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Staff Picks
Don't forget to check out our staff picks for kids!
May 9, 2016
A History Of The World In Six Glasses
by Standage, Tom
I wish history class was taught in this style. Maybe it was the topic or maybe it was the style of writing but it is amazing how history becomes more interesting when focusing in on a specific topic. With chapters covering beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and cola, we get a history lesson and a greater understanding of how these drinks affect our culture and everyday lives. I found that the spirit chapter the most interesting and really hitting aspects of American history that I never learned in school. Tom Standage writes nonfiction like a novel, interesting yet factual; best of both worlds.
--Recommended by Megan Ferguson, Outreach Services
May 2, 2016
by Novik, Naomi
This is a fantasy novel, a wonderful mix of regular fairy tale tropes and Russian folklore, with surprising female-driven twists. When a young woman, Agnieszka, is chosen to be the lone attendant for an angry and self-focused sorcerer, she finds that life with him is unlike anything she imagined. The sorcerer, Dragon, is obsessed with his magic work, spending his time fighting off the creatures and evil that live in the forest on the town's border. He barely gives Agnieszka a thought and makes no move to comfort or welcome her. She suffers humiliation and rejection, but then embraces the peace of his neglect, until a surprising event changes his estimation of her worth.
As a reader, I expected this novel to follow a sort of Beauty and the Beast storyline, and it took me about half the book to get my literary footing. Novik has blended the Beauty and the Beast tale with Baba Jaga folklore and given it a heavy dose of feminism, and the results are gripping. The villain of the story is not Dragon, or the infested wood, or even the creatures that live in the darkness there. It is the more invasive threat of the twisted growth that comes when bigotry and fear are allowed to flourish.
Novik, while nodding to fairy tale tropes, doesn't bow to them, and writes an original story, where our heroine learns to make strong choices and stand by the consequences of them. The book is beautifully written, a fantasy story in a folklore-rooted world both familiar and new.
Uprooted is also available as a downloadable e-book and a downloadable audiobook.
--Recommended by Jeni Newswanger-Smith, East Washington Library--which, we should say, is closed at the moment
April 25, 2016
The Year of Lear: Shakespeare in 1606
by Shapiro, James
William Shakespeare died 400 years ago, on April 23, 1616. Greeting cards for the occasion were hard to find, so don't worry if you forgot to send me one. I observed the quadricentennial by reading Robert Shapiro's 2015 book about the year 1606, in which Shakespeare wrote King Lear, Antony and Cleopatra, and Macbeth.
It was a wild time. There was fallout from the Gunpowder Plot--an attempted assassination of King James I; there were demonic possession trials; there was at least one wedding that was politically arranged by James; there was always fear of the plague; and Will Shakespeare was writing plays that to some degree reflected the goings-on around him.
I enjoyed Shapiro's 2010 book Contested Will--in which he made an excellent case for Shakespeare's having actually written his plays and poems--and I wrote a Staff Picks about it (click here and scroll down if you're interested). The Year of Lear is just as entertaining and enlightening as that earlier book.
— Recommended by Glenn Halberstadt, Communications
April 18, 2016
by D'Ambrosio, Charles
In 2004, Charles D'Ambrosio had an essay collection published entitled Orphans. The collection was well-received, but not very many copies were published and over a decade later the book is out-of-print and hard to find. The problem of this scarcity was solved to some degree with 2014's Loitering, which collects all of the essays from Orphans (some with new titles) along with several new essays.
The humor and intellect found in D'Ambrosio's essays is reminiscent of the work of Martin Amis in The Moronic Inferno and of David Foster Wallace's best non-fiction pieces. All three of these authors observe and report on contemporary life with keen eyes and impressive prose. However, D'Ambrosio's work tends to be more personal and contemplative in nature. The book explores various subjects and topics, but the language is gorgeous throughout. The author is just as compelling when describing a police standoff or reporting on the Mary Kay Letourneau trial as he is when discussing his father's mental illness or his brother's suicide.
Loitering is also available as a downloadable e-book.
--Recommended by Adam Todd, Decatur Library
April 4, 2016
Ingredients: A Visual Exploration of 75 Additives & 25 Food Products
by Eschliman, Dwight, photography; text by Steve Ettlinger
Ingredients first caught my eye for the colorful photographs of food substances on the cover and inside. The authors selected 75 of the most common food additives listed on processed food labels, obtained samples of them and photographed them. From acesulfame potassium (a sweetener) to xanthan gum (a thickener) the book is a selective encyclopedia of their history, characteristics and uses. These days consumers are advised to eat lots of vegetables, fruit and whole grains yet not all additives are bad for us. For example, beta-carotene and chlorophyll used primarily for their color also play a nutritional role in foods. Myths, such as the one surrounding monosodium glutamate, are debunked: "Starting around 1968, there were reports that someone (literally just one person) had had a bad reaction to Chinese restaurant food… The reaction to the reports ballooned, and came to be called "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome."
The second part of the book analyzes 25 common processed foods breaking them down into their ingredients by listing and photographing them. Heinz Tomato Ketchup is made up of just eight fairly recognizable ingredients in contrast to the iconic Hostess Twinkie which is comprised of 42. An interesting and attractive volume to browse, the dedication reads: "This book is for anyone wondering what's in their food." Isn't that most of us?
--Recommended by Sue Kennedy, Irvington Library


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Summer road travelers in the Midwest who prefer exploring offbeat attractions along the way rather than simply driving from point A to point B can find some treats in the following books.
This piece first ran in Printers Row Journal, delivered to Printers Row members with the Sunday Chicago Tribune and by digital edition via email. Click here to learn about joining Printers Row.
Haunted Route 66: Ghosts of America's Legendary Highway by Richard Southall, Llewellyn, 240 pages, $15.99
Southall, a paranormal investigator and co-creator of a haunted walking tour of Parkersburg, W.V., scares up ghost stories associated with locations along legendary Route 66. Chicago is well represented. The next time you visit the Water Tower, one of the few structures that survived the Great Chicago Fire, look for the ghost of a firefighter who, despairing that he would not be able to stop the conflagration, hung himself near the top of the tower.
Before taking his tale west to California, Southall writes of such Chicago haunts as the Biograph Theater, where John Dillinger was gunned down in 1934; and the site on Clark Street where the famous 1929 gangland killings called the St. Valentine's Day Massacre occurred in the long-gone SMC Cartage Co. garage. One of the intriguing detours along the way westward is in Columbus, Kan., where legend has it that the spirits of a Native American couple from different tribes who reportedly killed themselves rather than be separated flicker as "spook lights."
Missouri's Wicked Route 66: Gangsters and Outlaws on the Mother Road, by Lisa Livingston-Martin, The History Press, 128 pages, $19.99
Livingston-Martin follows some of America's most notorious criminals, including Bonnie and Clyde, across Missouri stretches of Route 66. One intriguing personality is Dr. Francis J. Tumblety, a quack doctor and con artist with a collection of women's uteruses and a distinct hatred of prostitutes. He lived in St. Louis for a time, but was in London's Whitechapel area at the time that Jack the Ripper was terrifying the city, and was considered a strong suspect by Scotland Yard (the Ripper's suspected victims included prostitutes, and he sometimes removed their reproductive organs). Intriguingly, Livingston-Martin writes, a letter left behind by Tumblety gave "From Hell" as a return address — just as a letter thought to have been mailed by Jack the Ripper did.
Livingston-Martin also ventures into Galena, Kan., the site of the Murder Bordello. It was operated by the Steffleback clan, who lured miners to their house of ill repute and then robbed and killed them. Abandoned, it is being refurbished and will open soon to the public as the Galena Haunted Bordello. It is across the street from Cars on the Route, a roadside diner and souvenir shop graced by the presence of the 1951 tow truck that inspired the character Mater in "Cars." (That's for folks who like their Route 66 excursions to be more family-friendly.)
Traveling Through Illinois: Stories of I-55 Landmarks and Landscapes Between Chicago & and St. Louis by LuAnn Cadden and Ted Cable, The History Press, 192 pages, $19.99
Steven Spielberg makes a cameo appearance in this revelatory mile-by-mile St. Louis-to-Chicago guide to the hidden treasures and small-town charms along Interstate Highway 55. The authors aim to "provide commuters a refreshing new perspective of the highway you travel each day." For example, at mile 147, follow the sign for "Pure Maple Sirup" (the original spelling) that will take you to Funks Grove, which has been selling the sticky sweet stuff since 1824. At Mile 123 is Lincoln, Ill., the only town named for Abraham Lincoln before he was elected president.
Roadside Baseball: The Locations of America's Baseball Landmarks, Second Edition, by Chris Epting, Santa Monica Press, 312 pages, $16.95
Here's the pitch: Epting looks beyond Cooperstown and America's major and minor league ballparks to preserve baseball's storied past in "out-of-the-way spots and near-forgotten sandlots." The lineup includes Postville Park in Illinois, where Abraham Lincoln played a form of ball game; the site of the former Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., where Lou Gehrig played his last game; and League Stadium in Huntingburg, Ind., where scenes for "A League of Their Own" were filmed. Chicago's ballparks are included, of course, but so is the Cook County Criminal Court Building at 54 W. Hubbard St., where eight Chicago White Sox baseball players infamously went on trial in 1921 for intentionally losing games in the 1919 World Series.
Off The Beaten Page: The Best Trips for Lit Lovers, Book Clubs, and Girls on Getaways, by Terri Peterson Smith, Chicago Review Press, 304 pages, $16.95
This is a book on road trips inspired by literary works, with reading lists and itineraries for three-day "lit trips" to 15 U.S. destinations. Chicago's contribution is the Jackson Park site of the 1893 Chicago world's fair, chronicled in Erik Larson's "The Devil in the White City."
Donald Liebenson writes features with an emphasis on culture, community and entertainment.


