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"Vincent Proce" (80)
Enchant land
When Abundant Growth enters the battlefield, draw a card.
Enchanted land has ": Add one mana of any color."
Look at the top five cards of your library. You may reveal a colorless card from among them and put it into your hand. Then put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order. (Cards with no colored mana in their mana costs are colorless. Lands are also colorless.)
When Barrier of Bones enters the battlefield, surveil 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card into your graveyard.)
Target creature and all other creatures with the same name as that creature get -3/-3 until end of turn.
: Add .
, , Sacrifice Blighted Cataract: Draw two cards.
(: Add or .)
As Blood Crypt enters the battlefield, you may pay 2 life. If you don't, it enters the battlefield tapped.
Surge (You may cast this spell for its surge cost if you or a teammate has cast another spell this turn.)
Boulder Salvo deals 4 damage to target creature.
Burn Away deals 6 damage to target creature. When that creature dies this turn, exile all cards from its controller's graveyard.
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after III.)
I, II — Chainer's Torment deals 2 damage to each opponent and you gain 2 life.
III — Create an X/X black Nightmare Horror creature token, where X is half your life total, rounded up. It deals X damage to you.
As Choked Estuary enters the battlefield, you may reveal an Island or Swamp card from your hand. If you don't, Choked Estuary enters the battlefield tapped.
: Add or .
, : Put a +1/+1 counter on Chronomaton.
Destroy all creatures.
Tap up to two target creatures. Those creatures don't untap during their controller's next untap step.
Diregraf Colossus enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it for each Zombie card in your graveyard.
Whenever you cast a Zombie spell, create a tapped 2/2 black Zombie creature token.
Flying, trample
Pay 2 life: Surveil 2. (Look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top of your library in any order.)
Flying, double strike, lifelink
Whenever you gain life, draw a card.
Untap Endbringer during each other player's untap step.
: Endbringer deals 1 damage to any target.
, : Target creature can't attack or block this turn.
, : Draw a card.
Whenever equipped creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.
Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)
Forsaken Sanctuary enters the battlefield tapped.
When Geistcatcher's Rig enters the battlefield, you may have it deal 4 damage to target creature with flying.
: Gingerbrute can't be blocked this turn except by creatures with haste.
, , Sacrifice Gingerbrute: You gain 3 life.
Whenever Gonti's Aether Heart or another artifact enters the battlefield under your control, you get (two energy counters).
Pay , Exile Gonti's Aether Heart: Take an extra turn after this one.
Put target creature card from a graveyard onto the battlefield under your control. It gains haste.
Basic landcycling (, Discard this card: Search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.)
, , Sacrifice a creature: Draw a card.
When Guardian Automaton dies, you gain 3 life.
Equipped creature gets +2/+0.
Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, you may destroy target Equipment that player controls.
, : Target creature gains haste until end of turn.
, : If you both own and control Hanweir Battlements and a creature named Hanweir Garrison, exile them, then meld them into Hanweir, the Writhing Township.
Whenever Hanweir Garrison attacks, create two 1/1 red Human creature tokens that are tapped and attacking.
(Melds with Hanweir Battlements.)
Trample, haste
Whenever Hanweir, the Writhing Township attacks, create two 3/2 colorless Eldrazi Horror creature tokens that are tapped and attacking.
Target opponent reveals their hand. You choose a creature card from it. That player discards that card. Scry 1.
Whenever Havengul Skaab attacks, return another creature you control to its owner's hand.
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for .)
At the beginning of your end step, each opponent discards a card.
, Sacrifice an artifact: Target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn.
: Choose any target, then put the top three cards of your library into your graveyard. Heretic's Punishment deals damage to that permanent or player equal to the highest converted mana cost among those cards.
You can't spend mana to cast this spell.
Convoke, delve (Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for or one mana of that creature's color. Each card you exile from your graveyard pays for .)
You may cast Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis from your graveyard.
Delirium — Inquisitor's Ox gets +1/+0 and has vigilance as long as there are four or more card types among cards in your graveyard.
When Jaddi Lifestrider enters the battlefield, you may tap any number of untapped creatures you control. You gain 2 life for each creature tapped this way.
Whenever an opponent casts a noncreature spell, that player loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.
Reach (This creature can block creatures with flying.)
Deathtouch (Any amount of damage this deals to a creature is enough to destroy it.)
Latch Seeker can't be blocked.
Return target nonland permanent to its owner's hand.
Draw a card.
Discard a creature card: Put a +1/+1 counter on Lotleth Troll.
: Regenerate Lotleth Troll.
, , Exile Magus of the Will: Until end of turn, you may play cards from your graveyard. If a card would be put into your graveyard from anywhere this turn, exile that card instead.
Destroy target land. You gain 4 life.
When Metalspinner's Puzzleknot enters the battlefield, you draw a card and you lose 1 life.
, Sacrifice Metalspinner's Puzzleknot: You draw a card and you lose 1 life.
When Nessian Game Warden enters the battlefield, look at the top X cards of your library, where X is the number of Forests you control. You may reveal a creature card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
When Noxious Gearhulk enters the battlefield, you may destroy another target creature. If a creature is destroyed this way, you gain life equal to its toughness.
Whenever a nontoken creature you control dies, create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token.
Whenever you cast a spell, untap all nonland permanents you control.
: Another target Vehicle you control becomes an artifact creature until end of turn.
Crew 4 (Tap any number of creatures you control with total power 4 or more: This Vehicle becomes an artifact creature until end of turn.)
Destroy all nonland creatures.
Awaken 4— (If you cast this spell for , also put four +1/+1 counters on target land you control and it becomes a 0/0 Elemental creature with haste. It's still a land.)
, Pay 1 life, Sacrifice Polluted Delta: Search your library for an Island or Swamp card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle your library.
Exploit (When this creature enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice a creature.)
When Profaner of the Dead exploits a creature, return to their owners' hands all creatures your opponents control with toughness less than the exploited creature's toughness.
Defender, flying
: Target creature attacks this turn if able.
You can't cast this spell unless an opponent lost life this turn.
Creature spells you cast cost less to cast for each 1 life your opponents have lost this turn.
Whenever Scythe Specter deals combat damage to a player, each opponent discards a card. Each player who discarded a card with the highest converted mana cost among cards discarded this way loses life equal to that converted mana cost.
When Seed Guardian dies, create an X/X green Elemental creature token, where X is the number of creature cards in your graveyard.
Seismic Shudder deals 1 damage to each creature without flying.
Vigilance (Attacking doesn't cause this creature to tap.)
: Create a 3/3 green Beast creature token.
, Exile Soul of Zendikar from your graveyard: Create a 3/3 green Beast creature token.
Enchanted land has ": Create a 5/5 green Beast creature token with trample."
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature doesn't untap during its controller's untap step.
When enchanted creature becomes the target of a spell, sacrifice Spectral Prison.
Spite of Mogis deals damage to target creature equal to the number of instant and sorcery cards in your graveyard. Scry 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom of your library.)
, : End the turn. Activate this ability only during your turn. (Exile all spells and abilities from the stack. Discard down to your maximum hand size. Damage wears off, and "this turn" and "until end of turn" effects end.)
, , Sacrifice Tectonic Edge: Destroy target nonbasic land. Activate this ability only if an opponent controls four or more lands.
Put a +1/+1 counter on each of up to two target creatures.
Flashback (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.
Delirium — If there are four or more card types among cards in your graveyard, instead search your library for a creature or land card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.
: Exchange your life total with Tree of Redemption's toughness.
Return target nonland permanent to its owner's hand. Draw a card.
Adamant — If at least three blue mana was spent to cast this spell, create a Food token. (It's an artifact with ", , Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.")
Target player loses 1 life, discards a card, then sacrifices a permanent.
Cipher (Then you may exile this spell card encoded on a creature you control. Whenever that creature deals combat damage to a player, its controller may cast a copy of the encoded card without paying its mana cost.)
: Volcanic Rambler deals 1 damage to target player or planeswalker.
Watcher in the Web can block an additional seven creatures each combat.
Enchanted land is a 2/2 blue Elemental creature with flying. It's still a land.
When enchanted land dies, return that card to its owner's hand.
Vigilance, trample
Converge — Woodland Wanderer enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it for each color of mana spent to cast it.
Forestwalk (This creature can't be blocked as long as defending player controls a Forest.)


