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The summary below is from the full report titled The Implications of Regional Variations in Medicare Spending. Part 2: Health Outcomes and Satisfaction with Care. It is in the 18 February 2003 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine (volume 138, pages 288-298). The authors are ES Fisher, DE Wennberg, TA Stukel, DJ Gottlieb, FL Lucas, and L Pinder.
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The Implications of Regional Variations in Medicare Spending: Health Outcomes and Satisfaction with Care. Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:I–49. doi: https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-138-4-200302180-00002
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In amongst everything else going on
I've been 'attending' class with Joanne Sharpe
and her LetterLove101 classes...
wow that's fun!
These are so awesome Sandy! Thanks for sharing! Bet your classes are a lot of fun!!!
I love this & I know that I've told you--I signed up in either March or April but haven't taken the time to take the classes yet. I'm paid. Just need to take the time. I love what you are creating. TFS!!!
These are fanastic. hugs
These are fabulous Sandy! I love all the touches of colour you've given your art!
Wow!!! These are so much fun!!! I think it may be a little hard for me to do as I really like everything in order. Maybe this is something I should look at in helping me let go a bit. Thank you for sharing your fabulous artwork!!!

subset: commoncrawl


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MindEdge's Change Management Learning Resource
MindEdge's Change Management learning resource provides graduate-level coverage of topics relevant to today's professionals and leaders in a constantly changing environment. The course begins by introducing learners to organizational culture and innovation before teaching the seminal change and innovation models of Lewin, Kotter, McKinsey, and others. The course also covers practical lessons in executing, measuring, selling, and supporting change across industries. The course reinforces learning by engaging students with the material through a variety of games, videos, interactive exercises, quizzes, and other engaging content.
This modular course can be tailored to your school with webtexts, ebooks, and optional trade paperbacks available. It seamlessly integrates into all learning management systems.
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This learning resource contains a diagnostic pre-test and a post-assessment for each module, as well as a comprehensive final assessment. The six modules in this course are as follows:
- The Question of Change and Innovation
- Change Management Models
- Executing Change
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- Models for Innovation
- Entrepreneurial Innovation


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Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock are attached to star in the UNTITLED WAR OF THE ROSES PROJECT. The currently untitled War of the Roses style divorce comedy follows a couple who host a HSN/QVC show who trudge through their divorce on air. Pitt and Bullock will play the male and female lead, respectively.
The project is currently in development, and will be produced by Pitt and Dede Gardner for Plan B Entertainment. Brad Weston and Pam Abby will oversee for New Regency, while Sarah Esberg will oversee production. The A-list comedy is currently OWA.
Bullock most recently starred in the Oscar-nominated Gravity, opposite George Clooney. The Oscar winner will next lend her voice to the Despicable Me spinoff Minions and will star in the comedy Our Brand Is Crisis. She's also producing the Christmas comedy Jingle and executive producing the Untitled Pamela Falk/Michael Ellis Project.
Bullock is repped by CAA. The Tracking Board
Feb 06 Rebeca says:
Maybe it's true, maybe it's not. May it will work somehow.
By the way, I didn't knew about the two last projects of hers.
Leave a Reply


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It was december 2006, I was in the middle of my Olympic sailing career as well as finishing a bachelor in business administration.
I had to write a Thesis to finish my degree, what should I write about?
I met up with Henri van der Aat, former head coach of the Dutch Olympic sailing team and later Technical director of Ajax.
At that time he was doing some consulting for ISAF and he asked me; why not write about something you are passionate about? Point taken, away I went.
There it was, I was writing my thesis for ISAF and Trefpunt about the future of my beloved sailing.
Ever since I was young I have always had a passion for sailing and technology, so quite logically most of my thesis was about how the two should come together in the future.
It was in a time GPS was starting to become mainstream, youtube was being related to as "narrowcasting". And the first production foiling moth was about to be released.
I very strongly believed the future was here, and ISAF and sailing would be ready to embrace and take it on, making sailing a more populair sport
I wrote about shorter races, different race formats, using GPS and narrowcasting to bring sailing closer to the public, using foiling boats to attract the so called
"playstation generation" , using the aging demographic as a opportunity and many other things.
By now I realize it is not realistic to expect a organisation like ISAF to take this on, they don't have the resources nor the vision to make this happen.
It should come from companies and organisations that dare to dream and have the resources to do so.
In September 2013 I thought the future finally had arrived!
The live "narrowcast" of the 2013 America's cup using modern technology and media was everything I had envisaged in my thesis. It was like the future finally arrived.
But not for everyone…


