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SASHA GREY: Sasha's Grey's Anatomy
Nothing like starting at the top. Eighteen-year-old Sasha Grey had barely stuck a toe into the business when she found herself booked for Fashionistas 2 - and her first scene was with Rocco Siffredi. Mature beyond her years, and already generating a unique buzz with only a handful of movies out, the slim brunette speaks softly but loves the provocative. She discusses everything from her love of rough sex to her eclectic cultural interests, while fending off the advances of Jonni Darkko's cat before a shoot at a downtown Los Angeles loft. "I was so nervous � nervous, yet confident," she says of her initiation into the porn scene, a literal big bang that found her in a full-scale orgy for John Stagliano's cameras. "All the thoughts come back. Should I? Should I not? But I was ready. It was the only time I didn't really think about what was going on. I was getting manhandled, and it felt so good."
Sasha's movies
Listen to interview (wma)
Listen to interview (mp3)


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Applying to college is a candidate-managed process and it is the student's responsibility to ensure that materials are received at the Office of Admissions in accordance with applicable deadlines. We are unable to process incomplete applications and thus encourage students to take a proactive approach throughout: be certain to regularly check your myStatus page to confirm material receipt, and follow up with appropriate parties if materials do not appear as having been received.
Note that we do have a material receipt grace period for late-arriving required materials to accommodate last minute applications. Beyond this date, however, we are not able to process late-arriving materials as we will need to begin evaluating applications that were completed on time.
Be certain to pay careful attention to your myStatus page, and monitor your email as well. We send regular communication to incomplete applicants.
Please note that incomplete Early Action applicants whose decisions were deferred are at no disadvantage in the evaluation process.
Contact us for more information about how you can join the FIRST.

subset: commoncrawl


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5231 SW 91st Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608
Phone: 352-377-6003
Monday - Friday: 7am - 7pm
Saturday: 7am - 1pm and 6pm to 7pm
Sunday: 12pm - 6pm
Haile Plantation Animal Clinic also provides veterinary house call services to clients in Gainesville. Dr. Linda McCollough and Associates will be providing wellness care such as vaccines, heartworm tests, bloodwork and examinations in the comfort of your home. We hope to reduce stress for anxious pets, those who have anxiety associated with travel, arthritic or debilitated patients and households with multiple pets.
Our doctors and technicians will also be able to perform nail trims, blood draws, administer medications or fluids and provide hospice care for your pets. We will also be able to alleviate pain and discomfort by providing therapeutic laser treatments for patients with conditions such as back pain and wound care, using our Companion Laser. This is especially beneficial for large dogs that have trouble getting in and out of the car to receive treatments. When transition from life decisions are made, we will help make the process as calm and stress free as possible with in home euthanasia so that your pet can be at peace with you during that time.
To schedule an appointment or for more information, please call Haile Plantation Animal Clinic at 352-505-8564.


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In an interview with Giz UK today, Spotify's UK Managing Director, Chris Maples, told us that their recently-launched app platform is "coming to as many platforms as it possibly can" -- including the mobile space -- and is part of its core business going forward. Spotify's definitely app-happy.
Maples told us that the company was going to push ahead with the app platform and that it would be rolling it out to its smartphone apps going forward, though did not specify a timeframe. Whether this will fly with Apple and its App Store approval process is unclear -- Spotify "doesn't foresee any major issues" -- but it's highly likely Apple will look dimly on Spotify rolling out their own app platform within Apple's App Store.
The App Finder will also support localised apps, meaning that the apps offered in different regions will be unique to that territory. In fact, of the 16 apps coming to the platform globally -- 11 of which are live right now -- three apps are currently Nordic-only. That could mean we'll receive UK-specific apps for the UK Spotify service.
I'll be interesting to see what Spotify's app platform evolves into -- whether it'll just be another gimmick that you'll totally avoid in the Spotify desktop client, or something useful that really adds to the experience. Spotify wouldn't commit to a date for a roll-out to their supported mobile platforms, but it's early days. You can try out Spotify's App Finder yourself with the preview Spotify client right now if you're interested.


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- This event has passed.
Merge Dance Studio – Advanced Beginner-Intermediate Adult Ballet
January 8 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every week that begins at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, repeating until June 11, 2019
A classical dance form demanding grace and precision and employing formalized steps and gestures. Ballet helps develop strength, flexibility, musicality, and provides the foundation for the other forms of dance. Ballet classes consist of a ballet barre, center work, and across the floor combinations. 1-2 (or more) years of experience is required to attend this class. Registration is encouraged. For drop-in information please contact Merge Dance Studio.


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Established in 1892 by the Cassani family it is still owned by the descendants of the same family and still provides the same traditional hospitality of the XIX century.
A large number of rooms have recently been renovated with the remainder almost completed (contact us for up to date information). Some of the rooms enjoy a view of the Piazza or the lake, however, all offer the expected facilities of a 4-star hotel.
The Imbarcadero restaurant offers a good selection of regional and international dishes in a grand environment. Alternatively, during the summer months, why not dine on the lakefront terrace al fresco…
Enjoyed by the famous
The Metropole Suisse has become a favourite for generations of tourists visiting Lake Como and since the post-war period, it has played host to some of the greatest names of the day. These have included King Farouk and Princess Furstenberg, of the Danish royal family along with
FC Internazionale Milano managed by their then renowned coach Helenio Herrera.
Italian celebrities from the world of entertainment have also chosen to stay at the Hotel including the famous film Actors Renato Rascel, Aldo Fabrizi, Peppino de Filippo, Diego Abatantuono, Silvio Orlando along with the world renowned Ballerina Carla Fracci… an impressive list!
Click on images to enlarge:


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1 Underrated Oil Stock With Huge Growth Potential
Refiners in the U.S. are struggling to make profits because of high input costs that can't be passed on to end consumers. They'll never go out of business en masse, simply because you can't fill your gas tank with crude oil. They can do a lot of trimming and cost-cutting, but in the long run, the smarter players that have solid business models and are fortunate enough to obtain cheaper crude oil will turn out to be the best oil companies to invest in.
Dallas-based HollyFrontier (NYS: HFC) may be one of those companies. Its latest quarterly earnings seem to put it a cut above the rest and could be indicative of exciting prospects that the market has yet to factor in.
This is what I call increasing value
Following Holly's merger with Frontier last July, overall efficiency improved significantly in terms of refinery utilization, which now stands at 92%. That's a remarkable jump of 13 percentage points from last year's first quarter, and that's why I believe the company is capable of increasing shareholder value.
For the first quarter this year, total revenue came in at $4.9 billion, with a gross margin of 10.2%. Fellow refiners just weren't that efficient; with Marathon Petroleum (NYS: MPC) at 8%, Western Refining (NYS: WNR) at -0.6%, and Valero Energy (NYS: VLO) at 2.6%. At efficient HollyFrontier, net income came in at $247 million, or $1.16 per diluted share, a 48% improvement over the $0.79 per share a year ago, before the merger.
The best-performing HollyFrontier refineries were the mid-continental El Dorado and Tulsa locations, which had a combined utilization of almost 99%, up from 84% last year. Their proximity to the West Texas Intermediate, or WTI, crude oil hub of Cushing, Okla., has played a crucial part in reducing input costs. Refinery expenses fell 20% to $4.81 per barrel. At the same time, net operating margin shot up 47% to $13 per barrel. These two refineries account for more than 60% of HollyFrontier's total crude processing volumes.
Strategic advantages
The best thing about HollyFrontier's refineries is that all of them are located close to crude oil producing areas, thus cutting down on transportation costs. They also source WTI blend crude oil, which is cheaper. Despite a lower spread between the Brent variety and WTI in the past few months, management is confident that North American crude oil production will continue to grow, an outlook that I believe is very much in line with general industry predictions. By 2016, crude oil production is estimated to go up 56% from 2011 levels. In short, HollyFrontier's long term prospects seem to be among the best in the refining and marketing space.
In terms of returning value to shareholders, HollyFrontier has done a decent job so far. Since the turn of the year, it has returned $219 million through dividends and share repurchase programs.
Foolish bottom line
As the market has been bashing the refining industry, HollyFrontier is down close to 10% over the past six months. The stock seems to be undervalued at this point, so investors should keep an eye on it. Add the company to your free personalized Watchlist.
If you're looking for more investing ideas while oil prices are high, check out the report from our analysts titled "3 Stocks for $100 Oil," where you'll find three large companies set to pop as oil prices increase. Better yet, it's absolutely free.
At the time this article was published Fool contributor Isac Simon owns no shares of any of the companies mentioned in this article. The Motley Fool owns shares of Western Refining and has adisclosure policy. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe thatconsidering a diverse range of insightsmakes us better investors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter servicesfree for 30 days.
Copyright © 1995 - 2012 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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STRESS. My mom always tells me I am too stressed out. For most of my adult life, I have found that I get overwhelmed easily and sometimes feel like I'm going to explode. I also chose a career that tends to be more stressful than others. What was I thinking?
|My college graduation photo
I definitely do not remember my professors in college giving us that helpful bit of information. Accountants are constantly dealing with strict deadlines, which seem to be inconsistent. At least I am no longer working in tax. Even though the stress for that type of position only lasts for about 5 months or so, the long work hours can be unbearable, especially if you have a family or any outside interests. I have learned to deal with my work stress by exercising more, having monthly massages, and learning to relax when I feel overwhelmed.
My kids laugh at me because I buy relaxation CD's and lotions with aromatherapy that claim to relieve stress.
|relaxation CD's
|Stress relief lotion
If nothing else works, I always enjoy a glass of wine to chill out.
A few years ago, I actually took a class on Stress Management at a local community college and that was very helpful. Today, I found this article on the American Heart Association website : Four Ways to Deal with Stress. It has some good ideas I'd like to share with you.
How do you deal with stress? What works for you?


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The first time I can remember seeing a person whose skin was different than my own white variety I was probably about 4. My maternal grandfather and I were at a grocery store, and a black woman and her daughter were crossing the parking lot as we headed into shop.
"Grandpa, why does that lady have brown skin?" I asked. . . or at least I asked some semblance of that.
Grandpa replied, "Oh, honey. Those people are made of chocolate." I thought this sounded amazing and wanted to lick my own skin to see if it was vanilla.
Now, I wonder why he felt the need to say that. His own prejudice has, over the years, become quite clear to me, but even though I realize it was prejudice that drove that comment, I know he was trying to be kind, gracious even maybe. Grandpa loves chocolate.
In elementary school, we only had two people of color in the entire school – K-6 – and I can still remember the boy's name, and how his sister looked with her long, dark pig tails. They hung out with the cool kids, the ones who wore cute clothes, not hand-me-downs like me. I noticed their skin color, but mostly I noticed they were rich. In the mountains of North Carolina, money separated, not race. At least not at that age.
In high school, my family lived at the south end of a rural county in Virginia, where I live now. We rode the bus with the other kids from that place. We didn't talk to many folks, but that was because we were shy, I think. I read Stephen King novels for the 60 minute ride home. That and dozed against the window.
It wouldn't be until I started driving my brother and I to school, until we started making friends with people from the northern end of the county, that I would realize we had been the only two white kids, besides the bus driver's daughter, on the bus. It had never even come to mind for me until someone pointed it out.
In graduate school, a group of women and I went to a K.D. Lang concert. On the bus on the way there, one of the girls took out her compact to put on make-up. I asked to see it because "I had never seen black girl make-up before." The girls I was with looked horrified. I'm not sure why. Was is the lack of couth in my request? Was it shock that I hadn't ever seen make-up colored for skin darker than mine? Was it a prejudice they could see but that, even now, I'm blind to?
After finishing my MFA, I stood in the hall of The King Papers Project and stared at a picture I had walked past a hundred times on my job there, an image I had seen in books of the Civil Rights movement, a photo that flashed on screens during documentaries about the 1960s. I stood there and stared.
Three teenagers were pressed against the outside wall of a store, the force of a wide-open water hose was blasting them against the wall.
I had never seen this image before.
Tonight, I finished reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett, a book I had hesitated to read because I didn't know if I liked the idea of a white woman writing those voices. What right did she have to do that? Oh the righteousness that held me back. The book devoured me.
I read these words in Stockett's essay at the end, "I am so embarrassed to admit that now." I had to put the book down.
I am working on a book about people who were enslaved in the United States, a book that I hope will show these people as people, not just as symbols or archetypes of something. I genuinely hope that this book will show Lucy and Primus and Berthier and Jesse and Betty as humans, three-dimensional, complex humans who have stories that we all need to hear. I want this book to mean something for them.
But I want this book to also mean something for me, if I'm honest enough to admit it. For all the prejudice and racism I know I have and for all that I don't yet know is there. For all the ways I have been taught to see people as different and for all the ways I have accepted that teaching. For all the limitations I have put on others because of their skin color and for all those I put on myself for the same reasons. I want this book to redeem me. I want it to change me.
I may be hoping for too much.


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Do you dislike your Belly Fat?
I judge we all do! This is the era of sounding good, inkling good and having fun... and abdomen fat retributive doesn't fit that reflection.
And have you noticed how everywhere you roll there's quite a few well-being nut recitation you it can't be through with without the sit-ups and crunches and all that separate torture?Post ads:
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Sure you'll get super abs that way, if you manual labour knotty adequate at it. But you hand over up partially your vivacity and if they're inactive invisible below all that stomach fatty tissue you've pretty by a long chalk stricken out. In my autograph album it's superior to facial expression slender next to fair medium abs than have all that margarine on my abdomen.
Let's clutch a facial expression at how the body works and how we can use that information to back us be on fire off that fat.
The job of hypoglycemic agent in the unit is to act as a key that opens up the muscles and slender-waisted tissues to accept glucose from the humor.Post ads:
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One fascinating fact is that well-ordered medium-cardio pe will aggravate the muscles to activate property your hypoglycemic agent do its practise again, so the bodily fluid sweetening starts to go into the muscles as an alternative of on your abdomen.
So this could be step one... deduce give or take a few step by step structure up to walking 20 to 30 minutes, 3 to 5 days a time period. But purely reflect on astir how you would knob this for now-you can bring the drastic footfall of in actual fact doing it in a spell.
When you don't training or you eat too markedly for a protracted time, one of the areas which intrinsically shows this load more than others is the stomach. This is because when the muscles get hormone unsusceptible the fat is initial deposited in circles the body part expanse.
But it takes an massive magnitude of athletics to bear off weight... way more than most chubby folks can get their mind nigh on.
Modern solid initiative is that flabbiness is first and foremost caused by hormone insensitivity in the muscles, brought on by a steadied fare of glorious glycemic foods as pass in the North American instantaneous substance fare. These foods spike your body fluid refined sugar continually which causes considerable shots of internal secretion again and once more until the muscles simply change state acclimatized to that some hypoglycaemic agent and standstill winning up the humor sweetener. So it goes onto the stomach as fat.
So the stratagem is to correct your drinking habits, do whichever probable elbow grease and filch provisions supplements so you get the minerals the physical structure requests to aid reverse your endocrine unfriendliness.
Cutting out carbs for 5 days in a system that doesn't fabricate hunger and past step by step re-introducing complex, low GI carbs is a create that has helped thousands to get better from degenerative corpulent.


