text:
Ep 31 – Hunting Advice and Inspiration from Jim Shockey
Living Country in the City sits down with Jim Shockey to talk about being a born-and-raised hunter, learning to enjoy every aspect of the hunt, his personal record for death threats, combating hate towards hunters, his personal heroes and inspirations for hunting, redefining the media's hateful caricatures of hunters and what he hopes for his personal legacy.
Visit HiketoHuntChallenge.com and make a donation to Backcountry Hunters & Anglers on behalf of me and, if you send me your receipts, I'll pledge to hike one (1) mile for every $5 donated. The largest single donation, I will match up to $100 with lbs in my pack and live stream myself, fully weighted, hiking up to Griffith Observatory. Additionally, you can win extra entries to my 2K Follower Giveaway. See the giveaway page for more information.
Enter the 2K Follower Giveaway to win gear from Elk101.com, MTN OPS, Bowhunter Box Club, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Bowhunter Brotherhood and more by visiting livingcountryinthecity.com/2k.
Help support Living Country in the City by visiting livingcountryinthecity.com/amazon to do your Amazon shopping or by visiting livingcountryinthecity.com/blackovis when purchasing hunting gear.
Websites Mentioned
Episode Partner
Related Episodes
Basically I've hunted all over the world countries like Pakistan, Iran, Asia Beijing. I grew up eating meat if we didn't… If my dad didn't get a moose every fall, then we didn't have meat for the winter. He wanted the ambulance to at the stop at the sporting store so he could get his white tail license, that's a true story; 86 years old. I know how we've been vilified and marginalized by the mainstream press you know turned into these ugly character creatures. My personal 24-hour record for death threats is 88. Those fields of Tofu that was formally habitat for wildlife and now it's a modern culture, you're killing our wildlife by being a vegetarian just as much as a hunter when he kills a deer. But I've made a positive influence on the non-hunting public about what hunters are? and what hunting is then I would be overjoyed.
Living Country in the City
Hi, this is Jim Shockey, and you're listening to living country in the city, episode number 31. Y'all ready for your dose of flyover state spirit, straight from the concrete jungle, well put down your latte and pull on your boots. It's time for living country in the city. Hey all thank you for tuning in for episode 31 of living country in the city. You know it's been a crazy couple of weeks with the day job and some events and generally prepping for my. So i really like to apologize for going so long without releasing a new episode. I do my best to release on a regular weekly schedule but as you all know life sometimes tends to get in the way, but hopefully you'll agree with me that your patience is being ritually rewarded with this episode. I have to say that while I look forward to each and every guest i get to speak with and learn from on this podcast, there is very few that get me quite as excited as today's guest. He is one of the very first personalities to really inspire me to truly be in my journey in the outdoors and hunting and I know he's had a similar very profound effect on hundreds if not thousands of other folks out there. I'm super excited to get started so let's not waste any more time. Jim thanks for hoping on the call.
Well that's my pleasure thanks for having me.
Living Country in the City
So my podcast is geared towards new hunters, people kind of new to the outdoors. I find it still a little bit hard to believe that anyone hasn't heard of Jim Shockey, but for those who may not quite be in the know could you maybe just give me a little bit of a background on kind of your history with hunting and the outdoors.
Sure. I actually started, obviously I grew up hunting I grew up hunting in Saskatchewan in Canada but professionally I wrote my first hunting article back in 1984. It was an archery article for a magazine called Bow Bender magazine. I got $42 for that first article way back then and I've basically graduated from being an outdoor writer to being on outdoor televisioner. I grew up in Canada and the Yukon was that about a territory of 7,000,000 square acres not a single road, or house, or person living in there was just a remote wilderness and Vancouver Island for black bears. So for certainty it was a big territory of Saskatchewan and I could not wait till adventures. So I've been in this industry a long time, I've hunted all over the world probably 50 different countries just anywhere where it's legal to hunt. I've hunted in some of the places many times including countries like Pakistan, Iran, China, Russia and all through West Africa; Liberia, Congo, Ghana and most of the Africa countries in fact I just got back from Somalia for a mount hunting there. So basically I've hunted all over the world in a professional hunter slash. Been a guide for 25years and writing or on television for 33years.
Living Country in the City
So pretty much when it comes to hunting you can say you've run the game and chased just about everything then?
Well, yeah you can say I have tried to chase just about everything. It's been successful getting those animals but yeah I've pretty much tried to chase everything.
Living Country in the City
So with all of these countries and all of these animals you've chased is there a favorite I have to ask?
Yeah there is. I'm heading up to the Yukon pretty quick. For a last Yukon moose and to me the last Yukon moose during the run where they live is that's my favorite big game animal to hunt in the world. They are just magnificent animals and always live in a remote area. Obviously the largest this is the largest big game animal in the world but also they taste great. I grew up eating meat. If my dad didn't get a moose every fall then we dint have meat for the winter. We lived on there was no going out buying a cow; I didn't even know you could do that until I was quite a bit old. We lived in a trailer park actually till i was six years old. So for me moose is my favorite big game animal but if you change the question just slightly and said," If you could only hunt one more animal for the rest of your life one more species what would it be?" That wouldn't be moose it would be white tail deer. That's a game grew up hunting white tail deer and I got my first white long before i got my first white moose. I would love to hunt white tail deer till the day I die God willing. My father passed away three years ago and he was 86 when he took his last white tail deer, 85 actually when he took his last white tail deer just about to be 86 and just about to enter the white tail season he was 85 years when he passed away. In fact just on his way to the hospital he wanted the ambulance to stop at the sporting store so he could get his white tail license on his way to hospital and that's a true story; 86 years old. He was just about 86 and I would love to be in that same boat, hunting till the day I die for white tail deer. So slight variation on that favorite big game animal question.
Living Country in the City
Well, stories like that definitely I think explain why you're the hunter you are. I can imagine why you are the man who has gone hunting with a father like that how could you not be.
You know it's funny. He is the one that taught me how to hunt obviously my father was very important to me in that regard but he was not the same of type of hunter I was. Anybody watched the two of us over the years they all know that he was a meat hunter. So to him make that soup and he would turn down the biggest waiting for the fattest. That's all he cared about. And so he was an interesting guy and like I said we had some discussion about what hunting was all about many times, so he was meat hunting and I was for the experience of a better hunt. For him the shorter the hunt the sooner you get back to work and have meat in the freezer, the better the hunt was.
Living Country in the City
I'm getting ready to go on my very first hunt. I'm definitely challenging myself I'm doing bad country DIY archery elk hunt in about three weeks. First time ever out in that country first time ever hunting so to speak and I've got so much going on in my head I'm not sure I wanna go out for the meat, I wanna go out for the experience, I also wouldn't mind taking a nice trophy. But it's hard to say what I'm looking forward to the most whether it's filling that freezer or getting to take that gripping grin photo or just being out there for ten days and in a bad country. Definitely there is a lot going on in my brain when it comes to this.
Yeah I can imagine wow that's a huge challenge to go back packing for elk. And archery you said as well?
Living Country in the City
Yeah archery hunt
Holy smokes, let's just say you are up for a big challenge and really as long as you're going with understanding that there are those different components to hunt. A lot of people focus on the kill in the public press nowadays that's what they focus on when they talk about hunters. All we care about is the kill and they don't have like you said gripping and then they use that as an example and say this is what hunters are; this is all they care about. You said the other components…Part of the other components ten days in the outdoors. That's fantastic, you could go and just camp and cannot be hunting but then. You're enjoying but it's kind of part of being. Not the part we were meant to do as humans from way back it's what we were designed to do and how we survived. So when you have a hunting component now you're camping with a purpose. So yes you're getting all those elements of camping would give somebody that doesn't hunt would enjoy. Some was but your also in the fact that, if you find out now you can actually try and stop them legally and test your skills against their skills so you're not just out there going, "ooh this is beautiful let's take a picture." Now you're trying to speak with a bow and arrow which is a primitive way and then if you are successful so you got all those components which are all part of the hunting. And if you're successful then you're gonna be able to fill your freezer organic meat available. Game meat is the best meat you can eat and it's a mixture of vegetarian. So there is another component to hunting and then you get into the different ways you can prepare it to cook it. And to make share with your friends this is what we did. We brought first for our family then for the members of our local community, village then the tribe then the greater clan and eventually for the country we all benefit when the hunters are successful. So you are actually taking part in something that is so deeply satisfying. If you don't hunt you don't understand that. You actually have a relationship with meat unlike meat you bought who knows I don't know how many different animals are mixed in there. There is no relationship with the food you're eating. So when you re hunting you have that relationship it means something every meal means something. There is something lacking in our world today. These are components you understand they are wonderful but they don't determine the success of the hunt, the kill doesn't what does is all those other factors. The kill is just a tiny little slice of the hunting pie. Go out there to enjoy all of that. If you're fortunate enough to get a great day one and get to take your gripping grin picture then fantastic. That's not ego that's a memory of an incredible accomplishment that we as hunters we painted on caves originally now we take pictures it's a symbolic gesture and memory. So I'm kind of a so far ship wanna, but going on your first hunt that's incredible. I think it's fantastic I'd love to hear how you do. It's a wonder that me and my thousands of hunts I still feel, so what you're feeling right now is what I feel when I prepare to go to the Yukon to live up there for a month in the wild lands. It never goes away as a hunter it's a beautiful feeling that everybody recognizes in a deep way and that's what you're feeling right now. Just go out and enjoy every bit, every step and every experience and every breath in the wild lands it doesn't get better than that.
Living Country in the City
I'm at the point now where I've kind of done the majority of my prep work. I've gone through my gear and I've kinda organized it. I'm finishing all my scouting online that I can do and I've had some generous really generous people reach out to me and share information like significant amounts of information that really normally as hunters we'd normally keep close to the heart. Just some very generous people I think that are almost more excited for me than I am for myself but it's the point where I don't have other than practicing my shooting and continue practice on carrying my pack and things like that. I don't have a ton of planning to do and so I'm starting to get really anxious so I'm not really sure how I'm gonna make it through these next three weeks at work.
What I do…what i just did this morning I just came back from hiking over the mountain, over the water and over the mountain again and back home. It's about a five mile hike it's just about maybe 1500 tall. What it does is sort of knock down some of that anticipation and excitement. It makes me slow down a little bit it just wait so exercise is always a good way to prepare waiting point and you know you can't do much I mean you can practice your bow too that's always fun.
Living Country in the City
I definitely need plenty of that.
[laughs] we all do
Living Country in the City
I do hikes about every other day there is not a ton of places that are close that I can get away with before I head over to the office. Today was actually exciting and I was a little frustrating eclipse I woke up to an observatory, it was a bit packed a couple of hundred people up there. So i was a little frustrated but on my way down, normally I see some squirrels lizards and that's it and maybe the occasional jack rabbit because I'm in the middle of Los Angeles I should clarify that. But on my way down I saw two does run across the trail. For a lot of folks who live out of the country that's just what it is everyday but for me and for this particular trail you don't just see that ever and to see two of them pop out, I don't know if I wanna call it a good omen, it was just very encouraging.
Well of course it's a good omen. Well think of it about 10,000 years your ancestors a deer crossed in front of them you think they wouldn't put some deeply spiritual meeting on that. I think you're in for a wonderful hunt because of all that.
Living Country in the City
Well I'm definitely gonna take it that way one way or another. So, when you first started hunting obviously there wasn't this giant social media presence. I'm sure hunting was spread word about hunting and word about hunting was spread more through newspapers and magazines, things like that and TV shows. As you were growing up hunting who were some of the people or what were some of the things that inspired you as a hunter?
I was 10 years old when I read a book called Hunter by J.A Hunter. He was a wildlife conservation officer in Kenya back in the 30s 40s. I read his book when I was in grade five; I read it three times in a row and usually during this rush art class which sent me to the detention reading it in front of the principal's office which gave me more time to read my book. That was the kind of things that inspired me. Jim Cobber the Man Eaters of Kokomo of jumbo or whatever it was in India. There is not a book that did not inspire me. The contemporary writers at that time like Jack O'Conner. My father was more armored with Jack's writing and what Jack said. My father loved the fact that he said that 270 any North American big game species to sell in Winchester. I never really bided to that even way back when I was, needed something bigger, bigger was better but Jack O'Conner definitely was an influence back in those days. Into a more contemporary time Jim Zumbo, he was a big influence on me as well and even Kate Boddington at the time he was not an influence but an inspiration even Larry Whiteshore these guys are still going on till today, still involved with the industry. I remember the first time I walked into a room I was like wowed meeting my heroes. I literally walked up to Jim Zumbo I was like," Jim Zumbo you're my hero." There is kinda a way I'm hoping they are listening. I was influenced by all of them but I really was more influenced by the early writers the indenture writers. The guys that lived during that period that when the wildlife conservation was just coming in to the forefront. That was more of my inspiration for what I am today and what I've done in my life.
Living Country in the City
Plant that seed as we were kind of talking before the podcast started you have planted the seed in many other people as well. We were talking before you are one of the people that inspired me to be interested in hunting. Of course Eva as well she inspired me a lot to pick up the bow. You've taken this seed that was planted years and years ago and you have spread this passion for hunting to…I mean it has to be thousands and thousands of people.
