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LEASED BY SIMON RUSSO | HILLS CENTRAL – More Wanted!!
Two Level Opportunity with Quality Fitout!
Popular Vantage Estate, includes on-site cafe with clean professional occupants.
Fronting Windsor Road, the complex offers some exposure for name recognition.
Two level opportunity includes ground floor air-conditioned office/storage space offering tilt panel door access for deliveries.
First floor office space with abundance of natural light from the front and rear. Office area includes fantastic glass fit out allowing the natural light to flow through all the rooms.
Two internal toilet, two kitchenettes, ducted air conditioning plus 6 car...
Expressions of Interest
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Libertatea, NSFW, Roxana Marinescu, see-through, that's the way you do it
Vedeta de la noi care ne arată TOT, TOT, TOT! Cea mai scandaloasă imagine a verii! | FOTO
Roxana Marinescu NSFW 2
Nice shave!
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subset: commoncrawl


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Conference themes include:
- How can engineering and engineers contribute to community development?
- How can engineering and engineers contribute to the production of Social Justice and Peace when historically and currently many forms of institutionalized engineering have been at the service of social injustice and war?
- How should engineers capable of producing positive impacts in terms of Social Justice and Peace be educated?
- How can/should engineers from the global north work with engineers from the global south (e.g., projects? organizations? academic programs?) to produce social justice?


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The meeting minutes of the Bridgeport Township Board's monthly meetings are provided on their website Bridgeport Charter Township . They have the meeting minutes posted going back to January 3, 2012 but there are no minutes for December 2012, not sure why that month is missing.
The Michigan Open Meetings Act states "What must be in the minutes – at a minimum, the minutes must show the date, time, place, members present, members absent, any decisions made at a meeting open to the public, and the purpose or purposes for which a closed session is held. The minutes must include all roll call votes taken at the meeting. The OMA does not prohibit a public body from preparing a more detailed set of minutes of its public meetings if it chooses to do so."
The Bridgeport Township board provides only the bare minimum required to be in compliance with the open meetings act. Why not provide more detailed information including the public comments made?
The Bridgeport Downtown Development Authority also provides the minutes to their meetings on the website and do give more detailed information of what went on at the meetings. There are 2 meeting minutes missing from the website, the August 14, 2013 meeting and the December 11, 2013 meeting. The minutes posted only go back to June 12, 2013.
The Bridgeport Planning & Zoning Commission also holds meetings but I am unable to tell for sure how often by looking at Bridgeport's website since there are only two meeting minutes posted, for a July 29, 2013 meeting and a August 21, 2013 meeting. They do give detailed minutes of what went on at the meetings.
I am assuming that you could request to see any of the meeting minutes for these boards and the planning & zoning commission by going into the township office and requesting to see them. Many residents are probably not even aware of these meetings being held or can't attend them due to various reasons. Interested parties may find it hard to even get to the township to request to see the meeting minutes. It would be better for transparency reasons to have a more detailed record of the meeting minutes and to have them all posted online to make them available to all the residents and any interested parties at any time.


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Eastern Pathways
Save $521 until Jun 27
ends on 27 Jun 2018
- Days
- 21
- Our saving
- $521
Cost/day $110
Ask a question about this tour
24/7 Customer Support
- Starts
- Rome
- Destinations
- +12
- Ends
- London
Start in Rome and end in London! With the discovery tour Eastern Pathways, you have a 21 day tour package taking you from Rome to London and through Rome, Italy and 13 other destinations in Europe. Eastern Pathways includes accommodation in a hotel, hostel and campsites as well as an expert guide, meals, transport and more.
- Age range
- 18 to 39 year olds
- Accommodation
- Hostel, Hotel, Camping, Berth / Cabin
- Transportation
- Coach / Bus, Ship, Ferry
- Travel style
- Discovery
Similar tours
5 Reviews
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- KKelseyWritten on October 20, 20175.0 - ExcellentThe trip was absolutely amazing! My tour joined onto a longer tour (which I was a bit disappointed wasn't advertised better, or I might have done the whole journey)! However, the people made the trip the absolute amazing time that is was. Our tour guide Jemma was so insightful and genuinely interested in the places we went and the history and cultures that you couldn't help but be excited as well! It made learning new things so much easier and more worthwhile! Absolutely loved every second!!!Show detailed ratings
- EWEthanWritten on July 30, 20165.0 - ExcellentMy trip was super good, thanks to Jacob ! Absolute legendShow detailed ratings
- AAngWritten on December 19, 20154.5 - ExcellentIncredible! I'd do it again in a heartbeat
- BBrookeWritten on December 30, 20145.0 - ExcellentBaz was an amazing tour guide. Several times throughout the tour, Baz went above and beyond anything I would have expected. This includes leaving four hours early one morning so we could stop at a concentration camp on our way to Munich. He was friendly, fun, knowledgable, helpful and always approachable. 10/10! :)Show detailed ratings
- CaitlanWritten on October 11, 20135.0 - ExcellentWOW what and amazing experience!!! Great bunch of people, seeing the most amazing parts of Europe. Wouldn't have been possibly without our awesome trip leader BAZ!!!Show detailed ratings
ItineraryDownload PDF Brochure
- Introduction
Expand all
- Day 1: Rome
- Day 2: Rome to Sailing in Greece via Overnight Ferry
- Day 3: Sailing in Greece
- Day 4: Sailing in Greece
- Day 5: Sailing in Greece
- Day 6: Sailing in Greece to Tirana, Albania
- Day 7: Tirana to Dubrovnik, Croatia via Budva, Montenegro
- Day 8: Dubrovnik
- Day 9: Dubrovnik to Plitvice Lakes
- Day 10: Plitvice Lakes
- Day 11: Plitvice Lakes to Budapest, Hungary
- Day 12: Budapest
- Day 13: Budapest to Krakow, Poland
- Day 14: Krakow
- Day 15: Krakow to Prague, Czech Republic
- Day 16: Prague
- Day 17: Prague to Berlin, Germany
- Day 18: Berlin
- Day 19: Berlin to Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Day 20: Amsterdam
- Day 21: Amsterdam to London, England
What's included
Expand all
AccommodationRated Excellent by past passengers
GuideRated Excellent by past passengers
MealsRated Excellent by past passengers
TransportRated Excellent by past passengers
Additional Services
- Europe: Experience the Magic of Europe
- Western Europe Travel Guide
- Sailing with Topdeck
Questions & Answers
Here we have collected and answered the most frequently asked questions about this tour.
- April 23, 2015
What does the food fund cover?
Food fund for Eastern Pathways covers all included group meals while you are on the trip. This tour includes all breakfasts and some fresh lunches lunches while travelling - which means you can save on expensive lunches from motorway service stations and enjoy higher quality food. Meals at local restaurants are also included giving you the opportunity to try local cuisines. The food fund needs to be paid upfront before the departure.
Guides who have led this tour
- "A few years ago I was finishing my bachelors degree dreaming of adventure. So the day after I graduated..."
What are people saying about TourRadar?
- Geraldine5th June 2018Your website was very simple to use. I was able to find exactly what I wanted and when I wanted my tour. The price was also a big factor in choosing your company. As I have done a Cosmos tour before, I knew it would be good value for the price.
