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So, your computer is running slow and it is really starting to get on your nerves. This can be a very frustrating situation if you are trying to get important work done. If you are able to, it is definitely worth setting a few minutes aside to try to fix your slow PC. In this guide, we take a look a 9 Free ways to fix a slow computer.
1) Defragment the Hard Drive
This is one of the easiest things you can do to regain some speed. If the hard drive is fragmented, it can lead to poor performance. To defrag, simply open up "my computer" and right click on the drive you wish to defragment. Then, click properties, click tools, and click defragment now. Just follow the instructions from here in Windows. In Windows 7, 8 and 10, you can have Windows automatically defrag your drive based on a schedule. Important note: If you have an SSD, you won't want to defragment your hard drive.
2) Remove Spyware
You don't want spyware on your computer for multiple reasons. Removing spyware can both speed up your computer and keep your computer more secure. I use the free version of Ad-Aware by lavasoft for this. It is free, easy to use, and does a good job cleaning. All you need to do is to simply download and install Ad-Aware and then let it scan and remove any spyware. That is it!
3) Remove Malware
Hopefully, there isn't any malware on your computer. However, if there is, it can really slow you down. You can use malwarebytes to check for and remove any malware. Malwarebytes is free and does a great job finding and eliminating any problems. Just like the tip above, all you need to do is to download and install malwarebytes and then run a scan with it.
4) Remove Unused Programs
Do you have any programs that you no longer use? If so, removing these can free up disk space and system resources which will help the speed of your PC. I would recommend using the add/remove programs tool found in the control panel for this. This will make sure any programs are properly uninstalled.
To do this, Open Programs and Features by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking Programs, and then clicking Programs and Features. From here, you can select a program you no longer need and click uninstall.
5) Disable Windows Indexing Service
This is another simple one that can add a tiny speed boost. To disable windows indexing, open up "My Computer", Right Click on C:, Click properties, Uncheck "Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching", click OK.
6) Physically Clean Your Computer
If your computer is getting up their in age, cleaning out the dust can reduce heat and speed up the system. I would recommend wiping down the inside and outside of the case and then using a can of compressed air to clean the dust out of the fans and off the motherboard. Make sure you shut down and unplug the computer before opening it up.
7) Remove Temporary Internet Files
This is a pretty quick one that may speed up your browsing experience. Here is how you do this in IE. Here is how you do it in Firefox. If you haven't done this is a long time, this can really help make your browsing experience faster and more enjoyable as well.
8) Remove or move old files, photos, videos, pictures, etc
This is similar to the tip about removing old programs. If you are able to free up some disk space, you may be able to increase the performance of your hard drive. If you find a lot to remove, I would recommend defragmenting your hard drive again after you remove these files.
9) Cut down on what Starts Up When Windows Starts
Using Microsoft's msconfig tool, you can cut down on the number of programs that automatically start up when Windows starts. Every program that auto-starts uses system resources. Why not just start up infrequently used programs when you actually need them?
You can edit your startup by clicking the Windows icon or start, then typing in msconfig into the search bar. Next, go to the tab labeled start-up. From here, you can pick and choose what programs you want to disable when Windows first starts up. For example, do you really need iTunes, Steam, AIM, etc to all start when Windows starts? Why not just run them when you need them. You can check out this guide for more details on how to do this.
Bonus Tip
Adding More RAM Can Make a Big Difference
If you have an older computer, you can often improve its performance drastically by simply adding more RAM. If your PC is slow and you are able to add 2 GB or more of RAM to your existing PC, you will really notice a difference. This is a cheap way to get an extra year or two out of your existing computer.
Many novice PC users are worried they won't do this correctly. Upgrading Your Memory is super easy. The memory simply snaps in. The only thing you need to worry about is making sure you buy the correct memory. One tool you can use is the Crucial Memory Scanner. This tool will tell you exactly what kind of memory you need and how much memory you can add.


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The St. Louis Cardinals. This team has been around for a very, very long time. This is a professional baseball team based out of St. Louis, Missouri. The Cardinals have for over a century competed in Major League Baseball, (MLB), as a member club of the National League, (NL), epic Central division. The fancy and new Busch Stadium has been their home ballpark since the year of 2006 and its attracted hundreds of thousands.
With origins as one of the earliest still existing professional baseball clubs in all of St. Louis, entrepreneur Chris von der Ahe purchased a barnstorming club in 1881 then known as the iconic Brown Stockings and established them as charter members of the then American Association, (AA), the following season. Upon the later discontinuation and dismantling of the AA, St. Louis joined the NL in the year 1892; at that time, they were called the Browns and the Perfectos before they were officially renamed as the Cardinals in the year 1900.
Try Watching the Cardinals Live with Sling TV
Sling is a new cord cutting service that allows you to watch certain cable channels without a traditional package. It's about twenty dollars per month and gets you ESPN, Fox and more. Sometimes the Cardinals play on Fox or ESPN so be sure to keep that option in your back pocket.
Head over there now to check it out and sign up for the free seven day trial.
This is one of the best teams around. In fact, one of the most successful franchises in baseball history, the Cardinals have won 11 World Series championships, (second only to the New York Yankees' 27 and most among National League franchises). They have garnered an impressive fan base and not without good reason either.
It's not always easy to stream sporting events on the Internet. In fact, it can be really tricky and seem next to impossible at times. Streaming technology is still a little behind the times and can certainly be cumbersome from time to time.
Stream the St Louis Cardinals Live with DIRECTV NOW
You can stream all the Cardinals' games live with a DIRECTV NOW subscription which starts at a mere $35 a month. The service live streams the channels via its app for smart phones and tablets like those using the iOS, and Android operating systems. However, Chromecast and XBox One users can also download the native apps for their devices. Cardinals fans should check out the service for free by clicking on the button below:
Try DIRECTV NOW Free for 7 Days
Watch the St Louis Cardinals on MLB.TV, The Official Option
Some of these main pages for certain teams have streaming content and others do not. Without fail though, the main website is a great place to start. This site is everything Cardinals. Not only do they have some content streaming, but they also have a wide plethora of data and info on the iconic Cardinals. MLB even has its own app for streaming content and material called MLB.tv. Sure it costs some money but its worth it in convenience and ease of access that is offered by this app. This app lets you browse and categorize all of the games and time lines so that they make the most sense.
It's a decent deal because you'll get full streaming access to the Cardinals for under 100 bucks.
Avoid Illegal Streams of the St Louis Cardinals
Don't get discouraged when it becomes difficult to find a site that streams this type of content. It's not easy to do, but it is doable. To do this effectively, one has to take his or her time and look for that perfect site. Once it s found it will pay off in the long run. Don't stoop to trying to find an illegal source for the game. You'll be disappointed when the buffering and intrusive ads put a virus on your machine.
Have a better way to watch the Cardinals online? Leave us a comment below.

subset: commoncrawl


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Facing all five District teams on the Blue Rock Inn District course two weeks before Districts, both the boys and girls' cross country teams prepped for the all-important meet with a strong performance on Wednesday, October 13th. Eagle Paul Myer led the entire 3.1 mile race, crossing the line first in a time of 17:15 to equal his season-best for the distance and help pull his team to victory.
"The hardest parts of the race were the hills since we don't have any where we train," said Myer after his finish. Looking ahead to the District meet he predicted, "George Mason's team will be our biggest competitor. Their team looks strong right now. As long as we run just like we did today, we'll do fine. All of us are peaking at the right time."
Following close behind the leaders were teammates Zach Campbell, fourth in 17:50, and Adam King, fifth in 18:04. Completing the team scoring were Chris Smalley, 15th, finishing in 18:52, and Ronaldo Jiminez, 16th place in 18:57.
Teammate Steven Trayer shared the team expectations: "Run hard, work the uphills, focus on the down hills, and push hard the last mile to the finish." He called race winner Paul "Mr. November" for his ability to improve during the post-season races. "Paul has the potential to be anywhere in the race. It's a huge comfort to know the guy behind you is a teammate. You can't lose to an opponent! We run together in practices so it becomes second nature to stay close together in races."
Clarke's team score won the meet with 39 points, followed by George Mason with 45, and Strasburg with 85.
The girls faced much tougher competition, as first place finisher George Mason and second place Strasburg were State champion and State runner-ups last year with nearly the same runners. With her first race after a two-week layoff from a bout with mono, Ally Kuehm led all Clarke finishers in twelfth place in a time of 21:47. Teammate Kelly Lee took 19th place (22:59); Megan Waring, 24th in 23:42; Becca York, 29th in 24:35; and Bridget Acland, 42nd in 25:29, were Clarke's team scorers. Commented Kuehm, "I'm confident our team can pass through to Regionals, by finishing at Districts in the top four. We were missing three of our top seven runners today, so we have even more strength. The course felt fine. Kaitlyn Ayres (Strasburg's winner, last year's State champion) will be the toughest competitor we'll face all season, as will George Mason's team. We need to continue to train hard."
After the races, head coach Chuck Bowles remarked, "The team ran better than I thought they would. This is our seventh race in the past three and a half weeks, so I expected them to be tired, but it didn't show in their performances. Many had season bests or personal records on this, the District course. That's always good! Ally and Kelly both had season bests today. We need to focus for Districts, and the guys need to keep our streak alive, while the girls need to aim for Top 3."
George Mason's team took first place with 24 points; Strasburg had 41; while Clarke's girls totaled 92.
The District meet is the teams' next competition on October 27th, at the Blue Rock Inn course across from Rappahannock High School, beginning at 4 p.m. The top seven runners from each team will compete in the championships with the top four teams advancing to the Regional meet, along with the top fifteen individuals.
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Hen Coops GameTags: 1 Player, Animal, Chicken, Flash, Memory Game
(4087 / plays )
Keep an eye on the egg under the hen as the rooster switches the hens around trying to confuse you.
How to play:
This game is played with mouse only.
|Add this media to your blog, MySpace or website!


