text:
tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32204882506815123732018-12-27T01:49:33.651-08:00Saludos de EcuadorA rolling description of Debby, Don, Mia and Nikki's year in email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-64115283753719056632010-08-08T22:36:00.000-07:002010-08-08T22:54:14.526-07:00July 23, My Last Blog Post - ReentryWe've been back just over a week now. Our actual reentry day was a bit shaky, but life has been great since then. Our flight, which was scheduled to go Quito/Miami/Chicago/Seattle and for which we had boarding passes all the way thru, hiccuped in Chicago, when the boarding pass machine read "Calgary" instead of "Seattle." So we got bumped to the next flight, two hours later, and that was delayed for an hour, so we arrived in Seattle about 12:30 am. Mia had heard that her friends were going to come meet her at the airport, but we figured that with our late arrival, they would bail. However, our good friend Susan, and three of Mia's best friends met us at the airport and took us home, to a house decorated with a "Welcome Home" sign and fading red helium balloons; to a fridge stocked with essentials like Jarlsberg cheese and red wine; and to clean sheets and towels left by our recently departed tenants. Although we'd already been up traveling for 22 hours, the excitement for all of us, especially for the girls, looking thru almost forgotten boxes of belongs kept us up until 3:00 am.
The next day saw us on the road by 3:30 pm, after a morning rollerblade by Debby and me, for a four-hour drive to Lake Chelan, to a weekend with our old "gang." I think the super-charged oxygen bump coming down to sea level from 8,500 ft must have kicked in, because both Debby and I saw the sun rise at the lake the following morning.

So now we've been back a week, and we are basically unpacked, and the girls are ensconced in their now separate rooms. I feel that for all of us, the "transition" has been great, primarily because WE LOVE OUR LIVES IN SEATTLE. Of course, we are still on vacation, and staying out late at clubs and sleeping until 9 or 10:00 (guilt-free, I should add), but still, we have moved back to the life we loved before we left, and guess what? - we still love it!

Some highlights:

Friends. We have such awesome friends, who have welcomed us back, told us how much they missed us, and eased our re-entry. This holds true for all of us, although Nikki's reunion with most of her friends was delayed for about a week, since most of them were in Japan for a class trip at the end of their John Stanford International School career.

Food. The variety of food here is amazing. Sure, mangos are 2 for $5 (instead of 4 for $1) and papayas and pineapples are $5 each, but it's berry time, and the strawberries and blueberries and raspberries, some from our own garden, are great. So is the sushi, Mexican food, grilled salmon, micro-brews and good coffee. The variety blows us away - there are 31 flavors for God's sake!

Family. Perhaps because we've been together so much for the past year, it is so nice to see the trust our kids are placing in us. Tonight I had them take down their lemonade stand in five minutes so we could have a picnic dinner in the sunset at Gasworks park - not a word of dissent or complaint. And last night, Nikki initiated a Spanish language conversation with me - Nikki, who wouldn't even speak Spanish if Debby or I were in the same room with her just a month ago! Although we are all digging our friends and our own "being home" trip, we come together as family smoothly and comfortably - no meltdowns or whining all week, even when hunger or tiredness might suggest otherwise.

Exercise. Debby and I have both been rollerblading several times this week, and Debby went mountain biking at Lake Chelan. Although I haven't started running yet, I tell myself that the roller blading is building up my cardio-vascular capacity!

Music. We've been rediscovering the type of music we loved in all sorts of forms - at parties and clubs, and on our friends playlists!

So that's it. This is my last blog post on our sabbatical year. It's been a great year in Ecuador (where?) but it's great to be back. In Cuenca we met many ex-pats who were fleeing something, imagined or real, from their home. Others, on a limited-time sabbatical like us, anticipated the life-changing effects the year would have on them and talked about the changes they would need to make to keep that Cuenca-feeling. Neither of these scenarios was ours. We were, for the most part, conscientiously living the kind of life we wanted before we left last August. And spending a year abroad was a dream from that life. And now, dream realized, we come back to that life, both altered and enriched by the dream.

email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-12541267767988578442010-08-08T22:34:00.000-07:002010-08-08T22:53:40.515-07:00First Impressions about the US after being gone for a year (Debby)Now that we have been back in Seattle for 9 days, I want to reflect on some of my first impressions upon returning to the US after being gone for an entire year.

We took 3 planes home from Quito and on each leg of the trip, I noticed that the passengers were whiter and whiter and that suddenly I blended in with everyone. Our first flight from Quito to Miami was 80% Ecuadorian which seemed normal. Miami to Chicago was less diverse but still had some blend of colors. The shocker was going from Chicago to Seattle and seeing virtually all white people.

Our first impression when we arrived in Miami was how abrupt, rushed and non cordial people seemed. Granted we were in an airport and dealing with disgruntled TSA folks but still! No one greets anyone with"Good Morning, Sir" or even says hello. Vendors, in particular, just want to get down to business. After a couple of interactions with sales people, Nikki turns to me and says "Why is everyone here so rude?" I told her that it is called "efficiency" :) We have really gotten accustomed to the constant courtesy and sincerity of the Ecuadorian people. The pace of life is slower and people always have time to say hello, ask about the family, and chat. I already miss the daily salutations and kissing on the cheek that happens about 10 times a day there.

Everything seemed so clean, orderly, and non chaotic to us, from the bathrooms to the streets to the schedules.

Back in Seattle, we were amazed that cars stopped for us as pedestrians at crosswalks, people gave us the right of way on our bikes and there were actually street signs and traffic lights!!

When we walked into our house we were amazed at how beautiful and big it seemed. We also were amazed at how much stuff we have (even after doing some serious cleansing before we left). When we unpacked our boxes in storage, we all ended up giving about a quarter of our clothes and personal belongings away. We have learned to live really simply and don't want to clutter our lives with more stuff.

We were psyched to throw our toilet paper in the toilet bowl and turn on a sink faucet and feel HOT WATER!!

Everything is incredibly expensive. In Miami the girls asked for 2 packs of gum for the next plane ride and it cost me $6 (3 good full course meals in Cuenca!).

Our local QFC (grocery store) in Wallingford had received a facelift and I was totally overwhelmed shopping there. Such incredible variety and too many choices for me!

The best part about coming back to Seattle was seeing all of our friends. We got home at 1 am on a Thursday, barely unpacked and the very next day we went to a 4 day party at our friends' cabin on Lake Chelan with a group of 38 people and it was the best homecoming we could imagine. We timed our return perfectly- summer was just beginning mid July and every day we have woken up to 75 degrees and sun. Our transition has been extra sweet since neither of us has to work for another 6 weeks (me) and 3 weeks (Don).firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-21583880240271050442010-08-08T22:32:00.000-07:002010-08-08T22:53:18.709-07:00Final thoughts on our year in Ecuador (Debby)Tomorrow morning we leave for the United States and we are all so excited to be home, see our friends and family, get settled into our house and be in the city we love so much.

As the year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on what it has all meant. There have been so many benefits for our family and for each of us as individuals- some tangible, some less so. While Don and I have learned so much about ourselves and Ecuador, the true beneficiaries of our year have been our kids. They are now fluent in Spanish, have lived in a very different culture and have become fully accustomed to life outside of the US, have been exposed to travel and adventure, and, hopefully, are far more open minded and flexible. We have marveled at how quickly they adapted to life here, made friends, picked up Spanish, and became open to new experiences. Although they truly were not excited about our year here (in fact they called Ecuador "Ecuapoop" before we left :), I can confidently say they have had an amazing year and they are already asking when they can return to their friends in Cuenca.

As for me, I have savored all the time we have had together as a family. I know that when school starts up again in the fall and we all go our separate ways for the entire day until dinner, I will miss our 2 p.m. daily lunches, our hours spent together traveling and exploring new places, our many restaurant meals, our hikes together, and our laughs and frustrations that stem from living in Ecuador. I know the experiences we have had this year have made us an even closer family and we will look back on this year for the rest of our lives.

Having said all of this, I am ready to go home. I love our lives in Seattle so much. Here are the top 10 things I won't miss from this year:

10. The Guayaquil bus station where we got robbed.

9. Bad pillows and hard beds in hotels.

8. People cutting in line at the store and interrupting.

7. A lack of commitment and follow through from my University students.

6. Really bad boxed wine.

5. A meal with potatoes, rice, pasta and no greens.

4. Long, bumpy bus rides with violent or religious movies on at an exorbitant volume.

3. The cheese from Ecuador.

2. Intermittent, lukewarm showers with no pressure (forget about a bath!)

1. Nasty smelling black diesel spewing from buses.

And now for the top 10 things I WILL miss from Ecuador:

10. $10 hour long massages complete with hot rocks and 2 massage therapists.

9. Fresh mangos, pineapples, and papaya for breakfast every day.

8. The warmth and sincerity of the Ecuadorian people. We literally never met a rude person the entire year.

7. The beauty of Cajas National Park and the Andes in general.

6. The ceviche on the coast.

5. The white powder-like sand of the Galapagos.

4. The time to read 25 books in a year and actually reflect on them.

3. The friendships we formed through exercise, volunteer work, university work and the girls' school.

2. Our gracious, loving and generous Ecuadorian family who included us in all they did- Rita, Jaime, and their 3 kids and 4 grandchildren.

1. All the time we shared together as a firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-69536360054898512892010-08-08T22:25:00.000-07:002010-08-08T22:41:52.105-07:00Travel Log, Wed. July 14, Leaving OtavaloAlthough the crafts stalls kept pulling us back, we did find time to explore some of the other sites around Otavalo. Monday, we all went for a hike around Lago Cuicocha, a pretty lake in the center of a volcano. We hiked around the rim of the crater (about a 4 hour hike - both girls did a great job), in and out of the fog, with views of the lake and its two little islands, as well as of the surrounding countryside, including a nearby snow-flecked mountain.

Tuesday we went to the nearby village of Peguche, only four or five km from Otavalo. There isn't too much to see in town, although the rhythmic click-clack of electric looms can be heard from inside most houses. Peguche also has a beautiful waterfall, just a 10 minute hike from town.

There is an internal and external component of travel. And so while the whole region around Otavalo is beautiful and rich geographically and culturally, I, and all of us, would rather be elsewhere. Home. We've had a great year, we've had a great five weeks of traveling, but now, the end, and our next beginning, is just too close at hand. Instead of really diving into what surrounds us, we are all just sort of killing time, awaiting our flight home. I don't say this with any negative judgment, I just think this is natural, and to be expected. Tomorrow we firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-34296428387643773242010-07-13T14:41:00.000-07:002010-08-08T22:40:33.599-07:00Travel Log, Sunday, July 11, OtavaloWe arrived in Otavalo yesterday afternoon after a day's stopover in Quito. Saturday is the main market day here, and while we arrived way too late to see the animal market, the artisan market was still going strong. Otavalo is the most famous place in Ecuador for crafts, and stalls lined the streets and filled the "Plaza de Ponchos." We had saved some of our souvenir shopping for our visit here, so although I was pretty overwhelmed by it all, we dove in and shopped.