Hopefully…I'm often asked what I'd like my legacy to be in the outdoor world and if I would rest in peace for eternity if my legacy was that they'd say that I made a positive influence on the non-hunting public about what hunters are and what hunting is, then I would be overjoyed, I would say great that's a life well spent because I know what it means to us who hunt and I know how we've been vilified and marginalized by the main stream press and turned into these ugly character creatures. I find it so sad, I've been in four different United States cities in the last seven days doing appearances time after time after time you meet this wonderful people who have families and they live in the outdoors yes they are not as urbanized and they don't have the same philosophy as the urban people but they live the same lives, you can't judge them from ivory tower in downtown New York City or Los Angeles where you are and look at these people and say they are buffoons or they are in any way less sophisticated or less world evicted give me a break. These people have values that are the very values that these two big countries Canada and United states were built for family, honor , tradition, respect and I see it over and over again and yet you'll never see that brought up in the main stream press, they would rather have us look like low sensibility goons and that's just it. I just find it such a sad thing when anyone writes about hunters that way. Sure we've got an element that isn't as respectful with the law but those are called poachers they are not hunters. Most hunters have wonderful for the animals they are after and respect and love for those animals. They are just not necessary the best people at articulating those feelings, they feel it but they can't talk about it or can't explain it to somebody and like I said until somebody goes and experiences it themselves they can never understand it, it's impossible. How do you explain something that's spiritual, you can't explain you can have it but only if you have it. So as I said back to your question I would love my legacy to be that I made a positive influence on the impression of prospective hunting and hunters.
Living Country in the City
I mean I definitely say you have… If you haven't already achieved that you've made incredible strides in that direction just because you present it in just such a fashion that's respectful and just honest and straight forward. You don't damn it down to like hide things from the public it is what it is but you do it in such a respectful way you can't really…you can't walk away from it and say this is a bad guy this is an evil person. There will always be people, over the top people that will say stuff like that.
Just for the record my personal death threats is 88 in 24hours. I appreciate what you're saying but there is people out there their ideology is so closed minded with zero tolerance. I laugh… I don't laugh I'm saddened by these people they believe so deeply in what they are saying they just can't have respect for anybody's else's way of life. I think it's a loss for them, I respect what they want and so do all hunters. I mean we respect someone who wants to be a vegetarian that's fantastic I love it but don't think that at that point you are holier than thou and you don't kill animals. Those fields of Tofu I'm being a little here being a little here but they, those Tofu fields that was formally habitat for wildlife and now it's a modern culture, you're killing our wildlife by being a vegetarian just as a hunter kills a deer. The difference is that with the hunter there is no hypocrisy the hunter knows that you've killed a deer. I'm saddened that these people think that somehow hunting is an ugly blood score that's so far from the truth. That's focusing on the moment of the kill and believe me those hamburgers that they are eating and those steak that they are eating those were living breathing animals at one point that chicken is too so are those crabs. And you can't tell me that those fried you are having in a fancy restaurant that was a breathing animal. It's still an animal with a life and to think any less of that animal is hypocrisy. I'm just saddened when I see people like that they are so full minded and have zero tolerance to anybody's point of view. That's not what hunters are about never have been.
Living Country in the City
I feel like people's ideology or even but when somebody thinks that's death threats are an appropriate response to at some point I understand that they are passionate but at some point your ideology just becomes so twisted. It is a sad thing.
Yeah, It's a sad commentary on a 'civilized world'. Like you said twisted is a great word. It is a perfect way to describe it because the intentions are pure but once they twist it up like that it's impossible to see anything other than the world and like you said death threats are even what will that ever accomplish. I don't know maybe there are 7.5 billion of us in the world you put too many rats into a cage they start eating each other. So maybe it's more of how many of human beings in this world. Who knows? It takes you and myself to figure that out.
Living Country in the City
Is there anyone out in the industry right now also presents. Who do you look at and say they do an incredible job of presenting this whole picture of hunting. Are there other people you would say provide influence to the non-hunting community as far as hunting goes?
I think there is people that are really influencing segments of the population I think of the Sam Hans with his physical fitness. He's reaching out to those people that are into that. I can't do 500 pushups and nor do I need to, to climb up the mount, but I don't reach out to those people that Sam reaches. So he reaches a segment. Steve Rinella is a great young man. He reaches out to the people about the meat part of hunting, with orientation towards the spiritual side I wouldn't say that Steve doesn't have a world's vision of what hunting is I think he is big enough the big picture but I think he is really doing a great job in his sort of meat world. I think that's his as a meat eater he is doing. Guys like Joe Woger fantastic ambassador for hunting. Joe is a bright man he is a great man 2 million instagram followers he is an archer he is like a sponge when he is asking questions about hunting he wants know he wants to see the bigger picture he doesn't just want to represent one small part of it. So he is making a great influence on the public. Eva Shockey my own daughter, Eva is doing… I think she is one of the greatest ambassadors we have, she's young, beautiful, articulate, well-educated she has lived the life of a hunter. She wasn't until she was 21 now she has embraced it and understands it. She represents hunting better in the main stream than almost any of us. They wanna talk to somebody like her she is a threat to the animal writers. People like to paint us as and the main stream press would like to have us characterized you know she is not and so she is somebody that has the opportunity to reach out to the main stream public and do a great job with. There are a great number of ambassadors out there that are reaching out outside and I think everybody puts a celebrity monitor on it maybe a little sobriety. I think everybody is trying in their own way to represent hunting in the best way they can. I don't know if everybody is reaching the world. I'm hoping that we get a champion somebody that will be doing that for us. I think that there are people there are high profile people that are afraid of the backlash, the brutal bullying. So they don't wanna stand up and say was right. There are some captains of industry that are hunters that are starting to put some dollars where their believes are. Slowly but surely we are seeing this. How you can reach around the world in minutes and go viral so that a message can be mutated in some ugly, horrible misinformation. These guys are afraid of that bullying online; they try and bully everybody to their point of view. It's not right but it is what it is welcome to the water world.
Living Country in the City
You know they said these hateful people play the long game they are patient and they are willing to sit and chase away people's will power keep away at peoples they will find out who supports you and go up against them too. As hunters we have to be ready for that I think and understand it's gonna be a drawn out thing it's not gonna be a quick Facebook post. They are gonna play the long game so we have to be prepared to do that as well.
Yeah, as hunters are really still every distance. Hardly do we battle is just not our thing we live and let live that wouldn't be twisted around because we have a relationship with the food we eat, we don't hide from it, we don't run from it we respect it. We are not going anywhere hunters have been around than vegetarians or vegans whatever they call themselves and we will be around a long after. So the long game is fine, it may seem for the long game they are not really. It's one of those little aggravations in time and they came in the cold back in the 60s follow power move on to have that point of view that philosophy is still popular but it's not really a long game if you look at it over our generations. Its here it's now in the end it will be proven that hunting is a great conservation tool. I have tittle for the youngest generation coming now fake press fake meat whatever they are calling it now. And they are gonna want to know the truth. So whatever generations gonna wanna know what's the truth, okay that's the truth and great let's use this truth to protect the wildlife. So I have hopes for the youngest generation I'm a little bit saddened by the elements in this generation they are so negative about everything. There is rosy spots around the world on conservationism it works because of hunting so we are winning a lot of battles out there we are just not able to tell the world about it very easily because we don't unfold the press.
Living Country in the City
On that note let's take a quick moment to hear a word from one of my partners. Alright y'all we all know it's possible to get in to the bad country and take back that big bull with a set of and a warm out tent let's face it. Quality gear can often make the difference between checking out early, do the shear misery and pushing through just a little bit further to find success but all these gear can start to add up and that's why I'd recommend shopping at Black Ovis they carry high performance hunting gears from all the top brands like Vortex, Crispy, Sitka, Fast Light, Mountain Ops and Stone Glatcher often at a nicely discounted rate. I'm yet to find anywhere that offers a more reasonable price plus their shipping is free and their customer service is unmatched. Additionally by making the choice to shop at Black Ovis you are supporting the company that's involved in and gives back to the hunting community. It's where I do all my gear shopping and whether you're just looking to replace a few items or build out a brand new kit Black Ovis is the one stop shop for super solid hunting gear. Additionally you can help support Living country in the city by doing all your gear shopping at Black Ovis. Visit livingcountryinthecity.com/blackovis market link whenever you do your shopping. So what can we expect from Jim Shockey this year? What should we be looking out for?
Lots of social media posts with our two grandchildren. That's big news in our lives, we have new grandchildren. Baby adventure for a boy and a little girl going to be spending a lot more time in North America and a lot of our television shows moving forward after the 19s to 20s will be 2019 and 2020 will be North America orientated. So I wanna explore North America I've hunted literally as I said everywhere around the world everything you can hunt. Now I get to refocus on North America there are some amazing hunts in North America the grass is always greener. Yesterday in Mississippi they were hunting for stuffing turtles the point is those are dinosaurs and that is one of the coolest hunts ever so I wanna go hunt in nutria I've never hunted in nutria in the east coast with archery bow hunt.so I mean there is so many alligators I believe there is a place so these are things I wanna explore I've got the alligator space covered here in North America for the next couple of years for sure so you will see a lot more of that. I got the outer space covered but I got the t-shirt for this season ready. I wanna look North America now for the next few years.
Living Country in the City
well that's super exciting and I will definitely keep an eye for that. as we are winding down is always like to end with a little geared towards new hunters who are considering getting in the outdoors or possibly folks like myself who grew up in the city and wanted to be involved in hunting in the outdoors but maybe think it's a little intimidating or there is too much to learn. what kind or words of wisdom would you give someone in that position?
the same advice that I got when I went out for the first time. Take it one step at a time and don't think that you are gonna be an accomplished skillful hunter on your first time. The first hunt is archery and that is advanced level hunting. I'd say what it is, is you are willing to challenge yourself and really to the end degree. But here is the thing by doing what you're doing take one step at a time and you will certainly end up there eventually. With a bow or whatever you're after standing there with an archery distance but it takes time and it takes one step at a time and never ever give up the quest. Know that that journey along the way that's what hunting is, with every single step you are learning to become a better hunter, you are becoming a better hunter. Just set goals that are realistic for your skills set. If you are an accomplished archer that's taken an elk set a goal it wouldn't be more difficult to sneak up on an animal. But if you have never taken an elk before set a goal and know your skills ahead of time you can hit a target at 80m yards the size of a before you ever head onto the field. There is one step, practice your calling just work on the skills just one step at a time. And when you're closer towards that happen and don't set a goal it's not a don't set a goal like that, I would join 10 days .so set goals that are reasonable for your skill level and take it one step at a time and appreciate every breath of fresh air is making you stronger healthier, one more step towards being in better health and then if you are fortunate enough to get one of those animals show it respect it's not a time to just go yahoo it's not about that at all. Show reverence for it and understand that animal died so you can Iive. You can live another animal is gonna have to die understand this incredible majestic thing that you've taken part in and understand how deeply spiritual it is. Feel that moment then you'll become a hunter at that point one step at a time and you'll end up that incredible moment all hunters hope for when they succeed in getting that animal.
Living Country in the City
Wow I'm a little bit speechless after that I could not imagine a better way to end this podcast. Jim thank you so much for willing and taking the time outside your busy schedule to hop on the line with me today. If people wanted to follow you online where is the best place to check out the grandchild pictures?
I'm still on Facebook and instagram as well. So those are the two best places to follow what we are doing behind the scenes on a day to day basis.
Living Country in the City
And it's Jim Shockey on both of those?
Yes you bet
Living Country in the City
Alrighty. Well thanks again for hoping on the line, I know you are all anxious to get on the boat so I'll let you go but thank you so much.
There are some prawn traps I gotta go pull. We are gonna eat like kings tonight.
Living Country in the City
I'm a little jealous right now thanks Jim.
Good luck on your hunt.
Living Country in the City
I appreciate. Alright y'all that will do it for episode 31 of Living Country in the city. I hope you all enjoyed that one as much as I did I got a lot out of it so hope you all did too. Make sure you give Jim a follow online and check out all his adventures this year as well as the grand baby photos. You can find links to all those pages as well as any pages we talked about in the show notes page at livingcountryinthecity.com/32. Now if you haven't yet please take a moment to subscribe to the show and if you've enjoyed what you're listening to I'd really appreciate if you left me an honest review or rating on iTunes or stitcher it really helps the podcast grow and help some continue to get awesome folks on to talk with and learn from. Good luck with the all seasons this year and I'll talk to you soon but in the meant time keep it Living Country y'all.


