text:
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Today's The Day
And the crowd...goes...WILD!!!!!!
Believe it or not, I am as excited about this for dear Karinarina, as I call her, as I am about the first game of the Stanley Cup Finals. I know! That's a lot of excitement two days in a row. I may need to lie down. Apply a cold compress to my brow.
At this point, Roommate usually sighs and makes me a cup of tea. Decaf. Because...well. I need not explain.
Anyway. The book release party is tonight. I'm leaving the job early--yes, I asked. Yes, I got coverage. I'm not a complete savage, you know. Roommate and Best Break-up Ever Man and I are all taking a short drive to Karina's city and celebrating with her. I will not lie to you; there may be squealing.
Stop judging me.
Then tomorrow I fly off to the east coast to see a Very Nice Person. I will land [in theory] forty minutes after the puck drops. VNP has promised to drive straight from the airport to the nearest sports bar. How sweet is that?
But tonight is all about Karina and her book. YAY, KARINA!!!
Now go buy her book. Yes. Now.
Monday, May 30, 2011
I'm abundantly blessed in the fact that the friends I have who serve and have served this country have not given the ultimate sacrifice. I am grateful, immeasurably, to those who have.
With thanks from a grateful nation.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Just rewards
One of the big challenges of the this "lifestyle change" [pause for requisite vomiting noises now] is finding non-food related rewards. This is really hard! Don't mock, it is. My way of thinking is as follows:
Situation: I did something well!
Reward: COOKIES!
Situation: I made it to the gym!
Reward: ICE CREAM!!
Situation: I sat through a required work meeting, AKA Coma Of Death.
Reward: FOURTEEN PIECES OF PIZZA, LARGE HOAGIE WITH EXTRA EVERYTHING, STEAK, POTATOES, MUSHROOMS SAUTEED IN BUTTER, A LOAF OF SOURDOUGH BREAD AND AN ENTIRE CHOCOLATE MOCHA CHEESECAKE!!!!
But this is, evidently, bad for one. Apparently, this is counterintuitive to one's lifestyle change.
Go figure.
Roommate and I have struggled to find rewards for our efforts, small and large. The big one was relatively easy: When we reach goal weight, we're going to Italy. We have plenty of time to plan for this. Believe me. Plenty of time. But the little rewards are tougher.
Here's the thing. I need something to anticipate. This is why food was always such a lovely little treat for me. Knowing that I would go out to breakfast after making it through a hideous week helped me get though that hideousness, and hey...I have to eat anyway, right? It's relatively inexpensive [as opposed to a flight to Dublin] and available everywhere. But chicken fried steak and eggs with piles of hash browns and buttered toast is not the best method of reducing the acreage of my ass.
I'm trying to come up with as many mini-rewards for Roommate and myself as I can, but it's not as easy as one might wish. Manicures and pedicures are our fall-back reward, and btw, our nails look fabulous! We buy flowers for each other. And provoke more unfounded gossip, which is really, a reward in and of itself. Heh.
Oh! We will go to see Santana in concert [one of Roommate's favs] after a significant goal is achieved. Not sure what the achievement will be, but there it is.
At twenty-five pounds lost, we will go out to dinner--don't yell! Wait for it--and we will dress up, really dress up, and make it an event. The food will be part of the reward, but we will pick a place that we can enjoy and stay on plan.
Once I'm under a Certain Weight, I will go to Cedar Point Amusement Park and scream my guts out on the roller coasters.
But my butt has to fit into the seats first.
I have no idea what to do for the in-between rewards, though. I suppose I could continue with the flowers. I could develop a shoe obsession. I could expand my collection of teacups.
Yes. Teacups. What?
Fine, you're so clever, you come up with something better.
.....I'm waiting.
Friday, May 27, 2011
She's Not Spoiled.
Tuppence Marie, my wee beastie, was a bargain. No, really. She was. My mother, the Cheapest Woman On The Planet, felt the amount of money I was willing to spend on a puppy from a reputable breeder was unreasonable and instead, found a bargain puppy for me. This was four and a half years ago.
Since then, my baby girl has had necrosis on the head of her femur, femoral head osteotomy, weekly water therapy to rehabilitate the hip, ear infections, dew claw surgery, spaying and endless treatment for skin problems. Yup, she's a bargain!!!
She eats "Limited Ingredient Diet" kibble and is only allowed grain free treats. She is allowed baby carrots and dehydrated sweet potatoes as incentives. She is bathed a minimum of once per week with ketoconazole shampoo. She is known by name at the vet's office.
I have not tallied her actual cost. I am too afraid to do so.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
TOO EXCITED TO BLOG!!! [Okay, almost.]
Yes, I have been talking about this to everyone at work. Yes, I did make my coworker's ears bleed when Ryan Kesler tied the game with 12 seconds left in regulation time. Yes, I did jump up and down in my living room, shrieking, when, after thirty minutes of overtime, Kevin Bieksa whapped the weirdest goal in history past Antti Niemi.
Btw, do you think there's an Uncle Niemi? Just wondering.
Fortunately, Roommate is a forgiving soul, was expecting the shrieking...and did not have to work today. Otherwise, things might've gotten ugly.
Must go run around in circles now, shrieking and waving my arms. Don't judge me. After all...
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Are kids smarter?
The boy thought about it for a moment. "Mmm, yes," he replied.
"That's nice." I smiled at him as I switched tubes. Dad remained stoically silent. "Are you going to do anything fun?"
"Go to school," he answered. "Then play outside maybe." The child spoke clearly enough, but the letter L was a small challenge for him. I realize this is not something parents wish to have happen in their children's lives, but non-parent types like myself often find it charming.
"I hope the sun comes out for you. Do you think it will?"
The boy considered this possibility with the seasoned cynicism of a native Pacific Northwesterner. "I don't think so." He tilted his head and mulled a bit before adding, "It was a little sunny yesterday, though."
