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"A chic, moderate-end luxury line of womens' RTW clothing, print-inspired beachwear/resort wear, bespoke unisex couture pieces, fashion bags and accessories.
Beachwear/Swimwear is our speciality! Get the perfect Aya swimsuit for your swimming needs. If you plan on staying in the water frequently, you may want to invest in our ever sporty bathing suit. However, if you plan on sun bathing or just to show off your sexy bikini body, you may want to choose a swimsuit based on fashion. A swim cover-up is optional. Either way, Aya Morrison has you covered! Visit us for all your destination needs." Aya Morrison
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Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Lily! Allen! Is! Number! One!
Something is right with the world because Lily Allen's It's Not Me, It's You debuted at #1 on the ARIA chart yesterday. If it weren't only February I would probably be harping on and on about it being the album of the year. Alas, even I can't go that far. Nevertheless, congrats to Lily. She totally deserved this.
This is my second favourite track off the album, "Back to the Start". Nothing quite beats "Everyone's At It", does it?
This is my second favourite track off the album, "Back to the Start". Nothing quite beats "Everyone's At It", does it?
Posted by Glenn Dunks at 5:41 AM
Labels: Lily Allen, Music
3 comments:
- JA said...
I don't know when I forgot that Lily Allen makes music, and that it's music that I actually like - we don't see a lot of her here in the States beside the occasional drunken nipple flashing on a gossip blog - but I feel ashamed listening to the album right now that I'd forgotten how great she can be. I'm laughing my fool's ass off at "Fuck You" right now on repeat...
- February 17, 2009 at 10:40 PM
- Kamikaze Camel said...
Yeah, I was worried about "Fuck You" since it's about George W Bush and, well, it's a bit late for that, but it works a treat. You can also apply it to anyone you generally dislike, too!
- February 18, 2009 at 12:33 AM
- JA said...
Yeah, I wasn't even thinking of George Bush specifically while listening to it, just everyone we beat in the past election... a little bit of a ha-ha-ha-we-won anthem, if you will.
- February 18, 2009 at 7:48 AM
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subset: commoncrawl


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Many members of the Truth In Aging community know that I am a stickler for good cleansers—and that goes for body washes as well. Surfactants (the things that make cleanser foam and suds) are harsh for the skin, binding to the proteins of the stratum corneum (source). A gentle and effective body wash is immediately and noticeably less drying and means that I can even use less body lotion after my shower. Always on the lookout for a great one, I was excited to try Sciote's Pure & Natural Body Wash ($28).
The Sciote body wash gives a great first impression with a lovely scent and a light, silky feel. But my main concern was what surfactants were being used. Soaps and detergents can damage proteins, interact with keratins, swell skin cell membranes and decrease the skin's water-binding capacity (source). In short, bad soap dries the skin out and prematurely ages it.
So I was pleased to see that Sciote's sudser is decyl glucoside, which is coconut-derived, gentle enough for baby products and posseses moisture-binding properties as well. Then there's coco-glucoside, which Duhring Chamber Test lists as having the lowest irritation score of all common surfactants, and coco-betaine, another relatively mild cleanser.
My inner hippie likes that the oil used is from cannabis (although I have to admit not the version that has the psychoactive compound). Still, hemp oil has benefits for the skin—it has the same fatty acids that are in skin lipids and it lubricates beneath the surface of the skin. Itchy, dry skin (my plight this past winter) is also greatly helped by hemp oil. There are plenty of other good things, including soothing calendula, detoxifying burdock and mineral-rich nettle leaf extract.
Using Sciote's Pure & Natural Body Wash has had the kind of effect on my skin that I would expect from switching lotions. I have really suffered this winter (and non-existent spring) from an itchy, flaky, rash-prone body from neck to toe. This body wash has really contributed to reducing these symptoms and leaving my skin more comfortable after shower. Of course, I still need to moisturize, but my skin feels way less needy.
Initially, I found that I was using too much of the product. As it isn't very sudsy, it was a little hard to gage. Ultimately, I found it best to give a couple of pumps to a dampened wash cloth. This gives enough for a top to toe cleanse.
Sciote's Body Wash comes in three scents. Mine is Gira Sole and I find it to be subtly citrusy and a little gingery. In fact, Sciote says the blend is yuzu, grapefruit, blood orange, red ginger and green tea.


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Dear Perry Noble,
I need to be honest. I didn't know much about you until a few days ago which, I know, is what makes me a perfect candidate to write you an "open letter".
What I knew about you was your name and that you led a megachurch. I may have heard you on a podcast once but can't remember the content. I've never heard your sermons or even realized you were from Anderson, SC.
Even with all I didn't know about you, the crazy thing is that I do know that your name has surfaced in conversations in which I have been a part. For some reason, the name, Perry Noble, left me with a sense of awe. In my mind, you were untouchable. Why? Well quite frankly, I don't know. Maybe because you had power and influence, or people took your advice, or that you were a leader of thousands. Whatever it was the name Perry Noble was on my radar, but the person of Perry Noble wasn't.
Then on Saturday, February 4, 2017 I sat in the Elevation Ballantyne campus and listened as Pastor Steven introduced you. He spoke candidly about his friendship with you and your part in the growth of Elevation.
From his admonition, it was apparent that you had made a huge impact in the life of Pastor Steven and had really been a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
The emotions within me were mixed, like a whirlwind in my mind. The less righteous part of me was giddy because I was in the room and within twenty feet of one I must have deemed as a "superstar".
The self righteous part of me questioned your success and wanted to discount you because I had not seen the same success and influence in my own life.
The sane (but maybe still slightly self righteous) part of me was cautioning me to remember that you were merely a man surrendered to the work of the Holy Spirit.
The selfish part of me was a little disappointed that Pastor Steven wasn't preaching because let's be honest sitting under his preaching can definitely be a selfish desire. Not to mention I had already titled my electronic sermon notes with "Work Your Window Week 4" and who wants to use the backspace button must less the select and cut features. How inconvenient!
As you entered the stage, I worked to resolve all the emotions swirling in my head. I sunk back in my seat and sulked for a moment. Then I turned my attention to your words. I'll admit that what you were saying was not what I was expecting. The more you talked, the more jacked up I realized that parts of your life had been. It was great for me because I could relate. I don't just have jacked moments, I have jacked up days and years.
On the other hand I was somewhat disappointed because I was forced to see you differently than my earlier preconceived notions had insisted. To balance this new reality with my previous thoughts, I resolved that the Lord must have done a great work in your life. I told myself you could no longer identify with that part of you, but it kept you humble. You were now free to have compassion for messed up people without still being in that state.
At this point, you had my ear, but not quite my heart. As you preached through Zechariah chapter three, many things resonated with me. My heart became engaged. Then you got to point number three, transformation. You spoke from Zechariah 3:3-5 and talked about how Joshua, the high priest, was dressed in filthy clothes. Then the angel of the Lord began to transform him where he was and clothe him in fine new liens while Zechariah watched. As Joshua was being transformed, Zechariah spoke up, got involved, and encouraged the transformation he was watching. Then you issued the challenge that I wasn't ready for. You said that when we watch people transform, we can either side with accusation, which was your first point from Zechariah 3:1, or choose to be involved in the transformation.
Now I love a good redemption story and typically wildly celebrate others; however, for personal reasons, that challenge hurt! In that moment I felt accused and attacked. So I did what any convicted person would do and moved you back into the position of an untouchable self righteous know it all who must be so far from experiencing pain that he has no compassion for those hurting at the hands of the one who could be being transformed.
Your words once again began to fall on deaf ears as I took the next few moments and tried to reconcile my own pain.
Then right before closing the message, you dropped the major line that I had been ignorant too. Since I didn't "follow" you, I had no idea of the information that you were about to reveal. You went on to say, "Most of you know that back in July I lost my job for drinking too much, and I found myself in rehab."
I wasn't part of the most who knew that information. It was shocking! Imagine the new whirlwind of emotions that began. The most prevalent was self righteousness which set the stage for a few candid thoughts that l'll spare you. It was a counterfeit salve for my afflicted soul. The one that you had just wounded with your bold proclamation that as I see others transform, the others who have so deeply hurt me, I could choose to side with accusation or transformation. For a moment the self righteousness felt good but not really a healing good.
Then, overwhelming relief came over me. I was relieved to know that you weren't perfect because it meant that just maybe I wasn't too broken for God to use either. If you could get up and face the pain and failure, perhaps there was hope that my circumstance wasn't too far gone either.
And about the time you shouted these words … "Get back up! Get back up! Get back up!" my heart reengaged. I have always felt like a fighter. It seems that my life has been a constant cycle of getting back up, but quite frankly in that moment I was sick of getting up and wanted to wallow in my defeat ...
But even today your words will not leave my mind. It's not that I haven't heard them before. It's just that this time I had to hear them from a fellow fighter; a broken person who is actually getting back up and knows what it takes to do so; one whose example goes far beyond just words.
So maybe I'm not the perfect candidate to write you an "open letter". I am simply the broken girl who wants to publicly say thank you for getting back up in the midst of failure and discomfort and being vulnerable enough to preach that message. Thank you for not surrendering to the accusations of Satan, but instead believing that God is not done with you yet.
In my eyes, you are no longer the untouchable Perry Noble. Instead, I will forever see you as the one who challenged my stance and shepherded my soul when it was most vulnerable.
And to repeat the words of a man who has become a great inspiration in my life, here is my daily encouragement to you: "Get back up. There is still time on the clock. The game is not over. God is not done with you yet."


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Next month, we'll be making a family road trip into PA and our last day brings us through Pittsburgh for one overnight and part of a day. The plan, as I know so far, is to visit the Children's Museum in the morning, then grab lunch before heading home. We'd prefer NOT to eat at the cafe inside the museum.
What might our lunch options be for a Friday lunchtime that's not too far from the museum? (FWIW, we'd be headed out of town toward Akron, OH.) No chains, any menu ok (my almost-4yr old isn't picky), casual preferred.
Also, any thoughts on a good quality (but kid friendly) dinner spot in Pittsburgh for that Thurs. evening when we get into town? I don't know the hotel location yet -- still working on that. Again, any menu ok, even ethnic if it's good. No chains. Someplace we can experience 'only in Pittsburgh'.


