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Law Practice Magazine
From substantive skills to pitching and the fine art of small talk, professional development teams handle an amazing variety of tasks in today's law firms. Just when did professional development positions come on the scene, and why? "Law firms have always been responsible for training and developing lawyers; it's how they do it and what they call it that has changed," says Sari Fried-Fiori, Chief Professional Development Officer at Fulbright & Jaworski, which has nearly 1,000 lawyers worldwide. Here, five firms' officers talk about the expansion in lawyer training efforts.
The professional development function has been slowly but surely developing in firms over the past couple of decades. However, a clear watershed came in 1990, when a group of about 20 individuals, along with the ABA, ALI-ABA and the Practising Law Institute, established the Professional Development Consortium, or PDC. The founding members realized they were doing similar things in their respective law firms and would benefit from sharing experiences. This represented an initial step in helping to organize professional development programs in law firms.
In the beginning, there was shadowing, an informal practice in which new lawyers basically followed around more senior ones—and that was the extent of what most firms offered in terms of passing on skills to their younger lawyers. This changed dramatically when state supreme courts across the country began imposing MCLE requirements. (Today there are only seven non-CLE states and one voluntary CLE state remaining.) "This was a call to action to more formally train lawyers after law school," explains Fulbright & Jaworski's Fried-Fiori.
Another driver behind professional development's formalization was the explosive growth in size that law firms experienced in recent decades, making firms realize they needed to offer consistent training programs across geographies and practice areas. Also, because mergers fueled part of the growth, it became necessary to establish programs that would help bridge cultural differences.
The third driver was partner time. As law firms began to operate more like other businesses, the things expected of partners changed. New demands around client and business development and firm profitability reduced the amount of time partners had to train young lawyers.
Another, more recent driver has been the rise in associate salaries, causing firms to ask themselves, "How do we shorten the time between the hiring of new attorneys and when they become profitable?" This has led to more specific job training (going well beyond CLE requirements) to help new associates get up to speed faster. "Associate training is," according to author and consultant Ida O. Abbott, "the one almost universal activity run by professional development specialists."
A final set of drivers focuses on retention statistics and lawyer expectations. The National Association for Law Placement (NALP) reports that 78 percent of new lawyers leave large firms by the time they are in their fifth year. Since it costs between $250,000 and $500,000 to replace an associate, this quickly becomes a multimillion-dollar problem. Today's young lawyers do not expect to work at the same firm (or even necessarily remain lawyers) for the rest of their lives. "Attorneys have so many choices about where they can work now," confirms Fried-Fiori. "We have to acknowledge that we are competing for talented lawyers and design programs to attract and retain them, rather than ignore that the marketplace has changed."
In combination, these drivers have propelled a significant evolution in professional development positions. Early on, most PDC members focused on building curriculum for CLE courses. (The group's original 20 has grown to more than 360 members today.) Then the function started to include mentoring, new lawyer orientation and business development training. And in the past four years, there has been another shift, with increased emphasis on identifying core competencies, establishing performance benchmarks, talent management and leadership training.
To learn how the programs vary between firms, I talked to several professional development directors. Here is what they revealed about the scope, goals and deliverables of their programs.
At O'Melveny & Myers, which has more than 1,000 lawyers in 13 offices worldwide, the program is carefully aligned to the career stage of each associate. Summer associates are assigned mentors with similar outside interests (which extends to things like surfing). First-years gain an additional mentor from their specific practice area. Also, as part of the firm's New Associate Mentor Program, first-years have monthly "lunch and learns" covering all the basics—billing procedures, client relationships, working with support staff, work-life issues, time management techniques and so on—to teach them how to be efficient and productive in the law firm environment.
As associates advance in their careers, they are taught how to get new work and how to turn down assignments when their workloads are too heavy. According to Danielle Fredericks, O'Melveny's Director of Professional Development, the firm also has a work coordination system that matches assignments to each lawyer's interests and skills: "This is a top priority at the firm. With our work coordination system, associates have access to a wider variety of projects and work experiences and we are able to provide a more equitable distribution of work. This helps them become better and more productive lawyers, which in turn makes them more likely to want to stay at the firm."
O'Melveny also focuses significant resources on skills training, which is overseen by Rochelle Karr, Director of Attorney Training & Mentoring. In creating the curriculum, Karr works with department heads and practice group leaders and then she finds the best people (either O'Melveny partners or outside experts) to teach the courses. The curriculum includes training in hard and soft skills based on the lawyer's experience level and the particular practice area. At least one skills training course is being offered somewhere in the firm almost every day. According to Karr, most of the training courses offered at O'Melveny qualify for CLE credit. The firm uses a software program called "Reqwired" that automatically tracks attendance and produces monthly reports for the lawyers regarding their credits.
At Proskauer Rose, according to Recruiting and Associate Development Manager Lisa VanderVeen, the professional development department evaluates CLE course proposals, monitors what other firms are offering and coordinates the presentations. The department is also responsible for inputting each lawyer's attendance information, tracking compliance and issuing certificates of completion. Proskauer has 750 lawyers worldwide.
In addition to the usual practice-oriented subjects, CLE courses at 350-lawyer Stroock & Stroock & Lavan cover ethics, budgets, legal and business writing, time management, substance abuse and document management, says Samantha S. McNulty, Manager of -Recruiting & Professional Development. She uses both inside and outside experts to develop the curriculum. In addition, the firm's IT department holds regular presentations on new technologies. As in most firms, courses are offered both in live formats—in person, on the phone or via video—and in recorded formats (with tapes stored in the firm's library and on its intranet).
And many professional development departments now also have to ensure that their firms' lawyers keep up with e-filing regulations. "We have to make sure all our attorneys receive the mandatory e-filing training with the district court," says McNulty. "In addition to their CLE, e-filing and court requirements, we also make sure that they keep their bar licenses up-to-date and paid for."
Another common task for today's professional development teams is to help younger lawyers learn how to procure new business. "Many firms have developed training programs covering a wide range of topics," explains Fried-Fiori, "including contact management, building a network, pitching, RFPs, gathering business intelligence, delivering excellent client service and managing client relations, identifying opportunities within the context of delivering services, and cross-selling." These types of courses are usually taught by members of the professional development and marketing departments, outside marketing consultants and sometimes firm partners. These days, most firms require every lawyer to produce a business development plan. Such plans help the lawyers clarify their objectives, identify marketing targets, focus and prioritize their activities, and establish road maps to success.
"The number one complaint of associates at most law firms is that they don't get the marketing support they need to help them develop a book of business until it is too late, if at all," says Kelvin Chin, Chief Client Development Officer at 50-lawyer Theodora Oringher Miller & Richman. "We include associates in our pitches to both existing and potential clients, so they can see how it is done." To expand their network, associates are encouraged to join and become active in numerous professional organizations.
Proskauer is supplementing its lawyers' business development basket with seminars on networking (with clients, colleagues, former college and law school classmates and the like), while also encouraging associates to take advantage of speaking opportunities, helping them to write articles, and giving them a stipend to take former classmates or potential clients to lunch.
In addition, the firm offers sales and media training to help increase the lawyers' visibility as professionals. This includes panel discussions for junior and midlevel associates, with panels comprised of alumni who are now GCs, or presentations by clients or third-party experts on a variety of topics. The firm also arranges one-on-one coaching for partners, upon request, in the areas of public speaking, speech writing and pitches.
Stroock takes this a step further and attempts to impart social graces, too, offering etiquette classes—including how to hold a glass during a cocktail party and how to politely slip someone a business card. The firm periodically brings in outside expertise (from Mary Crane & Associates) to offer workshops on communication skills, business development, and gender and generational issues, as well as handling social situations (such as how to break into conversations and turn small talk into business).
"Sometimes we focus on business development skills specifically for women," adds Stroock's McNulty. "We help our women attorneys plan events, develop presentation skills and learn how to 'bridge the gap' in the workplace."
All of these programs illustrate the fact that firms now recognize it is in their best interest to keep people longer, and to do that, they need to facilitate the professional development of each lawyer. Toward that end, firms are finding new ways to monitor, rank and evaluate performance. For instance, many firms now conduct upward evaluations, 360-degree performance reviews and formalized exit interviews—all to help learn more about each lawyer, identify particular proficiencies and needs, and ensure that the person's professional path is clearly understood by both the firm and the individual.
This can also contribute immensely to a firm's ability to handle succession planning, given how it helps identify strengths and weaknesses among the lawyers who may advance to leadership positions. Essentially, it helps firms answer the core question of: Do we have the bench strength we need for the future leadership of the firm? If not, where are the gaps?
At O'Melveny, associates are given access to confidential career counseling through outside consultants. In addition, O'Melveny offers a "Path to Partnership" program. Meetings are held in each office with all interested associates and counsel, including summer associates. The chair of the partnership committee and Director of Professional Development Danielle Fredericks host the meetings to explain the partnership process. They identify who is on the partner committee, map out the timeline and discuss the criteria for making partner, explain the sponsorship memo and distinguish equity versus income partners.
"It is designed to create a climate of transparency," explains Fredericks. "We ask all associates to submit questions prior to our visits (they remain anonymous), so we address everyone's concerns. We want them to understand how the process works firmwide and what it takes to get to the partner consideration point in their careers."
To develop these future leaders of the firm, O'Melveny also provides management and leadership training. Many firms use their own senior attorneys and managers for this kind of specialized coaching, while some partner with universities to help develop the curriculum. O'Melveny does both: Partners and counsel provide management skills training annually for first-years and laterals, third-years and sixth-years at multiday offsite training retreats. In addition, the firm collaborates with the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University for higher-level leadership training.
Occasionally, career counseling may identify lawyers who are no longer interested in working in a law firm. What's a professional development team's responsibility then?
For those who are not suited for or interested in partnership, O'Melveny, like other large firms today, posts in-house job openings (many with firm clients) on its intranet. Fredericks explains it this way: "Once you have associates in your firm, you need to help them develop professionally, and part of that is recognizing their unique career needs, even if the lawyer isn't sure he wants to stay at the firm."
Helping a firm's lawyers find new jobs outside the firm can make some partners' hair stand on end. But Fried-Fiori believes it is easy to defend: "Our focus should be on the retention of relationships within and beyond the walls of the firm. If we help one of our attorneys get an in-house position with one of our clients, it is a win-win-win (for that attorney, for Fulbright and for the client). We want to make sure their experience at Fulbright was positive, and that we helped them realize their dreams and fulfill their potential. We want to help them be all that they can be. That's what it's all about."
So while the actual deliverables of the professional development staff can sound overwhelming, it all boils down to ensuring that the firm's lawyers have the best possible experience they can while they are with the firm—from their summer associate days to their retirement party. And since it doesn't look like the competition for talented lawyers is slowing down, the professional development position is likely to play an even bigger role in the future.
Courtney Goldstein is a Managing Director in Major, Lindsey & Africa's Los Angeles office and the Southern California Office Practice Leader for the Associate Practice Group. Formerly a commercial litigator, she focuses on associate placement and development.

