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As Lily Gatins and her brood stride around 798 on the day of our photo shoot they turn heads and draw stares; passersby stop to photograph them or simply gawp. The family seems neither to notice the strangers' interest nor to care about it. In between photos Lily's sons Martin (age 5) and Etienne (age 3) are as apt to amuse themselves with her Chanel lipstick as with their best friend for the day, a beetle in a matchbox. High-fashion and public curiosity clearly don't faze these boys.
Lily is from the Dominican Republic, and her husband Phillip is American. They moved to Beijing a year ago because of Phillip's
posting as a public servant. His work has taken them to Lima, and Washington DC previously. It was while they lived in Peru that Lily began Le Report (lereport.com); a website which features collaborations with and coverage of the personalities and trends in fashion, art, and design, which inspire her. She has become a tastemaker and cause célèbre in the world of avant garde fashion, a lodestone for like-minded creative people, and a champion of lesser-known designers from all around the world.
We spoke to Lily about her style and aesthetics, and their place in her family dynamic.
How did Le Report come about?
We were living in Peru, a very conservative country which suffers from a serious lack of style. There are amazing creative people in photography and art, but fashion there is essentially stuck in the 90s. Still I saw potential all around me in the young kids there so I decided to begin interviewing people who fit with my aesthetic; people with a little edge.
When we moved back to the states I attended New York Fashion Week. Friends gave me pieces to wear and invited me to shows. New York is very commercial, and that's a little boring to photograph, so photographers were interested in me.
After we moved to Beijing people kept encouraging me to come to Paris, telling me that I was an inspiration to kids on the sidelines who wanted to put out their own creations. The public only recognizes famous avant garde designers like Comme des Garçons and Yohji Yamamoto. But there are amazing designers from all over the world that people don't know about. Unfortunately all the major fashion editors hype mainstream labels. Since then I've done the Paris shows twice, and this season will be my third trip.
How did your style come about?
The Dominican Republic is a tropical country so everybody dresses in very brightly-colored florals. As a kid I was always uncomfortable; I was skinny, I had a gap in my teeth, and I was very shy. In photos of me as a little girl, I look stilted – as though I'm wearing a costume.
When I was ten my grandfather whom I was very close to passed away and I wore dark colors in mourning. For the first time I felt comfortable with the way I was dressed; perhaps black symbolized our closeness. At 16 I moved to New York, and on the subway I encountered this amazingly stylish Asian man, dressed in Comme des Garçons from head-to-toe. And that was it – I was hooked and I've never looked back. Black became my second skin. It feels natural to me; I just put it on and go.
How does your look impact on your life?
People usually find me intimidating and unapproachable before they get to know me. I get it: black is a serious color, like a stop sign. There's a perception that if you're a mom, you're supposed to wear sneakers and comfortable clothes, and I'm different. Black is a controversial color. There's a dark and bitchy persona that's expected with this look. When people meet me they're surprised that I'm domestic and warm. I love to cook and host dinner parties, talk to my friends on the phone, and watch TV with the kids. I don't see myself as a fashion icon, and I'm not showy. I'm just enthusiastic about fashion.
I'm not interested in judging others either. Recently I was invited to participate in criticizing street style pictures of people; thumbs up or thumbs down. Each person probably felt so good when they had their photograph taken, and then I'm supposed to say they look awful? That's not something I want to be part of. I've been made fun of myself. I was mocked on the Parisian version of Fashion Police. Even my husband says "Just because you like it, doesn't mean it looks good!" But my style is not about being pretty.
Why is a sense of style important for kids?
Clothes are just another way to express personality. Style gives you confidence, and communicates who you are as a person. They boys are artistic and they should show it. Of course if later on in life they want to dress differently than how I dress them now, that'll be fine.
Do the boys have their own sense of style?
They both love the rocker look. They're obsessed with their black leather jackets and can't wait for the winter to come so they can wear them again. They naturally gravitate toward black. Sometimes I play a game; just to see their reactions I'll put on a multi-colored Comme des Garçons collectors piece which I never normally wear. Martin immediately says, "Mom, you look silly." He thinks I shouldn't wear any other color but black. They're my style consultants.
How would you describe each family member's look?
Martin is the most naturally stylish in the family. He's visual, into details, and notices anything new or different. When I told him we were going to Japan for our family vacation the first thing he said was "Awesome! We're going to go to the Comme des Garçons store and Transformers." My husband looked at me and said, "What are you creating here?"
Etienne is following in his big brother's footsteps, but he's a little bit more laid back in terms of clothes. He's a performer with a funny, extroverted creativity, whereas Martin is reserved and thoughtful, like a little man.
Phillip's style has changed over time. He has gradually updated his look to match the rest of the family. His clothes are more monochrome and he's started wearing suits with skinny pants.
What do you wear day-to-day?
I would like to dress avant garde all the time, but the heat in Beijing is too much. I wear clothes which are still edgy but simpler, and in a breathable fabrics like cotton. I'll emphasize one piece, like an avant garde bag or bangle. You can look cool without piling it all on. My mom is definitely one of my main influences in terms of how I present myself on a daily basis; she wore makeup all the time. Some days I don't feel like dressing up, but I still put red lipstick and sunglasses on.
How do you think wearing black affects the boys?
It reinforces our family identity. It's like being born and raised in a family of ice skaters or basketball players – it's our thing. Our family look is iconic, as though we are a tribe. I think it gives them an inner strength. They will always have these memories and images, as a kind of legacy. They can show these visual mementos to their future wives and kids.
Where do you shop for them, and what do you buy?
I do most of my shopping online and every time I travel I go to kid's clothing stores. I love Stella McCartney for skinny jeans, Zara Kids for basics, and a French brand called Finger in the Nose for more rock n'roll gear. Their shoes are always the same; Converse, Vans, and Doc Martens, and Havianas in summer. I like them to look good but I can't justify spending USD 300 on clothes they'll either mess up or grow out of in six months.
Kids love t-shirts with cartoon characters on the front, and mine are no different, but to me it is unnecessary propaganda. If I see something with strong graphic design – like the batman logo – I'll get it, but when I find a good plain black t-shirt I buy four.
What do you enjoy most about being a mother?
The best thing about being a mom is their unconditional love. It's my number one favorite thing in this world. They're going to love you without makeup, with your hair all messed up, wearing whatever you're wearing – they don't really care about any of that. They just have this pure love for you.
This article originally appeared on page 52-57 of the August 2014 issue of beijingkids. To find out where to get your free copy, email firstname.lastname@example.com or view it on Issuu.
Photos by Sui


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Since we did so well last week following the top pitchers on the MLB money charts, let's load up on some more quality arms for Thursday's three-pack of baseball picks.
Jason's 2015 record as of May 13: 19-11, plus-7.93 units ML; 0-2, minus-2.05 units Total
Who said making MLB picks was so hard? Last week, we rode the top money-making arms in the majors to paydirt – and faded the guy at the bottom of the ledger. You know, the Cy Young winner. Three games, three more wins for the good guys. Let's see if we can ride that overly simplified strategy to victory once again this week – starting with a too-early matinee in the Forest City.
St. Louis vs. Cleveland (12:10 p.m. ET)
Our target pitcher for this matchup is Michael Wacha (3.62 FIP), who's led the Cardinals to 6.36 units in earnings on a perfect team record of 6-0. Wacha made us look good last month in a 4-1 win over the Washington Nationals (–135 at home); that was one of five quality starts for the 6-foot-6 northpaw, although he's been somewhat fortunate to post a .233 BABIP for the Cards (23-10, plus-11.79 units) and strand 81.6 percent of base runners.
It'll be Trevor Bauer (3.80 FIP) taking the hill for the Tribe, who just happen to be the poorest team in the majors at 12-20 and 12.41 units in the red. Bauer is only responsible for one of those units on a team record of 3-3, but he got drilled in his last two starts. At least Cleveland has given Bauer five runs per game of support, and over the past 14 days, the Tribe ranked seventh in the majors in hitting value (2.8 WAR) with a .805 team OPS. We'll take Wacha and the Cards anyway, especially at this bargain price on the MLB betting odds board.
Free MLB Pick: Take the Cardinals
Minnesota vs. Detroit (1:08 p.m. ET)
Here's a special situation: The Twins, who have already exceeded expectations this year at 19-15 and plus-7.82 betting units, are sending Mike Pelfrey (4.64 FIP) to the mound on Thursday. Pelfrey is fifth on the MLB money charts with 5.84 units in earnings on a team record of 5-1. Again, his .250 BABIP and those 5.83 runs per game of support could be a harbinger of bad things to come – are there any other kind of harbingers? But for now, all is Camelot.
Even better, the rather chalky Tigers (20-14, plus-4.03 units) are about to start Anibal Sanchez, who has lost 4.01 units on a team record of 2-5 after posting a pedestrian 4.16 FIP. Sanchez has also had this start moved up; he was supposed to go Friday against the Cardinals. Never mess with another man's schedule.
Free MLB Pick: Take the Twins
Colorado vs. L.A. Dodgers (10:10 p.m. ET)
This is about as close to a can of corn as you're going to get when you make your MLB picks. The Dodgers (22-11, plus-6.77 units) are as good as it gets right now, and Thursday's scheduled starter, Brett Anderson (3.55 FIP), is up 1.62 units on a team record of 4-2. And that's despite a .343 BABIP. No regression concerns here. Plus, Anderson hasn't allowed an earned run in his past 11 innings of work. Very nice.
As for the Rockies (11-19, minus-8.14 units), they're on an 11-game losing streak, and they're feeding Chad Bettis to the wolves on Thursday. Bettis has a 5.14 career FIP in 69.1 innings for Colorado; he's arguably the top pitching prospect in the farm system, but this will be his season debut in the majors, and Bettis wasn't exactly lighting it up at AAA-Albuquerque. The baseball odds are being very kind to us with Los Angeles only favored by –180 at home as we go to press. We'll buy that for a dollar.
Free MLB Pick: Take the Dodgers

subset: commoncrawl


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the number of people we had in the club today! cool turnout, guys, and a big fatty thank you for checkin us out and bearing with us and our dorkiness. no pics to post because we were totally way too occupied on making cohesive sentences come out of our mouths in front of you all instead of taking snaps of all of your promising faces. next meeting, promise ;)
looking at the anti-quizzes, you guys really know your stuff :0. some supa cool 3-song playlists, doodles, and an astounding number of you KNEW IT WAS THE VIRGIN SUICIDES!!!!! (a personal excitement for us). and if you didn't know it was THE VIRGIN SUICIDES, we recommend watching/reading it - totally game (life) changer. and the dreams were very telling . . . haha jk, I loved them all.
keep it up and keep making :0