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Compact FT-897 & FT-897D Mini-Manual. Single Mini-manual supports both FT-897 models. Size, 4.5x8 inches. Twelve high-quality laminated pages, loaded with detailed instructions. Ideal short-form guide for setting-up and operating this amazingly compact all-bands, all-mode transceiver. The guide covers both models of the radio.
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The first thing you are going to need to do is find power- almost all of these tasks will involve using up valuable power on your ipad, laptop or phone so don't get caught out and have to use a payphone! Imagine?! If you don't have a charger for any of your items, get hold of a pen and paper, it's not as bad as you think!
Secondly- you will want to be updated on your flight regularly and hopefully not be too distracted. Get your info first and work out how long you will have. If it is indefinite, it is worthwhile downloading an app to keep you updated. Your airline may have this or the airport itself so do some searching or ask around- get settled in and don't have that endless loop of getting up, wandering down to the screens just to see the same information. Failing this, get a seat next to a screen.
Finally, if you have the option to put on some headphones while working away, it's not a bad idea. Airports are noisy and full of people at the best of times. Even if you have the option of a lounge then it will be busier than usual. A quick tip- if you know you will be in the airport for several hours, it is worth perhaps looking at the pay-at-the-door option for some of the lounges. Free refreshments and light snacks for several hours and a nice, relaxed atmosphere is sometimes worth paying for!
Here are our ideas:
Be Creative
Be productive- save money
Be romantic
A bonus for 11, Be friendly
A good, old-fashioned idea…talk to people! Take off the headphones, shut the laptop, put away the phone. Go grab a coffee and chat. It's actually quite fun.


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That Colonel Sanders is one convincing dude. What with the pointy goatee and the jaunty bowtie and the strains of "Sweet Home Alabama" wafting through the air, how are you to resist the tasty temptation of a bucket of chicken? Sure, "family-style" is meant to be shared by an entire family, but who's to say you don't need a whole week's worth of calories in one sitting?
Ignoring the disapproving looks from the drive-thru employees and the copious amounts of grease dripping from the paper bag, you speed away, cackling and salivating. You pull up next to your favorite lake, claim your favorite picnic table, and lay out your favorite sauces and dips in a pattern that spells out your name, as is your way. You tuck a napkin into your shirt, grab a hunk of fowl carcass, and prepare to savor each and every one of those eleven secret herbs and spices.
Biting into the soft, fleshy meat, you squeal in delight as heaven fills your mouth. How did it come to be that we mere mortals were permitted to experience such bliss? Offering songs of praise to God, honey mustard, and the state of Kentucky, you revel in the culinary orgasm taking place in your food hole. What could possibly ruin this beautiful moment?
Well, so wrapped up you are in this Carnival of Scrumptiousness, you're about to lose control over your bodily functions. This will spell deeper, smellier trouble down the road, but for now it means only one thing: that tongue of yours has wandered into the wrong place at the wrong time. You chomp down on what you think is a luscious strip of delectable white meat. But, according to your pain receptors, it is clearly not.
You howl in agony, dropping the devil drumstick to the ground. Accursed foodstuff! You dance around the picnic area, frightening small children with your sobs and frenzied thrashing. There's nothing you can do about it, of course, but that doesn't stop you from screaming at inanimate objects and waving at your mouth as if it were on fire and a gentle breeze is just the thing to put it out. Spitting out blood, you slump back down onto your bench and begrudgingly resign yourself to a week of pain and lisping.
So if you want to suck at life, forget how to operate your tongue. Sure, you've possessed this key piece of anatomy since birth, but as it turns out – practice does not make perfect.


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The Minneapolis Club is a private city club, bringing together an engaged community of talented and diverse people; connecting socially and professionally through extraordinary experiences.
Our exceptional service, elegance, and stunning setting in the heart of downtown will make your wedding extraordinary.
Under the guidance of Chef Håkan Lundberg, the Club serves inspired fare, perfectly executed, with quality ingredients.
The Club has numerous event spaces, accommodating any size group from private dinner meetings to themed parties.
Our modern Health & Fitness Center offers a renovated squash court, spinning classes, water aerobics, Pilates and more.
Enjoy unique and luxurious event spaces or spend the night with us in one of our guest suites.
The Club is the ideal place for business, socializing and family events.
729 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55402
© Copyright
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Tuesday, March 15
9:00am--Easy Walk at Yorba Regional Park
9:15am--White Horse Canyon to Los Robles Trail
9:15am--White Horse Canyon Trail 6 MILE LOOP
4:00pm--after work / chino hills
4:30pm--PM Blaze: Calabasas Peak With A Twist (4:30 start!)
5:30pm--Peters Canyon Hike (Introduction to hiking/Intermediate)
6:00pm--Paseo Walk and Pizza @ Round Table
6:15pm--Night Hike Backbone Trail to Stunt
6:30pm--6 mile - Signal Hill Evening Hike
6:30pm--Griffith Park First Daylight Savings Hike to B Rock and Amir's Garden
Wednesday, March 16
5:00pm--Hump Day Hike - Lake Casitas - Shoreline Trail - 7 mrt
6 PM—Baldwin Hills Scenic overlook and dinner at Bawarchi afterward
6:00pm--Roller Coaster Ridge (4.5 mile intermediate)
7:00pm--Wednesday Night Hike!
Thursday, March 17
7:30am--3rd Annual St. Patrick's Day Hike on Boney Mountain, 12-14 miles, 4,000'+
8:30am--Devils Canyon, Chatsworth - Thursday March 17th
9:00am--Easy Walk at Yorba Regional Park
9:00am--Saint Patrick's Day Hike: Eagle Rock Loop in Topanga State Park
4:30pm--PM Blaze: Mark's New Favorite Hike (4:30 start!)
5:30pm--Full Moon: Boat Canyon/Laguna Coast Wilderness(Quick Pace Hills Hike)
5:30pm--Hummingbird Trail Sunset Car Shuttle & St. Patrick's Day Potluck
6:30pm--6 mile - Signal Hill Evening Hike
6:30pm--Beaudry Loop night hike -- wide trail, good climb, great views
7:00pm--Evening Conditioning Hike in Glendale
7:00pm--Mt. Hollywood Cardio Workout
Friday, March 18
8:30am--Santiago Oaks (Medium Pace. Adv. Beginner or Intermediate)
9:00am--Easy Walk at Yorba Regional Park
9:30am--Powder Canyon Trailhead - between 1 and 2 hour hike, Beginners Welcome
5:30pm--Mona's Echo Mountain Friday Nights - FULL MOON
7:00pm--Moonlight Hike above La Canada - k9 friendly—Earl Canyon
Saturday, March 19
5:30am--Guided Tour for Painted Rock (American Indian Rock Art Hike)—Carrizo Plain
6:00am--Massive Multi Meetup at Tri Peaks
8:00am--A rare opportunity: Hike with us to Fish Canyon Falls
8:30am--Devil's PunchBowl-Devil's Chair and Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve (Intermediate)
8:30am--Hacienda Hills Bird Hike
8:30am--Massive Multi Meetup at Tripeaks
8:30am--San Jacinto Peak via Palm Springs Aerial Tramway ("Three Saints" Series #1)
8:30 am—Bridge to Nowhere and beyond
10:00am--Massive Meetup Convergence at Tri Peaks via Mishe Mokwa
10:00am--Massive Multi Meetup to Tri-Peaks from the Mishe Mokwa Trail Head - NEW DATE
10:00am--Massive Multi-Meetup at Tri-Peaks
10:00am--Massive Multi-Meetup Tri-Peaks Social
10:00am--MMM Tri Peaks from the Sandstone Peak Trail Head / Malibu, CA
10:30am--MMM to Tri Peaks from the Sandstone Peak Trail Head - NEW DATE
12:00pm--Fat Burner Hike in the Verdugos
4:00pm—Rocky Peak--Full Moon / Sunset Pot Luck and wine (or beer) hike
5:00pm--Full SuperMoon and Picnic Dinner on Mt Hollywood!
5:00pm--fullmoon hot springs hike
5:45pm--FULL MOON HIKE / PARKER MESA OVERLOOK
7:00pm--Equinox Evening: Full Moon & Sunset Twilight Hike
Sunday, March 20
8:00am--Monrovia Canyon Park Waterfall Hike
8:00am--Monrovia Canyon Park Waterfall Hike
9:00am--Cucamonga Canyon - The Return
9:00am--Ojai Farmer's Market, Wildlife in Matilija Creek, & Libbey Park Drum Circle
4:00pm--Sunday Evening Hike!
4:30pm--Ocean View Boat Canyon(Easy Pace-Optional Yoga Outdoor)
Monday, March 21
8:30am--Santiago Oaks (Medium Pace. Adv. Beginner or Intermediate)
9:30am--Anaheim Hills Trail: 1 to 2 hour hike, beginners welcome
4:00pm--Franklin Canyon Park Scout
5:00pm--Monday evenings at Chantry Flat
6:00pm--Evening Conditioning Hike in Western Plateau, Newbury Park