Today was the final of the Mundial, so we took a break from shopping and even site-seeing to chill and watch the game. We watched the game in the coffeeshop/tienda of a non-indigenous Otavaleño who had spent time in Albany, NY. Watching Spain beat Holland 1-0 in overtime with the locals was fun. At a few points when Spain was on the verge of scoring, the owner's Aunt, who wanted Holland to win, spun the thumb and forefinger on both her hands, (in a mini-itsy-bitsy spider move) while chanting something like "chumbale chumbale chumbale..." Must be an Ecuadorian curse that didn't quite work. It has been great traveling with the Mundial - always an easy way to strike up a conversation, asking about yesterday's results or predictions for today's email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-28262880067665024132010-07-13T14:39:00.000-07:002010-08-08T22:21:52.593-07:00Travel Log, Thursday, July 8, PedernalesCanoa, midweek in July, is a pretty sleepy beach town. Although there are lots of hotels and beachfront stands for food, booze or crafts, the majority of them were unoccupied or closed up. Although ceviche was available at restaurants, there were no ceviche carts on the beach, like we enjoyed in Montañita.

The sun came out for about an hour yesterday late morning, and we all enjoyed playing in the waves. Once we all dried off, we watched Spain beat Germany 1-0 in the semi-finals of the Mundial. Later we all walked the beach and picked up three large bags of garbage, earning a free milkshake for each of the kids.

We said goodby to Alex, Chuck, Sara and Ben, and then moved about 90 km up the coast to Pedernales. Tomorrow is a 6 hour bus to Quito. I think we are all pretty ready to be home in email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-48020159505319132642010-07-13T14:34:00.000-07:002010-08-08T22:20:59.102-07:00Travel Log, Monday, July 5, CanoaAunt Sue returned to Chicago early yesterday morning, and given the option of a couple of days of four-hour bus rides to get to Canoa, the second of which would be on the girls birthday, we took the wimpy way out and flew from Quito to Manta. We spent the night in the seedier side of Manta, in Tarqui, and caught a bus from there north to Bahia de Caráquez, then a 10 minute passenger ferry, and finally a 30 minute bus ride up to Canoa. The passenger ferry will soon be only a memory as a long bridge across the Rio Chone will open in the fall.

This time of year the coast is mostly overcast and rainy, and we arrived in the rain. We met Debby's Peace Corps friend Alex and her family here, and most of the afternoon was spent on the beach, catching up. We celebrated the girl's birthday at the hotel with cake and a few small presents. And tonight, although I can hear the waves breaking outside our hotel, the dominate night sound is the bar next door, blaring Ecuadorian top firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-45472915224940092802010-07-12T16:53:00.000-07:002010-08-08T19:51:39.309-07:00Travel Log, Saturday, July 3, MindoOur first morning in Mindo was for fun. Mindo is renowned for the rich variety of birds found in the protected forests (over 400 distinct varieties were counted in recent years) but a number of "adventure tourist" activities have sprouted up as well. So we all headed out first thing in the morning for the zip lines! Debby and I had done some zip lines in Panama many years ago, but the girls were too young. Sue had never been. There were 10 runs on this course, the longest was over 500 meters - about a quarter mile! The lines crossed back and forth over the river valley far below. A real rush for everyone!

Afterward we drove up the road a few more kms to a short hike to some waterfalls. A long thick rope swing surprised us about halfway down the trail, and the girls (and their parents) swung until the travails of the arduous 20 minute hike were forgotten.

Friday, the adults went for an early morning (6:00 am) bird-spotting hike while the girls slept in (and watched Germany trounce Argentina, 4-0). We chose to act as our own guides, and started out on the Yellow House Trail as the sun was still burning off the morning fog. We definitely saw a yellow throated toucan, and the back of either a parrot or a quetzal. (There are a couple varieties of quetzals in this forest, neither of which resemble the Guatemalan quetzal with its long tail feathers.) We heard lots of other interesting bird calls, but never could locate the squawkers.

One of the interesting things about the forests of Mindo is that most of them are on private property. For now, I guess the owners are making a sufficient profit charging $3 to walk to the waterfall, or $6 to hike the Yellow House trail for them to keep their property pristine. But I wonder what will happen when profit and ecological preservation are forced to go head to email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-32068044145394920242010-07-10T17:26:00.000-07:002010-08-08T19:45:29.743-07:00Travel Log, Thursday, July 1, Saquisilí, Quilatoa LoopWe had an early, farm style breakfast and left for the market at Saquisilí, about an hour's drive further east. We had been through this town just two days earlier, on our way to Isinliví, and it was pretty sleepy. But Thursday is market day, and it is completely different. The market is spread out in five or six different plazas,and the streets are packed with people buying, selling and moving between areas. We started off in the animal market, where we saw people buying and selling pigs, sheep, cows, and various kinds of ropes and harnesses. This part of the market supposedly starts around 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning, but when we got there about 9:00, is was still fascinating enough for us...

We moved on to another square with a little of everything: small animals like chickens, (in cages and bags), cuy (guinea pigs), rabbits, hardware, furniture, mattresses, fish and music are what stand out for me.

When we got to the artisan section of the market, what struck me was not the beautiful weavings, paintings and other products, but rather the subdued energy in this square. Since there weren't many tourists, this square, with all it's stalls, was just so quiet, compared to the chaotic hustle and bustle of the other areas.

After a picnic in the main square, we drove north, thru Quito, and after only getting slightly lost, arrived in Mindo, about four hours later, as the sun was going down. First impressions: a riot of vegetation, like being inside a gigantic greenhouse in a botanical email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-63658917962774716092010-07-10T17:25:00.000-07:002010-07-30T09:27:48.910-07:00Travel Log, Wednesday, June 30, Tigua, Quilatoa LoopKaren, Sarah and Lucas left early yesterday morning, and after breakfast, Sue and our family rented a car and headed south. Our destination was a region about two hours south of Quito, a high Andean rural area, punctuated by small towns and communities. The main road around this region is dubbed "the Quilatoa Loop" in the guide books. Quilatoa is the name of a lake in a volcanic crater with a circumference of, perhaps, 6-8 miles. We entered the loop from the north east corner, heading counter-clockwise. The area is sparsely populated, and there is very little traffic as well. Driving to Isinliví we saw lots of sheep, a few llamas and lots of fields on steep slopes being cultivated by hand by entire families. Potatoes, wheat and onions are some of the main crops in this region.

The town of Isinliví is quite small, and we stayed in a wonderful little hostal called Llullu Llama. There were seven other travelers there, including a garulous Australian couple in their 50s, who had met doing an extended world tour 30 years ago, and were now back on the road after raising their family. We all ate family style.

Since the main road between Isinliví and the lake was reported to be a bumpy dirt road, so we decided to take a different, more direct, bumpy dirt road. Along this route we saw something we hadn't seen in Ecuador before: severe rural poverty. In many of these communities the majority of homes are "chozas" or low huts made with grass roofs reaching to the ground. (Although I interpreted this as one of the signs of their poverty, grass roofed huts being on the low end of the building material hierarchy, below adobe and concrete block, a guide we met at the Inti Solar museum a few days later, asserted that it was tradition, not poverty which lead to this choice of living arrangement.) At a couple places where we stopped and asked directions, we were asked for money. Outside of the occasional drunk, or some very down and out beggers, this hadn't happened to us before. But the people here asking for money weren't down and out, they looked young and/or healthy, they were friendly and helpful, and once they asked not for themselves, but rather for help with a new school building, but they didn't have any qualms about asking. Perhaps other travelers willingly gave when asked, and this is where the custom/problem started. Anyway, it was a little odd. Outside of this, and even considering this, the people we met, especially in Isinliví (where they didn't beg) are extremely friendly. Big smiles greet us, and people are happy to talk.

Although we somehow got off the road we were supposed to be on, we eventually got to a paved road on the south side of the loop. And once on this road, it was an easy drive to the lake. Supposedly it takes about 5-6 hours to hike all the way around the lake, along the rim of the crater. We only hiked out for an hour or so, and returned the way we came. The lake is beautiful, and although clouds obscured the views to the Cotopaxi and Ilinizas volcanoes to the north, the panorama views of the patchwork crop lands were wonderful.

We spent the night in a old hacienda house a few miles east of Tigua, about 45 minutes east of the lake. The delightful owners treated us and the other four guests with canelazo, stories of the history of the hacienda and a lovely email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-39289644400168578702010-07-04T11:36:00.000-07:002010-07-30T09:13:09.218-07:00Travel Log: Saturday, June 29, Jamu LodgeThis morning we took a two-hour boat ride down river to Don Alberto's house. He is a traditional medicine man or shaman of the Siona community where he lives. He greeted us in traditional dress, which included a black tunic, a crown of parrot feathers and a feather thru his nose. He told us a little about the old ways, how the tunic used to be made of tree bark, and how they used wooden spoons and clay pots. He told us a little about his training as a shaman, which started at age 12, and continued to age 15 with his grandfather, and then continued with another teacher until age 30. He talked about using ayahuasca, or "eje" which is a hallucinogenic which helps them have visions which they use to help cure people and identify new and/or proper ways to use plants as medicine. According to Don Alberto, they can see illness in a person in three colors: yellow - stomach, red - blood, or black - brain (or mental illness). He then gave us a demonstration of the use of "ortiga" (stinging nettles) to help with circulation. (The welts this raised on Lucas' back and Debby's arms and legs disappeared by the end of the day!)

After lunch, we went to the house of another member of the community, "Mama Aurora" to learn how the Siona make yucca bread. First they pull up the yucca plant, breaking off and burying part of the root to start another plant. Then they peel it, grate it, and squeeze the water out of it, using a thin woven reed mat. After it is dry, they sift it, and this fine "flour" is spread on a hot clay plate (what the Guatemalan's call a "comal" but the Ecuadoran's call a "tiesto"). It is spread in a thin layer, and packed against the tiesto, and after a few minutes it is flipped. The resulting "bread" is more like a large pancake, and is tasty, but a bit dry.

After this, we headed back to the lodge, and after some down time, we took a short night walk thru the nearby jungle, and saw a lot of spiders, leaf cutter ants and other insects.

The jungle has been one of the parts of our travels in Ecuador that I have been most looking forward to, even more than our trip to the Galapagos or Machu Pichu. We had first talked about going with our friends who came to visit at Christmas-time, but it didn't make the final cut on that itinerary. (Probably just as well, based on what we learned on the trip this week, that the river drops from about 10' deep to about 1' deep in January and Feb.) Thankfully, this trip lived up to my expectations.