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Game list by ash14
Published 6 years, 8 months ago
Recent reviews
All reviews - Games (7)
Portal 2 reviewPosted : 6 years, 8 months ago on 24 November 2011 11:41 (A review of Portal 2)
Portal 2 is the sequel of the first game and it has the same principles. You are a test subject (the same as the first game) and you are testing their gadget. A portal gun. A gun that makes holes, like a normal one, but not small ones. Holes that when you get in one, you come out of the other one. You continue the story from were it ended in the first game. Well, kind of. You wake up and you see a little ball talking to you and guiding you. You find GladOS and you wake her up! How stupid of you! You can't really avoid it. Well, after you wake her up you start once again testing. The puzzles are a bit harder that the first game and more interesting. The environment is also bigger and really different than the last game. In the last game, you were in closed rooms with white walls. Now you see plants on the walls and destroyed machinery. You get at a specific part of the game were you are outside. And the graphics are amazing. The game uses the same engine with Half Life 2. It's just amazing. Great experience. GladOS is trolling you even harder now! I love her!
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Portal reviewPosted : 6 years, 8 months ago on 24 November 2011 11:34 (A review of Portal)
When i first heard of the game, portal 2 was already out and i played that one first. Just because i am stupid to do so! Anyways! This game was really nice. Some of the tests were strange but not that hard. I loved how GladOS was trolling us all the way to the end. And don't believe her about the cake! In the game, you are supposed to be a test subject. They give you a gun that makes holes and you get through them. There are a few simple tests and a few harder tests that need timing or precision. It's a really good game. Just remember to pay attention to the lady that talks and never believe her!
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Final Fantasy VIII reviewPosted : 6 years, 8 months ago on 24 November 2011 11:23 (A review of Final Fantasy VIII)
Final Fantasy VIII is the first and only game that i fell in love. I honestly loved it. And i still do! But i don't play it any more, cause i finished it like ten times in a row and i think it's enough. I played twice with only the main storyline. There were bits and parts that i left behind. I knew they were here. I just wasn't really interesting about them at the point. So i played again a lot of times and did everything you could do in the game. I know some say that the storyline sucks because it's a just a stupid love story, but i love it! I love everything about it! Even the junction! The draw system is kind of stupid. But you can avoid it. No need to just stand there and draw from enemies. So, it's cool! The game, like every final fantasy game, has a lot of beautiful cutscenes. It has a vast world for you to discover. A lot of places to visit and upgradable gear. You even have the chance to go in space!
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim reviewPosted : 6 years, 8 months ago on 24 November 2011 11:07 (A review of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)
Just amazing. I did something wrong in my opinion, while i was playing the game. I followed up the main quest till the end and i ended up fighting the "final boss" with pure equipment and low level. Even with that "mistake" (again in my opinion) i really enjoyed the game. After the main quest, I concentrated on getting some end game equipment which made my character super strong. I am still playing it actually. Climbing mountains and killing innocent bears :P
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Terraria needs you!Posted : 6 years, 8 months ago on 24 November 2011 11:05 (A review of Terraria)
I found the game from someone that was making minecraft videos and decided to give it a go. I played online with some friends and got everything (for now) in the game. It is a really interesting game. You have this guide dude to help you and give you random tips. Almost all of them are useful. The first world i created was a large one and i thought it was a mistake for my first world. I think it's better to start of with a small one, so that you can access everything easier and faster. I started with collecting wood of course (as a minecraft player i already knew some basics) and made a small house for a base. I then decided to dig a huge hole! I followed paths and found myself into deeper layers. I found it hard at the begging. There were a big number of slimes coming from above and landed always on my head. I had a hard time digging in a cave for start, but i quickly got the pace to get deeper. I upgraded my tools and got an armor. My goal was to fight a boss. I knew it was going to be hard but i tried. Of course i failed killing the huge eye and i got back at digging! When i got some better gear, i decided to go and craft another eyeball in order to call the eye again. Before i had the chance to use it, i got a message. "You feel an evil presence watching you.". I got scared for a while and quickly pause the game. I looked the terraria wiki and found out that it's normal. I resumed the game and fought the eye. This time i was victorious! I upgraded my tools once again and decided to go to the dungeon. Here is a funny fact. When i decided to do that, there was an update that made the Skeletron, the guardian of the dungeon entrance, easier to beat. He now had less health and it was way easier to beat. I killed him and went in the dungeon. I knew the dungeon was still hard, so i made a run for it at some certain places. Got great stuff from there and returned. At the next update i found a jungle and got some stuff from there as well! I also had the chance to get a meteor to land through braking an orb. The orb also gave me a gun, which was COOL! I upgraded my bullets and started shooting in the sky. The upgraded bullets had a rebound ability. I took an advantage of that and found a floating island! How cool is that? I was pleased with my progress. Then i took up the real challenge. Hell! Again i had an update before going down there. Potions were in play now and i could use them to swim into lava! It was hard down there. Enemies everywhere. I manage to survive somehow down there and got the final equipment. After that, it kind of got boring. A new update (which will come soon. 1st of december 2011 if i am correct. 1.1!) will make things interesting once again!
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Spore Galactic Adventures reviewPosted : 6 years, 8 months ago on 24 November 2011 10:51 (A review of Spore Galactic Adventures)
Spore was a great experience. I started without knowing much about the game. Just a friend told me "take this game. It rocks!". I played the Cell stage and I thought they did some decent work in that game. Then the Creature stage came and rocked my world! Honestly. I couldn't believe at the things that you could do with your creature! I made a really ugly one and i was the peaceful species that tried to become friends with everyone. The Tribal stage was okay. The Civilization stage made me give a star less at the game. I didn't like it at all there. But it ended quickly! I would stop playing if it lasted more. Again i was the peace guy. Then i went to space. It was amazing! I was smiling! :P It became really interesting again and spent a lot of hours there (i don't think you can get everything for yourself there. It seems impossible with all the galaxies and everything.) and decided to start over with something special. I created something like a dragon and i kept playing the creature stage for more this time. I ate everyone and everything :P I really wanted some fire but it's not possible :P After i ate everyone, i kept flying around the world. Great experience to fly in that game! Great game!
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F1 2010 reviewPosted : 6 years, 8 months ago on 24 November 2011 10:49 (A review of F1 2010)
I really like formula 1. Formula 1 in general. I always supported Ferrari and i will always support it (even though we suck lately :P). I played the game with a single purpose. To get to ferrari! :P I played on easy for a while, got a few victories with lotus and decided to take it to another level. I raised the difficulty to the next possible and still had good results. Not victories but good results. Then, the game asked me a question. "Who is your rival for this season?". I chose Alonso, who was really close to my points at the moment. I raised the difficulty again and kept on playing. I finally got the championship and ferrari asked me to join them! I really thought it was because i took the championship but it wasn't. It was because he was my rival...I got really disappointed when i realized that. The other teams were like "We don't like you. Even though you got the champion." I really couldn't believe that thing. The negotiations were awful. That's why the -1 star. The gameplay was really good and i waited for 5 years (i think) till a game of F1 was out! I didn't have the chance to try it with a wheel. I tried the next game :P
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- AAM Competition 90mm Sport Exhaust - Nissan GTR
The AAM Competition 90mm Sport Exhaust was designed specifically for pure performance. Using 90mm aircraft grade T-304 stainless steel, each Sports Exhaust is hand assembled at AAM's facility in the USA. The overall design of the Sport exhaust maintains the highest possible exhaust flow by using the least amount of restriction, and the straightest possible exhaust piping for minimal bends in exhaust flow.
Peak power is increased, weight is reduced over stock, and the general exhaust note is enhanced.
- Proven to Flow 1100+ WHP
- 90MM / 3.5" Straight Through Design
- Minimal Drone
- Reduced Weight Over Factory Exhaust
- Polished 304 .065 Stainless Steel
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- Made In The USA
Shipping: Due to the oversize nature of this product, custom shipping costs will need to be provided. Please contact us for additional details


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Thursday, October 01, 2009
Iran: all choices bad so go for the symbolic
So the feel-good option of imposing economic sanctions is the fallback position. But such sanctions seldom harm the regime that inspired them; indeed, they're more likely to hurt the people who are already oppressed but reinforce the rulers' power. And besides the fact that China is likely to cast a Security Council veto and Russia is hardoly a sure thing, it shouldn't be hard for Iran to beat a sanctions regime with smuggling, probably fuirther enrichjing the Revolutionary Guard along the way.
Perhaps the best choice is to quit meddling and quit paying attention to Ahmadinejad's rants?
1 comment:
I find it very, very, very hard to believe that Iran is a threat to the United States. Consider the distance of geography. Iran would still have to make the bomb and then have an Inter-continental misile to carry it all the way to America. Furthermore America's inevitable retaliation would be terrible. The Mullahs must realize this. I just wonder how much of this is really due to the Israeli and Jewish lobbies? Note how countries that have neither, like China or Mexico, for instance, are not concerned about Iran. In any case how come it is "okay" for America (and Israel too for that matter,) to have nuclear weapons but not Iran? Hypocrisy? I would add that America is the only country in history to ever actually USE nuclear weapons too. Not once, but twice, and against an already defeated foe.