"It did get sunny for a little while yesterday," I agreed. "The sun popped out, but then it ran away and hid again!"
The child frowned and shook his head. "No, the clouds covered the sun."
Well. Right you are, Oh Wise One. How could I argue?
Monday, May 23, 2011
Wait a minute!
Look closely:
How delightful! Chocolates! Which, as we all know, I adore. And one measly point per yummy bundle of goodness. Could anything be better????
Now we have something that Tonya can hurl at my ravening maw as I'm spiraling into a complete junk-food-deprived meltdown. But wait a minute...
According to myfitnesspal.com,
Calories in Weight Watchers Whitman's Double Chocolate Mousse Candy
Nutrition Facts
Weight Watchers - Whitman's - Double Chocolate Mousse
Candy Servings: 3 pieces ) Calories 160
Total Fat 10 g Total Carbs 24g
Dietary Fiber 6 g
Sugars 11 g
Protein 2 g
When one uses her handy-dandy point calculator on the SmartPhone that is smarter than she is, one learns the this candy is TWO POINTS PER PIECE.
Oh, sure. Eat three pieces and it's five points, but one piece--ONE LOUSY PIECE--and the point value is DOUBLE the purported point value on the packaging!!!!!
I am appalled. I am outraged.
Normally, one would take this opportunity to hurl chocolates at me at this point, but the points...are askew.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Pride Goeth
It's true! Any time I get too full of myself, ANY TIME, I am smote.
Now, I don't think last night's loss for the Canucks had anything to do with me and my inflated sense of self. I'm not quite that delusional. Close, but not quite. I am very impressed with the way the Canucks battled back and lost only by one goal. It wasn't the win I wanted for them, but...it wasn't a 4-0 loss, either.
4-3. So close. So very, very far away.
Assuming enough of the teams still exist on this plane after the Rapture occurs [what time was that supposed to happen again?] Game 4 will be played tomorrow in San Jose at noon. No matter what, there will be a Game 5 in Vancouver.
Again, assuming there are enough heathens in the NHL and working at Rogers Arena. Otherwise, who will drive the Zamboni? Who will fly the planes carrying the players? And oh, wow, wouldn't it suck to be on a flight with an all-Christian flight crew today?
But I digress. Yes, again. But hey, if the end of the world is coming, why not?
I wonder if there will be hockey in heaven. The ice would melt in hell, so not there. Ooo! That really would be hell, wouldn't it? Beautiful rink, excellent equipment...and the ice keeps melting?
Anyway. Game 4, tomorrow. See you there.
Friday, May 20, 2011
The Way Things Usually Go
Of course.
Sadly, I've had to change my password so many times, I've now forgotten which was the correct, most recent password.
And, as my happy little sundae of joy needed a cherry on its apex, today is my scheduled day off, it's GORGEOUS out, I have all the free time in the world to work on the yard and put in my garden...and I got called in to work.
Well, who's surprised?
It is a glorious day and I will leave work early today. I get to go see puppies. And The Canucks will face the Sharks at 6:00 PM, my time. And although I have to work tomorrow, I don't have to be there until 8:30 AM.
Half full. The glass is half full.
Where the hell is that waiter?
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Hotmail Hacked!
Okay, almost any sort?
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
What benefit?
By a landslide.
Darling invisible one, in case you wondered, a FWB is a pal with whom one has sex. No emotional ties, no commitment, no interest in the other person past the parameters of the arrangement. It's a perfect set up for the person who wants the pipes cleaned without the actually investing in the equipment.
Perhaps this is why I have begun to feel like a prostitute. Or at least, like a potential for the job.
I suppose I can count myself lucky that the most of the men on this tally are casual friends or acquaintances. Most of them aren't just looking for a quick roll in the hay before saddling up and riding off. I feel reasonably confident that a few of them might even saunter into the farmhouse for a meal after. Strangely, this does not make me feel better.
Nor does it make me feel any better than so many of these cowboys are married men. I'm not exactly sure why a married man would think to make me such an offer, but there we are. The Desperately Unhappy Married Man. The Contented In All But One Area Married Man. And the delightful Separated But Not Quite Divorced Married Man. [Bonus points if the SBNQD version still has his Merely A Legal Formality Wife still living with him.]
If I think about it too long, my brain starts to bleed.
What about me calls out to this crowd, I wonder? I don't think it's desperation. After all, I know how that feels; I have had the dog under the buffet table feeling before. The eggs are all past their expiration dates, so no rush there anymore. I'm capable of mowing my own lawn and hell, if you dig at a stump long enough, eventually someone will show up with a truck and some chains. So why now? Why the onslaught?
I don't see the benefit.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Needed on my keyboard
"Yes," I replied firmly and okay, a bit snappily.
"But in a way that..." she began and trailed off.
"What, do you think I could couch it in terms that might make a difference? That there's some way I could approach the Omnipotent Comedian that might affect the outcome?? In a way that the OC might not know what I was actually thinking??????!!!" Wearing my best are-you-kidding-or-just-delusional expression, I then performed an impression of myself. Well, me-as-an-incredibly-reasonable-and-diffident-person. Quit laughing. It could happen.
"Hey, look...coupla things I want to go over, if You have a minute...."
Pfft. A blind man could see through that. That approach out of my mouth has more holes than freaking macrame. And not the good, tight, not-stoned-in-the-70s macrame, because that's not really saying anything, is it?
My coworker was silent for a few moments. "Yeah," she said slowly. "I don't know why I said that."
And this is why we need a delete button.
Monday, May 16, 2011
A Thousand Words
It's true. I hate Mondays. Part of me wants to feel sorry for Mondays, but then the larger part of me beats the crap out of that part and tells it to shut the hell up.
...you hang in there.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Sunday Evening
First: CANUCKS WON!!!!! Yes, it was only game #1 of the series, but the Sharks were hot tonight, especially during the first half of the game. The Sharks also scored first, so I was especially pleased that the Canucks came back to win.