Eastern Pathways
- SaturdayJun 30, 2018from Rome21 DaysFridayJul 20, 2018to London5 seats left$113USD $2,716
- SaturdayJul 7, 2018from Rome21 DaysFridayJul 27, 2018to London10+ seats left$113USD $2,716
- SaturdayJul 14, 2018from Rome21 DaysFridayAug 3, 2018to London5 seats left$113USD $2,716
- SaturdayJul 21, 2018from Rome21 DaysFridayAug 10, 2018to London7 seats left$113USD $2,716
- SaturdayJul 28, 2018from Rome21 DaysFridayAug 17, 2018to London8 seats left$521$2,829-18%USD $2,309
- SaturdayAug 4, 2018from Rome21 DaysFridayAug 24, 2018to London8 seats left$113USD $2,716Book Now Hold my
- SaturdayAug 11, 2018from Rome21 DaysFridayAug 31, 2018to London0 seats left$113USD $2,716Sold outSee similar tours on this date
- SaturdayAug 18, 2018from Rome21 DaysFridaySep 7, 2018to London5 seats left$113USD $2,716
- SaturdaySep 1, 2018from Rome21 DaysFridaySep 21, 2018to London10+ seats left$108USD $2,581
- SaturdaySep 15, 2018from Rome21 DaysFridayOct 5, 2018to London10+ seats left$108USD $2,581
Monthly price comparison
About the countries
Useful things to know before you go
- €
- EuroItaly , Greece , Montenegro , Slovakia , Austria , Germany and Netherlands
- Lek
- LekAlbania
- kn
- KunaCroatia
- Ft
- ForintHungary
- Kč
- KorunaCzech Republic
- £
- Pound sterlingEngland
Plugs & Adapters
Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
- Hepatitis A
- Recommended for Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Hungary, Slovakia and Czech Republic. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
- Hepatitis B
- Recommended for Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia and Czech Republic. Ideally 2 months before travel.
- Typhoid
- Recommended for Albania. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
- Yellow fever
- Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an infected area for Albania. Ideally 10 days before travel.
- Tick-borne encephalitis
- Recommended for Albania, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Czech Republic and Germany. Ideally 6 months before travel.
- Location
- Rome is the starting point and London is the endpoint.
- Max group size
- 48 is the maximum group size for Eastern Pathways.
- Hold my space
- TourRadar can request Topdeck to hold spaces for you for up to 48 hours without any credit card details.
- Deposit
- TourRadar only requires a deposit of $200 to confirm this Topdeck booking. The remaining balance is then payable 47 days prior to the departure date. For any tour departing before 8 August 2018 the full payment of $2,309 is necessary.
- Cancellation policy
- No additional cancellation fees! You can cancel the tour up to 47 days prior to the departure date and you will not need to pay the full amount of $2309 for Eastern Pathways, but the deposit of $200 is non-refundable.
- Credit Cards
- The following cards are accepted for Topdeck tours: Visa - Master Card - American Express
Covering a total distance of approx 3,526 km.
- Rome (Italy)
- 669 km
- Corfu (Greece)
- 41 km
- Plataria (Greece)
- 212 km
- Tirana (Albania)
- 134 km
- Budva (Montenegro)
- 74 km
- Dubrovnik (Croatia)
- 317 km
- Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia)
- 396 km
- Budapest (Hungary)
- 161 km
- Bratislava (Slovakia)
- 55 km
- Vienna (Austria)
Why book with TourRadar
- Best Price Guarantee
- If you book with TourRadar and within 24 hours you find a better price than $2,309 for the same tour, TourRadar will pay you the difference
- Safely book online
- All your details are safely protected by a secure connection
- 8,605 tours in Europe
- covered by 226 different operators in Europe
- No Cancellation Fee
- TourRadar does not charge any additional cancellation fees. You can cancel the tour up to 47 days prior to the departure date.
- 5 Genuine Reviews
- All reviews are verified from travellers who went on Eastern Pathways


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Re: Peeples-Hassler, Murray Co., GA
In reply to:
Re: Peeples-Hassler, Murray Co., GA
M. Peeples 4/10/05
Thanks for the reply; If this is the case,this could be the missing link to my familytree. I,will start researching Sarah Wolfey.The family here in Indiana knows for fact that William Nelson Peeples,Mother (name unverified to us)married John Cooper of Anderson,In.Whom according to My Grandpartents (deceased)and my Father (living)was the Step-Father to William Nelson Peeples.By the way are we related?
More Replies:
John Cooper
M. Peeples 4/10/05
Re: John Cooper
Larry Peeples 4/10/05
- Re: John Cooper


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Wednesday, April 27, 2016
How is Bernie and Donald's Popularity Related to the DeBlasio Debacle?
Interesting times. After watching the Republican and Democratic debates this summer, I realized what was at the heart of Bernie and Donald's popularity. This became especially clear during one of the Republican debates; Rubio said Trump made contributions to Hillary. Trump responded he did, that's how business is done. He then added that he had contributed to almost all of them. Kasich said he didn't get any and asked him for money, at which time several more joined in on the panhandling.https://theintercept.com/2015/08/07/donald-trump-buy/
Most people, myself included, were incredulous. The tangible distain for pandering politicians, taking contributions from those who have their individual and special interests forefront, is what catapulted Trump and Sanders over their rivals. Most people understand it's legal, but find it ethically reprehensible. DeBlasio is currently being targeted for taking contributions. Perfectly legal. He is being vilified in the News and Post. They have already convicted him. While nothing will probably come of it, people are disgusted and disturbed by the accusations against DeBlasio. It may have destroyed his chances for reelection. If purposely orchestrated by Andy, it was a brilliant low down dirty political move.
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Stories herein containing unnamed or invented characters are works of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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Share your view with a Review!
Kupole is a strong, durable and adjustable lighting pole system. The unique cam device provides the pressure and locking system for holding Kupole in place.
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Ok, it's one of those days where i just want the world to just come to a bloody end right now. Or at least my world.
My work involves a lot of cleaning, and i've learned that razor blades make the best cleaning instrument for any flat surfaces. well, i have razor blades at my house now because of that, wether it be because i just forgot i had it or whatever. i want to not have my penis anymore. it's one of them things that seems just so easy to get rid of with a blade. I want it gone, but i know if i lose it now, i won't be able to get any kind of depth with my future vagina. I tell you now if they tell me after i jump through all the fucking loops they require of me that i can't get that surgery, i'll chop it off right there in their office. as far as i can see that appendage is a complete waste of flesh and it needs to be removed.
Otherwise life is going fantastic. I'm getting a new car, and i still have a job. what could honestly be better.
Monday, March 29, 2010
1 comment:
- alan said...
I can understand your frustration, but as you said, better to do things the "right way" than to muck them up for later!
You've come awfully far in the time I've known you, though I'm sure it seems like forever from your side of things; patience, please? Just a bit?
Congratulations on the new wheels! Just in time for spring!
- March 29, 2010 at 5:48 PM
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20+ links to fun ideas for your family math! From dice games to kitchen time - math doesn't have to be boring. By using these ideas in your homeschool - you can show your kids how math is used in everyday life. Math games can be a great resource to take the pressure off and learn to enjoy math skills.
*affiliate links may be present
The number one request we have had from the blog readers and on the Facebook page is for tips and ideas to make math more fun. With that mandate in mind – I've gathered some of our favorites for you here:
This type of supplemental math is an important part of our family homeschool - but it cannot replace a solid curriculum which ensures your child has no learning gaps and builds a strong foundation for higher math.
Right now is a great time to subscribe to the A+ Interactive Math with a membership at a huge discount:
Click on the picture below to get these
special prices through October!


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The real business of the day came after lunch, when we had a combined Audition class with Joanne all afternoon, which was a giant question/answer/lecture session about the ins and outs of getting jobs. So, without further ado, here are Joanne's tips and tricks of the trade, as frantically scribbled down by a non-Equity, non-represented actress.
1. Know what play you're auditioning for and who you are auditioning for- know about every person who will be in the room and what they've done (i.e. don't let the playwright be sitting in the room unacknowledged because you don't know what they look like).
2. Know the theatre and its history.
3. Don't pass up roles/auditions for better roles/auditions that "might" happen.
4. If you have an agent, tell them specifically that you want theatre work. Sometimes they don't pass on theatre audition notices if it's pilot season, etc, unless you've asked.
5. NEVER say you didn't read the whole play (I thought that was a pretty obvious one, but apparently it's a common mistake).
6. EPA stands for Equity Principal Auditions, and you can attend them (if they are not closed) if you are non-Equity.
7. If you are in contact with casting agents, keep them informed about what you are working on.
8. DO NOT be off-book for sides. Always keep them in your hands.
9. It is okay to say, "Can I start again?" if your beginning was miserable and you need to start over.
10. It is okay to send the casting director a thank-you note after the production in which they cast you, but is not necessary after the audition.
