text:
Buon Natale! It's Barbara Esposito here, and I am excited to be participating in the MBS Countdown to Christmas again this year. This block is "Mary's Merry Go Round", block 18 in the series. It is the basic block from my "Mary's Go Round" quilt which was featured on the Bake Shop on October 16th. The block is named for my Italian mother, Mary. She and my dad made Christmas a magical time for my family. There were hand-made jammies, a felt Christmas tree Advent calendar (complete with charms from bracelets purchased at Woolworth), snowballs tossed on the roof to sound like the reindeer, and cookies too numerous to list. The Hifi stereo in the living room resounded with the voices of Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Mitch Miller (do YOU know all the words to "Must Be Santa"?) It was a time of family and festivities, and I am honored to be sharing this Christmas block in her memory.
Tag Archives: Countdown to Christmas
Dec 17: Christmas Candy Star
Welcome back to the Moda Bake Shop's Countdown to Christmas! I'm Jen Daly and I'm excited to be here again with a new block for Day 17! Candy canes and peppermint sticks were the inspiration for my cheery Christmas Candy Star block featuring a Sawtooth Star with a candy striped center made of half square triangles—sew sweet!
Dec 16: Cup of Cheer
Hi fellow bakers! This is Mona from Kentucky Whittaker Creations. I don't know about you, but I have loved seeing all of the gorgeous blocks by the talented bakers here at the Bake Shop!
Every year around mid-December, I start wanting hot apple cider or hot cocoa. As a child, it seemed like the Christmas season was perfect for enjoying a hot drink. And, of course, you had to share some with your friends or family. I know that we spent many holidays drinking our hot cocoa, eating cookies, and playing games. Those memories are the inspiration for today's block.
Dec 15: Shining Star
The Countdown to Christmas is moving along, and I am delighted to join Moda for my block, Shining Star. This block has two meanings. We all know that a Shining Star showed the way for the wise men. It also reminds us to be the shining stars of our own lives, rejoicing in our blessings. Thank you for joining me today! I'm Carole, and I blog at From My Carolina Home. This is a simple and easy block to make, just a few squares and rectangles to cut, with a couple of half-square triangles to sew. Use it in a sampler with the other blocks in the series, and I'll show you how the stars twinkle if you make a quilt with it alone.
Dec 14: Dala Horse
Hello lovely Moda Bakers, I hope you're enjoying the smorgasbord of gorgeous advent blocks this month. I'm Nicola Dodd from CakeStand Quilts and I have Scandinavian themed recipe to share with you today: a Swedish Dala Horse. Traditional Dalahast are beautifully hand painted, usually on a red background, which makes this quilt block ideal for fussy cutting or embellishing with embroidery.
Dec 13: Christmas Logs
Christmas is my favorite time of the year. The decorations, music, people and quiet time home watching it snow! A cozy fire in the living room, enjoying the lighted tree. Okay, have you envisioned a perfect Christmas? So have I. Now I think I will head to the machine and make some blocks for a fabulous Christmas quilt to snuggle with. Here is a perfect addition, a Christmas Log Cabin reminiscent of the heart of the home.
Dec 12: Grammy's Staircase
Hello, Bakers! I'm Heather Long of Coffee and Quilts and I'm sharing a block I've titled "Grammy's Staircase" today. In my husband's family, on Christmas morning all the children gather on the staircase. No one (except grown ups!) is allowed downstairs before everyone is awake. It's wonderful to see all the children anxiously waiting while us grown ups get ourselves a cup of coffee. We photograph the children on the stairs in their pajamas, and it's so wonderful to see the changes over the years.
Dec 11: Candy Cane Christmas
Happy December, Bakers! I am Jen of Heritage Threads and I love the Christmas season for so many reasons, but most of all because of extra time with family. I love passing on traditions from my family and my husband's family to our children and watching the magic of the season through their eyes. One tradition that happened in my house growing up was that of hanging candy canes on the Christmas tree. My dad's dad would always send us candy canes for our tree. I thought of this when looking for inspiration for my block and hope you enjoy making it!
Dec 10: Jolly St. Nick
Happy Holiday's Moda Bake Shopper's!!! It's Melissa Corry from Happy Quilting and I am so excited to be here to share my Jolly St. Nick block as part of the Countdown to Christmas. One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is all of the Christmas music. I remember singing my lungs out in school Christmas programs. In my 5th grade program, I got to sing a duet with my twin sister of Jolly Ol' St. Nicholas. Working on this block reminded me of that memory, so I named the block after the song 🙂 So let's get Merry and make some Ho Ho piecing goodness!!!
Dec 9: Little Red House
Hello! It's Christine Weld here with my Little Red House block for Countdown to Christmas! House quilts are so much fun and just perfect for holiday quilts. This simple little house block is ripe for embellishments (add a wreath to the door perhaps, or maybe embroider some smoke coming out of the chimney?) and is a quick finish at either the 12″ or 6″ version.