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So I am a tad late on this trend. Was skeptical as to whether to purchase it, not sure why. But the more I saw bloggers wear this, the more I wanted it. Then I cave in a few weeks ago and ended up purchasing the black, blue and white skort. A bit too much? The outfit above was worn yesterday, a simple black blouse to contrast the skort and am still wearing the monochrome look in this summer heat. The outfit below was worn 2 weeks ago. More summery, teaming up a neutral lace crop with a bold, cobalt blue. I would say that this skort is my favourite. Love the bold blue shade. Oh skorts, skirt at the front, shorts at the back.
What's your opinion on the skort?


text: The archive contains all the works which are already done, sold or donated. I encourage you to look at the pictures, albums, jewelry boxes, and then to order similar items. They will never be the same as those presented however that's the charm of handicrafts. While ordering individual boxes or albums, it is possible to add special dedication, name, date, descriptions and photos. The price will be determined during the consultation.


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Unibroue – Éphémère PommePosted: July 17, 2012 Filed under: Review, Unibroue | Tags: apple, fruit, Unibroue, white Leave a comment »
STYLE: White ale brewed with apple must
I'm a big fan of Unibroue beers and this is an easy one to pick up in stores. The first time I've had it was at a restaurant where I ordered both versions of Éphémère, apple and blackcurrant, for my girlfriend and I. I had the blackcurrant and thoroughly enjoyed it. Since this is an easy enough beer to find in most grocery stores and white beers are perfect for summer drinking, I decided to pick up a case.
Éphémère Pomme is made in honor of this great fruit. Its lively effervescence, fresh and refreshing taste as well as its Granny Smith apple nose combine to offer you a unique sensory experience. It pairs extremely well with goat's milk, cheeses, pork or duck. It has known such a success that you will now be able to appreciate its taste all year long.
Golden and hazy in colour with yeast cloudiness. Large three to four finger frothy white head. It dissipates rather quickly. Expected for a white beer. Really good lacing and a lot of carbonation streaming off the bottom of the glass.
Not as much apple in the aroma as I would have expected. I get a very spicy and yeasty aroma. Ginger and nutmeg are more prevalent. The apple is more subdued, but it is definitely akin to a granny smith apple. The aroma itself is sour. Reminds me a little bit of the Jolly Rancher candies. The spices and yeast definitely play a larger role here.
Again, as expected from the aroma, there are more spices in the taste. Ginger is more noticeable than the nutmeg. The apple flavours are more subtle. A very nice mix of sweet and tart going on. The body is very thin and watery (almost a bit grainy as well) and there is a lot of small bubbles in the carbonation. Expect to burp a few times. A bit of a dry and lingering aftertaste. This is where the tart green apple flavour shines. The aftertaste will stick with you for awhile and it's a bit yeasty as well. The longer it lingers the less pleasant it becomes.
This is a decent beer but it's not a favourite. I think the spiciness from the yeast overwhelms the beer in the wrong direction, masking a lot of the interesting apple flavour. The aftertaste also lingers too long in a bad way. On top of that, for some reason, the carbonation just does not sit well with me. I'm not opposed to drinking it but I don't think I would go out of my way to have this again, especially when it's counterpart, Éphémère Blackcurrant is better in my opinion.
All that being said, I think this beer would really work in conjunction with some nice goat and stinky cheeses. But I'm not reviewing a beer coupling, just how it stands on its own.
Unibroue – RaftmanPosted: February 1, 2012 Filed under: Review, Unibroue | Tags: Unibroue Leave a comment »
Style: Peat-Smoked Whiskey Malt Ale
DISCLAIMER: This is my first time reviewing a beer and my first time critically thinking about different aromas, flavors, mouth feel, etc. That being said, I love beer. I've always loved beer. I've travelled all over western Europe and sampled beer everywhere I went, been to beer tastings in the US and have enjoyed many pints in Boston brew pubs. As a point of reference for readers, it might be helpful to know that my favorite beer is Guinness.
I picked up this beer at my local grocery store, I wanted something I haven't had before but couldn't go on an all out search for a microbrew. Unibroue is brewed in Quebec and I've liked some of their other beers so I went for it. To be honest I don't really care for Unibroue's packaging but that shouldn't and doesn't take away from the beer.
Unibroue introduced Raftman to the Québec market in March 1995. This coral-hued beer has a unique taste that combines the smooth character of smoked malt whisky with the flavors of fine yeast. With this product, Unibroue commemorates the legendary courage of the lumberjacks and log drivers of yesteryear. During their long months away from home, these hardworking men would get together and settle their differences over beer and whisky, which are both made with malted barley. Unibroue had a great idea when it decided to bring the two together!
Appearance: This is a cloudy ale that falls somewhere between amber and golden. Head is beige in colour and doesn't stick around for long, if you can get it to show up at all. I had to pour from a height to get the head I wanted.
Aroma: Decent strength in the aroma if poured with enough head. Notes of caramel, grain and a sweetness that is hard to describe (Unibroue says it's apple). Hops aren't detectable in aroma or taste. One thing I noticed or failed to notice is any hint of whiskey other than the grain smell.
Taste: A moderately strong taste, to me it tastes like any average wheat beer, especially ones I had in Bavaria. It was sweet as is typical with wheat beers but again I could not taste any whiskey flavors. The beer is over carbonated in my opinion; it gives a prickly feeling in the mouth.
Overall: This is a typical wheat beer, as much as the Unibroue website would like you to believe it tastes like whiskey, I can't see it. The small intense bubbles take some getting used to if you're used to less carbonated beers. It's one of those beers that are good enough to drink yet you find yourself disappointed somehow. Don't get me wrong, I'll drink this over the Coors Light in my fridge any day of the week, and it's a decent session beer, but it's not whiskeyish in any way.


