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The women at my office have a book club, but their selections don't usually interest me. I realize that one of the benefits of a book club is to read books you otherwise wouldn't, but as in all things in life, I have limited time. I'd prefer to use that precious time to read books that really speak to me. I've tried to start a book club with some friends a few times, but its never worked out. I have joined a few online book clubs through goodreads, and have come across some great books that way. I've spent a lot of time choosing books based on recommendations of friends, family, my dad, and lists similar to this one put out by esquire, art of manliness, gear patrol, etc. These aren't all testosterone-fueled thrillers (some are). There are a selection of books all men should read, and they just might change the way you think. Below are some of my all time favorites.
The Right Stuff is the best book I've ever read. Its a non-fiction account of the Mercury 7, centering around the space race. Wolfe illustrates the mens' incredible risks and spectacular achievements, while also describing a a frat house atmosphere in which the astronauts constantly tried to one up each other, played pranks, pulled cookies (read it to find out), street raced, etc. I can't do the book justice in this brief review, but if you want to read about men who are the epitome of the manly American male who made this country the best in the world and beyond, this is a book for you. Despite being nonfiction, it has the feel of a work of fiction. Its very readable, and trust me, you'll love it.
Two Souls Indivisible is about the improbable rise of Colonel Fred Cherry, his plane getting shot down over Vietnam, and the bond between him and another soldier, a southern white forced into the same cell as Cherry, an african american, by the Vietnamese in an attempt to break both men. Colonel Cherry spent over seven years as a POW in Vietnam. The book is by James S. Hirsch, author of Hurricane. One of my favorite parts of the book, and a story I've heard several times in person, is when Colonel Cherry helped lock another plane's landing gear into position with the wing of his fighter in midair. Thats just a small taste of the amazing things Colonel Cherry has done in his life. I just recently reread the book, and can't recommend it enough. This book teaches you to dream, that goals can be achieved, and that nothing is stronger than strength of will. Colonel Cherry returned to the United States with honor, the only captive to provide no intelligence whatsoever (not even fake intelligence), under severe torture and duress. This book will inspire you.
Elmore Leonard is the author behind the TV show Justified. I've read the Raylan books (which are good), but my favorite work of Leonard's is his collection of western short stories. You can get through a story in a night or two, and there are a ton of them. If you're inbetween books, or want a short read, this is a great go-to.
This book, like the movie, is disturbing. What is even more disturbing is how you begin to identify with the protagonist, and how the way the book is written draws you into his psychopathic mind. This book is unique, but I still consider it one of the best books I've ever read. Its themes, though dated, are still very relevant today.
I rowed in high school, but I still thought a book about rowing might not be particularly interesting. On my father's recommendation, I read The Boys in the Boat just prior to the Rio Olympics. This book is not about rowing, though rowers will particularly enjoy it. This book is about the American experience, coming from nothing, working together, and achieving something great. Even if my description of this book didn't entice you, click the link below, read some more about, and at least download a sample. Its a really spectacular read.
I don't really know how to describe a Man in Full. The amazon description also leaves something to be desired. If you read the Right Stuff and like Tom Wofle, this you'll probably also like this work of fiction.
I'll end this category with a true classic. The writing is beautiful and I'd never read this in school. Best of all, its free for your kindle on amazon:
In Cold Blood is a novelization of a murder of a family. It starts with the backstory of the victims, the killers planning and carrying out the act, and then being on the lam, while the law tries to catch up, eventually resulting in capture, trial, and justice. If you're interested in more about the plot, check out the amazon link above, or better yet, wikipedia. I found In Cold Blood to be an engaging page turner, and an enlightening insight into the psyches of stone cold killers. From the savagery of the acts, to the lack of remorse on the part of the killers, its a shocking look at what it takes (or perhaps what one must lack) in order to carry out such reprehensible actions. I highly recommend the book, as it was enjoyable to read, and of a subject matter to which I was not very familiar. When I was about halfway through the book, a friend of mine told me that a college girlfriend of his had written a thesis on the accuracy (or rather, inaccuracies) of In Cold Blood, which is credited with being the first (or at least the first highly successful) work of novelized non-fiction.
Hemingway. Pamplona and bull fighting. Testing your meddle. This book belongs on the list and has it all. However, just about any Hemingway book would fit this list, and I recommend all that I've read. If you go on safari, you have to read The Green Hills of Africa.
Another iconic author, especially in the context of manly books. The Rum Diary is Hunter S. Thompson's first written novel to be published (though it was not published first). I think its also the most accessible of his novels. Its about a young man (Thompson wrote the book when he was 22), on a new job, struggling with the prospect of growing up. Its a great read in your 20s, and its the perfect vacation read for Puerto Rico.
Doctor No. was Ian Fleming's 6th book, but it turned into the first movie. Its classic James Bond. The books are grittier and you'll really be able to see how great Sean Connery did portraying Bond, but now, how Daniel Craig is a throwback to the literary Bond. If you haven't read the books, you're in for a treat.
My papaw (grandfather for the uninitiated) always kept a .357 magnum and a Louis L'Amour paperback on his nightstand. Hondo is one of my favorites, as is The Quick and the Dead. If you like L'Amour, you're in luck, because hes written plenty of novels.
How about a modern western? Walt Longmire now has a series on Netflix (pretty good), but I particularly enjoy the books. I've read a few, but so far, the first book was the best.
If you're a DMV local like me, here is a book from a local, set in your hometown. Its a mystery written by a DC street cop. Dude does not play by the rules. The protagonist even smokes cigars at Shelly's, whats not to love.
The history of bourbon, and everything you need to know to enjoy and discuss the finest of brown liquor. Cowdery is the authority.
This is the only golf book I believe can help your swing. But don't take my word for it, my handicap is awful.
If you're interested in the history of Rum, and/or Cuba, this book is for you. I read it before a trip to Cuba, which if you haven't been, you should plan a trip now. While you're at it, there is another Elmore Leonard book set in Cuba.
This is the perfect Caribbean vacation book. Its a great read, and easily paired with a cocktail.
I'm only a cigar smoker, but this was fascinating. Its been a while, so I may reread it…
This book is about a very specific subject matter, but is incredibly informative. I highly recommend it if you like Mint Juleps, but you could also read my comprehensive post here.
Even if you don't like soccer, the world is global now, and its time to appreciate it. This is a great read before the world cup. Another great one is The Ball is Round.
A Tale of Two Plantations is a very slow and dense read. I read it because I wanted to know more about slavery, a topic that is not taught very well in school. This book is a comparison of American and Caribbean slavery, and is very insightful. Its not comprehensive, but it will teach you many things you never learned in school. Particular attention is paid to Virginia and DC, which made it all the more interesting to me personally.
I have a trip planned to the Turks and Caicos later in January. In anticipation of the trip, I've downloaded the following on my kindle:
I've started Rogue Heroes (25% through), and I already really like it. Its about the history of the SAS. The book is about misfits in the British military raiding German air bases in the African desert at night and changing nature of war by inventing modern combat.by rsiv with no comments yet
I just recently finished Richard S. Dunn's A Tale of Two Plantations: Slave Life and Labor in Jamaica and Virginia. This book took me over 18 months to finish (see my previous post about it for more detail). I read some other books start to finish in that time, and I also had my first child, but mostly I took so long to finish this book because it is incredibly detailed. I love a good non-fiction book, but A Tale of Two Plantations will not turn the pages the way, say, The Right Stuff did. Thats not the say I didn't enjoy the book. In fact, I thought it was very informative. The book compares Virginia and Jamaica in in terms of family units, demographics, religion, quality of life, from acquisition to emancipation. It also looks at the lives and roles of slave owners. I think the interesting contrast was that Virginia owners lived closely with their slaves and experienced population growth that allowed them to sell surplus slaves and/or expand their operations. Jamaican slaveowners were absent from their plantations, relying on overseers to continually repurchase new slaves to replace those lost to disease and mistreatment.
The book details the lives of several generations of slaves and slaveholders in Virginia and Jamaica. The book also compares and constrats the two situations. The higher level detail I found to be very interesting. The detail of the individual persons was informative but made for an extremely dense read. Imagine a novel with hundreds of characters, and you will start to see why A Tale was so cumbersome a pursuit. I think I would have preferred to read a higher level comparative analysis without all the details about the individuals, but admittedly, I would have missed a lot of information I found valuable had I enjoyed a more condensed version of the book. While I would recommend the book to those that are very interested in the history of slavery, particularly in Tidewater Virginia, my general feeling is that I'm glad I read this book, but I wouldn't want to do it again. In the interests of brevity and laziness, I'll leave you with a few quotes I highlighted via my kindle. Hopefully some the quotes will spark your interest as this really was one of the most informative and enlightening books I've ever read.
by rsiv with no comments yet
I've recently posted about some pretty dense books. However, I don't always have the energy to get into something like Roman civilization after work, baby, and some wine with dinner. Its also difficult, at least for me, to jump from one book to another. A large collection of short stories is ideal for these situations. My first suggestion comes from the author of the books that eventually became the show Justified, Elmore Leonard.
These are the dime store westerns that made Leonard famous. There are some well-known ones, like 6:10 to Yuma, and many lesser known stories that are also very good. No matter how tired you are, you can get through a story in a night or two. My affinity for westerns has personal roots. My papaw always had a Louis L'amour book next to his .357 on his nightstand. Its nice to think I'm carrying on some of his traditions.
My next suggestion is the works of P.G. Wodehouse. I first became aware of Wodehouse while reading an interview with the writer of the TV series Archer. He mentioned that his affection for P.G.'s works led to him name a character after Wodehouse (Woodhouse) on the show, that also enables him to provide the show a Wooster-Jeeves dynamic. I find it difficult to articulate why I like the stories. The stories are comedic, not particularly dark, but really you have to read them to understand. I think it would easiest for you to search, "Jeeves and Wooster S1 E1" on youtube, and get an idea for the kind of humor you'll experience that way. The collection is not limited to short stories, but at least so far, the novels have been broken up by chapter in a way that is conducive for short sporadic reads.
I'm always look for suggestions on what to read. If you'd like to contribute, head over to the contact me page, and I may publish your suggestion.by rsiv with no comments yet
I recently read Rome Reborn on Western Shores: Historical Imagination and the Creation of the American Republic (Jeffersonian America). I bought this book in February of 2012. I can't remember exactly why, but I think maybe I was watching something on the history channel about Rome, the founding fathers, and the classics, and decided that I didn't know enough about any of the aforementioned topics. I was further intrigued by how these influences played out in Virginia in particular. In history classes, we may have briefly discussed Rome, Greece, and the classics, and then again, when I was in a Greek Letter Fraternity, the topic was touched on again, but I never studied the topics in depth. I bought Rome Reborn in hardcopy as it was not available for kindle at the time. Since it took me three years to get to it, it turns out its finally been digitalized, and with Amazon Kindle Matchbook, I was able to get the digital version for just a couple bucks. Let me start by saying this book examines a very specific topic. Its very dense and more repetitive than I would have liked. A point is made and remade, only to be backed up by one example, as opposed to a more traditional approach of making a point once, and then backing it up with several examples. Even so, I definitely learned a lot. In hindsight, I would have preferred to start with a history of rome, or the founding fathers, and read Rome Reborn after, but live and learn. I graduated college quite a ways back now, waited about three years, and then went back for an MBA. Its been about two or three years since grad school now, and I've got a bit of an itch for knowledge. To continue my study of Greece, Rome, and the classics, I've collected the following.
I did some research, and it looks like Gibbon's The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is as well regarded a work as one can find on Rome. Hopefully this will give me a better foundation for my further studies.
If I get through Rome, I want to look at Rome as it related to the US, with Ancient Rome and Modern America.
Then I'd like a closer look at the thought processes behind the framing of the constitution, so I'll read The Federalist Papers (free if you have Amazon prime!). And finally, I'll look at two more books about how the classics shaped the founders (click on the picture of the book for the amazon link).
And if I'm still interested, I'd eventually like to look at the works/histories/biographies of Cincinnatus, Cato, and Cicero, names, which before reading Rome Reborn, I was unfamiliar.by rsiv with no comments yet
I'm a big fan of Ian Fleming's James Bond series of books. A prima facie consideration of the books is not unlike the general impression one gets from the movies. Thrilling action, quips, gadgets, and women. However, in the books, you get all those things, plus travel guides, hotel and restaurant recommendations, what clothes to wear, what to eat, detailed info on guns, watches, etc. Although the information is quite dated, it really is like merging a men's magazine (like esquire) with an action movie. Admittedly, the movies have become commercialized with a lot of product placement, but you'll never heard Daniel Craig wax poetic about sea island cotton. The movies just aren't the same. With only 14 novels, and some collections of short stories, I'm quickly running out of Fleming to read. In fact, I'm purposefully saving certain books to read in certain locations/circumstances. So what does one read when running out of Bond?
The most obvious choice is more Bond. Ian Fleming Publications has authorized many different authors to continue the series. I just finished The Man with the Red Tattoo recently. It has the exotic locals and sophisticated tastes of Flemings books. In my opinion, Benson is the author most true to the original works. However, I also like the more recent takes on Bond, from Faulks, Deaver, and Boyd.
