early admission ticket holders, mainly women, are waiting in lines, rain pouring down hard on this Saturday in early June. They don't seem much bothered as they crowd in close together, three or four to an umbrella.
Clutching a cell phone and pen in one hand, Serena reaches down to push a wooden door jam under the door with the other hand, and pushes it into place with her foot. Dressed simply in a striped orange and white t-shirt, jeans and flats matching the bright tangerine in her shirt, she looks as calm as the proverbial cucumber. She is a little tiny thing, barely five feet tall, slender, with long, dark thick hair, parted on the side. She keeps tucking the hair on the right behind her ear to keep it all tidy and in place.
Minutes later 300 women stream through the doors. Some are soggier than others, shaking rain off umbrellas and jackets, most are smiling and carry at least one big bag. Excited and boisterous, these women are not quiet. The noise level in the entrance immediately goes up from about 30dB to over 85dB, roughly the same as a jackhammer at 50 ft.
They are here at this show because they are card-carrying members of a club that loves vintage, retro, recycle, re-imagined, reused, repurposed, handmade, shabby chic and junking. They also unabashedly love the Farm Chicks. It's not just an antique show, it's a happening, a gathering, a place to nurture themselves, other women and antiques used by other women (and men) back in the day.
Those who know Serena, and some who don't, stop to get a "hi how are you" or a hug as she helps hand out flyers and quells any last minute conundrums via cell phone. The heavy lifting has been done over the past few days, but mostly over the past year since the last Farm Chicks Antique Show. This year officially marks the 10th anniversary of the much-beloved event.
While preparations for a show as big as Farm Chicks might sound like a crushing undertaking to the average entrepreneur, Serena says the show feels huge but not overwhelming. She works on the show every day from what she refers to as World Headquarters. "For the past two years we've been growing the business," she says. "It was a challenge adding a new bay last year but now it's really a well-oiled machine."
The day of the show starts when she arrives about 6:30 or 7 a.m. "I just kind of get everything rolling for the day," she adds. Two days earlier she and her crew, which includes oldest son Cody, 21, are at the fairgrounds working on displays, marking the floor for vendors and getting "the big pieces in place."
"On Friday all of my vendors come in and set up; it's fun," she says with a smile. "It's like a family reunion."
Vendors come from Utah, Montana, Idaho, across the state and even as far away as Minnesota and Canada.
By Saturday morning, the day of the show, she says, "it's quite calm and peaceful, all the work being done already."
Serena calls herself a full-time mom but that's kind of an understatement. She and her husband Colin have four boys ages 12, 13, 14 and 21. Which means when she started the sale over 10 years ago the boys were 2, 3, 4 and 11. "It was hard in the beginning," she says. "We took the kids everywhere with us and at the show we would try to find ways to keep them involved. You always make do."
Making do is something she knows only too well. She, her sister and brother were raised in the late 60s and early 70s by two "hippies" as she lovingly refers to her parents. "In the 60s they set out on a hippie journey traveling the country and doing what hippies did," she says.
What they did was travel the back roads of the U.S., Canada and Mexico in a gypsy wagon where Serena was born, delivered by her father. Later they settled into a tiny cabin in the woods of Northern California.
"We were dirt poor," she says matter-of-factly. She remembers going through landfills with her parents and collecting old toy trucks to use for storing onions or buttons or such. "My Dad would use old scraps of leather for hinges and my Mom would use old material to make our clothing," she says.
Early on she was inspired by her parent's thriftiness and style. "They were so creative. I gained a clever knack for thrifty creativity and turning ordinary objects into something useful. And I dreamed of the home I would create for my own family someday," she says.
As her family continued to travel she loved finding things others had thrown away and finding useful ways to reuse them.
At a certain age though, a girl just wants to be like the other girls. "When my sister and I got to be older and wanted to look like the other girls, my dad bought a converter, which is something you can attach to a car battery, and it takes a little of the juice and you could plug in a curling iron and have a few minutes of power," she says with a laugh. "And then he rigged up something to hook up to the blower so we could attach a hose and dry our hair on the way to school."
Although her early life was difficult at times, she now appreciates some of the hardships her family went through.
"I'm so thankful for that experience and I have a great appreciation for that because now I almost do better having less, and figuring out how I can make something out of nothing. I think if you're born with everything you need, you don't appreciate it as much," she says.
"That's how I was always raised. That's how I got interested in antiques and being resourceful. For me it was something I really loved."
Suffice it to say her gratitude didn't surface immediately.
"The day after I graduated from high school, I moved to Barrow, Alaska to a tiny little village as far north as you can go," she says. "There was a family there from my home town who ran an airline. I ended up being a ticket agent and thought I'd move there for the summer then come back and go to college."
The summer turned into seven years. She ended up enjoying being self-sufficient and making a lot of money, a lot compared to what she grew up with.
Eventually she attended a "small vocational college" and met her future husband. She came to Spokane during a summer visit to "meet the parents" of her then-fiancée Colin. "I fell in love with the area and was so tired of no sun for so many months. Spokane is so beautiful in the summertime and we decided to move here,"
Thompson says.
Spirit of the Farm Sale
Before the Farm Chicks Show became the Farm Chicks Show, it was a little sale in a friend's barn. Thompson asked her best friend Teri Edwards to join her in her venture of selling "funky old items" and within two years the sale was so popular they had to move it out of the barn to the Five Mile Grange Hall. They quickly outgrew that venue and moved to the town of Fairfield in 2004, where there were buildings as well as tents, erected at the town park for the growing number of vendors.
In 2009 there were two major shifts: Edwards retired from the business leaving Serena the lone Farm Chick to manage the business, and the show moved to the Spokane County Fairgrounds where it hosts more than 200 vendors and elbow-to-elbow shopping on the first day of the show. It is, according to Country Living and Flea Market Style Magazines, one of the best sales of its kind in the country. Both vendors and shoppers come from across the U.S. to attend the big sale. This year more than 10,000 visitors passed through the show in two days.
Husband Colin has always helped out in the business end of Farm Chicks, since he is a business manager and accountant; Serena relies on him to take care of the financial areas. "If a business doesn't have sound financial footing you can really get into a bad situation," she says. "I can't do both things at one time. I can't be creative (and do finances for the business) at the same time. It works out well for us so thank goodness," she says.
Today she says she's the luckiest girl in the world and wouldn't appreciate what she has if she hadn't experienced a childhood without all the necessities like indoor plumbing, electricity and luxuries like dishwashers and television.
Her creativity abounds. She blogs about all things domestic, vintage, crafty and foodie. She is a contributing editor for Country Living Magazine has authored two books: one with her friend Teri called Country Living The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen: Live Well, Laugh Often, Cook Much, and Country Living The Farm Chicks Christmas: Merry Ideas for the Holidays, which she wrote by herself. Both books center around ideas for entertaining, crafts and recipes woven through with delightful stories of family and friends
Her latest enterprise is a new website that's a virtual show-and-tell for antique sales, tag shows, auctions and such. The website is called My Favorite Find and she loves to be able to gather people together to show off their latest "finds." "You can search for great events, show-and-tell your (old and new) friends what you've found," she says.
Because really, that's one of the things she does best, gather friends around who love buying and selling vintage, and spread the word about the latest and greatest favorite finds.
What is a Farm Chick? A Farm Chick is a girl who sees the world through rose-colored glasses. She loves her family. She laughs a lot. She's farmgirl meets Fifth Avenue and with a little style, she'll change the world.
Note of Correction From Serena: Although the article states I was attending the vocational college in Alaska, I was actually an employee there, as was Colin.
I've loved sharing some of my insights into business recently. What have I missed?
If you have any questions, please feel free to post your questions here and I'll do my best to help.
Questions and answers below!
Image by Ray Kachatorian from a story of mine in Country Living Magazine.
Question from Kelley: How do I build internet traffic for my webstore. . . blog. . . etc? Any resources you can point me to, or advice would be awesome!
Answer: Make sure to use social media to your advantage. Build a Facebook page for your business and connect with others there. You really need to build a following and this can take time. Make sure not to be spam-like with those you connect with (Try not to bombard people with posts). If you build a slow and steady following, it will be filled with others who are truly interested in what you have to offer. Best wishes on your webstore!
Question from Reese: I would love to hear your advice on turning an idea into reality. I've got some great ideas, but I have no idea how to actually execute them.
Answer: Truly, my business has been a lot of work. It's taken ten years to get where I am with my business. In the beginning, I worked really hard to reach out to others who it made sense to connect with. Country Living Magazine, Emma Lee Turney (The founder of the Round Top Antiques Show), etc. to tell them about what we were doing and hoping that we could connect in some way. Along the way, I had a strong vision for the business and made sure to stay true to that. I think you need to get your vision into place and then run with it. Build up your business and then reach out to others, promote your business, do everything you can think of to make it strong and viable.
Question from Stacey: What do you do when what you love (interior decorating and styling) is not something "new" like you talked about in your previous "idea" post...how do you stand out in a crowd? The only real difference (or possibly limitation) i have is that i specialize in cottage decor. I just started a new decorating site at http://cottageindustryinterior.com. I'd love for you to take a look and welcome any advice you may have.
Answer: First, I think it's important that you are specializing in something that you obviously love and that's your niche. I'd bet there are no other interior decorators in your area that specialize in cottage decor - and that's perfect! You wouldn't want to open a muffin shop on a street with five other muffin shops. :) I think you have a beautiful website that's really easy to navigate. One tip: Make sure to credit any images you post that aren't your own to the original source - anywhere you post them... your website, facebook, etc. Good luck!
Question from Camille: Where does one start when taking a storefront business online? What do you see from your experience as being the biggest challenges with going online? Which program would you say is best to use for the shopping online? And, if you were asked what would you do differently now regarding your business both online and other avenues like shows, what would you say?
