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That is so cute! Very clean lines on the character, and I like the simplicity. Would you be able to post a translation
for the kanji/Japanese that isn't the title? Or is that what the quotes at the top of your post is for? XD It probably
is, isn't it?
At any rate, very nice wall. I like the slight shadow that is under the character and the...large bun. :-D It helps to anchor them. Hrm...maybe move the title that's in Japanese over to the left a little so it's not overlapping the bun, but that's being nit-picky. Very nice work!
1280x960 Wallpaper
Artist Comment
"If u dont wanna feel the Flame Haze fury, dont touch her Meronpan"
Woo, im inactive for long days, work and study are some reasons of that! Im very very busy >.<** Im becoming crazy! But when i have a little free time, i do something like this... a simply wallie hehe! Thats it, just see it and criticize it hehe! Not much to say about it but is Shana! One of my +fav series.
Sayonara! ^^
More Shakugan no Shana Wallpapers
Browse Shakugan no Shana Gallery: Recent | Popular.
Elves Dec 11, 2006
That is so cute! Very clean lines on the character, and I like the simplicity. Would you be able to post a translation for the kanji/Japanese that isn't the title? Or is that what the quotes at the top of your post is for? XD It probably is, isn't it?
Sinever Dec 11, 2006
thats a cute wallie
& I love it
cup-of-tea Dec 11, 2006
I especially like the green colour for the background and how it matches the bun.
It's very cheery and the added decoration of the checkered pattern and vines keeps it from being too simple.
Danielly Dec 11, 2006
really really kawaii ^^
you did a wonderful job here XD
+ fav ^_^
Anason Dec 12, 2006
This is very nice and also very cute. You did a nice job here! Thanks for sharing,s
merged: 12-12-2006 ~ 01:06pm
This is very nice and also very cute. You did a nice job here! Thanks for sharing! * I like things corrected.*
eternallegend Dec 12, 2006
i like the simplicty of your wall :D the pattern and the design look nice and add a nice touch to your wall :) i like how the colour suits her well XD overall nice cute wall ^^
enchantment Dec 12, 2006
aww, its soo cute XD i love the simplisticness of your wall :) its really lovely and the concept is nice :D lovely wall~^^
Tilz Jan 23, 2007
Huwaaa, I like this wallie so much.Shana chan looks so cute in here, but she supposed to be happy when she eat meron pan right?
Kyuoto Mar 14, 2007
Haha, Good one :) It's simple and great at the same time. Thanks :)
zevil1313 Oct 27, 2007
xinmu Dec 16, 2008
LOL! so cute, thanks for sharing! (:
FelixBasmol Jul 15, 2009
Really Cute..! Especially for the melon pan... Hehe... :p XD
rladud839 Nov 18, 2009
My pick for the Anime-Rivals contest :D
Great job!
francis9399 Mar 31, 2010
erm..there's a little too extreme of the white spark brushes there..the bg behind it looks fantastic though XD lovely effects u did on the scan..the colours made the scan blend in well too :P
ShirakawaKotoriCute Restricted Member Apr 21, 2010
Kawaaiii shana tan neee.......
eviltanger May 23, 2010
meron bun, meron bun!
it's cute!
flame11 Nov 29, 2010
Thanks for sharing!
Very cute :D
crabk Apr 02, 2011
loli version lol
so cute.....
page 1 of 1 18 total items
Only members can post comments, please register.

subset: commoncrawl


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The lyrical and haunting Spring Waltz (2006) is the last of the "Four Seasons" set of Korean dramas (including Autumn In My Heart, Winter Sonata, and Summer Scent), and it's my top favorite of the four, all filmed by the same famed director, Yoon Suk Ho, all of which were responsible for increasing the stunning popularity of the Korean drama genre around the world (this phenomena is nicknamed "The Hallyu Wave"). Although all four dramas had some themes in common, Spring Waltz executed them flawlessly, perhaps because it was the last in the series and the director knew exactly what he wanted to accomplish for this addictive twenty episode melodrama that achieved close to 26% ratings as it neared its conclusion (a number which is very high for Korean dramas, which mostly average between 5% and 10%).
Casting largely unknown actors at the time as the leads was revolutionary, and gave all these actors an enhanced visibility which would serve them well as their careers expanded after this landmark drama.
The Story: Filmed in Austria and South Korea, including several beautiful islands, the show begins with two Korean ladies on a plane to Austria, a confident publicist named Yi Na Song (So Yeon Lee) to meet the man of her dreams who is a famed classical pianist, and a sweet, humble craft artist named Eun Young Park (Hyo Joo Han), who had won a contest back home in Korea for a free trip to Austria to visit art museums.
As they sit together on the plane the two women discuss the merits of the famous pianist Jae Ha Yoon (dreamy actor Do Young Seo) as Yi Na shows Eun Young his picture in a magazine. Yi Na tells her she hasn't seen him in years but that he had proposed marriage to her when they were younger and she intends to follow him and hold him to his promise. Eun Young, who has been alone for most of her life, envies the young lady sitting next to her who is so full of promise. As for herself, she cannot forget a young boy she had grown close to as a child in Korea (child actress So Hee Han in flashbacks), a boy named Soo Ho Lee (child actor Eun Won Jae - from the haunting Korean film masterpiece Hansel and Gretel - in flashbacks), whom she had lost track of after undergoing a heart operation after the death of her mother in a car accident. She thinks of Soo Ho often, and wonders if she will ever see him again.
As the drama progresses we begin to realize that the famous pianist Yi Na wants to marry, and the boy Eun Young had loved and lost in childhood, are one and the same person. Soo Ho had been adopted by a man and woman who had paid for Eun Young's heart operation, on the condition that Soo Ho would become their son, and be renamed Jae Ha Yoon, after their own son who had died in a rafting accident. The son who died had been very similar in appearance. They lie to the boy and tell him Eun Young passed away on the operating table, and then send him to school in Europe to become a classical pianist. Although he is filled with grief, he applies himself in the music field, and is very successful in Europe giving concerts. His CDs are bestsellers. But none of this gives him real pleasure.
~ Actor Do Young Seo gives the performance of a lifetime
as the tormented Jae Ha Yoon aka Soo Ho. I still believe his
is the best male performance I've seen in Kdrama history ~
Jae Ha is a man living with deep personal demons related to his childhood, when his alcoholic father had neglected and abandoned him. He is quiet and reserved, does not trust anyone except for his one long term male friend and personal manager Philip (played dashingly by incredibly handsome American actor of Korean descent Daniel Henney, who had made a name for himself in Korea in 2005's hit drama My Lovely Sam Soon).
"When did you fall in love with Mom, Dad?"
"When we were chasing chickens, Son."
All four principal characters meet in Austria and begin to develop emotional ties with one another, though Eun Young doesn't recognize Jae Ha as the boy she lost in childhood. Jae Ha for his part begins to resent Eun Young because she reminds him so much of the young girl he thought he lost to death in childhood. A series of events makes him suspect his adoptive parents had lied to him, and he begins to do private investigations of his own to uncover Eun Young's true identity.
Her life had undergone a huge change after the operation; she also was adopted by her loving but poor aunt named Yang Soon Jo (played by the versatile actress Kim Hae Sook, who was in all the 4 Seasons' dramas) and moved to Seoul and was given a new last name.
Meanwhile, Philip has fallen head over heels in love with Eun Young, and although she likes him she only feels friendship for him. Against her will she seems to draw closer and closer to Jae Ha, even though their relationship is stormy because of Jae Ha's repressed feelings. Yi Na tries to get Jae Ha to commit to her in marriage, but failing that, decides to become his publicist and expand his professional music career in his native land of Korea.
When the action switches to Korea the drama takes on a whirlwind pace, with many plot twists and turns. The feelings deepen between Jae Ha and Eun Young and become so strong that everyone else can no longer fail to see what is going on between them, including the jealous Phillip. Will the two sweethearts ever finally discover that they were the same children who were so brutally separated fifteen years earlier? (There is a scene in this drama when Daniel Henney has to hit Seo Do Young on the face with his fist, and he pulled his punch wrong and actually cracked Seo Do Young's cheekbone! In the extras section of the DVD you can see Daniel Henney pacing around frantically as Seo Do Young is doubled over in pain. And Director Yoon left the punch scene in the drama! It delayed production for a week and the next scene Seo Do Young played you can see his one cheek still looks visibly swollen).
Filled with intensity and angst and deep romance, Spring Waltz will hold your attention from start to finish. Certain scenes are like old Hollywood classical movie shots, with great sweeping crane shots of Austria's and South Korea's beautiful landscapes. I will never forget sobbing my eyes out at the scene where Jae Ha's biological father, who deserted him in childhood, comes back into his life and saves him from a scandal, and then dies on the street after being hit by a truck. Jae Ha rushes to the hospital to see his father one last time, but arrives too late. I personally feel that that scene is one of the top three scenes I have ever seen in the hundreds of K-dramas I have watched.
I remember in the Extras of the YA Entertainment DVD set which I bought that the director was interviewed and spoke with reverence at the beautiful performance beginner actor male lead Do Young Seo gave in this drama. I think he was recalling the father's death scene as he spoke his words of praise (see video above). Also impressive acting (and camera!) work can be seen in this "Buy some gum" scene, where Jae Ha first meets the young lad who is actually his half-brother. What a powerful scene, as Jae Ha recognizes himself in the young boy -- his alcoholic father forcing him to sell gum on the street in order to survive.
Haunted By His Childhood
The musical soundtrack is also second to none, with lots of gorgeous music composed and performed by the genius South Korean pianist - composer Yiruma. KBS once again released two separate CDs of the score compilations due to its huge popularity all throughout Asia and the West. Of course I had to buy both of them. ;)
Spring Waltz is a Class Act, an essential viewing experience for everyone who loves Korean drama. It is so special to me I just about consider it a holy show and I often have to go back and watch it again, just to plunge into one of the most unforgettable Korean dramas ever made. Yet the two major portals for K-dramas are too cheap to pay for the license to stream this masterpiece. Your desire to watch this beautiful classic in its best condition will lead you to the right option for you.
Your finest option for best visuals & audio!
Ratings and


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Australia, 17th May: Recently, Reed Exhibitions Australia (RXA) announced the company intends to acquire a majority stake in the Fitness Shows, positioned as the largest fitness exhibition in Australia. Details of the transition will be discussed in the near future.
The Fitness Shows, organised by Talk2 Media & Events (T2M), are held in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane annually. At the April 2017 Sydney edition, some 35,000 fitness professionals and enthusiasts attended the show which was held at ICC Sydney. A fitness convention, FILEX, was also co-located with the exhibition.