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Bacteria: The Benign, the Bad, and the Beautiful
Bacteria: The Benign, the Bad, and the Beautiful
ISBN: 978-1-118-14338-4 November 2011 Wiley-Blackwell 232 Pages
DescriptionA comprehensive, reader-friendly introduction to the world of bacteria
When most people hear the word "bacteria" they think of food poisoning; infections; and acute, debilitating, or fatal diseases. Yet, while E. coli, strep, and other bacterial pathogens certainly cause their share of misery in the world, they are only a tiny portion of a vast universe of microorganisms—the most basic of life forms. Without them, nothing else could live or grow on Planet Earth. Bacteria: The Benign, the Bad, and the Beautiful introduces you to this diverse, microscopic world and explains the fundamental microbiological concepts you need to explore the life and behavior of bacteria. Even if you have no previous background in the subject, the book's clear, jargon-free language tells you what you need to know about:
The origins and evolution of bacteria
Some of the fundamental ways in which bacteria have shaped the world
Bacteria commonly found in the healthy human body
Antibiotics and the growing problem of resistance
Marine microbiology, bacterial toxins, and enzymes
Bacterial genetics and genomics
Bacteria that survive in extreme environments, such as boiling water
And much more
This comprehensive guide features custom-drawn, black-and-white illustrations by artist Karoly Farkas, and it illuminates its points through real-world examples and engaging stories. Discrete, topic-by-topic structure, text-box summaries of background science, and a helpful glossary make for quick and easy reference. Whether you are a science professional in need of information on bacteria outside of your specialty, a student in search of a solid introduction, or a curious reader looking for fascinating and reliable information, Bacteria: The Benign, the Bad, and the Beautiful is the resource you need.
Note to the Reader ix
1. The Blue Planet 1
2. Tree of Life: Let Three Live 9
3. How Old Are They? 17
4. On the Move 23
5. Needles 29
6. Dead or Alive 35
7. Nobel Works 43
8. Bacteria and Insects 51
9. Bacterial Toxins 59
10. Enzymes 67
11. Genetics and Genomics 75
12. Antibiotics and Resistance 81
13. Marine Microbiology 87
14. Bacteria and Oil 95
15. Extreme Life 103
16. Record Holders 109
17. Bacteria and Art 117
18. Fixing the Air 125
19. Pest and Pestilence 131
20. Our Bacteria 141
21. Sensing Bacteria 149
22. Bacteria and Mankind 155
23. Big Questions on Small Subjects 163
24. Synthetic Biology 169
25. Bacteria, the Earth, and Beyond 177
Glossary 183
Bibliography 195
Index of Bacterial Genera and Species 205
Subject Index 209
"This book should be on public and school library shelves and in places where there is research in microbiology." (Reference Reviews, 1 December 2012)
"Useful for lay readers curious about bacteria and bacterial activities. Summing Up: Recommended. General audiences, high school students, and lower-level undergraduates." (Choice, 1 July 2012)
"Overall, I would confidently recommend this book to anyone with even a vague interest in bateria. (Phenotype, 28 May 2012)
"Bacteria are fascinating little creatures that are deserving of the stories contained within Bacteria: The Benign, the Bad, and the Beautiful. The reader's viewpoint may very well change after hearing them." (New York Journal of Books, 13 December 2011)