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A Normal Day
A Normal Day
Authors note: It always intrigued me. How did Jed and Abbey find their way back after what happened to Zoe? Abbey was in Manchester for months. Here's my interpretation.
It was dark when Jed had come back to the residence after spending time in the war room. They were no further forward but as much as he hated to admit it, Abbey was right when she had asked where Josh was. The room had more energy when he was there, he challenged, provoked, forced everyone around him to raise their game.
He knew the staff were frustrated with him, Leo was worried this was purely the President losing his mind after Zoe. It wasn't. Or maybe it was. All Jed knew was that they had a deal. He was the President.
Let Bartlet be Bartlet.
He didn't have to win another election, the shackles should be off, run the presidency exactly how he wanted to. And yet he found himself having to compromise on a vice president, on his stimulus package, college tuition.
Enough was enough.
He was tired. Emotionally drained. But what did he have to lose? His presidency was on the precipice, along with his marriage it seemed. His steps slowed as he reached the doors to his bedroom. Would she be there? Or would she choose to stay in another room in the residence? It was only a few days ago that she asked him not to come to Manchester. Now she was back, sitting in his war room, asking him where Josh was, teasing him about eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Almost as if she hadn't walked out on him or hadn't lived apart from him for months.
He'd never considered it. Not really. He knew the presidency would put a strain on their marriage, he knew that things would be different but even during the re-election arguments, he never, ever even considered for a moment that his marriage would be in trouble. The Presidency was all encompassing but Abbey and the girls were his life. He would be nothing without her, without them.He hesitated before the bedroom doors, the agents staring dispassionately ahead. He took a breath. Turned the handle. And walked inside.
She was sitting up on the bed, reading. Her glasses low on her nose, the pillows piled up behind her. Jed's chest burned as the breath caught in his throat. It could have been any moment in time.
"Hey." Abbey said simply, looking up at him over her glasses.
He nodded in return, not trusting himself to say anything more than a tight 'hi' and made his way to the bathroom, tugging at his tie as he did so. Was this how it was going to be? All politeness and nothing but numbness.
He splashed his face with water and looked at himself in the mirror. He wasn't sure he was up for this. He was fighting battles on many fronts, but none had quite the capacity to break him as much as his wife did.
He changed quickly, shedding the veneer of the president and replacing it with the man and walked back into the bedroom. The book was gone, half of the pillows replaced to his side of the bed, and the covers turned down.Abbey was lying on her back looking up at the ceiling.
"This ok?" Jed asked, feeling almost foolish for doing so. Asking his wife for permission to get into his own bed.
"Sure." Abbey responded. Her voice tight, the pitch high. At least he wasn't the only one struggling with this.
"You want me to get the light?" He asked as slipped in beside her.
The room darkened and Jed tried not to sigh in frustration as he lay down."Josh back in the room?" Abbey asked.
"Yeah. You were right." Jed responded.
"I almost always am." Abbey replied and they descended into silence again.
"Almost." Jed said finally.
There was no response, not that the comment demanded one and Jed wished he hadn't turned out the light. He didn't have a clue how his wife was feeling. Nearly 40 years together and never had he felt so far away from her.
"If things don't change, I thought that I could cook. For Eddie and Marie."
"That would be good."
"Chicken or something."
"They get in the day after tomorrow?"
Jed turned on his side, he could see the outline of his wife. He went to open his mouth.
"You've got quite the day tomorrow Jed. Try and get some sleep."
He didn't have the energy to disagree with her. He closed his eyes.
Abbey's side of the bed was empty when he awoke the next morning. He listened for the sound of the shower running and couldn't help the feeling of relief when the reassuring tap of the water against the shower stall could be heard.
If it was a normal day he might have considered joining her. If it was a normal day, he probably wouldn't have had the time. How's that for sods law, today he had the time but probably not the permission.
Before he could spend too much time dwelling on the depressing thought, he heard the shower shut off. On a normal day he would have walked right in, teased her for taking up too much time in the shower, undressed while she dried herself off and sung Sinatra, badly, while she continued to get dressed.
Five minutes later Abbey came out of the bathroom with her robe on, her hair wet. On a normal day he would have wrapped his hands round her, stealing into the folds of her gown. She would have slapped him away, half heartedly.
"All yours." Abbey said simply. Jed nodded in return and walked in to the privacy of the bathroom she had just vacated to brush his teeth.
On a normal day he would have sang in the shower, loud enough to annoy her. On a normal day he might have stepped out of the shower, slung a towel around his hips and talked to her about their day ahead as he proceeded to get dressed. On a normal day, by the time they were both dressed and ready to leave the residence they would have talked about fifty different subjects.Jed exited the shower, dried himself off and dressed slowly. On a normal day she would have picked the tie out for him already.
He selected a tie from the rack, knotted it and slung on his jacket. When he walked out into the bedroom, the curtains were open, the bed made. She was just about to open the door. She smiled at him briefly.
"You heading to the war room?"
"OK, Ill be in the East wing if you need me."
On a normal day, she would have kissed him goodbye. He would have called her sweetknees at least twice.
She walked out the door and Jed sighed.
It wasn't a normal day.
He'd felt invigorated for the first time in months. It was a stunt, a pure unadulterated stunt, but he didn't care. Josh had called it right, yet again, no matter what mistakes the kid made he always made up for it in the ones he got right. He'd felt the spark, he'd seen the gleam in CJ's eyes, the grudging respect in Toby's. Even Leo looked less like he was about to have a nervous breakdown.
He wanted to be able to govern and the impasse was all about leadership. He'd felt since the 25th that he had relinquished a part of the presidency. Walken may have handed the oval office back but Haffley appeared to have taken some of the crown.
Josh was right when he said that 52 million Americans didn't vote for Haffley, they had voted for Bartlet. And it was time they got their President back.
"So you had a bit of a day." Abbey said as she walked into the family kitchen. "I hear you went out to stretch your legs."
He turned to look at her with a slight smile, "It was a nice day, no point being cooped up in doors." He turned back to stir the chilli and felt her move closer to him.
"Did the secret service freak?" She asked and he wasn't sure but he thought he could hear a slight note of awe in her tone. He snuck a glance at her, her face impassive.
"They sucked it up pretty good." He replied as he took a sip of his wine.
"The staff seem happy." Abbey noted as she reached passed him to grab a glass off the shelf.
"It's been a while since we've had a good day. You want some chilli?" Jed asked as she filled her glass up.
"Depends on what version it is." Abbey replied with a raised eyebrow.
Jed couldn't help the chuckle, it was a long standing Bartlet family belief that the strength of Jed's chilli closely resembled his general mood at the time of making it.
"It's got a kick but nothing that will burn."
That seemed to be ok with Abbey so he set about dishing it up. The silence while he worked less oppressive than it had been the night before.
"So," Abbey began as he served the meal and sat down, "Josh's bright idea for you to march on the capitol building?"
"Yeah. He's got his mojo back."
"What was Haffley thinking?" Abbey asked incredulously.
"God knows. Apparently Royce was raving at him."
"Royce had wanted to come out earlier?"
"He's a good guy."
"You think they'll come to you tomorrow?"
Jed shrugged, "They'd be fools not to, but I don't know, this guy – Haffley, it depends how far he's willing to push it."
"How far are you willing to let it go?" Abbey asked with an air of nonchalance that didn't fool Jed one bit.
"I want to be able to govern Abbey, I don't want a 3% cut and I don't want another CR. I want a budget, with the deal we had made."
"Then that's what you tell him."
He looked at her and for the first time in a long time, it looked like she believed he could make it happen.
It wasn't a normal day. But it was a better one than all the days he'd had since that terrible night in May.
After dinner, Jed had gone back to the war room and by the time he got to the residence the room was dark and Abbey appeared to be asleep. He'd watched her for a while, his eyes adjusting to the darkness. It was almost a physical ache not being able to hold her but he dared not make the first move. A couple of days ago he wasn't sure his wife would ever be in the same room as him. He'd take whatever she was willing to give and if that made him sound desperate, he really didn't care.
They had played bathroom tag again the next morning before greeting the Prime Minister and his wife. Eddie and Marie Miller were good people, both he and Abbey had genuinely enjoyed spending time with them over the years. It was likely that Eddie was going to lose the next election so Jed was keen for him to have a state dinner before that happened.
Jed was sure the tension between he and his wife had not gone unnoticed by the Millers. Jed and Abbey had never hid their affection in front of them before, so the forced politeness had probably sent alarm bells ringing if the look he had caught between the two Brits was correct. Marie had quickly steered Abbey off for a 'gossip', while Eddie turned the conversation to the shutdown.
Jed enjoyed talking to Eddie, there were very few political leaders that could understand the pressures and strain of the presidency and he was one of them. Jed had come to value his counsel and his support through Zoe and Shareef had been unwavering.
"How's Zoe doing?" Eddie asked as he accepted the tea that Jed handed to him. Jed sat down opposite him with a sigh.
"Better than the rest of us I think." Jed replied as he stared thoughtfully into his cup.
"I saw the interview, she was magnificent Jed. You should be very proud of her."
Jed nodded thoughtfully, "I am."
He looked over at Eddie, he was watching him with a patient smile on his face. They had always been confidantes, but it was usually over how to deal with political wranglings or whether to acknowledge the French President's mistress when at the G8 meeting. Sometimes they talked about their children, the difficulty they had raising children in the spotlight. Their private marital matters, their private fears were never discussed. Jed knew he was vulnerable, it was not the usual impression a President would dream of giving to a foreign leader.
"Did I do the right thing Eddie?" Jed asked simply.
Eddie sat back, taking a sip of his tea, "What are you asking me Jed? Was it the right thing to run for President? Was it right to seek a second term?"
Jed sat forward in frustration, "You know what –"
Eddie put his hand up, "Are you asking if it was right to order the killing of a foreign citizen on foreign soil? Or are you asking me if it was the right thing to do to shut down your government?"
Jed rubbed his face, and looked up when Eddie continued, "Maybe you are asking me whether you made a mistake not telling your wife something that has been eating at your soul from the moment you gave the order?"
As usual, Eddie had managed to hit the nail on the head.
"You know Jed, the jobs we do. No one can understand them, no one can understand the responsibility we have, the decisions we have to make, the sacrifices. You listened to your Chief of Staff, your security advisors, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. You made a decision as the President of the United States. Just as you did when you ordered the government to shutdown. What I am confident of Jed is whether or not you made the right decision, you made it for the right reasons."
Jed looked across at his friend, he could feel his emotions bubbling towards the surface.
"But," Eddie started and Jed couldn't help but smile, there was always a but with a politician. "For me and you Jed, our wives are the ones that keep us sane in this world of madness. Sometimes we don't want to share the horror that we have to deal with, we want to protect them from the evil that we face or we're not sure how they'll feel about us when they learn about what despicable things we have had to do. But Abbey is your salvation from that. She keeps you honest and she keeps you true to yourself. You start turning away from her now and that road can only lead to darkness."
"What if its too late? I already turned away from her Eddie. What if I cant turn back?"
"Bollocks. She's here isn't she? It's time to pick yourself up off the mattress my friend. You are a good man. One of the best I have ever met. Haffley's a sniffling little weasel. There's no contest."
Jed smiled at his friend, "You sure I cant do anything to sort out that election for you?" He was only half joking.
Eddie laughed, "I think you've got enough trouble for the time being. But I appreciate the offer. You meeting Haffley today?"
"With staff?"
"I'm meeting him alone."
"Good. Sit at your desk, not on the sofa. Don't treat him like an equal Jed, he's not."
Jed nodded.
"Thank you Eddie."
"Anytime mate."
After brunch, Eddie had left Jed to meet with the ambassador before dinner and Jed caught up with some reading before he returned to his room to freshen up. Haffley was due in under an hour. The chat with Eddie had steeled him, the sort of chat he used to have with Leo. That was another relationship that needed some work. He'd pushed him away, pushed everyone away, but not anymore – it was time to move on.
He opened the door to the bedroom and was surprised to find Abbey on the couch watching the news. Actually, she was watching herself, dressing a nice bird.
"They've been playing this on loop. You'd think they'd never seen a first lady who knew how to cook a chicken." Abbey said with a smile.
"It was a good idea. Bet CJ was pleased."
Abbey smirked at him, "She wasn't pleased when I made her my kitchen helper."
Jed chuckled and made his way into the bathroom to freshen up. When he came out the tv was off and Abbey was perched on Jed's side of the bed.
"I've got that meeting with Haffley." Jed said, feeling awkward and not knowing why.
"Yeah. Fancy some company on the walk to your office?"
Jed was nearly struck dumb but he recovered to nod and held the door for her."Do you know what you are going to say to him?" Abbey asked as they walked down the corridor, nodding to the security officers and staff as they went. Jed wondered if they were shocked to see her, it had been months since she had been at the White House, he wondered whether they had speculated about his marriage. Who was he kidding, of course they had. Who wouldn't?
"I don't have a speech planned, but I know what I want." He said and Abbey nodded, deep in thought. They walked through to the Oval Office, Debbie handed him a folder, greeting Abbey as she did so and Jed thought she saw the hint of relief in his secretary's eyes. It had been tough on her too these past months.
Jed checked his desk as Abbey took a seat on one of the chairs. He noted it was not on the sofa but the more formal chairs. The atmosphere was still too tense and the silence fell upon them. He cleared his throat.
"What's with the escort?" He asked, more tersely then he had planned and instantly regretted it when she raised her eyebrow at him. Now was not the time. "Not that I mind of course." He finished.
He could see she was searching how to answer, he even thought he saw a hint of nerves. He sat down on the chair opposite hers, "Abbey?" He asked softly.She looked up at him, "It's a big deal. What's happened with the shutdown, what you've done. You've done it pretty much on your own. I," Abbey hesitated and Jed waited patiently, "I didn't want you to feel that you were walking in here alone."
Jed was astounded, he didn't know how to respond.
"Thank you." It sounded lame to his own ears but it was all he could say.She nodded and they both looked down at the floor between them, lost in their own thoughts until they were interrupted by Leo. As she left, reminding him that he should try not to be late, it almost felt like a normal day.
The weeks leading up to Christmas had gone by in a flash, once the shutdown was lifted, it took a long time for things to resemble normality in the west wing. But there did appear to be a buzz about the place again. When he looked into the eyes of his staff, he no longer saw pity and fear, he saw respect and confidence. It gave him confidence in return and a renewed determination. Things wouldn't be easy, but they would be better.
The arrival of his daughters, even Ellie albeit late, had brought with it the usual familial angst. Try as his might, he still could not see Doug as anything other than the meat head jock who got his daughter pregnant at 18. A good father he may be, maybe even a good husband, but he would never be good enough for his little girl.
Zoe had wowed the staff and the crowds with her appearance at the tree lighting. She never ceased to amaze him. And Ellie, despite his grouching that they never saw her, always brought with her a sense of quiet peace. He would never forget that when things were really bad, when they thought Zoe was lost, it wasn't Abbey that held his hand, it wasn't Liz. It was Ellie. He would forever be grateful.
As Gus switched the tree lights on and off Jed was lost in his own thoughts. It had been a long time since he had thought about his illness, about the possibilities that awaited him. The past few months he had been so consumed with Zoe, his marriage, the presidency, that he hadn't even thought about his own health. Yet again it was Toby making him face his harsh realities. Toby. He would have preferred Leo, could have coped with Josh or CJ, but no he got Toby.
His question to Abbey was genuine. Hopeful but genuine. A short question but complex with a myriad of meanings? Will you be there?
Will you be there when I can't feed myself?Will it be you that will bathe me?Are you staying longer than the holidays?Are we a 'we' again?Do you still love me?
The silence was heartbreaking and Jed had thought that she was seriously considering the question. It wasn't until she had blurted out a 'yeah' that to anyone else would have sounded distracted or half hearted, did he realise the effect his question had on her. If she couldn't say more than a yeah then he must have struck a nerve. It's why he had stopped her, her name strangled in his throat. He was asking her for forever, and she had answered with a kiss.
In the weeks since her return it was the most intimate they had gotten with each other. Jed couldn't help but smile. After Rosslyn it had only been a few weeks and he was going out of his mind. It had been months now, he was worried he was getting used to abstinence.
After Gus had finally got bored of the tree, he took him back to his room to read him a story. Doug gave him the cold shoulder, Lizzie tried to look disapproving of taking her son out in the cold and snow to flick a light switch but Jed could see the warmth there. He hugged his eldest tight as he said goodnight and whispered in her ear an apology for the cauliflower. She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the grin. He stopped off to see Ellie and Zoë who were watching a film curled up in blankets, a bowl of popcorn between them. It could have been any moment in time. He stole some popcorn, mocked the film they were watching, before hugging them both tightly. He left feeling lighter than he had all day.
He walked slowly back to his room, his mind full of the last few weeks. Eddie had been right. Abbey was his light, without her was only darkness. From the moment he met her he knew his life would be changed forever. Changed for the better. And she had deserved better.
"I take it you were responsible for the light show?" He looked up to see Abbey standing in the doorway to their room, leaning against the frame while the agents, luckily for them, averted their eyes from his pajama clad wife.
He shook his head, "Nah some hooligan in dinosaur pajamas."
Abbey smirked and he followed her back into their room.
"You see Liz?" She asked as he entered the bathroom to brush his teeth.
"Yeah, it was minus 100 C with Doug but Lizzie was ok. I apologized to her for the cauliflower." He shouted through.
"And you got out alive?" He jumped to see Abbey behind him, watching him in the mirror.
"Bartlet charm." He smirked at her and she rolled her eyes at him.
"Wasn't it the Bartlet charm that caused the incident in the first place?"
"No, no, no don't start, that was a Barrington move if ever I saw one."
"From what I recall, you used to like the Barrington moves."
"Still do sweet knees." He caught her eye in the mirror, she smiled at him and for a moment he felt that spark of electricity. He started to undress, waiting for her to back off into the other room as she had done since her return from Manchester. She didn't.
"I hear you gave the AG a roasting." She said as he stripped off his sweater, she held out her hands for it and he passed it to her to fold.
"What's he doing running for office from my cabinet?" Jed asked and Abbey shook her head.
"He thought you wouldn't go there?" Abbey asked as she handed him his pajamas.
"Yeah. Can't say I like the idea of having that conversation on national television but there you go."
"I've drawn up a few names, gave it to Toby."
They walked back into their bedroom together. Abbey stopped to look at him. "Did you think that I wouldn't be there?" To anyone else it would have sounded like a non-sequitur and he paused.
For a moment it had almost felt normal, he could lie, hold onto the moment.
"Some days Abbey it feels like you can barely look at me."
He was surprised by her surprise. She seemed truly shocked. Silence fell between them and Jed felt like kicking himself.
"I never thought anything could break us. I never thought I would look at you and see so much disappointment and venom staring back at me. You were gone for months Abbey, I almost expected divorce papers."
She stared at him.
"I wouldn't have blamed you. What I did. What I've become. It was wrong."
"No it wasn't." Abbey said quietly. Jed almost asked her to repeat herself he couldn't believe what she was saying.
"You don't think I expected you to have to make decisions like that? I'm a bright girl Jed. I don't make foreign policy around here and I would never expect to."
"Abbey-" Jed started but Abbey held up her hand.
"You didn't tell me Jed. We're supposed to talk these things through. You promised. After the re-election fiasco. You promised I wouldn't have to find things out on tv."
"I couldn't." Jed said quietly, his voice breaking.
"What?" It was Abbey's turn to be surprised.
"I was so ashamed Abbey. I'm so sorry, I really am."
"I know. Me too. God Jed, divorce? I could never..." She shook her head, "For you to even question whether I would be there..." Jed looked down until he felt her fingers under his chin.
"I was so angry Jed. I didn't want to see you or talk to you, time hadn't healed me like it had healed Zoe. I didn't want you there for the interview, I didn't even want C.J there. I wanted nothing to do with the White House, your staff, your presidency and I had made it clear to Leo that I wanted nothing to do with him."
She sat down on the couch, looking as if she was trying to collect her thoughts, he sat opposite her, perched on the coffee table, waiting for her.
"I had seen the shutdown on the news, but I was still so angry. Zoe was imploring me to ring you but I couldn't. Milly tried too." Jed raised his eyebrow at that one.
"I couldn't get past it. Then Leo rang. Zoe answered the phone, said it was Leo asking for me. I couldn't move. The way I had left things with Leo, the only reason he would ring..." Abbey's voice broke.
"I was so scared. The thought of anything...and I hadn't...god Jed, it was Rosslyn all over again."
Abbey broke down, while Jed sat in stunned silence, waiting for her to compose herself.
"I couldn't, wouldn't take the phone. It took Zoe a few minutes to explain to me why he was calling. The relief." Abbey shook her head in bemusement, "I had to come Jed."
Jed nodded and reached out for her hand, she grasped it and they sat for a few moments before Abbey stood and pulled him towards their bed. They pulled down the bed covers, removed the decorative pillows and climbed in. A routine they had done hundreds of times before. And they talked.
They talked about Shereef, Zoe, the presidency, his MS, her role as First Lady. It was cathartic, for both of them. They shouted, they whispered but they talked. More openly and freely than they both could ever remember.
And when they were done talking, Abbey reached out to her husband and pulled him towards her, as she had done thousands of times before.
Just as if it was a normal day.
Did you enjoy my story? Please let me know what you think by leaving a review! Thanks, sweeny81Write a Review


