text:
About Caltech
Get familiar with Caltech's history, policies, student demographics.
- 1 About the undergraduates
- 2 Academic divisions
- 3 Campus resources
- 3.1 Places for activities
- 3.2 Center for Student Services
- 3.3 Gymnasium
- 3.4 Caltech Libraries
- 3.5 Caltech Y
- 4 Conflict Resolution and Grievance Procedures
- 5 Grad Student Information
- 6 History of Caltech
- 7 Maps and Tour
- 8 Studying at Other Universities
- 9 The Honor System
- 10 See Also
About the undergraduates
The Houses
On-campus housing at Caltech consists of eight undergraduate houses (which they sometimes spell with a "V") mostly on the southeast corner of the campus along with Marks and Braun Houses on San Pasqual. The student houses, combining the freedom of dormitories with the camaraderie of fraternities, resulted from extensive research in the 20's on student accommodations. The south houses, Blacker, Dabney, Fleming and Ricketts, were built in the 30's and are arranged in a rectangle around a central kitchen where board contract meals are served. Blacker and Dabney each house about 65 students, while Fleming and Ricketts house about 80 each. The newer houses - Lloyd, Page, and Ruddock were built in the 60's and are north of the Olive Walk. They were built when the population explosion caught up with Caltech's student housing. They hold about 90 students each, for an on-campus total of about 560. They are also arranged around a central kitchen which serves the Chandler Dining Hall. Each house has its own unique government, traditions, customs, and atmosphere. The process of selecting new students into a house is known affectionately as Rotation. Rotation is basically an all-week party during which each new student visits all eight student houses for lunch and dinner, encouraging social mingling so that new students get to know the residents and characteristics of each house, and conversely for house members to familiarize themselves with each new student. In addition to the eight on-campus houses, there are approximately fifteen Institute-owned off-campus houses and three apartment buildings for undergraduates. Some off-campus buildings are considered extensions of the on-campus houses and hold only members of a particular on-campus house; these are called "off-campus alleys".
<display_map searchmarkers="all" height=500px width=500px> Fleming House California Institute of Technology Pasadena CA 34.137372, -118.122473 Avery House California Institute of Technology Pasadena CA Blacker House California Institute of Technology Pasadena CA Dabney House California Institute of Technology Pasadena CA 34.137039, -118.122838 Ricketts House California Institute of Technology Pasadena CA Page House California Institute of Technology Pasadena CA </display_map>
Ditch Day
Ditch Day- the Super Bowl of college pranks- usually happens in May. The seniors keep the date secret until Ditch Day morning, when they must leave or risk being taped to a tree if they are caught on campus before 5pm. To prevent their rooms from being "trashed", they will leave behind a sumptuous feast or "bribe''. There are three varieties of "stacks" (locks). First there is the "brute force" stack. As the name implies, it must be broken with jackhammers, drills or any kind of tool that can penetrate concrete or steel. The "finesse" stack is a lock that can be opened with lasers, heat, sound, water pressure, or computers. The underclassmen have to solve clues telling them what to do and then have to figure out how to do it. A treasure hunt is another form of finesse stack in which the senior sends the underclassmen all around campus and even the state, looking for clues that will eventually open the door. The ultimate is the "honor stack". One year a senior left his room unlocked with a single physics problem taped to his door. The room was never entered because the problem wasn't solved, even by Richard Feynman.
Just before dawn several decades ago, the world-famous HOLLYWOOD sign was draped with plastic and left to read CALTECH. That was just one in a long line of pranks performed by Caltech students, which have included stealing a fighter plane and towing it to a professor's home, switching green and red lenses on city stoplights and rigging the 1984 Rose Bowl scoreboard to show Caltech beating MIT handily instead of the score between the teams actually on the field. To read about more famous Caltech pranks, pick up a copy of Legends of Caltech or More Legends of Caltech at the bookstore.
More Info
The Wikipedia Page for the houses has a fairly extensive history of each house. For the real juicy stories you'll have to talk to the undergrads themselves.
Academic divisions
Caltech is divided into six academic divisions: Biology and Biological Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Engineering and Applied Science, Geological and Planetary Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy. A few options (such as Biochemistry and Applied Math) comprise each division. The professor in charge of a division is the Division Chair; contact him or her regarding inter-option issues. Each option has an executive officer (the professor who is in charge of administering the option), an option representative (the official faculty supervisor of graduate students in the option), and an option secretary (who assists the option representative, and is usually the first person that grad students talk to when they have academic questions). Each option and division works a little differently. For more information about your option, contact your option secretary. The contact information for each division and option can be found on the Caltech webpage under "Academic Divisions."
Campus resources
Places for activities
Reserving Rooms on Campus
There are a number of auditoriums, conference rooms, and lecture halls on campus that groups or clubs may reserve. There are also several small-group study/meeting rooms and a conference room available in the Sherman Fairchild Library (SFL).
Available Resources
- Caltech Auditoriums, Conference Rooms, and Lecture Halls (including room capacities)
- SFL Meeting Rooms (including room capacities and available audio/visual equipment)
Making Reservations
- Reservation Page for Most Rooms
- Reservation Page for Ramo Auditorium (rental fee), Beckman Auditorium (rental fee), and Beckman Mall
- Reservation Page for SFL
The Athenaeum
(Bldg. 61, x8200)
Grad students and postdocs can become members for $8 and $15 per month, respectively. Membership applications are available at the front desk or online. You need an Athenaeum member (preferably your advisor) to sponsor you by signing the application.
not true right? Once your application is approved, you will be assigned a number and billed monthly. Only you and your spouse can sign the chits. Membership is not transferable, but you can bring non-member guests. Breakfast is served in the main dining room weekdays from 7-9 a.m., lunch is served from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., and dinner is served from 5:30-9 p.m. Dinner upstairs is somewhat formal, a dress code is enforced, and reservations are recommended. The Wednesday night buffet is awesome: all-you-can-eat prime rib and seafood and a wonderful salad bar. The wine list is good and offers a tremendous value. Downstairs is the Rathskeller, which has good sandwiches and salads, a good selection of drinks, and reasonable hot specials. The Rathskeller is much more informal and is open weekdays for dinner from 5-9 p.m. Thursday night is Mexican buffet night. The bar is open Monday-Thursday from 5-9 p.m., and Friday from 4:30-10 p.m. Dinner hours may change during the summer. Many groups make it a Friday afternoon ritual to head for the Ath to discuss the week's activities over a few pitchers of the various beers stocked by the bar. Rooms are available for Athenaeum members or their guests. Rates are usually less expensive than nearby hotels.
Dabney Lounge
Dabney Lounge is a nicely decorated hall. Its high ceiling and wooden floor make it ideal for chamber music concerts and dance parties. Combined with an evergreen garden, it has hosted many official and private events. Because of its popularity, reserving the location has been quite difficult. If you are planning to have a weekend event there, make your reservation months in advance.
Reserving Dabney Lounge
Contact Deborah White at Public Events (x3910 or x4688, email@example.com) for a reservation. You will need to fill out an application form and a party form with the dean's signature (for student parties). Caltech Custodial Services charges a mandatory fee for cleaning associated with events in Dabney Lounge. The fee is dependent on the event and usually starts at around $39.
This is probably much higher now
Student Activities Center
Located in the basement of the South Undergraduate Houses, this complex is open to all members of the Caltech community, with priority going to the student body. For more information about reserving rooms, call x2935.
This doesn't seem so true anymore, and where was this number supposed to go?
Houses the Bike Shop, Club/meeting rooms, Libraries, Music rooms, Undergraduate student government, and Undergraduate publications.
Center for Student Services
The Center for Student Services hosts International Student Programs, the Diversity Center on the second floor, and the Career Development Center on the third floor.
International Student Program (ISP)
See International Student Information.
Will look in old Techique for what this page had.
Caltech Center for Diversity
Composed from the former Minority Student Education office and Women's Center.
Old info has been cut out and new info needs to be written
Braun Athletic Center is located on S Wilson Ave, south of California Blvd. (past Central Plant). All Caltech-enrolled undergraduate and graduate students can show their ID to enter.
Highlights of the facilities include:
2 GYMNASIUMS 3,500 sq. ft. WEIGHT ROOM CYBEX CIRCUT CARDIOVASCULAR Exercise Machines (treadmills, cross-trainers, rowers, steppers, upright and recumbent bikes) 4 RACQUETBALL COURTS 2 INTERNATIONAL SQUASH COURTS Two 25 yd. POOLS and SPA 8 TENNIS COURTS (6 LIGHTED) MULTIPURPOSE ROOM w/Spring Floor For Group Fitness Activities BOULDERING CAVE & CLIMBING WALL HEAVY BAG AND SPEED BAG AREA 2 MULTI-USE FIELDS MONDO 400 METER TRACK LOCKER AND SHOWER ROOMS
See Local Sports Related and Sports Clubs.
More stuff here
Caltech Libraries
- Printing: Caltech students, faculty, and staff get $25 per quarter for printing at the Caltech libraries. The policy is found here, and you can check your balance during the semester here.