subset: commoncrawl


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I really wanted to give up something for lent, but giving up sweets last year didn't work out so well. I was successful, but ate way too many sweets on Sundays (which aren't technically part of lent -- doesn't that seem like a cop out?). I debated trying to eat a healthy vegan diet for lent, but in the end, didn't want to do anything that might trigger restriction panic. I decided to try and eat vegan four days a week. I started Ash Wednesday, and wow, is it far more difficult than I had envisioned! I wanted a few chocolate chips on a graham cracker, but the chips had "milk solids" in the ingredients, so that was out. I bought some bread at Great Harvest, but it had egg yolks in the ingredients, so that was out. I swear I never wanted Greek yogurt so badly as I did on Thursday, though I usually go days without having any. Thankfully, my family has eaten three vegan dinners in a row without complaint. None were incredibly successful, though they seemed to like the "shepherd's pie" pretty well. I can say with certainty that sticking to a vegan diet for life would be extremely hard for me.
Lately, I've been up and down more than a roller coaster. In my weekly weigh-ins for the neighborhood contest (which is, thankfully, almost over), I've been up one pound, down 1.5 lbs, up 2 pounds, down 1 lb, etc, etc. Overall, I've lost 7.4 lbs since January 1, which isn't thrilling, but isn't anything to weep over. Unfortunately, I can't say that my eating has been stellar. I usually eat very healthfully Mon-Thurs, but fall apart after the Friday weigh-in. That's why I'm glad the contest is almost over. I want to get back to not feeling pressured to lose weight. It is fun to do this with my neighbors because it makes me feel like part of a group, but I sort of hope dh doesn't want to do it this summer if they start it up again. At least he isn't as determined to win this time. He doesn't really care how we do - he just wants to lose a bit of weight. He isn't really overweight - maybe 5-10 lbs?
I have gotten really good at pinpointing exactly why I want to eat when I'm not hungry, though I don't always let that awareness keep me from doing it. Unfortunately, too many times it's because I don't want to do something. I need to just do it - whatever it may be. Or not do it, and not feel guilty about it. Sometimes you just need to lie around on the couch and read a book.
I just finished a book called Hungry, by Allen Zadoff. It was a very interesting read, though it seems that he decided that his problem was a lack of willpower, and only abstinence could save him. He never names them, but it seemed like he joined OA. He is not a believer of "everything in moderation", but rather thinks that compulsive eaters need to abstain from sugar -- or whatever foods trigger them. Anyway, one thing he said that I identified with was that he always rationalized that he stayed home because he was too fat. I'm paraphrasing from memory here, but he thought he didn't socialize or date because he was too fat - but the real reason was that he was out of control with his eating. When I feel like I'm spiraling out of control, or have had some "bad" days of mindless munching and/or overeating and/or bingeing, I just want to put on my pjs after work and not go anywhere. I don't even want to run the errands that I really NEED to run. I just want to hibernate. I think I don't want to go to so-and-so's tupperware party because I feel fat, but it's really because I feel out of control. I am scared that I will inhale the entire snack table and sit there feeling bloated and miserable, because the truth is that I already feel miserable before I go. Here's to fewer of those days, and more....normal....days.
Do I Have Postpartum Depression?
3 days ago


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Monday, 4 October 2010
It's clobberin' time
I remembered a very early version of the scene from "The Door in the Water" (originally episode 3 in The DFC for 2 January 2009; now part of Mirabilis #1 on the forthcoming iPad app) where Jack is reminiscing about how he got into an argument with McNab at the New Year's Eve ball. "I was going to clout him, then Gerard stepped in and explained it was a matter of honour."
Well, at that stage we were ploughing through a bunch of pages, feeling our way as to dialogue and art style. Jack's regiment was in World War One style uniforms. The Kind Gentleman had a powdered wig and boot buckles the size of dinner plates. Estelle's hair was Princess Leia scary. We weren't even sure as to the page size we should be working to, as the DFC's original brief was for a hardly believable 12.4" x 18.5". So we just figured to get a whole bunch of rough-cut pages done and then take stock.
That scene on the raft stuck in my mind because Martin and Leo got together – that must have been the summer of 2008, tempus fugit – and did some playing around with a camera, acting out the scenes and trying out different angles and focal lengths. And I was saying to Peter that I preferred the original picture of Jack because it seemed more in keeping with what he was supposed to be feeling. He was acting out the punch he would have liked to plant on McNab's fat kisser. True, in the same panel he does go on to say, "Pistols at twenty paces. Is that it? Am I dead?" But it's not really in Jack's nature to be so melodramatic as to drop to his knees and do a "why me, O Lord?" pose. Also, he doesn't quite look like Jack in that picture. (Though he does look a bit like Martin!)
So I set to work to dig out those pictures for comparison. And that's where my preconceptions took a pounding and this post changed tack. Because look at the prototype pencils and then at the way the page ended up. Suddenly it's clear that Leo and Martin weren't just fooling around with a camera – they were bringing the strip to life. And the dynamism of the finished page crackles with incredible energy and drama – thanks not only to Martin and Leo, but of course to Nikos's vibrant colouring work too.
Over the last few years, I've seen Mirabilis gathering such narrative momentum, and got so used to being wowed by panel after panel of cinematic brilliance, that I'd been taking it for granted. And then I look back at our first faltering steps as a team and I appreciate how much thought, care and effort Leo and the others have been putting into the art. We're now poised to start work on the next 200-page season (Spring) and we've got undersea kingdoms, Russian witches, Norse gods, Babylonian sphinxes and Indian demons – and that's just for starters. I can't wait to see how Leo and the guys turn all those ideas into living, breathing images!
3 comments:
On the Mirabilis site you have a page detailing the creative process. About halfway down there is an image with the title Process Script, which shows a spread with simple panels that contain speech, captions and SFX. What software is this? It looks like it would be quite handy to use something similar to help visualise the panels for my own project.ReplyDelete
Hi Alex, we use Serif PagePlus, which is inexpensive and does pretty much everything that an 800 lb gorilla like Illustrator can. More about how we use it here:ReplyDelete
and you can buy it here:
Thanks Dave, I saw you were using serif but wasn't sure if that layout was from something more like a dedicated script program or something like celtx. Probably doing most layout in manga studio as it has such nice brushes, so not sure where serif would fit into that workflow, but I'll check it out.ReplyDelete