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Downstairs Master Bedroom Floor Plans
Main Floor Master homes were the most popular floor plan layout selected by home builders for the Triangle Parade of Homes, especially for areas like Chapel Hill and Pittsboro. See the stats here.
Looking for house plans with a main floor master? Here's a list of the best main floor master house plans for 2017. Want to see more plans? Click here: Send me floor plans!
Main Floor Master House Plan #1: The Sullivan
The Sullivan is a very popular floor plan by Frank Betz with 2,548 Sq Ft, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths.
The Sullivan's main floor master suite extends the entire length of the home, with his and hers closets and a cozy sitting area with lots of windows. The vaulted great room emphasizes the open floor plan, with an island kitchen designed for entertainment and a big bonus room upstairs. This brick front home version has archways, trey ceilings, and hardwood staircase.
See the Sullivan Photo Gallery, here.
Main Floor Master House Plan #2: The Statesman
The Statesman is a custom floor plan by with 3,160 sq ft, 4 bedrooms, and 4 baths.
This custom floor plan by Stanton Homes draws in traditional home elements such as red brick, black shutters, and white columns, with the modern layout of a downstairs master suite and first floor guest suite.
See the Statesman Photo Gallery, here.
Main Floor Master House Plan #3: The Blueridge
The Blueridge is a Max Fulbright floor plan with 3,185 Sq Ft with 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths.
This English Country Exterior floor plan has a first floor master suite, open layout, and upstairs media and craft rooms. See photos of the stained wood beam ceiling in the great room, two tone island kitchen, and painted wainscoting dining room.
See the Blueridge Photo Gallery, here.
Main Floor Master House Plan #4: The Dinsmore
This is a modified version of The Dinsmore, a Frank Betz floor plan, with 3,008 sq ft, 5 bedrooms, and 4.5 baths.
This Apex, NC custom home is a trendy, sophisticated Urban Lodge with design features that say "young executive" - with an emphasis on family and entertainment. See photos of: white oak hardwood flooring, stone and siding accent walls, cedar wraps, and open concept living with built-in storage tucked throughout (island in the master closet, window bench in the loft, drop zone in the mud room).
See the Dinsmore Photo Gallery, here.
Main Floor Master House Plan #5: The Carwile
The Carwile is a farmhouse floor plan with 2,868 sq ft, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms.
From the apron sink in the white and black kitchen to the light blue master bath with cantilever tub, this first floor master suite home speaks to a classic farmhouse style.
See the Carwile Photo Gallery, here.
Main Floor Master House Plan #6: The Low Country Farmhouse
The Low Country Farmhouse is a Max Fulbright floor plan with 2,622 Sq Ft, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths.
This Farmhouse plan has a traditional feel inside and out with a main floor master suite, large kitchen island open to the great room, separate dining and breakfast rooms, and three kid's bedrooms upstairs with a small loft overlook to the two story great room. The front porch wraps around three sides of the home, with a separate covered patio in the backyard. The "Costco" style pantry is large enough for long-term storage of canned goods grown on the acreage farmland where this home sits outside of Raleigh, NC.
See the Low Country Farmhouse Photo Gallery, here.
Main Floor Master House Plan #7: The Dugan
The Dugan is a custom design by Stanton Homes with 3,184 sq ft, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths.
This version of the Dugan - a fully wheelchair accessible custom home - includes a second floor mother in law suite with elevator. Stanton Homes is a certified Aging in Place builder, as well as an industry leading Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) approved builder in central North Carolina, with an innovative, technology-driven approach to customized, functional and beautiful fully accessible and universal homes.
See the Dugan Photo Gallery, here.
Main Floor Master House Plan #8: The Shoal Creek
The Shoal Creek is a Frank Betz floor plan with 2,765 sq ft, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms.
The Shoal Creek is a main floor master two story home with a guest room on the first floor. It's an open floor plan, with a vaulted family room and spacious island kitchen. This version combines a medley of classic Craftsman design features - like the stone porch columns and stone fireplace - and modern finishes, such as the kitchen pendant lights. Outdoor living is a big deal, too, with an extensive deck.
See the Shoal Creek Photo Gallery, here.
Main Floor Master House Plan #9: The coventry
The Coventry is 2,807 sq ft with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths.
The tucked-in front porch is just the beginning - step inside this main floor master home, and see how well the open concept rooms flow. An island kitchen opens to a vaulted keeping room. The two story living room, just around the corner, has a second fireplace.
See the Coventry Photo Gallery, here.
Main Floor Master House Plan #10: The Worthington II
The Worthington II is a Stanton Homes custom floor plan with 2,834 sq ft, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths.
This Raleigh custom home offers four bedrooms and three and half baths with a first floor master suite. Outside, you're greeted by a colonial exterior. Inside, an urban loft design meet classic white and blue kitchen features.
See the Worthington II Photo Gallery, here.
Custom Home Builder in Raleigh, North Carolina:
As your considering main floor master floor plan options, contact custom home builder Stanton Homes. We'll help you find the right floor plan - even if it means modifying room sizes and layouts.