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My wedding dress - Mexican-French wedding in the Mexican cou...
Added Apr 27, 2012
by mariouchka87
Santiago, Mexico
This was my wedding dress and the only garment I ever made. I went through many, many, many errors. And because I could not get anymore of the same fabric, I had to work WITH the errors.
Still, I was surprised and happy to find out that I made a dress that actually fit me… And so happy and proud to look at the pictures and know it was really mine!
We got married in the country-side in a very simple setting, which is why I wanted something simple and made out of cotton (also, I prefer comfort over class, and we follow a rather "roots" lifestyle). My main designing concern was to hide any part of my body I did not want to see + try to make it look as if I have a waist line (which I don't… but it worked very well although you can't tell on these pics).
I worked with ichigogirl's Tea Top pattern and mahaila's 1/2 circle pattern, although I went wrong with both patterns, due to my lack of experience… I messed up the side seams for the Tea Top, and I messed up the skirt so it is actually less than a half-circle and it is crooked at the bottom! I used an invisible zipper located under the left arm.
More pictures on my photographer and friend's blog: Julie Hagenbuch Photography
All project pictures are copyrighted by Julie Hagenbuch Photography
Material Notes
The dress is entirely made out of popeline cotton, double layer.
The lace is vintage dentelle du Puy (cotton), bought on eBay France.
The embroidery is hand made (outline stich and basic filling stich, vari-greens polyester thread).
- Season
- Spring, Summer
- For
- Women
- Garment Type
- Dress
- Style
- Bohemian, Bridal, Ethnic, Romantic, Vintage
- Material
- Cotton
- ichigogirl
- mahaila
25 Comments Sign in to add a post
Aug 1, 2012, 03.48 PMby cygnet2
Beautiful! Hard to believe it's your first garment! It's just lovely.
Jun 7, 2012, 01.16 PMby Jutta Sormunen
Beautiful :)
May 29, 2012, 10.08 PMby jellybear
IT's really pretty and so are your wedding photo's well done on your first dress also very brave!!!
May 3, 2012, 05.22 PMby arriadney
the dress is stunning ,and very unusual. i wish i had made my own wedding dress.you look lovely
May 1, 2012, 02.49 AMby infinite-plus-one
who cares about those errors, you look beautiful and for a first project this is unbelievable ! (:
Apr 30, 2012, 11.02 PMby ealinglou
No errors – just a lovely unique frock. Well done
Apr 30, 2012, 11.24 AMby iin
very beautifull dress…congrat for both of ;-)
Apr 29, 2012, 10.59 PMby sophienissirios
Beautiful dress and it looks so pretty on :-)
Apr 29, 2012, 01.47 PMby libra-s
Congrats!!! Your wedding dress is very unique!
Apr 29, 2012, 08.18 AMby lindagc
Completely charming. You look lovely and you and the groom look so happy!
Apr 28, 2012, 08.21 PMby mariouchka87
Thank you so much everyone!! I didn't know this community was so lively… I still have the sewing machine of course, so I'm looking forward to learn from everyone here and become an able DIY sewer :))
Apr 28, 2012, 06.27 PMby Jolands
Wow… Can't believe that it's the only garment you've made. Well done, you look great.
Apr 28, 2012, 06.08 PMby littlejay
That is gorgeous! I'm so impressed.
Apr 28, 2012, 01.20 PMby tessi
You look lovely in your wedding gown! Best wishes for a wonderful married life!
Apr 28, 2012, 09.37 AMby lienepien
Beautiful! Lovely dress!
Apr 28, 2012, 09.27 AMby marionouchka
Muy refinado! Très joli, très fin comme travail. It suits you very well, I love the collar. Heureux mariage à toi!
Apr 28, 2012, 09.01 AMby nishavinod2009
Your wedding dress is divine! forget all the imperfections. You both are definitely, crazy in love and happy. thats all that matters. Congratulations and God Bless!
Apr 28, 2012, 06.50 AMby RedDynamica
WOW! you did an amazing job! it is class & comfy! you look amazing!
Apr 28, 2012, 06.17 AMby Ralf Schmitz
what a lovely dress! and where are the errors?? i can only see a lovely dress!
Apr 28, 2012, 12.45 AMby zsyzu
Very pretty. Congratulations on both your wedding and a beautiful dress!
Apr 28, 2012, 12.32 AMby NeederMoo
So pretty! :D
Apr 28, 2012, 12.19 AMby Irene Jones - Arias
Bellísimo! Me encanta el bordado y las aplicaciones de tu vestido, le dan una apariencia tan romántica! Además, te queda perfecto, felicidades!!!
Apr 27, 2012, 11.53 PMby kstyled
What a lovely wedding dress !!! Thanks for sharing this.
Apr 27, 2012, 11.26 PMby schnui
What a beautiful and special dress. It didn't matter to me one bit that you had made mistakes because you made it with love and excitement for your wedding day. I too made my wedding dress and it still hangs in my wardrobe as a reminder of one of the best days of my life (32years ago). All the very best for a very happy marriage.
Apr 27, 2012, 10.45 PMby merche
Precioso! Mi más sincera enhorabuena!
Add to Favorites 71 people added it
This project is based on
(Afternoon) Tea TopMake it
Circle Skirts - full; 3/4; 1/2; 1/4.Make it


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If anyone thinks the Liberals will be standing alone, as they absorb criticism from all quarters on their tax shift (hey JB) proposal, they better think again. I've argued before, Dion needs to bring out economists and environmentalists alike, to rally support behind his ideas, to blunt the smear machine we all know is coming.
People can say what they want about David Suzuki, but the fact of the matter, he is Canada's most widely respected scientist, with tremendous popularity. You don't make the Top 10 list of greatest Canadians unless you have mass appeal, which I mention to counter the fringe view of the man as some crazy extremist that shouldn't be taken seriously. David Suzuki has clout, stature that is unrivaled on this file. When Baird decided to go head to head with Suzuki he lost badly, Canadians overwhelming sided with Suzuki. With that said, his blessing and/or rejection matters, especially if he doesn't stay on the sidelines, especially if he is vocal.
Suzuki made an appearance on Question Period today, wherein he endorsed Dion's approach to climate change. Within this support, some biting criticism of the NDP:
"I'm really shocked at the NDP on this, because I had thought the NDP had a very progressive outlook on this, and that astounds me. We have the same thing in British Columbia, a government that has proposed a carbon tax, and I take my hat off to them. Economists have been telling us that this is the most effective way to get people to change their behavior, and to have the NDP in British Columbia attacking this just astounds me, because there is just no question, this is the way to go. It's revenue neutral, it's not a tax grab, governments can use the revenue to help people, tax rebates for lower income. To oppose, this because of ideology or something is just nonsense. This is something that has got to come."
If Dion is able to enlist the support of people like Suzuki, directly or indirectly, it will serve him well moving forward. If you want to discount Suzuki, I think his opinion should be framed in this way- do 35-40% of Canadians have a favorable opinion of the man, do they take his advice seriously? Dion's plan doesn't need to win over everyone, he only needs to appeal to 35% of the electorate to win a minority, near 40% to reach the majority threshold. If this proposal becomes the central plank in an election campaign, many voters will make up their minds with this debate at the fore. Having someone like Suzuki in your corner will certainly be a lure to soft supporters of other parties. The stakes will be high, people will be vocal, it will be seen as "the" moment.
I voted NDP in the last election, primarily because I thought they had a very progressive platform on the environment, I'm sure I wasn't alone. I mention this because, if this election becomes a battle over the environment, Dion will benefit from having the environmental community endorsing his plan, it could sway people similar to myself, it could appeal to the "free agent" voter, it could help on the vote-splitting front. If I was a Liberal strategist, I would do my best to quietly ensure that Mr. Suzuki has a high profile this summer, encourage him to offer his non-partisan convictions in response to criticisms. There is no question, David Suzuki is a powerful ally, he is the defacto voice of the environmental community.