Answer: Make sure you have a really great website that is easy to navigate, and with working links. You really have one chance to pull someone in and if it's not easy, they'll be gone in a few seconds. There are so many shopping cart services that it's mind boggling. You may need to work with a professional to get yours set up. Really, it's going to take a lot of work on your part to do the research on what you like, what you don't like and then go from there. What I did differently with my business is that we originally had a webstore that I eventually was filling the orders for. It was just way too much work and not what I had in mind for the business, so I closed it down and now focus on other parts of my business that I enjoy. Take care.
Question from Cyndi: In your opinion, what's the single best and single worst thing a new small business can learn from?
Answer: My style in business is to just go for it and to learn from successes and mistakes along the way. It's important to not let failures bring you down, because you will fail at some things and that's okay. If you're tenacious and believe in what you're doing, you'll be okay.
Before I talk about trademarks, I want to preface this post by saying that I am not an expert in trademarks, nor do I have any authority on the matter. My insights are based on my experiences as a trademark holder and business person. You may want to consider talking with an attorney if a trademark is something you are seriously considering for your business.
Now on with the post...
I find that trademarks are a pain in the neck. I don't like them, but do find them absolutely necessary for my business. Here's why: My business is something I've worked really hard to build into a nationally known brand. In business, much of your success hinges on the reputation your business has and is identified through its name. Without my business name and what I've built, I'd really have nothing.
One of the very first things we did when we started The Farm Chicks, was to trademark it. We knew that we wanted to build the show into something big and wanted to protect what we were going to build. Now, if our plans were to have a little sale in a barn on a casual basis once in a while, I wouldn't have bothered. Because trademarks are not easy. In fact, I find them to be a whole lot of no fun.
Here's why: When you trademark your business, that is only the beginning. As the trademark owner, you must police your trademark, or you run the danger of not being able to enforce it. For example, if my attorney discovers there is someone in Timbucktoo holding an event called The Farm Chicks or anything similar, we must let them know I am the owner of that trademark. Anything that can be confused with The Farm Chicks (whether or not it is the same name) has to be acted upon.
So what do we do when this occurs? (And yes, it does happen...) I reach out to the person/people in a very friendly manner and explain to them that I am the legal owner of that trademark. I also explain that I need then to stop using the name immediately. Usually, that resolves the issue, but there are times when they just don't understand. They think they should be able to use it because I'm in Spokane and they're in Timbucktoo. Or they don't see how they're event could be confused with mine and so on. So, I or my attorney very politely try to explain how a trademark works. It's a frustrating and very stressful process and sometimes they can become defiant. And that part of business is just no fun for me. I do what I do because I love it and sometimes those sort of things can really be hard.
One time, two individuals started a very similar business with a very similar name and then took my story and Teri's story (back when Teri was still a part of the business) and copied them as their own. Their website had out bios on it!
Another time, two individuals started a very similar business with a very similar name and their logo was almost an identical copy of mine, complete with the star.
And many more...
But this is why trademark law exists. Anything that can cause confusion in the marketplace (can cause any confusion for the consumer) must be addressed, if you own the trademark. If you are the owner of the trademark and you just ignore these violations, you run the risk of not being able to enforce it. And really, if you dont have any plans of enforcing it (and it can get very expensive to do so), why get a trademark in the first place?
Did you know that you can search all current and pending trademarks that exist? If you are starting a business, this is really something you should check before you choose a name. You definitely don't want to choose a name that someone else already owns. It's called the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS). You can find the website here.
When you see the TM mark on a logo, that usually means the business has applied for a trademark and is in the process. Once the trademark has gone through, the (R) can be used.
Filing for a trademark can also be expensive. I think it is around $500 for a filing fee and additional for every single category you are trademarking in. It can get complicated. My attorney handles all of my trademarks, and that can get costly as well, as I pay attorney fees in addition to the actual filing fees described above. Again, I'd never do it if I wasn't taking the business so seriously.
It's all food for thought. Really, it's all about how far do you intend to take your business? If nothing else, I do hope you will search the TESS site before choosing a name. It will make life so much easier for you and your business in the long run, whether you choose to trademark or not. Because after all, someone else could already own the name you would like to use.
One thing that can have such an impact on your business is the people you choose to surround yourself with. Your circle. Your circle is really a lot of circles: friends, business friends, businesses, etc.
You know I talk about choosing to surround myself with people and businesses who are good. And that's really important to me. Do you know how you feel after you've visited with someone who was negative or arrogant? You leave that encounter feeling bad. Imagine if all of your time was spent with people who were positive and uplifting. It would be life changing.
I really believe every choice we make, from the tiniest things to the biggest things have an impact on the world. If we're good to our children, they're good to others. If we support one another, others will do the same. If we build positive minded businesses, we are building a greater good. I can tell you that if you build a life of trying to be the best person you can be, it becomes who you are. And I say that because it's important to do good things because you just want to do good things - not that you're ever expecting anything in return.
But guess what? Life isn't perfect, and sometimes you'll be disappointed or betrayed by someone you've pulled into your circle. And that's just life. You can spend time dwelling on it and let it bring you down, or you can just deal with it, scrub yourself clean from it, and move on. And you'll be better for it. Because in the end, you'll learn that's a blessing too. You'll grow and be strengthened, and land on your feet.
Because you're a good person.
Why am I talking about being a good person when building your business? Because it's all intertwined. Your circle, your life choices - it all affects your life - and your business.
Now, I'm not saying you need to rush out and befriend every business person you ever meet or save the world. Just do what makes sense. Here are some examples:
You need to understand your circle is more than those you befriend or talk to every day. It's anyone you choose to do business with as well.
I've learned to choose wisely. And if someone or something doesn't work out, I just move on. I'm an optimistic entrepreneur but I'm realistic too.
P.S. Do you recognize the ladies pictured above? If you attend The Farm Chicks Show, you probably do! There's Kathy and Melissa - they've been vendors at The Farm Chicks Show for many years. And Pam and her daughter. Pam has been selling her famous treats at the show for quite some time. I love that they're in my circle.
We all seem to know that having a good business idea is pretty much the best thing you can do when setting out to build your dream. We all want that idea, don't we? The one that everyone says, "I wish I had thought of that!"
I'm here to say that you don't have to come up with something earth shattering to become successful. Here's what I believe:
The most important foundation of a creative business is that it's something you love. LOVE! What do you enjoy? What are you passionate about? Can you work that into a business?
Start from there.
But don't stop at that. Begin thinking about it from your perspective. What would you enjoy if you were the consumer? Try to always think of things with that angle - as if you were experiencing it. Would you love it? Don't stop until it's something that you would love, if you were the consumer.
I also really want to say that although success in business is often defined by how much revenue your business creates, that's not something I ever focused on when starting out. I believe that developing a business is much like raising a child. You love your child and you work hard to make sure you raise him/her to be the very best they can be. Nurtured, loved, carefully guided - and hopefully someday, successful. And if you work really hard and do the very best you can, chances are, things will turn out just fine. And most likely, very well. You became a parent because you WANTED a child - just like you start a business because you WANT a business. You're going to get out of it what you put into it.
I should also take a minute to talk about originality. I think that's so important. Important to find your niche - to carve your path where others haven't gone before. This will take work, patience, and some time. But it will be worth it in the end.
And on that topic of originality, let me tell you this. I love shining a spotlight on others and I'm always seeking to share stories of other women in business. What I'm looking for is something unique. Something I haven't seen before. And I'm not alone. That's what magazine staffers, television producers, and editors are always seeking. And consumers are too.
A great example is my friend Heather Bullard's new magazine, Souvenir. Sure, there are lots of magazines out there but hers is unique. Really grass-roots and wonderful because it's full of stories from everyday women like you and me. But SO. Well. Done.
Which brings me to this: There are so many of us entrepreneurs and creative women out there and we can all support one another. You can surround yourself with a wonderful circle of supportive women.
I'll be talking about that tomorrow...
In the meantime, do you have any questions? Leave me a comment and I'll do my best to help. xo
I often think about how blessed I am to have found a path in life that allows me to be a mom and wife, while living my dream of building a creative business. Getting to do something I love is really a dream come true.
It's funny how life twists and turns and then suddenly you're in a place you never knew you'd be. That's me.
And I've always believed that if life gives you blessings, you should try to pass them along, however you are able to do so. So this week, I thought I'd talk about building a little business from scratch, what I've learned, what I believe, and so on.
I'll get started with that tomorrow.
In the meantime, have you visited my newest creation – My Favorite Find yet? It's one way I've been able to help others spread the word about their businesses. I'd love for you to check it out, and all of the businesses, events, and finds that are listed there.
Hello there! Things are hopping here at World Headquarters!
Spring is in full swing here on the bluff and the view from my windows always makes my heart skip a beat. This is one of Byron's tractors that I was so happy to see he parked just outside my doors today. Byron farms our property for us and we adore him and his beautiful work. Farmers are such a gift to our world.
I've been busy getting ready for The Farm Chicks Show. It's fun to see the old show posters isn't it? They're all here, except for the first two which were handmade by my sister and hang in a special place of honor in World HQ.
Farm Chicks Show tickets all boxed up and ready to go!
This final countdown to the show is always a busy one, but I love it!
Lots of love from World Headquarters to you!
~ Serena :)
My Favorite Find is the biggest dream I've had in a long time. This vision resided in my mind and I wanted so much to bring it to life. I knew that finding the right team was key. I have to like the people I work with, trust them, and in a way, put much of my dream in their hands.
Eventually, my search led me to North by Northwest, an amazing Spokane-based digital studio, specializing in film, video, and web. I first met some of the NXNW crew when an old family friend, Peter Coyote, was in town shooting a film. Our oldest son Cody and I spent a few hours on set watching Coyote (yes, we call him Coyote... remember my hippy childhood?) bring his character to life, and getting to see the crew work their magic.