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There's the European Gallery with its priceless paintings, the stunning architecture of the Renaissance Court � so many beautiful places at Worcester Art Museum where floral designers can display arrangements during Flora in Winter, the museum's biggest fundraiser of the year.
But florist Cathy Walsh always had the best spot: the bathrooms.
Her wildly creative arrangements transformed those most utilitarian locations into must-see spaces at Flora, an annual four-day event in which flowers are used to interpret art throughout the museum. You expect ooohs and ahhhs for arrangements in the galleries, where stunning artwork serves as the backdrop. But in the bathrooms where the scene is set by sinks, toilets and exposed pipes?
Yet Walsh, who passed away Dec. 26 at age 49 after a 10-month battle with cancer, pulled it off each year. Her arrangements transformed the lavatories into blooming showplaces. They were so popular that women would stand watch outside the men's rooms just so that other women could go in and see the flowers. Men would do the same at the women's bathrooms.
Because Flora, which runs Jan. 23 through Jan. 26, comes so soon after Walsh's death, her friends have gotten together to decorate the museum's bathrooms in honor of her memory. "None of us feel we could ever fill her place with it but the thought that it would not be done this year, that was too much for everybody," said Kae Collins of Easthampton, formerly of Worcester, who had worked at Walsh's flower shop Sprout for many years. "It just wouldn't feel right."
So "Team Sprout" was born, with the help of several friends, former Sprout employees, Worcester florist Jeff French donating supplies, and the Boston Flower Market donating the flowers in Walsh's name. It will be an emotional time for the team members who have taken on the challenge.
"She was an enormous inspiration," Collins said. "The one thing I'll miss so much doing this project is brainstorming with her because she would throw out these amazing ideas and say 'OK, do you think we can actually make it happen?' Then we would toss ideas back and forth on how to make it happen. Is it structurally possible? Can we actually make it do that? I get choked up talking about that. That's the thing that gets to me every time I think about it, that she had all these ideas all the time and just having that voice silenced is really tough."
So how did the bathrooms come to symbolize some of the best of Flora?
"It started out as the only space we could afford to do back when the museum charged for the privilege of displaying flowers," Walsh wrote in a social media post when Flora, now in its 12th year, was new. Her florist business was only a couple of years old at the time.
"They've since stopped charging florists, quickly boosting the number of florists who participate, but we hung on to the restrooms," she wrote. "It became Sprout's and, when at the museum, it's fun overhearing folks asking if they had been to the bathrooms yet. We get more positive feedback putting flowers near toilets than any other thing I do all year."
The bathrooms took on such a special ambiance during Flora that Walsh chose the otherwise unlikely location to propose to Paul Leary in 2006. She sent Leary into a men's room under the pretext that he was to see if the coast was clear for some women to go in and check out the flowers. When he pushed open the door he found a large banner with the big question: "Will You Marry Me?" Two of Walsh's friends were waiting inside, one playing violin and the other taping the event. In the few quick moments it took Leary to mull the question the violinist played the Final Jeopardy theme. When Leary said yes, the tune became "Ode to Joy."
Leary said he appreciates the ode to Walsh that Team Sprout plans to create at Flora this year.
"It's a nice idea," he said. "I think it's important for people to remember her involvement with the art museum and this particular event, and the best way to celebrate that is with the flowers that they're doing."
The blooming tribute will help fill the big gap left by Walsh's absence at Flora. It will also help still-grieving friends and family move on with the long process of healing.
"She'll always be a presence at Flora," said Team Sprout member Francoise Hsu, who worked at Sprout until the shop closed after Walsh's death. "She was an art student before she became a florist. She's made us look at things differently and see that there's art everywhere, whether it's in flowers or in bathrooms, so she'll always be with us."


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Roxana & Anthony
This gorgeous wedding of Roxana and Anthony caught our eye, showcasing every component of a beautiful wedding in Fiji. Working with Wedding Planner Chelsea Jayne Weddings they incorporated their Lebanese traditions into a stunning Fiji setting. We catch up with Bride Roxana on what went into planning her stunning wedding day in Fiji:
We met through mutual friends as we have grown up in the same area in Sydney, we knew each other for about a year and a half before we went on our first date and the rest is history
My husband and I wanted a special intimate ceremony – which was not something we are accustomed to, a wedding in Sydney for us would have meant 500+ people. So we decided to have a wedding in Fiji, as it's not too far from home, has beautiful weather and people plus that relaxed island feel.
We used Chelsea Jayne Weddings Fiji to help plan our wedding. Her connection in the industry and her relationship with the intercontinental helped us with the planning process immensely as we both work full time and don't really have that 'Fiji time' patience! It took us 12 months to plan the wedding and it was perfect.
We feel in love with the Intercon immediately. Chelsea told us that if we wanted white sand and clear water we had to look at the coral coast. As we wanted a classy, romantic setting and feel, the Intercontinental Resort just ticked all the boxes.
I wore a custom made Lead D'Gloria dress. The bridesmaids wore custom made dresses by Sue Lin in Sydney.
Hair was by 'Hair by Suz' & make up by 'Makeup by Leanne' – both from Sydney.
The Groom and the guys wore suits from Calibre with custom made shirts by Tailor and Co; and the flower girl wore a dress by Doll Cake Vintage.
Our wedding ceremony was at the Intercontinental Fiji Resort & Spa chapel. The set up was by Fiji Weddings. The theme was white flowers and greenery on all chairs – clean and lush.
Prayers were picked out by myself, and the program was chosen by the priest.
Bouquets are custom silk made by Florals and Props by Charlene and the Flowers on pews are by Fiji weddings.
Our music and entertainment was by DJ John Moussa – and drummer Shady Karaki – both from Sydney
Our photographer was Leezett Photography. I hired Leezett to cover my photography for the day. I fell in love with the landscape shots and the way they captured genuine moments.
Rusila was an absolute pleasure to work with, so kind, professional and even helped in times of need on the day (buttoning up my dress!!). I got my photos quickly (while I was on my honeymoon) and couldn't have been happier!
Our Videography was done by the team at Zoom Fiji. Zoom were a delight on the day…they captured precious moments that I will cherish forever. The biggest stand out was my highlight clip, still nearly a year later get comments on how good it is! And even today when I watch it get goose bumps. I couldn't have been happier with it.
Our reception was at the Intercontinental Fiji Navo beach front.
The Decor was by Fiji Weddings – I wanted lots of greenery, hundreds of candles, and touches of gold, with gold cutlery and plate chargers.
We had a sit down 3 course dinner by the Intercontinental. They also did our wedding cake.
My Advice to future brides
It did unfortunately start to sprinkle in the first hour of our beach front reception, but we luckily had planned ahead and made sure we indoor table arrangements ready to go just in case. My advice to future brides is to try not to sweat the small stuff because on the day, it can all change and it will be out of your control.
I still had the most special day of my life regardless and would not change one thing!
Who Did They Use
Chelsea Jayne Weddings FijiRead More
Fiji Wedding Videographers
Zoom FijiRead More
Fiji Wedding Photographers
Leezett Photography/ProductionsRead More


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The result of countless requests... A simple, hairpin bar stool designed to compliment any living, dining or cooking area. This stool is made for counters / bars with a height between 84 and 94 cm high - we can easily adjust the height to suit your counter - just let us know the height and we'll make the perfect stool for you.
Seat width: 36cm
Seat depth: 36cm
Overall height: 62cm
All AO Home products are delivered directly from the Seller. Find out more.