The four days we spent here was a perfect mix of the natural - bird and reptile watching boat rides, jungle hikes; and the cultural - a visit to a shaman and to Mama Aurora. The nature is fantastic and like a rich novel, I loved it although most of it went over my head. Although I won't remember, and can't appreciate all the different varieties of birds our guides pointed out, I did love the red crests of the tanagers, and the yellow breast and wing tips of the caciques, the swallow's graceful flight just inches above the river's surface and the iridescent blue of the "morpho" butterflies, which traversed the river too quickly and erratically to ever pose for a photo. The black furry monkey's tails high in the canopy were a bit difficult to distinguish, but the large band of squirrel monkeys crossing the river on the low fallen vines and trunks as our canoe passed underneath were easily identifiable. And although we were constantly on the watch for fauna, the overwhelming presence in the jungle is flora. The lush green of the trees and plants that line the river is amazing. The shades of green, from the canopy to the floor, from the almost translucent green of the newly opened fern to the sturdy pale gray green of the bromeliad and the multiple greens of the various palms, ever changing as wind and sunlight shuffle the pallet: green is the color of the jungle. Mix in the coffee brown of the river, the gray and ivory of the tree trunks, and the blue of the sky, glimpsed thru blocks of green, and that is the color of the jungle. The reds, yellows or violets of a flower or butterfly or bird punctuate the scene, but green dominates firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-861465037708092212010-07-04T11:35:00.000-07:002010-07-30T09:03:31.250-07:00Travel Log: Friday, June 28, Jamu LodgeOur day started with a boat ride to a hike thru the jungle. This whole environment is so different. On our ride out we saw river dolphins, "anhingas," cormorants, stinky turkeys and long nose bats. On the hike we saw "quita calzones" ants, which swarmed out of their nests to cover our hands when placed on the the nest, and once we got rid of them all, provided (so they say) a natural insect repellent. We also saw lots of vines, bromeliads and mud (thank goodness for our "siete vidas" or knee high rubber boots that the lodge provided).

In the afternoon the adults went for a self guided canoe ride in a dugout canoe while the kids went out in a kayak, and swung from vines into the water. We all went for out again in the motorized canoe, and went piranha fishing (Lucas caught two) and after dark, saw caymans and tree boas.

 email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-38278537952447574582010-07-04T11:34:00.000-07:002010-07-30T08:48:04.948-07:00Travel Log: Thursday, June 27, Jamu Lodge, Cuyabeno Wildlife ReserveWe started the day with a 7:00 am taxi to the airport. The girls have been super excited the past few days, since they re-united with their cousins Lucas and Sarah and their Aunt Karen and Aunt Sue. We've been doing some site seeing in Quito, and sharing meals at restaurants, both "typical" and "international." With this crowd, we've had a kids table and an adults table, which keeps everyone happy.

Our flight to Lago Agrio was a quick one - probably about 30 minutes (compared to 10 hours by bus). At Lago Agrio we boarded a small bus with other travelers and headed towards Jamu Lodge, driving about 2 1/2 hours. This part of the jungle reminds me of the Guatemalan coastal region. We passed thru numerous small and newish towns - there is a lot of oil in this part of the jungle, and the towns are probably related to this.

At the end of the road we boarded a long, narrow motorized canoe. Our group of 8 sat two abreast and, along with our driver, guide and cargo, filled the boat. On our two hour trip down the Rio Cuyabeno, we saw 3 different monkey species, numerous birds and bats. About 20 minutes after the river emptied into a large lagoon, we turned into the dock for the Jamu Lodge.

The lodge itself is all wood construction, with thatched roofs, Light in the rooms is from candles, and solar cells provide additional power for lighting in the common areas and kitchen.

After settling in, we got back into the canoes for a sunset cruise to the lagoon. We saw a "stinky turkey" and some river dolphins. We finished a refreshing swim shortly before a beautiful sunset.

Now at night, the almost full moon is illuminating the woods, and the myriad sounds of the jungle lull me to firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-91192963446849839402010-07-04T11:31:00.000-07:002010-07-12T16:42:51.380-07:00Travel Log: Saturday, June 19, Lima, MirafloresAfter a late breakfast at a little diner tended by a wonderful grandfatherly man who had worked at a Greek restaurant in NY in 1971 and still spoke English, we left the historic center for the modern neighborhood of Miraflores.

Located on a plateau about 300' above the ocean, Miraflores reminds me a lot of Los Angeles. Along the "Malecon" which has a view down to the water, is a linear park, and across the road, modern high-rise condos or apartment buildings. There is even a mall along this strip, complete with a Tony Roma's and a TGI Fridays. There are lots of kids, and young dads and their sons, on skateboards, and although there are neither skate parks to encourage them, nor metal plugs on the bench and curb edges to discourage them, they are, on the whole, respectful and considerate of pedestrians. Bicyclist wearing helmets and dayglow jackets also share the path. In the water below, a couple hundred surfers in wet suits could be seen riding the slow waves.

Off the water, the neighborhood still reminded me of LA. The major streets are lined with modern stores, some US chains (but mostly not), and hi-rise residential. The housing on the side streets is from the 40's not quite Art Deco, but almost. And just as LA has its prehistoric La Brea Tar Pits, Miraflores has Huaca Pucllana, a large complex of adobe-based pyramids built by the Lima culture, dating from around 200-700 AD.

Miraflores (and some of the other modern neighborhoods, I imagine) are worlds away form the rural Peru we glimpsed in the Sacred Valley outside Cuzco, and even form the traditional, poorer neighborhoods of other parts of Lima. Although not that interesting to me, it is good to see, and good for the girls to see the wide diversity of lifestyles and cultures to be found down firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-12410032199117663992010-06-19T16:58:00.000-07:002010-07-12T16:38:15.744-07:00Travel Log: Friday, June 18, Lima
Lima is a big city. Lima is to Quito as New York is to, let's say, Portland. And as such, there is a lot of everything. The city is physically large, and the streets, large and small, are very congested. Last night, while in a cab to dinner, we sat in the traffic-jammed express road, and in the middle, saw the newly inaugurated express bus, running down an exclusive lane, with passengers shoulder to shoulder. This morning,walking thru a market district near the "Chinatown," we saw whole streets similarly congested with people. Also similar to the jewelry district in LA, or the garment district in NYC, stores withe similar goods are grouped together. On our first taxi ride into town, I remember seeing at least three solid blocks of small offset print shops. Today we passed similar districts, with yarn, cloth and sewing supplies, hardware and others.

The Mundial, or soccer World Cup started on June 11, and we, especially the girls, have been following along, tracking scores and winners and losers. In Lima, as in many other big cities around the world, they have set up a huge screen in public spaces for a "fan fest." This morning, we went to the Plaza de Armas near our hotel to watch as team USA tied Slovenia 2-2. There were proably about 800 people watching, including one lucky municipal worker, whose job this morning apparantly was to polish the lamposts!

Along with people and cars (mostly taxis) Lima also has some beautiful colonial buildings, churches and museums. Yesterday we visited the catacombs at Santo Dominico's church and the Museum of the Inquisition. (Plenty of food for thought in there - regarding fanatacism and tolerance.) This afternoon we went to the Museum of the Nation, which, along with lots of pre-conquest artifacts, included an extensive photo exhibit documenting the years between 1980 and 2000 and the terrorism of the Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) and the government's sometimes excessive response. The exhibit "Yuyanapaq. to remember." is part of the report of the Peruvian Truth and Reconciliation Commision. <museum>

</museum>
firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-51456873548661521772010-06-19T16:56:00.000-07:002010-07-12T16:26:48.164-07:00Travel Log: Thursday, June 17, Cuzco to Lima
On our ride in from Urubamba yesterday we learned that the "paro" that had been planned for the 14th was canceled on the afternoon of the 13th. Oh well, better safe than sorry. However, we were told, the paro planned for the 17th and 18th would go forward, and not only would it impact transportation between cities, but roads would also be blocked inside Cuzco.

Armed with this information, we visited the TACA office yesterday to reconfirm our tickets, and to verify that the paro would not impact air travel.

Our choices to get to the airport this morning were either to get a very early cab, or walk. We opted to walk, a trip which turned out to be quite pleasant without cars. We saw some people marching, some rocks in the streets, a couple groups heading to the airport, one pulling their rolling luggage, another in the front of one of these three-wheeled bike transports, ususally used for light deliveries. When we got to the airport, after about an hour walk, a large group of people standing outside had us worried that we wouldn´t be allowed to enter, but we quickly realized these were just arriving passengers, waiting for a cab to the center!

By far the biggest hassle was getting from the check-in counter to the gate. No one knew which gate we should go to, Gate 4 upstairs, or Gate 10, downstairs. When we went thru the downstairs security - after waiting for the security people to get to their posts and turn on all the machinery, we entered a completely empty corridor (not counting the guy sweeping the floor). When the security folks finally agreed to let us go upstairs to Gate 4 and check for ourselves, the security upstairs didn't want to let us through. There were a few other passengers caught in this information vortex. Since no one knew anything about this flight, which was mislabled on the flight monitors, we assumed we were the first passengers thru the gate - perhaps the others were caught by the paro? So when we arrived at Gate 4 to find 200 people already waiting in line, our bafflement was complete. Walking from the gate, downstairs past the still-empty corridor with Gate 10, and out onto the tarmac ... well, I just had to laugh.

firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-33203445387889676112010-06-19T16:49:00.000-07:002010-07-12T16:22:24.932-07:00Travel Log: Wednesday, June 16, Ollantaytambo to Cuzco

We took a cab from Ollantaytambo to Urubamba, and then a colectivo - basically another cab, from Urubamba to Cuzco. The tourist population of Cuzco has grown since we were last here, and it is difficult to walk more than a few steps without being acosted by someone trying to sell you something: dinner, massage, city tour, sweater; and that pictoresque native in her beautiful Andean dress, with the baby on her back and

the baby lamb? - "take my foto mister?" Ugh!

The Plaza de Armas was crowded today with a dance contest, similar to what we witnessed our last night here last week. Beautiful costumes and dances. In the evening, in front of the Cathedral, we witnessed a couple of the groups performing these same dances, without their costumes, just for the pleasure of doing so. That was kinda neat to see: young people, in their early 20's, clearly more comfortable in western clothes, but still immensely proud of their cultural traditions.

firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-41521374097733829982010-06-15T18:26:00.000-07:002010-07-11T18:45:49.336-07:00Travel Log, Tuesday, June 15, Moray, SalinerasAfter breakfast we boarded a "combi" - a small mini-van stuffed with about 20 people, and rode it to Urubamba, switched to a bus headed to Chinchero, and got off on the road to Maras, where we caught a cab to Moray.

