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You can hear our voices now and probably my bad singing in the car! (I think this is very cool, since I'm a dork and have always found Audiology and hearing fascinating!) You're the size of Daddy's favorite veggie this week! It's one of the only ones he eats…our little cucumber! We are getting very excited to meet you, but would like you to keep on cooking for now!
How far along? 26 weeks
Total weight gain: I'm guessing around 18 lbs…
Maternity clothes?: Yup, I haven't bought anything new yet since summer is right around the corner and I'm still fitting into most my shirts & tank-tops…maybe I'll try to find a cute bathing suit soon!
Have you started to show yet: Haha, yes, I'm like the Moses at work, people either move out of my way or stare at me with "oooh & ahhhs"
Symptoms: Just back pain, more tight and sore muscles. And sore hip (not hips, just right hip) when I sleep sometimes. Itchy!!
Stretch marks?: No, fingers crossed that stays a no!
Sleep: Pretty well, I'm convinced that hubby's side of the bed is more comfy!
Best moment this week: Hubby putting together the crib!!! It's starting to feel really real!
Miss Anything? It's getting warmer out, so drinking a cold one, but it will be worth the wait!
Movement: Yes, I wish she would move more, but I think I'm too active. But she's def. in there!
Food cravings: Nothing too crazy, ice cream/chocolate. Soda :p I don't like that one.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really, I make sure I stay hydrated so I don't get headaches.
Gender: Girl!
Labor Signs: No and I would really like to keep it that way…
Belly Button in or out? Coming up on Flat Pancake stage…
Wedding rings on or off? Still on 🙂
Happy or Moody most of the time: Feeling happy, only moody when I get too hungry or over tired…mostly hungry!!!
Looking forward to: Our next appointment–that also means within the week I have to do my Glucose test, which hopefully isn't too painful! I'm also looking forward to warmer weather and the end of school! (yes I'm worse than my students!!!)


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Love, Laguna Style!Bookmark this
Wedding Day: July 5th, 1959
Rotary Club meeting, Feb. 2018
The Honeymoon Hike!
For the Love of Hiking!
Love, Laguna Style!Bookmark this
Dick and Carol Maxwell have lived in Laguna for 59 of their 60-year marriage. Here is their Laguna Love Story.
How They Met:
In 1949 Carol was in her last year at Northfield boarding school in Massachusetts when her roommate, Murielle, invited Carol to their family home in Maine during the Christmas holidays. Murielle's brother, Dick, who attended nearby Bowdoin College was planning to go skiing with his buddies but relented when his sister Murielle begged him to stay home to meet her friend. As it turned out, Carol and Dick would eventually enjoy plenty of ski days with their family at Mammoth Mountain.
The Proposal:
During their 10 year courtship, Carol graduated from Northfield and went to Teachers College in Boston while Dick was bound for Harvard graduate school. Fortunately, Harvard was only a hop, skip, and jump from Carol's house. Carol went onto teaching at a private children's school in Michigan while Dick began his career in Aerospace Engineering and was recruited to California. As their bond strengthened, she came to California and got a job teaching in Redondo Beach. Carol was in her late twenties and Dick in his early thirties, so they decided it was time to tie the knot. Dick thinks she was surprised when he popped the question, but Carol knew in her mind that someday she would marry him.
The Big Day:
They wed July 5th, 1959, in the Harvard University Chapel in Cambridge next to Harvard Square. Carol's mother made the arrangements to include a modest guest list of close family and friends and the reception to follow at her aunt's house. They both recall with fondness the excitement of the day.
The Honeymoon:
Dick excitedly recounts their honeymoon. The first night they stayed in a posh hotel in Boston and then spent a night at a quaint inn at the base of Mount Lafayette in the Appalachians. The following day they invited their physically fit friends on a long hike to the famous hut at the top of the mountain for two nights of camping. Hiking is a real passion for each of them so they couldn't have been happier.
Life in Laguna:
When Dick went to work for Ford Aerospace in Newport Beach, the couple settled in Laguna Beach on Poplar St. The first of their three children came along and soon it was time to find a home spacious enough for their growing family. North Laguna's Emerald Bay was where they put down roots. Life was wonderful raising their three children in Laguna in the '60s and '70s. When the kids were older, Carol volunteered as a teacher's aid at El Morro, and Dick was involved with the Cub and Boy Scouts. Forever the outdoor enthusiasts, they loved to bicycle around Laguna and Crystal Cove State Park. Dick recalls the stimulating 8-mile commute to work in Newport when traffic was a lot lighter. After 37 years in Aerospace Engineering, Dick retired at age 70. Retirement afforded them the time to serve as hiking docents for Laguna Coast Wilderness Parks and they continue to volunteer to register guests at the Nix Nature Center. They still enjoy a daily walk on their beach in Emerald Bay as well as tending to their Community Garden which harvests strawberries, oranges trees, potatoes, and carrots. The Rotary Club's weekly meetings and events they sponsor like the Classic Car Show, Grapes For Grads and the Patriot's Day Parade help them stay connected to the community. As Deacon and Elder, the Laguna Presbyterian Church remains a staple in their lives, and Carol sings every Sunday morning in the church choir. Though arthritis limits her piano playing, Dick beams with pride to hear her play the baby grand they have at home. They've enjoyed decades of season tickets for the Pacific Symphony and look forward to the annual Laguna Beach Music Festival.
Greatest Achievements:
Carol: Being a teacher, developing young minds and watching them succeed was a great source of pride and was evident in raising her own children. Her son Woody is a Chemistry teacher; the middle child, Peter, works for the YMCA and her daughter, Amy, is an administrator for the Educational Department in a California correctional facility. They have four adult grandchildren and are awaiting great-grandchildren.
Dick: In addition to raising three happy, successful children, he says just being here at 93 is a great achievement!
Biggest Challenge:
In 1993 the Laguna Inferno destroyed many homes in Emerald Bay including their own. The loss of their home and cherished belongings was devastating but were grateful for the support of the community and the City helped them rebuild the lovely home they live in today.
Staying Healthy:
Staying healthy is definitely a priority. They keep their minds sharp by reading the paper and doing Sudoku and crossword puzzles, and they do what they can physically. They believe their loving and supportive family has played a big part in their longevity.
"Joint" Bucket List:
Both agree on a big family reunion back East with all their family stretching from California, Illinois, Brooklyn, to Maine. Perhaps their 60th Wedding Anniversary may mark such an occasion.
Secret To Success:
Compatibility creates a stress-free life, however, having common interests as well as individual interests is essential. Above all, being there for each other through thick and thin is key to an everlasting relationship.

subset: commoncrawl


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Standing on a bona fide Broadway stage gives me an excited feeling, even though I'm just a visitor and not a cast member of the show. Sitting below a Broadway stage while the show is in progress can be an even more exhilarating experience.
When Thom Hallock invited Mountain Lake Journal viewers this month to revisit the interview I conducted with opera singer Renée Fleming in 2011, it reminded me of some more recent experiences I had involving the soprano superstar over the summer.
She was performing in her first Broadway musical, the 2018 revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel, in the role of Nettie Fowler, the kind and insightful aunt. Her vocals sounded light as a spring breeze during "June is Bustin' Out All Over," and profound and powerful during her solo, "You'll Never Walk Alone."
Carousel happens to be my mother's favorite Broadway musical. For a birthday present, I took her to the show. Afterwards, our good friend Kristina the violinist, who has made a career out of playing in Broadway orchestras, took us backstage and onstage. Stepping onto that beautiful stage, I noticed something I hadn't seen from my seat in the audience. It had painted stars on it, thematic to the heavenly theme of the show. Viewers in the balcony and anyone looking down at the stage might notice the yellow stars, but no one in the auditorium looking up at the stage would have seen them.
Standing on the stage of the Imperial Theatre made me reflect on who else stood on that very spot, entertaining a full house: theatre legend Mary Martin, Hollywood icon Montgomery Clift, Hugh Jackman, Matthew Broderick, and Danny Kaye, to name just a few. Classics such as Oliver!,Fiddler on the Roof and Dreamgirls all made their Broadway debuts in the same historic venue.
A few weeks later, Kristina invited me to do something that had never once occurred to me to do, sit in the orchestra pit among the musicians during a performance. I excitedly accepted the invitation.
I took my seat right near her in the string section. It was a tiny space, and a viola player and I humorously worked it out so that I would not sit too close to her as to be hit by her bow. When the houselights went down, the audience fell silent, and the orchestra surrounded me with the first chord of the opening piece, The Carousel Waltz, I immediately knew this experience would be even more incredible than I'd imagined. Not only am I sitting in the middle of an orchestra, but the musicians are playing some of the most magical, beautiful music ever composed by theatre giants Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein.
Seated against the wall of the pit, not only did my eyes wander from musician to musician, but if I looked up, I could also catch glimpses of brilliant stagecraft if the performers came close to the edge of the stage, the twirl of a dress, a flash of brilliant choreography, big smiles on the faces of people who a realizing their dream of performing on the Broadway stage. Then back my eyes would go to the musicians, whose captivating music drowned out the singing and the dialogue above.
One singer I did strain to hear was Renée Fleming, whose "You'll Never Walk Alone" sounded amazing, even from the pit below the stage.
Before that enchanting number, however, I should have covered my ears. I saw the conductor do it, and I ought to have followed his example. After his hands went to his ears, a LOUD gunshot startled me. I'd remembered it from having seen the show, but indeed it was louder from the orchestra pit. I then noticed some of the musicians looking at me and smiling, as though they had been waiting for my surprised reaction to that moment, and I delivered one.
Doing a show eight times a week can feel repetitive for the musicians. They keep themselves entertained with little games they play. At one point when the music swells, they hilariously rise from their seats to the rhythm with the score. One thing I did not expect, but I suppose I should have, is when musicians have a long stretch without playing anything, on go the smartphones. Texts are sent, the web gets surfed, and restaurant reservations get booked, all while the show is in progress. Some read books. One violinist even texted a fellow musician to fill his spot for the evening performance, and succeeded in finding a sub, all during a few pauses in the music throughout the matinee
For the second act, I moved closer to the brass instruments and drums. The percussionist joked with me a little during the show, as he and I are both fans of the TV series Hannibal. He asked if I wanted to look through his Hannibal cookbook. Normally I would, but I was having too much fun watching how all this exquisite music was being made to care much about how Hannibal the cannibal crafted his elaborately grotesque meals.
At one point, I had to stand up and step aside for two of the cast members who enter the orchestra pit to climb up on the stage. One of them and I gave each other a big smile. I am not sure whether he recognized me in the dim lighting, but I'd had the pleasure of interviewing him a few years earlier.
Sitting in the pit, I got to observe things I would never have known or even thought about as an audience member, such as the fact that the man playing the accordion also plays the twinkling notes on the celeste. At two moments in the show, closing the two acts, all the lights went out in the auditorium and on stage. This includes the orchestra pit. Suddenly, the music stand lights go off and we're sitting in pitch darkness for a few seconds. Again, this makes sense to me now. If all the lights go off except in the pit, people in the balcony would suddenly notice the lights on below the stage.
At the end of the musical, I could see the audience members in front rise for a standing ovation. Seeing that kind of celebratory acknowledgement from a new perspective moved me in a way I hadn't expected. It was a day full of wonderful surprise. I am so grateful to my gifted friend Kristina for offering me a transcendent experience with this glorious music.