text:
If you forgot that Sunday is Father's Day and just realized you need to figure out a gift, we might just be better than cologne.
From now until Sunday, buy a gift certificate for 2 hours of rehearsal time and get 1 free. In other words, 3 hours of rehearsal time for the price of 2 (offer good for gift certificate purchases only).
We will admit it is not a groundbreaking deal, but a deal it is.
Gift Certificates can be purchased in person (118 Coral Street) or via phone/credit card (831.425.7277) until end of day Sunday, June 16.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
"Living according to your highest values is the secret to living an inspired and fulfilling life!" – John Demartini, human behaviour expert
"Why doesn't he make time for me?"
When Marty called to book a consultation, he said he needed to talk about his son, Hank. He had a very deep voice on the phone, but, I was still not prepared for the giant, who walked into my office!"
Marty was well over six feet tall and two hundred plus pounds. On the outside, he had a rough look and manner, about him… until he opened his mouth. Then, it was clear, on the inside he possessed a soft, gentle demeanor.
Marty told me he had raised his son, single handed, from birth. Hank's mother, Karen was still involved. But, it was a somewhat detached relationship she had with her only child. After Hank's birth, she had moved to Vancouver to pursue her career, and had never returned.
Marty and Karen had never been married, but, had been together two years until just after Hank's birth, when she decided her future was elsewhere. She had helped financially with Hank's upbringing but emotionally was…what both Marty and Hank called, 'detached."
Hank was almost 33 years old now, and was a well paid researcher for a pharmaceutical company in Houston, Texas. He was not in a serious relationship…but it wasn't for a lack of trying. Hank seemed to be one of those single, unattached individuals who hadn't settled yet on a specific lifestyle.
It was evident, Marty was very proud of Hank and all that he had accomplished. But what annoyed him about his son…and which he had never mentioned to him…was his absence. Hank had finished school over eight years ago, and started work immediately.
But, Hank had not been home in over five years. Yet, Marty added, he frequently took vacations to exotic locations, and even invited Marty to go with him on occasion. Marty said, he seems to be avoiding coming home to see him, and his family.
Marty summed up his hurt and frustration with, "Why doesn't he make time for me…I'm his Dad!
"…it is the only job we get to practice, with no training!"
I said, "Marty, it sounds like Hank places a high value on his independence?"
"He sure does, Ken. He has always been that way, ever since he was a little kid." he replied.
"And, he also seems to have a priority on travelling…which is really just another word for learning…does that fit too, Marty?"
"Yes, it does…he is a very curious person, always has been eager to see, and do, new things."
"Marty, do you see Hank as making his own way financially, and in his career, as well?" I asked.
"Yes he is doing that too, Ken. But, let me give you an example of what's been going on. I have a camp on the Miramichi River and we spent every summer at it. We have been doing that since he was born…he loves it there. But now, he won't come near it. It doesn't seem to interest him at all…I just don't understand that!"
"Marty, there are two ideas I can offer you that might help you to understand Hank and also, yourself. Would that interest you?"
"It sure would…because right now I'm just confused…it's like I must have done something wrong, but I can figure out what it could be…do you know what I mean?"
"I sure do, Marty. Parenting is one of the toughest jobs in the world, and, as they say, 'it is the only job we get to practice, with no training!''"
"Many times, that's exactly what it felt like to me." he replied with a half smile breaking through his concern.
"But, in nature, every relationship has both, the good and the bad."
"Marty, the first idea to know about is values. You have collected from your life experiences a personal set of 'goods' and 'bads' or rights and wrongs which you use to guide your life, and your decision making. And each person has their own unique set of these values. Yours are different from mine and even from your parents', siblings', closest friends', and especially Hanks'."
"Ken, are you saying, Hank may not value the camp the way I do because he may have different memories from me, about it?"
"Yes, I am Marty. And, he may have other priorities for his time than being at the camp…even though, he may have valued it as a child…but, it is not necessarily about avoiding being with you…but rather, his values take him somewhere else, at this point in his life."
"I never thought of that way before. My Mom, Hank's Grandmother, said much the same thing to me a while back…but, I never gave it much importance."
"Marty, wisdom is often found in the very old, and the very young. The second idea that can help you in this situation is to understand the nature of relationships…there are balanced…and Marty,… balanced, perfectly."
"I'm not sure I understand what you mean, Ken."
"Marty, you are alive and well today because everything that has happened to you so far in your life has enabled you to survive and thrive. That means every relationship has also contributed. Some of your relationship you notice mostly the good stuff. And in others, you notice mostly the bad stuff. But, in nature, every relationship has both, the good and the bad. With me so far?"
"You're saying every relationship helped me survive, and every relationship has both good and bad in it…it that it, Ken?"
"Almost, it is also important to remember the good and bad are balanced… perfectly equal, in compliance with the law of symmetry. This means, for example, parenting is wonderfully-painful! Of course Marty, you already know that! But, I suspect you haven't been noticing the benefits to your of your relationship with Hank?"
"Benefits…I never see him! How could there be any benefits?" he replied sarcastically.
"When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier."
— Roy E. Disney, businessman
"I bet you were…but, what did you do at that moment?"
"Marty, seeing one side of something is just a 'blind spot' in your awareness. We all have them because of our values. And, they are also important areas of learning for our future. So, let's uncover some truths about your relationship with your son. Find a clear memory of a time when you were really annoyed that Hank wasn't making time for you, and tell me about it."
"That's easy enough! Just last week…with the summer over, I was thinking about Thanksgiving. I emailed him about coming home for that long weekend in October. He replied he was behind at work, and was going to use the holiday to catch up."
"Marty, at that moment, when you got his response, what did you do?"
"I was really disappointed, hurt and,…actually…angry, too!"
"I bet you were, which is understandable…but, what did you do, at that moment?"
He paused for a moment, thinking back. Then he said, "Well, I was at home at my desktop computer when he answered. So, I replied right away. I said, I was disappointed he wouldn't be able to make it home as I was hoping, we could attend the family BBQ at his Aunt Janie's place, together. I also reminded him how long it had been since he was home, and then I added, I felt like he was avoiding me."
"Marty, imagine freezing that moment in time, like it was on a video. Now let's look at what is going on in this very second of your life. The law of balance says ,while you were feeling hurt and angry, you were getting some equal benefits. Let's uncover them."
"All I remember is feeling hurt and angry. I just don't see benefits, Ken!"
"I only know, I don't regret saying what I did!"
"Did you notice, what you said to Hank was setting an expectation on him of what you wanted as his father…that he come home to visit you, and your family? Can you see you were establishing a boundary in your relationship with him?"
"I suppose so! But, what's the benefit in that, for me?"
"Were you not honouring your values as a person, as a father, and as a member of your family, Marty?" I asked.
"Yes, I guess I was, wasn't I?" he said.
"And, didn't that feel pretty good to get that out to him, directly, at that second?"
"He paused again, and then said, "You know Ken, it did feel good to get that off my chest…I have been wanting to say it, for a long, long time."
"So, Marty, you have uncovered how in that moment in time, you honoured important values you have; you felt relieved to say something that's been bothering you for a while, and you set a clear expectation for your relationship with Hank. Knowing you achieved those three things, how does it impact how you see yourself?" I asked.
"I'm not sure!" he replied, hesitantly.
"Marty, can you see how you protected, and strengthened, your spirit, and gained more self esteem and self confidence?"
"Ken, I only know, I don't regret saying what I did! And, I'm determined to go to the BBQ with, or without him, because family is one of my highest values!" he said with a tight and determined look on his face.
"That's exactly the point here, Marty! There was no mistakes in that event. It did cause you pain, but, it equally gave you the opportunity to honour who you are, and what you stand for, and what you expect, from your son as a member of your family. And, it also enabled you to reduce your stress, and grow in self worth. Can you see that now?" I asked.
"Your values are the learning tools for your destiny!" – King Ayles, writer
"…it has kinda been the story of my life in many ways."
"Yes, Ken, I do! But, why should I have to do this at this point in my life…this is my son…he is an adult! Shouldn't he know better? Did I raise him wrong?"
"Marty, you're asking two of the most important questions any person can ask…Why me? and Why now? And the answer is: So you can learn important information for your future survival!"
"My future survival…I don't get it." he said, clearly confused.
"Marty, each of us is attracted to those events which prepare us for our future. My guess would be you have a history of not asserting yourself in significant relationships…of not honouring your own values first…perhaps deferring to the values of others instead, at your own expense? Does that sound like a familiar pattern in your past?"
Marty suddenly sat back in the chair, looked past me, out my office window, while his eyes started glistening with moisture. There was a long, poignant pause and when he composed himself, he said, "Ken, you just described my relationship with my mother, and Karen, Hank's mother. I have so many memories of giving in to them, ignoring what I wanted, and feeling hurt and frustrated…it has kinda been the story of my life in many ways."
"Can you see now, your request for Hank to come home is not really about Hank or Thanksgiving or even family…it is really about you learning to be your own person, and live your life according to your own values?"
Marty was quiet again for a few moments. Then he said, "Wow! It's like I'm actually fortunate Hank is who he is, and lives his own life, his own way…otherwise I wouldn't have had the opportunity to learn to stand up for me, and appreciate myself!" he replied.
"As I honour my own values first, I notice I'm getting more respect from people…"
"That's it Marty, exactly! Hank is the perfect son for you to be who you are, do what you do, and have what you have. And, it's a two way street. You're the perfect father for him, because he learns what he needs to ensure his future…and it sure looks like he is doing OK, as well!" I added.
Marty went on to find many other examples of this pattern with other people in his life. He realized he had not been valuing himself enough and committed himself to consciously live by his own values. It was interesting to watch his evolution from this heightened level of self awareness.
One day, near the end of our work, he said, "You know Ken, it has been interesting how my relationship with Hank has evolved, since I began working with you. As I honour my own values first, I notice I'm getting more respect from people…and especially, Hank!"
"Marty, would you give me an example?"
"Sure…on my birthday he called me, which was unusual in itself. He said he didn't realize how important it was to me, that he come home. He said I could expect to see him, at least annually, from now on, and he had just found a great deal on a new fishing rod."
I replied, smiling, "No mistakes, Marty, eh?"
"No mistakes, Ken!" he said, mirroring the smile.
"Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words,Your words become your actions,Your actions become your habits,Your habits become your values,Your values become your destiny." – Mahatma Gandhi, leader
Until Next time…
Now you know, if you put other people's values before your own, you generate disrespect, to motivate you to be your own person, and live by your own values. In this way you grow your self confidence, self esteem and self worth. Don't waste another day trying to live inside someone's values, live inside you own, and optimize your own learning and evolution.
If you are struggling in your relationship, please go to our NEW VIDEO on how you can deal with it
If you find our posts useful, please share them with your circles of influence, your family, friends and colleagues. Encourage them to subscribe to our FREE Newsletter and ebook, "Finding Balance in Your Life" And, please like us on Facebook or Twitter.
Our next seminar, "A Transformation Day for COUPLES!" will focus on relationships. It will be on saturday, September 26, 2015 at our offices. Details are available at ww.kenpiercepsychologist.com
Send us your feedback and topic suggestions…we love to hear from you! If you have a specific question or wish to schedule a consultation, feel free to contact me.
Namaste, (I salute the grandly organized design of the universe, manifested in you!)
Further information: www.kenpiercepsychologist.com


