text:
|Liam, the grandson who will hopefully never know his grandfather.
The next day I sent Estela and Astrid to Guatemalan immigration for the fourth time in the hope of getting a passport for Astrid. In a previous visit one of the officials had snarled at Estela "how do I know that you are not going to take the child away from her father?" This time we really thought we would succeed as we had everything that had been requested during the previous visits. I had paid an attorney to go to the prison and have Alex sign a document giving permission for Astrid to travel. I had written a letter explaining my relationship to the child and the reason for her needing a passport. The founder of her international school had written letters. There were documents from the court detailing Alex's case. A crisp $100 bill was in a plain white envelope. As I was not allowed in I had rehearsed the two over and over as to how to proceed. "Tell them you will be back next month." "Ask them why they are punishing Astrid for the crimes of her father." I was very pretty optimistic that a passport would be forthcoming this time.
After several hours of hard negotiations the two returned once again without a passport. There were corrections written all over the document that Alex had signed. The attorney had made several blatant errors in writing the document. In addition to having much of my information incorrect she had indicated that Alex had signed the document in her office which was obviously not the case. Attorneys in Guatemala are not held to the same standard as in the United States. Interestingly the $100 bill had been returned. I had suggested that the two offer the money as a last resort indicating that it was "another letter from the gringa." Astrid said that only after the passport had been denied had the boss looked at my Guatemalan identity card and then the white envelope sitting on the desk. He reached for the envelope and Astrid grabbed it. No passport, no bribe.
|The two groups of kids have become great friends
since their father's arrest, a real bonus.
Astrid was furious however I insisted that she go on to school. That same evening the news yielded that, the same day, in another department of the government her father, whose parental rights were of such great concern to the immigration department had been sentenced to seventy (yes, 70) years in prison. A fuzzy picture of the four bad guys in the newspaper showed Alex slumped over, head in his hands, upon hearing the sentence. I can only imagine how many cases of kidnapping had been involved to generate the equivalent of a life sentence. Hopefully, the woman without proof felt vindicated.
The next morning, Saturday, as Estela and the children trickled in for music and swimming lessons I learned that they didn't know about the sentence. I told Astrid and she grinned. Diego read the article in the newspaper without comment. He had recently told me that his mother had stopped going to visit Alex. Much to my surprise Denis who had not spoken of his father for almost two years said, in English, "bye, bye." Then in Spanish he said "It is better for all of us." He was clearly relieved even jubilant. I talked to Astrid and Denis, once again, how it is often those who face the biggest obstacles in life who are the strongest and have the greatest amount of success. I further told them that their story would likely help them to get scholarships to attend university in which case they would need to say "gracias, papa."
Estela arrived and I showed her the newspaper article. She then told me of a time, some five or so years before, when Alex had asked her what she thought I would do if either Jackie or Denis were kidnapped. Fortunately, for all of us, Estela had told him "nada" because they were not my children. It was hard to imagine that Alex was such a monster that he would contemplate putting one of his own children through the experience of being kidnapped for financial gain. Unbelievable.
|Hopefully Mishelle, 6, will never know the real truth about her father.
If as indicated by the court the kidnapping activities had been going on for years one could only wonder where the money was. There had to be money somewhere. We knew that Alex once tried to open a bank account in Estela's name. Perhaps he succeeded somewhere. It has been suggested that I search my garden as Alex was once my gardener, albeit not a good one.
No one discussed the news with the youngest two children. Cristofer went with some school friends to see a Disney movie in his first ever visit to a real movie theater in Guatemala City. Mishelle helped Estela cook lunch, worked on her iPad reading program and challenged me to way too many games of Tic Tac Toe. The older two boys washed cars in the rain. There was an air of lightness and relief amongst everyone. No more concerns about Alex turning up one day and starting in again with lies, pleas for money and more. He is gone. But then this was Guatemala where a prison year was only nine months long and where strange things happen almost daily. My hope was that nothing strange would happen until the children were grown and established and in a better position to fend off Alex should he one day be free.
|Cris was 4 when his father was arrested. He occasionally
gets weepy about not having a father.
Before he left Denis gave me a big hug and thanked me once again for my support. I told him that we should just all forget about Alex. He agreed.
For readers who once knew Alex I am sure you can appreciate my continued amazement that the same fellow who buckled his youngest two kids into their seat belts after a visit to the zoo weeks before his arrest could, in reality, be such a monster. For once there had been some justice in Guatemala.


text:
it had been a long time since i held a girl in my arms long enough and close enough to feel her sobs wrack through my ribcage and press against my beating heart while hers beat faster and harder.
usually, the pain is a scraped knee or bruised shin or scary tumble from the two-wheeler. this pain was different. and in this pain, i saw so many more such embraces, embraces that will never keep her from growing up, from learning something the hard way, from my failings and shortcomings and hopes and fears. she cried like the little girl she is, a little shocked and confused by something that hurts but not on the outside. and i held her like the father i am, a little inept and confused by how far we've come and how much this one moment could teach us both and why it had been so long since i held this crying little girl and how many more times i would do this same thing in years to come.
it all came down to big brown eyes flooded with the tears of a lesson learned the hard way.
the main problem was figuring what lesson there was to be learned. was it the lesson that she is loved, no matter what she does or does not do? was it the lesson that not everyone wins? was it the lesson that she always wins if she tries her best? was it the lesson that some things will only happen for her if she wants them badly enough and makes them happen? was it the lesson that her dada's arms will always be big enough to hold her? was it the lesson that racing is just racing, and having a family to support her is worth more than any spot on an elementary track team? maybe it was the lesson that she, as a seasoned 8-year-old 5k racer, has a different engine that is not well suited to the limits imposed by a single 100m dash with other giggling second graders...
i love that child more than myself and then some. i know she needs to learn things. i know that some of these things will hurt, and that she will be better for it. and i know that she is already amazing and a better human being than i will ever be. and it really cracks me up when she makes my faces on her mother's features. but when she hurts, when she falls apart in her school hoodie and soaks my shoulder with big, sad girl tears, it rips me apart and turns me upside down. i don't know what to teach her. i just want to hold her, help her up, give her something to eat, and go on. but this moment is important, so important, and it cannot be bypassed.
so we hugged, and she cried, and then we talked. there were snacks. the little sister took it upon herself to break down as well because she was also having a hard day and didn't want to miss out on the teary action. and then it was time to go swimming, and then talk to mama over pre-dinner frozen yogurt, to re-learn all of these lessons. dinner took so long that the little one was asleep while the big one stayed up with mama and dada and we managed to double team her, cover all points and angles we could think of, and reinforce the main point: she is loved, and wonderful, and none of this is compromised by a 100m dash on a sunny day in grade two.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
My youngest is preparing to turn a year older this week. She's been waiting for this day since her father's birthday back near the beginning of the year. Upon discovering there were several more birthdays (including a few extended relations), the thought of her birthday finally arriving was beginning to look like an unachieveable dream.
With some not-so-subtle hinting from her big sister, Miss A. at last decided she wanted a Tinkerbell birthday cake, and basically stuck to that decision...until yesterday. As we were flipping through the little book of ways to make sugar overloads even more fun by painting them colors and putting on toys so we can charge you more...
Wait, where was I?
Oh yeah. As we were flipping through the book we came upon a new and far MORE delightful cake decoration: a little Tiana and Naveen (from "The Princess and the Frog) picture with a toy ring. I have no doubt both toys will be relegated with great speed to the bottom of the toy box within the first 24 hours. But it's all to make the little princess happy on her birthday, right? Right.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Oh the Anticipation
Labels: Motherhood
3 comments:
- Little Messy Missy said...
I haven't watched that movie yet, is it any good?
- June 29, 2010 at 6:53 AM
- LaurieW said...
SO GOOD!!! One of the better Disney's come out with lately. You've got Tiana who's a work-a-holic and Naveen who only wants to play music. It's about making your dreams come true but finding happiness and love along the way.
- June 29, 2010 at 7:49 AM
- Debbie D said...
Oh, that will be so cute. Birthday's are so much fun (unless they're mine). Happy Birthday little Miss A. :)
- June 29, 2010 at 8:48 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Posted on Small parts storage
#1 posted 12-24-2012 12:25 AM
If you want a "quick, cheap and easy" way to get new storage boxes… how 'bout those plastic shoe boxes with lids? Available at DIY stores, WallyWorld, KMart, Target…. almost everywhere. And usually most of the big box stores put their "storage" type boxes on sale first of the year. Some of them are made of a "cloudy" plastic, but some of them are clear and you'll be able to see at a glance what's in 'em.
-- Perform A Random Act Of Kindness Today ... Pay It Forward