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Firefighters responded to a car fire in an accident about 6 a.m. Thursday on I-635 and Metropolitan Avenue.
According to a Fire Department spokesman, there were no injuries reported in the accident.
A truck overturned, and rush hour traffic was slow Thursday.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation, the spokesman stated.


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This question already has an answer here:
I have a project. It's basically doing 2 things:
- collect data
- do something with the data
The codeI use is open source and available on GitHub.
The crawler that collects the dataset works slow (400 pages per minute), and the resulting dataset will big: 40 million records, more than 2000 MB.
I assume that the dataset could be useful as a stand-alone object. May be somebody will do something else with the data and the person will not have wait 100 days to collect it again, if I share it.
Where can I store this data, to make it available for any person and to keep it free of charge without abusing GitHub?
History of the dataset changing would be a nice feature...


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I had cats growing up. Lots of them. The first two got fleas even though they weren't outdoor cats, and we had to give them up shortly thereafter. I can't say I remember their names, as I was probably five years old at most. After my parents divorced, my dad started dating a woman who's now my step-mom. She had two cats — Key-Key, an old, grey man and Gabriel, a multicolored furball my brother and I chased all over the house without fail — and a Collie named Angel. Angel wasn't my dog, per se, but she was the first dog I spent a "regular" amount of time with.
Years later, after my dad and step-mom were married, they adopted an orange Lab named Duncan. He was loyal, affectionate and quiet, and even though my parents adored him, he was never my dog, either. Duncan died of an aneurysm and my parents were heartbroken. I got it, but I didn't get it. I mean, I knew I loved animals and I was sad Duncan passed, but he still wasn't mine. I just thought of him as a "good dog" who I knew my parents loved. They got another dog, Sam, who they rescued. She was everything Duncan wasn't: loud, aggressive and kind of a flake. To be fair, though, I kind of blamed my parents. They rarely walked her and refused to give her the run of the house. In fact, Sam was essentially confined to the kitchen, so I couldn't have been happier to learn that they eventually found a family with a farm to adopt her.
Since then, I haven't really had a dog. Well, that is until about four months ago, when my girlfriend moved in with her little brown Weiner dog, Oscar. She'd had him for over a decade, and even though she was never sure of his exact age (she found and rescued him, after all), she put him at 11 or 12. I flew to Texas and personally moved her and Oscar here. He spent half of the 25-hour drive in my girlfriend's lap, and the other half in a cardboard box cut and lined with blankets to act as a makeshift bed. She and Oscar were as close as I'd ever seen an owner with her pet. He followed her everywhere, and because he had a bad back (as a lot of Dachshunds do), he wasn't allowed to climb or descend the stairs, which meant one of us was always toting the little fella around. It was no bother, though. He loved to be loved. He didn't bark at people. Hell, he didn't bark at other dogs. He was loyal and cuddly. At night he slept with us and would borrow under the blankets, a trait common to his breed, apparently. He was just a great little guy.
Well, not long after they moved here, Oscar had to go to the animal hospital for digestive problems, which had been plaguing him since before he moved. Additionally, the doctors not only confirmed that he had a heart murmur, but an enlarged heart. It's trite, I know, but it didn't surprise me, because Oscar was all heart. Over the past couple months, Oscar had several episodes of strained breathing, and he started taking various medications to treat both his heart and what became a regular cough. About two weeks ago I was forced to rush the little man to the animal hospital after he fell over and began convulsing. He recovered, but it scared the hell out of me all the same, as I was the only one home when it happened.
This past Saturday, during 4th of July weekend, my girlfriend and I drove out to Pittsburgh, leaving Oscar with my sister. That night we got a call that he wasn't doing so well, and the next morning my sister drove him back to the hospital. We drove back Sunday morning after we got the call and picked Oscar up. He was with my dad and step-mom at their house. He was listless, but clearly excited to see my girlfriend all the same. We brought him home and did what we could to make him comfortable. We put him in bed with us and even fed him a hot dog. Later that afternoon, though, after watching his labored breathing for hours, he had another fit and let out an awful whimper, a sound we'd neither of us ever heard him make before. He apparently stopped breathing momentarily, and it was enough for us to drive him back to the hospital. We knew beforehand that we weren't taking him to be examined, but to do the humane thing and let him rest comfortably.
After 30 minutes or so, they took us into a private room where we able to hang out with Oscar, who had been fitted with an IV. The doctors told us to take as long as we wanted, and to let them know when we were ready. My girlfriend gave me the word and we notified the doctor. He came in, explained the procedure, and proceeded to inject Oscar's IV with a blue fluid. My girlfriend held Oscar in her arms all the while, and within seconds he was gone. It was obviously the worst thing she ever had to do, yet it was the right decision. He needed the peace we couldn't give him. We both cried, she more than me. And I encourage her to keep doing so, to do whatever she needs.
So, with that, she and I curated a mix for Oscar. He had many names — Oskie, Wein, Little Brown Man, Montgomery "Monty" Wrinkles and, my personal favorite, Merlin Diapers. With that, this is the Mix for Montgomery "Monty" Wrinkles. In locating songs for this mix, we searched our libraries with everything from "dog" to "brown" to "wrinkles" to "weiner." With any luck, this all pans out pretty well.
Mix for Montgomery "Monty" Wrinkles:
1. Harry Nilsson – "The Puppy Song"
2. Harlem – "Three Legged Dog"
3. Hello Echo – "Animals"
4. The Beta Band – "Dog's Got a Bone"
5. The Fiery Furnaces – "My Dog Was Lost But Now He's Found"
6. Sly & the Family Stone – "Dog"
7. Spoon – "The Underdog"
8. The Format – "Dog Problems"
9. Swearing at Motorists – "Dog With the Lampshade Head"
10. Quasi – "Master & Dog"
11. Devendra Banhart – "Dogs They Make Up the Dark"
12. Elliott Smith – "Little One"
13. For Stars – "Brown Skin Saint"
14. Yo La Tengo – "Little Eyes"
15. Wu Lyf – "Such a Sad Puppy Dog"
16. The Mountain Goats – "Song for Dennis Brown"
17. Iron & Wine – "Kingdom of the Animals"
18. Mountain Man – "Animal Tracks"
19. Augie March – "Little Wonder"
20. The Antlers – "Putting the Dog to Sleep"
21. Astrud Gilberto – "The Puppy Song"
RIP, Oscar (Little Brown Man).