You know how when you meet someone and you know that they're right? Yeah, me too. And when we met to discuss My Favorite Find, at long last, I knew I had met my team.
Now, after all this time, I'd like for you to meet them too!
Jason Miller: He's always full of ideas and I like that even though he knows the developers will probably roll their eyes at some of them, he still shares. The day of the big MFF launch, he worked a 12 hour day, lost his wallet, had a family member get in a car crash, and son get a black eye at school. (And I thought my day was stressful!)
Shawn Bendinelli: Shawn is creative and helpful and willing to tell me if he disagrees with something. That's important! And I love that he and his wife are entrepreneurs too. You can find his Evoke Apparel Company, a business on a social mission, here.
Alex Cross: I think I make Alex wrinkle his brows in question, A LOT. Alex has been key in building the MFF site and making it function like a dream. Unfortunately, I don't speak techie but he's learning to speak Farm Chick. He's one smart cookie.
Anthony Beran: None of the guys know this, but I secretly refer to Anthony as Wilson. Remember Home Improvement? All I saw of Anthony's face for several months was the top part of his head over the computer monitor. And sometimes his eyes. This guy is FOCUSED.
Tyreil Poosri: I've worked with a lot of designers in my day and I know a gem when I see one. That's right Tyreil, I'm calling you a gem.
Stephanie May: Although Stephanie works out of the Boise, Idaho office, she was involved a lot in the early brainstorming stages of the project. Her insight was wonderful as she's a seasoned weekend junker and antiques enthusiast. Much of the mapping feature on the site is thanks to her insight.
Carlos Rivera: I enjoyed working with Carlos and seeing his ideas for the overall look of the site, some of which were integrated in.
I've talked about this before, but will say again, you only have so much time in this life, it's important to spend it with good people. These are my people and I'm so blessed to have them helping me bring my dreams to life. And while you're clicking, sharing, and discovering on My Favorite Find, now you'll know who's working behind the scenes to maintain and improve the site to make it better for you.
P.S. A big part of bringing My Favorite Find to life was another group I assembled to test things out, and give good honest feedback. The site wouldn't be the same without them. They're my Focus Group and I'll introduce them to you soon.
Yesterday, aside from consuming a piece a toast, I spent the day at my keyboard, hands shaking, as the launch of My Favorite Find began to unfold.
In 10th grade, I was a short, chubby teenager trying to make my way through high school. I'd recently begun taking carrot pills to try and become tan, to fit into the California look that was popular at the time. Unfortunately for me, the effect was that I turned ORANGE. In fact, I looked very much like an Oompa Loompa. And we all knew it, but no one said a thing. Because that would have just been mean. But one day, as I walked into Social Studies class late, my teacher, Mr. B, announces to the class, "Here's Serena De La Luz, the girl who's gained twenty pounds in a year!" And in that moment, I died inside. It was publicly humiliating. And let's be honest, who wants to be seen as a failure with everyone watching?
I started yesterday as nervous as can be - wanting for you to like My Favorite Find, to join in, and to bring this virtual world to life. And then, there you were. You came! It was a party, and I was so happy. But just as the party was getting in to full swing, there were so many of you that the servers crashed. And for half a second, I felt like I was back in Mr. B's room, and that I had failed.
But I've learned a few things since being an Oompa Loompa. You just deal with it and you move on. And that's what we did. The servers were upgraded, and you were patient. You continued to join the party. And I love you for that.
My Favorite Find is now back in full swing. We want you there at the party, to continue to build the community, share your finds, promote your events and shoppes, and make it the most amazing resource for all.
If you haven't yet joined in, all you need to do is visit the site, request an invitation (we've had to do this to filter out spam and inappropriate content), and then wait a few minutes for your email invitation. (You may need to check your spam folder for the email). Once you receive the invitation, simply click on the link in the email, and you'll be taken onto the website to create your profile.
If you received an invitation via email yesterday, please disregard. The email contained errors and the link doesn't work. You'll need to start over by clicking here.
Thank you for your patience as we work out the kinks and the site evolves. We couldn't do it without you.
P.S. I'm not the only one following my dreams. Here are two dreamers that are special to me:
Heather Bullard's beautiful magazine has arrived. You can see a free preview here. (I'm so happy to be one of the contributors to this amazing new magazine!)
Our boy is making music. You can follow his band here . Here they are playing recently at EMP. You can catch them next at the Bumbershoot Music Festival.
It was shortly after the birth of our fourth son, the last of three born 15 months apart. Our home at the time was an old schoolhouse built in the thirties, nestled in the foothills of Mt. Spokane. We were adjusting to life with a home full of young boys and struggling to make ends meet.
I'd recently begun making a modest amount of money selling yard sale finds on ebay and although it wasn't anything to write home about, I enjoyed it immensely.
One afternoon, my friend Teri called to tell me she'd just been to an amazing yard sale in Deer Park, which was about a half an hour from my home. Dishes, fun vintage purses, neat old scarves and so on. I was so excited about her finds that I dropped my yard work, hopped in the car, and headed on over to her house to check it all out. When I arrived, I was surprised to see how much stuff that she, her sister, and two girls had scored. I asked if there was much left at the sale when they'd left. "Quite a bit!", they replied.
And so we headed back to see what I could find.
We pulled up and all I could really see were several tables piled high with clothing. Not what I was hoping. But when I neared, I could see that the clothing was at least all vintage and I was intrigued. Digging in, I came upon an interesting old Hawaiian shirt.
At some point leading up to that day I'd read an article in Country Living Magazine about vintage Hawaiian shirts and remembered learning that certain ones could actually be quite valuable.
I added the shirt to my pile and went to pay. "All clothes are .10 cents each", the lady said with a smile. Well, I thought, I can't go wrong.
Later that week, I listed my shirt on ebay and crossed my fingers that it'd be worth something. Maybe $50? And then something began to happen. The bids started coming in and the price began to rise. $50 - - - - - $85 - - - - $125... WHAT?!
I called Colin, heart pounding, "MY SHIRT IS AT $125!" Then I'd call Teri. MY SHIRT IS AT $125!!! No, Wait! It's at $135!
And so it went for seven days. Eventually, Colin's co-workers were watching the auction too. Who could believe this shirt was going this high?
When the final minutes on the auction ticked away, and we continued to click refresh! refresh! refresh! with the mouse, the price ticked on up to a final bid of $860!
$860 dollars!
It was my favorite find.
Yep! That's the shirt, and the $860 check.
But the fun didn't stop there. Ebay loved the story so much that years later I shot a commercial for the company, re-telling my story. I don't think the commercial ever aired, but it was a fun experience none the less.
Do you have a favorite find? I have lots more as well and nothing is more fun for me than sharing the stories of what I've found with others who understand. I bet you love that too.
I hope you'll come join me on my new website, My Favorite Find, and share your finds there too. And while we're at it, let's discover some great places to find more of what we love. It's all there and I hope you will be too!
P.S. You can read more about the story behind My Favorite Find on these blogs:
When I was thinking about how I wanted to first reveal My Favorite Find to the world, I decided there'd be no better way than to give the scoop to my readers first. In a homegrown sort of way. After all, My Favorite Find is really all about you. I'll be posting the links to the interviews here, and you can click the links to these blogs to learn all about My Favorite Find.
I'm so excited to announce the launch of My Favorite Find is coming on Monday, March 19th!
Have you signed up yet? I've been doing interviews with lots of Farm Chicks blog readers about my new venture, and I'll be posting the links to those interviews here, as they'll be revealing what My Favorite Find is all about. And then Monday, I'll be here to tell you the story behind My Favorite Find. I can't wait! Stay tuned!
A lot of people ask how to grow a business, you know, especially when you're starting from the ground up.
I know that story all too well, as almost everything I've learned in business, I've learned from me. Trial and error. Doing everything I could to make it work. And along the way, one thing I've learned is that the connections you make and relationships you build are some of the most valuable choices you can make.
And whenever I possibly can, I love more than anything to build others up, to praise, recognize, and embrace all of you who are doing what you love and trying to make your way in the world too. Recently, I held a business card contest which was so much fun, and learned about many small businesses out there. After receiving all of the submissions, I visited the websites of the finalists and discovered Alisa and her vintage rental company, The Attic, which it turns out, serves my area! And because of what she does, I was able to open the doors of The Farm Chicks Show to her, in a unique sort of way.
You never know what's in store for you today, but be open to what's out there and the connections you can make. Because this is how you'll live happily ever after.
To learn more about Alisa's business, click here. To follow her business on facebook, click here.
P.S. All this talk of building each other up reminds me..... My Favorite Find will be here REALLY REALLY SOON! And it's all about Y-O-U . Because I love you, yes I do. Make sure to sign up today!
We've narrowed down the Business Card Contest entries (thank you so much to everyone who entered! We were overwhelmed with the volume of cards received), and now it's your turn to vote for your favorites! Voting is now closed. We'll announce all of the winners soon!
Handmade: (on recycled cereal boxes)
1.) The Red Kitchen
More handmade/embellished:
2.) Terri Click 3.) Paulette Miller 4.) Portage Trail Barn 5.) Alexa Lett
Fun shapes:
6.) Red Dog Barkery 7.) Country Chiq
A suite of cards:
8.) Melissa Davis Interior Design
Classic, yet current:
9.) Wanderlux 10.) The Attic 11.) Mustard Moon 12.) Piping & Pleats 13.) Honeybeehumble
Simple and happy:
14.) Wimzie Prints 15.) this Beautiful Frugal Life 16.) Pink Chalk Fabrics 17.) Whimsical Woodland
Vintage inspired:
18.) Elaine Tolson 19.) Vintage etc. 20.) Sweet Kaity
21.) Rhonda Addision
To vote, please leave a comment telling me the name of which card is your favorite. If you have more than one favorite, please leave a separate comment for each one.