text:
Now through memorial day only - Free ruffle bottom skirt with purchase in my store.
What to do -
When you purchase an item in my store in the checkout please specify-
"Free Skirt, size"
They are so stinkin cute - why not?
Only while supplies last - so hurry!
fabrics and colors vary.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
We have a new winner!
Ok everyone.
I "like" you on fb :)
April 29, 2011 11:08 PM
I did not hear back from the first place winner - so here is a new winner for 1st place!
Anonymous said...
I "like" you on fb :)
Iris (email@example.com)
Saturday, May 14, 2011
We have a Winner!
Thank you to everyone who participated in my first Givaway. It was a lot of fun and love all the new likes on facebook!
Sorry it's a little later than it should be - overcast=no wifi signal - lol
April 29, 2011 8:36 AM
i love this!
May 4, 2011 1:10 PM You will both be contacted by the end of the day via email from me.
The First Place Winner - who gets to choose any item in my Etsy shop is:
Mary kate!
Mary-Kate said...
I am following you!! :o)
The Second Place Winner - who will receive any item in my Etsy shop at 50% off is:
Jewerly by J!
Jewelry By J said...
i love this!
..etsy trade-a-holics!
Congrats to you and thanks for everyone who entered!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Happy Mother's Day
I awoke this morning to a sweet little Lily telling me "i luv you Mama". Then I received a card with her "writing" all over it. It made my heart melt to see she had made me a card (with daddy's help of course).
We had a leisurely breakfast and went to brunch with the in-laws, where we stuffed ourselves of lots of yummies.
Now Lily is taking a nap, and I am going to do the same. Happy Mother's Day everyone!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
My favorite time of day....
As I sit here and sip my coffee in quiet, I can't help but love this time of day. Between 8am and 9am I have time to myself. Quiet time, coffee time, and emails.
No one is pulling on my pants, no one is asking me for clothes or socks, no schoolwork, or sewing... just me all to myself. The cats run around under my feet and quietly play with Lily's toys, especially on sunny mornings.
However, an hour is really as much as I can take before I go and wake the babe. We start every day with a game of peek-a-boo, and I love it. That is my second favorite time of the day!
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
2011. december 24., szombat
2011. december 20., kedd
2011. december 3., szombat
New update with snowing coming!
It will now snow on the main screen. With your built in temperature sensor you will see HOW COOL it is!!!! (The app will be free.)
The new Bash game is out!
Bash is a simple game of dice played among any number of people using one (or several) iPhone/iPad. The two dices on the screen are thrown by shaking. A higher score than the previous must be announced, and others have to believe you! So, buffing will soon creep in. It is fun, it is social, and can be played whenever there is a timeslot for playing.
You can download here
You can download here
Feliratkozás: Bejegyzések (Atom)


text:
A weekly update of cases pertaining to the practice of insurance defence.
July 14, 2009
Is chronic pain a foreseeable injury? (post-Mustapha)
Gray J., considering whether chronic pain is a foreseeable injury in light of Mustapha, noted that: "There is obviously a subtle distinction between a person of less than ordinary fortitude who suffers damage that is not foreseeable, and a person of ordinary fortitude who suffers damage that is more serious than expected."
In Degennaro the plaintiff developed chronic pain after an injury that resulted in a fractured sacrum. The fracture healed but her pain got worse. There was no objective reason for the continuing and worsening pain. The eventual conclusion of her treating physicians was that the plaintiff had developed fibromyalgia. Although it was in dispute at the trial, the Court concluded that the chronic pain was caused by the same fall that had resulted in a fractured sacrum.
The Court then had to consider whether the chronic pain was foreseeable. This is what Gray J. wrote at paras 158-163.
158 In Mustapha, supra, the Supreme Court of Canada analyzed the issue. In that case, the Court held that it was not reasonably foreseeable that the plaintiff would suffer serious mental injury as a result of seeing flies in a bottle of water that he was about to install for a customer.
159 At para. 14 of her judgment, McLachlin C.J.C. stated that a plaintiff is to be considered objectively, not subjectively. Thus, a plaintiff is not to be considered in the context of his or her own personal makeup, which may give rise to the specific injury suffered, but rather objectively. That is, one must ask what a person of ordinary fortitude would suffer.
160 At para. 16 of her judgment, McLachlin C.J.C., in a passage that has some significance for this case, stated:
Once a plaintiff establishes the foreseeability that a mental injury would occur in a person of ordinary fortitude, by contrast, the defendant must take the plaintiff as it finds him for purposes of damages. As stated in White, at p. 1512, focusing on the person of ordinary fortitude for the purposes of determining foreseeability, "is not to be confused with the 'eggshell skull' situation, where as a result of a breach of duty the damage inflicted proves to be more serious than expected". Rather, it is a threshold test for establishing compensability of damage at law.
161 In my view, it is foreseeable that chronic pain may result from a physical injury. While the actual cause of chronic pain is not known, it is known that some people will develop chronic pain after physical trauma. Thus, chronic pain is foreseeable as falling within a range of consequences that may flow from a physical injury. This is a foreseeable consequence in a person of ordinary fortitude. Thus, in my view, the defendants must take the plaintiff as they find her. As noted by McLachlin C.J.C. at para. 16 of Mustapha, supra, this is simply a case where the damage inflicted has proven to be more serious than expected.
162 There is obviously a subtle distinction between a person of less than ordinary fortitude who suffers damage that is not foreseeable, and a person of ordinary fortitude who suffers damage that is more serious than expected. However, in view of the analysis in Mustapha, the distinction is real and must be respected. I have no doubt that Ms. Degennaro falls into the category of a person who is a person of ordinary fortitude who has suffered damage that is more serious than expected.
163 For the foregoing reasons, the chronic pain suffered by the plaintiff, Ms. Degennaro, was a foreseeable consequence of the incident that occurred in May, 1999, and the defendants must compensate her for it.
3 comments:
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
There are numerous personal injury claim experts who are more than willing to help you out. These experts can guide you to get compensation quickly. One could also look online for personal injury experts. They can certainly help you sort things out. You can benefit from their vast experience. Get detailed information on how to make a claim, find out how good your chances of making a claim are from m these experts. While making a claim, you must keep in mind that you provide adequate proof as to how and when the injury occurred, any kind of supporting documents in the form of medical evidence, police reports, etc.ReplyDelete
Your Post is very informative. Thanks for that. Once I too was suffering a lot with the chronic back pain. That time I had tried out all type of treatments but its all gone waste, since I could not bear the pain. Finally I had undergone Hypnotherapy Treatment from Thoughts Become Reality and now I could be able to manage the pain very well.ReplyDelete