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Under Armour® Threadborne Streaker Run Short Sleeve T-Shirt Absinthe Green/Reflective LBIVZWC
Product Code:LBIVZWC
Availability: In Stock
Price: $52.89 $28.98
The classic fit of this tee is enhanced by a winning combination of Threadbone Microthread technology that allows the fabric to dry faster without stretching and chafing. With Moisture Transport System equipped to wick sweat and dry fast, anti-odor technology completes its construction to prevent the growth of odor causing microbes. Wear it around the house, while exercising, out fishing or just on any average day! • Pullover • Crew neck • Short sleeves • UA MicroThread technology in the fabric dries faster, won't cling to you, won't chafe and stretches without absorbing sweat • Moisture Transport System wicks sweat and dries fast • Reflective logos for greater visibility on low light runs • Anti-odor technology prevents the growth of odor-causing microbes • Polyester, elastic • Machine washable • Imported
Under Armour® Threadborne Streaker Run Short Sleeve T-Shirt Absinthe Green/Reflective LBIVZWC


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Seven Investments You Should Make If You're Serious About Travel
This post was originally published on June 27, 2018
If you're dedicated to your favorite sports team, you probably have season tickets or a lot of team apparel or some good tailgating gear. If you're into biking, you've probably spent a lot of time and money on your bike, keeping it clean and making sure it works properly.
I believe that travel is no different. If you really want to travel more conveniently and save money in the long run, you need to put in some time and money to get there.
Here are seven items and ideas to get you started:
1. A Credit Card That Will Reward You With Travel Points
Before travel points, the main way to earn free travel was through frequent flyer miles. Frequent flyer programs still exist - the only problem with it is that you have to be pretty dedicated to one airline. That's great for the airline, but not for you.
Get a credit card that comes with travel points instead. Keep purchasing items like you normally would with any credit card, and let the points start accumulating. You don't even have to use them on airfare! Use them on any travel expense: hotels, trains, etc.
2. A Sturdy, Small, and Efficient Carry-on
I can attest to the fact that a good carry-on can make or break your flying experience. I have tried every type of bag and suitcase imaginable.
My favorite carry-on yet is one I found at TJMaxx. It's a small, hard-shelled spinner suitcase with two compartments on the inside from IT Luggage. It's been able to fit in every overhead bin that I've encountered and holds so much!! And bonus points for the fact that it was less than $75.
Make sure your carry-on is conducive to the kind of traveler that you are. I love my spinner, but some people need a bag that will be easy to dig around in. Figure out what you need and get one!! It will save you time and peace of mind the next time you're getting ready for a flight.
3. A Passport Wallet
A typical passport wallet is much like the wallet you probably already use, except for the fact that it has slots for all your important travel documents. Your passport, boarding passes, and baggage claim tags need to be secure yet easily accessible! And if you're going to be visiting multiple countries, you need to keep all your foreign currencies separated.
I got this wallet a couple years ago before going on a European river cruise, and it was honestly a life saver. I wasn't fumbling around for my documents at security or when checking in at places.
4. Packing Cubes
I don't know how many people I've had to explain packing cubes to since I started using them a few years ago. To many, packing your clothes into cubes inside of your luggage might sound like a waste of time, but using cubes allows you to further compartmentalize the inside of your bag or suitcase and separate out important items.
For example, on a two-week trip, I like to put one week's worth of outfits in one cube and the next week's outfits in the other to keep myself from pulling out every bit of clothing from my suitcase whenever I get dressed.
5. A Wifi-Enabled SD Card
This is for all my photographer friends. I don't always travel with a laptop. And I don't want to worry about losing an SD adapter for my phone, but I still want to post the nice photos that I take on my Nikon.
As long as you have the accompanying app downloaded on your phone, a wifi-enabled SD card will let you transfer pictures directly from your camera to your phone.
6. Signing Up for Airfare Alerts
There are so many websites to get airfare alerts from. Some are generic, and some can be very specific to you. A new one that I intend to try out is called Next Vacay. For $25 a year, you can tell Next Vacay what airport you want to fly out of and the cities that you're interested in flying to, and they email you the very best deals on those flights as they find them.
Some other similar services are Airfare Watchdog, Thrifty Traveler, and Scott's Cheap Flights. (If you have any opinions on this topic, please leave me a comment because I love cheap flights!)
Airfare alerts may be just another email that you have to clear from your inbox at the end of the day, but you might find a deal that you simply can't pass on! And you don't have to do any of the work!
7. Following Travel Accounts Online
The Internet is an ever-expanding place, and I quite honestly believe we take it for granted sometimes. (Although that's a topic for another time.) So many of my future travel destination ideas that I never would have thought to consider before have come from travel bloggers on Instagram.
There are bloggers that I really trust, and I read their stories to find out if a city will be safe for me to travel to alone, or if a town is just really touristy and overrated.
Seriously, invest some time in reading what real travelers have to say and not just what the big travel magazines put out.


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The Dargamitta District Headquarters Hospital, Nellore or A.C.SUBBA REDDY GOVT. MEDICAL COLLEGE was built in 1963 to 1968 which is at NTR University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada. Foundation Stone laid by the Honourable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Sri.Neelam.Sanjeeva Reddy. Inaugurated on 18/12/1968 by the Chief Minister of Karnataka Sri.Veerendra Patil and preceded by the Honourable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Sri.Kasu.Brahmanada Reddy.ACSR Government Medical College Nellore. The college has a very big land area of 67.5 Acres, where the floor area of the college is 26,271 Sq. Meters.Existing DSR Headquarters Hospital, Nellore with 350 Beds and 5 ICUs and Emergency Trauma Care. Proposed Hospital is for 450 Beds in a G+4 Building. The college provides services of medical, Surgical, Orthopaedics, Mother and Child health and other sub specialities i.e. ENT, Dermatology.
A.C.SUBBA REDDY GOVT. MEDICAL COLLEGE Provided Hostel facility for Boys and Girls Students, Residents and Staff Quarters to the teaching and non-teaching staff.
You can take admission in A.C.SUBBA REDDY GOVT. MEDICAL COLLEGE of NATIONAL ELIGIBILITY CUM ENTRANCE TEST – NEET examination. The exams are national level exams.The responsibility of the CBSE is limited to the conduct of the entrance examination, declaration of result and providing All India Rank to the Directorate General Health Services, Government of India for the conduct of counselling for 15% All India Quota Seats and for supplying the result to state/other Counselling Authorities. for more information visit the following link. The official website of NEET is www.cbseneet.nic.in/. Stay in touch with us for more info and you may see other college details here.
A.C. SUBBA REDDY GOVT. MEDICAL COLLEGE has allowed taking admission of 150 MBBS seats.
Andhra Pradesh
Phones (Office): 0861-2319299, 2317299
Fax: 0861-2316299
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: www.acsrgmcnlr.ediu.in
To see all other medical college details of Andhra Pradesh under neet visit the following page.


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We are approaching the end of our second decade making music together, and have become incredible, lifelong friends. Some of the friends we have made along the way are listed below. Some of these friends have relocated to far away lands; some have passed away; others have simply taken other journeys in life. Wherever they are, we love and miss them all.
Bob Kinder, Percussion
Bob provided our drumbeat for longer than any of us can remember. And nobody can remember the last time he missed a beat! Bob played drums in Swing and Dixieland bands for more than 50 years. Recently he had played with the Beacock Music New Horizons Band, was a member of the Portland Dixieland Jazz Society, and was a regular at their Monthly Dance Jams.
Jim Detchman, Trombone/Tuba
Starlene Benke, Tenor Sax/Trombone
John Kaleta, Musical Saw/Banjo
Yes, we said musical saw. Stanley is John's preferred brand.
Jim Kellar, Trombone
Dane Walla, Percussion
Laura Perkins, Clarinet
Don Howard, Founder/Washboard
Laura Dean, Trumpet
From blazing marches to more laid-back blues, Laura's trumpet led the way for a long time. Laura has played in several other local groups, including Battle Ground Community Band, Journey Theater (formerly Christian Youth theater), and various other groups and events.
Noel Tognazzini, Banjo/Tuba
. . . that smile . . .
Glen Hanson, Trombone
Thom Taylor, Guitar
Ed Lippert, Tuba
Sondra Tripp, Clarinet
June Howard, Vocals