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This item from The Antique Boutique ® is now in the Shop Backroom.
More from The Antique Boutique ®
Antique French .800 Silver Lady's Evening Purse / Hand Bag, Chain Mail Mesh Links
Antique French .800 silver lady's chain mail purse. The frame work is exquisite, decorated with elegant neoclassical styling. Comprising of laurel and stylized acanthus along the sturdy handle centered by a blank escutcheon cartouche with ribbon and laurel detail. Absolutely stunning quality workmanship! Handle features a kiss-lock closure. Suspended from a linked chain. Beautifully constructed with quality chain mail mesh. Heavy with a good weight in hand. Weighs 328.5 grams. Hallmarked with the French head of the wild boar, in use from 1838 to indicate a silver content of .800/1000, close to .925 sterling. Also bearing a maker's marks for silversmith Louis Baudet, active 1882-1935 at 14 rue des Archives , Paris. In very good condition, no holes or breaks to the mesh. Measures 6 1/8" across the frame and the purse is 7" in height, sans chain. Measures approx. 14" total length with the chain. Weighs 242.2 grams.
If you were the pending buyer of this item, go to My Account to view, track and check payment for this item.
The Antique Boutique ®
Quality Antiques, Sterling Silver, Porcelain & Decorative Arts
Wishing you Happy Holidays!


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Meditation involves the development of an inner awareness, preferably bringing the body and mind into harmony and expanding personal insight. It also contributes to an overall sense of well-being and improves physical and spiritual health. Personal effort is the answer when one asks how to meditate properly.
Create a welcoming, calming space for meditation. It is best to use the same space for meditation in order to forge a mental link between the physical place and the experience of meditation. Some prefer meditating on the floor in order to feel more grounded. Others may require a cushion or even to sit on a chair. The right answer for a meditative space is an area where you can physically relax with minimal outside influences. Whether sitting or stretched out allow your body to be comfortable.
Clear your area of all possible distractions. This means turning off your cell phone, shutting off the television, and closing windows so passing traffic doesn't interrupt you. Closing off distractions may mean that you must tell others in the home that you are in need of private time and that they must remain quiet. While the ideal situation is an empty house, this is sometimes impossible; enforcing boundaries is the best approach.
Focus on lighting when you prepare your space. Natural light is wonderful, but in some positions natural light may distract you even with closed eyes. Similarly, overly bright artificial lights are disruptive. Seek out these sneaky distractions before meditation.
Once your space is properly prepared, take your desired position and close your eyes. Begin breathing deeply, focusing on the cyclical feeling of air entering and leaving your body.
Empty your mind. This sounds simple and yet takes practice. The daily worries we carry mentally and physically weight us down and often refuse to leave when we want to relax. The deep breathing will help retrain your focus to meditation and away from those worries, though it might take a while until the practice becomes regular.
From this point meditation can become more subjective and personally tailored to you. Some religions have their own meditative guides that involve gripping prayer beads and reciting special texts. If this is your orientation, then work with these meditative practices.
A more general way to meditate is to reach a state where you are only somewhat aware of your physical surroundings. This means that you are instead focused on bringing your body and mind into harmony. You can utilize visualizations that calm you, such as wandering through a field or sitting next to a waterfall and listening to the rhythm of the water.
Your own preferences will determine how long a meditation session will last. Attempt to bring yourself out of it with a soothing spoken message to yourself as a signal. Open your eyes and focus on deep breathing for a few minutes before getting up.
The hallmark of proper meditation is genuine daily commitment. If you put effort into meditating…


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Birth country travel is expensive, and many adoptees and families find themselves in need of financial help. Typically, it is an experience that involves the entire family. From airline tickets to hotels to arrangements for special visits with people and places important to your adoption, it all adds up!
When you register for a Ties Program, you will receive a payment schedule. If you register at least 10 months in advance, you will have the option of paying in increments without interest. Best to register during the early bird registration period.
The Ties Program has put together some ideas that hopefully will help you think about how to finance this importance piece in your life experience of adoption.
Many organizations provide funding to families who would like to adopt a child, but cannot afford the cost. Until now, there has been no funding for international adoptees who need to visit their birth country to feel whole, but cannot afford the expense.
Help is here!
Whether you are an adoptee in need of funds for this journey, or an individual, organization or corporation that would like to help GIFT become a meaningful option, please visit the GIFT website, and join GIFT on FACEBOOK.
Some adoptees have used online platforms to raise funds, and because they wanted their efforts to serve more than themselves, they structured it so that half of the funds they raised went to the Gift of Identity Fund. Others have set a goal, and if they go over the goal, donate the excess to GIFT. It's a win-win.
Here is an example of one adoptee's crowd funding page.
They used GiveForward.com and set their goal at $3600, and exceeded it! In talking with Wynnie and her mom, we learned that at first they were a little nervous about online fundraising. But after they got going with it, they said, "It turned out to be a lot of fun! We had a lot of people tell us it was like traveling vicariously."
Wynnie's family did a lot of their posting and pictures on Facebook, especially as they were traveling. But they could have posted directly to the GiveForward page. There are lots of ways to approach online fundraising.
Perhaps you want to give it a try. If you will be donating a portion to Gift of Identity for the greater good, please contact GIFT to make arrangements.
- Check your employer's Human Resources Department for "Family Benefits"
- Contact your church or synagogue or other place of worship for support
- Home equity or personal loans
- Loans from Retirement Funds or Life Insurance
- Contact local ethnic organizations or churches to enquire about support—these organizations usually feel strongly about children connecting with their ethnic culture.
- Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs
- College Students—talk with your advisor about resources. We have occasionally had Ties participants who have been able to create an independent study class within the framework of their homeland journey.
- Personal budget—many people operate without one. Perhaps by outlining your personal priorities, and studying where your incoming dollars are spent, you will see things you can adjust to help save for this significant journey.
- Check out fund raising ideas online. There are zillions of them!


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It's safe to say that after all the negative press and flak this summer's World War Z received leading up to it hitting theaters, is now standing atop a pile of cash and laughing at the world. To date, the film has grossed over half a billion dollars (about $536 million, to be exact), and plans are underway for a sequel.
From the start, Pitt has hinted that the WWZ films would be set up as a trilogy, and he sat down with Variety during the Toronto International Film Fest to discuss the status of the World War Z sequel.
And if you don't want to sit through the 44 second long video, here's the text:
We're certainly talking about it, yeah. We have so many ideas on the table from just the time we spent developing this thing and figuring out how zombie worlds work. We have so many ideas and so much information, we think we have a lot of stuff to mine from. We're going to do our best and see what we get out of it.
It's interesting that Pitt explains it in that way, because it makes it seem as if all the issues they had plaguing the first film were actually a blessing in disguise. They now have hours of unused footage, scrapped storylines that didn't quite work the first time, and design and artwork that can all be used, as well as a better understanding of what it will take to shoot the next film.
Expect to hear some news in the next few months regarding the sequel - we'll keep you updated.
Follow Alisha on Twitter.


text: > > def pars_file(list_of_lines): > > ####internal FunctionS########### > > def check_flags(line,flags=item_flags,adict=data_dict): > > for item in flags: > > if line.startswith(item): > > adict[item]=line[len(item)] > > return > > ####end internal functions#### > > ####start main function suite#### > > data_dict={} > > for line in list_of_lines: > > check_flags(line) > > return data_dict > If anyone could either explain the conventional wisdom or set straight > my belief that distaste for nested defs is indeed widespread and well > founded, I'd be grateful. Hi Brian, It's a funny thing for me: whenever I write a nested definition, I often find that the embedded definition is often useful enough to be itself an outer definition. *grin* It does seem that internal definitions are mostly avoided. Part of this might be because Python didn't have real lexical scope until the Python 2 series, but I also suspect it's just because they're just harder to test, since they're only accessible from the scope of the surrounding function. I hardly write inner definitions without being tempted to make them generally useable. For the function above, for example, I can't help but see if a general definition might work: ### def parse_tagged_line(line): """A general parser for "tagged" lines of the form: [tag_name] rest_of_line Returns a 2-tuple (tag_name, rest_of_line). If the line doesn't appear to be tagged, returns (None, line). """ regex = re.compile(r""" \[ ([^\]]*) ## The tag \] (.*)$ ## followed by the end of the line """, re.VERBOSE) if regex.match(line): return regex.match(line).groups() else: return (None, line) ### This is a generalized version of the line-parsing inner loop code, but it tries to parse anything that looks like a tagged line. For example: ### >>> parse_tagged_line("[email] dyoo at hkn.eecs.berkeley.edu") ('email', ' dyoo at hkn.eecs.berkeley.edu') >>> parse_tagged_line("[Name] Brian van den Broek") ('Name', ' Brian van den Broek') >>> parse_tagged_line("This is just a regular line") (None, 'This is just a regular line') ### If we have 'parsed_tagged_line()', then the parse_file() function can be flattened down a bit, from: ### def parse_file(list_of_lines): data_dict = {} for line in list_of_lines: for item in item_flags: if line.startswith(item): data_dict[item] = line[len(item):] break return data_dict ### to something like this: ### def parse_file(list_of_lines): data_dict = {} for line in list_of_lines: tag, rest = parse_tagged_line(line) if tag in item_flags: data_dict[tag] = rest return data_dict ### Embedded inner loops can be a ripe target for refactoring. Sometimes, the refactoring makes absolutely no sense at all, and the inner loop is better left alone as it is. In the example above, though, I think the extraction can help.