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Physical Geography
Four separate, yet interrelated components make up Alaskan environment:
- Lithosphere
- Atmosphere
- Hydrosphere
- Biosphere processes
The processes operating in these four spheres are interlinked to varying degrees. Together they have created, and continue to create, the physical landscape that makes up Alaska. That is why geographers refer to these processes as part of a physical "system." However, for ease of understanding we will look at these processes separately.
Lithosphere: Landforms
The most easily recognizable feature of Alaska's environment is its landforms—mountains, hills, valleys, and rivers. How can we make sense of this complexity? Geographers have used regional concepts to gain perspectives on the landforms. At a very general level, Alaska is part of four general physiographic regions, the Interior Plains, Rocky Mountains, Intermontane Basins and Ranges, and the Pacific Mountains and Valleys (Figure PS.1)
Figure PS.1 - Physiographic Regions
Collection Name: Pearson, Roger and Marjorie Hermans. (Eds.) 2001. Alaska in Maps. Anchorage: Alaska Geographic Alliance, Map 11.
Figure PS.1 - Physiographic Regions
Collection Name: Pearson, Roger and Marjorie Hermans. (Eds.) 2001. Alaska in Maps. Anchorage: Alaska Geographic Alliance, Map 11.
The Pacific Mountains and Valleys adjoin the Pacific Ocean and constitute the area where most Alaskans live. This region is part of a greater North American system that extends from Mexico through the conterminous US and Canada and then arcs to form the northern boundary of the Pacific Ocean. Here we find the great mountains of Alaska, dominated by Mt. McKinley (20,320 feet; 6,194 meters) in the Alaska Range. This region also contains important troughs such as the straits and sounds of Southeast Alaska, Prince William Sound, and the Cook Inlet Lowlands.
Alaska's second mountain system, composed primarily of the Brooks Range, is actually a northward extension of the Rocky Mountain system. Geologically older than the Pacific Coastal system, the mountains of this region are much smaller in height with the highest peak, Mt. Chamberlin, extending to 9,020 feet (2,749 meters). Also whereas the Pacific system arcs northward, this system arcs southward.
Lying between the two great mountain systems, as its name implies, is the Intermontane Basin and Plateau region. This area contains highlands such as the Yukon-Tanana Uplands, the Kuskokwim Mountains, and the Ahklun Mountains. It also contains the largest river systems in Alaska—the Yukon, as well as the vast Yukon-Kuskokwim coastal lowlands that forms the delta region of the two rivers.
Lastly, the Arctic Coastal Plain which borders the Arctic Ocean, is the northwestern extension of the Interior Plains physiographic region. While the smallest of the physiographic units, it is also the most important in terms of mineral fuel production for here are the great petroleum reserves of Prudhoe Bay and related fields.
Lying southward off the coast of Alaska is the Aleutian Trench which descends to nearly 5 miles (8 kilometers) below the surface of the Pacific Ocean. The Aleutian Trench is an area where the geological structures of the Pacific Plate are subducting (diving down) below the geologic structure of the North American Plate. This is a slow process—moving at approximately 2 inches (5 centimeters) per year. While that might seem as exciting as watching your fingernails grow, over millions of years the impact of this movement is enormous for it creates the mountains and valleys that make up Alaska and during brief moments it announces that action through earthquakes and volcanic explosions.
Why is the climate of Barrow not like Ketchikan? This is a reasonable question and it requires us to look at the underlying factors that make up the climate of an area. Climate is the average weather of an area over a period of years. There are several factors that influence the climate of an area. Here we will look at only a few. Then we will look at the overall pattern of climate.
Latitude. Undoubtedly, a major factor influencing Alaska's climate is that of latitude. Most of Alaska lies north of 600 meaning that sun angle (degrees above the horizon) is going to be fairly low. Consequently, incoming solar radiation will be limited making Alaska cold. Northern latitudes also experience great seasonal differences with long periods of summer light and long periods of little winter sunlight. In the case of our two examples, at Barrow the sun does not rise above the horizon from mid-November to late January whereas Ketchikan has over six hours of sunlight on December 21, its "shortest" day. On June 21, the sun reaches approximately 42 degrees above the horizon whereas in Ketchikan it is about 58 degrees above the horizon.
Land and Water. Large water bodies such as oceans heat and cool more slowly than land areas. As a result, coastal areas tend to have less seasonal extremes than interior or continental areas. Fairbanks, for example has a maximum average July temperature of 72° F. and a minimum average January temperature of -20° F. In contrast, coastal Juneau has a maximum average July temperature of 65° and a January minimum of 18° F. Continental areas such as Fairbanks also tend to have less precipitation than coastal areas as they are further away from sources of moisture.
Other Factors. Other environmental factors also influence the climate of an area. The presence of mountains in Southeast Alaska accounts for areas of high precipitation and areas of relative dry which lie in the "rain shadow" area of the mountains. Areas with cold temperatures like Barrow tend to have little atmospheric moisture especially when they are dominated by stable air pressure for long periods of time. Using our two examples, Ketchikan has over 13 feet of precipitation a year whereas Barrow has about 5 inches.
By combining the average temperature and precipitation conditions of various communities of Alaska, we can develop some general climatic regions as those shown in Figure PS.3. The boundaries of each of these regions should not necessarily be thought of as sharp lines of contrast as was discussed in the section on regions. A comparison of climographs, which show average monthly temperature and precipitation conditions, of communities in each of the regions does demonstrate the contrasting climatic conditions.
During his second term as Governor of Alaska, Walter J. Hickel suggested the idea that water from Alaska could be exported to the Southwestern U.S. That region has experienced rapid population growth, but it has a very limited water base. Governor Hickel's idea is similar to the NAWAPA idea proposed in the 1970's which called for a vast water system linking Canada and primarily the Western U.S.
Water is a very important Alaskan resource. While Alaska makes up approximately 17 percent of the U.S. area, it accounts for one-third of the U.S. fresh water supply. As we have seen from our discussion of climate, much of that fresh water is located in Southeast and Southcentral Alaska where the coastal mountain areas receive large amounts of precipitation.
Hydrosphere: Glaciers
Why are glaciers found primarily in these areas? In order for a glacier to survive and thrive, it needs two things. First, it needs to have a sufficient supply of moisture—both to build up the glacier and to maintain it. That means glaciers are going to be located near a good supply of moisture. Alaska's coastal mountains are located in a region where air flow from the Pacific Ocean brings in a large amount of moisture. As the moist air is pushed against the mountains, it is lifted (called "orographic uplift" by geographers) and cooled with the result being snowfall.
Second, to survive, glaciers need cold temperatures. Mountain peaks are colder than nearby sea level areas because temperatures cool with altitude. Generally, temperatures drop approximately 3.5 Fahrenheit degrees with every 1000 feet in altitude. So, a sea level temperature of 50° F would result in a temperature of 15° F at 10,000 feet. Thus, the high mountain systems of Southcentral and Southeast Alaska provide the cold temperatures for glaciers to survive.
Native stories of the past speak of a period of more extensive glaciation in Alaska. Reports from Russian and later American travelers in Southcentral and Southeast Alaska describe glaciers in areas that are now ice free. Even in our own day we have seen glaciers such as the Columbia in Prince William Sound retreat over a mile in less than a decade. What is happening? Over the last 200-300 years Alaska's glaciers have been receding. Temperature conditions have changed, it is warmer, and air circulation has changed, thus altering how much and where precipitation falls. "Global warming" is a simplistic description of the environmental change that is occurring.
Fifteen thousand years ago glaciers covered nearly half of Alaska and significant portions of North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. With all that moisture locked up in ice, sea level dropped over 300 feet below its level today. Consequently, the so-called Bering Land Bridge emerged as sea level dropped and Siberia and Alaska were "joined" by emergent land. Over the last several thousand years, glaciers have receded, interrupted by periods of stability and even expansion. What would happen to sea level if all of Alaska's glaciers were to disappear? Not much. World sea level would rise less than a foot. However, if that kind of environmental change were to occur, other world glaciers would also melt, which would cause significant flooding in coastal areas throughout the world. (http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/paleo/parcs/atlas/beringia/)
Hydrosphere: Rivers and Lakes
Alaska's largest river system, the Yukon, begins its flow in Canada, and continues through the Intermontane physiographic region of Alaska where it eventually flows into the Bering Sea. Alaska's other major river systems are (Figure PS.6).
Alaska's largest lakes are found today in Southwest Alaska. The largest is Illiamna Lake (1,150 sq. miles or 2,979 sq. kilometers) followed by Becharof Lake (458 sq. miles or 1,186 sq. kilometers). Geologists have estimated that during the last major glacial period Glacial Lake Ahtna, in the vicinity of the Copper River Lowland, was thought to be larger in size than Lake Michigan is today (Figure PS.5).
Hydrosphere: Oceans
Alaska is surrounded by oceans on three sides—Arctic Ocean to the North, Bering Sea to the West, and the Pacific Ocean to the South. Meeting these waters is Alaska's coastline which extends for 43,887 miles miles. This figure amounts to 64 percent of the entire U.S. coastline. The oceans have provided a great source of food for the peoples of Alaska for thousands of years. Shellfish, deep sea (demersal) fish, and anadromous fish have all provided, and continue to provide food, income, and a way of life for many Alaskans.
Like much of Alaska's land area, the coastal waters of the Arctic Ocean, Chukchi Sea, and Bering Sea stay frozen for several months of the year, with ice extending into the Bristol Bay region. In contrast, the coastal areas of the Pacific Ocean remain largely ice-free during the winter allowing ocean-going vessels access to ports in Southcentral and Southeast Alaska.
In the Bering Sea, water flows northward along the Alaska coastline through the Bering Strait and into the Arctic Ocean. Waters from the Arctic Ocean flow southward along the Russian coastline via the Anadyr Current.
Biosphere & Ecoregions
Plants and animals make up the biosphere. How they are distributed on Earth's surface is largely a reflection of the broader environment. Consequently, there has been a concerted effort by environmental researchers to develop "Ecoregions" which reflect not only general plant and animal distributions but also the associated geomorphic and climatic features. Here we can see how two geographic concepts, region and scale, are used to interpret these complex environmental details. At the most general level, the state is divided into two "Domains" which represent two sub continental climatic zones. Next, the Domains are divided into 5 subunits called "Divisions" which are based on lifeforms such as meadows and forests. In turn, Divisions are divided into 10 subunits called "Provinces" which use broad vegetation types for their categories. Finally, Provinces are divided into 34 "Sections" identified primarily by geomorphic and topographic features.
To illustrate this system, we can use the example of the Ahklun Mountains in Southwest Alaska. This "Section" is described as having these features:
"This coastal group of rugged steep-walled mountains spans two extensive wetland complexes (Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and Bristol Bay Lowlands) along the southern Bering Sea. Here strongly deformed sedimentary and volcanic rocks are cut by great northeast-trending faults, including portions of the Denali fault. Here mountain glaciers coalesced during the Pleistocene and carved many broad U-shaped valleys. On the south side of the mountains, these valleys subsequently filled with water forming large "finger" lakes. These lakes have resident rainbow trout and nurture abundant runs of sockeye (red) salmon during the summer. Mountain soils have formed in very stony and gravelly colluvium over bedrock, whereas valley soils have formed in glacial till. Dwarf shrub and lichen tundra dominates mountain crests and upper slopes where permafrost is discontinuous. Shrubs (willows, birches, and alders) become progressively more abundant and robust at lower elevations as permafrost becomes more fragmented. In valleys, shrublands are punctuated by sedge-tussock tundra meadows (on very wet areas) and mixed forests. Moose, beavers, and arctic hares thrive in these shrubby habitats. Great numbers of gregarious walruses and sea lions haul out in along the rocky beaches while seabirds patrol the skies. The climate is moist polar with some moderation by the Bering Sea. At this latitude, ice normally spans the Bering Sea in winter, allowing access for cold Siberian air." (Narrative Descriptions for the Ecoregions of Alaska and Neighboring Territories. 2000. G. Nowacki (USFS), P. Spencer (NPS), T. Brock (USFS), M. Fleming (USGS) and Torre Jorgenson (ABRI).
The Ahklun Mountains are located within the broader "Bering Sea Tundra Province," and more general "Arctic Division" of the sub continental "Polar Domain".
For our general purposes, we can focus on the "Division" level which will give us an overview of the vegetative regions of Alaska (Figure PS.8). The "Arctic" division includes most of northern and western Alaska. It is represented by tundra vegetation such as mosses, lichens, sedges, and shrubs. The "Subarctic" division encompasses Interior Alaska. It consists of bottomland spruce and poplar forests and upland spruce and hardwood (such as birch) forests. The "Cold Oceanic" division includes much of the Alaska Peninsula and all of the Aleutian Islands. Here the vegetation consists of low shrubs of willow, birch, and alder interspersed with lichen, and grass communities. Alpine tundra is found on mountainsides. The "Marine" division extends from Southeast Alaska along the coastline northward to Prince William Sound, the eastern Kenai Peninsula, to Kodiak Island. The dominant vegetation here is the coastal western hemlock and Sitka spruce trees. Given the predominance of mountains in this area, alpine tundra vegetation is also prominent. Finally, the "Warm Continental" division represents a transitional vegetation pattern. It includes the area of the western Kenai Peninsula, Anchorage-Mat-Su urban region, and extends out to the Bristol Bay area. In the western portion of the division, low and dwarf shrub communities of willow, birch, and alder as well as mosses and lichens dominate. However, in the Cook Inlet Basin, we find black spruce forests, mixed forests of white and Sitka spruce, aspen, and birch trees as well as tall shrub communities of willow and alder on mountain slopes.
Figure PS.8 - Ecoregions of Alaska
Collection Name: Nowacki, Gregory and Terry Brock. 1995. Ecoregions and Subregions of Alaska, EcoMap Version 2.0(map). USDA Forest Service, Alaska Region, Juneau, AK.
Figure PS.8 - Ecoregions of Alaska
Collection Name: Nowacki, Gregory and Terry Brock. 1995. Ecoregions and Subregions of Alaska, EcoMap Version 2.0(map). USDA Forest Service, Alaska Region, Juneau, AK.
Case Study: Permafrost
Permafrost is a subtle element of Alaska's landscape. It occurs below the surface, and it shapes minor forms on the land surface. Yet, it is found in nearly 80% of Alaska and it has a profound impact on how we build and maintain our physical infrastructure—roads, rail, pipelines, bridges, homes, commercial buildings, and factories. It is a reality for much of the polar world (north and south) as well as high mountainous areas such as Tibet. It occupies approximately 20 percent of the world's land surface area.
What is permafrost? It is ground that has been frozen for two or more years. The definition includes rock, soil, and, of course, ice, whose temperature is below 32°F (0°C).
Why should one be concerned about permafrost? Building on it could cause the permafrost to melt which could cause the building to partially sink. Similarly, roads in permafrost areas can cause the subsurface to melt resulting in road depressions and expensive repairs.
Should recent trends in warming average temperatures in Alaska continue, permafrost areas could destabilize and generate new challenges for Alaska's maintenance and construction industries.