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Louisville Bridges and Traffic Reports
Bridge Construction Updates, Traffic and Highway News Courtesy BridgeLouisville.com
Saturday, November 5, 2016
Louisville Weather Forecast; November 05, 2016 at 05:00AM
Morning Weather Forecast: Clear with a temp of 43F.
Todays forecast calls for 66F and a low of 44F.
UV Index: 0
Humdity: 87
Pollen Count: 1.40
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Apr 6, 2017
Let's Talk Super Sunday/Good Deeds Day Success: $576,758 and 20,000 Meals
On April 2, hundreds of volunteers made sure the phones rang out once again from the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County throughout the Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Highland Beach areas. And hundreds more assembled kosher meal kits for distribution to neighbors in need as part of the international Good Deeds Day.
Click here to enjoy photos from the Super Sunday Phone-a-Thon shifts »
Click here to enjoy photos from the Good Deeds Day Food Packaging »
By the end of the amazing day of community spirit chaired by Talia and Hal Klein, this vibrant, diverse Jewish community had raised $576,758 from 570 donors, and packaged 20,000 wholesome, easily prepared meals kits. Even the very youngest volunteers prepared for Passover with PJ Library mitzvah craft projects to brighten the holiday for clients of the Jacobson Family Food pantry.
"We are here today to celebrate our community, its diversity, its challenges and the manner in which we all do our part to help those in need, because we know how much stronger we are when we work together," said Hal Klein in his welcome. "Through what you are doing today, Federation and its beneficiary agencies are able to provide the programs and services we all care about right in our neighborhoods, in Israel and around the world."
From first-timers to those with decades of Super Sunday experience, volunteers from all stages of life made calls in three shifts, many with friends and colleagues from a school or agency, AEPi Fraternity at FAU, or neighbors from a country club. Raffle prizes, selfies, meals, snacks, high energy, great camaraderie and being joined by Congressman Ted Deutch made the day fun and fast-moving.
First time Super Sunday volunteers Andrea and Danny Spandau were "feeling great" after spending the morning making calls. Together, they raised $14,913. "Federation does such great things to take care of our youngest to our oldest in our community, in Israel and around the world where we are needed," said Danny. Added Andrea, "Federation's partnerships with agencies, and schools like Donna Klein Jewish Academy where I work, bring us all together for our community and our people."
Another first timer, young adult Tyler Appleton, accompanied her mother "to help make sure our elderly Jewish neighbors have enough to eat and other life necessities. Even my very first call was successful and I feel so good that my time has made a difference."
This year a large group of high school age volunteers, who attend the full array of the area's public and private schools, joined in calling, wearing matching NCSY T-shirts. NCSY Co-Regional Director Ben Gonsher explained, "This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to not only help others, but to learn about the Federation and how this community works together."
In the afternoon, hundreds more volunteers streamed into the Loewenstern Cafetorium at Katz Hillel Day School of Boca Raton on the Federation campus for the Good Deeds Day project. Working energetically to rock music and wearing identical hair coverings, they put together 20,000 kosher meal kits to stock the shelves at the Jacobson Family Food Pantry at JFS, one of the many vital programs supported by our Federation.
A longtime Federation supporter and renowned Jewish community philanthropist, Judy Levis Markhoff was thrilled to spend the afternoon packing meals with her son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren. Judy's son, Matthew Baker, who is currently President of the Adolph and Rose Levis Jewish Community Center named for Judy's parents, was also joined by JCC Board and staff members. "It fills my heart to have all of us together helping across the generations," Levis Markhoff said. "Nothing raises my spirit like seeing our family's values and priorities continue on."
PJ Library® in South Palm Beach County families like Penina and Aron Schoenfeld and their three children enjoyed the opportunity to engage in such a meaningful project along with other Jewish families who also receive free PJ Library (ages 6 months - 8 years) or PJ Our WayTM (ages 9-11) books at home every month. Both PJ Library and PJ Our Way were sponsors of the Good Deeds Day activity. "PJ programs like today's provide hands-on reinforcement for the Jewish values shared in the books," said Aron.
Charne and Paul Sherman came from across the street, where they live at Toby & Leon Cooperman Sinai Residences of Boca Raton, right on the Federation campus. "We were so glad for the opportunity to come over and lend a hand," said Paul.
Many young adults took to the phones, and their generation was very well-represented at the Good Deeds Day food packaging. "We are members and young leaders in this community so we volunteer because we want to give back and help those in need, said Lindsay Cohen, Federation's Young Adult Division (YAD) Social Action Co-Chair. "This is the third year in a row that YAD has participated in Good Deeds Day and we look forward to returning next year."
Click here to enjoy photos from the Super Sunday Phone-a-Thon shifts »
Click here to enjoy photos from the Good Deeds Day Food Packaging »
Super Sunday was generously sponsored by HJ Sims, and The Mordis Group/Merrill Lynch. Atlas Party Rental, Hotwire Communications and Zeebeedee were the generous In-Kind Sponsors, and many in the community became Telephone Underwriters and Hunger Heroes to support the event.
If you missed your call, it's not too late to join your Jewish community in making a difference! Visit jewishboca.org/donate or contact 561.852.3142.


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2018 Dodge Grand Caravan at Lynch Chrysler Jeep Dodge
When you're looking for a family vehicle, safety, comfort and convenience are probably at the top of your list. Luckily, you can find all of that and more in the 2018 Dodge Caravan! With unique Stow n' Go seating, plenty of interior space, tons of available features and a safety suite that will let you drive with confidence, this vehicle is the perfect minivan for families big and small.
Engine Performance
- 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine
- Standard six-speed automatic transmission
- Fuel Economizer
Safety Features
- LATCH Child Safety Seat System
- Standard rearview camera
- Child Protection Door Locks
Vehicle Design
- Steering Wheel Audio Controls
- Six-speaker audio system
- Second-Row Captain's Chairs
What kind of power and handling can I expect from the 2018 Grand Caravan?
In 2018, the Grand Caravan is driven by Pentastar's trusted 3.6-liter V6 engine. Matched to a six-speed automatic transmission, the Pentastar puts out 283 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Combined with 17-inch wheels and standard low roll-resistance tires, the Grand Caravan's powertrain provides a smooth and dynamic drive and an excellent fuel economy. To further enhance the minivan's efficiency, every model is equipped with an ECON button that controls engine timing and transmission shift points via a built-in fuel economizer.With all of these mechanisms, you can hit the road confidently in the 2018 Grand Caravan and enjoy a great balance of power and efficiency.
What trim levels and features are available for the Grand Caravan?
This year, the Grand Caravan is offered in four trim levels so you can choose the right balance of standard and available features for you! The base SE trim comes with many impressive features, including six-speaker audio, a 6.5-inch touchscreen interface, steering wheel audio controls, a second-row bench seat, full power accessories, cruise control, a rearview camera, heated exterior mirrors, and much more! Optional to add on to the SE are second row Stow n' Go captains chairs, which give a clear middle pathway to the third row and also stow flat into in-floor compartments to offer a ton of cargo space. There are plenty of features added on through the nest three trims, topping out with the highest GT. If you opt for this trim, you'll get features like a full-leather interior, heated first and second row seats, voice command, navigation, a larger touchscreen, nine-speaker audio, and more. Available on all models is a rear entertainment system with a 9-inch screen, two additional USB charging ports, and HDMI input.
What safety and security features are available for the 2018 Grand Caravan?
When it comes to your family, there's no such thing as a vehicle that's "too safe." Thankfully, the 2018 Grand Caravan offers tons of standard and available safety features to give you peace of mind. A suite of seven standard airbags combine with a frame constructed of high-strength steel and front and rear crumple zones to give the vehicle excellent performance in the event of a collision. Other standard features include a rearview camera, LATCH child seat tethers, rear child safety locks, remote unlocking and more. More advanced safety features are available on higher trims, and include blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic alert.
Final Thoughts on the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan
When it comes to buying a family vehicle, you shouldn't have to compromise. With the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan, you don't have to. Pick this model and you'll get everything you want, from a spacious and comfortable interior, to and efficient powertrain, to plenty of safety features. Come down to our lot today and take a closer look at the 2018 Grand Caravan.Apply for FinancingSchedule Service
You May Also Be Interested In
2018 Chrysler Pacifica
2018 Jeep Cherokee
2018 Dodge Journey
2018 Jeep Compass


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Last year I heard so many people say that doing personal work was the fuel to creativity and producing new art. I completely agreed and went on with life, not allowing time in my schedule to simply create for me.
While I was shooting out in Southern California for a wedding my friend Carissa and I planned a sunrise trip to this exquisite place. We visited a place called Knapp's Castle in the foothills of Santa Barbara. This place was literally only a forty minute drive from the beach. Mind. Blown.
One of the most spiritual and worshipful pieces of work I've created yet.


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Meet the Hitched Team
At Hitched, we believe in a team environment. The combined knowledge and skills of a highly specialized group of people can bring out the best results.
Carlos Calleja
Carlos is the founder of Hitched, and is the principal singer songwriter. He has extensive experience playing in bands throughout his musical career such as Mars and Venus, and now works on Hitched full time.
Brad Simons
Brad is an Edmonton based musician, and the principal producer and engineer behind the Hitched recordings. He owns the recording studio Velveteen Audio, record label Velveteen Records, and has his own musical project called Optics.
Dave is a wizard when it comes to video. He provides us with all capture and editing of video at our clients weddings. His company is called Cassana Multimedia.
Brad Smith
Brad Smith is the dedicated mastering engineer for all Hitched recordings. He is an award winning engineer and works out of Velveteen Audio. His production company is called Mr. Smith Productions.
Preferred Vendors
We have so many talented, amazing friends who we have worked with over the years. We highly recommend adding their talents to your day to help complement your Hitched Creations Experience.
Julie Jackman
Julie is the owner of J Jackman Photography and has been a professional photographer for many years. She provides all of our photography and has been featured in various publications such as Blush Magazine. Her pictures are all over our website and she has been working with us from day 1. She is a must have!
Diana Sikanj
Diana is the owner of Sappho's Design. She is a wedding event planner in Edmonton AB, catering to the every day bridal couple and the LGBTQ community. Sappho's offers all kinds of packages to help ease the stress of planning, execution or both.


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Governor Away Day
Every year we meet as a governing body for our annual away day. This is to review our work from the last academic year and plan our priorities for the coming year. Our meeting this year was very informative and inspiring, allowing governors to work together to look at their impact and share thoughts for the coming year.
Following our last OfSTED inspection, our Governors have worked very hard to achieve the Governor Mark accreditation. Governor Mark is a national award which provides external evaluation of the quality of governance in a school.
The following are members of the Governing Body which meets regularly to discuss school policy:
Mrs. V. Dalby Chairperson
Mr. C. Walbank Vice Chair
Ms. Jean Hartley Foundation Governor
Mrs. Y. Fisseha Parent Governor
Mrs. M. Bickle Parent Governor
Miss H. Speight LEA Governor
Mrs. A. Nichol Foundation Governor
Mr. R. Birkinshaw Staff Governor
Mr. S. Riley Foundation Governor
Rev Amos Kasibante Foundation Governor
Canon Sam Corley Foundation Governor
Mr Stephen Bates Foundation Governor
Mrs. E. Holliday Head Teacher
Mr. J. Robertson Teacher Governor
Mrs. N. Brady Associate Governor
Miss S. Parry Co-opted Governor
Mr John Hafseth Foundation Governor


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The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program is due to expire on December 31, 2017.
Congress will adjourn for their holiday recess on December 22nd, and the likelihood of GSP renewal grows dimmer each day.
Importers must plan to pay duty on goods subject to GSP starting January 1, 2018. Vandegrift will continue to flag entries for GSP as in the past, so that if GSP is renewed Customs can issue automatic refunds.
We will continue to keep you apprised of the renewal status. Please contact Vandegrift with any questions regarding the filing of GSP entries.


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Discussion in 'Game Discussion' started by Katiechops, May 28, 2017.
Looks awesome! 10 quid says the end released game doesn't look as good as this though! Gameplay footage me hole!
Gurth you cynic! But no loss to me, I play to build cities, win sieges and destroy servers RAWR!!!
Thicc, looks kinda outdated for 2017, but whatever
Welcome to the BOON Control
Community Website & Forum!
Separate names with a comma.