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Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Persistence does indeed pay off
The libertarian/constitutionalist who was for the longest time disregarded as a crackpot by fellow party members not has "the GOP House leadership on his side -- backing a measure that generated paltry support when he first introduced it 26 years ago. Paul, as of Tuesday, has won 245 co-sponsors to a bill that would require a full-fledged audit of the Federal Reserve by the end of 2010" (FOXNews.com) due to fears of overspending, the exercise of poor monetary policy, and Obama's federalization of the financial industry.
Simply put, Obama and Capitol Hill democrats in the last 5 months spent trillions of dollars, increased regulation, and gave more authority to federal agencies which would make Lennin and Marx smile in their graves. Republicans are seeking transparency - an ideal stressed by Obama while running for office but has thus far become a false campaign promise. "If they give them a lot more power and there's no more transparency, that'll be a disaster," Paul said.
The bill (The Federal Reserve Transparency Act) would call for the comptroller general in the Government Accountability Office to audit the Fed and report those findings to Congress. The GAO's ability to conduct such audits now is severely restricted.
The current status of the bill is that it is sitting, collecting dust on the desk of the House Financial Services Committee. If you need to ask why it's just collecting dust, take a look at the two most powerful members of this committee who are stalling this bill from moving it forward: Osama Bin Kanjorski (Paul Kajorski, D, PA-11) and Barney (Barney Frank, D, Mass). Both are responsible for destroying the economy.
3 comments:
See where Al Franken is now a Sentor. Got a call today from the NRC wanting money. After their slap in the face candidates in 2008--let's be nice and all get along--I'm tired of wishy-washy RINOS running in the Republican races. I'm tired of RINOS in congress playing nice. I'm tired of RINOS period. I'm ready for the US to go through a horrible depression caused by the outlandish spending of the Democrat Congress and approved by Obama. The good times are over for the middle-class idiots who do not understand economics, politics, or commerce. The ones who will get hurt the most will be those who voted for the Democrats, because they are the ones who suck from the government teat. The free market people will WORK, no matter who is in office. They will work and be successful DESPITE government regulations, higher taxes, and unnecessary social programs. I'm really pissed off. Left and Right Coast and major metropolitan areas--you deserve what you get with the Democrats in charge.
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I found this perspective of great interest. Evangelicals spend a lot of time considering the soteriological destiny of those in other religions, defining orthodoxy in relation to heresy, and formulating evangelistic and mission strategies in this regard. But we spend little time reflecting on what God is doing in the Christian as they interact with those of other faiths. We are rightly concerned about a number of issues in the interfaith encounter, but we may be neglecting one of the most important issues in the process.
As I continue to consider the importance of this issue I was fortunate recently to come across an organization called Faith to Faith in the United Kingdom. An Internet search turned up this Christian consultancy which addresses the issue raised above as it also attempts to formulate a balanced Christian perspective in light of religious pluralism in the U.K., an approach similar to that of my own Neighboring Faiths Project in the U.S.
Faith to Faith was directed in the past by Ida Glaser, who is now senior teaching and research fellow for the Edinburgh Centre for Muslim-Christian Studies. She is the author of a wonderful book I am now reading (one of several!) titled The Bible and Other Faiths: Christian Responsibility in a World of Religions (IVP, 2005). The book is part of a series on Christian Doctrine in Global Perspective, with John Stott serving as the Consulting Editor. This book is extremely helpful in that it not only provides a global perspective on the question of religious pluralism, but also moves beyond traditional Christian approaches to the topic in order for Christians to reflect on what the Lord requires of us in the interreligious encounter. A brief excerpt from the first chapter provides a hint of the treat this book provides:
In August 2001 I led a seminar for teachers from theological colleges in Uganda. We were thinking about how and why they taught Islam. The key question, I suggested to them, is "How should we as Christians live in relation to Muslims? What does God want of us?" We looked at the Sermon on the Mount, at the great commandment of Matthew 22:39 and at the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20. Then we read Micah 6:8: "He has showed you, O human being, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (author's translation).Glasser's book brings a helpful perspective for Christians living amidst America's increasing religious diversity and who are concerned not only with sharing the faith across religious cultures, but also with the process of transformation through the Spirit that comes with our yielding to a life of service and love for those from the world's religions (and new religions) that we live with in our neighborhoods.
Then I asked, "How are we getting along? Are we living like that in relation to Muslims? What stops us?"
The answers came immediately: "Muslims say that Jesus is not the Son of God. They criticize the Bible. They won't let us preach. They are setting up lots of new mosques. They want to take over our town. They are persecuting Christians in Sudan. They won't eat our food. They are trying to marry our daughters …"
I repeated what they had said, and they got the point. Even if all those things are true, is there anything in Muslims that Christians can blame for their own lack of obedience to God? Nothing in Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, atheist or even other Christians can stop us from doing what God requires. Only what is in us can do that.


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Blue Velvet (1986)
Directed by David Lynch
Poster Designed by Enzo Sciotti
Film Nationality - USA
Poster Nationaity - Italian
This Italian poster for David Lynch's classic Blue Velvet is a fascinating one. It's apparently banned, it's focal image is from a deleted scene and, well, just look at it! It's an obviously dark and sickening poster that reminds me of the posters for recent "torture porn" horror flicks, but... yet, I'm scarily transixed. Is it the alien-like blue lighting or just the cartoonish design or merely the danger of it all? I'm not really sure, but I like it anyway.


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You haven't had really good sex, or any sex at all, in months, years, maybe, whether you may be single or in a steady relationship or a long-term marriage. Your finances are a mess, maybe even a disaster, or... they're not, you're solvent, but still, your work life is ungratifying creatively. You're over-weight, out of shape, having trouble sleeping, feeling old before your time, maybe, or succumbing to the insidious indoctrinations of the medical profession about the indignities of aging and the betrayals of nature. Anti-depressants, high blood pressure medication, Viagra, Ambien in your medicine cabinet? Medicine cabinet? What the fuck?! You have a medicine cabinet?! How did this happen? Some part of you knows this isn't right. Right? Your mind doesn't feel this resigned, this lacking in desire, this irrelevant to the rest of human life, old, for Christ's sake!
Some part of you feels vibrant, engaged, passionate, desiring to contribute. Yet, you are sinking into despair and lethargy and apathy. You're broke, or broken, or close to it. You can't get up or get it up! How is this possible? How did this happen??
Well, ask yourself this - are you commited to doing whatever it takes to open up your inner channels to the fullness of life? Are you willing to turn over every stone in your mental and emotional self to find the negative intentions, stubborn childish wishes and willful attitudes lurking there? Can you admit that being happy, free, healthy, wealthy and wise are not as important to you as being "right," playing it "safe" and being in "control." That your pride rules over all?
Well, having it all, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, are indeed our inalienable rights as human beings, but it's a state you have to strive to arrive to. We live in a plane of intense heaviness here on Earth, yet it's a place of potentially great acceleration.
Here's the good news, folks - having a great life, fulfilled in love and work, with a sound mind and body is not only possible, but it is the way it's meant to be for us. But here's the hard truth - there's no short cuts, no end runs, no cheating, faking it, or half-stepping. You've got to reveal yourself - to yourself, and then to someone else. And then, go further and further until there's no corner of your inner life that's hidden and in the dark. Do it. Or don't, but if you don't, don't complain.
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Click here to learn about Exxon's war on climate change science from Greenpeace.
Click here for the Exxpose Exxon site.
"CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — President Hugo Chavez on Sunday threatened to cut off oil sales to the United States in an "economic war" if Exxon Mobil Corp. wins court judgments to seize billions of dollars in Venezuelan assets.
Exxon Mobil has gone after the assets of state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA in U.S., British and Dutch courts as it challenges the nationalization of a multibillion dollar oil project by Chavez's government."


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Title: Little Green Bag
Artist: George Baker Selection
Album: Little Green Bag
Year Released: 1970
What It Is: It's a song most film buffs now, thanks to Quentin Tarentino's Reservoir Dogs. Before then, it made appearances on some 1970's hit collections (which is where I got it first). George Baker was the stage name of a Dutch singer and his group made some light, frothy Euro-pop for the masses in the early 70's. What this has, though, is that great bass line!
Riffage / Hookage: Well, there's that bass line that everyone knows!
Cowbell?: Interesting drum work, but alas, no cowbell.
Words Of Wisdom: "Lookin' for some happiness
But there is only loneliness to find
Jump to the left, turn to the right
Lookin' upstairs, lookin' behind, yeah!"
You know, the more I think about it, the more this song fits the movie, lyrically at least.
Mixology Report: Sure. It may have been better as a 'surprise' before the movie was released, but you know, that's the way it goes.
For The Good Of The Order: They had another hit with another earworm of a song, but "Paloma Blanca" induces cringes for the most part. And then Slim Whitman covered it. Yeesh.
Here's the original clip from the group. What a half-assed attempt at lip syncing…
Of course everyone knows this. Ok, maybe not EVERYONE. But still…
And you know there are skidillions of wedding parties that did parodies, but how about Reservoir Clowns??
(Sorry, imbedding video keeps crashing my browser. So I linked 'em. DEAL! Thanks!)


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McLEAN, Va. — Federal prosecutors in Virginia say they have shut down one of the world's largest Internet file-sharing sites, Megaupload.com, and charged its founder and others with violating piracy laws.
An indictment accuses the company of costing copyright holders more than $500 million in lost revenue from pirated films and other content. The indictment was unsealed Thursday, one day after Web sites shut down in protest of two Congressional proposals intended to thwart the online piracy of copyrighted movies and TV programs.
One of the world's largest file-sharing sites was shut down Thursday, and its founder and several company executives were charged with violating piracy laws, federal prosecutors said.
Read more: www.3news.co.nz...
The individuals in the criminal enterprise -- a worldwide ring led by Australians Kim Dotcom, aka Kim Schmitz, and Kim Tim Jim Vestor -- each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on racketeering charges, five years for conspiracy to commit copyright infringement, 20 years on money laundering charges and five years on related charges. Read more: www.foxnews.com...
This is a direct response to the SOPA and PIPA failure. They'll use existing laws to piece together what they wanted to do in one move. This was retaliation, in my opinion. I'm sure this was planned for a while, years maybe, but this was executed today as a response to the public. Coporations control the government, and corporations control the people.
Kasseem Dean, better known by his platinum hip hop production alias Swizz Beatz has revealed himself to be the CEO of the frequently used file sharing site MegaUpload.com.
In a time where the SOPA and PIPA issues are prominent, the existence of a major label artist CEO running a file sharing website really puts things in perspective.
hopefully this is not the first of many to come... pretty scary incident for the freedom of the internet
Originally posted by TheOneElectric
This is a direct response to the SOPA and PIPA failure. They'll use existing laws to piece together what they wanted to do in one move. This was retaliation, in my opinion. I'm sure this was planned for a while, years maybe, but this was executed today as a response to the public.
Originally posted by XPLodER
this action shows pipa and sopa are not necacery,
the feds already have ample powers to act and achive any real objective.
sopa and pipa will be bought back when no body is wactching.
REMEMBER the feds have HAD these powers the hole time they pressed for more power and acted defencless.
sopa and pipa is NOT required to bring people before the courts.
On January 19, Schmitz was arrested by New Zealand police in Auckland at his mansion in Coatesville. Believed to be valued at around $30 million and leased by Schmitz, the house is thought to be the most expensive in New Zealand.


