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Monday, March 17, 2008
100 Random Things...
In no particular order...100 things about me..
1. I'm allergic to everything....even antibacterial.
2. I call the fries at the bottom of the bag...bagglers.
3. I refuse to eat bagglers...they are the rejects and probably been touched..gross
4. There was a time when I wanted to be a psychologist, and then I realized I'm not nice...and I can't be diplomatic with people.
5. When I was about 13 my parents realized I couldn't see. I immediately got contact lenses. It wasn't until I was about 19 and I scratched my retina that I got a pair of glasses.
6. I encouraged my bff to bone her worst lay ever a 2nd time...solely for the scrapbook page.
7. Everytime I go to the truck alone at night I'm afraid there will be a bad guy under there waiting to cut my achellis tendons...and then he will take off and steal my stuff...leaving me lying on the ground...bleeding and unable to get up.
8. If I scream...Wil comes running yelling..."I got it Mommy!" (Because I've likley just seen a spider or a bug)
9. I don't like coffee...only Starbucks.
10. I love the dentist...LOVE...I used to beg to get shots...I may be a sadist.
11. In a way, I'm afraid to have another child. People tell me I'll love it more than I love Wil.
12. When people preach at me I want to tell them that God is like Santa for Adults..
13. I, along with most of America am not ready for a Black president..(I'm just willing to admit it)
14. I completely love reality TV...American Idol so does it for me...I'm glued to the TV like a Whore on Crack.
15. I've never done an illegal drug....ever.
16. There are certain things that are unforgivable....once you do them you are Dead to me
17. My environmentally friendly Kitchen Lights flicker when you turn them on...and it makes me want to vomit...so I ask Wil to turn them on for me...or I shut my eyes.
18. I love that my truck tells me how much gasoline I've used...then when the hybrid pushing...freaks...pressure me about how "green" their cars are I can tell them I've used over 2000 gallons of gasoline.
19. Trash diggers disgust me.....that was my biggest pet peeve living in Apt life...the community dumpster that scum bags would be digging through the trash looking for bottles and cans.
20. My in laws don't like me....and my husband finally realized it...now they are just pushing him away with their hatred for me.
21. I actually wore slippers to work today...my feet were really cold...lol
22. I have security cameras on everything at work...all day long I people watch and know exactly what everyone around me is doing...I love it.
23. I played basketball for 10 years...I loved being part of a team and being good at something...I hope my son continues playing baseball and feels the way I do.
24. 6 of those 10 years I was #22. The other 4 #13.
25. I work in an all male industry...all my coworkers...sales people...everyone I deal with...is a man. I'm not intimidated by it at all.
26. When my husband puts on cologne in the morning it makes me gag.
27. My Dad swallows a spoonful of Vicks Vapo Rub when he has a sore throat...I think he's crazy.
28. I like to say, Super, Fantastic, bizarre, wicked, awesome and I want to bring back Moded....ooooh you are soooo mode-ed.
29. When I tell people I'm 29 and they ask me how many times....it severly pisses me off...Do I look THAT old?
30. Even though it's just a number...I fear that big 3-0 just a little bit...such a milestone.
31. Marriage is harder than I imagined it would be...Parenting is even harder. No matter what you do you question yourself...did I do the right thing. Am I screwin him up?
32. I don't understand why even with caller id people answer the phone and act surprised that it's you. Sometimes I answer business calls with the name of the business that's calling, just to throw them off. I usually get a good laugh (from myself and the other party)
33. I say scrapbooking is my hobby, but it's a much bigger part of my life, as are the girls I've met doing it.
34. Most of the time...I'm not that friend.
35. There's a flaw in my diamond, and now that I know it's there it's all I can see when I look at my ring.
36. My ex was an asshole...but the one thing I can remember that I loved was how protective he was. He wouldn't let me get gas in the dark or run around at night. In retrospect, it probably had to do with his control issues....yet somehow I still miss that. Danny knows I can take care of myself and doesn't worry.
37. I hate lettuce...the taste makes me gag...yes it has a taste.
38. While we are on the topic of foods...if I eat something I don't like I will throw up...immediately, I wish I could help it.
39. The following smells make me throw up....Mayo...Tuna...floral scented bug spray...ummm nothing else that comes to mind immediately.
40. When I buy a new shirt...I throw one away. I never buy more hangers because I don't need them.
41. I wash my hands when I get out of the shower...lol
42. I talk to myself constantly...and pretend balloons are people too.
43. While I rarely listen to it...I love country music...
44. I wish I was "artsy" but I'm just average....it's ok I'll live!
45. I hate Jack in the Box...it's pretty disgusting.
46. I love Yankee Candles....no other candle will do.
47. I hate to admit it..but my Mom was almost always right.
48. Have you ever hated someone for so long that you couldn't remember the full extent of why you hate them? I have...
49. I once sent a giant Leopard couch shoe COD to my friends boss....we still laugh about it.
50. Even though I don't believe...I actually quite enjoy attendance at Christan Churches, everyone is so happy to be there.
51. I haven't done laundry in so long, I'm wearing my last pair of clean socks. Luckily Wil has more socks than I do...and we almost wear the same size shoe.
52. IF I were to get divorced I would fight for Wil, I'd lose but I couldn't imagine life without him. I'd also likely never commit again.
53. My JV basketball coach hardly played me...because I wasn't sexually involved with him. It was BS and I should have done more about it. 2 years later he got my younger neighbor/friend pregnant.
54. I almost feel like its time to further my education.....almost
55. Ultrasounds freak me out...kids look like little aliens...gross
56. When I go to hotels...I bring my own towels.
57. I've woken up from a bad dream...and was mad at Danny for something he did in the dream. I can't help it..lol
58. I talk in my sleep...and say the most random strange things....Choosy Moms Choose Jiff
59. Even though I know better...I think the coke with the Santa on the can tastes better than the regular coke cans.
60. Aquafina tasted better before they switched the bottles.
61. I'm a tivo whore...Live TV pisses me off
62. I almost always want to do what you tell me I can't....just because I can...
63. I never bet...unless it's a sure thing..lol
64. If I try...I almost always win...I'm super competitive.
65. I love the power of suggestion.
66. My last Grandfather passed away when I was 3....After seeing my Father with his grandkids...I've considered myself deprived for not having one.
67. I couldn't live in the big city...everything is just too fast.
68. I would much rather be cold than hot.
4 comments:
wow ........you are a flippin wierdo. LOL and I think that's why I heart you so! One thing....we must bring back the moded, I spit water all over my screen when I read that. You've reminded me I need to do my list. Can't wait to see the rest of yours!ReplyDelete
you are a freak...but that's why I like you.ReplyDelete
I'll make sure I bring you a nice tuna sandwich next time I see you...and maybe some fish tacos.


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So.. it's Digital Scrapbook Day this weekend! Wahoo! And, of course, us gals over at Design House Digital have the best to offer.
Head on over to take advantage of our sitewide sale, lots of prizes, and chats! Woot! Too much fun to miss.
And, if you haven't heard.. be sure and pick up our collaborative kit - Daydream Believer for FREE! You just have to visit all the designers to pick up their secret letter in order, go purchase the kit and use the secret code to get the kit for FREE at checkout. It is definitely worth hopping around for.
You can find the start of the hop here at Design House Digital

subset: commoncrawl


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Hiking, birding, photography, painting, and more are possible. While trails are short (less than a mile each way) and do not loop, there are benches to enjoy the views and invite you to linger. Birding is excellent all year. Many come by canoe to explore the marsh.
Small picnics (no cooking) are allowed in the park so one can relax while a friend is photographing lotus.
Friendly dogs are allowed in the park, but must be on a leash at all times.