I'm not a huge fan of fiction, and really see it more as a vacation genre. I've been changing my mind of this point gradually, and decided to try out some other popular authors in the spy and thriller genres.
le Carré is perhaps the most celebrated current spy author, but I did not enjoy the book. While I imagine it is authentic and realistic, it just isn't sexy or action-packed. It is highly regarded on Amazon and Goodreads, but I just couldn't get into it.
Clear and Present Danger was closer to the mark, but it was too political for me. I was much more interested in the special ops on the ground than the politicians fighting in Washington. Again, no one was drinking Bollinger or shopping on Savile Row (though I believe the Cuban guy might have enjoyed a cigar and some kind of aperitif). Tom Clancy is all business and no pleasure.
Jack Reacher is an interesting character. An American protagonist created by an English thriller writer. To me, it seems that Child tried to created an American James Bond. Unsophisticated, no-nonsense, and simplistic. Its kind of an Imperialist take on Americans that Americans will likely find slightly offensive. While Reacher is self-reliant and effective, he comes off as a caricature of an American, not unlike Ricky Bobby. Reacher is on a cathartic journey of right wrongs. He accomplishes this task via personal/intimate physical violence. He is a far blunter instrument than Bond. Killing Floor has plenty of action, a love interest, and is coffee fueled (not unlike Fleming's Bond), but it doesn't have the class and sophistication of Bond that I love. Reacher drifts around the US unemployed and in dirty clothes, randomly getting into interesting situations. While reading The Man with the Red Tattoo, I thought I'd like to visit Japan. I thought I might want to get some sushi and try some different sakes. I ordered some Japanese whiskey I couldn't get locally. Jack Reacher does not introduce you to new things. At least not if you live in the American south where the first book takes place. I thought Killing Floor was a good read, and I might even try another Jack Reacher book, but its no Bond.
So in conclusion, if you like bleak suspenseful and dark spy novels, you might want to give le Carré a try. If you're more into political technothrillers, some Clancy might float your boat. If you like action and seeing bad guys get whats coming to them, Child's Jack Reacher is your man. If you require action, style, exotic locals, black tie affairs, gambling, cars, and la dolce vita as enjoyed by a true bon vivant, you'll have to stick to Fleming, his successors, and perhaps like me, anxiously await the next installment of Bond by Anthony Horowitz (featuring unpublished content by the man himself, Ian Fleming).
(Click the BOOKS category on the left to see more suggestions and reviews).
UPDATE: This post has been getting a lot of traffic, so I thought I'd add one more book and few more author suggestions. The book is from an up and coming author, and you're not likely to hear about it elsewhere.
Red Stick One is an adventure/thriller about love, loss, and revenge. The plot of Red Stick One, has the protagonist on the trail of the man that killed his father figure. During the action, we get a few flashbacks to 'Nam and a love story. The main character is an avid outdoorsman, wildlife officer, veteran, and east-coaster. The book has an Elmore Leonard vibe to it (which is another author you should look into if you're not familiar).
More Authors: I wouldn't call the books by the following authors Bond substitutes, but the Bond series is a manly series, so perhaps you'll share my taste anyway: Hemingway (The Sun Also Rises, The Green Hills of Africa, etc.), Tom Wolfe (The Right Stuff, A Man in Full [two of my favorite books]), Elmore Leonard (The Complete Western Stories of, Pronto, etc.). Click here to see more great book suggestions!by rsiv with no comments yet
I just finished reading In Cold Blood by Capote. In Cold Blood is a novelization of a murder of a family. It starts with the backstory of the victims, the killers planning and carrying out the act, and then being on the lam, while the law tries to catch up, eventually resulting in capture, trial, and justice. If you're interested in more about the plot, check out the amazon link above, or better yet, wikipedia. I found In Cold Blood to be an engaging page turner, and an enlightening insight into the psyches of stone cold killers. From the savagery of the acts, to the lack of remorse on the part of the killers, its a shocking look at what it takes (or perhaps what one must lack) in order to carry out such reprehensible actions. I highly recommend the book, as it was enjoyable to read, and of a subject matter to which I was not very familiar. When I was about halfway through the book, a friend of mine told me that a college girlfriend of his had written a thesis on the accuracy (or rather, inaccuracies) of In Cold Blood, which is credited with being the first (or at least the first highly successful) work of novelized non-fiction. I had a strong urge to investigate these claims immediately, but instead, I finished the book before reading about the controversies.
After I put the book down, I immediately got on the internet to investigate the claims about inaccuracies. In my opinion, the license taken by Capote was minimal. I realize he promoted the book, saying that, "every word" was true. However, the discrepancies that have been proved seem inconsequential to the overall theme/purpose of the book. Any discrepancies between fact and the book seem immaterial. Potential embellishments seem believable if not probable. The result is a book close to fact with good flow.
The main issue most seem to have with the book is the account of how a tip provided to the investigators plays out. It does seem like there is a clear discrepancy between the book, and the official account of the event. I can't say I fully understand why this scene was modified from fact, but it does fit in the overall context of the book. The only difference I can ascertain from the modification is that the lead investigator comes out looking a little better. The book states that the lead investigator acted on a tip the same day he found out, and then dispatched a single man to check out the lead. The man interviewed some people on the pretense of a parole violation, when in reality, he was interested in catching the murderers. Its since been proved that in reality, the tip was not acted upon for five days, at which time four men were dispatched, who made no pretense about their purpose. Does this discrepancy damage the credibility of the author overall? Perhaps. Does it impede the efficacy of exploring and contemplating right and wrong, love and loss, mental health, crime and punishment, revenge, good and evil, justice, etc.? In my opinion, not at all. I certainly was not going to read a government report of the incident, and its unlikely that I'd have been interested in an old newspaper article about a murder over half a century ago in the middle of nowhere. Capote created a interesting and accessible work of art, that is based on fact, and takes some creative license in order to present a cohesive narrative with good flow. Even a factual account would omit some facts, but a straight factual account would not be as engaging. It would not present fascinating characters. It would not make the victims relatable and respectable, and the killers mysterious and intriguing. We would not be drawn into the investigator's obsession. This is what makes In Cold Blood revolutionary, and what separates it from a simple journalistic account of the murders. The proved discrepancies, and potential embellishments do not seem to materially change the axioms of the book, so I don't fault Capote for taking license with the work.
I think the most intelligent argument against In Cold Blood would be that engaging, but completely accurate books have been written, so therefore, there was no need to deviate and embellish. The best example I can think of is more of an historic account, rather than a novelization, but the stories are told in narrative prose, in a fairly similar style to a novel. Where Capote was interested in the wrong stuff, Wolfe chronicled the opposite. The difference between Wolfe's The Right Stuff, and In Cold Blood, is that The Right Stuff concerned well-documented events, and heros that the public could forgive a few faults. Facts were easily checked, and accounts were less likely to be fabricated. In dealing with reprehensible acts, the truth may never be known, even to the perpetrators themselves. Capote likely dealt with conflicting stories, and had to assemble from many parts, the best, most accurate story possible. Capote had to connect the dots and fill in some gaps. Wolfe was more likely concerned with which of many true stories were most interesting, and most relevant. He also probably had to choose between accounts based on which was most entertaining, as opposed to which was most accurate. Working with less certainty, and likely knowing that a hundred percent level of accuracy was not possible (the killers might have been lying, even to themselves, and the dead could certainly not come back to tell their tale), Capote was probably less concerned with total accuracy than he was with efficacy of the story's message. I think Capote ended up with a powerful tale, mostly factual, which left a mark on literature forever.
Here are a couple of articles I read before posting: One, Two.by rsiv with no comments yet
My wife's company provides a stipend for employees to enjoy a babymoon (like a honeymoon but for expectant parents). Friday morning, we put the top down and headed to West by God Virginia. It was a beautiful sunny ride down, and since the drive was about 4 hours, I almost got too much color. We chose The Greenbrier because we hadn't been in seven years, and its America's great resort. Its absolutely beautiful, luxurious, delicious, comforting, and full of adventure (as you'll see below). It really is a special place.
We enjoyed the decor, got settled, and then hit the pool for a late lunch and some mountain sunshine.
For dinner, we went to Draper's. I went with some amazing chicken and waffles and the wife had a pot pie. Everything, including the service, was excellent.
This was our first trip to The Greenbrier since they added the casino. I was a little skeptical when I heard about the addition, but it was well done and enjoyable. After my first proper julep (though The Greenbrier insists on serving their julep with a full length plastic straw – they could at least cut it to proper length), we saddled up to the craps table. We just about doubled our money and decided to celebrate with some Blanton's and a cigar.
We'd only been at The Greenbrier for ten hours, but we'd already had a great time. We couldn't wait for more pool time, falconry, fly fishing, food, and more fun.
Day two started with Southern Eggs Benedict with fried green tomatoes and Virginia ham.
My wife and I have talked about trying out the sport of kings for a while. Since my wife can't shoot, ride horses, etc., due to her pregnancy, we finally had a great reason to check it out.
The scale that the hawk is perched on was one of the most interesting parts of the demonstration. Only hungry birds will hunt, so their weight has to be monitored. We also found out that a Harris' Hawk can be trained in only about 8 weeks.
Falconry consists of the handler walking around, trying to scare up prey, while the hawk perches above and watches. Hunting with larger birds can involved separate handlers and flushers.
When the hawk makes a kill, it shields its spoils and is very possessive. Its important for the handler to quickly offer meat to the hawk in order to get possession of the kill.
We had a great time and learned a lot about falconry. My favorite was the owl. Apparently, an owl could help me with my feral cat problem at home… The falcon definitely looked the coolest. After Falconry, we relaxed at the pool until tea time. This flowah was wiltin', so I opted for iced tea.
After tea, we changed for dinner. It was great that The Greenbrier provided a garment brush since my shoes picked up a bunch of fuzz on the trip down. This was the night of our dinner in the main dining room, so we put on our best, took some pictures, and enjoyed some libations.
I'm surprised my wife didn't get a dress code reminder card for wearing camo:
At dinner, I opted for a julep rather than a glass of fine. Then I ordered some lamb, which unbeknownst to me, came with mint jelly. It actually paired pretty well. The live jazz was also an unexpected but welcome accompaniment.
After dinner, we lost the previous night's winnings and then some in record time at the craps table. With the table cold and it still early, we grabbed our kindles, poured some blanton's, and picked out a cigar. The porch below provided an excellent location to enjoy the evening. It had cooled off, and was beautiful out.
The fountain below used to be outside of a restaurant at The Greenbrier that no longer exists. My family did a 12 course tasting menu with wine pairings there once. It was the first time my future wife and mother got tipsy around each other. It reminded us of that great time we had and we were glad its still there.
Day Three started with a Dorothy Draper omelet (Virginia ham, green peppers, shiitake, American cheese). We had a leisurely morning in the hotel, and then went down to the outfitters' for our excursion.
Another activity we'd been wanting to try, and that pregnant women can do is fly fishing. Our instructor, Demian, taught us the basics of roll casting, and then quickly got us on a picturesque stream. It was a little colder than usual, rain was coming in, and it was overcast. It wasn't the best season for fly fishing, but the conditions weren't bad at all. It couldn't have been more than fifteen minutes before I landed a fish. I was able to keep good tension on the barbless hook by stripping the line, and after a short fight, I netted my first fish on the fly ever. Just a short while after that, my wife hooked up. Demian was over with me still, and after setting the hook, she yelled, "Fish on!!!" Demian laughed, and hustled over to give her a hand. A few hours later, we'd caught 14 fish between us. I credit Demian's teaching abilities and skill at his passion. HB initially struggled with keeping the rod bent and tension on the line, but he was able to show her how to successfully bring in a fish (and she landed plenty). He was quick to switch out flys that were not hitting, and deftly handled any snags we caused while figuring out the cast. We really can't thank Demian enough (though the last thing I need is another expensive hobby).
I have a friend that offered to teach me fly fishing if I taught him sporting clays. Now that I know the basics and have landed a fish, I might have to take him up on his offer. The weather had held out, so we changed for dinner and went out to our sitting spot. I'd finished the book I brought, The Paris Wife, and decided to start on A Moveable Feast (to get both sides of the story).
I thought the picture above was an interesting juxtaposition of old and new. Not unlike The Greenbrier itself.
We'd had such a pleasant dinner at Draper's we almost went back. Instead, we decided to give Cafe Carleton a try. My wife did the prix fixe option, and I order a charcuterie plate. Both were very good, as was the wine flight: No one expects the Spanish Libation. The food was spectacular, and our waitress, Jennifer W was a lot of fun and made great recommendations. After a decadent meal we played the rest of our comp'd slots and then played a few hands of roulette. Nothing hit, but I optimistically reflected that I'd rather be lucky on the trout stream than in the casino.
We ending the night by participating in an old Greenbrier tradition. I won't explain it, as the text in the picture below should do so better than I could.
We decided not to mess with success, and went back to Draper's for our last breakfast at The Greenbrier. I had the Springtime omelet: jumbo lump crab, asparagus, and brie. Our waitress on our last day was not rude, but was not particularly chipper either. Everyone has off days. However, our first waiter, Adrienne came over to greet us. He has noticed that we'd been there three days in a row. He was very friendly, and at least on that day, was a beacon of cheerfulness in a sea of frowns. Adrienne truly improved the quality of our stay.
Later that morning, my wife went to the spa for a prenatal massage and I took my kindle and coffee down to the pool. An elderly lady (lets say at least 75) was swimming lap after lap, and inspired me to swim a few. I got a little winded, but lets blame that on all the booze the night before.