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Since he was left off of this recent Calvin Klein underwear model list, Mehcad Brooks gets his own post as Hunk of the Day. In addition to filling out Mr. Klein's underwear so fully, our Mr. Brooks has appeared in 'Desperate Housewives' and 'Necessary Roughness' (according to the always unreliable Wikipedia.) Personally, I think that sort of television work will always pale in comparison to the duties of a male model. Here's hoping he gets back to basics soon.
27 October 2014No comments


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Beijing Olympic Forest Park and the Red Cross Society of China denied Thursday that a villa complex was owned by the Red Cross.
The clarification followed online allegations that the Red Cross had bought the luxury homes using public funds.
Zhou Shuo, media officer of the Beijing Olympic Forest Park in Chaoyang district, said that the villas were there long before the park was constructed in 2006, which has nothing to do with the Red Cross.
A Web user named Mengzi Mencius, who identified himself as the CEO of a search engine 7SOYO, claimed Wednesday on his Sina microblog that the dozens of empty villas near the Olympic Forest Park were illegally owned by the Red Cross.
The Web user did not provide any evidence for his allegations, and did not respond to interview requests.
"This villa area has been there for 10 years," he posted.
The microblog was immediately reposted over 7,000 times with over 1,000 comments, most calling for an investigation.
Ma Hui, media officer of the Red Cross Society of China said that they do not have any property at the park.
"We are investigating this," she said.
The villa complex, to the southeast of the park, has dozens of abandoned houses, which do not appear to have been lived in. Fixtures and fittings are in decay, and gates, windows and doors are missing.
"The villas don't have property deeds and they are leftover from a demolition project for the 2008 Olympic Games," said Zhou, "Now they're under our management."
She also noted that discussions are still ongoing about the fate of these properties.
The rumor has been troublesome, said Zhou, and has affected their work since many people have questioned them about these properties and their connection with the Red Cross.
"The Red Cross has not reached us about this yet," she said, adding that they will investigate this rumor later.


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3DOcean Future Space Ship Vehical 5080835
3DOcean Future Space Ship Vehical 5080835
3D Model
Vehicals \ Ship \ Space \ Models
3D Model - Future Space Ship Vehical 5080835 by noob3d @ 3DOcean
3D Model
3D File Formats Included: .mb (maya), .obj (multi format); Animated: No; Created In: maya 2011; Geometry: Polygons; Low-poly: No; Materials: Yes; Poly Count: 6565; Rigged: No; Textured: Yes; UV Layout: Yes.
This is a maya 2011 space ship desing
zip file name XG-12
in the zip file thir is a help txt for map visualize to decrease render time
and an animated scene in the scenes folder
texture use and bump maping for the boudy
rendering in mental ray
file type both MB/ OBJ multie formate for any othe 3D softwere
Tow appartment bulding; Rifle.
Keywords: 3d models, space ship, vehicals.


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JAMIE MacDONALD believes Hearts need better internal communication with administrators BDO to avoid a repeat of the Billy Brown debacle.
The club's assistant manager will continue working until after next month's League Cup semi-final with Inverness, but only after a rethink by those in charge at Tynecastle.
Brown was originally due to leave after last Saturday's match with St Johnstone, with his contract due to expire on January 31. To maintain continuity ahead of the semi-final, BDO agreed to let him stay on after a meeting with senior Hearts players. MacDonald was one of those involved in the talks.
"Yeah, I was one of the players in the meeting. We knew his contract ran until the end of the month and we were all happy for Billy to keep going," said the goalkeeper. "Obviously what happens to Billy at the end of his contract, there's nothing we can do about that. That's up to the people behind the scenes.
"For the time being, especially with a big semi-final coming up, for us it was vitally important that nothing really changed too much. We need to try to keep things as steady as possible right now. We had the meeting. The rest will be private.
"We definitely hope the communication with the administrators will improve going forward, but we realise how difficult the situation is. It's the administrators who are in control of the club and, to a degree, it's difficult for them. It's not really their place to make some decisions. The sooner we can get out of administration, agree the shares and sign off, the better it will be for us. At least then we'll see who is going to be in charge and the club can start getting forward."
MacDonald – speaking to promote the launch of the SPFL's new sticker album, published by Topps – explained that senior Hearts players expressed their thoughts to BDO during the meeting. That led to Brown being asked to stay on to assist manager Gary Locke for the time being. "There can be times when you need to voice an opinion," he continued. "The administrators have obviously been involved in football clubs before but they maybe don't understand some of the day-to-day stuff on the football side.
"I'm sure they are great on the business side but this is completely different. Just like we won't involve ourselves on their side of things, we don't know what is best for the club financially. So maybe there was a little bit of that, just a desire to make sure they heard our points, took our views on board. Thankfully it has meant Billy staying on board for a while longer.
"It wasn't quite the Riccarton Three! Nothing like that. I remember that, I was young at the time – that was a completely different situation."
Meanwhile, Hearts have rescheduled a league meeting with St Mirren for next Wednesday in order to have Ryan Stevenson available for the League Cup semi-final.
The midfielder has a two-game suspension which would have ruled him out against Inverness after he was sent off against St Johnstone for violent conduct. However, Hearts officials have slotted the home fixture with St Mirren – originally due to be played on the weekend of the semi-final – in next week. Stevenson's ban now means he misses that match plus this weekend's trip to Ross County.
"That was one of the reasons why we tried to get the game organised," Locke told the club website. "I think you can see in the games this season where Ryan's been missing, he's been a big loss to the team. Obviously the semi-final is a huge game for the football club and we'll give ourselves a better chance by having all of our best players on the pitch.
"I'm delighted that St Mirren have kindly agreed to rearrange that fixture. It's not ideal in as much as we've got a game four or five days before the semi-final but at the end of the day it's great that we've got Ryan available for such a big game."


text: What is the best way to train up your weightlifting? I've read millions of articles on running training but don't know a whole lot theory-wise on bodybuilding. The day I tested out my max I ate about the same amount after the workout I did for lighter, higher rep workouts and woke up at 3 AM that night starving. So obviously I need more post-workout nutrition, but is the best way to get those gains to train low rep close to your max or to train more reps a bit lower down? (Or mix of both?) Edit: Managed one rep of 195 yesterday, and that was after 25 minutes of bouldering. Might stand a chance on the tire flip after all. The bar by itself is usually 45 pounds right?


