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Gardner's House is a non organization that helps people who is affected with cancer.This organization also helps people who are struggling, with their rent, food, light, gas. Whats so different with this organization is they call or come to see how you are doing.They ask how can they help .And you just dont here from them one time, always someone checking on you.GhI help me out by going to their support group, helping with gas, rent, and letting me know about other programs , which can benefit. Like a food program i am in.If it weren't for GhI, I would be lost or out on the street.I thank god for this organization and the founder who is Maggie Gardner. She is a blessing to me.
I was so happy the first time I met Ms Maggie Gardener. After losing my mom I found someone that is always there for me and the kids . Gardner' s House has helped so many people in so many different ways. Gardener's House is a great organization and wish more people could know about it and donate what so ever they can ,so that Gardener's House can help more people in need.Thank you Gardener's House for the great job that you are doing.
Gardner's House is a non organization that helps people who is affected with cancer.This organization also helps people who are struggling, with their rent, food, light, gas. Whats so different with this organization is they call or come to see how you are doing.They ask how can they help .And you just dont here from them one time, always someone checking on you.GhI help me out by going to their support group, helping with gas, rent, and letting me know about other programs , which can benefit. Like a food program i am in.If it weren't for GhI, I would be lost or out on the street.I thank god for this organization and the founder who is Maggie Gardner. She is a blessing to me.
My name is Cheryl E. I had the pleasure of meeting Maggie Gardner 2 years ago when I was diagnosed with colon cancer. My pastor told me about her and gave me her contact details. The very first time I met her I knew that there's something special about her, she's warm and easy to talk to. Maggie has stretched out her hands to people of all color and walks of life, she doesn't show any preference where you're from and what situation you're in she's there for you! I'm proud to say it's a pleasure going to Gardner's house for the monthly meetings and meeting new people. Maggie continue the marvelous work that you're doing.
Gardner's House is a staple in the Hartford Community helping individuals who are fighting cancer stand on their feet by providing financial, emotional and informational support when they needed it the most.
In 2016 I have personally witness Gardner's House helped three cancer patients from being evicted for nonpayment of rent. If it wasn't for Gardners' house these individuals and their families would be living in a shelter. Please help Gardner's House with your financial support so they can do more to help cancer patients and their families win the battle against cancer.
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The place that Maggie dwells is full of love for cancer patients and their families. I have witness Maggie's determination and persistence in bringing awareness to the plight of cancer patients and their families through the work of Gardners's House Inc. I have witness Maggies's determination traveling to New York and Washington DC, in an attempt to bring awareness to her organization and raise funds to provide better services to cancer patients and their families. The innocence in her work awakened the charitable spirit in me and compels me to support her cause. Maggie is one of the most forever- giving person I have ever met. I enjoy being in the space she dwells.
Gardner's House Inc is the only organization in the community that is really supporting families affected by all types of cancer with basic needs, there are so many organizations telling us they have support, but when families go for help they set the bar so high the families are not qualify for assistance. The middle class families cannot get help if they owned a house or a good car, or have a spouse working, they have to fall below the poverty level first and then the government will step in. Gardner's House is trying to prevent families from fall below the poverty level while they are facing cancer. Pleas support this unique organization, the funds raise go directly to help families with cancer. Thank you
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It is such a joy knowing that there is an organization as Gardner;s House Inc in our world who are constantly looking our for people affect by cancer and address the whole person not just the patient.
This organization have helped more than 200 plus families in one way or the other and continue to do so, I am very happy to be associated with one of a kind organization.
I am encouraging any one who can please help this organization to help other people who is and will be affected by cancer.
This is one of the most helpful and caring organization I've seen in my life. It was a great pleasure to be apart of this wonderful place. They help the community with real life situation. After treatment is done who cares for you. Gardener's House is there. Please keep up the great work. A lot of the family is looking for help and they are always there to the rescue. Please keep supporting this wonderful home. Love Jessi
My Name is Patricia L. As a volunteer with Maggie Gardner which is the President & CEO of Gardner's House. I have the pleasure of meeting all these wonderful young ladies/ Families struggling with their traumatic effects of cancers, not getting enough support or assistance from any others organization. I see for myself first hand on how Maggie Gardner is fighting so hard to help these young ladies, gentlemen & Families with limited funding & also managing the 211 Calls, although Maggie Gardner continue to face all these difficulty. Maggie continue strive to find ways of making a different for the survivors & Families. My sincere gratitude go out to Maggie Gardner. Job well done.
Pat L.
I have worked with this organization on several occasions.."Pop-Up Health" Booth, Merchant Outreach, Free Ultra sound Campaign, Holiday Party, Pretty In Pink Ball. Gardners House reaches out to those in the community for moral, emotional and financial support. Gardner's house is a resource for those looking for assistance, who have been turned away by larger agencies. Gardner's House...fuel for the soul.
My name is Miguelina Pons im a cancer survivor and with no family here in connecticut,and i thank God for putting gGardners house in my life.. i had i lots of problems and Magie contacted people to help me and the state cancel my cash and thxs to Magie the phones calls that si did that day they gave it back. Im not yet in my feet but i know that Gardners house will help me and wil help other survivors like me that all alone here in connecticut.
This is not the out come that i had thought my life would be when i got here . But this is what life gave i thank the help i can get i pray i can stand again on my own to feet.
Mi nombre it Miguelina Pons soy una sobreviviente de cáncer no tengo familia aquí en Connecticut, y doy gracias a Dios por poner Gardners House en mi vida .. Tenia un montón de problemas y Magie se contacto con la agencia para ayudarme y gracias a Magie Gardner y las llamadas de teléfonos que se hizo ese día. todavía no estoy en mis pies, pero sé que con Gardners house me ayudará y a otros sobrevivientes como yo que viven solo aquí en Connecticut.
Esta no lo que yo había pensado que ivía ser mi vida cuando llegué aquí. aun sigo luchando para vivir mi Vida y se que con ka ayuda de Dios y Gardner's House lo lograre.


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Has working kitchen. Relatively clean. Meant for extended stay guests.
Not within walking distance to a Metro station. Have to drive or cab.
There was a rally going on during my stay, so I had to take a cab all the way into DC for a meeting which was expensive. I could've just stayed in a more expensive place in DC had I known this would've happened.
They charge you for internet wifi.
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Booking.com, Extended Stay, Orbitz, Expedia, Hotels.com, TripOnline SA, Travelocity, Hotwire, Cheap Tickets and Cancelon so you can book your Extended Stay America - Falls Church - Merrifield reservations with confidence. We help millions of travelers each month to find the perfect hotel for both vacation and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.
- Also Known As:
- Homestead Falls Church Hotel Fairfax
- Extended Stay America Fairfax

subset: commoncrawl


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To whom it may concern;
After the hailstorms last summer, 2011, we needed a new roof and gutters. My husband and I decided to pick a local company, but after talking to Clay Storer of FBO C...
Read more
You did what you said you would do. Thank you so much.
We started with a roof that was damaged in a hail storm on July 12, 2011. Now we have a new roof and new gutters. We are happy with th...
FBO Contracting did an absolutely perfect job replacing my roof on my house in Cheyenne after considerable hail damage in July 2011.
In fact, the shingles and underlayment that FBO C...
3840 York Street
Denver, Colorado 800204
Phone: 303-717-0676


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What is JotForm?
JotForm is a free online form builder which helps you create online forms without writing a single line of code. No sign-up required.
At JotForm, we want to make sure that you're getting the online form builder help that you need. Our friendly customer support team is available 24/7.
We believe that if one user has a question, there could be more users who may have the same question. This is why many of our support forum threads are public and available to be searched and viewed. If you'd like help immediately, feel free to search for a similar question, or submit your question or concern.
Emails are not coming through on SubmissionsAsked by cchforms on October 12, 2016 at 02:36 PM
When a user completes a form the autoresponder is receiving emails however the notification emails are not being sent on all of our forms.
It seems like many notification emails are failing because of a spam score. This started happening today after several months of no problems.
JotForm Support
We apologize for the inconvenience caused. We did have issue on our form emails earlier today which causes form submission emails not getting through.
However our back-end team were already able to revert and restored the email service. Email issues should be fixed by now.
Can you please check again.
Test submit your form that have the autoresponder email and check if the test submission will warrant the equivalent submission email.
If issue persist, please tell us which of your form and the email you were having the issue so that we can specifically check them also.
Thank you.


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Immunity is a status modifier that renders a character completely resistant to a specific damage type (although it is usually associated with the Poison attribute).
Game specific informationEdit
Castlevania: Symphony of the NightEdit
Symphony of the Night is the only Castlevania game to differentiate between immunities and resistances, as enemies are capable of having both. However, a monster with an immunity to a certain damage type will not take damage from attacks having that attribute (for example, if the player attacks a Slime with a weapon that has the Cut attribute, it will not take any damage).
Immunity against Stone works a bit different from other elements. Immunity against Stone (due to the Medusa Shield or Mirror Cuirass) only reduces Stone damage taken by Alucard to 1. This case does not happen to enemies such as Richter Belmont and blue Medusa Heads.
Other gamesEdit
In the most recent Castlevania games, immunities have become associated with player characters rather than enemies, and are almost always related to status-modifying damage types. There is not a clear distinction between immunities and resistances, but a player with a high resistance to a damage type is said to be immune to it.