And here's the fun part! The top three cards that receive your votes will receive a special surprise prize pack from me, and a spotlight on their businesses, here on my blog. AND those of you who vote will be entered into a drawing to win a surprize prize pack from me as well!
Can you say that really fast three times?! Surprise Prize Pack! Surprise Prize Pack! Surprise Prize Pack! hee hee
You have until Monday night, February 20th to vote/enter. Voting is now closed. We'll announce the winners soon! Hooray!
Hello and happy Monday! I spent the weekend working on my contributions to Heather Bullard's new lifestyle magazine, Souvenir.
Heather's new magazine will be available digitally online, in an ipad friendly version, and in printed form and will include beautiful home features, lifestyle and travel stories as well as simple crafts and entertaining ideas.
And in true Heather fashion, she has compiled a team of contributors to make it all possible and I'm really happy to announce that I'm one of them!
You can read more about it on Heather's Blog, on the Souvenir Website, and Souvenir's Facebook page.
And if you want to sign up for Souvenir's Mailing List, and be notified when new issues are available, you can do so here.
Congratulations, Heather! We can't wait!
Although I grew up with no television, I remember my mom talking about Candid Camera. She'd watched the show as a teenager and always loved it. She believed that laughter was the best medicine. And I remember her describing episodes and laughing until she cried when doing so. Whenever I feel down, I like to think up imaginary episodes and that makes me giggle.
I think she was on to something.
Today I wanted to talk about business as a creative person and being happy in what you do. There's so much out there in the way of magazines, blogs, websites, etc. And you know, it's easy to sort of feel like what you're doing just doesn't measure up.
I'm here to tell you that's not a good way to think. And it's not healthy for you.
I'd like to tell you my opinion: Visit sites that inspire you, make you laugh, or leave you feeling good.
Stop visiting sites that make you feel bad. Maybe they have a lofty tone or an air of superiority. Or maybe they're negative. And here's why I say stop. Would you be friends with someone who makes you feel that way? I wouldn't. Because we all just want to be happy, right?
Surround yourself with good. Do good. Be good to yourself, so that you can be even better to those you love. And then, they'll be better, and better to their friends too.
And the same holds true in business. Do business with people you respect. That treat you well. That appreciate your business, however small it may be. I love that I know my printer and his family, that my postman knows my name, and that my internet team is full of positive, good people.
And with others in your field, surround yourself with the ones who have ethics. Who build others up. When you're good, you attract good, and the negative weeds itself out. You'll find that it is possible to love what you do. And you know what? Pretty soon, your field will be free of all the bad seeds and will do nothing but flourish.
Happy = Healthy. I'm living proof.
Me, Jennifer, and Penny, visiting at The Farm Chicks Show, years ago.
A new frontier. Arriving WINTER 2012.
Are you with me?
Click here to follow.
Today I'd like to introduce you to The Funky Junk girls, Jennifer and Hollie.
My history with Jen and Hollie goes way back to the early days of The Farm Chicks Show. They were vendors, located next to each other in the big tent of Fairfield's city park. Over the years, they became friends, and when The Farm Chicks show went on a one year hiatus, they decided to start their own event: Funky Junk.
Their event is held twice a year - the spring location is just outside of Spokane and the fall location is held in Sandpoint, Idaho, and is now host to 30 vendors.
When they're not working on their Funky Junk Show, Jennifer is hard at work tending the crops on her berry farm, making soap, and being a mom, while Hollie stays busy as the mom of 3 very active boys. And I'm happy to say The Funky Junk girls still participate in The Farm Chicks Show each year.
The Funky Junk Show is coming up this weekend in Sandpoint, Idaho and I'll be sure to be there, to support the girls and their dream. Will I see you there too?
Click here to visit Jennifer's blog.
Click here to visit Hollie's blog.
Click here to follow Funky Junk on Facebook.
Images by Cary Burnett.
FJ Show flyer by Hollie's sister, Heidi Jantz.
I love hearing about couples building a dream together - in this case, one piece of furniture at a time.
Chelsea and Kiel originally met in high school art class. College took them in different directions - he to art school, she to nursing. Four years later, they were reintroduced and fell in love in an instant. Eventually, they got engaged, moved away, and Kiel took a job at a furniture design firm. All was well until their lives were jolted by the news that Kiel was being laid off from his job.
Knowing they had the support of their family and friends back home in Ohio, they decided to pack up and head home where Kiel was hired by a product design company and Chelsea began work as a nurse. They bought their first home and Kiel, along with friend Kyle, founded Modern Farm Furniture - designing, building, and selling urban style pieces that are farm inspired. In fact, many of the original pieces are works from wood salvaged from the barns or trees of Kiel's family farm.
Chelsea has appointed herself Marketing Director and excitedly tells how just recently, two Modern Farm tables were selected by an interior designer for the ABC show Extreme Makeover Home Edition, to air in December.
Their dream? To one day quit their day jobs to pursue what they love so much. Modern Farm Furniture.
Click here to visit the Modern Farm Furniture website.
Click here to "like" Modern Farm Furniture on facebook.
Click here to visit Chelsea's blog: Farm Fresh Modern.
In my ongoing series of posts this week, dedicated to shining a light on other entrepreneurs, I'd like to introduce you to Janet Long, founder of The Clover Market, in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.
As an interior designer who was growing frustrated with the lack of interesting accessories and furniture for her clients, she decided to create an outdoor market that would feature such items. Inspired by other outdoor markets that she'd visited, she started the long and arduous process of finding a suitable location and ultimately receiving approval from the Township to hold the Market in a parking lot, downtown. All together, the approval process took approximately three years of meetings, petitions, outreach, letters to the editor, appearances before the local Board of Commissioners, and meetings with the local Civic Associations. Tenacity.
Clover Market was finally approved and began operations in the spring of 2010, with a very small handful of vendors, twice a month.
2010 was challenging. The East Coast weather was not always cooperative, procuring vendors proved difficult, and attendance wasn't always the best. At one point, exhausted from the rigors of the market, being a mom, running the design business, and dealing with the side effects of medullary thyroid cancer, she was tempted to throw in the towel.
Instead, she dove in, deeper than ever before, changed the market to run once a month instead of two, and spent every spare moment networking, searching for more vendors, pitching stories, and reaching out to friends - all to generate buzz and excitement for her event.
And, it worked! 2011 opened with a bang, with three completely sold out shows at about 60 vendors each, tremendous public support and attendance, and a waiting list of interested vendors. And the weather cooperated as well.
Clover Market has helped to revitalize the downtown area which has suffered in these harsh economic times, and Janet is proud to say that it has played a small part in incubating and providing a venue for many small business owners who otherwise wouldn't have a venue to market themselves and sell their work and their products.
Congratulations, Janet! You're hard work is an inspiration.
Click here to find out more about Clover Market.
Click here to "like" Clover Market on facebook.
All images by Carla Zambelli.
Recently, I wrote about wanting to shine a spotlight on some of my readers. Women who are following their dreams, and trying to make a career out of what they love. Today, I want to introduce you to: Tamara Hensley
Tammy is a graphic designer living near Lake Superior. She grew up creatively, dabbling in various creative pursuits. At the age of 10, her mom gave Tammy and her sister a sewing machine.
She sewed and quilted and dreamed of the day that she could design her own line of fabric. Eventually, she stumbled upon Spoonflower, a website where designers can upload their fabric designs for sale. Since then, she has created over 100 designs.
Tammy saves the money she makes from the commissions on the fabric sales through Spoonflower so that she can purchase her own fabric to create the projects that she loves.
Her dream? To become a licensed designer for a fabric company.
Tammy, Keep following your dreams, and doing what you love. I'm rooting for you and I know my readers are too.
You can learn more about Tammy on her blog: Art, Alphabets, and Adventure
Click here to view and purchase pieces from Tammy's "Tammikins" fabric collection.
Today I'm taking you behind the scenes at World Headquarters, where I ran into quite a pickle this week when the wi-fi stopped working. When that happened, everything came to a grinding halt. I NEED the internet for a lot of what I do.
It all started with some technical difficulties with the Mothership. (That's the room that contains all of the wiring here).
Imagine me trying to troubleshoot in this room. I know, right? hahahahahahaha
After that didn't work, I ended up here:
at the Apple store. It ended up being a 5.5 hour visit at the Genius Bar (No, not that kind of bar), where the Apple geniuses help desperate souls like me who come in with teeth clenched and an impulse to throw one's laptop through the pretty glass entryway.
If you own any sort of Apple product and have a problem, please just drop what you're doing and go visit the geniuses. They're amazing. And nice! And even more importantly, patient. (Hi Eric and Eric! and George!)
In the end, I walked away with my first Porsche.
(aka the cutest little hard drive ever).
And now, we're back up and running. This morning I woke up to over 1,000 emails. I think I better get back at it.
P.S. No geniuses, laptops or pretty glass entryways were harmed in this process.
Note: I was not paid to talk about my experience at Apple. And heavens knows they don't need my endorsement to succeed. :)
The first business I ever had was selling mud pies to people who would venture up the three mile long dirt road to our cabin in the woods to see my parents. I was in elementary school and I still remember my exhilaration once I'd made $20 from those pies.
In fact, with that success, an entrepreneur was born.
And there's really something about entrepreneurs isn't there?
All chasing a dream.
A big idea.
The next big thing.
Or the next little thing.... that maybe does nothing more than to make us happy.
Big or small...
dreams are dreams and that's what being an entrepreneur is all about. Dreaming, doing, following through. For you.
You. That's really what I'm trying to get around to today.
And here's why. I want to help shine a light on other entrepreneurs. Because we can all use a boost sometime.
It's your time to shine.
... * ... * ... * ... * ... * ... * ... * ...
Here are the details:
Please send me a description of your business (from anywhere in the world), anything that helps me to better understand what you do. Tell me your story, your successes, failures, whatever it is that's brought you to where you are with your business today. (If you have a web address, please make sure to provide that as well).