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Carter Lake Crossing: "Race Report"
This event recap is about a month old now, and I wasn't going to share it here, but then the journal voice of the blog won out for the sake of posterity, in case swimming happens to slip back into the lowly ranks of "extra" again. 😉
What kind of reluctant swimmer signs up for a 3-mile open water swim race on a whim and with enthusiasm? That would be me. And, it was lovely. Really, truly enjoyable, in so many ways, from the scenery to the conviviality to the personal attitude.
This is not a race report. That would be a dishonest description, since it was never my intention to "race". It's more of an "event description".
Coming from a running background and lacking in swimming talent and motivation, I tended to count swimming as "extra" or even "rest" when training for multisport, even when an attempt at swimming hard resulted in rubbery whole-body lethargy and searing lungs. But when, last year, my avid ultra-running husband was handed a devastating blow in the form of complex injuries that meant he would have to give up running permanently, something changed. I didn't transform into a "swimmer", but I made the decision to start swimming like I meant it, to support him and also to safeguard my own active options for the unseen, inevitable future.
Two swim sessions bursting with incredible pointers from the brilliant Eney Jones and I felt gifted with a new perspective on moving through the water. I soon had to acknowledge that enjoyment for the sport was creeping in on me, on just two one-hour swims a week. I even found myself inspired to sign up for swim events, completing a few one-mile, and one two-mile, races. There was a peaceful friendliness to those morning swims that made me hungry for more. It was strange being motivated by something I was floundering at. But I loved the shift back to finding satisfaction in "complete" versus "compete". The anonymity and finding your own groove oblivious to whose feet were creating the bubbles and waves around you felt somehow really great.
I signed up for the Carter Lake Crossing because after a year of healing a glute injury, I hadn't challenged myself with event goals for awhile, and I craved something different. I'd ridden many times along the lake, but had never dipped a toe in the water. Three miles of swimming seemed an awfully long way to go, but at the same time a logical step up from 2.4, my longest to date as part of a tri.
Leading up to the race, I felt more relaxed than I deserved. Knowing it was a foregone conclusion I'd be closer to the back than the front made it hard to really stress. The day before, however, I started to panic, dreading: a) how early I was going to have to wake up, then b) the possibility that I really might actually drown.
As it turned out, not only did I not drown, but from the moment I arrived with a friend at registration to the second I stepped out of the water, things couldn't have been more relaxed considering it was officially a competition. I bumped into friends, and everyone I met or brushed wetsuits with exuded laid-back, cheerful energy, whether they expected to be first out of the water or carried back on a jet ski.
Since the race is point-to-point, we were shuttled to the start line. Race briefing was concise, casual but clear on safety. The water was perfect and generally still, save for the odd pulsing wave from nearby boats. Sighting was easy as could be, with the shoreline to follow parallel to the bright orange and yellow buoys.
Maybe if I was a stronger swimmer I'd get caught up in thoughts of where I might be in the "pack" and my ultimate time. Sometimes not being near the top of your category has its benefits, I've discovered. Swimming, I felt on my own but in touch. I did my best, and was happy with my 1:37:17 getting from start to finish. But best of all, it was the 'during' part of the experience that was most rewarding. In fact, I even fell into a sort of meditative zen at points, appreciating the opportunity to just stretch my body and turn off thoughts. Until this year, I never would have imagined that I'd sign up for a swim event like this without being goaded somehow, but I did. What's more, I will surely do it again, and relish the prospect.
Rim Rock Marathon: Learning to relax and race
What's a race, project, or otherwise big endeavor without a whole bunch of built-in excuses? You don't have to be elite, or stake a lot on the line, to have a hefty list. They're padding my back pocket when nervously anticipating most races; this one was no exception, despite the fact that it was very purposefully meant to be "just for fun".
The thing about excuses, though, is oftentimes they also happen to be facts. The excuse part of the equation comes into play depending on how much those facts are shared, and with what attitude and/or whining. We often forget them once our goals are achieved, unless the ego insists on a little extra stroking along the lines of, "And it would have been even better if…". This time though, I want to remember and share my excuses post-completion while happy with the results. Because this time, it feels like all the factors that seemed to go against a good performance strangely ended up opening my mind to a really good day–one of the nicest, purest race experiences I've yet had, and I'd love to repeat the feeling.
Rim Rock Marathon is described as "one of the most scenic marathons in the world". It is absolutely stunning, winding up and over the Colorado National Monument. What an opportunity, to run through a national park! It's also pretty darn hard. Climbing 2,000 from the start to the halfway point, it offers views that are both spectacularly dramatic and serene. Sheer red rock walls, sweeping canyons, gorgeous contrasts, twists and turns. Running along such splendid vistas, how can you help but tap into a deep source of inner peace and personal strength?
Nevertheless, the run/race nearly didn't happen. I forced myself to get on the bus that shuttled runners to the start line, trying not to inwardly curse Dave too hard for being so encouraging. Excuses? I had miles of them, including:
- I hadn't trained on hills. Still nursing, and navigating tight schedule constrictions, my runs tend to be from the house, with one quality session with inspiring Masters' runners on the weekend.
- I hadn't slept more than 2 consecutive hours in two days, and was generally sleep deprived before that, anyway. (Once again, nursing. Little Monkey is weaning on his own, but since taking off walking and running at one year, and now suffering another raging bout of teething, he's been waking up numerous times at night again, bringing on lots of deja vu to this time last year.)
- We all caught a stomach bug a week before, which cleaned us out. I still felt utterly drained.
- I've been managing plantar fasciitis for some time, and nagging heel pain was aggravated by compensatory and related issues, mainly a tight back, glutes and hamstrings, especially on the right side and connected to how I've been holding my strong and solid little tot.
There are more…but they are truly excuses more than valid. When race morning dawned, I was practically delirious for lack of sleep. I would have had us pack up and drive back home, if it weren't for the fact that driving is exhausting. I could not wait for the race to be over, and berated myself for putting Little Monkey through a long drive, a dull hotel room, and pack-and-play nights.
The funny thing is, all the things that stacked against a good day forced a mental choice: wallow and weep and probably bail; or, accept, relax, and see what was possible. I won't lie…I did spend some time wallowing, petulantly, and nearly even wept. But I'm so glad, even proud of myself, I was able to step into a more peaceful acceptance in the nick of time.
Stepping off the bus on Rim Rock Drive, I was struck by the casual, laid-back atmosphere and easygoing nature of the small crowd assembled. Lots of ipods didn't convey lack of friendliness, just a shared expectation of some relatively solo miles and a goal of getting in the zone and enjoying the views. Stretching and chatting with a few other racers, I felt my body shrug off fatigue and start to look forward to a beautiful run.
Set off by a simple whistle, I took things really easy, having no idea how my legs were going to react to 13 miles of consistent, often sharp, uphill. I was amazed to find myself near the front of the pack, and fully expected to be steadily passed. Only I wasn't. I won't wax on about too many details, but just as I've bulleted the bag of excuses, here are a few notes on what worked:
- Nutrition: The volunteers were wonderful–so kind. Aid stations, which were every 2 miles or so after the initial 4 steepest miles, were stocked with water, Gatorade, Honey Stinger gels, bananas, pretzels, chocolate. I alternated water and gatorade and faithfully took a gel every aid station. Normally, I don't take much but fluid during a race. The energizing burst was awesome.
- Entertainment: The incredible vistas should probably have been enough, but for the first time ever I wore an ipod in the race, on Dave's suggestion. He had loaded me up with the perfect playlist. Two really engaging Marathon Talk podcasts were like reflective and fun conversation in the first 20 miles; a shock wave of super charged songs were perfect for the last 10K. One of the podcasts featured amazing British runners Liz Yelling and Jo Pavey discussing motherhood, running in your 40s, family. To hear Jo, a four-time Olympian who is still a competitive elite, talk with such a relaxed and grateful approach was especially grounding, motivating and relaxing.
- Alone time: I don't get that much time to myself these days, and typically I don't crave it. That said, when I get it (usually on a run), it can feel oh so good. Up there, running along the rock walls, I felt this zen flow of being whole, and being just me for awhile, and it was blissful…in spite, or even more because of running a marathon.
- Love: This will sound oh so sappy, but I was overflowing with it. I felt swept away with loving thoughts for my dear husband and Little Monkey. Flixy's beaming grin and rosy cheeks after keeping me awake all night before a race took the edge off pain. At one point (towards the end of the race, when I'll admit there was probably a little bit of light-headedness setting in), I felt like Harry Potter, protected by love. My thoughts kept racing while racing, centering on how much Dave did to help me get to this place, able to relish this race despite all the obstacles. From nightly massages to persistent positive thoughts, packing, packing, planning and driving, he did everything he could. I also felt bolstered by mommy love. One unexpected bonus of being an old new mom–I am consciously grateful for him every single day. Not that other, younger moms aren't…but I know I have constant awareness of how lucky we are pinned to how very nearly parenthood didn't happen.
In the end, I placed 4th overall female and 1st Master's female (I told myself there are some perks to getting "old", but prefer my uncle's take on things: growing older is inevitable, growing old is not an option). The time wasn't anything close to a PR (3:42), but I'm pleased with that for the tough course, with the winning time just 20 minutes faster. It was a beautiful day, and so very gratifying to finish knowing I'd been able to shake off my own negative energy. Best part, the special little cheering squad that waited at the finish, and the active recovery playing on the grass and kicking leaves all afternoon.
What it all comes down to, always, though, is Attitude. It's the most important thing, in everything. All the bullets helped shape a positive mental approach. So too did all the things that went wrong. Ironically, having a crappy lead-up to the day was what really forced me to choose, finally, to have fun, tune out others' posturing and focus on what I could do in the moment. Which is without fail how I reach my personal best, proved time and again. The races, projects, even relationships I work for are always most successful when I relax, enjoy, and challenge myself without fear of failure in relation to others around me. Why do I need to take so many classes to learn this lesson? I'm hopeful that writing it down this time, a takeaway may be that I don't need lots of things to go wrong to get it right.
Let's Play!
Go ahead. Play with your food.
That's our tag line for Plot to Plate, and I can't help but admit I love it. Even more so as of Wednesday, when Melissa and I got to share an edible play date with some 50 or more creative kids and LiveWell Longmont at the Longmont Downtown Farmers' Market. As part of LiveWell's mission to promote healthy eating through early educational opportunities, we're hosting an edible activity booth highlighting seasonal produce at the market the first Wednesday of each month. For this first event, we featured cool cucumbers…but the stars, of course, were the kids who came to visit, and their marvelous inventions.
As a new parent, aligning play with food will no doubt taunt and even haunt me at times in years to come, but that's ok. Because, there will also be magic.
"Can I eat it now?" asked one young boy as he proudly held up his creation for a photo. Others were overheard talking about adding toppings like hummus or cottage cheese when they got home. Faces beamed as plates were gingerly carried away. Dave brought Felix by to
get squished with fierce cuddles see us, and it made my heart swell a little to see my little 10-month old's eyes widen in awe at the bright colors, swirls, lines and designs of the vegetables and the art kids made with it. By the end of the evening, we must have seen 60 kids, all of whom created incredible, edible art, and/or approvingly sampled the simple and nutritious refrigerator pickles we had on hand, taking home the simple kid-friendly recipe cards.
It's amazing how appealing produce can be when it decides to play dress-up with imagination, becoming caterpillars, trains, sea monsters, flowers, and a limitless universe of possibilities. Throw toothpicks and maybe a lego or two into the mix, and WOW!
Of course, magical as moments may be, there is no magic "fix". Now that Little Monkey's taste buds are developing, and his preferences made clearer, our happy, easygoing eater is showing signs of occasional fastidiousness. At breakfast, he may pointedly clamp down his jaw surveying his porridge, while pointing, grasping for, and nearly hyperventilating at the sight of his current favorite, blueberries. All we can do as parents, I suppose, is continue to expose, expose, expose, and have fun with the journeys our children take wherever we can.
I saw this fascinating TED Talks video the other day, which focused on correlations between the decline of play and the ride of mental health issues. Play, it said, is nature's means of ensuring young mammals acquire the skills they need to develop into healthy, successful adults. This message has been persistently popping up lately, through new studies and commentary, reminding the world of the psychological and educational advantages of learning and exploring through play. Wednesday night made me reflect more, and emphasized for me where I stand. It's sad when we see play getting the life squeezed out of it, or when it's squeezed out of life. Whether the context is a work-addicted, weary world that values hours logged over quality and efficiency or budget cuts and focus on rigor meaning less recess, free exploration, and time in the day for kids to make choices and create on their own.
As we grow, we learn and learn to accept life is never ever all about play. There are times to buck up, even with food, including "have to try". There is a point where we all have to suck it up and work hard even when we don't want to, as contributors of society and people who do need to eat, clothe ourselves, and have shelter. But isn't everything so much better when it's at least a little playful?
Next month at the Downtown Farmers' Market we'll be exploring zany zucchini. Come see us if you can! We'll have zucchini chips and fun edible supplies for your children and your inner child. You'll see, we take our play seriously. 🙂
Baby boy, journey and joy
I'm indulging myself and straying from the topic of food. A few weeks ago, I could have sworn I'd be making time this week to post about fun edible adventures like quinoa and chickpea falafel, tapioca uses, and almond butter freezer fudge, but I just don't have the focus. All that's being directed to our tiny little package named Felix Rory McMillan, born August 22nd at 4:37 pm.
Felix is long and lean like his Dad. He stretched out to 21 inches at birth and weighed 7 pounds 10 ounces. That dropped to 7 on the nose by the time we left the hospital, but by the time we went to his first pediatrician's appointment two days later he had climbed up to 7 pounds 5 ounces! In other words, he eats like a champ, also like Dad. Still, he's slightly below average weight. He is exceptional, however, as in 95th percentile, for his big head! That, I am sure, is due to his beautiful, amazing big brain.
No matter the numbers, this baby doesn't look big, not even his cute, adorable, larger than average head. He looks tiny. He is tiny. But he already has a story that is gargantuan in so many ways. At least to my heavily biased, swooning heart and mommy mind.
Felix was our miracle baby from the moment we discovered his little spaceman shape with its furious heartbeat at 9 weeks along. We'd just given up on the idea of having children at all. After fourteen years of marriage and over a decade of keeping the "door open", we'd been told a year ago that our options toward that goal were IVF or adoption. We'd finally concluded we were no longer pursuing either one. I'll never forget the feeling when, one crisp day in November, I went for a run and felt the weight of the decision lift off of my body and float away into the blue sky like a kite. In an instant, an oppressive stress-lined coat of tension washed off me in a way I can't help but call spiritual. I had no idea what a burden we'd been carrying with the overhanging question. Within a week, I was pregnant.
Throughout my pregnancy, Dave and I marveled at the lucky breaks we'd been handed. Oblivious to my "condition", I ran the Tuscon marathon at 6 weeks along; we then flew to the UK for Christmas where I ran every morning in the rain alongside my husband who, we were soon to learn, had contracted whooping cough. This special baby had a purpose, to survive and thrive in spite of our ignorance.
I was convinced early on of two things: the baby I was carrying was a boy who was craving burgers; and, he was going to be early, or at least punctual. But as my due date neared and then passed, I had to accept that the sense of timing was more wishful thinking than intuition. We were scheduled for an induction at 41 weeks.
When induction day arrived, we got to our hospital room and I was hooked up to the monitor for contraction and heartbeat measurements. "Wow," Heidi, my OB (who is my hero, and exceptionally amazing and skilled), said. "Based on the strength of these, you look like you should be right there." I was pretty surprised at that, because I'd been having contractions of same or similar strength for close to a week. I just figured that the Braxtons were getting uncomfortable, not that they'd evolved into actual contractions. Yet, I was hardly dilated.
Our wonderful nurse that night, Camille, administered cytotec to help get labor progressing before they'd start with Pitocin the next day. My body's response was swift and strong, and before I knew it, I was having painful back labor. We'd been told baby's head was face down and didn't anticipate this, but as it turns out he was tilted in a way that created the extra pressure.
I had an open mind to pain relief going in but really wanted to try to have as natural an experience as possible. As the night progressed, however, and the pain got worse, it started to become clear that everything providing relief for me had the reverse effect on our baby. I went into the jacuzzi tub and felt instant soothing effects. Then, when Camille brought the doppler in to measure baby's hearbeat, we spent an agonizing, intense minute listening to…nothing. Camille's face was beginning to look blanched, and there was an undeniable urgency in her voice when she told me to get out and move back to the bed so we could monitor from there. To our enormous relief the heartbeat was again detected, but it had become more erratic. We were already feeling ragged.
The contractions continued to strengthen with no to minimal change in dilation, and by morning I couldn't take the pain anymore. I elected to the epidural along with the Pitocin, which in itself I had seriously been dreading. Once again, my body responded well to something that baby rejected. Throughout the rest of the day, we were scrupulously monitored, and Pitocin levels were altered in response to baby's reaction. He wasn't descending further; and I wasn't dilating beyond 8 cm. I was completely exhausted. Worst of all, baby's heartbeat was experiencing regular dips whenever medication was increased.
At 4 pm, Heidi came in and even in my drug-induced state it was clear from her face what she was going to say. "Uh-oh," was all I could muster, swollen and woozy from fluids, collapsed on my side with nausea and fatigue. "Yeah," she said soberly. "We have to talk." She went over the risks of a c-section, but concluded by telling us that there was no other option. It seems because of an operation I'd had at birth for a diaphragmatic hernia and residual scar tissue, my uterus had tilted to a degree that baby's descent was obstructed. Poor little thing had been trying to come out punctually after all. In fact, when he was delivered, he had a bitty cone head forming from pushing so hard to make that impossible journey.
The room suddenly felt oppressively hot, and a short sharp shock of dizziness flooded me with the news. I threw up as Dave frantically tried to call my parents to fill them in quickly even as I was being rolled towards the operating room. At the end of the hall we got to share a quick "last kiss" before Dave was ushered elsewhere to get into scrubs and I was transferred onto the operating table.
Ultimately, the actual operation was a really positive experience. Not how you'd typically think of major abdominal surgery! I wasn't groggy, but surprisingly alert, and Dave squeezed my hand tightly while we carried on a fairly normal, even upbeat conversation. The medical team I had working for us was beyond awesome. I had complete trust in them and their talent. My ego was even stroked a little when I heard them talking about how nice and easy a procedure it was because there was no fat to cut through. The whole thing was completed within 30-45 minutes.
Towards the end, I asked the anaesthesiologist standing on my side of the curtain and looking over whether he could see baby yet. "Not yet," he responded, "but I do see lots of hair!" Then there was a single, high-pitched, beautiful baby cry that brought on the joyful tears, and everything sped up. Dave was a few feet away, still in view, and I could catch glimpses of him cutting the umbilical cord. His voice was reassuring, exclaiming through tears and bewilderment, "oh he's co cute, you're going to love him so much, he's so cute, just so cute." His fabulous 8-9 Apgar score was announced, and finally, little Felix was placed on my chest. I knew him at once as the little love and light of our lives.
Adrenaline was soaring. Felix was cleaned up and both our vitals measured. An hour later, we were back in a recovery room and my parents, visiting from the east coast, came over to see their first grandchild for the first time.
If only that were the end, but the toughest part began in the middle of the night, when I began severely bleeding. I had only to stand up and pools of blood were on the floor. Camille, again on night shift, did her very best to keep the concern she felt from showing, but it was there. I was so thrilled with our new baby, and perhaps a little buzzed on painkillers; it would really be days before I'd begin to process how scary the night became. At about 3 am, after several more rounds of blood loss, Camille determined it was time to call Heidi. In the moment, all I could think was "oh no, I'm ruining her night", and I couldn't stop apologizing for all the trouble I was causing.
Heidi arrived and the next thing we knew, the hospital bed looked like a murder scene. The way my uterus was tilted, the lower half wasn't retracting in pace with the upper portion, and blood was pooling and clotting, making further retraction impossible. We needed to go through another procedure, but there was no time to call in the anesthesiologist. "Be prepared it's going to be painful and intense," Heidi said. "Basically you'll feel my whole hand reaching in as high as I can get to pull out as many clots as I can." Several nurses assisted and I squeezed Dave's hand until it must have felt like it was breaking off while I felt my body contort in ways the scarring from the c-section abhorred. It was so painful. When it was over, though, once again I felt overwhelmed with gratitude for the incredible medical professionals who were taking care of us, and the sweet baby boy lying quietly in his bassinet just feet away.
Since that moment, life has mostly been a blur of one continuous, emotional day. The labor and delivery experience was harrowing, but the hospital experience itself was actually superb. Aside from the unavoidable discomfort of being monitored, poked and prodded constantly, we couldn't have been happier. The staff at LUH were exceptional, in competence and friendliness, and they went out of their way to do everything they could. I had a complementary massage on the second day post-delivery; they even sent us home with a lasagna and cookies.
The ups and downs of post-pregnancy so far are strangely unrelated despite their inextricable connection. The ups are all about baby brilliance and being new parents, and I'd never blame baby for the downs, as overwhelming as they can get. While I feel I can safely say I'm not at risk for depression, there is a part of me that has been wholly revolted by my post-partum body. I worked so hard to keep as fit as I could throughout pregnancy, even doing an easy run on the treadmill the day we went in to be induced. It's not that I feel like all that was for naught, but I didn't expect to leave the hospital wearing weird mesh granny panties, looking 6-months pregnant still, and dragging fluid-filled legs, sausages ready to pop from their casings. The long recovery period sometimes looms ahead like a black cloud. And "baby brain" during pregnancy was nothing compared to the real deal I'm experiencing now. I can't seem to remember anything involving numbers at all, let alone work out real math. Every day is a marvel for just how unproductive I can be, outside of nursing (which is actually going startlingly well…and I now have breasts for the first time in my life, only they're really more like rocks with nipples), baby laundry (thank goodness for my Mom's gift of a cloth diaper service to begin…it is the best time-saver ever), and managing to not sleep. Considering how much I was prepared for post-partum period ups and downs, I can't believe how much remained secret when it comes to the nitty gritty. Adding insult to injury, on top of the stretchy "lacy" hospital panties, I had an allergic reaction to the bandage dressing over my sutures, and my whole abdomen was covered with itchy blisters.
I could seriously go on and on. I've probably already done so far too long anyway, and it's tempting to just keep on going. But in spite of everything, the core of me is truly always reveling in the perfect, precious gift we've been given. It doesn't seem possible until experienced that love can be so very instantly, magically strong, and such hard work so completely rewarding. I get down on myself, but trust that the time will come soon enough when once again I have a better sense of self and body back. Eventually I will get to post about quinoa falafel and the like; I'll take on more freelance and re-organize my teaching stuff. Fingers crossed, it won't be too long before I feel in shape enough once more to focus on running and multisport goals, too. I'm nervous about that…hoping the process of finding my athletic self again will be more about exhilaration and less about discouragement. That said, I know those goals may never be quite the same. I'm so utterly head-over-heels in love. More than future finish lines or fast times, I'm sure to be concentrating on one perfect (to me) little boy I hope will be cheering on the side. I'm so very thankful for this chance to cheer and support him in everything he chooses to pursue, for the rest of my life.
Comfort and bounce-back: curried golden squash soup
We were in the mood for a taste of winter, so my teammates and I decided to book our annual Kinder field trip to the pumpkin patch for this past Thursday. Once we received confirmation, the deal was sealed with Old Man Winter. It's kind of like washing your car to secure rain (except in a drought year). Five of six years of pumpkin patch excursions have been heralded by snow.
On Wednesday night, we had friends Tom and Rebecca over for dinner, and the snow had already begun falling in big, wet doily flakes. Fortunately, we had a warm and soothing menu planned to keep them from catching any colds. Not only were our newlywed friends headed to Morocco for their honeymoon in just two days, they are lovely and inspiring people, and so it goes without saying I wanted to put together a lovely dinner inspired by their favorite flavor combinations.
First course (dinner became courses mainly because of an awkward combination of space and tableware) was a curried squash soup I wanted to experiment with, and I confess there was a personal agenda involved. Last weekend was a disaster, as I caught an awful cold and was suffering with lingering fatigue and croup I just wanted done with before the upcoming Saturday long run, a 20+ miler. I love squash on any day, but this week, I've been obsessed with curry blends, ginger, and other powerhouses that awaken the senses and clear out the crud.
Curry spice blends are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric, which is "Indian saffron" given it's bold yellow color, has been used in Eastern medicines to treat various conditions, including menstrual pains, handy for about half the population on a regular basis. The force behind turmeric's yellow pigment is called curcumin. The anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin have been considered comparable to potent drugs like hydrocortisone, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory agents like Motrin. A key difference, however: curcumin isn't associated with toxicity. Other key spices in curry blends, including cumin, ginger, chili powder, and cinnamon, are all lauded for various potent benefits, ranging from alleviating nausea and gastrointestinal distress to boosting immunity, being anti-microbial, and more, naturally.
This soup is smooth, simple, rich, and excellent with a dollop of plain yogurt mixed with a little honey. Plus, it's cheerful and golden, and reminiscent of the day we were hoping for at the pumpkin patch. I hoped the actual pumpkin/squash power of it would bring us luck for the morning's field trip, but we woke up to this, anyway:
As the morning expanded, the sun began to shine, and the air was perfectly temperate after all. Two days later, our long run ticked over well, too, with the the last nine miles of the twenty being faster paced than the pathetic effort my runny-nosed, coughing, sleepy self of last week was able to manage over just 10K, carving this squash soup a spot in my list of indulged superstitions. Well, I guess that's not actually true…recovery is down to rest, patience, TLC, and time. But the curry can't have hurt, either.
Curried golden squash soup
Serves 6-8 (dinner servings)
- 1 medium butternut squash
- 1 acorn squash
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, peeled and diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups homemade chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- dash ground cinnamon
- dash red pepper flakes
- dash cayenne
- plain yogurt (about 1/3 cup) mixed with 1 tablespoon honey to serve
- Roast squash. I don't feel qualified to say how to do this, because I like to stick the whole squash in the oven when I'm already cooking at a high heat–400 F or over–leaving them in for 30-40 minutes, or until tender. Makes for easy removal of seeds and peel.
- Heat oil in a large pot; sweat the onion and garlic until onion starts to become translucent, about 2 minutes. Add spices.
- Puree squash and onion mixture in batches in a blender or food processor. Return to pot and add broth and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook a further 15 minutes, stirring constantly. Serve with yogurt mixture.