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Call Of Duty Online Begins Testing In China
Call Of Duty Online has entered its alpha testing phase in China as Activision prepares to launch its first free-to-play CoD.
Reported by Kotaku, Call Of Duty Online is currently in alpha testing, which means that the game is currently available to play for some but with none of its in-game items up for sale just yet.
Call Of Duty Online is Activision's chance to compete in China's popular free-to-play FPS market with an already well-established brand.
After announcing that Activision and Tencent had signed a multi-year partnership to bring Call Of Duty Online to China in 2011 the game itself was developed by Tencent and Raven Software.
Focusing on the Modern Warfare series, Call Of Duty Online differs only marginally from the game we're all used to playing. Though it is free-to-play Activision does charge for in-game items.
It'll be interesting to watch as Call Of Duty enters aplha testing to see just how successful its free-to-play approach is. Free-to-play games are much more established in China, but it could give CoD fans a glimpse into the future of the series.
Check out Call Of Duty Online's gameplay right here:


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Wisteria and Sage Photographer
sslokhanPhotographer Male Davis, California, US
My Website: My facebook profileMy MM URL: http://www.modelmayhem.com/ilovep
Mayhem # 2707011
About MeHi,
I am a student at UC Davis. I travel a lot and have no fixed location. As of now I am in India, but in the next few months I will be in China, Europe and the States. (Unfortunately as I have a free membership, I can only display one location)
I have no experience in photoshoots, but one of my friends asked me to try it. I have been obsessed with photography since I was 10.
Honestly, I am no professional, but I want more experience in photography and I love it as an art form. I am currently studying engineering and I have just completed my freshmen year. I want to be a freelancer!
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Baby Steps
November, 1991
Matsuda Residence, Sumida
Almost three in the morning, and once again my wife and I are being held hostage in our apartment. "Is it possible to die from sleep deprivation?" I ask, rubbing my eyes.
"No dear. You'd go insane long before that." Mie, you always know how to comfort me.
The apartment is dark except for the moonlight coming in through the only window. We're sitting on the bedroll in the middle of the only room in the apartment other than the bathroom. There's an empty crib against the wall. Mie is holding Takato, who is loosely wrapped in a blanket and just will not stop crying. Again. What is with that kid?
"Maybe he's scared of the dark," I suggest.
"We tried that idea two hours ago, Takehiro," she reminds me as she again tries rocking Takato back and forth.
Right, right. It's hard to remember what we've tried and what we haven't. You'd think we would have gotten a hang of this by now. "What did we do the other night that seemed to work?"
"We are not giving him more sake," Mie says sternly.
"Oh come on," I plead. "It was only a few drops and he went out like a light."
"Yeah, until the next morning when you went off to work. If you think Takato's a handful now you should see him with a hangover."
"Well if we don't do something I'm not going to get any sleep at all," I tell her. "How's that going to go over at work?"
"Heaven forbid you burn the cereal or something," she quips.
I groan. "Laugh it up, Mie. Laugh us all the way to the poor house."
"Sorry," she grumbles. "Long day, you know?"
"Tell me about it," I say, rubbing my hand over my jaw. The scratchy stubble on my chin reminds me it's been days since I've even had time to shave. Every day starts early with the train ride to Aoyama, by far the highlight of my day. Then of course I run from one customer to the next and cook for hours and hours. I'm a personal chef by day: I cook meals for families with more money to spare than time. By night I'm a sous-chef at a restaurant not far from our apartment, so that means another restful train ride back in the evening followed by the safety and comfort of cooking in a busy kitchen with lots of sharp or scalding things and no sleep.
Takato wails loudly. It's like nails on a chalkboard and I think Mie's had all she can handle. "Takehiro, you take him for a bit," she says, quickly handing him to me.
"What do you think I can do?" I ask, trying to get my arms around him in the dark.
"Do a dance, sing a song, whatever," she says in a huff. "I just need a minute to myself." She stands up and turns on the light. Great, now my eyes hurt too. I try to look down and shade my eyes from the sudden light; even my own green t-shirt and pajama pants are a little too much to look at right now.
"And mommy says I'm the grumpy one," I say, looking at Takato.
"You are," she reminds me. "You're just too tired right now to act like it."
"Well then if this keeps up I'll be the nicest guy in the world soon."
"I'll be out in the hall," she says as she walks to our front door, putting on her bathrobe over her nightgown. "And no sake."
"Relax, I wasn't going to give him any."
"I meant for you," she says wryly, stepping out into the hall of the apartment complex and closing the door behind her.
I sigh. "Come on, Takato. Mommy didn't say anything about beer." He, of course, only cries, burying his face in his blanket so the only thing I can really see of him is his hair, the same color as my wife's.
My back creaks and pops as I drag myself to my feet. The apartment seemed really small when we got it, but it was just the two of us then and we didn't exactly mind the close-quarters. If anything I'm surprised Takato didn't come along sooner with how we were back then. Of course now just getting from one end of our single room to the other has turned into an everyday adventure; getting to the bathroom is more like an odyssey. Takato's stuff is absolutely everywhere, you see. Toys and furniture and everything else are strewn about our already tight living space. I have to step mighty carefully just to make it to what I laughably deem our "kitchen." It's a journey I'll gladly take to get to the refrigerator though. It will all be worth it when…
When I realize we're out of beer, it seems. I hang my head.
"Well, kiddo, now what?" I ask.
Takato responds pretty much how I would expect. Maybe he's hungry? We tried it half an hour ago and it didn't work then, but maybe he got hungry in the mean time. I don't know, but it's worth a shot. I grab the jar of strained something-or-other from the refrigerator and close the door.
"I wish all my customers were as easy to cook for as you," I say with a smile while looking for a spoon. I bend down to get into the drawer and—OW! My back! Was that popping sound my spine? What have I done to myself? That was a whole new kind of pain. I'm still hunched over, holding Takato in one arm and leaning on the counter with the other. Man does that ache. It's starting to fade, but I don't really want to move at the moment.
Takato wails in my ear. This just isn't fair. I just screwed up my back and he's the one that gets to spend all night crying endlessly for no apparent reason. I'm the one in pain here! Oh this is all I need. This should make it so much easier to get up for work in… four hours. And of course the train will be an absolute breeze, I'm sure.
Alright, it's hurting a little less now. It's tender, but… yes, yes I can move. Mie, if this is what those last few months of pregnancy were like for you I have no idea how you put up with me. I gingerly grab a spoon on my way back upright. Please work. I swear, Takato, if you just eat one tiny spoonful this will all be worth it. I spoon up a little of his food and…
No dice. That's not going to stop me from trying though. I keep at it, but every time I even get the spoon near his mouth he just cries harder and shoves it away.
"Well you're about as picky as my customers, Takato," I have to admit. "A natural-born connoisseur." I start putting away the food. "Alright, what else?"
The front door opens and Mie comes in with a heavy sigh. She shuts the door behind her again. "No luck?"
Takato cries, tugging at my shirt with his little fist. "We've been down the list twice already. We have to be missing something," I conclude.
"Alright, let's think about this like sane people" she says, looking at the ceiling. "You know, instead of like us. Is he too hot? Too cold?"
"Tried both," I grunt. I even feel Takato's arm and he feels like a pretty regular temperature to me. "He's not hungry: I just tried."
"Alright, not hungry," she says. "Does he need to be changed?"
I shake my head. "Clean as a whistle. Maybe he just needs a toy or something."
"We've tried every toy in this house." She's exhausted. We both are. "Pacifier?"
"I think that made him spit up when we tried it last," I say. "He stopped crying just long enough to do that I think."
"Maybe he's teething," she says. "Or he's bored, or angsty, or he thinks that's an ugly shirt."
"Hey," I say, looking down at myself. "What's wrong with this shirt?"
"Look, it doesn't matter. The point is babies cry," she says. "Apparently some cry way, way more than others."
"Is it the color or something?" I ask. "Does he not like green?"
"Would you forget about the stupid shirt already?" she insists, going to sit down at the table.
"Sorry," I say as I join her. "I just can't always keep up with this stuff, you know? I mean, I'm at work so much, the only time I get with Takato is… well, when he can't sleep."
She looks at the kitchen and mumbles something.
"What's that, honey?" I ask. "I couldn't hear you; Takato and all."
"Nothing," she says. "Just forget it."
Crap, I know that tone. I sigh. "What's wrong?"
"Don't worry about it," she says. "I'm fine."
"Can you just tell me what it is this one time, Mie? I need to be up in a few hours and I don't want to play twenty questions."
"There it is," she says. "That's my problem."
"What?" Okay, now I'm confused. "You don't like me getting up early or something?"
"You're gone all day long," she says. "By the time you get back we're usually already asleep."
"I'm sorry about that, I really am," I tell her, "but what can I do? We need the money. Not just for the two of us, but for Takato."
"I know that." Great, she's getting frustrated. Now on top of everything I can feel a headache coming on. "I just… Why don't I get a job too? You could cut back then."
"We can't both be out of the house," I say as I try bouncing Takato on my knee; sometimes that works. Of course being hunched forward on my chair thanks to my back doesn't make it easy.
"Well we could be if I worked mornings and you worked evenings," she points out.
"I thought you wanted to stay home with Takato."
"I did! Just not forever, Takehiro. I love him with all my heart, but if I don't get out of the house now and then I feel like I'll go crazy." She reaches over and runs her hand through Takato's hair. "I just feel terrible saying it, but…"
"No, I get it," I say. "You just need some time to not be mommy, right?"
She sighs. "That sounds just awful when you say it out loud."
"No it doesn't," I tell her. "You just sound worn-out."
"It just doesn't end, you know?"