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Monday, May 28, 2007
Author Egomaniacs: Do You See What I See?
I've been thinking about this over the weekend, for a variety of reasons. One is the comment trail here. Another is a private communication. Then there was that email I referenced last post. And the final straw? The comment trail over at my friend Vincent's blog.
We all know that the average person is prone to thinking the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. How many people do you know who could look you in the eye and say honestly - honestly - that they're completely happy with their life and career right now? I bet not very many. I certainly don't know many myself.
As writers, I think we live with the yo-yo of success and failure… or perhaps better put, the yo-yo of confidence and insecurity. I would wager a guess that less than 1% of the writers out there haven't had a rejection letter at some time or another. We all know what it is not to be wanted.
But I do think it's easy for us to think that the very successful, that authors like Ken Bruen, Val McDermid, Stuart MacBride, Laura Lippman, Ian Rankin etc. never face insecurity. That they're completely confident in their career and work and never have a moment's doubt. Well, okay, it's not so easy to believe that with Stuart. One needs only to have read his blog posts about Book The Fourth to know differently… And as someone said to me recently if ever Ian should have moments of doubt he only needs to read himself referred to as God* here to feel better, not like the "rest of us mere mortals."
The thing is, I get people emailing and saying to me they're nervous or embarrassed to ask me to read their stuff, and I find it rather heartbreaking. Why should anyone be nervous about asking me to read their work? Is it because they're that insecure, or because they think I'm someone special? Because believe me, if it's that latter, let me be the first to say that I have a lot to learn myself.
I do know there are some authors who are egotistical jerks, although I've encountered precious few. And to be honest, when I do encounter someone who is all "look at me, aren't I hot shit?" I'm pretty much done with them.
I've never really been one to think that way. On a daily basis I doubt my ability to pull off the next book, to make the short story in progress come out just the way I want it to, that anyone will care about what I write, that I'll find a new publisher. I read books by other people and they get me thinking about all sorts of important things – I'm one of those people who cherishes important books, far more interested in stuff with substance than fluff – and I feel this sense of failure. "I didn't do that with my first book" or "I could never pull this off."
I'm never one to rest on my laurels. As far as I'm concerned, anyone who thinks they've 'arrived' and 'made it' is kidding themselves. As one international best-selling, multi-award-winning author said, "You're only as good as your next book, not the book you wrote 20 years ago!"
I know some people might find this hard to believe, but there are a lot of successful authors who feel pretty isolated. The result of achieving some status is often alienation from within the community. People presume the ego into them. I'm terrible for this. I just assume people don't want to hear from me. I tend to think so-and-so's very important and I'm nobody so why would they talk to me?
And you know what sucks? I tend to think that even after I've met people.
I thought about it a while back, and started a thread about it on Crimespace, about why we don't encourage each other more. I think some people are afraid showing any vulnerability at all will be interpreted as a sign of weakness, so they keep it bottled up, hidden away. The results? Others often don't understand that they, too, are human and struggle with their own insecurities. And the author feels that sense of isolation more profoundly than ever and never really gets that reassurance.
Now, I've been aware of the ups and downs that come with being in this business and being in the public domain, to a certain degree, for a while. Yes, I've been trashed on forums and blogs. Yes, I've been trashed via email. There have been a good number of days that I've cried. And there are people I've never met that I never want to meet because they are malicious and mean, horrendous gossips and have hurt me deeply, despite the fact that I don't even know them. (This is part of the reason I tend to be defensive of friends under attack. In recent months when people have been piling on I've felt alone, and nobody likes to feel that way.)
If asked, I'd put myself on the insecure side of the fence. I think this is both a good and bad thing. The good thing about it is, because I am not so conceited as to think I'm God's gift to the literary world, I'm always pushing to do better. I'm willing to learn. I dream more of having an editor that will believe in me and invest the effort in me through a few books to build my career than having a six-figure advance. And I know there are a lot of people who wouldn't like that, who'd think I have it backwards: I don't. There is nothing more important than the craft. The sales will be what the sales will be, and you'll get it in an advance or on the back end as royalties, but no amount of money or promotion can change the reality of putting out a sub-par book. And that's something I never want to do. I look back on my own early efforts (especially short stories – ugh) and my new policy is that I only want to have 2 or 3 stories published per year, and they have to match or exceed the quality of what I'm currently producing. I mean, if I place more, great, but I'm not pushing for that. The point is quality, not quantity.
I don't really want people saying I'm the richest writer out there. I want people saying I'm a great writer.
And you know what? That's something you're always struggling for. Nobody "arrives" and then everything they do is perfection. Every single author I respect pushes themselves to always do better. Their focus is on the quality of the work instead of the sales.
And I would bet money that all those authors I respect have their dark days when they struggle with doubt and feel like the writing isn't going as well as they'd like. I bet they all have days when they get horrid emails and letters that make them feel lousy. I bet they all have authors they look up to and respect and think they wish they could do what that person's done with their work.
Wherever you are on your journey, you aren't alone in how you feel. We all relate to that. The big problem is, most people just can't, or won't, admit it. I haven't got much room in my life for people who're pretty full of themselves. But I've always got time for anyone who needs a shoulder and someone to tell them to keep going.
Just remember when you look at someone who seems successful, who seems to have it all together, who appears to have everything you want, often all you're seeing is the image. A lot of dark days and less than perfect moments go into every second of success.
(And if you're linking to my blog, please drop me an email and let me know so that I get your blog added to my links. Yeah, I still haven't finished updating them…)
* If I was Ian, I'd hate me for it.
18 comments:
- Chris said...
Thanks for this post (I think). It's nice to realize the doubt is a common experience, even if the flip-side is it never goes away. Of course, I never much expected it would.
Oh, and I've added your blog to my links. That makes me sound like a reciprocation-seeking dork, though. Really, I'm just a world-class procrastinator, and you're always an engaging read -- a link here on my own page is quicker than waiting for Crimespot to pick up your post...
- 4:15 p.m.
- Sandra Ruttan said...
Ha! You know what I was thinking Chris? It makes me seem like I'm seeking validation. Look, I extracted a compliment from you!
I've added you to the links. And yeah, there are mixed feelings about a post like this. I actually know that a lot of the successful authors I'm friends with have weak moments, but I'll leave it to them to tell their stories or not. If you're very lucky you get a few people behind you who believe in you and you can't quit because they'd come kick your ass. That helps you deal with the doubts. The threat of physical violence motivates me to get back to work.
That, and the love of writing that won't go away...
- 4:23 p.m.
- Patrick Shawn Bagley said...
Chris Holm is a mad scientist. Very dangerous. You've been warned.
- 4:36 p.m.
- Sandra Ruttan said...
Gee, now you tell me! I think I draw the line at hillbillies...
- 4:40 p.m.
- Chris said...
I'll have you know that in the circles I travel in, I'm a completely normal scientist.
Okay, that sounded like a stretch, even to me...
- 4:54 p.m.
- Patrick Shawn Bagley said...
Hey, hillbillies are people too. Sort of.
So, now that I've given Chris a hard time, I guess I'll talk about your post.
Over the years, I have met a few authors--mostly new ones--who had way more ego than talent. I think they're in the minority, though.
Most of the writers I know and hang out with are insecure about their careers. I sure as hell am. I'm constantly pushing myself to improve, and I don't know if I'll ever reach a point where I'm satisfied.
- 4:55 p.m.
- Sandra Ruttan said...
Chris, define normal. Then we'll talk. ;)
Patrick, I don't think we ever get to a point where we're happy. I think Evil Kev's basically reached the point where he doesn't hope I'll be happy, because that's impossible, but that I'll make some money, because that's actually attainable.
And it's really saying something if it's more likely that I'll make money than be happy with my writing!
- 5:01 p.m.
- PJ Parrish said...
As I sit here avoiding chapter 3 of the newest one (which will be book No. 9) I am fraught with the same demons I had with No. 1. The one thing experience has taught me is that I should embrace this. If I don't, I begin the death spiral toward complacency. How can you expect a reader to get excited about your book if you can't anymore? A little terror is good for the writer's soul.
- 7:21 p.m.
- Sandra Ruttan said...
"I should embrace this. If I don't, I begin the death spiral toward complacency. How can you expect a reader to get excited about your book if you can't anymore? A little terror is good for the writer's soul."
I love this perspective. Absolutely true. Okay... there is something disheartening about the fact that the fears never really go away, but there's also something so wonderful about knowing you aren't alone.
I think this is what I find most helpful about the blogs. They give you an ability to connect to others going through the same thing and get a bit of support.
And they're cheaper than therapy.
- 7:47 p.m.
- Sandra Ruttan said...
(And I'm printing out that comment and putting it above my computer.)
- 7:48 p.m.
- Eileen said...
Almost every writer I know is usually balancing between freaking out insecurity and liking their own work. Usually leaning towards freaking out.
John Irving is one of my favorite writers- I heard him speak last year and one of his quotes when asked what he reads he said something along the lines of "I don't read much because I find most of it isn't that good as compared to my own work." He did like Dickens. It was one of those comments that made me go- huh. Still love his writing.
- 8:07 p.m.
Well, I just want to say, I'm pretty damned happy. My writing, though, only makes up a tiny part of that happiness. And I'm certainly on the freak out insecure side, when it comes to the writing.
But I did spend a long time on the fringes of the movie business and that really taught me the value of writing for yourself. In the movies, ten guys are going to want changes for reasons that have nothing to do with storytelling (usually budget, locations and casting). I used to make all those changes, it was part of the job.
When I quit that (and when people tried to encourage me, and get me to keep working at it, I had to tell them it was like heroin for me, don't give me more - this may be why I always hesitate to encourage writers, I've seen it make a lot of people miserable and not that many happy. But if you want encouragement, I'll be happy to give it) and started writing books I had to go in with the attitude that I'm only out to please myself. I really had to make an effort not to care about sales or publishing or anything. I still try not to know anything about the business end.
I used to feel that I had no business writing because I didn't read enough. I wasn't much of a reader as a kid and even today I'm very picky. Not as picky as John Irving, maybe, but picky. I start a lot of books but I don't finish that many anymore. I hope it doesn't come off as ego, but in any business where rejections outnumber acceptances about a hundred to one (a thousand to one? I used to wallpaper with rejection letters), you need a pretty strong ego (or belief in yourself) to keep going and not start compromising all over the place. Because what's the point of just writing more books like others that have already been written?
John McF
- 8:58 p.m.
- Sandra Ruttan said...
Eileen, I just can't relate to someone with that amount of ego! And I think it would kick in this instinct in me to pull his work apart. That's part of why I feel the double-edged sword about reviewing. I know it can always come back on me, so I'm very cautious about backing up criticisms and trying not to make it personal.
Truth is, there isn't a single author who's stuff I've read who didn't make a mistake. And I've made my share, so I feel it when I'm pointing out the weaknesses of others. I've heard of a few people like Irving, but I tend to avoid their work once I've heard that.
John, ultimately we do write to please ourselves, but there is still a hell of a lot to learn, and often we need external critique in order to see how we can improve our work. Otherwise, none of us would need editors.
But if it takes a strong ego to keep going in this business I should quit now. I don't have that. I am realistic about my capabilities to a point, and yes I've picked up books where I've said, "I write better than this." But that doesn't mean I'll get published. Quality is no guarantee of that, and a big part of author growth is being able to listen to reader criticisms and review criticisms and to assess them, take what's fair, discard what isn't. I could say I'm happy with SC as my debut novel. But if my third book is on the same level as SC then I will not be happy with myself, and I expect with each one to look back and see things I could improve. If I can't, then it's time to quit, because I've already written the perfect novel and there's nothing left to strive for.
- 9:40 p.m.
good work keep it up...
U can also check for FREE EBOOKS AND Jokes,SMS All IT books,astrology,arts,advertising,Any book,Ebook links,Automobile,web information,Aviation,Education,Downloads,Electronics,Eentertainment,Games,Health,Internet,science,Marketing,Medical,Movies,Music
- 7:09 a.m.
- pattinase (abbott) said...
Writing makes me happy. It's not until I face trying to get it in print that I feel sad. And that was more with the lit stuff than the crime stuff. That was when the doubt kicked in big time.
- 8:17 a.m.
- Sandra Ruttan said...
Yeah, that's exactly the point I'm talking about Patti. Of course, when you're writing with a book deal, it does change that dynamic, because you know it will go in front of an audience.
- 2:30 p.m.
This is a great post. Reading from published authors that it doesn't get any easier is the best gift you can bestow on all of us would be novelists.
- 5:00 a.m.
- Sandra Ruttan said...
Amra, sometimes it doesn't feel like a gift...
But it does let you know you aren't alone.
- 12:36 p.m.