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#orchard parade hotel
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Orchard Parade Hotel is situated on Orchard Road where it is close to shopping areas, restaurants and entertainment places. Within 1.5km, there is Ngee Ann City and SIngapore Botanic Garden. Orchard Parade Hotel has plenty of features including an outdoor pool as well as a fitness facility. In addition, the 3.5 star hotel also a hair salon for those who wants a haircut on the go. The hotel has many business amenities including wireless internet access, conference and meeting rooms for small groups. Onsite dining and restaurant, bars and lounge are also available for those who are looking to have their meals or drinks at the hotel.
Orchard Parade Hotel guest rooms has air conditioning, coffee/tea makers, minivars as well as voicemal. There are also phones and scales in the bathroom. There are three types of guest rooms at Orchard Parade Hotel which are Deluxe, Executive and Club room. The deluxe room can have 2 guests with 1 King Bed or 2 Single Beds, but breakfast is not included. The Executive Room is similar to Deluxe except with more amenities offered including choice of breakfast at Club Chinois, complementary unlimited broadband internet access as well as two pieces of laundry per day. The Club room has one king or two single beds with duvets and is similar to the Executive Room except evening coctails are available at the Club Floor from 6-8PM.
If you are interested in staying at Orchard Parade Hotel, you can check in from 2PM and the check out time is noon. There may be extra person charges depending on hotel policy and special requests are subject to availability upon check in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
Orchard Parade Hotel has many amenities. The general amenities include coffee shop/cafe, outdoor swimming pool, ballroom, bar/lounge, gift shop, restaurants, etc. The room amenities include rollaway beds, cribs, safe deposit box, clock radio, electronic magnetic keys, on request iron/ironing board, blackout drapes/curtains, etc. The servvice amenities include free parking, valet parking, porter/bellhop/ limited hours room service, shoe shine, wedding services, supervised child care/activities, tour assistance and many others. Orchard Parade Hotel offer business amenities as well including business services, audio/visual equipment, banquet facilities, multiple meeting and conference rooms, event catering, secretarial services and many others.
There are many restaurants and cafes at Orchard Parade Hotel. From italian restaurant bar to japanese restaurant, the hotel offers a wide variety of dining options to satisfy the guests� appetite.
If you like to workout on the go, there is a fitness center and L-shaped pool on the sixed floor where the fitness center overlooks the Orchard Road street. The fitness center has treadmills, exercise bikes and weight machine. For those who likes exercising outdoor, the Botanic Garden is 2km from Orchard Parade Hotel where the park features jogging paths that winds through tropical greenery and lakes. Guests can also visit National Orchid Garden, restaurants and souvenir shops at Botanic Gardens.
Orchard Parade Hotel is highly ranked among hotels in singapore. The average guest feels the room is cozy and attractive where the beds are comfortable. The check in and check out process is efficient and the average guest feels the food is quite good. They also think the staffs are friendly, polite and professional. In general, the guests enjoy the feel, love using the pool, thinks the hotel is at a convenient location. They would recommend Orchard Parade Hotel and say they would stay at the hotel again.
Orchard Parade Hotel
1 Tanglin Road,
Singapore 247905,