text:
Professional Carpet Cleaning Dacula GA
Proud to Announce Citrus Carpet Cleaning of Dacula GA!
CitruSolution Carpet Cleaning of Dacula, GA proudly serves residential homes, churches, apartment communities and business in North Gwinnett County, GA. We are honored that so many of Dacula and Hamilton Mill's residents trust us to work hard everyday and make sure we exceed expectations, show up on time, and offer value no matter what.
You can have confidence in our customer testimonials that we are the real deal, and indeed are a proud member of the Dacula Business Association. We do what we say we're going to do when we're going to do it. So if need quality carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, rug cleaning, or even RV cleaning, we're here for you. We also offer discounts on church carpet cleaning, and are known for our ability to prevent business interruption – our solution cleans great AND dries fast!
We are also the only environmentally-friendly carpet cleaning choice in Dacula. We know the good people of Dacula care about their environment – particularly where her children eat and sleep. That's why we only use an environmentally friendly citrus solution that's safe for children, pets, and of course adults, too.
Why do more people of Dacula/Hamilton Mill trust us to clean their carpets?
I consider it an honor every time you invite me, local business owner J.R. Mitchell, into your lovely homes, businesses, and offices, and even entrust my team and me with the care of your houses of worship. We will not let you down. Dacula has seen its share of carpet cleaning scams, but even if we could square cutting corners with our values we couldn't sleep at night. We refuse to leave anyone anything less than overwhelmingly with our carpet cleaning jobs.
We are in particular delighted that our professional, quality carpet cleaning services make sense for so many businesses. We understand the importance of non-interrupted business, and the need for reliability, speed, and overall professionalism. That's why we send only trained employees to clean carpets on any job, no matter how small. We also help your eyes out by never including small print. Dacula residents will pay exactly what they were quoted and not a penny more. We call them EXACT-imates, not estimates. No stain fees, no gas fees, no up-sells, or anything of the sort. Just quality, professional results on time and on budget. Without question.
What does Citrus Carpet Cleaning of Dacula cost?
We only offer EXACT-imates, not the typical estimates. The idea of charging what was originally quoted is apparently quite novel in the carpet cleaning industry. You will only ever pay precisely what you agreed to pay based on the scope of the project. We create these EXACT-imates based on the number of rooms, hallways, and staircases that are involved in any job. You don't have time for unprofessional, unreliable businesses with only average results, and who wants to haggle with their local carpet cleaner? We sure wouldn't. We built CitruSolution Carpet Cleaning of Dacula GA around the idea that you don't have to compromise. Other companies won't let you prepay for the service, why is that? Most of us have a budget and will often call around to a couple places to "compare" prices, but how is it a true comparison if their price isn't the actual price? One of the things we suggest when people call CitruSolution Carpet Cleaning Dacula is once they give you an "estimate," ask them, "Can I make out the check right now for that?" And just wait for a response.
Why is our product better?
- No harmful chemicals means no pollution in your home or business- our patented citru-based formula is safe for children, pets, and in-laws.
- Our low-moisture formula means you're not left with a wet and smelly carpet.
- We dissolve spots, so they won't reappear or we'll come back for free.
- Exactimates mean you know from the beginning exactly what you're paying.
- No fine print means if we say something, we do it. No joke.
If you're interested, please learn more about our carpet cleaning process, and see why we are Dacula, GA's most trusted carpet cleaning company. We look forward to your call! (770) 652.0630.
Previous website was www.TheBigOrangeGuy.com


text:
Field & Forage is Cascade Organic's unique CSA program. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture – an excellent way to get the absolute freshest locally grown organic produce for you and your family at a great price while helping local farmers and foragers to thrive.
Our CSA combines both organically-grown fruits and vegetables with the exciting addition of wild foraged edibles harvested at their seasonal peak. We also include some of our favorite, seasonally-selected microgreen blends with each box – an easy way to add texture, flavor and nutrition to all your meals.
But that's not all that makes Field & Forage unique amongst CSA programs. We are proud to offer the option to receive sustainable, wild-caught fish with your delivery! Through our partnership with local native tribes we procure the freshest, most nutrient rich and delicious fish on the planet and package it in convenient, easy-to-use portions.
There are many more surprises in store with each new package from Field & Forage!
What makes CSA programs so good for you, our communities, and the world?
By fostering a direct relationship between farmers and the people they feed, we remove the middlemen and create a special bond. When you open a box of Field & Forage produce, you can feel the care and respect that the farmer practiced in bringing each item to your plate. Our produce comes from people who love what they do and you will become an intergal part of that process with your decision to support local farmers.
Our locally grown, seasonal, organic produce stands head and shoulders above fruits and vegetables that have traveled thousands of miles, been grown in poor conditions and ripened with artificial methods.
Field & Forage allows customers to experience wild foraged edibles alongside the usual fruits and vegetables offered by the typical CSA.
What's so special about wild nutrition?
Eating wildly foraged goods is humanities oldest food tradition. Before the cultivation of produce, our ancestors foraged for sustenance and found that nature offered a perfect bounty of nutrient-rich food at their feet. By tapping into this heritage in the modern day, we can feel more energized and vital as our bodies thrive on the broad spectrum and macro, micro and phyto nutrients that these wild goods are full of.
Foraged goods are also unique and absolutely delicious. With Field & Forage's boxes you will experience a versatile array of locally harvested fare from wild huckleberries to morel mushrooms to edible flowers that will delight your friends and family and inspire your culinary creativity.
At Field & Forage we are also committed to making our products simple to prepare! We take great care to clean and process our wild goods as well as including recipe and usage ideas to kick start your creative process.
Get ready to explore a wilderness of food!


text:
Praise the Lord, and pass the potatoes.
It might take someone with a slightly jaundiced view of the very religious to notice that the states with the highest obesity rates are mostly the same states — nine out of 10 — professing the greatest religiosity.
Tim Covell, the Albuquerque author of a new book called "Born Atheist," correlated two fairly recent studies not usually correlated to conclude that "religion might make you fat" — except in Colorado.
The CalorieLab 2010 obesity report, based on statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, indicates the most overweight states, in order, are Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Arkansas, South Carolina and North Carolina. All the way down at No. 50, the leanest state is Colorado.
Compare this result with a 2008 Gallup poll of more than 355,000 adult Americans on how important religion is in people's lives. The top 10 religious states are Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma and, finally, Kentucky in a tie with Texas.
Colorado is middle-of-the-pack religious, with 57 percent of this state's respondents saying religion is very important in daily life. It ranked No. 37.
Covell admits he's being deliberately provocative and tongue-in-cheek and that he's no social scientist. One of those might think obesity is more likely correlated with poverty, he said.
Or, maybe, he said, people in poor health have a more immediate interest in the afterlife.
Maybe it's just one too many church potlucks.
He simply wants religious people to have something else to chew on this holiday.
"As an atheist, I'm not against a good meal," Covell said, "but Thanksgiving is not a major holiday on the atheist's calendar."
He is thankful to family, friends and neighbors, he admits, and for his own efforts to keep food on the table. He isn't going to overindulge because of some ritual crediting a deity for nature's bounty.
He might also want to give thanks for any religious people with a sense of humor.
Electa Draper: 303-954-1276 or email@example.com


text:
Welcome to Dock Street Brewery!
Dock Street Beer Cans Coming April 2017!
New – 16oz Cans
In April 2017, Dock Street Beer will be available in cans for the first time ever.
We're starting with 16oz cans of one core style, our Golden IPA – the beer of a hundred tweets – and two small-run seasonal offerings, No Exit Double IPA and Jip The Blood, a Berliner weisse with blood orange. We'll be incorporating more core brews, one-offs and hyper-limited releases to the line-up as we go.
These first releases will only be available at Dock Street Brewery, Dock Street Cannery and Lounge, plus a very select handful of our ride-or-dies in the local restaurant and beer scene. Four-packs and 24-pack cases will be available for takeout purchase from both of our locations plus select distributors.
The Origin Story.
Here's the short version.
We started in 1985, amidst a proverbial sea of watered down and adjunct-plagued lagers, as one of the first post-prohibition craft breweries in the country - and Philly's first all-grain brewpub.
Now, we call a firehouse at 50th and Baltimore Avenue home. We've come a long way since our first location at 18th and Cherry – 3.9 miles, to be exact – but to this day, countless craft beer drinkers credit Dock Street as the beer that turned them away from yellow-tinged macro-brews and corn-infused light lager.
We're known as much for our fearless experimental beers like the Walker (brewed with goat brains in honor of our favorite show, The Walking Dead) as for staples like our Bohemian Pilsner or our Prince Myshkin Russian Imperial Stout, one of the highest rated beers out there.
What's in a name?
Our name, Dock Street, was chosen in honor of the seaport district which was, in the late 1700's, the largest producer of beer in the then-newly-formed country.
Today, we still brew with the spirit of Philadelphia's sudsy history, and Dock St. (pictured above, in 1908) in mind.
In fact, it wasn't unusual to find pirates and statemen alike sitting elbow to elbow and minding their P's and Q's at the taverns lining Dock Street all those centuries ago, and we like to think that things are no different at our place in West Philadelphia nowadays.
Visit us.
Dock Street Brewery practices the craft in the ground floor of a 110-year-old firehouse at the corner of 50th and Baltimore Avenue in West Philadelphia.
We converted roughly one third of the firehouse into a production brewery, devoting the rest of the space to a sensory-stimulating restaurant. Many of our draft beers travel less than 65 feet from conditioning tanks in the brewery straight to the pint glasses and mouths of our patrons, making our offerings quite literally some of the freshest beers available.
In 2017, we converted the garage next door on 50th Street into a canning facility and tasting room. We'll be fermenting, aging, and canning beer onsite round-the-clock, and we'll be open as a Tasting Room for beer, draft wine, a few classic cocktails and beer cocktails (both draft and made-to-order) plus small bites Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
Take a Brewery Tour.
Brewery Tours are available every Saturday by appointment
at 2pm and 4pm.
Grab some friends and take a guided tour of Dock Street Brewery! See how we make our small-batch, award-winning and handcrafted beer in our brewpub in West Philadelphia. When you're done, join us front-of-house for our famed wood-fired pizza and fresh beer. We hear it tastes just that much better when you see exactly how it's made.
Tour includes samples, logo pint glass and stickers.
Complementing our handcrafted brews is impressive lineup of hand-tossed, wood fired pizza from our EarthStone Wood Oven, char-grilled burgers, numerous vegetarian and vegan friendly options, fries and bites, plus spirits, wine, and beer cocktails.
Come by for apps like our Trio Fries (potato, sweet potato and leeks), friend, Panko-crusted fresh mozzarella (a foodie-approved take on the more ubiquitous but not nearly as delicious diner version) or pizzas ranging from classic – Americana or Margherita – to culty – Flammenkuche, Fig Jam, or the pickle-topped Cubano.