11. DO wear the exact same thing you wore to the audition if you are called back.
12. Dress the flavor of the role (Shakespeare: peasant top; Contemporary: T-shirt, jeans or movement clothes).
13. DO NOT wear or do anything to call attention to anything other than your performance.
And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen! Now let's all go get hired...


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Getting to Know Our Neighborhood in San Francisco
Our homes are located in some of the most beautiful neighborhoods. We recently wrote about the best things to do during Autumn in New York and now we're sharing our favorites in San Francisco.
While one might expect fall foliage and cooler temperatures as staples of the season, San Francisco enjoys the best weather during these months: days are sunny with blue skies, and the fog has cleared. It's not a typical autumn, yet it offers a lot!
Our members are constantly exploring their neighbors. Is there a better way to take advantage of San Francisco's summer-like weather by spending the day outside exploring? Our members did just that for their very first outing. Once a month, Common sponsors one official get-together for the entire community in a city. This gives our members from different homes, and even different suites, to get to know one another and their city.
Suggested by one of our House Leaders Kamilah, this month's Common outing was an architecture walking tour of Pacific Heights, most known for the notable people who live in the area. Bestselling romance novelist Danielle Steele and actor Nicolas Cage were a few mentioned as current and former residents of Pacific Heights. You can see some of the snaps on our Instagram and below.
San Francisco Heritage, an organization dedicated to preserving the city's architectural and cultural heritage, hosted the tour. The tour began at the Haas-Lilienthal House, the only intact Victorian home open to the public in San Francisco, giving us a glimpse inside life in the 19th century before the 1906 earthquake.
Our members enjoyed learning about the eclectic mix of architecture in the city, from Victorian styles like Italianate, Stick, and Queen Anne to Edwardian and Art Deco styles. An unexpected surprise? How often these homes are rumored to be haunted…
Several landmarks stood out, like the Tobin House (owned by Michael de Young of the Daily Morning Chronicle), the Atherton House, and the Spreckels Mansion (current home of Danielle Steele).
The tour was book-ended by a coffee run to Sextant Coffee, an independent cafe and roastery founded Kinani Ahmed, a first-generation Ethiopian. Later, the crew got a sneak peek of the Folsom Street Fair and enjoyed a late lunch and great conversation at Grubstake, a diner set inside an old train car.
It was a beautiful day and a great time together. Community outings like this one are some of the best parts of living at Common. Learn more about our homes and apply to join us here.


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Cold called this morning. Usually I slam the phone down with a snarl but for some reson I listened for a few, deadly, seconds longer...
The blah was full of details about BT wholesale/retail rates and "recent changes in legislation" from which C & P could benefit.
The gist of it seemed to be - we can save you money, you don't have to do anything and there is no catch.
Of course when we got down to the nitty gritty it turned out there were just two problems.
1: We would have to pay a little more per month than we do at the moment. In return for this we would receive 3000 minutes of free calls. As I calmly pointed out to the gibbering idiot on the end of the phone this was not a very good deal.
2: We would have to pay by direct debit. I HATE direct debits. To my mind it is a way of companies taking money from you without you thinking about it. For a business I believe you have to think carefully ANY time you give anyone money be it a little or a lot. Otherwise you will get ripped off. That's the "market" for you.
So I wasted a few minutes of my time. Nothing much lost I suppose. The person who called is "going to have a word with her manager" to see if they can offer me a great money saving deal that does in fact save me money.
Modern life. Bloody rubbish!
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Posted by CPMatthew
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Here is survivor Stanley Praimnath's account:
Tuesday, September 11, 2001, began like any other day for Bethel Assembly of God deacon and Sunday school superintendent Stanley Praimnath of Elmont, Long Island.
He got up early, took a shower, prayed, got ready and headed for work. The drive was uneventful. The train ride was the same. Yet, this day he would see the hand of God spare his life. "For some particular reason, I gave the Lord a little extra of myself that morning [during prayer]," Stanley said. "I said, 'Lord, cover me and all my loved ones under your precious blood.' And even though I said that and believed it, I said it over and over and over."
When Stanley arrived at World Trade Center Tower Two, he took the elevator up to his office on the 81st floor. "I work for the Fuji Bank Limited," he said. "I'm an assistant vice president in the Loans Operations Department. The company is located on the 79th through 82nd floors." Stanley greeted Delise, a young lady who had arrived before him. After talking briefly, he headed over to his desk and picked up his phone to retrieve his messages. "As I'm standing there retrieving my messages, I'm looking out at the next building, One World Trade, and I saw fire falling through from the roof," Stanley said. "Now, this entire building is surrounded by glass, and you can stand up and from there you can see all the buildings, planes and everything flying at the same altitude." As Stanley saw "fire balls" coming down, his first reaction was to think of his boss who works in that building. He decided to try to call him to see if he was okay. "I'm dialing his number, and getting no response. So, I say to Delise, the temp, 'Go, go, go--let's get out."
Delise and Stanley got on the elevator and went down to the 78th floor. Some other people were there. The company's president, the CEO, the human resources director and two other gentlemen joined the group and headed down to the concourse level of Two World Trade Center.
If they had continued on and exited the building, all of their lives would have been spared. As it was, that's not the way it happened. "As soon as we reached the concourse level, the security guard stopped us and said, 'Where are you going?' Stanley explained about seeing the fire in Tower One.
According to Stanley, the guard said, "Oh, that was just an accident. Two World Trade is secured. Go back to your office." That turned out to be fatal advice--aside from Stanley, Delise was the only one of that group to survive. "We were joking, and I told [Human Resources Director] Brian Thompson, 'This is a good time to think of relocating this building--it's not safe anymore.' " Stanley headed back to his office, but before he got there, he told Delise, that with the events of the day, she should go home and relax. Thompson went to the 82nd floor, the president and CEO went to the 79th floor and Stanley got out on the 81st floor. When Stanley got to his office, his phone was ringing. "It was someone from Chicago calling to find out if I'm watching the news," he said. He told the caller everything "was fine." But everything wasn't fine--far from it. As Stanley was talking, he looked up and saw American Airlines Flight 11 heading straight for him. "All I can see is this big gray plane, with red letters on the wing and on the tail, bearing down on me," said Stanley. "But this thing is happening in slow motion. The plane appeared to be like 100 yards away, I said 'Lord, you take control, I can't help myself here.' " Stanley then dove under his desk. "My Testament [Bible] was on top of my desk," explained Stanley. "I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the Lord was going to take care of me once I got there." As he curled into a fetal position under his desk, the plane tore into the side of the building and exploded. Miraculously, Stanley was unhurt. However, he could see a flaming wing of the plane in the doorway of his department. He knew he needed to get out of his office and the building fast. But, he was trapped under debris up to his shoulders. "Lord, you take control, this is your problem now," he recalled praying. "I don't know where I got this power from, but the good Lord, He gave me so much power and strength in my body that I was able to shake everything off. I felt like I was the strongest man alive." All the while, Stanley was asking to the Lord to spare his life. "I'm crying and I'm praying, 'Lord, I have things to do..., I want to see my family, Lord, help me through.' " Stanley's office resembled a battle zone--walls flattened into dusty heaps, office equipment strewn violently, flames flickering about and rubble everywhere. "Everything I'm trying to climb on [to get out] is collapsing and I'm going down," he said. "I'm getting cuts and bruises, but I'm saying, 'Lord, I have to go home to my loved ones, I have to make it, You have to help me.' " Suddenly Stanley saw the light of a flashlight. For a moment, it stunned him. "What were the chances of someone bringing a flashlight to this floor?," he thought. "My first gut reaction was, 'This is my guardian angel--my Lord sent somebody to save me!' " Stanley began screaming, "I see the light, I see the light." But after clawing his way through the debris, he realized that he couldn't get out--all the exits were blocked and his "guardian angel" couldn't get to him--a wall was between him and the staircase. "He can't get to me and I can't get to him, and by this time I can't breathe," Stanley said. "I don't know if it was sulfur or what [burning jet fuel, perhaps], but I can smell this thing. I got down on my knees and said, "Lord, you've got to help me. You've brought me this far, help me to get to the staircase." But then Stanley did something surprising. While praying on his knees, Stanley called out to the man behind the wall, "There's one thing I got to know, do you know Jesus?" The man replied he went to church every Sunday. Then they prayed together to enable them to break through the wall. "I got up, and I felt as if a power came over me," said Stanley. "I felt goose bumps all over my body and I'm trembling, and I said to the wall, 'You're going to be no match for me and my Lord.' " Moments later, he punched his way through the wall and, with the help of the man on the other side, was able to squirm his way through the hole in the wall. "The guy held me and embraced me and he gave me a kiss and he said, 'From today, you're my brother for life.' "
