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Representative Mack
Sponsored By
Bill Nelson Defeats Connie MackWhen election season began, many Republicans pointed to Florida Senator Bill Nelson as a possible seat that could flip to the GOP in 2012. But that didn't turn out to be the case as the Associated Press has called the race and declared Senator Bill Nelson the winner of another six-year term in the Senate.
Rubio Campaigns With Mack At VersaillesRepublican U.S. Representative Connie Mack IV's Senate campaign is struggling in recent polling and has put in a call to the GOP bullpen to get some help, namely popular Florida Senator Marco Rubio.
Mack Running Out Of Time Against NelsonRepresentative Connie Mack IV jumped into the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate late, but quickly became the nominee. But, he's found a much tougher road in his general election matchup with incumbent Senator Bill Nelson.
Poll: Sen. Nelson Opens 7 Point Lead Over MackFlorida Senator Bill Nelson is underwater when it comes to his approval rating, but he's still ahead by seven points over Republican challenger Representative Connie Mack, IV, according to the later Public Policy Polling poll.
Mack Looks Like Lock For Primary VictoryWhile the primary votes haven't even been cast yet, it appears that U.S. Senator Bill Nelson will face off against Republican Connie Mack IV in the battle to head back to Washington.
Fla. Politicians React To Health Care DecisionWithin minutes of the Supreme Court's decision, Florida Democrats and Republicans began firing off statements either labeling the Affordable Care Act as either a burdensome new tax or lauding it is as monumental ruling in American history.
Poll: Obama Has 4 Point Lead In FloridaAs the presidential election heats up over the summer, the latest Quinnipiac Poll has the race swinging towards President Barack Obama.
WSJ Poll: Obama Leading By 5 Points In FloridaOne day after a Quinnipiac University poll showed Mitt Romney leading in the Sunshine State; a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found President Barack Obama leading in Florida by five points, outside the margin of error.
Poll: Mack Dominating GOP Field, Tied With NelsonAs U.S. Senator Bill Nelson continues to pull in more money for his general campaign, it's looking more and more like his Republican opponent will likely be Representative Connie Mack IV.
Poll: Sen. Nelson Has Big Leads Over Republican OpponentsThe latest polling numbers for Florida's U.S. Senate race in November is giving incumbent Senator Bill Nelson some reason to breathe a little easier, at least in the short-term.
Poll: Sen. Nelson Leads Mack By Just Three PointsIf Senator Bill Nelson was expecting an easy road back to the Senate in 2012, it looks like he's in for a lot more than he bargained for with Republican Connie Mack.
Poll: Sen. Nelson Tied With Connie MackIncumbent U.S. Senator Bill Nelson was not expecting a serious challenge in 2012. But new poll results from Quinnipiac University show Nelson will have a tough haul to re-election this year.


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Walsh King is committed to the ongoing skill development for all members of our firm. We devote significant resources to continuing education. For example, on September 18 and 19 five members of our tax team attended the 2017 British Columbia Tax Conference presented by the Canadian Tax Foundation.
This annual two-day conference includes presentations by leading tax accountants and lawyers. Our partners, Ron and Kevin Walsh, have each previously presented at this Conference.
In addition to the high-quality presentations, the conference provides our tax professionals valuable time to network and share ideas, concerns and strategies with other tax professionals from BC and across the country.
As expected, the Federal government's July 18th tax consultation paper and draft legislation were top of mind. The general consensus was that the draft legislation and consultation paper, if implemented, would fundamentally change how Canadian private corporations are taxed and add significant complexity to the tax filing requirements of Canadian business owners.
The Conference also included interesting presentations on current court cases, safe income, valuations, stock options, planning with trusts and estates and the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption.
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18 Aug Lost and Alone
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"Lost and Alone"Written by Adam David
Estimated reading time — 15 minutes
Lightning flashed overhead as I picked myself up off the ground. Wondering where I was and how I ended up there, I examined the shapes and shadows that littered my view. The dark sky made my vision near obsolete, but my eyes slowly adjusted to the absence of light, and I could make out very dark and foreboding alleys.