text:
Good morning! Here's another 'I Ask, You Answer' for us to consider:
Booth has used the "we're partners" phrase to protect himself a lot more than Brennan has. What does this mean?
I think it shows that he's in denial of his feelings. He is so concerned over her rejecting him, that he doesn't want to alienate her further. Her rejection of him in PitSW, hurt him, and he doesn't want to feel that again, so on the outside he continues to use partners, trying to convince himself it's true.
I agree with Kimberly. Booth used the "we're just partners" thing as a shield. At first he did it because he didn't want to push Brennan into anything if she wasn't ready for it. He was shielding her from his possible interest. After 100, he used it as a shield to protect himself.
I think he also does it to remind himself. To force anything else out of his mind. To state it out loud makes it more real. More permanent. No different than the little engine that could chanting "I think I can" over and over.
I think you nailed it ceeray. It's to bring himself down to earth when gets all googly eyed in love with her :). Plus, a shield for not only himself but for Brennan also, to protect BOTH of them from taking their relationship somewhere they are not ready to go.
I'm going to disagree here, in part. I think you all are right in terms of recent times, but I don't think that this was true from the beginning.
I think that in the beginning, it was just the way you introduced or characterized the relationship between two people who work together. It makes clear that one is not subordinate to another. It makes it clear that they work together regularly as opposed to just working together on an ad hoc basis. In "Fire in the Ice," neither Booth nor Perrotta introduced the other as their partner.
Furthermore, I think that the use of partner as a protective strategy applies just as much to Brennan. She too has always countered that they were "just partners." I'd argue that that designation was critical to her earlier than it was to Booth, especially when other people were thinking that they were a couple. She has used it explicitly to explain away her own and Booth's behavior from very early on.
I agree that in the beginning it was a way to introduce themselves. But I also think that Booth used it as a way to differentiate his personal feelings for her, from his professional standing. As the series continued, he used it for often, because he needed to keep reminding himself she was only a partner. I think Booth was scared of the intensity of his feelings from the beginning, and this was a way to help him cope.
I can see that. Then we have to agree that he had strong feelings and was aware of them on some level from the beginning. I don't have a problem with that, but some people would.
I think he knew from the beginning. He said "I knew, Bones I knew, right from the beginning." I think that night on the steps in the rain, he was relieved that she refused him.
I believe his reaction to her touch, touched him a little too deeply, and he wanted to wait until he knew her better, before he slept with her. He was looking for that 'making love' connection, and I think he found it in her, so he wanted to wait until a relationship formed. Little did he know it would take her so long to admit it.
I believe that the phrase has been used to cover a multitude of sins over the years by both Booth and Brennan, although I definitely associate it more with him than with her. I completely agree with Lenora that at the beginning it served as a way to make Brennan more comfortable with him, especially in the face of so many people assuming that there might be something more than work between them. Later, like ceeray said, he used it as a reminder to himself not to step over a line that might possibly end the comfortable relationship they had worked out between them.
It's interesting to me that Booth, who always seemed like a loner and seems to have worked alone before (other than when he had his spotter in the army,) places so much value on the word partner. I think it reassures him that he has someone that is part of his group, his family if you will and anything that threatens that is met with great resistance, like when GG and Sweets meddled with his relationship with Brennan. Once Booth lets you in you become part of his clan, his responsibility, and he takes this role very seriously like he did when he carried Teddy Parker trying to save his life, or the numerous times he's risked everything for Brennan or been willing to sacrifice his possible livelyhood for Pops.
To me one of the most powerful, and ambiguous uses of the word came in Daredevil. I'm not sure even Booth understood what he was saying when he said "we're partners" other than it was a very obvious "keep out" sign. But while he could have very well ended their relationship completely at this point because of how he was feeling, he chose to let her have the option of saving that part of what they had. A work partnership in its most basic sense was the only lifeline left to him, the only thing he could give at that moment, and I for one am very glad she agreed to his terms.
Off Topic. Maria, I had an idea for a story and tried it out in Bones Fanfic. I tried to present Booth's point of view of what happened in season 6. I just wanted to fill in the holes that HH and his writers left us with during the season. They left way too much for us to imagine. If you have time to kill, it's there to read under "Heart Versus Brain". I plan to finish it tomorrow. Let me know what you think. (I wrote it under FaithinBones – because someone took my name)
Lenora, I've been able to read half of your story so far, and I wanted you to know that I'm really enjoying it. It fills in so many of the blanks that relate to how Booth felt about Brennan once she left and how he dealt with things once Hannah came along. It's the wonderful thing about fanfic; it helps to give depth to all the things we didn't see but which we know must have happened. It would really be great if people who comment on this blog and also write fiction under a different name (as is often the case) would provide their pennames. I for one would really like to read and support those writers, especially since I already appreciate much of what they say on this site. Maybe that could be a little feature added to this blog that people could access on a regular basis. Just a thought. And Lenora, I'm looking forward to reading your other ones too!
I disagree. When Booth stressed the 'we're partners' in the bar scene, to me it showed that he was reaffirming his connection with Brennan in the face of the faux connection he had just shattered with Hannah. For Booth, partners is an inclusive term. You would kill for your partner; you would die for your partner. Neither Booth nor Brennan can be unaware that the term is used frequently to denote lifetime commitments as well as work relationships. Brennan basically broke their partnership when she left for Maluku and at this very low point in Booth's emotional life, he is reaffirming to himself and to her that they still have this connection. Then with a tremendous gesture of generosity he gives her the option of breaking it again. And given his closed eyes and hunched shoulders while waiting for her response, he seems to be expecting her to walk out again. But she doesn't, reaffirming on her side that the partnership still holds even if the center is still out of focus.
EL, I love your interpretation of Booth's bar scene: " Brennan basically broke their partnership when she left for Maluku and at this very low point in Booth's emotional life, he is reaffirming to himself and to her that they still have this connection. Then with a tremendous gesture of generosity he gives her the option of breaking it again. And given his closed eyes and hunched shoulders while waiting for her response, he seems to be expecting her to walk out again."
That scene just rips my heart out. And I like how you mentioned his body language too. Even though it hurts him to offer her "freedom" from their partnership, he still does it. Even though she's one of the women who "rejected" him. Ah…..some people I've talked to on other message boards think Booth is selfish and mean and they hate the scene, but I LOVE it. It's a painful scene, but its nice to see Booth actually vent and share his true feelings instead of hiding it for the sake of other people. In this case, their "surrogate relationship" helped hold them together, to give them time for Booth to heal, and Brennan to give up that imperviousness.
Yay! 🙂
Well, it's a wonderful scene which is definitely open to interpretation. When I saw it my immediate reaction was that he was hurting very badly from the collective rejections in his past and he felt that he couldn't expose himself to any more pain by just going back to the surrogate relationship he and Brennan had shared previously. My impression was that he was putting that line back firmly in place, because otherwise he was going to fall back into the same old comfortable pattern of loving her from a distance and he couldn't go there just yet. We know she said she had regrets before, but it isn't clear exactly what that meant for them and in his drunken, extremely vulnerable state he wasn't going to risk it, at least not any time soon. I do believe that that he still wanted to be with her regardless of any possible pain which is why I found it really heartbreaking that he offered to get her a new guy if she couldn't accept these new boundaries. Regardless of how we see his actions though, it was an amazing, gut-wrenching performance and for me one of the highlights of the whole series.
Maria, I love your response as well! "We know she said she had regrets before, but it isn't clear exactly what that meant for them and in his drunken, extremely vulnerable state he wasn't going to risk it, at least not any time soon."
Thanks exactly how I interpreted the scene. I know some people find him cold, or selfish, I don't get that vibe at all!!! He's drunk, recently rejected, and as Sweets so helpfully points out, he's not getting any younger. He sort of lashed out in the moment, but I'm kind of glad he did. He kind of stuck up for himself for once and I think Brennan needed to see that. See that her dragging her feet did cause him pain. Sort of what Cam said about cracking Brennan's shell in reverse. Brennan needed to realize that she needed to be careful in her responses and actions to Booth as well as he did for her in the past.
But yay, they are together now! 🙂 Woot!
I think the definition for the word partner is very fluid, for both of them, and it means different things – to one or both of them – depending on the particular circumstances.
Both of them have used it as a barrier and both of them have used it almost as an endearment. I think if you were to ask them, they wouldn't be able to give you a concrete definition.
And next season, it will have yet another meaning for them because now they're partner-partners.
Nail on head, MJ.
It seems a simple word, but with B&B nothing is ever simple. 😉
"We're partners" is along the same the line as "Atta girl/boy" I love you's. It's a way for both of them to express their connection, trust, care for each other without ACTUALLY saying it. They've both used it to protect each other. It helped them keep their distance when things got too emotional or they need reassurance. I believe that Brennan has been totally aware of Booth's extraneous use of "its a partner thing" and lets herself touch him, help him, etc under that partner umbrella. They were just so funny like that, Booth to help himself keep his attraction under control, Brennan to be with Booth, but not "with" Booth. (Cuz we all know her tendency to touch him even if she wouldn't admit it 🙂 haha).
Some time ago, I was engaged in a discussion on here about how Booth used the "just partners" line justify un-partner-like behavior to Brennan, and there was some debate about whether or not it was intentional. For instance, the "guy hugs" would fall under the umbrella of things that Booth convinced Brennan are allowed between "just partners." My personal opinion is that, in the beginning, Booth knew that Brennan was closed off, he felt that he could/should try to open her up a bit, and since Brennan seems to take his word as gospel, she bought the "it's what partners do" schpiel. However, I would also agree that the meaning of the phrase and the way that they used it to justify their behavior evolved over the series. I also think that at some point Brennan caught on to the fact that their definition of partnership was rather elastic compared to most (I really don't know exactly when), and that she chose to use it rather than call Booth on it. I'm guessing that she didn't really realize how much they had stretched the definition of "just partners" until after Hannah entered the picture.
Yeah that is a good point. I think Sweets was totally right when he called them out on their surrogate relationships and their inability to form long term relationships with others because of it. Whether they were totally concious of it the whole time or not, that might be more of a fluid concept, they were totally using their "partnership" to be connected with someone while trying to avoid the pitfalls and troubles of an actual romantic relationship. I think at different times along the way, both of them have been aware of this, but either unable or unwilling to actually admit that.
bb- Yes! I think they have had an unspoken agreement for some time that they both know certain things that they can't or won't acknowledge. It's how they maintain the balance in their relationship. They can be close, they can touch each other platonically, they can support each other emotionally, but if certain things were voiced, they would either have to move forward to put some distance between themselves. Which is exactly what happened after Booth's outburst in the 100th. Nobody was really fooled by the "just partners" song an dance, but it was a necessary fiction for them to function professionally, while still cultivating a personal relationship. What I find interesting is to go back and watch older episodes with something like this in mind and look for clues as to exactly when each of them become aware of all of these unspoken things.
CJsMom, I totally agree with what you said here. It's really fascinating the lengths Booth went to to get Brennan to open up and trust him.
In the beginning, Cullen told him that he was responsible for taking her, a squint, out into the field. And Booth took and still takes that responsibility very seriously. It drives him crazy sometimes because she can be rather reckless because of her independence, but at the same time, he loves her independence and strength because that's part of what makes her an "exceptional" partner who he can count on to have his back and save it, if need be. They've both had hard lives, and I get the feeling that for each of them, their partnership is one of the best things that happened to either of them (they are smiling when telling Sweets about when they first met each other, and you can tell they are so happy that they did.)
I think a major turning point is when Brennan asked for Booth's help with her parents' disappearance. I think that going through that process with her drew him to her emotionally, and he felt compelled to protect her emotionally instead of just physically. And Brennan, overwhelmed with the pain she had been compartmentalizing for years, took the shoulder he offered her. Maybe not always easily, but eventually she came to consider him a constant in her life, and even sought him out for comfort several times. I think that was also one of the biggest blows she received when he was with Hannah. And it made the moment that she went to him after Vincent died so special, because I imagine she really missed being able to do that before.
Booth and Brennan have never been "just partners".But even with them being together now, and expectant parents, I still think partners (in every sense of the word) is the best way to describe them. Really, though, I think they are inexplicable (thanks for the idea, Booth, and the vocab lesson, Brennan).
C-bones, I think you have a point about Booth always trying to protect Brennan. I always love it when they have a little quick speech, before they confront someone and Booth tells Brennan to stay in the car, ok well stay behind me, ok here's a gun. They have done that more than once and I laugh every time. Your right, he wants to protect; but, at the same time he knows she can take care of herself and he loves that about her. I also think you are right about the turning point in their relationship. I always thought they got closer after Booth started to look into her parents disappearance.
I'm re-watching BONES from the beginning, and I'm more than halfway through the first season. Wow, what a difference time makes! This show is still addicting to me. To know that these two people with a rocky start are together now and having a baby soon blows my mind. How did they get there? I'm just going have to rewatch it all to see how it happened! 😉
C-bones, I agree, he is VERY protective of her–from the beginning. I think that at the beginning of the series, Booth treated Brennan the way he would treat his best friend's kid sister. He was protective of her, and even though he found her sexually attractive she was off limits. I really started to think that after reading laffers post about how Booth isn't in love with Brennan yet, and then I went back and watched some early season one episodes. The Man in the Bear was the first one that this idea really struck me; it's in his attitude about all the men in that small town making eyes at her. It's obvious he finds her attractive but he doesn't make any overtures towards her, and it pisses him off that she's being ogled and treated like a piece of meat. Of course the 100th puts a whole new spin on that, but I still think it holds, because after their falling out and subsequent alienation for a year, it makes sense that he would need to keep her at a distance sexually/romantically in order to maintain their professional relationship. I also loved in The Man in the Morgue when he flew to New Orleans, burst into the hospital, stole evidence. etc. It seems like he works very hard to protect her and to keep her at arms length (as a woman) early in the series, while simultaneously trying to get her to open herself up to him, trust him, and accept him as her "family." I hope this is coherent. It is nearly impossible to keep my train of thought with my noisy children in the background.
I agree that he was establishing boundaries with the partners statement in the bar but I also think that he was reconfirming their relationship as well. Even in his drunken state, given that he had never stopped caring for Brennan despite the plot device diversion of Hannah, he had to know that staying with Brennan as a partner was going to lead him into the same emotional territory he had struggled so hard to escape — wanting to love and be loved but being rejected. He offered Brennan an out but he didn't take one for himself. That was a tacit commitment to her even if for the time being it had to be defined as 'being partners'. I would say 'only partners' except that for Booth, there is no such thing. A partner is a life and death commitment as he has told Brennan on numerous occasions.
Well, their partnership has definitely evolved over the years and has always been more, in my opinion, than just professional. We learned the genesis of their partnership in the 100th episode and it did put into context , for me anyway, their interaction in season 1. Post 100th episode, their partnership continued, per Brennan's request to Booth, but was made more complicated. I think Booth tried so hard to "move on" so he could find some kind of happiness instead of just loving Brennan from afar and waiting/hoping she would give them a try. After Brennan told Booth she had made a mistake by not giving him/them a chance in Doctor in the Photo, their partnership still continued….akward but I think it says a lot. And, of course, Daredevil in the Mold. Wow. That episode has so much going on but the end scene and Booth's ultimatium… in that moment of licking the curb Booth poured his hurt and his heart out to his "partner", Brennan. That was a low moment for sure but, to me, it was the ultimate test of "partnership"… partners see each other at their best and worst. Booth offered Brennan partership – nothing more because he had nothing more to give at that moment – that moment. She chose to stay with him, by him and, as we found out later, it meant the world to him.
It will be interesting to see how their "partnership" evolves into season 7. No matter what happens, they will have a bond that transcends a professional role. I'm sure they will be tested even further so it will be interesting to see if their professional partnership can still hold even if their personal partnership falters.