text:
Yakov-MIK needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 761 designs submitted by 200 freelance designers.
Dear Designers,
We are looking to gently refresh our company logo. We've already established a positive brand image, 97% customer satisfaction, and have gotten magazine press.
We want you to create a new logo that's an evolution from our current one.
Our clients are cutting-edge DJs and creative types. Check the comments below for inspiration. Our official website is: http://www.MixedInKey.com
Before you get started: Please look at the Comments at the bottom of the contest. There is important information there.
Before you get started: Please look at the Comments at the bottom of the contest. There is important information there.
We would like you to take our existing logo and modify it based on your taste. We've built a recognizable brand around our current look, but it's becoming dated. We would like to keep the "DJ-related symbol" and "text on two lines" look, but you can decide where to go from there. It's a blank canvas: Give it your best shot.
What we want:
- Use blue colors
- Keep a sleek look, printable in color and black-and-white
- Make the logo look great at both small and large sizes
- Make it fit the style of our current website, since our new website will have a similar theme
- We like a smooth, elegant look similar to expensive Italian cars
- Majority of the time, we will use the logo on a white background
Additionally, it's important to keep roughly the same proportions. We want a horizontal logo.
Here is what we consider wrong with our current logo:
- The symbol looks like a sad face =(
- The colors don't have enough punch
- It doesn't look expensive enough
- Our current logo isn't inspirational
For a source of ideas, consider "Aston Martin V8 Vantage". We like the metallic finish and attention to detail on that car. We want our logo to look less plastic and look more sophisticated and classy. We are competing with companies as famous as Apple, so our logo has to be recognizable.
Here is our website.
What we don't want:
- No default fonts (Helvetica, Arial, Times-equivalents)
- No Web 2.0 style gradients
- No vinyl records or CDs
- No turntables or CD players - we create digital DJ software, and those symbols aren't appropriate. Our current "symbol" is an abstraction of a rotating disk in 3D.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
We appreciate comments! As a thanks, this is a do-follow blog.
Slimming World Christmas Dinner Swaps
3 days ago
Emma's Lunch is a resource for parents and guardians on activities to do with children and fun & educational ways to entertain them.
Crafting, baking, recipes, book reviews, fun lunch boxes, learning & educational printables. Everything is right here at your fingertips so come in and stay a while.
If you like what you see, consider subscribing to our updates.


text:
Hey there,
Like in traditional surf, i believe functional trainning is a great way to keep
your body in good conditions for hard training and trying new tricks on kite wave riding.
I made this video comparing some tricks with the exercise...Anybody with more informations please post !
By the way the season at Ceará is already blowing, and we got some nice sets yesterday.
Gustavo Foerster


text:
We Love Howard Johnson's
By: Legacy Staff
6 years ago
Howard Johnson got his start in the hotel-and-restaurant business by doing something that we must admit we wholeheartedly approve of: he took a great ice cream recipe and made it even better – by doubling the butterfat.
It was Johnson's first successful business venture, a small soda shop in Quincy, Massachusetts, which he bought and immediately improved – so much so that he was able to open a second location within four years. In the decade to follow, as Johnson's business exploded, he created the concept of franchising, allowing others to open restaurants using his name. The restaurants took off, and the orange-roofed HoJo became an American favorite.
In the 1960s, Howard Johnson's became the largest restaurant chain in the U.S. By then, the company was offering a place to sleep as well as eat, in the Howard Johnson's Motor Lodges.
Though only a couple of Howard Johnson's restaurants remain, and the HoJo motels don't have quite the cache they once did, the iconic orange and turquoise linger in the public consciousness. Howard Johnson's was even featured in a recent episode of Mad Men, with Don Draper declaring "I love Howard Johnson's" before whisking his new bride away on a work-related HoJo excursion. (Sadly, Megan Draper does not share her husband's enthusiasm, and the working vacation ends abruptly when the two quarrel over orange sherbet.)
As for Howard Johnson himself, he built his business for 35 years before retiring and leaving the daily operations to his son. But throughout his life, he maintained his love for the thing that gave him his start – ice cream. It was his favorite food, and he always kept several flavors on hand for his daily cone.
Written by Linnea Crowther and Jessica Campbell


text:
To save his life, Jensen doesn't have a choice whether or not to become augmented with cybernetics. This Deus Ex: Human Revolution trailer provides a peek at the events that led to that non-decision:
Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a Windows PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 title. Originally due in March, the game was delayed in December and publisher Square Enix has yet to announce a new release date.
Sharkey says: I was psyched to see a new trailer, but I was even more psyched for it to end with a release date. Sadly, no. But the word around the industry is we won't have to wait long past the original March window to see the game. Yet another 2011 game I can't wait to play.


