text:
"You're wearing that?" Angel asked from her perch on one of the two bar stools in Dmitri Greenman's kitchen.
"What's wrong with it?" Pulling down a chipped Colorado State coffee mug, he filled it and handed it to Angel.
"Nothing. If you want to look like a twenty year old dude-bro."
Dmitri looked down at his knee-length cargo shorts and tank top. Okay, maybe the flip flops were a little ratty. "What should I wear?"
"Jeans. And that teal shirt I bought you last year that you never wear. It makes your eyes look extra blue."
Dmitri wrinkled up his nose as he sat on the other stool. "Jeans?" he whined. "It supposed to be ninety degrees today."
"Do you want to be getting some hot man-love again before you die?"
He sighed, slumping. "Yes."
"Then change."
"Fine I will." He ducked as the cabinet door swung over his head in a lazy arc, brushing through his blond curls.
"I hear some people have doors that actually stay shut," Angel said, brushing the red-dyed side of her hair out of her eyes.
"This stays shut." Dmitri pressed the piece of tape hanging from the edge of the door against the neighboring cabinet. "See?"
Angel raised one pierced eyebrow. "How old is that piece of tape?"
"I've replaced it at least once since Granddad died, so two years? Ish."
"Hmm." Angel frowned and sipped her coffee.
The door wasn't the only unfinished project in the house. The kitchen alone was a disaster of half-installed vinyl tile, doorless cabinets, and unpainted molding. A washing machine hugged the wall, rubber hosing trailing across the ground, and disappearing into an alcove. He'd had high hopes of fixing it all up after buying the house from his parents, but each weekend those hopes slipped further and further away. He was starting to understand why his parents had had no problem leaving the house behind when they'd moved up the mountain.
"I know the house needs work. But that might be somebody else's problem soon."
Angel set the coffee cup on the counter in front of her. "Explain."
Dmitri slid his hands into the pockets of his shorts and looked at the floor. "I might be moving."
Angel slid off the stool to stand in front of Dmitri, wiry arms crossed across her chest. "Explain."
Though she barely reached Dmitri's chin, he took a step back, putting his hands up to fend her off. "It's just a maybe. I applied for this job. In California."
"California? Dima, that's awesome! We always wanted to go there."
"We got close that one time. Before the car broke down."
"Yeah. Golconda, Nevada is just so similar to San Francisco. Hard to tell them apart."
Dmitri laughed. "Did it even have a repair shop?"
"Nope," Angel answered with a hard pop on the P. "We had it towed to Winnemucca, remember."
"Oh yeah. Good times. Well, this time, we'll take my car. It has a transmission that might actually stay in one piece."
Dmitri smiled at the look in Angel's eyes. "If you want to come with me. I'm sure I could use a roomie."
She hugged him hard. As always, Dmitri was surprised by how tiny his best friend was in comparison to her enormous personality. He could feel her shoulder blades pushing through the thin t-shirt she wore. She'd saved his life more than once over the years. Maybe he'd be able to repay her now, get them both out of town.
Not that there was anything particularly terrible with Red Deer. But there had to be more to life than being born, living, and dying in the same town. They'd tried to get out several times before, but stuff kept happening, life intruded, inertia took over, and here they were. Ten years after high school and still in the same town. Same house for god's sake. Even his parents had moved.
"So tell me about this job." Angel tucking a leg up under her, balancing on the stool.
Moby, his half-lab, half-border collie, all-crazy mutt lay on the floor between them. Sparkling, light blue eyes were trained on his dirty tennis ball.
"I don't even really remember. Something with the USDA and cows. In various rural areas. Not San Francisco, sadly. Truthfully, I barely looked at the job description, just made sure I was qualified for it."
"Cows? That doesn't sound like your kind of thing. I thought you loved your job?"
"I do. What I don't love is the mountain of debt I'm buried under. At this rate, I'm going to die owing more to student loans than I do today."
"So this pays more?"
Dmitri shrugged noncommittally. "They have a program where if I take a job in a critical-need area, they'll pay $25,000 a year towards my student loans. Tax-free. That's a lot of bucks."
"Couldn't you make that much more by opening a private practice?"
"I'm not that kind of a vet. I'm a research vet; you know that. I see more of animal cells than actual animals."
Angel kicked the tennis ball, rolling it across the floor. Moby sprang into action, claws skidding across the linoleum floor. "Yeah. I never got that."
Dmitri frowned. "We've been over this." He loved the idea of helping sick animals, but when he thought about having to tell some little kid that her beloved cat had to be put to sleep, he died a little on the inside. No. He couldn't handle that. "Besides, I don't know if it would make that much more money. Nothing is guaranteed. There's a lot of competition in this town, what if I didn't get any clients?"
Angel poked Dmitri in the shoulder with a hard finger. "You always think so little of yourself. Why are we friends again?"
"Because you would have failed high school without me."
Moby trotted over to Angel, dropped the ball at her feet, and then laid down again, eyes flitting up to Angel, then down to the ball over and over again.
Dmitri kicked the tennis ball out through the open back door. Moby charged through it.
Angel swung the door shut. "And you would have been shoved into lockers without me."
"Probably. Almost was anyway."
"What about your family? Friends? Won't you miss them?"
"My family will be fine without me. Pippi can move into the house. She'll love that."
"Do I have any besides you? Seems like all I have is sorta-exes and people I haven't seen since the last day of school."
Angel finished the coffee and put the cup in the sink. "You would have friends if you'd let yourself."
"Why are you fighting me on this?"
She stared into the sink. Dmitri watched her fingers tap nervously against the scratched porcelain. "Just don't want to get my hopes up," she said finally.
Living in this town had been harder on her than on him, Dmitri knew. She and her brother Diego had grown up running wild. Her mom was a housekeeper at one of the sketchier places on the North end of town, her dad a long haul trucker who had never officially married her mom. Not that it mattered; he was never around anyway. When Diego died of an overdose six years ago, Angel had dropped out of college a year into her nursing degree. Dmitri had been trying to get her to go back ever since.
Dmitri wrapped his arms around her from behind, hugging her hard. He dropped a kiss on her hair. "I know. But we'll get out of here. I'll take you with me."
She reached back, patting his head. He felt her stiffen under his embrace, and he stepped back and gave her some space. Dmitri poured the last bit of coffee into a travel mug and changed the subject.
"What are you going to do today?"
She turned around with a smile. "I'm going hiking with Jay. Not a long one. It's gonna be another hot one, and I have to work tonight."
Angel bit her bottom lip. "New girl. Starting grad school here in the fall. You don't know her."
"Well, try not to break her heart before school starts."
Angel placed her fingers against her chest, eyes open wide. "Me? I'm always the one left alone. Sad. Dumped. And this is how you, my best friend, treat me? I'm devastated."
Dmitri laid a heavy hand on her shoulder. "I am truly, truly sorry for…" He paused, looking up at the ceiling. "For your dates."
Angel smacked his hand away. "Screw you." Angel filled up her water bottle and went to the fridge.
Dmitri stared deep into his coffee cup. "Oh? You were going to? And what new guy?"
"Smooth." Angel held up two apples and raised an eyebrow. Dmitri nodded and waved his hand. Tucking the apples into her backpack before shrugging it on with a flip of her hair, she smiled.
"Whatever. See you tonight for the post-date recap?" She opened the back door, waiting for his answer. Moby pushed past her, almost knocking her over.
"Moby!" Dmitri scolded. "Yeah, I'll be there. But you let the lunatic back in, or no tip for you."
Angel smiled broadly and left.
Dmitri sighed. "Moby." The dog was nowhere to be seen. Great.
It took him fifteen minutes to find the dog and get her outside again before he could leave. He hated leaving Moby alone all day. Maybe he needed another dog so she'd have company. As he dug through his dresser for the teal shirt, he wondered if the new guy liked dogs.
Troy gets ready
T-minus thirty minutes until date time and Troy was staring into his closet, naked, trying to figure out what to wear. Angel had suggested he wear his burgundy v-neck T-shirt and tight dark blue 501 jeans she had said 'showed off his assets.' Then she'd smacked him on the butt.
"First of all, I can't believe you've memorized my wardrobe."
"Not that much to remember, Tex."
"Secondly, smacking my butt is sexual harassment. I could report you."
"Come into the back room, baby. I'll show you what real sexual harassment looks like." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
He hadn't taken her up on the offer, but he did try on the outfit. He had to admit; it did look good even if he had lost some of the bulk he'd had in the Army. He just couldn't seem to get into the rhythm of working out anymore. It would be better if he had a group to exercise with. He'd watched the crazy bikers in neon lycra puffing and struggling up the steep hills around the reservoirs on lightweight aluminum bicycles and decided they didn't look like they were having fun at all.
The kids plunging down dusty tracks on their thick-wheeled mountain bikes were definitely having fun, but he hadn't survived war just to kill himself falling off a mountain. He needed to join a gym. Working out had been almost a competitive sport in his squad. They showed off to each other, challenging each other to lift more, get bigger. If he was honest about it to himself, working out had been as much about the aesthetics results as it was about strength and health, though you did have to be in shape to lug all that gear in 120-degree heat.
But even though he was smaller than had been at his peak a year ago, he was still buff, if he didn't say so himself. The t-shirt showed most of the tattoos on his arms that twined down from his shoulder to wrist. His right arm was covered as much as regulations would allow, a souvenir from MSG duty at the Embassy in Bangkok.
The swallows on his collarbones peeking through the edge of the v-neck were brand spanking new. They symbolized the hope he had that he would find a home to return to over and over. Maybe this town could be that home. Maybe this date was just the first brick he could use to build his new life.
He slid the brown leather belt through the belt loops of his jeans, and pulled on his heavy boots that he couldn't get out of the habit of wearing. The nylon hiking sandals people in Colorado liked to wear felt weird and light on his feet. He supposed eventually would give the boots up, they did get awfully hot in the summer. But sandals? Maybe not.
He looked at the clock and sighed. T-minus five now. Time to stop dawdling and engage.
The Starry Night coffee shop beckoned like an oasis of caffeinated-coolness in the hot mid-afternoon sun. He'd thought Colorado was supposed to be cool, but it had been hot enough to fry eggs on the sidewalk these last few days.
Troy snagged a spot on the street within view of the storefront. He checked his watch. 14:58. Right on time. He drummed his fingers against the steering wheel in time to the twangy-voiced man singing about traveling the backroads in his truck. Glancing in the side view mirror, he scanned the sidewalk for Troy. Nothing. No handsome blond man coming from the other direction either. The song ended, and a commercial for fireworks just over the state line came on, reminding Troy that the Fourth of July was two days away. Happy Birthday, America. It would be nice to celebrate on home soil again. Maybe Dmitri would want to go on see some fireworks. Troy rolled his eyes at himself and checked the watch again. 15:01 and no Dmitri. Maybe he'd changed his mind, come to his senses, and realized that he didn't have anything in common with a guy like Troy.
Or maybe he was already inside. Then Troy was the one who was late, damn it. He jumped out of the truck.
The inside of Starry Night lived up to its name. Van Gogh-inspired stars and moonlit clouds lined the walls and ceilings. Locally produced art hung from every surface, every other piece incorporating the Colorado flag in some way or another. Coloradoan's sure loved their State.
The one thing the coffee shop didn't contain was Dmitri. Oh, well. He could use a cup of coffee anyway, and he might as well check on the class schedule for next semester.
A couple of minutes later he was sucking down a fair-trade iced caramel latte and wondering if he should have started with the two-year Community College instead of enrolling directly into the University when the bell over the door chimed, and Dmitri entered. A quick check of his watch told Troy it was three-ten.
Dmitri looked around nervously, visibly relaxing when he saw Troy in the corner and walked over to the table.
"I'm so sorry I'm late. I tried to call you and then realized I didn't have your phone number."
Troy waved his concern away. "It's okay. Not a problem. I'm very good at keeping myself entertained."
Dmitri smiled. "That's good." He dropped his bag on the side of the chair. "I'm going to get a drink. Are you okay?"
Troy gestured at his drink and pastry. "All set."
He'd finagled a couple of classes, tweaking his schedule so he could get the most hours in at work and at school, by the time Dmitri came back bearing an oversized cup of coffee and a flourless chocolate brownie.
He settled in, took a bite of the brownie, and groaned happily.
"So good." Dmitri forked off a piece and offered it to Troy. "Want to try a bite?"
Troy shook his head reluctantly. "I hate to come between a man and his brownie."
Dmitri shoved the brownie into his face, nodding to himself. "I am kind of in an exclusive relationship with this brownie. I don't think it would be fair to share."
They made eye contact and laughed. Dmitri's smile made those butterflies in Troy's stomach return full-bore. He couldn't ever remember anyone having this much of an effect on him so quickly. Was it him or was it just some kind of male biological clock urging him to find someone to settle down with? Was that even a thing?
The eye contact lingered a bit too long. Dmitri's eyes flicked down to Troy's mouth again, and Troy took a quick sip of his coffee to cover his awkwardness.
Too quick, he realized, as pain stabbed him behind his eye. "Ah," he moaned, pressing the heel of his hand against his eye. "Dang that hurts."