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Chalcopyrite tetrahedral pyramid crystals
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The Blooms of Summer
Hot weather brings out the best in some flowers. Zinnias will sulk until temps go into the '80's, then you will have non-stop blooms until frost. Keep the deadheads trimmed, cut lots for bouquets, and water & fertilize as needed. Your garden will be a rainbow of color. Zinnias come in giant and dwarf sizes to fit all needs.
Butterflies love marigolds, zinnias, and lantana as much as you do. Plant a mix of all three, add some cosmos and alyssum, and be amazed at the butterflies that come. And if you plant perennial lobelia or scarlet sage, the hummingbirds will also visit! Be sure to provide a water source for both.


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Whenever it comes to new surroundings or people, do you really feel shy? It is quite imperative to get over your shyness at some point in your life and speak confidently. If you are able to achieve this, you will not only be able to share your ideas but will also be able to communicate without much of discomfort with anyone or everyone. Here are a few tips which can help you to speak confidently:
Tip 1: Practice
Practice is what makes the man perfect. The science behind it is that as you practice, the words get you into a subconscious mode and when you actually have to speak, it would flow naturally. To add expression so that what you speak sounds natural practice using a mirror.
Tip 2: Audience/ Listener
Knowing about the people you are addressing would make a lot of difference. This would help you to connect with them better. Even if in the beginning you are slightly hesitant, that hesitation would go away, as knowing them would help you to get comfortable, giving you all the confidence that you need to speak.
Tip 3: Being up to the point and using simple words
Avoid using heavy vocabulary and just keep it simple. Whatever that you want to say could be communicated best if you use simple words
Tip 4: Be mentally prepared
Before going ahead with what you have to say, despite all the practice you do, it is important that you be quite for at least 30-90 seconds to mentally prepare yourself.
Tip 5: Know or imagine the situation before actually being there and talking
If you know the place, be there and rehearse. If that is not an option than imagine the entire situation in your head. As and when you are imagining, you would notice certain points or events that you wouldn't have been able to anticipate before. This would ensure that you would be ready for ever thing that would come your way. Knowing that you have anticipated almost every thing would help boost your confidence and would reflect when you would speak.
Tip 6: Volume
Ensure that you are audible while you are talking. As in case the other person is not able to hear you, he would ask you to speak again. This could shake your confidence.
Tip 6: Pace and pause consistency
Maintain and average pace, not too fast, not too slow. Pause according to what you want to communicate across. If the average pace is not good enough, tune your pace with that of the listener(s).
Tip 7: Vocal Variation
Have a friendly tone with lots of vocal expression. This would ensure listener's interest is intact in what you are saying.
Tip 8: Think before you talk
If you are required to speak something on the spot for which you couldn't practice, ensure that you have an average pace and think before you talk. While saying a sentence, ensure that you structuring your thoughts then say the next one.
Tip 9: Reactions
Look out for the reactions of the listener. The reactions would help you gain confidence about your thoughts being communicated and understood well at the same time. The fact that you are heard and comprehended would encourage you to speak better.
Tip 10: Don't be embarrassed by your faults
It important to let go of any mistake that you did while speaking, continue speaking. Don't get nervous. Get to the next thought and focus your thoughts away from that.
Source-Public Speaking


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Win a Dodge Journey with Member Benefits
Enter Today
Drawing in October
As a busy educator, your journey through life offers new adventures at every turn: enriching students, finding work/life balance and giving back to your community.
We appreciate all that you do!
Our Wherever Your Journey Takes You…We'll Be There campaign gives educators—like you— the chance to win a new 2018 vehicle and ride in style courtesy of California Casualty.


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HFSR is ALWAYS a tailor made product; hence, it is always built as per customers various requirements.
Typically the LT (415/690 VAC) motors are not available with neutral terminal box, where as all the Ht (3.3/6.6/11KV) motors are generally available with neutral terminal.
The beauty of HFSR is it can be connected to the neutral terminal of the motor and it is best for retrofitting. There are basic two types.


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Since replacing the cable requires the use of a soldering iron, there is a risk of burning yourself or damaging the controllers logic board.
No parts required.
Loosen the seven 11 mm Phillips #0 screws located on the back of the controller.
Using a plastic opening tool, pry the back cover from the front.
Remove the top cover from the bottom and place next to each other.
Remove the logic board by lifting up on the logic board and pulling out.
The cable connects to the logic board with a white connector. Above the right joystick, there are four solder pins labeled GND, VCC, DM, and DP.
Desolder the four pins.
Using your new cable, solder the white connector to the logic board. Be sure to have the cables facing towards the inside of the logic board.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
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4 Comments
where can I find a replacement cable to perform this precedure with?
yes!! i would like to know too.. i have been searching for long time for that cable
Android cable
Wayne -
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Technology Month, brought to you by Springload
The art of projection: Joseph Michael
No longer is the modern canvas confined to being flat. Fostered by the advent of powerful projectors and more advanced methods of mapping, large-scale walls, sharp edged buildings and peculiarly-shaped objects have all become receptacles for today's ambitious creatives. As photographers, designers and directors increasingly dabble in the world of video projection, Jihee Junn talks to three different artists to discover their take on the intersection between technology and visual art. First up, Joseph Michael.


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QB Matt Hasselbeck was at it again today. He just couldn't resist taking shots at his good buddy and favorite punching bag, Robbie Tobeck. Hasselbeck talked about a few serious matters, notably how much concern he has for ailing WR Bobby Engram. But he also found a way to savage Tobeck for about the fourth or fifth time since training camp opened.
Asked about the OL in general, Hasselbeck said: "Tobeck makes me nervous. He's undersized and has very average athletic ability. But the rest of the those guys are good. So, if we can just get those other four guys to play at a higher level and make up for Tobeck's inadequacies -- is that a word? -- then we should be fine." I had to turn my head so the cameras wouldn't catch me laughing while Hasselbeck went on with a serious face. The audio is here.


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Are you ever eating in the Mc Donald? If you usually eat in the Mc Donald, you should know about the McDvoice. As other big companies on the foods part, the Mc Donald also need to appreciate the customer to get the high believable from the customer and they are always come again and again on the Mc Donald. So, what is the function of the Voice for Mc Donald application? Read and stay on this article when you want to know the function and more information about this topic!
Mcdvoice And Its Function For You
For the big companies, the customer is the important thing that you should make them stay with your products to increase the product selling. If there is something wrong with your product, you customer will get the effect. So, you should have the good relationship with your customer, like create the customer service department to service the complaint or the recommendation from your customer to your companies and the products. Like the McDvoice from Mc Donald. As you know before, that Mc Donald is one of the companies which held the fast food service for the people who want the fast service for recharge their energy without spending much time on them. Mc Donald also has many branches of the store that spread in whole the world.
But, what is the function of this service from Mc Donald? Like other big companies, the Mc Donald also need to know what is the responses from their customer about the taste, the service, the receipt, and other services that Mc Donald give for the customer in the world. With this feature, the Mc Donald will have the intense relation with their customer and get some recommendations to improve their company bigger than before. That's all about the function of the McDvoice that you can use when you ever eat in the Mc Donald for you. Thank you for reading.