"I know, honey. We're both working really hard on this. You're running yourself ragged here while I'm breaking my back out there." The second part is almost literal, given how sore my back still is. I try to straighten up, but it's still really tender.
"So do you think you could stay home with Takato during the day if I got a job somewhere?" she asks.
"Well, it might disappoint some customers," I say, "but family comes first."
"Thank you, Takehiro," she says with a smile. She yawns and rubs her eyes. "Here, let me see him."
"All yours," I say, handing Takato over. The knee-bouncing did not do the trick.
She puts him over her shoulder and starts patting him on the back. "What are we going to do with you?" she asks.
I yawn loudly. This might be the most tired I've ever been in my life. In fact I know it is. I think the last time I actually had a good night's sleep was before Takato was born. Since then I get so little sleep that every day I'm more tired than I was the day before. So no matter what day you ask me, I am always going to be the most tired I've ever been in my life.
Wait a minute. This idea about her working has a problem. "If you work mornings and I work evenings, we'll hardly ever see each other," I say.
"We hardly see each other as it is now," she says with a shrug.
Oh yeah. I guess she's right. It wouldn't be all that different, but… "But I want to see you. I miss you."
She smiles. "I miss you too," she says, taking my hand in hers.
I rub her hand. I can't help grinning a little.
I think she caught sight of my grin. "Don't even think about it," she warns me.
I grunt my frustration. "Do you remember how we spent our last anniversary?" I ask her.
"Of course," she says. "We got a babysitter and went to a hotel."
"And we used it to sleep," I add. "We didn't even bother getting undressed before climbing into bed!" And no, that didn't count as a good night's sleep; I was still tossing and turning.
"How can you even think about that right now, Takehiro?" she asks. "Aren't you exhausted?"
"Yeah, but I don't see how one has anything to do with the other."
She groans. "Same old Takehiro."
"You're the one that married me," I say with a shrug.
"I'll have to check my schedule, but I think I can pencil you in for a kiss a week from Friday," she says.
Ah Mie, you surely know how to set my heart aflutter. "All I'm asking is what happened to my old sweetheart, huh? The beautiful girl I married. The one who was all about romance."
"She moved into a one-room apartment with you and had a kid."
We kept meaning to get a bigger place, but were locked into a lease until after Takato was born. We talked a lot about getting a bigger place, but we just sort of got used to living here. Plus we didn't really have any time to spare for apartment hunting what with the new baby and me being at work all the time. Besides, if we did get a bigger place we couldn't save up money like we are.
The money is piling up, slowly but surely. Right after we found out we were going to have Takato we really started to cut back. We wanted a lot more wiggle room; we wanted to be able to get him a good education; and we—well, I wanted to spoil him rotten. Hehe. I think I bought most of the toys in this room myself, much to Mie's frustration. Whenever I bring home something new for Takato it gets him excited, and it's one more thing for us to trip over in the middle of the…
I can't believe I forgot! It's worth a shot. I get up and go over to where I left the backpack I take to work by the door, careful not to move my back too much. I start rooting around in it, digging through my change of clothes. I know I had it in here. Where is it? Aha!
"What's going on?" Mie asks from the table.
"Oh, nothing," I say slyly, approaching the table with my hands behind my back.
Mie rolls her eyes. "Not another one, Takehiro."
"Oh come on," I say, kneeling next to Mie and Takato. "I just want to make my family happy." I pull the toy out from behind my back and nudge Takato with it. It's a red, stuffed dinosaur. I just couldn't help myself. Takato's still crying but he seems to have taken an interest.
"What good is a happy family if you aren't there to enjoy it, honey?"
I sigh. "You're right about that. This work is killing me. We need the money though. Especially if…" Well, I'd better not say. I mean, we've never even talked about it before.
"Especially if what?"
Well, I guess I should bring it up sooner or later. "Especially if… one day… maybe… we want our family to get even bigger."
"And just how do you see that happening?" she asks. "Short of divine intervention, I mean. We don't really have the time or energy to try, much less actually raise another baby."
"Well I don't mean right now, of course," I say. "But maybe in a year or two when Takato's a little older and we've got a better handle on things. What do you think, Takato? You want a little brother or sister?" He isn't paying attention to me, of course.
"Well…" I can see a little smile on her face. I really didn't expect that, given how much trouble just having Takato is at this point. "It might be nice to have another baby. Just not now, of course."
"Of course."
"And we have to get a bigger place first."
"Come on, honey, our little apartment has character!"
"And only one room," she groans. "I swear, half the time I think Takato's crying just because he wants a minute of privacy."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," I admit. "Besides, it might get pretty awkward if he's still sharing our room when he starts bringing girls home."
"To say the least."
"So what should we do?" I ask. "Do you want to find a job first then look for a new place? I can find apartment listings in the morning and you can check them out in the evening."
"I don't know," she says. "We'd still hardly see one another. That can't be good for Takato."
I look at him. He's actually stopped crying. Right now he seems way more interested in his new toy. "So what can we do?" I ask.
"What if we… I don't know…" she's really straining over this one. Honestly I don't think I could come up with any good ideas with how tired I am, so I'm impressed she's even trying right now. "What if we could work from home? Together."
"I mean think about it," she goes on. "We'd be with Takato and each other all the time."
"I thought you wanted to get some time away from Takato during the day," I said.
"A little," she said. "Just a few minutes for something different. Even talking to you makes a nice break from it."
I roll my eyes. "Gee thanks."
"You know what I mean, Takehiro."
"Well that would be great and all, but who's going to pay us to stay at home with Takato all day?"
"We would," she says. "We could start a family business."
"Do you have any idea how expensive that would be?" I ask. "And what if it doesn't work? We could be out on the street."
"Well what if you lose your job because the restaurant burns down or something?" she asks. "It wouldn't be any different." She has a point, I guess.
"But the money," I say. "We don't have nearly enough for, well, anything. Maybe we could swing a down payment on a house, but a business? There's just no way."
Apparently, the phrase "there's just no way" is exactly the one that gets Takato to start crying again, much to our frustration. I guess his newest toy wasn't as big a hit as I'd hoped.
Mie sighs at me while she does her best to comfort Takato. The look in her eyes means she thinks the answer is obvious. "We're not adrift at sea, you know. We can get a loan."
"No way will that happen if I quit work to start up some business," I say. "I don't think we could get a loan even with me working two jobs."
"I mean from family," she says. "When I married you my dad said if we ever needed money to chase after our dreams he would be more than happy to help us out."
"Really?" I ask. He said that? I never knew. I thought he didn't like me back then.
"Well… not in those exact words. It was more like, 'If you ever want to dump Takehiro and marry a nice, respectful boy, I'll pay for everything.' But the thought was there." Yeah, that sounds a little more like something he'd say back then.
"Alright, say we want to do this," I can't believe I'm even considering it, "what would we do?"
"Gee, I don't know Mr. Chef," she says with thick sarcasm. "What could we possibly do that would make use of our skills and people would pay for?"
"I thought you said it was going to be a family business," I said. "Not just me doing all the work."
"Oh har, har," she says. "I can cook just fine, I'll have you know."
"News to me," I tell her with a grin.
"That's because ever since we started dating you've wanted to be a chef," she reminds me. "Always playing in the kitchen. You never even gave me the chance to make you something."
"So what kind of cooking are you thinking?" I ask her. "Like, do you want to open a restaurant?"
"I'm not sure," she says. "A restaurant might work. Or maybe we could do catering. Or a—"
I've got it! "Bakery," I say abruptly.
"Yeah, that could work," she says.
"No, I mean the bakery!" I say. "Don't you remember that bakery down the street that closed down last month?"
"At the end of the block?" she asks. "Yeah. I think it's a package delivery place now."
"We always used to take Takato on walks around the block when he couldn't sleep," I tell her. "Worked like a charm every time until right after that bakery closed down."
"Oh yeah, I remember that now," she says. "We kept on trying but it just didn't work anymore."
"Early every morning they were in there baking bread for the day. You could almost smell it from here!"
"So wait, you think the smell of baking bread is what did it?" She sounds almost hopeful.
"I don't know," I say excitedly, "but something changed to make it so those walks didn't work anymore. If it was just the smell of bread that did the trick, maybe we can finally get him to go to sleep!"
"Could it really be that simple?" she asks.
"One way to find out!" I say as I stand up in a hurry, only to be suddenly and painfully reminded of my wrenched back. Screw it, I've got to test this idea out! I scramble toward the kitchen. I could make bread in my sleep, which is handy since I'm so close to passing out. Please tell me we have flour!
"Takehiro," she calls to me as I rush around in the kitchen. "You didn't tell me what you think about this idea."
I can't stop to talk, but I respond in an almost ecstatic tone. "Honey, I swear to you if this works and Takato goes to sleep, we will start our very own bakery. I don't care if it costs us every last yen we've got, I will work in that bakery with you every single day and night to keep you and Takato happy."
Please, all I ask is for this to work.
I hope you enjoyed this one. It's just so easy to call Takato a crybaby that I figured I'd make it literal. Oddly, the biggest problem I had with writing the story was just coming up with a title. Nothing really seemed to fit, and I'm still not completely happy with it. Really though, I just wanted to explore Takehiro and Mie a little with this piece. I'm not sure how well I pulled it off, but I tried to get a nice, light tone in this one.
Also, I already have a plan for my next story. It would be very helpful if anyone can confirm if Jenrya's sensei's name was ever mentioned. I've been unable to find it, but that doesn't mean it's not out there somewhere. Until next time.