Trying to remain calm, I called out. My voice echoed through the streets, but no helping hands came to my rescue. I was scared, alone, and clueless as to how I ended up here in the dark. Upon realizing that I had nothing to gain by just sitting there, waiting for help, I picked a direction and started walking.
Other people seemed nonexistent as I called out, just to hear my voice echo in the night. I thought I could hear faint movement in adjacent buildings, but otherwise there was no evidence of a welcoming and inviting populace that would help me rationalize my situation.
Shapes and shadows melded into a very dark neighborhood, which I was hesitant to explore. The very air of this environment told me that I was not welcome, that I should turn back and leave. I shuddered as I slowly advanced along the darkened streets. Not a light in sight signaled an inviting neighbor who would offer shelter.
Tired of my endless trudging through the unlit street, I followed a walkway to a nearby residence. I stood there for minutes, pounding, yelling, and wishing that somebody would just answer and tell me to leave. As the panic of isolation began to consume me, I cut across the lawn to an adjacent building and banged on that door.
"Hey!" I shouted, trying desperately to remain calm, "Please, I'm lost. I need to make a quick phone call and I'll be out of your hair, just please answer me!"
I continued to bombard the door with knocks and even tried to force it open. The door remained firm and silence was the only reward for my endeavors. I panicked as I came to the realization that I was truly alone.
I focused on my breathing as I tried to direct my attention to my next move. I did not know why there were no lights in the streets or why nobody was answering their door to tell me to get off their property.
Lightning flashed again, the azure light revealing the end of the street. Choosing to go right, I could barely make out a slightly larger building than what I had seen in my immediate vicinity. I followed the road to the building as the gloom of the night air continued to eat at what remained of my piece of mind. Blue flashes occasionally lit the darkened sky, my only guide in my otherwise lightless world. My approach to the generously sized building revealed the features of a church. I didn't get my hopes up as the interior offered no light.
In spite of the uninviting atmosphere of the house of worship, I roamed the outskirts of the building, hoping to gain access to this one building which may hold some clue as to where I was. The entry was bolted shut. Keeping my agitation at bay, I walked along the exterior to find a side door, which, also, was locked. I was tempted to grab a rock to break a window when I spotted a fire exit. Laughing at myself as I pulled on the door, I was amazed to find it was open.
The door creaked as I slowly pulled it open, wandering into a chapel. "Hello?" I called out, hoping to finally hear a response, "HELLO?" I let go of the door, hearing it slam shut behind me as I wandered into the room that was even darker than the night sky.
I blindly stumbled forward, tripping over an object at my feet, and cursed my luck. I didn't want to be in this church anymore. I grabbed the object, intent on chucking it in a random direction, but as my fingers fastened around the object, it had a very waxy feel to it that made me reconsider my outrage. I had found a candle! If I could only find something to light it then I could at least see where I was going.
I groped around the floor, eventually finding a small cardboard box. As I shook the box, the sound of matches thumping against each other confirmed to me that I now had light. I struck a match on the box and lit the candle. Very dim light filled the darkness.
Straining my eyes to take in the details of my surroundings, I saw that everything in sight looked very old and untouched. Hymn books and pews had gathered dust over a long period of time, the whole chapel which had once been so lively and vibrant was now dull and lifeless, with a very ominous vibe to it. I felt my skin crawl as the overall sense of gloom overwhelmed me. The sight of such a forgotten room that had once brought joy and wonder to the hearts of many followers was very disheartening.
Shifting my candle around as I roamed the chapel, searching for hints and clues as to what had happened to this town, I concluded that I would not find anything in this chapel. The air in the room felt colder than when I had initially entered. Hugging my chest and fighting off a shiver, I left the chapel in hopes that I would find something elsewhere in the church.