text:
We have just been deprived of what would have been the Greatest Spectacle in Racing: Donald Trump driving the Chevy Camaro pace car at the Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day.
After much public pressure, the Great Man stepped aside, because as the Speedway claimed, "he may be announcing shortly his intention to run for the office of President of the United States, and therefore he thought it would be inappropriate to drive the Pace Car…."
Inappropriate? Running for President would be a lot more inappropriate. The real reason he stepped aside was, according to Jalopnik, that the Speedway booted him. There are slight hints in an AFP story that this may be true.
An Indianapolis attorney set up a Facebook group (Bump Trump) and has gotten over 18,000 "likes" since Trump's drive was announced on April 5. These people don't want Trump in the spotlight for about 40 reasons, and you probably can guess most of them.
The Speedway has just announced that A.J. Foyt (right), who in fact does deserve the honor, will drive the pace car. Foyt is the first four-time winner of the Indy 500, and his first victory was 50 years ago.
But it ain't fair that The Donald was forced out. The greatest windbag of our time would have been a sight to behold, with his purple tie, toothy grin and perpetual comb-over inciting a chorus of boos as he rounded Turn One. It could have been a perfect media circus.
Was it right to push Donald Trump out of the Indianapolis 500?
Find Used Cars in Your Area at CarGurus

subset: commoncrawl


text: Murphys Featured Home for Sale. $950,000 on 5 acres with producing vineyard. Over 3,000 square feet of Tuscan splendor meets California in this spectacular home that overlooks your own private vineyard and beyond with a peaceful expansive view. 2 ensuite bedrooms with loft and office. Soaring ceilings bring a light and airy feeling to this artful, thoughtfully presented home. French doors lead out from the great room with its dramatic stone fireplace to a 2000 SF concrete deck with wrought iron railings. The interior melds with the exterior where you can watch the changing seasons for many years to come. From the quartzite counter-tops and floors, top grade appliances, butler pantry, spacious laundry room, two master suites; the floor plan flows seamlessly and every detail is executed with the highest quality. The exterior is low maintenance stucco w/metal roofing. Imagine living in this serene gold country setting! Call for a tour!