Caltech Y
(x6163, email@example.com) The Caltech Y is an independent yet integral part of the Caltech community. The Y, not affiliated with the YMCA, has organized numerous programs including noon concerts and the annual Y Hike as well as day hikes, leadership seminars, International Week, Decompression, volunteer opportunities, trips to the Philharmonic and museums, distinguished speakers, broomball, and other assorted diversions from studying and research. Noon Concerts on Fridays have featured groups ranging from new wave to jazz to classical. The Y operates a used book exchange for students who wish to sell or buy used textbooks at reasonable prices, an emergency loan fund, where a student may borrow up to $50 interest free for 30 days, an inexpensive backpacking rental service with sleeping bags, tents, backpacks, cooking kits, and other items necessary for life in the outdoors, discount movie and amusement park tickets, a copier and fax machine, and a lounge where students can relax, read, and listen to music and watch TV. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Stop by and talk sometime; they are there to help. This fall, look for announcements and posters around campus for Y events. If you are interested in helping the Y with its programs, drop in and offer them ideas and assistance.
Conflict Resolution and Grievance Procedures
Institute Policies and Procedures
There may be times in your career as a graduate student at Caltech when something in your lab sparks a question or concern. You may refer to the Human Resources website at https://hr.caltech.edu/services/policies for policies and procedures on areas such as:
- Vacations and leaves
- Conflict of interests
- Patent policy
- Violence prevention
and other topics.
Caltech's Policies
Formal Grievance Procedures Use the formal grievance procedures if you have a problem and feel that a formal complaint is necessary. Refer to this and this document for the procedures.
Sexual Misconduct The policy of Caltech is to not tolerate sexual misconduct of any kind, whether directed at males or females, in accordance to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 https://titleix.caltech.edu/. There are three major types of sexual misconduct of concern at Caltech: sexual assault, sexual harassment, and sexual discrimination. Stalking or "glomming" behavior is considered sexual harassment. Also, be alert for subtle forms of discrimination that you may not immediately recognize but that can lead to problems if not identified, such as excessive attention because you stand out as the lone member of your sex, or your co-workers judging your work too harshly. To learn more about Title IX, and relevant policies refer to https://titleix.caltech.edu/. If you have questions or problems, you maybe go to the Title IX website https://titleix.caltech.edu/Filing to file a report formally or informally. You can file a complain anonymously if you choose to.
Caltech's Resources
There are several people and offices who can assist you if a conflict or grievance arises. For academic problems, your faculty option representative and executive officer, as well as members of your thesis committee (if you have one) can be valuable resources. The Graduate Dean's Office, the Postdoctoral Scholars Office, and the International Students Program Office can also assist you with a wide variety of problems.
The Graduate Honor Council
The Graduate Honor Council (https://www.gradoffice.caltech.edu/current/hc) should be contacted concerning all suspected Honor System violations. They can be contacted via email at email@example.com. They are also happy to be consulted regarding any questions about the Honor Code at Caltech.
Grad Student Information
The Graduate Student Council (GSC)
The Graduate Student Council (GSC) represents and supports graduate student interests at Caltech in all facets of life including academic issues, library and computing facilities, quality of campus life, extracurricular activities such as clubs and intramurals, and social events. Our mission is "to work to maximize the quality of graduate student life at Caltech." The GSC is governed by a Board of Directors (BoD) composed of graduate student representatives from the various academic options. The GSC has a number of standing committees which address all facets of graduate student life. These committees are Academics, Budget, Advocacy, Publications, and Social. Finally, the GSC keeps graduate students at Caltech informed of important information and campus events through directory emails. The GSC provides annual funding for 30 student clubs and organizations and up to $300 in Quickfunding for individual events from social activities to campus literary publications. More information about the GSC budget and funding can be found at http://220.127.116.11/dvin/funding/ . The BoD meets once a month. All members of the Caltech community are invited to attend our meetings. If you are interested in participating in the GSC but do not want to join the BoD, it is possible to join one of the standing committees in order to be involved in an issue that is important to you. For more information about the GSC, please see our website at http://gsc.caltech.edu.
Guidelines for Student-Advisor Relationships
The relationship between a faculty advisor and graduate student should be founded on mutual respect and open communication. Advisors and students should discuss the nature of their working relationship early and continue this discussion throughout their period of collaboration to ensure mutually understood and compatible expectations. These discussions should be frequent and open, and should include not only work, research goals, and performance reviews, but also change of status, time for personal and family responsibilities, time off, and concerns about academic or work situations. Both the student and advisor have the obligation to initiate meetings as necessary to ensure the success of the relationship. The graduate student-faculty advisor relationship should be guided by fairness and professionalism. Both faculty and graduate students should avoid relationships that conflict with their respective roles and duties at Caltech. Both are bound by the prevailing policies prohibiting discrimination and harassment. Concerns relating to academic or work situations should be raised promptly between the persons directly involved and handled informally if possible. Both students and advisors have the responsibility to raise and address concerns and conflicts without delay and in a manner that conforms with academic integrity and professionalism. Caltech policy requires that students' concerns be addressed fairly and promptly and prohibits retaliation or discrimination against students for appropriately voicing concerns. If a problem remains unresolved or if direct discussion is not possible, a student can seek assistance from Division officers (e.g. Option Representatives and Executive Officers), the Dean of Graduate Studies, the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, or the office of International Student Programs. At any time a student may request that discussions remain confidential. For more details about sources of assistance consult the graduation option regulations and the Student Grievance Procedure sections in the Caltech Catalog.
To review a list of suggested questions that you ask a faculty member before deciding to work with the, please see: http://www.its.caltech.edu/~gscacad/html/advisor.pdf
Need to find a replacement link
If you are interested in learning more about a specific faculty advisor, many labs have been reviewed by students who have graduated from those labs. The GSC has compiled their responses to exit surveys at: http://www.its.caltech.edu/~gscacad/html/lab_review_survey.html
Are we still doing lab exit surveys?
History of Caltech
In September 1891, Pasadena philanthropist Amos Throop rented the Wooster Block building in Pasadena for the purpose of establishing Throop University, the forerunner of Caltech. In November of that year, Throop University opened its doors to 31 students and a six-member faculty. Throop might have remained just a local vocational school had it not been for the arrival in Pasadena of astronomer George Ellery Hale. The first director of the Mount Wilson Observatory, Hale became a member of Throop's board of trustees in 1907, and envisioned molding it into a first-class institution for engineering and scientific research and education. Under his leadership Throop's transformation began.
By 1921, Hale had been joined by chemist Arthur A. Noyes and physicist Robert A. Millikan. These three men set the school, which by then had been renamed the California Institute of Technology, firmly on its new course. For the next century, Millikan and his successors -- Lee DuBridge, Harold Brown, Marvin Goldberger, Thomas Everhart, David Baltimore, and Jean-Lou Chameau -- led the Institute as it achieved preeminence in the scientific community. During this time programs were added in geology, biology, bioengineering, aeronautics, astronomy, astrophysics, the social sciences, computer science, and computation and neural systems. For more information on the history of Caltech, refer to the Caltech webpage http://www.caltech.edu/content/history-milestones .
Maps and Tour
Campus maps are available in the Graduate Office, the Graduate Housing Office, the libraries and most departmental offices. The on-line interactive map can be found at the Caltech webpage http://www.caltech.edu/map/.
Tours of the Caltech campus are conducted Monday through Friday at 1:45pm
Is this true? (except on Institute holidays, during winter break, and on rainy days). http://www.admissions.caltech.edu/content/prospective-student-tours Tours begin at the Admissions Office, 383 S. Hill Ave.
Architectural tours of the campus are conducted the fourth Thursday of each month except December, July and August (in November, tours are held on the third Thursday). Tours leave at 10:30am from the front hall of the Athenaeum, 551 S. Hill Ave. For reservations or more information about these tours, https://cats.caltech.edu/
Studying at Other Universities
The Los Angeles area has many institutions of higher education. Caltech has an exchange program with Occidental College, the Art Center, the Scripps Research Institute, and University of California at San Diego
I don't think we do those last two anymore, so that Caltech students can take classes in these institutions for free. For more information, contact the Graduate Office (x6346).
Pasadena area
Art Center College of Design
1700 Lida St., Pasadena; 396-2200 http://www.artcenter.edu
Pasadena City College
1570 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; (626) 585-7123 http://www.pasadena.edu
Pasadena City College: Community Skills Center / Extended Learning
1570 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; (626) 585-7608 http://www.pcclearn.org
Los Angeles area
Occidental College
1600 Campus Rd., LA; (323) 259-2500 http://www.oxy.edu
California State University, Los Angeles
5151 State University Dr., LA; (323) 343-3000 http://www.calstatela.edu
University of California, Los Angeles
405 Hilgard Ave., LA; (310) 825-4321 http://www.ucla.edu
University of Southern California
3535 S. Figueroa St., LA; (213) 740-2311 http://www.usc.edu
The Honor System
The following pages contain a brief introduction to the Caltech Honor System. A complete description may be found in the handbook The Honor System: Graduate, https://deans.caltech.edu/documents/55-hch2012.pdf which you should receive by the time you register. Please read the Honor System handbook thoroughly, as it is the definitive source for all Honor System information. Please keep your copy of the Honor System handbook for future reference. Remember that your participation in the Honor System is vital to its success.
For more details and samples, see https://www.gradoffice.caltech.edu/current/hc.