Once I left the chapel, I found a hall filled with open doors. I wandered from classroom to classroom, feeling desperation as I had not found a single other person. As I sat down in one of the rooms, I thought I could hear laughter. The laughter had a very maniacal tone to it, though I could detect a hint of bitterness. I shuddered, concluding that I had finally lost whatever sanity I had been clinging on to. As I sat there, about to give up on my search, I heard an audible voice and movement outside in the hall.
Right as I poked my head outside the classroom, I could see the faint outline of a figure darting into another one of the classrooms and heard a very loud thud as the door shut.
"Hey, stop!" I said. I didn't know why this person was so aloof, but I needed to know what had happened to this town, about the blackout, and absence of people altogether. I sprinted to the closed door. "May I come in?" I asked, knocking softly on the door. The individual I had followed to the room gave no response as I continued to pound on the door out of desperation. As my knocking increased in volume I heard shushing from the other side.
My curiosity got the best of me as I set my candle on the floor and braced for impact. "I'm coming in!" I called, hurling myself at the door several times before it finally flew open.
"Shhh! Shh… It's okay, mommy's got you, you're safe with me," the voice drew my attention to a young mother. Guilt replaced the frustration which had fueled my intrusion as I proceeded into the room.
I had propelled the chair blocking the door all the way to the opposite wall. The woman I saw cringed as she guarded a small bundle in her arms. The dim light of the candle behind me didn't reveal much more than her overall appearance. I guessed that she had to be in her early twenties, though she looked as though she could have been older. Her shoulder length dark hair looked very untidy and in need of care, her pale skin was cracked and looked as though it had not seen the light of day for some time, and the bags under her blue eyes from many sleepless nights gave me the impression she'd gained a few years over a short period of time. This woman looked like she needed more help than I did. Empathy overwhelmed me as I felt sorry for the stranger whom I had disturbed.
The woman stared at me as I entered, trembling as though she had seen a ghost. Her bloodshot eyes were very wide and her ceaseless muttering made her seem very terrified. She cowered at my approach, taking steps backward as I walked forward. I felt as though I were cornering a stray cat. Despite feeling more than slightly insulted at being feared in this manner, I reasoned that I had just hurled a chair at the wall in front of her and her baby, so I exercised caution as I chose my next words and actions.
I put my hands in the air to show I was unarmed and bore no ill intentions as I stepped forward. "I mean you no harm. I woke up here a little while ago and have no idea what's going on-"
The woman burst into tears. A quick visual inspection revealed bruises all over her body. Sympathy for her had me ready to pull her into a tight embrace and reassure her that I was there for her now, that both she and her child would be alright. Everything changed the instant I made eye contact with her.
Without warning, the cat seemed as though it were ready to pounce. I stumbled back a few steps as the scared, little woman gained height over me as she glared into my eyes, her visage accusing me of crimes of which I was not aware.
"He's coming!" she hissed. There was a very wild and menacing look in her eyes. Falling to her knees, she placed her child on the floor. "He's coming, he's coming, he's coming," she whimpered, clutching at her head. Her aggressive tone turned to wretchedness as she shuddered. My skin crawled as I watched her writhe and heard her monotonous, droning chant about the impending misfortune, inspiring both fear and concern as I decided to see what I could do to help.
I looked from the confused mother to her child, feeling concern for the poor kid, wondering if there were some place safer it could stay, rather than in this dreadful place with a guardian who seemed as though her sanity was gone. Closer inspection of the bundle revealed not a child, but a cheap baby doll. I stared at her in disbelief. My sympathy for her and her 'child' slowly dissipated as I realized this woman had to be a junky.
At this point I considered that turning to leave was probably my best option, but pity filled my heart when I tried to look away. This woman had no clear grasp of what was going on and seemed like she was just as lost, scared, and confused as I was, mistaking a doll she happened upon as her own flesh and blood. Considering that my mind could also crack from this isolation which seemed to plague the town, I made up my mind to at least try to help her.
"Miss? I don't know who you're talking about, but I don't think it's safe here. We should probably look-" I was immediately cut off by another change in her expression.
Her crying turned into laughter almost instantaneously as she picked her head up, looking at me with the most maniacal expression. My stomach dropped as this woman rose to her feet, her darkened figure taking small, steady steps toward me.