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I have a confession to make. It started when I had my kids. At first I'd only do it in the car, but now it's gotten worse. I do it all day long.
Here it is. I listen to bad music. SOB! I know. I used to have better taste, but then I had the kids and it all went downhill. I stopped listening to "my" music and put on the radio. I had the best of intentions. I just wanted no swearing (strangely enough I do not swear in front of my children. As soon as they go to bed though I like to curse like a sailor), and the radio seemed the easiest route to get that. Sure, is it fun to try to shout non-swear words over the swear words in songs? Yes. But it is just too damn hard.
Now I have the radio on ALL DAY LONG in my kitchen, listening to the same 12 songs over and over again. It was really cute when my daughter was singing along to Taylor Swift, but sort of less sweet when she's singing Whistle by Flo Rida (which is unmistakably a song about sucking dick). So I need an intervention, which is where you come in.
I need some new music.
My tastes are pretty eclectic, so I'm willing to listen to just about anything. I'd still like to avoid hardcore swearing though.
Hard limits:
No country
No rar, rar, rar, head banging music
No Bieber
So, if you'd like to leave me your latest fav band or song, I'd appreciate it. Or, better yet, if you want to make me a sweet mixed tape and mail it to me, that'd be rad.


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Any ideas? Those of you in Spanish speaking countries or churches, what are the songs you enjoy? What songs do the people seem to worship to the best? What are the spanish christian groups/musicians that you/they listen to? Please post a comment on any and all the ideas you have.
New Blog
5 years ago


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The basic deal is that I would set the campaign in Jack Kirby's Fourth World. The PCs would be adventurous young lads and lasses from Supertown, the floating techno-capital of New Genesis.
Phase one of the campaign would center around the Bug Mounds, strange underground edifices in habited by hyper-evolved monster people. Agents of Darkseid have turned the class resentment of the Bugs into a brushwar against Supertown. It's up to the PCs to set things straight, preferably by flipping the Bugs to the side of good. Phase two of the campaign would take the cold war between New Genesis and Darkseid and turn it hot on modern day Earth, just like in Kirby's comics. Imagine the awesomeness of a laser-powered D&D fight at your favorite landmarks. Fireballs over the Statue of Liberty, mutant dragons rampaging on the White House lawn, that sort of thing. Phase three would be kicking ass and taking names on Darkseid's hell-planet Apokalips.
Feel free to steal this idea. I'm sharing it because I doubt I'll ever use it.
PS: If you haven't answered my quick survey from earlier today, please do so!


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|Helsinki December 2010
My son has Lenny found a new way to humiliate me – this time by long distance. A week or so ago when I was in Paris I received an invitation from him to play Chess online through Chess.com.
|Helsinki December 2010
My son has Lenny found a new way to humiliate me – this time by long distance. A week or so ago when I was in Paris I received an invitation from him to play Chess online through Chess.com.
Good luck ! Isn't it funny how things turn around whether it is with our children or our parents !!
Have a great day and I hope your chess set and book arrive soon so you can swop up before your next game.
Use it or lose it.ReplyDelete
I think its interesting that you got something easier off Amazon than from your own building. The information super highway and the information super closet. Cool.
I played chess very intensely for a couple years with my father around 7th grade. I learned that he couldn't play after driving long distances. I used it to my advantage the last time we played. It wound up being very disastrous, and we never played again. To this day I hate the game, and really most games with other humans. I did play chess a couple times with a pseudo-foster daughter I had for a short time but only because she insisted.
My ex husband taught me to play a million years ago (good lord, I'm older than I thought). It took 3 games for me to get to grips with the strategy and I beat him on the 4th game. We never played again. He probably tells a different story though :) Happy practice!ReplyDelete
I only just yesterday won a game of Scrabble with our college daughter, Lauren. She's a total brain who, at age 22 already speaks several languages, has lived abroad twice, can debate politics with the 'big boys', and who is already working on her Ph.D. She makes me feel like a dithering idiot half the time, but damn it, I beat her yesterday!
I haven't played chess with her since she was around 12. One can only take so much. Hope you beat Lenny!
Me: I hope he also does not start practicing.
fmcgmccllc: Exactly
esbboston: I have the concentration powers if a red ant so was never good at it - and never will be.
Sandy: You are either very good or he was very bad
SK Waller: I can beat him at scrabble because I have been around longer


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Discussion in 'Dropshipping & Wholesale Hookups' started by popcorn9257, Jun 22, 2013.
T mobile prepaid card. $50 value. I'm not sure if anyone is selling that.
how many price can you buy ?
Also looking for T-Mobile.
I can buy 20 pcs at a time at the right price.
no one seems selling still looking
also looking for t-mobile sims no one in here know anyone?
Separate names with a comma.


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AML Reporting - Important Clarification
If you work in a "regulated sector", of which accountancy is one, and have knowledge or suspicion (or reasonable grounds for suspicion) that money laundering is occurring or has occurred, you have a statutory obligation under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 ("POCA") to disclose the circumstances to the appropriate authorities.
Your firm will have an individual who undertakes the role of the firm's Money Laundering Reporting Officer ("MLRO"). If you are an individual working in practice, the correct course of action is to make an internal report to your MLRO, who will decide whether it is appropriate to make a Suspicious Activity Report ("SAR") to the National Crime Agency ("NCA"). Once you have made an internal report to your MLRO, you have discharged your responsibilities under POCA.
If you are the MLRO, and decide that a SAR should be made, please note that the SAR must be made to the NCA and nobody else. Details of how to do this can be found here.
Some pages on the NCA website make reference to Action Fraud, which is only for individuals and charities that come across issues of fraud. It is NOT for professional firms. MLROs should NOT make reports using the Action Fraud helpline or website. Making a report to Action Fraud does not discharge an individual's obligations under POCA.
All Suspicious Activity Reports must be sent to the National Crime Agency.


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Nine to go!
I finished my Leaf T-Shirt this morning in time to be.. . late for morning tea at Kate's. But it did mean I got to wear it out. And given it was a WIP the last time my friends saw it, it was great to have it done rather than be working on it again.
I was stoked with the way this yarn blocked. Knit in Patons Serenity, it bloomed beautifully when I steam blocked it. The lace panel pops way more now that it is blocked, and I think it looks lovely.
The pattern calls for no ribbing at the neck, nor any at the sleeves, and as you can see, they roll a bit, but I like the casual look that this creates. After all, this is meant to be a T-Shirt. I did, however, do 6 rows of 2×2 ribbing at the bottom as I didn't want to lose length. As it happens, the length is great and I could probably have got away without this ribbing.
I started the sixth ball of yarn, but only did about 10 rounds out of it, so it was around 260g of yarn all up. This is so light to wear, the bamboo has to be experienced to be appreciated I think, but I would highly recommend it. I found the Serenity not to be splitty like some yarns, it's a great choice.
And now I'm going to have a break from sweater projects for a while as I knit my beautiful Blue Sky Baby socks!


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When first experiencing out of body travel, it's easy to confuse a less evolved soul with someone of a higher evolution. Because an entity in spirit does not have to carry an ego of the same density that is required in the earth, a very young soul can appear quite dynamic and evolved in an out of body experience. So it does take time to learn to differentiate between the two.
The most evolved beings seldom, if ever, give definitive directions or suggest a specific course of action for your life. The highest beings can inspire you with the simplest of words, as their refined emotions actually have the power to lift you into a higher state of consciousness. On the other hand, less evolved beings—however well intentioned—do not have that capacity and often can only advise you of a specific action to take, something they might believe to be beneficial to your life. While there is purpose in both of these interactions, it's very important to realize that anyone simply telling you what to do—is not highly evolved. I always use caution in dealing with such souls.
In the highest dimensions, far above the earth in vibrational frequency, fear cannot exist as we know it. And it is in these inspirational realms where the energy is created that breathes life into the earth, into the dreams and thoughts of those incarnated in this world.
We can have our own resistance to these higher frequencies, unconscious fear that separates us from something we wish to manifest or express. We could return to the guidance we were given and claim it to be false. But what is missing from the message, is acknowledgement of the required path we must first walk – life experience that teaches us that certain beliefs, behaviors and attachments we embody might be limiting us. There may be many life experiences between message and manifestation, events that cause us to release beliefs that stand in the way of our longing. It is often a leap in consciousness which ushers in a new aspect of life.
Wanting to immediately manifest a vision, I sometimes find that the earth refuses to yield. Of course this is actually the purpose of incarnating into a dimension of such density. We are forced to renounce and release those beliefs that prevent us from more deeply aligning with our Higher Power and deepest Self. We may feel the longing to reclaim missing pieces of our soul and we feel the pressure to gain understanding. If we are spiritually focused, we may intuitively realize that we are being asked to release. If we are deeply grounded in the illusion of the earth, we might suffer through the breaking down of the ego.
I've learned not to attach to the grand visions within my dreams, out of body travel and sight. I've learned if they are meant to arrive in the physical realm, they will arrive in their appropriate time. As it must be, the earth requires us to cleanse our hearts before we may evolve our experience of oneness, and that seems to be an ongoing evolution into greater depth.


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Hey Peeps!
Actually, I really don't know how to explain myself for not posting anything here for more than 6 months but I will still try my very best.
First of all, this site is all about my personal fashion style so when posting, I have to make sure that I showcase a really good inspirational Outfit Of The Day or OOTD. To be able to do so, I have to shop clothes more often and/or spend a lot of time to do Do It Yourself outfits or DIY. But sadly, I can't do these duties for a couple of reasons. The main reason is that I'm already based right now in Dubai, UAE. Before I get here, I have to sacrifice this blogging passion of mine. I have to budget myself which hindered me not to shop unnecessary items, though I think that clothes are basic necessities but I can't afford to have too much for now and sacrifice the more important ones. On the other side which is being fashionable can be affordable by just doing some DIY, well I don't have much time to do so because for the past 6 months, I was really focused on myself. I prepared myself to be emotionally, mentally and physically ready because my journey will not be as easy as before. I endeavor myself and I am so grateful to God because it all has been paid off, I am taking another great step of my life.
But hey! in my 6 months of being away, I have learned so many things such as giving importance to TIME. As what we often say, "Time is precious" so, we should use our time wisely and make it worth spending. I was lazy since forever but I am now a changed person. I regret for all the time I have wasted but now, I will make sure that I'll be very productive as possible. I am focused as lazer, which is why I will update this blog more often than before and what's great about it, as you follow my journey, you will also see the beauty of UAE and the life of Filipinos here as well.
Photos above are taken at "Mall Of the Emirates".
Thanks for dropping by folks.
Hope you have a great day!
Love & Peace!