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In a landmark opinion, a divided Supreme Court on Friday ruled that same-sex couples can marry nationwide, establishing a new civil right and handing gay rights advocates a historic victory.
In the 5-4 ruling, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the majority with the four liberal justices. Each of the four conservative justices wrote their own dissent.
The entire reason the GAY agenda was forced upon the American people was so that the ELITE who want a one world government could bring down the Christian Churches. A One World Government where the people have no rights, no socio-ethnic identity, no religious beliefs, no morality this is what the ELITE are working towards.
In order for the ELITES who are re-engineering the cultural identities of all mankind have begun by erasing the Folkways which are often referred to as "customs." They are standards of behavior that are socially approved but not morally significant. They are norms for everyday behavior that people follow for the sake of tradition or convenience. Breaking a folkway does not usually have serious consequences. A Folkway is One Man adn One Woman constitute a marriage, a family unit.
Mores are strict norms that control moral and ethical behavior. Mores are norms based on definitions of right and wrong. Unlike folkways, mores are morally significant. People feel strongly about them and violating them typically results in disapproval. Religious Faith is an example of mores.
A taboo is a norm that society holds so strongly that violating it results in extreme disgust. Often times the violator of the taboo is considered unfit to live in that society. Homosexuality has been for thousands of years and still is taboo among normal healthy Heterosexuals.
A law is a norm that is written down and enforced by an official law enforcement agency. Since, the ELITES could not persuade most healthy heterosexual people that homosexuality is normal they have resorted to FORCING by the threat of LEGAL punishment normal heterosexual people to accept homosexuality.
All of societies Folkways, Mores, Taboos, and Laws have been manipulated and re-written, and forced upon an unsuspecting public. None of this is new, this has all happened before. When the Bolsheviks seized control of a Christian Russia they knew that in order to control the populace they would have to destroy the Russian people and then rebuild them in their image. Stalin took a many tiered approach, the main 2 being the destruction of the Church followed by the annihilation of the family unit. A stable society is so because of the strong family unit and a morally upright populace which is normally the influence of religious faith. In order for Stalin to destroy the family unit he went about setting mother against daughter, father against his own son. The caveat was that through the public schools the Communist ideology was forced upon the Russian children.
Then, Stalin went about dismantling the Russian Christian faith. He did this by closing Churches, making Churches the enemy of the people. Then, Stalin brought the weight of the Communist government against the Churches. The Christian faith was outlawed in Communist Russia. All the Churches assets and property was seized by the State. If a Russian man or woman wanted to work they had to disavow their Christian Faith. If the children wanted to attend higher learning they had to belong to families which did not attend Church.
Once Stalin had robbed children of their parents influence and removed their Christian faith the new generation of Soviet youth would only worship one master the Soviet State.
The ELITES here in America now have the means legally to begin to shut down the Churches. The gay agenda was always aimed at the destruction of the American Churches. Just as Stalin seized all the Churches lands and assets in Soviet Union, the Solicitor General of the United States candidly acknowledged that the tax exemptions of ANY religious institutions would be in question if they opposed same-sex marriage.
He cited a comment made months ago by the U.S. government's top lawyer on the same-sex marriage case.
"Hard questions arise when people of faith exercise religion in ways that may be seen to conflict with the new right to same-sex marriage — when, for example, a religious college provides married student housing only to opposite-sex married couples, or a religious adoption agency declines to place children with same-sex married couples," Roberts wrote.
"Indeed, the Solicitor General candidly acknowledged that the tax exemptions of some religious institutions would be in question if they opposed same-sex marriage. See Tr. of Oral Arg. on Question 1, at 36–38.
There is little doubt that these and similar questions will soon be before this Court. Unfortunately, people of faith can take no comfort in the protection of the Constitution of the United States of America.


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Everything's fast when it comes to fast food! It's prepared fast, you eat it fast, and it passes through your system very fast![1] Why? Because Americans don't have time to dawdle when it comes to eating[2].
Famous Fast food franchises Edit
- McDonalds: The apostrophe isn't the only thing missing - just ask the clown about his sanity.
- Burger King: home of the creepy manic depressive plastic giant.
- Wendy's: a Feminazi who thinks she makes better burgers than the rest of the guys.
- KFC: home of The South and Fried Chicken. There is no truth that the Colonel had slaves, that's a vegan-liberal lie!
- Little Caesar's: He was killed by Little Brutus'.
- Taco Bell: anyone for a tiny Mexican dog taco?
- Colbertaco: putting the rant in immigrant.
See AlsoEdit
Footnotes Edit
- ↑ Would you like your lower intestines with that, sir?
- ↑ Unless they happen to be those rich, conniving liberals.
External TubesEdit
- More Americans love fast food!
- Fast Food industry promises to open "Super Fast Food District" to met demand for cheap heart-attack inducing supplies
- How the Fast Food industry saves communities
- New libural movie is a threat to Fast Food Economy!
- Fat People are essential for the economy!
- Dietitian Elizabeth Ward: "Fast Food the healthiest choice in America!"
- Commie Regime to destroy Fast Food Industry
- Fast Food Industry to join forces against Socialized Medicine
- Hippie Harvard Vegan demands hippie food
- America to win Fastfoodlympics
- This unamerican traitor hatez the fast food industry
- Fast Foods Are America's Value Cores!
- America's 40 Top
KillersBurgers to die for!
- Food Police ruins America's economy
- Hippies trying to destroy our Fast Food Industry
- #1 Fan meets God for the weekend


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The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind - Game of the Year Edition
I'm afraid to touch anything!!! (Spoilers I Guess)
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- The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind - Game of the Year Edition
- I'm afraid to touch anything!!! (Spoilers I Guess)
So, I remember having some of my characters becoming un-usable in my runs years ago. Maybe that's making me overly concerned here, but I do want to know a few things from the experts on here, if you'll indulge me.
First, I know you can't do every possible quest with a single character, because you can't join all factions. However, aside from those obvious exceptions, is it possible for a single character to complete all of the quests available to him/her before the character becomes un-usable?
Second, is it better to do three (thief, warrior, magic) separate characters & do all the quests that are appropriate for your class?
Third, I know people say that if you move/take one thing from a house you may as well take it all, but what about dungeon crawls or taking things from the world? Like the axe in the stump near the light house in Seyda Neen? Should I follow the same rule & take everything in those cells too? Or should I just leave everything alone, complete the quests, kill the bad guys, but otherwise leave the goodies alone?
Fourth, what are the guidelines for vendors? Should I buy/sell stuff to/from them? Or should I just "delete" my old stuff when I find better stuff & ignore vendors entirely? Or should I use the restocking thing & just buy/sell the stuff that they restock?
Fifth, should I grind levels, before I really get into the bulk of the game? I only ask because that's how I like to do it. Or, in terms of file size & performance, should I level as I play & complete quests?
Last, am I just WAY over thinking this thing? I love TES & this one's a classic. I want to have fun & enjoy my game, but I hate it when I spend forever on a character & then I can't finish with it.
Now, I know some of you may find this topic & all of my questions tiresome. For that I apologize, but if you're annoyed feel free to ignore me. If on the other hand you have some insights & answers for me, then I'd be grateful for your help. Because I could really use it.
Thank you. :)
whatmustido 3 years ago#2
I completed the vast majority of quests on a character on the regular xbox version before it became unstable. That was ages ago, with one of the original xboxes. And I did that a few times, while taking plenty of loot and items for enchanting. You'll start getting crashes and eventually it'll just become impossible to load, though.
Second: Depends on whether or not you care about role-playing. I never really did, so I did all the quests possible.
Third: No clue.
Fourth: Also no clue, but I didn't have many problems when I stuck to using the creeper in Caldera. So I assume that if you stick to the same vendor, you won't have as many problems.
Fifth: Entirely up to you. The game's a cakewalk past level 20. Thirty, if you're playing the expansions. Personally, I always rushed the dragonbone cuirass and all the loot in that place, then went to Caldera to get the master alchemy set. From there, I just roamed the world to find/steal alchemy ingredients. Finally, I went to Sadrith Mora and bought enough stuff for a ton of boost intelligence potions and got my int incredibly high to make hellishly strong and expensive potions to sell to the creeper. Get a few hundred thousand gold and then visit all the master trainers. Just know that this makes the game incredibly easy. It gets even easier when you grab the boots of blinding speed and get some items to boost acrobatics. You'll be jumping from mountain to mountain. Or permanent levitate and just fly across the map Sanic fast.
And yeah, you're probably over-thinking it.
Wow. I'm super surprised that I got a response so quickly. The boards not very active these days. :(
Anyway, thank you so much for your answers to my questions. I REALLY appreciate it!! :)
If anyone else is around & has more to say, feel free to post. Again, thank you.
MynameisDirtDog 3 years ago#4
There are a bunch of people who still check these parts though
Consecutive Janssus Saves: 10 and counting
You can't think when you're ****ing high.
youre not over-thinking in my opinion. I don't believe this game ever had any business being on the OG xbox in this fashion. The precautions youre taking will make your game experience better. I dont like the idea of discouraging play of the elder scrolls, but given your technology, I suggest you play something else.
also, I have nothing to add to the previous help from whatmustido; your questions are interesting.
Come for the advice, stay for the Smallpoxx.
If you want to be facebook friends, PM me.
Well, that's an unfortunate assessment of my situation. However, I can tell your intentions are good. Your thoughts & opinions about my situation seem to be genuinely intended to help me to avoid some serious frustration. So, thank you for that.
So, is that the consensus? Should I simply not play this title on my xbox? If you disagree, feel free to post. However, if you do agree, then I have a few new questions.
1. Is this title still available for purchase for the PC? If so, where should I look? Is it on Steam?
2. Are there similar file size problems with this title while playing it on the PC? If not, are there any other common problems with the PC version?
3. I had an old 360 (not backwards compatible) & couldn't play this title on it. Does it play better on the newer 360s or is the PC the only viable way to play this?
I've been seriously considering switching to PC gaming. Everything I read & everyone I talk to seem to confirm that the best versions of my favorite titles are the PC versions. I can't afford to make the switch right now. However, if it's the only viable way to play some of my favorite titles, both new & old, then I'll be sure to put it higher on my priority list.
Anyway, I'm sorry to be such a pain, but your help is both welcome & appreciated. So, thank you again. :)
I suggest you go to best buy. You can get a $600 computer and pay 50/month for a year with no interest.
Given you already have a monitor keyboard and mouse, $600 can get you a hell of a lot of PC gaming power. Just be sure you get a quad core intel processor and 8gigs of ram.
Also morrowind runs flawless on anything with a gig of ram and a 3d graphics processor.
All elder scrolls games are currently for sale in the anthology pack or you could get GOTY morrowind for about $20
Come for the advice, stay for the Smallpoxx.
If you want to be facebook friends, PM me.
Nice, well I appreciate your help!!
whatmustido 3 years ago#9
You could probably get a laptop that can run Morrowind decently well, if you want to go the cheap route. But really, you could build your own computer or buy a decent enough one for around five to seven hundred dollars that can run almost all modern games on high.
And yes, the PC version has the best versions of almost every game, and also supports emulation for almost every console platform. It's a little more difficult to set PC games up, but it pays off in the end, since you get better graphics, the ability to mod your games, better support, (almost) 100% reverse compatibility, and a number of other things. A lot of games also support the use of controllers, if you for some reason find you don't like mouse and keyboard (which you probably won't, unless you're playing Dark Souls).
Well, I can't make the switch to PC very soon. However, I've been considering it for a long time & it's almost certain that I will. Plus, the comments so far in this thread are really making want to make the change ASAP.
As for using the keyboard while playing games, that's going to take some getting used to. However, I'm OCD & I WILL MASTER IT!!!
So, what is modding exactly? I really don't know much about PC gaming. Just that everyone agrees that it's better.
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We Help People
Help People
We're an ethical design agency that think stuff's too confusing, and so did this guy, and we want to make everything a little bit clearer, a little more honest, and a whole lot more effective - especially for people trying to do good.
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But, if you want to create something that genuinely makes a difference, that not only turns heads, but changes minds, then let's grab a coffee.Say Hello