text:
For fellow Kielite, "Ginnie" Ortlieb.
I have never encountered a human being who faced down so many medical obstacles to her life. There were so many times I was amazed that she had soldiered through. She never put on a smile through it all - she was a smile. Even when she could barely see, when she could barely walk, when she was rushed to the hospital one more time.
I visited Ginnie once during college when she was in the UW Hospital in Madison. It was unlike any hospital visit I'd ever made. I will never forget how she greeted me cheerily, wearing a bright, colorful Tweetie Bird shirt, the perfect mirror of her personality, a personality that had long ago transcended illness, one that had pared away all the facades and fuzzy lenses we put in front of ourselves and seen life for what it was. She will be sorely missed.
I last talked with Ginnie in September. She was, as always, warm, caring, and genuinely interested in what I was up to at the time. We had a great conversation. During its course, I learned, to my surprise, that she was a reader of this blog. It was comforting to see that she was smiling as we parted, smiling despite the great weariness her body had imparted. But that was Ginnie.
It is tough to lose a person dear to you when you're over a thousand miles away with no feasible way of making it back to pay your respects.
To Ken and the family, my respects and deepest sympathy.
In Memoriam
Posted by Brad V at 6:22 PM
Labels: Ginnie Ortlieb, in memoriam, Kiel
Subscribe to: Comment Feed (RSS)


text:
Looking for a place to get recipes for Halloween?! One of the best spots to find a huge variety of recipes is the food
network's website. There you will find a hug assortment of recipes ranging from drinks to desserts. Some recipes Halloween related are one such as: Pumpkin bread, Halloween spice cake, and even Halloween cupcakes.
Search the site for a huge variety of Halloween recipes, when looking for them use you imagination! Include products that are typical to the Halloween holiday. Even using garnish that represent the 31st will add more to the dish than you think!


text:
Lent 4 – March 6, 2005
Matthew 20:17-28
"An Inappropriate Request"
Text: Jesus Again Predicts His Death
17Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, 18"We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!"
A Mother's Request
20Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.
21"What is it you want?" he asked.
She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."
22"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?"
"We can," they answered.
23Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father."
24When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave– 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
I. Introduction –
One of the blessings of a church calendar is that we get to retrace, each year, the important events in the story of our salvation. Particularly, in the life of our Lord Jesus. For example, we know that Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, and that it leads up to Holy Week. We know that in 2 Sundays we will be marking Palm Sunday, with our Lord's arrival into the Holy City. Then we will observe Maundy Thursday, when Jesus washed his disciples' feet, and instituted the sacrament of His Supper. We know that Good Friday is coming, that darkest day in our church year, when we remember Jesus' death for us. And we also know that Easter is right around the corner. We know what is coming. We know what to expect. And this yearly rhythm to our life of faith gives comfort, and helps us to grow in our faith.
In today's Gospel reading, Jesus tells his disciples, just what is coming. What to expect. How it will all happen. Only instead of responding in faith, some of them came with an inappropriate request. In spite of this, Jesus presses on, and teaches them more about not only what to expect, but what it means. Let's examine the reading, so that we too can know what to expect.
II. Jesus Sets the Agenda
Jesus Christ knew what he was doing. He was going to be arrested. He was going to be tried. He was going to be mocked, beaten, spit on, flogged, sentenced and executed. While suffering to death, he would endure the anguish of the Father's forsaking, that is, the cup of God's righteous wrath. Then, when he was dead, they would wrap him in burial linens and leave his lifeless body in the dark of a sealed tomb.
Jesus progressively reveals this truth to his disciples. Here is recorded at least the fourth occasion on which he predicts just what will happen to him –and each time it gets clearer. Now, even the details of mocking, flogging and the particular form of his death are given. As is the promise of Easter. He knew it was the Jews who would take him, and the Gentiles who would crucify him. Still, it is Jesus who sets the agenda. Jesus knew what He was doing. And he told his disciples what was coming.
But then James and John and their mother, boldly, (awkwardly?), and inappropriately come with an agenda of their own.
III. An Inappropriate Request
Have you ever had something really important to say to someone, and they just didn't seem to want to listen? You want to tell them about your new job – and they want to talk about the latest sale at the store. You have exciting news about a new baby – and they want to complain about not finding a parking space. You want to say, "I Love You", and they are worried about what to have for dinner.
I wonder if Jesus felt this way, as he poured out his soul to those disciples – speaking very plainly and seriously about something very important – namely, his arrest, suffering, death and resurrection – But THEY have "more important" things to deal with.
So here come James and John – along with mommy. Now admittedly, these were two of the "big three" disciples. With Peter, they were part of Jesus' inner circle. They got to see the transfiguration. John stayed with Christ to the very end, the only disciple not to forsake him completely. And some scholars believe that James and John were even cousins or relatives of Jesus. They were already closer than the "crowds" and more "in" than most of the 12. But they wanted more!
A selfish request? Greedy? How could we describe it? Inappropriate at best.
First of all they seemed to ignore what Jesus had JUST SAID! "Yes, yes, dying and rising, Jesus. Whatever. Let's talk about what's really important. US, and our positions of honor and glory. We can get to this crucifixion business later." Can you imagine? Sometimes I just want to see the look on Jesus' face.
Furthermore, their request was inappropriate because they continue to misunderstand the true nature of Christ's kingdom, and the true purpose of his work. They are looking for the earthly King, the political Savior, the Military Messiah. What a poor substitute such a Christ would be, when instead we have the very Son of God who came to take away the sins of the world. Who testified himself, "My kingdom is not of this world". That would be way too small a kingdom. Instead, he rules hearts and lives by the saving Gospel. He brings a lasting peace, an eternal security that no earthly king could offer. Our annual theme reminds us of that, "telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ" (Acts 10:36)
But any time we pick on the disciples, we must turn the focus also on ourselves. Let's not think we are any less prone to sin, selfishness, and confusion. 2000 years later we are still capable of ignoring the most important messages Christ offers. We still look for God to be the kind of God WE want, to whom we may as well pray, "MY will be done, Lord". We still underestimate just how mighty His kingdom is, how powerful His promises are, how great His love. Lent is a good time to be reminded.
And just as Jesus gently steered the conversation back where it needed to go, and refocused them on his suffering service… so too would our Lord direct our attention to His crucifixion and death and resurrection.
IV. Not to Be Served, But to Serve
Jesus lets the Zebedee boys know, that His kingdom means suffering. That's what the "cup" is, a metaphor for the suffering He would endure. "Can you drink it too?" They thought they could, but they couldn't really. Only He, true man and true God, the Lord's anointed, could bear such a burden. Only He is the savior.
The irony is that they would suffer. James was one of the first disciples to die a martyr's death. And John, though he died of old age, was persecuted and imprisoned for Christ, even exiled to the island of Patmos as an old man.
But the real suffering, the ultimate suffering, the paying the price of Hell and condemnation before God, Jesus would do that. For James and John, for Mrs. Zebedee, for the other disciples, and for you and me. For unlike the rest of the world's rulers, our King is a servant. His kingdom truly is different!
When the other disciples heard what James and John were up to, they were upset. Probably upset that they were stabbed in the back, and that they didn't think to ask the same thing sooner. Perhaps a quarrel broke out among them, as these supposed men of God wrangled over places of power and authority in the kingdom.
Another irony here, is that the disciples are promised thrones of rulership, "judging the 12 tribes of Israel". And in the vision of heaven John sees in Revelation, there are 24 elders, wearing crowns, seated on thrones. They represent all of God's people, who participate in the rulership of His kingdom. After all, He has made us a "ROYAL priesthood" – a nation of kings. And that includes you and me.
But remember also, our King of Kings sets the example of service.
While earthly kings are full of their own power and demanding obedience and servitude – Lording their authority over their subjects – it is not so with Christ – and "not so with you". The Christian, a royal priest, is like the High Priest and King – first, a servant. Life in His kingdom means putting others before ourselves. Not seeking the best seat in the house, the power, the honor, the praise of men. But, "how may I help you, my neighbor?"
Even more than an example - Christ's ultimate service of suffering and death to us is what makes us who we are – makes us holy, makes us part of the royal bloodline, and empowers us to serve by His Spirit. Jesus sets His 12 disciples straight, and he reminds us, His modern disciples, of the same.
As our Lenten reflection continues, we read of Jesus and his important agenda. But like the disciples and their inappropriate request, sometimes we make less of our Lord's work. In sin we want power for ourselves. Still, it doesn't stop our King from being our Servant, and through the cross and the resurrection, from making us royal servants too. The Lord bless us, as we serve each other and as we serve Him who has served us all, in Christ, Amen.
V. Conclusion
Oh, Mrs. Zebedee and her inappropriate request! But Jesus uses the occasion to again point to the service He would render - for the disciples, and "for many". He is the Servant of all.
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Sermon - Lent 4 - Matthew 20:17-28
Posted by Tom Chryst at 7:08 PM
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
So these past weeks have been filled with really important events in our lives. Im so blessed to have such a great husband to share with and experience these milestones in my life. In these past recent weeks I have:
Taken the last school exams of my life.
Graduated from BYU-I with A Bachelors in Emergency Services
Moved out of Rexburg, Idaho
and said good bye to some of my dearest friends :(
Accomplished being married for one whole year with Brock and celebrated by going to the Cheesecake Factory in Boise :)
Celebrated my sister-in-law's birthday by going to Red Robin and watching The Vow
Gone on a free helicopter ride provided by Grandma Cooper :)
Visited my parents in Utah and went to the SLC Tulip festival.
Visited Brock's Parents in Gig Harbor, Washington.
......and Started packing our things to move to Dallas, Texas.
You would think that after graduating all the stress and chaos would go away, but looking back at all the things we have done and accomplished since graduation have made me realize we have been BUSY! However, memories are being created and I have enjoyed every single one of those moments. Now is the time when in the future I will look back and remember so many great experiences. I am thankful for a loving husband and family because it is because of them that I have had the strength and will to reach these successful goals in my life. So what now? Brock got a great offer in Dallas, Texas to work as an accountant at Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC). I will be looking for jobs in the ER so cross your fingers for me. I am scared and anxious for what lies ahead in the near future but in know that with the guidance of my Heavenly Father and my family, Brock and I will be successful.