text:
Dapper Dane: Gent Adorns Vintage Look on Campus
Sergio Aieta not only studies history, but also dresses in it.
Before driving to campus for class, Aieta, 21, spends part of his time searching for an outfit based on color, cut, and often, time period in European history.
This can take as long as two hours.
"I derive pleasure from trying on clothes anyway," he said.
His selection process not only includes vintage clothing (namely German, Italian, and British attire), but also involves hats. Aieta has over 30 hats from fedoras to top hats.
And he prefers to not go outside without donning a hat.
"I think you're not fully dressed if you're going outdoors without a hat," Aieta said. "The hat is like the icing on the cake."
Lately, Aieta's 20-minute commute to campus does not involve any specific hats or fashion accessories. However, when he decides to travel during the summer, his style choices are occasionally more specific: leather gloves, a silk scarf, and a flat cap.
Because much of his clothing is designed for colder climates, in the summer heat, Aieta often clings to safari-style cotton jackets, khaki plus fours, and pith helmets for comfort. As the temperature started to drop during the semester, he moved towards wearing navy blue blazers.
With the change in seasons, he has started wearing more tweed jackets, sweaters, and cricket jumpers. For Aieta, this is "dressing down."
Regardless of season, all of Aieta's outfit choices come after he shampoos, conditions, and waxes his handlebar mustache.
Aieta has maintained his mustache over the last two years after over a decade dreaming of sporting upper-lip facial hair. Since childhood he was drawn to handlebar mustaches by film characters such as Captain Hook in "Hook" (1991).
Much of his European style originated from exposure to fine art, classical music, history, and old films early on. He described his childhood as a "continental upbringing" with his father and grandparents from his mother's side, all Italian immigrants.
Being exposed to old films, he credits much of his fashion after Terry Thomas, an English actor who often portrayed upperclass men in the 1950s and 1960s.
Despite not wearing vintage clothing regularly, Aieta started sporting a pocket watch along with period hats since kindergarten. Eager to collect vintage clothing since childhood, Aieta waited until he was fully grown before collecting old apparel.
He guessed his maximum growth during his sophomore year at Catholic High School in Troy based off of common height measurements within his immediate family.
Limited by a dress code at the private school, he often only wore vintage clothing at home.
From his start purchasing vintage attire, Aieta has not only left local shops with new clothing, but also with new friendships.
"You like seeing them," Aieta said. "It's a very personal type of interaction."
When shopping for new finds across the area over time, Aieta said that he has never spent more than $100 on apparel. Meanwhile, his cheapest find was a jacket marked at 25 cents.
Under any cost, he makes an effort to maintain the quality of his clothing. Aieta visits a custom tailor whenever he finds rips and tears in his outfits.
From dry-cleaning visits to trips to his tailor, Aieta strives for his fashion efforts to leave a favorable impression on strangers.
"If you're leaving your house, I think that you should look presentable," Aieta said. "I think it is something that is kind of lacking."


text:
Antonio Dailey credits Westside Community Center, a United Way partner agency, with helping him launch a successful career. He first came to WCC at thirteen for WE Pro$per, a job training program that receives United Way funding.
WE Pro$per focuses on providing teens with the skills they need to be successful in a future career, teaching lessons such as interviewing, how to write a resume, how to dress for success and table etiquette.
Dailey credits the program for teaching him "how to behave on the job and important etiquette lessons teens may not know, such as how to greet someone."
Each teen is assigned a summer job where they spend 100 hours getting experience working at a community business. Recent locations have included the Richard Kane YMCA, the Bartlesville Community Center, Knightsbridge Inc. and the City of Bartlesville. At the end of the summer, the teens collect an $800 check, reinforcing the value of a job well-done.
"This program partners with local businesses and non-profits to provide fantastic summer job opportunities for local youth. The partnership between WCC and BRUW continues to be beneficial, allowing youth this experience," BRUW President and CEO Lisa Cary said.
Dailey spent one summer working at the YMCA, helping with day camp for children. It was a good experience, he said, but as he got older, he spent the next summer at Hillcrest Country Club, where he mostly waited tables. But, as part of the WE Pro$per experience, he was able to spend some time rotating between the different areas: catering, the kitchen, and food and beverage service.
Dailey went on to attend college, and now works at Arvest in Bartlesville as an assistant branch manager.
Now Dailey has become a board member at the Westside Community Center, where he works to give back by helping the Center that he spent so much time at as a teenager. He serves on the STEM committee, and was part of the efforts to get the new computer lab installed at WCC. He also enjoys interacting with the kids who attend programs at WCC.
"I wanted the chance to be a role model for someone else," Dailey said.
The WE Pro$per program receives United Way funding as part of the focus on financial stability. United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in our community, and 27 percent of allocated funding is spent on financial stability.
A recent Pew study found that teen employment has been dropping. Fewer than 32 percent of teenagers were employed during summer 2015, a drastic drop from previous generations. In 1978, 58 percent of teens had summer jobs, which was the highest rate of teen summer employment. Another study on the benefits of a youth employment program in Boston found that students who went through the employment program showed gains in soft skills, such as problem-solving and working with others. Another study by the Employment Policies Institute found that part-time work in high school results in later career success, leading to 20 percent higher wages by the time the teens reach their forties.
United Way donors were a part of providing job opportunities for local teens. Last year, 22 teens were provided with summer jobs through the WE Pro$per program, which receives United Way funding.
"By providing these opportunities for the teens, WCC and United Way are partnering to set them up for a lifetime of success," BRUW Marketing Manager Abigail Singrey said.
The Bartlesville Regional United Way's Annual Campaign is underway. To find out how to contribute to the efforts to impact the community in the areas of education, health, and financial stability, contact the BRUW office at 918-336-1044, 415 SE Silas St., Bartlesville, OK 74003 or visit www.bartlesvilleuw.org.