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Power Africa launched the Women in African Power network with the goal of advancing the participation and representation of women within the energy sector across the African continent.
Increasing Connections, the Women in African Power (WiAP) webinar series, aims to share knowledge and build the professional skills of women active in Africa's energy sector.
How do you distinguish and elevate yourself in your field? Networking is an essential skill to develop professional connections and relationships, but effectively networking and finding networking opportunities may be difficult. In this webinar, you will learn how to strengthen your personal brand by developing networking skills.
Join this webinar and learn more from the speakers, Rose Mutiso, Co-Founder and CEO, Mawazo Institute and Sandra Tererai, Founder, Taungana.


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China's problems with building trust around the world just don't seem to have an end. The Asian superpower-wannabe was on Monday left dismissing accusations that it is copying data off the African Union's computers to servers in Shanghai.
The Chinese dismissal comes in response to a report in French newspaper Le Monde that all the data on the computers at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa were being copied out to servers in Shanghai every night.
The data theft and espionage on the apex African multinational body was discovered in January, when AU personnel noticed that data transfers on the AU network peaked between midnight and 2 am every night. What had struck them as strange was the fact that the offices were empty when this was happening.
The sources who spoke to Le Monde said this data theft of the AU's secrets and all other information had been happening for five years, from the building's inauguration in January 2012 to now. The Chinese had built the AU headquarters, set up all computer systems and networks and handed them over to the new occupants in a turnkey arrangement.
After learning of the wholesale daily leaks, the AU immediately acquired new servers and shifted to them. AU officials refused Chinese offers of assistance in configuring the new servers, the report said.
Security teams were also brought from Algeria to sweep the entire building for potential bugs aimed at eavesdropping. This led to the discovery of microphones in desks.
The discovery of the espionage came just days ahead of the Assembly of the Heads of State and the Government.
The African Union headquarters had cost about $200 million to build, and was called 'China's Gift to Friends of Africa'.
The scandal comes at a time when an increasing number of African countries have started making negative noises about Chinese business practices in their countries and others have already started complaining of having been led into debt-trap financing of Chinese-built infrastructure projects, which has already begun affecting countries like Sri Lanka and Pakistan as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
And China, with its persistent troubles with winning trust and soft power, made little effort to assuage fears. Kuang Weilin, China's Ambassador to the AU, dismissed the allegation as "absurd" and "hard to understand".
"I really question its (the report) intention," he was reported as saying. "I think it will undermine and send a very negative message to people… Certainly, it will create problems for China-Africa relations," Kuang added.
China has in recent years made huge investments in Africa, often with the promise that its presence would lead to economic growth. However, most of its projects are either construction or mining. And most of them face accusation that local labour is overlooked in favour of Chinese labourers.


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This Sunday Normandy Groups Director, Mark Heger, teaches about the importance of being devoted to one another through living in biblical community. Using Acts 2 and John 17, Mark emphasizes that true community is devoted, unified, and expanding. Read the transcript below or listen to the sermon by clicking HERE.
Good morning Normandy. As always it is a huge honor to be preaching to you today. Teaching and preaching is always something that I enjoy doing, whether it's with WakeWell, or at Conferences, or here at church…and I am always honored and humbled to share what God's doing in my life and teaching me with you guys.
Now for those of you that don't me or haven't heard me preach before, my name is Mark Heger and I am the Groups Director here at Normandy. For the past 13 years I have led small groups and bible studies, and created relational communities all across the nation. I have led some groups that have failed miserably, and I have led some groups that have flourished and expanded and multiplied. I love leading groups of people and assisting them with their faith. My heart for groups is that people would would not only grow closer to Christ, but also that people would grow closer to each other as they grow closer to Christ. I believe that we were designed for community…that God's statement of "It is not good for man to be alone." doesn't just apply to the context of marriage or else He would have said, "It is not good for man to be unmarried." But God said that it is not good for us to be alone, because when we are alone we are more susceptible to the lies of Satan. I know that there are people here today who are feeling lonely, isolated, divisive, defensive, too busy, to broken to live in close Community…and that breaks my heart and it breaks God heart. Because I believe that everyone has two basic desires in life…two basic desires that drive most if not all of our decision making…and those two desires cannot be met outside of community.
I believe that everyone…regardless of your race, religion, gender, or economic status…everyone desires to be known, and to be loved despite being known. Let me say that again, I believe that everyone on the planet…everyone who has ever existed from the beginning of time…desires to be known…they desire to have intimacy with other people who would know them for their strengths and weaknesses, their successes and the failures, their likes and their dislikes…they desire to be known. And in addition, despite being fully known and being exposed not only for who they are, but also for who they are NOT…all people also desire to be loved. Like REALLY loved. Cared for, celebrated, and encouraged. Loved for who they are and loved enough to call them up to something even higher.
That's why I believe in relational ministry. Because it shows people that you desire to know them, and you love them even after you know them. And here are Normandy Community Church, one of the best places to see this lived out is in our Normandy Groups. Today I hope to encourage you to come and be both known and loved here at Normandy. But before we dive in, I want to pray for us. So join me as I pray over our time together and then we'll get started. [Prayer]
So today we are going to be talking about the importance of Community. And in order to do that, we are going to be spending the majority of our time in Acts chapter 2. And the reason that we are going to be looking at Acts 2 is because it's in that Chapter that we see the origins of the early church and we witness the first believers beginning to live out their faith together. Now while you're turning there, I want to share a little about my testimony with you. As many of you know, I grew up right here in Lake Highlands, GO CATS, and my parents still live in our same house right around the corner from this church. My father was raised in the Catholic tradition, and he did his best to raise my older sister and I in the Catholic church as well. So when we were very young we attended Sunday school and occasionally went to Sunday mass, but it really never influenced either of us at all. And by the time I was around 7 or 8 years old, we had stopped going to church altogether because we unanimously decided that church was super boring and we would rather go to the lake on the weekends instead of going to church. So that's exactly what we did. Every weekend we went to the lake and waterskied, wakeboarded, kneeboarded, rode SeaDoos and had tons of fun instead of going to church. And I as you might expect, after putting in a generous amount of time into these watersports, I became pretty good at them and decided that I wanted to pursue a life of wakeboarding! So I began to take wakeboard lessons, and I joined a crew of young riders that were my age, and we began to travel around competing at contests and tournaments together. We were all like-minded, having almost everything in common, and we helped coach each other and push each other and encourage one another…we helped each other as each one needed. We ate meals together, we saw incredible tricks landed and we still to this day share miraculous stories together. We worshiped the sport of wakeboarding together and we even added people into our crew. In many ways we looked more like Acts 2 than most churches. We knew each other and we loved each other. And it was great.
Now keep in mind, that through all of this, I was relatively unchurched growing up. As a kid growing up in Lake Highlands, I wasn't attending church or youth group…I had no idea who Jesus was…and I certainly didn't have any relationship with Him. And then, my junior year of high school, I went to Younglife Camp at Frontier Ranch and that is where I met Jesus and for the first time decided that I wanted to follow Him. But I didn't know how to follow Jesus on my own, because I had never done that before. I was a lot like the people in Acts 2! Look at verse 22. Peter is speaking to the Jewish people on the day of Pentecost and giving this great speech, and he says,
"Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him."
Then skip down to verse 32…
"God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear."
And then here is high school Mark after Younglife Camp in verse 37…
"When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
I didn't know what to do with this new life that I had received. I was use to living a certain way within a certain community of wakeboarders, and now I was finding myself needing guidance, training, teaching on how to live within this new Christian Community. I went to camp, I listened to the messages, and I wanted to take it seriously. Look at verse 40:
"With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."