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Monday, September 1, 2008
Question About Aspirin&Honey Mask/Scrub
I'm sorry but this time I've got me a question to ask yall and I'm hoping yall can help me out! :)
I've been reading tons of reviews on MUA regarding this Aspirin&Honey Mask/Scrub, and I would love to hear yall's story on it.
First of all, just for reference to compare on everybody, please comment and state your skin type first before answering the question: Is your skin Oily? Sensitive? Dry? Normal? Acne-prone? :)
For the real questions:
1) Did it made your skin lovely? Shrink your pores? brighten your skin's complexion? Less acne? Less blackheads?
2) Did it just ruin your skin altogether? Created more acne? Too abrasive? Made your skin "raw-feeling" and red?
3) It just didnt' do anything good OR bad. Your skin remained the same as if you never used it? Was it not abrasive enough(too gentle)?
4) what did you use? 325 mg tablets? 80mg tablets? (trying to get the lowest mg possible or highest miligrams possible?) How many did you use? 2 tablets and a few squeezes of honey? 5 tablets? I hear many different stuff so I was wondering what is the best one for a "one-time" scrub.
5) Do you believe in that "problem" in that Aspirin is a blood-thinner and using this scrub/mask on your face at a weekly or daily level is harmful to your health? Why or why not?
Thank yall so much and I hope yall can answer me quickly as I have the opportunity to go out right now to get these two products.
I've heard great things and I looked at SOOO many different face scrubs at the store, and 99% of them had sulfates! aaa! I've already used 2 of them and I like to change things up, and since this Aspirin scrub was the "purest" with the least amount of ingredients, AND the fact that it has honey associated in the scrub made me think whether to use that instead--and plus it's cheaper too! :) My face is just horrid right now and I'd love to have my clear skin back and this mask sounds like a life saver
please please do give your inputs. Thank you so much!
For reference, my skin is:
-severely Acne-prone
-able to handle lots of scrubs/friction, but at the same time is moderately sensitive
-severely allergic to Sulfates
I received no responses, but oh well.
I went ahead and bought it.
I bought Walgreens 99Cent 325mg uncoated Aspirin tablets
and at Target I bought 100% Organic Dutch Gold Pure Honey U.S. Grade A (12 oz) .....and this honey does NOT smell good x.x.....oh dear. I thought it would have smelled "sweet" but it doesn't XD Maybe it's because it's organic...? oh well. As long as it makes my face look good, I'll put up with slight stinkyness XD
I'm only going to use this as a SCRUB since I feel slightly unsafe using Aspirin on my face, or maybe it's just me being so cautious, but once I use this for a couple weeks, I'll review it for yall :)
regardless that I bought it, please do still comment below to tell your story. Not only would it help me out, but there are tons of viewers who have the same questions as I do, and it'll help all of us out a lot. Thanks! ^_^
9 comments:
- Starry x2 night said...
First-time commenter here, but I felt I had to help spread the gospel of the Aspirin mask, lol.
First off:
Skin type: oily/combo at the time of my experiment, acne-prone
Sensitivity: not as much as my roomie, but it hates benzoyl peroxide & sulfur.
I had first tried the mask the last day of finals week. Four tablets of uncoated Meijer's brand aspirin (seriously: the cheaper the better, b/c the fancy schmancy ones are all coated, with things that don't irritate your stomach but do irritate your skin. go figure) mashed with a few drops of warm water, then mixed with a few drops of extra virgin olive oil. I slathered it all over my face, then forgot all about it as I caught up with friends online (oops? haha), until it started itching. This is maybe twenty, thirty minutes later, because the mask was completely dry, so I hopped into the bathroom, rubbed the grains off (if you don't like, say, St. Ives Apricot scrub, you probably won't like this as a scrub, but to me it felt sooooo good :D ), and then washed the rest of it off. I didn't see much of a difference that night, so I shrugged and went to bed. Next morning, when my mom came to pick me up, it was like standing under the eyes of Sauron or something. See, I had been telling my mom all week how I was so stressed by finals, how I wasn't sleeping & eating right, and yadda yadda yadda. Well see, all that would be more convincing if I hadn't opened the door with my skin smooth and clear, with nary a blackhead or pore in sight, and glowing like the morning sun. Oops?
Needless to say, my mom didn't speak to me for a whole week, haha.
I tried it about a week later (I admit, I'm terrible at this skincare thing) with honey, which I didn't like as much. For one, aspirin dissolves better in acidic solutions, and adding honey turned the mixture into a goopy mess that just kept running. And two, my skin was oily at that time, so the mask was a leeeeetle more moisture than my skin was looking for. It was nice and glowy, but then I got whitehead. D:
I haven't been using it lately, because uh, I have a bad habit of picking at my acne (I know, I know), and one thing aspirin is good at is stinging like a mofo on open wounds. Yowch. But otherwise I love it, I love it, I love it!
The one thing that tick me off about reading reviews online: "Putting aspirin on your skin will kill you!"
Uh, no. For one, aspirin has a solubility of 2.7 mg/mL at room temperature. This is half of the reason why uncoated aspirin causes stomach bleeding--the undissolved grains rub against the lining of your stomach. For two, you're using what, three drops of water? Aspirin is small enough to be absorbed through the skin (about the same molecular weight as nicotine), but that's in a solution, not dry, and with the amount of water/honey/miscellaneous liquid you're using, well. For three, aspirin is toxic at 150 mg/kg. Say you're the average American woman. That would make you 63.5 kg. You'd have to swallow/inhale/absorb over 9,500 mg, or the equivalent of 29 tablets to start vomiting, feeling nauseous, hyperventilate and/or have ringing ears. And that's if your body absorbs it all, which, as I've pointed out above, it does not. We're talking an entire bottle in one sitting to be seriously ill, not a few (four was actually too much. I had a lot left over) sitting undissolved on your face.
Eek. Sorry for the rant! Just read too many reviews from people dissing on something they haven't tried or researched.
- September 1, 2008 at 3:34 PM
- Starry x2 night said...
Oops. I forgot to add: I use 325mg tablets. But I need two or three of them anyway, so I guess, just whatever amount works best for you. (And please use uncoated. Coated ones have a lot of buffers and other ingredients that work great in your stomach but are waay too harsh for your skin)
- September 1, 2008 at 3:40 PM
- IchigoBunnie said...
Starry x2 night:
Thank you SO MUCH for your input! And don't worry about your "rant". I was SO unbelievably happy that you shared a lot of info! It helps ALOT, especially when you talked about the risk, or lack thereof, of the aspirin. Makes me feel SOOO much better about using it!