text:
My little (and only) brother got married this past weekend.
He married an angel. Truly. A dream come true for our family.
I'll be honest. I didn't want to go. Well, the anxiety-ridden/extremely fatigued part of me didn't want to go. My heart, on the other hand, has been there since the day they became engaged.
Here are just some things I took away from this whirlwind weekend of wedding.
First of all, I didn't want to go (really)
Let me be real and raw here when I say that anticipating taking five children aged 8 and under on a 1000 mile round trip road trip is enough to make you wanna call off the whole idea. But, anticipating taking that 1000 mile round trip road trip while suffering with anxiety and extreme fatigue/thyroid issues plus having not driven much of anywhere in several months is beyond overwhelming.
I wanted to run far, far away from this event. I struggled with feeling like I had no choice BUT to be there and then thinking "what kind of horrible sister are you to not be at your brother's wedding?!".
Just one week prior, I had taken the liberty to push myself to drive fifteen minutes, behind our house, to a see a friend whom I had never previously gone to her house before. Upon my departure, I notice my phone is at 10%, and I have to use my map app that brutally drains my phone so I can even find her house.
Long story short, my phone guided me to the middle-of-freaking-nowhere with 2% battery life and no sense of how to get back home, much less to actually finding my friend's house. Oh, and it was getting dark, too. And, I had my two-year-old with me. So my first trek out solo in months, was a semi-disaster and a prime breeding ground for panic. Of course, I didn't desire to venture out of town, much less four states away just seven days later.
But, I went.
My Children Can Travel
I anticipated the ride to be something like a non-violent horror film. I mean, what else could I have expected having a ten-month-old that has never been more than an hour away from home, a two-year-old that is literally a firework of energy and demands held hostage for multiple hours, and a nearly four-year-old that "has to potty" every other hour?! Let's not forget the six and eight-year-olds that can tag-team the "are we there yet's?" and "how much longer's?" the entire time.
I apologize. My children were amazing. I don't know if it had something to do with our awesome parenting prior to this event, my best friend's generosity in the busy bag department, or just an overwhelming amount of God's grace and mercy falling from the prayers that were sent up for us. (I'm going with the latter two possibilities).
My only desperate time was about thirty minutes from our destination on the way up when I had to nurse our baby while she remained strapped into her carseat, so I could converse with my husband about our whereabouts.
My Family is Amazing (and it just got more amazing)
Considering this wedding was in the bride's home state of Pennsylvania, and we have absolutely no family that lives within any sort of reasonable distance from the location, there were many of us there.
Even my inlaws, who have been more like family to my parents and family for my whole life, came anyway when they couldn't find a flight. They drove all day long, helped with our children, took our boys into their hotel room to make more room for us left in that "too tiny for our family of seven" room, and even missed the entire ceremony to help with all of the flower girls. Amazing love. And they left just 24 hours after arriving to drive back to North Carolina.
My grandparents took that same drive on Friday, left on Saturday and drove all night until they got home. They even missed the rehearsal and most of the dinner, but they pushed through and came.
My uncle and cousin, drove all day long just to attend the wedding on Saturday. Drove back to Indiana that afternoon. They were there just fifteen hours total.
Even one of the groomsman, one of my brothers closest friends, flew all the way from Japan, was a part of the wedding and left today to return to Japan. Incredible love. Incredible sacrifice.
Hotel Life With Little Ones (or, can I go to the pool?)
It seems like upon every collision of vehicle to hotel parking lot pavement induces the most predictable inquiry from children: "does this hotel have a pool"?
Which inevitably leads to the next exclamatory inquiry: "can we go swimming....RIGHT NOW?!?"
It doesn't matter if you roll up after dark, or if your parents are having a hard time keeping their eyes open after a long day of travel. The burst of energy children acquire upon learning that, indeed, this hotel does have a pool is further confirmed by the wafting chlorine high that nearly knocks you dead upon entry in to the lobby. It's like a cruel reminder of what is coming next. "OOOHHHH!!! I can smell the pool, mommy!! Can we get our swimming suits on RIGHT NOW?!"
I recall being that child and saying such childish things during my own childhood. It's a different story, entirely, when you're the mother of five little children that rarely come into contact with giant holes of concrete, filled with chlorinated water.
So, within the first thirty minutes of arrival, naturally, they (the children) will all immediately don their swimming attire and be clamoring for the exit as if the room was swarming with bees.
There's also no rest for the weary. Parents, that is. Especially when the only option is to snuggle a wiggly, nursey ten-month-old in a bed that you must share with your husband. It was tight.
I Did It (for my dad)
We made it. We're home now, having brought home buckets full of memories and hearts full of love.
I was able to do this weekend because of prayer. I was able to do this weekend because of love, encouragement, and enormous amounts of help. I did it because I knew I would never regret going to my brother's wedding.
Sure, there were moments when I sobbed from exhaustion, frustration for feeling badly again, and just purely being overwhelmed. I did have one almost panic attack and one full panic attack that I reigned under control rather quickly.
At the end of the wedding, after the reception was over, people dispersed and clothes were changed for the road trips ahead, my dad told me he was so proud of me. "I did it for you, dad", was my response. You see, my dad understands what it's like to battle a world of "what if's". My anxiety and health issues may have followed me on this road trip, but it didn't defeat me. I still was able to enjoy and partake of almost every moment. I pushed myself and pushed some more. And I know I was able to do so because of my family, the prayers, and my Heavenly Father.
My brother's wedding was beautiful. And I have pictures to prove it.


text:
How To Tell The Difference Between Fake And Real News?
In today's era of the Internet, the information from all around the world is available to the public almost instantly. This is a great thing in theory, and it greatly helps to hold the fine equilibrium of general awareness. However, today's media got a little greedy, and fake story-selling is now a real thing and a ...READ MORE +


text:
"...what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?" "A Republic, if you can keep it
James Randazzo has not received any gifts yet
Give a Gift
Join Patriots Heart Network Media #phnm
This Ning App is not visible to members on the Main page.
Welcome toPatriots Heart Network Media #phnm
Sign Upor Sign In
Or sign in with:
Posted by SGT William A. Geresy (ret) on September 14, 2019 at 10:07pm
0 Comments
Posted by SGT William A. Geresy (ret) on September 14, 2019 at 9:41am
0 Comments
Posted by SGT William A. Geresy (ret) on September 7, 2019 at 9:31am
0 Comments
10,500 Steaks at 2020 Democrat Steak Fry Despite Their Meat Consumption Climate Change Concerns
Candace Owens: Democrats Use Black Americans as 'Props' to Push Their Narrative
Watch: Jerome Hudson Calls Out the Left's Climate Hypocrisy, Gun Control Hysteria on 'Waters World'
Pinkerton: The General Motors Strike Will Test Which Party Will Work for Workers in 2020
Poll Shows 'First Major Shakeup' with Elizabeth Warren Overtaking Joe Biden in Iowa
EXCLUSIVE: Police Found Gun in Osundairo Brother's Apartment – Same Weapon Jussie Smollett Used in His Music Video on Gun Violence
"His Son Knows Nothing, He's a Stiff" – President Trump Doubles Down – Blasts Joe Biden on Son's Billion Dollar Pay-for-Play with China (VIDEO)
FIRST VIDEO: Democrat and Hillary Friend and Donor Ed Buck LOOKS FREAKED OUT As Judge Sets His Bail at $4 Million
EXCLUSIVE: DEEP STATE DEACON – Father Alex Karloutsos – Connected to Obama and Hillary – Invited Papadopoulos to Cyprus in December 2016
TRUTH IS THE NEW CLICK-BAIT: Criminal Facebook Has a New Excuse to Ban and Block Pro-Trump Conservative Content
10,500 Steaks at 2020 Democrat Steak
 Fry Despite Their Meat Consumption
Climate Change Concerns
Pro-Second Amendment Columbine
Survivor Gets Beto to Admit: I'm
Open to Banning All Guns
The Trump whistleblower may
not be a whistleblower at all
More Fracking, or More War?
Booker admits lack of financial support
putting his White House bid at risk
Candace Owens: Democrat Policies Are
More Threatening To Black America
Than White Supremacy
Comey and Baquet — united against Trump
— have caused a nonstop feeding frenzy
Report: White House Whistleblower
Didn't Have Direct Knowledge
 of Trump Communications
Biden Says He Never Discussed Hunter
Biden's Ukraine Deal. Hunter Says He Did
Greek police arrest suspect in
1985 TWA Flight 847 hijacking
© 2019 Created by Chalice.
Powered by
Badges |
Report an Issue |
Terms of Service
Please check your browser settings or contact your system administrator.