Added to this, my lovely neighbor Robin's husband was teasing me relentlessly, saying that the Canucks would lose and that they only have one good player. Oooo...it got ugly after that. Roommate had to drag me out of their home. When the final horn of the game sounded, I reveled in the gloat-call.
Then I tried a new recipe from my darling pal Kristen. She loves to send me sinfully delicious recipes she finds. No, really.
Gnocchi mac&cheese, made with fontina, parmesan and gruyere. http://noblepig.com/2010/08/28/gnocchi-mac-n-cheese.aspx
That's right. Need I say more?
In an attempt to be supportive to the Weight Watchers ordeal, she sent me a recipe for healthy chocolate cake. Plus, I think she was tired of my whining and bursting into tears with every new recipe. With this recipe, I switched the AP flour for whole wheat and made it into cupcakes. Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....
Finally, I battled phyllo dough and...well, I didn't lose outright. I made breakfast pockets for Roommate, with chicken sausage and peppers and scallions and feta cheese and eggs. I have no idea if Roommate will like them.
Friday, May 13, 2011
In response:
You know by now, darling invisible friend, how I adore the comments made on this blog. Oh, it's not quite the high-pitched squealy talk that accompanies an email with baby koala bear photos, but I am delighted. Almost gleeful.
No, I'm not about to break into a musical number. Different glee.
Anyway. My dear friend Mo, of the spicy Cuban variety, asked some very good questions in her last comment. If you haven't had a chance to peruse them, here they are:
In order to determine how worthless this new machine is, I will need these 3 questions answered:
Question 1: Why is the power going out at this place so often???
Question 2: Can Windex take care of the smudge problem? Or do you need
some sort of new-fangled cleaner for this new centrifuge?
Question 3: Is there an override to make it stop beeping?
If I may, I shall address these questions now. And, as it is my blog, I may. Heh heh heh.
Answer 1) My building has a day surgical suite on its first floor and requires extensive back-up power sources. No one like a power outage mid-surgery. No, really. I'm serious. Then ask a surgeon. Pfft. Many of the outagesoccur in the off hours, to test these sources. These outages do not have the same effect on the lab, of course, but they happen. What does affect the lab is the out-of-the-blue shutdowns due to wind or other weather or just weirdness in general. I don't know why. I do know the Omnipotent Comedian likes to wait until we're mid-spin on a boatload of specimens. No, I don't know why on that one, either.
Answer 2) Windex or another cleaner would/does work on the smudges. But the smudges still appear. Gah! WHY??????
Answer 3) There is no override for the beeping. Not that I've yet discovered, that is. I do, however, have a sledgehammer. I'm calling that Plan B.
My coworker just asked me if I voted for Obama because, she giggled, "He's all about change."
Blogspot ate my blog from yesterday!!!!!!
I'm a wee bit miffed.
In other news, my parents are in town and staying with one of the aunt/uncle sets for the weekend. We all [Roommate included] met for dinner last night [thanks, Dad!] had a lovely little chat over a nice meal. My Aunt Mary Lynn giggled every time the name of my blog was mentioned. No, seriously. It was adorable. I don't think she'll become a follower, but she was amused by it.
Her darling husband, Uncle Larry, found the blog on his iPhone and immediately honed in on one that featured my mother. My mother sat there, blissfully unconcerned, as he read a tiny snippet of it. I think Mom's opinion is the Internet is just a passing fad. If she has an opinion at all, that is. This is the woman who calls me from the lake cabin to tell her how to turn on the television.
To be fair, it's satellite tv and the remote is fairly complicated. But she makes me look techno-savvy. The DVD player completely stymies her. Let's not talk about texting. It isn't pretty.
Sigh. I will have to revisit the questions asked by spicy Cuban Mo next time.
Disappearing blogs! Gah! What a world.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Loose Change
"We talked about your unwillingness to change last time," she said. "I haven't seen any real improvement in that area."
So...you're saying my resistance to change is unchanged? Huh. Weird. Whodathunkit?
Look, I know I'm resistant to change. I know it isn't a good quality. But here's the thing, in certain arenas [coughworkcough] change inevitably means disasters of epic proportions.
That last bit might be a slight exaggeration.
But things go wrong in the lab when there's change. Stuff gets lost. Samples are collected incorrectly. Everything takes so much longer, which means work stacks up and people become querulous. I find it distressing. Then I become very put out. Harsh words and bad language often ensues.
I'm just saying.
My antipathy toward the C word now encompasses new work equipment. Don't look at me like that--if the stuff worked, I wouldn't have a problem with it. Or worked as well. I think people bring in new stuff just because it's new, not necessarily better.
I may, however, overreact. The teensiest bit. Like I did yesterday.
The centrifuge in my lab was fine. Fine. But because one had to push back a bit on the lid, a new one was brought in. The baskets [the things that hold the tubes] are strangely shaped, making more difficult to set opposing weights perfectly. This is important, for a centrifuge. It beeps when it's done spinning. Constantly. Until you open the lid. Beeps. Yeah. And the fan is really loud. And if the power goes out as we're spinning samples...we can't open it. That's right. We have to call someone in.
All of this was bad enough, but after the technician left and I was loading tubes into the new [grr!] centrifuge and across the top, I saw...smudges.
"ARG!" I shrieked. "Look! Look, the top is all smudgey!!!!"
"Well, what got on there?" asked my faintly harrassed coworker. "Maybe Nick had something on his hands."
"It's not what made the lid smudgey," I snapped, grabbing a disinfecting wipe and scrubbing the offending marks. "It's the fact that the lid can get smudgey at all. The old centrifuge never got smudgey!"
My poor coworker's lips trembled. "You know, my life was okay until you joined Weight Watchers!! Now, I can't just give you a cookie!"