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Nov. 5, 2001
In 1998, the men's cross country team congregated in a classroom to discuss what it would take to produce a team that could qualify for the NCAA National Championships. Though the program had produced exceptional individual athletes, no Gaucho lineup had ever advanced to the event. Now, after three years of grueling miles and an intense training regime, the men are one race away from achieving their goal. With a lineup possessing only two athletes recruited with scholarship money, the Gauchos have surprised the collegiate running community as one of the favorites to advance to South Carolina, site of the national meet. This year UCSB has gone from not being ranked as a top-10 team in the Western Region, to being ranked as high as 11th in the country. Cross country is second only to basketball as the most widely offered sport in collegiate athletics -- with over 300 teams competing in the division, the ranking places the team in the elite bracket of the top 5% of all collegiate programs. The Gauchos now stand ranked 13th in the country, and number three in the West Region.
See both West Region and NCAA Rankings at bottom of page.
This weekend the Gauchos will travel to Tucson, Arizona to compete in the NCAA Western Region Championships. In the Gauchos' previous 31 years of division I competition, this race has marked the of end of the season. To qualify automatically, the team has to finish first or second. In addition, there are 13 "at-large" teams that are granted trips to South Carolina, based on their performance over the year. These 13 spots are spread out over the nine regions. The West has always been one of the toughest districts to compete in. In the most recent ranking, the West has six teams recognized nationally in the top 20, a statistic unmatched by any other region. Number 2-ranked Stanford is the favorite to finish first, while #8 Portland is hoping to take the other automatic position. The Gauchos possess the next highest ranking and are aiming to challenge Portland. Though the Gauchos want an automatic spot, the team is keeping a close eye on their position. Number 14 Arizona State, #18 Oregon and #20 Arizona are going to be clawing at the Gauchos for a higher finish.
The team is approaching the race with a "business as usual" mentality. Head coach Pete Dolan states that the team just needs to keep doing what they've been doing. "We don't need any miracles," said the 2001 Big West Coach of the Year. "If we run the way we have been all season, we should go (to South Carolina)." Analyzing the region, and assuming nothing unusual happens, all six of the top teams should earn either automatic or at large bids. Therefore, in theory, the men could finish as low as 6th and still advance due to the region's strength. However the Gauchos aren't taking anything for granted after watching unranked Cal Poly block three ranked teams from going to last year's NCAA championship, by finishing in third place.
The 1-2 Punch
The Gauchos are expected to be led by fifth year seniors Eric Gans and Josh Horton. The pair finished first and second respectively in a thrilling Big West Championship race last week, and will be crucial in establishing the team's up-front power. Horton has always been recognized as one of the top track runners on the west coast with personal records of 14:07 and 29:09 in the 5k and 10k. This cross country season, the Virginia native has shown that he is to be regarded as one of the region's top cross country runners after taking 8th in the Pre-NCAA Gold Race, covering the challenging 8k course in 24:34. Gans is also recognized as one of the region's top cross country runners after finishing 25th in the single-heat 2000 Pre-NCAA race. This year Eric has extended his hard training with the intention of peaking late in the year. His efforts were illustrated by claiming the Big West Conference title last week, a strong improvement from all of this season's previous races. Overall the pair should be able to stay with the lead pack for the majority of the race, and taken into consideration that they both have extremely quick closing speed, the duo should both be in the hunt for a top-ten finish.
Mr. Consistent
After two years of injury-plagued seasons, red-shirt junior Brandon von Guenthner has found a groove that has made him one of the team's most consistent runners. With the exception of only two races in which Brandon was victim to illnesses, the Laguna Niguel native has a remarkable record of providing consistent races for the past two cross country seasons. "VG" as he's called by his teammates, has earned All-Conference honors, placed 35th in this year's Pre-NCAA Gold Race, and 18th at the Stanford Invite. Assuming illness does not come into play, expect Mr. Consistent to be in the hunt for a top-20 finish as one of the team's front five.
The Juco Rivalry/Tandem
Perhaps the oddest pair on the team, fourth year junior transfers Bryon Lamorandier and Aaron Sharp have an unusual, but positive impact on the squad. The pair each come by way of a junior college, or "Juco Juice" as Dolan calls them, and are the only two athletes to be recruited with scholarship money. Dating back to their early "juco" days, they share a very intense rivalry. After careful calculations, the two have determined that they have each beaten each other six times in the twelve races they've faced each other. Lamorandier tied the rivalry-score with his amazing 5th place finish at last week's Big West Conference Championships, while Sharp was 11th. Sharp, from Port Hueneme, CA, is an accomplished 10k runner illustrated by his 30:15 personal best, and "All-Conference" honors last track season. During the 2000 cross country season, Sharp ran his best two races over the distance of 10k, and the Regional distance of 10k is expected to benefit the senior. Lamorandier, from Jamul, CA was previously regarded as a 800/1500 runner with bests of 1:51 and 3:50. However, that is no longer the case as the 6'4 red-shirt junior has made a convincing case for himself as a cross country athlete by posting outstanding races all season. Sharp has already declared that he's going to "smoke Lamo," while Bryon has claimed a condescending ignorance of "who's Sharp?" While some may regard the inner-team rivalry as unhealthy, the benefits have been outstanding for the team. At the Pre-NCAA race, the pair blazed over the last two miles of the course, running side by side trying to outgun the other. Sharp edged Bryon by finishing 59th, while Lamo was 60th. The result was that two moved up about 20 positions during their storm over the final two miles. Though Lamorandier was not in the top five for scoring, he finished faster than any other teams' sixth man in both races, with the exception of Stanford. In Tucson, expect the two junior college transfers to again try to outdo each other, and in the process be in the hunt for "All-Western Region Honors" with a top-25 performance.
The Underdog
During the summer of 1999, coach Pete Dolan offered J.T. Service an admission spot to the UC Santa Barbara. Service was on his way to a junior college, and did not expect to be granted admission to UCSB. Dolan had some leftover admission slots and decided to "settle" on Service. J.T. had less than impressive credentials including an 11th place finish at his league cross country championships, and not cracking 10 minutes at the Gaucho 2-mile time trial. In Service's first races in a Gaucho uniform, he continued to struggle as the team's slowest runner, but due to a depleted lineup, he was allowed to compete in some big races. The coaching staff openly admits to having zero confidence in J.T., especially during his track season when Dolan offered the terse race strategy of "hang in there" to Service, following an extensive tactical plan instructed to the veterans. Since that conference race where Serviced ended up scoring, J.T. has embraced the fact that he has been overlooked and disregarded. However, the word is out now on Service. In a breakthrough race at the Pre-NCAA Invite with J.T. taking 44th in a time of 25:18 as the team's fourth finisher, it is now clear that Service has ascended to the upper ranks of collegiate running and can be expected to contribute to the team's top 5. Even the coaches now mock themselves by offering Service short words of encouragement such as, "just hang in there J.T.," or "do your best Service."
The Safety Position
The Gauchos final position on the 7-person lineup remains undecided. Depending on one's perspective, Coach Pete Dolan has the luxury or burden of selecting sophomore Chris White or senior Steve Rider for the final spot. White, a true sophomore, came on strong for the team at the conference meet taking 17th and only 20 seconds behind 5th man Aaron Sharp. Given the depth of the Big West this year, it was easily White's best cross country race of his career, and would probably have earned "All-Conference" honors in past years. Rider, a fifth year senior with track credentials of 14:26 and 30:25 in the 5k and 10k, has been desperately battling a shin injury during his final season. Prior to his injury, Rider finished as the team's 5th man at the UCSB Lagoon race clocking 25:13 on the 8k course. Whoever is selected is expected to provide a safety net for the team, aiming for a top 50 place to secure a solid team score in the unlikely event of two athletes falling back.
Race Info
The men's race is scheduled to commence at 9:45 A.M. Mountain Time, while the women will begin at 10:30 A.M.
West Region Rankings
|1) Colorado
1) Stanford
|2) Stanford
|2) Portland
|3) Arkansas
|4) Wisconsin
|4) Arizona State
|5) Notre Dame
|5) Oregon
|6) North Carolina State
|6) Arizona
|7) Villanova
|7) Washington
|8) Portland
|8) Cal Poly SLO
|9) Washington State
|10) Providence
|11) Michigan
|14) Arizona State
|15) Air Force
|16) Eastern Michigan
|17) Wake Forest
|18) Oregon
|19) Michigan State
|20) Arizona
|21) Utah State
|22) Duke
|23) Colorado State
|24) William & Mary
|25) Indiana / Utah