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Do you know what SearchYa Toolbar is?
SearchYa Toolbar is a browser helper object that comes bundled with a list of freeware applications developed by third-parties. SearchYa Toolbar itself is product related to searchya.com search engine, created by Ironsource Ltd. Although there is no definite proof that SearchYa Toolbar poses danger to your computer system, it exhibits an arbitrary behavior one would not expect from a useful toolbar.
For example, once it is installed SearchYa Toolbar changes your default homepage to searchya.com. Or, if you have a default search engine, SearchYa Toolbar will modify those settings to make SearchYa your default search engine. Now, there is also no definite proof that there is something awry with the SearchYa search engine. The search results that we get seem to be trustworthy and safe, although sometimes the user is redirected to commercial websites.
What is more, this adware application brings a lot of additional freeware with it, and we cannot be sure about its reliability. For example, SearchYa Toolbar automatically installs an FLV player without the user's consent.
This toolbar can be found in Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. It gets installed onto Internet Explorer, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, although Google Chrome does not sport the SearchYa Toolbar per se. All it gets is a Speed Dial 4.0 extension.
The biggest frustration induced by SearchYa Toolbar is not slow computer performance or random pop-up message – it is the virtual inability to remove it. SearchYa Toolbar does not have an Uninstall utility and Mozilla Firefox users are said to have extreme difficulties in removing SearchYa Toolbar manually.
However, a lot of users cannot get rid of SearchYa Toolbar on their own. Then these users need a program that can detect and remove SearchYa Toolbar automatically, treating it as an unwanted infection. The system security program of choice will also terminate other processes brought in by SearchYa Toolbar. Clean your computer before you are swarmed with unwanted software and random commercial ads.
In non-techie terms: SearchYa Toolbar is an undesirable browser helper object that installs a bunch of adware and then modifies Internet browser settings. A lot of users find this toolbar annoying and if you want to delete SearchYa Toolbar from your system, you need to acquire a reliable computer security program.
Aliases: RemoveSearchYaToolbar


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Deal of the Week - $1/ mo Hosting + Free domain! Stick it to the slow websites! (GoDaddy)
Queen of Toy Cameras
This site is about toy cameras, the cheap and cool hobby.
CultCameras.net is your resource for the coolest cameras ever made. Holga, Diana, Lomo, Spy Cameras, Pinhole Cameras, Polariod SX-70, 3D Cameras, Medium Format Cameras, Digital Cameras, 35mm Cameras.
Toy Cameras
The original MSN Toy Camera forum is for those who appreciate, collect, and use toy cameras, including Holgas, Dianas, Lomos, Lubitels, pinhole cameras, box cameras, plastic cameras, simple stereo cameras, and homemade cameras. Explore customizing your toy camera and discuss techniques. Discuss the equipment and show off results in the extensive galleries of toy camera art work and hundreds of pictures of toy cameras. Uncommon and Alternative Photography sums up the varied mix of interests on this forum.


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Save Space with Divan Beds
Divan Beds
Divan beds are a great way to save space and gain storage; which is ideal when rooms are not very large. Double divans bases can have drawers at either side and even a single bed will provide one or two very large drawers; this can be one drawer the entire length of the bed, or two separate ones.
Ottoman Divan Bases
When there is not even room for drawers to be opened at the sides, then it is possible to get an Ottoman Divan base which has the top surface on hinges; to be lifted up to reveal ample storage space beneath.
Sliding Doors
Another idea in minimal space which requires no lifting, would be a Divan base with sliding doors instead of drawers; providing plenty of storage space inside the base.
Choice of Mattress
Divan beds today are made with some of the most up-to-date fabrics, and can be supplied with all kinds of mattresses; pocket spring, open spring, continuous coil, orthopaedic etc., and can be covered with latex or memory foam, as required.
Single Divan Beds
A single divan bed is an excellent choice for a guest bed, particularly if it is to be placed in a room which is used as a home office, as it can be covered with cushions and disguised as a sofa, while the drawers underneath will be handy for files or office materials.
Children's divan beds can be particularly helpful, as they provide plenty of space for books and toys etc., and help to keep the room looking tidy by tucking them away inside the bed: provided it is possible to get the child to put things away of course!
Custom Made and Next Day Delivery
Most suppliers will offer the possibility of custom-made Divan bases, so it is a good idea to measure your room and know exactly how much space you will have for drawers to open, or if you will need an alternative. The best way to shop for divan beds is online, so that you can prove all the options available to you without having to walk or drive for miles from one retailer to another, and then traipse around the stores. Online suppliers generally provide next day delivery beds too; unlike land-based retailers that usually have to take your order, pass it onto a warehouse or depot, which will then dispatch the order but you will probably have to wait several days or even weeks.
Comfort and Storage
Choosing divan beds with pocket springs and memory foam will ensure that you have the most comfortable bed possible, with plenty of storage included; thus providing you with the ideal way to make optimum use of available space in your bedroom.
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New Students
Remember that everyone had their first Bikram Yoga class, even the students who make it look so easy and have been coming for years. They make it look easy because they persevered. You can too!
Now is the time to be healthier and happier. Start anytime, any class. Start Today!
We look forward to meeting you!
Dress lightly and be prepared to sweat
All ability levels are welcome, no experience necessary
All classes are approximately 90 minutes
If this is your first class, please arrive 20 minutes early
Bring a towel and water bottle
Avoid eating at least two hours before class


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19th Century Australian sheep shearing
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The 10 Best Haunted Attractions in Ohio! By
Mat Stevens
There isn't a better way to celebrate Halloween and test your bravery than by experiencing some of the best haunted attractions in Ohio. Haunted trail rides, haunted castles, and haunted factories await you! Here are the 10 best in the state.
1. Land of Illusion Haunted Scream Park, Middletown, OH
The Land of Illusion is a massive Halloween theme park in Ohio with every variation of fear you can imagine. It features four haunted houses, one haunted trail, live spooks, lunatics, and chainsaw-wielding madmen to guarantee a new experience each night.
2. Riverside Jaycees Haunted Castle of Carnage, Riverside, OH
The Riverside Jaycees Haunted Castle of Carnage (and trail of terror and haunted maze!) is one of the longest running haunted attractions in Ohio, having been operating since 1986. They are run 100 percent by volunteers and feature some of the scariest attractions around.
3. The Dent Schoolhouse, Cincinnati, OH
The Dent Schoolhouse in Cincinnati is one of the scariest haunted attractions in Ohio. It was one of Haunted Attraction Online's Top 13 Haunts in the country, one of America Haunts top scariest haunted houses, among numerous other accolades. Prepare to scream.
4. Haunted Hoorah, Ashley, OH
Haunted Hoorah was voted the top most unique haunt by Ohio Valley Haunts. They immerse you in a well-crafted story of fear and torture that you become a part of featuring an outbreak of a deadly virus, zombies, and more.
5. Hauntville, Elyria, OH
Hauntville Haunted House has been described by some as a visit to a small town, lost in the middle of nowhere, with many hidden secrets to discover. You will have to find your way through the winding mazes to discover what terrors await you inside.
6. Spooky Ranch, Cleveland, OH
The Spooky Ranch in Cleveland features multiple attractions that will have you sleeping with the lights on. Check out the Extreme Nightmares Haunted House with extreme blood, gore, guts and in-your-face acting, the famous haunted hayride, the haunted barn, Monster Vision in 3D, and more!
7. Factory of Terror, Canton, OH
The Factory of Terror has won the Guinness World Record three times as the "Longest Indoor Haunted Attraction" in the world. Located inside an abandoned 150,000-square-foot aluminum foundry, they feature five full attractions totaling over a mile in length.
8. Fortress of Fear ScreamPark, Garrettsville, OH
The Fortress of Fear ScreamPark was rated top 10 by DAFE for favorite fall dark attraction or event. They are hands down one of the best and scariest haunted attractions in Ohio, and you might just be too scared to come back more than once.
9. Haunted Schoolhouse and Lab, Akron, OH
The Haunted Schoolhouse offers you the rare opportunity to face your deepest fears, featuring the story of an evil school librarian who cursed her pupils to live through the horrors of the books she loved. The Haunted Lab follows a mad scientist with twisted mutated experiments that have gone wrong.
10. Hudson Haunted House, Hudson, OH
The Hudson Haunted House has been serving up scares for Ohio for over 45 years, and they've become the best at what they do! With ghosts, ghouls, zombies, and monsters, you won't be able to go to sleep without having nightmares.


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Watch These Flesh-Eating Beetles Clean a Deer Skull [VIDEO]
How long does it take flesh-eating dermestid beetles to clean a deer skull? This time-lapse video shows you the answer.
Ever wondered how European-style deer mounts are made? Most taxidermists producing the popular skinless mounts start with dermestid beetles.
Dermestids eat away any flesh and other soft tissue left after the taxidermist removes the skin, eyes, brains, and any excess flesh.
This video from Dakota Skulls shows one of their beetle colonies making short work of a customer's deer head.
After the bugs are done, a quick wash, followed by some careful application of a bleaching agent to even out the color, and the skull is ready to finish and mount.
If you're interested in keeping a colony of dermestids to clean skulls and bones, you can order them online.
There are other DIY skull cleaning methods involving boiling, burying, or pressure washing skulls.
But, you have to admit, those beetles are pretty efficient. They sure earn their keep.