See? I'm not the only one who doesn't like change.
Monday, May 9, 2011
What a Weekend.
Hello, beloved. I'm so sorry I haven't chatted with you over the weekend, but I was a little busy. With him.
Haha! Did you believe me? No? Not even for a second? Fine. You're right, actually. I wasn't with him. I was with the lady who wrote/created him. Yes, I had the privilege of hanging out with Big Whoop-De-Doo Author Cherry Adair.
I don't call her that, her husband does. He's called that from the beginning, before she was even published, God bless his sweet heart. He's a good egg, all in all. I keep telling her, "You should marry him."
I find I'm much more successful matchmaking if I stick to people who are already married.
Anyway, Cherry is part of an annual event in a local library and a few years ago, set the precedent of offering a lavish tea. The first was at her house and I got to help. Subsequent years have moved the tea to the event locale, which, gosh, is super convenient. Who wouldn't enjoy packing up ten zillion finger foods and their pretty serving plates?
Oh, yes. Pretty serving plates. We do NOT slap food down on just anything. That's when the beatings occur.
I didn't do as much for the tea this year. I didn't bake any scones. Btw, that's pronounced scahns. Because Cherry said so, in her delicious South African accent. I don't know why, ask her.
I did make deviled eggs [120 of them] with the pretty piped centers. The swirly kind. I also made curried chicken tea sandwiches [96 of them] on cinnamon-raisin bread. The cinnamon and the curry are so yummy together! And I made cucumber tea sandwiches [88 of them] on buttermilk white bread. Cherry was a bit distressed by the thickness of the bread slices, but we agreed that bread from this country was too soft to slice thinly enough and would simply have to do.
The rest of the spread, Cherry made. Well, Cherry and Mr. Costco. They did a great job. Fruit and mini cream puffs and brownie bites and cake and a great big jar of huge, stuffed olives. They worked really hard on their stuff.
And as one of my many rewards, Cherry gave me an autographed copy of "HUSH," her most recent deliciousness in print. That's the cover up top. Go on and look. I'll wait. Yum, huh? And btw...I've read it. It's FABULOUS. I'm just saying.
I'm hoping, if I'm very. very good, I will receive this, from Cherry:
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Stayed on plan Sunday-Wednesday. Changed weigh-in day to Wednesday evening. Gained 1.2 pounds.
Really? Really??
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Further Adventures of WW
Yesterday was a huge learning opportunity for me and gosh, how I do adore those! I meander along, thinking, foolishly, of course, that I have sufficient character developed and then whammo! I am presented with personal growth opportunities galore!
Oh, that Omnipotent Comedian...what a giver. Guess what I got this week!
To preface this, allow me to tell you that Weight Watchers assigns point values to foods based on nutritional content and then grants each participant a certain number of points per day, based on weight, age and gender. Obviously, something like a cream puff is going to have a higher point value [9 points for one 2-ounce puff] than minestrone soup [2 points for one 8-ounce cup]. In this system, the lowest assigned number of points is 28. I am at 40.
As I lose weight, my allotment of points will decrease. I know!
Anyway. In this latest incarnation of WW, most vegetables and all fruit have 0 points. Zero. None. Nada. Zip. Zilch. This is a great comfort to me as I foresee many days in the future in which I will have inhaled all the point-ed foods I'm allowed to eat and still have miles to go before I sleep. And miles to go before I sleep.
Oh, that Bob Frost. Always repeating stuff. No, not the point. I'm just saying.
So I was bopping along, getting through my day, using the eTools on WW to track my food. [Btw, this is a VERY big deal in WW. "Track your food! Track your food!" Okay, okay. Jiminy Christmas. Take a poop.] After recording the canned pineapple that Roommate and I had picked up on our last grocery story foray, I saw that 1 cup of pineapple, canned in its own juice, was NOT zero points, but FOUR POINTS. FOUR POINTS!!! What kind of sick deal is this???
What, we only get the zero point benefit if the pineapple is fresh?? It was canned in its own freaking juice! Do I hack it off its parent plant with my machete to guarantee this??? After all, after cutting the pineapple open, juice escapes. The fruit is now sitting--gasp!--in its juice. What the hell is up with that?
It's not like I expected stuff canned in heavy syrup to be point-free. I'm not a complete diet dolt. But come on! This is horribly unfair.
Later that day, I was tracking again and entered "peas" into my list. I had a bag of frozen peas in the fridge here at work and thought they'd be a lovely addition to my meal. And what to wondering eyes did appear but a note on the food list:
Peas, green......1 cup.......3 points
Peas. PEAS!!!! What kind of world is this, that PEAS have points???????
I won't lie. There was shrieking. As Roommate was off work for the day, I was forced to use her coworkers as vent receptacles. Then I used my coworkers. Then I vented to Roommate via voice mail and text message.
Me, regrettably shrill on voice mail: Peas! Three freaking points? Are they kidding me? This is ridiculous!! I should get all the damn peas I want!!!!!
Roommate, text reply: Those bastards. Why can't they leave peas alone?
Me, text reply: All I am saying is give peas a chance.
Look, I accept that WW point values will make me unhappy. I'm not deluding myself about burgers or fries or massive volumes of baked goods. I'm not even kvetching about all produce. Potatoes, sure. It's a starch bomb built to transport fat. Corn, okay. It's a grain. I get it.
I may never eat peas again. Yeah. That'll teach 'em.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Hallmark Bound
Well, then you better get on it! Mother's Day is coming!!! Yes, that lovely holiday in which everything one does for the woman who gave one life is "oh...that's too much, sweetie!" and yet, is never really enough.
Excuse me. I misspoke. Or typoed. The woman who carried you in her body for nine months, traversed the Valley of the Shadow of Death to birth you, then has worked like a dog, worked her fingers to bloody stumps for you, you ungrateful, manipulative little shit!