After a short walk, we packed up and checked out. At reception I heard a gentleman say that he had been since the 4th of July and was staying until Labor Day. I was more than a little jealous. HB and I took one last look, and headed off to our next adventure. I don't know how soon, but I know the three of us will be back.by rsiv with no comments yet
I mostly read classics, or novels from very established authors. You are pretty much guaranteed a good book, and there are plenty of them out there. However, I recently got to talking to an author on Twitter, and decided to branch out. He likens himself to Hemingway (definitely in my top 10), and even has a sport fishing book. His newest novel, Red Stick One, is an adventure/thriller about love, loss, and revenge. The plot of Red Stick One, has the protagonist on the trail of the man that killed his father figure. During the action, we get a few flashbacks to 'Nam and a love story. The main character is an avid outdoorsman, wildlife officer, veteran, and east-coaster. When I bought the book, I was hoping for a western-style feel, with a more relatable story. Thats exactly what I got. I am no cowboy, but I do consider myself an outdoorsman. Its a lot easier for me to follow along during a hunt than on patrol looking for 'pache. Overall, I thought this was a great summer read. If I had to provide one criticism, I'd say that the dialogue during the romantic scenes was a little clunky. However, the engaging plot, quick pace, and country voice, all more than made up for it. Red Stick One reminds me of Elmore Leonard's Appalachian-based work, which I believe to be high praise. Before heading out for the last vacation of summer, throw Red Stick One on the kindle. You won't regret it.by rsiv with no comments yet
I chose to read Islands in the Stream while I was in Cuba because of Hemingway's real life connection to Cuba, because we were able to visit Hemingway's home in Cuba, and because most of the book takes place in Cuba. While was I was Cuba, I only got through the first section, which did not take place in Cuba, but it was an enjoyable Island read none the less. The book's protagonist is perhaps the most autobiographical of any of Hemingway's main characters. Its an interesting window into Hemingway's later life. He does not even change the name of his home in Cuba in the book, and the main character frequents many of Hemingway's favorite watering holes while not hunting Germans. If you've not read Hemingway before, I don't suggest starting here. If you're read some of his more popular works, this is a great read for the Hemingway fan. If you're looking for a light summer read, this probably isn't for you. If you don't mind a dark story of love and loss, told in the manly context of fishing, fighting, drinking, carousing with prostitutes, and hunting Germans (but also snuggling cats), this book will put some hair on your chest.
Also, all Hemingway books are best enjoyed with the companion book: To have and have another. I made several of Hemingway's cocktails for Memorial Day, and enjoyed one at La Floridita.by rsiv with no comments yet
I've long been a bourbon guy. I've also been a mint julep guy for quite some time. I can't remember what exactly got me into either, but I can remember the first really good mint julep I ever had. I went to The Greenbrier many years ago and ordered a julep at the Lobby Bar. Despite The Greenbrier's website showing a julep in a clear glass with citrus on its site and a plastic straw on another page, I recall getting a beautiful julep in a proper beaker. It was perfect or damn near anyway. There are so many reasons that its hard to get a good julep at a restaurant/bar, but I think the major obstacle is that establishments do not want to serve such a strong drink. The julep is from another time when people really drank and enjoyed the taste of hard liquor. Nowadays, most people seem to prefer that a drink have no taste of alcohol whatsoever and bars want to serve one ounce or 1.5 ounces of liquor per cocktail. I imagine its also costly to keep fresh mint on hand and employ bartenders that can craft a quality drink (as opposed to those that can only add vodka to redbull). If I'm at a bar thats not known for good cocktails, for say, a work happy hour, odds are I'll order a bourbon or scotch neat. Not because I don't want a cocktail, but because I doubt the bartenders' ability to make a good one in a reasonable amount of time. Fortunately for me I live near Washington DC where there are plenty of excellent bartenders, and even bars with julep history. Here is the problem: If you want someone's interpretation of a classic, by all means, enjoy a julep at any upscale bar. DC has plenty. If you find yourself north of the Mason-Dixon, Nick Nicholls (formerly of Berlin, MD) at Forest Hills Station House can serve you their interpretation from the menu, or a historically authentic julep made to order. So if you truly want the real deal you'll probably have to make it for yourself (or have it made to your exact specifications).
So at this point, I imagine you're wondering, "What is the correct/authentic mint julep recipe?" The answer is that it depends on the timeframe and your preferences. To truly understand the julep, and to become a champion of the julep, one must read, The Mint Julep by Richard Barksdale Harwell. In the aforementioned work, it is stated that one of the first recorded uses of the word julep in America was in 1787. It was said to contain rum, water, and sugar, and was drunk by a Virginian, in the morning. Recall that rum was quite popular in the Colonies at that time, and that whiskey did not become the most popular American spirit until quite a while later. In 1803, the julep was first described as having mint as an ingredient and this time, the spirit used was whiskey. Again, the context is a plantation in northern Virginia, and the julep is taken in the morning.
In the The Bon Vivant's Companion (Jerry Thomas, 1862, source again is The Mint Julep by Harwell) a recipe for the Mint Julep is given, using Cognac, and a splash of Jamaica rum. Other recipes with various base spirits are given, but Cognac and Jamaica rum is given as the standard. Notice the published date (more on that later).
Elijah Craig is credited with first aging whiskey in charred barrels. This is said to have happened at his distillery, built 1789, and before his death, in 1808. By 1793, "Old Whiskey" was a term used in advertisements, and by 1814, the actual number of years the whiskey had been aged was advertised. That said, straight off the still 'white dog' whiskey is what predominated (Bourbon, Straight. Cowdery). Even though charred barrel aging was starting to be used, the modern practice of using brand new charred oak barrels once (and only once), would not become a standard practice until much later. 1849 is the first time whiskey is described as being red in color (Bourbon, Straight. Cowdery). At this time, whiskey was very very rarely sold in bottles. Distillers sold white whiskey to wholesalers, who then might, "rectify" it, by charcoal filtering, adding fruit, redistilling it, or some other process to improve the flavor. There were no laws about labeling, so if you could make whiskey look dark, and you could sell it as aged whiskey (Bourbon, Straight. Cowdery). After the bottled in bond act of 1897, and the invention of a bottle making machine in 1903, bottled whiskey, and guaranteed aged whiskey, would become more common. Once can experiment with unaged whiskey in a julep, but I'd wager you're unlikely to love the result.
So now that you know a little more about the spirits that are often used as the base for the julep, lets talk about when/why one should use each.
If you want a colonial/antebellum mint julep, one that a Virginia statesman such as many of our founding father's would have enjoyed, I suggest Madeira, Cognac, brandy, or rum. It would also be authentic to use claret (red Bordeaux) or unaged whiskey, but again, I don't think you'll enjoy a white dog julep, and a claret julep does not have the strength of the other options. Madeira was the preference of many of the more wealthy planters, but at around 20% alcohol or 40 proof, it is not quite as strong as a hard liquor. My suggestion is to use Cognac or brandy, but feel free to substitute any of the above options in my recipe below. I also like to add some rum for a little something extra.
Colonial / Antebellum Mint Julep
Add roughly 10 mint leaves (preferably Kentucky Colonel) to a metal beaker (Julep cup) and bruise lightly to bring out their aroma. Fill beaker with crushed ice. Add sorghum syrup (or equal parts sugar and water, heated to create a syrup) to taste. I suggest roughly a quarter ounce of syrup. Add Cognac to the beaker until almost full. Add a dash of rum to the beaker, preferably Jamaica rum. Mix with a spoon. Top with more crushed ice. Garish with a sprig of fresh mint, and serve with a metal straw that just crests the rim of the beaker.
Despite the knowledge I've tried to impart, I can imagine that many of you cannot accept a Mint Julep without whiskey. Fortunately, my next two recipes do include whiskey. Recall that white whiskey was a drink of the common man. In the The Mint Julep by Harwell, there is an account of a wealthy Virginia planter drinking a Mint Julep made of whiskey, but this was during the Civil War when good liquor may have been hard to come by. In the reconstruction era, many southern families fell on hard times. It is likely they drank white whiskey in their Juleps. I do not suggest that you do the same (at least not regularly), but I will provide the following recipe:
The Reconstruction Era Mint Julep.
Add roughly 10 mint leaves (preferably Kentucky Colonel) to a metal beaker (assuming the Yankees didn't loot your family silver, and you haven't had to sell your valuables to a carpet bagger) and bruise lightly to bring out their aroma. Fill beaker with crushed ice. Add sorghum syrup (or equal parts sugar and water, heated to create a syrup) to taste. I suggest roughly a quarter ounce of syrup. Add white whiskey to the beaker until almost full. Mix with a spoon. Top with more crushed ice. Garish with a sprig of fresh mint, and serve with a metal straw that just crests the rim of the beaker.
In the early 1900s, brown liquor was starting to become more common. Unfortunately, prohibition would change that. Moonshine was plentiful and white whiskey remained the king. So to enjoy a modern mint julep, one must wait until post-prohibition when the medicinal bourbon distilleries got back to capacity, and new distilleries opened to meet demand.
The Modern / Post-Prohibition Mint Julep
Add roughly 10 mint leaves (preferably Kentucky Colonel) to a metal beaker and bruise lightly to bring out their aroma. Fill beaker with crushed ice. Add simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, heated to create a syrup) to taste. I suggest roughly a quarter ounce of syrup. Add bourbon to the beaker until almost full. Mix with a spoon. Top with more crushed ice. Garish with a sprig of fresh mint and sprinkle the mint with powered sugar. Serve with a metal straw that just crests the rim of the beaker.
Have you ever heard that its blasphemy to mix good bourbon? Well… thats a good rule, but like all rules there are exceptions, and rules are made to be broken. I like to use what I consider to be middle-quality bourbon in my juleps. My overall suggestion to you is to use Elmer T Lee. ETL is really more of a top shelf bourbon at a middle price level (as of the writing of this post), making it a great value. It also has a lot of sweetness, which works well in a julep. If you prefer to use bottom shelf/value bourbon, for Kentuckians, I suggest Very Old Barton. Its easy to find and about the best value on the shelf. For Virginians, I suggest Virginia Gentleman. If you're from somewhere else, you can probably still find one, if not both of these options. If you prefer top shelf bourbon in your julep, I bet you already know what you want to use.
If you haven't already, notice that The Greenbrier's mint julep recipe is quite similar to the Modern recipe I've provided. The Greenbrier succeeds in making a quality modern julep, but I think they have a luxury of budget, and a tradition of history, that no establishments can match. Others can and do put out a quality julep, but it is rare. This is especially true since many high quality bars like to put their own spin on a julep. There is certainly nothing wrong with that, but this post is about history and the classics.
I'd like to take a quick aside and talk about my copper julep cup. I bought these after seeing an article about them in Garden and Gun. They're beautiful, but also significantly larger. Copper is not traditional, but I highly recommend them (especially in addition to a more traditional set).
Making a great mint julep is fairly easy to learn, but difficult to master. So how and why does the julep get ruined in restaurants? They use the following recipe:
The Post-Modern Mint Julep
Take the fundamentals of the mint julep as provided above. Then consider mass appeal and profit.
Examples include serving in a glass with a plastic straw, adding soda water, using granulated sugar, using the wrong type of mint, the list goes on. If you have to add fruit, at least choose a fruit that grows in the south, in America. Strawberry or peach are examples of authentic additions. Let me briefly clarify my comment about granulated sugar. It can be used to make simple syrup. It should not be stirred into water or bourbon as it does not completely incorporate. If you are too lazy to make simple syrup (which when made most simply, involves pouring equal parts water and sugar into a pyrex container/mug and microwaving for about a minute) then at least seek out superfine sugar, which dissolves much more quickly than granulated sugar. Lets look at a real world example of a Post-Modern Julep:
Branch water is not I-talian sparkling water. They used lemon, but not a beaker. "Southern style." I've had this julep and it is enjoyable, but given this bar's heritage, I expect better. One could ask for no sparkling water, and no lemon, but it would still be served in a glass.
Now, my gift to you, lets watch a true master craft a julep the way God intended:
This master and champion of the julep discussed the seasonality of the julep, gave us a history lesson and a physics lesson, and recited a poem, all while teaching us the art of the mint julep. I have never seen such an informed and passionate barman. Truly an inspiration.
Post Bonus: An interview with, and an article about, Chris McMillian, the bartender featured above.
If you're looking for more recipes, The Mint Julep by Richard Barksdale Harwell has a wealth of detailed poetic instructions and rituals. As you can hopefully tell, as a Virginian, and bourbon connoisseur, I take my mint juleps seriously. I hope I've gathered and presented information on this quintessential American cocktail in an entertaining, interesting, and informative way. My goal was to create the most comprehensive and subjectively superior blog post on the julep to date. Its my sincere hope that you procure a julep cup, julep straw, Kentucky Colonel mint (spearmint from the grocery store or your garden will do in a pinch), and use this post to make yourself a truly great julep.
When the mint is in the liquor and its fragrance on the glass
It breathes a recollection that can never, never pass–
When the South was in the glory of a never-ending June
The strings were on the banjo and the fiddle was in tune,
And we reveled in the plenty that we thought could never pass
And lingered at the julep in the ever-brimming glass.
— Clarence Ousley
If you need some supplies:
Julep Cups (I suggest silver-plated (my preference) or pewter, assuming your budget/inheritance doesn't include silver. Figure out what size/volume you want. My copper cups have a 12 oz capacity. I would estimate that my silver plate cups have an 8-10 oz capacity.)
Julep Straws (You want the straw to come to just above the rim on the cup, so that one can enjoy the fragrance of the mint while sipping. Steel straws can be cut with a dremel tool, with a metal cutting disk. I use a copper tube cutter for my copper straws, which are really just lengths of tube I cut down to size.)
Kentucky Colonel Mint (my local herb place didn't have any of the colonel this year, so I ordered it online. Mine shipped from Richmond, so at least a Virginian got my money.)
Nugget Ice Machine Just like sonic or cook out. One of my least favorite parts of making a mint julep is finding my lewis bag and mallet. This takes a lot of the work (but perhaps some of the soul) out of making a julep. I love mine. For better or worse, it definitely has me making more juleps.by rsiv with no comments yet