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I love spending time with my kiddos one at a time. Doing something special with them individually is so much fun! Daryk, Elizabeth, and I took a trip to Chattanooga this July and went to a dear friend's wedding. It was on the campus of Lee College and it was gorgeous! Libby clearly enjoyed herself. We put curlers in her hair and spent all sorts of girls time prepping for the day. We drove up to the wedding and then got dressed in the parking lot just before we went inside. Didn't want to mess up our dresses!
This girl enjoyed every minute of our time.
Such a ham.
Every event from now on should have a photo booth.
All of them.
So much fun!
Oh my heart.
Here's hoping she always thinks that we are the coolest people she knows.


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Friday, November 25, 2011
Civil War Letter from T.J. Flanary
Family letter written by Thomas J. Flanary of the 3rd Kentucky during the Civil War. Original letter in the possession of Nancy Weldon Hodge of Marion, Ky. Translation and footnotes provided by Marty K. Hodge, who retains copyright of this letter. Please do not copy without consent.
-Page 1-
Mr Wm Flanry
Camp Boon[i] ten Sept 11th 1861
dear sir I take the opportunity
of wrighting you a few lines
to let you no that I am
Stil here and well and hoping
you the same I don't know yet
what us crittenden boys are a
going to do if capt meriwethers
gets his company which i expect
will be a cavelry company and if
the boys that come with me goes
in to it ishal goto we are furnished
a horse if we cannot get one
but if we get our horse we are alud
-Page 2-
twelve $ amonth and if he gets
and we don't we alid pay for
him it don't make much differenc
with me calvelry or in fantry
iexpect that the regiment will leav
in a bout too weeks if it don't
leav in that time we will be in
a cavalry they have got to thouses
navyes for the cavalry it is
for one year the en listment
i rote you a letter the other day
not noing whether you would
receive it or not will wright you
a few more lines if we goin infantry
or cavalry iexpec we will go to padducah
general pillow[ii] with fifteen thousand
men is now on his march to
that plac when he gets there it
will be in his possession tell the
crittenden boys if they are coming
to this brigade it is time they
are coming tell henry cook
-Page 3-
that if he comes that he must
learn how to cook and if
any of the boys comes here to mind
how they can the oath that we take
it for three yrs or during the
war in the in fantry the [torn]
one year in the in fantry [torn]
are aloud forty days in [torn]
unless we are in battle some
of the men here are disheartened
a bout our pay but when our
officers gets there commission we
will be paid I have spent
a bout to dollars sine I have bin
here for nicknacks but that
is stoped for ther was no use of it
for we get plenty to eat her
James Vaughn is here he has had
the measles but is getting well
I would like to see you all
and per haps will shortly
So no more at present T.J Flanry
[i] Camp Boon was located near Clarksville Tennessee on the Tennessee-Kentucky
[ii] Brig. Gen. Gideon J. Pillow
Posted by Brenda Joyce Jerome at 2:48 AM
Labels: Crittenden County, Flanary, Hodge, Vaughn, Weldon
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text:
Photo: Otomi protective figure made with amate paper (bark cloth) in Sam Noble Museum, University of Oklahoma
Why Dreaming Is Important
By Robert Moss, 2015
A dream is a wake-up call. It takes us beyond what we already know. Dreams are the language of the soul, and they are experiences of the soul.
There are "big" dreams and "little" dreams, of course. In big dreams, we go traveling and we may receive visitations. We travel across time – into the future and the past – and we travel to other dimensions of reality. This is reflected in the words for "dream" that are used by indigenous people who have retained strong dreaming traditions and respect for dreamers. Among the Makiritare, a shamanic dreaming people of Venezuela, for example, the word for dream is adekato, which means "a journey of the soul".
Most societies have valued dreams and dreamers for three main reasons. First, they have looked to dreams for contact with a wiser source than the everyday mind – call that God, or Nature, or the Self. Second, they have looked to dreams as part of our survival kit, giving us clues to possible future events we may want to avoid or enact. Third, they have known that dreaming is medicine, in several important senses. Dreams show us what is going on inside the body, often before physical symptoms present. Continue reading


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Another winter wonderland.
Another shot to the left in my yard, looking into the neighbors yard
Big pine tree in the front side yard. Love this tree and it's especially pretty with snow laying in the branches.Another shot of the tree, what do you think?
So with this going on outside, wonder what will be going on on the inside today. Looks like a great day to stay home and get some crafts done.
Now I know I said I would show you a little project that I did with my little silver dish…will be back later to show you.
Have a blessed and warm Wednesday.
|Psalm 59:16"But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble."
Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) . All Rights Reserved.


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If your a Crew fan expecting some big signings like Palermo in the Crew's offseason, I would tell you especially looking at the following salary numbers to caution on the side of reason. Instead, expect the status quo minus a few developmental changes. That status quo equates to MLS Champions so it's nothing to be down about.
2008 Salaries for the Columbus Crew (Traded, waived, or retired in red):
CLB Burns M 12,900.00 12,900.00
CLB Elenio M 12,900.00 12,900.00
CLB Josten F 12,900.00 12,900.00
CLB Junge D 12,900.00 12,900.00
CLB Lenhart F 12,900.00 12,900.00
CLB NyazambaF 12,900.00 12,900.00
CLB PetersonD 12,900.00 12,900.00
CLB Plotkin M 12,900.00 12,900.00
CLB Moffat M 17,700.00 17,700.00
CLB Schoeni GK 17,700.00 17,700.00
CLB Pierre-Louis F 17,700.00 17,700.00
CLB Evans M 33,000.00 33,000.00
CLB GruenebaumGK 33,000.00 33,000.00
CLB Zayner D 36,300.00 43,800.00 (GA-Didn't Count)
CLB Iro D 36,000.00 53,500.00
CLB Garey F 48,125.00 60,625.00
CLB Rogers M 57,500.00 57,500.00
CLB O'Rourke D 59,147.81 69,147.81
CLB Hesmer GK 70,000.00 70,000.00
CLB Hendrickson D 72,000.00 72,000.00
CLB Oughton D 75,600.00 75,600.00
CLB Miglioranzi M 76,200.00 84,200.00
CLB Ekpo M 101,500.00 123,750.00
CLB Carroll M 122,500.00 126,250.00
CLB Moreno F 126,000.00 131,000.00
CLB MarshallD 125,000.00 148,000.00
CLB Gaven M 165,000.00 165,000.00
CLB Hejduk D 150,000.00 175,000.00
CLB Noonan F 175,008.00 175,008.00
CLB SchelottoF 250,000.00 375,000.00
Salaries last year were $2,226,680 out of a possible $2.3 million with another $125,000 possible for additional money for signing bonuses and transfers.
-10 players who have so far left the Crew in 2008 by being waived, traded, or through retirement
So, what do we know? Robbie Rogers, Jed Zayner, Stanley Nyazamba, Adam Moffat, and Cory Elenio were already bumped up to the senior roster, so expect all of them to make more money.
For fun, because nothing is more fun than numbers, let's say Rogers goes from $57,000 to $157,000 which would make the Crew's salary cap:
2,037,580+ Zayner didn't have much of an impact but his salary will still count this year compared to last year when he was a Generation Adidas player, let's say the Crew pays him $33,000+ Nyazamba goes to $33,000 minus the $12,900 salary he is already being paid + Moffat to $33,000 from $17,700(injury hurts what would have been a more deserved raise)=$15,300+ Elenio goes to $33,000 minus the $12900 he already made which equates to $2,126,080.
Then add to that Schelotto's $400,000 towards the salary which is an increase of $50,000 from the $350,000 he pulled in for 2008:
$2,176,080. Then say Marshall gets bumped up around another $50 K for his new salary so Chad wouldn't go to Europe, at $200 K=
$2,226,080. Let's say then they gave O'Rourke another $15 K on his new contract(although it's probably more than that)= $2,241,080.
If my calculations are anything near close that leaves the Crew with only $58,000 dollars before it goes over the cap. The Crew are holding onto allocation money for Seattle's tampering with Sigi but no one has unveiled that number (at most I would say it's 50 to 100 K, depends on the level of proof McCullers had). Let's say it's 50 K, that would leave the Crew with around $108,000 K to work with.
The Crew has one senior roster spot open along with four developmentals.
The Crew has brought into camp the following College players(expected income if signed):
Gerstenberger($33,000 or $17,700)
Grendi($17,700 or $12,900)
I wouldn't be totally shocked if 4 out of 6 make the lineup as developmental players. At the highest it will cost us around $70 K more. $108,000-$70,000= $38,000 left if say we got $50,000 K in allocation money from Seattle (I'm not sure if we have anymore allocation money on top of that).
So, unless we deal away one or two of our bottom senior roster players, I would expect that the Crew will sign 4 out of the 6 possible developmental players and another player for our final senior roster spot at $33,000 as well. So, I wouldn't expect any big signings like Palermo or any substantial changes(or even any mid level changes) unless we make a couple of deals or the MLS increases the cap.
Received this spreadsheet from The Nordecke Luchador. If anyone wants to view a spreadsheet of all the 2008 MLS salaries, send me an email.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
1/27/09: Crew Salaries For 2008, Expected Salary Cap Space For 2009
5:16 PM No comments


text:
A snowstorm could drop 2 to 4 inches on the northern half of Connecticut beginning Saturday afternoon.
We will see a little bit of everything this time around -- snow, sleet, rain and then more snow.
Fox CT Meteorologist Rachel Frank said the storm, depending on the temperature, could drop up to 4 inches of snow in some places.