Put everything together and send it to me here:
The Farm Chicks
Time to Shine!
P.O. Box 1328
Mead, WA 99021
or you can email me, with the subject line: Time to Shine.
I will be going through your submissions and will select several to profile here, on my blog, for the world to see.
Because you deserve it.
... * ... * ... * ... * ... * ... * ... * ...
I was so sad when I had to close my shop and had to stop with online orders. I just couldn't keep up. And I've heard from so many of you, wanting to purchase my books and other cute things.
So I have good news to share! I now have an amazon shop where you can purchase my books, other books I love, and products too. And amazon is able to offer my books at such amazingly low prices, it will save you lots.
To go to the shop, you can click on the books icon on my sidebar here or from my website, by clicking on products.
Thank you so much for your support. I adore you.
Serena :)
P.S. I'll be regularly adding new selections, so I hope you'll check back often.
The original Farm Chicks office was located in the corner of my laundry room.
It was October of 2002 and Teri and I had just held our very first sale, in my friend's barn, just a short walk from my house.
I had a strong feeling that The Farm Chicks needed to have a website and set my mind to creating one. I had no idea what I was doing, but really wanted a way to grow the business and anticipated that the internet would be key in doing so.
So, I set up my family's terribly old computer and set out to create the website, using a dial-up connection in my little corner. I worked late at night after the family had all gone to bed, and during the day, whenever I could squeeze in a minute or two. And I'm going to tell you it wasn't the ideal way to hatch the business, but I was working with what I had at the time, which was something I was used to. Making do.
Eventually, Colin and I saved up enough money to buy a desk from Pottery Barn that fit perfectly into a little niche in the hall between the living room and bathroom. The size of a closet. So, I moved the computer out of the laundry room and into my new space. And I began to dream bigger than ever before.
Whenever I'd have an important call or exciting development, Colin and I would laugh about who I was talking with, and the fact that it was all taking place from that little desk. And he began referring to it as World Headquarters. Because it all seemed so crazy, that all that was happening from that tiny little space.
Now that we've moved to our new home, and I have an actual office, I'm still in awe of my new space. The new World Headquarters. And that's what it will always be to us, because it reminds us of where this little business began. And makes me excited about what lies ahead.
And in this space, I feel more inspired than I've ever felt before. But it's still quite a mess. So, before I start moving ahead, I need to get moved in.
And I'm getting there. Box by box.
Right now, I'm getting my paper crafts cabinet organized. Drawer by drawer. And I'm taking my time.
Because, you can't rush these things and I want it to be just right.
After all, it's taken me nine years to get here. World Headquarters is a happy place to be.
Each year, in the weeks leading up to The Farm Chicks Antiques Show, my emails increase ten-fold. I hear from a lot of women wanting business advice. And I wish that I could just say *poof* it's this easy! But really, business is a lot of hard work, passion, and time. Everything takes time. Years ago, I wrote this advice for Country Living Magazine, to try and help women going into business. You might find it helpful.
If you're just getting started in business, or are looking for some business inspiration, this new Country Living Book: The Mom's Guide to Running a Business, may be helpful as well.
(You'll find my business story here:)
Being a mom and having a business can really be a challenge, but if you can find a balance, it can be really rewarding. Stay focused, be true to what you love, and work hard. You can do it.
I wish you all the success in the world!


text:
Welcome Back, Victoria Rae Black
In June 2013, we came to the sad, sad conclusion that one of our favorite porn starlets, Victoria Rae Black, had retired from porn (read Did Victoria Rae Black
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Stevie Shae Talks Sex, Snakes and the Apocalypse
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WHAS11) -- A Fort Campbell soldier is dead and a full investigation is underway find out what happened.
Police in Clarksville, Tenn. are looking into the cause of death for 24-year-old First Lieutenant Chris Rogan. Rogan was found dead in his home around 7 p.m. Sunday evening. He was a part of the 101st airborne division.
No other details are being released about the investigation. Rogan was a West Point graduate and was from Connecticut.


text:
I love you.
Why do I feel so inadequate? As if I do more harm than good. Why do I feel as though I am meant to live my life alone? As if I'm not worthy of anything good or of the slightest value. I only hurt those close to me.
Why must I do everything wrong? I feel wrong, I react wrong, I love wrong, I want you wrong, I talk wrong, I upset wrong. Wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
How can one person stand to be with me forever? It doesn't seem feasible. Why try? Why set myself up for the inevitable failure that would be a long-term relationship? Love only takes you so far, then you grow up. Time to grow up, I guess.
how do i re-blog or like your pictures? @raisedbyhitler
You can either click on the date or amount of notes to be taken to the page to reblog or like a post.


text:
Walk through small villages and towns, enjoy hearty and well-cooked Spanish food, complete the last 100km of the pilgrim's trail and complete your pilgrim's pass, walk into the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
If you're looking to conduct your own pilgrimage – along a route filled with the beautiful countryside and rustic villages of Northern Spain – start here, at the Camino de Santiago. In this eight-day trip, you'll complete the last 100km of the pilgrimage route to Santiago and receive a "compostela" certificate when you're finished to prove your accomplishment. Refuel with tasty Spanish food and take the time to stop and smell the flowers – it's active but at a slower, more picturesque pace.
Arrive at any time. Welcome meeting this evening.
Over the next five days, follow the Camino de Santiago to its ultimate goal, the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. Before leaving Lugo, stop to pick up your "credencial," which will be stamped daily to authenticate your progress. Our hike takes in tiny villages where the rustic, home-cooked local food is a delicious accompaniment to your hike. Walk through rolling green hills, past churches and ruined towns, walking between 15-25km (9-15 mi) per day
This morning our Camino journey reaches its dramatic conclusion as we cover the final 14kms from Amenal into Santiago de Compostela itself. Embrace the history and spirituality of this magnificent and important cathedral during mass and receive your your "compostela," a document that certifies your journey. This evening, enjoy this beautiful town and celebrate your achievement at one of the many local bars and restaurants.
Depart at any time.
Find dates, prices, and more trip options.Book Now


text:
Categories > Cartoons > X-Men: Evolution > Days of Future Hellfire
Eye of the Storm0 Reviews
Chapter 9: Eye of the Storm
Muir Island
The flight to Muir Island was quiet for the most part. The team that included the Jubilee, Sam, Tabitha, Amara, Ray, Roberto, Jamie, Rahne, Irene, Exodus, Sage, Kurt, and Emma didn't have much to say now that the fate of the future was in the hands of their friends. They could take comfort that they had changed the future before when they fought against Selene. They could only hope that they could do the same against Donald Pierce and Mastermold.
As they neared their destination, baby Jack was fussy. Emma struggled to console him, holding him close and whispering softly in his ear that everything was going to be okay. Even though he was just an infant, she could tell he missed his daddy. She did too, but had faith that he would come back to them.
"Shh…it'll be okay, sweetie," said Emma, "Mommy's here."
"Will you keep that kid quiet for crying out loud?" shouted Exodus from the back, "He's giving me a headache!"
"If you don't like it you can swim the rest of the way," spat Emma.
"Yeah, we'll all cheer you on," said Jubilee, "Not!"
The other New Mutants laughed and gathered around Emma to help calm down Jack. Exodus grunted to himself. He still couldn't believe Magneto had him staying behind. He understood the importance of watching over his kids, but he was no babysitter. He joined Magneto because he believed he would lead mutants to salvation. This diversion with the future and the Hellfire Club seemed a total deviation of what they were fighting for.
Exodus turned his attention back to Wanda and Pietro. Kurt was still with him, gently holding Wanda's hand and standing protectively over her. Exodus was not the most pleasant person to be around, but for Wanda he endured it. But that didn't stop Exodus from making comments.
"It's undignified, you know," he said, "The children of Magneto should be by his side in his fight to liberate our kind."
"Obviously you don't know vhat kind of a father Magneto is," said Kurt bitterly, remembering all the painful stories Wanda told him about her early life.
"Maybe I don't, but he's still their father," said Exodus strongly, "At least he's willing to reach out to them. It's their fault for not accepting it."
"You mean like zhe time you guys showed up at the mansion and tried to force Vanda to come back vith you?" said Kurt defensively, "He vasn't reaching out to zhem! He was forcing zhem! I may not be a parent, but I know zhat's not how you show love for your children. Even if Magneto does want to reconcile, he has a long vay to go."
"And so does your girlfriend," said Exodus, "If she wasn't so blinded by anger, she would see that her father loves her enough to fight for a world where our kind aren't subjugated. Mistakes or not, he does what he does for them. At least Pietro gave him a chance."
Exodus wasn't going to be convinced. Kurt quickly realized that. He was so blindly loyal to Magneto that he couldn't see what a dark and bitter man he was. While the Professor always defended him as a friend, that still wasn't an excuse to abandon his own children. Kurt saw how much that hurt Wanda and stood by her when the pain was too great.
Yet while he held her hand, he didn't sense that Wanda was partially conscious. She heard much of their exchange and if she had the strength, she would have smiled at Kurt's devotion. But at the same time, Exodus may have had a point. Magneto may have had a very dark side to him, but there was also a side that loved her and Pietro. While that didn't stop him from throwing her away into an insane asylum, that didn't mean it wasn't there. Wanda just wasn't willing to embrace it yet.
Back up front, the rest of the team helped calm Jack down. Emma was grateful, glad to have the support of the younger mutants even though they didn't know much about parenting. It helped take their minds off the fight the others were caught up in.
"He's so cute," cooed Jubilee, "He's even cuter when he's not whining."
"I'll say," said Roberto, "I thought he'd never stop."
"Is that all you guys see with babies?" said Amara, rolling her eyes, "Just the crying and nothing else?"