text:
William Blake. Creative Will and the Poetic Image.
Lindsay, Jack.
London: Fanfrolico Press, 1927. Small slim 8vo, (6), 55, (1)pp. Illustrations in the text by Lindsay. Original green paper-covered boards, red cloth backstrip, lettered in gilt. Fine copy. A scarce little book by the well-known Australian poet and artist Lindsay. Bentley, Blake Books, 2131a notes: A highly personal and impressionistic effort to define the condition of mind his work represents, and to expose its psychological machinery.
(Item Id: 5751)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Alun Rafique MCIPS CEng, MIMechE
Co-Founder, Market Dojo, eSourcing made simple
"Stephen is a great accountant to have. Not only does he have great expertise in this area, he offers good advice and provides a service over and above the call of duty. We had gone through several accounts before finding Stephen and none of them truly cared about their work which often left us picking up the pieces. With Stephen we are confident everything is in order and up to date.skyrocketed! I made back the purchase price in just 48 hours! I couldn't have asked for more than this."


text:
We would like to express our special thanks to the Charter Sponsor of the Young Caymanian Speakers Bureau – CIBC – and to our Founding Partners, The Ritz Carlton, Cayman National Corporation, Mr. Rod Hansen and Mr. Roy McTaggart, as well as our many valued friends who shared their time, talent and a multitude of resources. Without them, this programme could not have been launched, and we are profoundly grateful for their support.
Because of their belief in our mission, the message of hope put forward by the YCSB and its dynamic young speakers will be spread far and wide across these Islands. When the voices of so many positive role models are amplified, transformation is possible, and great things are sure to happen!