Moray is an interesting site consisting of about 15 concentric terraces, the lower eight being perfectly circular. The steps up and down the walls consist of rocks jutting out from the terrace walls, three or four per wall. Unlike in other terraced sites we've seen, the steps are symetrical and form a double zig-zag pattern down the levels, equidistant from a center line formed by a channel carved in a large rock on each terrace wall.

Moray is set in stark but beautiful Andean highlands, at about 11,000 feet above sea level. Across the river valley, snow covered peaks abound, Montaña Veronica dominates the view from Moray.

About 10 km from Moray are the salt "mines" of Salineras. This is a working site, which consists of hundreds of rectangular shallow pools along a hillside which collect mineral spring water. As the water evaporates, the workers collect the salt. We hiked down the hill from Salineras, stopped at a strategically located restaurant for some juice, and then caught a combi (this time packed with about 25 people) back to Ollantaytambo.

While the kids chilled at the hospedaje, Debby and I explored the small ruins of Q'ellorq'ay. These are right across some agricultural fields from where we are staying, are completely unvisited, and consist of a medium sized complex of rooms, a fountain and terraced fields. As with all Incan sites we´ve seen, walls are filled with windows, doors and large and small niches, all built in trapezoidal shapes. The terraces at this site are actively agricultural - corn stalks and cows share the site with ghosts of past email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-13217594915033436022010-06-15T18:25:00.000-07:002010-07-11T18:35:06.723-07:00Travel Log, Monday, June 14, OllantaytamboWe got up somewhat early today (6:30) to have breakfast at our hospedaje, and explore the main ruins in town before the tour buses started to arrive. It is a large site, with residential, agricultural, ceremonial and miltary sectors. After you enter the site, you climb through terraced agricultural land to the Temple of the Sun, a large structure made of large, highly carved and polished stones. We continued to climb, to a structure high on an outcropping that provided views up three valleys. The structure has 4 large trapezoidal nitches on one side - my theory is that they once housed gold statues visible from miles away. Coming down from this "Inkawatana" we dropped into a residential area with a ceremonial fountian. A guard told me that this residential area was burried by a mud slide, and relocated across the river to the sector which is still used today, the sector we walked thru yesterday.

After lunch (and ice cream) Debby and I walked down to the Albergue, a nice B & B run by the sister of a collegue of Debby's. She is a fascinating woman, an artist, who first arrived in Peru 30 years ago in a dugout canoe, paddling thru the jungle from Ecuador.

By the way, no paro today.

firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-32551138393632790802010-06-15T18:23:00.000-07:002010-07-11T18:31:28.991-07:00Travel Log, Sunday, June 13, Aguas Calientes to OllantaytamboAfter all the climbing and hiking yesterday, we slept in this morning, as our only commitment was a 10:00 am train out. Debby and I walked through town a bit in the morning, looking for fruit and bread for breakfast, as the typical 28 sole breakfast buffet ($9) is a little outside our budget. Aguas Calientes is a bit like a ski resort town: beautiful setting, almost purely pedestrian, service oriented to tourists, and no real reason to exist except for the nearby major attraction, in this case, the Machu Pichu ruins.

Taking the train out during the day, we could see what we missed on our night trip in. The train runs along the river and steep, lushly vegetated walls come right down to it. From Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo the route rises about 400 meters, which is apparantely enough to change the negetation from the almost jungle-like setting of the ruins to a very dry, almost parched (this time of year) landscape of rocky peaks, with glimpses of snow covered pearks in the distance.

Daylight also let us see the destruction that the February rains brought. Numerous sections of the route were either washed out by the river below, or covered up from mud and rock slides from the slopes above.

We arrived back in Ollantaytambo around 1:30 and checked into the hospedaje we had started to stay at 2 days before. After a light lunch, Debby and I decided to explore the town a bit. Up to this point, we hadn't really gotten a handle on this town. There is a town squqare, which is curently being reconstructed, and what is most apparant, is the steady stream of tourists passing from the square, across the bridge, and up to the ruins. However, as we walked, we "discovered" another part of the town, which is all stone streets and walls, with drainage canals running thru it. We climbed up to the ruins of Pinkaylluna on the east side of town, which are very interesting, and could see the whole town, including this "medieval" sector and just across the river to the west, agricultural fields.
 firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-72238293050461220862010-06-15T18:22:00.000-07:002010-07-11T18:30:23.468-07:00Travel Log, Saturday, June 12, Machu Pichu RuinsUp early one more time to try to catch the morning light at Machu Pichu. Although super-excited about this part of the trip, Nikki is not a willing early riser. Nonetheless, we got on the bus at 6:00 and got in before the crowds, and early enough for Mia and I to climb Huayna Pichu, the steep pinnacle one sees behind the ruins in the classic photo of Machu Pichu. (They only allow 200 up, starting at 7:00 and another 200 at 11:00.) The trail is steep, but almost completely on stone steps, and provides great views of the valley and surrounding peaks. Debby and Nikki explored the ruins (Nikki maxed out on climbing at Pisac) until we reunited around 10:00. We chilled a bit, then explored more of the ruins. Even with the non-stop buses bringing tour groups in, the site is so big that it is fairly easy to get (relatively) away from the crush. Around 2:00 we headed down, opting to walk instead of paying another $21.00 (US) fo the 30 minute ride back to town. We did a lot of walking, but everyone had a great day. The ruins are truely magnificent, and a marvel of order and design from a culture that used mostly stone and wood tools to create them.

<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2FDebNDon%2Falbumid%2F5492819206988078001%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>

firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-58422282518585252792010-06-15T18:18:00.000-07:002010-07-08T19:35:56.900-07:00Travel Log, Friday, June 11, Pisac Ruins to Ollantaytambo

Our plan: wake up early and climb to the ruins. We did wake at 5:15 or so, and we were moving by 6:00. The sky was already light, but the mountains prevent the sun from hitting the town until about 9:00 or 9:30.

The ruins are probably 1,000 feet above the town and the hike is steep, through amazing terraces constructed by the Incas. Some of the terraces are on slopes of 60 degrees or more! Apart from the terraces, the first ruin you see while climbing up is a circular structure, that probably served as a watch tower/lookout - the views to the valley below from here are all-encompassing. From here, we continued to climb to the ancient village of Pasaqá, where the walls and windows of most of the structure, probably residences, are quite well preserved. The trail continues up, to the Intiwatana, which contains temples to the Sun and the Moon, among other structures. The site is huge, and by this time, we are pretty tired, so we sort of bee-lined to the exit (actually the entrance, as most people arrive by bus/taxi and hike down, unlike us) although we admired the Kalla Qasa, an "urban neighborhood" up hill from the trail as we passed by.

We took a cab back into Pisac, and had a big delicious meal before heading back to our hotel to pack and check out.

We boarded a bus for Urubamba, down the valley from Pisac, through some beautiful terrain. The valley bottom is narrow, and the mountains rise steeply on both sides. An occasional break in the ridgeline showed snow covered peaks and snowfields in the distance. Culivated fields, although this is the dry season, were visible quite high up the mountainsides.

We switched in Urubamba from the small bus to a taxi for the final leg into Ollantaytambo. From the driver we learned more about the devasting floods of February. It had rained for two days straight, and the river quickly rose, overflowed its banks, and took out bridges and destroyed adobe houses by saturating their lower bricks. After just two days, the river receded to normal levels, but the destruction remained.

At the hostel we stayed at the first night in Cuzco, the proprietress told us that we could use the kitchen, but they would charge us 5 soles (almost $2) extra to cover the cost of gas. We thought this a little excessive, since in Cuenca, a whole tank of gas, which lasted us about a month, costs only $2.00. But then we learned that a tank of gas in Peru, which is about 1/2 the size of the tanks in Ecuador, costas about 34 soles (almost $13). This is a source of contention among the populace, especially in the Cuzco region where the gas comes from , and it is bubbling up now because the government is planning on exporting the gas to other countries. (I learned later that it is natural gas which comes from this region, and the plan to sell it for about 17 soles a tank. The gas they have to buy is gasified petroleum, which is much more expensive, and the whole situation is benefiting a single businessman in Lima, who is undoubtedly well-connected with the current president.) There have been protests recently in the area, and, as in Ecuador, the preferred method of protest is to close the roads (and rail lines). Last week the organizers announced another "paro" for June 14, as well as June 17 and 18. So, while we had planned to stay in Ollantaytambo for a night, then go to Machu Pichu on the train on the June 12 and return on June 14, we decide to be pro-active. Our thinking is that if there is a paro on the 14th (still actually under discussion) then we´d be stuck in Aguas Calientes for at least an extra day, and perhaps more. Aguas Calientes is the last place to stay before the Machu Pichu ruins, and it has a reputation for overpriced everything. And they distinguished themselves during the February rains, when tourist were stranded there due to the closing of the tracks, by raising prices up to 5x their regular rates!

The ideal solution would have been to change our return to Sunday, June 13, but the only train with available seats was the 10:00 am run - hardly enough time to see the ruins, so we hastily decided to go up tonight, taking a 6:00 pm train. We'll visit Machu Pichu on Saturday, and return on the 10:00 train on Sunday.

On the train, which actually starts off as a bus since the tracks are not yet completely cleared, we met a Limeña going up to Machu Pichu, who told us about a cheap hotel. So we beelined past mobs of hotel hawkers to this place, Hostal Guiller, which isn't too bad, and costs only 45 soles/night ($15) for all for us - a definite bargain.

email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-70714922308421705022010-06-15T18:16:00.000-07:002010-07-08T19:20:35.787-07:00Travel Log, Thursday, June 10, PisacThe road from Cuzco to Pisac is well-paved, but half washed out in several places, as the ground beneath it was loosened and washed away by the heavy rains in January and February that closed Machu Pichu for a month and left several thousand tourists stranded. I learned from a lady in the Pisac tourist office that it also completely burried the nearby town of Taray and killed nine people there, and eight in Pisac. Although Machu Pichu made the news, the whole "Sacred Valley" was devasted.

Pisac is a lovely little town, nestled in the Andes, below Incan ruins of the same name. Although the main market day is Sunday, they also have a Thursday crafts market, so after a delicious, if non-typical, lunch (finished with a chocolate brownie, vanilla ice cream, and apple strudel) we shopped! Nikki bought some old money and a small stuffed llama; Mia bought a hat and some earings; Debby got a pendant and some earings; and Don got a sweater, a bracelet and a hat. The market occupies the entire central square, and although it ends around 5:00, workers were still disassembling the stalls and hauling away the wooden tables and bamboo and tarp walls when we came home from dinner at 8:00.