"Of course not," said Sam, "But most of the time babies either cry or sleep. Ah just hope he can stay that way through the descent."
"He will," said Emma, smiling at the sleeping form of their son, "Jack's a pretty heavy sleeper."
"Well he has to be with the house we live in," said Ray.
"Not to mention the parents he has," grinned Tabitha.
"What's that supposed to mean?" said Emma suspiciously.
"Oh you know…" she said with a playful look, "Don't you need a baby that sleeps if you and your hubby are to keep things passionate?"
That earned her a scorn from Emma and a round of laughs from the others. Even during times of crisis, they couldn't help but make sex jokes. Some things never changed.
While things with Jack settled, Rahne and Jamie remained in their seats gazing out the window. Rahne was genuinely excited to see her mother. Even if it was under dreary circumstances, it had been a while and she looked forward to catching up with her. Jamie, on the other hand, was a little nervous. Meeting his girlfriend's mother was a big deal. It didn't help that he remembered how bad it went when Vince met Emma's parents. And he and Rahne hadn't been together long. It just felt like it was happening so soon.
"Feeling any better, Jamie?" asked Rahne.
"A little," he replied, "I just wish I had more time to prepare for this. Usually meeting your girlfriend's mother involves more planning."
"Will ye relax, already?" groaned the Scottish girl, "Ye got no reason to be worried. It's not like mae mother is Mystique or something."
"True, but she's still your mother," said Jamie, "Have you told her about us?"
"Aye, and she's talked about meeting you many a times," smiled Rahne, "Just be yourself and she'll accept ye."
"But what if something goes wrong?"
"We'll get through it together," she said, reaching over and taking his hand, "You're not alone, remember? I'll be with ye every step of the way."
Jamie smiled at her warm gestures and squeezed her hand. He felt a little better now. As long as Rahne kept everything in check, there shouldn't be too much trouble. He was still nervous, but it might be better to get this out of the way now. That way he and Rahne could focus on more important things like building their blossoming relationship.
Outside a slight storm picked up as the Velocity descended through the clouds. Muir Island was getting close and the rest of the team strapped themselves in for the bumpy ride. Now that they were in range, they could notify Moria that they were coming in.
"Moria, this is Sage from the Velocity. Do you read?" said Sage into the radio.
"I read ye," said Moira on the other line, "You're just in time for the storm. I'll be turning on the landing lights on the main pad. Be careful now, it's starting to rain."
"Copy that," said Sage, "And I don't know if the Professor told you, but we've got a couple of wounded coming in with us."
"Aye, Charles told me and I've already prepared a couple of beds. Just get them here and I'll take care of the rest."
Sage locked in on the radar beacon and began maneuvering the aircraft to the heliport. She saw the lights come on to help guide her in. After a smooth landing, Sage powered down the engines and everybody filed out. She stayed behind to help Irene while Kurt and Exodus got help from Roberto and Ray getting Wanda and Pietro out.
Outside, the rain was picking up and thunder sounded in the distance. Most rushed to the safety of the overhang just outside the door. There Moria MacTaggart was waiting and the moment Rahne saw her she ran up and gave her a hug.
"There's my girl!" said the Scottish woman with a wide smile, "It's go good to see ye, Rahne."
"Me too, mom," said Rahne, embracing her mother firmly, "Boy have we got some stories to tell ye."
"I bet ye do," said Moria, "But first things first."
Moria parted from her adopted daughter and walked over to Wanda and Pietro. Charles told her that both were in need of medical attention and she could see why. The bandages Hank wrapped Pietro's body in were already soaked with blood and needed to be replaced. Wanda was also groaning, no doubt as a result from the pounding headache that came along with having a concussion. Luckily, Muir Island had some of the best equipment available for mutants. She was confident they would get better here.
"Oh my, ye poor children," she said as she took in the injuries, "Come, I'll show ye to the sick bay."
"Danke, Dr. MacTaggart," said Kurt gratefully, "I vas starting to really vorry."
"Please, call me Moria," smiled the Scottish woman, "And you can rest now, lad. Ye friends be in good hands."
"That remains to be seen," said Exodus, ever the skeptic.
That earned him another scold from Kurt and the others, but he could care less. Luckily, Moria didn't take it personally. Charles warned her they would have an enemy along with them. Hopefully he didn't cause too much trouble. It sounded like Xavier and his X-men had enough to worry about as it was.
Northern Canada
The X-jet cruised swiftly to the coordinates Magneto recovered from his database using the on board computers. There was silence for the most part. Cable discussed some tactics with the team. Having fought sentinels for most of his life, his experience would be vital. By now the sun had set and the team could see the Aurora Borealis outside. It was strangely beautiful, but the mission left little time to enjoy the sights. The fate of the future was riding on their shoulders.
Logan and Xavier were in the cockpit and Magneto was with them. While he didn't have exact coordinates from memory, they were located on a secure batch of files they were able to access via the internet. Mastermind had given him a file while he was spying on the Hellfire Club that had a small map of northern Canada with a certain area not far from the Hudson Bay marked. Magneto double checked it and found out there was something there, but he never though it would be something like this.
"You sure this is the place, Mags?" said Logan, ever suspicious of Magneto's intentions.
"Positive," said Magneto, "I had Exodus double check all the information Mastermind gave me. The Hellfire Club has a knack for deceit so I had to be sure."
"And I'm glad you did, old friend," said Professor Xavier, "According to all available maps, there's nothing out here except mountains, tundra, and a few mines."
"In other words, a perfect hiding place," grunted the feral mutant, "It's places like this where Weapon X did their dirty work."
"And this is no exception," said Magneto, "Further research indicates that the facility Mastermind discovered was once a Weapon X lab."
Logan's grip on the pilot wheel tightened as a familiar anger came over him.
"You've gotta be kidding me!"
"It's no joke, I assure you," said Magneto, "Can you think of a better place to construct such a monstrosity?"
"Figures…" growled Wolverine, "Now we gotta blow this place up."
"One step at a time, Wolverine," said Xavier, "I'm sure Pierce and Trask aren't going to make it easy for us."
"Good, I like a challenge. Should be all the more worth it at the end."
Logan kicked in some afterburner. Anything even remotely connected to Weapon X was enough to make his blood boil. Now he couldn't wait to get his hands on Pierce. This madman was definitely going to pay.
Logan wasn't the only one with anger. The closer they got to the destination, the more unsettled Magneto grew. He had been angry before, but never like this. Pierce dared to come after his children and he was going to pay the price. It was enough to make him set aside his differences with the X-men and that was saying something given their history. But this was a case of the enemy of his enemy being his friend. The only one that didn't sit well with was Charles Xavier.
"We're getting close," said Magneto with intent in his tone, "Another fifteen minutes and we'll be right over the area. Then Hellfire will know my wrath."
"Careful, Magnus. Now is not the time to be brash," said he Professor.
"Charles, if ever there was a time for true action, it is now! I don't care how much a pacifist you are, but I am a man of action! It wasn't your children this monstrosity attacked!"
"It has nothing to do with me being a pacifist. It has everything to do with not making the same mistakes!" said Xavier firmly, "That's always been your problem, Erik. From day one, you let emotions get the better of you and mistakes are made because of it."
"Don't talk to me about emotion, Charles!" shot the old holocaust survivor, "If anyone is deluded by emotion, it's you. You're the one blinded by compassion and naivety. Had you seen things my way, maybe your students never would have been victims of the Hellfire Club. Maybe we wouldn't have to go on this mission to change the future in the first place."
"I don't believe that. Not for a second," said Xavier strongly, "That compassion is what brought my students together to help save our friends and stop Hellfire numerous times. That compassion gives us the resolve to do it again this time to stop this future from happening. And while I would like to believe otherwise, I can't help but think you wouldn't even bother with this mission if it were not to punish the man who hurt Wanda and Pietro."
"Sounds kind of selfish if you ask me," commented Logan.
Magneto cast his old friend a threatening leer. Even though he could easily inflict great pain on him, it wouldn't make what he said any less valid. Charles was the one person he couldn't do that too. Sometimes he cursed him for being an old friend.
"You and I may not agree on much, Erik, but for once I ask that you look beyond your pain. I know you regret what happened with Wanda. I know you harbor deep resentment for humanity. But even if humanity is wiped out and you stamp out every emotion, that pain is still going to be there. The past can be a harsh burden, but the future is yours to mold."
Magneto's expression didn't change. He still scolded Charles for trying to lecture him on his beliefs. But it was clear that he was not going to budge in his mindset. That much he expected. At the same time, however, there was some truth to his words. He had indeed tried before to numb his pain with his mutant advancement machine. But no matter how deeply he suppressed it, the pain was still there.
There was no getting around it. He had done a lot of bad things in his life. He threw his own daughter in an insane asylum. He abandoned his son to pursue his own selfish agenda. He always justified it by the belief that he was making a better future for them. But in the process he was only causing them the same kind of pain while putting himself through even more torment.
All this pain left him cold and bitter. And rather then argue with his old friend, he stormed off angrily so he could be alone.
"I don't know why you keep trying with that guy," said Logan.
"Friends don't give up on each other, Logan," said the Professor, "Disagreements or not, Erik is still a friend. If I don't have faith in him who will?"
Logan shook his head. Xavier's faith in hopeless causes never ceased to amaze him. Even if Cable said they would work together in the future, he didn't see Magneto not being Magneto. Maybe one day he would change, but that seemed a long ways off.
In the passenger area, much of the team was listening to Cable finish his talk on defeating sentinels. They had no idea what kind of firepower Pierce was going to throw at them so they had to be ready. Most listened intently while some faced distractions.
Kitty kept close to Piotr, trying to keep her eyes on Cable so she wouldn't be tempted to stare Lance's way. He could still feel her eyes on her. The bitterness was still there and there were a lot of things they never said to each other the day they parted ways. It was starting to worry Piotr. He was no expert on dealing with ex-lovers, but something had to be done.