text: Just the other day, I watched a prominent conservative pastor debate a prominent progressive pastor on the issue of human sexuality. For almost thirty minutes, I watched the conservative pastor quote verse after verse to destroy any argument the progressive pastor presented. At one point, the conservative pastor screamed, "Do you even own a Bible?" While I don't believe that the Bible is the center of the Christian faith, I do believe it's an important part. I was absolutely embarrassed for the progressive pastor. He had no arguments (Biblical or otherwise) to counter any of the arguments of the conservative pastor. If someone was completely neutral and had no opinion, they would after watching this debate. I believe the progressive pastor did tremendous violence to LGBT people. How many kids will be further abused because of this debate? How many more kids will contemplate suicide because of this debate? How many adults will be further ashamed of who they are because of this debate? The consequences of biblical illiteracy are great. I could argue that this was an isolated incident if I didn't know the truth. I have seen it over and over again. Progressive Christians are completely unable to engage fellow Christians and our culture on a wide variety of issues because they do not know the Bible. The consequences are frightening. I pray that the Gideons will hurry up and visit Progressive Churches. Somebody please call them before another Progressive Christian embarrasses the faith and puts others in further danger.


text:
Artists: Alex Bruz
Alex Bruz
The Gallery Tattoo Studio
Paris Street Mercedes CARACAS
Instagram: @AlexBruz
What year did you start tattooing?
February 7, 2012 I remember it perfectly.
How did you get into tattooing?
I never thought about tattooing, I started as a client and one day I bought my own equipment because I wanted to learn, inspired by my father who is an artist and sculptor.
Did you have formal training?
When I decided to learn I attended many seminars held by national and international artists. I'm mostly self taught, I researched information, and I observed what other artists did when they tattooed me.
You are sponsored by a few companies, what do these sponsorships mean to you?
It is the best, and I do not see it as a publicity exchange. I see it as people and companies that believe in what I do, and trust in my talent. That support is what makes me committed, what gives me the passion to do what I love every day better. I would like to take advantage of this opportunity to say thank you to my sponsors Electricink and Universal Tattoo Supply, who supply me with the materials I need to work. I recently joined Hush anesthetic, and Volcom has been there forever.
You work mainly in black and grey, why have you decided to do?
It's not that I prefer to work in black and grey tones; it's that because of the skin tone of the majority of my clientele, mostly Venezuelan, it is recommended to use "shadows,' so that the color doesn't dull out.
You occasionally work in color, which do you prefer and why?
I recommend using color when the person's skin is very fair. Although I enjoy working in color; it is more practical for me to work with shadows because it only requires the use of black with water.
What about realism appeals to you as an artist?
I generally try to be an integrated artist, despite the fact that there are styles that I still haven't mastered, like Oriental, but realism for me is a challenge, to achieve a photograph's dominance of light, contrast and volume.
How do you test your boundaries as an artist?
Working everyday, working hard on each job. I try to be a perfectionist, and pay attention to the details in each piece. I give myself challenges like finishing a whole piece using only one machine, with only one magnum 15 needle.
What other media do you work in?
Only instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and working on my website.
What tattoo artists do you most admire?
In my country Axel Lopez, who was my tattoo artist and has given me many tips, Darwin Enriquez who is a great artist and is always evolving, Emersson Pabon who is a comprehensive and high quality human being, and international Nikko Hurtado who is an icon in color and solid technique.
Do you travel for conventions? Which will you attend this year?
Up to now I have only attended conventions in my own country, but I do have plans to accept the invitations I have received from other countries.
You are living/working in Venezuela, what is the tattoo scene like there?
There is still prejudice and it is still thought to be taboo. In the past few years people's views on tattooing have evolved greatly. In a sense, a new generation of artists are being born, myself included.
What kind of tattoos do you look forward to doing?
Large pieces, full back pieces and I'm looking to create my own style that is more than just a good technique.
Is there a tattoo that you have not done yet that you're dying to do?
Yes, legendary guitarist Slash of Guns N' Roses.


text:
Suddenly, I'm allergic to…food.
A week ago, I asked my friends for advice on dealing with food sensitivities. Lately I've been having weird and extreme reactions to food, that I've never had or realized before. I'm getting tested for allergies in a few weeks but want to do all I can in the mean time to help my body calm down.
Enter Whole30.
My wonderful friend Wendy (who is allergic to Facebook but amazing at private support hehehe) has been dealing with the exact same issues and strongly recommended the Whole30 program, which I've considered before, but never done. It's popular among triathletes and others.
Whole30 is a 30-day health reset in which you eat meat, fish, veggies, healthy fats, nuts (if you aren't allergic/sensitive) and a little fruit. And black coffee, thank God. NO added sugar, honey, etc., no booze, no dairy, no grains of any kind, no corn, no soy, nothing processed whatsoever, no additives like carageenan etc. It's similar to a strict Paleo, which I've been experimenting with for the past two months with great results but not great consistency.
Why do this? It's supposed to be great for inflammation and I am strongly suspecting that extreme joint inflammation caused by undetected food sensitivities may be the ultimate root cause of all or most of my pain issues over the past year.
One of the ways they describe Whole30 in the book is: "…the Whole30 is not a diet. It's not a quick fix. It's not even a weight loss program. The Whole30 is designed to change your life. It's a monumental transformation in how you think about food, your body, your life, and what you want out of the time you have left on this earth. It's so much bigger than just food. It's a paradigm shift the likes of which you may only experience a few times in your whole life."
Those are some mighty large claims. I am definitely up for a life-changing experience and we'll see if this lives up to it. I just finished the first week…it's been quite the roller coaster ride, with a happy end-of-week status and some pro tips and helpful reading at the end.
Day 1 Excited and Anxious.
Amazing breakfast: sweet potatoes, kale, broccoli, eggs and a little bit of fresh pineapple. SERIOUSLY I FEEL BETTER ALREADY. Black coffee? You mean, like, without almond milk and honey? Oh HELL no. I'm highly skeptical. But, actually, it's not so bad. Later, the anxiety kicked in. Someone said to eliminate nuts, one of my favorite snacks. That feels like it is threatening my very existence. (I know, right? WITH THE DRAMA. It all feels very dramatic at the time. Food is emotional.) Someone else says fruit is the devil. I'm sticking to the letter of the Whole30 law and keeping my fruit, but cutting back to a couple servings a day. I think I might be sensitive to nuts and might need to let those go.
Day 2 Eff This Shit.
I do not feel better…I feel pissed off and super crabby. Had no time for a real breakfast, and it's pretty difficult to just grab and go on this deal unless you are far better prepared than I was this week since I just decided to jump into this head first. Cold beets and special "paleo-approved" bacon is not an inspiring start to the day. Egg salad with avocado instead of mayo wrapped in leaf lettuce for lunch is vile. The beef we slow-cookered for dinner looks like a bike tire. Three total meal fails in a row made me frustrated and overwhelmed. (I don't have time for this! There's NO WAY I have time for this!) I ended the day hungry and sobbing, cradling Whole30 cookbooks in my arms.
Day 3 OMG I FEEL AMAZING!
My energy was on the low side during the morning gym workout, but my body felt less achy and my digestion was more functional. I observed a definite connection between my digestion and my pain level. Whole30 breakfasts – when you have time to do them right – are the BEST. Sweet potatoes, kale and eggs again. (Egg fatigue will set in soon, I'm told.) I also realized I need to focus on chewing more slowly; I don't think I've chewed my food in the decade since G was born which has likely been, you know, a bit of a problem. Mid-afternoon hibiscus tea appeased my sweet tooth (or "sugar dragon" as Whole30 people seem to call it). I think almond butter on celery gave me a stomach ache. Please, God, do not take my almond butter. This is the "bargaining" stage of Whole30, apparently.
Day 4 Meh.
Day 5 I need to let go of the scale.
I'm supposed to stay off the scale. I haven't been staying off the scale. It's not ABOUT the scale. It's about the NSV (non-scale victory), which for me is less pain and inflammation and more energy. I have less pain. My energy hasn't rallied yet, but it will. In the end, I didn't stay off the scale. But I will. I SWEAR. I will from now on, until day 31.
Day 6 WTELF. (What the ever-loving f-bomb.)
I have been all-in on this Whole30 for SIX WHOLE DAYS and I felt like total ass this day, with swollen joints. Oh yeah, I ate some regular, nitrate-free, non-paleo-approved bacon the day before. Yes, there really is special paleo-approved bacon without added sugar (Jesus. They put sugar in every damn thing). Technically, I am supposed to start the program over because I sugar-poisoned myself; however, I don't plan to quit after 30 days so I'm going to just keep rolling. I baked eggs inside avocados (which is nowhere near as easy at it looks) and ordered special 100% coconut milk sans guar gum. I can't WAIT for it to arrive; this is what my food life has come to. Almond butter on celery immediately gave me a stomach ache, again. So almond butter is dead to me for now and life isn't fair. *sobs* Still, I am fascinated by how in touch this has made me with my body and its sensitivities. That's pretty damn cool.
Day 7 Mind…Blown.
I woke up feeling super crazy tired, which evidently, according to the Whole30 book, is extremely normal at this stage when your body is used to burning sugar and isn't getting it. I was also tired of plain black coffee, so I put in some full fat coconut milk and cinnamon and it was a very satisfying change. I found myself getting in the groove and ate amazing today – eggs, avocado, kale, dates wrapped in paleo-approved bacon (SO freaking good), cod, broccoli, zucchini, blueberries, salmon, sweet potatoes and asparagus. I am also trying to make sure to leave at least 3-4 hours in between eating instead of grazing like I normally do, so my digestion works better.
I worked out at home after a long-ish dog walk, and it was rather unbelievably great. My joints were moving in ways that they haven't in a year…after ONE WEEK. I went right back into plow pose with zero effort. I haven't even been able to do cat/cow without pain and stiffness in SO long and it felt normal. I tested light sumo squats – NO problem. I even decided to jump on the treadmill and throw down a test of some 6.0 intervals – and felt PERFECT. I can't even explain the difference in my body. I have no words. I'm still stiff and sore first thing in the morning and have a long way to go, but I believe this is going to help, big time.
Pro Tips and Helpful Reading
Here is the guar-gum-free coconut milk you can order. Technically guar gum is allowed, I'd just rather get it out. Wendy also suggested subbing cashew butter for my dearly departed almond butter, which seems better on my tummy. Be careful, though, I accidentally bought cashew butter at the co-op that has safflower oil in it, which is also technically permitted but not ideal. It drives me crazy when even the organic food co-op adds crap to otherwise healthy whole food. Read. EVERY. Label.
Read about carageenan from the point of view of a cardiologist. It's one of those ingredients in commercial almond milk that I've always wondered about, but didn't really want to know. Well now I know and I won't be consuming it any more. If you're ordering almond latte and thinking you're being healthy, as I was, sorry, but you're not. Cut that shit out. It's crazy inflammatory and possibly carcinogenic.
Another super-smart food friend, Rachel, wrote about Leaky Gut and the Allergic to Everything Phenomenon. It's a really great read and her blog is a great resource.
Week Two…I'm All In.
I will most *definitely* be continuing this Whole30. I can't WAIT to see what week two brings. I'll be much better prepared this week, and I need to massively thank my husband, Karl, who does a ton of food prep for me.
Have you ever done Whole30? Did it help? Would you ever try it?