"Ice cream headache?" Dmitri asked.
Troy nodded, eyes watering and waving his hand in front of his mouth in a move he was sure was totally sexy. Great first date.
"Those suck."
Troy nodded.
Dmitri looked around the coffee shop, checking out the art or the people maybe. Troy didn't know. He just knew Dmitri had stopped checking him out. He cleared his throat. "So," he said, trying to find something to talk about. "Dmitri is an unusual name. Are your parents Russian?"
"No, Russian Literature fans. They met in class at CU in Boulder, and, if I recall the story correctly, picked out names for all their future kids that first day."
"Oh wow. Love at first sight."
"I know, right? It could be worse; my brother's name is Vladimir."
"No way."
"Yes, way. Do you want to know what my sister's name is?"
Troy spread his hands incredulously. "Of course, I do, how could I not want to know?"
"Pippi? That doesn't sound Russian."
"It isn't. It's from the book Pippi Longstockings. Pippi. Rhymes with hippie, which my parents desperately wish they had been." Dmitri shoved the rest of the brownie into his face, moaning happily the whole time.
Troy's pants got a little tighter at the thought of Dmitri making those noises in his bed. He mentally smacked himself. It wasn't like him to be mentally undressing a man he barely knew. But if he was honest, he'd been having dirty thoughts about Dmitri since the first time he'd seen him at the bar, before he'd even known his name.
"So your parents were born too late to be hippies. Tough luck."
"Yeah. My dad will be forever sad that he didn't have a draft card to burn. He's made up for it by protesting the whole War on Terror. They've Marched on Washington so many times; I think they have their own sidewalk square."
"Wow, it must have been quite a shock to them when you enlisted. What branch were you in? Angel didn't say."
Dmitri put his cup down, looking completely confused. "What? I never…I wasn't in the military."
"You said you were a vet." Realization is beginning to dawn in Troy's mind.
"I'm not that kind of vet. I'm a veterinarian. A doctor." Dmitri bit his lip, eyes widening.
"Oh my God. When Angel said you were a vet, I just thought…"
"No, it's okay. I just thought too." Dmitri's eyes shone as he fought back laughter.
Troy smiled back a small, closed-mouth smile. "You're not mad?"
"Why would I be mad?"
Troy shrugged. "About me being a soldier. It sounds like your family is pretty anti-military." Troy leaned back against the chair. He started to cross his arms but stopped himself.
Dmitri reached across the table, palm up. "Hey, no. You can be against a war and not against the soldiers." He wiggled his fingers and his eyebrows, trying to get Troy to laugh or take his hand.
Troy laughed and looked away, then reached for Dmitri's hand. "Okay."
"So what brings you to Colorado?"
Troy shrugged. "Not much to tell. Got out of the Army. Didn't want to live in West Virginia anymore. Took my GI Bill money and came here to go to school. Always thought Colorado sounded nice."
"Do you have family in West Virginia?"
"Yeah. A bunch. Mom, Dad, two brothers, and a sister. Sister's way older than me. 'Bout ten years. Bunch'a cousins, aunts, and uncles of varying relation. You? Your people from around here?" Damn it. He could hear his accent. It always got stronger when he talked about home.
Dmitri laughed. "Very around here. I live in the house my grandparent's built. When my grandfather died, my grandmother moved to Arizona to live with her sister. My parents moved up into the mountains to get back to the land. You'd like them, I think."
"I like their son."
Dmitri blushed the way only a true blond could. Troy wanted to touch his cheeks and see if they felt hot.
"Tell me about West Virginia," Dmitri asked. "I don't know anything about it.
Troy leaned back in his seat. "Grab me one of those brownies and I'll tell you anything you want."
"It's a deal."
An hour of non-stop conversation later they'd covered everything from coal mining to pepperoni rolls to the Hatfields and McCoys.
"I didn't know the Hatfields and McCoys were real. I thought it was a Bugs Bunny thing."
"Nope. Really real. If I tell you something, you have to swear not to tell anyone at Vincent's."
Dmitri leaned forward, eyes wide. "Cross my heart," he said, putting action to words.
"My real name is Detroit." He pronounced it Dee-troit, accent on the Dee. "I'm named after Detroit Hatfield. Now officially he died childless, but my momma said that her momma said he was her great grandpa."
"I'll take the secret of your scandalous background to my grave, Detroit." He dodged the wadded up napkin Troy threw at him.
"Not to cut this short, but I have to get to work," Troy said with an apologetic frown. "This was nice."
"Yeah, it was."
They bused their table and went back out into the world.
The heat slapped them in the face as they left the coffee shop. "Ugh, I swear summers have gotten hotter and muggier since I was a kid," Dmitri said, putting on a pair of sunglasses. "Climate change can kiss my butt."
Troy pulled his own glasses on. "This area of Colorado reminds me of parts of Afghanistan. Same climate and mountains."
"There are mountains in Afghanistan?"
"Yeah. Tons of them. The Hindu Kush is part of the Himalayas. The highest peak is over 24,000 feet."
Dmitri whistled. "Why do I always forget that? I just have some kind of vague picture of the desert when someone says Afghanistan."
"Most people think that."
Dmitri wasn't in a rush to end the date. They hadn't even touched on Troy's military service or the war, both instinctively avoiding the topic for now. They'd stuck to comparing families. Troy's West Virginia accent had gotten stronger the longer he talked about his home and his family. Dmitri was enchanted. He'd kept Troy doing most of the talking just to keep the slight drawl going.
"Let's go back inside," Dmitri suggested. "Tell Vincent you can't make it to work today."
Troy took a step closer to Dmitri. He was a few inches shorter than Dmitri and he had to look up to meet Dmitri's eyes, something Dmitri didn't mind that at all. His palms itched with the urge to grab Troy's belt and pull him closer.
He vaguely registered the high-pitched whistle of cheap fireworks before his back slammed against the brick wall of the coffee shop and Troy's body blanketed his, arms wrapped protectively over Dmitri's head.
Well, this was moving a lot faster than Dmitri expected, but he had no complaints beyond the scrapes on his lower back. He opened his mouth to say something snarky when he registered Dmitri's body trembling against his and not in a good way.
The crackle and repetitive popping of small fireworks continued. Troy pressed so tightly against Dmitri that he could feel Troy's heart pounding, feel the deep inhalations and ragged exhalations of his breath.
There was another whistle and another short pop followed by the laughter of children.
Slowly, Dmitri lifted his hands to Troy's arms. "Troy."
Troy flinched.
"Troy. It's okay. Troy."
Troy pulled away slowly, one hand on Dmitri's chest to hold him in place, face deathly pale. "You okay?" He scanned the streets, looking intently at the crowd.
Dmitri looked, too. Just your normal Saturday afternoon crowd of shoppers. Some kids ran past them and then turned down an alley. There was another volley of small explosions.
Troy's face set in a frankly terrifying expression and he took a step towards the alley, yelling at the kids. "What the hell are you doing?"
Dmitri grabbed his arm. "Hey, it's okay. It's just some kids."
Troy turned the look on Dmitri, and if he could have taken a step back, he would have. "No, it's not okay," Troy said. "What are people thinking? What are those kids playing at? People could have gotten hurt. This isn't a game. Jesus Christ."
He pulled away, ran a shaking hand through his head.
Dmitri felt pinned to the wall as he watched Troy pace and try to get himself under control. At one point, he bent over, hand on his knees just breathing heavy. His sunglasses clattered to the ground. Dmitri took a tentative step away from the wall and towards Troy.
"Sorry," Troy said without straightening up. "You can go. I'll be okay. I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."
Dmitri laid a gentle hand on Troy's back. Troy's muscles were hard as a rock with tension and sweat soaked through his shirt. He flinched, then relaxed under Dmitri's touch. With one last deep inhale, he stood up. He face was still pale, but the expression that had promised death was gone much to Dmitri's relief. "I forgot it was the Fourth of July tomorrow."
"So," Dmitri said, aiming for a light tone. "I'm guessing asking you to go see the fireworks is not a good idea?"
To his surprise, Troy gives a shaky laugh. "Yeah? You were going to ask me?"
Dmitri nods.
"I was thinking of asking you."
"Great minds." He picked the sunglasses off of the ground and handed them back to Troy. "Maybe we should just go see a movie instead."
Troy took the glasses and slid them back on. "You still want to get together again? Even after…this?" He waved a hand indicated the street, the kids, his reaction.
"Yes? Shouldn't I?"
Troy shook his head. "I don't know."
"Let me walk you to work. You can tell me a little about it."
"Work. Right." Troy pulled the sweat-covered shirt away from his chest. "I know it's just up the block, but let's take my truck. I have a change of clothes in the back with my camping stuff. There should be a shirt I can change into."
They climbed into Troy's old red pickup and cruised the two blocks to Vincent's in silence. Troy seemed a million miles away, eyes jumping back and forth between either side of the street and at the cars that drove up next to them. An old Toyota Corolla pulled up next to them, and Troy slowed way down, letting a couple of cars get between them. "Lots of Corollas in Afghanistan," he said.
"Yeah? That's funny."
"Yeah. Lots of 'em." He turned into the parking lot and stopped. He stared out the window long enough that Dmitri peered down the road, trying to see what held his attention. It was just a normal alley between two sets of buildings. The creak of the parking brake startled him, and he jumped.
"Sorry," Troy said. "It rolls easy if I don't set the brake." He jumped out of the truck and walked to the back without waiting for an answer.
Dmitri followed. Stickers from different states and National Parks covered the tailgate. "Have you been to all those places?"
"Wow. I'm impressed."
Troy dropped the tailgate and crawled in to grab a small duffel bag. Plastic tubs lined the far end of the truck bed, a sleeping pad and bag lay unrolled, waiting for someone to crawl in.
Dmitri was seized with the unfamiliar urge to get in the truck and drive into the middle of nowhere with Troy. He never did that. It was a running joke in his family how much he hated camping and how he was never more than ten feet from electricity and indoor plumbing.
Troy dug through the bag. "Can't wait to add some more stickers to my truck. Maybe you can show me around, take me to the National Forest."
"We have National Forests?" Were they anything like National Parks? He felt ignorant, and his cheeks blazed with embarrassment.
"Yeah." Troy turned around, a black t-shirt in his hand. "Like, five minutes from here. Have you never gone?" He sat on the dropped tailgate and pulled his sweaty shirt over his head.
Dmitri completely lost whatever answer he had been trying to formulate.
Troy's tattoos continued over his shoulders, and there were a few more on his ribs. The dark edges of a pattern peeked out from the waistband of his hips. Dmitri tried not to whimper.
When Troy's grinning face popped up through the neck hole in the t-shirt, Dmitri figured he hadn't been very successful in keeping in the whimper. "Well," Troy said. "How 'bout one day I take you up for a drive, and if you like it, we can stay a spell?"
"That sounds great."
Troy surreptitiously checked his watch and Dmitri realized he had to let the man get to work. What type of goodbye should they have for a first date? Hug? Kiss? Handshake? Manly back pat? "I guess you have to go."
"It is that time." Troy stood up, shoved his hands in his back pockets, and studied the ground, and then he looked up at Dmitri. "I had fun. Thanks."
"Thanks," Dmitri repeated. "I mean. Me, too. I had fun."
"So, uh, I told you I haven't dated in a long time."
"Never with a guy, if I recall correctly."
Troy rolled his eyes, a blush staining his cheeks. "You remember correctly. So I'm not really sure what, uh, proper protocol is for ending the date."
Dmitri stepped closer, hand reaching for Troy's hip. "So I'm your first," he said, voice low.
Troy trapped Dmitri's hand with his. "First date. Not first anything else. Let's be clear."
"Mmm hmm. Well, soldier. I can show you the protocol for this occasion."
"Yeah." He leaned in.
Troy tilted his head up, smiling.
Dmitri kissed him, his fingers curling over Troy's hip.
As far as first kisses went, it was short, sweet, and the best thing Dmitri had felt in a long time. He pulled away, licking his lips, fingers hooked in Troy's front pocket.
They stood there, smiling at each other like total fools.
"Well?" Dmitri asked.
Troy nodded, wiped his mouth with his hand. "I think I can get behind that."
A big Cadillac that had to be forty years old if it was a day crunch over the gravel in the parking lot and both men backed up to avoid getting run over by the eponymous Vincent D'Amico.
Vincent rolled to a stop near them, and the power window slid down with a purr. Cold air flowed from the purple crushed velvet interior. "Hello, boys."
"Hey, Vinny," Dmitri greeted him.
Troy pulled away from Dmitri. "I'll be in, in a minute, Mr. D."
Vincent waved a hand at Troy. "Take your time. I think I can hold down the fort for a few minutes. As you were." His smile took ten years off his face, despite the gray beard and fringe of white hair. He pulled the Caddy into his spot under the cottonwood tree.
Dmitri and Troy waited until he'd gone into the bar.
"I really have to go."
"Yeah. So. We should do this again, right?"
Troy ran his hand through his hair and sighed. Dmitri wished he could run his hands through Troy's hair. Soon, if today was any indication.
"I'll call you," Troy was saying when Dmitri brought his attention back to the present.
Well, that sounded a lot more tentative than that kiss had felt. "Is everything okay?" he asked.
"It's fine. I just have to go to work. I'll call you soon. I promise."
"Okay." Dmitri wasn't sure what else to say. It wasn't like he could go back in for another kiss, that moment had passed, so he just gave a little half wave as Troy walked slowly into the bar, hands in his pockets, head down.
What was that all about? Dmitri knew he wasn't the best at reading people, but Troy was giving him emotional whiplash. He needed to talk to Angel and he really could use a drink but going into Vincent's would be awkward. This is why he didn't date. Sighing, he walked down the alley towards the coffee shop and his car.