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Though by my own admittance I have neglected my blogging responsibilities (a new addition to the familial unit will do that to anyone even a devoted Janeite), I have been diligent in my following of all things Austen. And lately I have been very excited about a number of things….Sunday will be the premiere of the new Emma on Masterpiece Classic! I have told my husband that I am reserving babysitting from him and the bedroom TV for this occasion. While I have Return to Cranford sitting on the DVR and waiting, I cannot abide the thought of not catching Emma as it premieres. Also I am so excited about the Emma Twitter Party! Please do come, it's so nice when those of like mind and passion get together (those of us who adore Austen and will do things like reserve our own bedroom for Materpiece Classic two weeks in advance with our most comfy jammies and laptop of course).
Also I have recently read some very nice Austen inspired works…I am currently devouring Lady Vernon and Her Daughter by Jane Rubino and Caitlen Rubino-Bradway which is a novel of Lady Susan. I especially enjoy how the authors have kept to Jane's wit and style while also including the epistolary style which she wrote the original Lady Susan in. I simply cannot put it down at this point and hope to finish it within the day if Sir William (my 11 month old) permits. Also on my nightstand: Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford and in the future Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart by Beth Patillo…hmmm we shall see. I have no problem with Austen inspired works as long as Austen herself and her work are given respect in some measure and it is obvious that the author has at least some type of devotion to her work and her style of writing (or has at least read her works). For instance I did so enjoy Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange recently. So again we shall see… For reviews of many of these books check out Austenprose who is so diligent in her devotion to everything Austen. I only wish I could be so up to date, fortunately I have her elegant blog to keep me company and give me my regular dose of Austen.


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(you should too.)
will let you know how they turn out. but they've never let us down yet.
the ingredients (note: it should read 4 pkgs. of yeast - not 4 oz.).....
|my sister's recipe card
|diced butter for faster melting
|scalded milk (i used cream this time)
|hot cream added to butter and sugar
|yeast, flour and salt and eggs and...
|filling ingredients minus orange peel
|dough and filling components
|finished rolls
|please make them!!


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Super Dragon Machine Dolzark:
* (This creature is put into your mana zone tapped.)
* Whenever one of your other creatures that has dragon in its race attacks, you may choose one of your opponent's creatures in the battle zone that has 5000 power or less and put it into his mana zone.
* Double breaker (This creature breaks 2 shields.)
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condo on a corner lot near C. I. Waggoner Elementary School
The BARKER TEAM has agents to help you with ALL your Real Estate needs. We specialize in the following area's - Short Sales,Buying Direct From The Banks,Nosy Neighbor Program,Free Home Search,Free Home Evaluation,Massive Internet Marketing Exposure. Over 1,000 homes sold over the last 14 years! Rich and his TEAM of professional agents are the best in the valley! Their TRUE market expertise will help you get your home sold.


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Date: Thu, 05 Dec 1996 17:25:44 -0800
Subject: Centigram adds DP
Centigram, another high-tech company in California's Silicon Valley, added domestic partner benefits this week, effective Jan. 1, 1997. Don't know the details yet. I'll pass them on later. (but does include health/dental) All it took was a valued employee giving a copy of Winfeld/Spielman's "Straight Talk About Gays in the Workplace" to the HR chief earlier this year, and voila!


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So. I worked on it all afternoon. I've still got miles to go before I put the thing to bed, but I've addressed or made notes about how to address all of the comments that I got back, and I went back through the report (in spite of my hatred of actually dealing with criticism of my work) to figure out where I stand with the thing. The prognosis is fair.
So, tomorrow I've got a meeting in the late afternoon, but I only teach for one hour and I've got one office hour. The plan is that during the office hour I'll work on typing some changes in and get through the changes in the two chapters that need the least work. Then, I'll go to the gym. I'll go home and shower and get some food, and then I'll head back to the office. I'll (I hope) get through another chapter before the meeting. When I go home tomorrow, I'll start working through some of the more substantive changes on another chapter.
Thursday, I'll get through all of the other minor changes.
Then comes Friday, the hard part. In one chapter I need to do a lot of revamping with organization in order to make illuminate the argument that drives it. In another chapter, I need to do some major fleshing out, some reorganization, and a brief digression into analyzing another novel.
Then I shall watch The Ghost Whisperer and have a much needed good cry (I hope) when some earthbound spirit enters the light.
Then Saturday, I'll finish with all the changes, and deal with formatting issues (which will most likely mean going into the office, sigh).
Sunday I hope shall be a day of rest.
Monday I will print the motherfucker out and mail it off. And then I will await word from my editor about final editing stuff and the index, and I won't need to think about the thing until November, when I will make the final push.
A note about the editing I'm doing: in large part, I'm feeling very positive about the manuscript as a whole. It is so different from the dissertation. A reader caught but one sentence that was terribly jargon-y, and only two sentences that were weirdly abstract and incomprehensible. Overall, the writing itself is strong. Also, I'm confident that what I'm doing is truly new work that really does make a contribution to my field.
As for the writing itself, can I just say how much I think the blog contributes to the fact that the writing is strong? While this thing is based on my dissertation, it bares so little resemblance to that document in terms of the strength of the writing. I also think it's notable that feedback I've gotten indicates that the strongest chapters are the ones that are most revised or actually new additions to the manuscript. I've found my voice as a critic over these years of blogging, and while I think my voice was strong in the dissertation (indeed, it's the only full-on compliment I ever received from my adviser, when he told me after my defense that my dissertation was actually pleasurable to read) I know that I've really found it now. That's not to say that it won't change or develop, but I have a confidence now in my writing voice that I didn't have when I submitted the dissertation, and that confidence, I think, has a lot to do with the project of writing regularly for an audience. No, my academic voice isn't identical to this one, but developing this voice helped me to find my academic voice.
As for the content, well, I am so indebted to my adviser for helping me to pursue the line of inquiry that I chose. In many ways, my work has very little to do with his, but his influence is still all over the thing, in ways that are totally positive, I think. My relationship with him is a weird one for many reasons, but perhaps the best thing about it is that he never wanted me to be a miniature version of him: he allowed me to pursue my own ideas while offering me his expertise. It wasn't warm and fuzzy, but it also wasn't some sort of dictatorship and I was never an extension of him and his work. I'm a better writer for having written under him, and a better thinker for having thought under him. Of course, because of the nature of our relationship, I can never actually tell him this, as we'd both be terribly embarrassed by any such conversation. But if I'm anything as a scholar and as a mentor, I've learned how to be that from him. At the end of the day, he respected what I was trying to do, and he didn't impose himself on the project. For that I am so, so grateful.
So is the book "good"? I think that it is. I'm sure there are things about it that can be stronger. It's not perfect, and it's not going to be even after the changes. But I'm proud of it. And I will be so fucking happy to get it out of my life.
6 years ago


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Sleep Deprivation
She couldn't sleep. She didn't want to sleep. It didn't matter if her eyes drooped with sleep or if they propped themselves wide open. Sleep evaded her. It always evaded her. No matter what the new day might hold. No matter what the old day may have thrown. Sleep never came to her.
She stayed up all night, waiting for it to arrive, watching the hours on the clock tick by. Midnight came and went. Nothing. One came and went. Nothing. Two. Three. Four. Five. Nothing. She found herself losing this battle. And the war as well. Her lack of sleep lorded itself over her. A comical thought indeed, her subconscious ruling her conscious. But that was how things worked out.
Her sleepless nights resulted in what one would only expect: sleep deprivation, a body aching exhaustion that would nev3r go away.
Prompt: Experience, I suppose?


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Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each Tuesday features a different topic and you post your top ten list related to the topic.
This weeks topic is: Top Ten Covers I Wish I Could Redesign.
This weeks topic is: Top Ten Covers I Wish I Could Redesign.
1. Wolf with Benefits by Shelly Laurenston
- The male model just isn't interesting.
- This cover is the reissue copy. I would say the original cover is a much more appealing.
3. Hit List by Laurell K. Hamilton
- This one just puts me off. I actually haven't liked a cover since The Harlequin.
4. Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
- The girl squatting puts me off. This is actually the second cover they did with the book. I would have preferred the original cover. It had a nice neon green to it.
5. Haunted Honeymoon by Marta Acosta
- Now this one isn't so bad. But the rest of the books have a red and black themes to the covers.
6. Undead Unworthy by MaryJanice Davidson
- This is book 7 in the series and the publisher decided to change the cover design in the middle of the series. I hate that.
- This is a YA series and this cover makes it look like an adult book.
8. Stormbringers by Philippa Gregory
- Compared this book one, this cover is kinda boring.
- Too much pink.
10. Tangle of Need by Nalini Singh
- Again the publisher decided to go a different way with this cover. The guy is pretty,
but I wish they would have kept with the design of previous books.


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Who won Key vs Shearer Super Thursday?
John Key's speech on the other hand seemed to sound more like the Chairman of the Soviet Production Ministry than visionary thinking.
Key's 10 points for NZ in todays speech follows Steven Joyces six key areas for business growth released on Monday which was a subset of the four main priorities Key outlined at the beginning of the year but they weren't the same four priorities outlined by the six point economic plan rolled out in 2010 which were different again from the six points of broader focus off the National party campaign billboards and which have little to do with the 120 point economic action plan announced at last years election.
I kept waiting for Key to declare that chocolate rations are to be lifted while our war with Eurasia continued.
Last year saw the lowest voter turn out in 120 years, a million enrolled voters just didn't bother voting. Sadly those million voters would find lean pickings for democratic engagement from the vision declared by either leader today.
In terms of the political point scoring, Shearer wins because Key exhibited all the vision of a blind cyclops.