text:
The Castle Limes Hotel offers to it's guests comfortable and spacy rooms with a light feel surrounding them. Bedrooms come in various sizes and shapes, they all are tastefully decorated and these differences are reflected in the tariff. We have a selection of executive doubles, standard double rooms, family suites and twin rooms. For those who find stairs difficult there are five ground- floor rooms.
All of our rooms offer:
- Ensuite facilities some with baths.
- Swipe key card access for your convenience.
- King size and super king size beds.
- Luxury toiletries.
- Crispy linen.
- Hair dryer.
- Fair trade tea and coffee facilities.
- Bottled water.
- Quality curtains / blinds ensuring you don't wake with the rising sun.
- Flat screen televisions.
- Wi /Fi in public areas.
- Clock alarms with IPOD attachment.
- Room phones, with direct numbers and voice mail, and contact with reception.
- Trouser press on request.
- Various rooms suitable for disabled.


text:
This drop in format includes fun games to play while keeping you and your dog challenged in new ways. Looking to take your connection to the next level off lead? Offered monthly on Mondays, this one hour practice provides a safe environment with your instructor serving as your ghost handler as needed to insure your dog's success. $10
Email firstname.lastname@example.com to reserve your spot.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Continuing CCC,


text:
Iowa occupies a unique place in the telecommunications industry, having more phone companies (145) than any other state. The Davis Brown Law Firm has been involved in the Iowa telecommunications industry since state-wide regulation of public utilities began in the 1960s. The firm filed the second rate case before the Iowa State Commerce Commission (now the Iowa State Utilities Board) and has practiced before the board regularly since then.
The firm is general counsel to the Iowa Telecommunications Association. The department also represents many utilities including telecommunications, energy, cable television and wireless communications such as satellite, cellular, PCS, and paging.
Davis Brown represents clients in state and federal regulatory affairs, including rate-making, tariffs, declaratory rulings, certificates, rule-making and licensing, as well as in mergers and acquisitions, incorporations, joint ventures and partnerships, and labor and employment issues.


text:
Olympic Golf preview videos from Golfing World and Golf Digest
With the men's Olympic Golf set to tee off on Thursday, here are a few preview videos doing the rounds on the internet to get you up to speed on the format, the players and the Olympic golf Course.
And here is a very cool 360deg tour of the Olympic Golf Course with narration by course architect Gil Hanse.
…and a short overview on what looks to be an amazing Olympic Golf Course from Golf Digest. View the hole-by-hole flyovers here.


text:
Jacoby Ellsbury
Sponsored By
Notable Major League Debuts For Red Sox ProspectsWith Rafael Devers set to make his Major League debut on Tuesday night, it's a good time to take a trip down memory lane and see how other top Red Sox prospects fared in their first days as a big leaguer.
It's Time For Red Sox-Yankees Rivalry To Reignite2016 won't see the Red Sox and Yankees competing for 100 wins each, but it should see each team alive in the race for a wide open AL East.
Jacoby Ellsbury Benched For Yankees' One-Game Playoff Yankees manager Joe Girardi did not include Ellsbury in the starting lineup, despite the center fielder being perfectly healthy.
Several Current, Former Boston Athletes Land On Forbes' Highest Paid ListThe grass may not always be greener on the other side, but the money sure is.
Felger & Mazz On Red Sox Team-Building Philosophy: Do They Even Have One?Do the Red Sox have a proactive or reactive philosophy? Felger & Mazz are starting to think it's the latter.
David Ortiz The Only Red Sox Player Currently Set To Make AL All-Star TeamFor an accurate picture of the 2014 Red Sox season, look no further than the current All-Star ballot results.
McAdam On Toucher & Rich: Red Sox April Struggles Are WidespreadWhen a baseball team has more errors than hits in a game that they score 5 runs, you know something is not quite right.
Ellsbury Returns, Helps Yankees Beat Red Sox 9-3Jacoby Ellsbury doubled, tripled, drove in two runs and made a sliding catch in his return to Fenway Park.
Felger & Mazz: April 22, 2014The Felger and Massarotti Show from Tuesday, April 22.
Ellsbury Prepared For His Return To Fenway: 'I Gave (Red Sox) Everything I Had'Jacoby Ellsbury knew this day would come as soon as he signed a seven-year, $153 million deal with the New York Yankees, but he's ready to return to Fenway Park.
Opening Day Memory: When The 2013 Red Sox Showed They Were DifferentOpening day is just one three-hour window into a season that will take many months to complete, yet there is a reason it is held in such high regard among sports fans.
No Talk Of A Repeat: Red Sox Again Taking One-Day, One-Game Approach For 2014The Red Sox aren't looking back at last year's World Series or even ahead to what could happen this October. The only thing they're taking from 2013 is the same approach each and every night.
McAdam: New York Media Already Starting To Turn On EllsburyJust 10 days away from Opening Day and the rival New York Yankees are already uncertain about the health of their $153 million dollar man.
Yankees Send Jacoby Ellsbury For MRI Of Ailing Right CalfNew York Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was sent for an MRI Thursday of his ailing right calf, which was negative.
Felger & Mazz: March 18, 2014The Felger and Massarotti Show from Tuesday, March 18.


text:
Hello Dwellers and Welcome To Basement Matinee...
If you follow me on Twitter @FredCasden or are a friend of mine on Facebook… I lived up to my promise, and saw X-Men Apocalypse today…. I'd say the attendance of the crowd in the theater I was in was about 50% full, and according to the ushers, greeters and guest services that I spoke too, they were expecting fuller crowds for the later showings, but it was quite clear that there were fewer people to catch the afternoon showings as compared to Captain America Civil War and Batman V Superman Dawn of Justice.
And there are spoilers here,
Again… SPOILERS!
You have been warned but I tend to jump around so you still have to see it… but even if you haven't, you know that a lot of websites were spoiling the movie for WEEKS before it hit theaters, which is a huge gripe I have.
So right off the back lets talk continuity, it will help if you saw X-Men First Class for some of the character interaction with Mystique, Beast, Xavier and Magneto, but X-Men Apocalypse does a good job of explaining everything without dragging down the story to much. This is basically an 'origin' story for Cyclops, Nightcrawler, & Storm, hell even, Wolverine… who has basically ups the body count on his own…. And while there is some connection to the first three X-Men movies, you can tell the time line is certainly different.
The plot is that Apocalypse has been awoken in 1983 and is pissed that the 'meak have inherited the earth' , and he sets out of to find his horsemen, selecting Storm, Psylock, and Angel… along with Magneto… which seemed like an odd choice, but they tied it in with how he's always losing his family and is full of rage. I think most of us who grew up watching the 90s X-Men cartoon obviously assumed Angel would be member of the Four Horsemen… Storm fits, and instead of her origin being tied to the Shadow King, it's now Apocalypse which makes a lot more sense… the only I really have a hard time seeing is Psylock, who even with her powers enhanced, didn't seem like a heavy hitter among the other three. Through coincidence of Xavier looking for Magneto, Apocalypse becomes aware of him, and things get rolling from there until the day is saved.
As you can probably tell, they get a lot done in this movie… that's because it's 2 and a Half Hours Long… and it didn't feel like it, because they kept things moving at a fairly nice pace, but there is a lot to take in. In fact, I told to some other movie goers after the movie, the ones who are comic book fans thought everything represented the source material as well as possible, while those who aren't comic book fans, enjoyed it but got lost among all the jumping around that was going on.
Special Effects wise, well I did not see the 3D version, but they look very impressive, he sequences with Quicksilver, where we see things from his perspective of moving faster than the eye can see, looked awesome…. Also Pizza Dog, 'nuff said. All the projectile powers looked crisp and blended in well, which is an advantage of not seeing things in 3D, things maybe flat, but it all looks to be apart of the image on display, while with 3D you're obviously getting that lifted and coming at you feel.
So onto things that I loved about this movie… well for one Mystique as a reluctant hero and role model works perfectly and is a great contrast to how one normally views her character, the fight sequences between Nightcrawler and Angel are really well done, despite the heavy tone there is a lot of fun in the film, I like that Jubilee was in it and was a bit annoyed that she wasn't apart of things beyond just being a student at the school… The death of Havok and being the catalyst for Cyclops to go all out, and the obvious indication of Jean Grey's Phoenix Force abilities in the climax was awesome… the effects for Quicksilver were awesome, the sequence of him getting everyone out of the Xavier Mansion room by room in slow motion was awesome while 'Sweet Dreams Are Made of These' is playing… and against… Pizza Dog… Cyclops, Jean and Nightcrawler going around a base to free Beast, Mystique, Quicksilber & Moira was a great bit, particularly with the freeing of Weapon X… and boy does Wolvie go wild,,, really pushing the PG-13 boundaries…
What I didn't care for was… well… for as powerful and bombastic as Apocalypse is in the comics, video games and cartoons… he came across too… subtle for my taste… and clearly, some things were by pure happenstance, he comes across Storm who takes him to Caliban which leads to the recruitment of Psylock who takes them to Angel… and Magneto… it was like 'Hey I know a guy! You'd like 'em' sorta deal. And while Angel had to be there, Psylock, as I said earlier just didn't seem like the best fit, and seemed like she was used because she was an 'X-Men' character and nothing else.
Still… on a score of 5… I'd give it a four… while I enjoyed it a lot, it could have been cut down with some drawn out sequences shorten early on… I'd have to imagine the first cut of the movie must have been about 4 hours long, so who knows what was left on the cutting room floor.
Oh almost forgot, the post credit stuff with the Essex Corp and it being Mr. Sinister playing the long game is really cool, and I can it see the next X-Men movie being focused on the Phoenix Saga. Since it's said they are going into Space next time and of course what happened with Jean in this movie.
So that will wrap it up, if you saw the movie, tell me what you thought!