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Tuesday, March 25, 2008
the Five O Clock Feeding Frenzy
Approximately 30 minutes after implementation of my ambitious plan to drop some pounds, I realized that there was a huge roadblock to overcome: the five o clock feeding frenzy. Every day when I get home from work, I rush to the kitchen to find snacks, and proceed to binge on anything I can find as I wait for dinner to cook. Any time I wait for water to boil, I find myself stuffing my face. It is not uncommon for me to eat: a handful of nuts, a few spoonfuls of cottage cheese, a gulp or two of orange juice (poured into a glass, of course), some crackers, and maybe a few frosted mini wheats. Yes, all in a 15 minute period!
Taken one by one, none of these things is an obvious diet breaker - notice I never eat cupcakes or ding dongs (actually not even sure what a ding dong is). But, taken in one shovelful, it does add some wiggle to my jiggle. Not to mention that it is difficult and time consuming to log all this into my spreadsheet accurately.
I still have not been successful in eradicating this behavior completely. Tonight, I had several crackers and a peanut butter cream (yummy - thanks Gramom!). I have found a few things, however, that have helped me to keep my wits about me as my tummy rumbles.
1. Eat a snack late in the day before coming home. When I am still at work, I have no choice but to eat the sensible item I lovingly packed in the morning. I find a piece of fruit works best, leading me to believe that these cravings are due to a lapse in blood sugar. I have this fruit at home, but for some reason it is not appealing when chips and salsa are just a few feet away.
2. Chew gum during my commute. Pretty obvious here - unless you're a talented porn star, only one thing in the mouth at a time.
3. Keep veggies on hand. If I have a recipe that calls for celery, I cut up the whole bunch. Similar rules apply to carrots. I also buy bags of baby carrots or grape tomatoes. Most veggies are only 60 calories per serving, and they are so full of nutrition, that I don't even bother adding them to the log. I have found that as long as the celery is on hand and ready to eat, my tummy is satisfied.
4. Get Chinese take out. Instant gratification. Probably not so good for weight loss. I guess I should keep thinkin'.
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Publisher: Libraries Unlimited ISBN: 9781591581291 Pages:
An intricate picture of a family in the heyday of the British Empire, an epic story spanning almost a hundred years and stretching from Edinburgh to the Crimea, from an expanding America to the India of the Raj.'This novel most closely emulates... WAR AND PEACE... The heart beats faster as each page turns.' Toronto Globe.


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Who needs Employee Wellness Programs? If you work in an office or a jobsite
or are a member of an corporation who spends a considerable amount of time at
work, you will benefit from a well-designed worker Employee Wellness Program.
Employees spend a minimum of about 200 hours a month at work – a considerable
amount of time.
Furthermore, stress, distractions and the pressures of the job can take its
toll on the staff member, which makes it important that a Employee Wellness
Plan is implemented. Today, all across America, Canada, Europe and Asia, top
Employee Wellness Programs are being used to help improve staff member conditions
at work and reduce the cost of worker health care.
Some of the top Employee Wellness Programs currently in use today include:
Health Risk Assessments (HRAs)
Health Risk Assessment is a top Employee Wellness Plan currently in use globally.
Organizations that start it determine the safety and health concerns of workers
by the assessment of appropriateness of the facilities and equipment against
the needs of the employees.
It can, by way of example, guide the corporation into determining how much
air quality within an office room affects the users and then help the assessment
team to come up with the measures necessary to correct the problem. An HRA can
also evaluate the level of exposure workers have to certain hazardous or dangerous
materials and practices.
This isn't always practiced in every country since there are regions where
government sponsored immunization shots are available. However, it has also
become an important component of the top Employee Wellness Programs in many
organizations in North America.
Immunization, flu shots, such as those used to combat flu, by way of example,
are offered to workers for free.
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) consist of a wide variety of services.
It can range from providing educational resources to employees regarding health
issues to sponsoring health services and medical care. In many organizations,
medical and insurance have also become a staple part of their benefits system.
Weight Management Programs
This is another Employee Wellness Plan that organizations use, particularly
those that offer in-house commissary or cafeteria services. Instead of serving
richer, high-calorie fare, cafeterias offer options for a healthier diet, usually
in the form of low-calorie foods and sugar substitutes.
Health-Wellness Newsletters – Health Education Programs
One of the top Employee Wellness Programs that organizations can start is a
self-powered tool using a newsletter to promote wellness, coupled with a visible
campaign. The campaign may be done periodically and focus on a specific topic,
such as tobacco use hazards, cancer, stress, carpal tunnel syndrome, safety
in the workplace, etc.
The newsletter in itself can be an effective method to deliver information
to employees or members of an corporation but it is far from perfect. Some employees,
by way of example, may not read the newsletter in its entirety or even pay attention
to it. If the issues outlined in the newsletter are promoted through an active
and highly visible campaign, it will be easier to maximize positive results.
Physical Fitness and Exercise Programs
Another top health promotion program for organizations is one that involves
physical activities. Companies often sponsor exercise-related events such as
marathons and corporation sports initiatives to promote employees to remain
fit or lose excess weight. In mid- to large-sized organizations, organizations
may even pay for gym memberships or in-house exercise facilities.
Employee Wellness Plan Incentives
Some of the top Employee Wellness Programs implemented by organizations involve
incentive rewards. This involves corporation-sponsored initiatives that reward
employees for achieving specific wellness goals. Participation in health campaigns
and signing up for Employee Wellness Programs are two of the most commonly rewarded
schemes. Rewards can range from special recognitions to points (for bigger rewards)
to specific gifts. In a few cases, cash may also be used.
However, incentive systems have had mixed reactions and levels of success.
But it continues to be one of the top choices among organizations who are willing
to modify it in order to fit their unique needs.
Group Activities
In many organizations, organizations take advantage of peer pressure in order
to encourage workers to take part in Employee Wellness Programs. This is currently
one of the favorite worker Employee Wellness Programs currently in use today
and growing in popularity. Peer pressure is often leveraged to help promote
competitions and to persuade employees to be active in corporation-sponsored
health fairs.


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Qualifying Exam Dates and Procedures
- Late spring of the Second Year: By the end of the spring semester of the second year, each student is responsible for selecting four (4) faculty members who agree to serve on the examination committee, and the student is responsible for asking one of those 4 to serve as the head of the committee. The committee can include one non-Notre Dame faculty member, with the approval of the DGS in consultation with the exam committee. Generally, the head of the committee and two members are faculty in the student's primary field. The committee head will be responsible for soliciting questions from the other committee members and for making up the final version of the examination in consultation with the other committee members.
- Summer after the Second Year: During the summer of the second year, the student will prepare reading lists and rationales in consultation with committee members while beginning to study for the examination. The primary field list should include approximately 75 titles, while the secondary lists should include around 50 titles each. More detailed information on reading lists and rationales is available in the Graduate Student Handbook.
- Fall of the Third Year: Students typically enroll in one Directed Readings course per semester in the exam year. These are exam reading courses and do not require a final paper.
- Early September of the Third Year: Students submit exam lists and rationales to the DGS Office for review by GSC. Rationales may be relatively brief, normally several paragraphs. They should be written so that a person in any area of English studies can understand the questions around which the exams cohere. The Director of Graduate Studies, in consultation with committee heads, will ensure that there is relative parity among lists.
- Fall and Winter of the Third Year: Students read independently in preparation for exams. Students are encouraged to meet regularly with faculty to discuss their progress.
- Early March of the Third Year: The exam chair works with the committee to develop the written exams, taking into account the best approach for evaluating command of materials and methods. The exam chair is responsible for collecting questions from the committee and producing a single coherent document which is then submitted to the DGS office.
- Early March of the Third Year: Students work with committees to schedule the oral follow-on portion of the qualifying exams; usually between 7-14 days following the written exams. These are traditionally held in the conference room, 356 O'Shag; please notify Kim Gaughan of the date of the oral component once it is set.
- Late March of the Third Year: DGS Office administers written examinations and returns student answers to each committee member electronically.
- Early April of the Third Year: Oral component of the Qualifying Exam administered. Upon successful completion, students may elect to receive an M.A. degree from Notre Dame.


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Our innovative process enables us to provide hardwood floor refinishing and resurfacing services at some of the best and most affordable prices in the hardwood flooring industry. Even with low prices, we still have great offers on wood resurfacing services. Take advantage of the coupon below the next time you call Fabulous Floors Charleston.
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The variational Bayes method for inverse regression problems with an application to the palaeoclimate reconstruction
File Type:PDF
Item Type:Journal Article
Citation:Simon Wilson & R. Vatsa, The variational Bayes method for inverse regression problems with an application to the palaeoclimate reconstruction, Journal of Combinatorics, Information and System Sciences., 35, 1-2, 2010, 221 - 248
Download Item:
The Variational Bayes.pdf (Published (author's copy) - Peer Reviewed) 375.2Kb
The palaeoclimate reconstruction problem is described as an example of inverse regression problems. In the reconstruction problem, past climate is inferred using pollen data. Modern data is used to build a regression model of how pollen responds to climate. The inverse problem is to infer climate from data on ancient pollen prevalence. The inverse inference presents a challenging and computationally intensive problem. It is demonstrated that Variational Bayes (VB), that assumes conditional independence, provides quick solutions to the reconstruction problem. The advantage of the use of the VB method is that many more climate variables can be included in the estimation without imposing a huge burden to the reconstruction problem. We explore the accuracy of the VB method, and comment on its usefulness more generally in inverse inference problems.
Grant Number
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)
Author's Homepage:http://people.tcd.ie/swilson
Author: WILSON, SIMON
Type of material:Journal Article
Series/Report no:Journal of Combinatorics, Information and System Sciences.
Availability:Full text available
Keywords:Statistics and probability, Bayesian inference


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Albuquerque CVB launched its website with the Destination Travel Network in early 2014. Since then, the CVB has generated over 13 million advertising impressions and 17,000 clicks to advertiser websites.
The Albuquerque CVB was interested in a digital advertising platform that generated enough revenue to reinvest into other marketing needs. With the Destination Travel Network (DTN), the CVB had an all-inclusive solution that managed every aspect of implementation and sales, while simultaneously generating revenue for the CVB and providing additional exposure for members and partners.
Albuquerque CVB incorporated the platform as its website transitioned to Simpleview's CMS. The CVB utilized spotlight banners, featured listings, page sponsorships, and other options on web pages to reach 1.4 million annual website visitors. In addition to DTN, the CVB also utilized Simpleview for CMS and CRM. "It's much easier to manage website sales when the DMO has Simpleview as their CRM, CMS and DTN provider," states Elise Rogers, Vice President of Development at Albuquerque. "Having a one-stop shop is really efficient and helpful."