text:
Tom Cruise in the '80s: Birth of a Star
Nowadays Tom Cruise is one of the biggest Hollywood stars on the planet, but like most megastars, he had relatively humble beginnings. Starting out with bit parts during the early 1980s, he quickly shot into the stratosphere with blockbuster after blockbuster. With this weekend's release of American Made, which takes place in the '80s, we here at Talk Film Society thought it would be a great time to highlight some of those early films.
The Outsiders (1983)
In The Outsiders, Cruise plays Steve Randle, a greaser who works down at the gas station with his best friend, Sodapop Curtis (Rob Lowe). His part isn't big, he's just one of several young actors in an ensemble cast, including Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillion, Ralph Macchio, and my first real crush on a movie star, C. Thomas Howell. If you've seen the movie, based on S.E. Hinton's 1967 novel of the same name, you know it's really about Ponyboy Curtis (Howell) and the class warfare going on in Tulsa, Oklahoma between the Greasers and the Socs. Francis Ford Coppola's movie is very teen angsty and, although beautiful to look at (thanks Stephen H. Burum!), it can be rather over the top at times. I'm looking right at you, Matt Dillon. Cruise is fine as Randle, I'd definitely want him on my side the next time I'm in the rumble. Shout out to William Smith as the clerk Dillon robs towards the end. If you blink, you'll also miss Tom Waits. I wanted this movie to be included in this Tom Cruisapalooza because I think it was one of the break out films for Cruise (and everyone else) and it's certainly worth a watch.
- Sarah Jane
Risky Business (1983)
Risky Business is iconically influential on how music would be used to tell stories in the '80s. It's neatest trick is turning Bob Seger's 'Old Time Rock And Roll' into a cultural touchstone. It's a moment in the film that defies the status of 'iconic' - Cruise expertly slides into frame, wearing nothing but a preppy fashionable shirt and his skivvies, and struts and sways in a way that makes you wonder what all you might see, with the kind of conscious self abandon that blurs the lines between Joel and Cruise's guarded private persona. He's accessible, immutable, and likable in a way that would make the movie going public trace his every moment for the decades to come.
Due to the iconicness of the 'Old Time Rock And Roll' scene, the rest of Risky Business tends to be forgotten about. But it does an invaluable service to establishing the mood of the '80s, and setting the tenor for Cruise's career possibilities. This subtle influence can still be seen today in films that evoke those non-genre pop culture moments of the '80s, and that charisma and movie star wattage in his smile can still be seen on Tom Cruise's face to this day.
- Nick Issac
All the Right Moves (1983)
Unlike in The Outsiders where he only has a small role, All the Right Moves stars Cruise front and center as Stefen "Stef" Djordjevic, a football playing high school senior who wants to get out of Dodge, or in this case, Ampipe, Pennsylvania. He needs to get a scholarship to an engineering college and football is his only answer. His coach (Craig T. Nelson) has other ideas when Steph mouths off to him after the loss of an important game. He cuts Steph from the team and blackballs him to the colleges that were previously interested. Steph alternates his time between football and trying to get his longtime girlfriend (Lea Thompson) to sleep with him.
You can tell Cruise is really trying here. You can see the wheels turning as he has to emote. He's not bad, though. He reminded me a bit of Wiley Wiggins in Dazed and Confused. There was a lot of putting his hands to the bridge of his nose. Chris Penn is the real star here. He's on another plane as Steph's friend Brian. He was bound for USC, that is, until he gets his girlfriend pregnant. His role isn't big but damn, he's great. I miss that guy. Also, I have to give a shout out to Leon and to Dick Miller. I think this movie gets overlooked because Risky Business (released a couple of months earlier) was such a breakout movie for Cruise. And, let's face it, it's a better movie than All the Right Moves. His work in all three movies is the genesis for his inevitable stardom in Top Gun.
- Sarah Jane
Legend (1985)
Ridley Scott's Legend is an interesting beast. Critically mauled upon its release in 1985, it's the rare fantasy entry in Tom Cruise's filmography and also one that's gotten better with age. Famously an influence on Shigeru Miyamoto's creation of the original Legend of Zelda in 1986, it concerns a story of good vs the ultimate evil as Tom Cruise plays Jack, a young man determined to stop the terrifying Darkness played by Tim Curry in one of his most memorable roles. A masterwork of the production design and meticulous detail that Scott has become known for throughout his career, Cruise is key here. He brings an earnestness to his performance, truly committing to the fantasy elements and proving that even at a young age he could lead an action film handily.
Darkness has kidnapped Lili, played by Mia Sara, and has put into motion a plan to permanently destroy the very concept of daylight. It's a fanciful story, much like most fantasy, especially in the original theatrical cut, which features a score by Tangerine Dream and a lighter tone. As Scott is known to do, he would later go back and edit a Director's Cut, featuring a much darker tone and doing a lot to make Cruise's motivations and performance stronger overall. It's the superior version of the picture and even though Cruise is still overshadowed by Curry, it's still one of the better early turns from the megastar actor.
- Matt Curione
The Color of Money (1986)
"Fast" Eddie Felson (Paul Newman, who won an Oscar for the role) is a long-in-the-tooth con man and pool hustler, whose vitality is rekindled by the arrival of Vincent Lauria (Cruise) into the pool room of his bar. Vincent strings along Eddie's in-house pool shark, and Eddie sees such potential that he takes Vincent under his wing to prepare him for taking the deeper pockets in a 9-ball tournament's practice room across the country. Along the way there, Eddie makes some strides to returning to his old form at the table.
Cruise plays Vincent with all the cocksure, "Yeah, okay, old-timer" dismissive nature you'd expect of someone who chases the short payoff, borne of easy wins and natural talent. Vincent is a toy shop clerk who plays at sharking pool games, in Eddie's mind, and it's easy to see that from how Cruise presents Vincent: absolutely carefree, playing with what he sees as free money, since he's so adept at taking it from anyone who lifts a cue. That ability is also his weakness, and what truly sets in stone Eddie's determination to prove himself, honestly. Cruise's scenes are jaw-dropping not only in his delivery of Vincent's lines but the fact that most of the pool tricks he pulls off are accomplished in-camera by Cruise himself, a dedication to character detail that's followed throughout his career.
- Sean Beattie
Cocktail (1988)
Tom Cruise's biggest asset (aside from his devilishly good looks) is his charm, and who needs charm more than a bartender. In Cocktail, Tom Cruise and Bryan Brown play the best bartenders in New York City (and Jamaica for a short while) who are struggling to survive while trying to make their millions. The plot is all over the place, taking hard turns every half hour, but this is Cruise at peak charm. He juggles liquor bottles, sasses business professors, and recites improvised poetry with his trademark smirk. He's a man of the people, a veteran from Queens who's trying to make his mark on the world.
He's offset by Bryan Brown, playing his jaded mentor whose goal is to marry rich, and Elisabeth Shue, playing a lovestruck patron who doesn't want to play Cruise's one-night-stand games. Both of these characters, at different points, remove themselves from Cruise's influence, but are always brought back in by his charm. I felt the same way watching the movie. No matter what nonsense was happening with the plot, if Tom Cruise was having fun, so was I.
Coughlin's Law: point a camera at Tom Cruise and your movie will work itself out.
- Mark Watlington
Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
With a lot of actors there's always a divide in the performance range; with method players like Daniel Day-Lewis, or Robert DeNiro, we love it when they're wild as much as when they are exploring more restrained characters. But with Tom Cruise there's no real divide, he's always investing himself in his performances with everything he's got; there are no half measures, or disingenuous moments in his filmography, regardless of the project, Cruise isn't just invested, but he's bringing something to the table.
I'd wager that Cruise is the best-managed actor of all time; considering the Rolodex of first-class collaborating directors. Oliver Stone came after Ridley and Tony Scott, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Barry Levinson, there's no weak link in the chain, but of his eighties era, his emotionally and psychically demanding role as Ron Kovic (which earned him his first of three Oscar nominations) is among his finest work. The transformation of this wide-eyed patriotic teenager to stalwart anti-war advocate is not only a dedicated representation of Kovic's life, but the ambitious narrative is emblematic of the socio/political upheaval that occurred in American culture from the mid to late sixties. Tom Cruise doesn't get as much credit as a transformative performer, and with Stone's dimensional epic he does more than become Ron Kovic but embodies the three-step evolution of the man before, during, and after the war.
- Alex Miller
So there you have it, the TFS Staff picks for the best of Tom Cruise in the '80s. Of course his career would only get more successful as time went on, working with even more great filmmakers, Paul Thomas Anderson and Stanley Kubrick among them. He's always been an actor who straddles that fine line between actor and star, and that trajectory looks to be a steady constant. So what say you? What are some of your favorite Tom Cruise performances in the '80s or otherwise? Let us know in the comments or over on Twitter.


text:
Please note that adult content and activities are not allowed in camsdream Friends & Romance
Welcome to camsdream
Reset your login details
Please type your email below.
A password reset email will be sent to your email address immediately.
Im a mature woman, sensual and sensitive but in the same time i like to be dominant and have control depends of the man in front of me.
Just ask me
Which kind of man are you ? Witch kind of woman do you need,?Sensual and sensitive , Dominant and powerful or maybe both?
47 Guests rated this model
very sexy lady
(Sep 11 2019)
She great fun.
(Sep 10 2019)
all the way baby
(Sep 07 2019)
She is so Beautiful and an Incredible body to match!! I enjoyed every moment and can`t wait to see her again.
(Sep 06 2019)
Amazing talker! She knows what you want and she will give it to you. Thanks!
(Aug 31 2019)
a wonderful sexy mature woman
(Aug 30 2019)
nice girl, cute.
(Aug 20 2019)
(Aug 19 2019)
A true lady with a delicious naughty side
(Aug 13 2019)
a sweetheart and so so sexy
(Aug 12 2019)
She was great a great time with her.
so sexy and horny like it
(Aug 11 2019)
Make your Models's day with a Virtual Gift!
These Virtual Gifts, available for you to purchase instantly, will be given to your Model as an earnings bonus. You can choose to tip ErikaStevens or give a gift.
August 26, 2019
This website is strictly for adults only! This website contains sexually explicit content.
You must be at least 18 years of age to enter this website.


text:
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Cushions–part 2
Posted by Trixie@ the vintage bothy at 16:32
5 comments:
They are gorgeous - as is the photograph in your header - lovely and sunny!ReplyDelete
Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger
They are so pretty.ReplyDelete
Lovely to see my Scheurers still going. They make beautiful cushions ;-)ReplyDeleteReplies
I didn't realise they origionally came from you Donna, they are beautiful as you say.Delete
Lovely! I especially like the middle one in the first photo!ReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Join us for a candid Town Hall discussion with Prof. Gordon Chang
Stay informed about Stanford & API news nationwide!
Tune in to activism on the Stanford campus and issues around the nation! Our periodic updates highlight developments in politics, current events, culture and entertainment of interest to the Asian American & Pacific Islander alumni community. We also comment on issues we believe are important to Stanford alumni. Read the latest.
Stanford's first-ever Asian American Summit
From March 31-April 2, the Summit brought together alumni from different eras, majors, professions, and walks of life to learn, share, network, reconnect and celebrate! Learn more about what happened and watch the video about the history of Asians at Stanford that premiered at the event.
Become a Member Today!
The Stanford Asian Pacific American Alumni Club is one of Stanford University's largest alumni organizations. We are dedicated to connecting Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) alumni to the university and to each other! Membership empowers you to attend numerous events in your region, engage with a thriving alumni community, and receive the latest communications about our alma mater, from an AAPI perspective. Learn more.