text:
Originally published in Parable Press
He may have been born James Williams Jr., but my father wasn't the kind of man to take a second-hand name. When he got to be school-aged, he stood up during his home room attendance and told the teacher to call him Buck. He said he'd seen the word next to a big deer in one of his picture books and he liked the sound of it.
Sometimes a name just sticks, so Buck it was.
It stayed that way for a good long while. I don't think he saw his legal name again until it was typed on his arrest record next to fingerprints and tear stains.
My father's parents hadn't graduated from high school and he was far from a scholar himself. But he was respectful and tried hard enough that the teachers shuttled him along from year to year. It might have also helped that he was the 145 pound state wrestling champ three years running. My father wasn't raised to take something he didn't deserve, but I'll bet it was damn near impossible to keep track of how you were doing in school when teachers casually traded passing grades for Friday night fame.
On the wrestling mat his good nature disappeared and was replaced by something bordering on savage. We all have our talents, but my father's seemed to be driving young men's bodies and wills into submission. He took down so many that his father had to build him a case to hold all of his medals.
My brother loved pulling those old wrestling medals out and pinning them all over us. Even though I was a girl, nothing gave me more pleasure than spending my days dying glorious deaths in our epic backyard battles. We'd lay in the grass, vanquished and moaning, until my father would un-decorate us with a tickle and a smile and put his medals away. He explained to us that soldiers did brave deeds and these were just prideful objects that he didn't have the courage or good sense to part with. He said he hadn't done anything noble at all to earn them.
He told us he didn't like that side of his nature coming out. Truth was, he'd only joined the wrestling team to show off his muscles to a pretty young lady he hoped one day to marry. That girl must've liked wrestling a lot because they got married not long after high school.
My mother told me they never argued until they had kids. Trading the bliss of newlywed life for the tornado of twins didn't make life easy on them. But their first dispute wasn't over diaper changing or who was going to get up to feed us. No, their first fight was over names. Not ours. But our father's.
Buck wanted us to call him, well, Buck.
He said that's what everyone called him since he was a boy and he wouldn't answer to anything else. But my mother found it disrespectful for a child to call a parent or any adult by his first name. She also pointed out that babies learning to talk often mispronounced words and she'd be mortified if a child of hers said the word fuck. So they reached a compromise. My brother and I were taught to call him Daddy Buck and there was peace in the kingdom.
Daddy Buck kept his knives sharp and his guns clean and he hunted and fished well enough to bring home supper on weekends. His hands were rough and strong and he could twist the tops off of beers that weren't even twist offs. Best of all, he could spit farther than any man I've ever known. He'd make this horrible hacking sound that had us in peals of laughter and then he'd launch a wad of goo with impossible accuracy and distance.
As far as the kids in our neighborhood were concerned, a man who could spit like that was superhuman. He could hit our dog from across the yard. We made Daddy Buck do that trick so much the poor animal got skittish, always thinking it was about to rain.
My father managed the town's sporting goods store. He paid his taxes and bought beers for veterans. He sang the national anthem and took his hat off, even when it was just playing on TV. He voted in every election, but he'd be the first to tell you he wasn't a fan of the government. Thought the Democrats and Republicans were running pretty much the same show, just wearing different colors. Said he'd seen enough of them come and go to know for a fact that both were sneaking into a man's pocket for the privilege of spending it foolishly.
We didn't talk a lot about politics in the house, but he was on a bit of a rant that night because the state was in yet another budget crisis. The government said they didn't have enough money to pay the teachers so their solution was to "give" them a day off once a month to cut costs. Called them furlough days.
The kids loved it, but the parents didn't for the simple reason that when both parents work, furlough days made child care a challenge. Even though we were just in 3rd grade we looked after ourselves pretty well, but it made our parents nervous just the same. My mother's boss didn't care about her "family" issues, but Daddy Buck promised to get home as early as he could even though he knew we were just running around with the neighbor kids. A few of the kids had moms that stayed at home, so there was usually someone to dispense Band-Aids and spray Bactine.
On one of those days off we'd run out of things to throw rocks at and I suggested we play hide and go seek. Some of the kids said that was a game for babies so we changed the rules. Everyone kicked in a dollar and whoever was the last one found got to keep all the money. "Hide and seek for money" sounded much more grown up.
It also meant you'd better find an awesome hiding place if you wanted to go home with all the money.
Both my brother and I were small for our age and our favorite place to hide was in the kitchen cupboard. There were cleaning supplies in there, but we knew better than to eat or drink anything. It always gave me a strange thrill to sit so close to things that could kill me. Eyeing the skull and crossbones on a bottle of drain opener or a package of rat poison made me feel powerful, like I was cheating death.
I wasn't old enough yet to know that no one cheats death.
Not even a kid.
On the day of hide and seek for money, my brother and I got to the cupboard at the same time. In a begrudgingly generous way, he let me take the favored place. His brow wrinkled into a little scowl and he said, "Ladies first," in the mannerly way that Daddy Buck had taught him.
They were the last words I ever heard him speak.
My brother hid in the empty recycling bin can in the alley. He knew it would be empty because Daddy Buck thought recycling was just a scam the city had come up with to charge us for picking up sorted bottles and cans that they were just going to turn around and profit by.
The teachers may have had a day off, but the garbage men did not. They trolled the neighborhood alleys with the type of trucks that efficiently and mechanically picked up the cans and shook them into their giant bellies to gnaw on and digest. I guess between the noise of the trash dumping and the hangover the truck driver was sporting no one heard the little boy getting the life crushed out of him. Alone and broken in a sea of shattered glass and twisted aluminum.
I still have nightmares about what that must have felt like.
How is a family supposed to survive that?
The simple answer is, it doesn't.
My father had lots of questions about what happened, but the one I remembered most was, "Who's idea was it to play this game?"
Four letters was all it took to tear a family apart.
My mother turned to tranquilizers to dull the pain and Daddy Buck turned to bourbon. You'd think that losing a child would make the surviving one a treasure. Maybe because we were twins, every time they looked at me they saw him. It's hard to live in a place where your face rips opens wounds that desperately need to scab over and scar.
It was silent in our house for months. I learned to cry in whispers so as not to disturb the still. I never want it to be that quiet again. To this day I have to keep a radio or the television on. A little something to make noise or I get uneasy.
One night I came home from a friend's house to find Daddy Buck dozing with a bottle in his lap. I tried to pull it away. He was in half a daze and whispered to me that if he had to lose one of us, he wished it had been me. A son will keep a man's name alive. What could a daughter ever do?
I would have hit him, but I was such a tiny thing that he probably wouldn't have even felt it. So I spit on him because it was the meanest thing I knew how to do.
I thought he was too drunk to notice, but the hand that steadied my bike and tucked me in turned to a fist and struck. My lip split and my jaw cracked. I don't know if it was the sound or the shock or the pain, but I threw up all over him.
Daddy Buck just went back to sleep.
That was the first time my father ever laid a hand on me. I wished I could say it was the last. My mother's hell was just about to begin. I never knew how long 4 months could be.
The savageness that had been reserved for the wrestling mats was unleashed on what remained of our little family. My mother can't see out of her left eye and still walks with a pretty bad limp.
A shelter took us in after she got out of the hospital and my parents were divorced by mail. We moved to the other side of town and I never saw him again although I did hear about him getting arrested for trying to run a garbage truck off the road.
He ranted in court. Said the government killed his son with their greed and incompetence. Said someone in the government was going to pay for what they did. He said a lot of things about the government that you don't really get to say without some kind of consequence.
He was jailed and did not do well in confinement. I imagine he was just as fierce as he'd been as a young wrestler, but there are no weight classes in prison. And there are no referees either. Mother told me he'd suffered some kind of serious head trauma and had been moved to an institution.
Years passed. The polite language would be that we lost track, but the truth was I could never look in those eyes again without seeing all that rage. It's hard to lose a parent while they're still living, but maybe some heartbreaks are for the best.
I'm a grown woman now and I've got a child of my own. My boy's grown up with child locks on kitchen cupboards and organized play dates instead of running around until dark. He's lost a lot of freedom, but he hasn't lost his life, so I think that's a pretty fair trade.
My son and I were shopping in our little downtown the other day when we saw a mass of hair and rags propped up against a storefront. I couldn't make out the face behind the tangle of hair, but there was something in his body language that gave me pause. The man twisted the top off his beer bottle in a way that chilled my bones.
He looked up at me and smiled a toothless grin.
"He's staring at you, Mom. Do you know him?" my son asked.
I raised my hand reflexively to my face. "No sweetie."
"He's got a bunch of medals. I wonder if he's a soldier."
"Could be."
"Can we give him a dollar?"
I told my son I didn't have any small bills and then I lied again when I told him we were in a hurry.
My son fished in his pocket and pulled out a dollar bill mangled in the way only little boys can. "That's alright. I've got one. Hey mister!"
"Stop it Jimmy. He's just a bum."
"That's not a nice word, Mom. He's a person. He's someone's father."
"No. No he's not. He's nobody's father."
The man's eyes lit up at that.
I gripped my boy's hand and tried to pull him across the street.
"Mom, you're hurting me."
And then I heard that hacking sound.
That wonderful horrible sound that made all the kids squeal. That sound I hadn't heard since I was a girl. Since I was a sister. Since I was a half. And since I was a whole. Tears flooded down my face as I raced away. Desperate to escape.
And even though I put a dozen yards between us…
I braced, knowing surely he would hit me.