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Announcement 80 Proof Pursuits by Heather Perry
80 Proof Pursuits by Heather Perry
Kristine Anderson on Jul 22, 2017
so lovely <3 I hope the person I got it for adores it too :)
Dara Weaver on Jul 18, 2017
Cherry Saipale on Jul 13, 2017
Handcrafted and hand-drawn home decor that's as much fun to give as it is to keep.
We all love to be reminded of what makes us feel happy.
Drunk Girl Designs' creations strive to make your home a warmer, funnier, and possibly less appropriate space that you can thrive in.
The idea behind Drunk Girl Designs came about during a Sunday afternoon in 2011 when Heather Perry was on her 2nd glass of sangria, and began transforming the thoughts in her mind into artwork and home decor. Drunk Girl Designs' product line soon expanded to include stationery and knitting patterns and continues to grow!
Her work is influenced heavily by food, lowbrow art, roller derby, pop culture, vintage kitsch, and the domestic arts. Her works are highly repost-able and have been featured on Apartment Therapy, Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, made the front page of Reddit several times, and sold in Urban Outfitters.
Heather lives in Los Angeles, where she works as a graphic designer creating home decor and stationery items for retailers worldwide.
Shop members
Heather Perry
Owner, Designer
After graduating from Des Moines Area Community College's Commercial Art program in 2004, I hopped from Iowa, to Las Vegas, to Los Angeles, where I now reside as a graphic designer creating home decor and stationery products for retailers worldwide.
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- Accepts Etsy Gift Cards and Etsy Credits
Prints can be shipped flat in a rigid mailer + cardboard insert or in a cardboard tube mailer. If you have a strong preference please alert me when you make your purchase.
Refunds and Exchanges
Due to the nature of digital downloads, I can not give refunds to PDF pattern purchases.
Additional policies and FAQs
Unfortunately, no. Mittens take a lot of time to hand knit and I would need to charge you $60 to even make $2 an hour! And I would rather spend that time making new art.
Do you sell your prints as digital downloads?
I do not offer prints or greeting cards as a digital download.
Can you send one of your cards to a friend of mine with a greeting written inside?
Sure! Send me a message with the details :)
Yes! I do accept wholesale orders!
Message me for pricing.


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See our video of this set HERE. Here is a superb Maxwell drum set. Maple shells and nice 45 edges that bring out the resonance and tone beautifully. This is our micro bop set with 7.5x10, 13x13, 14x16 bass drum and 5x14 snare drum. Beautiful satin oil finish. Demo kit from Steve's collection.
Was originally $1600 for all four drums


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Greetings Your support in 2004 was the difference in a very close election and helped send me to the Iowa House. This year, I will be running again and it promises to be very challenging and competitive election. Whether it is door knocking, hosting a house party, or sending post cards, I need your help. During the past two years, I have worked for improvements in education, increased our ability to access and produce renewable fuels, and clean up Iowas waterways. We need to continue this great work and make Iowa even better! Of course, some people dont see my work in the same positive way. The leaders of the other party have already started their campaign against me. Distorted and misleading campaign phone calls are being used against me. One thing is for sure; we can count on an aggressive, heavy-spending attack from the other side. I will be running a positive, independent and issues based campaign focused on the needs of the people here in Cedar Falls. Please consider any of the following activities to help send me back as your State Representative! Make phone calls Knock on doors Put up a yard sign Write post cards March in parades Literature Drops Host a House Party for Rep Kressig Write a letter to the editor Together we can continue to make a difference and continue to make Cedar Falls and Iowa the great place that it is for us all to live. I look forward to hearing from you during this campaign year! Sincerely
Bob KressigState Representative Iowa House District firstname.lastname@example.com
Paid for by Bob Kressig for Iowa House.


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(The Hosting News) – On Tuesday, Internet giant Google finally announced the availability of the Chrome web browser on the Android mobile operating system.
While still currently in Beta, Chrome for Android can be downloaded through the Android Marketplace.
However, there is somewhat of a catch. Mobile system requirements call for Android Version 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Computer magazine PCWorld was quick to note that only 1% of mobile devices currently use that version of Android (Statistics were made available via the Android Developers website).
Meanwhile, majority of Android users are still relying on version 2.3 Gingerbread as of the first of February.
Chrome for Android provides users with the ability to sync Chrome from their desktops to their mobile phones or tablets. Doing so allows them to carry over bookmarks and browser tabs. Other features include link preview (the loading of web pages as you're typing in search) and incognito mode.
Currently, users with Android-based mobile devices access the Internet through an app icon simply titled "Browser." Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether Chrome could become Android's default browser in the future.
Google launched Chrome in 2008 and since then, the web browser has highly increased in popularity.
In December, tracking site StatCounter reported that Chrome had passed Mozilla Firefox in usage. However, both browsers are still ranked after Microsoft's Internet Explorer.
Android's main competitor in the mobile market is Apple's iOS, made available on devices such as the iPad and iPhone. For more information regarding Google's release of Chrome for mobile, view a post on the Google Blog here (google.blogpost.com).


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Edmond Heap is one of Benjamin Heap's children and is one of the first generation of Heap Brothers.
Edmond Heap is not described but as he is a Heap it is safe to assume that he has wild, blonde, stray-like hair as well as bright green wizard eyes.
As Edmond isn't mentioned his abilities are unkown but as a Heap he most likely has some Magykal ability as well as possibly inheriting the some shape-shifting ability from his father Benjamin Heap.
Edmond Heap is the son of Benjamin Heap and Jenna Crackle. He has six brothers and a sister; Alfred Heap, Hengist Heap, Lois Heap, Ernold Heap, Garth Heap and Silas Heap.
He the uncle of Silas's seven children (Nicko Heap, Simon Heap, Sam Heap, Jo-Jo Heap, Erik Heap, Edd Heap, and Septimus Heap) as well as Jenna Heap who is Silas's adoptive daughter.
His aunt is Zelda Zanuba Heap and his uncle is Theo Heap.