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It's breaking box office records the world over. In fact it's probably broken a few more whilst you were reading this headline! This is John's review of the latest entry to the Star Wars saga.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
I'm an old school Star Wars fan. I remember my first viewing when I was around six or seven years old. A gentleman with a large VHS collection in the boot of his car used to visit our house once a week and I remember flipping through a book of VHS cassette inlay covers deciding what to rent.
It was my father who picked out the film and once it finished I remember running up the stairs to his office crying my eyes. I enjoyed the film so much that I didn't want it to end.
As the years went by my love of the series grew with the release of the sequels and the expanded universe it created, the games, the comics and novels. I delved behind the scenes and bought the fictional technical manuals, the 'making of' books, art books and more.
Then in 1999 my fandom was knocked down several notches with the release of 'The Phantom Menace'. We all thought it was another great Star Wars film initially but over time it was apparent that we were all kidding ourselves.
The further films, 'Attack of the Clones' and 'Revenge of the Sith' were better they simply couldn't match the love we had for the original adventures of Luke Skywalker.
Fast forward several years and in a surprise announcement in October of 2012, Disney acquired Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion and announced that new Star Wars films were going to be produced with the first set for release in 2015.
I was stunned and incredibly over excited as Will can confirm. He had to edit out my over excitement from the original news story I posted on the previous version of The Unheard Nerd!
At first I read every scrap of detail that was released from official channels and the spy reports that often fill up movie news web sites. But at some point I decided that I wasn't going to ruin the film for myself. I watched the first three official trailers along with the international variant that offered more new footage.
Then the television spots appeared and after seeing the first, I realised these were going to reveal more of the film than I really wanted to see at that point. I withheld from viewing or reading anything else until I could finally see the film for myself.
December 18th 2015 couldn't come soon enough.
"Thirty years after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, the galaxy faces a new threat from the evil Kylo Ren and the First Order. When a defector named Finn crash-lands on a desert planet, he meets Rey, a tough scavenger whose droid contains a top-secret map. Together, the young duo joins forces with Han Solo to make sure the Resistance receives the intelligence concerning the whereabouts of Luke Skywalker, the last of the Jedi Knights."
My Thoughts.
This is the film I have been waiting for since 'Return of the Jedi' back in 1983! This is Star Wars as I remember it, a collection of resistance fighters with a rag tag fleet up against a new improved version of the Imperial Navy. This is also one of the films negative points, but more on that later.
When George Lucas created the prequels, he decided that as the films were set approximately thirty years before the first original Star Wars film that everything would have a very different look. Everything was designed to look new and clean which made sense but it gave the prequel trilogy an aesthetic look that I'm not a big fan of.
One of George's factors in deciding to create the prequel trilogy was that computer graphics had become advanced enough that he could create the huge environments and characters that he had always wanted since he first created Star Wars in 1977.
Whilst George was happy with this new technology, not everyone else was. Whilst a great technical achievement, Jar Jar Binks is a poor character. The many environments of the prequel films look great but feel fake. Princess Amidala's escape through the robot factory in 'Attack of the Clones' wouldn't look out of place in a video game. It's no secret that many of the sets for the films were merely huge green screen stages with the environments added later digitally.
The team behind 'The Force Awakens' knows the love for the original films and has gone back to the old ways. It's been no secret that director J.J. Abrams has decided to build everything for real and the film really feels better for it.
Not only are we once again in a familiar world of used vehicles and environments but the creatures that inhabit these worlds have been realised as real animatronic creations (apart from one major character). This makes the world so believable; this is the Star Wars I grew up with.
The story is also feels like a good old time Star Wars film and this is my only real concern with 'The Force Awakens'
Without trying to spoil the basic story, as revealed by the trailers, is that an ex New Order stormtrooper meets a scavenger on the planet of Jakku. They'll meet up with characters from the original trilogy and fight against the New Order led by General Hux and the mysterious Kylo Ren.
The film does feel like a re-tread of the original Star Wars: A New Hope in places, especially with the desert planet setting in the first act and the final assault on Starkiller base which draws obvious parallels to the attack on the original Death Star, or even the Death Star II. Ever since watching the film, I keep getting the phrase of 'Star Wars – The greatest Hits' travelling around my head whenever I think of how to describe the film.
It as if J.J. Abrams and/or Disney played upon the strengths of the original films that the majority loves and decided not to take too many risks.
This is only a minor quibble on what is an excellent Star Wars adventure that rarely lets up to allow you to take your breath. Seriously, I was desperate for a much needed toilet break during my viewing but I gallantly resisted. Once the film was over I realised that if I had given in to my bodily urges I would have missed important information.
Considering the film runs for around two hours, it's easy to see why it needs extra viewings. There's so much to digest and some fans have travelled back to their local multiplexes up to ten times already!
There is also much praise to be lavished on the newcomers as well, John Boyega and Daisy Ridley, who play Finn and Rey.
I was concerned that having a new film in a much loved franchise hanging off the performances of two young relatively unknown actors was a huge gamble. I'm happy to say that J.J. Abrams must have known what he was doing casting them and there a joy to watch.
The same can be said of the original returning cast members as well. Unfortunately we don't get to spend a lot of time with Luke Skywalker, as played of course by Mark Hamill but his new look is awesome. His appearance in the film is rather late if you hadn't guessed already and I can wait for Episode VIII to see what he will do next.
Carrie Fisher returns in a handful of scenes as General Leia and some of the media has been very hard on her rather unfairly considering the life she's led since the end of 'Return of the Jedi'. Regardless I was pleased to see her on screen again with her husband Han Solo.
That was another factor that concerned me. I've seen recent films where Harrison Ford looks like he's phoning in a performance. Reports during production claimed that Harrison had slipped into the role of Han Solo with ease and it was like the thirty year gap never happened. I'm happy to confirm this is very much true.
Watching Han and his partner in crime Chewbacca back on screen was just another element of this film that had me smiling all the way through it.
But what of the bad guys?
Since the Battle of Endor, someone has taken the fragments of the Empire and reshaped it into the New Order, led by General Hux and Kylo Ren.
General Hux as played by Domhnall Gleeson despite looking rather young for an officer of his rank keeps order and control and continues the Star Wars tradition of all Imperial officers being portrayed by English actors.
Finally we come to Kylo Ren. Adam Driver portrays a young man who whilst intimidates those around him with his use of the dark side of the Force, it transpires he's not as in control of his feelings as it looks. He is trying to follow in the footsteps of Darth Vader and is still receiving tutoring from a mysterious figure known only as Supreme Leader Snoke.
Adam is impressive as Kylo especially when he has to show more emotions that you think you'll see from him. He isn't just a carbon copy Darth Vader replacement.
'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' for me was a full on return to the style of the original trilogy films that I love. It does tread a dangerous line between sequel and reboot but don't let that fact dampen your spirits.
It's a thoroughly entertaining film and I can't wait to give it more viewings, as well as the antagonising wait for Episode VIII.


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Tie ChairApril 20th, 2010 in member junk
CleverJunk, member
My dad doesn't wear ties anymore so rather than get rid of them, my mom gave them to me to weave into a chair seat. I found the chair frame at a garage sale. It was missing the seat. I painted it black, distressed, and waxed it. Then twisted the ties and wove them together to create a very tight seat. I don't always want the materials I use to be obviously what they were. Twisting the ties made them stronger and look more like rope. I loved all the color and the memories.
Pattern or design used: My own design - Sherri Spear
posted in: member junk, vintage, furniture, funky, whimsical
Comments (10)
TinTinJunkFan writes: Love what you did with this...never would have guessed neckties...great job... Posted: 4:28 pm on April 26th
ninnarae writes: This is a very attractive seat- artistic with an almost primitive look! Posted: 11:23 pm on April 24th
alicemom writes: That turned out great!
smiles, alice Posted: 9:41 pm on April 21st
smiles, alice Posted: 9:41 pm on April 21st
fellowjunker writes: Great idea!
xojanis Posted: 8:16 pm on April 21st
xojanis Posted: 8:16 pm on April 21st
CleverJunk writes: I don't know weaving lingo either so forgive me if I'm incorrect. I started a tie at either the front or back by putting a dab of hot glue then wrapped the tie around the wood once then started twisting tightly and went back and forth front to back about three times started a new tie. When I got to the end of a tie I put a dab of hot glue to hold it in place and added an upholstery tack on the underside to hold it in place and cut any excess. Once I was finished with the front to back direction, I started a tie at one corner with a dab of hot glue, wrapped it around the wood once to hold it in place and started twisting and weaving over and under the other ties to the other side and just went around the side wood like it was another tie and turned around and went the other direction. The ties are so tight and close together front to back that there is more space between the side to side ties but it's a very firm seat. If I remember, when I got to the end of a tie I just hot glued the next tie to the last one and kept twisting. Hope this helps. Posted: 12:45 pm on April 21st
MakinItHappen writes: What a great idea! Looks fantastic. Posted: 11:54 am on April 21st
justjunky writes: I have a box of my dad's ties from the 70's I have been saving to do this with...all fabulous colors. TIme to hit the estate sales and yard sales for a cute chair with out a seat!
I have a question: are the ties strung both in both directions ( front to back and side to side...I don't know weaving lingo) or are you using another material along with the ties. Posted: 11:27 am on April 21st
I have a question: are the ties strung both in both directions ( front to back and side to side...I don't know weaving lingo) or are you using another material along with the ties. Posted: 11:27 am on April 21st
racers7 writes: Hey, that is a clever idea to twist them. It really does not look like ties but a colorful rope weave. Love it! Melody Posted: 10:20 am on April 21st
CleverJunk writes: Thanks. I should have shown the underside as well. The ties are only attached at the front and back. To start I just used hot glue and then a staple and wrapped the tie around flat one time before starting to twist. When I started to weave from side to side I did the same thing to start but then sort of made one continuous tie by attaching one to the next. You could sew it together to be safe. Then when I came to the end I used an upholstery tack on the underside to make sure it was secure. To clean up the underside, at the end where all the "ends" were I used one flat tie and just hot glued it across the whole row to hide all the ugly. Trust me, when you do something for the first time you're just winging it. Posted: 11:19 pm on April 20th
sshack writes: I like the way you twisted the ties. How did you attach? Never seen it done this way before. Posted: 8:25 pm on April 20th
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If you cannot pay your taxes on time, a series of events will occur:
A tax bill will be sent to you from the IRS and/or the South Carolina Department of Revenue. The fees include government estimated taxes, interest charges, and late-payment penalty fees.
If you choose to ignore the tax bill, a tax lien will be placed on your home, vehicle, or any other property that possesses significant value. A lien is a claim over the property making it impossible to sell or refinance a loan until the tax debt is paid. This can also damage your credit score since this information is reported to major credit bureaus.
If this still does not move you to pay, a tax levy is imposed. This means that the government now has the authority to seize your assets and sell them to pay off your debt. You can end up losing your motor vehicles, real estate and even funds in your bank accounts. That is not all. They can also seize your paycheck and Social Security payments.
Tax Defense Partners can walk you through all the tax debt relief options to determine which option is the best for your case. We can negotiate with the South Carolina Department of Revenue to allow you to pay less than what is required of you. Tax Defense Partners will also help check the accuracy of your bill to determine whether you have been overcharged.
The IRS will charge you a penalty fee of 5% of your outstanding tax amount. It is assessed monthly with a maximum penalty of 25%. If a refund was due and it will not be issued, you may also face jail time and have to pay fines up to $25,000.
Yes. You should because the penalty for failing to file is worse compared to that of failing to pay. A 5% charge is imposed on your account every month. It also starts from the date when your taxes are due. If you do not pay, a 0.5% penalty fee will be charged to your account on a monthly basis.
It is possible. At this point you have two options: a Partial payment Installment Agreement (PPIA) or an offer in compromise. There are strict requirements for both programs and you will need to provide relevant information to show you meet the criteria.
At Tax Defense Partners, we can negotiate your tax debt on your behalf and save you a lot of trouble. We can also arrange for you to pay your back taxes via monthly installments. Our tax debt attorneys are more than qualified to handle any case when it comes to seeking tax debt relief in South Carolina. Don't hesitate to schedule a free consultation with us by calling 800-600-4300 today!