Key Points of the Honor System
The Honor System is based on the following principle: Never take unfair advantage of any other member of the Caltech community; to do so is a violation of the Honor System. The Caltech Honor System is not just a set of rules or "key points" that must be followed. Rather, it is a system of conduct through which you can trust and be trusted by others. Actions that might constitute an Honor System violation should be self-evident to someone who asks himself, "Does this act take unfair advantage?" In the following sections, examples are given of conduct in both academic and nonacademic areas which can be violations of the Honor System. These examples are not meant to serve as a list of rules, but rather to give examples of behavior that is incompatible with the Honor System.
Academic Issues
Most academic violations of the Honor System are obvious (for example, cheating on exams). The following list is meant to serve as a reminder of some of the possible violations of the Honor System, and to introduce you to some of the unique benefits (such as take-home tests) of the Honor System.
- Cheating on exams Possible cheating violations include consultation of prohibited references, exceeding the time limit on self-timed exams without indicating so, or consulting with a student who has already taken the exam.
- Unauthorized collaboration on homework or lab assignments. Most professors allow a certain degree of collaboration on assignments. Students should seek a clear explanation of the professor's collaboration policy, and teaching assistants and professors should provide one.
- Plagiarism of another's work, including using material without appropriate citation.
- Falsification or invention of lab results, which takes unfair advantage of students who actually performed the lab work and reported real data, even for experiments that didn't work.
- Disregard for the rules of any of the libraries on campus. Each library is regulated differently; some even allow self-check-out of books. Failure to follow the library rules takes unfair advantage of other library users.
- It is also important to consider the honor system when teaching at Caltech. At the start of a class, it's a good idea to explicitly tell students what sorts of collaboration and outside help are allowed on problem sets and exams. Most professors at Caltech give take-home exams and rely on the students' sense of honor to avoid cheating.
Nonacademic Issues
The basic premise of the Honor System, that one must not take unfair advantage of any other member of the Caltech community, applies to nonacademic as well as to academic areas. The following list gives some examples of possible nonacademic Honor System violations. This list is in no way intended to be complete.
- Many students have Caltech master keys. Unauthorized entry into any room normally considered private can be a violation. Allowing a master key to fall into the hands of a non-Caltech person who is not part of the Honor System may be considered a serious violation.
- Use of research accounts on campus photocopying equipment for personal copying, thus taking unfair advantage of one's research group.
- Use of campus computing equipment in a manner that takes unfair advantage of others, including removing from Caltech any software (or manuals) for which Caltech has a site license.
- Performance of research with careless disregard for the experiments or personal safety of others.
- Theft of Caltech property or the property of a member of the Caltech community.
- Defacement or abuse of property not solely one's own.
Reporting Suspected Violations
If the suspect is a graduate student, contact one of the GHC co-chairs (https://www.gradoffice.caltech.edu/current/hc). If the suspected violator is an undergraduate, contact the BOC Chair (http://donut.caltech.edu/ascit/BoC_Reps). You may discuss a suspected violation in the abstract if you are unsure whether or not a violation actually occurred. The GHC has been asked to consider complaints as minor as excessive party noise to violations serious enough to result in possible criminal charges. A student may approach both the GHC and the police with complaints regarding another member of the Caltech community. Legal action does not preclude action by the GHC and vice versa. The Graduate Honor Council (GHC) and the undergraduate Board of Control (BOC) work together as two branches of the same Honor System. The goal of the Honor Boards when reviewing suspected violations is not to punish but to reintegrate the individuals into the Honor System. Strict confidentiality is observed in all Honor System proceedings, and breaches of secrecy by anyone other than the defendant are Honor Code violations. All individuals are presumed innocent until judged guilty. Suspension or even expulsion are possible consequences of violations. They are invoked only in rare cases when one has repeatedly demonstrated an inability to live within the Honor System or has committed a particularly grave violation. The Honor System is much more than a list of possible violations. Please consult the handbook for a complete description of the Honor System. The Dean of Graduate Studies (x5802) and the GHC co-chairs can provide you with more information.


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I have a Grey Wagtail that visits the flat roof of the building that adjoins mine in Forest Gate. It brings a taste of the exotic to the rather drab fare of feral pigeons that wander around its margins. Today a pair touched down on Heronry just about in their breeding best and completely in contrast to the cold pallor of the day.
A Water Rail was back on the Shoulder of Mutton and a really flighty male Wheatear on Alex (maybe a second bird?). Then Marco went and ruined it by getting a Red Kite over the SSSI while I was back in chains down at Canary Wharf.

subset: commoncrawl


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Welcome to my leafy bower! I would like to thank you for participating, however briefly, in my small section of The Timeless Dialogue (also known as the Great Conversation). I hope you have enjoyed your visit and gained something from it, whether it be amusement, knowledge, or a good debate. Thank you for coming, and please stop by again!
The Living Oak from Her Heart
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
Because the LORD has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;
To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Beauty instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
Isaiah 61:1, 3


text:
Hi everyone. Just a quick note to let you know that there are heaps of new items in the Stampin'Up! Clearance Rack.
Here are a few of my favourites!
The Moonlight DSP Stack (as featured on these cards)
The 12" Pack of 2013 In Color Coredinations Cardstock (still love these colors- 3 of which are featured on the card below)
I cannot believe how cheap the Texture Boutique Machine is- now only $24.99. This machine is small, portable, and can be used with any of the Stampin'Up! embossing folders.
There are heaps of other goodies, but remember, all of the products are available only whilst stocks last!
Make sure you check out the Weekly Deals section as well, this month there will be double the products available!
Have a great weekend
Love Em


text:
Manufacturers and exporters of twin lobe air compressor, roots blower, positive displacement air blower, watering vacuum pump, vacuum booster, etp blower, stp blower, effluent treatment plant and sewage treatment plant.
Comp Vac Technology Private Limited
No. 4, Balaji Estate, Narol Isanpur Road
Isanpur, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Ahmedabad, GU 382443
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text:
What are your favorite and least favorite
times of the week?
I'd say favorite is either Friday Nights or Sunday Afternoons
Least favorite is Tuesday morning about 7:19.
This thread has no redeeming feature.
Friday, when work ends
Monday, when work starts
I'm sure you know which is which
least favourite
all day tuesday or sunday evening.
favourite? thursday evening or saturday morning.
Friday nights.
But Thursday nights are good, as that's pub night. Least favourite is predictably, Monday morning.
all day thursday
is horrible
thursday mornings and monday mornings are the only ones i cant deal with
Saturday mornings
are great. Proper cooked breakfast and proper coffee, reading newspaper in front of telly, yay.
worst... monday mornings probably. or tuesday mornings, or wednesday mornings. urg.
Sunday evenings can be a bit rubbish but I counteract this by doing a pub quiz with my mates every sunday which kinda drags out the weekend a bit, although it does also lead to slightly hungover mondays which isn't good.
Favourite: just after 5.30 on a Friday
least favourite: 9.30 on a Monday
besides that I do like late Saturday morning going into Saturday afternoon - I've usually just got up and am waiting impatiently for breakfast before I shuffle on down to the pub to watch the football on the dodgy Albanian satellite system they have.
Friday is amazing
everyone seems to be in a better mood. Nobody really gets any work done. It's great.
Monday morning between 7.00 and 10.00 is the worst time, for obvious reasons.
Sunday is pretty horrible too, what with monday looming like a dark cloud on the horizon and the feeling that there is some homework you haven't done, even though you left school 6 years ago.
friday and saturday nights can be awful
when you are sat at home with nothng to do.
I like saturday morning, when you wake up and think you have to go to work, and then realise that you don't.
obvious ones are
friday afternoon as despite being at work.. nothing has to be done and i'm usually planning my weekend anyway.
monday Absolutely sucks but an interesting one i enjoy is actually wednesday afternoons as i'm kinda convincing myself that i'm on the comedown then, past the middle therefore nicely on the way to the end of the week.
Favourite times:
Thursday and Friday evenings
Least favourite time: Sunday evening


text:
It's Queensland Day
Cheesman Applegarth loves Queensland and its Queensland Day time to celebrate our state's birthday, culture, heritage, people, places and industry.
This year Queensland is celebrating its 158th birthday. It's a great time to reflect on how lucky we are to be part of such a wonderful, diverse state.
Queensland Day is celebrated each year on the anniversary of Queensland's official separation from New South Wales as an independent colony on 6 June 1859.
History of Queensland Day
Moves towards statehood began with a public meeting in 1851 to consider separation from New South Wales.
As the push for separation gained momentum, Queen Victoria was approached to consider establishing a separate colony based on Moreton Bay. The Queen gave her approval and signed the Letters Patent on 6 June 1859, now known as Queensland Day. Not surprisingly, she favoured the name Queensland over suggestions to call it Cooksland in honour of Captain James Cook.
The new colony of Queensland had been established. With the word Separation painted on its hull, the ship Clarence sailed into Brisbane on 10 July to be greeted by a jubilant crowd eagerly anticipating the news of separation.
They welcomed Clarence with a 14-gun salute, a 'blue light' display and fireworks.
On 20 July, celebrations resumed with the news Sir George Ferguson Bowen would be the state's first Governor. Fireworks, cannon fire, flag raising and the sound of a gunshot expressed the public's sentiment.
On 10 December of that year, Governor Bowen arrived in Brisbane to a civic reception in the Botanical Gardens.
He officially marked the historic occasion of statehood by reading a proclamation from the veranda of the Deanery of St John's Cathedral.