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|By Sea-dilemma
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|Chapter 24 (The Spirit Within, Part 1)
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Chapter 25 (The Spirit Within) [2]
"It's beautiful, Hua."
"If we want use a nice scarlet for the panels, it will be very impressive."
"Hua Chun! My best customer! How have you been?" The proprietor of the embroidery shop greeted the housekeeper warmly.
Hua and Lan had come to the open market for the express purpose of visiting the embroidery shop where Hua had been purchasing her threads and fabrics for years. Lan Chi had completed the dragon embroidery on her robe the day before, and Iroh had been so delighted by it that he had suggested that the sofa in the sitting room be re-upholstered with silk, with inlaid panels of embroidered dragons created by Hua and Lan.
Hua smiled at the man. "We have quite a little embroideress in Lady Lan Chi, Bu. She embroidered the most exquisite dragon on one of her robes, and General Iroh would like us to embellish the sofa with the same dragons. We were thinking of using golden thread on red silk."
Bu nodded. "Sounds lovely."
Lan Chi smiled at him, and handed him the thread. "Don't believe her, Bu. Hua helped me with the dragon – a lot."
Bu chuckled. "Well, you can call it a collaborative effort."
"It is beautiful, though. Hua is right. It's a blue dragon on a yellow robe that's trimmed in midnight blue." Lan's eyes were shining.
"Sounds beautiful. Do you want to see some other shades of gold for the dragon's wings?"
Lan nodded. "Yes. We should have at least three shades of gold, I think. Right, Hua?"
"That is a good idea, my lady."
Bu rooted around in the drawers behind his counter for other colors, and Lan turned to Hua. "I think I should wear the robe to Prince Zuko's genbuku. What do you think, Hua?"
Hua nodded. "You'll be a picture, there's no doubt, my lady."
At the word genbuku, Bu looked up. "Did you say you're going to a genbuku?" At Lan's nod, he pointed at her. "I have just the thing. Got them in yesterday." He disappeared into a back room, and returned moments later with a pile of cloths. He laid them on the counter in front of the two women.
"What's this?" Lan picked up the edge of one. It was a panel of blood red silk about three feet long, and a foot and a half wide.
He smiled, picked it up, and held it out for her to see. "It's an agni kai drape, ready for embroidery. Perfect for a genbuku gift."
Lan's eyes widened. "An agni kai drape? For genbuku?"
Hua nodded. "Oh, yes, my lady. They used to be the traditional gift for the genbuku."
"Perfect for a brother or a sweetheart. You can embroider anything you like on it – a dragon, perhaps."
Lan's brain was whirling with possibilities. She had not purchased a gift for Zuko for his coming of age; she had not even thought of a gift. This seemed to be an answer to a question she had not yet asked. And it was a present that she could pour her heart and soul into – something that symbolized her love for him, at least to her. He might never know her feelings, but it would be embodied in an agni kai drape, if nowhere else
Hua looked at her curiously. "My lady, what are you thinking?"
Lan grinned at Bu. "I'll take one, Bu. And the gold thread." She turned to Hua. "The sofa will have to wait."
Zuko was in a fervor preparing for his coming of age, but his mind was never far from Lan Chi. Although he had not seen her since her fall from the palanquin, he hoped that the basketful of tea and the apology letter had done their jobs, since both were meant sincerely.
He tried to push her out of his mind, as Uncle had asked, but he was never successful, and he came to the conclusion that he would never be free of her – nor did he want to be. His plan of convincing Iroh that he would be a good husband for Lan Chi continued, and he liked to think that he was succeeding. That did not mean, though, that he had given up trying to see her through subterfuge or other means.
Showing up unexpectedly at Iroh's door was one of Zuko's favorite ways to accidentally catch a glimpse of Lan, although sightings of her were rare, and more likely he ended up talking to Uncle Iroh over a cup of tea, which, all in all, was not a bad thing.
However, one day, he was lucky. Very lucky, indeed.
Zuko knew that Iroh was attending a war strategy meeting, so there was little chance of seeing him at home. Zuko scaled the wall of Iroh's courtyard, since to go in via the front gate, which had a bell on it, always seemed to alert Lan Chi to his plans and caused her to flee.
Once he had straightened his dress uniform, which he chosen for its smartness, he knocked on the door.
Lan Chi was not, alas for her, able to move quickly enough to bolt from the room when she heard the knock. She had just settled down to tea, which was now no small event. Part of Madame Nushi's tutelage was an insistence that Lan Chi serve tea in a formal setting every day, and that she dress the part. Usually, Lan served Uncle Iroh, but he was not home yet, and so, stuck at the low table on her shins, in a camelephant pose from which it was not easy to extricate herself, she heard Hua announce him.
"Prince Zuko, my lady."
"Criminy," she muttered under her breath. There was no escaping.
Zuko entered the room, and his jaw, when he saw her attired in a red formal robe with her hair pinned on her head in a coronet, dropped. Spirits, she's beautiful! He stammered a hello and bowed.
She colored and looked down at her hands for a moment. "Good afternoon, Prince Zuko."
He drew in a deep breath and calmed himself. "Were you expecting me, Cousin?"
Her head snapped up. "No! Why? Did you think I was?"
He indicated the arrangements. "Do you usually take tea like this, when you are alone?"
She flushed again. "Well, as a matter of fact, I do, but I was expecting Uncle."
"He's in a war meeting."
"Oh." She could expect no rescue from him, then, although she really did not want to be rescued, anyway.
Zuko stood expectantly before the table. "Well?"
"Well, what?"
"Aren't you going to invite me to take tea with you?"
A look of horror passed over her face. "I – suppose so." Uncle was going to kill her, and she was going to make a fool of herself by spilling tea all over Zuko – she just knew it.
"You're so welcoming," he said wryly as he settled himself across from her.
"Do you want tea or not?" She asked testily.
"Please." He smiled, and a dimple showed on his cheek. Lan Chi melted.
She poured two cups of tea shakily, although she remembered to lift her sleeve with her free hand. She passed him the cup and their fingers brushed. She jumped back as if burned.
"Do I make you nervous?" He gave her a cheeky grin.
"No! Don't be ridiculous. I – just didn't want to spill it."
"Hmm." He nodded towards the plate of cookies. "Do I get a cookie, as well?"
"What? Sure, yeah, I guess." She practically threw a cookie at him.
He tried to suppress his laughter. It was so obvious that she was uneasy. "Why are you having formal tea by yourself?"
Lan sighed, and decided to come clean. "My etiquette teacher wants me to get used to serving tea like this. She says that a successful hostess must know this ritual as if she performs it every day – which I have been doing – every day – for a month."
"Oh. You have an etiquette teacher?"
She nodded ruefully. "Yes. Uncle hired her. He says that I need finishing."
"Like you're an unfired clay pot?" He couldn't help but smile again.
She shot him a dark look. "Don't laugh. You don't have to sit through one of Madame Nushi's lectures on my duty to the Fire Nation."
"I thought your duty to the Fire Nation was to defend it against all enemies – not serve tea."
"My duty is apparently to marry well and give my husband many fine sons." She quoted Madame Nushi, and then, realizing what she had said and to whom she had said it, she blushed and looked down at her hands again.
Zuko blushed, too, and began toying with his tea cup. After a few awkward moments of silence, he cleared his throat. "So, tell me how you serve tea formally."
Lan latched onto the topic. "Oh. Okay. Well, first you pour the tea, which I already did. And, then," she stammered, "then, you serve it, in order of rank. So, that means that, as the highest ranking man in the room, you would get your tea cup first."
"I'll always get my tea first, then, since I will always be the highest ranking man in the room."
She gave him a sour look. "Do you think so? How about when you are sitting with your father? Or Uncle?"
"If I am sitting with Father, then, of course he will get his tea first. Uncle Iroh – I don't know. He was the crown prince, for a very long time, and he is a general. But I don't know. I'm the crown prince now." He shrugged. "But any other man in the Fire Nation will be served after me, obviously."
"Well, let's assume for the moment that you, o mighty one, are getting your tea first."
He laughed. "O mighty one. I like that. Can you call me that all the time?"
"What? Is your highness not good enough?"
"It's plenty good enough."
"If it's not, you know, I can think of many other things that I can call you."
Darling? He thought. My love? Dearest? How about Husband? They were all things that he wanted her to call him.
Her own thoughts were very similar, and she wondered why she had said such a thing to him.
"Ahem." He tried to change the subject. "Uh, okay, well, I've got my tea. Now, what is the next step?"
"A cookie." Her voice was strangled.
"Got one. Now, do we drink?" He lifted the cup to his lips.
"Yes. But we should make small talk first."
He lowered the tea. "What kind of small talk?"
"Uh, well, I should probably ask you, as my guest, about your family. How it is – you know, that sort of thing. So – how's your family?"
He grimaced. "Oh, okay. My family. Well, I never see my father. He's always busy – you know, being Fire Lord, and all –"
"I am familiar with your father's occupation, Zuko," she said, dryly.
"Right. Of course. And, well, my sister, she's – vicious – and kind of sadistic, and I think she might be a little mentally unbalanced, as well." He finished with a nod.
She blinked, startled. "Oh, all – right, then. Perhaps we should find another topic of discussion."
He shrugged and drank some tea. "I guess I could – ask you some questions. I guess. You know, make small talk. What should I ask you?"
"Well, actually, you should compliment the host or hostess on the beauty of their home – and things like that."
"Oh. Okay. Well, then," he looked around. "The furnishings in this room are very – striking." He smiled at her.
She smiled back. "Thank you. Most of them are family heirlooms."
"From Uncle's family or Aunt Su Hsing's?"
"Both, I believe." She took a sip of her tea, now cold.
"Ah. Well, what else can I compliment you on?"
"The quality of the tea?" She suggested.
"I would expect nothing less in Uncle's house."
She chuckled. "True."
He looked thoughtful, then snapped his fingers. "I know. I can say –" he smiled slightly, "how incredibly beautiful you look today."
Lan's eyes grew wide, and she slowly set down her cup.
"I can tell you that your eyes enchant me, that your scent beguiles me, that your lips – intoxicate me."
"Zu – Zuko." She breathed, thinking she had never heard anything more lyrical in her life.