Oh! Gracious. I have no idea where that came from. Anyway.
As I am barren, I will never know the unmitigated joy of opening the crayoned card my offspring has created just for me, or the gift made painstakingly of pipe cleaners and yarn. On the other hand, I'll never have to look at three and a half years of college tuition as something that "just isn't working" for my offspring. Sure, the dog took five obedience courses to pass her CGC, but it's not like she dropped out of Harvard. Or the University of Washington. Slightly lower tuition, but still! That's a boatload of buckage blown out the window.
Perhaps if I lived that role, I would understand my mother a bit better. Perhaps I'd have more compassion for her position. Or maybe I would still have to cling to the two rules that make our relationship so much easier.
Not easy. Easier.
Rules For Getting Along[ish] With My Mother
1) The 200 Mile Rule
I should never, never live closer than 200 miles away from my mother. 200 miles is a "planned trip." Less than 200 miles is "just popping in." Please believe me when I tell you, dearest, we do not want my mother just popping in.
2) The 36-Hour Rule
This means never should Mom and I spend more than 36 hours in each others' presence. This rule is less fool-proof than the other; Mom and I have been at DEFCON 5 within thirty seconds. Without even trying hard. But after 36 hours, explosions are almost inevitable. Collateral damage isn't pretty, either.
Yeah. Well, I'd better get that card in the mail soon! 200 miles is a long way to go for heartfelt sentiment.
Monday, May 2, 2011
A bad sign.
That sound you hear is my sobbing.
I found myself staring plaintively at the clock at 0900, thinking, "Only eleven hours to go." I checked the calendar to see if my next day off is still four days away. My coworker Tonya and I have already analyzed the summer holiday schedule and tried to work out if any extra time would be available.
Yeah. Already.
One might have thought that I would have returned to work refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to face work with a new and improved attitude. One would be wrong to think it, but there it is.
I'm wearing black today. And listening to Gregorian chants.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
I can't imagine how the people who lost loved ones to the attacks of September 11th, 2001, are feeling right now. This event won't turn back time or return those who have died. "Closure" is the word I hear, over and over.
I hope closure has been granted.


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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Monday, 19 May 2014
and finally...
One more tulip piece!
This is the applique version.
This is the smaller embroidered version.
It is part of this collection called Around the World. Not very original I know :( but ho hum.
There may be more of these to come, or not!
5 comments:
A trip around the world ... let me know when you come to visit Germany ;-)))ReplyDelete
Wonderful pieces and I like how you did them in different styles.ReplyDelete
Wow, beautiful! I love the whole idea of Around the World, I look forward to your next trip :-)ReplyDelete
I just got back from the Greek islands yesterday, so your piece Taverna, really hits home. It's lovely.ReplyDelete
Simply beautiful is how I felt when I saw your wall quilt for the first time today. The pictures are so simple yet so attractive and the piecing is done so beautifully. Thank you for opening a new world of landscape/picture quilting for me.ReplyDelete
Thank you for taking the time to comment. I do try to respond to each one but
if you do not hear from me it is probably because you are a "no reply blogger".
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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A bright, white smile has been a sign of health, wellness, and beauty for ages. Some people are born with naturally white teeth that don't ever seem to discolor. Other people will care for their teeth diligently, and they still seem to stain. Although nice white teeth are something everyone seeks, the color of our teeth are not necessarily an indicator of the health of our teeth.
Before running to your dentist's office and requesting expensive, timeintensive chemical treatments, consider trying these simple approaches to teeth whitening.
"It is a misnomer that whiter teeth are the same as healthy teeth, since tooth color has very little to do with the health of the tooth. The consumer perception, though, is that white teeth equal a healthy mouth, and perception is reality."
Sharon Zastrow Clinical Hygienist
Why Do Teeth Turn Yellow?
Both the inner and outer layers of teeth can become stained and cause discoloration. Tooth enamel is the hard, white surface of your teeth. Dentin, a pale brown substance, is underneath the enamel. Sometimes, enamel can thin, showing the slight brown color of the dentin underneath. Reasons behind this can include aging, genetics, and the intakes of certain foods and drinks.
Here are some reasons why teeth turn yellow, beige, or brown:
› Drinking coffee, red whine or tea,
› Smoking cigarettes,
› Thinning tooth enamel due to aging,
› Eating a poor diet, including processed foods,
› Suffering from dry mouth,
› Breathing through your mouth,
› Antibiotic use excessive,
› Fluoride intake,
› Genetic factors.
Try These Natural Methods to Whiten Your Teeth
Before running to your dentist's office and requesting expensive, timeintensive chemical treatments, consider trying these simple approaches to teeth whitening.
1. Brush After Drinking or Eating
This can be a hard habit to maintain, but brushing your teeth immediately after drinking or eating will improve the appearance of your smile immensely. Store some travel toothbrushes and toothpastes in your bag or desk at work. Having the supplies ready at any time will make the battle easier.
2. Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a wonderful mouth rinse due to its antibacterial properties. Along with aiding in teeth whitening, it will protect against gum diseases. Mix hydrogen peroxide with baking soda to create a paste that will clean your mouth and remove plaque!
3. Coconut Oil Pulling
It may sound odd, put swishing coconut oil around in your mouth for five to twenty minutes can whiten your teeth! You can also add drops of the oil on your toothbrush or on washcloth and rub it on your teeth. The antimicrobial properties of the oil will also keep your gums healthier.
4. Use Apple Cider Vinegar
ACV works as a natural antibiotic and oral cleaner, but it's also incredibly effective at removing stains from coffee and nicotine. ACV contains compounds, including acetic acid, potassium, magnesium, probiotics, and enzymes, that kill germs but foster growth of beneficial bacteria. Make sure to rinse or brush your mouth out after your ACV rinse. Also, remain consistent with your use of ACV to see best results!