"He's coming," she cackled, I felt more than just a little intimidated as the hair stood on the back of my neck. "He's coming and we're all going to die." Her words seemed absurd, every instinct that I had told me to dismiss every claim that this woman made, regardless, the ravings etched themselves into my mind. Curiosity threw itself into the maelstrom of emotions that stormed my head in that moment.
I froze as the woman drew ever closer, grabbing me as she finally came to a halt. Her rancid odor that filled my nostrils made me nauseous. I held my stomach fluids down just in time for her to laugh in my face. I could smell the scent of decay during those miserable five seconds.
I fell into the hall as she threw me outside the room. The woman cackled once more. "It's my turn," she laughed, "I'm the next to die. Beware the fog, beware the people, but also beware him." She cackled, slamming the door, then continued to give reassurances to her only companion that could not forsake her.
I was almost too stunned to move as I picked myself up, grabbing my lit candle in the process. I'd never met anybody I'd call crazy before, but I concluded she definitely fit the description. I had to leave. Without looking back, I searched for the nearest exit. Maybe the next person I ran into wouldn't mistake dolls for children. Rushing down the hall, I spotted the front entrance to the church.
I walked out one of the front entrance doors, leaving it propped open as I exited. I couldn't be sure if I would need to come back in for any reason, whether it be for shelter or to claim whatever food I could find in there later. Hopefully that woman would wander off before such an occasion should present itself.
A thick wall of mist greeted me as I walked outside to the already lightless streets. The woman's warning of the fog rang loud and clear in my head, making me shudder as I determined turning around was not an option.
"Beware the fog, huh?" I said to myself as I strolled outside. I usually don't look down on other people, but that woman was absolutely crazy. I went on my way with no idea where to check next. The police station would have been a good idea if I had a map of the town since I couldn't see one within walking distance, in fact, due to the fog I was having a hard time seeing where I was going altogether.
I groaned as the fog quenched my candle. The light my candle gave hadn't been strong, but it was a comfort just to know that it was there. I continued to trudge blindly through the fog.
As the fog became thicker, I recalled her words, 'Beware the fog… Beware the fog… Beware….' I couldn't get that twisted mantra out of my head as I trekked through the town. I assured myself that it took more than a little precipitation to spook me, but five minutes of braving the elements left me questioning my bravado. I couldn't even see a thing anymore as I stumbled straight ahead. Just as I was about to start losing my composure to panic once more, I bumped headfirst into a brick wall.
I cringed as I pulled my bruised head away from the wall. I put my hands out to feel along the bricks. It took some time, but eventually my hand touched glass. I groped for the door handle and pulled.
To my relief, the door was not locked. I went inside, pulling out my matchbox to relight my beacon. My dim light revealed a vast library, which was full of shelves, but had no books in sight. I thought this was pretty strange for a library, but given my current predicament, strange was the new norm.
I took a look around. My clothes were a little damp from the fog, fueling my desire for shelter as my frozen legs continued to propel me forward, albeit at a very slow pace. Drawing my attention back to my surroundings, I squinted at the interior. The building was empty. "Hello?" I called out, not thinking I'd get a response.
"Who's there?" a scratchy old voice greeted my question. I heaved a sigh of relief. I could not see my new friend, but maybe, hopefully, I'd finally get some answers and help that I need.
"Where is this place?" I asked, in a very loud voice, ignoring his question, "I woke up here a few hours ago and have no idea how I got here or what's going on." They library was very dark, but I thought I could make out a figure standing up in a corner of the big, open space.
"No one really remembers," I saw an old man approach very slowly on cane, holding a lit candle in his free hand, "For years our town has been engulfed by a wall of fog. No one ever leaves, but no one ever comes in either." The man used the back of his hand that held his candle to bring his thick lenses closer to very old, tired eyes, "I've never seen you around before."
"Yes, like I said, I just found myself here a few hours ago. Does anyone know why we're all engulfed by the fog?" I was more than slightly agitated at being taken so lightly, although I did suppose that crazy ran in the town.