text:
Hello and welcome to The Compost Bin. I'm Compostwoman and I live with my family in rural Herefordshire. We have nearly four acres of garden and woodland, all managed organically, which we share with Chickens, Cats, Guinea Pigs and assorted wildlife. We also grow a lot of our own food, run courses in all sorts of things and make a lot of compost!
I work as an environmental educator, lecturer, writer and Forest School leader at Moors Wood . I am a Master Composter and have spent the last 11 years as a volunteer Community Compost adviser with Garden Organic and my local Council. I offer talks and run workshops and events where we talk about compost, veg growing, chicken keeping, cooking, preserving and sustainable living. We also make crafts and have fun.
We try to live a more self sufficient lifestyle here, as best we can, while still having a comfortable life and lots of fun. To learn more about us click on the About Compostwoman tab and remember to click on the photos to make them full size!
Friday, 4 April 2008
Random photos from the garden
I LOVE this time of year.
Our garden looks at its best in the late spring and early summer( although I am working on planting up more herbaceous perennials in the beds)
I wandered around in the sunshine today, listening to the birdsong, watching compostgirl on her bike in the sunshine, and took a few photos of the lovely flowers in the garden.
I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoyed looking at the originals!!
4 comments:
Great stuff!ReplyDelete
Tis my favourite timeof the year too.
I have some new bulbs to plant and also am ordering some bluebells soon for the area under the sycamore tree.
Great stuff!
Wow CW, AWESOME playlist!!ReplyDelete
You may wish to lend an ear to Blackfoot, Ozark Mountain Daredevils and Fairport Convention...to hunt the black hare will really make you smile!
(Chris's oh)
Thanks Mike!ReplyDelete
I will look on playlist .com to see if any are on there ( I can only pick whats on the list, sadly...)
As I have lots of those bands on vinyl...( wow, showing my age or what!!)
I love Bluebells Mrs N!!ReplyDelete
Our wood is now very blue...I MUST get a photo of it to post for you all to see!
Hello! Thank you for reading my blog and for commenting. I try to reply as quickly as I can and I really appreciate your interest in my life and doings here in The Compost Bin.


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A leader of a rising German nationalist party says it won't tolerate members having contact with the far right, comments that come after the leadership dissolved one of its local branches.
Alternative for Germany, or AfD, announced Thursday it was disbanding its branch in western Saarland state over "serious infringements of the party's political objectives and internal order." That followed a report by Stern magazine alleging contacts between two local party leaders and far-right figures.
AfD co-leader Joerg Meuthen told Bild newspaper Friday the party had to act. He said: "There is no tolerance in AfD of contacts with the far-right scene … anyone who violates (that rule) must face the consequences."
AfD powered into three state legislatures in elections March 13 after campaigning against Germany's liberal policy on migrants.


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Teva to buy Allergan's Anda distribution business for $500m
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has agreed to acquire Allergan's Anda distribution business for $500m.
Anda is currently the fourth-largest distributor of generic pharmaceuticals in the US. It delivers generic, brand, specialty, and over-the-counter pharmaceutical products from over 300 manufacturers to pharmacies.
Under the deal, Teva will buy three distribution centers in Olive Branch, Mississippi, Weston, Florida, and Groveport, Ohio.
Until the completion of transaction, Anda will operate as a stand-alone business and report to Siggi Olafsson, president and CEO of Teva's global generic medicines group.
The deal is subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions and is anticipated to close in the second half of this year.
Olafsson said: "The addition of Anda and their ability to service over half of their 60,000 customers within 24 hours, combined with our existing offerings, will allow us to provide even better service to our customers."
Anda is estimated to generate over
Allergan said it will report its Anda business as discontinued operations starting with its second quarter 2016 earnings report.
For the second quarter of this year, Anda is expected to contribute about
Allergan has recently sold its global generic pharmaceuticals business to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries.


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Many times we find ourselves in doubt about whether attending the gym brings us more benefits than exercising alone in our homes or in parks, etc. Any form of exercise is good, but of course, the gyms being a specialized place for exercise, they bring some advantages that other places do not have.
When you attend a gym regularly you become a lifestyle because you relate to people who attend the same place as you and who perform your same type of activity, which makes you feel more comfortable leading this way of life to be shared.
Shredquarters is a gym in reading that arises from the idea of improving the quality of physical activity, making available to its users the necessary means to achieve their personal objectives, both in sports equipment and in qualified personnel, ensuring the greatest possible training efficiency.
Our semi-private training structure allows us to ensure that our users will have the right material and qualified personnel in each and every one of their training sessions.
Shredquarters is much more than a reading gym, it is the last generation personal training reading Center, whose objective is to advise and help people of different profiles in the achievement of a series of objectives related to health, well-being, sports performance and body image.
The training service with experienced coaches and with unlimited access to more than 30 classes does not make one of the best gyms in the area. Shredquarters is completely available to the guest, and he can use all his facilities while he is on his schedule. It is an unprecedented gym, its breadth and diversity of services being its essential characteristics.
The Gym in Tilehurst is the perfect place for recreation and although we accept only 400 members, we guarantee weight loss and muscle gain. Here you can see how more than a gym is a social meeting place for those who like to stay in good physical condition.


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Welcome to the second Azerbaijani lesson about adjectives. This time we will first learn about colors, followed by grammar rules, then weather expressions, finally a conversation in Azerbaijani to help you practice your daily phrases.
In general adjectives are words which describe or modify another person or object in a given sentence. For example: a beautiful flower the adjective is [beautiful] because it describes the noun [flower]. The following examples use adjectives in different ways and places to demonstrate how they behave in a sentence.
|Grammar Rules
|my house is white
[noun + adjective]
|mənim evim ağ rəngdədir
|your country is big
[noun + adjective]
|sizin ölkəniz böyükdür
|new books are expensive
[plural + adjective]
|yeni kitablar bahalıdır
|we are happy here
[pronoun + verb + adjective]
|biz burada xoşbəxtik
|she has three small dogs
[adjective + plural]
|onun(qadın cinsi) üç balaca iti var
|this language is very easy
[adverb + adjective]
|bu dil çox asandır
|I have a small green house
[adjective + adjective]
|mənim kiçik yaşıl evim var
We're not done yet! The following is a list of more adjectives for you, often used when referring to weather conditions. I think it would be wise to memorize them.
Now we finally reach the most exciting part, the practice of the daily expressions used in almost every conversation. I recommend memorizing these phrases, because you will need them for sure.
|how are you?
|I'm good, thank you
|çox sağ olun, yaxşıyam.
|and you?
|bəs siz?
|what is your name?
|sizin adınız nədir?
|my name is Maya
|mənim adım mayadır.
|nice to meet you
|sizi görməyimə şadam.
I hope you enjoyed this lesson about adjectives in Azerbaijani. If you have any question about this lesson please contact me here. The next lesson is below.