text:
Community Forum
Join a conversation, pose a question, or help a fellow user: The best place to discuss all things Karelia.
You are not logged in.
- Topics: Active | Unanswered
Pages: 1
#1 March 15, 2014 4:31 am
- dusong
- Hero
Feature Req: Sync attachments
It should be very magic and useful to open attachment on iPhone after you attach it on Mac.
In case physically sync might be challenge, shall we think of sync it via third party service like Dropbox, e.g. if link a docx from ~/Dropbox on Mac, in iPhone it automatically turns into a link to Dropbox attachment?
#2 June 4, 2014 7:59 pm
- robfuzz
- Member
Re: Feature Req: Sync attachments
I agree (minus the Dropbox part). What's the point of attaching anything to the THL Mac if you can't see it on THL iPhone? OF sync is free and you can sync everything: voice notes,photos,you name it. For THL to charge for sync you at least need to match that.
I vote for this as a priority.
#3 January 25, 2015 11:15 am
- dusong
- Hero
Re: Feature Req: Sync attachments
For those who still waiting for this, I found a workaround: use Evernote and its note link function. You can either copy a note link in Evernote and paste to THL, or alternatively on Mac, the THL QuickEntry automatically pick up the note link if you activate it when Evernote is front most app.
#4 January 25, 2015 7:02 pm
- robfuzz
- Member
Re: Feature Req: Sync attachments
Thanks for resurrecting this topic and mentioning Evernote. While I wouldn't mind if THL was one day able to integrate directly with EN, in my experience only one app has found a way to do it seamlessly and gracefully and that is Swipes. It's the only task app where you can search your Evernote notes from within a task and attach a note to that task whereby if you click that link within Swipes it takes you directly to the EN app, not a browser and not to a read-only popup. Swipes however has yet to bring this functionality to their web app. Even so it's not a robust task management system like THL.
Having said all that, the copy link function you mentioned is exactly what I've been doing and its working for me. However, instead of just copying the EN note link you really need to do the "Copy Classic Note Link" which involves holding down the Alt/Option key and right-clicking the note and selecting "Copy Classic Note". This way the link in your THL task will take you directly into Evernote. Otherwise you'll go to a browser.
I've been adding these links where needed while planning my projects and tasks on THL Mac. They sync over to THL iOS perfectly and take me right into EN on my devices.
Photo sync between Mac and iOS, however,would be appreciated. I suppose you can sync a photo note from EN.
Also wanted to give a big thanks to Andy for his THL PopClip integration, and for the THL tip about dragging a url directly to the icon in the dock to create a task. That works really well!
Pages: 1