But the danger wasn't over. The man on the other side of the wall, who introduced himself as Brian, was an older gentleman and they still had 81 floors to walk down, with the building on fire and, unknown to them, in danger of collapse. "We hobbled our way down, and at every floor we stopped to see if anybody was there, but nobody was..., but a man was on the floor, and his back was gone, and he was covered in blood." Stanley asked to be allowed to carry the man out, but a security guard told him it would be better to send somebody up. When they finally made it down to the concourse, only firefighters were there. "They were saying, 'Run! Run! Run!', they were telling us to run out, but they were not concerned about themselves," he said. Stanley and Brian would have ran from the building, but now the concourse was surrounded with fire. Wetting themselves under the building's sprinkler system, they held hands and ran through the flames to safety to Trinity Church about two blocks away. "I wanted to go to the church to thank God," Stanley explained, "As soon as I held onto the gate of that church, the building [World Trade Center Tower Two] collapsed." Stanley and Brian made there way safely out of the danger area. Before they parted, Stanley gave his business card to Brian in hopes of contact at a later time, and said, "If I don't see you, I'll see you in heaven." Cut and bloodied, with clothes tattered and wearing a borrowed shirt, Stanley finally made it home hours later to his wife Jennifer and his two girls, Stephanie (age 8) and Caitlin (age 4). "I held my wife and my two children and we cried," said Stanley. After thanking God for sparing his life, Stanley told God whatever he did, it will always be for His glory. "I'm so sore, but every waking moment, I say 'Lord, had you not been in control, I would not have made it.' "For some divine reason, I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the good Lord's mighty hand turned the plane a fraction from where I was standing," said Stanley. "Because when it crash-landed, it was just 20 feet from me. I don't care who would rationalize--what people would say now or years from now, but I know it was the handiwork of the Lord that turned that plane. My Lord Jesus is bigger than the Trade Center and His finger can push a plane aside!"
Survivor Adam Mayblum's account:
My name is Adam Mayblum. I am alive today. I am committing this to "paper" so I never forget. SO WE NEVER FORGET. I am sure that this is one of thousands of stories that will emerge over the next several days and weeks.
I arrived as usual a little before 8am. My office was on the 87th floor of 1World Trade Center, AKA: Tower 1, AKA: the North Tower. Most of my associates were in by 8:30m. We were standing around, joking around, eating breakfast, checking emails, and getting set for the day when the first plane hit just a few stories above us. I must stress that we did not know that it was a plane. The building lurched violently and shook as if it were an earthquake.People screamed. I watched out my window as the building seemed to move 10 to 20 feet in each direction. It rumbled and shook long enough for me to get my wits about myself and grab a co-worker and seek shelter under a doorway. Light fixtures and parts of the ceiling collapsed. The kitchen was destroyed. We were certain that it was a bomb. We looked out the windows. Reams of paper were flying everywhere, like a ticker tape parade. I looked down at the street. I could see people in Battery Park City looking up. Smoke started billowing in through the holes in the ceiling. I believe that there were 13 of us.
We did not panic. I can only assume that we thought that the worst was over. The building was standing and we were shaken but alive. We checked the halls. The smoke was thick and white and did not smell like I imagined smoke should smell. Not like your BBQ or your fireplace or even a bonfire. The phones were working. My wife had taken our 9 month old for his check up. I called my nanny at home and told her to page my wife, tell her that a bomb went off, I was ok, and on my way out. I grabbed my laptop. Took off my tee shirt and ripped it into 3 pieces. Soaked it in water. Gave 2 pieces to my friends. Tied my piece around my face to act as an air filter. And we all started moving to the staircase. One of my dearest friends said that he was staying until the police or firemen came to get him. In the halls there were tiny fires and sparks. The ceiling had collapsed in the men's bathroom. It was gone along with anyone who may have been in there. We did not go in to look. We missed the staircase on the first run and had to double back. Once in the staircase we picked up fire extinguishers just incase. On the 85th floor a brave associate of mine and I headed back up to our office to drag out my partner who stayed behind. There was no air, just white smoke. We made the rounds through the office calling his name. No response. He must have succumbed to the smoke. We left defeated in our efforts and made our way back to the stairwell. We proceeded to the 78th floor where we had to change over to a different stairwell. 78 is the main junction to switch to the upper floors. I expected to see more people. There were some 50 to 60 more. Not enough. Wires and fires all over the place. Smoke too. A brave man was fighting a fire with the emergency hose. I stopped with to friends to make sure that everyone from our office was accounted for. We ushered them and confused people into the stairwell. In retrospect, I recall seeing Harry, my head trader, doing the same several yards behind me. I am only 35. I have known him for over 14 years. I headed into the stairwell with 2 friends.
We were moving down very orderly in Stair Case A. very slowly. No panic. At least not overt panic. My legs could not stop shaking. My heart was pounding. Some nervous jokes and laughter. I made a crack about ruining a brand new pair of Merrells. Even still, they were right, my feet felt great. We all laughed. We checked our cell phones. Surprisingly, there was a very good signal, but the Sprint network was jammed. I heard that the Blackberry 2-way email devices worked perfectly. On the phones, 1 out of 20 dial attempts got through. I knew I could not reach my wife so I called my parents. I told them what happened and that we were all okay and on the way down. Soon, my sister in law reached me. I told her we were fine and moving down. I believe that was about the 65th floor. We were bored and nervous. I called my friend Angel in San Francisco. I knew he would be watching. He was amazed I was on the phone. He told me to get out that there was another plane on its way. I did not know what he was talking about. By now the second plane had struck Tower 2. We were so deep into the middle of our building that we did not hear or feel anything. We had no idea what was really going on. We kept making way for wounded to go down ahead of us. Not many of them, just a few. No one seemed seriously wounded. Just some cuts and scrapes. Everyone cooperated.
Everyone was a hero yesterday. No questions asked. I had co-workers in another office on the 77th floor. I tried dozens of times to get them on their cell phones or office lines. It was futile. Later I found that they were alive. One of the many miracles on a day of tragedy.
On the 53rd floor we came across a very heavyset man sitting on the stairs. I asked if he needed help or was he just resting. He needed help. I knew I would have trouble carrying him because I have a very bad back. But my friend and I offered anyway. We told him he could lean on us. He hesitated, I don't know why. I said do you want to come or do you want us to send help for you. He chose for help. I told him he was on the 53rd floor in Stairwell A and that's what I would tell the rescue workers. He said okay and we left.
On the 44th floor my phone rang again. It was my parents. They were hysterical. I said relax, I'm fine. My father said get out, there is third plane coming. I still did not understand. I was kind of angry. What did my parents think? Like I needed some other reason to get going? I couldn't move the thousand people in front of me any faster. I know they love me, but no one inside understood what the situation really was. My parents did. Starting around this floor the firemen, policemen, WTC K-9 units without the dogs, anyone with a badge, started coming up as we were heading down. I stopped a lot of them and told them about the man on 53 and my friend on 87. I later felt terrible about this. They headed up to find those people and met death instead.
On the 33rd floor I spoke with a man who somehow new most of the details. He said 2 small planes hit the building. Now we all started talking about which terrorist group it was. Was it an internal organization or an external one? The overwhelming but uninformed opinion was Islamic Fanatics. Regardless, we now knew that it was not a bomb and there were potentially more planes coming. We understood.