text:
Stardust Arts
Your story
Cultural Arts based organisation encouraging and engaging youth engagement in local music and crafts activities.
Group introduction
We are a voluntary community group who use carnival arts to encourage young people to fully express themselves in a safe and positive environment. We use the elements of costume fabrication/design and playing steel drums.
We were established in 1983 by Rudolph Baptiste in Acton, since his passing in 2003 we have driven forward his fantastic work in the community. We provide weekly music sessions for all young and disadvantaged people, particularly focusing on the BME community.
The young people are taught music in the same fashion as any other musical instrument with scales, theory and terminology included. The main difference is that we teach young people in a group environment, with both boys and girls. They play all the different instruments that make up our orchestra; essentially they become a band together. We also provide school holiday workshops where we teach the young people about design and decorations of carnival costumes using different themes and concepts to spark their creativity.
Our projects are run solely by volunteers with experience in this field. We have specialist steel drum tutors and a costume design team on hand to teach the children. We collaborate with other partner organisations across the UK to augment and further develop our young people's learning experiences. The additional outcome of our services helps to teach young people discipline, respect and the value of commitment and hard work.
These young people are from socio- economic challenged backgrounds and lone parent family environments. We are based in a centre in the middle of a housing estate that is home to a diverse community.
How would this funding have an impact on your community?
We are in urgent need of funding to help towards replacing our instruments, some of which have served us well for nearly 30 years. Due to general wear and tear these instruments are now diminishing the experience that young people are having, as the instruments are almost always out of tune. The expense of having them tuned is almost equivalent to replacing them. Buying new instruments means we could survive a further 30 years.
"We provide a vital service for the most important members of the community- the young people of the future.
Miss Tara Baptiste"
For more information visit:

subset: commoncrawl


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A comprehensive analysis of the Global Healthcare Human Resources Software Market is been done in this intelligence report. It includes the investigations done on the past progress, ongoing market scenarios, and future prospects.
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An accurate data of the products, strategies and market shares of leading companies in this particular market is mentioned. This report presents a 360-degree overview of the competitive scenario of the Global market.
- Advertising -
The report further projects the size and valuation of the Global market in the coming forecast period. The report also presents a thorough qualitative and quantitative data affecting to the projected impact of these factors on market's future growth prospects.
Top Key Players:
Paychex, Inc. (US), Paycom Software, Inc. (US), SumTotal Systems Inc. (US), SAP SE (Germany), Ceridian HCM, Inc.
(US), Taleo Corporation(US), PeopleAdmin(US), Kenexa Corporation(US), Workday, Inc. (US), Halogen Software Inc(Canada), SuccessFactors (US), CoreHR (Ireland), Ultimate Software (US), International Business Machine (IBM) Corporation (US), EmployWise (India) and Oracle Corporation (US)
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Human resource (HR) software maintains the confidential data like information of employee, address, contact number and financial data. HR software is only software that provides Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model which is useful in total employee life-cycle management capabilities and is a key driver for growth of HR software market.
Human resource department operates various functions like recruitment, salary hikes, vacation leaves, bonus, training, management and payment benefits management. HR software offer various benefits like document control and security.
Introduction of the new tools in the software like advertisement management, candidate searching, and linkup with Facebook and LinkedIn contribute for the growth of HR software market.
According to the research report, the Global market for Healthcare Human Resources Software Market is witnessing a continual rise in its valuation with the advancement in technologies, which is impacting the consumer behavior and, accordingly, their purchasing patterns to a great extent. In addition to this, the rising penetration of internet and the surge in mobile surfing are anticipated to boost the demand for Healthcare Human Resources Software across the world, states the research report.
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On the basis of geographical regions, the Global Healthcare Human Resources Software Market is segmented broadly into Latin America, Global, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific. The Global market is still in its exploratory stage in most of the regions but it holds the promising potential to flourish steadily in coming years.
The major companies investing in this market are situated in Canada, U.K., and the US, India, China and some more countries of Asia Pacific region. Consequently, Asia Pacific, North America, and Western Global are estimated to hold more than half of the market shares, collectively in coming years.
This statistical surveying research study presents an all-inclusive evaluation of the global market for Healthcare Human Resources Software, taking various industry parameters, such as the capacity of production, product pricing, demand, supply, and sales dynamics, returns on investments, and the growth rate of the overall market into consideration.
In the last sections of the report, the manufacturers responsible for increasing the sales in the Healthcare Human Resources Software Market have been presented. These manufacturers have been analyzed in terms of their manufacturing base, basic information, and competitors.
In addition, the technology and product type introduced by each of these manufacturers also form a key part of this section of the report.
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Table of Content:
Global Healthcare Human Resources Software Market Research Report 2018-2023
Chapter 1 Healthcare Human Resources Software Market Overview
Chapter 2 Global Economic Impact
Chapter 3 Competition by Manufacturer
Chapter 4 Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2018-2023)
Chapter 5 Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2018-2023)
Chapter 6 Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type
Chapter 7 Analysis by Application
Chapter 8 Manufacturing Cost Analysis
Chapter 9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers
Chapter 10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders
Chapter 11 Market Effect Factors Analysis
Chapter 12 Market Forecast (2018-2023)
Chapter 13 Appendix
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Category: Market Research Publishers and RetailersCompany about: Research N Reports is a new age market research firm where we focus on providing information that can be effectively applied. Today being a consumer driven market, companies require information to deal with the complex and dynamic world of choices. Where relying on a sound board firm for your decisions becomes crucial. Research N Reports specializes in industry analysis, market forecasts and as a result getting quality reports covering all verticals, whether be it gaining perspective on ...