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LEWISBORO – The Lewisboro Daily Voice accepts signed, original letters to the editor. Email your letters to firstname.lastname@example.com .
To the Editor:
It has come to my attention that the judgment and behavior exhibited by Katonah-Lewisboro Schools Superintendent Paul Kreutzer during Hurricane Sandy and the snowstorm that followed have been the subject of negative criticism. As deputy supervisor of our town, I personally spent many hours with Dr. Kreutzer throughout the duration of the event. At all times, Dr. Kreutzer was professional, civil, engaged, and an asset to our town and the population he represents, our schoolchildren and their families.
I would like to cite a particular example of Dr. Kreutzer's dedication that occurred during the event and impressed me so much that I will remember it forever. After working with the town and NYSEG to get all the schools in the district power, Meadow Pond Elementary was the only school left without grid power. It needed a very large generator to power the entire facility so it could be safely occupied by students and staff. The generator was secured late in the evening and Dr. Kreutzer was on-site, working with the electrician, pulling the large, heavy cables down an access vault and into the basement to be wired into the school. I know this because I was there working alongside him. Meadow Pond was open for the students that morning.
I feel that we are fortunate to have such a dedicated and professional school superintendent who is also not afraid to roll up his sleeves and personally get the job done when it's required.
Peter DeLucia, MPA Deputy Supervisor Lewisboro
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Explore Catalina Island - view hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you.
Starting at the Hermits Gulch campground it is 1.75 miles of constant uphill until you reach the gazebo with the Lone Bush ( not a tree). If you take the left fork you head down towards the Wrigley Memorial which is in the Botanical Garden. This makes for about a 4.5 mile loop. Free access to the Botanical Garden this way, although the Garden is not much to see. Not fun for kids unless they are into stair stepping at a young age.
Amazing! silver peak was by far the hardest part, especially after the 5 mile hike from little harbor to 2 harbors. We started around noon and the sun was brutal! We expected it to be hot as it's September but they had not one single shader or table/bench while out on the 6 miles....it was still amazing! The whole trail was great! We had a blast! make sure to lock your fox boxes..lol, we forgot the last night and all our food got stolen by a sneaky fox...thankfully we only had 8 miles left to the trail! little harbor was our favorite camp site! It was beautiful and people we met were all wonderful!
Visited in September. Very warm, not much of any shade along the trail. Pack more water than you think you'll need. Level for the first 5mi. or so. As soon as you transfer from West End RD. nearing the Trans Catalina trail (close to Parsons), there are some nice hilly areas. I suggest trekking poles for backpackers.
Definitely strenuous, recommend being in very good shape. Totally worth every second! Extraordinary views at every point. Truly stunning. Highly recommend
We enjoyed this hike on 8/16/18. We started the hike at the campsite which turned out to be great. It is steep but you will constantly stop and gaze at the views so I promise you won't even realize how far you've hiked. The way down is easy and trail itself is very easy to follow.
I do recommend starting at the campsite trail; if you start at the garden expect to hike down to be potentially difficult.
Did as a 1-day trail run, took the Catalina Express ferry from San Pedro and started at Two Harbors towards Avalon (skipped the north part). Ran the 26 miles to Avalon in about 8 hrs along the "official" Trans Catalina Trail see https://www.catalinaconservancy.org/userfiles/files/Hiking%20Map%202017%2011x17(1).pdf (it goes by airport via Sheep Chute Road).
Definitely some pretty areas. I like the ridge north of Little Harbor and the section south of Black Jack Campground (where the buffalo are).
Least favorite was Sheep Chute road and area near the airport. I'd consider doing the bypass along Cottonwood trail as shown in Red on AllTrails, but I guess that skips the water at the airport. Also it looks like Google Maps doesn't even show Cottonwood Trail so make sure you have this AllTrails map or a USGS version.
3 bottles of Gatorade was less than enough, but was able to refill one at the airport halfway. Pretty hot out there in late July. Very arid and dry. Could imagine it being more pretty in the winter.
Remember the ferry takes over an hour each way which eats into your trail time. Still I do recommend doing it as a dayhike trail run.
Completed the TCT from Avalon to Parsons Lansing Oct 2016 and it was an excellent experience! However, as mentioned in previous reviews, there is pretty much 0 shade from the sun throughout the vast majority of the hike. And water is only found at camp areas and the airport strip food mart gift shop so plan accordingly.
Got dropped off by ferry at Avalon and hiked straight from Avalon to BlackJack where we camped at Black Jack the first night. Day two we hiked to the airport to fill up on water and onto little harbor. I encourage a pit stop swim in the ocean at little harbor, before strapping on your gear again for another long stretch of straight uphill climbs. From little harbor there was a long very uphill stretch to two harbors, where we camped for the 2nd night.
After we camped the night at two Harbors (which was the most crowded of campsites), we got back on the trail and hiked to Parsons landing which was my favorite of the 3 campsites. Once you refill on water located in pre designated lockers with your campsite number listed on it, you actually set up camp right on the beach next to the ocean on your fairly secluded personal sandy beach. Note- be sure to secure your rainfly on your tent as the ocean creates a mist at night that will get everything damp. The next and final day we hiked from PL back to Two Harbors where we caught a ferry back to Long Beach.
I highly recommend this hike, but be prepared for the island/desert terrain. And I should also mention that buffalo sightings and potentially close encounters with them are highly
Lin O. on Hermit Gulch Trail to Lone Tree Point
Had a great time on this trail yesterday midday (July 1st). Hiked up from the campsite trailhead, it's pretty steep with little shade until you get to the peak at 1.7 miles, sometimes cool sea breezes and sometimes not, so you'll get hot. Cute little gazebo type structure at the top, again with great views.
Bring plenty of water (I drank two liters), hat, and sunscreen, but poles are not necessary. The trail is on the narrower side and has a few steep switchbacks as you head up the hills. Lots of beautiful views as you head up, including several where you can see the ocean on both sides.
The way down is much wider (a ranger truck passed us at one point) and an easier grade - all the way down to Wrigley Memorial. Going this way you get to enter the botanic gardens for free ($8 admission otherwise), which we hadn't realized. Anyways, great perk on a great hike — the outdoors, some culture/history, and lots of cool cacti. If you are looking for an easier hike, perhaps start at the gardens/Wrigley and do it as an out and back from there to the peak, also known as the "Garden to the Sky" trail.
We also walked in from Avalon, so it's a flat 1.5 miles in to the trailhead. Otherwise there is a shuttle which is $2 and runs every 20 min, but if you're going to do a moderate hike like this you probably don't need to shuttle. We only saw two other groups while hiking which surprised us, had assumed there would be more on a Sunday.
I think this is a great option if you are a moderately fit hiker who doesn't have a ton of time in Avalon but wants to experience some of the grandeur of the TCT with a couple extra hours to hang out in town (we were there on a day trip, first ferry in and last ferry out).
Me and my husband made this our first backpacking trip and it was definitely one of my favorite experiences! We went from Avalon to Two Harbors in two days.
Day 1: Ferry in, Avalon to Blackjack campground (11 miles, took us about 6 hours total)
Day 2: Blackjack to Two Harbors (13 miles, took us about 8 hours, including our stop at Airport in the Sky and hanging out at Little Harbor), Ferry out.
So much wildlife, it would be difficult not to see Bison and foxes. We had a fox that hung out at our campsite. My husband also was a little too brave and continued on the trail with a pack of Bison right off the trail, and ended up being charged by one of the bulls. Fortunately he dropped his pack when he ran and it scared the bull. Make sure to keep your distance from them! Also watch out for snakes, we passed a rattlesnake and another yellow and black striped snake on the trail and didn't notice until they stirred.
Beautiful views, changing terrain every few miles, all in all an amazing way to view the island.
The one thing I would have changed was adding another day to our trip so we could have camped at Little Harbor and hiked from there to Two Harbors the following day. The second day hiking was quite a challenge for us considering the heat, the steep ascents to Two Harbors after Little Harbor, and the wear on our legs and feet after day one. However, the views are spectacular to Two Harbors.
Overall awesome backpacking, would highly recommend.
Enjoyed the trail and its amazing views (little harbor to two harbors, silver peak trail, top of hermit gulch). We were always close to bison, deer, and foxes. A bison even walked up to our campsite while one of us was showering. Scary.
I did not like jeeps and trucks constantly passing us from Hermit Gulch to Blackjack or from Parsons to Two Harbors, but it didn't ruin the trip.
We went in late June and it was not hot at average 65F but the kids had gotten out of school and Parson's was a madhouse.
The best food served on the trail is at the airport and the food at Two Harbors is overpriced and unremarkable.
On the 3rd day we did the 14mi loop from Two Harbors to Parsons and back (of the official 2017 trail) in 1 day and would not recommend doing that as our feet were in so much pain walking 7.5 miles on a flat road after a >1mi long descent on fenceline road.
The Trans Catalina Trail can be extremely hot in the summer months. If you are going to be hiking in the summer and are worried about the heat and difficulty of the trail. I would highly recommend looking into gear haul services for the more strenuous portions of the trail. All your backpacking gear is delivered directly to your campsite and you can bring extra water/food/drinks/firewood. 310-913-9036 with Catalina Backcountry
Great backpack trip if you park your solitude and wilderness expectations at the door and just enjoy it.
We did it in six days: Day 1: Hermit Gulch, Day 2: to Blackjack, Day 3: to Little Harbor, Day 4: to Two Harbors, Day 5: to Parsons, Day 6: Home.
We did the exact route provided by the Catalina Conservancy, but we did the west end of the island in a counterclockwise fashion instead of clockwise.
Caveats: 1) one segment of the westernmost trail from miles 28.5 to Mile 30 is called Fenceline Road. That part of the trail topped out at 30% grade and was very steep. There is an alternative route if you continue toward Silver Peak, and I'd recommend it as this part was just brutal (uphill) and would be dangerous on the downhill. 2) Fox boxes are provided at all campsites. Use them. A fox tore a hole in our tent to try to take our food bag. Our fault for listening to others who said it was okay. (The foxes are adorbs!)
Okay, that said, what a great romantic trip! Restaurants in Avalon, airport, and Two Harbors. We enjoyed being trail-trash and hanging out in Two Harbors as we awaited another couple joining us (who missed the early boat). We did this over Memorial Day and the weather was good for the whole trip except at Little Harbor where it was windy. The holiday weekend made for better music in Two Harbors. (A knowledgeable local says Little Harbor is the place to be in August).
Solitude whenever we were on the trail was interspersed with the tourists in Avalon and Two Harbor. The buffalo were mainly a) at Black Jack (one slept 25 feet away from our camp site [#1!]) and b) near and after the airport. Talk loud and they'll move off the trail.
Day 1 we took the 1:30 boat from Long Beach to Avalon and did the tourist thing. Hiking 5 miles between going to Hermit Gulch, going back to downtown for dinner, and back again with some exploration.
Day 2 is lots of up, followed by lots of up and down. It would have been excessively hot if the weather were so, but it wasn't. so. Views were nice. Blackjack campground is fun.
Day 3 You get to hoof it for a few miles to the airport, then have a giant breakfast! How cool is that? The ladies at the restaurant have trained the local ravens and squirrels, so there's a floor show too. After that you get to see the actual herd of buffalo. Again pretty cool. Others noted how they'd avoided the buffalo herd because they were on the trail. We just talked loudly as we approached and the herd lovingly moved for us. More amazing views as you cross the island and drop down to Little Harbor - Catalina's answer to car camping. Gorgeous views though. Too cool to swim, unfortunately. I will be back to set up a camping trip here at the beautiful giant group campsites.
Day 4: Two Harbors. Easy hike to Two Harbors where we'd meet our friends for their first backpack trip. The views just astound as you hike along the giant cliffs. The trail drops down and you reenter the madding crowd. But hey: grill and bar and shower. Our friends missed the 12:30 boat, so we had to sit there and eat tons, and drink (moderately) and dance to the live music. (Oh and hot showers!) Not bad.... Stayed at Two Harbors Campground. We had one down near the water. Maybe one of the sites up the hill would have been a bit better (but windier?)
Day 5: When we hiked from Two Harbors to Parsons, mostly on road (sad face) we passed Emerald Bay. I think we passed a church service in one of the anchorages consisting of many dingys cuddling up to a big yacht. Emerald Bay looked so amazing that we hiked down and ate and chilled and swam all afternoon. Once you pass the Boy Scout Campground, you are in the wilderness again with great shore views and the relatively secluded Parson's Landing. (Why did he land here, it's all rocks?)
Day 6: We split up with the girls roadwalking back past Emerald Bay while we tough guys climbed up to FOG. Yeah, no views, and that caveated blankety blank Fenceline Road. But we were done. Back at Two Harbors, we got food, got on the earlier boat and slept back San Pedro, where we got our friends to drive us to Long Beach (very near by, a cab would do as well.)
We didn't get to do the final beach because our friends were not up for the additional mileage to Startlight. So, that said, I'd likely extend this trip to include starlight beach for sure, since it seems cheezy not to go to the other end of the island.
excited to make the Trans Catalina Trail my official first overnight Backpacking trip. I know it will be hot and beautiful!!! Currently, doing it solo.
Overall great moderate hike. Stunning views of Avalon while you ascend Hermit Gulch. The lone tree trail also offers incredible views of the other peaks and canyons on the island, as well as the pacific and San Clemente Island to the south. The hike culminates on the edge of the palisades with another spectacular view, although if there was a lone tree at the end of the trail, it is no longer the case now. Recommend to take the trans-Catalina trail south on the way down in order to take the offshoot trail through the Wrigley botanical gardens.
This is no longer the official route for this trail. Check the Catalina conservancy website for the new and updated map. We loved this trip and would definitely do it again! I wouldn't suggest doing in the summer when the temperatures are high because there was little to no shade along the trail.
Did the Trans-Catalina in mid-March and you understand almost immediately why this is mostly a winter-only trip. There is virtually no shade, a lot of sun, and even though you have a lot of access to water, there are at least two very difficult big climbs and a couple big descents followed by immediate climbs. Catalina does not give you a lot of flats to cruise on. Make sure to follow the Catalina Conservancy's map or at least be very clear which deviations you're taking because you can easily go well out of your way. The official Trans-Catalina is well-marked and we didn't miss a single mile marker.
We started in Avalon on a sunny day and your first mile is a nice walk up to Hermit Gulch before your next two miles are a very steady, steep uphill to the top of the ridge. Even when it was only 65 degrees, this was very hard for four fit people but you get spectacular views of the Pacific on all sides. Your next couple miles are up and down along a very dry portion of the interior where you will start to see bison and see how big the island actually is. You spend a significant portion of the next 4 miles on or very close to the airport road, power lines, and pipes and step over a lot of buffalo crap, probably the least good part of the trip. However it is still very scenic. You do a few big descents and climbs away from the road finally which is hard but eventually you'll get to Blackjack which is a nice campground tucked into a pine grove. Nice to hear the wind in the trees at night.
Day Two you can make either very easy or long and moderately hard. We chose easy because it was supposed to rain that day (it did). You start with a confusing portion that confused several backpackers. When you leave Blackjack, turn right at the airport road briefly (look for the markers as this uncharacteristically does not have a sign pointing you in the right direction) then a sharp left. Another hard down-and-up brings you to the airport. Definitely stop for a meal. It's quiet and there's a lot to see in the airport of the history of Catalina. The rest of the day is a pretty easy descent down to Little Harbor. We camped here in the rain and it was perfectly fine, though it definitely feels a lot like a drive-in campground with a lot of huge, out-of-place palm trees. You could potentially continue to Two Harbors from here and make it in good time.
Day Three is where you see the best scenery and are the most isolated. The first five miles is a pretty easy ascent onto the ridge overlooking the Pacific and it is spectacular. Even after the rain, this was an easy trail and a big highlight. You descend quickly into Two Harbors around five miles where you can refill water if necessary. The next portion brings you south of town and up the hardest climb of the trip. Miles 25-27 were by far the hardest and, once the sun broke through again, took a long time. Near the top though you start getting spectacular views again, particularly if you take half an hour to do the Lobster Bay Lookout trail. Amazing. You spend the next few miles walking along a ridge toward the tip of the island before a very steep descent into Parson's. After the rain, this was very muddy but doable going down. I would not attempt going up it after rain. Parson's is a dream, but don't expect to show up and have a spot. Reserve well in advance and get water. Oh! And DON'T FORGET TO GET YOUR KEY AT THE TWO HARBORS VISITOR CENTER. I did and was very lucky someone shared their water with me.
Day Four is a flat 8 miles back to Two Harbors along the coast on the road. The water and vegetation is beautiful but it is a bummer to have to stare down at four different ugly summer camps that you have to wind around. That was another least good thing about the trip. You should make it back to Two Harbors by 10:30 in time to catch the 11:30 ferry back to San Pedro.
A great trip if you like views of the ocean with some difficult terrain and don't mind some portions that interface with human infrastructure a lot.
If I do this trip again, I would most likely make it a bit longer by going from Day One Avalon to Blackjack, Day Two Blackjack to Two Harbors (instead of Little Harbor) and Day Three Two Harbors to Parsons, but hike the entirety of the Silver Peak Trail down to Starlight Beach and then on to Parson's. Adding that leg to Day Three adds over four miles but the views from the top of the ridge are really something.
You are hiking a road but it is beautiful and Parsons Landing is worth every bit of the trek.
Relatively flat and a good route for my son's (9) first backpacking outing
crazy uphills, amazing views and perfect campsites. be careful of buffalo and give them space. keep those pack weights low and glide up those hills ;).
This was a great hike. It was challenging because it was so hot outside. There is a lot of up-and-down on the trails also. It is a good trial run for you to see how to pack for a multiple day hike. You will learn quickly how important packing light is. You could save some food weight eating at the airport along the way or Two Harbors restaurant, general store, or cafe but it's expensive. There are non heated outdoor showers and potable water at Black Jack and Little Harbor. Bring after shower flips flops, sharp rocks everywhere. Two Harbors has a general store and heated pay showers. Parsons Landing has no water or showers. If you have a heavy pack or bad knees trekking poles are very helpful. I will be doing this one again when it cools off.
Great hike with great views once at the top. I am not an avid hiker but with plenty of water, some snacks and few stops on the way up it was very manageable.
Challenging but doable with moderate training when competed over 5 days and 4 nights. 3 of the 4 campsites were beach front with spectacular views. The entire trans Catalina trial is almost 40 miles. The 5th day from Parson's Landing back into Two Harbors was flat with breathtaking scenery. Would surely hike it again! ⛺
This was a great hike. Unfortunately fog rolled in at the end of Lone Tree trail.
Did this trail at the end of April, which was just about too late in the season since the whole trail is exposed and it was getting hot. The scenery was absolutely stunning! I started at the mile 1 trailhead and didn't see another soul until mile 7. Very difficult elevation gain and loss, but totally worth it. Camped the first night at Blackjack and it was super windy; second night at Little Harbor which was a great site next to the ocean, seemed to be a favorite by boaters; night 3 was at Parsons, and by far the best campsite! It felt like it took forever to get there, but a serene place on the sand. The most amazing views were about two miles outside of Little Harbor on the trek out. Worst moments were the 3 mile stretch into Little Harbor. The trail was straight down! But overall, a wonderful experience.
Very very hot, with no shade at all and limited water source. No mile markers!! Trail can be hard to follow at times. Started at hermit and stoped at little harbors.
Amazing to camp mostly at beach-side sites after long days of hiking. My wife and I did the entire TCT and the constant vistas were breathtaking! The stop for Bison Burgers at the Catalina airport is WELL worth it. Definitely doing this again!
Though it was spring and very dry when I visited the scenery was like none I had ever seen. I hiked from the historic Airport and had the feeling like I was the only one there as it is only accessible by conservancy tour shuttle. On another day I hiked at Two Harbors after seeing the Bison thanks to my Conservancy Tour Guide. The Two Harbors side of the Island is more remote and I recommend taking the ferry from the mainland there first if possible which will save you some SS per person for the shuttle. Then if you want to hike from there you can camp at Blackjack Campground several miles away between Two Harbors and Catalina which is more commercial with cruise ships visiting that side of the Island weekly.
I just went to the top where the bench is.
TAKE WATER AND WEAR SUN SCREEN. This goes on my list as one of my all time favorite hikes. Beautiful views, what an experience!!!
Denise M. on Trans-Catalina Trail: From Avalon to Black Jack Camp
For the actual current trail information and permits.
The trail is wide and kind to almost any level of hiker. The gradual ascent will put some sweat on your brow, unless you run, then it'll challenge even those beasts who love mountain gallops. from the center of town round trip was just at 6 miles and just under 2 hours at a steady pace.
I came into the island on a cruise ship and took the first tender boat over for a morning run. For those in this same situation, the total distance from dock to the top and back is 6.5 miles. I ran through the town of Avalon and made my way up the road toward Wrigley Memorial and botanical garden. The entrance is $7. Cool cacti in the garden and the memorial was beautiful. The trail starts at the memorial. There is not a lot of shade going up. The trail is wide, but covered in pebbles. I didn't have my running shoes, so my feet suffered. The view from the top is nice, you can see the ocean on both sides of the island from there. It was a great run to work off some of that cruise ship food and drink.