text:
April 29, 2014 19:18 ET
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - April 29, 2014) - True Gold Mining Inc. (TSX VENTURE:TGM) ("True Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce financial results for the year ended December 31, 2013 and business highlights to date.
"True Gold finished 2013 in a very strong position," stated Dwayne Melrose, True Gold President & CEO. "We have continued to advance our flagship Karma Project and remain on-track to build Burkina Faso's next gold mine. We have the team, key mining permits and financial strength to advance the Karma Project as scheduled and exploration results to date continue to demonstrate the potential to boost our production profile."
2013 highlights and significant events subsequent to year end include:
Karma Project continual advancement:
Strengthened our treasury through several strategic financings with cornerstone investors:
The following financial data are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013 and the 14 month period ended December 31, 2012, as prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards.
In December 2012 the Company changed its financial year-end from October 31 to December 31 in order to align the Company's year-end with that of its subsidiaries, which operate on a calendar fiscal-year. As a result of changing the Company's year-end, the current reporting period is for the 12 months ended December 31, 2013, with the comparative period being the 14 months ended December 31, 2012.
For the year ended December 31, 2013, in order to enhance the relevance to the decision making needs of users, the Company has voluntarily changed its accounting policy with respect to exploration and evaluation expenditures. In prior periods the Company's policy was to capitalize by property all costs related to exploration and evaluation of mineral properties classified as exploration and evaluation assets. The Company has elected to change this accounting policy to now expense exploration expenditures as incurred, effective with the presentation of the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013, on a retrospective basis. The Company will continue to defer acquisition expenditures on mineral properties until such time as the properties are put into commercial production, sold, abandoned or become impaired.
For the 12 month period ended December 31, 2013, we reported a net loss of $32.8 million, compared to a net loss of $37.1 for the 14 month period ended December 31, 2012. The most significant contributions to the loss for the 12 month period ended December 31, 2013 were the cost of ongoing exploration and pre-development of $20.3 million, salaries and benefits of $3.5 million and the write-down of the Ball Creek exploration and evaluation asset of $2.4 million. The primary factors to impact the $4.3 million decrease in the comprehensive loss as compared to the prior period was the write-off of the premium paid on the acquisition of Blue Gold Mining Inc. which was offset by the recovery of option payments and cost recoveries related to the properties disposed of to Roxgold.
Total assets as at December 31, 2013 have decreased since December 31, 2012 by $2.7 million to $42.8 million, mainly due to (i) the sale to LMM of a 2% net smelter return royalty on the Company's interest in the Karma Gold Project for $6.0 million, which was recorded as a recovery to acquisition costs; and (ii) the $2.4 million write down of the value of acquisition expenditures relating to the termination of the option agreement related to the Ball Creek Project. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in cash and short term investments reflecting cash inflows from financing transactions through the year ended December 31, 2013.
This press release should be read in conjunction with True Gold's audited consolidated financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2013. These documents can be found on the Company's website (www.truegoldmining.com) or under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. All amounts are presented in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.
Scott Heffernan, M.Sc., P.Geo., Vice President Exploration of the Company, and Peter C. Carter, P. Eng., Chief Operating Officer and Vice President Engineering of the Company, are the designated Qualified Persons within the meaning of NI 43-101 for this news release. They have reviewed and verified that the scientific and technical information contained in this release is accurate and approves of the written disclosure of same.
About True Gold
True Gold Mining Inc. is where gold comes to life. We are committed to growing a successful gold exploration, development and production company, by focusing on projects with low costs, low technical risks and solid economics. The Company's board, management and technical teams have proven track records in gold exploration, development, operations and production worldwide.
Additional information about the Company and its activities may be found on the Company's website at www.truegoldmining.com and under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com.
Dwayne Melrose, President & CEO
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Unless stated otherwise, information of a scientific or technical nature in this press release regarding the Karma Project is summarized, derived or extracted from the technical report entitled "Updated Resource Estimate on the Karma Gold Project, Burkina Faso, West Africa", dated March 13, 2014 prepared by P&E Mining Consultants Inc.,and filed on SEDAR on April 28, 2014.
Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant issues.
The quantity and grade of reported Inferred mineral resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred mineral resources as an Indicated or Measured mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an Indicated or Measured mineral resource category.
The mineral resources were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by CIM Council.
All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to True Gold within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements with respect to the potential quantity and/or grade of minerals, potential size and expansion of a mineralized zone, proposed timing of exploration and development plans. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "planned", "expect", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intends", "believe", "potential", and similar expressions, or describes a "goal", or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "should", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management at the date the statements are made including, among others, assumptions about future prices of gold, copper, silver and other metal prices, currency exchange rates and interest rates, favourable operating conditions, political stability, obtaining governmental approvals and financing on time, obtaining renewals for existing licences and permits and obtaining required licences and permits, labour stability, stability in market conditions, availability of equipment, accuracy of any mineral resources, successful resolution of disputes and anticipated costs and expenditures. Many assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Pilot Gold and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct.
Such forward-looking information, involves known and unknown risks, which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, risks related to the interpretation of results at the Karma Project, reliance on technical information provided by third parties as related to the Karma Project; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; current economic conditions; future prices of commodities; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; the costs and timing of the development of new deposits; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to perform; the timing and success of exploration activities generally; satisfaction of Burkina Faso requirements relating to the periodic submissions of Environmental Impact Assessments; possible claims against the Company or its joint venture partners; labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals, financing or in the completion of exploration, uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results and the estimation of mineral resources, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, accidents, equipment breakdowns, risk of undiscovered, title defects and surface access, the potential for delays in exploration and permitting activities, the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, commodity price fluctuations, currency fluctuations, political risk as well as those factors discussed in the Annual Information Form of the Company dated April 30, 2014 in the section entitled "Risk Factors", under True Gold's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.
Although True Gold has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. True Gold disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law.
Cautionary Note to United States Investors Concerning Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral resource estimates do not account for mineability, selectivity, mining loss and dilution. There is also no certainty that these inferred mineral resources will be converted to measured and indicated categories through further drilling, or into mineral reserves, once economic considerations are applied. The mineral resource estimates referenced in this press release use the terms "Indicated Mineral Resources" and "Inferred Mineral Resources". While these terms are defined in and required by Canadian regulations (under NI 43-101), these terms are not recognized by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). "Inferred Mineral Resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. The SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute SEC Industry Guide 7 compliant "reserves" as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. True Gold is not an SEC registered company.
True Gold Mining Inc.Vancouver Office:email@example.com Gold Mining Inc.Investor inquiries:Alex firstname.lastname@example.com
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It's going to be important to properly celebrate the departure of good-riddance 2012 and the arrival of hope-springs-eternal 2013. A suitable toast comes from that prolific writer "Anon.," who penned: "May the best of this year be the worst of next."
Of course, the beverage of choice for toasts is bubbly — champagne, sparkling wine, cava, sekt, spumante — any kind, from any place, at any price. Use a tall, slim flute, so you can watch the bubbles rise.
Be careful, though. Researchers at the University of Surrey in England did an experiment with a dozen partygoers and concluded that bubbly gets you tipsy and silly more quickly than still wine, although they couldn't say exactly why.
Here's an upbeat toast from Oprah Winfrey: "Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right."
Highly recommended
2004 Gloria-Ferrer Carneros Cuvee, Carneros (55 percent pinot noir, 45 percent chardonnay): aromas of fresh-baked brioche and vanilla, persistent tiny bubbles, ripe pear flavors, long, creamy finish; $60.
Nonvintage Gloria-Ferrer VA de VI, Carneros (89 percent pinot noir, 8 percent chardonnay, 3 percent muscat): lightly sweet from muscat grapes, ripe peach and apricot flavors, tart finish; $22.
2002 Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Rosé, Epernay, France (51 percent pinot noir, 28 percent chardonnay, 21 percent pinot meunier): persistent foam, amber color, rich strawberry flavors, opulent, long finish; $65.
Nonvintage Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, Reims, France 1/3 pinot noir, 1/3 chardonnay, 1/3 pinot meunier): myriad tiny bubbles, opulent aromas and flavors of tropical fruit, cherries and hazelnuts; $65.
Nonvintage Champagne Bollinger, Special Cuvee (60 percent pinot noir, 25 percent chardonnay, 15 percent pinot meunier): toasty, yeasty aroma, myriad tiny, persistent bubbles, flavors of apple pie and peach tart, firm structure, long finish; $90.
Nonvintage Gloria-Ferrer Blanc de Noirs, Carneros (92 percent pinot noir, 8 percent chardonnay): lots of tiny bubbles, black cherry flavors, tart finish; $22.
Nonvintage Gloria-Ferrer Sonoma Brut, Sonoma (91.2 percent pinot noir, 8.8 percent chardonnay): hazelnut aromas, flavors of golden apples, firm structure; $22.
2004 Gloria-Ferrer Royal Cuvee, Carneros (67 percent pinot noir, 33 percent chardonnay) yeasty aroma, ripe pear and caramel flavors, persistent bubbles; $32.
2008 Biltmore Estate Blanc de Blancs Brut, North Carolina (100 percent chardonnay): energetic bubbles, flavors of mangoes and lemons; $25.
Nonvintage Ricci Curbastro Franciacorta Brut, Franciacorta, Italy (60 percent chardonnay, 30 percent pinot blanc, 10 percent pinot noir): lively froth, bread dough aromas, flavors of lemons and limes; $20.
2002 Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage, Epernay, France (51 percent chardonnay, 26 percent pinot noir, 23 percent pinot meunier): yeasty aroma, persistent bubbles, flavors of hazelnuts and ripe apricots, long finish; $58.
Nonvintage Anna de Codorniu Brut, Penedes, Spain (70 percent chardonnay, 30 percent parellada): lots of active bubbles, aromas of camellias, rich lemon and pineapple flavors, $15.
Nonvintage Woodbridge Sparkling Wine by Robert Mondavi, California (100 percent chardonnay): active bubbles, fruity, lightly sweet flavor of lemons and apricots; $10.
2007 Mumm Napa Blanc de Blancs, Napa Valley (90 percent chardonnay, 10 percent pinot gris): yeasty, toasty aroma, flavors of hazelnuts, vanilla and citrus, long finish; $20.
Nonvintage Domaine Ste. Michelle Extra Dry Sparkling Wine, Columbia Valley, Wash: lots of persistent bubbles, fairly sweet, aromas and flavors of golden delicious apples; $11.
2007 Contadi Castaldi Franciacorta Rosé, Franciacorta, Italy (65 percent pinot noir, 35 percent chardonnay): big bubbles, aromas and flavors of red berries; $18.
Nonvintage Gustave Lorentz Cremant d'Alsace Brut, France (1/3 chardonnay, 1/3 pinot blanc, 1/3 pinot noir): yeasty aroma, light and crisp, with green apple and mineral flavors; $25.