On the 3rd floor the lights went out and we heard & felt this rumbling coming towards us from above. I thought the staircase was collapsing upon itself. It was 10am now and that was Tower 2 collapsing next door. We did not know that. Someone had a flashlight. We passed it forward and left the stairwell and headed down a dark and cramped corridor to an exit. We could not see at all. I recommended that everyone place a hand on the shoulder of the person in front of them and call out if they hit an obstacle so others would know to avoid it. They did. It worked perfectly. We reached another stairwell and saw a female officer emerge soaking wet and covered in soot. She said we could not go that way it was blocked. Go up to 4 and use the other exit. Just as we started up she said it was ok to go down instead. There was water everywhere. I called out for hands on shoulders again and she said that was a great idea. She stayed behind instructing people to do that. I do not know what happened to her.
We emerged into an enormous room. It was light but filled with smoke. I commented to a friend that it must be under construction. Then we realized where we were. It was the second floor. The one that overlooks the lobby. We were ushered out into the courtyard, the one where the fountain used to be. My first thought was of a TV movie I saw once about nuclear winter and fallout. I could not understand where all of the debris came from. There was at least five inches of this gray pasty dusty drywall soot on the ground as well as a thickness of it in the air. Twisted steel and wires. I heard there were bodies and body parts as well, but I did not look. It was bad enough. We hid under the remaining overhangs and moved out to the street. We were told to keep walking towards Houston Street. The odd thing is that there were very few rescue workers around. Less than five. They all must have been trapped under the debris when Tower 2 fell. We did not know that and could not understand where all of that debris came from. It was just my friend Kern and I now. We were hugging but sad. We felt certain that most of our friends ahead of us died and we knew no one behind us.
We came upon a post office several blocks away. We stopped and looked up. Our building, exactly where our office is (was), was engulfed in flame and smoke. A postal worker said that Tower 2 had fallen down. I looked again and sure enough it was gone. My heart was racing. We kept trying to call our families. I could not get in touch with my wife. Finally I got through to my parents. Relived is not the word to explain their feelings. They got through to my wife, thank God and let her know I was alive. We sat down. A girl on a bike offered us some water. Just as she took the cap off her bottle we heard a rumble. We looked up and our building, Tower 1collapsed. I did not note the time but I am told it was 10:30am. We had been out less than 15 minutes.
We were mourning our lost friends, particularly the one who stayed in the office as we were now sure that he had perished. We started walking towards Union Square. I was going to Beth Israel Medical Center to be looked at. We stopped to hear the President speaking on the radio. My phone rang. It was my wife. I think I fell to my knees crying when I heard her voice. Then she told me the most incredible thing. My partner who had stayed behind called her. He was alive and well. I guess we just lost him in the commotion. We started jumping and hugging and shouting. I told my wife that my brother had arranged for a hotel in midtown. He can be very resourceful in that way. I told her I would call her from there. My brother and I managed to get a gypsy cab to take us home to Westchester instead. I cried on my son and held my wife until I fell asleep.
As it turns out my partner, the one who I thought had stayed behind was behind us with Harry Ramos, our head trader. This is now second-hand information. They came upon Victor, the heavyset man on the 53rd floor. They helped him. He could barely move. My partner bravely/stupidly tested the elevator on the 52nd floor. He rode it down to the sky lobby on 44. The doors opened, it was fine. He rode it back up and got Harry and Victor. I don't yet know if anyone else joined them. Once on 44 they made their way back into the stairwell. Someplace around the 39th to 36th floors they felt the same rumble I felt on the 3rd floor. It was 10am and Tower 2 was coming down. They had about 30 minutes to get out. Victor said he could no longer move. They offered to have him lean on them. He said he couldn't do it. My partner hollered at him to sit on his butt and schooch down the steps. He said he was not capable of doing it. Harry told my partner to go ahead of them. Harry had once had a heart attack and was worried about this mans heart. It was his nature to be this way. He was/is one of the kindest people I know. He would not leave a man behind. My partner went ahead and made it out. He said he was out maybe 10 minutes before the building came down. This means that Harry had maybe 25 minutes to move Victor 36 floors. I guess they moved 1 floor every 1.5 minutes. Just a guess. This means Harry wad around the 20th floor when the building collapsed. As of now 12 of 13 people are accounted for. As of 6pm yesterday his wife had not heard from him. I fear that Harry is lost. However, a short while ago I heard that he may be alive. Apparently there is a web site with survivor names on it and his name appears there. Unfortunately, Ramos is not an uncommon name in New York. Pray for him and all those like him.
With regards to the firemen heading upstairs, I realize that they were going up anyway. But, it hurts to know that I may have made them move quicker to find my friend. Rationally, I know this is not true and that I am not the responsible one. The responsible ones are in hiding somewhere on this planet and damn them for making me feel like this. But they should know that they failed in terrorizing us. We were calm. Those men and women that went up were heroes in the face of it all. They must have known what was going on and they did their jobs. Ordinary people were heroes too. Today the images that people around the world equate with power and democracy are gone but "America" is not an image it is a concept. That concept is only strengthened by our pulling together as a team. If you want to kill us, leave us alone because we will do it by ourselves. If you want to make us stronger, attack and we unite. This is the ultimate failure of terrorism against The United States and the ultimate price we pay to be free, to decide where we want to work, what we want to eat, and when & where we want to go on vacation. The very moment the first plane was hijacked, democracy won.
Jeff Jarvis speaks of his experience:
Yes, I am blessed to be alive.
I was a block away from the World Trade Center, at Broadway and Liberty Street, when the first of the two towers collapsed Tuesday morning. Completely engulfed in its debris, I joined a mob running away, screaming, unable to see, unable to breathe anything but the black cloud.
As the first of the tidal wave of debris bore down on us, some people crouched behind large concrete planters, believing they would protect them. But I kept running. I fell. Others fell around me. I got back up and kept running. I heard large pieces of the destroyed building hitting cars on the street. I heard more terrified screams.
There was no air. I breathed through my handkerchief and even so, my mouth, nose and lungs were filled with black. There was no light. I could see nothing, only black. I slammed into a building, and a tree, and another building.
I heard people and asked where we were. No one answered. I kept going and finally saw light at Chase Plaza II, where the building managers opened the doors, letting us refugees and much smoke inside.
People wreteched up the black soot of the tower. They splashed water from any sink they could find to try to clean off the inch-thick layer of destruction. They took showers in bottled Poland Spring water, even Snapple from a lobby deli that volunteered to be looted by us.
We went down in the building, lower and lower, told it was safer down there, though no one knew for sure. A half-hour later, we ventured back up. The worst of the cloud had passed. We joined a larger, slower mob moving east, away.
I saw people covered in white, like me. I saw a line of people snaking up and across the Brooklyn Bridge. Some cried. Some just stared. Many of us said to each other and to no one that we were lucky to be alive.
Not much more than an hour earlier, at about 8:45 a.m., I had arrived at the World Trade Center on the PATH train from New Jersey, just moments after the first plane had hit the first tower.
As we commuters came up the escalator, we heard an eerie noise: almost silence. When we arrived up on the concourse, we saw smoke behind us and the floor was almost empty, except for shoes, scores of shoes abandoned by their owners, fleeing too fast.
We fled up and out. "Run, run!" the police said. We all ran across the street and turned from survivors into spectators.
The crowd standing across the street, by the Century 21 Department Store, was sober and quiet. We didn't yet know what had happened. We all just looked up at the flames bursting out of One World Trade Center and the black smoke that cascaded out and away, marked by tiny dots of white: papers pouring out of the offices, floating down below.
And then, as one, the crowd let out a sound of horror. We saw the first person falling out of the building. And then another. I saw at least three people fall from the burning floors.
Stunned. Sickened. Almost silent. We stood and watched.
Moments later, Two World Trade Center exploded, sending out flames that licked its neighbor. I didn't see the plane that hit, just the flames.
Stupidly, I stayed. I'm a newsman still. I tried to call into NJ.com and the Star-Ledger, paying a deli owner $10 to use his phone. No one's cell phone worked. I called home and left a message saying I was OK (a message that would cause great concern until I left a second message much later, saying I was still OK).
I kept wandering the financial district, watching, soaking up what we in the news business call color: observations, not facts. There were no facts yet.