The man thought long and hard before giving his response. "The town council would definitely know more than I…" He turned and hobbled in the direction from which he came. I followed. "If anyone could help you it would have to be them, now let's see… where did I put it?"
He had a small horde of possessions in a tiny corner of the library. In the time it took him to rummage around I caught a glimpse of an old journal that looked very tattered and used. While his back was turned I snatched it. This journal could answer all the questions that had been piling up since I found myself in this strange wonderland. I hid the journal away and stared off into space. Minutes later, my host regained my attention when he found the object of his interest.
"Ah, here it is!" he exclaimed. My weary new friend pulled a map from his horde of seemingly useless treasures, then he circled one of the buildings on it. "This is the town hall, where you'll be able to find them."
I gave him a confused look. "Sir, pardon my confusion, but when I first got here and tried to find my way around, all the buildings were locked. It was a wonder I was able to even come in here, much less get in the church-"
Without warning, the man grabbed my arm forcibly. As his filthy, yellow nails tore into my skin, I winced in pain. His tone changed from helpful to crazed, his eyes had a very mad, maniacal look to them, "You've been in the church?" He glared into my eyes with unmistakable fury, similar to the psychotic look in the eyes of the woman I'd met in the church. I had to look away from him as he interrogated me. "What did you see? WHAT DID YOU SEE?"
"Nothing," I said, trying as best I could to blot out the pain while trying to loosen his grip, "I didn't see anything at all," I lied. Given his reaction to my bringing up the church, my situation would probably worsen if he knew who I'd met in there, regardless of the fact that I had no idea what significance she had to the town.
The man let go, revealing that his claws had indeed broken skin. His facial features softened considerably, "I'm sorry," he heaved slowly, his tone becoming old and tired again, with a hint of mournfulness, "You've obviously had a rough day. You should stay here for the night." I squinted at this stranger who seemed very sincere about his apology.
I turned my attention to outside the window. Fog plastered the entire windowpane. The only good source of light I had were from the candles that both of us kept. I spent the next minute in silence, uneasily considering my next action.
I weighed my options. I could stay here, with this suspicious old man, I could try to find my way back to the church where a woman whom I knew to be crazy lay in wait, or I could try to go to the town hall where I had no idea what awaited me, assuming I could navigate through the thick mist. The weight of my situation hit me like a freight train as I realized that I was stuck here in this building with a complete stranger who seemed like he'd either help me or kill me in my sleep.
My stomach grabbed my attention as I mused over my options, growling audibly for the both of us to hear as I realized I had not eaten anything since I wound up in this town. The old man returned to his mess of belongings and returned with a sealed can of food for me to eat. "Here, you look absolutely famished, young man." In light of the previous conversation, the consideration of politely declining the offer seemed like my best course of action. A mixed feeling of dread and gratitude filled me as I processed his offer.
I took the can from him. "Thanks, but I don't have anything to open this." I triumphantly returned his present, ready to excuse myself.
"Oh, that's right," he said. "I have something for that somewhere over here." As I felt my eyebrow rise as he seemed all too prepared for my reaction. I knew that I had to get away from him. I watched him as he turned around to rummage through his things again, using his cane to slowly descend into a kneeling position. My stomach grumbled again, even louder than its previous declaration.
"Is there a washroom here that I can use?" I asked him. For the time being I could at least put some distance between the two of us. I had to get away from this man whose intentions I considered questionable.
The old man pointed to his right. "It's really dark," he said, as he leaned forward and picked up a small object, "so take this." It seemed to take forever for him to rise to his feet with the aid of his cane. After hobbling back to me, he handed me a flashlight. I found myself impressed at him offering me the small electric light, seeing as electricity seemed almost nonexistent in this town, based on what I'd seen so far.
I thanked the stranger for the tool and turned around. Maybe I was being paranoid, but at this point he'd done more than just creep me out. My legs darted as fast as they could in the direction that I had been pointed.