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Going to Downtown Chicago three times during my stay in Illonois, made the trip feel like three trips rolled into one. I'm a more nature minded kind of girl, but big cities fascinate me. For the final visit to Chicago before flying on home, I got the best of both worlds. Seeing Lake Michigan was like a huge bonus. It wasn't on my radar, so when I realized we were going to get to go along the famous lake shore coast line, I was very happy.
The Greatest Challenge…
Hands down is parking and so if you haven't opted for the public transit, then check out https://en.parkopedia.com/. Each time you park it can cost about $22 for just a couple hours and once you go through, even if you make a mistake, you've got to pay the price. I speak from experience. The lady though was kind enough to refund us, but don't risk it! Do a search on your location and see which places are cheapest. If you're planning to go to Navy Pier, the Lakefront Trail is a popular and well-known route. Just be prepared for lots of foot traffic, but it is worth it for the views.
A beautiful view of Navy Pier. Now, for the story and some words of wisdom. So, I found this nice little restaurant in the indoor eating area. I asked the cashier for advice about what to do. The insider info is that it is a tourist trap, but in my opinion, it is all in your perspective. We ended up just having to pay for the parking and for lunch which was well deserved anyway (the lunch that is). I was in it for the views, so in this case, it turned out okay.
Since the cheapest boat tour is about $40 a person (and way up from there), I chose to just get my picture in front of it. I saved a lot! The one behind me must have been over $100. I'm just guesstimating.
Another beautiful view. Lake Michigan is the third largest of the Great Lakes when measured by the water surface. Another fact is that it is the only great lake that is entirely in the United Staes. The water covers 22,300 square miles touching the four states of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan (of course), and Wisconsin.
BuzzNet Tags: Navy Pier,Tourist Attractions,Lake Michigan


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I was too tired last night to do up the photos from yesterday, but this morning I'm slightly more alert. Here are a few to give you a taste.
Kirsten and the girls at the beach near some of the tack shops we stopped at. The tide was high so we couldn't get down to the actual sand. Well, Shenna took off her shoes and scampered in the waves.
Here we are at another pull-off. We could see the South Island from here. Very pretty.
This was along the road to Kirsten's house. The entire length is like this as the road snakes along the hills like a slippery serpent bent on confounding the brain and stomach.
This is partway up the hill. There are points where the views are spectacular and the perfect point to catch my breath and let my pounding heart calm down a bit.
Kirsten along one of the tracks we traversed. They had a digger come out a few years ago to cut some more paths into the hillside. On each side of the path is a thick covering of prickly gorse which was introduced sometime in the past. It is impenetrable, except by the wild pigs.
My second full day was full of adventure!


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Cancer! Yes, the word is horrendous, and the name of the disease just sends a shrug down our spine. Though the disease sounds enormous and complicated, prevention techniques are very simple. As simple as changing your food habits – changing from oil free, insatiable fast food to something healthy like green vegetables, juice(simple; not easy!) or from exercising or taking the right amount of sleep. So guess this makes us a bit relaxed- preventing cancer is simple!
So the first step in preventing cancer is to be aware of the cancer patients in your family. It is important to refer to your ancestors and great ancestors as most of the medical research points out the fact that genetic inherence of cancer is of the maximum probability. So check up your family history. Now this does not mean that you will have cancer but yes to get yourself checked up once as a measure of prevention is what is advised. Some inherited genes have the capability of changing to cancer genes over a period and it is also wise to be aware of such genes so that they can be modified at the right time.
Okay, so what if your family history is clean? This does not prevent you from falling into the tentacles of this disease. It is always better to have a healthy diet full of fibers, green vegetables, juice, and fruits. Foods having fats, cholesterol and higher content of sucrose should be avoided as far as possible. And yes one should have plenty of water to detoxicate the impurities in the body. Simple as it may sound drinking about three liters of water daily can be an antidote to most of the diseases.
Apart from adopting a healthy and balanced diet, another preventive method is to exercise regularly. Exercise helps to pump and circulate the flow of blood to give the muscles life. A mere thirty-minute exercise can help you stay fit, healthy and prevent diseases. Now exercise doesn't mean going to sophisticated gyms – a simple walk in the morning, taking staircase instead of lift and elevators can mean a lot. Other forms of exercise can be watering plants, taking your pet for a walk, or having a bicycle ride.
These simple tips can go a long way to help you stay healthy and also aid you to prevent this dreadful disease.
You may also like..
Disclaimer : Ayurveda treatment is hugely based on body type, hence physical check up is necessary by an experienced and qualified Ayurvedic doctor for proper medicine prescription.We strongly suggest that all kind of Ayurvedic medicines and/or herbs should be taken under supervision of a qualified Ayurvedic doctor only. Ayurvedic medicines and herbs are natural, hence have least side effects when taken in controlled dosages.But we suggest you not to take any chance by treating yourself to regret later.
Contents of this site should be used for reference purpose only.


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"Double Six With the Guys"
I pull out my gear and the family groans collectively. They know they'll become instant subjects and let's face it, none of us wants to be the focus of the camera. We want to visit, laugh, eat, play, and eat some more without becoming the next big photo essay. But what can I do? Everyone eventually appreciates that we have a record of each celebration or holiday later on, they contain our memories better than we do sometimes, and sometimes contain people we don't ever want to let go of either.
There is a way to do this, get the pictures you want, even get ones you LOVE, all without ticking off your closest relatives and friends. But you have to play a part. Step into a roll, so to speak.
You have to go into wedding photographer mode. You know what I mean... the fly on the wall approach. This mode means you grab your camera, and simply bide your time, float about the edges of groups or rooms, till folks forget that you are taking pictures of them at all. I can even do this with a flash, off camera, set down somewhere close to the action, and trigger it remotely when needed, all without blinding people and causing a riot. Personally, I don't run well from angry mobs with a camera in one hand and an appetizer in the other...
Today's shot is my favorite from Easter dinner last weekend. The family was playing Dominoes, and so immersed in the game that I could sneak around and wait with camera at the ready. I got a few posed pics, then let my son, my brother, and my uncle forget about me. I like to keep a wide angle zoom on the camera which gives me instant flexibility concerning how close I am to a scene or how much room I have to move around, and still get everything in the frame. The flash was tucked off to the side on a small table, remotely triggered. And, to keep people from feeling like targets, I made sure to aim the camera at the action itself for the most part. I didn't want to miss it.
I wound up with a great story telling shot, in some great light, involving people I love deeply. Even without faces, you've got three generations sitting at a table (as confirmed by the differences in the hands), their posturing suggesting each move is being considered carefully, and the low angle and perspective placing you in the middle of the game. A frozen moment. One that embodies how great and relaxing the weekend was.
Got family events you need to capture? Dig into your inner wedding photographer/fly on the wall mindset and don't miss it. Don't miss the moments that count.


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The answers to a few frequently asked questions. More will be added as more questions are asked!
What is Dramatic Destiny?
Dramatic Destiny is the website companion for Rae's creative works, primarily The Lunar Cycle series.
Where can I get the books?
Right now, no-where! But Ventuso is coming soon…
How long is it going to take for each book to be released?
Unfortunately, a long time. I have a young family and full time day-job, so I don't get as much time to write as I'd like. If my books ever become popular enough to allow me to reduce my working hours in order to write part or full time, they will appear a lot quicker!
Why are the books in The Lunar Cycle series written in first person?
A number of the characters originate from roleplayed stories, where you assume the personality of the character(s) you are portraying. By its nature, roleplaying stories unfold in a first person perspective. I chose to write in the same style, as that is the form in which the characters are familiar to me. I also enjoy being able to describe more of their thoughts and feelings about the unfolding adventure than is usually found in a third person format.