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(Behind the Scenes is my attempt to shed light on how journalists — specifically me — research and do leg work for their stories. I hope that through such posts, the public will understand how a news or feature article is conceptualized, framed and packaged. Media literacy and transparency are a must in today's cyber world of fake news and trolls.)
Earlier this year, I decided to again pursue a master's degree. It was an eye-opening experience as I (and my eight classmates from all over Asia) attended daily classes and spent sleepless nights working on our papers. MA Journalism at Ateneo de Manila University is more difficult but also more impressive than I expected.
My favorite class is Advanced Reporting, undoubtedly the toughest subject this semester. During one of our sessions, we agreed to pursue children's issues for our final paper. I chose the topic children with disabilities since I had always wanted to work on an article about persons with disabilities (PWD).
A few years ago, I researched about Filipino Sign Language and sign language insets for news programs. I met a lot of amazing people and learned more about the deaf community. I feel that many of the issues they face do not get enough attention from the media and the public even if there is a lot of terrific material available.
So for my final paper, I decided to write about the challenges that poor families face in sending their deaf children to school.
Revisiting old sources
I chose that topic even if I didn't know anyone from the public sector that dealt with deaf issues so I ended up starting with institutions I was familiar with. I reintroduced myself to the people at St. Benilde's School for the Deaf, which was one of the leaders in advocating for Filipino Sign Language. My interview with the dean gave me an idea of what the best practices are in deaf education. It is unbelievable that 98 percent of the school's population are scholars and that the La Salle brothers spend P1.2 million for each student.
It was in their faculty center that I met Raymond, who is flying to Malaysia next year to study e-learning for deaf students. Raymond, who was born deaf, persevered in public school and received a coveted scholarship from Benilde, later becoming the school's advocacy coordinator.
I ran out of people to talk to after that and I ended up e-mailing the Department of Education's media office to set up an interview with a resource person on deaf education. The people at the media office were very accommodating and I ended up conducting a phone interview with Salve Olinares of the Student Inclusion Office (although it took me several days to finally get in touch with her). I made a surprise visit to Ms. Salve's office the other day and she gave me a list of all public schools offering classes for deaf students, as well as the breakdown of deaf student enrollment this year. She said there are 77 public schools offering classes for the deaf plus 50 more from the private sector.
Facebook search for journalists
She couldn't refer me to anyone from the local schools specifically so I decided to use my incredible Facebook search skills. I wanted to learn more about the Philippine School for the Deaf so I searched the name on Facebook and started reading posts about it from teachers, parents and students. I think I
stalked messaged almost 10 people before I bagged an interview with a parent of a deaf elementary student.
Arlene, who works in Dubai, was very nice to me. She was kind enough to share with me her family's story. From there, she gave me the contact details of her friend Rowena.
Through Rowena, I was (finally) able to enter the Philippine School for the Deaf, which has a nice big lawn and a garden where the children play. Hearing them laugh and shriek as they play tag made me realize that deaf children are just like other children. The only difference is that they use a visual language — sign.
I met Arlene's son Bien and husband Benjie at the school. Both Rowena and Benjie were very candid and sincere in their interviews, recounting the difficulties they face in raising their children.
Rowena also introduced me to the guidance counselor, who in turn brought me to the school's officer in charge.
During my interview with Ms. Irish and Ms. Cristina Amon, I learned that 22 percent of their students are from Cavite and that each class only has 10 to 15 students. They also told me that the biggest challenge they face is not lack of facilities or teachers but the inability of some parents to devote enough time to guide and communicate with their deaf children.
While browsing on Facebook, I came across a sign language video from a page called "Mata News." I later met George, its founder, and his sister Kat at a coffee shop in Makati. The concept of Mata News is quite simple — for the deaf to deliver news to their fellow deaf Filipinos.
George, who is deaf because of a genetic disease, said deaf people often do not understand television news reports because of the lack of subtitles and inaccurate sign language interpretation.
I am using my interview with them for a sidebar story.
Serializing reports
Now that my first draft is in, I am thinking of ways to make my report more palatable and easy to digest. I will have to break the longer story into shorter pieces. My professor said serializing the report would be a great idea, especially since readers seldom have the attention span and the patience to read through a thousand-word article. A lot of people liked my last story — a 4,000-word article about a gay communist fighter who died two days before the ceasefire — but said it was too long.
I will have to rethink my goal of writing long-form reports and maybe find creative ways to present them to our audience.
For our readers, what else do you want to know about the deaf? For my fellow reporters, do you also use Facebook to find interviewees? How?


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Tarasow's documetnarys at Hanko's film festival *Hangon elokuvajuhlat* at 5th November/ The Flying Fish, Luova tuho / Creative Destruction
We are happy to inform that The Flying Fish is going to have the domestic premiere at Hangon elokuvajuhlat. Also the documentary Creative Destruction is going to be screened at the same day at Saturday 5th November 2016. The screening is free an both of the directors Anastasia Lobkovski and Ilkka Rautio will be there too! See you there!!


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The York College Communications Technology website on the CUNY Academic Commons featuring:
- advice for current and prospective majors,
- showcases of student work and accomplishments,
- announcements of Comm Tech workshops and events, and
- examination of trends in the Comm Tech industry.
YorkCommTech Flickr Group
Registration Archive
Important Notice About RegistrationPosted on August 21, 2013 | No CommentsIt has come to my attention that some students have had their courses dropped because their Financial Aid, Student Loans or other form of financial assistance has not yet been received by the college. If you have registered for classes this semester, please sign into […]
Fall 2012 ClassesPosted on April 11, 2012 | No CommentsFall registration at York College for 2012 begins April 16th. The course offering for the Fall are listed below (Please refer here for the course descriptions). Please note CT 201 and 205 will both be offered this Fall. Also SPCH 350 Persuasion and Propaganda in […]
Summer and Fall 2011 RegistrationPosted on April 22, 2011 | No CommentsRegistration for Summer and Fall 2011 has begun and all CT courses are now open for enrollment. Listed below are the courses being offered. SUMMER 2011 CT 401 – TBA Final Project/Senior Seminar Credits: 3.0, Hours: 3.0, Prerequisite: CT 399, Writing 303, and permission of […]