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Have you ever were given bother with runtime error 429? Or are you getting this drawback lately? Do you precisely have any thought of such mistakes? Well, that is no doubt the appropriate article for you. It discusses how to repair run-time error 429 temporarily in order that you haven't any want to get hold of PC professionals to help you. You would perceive and fasten it your self after studying.
What Is Runtime Error 429?
Runtime error 429 has one thing to do along with your Microsoft Office programs. You might obtain run-time error 429 while you automate Office programs. The complete message must be: Run-time error '429': ActiveX element cannot create object. Why will this mistake happen? Because the asked Automation object can't be created via the Component Object Model subsequently it's unavailable to Visual Basic. So there comes the run-time error 429.
How to Fix Runtime Error 429?
To repair error 429 successfully, you must establish the particular reason why to start with. In Visual Basic, there are a number of reasons of it as under:
* Corrupted Windows registry
* Mistake within the software
* Incorrect gadget configuration
* Missing/broken element
You can check out to release your Office software your self to test the integrality of it. And in fact you want to ensure the issue isn't brought about via some safety problems. A maximum not unusual way to repair runtime error 429 is to re-sign up the entire registry entries of Office software or use Microsoft's workplace 'Repair' serve as to repair such drawback. Some other people make a choice to uninstall the entire Office programs and reinstall them. However, I don't assume any one in every of them is the most productive resolution about solving such mistakes.
Run System Repair Tool to Fix Runtime Error 429 Instantly
To be fair, a lot of runtime mistakes are comparable to Windows registry mistakes. Corrupted or lacking registry entries within the Office software would motive such drawback for your laptop. You can obtain some gadget restore gear to discover and service registry mistakes. There are quite a lot of gear to be had at the Internet that permit you to scan, analyze, and fasten PC mistakes in simply mins.


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Wolf Spiders
Wolf spiders are a nocturnal, solitary spider that hunts their prey instead of catching them in webs. To do this, they use their speed and great sense of sight to get the upper hand on their prey. Wolf spiders are beneficial in helping to control populations of harmful and nuisance insects. They will bite if provoked, but venom typically only produces mild pain, swelling, and itching.
Wolf Spiders - What To Look ForWolf spiders survive by camouflage, so their color will resemble their preferred environment. They are a variety of browns, grays and blacks. They are a spherical shape between ½ to 2 inches long with hairy bodies. Their eyes are arranged with four small eyes on bottom, two large eyes in the middle and two medium sized eyes on the top. Female wolf spider will carry their egg sacks and young spiders with them.
Wolf Spiders - What To DoReducing the wolf spiders insect prey will reduce the wolf spider population.
|Schedule A Service Call Online
Contact Bobcat Wildlife and Pest today for safe and efficient removal of your pest problem. Call Gene at (515) 822-4348


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We have a range of captive bred Frogs for sale UK and EU. Courier and payment plans are available on all of our livestock. If you are interested in buying a Frog UK or EU which is not on our website, please contact us.Captive bred Frogs from a small range of trusted breeders.
Please note: All livestock must be couriered and cannot be posted out on next day delivery- additional courier fee applies on ALL livestock.
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Physics Cafes Wrap Up Successful Season
One of Aspen Science Center's longest-running programs, our Physics Cafe series, had another strong season, with great speakers and strong attendance. ASC presents these cafes in partnership with the Aspen Center for Physics, taking advantage of the world-renowned physicists that are here for the Winter Conference. The Cafes are presented at Wheeler Opera house from January to March each year, and precede the popular DeWolf Physics lectures. We are grateful to Bill and Carol Barnhart for their sponsorship of the cookies at these events.
Every winter, elite teams of the most accomplished physicists in the world head to the Winter Conferences of the Aspen Center for Physics to wrestle with the most cutting-edge questions in their fields. This always means something special for students, teachers, and science enthusiasts, as the world's pre-eminent physicists share their insights with the public at the Physics Cafes and DeWolf Lectures.
This year, discussion topics included dark energy, quantum materials, black holes, active matter, quantum computing, quantum knot homology and supersymmetric gauge theories. These sound like daunting topics, but the speakers do a great job of making the science accessible and explaining things to the audience.
While the DeWolf Lectures are more formal, Aspen Science Center has created the Cafes as family-friendly, fun, informal pre-lecture gatherings where everything is accessible to teens and adults alike — from the food, to the science, to the informal conversations. The Physics Cafes are designed to bring the thrill of exploration, the joy of discovery, and the excitement of sharing big ideas (and cookies) to teens and adults in a relaxed setting.
If you missed the DeWolf Lectures, you can watch them online at the Aspen Center for Physics website.


text: Register here for exclusive ticket details and to keep up-to-date with speaker and festival announcements Subscribe to our mailing list * indicates required Email Address * First Name * Last Name * Category * Advertising / Creative Agency Corporate / Brand Executive Government Official / Trade Agency Press / Media Professional Service Research / Academia Startup / Entrepreneur Investor Other Country * Company Name * Marketing Permissions Please select all the ways you would like to hear from Unbound: Email Direct Mail Customized Online Advertising You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.


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LAS VEGAS, NV--(Marketwired - Dec 1, 2015) - Alkame Holdings, Inc. (
Testing is underway and in full swing now in Wellington Colorado, an ideal location for Alkame and High Country to develop a "proof-of-concept" application for the technology, with its unique patented water treatment system incorporated into an intensive indoor aquaculture farming process. With the Alkame Water micro-clustered structure, increased oxygenation, and proper pH levels, Alkame testing is expected to provide successful concrete and verifiable information that the technology provides significant benefits, which can be implemented across the aquaculture industry as a whole for all freshwater species.
Overseeing the testing process is 40 year aquaculture veteran, Jim Keeton, who stated, "In order to achieve optimal growth, maintenance and harvest conditions, microbiological support will be a critical component of the studies success. Alkame's technology is being tested to access changes or improvement in water quality, effect on bio floc, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate reduction through consistent observation, maintenance, and investigation. This will allow us to develop proprietary growing procedures, different and more valuable, through use of this unique technology than the industry standards, essentially putting Alkame ahead of the competition on many fronts."
"This would be a major coupe within the industry, both from a strategic and an economic stand point," stated Alkame Holdings CEO, Robert Eakle. He added, "Staying true to our word, we've been aggressively exploring the other uses for our water treatment technology. This will enable us to both diversify our portfolio of products, as well as begin implementation of our unique system into many different new and exciting applications. We plan to show this 'proof of concept' to the aquaculture world very shortly. It's just a tremendous opportunity to enter this particular industry with real data on the use of our patented technology for intensive aquaculture farming," Eakle continues.
About Alkame Holdings, Inc.
Alkame Holdings, Inc. is a publicly traded health and wellness technology holding company, with a focus on patentable, innovative, and eco-friendly consumer products. The Company's wholly-owned subsidiaries market and distribute enhanced waters utilizing an exclusive patented formula and technology to create water with several unique properties, enabling an increase to available oxygen content, optimized pH levels, as well as the added benefits of electrolytes, and enhancement of antioxidant properties, equating into many potential health benefits, such as a reduced structure for permeability, improved metabolic efficiency, a boosted immune system, improved cardio respiratory function, and a decrease in lactic acid for faster muscle recovery. The organization is diligently building a strong foundation through the launch and acquisition of appropriate business assets, and by pursuing multiple applications to utilize its Intellectual Property by placement into several emerging business sectors, such as the growing aqua-culture industry, consumer bottled water and RTD products, household pet products, horticulture and agriculture applications, as well as many other various water treatment solutions to both new and existing business platforms.
For more information, visit www.alkamewater.com.
Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that Tops Markets will achieve significant additional distribution for the Company's products, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the Company's contracts, the Company's liquidity position, the Company's ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.


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A friend at work just moved into a new house and asked me to make up some change of address cards for her, so I made a few different samples. Below is the card she decided on. (You can see the runner-up here.) Did you see all of those Christmas cards people made where the front of the card looked like a door with a wreath on it? I thought that would be a really fun one to adapt into a change of address card.
Stamps: Loads of Love Accessories
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Soft Suede
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla
Other: 1 3/4″ Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4″ Circle Punch, Gold Brad
This could be used as a "Congratulations on Your New Home" card as well, just by changing the sentiment. What else could you use a door for?