Check out more at https://www.qld.gov.au/about/events-awards-honours/events/queensland-day/


text:
I have been sitting in my house for weeks
Pairing words like villain with you face and finding a perfect match
I have never been so afraid as I am for you
What make you think that I would let you get away with this?
What make you think that I would forget?
What make you think that I would pretend this never happened
And go on acting like things had not changed?
I have just been biding my time
Sharpening my axe
And learning your every move
You'll never see it coming
Lyrics taken from /lyrics/s/silent_drive/the_professional.html


text:
Dear All
During the course of 20 years at
I met a ton of medics, and as a fitness instructor, I knew some people very
well, some of these people are working in the NHS as GPs and other types of
specialists. Training to become a doctor is a five year gig which demands a lot
of time studying, going to hospitals and GP practices. One female medic during
her summer went to a hospital in Glasgow University Malta to get experience of
delivering babies.
As to the female medic, she graduated but her boyfriend dumped her and cleaned out their flat and even took the light bulbs, moral of that story, don't date an engineer.When she told me that story I burst out laughing, as I noted laughter is the best medicine to her. I also mentioned I was sorry for her, she was in my dealings with her a really great person to know.
Medicine is a profession that opens lots of doors, it is something which is like an international passport, if you are a doctor and you wish to live in another country then having a doctor's qualification is a huge bonus. Governments recognise the value of medical qualifications, and the bodies that represent the profession are taken seriously in high circles.
the health service has been badly managed by the Scottish National Party while
in Government; the 'rot' started when Alex Salmond appointed Nicola Sturgeon as
Health Secretary and boldly declared that health was a flagship priority. Like
many people back in 2007, I was hoodwinked into believing this was true. The
reality was that Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP narrowed their focus to certain
targets while the rest of the service slipped downwards.
Nicola Sturgeon is now First Minister but her tenure at health planted the seeds of disaster which simply grew, no nipping in the bud from Nicola. We have had various crises in health, A&E crisis, Cancer waiting time's crisis, Operations cancelled crisis, GP crisis, midwife crisis, nursing crisis, lack of surgeons crisis, bed blocking crisis, people left with no blankets crisis.
We have a new super hospital in
Glasgow; sadly one of the biggest problems is
that it is too small to cope with the volume in A&E, what was the SNP response by
Nicola Sturgeon's pal, Shona Robison?
Too many sick people were using the service!
In December 2014, I nearly died; I went to A&E with a life threatening illness and was kicked out as a time waster and told to go to my doctor. The triage nurse and the doctor at A&E nearly killed me by denying me treatment and didn't even give me a physical examination. I was forced to wait 55 hours during which time I was in incredible physical pain. I returned to the hospital with a letter from my GP, within 10 minutes of handing this over, I was dragged past a huge queue of people and treated. The symptoms I told my GP were enough to give him the information he needed along with a quick 'prod' to know what was wrong. I was told to immediately get back to the hospital.
I was unfortunate to get sick at the height of the A&E crisis at the Southern General, many ill people got turned away only to find their stories making headlines in the Daily Record. My return to hospital was surreal, after the initial treatment in A&E, I was told that I wasn't going anywhere and I was to be admitted as a patient. I was kept in for 5 days as they were concerned about my kidney function which had been frying in toxic blood for some considerable time, along with other issues. When I was released, I was just at the start of my troubles which became a running saga of failures. Asked to go back in two weeks, this was cancelled and I wasn't informed, the medical supplies given to me to cover this period which had to be ordered in were running out and I had to end up getting an emergency prescription and then to try to hunt round Glasgow desperately trying to get the supplies. Having left me in the lurch, the hospital when I went back refused to help me with more supplies after they had cancelled my appointment…. and to make matters worse, my GP went on holiday!
If it hadn't been for my friends making their time available to run me about, I would have been in serious trouble. After I came out of hospital, I was so ill that even little old ladies using walking sticks would blow right pass me like Olympic athletes. The old saying 'couldn't walk the length of himself really did apply to me. To add insult to injury, my back seized up partially on the 23rd December, Xmas that year was a nightmare, if they say there is a point when you hit rock bottom, I had reached it physically. My time was a series of cancelled appointments, no information and feeling low. The next piece of bad news dropped as they put me through a huge battery of tests because they were concerned I might have cancer, my weight was falling like a stone and they couldn't understand why.
In 2015, I was to get an operation, only to be told near the date that it was to be cancelled, I was offered another date but not with the same surgeon, if I didn't take that date, I was told I could wait up to 3 more months. From the start of my illness to getting operated on, it took 27 weeks, and given the treatment I was getting, I didn't want to hang around, so jumped in feet first and said I would take the new appointment. My new surgeon was Dr. Hasan Qazi, when we did our doctor/ patient chat, he asked me did I have an question, so I said that I had purposely not looked up what was involved in the surgery but I did have one question.
So, can you guess the question?
I asked him straight to his face, 'I have just one question, are you any good at this', he burst out laughing and said 'don't you worry I will take care of you'. He put me at ease, and strangely I had no more worries after that, prior to getting to hospital I was a nervous wreck, fear of the unknown. I get to the hospital then it was like a dream, I am feeling like I am a spectator. Dr. Hasan Qazi probably more than anyone in medicine gave me back something I had lost, he gave me back hope, I wasn't out of the woods after surgery, I spent 3 weeks solid with blood pouring out me every 15 minutes but I had turned a corner. In 2015, I wasn't politically active, as I said the medical problems had physically wrecked me, so the election campaign that year was for me just a spectator sport.
2016, I return to politics, that year, I did the campaign of Johann Lamont which strangely for me I made my sole campaign for various reasons, normally I campaign in more than one so I get a feel of how a party is doing with the public, and it also helps my posts as a by-product. 2016 was also the year of Brexit, and being a known campaigner, I was asked to 'fix' the Brexit campaign which got off to a shaky start in
Glasgow. The Brexit campaign on day one of me
attending saw a dramatic rise in volume as I explained to the group that we
aren't involved in a passive activity. The Brexit campaign in Buchanan Street was
one of the most successful parts of Brexit in Scotland. It lead to me being made
an official Brexit spokesman and it also saw me getting one of my bucket list
ticked off; being a panellist on the Gordon Brewer radio show. Brexit for some
people focused on a single issue but the prime reason which all other reasons
were just symptoms was sovereignty. We as a people must have the right to hold
people to account who make our laws, the European Union has lost its way; it is
anti country and anti worker. I knew campaigning for Brexit was morally right,
and politically correct, cut through the nonsense of both sides, and the sovereignty
issue sticks out like a sore thumb.
Brexit threw up many scare stories, one of the chief ones is deportation; today we see a report by Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) that 200 family doctors could leave their jobs. If they did this would put pressure on an already badly managed and failing health service. The reality is that no doctor currently working in Scotland or indeed Britain has anything to fear after Brexit, no European doctor prior to us joining the then 'Common Market' in 1973 had any fear either. In medicine, due to the nature of the profession, it sees doctors crisscross the world learning, teaching and practicing. Once passed medical school training still continues for medics, they go on to do many courses to learn new skills and also update existing.
If as the NHS says that half of all Edinburgh GP practices might soon be forced to turn away new patients as the lack of family doctors heaped further pressure on practices. This is more an argument for controlled immigration, better forward planning and the medics telling Nicola Sturgeon to 'get her act together' regarding funding.
Scotland is still a great place to work for a
doctor, we have five exceptional medical schools in Scotland,
who churned out very good students, after spending 20 years at ,
I met a ton of them. University of Glasgow
At present there is a GP shortage, the blame doesn't rest with the NHS, the blames lies with the Scottish Government, we shouldn't have a GP crisis, not in a country like
Scotland, but the SNP aren't
focused on government, they are focused on independence. Is there a case for a permanent
task force in government to go recruiting, probably not happen, ideas aren't an SNP
strong point!
In October, Nicola Sturgeon who boldly pledged £500 million for primary care has only handed over half that amount so far, given the extra money handed over by
you have to ask, where the hell is the money being diverted to?
Dr Miles Mack, chairman of the RCGP said:
"The full £500m promised to GPs and health centres by the first minister in October could be clearly outlined for the GP service, to show medical students a career with a bright future".
So, it seems that there are many problems in medicine but I would strongly suggest there is no problem at all for any European doctor currently practicing in
regards to their status in the country or their status in their current
position. I would expect total cross party support for them without exception.
These scare stories are a distraction and unhelpful, the purpose of Brexit was
to reclaim sovereignty so that we can hold our elected politicians to account
at the ballot box. Any fair minded person wouldn't have any truck with dragging up
this rubbish, but sadly the SNP leadership aren't fair minded people, the
Nationalists have latched onto scare stories in an attempt to garner votes.
It is the type of petty mean spirited politics which thrive under the SNP so easily.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at
Glasgow University


text:
It's one thing to say that Kiir is deploying and attacking SPLA-IO, it's another to show us evidences of these accusations. I have said before that peace is not easy as we think, even with cease fire in place a few of violations will happen. What is the solution? Attach to peace and overcome small things.
forum vous enregistrer forum vous inscrire
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text:
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Construction is expected to begin in November 2014, with completion anticipated in December 2015. For more information, visit www.bakersfieldfreeways.us.
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text:
Come out February 5th to enjoy a fun night of food and music to raise money to battle poverty in Ethiopia.