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It keeps me drawing, and even when I'm not drawing, I'm looking at everything as a potential subject to draw. Getting back into this visual way of thinking, this way of slowing yourself down, concentrating, looking carefully (really observing), experimenting, finding the joy in simplicity. I needed this! Sketchbook Skool is an online six week course. Semester one "Beginnings" is almost finished and I've already signed up for the Semester two "Seeing." It is affordable, inspiring, has great instructors (semester one included Danny Gregory, Roz Stendahl, and Tommy Kane). All the teachers are well known in the sketchbook/journaling world, and they all have different approaches to share. Comments shared by fellow students keep you going and testing new tools and methods.
I love Sketchbook Skool!
09 May 2014 1 Comment
in drawing, Journaling Tags: creativity, doing, drawing, learning, making, productivity, Sketchbook Skool


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It's filled with over 100 pages of worksheets and a printable calendar to help you dream, manifest, set your intentions, plan and cultivate your amazing new year. The workbook has been lovingly handwritten and rainbow illustrated … perfect for you to print out, soak up the rainbow colours of and get thoroughly inspired by! You'll get clarity on what you need 2012 to be. What you want to create during it. And most importantly, how to make it happen.
I've tried several online planners and this one is honestly, in my opinion, the most inspiring. It's beautiful to print out and put in a 3 ring binder, as I did with mine. The content is thought provoking and so useful! I'm taking all of January to plan the rest of my year, with the help of the Goddess Guidebook. I forsee that this will become an annual ritual for me! I couldn't believe that it is only $9.95! You can't lose!
Goddess Leonie Dawson is the creator of GoddessGuidebook.com, one of the longest running creativity, spirituality and business blogs on the web. Leonie is a writer, blogger, retreat leader, globe-trotter, visual artist, mama and vessel of wild creativity and sage self-guidance for the 20, 000 Goddesses who orbit around her virtual altar each month. Her strategic musings and practical wisdom have been featured on Problogger, Tiny Buddha, spirituality magazines like Goddess, Spellcraft, Life Images and Spheres and in three of SARK's best-selling books on creative fulfillment and freedom. Find her on Twitter @goddessleonie, Facebook and at her blog, GoddessGuidebook.com.
Do you have a plan for 2012?


text: On Sun, Jan 06, 2008 at 04:15:31PM +0100, Diego Biurrun wrote: > Here is a patch to change an illegal identifier starting with _ and > uppercase in libavcodec/qdm2.c. OK to apply? Here is another one in libavformat. Diego -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: illegal_identifier.diff Type: text/x-diff Size: 456 bytes Desc: not available URL: <http://lists.mplayerhq.hu/pipermail/ffmpeg-devel/attachments/20080106/95a83e23/attachment.diff>


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Congratulations to @gwenoftheroundtable for winning the first Otome Contest. We judged all artwork based on emotion evoked, composition, and detail.
Click here to view all the participating artists! https://www.tumblr.com/search/coderealizecontestsuitor Thank you everyone who participated in this contest. We also decided to give away game codes to two more winners in the categories of "Most Mysterious" and "Most Dramatic Dilemma."
We will have more otome contests so keep visiting our social media sites for more contest news.
1st Prize
Most Mysterious
Most Dramatic Dilemma


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Manufacturing Solutions
Algorithm specializes in providing integrated software solutions for manufacturers.
At Algorithm, we understand the common challenges manufacturing companies face. Whether it is finding the best way to purchase, allocate and utilize production resources or struggling with higher operating costs and loss of business due to inability to produce reliable production plans. That is why we have partnered with Lynq and Edibar to offer manufacturing solutions that are effective and easy to use. Learn more below.
Innovative manufacturing software solutions from Lynq helps you save money, boost efficiency, increase profits and grow your business. Lynq solutions cover:
Algorithm partnered with Edibar to build a seamless automotive EDI integration for suppliers running Macola:


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About Me
- Sharron
- United Kingdom
- Hi there & welcome to Annie's Place. A place inspired by and named after my late Grandmother Annie. Somewhere I can be creative, and share my love for all things handmade. I like nothing better than sitting with hook & yarn, crafting something home spun & completely unique, or rustling up some yummy baked goodies. I live in a town with a beautiful embankment, situated on the River Great Ouse. You may know me as CosyKitty on Ravelry. Why not stop a while.....?!!
Friday, 30 January 2015
Crochet Kindle Cover
14 comments:
Lovely tablet case.....enjoy your space! :) xxxReplyDelete
Absolutely love your kindle cover - so pretty, the texture and colours!ReplyDelete
Your tall slim crafty storage shelves/compartments is such a great use of space - where did you get it from? It's so handy and compact, and looks very pretty too with all that crafty goodness!
Maria x
Gorgeous Kindle Case.ReplyDelete
I enjoy your space...it looks so cozy .... I wish you a lovely and creative week end !ReplyDelete
Your Kindle cover is so so pretty, I love that bobble stitch! :-) xxxxReplyDelete
Love your Kindle case,beautifully made,great stitch will have to try that one.Love your room.ReplyDelete
The bedroom looks so bright and beautiful. Love the kindle cover.ReplyDelete
Hi Sharron, I absolutely love your pile of crochet cushions! You kindle case looks so neat and sweet, enjoy the tennis, Sam xxReplyDelete
Fabulous kindle case!! I hope you enjoy your new space! xxReplyDelete
Wonderful case, congratulationsReplyDelete
*** It's so pretty !!!! ***ReplyDelete
I love your work and your photos!ReplyDelete
Greetings from Argentina...
the cover is really beautiful, and I like the spare room so much! bright and prettyReplyDelete
Thank you for visiting me here at Annie's Place, and for taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate each and every word x x x


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Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! (No really, please snow.)
Merry Christmas from our faces.
We've had our Christmas tree since Monday …
… and we just got around to decorating it last night at almost 11 o'clock.
I'm starting to dread weeknights because I feel like there's always a million things to do and not enough time to do it all and with it being the holidays, I have even more errands than normal. Plus you gotta make time to work out because ... Christmas cookies. It took us 4 days to decorate our tree. 4 days.
But it was definitely worth the wait because we love it!
One of my favorite things about Christmas is that every year I'm surprised by our Christmas decorations. 365 days is just long enough to forget that we bought a new reindeer ornament and when I open our giant bin of holiday décor, it's literally like Christmas morning.
And now that Clayton and I have spent 6 Christmases together (going on 7 this year!), we've acquired an impressive assortment of holiday furnishings. We're on our third color theme and just like every time before it, this one is our favorite.
We started our marriage with gold, purple, and fuchsia (which I bet Clayton loved); and a few years later we tried to be more "fun" with bright red and lime green. This year we've graduated to classic forest green, burgundy, and brown tones.
This year, my Black Friday shopping consisted only of a quick evening run to Michael's where I purchased this beautiful gold hurricane, a small wreath, and a bunch of woodsy doodads to fill it. My mother-in-law and I stood in the wreath aisle for at least 20 minutes trying to pick out the perfect combination of berries, pine cones, and sparkles. I say we did a good job!
And thanks to a birthday present from Amanda, we have the perfect ornament to display front-and-center on our tree this year:
Whenever we start to think that we're some classy, fancy-schmancy folks, it just takes one naked Peter Griffin to remind us of who we really are. ;)


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How To: Sleek Double Ponytail in Under 3 Minutes
The ponytail's a classic, easy hairdo that will never go out of style, but sometimes a small tweak or twist can turn it into a truly standout look. Celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin showed us one of her own tricks to creating polished yet effortless pony. Check out how to master her cool take on the basic low ponytail now.
Got three minutes? That's all you need. Scroll through to see the step-by-step double ponytail tutorial!
Photo:Justin Coit
Photo:Justin Coit
Photo:Justin Coit
Photo:Justin Coit
Justin Coit
Work a pea-sized amount of styling cream (Atkin loves Éclat Naturel Styling Cream ($46) from Leonor Greyl) between your fingers and run it through the lengths of your ponytail. You can also smooth down any loose pieces up top.
Photo:Justin Coit
Justin Coit
And that's your double ponytail: five simple steps in three minutes or less.
Photographer: Justin Coit
Hairstylist: Jen Atkin
Makeup Artist: Roxy
Producer: Jenna Peffley
Model: Ashley Rogers
Fashion credits: Topshop Knitted Ladder Detail Top ($92) in Aubergine
Check out Atkin's romantic uneven braid and find even more hair inspiration on her website Mane Addicts!