"Are you going to talk to him?" he whispered into her ear.
"Talk to who?" said Kitty obliviously.
"You know who," said the Russian mutant.
Kitty was silent, hoping her soft-spoken boyfriend would just drop the issue. She was being unusually stubborn this time and it was starting to wear on Piotr.
"You want me to break his bones?" he offered her.
Her expression shifted as she turned to face him. It was here she saw the worried look in his eye. She knew Piotr well enough to know that he wasn't going to drop it as long as it was affecting her like this. There seemed no other way around it.
"Fine…I give," she sighed, "You just had to give me that look."
"What look?" said Piotr with an innocent smile.
Kitty swatted his broad shoulders and slipped away. It was ironic in some ways. Normally she was the expert on giving the puppy-dog look. It's how she appealed to him when she wanted something and it also worked wonders on Logan over the years. Maybe he picked it up from her or something. If he had she would have to find a way to un-teach him because she swore to herself she would never have anything to do with Lance Alvers again.
Lance's indifferent look never faltered even as he saw her coming towards him. She didn't look too happy and he could care less if she was. When she reached him he shifted his gaze away from her. He refused to get caught in this girl's spell again.
"What do you want?" he said bitterly.
"We need to talk," said Kitty, "Can we step aside for a minute?"
"I'm comfortable here, thank you."
"Do you want to be stubborn again or do you want to talk? I'm sure you remember how stubborn I can be."
Lance groaned to himself. Of all the ex-girlfriend's in the world, why did he have to have one that could still make him do these things? He was supposed to be over her. She was clearly over him since she was with that Russian muscle-head now. But for the sake of not making a scene, he agreed and walked with her to the back of the plane.
"So what changed your mind?" he asked her, "I thought you never wanted to make eye contact with me again? If memory serves me right, those were your exact words the day we broke up."
"I remember," said Kitty, hugging her shoulders and looking away, "We said a lot of things to each other that day…some I'm sure we both regret."
"It sure doesn't look like you regret it," said Lance bitterly, "You sure seem happy with old Ruskie."
"Leave Peter out of this, Lance," she said strongly, "This is about you and me."
"I thought there was no more you and me."
"There isn't. We didn't work out so we broke up. Can we at least agree on that?"
"I guess," shrugged Lance, "So why are we talking now?"
Kitty let out a frustrated sigh. As if she didn't have enough to deal with today, her ex-boyfriend was back in her life. It wasn't like she could completely forget about him. He was the first guy she had strong feelings for. Even if they were mismatched, it was still very real for her. And it was time they laid those feelings to rest.
"Lance, if there was nothing more between us we wouldn't be so uptight about being within a mile of each other. You can't hide it any better than me. I know we never finished our last argument. So for the sake of closure, could you just tell me what you want to say?"
"You really want to hear?" said Lance skeptically.
"Yes, don't you want to get it out?"
Lance hesitated for a moment. In all the time he and Kitty had been together she never gave him complete permission like this to say what he wanted to say. So often throughout their time together he worried about saying the wrong things. Since he didn't have to worry about it this time, he just let out what he never got a chance to say.
"I liked you, Kitty. I really did," he told her honestly, "You were the first girl I ever met who made me want to take a second look at my lot in life. But you just wanted too much from me. I'm not some piece of clay you can mold into the perfect boyfriend."
"But I never tried to mold you," argued Kitty.
"Yes you did," said Lance with a serious look, "Remember all those times we tried to hook up, go out, and what not? Every time it was you who set the agenda. It was you who led the way. And I went along with it because I had never been in a relationship before. I jumped through so many hoops for you and you only jumped through so many hoops for me. How was I supposed to feel about that?"
Kitty looked away. Thinking back to the time they had been together, Lance had a point. She did tend to set the tone for what they did and how they did it. She couldn't remember asking Lance for his input. It did seem kind of controlling on her part.
"I just couldn't be the guy you wanted me to be, Kitty," he went on, "And that day the Brotherhood disbanded and you tried to get me to join the institute was just the last straw of many. I just couldn't do it anymore. I was tired of being your pet project."
"Is that why you got so angry?" asked Kitty, still not looking him in the eye.
"It was a big part of it," admitted Lance, "But more than that, you acted as though you knew what was best for me and yelled at me when I didn't agree. That more than anything made me the angry."
Lance had clearly had a long time to sit on this. It sure would have been useful that day they broke up. That way it wouldn't have been so ugly. For Kitty, it was a bitter pill to swallow. In some ways he was right. She had been a little controlling and she really believed she had his interests in mind when she asked him to join the institute that day. But that wasn't the full story. Now it was her turn.
"Lance…I'm sorry if I was overbearing," she said with sincerity in her eyes, "But don't forget, you were the same way."
"What are you talking about?" said Lance skeptically.
"I'm talking about all those times you made me choose between you and my friends. It was always one or the other…you or them. The only way to work it out sometimes was to be overbearing. And I tried to accommodate that. I really did."
"Guess it didn't work then," grumbled Lance.
"It had to work in some ways for us to last as long as we did. I cared for you, Lance. I make no secret of that."
"I know. Guess it wasn't enough," he said, showing a little sincerity.
"It's not about it being enough," said Kitty, "We just couldn't work. We sure as hell tried to at times, but I've since learned you can't force feelings like that. It's either meant to be or it's not."
The ex-couple fell silent. It was surreal in a ways. The last time they tried to talk this out they got into a huge fight. They never got a chance to let each other know how much they struggled during those hard times. Now they knew and they felt better having gotten it out.
"Look, I'm sorry Lance," said Kitty with a kind gesture, "I'm sorry things ended the way they did."
"Me too," sighed Lance, "But it looks like you managed."
"It wasn't easy. Don't think for a second that it was," said Kitty strongly, "But can't we just agree to let go as much as we can?"
Lance finally looked her in the eye. It wasn't easy because they were the same eyes that once entranced him so much. A part of him still carried a flame for her. Even though he knew they weren't right for each other that didn't make what they shared any less significant. But she was right. They had to get on with their lives. Being mutants in this world was hard enough without the emotional baggage anyways.
"Okay," he said, "I'll try if you will."
"That's all I ask," said Kitty with a smile.
Lance only returned the gesture partially before turning away. It wasn't much, but it was more than enough for Kitty. She understood Lance was not the overly emotional type. But he didn't have to be for them to move on from this. And with everything they were already dealing with, it was nice not carrying this burden into battle.
Kitty and Lance rejoined the group just as Cable was finishing up. Rogue noticed the look on her face and having roomed with her long enough, she sensed her distress.
"You gonna be okay, Kit?" she asked.
"I am now," smiled Kitty.
Pyro was about to make a comment to Lance, but one threatening look helped shut him up. Besides, he'd had plenty of time to tease him once the mission was over.
The team was set now. Cable was the guide for Scott, Jean, Alex, Logan, Ororo, Rogue, Remy, Mystique, Kitty, Piotr, Vincent, August, Beast, Lance, Pyro, and Magneto. It was not unlike the team he gathered for the final assault on Mastermold that brought him to this time in the first place. Only this time, the end would be in the present and not the past. There was no hiding this time.
"Alright…" said Cable assertively, "So are we clear with the plan?"
"It sounds workable," said Hank, who was perched atop one of the seats, "Although gaining access to the mainframe won't be easy. I may need some time."
"We'll buy as much as we can," said Cable, "We can't just destroy Mastermold. We have to erase every scrap of data on it."
"And what makes you so sure Pierce has it all in one place?" asked Piotr.
"Who said I was sure?" replied Cable, "But given how advanced Hellfire's systems are, it should be possible to use it as a root to seek out and find any trace of Mastermold in every network and delete it."
"Great, then it's just a matter of getting around the usual Hellfire maelstrom," said Betsy with a touch of sarcasm.
"Sounds simple enough," shrugged Pyro, "We go in, kill Pierce, blow up the big bad sentinel, end of story."
"It's not that easy," said Cable firmly, "Pierce will have any number of tricks to throw at us. And these are the kind of tricks that aren't afraid to kill."
"So what else is new?" sighed Warren.
"Yeah, you'd think we'd be used to that sort of thing by now," said Bobby.
"Quiet, you guys!" shot Vincent, "This is serious."
The two boys fell silent. They could tell Vince was a little tense. They could hardly blame him with his wife and son so far away. But the warrior within him stayed strong. He was determined to protect his family.
"He's right," said Cable, "Our best strategy is to stick together and combine our firepower. These sentinels aren't as advanced as the ones I've faced, but they're still plenty deadly."
"What about Pierce himself?" asked Ororo, "You mentioned something about him going though more cybernetic enhancements."
"I'm afraid I can't help you there," said Cable, "Most of our emphasis was on Mastermold, not Pierce. Pierce only created and merged with it. There's no telling what he did to himself in between."
"Well whatever he did, I look forward to rippin' every one of his limbs off again," said Rogue intently, "That little rat ain't gonna escape this time!"
"Careful cherè," said Remy, "Y'all never know what these guys are gonna throw at us."
Just as Remy uttered those words, the lights throughout the X-jet flickered and the engines began to stall. Then the whole aircraft was jolted by a round of turbulence, knocking many off their feet.
"You just had to say it, didn't you?!" exclaimed Mystique.
"Hey, what are you blamin' Remy for?" said Remy as he held onto the wall.
"How about not keeping your mouth shut?!" yelled Laura.
Then Logan yelled out from the cockpit.
"Everybody strap yourselves in! Looks like we're goin' down!"
"You gotta be kidding me," groaned Alex.
"Hey, I thought you liked thrill rides," said Scott as everybody scrambled to find a seat.
"This isn't a thrill ride, bro! This is freakin' insanity!"
"Welcome to the X-men, Alex," said Jean as she and everybody held on tight.