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Malta...why not?
- ellie said...
I really wasn't sure what you were saying there at first..I was thinking butts in the moonlight in the sea.
Anyway, all the best to you and your trip.
- June 5, 2012 at 10:44 PM
- Gloria said...
Oh wow, what amazing news! Congrats, and enjoy the babymoon!!
- June 5, 2012 at 10:48 PM
- Leeann @ Join the Gossip said...
That's awesome! Have so much fun!
- June 5, 2012 at 11:17 PM
- Mrs. Parker said...
Wow! Congratulations! And best wishes for the rest of your pregnancy! Hope you enjoy your baby-moon fully! :)
- June 6, 2012 at 12:07 AM
- Christianna said...
Your trip sounds amazing and I'm so excited for you guys!
Congrats on the baby! You guys are going to be the best parents!
- June 6, 2012 at 12:12 AM
- ag. said...
Oh! My! Gosh! CONGRATULATIONS! How exciting! I'm sure that takes some sinking in...I imagine a whole nine months of sinking in and then you've got something else entirely to adjust to! : ) All the best for the rest of your pregnancy...and enjoy your trip!!!
- June 6, 2012 at 12:29 AM
- Ren- Lady Of The Arts said...
Mazel Tov! I'm so happy for you and M!!! That is great news- I am so excited to see how your blog will metamorphosis along with motherhood.
- June 6, 2012 at 12:55 AM
- Kristina said...
Krystal!!! Wow!!! That is fantastic.. I am sooo happy for you! Wonderful. Enjoy your "last" vacation only the two of you together! It is going to be beautiful! xx sending you a big hug all the way from australia
- June 6, 2012 at 12:56 AM
- christa said...
Holy cow! Congratulations!!!!
Have an awesome time in Malta!
- June 6, 2012 at 1:06 AM
- Bella Bheag said...
Congratulations on your baby news - exciting! Hope you've been enjoying putting together a whole new wardrobe! (Re pregnancy - I agree!)
- June 6, 2012 at 1:28 AM
- Crystle said...
Krystal! Congrats! I'm so happy for you guys :) Can't wait to hear more about it, so keep us posted!
- June 6, 2012 at 1:42 AM
Have a wonderful, relaxing vacation in Malta:) Love you.
- June 6, 2012 at 2:27 AM
- linz marie said...
Yay! How exciting that you will be expecting a baby boy in September :) that is when my little sis is due too! I hope you have the best time in Malta on your babymoon. Thanks for sharing the news!
- June 6, 2012 at 3:14 AM
- Tee, Passports and Postcards said...
Congratulations! Have a great baby moon- your Malta trip sounds amazing.
- June 6, 2012 at 3:57 AM
- LA SOURCE DU JOUR said...
Looks beautiful!
Check out WWW.LASOURCEDUJOUR.COM.AU
- June 6, 2012 at 4:51 AM
- Amanda said...
Wonderful news and what a wonderful idea -- a babymoon!!?? Congrats, girl!
- June 6, 2012 at 6:18 AM
- Dancing Branflake said...
OOOOOOOOOOO MYYYYYYYYYYYYYY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONDESSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Congratulations!!!! What the what?!!!!! I am so excited! You have all that fun skinny dipping in Malta, you beautiful pregnant lady!
- June 6, 2012 at 6:34 AM
- E said...
Congrats on the growing family! That's really exciting. I hope the trip to Malta is relaxing and wonderful.
- June 6, 2012 at 7:08 AM
- Claudz said...
And enjoy Malta
- June 6, 2012 at 7:19 AM
- Girl living in Oslo said...
I am thinking Greece for July :)
why not right ?
Have a great vacation...
Have a nice time :)
- June 6, 2012 at 8:19 AM
- Nanne said...
Wow, congratulations! This is wonderful news:) I've never been to Malta myself, but my stepdaughter spent a month there for summer language school some years ago, and she loved it:)
- June 6, 2012 at 8:47 AM
- cosplay costumes said...
Congratulations!That's an amazing news!Enjoy!
- June 6, 2012 at 8:57 AM
- Ola said...
wonderful! Have a good time!
Blog about life and travelling
Blog about cooking
- June 6, 2012 at 9:19 AM
- Jess said...
Oh my gosh, congratulations! Enjoy your time away xx
- June 6, 2012 at 9:25 AM
- Jenny in Ohio said...
woah! Congrats!!!! :)
and have fun in Malta.
- June 6, 2012 at 1:30 PM
- SmartBear said...
okay, a the risk of sounding like I am bragging? I KNEW you had a little bump growing! I just knew it! What was with all those pins on pinterest???? :)
Boys are awesome. You will have so much fun. Congrats!
And enjoy Malta! Get that belly some sunshine and saltwater.
- June 6, 2012 at 2:29 PM
- Hollie said...
SHUT UP!! I'm so excited for you, and I was literally thinking the other day "Why does Krystal keep pinning baby things on pinterest?!"
- June 6, 2012 at 3:57 PM
- Sara said...
Congratulations! I was preparing to read about a honeymoon (read today's post first, then came here) - but a babymoon! FUN FUN FUN!
- June 6, 2012 at 10:03 PM
- Brissa said...
- June 6, 2012 at 10:11 PM
ahhh, what super lovely happy news, congratualations! and i hope you have an ahhmayzing time in malta and get to relax to the max!
- June 6, 2012 at 10:11 PM
Oh wow! Congratulations :)
- June 6, 2012 at 11:39 PM
- megan lane said...
whoa!! 6 months already? wow, congrats crystal!!
- June 6, 2012 at 11:51 PM
- Ashley said...
OHHHHHH MYYYY GOSHHHHH!! So that's where you've been! Growing a human!! haha...understandable :)
Congrats Krystal! That is really really great news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- June 7, 2012 at 2:37 AM
- BellaGetsREal said...
WHAAAT? Super excited for you both. I see a baby room filled with triangles. I can't believe you didn't say anything before....way to exciting.
- June 7, 2012 at 6:14 AM
- Mat said...
wow major congrats. well enough yourself in malta!
- June 7, 2012 at 10:48 AM
- Mat said...
wow major congrats. well enough yourself in malta!
- June 7, 2012 at 10:48 AM
Beautiful photo - and CONGRATULATIONS!!
- June 7, 2012 at 5:08 PM
- Galit said...
Oh wow Krystal!!! What amazing news!!! It's so exciting! So very happy for you two!
Enjoy your "babymoon"! We had one too when I was 5 months pregnant (to Sicily), it was a blast and a great memory!
Sending you a bunch of hugs and heaps of congrats from down under!! xxxxoxo
- June 8, 2012 at 3:24 AM
- Nikki said...
Enjoy your babymoon! I've been waiting for this and have had a hard time keeping my mouth shut on facebook :) Have fun!
- June 8, 2012 at 7:24 PM
- Holly said...
yay!! congrats on your little boy :) cant wait to follow along!
- June 8, 2012 at 7:33 PM
- Jaime @ La vie...J'aime said...
have a blast on your babymoon!!
- June 8, 2012 at 10:04 PM
- Diana said...
Hahaha, yay! I really do love your attitude though. Best pregnant lady ever!
- June 9, 2012 at 2:28 AM
- rooth said...
Big congrats!!!
- June 9, 2012 at 5:10 AM
- Mariana said...
It looks anwsome!
Please check out my blog too at Miss Tangerine :)
- June 9, 2012 at 12:51 PM
- Julie-White Tapestry said...
- June 9, 2012 at 2:17 PM
- Josie said...
Amazing news congratulations! You're about to embark upon one crazy incredible journey :)
- June 9, 2012 at 11:00 PM
- Molly said...
Ok, so I saw "babymoon" on facebook earlier and I was like, "hmmmm?!?!" Surely I'm misunderstanding. How could I have missed such big news!!!
Woo Hoooooo! Congratulations. Hey, if you need someone to come and feed you ice chips and wrangle nurses and such...I'm an experienced birth coach now. ;) Just let me know if I should book my ticket.
- June 10, 2012 at 11:35 PM
- Jamie said...
Congratulations! What exciting (and life changing) news!
- June 11, 2012 at 6:59 PM
- katie walker said...
Congratulations Krystal!!! thats so exciting! i hope your having a lovely time on your 'baby-moon'!
I'm so excited for you!
xx katie
- June 12, 2012 at 12:11 AM
- Catherine said...
Congratulations on your baby boy! Yay!!
- June 15, 2012 at 12:39 AM
- this free bird said...
Congrats Krystal!! (and M). So happy for you!! xoxo
- June 15, 2012 at 2:51 AM
- Chuzai Living said...
Congrats!!! It's so exciting!! September? That's the same month as my sister. I have a baby boy now who was born on the leap year. :) The photo of the windows is gorgeous! Take a good care of yourself!
- June 21, 2012 at 2:08 PM


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text:
The ultra-contemporary world of "Silicon Valley," the terrific new comedy about
the high-tech world and the ambitious nerds who populate it, might seem as far
from its fellow Sunday night HBO show, "Game of Thrones," as you can get.
But it turns out Westeros and Silicon Valley have a few things in common. Whether you're dealing with dragons or digital data, the desire for wealth, success and influence has a tendency to bring out the primal instincts in people.
"Silicon Valley," which premieres Sunday on HBO, is co-created by Mike Judge, who worked as an engineer in Silicon Valley in the late 1980s before going on to create "Office Space" and "Beavis & Butt-head," and Alec Berg.
Maybe it's Judge's insider knowledge of the scene that makes "Silicon Valley" so perceptive about the kinds of people drawn to the tech world, and the way it works. The young guys sharing a place -– pretentiously dubbed "an incubator" by their landlord, Erlich (T.J. Miller) –- don't vary much from the stereotypes you'd expect.
The central character, Richard (Thomas Middleditch) has come up with an algorithm breakthrough, and he's so lost in his own head that it amazes him that his brainstorm becomes a hot commodity. A bidding war breaks out between an oddball venture capitalist and the head of "Hooli" (any resemblance to Google is purely intentional.)
What should Richard do? Take a $10 million offer to sell the rights or go into business with the V.C., who'll let Richard retain ownership, but will take a percentage of the profits?
Rounding out the tale are Richard's geek friends and housemates, all of them every bit as socially awkward as he is. But while this might sound like the second coming of "The Big Bang Theory," "Silicon Valley" is more subtle and shrewd about the humor and how these characters bounce off each other.
"Silicon Valley"
When: 10 p.m. Sunday, April 6
Channel: HBO
It helps that the cast is packed with talented people. Middleditch is perfect as Richard, who is still relatively innocent to the ways of the start-up corporate world. Comic-actor Miller is a real find as Erlich, who is nowhere near as sharp and charismatic as he thinks he is, but is ridiculously likable, anyway. As Richard's friends Kumail Nanjiani (who has made such a valuable contribution to "Portlandia"), Martin Starr ("Party Down," "Freaks and Geeks") and Josh Brener are all spot-on.
With an appealing cast, a relatively fresh setting and smart jokes ("Every party in Silicon Valley ends up like a Hasidic wedding," i.e., the men and women are always separated), "Silicon Valley" is definitely worth your time investment.
-- Kristi Turnquist


text: You know the old adage, "You have to see it to believe it"? Well, that pretty well summarizes Ramon's Village Resort on the island of Ambergris Caye, Belize. "It's Tahiti just two hours from Houston!" said one guest. "We had no idea something this unique existed except in the Pacific islands!" said another. Styled after the Tahitian cottages on the Polynesian island of Bora Bora, our cabanas (cabins) were built from native materials by craftsmen utilizing the same skill and techniques the islanders used in the days of the great sailing ships. We're not a concrete condo or a two-story Holiday Inn encompassed by concrete parking lots, bothersome traffic and noisy revelers. Ramon's Village is a sanctuary nestled in a tropical garden of Royal Palms, bougainvillea, lilies, hibiscus and dozens of other types of tropical flora. Surrounded by the plant life are Mayan sculptures that provide a glimpse of the civilization that preceded us to this Caribbean paradise. Once inside the village, you'll be in a world of your own choosing. Gallery: Once inside, your cabana, get rid of those traveling clothes, slip on some shorts and a real casual top then go outside and enjoy yourself. The beautiful Caribbean is just outside your doorstep and its crystal clear water is home for some of the most exciting array of marine life found anywhere on Earth. If you're a diver, get ready to indulge yourself in the underwater fantasy of the Caribbean. Undiscovered by the tourism industry until the late 1980s, Ambergris Caye was a sparsely populated habitat for a few locals and a secret dive destination for the brave and adventurous. Today, it is the treasure of the Caribbean, offering hundreds of spectacular, uncrowded dive sites. But, before I reveal too much of what the ocean has to offer, let me tell you what Ramon's Village Resort has to offer. Rates: BOOK NOW Location: Ramon's Village Resort San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize, Central America Phone: +501-226.2071 Toll Free: 1-800-MAGIC-15 Website: www.ramons.com BOOK NOWHow to get here The best option is to travel to Philip S W Goldson International Airport 9 miles from Belize City. Some flights depart from the following cities: Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Newark and Los Angeles. Once in Belize City you can take a connecting flight to San Pedro (SPR) with Tropic Air or Maya Island Air. by