subset: commoncrawl


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I've enjoyed fishing for a long time, and I recently learned to fly fish. I admit, I love the movie, A River Runs Through It . To me, fly fishing always seemed so relaxing and tranquil. A month or so ago, I completed two fly fishing classes, and now I am looking for more fly fishing classes and places to fish. I've found a class in Hendricks County, and it's this Saturday, Aug. 4 at McCloud Nature Park in North Salem. If you enjoy fishing, want to learn or just love being outside -- this class is for you! Just think -- plenty of blue skies, tall trees and the chance to catch a fish! Best of all, the class is free! McCloud Nature Park is a not-to-be-missed park filled with miles of trails and gorgeous Big Walnut Creek (a perfect place to fly fish). I actually checked out the park for the first time this weekend for a little fly fishing in preparation for this blog post, and it is absolutely beautiful. As a person who lives just outside of Hendricks County, it is a little bit of a drive, but well worth the trip. I can't wait to go back there. Three things about fly fishing to consider in deciding whether to participate in this weekend's class:
- Fly fishing is for kids and adults (a sport you can enjoy with your kids or grandchildren).
- Want to learn more about nature? You'll see all kinds of wildlife while you're fishing (besides the fish, you can play a game of identifying flowers, trees and birds).
- Need some peace and quiet? You'll find it while you're fly fishing. It's usually quiet and you can't help but slow down your thoughts while you're concentrating on casting.
- When: 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4.
- Where: McCloud Nature Park, 8518 Hughes Road, North Salem, Indiana.
- Ages: 10 and older.
- Cost: Free though registration is required by calling (317) 718-6188
- Class length: 2 hours.
- Information: Equipment will be provided and there will be instruction on the fundamentals and everything else you'll need to know in order to start fly fishing.


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Emotional Health and Essential Oils
The natural properties found in essential oils produce a soothing, uplifting effect on the mind and emotions. When an oil containing the optimum level of therapeutic constituents is diffused or applied topically, the result fosters a sense of emotional balance and well-being. Studies in Europe have found that pure therapeutic grade essential oils quickly stimulate the hypothalamus where the emotions are stored.
Essential Oils for Improved Emotional Wellness
When the aroma of essential oils is inhaled, the scent travels to the reticular system of the brain stem where emotions and memories are connected. This enables essential oils to improve emotional wellness in many ways. Those haunted by negative memories can use a cleansing blend, and in times of stress or mental fatigue a rejuvenating oil can remove emotional stressors and leave you feeling mentally invigorated. Other essential oils increase feelings of courage and determination when faced with life's many challenges. Regardless of your emotional health, the therapeutic properties harnessed in essential oils can help you improve or regain an optimal state of emotional wellness.
Essential Oils and the Mind
Smell is the only one of the five senses directly linked to the limbic lobe—the emotional control centre—of the brain. From anxiety to tension, fatigue to stress, essential oils have long been appreciated for their uplifting, calming, and clarifying effects on emotional wellness. By diffusing essential oils or applying them topically to targeted areas of the body, therapeutic constituents re-establish balance where stress or mental discomfort has disrupted healthy emotional function.
To bring yourself into a state of emotional balance, consider using essential oils either by diffusing or applied topically.
Applying Essential Oils Topically to Help Balance the Mind
Essential oils can be applied through self massage. Here are some commonly used techniques for self-massage:
• Head Massage: Rub essential oils into the base of the skull, the crown of the head, or on the temples in a circular motion.
• Face Massage: Place a few drops of essential oils onto your hands and rub them together. Lightly cup your face in your hands; the warmth of your hands and aroma of the oils will aid in relaxation.
• Jaw Massage: Rub 1–2 drops of oil into the soft spot just below your ear lobe to release undue tension.
• Torso Massage: For a quick energy boost rub oils into the area above the kidneys.
• Foot Massage: There are many pressure points in the feet that correspond to other body systems. Rubbing the soles of the feet with essential oils is a great way to release tension.
All of the above techniques can assist to bring the body back into balance. These techniques are particularly effective in times when the body is experiencing stress.
There are Pure Therapeutic Essential Oils that can assist with Emotional Wellness
• Valor: An empowering combination of oils designed to enhance an individual's internal resources.
• Peace & Calming: relieves tension and uplift the spirit.
• White Angelica: A calming and soothing blend that encourages feelings of protection and security.
• Harmony: Promotes physical and emotional well-being.
• Release: Facilitates the ability to release anger and frustration.
• Clarity: Promotes a clear mind and alertness.
• Gratitude: Designed to elevate the spirit, calm emotions, and bring relief to the body.
• Trauma Life: Formulated to help release buried emotional trauma.
• Feelings Collection: Features six essential oil blends formulated to promote emotional clearance and self renewal.
Treat Yourself to an emotional cleansing with essential oils today!


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Search Engines: Why Are They So Important?
It is the search engines that eventually bring your web site towards the notice on the prospective customers. When a niche is typed for research, nearly immediately, the search engine will sift as a result of the millions of pages it has indexed about and present you with ones that match your topic. The searched matches are also ranked, so that the most relevant ones come very first.
Bear in mind that a prospective customer will probably only look at the earliest 2-3 listings within the seek results. So it does matter where your site appears within the search engine ranking.
Additionally, they all use one with the top 6-7 search engines and these search engines attract far more visitors to websites than anything else. So eventually it all depends on which search engines the people use and how they rank your web site.
It is the Keywords that play a critical role than any costly online or offline promotion of your website.
It truly is found by surveys that when clients desire to find a web site for details or to buy a product or service, they discover their website in one in the following methods:
• The first choice is they find their web page via a search engine.
• Secondly they uncover their website by hitting on a link from one more website or page that relates the subject in which they are interested.
• Occasionally, they locate a website by hearing about it from a friend or reading in an article.
Thus it's obvious the most popular way to locate a site, by search engine, represents more than 90% of online users. In other words, only 10% of the folks trying to find a website will use techniques other than search engines.
All search engines employ a ranking algorithm and one of the primary rules in a ranking algorithm is to check the location and frequency of keywords on a web page. Don't forget that algorithms also offer weightage to link population (quantity of web pages linking to your site). When performed by a competent, experienced search engine optimization consultant, your web site for high search engine rankings actually does work, unless you've lots of money and can afford to pay the expert. With far better knowledge of search engines and how they perform, you are able to also do it on your own.
Related Blogs
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Enterprise records management software
Records managers should embrace the newfound value of data
Enterprises are increasingly viewing company data as a valuable asset, and this creates both challenges and opportunities for records managers. Continue Reading
Records management vendors, this is your reality check
Software vendors need to stop building complex systems and grasp that users are still struggling with the basics of records management strategy. Continue Reading
Time to rejuvenate the role, work of the records manager
Records management is a fusty, old practice. In the digital age, an overhaul is needed -- new technologies and new strategies to implement them. Continue Reading
Is social media records management still too vague?
NARA has developed guidance for governmental agencies on social media-based records management. But are the recommendations too vague to be useful? Continue Reading
Enterprise content management software vendors' midlife crisis
Enterprise content management software vendors have taken a hard look in the mirror and decided to modernize. Continue Reading