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Join us for Sunday Services
The Swiss Church in London holds two morning services per month, one on the first and one on the third Sunday of the month.
The services are held in the Swiss Church, 79 Endell Street, London WC2H 9DY.
Sermons are preached in English while prayers, hymns and other parts of the liturgy may be in French and German. Occasionally we hold sermons in German. Please consult the calendar for more details. The service on the first Sunday of the month normally includes communion. Everyone is invited to receive communion. Services begin at 11am and are followed by a lunch.
We welcome people of all denominations, faith groups or none, firm believers as well as the critical minded and spiritual seekers.
Music is an integral part of our services and is used to enhance and uplift the spiritual themes of the services. We sing a range of music, mainly along the traditional route, but we do also introduce contemporary worship songs and Taizé chants.
Music is mainly lead on the church's Swiss-built Späth organ and we occasionally are joined by a choir, or solo singer.
Full details about all our services are on the services agenda below or phone
the Church office on 020 7836 1418.
Why not email us with queries or to contact Swiss Church London for a consult.
Church Services
|1st Sunday Service
|3rd Sunday Service
|Sermon in English,
|Sermon in English,
|liturgy in French & German,
|liturgy in French & German
|Service with communion
More detail on upcoming sermons are published on the events calendar.
If you missed a Sunday service or would like to keep one for reference, you can view and download them here.


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Main Plot Points:
- Following in the thundering footsteps of the groundbreaking megaseries television event, Dinotopia, comes Dinotopia: The Series, the extraordinary odyssey of a 21st-century family stranded in an amazing prehistoric utopia.
- But beneath Dinotopia's surface, dangers brew. Through it all endures the boundless imagination, courage, and awesome wonder of a family lost in time — the last hope for a world on the verge of extinction.
What We Thought:
- I remember watching the Dinotopia miniseries a few months back and being pretty disappointed in it. Dinotopia The Series isn't much better.
- I will say that if you liked the miniseries, you will like this though. It's practically the same thing minus Wentworth Miller.
- The special effects make it look much older than it is. Maybe they were hoping for that, but it doesn't work for me. Even my friend who is a diehard dinosaur fan (she has dinosaur tattoos) didn't love it.
- The good thing is, this full series seems to have some episodes that didn't air previously. If you haven't seen all 13 episodes, now you can.
- I think what confuses me the most is, I'm not sure who this is aimed at. It looks like it's made for kids, but some of the stories and themes gear towards older people.
- Dinotopia The Series seems to have a solid following so I'm sure there are some people super excited for this. I wasn't expected Jurassic Park or anything, but the look/special effects didn't work for me. Maybe younger kids will like it, I'm not sure.
Special Features:
- None
Notable Cast & Crew:
- Erik Von Detten
- Shiloh Strong
Recommended if You Like:
- Dinotopia the Miniseries
- Dinosaurs