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- Description
The Youth Sparring Headgear is the only elite-level headgear designed smaller, for kids who are serious about the sport. It's made of durable leather and textured vinyl, giving it a modern, kid-friendly look.
- The top of the headgear features a three-pronged-- hook & loop adjustment system.
- Hook & loop rear adjustment and buckle chin strap-- and the headgear provides a totally custom fit.
- Sizing Chart
Headgear sizes are based on your fitted hat size. To determine your fitted hat size, measure the circumference of your head approximately 1" above your ears. For an adjustable, snug fit be sure to check out our Flex-Panel Technology® headgear.
- Reviews


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A virtual conference will be held on the Internet next month to get views on how the Government can respond to the needs of older people. The agenda will include issues related to leading active lives, care and health, transport, consultation and involvement. Participants will be asked to say what matters most to them. The conference will be followed by a six month programme of events around the UK arranged in partnership with a range of voluntary organisations. Feedback will help to set priorities for action and shape policies to meet the needs of older people.
This listening exercise is part of the Better Government for Older People Programme launched last year. The programme includes 28 local pilots that are developing a range of projects to improve the quality of public services for older people and a Learning Network which will ensure that more local authorities across the UK can share experience with the pilot areas.
The listening approach is similar to that being followed by the Women's Unit. Feedback on women's issues is being obtained through an Internet conference in February, road shows that continue until June and over one million reply cards distributed through major retailers.


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HTTP and HTTPS Transports
The HTTP and HTTPS transports are used to tunnel over HTTP or HTTPS using XML payloads. This allows the ActiveMQ client and broker to tunnel over HTTP avoiding any firewall issues.
If the client is not JMS you might want to look at REST or Ajax support instead.
Note that the HTTP Transport is located in the activemq-optional jar.
ActiveMQ uses a combination of Jetty's Server and SslSocketConnector objects to communicate via the HTTPS transport. When using HTTPS, improper configuration of the corresponding SSL certificates and/or keys may very well lead to the Jetty infinite loop problem described in this nabble thread. A good reference on creating and configuring keys and certificates can be found here.
Configuration Syntax
http://host:port https://host:port
Example URI
http://localhost https://localhost:8080
Clients that use http(s) transport have some additional dependencies, over tcp ones. Those are
Make sure you have them in your classpath if you use this transport. Also, if you're configuring networks of brokers with http(s) transport make sure you have them in broker's classpath (somewhere under


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A bit more of my boring town. Recorded in the morning 9AM. Recorded with Edirol R-1 & Sennheiser ME66.
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text: NarranderaRented $950 to $1,300 Week Halcyon days. Relax in style in beautful Narrandera Beautifully renovated (French style) 1893 Cottage. Enjoy the lovely garden and relax on the verandahs. One facing a sumptuous park. 3mins walking distance to shops,restaurants and pubs. No pollution, no traffic lights, no parking meters! Heaven view TYPE: House


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The "kid" who grew up in the Sacramento area -and became one of mixed martial arts' most famous athletes- says this weekend's fight in Sacramento will be his last.
Urijah Faber's now an icon in a sport that is wildly popular, but it was far from that when he started.
In 1999, Faber walked on to the UC Davis wrestling team as a freshman and did so well, he was given a scholarship the following year. He graduated in 2003.
"Made it to the national tournament, the NCAA tournament a few years (finished in the) top 12 and wasn't done competing. So, as an athlete, I found an outlet in mixed martial arts. I started learning Brazilian Jujitsu, I started learning boxing and kickboxing, and just fell in love," he says.
With Faber's blonde hair and cleft chin, he took the nickname the "California Kid" and immediately began winning fights, hearts and then title belts.
"It's like a chess match with humans. It's very honorable. There are ways to concede which are honorable either through submitting or a referee stepping in and saying, 'That's it." It's as primal as it gets, but it's technical and as heartfelt as it gets. So, it's the best sport in the world," he says.
The mixed martial arts community has hailed Faber as an icon and a pioneer since he announced his retirement.
He was one of the first to compete at lower weight classes in a sport that had been dominated by larger men. He won five World Extreme Cagefighting championships as a bantamweight.
Faber is 37. That's old for a fighter, but young for a CEO. He will now turn his interests to his gym, lines of clothing and sports drinks, and management of younger fighters.
"All these different ventures that are somewhat related to the fight game and at least related to what I'm passionate about --I'll be focused on that stuff and on top of making a name for Sacramento by building an amazing (MMA) team," he says.
He's been here for most of his life. He went to Mission Avenue Elementary in Carmichael, then Lincoln Junior High and High School, which is where he started wrestling.
His final fight will take place Saturday night at the Golden 1 Center. His Team Alpha Male teammate --and current "it girl" of MMA, Sacramento's Paige VanZant- is the main attraction.


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|Pool Table Supplies
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Replacement pool table pockets, liners and pocket parts for sale. Large selection of quality leather pool table pockets that are made in the USA. Our leather pockets are available in many color fringe and shield styles and are available with either #3 or #6 irons. We also carry a complete line of pocket accessories and hardware for those who want to repair their existing ones. For modern and coin operated pool tables we have pocket buckets in leather and plastic as well as gulley boots and pocket liners.
These pocket sets are made by Hood Leather Goods who has been making quality leather products in the US for nearly 80 years. They use only the finest vegetable-tanned leather and rich dyes before it is shaped or cut. All sewing is backstitched for extra strength and then hand wax, buff and inspect them before being carefully packaged. These are not cheap pockets but carefully crafted American made products. For help selecting the correct pocket for your pool table, view our how to choose pool table pockets information.
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The hearAll is ready to use straight out of the box. In fact, I started using it without even reading the instructions! Shhh...... Don't tell my engineer hubby, lol! I did spend a few minutes looking for the battery compartment, only to find it didn't have one. Wow, a teacher's dream: no batteries required! Just plug in the included USB cord to charge from any PC or Mac.
Another great feature of the hearAll is its simplicity of use. When I showed it to my mother, a first grade teacher, she was confident her youngsters would have it figured out faster than her!
There are so many ways a teacher could use this tech tool in the classroom. I created a Top Five list of classroom uses.
Top Five Reasons to Buy the hearAll Assessment Recorder
1 Fluency Assessment
HERE or on the image for a free copy. Now that I have the hearAll, I will record the fluency test and send it to the parents via email along with the homework requirements and word count chart.
2 Movie Maker MP3 clips
Every year my students create commercials for their business during our Economics Unit. Look and LISTEN to the commercial my student created using the hearAll to record the jingle for her commercial.
3 Podcasting
It is so easy for students to create a podcast with the hearAll. This could easily be a cooperative group project. Give the students the hearAll and let them create!
4 Readers Theater
Kids love to listen to a recording of themselves. Let students read a readers theater script and record it with the hearAll. Then let them play it back. Have them practice several times. This is a great method for improving fluency.
5 Student Portfolios
Whether you like it or not, everything is heading in the technology direction. All of my students have laptops for classroom use, so they complete a lot of work on the computer. I love keeping a digital portfolio of my students and the hearAll will make that even easier now.
Here's the most AWESOME thing about the hearAll: They are also giving one away to a lucky reader of Classroom Magic!
To enter you must like Learning Resources Fanpage, follow their YouTube channel, (the subscribe button is right beside their name) and fill in the simple entry form BELOW. ( Contest ends on Thursday, March 1st at 10:00 p.m. CT.) Good luck to everyone from Learning Resources and Classroom Magic!
Congratulations, Martha Craft! You are the winner of the hearAll from Learning Resources. They will be contacting you via email sometime this week. Thanks everyone who entered. Stay tuned for another great new product giveaway this week, even better than last week!