again, thanks so much for your time and response. Very few people respond as detailed and caring as you so i appreciate your thoughts a lot :)
- September 1, 2008 at 3:55 PM
- ' * : . b | u 3 . : * ' said...
Skin type: Combination with dry patches on cheeks. I also get dry patches on my nose occasionally.
Basically I find it didn't help the pore size or blackheads. It seems to reduce pimples a little.
However I love it mainly because the aspirin beads exfoliate well It smooths out my skin a lot better than any commercially sold scrub (and I've tried high end and low end scrubs)
I would say it is moderately abrasive, which is why I stick to using it just once a week. I use the more gentle scrubs I have like Clarins or MAC in between.
I use two 325mg tablets, and about 3 squirts of Billybee honey (1 tbsp).
Actually I haven't heard of the blood thinning problem, but so far I haven't had any health issues as a result of using it.
Hope it works for you!
- September 1, 2008 at 6:14 PM
- Rachmawati said...
Hi there, I haven't tried aspirin mask, but I can share you some tips.
Aspirin contains salicylic acid [I think it's almost 99% :D]. Salicylic is abrasive, it peels your skin. I think in the old times there were a lot of skin care products containing salicylic acid, but now it is not allowed anymore [it's not good for your health :)].
I myself often used honey as masker. Honey contains a lot of good nutrients for skin, including antibiotic... thus it will help you reducing acne. In my case [normal skin], my skin becomes smoother and healthy [I would say it's flawless :D]. Last year I ever tried using wrong product, my skin became so so oily, thanks God that honey masker helped me much. If you want to heal certain acne, then you might need to heat honey a little bit [let's say using a spoon and you heat it on a candle, but don't make it too hot :D]. The reason is that when you apply rather hot honey, it will open your pores more, so your skin can absorb it better.
If you want to maintain elasticity of your skin, you can also use white part of chicken egg as masker [you can cook and eat the yellow part :D]. One you use it, it will tighten your skin, don't talk much when you use it [I am afraid you will get wrinkles :D], half hour using it every week is enough.
If you want to reduce pore size, you can use "sirih" leaves [I believe its scientific name is "Piper betle"]. You can boil the leaves, and use its vapor or its extract as masker. Other way, you can also use tea leaves.
To brighten your skin tone, you can use fruit as masker. The principle is that they contain vitamin C, and it's really good to brighten up your skin. Lemon and tomato can be used to help reducing acne [when you use them on acne, it feels hurt but it's fine. Lemon is really good to reduce oil of your skin, but remember to apply honey as moisturizer, or else you will end up having dry skin. Other fruit masker you can use is avocado [moisturize your skin, avoid early aging]. If you insist on using aspirin, I suggest you using strawberry masker instead, it also contains salicylic acid, but less concentration, and more natural :D. I believe you don't want to clog you skin pore with unnecessary ingredients :D.
The most important thing above all is healthy life :). I am not suggesting you to be vegetarian, but consuming a lot of vegetables and fruit, less meat is really good for your skin. Washing your face regularly [at least 5 times a day] using normal water is also good. Also don't forget to get enough sleep :D.
I write those based on my own experience, my friend's, friend of friend's... but those natural maskers are commonly used in my country. It might result differently in every person of course, but I believe natural ones lead to less risk :).
Good luck
- September 1, 2008 at 8:06 PM
- Agnes said...
ahhhh me gonna do this review this friday or something! had it planned already =x...
such a coincidence... =x...
well, watch out for a aspirin mask / scrub review from me me me xD
- September 2, 2008 at 6:37 AM
- alien man?! said...
the honey-aspiring mask did nothing but make a mess.
if you want a mask that really works, try the green tea mask. use it every day for at least several days and you'll literally see and feel the results. i promise!
- September 2, 2008 at 10:52 PM
- heidi said...
hihi, im a first-time commenter as well, but i've had some success with the asprin/honey mask.
for reference: i have combo/sensitive skin, prone to dryness on the nose and around the mouth :(. i don't really have acne, just a few stress pimples that pop up once in a while.
i first heard about it a year and a half ago when rice bunny did her tutorial. i researched it a bit on acne.org and people had great things to say. i purchased the 99cent bottle from walgreens and used pure honey (not organic). the first few times i used it, it was WONDERFUL. the days following each use, i could not stop touching my face cuz it was so incredibly soft. the aspirin mask also got rid of the annoying milia i had around one of my eyes.
the aspirin mask really only worked well for me for maybe half a year... now it doesn't seem to do much at all.
i just use 2-3 uncoated aspirin, making sure to mash it really fine with a few drops of water. and then i put in a small squirt of honey and smear it on my face. let sit for 5-10 minutes until some get up my nose and make it really itchy... i scrub while washing it off and then moisturize with a bit of petro jelly (the only thing that works for me). since my skin is pretty sensitive, i only used this mask once or twice a week.
now when my skin is feeling troublesome, i use mario badescu's strawberry tonic mask. i loooove it, it makes my skin feel so smooth and glowy and brighter. it may be because it leaves behind some kind of residue, but i don't mind that much..
aspirin mask doesn't do anything too exciting for me anymore, but it also doesn't hurt my skin. maybe it's because i've ran out of my walgreens aspirin. im currently using a generic aspirin i got from vitamin world, and i've noticed that since i've switched aspirins, the good effects have worn off.
i too was spreading the gospel of the asprin mask when it was working for me. one guy friend ending up consuming his bottle of aspirin, for its real purpose.. another girl friend turned into a believer. and one other girlfriend... was too stingy to purchase some real honey so she used those fake honey packets from starbucks. and guess what? she broke out. lolol. i think the quality of the liquid used is very important.. whether its honey or olive oil. ive also heard of using plain yogurt.
hope this helps! i know im a bit unorganized and random when im typing quickly. :)
- September 4, 2008 at 10:59 PM
- heidi said...
forgot to mention that i am not too concerned about the health concerns with using this mask. i think that's partly because when i did use it, i kept it to 2-3 tablets per mask, and 1-2 times a week. i had read some people use it EVERYDAY, with 10 aspirins each time. i think *that* would make me concerned. besides, aspirin is made for human consumption, why wouldn't you be able to smear a couple on your face? >_<
- September 4, 2008 at 11:02 PM