text:
That's it folks! For 2018. Wednesday Sessions are over for the year, and I'm off on my hols!
The bees are now tucked up for winter, first Apiguard is on, and inspections are all but over.
We'll put the second Apiguard on in a couple of weeks, check their stores and if necessary feed, possibly at the September meeting.
Then it's winter wraps (against woodpeckers) and mouseguards, and leave them alone until the solstice when we'll treat again, with ApiBioxal this time. (Oxalic acid in an expensive disguise!)
Thanks to all who supported the Wednesday Sessions, you're a great bunch! Hope to see some of all when we start up again in Spring, and at our monthly meetings. Don't forget our annual show at Shepherdswell last Saturday in October.


text:
I've been on a search for a cool subscription box, but I'm very picky. I wanted something that sort of fell in line with my interests, wouldn't fill my home with junk I won't use, and was Canadian. You'd be surprised by how restrictive those few parameters actually are. Make-up is fun but I'm not…Read More
All articles filed in Candice Buttons
End of a Season
My baby season is coming to an end. It's bittersweet to be sure but there's also the scent of looming freedom on the breeze. I wouldn't describe it in the sense of shackles releasing but like a blanket of snow melting in the spring. There's a weight to it. A warm quilt that envelopes your…Read More
Seasonal Planning
I get caught up in long-term plans. It stretches out endlessly getting looser and holier as I go. But by the time a season has passed I hate how I've blocked out my planner. I loath the font I've chosen. I'm sickened by the schedule I've created. The problem is, I also know the benefits…Read More
Brass Tacks Milestones: Arm Control
PUSHING/ARM CONTROL Why is this a real milestone you may be asking? Do you even newborn bro, I may ask in return. Honestly though, if you are in the throes of dressing incredibly petite humans, you know very well by now that they are useless in this department. They do not help. It's like trying…Read More
Brass Tacks: Dagger Nails
DAGGER NAILS The books will cover this to an extent. They let you know that mitts are good for newborns so that they don't scratch up their tiny faces. They give you tips on when and how to trim the tiniest of nails. What they leave out is that no matter how hard you try…Read More
Brass Tacks: Headbutt Yo' Teeth
Look, I read the books too. The What To Do's, the What Not To Do's, the User Manuals. They had a lot of great advice. They answered many important questions about building your babe, about labour and delivery. Some answered questions about what happens after, the feeding, the sleeping, the fevers, the teething. That's pretty…Read More
Cherries on a Summer Day
Summer is in full swing and so is our cherry tree. When we first moved here we thought it was a crab apple tree but much to our surprise, gorgeous Rainier cherries popped out. Last summer was a wash. The temperature here went from snow to scorching hot to freezing cold and then back in…Read More
Happy Canada Day 2017
We had a great Canada Day and I hope you did too! Happy Canada Day! xxo CRead More
7 Days Without Coffee
Day 1: My body didn't kick the headaches, kids live here and I wasn't caffeinated. Day 2: My body didn't learn to feel energized off of good clean food, kids live here and I wasn't caffeinated. Day 3: I almost drop-kicked everyone in this family at least twice. Kids live here and so does my…Read More
Mama, Me
My children are alive. I'm doing okay. Some days they even thrive. Hooray! Most days they laugh and smile. I'm succeeding in some way. They make me laugh too, every single day. Sometimes they fight, but I have some sway. Sometimes they hug, and I get my way. They'll have rough days, that might lead them…Read More


text:
News in brief:
£1080 Garuda business class deal to Bangkok
Garuda Indonesia is currently offering an excellent business class fare to Bangkok via Jakarta. Unlike many of the deals we feature, this involves departing from Heathrow and not positioning yourself in Europe.
The cheapest price seems to be on the Garuda website. You are looking for days showing £630 outbound and £450 inbound. I cannot replicate the fare via ITA Matrix so I can't access the fare rules regarding booking dates, but the deal is there – try 15 March out, 26 March back for example.
My review of Garuda business class is here albeit that is based on a short hop between London and Amsterdam back in the days when they stopped off on the way.
Garuda is a member of SkyTeam so you can credit your flight to Flying Blue, Delta or one of the other SkyTeam programmes if you don't want to earn miles with Garuda.
Your best option to maximise your miles when paying is American Express Preferred Rewards Gold. This offers double points – 2 per £1 – when you when you book flight tickets directly with an airline. Our review of Amex Gold is here.
Tesco quietly dropping some hotel redemptions from Clubcard
It is taking a while to piece together the changes to Tesco Clubcard as the company is not making it easy to find the data.
We have covered the change in many redemptions from 4x face value to 3x value on Shopper Points in three articles, which sit at the top of the home page.
There are also changes to some of the hotel redemptions. The good news is that the main ones – Hilton, Mercure, Novotel, Warner Leisure – are unchanged. The following partners will cease to accept Clubcard vouchers over the next few weeks:
- Classic Lodges
- Hastings Hotels
- New Forest Hotels
- Select Hotels of Ireland
This HFP article explains how to book Hilton hotels in the UK via Clubcard. Despite what Tesco tells you, it is possible to book and search availability online if you know the right corporate code.
Some package holiday companies are also leaving Clubcard and are listed in this Shopper Points article.
Rip Off Britain on Avios
If you're not at work at 9.15am tomorrow, Rip Off Britain on BBC1 is running an episode devoted to reader problems with airlines. This will include the segment on Avios that I filmed for them in Manchester last Autumn.
(Want to earn more Avios? Click here to visit our home page for the latest articles on earning and spending your Avios points and click here to see how to earn more Avios from current offers and promotions.)


text:
Help us tell our history
Over the past 72 years, QCPCA, through P&Cs Qld and more recently School Councils Qld, has engaged with thousands of state school P&C members, parents, children, principals and Departmental representatives.
To help us celebrate our 75th year in 2022, P&Cs Qld will be collecting QCPCA histories, stories and memorabilia held by members past and present.
Significant assistance has been provided to begin activity through the Qld State Government Community Benefit Funds Unit from the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation. Historian Elisabeth Gondwe has been contracted to work on the Jubilee Project, and is busy conducting interviews and curating historical material from the State Office archives.
Click here to listen to Elisabeth talk about the project on ABC radio recently.
We have established a digital platform on 'historypin' to add your photo, story or memory about the history of our great organisation.
We are calling on all our past and present members and associates to help us create this catalogue of memorable events that will continue to be built upon by schools and P&Cs in the years to come.
We believe that people will have historical local newspaper articles, photos or audio pieces in their possession, highlighting activities that they have been involved with through their P&C over the years. These are the pieces that will help to build our historypin for the future. We need all of what you have small or big, significant or other. Your collection is exactly what we are looking for!
To begin, you will need to create a historypin account: go to www.historypin.org/en/ and click the 'Join' button. Once you have logged in, you can navigate to the QCPCA Jubilee History site by clicking in the search bar and typing QCPCA. From this site, click on 'Add a pin' and complete each step. You will be able include a description of your item and mark an exact or thereabouts location.
What's your one great thing?
We know that parents and P&Cs have had an active involvement in shaping Queensland education and school communities.
We want to hear your stories about how you, or someone you know, has contributed to education in Queensland. What's your one great thing that you have helped to progress?
How can you help?
To add your story, download the 'One great thing' form and tell us how you have been involved in the development of education through your school or P&C. If you have an image, a news article or artefact, please consider contributing that as well.
Join our Jubilee support group
Help us record our history at the State Office
QCPCA has established a small Jubilee Committee made up of State Office staff and dedicated past QCPCA volunteers. This group will be the main builders of the history catalogue and can be contacted on the details below. If you are interested in helping us to collect and catalogue, please get in contact.
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Freecall: 1800 218 228
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation Community Benefit Fund.
Sponsorship of and donations to the Jubilee History Project are happily accepted. Please contact the P&Cs Qld State Office on 1800 218 228.