One woman had just escaped the 46th floor of one of the towers, her shoulders covered in sprinkles from the sprinklers, her hand shaking as it held a cigarette.
"I tell you, he's crazy of he doesn't close the exchange today," said a man in the uniform of Wall Street.
"See, that's why you go back to working in White Plains," a woman said.
People stood around a manhole cover where a worker had a radio. They laughed at the radio misinformation: "The streets have returned to normal," the radio said.
I read the papers that had drifted out of the towers: financial reports, PowerPoint printouts, airplane receipts, telephone bills, employee manuals, office telephone directories, singed and scattered.
I wandered back up Liberty Street where a foreign businessman asked me to take his picture in front of the burning tower. I refused. I said this was a tragedy. He said, "I know, I want to see myself and remember I am alive." I still refused.
I hope he still is alive.
A minute later, the spreading fire high up in Two World Trade erupted into a mighty explosion and the building collapsed, sending its debris down and my mob running.
After surviving the collapse, I walked and walked uptown.
We heard another horrid explosion. We kept walking.
I saw the people on the bridge and decided it was better to go north.
The black cloud was spreading across the river to Brooklyn. Many of us were covered in white soot with fleshy circles around our eyes and mouths. Even hardened New York cops asked me whether I was there; how bad it was; was I OK?
The farther uptown we got, the more we stood out. Some people looked a bit frightened. Some, classic New Yorkers, looked away. Many offered sympathy and help.
"You sure you're OK?" some nice stranger asked.
"I just look like a ghost," I said, still shaking off the white dust. "Better to look like one than be one."
I think a lot about the people who died in those horrific attacks. Especially the ones who knew they would die on their plane whether they fought or not, so they chose to go out fighting. Would I have that courage? Or the ones who made the choice to jump to their death rather than burn to death. Could I make that call? I wonder how they must feel looking at our woefully divided country just a mere eight years after their lives were unilaterally remembered by a mourning nation. How soon we forget. How quickly life moves on. A child loses a mother, a father loses a son. How can we not have time to remember? I think I'll read my kids these survivors' stories. I think we'll head over to the store and pick up an American flag to wave proudly in front of our home. I think I'll show them some videos and talk to them about what it means to be a patriot. I think I'll write my brother an email to thank him for his military service. And I think I'll try harder to share my opinions in a way that lovingly and humbly expresses my agreement or disagreement. I think I'll try to do my part to close that gaping divide that has rent our country in two. I think I'll try. I'll just plain try. Remember and try. I owe them that much.
Note: When commenting, please remember to refer to my family members by their pseudonyms to help protect their privacy. Thank you!


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Book Review: The Drowning Girl by Caitlin R. Kiernan (Audiobook narrated by Suzy Jackson)
India Morgan Phelps, Imp to her friends, is sure that there were two different Eva Cannings who came into her life and changed her world. And one of them was a mermaid (or perhaps a siren?) and the other was a werewolf. But Imp's ex-girlfriend, Abalyn, insists that no, there was only ever one Eva Canning, and she definitely wasn't a mermaid or a werewolf. Dr. Ogilvy wants Imp to figure out for herself what actually happened. But that's awfully hard when you have schizophrenia.
I'd heard that this book was a chilling mystery featuring GLBTQ characters and mental illness. When I discovered it on Audible with an appealing-sounding narrator, I knew what I was listening to next. This book is an engaging mystery that also eloquently captures the experience of having a mental illness that makes you question yourself and what you know while simultaneously giving a realistic glance into the queer community.
Imp is an unreliable first person narrator, and she fully admits this from the beginning. She calls herself a madwoman who was the daughter of a madwoman who was a daughter of a madwoman too. Mental illness runs in her family. She states that she will try not to lie, but it's hard to know for sure when she's lying. This is due to her schizophrenia. Imp is writing down the story of what she remembers happening in journal style on her typewriter because she is trying to figure out the mystery of what exactly happened for herself. The reader is just along for this ride. And it's a haunting, terrifying ride. Not because of what Imp remembers happening with Eva Canning but because of being inside the mind of a person suffering from such a difficult mental illness. Experiencing what it is to not be able to trust your own memories, to not be sure what is real and is not real, is simultaneously terrifying and heart-breaking.
Imp's schizophrenia, plus some comorbid anxiety and OCD, and how she experiences and deals with them, lead to some stunningly beautiful passages. This is particularly well seen in one portion of the book where she is more symptomatic than usual (for reasons which are spoilers, so I will leave them out):
All our thoughts are mustard seeds. Oh many days now. Many days. Many days of mustard seeds, India Phelps, daughter of madwomen, granddaughter, who doesn't want to say a word and ergo can't stop talking. Here is a sad sad tale, woebegone story of the girl who stopped for the two strangers who would not could not could not would not stop for me. She. She who is me. And I creep around the edges of my own life. Afraid to screw off the mayonnaise lid and spill the mustard seeds. (Part 2, loc 55:35)
The thing that's great about the writing in the book is that it shows both the beauty and pain of mental illness. Imp's brain is simultaneously beautiful for its artistic abilities and insight and a horrible burden in the ways that her mental illness tortures her and makes it difficult for her to live a "normal" life. This is something many people with mental illness experience but find it hard to express. It's why many people with mental illness struggle with drug adherence. They like the ability to function in day-to-day society and pass as normal but they miss being who they are in their own minds. Kiernan eloquently demonstrates this struggle and shows the beauty and pain of mental illness.
Dr. Ogilvy and the pills she prescribes are my beeswax and the ropes that hold me fast to the main mast, just as my insanity has always been my siren. (Part 1, loc 4:08:48)
There is a lot of GLBTQ representation in the book, largely because Kiernan is clearly not just writing in a token queer character. Imp is a lesbian, and her world is the world of a real-to-life lesbian. She is not the only lesbian surrounded by straight people. People who are part of the queer community, in multiple different aspects, are a part of Imp's life. Her girlfriend for part of the book is Abalyn, who is transwoman and has slept with both men and women both before and after her transition. She never identifies her sexuality in the book, but she states she now prefers women because the men tend to not be as interested in her now that she has had bottom surgery. The conversation where she talks about this with Imp is so realistic that I was stunned. I'm not sure I've ever seen a conversation about both transitioning and the complicated aspects of dating for trans people that was this realistic outside of a memoir. Eva Canning is bisexual. It's difficult to talk about Eva Canning in-depth without spoilers, so, suffice to say, Eva is out as bisexual and she is also promiscuous. However, her promiscuity is not presented in a biphobic way. Bisexual people exist on the full spectrum from abstinent to monogamous to poly to promiscuous. What makes writing a bisexual character as promiscuous biphobic is whether the promiscuity is presented as the direct result of being bi, and Kiernan definitely does not write Eva this way. Kiernan handles all of the queer characters in a realistic way that supports their three-dimensionality, as well as prevents any GLBTQphobia.
The plot is a difficult one to follow, largely due to Imp's schizophrenia and her attempts at figuring out exactly what happened. The convoluted plot works to both develop Imp's character and bring out the mystery in the first two-thirds of the book. The final third, though, takes an odd turn. Imp is trying to figure out what she herself believes actually happened, and it becomes clear that what she ultimately believes happened will be a mix of reality and her schizophrenic visions. That's not just acceptable, it's beautiful. However, it's hard to follow what exactly Imp chooses to believe. I started to lose the thread of what Imp believes happens right around the chapter where multiple long siren songs are recounted. It doesn't feel like Imp is slowly figuring things out for herself and has made a story that gives her some stability in her life. Instead it feels like she is still too symptomatic to truly function. I never expected clear answers to the mystery but I did at least expect that it would be clear what Imp herself believes happened. The lack of this removed the gut-wrenching power found in the first two-thirds of the book.
The audiobook narration by Suzy Jackson is truly stellar. There are parts of Imp's journal that must truly have been exceedingly difficult to turn into audio form, but Jackson makes them easy to understand in audio form and also keeps the flow of the story going. Her voice is perfect for Imp. She is not infantilized nor aged beyond her years. She sounds like the 20-something woman she is. I'm honestly not sure the story would have the same power reading it in print. Hearing Imp's voice through Jackson was so incredibly moving.