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Quick! Quick, now! Before they wake, before this moment of peace fades at any moment.
I grab the computer and punch out these thoughts that have been passing through my mumble jumbled mama mind these past few weeks. In the silence when I'm rocking Milly at 2am (damn you 4mo sleep regression), I am flooded with things to say and remember of this time in our life. Some moments it's blissful joy (Morgan's wild & free backyardigan antics + Milly cooing & kicking away on the blanket looking up at the trees...) but mostly it's a what's next & who needs to be fed kind of hourly increments these days. When I say having a second child made me tap into my energy reserves, I cannot stress it enough. It's not that I'm just tired, tired is fine. Everyone is tired. It's that my mind is on overdrive all the time. The hem & hawing of choosing to check of what needs to be done (bills, those dishes, sanitize bottles, SHAVE MY LEGS) ....or not think twice and just roll around in the grass with Morgan when Milly naps. To throw the necessities of homeownership to the wayside and to be present for this fleeting period of a sunny summer day; this time when my girls are just little little little and I'm fortunate enough to witness and participate in it through & through.
I wrote down a lot of things about Morgan's first year of life in different places: this blog, my moms one line a day book, a baby book, my personal journal...I skim back through them here and there looking for reassurance on days when I have zero ability to remember what week of life I took Morgan out of the swaddle for good (I took out for night sleep around 12wks right? But 12wks I was in Pittsburgh and I have pictures of her in Velcro swaddleme so it must've been later, but I swear it was 12wks! Much, MUCH later for naps. Do they not make XL swaddles for a reason? Maybe I have a Kickstarter campaign on my hands...). But I digress, I document it all not only for the few years later ability to check myself on things but really for decades down the road. When I'll actually have time to go through all of this and reminisce in detail. To have the "oh remember whens" come flooding back in full color. And sit on a porch next to a retired Lee and skim through my thoughts of ages ago...of when I was drowning in clothing with spitup and breastmilk stains, when my hair was in a perpetual ponytail, when "mama I need you" was he incessant call whether in the form of toddler words or baby cries, when date night was imperative to stay connected even tho we are both so damn exhausted.
It's a good life this one. A bit blurry from fragmented sleep but that's ok. Back at it...(someone just wrangled her little arm out of her swaddle. Hello my little Houdini...)