You see me and many of my friends who went to Younglife Camp heard similar versions of Peter's words that summer, and I believe that many of us were added to the number of new believers that day. But as with many people who hear the gospel and are convinced that it's a good message, many of my high school friends decided to stay and live their lives in verse 41 without ever crossing over to verse 42.
And I know that there is a large portion of us here today who desire to live in an Acts 2 Community…who would agree living in Community with other believers is not only a good idea, but is necessary to having and maintaining a healthy Christian walk. However, I would also like to recognize that while many of us agree and support an Acts 2 community, there is a large portion of us that are currently stuck between verse 41 and 42. Whether it is something that you have decided not to prioritize, or you have entered into a different stage of life that is less conducive, many of you believe and accepted the gospel, but are not currently living within verse 42.
"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."
I don't know what it is for you, but something is keeping many of us from being devoted to teaching, to fellowship, to entering into each other's lives, and gathering for prayer and worship. And again, I'm not here to belittle or demean you. I'm here to encourage you to take that step into verse 42…to be devoted to one another. It's a rare thing in today's culture for someone to be devoted to a group of people, which is strange considering how we are more connected to each other now-a-days than ever before. I'm sure you guys have heard the statistics…that as technology has continued to increase and has allowed us to be more connected with more people, people are feeling more lonely, more isolated, less understood, and less cared for than ever before. In an age of constant connection, everyone feels less connected to the other people around them.
And yet, as believers we are suppose to be fighting for unity between us. Isn't that what Peter Louis talked about last week? Unifying the church through forgiveness and repentance. But forgiveness and repentance is only the start of unification. To be truly unified, we have to be devoted to one another. And to be truly devoted to one another, we have to hang out with each other. Right?
It's the same thing that Jesus' prayed for the disciples in John 17…you don't have to turn there, just look at it on the screen.
"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
Jesus first asks "that they may be one"…that they would be unified just as Jesus and the Father are unified. Well if you think about it, Jesus and the Father didn't just hang out once a week in a room and listen to the Holy Spirit teach on a certain topic within a 4 week series. No! Jesus and the Father were one because they intimately knew each other and had spent time together since before time was created. Jesus is echoing what Peter would eventually say in Acts 2. Be devoted to one another! It was the desire of Jesus that believers would identify more with fellow believers than you would with people of your same race, gender, economic status, political affiliation. Did you catch that? Jesus prayed to the Father, on behalf of you and me, that a man and a woman, someone who is white and someone who black, a liberal democrat and a conservative republican, who are believers would have MORE IN COMMON…would have more unity with each other…than with a non-believer of their same gender, same race, or same political leanings. That's crazy right?
Then Jesus asks that the same glory that God has given to him, would also be granted to the criminals, the tax collectors, the fisherman, the prostitutes, the shepherds, and anyone else that would believe in him. You see, we have to remember that no matter the make-up of your community, you are all joined together in unity through your closeness in Christ.
And it's important to remember that Acts 2 wasn't a perfect community, but simply a devoted one. If you keep reading in Acts you'll learn about this husband and wife that were a part of the new Christian community who tried to withhold money and God ended up killing them! That doesn't sound like perfect community. Or you'll read about a group of widows that were starving because of language barriers and possible theological discrepancies…certainly not reasons that people should be starved, right? This community was far from perfect, especially as it grew and expanded, but what remained constant was their devotion to one another. And whenever a problem would arise or a disagreement would happen, the community would come together to find a solution that would allow for everyone to be known and loved and ultimately for more people to be added who could be known and loved.
And that in itself seems pretty simple right? Wouldn't we all agree that we ultimately want our church, our friend groups, and our families to expand for the sake of the Kingdom. Doesn't that sounds like a statement that we should all be nodding our heads to? But the funny thing is that so often we don't enjoy living out that reality. Because many of us, IF we were able to reach the level of community seen in Acts 2, and I believe some of us have at certain points in our lives, we would naturally want to protect it. So often I watch Christians try to live in closed communities that desire to benefit themselves and allow them to walk in comfort and security knowing that what they have built for themselves is safe from anyone that might try and wreck it. When we do have good, solid community, we often use it primarily for our own benefit…We guard it. And this is something I've been guilty of. "Who here has ever been in a Group that you felt was so awesome that you didn't want to tell anyone about it?
But according to Acts 2, the Christian community is about having NEW people into your home, at your dinner table, attending your parties. It's about caring for needs of others. It's about bringing people out from the fringes and inviting them into an ever expanding family that God adds to daily. Living in an Acts 2 community requires us to open up our lives. A true Acts 2 community is not inwardly focused, but outwardly focused. The goal is not self preservation, the goal is kingdom expansion…to make more room for people who need to be known and loved. There are thousands of people in this city that might never come to a Sunday service, but that will come to you or your friends house to have or discussions about faith with you. We should be tirelessly working toward inviting other in, reaching out into people's lives, invading their space with the presence of God, and showing them that they have a value and a worth that is able to benefit both the corporate church and them as individuals.
But sharing the gospel with people is hard. When a person hears about some God in heaven, who they can't see, or this Holy Spirit who lives among us that is invisible, it's not only hard for us to explain but it's also hard for them to understand; especially in our culture where we want to see everything in order to believe in it. When you try to share the gospel it can often feel weird and intangible. But when you are living in an Acts 2 community and you invite someone into your life, you can point to your community and show them what the gospel actually produces. You can show someone with physical proof that it is ok to be broken and messed up, and that everyone will still stay devoted to each other. You love one another and work through conflict with each other. Sharing your community gives weight and tangible proof to the gospel you talk about.
Jesus says that he desires for us to be devoted, to be in unity, ultimately SO THAT the world may know God's love. So that the WORLD MAY KNOW. This is the bridge that connects our need for community and our mission of sharing the gospel. It is necessary for us to be devoted to community so that they world may know. But how do you get this kind of devotion? Where can this type of devotion come from? You have to be reminded of the devotion of Jesus. You think about the fact that Jesus, who had been in perfect unity with the Father since eternity past, surrounded by worshipping angels and sitting on the throne at the right hand of God, decided to leave His place in heaven, take-on flesh and enter the world as a child in order to display his devotion. Then staying devoted, he waited patiently for over 30 years before the time was right to start His ministry. He devoted himself not only to his ministry, but to the temptations, the humiliations, and the persecutions that He would endure. He was eventually betrayed and abandoned by his disciples, the very people that he was unceasingly devoted to throughout his ministry. And showing the fullness of his devotion, he was tortured, crucified, and killed for the sake of bringing glory to the Father…the same glory that He prayed you and I might share. And then three days later, Jesus would raise from the dead, not for His benefit, but for ours. So that we might understand that not even death could stop Him from being devoted to us. So that we might understand the fullness of His love for us. So that we can live in relationship with a God who's devotion is bigger than the grave, and that we would be willing to share this good news, this gospel, with the people around us.
His devotion to us is the answer for why community is important. Maybe you've tried before. Maybe it was too hard. Maybe you've gotten out of the rhythm of community and you don't know how to get back in. Maybe you haven't wanted to commit in this current lifestage. There are always a number of hurdles to keep you from deeper intimacy. But when you can't muster up the strength yourself to want to do these things, you must remember how Jesus did these things for you. Because if community was Jesus' plan for the world to know God's love, then it is obvious that Satan is going to do everything he can to stop us from being unified in community.
We need to be a people devoted to community. We need to repent and receive forgiveness for all the ways we've stayed in verse Acts 2:41, not moving into verse 42 and into the lives of others. It's messy there, but that is where we see the gospel play out in the most amazing ways!
I believe that it is the will of God for the family of God to be on God's mission together. All of us need to take one step toward community today…for our own faith and for the future faith of others.