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Despite a winter storm warning, many Cape residents were caught off-guard by the intensity of Sunday night's snowstorm.
Despite a winter storm warning, many Cape residents were caught off-guard by the intensity of Sunday night's snowstorm.
"I was expecting maybe a couple of inches," said Hyannis resident Dianna Fisher.
And she was not alone. From Bourne to Provincetown many Cape residents tried to leave for work yesterday morning only to be blocked by snowdrifts in front of their doors.
The National Weather Service in Taunton had predicted high winds and up to 6 inches of snow, but some Cape towns received double that amount.
"This doesn't look like 3 to 5 inches," said Bourne Fire Chief David "Skip" Kingsbury, whose town had 11 inches of snow dumped on it.
A large low pressure system formed 150 miles southeast of Nantucket on Sunday, with an intense snow band forming near the Cape Cod Canal. The result was dozens of minor accidents, a brief closure of the Sagamore Bridge and hundreds of homes temporarily without power.
High winds — with gusts as high as 60 mph in places — created a whiteout during the height of the storm on Sunday night. Winds continued overnight and caused massive snowdrifts as well.
Residents awoke to snow-covered roads and high winds that slowed commutes and closed schools across the Cape, as children took to their sleds and tubes in the aftermath of the storm.
Morning ferry service to Nantucket was canceled and service wasn't resumed until late yesterday afternoon. Mechanical problems with one of the Martha's Vineyard ferries compounded the delays.
Barnstable Municipal Airport was shut down until early yesterday afternoon while crews cleared runways, but high winds kept most planes grounded until even later in the day.
Barnstable police responded to as many as four weather-related accidents early yesterday despite crews best efforts to plow roadways swiftly. No one was injured in those accidents.
Barnstable police Officer Michael Riley said police also received several reports of plows hitting grounded utility boxes.
Despite the bad weather, the Cape Cod chapter of the American Red Cross did not have to open emergency shelters and NStar restored power to all but a handful of customers by yesterday morning.
But that didn't help residents like Dianna Fisher, who had to brave the roadways at the height of the storm to pick her daughter up at work around 7 p.m.
"It was totally a whiteout," Fisher said. "You could not see anything."
Jill Collins said she was not surprised forecasters were off the mark concerning snowfall totals.
"I was only expecting a couple of inches, but I left the house last night and it was a blizzard," she said. "But I'm not surprised because the forecasters have been so wrong this year."
Bill Simpson, spokesman for the National Weather Service in Taunton, said snowfall was higher than expected because of an influx of cold air that developed and intensified Sunday afternoon.
But even with the unexpected developments, Simpson said, a winter storm watch was issued Sunday morning along with warnings of high winds and 4 to 6 inches of snow.
"There's always a narrow band of enhancement that's hard to pinpoint, and that's why we give a range," Simpson said. "If we had said 8-12 inches — which most places didn't get — people would say 'Oh they overestimated again.'"
Hyannis resident Paul Coffman agreed with Simpson and said even though the snow totals were higher than predicted, residents should have been expecting wild weather when the National Weather Service sent out a winter storm warning.
While the unexpected intensity of the storm may have kept many Cape residents huddled indoors around the fire, Coffman decided to take a walk.
"Main Street was empty so it was fun to be out there," he said.
In the storm's aftermath many homes are covered with snow — something that could pose a danger to public safety, Bourne's Kingsbury said.
He urged all residents to clear snow off all direct ventilation units to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Having already taken two people to the hospital yesterday in a similar incident, Kingsbury also urged residents to make sure their carbon monoxide detectors are working, and said when residents dig out fire hydrants it is helpful for rescue personnel.
Cape residents can expect warmer temperatures today, according to Rebecca Gould at the National Weather Service's Taunton office, with temperatures in the low to mid-40s, partly cloudy skies, and only a 10 percent chance of precipitation.
Aaron Gouveia can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com. Staff writer Matthew Burke contributed to this report.


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You ever have one of those days where you get hyped up on cold and flu medication and have spaced out conversations with your friends via the internet, which then results in bizarre new projects...?
These are just some new character designs I was playing around with. From left to right: Kit, Tammy, Rafael, Keira and Lyndon.
In other news: what the hell am I doing with my life?


text: Well, it's been almost two years since I posted on this site. To be completely honest, I'd kinda given up on it. With school and work and life I just got too busy to keep it up to date, so I let it slide to the back of my mental desk. That is, until someone commented on a post, and I was reminded of this little gem. It's like a time vault of my brain, which is kind of why I made it in the first place? So that's cool. Will I start updating more often? Maybe. Only time will tell.


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The top 10 things we're looking forward to in 2009 – bloginhoodJanuary 8, 2009
Last week was about looking back fondly on the old year, this week's list is about anticipating the new. And there's so much to look forward to that we each had to do our own list!
Bloginhood's Top 10 Anticipated for 2009:
10) Star Trek XI
Part of me's looking forward to seeing what Abrams is going to do with the franchise, but I'm pretty uneasy about it being so warped that it won't resemble Trek anymore. While reimagining works sometimes, as in the case of BSG, other times, well, you get "The Day the Earth Stood Still", which was a complete waste of time and money. I'm trying to stay positive.
9) Caprica
Here's another one where I'm a little trepiditious despite being interested. Some of the early comments about the show being a sort of "Dallas" in the 12 Colonies (or, at least on one of them) soured me on the show a little – I kept getting visions of a season finale cliffhanger of "Who Shot Adama?!" On the other hand, BSG turned out to be such a great show, I'm really hoping this one flies too.
8 ) Fanboys
The first time I read the buzz on this flick I was dead set on seeing it. As the months dragged on though, and the release date kept getting pushed back, and word leaked about story changes and various and sundry putting their hands into the production, I grew more disappointed. But I'm still hoping that there will be enough of a good story in there that the Force will be strong with this movie (or, at least tolerably present) when it's released next month (unless it gets delayed again).
7) More episodes of Terminator – The Sarah Connor Chronicles
I was surprised how much I've enjoyed this show since its debut. Despite the repetitive stalk and shoot Terminator elements of the plot and the somewhat predictable relationship developments, the story has, for the most part, remained consistently entertaining. Not a perfect show by any means, but certainly worth making time to watch. I'm interested to see how Summer Glau's little killing machine continues to evolve toward humanity in the coming episodes.
6) More episodes of Reaper
Another show that, despite the predictable (and unoriginal) general premise of a guy who has to hunt supernatural baddies for the devil, has turned out to be really, really good. The writers have done a nice job of bringing Sam and Andi's relationship to fruition without stretching out the "will they or won't they" too long, as well as teasing the nature of the bargain with the devil, the surprise with Sam's parents, and, of course, allowing Sock (I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Sock is Jay and Silent Bob's secret love child) to be consistently hilarious and steal scenes without remorse. I got the first season collection on DVD for Christmas and we spent a few days rewatching it, and it's still as funny as the first time.
5) Anticipation – the 67th Worldcon
Montreal's going to be a lot of fun this summer. I've had my ticket for a while now and I'm in the middle of giving some thought to how I'm going to vote for the Auroras and the Hugos. Initially, I'll admit I had worries of stumbling along in broken highschool French like the Tick when he was turned into a two-headed blue bird, but then I remembered it's Montreal, and they're cool enough to speak to geeks in any language.
4) Watchmen
I haven't read the graphic novel – yet (it's sitting in my in-box), but I'm familiar with the premise and it sounds smart and the early buzz says the movie won't disappoint. The only problem is this dust-up between the studios. Fans can only hope they settle this pissing match so that the flick can actually hit the sreens in 2009 as intended – or ever, for that matter.
3) The Wise Man's Fear – book 2 in Patrick Rothfuss' The Kingkiller Chronicle
I just got finished reading The Name of the Wind a little while ago and it impressed the hell outta me. Intelligent and believable fantasy. Rothfuss is definitely an author to keep an eye on.
2) A Muse of Fire by Dan Simmons
Yes, I know this was released in 2008, but I've had it on order for a few weeks and it hasn't arrived yet, so, obviously, I'm now looking forward to it in 2009. Because I'm a huge Simmons fan, and his stories have yet to disappoint, this is one of the foreseeable reading highlights of the year.
1) Battlestar Galactica – the final episodes of Season 4
BSG is one of the best shows on television. Ever. I'm still right pissed off that Season 4 got split in two and we've had to wait so long for the back half to hit the air. But that being said, better late than never, 'cause some great SF shows, like Firefly, never get the chance to come into their own. I'll be spending this weekend watching the webisodes as a warmup, and next week, when the beginning of the end kicks off, it'll be sweet indeed.
Over to you, harrysaxon!
And how about everyone else? What are all of you looking forward to in SF in 2009?