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Mercedes has released a video of its new W09 F1 car being fired up for the first time at its factory in Brackley.
The Formula One season is not due to get underway until the season-opener in Australia on March 25, but teams are working hard to meet build deadlines ahead of the first official pre-season test later this month. The fire-up is a milestone in each team's preparations for the start of the season and Mercedes released a short clip of the moment via its social media channels.
Nervous energy fills the air. Twelve calendar months, a thousand man years in the making. And now, a first milestone passed.— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) February 5, 2018
The W09 is more than a machine. It carries the passion and drive of an entire racing team. This is when it starts to become reality...#W09Countdown pic.twitter.com/bOMQcZwWVI
Speaking about progress with the W09 in an interview on the Mercedes website last week, team principal Toto Wolff said: "It's never going completely seamlessly or smoothly, because you are trying to push the boundaries, make the cars as light as possible and - eventually - as quick as possible. We have had a good winter, I would say. No real drama, but there is always stress within the organisation at this time of year."
Mercedes is due to launch its new car on February 22 at Silverstone when the W09 will also complete its first miles in a 100km shakedown/filming day. The car will then be transported to Barcelona for the first day of testing on February 26.


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Title: GodsWar Online
Status: Released Graphics: 3D
Genre: MMORPG
Developer: IGG
Publisher: IGG
Explosive Features:
- Deity System
- Small size client
- Simple gameplay and controls
GodsWar Online is the first fully IGG designed and produced free to play 3D MMORPG, based on Greek mythology. Players can worship great Gods, forge mighty gear and learn that "History is written by winners!"
Top-grade game developer's painstaking efforts have culminated in the fantastic and mysterious GodsWar Online. GWO offers players distinct systems and activities including enchanting quests, charming game scenery, free character growth, amazing battles and a wonderful gaming community.
The story traces back to the mythical age of Greece when the Gods, Human, Demigod, and Monsters existed in the same continent. In this mystic world, you may tour around all the spots described in Mythology to see the solemn Parthenon, you may feel the majesty of famed Greek cities and even access Gods' territory, you may meet with legendary heroes: Heracles, Theseus, Easun…or the Gods of Mythology, and you may even challenge evil Monsters: the Gorgon medusa, and the Hydra.
Featured Video
[tubepress video="c89Hf1ebreg" uploaded="false"]
System requirements
OS: Windows XP, Vista, 7, or 8
Processor: Pentium 4 1.2 GHz
Memory Ram: 512MB
Hard Disk Space: At least 1GB of free Space
Video Card: Geforce MX440
Each game profile contains useful information about the game, gameplay videos, user reviews, gameplay screenshots, system requirements and more!
More MMORPGs Like This
6 User ReviewsLeave Your Review
The worst gaming company ever poor gm support.. too much cheater on the game
all games from ignn money maker, no playing that games
If u havn't played this game before don't…I in some ways like the game, but many people on the game are jerks, and they have the worst customer server there is. And to really have the good stuff in game u will have to spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars…or find cheats…which igg will not do anything about no matter what they seam to say…Don't get hooked on this game.
its not shutdown, my false
shut down game
This game needs a serious update, whether it be US client or FB client. Not much new content to go on after 2 years on the FB version. still holding out for fresher stuff but it probably wont happen.


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Final Video Production Chapter for Some True Heroes
Tacoma WA Video Shoot From The 1980s Comes Full Circle.
On Veteran's Day 2013 in the US, what more fitting way to use video production than to honor some of the great heroes from an earlier generation? We've always had a great passion and appreciation for our vets, so back in 1989 when our video production company was young, we took it upon ourselves to send a crew to do a Tacoma, WA video shoot, site of that year's annual Doolittle's Raiders reunion.
If you haven't heard of Doolittle's Raiders, you're missing a great story.
This is the saga of 80 men who volunteered for a dangerous mission in the early (and dark) days of 1942. Their mission was to take off from an aircraft carrier and bomb the supposedly invincible Japanese homeland, just 4 & 1/2 months after Pearl Harbor. The mission, although it did little damage, brought a great shot in the arm to the American public at a crucial time.
Many books and movies have been written about the raid, and there have been some video productions in the form of documentaries. One of the big blockbuster movies was the 2001 film "Pearl Harbor." There are many historical inaccuracies in the movie, especially about the Doolittle Raid. It's absurd to think that fighter pilots would be converted to bomber pilots for this (or any) mission and they certainly did not return home to Pearl Harbor after bombing Tokyo. But, Hollywood needed to put Ben Affleck over Tokyo to sell tickets, right?
We suggest that you take the time to read more about the Doolittle Raiders. We were blessed to do this Tacoma WA video shoot in remebrance of them. There is much to learn about these true American heroes, their impact, their reunions, and their later lives.
In fact, several of the Raiders did die in the raid and a few captured. There were others that died in action elsewhere later in the war.
While we were at the 1989 reunion, our video production crew was able to capture a number of terrific interviews with these amazing men.
One was with a wonderful, humble man who was captured, imprisoned and tortured by the Japanese, and amazingly returned to Japan after the war as a missionary. More information is available about Mr. DeShazer and his remarkable life here.
We recorded this inspirational interview with Jacob DeShazer:
Part of the tradition of the Doolittle Raider reunions is that they do a roll call of all the Raiders, living and dead. It's a private ceremony, but I have seen video of it.
They have been holding a bottle of 1896 cognac for the final toast when only two Raiders are left. This year, only four Raiders are still alive, they are well into their nineties, and they have decided that enough is enough. They held their final reunion a few days ago (only three were well enough to make the trip), opened the cognac, and drank a toast to their departed brethren.
The final toast was turned into a public event at the US Air Force Museum. This hour-long video shows that final toast. The first 3/4 of the program was dedicated to presenting the history of the raid, and the men who were on it. If you are so inclined, the entire video is very inspiring, but to see just the toast, scroll the video toward the end.
Here's to these particular brave and inspiring men and to all our veterans. Thank you for your service!
We're delighted to have been able to use our video production skills just a tiny bit to share the story of Jacob DeShazer.


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If you're planning a celebration associated with a scale, where you have to impress, then you need to consider getting a hospitality staffing agency. Here are listed 5 key advantages of getting a hospitality staffing to assist perform effective event:
1. Hospitality staffing agencies provide excellent, experienced, well-presented and well-trained staff to match the different levels that the event requires. Why take a chance by recruiting unskilled staff when you're attempting to create an impact?
2. When you really need to thrill your clients, simple things like getting a well-presented waiter for everyone drinks and canapes could make a big difference. A hospitality staffing agency can offer such staff to make sure your event is really a success which your event is appreciated by individuals who matter.
3. Many agencies offer specialised staff that fit niche trends. In the event you need a bronzed Greek God for just one theme, or perhaps a 007-esque waiter for an additional, such agencies can offer across-the-board staff to fit your particular event.
4. Why turn to hire and manage staff on your own, when with one easy telephone call, a company can perform this for you personally? Such agencies go ahead and take hassle from sourcing, briefing and managing staff, making certain that the thing is may be the excellent final product!
5. Such agencies will help you with large, last second bookings! When you are able in which you require 20 waiters and staff to supervise a celebration, then a company can offer this without any qualms, what is actually more, they go ahead and take stress from the extra organising you would need to do, to be able to concentrate on wearing a effective event and developing a great lasting impression.
A lot has been spoken about Dr. Gordon Tang being a top-notch neurosurgeon the Berkeley area. Tang holds over 20 years of experience in the field. He owns the clinic East Bay Neurosurgery and Spine in San Francisco Bay.


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The 2011-12 officers for the Vandalia Rotary Club were sworn in at the club's June 23 banquet.
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The Ferguson Commission, a 16-member panel appointed by Missouri Governor Nixon, has asked for the decrease of the use of police force.
The Ferguson Commission was formed after the shooting of Michael Brown. It doesn't have any power to enact anything it proposes, but it sure has some good ideas...
According to the 198-page report released online today, the commission is calling for "the consolidation of police departments and municipal courts in the St. Louis area, and decreasing the use of police force."
Nationwide, there were 461 reported cases of "justifiable homicides" last year at the hands of law enforcement. A "justifiable homicide" is what Michael Brown's death is classified as. Watch this video to learn more:
According to the Associated Press, Governor Nixon has said the Ferguson Commission "has his office's full support" although he didn't grant them power to do anything other than suggest changes and state the obvious:
"The law says all citizens are equal," the introduction of the 198-page Ferguson Commission Report states. "But the data says not everyone is treated that way."
Aside from hearing testimony from many black residents, the commission also took note that police departments and courts in St. Louis seem to target minorities to raise revenue – which leads to mistrust of the police – as well as the fact that use of excessive force continues to strain already tense relations between communities and law enforcement.
As much as this makes sense, I don't believe it is based on any new data:
"The regular use of force has led many citizens to view the police as an occupying force in their neighborhoods, damaging community trust, and making community safety even more difficult," the report said.
To solve the problem, the commission suggested "new use-of-force policies, officer training and a change in department culture."
It also recommended the establishment of a statewide database to track use-of-force incidents and statistics. Again, good idea, but something that other organizations have asked for repeatedly.
St. Louis County currently has 81 municipal courts and 60 municipal police departments. The Ferguson Commission suggested "consolidating at least 18 of those departments into just three that would oversee different areas of north St. Louis County."
The reasoning is that the consolidation would end the "costly and a grossly inefficient use of taxpayer resources," as well as address the many impediments to justice that many St. Louis residents experience, the report said.
All great suggestions…however, there are some who are skeptical that the report will actually change anything.
"It's hard not to be cynical of these kinds of reports given the track record," Remy Cross, a criminologist and sociologist at Webster University in suburban St. Louis said. "[Commissioners] are really not given any authority. Everybody agrees with the report, and nothing really comes of it because no one wants to pony up the money or get down to the brass tacks of the policy changes."
The Associated Press reports that Ferguson has made several changes since Michael Brown's death, "including installing a new police chief and municipal judge."
So what do you think? Is the report meant to bring about change or stonewall it? Sound off below!
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ora Media, LLC its affiliates, or its employees.
More from Jesse Ventura's Off The Grid
Jesse Ventura: How Bernie Sanders Sold Out
Jesse Ventura remembers his hero, Muhammad Ali
Jesse Ventura: Snowden performed public service & is a hero
Jesse Ventura: Why voters should listen to Gov. Gary Johnson
Jesse Ventura: Clinton will do anything to win, even pick Sanders as VP
Jesse Ventura: Here's one reason why I can't be president
Is there hope for our economy? Most Americans don't think so.
Jesse Ventura: I am not running for president