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I can't believe I have finally created a website. It is not the most sophisticated site on the planet and the pictures are literally me holding my work, but it's a step in the right direction. I'm hoping that I can update this blog on at least a quarterly if not monthly basis.
Because this is my first blog post, I have decided to set some goals for myself. They are:
- try drawing everyday
even doodles would be better than nothing
- get more active on social media
while I will probably never understand twitter, I can definitely get down on some instagram, tumblr, even youtube!
- create some original works that I can actually turn into prints
this one is admittedly more difficult than the previous two but one that I've always wanted to try out.
Other than that I've got nothing. Thanks for checking out the new site.
This really needed to happen. Let me know what you think and I can hopefully oblige any changes you think need to be made.


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Clash Royale
Best Clash Royale Decks: Arena #7 (Royal Arena)
The seventh arena provides access to eight new cards. The most expensive card available – the Three Musketeers, capable of inflicting a huge amount of damage. The Royal Giant shoots at buildings from afar, but he cannot be a tank and must be defended. The Elite Barbarians are a faster and more deadly version of the Barbarians, but there are only two of them. They can reach the tower very quickly and destroy it. The Mega Minion with his characteristics is very similar to the Knight, but he is a flier, so he found a place in many decks. The Dark Prince is a weaker version of the Prince, but he performs a massive attack and he has a shield. Guards also have shields, but the card isn't popular due to other characteristics. The Princess is weak and slow, but she is capable of dealing massive damage from a very long distance. Although the Electro Wizard less powerful then the Wizard, he is capable of stunning two opponents, which is why he is very appreciated. Let's talk about the decks, which contain them all.
Battle deck № 1
What happens if you combine the Dark Prince with the usual one? The first deck answers this question. The new prince does not act like the old one, but the shield adding a second line of health helps him and his brother to get to the tower. So using of two princes at the same time will help you, at least, to force your opponent to spend all his elixir on defense, or even to destroy a tower.
Battle deck № 2
If the first deck required a lot of elixir, then this requires even more – that's why you need a collector. P.E.K.K.A. is expensive as the main tank, and the costs will increase due to support of a Dark Prince. The Dark Prince himself can be replaced with the Wizard if you didn't have him in your hand. The Fireball will drive away Minions or Barbarians from them.
Battle deck № 3
If we already combined the Dark Prince with the usual one, then we can create «the Dark Prince + Hog Rider» pair, just don't forget about the Freeze. The Dark Prince will not be the main attacker due to his widespread attacks, he will support your attacks. When a Hog Rider is already released and goes to the target, you can release a Dark Prince to distract all the defensive forces, giving the Hog Rider a chance to destroy or damage a tower. The Freeze, as usually, helps to make it faster.
Battle deck № 4
The Three Musketeers used to cost 10 elixir points at the beginning, which made them almost useless, but after the update the situation changed. But still, 9 points is a high price, so you can't do without the Elixir Collector. Put it as a bait. The Goblin Hut is needed for backup when releasing the Three Musketeers and losing almost the entire resource line. But after that, you will only need to use the Fury in time, when musketeers cross the bridge. The health of the tower will decrease rapidly.
Battle deck № 5
«The Mirror + Goblin Barrel» combo – a powerful combo, capable of dealing huge damage to the towers at an unexpected moment. Towers can be finished with the Log and the Fireball. At the same time, the deck is good in defense, as it is able to resist any type of troops. The only serious disadvantage is that the opponent can quickly get used to your tactic and effectively resist the «The Mirror + Goblin Barrel» combination. So this deck will be useful if you can deceive most opponents.
Battle deck № 6
An extremely high average elixir cost forces you to follow this only possible tactic: waiting for a double elixir. The Three Musketeers and the Golem can still be used in the usual situation separately, but not together. So you should survive to the double elixir time, using the Goblins, the Spear Goblin, the Baby Dragon and the Arrows, and then to launch your secret weapon.
Battle deck № 7
The Royal Giant is an ordinary card, and it should not be difficult for you to get it. He is not as thick as an ordinary giant, so do not use it as a tank. The following tactic is better for this deck: leave a Knight in the corner of the map, add Archers near the tower, cover them with a Royal Giant in front of the bridge, and as soon as this group crosses to the other side, put a Mortar behind them and immediately call out Minions, to protect it.
Battle deck № 8
A low-cost deck with two different attack tactics. You can organize a standard «tank (the Knight) + DD (the Archers, the Electro Wizard)» combo, or perform an unexpected attack with the Graveyard. The Log and the Poison can help finish off an enemy tower. The deck is also not bad in defense, as it is able to withstand different types of creatures. And you can repel even the most powerful attacks using a lot of weak cards because of low costs. The main thing is to do it competently.
Battle deck № 9
Hurry up! In contrast to the sixth deck, you need to take the initiative on yourself here and inflict as much damage as possible to the other player before the double elixir time. Low-cost cards allow you to constantly summon the Archers, then the Spear Goblin, then the Princess who attacks from afar and is extremely effective against air forces. The Inferno Tower will also be able to fight them, but do not rush to a defensive style before a double elixir time.
Battle deck № 10
This deck is for those who have acquired both legendary cards. I already said about the Giant and the Three Musketeers, but not about the Princess and the Three Musketeers. This brave four destroys a tower easily, but the Fireball or the Arrows released on them immediately stop the deadly attack. The Elixir Collector helps to repeat this attack. And not to become it's victim yourself – use the Arrows.
Battle deck №11
A deck for players who play carefully. Patience and endurance are necessary to win. Accumulate the advantage of the elixir by building new Elixir Collectors. Place at least one Goblin Hut before releasing the Royal Giant. The Spear Goblin will be useful to support the attack. If you can keep buildings on the field as long as possible, then it will be easy to win.
Battle deck №12
The Guards are too weak to become an independent unit. Nevertheless, they serve as a reliable shield for other units. You can hide a Hog Rider or a Mini P.E.K.K.A. behind them. The double life of the guards will delay the death of the soldiers and give them time to reach a tower. The Zap and the Fire Spirits are cheap and quickly distract or detain enemies.
Battle deck №13
High average cost forces you to place Elixir Collectors from the very beginning, so you will basically follow defensive tactic most of the time. The Tornado and the Zap will help to slow the enemy down. But when you set up Elixir Collectors, it will be difficult for the enemy to confront you in the accelerated elixir time, since you can attack him with powerful creatures. The Golem under the cover of a Wizard or a Baby Dragon, or an unexpected attack by the Prince and the Elite Barbarians – these attacks are not easy to repel, so you need to survive to this moment.
Battle deck №14
A completely different control method is needed for this deck. The Royal Giant here is not the main force, but a secret joker. Break through to the towers from two flanks: a Miner from one and a Mini P.E.K.K.A. with Goblins from another. Before the start of the double elixir time, both towers will be damaged, then the attack of the Royal Giant will finish them.
Battle deck №15
The idea of the strategy is to constantly support offensive forces with Fire Spirits, whether it is a Hog Rider, a Giant Skeleton or a Mini P.E.K.K.A.. In order for the Furnace to stay on the field for as long as possible, you will need a lot of elixir, so the Elixir Collector is included in the deck. The Baby Dragon, if you managed to level it up, will also deal with the destruction of the tower. Besides, he is a nice defender and a ticket to the counter-offensive.
Battle deck №16
The main thing here is to learn the weaknesses of your opponent and use them in time. At the beginning, release only the Hog Rider and the Royal Giant – you will notice how the enemy repels them, and then you will easily beat his defense with other cards. For example, use the Fire Spirit against the Minion Horde or the Spear Goblin, the Zap against the Witch and her skeletons, but you will have to start a new counterattack against the Barbarians.
Battle deck №17
After getting the Inferno Dragon, be sure to use it into your deck. Although it appears in the fourth arena, he will be valuable to the very end. In this deck, the Giant and the Prince will go in raids. The enemy will try to stop them: by the Ice Wizard, the Goblins, the Witch – everything that will be in his hand. Then an Inferno Dragon will come to the rescue – he will fry the enemies and will begin to destroy the tower.
Battle deck №18
This deck looks similar to the previous one but differs in details. The Ice Wizard was added to the set – he serves as a transition from defensive tactic to offensive one. He can distract the enemy when placed in the center of the field. The Mega Minion will help to repel air attacks. He doesn't have his brothers around him, but the power of his attack is enough to stop both ground and air tanks along with the Ice Wizard.
Battle deck №19
Aggressive deck with a lot of cheap cards. They are needed in order to quickly fight back from the opponent's attacks and begin to attack. The Skeletons, the Fire Spirit, the Spear Goblin are suitable for defense. The Hog Rider, the Mega Minion and the Barbarians will flee to attack after that. The weakness is the impossibility of resisting a powerful attack. If several tanks are going to you, you will only have to place your troops along another line.
Battle deck №20
The deck for aggressive players who love to constantly press the enemy. The game almost always begins with a Giant, then Three Musketeer join him, then a Witch, a Wizard or Barbarians. All these units also have to be defended, although none of them can be called cheap – this is the main difficulty of managing this deck. Therefore, always make sure that there is an Elixir Collector in the corner; otherwise, it will not be possible to call defense forces in time.