Overall, this book takes the traditional mystery and changes it from something external to something internal. The mystery of what really happened exists due to Imp's schizophrenia, which makes it a unique read for any mystery fan. Further, Imp's mental illness is presented eloquently through her beautiful first-person narration, and multiple GLBTQ characters are present and written realistically. Recommended to mystery fans looking for something different, those seeking to understand what it is like to have a mental illness, and those looking to read a powerful book featuring GLBTQ characters whose queerness is just an aspect of who they are and not the entire point of the story.
4 out of 5 stars
Source: Audible
Book Review: Listening To Dust by Brandon Shire
A chance meeting between orphaned British writer, Stephen, and American soldier, Dustin, leads to a passionate love affair in England. But when Dustin chooses to go back home to his small Southern town to care for his mentally challenged brother, Stephen is left behind, sending letters that are never answered. He finally decides to follow Dustin home and arrives only to discover that Dustin is no more.
This is my second read by Brandon Shire. The first, The Value Of Rain (review), blew me way with its passionate, multi-generational family drama featuring a gay main character. I was thus eager to accept a second arc from Shire, and I'm pleased to say I wasn't disappointed.
There are some commonalities in the stories. Both feature a gay man who grew up in an unaccepting family and show the impact that has on their lives. But that's where the similarities cease. Listening To Dust is really about a gay man who grew up with an accepting and loving grandmother trying to come to terms with who his lover is and was and how his lover's family affects and affected him. This book is really more about what it is to love someone who suffers from deep childhood wounds. The difficult path that is to follow and how many pitfalls exist in it. Although I wasn't a huge fan of Stephen's voice, I still respected his experiences and the difficult situations he found himself in. I also appreciated seeing the far-reaching impact lack of love and family acceptance has. It doesn't just affect the people raised in that family.
The writing is again gorgeous. Even now I can feel the hot dustiness of Dustin's hometown and also the comforting cool greenery of Stephen's grandmother's French cottage. Shire elicits both place and emotions so powerfully that it is impossible not to be moved by the story.
I also really enjoyed the various commentary throughout the book on love, words, and actions. What love is, what it does, and whether words or actions are worth more.
So I guess we were both right, and both wrong about actions and words. Like the two of us, one is empty without the other. (location 1014)
The sex scenes manage to be steamy and emotional. What I might call literary sex scenes. When I read them, I felt them in my knees.
Even now I can feel the heat from your palm as you cupped the back of my head and pulled my lips those last few inches, how you opened your body and begged me with your soul. (location 1726)
So what held me back from 5 stars? As previously stated, I wasn't a huge fan of Stephen's voice, although I respected his experiences. He sometimes grated on me a bit. I'm not sure if it was his slight Britishisms or how much he got hung up in his own head but he sometimes irritated me in a way that kept me from getting completely engrossed in the story. But this is a small thing, really, when compared to the story as a whole and the beautiful writing.
Overall, this is a book that sweeps the reader away to multiple, disparate places to explore both love and the far-reaching affects of a harsh family life. It should appeal to any who enjoy a heart-breaking contemporary GLBTQ romance.
4 out of 5 stars
Source: Kindle copy from author in exchange for my honest review
Note: 10% of all proceeds donated to LGBT Youth Charities combating homelessness.
Book Review: Lemon Reef by Robin Silverman
Jenna is a high-powered, newly appointed commissioner in San Francisco where she lives with her wife and their dog. Life is good, and Jenna tries not to think too much about her rough childhood and teen years growing up in Florida. But a phone call comes in. Her first love, Del, has died diving at lemon reef at the young age of 30. The mutual friend invites Jenna to the funeral, but when she arrives in Florida, she discovers that there's more to it than that. Del's mother, Pascale, wants her help in getting custody of Del's daughter, Khila, instead of her father, Talon, who Pascale insists must have murdered Del.
This book was a bit of an emotional roller-coaster to read, which of course is a sign of a good book.
The plot structure is incredibly complex and engaging without ever being confusing. There is the mystery of Del's death, but also (for the reader) the mystery of why and how Del and Jenna's romance ended tragically, as it is evident it did. In addition there is the powerful emotions of a first love and first romance for a pair of teens who must grow up too fast thanks to the rough circumstances they find themselves in. Silverman handles the past reminisces intermingled with the current mystery and discoveries quite eloquently. I found myself admiring her talent in plot structuring throughout.
There are no easy answers in this book, and no one is easily demonized, including Talon. Every single character has flaws and good qualities. Del stands up for her siblings but won't stand up for her love of Jenna. Jenna loves people but can sometimes get too caught up in her own world and her own needs. Pascale was an alcoholic when Del was in highschool but successfully quits in order to be able to spend time with her granddaughter. Del's sister Nicole breaks a lot of laws (including breaking and entering and prostitution), but she is fiercely loyal and stands up for those she loves. The complexity of the characters and the situation is part of what makes it such an emotional read. There's no one to easily blame for the problems these women find themselves in. I think this complexity points to Silverman's experience both as a counselor and a lawyer. She clearly understands human psychology and how problems are not always black and white but can be very gray.
The writing is lovely and fills in the framing of the plot and the characters. There are lines that just totally grab you.
Because minds do blow and hearts do break. Those are not just sayings. And wolves and roaches are not the only creatures that chew off their legs to get out of traps—human beings do that, too. (location 3058)
I also really enjoyed that while Jenna's coming out story (told in flash-backs and reminiscing) is rather typical, Del's is much more complex. She is bi but is uncomfortable with the fact that she likes women too. She doesn't want people to know, doesn't say a thing about it to her sisters, denies it even. But we find out later that there were other ways in which it was clear she did identify as bi and part of the community. I won't say how, because I don't want to spoil the surprise. But I found this complexity interesting. It shows how for Jenna she had to push and come out because there was no other option. Del could sometimes pass but not always and clearly it was a struggle for her throughout her whole life. This shows an understanding of what it is to be bi that I honestly was not expecting, as it is hard to find that in novels.
There were, unfortunately, a couple of things that didn't quite live up to the rest of the book. There were a few passages that weren't as well-written or well-edited that detracted from the overall beauty of the book. For instance, there is a scene in which a character points a flashlight at a floor but the narrator calls it the ground. Things like that that are periodically clunky. I'm sure this will improve with time, though, as this is Silverman's first work of fiction.
I also was disappointed that we didn't get to see very much at all in regards to how this whole drama of the first love's mysterious death impacted Jenna's relationship with her wife. I was hoping this would be at least touched upon in the last chapter, but instead we just see Madison show up with Jenna for the funeral. Since I had come to care for Jenna, I wanted to know how such a dramatic, emotional event would affect her new life and marriage with Madison. It seems obvious to me that such an incident would at least lead to a few discussions and maybe difficult moments between a married couple. I wanted to see that and not seeing it made Madison and Jenna's marriage to her feel more like a prop than an actual element of Jenna's life.
Overall, though, this is a unique work of GLBTQ lit. Its themes of reconciling with your past, coming out, being queer, and first love are all beautifully told within a plot that keeps the reader invested and interested. I highly recommend it to GLBTQ readers, but also to anyone with an interest in stories addressing the complexity of human relationships and the long-reaching impact of first loves.
4 out of 5 stars
Source: Netgalley
Book Review: Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares (Series, #5)
The Septembers are all 29 years old now and spread out all over the globe. Bee is expending her energy biking up and down the hills of San Francisco while Eric works as a lawyer. Carmen has a recurring role on a tv show filming in NYC and is engaged to Jones, an ABC producer. Lena teaches art at RISD and lives a quiet life in her studio apartment, except for the one day a week she practices Greek with an elderly woman. Tibby took off to Australia with Brian months ago, and everyone else is in limbo waiting for her to get back. They all feel a bit disconnected until Tibby sends Bee, Carmen, and Lena tickets to come to Greece for a reunion. What they find when they arrive is not what anyone expected.