5. Lemon or Orange Peels
Citrus fruits are very versatile foods regarding improved health, including oral health! Many people have seen the benefits of these fruits in helping with teeth whitening. However, much like apple cider vinegar, due to the acidity of these fruits, you should rinse your mouth out immediately after using them.
6. Strawberries and Other Healthy Foods
Berries contain powerful antioxidants that can benefit oral health. Celebrities like Tyra Banks have rubbed berry mixtures on their teeth for a brighter smile. Nutritious foods in general can have a really positive effect on the brightness of your smile.
Activated charcoal is an absorbing product that can help whiten your teeth by soaking up the plaque and microscopic tidbits in your mouth, which cause staining. To use the product, dip a wettened toothbrush into powdered activated charcoal. Brush it onto your teeth in the areas with the most staining. Remember to rinse your mouth out well after brushing. Certain types of dental work do not pair well with charcoal treatments. Avoid this method if you have crowns, caps, or porcelain veneers.


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LOS ANGELES — XBIZ Feature Studio of the Year Wicked Pictures is hosting a private theatrical screening of director Sam Hain's "Horizon" tonight in West L.A.
The evening will begin with a private cocktail reception, and following the screening, Hain and his cast will take the stage for an exclusive Q&A session with reporters.
At press time, Wicked Girls Jessica Drake, Kaylani Lei and Alektra Blue, as well as other cast members such as Kimberly Kane, Misty Stone, Rocco Reed, Bill Bailey and Xander Corvus are all expected to attend.
"Horizon" is the first adult film to be shot entirely with the Red Epic camera system, the same technology first used to create Steven Soderbergh's new mainstream thriller "Contagion."
In the wake of "Contagion," several other Hollywood productions have announced their usage of the Red Epic camera package, including Ridley Scott's "Prometheus," Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit," and James Cameron's "Avatar 2."
Wicked said that Hain's sci-fi adventure will become the first movie to be screened theatrically with 2K digital resolution.
"Horizon" has already garnered crossover attention. Gawker Media's io9.com, a premier portal for science fiction and futurism, posted the film's YouTube trailer on its home page, earning the clip nearly 40,000 plays in less than 14 days.
And the top horror and fantasy periodical Fangoria will be covering tonight's screening for their website and magazine.
"Horizon" will be released on Sept. 30 in a combo pack that will include the DVD, Blu-ray and downloadable editions of the film.
For Hain, the decision to screen the film for his audience in a 2K-equipped mainstream theater was a critical one.
"I'm confident that when the audience watches 'Horizon' they'll feel as though they're enjoying a high quality mainstream production," Hain said.
Email sent. If you wish to send to another person, click here.


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Welcome to Walliams Class!
Our teacher is Miss Harding, who is Disney obsessed, and we are supported across the week by Mrs McNeill and Mrs Millier.
If you have any questions/concerns/wishes, please feel free to discuss with myself or Mrs McNeill at the start or the end of the day.
Our PE days are indoor PE on a Monday afternoon and then outdoor PE typically on a Thursday. This is only different during Autumn 1 and Spring 1, when we have outdoor PE on a Wednesday because we have the MLT coaches in.
We visit the Discovery Centre on a Thursday afternoon.
Our Stubbington trip is running from Monday 22nd January 2018 until Friday 26th January 2018. Initial letters have been given out but please see the office or Miss Harding for more details.


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Both Hands Project
We are really excited about our latest fundraiser. We are doing a Both Hands project. I shared the link earlier to the video explaining this, but here it is again in case you missed it.http://www.lifesongfororphans.org/adoption-funding/both-hands/ We will be helping a woman in our church and her two children, Tamara Ball from Blissfield, MI. She lost her husband two years ago to an aggressive cancer and needs some help with home repairs. We recruit team members who send out support letters to be sponsored for their day of work. This money goes to Lifesong and is used to support our adoption. She gets her home repaired while we raise funds for our adoption, thus "Both Hands." Our work day is July 26th at 8 am. A few men are working the Saturday before also as they were gone on the 26th. We will take any donations of food, supplies for the work day. If you know of any businesses that would be willing to donate, let us know! It is also a face book event: https://www.facebook.com/events/681385888600907/
Please be in prayer for this event:
1. Pray for God to be Glorified
2. Pray we get a lot done for Tamara
3. Pray we raise the funds we need for the rest of the adoption
4. Also pray we get a referral soon!
Blessings and Love,
The Schaffner Family
Please pray as America World representative is in Haiti right now at the IBESR! Pray for our referral to come NOW!
Thank you!
Matching Grant Information
Some of you have asked about our matching grant information, I would be glad to send you a letter or here is the basic information you need:
To send a tax deductible donation for our $3000 matching grant:
- Please prayerfully consider giving a tax deductible donation as we have been blessed with a $3000 matching grant funded by Family Christian Ministries, through Lifesong for Orphans to help pay for our adoption expenses. Our goal date is August 4, 2014, but funds will be accepted until our sons are home and/or the adoption is complete.
Please make checks payable to "Lifesong for Orphans." In the memo, note "Schaffner #4451" to assure it goes to the right account. Please mail to: Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 40, Gridley, IL. 61744. Lifesong has been blessed with a partner that underwrites all U.S. administrative and fund-raising costs (TMG Foundation and other partners). This means 100% of your donation will go directly to the adoption. Lifesong is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and your gift is tax deductible.
Thank you for your prayers and for so many of you who have already so generously given!
Ron and Michelle
Quick Prayer Request
Please pray for us as we are being presented for a matching grant through Lifesong. Our application was submitted to the board yesterday and we will know in 2-3 weeks. Thank you for interceding. May the Lord be glorified. He has been so faithful in providing for this adoption!
Adoption Potpouri
I am reading a book entitled, Adopted for Life, by Russell D. Moore. If you have ever even considered adoption this book is for you. This book was given to us by a young man who embodies the scripture in I Timothy 4:12 " Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity". He is a college student but believes so much in adoption and supporting those who are adopting that he gave us the book along with a donation to our adoption.