Most of the houses in town (and the ones we saw on the road from Cuzco) are made of adobe. Many have a mud and watttle facades, with images in relief of Inca symbols or themes. I saw a sign at the tourist office for a contest for the best facades, and a taxi driver later confirmed that this is a manner of developing local pride and to improve the town's image for the tourist email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-58506375417090804552010-06-15T18:14:00.000-07:002010-07-08T19:08:20.441-07:00Travel Log, Wednesday, June 9, CuzcoThe day awoke sunny but cold, with frost on the roof tiles. The sun seems to rise a bit sooner here than in Cuenca, (probably because Cuzco is further east in the time zone.) and although I could pull the curtain back and see the blue sky, I couldn't pull myself from under the four wool blankets to step out into our cold room.

We all did finally get up, and after a breakfast of bread, jam and tea, we moved to a slightly more down-scale (but warmer) hostel for less than half the price (50 soles, or about $18.00 compared to 130 soles, about $46). After we cooked up a second breakfast in the hostal kitchen, we walked down to the bus station to catch a bus to Tombomachay, the first of four Inca ruins we'd visit today. Tombomachay is about five miles from Cusco, and a small site, with typical tight fitting stonework. Nikki bought a beautiful aplaca wool hat from some vendors at the site, against our wishes, but it 's a beautiful hat.

After Tombomachay, we basically walked across the highway to Puku Pukara, and afterwards, flagged a bus which took us to Q'enqo, where Debby and I had a guide (the girls preferred to explore on their own) and learned a bit about the site. By far the most impressive site of the day however, was Saqsaywaman, only about one mile from Cuzco. It is an enormous site , which includes a huge field with three tiers of large stone walls. At the base is a huge parade field, maybe the size of 8 to 10 soccer fields laid side by side. On the other side of the field is a large rock hill, with terraced flanks and stairs through the middle of it. On the other side of this is a quite large filed, surrounded by a low stone wall. We walked back to Cusco from Saqasywaman, and after dinner, came down to the Plaza de Armas to witness a folklore dance competition. Lots of beautifully dressed kids performing traditional dances in the street in front of the Cathedral.

As I write this at night in the hostal, I can still hear the music from the festival wafting up from below.

firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220488250681512373.post-36965237628961680762010-06-15T18:13:00.000-07:002010-07-08T18:51:05.414-07:00Travel Log, Tuesday, June 8, Lima to CuzcoWe had to get up kind of early this morning for our flight from Lima to Cuzco. We arrived around 11:00 and found a hotel near Plaza San Blas. At almost 11,000 ft, Cuzco is high enough to take your breath away, even for us, acclimatized to 8,500 ft in Cuenca. Or perhaps it was the 2 days we spent at sea level (Lima and Guayaquil) that thickened our blood. Anyway, I'm a bit out of breath.

Cuzco is a beautiful old city, with lots of narrow pedestrian alleyways and churches and plazas. Itis also incredibly touristy, with prices to match the demand. This applies to hotels and restaurants, as well as entrance fees. ($8.00 to go into the Cathedral!, $46 for a pass to about 10 archeological sites in and around Cuzco and a couple museums, up from $20 just 2 years ago.) Most of the store fronts in the historic district house art galleries or artesian shops (sweaters, paintings, etc.) The trick seems to be to focus on the architecture and not the stores inside.

email@example.com


text:
By Serdar Yegulalp | 2016/07/14 08:00
This is something that came to me when I was using Movable Type. Hitting Publish on a page required me to wait for it to finish all of its operations synchronously before I could continue to do anything. What I really wanted was to be able to save the page, trigger those events in the background, and only need to be notified in some way if things went wrong. With MeTal, we have that, but it still has limitations I want to overcome.
Right now, the UI for publishing is async -- when you send a page off to be published, you get a notification in the interface that X jobs have been queued, and you see them tick down in batches of fifty.
The bad news is that this still requires you to keep that particular page open to get any feedback about what's going on, which somewhat defeats the purpose.
I'm looking into several user-selectable possibilities for how feedback is provided.
Obviously this last one is only useful for hosts that allow scheduled tasks, but I have yet to find one running today that didn't.
Some other ideas that are orthogonal but also useful:
The main problem, then, isn't so much running the script as getting feedback about it back to the user in a timely way -- to honor the asynchronicity of the process all the way.
Tags: UI/UX asynchronous performance publishing

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Property industry convenes for first post-Brexit debate
The potential impact on the Irish property sector of the UK's decision to vote in favour of Brexit will be up for discussion this Thursday when leading figures from the country's real estate industry gather at Dublin's RDS for a special debate on the subject.
The Real Estate Stakeholders Debate Brexit summit, of which the Irish Independent and Sunday Independent are media sponsors, will see contributions from a number of Ireland's most prominent property figures, including Hibernia Reit CEO Kevin Nowlan, Ronan Group Real Estate development director Shane Whelan and the AIB's head of land and development, Derek O'Shea.
Of particular interest to those in attendance, however, will be the views of Colm Lauder, who has just returned from London to take up his new role as senior analyst within the real estate division at Goodbody. Prior to taking up that position, Lauder had served as vice president within MSCI's real estate market consultancy division since 2011.
Thursday's real estate summit has received strong support, with sponsorship from KPMG, QRE, developer Johnny Ronan's RGRE, Maples & Calder and AIB.
Sunday Independent


text:
What to do, what to do. What do you do when… you need something to give you the same fullness as a whole grain, but don't actually want a grain, you need a bit of extra protein, and you don't have a million dollars to buy the ingredients for this "thing"? Well, I can tell you exactly what I do! I mix up a socca batter and pop it in the oven! Don't know what socca is? Don't worry, I'll tell you. Socca is a pancake-like flat-bread made of chickpea flour, a dish native to Genoa, a town in northern Italy, and the southern coast of France in towns such as Nice. With the main two ingredients being chickpea flour and water, it couldn't be more simple to make. To me, socca resembles a mix between a savory pancake and a quiche. So, whether you're searching for a egg-less, vegan quiche substitute, or a flat-bread/carb replacement, or just some happy taste buds, you've come to the right place! Socca usually consists of a hearty dose of olive oil, which is totally fine, but I prefer to tweak my socca by adding simply a tablespoon of olive oil to yield a more bread-like texture. However, if you feel like adding a few extra tablespoons of olive oil, go for it, I'm sure it will taste just as great!
Zucchini Basil Socca
1 cup chickpea flour
1 cup warm water
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 tbsp. olive oil (add more if you like)
3 tbsp. basil, chopped
1 cup tightly packed, shredded zucchini
*preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
1. Mix chickpea flour, salt, and red pepper flakes.
2. Whisk in 1 cup warm water, whisk until no lumps and batter is the consistency of crepe batter. Cover and let sit from as little as it takes to warm your oven, up to 12 hours.
3. When oven is ready, stir in chopped basil and zucchini, transfer batter to a parchment paper lined cake pan.
4. Bake 10-15 minutes until the edges are set and the socca is firm. After 10-15 minutes, turn your oven broiler on to high and broil socca for 3-5 minutes until gently browned on top.


text:
On Tuesday we had zone meeting and interviews so I had a nice chat with President Rasmussen He said he feels like I will be staying in Evesham for a while. He said I will be taking over the area once Elder Dalton leaves and then I will have to "step up" which means I'm going to have to train. In the next 4-5 months we are getting like 90 new missionaies so that means we are going to need some people to train them and I have a feeling I might be one of them. After zone meeting I went on exchange with elder Mucke the german. He goes home in 8 days so he is pretty much done with his mission. We went to the forest of dean. They filmed some of Harry Potter there.
Wednesday we have to help this family move. The wife just had a baby and the dad was sick. So elder Dalton and I had to pack everything and then move it all into the truck/van. Lets jsut say it sucked alot. So we did that wesdesday and Thursday and we didn't get alot of missionary work done and we were just wiped out because of it. We did get to play some basketball Thursday night which was just awesome!!
Friday we had to bike like 7 miles out to this place to see someone and he flogged us. We were so mad so we biked back and stopped in a few places along the way. When we got back we just did weekly planning and that was the rest of the day. It was upsetting that the dude flogged us.
Saturday morning we got a text from the church saying that this guy named Zach wanted a visit from us. So we went out to Tewkesbury to see him. He is a 19 year old guy who saw the Book of Mormon musical and wanted a Book of Mormon and wants to learn more about it. It was pretty cool. I think we will get alot more people like that who just wanna know what's up with this whole mormon thing.
Sunday was Easter. We had church and elder Dalton spoke. It was very good. We then went to a member's house with a few other people for an Easter dinner. They do something called hot cross buns. It's really like a roll with a cross on it. It's something they do here in England. And now I'm at Rob's house emailing because the library is closed. We are going to go play some basketball later today because its finally nice outside. We had some snow a few days ago but when were helping those people move so we didn't have to deal with it. Elder Dalton has 8 more days till he goes home and he is hating it because he doesn't wanna go home. Well we were not able to see many people this week as alot of people were out of town such as angie and her daugter. Danny has been acting up so we might see him this week. Well thank you all so much - you guys are the best!!
Love Elder Doty