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So I got to leave work early and drove through a snow squall to get the hair trimmed up a bit. Of course, this was unplanned, as usual, and I had no appointment. I walked into the super cheap-o hair place thinking there would be throngs of illkept heads waiting for help. Alas, I was the only customer. It only took about 15 minutes and I was out. YAY!
The hairdresser summed up the day's weather perfectly. She said it reminded her of a snow globe--one minute snow is a flying everywhere, the next, it's sunny and calm with snow blanketing the ground.
Speaking of snow, this is how my morning went:
Clearing off snow from the car and sidewalk, stairs and porch
Spy salt truck down end of street
Salt truck gets closer
Man in salt truck's gaze locks mine
Man in salt truck's eyes sparkle with glee as he turns the corner, missing my block
Drive down snowy brick road, slipping around
So what about the knitting?
Well, I plan to get going during knitting on SCARF, ATTEMPT #2 while catching up on some monster laundry. Keep your fingers crossed...
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Me + Laundry = Yuck
So I got to leave work early and drove through a snow squall to get the hair trimmed up a bit. Of course, this was unplanned, as usual, and I had no appointment. I walked into the super cheap-o hair place thinking there would be throngs of illkept heads waiting for help. Alas, I was the only customer. It only took about 15 minutes and I was out. YAY!
Posted by Patricia at 5:28 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
3rd Annual Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Fest
Get the dirty details here:
Knit Fest
Feb. 10th & 11th
Don't you wish you lived here, too?
In other news: the Heat Meiser aka my guy is away so I have the heat at 66 degrees! He would just about cry to hear this. I am still not warm, but no longer freezing. I also have more than one light on in the house.
It is snowy and cold and finally wintery here. I only wish a very big snow storm would blanket the city and make venturing to work in the morn risky, if not impossible. Alas, forecast calls for little more than a flurry.
Wish my lovely sisters, yes, they are twins, a Happy Birthday for me. My first born baby daughter, Madison Penelope, a true Aquarian if I ever met one, also shares their birthday. Isn't she gorgeous! She is 10 years old today.
Posted by Patricia at 9:06 PM 1 comments
Monday, January 22, 2007
I Survived Russian Xmas!!!
I made it! 3 days trapped inside a small house with too many adults and screaming children to count and standing-room-only moments. One bathroom with a toilet that could only be flushed after 2-3 uses in an effort to "conserve well water." 3 days of solid dreary cold rain. Adults giving me a crying child to hold and making comments about how I need to have one even though the child continues to cry and I obviously lack in the maternal sense.
It wasn't all bad though; I learned a great deal about their family customs, history and how to really make pierogi. Here is a photo of my newly-acquired Polish skillz::
I made them last night and they were pretty tasty AND vegan! So the next clan gathering is in the summer and I can forget about the mess of it all until then.
In KNITTING NEWS--here is the pic of my wash cloth and bath stuff gift for Kay
It's positioned on the shelves my guy finally finished in our bathroom along with our sea glass collection from the 4 years we lived on the beach.
I made a scarf for a sister (per her request) but don't like it. I'll post the pic later but while weaving in the minions of loose ends, thought of a way to make it much better. So back to the needles for me, will post some pics when I've gotten it going.
Not much else, trying to continue to sort through career options/job change. I finally mailed in my last student loan payment over the weekend after 10 years of monthly payments and am reluctant to go back to school again and start the whole student loan thing over again. I just want to do something creative and be able to enjoy my work, which is something I am struggling with of late. So back to the classifieds for me, my friends! Enjoy your evening and hey, it's snowing here!!
Posted by Patricia at 7:00 PM 1 comments
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Mucho Busy...
I feel like I haven't updated all my fans in forever. I'm sure the masses must be wondering what fantastic adventures I've been so absorbed by that I am unable to blog. I could say anything here, really give you something imaginative and awe-inspiring. But you will get the truth.
I've been working and worrying and cleaning and watching very bad TV. That will pretty much sum up my life of late. Oh, and some shopping was in there too.
My job has been on my mind a lot recently. Sleep has proven difficult due to this as well. I stopped into Moonstones this past weekend for some assorted incense and found some soap and body lotion for Kay, called Hot & Flashy, which has lemongrass which is said to help with menopause. Anyway, on a whim I went ahead and had a reading done. I asked about my job/career and was given some guidance. I was also told I would have a male child who would prefer to drink a lot of liquids and would be an atheist (???). I'll keep you posted as to the accuracy of the reading as time goes by. I also had an interview today which I almost cancelled after the reading, but decided to go ahead and give it a shot. Now I seem even more confused than ever!
I will have a picture of my latest design, a small gift for Kay to go with the bath goodies. I'll post it after she retrieves the gift so as not to spoil the suprise, though I doubt she reads this or knows of its existance.
Anyway, I am headed out of town to the Icebox of PA tomorrow with the guy for Russian Xmas with his huge extended family. In the 13 years we've been together, I only made it to one giant extended family event. I'm a bit apprehensive, but will take along the knitting and Sudoku and will make the best of it all. Luckily, we also have a long weekend (Monday off) and I will be able to stay an extra night--yippee! Have a great knitterly weekend kids and drink something wicked for me!!!
Posted by Patricia at 11:03 PM 0 comments
Labels: job, knitting, Russian Xmas, tarot reading
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
So here it is, some of the holiday booty I acquired. From sister: Southern Culture on the Skids tote, home of the future travel knitting by me. From guy: Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughn and the most kick-ass knitting needles a girl could want. The needles are from kiku, in size 13. I can't wait to knit with them and am thinking up a pattern as we speak.
This is Madison Penelope asleep on our new couch. She's a monkey!
Oh--I was NOT in fact able to mail out my sissy's package due to the closure of federal offices following the death of President Ford. Thankfully, my dad warned me of this development last night so I did not waste a quarter in the parking meter this AM to find the post office closed and arrive late to work for no reason at all. Today was actually a pretty good day all in all.
Oh, and last, I would like to thank The Sun for making an appearance today, you brightened up the hood like no one can. Peace!!
Posted by Patricia at 8:12 PM 0 comments
Monday, January 01, 2007
So my hibernation is about over. Tomorrow I return to work. I wish I had a few more days to organize, clean and KNIT!
So this was a gift I made for a certain sister. It was not completed in time for the 25th, so it will be mailed to her tomorrow. Along with the un-dented replacement cannister I had ordered online (the original arrived dented and the replacement did not arrive until after the big day, despite the site owner's claims to the contrary). GRRRR!!!!
Anyhow, these are called Beachcomber Mitts by me in a pattern designed by me so she can wear them on the chilly beach and still pick up the sea glass and shells that are best found this time of year after a good nor'easter.
I did not do well in completing my holiday knits this year. I would like to also put forth the fact I was sidelined for the past 3 weeks with a cold of some sort, the likes of which I have not encountered before. First was the sore throat the some coughing. There was nasal cloggage, then nasal drippage. Feverage came next. Then more nasal drippage, then extreme sinus cavity pain. Now there is some final (I hope) drippage and my voice continues to sound very manly. I included this because I am sure if you suffer through my blogging, you must really want to know every detail.
I brought in the year 2007 in Station Square in the rain listening to Winger. We hit a neighbor's house party first and really, should have stayed there. Earlier I watched the Steelers crush the Bengal's chances of making it to the playoffs. What a fantastic end to the season! Carson Palmer, you are the whiniest little baby of a football player ever and this was karma from your Sports Illustrated article when you bashed the Steelers. Oh, and Cowher, thanks for all the years and wins and cursing on the sidelines, we'll miss you and watching a Steeler's game won't be the same without your animated facial expressions and red-flag tosses.
On the needles now: a scarf for another sister. There will be some knitting time ahead of me in the car when we travel to Lopez, PA for Russian Xmas in two weeks to see my guy's family. That's one positive way to look at that trip.
Wishing you peace and happy knitting and good vegan eats in the year 2007!
Posted by Patricia at 7:08 PM 2 comments