Why I had never really considered the fact that Joseph was an adoptive father of Jesus I do not know. But, Moore brings this out in his book. Here is one paragraph of this amazing book:
"Joseph serves as a model to follow as we see what's at stake in the issue of adoption. Joseph, after all, is an adoptive father. In some ways, his situation is, of course, far different from that of any reader holding this book right now. In other ways, though, Joseph's mission belongs to all of us. As Joseph images the father of the fatherless, he shows us how adoption is more than charity. It's spiritual warfare." P. 59
It surely would have been so much easier for Joseph to forget this whole fatherhood thing, especially considering what others thought. But, thankfully, he obeyed.
Please pray for us as we have a Skype grant interview on April 28th in the evening. We also have an opportunity with Lifesong for a program called "Helping Hands." This is best explained by visiting this link and watching the short video: http://www.lifesongfororphans.org/adoption-funding/both-hands/
We recently were told that the earliest we would go for our first trip is early fall. The wait is hard, but apparently this is happening across the board with all Haiti adoptions, with all agencies and all states as they transition to a Hague adoptive country. We continue to pray for miraculous intervention by the Lord that our sons can get home in record time….and for His glory. Would you join us in prayer for this? We continue to ask the Lord for our first two week trip to be this summer and that the boys would be home by Christmas.
We were advised it might be helpful to share what we have personally given, so that others realize we are not expecting this entire adoption be funded by others. We have refinanced, used our tax return and put some on a 0% interest credit card to get the first payment made. That was about $33,500.
We continue to be blessed in so many ways that we see the Lord providing and working. May we share some of the many different ways the Lord has provided?
- Tonight was one of my favorite donations. After our devotions about caring for the orphan and widow…Joshua brought us $20.00 and said, "This is for the adoption." Our children have already sacrificed their allowances and report card money, so this was huge! Thank you Joshua!
- One night several months back when Ron was waiting in line at Meijer he began talking with an older lady. She brought up being thankful for our food and then she shared she had been to Haiti on a mission trip before. Ron shared we had the privilege to go on mission trips to the DR and we were adopting from Haiti. Then she asked if we were the family in the paper and Ron said yes. When Ron went to pay for our groceries she insisted on paying, saying, "The Lord told me to do this."
- Another woman said she was sharing this story with her hairdresser while getting her hair done. When her hair was done her hairdresser said, don't pay me give this to the family that is adopting. (we don't even know either of these people)
- Another lady we do know said her family collected donations at Christmas.
- My mom has been passing out fliers at her swim class and even her dentist helped in our matching grant.
- We have had several donations of clothes for the boys and for our girls. These things help so much as well.
- There is a lady at church who gives us eggs each week.
- My wonderful husband is working so hard teaching an extra hour this year and possibly next year.
- So many of you have shared our story on facebook and with friends.
- Another gal gave us her fundraising donations from her pilates class.
- We had never (please don't scold us) set up a will and custody officially, and this kind gentlemen did it for us at a very reduced rate, Thank you!
- We have been amazed by the number of former students who have given and encouraged us!
- Our ladies prayer team has been praying for us every time they meet.
- Our Pastors and staff pray for us every Tuesday
- Several people have written us several grant referral letters.
- More sweet stories next time!
Thank you all so much for your prayers as we wait. This in some ways is the hardest part. We know God always works in our lives through waiting though. So, we will wait upon Him.
"My soul waits for the Lord…" Psalm 130:6
For a tax deductible donation go here: http://www.awaa.org/give/eternal_family_program.aspx
or click on eleven campaign to give to our you caring sight.
Praises and Misc
We received our I171 H in the mail today! This is our last piece needed for our dossier, aside from our home study addendum which will be state certified and mailed directly to America World. Praise the Lord and thank you for your prayers as our family coordinator said this was really fast. We also had someone in our church, Tony Aiken, (thanks Tony and Onsted's French teacher!) who found a Rosetta stone in French we can borrow, so we can start to learn French!
I am very behind in every aspect of updating. I hope to recalculate our fundraising soon and report to you all.
We had a successful trip getting fingerprinted. I must share this simple praise. Many of you know traveling in vehicles does not always go so great with my babies.(thankfully we fly to Haiti!) They tend to want out of their car seat to nurse or whatever…so I had been dreading the fingerprint trip. Normally Ella wakes up close to when I do, 6:45 ish…but that day she slept till 9. This meant her first nap was when we left to go pick Luke up at UT at 11:45. She slept the entire way to pick him up, and then the whole way to Detroit after that. There was no waiting in line at USCIS and then she did great overall on the way home. It was just a small way the Lord was showing me He will take care of all the details if I just trust Him. For me the hardest part of our adoption is leaving our children for two weeks and how Ella will do as we will take her with us. This too, I must trust Him for. Being obedient to God is always what is best for our children.
It has been a difficult road to be honest. So much has had to be done in a short period of time. In the adoption world putting together a dossier and doing all the "paper chasing" is called a paper pregnancy. There are so many things that go into it. One of these days I will compile an entire list…..a few examples: recent, official, state notarized birth and marriage certificates, police clearance letters, doctor physicals and letters, employment and non-employment letters, the homestudy, a psychological evaluation, reference letters, a bank letter, bank statements, power of attorneys, just to mention a few. And then most of these things have to be notarized and then state authenticated. It is just crazy! And everything we did from our Ethiopia dossier had to be redone for this Haiti one.
Yet, it is all so amazing because the Lord has provided strength and help at every turn. He has been so faithful. He has guided and directed. And tonight as I was re-reading David Platt's book, Radical, I realized why. Here is a quote from his book:
"We learned that orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names. They are easier to ignore before you see their faces. It is easier to pretend they're not real before you hold them in your arms. But, once you do, everything changes."