Jennifer Brinkerhoff is working with the non-profit Hope Arising to bring a water line to the dry village of Dera, Ethiopia. This Saturday she is hosting her 40th birthday bash in which she hopes to raise $40,000 for this cause. One hundred percent of the tax deductible funds raised will be used to complete the water line in Dera as well as begin micro finance loans to vulnerable women and children.
The event will include live performances by up and coming country trio, Firefly and singer Jordan Bluth with his wife Kaitlynn, Ethiopian music, authentic Ethiopian food, photographs, and stories of the people of Dera.
Event Details:Saturday, Febrary 5th at 7pm
Wright House, 636 West University Dr., Mesa, AZ 85201Suggested donation of $20 (or more!)
Contact chantal @ hopearising.org or call 602-549-0955 with questions.
Check the website for Hope Arising here for more details about this cause and find event details and purchase tickets here. If you are unable to attend the event, you can still make donations at www.hopearising.org/. All donations are tax deductible. You can purchase tickets and make contributions online at www.hopearising.org or at the event.
Info taken from a press release sent to us. If you have an event you'd like to share, send it to us at iheartmesa @ gmail.com


text:
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For more information and a no obligation estimate please call 01743 240 222 or contact us


text:
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Break Point
"Right there. On the stairs."
"I do not see you. Okay, I think I can see you..."
They saw each other, smiled and put their cellphones back.
"Hi L!", extending his hand.
"Hello!", as my chirpy self and we shook hands like two clients meeting for
the first time to discuss a grand marketing deal. Not like we were any better. We were ex lovers meeting for the first time.
"Shit! I can not believe I am sitting here with you."
I smiled thinking he was over reacting.
He gave that look again.
"Relax S! Do you want me to pinch you?"
Okay! So, I was really in a relationship with HIM!
"So, How are you?"
"I am ecstatic. I am sitting with you here. What do you expect?"
Wow! So, someone could be that excited to see me that his ear to ear smile would not compress? Alright! He was always 'too into me'. And that was precisely the reason that drew me away from him.
"What will you have?"
"WHAT!? We meet for the first time and you want to have just coffee? You will have to eat something."
Phew! I am so happy this is not a date.
"I really do not want to. You order what you want to have."
"I did not have lunch thinking we will have it together."
"It is 16:30."
"Umm. Okay. Lets order."
We take some 10 minutes to decide what counter to go to at the Food Court. And finally when he gets into a line.
"Will you have x?"
"No, thank you S."
"Okay. Will you have y?"
"No S."
"S!",giving him one of those stern GrandMa looks.
"No. This is not fair. You will have to eat something.", dancing like a stubborn kid who wants that toy else he will sit right there on the floor and cry for it.
He tries one of the most pathetic puppy dog faces I have ever seen.
"Ice Cream! And that is it!"
He finally ordered. Phew! It was a task, I swear!
We sat on our table and once again came that look. Someone slap me for coming here!
"This is for you.", sliding a small packet with a card towards me.
"What is it?"
"A present for you."
"Why?" Do we women love this or what.
"Just like that."
"No S. I am sorry. I can not accept it."
"Look at it first at least. It is nothing great." WHAT!? TAKE IT AWAY RIGHT NOW!
"No S." Has any woman accepted a gift willingly no matter how desperately she wants it? Acting pricey comes naturally, like breasts.
After 5-10 minutes of being a typical woman, he takes the gift. WTF! I knew I was overdoing it. Darn!
He opened it himself and took out a shining Gold bracelet. Fuck!
"No way. I just can not accept this."
And he tries to push it on my wrist.
"S... S..." Looking at it more carefully, Oh! What was he thinking? It would have looked better in Silver.
"S... I really can not take this."
"Now, stop all this. This is not even expensive if you are thinking that." Err... Okay.
"S... Please. This is not needed."
"This is not even real." Whoa! O-K-A-Y. You do not really talk about your own gifts like that. Do you?
And he almost started dancing in the same way sitting on his chair.
"Okay. Okay. Thank you very much. It is beautiful." Argh. How much do I hate formalities. They only teach you how to lie.
And the food came.
And he started to feed me his food. Alright, now this is too much embarrassment for me to take in one day. Thank goodness I was in a different country which I would not return to for long, at least, if not never.
"So, how is F?"
"Oh! She is good."
"Why didn't you bring her? I would have loved to meet her."
"She is out of town."
Changing the topic, "You are very bad, L. You are meeting me today when you are leaving tomorrow. Get your ticket cancelled."
"I can not. I have work."
"This is very unfair."
"I am sorry but I was here for a very short while, anyway. Yet I managed to call and meet."
He was about to start his whining and dancing when I interrupted, "So, How are things between you and F?"
"Not great. We are having too many fights. It is getting difficult."
"I do not know."
"What do you mean, you do not know? What about your parents?"
"What? What about them?"
"It is an arranged thing, no?"
"No? Then what was that long story about your mom seeing F in some gathering and fixing you up with her?"
"She was interning at my office."
"O-K-A-Y." What a Bastard! I always knew he lied to me, and that innocent face! He deserved what I gave him then. Huh.
He went on with his entire love story, "But it does not seem to be working out."
"Relax. Fights happen. It will work out. She sounds like a nice girl and you are a nice guy too. You both will make it happen." He actually aint that bad as a person.
"You think I am a nice guy?"
"Yes. I am sure."
"Thet n why did you leave me the way you did?"
"Look, that was a sort of a mistake. I was not too sure. I just did not know where this was going."
"We were together for four years. We had so much between us and you thought it was going nowhere? What did I not give you? What was missing, after all?"
Oops. Wrong topic. Someone save me! But honestly, I really wanted this to get cleared between us. Probably this was my main motive to meet him. To get it cleared once and for all, face-to-face.
"Nothing. You were very nice to me. You loved me allot."
"Exactly. Yet?"
"Look, I did not see this working out sitting in two different countries, chatting all our lives. And then I had different priorities."
"I told you I will let you do what you want to."
"It is easier said than done, S."
"L, if you tried and if you loved me enough, this would have worked."
"You think I did not try? Every time I was confused about our relationship and wanted to break up. I'd come back running to you, making efforts to make it work. We had everything. Everything was perfect."
Holding my arm tight in anger, "Then what? What was wrong?" I thought I would never be able to answer him that question until this moment in our conversation. I could have easily screamed G's name then. I had skipped too many heartbeats, scared of the man sitting opposite to me, now.
I was taken aback with his physical reaction or rather taken into that I had no reaction of my own.
"Look, you have no reason. You did not treat me right."
"I am sorry for what I did. I know I should have not run away from the relationship the way I did."
"If you would have talked to me, would I not understand? I always did, didn't I? Why did you have to cut all modes of interaction. Not replying to my mails, calls, pings, SMSs, nothing, whatsoever."
"Look, I am sorry. It was a naive move. I should not have done it. I should have spoken to you. You understand me really well. In fact, I still thing, no one understands me the way you do."
"Do you regret your decision?"
"Good. You better."
"I am sorry. Please. Really.", almost about to cry out of desperation. Desperate to get done with this situation, not to seek forgiveness.
"Would you marry me if things do not work out with F?"
"Ok, So I am your back up now?"
"No. You were my woman. The woman I wanted to live my entire life with, but you also happened to be the woman who hurt me the most, who betrayed me."
"Anyway... Would you?"
"What about G, then?"
"Oh! Yeah, I forgot.", giving a disgusted look, he turned his face away.
"Lets see... Could I fit you....", smiling.
"Why would there be a place for me?"
"If things do not work out with G and if you are able to convince my parents, then maybe."
I nod.
"I'd do anything to be with you. To keep you happy. To..." Uh Oh! Wrong topic, again.
I smile, "Fine. When the situation arises then we would talk about it. And just in case it does not, we will have an extra marital. Deal?"
"No ya. F is a nice girl. I do not want to cheat on her."
Okay. So you think you are one Greek God who deserves to cut the cake, have it and save some in the fridge for the next day too.
"Alright. Enough of good talks and bad talks. We should leave."
"We just met."
"Its been over two hours. Someone is coming to meet me. I have to go."
"This is not fair. Give me your ticket. I am getting it cancelled."
"S. Stop acting like this. At least we met. Something we thought would never happen."
"I did not. You did."
"Fine. I did.."
"And that is why you left me."
"Fine. I do not want us remembering our meeting with these conversations."
"Exactly. Now, shall we leave?"
We rise to leave, "L?"
"Can I please hug you?"
It was our first hug. I contemplated kissing on his cheek, but did not. Just didn't.
I have not been happier of a decision in my life. Breaking up with him after a long 'why do I want to break up' discussion never worked. I always cried and ran back to him within minutes with virtual Yahoo! hugs and kisses. I really was attached to him. He treated me like a Princess. He still would. He just knew how to treat his Lady Love like a Queen and spoil her till she started dancing like him. But this was not going to work for me in the future. I had known this for long. I knew he wanted an early marriage. I did not even know if I wanted one. He was in one country and I in another. We could meet or even make it work without meeting, but would that give me personal satisfaction? It was not working for me. It was not going to work for us. I knew it. And I had to stop wasting my time in such a relationship.
Why hold onto something that would give me nothing but would take allot from me and the other person? I had to stop this and I did. I blocked him from my life, mind, heart, which was not easy but blocking him on the Internet and ignoring his calls and SMSs made it easier. And with time it faded until I realized this was not a mature way to go about it or maybe when I felt emotionally stronger to face him again, only to find out his marriage is fixed with F. I cried to just get the shock out of my system.