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Mick Fleetwood Talks Maui Gallery, Fleetwood Mac's Future
"People always say that corny thing: 'Every picture tells a story,'" says Mick Fleetwood. "Well, they truly do! That's what I love about them." The 69-year-old Fleetwood, it should be noted, is certainly a fan of a good story. During a recent evening at Fleetwood's on Front St., his restaurant and bar situated on the west Maui shoreline, the drummer regales Rolling Stone with an array of tales, from a dinner party with Willie Nelson at the island home of "supermensch" manager and agent Shep Gordon, to accompanying his daughters to a Justin Bieber concert ("He's got some drum chops that I don't have – a total shredder") to a long-ago post-gig blowout in Honolulu that ended with Fleetwood, his mother and former Mac producer Richard Dashut covered in a whole lot of cake frosting – the aftermath of which is captured in a snapshot of a young Mick and mum drenched in buttercream that is hanging on a nearby wall.
Regarding his interest in photos, Fleetwood is here to discuss his newest endeavor, a partnership with the Morrison Hotel Gallery that has brought an outpost of the New York–based rock photography showroom to Maui. The new space, which opened in late June with a showing from acclaimed lens man Henry Diltz, is housed below the restaurant and adjacent to Fleetwood's General Store (where one can purchase plenty of signed Mac memorabilia, among other items). "It makes sense to me to have it here," Fleetwood says of the gallery. "Because it's so connected to where I come from. Morrison Hotel is all about music."
Fleetwood is still all about music as well. Next month the drummer will embark on a short fall tour of the west coast and Canada with the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, a unit that revisits Fleetwood Mac material from their late-Sixties formative years with singer and guitarist Peter Green. "It's a reminder to me of from whence I came," he says of playing songs like "Black Magic Woman" and "Rattlesnake Shake" again. Furthermore, he revealed that Fleetwood Mac, which less than a year ago completed a mammoth world tour with the fully restored Rumours-era lineup, will indeed be hitting the road once again at some point in the future. If all goes well (and if one member in particular gets on board) there may even be a new studio album from the band, their first since 2003's Say You Will. "We have a cartload of recorded stuff, and I'd like to see if come out," Fleetwood says. "Truly, I think there should be an album."
Over dinner with RS, Fleetwood discussed the new Morrison Hotel Gallery, what brought him to Maui and the future of Fleetwood Mac. Then he retreated to the restaurant's rooftop dining area, where he chatted with guests and sat in with local band the Houseshakers, drumming along on a short set of classic blues songs. "People see me around and they say, 'How long are you here for?'" Fleetwood remarked of his presence on the Hawaiian island. "And I tell them, 'No, no. I live here.' All of this — the restaurant, the store, the new gallery — it wouldn't work otherwise. This is my home."
What led to the opening of the Morrison Hotel Gallery here in Maui?
I had met [Morrison Hotel founder] Peter Blachley 12 years or so ago during a Mac tour down in Australia, and I thought he was a super cool guy. I didn't even know he had this gallery. Our paths crossed a few more times, including once in New York when Morrison Hotel presented a show of Stevie's Polaroid photos ["24 Karat Gold"], and I went to support her. And I found myself thinking, "I wonder if …" But it just went off the radar. Then, more recently, Peter was in Maui on holiday, and when he came here to Fleetwood's he saw the whole operation we have going on, and the great art scene that surrounds us. I mean, the Hawaiian islands are one of the top three art capitals of the world. They sell more art on these islands than almost anywhere. And so I brought up this idea and he was interested. Then I said, "How about we just pony up and have you come and really do this properly?" And now we're off and running.
You actually do some photography yourself.
Well, yes … but not so much. I go out and take pictures of trees and things. So it's not quite the same [laughs]. But for a long time on the road I was a snapshot-taker that annoyed everyone. I was always taking shots in Fleetwood Mac and boring people. But now I'm the one with all the pictures, for whatever purpose that serves! But for me, it's always been about trying to freeze a moment in time and tell a story. We had a great opening at the gallery with Henry Diltz, and a lot of his work is hanging here at the moment. He did a wonderful meet-and-greet and slide show, and one thing I noticed when Henry was giving his presentation was that he started telling stories along with his photos, and the stories were so amazing. He takes great pictures, but I have to say the stories almost eclipse the pictures. And that's what it's about at the gallery. All our boys and girls went to New York to get trained, because it's all in the storytelling. I love that stuff.
"The pictures are very much triggers to a bygone generation."
Another great thing is that the Morrison Hotel operation is all very together. They've been doing it for years and they have a really beautiful collage of photos that are forever. Those photographs of Henry's that are downstairs? They're never going to go out of style. And why would they? You're looking at the outtakes of a shoot of the first Crosby, Stills & Nash album. It's storytelling of some mythological proportions, really. The pictures are very much triggers to a bygone generation. And people want to see that. Half the people who come to see Fleetwood Mac now are 20, 30 years old. And they come because there's a story to be told. That's the fascination. People go, "What's this all about?"
Are there plans to launch additional shows similar to the Henry Diltz exhibit?
Oh, yes. We're planning on having other photographers come in. Neal Preston is one of our featured photographers. I'm hoping that Pattie Boyd comes. I'm visualizing Stevie coming. And we're going to rotate in some local talent that I think is worth a damn. Because the idea is also to support the scene. On an island, that's what you should do. And it's what I enjoy doing. I don't know what it's called, but it's similar to some of the things I did in Fleetwood Mac — get a stage and find some lovely, incredible people to put on it.
How long have you been on Maui?
Actively, about 16 years. And for about seven years before that I'd be here half the year. I came here after we finished the Fleetwood Mac album with Stevie and Lindsey [Buckingham]. The reason was, this is where [producer] Keith Olsen had taken them when they had finished their Buckingham Nicks album [in 1973]. The Napili Kai hotel, to be exact. So then when we finished the Fleetwood Mac album they said "Why don't we go?" And that's when I fell in love with Maui. John [McVie] did too. And actually, the house I have in Napili is one I had originally turned John onto. He owned it for 30 years and then sold it back to me. And Stevie used to come out and spend weeks here. So there's a lot of Mac history flying around the island.
As far as Fleetwood Mac is concerned, you guys wrapped up a world tour – your first in more than a decade with Christine McVie back in the fold – a little less than a year ago. What does the future hold for the band?
Well, we're all dedicated to getting together about a year or so from now and going and doing another two years of touring all over the world, probably. And we also have a huge amount of recorded music. A huge amount. None of it's with Stevie. Or very little. Some of it is very, very old stuff that Lindsey maybe did with her years and years ago. We're not quite sure what will happen with it. But you know, doing this band is a huge investment. We're only off the road for less than a year, and when you add in the time it takes to put a tour together, do rehearsals, get it up and running, the whole thing, it's three years that you don't do anything else. And Stevie has her own life and career and I think … you know, she just doesn't want to spend the time right now. And we're quietly saddened about that but also I sort of understand.
Do you think there will be a new record?
I really don't know. The hope was that there was going to be. I do know that when Christine came back, she came back with a bag full of goods. She fucking wrote up a storm. She and Lindsey could probably have a mighty strong duet album if they want. In truth I hope it will come to more than that.
So nothing's planned … but it could happen.
There's always a "could happen" [laughs]. But one thing that's for sure — there really are dozens of songs. And they're really good. And so you think, "Shit, I don't want it to be that, decades later, when we're all pushing up daisies, someone hears this stuff and goes, 'Well, that should have come out!'" So we'll see.


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About Big Delicious Planet
Heidi Coudal founded Big Delicious Planet in 1994 as a backstage rock + roll caterer, providing meals and fulfilling those notorious detailed dressing requirements for thousands of rock bands. Today you're more likely to find us catering stylish weddings, designing one of a kind events in the middle of our urban farm, and feeding globally inspired cuisine to the employees of Chicago's Facebook office on a daily basis.
We've hosted some amazing events in our urban farm and canteen: rehearsal dinners, bridal + baby showers, birthday parties and fundraisers. Depending on the weather, it's usually available June through early October. The Canteen is available year round.
Staying Sustainable
Big Delicious Planet was the first caterer in the country to become a 4 Star Certified Green Restaurant. We're 1 of 29 restaurants (the category includes caterers) in the country who have truly gone beyond what a normal food service company would do.
- We have our own organic urban farm where we grow 49 different varieties of vegetables. In 2016 we harvested close to 3,000 pounds of produce from our farm.
- We grow our own microgreens and herbs indoors year-round, and in the winter grow outdoors in our hoop house.
- We work with local farmers to purchase sustainable products.
- We have two beehives in our urban farm.
- We compost all food scraps and biodegradable paper goods from our kitchen and Canteen.
- We donate all our used vegetable oil to a biodiesel service, which turns it into fuel for vehicles and glycerin for soap.
- We have a detailed recycling system in place.
- Our building is geothermal.
- A local shelter picks up our excess food twice a week.
- Our cleaning chemicals meet the highest green standards.
- We've improved our water efficiency by making changes to our faucets.
- We only use compostable disposable dinnerware (unless requested otherwise).
- We support farm-raised meat and ocean-friendly seafood.
- We have reduced the amount of paper we use by installing hand dryers in the restrooms.


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Harrison Ford Plane Crash Video: Footage Emerges of His Emergency Landing
Video has emerged of Harrison Ford crash landing his airplane in an emergency landing at Penmar golf course on Thursday (March 5) in Venice, Calif.
The various cell phone videos, compiled by The Associated Press and posted to YouTube, show the plane going down. You can also hear onlookers express their shock as they watch the airplane go down.
Harrison's rep has released a statement saying he's expected to make a full recovery after the emergency landing.
We're wishing Harrison a speedy recovery after the terrifying incident.
Harrison Ford Crash Landing Video


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Yantras: Energy and Colour To Help Understand Our Existence February 24, 2010 | ConsciousnessThere are several theories about the use of yantras whether in terms of energy and colour, or their association with certain mantras. Understanding our existence could throw some light on mantras and their significance.
Why Music Training Should Not Be Cut Out of School Curriculums February 22, 2010 | SoundAt the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting, a Northwestern University neuroscientist will argue that music training has profound effects that shape the sensory system and should be a mainstay of K-12 education.