The bathroom was further away than I'd anticipated. Once I found it I decided to take a detour so I could sit down and explore the contents of the journal I had stolen. After finding a corner of my own, I opened the book. It obviously belonged to the old man and could definitely tell me something about where I was, especially if he kept detailed entries.
I opened the book to the first page. The scribbles were hard to make out, but in a few minutes I was able to decipher a few words. The very first entry was a list of ingredients and directions on how to make a simple chicken dinner. I flipped through the pages, only to find more recipes. It was a cookbook. A freaking cookbook. I closed the book, cursing my luck.
When I looked up, the old man was standing right in front of me! I jumped a little. Not only did he find my location, but he'd caught up to me in the minutes it had taken me to find a private spot to do my own research. Instead of holding the candle in his right hand, he held the dinner he'd promised me. I wondered how he had moved around so fast, without light, despite needing thick glasses. The possibility that this man wasn't exactly what he seemed finally dawned on me.
"Good reading there, huh?" the man smirked. I shuddered as I looked at his left hand, which he used to lean on his cane. I concluded the cane was just for show and cringed as he drew ever closer. "Dinner's ready." He was right in my face as he handed me the open can with a spoon inside.
I nervously took the can from him. I didn't trust him, I didn't trust the food, but it felt like I had not eaten in days. The aroma of this fine cuisine tormented my mind as my stomach joined the battle against my growing suspicion. I didn't know if I could trust this guy, but I was so hungry!
As the battle between stomach and reason came to a close, without putting much thought into it, I chucked the can at a nearby bookshelf. The old man stared at me as I panted, mentally congratulating myself over my victory.
"Well, guess there's no supper tonight," he breathed in an attempt to maintain his air of elderly wisdom, "I'll see you in the morning." The stranger hobbled off toward his nest, his merry song sending another chill down my spine.
I let out a huge sigh of relief. I considered that my violent display regarding the food had been very rude, but this stranger did not inspire my trust. I didn't want this person watching me during my hours of vulnerability as I slept.
I wandered the library as I looked for a place to hide for the night. I would feel more comfortable if my roommate were not present for the duration of the night. I realized that my judgement was clouded by paranoia and the old man was probably the best friend I would have in this place, but I'd reached my limit for the day and needed to be alone. I was half tempted to sleep outside as I continued to search for somewhere that I would feel secure.
Shadows danced as my light swept the aisles. My skin crawled as silence once again filled the library.
"Sir?" I called out. All I could hear was the echo of my own voice. "SIR?" I repeated, even louder. The handle of a cane hitting the back of my head was the last thing I felt before passing out.
Credit: Adam David


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Cultivating Creativity TogetherNavigation
Join me on my creative journey and together let's find ways to express ourselves, inspire others, and perhaps become better friends along the way! On this site I will share my passion for quilting, music, photography, and life! The launch of this new site will help me keep you up-to-date on my newest creative projects, personal insights, and so much...Read More
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Argggh, Matie. cheap China Jerseys Be ye friend or foe? Being Creative is a six-part series on the a subject of creativity. This is part three. Identify Your Enemies There are creative enemies without and within. A question or comment by a casual observer can send you spiraling down and rethinking your entire project and could even send you over the cliff and trashing it altogether. Individuals who are not in the fray battling the demons of creativity don't understand the challenges, obstacles, techniques, etc, that are required to succeed. They are not qualified to make those comments and therefore are not valid critics. Don't take their comments seriously. They are not your creative friend. They may be a friend in your casual world, but they are not a friend to your Baratas Replicas Ray Ban creativity. Identify Your Friends. On the other hand, know your creative friends. There are those who understand your work and those you can trust to Cheap Jerseys critique it. If you truly trust these individuals, then take their words to heart. It doesn't mean that you will change your course or redo something just because they said so, but it does mean that you should mull over their ideas. If after evaluating the project you then choose to stick with your ideas or vision, then you will proceed with stronger determination. You will be able to articulate the reasons you like what you are