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Finding Friendship
Finding Friendship
Media Studies Fall 2015 Final Project
December 12
, 2015
Digital Detox
Digital Detox
24 hrs. No screen.
November 16
, 2015
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But given the struggle to wrest Alaska's natural resources going on today - the struggle between those for and against Pebble Mine, for example - I was particularly struck by these passages of early destruction of Alaska's natural resources.
Russian frontiersmen dismantled Alaska's marine ecosystems amazingly rapidly. The first to arrive at the unpopulated Pribilof Islands found rafts of sea otters so numerous they impeded vessels trying to land. Animals were easy to approach and kill. Int heir first year a Russian expedition took 40,000 fur seal skins, 2,000 otter pelts, 14,400 pounds of walrus ivory, and more whale baleen than a ship could carry. Within six years, no otters were seen on the Pribilofs. Fur traders exterminated the region's most extraordinary marine mammal before Captain Cook arrived. The Steller sea cow grew up to forty feet long grazing on seaweed. A single pelt stretched over a wooden frame made a large boat. The tasty meat - 7,000 pounds from one animal - could be eaten fresh or dried and used like bread. The thick fat layer provided oil to drink, cook with, or use for light and heat. In 1742 the first Russian expedition to reach Alaska discovered the sea cow; in 1755 a Russian government engineer noted sea cows were getting scarce and said hunting should be reduced; by the 1780's the sea cow was extinct. (p. 94)
The Russian American population peaked at 823 people, all on the coast, leaving large swaths of Native Alaska untouched. A drunken and undisciplined U.S. Army detachment assumed control in the former Russian capital of Sitka, sexually assaulting Native women and meting out retribution for perceived crimes by individual Tlingit Indians with indiscriminate killings and burnings of entire villages - acts similar to the first Russian fur traders' behavior of a century earlier. . . (p. 102)
Like the Russians, Americans never displaced most Alaska Native peoples. The conquest was ecological rather than geographical: they took the food. New Englanders and Californians slaughtered whales for baleen and walruses for ivory on the western and northern coasts, wasting hundreds of millions of pounds of meat and inflicting starvation on the Iñupiat. Fur traders acquired the last of the otter pelts and depleted other valuable furbearing animals. As wild furs ran out, fox farmers appropriated islands as natural enclosures, especially in the sound, the foxes running free and fattening up in part by eliminating nesting geese. Salmon canneries began cropping up next to rivers in southeast Alaska in 1878 and quickly spread up the coast, competing without regulation, competition sometimes causing gunfights - Alaska had no civil law at all until 1884 and little practical law enforcement for decades more. An entrepreneur could steam in from San Francisco or Seattle with his equipment and Chinese manpower, block a stream with a barricade to scoop up every fish, and maybe make back his investment in a year. Preventing any fish from from escaping to spawn wiped out the run over time, but there were always more rivers with seemingly unlimited fish farther along the coast. . . (pp. 102 -103)Copying these paragraphs reminded me of the letter to the editor I read Tuesday morning. A woman from Wasilla was 'disheartened' that Rep. Don Young told the crowd at AFN (Alaska Federation of Natives) that he hoped his replacement would be an Alaskan Native. She took this as unconstitutional racial favoritism and couldn't see it as the kind of flattery politicians use on their audiences whether they be soldiers, union members, retailers, Catholics, etc. He wasn't giving someone a job simply based on Native blood. He was voicing an opinion, perhaps influenced by his deceased Native wife of many years. Why wouldn't Young tell his audience this, especially when talking to the people who have lived in Alaska for thousands of years, but never had one of their own representing the state in Washington DC. I understand her point, but her letter seemed to take the comment way out of context. Especially when I read the next sentence - and in light of the previous quote from Wohlforth:
"It seems to me that few villages would survive without the federal/state government - our tax dollars - subsidizing their 'way of life/culture.'"Whoa! Let's see. After killing off their food and clothing and resources as described above, and killing off much of the population and cultural wisdom through disease, and imposing Western religion and schooling (leave your languages and customs outside thank you), she begrudges them the relatively small amount of assistance they get? You think I exaggerate? It's telling when you recognize that after ten thousand years of survival, it's only after less than 300 years of Western contact that Alaska Natives are no longer totally self sufficient. I'm sure there were crises over the millennia where survival was tenuous, but they were always self sufficient.
And what about 'our tax dollars?' Unless this writer runs a business, she pays no state taxes. And Alaska gets back nearly $2 for every dollar Alaskans pay in US taxes. So presumably she's benefiting from this too. And, let's not forget, most of Alaska's wealth is from what had been Alaska Natives' land until the Russians decided it was theirs and then later sold it to the US. So, maybe she should consider all her PFD checks as largess stolen from Alaskan Natives.
Perspective. It's all about context and perspective.
But back to Wohlforth to get more perspective on the plundering of Alaska that is worth keeping in mind today.
The cannery owners must have felt like they had won the sweepstakes, the prize to grab as much cash as they could hold. Conservation wasn't on their minds. They would have needed to leave behind only a fraction of a salmon run to spawn each year for the abundance to continue indefinitely. But they didn't plan to stay indefinitely. Competition ruled out long-term considerations. Like found money, Alaska salmon were yours only if you grabbed them first. A cannery operator who abstained from fishing to allow for the next year's harvest might not be in the same business when the fish came back. (p. 103)
The best private economic decision might be to destroy a salmon run - or wipe out a marine mammal population - if you could thereby obtain a profit quickly and invest it somewhere else, in Alaska or on Wall Street. Unsustainable practices often make sense when you're free to move and take your profits with you. Our economic lives depend on this fact. Nothing made of plastic or metal or manufactured and shipped with fossil fuels is sustainable. Look around you. We buy these things as cheaply as possible - technology, vehicles, energy - knowing we will discard them after we've exhausted their value. (pp. 103-104)But people didn't know about ecology back then, right? Maybe they didn't know the word, but they weren't stupid.
An illusion protects us: the illusion that those who depleted fisheries and drove marine mammals to extinction didn't know what they were doing. It's not true. Even Russian America had voices of conservation. The herring fisherman in Kachemak Bay were told they were overfishing, but instead of restraining themselves they tried to stop the Natives from eating roe on kelp. Members of the salmon industry recognized fish were rapidly diminishing before 1900 at the same time they were saying salmon were inexhaustible. (p. 110)The oil companies and mining companies offer jobs for Alaskans. So did the Russians offer jobs for Aleuts. The deal is a lot sweeter today, but it seems a very similar structure. Temporary occupation and control until they get what they can, then off for greener pastures. You can clean up the mess after we leave.
Wohlforth's book endeavors to do a lot. It's trying to tie together many, seemingly disparate subjects and synthesizing them into one big integrated explanation of how and why humans impact nature and whether we can control ourselves. I have to confess, the synthesis is the sort of thing I like to attempt. It's hard to put all your exhibits out for the readers who have to remember them when they get to the point where you tie them all together. I'm still not much more than one quarter of the way through the book, so I can't tell you yet how well he succeeds. But so far it's good reading each of the pieces by themselves. If he pulls them all together, that will be frosting.
And, yes, he does cite sources at the back for the claims he makes.


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My brother took the ones above so I can't take credit.
The ones below were taken last week.
My brother took the ones above so I can't take credit.
The ones below were taken last week.
I love the last photo. She is completely smothering him, yet he is still happy with a smile on his face. Very sweet. Looks like she is protective of her little brother.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my blog!
These are such sweet photos of the two of them. It's amazing how much they change in just a few months. Love that last one, too. Such a sweet sibling moment.
Great pictures!!! What cutie pies. It's hard...my son is 13 mos. and I just want to bottle it up and say STOP sometimes. :) Gotta take it all while where here and can.
WOW they are betting big - it's amazing just how fast it happens - it's sad too :( Beautiful pictures!
I've also been contemplating how fast time goes by, especially concerning the lives of our children...Your photos show wonderful personalities and sweet faces...I love the one of the girl dangling from the tree branch.
Holy cow, they have grown up! I love the hugging shot at the end...the perfect image of sibling affection - half hug, half choke hold!
Its crazy what just a few seasons will do to our kids isn't it? I LOVE the last one - enjoy those sibling shots while they last!
It's crazy how fast time flies, isn't it? What beautiful children. I love their personalties coming our in this series of pictures.
I look at pictures of Harrison a year ago and I'm floored at the changes that I don't see subtly day to day. It's bittersweet for me some days knowing I'll only have one.


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PhysX powered game Mstar (Nurien) to be stopped due to high system requirements
Korean, Unreal Engine 3 and PhysX SDK powered music MMO Mstar (also knows as Nurien) was one of the first titles featuring support for hardware accelerated physics effects. Many of you can remember Nurien benchmark from GeForce PowerPack #1.
Now it's officially announced, that the operation of this title is to be stopped. Thanks to its excellent graphics, Mstar has faced much difficulty in popularization because of its high PC system requirements.
Source indicates, that some large online game company still takes interest in Mstar, and probably game is going to be relaunched, but with tweaked system requirements – it's hard to say if GPU PhysX support will be kept in this case.
Source: mmosite.com