text:
Bengal 05/05/07
Monday, July 16, 2007
A Lonely Dusk...
Labels: Photography
3 comments:
- ad said...
..........no words to say.
i suppose this as the best pic in all of them
the vastness captured in this pic is marvellous..
the small hint of the sea or whatever water body is done very nicely.... it makes me eager to look beyond. i feel like peeping in to the picture to explore further............
to be precise u have added life to the frame...life not only to a single component but the whole environment.....
keep it up////
- August 7, 2007 at 1:01 AM
- Danish d said...
good creativity
- August 10, 2007 at 10:16 PM
- Neva said...
You write very well.
- November 11, 2008 at 6:40 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Events - June 21
1788 - The colony of New Hampshire became the ninth state to enter the United States of America. It had been a long time coming. For 38 years, the fishing colony, first settled in 1623, and named in 1630 by Captain John Mason after his Hampshire, England home, was a part of the Massachusetts colony. Then, in 1679 it became a separate royal colony. Concord, the capital of the Granite State, was also central to much of the Revolutionary War. The official state bird is the purple finch, and has a matching state flower, the purple lilac.
1834 - Cyrus McCormick patented the first practical reaper for farming.
1853 - The envelope folding machine was patented by Dr. Russell L. Hawes of Worcester, MA.
1859 - Andrew Lanergan of Boston, MA received the first rocket patent. Did the receipt of this patent make Mr. Lanergan of Boston the first rocket scientist?
1913 - Georgia Broadwick became the first woman to jump from an airplane -- over Los Angeles, CA. Fortunately for her, Georgia made the leap with a parachute securely fastened to her person...
1940 - Richard M. Nixon married Thelma Catherine 'Pat' Ryan this day.
1941 - Wayne King and his orchestra recorded "Time Was", with Buddy Clark providing the vocal accompaniment, for Victor Records.
1942 - Ben Hogan recorded the lowest score (to that time) in a major golf tournament. Hogan shot a 271 for 72 holes in Chicago, IL.
1948 - For those of us who have a garage full of those 12-inch round, black disks protected by flimsy cardboard covers, this note: Columbia Records announced that it was offering a new Vinylite long-playing record that could hold 23 minutes of music on each side. One of the first LPs produced was of the original cast of the Broadway show, "South Pacific". Critics quickly scoffed at the notion of LPs, since those heavy, breakable, 78 RPM, 10-inch disks with one song on each side, were selling at an all-time high. It didn't take very long though, for the 33-1/3 RPM album -- and its 7-inch, 45 RPM cousin to revolutionize the music industry and the record buying habits of millions.
1954 - NBC radio presented the final broadcast of "The Railroad Hour", hosted by Gordon MacRae. The program had been on the air for almost six years.
1958 - "Splish Splash", Bobby Darin's first million-seller, was released by Atco Records. The song, written by Darin and Jean Murray, was Atco single #6117, recorded Apr 10, 1958.
1964 - Jim Bunning (later to become a U.S. Senator from Kentucky), a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, threw the first perfect game in the National League in 84 years, leading the Phils to a 6-0 win over the New York Mets. Bunning worked his magic in the first game of a Father's Day doubleheader. Byrum Saam called the play-by-play on radio. In the second game of the twin-bill, 18-year-old Rick Wise won his first major-league game, 8-2, as the Phillies swept the Mets that summer day. (Bunning was also the first hurler in 61 years to get a no-hitter in both leagues.)
1965 - Gary Player won the U.S. Open golf tournament to become only the fourth winner to earn all four top pro golf titles. Player from South Africa was the first non-American to achieve the feat. The Grand Slam of golf, incidentally, includes the U.S. Open, the British Open, the Masters and the PGA Championship. The other professional golfers who have won all four events are Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, and Gene Sarazen.
1970 - Tony Jacklin was the second British golfer in 50 years to win the U.S. Open golf tournament.
1972 - Billy Preston received a gold record for the instrumental hit, "Outa-Space". Preston, who played for gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, back in 1956, was also in the film "St. Louis Blues" as a piano player. He was a regular on the "Shindig" TV show in the 1960s; and recorded with The Beatles on the hits "Get Back" and "Let It Be". Preston also performed at "The Concert for Bangladesh" in 1969. Many well-known artists utilized his keyboard talents, including Sly & The Family Stone and the Rolling Stones.
1985 - Ray Miller replaced Billy Gardner as manager of the Minnesota Twins. Miller became the fourth new manager to unpack his suitcase in the American League since the season started, two months previous.
1985 - Ron Howard directed his first music video. The TV star of "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Happy Days" also directed the film "Cocoon", which included "Gravity", the song used in the video. Michael Sembello, a guitarist who played on Stevie Wonder's hits between 1974 and 1979 was responsible for "Gravity".
1989 - The U.S. Supreme Court in "Texas v. Johnson" ruled that burning the American flag as a political protest is protected by the First Amendment. In 1984, on Dallas City Hall property, Gregory Lee Johnson burned an American flag to protest Reagan administration policies. He was tried and convicted (one year in jail and $2,000 fine) under a Texas law outlawing flag desecration. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals had reversed the conviction and the state then appealed to the Supreme Court, which ruled 5-to-4 against the Texas law.
1992 - Tom Kite beat fought fellow golfers and the elements as he won the U.S. Open. Scoring records had given way to survival at Pebble Beach, California. Howling winds made the greens as hard as concrete. Kite's final-round even-par score of 72 was enough to give him a two-stroke victory over Jeff Sluman.
1995 - Microsoft and Netscape officials met at Netscape headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. Notes taken by Netscape co-founder Marc Andreessen indicate that Microsoft offered to buy a share of its rival if Netscape would stop making Navigator for the Windows market. The Andreessen notes would be used later in the U.S. government's massive antitrust case against Microsoft Corp. (Microsoft founder Bill Gates was painted as the master string-puller in a no-holds-barred plan to destroy Netscape Communications Corp. when it refused to collaborate on a plot to divide the market for Internet browser software.)
1997 - The New York Liberty defeated the Los Angeles Sparks, 67-57, in the innaugural WNBA game before a sold-out crowd of 14,284 fans at the Great Western Forum. In other opening-day action: The Houston Comets beat Cleveland, 76-56, and the Sacramento Monarchs beat the Utah Starzz, 70-60. We'll be right back with the weather...
1999 - Prince William, the 'people's prince', turned 17. Princess Diana's handsome eldest son was given a VW Golf by his dad, Prince Charles. This was the second birthday William had spent without his mother, who was killed in a car crash in August 1997.
2000 - 22 Asian-American veterans received the Medal of Honor for bravery on the battlefield. The ceremony was held at the White House on this day, some 55 years after World War II ended.
Birthdays - June 21
1859 - Henry Tanner (artist: one of the first black artists to be exhibited in galleries throughout the U.S.: The Banjo Lesson; died May 25, 1937)
1903 - Al Hirschfeld (caricaturist: hid name of his daughter, Nina, in each of his drawings; died Jan 20, 2003)
1905 - Jean-Paul Sartre (philosopher, writer: Being and Nothingness; playwright: No Exit, The Flies, The Age of Reason; rejected Nobel Prize for literature [1964]; died Apr 15, 1980)
1906 - Randy (Randolph Edward) Moore (baseball: Chicago White Sox, Boston Braves, Brooklyn Dodgers, SL Cardinals; died June 12, 1992)
1918 - Ed (Edmund Walter) Lopat (Lopatynski) (baseball: pitcher: Chicago White Sox, NY Yankees [World Series: 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953/all-star: 1951], Baltimore Orioles; died June 15, 1992)
1921 - Judy Holliday (Tuvim) (actress: Adam's Rib, Bells are Ringing, Born Yesterday, It Should Happen to You; died June 7, 1965)
1921 - Jane (Ernestine) Russell (actress: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Outlaw, Paleface, The Road to Bali; activist for homeless children; died Feb 28, 2011)
1925 - Maureen Stapleton (Academy Award-winning actress: Reds [1981]; A View from the Bridge, Bye, Bye Birdie, Cocoon: The Return; theatre at Hudson Valley Community College name for her; died Mar 13, 2006)
1927 - Carl Stokes (politician: first black elected mayor of a major city: Cleveland [1967, 1969]; Cleveland Municipal Court Judge; died Apr 3, 1996)
1932 - O.C. (Ocie Lee) Smith (singer: Little Green Apples, Daddy's Little Man, Lighthouse, Slow Walk, The Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp; vocalist for Count Basie Orchestra; died Nov 23, 2001)
1933 - Bernie Kopell (actor: The Love Boat, Get Smart, Love American Style, When Things were Rotten, Combat High, Sunset Beach, Bug Buster)
1935 - Monte Markham (actor: The Second Hundred Years, Baywatch, Rituals, Dallas, Perry Mason, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, At First Sight, Judgment Day, Hotline, Guns of the Magnificent Seven)
1935 - Françoise Sagan (Quoirez) (author: Aimez-Vous Brahms, Bonjour Tristesse, Evasion, A Certain Smile; died Sep 24, 2004)
1938 - Ron Ely (Ronald Pierce) (actor: Tarzan, Slavers, Doc Savage; host: Miss America Pageant)
1940 - Mariette Hartley (actress: Encino Man, Silence of the Heart, Improper Channels; TV hostess; commercials: Polaroid)
1941 - Joe Flaherty (Emmy Award-winning writer: SCTV Network 90 [1983]; actor: Second City TV, Maniac Mansion. Happy Gilmore, A Pig's Tale, Who's Harry Crumb, Back to the Future, Part 2, Speed Zone, Stripes, Used Cars, Tunnelvision)
1943 - Brian Sternberg (pole-vaulter: Univ. of Washington: world pole vault record [16'-7": 1963]; died May 23, 2013)
1944 - Ray Davies (musician: guitar, singer, songwriter: group: The Kinks: You Really Got Me, All Day & All of the Night, Tired of Waiting, A Well Respected Man, Sunny Afternoon, Lola)
1947 - Meredith Baxter (actress: Family Ties, Bridget Loves Bernie, Til Murder Do Us Part)
1947 - Michael Gross (actor: Family Ties, Firestorm: 72 Hours in Oakland, In the Heat of Passion 2: Unfaithful)
1947 - Joey Molland (musician: guitar, keyboards, singer: groups: Natural Gas, Badfinger: Day After Day, No Matter What, Baby Blue)
1947 - Wade Phillips (football: coach: Denver Broncos)
1947 - Duane Thomas (football: Dallas Cowboys running back: Super Bowl V, VI)
1950 - Joey Kramer (musician: drums: group: Aerosmith: LPs: Toys in the Attic, Rocks, Draw the Line, Night in the Ruts)
1951 - Nils Lofgren (musician: guitar, keyboards, singer, songwriter: Back It Up, Keith Don't Go [Ode to the Glimmer Twin], Beggars Day, No Mercy, Secrets in the Street, Delivery Night; groups: Grin, E Street Band)
1954 - Robert Pastorelli (actor: I Married a Centerfold, Beverly Hills Cop II, Murphy Brown, Dances with Wolves, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, Striking Distance, Eraser, South Pacific [2001]; died Mar 8, 2004)
1956 - Rick (Richard Lee) Sutcliffe (baseball: pitcher: LA Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs [Cy Young Award-winner: 1984], Baltimore Orioles, SL Cardinals)
1957 - Berkeley Breathed (cartoonist: Bloom County, Outland)
1957 - Mark Brzezicki (musician: drums: group: Big Country: Harvest Home, Fields of Fire, In a Big Country, Chance, Wonderland, East of Eden, Where the Rose is Sown)
1958 - Eric Douglas (actor: The Flamingo Kid, Delta Force 3: The Killing Game; died July 6, 2004)
1959 - Tom Chambers (basketball: University of Utah, San Diego Clippers, Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz; 20th player in NBA history to score 20,000 career points)
1964 - Sammi Davis-Voss (actress: The Lair of the White Worm, Hope and Glory, Homefront)
1964 - Doug Savant (actor: Melrose Place, Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence, Shaking the Tree, Red Surf, Masquerade, Godzilla [1998])
1967 - Derrick Coleman (basketball: Syracuse Univ, Seattle SuperSonics, Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets)
1973 - Juliette Lewis (actress: Cape Fear, Husbands and Wives, Natural Born Killers, Romeo is Bleeding, What's Eating Gilbert Grape?, My Stepmother is an Alien, Too Young to Die, I Married Dora)
1982 - Prince William (William Arthur Philip Louis Windsor) (Duke of Cambridge: first future king of England born in a hospital, first to wear disposable diapers, first to attend nursery school; son of England's Prince Charles and Princess Diana)
Chart Toppers - June 21
Nature Boy - Nat King Cole
Toolie Oolie Doolie - The Andrews Sisters
You Can't Be True, Dear - The Ken Griffin Orchestra (vocal: Jerry Wayne)
Texarkana Baby - Eddy Arnold
The Wayward Wind - Gogi Grant
I Almost Lost My Mind - Pat Boone
Transfusion - Nervous Norvus
Crazy Arms - Ray Price
Chapel of Love - The Dixie Cups
A World Without Love - Peter & Gordon
I Get Around - The Beach Boys
Together Again - Buck Owens
The Candy Man - Sammy Davis, Jr.
Song Sung Blue - Neil Diamond
Nice to Be with You - Gallery
The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A. - Donna Fargo
Funkytown - Lipps, Inc.
Coming Up - Paul McCartney & Wings
Biggest Part of Me - Ambrosia
One Day at a Time - Cristy Lane
Together Forever - Rick Astley
Foolish Beat - Debbie Gibson
Dirty Diana - Michael Jackson
I Told You So - Randy Travis
Those were the days, my friend. We thought they'd never end...
Comments/Corrections: email@example.com
Written and edited by Carol Williams and John Williams
Produced by John Williams
Those Were the Days, the Today in History feature
from 440 International
No portion of these files may be reproduced without the express, written permission of 440 International Inc.