doing and you will feel more confident in your choices. Dilly-dalliing and self-doubting are two other enemies that live within us. When these monsters begin to raise their ugly heads, identify and defeat them. I have had students at retreat spend two days cheap football jerseys pick out out fabric, choosing their path, changing their mind, picking out different fabric, changing their mind, and not getting anywhere. The root of dilly-dallying is simply fear. We are all unsure of how to proceed, but in order to create you MUST proceed. Time is far more valuable than the fabric you are afraid to cut into. So…. get going! Self-doubt can relate to dilly-dallying, but if self-doubt frequently rises up within you, look to the source from whence it cheap jerseys came. No doubt there have been external influences that my have even happened during your formative years that have you feeling doubtful of your abilities. One thing to remember is that we all start somewhere. Don't compare yourself...Read More
in Creativity
<img class="size-large wp-image-665" src="http://rickytimscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/RT-BerinaBlog-2-sm-1024×1024.jpg" alt="It's not being selfish to create for yourself. If you are trying to please others, expect plenty of disappointment along the way." width="1024" height="1024" srcset="http://rickytimscreative prix viagra generique en france.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/RT-BerinaBlog-2-sm-1024×1024.jpg 1024w, http://rickytimscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/RT-BerinaBlog-2-sm-150×150.jpg 150w, http://rickytimscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/RT-BerinaBlog-2-sm-300×300.jpg 300w, http://rickytimscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/RT-BerinaBlog-2-sm-48×48.jpg 48w, http://rickytimscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/RT-BerinaBlog-2-sm-186×186.jpg 186w, http://rickytimscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/RT-BerinaBlog-2-sm-184×184.jpg 184w" replica oakleys sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> It's not being selfish to create for yourself. If cheap football jerseys china you are trying to please others, expect plenty of disappointment along the way. Being Creative is a six-part series on the subject of creativity. This is part two. One of the biggest traps any artist can fall into is the trap of creating art to please others. You will never please everyone, and creating work attempting to please others is not only risky (it's possible they won't like it), but it's not generally as rewarding on a personal level. Now don't get me wrong. If grandkid #1 would love a cared wooden train or grandkid #2 would love a pink quilt with Hello Kitty on it, then yes by all means do it! That's using your skills or talents to make something for the joy of seeing a bright face on a loved one. de I'm talking here about your creative voice and your pursuit of your artistic dreams. It's nice to have a pat on the back and no doubt if feels good. Enjoyment is gained when accolades are given, but seeking them should never be the goal of an artist. The pursuit of accolades is no different than a politician saying what they think they should say in order oakley outlet to win the vote – rather than saying what they feel is in their hearts to be right. Create what makes you happy. If someone else likes it, great, you score! Trust me, there is no art that everyone likes. Learn to expect there will be those who simply don't care for what you do – and that's okay! Recently I queried a group of quilters on Facebook about things that beginning quilters needed to know. Other than basic skills and knowledge were replies such as: "Do it for fun!," "Don't let the quilt police get to you!," and "Pick fabrics you like!" It's natural for us to want approval, but trust me, working on a project you don't like – a design you don't like – or using a technique you don't like will simply be a chore. Life is Wholesale NFL Jerseys...Read More
I'm not confused. It's a good place to start when you want to know who you are. Being Creative is a six-part series on the subject of creativity. This is part one. Creativity Lives Inside of You! When a person speak their thoughts through art, they are putting their ideas, concepts, skills, and creativity on the line for others to evaluate. The slightest negative comment can devastate an artist who has not developed thick skin. Even if there are a multitude of people who like the work, one negative comment will outweigh the long list of encouraging words. I present week-long quilt retreats in La Veta, Colorado. I should call them "creativity retreats" because much of what we focus on is the inner-personal journey of the creative individual. I give morning talks that are followed by journaling exercises to help oakley outlet the students examine who they are, how to establish goals, and how oakley outlet to overcome their personal demons that prohibit or interfere with their ability to be creative. Many of these insights I share have come from talking to hundreds of individuals. Every now fake ray