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Nicotine 166 Times More Deadly than Caffeine?
Although the average manufactured cigarette contains 8 to 10 mg. of nicotine, only about 1 mg. finds its way into the smoker's bloodstream. Is nicotine more lethal than strychnine? Would just 40 to 60 mg. of pure nicotine on the tongue - 3 to 6 drops - kill a 160 pound person?
Although growing dispute over the amount of nicotine needed to kill humans (as lethal doses cannot be tested as with other animals), the 40 to 60 mg. animal lethal dose figure tends to suggest that drop for drop nicotine is deadlier than the lethal dose of strychnine (75 mg), diamondback rattlesnake venom (100 mg,) arsenic (200 mg) or cyanide (500 mg).
As deadly as it is, smoked nicotine doesn't arrive alone. Each puff comes with up to 81 cancer causing chemicals, carbon monoxide and a host of toxins. This cataclysmic combination annually produces the leading cause of death in almost all developed nations, and creates fertile ground for profiteers able to engineer less destructive forms of nicotine delivery.
But what about the alkaloid nicotine itself, the clear liquid comprising roughly 1 to 2% of tobacco's dry weight, that turns brownish when exposed to air? What honest representations can be made in regard to the chemical that stands alone when lethalness and addictiveness are combined?
In a display of audacity reminiscent of 50s and 60s cigarette marketing, an army of pharmaceutical industry nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) consultants, oral tobacco advocates, and well intentioned harm reductionists are engaged in an ongoing campaign to convince the world that nicotine is as safe as caffeine.
"Our strategy is based on the fact that nicotine, while addictive, is about as safe as caffeine," testified University of Alabama Professor Brad Rodu before a June 3, 2003 congressional subcommittee. Professor Rodu, whose research was funded by United States Smokeless Tobacco Company, contends that smokeless tobacco is safer than smoking.
An August 31, 2004 New York Times article quotes University of Pittsburgh Professor Saul Shiffman as saying, "people are unreasonably afraid of nicotine." "The majority of smokers believe that nicotine causes cancer and is a big player in the harm caused by cigarettes." Shiffman is a GlaxoSmithKline consultant - maker of a nicotine patch, gum and lozenge - and holds a patent for a new as yet unreleased form of fast-acting nicotine gum.
"But it is like caffeine addiction," the Times article quotes University of Vermont Professor John Hughes as saying. "The only harm is that you're having to pay for it." Professor Hughes' studies openly acknowledge that he too is a pharmaceutical industry consultant.
Any assertion that nicotine is as harmless as caffeine must divorce itself from the deadly reality that nicotine is not a bean stimulant but a potent natural insecticide engineered by nature to protect the tobacco plant from being eaten by insects. While it takes 50 to 60 mg of nicotine to kill a 160 pound human, it would take 10,000 mg of caffeine to do so.
Contrary to Shiffman's assertion that nicotine is not a "big player" in the harms caused by cigarettes, a mushrooming body of toxicology science suggests otherwise, especially for the developing fetus. On December 29, 2005, two UK NRT industry consultants, Martin Raw and Robert West, helped author government guidance recommendations allowing UK NRT use for up to 9 months by pregnant smokers.
The report asserts, "The pharmacology of nicotine suggests that it may contribute to some of the damage to the fetus caused by smoking. However, this contribution is likely to be small and there is no doubt at all that NRT use is much safer than smoking."
Not so, asserts Professor Theodore Slotkin with the Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology at Duke University Medical Center. "There is abundant evidence that the major problem for fetal development is exposure to nicotine rather than other components of cigarette smoke." "NRT, especially by transdermal patch, delivers more nicotine to the fetus than smoking does."
A March 2003 study published in Reproductive Toxicology found that the nicotine concentration in the brains of fetal mice were 2.5 times greater than the nicotine concentration found in the mother's bloodstream when nicotine was continuously administrated, as would be the case with the nicotine patch. A pregnant smoker need only imagine what it would be like if her mind were trapped and forced to constantly endure 250% more nicotine than normal.
"The patch is the 'easiest' NRT approach, and it turns out that this is the absolute worst form of nicotine administration for the fetus. Essentially, achieving a continuous steady-state plasma level of nicotine in the mother removes the protective effect of the placenta (delay of entry to fetus, partial catabolism of nicotine) because all water spaces become saturated with nicotine," explains Slotkin.
Nicotine is an extremely destructive teratogen that during critical fetal developmental stages appears to damage the ability of brain cells to communicate, including those associated with serotonin production. A 2001 study, co-authored by Professor Slotkin, expressed concern that nicotine use during pregnancy may subject the unborn to a lifetime of battling chronic depression.
Fetal animal nicotine studies evidence impairment of brain development including net cell losses in the midbrain and cerebral cortex, growth retardation, hyperactivity, central nervous system damage, birth defects, an increased level of anxiety during the early adolescent period, poor adaptation in new environments, robust cognitive deficits in early adulthood, and obesity with type II diabetes.
Even in adults nicotine is a "big player" in the harm caused by cigarettes. One of the chemicals nicotine is transformed into is NNK, a chemical of concern in causing lung cancer. Recent data suggests that nicotine also adds to cancer risks by preventing apoptosis (normal programmed cell death), and by inducing angiogenesis (the creation of new blood vessels) which nourish, feed and accelerate existing tumor growth rates.
Nicotine is not only a "big player" with cancer risks but has been linked to hardening of the arteries and cardiovascular disease, memory impairment, dementia, and chronic depression.
Clearly, at least in adults, the degree of health risks associated with smoked nicotine are greater than those posed by pharmaceutical grade nicotine. But it is also true that the risks posed by pharmaceutical grade nicotine are light years away from "safe."
One of the highest risks posed by nicotine may be evidenced by a June 2005 study which found that 87% of students smoking it at least once daily where already chemically dependent as defined by DSM IV mental health standards. Imagine devoting your entire life to chasing and trying to keep pace with constantly falling blood-serum nicotine levels, declining by half every two hours.
As safe as caffeine? Isn't addiction a serious safety concern when advocating the use of any chemical? Since 2000 Canada's cigarette pack addiction warning label has read, "Warning - Cigarettes are highly addictive. Studies have shown that tobacco can be harder to quit than heroin or cocaine."
GlaxoSmithKline makes nicotine gum. In a November 2003 study its consultants found that 36.6% of current nicotine gum users were chronic long-term users of greater than 6 months. How many never-smoking youth will be enticed to sample pharmaceutical grade nicotine after hearing an educator's assurance that it's as safe as drinking Pepsi or Coke?
Related WhyQuit Articles
How to Quit Smoking
Watch almost 500 additional stop smoking videos
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Discover Smart Turkey Quitting
- WhyQuit.com - WhyQuit is the Internet's oldest forum devoted to the art, science and psychology of cold turkey quitting, the stop smoking method used by the vast majority of all successful long-term ex-smokers.
- Nicotine Addiction 101 - WhyQuit's basic guide to understanding nicotine dependency.
- Nicotine Cessation Topic Index - An alphabetical subject matter index to more than a thousand nicotine cessation articles, videos and support group discussions.
- Joel's Library - Joel Spitzer began presenting stop smoking clinics and seminars in 1976. WhyQuit's education director since 2000, Joel's Library is home to his life's work. It includes Joel's "Daily Quitting Lesson Guide," more than 100 original stop smoking articles, his free ebook "Never Take Another Puff," and to his ever growing collection of more than 400 stop smoking videos.
- "Freedom from Nicotine - The Journey Home" - Written by John R. Polito, a former 30-year heavy smoker and WhyQuit's 1999 founder, Freedom from Nicotine shares the science underlying nicotine dependency and successful abrupt nicotine cessation.
- Turkeyville - Imagine surrounding yourself with more than 10,000 cold turkey quitters. Turkeyville is a Facebook support group exclusively for cold turkey quitters.
- Freedom - Freedom was WhyQuit's original 1999 stop smoking support group. No longer accepting members, its 453,000 archived posts continue to share recovery insights.


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Dennis and Roxanne Schopf established Schopf's Hilltop Dairy in the 1980's and have been leaders in the dairy industry ever since…
And so it was, one day in January, 2001 they began to fantasize about developing a giant corn maze. Then they met the folks at Great Adventure Corn Mazes and their planning went high-tech…
Great Adventure's services include on-site GPS mapping and on-site computerized corn maze cutting. The results… an awesome challenge and a great way to exercise brain and body – a five star adventure!
The 1st Annual Corn Maze in 2001…
The image on the right is the actual design layout for the first Dairy View corn maze. Cut in the summer of 2001, it covered 17 acres of cornfield!
The 2nd Annual Corn Maze in 2002
became Dairy View's mascot, Cookie the Cow's salute to America. It included an inner maze of 1.5 milles with six marker stations and a bridge (pictured on the map in blue). The outer maze included another 4 miles of trails with 6 more stations to locate on a 20 acre site.
The 3rd Annual Corn Maze in 2003 celebrated "Cookie at Play" with three different maze adventures:
- Green Maze = 1.3 miles
- Blue Maze = 3.9 miles
- Purple Maze = 2.7 miles
In the Fall we began to feature special Halloween holiday events…
4th Annual Corn Maze in 2004 featured: "A Salute to the Pack!"
$1 from each paid 2004 admission was donated to the Green Bay Packer Foundation. The Foundation assists in a wide variety of activities and programs that benefit education, civic affairs, health services, human services and youth-related programs.
5th Annual Corn Maze in 2005 featured: "Cookie's Harvest!"
Cookie's Harvest provided guests with three different a-mazing challenges:
- The Orange Maze – 2 miles of trail
- The Green Maze – 3.3 miles of trail
- The Black Maze – 2.5 miles of trail
6th Annual Corn Maze in 2006 featured: "Cookie's Barnyard Friends!"
7th Annual Corn Maze in 2007 featured: "Cookie's Pirate Adventure!"
8th Annual Corn Maze in 2008 featured: "A Salute to Cookie!"
9th Annual Corn Maze in 2009 featured: "Cookie's Race!"
10th Annual Corn Maze in 2010 presented a FSI…
Farm Scene Investigation!
Find out who kidnapped Farmer Denny.
11th Annual Corn Maze in 2011 featured the town of Egg Harbor's Sesquicentennial…
Happy 150 year birthday!
12th Annual Corn Maze in 2012 featured Cookie for President…
Vote for this doe-eyed heifer!
13th Annual Corn Maze in 2013 thanks all our Community Volunteers…
14th Annual Corn Maze in 2014