text:
Blitz information
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941,during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed. More than one million London houses were destroyed or damaged, and more than 40,000 civilians were killed, half of them in London.


text:
Jay and Sam dish out about NBC's live TV adaptation of The Wiz, including what they really thought of Mary J. Blige and Hamilton gets referenced again.
You can listen, download and subscribe at the podcast site, or use the player and links below.
Download this episode (right click and save)
Monday, April 18, 2016
The Royal Podcast of Oz: Movies of Oz — The Wiz Live
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
At the 2014 American Bar Association (ABA) Midyear Meeting, a resolution was passed about traumatized youth:
"RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association urges the development and adoption of trauma-informed, evidence-based approaches and practices on behalf of justice system-involved children and youth who have been exposed to violence, including victims of child abuse and neglect or other crimes and those subject to delinquency or status offense proceedings by:
(a) recognizing the impact that current or prior exposure to violence and trauma has on physical, emotional, psychological, and behavioral development and well-being;
(b) responding to child traumatic stress through legal representation that reflects awareness of trauma's adverse impacts on children and youth who have contact with the legal system; and
(c) acting in collaboration with other professionals involved with the child or youth to facilitate and support recovery and resiliency of the child and family.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association urges federal, state, local tribal and territorial bar associations, working with judges, lawyers, and other professionals with subject matter expertise in trauma-informed systems of care, to develop and implement training programs for judges, child welfare attorneys, prosecutors, defense counsel, and law students that will enable them to integrate trauma knowledge into daily legal practice and integrate and sustain trauma awareness, knowledge, and skills in practice and policies.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association encourages court systems, lawyers, law schools, and bar associations to promote awareness of secondary trauma among legal professionals working with traumatized children and youth and to develop positive strategies for addressing secondary trauma among those involved with children and youth in the justice system."
To learn more about traumatized youth, see the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, Child Welfare Information Gateway, the National Center for Trauma-Informed Care, Understanding the Impact of Trauma in the Lives of DCS-Involved Children and Families by Richard T. Rowlinson, and this prior post: Resources About Trauma-Informed Care
For additional information about secondary trauma (also sometimes called vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue) for legal professionals working with traumatized clients, see the American Bar Association website on compassion fatigue, Secondary Trauma and Burnout in Attorneys: Effects of Work with Clients Who are Victims of Domestic Violence and Abuse by Andrew P. Levin, M.D. (2008), Healing Power: How to Keep Legal Minds Intact by Mitigating Compassion Fatigue by Linda Albert (2013), and Secondary Trauma & Compassion Fatigue When Working with Clients in Crisis by Aline Carton Listfjeld (2012).
The post ABA Urges Focus on Traumatized Youth and Secondary Trauma on Practitioners first appeared on the Indiana Juvenile Justice Blog.


text:
Okay, so the surprise isn't what's in this but, rather, the fact that I found a couple of nice sized zucchini growing in our garden. Based on what's happened with the rest of our vegetables this year (ie; not too much of anything), this really was a great find! I may be getting a little too excited here but I've pulled out all my favorite zucchini recipes and started with bread (per Fred's request — as it's the "only way he'll eat zucchini," which is correct as far he knows…).
Zucchini Bread
(This is the recipe I've been using since I first started baking. I think I was around 8 or 9 years old. Looking at the recipe card (yes, I have the "original"), my spelling and grammar was atrocious. Thank goodness it's improved…even if only slightly).
- 2 Eggs
- 1/2 cup Cooking Oil
- 1 tsp. Vanilla (or extract)
- 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
- 1/8 tsp. Baking Powder
- 1 tsp. Cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. Salt
- 3/4 cup White Sugar
- 1/4 cup Brown Sugar (not packed)
- 1-1/2 cups Flour
- 1-1/2 to 2 cups grated, fresh, unpeeled Zucchini (the amount you use will depend on the zucchini — if it's a 'juicy' one, use 1-1/2 cups, if it's a bit on the dry side, use up to 2 cups).
- 1/3 cup chopped Walnuts (optional – but delicious!)
Crack the eggs into a big bowl and whisk until they're well mixed. Add the rest of the wet ingredients (except the zucchini). Add the baking soda, baking powder, Cinnamon, salt, white and brown sugars. Give it another good stir then add the flour, stirring again, then the zucchini and nuts and…yes, stir again until everything is all incorporated.
Heat your oven to 350F (as I've said in the past, I don't "preheat" unless I'm on a strict time schedule – it's a waste of energy, and too much heat in the summer, if you don't use the oven right away) and grease/spray and flour a large loaf pan. Pour the batter in and bake for 1 hour OR until a toothpick or knife come out clean (my oven runs hot – it was done in about 45 minutes). Leave it in the pan for about 5 minutes then loosen the edges (a table knife should do it), remove it from the pan, then let it cool on a rack before cutting/serving (most breads get "gummy" if you cut them too soon).
This is a very simple, basic recipe but I've never had a problem with "too many leftovers"…my idea of a good recipe.


text:
Brand Label: Atm Anthony Thomas Melillo
ITEM MOVED TO ARCHIVE: On January 30, 2018 1:21 pm, Fashion Stylist Online noted this item may be out of stock at Bergdorf Goodman because it was not referenced in their latest online catalog. If this item is out of stock at Bergdorf Goodman, you may be able to find similar fashions sold there or elsewhere on our Atm Anthony Thomas Melillo Designer Brand Directory.
Available for Purchase Online at Bergdorf Goodman for $295.00Pin It
ATM Anthony Thomas Melillo velour sweatpants. Elasticized waistband and cuffs. Straight, tapered legs. Pull-on style. Cotton/nylon. Imported.
Shop other brand label items from Atm Anthony Thomas Melillo on FashionStylist.com.
This item was published for sale online by Bergdorf Goodman on January 30, 2018 10:54 am and last updated by us January 30, 2018 1:21 pm.
Editor Picks: Onepiece and Whimsy
Mugler Colour Block Playsuit Women Polyamide Spandex
Lemlem Safia Playsuit Women's Blue Cotton Acrylic
Isolda Tropical Jumpsuit Women's Blue Cotton Spandex
Frame Denim Le Button Jumpsuit Women's Blue Polyester
Uma Raquel Davidowicz Tie Fastening Cardigan Women
Editor Picks: On the Sunny Side
Moncler Women's 47mm Sunglasses
Gentle Monster Women's Absente 54mm Sunglasses
Givenchy Women's 50mm Round Sunglasses
Tommy Hilfiger Women's Gigi 58mm Aviator Sunglasses
Perverse Women's Soho 53mm Polarized Keyhole Sunglasses
Editor Picks: Whimsical, Wild, and Wonderful
Tory Burch Floral Print Sandals Women's 5 Nude
Tory Burch Beaded Statement Earrings
Tory Burch Melody Black Leather Ankle Strap Sandals
Tory Burch Fish Bone Vintage Goldtone Brass Cuff
Tory Burch Gemini Link New Ivory Suede And Leather
Editor Picks: Gifts That Wow and Arrive on Time
Fendi Monster Silk Necktie
Alexander Mcqueen Wool Skull Print Blanket Blue
Tom Ford Buckley Soft Leather Garment Bag Black
Trafalgar Formal Satin Striped Braces Ascot
Fendi Face W Teeth Iphone 6 Case Black
Editor Picks: The Beauty Items on Your Wishlist
Nails Inc The Soft Metals Nail Polish Collection
Benefit Cosmetics Benetint Cheek Lip Stain 0 13
Bite Beauty Best Redux Makeup
Lancome Juicy Shaker 381 Mangoes Wild 0 22 6 5
Benefit Cosmetics Ka Brow Cream Gel Eyebrow Color
Browse More Fashion Apparel by Atm Anthony Thomas Melillo (view more)
- $75.00
Atm Anthony Thomas Melillo Sweetheart Jersey Knit
- $44.00
Atm Anthony Thomas Melillo Men's Cotton Blend
- $44.00
Atm Anthony Thomas Melillo Men's Cotton French
- $44.00
Atm Anthony Thomas Melillo Men's Cotton Terry
- $450.00
Atm Anthony Thomas Melillo Women's Surplice Jumpsuit
- $179.00
Atm Anthony Thomas Melillo Women's Tiered Cotton
- $239.00
Atm Anthony Thomas Melillo Women's Polka Dot Silk
- $239.00
Atm Anthony Thomas Melillo Women's Silk Charmeuse
- $295.00
Atm Anthony Thomas Melillo Women's Striped Cotton
- $275.00
Atm Anthony Thomas Melillo Women's Smocked Cotton
New promo codes and links offering limited time promotions, sales coupons, and special offers on Atm Anthony Thomas Melillo designer fashions and accessories will be posted on each designer label apparel page. For the latest up to date information on this Atm Anthony Thomas Melillo Velour Pull On Sweatpants Sweat Pants | Activewear, Pants And Clothing fashion item, including product specifications, ordering options, pricing, shipping details, high resolution pictures, shopper comments, and other sales media, visit the Bergdorf Goodman Online Store.