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SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Gold futures are recovering a small portion of the more than $8 an ounce they lost over the past five sessions. "Gold continues to trade at a premium to the level that can be justified by jewelry and industrial demand, as widespread investment and speculative interest supports the metal," John Reade, an analyst at UBS Investment Bank said in a research note. December gold is up $1.10 to stand at $375.70 an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Metals shares are also higher, with the Amex Gold Bugs Index HUI, +0.95% up 0.3 percent.
Have breaking news sent to your inbox. Subscribe to MarketWatch's free Bulletin emails. Sign up here.


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Current Newswire:
You Can Now Run Ubuntu Linux with the Unity Desktop on Top of Windows 10Jul 11, 2016, 05:00 (2 Talkback[s])
(Other stories by Marius Nestor)
While it didn't yet land for all users, as Microsoft plans on bringing the "Bash on Ubuntu on Windows" integration that lets users run Ubuntu Linux natively on the Windows 10 operating system as part of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, due for release on August 2, 2016, GitHub user Guerra24 managed to achieve something else. After doing all sorts of tricks in the CompizConfig Settings Manager (CSSM) GUI configuration tool for Compiz, he managed to run Ubuntu 14.04.4 LTS with the Unity desktop environment on top of Windows 10.
0 Talkback[s] (click to add your comment)


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My computer is dead.. I saw it coming, she gave me signs... Lately, she didn't want to run, sometimes she would go to sleep every 10 minutes or just froze, thought she was being lazy.
It's been fun these 6 years... last year you almost deleted my hard disk where I store all my pics, music and projects, or that is what you made me believe for an everlasting week :S
New parts-new OS-repeat and you are still bit--ing...
I guess it's time to let her go and buy a new one... a compact one to travel with a powerful video card to enjoy movies and games. Or maybe she will raise from the dead... like many times she has.
Another insane activity (well, at least I share it with many others) I've been doing is... pinning, pinning, liking, laughing, awing and pinning.
I created an account at Pinterest, I found out about it at Smashed Peas and Carrots and I was like why not?.. to be honest, at first I didn't like it nor saw a good use in it.
I'm a very visual person and I love organizing, after making my first board... I couldn't stop :)
My first board is about all the pillow/cushions tutorials I had tagged/saved in my Google Reader, there are many of them I didn't even remember, so Pinterest is great for this.
<== I created a button, well, I changed the original color which is red to match the blog, I have plans to pimp it a little but I'm "computerless" (right now I'm at my brother's laptop and I don't have my stuff in here), not for long, I hope.
Right now I have 16 boards and growing... there is always something to "board", right? It's such an addiction!
Today, for instance, I got a good laugh thanks to this board Odd Finds (mature content)
Specially this pin, so simple, yet so funny:
Source: modcloth.com via Andrea on Pinterest
And I created a new board of something I really like... miniatures!!
So... realistic o.O
So... realistic o.O
Source: flickr.com via Melina on Pinterest


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Fast Uncompromising Discussions. FUDforum will get your users talking.
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CUMBERLAND — The 31st annual Good Friday Walk and Fun Run, which benefits Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland, takes place Friday, April 14.
The event offers four routes – 3, 5, 10 and 20 miles – for walkers and runners who will make their way through Cumberland, Yarmouth and North Yarmouth.
Registration is at the Cumberland United Church of Christ, 282 Main St., at 7 a.m. Participants in the 3-mile route only can also sign up at the First Universalist Church, 97 Main St., Yarmouth.
Stops also include the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Route 115, North Yarmouth; First Baptist Church, 346 Main St., Yarmouth, and the Tuttle Road Methodist Church, 52 Tuttle Road.
Log onto habitatportlandme.org and click on "Good Friday Walk" under "Events" to raise funds. Participants can also collect paper fundraising sheets at the Cumberland UCC or by contacting email@example.com or calling 772-2151.
After event co-founder Sally Bancroft stepped down in 2016, Karen Gallati is organizing this year's event with help from a team of people from the participating churches.
The first walk drew 44 people who weathered pouring rain and raised $4,400. In 2015, 114 walkers raised more than $27,000.
Proceeds help build homes for Maine families. Habitat's largest project to date, a 13-home mixed-income neighborhood, is underway in Scarborough.
The annual Good Friday Walk, which runs through Cumberland, Yarmouth and North Yarmouth and benefits Habitat Humanity, has taken place rain or shine the past three decades.


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In my last post I said that Wslasher had recorded videos of the final matches but it wasn't uploaded yet when I posted the tournament report.
Here's a link to the whole tournament report for the Year-end Showdown
He's done with the editing and uploading so here are the other videos missing...
Edsel Gozon (Inzecters) vs. Christian Discipulo (Graveyard BF)
Finals - Game3
I saw lots of misplays on my part in this video... one is I used MST on his f/d card even though I know (from Dustshoot) that is probably his own MST. Another is my decision to destroy my own Centipede just to trigger Damsel's effect to summon another Centipede from deck. I should have just destroyed my f/d Torrential since it is useless at the moment and since I know he can't outswarm me. >_< Need more practice and need to learn to not get distracted easily by spectators.
Edsel Gozon (Inzecters) vs. Alvin Lim (TG Agent)
Overall Final - Game1
omg, I can't believe my misplays here were so many!!! >_< I'm ashamed.. The first bad move was when I used Armaknight just to dump a Damsel then CoTH for it. Should have realized the 1st trap was a REAL trap. Luckily I had another Damsel to pop. Then the last misplay was when I failed to OTK him. Should really have calculated everything before attacking... sigh..
Edsel Gozon (Inzecters) vs. Alvin Lim (TG Agent)
Overall Final - Game2
Edsel Gozon (Inzecters) vs. Alvin Lim (TG Agent)
Overall Final - Game3
(cant embed the video for some reason so here's a link to it...
Drew 2x Heart of Clears in this game... Him drawing Storm just sealed my loss too. Cant do anything there.
So all in all, the cards that were "hard" to use and wasn't helpful all the time were:
= Torrential Tribute
= Heart of Clear Water
= Book of Moon
= Armageddon Knight (a bit)
With this, I may have space in the deck to put in new cards to try such as PWWB/Raigeki Break, etc.
Also, I need to fix this so the deck is Wind-up Inzecters... not just Inzecters. Need to practice hard for Asia 2012. >_<
That concludes the update. Thanks for reading!


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A restaurant rivalry resulted in serious injuries for a man in Phnom Penh's Tuol Kork district on Wednesday.
According to police, the victim and friends were at a restaurant when they got into an argument with a group at a neighbouring table.
The angry diners left, but laid in wait outside, attacking the victim with a cleaver as he left. The suspects fled on motos and are still at large. KOH SANTEPHEAP


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Spock has always been quite the nonchalant fellow considering he's constantly suppressing his emotions, but this 'Spock is Not Impressed' Tumblr hilarious Photoshops the Vulcan into spectacular scenarios only for him to look on at events with disapproval and apathy.
Some laugh out loud images to be found in the 'Spock is Not Impressed' Tumblr include Spock meeting the Beatles at the height of their popularity, Spock sitting in on the infamous Tom Cruise interview with Oprah Winfrey and Spock being interviewed on Jay Leno's The Tonight Show.
Implications - Many Web-savvy consumers are starting their own blogging sites because it satiates their desire to become content producers rather than exclusively just consuming goods. Corporations may consider designing a platform for consumers to generate content while charging them a nominal fee in order to do so.
Troubled Boy-Loving Blogs
13 Celebrity-Inspired Tumblrs
Enhanced Infant Illustrations
Awkward Fan Photo Blogs
Uplifting Love Blogs
Free 2019 Report & eBook
Get the top 100 trends happening right NOW -- plus a FREE copy of our award-winning book.
Our Research Methodology
This article is one of 350,000 experiments. We use crowd filtering, big data and AI to identify insights.
'Spock is Not Impressed' Tumblr Hilariously Photoshops the Alien in Images
- By: Jason SoyAug 18, 2011
References: spockisnotimpressed.tumblr & blog.thaeger
References: spockisnotimpressed.tumblr & blog.thaeger