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In a workshop on July 10, the Cortez City Council discussed a complex proposal that could require swimming instructors not employed by the city to have liability insurance.
Interim city manager Chris Burkett brought a recommendation to the council from the city's insurance carrier, the Colorado Intergovernmental Risk Sharing Agency, suggesting that every nonstaff member who uses a city facility have liability insurance. He specifically focused on the Municipal Outdoor Pool, which he said is frequently used by private swimming instructors not covered by the city's insurance. Council members raised several concerns about the proposal, including its potential effects on other city properties, and one instructor spoke up during the regular meeting to oppose it.
Burkett said the city's lack of a policy regarding outside instructors could open it up to lawsuits if anyone was hurt during a class.
"The question becomes, for staff, how do we try to determine who's good, who's not, what's OK, what's not OK?'" he said.
He and Parks and Recreation Director Dean Palmquist brought a draft of the policy to the workshop, with wording that would prohibit all "outside instructors" without insurance from using city property. But Burkett admitted that a final version of the policy would be difficult to pass and even more difficult to enforce.
Some issues council members brought up about the policy included its definition of an "outside instructor," and whether such a definition would apply to everyone who teaches skills on city property, or only those who charge money. Councilman Ty Keel said it wouldn't necessarily be easy for staff to tell a family member teaching relatives how to swim apart from a professional instructor teaching a class.
"If I'm out in the park with my son and some of his friends, and I'm teaching them something about baseball ... am I going to be in violation of something?" he said. "This is an endless series of questions, and honestly, I think it's very heavy-handed and authoritative to have a policy like this."
But the city's executive assistant, Dawn McCabe-Lightenburger, said such a policy could also protect residents from unqualified instructors by requiring approval by the city.
"Background checks really are important," she said. "We've had volunteers request to coach peewee basketball that have come back that they've had child abuse charges."
Mayor Karen Sheek suggested applying the city's current policy for recreational sports instructors – in which the volunteers undergo background checks and pay a fee to be covered by city insurance – to instructors on all city property, or at least for those who run for-profit businesses. But Keel said he thought even that policy might be too hard to enforce.
City Attorney Mike Green said an anti-liability policy like the one Burkett proposed wouldn't be a guaranteed protection from lawsuits. Councilwoman Sue Betts agreed.
"The bottom line is, if they're going to sue you, they're going to sue you," she said.
Although the council didn't come close to making a decision on the policy, at least two residents have opposed it.
During the public comment period, Beth Domenichini, who said she has been teaching swim lessons at the outdoor pool for several years, was concerned that the policy seemed to target the pool, which is regularly staffed, more than other city properties with less staffing, such as the parks and tennis courts.
Another resident, Cindy Elliott, gave the council written statements from two people who said a pool supervisor told them in June that the city already had a policy prohibiting outside instructors without insurance.
Council members assured Domenichini and Elliott that the process of drafting a policy for outside instructors is still in its early stages.
During the workshop, Sheek asked Burkett to do more research on the topic and write a second draft of the policy for discussion at a future workshop.


text: Jason Roberts is the author of A Sense of the World (Harper), a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and Guardian First Book Award, and the forthcoming Every Living Thing. He is the inaugural winner of the Van Zorn Prize for fiction, and editor of 642 Stories To Write and 642 First and Last Lines. [NF] www.jasonroberts.net


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Tag Archives: long bob
The A-Line Beachy Bob
The shaggy, a-line beachy bob haircut is definitely trending here at the salon, as stylist Alissa Tietgen shares with us some before and afters of her work. The texturized look creates volume and body with longer layers towards the face–a … Continue reading
New and Now: Chic and Short
A long to short hair makeover by stylist Alessandra Saman. Change is good! AFTER
Chic Bob Hairstyle
Neil George Salon stylist Allie Paronelli shares a before and after from her client who came in with a picture of actress Katie Holmes with short and chic hair. Allie says this hairstyle is great because not only do the … Continue reading


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AUECO is a volunteer-managed association of export compliance professionals led by an Executive Board elected annually by the membership. The members of the Executive Board serve as the principle contacts for various efforts of the Association. The information below about the 2019/2020 AUECO Executive Board team is provided to encourage engagement between AUECO members and the Executive Board team. Members are encouraged to contact any member of the Executive Board team with questions about AUECO or the role of the Executive Board in the management of the Association.
2019/2020 AUECO Executive Board
Chair: Mary Duarte Millsaps
Mary Duarte Millsaps is the director of research information assurance for Purdue University. Mary manages established compliance programs related to the security of research information that, either due to federal law or contractual obligation, is subject to greater controls. Mary works closely with faculty and staff affected by these requirements. Mary has oversight of the University's Export Control compliance program and serves as both the University's Export Control Officer and Facility Security Officer.
Vice Chair: David Ivey
David Ivey is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and Texas Tech University School of Law, he is licensed to practice law in the state of Texas and before the Supreme Court of the United States. Mr. Ivey practiced civil litigation and oil and gas transactional work as a partner in the Houston Office of Jackson Walker where he also served as head of the Houston Litigation Section in 1990 Mr. Ivey accepted an offer to join the Houston office of Baker Hostetler to practice civil litigation, environmental, and International Trade law focusing in US Export Controls, Economic Sanctions, US Customs, and CFIUS reviews which he did from 1990 to 2011. In 2011 Mr. Ivey left private law practice to return to his alma mater, the University of Texas at Austin to serve as the Export Control Officer, Export Compliance Counsel, and Empowered Official for The University.
Secretary: Vacant
Membership: Rebecca Haworth
Rebecca Haworth is the Research Integrity Manager at Brown University and is responsible for compliance programs related to export controls, conflicts of interest, and responsible conduct of research. Rebecca has been a member of AUECO since 2016. Prior to joining Brown, Rebecca worked in the Office of Sponsored Programs at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and in the University of South Florida's technology transfer office. Rebecca currently lives in Rhode Island with her dog (Isobel) and cat (Ernest).
Outreach: Bethany Nelson
Bethany Nelson has been the Export Control Coordinator for the University of Wisconsin-Madison for the past 6 years. Bethany has a B.S in physics from UW-Milwaukee and a law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School. Prior to serving as Outreach Chair, Bethany served on the AUECO Executive Board as Membership Chair.
Treasurer: Brittany Whiting
Brittany Whiting is the Export Control Director at University of California, San Diego. Brittany leads export control education, licensing, and compliance program for UCSD's $1B funded research programs. Brittany has held similar positions in higher education at UC Santa Cruz, in industry with Quantum 3D, a defense contractor, and Advanced Micro Devices, a semiconductor manufacturer with global operations. Brittany has experience in export licensing with State, Commerce, OFAC and NRC. Brittany has worked in more than 25 countries with international organizations, such as the Silicon Valley Center for International Trade Development and for the United Nations Environment Programme training customs officers on import/export licensing systems and with the U.S. Agency for International Development. Brittany received her Bachelor's Degree in International Affairs and Latin American Studies at George Washington University, and holds a Master's Degree in International Commerce and Policy from George Mason University.
Past Chair: Wayne L. Mowery, Jr.
Wayne L. Mowery, Jr. is the Senior Director of Compliance, University Export Compliance Officer, and Empowered Official for The Pennsylvania State University ("Penn State"). Wayne has been an active member in AUECO since 2013. Before joining Penn State, Wayne spent fifteen years practicing law in central Pennsylvania, including supporting the international trade needs of academic and corporate clients. Wayne is a practicing musician, a licensed pilot, and an avid professional baseball fan.