text:
Doosan Propane Forklifts
Propane Motor Fuel & Forklift Safety
Propane-powered forklifts are usually utilized in various industries. These forklifts are usually found in warehouses and distribution centers, along with in industry and commercial applications. Propane fuel has several unique factors when utilized in a workplace. It is important to always follow safety measures and practices when using this machine.
Lift trucks are powered electrically, with gasoline, diesel or with propane. Propane powered lift trucks are the most commonly bought and used machinery. You'll notice some reasons for this. Propane is a clean-burning fuel, which means it generates much less engine exhaust compared to diesel and gasoline. Regardless of the type of fuel being used to power the forklift, smoking must be avoided when operating and the unit must not be utilized near an open flame. The propane is normally stored in a fuel tank, that must be changed out when empty. It is very vital for the driver to make sure that the tank is fastened securely in place prior to starting the engine.
Propane is a cold liquid that can burn the skin if it comes in contact with it. Following safety procedures is critical when the tank is being changed out or when the unit is being refueled . Smoking is prohibited in the fueling area. Fueling should never be performed near an open flame or ignition source. The operator should put on personal protective equipment when fueling or changing the tank. Full eye protection is really vital. Thick gloves should be worn so as to protect the skin from exposure to propane.
- TCM Dual Fuel Forklifts
Safety using a lift truck needs to be a top priority if you are going to utilize a forklift or would hire somebody to use a forklift. ... More
- Wolff Self Erect Cranes
Kinds of Jib Cranes The trolley hoist on a horizontal load-bearing boom are key features on Jib cranes. The boom is secured to a ... More
- Mitsubishi LP Forklifts
The lift truck has become such an important piece of machinery found and utilized in most warehousing and industrial operations, ever ... More
- FM GRU Tower Cranes
Established during 1920, FM GRU Tower Cranes started as a family business in the Northern Italy's largest industrial location. ... More
- Manitou Cushion Tire Forklift
For work trucks, or course there are a varieties of different forklift parts, with one of the most important components is the ... More


text:
I love when I get to see the final outcome of my photo shoots and I am particularly happy with the final product of MINE Label bags. A few months ago we got together in my studio with their samples and went to town styling and creating sets to showcase their bags. Well, their website just launched and the fruits of our labors are up.
I particularly love this installation we created and how they incorporated it for their home page.
Product shots. Inside each Made in the USA bag, is an inspirational quote. I really wanted the photo shoot to reflect their organic, natural feel. They are the prefect totes for the gym, the grocery store, even to just have in your car for all those unexpected times when you need another bag.


text:
That's why we headed up to the Hollywood Hills with Chiyo Hartley for this week's edition of Tuesday Without, finding a brief moment of sun-drenched bliss before heading back to the city. The 24-year-old Japanese-American model has plenty of ambitions in the future, with her own cafe opening Sachi (meaning 'happiness' in Japanese) on the horizon – but for now, we managed to catch some down-time with Chiyo to took a couple of snaps. Oh yeah, her boyfriend also works on Tesla, so we're hoping for the inside word on when we can acquire a self-driving car to blast Waka Flocka Flame in a reclined seat.
With styling by Kara Wilson complimenting the earthy backdrops, Chiyo shows us why there's nothing quite like the Californian summer. See her in action above and see her Instagram page right here:
Enter your email address below to subscribe to a regular(ish) dose of LWA goodness direct to your inbox.


text:
A new king without a crown
|Fr 26-04-2013 16:00 - 17:00
|Geertsemazaal (Academy Building)
On Friday April 26th 2013, Dutch Studies presents the lecture 'A new king without a crown'.
Doeko Bosscher will discuss the history of the Dutch monarchy and its kings and queen. From the early beginnings of the Dutch Republic in the 16th Century, the republican mentality (government for the people, of the people) is firmly embedded in the constitution and in all governmental institutions. In that sense the Dutch 'monarchy' is not what it seems to suggest. The monarch is really a President in disguise, and the members of the House of Orange, keenly aware of the republican tradition, normally play their republican role rather wisely. Will this 'kingdom' become a true republic (without a monarch) in the future? The speaker will speculate about that question.


text:
|Claim this listing
studio1500 is a graphic design firm that focuses on identity, packaging, print and exhibit design. Our process is informed by cultural awareness, intellectual curiosity and an insistence on unparalleled craftsmanship.
We embark upon a collaborative process with each client to find outstanding creative solutions. We think broadly and explore multiple approaches until we arrive at a solution that allows them to stand out and thrive in the crowded media landscape.


text:
Is it seriously already 2014? Why did 2013 go in such a hurry, we quite enjoyed it's company. We suppose it's good to try new things, so while we're getting used to typing 14 on everything we may as well add a few more new things to the list!
I try not to go crazy with resolutions and make ones that I won't or can't make come true. So simply…
1. Add veggies to breakfasts.
2. Work on loving myself, flaws and all.
3. Travel out of the county.
4. Create more friendships while staying in touch with the ones I already love.
5. Enjoy each day like it's an adventure.
6. Continue learning – in life, love, business, friendship, and anything else 2014 brings my way!
Erik: I'm going big this year…
1. Squat 400lbs.
2. Take 3 major trips this year. Peru, Italy, and Hawaii.
3. Meditate 3x a week.
4. Keep in touch with friends.
5. Get 7.5 – 9 hours of sleep a night
6. Buy a house.
7. Learn to shoot a gun.
8. Have one day a week with no technology.
9. Learn to play the drums.
10. Make sure that when I write this blog again in January of 2015 I had zero regrets in the past year.
We wish you all a happy new year! Hope that your 2014 is filled with love and happiness (and tons of adventure).
~Erik & Marissa


text:
Lake County Sheriff's Deputies responded about 12:40 a.m. Sunday January 15, 2017 to a report of a domestic battery occurring in a vehicle. The 9-1-1 caller reported the incident was occurring in a vehicle, on the side of the westbound I-94 off-ramp at Route 60 in Mettawa.
Lake County Sheriff's Deputies and Illinois State Troopers responded to the scene. Prior to their arrival, the offender, Jermaine D. Ausley, 30, of Chicago, fled the scene. The vehicle Ausley fled from was found to be stolen.
Deputy John Forlenza and his canine partner, Dax, responded and began tracking the scent of Ausley. Canine Dax and Deputy Forlenza successfully tracked the scent eastbound to the 1900 block of Amberley Court, Lake Forest. Canine Dax located Ausley hiding under a tarp, in an outbuilding, in the 1900 block of Amberley Court. Once found, Ausley was taken into custody without further incident.
Ausley was turned over to Illinois State Troopers. Troopers transported Ausley to the Lake County Jail, and he was subsequently charged with two counts of domestic battery, obstructing a peace officer, criminal trespass to building, and criminal trespass to vehicle.
Ausley is being held in the Lake County Jail on $40,000.00 bail. His next court date is Friday, January 20, 2017 at 1:30PM in courtroom C-120.
Officers from Lake Forest Police Department, Lake Bluff Police Department, and Lincolnshire Police Department also responded and assisted Lake County Sheriff's Deputies and Illinois State Police troopers.
Sheriff Curran reminds the public the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
In May 2016 Dax found an offender who fled after punching a Fox River Grove Police Officer on a traffic stop at US 14 & Opatrny Drive.
In November 2017, Dax helped located a driver who fled on foot after crashing a vehicle that was involved in eluding police in Round Lake earlier in the evening. Dax was able to track the suspect from the crash at Milwaukee Avenue and West Casey Road in unincorporated Libertyville, but the suspect ran away. Dax was then released to apprehend the suspect, was then transported by paramedics to Advocate Condell Medical Center for treatment of a dog bite.CLEAR SKIES?  Weather Data for Sunday, January 15th, 2017
IMPORTANT NOTE: All persons referred to as subjects, defendants, offenders or suspects, etc. are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
SEARCH BOX PRODUCES RESULTS FOR The Cardinal -- Arlingtoncardinal.com ...
Where background Wikipedia info/photos are used, original work is modified and released under CC-BY-SA.
::: Health, wellness and fitness gifts! CoolFitnessGifts.com ::: Cubs, Sox caps at ChicagoFanfare.com :::
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS BREAKING NEWS --The Cardinal -- Arlingtoncardinal.com is a breaking news blog with Arlington Heights & Chicagoland emphasis. Early breaking reports may prove to be inaccurate after follow-up investigation, which may or may not be updated in The Cardinal -- Arlingtoncardinal.com. For in-depth coverage, please also check the following links for network television, cable news networks and Chicago local media coverage ...
Daily Herald | Daily Herald -- Arlington Heights | YouTube.com/DailyHeraldClips
Today's headline videos: FOXNews Video | YouTube.com/FoxNews | Associated Press | The Cardinal
|RSS Help ...
All Headlines
crimeblog | fireblog
|« EARLIER | SEARCH ARTICLES BY DATE -- Arlingtoncardinal.com/searchdate | LATER »


text:
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Rome is dead and we miss the ciceroni...
How does one celebrate? For yt it was off to the dusty Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum with a friend for his first paid tour of those sites ever (just 10 euro). Livid, yt always makes note that for the humanistic guides no mention of Christianity/martyrs is made in that they have been eliminated from the new version of the story.
When will faithful Catholics take back the giant tour industry in Rome from these devils?
In the old days there were the Roman ciceroni. They were the good guys. During the days of Pius IX and until the end of that century they were the best tour guides ever as they guided foreign visitors through Rome while giving them vibrant descriptions of the slaughter of the early Christians (stories which were often unhistorical and highly "creative").
2 comments:
Could you give this a little publicity please:
Saint Conleth's Catholic Heritage Association invites you to honour the Holy Year of St. Paul by attending Holy Mass in the Traditional Latin Rite (Missal of Blessed John XXIII) on Saturday, 30th August, 2008, at 11 a.m., in St. Paul's Church, Emo, Co. Laois, Ireland, followed by a tour of Emo Court House and Gardens.
For the past 15 years, St. Conleth's Catholic Heritage Association has been working prayerfully for the provision of the Traditional Latin Liturgy in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin.
Please confirm your attendance to: firstname.lastname@example.com
For further details consult:
God bless you!
Saint Conleth's Catholic Heritage Association
- qualcosa di bello said...
i hear you!!!!


text:
The Hesperia K-Mart was robbed Monday night by a hammer-wielding thief.
At 9:48 p.m., deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Hesperia station arrived at the Hesperia K-Mart in response to a report of a commercial burglary.
At the store, they were told that a man approached the store's jewelry counter, took a hammer out of his clothing, broke the glass and stole an as-yet-unknown amount of men's and women's gold diamond rings.
He then fled the scene in a black sports utility vehicle.
The suspect is described as a black man in his 20s, approximately 6'2", wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and a baseball cap.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call the Hesperia sheriff's station at 947-1500 or the anonymous WE-TIP line at (800) 782-7463.
Beau Yarbrough can be reached at 956-7108 or at email@example.com.
Smash and grab robbery at K-Mart
The Hesperia K-Mart was robbed Monday night by a hammer-wielding thief.