You guys. You guys. This book shattered me. I am not a crier, and I actually had tears fall while reading this book. I read it in one day. I could not put it down. As someone who grew up with The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, I found the sudden jump forward in age (we used to be about the same age, and now they are older than me) a bit disconcerting and unexpected, but nowhere near as unexpected as the rest of the book.
I complained to anyone who would listen at the beginning that I hated it. That I hated what Brashares was doing, and omg why would she do this. But as the story progressed, she swept me along, and suddenly I realized that yes this is tougher by far than the earlier books. It's not the light girl power read the first or even the second one was. But it shouldn't be. They're 29. They're older. Their problems should be bigger and more adult, and the lessons here hurt more to read because they're tougher ones to learn. It's precisely the direction the books should have taken. The girls change and, dare I say it, actually grow the fuck up unlike a certain other foursome that have a tv show.
I won't tell you what made the book so powerful, because that'd spoil it. But I will tell you, my fellow fans, to push past the first quarter of the book where you're angry and want to throw it across the room in a Carmen-like rage. Give Brashares the chance she earned with the first three to gradually show you what she's doing. It's an emotional journey that's well worth taken. Fans might be frustrated at first, but those who stick it out and love the series for what it really is will love this entry. I don't doubt it at all. Plus, Brashares hinted that there might be still more to come.
5 out of 5 stars
Source: Netgalley
Previous Books in Series
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood
Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood
Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood
Book Review: The Child Who by Simon Lelic
A gruesome murder has thrown a British county up-in-arms, and Leo Curtice finds himself the attorney randomly assigned to defend the murderer–a 12 year old boy who killed and sexually assaulted an 11 year old girl. He finds himself seeking to understand what would make a 12 year old kill and finding more empathy for the boy than those around him think is allowable. Meanwhile, threats start coming in against his own family, including his 15 year old daughter.
This is a ripped from the headlines style novel that falls far short of others in its genre. Apparently, Britain has a real problem with child murderers. The thing is, though, when you're writing a ripped from the headlines type story, your fictional version needs to bring something to the table that the real life stories and newspaper articles can't or don't. Room by Emma Donoghue is an excellent example of this. Telling the story from the perspective of the boy raised in the room his kidnapped mother is held hostage in was a truly unique and mind-blowing way to get a new perspective on the rash of kidnappings and hostage situations in the US. This story, on the other hand, is told from the perspective of a defense attorney, which is almost exactly what you would get in the press. There is nothing new or fresh. Curtice sympathizes with the boy killer, but that is not true fresh perspective.
It's also problematic when you google about child murderers in Britain and the stories that come up are far more fascinating than the novel you just read. Stories like Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, two ten year olds who tortured and murdered a two year old. Or Mary Bell an eleven year old who killed and tortured other children without remorse. In contrast our story here is about a twelve year old boy who hits on an eleven year old, is rebuffed, and proceeds to knock her down, bludgeon her, and assault her with a stick. Horrible? Yes. But with far more motive than two ten year olds abducting and killing a two year old. See the difference? The true to life stories push us to question and understand human development and behavior. The fake one seems rather easily written off as a vicious twelve year old who can't handle the word no from a girl he likes. It's as if the author was trying to play off of a phenomenon in Britain but missed the crux of what makes it so fascinating. Twelve is hardly a youth in the way that ten is.
Then there is the whole side-plot about Curtice's daughter. From the beginning of the book you think she was murdered eventually somehow in some connection with the case. Wanting to find out how this occurred is what keeps the reader interested and the plot moving in spite of the problems addressed earlier. This, though, is ultimately a red herring of a plot point. The daughter was a runaway. Yes, the father didn't know it at first, but she just ran away because of all the stress from the case. That's it. As a reader, it felt like Lelic played a dirty trick on me, and I really didn't like that.
Ultimately, Lelic tried to write a ripped from the headlines style story akin to Room, but he failed on all of the points that made Room such a hit. There is no unique viewpoint, no valid suspense, no daring willingness to take things even further in fiction than they went in real life. The book is a disappointment.
2 out of 5 stars
Source: Netgalley


text:
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Well, I had my 2nd opinion talk with a second RE. It was enlightening. And I have to say thanks to this community for encouraging me to step out and get that second opinion. Seems that this RE would have done the surgery last month when he felt I had at least 3 possible eggs that were of an appropriate size- and he feels that the mix up in the amount of lupron I was taking was a factor and that I was most likely over supressed. This information I kind of expected-- but what suprised me was that he said for this last cycle he would not have started it-- my E2 was 103, he says he would have given me something to lower my E2 level as he never stims unless the E2 level is below 70. Hmm, now that is news. He also expressed some concern about my previous RE's urging to use donor eggs. He says that since I have never actually made it to IVF that he has no information to base the quality of my egg on and he'd rather get me to an completed IVF cycle so we can at least evaluate the egg quality to determine if a donor egg is required. He felt that being a slow responder to the drugs does not mean that I can't have bilogical children- it just means I respond to the meds slowly.
He talked to me for alittle over an hour-- and one of the very first things he did when we began to speak was give me his email. He wants me to ask questions and he said he answers his email 3-4 times a day. I also took some time to speak to a friend I have who used a DE to conceive her child. She was incredibly encouraging to me to really step out and explore my options- if I want to have a biological child then I should try that as long as I want to-- because I have plenty of time to have a DE child. Hmm, never considered that. It all has felt a bit that time was grinding down on me. It's nice to have been given a level set so I can step back and get some breathing space.
So what is my plan? Yes, of course I have one. The new RE suggested taking December off because my body seems to react better to cycles that are every other month as opposed to back to back. I like this idea because my body is clearly confused about what cycle we are in. I should have started my cycle 4 days ago according to my last RE. I figure it is late because we stopped the meds part way through the cycle. So there you have it. I am taking December off, relaxing during the holidays and the starting up in January. Very cool.
11 comments:
- Meg said...
Ellie - Sounds like a really productive meeting; that's great to hear. I have so many stories about people who has more success once their RE tried a different approach or they changed REs. I guess each one gets stuck in their little mindset, and the type of patients they are used to treating.
Anyway, great news. I hope you enjoy your break. Stimulation can't be good for your ovaries; mine were still a bit swollen at my (covert) 14 week scan, which is pretty scary.
Much better news. Have a good December off.
- Sherry said...
Oh Ellie - I am so glad you talked to a new RE and you seem to have a good plan going forward! It sounds like what the new RE had to say gave you a breath of fresh air.
Enjoy the time off and recharge those ovaries!
- Lut C. said...
So, I take you've made the decision to switch then. I'm so glad the second opinion opened some options for you.
December is a tough month resting or cycling. Personally, I'm taking refuge in a good bottle of wine.
I am so glad that the second opinion offered you good options and that you have a plan in place. I really hope you get to enjoy your holidays
- VanillaDreams said...
I'm so glad to hear you have a second opinion, and a better plan of action!
It sounds like it is really well thought out plan -- and the RE sounds great, spending so much time with you and answering your questions. That is so, so important.
I must say, many days I am jealous of the RE options many of you have -- Calgary only has the one clinic so I am "stuck". And I would have to seek out ANOTHER US clinic for a second US RE opinion....and I just don't know if I have it in me!
I hope I get some answers at my RE appt in December...
Anyway, I hope you enjoy your holidays, and that the break is relaxing and rejuvenating!
Excellent news!! Really happy to hear this. Enjoy your holidays without having to worry about injections. :)
- Hopeful Mother said...
Ellie, this is great news. I have been very worried about the advice/care you had been receiving from your 1st RE.
It is great that you have a renewed hope too and your prognosis may not be as bad as your previous RE would have you believe. It's true, you have not really made it to a stage where your egg quality can be evaluated, so it is really still unknown.
Would you mind contacting me off-blog via email and giving me the name of your 2nd opinion RE? I think we are in the same general area and I'd like to know who you spoke with in case I'd like a 2nd opinion at some point.
This is great news, Ellie. I'm so happy you are working with someone devoted to helping you.
- Heather said...
Sounds like a great doctor. Glad you got the second opinion. Enjoy the month off.
That's just wonderful news. Your new RE sounds great.
- Beagle said...
Sounds like a very worthwhile trip to RE#2. Enjoy your break!