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That's what I asked myself when it hit me. It seems the most obvious of obvious things, but somehow it was escaping me. That's usually how these "aha" moments hit me.
Sometimes the most obvious things are the hardest to see.
As it pertains to this blog, I have lived on a struggle bus for a while. I can't even tell you what iteration of my blogging life this particular blog represents. I put an end to that by actually paying for my domain name – if I have some monetary skin in the game, I am going to stay put! But even after that, pain and mental roadblocks have left me feeling helpless as I sit down to write and nothing happens.
But something hit me just now as I was in the Ladies' Room…sorry y'all, but that's where I am hit when some of my most profound thoughts.
I am a delightfully ordinary woman seeking after God. And that's absolutely enough.
This call to be ordinary is not a call to mediocrity. It is a call to slow, steady abiding in Christ and letting Him do His good work in me in His timing. The peace of this ordinariness is otherworldly. I am tired of trying to be something and someone I am not, to fit into a mold or image that "they" have crafted (who is "they" anyway?!). And I am TIRED OF FOCUSING ON MYSELF!! And that is what whole long tortuous journey has been about – me! It's time to kill that noise and get back to writing and thinking and talking about what is my deepest passion – the things of God.
I thank you for your patient tolerance of my public navel-gazing. Let this post serve as a re-calibration of sorts. A turn back to what started this writing journey in the first place…our Lord Jesus.
More later…grace and peace…


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User - posted on 01/02/2013 ( 57 moms have responded )
I didnt know this but I heard recently that alot of people do not let their children watch Spongebob. I grew up watching this and my 22 mo old now watches it, I am not aware of anything bad about it, what are your thoughts on why someone wouldnt let children watch it?
Are there any other cartoons you dont let your little ones watch?
- Helpful
- Nice
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- Hugs


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This week on the news, I saw Congress grill social media executives. I heard about the spread of fake news and the negative things that social media has wrought. There was lots of focus on young people and how they use these forums – I even heard one report when an expert being interviewed mentioned that he was an undergraduate. (more…)
For students, the college experience is a pivotal time of growth. Not only are these individuals learning new concepts and theories through their studies, many are also taking that first initial jump from childhood to adulthood as they navigate life with an increased sense of independence. Whether these students live on campus or commute from home, their experience at college shapes their first impression of life beyond the books. Because of this, providing the foundation for a robust campus community not only enhances the student experience but improves students' quality of life. (more…)
The purpose of academia is to nurture and strengthen the next generation of leaders through research and critical analysis. Additionally, higher education aims to encourage individuals to investigate their interests and pursue a greater understanding of the world surrounding them. Today's college students, many of whom are members of Generation Z, are some of the most inquisitive and confident scholars who demand campus communities built on the theories of peaceful coexistence and safety for all. (more…)
Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation
Actively engaging young people in their community can result in positive and meaningful social change. Learn more about how to engage young people by reading Six Steps to Engage Millennials in Social Change and utilizing the complimentary Youth Engagement Toolkit.
Corporate Communications
Sodexo North America
Imagine that you are the mayor of a major U.S. city. How would you handle the very real challenges of city life, fed by a news cycle of endless stories of poverty, crime, failing schools and infrastructure issues? (more…)
"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."
― Winston S. Churchill
Giving back to our communities and to those in need makes our lives more meaningful. Not only do we encourage our kids to do community service while they're in school, but many people spend weekends doing volunteer work, often through an organized group or a religious institution.
The issue of gender balance touches nearly every corner of our lives – there is a collective demand for balance in politics, business and in our personal lives. But in the case of companies, gender balance should not only be addressed for the sake of equality, but also for the sake of performance.
I grew up on a small family farm in South Georgia. Small family farm is code for hard work and community. On our farm, we didn't own all the farm equipment we needed, nor did the surrounding farmers, but collectively we organized and shared resources and when it came time to harvest, everyone worked together as a community. Working together for the success of all: to me, that's community. You take care of each other, you take care of the land and it will take care of you.


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Another Classic Ported to TRS-80 MC-10
Games for Spectrum, C64, Amstrad, Amiga, Apple ][ and the rest of the 8-bit and 16-bit platforms. Pleas for help, puzzles, bug reports etc.
Moderator: Alastair
Re: Another Classic Ported to TRS-80 MC-10
I have created a page for all my text adventures ported to TRS-80 MC-10 BASIC. You can click on them and play (most) of them in a Javascript emulator: http://faculty.cbu.ca/jgerrie/Home/jgam ... tures.html Enjoy!
- Gunness
- Site Admin
- Posts: 1790
- Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2004 7:04 pm
- Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
- Contact:
Re: Another Classic Ported to TRS-80 MC-10
Very nice job! I've added the link to our TRS-80 MC-10 description page. Hopefully people interested in that platform will find something they like
Re: Another Classic Ported to TRS-80 MC-10
Assignment 45 ported to TRS-80 MC-10:
Re: Another Classic Ported to TRS-80 MC-10
I remember this. It was published in 80 Micro if I remember rightly. It's not an adventure, but one of those awful choose your own adventure (CYOA) games. I've been trying to forget it for years, but it keeps rearing its ugly head in the form of unofficial ports for various machines. I think there was a sequel many years later called 'Assignment 46'. I don't want to know about that one either.
Re: Another Classic Ported to TRS-80 MC-10
I'm not sure it's a "CYOA" game. Aren't those games (or books) where you make choices that lead to different possible alternate endings? This one is just an immensely simple "menu driven" adventure in Basic. You must figure out the single solution by figuring out the "right" menu selection for each scenario to get to the end and "Save the princess." Immensely simple, but perhaps a good game for a 5 or 6 year old.
Re: Another Classic Ported to TRS-80 MC-10
That's exactly what a CYOA game is. It's multiple choice. Very boring. You can't do anything other than what the programmer has provided for in the menus. Hence no guess-the-verb scenarios, but lots of sudden death. No puzzles. No logical deduction. No satisfaction on completion. It's mindless entertainment for morons.
Re: Another Classic Ported to TRS-80 MC-10
Crash! Can You Survive? Ported to TRS-80 MC-10. From Apple II source.
Re: Another Classic Ported to TRS-80 MC-10
I have updated my Type-in programs pages, including the one with all the text adventures I have ported to, translated to English, or recoded in Micro Color Basic.
http://faculty.cbu.ca/jgerrie/Home/Type ... H0XG6vAMqM
http://faculty.cbu.ca/jgerrie/Home/Type ... H0XG6vAMqM


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|Avoid Patient Bottlenecks in the
Medical Practice
But to address the impediments that sabotage your patient flow, you must first identify the bottlenecks caused by human, technical, and design flaws existing in your practice.
Typical bottlenecks include:
- Multiple appointments occupying a single provider time slot (double- and triple-booking);
- Patient no-shows and late arrivals;
- Providers arriving late;
- Providers taking an inordinate amount of time with patients;
- Emergencies and urgent walk-ins;
- Duplicated processes (such as registration/check-in procedures);
- Efficient and consistent internal systems and processes ignored (or not implemented in the first place);
- Lost or incomplete paperwork or electronic documentation; and
- Confusing, inefficient office layout.
In the end, recognize that the "ideal" visit keeps patients moving through the system, but does not leave them feeling so rushed as not to have time to ask questions and understand instructions. It will require education and staff buy-in to change your culture to seek efficiency in all processes.
If you enjoy reading the blog entries in "Solving Problems in the Medical Practice" you may want to check out all the great products at Greenbranch Publishing.


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Elmiraj Concept Is Cadillac's Halo Car of the Future
Cadillac has been hard at work over the last decade reinventing itself. The notions of floaty land barge are far-gone, replaced with complimenting, exciting vehicles, such as the CTS-V and ATS. The only thing missing from the Cadillac lineup has been a halo car, and the American luxury brand is a step closer with this– the all-new Cadillac Elmiraj Concept. Now, if you noticed, we did say concept. So, Caddy doesn't have a halo car just yet, but from what we can tell, what we have here is a lot more than vaporware. According to Cadillac, styling builds on the popular Ciel Concept and was built on a chassis that is currently in development for future products. Also, note the new, sans-laurel Cadillac Crest logo on this concept. Do you like? Tell us in the comments below.
A 500-horsepower, 4.5-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 sits under the long, sloping hood. According to Cadillac, the engine builds off the architecture and technology from the twin-turbo V6 currently in the all-new CTS-V sport.
The layout is set as a large, four seat coupe, conjuring up memories of the classic Cadillac Eldorado. The design seems attainable for a production car, the innards are for real and the engine is to. So what does that mean fro the Elmiraj? Will it become a production car? It's a long shot, but if a production version sees the light of day, it could be the halo car to drive American luxury in the decade to come.
PHOTOS: See more of the 2013 Cadillac Elmiraj Concept