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"The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul." - Wyland
31 December 2007
The Hook, 31 December 2007
Buying a Wetsuit
25 December 2007
HMB @ Jetty, 25 December 2007
22 December 2007
Merry Solstice!
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December
A magical thing
And sweet to remember.
'We are nearer to Spring
Than we were in September,'
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December.
- Oliver Herford, I Heard a Bird Sing
Now the daylight will start to increase again, so more time for surfing before or after work. Hurray!
15 December 2007
Capitola, 15 Dec 2007
09 December 2007
Pleasure Point, 9 Dec 2007
* Why did my 5'8" Surftech Xanadu need repair? Stupid story: When I picked up my nice 7-spray-pattern heavy metal hose nozzle to rinse off the board after my last surf session with D before he moved to SoCal (cry)
29 November 2007
Four Mile, 29 Nov 2007
02 November 2007
Davenport, 2 November 2007
Still, in some perverse way, I get a thrill, a rush of dopamine to the brain, from getting tossed and rolled like so much flotsam by the ocean. One thing I love about the sea, even just looking at its vastness, is how small and insignificant it makes me feel - not diminished but that my problems are not so big as they might seem. I also love that surfing forces me to live in the moment, because the ocean demands constant attention; if I fail to focus on the here and now, it will remind me, often by whacking me upside the head with a wave.
03 September 2007
(dis)Pleasure Point, 1 Sep 2007
Having caught nothing and despairing after a while, I started chasing vacant whitewater, just to get up and get the feel of my shortboard under my feet again. That's what I get for trying to surf PP on Labor Day weekend... But on the bright side, I saw 2 otters, and a seal swam by about 10 feet away. And I had fun on a borrowed bodyboard at Sea Cliff beach later at a family picnic. Amazingly, I was able to go in the water sans wetsuit, it was that warm. Add the pods of dolphins and a few more seals swimming past, and it was a fine seaside afternoon.
I'm in frustrating place in my surfing right now. For personal reasons, I've had to cut back to only one or possibly two sessions a week. Then there's the catch-22 that it seems I can go to either a crowded spot with good conditions, or a more empty spot with poor conditions. Either way, I have trouble catching waves because of competition or crappy surf. So I feel I'm just not progressing. I wish I could get away to a good uncrowded wave like Pavones for a week, spend some quality time on a a quality wave, and bump up my skills to the next level.
And now, another hiatus...
20 July 2007
Montara, 20 July 2007
OK, so I totally creeped myself out, hastened back to the beach without riding anything but a little whitewater on the way in (which doesn't count, since I'm not a beginner). But who knows? Maybe the Man in the Gray Suit was down there, hungry, eying my legs danging down into his world, wondering if the Shark Camo on the bottom of my board really meant I was poisonous, or was just a deception.
But if he was, I'm glad I left him hungry.
Interestingly, the next day and a bit further south, a great white shark attacked a kayaker...
14 July 2007
Montara, 14 July 2007
29 May 2007
04 May 2007
Pleasure Point, 4 May 2007
Tide: Rising, just past -0.5 low
Wind: Light breeze
Air/Water Temp: 50/54 degrees
Wildlife: Dolphins, a seal, an otter, and a mean guy
Like yesterday only worse - cloudier, windier, more disorganized. And when I didn't quite manage to paddle out over a wave before it started to break and tumbled me, smashing my chin and lip into my board (my first pressure ding - sob!), I came up to an angry asshole yelling at me for hitting him. This despite the fact that, as D reported, there were copious amounts of blood flowing from my lip at the time. I don't know where Angry Guy had been since he wasn't in my field of view when I was paddling to the outside; he must have been inside of me trying to catch the wave I got caught up in. At any rate, I apologized and offered to pay for the damage he was screaming about, but he preferred to keep yelling at me, calling me a menace. So D quietly led me away from the jerk and his friends. I actually managed to catch a wave then and ride for a few more milliseconds than I had done. But the peace of the morning was ruined. People like that are the true menaces to the surfing experience. Shit happens, but we're supposed to be out there to have fun. It's not good to lose sight of what's important.
03 May 2007
38th Ave, 3 May 2007
Tide: Rising, an hour past -0.5 low
Wind: Calm to very light
Air/Water Temp: 45/54 degrees
Wildlife: A distant seal
No pix today; my camera battery died. It was 4-5', bigger closer to the Point, and surprisingly uncrowded. Unfortunately D decided to waste his time sleeping instead of surfing. I'm getting more used to the shortboard now, actually catching a few waves, although not managing to ride them for very long. I think I need to practice in the whitewater some more just to get the feel of being up on the board. Too bad there's not a loooong barely-sloping beach break like Westport, WA, around here - that would be perfect.
When I parked at the Hook, a couple guys hit me up for wax. (Funny how that never happens when I'm with D, but like every other time when I'm alone.) Before they finished with my wax, a homeless guy, who looked like a former member of ZZ Top, paused his overloaded grocery cart to ask me about my MINI Cooper's gas mileage (28-30). Guess he thought the conversation was unfinished, because after I surfed, he followed me back from the bluff to my car. Said he liked to talk to pretty women, had $50K in the bank his aunt left him, and was an idiot savant. Hmm. Seemed mostly harmless, but I needed to change into my work clothes, and escaping to the bathroom was my only option. Fortunately he didn't follow me in there!
29 April 2007
Waddell Creek, 28 Apr 2007
Tide: Rising, just past -0.9 low
Wind: Windy
Air/Water Temp: 60/52 degrees
Waddell kicked my ass this afternoon. When D & S and I arrived, it was borderline too windy; the kiteboarders were getting ready to go out. But as it was a gorgeous warm sunny Saturday, all the more sheltered town spots were packed wall-to-wall, so we went out anyway. No one else was out, so it was hard to judge the size from the beach, and it turned out to be bigger and stronger than it looked. I gave it my best shot several times trying to get out and damn near made it once before another short-period head-high wave broke in front of me and laughed at my attempt to duck-dive under it. I ended up being pushed far south, gave up and paddled back to the beach, then walked north again, to where newbie S was practicing in the whitewater. Defeated, I caught a few broken waves too, just to get up on the shortboard. At least D got in a few decent rides, but for me, it totally sucked and left me unsatisfied. I still want to go surf...
24 April 2007
Pleasure Point, 24 Apr 2007
23 April 2007
38th Ave, 23 Apr 2007
Tide: Falling, between 4.8' and -0.5
Wind: Calm to light
Air/Water Temp: 45/52 degrees
Wildlife: An unshy sea otter
D had some lame excuse about needing sleep, so I headed to SC alone in the dark predawn. The sun rose in a clear sky and the ocean was glassy. Where I went out around 38th, the waves were 4' and a little inconsistent, but it was overhead nearer to Pleasure Point. I almost caught a few waves on my shortboard, and practiced duck-diving while waiting for sets (score against the one actual wave attempted: 0). On the way in, I popped up for a few second ride in the whitewash, but fell when I oversteered into a turn. A glorious morning to be in the water - what a terrific way to start the week! And the great thing is I get to do it again tomorrow morning.
21 April 2007
Four Mile, 21 April 2007
Tide: Rising, 3 hours past -0.9' low
Wind: Light
Air/Water Temp: 52/52 degrees
Wildlife: Aggro guys
By the time we reached the coast in the late morning, Davenport looked like it was on its way to being blow out, so D and I didn't bother checking Waddell and headed back to Four Mile. It's a pretty spot, and the waves were 4-5' and near glassy. Unfortunately the sesh was marred by the handful of mean guys already in the water who were sending out a ugly vibe and owning the peak. Even paddling out, they'd cut right in front of me like I was invisible, forcing me to stop paddling to let them pass. People like that should just join a fight club and stay out of the water; that's not what surfing's supposed to be about.
D and I traded boards so he could try my new 5'8", and he had fun on it. Unfortunately, while I was on his fairly new 6'3" Lost, I wasn't able to get out of the way of a mean blond guy who was trying to catch a wave. I attempted to paddle out around him on the right, but didn't quite make it over before the wave started to break. What pissed me off is that he kept coming straight ahead without even trying to avoid me. Asshole. The wave tumbled me hard and in the process his fin apparently impacted the board, making a linear blue dent in the deck. Shit! I felt really bad and of course am paying for the repairs, but D's without his board for about a week, so I'll be sharing my shortboard with him.
On the bright side, after we switched back, I caught a wave on my new board and rode it for a split second! Luckily D was on the same wave because my leash came off (maybe I didn't lock it down sufficiently?) and my board headed in toward the reef without me, but he was nearby and able to grab it. So stoked to have caught/ridden a wave, however briefly, on my shortboard! Woo hoo!
Surfline forecast is for "Good" conditions in Santa Cruz all week. (Although interestingly, after the fact, they revised today from "Poor-Fair" to "Good." Hmmm.) Hope to get in a few sessions!
20 April 2007
Linda Mar, 20 Apr 2007
Tide: At 4.6 high and fallling
Wind: Breezy onshore
Air/Water Temp: 58/51 degrees
Choppy, sloppy, rolly, mushy, disorganized, about 4' where I was hanging with the shortboarders in front of the bathhouse, dropping to 2' on the south end. Probably 40 people out; you're never lonely at Lindy. It did look like the longboarders were having more fun. But I just needed to get wet, even though I knew going in I wouldn't have a chance of catching anything. So my modest goal for the sesh was to sit on my tippy little 5'8", hands free, without falling off into the water. Stop laughing! I did mention it was very choppy, so this was not so easy. I think I may have taken a lot of pictures of the sky, however, as attempting a shot usually off-balanced me into the drink.
16 April 2007
Pleasure Point, 16 Apr 2007
Tide: Rising, 3 hours past -0.2 low
Wind: Very light
Air/Water Temp: 45/50 degrees
Wildlife: Otters
Yesterday afternoon D and I shopped for my first shortboard. We looked at Wise but I ended up buying a Surftech at Aqua, a red/gray 5'8" (really a 5'10") Xanadu Rocky, and D got some cool-looking high tech fins. So of course we had to try them out first thing this morning. Pleasure Point was disorganized, 4-5', with a handful of guys out. I didn't catch anything, although I popped up and fell a couple times in the whitewash on the way in. But I started to get a feel for the board and worked on duck diving, for which there was ample opportunity since I got washed far inside on my unsuccessful attempts. Still, I managed to duck dive once, so it can be done. Yay! It'll be so nice not to get pounded on the way out anymore. On the downside it seems much colder sitting down in the water, and it's a lot more work paddling; my shoulder muscles were sore when I got to work.
Now on to learning to catch waves on my pretty little board.
13 April 2007
Capitola, 13 Apr 2007
Tide: around 4.4' high
Wind: Very light
Air/Water Temp: 43/52 degrees
Wildlife: One shy seal
It was cooold when D and I got to Capitola for dawn patrol. Since it was high tide, which would make it tricky to get out of the water at PP or the other cliffside spots, we headed out there even though it looked small and mushy from the beach. Fortunately D had dusted the spiderwebs from his LB, 'cause his SB would not have worked at all. And it was bigger than it looked, about 3-4', with only 2 other people out. So nice not to be crowded! We caught a lot of waves, with some good long rides. An excellent way to start the day, watching the sunrise from atop a surfboard.
08 April 2007
38th Ave, 8 Apr 2007
Tide: 0.25' low and rising
Wind: Light with bursts of breezy
Air/Water Temp: 55/53 degrees
Lately it's been blown out north and mostly flat south, so today was my first surf in two loooong weeks. I found a perfect parking spot for my ding-free MINI Cooper in the 41st lot and walked west a little. It was a beautiful sunny day and the waves were 2-4', so as the guy who parked next to me said, "everybody and their dog" was out. All fighting for inconsistent and mostly mushy waves. Still, it was a beautiful sunny day, and I was surfing, so all was right with the world, at least for a little while. From the leftovers, I pulled 3 short but decent rides, and one dammit-I-popped-up-with-my-feet-too-close-together. I want to go again!
24 March 2007
Pleasure Point, 24 Mar 2007
Tide: Rising, just past -0.2' low
Wind: Light breeze
Air/Water Temp: 55/52 degrees
Wildlife: Dolphins & a sea otter
Since points north seemed they would be blown out, D and I headed to Santa Cruz. Capitola was tiny, so once again we ended up near PP. Since I've decided I want to move down to a shortboard, D let me try out his 6'3". I almost kinda sorta was able to duck dive it a couple times. But the chest- to head-high waves were inconsistent and often mushy (plus, it goes without saying, it was crowded), so I didn't manage to catch any waves before we switched boards again. Then I had to let one go because a guy was right in front of me and I was afraid I'd hit him when I took off. But I did get in one brief ride before the wave mushed out on me, and my shoulder held up fairly well. Any day surfing is a good day! Hopefully we can get in another sesh tomorrow before a storm moves in on Monday.
15 March 2007
Pleasure Point, 14 Mar 2007
Tide: Rising, 3 hours past -0.3' low
Wind: Light
Air/Water Temp: 75/53 degrees
Wildlife: Sea otters
Same shit, different day at PP. Horribly crowded as usual, but 4 Mile was too blown out when we checked it after work. Waves about 4', half of them mushy. But to mix it up, I took out my 6'8" NSP, which I hadn't ridden in at least a year and a half. It didn't take long to get in sync again, and I had a nice ride on the one wave I managed to snatch from the mob. But this surf sesh pushed my sore right shoulder over the edge, and the physical therapist told me not to surf for at least 5 days if I don't want to risk doing real damage. Crap!
11 March 2007
Waddell Creek, 11 Mar 2007
Tide: Rising, 1 hour past 0.8' low
Wind: Very light
Air/Water Temp: 75/54 degrees