text:
The Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation (OOR) has approved $5,724.44 in grant funding for the Courthouse Rock campground corrals project.
The project, which has a total price tag of just more than $33,700, proposes the construction of two new horse corrals at the Courthouse Rock Campground to increase accessibility of equestrian trails, which will grow the local tourism economy, according to an OOR press release.
The campground is located 16 miles north of downtown Moab, off Mill Canyon Road.
According to Grand County Community Development Director Zacharia Levine, groundbreaking on the project is set for this fall or winter, with an estimated completion date in winter 2018. Levine added that the remainder of project funding will come from a $25,000 in-kind contribution from the Bureau of Land Management, $1,500 from the Backcountry Horsemen of America-Canyonlands Chapter and $1,500 from Grand County.
The OOR grants for recreation projects total just more than $2.8 million — including grant funds, matching funds and private investment.
According to OOR, the project is expected to double the number of equestrian visitor days at the campground because of their close access to many of Moab's equestrian trails. Because there are currently just three commercial campgrounds that accommodate large trailers with horses, Courthouse Rock Campground and the two proposed corrals would facilitate this growth in equestrian activity, OOR said in a statement.
The Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant assists with investing in trails, campgrounds, bike parks and more. The 2017 awards include more than $435,000 in grant funding for 14 projects statewide. Sixty-five percent of the approved funds will support projects in rural counties.
"Our goal is to ensure all Utah residents can live a healthy, active lifestyle through outdoor recreation," said Tom Adams, director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation. "We work with our local partners to build healthy communities and support the outdoor recreation economy. These projects demonstrate Utah's commitment to fostering close-to-home recreation opportunities."
The Outdoor Recreation Grant is expanding as well. Earlier this year, the Utah State Legislature implemented a new Outdoor Recreation Fund, which will generate up to $5 million each year for the next five years to support the program. Grant funding is expected to increase in 2018.
ByBy Greg Knight
The Times-Independent


text:
There have been debates recently about "proworkers" vs "coworkers" in the coworking world. It appeared in some panel discussions during the Coworking Europe Conference in Lisbon this year, and it left several coworking players in a kind of doubt.
We don't like this concept of proworkers. Let us explain why.
A "proworker" would be a kind of coworker that allegedly just wants to "get his work done". He is described as somebody often coming from the corporate world. Some people have been urging coworking spaces to address this new audience. Well, to be honest, we don't really get it… First, what does it even mean to be a proworker? Does it mean that coworkers are just not "professional" – that they're like silly kids doing insignificant stuff, who don't need any kind of professional facilities? Does it mean that coworking spaces don't offer real, "pro" infrastructure (whatever that might be)?
Let me tell you one thing: coworkers are very professional people. They've created their own job they've defined their own career. They did not ask anyone the permission to do so, they didn't wait in line for it. And believe us, it's not an easy thing to do. Certainly not something you do if you're not professional.
Coworkers – whether they are entrepreneurs, freelancers or remote workers – have to build their own reputation, network and skills without the institutional support of a traditional company. They have to be good at many different things at the same time. At every moment, they have to be autonomous, self-reliable and creative. Those surely are the most important skills in most industries right now. So, with these skills and abilities alone, making a difference between the two sounds absurd…
And to say that "they just want to get their work done" creates a ridiculously limited vision of work. Work is everywhere and in everything you do. The value of coworking relies on its ability to bring serendipity and opportunities to people, even if you might not be able to tell exactly what it'll bring you. Coworking is pushing a door, connecting to ecosystems and seeing what you'll get out of it. It's not just about getting things done.
Just getting your work done can happen in almost any place. Your home, a café, a library, a business center… Connecting to a community, belonging to an ecosystem and building a network based on true relations and not just transactions is a kind of work that will end up being very valuable to yourself and your business.
The simple thought of a bunch of people aggregating in a space, getting their work done on a super fast WiFi and top notch equipment and then going back home just freaks me out. That's not our vision of work for the future – not even close. That's a sad adaptation of old fashioned work canned in a slightly different box.
That being said, if the debate is about increasing the level of service and offering always better equipment to your community, it is obviously a good thing to do… But there is no debate about it: if you start targeting traditional white collars that don't give a sh** about your community and you'll soon lose what coworking is all about. Most of all, you'll end up doing again something that have been tried for a long time and already failed: third places that are clones of traditional office, but just closer to your house. Talk about a revolution…
Coworking, fablabs, makerspaces should stay true to what made them what they are: communities. And yes, improving your infrastructure and starting to attract new people BECAUSE of your communities is obviously a good thing. But this concept of pro-workers sound like a load of nonsense. If you can't see some passion shining through the eyes of a coworker, he'll probably make a rather poor coworker.
That's our view. What do you think?


text:
Whether it's helping residents make their favorite pizza during one of our cooking classes, or making a daily effort to make our residents laugh, our caregivers bring their unique personalities to the Willowbend community, offering residents an all-around charming experience.
Our caregivers take the time to learn meaningful details about each resident, creating a true bonding experience. We take the time to truly understand what makes our residents light up. It's common for trusted relationships with residents to blossom into friendships. Whether it's bringing them coffee in the morning, reading them pages from a book or offering a listening ear, we go the extra mile to keep our residents smiling. This philosophy of personalized care makes it easier and more enjoyable for our residents to reach the goals they set for themselves.
As Willowbend's Administrator, Jennifer Taylor's uplifting spirit helps residents make the most of every day. Her biggest source of joy comes from building meaningful relationships with residents and their families. Jennifer is a great source of comfort for our residents and a natural leader for the Willowbend team, making her a valuable asset to the community.
The unmatched level of care that residents receive is a reflection of Jennifer's caring nature, while her genuine smile is a welcome reminder of her positive attitude. Her education and care-giving nature combined with the personal experience of caring for her parents motivates her to continue to make a difference in the long-term care industry.
Jennifer brings 11 years of long-term care experience to the Willowbend community. She holds a nursing degree and Bachelor of Science in healthcare administration. Jennifer is a Licensed Practical Nurse and Licensed Nursing Home Administrator. She is also a member of the Marion Rotary Club.
Director of Nursing, Betty Beene, RN, chose long-term care and it chose her. Her uplifting leadership and personalized care approach helps ensure our residents and their families feel happy, comfortable and safe.
She is a natural-born leader whose compassion and quality of care touches our residents' lives daily. Betty continues to put her best serving heart forward and provide Willowbend residents the best care possible in the midst of an ever-changing industry. She is passionate about giving back to the local community.
Betty brings more than 10 years of long-term care experience to the Willowbend community. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and has ample experience as a Certified Oncology Nurse and an Instructor/Charge Nurse in Dialysis.
Kay Kay Davis, Community Outreach/Admissions Coordinator, uses her compassion and natural ability to motivate others to help residents at Willowbend meet their goals so they can regain confidence and live the life they desire.
Kay Kay considers her role very rewarding, especially when she can make the transition to the Willowbend community easy for residents and their loved ones. She knows how tough it can be from personal experience, and this has motivated her to find her true calling in long-term care.
Kay Kay has worked in long-term care for eight years and has extensive experience working at a neighboring rehabilitation facility. She is a member of the Marion and West Memphis Chambers of Commerce and the Alzheimer's Association. She also serves on the board of the homeless shelter, Good Neighbor Love Center.
As Admissions Coordinator, Amanda Derrick is passionate about making sure each day at Willowbend is filled with meaningful experiences for our residents. Her caring nature and natural ability to help others makes our residents feel truly cared for.
During her career in long-term care, her greatest source of joy still comes from the close relationships she has formed with her residents and their families. And our residents have expressed how grateful they are to have her in their lives.
With nine years of experience in long-term care, Amanda brings a wealth of knowledge to the Willowbend community. She is a Licensed Practical Nurse and holds CPR and IV Certifications. In 2009 Amanda was presented with the Nurse of the Year Award at Elder Outreach.


text:
Loopgram: Hooking with tee-shirts/
When I was in CVS a couple of days ago, I grabbed a bunch of tee-shirts, 4 for $10. Happily I carried them home and immediately went to work hooking them into my next area on my alternative fabrics mat, Got Wool?. Here is my assessment of tees as hooking fabric.
Cutting ease: on a scale from 1 to 5 with "1" being "Cuts like butter; easy as wool" and five being "So terrible don't bother," tee-shirt material gets a "5". Tee-shirt material will tear along the selvage but not across the selvage. When it is torn, it does not always tear straight. I was not successful tearing it thinner than 3/4" to 1". Once torn, the long edges curl so that you end up with something akin to inflexible cording rather than a strip of fabric. When I tried cutting it on my Bliss, it was too thin to keep a straight line and still curled. So I tried cutting it by hand across the selvage. It didn't curl, but the edges looked very raw, especially if there was any unevenness in the cut (which with this material and hand scissors was impossible to avoid).
Hooking ease: on a scale from 1 to 5 with one being "Hooks like a dream; easy as wool" and five being "Why am I trying this?", tee-shirt material gets a "5". I tried hooking the tee-shirt cords and they were so bulky they were difficult to work with and looked terrible. When I tried to open up the curled tube and cut along the center line to create a less bulky cord, it was easier to pull loops, but still looked terrible. When I tried to pull the strips I had cut by hand across the selvage, it was so thin that it looked miserable hooked and those raw uneven edges didn't help anything.
Overall look: on a scale from 1 to 5 where one is "gorgeous like hand-dyed wool" to "bad look even for a bad hair day", tee-shirt material gets a "5". In fact, it was so bad that I pulled out what I had hooked and abandoned the idea of using tee-shirts in my alternative fabric rug.
Average evalutation: 5 out of 5 or "Go and get some wool."
The moral of this story? Be smarter than I was. If you are going to try to hook with tee-shirts, make sure to buy sizes that will fit you and your family in case you decide to abandon the project too!