text:
Today was my weigh-in at home and surprisingly I'm down! I'm down 1.5lbs! I'm not sure what really played a roll in that, the daily exercise/running I've been putting in for two weeks now? (which yesterday I took a break from, no activity points at all yesterday). The unpredictable eating and foods? Who knows
Here's what my week looks like from Weight Watchers land :
- Exercising every day since December 17-29!
- Having some valuable "me" time (stitching time)
- Getting to see family & friends
This past week's challenges:
- Meals out
- Holiday food
- Chocolate
- Motivation to exercise
- New Year's Eve
- Getting back on program and back on schedule.
Have a Happy New Year everyone!


text:
More after the jump
Interview courtesy Matt Terl
On Friday, I mentioned that the E:60 piece on Chris Cooley -- which he talked about on his blog when it was filmed in July -- would be airing tonight (7:00 eastern, sports fans!). And roughly since I posted that, I've been trying to get in touch with with ESPN's Rachel Nichols to ask her about working with Cooley. We tried to set something up for the weekend, but things got hectic during and after the game, and I had to reschedule because I couldn't clear the time.
When we finally caught up by phone yesterday, Nichols was completely understanding and said something about knowing how busy things must've been. And that's when I felt terrible, because I had used the hectic schedule of one football-drama-filled day as an excuse to reschedule a quick talk with someone who had been forced to follow the ENTIRE WEEKS-LONG BRETT FAVRE DRAMA in person from city to city.
This is roughly analogous to me complaining about a flat tire to someone whose entire home has caught fire, burned to the ground, had the ruins swallowed by an earthquake -- and then had their insurance claim denied. So I felt kind of bad about that.
But Nichols was perfectly forgiving, and more than happy to talk about a project she's obviously proud of.
Give me the background on the Chris Cooley piece. What can people expect to see?
RACHEL NICHOLS: "It's just a really fun story -- which is no surprise because Chris is a fun guy, and it was also cool to get to know some of the other people in his life. His wife Christy is totally funny and sweet, his brother Tanner is a trip ... you know, it's not a surprise that the people around Chris also are smart and funny, and certainly know how to have a good time.
"It's always interesting when we do these pieces: because they're more in-depth, you get to know some of these people around the athletes, and in this case it's not only Chris, but also his wife, his brother, his mother Nancy."
How well did you know Chris before you did this piece?
RN: "Not well. Not well at all. We had met a couple of times. I was at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii this past year and had approached him after a practice and said, 'Hey, we'd like to do this piece on you.' And he was pretty funny a few months later, remarking that he's in a room full of people that included all the other Pro Bowlers, and he says that he was laughing at the idea that someone would come over and want to do a big piece on him.
"But we did, because he's definitely a unique personality, and that's one of the things we're trying to capture on this show. Not necessarily, you know, the guy with the most records or yards or anything like that, but someone who's a unique personality and character, someone that fans want to watch both on the field and off the field. And Chris is definitely that."
I think people who live in the area get a lot of the sense of his personality, because of the blog and everything else that goes with it, so what was the biggest surprise for you talking to him.
RN: "Just how genuine he is. I mean, certainly there are a lot of things that he jokes around about, and there's no doubt that he likes to play practical jokes and things like that. But we've been saying internally about this piece that he's 'The Pro Bowler Next Door,' and in a lot of ways that's sort of what we found when we started reporting out the piece.
"And I think that is the thing that appeals to so many people on his blog. I mean, people in the crew kept saying how this this could be one of their buddies or neighbors or something, that he didn't feel like some big mega-star athlete, but like someone you could know. The guy next door, someone in your group of friends."
Do you think that he's legitimately like that, or is this some kind of elaborate meta thing?
RN: "I don't think that anybody is able to put on that much of a show for the amount of his life that he broadcasts over the internet. I think that you'd have to be exhausted if you had to act that much. So I think that it's pretty genuinely Chris.
"I think there's no doubt that he knows how to play to the camera, but I think that that's part of his personality as well, that that's genuinely who he is as well. I'm sure that whether he's playing to camera that 's gonna go to millions of people on ESPN or a camera that's gonna be home movies that won't even be on the internet for his future children to see, he knows how to do that. So I think that's just Chris. That's just who is."
Now, you wound up on Chris's blog because you were doing a piece about the blog.
RN: "I did."
Did you know that was gonna happen?
RN: "I didn't; I wasn't surprised, though."
How did you react?
RN: "I was fine with it. I mean, I had a lot of genuine respect for Chris -- and Tanner and Christy -- as I went through reporting this piece, and really enjoyed getting to know all three of them and felt like, 'Wow, this is genuinely interesting, what's happening here and how they're communicating with the fans.'
"And Tanner's the one who does Chris's blog, so he's pretty involved in that as well. And I found what they were doing legitimately interesting, so I felt like whatever happened as a result of that, I was okay with."
You're as big mainstream media as you can get -- ESPN, doing these features -- and they're athletes talking directly to the fans. Are you worried that they're going to cut you out of the whole thing? Are they gonna make you irrelevant?
RN: "No, I don't think so. I think anything that takes down the walls between athletes and the people who watch them is a good thing. Because that's what we try to do as well, to take down that wall that's naturally there by the fact that they're on the field and the rest of us are off it.
"But what we do in the media, and what I try to do every time I go do a report, is to try to get people watching as inside as possible, and to get them to know things as much as possible and to see what it actually feels to be there as much as possible. And if there's someone who's gonna help me do that, if athletes are gonna take it upon themselves to help in that effort, I'm thrilled."
Are you on Twitter?
RN: "I am. I use Twitter in my work. I mean, I don't really Twitter personal stuff, and -- I think with athletes, people are legitimately interested in some of the mundane details of their lives. With me, nobody is interested in the mundane details of my life, what I had for lunch that day or anything else. But I like to, when I'm on a shoot, talk about what we're doing.
"I posted several tweets during the Chris Cooley shoot: I had never been to Wyoming before, and we went out and shot some stuff at his ranch in Wyoming, so I put up a few pictures from there, just what it was like to be out there, some funny stories, that kind of thing.
"We did a story on E:60 a couple weeks ago that was a story on Adrian Peterson, and when we were setting up the shoot for the opening of the piece -- this very dramatic shoot -- I took a few pictures while we were in the middle of doing it and posted them on Twitter so people could get the behind-the-scenes.
"Again, for me, it's the same thing: just anything that takes that wall down is a good thing,. Because it's the thing I like the most about sports: getting that feeling of what it's like to actually be on the field. And if I can communicate that to someone else, then I feel like that's why I'm doing my job."
And is that your approach to your E:60 pieces?
RN: "I think so. I think that's what's so great about this show. It does a really, really nice job of telling you the story that, you know, you might already have heard about an athlete. Like with Chris Cooley: most people hwo follow him even remotely know that he has a blog, so we're not gonna be telling you something new there. But we may take you a little more in-depth about what that's all about -- why it started, how they do it, maybe highlight some of the funnier things that he's had on in case you hadn't personally had time to follow it all -- and then a little bit more about his life, too. Like, hey, here's his ranch in Wyoming where he spends part of his year. And I don't think everyone knows that Chris was an art major in college and he's a very avid painter, and showing you some of what his artwork is like.
"Just things a bit more in depth about people you might be interested in, and that's what I think is fun with this piece. With Chris, he did a lot of the work for us, because he's just so entertaining."
The Redskins season has ... well, not been ideal hasn't been ideal, from our perspective. Does that help the story? Hurt it? Not affect it?
RN: "With the piece, I don't think it affects it one way or the other. Our piece about Chris is not really about his play on the field or the team's play on the field. We've done other pieces that involve more how someone's doing on the field; this is one that's pretty strongly away from the field.