She probably had not, since those words actually were lyrics, from an ancient love song that Zuko had read in a book. He hoped she had not read the same book.
The next words were Zuko's, though. "You're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, Lan. I – I think about you all the time. I can't stop thinking about you."
Pain shadowed her eyes. "Zuko –" she began.
"I – I need to tell you something." He interrupted, grabbing her hand on the table.
"Zuko..." She began again, a warning in her voice. She thought, from his demeanor, that she knew what he was about to say. Something that she had yearned for him to say, and now, she wished he would not say it.
"Lan, I think that I lo –"
"Zuko! No!" She stopped him and tried to pull her hand away.
"No, what?" He was confused, but kept a tight grip on her fingers.
"Let me go!" She was certain that Zuko had been about to say that he loved her. The thought that he might actually love her thrilled her beyond all hope, but she knew that, no matter their feelings for one another, they would never be together. Never. And she could not tell him why. She could not poison him against his father. She simply could not. She had to give him a disgust of her, get him to stop pursuing her. An idea came to her – a horrible, horrible idea. She decided on it in an instant. She pulled her hand away. "I – I have to tell you. What you were going to say –"
"Yes?" He prompted, taking her hand back.
"I – I don't feel the same." She schooled her face into looking pitying. "I'm sorry."
He flung her hand from him, his face suffused with anger. "You're lying."
"No, Zuko. I'm sorry. I'm not."
"You kissed me. You let me kiss you!"
"I've kissed a lot of boys." She had become so adept at lying, and she hated it.
"You said you liked me."
"I do. Just – not enough."
"You're lying." His voice was a low growl, and his face was now twisted with rage, grief, and humiliation.
"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."
He stood up abruptly, and knocked his tea cup over, spilling liquid across the table. "You're doing this because Uncle told you to, aren't you?"
She stood up. "No, Zuko. Uncle has nothing to do with this."
"You're lying! I don't know why he hates me – why he's doing this."
"Zuko, I swear to you that Uncle has nothing to do with this."
"Then I don't know why you're doing this – because I know you love me. I know you do."
"Zuko, no. Please – just go. Please."
He ran from the house, and she could hear only the echo of his boots as he left.
Zuko was angry. He was very, very angry. He had intended to tell Lan Chi how he felt about her. He had planned it in his head. He planned to tell her that he loved her, and he planned that she would proclaim her own undying love and fall into his arms. He planned that they would have lived happily ever after, despite Uncle's meddling.
That was how he planned it. That was not, however, how it happened. What happened instead was that it had all blown up in his face. Not only had he not been able to tell her how he felt, but she, seemingly aware of his feelings, had thrown them back in his face with no compunction or remorse.
And now he felt like a fool. A stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid fool.
He was not convinced that she had been telling the truth, but he had no idea how to prove that. He also did not know whether he cared. If she didn't want him, then he didn't want her!
Oh, who am I kidding? He asked himself. Of course I want her. I want her more than ever. I'm an idiot.
However, he had no idea how to get her.
When Iroh came home that evening, he found Lan in her bedchamber, curled up on her bed, in the dark.
"Lan Chi?" He called her softly from the doorway.
"I'm here, Uncle." She sat up and wiped away her tears.
Iroh lit the lanterns with a flick of his wrist, came in, and closed the door behind him. "You've been crying."
"Yes." Her eyes were bloodshot, and her nose was running.
He pulled a handkerchief from a pocket and handed it to her.
"Thank you."
"Hua told me that Prince Zuko was here."
She nodded.
"What happened?"
"Nothing." She shook her head.
He sat down next to her and put an arm around her. "When I returned to live here, Lan, we made a pact never to lie to one another. Tell me what happened."
She decided to be honest. "He was going to tell me that he loved me. I know he was. And – and I stopped him, and I – I told him that I don't love him." She began crying again, in earnest, and, despite the fact that she held a handkerchief, she bawled into Iroh's robe.
"Oh, my dear." He stroked her hair. "I am sorry. I am so sorry that you have gotten involved in this petty sibling rivalry."
She pulled her tear-streaked face from his lapels and looked at him. "What? What do you mean?"
Iroh sighed. "I fear, Lan, that Ozai hates you more because you are my niece rather than because you are of a mixed race."
She waved her hand. "It doesn't matter why he hates me. He does, and that's all that matters. He'll never let Zuko marry me. And I wish that I were dead."
"Do not say that. Do not give up hope."
She leaned her head against his shoulder. "I don't have any hope left."
Despite all the strictures that Iroh had given her, despite all of the heartbreak and trouble that would come from allowing her to continue to dream about Zuko, Iroh found that he could not bring himself to extinguish that last flame of hope in her.
He drew a deep breath and was silent a long time. "Sometimes, the rarest flowers may flourish where the soil is poorest."
She turned to look at him. "Are Zuko and I rare flowers?"
He smiled and touched her nose with his forefinger. "I think so."
"So, what should I do?"
Iroh shook his head. "I do not know." He sighed. It was time for him to tell her the truth. "Lan Chi, I must tell you something."
She looked at him suspiciously. "I can't imagine what it is. I don't think I want to imagine what it is."
"When I returned to the Fire Nation, I told you that I made a bargain with Ozai so that I might remain here – with you, and with Zuko."
"Yes?" She was wary.
"I told you that, in return for not contesting his right to the throne, Ozai agreed to let me stay – in peace – and bring you home. And be Zuko's teacher."
She nodded, her throat suddenly tight.
"Well, that was not the only condition that I agreed to." He sounded reluctant to continue.
"What other condition was there, Uncle?" She had a very bad feeling that she knew what it was.
"That I would not allow a match between you and Zuko."
Her breath caught in her throat, and she suddenly couldn't feel any air in her body. "You?" She croaked out that one word before putting her head in her hands.
"Lan Chi?" Iroh's voice was concerned.
Lan could not speak. She was livid and hurt and furious. Furious! She lifted her head and looked at her uncle, sitting there, worry written across his face. "You bargained with my life? With my happiness?"
"Lan –"
She shook her hands. "No. Wait. Let me see if I understand this. So that you could stay in the Fire Nation, you agreed to keep me and Zuko apart?"
"I am sorry. I did not know that you had fallen in love with Zuko. Or he with you."
"But you didn't ask me – or Zuko. And you didn't tell me! And all this time, I thought that you were keeping us apart because you were worried about what Ozai might do to me! But you were worried about what Ozai might do to you!"
Iroh shook his head. "That is not completely true –"
"But it is not completely false, either, is it?"
"I made this agreement, Lan, and I should not have – not before talking to you, and I am sorry. I did what I thought was best – for everyone."
Her face was miserable. "Then you aren't nearly as wise as you think that you are, Uncle." She ran from the room, down the stairs and out into the courtyard. It was a cold night, but she did not notice it. Her mind was consumed with her uncle's confession. He had lied to her! He had lied to her, and he had ruined her life!
Her voice of reason spoke up. How exactly did he ruin your life? Your life was pretty lousy before he came back.
She sighed. He ruined it because now, if I don't stay away from Zuko, Uncle will be in trouble, too. Her life was ruined without Zuko; Uncle's life was ruined if she was with Zuko. And therefore, her life would be ruined with Zuko, as well. She felt sick, and confused, like her world was spinning out of control.
She fisted her hands and put them against her ears and screamed as loud as she could. The water in the fountain shot up out of the basin, and splashed all over the courtyard, drenching her.
She stomped her feet in frustration as Iroh, Hua, Jianyu, and several other servants rushed out of the house in response to the scream.
"Lady Lan Chi!" Hua surveyed the scene before her. "Whatever happened here?"
Lan cast Iroh a dark look. "I fell in the fountain." She clumped back into the house past the astonished faces staring at her.
Iroh knew that he would have to face Zuko the next morning, and he went to Zuko's lesson with trepidation.
His nephew was in the courtyard, going through his forms. He had already stripped to the waist, despite the chill, and the sweat glistened on his skin.
Iroh took a deep breath. "Prince Zuko, I'd like to talk to you."
Zuko stopped and dropped his hands to his side, disconsolate and angry. "If it's about Lan, Uncle, I don't want to talk about it." He turned his back on his uncle and launched a fireball with one foot.
"But, Zuko, it is not healthy to keep things bottled up inside."
He swung around to face Iroh, fury on his face. "I said that I don't want to talk about it!" He screamed, and fireballs blew up from his fists.
Iroh nodded slowly. "Very well. If you decide that you would like to talk – I am here for you."
"I won't."
Despite all that had happened, or perhaps because of it, Lan Chi spent all of her free time working on Zuko's agni kai drape. She suspected that Iroh would not be pleased by the gift, and Ozai would be incensed, but she didn't care. In fact, after her uncle's confession - after she had found out that he had played with her future like he played pai sho, she was more determined than ever to give the drape to Zuko, consequences be damned. She was mightily tired of tiptoeing around what she wanted. She had, for so many years, subdued her own desires in hopes of pleasing others, in hopes of being left in peace, in hopes of being spared pain, but that had rarely worked out in her favor, and she was weary – weary of fighting Zuko, weary of fighting her uncle, weary of fighting Ozai, and weary, most of all, of fighting herself. She loved Zuko; she always would, and nothing could change that. Why should she continue to try to deny it? How about to spare your own life, you ninny – and Uncle's? She sighed. Nothing was ever easy.
She had decided on a golden border for the drape, with thin waves of golden fire on one end. She was pleased with the way the borders were turning out, having to only rip out a few rows of embroidery – more than once, unfortunately, but she counted herself lucky that was the extent of her mistakes so far. She also counted herself lucky that Hua was always nearby to give her encouragement and advice.