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I'll never forget the day I told Jesus I needed to leave college.
It was a little under a year ago. I was in my dorm room, all alone, and the temptation to take my own life was so great, and the feeling of being trapped was so overwhelming, that I told God I couldn't go on any longer. I knew He wanted me to be there, but I wasn't strong enough. I'm sorry, God, but I can't. I'm tapping out. I hope that's okay.
I went to prayer, asked the Holy Spirit to show me the way, and immediately this song came on my Spotify:
Interestingly, this was the very song that happened to come on my Spotify the very first day I started doing mission work with NET Ministries, back in August 2015. It also played on the day I felt God calling me to college and not another year of mission work. And again the night before I left for World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow, Poland. And again on my first day of freshman year, last August. In fact, this song has unintentionally played at nearly all the turning points in my life for the past two years. It's based on Psalm 121, which I'd like to dive a little deeper into.
I want to make it very clear right now that God never promised us a suffer-free life as His follower. Quite the opposite, in fact; he tells us in this world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world. (John 16:33) The good news is, He tells us though we must suffer, we will never suffer alone. If we go through hell, Jesus goes there with us. If we sink to the depths or rise to the heights, He is there, always by our side. And He understands the pain we endure because He Himself endured ultimate suffering, ultimate pain, during his Passion and death on earth. God did not even spare His own perfect Son from pain and suffering. That's how universal hell is.
A song of ascents:
I raise my eyes toward the mountains. From whence shall come my help? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip, or your guardian to sleep. Behold, the guardian of Israel never slumbers nor sleeps. The Lord is your guardian; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. By day the sun will not strike you, nor the moon by night. The Lord will guard you from all evil; He will guard your soul. The Lord will guard your coming and your going both now and forever. (Psalm 121)
The footnotes in my Bible have this to say about the psalm: "It is a blessing given to someone embarking on a dangerous journey, whether a soldier going on a campaign or a pilgrim returning home from the Temple. People look anxiously at the wooded hills. Will God protect them on their journey? The speaker declares that God is not confined to a place or a time, that every step is guarded; night and day God watches over their every movement.
At every point where I was about to embark on a new chapter in life, the song "Shoulders" played – a song based on Psalm 121, a blessing given to someone embarking on a dangerous journey.
Sometimes we have to take a trip through hell. Sometimes we have to walk through raging waters, amidst burning flames. Sometimes we have to feel the full weight of the cross on our shoulders as we walk our road to Calvary. This suffering is a necessary part of life. And it sucks. And it's painful. I know; I've been there.
But when Jesus died and descended into hell, He rose from the dead right after and eventually ascended into heaven. See, Jesus' Passion, death, Resurrection, and Ascension are meant to mimic the natural cycles of our lives: we take out cross-heavy walk, we get crucified, we go through hell. BUT EVENTUALLY WE RISE, ALWAYS. How do I know? Not only is it Christ's promise to us, but I've experienced it myself. Twice. I've been resurrected from hell twice in my life now, and I expect more resurrections to come.
In the midst of the suffering, in the middle of hell, it can become almost impossible to see any hope, any end to the pain. We may have the inclination to give up, to lose faith, to stop hoping against hope and to throw in the towel. Wallow in your sadness. There is nothing more to life than pain, our mind tells us. This is all there is. Things will never get better.
But let me tell you: THEY DO.
Sometimes it takes YEARS. Yes, I suffered for two years before I found joy, peace, and fulfillment again. I spent two years in the darkness, crying out to God, begging to see the sun. And at many points, I lost basically all hope. But eventually, and I do mean eventually, because I waited a long-long-long-long-long time, God brought me back to life.
He has restored all the hope I had lost by showing me His plan for my life, giving me a hopeful future to look forward to (Jeremiah 29:11). He has surrounded me with beautiful, wonderful, amazing, godly friends and family who call me onward and upward in the faith. He has expanded my mind and heart, and now, even my physical abilities, as I have begun training to become an officer in the US Marine Corps. He has showered blessings on me, day in and day out. He has made my heart swell with joy and beauty through experiences and people. And every day I know I can rely on His grace to get me through. Life is so good, fam. There was a point only a few months ago where I truly did not believe my life would ever get better. I had stopped believing that joy would ever come my way; I thought I was doomed to a life of loneliness and misery. I was totally lost and knew not where to go. But I continued moving forward, one foot in front of the other. And God blessed those footsteps.
He brought me to where I am today, and I have never felt so much peace or fulfillment in my entire life. I know I am where I am supposed to be, doing what I'm supposed to be doing. And it is blessed.
So I encourage you: if you are going through hell; if you feel hopeless, broken, depressed, downtrodden, and fear you will never feel joy again, listen: TAKE COURAGE. GOD WILL RESURRECT YOU. IT MAY TAKE A LONG TIME, BUT HE IS FAITHFUL AND HE WILL RAISE YOUR SOUL FROM THE CLUTCHES OF DEATH. I tell you this from experience: I was dead, but my Lord has raised me up. I am here today and can testify this truth because God worked this miracle in my life. I promise you, He will work it in yours, too.


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Black Fish Duo formed in 2013 from the collaboration between an Italian-American blues&jazz vocalist and an eclectic English guitar player.
Born and raised in Italy Jessica De Giudici has developed artistically over a decade of engagement with the Blues, from rugged busking environments through to critically acclaimed Jazz and Blues festivals inclusive of the European Jazz Expo, Porretta Soul Festival and 'Roots and Blues' Festival to name but a few.
Nick Ruddock is a versatile and talented working guitarist able to play a wide range of styles at the tip of the hat. Nick honed his guitar technique at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guilford and currently spends his time between gigging, writing, function and session work as well as teaching guitar.
BlackFish put heart and passion into every performance.
Public Liability Insurance (PLi) :
Insurer: Royal & SunAlliance
Policy Number: RSAP[phone hidden]
Expiry Date: 19th November 2015


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Twelve photographers were presented $100 each for their winning photographs in Sheridan County Museum's Calendar Photo contest at a reception at Photo Imaging Center on November 23rd.
With a theme this year of "Your Backyard and Beyond," Mary Ellen McWilliams with the Sheridan County Historical Society tells us that the contribution to the contest was phenomenal.
With that many entries, they could have picked a photo for every day of 2011. But, for now anyway, the photos will represent an entire month. Mary Ellen describes how the winning photographs rose to the top of the voters' tally marks.
All proceeds from the contest, sponsored by Photo Imaging Center and Sheridan Media, with additional funding from eleven businesses and Sheridan College, will benefit the Sheridan County Museum.
Four different versions and sizes, including a small desk calendar, are available for sale at Photo Imaging and at the Sheridan County Museum, which will be open this year from 1 pm to 5 pm through December 23rd, and from 1 pm to 3 pm on December 24th.
2011 Contest Winners: Emmy Hill, Robert Williams, Marie Vaccaro, Stacey Jo Ellenwood, Gina Kelty, Stan Woinoski, Tim Doolin, Diana Volk, Russ Hirchert, Susanne Hinz, Lori Legoski, and David Paavilainen. They will also receive a 16x20" framed print as will sponsoring businesses to hang at their stores.
Business sponsors are Captain Clean; Carroll's Furniture; ERA-Carroll Realty; Farmer's Co-Op; First Federal Savings Bank; Killy's Smokehouse Deli and Warehouse Market; Kings Saddlery, Ropes and Museum; Metz Beverage; Parker Glass; Sheridan College; Sheridan Rib and Chop House; and Tracy's Framing and Dean States Studio.
The winning entries remain on exhibit at Photo Imaging and all entries are available to view at http://www.photoimagingcenter.com.


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Ariassa Wilson
Number: 22
Position: Guard
Class: Junior
Height: 5'6"
Major: Youth Ministry
Hometown: Tacoma, WA
Previous School: Highline Community College
College: Ariassa is in her second season with Simpson. Her first season was cut short due to injury. The junior guard will help the Lady Red Hawks offensively as she has the ability to blow by defenders to get to the basket. Hailing from Tacoma, Wash., Wilson played two years at Highline Community College, where she was a standout guard.
High School: Ariassa played three-and-a-half years of varsity basketball at Henry Foss High School. Her athletic honors include First Team All-League selection, All-Star Team selection, most inspirational, and being chosen team captain. She played club basketball for Ladies Beware.
Personal: Ariassa is the daughter of Audret and Arias Wilson. She is a ministry major and her career goal is to be a youth pastor.
Reason for coming to Simpson: "I chose Simpson because it is a Christian school, the perfect place to have a God encounter, and where hoops and faith collide."