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Mapping the Brain by Teresa Milbrodt
Mapping the Brain
You know you have to reorganize your brain, change the way you go about thinking of things, because if you can't you'll probably lose your job. Or at the very least your remaining sanity. You need to keep paying rent and putting ramen noodles and peanut butter sandwiches on the table. Employment is important. Processing health insurance claims has never been the most fun thing in the world, and it is not your goal to make it the most fun thing in the world, just less crappy.
First, things you hate about your job:
The buzzing overhead lights in your office.
Your bland cream-colored cubicle with the squeaky chair.
The guy one cubicle over who wears too much cologne.
The whiny lady who breaks the copy machine every other day and complains that the repair person never comes quickly enough.
The way it doesn't matter whether you know the name of anyone else in the office, and the way they don't care if they know yours.
How you put fifteen dollars in the office pool for coffee every month and it always tastes terrible. How you are not allowed to touch the coffee maker and make coffee. That's the administrative assistant's job.
* * *
You need an attitude adjustment or you're going to brain someone with your stapler. You've been testing its weight, and it feels like an effective blunt instrument. Too effective. You don't want to get arrested, and you're not sure how easy it will be to get another job. You're woefully expendable. The lady who used to work three cubicles over—you think her name was Nicole–used to go on and on about how the office would never be able to function without her. Six months ago some of the higher-ups decided to test her theory. Not much has changed, aside from a new woman sitting in her old swivel chair.
By six at night you're sick of people. You don't want to go out for a drink or to a coffee shop, but you hate going home. The living room and kitchen of your apartment are robin's egg blue, a color you despise even more than bad coffee. The guy in the apartment next to yours smokes cigars at three in the morning. He knows this is a non-smoking facility, so he has to do it on the sly when everyone is too tired to call the cops. You wake up in the middle of the night twice a week, gasping for breath. You have alerted management. They said they would take care of it. They haven't done squat.
Seven years ago you'd planned on staying in this complex for twelve months, tops. You're in a rut. Sometimes you despair. Sometimes you feel too dead to mourn. That makes you feel worse. You should care about these things.
At three o'clock this morning you were jolted awake by your own coughing. The cigar-smoker again. Your bedroom felt hazy. You were really going to kill him this time, but instead you lunged out of bed and made your escape, told yourself you needed the comfort of greasy food. You went to an all-night diner just off the interstate where truckers leered as you ate sausage and hash browns and toast glistening with butter. You tested the weight of a napkin dispenser and considered braining them all, but the waitress patted your hand and smirked at you affectionately.
She was an older woman with a cotton puffball of hair who looked completely Zen and had probably been working there since the diner opened. She told you to pay the truckers no mind.
"And if that doesn't work, here's some ammunition. You look like you have good aim." She smiled and handed you an empty coffee mug. You smiled back.
She reminded you of your grandma (referred to in casual family conversation as "your crazy grandma") who had sworn by hypnosis therapy. Everyone else in the family said it was a load of bunk, but your grandma was the only one who refused seconds at Thanksgiving in a family of otherwise pleasantly plump individuals, and she seemed to enjoy doing things like dishes and laundry. She said it was thanks to her hypnotist. Everyone laughed and snorted and went off to watch football, but you helped your crazy grandma in the kitchen because she gave you extra cookies and you were curious if maybe there was something to this hypnosis thing.
You went to an appointment with her once. She said you could come as long as you didn't tell your mother. You promised not to. The hypnotist was a nice quiet man with a nice quiet smile who wore nice quiet attire: a white shirt, black pants, and tastefully violet tie. He told your grandma to sit down and close her eyes, then he spoke in a gentle monotone and asked her to visualize different things. You forget what, exactly, but you were surprised at the lack of weirdness. It was nothing like the swinging pendulums in cartoons that made character's eyes turn into swirly things.
When your uncle was arrested for check fraud and your aunt had triple bypass surgery and your teenage cousin announced her pregnancy all in the same month, your grandma calmly called a lawyer, made daily visits to the hospital, and attended weekly Lamaze classes as a coach.
Maybe she was a little less crazy than everyone thought.
Whenever you turn on the TV, you hear talk show psychologists say that people are prone to suggestion, and the mind can be as powerful as any medicine. It stands to reason this could work for you.
* * *
You picture roads signs in your brain, bright red arrows pointing to Happy, except for a few that point to Not Sad (because you need to be realistic about this). According to the TV talk show psychologists, if you do something long enough–like knitting or riding a bike or driving a car–your brain builds new roads and makes those tasks automatic. You no longer have to think about them. They just happen. It seems like your path to Happy could be found the same way.
You draw maps of your brain, roughing out the different regions with the help of encyclopedias at the library (because you don't have enough money to afford Internet). You sketch the cerebral cortex and the frontal and occipital and temporal lobes, the limbic system and hypothalamus. You wish you had paid better attention in anatomy, but that was the year your best friend stuck a cigarette in the mouth of your decapitated rabbit's head and got both of you kicked out of class for giggling so hard.
You do some more reading about the brain and discover there isn't just one pleasure center, but many. It's all very complicated. The brain's road map is a twisted and turning four-lane highway with overpasses and sudden turn-offs, not the simple two-lane path you'd hoped to duplicate on a piece of paper.
You read about chemicals and hormones. Dopamine makes people happy and relaxed–that sounds familiar–and adrenalin is released when people are scared or think they'll be punished for something. It seems pretty easy, you just need to bypass the bad stuff and go directly to Happy. This seems too simplistic and a little stupid, even to you, but you're ready to try anything.
On your lunch break, you draw new maps of your brain on the back of a fast-food receipt. Your thumbnail diagrams are piss poor, but you surround them with little arrows pointing to different brain centers, and the words Happy, Happy, Happy, Happy.
You don't know if data entry will ever give you pleasure—frankly you don't know if you want it to give you pleasure—you just want to not hate it. You twirl a fry in ketchup and wonder what else you could change. Could you swap your love of chocolate for brussel sprouts or apples? Could you switch to green tea from soda? Could you stop wanting to kill your nameless co-workers who can't make good coffee?
That evening you try something easy, an experiment designed to help you stop hating the paint in your apartment. You spend an hour staring at your kitchen wall and eating dark chocolate. Dark chocolate (supposedly) makes people happy. You imagine your brain is like Pavlov's dog. You have to reward it until the response become automatic.
Your wall is like chocolate. Your wall makes you happy.
You think this over and over. At first you feel stupid, but then the chocolate makes you giggly, then you feel giggly and stupid and decide you need more chocolate.
The next day at lunch, you draw more diagrams on the back of your fast-food receipt. You write the word "Wall," then draw an arrow to the word "Chocolate," and another arrow from "Chocolate" to "Happy." You sketch some happy dancing brains and wonder if you should start a comic strip. You drink your chocolate milkshake until you're happy again and plan to buy more chocolate at the store that evening on your way home from work. Chocolate is expensive but cheaper than a shrink, and a shrink would only tell you things you already know, like you're not happy.
Back in your apartment, you sit down in the kitchen and stare at the wall for three minutes. You don't love robin's egg blue, but you don't want to vomit when you see it. You're not eating chocolate. This is progress.
You buy a huge bag of dark chocolate kisses and take them to work and put some in a bowl on your desk and tell people to help themselves. Nobody at work has ever offered free candy before. Some people take you up on it. Others look suspicious, like you have a motive. You think to yourself This office is so fucked up, but smile as you're doing it. That makes the people who wouldn't take your chocolate look at you uncomfortably, which is amusing.
The shy guy from three cubicles down walks by your desk every fifteen minutes to grab another Kiss. You time him, counting the minutes between candy-snitching episodes, then you see how many games you can invent to do at work. It helps to pass the time and break up the monotony of insurance claim processing.
You use rubber bands to shoot paper clips across your desk.
You make origami cranes and tack them around your cubicle.
You try to balance pens on your finger.
You make wagers with yourself on the kinds of claims you'll have to catalog today, keep tallies on a pad of scratch paper and announce things like "Flu shots are beating out pap smears."
You count how many times a minute the lady in the cubicle next to yours cracks her gum, and calculate the number of times she cracks her gum per hour. In a day. A week. A year. Her lifetime of roughly seventy-four years (she's kind of overweight and you're sure she smokes, so this is a little generous on your part).
The shy man who works three cubicles down introduces himself as Bob after he takes an eighth candy kiss. He's cute and reminds you of a hedgehog, ready to curl up into a little ball at the first sign of danger. Bob invites you out for a drink. It turns out that he gets more talkative at night, so you assume that, like a hedgehog, he is nocturnal. You go back to his apartment, wind up in his bed, and assume you should feel more regret than you do. This probably shouldn't happen with anyone else from the office, though Bob is a very nice man.
You get lunch with Bob the next day, and are happy he likes dipping his fries in his chocolate milkshake, too. You buy more dark chocolate kisses at the store that evening, along with a stuffed dragon to sit on your desk. You name the dragon Errol.
Bob takes you out for pizza or coffee every day after work. He has a nice smile and tells you he has been working at the insurance company for ten years. You go to his place to watch movies and cuddle on the couch. His hedgehog curl around your body is comfortable.
You buy a book on origami and make more animals to pin around your cubicle, a whole paper zoo. You realize that your co-workers are looking at you askance. You don't care, because you're still getting your work done and having a reasonably good time. You were looking for the path to happy, but perhaps you found the path to not giving a shit. This makes you happy.
Everyone at the office loves or hates you now that you have new brain roads. Before they didn't know you existed. This is progress. You take over the coffee-making duties and discover the administrative assistant doesn't mind. No one ever asked her if they could make the coffee, and she's ready to give up the responsibility. Some people are mad at you and say it should be her job. She's always made the coffee. You smile and reply that it's time for a detour.
You continue playing with paper clips and rubber bands and realize your productivity has gone up. You buy finger puppets of birds and zebras and lions and cats and put them on pens in the mug on your desk. You have the finger puppets talk to each other when you take a coffee break and create soap opera dramas and love triangles and murder plots between them.
You watch slapstick comedies with Bob at your place. You never liked them before, but with Bob chuckling next to you on the couch, you think they're funny. You don't exactly look forward to work, but you look forward to seeing Bob, folding more origami dragons, and making decent coffee. The data entry part of your job isn't horrible.
* * *
Two weeks later, you are fired. Your productivity has increased by ten percent in the past several days, but your bosses don't care. You clean out your desk of chocolate kisses and finger puppets and swear a few times because it feels good and you've already been fired and there's not much else they can do to you. You carve plots to set the building on fire as Bob gazes at you from his helpless cubicle. You wasted all this time making yourself happy and not giving a shit, but now you are without a paycheck and you have a lot of shit you'd like to give someone else.
You can fall back on waitressing—you did that for six years before finding this job—but you'd thought you were moving up in the world. Other people in the company have more seniority than you, so they're being shuffled from their shit jobs into your shit job.
You return to the diner because greasy food helps you think, or so you tell yourself. The waitress who reminds you of your grandma is still there, of course. You tell her about your recent job loss. She tells you her name is Vera, then she laments with you and makes sure the cook gives you extra bacon and hash browns.
You sip your coffee, build towers with creamer buckets on the counter, and consider a career as a trucker. You would have to learn how to swear even more than you do now, but that could be kind of fun. Vera says they need night staff, both servers and cooks. You nod and fill out an application. You could either hate the job or stay here for the rest of your life, wearing too much makeup and going to bed at eight in the morning and getting up at four in the afternoon. What would your brain say to becoming nocturnal? Would it create a new pathway for that? You eat your hash browns contemplatively. You know third-shift workers are their own world, their own clan, and develop an odd family of sorts among the likewise nocturnal.
* * *
You've worked at family restaurant before and decide you don't mind waitressing so much when it doesn't involve small crying children, just lonely truckers. You are a surrogate friend, wife, and child to them, so your brain must find a new balance, weave itself between identities. The sweet men give you tired smiles of thanks. The bawdy ones try to slap your ass, and jokingly call you a bitch when you don't hold still.
You tell them to fuck off. They laugh. It's an odd game, sparring with crude language, another road your brain must pave. Vera is a master of the verbal joust. Clearly she rules the diner and knows the social order. She can point out all the guys by name from the kind ones to the crusty ones to the occasional honest-to-goodness bastard. You give the nice ones inconsequential kisses on the tops of their heads. That earns you a bigger tip. You skirt away from the ones who try to grab your ass.
You miss Bob. He comes in for breakfast sometimes, but by then all you can give him is a tired smile. You take your fifteen minutes for coffee when you bring his eggs and bacon and hash browns. He says work isn't the same without you. No one is flinging paper clips across her desk. He pats your hand in his hedgehog way and kisses your fingers.
Your feet hurt. Your hands hurt. You are reasonably happy. You're under the protection of Vera, the queen mother of the diner, and you have a distinct feeling that she has appointed you to be her successor and assigned your life plan: You will never marry, but have fleeting flings with truckers. You will see five line cooks named Bud come and go, but they will all be able to make a decent burger and fries, and that's what matters. You will get the hell out of your apartment even though the walls are not offensive. There's a duplex you can afford after six more months of forehead kisses and good tips. You will learn more swear words and draw new brain maps.
Yet, despite Vera's well-meaning hopes, you don't know if you will stay in the diner. Someday you may drive out on eighteen wheels and ask Bob to come along. Either him or a good dog. You've heard from the truckers that you need company to be happy on the road. You're inclined to believe them.
Teresa Milbrodt's short-story collection, Bearded Women: Stories, was published in 2011 by ChiZine Publications. Her stories have appeared or are forthcoming in Nimrod, North American Review, Crazyhorse, The Cream City Review, Hayden's Ferry Review, CutBank, and Sycamore Review, among other literary magazines. She is a professor of creative writing at Western State College.


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