One day, after finishing with Jiao Ao, Lan was sitting at the kitchen table sewing, while Cook prepared the evening meal and Hua was repairing a tear in one of Iroh's favorite robes. Although there were maids who could do such menial work, Hua had always taken it upon herself to make certain that all of the general's clothes were presentable.
The cook, who also knew who the agni kai drape was for, exclaimed over it as Lan laid it out on the table to check her stitches.
"Oh, my lady, that is beautiful."
"Thank you. I am so happy I'm almost done with the borders. The stitches are so small. I swear that I shall be half-blind when I've finished."
"Oh, it will all be worth it when Prince Zuko sees it."
Lan blushed. "Oh, I'm certain he'll get dozens more – much better than mine."
"I doubt that. Even if he does get others, I will wager none will be done with such a loving hand." Cook smiled and patted Lan on the shoulder.
Lan Chi darted a look at Hua, who glanced back surreptitiously. Were Lan's feelings for Zuko so apparent that even the cook had guessed them? Yes, it was true that Lan was going to quite a bit of work for the gift, but Prince Zuko was, other than Iroh, her closest male relative.
Lan Chi cleared her throat. "Ah, well, yes, I thought that, as he is my cousin, I should invest something more than a few gold pieces in his gift. After all, anyone can purchase a ready-made drape." Her eyes slid to the cook to gauge her reaction to the lie.
Cook shrugged, and turned back to measuring flour for dumplings. "And that's why you are such a good girl, Lady Lan Chi. Always thinking of others."
Lan closed her eyes and gave a sigh of relief at her close call.
Iroh watched Lan Chi from the doorway of the sitting room. She was in her usual place at the tea table, practicing the tea ceremony. Since their argument several days before, she had been avoiding him, seeing him only at meals, speaking only when spoken to – and only on the most trivial of subjects.
She had been absent during his regular tea time, as well, choosing to take her tea alone, when she knew him to be working in the palace.
Iroh knew this had to stop.
He drew a deep breath, and entered the room.
"You look lovely, as usual, Lan." He smiled, and she jumped.
"I – I didn't know you were home, Uncle."
"It was quite unexpected. My meetings were much smoother than I anticipated." He settled down across from her. "So I have time to spend with my favorite niece – for tea."
She gave him a jaundiced look, but poured him a cup nonetheless.
Iroh was right – she was lovely. She had so far avoided the awkwardness that seemed to plague many teenagers – her skin was clear and her body proportional. However, she had not been able to avoid the vagaries of emotion that came with the teenage years. The moodiness, the euphoria, the melancholy – and the rapid fluctuations amongst all those emotions – were common.
Iroh felt at a loss for words, which, for Iroh, was very unusual, indeed. He absently took a sip of tea, and looked around the room – anywhere but at Lan Chi.
She, for her part, stared into her own cup.
Iroh finally broke the silence. "So. You are well?"
She looked at him incredulously. "Am – I – well? Am I well? Have you been living somewhere else for the past week?"
"No, I assure you. I have been witness to everything in this household."
"What does that mean?"
"It means nothing, my dear." He sighed. "I do not wish to fight with you anymore. I am sorry for what I did, and, if I could do something about it, then, believe me, I would."
She was truculently silent.
"Besides, even if I had not made that arrangement with the Fire Lord –"
"I know." The anger went out of her. "He would still not let Zuko marry me. I just was so – enraged that you did not tell me. That you lied to me, even though you promised that you would not!"
"I did not lie to you, exactly. I omitted some things."
"Anything else you've omitted?" She asked dryly.
"About this? No, not really. And what about you, Little Duck? Anything you would like to tell me about Zuko?"
She blushed. "No."
"No accidental meetings? No stolen kisses when you thought no one was looking?"
She set her jaw stubbornly. "None of your business."
He chuckled. "We both of us have been less than honest, it appears."
"Well, what should we do, then?"
"Make a new pact. Complete, one hundred percent honesty, from this point on." He held out his hand, as if to seal the deal.
She took it warily. "I should tell you, then, that I have been working on an agni kai drape for Zuko's genbuku."
"I know."
She pulled her hand away. "How did you know?"
"There is little in this house that escapes my notice."
"You are very meddlesome, Uncle."
"I prefer to think of it as well informed."
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text:
Tony Abbott is due to fly out of Canberra for the UN in New York later this evening.
To replace him, we will have Julia Gillard's much-hyped interview with Ray Martin on Channel Nine at 7pm.
Before we head off to prepare a suitable snack plate for the show (to all the Adelaide kids out there, some frog cakes are on the menu), what did we learn today?
- You can't bet on anything in politics. Joel Fitzgibbon took out the 200 crown;
- But no one can flounce out like Terri Butler;
- PUP continues to prove that the internal battles are always the most interesting;
- "Trough" is an ambiguous term;
- Eric Abetz is a poetic guy - democracy is a "fragile flower" - who would have guessed?
Thanks for tuning in, petals.
Andrew Meares, Alex Ellinghausen and I look forward to snapping and typing you on the 'morrow.
And smiles all around for Brandis, Eric Abetz and other Coalition senators right now.
PUP's bid to set up an inquiry into the Queensland government has been surprisingly dee-feated.
Wha happened?
The Liberal Party put up an amendment to have the inquiry span the life of the Labor Bligh government as well as the Newman government.
The Greens supported the Coalition on this, but Labor and PUP did not.
So, in the end, the Senate voted down a move to have an inquiry into the Queensland government(s).
That's more than two hours of debate to get exactly nowhere.
George Brandis has released the detail of the government's "foreign fighters" bill, which is due to be introduced to the Senate tomorrow (it includes a 227 page explanatory memorandum).
It will then be referred to Parliament's Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security for review.
There will be some fine tooth combing in all of this - which among many other things, seeks to make a new offence of entering a "declared area" (where a terrorist group is engaging in hostile activity).
Staying with the broad Lambie theme, Latika Bourke reports on the latest on burqas.
Coalition MP George Christensen has told Lambie that she should "shut up" when it comes to the burqa.
Christensen (who is also a prominent anti-vegetarian campaigner) told Fairfax Media that while he agreed with the points Lambie had been attempting to make regarding Islamic law and the burqa, she had no idea how to argue the case [Exhibit A? Exhibit B?] and was doing the campaign to ban the burqa a disservice.
"She goes too far and quite frankly she doesn't know how to argue the key point, she's doing the argument actually no favours and she should shut up because she doesn't know what she's talking about."
Speaking of troughs, the results of today's poll are in:
38 per cent of you think "trough" is somewhere to feed people who work in politics (ping: Rob Messenger).
22 per cent think it is somewhere to feed animals.
18 per cent said trough is a public lavatory for men.
14 per cent think it is really weird point in the political cycle.
And 8 per cent agree with Joe Hockey that it is a low point in an economic cycle.
[Insert searing conclusion here.]
Thanks to the 693 people who voted!
Back to top
While Wang was giving his speech, Jacqui Lambie's media adviser Rob Messenger called in to 2UE for an interview.
Re: his comments about troughs and cubicles earlier, he said that he was just having a laugh (and not misunderstanding what was going on).
He is a great fan of satire and Monty Python, he reasoned, and thought others would understand too.
Wang tells his young daughter in the public gallery that even though she might think being a politician is "silly", "I am doing it for you".
"Honourable senators, lets do this."
"We need smart politicians to make wise decisions," says Wang.
But he tells the Senate, "don't congratulate yourself too early, you haven't heard my definition of smart".
He says that people need to observe carefully and think deeply.
"A really wise person considers others are wiser."
(Is this a comment about Clive saying Jacqui Lambie was not very bright?)
Wang says he wants to "sincerely" thank Palmer for starting PUP.
Clive can be seen working/ texting on his phone in the Senate chamber while Wang talks.Back to top
Wang came to Melbourne to study urban planning in his early 20s.
"My world is no longer just China."
Here, he met his wife, Josephine and then later moved to WA for work.
Wang, who was an engineer and CEO of one of Palmer's companies before he was elected to the Senate, tells the chamber that he was born to humble beginnings in Nanjing, China.
As an only child, he concedes that he was no doubt spoilt.
The West Australian PUP Senator has kept a very low profile since he was elected.
Perhaps one of his most famous comments to date was telling 7.30 in May that his poltiics before joining PUP was "zero".
President Stephen Parry notes that it will be a reprieve for the Senate to have Wang's speech.
Silence please.
The government (via Parliamentary Secretary to Minister for Foreign Affairs Brett Mason) is still railing against the inquiry.
"This is a disgrace!" he exclaims.
(He has already been talking for more than 15 minutes and is still at full outrage.)
PUP's Dio Wang is due to give his first speech to the Senate after 5pm.Back to top
This is what George Brandis thinks of PUP's Queensland inquiry.
"It is a beautiful flower, but it is fragile."
Abetz is really cautioning the Senate here against voting for an inquiry into the Queensland government.
Democracy is a fragile thing, he says.
It is "fraught with danger" to investigate another government.
"Parliamentary committees have the power to compel witnesses," he warns.
The Senate votes 34 yes to 29 no to suspend standing orders.
Lazarus then moves that the Senate adopts his proposal.
But government Senate leader Eric Abetz gets up to protest.
He does not think one parliament should be investigating another.
He thinks this might be "purely and utterly motivated by a personal grievance by one member of the other place".
Here is what PUP is proposing.
It would be a really wide-ranging inquiry, including: "performance measures in relation to Commonwealth funds paid to the state of Queensland," "the administration of the Queensland courts and judicial system," and the "approval process for the development of projects for the export of resources ..."
The committee would be asked due to report by March 31, 2015 - in time for the Queensland state election next year.
Queensland Coalition Senator James McGrath is not cool about it.
He is calling the Greens, Labor and PUP agreement a "menage a trois".
"It's about the 'p' word, it's about preferences," he argues.Back to top
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