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Join Us: This Saturday is GE-Free Action Day at Walmart!By Ali Geering-Kline
Walmart is behind the curve on GMOs. While Trader Joe's and Whole Foods have responded to CEH's surveys asking for their policy on Monsanto risky new, pesticide-laden corn, Walmart has ignored our direct questions about the Monsanto corn (check out the details in press release: Pressure on Walmart to Rebuff GE Sweet Corn Intensifies).
In order to raise awareness about the problems associated with genetically engineered foods and encourage Walmart to agree not to sell Monsanto's GE sweet corn, we're taking our message to their front door.
Californians: Live in the Bay Area, Silicon Valley, or Los Angeles/Ventura County area? Then come out to the nearest Walmart (store action list below) to help us send the message that we don't want Monsanto's untested, unlabeled GE sweet corn anywhere near our grocery stores!
Sign up to join CEH in partnership with Food & Water Watch at one of the following locations:
Oakland- sign up here!
8400 Edgewater Drive
Oakland, CA 94612
Mountain View- sign up here!
600 Showers Drive
Mountain View, CA 94040
Oxnard- sign up here!
2001 North Rose Avenue
Oxnard, CA 93036
GE-Free Action Day, GMO Corn, GMOs, Monsanto, Walmart
Ali Geering-Kline
Ali manages the website and coordinates the online communications of CEH. She works with the communications and development staff to create messaging strategies and public education content for CEH's supporters and online audience. A Bay Area native, Ali attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where she received a B.A. in Sociology and Cultural Studies. This allowed her to live abroad in Argentina, where she studied Latin American history and learned valuable Spanish language skills. Ali is thrilled to be part of an organization that advocates for healthy communities so effectively.


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Alcohol isn't generally my thing. Unless it's a Malibu and orange juice, then it's 100% my thing. However when I received an invitation to The Orange Tree launch night in Derby I thought well why not?
I brought my boyfriend Jordan along and we got into town nice and early. Early enough, in fact, that we had time for pizza and curly fries (classy, I know).
The event was due to start at 7pm so we got there near enough bang on time. There wasn't many people around and the door was closed so at first we were kinda confused. Turns out there were some last minute issues and the opening had been pushed back to 8pm.
We killed an hour in a nearby bar and by the time we got back to The Orange Tree the place was buzzing with activity. We headed straight for the bar as soon as we walked in.
I could not for the life of me decide what I wanted but Jordan chose straight away. Once I'd finally decided the friendly barman told us that they were only serving from the special launch night menu. This made my decision much easier as there were only four cocktails to choose from.
Jordan chose a White Russian – vodka shaken with cream poured over coffee liqueur and crushed ice. He could barely wait long enough for me to take the picture before he took a sip! It was worth the wait though, he absolutely loved the stuff.
In the end I chose a Wibble, which was a berry and gin concoction. And boy, it packed a punch! At first I liked it, but the further I got down the glass the harder it was to drink. I'm just a little weakling when it comes to cocktails!
Me and Jordan both said that the bar staff were doing a fantastic job. Especially given that the place was packed and they were constantly having their picture taken by someone (including me!).
Downstairs was rammed so we headed upstairs in the hope of finding somewhere a little more quiet to sit down. The upstairs space is called The Loft and is available to hire for parties and special events. The beams and the soft furnishings give the place a cosy feel. Whereas the shelving behind the bar and the illuminated specials board give off modern vibes.
We sat down on one of the velvet sofas next to a large sash window and made ourselves comfortable. We hadn't been sat down long before The Loft started filling up too.
I don't know much about what Derby has to offer in terms of night life. I've never been out in Derby before. From what I've heard from college friends the highlight of your average Saturday night in Derby is getting wrecked in a crowded nightclub. Or at least it is for them. As fun as it is to go out and dance the night away, sometimes it's nice to just sit and have a chat over a drink or two. And I think that's exactly what The Orange Tree would be great for.
Like I say, they weren't serving from the main menu on the night but they've got a fantastic selection to try. Obviously there's a choice of cocktails but there's also ales, beers, cider, wine and non-alcoholic cocktails too. As cliche as it sounds, there's definitely something for everyone.
Jordan loved his White Russian so much that he actually had four in total over the course of the night. He's keen to go back soon to try their Maple Old Fashioned cocktail, it's his favourite!
Personally I'd like to try their non-alcoholic cocktails. Unfortunately they're all topped with fizzy drinks so maybe they'll be able to top mine up with something else (in case you don't know, I hate fizzy drinks).
I've just had a sneaky peek at their website and they actually have happy hour on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 5pm and 9pm and all day Thursday. So if you fancy checking it out it would be great to take advantage of the special offers!
I'd like to say a huge thank you to The Orange Tree for inviting me and Jordan along to their launch night. We had a great time, and I'm sure we'll be back soon.
Let me know in the comments if you're tempted to visit The Orange Tree. Do you like the look of any of the drinks we tried? Have you visited any of their other venues in the East Midlands?
Our drinks were gifted in exchange for this post.


text:
The length always bothered me whenever I wore it because the hem always hit the middle calf area. My skirts need to be above the knee or just above the ankle because anything different or in between looks weird. With a little bit of time on my hands, I decided to quickly fix the dress.
I found a dark red tank needing a little bit of attention. Despite the size listed on the inside tag, the tank didn't fit me and I knew exactly how to remedy the situation. The beauty of this project was no hemming! Woot woot! This girl was not going to mess with the hem of the placemats. Now, my beautiful tank is a teeny bit bigger and ready just in time for sweater weather!
For more information and pictures, please click here!
Jennifer Elliott


text:
aaH there we are.
A connection.
Hello again….
For some reason the sound for the first two minutes is low. Then it rights itself to an acceptable level.
James B Podcasts Episode Another.
I didn't give it a number cuz it was just me rambling about the universe prefaced by a shout out to Steve.
Right now my quiver is out of word arrows. Gimme a minute.
When I think of the universe and infinity I think big, the universe,
and how it's all part of something bigger, so big we can't see it.
Then when we think small, we end up in the same place as we investigate the spaces within the atoms and what might we find? A whole nuther universe.
And so on, big and small, forever.
Ever since we humans became conscious of ourselves we've asked the questions,
who are we,
why are we here,
what happens when we die?
Christians go to heaven.
Hindis describe nirvana as the great nothing.
Buddhists believe you are reincarnated according to your kharma,
where if you are bad you are born again with a disadvantage.
If you are good you reincarnate with an advantage.
It all sounds good until a war begins with two people who disagree.
Life can be complicated.
It began before we were born.
And it will end, God willing, long after we lift off from this dimension and travel into unknown territory.
If the athiests are right then it's just black.
If the religionists are right then it's a whole new trip.
Just as exciting for agnostics who never found faith but maybe had hope.


text:
I can not see too many photos of these precious children from Nepal.
hear hear ! :-)
Very nice! i love the sun on his face
One more, just because they look so cute, especially with this old faded Donald Duck T-shirt :-)
(3 comments add yours: click the link above the image, or share using the buttons.)


text:
What the heck is up with weapon prices?
edited July 2016 in General No Man's Land Discussion
An assault weapon price is 649.99! Another weapon is like 549.5 when/why are they doing this!? Strange!
[Deleted User] Posts: 47@Dale that's possibly the only song I don't care for by them.
And I knew the song as soon as I saw you say Floyd."Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the face"
Mike Tyson0
Lightfeet Member Posts: 1,062@gretchiepooh01 Which currency?Guild: Dosnbier (Germany)
Chat: http://forums.nextgames.com/walkingdead/discussion/8369/dosnbier#latest0
JayZ Member Posts: 3,236@Lightfeet I think OP was referring to upgrading them using XP. The 649.99 K was upgrading an epic level 18 weapon (experienced the same myself last night)Elder in Legacy Eh, a top 10 global Challenge and Guild Wars guild
PM me or visit this link to join the Eh family!
Visit this link for my Distance and Challenge strategy videos0
Yes. It's the xp. It's just different and doesn't make a lick of sense!0
GreenBalloon Member Posts: 316@gretchiepooh01 - Simply put, NG does not want to players to fully engage with the game and enjoy it on their own terms, so they nerf us with low xp and high costs. Unless you spend money, of course....but they'll still nerf your upgraded weapon if they decide you're "too powerful". Whatever the hell THAT means.1
That's just plain wrong! This game can be a serious Stinker!0
You got it. and people wonder why have a spending boycott.gretchiepooh01 said:
That's just plain wrong! This game can be a serious Stinker!
MizTy Member Posts: 1,335