Wildlife: A distant seal
A glorious summery day in NorCal, and a fun, uncrowded sesh at Waddell. D and I checked 4 mile and Davenport first, but the crowd factor was high. I'm glad we pressed on to Waddell, because there were less than a dozen people in the water, spread out along the beach break. Getting out through the whitewash was a bit of a problem - turtle-rolling never seems to work out for me and I wish I could duck-dive like D on his little potato chip - but eventually I made it out during a brief lull. It was pretty glassy and the waves were 4-5', a little inconsistent but there were fun rides to be had. Once I got re-acclimated to my 7'2" funshape (after snubbing it for the new 8'0" longboard for several months), I snagged a few decent rights.
Waddell is a beautiful spot, but within view of Ano Nuevo. Fortunately the water is murky, so if there were any sharks, I couldn't see them. And of course I do have SharkCamo on my boards, so no worries!
07 March 2007
Linda Mar, 7 Mar 2007
Tide: at 1' low
Wind: Very light
Air/Water Temp: 50/52 degrees
Pacificwaverider was claiming HMB @ Jetty to be 2-3 feet, so I drove by on my way to Linda Mar. 2-3 inches was closer to the mark, little ankle-biters maybe getting to a foot, so I didn't even slow down and kept driving north. Montara had a couple people out on small waves, so I was fearful of another skunking, but still determined to get wet. Fortunately Lindy didn't disappoint. It was glassy but small, 2-3 feet, mostly mushy and inconsistent, but I managed to ride 3 decent lefts before I had to leave for work. Life is good again!
02 March 2007
Linda Mar, 2 Mar 2007
Swell direction: NW
Tide: 2.5 hours before 5.8' high
Wind: Light offshore
Air/Water Temp: 42/51 degrees
March came in like a polar bear, and it was only 42 degrees when I arrived at Linda Mar just after daylight. While I was able to dig deep to find the motivation to drive to the beach for a solo dawn patrol, the ocean looked so uninviting that I couldn't bring myself to paddle out alone. The north end was mushy, the south end was contaminated, and the middle was 2-4', inconsistent and closing out. Still, one uninformed or foolhardy longboarder was risking illness on the far south, and another was attempting with little success to catch something in front of the bathhouse.
The Surfline reporter, who supposedly was there at the same time, called the surf as "3-5 ft. - waist to head high and fair conditions". IMO, they just put in whatever the Surfline forecast was predicting regardless of reality. In all fairness, she did note "Cleaner conditions but still generally walled up form. Occasionally ridable corners with the rising high tide." So best to read the details.
I drove south in search of better conditions. Montara was small, breaking all over the place, and totally mushed out. The Jetty wasn't closing out as much as Linda Mar, but it was smaller, mostly about 2', and only breaking right next to the jetty heading into a bunch of partly submerged rocks. Two people out there, looked like beginners.
At least it was a nice morning for a drive along the ocean…
25 February 2007
Pleasure Point, 24 Feb 2007
Tide: Just before & after 0.2' low
Wind: Light, then breezy
Air/Water Temp: 48/53 degrees
Wildlife: Black & white birds, blue fish
Another overcrowded and frustrating day near Pleasure Point. D and I met up with some of the crew from Stokemaster.com at 41st Ave, then paddled closer to the Point, where it was breaking about 4-6'. Since it looked like the sun was going to come out when we left the car, I had my SeaSpecs around my neck. It was hard for me to get any waves because there were so many people in the water. I pearled badly on the first wave I caught, leading to one of those washing machine moments that left me grateful when I finally broke the surface to take a breath. Unfortunately, the tumbling must have flexed my SeaSpecs too much, because when the sun did make a brief appearance, I found both the lenses were gone. Bummer.
I had to back off a lot, even the five or so times I was up and riding, because someone else was already on the wave, and once accidentally hit a guy I didn't see. He was a bit pissed off but accepted my apology. Then I moved out to the far shoulder again to get more clearance, but caught nada. With the wind picking up, my teeth we chattering, and we headed in. I passed a little flock of striking black and white birds who made a sound like a ray gun in a 1950s sci-fi flick when they took flight, and saw a pair of brilliant blue fish in the shallows.
We were both really really cold when we got to the car, and the hot water I'd brought felt really really good.
So no good rides, but it still beats painting molding.
20 February 2007
Pleasure Point, 20 Feb 2007
Tide: Falling, in between 4.7' high and 0.6' low
Wind: Breezy (5-10 kts)
Air/Water Temp: 57/54 degrees
Wildlife: several camera-shy sea otters
D and I bugged out of work early to head down to Santa Cruz, where conditions were reportedly better than in San Mateo County. We checked Capitola first; it was clean but too small, maybe up to 2', although there were a couple determined souls in the water. Next we tried the Hook, which was a bit windier and crowded, but 3-5'. Pleasure Point was less crowded but even windier, so we settled on a break a little east and parked at 35th.
By the time we headed out, it seemed the after-school crowd had invaded, with maybe 40 people in the water. I can't stand being in a crowd; I always feel like I'm in somebody's way. (D said, "Well, you ARE in their way! Everybody is.") If I managed to catch a wave, then I'd be worried about hitting someone. All that makes me anxious and nervous - not what I go surfing for. So I left D sitting in the midst of the pack and went to hang out on the end where I could have some room to myself. Mostly I was too far on the shoulder to catch anything, or someone was already on a wave and I'd have to back off, so lots of waiting around. I tried to sneak up quietly on a sea otter to take her picture, but she was camera-shy and dove down before I could get close enough.
When I finally did catch a wave, I blew the pop-up because it seemed like my front leg was off in a daydream after sitting so long (Me: "pop up! NOW!" Leg: "Whaaaa? You want me to do what? Right noowww?"). But a few minutes later I made up for it by snagging a nice long right, and I caught another short ride before various semi-frozen body parts drove us from the water. We watched the clouds turn pink on the way to sunset as we walked along the cliff top back to the car - beautiful end to the day.
17 February 2007
Capitola, 17 Feb 2007
Tide: Falling, in between 6' high and -1' low
Wind: Light to none
Air/Water Temp: 73/55 degrees
Wildlife: 3 sea otters (or one 3 times?)
A beautiful summer day in February, with glassy 2-4' waves - perfect! Capitola was more crowded than I'd seen it the few times I've been there before, with about 2 dozen people split between the outside and inside breaks. A sea otter was floating on his back, snacking on an unlucky crab, as I paddled out. I missed getting his photo as a nice wave was headed my way, and I caught a sweet right.
Since it was a bit crowded and most everyone was going right, I got in position on the inside end so I could pick off the empty lefts. A bit shorter ride heading that direction, but it was all mine. Being goofy does have its advantages.
As the tide dropped, so did the crowd and the already light wind, and I moved to the outside break. Not used to surfing in kelp, I made the mistake of sitting in a patch of it. When I spun around to paddle for a fine-looking wave, I wrapped a length of it around my right leg, and went precisely nowhere as the wave passed by, empty.
The wait for waves got longer too on the falling tide, but I bagged a total of 8 or 9, all nice rides. On the last, I finally managed to sit back down on my board at the end instead of making a planned fall - yay! Now I can look more like I know what I'm doing out there.
16 February 2007
Linda Mar & HMB, 16 Feb 2007
Tide: Rising, two hours before 6.5' high
Wind: Light
Air Temp: 50 degrees
Skunked! Surfline's forecast was 3-5' and fair conditions, but Linda Mar was jumbled and disorganized, breaking all over the place not far off the beach, with a bit of wind chop on it. I suppose one might've been able to find a rideable wave somewhere out there with enough patience and the good luck to be in the right random spot at the right time, but when I arrived just after daybreak no one was even trying. There was also a island of fog only over the cove in the midst of otherwise sunny skies. HMB @ jetty was cleaner but small, maybe up to 2', breaking too close to the rocks on the near-high tide, with no one out there either. Hopefully tomorrow will be better; maybe I'll try down south, Capitola or Pleasure Point.
12 February 2007
Linda Mar, 12 Feb 2007
Tide: falling, 1.5 hours past 5.2' high
Wind: Very light
Air/Water Temp: 45/54 degrees
Pacificwaverider and Surfline were both so wrong today. Pacificwaverider said HMB @ Jetty was 1-2'; it was bigger. Surfline said Linda Mar was 4-7'; it was smaller. Always a gamble when you head for the coast before dawn...
D and I checked out the Jetty first, but it was about 3-5', messy, disorganized and uninviting with no one out. So we drove up to Linda Mar, which already had a small crowd (per usual), also about 3-5' but cleaner with some ridable waves here and there. It took a while to snag any, but we each rode one in close succession before we had to leave. Clearly I need to work on my backside turns, but that's hard when you only catch one wave in 30 minutes!
My new 4/3 Hotline wetsuit kept me warm enough. Now if only I could find some booties that fit so my feet stop going numb....
06 February 2007
Linda Mar, 6 Feb 2007
3-4 ft. - waist to shoulder high with occasional 5 ft. and fair conditions. Fair and glassy with walled up lines and soft workable shoulders on the inside.Although I'd add it was inconsistent and say it was a little smaller, especially south of the bathhouse, where I started out just after daylight on a high low tide. The three people in the water at that spot quickly grew to over a dozen - too crowded since it wasn't breaking over a very wide distance. So I headed a little north of the bathhouse where only 1 guy was out. He was friendly but mostly we just waited around until conditions started to improve, either on the incoming tide or because we drifted even farther north to perhaps a better spot. Hard to get used to the steep fast wave again, and I blew a few takeoffs, but had a couple brief rides before nailing a nice left just before I had to leave for work. Even managed to turn up and exit out the back right before the wave closed out. Sweet! Stoked!
04 February 2007
HMB @ Jetty, 4 Feb 2007
Surfline's forecast for this weekend was the rare "good" so I had my hopes up. Surfline lies. Or maybe somewhere on the San Mateo County coast there were good waves, but not at the Jetty, where it was mostly closed out. Or at Linda Mar, which I drove by (sort of) on the way home. Or at Montara, although the 3 guys out had more - and bigger - shoulders coming at them than at HMB or LM. Pacificwaverider had it wrong to, calling it 1-2'; it was more like 3-4' when I got there but dropping in size and consistency as the tide pulled out. It was pretty glassy though, and a beautiful warm sunny day. I thought there would be fewer people in the water (about 2 dozen at HMB, 60+ at Lindy - ick!), but I guess I shouldn't be too surprised that some guys would rather surf than watch the Superbowl.
Compared to my last surf sesh at Pavones, it was crap. Yet I still managed to catch 3 waves before my frozen feet drove me in, and proved to myself I can do it right (backside) as well as left. Well, maybe not as well...
29 January 2007
My 5 Minutes of Fame
I had a great time at Pura Vida surf camp, in Mal Pais ("bad country"), Costa Rica, in early July 2005. I'd definitely recommend it. There just happened to be a NYT photographer there when I was, taking pix for an article on vacations combining yoga with surfing and other activities.
27 January 2007
Pavones, Costa Rica, 23 Jan 2007
Best line overheard at Venus Surf Adventures
Surf camp owner, to a beginner who dropped in on my wave:
"I would never do that, because I'm a nice person."
Pavones, Costa Rica, 22 Jan 2007
Welcome to Surf Camp
"We'll be exiting the water by about 8:10 because breakfast starts at 8:30. Yes, our website does promise a 2-hour surf lesson per day, but you don't want to be late for breakfast, do you?
"Now that we've finished breakfast, please hurry back to your hotel to shower and change. We will leave for our 2.5-hour long jungle hike in half an hour.
"Too bad we're running late. Did you really have to make the 5 minute walk to the only landline phone in town to call home? I'm afraid now we'll have to skip swimming in the waterfall pool. Well, maybe we can squeeze in a quick dip, just in and out, then we have to get walking again, because we must be back for lunch at 1 pm. Too bad we only saw some cows, no monkeys or sloths or other forest mammals. No, I don't think it's because sensible creatures are sleeping during the hottest part of the day instead of traipsing about under the blazing sun.
"I hope you enjoyed lunch. You now have half an hour to relax before we collect you to walk to yoga class. After yoga, you will have a whole hour to yourself! Then it's on to dinner at 5 pm. Don't dawdle or we'll miss the sunset.
"What a nice dinner. Here we are back at your hotel, and it's only 7:30 pm. No TV, telephone, or other people around to bother you, and no noisy bars or restaurants or anything else nearby to disturb the solitude. Really, you should have thought to bring a group of friends with you, as we can't guarantee there will be anyone else attending our surf camp during the week you chose. Please do enjoy sitting in you barren room alone, reading a book until you fall asleep. You'll want to get to bed early anyway, since you need to be at the beach house by 6:25 sharp tomorrow morning. Don't be late!"
26 January 2007
Things I Learned at Surf Camp
- Forget turtle-rolling. The best way to get through whitewater on a longboard is to paddle hard almost into it, then push up onto your hands and knees so the water passes freely between you and the board.
- Turn down the face of the wave as soon as you pop up, but don't ride all the way to the bottom because you'll slow down too much. Instead, make small turns up and down the face to stay near the middle of it.
- Turn your head and point your arms in the direction you want to go, because that will turn the rest of your body and help to shift your weight to make the turn.
- To end a ride, turn all the way up the face so you go over the top and out the backside, or, if it's too late because the wave's already closed out, dive off the board over the whitewater to the back. Looks better than just falling off...