text:
It's fun to snoop in basements and attics--you never know what weird stuff you might find! This blog is about the junk sitting around in Ellen McHenry's Basement Workshop.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
OBJECT #7: Hercules Beetle
This isn't a real Hercules beetle, but it's almost as big as a real one. It measures almost a foot (30 cm) in length. It's a model that my younger daughter made for a contest that the Penn State Entomology Department sponsors every fall. They hold a huge Insect Fair and one event is the Build-A-Bug contest. One year our homeschool group incorporated this contest into our insect unit and helped each student build a bug. My daughter chose the Hercules beetle (maybe partly because she knew how fond I am of beetles). The basic shape was made from cardboard and wire then covered with paper mache. Then a heavy coat of paint and shiny coat of varnish.
The most poignant lesson my daughter learned at the bug festival that year wasn't about insects, but about people. The contest turned out to be juried by the all the spectators who came through the bug contest room, so the more family and friends a contestant had, the better their chance of winning. Sure, there were some entries that were so good that they got votes no matter what, but overall, the contest was quite a bit skewed toward those who had brought along a huge fan club. We were just us, total of three votes. I looked a my daughter, shrugged, and said, "Oh well, life's just like that sometimes. You did a really nice job on your project and I'm proud of your work. I'm going to hang it on the wall in my studio." So I did and it's been there for... hmm... can it be seven years already? Wow.
Speaking of beetles, our house has been invaded by the one of the newest arrivals to North America-- a beetle that falls into the genre of "stink bug" or "squash bug." (Entomologists call these particular invaders "brown marmorated stink bugs.") I think technically it may be a "shield bug," which is actually a "true bug." (Beetles aren't really "bugs." Only certain kinds of bugs are technically "bugs." Beetles are coleoptera and "bugs" are hemiptera.)
Anyway, about once or twice a month, we find one of these little critters crawling up a curtain or buzzing about a light. They are easy to catch and very harmless (unless you are a plant) so we just pick them up and put them outside. We've found them in the house all the way through the winter months, so we know they are not just crawling in through a crack somewhere. They must have wintered over in the house. But we can't discover where they are hiding out. We've looked everywhere that seems likely for a bug to hide out. But they just appear seemingly out of nowhere.
My son read a research article online that gave us some info on these bugs, It seems these bugs are new arrivals from Asia. They appeared in North America only about a decade ago and probably have spread from the east coast. They have crept their way west and now, as I can witness, are colonizing central Pennsylvania. They eat most plants, including those found in gardens and commercial farms. Entomologists at various universities are studying them to find out if there is a safe way to get rid of them but as of yet have not come up with anything.
We didn't take the "stink" part of the name too seriously until on evening my daughter called me into her room to try to track down a strange smell. It didn't fit into any of our usual categories of smells. We knew it was not a dead mouse or stinking cat litter or spilled paint. Hours later my daughter suddenly remembered that she had found one of those bugs, crushed it with a tissue, and put it into her trash can.
My son also read in that article a scary story about a house that was infested with hundreds of these bugs, and as fast as the owners killed them, they were replaced by new ones. The sorcerer's little apprentices. (They did finally reduce the population down to a manageable level somehow.)
Well, at least I'm not phobic about bugs, and the good news is that they don't bite or sting.
Monday, April 2, 2012
OBJECT #6: T2 virus
If you've never read about bacteriophages, I doubt you would ever be able to guess what this thing is. This is a paper model of a virus. When you think of viruses, usually what comes to mind is sneezing and coughing. It's easy to forget that viruses don't just affect humans. There are many types viruses, each one specialized to attack one particular part of one particular type of living cell. The first virus ever discovered was in plants. There are also viruses that attack bacteria. These types of viruses are called bacteriophages ("phage" means "eat" in Greek). This type of bacteriophages is known as the T2. There are also T4s and T6s. The T2 is my favorite "phage" and is the one most common one drawn by artists who are illustrating articles on these things. The reason for this is pretty obvious-- they look bizarre. Usually people say they look like a lunar landing module.
This model is just made from paper (heavy card stock paper) and a few chenille stems. (It's one of my free downloads, so you can make one, too!) I sprayed the top lightly with silver spray paint to try to make it look less like paper. In a real T2, the top part is made of protein and has a piece of DNA inside it. The legs are not called legs, but rather "tail fibers." The ends of these fibers are what grabs onto the outside of the bacteria cell. After it latches on, the neck sort of retracts, pulling the head down and propelling the DNA into the cell. Once in the cell, the DNA takes over the cell machinery and turns the poor bacteria into a T2-producing factory. When the bacteria gets full of T2s, it bursts open and all those new T2s go out looking for more bacteria cells to infect.
Sounds gruesome (and even more so when you think that the same process happens to our cells when we catch a virus) but we could use these phages to our advantage to fight unwanted bacteria in our bodies. The phage cannot possibly attack your cells. The tail fibers will only stick to certain bacteria. They won't stick to your cells. So... why are we not using these things to fight infections? Some countries are-- such as Georgia (the country in Asia, not the US state). They've got quite a research program going on these things. They've found that these viruses are able to keep up with the survival mutations of the bacteria. Antibiotic resistance is a big problem when dealing with bacteria. But the T2 can manage to counter these mutations with mutations of their own, constantly keeping their mode of attack up to date. Whenever the research hospital in Georgia finds an antibiotic resistant bacteria, all they need to do is take a microbial culture from the hospital's sewer pipes and they'll find phages that have already learned how to attack this new resistant strain. So why aren't other countries pursuing this research? My guesses are that most people would say "No" to any treatment that involved a virus, and, more importantly, I don't think you can get a patent on them, which rules them out as a cash cow for pharmaceutical companies. But it's nice to know that there is a Plan B out there, when all the drugs stop working.
A number of years ago, I made a very large T2 for a science fair I did with my homeschool group. I don't know why I do things like this. One day I just got it into my head that I needed a huge T2 virus. I can't brag that the construction was anything to "write home" about. The top was just cardboard covered with sequined fabric. The legs (oops--tail fibers) were hard to assemble because of the angles in involved. I used metal angles that I adjust to less than 90 degrees. The legs could be unscrewed for storage, and poor T2 spent many months in storage, only coming out for special events now and then. The last time I got it out I discovered that it had become very wobbly, and making the determination that rebuilding was easier that repair, I decided to retire the T2 from my collection of junk in the garage. (But I have not made a replacement yet. Space is getting tight in the garage.) I decided a better replacement was a hands-on activity about phages, where kids could assemble and disassemble T2s. I made dozens of little cardboard heads, plastic DNAs, wooden necks and chenille stem legs. When the kids finish assembling the T2s, they go around to the other side and take them apart. Kids think taking them apart is just as fun as putting them together, because there are little slots to stick all the parts into. Kids love sticking things into holes and slots. This exhibit is part of my traveling summer science museum.
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
I watched The Grammys yesterday. They are wearing special dresses, so I was looking for some dresses and makeup looks. On tv I saw some nice dresses so I went to www.grammy.com and searched some photos.
zondag, februari 17, 2013
zondag, februari 10, 2013
Nail Art - Music Bar
Abonneren op: Posts (Atom)


text:
tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41172757841506150132018-05-27T18:14:47.713-07:00Kenyatta's Brown Sugar Babies TalkRaising a son, working full time - do I really have time to Paint? To Play With Paper? To Sew? To Play Handy Gal around the house? YOU-BET-I DO!! ... who else is gonna do it? *grins* Like most Moms, I am Queen of Everything....welcome to my world!Kay Teehttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-81578366101332855292014-09-28T09:07:00.000-07:002014-09-28T09:07:42.668-07:00Celebrating 50Today is my 50th birthday. WOW...just typing that seems surreal. I had so many plans on how I would celebrate...grandiose plans...grand plans...wonderful plans. I was going to throw myself a huge 50th birthday bash, inviting all my close girlfriends to the beach for a weekend. I was going to go away to the islands for a nice long weekend...all by myself.