My friend once said, "L, you think you will walk up to him after a year and he would still be there for you?" I fought over confidently. I knew he would. He was the sorts. Apparently, he was not. I did not feel a deep loss, just a bolt to my humongous ego. That is it.
Because this, undoubtedly, was so far the best decision I had ever taken for myself. The second was G. I am happier in life. I know what I am doing. And doing it effortlessly. Loving every bit of it.
Sorry S, I lied. I do not regret. WTF!? Did I really say 'yes' to him on that? Fuck Fuck Fuck! SLAP SLAP SLAP!
Love 'n' Peace.
19 comments:
- asit dhal said...
so finally u r back and u broke up...
I was waiting for ur next blog...anyway nice writing !!!
- October 4, 2009 at 1:25 PM
- sawan said...
life is so very complicated at times!
- October 4, 2009 at 6:30 PM
- sanely insane said...
while i read the post yesterday, i took a while to munch on what i read before writing my comment.
The interesting thing about relationships is that each has a certain level of depth to which it goes. And sometimes the only way of finding out how deep one is to try and find out. the problem with relationships is that once you've put in the effort of going deep and have found its not deep enough its not so easy to pull out
On the lighter side like men are traditionally blamed for whole lot of things, commonly women are blamed for not knowing what they want till they have clearly gone past that opportunity in life...confused little creatures u r :P
- October 4, 2009 at 10:41 PM
- Don't Be a Slut said...
Welcome back! Very brave of you to meet with your ex-boyfriend. And great that you realized you made the right decision.
- October 5, 2009 at 11:22 PM
- Luscious Sealed Lips said...
Dear Asit,
Thank you. Hope to see you around, now. :)
- October 6, 2009 at 5:38 AM
- Luscious Sealed Lips said...
Dear Sawan,
Talk about it!
- October 6, 2009 at 5:38 AM
- Luscious Sealed Lips said...
Dear Sanely Insane,
And then it all seems so pointless. Strange.
LOL. Yes and I admit to it. ;)
- October 6, 2009 at 5:40 AM
- Luscious Sealed Lips said...
Dear Dont Be A Slut,
Thanks and I am so happy I met him. Assured me that the decision was right.
- October 6, 2009 at 5:41 AM
To get drunk and do it woth a stranger, not a difficult task is it?
- October 6, 2009 at 2:39 PM
- Dip said...
i could never sit for a coffee or ice cream or naan daal or even pasta with an ex!! ever!
brave girl..
i got scared seeing the title at first. Phew..
- October 7, 2009 at 1:35 AM
- Kenneth said...
What can I say?...All's well that ends well. Hope ur choices bring u a lifetime of happiness and relief of making the right ones
- October 7, 2009 at 12:13 PM
- VickY said...
letting go is so hard...
i am so lost in her thoughts now...
beautiful post.
hugs n tc
- October 10, 2009 at 3:51 AM
- Dhanya said...
You really are brave! And dunno how you went through all that over pampering for more than two hours? :|
- October 11, 2009 at 1:03 PM
- Luscious Sealed Lips said...
Dear Secretia,
It isn't after all. Loyalty problem, you see. :P
- October 14, 2009 at 9:51 PM
- Luscious Sealed Lips said...
Dear Dips,
Don't be. We have to do the whole Barati-Gharati thing at your wedding, remember? ;)
- October 14, 2009 at 9:53 PM
- Luscious Sealed Lips said...
Dear Kenneth,
I hope so too else G is being beaten up black and blue. ;)
- October 14, 2009 at 9:54 PM
- Luscious Sealed Lips said...
Dear Vicky,
Failed relationships are another thing that our parents did not warn us against. We have to learn accept and fight on our own.
- October 14, 2009 at 9:56 PM
- Luscious Sealed Lips said...
Dear Dhanya,
Talk about it. Phew. It has passed.
- October 14, 2009 at 10:03 PM
I have been following your blog for a while, kind of a silent reader, I comment very rarely.
But I feel like puttin some thing here, when I read your blog I kinda a feel little disgusted and probably thats is the reason I kinda follow it.
Kinda one entry where you suggesting some one to break up with a guy after recievin some gifts, or some real disgusting stuff. Not being even honest bout things and all of that. Some real lapse in integrity of a person.
No point of what I am writtng,I know, not that I even care :) probably I just wanted to say I detest people like you.
- October 27, 2009 at 8:02 AM
Blog Rating
Created by OnePlusYou - Free Online Dating
The Final participants of the S.A.D. Blogathon are Saroj, Single Hilarity, d Rat and Piyush Tainguriya, along with my co partner, Chrys, who updated her blog everyday through out the week.
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text:
Project information
Zambia Self Sustaiable Farming Project
To develop community self sustainable farms in the 10 major districts of Zambia, using community land in partnership with local elders, by establishing a community volunteer group to run each farm, with allocated proceeds helping community schools and widows, with any excess funds used for expansion
January 2018 - December 2019
Charity information: Feed The Hungry, Uk
The main problem is to find local solutions to rural poverty in Zambia, caused by a high death rate due to HIV which has caused a high percentage of men to die, leaving very young widows with families without the means to live never mind being able to send children to school. This has left the widows with very little skill in land propagation, learning productive crop management or finding the means to finance water resources to produce high yield crops.
Further to testing the program successfully in Mazabuka, Zambia, the aim is to extend the program to 10 further locations across Zambia, to be effective farms in their own right but also used as resources to train other villages on how to use community land to help those most in need, currently from 3 plots of land in Mazabuka, for an investment of less than £3,000 per farm this now assist 3,500 children and widows, the aim would be to increase this to a further 10 farms over the next 2 years.
Aim 1
To develop community based farms to help widows and orphans
Activities» To works with local communities to establish local plans
What success will look like
To have a register of widows and children that have been assisted through the farms or schools supported by the program
Aim 2
To develop food production facilities to enhance the product for higher levels of income for widows.
Activities» Resource the local groups with simple packaging and food processing, such as peanut butter presses, sausage machines and packaging facilities.
What success will look like
To have a product register and schedule of where and to whom the food is provided for producing food products, such as jams, peanut butter or sausage manufacture.
Aim 3
To effectively introduce feeding programs into community schools to encourage children into school.
Activities» Provide cooking facilities in the schools, as well as cutlery and plates to facilitate the schools in providing meals from the community farms.
What success will look like
To have a register of widows assisted as well as a school register with how many children helped
The long term aim of the project is that poor communities are enriched by helping the widows and orphans and then develop a strategy of local duplication of the projects through self funding.
The main risk to the project is local communities not taking ownership of the farms, then allowing the project to dilapidated, this is eliviated by agreeing a local memorandum of understanding, that includes a commitment to establish a local steering group and volunteers to run the project, and then handing back the land to the community with the guarantee of commitment before any investment is made.
Reports will be made on a 3 monthly basis outlining the project development, register of communities comitted to the project and how advanced those projects are in development.
Budget - Project Cost: £30,000Loading graph....
Amount Heading Description £3,000 Land registration To register 10 plots of land in the programs name £7,500 Bore holes 10 x bore holes £3,000 Water storage 10x gravity fed water storage tanks £2,500 Water towers 10 x steel water storage towers £4,000 Water irrigation system 10x locally made irrigation pipework £6,000 Fencing 10 x set of fencing £2,000 Farming tools 10 x set of farming tools £2,000 Training 10 x set of training
Zambia is among the countries in sub-Saharan Africa most seriously affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. An estimated 40,000-90,000 AIDS-related deaths would have occurred by the end of 2000. At the beginning of the epidemic in the mid-80s and early 90s, the majority of AIDS-related deaths in the adult population occurred among men in the age group 20- 45 years. A period when they were at their most productive. Loss of the breadwinners had an immense economic and financial impact on widows.
The 2 areas we are mainly wanting to benefit are young widows and children in non funded community schools established in the poorest rural areas.
In May 2016 we walked into a village of Hapway 15 miles North West of Mazabuka, and sat with one young widow after another with children. Before long we realised that their was one man left in the village, the other man they had buried that day.The problem the widows told us, we do not know how to farm, and what food we grow will not pay for education
Why Us?
Why Us?
Feed he hungry, is a fast growing charity in the UK and its core values is to assist those who are the poorest and most vulnerable in society and as such we look at with long term goals as we appreciate that the research and development for this project needed to be thorough. For the past 4 years we have been testing out various crops, crop rotations and crop durability establishing cost controls, training procedures and delivery methods to take the project onto the next level of multiple sites.
Read more about the Charity running this project.
Tebuho Mulala
As Project Director Tebuho Mulala has taken the lead role in Zambia in developing the Mazabuka Rural Community Farm partnership and farming program.


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I never considered myself a marathoner until I finished my second marathon. So in true form, I do not consider myself a true triathlete yet.
No "One and Done" for me.
While training for Lavaman, I set a goal for myself. I would attempt an Ironman in the next 5 years (2020). Lavaman was the first step.
After Lavaman, I spoke with Andrew (our volunteer coach) about my goal(s). After informing me that he coaches, a meeting over drinks, and a rundown of what he could do for me, I was signed up. I had an official coach.