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I am entering this card into sew many cards challenge - anything goes
and Anonyme Scrappere - sketch
Thanks for looking
Jolanda x
Sunday, 3 October 2010
4 comments:
So pretty and cute Jolanda, thank you for visiting my blog today, much appreciated. Have a good week. Annette xReplyDelete
Such a sweet and lovely card, beautiful pastels and flowers. :)ReplyDelete
Thanks for joining us as AS.
Hugs, Anne.
Sooo cute!! Thanks for joining us at AS!ReplyDelete
Hugs Anette
Such a cute card. Thank you for joining us at AS.ReplyDelete
Hugs, Anja
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HALLMARK Office Listings
SEARCH by selecting an area on the map below.
EMAIL or PHONE our agents for viewings or questions
16 102 Elm Street in Saskatoon: Exhibition Condominium for sale (Saskatoon Area 02) : MLS®# 418460
16 102 Elm Street Saskatoon S7J 5L1 : Exhibition
Dramatic vaults and gracious windows allow for loads of natural light flowing into all 3 levels. Impressive staircase, generously sized upper level bedroom/loft with big walk in closet and full bathroom, main floor master suite with walk through closet and full bath with his and hers sinks. Professionally developed basement adds an approximate 695 sq ft with fantastic family room, large bedroom and potential for 3rd bathroom. Functional kitchen layout includes all appliances. Main Floor laundry. Single attached garage with direct entry. Very nice development, close to parks, the river and with easy access to downtown. This townhouse would make an excellent full time residence or an executive rental. Pets including small dogs are allowed with board approval.
Listing information last updated on October 21, 2012 at 01:51 AM (UTC)


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1901 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Suite 905
Washington, DC 20006
At Comprehensive Dental Care, we offer quality, personalized care. Serving the Washington, DC area, we're happy to discuss the variety of treatment options available to you. If you're interested in sedation or sleep dentistry options, please schedule an appointment with Alan Marx, D.D.S., and we can provide you with all the information you need.
For comfortable dental hygiene treatment in the Washington, District of Columbia area, Dr. Alan Marx is known for having a gentle touch. The friendly team at Comprehensive Dental Care provides teeth cleaning for a whiter smile.
Maintaining good dental hygiene is the foundation for healthy teeth and gums. We're committed to helping you have a lifetime of oral health.
For comfortable tooth cleaning in the Washington, District of Columbia area, Dr. Alan Marx is known for having a gentle touch. The friendly team at Comprehensive Dental Care provides dental hygiene treatments for a whiter smile.
Maintaining good dental hygiene is the foundation for healthy teeth and gums. We're committed to helping you have a lifetime of oral health.
Don't let untreated dental problems get you down. Rebuild your confidence with a beautiful new smile. From simple treatments that make a big difference, to more extensive work, unveiling the smile you were meant to have can have profound life-changing effects. Serving the Washington, DC area and offering orthodontics for general practitioners, Dr. Marx can help you develop an affordable treatment plan you'll feel good about.
A negative self image can be detrimental to many facets of your life. Washington area dentist Dr. Alan Marx understands the positive life-changing power that a healthy and beautiful smile can bring to you. Here at Comprehensive Dental Care, we don't want you to be embarrassed any longer. Why not take your smile - and even your life - to a new level of self-confidence and beauty?
Locke, Dianne D.D.S.
3333 14th St Nw # M110
Washington, DC, 20010-2319
Whitfield-Lock, Dianne D.D.S.
3333 14th St Nw # M110
Washington, DC, 20010-2319
Davis, Brian C D.D.S.
1350 Connecticut Ave Nw # 305
Washington, DC, 20036-1738
Washington Center For Cosmetic
4910 Massachusetts Ave Nw #204
Washington, DC, 20016-4368
Eleven-year-old Janet had a severe overbite and she was serious about improving her smile. "Her overbite was so obvious, I just knew something was wrong. I was afraid she would have problems with her mouth when she got older," recalled Janet's mother.
Most people think an overbite is caused when the upper teeth stick out. Actually, most overbite problems result from a short lower jaw. With modern techniques and a willing child, an orthodontist can help the short lower jaw grow in to line with the upper teeth. In the past the only solution to Janet's problem was headgear that would pull the upper teeth back to match the lower jaw. But Janet's new smile was shaped in just nine months without traditional braces or headgear.
She was one of a growing number of patients able to benefit from a device designed in Europe called a Bionator. Unlike traditional braces, the plastic and wire device is removable, but only for cleaning and eating. Patients must learn to wear it for more than 20 hours a day.
Orthodontic attention while a child is young can often straighten out crooked teeth before they have a chance to get worse. By redirecting the growth of the jaw, orthodontics can often enhance features in the middle and lower parts of the face. Results can be quite striking. In Janet's case, she became more enthusiastic and outgoing as her smile and self-image improved.
Other types of braces that are available today are invisible braces, clear braces, ceramic braces, and a procedure known as Invisalign® .
When children become aware of themselves and those around them, one of the first things they notice is the face. And nicknames like "Fang and "Buck Beaver" can leave a permanent mark on childhood memories. Unfortunately, children can be brutally cruel to each other because they are brutally honest. Correcting an overbite by controlling the source of the problem, jaw growth, orthodontics can help children face growing up with zeal and self confidence.
One of the genuine rewards of the new orthodontics dentistry is the adult patient who is willing to wear braces, do the "home" work, and who is excited by the prospect of having straighter teeth and a more perfect bite. As they say in baseball, it's a whole new ball game.
Thanks to the new orthodontic dentistry materials available today, we can offer visible or invisible braces -- adult braces made with space-age metals, braces glued to the back of the teeth. But that's just the "office" part.
Some orthodontic dentists would even argue that the most critical aspect of orthodontic dentistry treatment is how patients do their "home" work. Braces need constant cleaning. There's a rigid retainer schedule to follow. Certain foods must be avoided. It's a challenge. But once committed, adult patients understand what needs to be done and are willing to do it to get what they want from adult braces. They've made the investment in time and money. So they're willing to make the sacrifices (no caramels!) to get the results.
If Mother Nature let you down and your mom couldn't afford orthodontia, call us. It's never too late to get the perfect smile with adult braces and orthodontic dentistry!


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SexZool 2.0 Help
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Why no tweet, facebook like and google+ buttons? Well, we're a friggin pornsite, that's why. Why would you want your family and friends know that you're visiting us? Having those buttons on pornsites is like putting un-marked porn DVDs in the family DVD-player, hoping no one will press play on the remote without switching discs.
Even if you don't want to click those share-buttons, you might by mistake and then all your facebook friends can see what you're surfing. Do we wan't every bit of exposure we can possible get? Yes. Are we dicks? No.
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What it is is quite often not what it seems.
If there is one thing I've learnt after all this time, that would be: you only have yourself at the end of the day.
People can make thousands of promises to be there for you when you need them, but when it comes to the dark, who really stays?
You can only learn how to trust yourself.


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I liked Lam Research
Of course, we're not exactly back to the "happy days are here again" point of the cycle, either. For the company's fiscal second quarter, sales were up almost 12% on a sequential basis, but still down 6% from last year. Likewise for earnings -- up nicely on a sequential basis and down modestly versus last year.
Not only were results for this quarter a lot better than initially expected, but it also seems like expectations for the future were on the low side as well. The company announced that orders were up 24% sequentially in this quarter, and the average estimate for the March period has gone up more than 10% since then (to say nothing of the stock price as well).
There are competitive threats, of course. Applied Materials
Perhaps that's true, but companies such as SanDisk
At the risk of hubris, Lam Research was an easy pick in January 2005. A year later, though, it's not quite so simple. Valuations have caught up in anticipation of a semiconductor recovery, and the easy money is off the table. Still, there's nothing saying that the company won't continue to outperform, and there's plenty of room for me-too investors to jump into the cycle and push all of these semiconductor equipment stocks higher.
For more related Foolishness:
Fool contributor Stephen Simpson has no financial interest in any stocks mentioned (that means he's neither long nor short the shares).


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A flight that took off in 2018 ended up landing in 2017. Hawaiian Airlines Flight 446 was scheduled to depart Auckland, New Zealand, on December 31 at 11:55PM local time on its way to Honolulu.
An unexpected 10 minute delay meant that it took off at 12:05AM on January 01, 2018.
The location of the international date line, Honolulu is 23 hours behind Auckland. That meant the 8 hour flight landed at 10:16AM on December 31, 2017.
Sam Sweeney, a transportation reporter for Washington, D.C., station WJLA, noticed the quirky flight time and posted it on Twitter...
Read more: huffingtonpost