But here I am ... in the midst of packing...house in total disarray...my eyes on the move out date of October 31st. Today is being spent taking a break from packing and letting my 16 yr old son in the drivers seat for once...giving him the keys and will enjoy the surprises he has in store for me.

I realized this morning, that is what it is all about ... just letting things happen naturally. Yes, I'd have loved to have spent all that money with my grandiose plans ... but I will be 50 all damn year...and the practical side of me won out. Today is my day ... today is a day that I never even dreaded - I was only curious about. Would I feel different? Would I look "old"? Would I be alone? The answers are no and yes.

No, I don't "feel old" .... and while I am alone in the relationship sense, I don't "feel alone". Yes, I feel different...I feel excited for what is coming this year. This year is going to be nothing but changes - big changes...I am moving, I am launching a fantastic new website, I am creating some great things to share...and it's all just exciting for me.

I have never failed at something, not to have the outcome be anything but better. This has been a tough year emotionally and financially, but it has propelled me to hold on and dig deeper... and though the words seem trite, the spirit really does carry you - it may bruise you - but you get through it...I got through it.

 Happy Birthday to me .... I'm ready for my New Year...and looking at myself in the mirror- I say, bring it on if this is what being 50 looks like - and feels like.

Kay Teehttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-88138843108977264032014-08-24T09:36:00.004-07:002014-08-24T09:36:56.979-07:00Coming Soon - Hand Painted EventsOut with the old ... in with the new. With KenyattasKreations.com no longer my domain name - I'm forging ahead ... and in the coming months I will be relaunching - under my new site - Hand Painted Events, under the Kenyatta Thomas Designs umbrella.
 My art, my style ... has evolved since KenyattasKreations.com was created 13.5 years ago ... so my new site will reflect my art as it is today - and I'm excited to share it with you. Below is just a sample of what's been on my painting table:

Kay Teehttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-86524552747212616972014-08-24T09:11:00.000-07:002014-08-24T09:11:32.352-07:00Coming Out Of HibernationSeems I've been in a fog since my step father passed away in June after a swift decline in his health due to kidney problems. During that time, my domain name host was bought by another company - and did not send out alert emails ... and long story short - Kenyatta's Kreations, my presence online for the past 13 years - was bought. The sellers offered to sell it back to me for almost 1400.00. Real tears were shed - I felt like I'd been robbed. What to do? I'm starting again. I am starting from scratch - new style, new website... and new domain name.... and this time, I will not rely on reminders from the host site - I will check on the status of my name every month...but most importantly, I will keep moving forward.

Kay Teehttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-17905922721639601572014-03-18T05:12:00.001-07:002014-03-18T05:12:52.002-07:00Bloom Girl Stamps by PrimaWhen I saw Prima's new line of stamps, Bloom Girls - I knew that there were two I HAD to have - Joy and Hope. There are so few stamps and paper lines out there for crafters of color ... so when I watched Jamie Doughtery's USTREAM class, and saw her debut her line of stamps ... I was thrilled! This weekend I finally had a chance to try out my new stamps, on the pages of an album I am working on - for a round robin swap over on Your Paper Pantry.

Prima Bloom Girl Stamps - Joy and Hope- Layouts Still in Progress

Kay Teehttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-80074411749629587972014-03-09T09:47:00.001-07:002014-03-09T09:47:36.462-07:00Recycled Mini Lap BookI finally finished this mini lap book, which I made from cardboard packaging and scrap papers. I hope next time it doesn't take me so long to finish! Kay Teehttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-21169137094112880002014-03-09T09:46:00.000-07:002014-03-09T09:46:05.379-07:00YPP 2014 Mini Album Round RobinMy favorite of all swaps to do, are the round robin mini album swaps over on Your Paper Pantry. They changed their method a while ago to swapping only pages, so I stopped - but then they started up - sharing the entire albums...so I'm back in the swing. Here's my album that I created - and shipped off ... I can't wait to see it in the fall! Kay Teehttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-33558067800882257112014-02-08T20:33:00.001-08:002014-02-08T20:57:10.174-08:00Soul Food 2014 - What A Journey So Far - Lesson 1Sometimes, the best way for me to shake off the doldrums creatively, is to step far outside my comfort zone and embrace other forms of art.
 Mystele's Soul Food 2014 art course is just the ticket. Though I've been sidelined with severe bronchitis, I've been able to play catch up and enjoy the ride with Mystele, Heather, Jeanette and their merry band of sous chefs on this artful journey.
 Lesson 1 with Mystele
This lesson called for a gelli plate - which I do not have, nor do I have the money to purchase one ... but I do have an old acrylic mousepad that is almost the exact consistency of the popular gelli plate:

Wasn't sure how I'd like it, but I was able to complete my first lesson ... a little rusty, not as good as Mysteles - but it was fun!

 Kay Teehttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-57251520763547795142013-12-31T19:03:00.002-08:002013-12-31T19:08:50.829-08:00Bringing In The New Year with My Marion Smith Day Planner for 2014 Hello All! So much trouble with Blogspot these past months - I am happy to be back online and able to post! I am so happy to have finally gotten a chance to make something fun - yet useful for myself, taking me into 2014 ...here is Part One and Part Two of my Marion Smith Day Planner. Enjoy the videos - and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!  Kay Teehttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-33972186857738542102013-07-20T08:12:00.001-07:002013-07-20T08:12:09.771-07:00When I Am in A Creative Slump ... I Do Something Else CreativeI have been in a creative slump for a couple of months now ... not even wanting to sketch. It happens - and people always ask me what do I do when I hit a wall ... and for me - I do something else creative. Crocheting, Knitting...and these days - just simple scrapping. Nothing fancy - no mixed media masterpieces ... just simple scrapping.
To boost myself along, I decided not to scrap alone either! LOL

Tiare Smith, the creator of Scraps of Color was introducing a club - the Creative Circle - ..and the most attractive part to me since funds are so tight - was the payment plan option - so I hopped on it.

Here is what I have done so far this week...and I feel the creative juices beginning to flow again.

Kay Teehttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-89124043091866003792013-06-19T04:56:00.000-07:002013-06-19T04:57:13.366-07:00Quick and Easy ...and Cheap - Recycled Packing BoxesHello Everyone! School is finally out here in Northern Virginia, the weather is breaking .... and I am in a cleaning mood. For me, it's not just the clutter I see ...it's the fact I have nothing to put things in - and my space and funds are limited.

Previously, I'd begun to purchase the Rubbermaid tubs and plastic drawers when they were on sale ... but even a good sturdy set of plastic drawers - is still between 15-25.00 ... and I don't know about you - but that van still put a dent in my pocket, considering I need a lot of storage options!
 Soooo ... the other week I was inspired to try something with some Amazon boxes I was getting ready to cut down and put away (I can't seem to throw away a good cardboard box!). I'd been in Target, and saw some funky shelf liners ... and I figured - why not? The worst that could happen was I make a mess of it ... and I'd throw it in the bottom of a closet somewhere. Though what I REALLY wanted, was some inexpensive - but nice looking storage boxes that I could keep out, hide my clutter in plain sight, so to speak.

Gather Your Supplies:

Grip Prints by Contact - 5.24 per roll

Scotch White Glue - 4.79

Scissors

Get a Sturdy Box:

It only took 20 minutes, and not a lot of cutting to glue the shelf liner to the box...and VOILA!!

Now, I'm keeping my boxes simple ... . because I am going to stack them on bookshelves, on top of each other in corners, etc ... so I want them to all look uniform - and remain stackable....but you see where I'm going? I'm not spending a lot of money ... I'm using what I already have - and the shelf liner is a lot sturdier - at least to me - than the regular contact paper. Also - it's not so fancy that I am afraid to "mess it up" ... but in the end... it is for storage.

Hope this helps someone out there ... because if you have ever looked at the nice storage options - they still are a little pricey ... and life is too short to spend all your money ...for anything!!!...Enjoy the rest of your week.
Kay Teehttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-4540670764723336582013-06-09T07:02:00.001-07:002013-06-09T07:02:50.657-07:00Twenty Minute Scrappy BoxSeems as if I am always running late ... and this weekend was no exception. I had a baby shower to attend - and realized that I'd forgotten to buy a gift bag.

Soooo...down to my creative space I went, to pull something together - Quick, Fast and In-A-Hurry.

Good thing? I always have basecoated paper mache boxes on hand. I started with a base coated paper mache box:
Looked through my scraps to see what I had ... and pulled out an old pack from the defunct ScrapGoods Kit club:

Using my Fiskar cutter, I cut plain 12x12 pieces cardstock to size and glued them to the sides of the box, using Scotch glue:
After all 4 sides of the box were covered, I took smaller squares of patterned paper and glued right on top of the larger squares.

 Once the sides were done, I took washi tape and adhered to the cover:
Then, using the same technique as the box - I completed the top of the box:

I put the goodies inside, closed with ribbon - and I was done!
Kay Teehttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-45760945710478117642013-05-27T07:22:00.003-07:002013-05-27T07:22:36.603-07:00No More Swaps For MeI recently participated in a swap, creating something a little more labor intensive than I normally do .. a fabric journal. It was fun, intimidating...but in the end - I was so proud of myself for having created something so totally different.

Well .. I filmed it for posterity ... put some nice little goodies in there...and mailed it off.

I waited in anticipation for what my partner would come up with.

 Now, I knew she would be a little late, as we had exchanged some very pleasant emails ... both of us were running a bit behind - busy schedules ... but all was well...we'd be mailing our packages out a week after the posted due date.

Nothing. I sent an "Hey Hiya Doin'" email...nothing. Finally, I had to let the swap coordinator know .. I mean, maybe something happened to her? Nothing. I looked on the site to see if she was posting somewhere...Nothing.