Just recently, I read an article about the best investment to make when training. Is it that fancy bike that weighs less than your shoe? The wetsuit with carbon nanotube propellers sewn into the legs? Or maybe those runners with the new fangled sole that supports your pinky toe?
Nope. It was a coach.
Link to Article.
I knew from training for Lavaman that Andrew's knowledge was second only to his passion for the sport. We came up with a weekly schedule that ensured I would be fully prepared come race day.
Mondays were weight training in the morning and pool swims at lunch. I've had a personal trainer for a few years. Lifting not only helps me build strength, but it helps tremendously with injury prevention.
The pool swims took a bit more getting used to. I had taken a few courses with Seahikers, but that was geared towards proper form/technique. These swims were all about endurance. After a couple weeks, I became increasingly comfortable in the water. Soon, 3 sets of 500 meters were just a another day at the pool.
Tuesdays were track nights. Speed work. My old nemesis. Surprisingly, all the swimming and cycling has helped improve my running. On one occasion at the track (after some mix up with math), I ended up running, what could have possibly been, the fastest mile of my life. Even my long runs on the weekends were starting to get faster.
Wednesdays were weight training in the morning again and a cycle session in the evening. I had done an indoor cycle session with Andrew for Lavaman, and knew first hand how much my fitness would improve.
Part of the race course includes UBC Hill (twice). I knew that this would be a challenge. But after the hill interval workouts we did (especially Belmont Hill), UBC Hill and I are buddies now.
UBC Hill Interval workout:
Belmont Hill Interval workout:
I found that when on a stationary trainer, I enjoy hill workouts and dislike speed/cadence work, but on the road, it's the opposite.
Thursdays are my open water swim courses with Seahikers. I will admit to being a bit spoiled after having my only open water experience be the warm, clear waters in Hawaii. English bay is quite a bit colder. Getting used to swimming in murky water has been my biggest mental challenge. The cold water, the wetsuit, and my natural tendency to want to tense up, made breathing in the open water difficult at first, but just like the longer pool swims, I soon adapted. I am so used to the visible meter marks on the pool floor to judge my speed, that in the open water, I have to concentrate on slowing down to keep a good pace/rhythm.
Fridays are rest/recovery days.
Saturdays and Sundays, at the beginning of the training program, were long runs or long cycles. Toward the end of the program, they became brick workouts. A brick workout is when you do your cycling and then transition immediately into your run. This builds and trains your muscles to be ready for transition 2 on race day.
All in all, the encouragement, knowledge, and passion from both Andrew and everyone else who swam, rode, and ran with me, helped make me as prepared as I can be for this race. As I sit here on Friday evening, anxiously/nervously awaiting Sunday morning, I cannot help but feel an immense feeling of gratitude toward everyone who has helped me in any small part over the part few years. 5 years ago, the notion of sitting here, writing an article about my second triathlon, in a blog devoted to the endurance races I've done, would be so ludicrous, it would go beyond plaid.
Sunday has come and gone and (SPOILER ALERT) the 2015 Subaru Vancouver Triathlon is in the bag!
I now consider myself a Triathlete.
With a 7:30am wave start, I arrived at the beach at 6:00am to ensure I had adequate setup/warm up time.
As the cab drove me to the start line, the sky was dark, cloudy, and orange. It looked like one of those apocalyptic storms from the movies.
With a 7:30am wave start, I arrived at the beach at 6:00am to ensure I had adequate setup/warm up time.
As the cab drove me to the start line, the sky was dark, cloudy, and orange. It looked like one of those apocalyptic storms from the movies.
Turns out, there were several forest fires that were burning throughout the night all over BC, and with the current winds, Vancouver was in the prime location for all the smoke to accumulate.
This had some benefit for the race. Instead of a day of sun and heat in the mid 30s (mid 90s F), it was overcast and much cooler.
Since I am coached through Life Sport Coaching, I was able to use their tent to store my gear. Transition did not open until 6:30am, so this worked out perfectly. I dropped off my gear and went to get a warm up run in.
After some drills, a short run, and some sprints, I jogged back to the Life Sport tent just in time to see a bald eagle fly over head. It was a pretty cool sight.
By then, Transition was open. After getting body marked, I grabbed my gear and started prepping my area. The first thing I did was to air up my tires. Bikes had to be checked in the day before and leaving fully inflated tired out in the sun/heat was not a good idea. I then proceeded to fill up all my water bottles and lay out everything I needed for each discipline. After a few mental run throughs of each transition (and once I was sure I had not forgotten anything), and a walk through of the entrances and exits, I made my way back to the tent to get ready for my warm up swim.
The water was much colder than I was used to, granted I am used to doing my open water swims in the evening. I used this time to make sure the water was calm enough to sight using the race buoys, or if I needed to sight something higher. Luckily, the water was relatively calm.
After my warm up swim, I made my way back onto the beach were I ran into my friend Angela. We chatted for a bit and she snapped a picture before I had to make my way to the start.
The Swim
My coach had advised that I start toward the front of the pack. We both felt that my swimming had become very strong and I would have no problem holding my own amongst them.
The countdown was over, and the pack was rushing down the beach to the water. We had practiced this several times in my swim course, but today things stacked against me very quickly.
I know which one is me, but I'm not telling.
The adrenaline caused by anticipation, the start of the race, the chaotic and crowded melee of the entry, and the colder than usual water, all allied themselves together with one purpose. Let's spike Joe's heart rate.
And they did just that.
About 200 meters in, my heart rate was so elevated, I could barely breathe, let along find any sort of rhythm. For about 10 seconds, I was ready to quit. Just roll over on your back and stick your hand up. The med boat will see you, pick you up, and you can just just call it a day. No need to put yourself through this.
Another 75 meters in, I called to a med boat and grabbed the side. This is legal, as long as the boat does not move and you do not gain any forward momentum. The medic asked me if I was ok. I told him I just needed to get my heart rate down. I held onto the boat, eyes shut, taking deep, slow breathes for a minute or 2 (I honestly could not tell you how long I was there).
I let go and continued on, trying to relax. After rounding the first turn, I sighted for the next buoy. On my second sighting, I noticed I was veering to the right quit a bit, so I made sure to angle myself more to the left. The buoys were on my left hand side and I breathe on my right. Every time I took breathe, I could see that several people were 100-200 meters off course due to the current. I made note of this for my second lap. I ended up only being about 50 meters off course for the turn.
Once around the second buoy, it was a straight shot to the start area again. My sighting and my line were much better, and I was starting to relax a bit more. As I approached the 3rd buoy, all I could think was, "You better swim well, Andrew and all the other spectators can most likely see you from here."
I rounded the 3rd buoy and was off on my second lap. This lap went much better. I was able to find my groove and rest (side stroke=my rest) less.
As I was sighting, I noticed something odd. I could see orange buoy, then orange buoy, then nothing. Where was the red turn buoy? Maybe the turn buoy was orange? No that's not right, I remember it being red. Maybe the red buoy is just perfectly lined up with the orange buoy and I can't see it. Yeah, that's it.
I passed the first orange buoys and sighted again. Orange buoy, then nothing. What was going on? Then I saw a race official on a stand up paddle board trying to get our attention. He was inside the race course yelling and pointing, "Swim for the boat! Not the buoy! Swim for the Boat!"
That is when I saw a med boat where the red buoy should be. I was not too far off and only had to go a bit right to get to the boat. I looked to my left and saw that the pack was about 20 meters inside the course. I got confused for a moment, but then realized why. The red buoy had moved with current. Everyone was sighting off the red buoy and were now off course. As I rounded the boat, I could see them pulling the red buoy back int place. When my head was underwater, I could see the buoy anchor line pulled super taught.
As I rounded the make-shift-buoy-boat, I remembered from my first lap to aim to the left, adjusting for the current. This time around, I was only about 10 meters off.
Once around the last turn buoy, it was only about 200 meters to go. I turned on the gas for this, sighting often, to make sure I did not veer off course. As I approached the beach, I made sure to swim as far in as I could before standing. This reduces he amount of time I would have to run through water.
It turns out, both of my Seahiker instructors were there watching and cheering. Apparently I was too "focused" to notice them. They old me later that my exit was "right on the sweet spot."
XX minutes? That can't be right. I stopped and took tons of breaks on the first lap. Damn. What would my time have been if the swim went as planned? But like in all things, you cannot dwell on the past. Just learn from it. I put it out of my mind and went on to Transition 1. But not before hearing the announcer mispronounce my name. Joseph Haydn was the 18th century composer. I am Joseph Hayden.
Not me.
Once the path from the swim to T1 turned from sand to solid ground, I retched. Once inside of T1 and in the sight of trash cans, I vomited. A medic asked me if I was ok, and after 2 good heaves, I was fine.
I had scoped out where my bike was earlier that morning. I knew to find the aisle with the tree, turn right, and my bike was the second to last bike on the left in the first rack after the tree. I also made sure that the bright pink section of my Malibu Marathon towel was visible.
My wetsuit was already half off and I proceeded to peel it the rest of the way. I had never done a wetsuit race before, but I knew how to take it off quickly. I just did not know where in my transition area to put it without soaking my run gear. Luckily I was able to look at my neighbors area for an idea.