"So, sure, if the Redskins were the number one team in the league and they were undefeated and people were incredibly interested in everything that has to do with the Redskins, I imagine more people might tune in to this, but in general, it's not really gonna affect it one way or the other.
"I think that if you're interested in an entertaining, unique athlete, you're gonna want to watch the Chris Cooley piece, and how the Redskins are doing on the field isn't really gonna factor in one way or the other."
E:60 airs tonight at 7:00 eastern, and probably two dozen other times throughout the week. I recommend the ESPN TV programming guide for finding it. It's followed by a new 30 For 30 documentary, which should also be pretty entertaining.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Facebook Comments
33 comments:
Chris hit everything on the head. No further comment needed.
other than to say please start posting things again. who gives a rat's ass about criticism, it's going to be an even longer season if we don't have videos with CB5, CP, Yoder, etc. C'mon Cooleys your true fans need this site to be entertaining again.
Love yu guys- Hail to the Cooley Ohana!
Great to hear from Chris again! Let's go Skins!
Dude, that was so cool and funny. These two quote had me dying.
"I'll sell it to women."
"He's just like everyone else, he's just a little bit better at something... cool."
Sadly Mr. CC gets screwed here....because if they post having fun, all it does is get a backlash from nut fans.
I think the scene from Fever Pitch shows it best when damon, etc. are eating dinner at the restaurant after going down 3-0 to new york and jimmy fallon and buddies and just fried and totally disheveled from the loss. All CC gets from posting fun material right now is a backlash from those insane fans that live and die over a game.
GL the rest of the way out man. It definitely sucks sitting at 2-4 after playing a combined scheudle of teams totalling 0-15 thusfar....but it is what it is.
I'd but that painting! :)
OMG this had me rolling through the whole thing.
Caught the E:60 piece the other night - very well done and great job to ALL the Cooleys! I especially liked seeing some classic "early" footage of Chris at U-State. There was too much detail in the "leg" painting.....ha ha.
Hope to make the Art Show - either way - GREAT JOB!
Can't get enough of that 30 For 30 documentary series. Small potatoes was awesome. I missed that chapter in history and it was great to learn about it.
Great piece! Really loved it! Hope to make it to the art show. THanks for posting it! Come by the Museum for a posting some time! John Riggins' wife came by today! Good luck with Philly!
I know this is about E:60 but do you guys ever look at stuff like this and does it motivate you? or are you like whatever?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo0L_N6fuSo
i miss you Chris
i miss winning Chris
Very cool piece!!
GL the rest of the season.
Sorry for all the psycho fans.
I gotta say it cause you'll never hear it from them (you know who you are... go crawl back under your rocks...).
You guys are still heroes.
GEEZ!!!...this had me busting up soooo hard. Awesome interview Chris.....you are the man!
Chirs a well done piece. Keep up the great work!!
Hey Cooley gang,
Thanks for keeping it real.
Good luck on Monday!
Great work ! Good to have you back!
Chris you should paint a picture of me in my dexter manly jersey crying in my beer after a sunday loss, it could be your darkest piece yet
Just found the time to watch this today. Good video. Good luck tonight Chris.
Chris- get well soon. Prayers for your rapid and complete recovery!
Hey Chris!
Sorry to hear about your ankle :( I sprained my right ankle last week, being immobile is no fun so keep your mind busy, sportscenter does wonders for me, but being that you'll probably be all over it may not be the best distraction. Hope it heals soon and you get back out there with those skins!!! If not by 11/22 but by 12/21 -- We need all the help we can get to beat Dallas! If you could make that happen, that'd be great :p
Feel better!
Amanda & Anthony
Get well soon buddy...
GET WELL SOON, CHRIS! We miss you on the field already and are rooting for you!
Anyone hear that POS Joe Theisman on ESPN 1050 this AM? Instead of talking about how much Chris will be missed, he talked about CC's hair and how "back when I played, we had a lot of outrageous players that would make CC look like a pony ride. But his "ME" attitude wouldn't be tolerated then."
Outrageous is what JT was and is. The #1 "ME" players the Skins have ever and a big whiner. Let him and ESPN 1050 radio management know what you think about this and email them from their site. If ever there was a fan that really gave back to the fan, community, schools, etc. in the whole NFL, it is CC. Not to mention he is the most fun and funny player in the NFL. (Eat your heart out, Ocho.)
Get well, man. We'll miss you out there the rest of the season. One of the few bright spots on the team, I'm not gonna lie.
Really sorry to hear about your ankle. You are the best player on the 'skins and certainly a fan favorite. We know you want to be out there, so get well soon and we can't wait until you are on the field again.
I cant believe you got injured!!! Cooley? Really?! You know this season blows when our most solid player goes down. By the way you look like butters from south park with your new hair.
GET WELL wishes from Atlantic City, NJ. Glad to hear that you may be back by Dec. I hope that is the case because I need you in my Fantasy Football lineup for the playoffs. Instead, I have to start Shiancoe who is hit or miss. Good luck with the sponge bath and anyway we can get a shot of Christy in that nurses outfit posted on the site??
Nice post - adrian peterson pictures ..Keep Posting
adrian peterson pictures


text:
And so it happened...our eldest boy turned nine.
Oh, my son. What words can I write for you that properly express all that I hope for you? You amaze me! You always have, since the day you were born. We are proud of who you are and of the man you are becoming. We love you so much, and are so thankful to be your parents.
You are our little sportman!
And as always...here are a few pictures of the cake. What a good idea you had Badger for a scarecrow cake!


text:
Monday, August 23, 2010
Jack Turpin Blood Drive-a-rama!
To register here...go to www.inyourhands.org
Click on "Donate Blood," the bottom orange left-hand box. On the next page that opens, there will be tabs on the right-side. About half way down, there is another "Donate Blood" tab, click there. It will then say "Step 1," and there is a space to enter a sponsor code, type "Jackturpin" (all one word), that should get you to where you need to go.
A million thanks to my fabulously talented friend, Amy Barthel, for making such great posters that capture the spirit of Jack and this event perfectly and to Ken Smith for printing posters for us to distribute! You guys are the best!
4 comments:
- jen kelley said...
Wow, Krissy! You are amazing with all the sweet and wonderful ways you are constantly remembering Jack! I would love to give blood,but am pregnant! Can I still donate in Feb? Thanks for being so amazing! Jack was a lucky boy to have such a wonderful mother!!
- August 23, 2010 at 11:42 PM
- iheartdesign said...
You are the best mom! what a great way to celebrate Jack. Thinking of you guys!
- August 24, 2010 at 9:20 AM
- soccerfrog said...
I told dan that I would come and donate but on wednesday night i had to have emergency surgery on my apendix and i can't drive. But I still think of Jack every day and he changed the way I babysit. Also when ever I have a soccer game down there, I would stop by Jacks bench and say hi.
- September 24, 2010 at 5:50 PM
- auntcat said...
I was so sorry I couldn't be there. In honor of Jack I did a little baking and of course it included cupcakes! The treats went to a family who is loosing a mom to cancer and a family of a little boy in our neighborhood who is fighting a brain tumor. He is 10 and has 13 months of treatment ahead of him. Cheers Jack!
- September 26, 2010 at 5:07 PM


text: Ex-Employees at Drug Firm Say Safety Wasn't a Priority One pharmacist quit, citing lax quality control By John Johnson, Newser Staff Posted Oct 13, 2012 7:24 AM CDT 13 comments Comments This photo provided by the Minnesota Department of Health shows shows vials of the injectable steroid made by the New England Compounding Center implicated in a fungal meningitis outbreak. (AP Photo/Minnesota Department of Health) (Newser) – Former employees of the owners of the pharmacy linked to the national meningitis outbreak tell the New York Times that the work culture favored production speed over drug safety. The newspaper talks to eight ex-workers from Ameridose, owned mostly by the same people who run the New England Compounding Center, and five of them offered a litany of complaints, a common one being that unqualified people, sometimes salesmen, helped get drugs ready for shipment. "I expressed my concern to the management," says one pharmacist who quit. "I said: 'This isn't right. These people don't even know anything about the drugs.'" The story has quotes of that nature throughout, though three former workers say they saw nothing awry and a company lawyer dismisses the allegations as the grumblings of disgruntled ex-employees. The death toll of the outbreak stands at 14, and the first lawsuit has been filed. My Take on This Story Report a story error Show results without voting | 9% Annoying 3% Hilarious 1% Intriguing 7% Depressing 1% Brilliant 78% Scary