 Surprisingly .. I wasn't even angry. But what surprised me...I was incredibly sad...and disappointed....and done. I think I have just reached the point of no return with these swaps. I KNOW people have things come up in their lives.. goodness knows, I do. But it's just the inconsiderate aspect of it all.

 This isn't the first time I have been burned .. but it is the last time I will be burned. My advice to those who do this ... if you have no intention on following through - don't swap. If life is a little too hectic and you are not sure that you will be able to fulfill your end of the swap - don't swap.

 So ... this is it for me. I will continue to craft, scrap, sew, paint ... and as much as I love receiving goodies and such from my fellow creative sisters ... I don't enjoy putting my heart and soul into projects...swaps ... to be left wondering...What Happened?

Kay Teehttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-65604622445945805062013-05-13T16:41:00.002-07:002013-05-13T16:41:34.600-07:00From Broken Lamp ... to Camera Stand_Crafting On A Budget
Happy May Everyone!!

Just a quick hello - wanted to share something that I made over the weekend. I have wanted something to hold my camera, other than my traditional tripod - on my painting table ... and I stumbled on something this weekend. I made a camera stand, with a movable arm, out of a broken lamp that I was going to throw in the garbage.

Kay Teehttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-66751232227451356602013-05-04T10:58:00.000-07:002013-05-04T10:59:27.803-07:00It Is National Scrapbooking Day!!It's the weekend - and National Scrapbooking Day!!! I hope everyone is having a creative day!! Kay Teehttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-75432852473036002362013-04-30T04:57:00.002-07:002013-04-30T04:57:31.896-07:00My First Fabric JournalI joined a swap at Your Paper Pantry ... they were doing a fabric journal swap. I've never done one - but decided to give it a shot. Here is my version of a Fabric Junk Journal: Kay Teehttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-90065311663709570922013-03-29T11:50:00.001-07:002013-03-29T11:51:46.872-07:00Quick and Easy ...and CHEAP Desk Set for the OfficeI hate spending money for anything at the office - especially in an open cube environment. I have seen the strangest things "walk away" from people's cubes...mugs...bottles of lotion...etc And while I hate a barren cube - I also am NOT going to spend any real money trying to spiffy it up either.
 So ... rifling through papers that I've never used ... I took 4 empty sugar containers out the recycling bin at work (only one is shown in the pic) ... and I had an empty Boca Java shipping box at home...and I turned this:

 Into this:

EASY PEASY! :)<p? I will be making another set this weekend...and will be sure to post step by steps ...though, I think it's easy enough to do - and most people don't need any help from me! :)
 Have a Great Weekend ... and Happy Easter.Kay Teehttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-50176605742169866392013-03-12T16:32:00.001-07:002013-03-12T16:34:09.851-07:00Hello Spring Mini Album by Kay TeeI had a lot of fun making this mini album. I really took my time, going through all of my scraps, and devoting time to each page - trying to pack them all with a Springtime Punch!
 This mini album is the second one I've done for 2013, after taking a long hiatus from creating.
 What I love most about this album, is I managed a lot better with incorporating painting touches throughout the mini album. I left a lot of room for journaling and photos ... so it's a nice mini album to present pics, thoughts, etc. Kay Teehttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-57084082711370562022013-02-16T15:54:00.002-08:002013-02-16T15:55:42.084-08:00A New Medium ... WatercolorI have different journals for different things. I have a hug 11x9 journal devoted to face portraits ... I have another 11x9 devoted to mixed media ...then I have a 4x6 and 5x7 in my purse ...those I doodle in at work and on the go, mixing in daily to do lists, thoughts, etc.
 By my bed, I have more journals ... one for sketching, one for watercolor ... one a mix of watercolor and mini scrappin.
 I like to think I'm not the only one out there who has all these journals going at once ... LOL
  Well ... this year ... I am determined to play with watercolor. Not my favorite medium by any means ... but I don't like that have have these beautiful looking paints - and they are just sitting there!LOL
 So ... if you have a collection of anything sitting around ... break it open. Use it! Learn it! ... and enjoy it.
 Have a great weekend.
 ஜ۩۞۩ஜ►Kay~Tee◄ஜ۩۞۩ஜKay Teehttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-4900008889743934322013-02-15T06:10:00.000-08:002013-02-15T06:10:41.454-08:00If I Were A Man .... Good Morning! I have been doodling, doodling, doodling. I refuse to call it zentangling, art journaling ... I'm just a doodler. Seems as though, when I formally set up sketchbooks, with the intention of "art journaling" - I draw a big ol' BLANK.
 Sooooo ... I doodle.
 I started a new job recently ... and had 2 interesting conversations with "one who is in charge" ... and it seems one of my new co-workers is "perturbed" that I do not "chit chat".
 huh?
 Was I SERIOUSLY being chastised for not participating in idle chit chat aka GOSSIP.
  After the second "encouraging talk" ... of course ... I'm infuriated - and any inkling of wanting to talk has flown out the window. I am polite ... if they need me I respond ... but otherwise - I stay to myself.
 So ... as I'm doodling and talking on the phone ... I see the words forming on the page.
 "This wouldn't even be an issue if I were a man."
 When is the last time anyone had a hissy fit, because a MAN didn't stop by their cube and say hello? Why is it that women are so ... so... insecure? catty? I don't get it.
 I just want to come to work ... do my job ... and LEAVE.
 If I were a man ... it wouldn't be an issue.
 That is my story - and I'm sticking to it.:)
 Have a great Weekend!
Kay Teehttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-60892963272835660172013-01-28T07:36:00.000-08:002013-01-28T07:40:16.473-08:00You Tube Videos - Do You Fast Forward?

 Recently, I posted a video to an art group ... just a short clip showing how I paint skin tones ... and was advised that after 10 minutes, videos get boring. The advice to me was to utilize the fast forward option. I have to admit - I initially was insulted, taking the advice as a criticism, that I was boring!! ROFL But then ... I went back and thought about it ... and wondered if this were true? Now, I did go and delete the video from the group ... as I am still in the learning process myself ... and since bandwidth is also an issue for the site - I felt it was best to remove the 17 min clip. I thought about my favorite videos on You Tube ... the ones I watched more than once - and almost all of them do NOT fast-forward. As an artist, I do like to watch in real time...to hear the artist speak as they are going through their creative process. Videos that have a lot of fast forwarding - at least for me - do not keep my interest .. as I can't really follow along at a pace that is comfortable for me to learn. I then realized, I film videos the way I like to watch videos...in real time. What about you guys? Do you fast forward your videos? Do you prefer to watch videos that rely more on speed up and less on real time? Would be interested in hearing the pros and cons from others. Kay Teehttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-63770576407194699402013-01-24T03:00:00.000-08:002013-01-24T03:00:20.179-08:00Painting with Stamps_Journal in Progress_ Part 3Kay Teehttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-45630010533524011332013-01-20T03:00:00.000-08:002013-01-20T03:00:03.460-08:00Painting With Stamps_The Journal Cover_Painting Faces Part 2Hello there! I get many emails and messages regarding painting African American skin tones .. so I thought I'd give a a close up view of how I build up colors to achieve one of the darker skin tone shades that I use.
 Hope you enjoy - and thanks for watching!
 Kay Teehttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-56416527966415241832013-01-18T03:00:00.000-08:002013-01-18T03:00:13.619-08:00Sketch of the DayIn a sketch book that I've dedicated to 15 min sketches ... here is one I finished today of my Great Great Grandmother ... it's titled "The Elder McLeod". It's based off of a picture she took when she was approx 86 yrs old.
 Trying to stick to my 2013 to Persevere and Just Wing It!

 Kay Teehttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-45635004341868316242013-01-14T12:22:00.002-08:002013-01-14T12:24:00.324-08:00Playing With Stamps_The Journal Cover Part OneI haven't been feeling well, so I didn't really feel like talking as I started on the cover to this journal. This is just an impromptu vid of how I am using my hand carved stamps to decorate an old journal cover
: Kay Teehttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4117275784150615013.post-56405640079956527072013-01-14T04:00:00.000-08:002013-01-14T04:14:15.304-08:00Ten Minute SketchIn the painting world, there are funny little expressions to describe us artists and our funny little quirks.
 One expression that comes to mind, and hilariously defines many of us...are those that are called "panty folders". Panty folders are the artists that follow the rules. The right brand of paint ... the correct brush ... line drawings are a must ... no rule breakers there.
 I don't know if I'm as rigid in my creating - as I try to wing it as much as possible ... but I do find myself falling into the trap of "looking for rules" ... How to start...how to do it... how to...how to ... when I think I lose the point of JUST CREATING.