After the wetsuit was off, I grabbed my small towel and began to wipe off my foot. I put one sock and one cycle shoe on before realizing I should have put my helmet on first. I put on my helmet, and then wiped, socked, and shoed my other foot. I grabbed my gels and my glasses. Normally I would put on my gloves and be good to go, but I felt I wasted time throwing up, so I decided to forgo the gloves. Spoken like a true triathlete, "I wasted time in T1 throwing up, but I made up the time by not messing with my gloves."
The Bike
I ran the bike out of T1 to the mount line and was on my way. The bike route was a route I had been training on for months. I knew it very well and was very confident I would beat my previous time. At Lavaman, I had made the mistake of not drinking enough on the bike. This lead to a severe lack of energy on the run. Since then, I had changed my hydration setup. The bottle cages were replaced with cages that were easier to pull from and put back, but the game changer was the new aero hydration system. The new Profile Design FC Hydration System, or as I refer to it, my Lazer Mounted Stealth Submarine.
It was super easy to drink from, just unclip the straw. lean forward, and drink. When it was empty, you grab a water bottle, jam it into the valve on the top, and squeeze. Done! Refilled. This made it much easier to hydrate during the bike to ensure a good run.
As I was taking off, I saw (and heard) Andrew cheering me on.
As I made my my way to UBC/Spanish Banks hill, I was feeling much better. About a quarter of the way up, I was passed by a fellow Seahiker. We shared some encouragement as he bombed up the hill. I now know how my teammate at Lavaman felt when I passed him on an uphill.
Once up the hill, I made sure to grab some nutrition and water. There was a short no passing zone once at the top. I was passed by 2 people, when a third person came up beside me and asked if this was the no passing zone. I told him yes and apologized for being slow. He passed me anyway telling me it was fine.
There was a no drafting rule of 10 meters. Not very many people were following this rule, but I was not gong to risk a 3 minute penalty. Luckily, I found myself in a good spot where if someone was passing me, they were much faster than me, and if I was passing someone, I was much faster than them.
After the course took us past UBC, the road widened and the slight downhill began. I knew from my training runs that I could build up a great deal of speed on this section (40-45kph counts as a great deal of speed). On these sections, I took the time to get into, and become more comfortable, in the aero position. My aero bars are still a bit low and narrow, but that is an adjustment for my next race.
After the turn around, and after thanking the volunteers, I knew I was in for the "Dead Zone." This was an area of the course which was (I felt) worse than the hill. It's a false flat. It looks flat, but there is just enough of an uphill to slow you down. This was compounded by the fact that there was a pretty good headwind working against us. This was another spot where being more comfortable in the aero position came in handy.
Past the "Dead Zone" and back around UBC, there was a section I knew I could build up some speed before bombing down UBC/Spanish Banks Hill. I grabbed some nutrition/hydration and made the turn down the hill. I flew down the hill hitting 62kph. Luckily I did not have to worry about anyone passing me or trying to pass anyone. The hill was all mine.
At the bottom of the hill was the turn around. The volunteers were shouting directions, "First lap, left! Second lap, straight!" I had a bit of fun with them and asked, "What about the third lap?!" They all laughed and one of them responded with, "Hell why not fourth lap!?"
I made my way back up the hill, going the same speed and cadence as the first lap, but with a lower heart rate. At the top there was no one behind me for me to hinder in the no passing zone.
On the way out, I saw a friend, Andrew, whom I met through Andrew's (my coach) cycling and running group(s). He was out on his long run for his Ironman Whistler training. He saw me and shouted encouragement that rivaled Coach Andrew's enthusiasm.
As I went through the turn around, one of the volunteers asked if this was my second lap and cheered me on. I thanked them for their encouragement and for volunteering. They responded, "We volunteer because we could not do what you are doing!" I wanted to tell them that they could, but I was already too far away.
I saw my friend Andrew again, and received the same level of encouragement.
I built up the same speed in all the same places, and stayed very consistent on my second lap. The only difference was, I speed up a bit coming down the hill the second time (63kph).
I passed about half a dozen people coming down the hill and into T2. As I got closer, I began to loosen my watch from my Laser Mounted Stealth Submarine's computer mount, wanting to not waste time fiddling with it in transition.
I knew I had bested my Lavaman time and speed (average speed 29.3 kph). But you will have to continue reading for final times.
I dismounted before the mount line, and ran my bike into T2. I know from earlier scouting where to go. Look for the tree, turn right, count 4 sections in, you are the second slot on the right. Boom. Bike racked, helmet off, shoes off, race belt/bib on, gels and water in the back pockets, visor on, grab the watch, and GO! I put the watch on as I was running out of T2, so to not waste time.
The Run
As I ran out of T2 and onto the run course, my mind went back to Lavaman. This was where I crashed, having not had enough water on the bike. Like all mistakes, I learned from this one. I was off and running at a very good pace. The course was a flat, 2 loop, out and back, and just like the bike, I had trained on it and knew exactly what to expect.
About 1.35k in, I realized that my watch was not displaying my heart rate. In fact, my screen was not displaying any of the normal read-outs I had set it to month ago. Turns out, I had accidentally selected Run Indoor (which I never use). While on the run (get it?), I changed it over to Run Outdoor.
I stopped about 700 meter later to stretch my calves and then continued on. I did not run my usual 10:1 intervals, but I did walk through the aid stations to makes sure I was adequately hydrated. It was not hot, but I was working hard.
Since the course was a double lap, out and back, I was able to encourage the athletes I knew. I saw several Life Sport athletes I met the day before, several friends from my cycle group, friends from my swim courses, and athletes I had met pre-race or during the bike section.
At the last aid station before the turn around, I saw a very familiar sight. Those pink polka dots could only mean one thing, Team Finn. It was my friend Terri. She was on the course picking up empty water cups. I shouted up to her, "Get off the course! You're in my way!" She turned and laughed. I grabbed some water and told her I would see her soon.
At the turn around point was a Subaru car (one of to race sponsors). As I looped around it, I joked with the other runners on the course, "I wonder if the keys are still in it."
I made my way back to the start of the run, continuing to encourage the people I knew (and some that I did not).
At the turn around point, I saw Andrew again. He snapped a few pictures, complimented me on how good/strong I looked, and on the time I was making. I was checking my watch often, and was very aware I was making great time. Once past the turn around, and on the start of my second lap, I joked with all the spectators saying, "That was so much fun... I think I'll do it again!"
I ran the second lap just like the first, good pace, good mood, good encouragement. As I approached the final stretch before the finish line (same area as the turn around), I saw Andrew look at his watch, then up at me as he exclaimed, "You are 2 minutes away from a sub 3 hour!" My reaction included an expletive for which I immediately apologized for to the other spectators.
Andrew told me to go as hard as I've ever gone. So I did. For about 20 meters, then I felt sick, so I went back to the pace I had been going. As I rounded the transition area, the race course became sand. It was hard to maintain good run form, but I could see the finish. The last thing I remember before crossing that line was, "The announcer got my name right!"
As I crossed the finish line, I looked up to see if I had indeed made it under 3 hours, but the timer read 10 something. I paid it no mind, and turned to see if I could see Andrew anywhere. I walked back to the finish line to see if I could see anyone I knew come in behind me, but I was exhausted. After asking a very nice gentleman to take my picture, I headed back to the Life Sport tent.
Everyone at the tent was asking me how I did. I told them I had a rough swim, but there was a possibility of a PB by about 40 minutes. I then ran into Andrew and Stacey (another friend from the cycling group). She also had a very good race. Andrew was extremely excited about my time. I told him about my problems during the swim. He told me that with a current that strong, I most likely did more than 1500 meters, and given all the rest I took, the time I made was still very impressive.
I hung out in the tent for a while as more and more people I knew came by. I saw Julie (also from my cycle group). She told me how much it meant to her to have someone on the course cheering for her. I saw my friend Ron (from my swim group who passed me up the hill). He also had a great race. One of friends, Chiara, came to talk to me after the race. She asked me how it went and told meI looked much better out there than when she saw me at Lavaman. I replied, "Well I was walking at Lavaman." We had a good laugh and congratulated each other.
I sat in the tent for a while, soaking up all I had done that morning, when someone told me they were posting times. I walked over to the table and found my name on a long list. There was no good way for me to write down or take a picture of my time (and the table was crowded). So I went back to the tent and looked my my time online.
What I found was amazing.
Swim time (1500 meters): 00:32:28.0
Transition 1 00:03:21.0
Bike (38K): 01:18:03.0
Transition 2 00:02:04.0
Run (10k) 01:03:43.0
Total 02:59:39.0
Not only did I get under 3 hours, I set a new PB for all my events (even with the problems during the swim). My swim was 3 minutes faster, T1 was 40 seconds slower (I blame this on the wetsuit and the vomiting), the bike was 14 minutes faster, T2 was 29 seconds slower (bike position was not as close as in Lavaman), and the run was 23 minutes faster. Putting me just about 40 minutes under my previous time.
After I rested for a bit more, I went back into transition to pack up. I chatted with several athletes, some veterans, some first timers, but they all said the same thing when we left, "See you at the next one!"
I went home, showered, then met some friends at the beach for a post race cookout. Then I went home and slept for 13 hours.
It was a great day.
Thank you so much for making it to the end of this entry! I know it was a long one, but alot can happen in under 3 hours!
And as always, thanks for sharing in my journey. This bulldozer has plowed his way through yet another race and there will be many more to come!


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- FlatoniuxAsked on June 18, 2014 at 12:37 PM
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