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Here we are to … Chapter 17? And I am still posting this story here on the blog? Eh, why not … it's a distraction for some people from the depressing and super weird news these days. This week I have to place a trigger warning on my post as there is some domestic violence and I want to warn anyone who has had to deal with similar issues. It's not too graphic, but still – it's there. For those worried Blanche's story will never have happiness – well, you'll just have to keep reading and see what happens but I will warn you things may seem worse before they get better for a bit. Hang in there!
Also, please remember I haven't had all of these chapters proofread. Sometimes they have a quick spellcheck but my editor/husband says he won't read the story until it's all complete – even though I'd like him to proof it as I go along. Sigh.
Need to catch up on the story? You can find links to the other chapters HERE or at the link at the top of the page.
I picked up the sleek black receiver and placed it against my ear as Edith started speaking in an excited and loud tone, barely even saying "hello."
"Blanche! It's me! Edith!"
I opened my mouth to answer, but she continued talking.
"Oh Blanche!" she cried. "I have to tell you what just happened! I wanted you to be the first to know. Jimmy proposed today. He got right down on one knee at the shop and pulled out a ring! I was so excited! Blanche, can you believe it?"
I could and I couldn't believe it. I could believe Jimmy had been sweet enough to propose in such a romantic way, but I couldn't imagine Edith married, a housewife like Mama and me.
"You'll be my matron of honor, right?"
"Yes, of course."
"Oh good! I'm so excited!" Edith squealed. "We're planning a wedding for about three months from now. The service will be at the church, the reception at the social hall. It will be casual, nothing too fancy, but of course my dress will be gorgeous. Daddy said he'll drive me to one of those big shops in Williamsport and I can pick out whichever dress I want. Oh, Blanche! You should see the ring. It's small, but so pretty, with the brightest diamond in the middle."
I looked at my ring finger, remembering I didn't have an engagement ring, or even a wedding band.
"That – sounds great," I said softly, trying to sound cheerful.
"Do you –"Edith paused. "Do you think Hank will come?"
I shook my head; glad she couldn't see me.
"I'm sure he will," I said forcing myself to sound cheerful. "And of course, I'll bring Jackson."
"Oh my gosh! I can't wait to hold my little nephew finally!" Edith said. "I bet he's getting big! Is he crawling yet?"
"No. Miss Mazie – a lady from church – says that doesn't happen for a few more months."
Edith laughed. "Well, you know how little I know about babies," she said. "I never liked babysitting and wasn't really interested in kids, but then you weren't either. I never pictured you as a mother, to be honest."
"Well, neither did I," I admitted. "But I really do like it. He's a sweet boy – I can't imagine my life without him."
"I'm so glad to hear that Blanche," Edith said, and I could tell she was being genuine. In fact, Edith had seemed more genuine than ever since she'd started attending Bible study and church more. In some ways I felt like I was finally seeing the real Edith.
"I'll call back and update you on the exact date and plans," Edith said. "I can't wait!"
I hung up and smiled, thinking about how only a couple of years ago Edith had been focused on how many boys she could get to ask her out in a week and now she was planning her wedding to one of the sweetest boys in town. I let the happiness for her carry me throughout the day.
When I dropped Jackson off at the Harrison's, with plans to surprise Hank at the bar, I felt like I was abandoning my baby.
"Mama will be back soon," I told Jackson, kissing his head as Hannah held him.
"He's going to be fine, Blanche," Hannah assured me. "You just go and have some fun and take a little break."
Lizzie looked at me with a solemn expression from where she was sitting at the table.
"Is that the only dress you have?" she asked bluntly.
I look down and realized I was wearing the same dress I had worn Sunday.
"No," I said, smiling slightly. "But I only have two nice dresses, so I chose this one for tonight."
Lizzie shrugged.
"Okay, well that's a nice one so it will do," she said, turning back to the picture she was drawing at the table.
Hannah gave me an apologetic look and sighed.
"Sorry, Blanche – she's got her – well, my quick tongue."
I smiled and thanked Hannah for watching Jackson.
I used the change I'd found in a jar on the dresser in our room for the taxi to take me to the bar. I couldn't wait to surprise Hank, hoping to see the joy he used to have when he sang to me in those early days.
The bar was foggy with cigarette smoke and dimly lit. Small round tables filled the room, the people sitting at them, talking, smoking and sipping alcoholic beverages. The stage in front of them was empty, the band on a break. I scanned the room, looking for Hank as a man with dark, slicked backed hair stepped in front of me.
"Hey, pretty lady," he said with a grin. "Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for my husband," I said, standing on my tiptoes to look over his shoulder and around him.
"And who would that be?" he asked, stepping in front of me again as I tried to step around him.
"Hank Hakes."
He snorted. "Hank is married?" He looked me up and down and I felt heat flush through me. "To you?"
He looked over his shoulder, smirking.
"Hank's right over there, Mrs. Hakes." His tone was mocking as he stepped aside.
Hank was across the room, standing near the bar and my heart skipped at the sight of him pushing his hand through his hair, his back to me. He laughed and I pictured the muscle in his jaw jumping as he smiled like it always did. I couldn't wait to throw my arms around him and feel the rush of excitement I used to feel when he looked at me and smiled. I started to walk toward him, then stopped, stepping behind a wooden column to hide, my heart pounding fast as I peered around it.
There was a woman sitting in front of Hank on the bar stool, leaning toward him seductively and smiling. The fabric of her bright red dress, cut into a v down the front, billowed around her long, shapely legs, the hem falling slightly above her knees.
Hank laid his hand against her knee and my gaze followed it as it slowly slid up her leg until it was under her skirt, against her thigh. She threw back her head and laughed, dark curls falling down her back, her arms laying across his shoulders. Her bright white teeth were in sharp contrast to her dark red lipstick. She tipped her head down again until Hank's face was level with hers and bit her lower lip, her eyelids heavy as she pressed her forehead against his. Hank tilted his head and kissed her hard, opening her mouth under his, as she pushed her hands into his hair.
There was no misunderstanding what I was seeing. They were kissing and touching each other in front of everyone and didn't care who saw. The kiss lingered for several moments until Hank pulled away and stepped back, reaching for his guitar.
Bile burned my throat and a chill cut through me. I stood in place, staring, thoughts spinning out of control. Then as if someone clapped their hands and startled me out of my dazed state, I took a sharp intake of breath, backing away quickly and stumbling out the door into the street, hoping Hank didn't see me. I heard the man who had pointed Hank out to me laughing as the door closed.
Walking briskly to the alley next to the bar, I doubled over, vomit rushing into my mouth and out onto the pavement.
I heard a man's voice behind me.
"Have too much to drink, little lady?"
I shook my head and wiped my mouth.
"Just a little under the weather," I said quietly.
"You need a ride home?" he asked and when I looked up, he was leering at me with eager eyes.
I felt cold shiver through me again, despite the warm night.
"No," I said firmly. "I'm here with someone else and I'd like to be left alone."
His expression darkened.
"Fine. Be that way you little – "
I walked quickly by him, down the sidewalk in the direction of our apartment, praying he wouldn't follow me. He didn't.
Inside our apartment I leaned back against the closed door, slid to the floor, my chest heavy and my head light. All those late nights. All those nights he'd never come home. Hank wasn't only drinking and playing music all night, like he told me, like I'd thought.
I wondered who the woman was, if she was the only one. My mind flicked from one thought to the next, fast and out of control. I thought about the signs I missed, the one's I'd ignored. Did I smell perfume on him one night and assume it was simply from him playing at the bar? He had been barely touching me, especially since Jackson had been born. How could I have been so stupid not to see that he didn't love me anymore?
What did she have that I didn't? What made her more important than me and Jackson? And if he wanted her then why was he still coming home to me? What did I do to make him run to her? Wasn't I enough?
Maybe it wasn't what she had but what she didn't have that made Hank want her over me. I looked at my stomach. She didn't have a baby and a pouch of fat left from carrying that baby. I stood, stumbled into the bathroom and looked at my pale, tear-stained face in the mirror. Maybe she was older and wiser and more fun in all the ways that women should be more fun to men. I definitely wasn't experienced in how to make men happy in the bedroom.
Maybe if I was more fun Hank would look at me again the way he'd looked at her, though I wasn't sure I'd ever seen him look at me with the desire he'd looked at her with.
I wiped the tears off my face, staggered toward the kitchen and poured a glass of milk, guzzling it and then looking at the empty glass.
I needed to waste time before I went back to Hannah's to pick up Jackson. I didn't want Hannah, with her three perfect children and her perfect smiling, handsome husband, to ask why I was back so soon. I didn't want her, or anyone, to know how stupid I was, how naïve and immature.
"I'm so pathetic," I said out loud, plopping into the chair at the table, staring at the empty glass. "Sitting here crying in my milk like a stupid little girl. Which is all I really am. A stupid little girl who messed up her life trying to be someone she wasn't."
How could I have been so stupid to think Hank would always want only me? Only boring, pale, scrawny, boring ole' me.
I laid my head on my arm on the table and cried hard until I felt enough time had passed to go pick up Jackson. I reached into my purse and searched for cover-up, patting it across my face, hoping it would cover the splotches from the crying.
I did my best to smile when I arrived at the Harrison's door.
"Did you have a good time?" Hannah asked hopefully.
"Yes, thank you so much for watching him," I told her, taking Jackson from her arms and cradling him.
"If you ever need us to watch him again, let us know," Matthew said, waving at me from the kitchen.
I knew I wouldn't.
Hank staggered through the door at almost 1 a.m. that night. I pulled the covers tight around me and squeezed my eyes closed as he dug through the ice box for food. I wanted to scream at him, to ask who she was and why he'd been touching her that way, but I laid there, still and tired, knowing I wasn't in the mood for a fight.
"Must be nice you can sleep like that when I'm out working hard, paying all the bills."
His breath smelled of alcohol and his words were cold as he leaned close to me in the dark. I tried to hold my anger in, tried to keep the part of Daddy I knew was in me locked inside.
"You should be up making me a hot meal," Hank snapped, unlacing his boots.
I kept my eyes closed. I let him run his mouth while I pretended to sleep. I knew eventually he'd pass out and by the morning he'd forget all about whatever he had been mad about tonight, just like always.
In the morning, getting ready for work with a hangover, he was still mad.
"Why weren't you waiting for me last night?"
He was glaring at me from bloodshot eyes.
I sat his eggs in front of him and gasped as his hand clutched my wrist and twisted.
"You're hurting me," I winced.
"And you're not answering me," Hank snarled. "I expect you to answer me when I talk to you. Do you understand?"
I nodded, trying to pull my hand loose. He wrenched me toward him, so my face was in front of his.
"Next time I get home late you better be awake and waiting for me, Blanche. I expect my woman to be here when I need her, for whatever I need her for. That's your job. Got it?"
I nodded, tears hot on my face.
He shoved me back from him and I fell back onto the stove, crying out as my arm touched the still hot burner.
"You got something to take care of that?" he asked as he stood and snatched his jacket off the back of the chair.
"Yes," I said, running my hand under the cold water in the faucet.
"Good. I'll be home for dinner, and I expect it to be on the table and hot when I get here."
The front door slammed closed as I looked for bandages in the bathroom, tears of pain and anger spilling down my face and onto the front of my dress.
If this was how God answered prayers, I wasn't sure I wanted to know anymore about God and His ways. I'd made mistakes but I didn't deserve to be treated the way Hank was treating me.
I poured peroxide over the burn and gritted my teeth. This wasn't what I had signed up for when I'd left with Hank, imagining a new life, full of possibilities. I wrapped my arm with a rag I found in the closet and cursed under my breath.
"This isn't what my life is going to be, Hank Hakes," I hissed at the door and then tossed the empty frying pan at it.
Jackson woke at the sound of the pan hitting the door and began screaming. I lifted him from the crib, holding him against me, fury at Hank rushing through me.


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Finding the right gift for teachers is never easy in fact, pre-paid Visa cards have become my go-to gifts over the past few years. This year, is different. This year, my go-to gifts come courtesy of Teacher Peach! I recently learned about Teacher Peach from my friend Tali who generously sent me a sample of their fabulous products.
Teacher Peach is your one-stop-shop for buying teacher products. The company was created with teachers in mind. In fact, Teacher Peach's educational experts bring more than 30 years of industry experience to the development of these motivating and age-appropriate products. Teacher Peach products are designed to inspire great learning results and enhance a positive school climate.
There are tons of products in a range of prices, but they make a great back to school gift or something to keep in mind and file away for the holidays. Here are my favorites:
1. Once Upon A Box : stocked boxes of goodies tailored for teachers to use within the classroom or at home! .
2. Teacher's Desk Set: Includes all essential teacher supplies and it's super cheerful and cute!
3. Jumbo Teacher Tote: Spacious and durable for any teacher with 2 secret compartments!
4. Insulated and Punny "Thirst for Knowledge" Thermos
5. A Note From the Teacher monthly subscription box. Each month's box is filled with thoughtful note writing items so teachers can send notes that matter. Subscriptions come in 1, 3, 6 and 12 month deliveries. It's so nice for teachers to have these supplies on hand!
They also have a wide array of additional products such as note cards, journals, lanyards, magnets and more supplies on their website, teacherpeach.com.
Here's to a peachy 2016-2017 School Year!


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Printed Scaffold Wraps to Hide Construction Work
Printed Scaffold wrap are a great way to hide construction work in conservation areas. This is our largest scaffold wrap this year totalling nearly 1000 meters2 on Wigmore Street, London. Digitally printed onto mesh PVC material over 5 banners, 15 meters high each covering 7 elevations. This scaffold wrap was very complex and needed a … Read more