text:
New Sciences of Protection Conference: Theme Panel 3 'Surveillance for Safe Living' with Andrew Clement, Charles D Raab, Clive Norris, Lucas Introna and David Murakami Wood.
Members of the Surveillance Studies Network, an international network of researchers dedicated to tracing and analysing developments in surveillance technologies and practice, discussed the role of surveillance in contemporary designs for safe living. Charles D Raab opened the proceedings with a summary of the concept of 'the safety state' and a diagnosis of the state of safety. He argued that social practices and policy are today evaluated in terms of safety and security above all else, engendering pre-emptive and precautionary classifications and surveillance techniques. Clive Norris asked what it is about the contemporary culture of CCTV which sustains our faith in it, despite all the evidence pointing to the fact that it is almost wholly ineffectual in preventing or detecting crime. Lucas Introna highlighted the centrality of algorithms to contemporary surveillance practices such as facial recognition systems. He urged that if we are to understand surveillance as social sorting then further work needs to be done on the social production of algorithms, on how already existing categories for social sorting are written into the very programs used in surveillance systems. Finally David Murakami Wood pointed to the importance of understanding the different scales of surveillance and how these feed in to designs for safe living at the global, transnational, national, urban, individual and bodily levels. The panel discussed the problems of transparency and accountability in highly technologized surveillance systems. Interestingly the discussion moved on to the problem of how to present critical dialogues on surveillance practices without generating fear. To maintain its coherence the critique of surveillance must avoid contributing to the accumulation of fear, precisely because fear is the source of justifications and legitimisations for the intensification of surveillance. This is a particularly acute problem since much critique of surveillance struggles to escape the form of a dystopian warning.
Thank you to Joseph Rigby who created this fabulous summary
Filed under: conference | Tagged: surveillance |


text:
Feels like we're not converting our onfield dominance to the scoreboard. Especially bad kicking for goal.
Feels like we're not converting our onfield dominance to the scoreboard. Especially bad kicking for goal.
Inaccuracy is a worry. I hope it doesn't come back to bite us. Umpires starting to turn on us now...
I really hate the Dogs, insufferable. Arm chair service, courtesy of the AFL umpiring division.
Misses and maggots... Grrr..
Out of bounds on the full! Yet it's a throw in!? What is going on?
Franklin MUST kick this. Aaaand it hits the post!
Kicking ourselves out of this.....should be 5 goals up, Bud should have 4.
Should have been holding the ball against Stringer. He did the fend off and then dropped it and nothing!! Cost us a goal.
Gee has Buddy been practicing hitting the post.
Now Jones has missed. What is going on??
Sent from my HTC_PN071 using Tapatalk
Great handpass through traffic from Hanners set that goal up, Jones did well kicking to Reid then crumbing to give to Franklin. Great team goal!
Nice to cheer another goal at last. But the number of frees that the umpires have missed is becoming surreal.
Dont care about the result. We are playing a new style and i believe that this style wil win more games and premierships.
Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk
Has Plugger been with the boys of late ?


text:
Harper Lee, whose 1961 novel To Kill a Mockingbird became a national institution and the defining text on the racial troubles of the American deep south, has died at the age of 89.
Lee, or Nelle as she was known to those close to her, had lived for several years in a nursing home less than a mile from the house in which she had grown up in Monroeville, Alabama – the setting for the fictional Maycomb of her famous book. Local sources were first reported by the news website al.com to have confirmed her death.
Until last year, Lee had been something of a one-book wonder. To Kill a Mockingbird, with its epic narrative about a small town lawyer Atticus Finch's battle to save the life of a black resident, sold millions of copies around the world.
I bought TKAM for my little sister a few years ago and was delighted she enjoyed it. I hope my children will like it too. I think it's an important book.
Has anyone read To Set A Watchman? I am not sure I want to.
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx


text:
I scheduled in fun yesterday and by golly, I had it! LOL I made it to Atlanta. Got in last night and hung out with friends. I watched them play Madden and I made one of the guys choose the Rams. The other one refused to play my Rams. He chose the Patriots and guess who got SPANKED!!!!! Yep, Patriots. This game is just like real life! (NOT!) LOL Well, this got me to thinking about my own Playstation. The one that's lying on the floor, next to the TV and not connected. The one that I bought maybe 4 years ago so I could learn to play Madden and spank butt. Yeah, that Playstation. So now since I finally bought a second controller for it last year, even though I've only played it twice, maybe now I'll finally buy Madden and learn to play. I'll have to pencil that into the schedule.
So I did have Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Moseley and I listened to it on the way down. It was great listening. Walter Moseley's Easy Rawlings stories are awesome to listen to on the road. They are so engrossing, funny, and enjoyable. I love them. Then had time to listen to my Jack Johnson's Brushfire Fairytales CD. I like this CD as well, but I do like In Between Dreams better.
And now, here I sit at a Panera's in Lithonia, getting some writing done before I welcome the in the New Year. Even though I bring my camera, I'm bad at remembering to take pics. Even worse at posing for them. But I'll try to put up a couple of good pics of tonight's New Year's party with my motorcycle club.
Here's to wishing you have a happy, healthy, safe, and prosperous NEW YEAR!!!!!
Monday, December 31, 2007
I scheduled in fun yesterday and by golly, I had it! LOL I made it to Atlanta. Got in last night and hung out with friends. I watched them play Madden and I made one of the guys choose the Rams. The other one refused to play my Rams. He chose the Patriots and guess who got SPANKED!!!!! Yep, Patriots. This game is just like real life! (NOT!) LOL Well, this got me to thinking about my own Playstation. The one that's lying on the floor, next to the TV and not connected. The one that I bought maybe 4 years ago so I could learn to play Madden and spank butt. Yeah, that Playstation. So now since I finally bought a second controller for it last year, even though I've only played it twice, maybe now I'll finally buy Madden and learn to play. I'll have to pencil that into the schedule.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
It's the 30th of the month which means it's my day to post at BloggingInBlack.com. You can check it out by clicking the link. I also place an RSS feed on the side of my blog. Check it out today, and any other day to see what the writers there are blogging about. :-)
Well, I'm up and packing. I'm heading to Atlanta to bring in the New Year with friends and members of the Atlanta Chapter of my bike club. It's also part work too because I'm doing a write up on their New Year's activities. Along with doing that write up, I'll be working on a short article for Urbanburnout.com. And between working on Book 3, I'll think of ideas for my feature at Sportwave Online. I'll have fun too because I do plan to get some socializing in. That's actually going to be one of my New Year's resolutions because I don't spend enough time socializing, I think. :-) Still something I have to push myself to do. Maybe the first step would be to actually TALK on the phone though. LOL I don't know. I'm a text queen. My coworkers joke with me about basically having a computerized phone on my hip and I do everything on it except talk. I rarely pick up the phone and when I do, I'm anxious to get off. I'd rather text our conversation. It's just that I prefer talking in person rather than on the phone. The phone to me is just for the set up. When, where, and what time. But, of course, for me to have a person to person conversation, that means I have to uh, get out and socialize. Sigh. I'll work on it for 2008.
Well, I'm all geared up for the ride! :-) I bought Jack Johnson's Brushfire CD. A coworker let me borrow his Between the Sheets (?) CD and I absolutely LOVED it. He told me Brushfire was even better, so I bought it for the ride. I already listened to the first couple of songs and I've enjoyed them so far. And, I also have 20 hours worth of books on CDs. I have something by Walter Moseley. I think Devil in a Blue Dress, but I'm not sure. And I have The Price of a Child. So, believe it or not, the drive to and from Atlanta will be exciting. I'm looking forward to it. I love long driving trips specifically for this reason. Also gives me time to think about what I'm writing as well.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
I've been spending time going over the chapters I've written already. I confess. I'm like, "What the hell was I smoking when I wrote this mess?" What I'm finding out is that I'm not a good at writing under pressure or forcing myself to write if I'm not feeling it. Which is one reason why it would be hard to write to whatever the market dictates.
Okay, let me tell you what happened. Earlier this year, I was trying to hurry up to submit the first few chapters to my agent to shop. Probably wouldn't be an issue, except that I had so much going on this year (moving, job hunting and hopping) that I couldn't fully concentrate and get into a groove with this book. I've known for the longest the story I wanted to write. But in a rush to submit SOMETHING, I skipped my normal writing process. I didn't fully sketch or flesh characters. Well, I was only going to submit three chapters. Character sketches wouldn't matter for that, right? I could always go back and flesh them out later. NOT!
And then, I found what is comfortable for me is to just focus on the plot the first draft, then round out the story and flavor the second and subsequent drafts. Cool. Okay, but I don't know what the hell I did for the first five chapters that I wrote. It didn't flow. Characters were flat. I had first and third POV in the first chapter. I mean, I really looked at it and said, "What the hell? Who fucked up my story?!" LOL It was so screwed that it took me a minute to figure out how to smooth it out.
Well, the first thing I did was go back to my normal writing process. I went to what works for me. I sketched my characters to the fullest, then did my chapter by chapter plot outline. It still took me a minute to smooth out the first chapter. It was the opening I wanted, but it didn't flow. But I massaged it and massaged until now, GWA-LA! It's the way I want it.
Whew! That rush job? Remind me never to do that shit again....
Friday, December 28, 2007
This is surprising to me, but I'm tickled pink. :-) I have to admit, the best gift I got for Christmas actually came from my manager. Now, who would have thunk a thing like that? A manager actually picking out a gift that fits you as an individual rather than say, one of several fruit cakes that was distributed to every employee alike? No, rather than give a "one gift fits all" present, he gave all of his team gifts that fit their individual personalities. He gave me this cute little writing inspirations book. I'm in a unique situation where my manager actually knows I'm a writer and thinks it's cool. He even asked me a few questions about writing, as he dreams of writing his own novel himself one day. So, anyway, the book is The Pocket Muse - Ideas and Inspirations for Writing by Monica Wood. It's just a tiny book with tips and writing prompts to get you writing. This is my first little book like this and flipping through it makes me anxious to try some of the writing prompts and put them on my website. It probably don't sound as fascinating as I'm making it out to be and actually, I don't know why I'm so fascinated by it. LOL But I just think it's the coolest little thing.
One thing that really got me though was the writer's opening. She talked of leaving her job and becoming a full-time writer. And how, after a while, she longed for her old job. She longed to be amongst people again on a day to day basis. I could really relate to that. When my first book was published, I wrote full time for a while. I felt blessed. I felt like it was such a dream fulfilled. But after a while, I wanted to go back to work. Writing is definitely a lonely profession, and I confess to having somewhat of a reclusive personality. It's nothing for me to go days without seeing a single soul or weeks without socializing, and I don't get lonely. I'm comfortable. Too comfortable. I can easily see myself becoming a total recluse closed off from the world. I have to force myself to socialize as it is. Not working, I think I'd end up being the reclusive senile drunk we've all heard of a time or two. LOL Besides, I agree with Monica's quotation of the paradox: You can't write without fully living and you can't live fully and still find the time to write. So true.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Well now. I'm finding that the more I blog, the more I keep up with my writing. I'm thinking, maybe it's like doing more or being on your best behavior when you know your parents are looking over your shoulder. Being that I'm a writer and I'm supposed to be writing, the mark of shame would be to come here and have to confess that no, I haven't written a thing in over a week for no other reason, other than I've been goofing off. But as it is, by writing everyday, it's feeding into the current desire to finish my long overdue third novel, as well as sprouting ideas for new one. Just by thinking about what I could possibly write today, I thought of a new idea for a book. Now, exactly how the thought came about, I have no idea. Thinking about a blog post, and the final story idea, I see no connection. lol
But one thing I'm starting to think about is the route of publishing for the next book. Yes, when I'm finished, I will go the route of publishing again. Of course, I'll submit to my agent to shop for a deal. But to be honest, I don't feel the urgency or the necessity of getting a publishing deal anymore. No, I'm not saying that I don't want one. If one is indeed offered, yes, I'd take a look at it and consider if it's worthwhile. But one thing that comes with publishing your own first is that you know you can do it again, so there's no worry about whether or not you will have a published novel. Yes, there's still a stigma with self-published vs. traditionally published books, but when you've done both, I think, you're beyond caring what people think of your route of publishing. It would be the same book regardless of the route (provided you self publish a quality product). For me, the only think traditional publishing does is perhaps give you an advance to where you can promote (and you'll do the same promotion no matter the route). You lose a little control over your final product though, I found. And for book three, I have a clear visual in my head of the title and cover, and I'm not sure if I want to part with it. And that makes it more important to look at the current products of the publisher. So, basically, I've learned a lot by having done both methods. I had my agent when I self published Counting Raindrops and she was supportive. I'm sure if I chose to do that with book three, she would be supportive again (at least I hope so).
Like book one, I'd do it all myself if I self published. This morning, I was reading Lee Goldberg's December 26th blog posting about a posting he read on a vanity publisher that was sued by 275 defrauded authors. Aspiring authors, beware. Doing it yourself can be expensive, but you know you're not going to rip yourself off either.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
So yes, as I counted on, there was wrapping paper and Christmas boxes from last year at my mother's house. And I discovered that apparently procrastination runs in my family, as I and my two brothers all took up a secret location in the house to use mom's wrapping paper (and scissors, and tape, and labels, and bows) to wrap gifts that would be unwrapped in less than 15 minutes. You can't just give someone a gift at Christmas. Unwrapping is 95% of the gift exchange experience. Nothing like going home and feeling like your shortcomings are normal habits.
It's becoming tradition for my family to go see a movie on holidays and yesterday we went to see The Great Debaters. Awesome movie! This brings my movie viewing total up to one this year and it was well worth it. I'm not a big movie watcher only because I never make the time. I have to pull myself away from books to do so. But seeing this movie makes me want to check out a flick more often, if it's going to be as worthwhile as this. As I get older, I find my interests changing. I'm more into stories of real life obstacles turned triumphant victories. I'm also finding myself becoming more interested in science fiction and fantasy, which I can't help to notice, seems like a total contrast to me. It's like, one minute I want something real that I can relate to, and the next minute I want to escape from it and go to Never Never Land. I feel so creatively bipolar sometimes.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
It's Christmas morning and I've put in work already. So far, I've spent a good hour sending out text messages to wish all my friends and distant family members a Merry Christmas. This year, I wasn't too good at getting my Christmas cards out in time. How many? How about zero. It all just happened so fast. One day I'm eating a turkey dinner, then, KAPOWAH! It's Christmas. So, I'm taking the procrastinator's way out by texting all my friends and family. I'm about halfway done because I'm reading and replying to my other texting family and friends who are doing the exact same thing. So, like for every text you send out, there's 10 to reply to. LOL I'll finish the rest later.
Okay, I went Christmas shopping at the bookstore right? And they have gift wrapping, only, I have a $20 bill. I don't want to have my books wrapped and not put something in the donation jar because, well, everybody's looking. So, I ask the cashier for change. "We can't give out change," she says. I give her the stupid look. And I want to say, "Well, I can't purchase these books," and walk off after she's rung them up, but it's Christmas Eve and only a few hours left til stores closed and I don't want to go anywhere else anyway. So, she has me over a barrel. I give an empty look and say, "Ok." But I'm thinking, that's okay. Because I'm visualizing the leftover roll of Christmas wrapping I have in the back of my closet behind my suitcases. It'll be fun to wrap them myself, even though I'm not good at it. After all, sloppy wrapping shows effort. :-) So I take them hope and prepare to go to the closet to get the wrapping, and it's not there. Uh, not the Christmas wrapping....THE CLOSET!!!! I was envisioning the wrapping in the closet of my OLD apartment! I forgot I switched apartments in my building last year and that closet, nor the Christmas wrapping, does not exist. So, I'm left with either the non-biodegradable grocery bags (news report said they contain petroleum so while we thought we were doing the environment a favor, it was all for not. Yet again, we were guilted into making corporations richer), or going over Mom's house early so I can borrow some of her wrapping paper. And yes, she DOES have wrapping paper. Because at worst, there will be the old paper that she saved from last year's Christmas gifts.
Sigh. A procrastinator's work is never done...
Monday, December 24, 2007
Okay, it's Christmas Eve and I just started and finished my Christmas shopping. Yes, I'm forever the procrastinator, when it comes to shopping. Anything to put off fighting for parking spaces and crowded shopping malls. But this time, it wasn't so bad. One, because I listened to audio books while I drove. So having to circle the lot a few times gave me more time to find out what happened next. :-) I even pulled it to a spot and waited a few minutes until I got to that "breaking point" in the story. And two, well, I cheated. I decided to do the majority of my shopping...in a bookstore. LOL Yes, I cruised the bookstore, which is my passion anyway, until I found a book that would be suitable for each person on my list. And so what if I spent extra time looking at books I was interested in? That's not the point. LOL So anyway, after three or so hours in one store (which is triple the time I like to spend in an entire mall), it was off to buy supplementary gift cards and I'm done. And here I sit at Panera's again, doing a little writing. What a deserving treat!
Writing is flowing again. Reminds me especially of writing book one. I get goosebumps thinking about certain scenes and I'm anxious to describe it on paper (or screen) as best I can so the reader can get the full impact of what I'm seeing and envisioning. Yeah, it's that writer's feeling again. I haven't really set a target for completion. Ah, what the hey...I'm going to shoot for the end of January. Wait...maybe mid February. Forgot, I'm an Engineer again. LOL
So, I'm back in a reading and writing frenzy, as I've said before, I'm sure. The thing about reading to me is, that it makes you itch to write. I haven't experienced it yet, but I would imagine that when I get writer's block, all I would have to do is pick up a few books to read. It inspires me to write. I've heard some writers say that they can't read when they write because they fear copying someone else's style. It's hard for me to relate to that. Yes, reading inspires me to write, but in my own style, I believe. Mainly because it seems difficult to honestly write in another style than what I comfortable with. When I write, it's like there's a drum and I'm writing to a rhythm. I'm familiar with the rhythm, which makes it easy. It's natural. I don't have to think about it. If I purposely try to write in someone else's style, or just force myself to write another way, it's difficult to me. I would imagine the writing would be choppy or disjointed. Because I wouldn't know what the hell I was doing.
On the contrary, even though I'm reading for pure enjoyment, I'm learning various methods other writers use say in presenting an idea, showing motives, introducing characters, using props and scenes, etc. It's like word association. When someone says a word and you're supposed to name the first thing that comes to your mind. You don't think of the same word that was said, but something else. And you probably could think of MANY different words from the mention of that same word. That's what reading while writing is like to me. It's pretty cool! ;-)
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Aaaahhhh!!!! I've finally found another groove. Another writing groove. Now, after work, I head straight to Panera's in the Loop and get in my writing for today, as well as do a little reading. All while sipping a latte or eating a toasted cinnamon crunch bagel (or brownie on naughty days). It's a relaxing environment and I have the background noise going on so I can write (I can't write in total silence. Silence is loud and distracting. I can't concentrate). And often times, like right now, you can find some interesting characters for future use. Listening to dialogue is fun too. Ahem...not eavesdropping....but um...research. lol So there's a couple of older gentlemen sitting at a table across from me. Got to be late 50's. One black, one white. Old managerial fogey look. And they're sitting here gossiping their behinds off! If I was reading it in a book with no tags attached, my mind would conjure up two teenagers or two women sitting on a porch with curlers in their hair. The conversation just does not match the looks.
There's another group of older gentle a few tables over. Hey, it's not my fault if they're talking loud enough for me to hear. But the white male (and I know that he is white not because I look at him, but appaarently, he feels the need to make this known to the men he's sitting with. And I look up to find that they perhaps have roots in India, and from what I can tell, not blind) is emotionally talking about a verbal conflict with another what sounds like co-worker, and talks about speaking to each other from the heart and with understanding. It's just the emotion in it all. Makes me want to sing kum-baa-yaa.
Lesson learned....if you're in a coffee shop and there are people by you with laptops, keep your voice to a minimum because you never know when someone is randomly blogging about you under your very nose. lol
So anyway, I'm making consistent progress on getting book three done. Finally. :-)