Every major system was going dead. Logan struggled to stay in control of the avionics. The radar was all static, the computer screens were shorting out, and the engines were stalling. Everything that could go wrong was happening all at once. It was a bad sign of things to come.
Pierce's Lab
Donald Pierce was just putting the finishing touches on his grandest program. With it, he could finally say that Mastermold was nearing completion. It would take some time for the algorithms to become sufficiently advanced, but they had plenty of time. Soon it would be active and start churning out an army of robot warriors that would prowl the skies. And the best part was they would all be under his control and nobody would know it.
The AI that would run Mastermold was only a precursor. Eventually it would grow at a geometric rate and if Pierce's calculations were correct, it would eventually realize the true destiny of all mankind. The era of flesh was in its twilight hour. The dawn of cybers was at hand. Soon flesh and machine would be one. Petty human limitations would be extinguished and chaos would give way to order.
It was the culmination of everything Pierce had worked for. He once thought the Hellfire Club would lead the world to salvation. His defeat by the X-men showed just how flawed human flesh, mutated or otherwise, were. And Mastermold would usher in a new era for this dying planet.
"At last…the end of humanity's reign and the rise of the cybers can begin," he said as he held up the disk containing the program.
His hands shook with anticipation as he loaded the disk into the mainframe. It wouldn't be long now. He could feel the new era coming.
Suddenly, an alarm went off. Pierce was quickly brought out of his daze as several computer screens became active and revealed exactly what he didn't want to see at this point.
"No! Not now!" he exclaimed.
"Pierce! Mr. Pierce!" exclaimed Trask as he entered the room.
"Get back to work, Bolivar. This is nothing you need to be concerned about."
"Somehow I doubt that," said Trask skeptically, "What's going on?"
Pierce brought up a screen revealing a small radar blip entering their airspace. It didn't look like much, but at the rate it was going it had to be something. This airspace was rarely used. It was one of the reasons why he chose this facility in the first place. Only so man people could have known about his operations and none of them were friendly.
"It appears an intruder has breached my defense system," said Pierce, "The electromagnetic scrambler has already been activated and it would seem they're going down."
"Who are they?" asked Trask anxiously, "Could it be SHIELD?"
"Don't be ridiculous. If it was SHIELD my moles would have alerted me," scoffed Pierce, "No, this is someone else. And I have no intention of giving them a tour to our operations."
Pierce typed in a few commands on the control console. In several areas throughout the facility, dormant sentinels became active. They received their commands from Pierce and were to engage the intruders and neutralize them. With their plane coming down they should be easy targets, but Pierce wasn't so naïve that he didn't have a backup.
"There…that should keep them busy," grinned Pierce.
"And if it doesn't?" said Trask.
"Oh don't you worry. Should our guests be stubborn, I have a few surprises for them. Right now, all you need to concern yourself with is the final protocol for Mastermold's robotics. Trust me."
Trask was inclined to scoff, but he was in no position to argue. He left the dirty work to this man. He had a ruthlessness he couldn't match. And he was okay with that as long as he was able to finish his work.
"Very well," said Trask, "But if something goes wrong…"
"Nothing will go wrong, Bolivar," said Pierce, "I assure you, everything is going exactly as planned."
Trask had no choice, but to take him at his word. He left Pierce to the job and ran off to finish up on his end. He hoped Pierce was as efficient as he was overconfident. They couldn't afford a slip-up at this critical stage.
Once Trask was gone, Pierce grinned to himself. This unexpected intrusion would force him to step up his time table. Right now, Mastermold was his biggest priority. So before entering any other commands, he went back to the main console and started loading the program. Once it was active it would be too late. No matter what these intruders did, their fate was sealed.
"Time to make some 'accommodations' to my new guests," he said ominously, "If they think they can stop me now, they are sadly mistaken. Nothing can stop the rise of the sentinels! Nothing!"
Up next: Pierce welcomes the X-men in a way only Hellfire can.


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Recycle your Electronics Tomorrow
We tend to hold on to our trash for too long, and it always feels like we have a very good reason. For instance, we have an ancient computer hogging precious closet space while we try to figure out how to dispose of it without creating more toxic landfill.
And now we have an answer. SF's Computer Recycling Corporation has a drop-off day tomorrow, Saturday, August 19th, from 10am – 2pm in the Marina Green Parking Lot at Marina & Webster.
Charitable donation receipts will be given in exchange for your old electronic trash, which they will first try to resusitate, and if that's not possible, dispose of safely.
Not just computers (working and non-working) but cell phones and networking and office electronics, up to 10 items per person. Enough to free up quite a bit of space...
2 Comments
I recently took a summer public speaking class and did an informative speech on ewaste
Just FYI as of July 1, 2006 in CA all cell phone retailers are required to take back your old cell phones and dispose of them properly.
And as of this past February, it is illegal to put electronic waste in your household trash. That includes VCRs, stereos, etc. The only thing I could find that would happen if you do, is that the garbage pickup has the option to refuse to take your trash.
Here are some helpful sites for CA
Los Angeles has what they call SAFE (Solvents, Auto, Flammables, Electronics) recycling centers which are permanent collection centers in addition to one time events. I tried to find San Fran's Dept of Sanitation website but no luck. Here's LA's
If you want to try to resell your old computer and want to know the potential value:
On the right side of the page in the green boxes are links to computer and cell phone values as well as how to erase personal info before selling.
If you really want to do your research you might want to find out what non-government (or even government programs, I guess) do with your stuff once they have it. Some places simply ship it to 3rd world countries where unprotected children dig through the mercury-laiden parts for a $1 a day. In 2003, DELL was found to be using state prisoners to dismantle old computers and the prisoners were similar to 3rd world countries by being unprotected and just smashing monitors with hammers. Some are supposed to send still working equipment to Africa but just end up sending pure junk instead. And some haul-away companies have been know to just throw it in a field somewhere.
For those living in the East Bay, we just dropped off a tv and old imac monitor to the Alameda County Computer Resource Center right off the Univerity exit to Berkeley.
The site says that they charge for items with non-source (?) info, but they didn't charge us even though we had no source info. (It could be that we got there right after they closed and they just wanted to hurry up.)
Check the site for more info:


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Boss by Hugo Boss Perfume
Boss Nuit Kit
Boss Nuit Kit Boss by Hugo Boss Perfume contains Boss Nuit Edp (30ml) and Boss Nuit Body Lotion (100ml). Boss Nuit is created to give a sense of simplicity and elegance. The fragrance opens with a modern, elegant and fresh note of aldehydes and peach. The heart exudes feminine white flowers, jasmine and sensual violet. The base consists of moss and creamy sandalwood.
Item no.: 217859-0108
Colour: Transparent
Size reviewsSmall in size
More about the brandBoss by Hugo Boss launched their first perfume in 1993. They always manage to create interesting and unique fragrances for men and women. Find your favourite Hugo Boss perfume at Nelly.com.
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Investigators say the fire happened when an extension cord failed and it caught nearby combustibles on fire.
The home suffered extensive fire and smoke damage.
Losses were put at $75,000.
Smoke detectors woke up the homeowner, who escaped through a bedroom window.


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DPS Rotation & Cooldowns (5.4.8)
Maintaining a proper Rotation and using the right Cooldowns is essential to maximizing your Marksmanship Hunter. Use this guide to optimize your single target and AoE rotations while learning how to get the most out of your cooldowns.
Single Target Rotation
Debuffs: Maintain these debuffs at all times.
Careful Aim Rotation: Use this rotation when your target is over 80% Health.
- Serpent Sting Apply once. Refresh with Chimera Shot.
- Steady Shot to maintain Steady Focus.
- Aimed Shot
- Steady Shot
Standard Rotation: Use this priority when your target is below 80% Health.
- Serpent Sting Apply once. Refresh with Chimera Shot.
- Steady Shot to maintain Steady Focus.
- Glaive Toss on cooldown.
- Chimera Shot on cooldown.
- Kill Shot on target below 20% Health.
- Aimed Shot with 3 Master Marksman.
- Arcane Shot to dump Focus.
- Steady Shot to build Focus.
When your target is above 80% health, they are under the effects of Careful Aim and you should execute the Careful Aim rotation. This is done by applying Serpent Sting and maintaining it with Chimera Shot. Use Steady Shot to build Focus and maintain Steady Focus. Dump Focus into Aimed Shot and use Master Marksman procs as soon as possible.
When your target is below 80% health, you should move to the standard rotation. Continue to maintain Hunters Mark, Serpent Sting, and Steady Focus as your highest priorities. Cast Glaive Toss and Chimera Shot on cooldown. When your target drops below 20% Health, begin using Kill Shot on cooldown. Use Aimed Shot with 3 Master Marksman. Finally, you'll want to use Arcane Shot to avoid hitting the Focus cap, but do not use all of your focus on Arcane Shot. Always keep close to 50 Focus so you can cast Chimera Shot whenever it comes up.
AoE Rotation
- Steady Shot to maintain Steady Focus.
- Multishot
- Aimed Shot with 3 Master Marksman.
- Explosive Trap
Your main sources for AoE damage will be Multishot and Explosive Trap. If you are only attacking 2-3 mobs, it's usually best to just continue with the the Single Target rotation. Once there are 4+ mobs, then drop Explosive Trap under them and use Multishot on cooldown. Use Steady Shot as needed for Focus and to maintain Steady Focus.
Effective Cooldowns
These effective cooldowns are available if you chose them in your talent build.
- A Murder of Crows Use on cooldown.
- Dire Beast Use on cooldown for extra Focus.
These are effective cooldowns to try and incorporate into most all encounters.
- Rabid Use on cooldown. Stack with Rapid Fire or Bloodlust.
- Rapid Fire Use on every cooldown. Do not stack with Bloodlust.
- Stampede Use as often as possible. Usually on pull and mid fight.