text:
Today is the last day of my thirty-third year, and what a year it has been! I think that the last year has probably had the most life-changing events for me personally than any other in the past (barring the birth of my children, that is). There has been a fair few ups and downs this past year, and most of them have contributed to the person that I am now on this, the eve of my thirty-fourth birthday. Sure, events from every year of our lives shape the people that we are today - experiences alter our view of things, mistakes help us to learn to do better, and successes help drive us forward - but it sometimes happens that some years are almost non-eventful, while others have a spate of occurrences that somehow wake you up from the Plodding Through Life slumber. My thirty-third year definitely falls into the latter category.
July 2009
My birthday falls on the 24th, so technically I can't include all of July in my recap of the last year, but the last week of July in 2009 can definitely be mentioned. I remember waking up in a mixed mood. I was feeling a bit down because my husband was starting his annual two weeks of working away from home that day, so I only got to see him for an hour or so - not the best start to my birthday. But then I logged into Facebook and was bombarded with lots and lots of lovely birthday messages, which cheered me up no end. I saw my husband off and spent the day opening cards and gifts, then finished it with a few friends sharing a celebratory drink with me. Lovely!
August 2009
August can best be described as a blur of madness. Most days were spent trying to entertain my kids in the limbo that is The Summer Holidays. *cringes* All would be well and good if we actually had decent weather and plentiful funds, but when most of the days are rainy and miserable, and finances are tight, entertaining two highly active children for almost seven weeks is exhausting. Yup, August was a bit of a blur.
September 2009
Back to school joy-ness! Soon to be followed by back to school annoy-ness. *snort* Schools tend to hit you with purse-emptying events in the first month of the academic year. As if being skintified by the Buying School Uniform Gloominess wasn't enough, we are bombarded by school photos, school trips and 'fund raising' events in the very first few weeks of term. Still, at least we don't have to worry about entertaining the kids so much now, eh?
October 2009
I started blogging! The first big 'up' of the last year.*grins* I never thought I would ever start blogging - it's not really something that a procrastinator does because blogging generally means commitment. I did really well in my first month, and blogged every day. I made a few new friends, had a ball writing the daily blogs, and discovered that my personal brand of craziness was mostly accepted by the blogging community. Awesome!
November 2009
I wrote a novel! Seriously, I did! *faints* NaNoWriMo sucked me in for the first time ever, and not only did I finish my 50,000 word novel, I also blogged every day too (well, I missed one day, but I don't hold it against myself *winks*). I introduced requests to my blog this month too, and also let loose on the general public the loony-ness that is Taff. Best month ever, November. *nods*
December 2009
December passed swiftly, what with the Christmas build-up and the general busy-ness that it brings, and the extra excitement added from the daughter because her birthday falls so close to the festive season. Mostly a good month, but with some underlying tension which was a prelude to what was to come....
January through March 2010
Dire, very dire. New Year's day brought with it a change in my personal circumstances, and this change led to a very big dip in my well-being. I've always been prone to periods of depression throughout my adult life, but usually I pulled out of them all by myself. This time it took my GP to pull me back from the abyss. After several attempts, my doctor finally found the right medication for me, but it wasn't until the end of March that I started to feel more like myself. Although the first quarter of 2010 were the worst months of my life, they actually caused me to take a step back and reconsider a lot of things. I finally lost the bulk of the weight that had literally been bogging me down for the last seven years. Okay, the first twenty pounds fell off me with no effort at all - not eating or sleeping properly for a month will do that for you - but the next twenty pounds came away through sheer doggedness and refusal to slip back into bad habits. Coupled with the new determination to look my best was a change of attitude in general. After too many years of plodding along through life, I finally took charge and allowed myself to be heard. I let myself speak up for the things that I wanted, and for the first time in a long time I didn't always put everyone else first. I'll never say that I am grateful for the circumstances that started this chain of events, but I can honestly say that I would probably still be stuck in a rut if they hadn't have happened. It's funny how the worst things in life sometimes lead to the best things. Maybe there is a God up there after all, and maybe He does work in mysterious ways.
April/May 2010
I really started to get back to my usual self around about here, which could be taken two ways. For the good, I no longer turned into a cry-baby on a regular basis, so the episodic depression was thankfully under control. Unfortunately, the return of my normal self brought with it the return of the Procrastination Princess, so while it was nice to be in control of my feelings, the downside was knowing that my bad habits were slowly but surely creeping back into my life. But do you know what? Despite the fact that procrastination isn't really something to be proud of, I actually like being like this. I think if I became this organised person who did everything properly and kept to deadlines and what-not, I wouldn't be me. And for the first time ever, I am happy with who I am, procrastinator or not.
June 2010
The epic fail of BuNoWriMo should really have put me back into the Pit Of Doom, but thanks to the new-found acceptance of myself, I wasn't bothered that I didn't manage to complete my second WriMo. Oh, I felt disappointment in myself, sure, but it wasn't the kind of disappointment that sucked me into LaLa-Land and made me want to crawl into a corner and hide. I was able to shrug off the failure and see it for what it was - a blip in the general plan, but not something that would affect the rest of my life. I also started back at my old job this month, which in spite of the impact it will have on my writing, is actually a good thing. Getting out of the house for a few hours every week is actually fantastic for getting you out of a rut, and although I was feeling better in a lot of ways, I was still stuck in the Waste Time Just Because I Can zone. Now that my days are structured according to whether I am working or not, I have to fit things in as and when I can. Gone is the There's Always Tomorrow attitude, and it has been replaced with the Acckkk!! I Have To Do It Now Or Else It Will Never Be Done attitude. So despite having to get up at stupid o'clock three days a week, and having to deal with snarky customers and figures that don't always balance, going back to work was a good thing.
July 2010
Arriving back at my birthday again, in summary I would say that although the badness of last year probably outweighed the goodness, I am still in a much better place than I was on the eve of my thirty-third birthday. I'm healthier (dropping 40lbs was the best thing ever), I'm happier, both with myself and with my life in general, I've written a freaking novel - ! - and although far from being Blogger of the Year, I have mostly stuck with it and not delegated this blog to the Abandoned Projects pile (which is precariously teetering on the brink of collapsing owing to the size of it).
So that was the year that was.


text:
Not because of commitments - it wasn't a swimming, pre-kindy or work day.
We deliberately had no plans.
Totally get where you're coming from Shar. And isn't it always the way though, that the day that you can't use your car, you actually really need it! Although by the sounds of it, it was probably good for you guys to have a quiet day at home :)
I struggle without my car too Shar, it's pathetic. Though lately, I have been doing without it a lot more. The days Angus is in preschool, we walk to and from and then I always walk into the local shops with Felix in the pram. The car doesn't get touched for 2 whole days and I like it. Seems you CAN teach an old dog new tricks.
And how about your mechanic dropping off and picking up, that right there would take away all my hassle in getting the car serviced. Brilliant!
Lovely semi-naked shot too xoxo
pre kids I was anti car, I use to ride or walk everywhere if I could. Now, couldnt live without it - it would totally stress me to live without it!xx
Im ready for a home day, car or no car, lovely photos xx
i struggle without mine, only because we live 20 minutes from the nearest anything!! although, i could stay at home and potter around doing LOTS of jobs if i didn't have it. it would be a good excuse ;)
Road-travel-aholic... I used to walk but with two kids and a dodgy double pusher my knees and hips and shoulders can't take it. The car it is for us!!
Oh yeah! I can't stand being at home all day with the kids messing the place up and driving me insane. I have got to get out and that mostly means in the car.


text:
If you're stuck someplace where it's freaking cold, you probably hate me right now.
It's February, it's sunny, and it's 54 degrees here.
You may throw snowballs if it'll make you feel better. I was going to complain about how I feel cold and how I'm sitting here shivering, but I don't think I'm going to get much sympathy. I mean, a couple days ago it was 20 degrees warmer and we were driving around with the top down on the car. Somehow I don't think my current discomfort matters a whole lot to anyone other than me.
But I do have some goose bumps. I could get up and change from a my thing thermal shirt to a sweatshirt, but that would involve actually moving. I just survived the commissary; I don't feel like moving.
(Ok, the commissary was not crowded at all and there were only 10 retiree couples blocking aisles with their sideways carts, but I think complaining about having to go to the commissary is, like, the law…)
While I sit here and shiver and not get up to put on a sweatshirt, I am going to start laying out a new manuscript. By my cat. Yep, Max has been at it again and instead of a furball he coughed up a new book.
Um, he did too write it himself.
Sheesh, such doubters out there.
All right…enough procrastinating. Since it's not warm enough to run around town topless, I might as well be productive. Max will write the dang book, he just won't sit here and format the manuscript.
Lazy kitty.