We have yet to do the latter, but we do know their names, and we have seen their faces…and they are worth every minute of work and every dime we own, and all the dimes we don't own. They are worth it, just like each of our biological children are worth it.
I was thinking today of how last year at this time I would tell Ally about kids who don't have beds….and she would say, "let's get them some beds." I would say, well, it's not that simple. While we do sponsor a compassion child, I did not really know a practical way to actually give a child in need….a bed. Well, we will be giving four precious boys beds and hopefully impart to them the knowledge of their loving savior!
We had a rough week last week of the lovely stomach flu. I talked with the kids tonight how many children suffer from vomiting and diarrhea often because they don't have clean drinking water. Josh and Anna said how that would be so terrible. I asked them if when they were sick, did they think about the next "thing" they wanted to buy? They were like, no, we just wanted to feel better! So, I said, be thankful tonight that you feel better. So, as a family we are going to participate in the "Kenya Digit" race held on July 5, 2014 to raise money for a well in Kenya. If you are interested here is the link: http://living-water-mission.org/KENYA_DIG_IT_RACE.html
I surely would recommend to you to read either or both of the following books: Radical by David Platt, or the Hole in the Gospel by Richard Stearns. Either one really puts the perspective of the American Dream in perspective with Jesus words. Somehow we have missed Jesus words. The red letter words in most of our Bibles….look at the story of the Rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31.
Please know how much we thank you for and covet your prayers on this journey. And please know that I would love to pray for you re; anything, just shoot me an email!
Specific Prayer Requests:
- We would get to take the 2 week trip this summer
- The boys would be home by Christmas
- Grants would come through
- Salvation of 4 boys
- Provision in all the details
Many Blessings to Each of You,
May God be glorified,
Love, The Schaffner Family


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There are several sources for us to gain knowledge.
You cannot gain anything without efforts.
Those who think before speaking and act wisely gain success in life.
We should constantly make efforts to gain the right knowledge of life, of ourselves, of the world with the help of books, self-contemplation and company of the wise.
Health once lost is difficult to gain.
Loss and gain are brothers twain.
We should take both our gain and loss with equal calm.
Politeness is the key to gain respect and appreciation.
If we make persistent efforts to gain our subject, surely our efforts will be crowned with success.
People gain better positions in the world by choosing their words wisely.
Some persons make friends with us only to gain their own selfish ends.
They gain popularity and respect wherever they go.
We hope to gain a lot.
We can't gain anything without efforts.
Without effort we/one can gain nothing.
You can gain nothing without efforts.
You can't gain anything without labour.
You will gain if you work.
We cannot gain anything without efforts.
He will gain nothing out of this project.
He worked hard that he might gain promotion.


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In advance of the Budget on Wednesday, Councillor Jackie Meldrum, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, has written to the Chancellor Philip Hammond MP to demand urgent action on the social care crisis.
Dear Chancellor
I am writing to you, in advance of the coming Budget, on behalf of the vulnerable residents of Lambeth to plead with you to take a fresh look at the funding arrangements for adult social care in our borough and across the UK.
The crisis in the adult social care & health sector has become impossible for this government to ignore. Councillors from across the country and Labour MPs in Parliament have repeatedly called on the government to properly fund social care and the NHS, to no avail. However, in recent months we have seen a consensus from councillors of all parties, who have to deal with the realities of this government's policy on their local services.
The Conservative Councillors who lead the Local Government Association (LGA) have called on central government to act on the rising cost of social care. To quote these councillors: "Elderly and vulnerable people (are) continuing to face an ever uncertain future where they might no longer receive the dignified care and support they deserve, such as help getting dressed or getting out and about. This is not only worse for our parents and grandparents but will also heap further pressure on the NHS. There cannot be a sustainable NHS without a sustainable adult social care system."
I totally agree with them. Your government claims it is putting more money into the health sector but demand and costs are growing at a rate much faster than the limited growth in funding. Health & social care remain one of the most labour intensive services left in the UK and care workers are amongst our lowest paid workers. They deserve every penny from the rise of the minimum wage and our local London Living wage. Councils are struggling to find the funding to make up the gap in social care funding as well as fulfilling our obligations to provide a wide range of other services.
In Lambeth adult social care spend makes up over 25% of our council's net budget. As a borough with high levels of deprivation and a very diverse population, the needs of many of our vulnerable residents are complex and long term. We are working very closely with our local NHS partners on integrating services for mental health and older people. This has had considerable success in improving outcomes for people and achieving cash releasing reductions in expenditure for both sectors. In addition, for people aged under-65 with physical and learning disabilities we are focusing on closer working with housing and care providers.
We have worked extremely hard to make significant savings in our Council budget, to ensure our services are as efficient as possible and we have done our very best to protect our social care budget over the past seven years. Yet we cannot continue to provide the levels of services our residents need with continued deep cuts to council funding.
Like almost all councils with social care responsibilities, Lambeth will be using the government's precept in our 2017/18 budget to help address the growing demand for care in our borough. We are doing the best we can for the thousands of our most vulnerable citizens needing our care – but without more government funding the risks will continue to rise. The additional precept for social care offered to councils by the government late last year is only a sticking plaster on the national funding social care gap of at least £2.6 billion, and although we know there are increases in funding planned for 2018/19, that will be too late. By then more care providers will have stopped delivering services, more care homes will have closed and more social workers will be made redundant.
The costs of ensuring our most vulnerable residents get the care and dignity that they deserve should not be shifted onto local taxpayers and families because the government is failing to fund them properly. This is a national problem and requires a national solution, especially if we are to better support our National Health Service. In your budget on March 8th I urge you to address the growing gaps in costs and demand for care by residents, both over and under the age of 65.
Yours sincerely
Councillor Jackie Meldrum
Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, London Borough of Lambeth