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At approximately 1:46 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 13, K-9 Deputy Doug Watts observed a pickup truck traveling northbound in the southbound lane of U.S. Highway 441 near the 3500 block, headed right for him. The truck then crossed over a paved median and continued to travel north. Watts made a U-turn and initiated a pursuit.
Additional deputies responded and joined the pursuit that reached speeds exceeding 90 mph. The driver, John Baxter, 52, of Southwest 97th Court, Ocala, ran four red lights while traveling north on 441 through the city of Ocala. Stop sticks were deployed causing Baxter's front passenger tire to go flat and he slowed to speeds of 45-55 mph.
As Baxter continued to flee from law enforcement, Watts performed a P.I.T. maneuver and successfully disabled the vehicle. Baxter was ejected, but was not seriously injured. When deputies asked him if he had been drinking, his response was "Not enough, I guess."
*A 33-year-old man was accused of aggravated domestic battery on a person over 65, battery on a law enforcement officer and felony criminal mischief.
Jack William Denali, of Southwest 53rd Avenue, was taken into custody in the evening of Nov. 16.
According to the report, he struck a woman in the head with a full beer bottle. When the officer went inside he found Denali and handcuffed him, placing him in the sheriff's cruiser.
According to the report Denali became angry and began yelling and hitting the patrol vehicle, kicking the window areas. After two deputies tried to subdue him, he became more violent and was transported to the jail. During the ride he kicked out the rear driver's side window with his feat and began to damage parts of the vehicle's interior.
At the jail he still was resisting and trapped a deputy's hand between his handcuffs, causing lacerations to the deputy.
Back at the home, a younger victim said he had been stabbed with a screwdriver, and a room and a garage had been vandalized. Deputies noted that there was broken glass, broken eyeglasses and blood in the residence.
*Deputies investigated a burglary at a vacant home on Southwest 151st Place in Florida Highlands. Copper electrical wiring was taken.
*A duplex on Southwest 101st Place Road was entered and several items were damaged. The unit is vacant and is being repaired.
*Multiple houses in Bahia Oaks were vandalized by being spray painted between Nov. 9 and Nov. 10. Similar vandalism was reported to a residence on Southwest 60th Avenue.
*A Dunnellon man was arrested for retail petit theft and given a notice to appear after an incident at Walmart on Nov. 12.
Mark Wayne Albritton, 43, of Southwest 153rd Lane, is alleged to have taken two boxes of Prilosec. He set off a security alarm and was detained by the store manager.
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- "we are Not gods, nor faith, but we have guitars and scenarios '
- The universal deluge of Foo Fighters
it was three hours, but also an entire life. Foo Fighters were directly last night to very heart of what is a concert of rock and roll. Nerve, blood, sweat, tears, illusion. All of se words took place and y came toger as an act of magic in Barcelona at same moment that a band of planetary scope, whose natural habitat are major festivals and stadiums, were banging on instruments as if it were first gig of ir lives to a room of no more than 1,200 people.
it Was a secret concert and surprise. Secret because no one knew in what place or what time band, who this summer took rock hard to ancient Greek Acropolis it was going to play. And surprise because, beyond information published by THE COUNTRY and radio station M80, official media of event, could not be known that this group, able to rally tens of thousands of people as happened in festival Mad Cool, I was going to get into a venue like BARTS to present internationally ir new album, Concrete and Gold, published just 24 hours before. But it did happen. And how it happened.
All went back to origins, even Foo Fighters. Since it was not was only because of characteristic cry, which released Dave Grohl to jump to scenario, such as a letter of presentation, but by much more. For everything important. It was for a band that came out with urge to trample and to live that feeling of a bar, gambling den, hall of all life, in ir own meats. Again. And after both. Like when you had to prove something and eat life. But something more essential: when having fun was most important. The environment could not be more supportive: throughout world re was a fan and was at foot of canyon by a group that, even with a success so overwhelming, who knows how to keep essence of alternative rock. Knows how to draw teeth when you have to take m out and set fire to guitars when I turn it on.
Foo Fighters bombed privileged, with Monkey Wrench, Learn to Fly and White Limo, just more out to fore. That was delirium. And y were first minutes of a concert that lasted close to three hours, which gave free rein to new songs such as Run, Sky is Neighborhood or Sunday Rain. All people bouncing and singing along to lyrics, types through air, tossed about between dozens of hands from one side to anor, mobile recording to last detail, Grohl spitting water to public, group sweating as if you were playing it for paycheck and spirit of living a unique experience. It was. The communion with audience was perfect, so much so that what from first second you stopped to be seen as a promotional event. Neir band gave rise to it playing classics from his repertoire as a Pretender or Best of You, and, above all, shooting all bootloader versions of Ramones, Lenny Kratvitz or Knack.
In a full party, Grohl asked who I had seen before, and nearly whole room raised his hand. The second, he cried out: "Who has not seen it before Foo Figrs?". And a handful of daring he stretched out his arms. "Fuck, we have 20 years of playing", he growled Grohl with smile on face. "Let m," he blurted. And Foo Fighters were presented as if group depended on those first-timers.
it was three hours, but also a lifetime dreaming of moments like this. Moments in which a group major and esdrújulo, a band generation and of massive impact, can be reduced by a night in a room of concerts of whole of life and focus as few times in what matters. And your audience also. Moments that demonstrate to everyone because we are all in this as delusional so-called rock and roll. Anthology.


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Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Be the first PennLive.com user to add photos or videos of Chiropractic Evaluation Ctr
Chiropractic Evaluation Center can be found at Center Rd 218. The following is offered: Doctors & Clinics. The entry is present with us since Sep 9, 2010 and was last updated on Nov 14, 2013. In Monroeville there are 82 other Doctors & Clinics. An overview can be found here.
Chiropractic Evaluation Center is a Chiropractor facility at 218 CENTER Rd. in Monroeville, PA.


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Blago Considered Oprah For the F****** Senate Seat
Lord knows, she had the F****** cash to pay for it.
The embattled Democratic Governor of Illinois today "Good Morning America" that he considered giving Oprah the senate seat.
"Good Morning America" has the video.
The AP reported:
The embattled governor told ABC's "Good Morning America" that the idea of nominating the talk show host came to him as he explored potential candidates for the job that federal prosecutors allege he tried to sell to the highest bidder.
"She seemed to be someone who would help Barack Obama in a significant way become president," he said. "She was obviously someone with a much broader bully pulpit than other senators."
The governor worried, though, that the appointment of Winfrey might come across as a gimmick and that the talk show host was unlikely to accept.
In the end, Blagojevich appointed former Illinois attorney general Roland Burris to the vacant seat.
The revelation that Winfrey was considered came just hours before his impeachment trial was set to get under way in Springfield. The Democratic governor is refusing to take part, arguing that the rules are so biased that he can't possibly get a fair hearing.
The Democratic Governor also played the "gospel song" card:
"There is old gospel song, 'One Day at a Time Sweet Jesus. With something like this, you take one day at a time. And then you trust in the truth And then you trust in a fair system of justice. And I still believe in America. I still look at the U.S. Attorneys and the federal investigators and all of those who have been pursuing me for four years, I still see them as the good guys. But I see me as one of them. I see us on the same side."
In related news… For some odd reason the media is ignoring the subpoenas served to Obama senior staff their first week in office.
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- About
- Current Students
- Fall 2018 Admissions
- HU Scholarship Program
- News and Events
- Programs
- Prospective Students
- Contact Us
Marilyn Saulsbury received a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy. She is a registered pharmacist who has licensure to practice pharmacy in Virginia. Dr. Saulsbury graduated from Meharry Medical College - School of Graduate Studies and Research where she completed her studies and acquired a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the Department of Pharmacology.
Dr. Saulsbury's research interests include the determination of plausible mechanisms by which broad spectrum organophosphate insecticides (organochlorines) alter the expression of gonadotropic releasing hormone (GnRH) and interfere with the normal functions of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (the sytem that integrates the nervous and reproductive system).
Her professional organization membership includes the Southeastern Pharmacology Society (SEPS), Virginia Pharmacists Association (VPhA), the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) and the Consortium of Doctors, Ltd. (COD).


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Creative Storefronts and Interior Spaces
Storefronts, signs, sales centres and wall graphics designed to grab attention and present a professional and well crafted brand image. Pixel Pop has the experience to craft beautiful and effective interior and exterior spaces. Working with only the best sign fabricators and suppliers, Pixel Pop can manage and coordinate large and small projects for complete consistency and head turning appeal.
Core services
More services
- Photography
- Copy Writing
- Video Production


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Hotels in Kenansville, North Carolina
Search & Compare Kenansville Hotels
Save up to 40%!
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Best hotels in Kenansville
Kenansville overviewCheck out local attractions like River Landing Golf Club and Lake Leamon. Whatever you're into, Kenansville has something for you.
Where to stay in KenansvilleWhether you're planning to stay for a night or for the week, the area around Kenansville has accommodations to fit every need. Search for hotels in Kenansville with Hotels.com by checking our online map. Our maps display the areas and neighborhoods around all Kenansville hotels so you can see how close you are from landmarks and attractions, and then refine your search within the larger area. The best Kenansville hotel deals are here with our lowest price guarantee.
How to get to KenansvilleFly in to Jacksonville, NC (OAJ-Albert J. Ellis), 22.3 mi (35.9 km) from downtown Kenansville.
What to see around KenansvilleHere are some local highlights:
- • River Landing Golf Club
- • Lake Leamon
- • First Baptist Church of Wallace
When to visit KenansvilleWondering when's the best time to visit? Here are seasonal norms to help you plan your trip:
Seasonal temperature averages
- January-March: 68°F day, 29°F night
- April-June: 89°F day, 41°F night
- July-September: 90°F day, 54°F night
- October-December: 78°F day, 29°F night
- January-March: 11.30 inches
- April-June: 11.65 inches
- July-September: 18.46 inches
- October-December: 10.00 inches