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Saturday, August 21, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
We Found Our Pot of Gold.
By: Erin La Rosa | Aug. 18, 10
Up and coming designer Jessica Robinson's new jewelry line is proof that all that glitters is gold. And that works out well for those looking for a fabulous piece of jewelry to bling up these last few weeks of summer.
Robinson's pieces feature luminous pyramid studs, diamond embossed lines, and classically elegant stones set in 14k gold. If you've watched anyone walk the red carpet recently, chances are they were sporting one of her pieces. Celebrities like Fergie, Dakota Fanning, Taylor Swift, and Anne Hathaway have all been spotted with accents of Robinson.
Sienna Miller was photographed donning Robinson's Palm Feather Earrings, set in 14k yellow gold and embellished with glittering diamonds. While Kristen Stewart sported the Double Infinity Ring in champagne to this year's MTV Movie Awards. The ring is worn on all four fingers and is encrusted in diamonds; think of it as a sort of chic version of brass knuckles.
Our personal favorites extend to the brass and yellow gold Angel Wing Choker, which is ideal for a night out. And the Scarab Ring, which has a glimmering finish we can already imagine looking fantastic while poolside.
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|adventuring in europe - with two great dads!
Now I'm not talking about physical appearance or anything Freudian, and clearly nothing has proven this theory. I am also sure there are many women may prefer to marry someone who is the opposite of their own father.
However, it does make a lot of sense that daughters might gravitate towards someone like their own dad. Our fathers are there (or not there) from the start. They shape our ideals of what it means to be a dad/husband. That could be positive or negative.
My husband, in many ways, is very much like my dad. I never really thought about that when we were dating or even when we got married, but after almost seven years together I see it pretty clearly.
Some examples...
They have enough humor and patience to deal with an incredibly emotional and dramatic woman. (Sorry Mom, but you know it is true. We are spirited.) Sure, they both sometimes use humor at inappropriate and maddening moments which only seem to add fuel to whatever fire is already burning. Also they both only take nagging for sooo long until they snap and tell us what-for. But on the whole God granted both these men the patience of saints. Truly.
|this pretty much sums up my dad
|dads are superheroes!
|dad as a young pastor - in his office
Oh, and both men are also hard workers when it comes to manual labor. Both love the outdoors and on camping or hiking trips they will carry the heaviest packs and hike the longest. I could have never married a wimpy guy who didn't like getting dirty and sweaty and doing manly outdoor things!
|hubby hiking the grand canyon rim-to-rim
|dad summiting mt. temple for the first time
|filtering water during one of our camping trips to the red river gorge
|on a winter camping trip in frigid northern mn. yes, we all had to do this with dad.
|we were always taking canoe trips with dad
|paul showing off his j-stroke - learned from my dad!
Both are affectionate dads. My dad was always one to hug us, put his arm around us, tell us he loved us. Paul is the same. I love that he has no problem kissing and hugging our kids even to the point of excess. I do it, too! Our kids will hate us for it in middle school!
Both are stern disciplinarians. It is pretty amazing seeing the similarities between these two men when it comes to child-rearing. They won't put up with crap. Soft hearts, but hard spanks.
There are also several very distinct differences between my Dad and my Hubby. My Dad is very laissez-faire about money, while Paul is very conservative. Paul is very logical, my dad is more philosophical.My dad loves packing as many activities and sights as possible into vacations, while Paul believe vacation is more about naps and relaxing as much as possible. My dad has a very high energy level, getting up early and staying up late, drinking coffee and running on very little sleep (hmmm...who does that sound like?) Paul, on the other hand, seems to need more sleep than normal humans and doesn't drink coffee. (I love him despite this character flaw.)
But...both love the Lord. The most important similarity of all.
That, for sure, was a deal-breaker when I was contemplating marrying Paul. When we first started dating faith was not a big part of our relationship. Years later, when marriage entered our thoughts after many breakups and growing up a lot, I really wasn't sure that Paul would be the spiritual leader in our marriage/family that I had always envisioned myself marrying (clearly because of my own Dad's values.) But Paul stepped up and puts my doubts to rest. He showed me his faith in Jesus was strong - whether we were together or not. That gave me confidence that I could marry him.
|dad walking me down the aisle...already getting a little teary
And thank you Hubby - for being an incredible 'Dada' to our two babes. They adore you, because, like my Dad, you make the moments you have with them count.
|hubby with a tiny cormac - learning the ropes of fatherhood
|one year down!
|your little mini
|needing lots of rest with baby finola
|drooly kisses!
|dada's arms are always a safe zone
Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. Remember, you have an incredible responsibility (nay - opportunity!) Your little ones are watching and learning so much from you. The boys are learning what a man/father can be. And the girls...
...well, they may end up marrying someone like you.
No pressure, dads. ;)


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Buffalo Moon Expedition is proud to present Illinois Rail Trail Ride partnered by the Rails to Trails Conservancy. The journey starts on the Great Western Trail in the suburbs of Illinois and Ends in Burlington Iowa using several rail trails along the way.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
What Matters Most
I would like to think that we are here for the journey and not the miles, not the membership, not for anything else but what we were designed to do in living our passions while employing ourselves in acquiring own souls.
At the end of the day, when we are all old and gray (and in my case, grayer), the legacies we leave behind are the memories and lessons we give to other people. It's not about earning the stripes and gaining membership status, or other statuses, or about living by other's definitions of what they believe is true or not true for us. Even though those are valuable to an extent that we all want to feel like we belong in our world, the catharsis of ourselves is within the experience and in making the memory, and the sweet acquisition of our souls on a daily basis. Sometimes these moments are huge but most likely, we are able to gain awareness and personal insight when life whispers our names and we draw close to those whispers rather than the earth shattering rock my world moments that come about sometimes.
Journey 2013
Megan DuBé's message is simple. However, the long- trail distance delivery of that message has a most been most unusual and sometimes unfathomable even for horse minded folks who trail ride.
In 2012, DuBé and her horse Evangeline travelled 576 consecutive miles through Texas, on a horse trekking journey to help those with emotional need and also celebrate life and share faith and hope as she travels down the trail.
DuBé's message and trademarked byline since 2008 has been "emotional freedom starts on the trail."
DuBé is the founder of Buffalo Moon Expedition, an organization that preserves equestrian travel and American heritages. She is a semi-retired psychologist who also has been helping people heal emotionally the majority of her career. Her life is not all about book smarts either, she has had her share of life loss and horses have been a way for her to get through her toughest times.
Du Bé has owned her own equine assisted psychotherapy practice in the past. Buffalo Moon's Expedition allows Du Bé to continue to do what she loves doing best- counseling and facilitating healing for others from the back of her horse.
This year's expedition is extra significant. DuBé has done another emotional rescue --- of the equine variety. Megan has adopted and retrained a Rescue horse from True Blue Animal Rescue out of Brenham, Texas this year. A Tennessee Walking Horse named Jazzy.
"Most of the media portrays rescue horses who have been severely neglected and seized like Jazzy, " DuBé states. "But in many cases, horses are surrendered to rescues when family circumstances change financially. Most of these rescue horses have been family pets and well- loved at one time or another. I feel that the social responsibility of any horse community is to give these horses a second chance."
These expeditions are all attempts to make it from A to B. Whether DuBé makes it to her final destination is unknown as she says that she is not in charge of this journey in so many ways. However, DuBé's positive attitude and faith keep her moving down the road.
"Rescue horses need a second chance, just like people. Sometimes we rescue people, sometimes we rescue horses," DuBé states with a smile. And this year, Buffalo Moon Expedition plans to do a little bit of both.
The Versatile Tennessee Walking Horse- The Basics
The Tennessee Walking Horse breed's beginning started in 1885 when a Morgan Mare named Maggie Marshall was crossed with a Standardbred out of the Hambletonian Standardbred Family. The offspring of this pair was Allandorf, who would later be known as Allan F-1.
But what is this way of going "gaited". Being gaited is a birth defect. When we realized that this defect was a pleasure to ride, we began to selectively breed for it many many years before the Tennessee Walking Horse became known as a breed.
Once perfected and over time, we came to know and love the way of going of these horses and for the purpose of simple identification, the Tennessee Walking Horse became a breed of its own.
|Dangerous Intruder - AKA- Trudy
These horses were originally bred as a utility horse and agriculturists used them as plow horses. On their "off days" from the field, because these horses where a pleasure to ride, they would use them as "Crop checkers" and thus the term "Plantation Horse" was born Vast amounts of land had to be checked upon daily, so a sure footed smooth riding horse was needed to check fence, crops and also be the family cart horse. The Tenn Walker did it all, with style, a relative amount of speed and with class!
The Tennessee Walking Horse performs three distinct gaits: the flat foot walk, running walk and canter. These three are the gaits for which the Tennessee Walking Horse is famous, with the running walk being an inherited, natural gait unique to this breed. Many Tennessee Walking Horses are able to perform the rack, stepping-pace, fox-trot, single-foot and other variations of the famous running walk.
These gaits have a variety of speed...much much faster than the quarter horse who travel at a rate of 1 mile per every three hours. Tenn Walkers can travel up to twice as fast at the walk but usually at about 4 miles per hour. Their running walk can be as fast at 15 miles per hour. Some Tenn Walkers who rack can "Speed rack" up to 23 miles per hour without breaking into a gallop!
|Running Walk - Molley, TWH - age 27 here
Having had Tennessee Walking horses all my life and some other gaited breeds, I can say if they were human, they would be the engineer get 'er done personality - they are all business, friendly, willing and possess a 'professional' work ethic at all times. They are fun to be around and endear themselves to their riders for their intelligence, versatility and overall steady disposition.
The thoroughbred and Morgan blood in them give them incredible stamina. They burn fuel differently than a quarter horse would which makes them incredible mounts for long days on the saddle and endurance riding.
It was common for farmers to hold match races with their Tennessee Walkers, which they also used for plowing fields. Even after the coming of the automobile, many Tennessee communities kept their Tennessee Walkers to manage the poor roads of the area.
Next up - The Mind of a Tennessee Walking Horse... their not just your regular ole' quarter horses: no way, no how..
|For Gaited Horse Training Call - 630-589-2721


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Google Buzz will start offering a privacy settings reset as of today in order to give unsuspecting users a check on just what kind of details their service might currently be set up to give away.
A page will pop up reminding people how the options are and how to change them to restrict the number of people who can follow you. The move is expected to be announced on the Google Blog along with an admission from the Buzz team saying "we didn't get everything right" when the service was launched back in February.
The reset comes as yet another change from Google on how the company had put Buzz together and is the third alteration on the privacy system. Doubtless we'll see more in the coming months with Google's experimental style of honing their products with feedback from those that use them.