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Exploring Hydrocarbon Depletion
Well, volcanoes. And the lava in volcanoes comes from deep in the earth where everything is molten, right? Wrong! It's true that as you go deeper into the earth, things heat up, but the earth isn't a crispy rock shell around a gooey molten center. The crust, mantle and inner core of the earth are all solid rock (or iron in the case of the core). The only large portion of the earth's interior that is liquid is the outer core, and lava does not come from there (again, if it did, it would be molten iron)."
Volcanos, as well as hot spots that generate geysers, are very shallow and cover a very limited area compared to the entire globe. As such activity in Yellowstone, Hawaii, Guatemala, Iceland et al are not related.
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As we saw with Jay Bates' excellent workbench build, you can create an inexpensive vise using pipe clamps. But just out of curiosity I looked into the high end to see what's on offer, and it appears that Iowa-based Benchcrafted makes some of the most highly prized U.S.-built vises on the market.
Benchcrafted's designs, created by company founder Jameel Abraham and his father John, are both beautiful and highly functional. They've eschewed the standard T-handle in favor of a much more efficient wheel, which might seem an odd choice until you see the videos below. "I just want to make something because I think it's neat. My interest is to create useful things and hope they sell," Jameel told Popular Woodworking.
"When I'm in the shop working I want tools that are highly refined and work well. That's what appeals to me and that's how I approach products for Benchcrafted." Take a look at their sexy tail/wagon/end vise:
Moving to the front of the workbench, Benchcraft offers this gorgeous Glide leg vise, which features three handles (so that one never needs to reach down too far) and a St. Peter's Cross mechanism to keep it parallel:
These are manufactured in the U.S.A. to high tolerances and don't come cheap. The hardware for the cast version of the tail vise will set you back $295, whereas the machined version will run you $369; the Glide leg vise rings in at $369 for the cast version, $479 for the machined. I'm going to start saving up now.
I just finished a Roubo bench using the Benchcrafted Glide leg vise hardware and feel it's worth every penny. The effort required to make your own version of the hardware may cost less in materials but will cost lots more in time.
They are beautiful but way too expensive. You can make a very similar one for half the money or less if you search for similar hardware like I did.
Building your own workbench, or modifying an existing one, to better suit your specific dimensions, can pay huge dividends in terms of ergonomics. And this is one instance where consulting ergonomics manuals and diagrams to come up with a height isn't going to help you, because those are made for
Whether you've had a love of 3D rendering that spans decades or are new to creating product visuals, there's a sense of satisfaction and excitement that comes from creating photographic quality renderings and animations of 3D geometry. Maybe it's the challenge or maybe it's how one tool in particular makes
Sketchmeister Spencer Nugent once told us that students often ask him what type of pen or paper they should use. His answer: "There is no magic pen, there is no magic paper." In other words, it doesn't matter what you use to draw with. What matters is that you learn
Jimmy DiResta's back, this time using some surprising techniques to create a commercial sign. We've got a little bit of everything here from CNC work to handwork, incorporating plastic, metal, MDF and electricity
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The Praia D'El Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort is the first 5 starluxury resort hotel in Western Portugal, only 50 minutes' drive north of Lisbonand set within a region of great natural beauty and outstanding cultural andhistoric importance.Nearby, the medieval town of Óbidos is considered by many themost beautiful of Portugal's historic towns and villages.Located on a 220 hectare area on the cliff, with privilegedviews of the coast Atlantic white sand beaches , you can enjoy a tranquilatmosphere and wonderful views over the Atlantic Ocean.All 177 rooms, including 9 suites, have private terraces or balconiesoffering unique views of either the Atlantic Ocean or the beautiful 18 holeschampionship golf course and gardens. Whether having a light snack, a romanticdinner or a family meal, the hotel can accommodate your needs: Tempera is anall-day restaurant offering a Portuguese & Mediterranean menu combined withdaily thematic buffets. Romy restaurant is set in a truly romantic environmentand has an extensive choice of wines and champagnes. Light meals can be enjoyedtogether with beautiful views at Contato Lobby Bar. Cuisine is taken veryseriously and our Chefs take great pride and pleasure in their creations,ensuring you savour the very best. A state of the art fitness center is availablefor your workout, including an indoor heated pool, outdoor pool, Jacuzzi andTurkish bath. Also available is the Kalyan SPA where you can choose a relaxingor invigorating massage or several beauty treatments
This award-winning resort is located right onto an oceanic beach and next to an 18-hole championship golf course. Guests can access an extensive spa equipped with hot tub and massage facilities.
Avenida d. inês de castro n°1 - vale de janelas, 2510-451 obidos, portugal
Alternative Zimmertypen prüfen


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Tips for helping kids have an enjoyable first day at school
Starting school is an exciting time. It's a big step for children and while it can be a little daunting, your child's teacher and school are there to help.
There are some things that you can do to help your child have a successful and enjoyable first day at school:
- Spend time talking to your child about their first day of school; what to expect, making new friends and who they can ask for help.
- Begin the day with a nutritious breakfast and pack a healthy lunch.
- Arrive at school with plenty of time to settle in and take cues from your child's teacher about when it is time to leave.
- Make sure your child knows the pickup arrangements such as going to after school care or who is collecting them.
Term 1 for all Canberra Public Schools starts on Monday 30 January for new students and Tuesday 31 January for continuing students.
For more helpful information on starting school visit www.education.act.gov.au