text:
Rainy season is now upon us, and there is one app that will get you updated with the latest in weather forecast and typhoon monitoring.
WeatherPhilippines has been on our radar for months already, and it has proven itself to be one of the most reliable apps downloadable via PlayStore.
The application is powered by Aboitiz Group, in partnership with UnionBank. It was a developed to complement the government's disaster risk reduction management initiatives in providing localized weather information. When connecting to specific locations, the app looks for a local weather information box, which provides accurate information of the current local weather. Users can add multiple locations and rename to their heart's content.
The information provided by the application include detailed weather forecast, typhoon tracking (if applicable) and affected areas (if applicable).
The application may be downloaded via PlayStore [link]. As of this writing, the application is unavailable at iOS AppStore.


text:
Manchester United have belatedly entered the running for PSG contract rebel Adrien Rabiot.
The France international's contract is due to expire in the summer and has rejected several offers from the Ligue 1 giants.
Rabiot has fallen out of favour with manager Thomas Tuchel and hasn't featured for the French champions since their Champions League group stage match against Red Star Belgrade back in December.
PSG signed Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes during the January transfer window and earlier this week were reported to be readying another move for N'Golo Kante amid claims the World Cup winner's relationship with Maurizio Sarri is deteriorating.
Barcelona were the favourites to sign the 23-year-old but AS claim they have dropped their interest having already agreed a deal to bring Frenkie de Jong to Camp Nou in the summer.
Arsenal have been long-term admirers of the elegant midfielder and were reported to be growing in confidence that they would win the race to sign Rabiot given the player's relationship with his former manager Unai Emery.
Barcelona, meanwhile, were said to be shocked by Rabiot's financial demands, but Manchester United would easily be able to accommodate another eye-watering salary now that Marouane Fellaini, who signed a new deal in the summer, has been sold to Chinese Super League club Shandong Luneng Taishan.
Bayern Munich and Juventus are also monitoring the player's situation but the Bundesliga giants are unlikely to be able to afford Rabiot's wages, while Juve have already committed to paying Aaron Ramsey £300,000-a-week ahead of his anticipated move from Arsenal.


text:
kids kids kids....
we started a new activity this week. by we i mean the school psychologist and i started a new project. you see... theres this class... and theres me... the english teacher that seems them for 45 minutes of each of their monday through friday school day. and theres the fact that im pretty passive. and theres the fact that well... ive lost my ability to control their ability to spend the class time in a havoc. and i cant yell. i just cant. i tried... for a week... and my voice/throat/garganta was so exhausted and sore that weekend. and i like to enjoy my weekends.
so we started this project. its called the semáforo. semáforo means traffic light. Julton helped me make this poster... where you will see graphics of superman and i think its mr america... to encourage the kids... to be the champion!!! so each day of the week the kids get a chance to :
1) obey the miss de inglés
2) listen to the miss de inglés
3) just be good kids..
and each day at the end of class we take some time to review. i ask each student how they think they did. i ask the rest of the class. i ask the assistant. and i give my own opinion. and based on all of this... the student gets a red green or yellow light on their semáforo for the day. at the end of the week the kid with the most green winssss.
last night Julton helped me again (he really likes doing stuff like this.. he says hes a doctor by day and a jardin teacher at night) to make the surprise for the kids that won. i dont think the picture gives them justice. im pretty proud of them. i was going to give some chocolate too. but i decided to just give the medal a try. see how it went over. and as another teacher pointed out,(who happens to be dutch and says they arent allowed to give out candy at the schools and if a child brings candy to school it gets confiscated)... it gives them something to put on their wall or show to their family and remember that that week they won. i agree. so .. heres this weeks winners! with their, awesome i might add, medals that say #1 ! along with a sticker of their choice.


text:
They came to destroy humanity… but we fought back!
War rages across the galaxy.
The Terudithans are prepared to destroy anyone and anything that gets in their way. With the battle for Earth lost, the United Earth Fleet continues its search for the Terudithan home world.
Soldiers of the UEF follow one rule; keep fighting forward, no matter the cost.
Aiden Lomax is no hero, but he's a survivor and a fighter and he's prepared to fight until his dying breath to defeat the aliens. With his wife and son dead, planet Earth over-run with alien vermin, Aiden figures he has nothing left to lose. As Squad Leader of Scout Ship TC-32, Aiden's first job is to protect his crew. But when a Terudithan cruiser locks on to his ship, he is forced into making hard and fast decisions.
Out gunned and out manned can Aiden rise to the challenge and be the hero humanity needs?
Or will he and his crew meet their demise like so many others before them?
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"A multi-pronged story that you can't wait to see how it all comes together. Many twists, but they genuinely evolve as part of the character's story and are not contrived just to beef up the action. You can see it all unfold in front of you because you are there in the midst of the story. A satisfying finale that has left me reaching for the next in the series." Amazon Reviewer
"Emotions run deep, now not only a question of vengeance. Some mysteries solved but many twists to plot bring out more questions, lots of intriguing turn of events! I hope the next installments come out soon!" Amazon Reviewer