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Senior Research Scientist, Chairman
MIT Sloan's Center for Information Systems Research (CISR)
Dr Peter Weill's work centres on the role, value, and governance of digitization in enterprises. Peter joined the Sloan faculty in 2000 to become director of MIT Sloan's Center for Information Systems Research (CISR). MIT CISR is funded by 80 corporate sponsors and patrons, and undertakes practical research on how firms generate business value from IT. Peter is now chairman of MIT CISR and focuses on globalizing the center's research and delivery.
In 2008, Ziff Davis recognized Peter as #24 of "The Top 100 Most Influential People in IT," and the highest ranked academic. Peter has written award-winning books, journal articles, and case studies. His work has appeared in Harvard Business Review, MIT Sloan Management Review, and The Wall Street Journal.
Peter has co-authored best-selling books published by Harvard Business School Press, including IT Savvy: What Top Executives Must Know to Go from Pain to Gain (2009), Enterprise Architecture as Strategy: Creating a Foundation for Business Execution (2006), IT Governance: How Top Performers Manage IT Decision Rights for Superior Results (2004), and Leveraging the New Infrastructure: How Market Leaders Capitalize on Information Technology (1998). Peter's co-authored book Place to Space: Migrating to eBusiness Models (2001) was named by Library Journal as one of the best business books of the year, and was reviewed by The New York Times.
Peter presents executive and MBA programs on the business value of IT, and in 2007 Peter received an MIT Sloan Outstanding Teacher Award.
Peter works regularly on IT issues with corporations and governments, including Aetna, ANZ, BCG, BT, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, France Telecom, IBM, McKinsey, Microsoft, Origin Energy, PwC, Raytheon, State Street Corporation, TCS, Unibanco, Woolworths, and World Bank. Peter has conducted workshops at Microsoft and at Bill Gates' CEO Summit; SAP's CEO Summit; and for the boards of directors of Banco do Brasil, CBA, Unibanco, and Woolworths.


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Saturday, April 13, 2013
Dealing with Anxiety
I've been struggling a lot with anxiety about the future (maybe that's why it's been hard to write). As you can imagine, thinking about Sadie's future can be a little stressful. And I'm an over-planner, so it's hard for me to imagine how I'm going to take care of Sadie when I'm not sure what her needs will be tomorrow, let alone 5, 10, or 20 years from now. But what I didn't realize until I had Ezra, is that I'm just as anxious about his future. I am just as equally uncertain about Ezra's future needs as I am about Sadie's. The only difference is that lots of people have raised typical, healthy children before and I have lots of people to ask for help.
Some people eat when they're worried or anxious, some people don't eat at all. When I'm anxious, I bite the inside of my cheeks and lip and tongue the retainer behind my front bottom teeth. It's very uncomfortable, but it makes me physically aware of my anxiety, which can be helpful in trying to let it go.
So, how does one let it go when they're worried about the future? Well, isn't that the million dollar question among special needs moms (side note: why is it that dads don't seem to worry as much about things?) I thought I'd compile a list of a few things I do when I'm feeling anxious that help me feel better, even if only temporarily...
1. Call my mom. I know not everyone has a good relationship with their mom, so call someone older and wiser than you, someone you respect and love, someone who can tell you you're doing a good job as a parent. My mom doesn't always know the right thing to say, but she listens to my worries, and she tells me I'm doing a good job, and sometimes that is all I need to hear. Because I think, if I'm doing a good job now, I'm going to stop doing a good job, and everything is okay, so it'll probably be okay in the future too.
2. Write. Sometimes it's public blog writing, sometimes it's a private prayer journal, but somehow getting it out on paper makes me feel better. When I blog, I am often seeking empathy from friends and family and the special needs community. Sometimes I am just seeking accountability by making my feeling public. And sometimes, how I'm feeling needs to just be between God and me. I also think there's some value in writing down these fears and worries so that you never forget where you've been and what you've accomplished.
3. Exercise. Do something active. When you're body is working hard, your mind has a chance to clear. I know that if I go for a walk or a run when I'm working out a problem in my head, I often come home with a solution. It may be more about the fresh air than the actual exercise, but working through something physically can be very rewarding and lift my spirits, and clear my mind.
4. Get outside. Like I mentioned previously, fresh air can really clear one's head. When I lived in Oregon, it wasn't out of the question to drive to the coast and sit on the beach and just stare at the ocean. There is something amazing and overwhelming (in a good way) about the ocean. But you don't have to be near the ocean to get this. Some of my favorite things to experience outside are sparkly afternoon water, the smell of freshly mowed grass, and the sound of a fresh breeze rustling through the trees. I've also found that watching ants can be very calming, somehow their OCD-like behavior reminds me that if I just keep working on something one day at a time, before I know it, my big problem won't seem so big anymore.
5. Do a craft. Sometimes I have my best ideas or remember some of my favorite memories when I'm sitting at my sewing machine, or painting a bedroom. And if you're not crafty, get on Pinterest and lose yourself in the possibility of all the things you could do!! It's a great way to escape reality for a while. And if you are crafty, just think, you'll have created something!
Over the next few weeks we have a swallow test scheduled and a visit to the GI doctor, two things I dread. I have been losing sleep thinking about how to plan for both of these so that I don't look like a fool, and so that I can best represent my child and her abilities. I guess I need to spend some time doing some of the things on my list. And I will try my best to give updates after each of these experiences.
Until then, I'd be happy for you to write in the comments what you do to help with worry and anxiety over your child's future, and let's all work together to keep the stress down!!
1 comment:
This is great - super practical and something I needed to read today. We are headed to Seattle this week for a 24 hour EEG for one of our boys that doesn't have epilepsy and an appointment for the one who does...I've been losing a lot of sleep over it - hoping we get some answers. I'm a researcher though and it has given me too many potential diagnosis' floating around in my brain. Hayden's mom dying was actually a weird distraction from the whole thing. But, now we are right on it and I am dreading starting this process with another child. I am going to bookmark this one - because these are all things that were therapeutic when Hewitt was doing really bad and things that could be therapeutic now if I was being proactive in not worrying! Thanks Christie! Our family prays for you guys almost every day - good to have a specific to pray for. (the swallow test)ReplyDelete