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Wage garnishment can dramatically decrease your income flow and your quality of life. When you have debts that you are unable to pay, a creditor may seek a wage garnishment order. If the order is granted, money from your paychecks will go directly to your creditors. Fortunately, if you are the victim of wage garnishment, filing for bankruptcy can help you find relief. Here is some information about ending wage garnishment with bankruptcy.
As mentioned above, wage garnishment results from a court order filed by a creditor. Wage garnishment can be devastating for your financial health. For example, if your monthly budget assumes that you will be collecting your wages in full, a garnishment can compromise those plans, making it difficult for you make ends meet. Another issue with wage garnishment is the fact that your employer will become aware of your financial situation. Instead of having you pay your debts, wage garnishment orders require your employer to divert a certain portion of your paycheck to your creditors. While an employer can't fire you if you are the victim of wage garnishment, this is not necessarily the case if you've been subject to multiple wage garnishment orders.
If you are the victim of wage garnishment, filing for bankruptcy can provide relief. Although there are exceptions when it comes to non-dischargeable debts like child support, filing for bankruptcy will put an immediate end to wage garnishment. When you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, for example, the court orders what is called an "automatic stay" that stops all wage garnishment immediately. All debt collection stops until the bankruptcy proceedings are completed. Declaring bankruptcy is an effective way to reorganize your debts and regain your financial footing.
If you have recently become the victim of a wage garnishment order, do not hesitate to consult an attorney and file for bankruptcy. Wage garnishment can be extremely difficult to live with, as it decreases your income flow and makes it difficult to pay for essentials like food, gas, and rent. To inquire about our bankruptcy services, call Cutler & Associates, Ltd. at (847) 868-2265. We have helped many people in the Chicago area, including in Aurora and Schaumburg, put an end to wage garnishment, and we can help you too.
The materials available at this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Use and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site do not create an attorney-client relationship. The opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the firm or any individual attorney.
Fill out the form below and one of our experienced attorneys will get in
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These adorable little speckled truffles would look so cute at the table for Easter brunch or could make a healthy guilt-free treat for Halloween! They're nut-free, slightly sweet, and very chocolatey!
I came up with the recipe because I had to make a coconut-free and nut-free snack for a meditation retreat we were catering. I use coconut and nuts in everything so creating a 3 day meal plan without those essentials was initially kind of irritating, but in the end it was very easy to accommodate these allergies and they turned out to be very delicious!
ingredients (makes 42 x 1" truffles)
24 medjool dates
1 C sunbutter sunflower spread
1/4 C maple syrup
3 tbsp raw cacao powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
2/3 C raw white sesame seeds
Place pitted medjool dates in a food processor. Run the machine until they are chopped up, but stop just before it forms a paste. Then add sunbutter, maple syrup, raw cacao powder, and sea salt and process again until it's a thick, smooth paste.
Place sesame seeds in a bowl. Form 1" balls with the date mixture with your hands and roll each ball around in the sesame seeds until well coated. Place them in an air tight container with parchment or waxed paper between layers.
They can be kept at room temperature or in the fridge. They can also be kept in the freezer and thawed in batches as you need them.
you might also like these recipes
delicately crisp on the outside, soft and cheesy inside! Get the recipe for this incredible cauliflower arancini and serve as a comforting dinner or appetizer tonight!
get totally vegan and gluten-free scalloped potatoes ready for any dinner feast!
want to try the vegan lifestyle? Here's the 10 ingredients you'll need to have in your kitchen!
the savoury seasoned walnuts in these raw tacos might just convince you to go vegan! Pair it with marinated mushrooms, broccoli tabbouleh, and delectable cashew sour cream and you've got one epic taco tuesday!


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How can I check the status of my $50 printing limit before I run out and have to buy more credits?
Last Updated: Mar 20, 2015 | 52 Views
Topics: Baker College FAQ
Was this helpful? 0 0
If you want to find out your Baker printing balance:
According to the printing FAQ page:
Students can see their account balance with Equitrac Account Monitor (EAM) software installed on all Baker College Computers in the learning centers, libraries and ARC's.
When you are logged in to a Baker College computer, there is a little icon in the bottom corner by the time. If you hover your cursor over it, it will give you your print balance.
You may also check your account balance by stopping at the cashier station on your campus Campus Library/ARC.


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Product or Service
Sell USB Phone
Profile:Manufacturer - Producer|Ref:PSL8379YH | Country: China | Export: No
Products InformationF
The KU1210A VoIP USB LCD phone is a portable VoIP phone with advanced features. KU1210A can display 199 Caller ID's and Numbers Dialed and also displays the BALANCE in the Pre-Paid account of our InfiNET platform.
The KU1210A VoIP USB LCD with the built in software is an 'auto-run' phone that does not require the client software to be installed on the PC. Simply plug in and dial. This is an ideal solution for Pre-Paid VoIP and use in Public PC applications.
Color: Charcoal Grey, or custom for Private Label
Competitive Features
LCD Display
128M Memory
Crystal Clear Voice
Call Forwarding
Detailed Calling Record
Work with desktop or laptop Computer
Work with dial-up or broadband connection
Works with SIP
Contact the company


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Kakatiya University KU semester exam results November December 2015 1st 2nd 3rd year
Kakatiya University is the well reputed university in the state of Andhra Pradesh and it was started in the year of 1976 and successfully providing the education for students with so many facilities like different courses, etc. The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) was awarded the university with A Grade. There are 11 constituent colleges and more than 400 colleges are affiliated to this university. The university is offering various courses in Under Graduate and Post Graduate degree. Lakh numbers of students are doing their higher studies under this university.
KU 1st 3rd 5th semester result nov dec 2015
The exam for the students will conduct for each semester at the sixth month. There are two semesters will conduct as odd and even semester. This academic year, the odd semester was already conducted in the month of November and December 2015. Number of students were wrote their exams. Now the university is conducting the paper valuation. After the process has been completed, the university will declare the results in the official website of the university. The result will be expected in the month of January or in February 2016. The exact date for the declaration of results will announce by the university soon.
You can get the results from the official website of the university. In our website, you can get the link of the university official website. And also you can get the direct link to check your results from our website. That link will be redirected you to the result page. There you can check your ku exam results 2015 degree.You can get the marks for all subjects from that page. After the declaration of regular exam results, the university will conduct the revaluation.
Kakatiya University Exam results 2015 Download procedure
Students those who are in interest of this revaluation can apply for the required subjects. For this, students have to pay the application fee. Then the exam paper will valuate again and the results will announce by the university. Then the students those who are not cleared the regular exam can apply and write the supplementary exam to clear the exam. The result and the exam details will update regularly in our website. Keep visit our website and get the results.
Check your Kakatiya university results from here
The exam details are available here


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Royalty has got a new meaning with Planet Hollywood Goa beach resort. Maharajas, Palaces and Royal treatment are not monopoly of Rajasthan now, they have become an integral part of India's first ever Planet Hollywood Beach resort situated at southern part of Uttorda Beach span over 10 acres with the most luxurious amenities available for you.
The Indian Royalty has been an inspiration behind the design of Maharani Suite. It will make you feel like traditional Indian Royalty. The exquisite décor, the elegant ambiance classily refines your senses, and the majestic comfort level will ensure that you relish every moment of your stay. The King size bed and utterly comfortable cushions pampers your body as a Royal heir.
Bath the way Royals do at the regal aqua space. It promises to refresh your senses with invigorating bathing elements. Entertain yourself on the large screen television with world class entertainment from across the world. You will have company of TV series, movies, news and sports at your finger tips. Friends and family won't be away when you can enjoy the undisturbed and high speed Wifi internet connectivity. The royal treatment doesn't end there, you can fulfill your culinary desires with delicious food served at your wish with the dedicated Room Service.
The Pink Room Spa:
What makes The Planet Hollywood Goa as most popular beach resort is the service of World class standards. Exotic location, refreshingly soothing Suites and then comes the Pink Room Spa. No matter where you have been or from which corner of world you came, Pink Room ensures you will forget the world in deep healing and rejuvenating process. It offers Massages, cleansing and make over. Above everything else it rejuvenates and refills your senses with new refreshment and infuses energy into your cells.
Our team of dedicated professionals, a serene ambience, state-of-the-art facilities and equipments, not to mention a unique humane touch, will make your every visit a cherished memory.
World Class Cuisines:
The Maharani Suite, The Pink Room Spa ensures the Royal World at your footsteps but it will be incomplete without the food. At the Planet Hollywood Goa special section is dedicated to give you taste of international cuisines.
Cigar Lounge is a special section for Champagne and Cigar lovers who like to indulge themselves in serene atmosphere with taste of Classic Cigars. Fame is a place for food lovers with Western and Asian cuisines to satisfy their appetite. From delicious Japanese bigiris to Thai curries, sashimis and teppanyakis to bento lunches, the menu is designed to satiate connoisseurs of fine dining, along with a wide selection of wine spanning diverse grape varieties and regions. The exclusive private dining area ensures the privacy and cozy atmosphere for love birds.
With Planet Hollywood Goa one can plan for a Royal holiday and let the royalty serve your way. For booking one can always click on below link www.planethollywoodgoa.com


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The Power Of The Mind For Healing!
Everything we do in life begins with a thought! That is how much our mind power can be on our life. When we learn about holistic lifestyle coaching the 6 pillars of health begin with thinking! So, many of us know about using our mind power to achieve our goals to get what we desire in life. Although most people are aware of how powerful the mind can be, very few actually use this information!
Why don't we use this mind power information?
I think it's because we are afraid to believe it can be that simple!! But it truly is – we just have to look at the success of people like:
- Tony Robbins
- Wayne Dyer
- Louise Hay
…who have all used the power of the mind to help people. Just recently Doctor Oz demonstrated on his TV show how self hypnosis can be used to help people lose weight.
How Can You Make Your Mind Power Work For You?
The concept is simple – we have to re-train our brain to change our behaviour. Nobody acts in a random fashion. We all respond to stimuli (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste) from things around us. But here's the secret – we respond in ways that are dictated by our brain. Some things are learned way back in early childhood, others like smoking or over-eating are acquired later.
Where this ingrained logic really lets us down is when we need to change our behaviour. Which is easier to do – reach for our favourite ice cream or eat an apple? This is the crux of the problem. We have to re-program our brain to automatically reach for the apple in this example.
In other words get your brain to tell you how to act the way you would like. If you can do this you will definitely achieve the things you want to in life.
Here's The Secret of Mind Power:
Positive affirmations are a very successful method for modifying our thoughts and changing our actions to improve our lives. The affirmations are usually short phrases framed in a positive way that we can read or listen to frequently. A good example would be 'I will become a non-smoker' (rather than "I will stop smoking'.) Constant repetition of these affirmations will register on your inner self and will result in changing your beliefs.
Repetition… is the key to success.
If you do something often enough, it becomes a habit. After that, you continue to repeat the behaviour without consciously thinking about it. Driving to work is a great example – you keep a watchful eye on the traffic but you find the way there automatically.
So, when you do want to make changes in your life you have to repeat the new behaviour a sufficient number of times until it becomes habitual. This is the hard part of the change process. For instance, many people write down their goals in detail, and look at them a few times but then gradually forget about them.
The only way this will work for you is to:
Get to the habit-forming stage!
You can use your mind power for healing that is for sure!
First you must decide, then implement a system that will help you! MindMasters might be the key for you?
Learn more about how you can use your mind power HERE