text:
- Home /
- Product Line /
- Mixed Dozens /
- June Premium 6-pack 2019 - Winter Warmers
This months Premium 6 pack is a power pack of superstars and winter reds that will keep you cosy all night long. We start with the Marchesi Alfieri 'Alfiera' Barbera d'Asti 2015 a barrel aged, premium Barbera from this historic and respected house in Asti. Best fruit and new and old barrels and a beautiful clothe of vanillan oak that gentles underlies the concentrated fruit and adds some light structure to the otherwise low tannin Barberra. This wine is difficult to get right and while few can do it justice even fewer can make it this good. The two bothers at Diego & Damiano have produced a wonderful Barolo in 2013 and its is sitting beautifully right now. A lovely blend of modern and traditional from a forward and warm vintage that present with savoury meatiness and sweet fruits – all you could want from classic Barolo.
From France we have two classic wines from Châteauneuf and Bordeaux. The Belgrave 2015 is classic Medoc that presents with a smokey nose and earthiness balance by rich dark fruits. It looks great now but will have a lovely futures ahead of it. While Bordeaux is a sea of wine we often find that makes it all the harder to find really great value but Belgrave just proves you don't have take out a loan to drink great Bordeaux. From down south we have a new Acquisition by legend Guigals. They recently purchased Chateau Nalys and we are excited to have them in store. This is their 'entry' level wine and if this a taste of things to come we are excited.
For another Euro classic we have the Vina Olbarri Gran Reserva 2010. This Tempranillo blend is classic old school Rioja with a deft and fresh touch. The extra time in oak gives this such a beautiful smokey-leathery background to its dark and firm fruit. We opened this recently for a wine course and were all stoked at what it revealed. Aged and ready to go for you this is a fantastic wine. Last but not least something a little fun from the boys at Dunn. In 2003 Mike and Kara Dunn created Retro cellar concentrating on unusually Petite Sirah. One from the historic Park Muscatine Vineyard on Howell Mountain, and a Napa Valley Petite Sirah from the valley floor. While these are rich, powerful and blockbuster wines as you would expect they are beautifully made and maintain freshness and vibrancy.
Well I can't think of a better way to spend a cold winter night then pulling the cork on a few of these bad-boys. We hope you enjoy it too!


text:
KC Boat Doctor is a "Full Service Marine Shop" licensed and insured doing business throughout the midwest. With a modern, multi-bay facility equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment your boat will be serviced quickly and correctly to get you back on the water. Listed below are some of the services offered along with suppliers and manufacturer's we represent.
Outboards and I/O engines, drive units, tilt & trim equipment
Engine tune up including diagnostics, calibration and synchronization
Oil and oil filter change
Water separator and fuel filter change
Fuel system inspection; treatment additives available to combat ethanol issues
Fuel injector cleaning
I/O and outboard Lower unit oil change
Water pump replacement
Steering and throttle cable(s) inspection, lubrication, adjustment and replacement
Hydraulic steering service
Service MerCruiser Sterndrives (Alpha I-Bravo III)
Service OMC Stern Drive/Cobra-Volvo Penta DP-SX
Inspect and test tilt and trim units, service if required
Gear case re-seal
Electronic Services
Inspect and test battery(s) and charging system
Service and install electrical components including sonar or transducers used in depth and fish finders
Inspect, test and replace faulty dash board instruments or switches
Inspect and test interior and navigation lights; replace as needed
Inspect and test pumps for live wells and bilge operations; replace as needed
Sales and service of audio equipment including two way marine radios and customized stereo and speaker systems
Boat trailers
Inspect and grease wheel bearings
Inspect and test all lights and electrical connections, repair/replace as necessary
Inspect and test brake assist
Inspect, test and lubricate hitch assembly
Check tires for tread wear and remaining life
Inspect bunks and frame work for corrosion or deterioration
Service and sales of transom savers
We represent a wide range of manufacturers and suppliers of specialized equipment and accessories. If you've seen it, we can probably get it.
Mercury/Mariner Powerheads
MerCruiser Repower Engines & Outdrives (Alpha I - Bravo III)
Quicksilver Parts & Accessories
Sierra Dealer Network Member
Jasper Marine Engines & Sterndrives
Barr Marine Exhaust Manifolds
Indmar Engines
Carver Boat Covers & Bimini Tops
Teleflex Steering & Control Systems
Big Air Wake Towers
Power Poles Anchoring Systems
Talon Anchoring Systems
Winterizing boat/engine; prepping for spring start up.
We will prepare your boat for off season storage, following manufacturer's requirements, using industry proven techniques.
Flush and drain engine cooling system; add anitifreeze when required
Fuel treatment with ethanol combatants
Fogging with corrosion inhibitors
Specialized Services
Boat Lifting, hoisting and towing
Anti Fouling Paint; If your boat is docked in a slip during the boating season the hull is subject to staining from lake water. This revolutionary product will keep your hull factory fresh. Stop by or call for details and pricing.


text:
We have had a very excited household this month because next week our favorite little girl is turning TWO! We take birthdays pretty seriously in this house, so Avery is not getting 1, but 3 birthday celebrations! Yesterday she celebrated with some of her best buddies at her birthday play date. As always, the kids all had fun and got along really well - but do you think I snagged any pictures of the cuties?! Mommy Fail! Thank you Brielle, Kaden, Dominic, Max & Everly (and their mommies) for joining us and also to baby Nolan who visited us later on!
Any kid's birthday party is not complete without party favors! Since we had a mix of toddlers & newborn babies, we did 2 different bags.
* Pair of socks (Target & Old Navy sell individual pairs for $1!)
* Teether (TIP: buy a 3 pack and divvy them up! - found here)
* Fruit Snacks
* GoGo squeeZ apple sauce - Avery's favorite snack & pretty healthy too!
* Crayola Pick Your Pack crayons - my new favorite product! Only found at Target, you can purchase 8 crayon packs for any party theme imaginable! Since I was getting crayons for 2 boys and a girl, I decided on Pink Princess, Born to Rock & Dinosaur Roar, but how cool to get "Over the Rainbow" for a rainbow party or "Mermaid Shimmer" for an under the sea party. Genius idea - only .99 a pack!
Simple, but fun party decorations. Balloons & streamers hung from the ceiling!
Our spread! Since we did a morning play date, I decided on Panera bagels, fresh strawberries & a yummy toddler snack mix that even the mommies enjoyed!
Thank you Pinterest for this adorably pink toddler snack mix! You could whip this together a variety of ways, but I went with Cheerios, Strawberry frosted Shredded Wheat, yogurt covered raisins & strawberry yogurt drops (found in baby food aisle). Original idea found here.
Birthday girl found a princess crown!
The only picture I got with Avery and one of her friends ... her newest friend Dominic! I really think Avery is going to be a professional nanny when she grows up ... the chick is smitten with babies!
We will be back next week with birthday celebrations 2.0 & 3.0 (her actual birthday & family birthday party)! Can't wait!


text:
Today the show is as powerful as it is vulnerable and helpful ... strap in for a good one as my friend Becky Mollenkamp and I explore our winding journeys with grief and growth.
If you listened to Episode 21 of the show, you already know a little about my rocky road with grief after the loss of my 24 year old brother in September 2016.
Almost unbelievably to me, Becky has walked a path parallel to mine. In this episode, we're diving into the loss of her little brother, how she grew in her deep knowing of herself and discovered her superpower of building community in the process.
Becky runs a tight-knit, vibrant & engaged Facebook group, so in the Clarity episode she's sharing 6 killer tips for creating community with authenticity & vulnerability. Her wisdom has definitely influenced how I run my own Facebook Group, so her tips are not to be missed.
In the Courage portion, you'll hear:
- More about Becky's business and how she makes a living
- Her journey as a writer, challenges along the way & how she wound up working for herself
- What it takes to get paid to write
- The shocking event that dragged her to rock bottom -- and how it turned her into who she is today
- More about the experience of losing a loved one, what it's like to lose yourself & find your way back after changing everything
- Moving in with her mom at 36 years old, repairing her spirit & learning to leverage vulnerability to discover her superpower
And in the Clarity half, we're talkin':
Tips and Strategies for Facebook groups --
- Giving permission to participate
- Tweaking questions to enter the group
- How Becky has leveraged capping membership to create a feeling of intimacy
- Becky's community leading secret sauce: being vulnerable
- Personally welcoming each new member
- Modeling good, authentic behavior
"Get comfortable with being vulnerable. Every time I allow myself to feel the feelings, get the feelings out, magic seems to happen." - Becky Mollenkamp
Links/Resources Mentioned:
- Amy Porterfield's Podcast
- 15 Minute Planner Method
- fizzle.co/courage -- 5 week trial, free!
- Courage & Clarity Community
- Ep 021 // Things I'm Afraid to Tell You: Losing My Brother
- Becky's Website - http://beckymollenkamp.com/
- Becky's Facebook group - Own It, Crush It
- Facebook.com/courageandclarity