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I confess that there are a lot of childhood fantasies a part of my adult soul still wants to believe in. A tiny thread of my being still holds on to these thoughts, and if I woke up tomorrow and somehow found out that they were really true I would be like, "Aha! I knew it!" And I would be completely satisfied with life.
So here they are. Five childhood dreams that I'm only 99.2% certain aren't real.
1. Santa Claus. Okay, let's start with a big one here. I love Santa Claus. It's true. Not really just the big guy himself, but the whole North Pole dream with the village of toy making elves and the stables of flying reindeer, and the magic...365 Christmas...it's just way too much fun. I could not care less about the tooth fairy and would be mildly impressed if there really were an April Valley where the Easter Bunny lived, but Santa - he's the man. I was one of those kids who just sort of figured it out on my own and point blank asked my mom one day. Even though my senses told me, "Nope, not real," a part of my heart has always held on to the dream. There's a little ache in my soul that there isn't really a workshop hidden in a frozen tundra. Sigh...at least there are a million movies to keep my dream alive. Is it Christmastime yet? :)
2. I'm only 98% sure that toys do not actually come alive when we're not around. Before Toy Story came on the scene and convinced kids born in the 90's that this was true, there was Raggedy Ann and Andy, and they're the ones that sealed the deal for me. Right this very second I am feeling really bad for a plastic baby doll that is getting rained on because the girls left her on the back porch. Like, I seriously almost ran out in the pouring rain to save her until I came to my senses. Dolls have feelings too, you know. I mean they don't. Do they? No, no. Not really. Ugh... how can all these little trinkets we have not come alive when we're sleeping? It just explains so many things in my life!
3. Alternate worlds. There has to be another world somewhere filled with all of the mythical and fairy tale people we've always heard about. Like Alice Through the Looking Glass or Virginia in The 10th Kingdom, I'm pretty sure you travel there by mirror. In fact, I had very vivid dreams of this when I was kid. There was a place I visited frequently via mirrors when I drifted off to sleep at night. I always came through in the same place - a backroom in a quaint village that had stone walls and open windows near the ceiling that I could never reach. (Don't ask me!) I usually got into some sort of trouble in this fairy tale world pretty quickly and woke up in a cold sweat as I tried to run my way back to that room and get home again, haha. Yes, I had a wild imagination when I was kid and apparently that didn't stop in my dreams. But were they just dreams? Dun dun dun....
4. Time Travel. Someone out there must really be doing this and we just don't know about it. Right? I mean, have you ever heard of the Mandela Effect?? Look that up. And don't give me "false memories." Are you trying to tell me that everyone is having the same hallucinations and that somewhere deep in my hippocampus that my brain is just making things up? NO. Time travel. There is no other true explanation. Move over Michael J. Fox.
5. Magic School. I love me some Harry Potter, but once again, he wasn't the first. (The Worst Witch, anyone? You can youtube that one, children of the 80's. You're welcome.) There have been stories of kids being shipped off to magic schools for years and years. There have to be magical people living alongside us while we foolish mortals walk around unawares. I mean...there has to be. And in a nod to Mr. Potter, how else do you explain fog?? Haha, okay, so...I probably believe in this one least of all. I mean, Santa - that could be legit. But still...part of me really hopes I get to go to magic school someday. I just hope that 31 isn't too old....
I have a feeling that when I die and learn about some of the things going on in this world that I had no idea about, I'll be knocked off of my feet by more incredible things than what are on this list. But until that time comes, I'm just going to keep swinging on that last thread of hope that maybe one of these could turn out to be true. ;) Adulthood would just be way too boring without secretly thinking I could be whisked away every time I walk by a random mirror or thinking that the toy sprawled out in the middle of the floor didn't just end up there all by itself. Do you remember "The Borrowers?" Yeah, they are probably real, too. Our borrowers like to steal socks and "borrow" my cell phone. A lot. Actually, I know the borrowers exist...and I'm pretty sure their names are Evelyn, Grace, and Reagan.
To all of my fellow childlike thinkers out there...solidarity friends. We're not weird. We're just...very in-tune with alternate reality. In a world where present reality kind of sucks a lot of the time, what would this place be without us? :D Keep dreaming, friends!


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(Reuters) - CSX Corpsaid a freight train derailed in southern Pennsylvania on Wednesday.
No injuries were reported after the derailment in Hyndman, but the company said trains and shipments would be delayed between Connellsville and Cumberland, Maryland.
"Customers with freight traveling across these lines should expect service disruptions for one week as recovery crews are working to fully restore service through the area and making any infrastructure or equipment repairs that may be necessary, the company said on its website.
(Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Editing by David Gregorio)


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The Rayburn Story
In 1946 as the ashes settled on the Second World War, Britain had begun the process of rebuilding the nation and soldiers returned home to begin a new and more peaceful life. Out of this came a period of innovation and incidentally the birth of the Rayburn. A clever fusion of a cooker and a drinking water heater, the first Rayburn was invented by the team at Allied Ironfounders LTD at their factory in Coalbrookdale, Shropshire which had, but years earlier, been involved in the production of bombs, grenades and gun carriages for the war effort.
The Rayburn stood out immediately for its efficiency and reliability, praised for its freestanding legs which reduced wastage as they heated the appliance rather than the surrounding flooring and walls. It worked efficiently and reliably even in its early days, benefitting from freestanding legs which meant it heated the appliance rather than the surrounding flooring and walls.
It didn't take long for the Rayburn to catch on and by the 1960's they had quickly found a foothold in the UK marketplace. Before long, their factory was producing as many as 1500 ovens a week eventually influencing markets as far wide as South Africa and Melbourne. Rayburn also developed a strong trust and the farming community and even today is known as a 'workhorse' for its constant ability to provide heating, hot water and cooking for all.
Building on their classic designs and proud heritage, today's Rayburns are made from 70% recycled materials making them a green choice for the warmer home. However, they continue to push boundaries with highly flexible and controllable programmes and sleek, forward-thinking designs. However, one thing remains – their combination of hot plates and ovens which make them perfect for every kind of cooking.
For 65 years, the Rayburn has been crafted by skilled workers at their historic foundry in Coalbrookdale - one of the hotbeds of the industrial revolution. While many of the industrial sites of the area have closed since, the Rayburn foundry endured and is now shared with AGA producing famous cookers and cookware that take up an important place in many homes around the world.
To find out more out more about our wide selection of range cookers, call us on 01903 885566 or visit us in store at Meridian House, Ford Road, Ford, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 0BH.


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3D printing though is only one of the pressures being put on jobs. That technology, after all, is in its infancy and it will be a few decades before the true impact is apparent. More immediately robotics and automation are eating manufacturing jobs at a rapid pace.
Between these two technologies we are looking at a future workforce where manufacturing is almost non-existant as a part of the economy. It is also pretty safe to say that shipping, including water, land and air routs including trains and trucking will be vastly reduced. After that, when people begin printing products at home, most retail outlets will fold and go under.
That will only be the first wave. People in professional occupations may look at this and say 'Ok, so unskilled (or low skilled) labor is going away. People will just have to learn new skills.' However when jobs in manufacturing, shipping and retail go away not only will there be high unemployment, leading to a decline in demand but jobs in management, logistics, advertising, marketing, sales and other white collar jobs related to those industries will go away, permanently, as well.
This will be followed by a third wave as the economic impact of the second wave is felt and then a fourth wave and a fifth until the number of 'jobs' left in the economy represents a tiny fraction of the overall population. Even 'government jobs' could become a scarce commodity. How does a government get the revenue to function if the majority of the population isn't working?
There is, after all, no new source of employment waiting to replace all of those jobs. There is no 'service sector' that can fill in for all of the work that is about to be lost. Not everyone can sell or service 3D printers or repair robotics equipment (that work will likely be done by the robots themselves anyway).
The point of this isn't to tell you how to fix it, merely to lay out the situation. People have to start thinking about these things and how an economy without jobs can operate because if it is left to politicians and corporate elites, the picture may not be a pretty one for the majority of the population.
If you have any thoughts or good articles please hit up the comments section. Otherwise, consider this to be continued ...
[via Mother Jones]
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Masterminding is a staircase to success.
If you've ever read Napoleon Hill's book, Think and Grow Rich, you'd have heard of the concept of masterminding. Anyone who wants to be successful in business needs to understand this concept.
Since starting my online business I've become especially aware of this as it's such common practice, and here I am in Nashville at my very first mastermind, right as I'm typing this.
Day one of our masterminding session is complete, and was totally successful.
Although it wasn't all sunshine and roses, the first part of the day was actually quite stressful for me. I managed to sleep in and catch up on a bit more lost sleep, checked out of my hotel on time, and was running perfectly on schedule.
I ordered a taxi to take me to the mansion outside of the main Nashville area and this is where things started to go a little awry.
We arrived at the house and it didn't quite look like the images I'd seen posted in our Facebook group, but it was the right address according to all my documents so I didn't think anything of it. The taxi driver left me and it wasn't until he was long gone that I realised something was definitely wrong. There was no-one at the house and there were dogs inside barking at me. I couldn't get in touch with anyone because I haven't managed to find a local sim card yet and didn't want to turn on my data as that will cost a fortune.
Eventually I saw a car pulling up and felt a wave of relief, until I realised it wasn't anyone from the masterminding group. Lucky for me the lady (Christine) was lovely and made a few phone calls for me. We realised this was the house that had initially been booked but then got cancelled due to a double booking. We figured out the new address and then I had the dilemma of trying to figure out how to get there as it was 40 minutes away from where I currently was and not an area that taxis come by very often.
Thankfully someone from the mastermind offered to come collect me so all was good again. About 2 hours later I was finally where I needed to be, and we were good to go.
The correct mansion was even more incredible than the first one. The surrounding neighbourhood is full of beautiful homes, tree lined streets, and we're right on a lake. Everything is so lush and green as well – so different to home.
We had a very productive afternoon doing some training sessions and I even got a professional video shot, which I was totally freaking out about. I managed to get it done in only three takes which I felt was a great achievement for someone totally out of their comfort zone in front of a camera.
We cooked up a lovely Italian style dinner and had a wonderful evening bonding. This is what I love, coming together and meeting people from all over the world. People who were strangers not too long ago now feel like family and it's such an amazing community to be apart of. So excited for tomorrow.
I know this is a pretty short post, I managed to stay awake all day and it's now midnight so I'm totally tired and ready for bed.
Goodnight and Much Love
Jade xo
P.S. If you like what you've read feel free to like, comment, or share. Your time reading my post is greatly appreciated. 🙂


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Like My Childhood, but Darker
My subconscious likes to torture me. It's quite rude that way.
My subconscious likes to torture me. It's quite rude that way.
I was supposed to be doing something else…
I have the best dreams.
My current Facebook status reads: I had this really elaborate dream where I was sneaking a group of mythical monsters out of a Gothic castle to escape the evil Dr. Frankenstein who was running experiments on them all. We saved the mermaid by dropping her off at Sea World, but the gentle ogre had trouble… Continue reading 5 Dead Guys I Love
So disappointed in Russell Crowe right now.
I can't get married because I squeal when someone breaks too hard.
If Nazis take over the earth, don't let me board a spaceship. I beg you.