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"Puke Rainbows?"
Yes, puke rainbows. I'm talking about changing the way we look at content, video, life, everything.
I used to be the chronic tweeter of positive quotes. Then, one day a young man from NYC said, "I really like what you tweet. But, some of those quotes are tough to understand...explain?" I responded,
"When life gives you rain...puke a f-ing rainbow."
Then it started. People began using #pukerainbows whenever we turned something crappy, into a positive step forward.
We can all learn to puke rainbows. Whether it's going from awkward on camera, to natural and warm. Or, turning a tired brand, into something fresh and new. Chances are...what your company does, is improve the lives of others. That, is puking rainbows. What I do, is help you show how you're doing that, on camera.
Being creative isn't simply about making stuff. It's about caring. About your neighbors, your clients (friends), and even strangers.
We're all here to puke rainbows.
Content strategy
who needs to see your content? how do we reach them in a creative way?
Speaking | Workshops
whether it's a workshop for 7 people, or 7,000
teaching is my jam.


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If it merges with LIQ, presumably they'll have enough points to stay in World Tour level.
Team Saxo Bank have confirmed that Alberto Contador will rejoin the Danish WorldTour outfit when the ban imposed on him earlier this year following a positive test for the banned substance clenbuterol at the 2010 Tour de France expires on 5th August. The 29-year-old Spaniard will race for Bjarne Riis's team for the rest of the 2012 season and for a further three years from 1 January.
"A lot of speculations and rumours have surrounded Alberto Contador and his future in the past months, but both our sponsors, the team and Alberto have shared the same wish to continue and built on our relationship," said Riis, who signed the Spaniard from Astana shortly after he had won the 2010 Tour de France, his third victory in the race.
Contador was still an Astana rider when he was provisionally suspended for that positive test, and began racing with Saxo Bank in February 2011 after he was cleared of doping by the Spanish national cycling federation, the RFEC, which had earlier said that it planned to hand him a one-year ban.
Soon afterwards, the UCI and World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) confirmed that they planned to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Contador went on to win last year's Giro d'Italia but would finish fifth in the Tour, partly as a result of the toll the Italian race had taken on him, and partly due to his losing time as a result of being caught up in crashes in the opening week; continued delays in the appeal process, which it had been hoped would be resolved prior to the Tour, can't have helped, however.
The case was eventually heard in Lausanne, Switzerland in November, with the decision announced early in February this year, although there was plenty of drama ad controversy along the way.
Those included reports of a threatened walkout by WADA's lawyers after certain evidence was ruled inadmissible, news of a mystery witness apparently prepared to testify that Contador had doped earlier in his career, and allegations that the cyclist's presence at a Saxo Bank training camp in Israel, the native country of the chairman of the CAS panel hearing the case, meant that all was not above board.
The decision announced in February, however, saw Contador receive a two-year ban, most of it backdated, and stripped of results including his 2010 Tour de France and 2011 Giro d'Italia victories.
Riis, who had sat alongside Contador at a press conference in the rider's home town of Pinto, near Madrid, the day after the ban was announced, said today: "All along throughout these last two tough years we have stood by Alberto, so to be able to announce his return to the team is something I have been really looking forward to.
"Now we can put an end to these speculations and start focusing on building the team for the coming years."
Contador, who is reportedly moving to Swizerland where Riis with whom he has developed a close working relationship, said: "The decision to return to Team Saxo Bank has actually been pretty easy, and my first priority was always to rejoin the team and to continue working with Bjarne Riis, and the rest of the team.
"The support I have experienced from them in a very difficult situation is extraordinary. I'm really looking forward to getting back on the bike, and my aim is to repay that support, hopefully with some great results."
Contador is due to ride in the Vuelta a Espana which starts in August. He won that race in 2008, his first season with Astana, which had been excluded from that year's Tour de France as a result of a major doping scandal in the previous year's edition of the race when Alexander Vinokourov tested positive for an illegal blood transfusion and the team was subsequently invited to withdraw from the race.
Last week, it was reported that Saxo Bank was exploring a potential merger with the Liquigas-Cannondale team at the end of the season.
Born in Scotland, Simon moved to London aged seven and now lives in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds with his miniature schnauzer, Elodie. He fell in love with cycling one Saturday morning in 1994 while living in Italy when Milan-San Remo went past his front door. A daily cycle commuter in London back before riding to work started to boom, he's been news editor at road.cc since 2009. Handily for work, he speaks French and Italian. He doesn't get to ride his Colnago as often as he'd like, and freely admits he's much more adept at cooking than fettling with bikes.


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Joel Culbreath
3123 Viking Drive New Concord,
At Bridge Pix Network, we are blooming with fresh news and information covering fashion and beauty industry.
We deliver tips, articles, ideas, reviews, tricks, videos, images, and many more.
Our mission is to educate people how to improve their fashion and live beautifully.
We work hard to cover the ever-changing trends in this sector.


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Tim Dowling: And they call it puppy love
The new dog has arrived. When I hear the door, I walk down the stairs with my arms pre-folded in disapproval. My wife is in the hall surrounded by stuff: a sack of luxury puppy food, two big bags of adorable little bones and a cage the size of a chest freezer. The youngest one is holding something that looks like a ruined fur mitten. It's making a plaintive, squeaking noise. I try not to look directly at it.
"So we now own a cage, is that right?" I say.
"Look at it!" my wife says. "Isn't it sweet?"
"I didn't realise we were going to imprison it," I say.
"They like it," she says. "It gives them a place of their own where they feel secure. And it's only for the first few weeks."
"He's so tiny!" the middle one says.
"It's a she," my wife says. "Dad doesn't like it, but he'll come round."
I can see it's going to be difficult to carry on disapproving of something that is, by anyone's measure, unbearably cute. It's smaller than the cat, and it operates in a permanent state of unsuppressed enthusiasm, bouncing along like a toy when it runs and somersaulting accidentally when it stops. It sits down, looks up at me and tilts its head in mute inquiry.
"What?" I say.
"Pick her up," my wife says. "She wants to say hello."
"Later," I say. "I have to take the real dog for a walk."
When I return, everyone is gathered in the sitting room trying to name the new dog. It's not going well – my wife has granted the youngest one the right of veto, which is beginning to engender a certain amount of spite in the other two.
"Freakella," says one.
"LaQueesha," says the other. The youngest shakes his head.
"Joan As Policewoman."
"Joan's nice," says my wife. "Little Joanie!"
"No way," says the youngest.
The new dog does not feel remotely secure in its cage. After being locked up for the night, it makes a noise like a turkey caught on an electric fence until someone with a soft heart creeps down to set it free. I wake to find it sitting on my pillow, gently chewing the hair off the back of my head. As I walk down the stairs, it bites the toes of each opposing foot as I plant it. It's not going to be the sort of dog, I realise, that waits until you are all the way dead before eating you.
The next day, my wife leaves me alone in the house with it. I carry it up to my office, where it skitters about and chews on various wires until I pick it up and balance it on my lap, while it gnaws my jumper. The real dog is staring balefully at me from a corner of the room, and when I look over its tail thumps pitifully against the floor. I turn my head. In the opposite corner of the office I see a small turd. I look down at my lap; the puppy is fast asleep. I feel the need to seize control of the situation, but I can't even stand up. After sitting with my head in my hands for a few minutes, I pull a sheet of paper out of the printer, scrawl a name in the centre of it, fold it in four and stick it in my back pocket.
Later that afternoon, as I pass the youngest one coming out of the kitchen, I pull the paper out of my pocket and hand it to him. He unfolds it and reads the name.
"Not bad," he says. "I quite like it, actually."
I wish I could tell you that this is how the dog came to be named Shitter or Bite Me or Symbol Of Everything That's Wrong With My Life, but in truth I had written only Nellie.


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From Subhash's earliest memories, at every point, his brother was there. In the suburban streets of Calcutta where they wandered before dusk and in the hyacinth-strewn ponds where they played for hours on end, Udayan was always in his older brother's sight. So close in age, they were inseparable in childhood and yet, as the years pass - as U.S tanks roll into Vietnam and riots sweep across India - their brotherly bond can do nothing to forestall the tragedy that will upend their lives. Udayan - charismatic and impulsive - finds himself drawn to the Naxalite movement, a rebellion waged to eradicate inequity and poverty. He will give everything, risk all, for what he believes, and in doing so will transform the futures of those dearest to him: his newly married, pregnant wife, his brother and their parents. For all of them, the repercussions of his actions will reverberate across continents and seep through the generations that follow. Epic in its canvas and intimate in its portrayal of lives undone and forged anew, The Lowland is a deeply felt novel of family ties that entangle and fray in ways unforeseen and unrevealed, of ties that ineluctably define who we are.
With all the hallmarks of Jhumpa Lahiri's achingly poignant, exquisitely empathetic story-telling, this is her most devastating work of fiction to date.
Jhumpa Lahiri is the author of three previous works of fiction: Interpreter of Maladies, The Namesake and most recently, Unaccustomed Earth. A recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, a PEN/Hemingway Award, the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award and a Guggenheim Fellowship, she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 2012.
|Bloomsbury USA
|Maße (L/B/H)
|177/110/32 mm