text:
Polishing The Stone
Polishing the Stone
We might'nt have defined it,
But it emerged in words
As magic designed it, -
Saying what we feel.
If we write it down to salvage it,
A process starts to shape and make it real.
All the while it's churning
Uncov'ring its reveal,
Transcending finite limits, earning
Truly magic form!
We probe and polish, push and pull,
To get it right, to let its beauty ring.
Else we could ne'er define
The finer, deeper rhythmic peal
That sets it, lets it dance and sing our truth,
At last, disarm.
______© Nellieanna H. Hay
Raw Materials
Spontaneous when I write or do other creative projects, in that initial state, the results seem just fine as they are. Yet when they are to be presented as 'finished' poems, articles, or hubs, I find they need polish through editing, coordinating, 'fashioning', - not contrivance; instead, it's simply enhancing their inmost truth and beauty.
It is similar to techniques used in the taking of Nature's geological wonders, - rocks, minerals and crystals, - to probe their intrinsic character by subjection to intense physical processes, as nature had done with them so far, so as to take them into a next manifestation of themselves as lovely smooth stones, semi-precious gems or real gems, as the character of the material of which they're made allows.
Once stones are polished, they await their 'settings', be it in items of jewelry, room furnishings, or in various displays or museums.
So it is with polishing the semi-raw creative work of the poet, writer, artist, musician, sculptor, - even the builder, scientist or mathematician! Ultimately we refine the work we've created to a polish to be shared. Within the process, It may evolve, though it must neither fall short of or excel its own inner core of excellence, beauty and truth, at risk of becoming something else less authentic; so, less unique and valuable.
What media is this, asks she; -
What muse, what maze, what mind?
Does "master" dwell within the page
To liven every line?
Is poet taking holiday
From suffering and pain?
Or is it truth that always was
Deep inspiration's gain?
But what about the anguish?
Correcting any word
Requires complete redoing.
OH, pain such loss incurred!
A little change of media
Large difference can make
In what old muse reveals
Of which I may partake.
Inscrutable but beautiful,
Those other phases, verses,
Become kaleidoscope profound!
In prism, still rehearses.
______© Nellieanna H. Hay
Whenever I'm at odds with them,
Be they rhymes or beasts,
My best-planned feasts
Resist their tasks,
And search for other planes.
No nourishment emerges,
No pleasure is received.
It's put off-sync; - no harmony
With Universe or sine,
Out of kilter, chaos reigns.
Then comes that melody,
Ah - centered; - what I need!
Complete, integrity,
Fulfilled I flow and know
Of where I am to be.
Circumference may be the way
A center is achieved.
But more it is a 'play' of fools
For kings to be empowered
And verities believed.
I hardly missed a step
While out of time and space.
I know not how I simply knew
To have returned to find
The now, the whence, the place.
______© Nellieanna H. Hay
♦♦ ~ Historically - no, pre-historically, - the carving of stones for tools and adornment was widespread among human tribes. Later, in the Middle Ages, grinding wheels were developed for improved shaping and polishing, which have led to polished rocks becoming collectibles, decorator items and even 'pet rocks'!
♦♦ ~ Polished pebbles and slabs are used in the creation of pieces of useable art, such as tables, benches and lamps. Tumbling rocks in polishing sand and other invasive materials grinds their surfaces to smoothness and gloss. These polished rocks, depending on their sizes, can be made into articles of jewelry or other art forms.
♦♦ ~ Terms for these are 'rocks' or 'stones', used interchangeably. Especially beautiful and valued stones are often referred to as 'gems' or 'gemstones'. Scientifically, however, these categories are unrecognized, but are merely common trade names to distinguish them from the more ordinary stones. In some instances, the naturally occurring crystal forms are so much more valued that they seem to comprise a class in themselves and require little processing to emphasize their innate beauty. Of course, some such precious crystal stones are expertly 'cut' along their own cleavage lines, to enhance their appeal and beauty, which, as in most areas, is in the eye of the beholder!
♦♦ ~ There are also claims and beliefs that rocks and crystals hold magical healing powers, many such claims coming down from ancient times.
Polished Chrome - Journeyman
That amber bead
No accident
When swallowed
In that night.
Nor incidence of chance,
The books and songs
Which beckoned me
To flight.
Impelled, compelled,
It had to be;
By truth infused,
My muse refused to stay.
Unknown, unsung
Too long a time,
Burst out the dim
To fly on light of day.
The scraps and pieces lie about,
At times they fit or not.
There is no urgent reason
To soon expose the plot.
I like a little mystery,
A game of hide and seek.
Don't know too much too soon;
Just steal a little peek.
If sometimes I see
Too little or too much,
Yet what is real remains,
Distilled of life I dare to touch.
If lived before is good,
If never more to be,
If only now is mine to live,
Thank God that I can see.
______© Nellieanna H. Hay
♦♦ ~ Of course, there are other kinds of ancient displays of use of rocks for artistic expression, as well as by polishing and shaping them into objects for many uses. Near my ranch country, there are amazing petrographs, as well as remarkable canyon and cave wall pictographs, for example.
But, after all, we find ourselves here on this planet made of rock, out of which we, ourselves, are formed and where we have been and continue to be 'polished' and adapted for living here, along with the Earth's other creatures and life forms! We've well learned to use our personal and external resources to create beautiful things from raw materials, in order to supply our needs and to fulfill our purposes. The possibilities seem nearly inexhaustible.
May we learn to always use them for the better things, needs and purposes, starting once more in 2014!
© 2014 Nellieanna Hay
Glad I've finally found soeithmng I agree with!
Yeah no probs...... I am not into Christmas at all if you are all the best to you.
Good morning okay no problem sorry for using the term grandma was just a form of respect in that sense knowing you are a nice , respectful lady but i understand your point and reason and have no problem adhering . So it will NOT occur again and forgive me if it sounded offensive to you.
Have a lovely day :)
How sweet of you Nellie i wish some day i can visit a beautiful ranch with lots of horses a farm house etc. I love the country like feeling and always wanted to be a cowgirl lol. I've got a genuine leather waist coat with fringes and two cows sticked onto the pockets which i have out grown, sometimes i still wear it indoors although it looks like I've borrowed it. I want a horse so badly but not enough land for him to run and be free. Earlier this year i bought a toy barn that came with plastic houses from "breyers" its good stuff ;) i need to buy more collections i am kinda obssesed with horses its my favourite animal. Its sad that i cannot accompany you to the ranch. If i do not get my horse here i will get one over in the glory land, how about tons of them.
Keep sweet and well take care of yourself now grandma :)
PEACE & Love
Please send me back the link to your site.
LOL oh i wanted to know what you doing on a marathon if you wanna kill yourself lol. Well yeah I've heard of those lengthy trips in the US and other big countries i surely do not envy you. I get upset after a three hours drive here i feel like if i'd never reach. So i must say you have a lot of endurance i wish your ranch was much closer to you though.
I am so so these days as am through with one thing another tries to knock me down but i guess God is trying my spirit like he did Job.
My car is giving some trouble at present and its sending me coo coo because you know most men always think women are stupid and try to outsmart us especially when it comes to mechanics. That car is acting like a new born baby that wants to be underneath its mama's paps all the time.
Have a swell day sweedy and safe trip back home if you're not there yet :)
Sorry for getting back here so late things have been a lil wacko with me lately am here there and everywhere. Please don't tell me a Marathon as in the race where you walk run to your final destination ? No you did not do that did you? Or was it a marathon in your vehicle up to the ranch? 1000 miles are you kidding me ? We don't even have anything near those miles in my whole country wow. But i know Texas is or alomost is one of the largest state in the US it goes to show how tiny my country is , rather island.
I know you are a busy person and very active for your age but please take it lightly you are scaring me don't do too much hard work. You have accomplished a lot in your tenure on earth so please relax now. Obviously i'd hope you had help to do the work/cleaning etc on the ranch :)
I am happy to know you are up and moving around please keep in touch and take care for now sweedy.
I find good in much of what you write, that you have shared anyway. I still do. You will forever have me as a fan.
The journey poem is meaningful to me because I try to look at life that way. The good, the bad- it's all living. I would not appreciate the good otherwise. And it makes things easier when I am struggling.
I also just thought of this song: Miley Cyrus - The Climb - Official Music Video (H…: http://youtu.be/NG2zyeVRcbs
Actually, I only know the basics of most gemstones, but, yes, they are fascinating. There is much about them to find of interest, from the scientific information to astrology. But I can't believe you swallowed one! Of course, I picture bigger beads or cameo-size pieces when I generally think of amber.
I didn't recognize the title when it came up in notifications,but I still follow evey hub of yours I have ever been to because they are so worth rereading. Anyway, I found my original comment and now realize why I don't remember it. But now that I have read it, I love it.
I especially love the last one about the journey, the about being at odds, the amber beads, oh...I can't choose, but I think the journey one is my favorite. :)
Hi Nelli well done hub with a good comparison of the polishing of stones to that of a writer's words, that needs adjusting and reforming. You write so well as though you are an English expert or you were a teacher.
Awesome pro-founding poems :)
I am just checking up on you, how have things been? how is life on the ranch? are you okay? how is your health? and what have my sweet lady been up to lately? Have your birthday gone already?
Take care until i hear from you
Your verse like the sparkle of the polished stone glitters and rewards all who read them a gem so true, so bright. Yes indeed, I remember when I was that piece of coal, a man, a father to me, my mentor and now my Muse entered my life and took this young diamond in the rough and polished him, wiping away tears, sadness and abuse.
You my dear always polish my heart and soul with your poetry. You definitely are my stardust, maybe we will meet in the Universe some day, I hope so. For are we not all atoms, simply here to lighten up the world and be tested time and time again? Keep writing my gem, you light up your readers world.
A beautifully written and thought of hub on polishing stones I have many myself and enjoy keeping them shiny and bright.
We must always polish in order to 'create' effectively. Those that do will always have something on the back burner, and may return later to wile away at a completed piece later. I have been honing my photography, as of late. It is coming together, which will improve my writing as well. The two tend to go hand-in-hand, I think.
Nellieanna dear, good afternoon . Certainly we are here making you jealous of our -30's F , but that's OK.
Your response didn't leave me since. Though my way of expressing is less apprehensible than those of " English speaking " writers and commenters .In my best attempt I say what knowing is right and correct. You are here now , - we interact- commenting to your publishing is just fair to be labeled as coming from a " genius " , not by any means to " heap " praises, or wanting you get disabled. What I was pointing to is this universal principle in which every single person is " given" talents, potential, gift to use and to be productive. By my understanding you aren't wasting any of them ... Besides , why wait until we are gone from here to let history recording "how great they were ". Our time belongs to us we are to tell the world the gift they have in you and many others who aren't recognized by " Hollywood" though they shine brighter and are creating better world by their worthiness.
Good evening Nellieanna.
One after another your hubs are testimonial to familiar saying "a lot will be expected from everyone who has been given a lot. More will be demanded from everyone who has been entrusted with a lot," - a gemstone of a human soul.
(Significant, almost scary to me ). As if humanly impossible , yet presented in each original invention , creation, product or even art of writing such is coming out of your treasury, is being seen fully manifested of that what one genius has been entrusted with.
Awesome and beautiful.
Have a beautiful enjoyable week.
Nellieanna - Beautiful and intriguing, thought provoking as always. One of my very first and favorite books, was a book on rocks and gems with fabulous photographs that I got a s a birthday gift in the first grade. I have been hooked ever since.
I was so disappointed in college that my only choices were biology and chemistry. I would have greatly preferred any earth science. :) When I visited the Smithsonian, my family had to tear me away from thee mineral exhibit.
A lovely hub. Hope all is well. Stay warm in these cold days. Theresa
This hub of yours is a beautiful polished gem, like all your hubs, Nellieanna.
Every thought of yours is a gem, strung up in literary jewellery.
I wish you only the best for 2014, my dear CM :)
I loved this, Nellieanna. Your superb poetry reminds me of the "It" that is there, hidden, but inviting us to explore…not too much, not too little; to capture and reveal the essence of us. When we do, it reveals, in part, that which is a kind of symbiosis…the play of light and refraction of color and of elements that we hold that are another key to the mystery of our consciousness and the infinite soul. Beautiful and exquisite work, my friend. Voted up and beyond and shared. :-)
Dear Nellieanna,
How ironic you have written on polishing the stones, as I have been doing just that in my most recent artistic endeavor! I know these are beautiful metaphors for life. You never disappoint in delivering your masterpieces of poetic expressions, and I am so thankful to be blessed to read them.
You are such a fine writer dear one. You, yourself, as I may have stated before, are a rare and precious gem right here on HP! Your talent shines brilliantly and you are very polished.
Up and more and sharing, of course!
Much love to you in this new year,
Faith Reaper
Well, I attempted to follow this hub, but I have multiple interruptions and this one is not so easy to just read, as some of it is not so straight forward. That might just be my three little distractions, though. ;) Hopefully, I won't forget to come back soon, but not going to promise. Just wanted you to know I'd been here.
This is a true gem but not surprising from you Nellieanna. So well presented and created and one for me to vote up, across and share without a single doubt. Here's to so many more hubs for us both to share on here my dear friend
You are incredibly good! Anything I say after that pales in comparison.
Nellieanna, you portray the growing of a human, the development of art and the overall metamorphosis of life beautifully in this hub.
All good things come to those who wait!
I have been patiently waiting for you to release your next hub Nellieanna, and now I realise why it was a long time coming. You spent a great deal of time and effort on this wonderful hub. Delightful and versatile selection of poetry, accompanied by beautiful images, video, and such informative information on rocks, crystals etc. Such an interesting read, and as usual voted up.