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Given that interest is now stirring over how the 'official' Australian list will be maintained in the future, it's worth a look back over the long-simmering arguments around the species status of the Western Fieldwren.
|Western Fieldwren Calamanthus [campestris] montanellus from the Stirling Ranges. Note the olive toned and heavily-streaked back; creamy-buffy underparts; russet on head confined to forehead; limited rufous in rump and tailbase; brown (not chestnut) lores; dull tail tips. This individual has a little more rufous than a 'classic' montanellus, notably in the cap and fringing on the wings.
[Image © Kay Parkin (http://kayparkinbirding.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/cheynes-beach-south-west-wa.html),
used with permission]
Arguments FOR splitting Western Fieldwren
Evidence is a little thin in Milligan's original type description (1903) [5], splitting it from fuliginosus on the basis of "lustreless dingy brown, rather than shiny greenish-brown" upperparts, whiter underparts, and (relative) lack of sexual dimorphism (we can probably discount his additional claim that montanellus also smells different to fuliginosus, based solely on the anecdote that his "Quail bitch did not… show any canine signs of pleasure"). Obviously a poetic soul, he went on to name it Rock Field-Wren after the "sterile stony tracts" of the Stirling Ranges.
Although admittedly only on the basis of three skins, Ashby's 1924 review [6] of Calamanthus argued montanellus was:
"certainly deserving of full specific rank. The beak, shape of head and markings all show characteristic differences. It was agreed this species is nearer to fuliginosus than campestris."Exactly what is unique about the head shape was never elaborated, though intriguingly head shape is also alluded to elsewhere [7].
The next review of the genus by Parker & Eckert (1983) [7] aligned montanellus closer to campestris than to fuliginosus, which they definitively circumscribed on multiple characters: bill shape, sexual dimorphism, lack of rufous & streaking on upper-tail coverts, and colour of tail tip. One flaw in Parker & Eckert's analysis is that what they called their "montanellus-group" included the grey-backed but white-bellied SA populations of winiam (90-Mile, Big and Little Deserts) and 'ethelae' (from southern Eyre & Yorke peninsula, therefore synonymous today with C. c. campestris). Perhaps as a result, when looking back at their defining criteria for fuliginosus, 'true' montanellus might now be judged intermediate on 3 of their 5 species-defining characters (see table below).
Rufous Fieldwren of race campestris from near Whyalla, SA. Note the faint but generalized rufous tones over crown, ear and wing coverts, and tailbase[http://morphbank.ala.org.au/2079101 Image © The Museum Board of South Australia, shared under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-SA]
Rufous Fieldwren of race winiam (holotype of syn. 'parsoni') from Meningie, SA. Parker & Eckert grouped winiam into their "montanellus-group" based on its lack of rufous tones, but note the grey (not olive-grey) back, white (not cream) belly, white primary bases, and bright white tail tips[http://morphbank.ala.org.au/2079172 Image © The Museum Board of South Australia, shared under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-SA]
A specimen of Western Fieldwren montanellus of the type series from the Stirling Ranges. Note the uniformly olive-toned and strongly streaked dorsum, and creamy-yellowish underparts. Also note the 'fat' head – is this what Ashby was referring to?[Images from the Digitised Types collection http://museum.wa.gov.au/catalogues/digitised-types/calamanthus-montanellus – see website for high resolution images. Images © WA Museum, reproduced here under Fair Use terms]
The most recent and comprehensive case for splitting montanellus was put by Schodde & Mason's Directory of Australian Birds (1999) [8]. Their argument that it "emerges as being as close to fuliginosus as campestris" can be summarized in the following table:
It's worth noting that neither C&B [4] or HANZAB [8] specifically reject Schodde & Mason's treatment, but rather shelve it as "provisional…pending further studies" (though HANZAB adds hindclaw length as an extra feature linking montanellus with campestris). Perhaps sensibly, both preferred to hedge their bets awaiting genetic studies.
Arguments AGAINST splitting Western Fieldwren
Problem #1: Clinal variation
By contrast, WA Museum taxonomists Ron Johnstone and Glen Storr [10] view variation in the fieldwrens as so gradual – "a smooth, clinal intergradation between the southern olive and northern rufous forms" – that they do not even recognize races in WA, arguing this would just give names to arbitrary points on a cline. Ron's argument can be paraphrased as 'tell me how much rufous you want, and I can show you the specimen'. Despite this, the Fieldwren plate of their Handbook of WA Birds [10] claiming to illustrate this smooth cline clearly shows olive-backed/plain-rumped/yellow-bellied montanellus, versus rufous-rumped/white-bellied forms elsewhere (if we take this plate as indicative, clinal/regional variation in the context of montanellus seems mostly restricted to the amount of rufous in the head, lores and ear coverts – and this seems to be corroborated by available web images).
Problem #2: Gloger's Rule
That said, there is clearly a north-south cline of variation across the whole group, and within SA campestris and WA rubiginosus, of forms trending paler/rufous/less-streaked northwards, and darker/greyer/more-streaked southwards. This is problematic taxonomically, because such plumage variation is typical of an ecophenotypic gradient predicted by Gloger's Rule, which even predicts the appearance of yellow or flavonoid pigmentation in more humid southern environments (thought to improve feather preservation). Schodde & Mason [8] thought that even within montanellus, specimens grade paler northwards (and whiter eastwards). If Gloger's Rule is at play, much of the similarity of plumage between fuliginosus and montanellus, (and their difference from campestris) can be discounted as ecophenotypic.
Problem #3: Where do you draw the line
While there appears to be a decent gap between Nullarbor Plain campestris and the closest montanellus, the distribution up the west coast appears more or less continuous all the way to North-west Cape. A further complication to consider is that the current distribution is now much fragmented by habitat reduction. The northern limit of montanellus has variously been cited as Jurien Bay (Serventy [10]), Kalbarri (Parker & Eckert [6]), or "about Geraldton" (HANZAB [8]; Schodde & Mason map [7]), though none of these appear to match a clear break in distribution or habitat (see map below). Since true species of course do not blend into one another, the status of fieldwrens through this region needs to be much better understood before the taxon can be confidently elevated.
|Overlay of records from Atlas of Living Australia (ala.org.au), which includes Birds Australia Atlas and state Museum records (red dots); the distribution limits from Johnstone & Storr 2004 [10] (blue shading) and Schodde & Mason [8] (black line = montanellus limit). Yellow spots indicate source of the possible intergradient specimens mentioned in HANZAB [9] and Schodde & Mason. Birds from around Kalgoorlie are of unknown race; birds around Kalbarri are disputed and possibly intergradient.
Problem #4: Intergradation
Kalbarri specimens are of interest as they are described as much paler with a reddish rump, "though still retaining the greenish dorsal cast" of montanellus [7, 9]. Suspected intergrades with inland race campestris (pale and narrow-streaked with a rufous cap) are described by HANZAB from 100km E of Southern Cross [9]. But perhaps more problematic for the taxon, birds from around Kellerberrin & Woolundra – squarely in the middle of what should be montanellus territory - are also paler, finely streaked, and rufous-capped (the ever-eager Mathews separated these as race leakei [12]).
However Schodde & Mason [9] concluded that intergradient specimens are comparatively few, and often adjacent to sites yielding typical montanellus, suggesting the zone of intergradation is limited. Note also that similarly limited intergradation has been observed between Striated Fieldwren and race winiam of Rufous Fieldwren where they closely abut in South Australia (somewhat counter-intuitively, in modern taxonomic thinking the presence of a narrow and stable hybrid zone (rather than a cline) can actually confirm the presence of some inherent barrier to gene flow [13]).
Problem #5: Shark Bay island forms
Western Fieldwren are certainly not the only non-rufous races of Rufous Fieldwren, though their olive taint appears unique. The pallid, grey-toned variants from Dirk Hartog & Dorre Islands (hartogi & dorrie) were once lumped with montanellus by Mathews 1912 [2] & Serventy 1937 [11] respectively, the latter considering them to be relicts of a montanellus-type that retreated south with increasing aridity. However Schodde & Mason [8] considered them to have faint but consistent russet toning, sufficient to mark them instead as pale campestris-type.
(Incidentally, in a vivid example of gene flow within the group, Ron Johnstone [pers. comm.] tells of seeing threatened hartogi Fieldwrens fly from Dirk Hartog Island to the mainland, thus presumably changing subspecies and threatened-taxon status upon landing).
Problem #6 : Playback response
While the calls are not particularly well studied, Ron has also shown that calls of true montanellus from the southwest are immediately recognised by Rufous Fieldwrens in the Shark Bay area and the Gibson Desert [Ron Johnstone, pers. comm.]. While this is anecdotal and inconclusive, it does appear to weaken one likely mechanism by which gene flow might be sufficiently restricted for these to truly represent adjacent (parapatric) species.
So - is Western Fieldwren a species?
There seems no doubt we must wait for broad genetic analyses to untangle the true nature of variation within the fieldwren complex. But on morphological grounds alone, one perfectly reasonable conclusion is that Western Fieldwren is actually neither a species or a subspecies, but something in-between. After all, evolutionary variation occurs in a continuous spectrum, and does not respect our increasingly tortuous definitions of what is or isn't a 'species'.
According to the species definition guidelines of Helbig et al. [13], Rufous, Striated and Western Fieldwrens (and possibly others) could all be classified as 'paraspecies' within a 'superspecies' (thus best named in the trinomial, with the middle superspecies term [campestris] in square brackets). The naming of superspecies / paraspecies is more common in Europe & US (e.g. Carrion and Hooded Crow), and is a concept Australians probably need to become more familiar with to deal with some our trickier taxa.
So the short answer is (in the absence of genetic data at least), if you accept that Striated Fieldwren fuliginosus is a separate 'species' from Rufous Fieldwren campestris, you probably should accept Western Fieldwren montanellus on similar and only slightly weaker grounds. The 'species' status of Western Fieldwren is undoubtedly a grey area, and serves as a timely reminder of the more conservative nature of the C&B, Clements, and BirdLife lists, versus the more generous species-definition and more fluid taxonomy of the IOC – which do you prefer?
Where to see Western FieldwrenThe best place to see Western Fieldwren is in the low heath of the lower slopes of the Stirling Ranges. Further afield, Fitzgerald River and Cape Arid National Parks have high densities. Northwards, they can be found in coastal heaths north of around Lancelin – Lake Thetis at Cervantes, and the lakes on the road into Sandy Cape (north of Jurien) are good sites. Fieldwrens are also common along the cliffs south of Kalbarri, but note these are above the range of montanellus according to HANZAB and Schodde & Mason.
If you want to contribute to solving the mystery of the Western Fieldwren, be sure to atlas any Fieldwren records from the Kalgoorlie and Geraldton to Shark Bay areas – including subspecies details (and/or photographs) if possible. Even if species-level genetic divergence is found in the future, the nature of interaction at the distribution boundaries will be very important to elucidating its true status.
UPDATE: Preliminary genetic work by Dolman and Burbidge, so far reported only in conference format, suggests insignificant genetic differences between montanellus and other fieldwrens in WA, but does hint there may be split further east over the Nullarbor.
|Typical Western Fieldwren habitat - low coastal heath at Point Ann, Fitzgerald River National Park WA
[1] RAOU Checklist Committee (1926.) Official Checklist of the Birds of Australia. Melbourne: Gov. Printer.
[2] Mathews GM (1912). A reference-list to the birds of Australia. Novitates Zoologicae 18: 171-656
[3] IOC World Bird List. See http://www.worldbirdnames.org/ioc-lists/master-list/
[4] Christidis L & Boles WE (2008). Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. CSIRO Publishing, Canberra.
[5] Milligan AW (1903) Description of a new Calamanthus and a new Megalurus from Western Australia. Emu 2: 200-203
[6] Ashby E (1924) A review of the genus Calamanthus. Emu 24: 44-45
[7] Parker SA & Eckert HJ (1983) Remarks on the taxonomy of the genus Calamanthus (Fieldwrens). South Australian Ornithologist 29: 65-71
[8] Schodde R & Mason I (1999) The Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines. A taxonomic and zoogeographic atlas of the biodiversity of birds of Australia and its territories. CSIRO Publishing.
[9] Marchant S. & Higgins PJ, et al. (eds) (1990-2006). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. (7 vols). Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
[10] Johnstone RE and Storr GM (1998-2004). Handbook of Western Australian birds (2 vols). Perth, Western Australian Museum.
[11] Serventy DL (1937). Calamanthus forms of the Shark's Bay district, Western Australia. Emu 37: 103-105
[12] Mathews (1922) Bull. Brit. Ornithol Club 43: 13
[13] Helbig AJ, Knox AG et al. (2002) Guidelines for assigning species rank. Ibis 144:518-525