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If you're looking for chic cushions with an ethnic touch, Jamini is made for you. This Franco-Italian brand was created by Usha Bora, who herself is of Indian origins. The designer finds inspiration from her country of origin, with delicate motifs and Indian folklore that have brought to life a range of comfortable and stylish Jamini cushions. In Indian, Jamini describes the colour purple that tints the petals of a lotus flower. A poetic name that will uplift your children's bedroom décor or the design of your living room.
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Jackie On Ustream… Take 2
A few months back I learned about U Stream. It's a super cool way to broadcast videos in real time and anyone with a computer can go on and watch, and chat with me live. Well I thought that was pretty nifty, especially when I'm on air here at GRD!
I tried it a few times, my web cam sucked, and I was not very entertaining. (I know I am a lame lame sorry excuse for a radio host.) Anyway not I have an IPad and the camera is like a million trillion times better then my computers, AND I have figured out how to work UStream much better! That said, last night I broadcasted my show on air and on UStream!
If you ever want to tune in to the show, and watch it live in real time you can! Click HERE!


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Kensington and Chelsea
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is one of London's most desirable areas. This is where you'll find the Science Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum, all conveniently located within a few minutes' walk of each other. The Saatchi Gallery, displaying contemporary art from established and emerging artists, reinforces this area's reputation as a cultural hotspot. King's Road and nearby Kensington High Street, meanwhile, boast plenty of designer shops, spas and trendy bars.
Staying in a Kensington hotel in London or one of the many hotels in Chelsea also makes it easy to explore some of the best green spaces in the city, with Holland Park in the centre of the district, Kensington Gardens on the border with Westminster, and Hyde Park only a short stroll away.
Holland Park is a mixture of untamed woodland and landscaped lawns, where you'll find the ruins of the once grand Holland House and the park's resident peacocks. Kensington Gardens has a regal edge as it is home to Kensington Palace, the former residence of royalty such as Queen Victoria and Princess Diana, and current home of Prince William and Princess Kate.
Our favourite hotels
8.9/10 Average score from 1122 reviews on
London Court Hotel
One of the more affordable hotels in Kensington, London, this budget hotel offers easy access to the Tube, along with free Wi-Fi, 32-inch flat-screen TVs and air-conditioning.FromReserve
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Knaresborough Boutique Apartments
Situated in a historic Victorian building, each apartment has a kitchenette and private bathroom. There's free Wi-Fi and The Royal Albert Hall is only a 15-minute walk away.FromReserve
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The Nadler Kensington
Each room at this Kensington hotel has a private bathroom with a power shower. There's also a kitchenette and an interactive TV offering on-demand movies for added entertainment options.FromReserve
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K+K Hotel George
This Kensington hotel offers 4-star comfort and style, just a short walk from Earl's Court Underground Station. The rooms boast sleek black granite bathrooms and there's also an on-site sauna.FromReserve
8.2/10 Average score from 1914 reviews on
DoubleTree by Hilton London - Hyde Park
Along with wall-to-ceiling windows and views of Kensington Gardens, this hotel near Hyde Park has a stylish modern interior. Each room boasts air-conditioning and a Nespresso coffee machine for a caffeine boost.FromReserve
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Fraser Suites Queens Gate
These studios and apartments are within walking distance of the Knightsbridge shops and The V&A. Each one offers a kitchenette, daily housekeeping services and a comfortable seating area.FromReserve
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Cheval Harrington Court at South Kensington
Each luxury 4-star apartment here comes with free Wi-Fi, a maid service and a 24-hour concierge. South Kensington Underground Station is only a few minutes' walk away, along with the Victoria and Albert Museum.FromReserve
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Egerton House
Only a few minutes' walk from Harrods, this 5-star hotel boasts hand-stiched, luxurious mattresses, antique furniture and a butler service. Afternoon tea is also served in the lounge area.FromReserve
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Bulgari Hotel and Residences- London
Enjoy a stylish stay at this Knightsbridge hotel, with a private cinema, elegant ballroom and award-winning spa. The decor is a blend of English style and Italian heritage, with fine dining available on-site.FromReserve


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I see that the calendar appointment availability field "Show as" is not taken into account in DJO : Free, Tentative, Busy or Out of Office. It's always the value Busy that is synchronized...
See also the bars left to apointments in the image below.
French / Windows XP SP3 / Outlook 2003 SP3 / CL Pro 4.0.4006 / Samsung Galaxy S / Android 2.1 / DJO 1.6.1b


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Sunday, June 04, 2017
Horrible But Small
Always "amused" by American media freakouts when something happens in other cities. It's horrible that 7 people were killed in a clumsy terrorist attack (Vehicles are useful weapons. It is sad that people have figured this out.). Media reports make it sound like people are frozen in the duck and cover position in London. It's absurd. I lived in London during a few terrorist attacks and people hardly blinked. A mile away is like a state away in a big dense city. Obviously it's tragic for the people/businesses/directly affected and immediately nearby, but the "terrorize" part of terrorism of this scale really doesn't work the way the media (CNN wants it to work more than the terrorists do) wants it to. Life goes on, the same way that life goes on if there's a major traffic accident. It isn't that they're precisely the same, of course, but that 18 car pileup dissuades few people from getting on the highway the next day.
by Atrios at 11:30


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Travel and me, we have a love hate relationship.
As much as I love to wander off and explore, am also a sucker for familiarity. It takes exactly 102 hours for me to secretly start missing home. I can't obviously say it out loud to myself and others but I know that I secretly do.
I love my exchange of stories, and people narrating them are even more than enthusiastic sharing them. When I tell them that am from India, it's like their eyes light up. It's a great felling when someone from Finland knows so much about the land where I come from. Or to know that an adorable little couple from Germany is saving up to travel to Varanasi. Or for a French maitre d is a big fan of Bollywood. It's a proud feeling to represent the phenomenon called India.These experiences only reinforce the fact that the world is more Indian than we think.
I want to share this exact experience with you. So when I decided to write for this prompt, I got my friends and my friend's friends form around the world to tell me how India has rubbed off on them.
|Marisole, United Kingdom.
|Miranda, USA
|Malini Jagnaraine, USA
|Amaris , USA
|Harry, Paris.
|Edwin, Johannesburg.
|Diana, USA.
|Teodra, Switzerland
|Paul Mlynarczyk, USA.
|Nidia, USA.
|Michael Stewart, USA
|Chad Philip, USA
|Lawrence, Australia.
|Christian Simpson, USA
|Moyl Clydera, USA
|Nina Moritz, USA
|Brian Farrell, USA
|C.J Hanekamp, USA
|Diego, USA.


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The Muthaiga Country Club by way of Admiral Cod, for those wandering gentlemen who might one day find themselves in Nairobi, Kenya. The old colonial club is situated in the affluent suburb of Muthaiga, about 15 minutes drive from the city center. The Muthaiga Country Club opened on New Year's Eve in 1913, and became a gathering place for the elite society of British East Africa, which later became the colony of Kenya in 1920.
Denys Finch Hatton
The Nairobi Club had a bar and a large billiard room, the walls festooned with the usual array of horns and dented with the imprint of errant balls. It was ramshackle enough, and in what one of his business partners called 'an unusual outburst of respectability', Berkeley Cole, a prominent farmer, announced that he was sick of being treated like a pig and yearned for a club of a refined nature where you rang a bell and a drink was brought to you on a 'spotless tray'. A backer came forward, a site was identified three miles from town and architects, surveyors and builders were imported. The result was a low, unobtrusive edifice with modest Doric columns at the entrance and a pinkish pebbledash finish, the interior designed around parquet floors, a peristyle that was initially not roofed, and a fleet of sofas with loose chintz covers. The Muthaiga Club was generally considered ahead of its time as well as too far out of Nairobi, and initially membership was low, but a coterie of aristocrats including Berkeley, Delamere and Denys remained enthusiastic. Although only fourteen of them sat down to the inaugural New Year's Eve Dinner at the close of 1913, the event was staged comme il faut, with multiple courses prepared by a top chef shipped in from the Bombay Yacht Club and music played by the band of the King's African Rifles. Muthaiga had the best cellar in Africa, with a range of clarets from Châteaux Pauillac, Lafite and Latour downwards, a shop selling Charbonnel and Walker chocolates and freshly baked croissants. Delamere was the first president, and over the years he and his cronies nurtured that peculiar sense of deliberate enclavity that marked out the colonial club from Bombay to Calgary. Muthaiga was Denys's home from home in East Africa for two decades. Lounging in his characteristic slouchy pose on the terrace with its modern blue screens, surveying the tennis courts and trailing bougainvillea, he found the companionship he needed after the solitary life of the bush.
Excerpt from Too Close to the Sun: The Life and Times of Denys Finch Hatton, by Sara Wheeler (2006)