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What is Fuzziness?
The Engine of Fuzziness
Need for Fuzziness
Leartning to Solve Problems
Life is not a Problem to be Solved
Holistic Experienve versus Partial Reasoning
Metabolism of 'Borrowed Knowledge'
Learning in Captivity of The System
Learning that Never Ends
Know Thyself
Inseparability of Existential Dynamics
Awareness Rotted in Human Experience
The less
we know, the more certain are our explanations; the more we know, the
more aware we are about the limitations of being certain.
Because we
are aware of the limitations of what we consider as certain, we avoid
categorical and precise statements and use explanations that are less
certain. The acknowledgment of the fuzziness that is present in our
knowledge is a stimulus for a lifelong seeking of truth and wisdom; and
it is the search for truth and wisdom that makes human life meaningful.
contents | menu
What is Fuzziness?
that we do not know for sure, we usually think, speak or write in a
fuzzy way, that is, by using words and expressions, which convey
uncertainty, ambiguity and doubt. The truth contained in a fuzzy
statement can neither be proved nor disproved, as fuzziness contains
both 'truth' and 'non-truth' at the same time.
Fuzziness is
a holistic characteristic - it does not relate to our thinking
only - it permeates our feelings and emotions, dreams and aspirations,
spiritual beliefs and endeavors. The fuzziness of our feelings does not
need words - it 'voices' through innumerable facial expressions,
movements of eyes and body, nerve signals and gestures, body position
and muscle tone, voice timbre and volume.
Fuzziness is
expressed in our actions - when we act without being sure about what we
really do and aim for, or act with information about the goal we seek
but are ignorant of how to approach it. This is usually the case when
we act a complex or sensitive-to-change situations. Our life is full of
such kind of situations.
Fuzziness is
our companion in the processes of learning, generating hypotheses and
proving theorems. In 1932 Gödel proved that in any axiomatic
mathematical system (theory), there are fuzzy propositions, that
is, propositions which cannot be proved or disproved within the axioms
of this system.
The Engine of Fuzziness
Fuzziness is
not something that exists 'over there', as a quality of an external
object; it is in our understanding of complexity in which we
live and constantly create and re-create through our experience,
through our thoughts, words and actions. It is in the ways complexity
reflects our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual experience and
thus constantly creates and re-creates us. So the source of fuzziness
is in the self-referential nature of our beings: we are
simultaneously creators and products of the existential complexity.
Fuzziness in
our understanding of complexity of nature and society is a reflection
of the fuzziness of our knowing about ourselves. According to
Heisenberg - one of the greatest physicists of our time, "The same
regulating forces, that have created nature in all its forms, are
responsible for the structure of our psyche and also for our capacity
to think" [5]. Every time when we learn how to deal with some
conundrum of our 'inward' individual life, we simultaneously reveal a
secret of complexity in which we live, a secret of our 'outward' social
after generations of humans have lived, live and will continue to live
together with a constantly reproducible fuzziness 'energized' by what
we do not know about ourselves, about our lives, about nature and
existence. And the deeper the processes of our learning and
knowing go into the enigmas we live with, the broader the spectrum
of manifested fuzziness. The famous message of Socrates: " the only
thing we know for sure, is how little we know" relates to the
never-ending renewal of the fuzziness in human knowledge.
The ignorance
about the unknown and the uncertainty about the known, which ever
moves, reshapes and changes, keep the engine of fuzziness going.
Powerful accelerators of this engine are the self-propelling dynamics,
spontaneity and the stunning variety of the life unfolding with its
unpredictable rhythm of never-ending 'stretching', 'shrinking' and
Need for Fuzziness
Our growth in
intelligence and wisdom is hardly compatible with the establishment of
rigid mental and emotional patterns. Every fixed idea, prejudice,
stereotype and standard in thinking, every pre-imposed emotional or
spiritual restriction, every blindly followed behavioral pattern,
attachment and addiction decrease our ability to fully experience the
journey of life and acts as an obstacle on the way of realization of
our creativity.
consciously 'fuzzifying' the rigideness of our thoughts and beliefs, we
empower our capacity to see the flow of the events of life and to learn
directly from it. The development of our ability for a direct
learning from the lessons of life - from the circumstances and
eventualities of own experience - helps us see the limitations which
fuzziness puts on our knowing and continually explore ways of
transcending them.
The fuzziness
inherent in human knowing is what fuzziology explores, not in order to
reduce or eliminate it (this is an impossible task!), but to understand
and go beyond its limitations.
The words of
the ancient wisdom are always fuzzy; therefore they reach the hearts of
many different people and make sense for them at different situations
in different time of human history. Fuzziology is that hidden
interpreter of the words of wisdom - the interpreter who make them
understandable to the heart and soul, to the mind and spirit of an
different from the approach of fuzziology are the approaches embraced
by the education system of today's society.
Learning to Solve Problems
In today's
society, the process of learning is predominantly towards acquisition
of various kinds of expert knowledge - a knowledge which can be used
for solving specific problems. This kind of learning is centred in our
minds (conceptual knowledge) and bodies (practical skill), and
crucially depends on the development of our ability to think in a
rational way, to analyze and synthesize, to extract and study
cause-and-effect relationships, to generate hypotheses and test them
experimentally, to draw out logical conclusions and master skills for
performing certain actions.
The major
goal of problem-oriented learning is to reduce or eliminate fuzziness
imbedded in the process of knowing. In artificially designed systems,
subjected to precise description and control, this goal can be
achieved. When dealing with life and nature, this goal can never
be achieved; the deeper we go in exploring ourselves, society and
universe, the larger becomes the field of our inquiry, as we
constantly come across phenomena and processes which we were initially
unable to see. It is like zooming into infinite numbers of scales
(fractal levels) nested into one another; every scale reveals more
subtleties to be noticed for than the previous.
Life is not a Problem to be Solved
"Life is not
a problem to be solved but reality to be experienced" - these words
belong to the Danish philosopher S. Kirkegaard (1813-1856). Infinite is
the number of levels through which reality manifests - from the macro
level of the whole universe to the micro level of a single quark. And
all the levels project on human experience - not only because
everything relates to everything else in the impossible-to-separate web
of existential dynamics, but also because it is through our experience
that we can grasp the meaning of the manifestations of these dynamics
and ride on their inexhaustible power. We are endowed with a limitless
potential to sense - recognize and understand - the meaning of the
events of our experience. In every creative act of realization of this
potential, a level of reality opens some of its secrets to us.
our systems of education do not teach us how to listen to and
understand the 'voice' of our experience. Often, this voice appears too
subtle, too soft and too fuzzy in comparison with the loud, sharp and
determinate voice of our minds when hurrying to explain 'precisely' how
the surrounding world works and how to utilize this 'precise' knowledge
for the purpose of control and exercising power over nature and people,
systems and machines.
Holistic Experience versus Partial Reasoning
experience emerges out of the complex interplay of the four vital
constituents of our nature - body, mind, soul and spirit, while
in constant dynamic interactions with the environment.
powerful the body-mind tandem seems to be as a coordinator of our sense
perceptions, it can only see a part of the holistic picture of reality;
therefore the mind-body - centred models of reality - models
which profoundly underpin today's systems of education, are partial.
It does not
matter how precisely we can describe and formulate a partial model, the
precision can never make it holistic. The effects that one's soul and
spirit have on one's life and experience remain excluded from the
picture of reality provided by a mind-centred model. Often this picture
appears as a distorted image of reality.
models are suitable for describing artificial (human-made) systems;
these systems can be precisely described, dissemble into subsystems and
parts, and then assemble again. Partial models do not make much sense
when used to describe holistic phenomena and processes like those in
nature, life and society. When applied to a description of such
phenomena, a partial model (be it deterministic or probabilistic,
precise or fuzzy) leads to delusion, to false views on reality - views
which can be used for manipulative purposes by those with greatest
influential power in society.
The 's'-components
of human nature - soul and spirit - cannot be
eliminated; they emit mystery and wisdom, and therefore fuzziness,
into our experience, into the process of our knowing about ourselves
and about the world with which we continuously interact, co-adapt and
Metabolism of 'Borrowed' Knowledge
educational institutions teach learners how to metabolize so-called
'borrowed' knowledge, that is, a knowledge borrowed from outside
the learners' experience and prepared by socially recognized 'gurus' and
'experts'. After pouring the borrowed knowledge into their brains,
learners are asked to use it for purposes located again outside
them, for example, for producing nuclear bombs and rockets, intelligent
robots and self-organizing machines (who think and work obediently,
unlike humans who are able to engage in unpredictable behaviour),
genetic mutants (with totally distorted natural ability for the
realization of their inherent potential), cosmic stations (mainly for
military purposes, espionage and global surveillance), and so on.
Research institutions from all over the world fervently try to increase
this kind of 'applied' knowledge; the most significant part of which is
directed to serve their sponsors - powerful financial and industrial
corporations - and to help them multiply their profits and satisfy
their growing appetite for global power.
artificial world of human-made systems, designed for control and an
insatiable use of natural and human resources, does not like fuzziness
and conflicts with it wherever it occurs. The design, implementation,
development and continuous innovation of human-made systems require
expert-type of knowledge, so educational systems are forced to teach
learners how to accumulate and apply such knowledge.
The more we