text:
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Ordering a metabolic profile near Gilbert, AZ every year can help evaluate your overall health by checking the level of 14 substances in the blood, including glucose, proteins, electrolytes and enzymes, among other blood chemicals. Checking these levels helps to assess important factors like kidney, lung and liver function, glucose metabolism and your body's electrolyte and fluid balance. Gathering this information can help detect a long list of health issues, leading to timely diagnosis and treatment. These include diabetes and prediabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, heart failure and infections, to name just a few.
- By 2012, over a third of US adults had at least 3 of these components of metabolic syndrome: larger waist size, high triglyceride levels, reduced HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, and elevated fasting blood glucose.
- Between 1994 and 2012, the rate of metabolic syndrome has risen from 24% to 35%.
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text: Warning: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is deprecated, use preg_replace_callback instead in ..../includes/class_bootstrap.php(430) : eval()'d code on line 123 MyCountryWalk.com Remember Me? What's New? Articles Forum Blogs Recent Entries Most Popular Member Blogs Advanced Search vBulletin Message If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. vBulletin Message Coming soon! Quick Navigation Site Areas Settings Private Messages Subscriptions Who's Online Search Forums Forums Home Forums General Discussion Open Floor Neighborhood Events Neighborhood Help Swap Meet Forum Discussion -- MCW -- Default Mobile Style Contact Us Country Walk Residents Forum Archive Top All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:14 AM. Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.2 Copyright © 2018 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved. MyCountryWalk.com - Residents Forum, a community based forum has NO affiliation with Country Walk HOA/CDD, any builder or management entity. This forum is built and run by residents, for residents.


text:
Learn Turkish Online at Babbel.com with our award winning Turkish courses. You'll make fast progress and have fun doing it.
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text:
Renee's Family Kitchen
Like this entry? Favorite it below!
- Name:
- Renee
- Location:
- Saint Paul, MN
- Square Feet:
- 100
- Division:
- Own
- What makes your small kitchen so cool:
- It was transformed from a small, cramped, galley kitchen that isolated the kitchen user from the family. By opening it up, it has now become a space which includes everyone in the house.
- Describe a challenge you've overcome or a smart resource you've found for your kitchen.:
- There were two challenges. First, should we remove a portion of the original dining room built-in to open up the space and second, finding a space for the fridge out of the small kitchen. After living in the space for almost three years we figured both of these challenges out and we went for it.
- What's your favorite meal to cook here?:
- Anything that involves the kids. Baking and homemade pizzas are both fun.


text:
Range of ash in North America.
(US Forest Service)
The U.S. Forest Service estimates that there are 8 billion ash trees in United States' rural forests. In Indiana, there are approximately 147 million ash trees in our forests and at least 2 million more in urban areas.
All native North American ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) are vulnerable to attack by EAB. If pesticides are not used, EAB kills 100% of the ash trees it attacks.
Back to EAB for Green Industry


text:
First for Women magazine is a fun publication that any woman would enjoy. With each issue that you receive, you will find articles about many different topics that women love. You can read about new recipes, decorating your home, entertaining, beauty tips, and many other topics. If you want all of this and more, order your discount subscription to First for Women magazine today!
Food and Nutrition
In each issue of First for Women magazine, there are many articles about different foods and nutrition that you will enjoy reading. You will find numerous recipes that you will love making for your family and friends. There are recipes for many different occasions including drinks, desserts, soups, entrees, and many others. You will also be able to learn about healthy food substitutes, the correct portion sizes, foods that help to ward off sickness, and a wide array of other topics about which you will enjoy reading.
Décor and Inspiration
In addition to reading about nutrition, you will also be able to read about decorating your home. There is inspiration on every page of First for Women magazine and you will love implementing all of the new ideas in your home. There are ideas for how to decorate your table, gifts that you can make for your family and friends, ways to improve your family's efficiency, and many others subjects. There is something for every woman in this periodical.
You will also enjoy and appreciate all of the beauty tips that you find in this periodical. First for Women magazine provides you with many ideas that you can implement into your beauty routine. There are ideas for the best sunglasses for your face shape, hair color and hair cut tips, manicure ideas, hydrating your skin, and many other articles that you will enjoy.
Start reading a publication just from women by subscribing to First for Women magazine today!
- Publisher: Heinrich Bauer Publishing, L. P.


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Cat aggression/depression
(sorry about the length) I'm worried about our cats Tony and Eddie. Tony is 9 years old and has always been a talker and a lover. This June Tony's big brother Oscar died (he was 18). This was a very sad time for all of us - Oscar was well loved. Tony searched for him for a while, stopped eating, was more vocal. After a month or so he started getting back to normal. Around August or September we decided to get a friend for Tony - he had grown up with Oscar, was always around another animal so we worried that he was lonely when we were gone at work. We got Eddie from a shelter. He is 3 years old and we were told he got along well with other cats. He was very loving to us in the shelter and at home (he was kept in the bathroom for a week or so). Tony was very interested in Eddie when he arrived but Eddie didn't want anything to do with Tony. He would hiss and swat at him. This has settled down somewhat - they became tolerant of one another but not friends. Then the shelter we adopted Eddie from sent an email asking us to foster some kittens. We decided to do that and ended up with 3 kittens for a month. Eddie was EXTREEMLY unhappy about this. He would growl and hiss and spit and swat (with claws out) any time he saw a kitten. This behaviour has transferred to Tony as well. Tony wasn't thrilled about the kittens - so much energy - but he was tolerant, and near the end of the month was grooming the kittens and letting them play with his tail (up to a point). We ended up keeping one of the kittens (he's 5 months) and we have high hopes that he and Tony will be friends, but Eddie is still being very aggressive. He will attack Trouble (the kitten) and if Tony happens to be around he will get attacked as well. Tony is stressed and I think depressed. I know it has been a lot of change in a short amount of time. Tony is losing hair. He is no longer chatty, he won't let me hold him (he used to hug me and be so happy he would drool). He doesn't play much and he lets Eddie bully him. I've taken Tony to the vet - his blood work came back fine - so I'm assuming the hair loss is due to stress. His appetite is fine. I'm just wondering if there is any way to work this dynamic out. Eddie is a great cat to humans. He loves to be loved. He does not appear to like other animals. We do not know his history and we are a little upset that the shelter told us he liked/got along with other cats. Should we wait this out, knowing both cats are stressed and unhappy (and Trouble is sensitive to this too) or should we try to find a new home for Eddie? One with someone who doesn't have or want additional pets? We want all the cats to be happy. Any insight would be appreciated.
|cat agression/depression, multiple cat house
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text: As I mentioned I was gone to Phoenix last weekend- for the race and other fun with Misty. It's a trip we've made at least once a year since…what? 2009? Anyway- this year's annual 1700+ mile road trip was fun as it always is. I drove 500 miles from here (central coast of California) to Vegas and spent the night with Misty and Ronald her adorable dachshund puppy. Now what you need to know about Ronald is that he is an excited pee-er. So when he is excited he pees and luckily for me he finds me very exciting. So when I am about 20 minutes out or so- Misty usually tries to take him for a walk hoping to alleviate any possible peeing (on me) marathons when I get there. Anyway, I turn into Misty's neighborhood to see Misty and little Ronald walking up one of the nearby streets. I stopped and said hello and little Ronnie of course wanted to race the car- let me tell you he put his little legs and heart into trying- but he is a mini-doxie and as the shortest legs I have ever seen on a puppy. I beat them to her house so I was waiting for her to turn the corner and as I watched Misty (the ardent Jeff Gordon fan) walk up her little street I noticed something. Let me show you a picture and see if you notice it too:


text:
capturing the moment
Very busy at work. Oh, an editor from Reader's Digest is going to call me this morning to talk about one of my posts from Raising Hell. He may want to use it for a new section in RD, or at least quote me on it.
So, while I clear my desk and anxiously await the phone call, I'll just repeat the post in question, which I wrote on Mother's Day of 2002 and which is one of the few things I've written that I actually printed out and put into a notebook. Just to keep reminding myself of certain things.
Defining Moments
My defining moment as a mother came in 1994, when DJ was 18 months old. I was standing in the cold, bare hallway of a hospital, listening to my child wail and scream from behind a closed door. He was getting a spinal tap and I swear that the needle they were using was larger than he was. They wouldn't let me in the room. It was 1am and I stood in the hallway, pacing and crying and listening. Suddenly the crying stopped. I panicked, thinking they had done something terrible to my child. I ran down the hallway and looked in the tiny window on the door. A nurse was holding DJ, soothing him, rocking him and singing to him. He was cradled in her arms, wearing nothing but a diaper and a scowl. As she rocked him, the scowl turned to a half grin and he fell asleep, his face pressed against her chest.
It was then I realized a number of things.
That I could not always make it all better. Sometimes, someone else besides mommy would be there for my kids, wiping their spills and putting band-aids on their knees.
That this would not be the last time that I felt that sense of helplessness with one of my children. Motherhood is rife with helplessness. From infancy to adulthood, there are moments where you can only stand by as your children combat broken hearts, broken dreams and failed attempts. And all you can do is hug them and listen to them and know in your aching heart that they are learning how to cope.
That you feel every single things your kids feel. When they are getting a shot, you feel that pain in your arm. When they fall off their bike, you feel their scrapes. Your heart sinks after every missed free throw and strike out, after every break up and denied college application.
That you can only protect them so much. You can keep them from crossing busy streets and make them wear helmets and seatbelts. You can get them immunizations and make sure they wear their hat when it's cold out. You can protect them physically, but you cannot put a helmet or a seat belt on their hearts and souls. You can only hold their hand and offer them worn out cliches about time healing old wounds.
That no matter what, no matter what trouble they cause you, what backtalk they give you, that you will love them fiercely and unconditionally and forever. That you will still walk into their bedroom at 1am just to make sure they are breathing, even when they are in their teens. And you will look at their faces and listen to their soft dreaming sighs and your heart will fill with smiles.
That there will be times, many times, when you hate being a mother. When you can't make it all better and when there is too much whining and not enough cooperation and lost homework and messy rooms, and you run into your room and slam the door and wish you could do it all over again. And then you realize. If you could do it all over again, you would be doing this very thing.


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OECD Privacy Policy
As of 06 March 2014
Privacy Protection
This policy establishes how we handle the information we learn about you when you visit the main site OECD website (www.oecd.org), any of its satellite website(s) or any of their pages (collectively "the OECD website(s)"). Protecting the privacy and personal data of our visitors is of utmost importance to us. Protecting your privacy and your personal data is an important aspect of the way we create, organise and implement our activities on-line and off-line. Our Web site follows the principles set out in "Making Privacy Notices Simple: An OECD Report and Recommendations", OECD Digital Economy Papers, No. 120, OECD Publishing (doi: 10.1787/231428216052)"
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text: APK 29,915 Posted August 4, 2015 Facebook v220.127.116.11.15 (All Versions)Requirements: Varies with deviceOverview: Share and stay connected with your friends with the Facebook for Android app. DescriptionKeeping up with friends is faster than ever.• See what friends are up to• Share updates, photos and videos• Get notified when friends like and comment on your posts• Text, chat and have group conversations• Play games and use your favorite appsNow you can get early access to the next version of Facebook for Android by becoming a beta tester. Learn how to sign up, give feedback and leave the program in our Help Center: http://on.fb.me/133NwuPProblems downloading or installing the app? See http://bit.ly/GPDownload1Still need help? Please tell us more about the issue. http://bit.ly/invalidpackageFacebook is only available for users age 13 and over.Terms of Service: http://m.facebook.com/terms.php. WHAT'S NEW • Improvements for reliability and speed This app has no advertisements More Info:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.facebook.katana'>>https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.facebook.katanaDownload Instructions: Facebook_188.8.131.52.15(4.0+).apk - 34.3 MB Facebook_22.214.171.124.15(5.0+).apk - 42.7 MB Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


text:
Master of Science Program
This is a traditional graduate program where the student furthers his or her understanding of a particular topic of interest through additional course work and research. Thesis topics are typically developed cooperatively with a faculty advisor and are regularly aimed at solving a problem of industrial importance.
- Full tuition Research and Teaching Assistantships are competitively awarded. To be considered for an assistantship, apply before Jan. 31st for admission in the fall semester and before Aug. 31st for admission in the spring semester. Students not requesting financial aid should have their applications submitted by May 15th for the fall semester and October 15th for the spring semester.
- Three semesters are typically required
- 30 credit hours beyond B.S. - course (18), seminar (2), and thesis (10)
- Oral presentation and defense of the thesis to a committee of three faculty members


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Impressive! Austin Rehkow, of Central Valley (Wash.) put this one through the uprights with an inch or two to spare, as time expired. The kick tied the game, which CV would go on to win in overtime.
The record for longest FG ever is 69 yards, set in an NCAA D-II game in 1976. The high school record is 68. Yet the NFL record lags, with a three-way tie at 63 yards, and it might be hard to do much better than that. As Chris Kluwe explained in this Reddit thread the other day, the NFL made a rule change a few years back (after the Romo botched snap!), forbidding players from breaking in the kicking balls before a game. How big a deal is that? "It can make a very big impact," Kluwe wrote. "A non-broken in ball is much harder to kick well, and it generally takes us 40-50 kicks to properly break one in."
This will all be rendered moot when Greg Zuerlein hits one from 85.


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Liverpool transfer target Henrikh Mkhitaryan has failed to report for training with Shakhtar Donetsk, according to the club.
The 24-year-old winger has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield, with Metro reporting that the player is close to a £25million switch.
However, a deal is yet to be agreed, and the Ukranian giants are far from happy that one of their prized assets has gone AWOL.
Indeed, general manager Sergey Palkin has called the player's behaviour into question, and insists that a fine will be coming the Armenian international's way.
"Mkhitaryan has not appeared for training. We do not know where he is or if he will arrive in the near future," said Palkin in a statement.
"We have not heard that Mkhitaryan wants to leave. All questions about his behaviour need to be addressed to him. He will be fined for this."
Metro claims Palkin also said that Liverpool were yet to make a bid for the player, although the mystery disappearance would appear to be an indication that Mkhitaryan is looking to force through a move.
He wrote on his official Facebook page earlier in the week that he's unsure what his future holds, but Brendan Rodgers will have to spend big to bring the former Metalurh Donetsk star to Merseyside.
If Mkhitaryan does join Liverpool, then he'd follow in the footsteps of Kolo Toure, Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto, who have all joined the Reds' revolution this summer.