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I've talked about having a caesarean a few times on my blog. Overall, despite being an emergency, it was a pretty positive experience. Well, the caesarean itself anyway.
To sum it all up as quickly as possible… I was in labour for 3 days, and I was not progressing at all. I was stuck at 4cm for 2 days and then finally got to 6cm for the 3rd day. Oscar was back to back, and absolutely not budging whatsoever. They had given me 4 more hours to progress even 1cm, and when that didn't happen, I was wheeled away to theatre with, to be fair, bugger all choice – although I was bloody knackered anyway and kind of relieved.
You can read about it in more detail here (Labour Story) and here (What Does A Caesarean Feel Like?).
I always expected my labour to be one of those "breeze" labours.
Straight in and straight back out with a new baby, no pain relief and no worries. I blame my mother as it seems all 3 of her births were straight forward, and she insisted on telling me how easy it was beforehand. Ha!
I've come to the conclusion that you're either really lucky and have a good birth or you're unfortunate and don't. You might even have both. It's literally like birth bingo when you step into the hospital. Unfortunately, the first time clearly wasn't my time, and it did upset me a lot. I'm over it now though.
This brings me to the question I keep being asked, over and over again.
Will you have a natural birth this time?
I feel like when you tell people you've had a caesarean they're instantly like "Oh I bet you felt so lucky!" Lucky? Are you joking. Major surgery, a risk of losing your womb and a risk of being paralysed for life is the lucky option? Let us not also forget that you can't move properly for 12 hours, have to watch someone taking care of your baby because you aren't able to, and are in crippling agony for weeks, but yeah, lucky.
I'm not saying a vaginal birth is the easy option either, but I certainly didn't feel lucky afterwards. In fact, I don't think I've met anyone who has given birth and said "I felt so lucky" afterwards.
I remember two distinctly negative things about the day I gave birth.
The first was that they put Oscar in his glass cot just a little bit out of reach, and they'd left the hand held button I could use to call the nurse still attached to the wall. It was 3am, everyone else on the ward was asleep. Oscar started crying and I couldn't physically lift myself up to get him. I had to wait for someone to come around to check my blood pressure in order to ask them to move him closer. I remember staring at him while he was crying, unable to do anything, just saying "I'm so sorry baby" over and over whilst trying to shush him.
The other thing was that they'd asked me what I wanted for breakfast at about 8am, as well as everyone else, and they'd put it in a room at the bottom of the ward ready to collect, as they do with every meal. I didn't know this though. At about 10 I asked where breakfast was, and they said oh did you not get it? Well no love, I kind of can't feel my legs. She was absolutely mortified when she realised and had to go and get me more toast.
The whole thing was a bit hectic.
I didn't get skin to skin and I wasn't the first person to hold him. I constantly felt like my scar was going to burst open. I couldn't roll over in bed. I actually slept with my glasses on for 3 weeks too. I'm so short sighted I had to reach to put my glasses on when he woke up and leaning over hurt so much, so I figured it would be better to sleep with them on, sat up, so I could just see to him straight away if he cried. How horrific. How I actually managed to sleep is beyond me. During the second week, I remember sobbing because I couldn't bend to pick him up and I felt so useless.
Then I think about how hard I tried to have him naturally. I felt like a failure when they told me I had to give up and just let them take over. Mainly because I felt like I had already gone so far. 3 days of labour and nothing. It was exhausting, excruciating and endless. I wanted so much to carry on, but when you feel like you've been doing it forever and you haven't progressed, it is so disheartening.
So let's talk the positives and negatives that I can think of off the top of my head.
Positives of an elective caesarean:
- You know the actual date you're going to give birth. This will make it so much easier to seek child care for Oscar.
- If it's planned, there are less complications.
- You don't have to risk going through labour again (especially if your labour was anything like mine) to get wheeled into theatre in a panic at the end.
- You can prepare yourself beforehand for what is to come, as you will already know what to expect.
Negatives of an elective caesarean:
- The 6 week recovery process, especially with a toddler. It was hard enough with a singular newborn so I can imagine it would be a nightmare with a toddler too and especially trying to get him to understand that I wouldn't be able to do as much as I can now.
- The danger of surgery when you already have one child. You have to sign consent forms in the middle of a caesarean about them being able to give you a hysterectomy if things go wrong, and that they basically aren't at fault if you die. It's not the nicest, and not something you want to think about when you have another child at home.
- The more caesareans you have, the more risky your births are going to be. They don't recommend having more than two, and I would hate to worry about the risks if I happen to fall pregnant with another baby in the future.
Positives of a VBAC:
- I can officially say I have given birth naturally as well as having a 'sun roof birth'.
- You can be back to normal within days, as opposed to weeks, which would make life so much easier.
- I would get skin to skin immediately after birth.
- Overall, I think it would just be a better experience and one I will feel more positive about.
Negatives of a VBAC:
- You are at a higher risk of something going wrong again.
- You usually need help giving birth in someway or other, for example being cut or forceps etc.
- It increases the risk of things like blood transfusions, which is utterly terrifying.
I have been doing my research since the day I got my positive test. It still terrifies me, but I think I have decided that I will opt for a VBAC and go in with the mindset that I will probably be having another caesarean.
Regardless, I don't actually have my appointment with the consultant for another few weeks, so although I am saying that's what I want, I don't even know if I will be allowed to yet. I'm hoping I can though, as there was nothing physically stopping me from being able to give birth naturally, or at least as far as I know.Keep your fingers crossed for me.
I'd love to hear your experiences with vaginal births/caesarean if you have had both, or even if you have just had a section and know exactly what you're doing next. Leave me a comment and I will respond as soon as I can!


text:
Last week we learned the Obama administration planned to recruit "mystery shoppers" who would pose as patients and call primary care doctors' offices to find out (1) if they were accepting new patients, (2) whether they would accept private insurance while declining Medicare or Medicaid, and (3) how long it would take to schedule an appointment.
After a storm of criticism the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it had changed its mind and would not undertake the survey—at least for now.
Translation: HHS will let the media flurry die down and then proceed apace when no one is paying attention.
The rest of the article is about how ObamaCare has it backwards. Instead of rewarding hard work, it punishes it. So the rules push people to behave contrary to the goals of ObamaCare – which is why the spies are needed. This is not new for ObamaCare.
It's similar to HHS's response to health insurers. Once insurers calculated all the new benefits and requirements in ObamaCare, they started raising premiums to cover their future costs. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius had a fit and set up a process to monitor premium increases: If they went past 10 percent, the HHS premium police would call and want an explanation.
This needs to be defunded and repealed ASAP.