 So, I'm back to doing 10 minute sketches ever couple of days. No thought ... no plan...I just get-to-sketching as much as I can in 10 minutes. I'm happy to say I pleasantly surprise myself as to how much I sketch in 10 minutes ... trying not to put too much though into it either.
 Here's to "Just Winging It" in 2013. Kay Teehttps://firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Of course you can post my information...
Hi Manisha,
it was great to chat with you yesterday and I love my lip chap! It gives me an idea for my own business promotions...
I have sent you my glitter tattoo price list and my encaustic price list is what I am charging in my own home doing classes...
For 3 hours with no wax kit of their own is $45
If they have their own kit, it's $20
If they want a kit with the class, it's $100 (a kit usually is $70)
I am happy to not charge for demonstrating on Oct 3 as I still will be promoting my classes so no worries there for you!
If your wondering what a "kit" is, that is where you get your iron, a set of waxes, paper, how to booklet and a scriber (scraps wax).
Check out both my links at the bottom for a better idea of what I do!
Chat with you soon!
Check out my Glitter tattoos and book yourself a party!
See what you can do with melted wax!
• visual arts: public art, film and video, photography, multimedia and other visual arts; • performing arts: performance, music, dance, theatre; or • literary arts: writing, storytelling, poetry • combos: Puppet making, filmstrip storyboard and puppet shows Ocotber 2 Sunday Arts Day 1-1:30 pm: Set-up 1:30-2:30 pm: Public hands-on arts activities, watch demonstrations 3-4 pm: Artists information sharing
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Glitter Glue tattoos and melted wax art
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
News & Media
- OceanServer Technology, Inc.
- Acquisition by L3 Technologies (NYSE:LLL)
- Boston Celtics
- Develpment of new practice facility, Boston, MA
- Sheehan Health Care Group
- Sale of 5 nursing homes and 2 hospice companies
A Brave New World: Alimony Reform
October 12, 2011
On September 27, 2011, the Massachusetts governor signed into law an alimony reform bill that dramatically alters the permissible forms of alimony, the way alimony is calculated, and the duration of alimony awards in Massachusetts. Prior to the new law, where alimony was warranted following a trial, a Probate Court Judge had no discretion regarding the duration of the award – alimony would be awarded "for life," (i.e., "until the death of the payor or payee, or marriage of the payee.") Following the recent change in the law, the duration of alimony is subject to a calculation which is entirely dependent upon the length of marriage. The new law also establishes special new categories of divorce alimony that limit payments according to factors like length of marriage and the earning capacity of each partner. For instance, in marriages lasting no longer than five years, a periodic or one-time payment of "reimbursement alimony" may be paid to compensate an ex-spouse for economic or non-economic contributions, including enabling the payor to complete an education or job training. After a marriage of no more than five years, a court may also order a periodic (but for no longer than three years from the date of divorce) or one-time payment of "transitional alimony" to help equalize the payor and payee's living standards after divorce. An award of "rehabilitative alimony" would generally be limited to not more than five years for ex-spouses who are expected to reach economic independence by a predicted time. The purpose of this form of alimony or spousal support is to encourage the supported spouse to enter into or return to the workplace. On the other hand, for marriages exceeding twenty years, alimony payments would be indefinite and modifiable based on changed circumstances occurring in the future.
"General term" alimony is the rough equivalent of the type of alimony awarded prior to the new law and is the periodic payment of support to a recipient spouse who is economically dependent. While the award of general term alimony is, under the new law, still based on need of the payee and ability to pay of the payor, there are now very specific durational limits based on the length of marriage. For instance, for a marriage of five years or less, general term alimony shall be no greater than one-half the number of months of the marriage. These short term marriages provide the best contrast between the past and the present state of alimony law in Massachusetts: prior to the new law, in a marriage lasting four years, the Court would have no discretion but to order lifetime alimony if any award of alimony was warranted. Under the new law, the alimony award would terminate no later than two years after the date of divorce following a four year marriage.
The new law provides further considerations which favor the payor. Prior to the passage of alimony reform, there was no presumption that alimony being paid to a former spouse who moves in with a boyfriend or girlfriend should terminate upon cohabitation. Under the current construct, general term alimony shall be suspended, reduced or terminated upon the cohabitation of the payee when the payor shows that the former spouse has maintained a common household with another person for at least three months.
Further changes benefiting the payor include the new law's presumption that general term alimony will terminate upon the payor's attaining full-retirement age (generally understood to mean age 68) and that, for all types of alimony except reimbursement alimony, the amount of alimony should generally not exceed the payee's need or 30-35% of the difference between the parties' gross incomes at the time the alimony order is issued.
While the new alimony law does not provide immediate relief for individuals responsible for paying alimony awards (made prior to the September 27 enactment of the new law) that exceed the new durational limits, it does permit modification of certain prior alimony awards after the passage of a waiting period. As with the duration of the award, the waiting period is also calculated by reference to the length of the marriage. For instance, for marriages of five years or less, an alimony payor may file a modification action on or after March 1, 2013. Payors who were married between five and ten years have to wait until March 1, 2014, while payors married between 10 and fifteen years may file on or after March 1, 2015.
The new law does not eliminate a judge's discretion entirely. The court may deviate from duration and amount limits for general term alimony and rehabilitative alimony when necessary. Tax considerations are a factor. Advanced age, chronic illness or unusual health circumstances may also be considered. The new statute sets out eight categories that may justify deviation and a ninth catch-all category that includes "any other factor that the court deems relevant and material."
The new law does not alter the contractual obligations of parties to a surviving separation agreement, which will still be treated as an independent contract, or to a valid, enforceable prenuptial agreement.
If you have any questions about the alimony reform, please contact Jennifer A. Yelen or any other attorney in our Domestic Relations Group.
This Alert is provided for information purposes only, and does not constitute legal advice. According to Mass. SJC Rule 3:07, this material may be considered advertising. ©2011 Posternak Blankstein & Lund LLP. All rights reserved.


text:
The market is soaring today as the payroll report was better than expected, unemployment actually dropped from 10.2% to 10% (depending on which numerator and denominator you choose to use, but those are just details), and the government significantly revised previous job loss declines. In other news, the government also significantly revised the ending to Chasing Amy, the outcome of the Vietnam war (hey we won this time! WooofuckingHoooo!), and the "no alcohol in fullly nude Las Vegas strip clubs" rule. Of course there are still over 15MM people unemployed which is just slightly fewer than the entire population of Chile (and it's delicious capital city of Con Carne) and slightly more than the entire population of Cambodia. So we're not quite out of the woods yet (and Elin Nordegren isn't out of the "woods" yet either, that is until they agree on a price).
Yesterday data was released showing more jobs being lost in the service industry while today the entire labor force seems to be getting less bad. While we are happy the second derivative is moving in our favor (the rate of job loss is slowing), Money McBags has said it here before but the data is still very mixed and even though some of it shows improvement, it is all still very bad (though it's probably gone from Lindsay Lohan's hygiene bad, to just Lindsay Lohan's singing bad).
With a positive employment report out, traders have also begun to bet on interest rates going back up and not being kept down in perpetuity ala Alan Greenspan who never saw a bubble he couldn't inflate (actually, that is kind of literally true, since he never did see the bubble, and hence he inflated the fuck out of real estate values). Bernanke seems to be a generally smart dude (Money McBags is reasonably happy with Bernanke's performance so far, but then again Money McBags was reasonably happy with MBND's last quarter and look how that worked out) and hopefully will bring rates back up at the appropriate time, but given the current lack of bank liquidity and lending in an environment where funds for them are cheaper than condoms at a retirement home, now is probably too early to bet on a move up in rates sooner than the end of 2010.
But the data this morning has further fueled this market rally and it remains a bit early to tell if this is real or if we are just feeling the effects of the inventory slashing and the stimulus.
Friday, December 4, 2009
12/04/09 Midday Report: Brother can I get a job? Well actually, maybe.
Posted by Money McBags at 12:27 PM
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
I'm not really a great news follower to be honest. I always watch an hour from 5-6am Monday to Friday (1/2 hour on BBC1 before turning over to the lovely Phil Gale on ITV) and I have been known to occasionally watch the News At Ten depending on how knackered I am… but as a rule I don't really have a clue what's going on a daily basis in the world at large. Shameful, ridiculous, embarrassing. I know. Occasionally however, I do pick up on events around the world that grab my interest; sometimes horrific or amazing, sometimes fascinating or disturbing… and I'll get all curious and what not, so I'll log onto bbc.co.uk and try and find out a bit more about what's going on. And sometimes this surfing will lead me to a question. I've got one now.
From what I can see, slapped all over the media last week was the controversy surrounding the ridiculous (and apparently fit inducing) design of the London 2012 Olympic logo, the get-out-of-jail-quick card Paris Hilton flashed after serving just 3 days of her 45 day sentence for being stupid driving without a license or something, and the nonsense about one blah bird calling another blah bird a word that I was convinced people of her generation found as abhorrent and offensive as people of my generation, and my parents generation, did….
So, that aside, here is what I wanna know. What the bloody buggery bollocks was the point of holding a (can't have been cheap) G8 Summit last week in Germany, if none of the pointless leaders who attended could manage to agree to pretty much anything, or at least, anything new, without seeming to rub one another up the wrong way and open up some old scary wounds. Repeating a commitment they made back in 2005 at Gleneagles to double the aid for Africa by the end of the decade is great. Really great. But, come on, surely an e-mail could have tied that deal up. A bog standard conference call could have gone something like this: "Hey, chaps, remember two years ago we agreed to sign up to this "one world" idea, and try and help our fellow human beings over in Africa by sending them some money? Yeh? Great. Let's definitely do that shall we? Yeh? Great!" Not exactly rocket science in my book.
So actually what I really want to know is this. Did I just miss the extensive news coverage of this sham? Or at least, did I miss the same level of news coverage given over to that of a logo, a rich blonde, and two blah birds? And if it isn't that I missed it, what I also wanna know is - why oh why hasn't more been made in the media about this wasted opportunity. Why haven't the Leaders of the richest countries in the world been taken to task about their inability to lead and make decisions? What's going on? Even someone who knows nothing about politics or world economics can see something is going terribly terribly wrong here. I thought the buzz words of global warming, carbon footprint, alternative fuels and energy were supposed to be discussed and resolved by the G8 leaders. I thought this kind of thing was really really important to the future of the world. Isn't that why we all buy energy saving lightbulbs from IKEA now and switch the TV off at the mains at night instead of hitting SLEEP on the remote? Isn't that why we are buying fair trade organic food that costs the earth and tastes of mud? (Kidding). Isn't that why we recycle all our old paper and fizzy pop cans, and try to buy everything from our local stores and farmers markets not the evil supermarket conglomerates? Isn't that why we've stopped using deodorant aerosols, and we now recycle our carrier bags, and cycle to work, and turn off the tap, and buy ethical gifts at Christmas like a share in a rainforest or a donkey or something? Isn't that why we all feel guilty now when we book a flight?
So maybe I've actually got one more question…who's got the answers?