immerse ourselves in the artificial world and its requirements for
certainty and precision, the narrower becomes the niche of researching
ourselves, the less able we are to hear and understand the holistic
'voice' of our own nature, to interpret the fuzzy messages of our
conscious and subconscious experience, the fuzzy whisper of our soul
and spirit.
Learning in Captivity of The System
We all are
pressed to learn how to fit and serve the expanding economic System of
Global Corporate Control - a system based on unequal distribution of
economic power and therefore ruled by those who have such power in
abundance - unbelievably rich financial institutions, corporations and
individuals. Education is a captive of this System and is pressed to
obey it in order to survive; therefore, since our young years, we are
taught how to contribute to making the System stronger. We are rarely
taught how to live and grow in mind and spirit; those who control the
System do not care about this at all. Moreover, they oppose such a
growth as it is much easier for them to manipulate a herd of
narrow-minded 'experts' and precise 'specialists' than enlightened
human beings with broad understandings of social reality; the latter can
be a serious threat for the System's custodians.
We have been
taught how to keep propelling the engine of the System and thus to
increase the richness of those who count in it. If we resist doing
this, the System can easily smash us. A huge army of police, military
forces and security equipped with high tech means of surveillance
constantly allows the System to run so that its elite can act without
troubles. (In the Western type of democracies, if we want to protest,
we must inform the authorities about our intention to do this, to have
their permission and then to 'protest' according to special
instructions, so that the System is not disturbed).
When lifelong
learning remains under support and influence of the System of Global
Corporate Control, it can become a lifelong brainwash which,
instead of emphasising personal growth, teaches learners how to better
fit into the System's requirements, to follow its rules, and to remain
constantly in captivity of dreams for consumption-centred happiness.
This kind of 'happiness' is intensively preached by politicians,
economic 'thinkers' and the mass media paid by the System.
By keeping
individuals' consumption-oriented desires at the highest possible
level, the System distracts their ability to understand and unmask its
manipulations at the lowest possible level, and thus makes it easier
for the mega corporations to expand their control.
Learning that Never Ends
Know Thyself!
The best way
to be involved in lifelong learning every single day of our conscious
life is to understand the roles of creativity and spirituality in our
personal growth, and through a realization of our potential to learn
from the events of our experience. This potential is infinite!
thyself" - this is the apotheosis of Socrates' legacy in learning.
For Socrates, the way to know ourselves is also a way to know the
others, and a way to know about everything else that happens in nature
and society. The way to know ourselves is through learning from our own
What does it
mean to learn from experience? Is it only to make meaning of the flow
of everyday events? Making meaning is associated mostly with our mental
activity. We already discussed that the mind-centred learning is
partial and therefore widely open for manipulations, delusion and
control.. So, mind-centred learning is not a holistic process. Neither
is spiritual learning disconnected from our ability for reasoning.
Forms of learning concerned only with acquisition of knowledge about
our physical health, or about our feelings and emotions, our
subconscious drives and impulses are also not complete.
In J.
Campbell's book "The Power of Myth" one reads: "People say that what
we are all seeking is a meaning for life. I don't think that is what we
are really seeking. I think what we are seeking is an experience of
being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane
will have resonances within our own innermost being and reality, so
that we actually feel the rapture of being alive."
"the rapture of being alive" disappears every time when death decides
to loudly send a painful signal of its coming closer. Neither the body
nor the mind can happily live with such signals. The beliefs in some
future resurrection or reincarnation or immortality is of help only if
the whole body-mind-soul-spirit complex of an alive individual has a
kind of an experience-rooted awareness about a possibility to avoid its full
disintegration, despite the inevitable disintegration of its physical
nature. Otherwise, without such awareness, a bare belief in immortality
is similar to a self-imposed delusion. If one can only know how to
evoke awareness of being in existence forever, then "the rapture of
being alive" and the inspiration to earn and know will never end.
exploration of the origins of fuzziness stimulates the emergence of
such awareness.
of Existential Dynamics
One of the
three principles of fuzziology - the principle of
connectivity-in-dynamics [1], which explains why the fuzziness is
inherent in human knowing, says: "No thing and no being can exist in
itself or for itself but only in dynamic relationship with other things
and beings". This is also a fundamental premise of complexity, and
relates to the integrity of all existential dynamics - energies,
forces, forms and substances, whose creative, sustaining or destructive
powers are constantly demonstrated at different scales of the universe.
It is through these dynamics that everything that exists, moves, changes
and transforms, from an elementary particle to a gigantic ensemble of
galaxies, becomes connected in a gigantic vortex-like spinning web of
mutually dependent, intricately interwoven and co-evolving
Einstein was
among the greatest supporters of the idea of unity. To him belongs the
following quotation: "A human being is a part of the whole, called by
us Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself,
his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest - a kind
of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of
prison, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a
few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free from this prison by
widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and
the whole nature in its beauty" [6].
individual, indeed, any phenomenon of existence has the totality of
existence at its own base and reflects this totality. As far as
existence has ever been, one can infer that every phenomenon and
especially every individual has an infinite past based on an infinity
of relationships, which cannot exclude anything that existed, exists,
or is liable to come into existence in future.
This stream
of thoughts, which is at the base both of fuzziology and complexity
science, has a strong spiritual connotation.
What is
timeless - permanent, non-temporal, eternal - in the gigantic galactic
whirlpool, which holds together all the swirling dynamics of existence
(in similar way as a tornado holds together all the swirling dynamics
of constantly interacting streams of air), can be located only in the
hollowness - the cavity, the emptiness - along the central axis of the
whirlpool. Only the emptiness, that is, only what is free of any
materialized dynamics can be timeless and immortal: beyond birth and
death, beyond growth and decay. But it is a particular kind of
emptiness - an emptiness that is impregnated with an immense creative
potential (in the same way as the emptiness of the black holes studied
in physics is impregnated with a monstrous sucking power). Being both
voidness and plenitude, the hollowness in the centre of the existential
whirlpool may be used as a mental image of the ESSENCE of the existence.
The essence
supports not only the integrity of the existence, it endows the
whirling complexity of existence with an ability to self-organize -
expand, sustain and fold together with the material forms, in which
these dynamics are embodied. All embodied-in-matter motions, dynamics
and interactions, all animated forms of existence gravitate to the
voidness of the essence in order to release their energy contents and
die, and to its plenitude in order to be filled with energy and live.
Rooted in Human Experience
In a state of
deep relaxation, when not only our physical bodies are free of tension
but also the minds are free of thoughts, and the emotions cease to
emerge, we can experience the emptiness. After such an experience, we
feel like being born anew, charged by a kind of energy that is similar
to the energy of inspiration. Because of this re-vitalizing effect, the
relaxation positively influences not only the body, but also the mind
and soul. Why not to go a bit further and imagine one's physical death
as a unique kind of relaxation that is necessary for charging anew the
creative potential of those components of the body-mind-soul-spirit
complex (at the Essence of one's inner nature), which do not
disintegrate when the body and the brain die?
In a state of
meditation, the yogis identify their inner nature with the essence of
existence and its unlimited spiritual power. Here is a text used to
keep the consciousness of the yoga practitioners focused at the essence
of their inner nature.
"I am not
only this body, not only these senses, not only this mind and not even
this intellect only. No, I am none of these things in isolation! Each
of them is ever changing and impermanent. Each of them has a beginning
and an end. I am not bound by beginning and end. I have my roots in the
Essence of Existence, which has no birth, no growth, no decay, no
disease, no death. Therefore, the sword cannot cut me asunder! The
spear cannot pierce me through! The wind cannot dry me! The water
cannot wet me! The fire cannot burn me! The sun cannot scorch me! I am
unborn, immortal, immovable, unchangeable, all pervading and infinite.
I am the Totality of the Essence, which is ever by itself, one without
a second!"
By exploring
the sources, nature and dynamics of fuzziness that accompanies our
attempts to grasp the mysterious essence of existence and its infinite
unfolding through the events of life, fuzziology reveals powerful
fountains of inspiration. It is entirely in our hands to use the
limitless energy of these fountains while continually learning how to
live in full realization of our creative potential, and thus to
contribute in the growth of the human consciousness.
1. Delors, J. 1996. The Treasure Within. UNESCO,
Dimitrov, V. (2001) Introduction to Fuzziology, in Fuzzy Logic: A
Paradigm for the New Millennium, Eds. V. Dimitrov and V. Korotkich,
Heidelberg-New York (http://www.uws.edu.au/vip/dimitrov/study-of-fuzziness.htm)
Dimitrov, V. et al (2001) Fuzziology and Social Complexity, in Advances
in Fuzzy Systems and Evolutionary Computation, Ed. N. Mastorakis,
World Scientific Engineering Society Press: New York, Athens, pp. 88-93
Dimitrov, V. and Stewart, B. (2001) Social Fuzziology in Action:
Acquisition and Making Sense of Social Information, in Soft
computing in measurement and information acquisition, Eds. L.
Reznik and V. Kreinovich, Physica-Verlag, Heidelberg-New York
Heisenberg, W. 1999 Physics and Philosophy, Reprint edition, Prometheus
Books, New York
Einstein, A. 1993 The World as I See It, Reissue edition, Citadel Pr.
Go to Vlad's home page
Vlad Dimitrov and Steve Wilson


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