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I don't know why I have been so bad at keeping up with this blog, but I have been! I just introduced a new line of hair clips today in my shop. They are so cute!
As far as what's "in" for winter, I have no idea! I am curious if military-style stuff will carry on through the cold season. I would imagine that shiny, sparkly stuff will be in, as always it seems. I went to a wholesale decor store today, and as far as Christmas decor goes, polar bears and white seem to be really "in", but I suspect that there won't be too much polar-bear-inspired jewelry...
I guess I should get on the "What's in"... I hope everyone is having an amazing autumn!
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Maybe this blog is supposed to be about painting, but my, my do I find so many other things that relate to art!
So, this entire past weekend I suffered from a pretty bad tension headache. To keep it short, I have a lot of headaches, and also have problems sleeping. When I was younger, a school nurse told me I needed to breathe when I was in pain. I was never really told HOW to breathe, I just figured to do what I did naturally, but, well, more of it and deeper.
Well, as I said before, I have been reading another fabulous book by Pema Chodron called "Start Where You Are". Throughout this book, she talks about tonglen breathing. This is a type of breathing that Buddhists use not only to center themselves, but also to connect to pain.
Yesterday morning, at my wits end, I decided to try it. Sitting in my little bedroom at around 8 a.m, I closed my eyes, put my hands on my legs, and tried to breathe this way. What is so unusual about tonglen breathing is that when you inhale, you take IN the pain. Supposedly, this connects you to your own pain, as well as all the pain others are feeling at that moment. You breathe it in, and sit with it for a minute. You allow it to be with you and in you. Then on the exhale, you send peace and good thoughts OUT. This is almost like the prayer part of the breath. You send good energy to yourself and to all.
Ok, so you may be reading this post and rolling your eyes at my new-age-ness. But it dawned on my yesterday that all day long, especially when I am in pain or sadness, I breathe in the COMPLETE OPPOSITE WAY. I breathe in, almost like sucking air for survival, like a taking of sorts. Then I exhale and try to get rid of all the bad crap inside and put it out to the universe.
hmm. Inhale. Exhale. All. Day. Long.
So when I tried this new way of breathing, it was like trying to rewrite that one sentence that defines the whole plot of a book. It's hard. I had "monkey mind" for at least half of it (swinging from thought to thought like limbs of a tree). But I was nice to myself, didn't judge that I suck at this, and kept trying.
Within 30 minutes of doing this, my headache was gone, and I fell into one of the deepest, most-needed sleeps I have ever had.
Ok, it may have been too much oxygen to the brain. It may have been that I just stopped for the first time in a while. It may have been how I was sitting.... whatever. It doesn't matter. I was given an insight into something about me that I don't even NOTICE. Something so ingrained, I've been doing it blindly for almost 30 years.
So here is my dare to everyone reading this. You don't have to be new-age oriented. You don't have to be a Buddhist, or believe in anything else for that matter. But right now, pay attention not only to the rate in which you breathe, but HOW you breathe. Try ten breaths like what I mentioned. If you are not in pain, great! Then breathe in all the good you are feeling, and send it out to others too.
I feel like I should market this exercise in conjunction to some sort of cool breath mint.... what do you think? ;) Tonglen tingle mints???
What, you may be asking, does this breathing stuff have to do with art? Well, when I am painting at my best, I am not trying to be in any other moment than the one I am in. I accept the difficult passages I have to paint, the ones that nature has made confusing for me. I accept it, wish myself luck, and know that it's ok if I mess up. I let in the things I fear, rather than freaking out and telling myself "THERE IS NO WAY I CAN PAINT THAT! LOOK AT IT!". Usually when I just let myself be where I am, I paint like a ninja, if I don't say so myself. Unfortunately, the ninja part of me is a VERY little ninja that only comes out every once in a while.
I couldn't let you think I was getting too serious......


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I need your help.
We have set up a temporary fund drive to raise the
out-of-pocket expenses as a result of the fire we had at our studios in
Baltimore, on Sunday, NOVEMBER 17, 2014.
I'm asking that you give what you can -- $25, $50, $100
or whatever you can help with. We need the money to take care of things
like the dumpster/trash removal, temporary space rental until the
building is repaired, and to help cover all the other unforeseen cash
details that will crop up, before the insurance can help.
Any amount that you give will be greatly appreciated. I
will send you an email to thank you. For donations over $25 I'll send
you a copy of my magazine "Monsterpalooza" that actually survived the
fire! (It might smell a little smoky, but I want to say "thank you" in
some way for your help.)
The link below is where you can make a donation--
I got a call from the landlord of the buildings I rent that
we (my brother Eric and I) use for our props and sets work. The
landlord called Sunday morning, November 17, 2014 at 7:45am.
He said that there had been a fire, and I had better get over there.
I got to the site at about 8:30am, passing two big fire trucks on my way.
When I got there, I met Tony, my landlord, and a fellow
called Ted, who lived nearby. They, along with arson detectives, fire
investigators and police, filled me in on what happened and what they
knew at that point.
It seems that, just before dawn, an individual was
setting several fires in the neighborhood, primarily in business
dumpsters. The fire he set next to my building was in a thicket of
bamboo and a wooden fence. A fence that separates the alley from a
residential property. The fire the arsonist set in the bamboo quickly
spread toward the yard of the residential property, and engulfed and
destroyed two classic cars. The fire then began to spread to my
building. The folks who own the classic cars woke to the sound of the
fire snapping and crackling the bamboo, and call the fire department.
They put the fire out by 7am.
One of the businesses whose dumpster was set on fire, captured video of the arsonist. A clear description is with the police.
We estimate that we have lost about $20,000 in sets and
scenery and things. Nothing irreplaceable and the insurance should help
us. But that will take time, and that's why we're asking for a little
help now.
We need help now in covering the immediate,
out-of-pocket expenses of clean up, and to find temporary space for
storage for the winter months, and other incidentals related to
clean-up and repair, as we await the insurance, both ours and the
landlord's (to repair the roof and other building damages).
So if you can, contribute $25, $50, $100—whatever you can
to help, and although I can't repay you, I can send you a copy of the
magazine that survived the fire. Over $25 please include your mailing
address in the message.
If it isn't one thing, it's another…Luckily, no one was
hurt, and we weren't in the middle of building a job for a client and
had it destroyed by fire. There is always a silver-lining.
Thank you for helping.
Mark Redfield
If you'd like to get in-touch with me, please email email@example.com or call 443-240-7527.
You can also help buy purchasing one of my paintings if
you wish. I'll use every penny on this transition period with the
Here's the link to my ETSY GALLERY


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I'm reading aloud to myself a long book by Clark Coolidge, one of my favorite poets, A Book Beginning With... It is over 500 pages, and mostly in prose, so I am just doing it a bit per day. I've done three out of twenty sections so far and haven't' reached the 100 page mark.
It seemed the only way to read this, since passing one's eyes over it one would quickly give up by trying to read too fast or skimming over the text. This is a text that cannot be skimmed because the point is to be immersed in its textures at great length. Its length, in other words, is part of the point. I've heard recordings so I know how he reads. I don't emulate that exactly, but I don't try to veer from his style either. I still hear his voice in my head and just imitate that voice very inexactly.
The first section, on caves, is the best so far. The Beckett section is a bit less successful, but I'm looking forward to the section on music.
Coolidge invites you into a private world. He isn't trying to appeal to what he thinks would already appeal to you, but rather invites you into his space. If you share something of that already, as I do, you might find it congenial. For example, he has sections on jazz, on Creeley, on Eigner, and on Beckett, so I share those tastes. This isn't literature meant to be "universal," appealing to everyone.
Anyway, incorporating this into my daily routine has been nice. My normal way of reading would be to have three or four different books on the table at any given time, in fear of limiting myself.