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Will the person on the Kasich-Taylor ticket the campaign spent $250 for a makeup artist please step forward? Not so fast, Mary.
Apparently, John Kasich is a metrosexual.
(HT: Mark Naymik of the Cleveland Plain Dealer)
Who's Kandi Mayo?? Why, she's the fabulous makeup artist for your next Columbus wedding, bridal shower or Bat Mitzvah.? She's the makeup artist for celebrities like health food author Bethenny Frankel and GOP gubernatorial candidate John Kasich… her apparently only … male client.
Here's what $150 got the Kasich campaign…
Now imagine that with $150 less in cosmetics.
On second thought, maybe booking Kandi Mayo was a good call.
$80k in web consultants, $10k in private-chartered jets, over $40k in polling, and hundreds in hair and makeup, yep, John Kasich sure is one of us…
Pingback: Have Coffee Will Write » Blog Archive » MY COMMENTS…()
Shalom Brian,
Hey, it might not be a sensible cloth coat, but it's no $400 haircut. 🙂
Pingback: Jon Keeling campaign finance spin FAIL…()


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We think the formula for success is a simple one: offer competitive rates, provide excellent banking services, and treat people well. So we're building our reputation and our performance on outstanding services. Visit our branch today and see for yourself.
We offer all the banking products you would expect with the excellent service you deserve.
Our branch is sure to make you feel right at home, with plasma TVs and comfortable seating.
Our branches are open six days a week.
We would love to meet with you or talk on the telephone to discuss.
Checking accounts with no minimum balance, unlimited check writing, no per-check charges, and no monthly service charges.
Check your personal & business account balances and activity, view paid check images, pay bills online, and view past account statements.
No monthly service fee; daily limit up to $1,000 in purchases per day; maximum of $500 in cash withdrawals per day; no transaction fees.
No fee to use our coin counter, you can either deposit the money into an account or simply take the cash.
Accessed through online banking using the bank's routing number, see your financials all in one place.
Call Hanover Community Bank at (516) 548-8500 for more information on our banking products and services. Branch location, hours of operation and other related information can be found on our Contact page.
Have more questions? Check out our FAQs page for additional information.
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Summer Vacation on the Shores of Green Lake
Like most people around the country right now, we are counting down until the first day of summer. Though it's still a few weeks away, summer activities on Minnesota's Green Lake are already well under way. Many of you have already made plans for summer vacation, but if you haven't, now's the time to book a relaxing summer getaway to Minnesota's best lakeside Bed and Breakfast; the Spicer Castle Inn. Here, life slows down, worries disappear, and your perspective on the daily grind of modern life will change thanks to the pure joy of living in the moment. With numerous recreation areas nearby and an infinite number of ways to relax and unwind, there truly is no better place to be for summer vacation this year than at the Spicer Castle Inn. Book your room today, and experience Minnesota's most relaxing lakeside Bed and Breakfast this summer.
Summer Vacation on Green Lake
For years, people have been coming to the calm, beautiful waters of Green Lake for their summer vacation. The Spicer Castle Inn, located lakeside, is the perfect place to enjoy that getaway. The quaint town of Spicer is about 90 minutes west of Minneapolis/St. Paul; there's no excuse not to visit! The Inn itself is situated on a 5-acre property with scenic walking trails, a dock for your boat (or you can borrow ours!), and a delicious restaurant to fuel you up when needed.
There's no doubt that our favorite way to spend a summer vacation is on, or in, Green Lake. It's a large, deep lake, and is one of the most popular in the Willmar Lakes area, whether it's for fishing, boating, or just swimming. There are 6 public access points into Green Lake, including the popular Saulsbury Beach, which is perfect for those who want to swim. Boating is easily accessible, and fishermen will find a treasure-trove of walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, black crappie, and bluegill.
If you want to spend some time on land, there's lots for you to do there, too. The 22 mile Glacial Lake State Trail provides miles of excellent paved trails for exploring. Sibley State Park is also a beautiful place to spend a day. You can get there on bike if you want, via country road 148. Ride or walk up to the Observation Tower at Mt. Tom, the highest point for 50 miles. On a clear day, you can see for miles, offering rewarding views of Minnesota's beautiful lake country. There are also 5 additional miles of biking trails to enjoy in the park, and several lakes in which you can cool off for the afternoon. Spicer Bike & sports is a great place in town to rent a bike if you're so inclined.
There are also several wonderful golf courses located nearby, including the Little Crow Golf Club in Spicer, and Eagle Creek Golf Club in Willmar. For something truly unusual these days, enjoy one of the evening shows put on by the Little Crow Ski Team. They ski at their home site Neer Park on the Crow River in the neighboring town of New London, and they put on a show every Friday night during the months of June, July, and August. Of course, you can always just stay on the property at the Spicer Castle Inn and enjoy our lakeside patio with a delicious glass of wine. It's up to you how to spend your summer vacation, but one thing is for sure: Book your getaway to Minnesota's Lake Country today.


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I happened to stopped by at Goldilocks this afternoon. My intention was to buy buttered puto but had picked up a window cathedral instead just because I was attracted to its color. lol.
Just perfect for colorful weekend right?
I'm sharing this too for Color Connection hosted by pretty little girl Ms. Burrito.
Have a Wonderful Weekend Everyone! *kisses*


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Expand your business by selling adventure activities It's quick and easy!
Whether you wish to sell online, offline, or through a call center, Kumutu is able to provide you with a simple effective way to grow your business by selling adventure activities. Our solutions are customised to fit your needs and earn your company commission for each activity sold.
Become an affiliate
We continue to enhance our API and are currently developing a white label solution. If you are interested in getting access to our operators to sell or distribute adventure activities, please follow the instructions on our API Access page. If API access is more advanced than what you are looking for, contact us for more options.


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This 60+ hours iOS course is the one course you may ever have to study Swift three, Goal-C and change into a paid developer.
What Will I Be taught?
Create your personal iOS 10 apps
Apply for iOS developer jobs
Select one of the best design sample on your app
Monetize your expertise
Add your personal iOS apps to the App Retailer
No programming expertise required
College students should have a Mac OSX System
College students must be passionate sufficient to create superior iOS Apps!
The one iOS Course in Udemy Platform that's protecting Swift and Goal-C Programming languages deeply. If you wish to change into an expert iOS Developer that may create any sort of iOS Functions, take this course and i'll see you within the course.
These are a few of the critiques of the scholars which might be at the moment enrolled on this course:
I like to recommend this course 100%, the teacher takes its time to clarify each single element in swift, and goes time and again the instance many times so on the finish you will have a very good and profound understanding of what he's explaining.
Sidney Lorenz Vogel
Glorious course with nice depth of the language making it a should have course. I'd suggest it extremely.
Carlos Blandino
It is a good course. Very instructional. I solely want that there may very well be pdf's of transcript or instance codes in winrar format. Thanks and extra energy
Ryan Azur
materials is excellently organized and very effectively offered.
Great expertise and priceless info.
Extremely suggest the course.
Tori Pleasure
Teacher is simple to observe and breaks up every lesson appropriately.
Thomas J. Carlin III
video high quality awsome and really straightforward understanding
Arjun Yadav
Very helpful, comprehensible, clear English, EXCELLENT!
Holly Religion
We're continually including new lectures to the course. The course is at the moment not in its ultimate kind and you'll count on it to be over 90+ hours lengthy! Our objective is to make an iOS 10 for Inexperienced persons course that has the identical top-notch high quality and depth as our Android for Inexperienced persons course!
Do you know the typical iOS developer makes about $90.000 per yr? You can also be a part of them!
By the tip of this course, you can monetize your iOS 10 Developer! Whether or not you've by no means coded earlier than otherwise you're already an iOS developer, this course embody supplies that take you to the subsequent degree.
And if you happen to're not glad, you may get a refund at any time! The course is 30-days money-back assured!
Throughout this course, you may study:
Easy methods to use the Swift programming language
Easy methods to use the Goal-C programming language
Easy methods to create superb iOS 10 apps
Easy methods to add your apps to the Apple App Retailer
Easy methods to monetize your iOS growth expertise
The entire classes are display screen recorded in HD 1080p so you may see all the pieces I point out throughout the lectures (take a look at the free preview sections!).
I'll personally be answering any questions you will have and I'll be completely satisfied to supply hyperlinks, assets and any assist I can give you.
In the event you're seeking to change into a top-notch iOS developer and monetize your expertise, click on Take This Course on the prime proper of the web page and let's get began!
Who's the target market?
College students should have a Mac OSX System
Anybody who is raring to create cell apps
Anybody who desires to monetize their cell growth expertise


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African festival in Amsterdam
Afrovibes presents today's most surprising, intriguing and extraordinary African artists and creators. Every year, the festival introduces an enormous selection of young, urban and contemporary music, theatre, dance and design, inviting collaborations with young Dutch talent too.
Head to the Afrovibes website for tickets and more information.


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Clip Art of a Gray Moon Crater Surface Background
Astronomy Clip Art © Arena Creative
Royalty free Astronomy clip art of a gray moon crater surface background. This background stock astronomy image #120 was designed by Arena Creative. Please note: this image is protected by copyright law and may not be used without buying a license. To acquire the license simply click on the 'Download Digital File' button.


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Pet cannot tell us much about their own health. There are only two ways most owners discover a problem in their pets health. Either:
1. The pet develops an illness to the point that they begin to suffer in their daily life; or
2. A wellness check by a veterinarian discovers some hidden sign of illness before the pet is suffering.
Of course its much better to discover illness the second way, via a wellness examination, long before your pet begins to suffer.
We offer comprehensive examinations and testing aimed at keeping your pet well. By monitoring and checking your pets health regularly, problems can often be found early and potential health disasters avoided.
After years of treating and diagnosing pets health issues, our Veterinarians know what signs to check for on your pets health.
Our exams are for YOU too….sort of.
When we examine your pet we can also educate you as the 'pet parent' about what is normal for a pet like yours and what you can expect as your pet gets older. Animals of different breeds, size and age have a variety of health needs. By being educated early and taking an active role to maintain your pets health, you will likely extend the life of your pet, prevent needless illness and suffering and keep them healthy so you can enjoy your time together..