ban sunglasses and then it Síria, is important to stop and evaluate the creative journey, to understand the creative spirit, to confront obstacles (both external and internal), and to outline what it takes to achieve individuality. Know Who You Are! Don't try to be someone else. Artists are influenced by other artists. That's natural – and good! As a matter of fact, a great book that proves the point is a NY Times best-seller you might want to check out. It's Steal Like and Artist by Austin Kleon. But, trying to be "like" another artist does not allow you to share your own personality. If you like structure and precision, then do projects that foster that and enable you to meet that challenge. If you are a free-spirit, improvisational work using flexible techniques Cheap Jerseys would be better suited for you. If you like things that are delicate, decorated with beads, lace, or the like, then stay true your personality and stay on that path. If you like tradition, do things the old-fashioned way le viagra est il en vente libre en pharmacie. If you like modern art, leave cheap nfl jerseys tradition behind and create what inspires you. Here is an older post relating to creativity and how fragile it can be. Take a moment to reflect on...Read More
in Latest News, Slices of Life
I took this photo in the Fall of 2012. I called it Lux Aeterna (Eternal Light). It was a magical moment. For me it has the x-factor. I tried to reproduce it the following year and it was impossible. Music! Yes, Music! There's music at the end – so keep reading. How blessed we are to have it in our lives. It comes in so many varieties and can be used for so many different occasions. Music can make us happy and get our toes to tapping. Some music will get us on our feet for dancing yet other music will soothe us when we are anxious. Some music will lull a 2017 baby to sleep and yet other music will help to heal us when we grieve. Music is but one of many artist creative expressions, but music is what prompted me to write these thoughts. The creative person understands the language of artistic expression. There are orators who have the gift of using their voice to eloquently speak and express their feelings. There are others who can do the same thing by putting pen to paper – or should I say fingers to the keyboard? But for many artists, saying what they think and feel doesn't come out with words. These are artist that express themselves through dance, painting, sculpting, singing, composing, carving, and the list goes on and on. You are a creative individual. You have been blessed with certain forms of creativity. I know, some of you will try jordan sale to deny it – or try to convince me that you are inadequate at being creative. You will fool yourself into thinking that because someone is better cheap oakleys than you at a particular thing that you (and therefore what you do) is not really important – or that good. But, listen to me. What you have to say is important. If you cannot express your heart's deepest feelings in words, then you must do it in another way – and you can! Art allows you to be 'out of body'. Being out of body you can be courageous and fearless. By this I mean, when you feel very strongly about something, some passionate message you wish to shout from the mountain top, you must let your artistic voice do it for you. Your message can be broadcast to the world via your artistic and creative expression. There will...Read More
<img class="size-large wp-image-611" src="http://rickytimscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/17-abandoned-1024×683.jpg" alt="Ghost em Church in south eastern Oklahoma. This cheap oakleys outlet abandoned church photo was my favorite form the 52-week challenge." width="1024″ height="683″ srcset="http://rickytimscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/17-abandoned-1024×683.jpg 1024w, http://rickytimscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/17-abandoned-300×200.jpg 300w, http://rickytimscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/17-abandoned-140×94.jpg 140w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Ghost Church in south eastern Oklahoma. This abandoned church photo was my favorite form the 52-week challenge. Whoo-hoo! I have completed the 52-Week Photo Challenge. The challenge for week 51 was special lighting effects. I chose to paint Justin in a long exposure with a laser pointer. For week 52 we were asked to post our favorite image from the year. I chose the Ghost Church from Oklahoma for mine. I hope you might take a moment to just browse all the images I took for the challenge. I've put them into a Blurb book titled Horizontal: and 51 Other Weekly Photo Challenges from 2014 and you can preview the entire book here. I create these books more for my personal archive than anything but I ordered a few for family and friends (it's Christmas soon you know). Although nfl jerseys cheap I can't imagine anyone else buying a hard copy, they are for sale directly from Blurb. And, an eBook is also available for you iPad users. It's cheap – only $9.99. A long exposure photo of Justin painted with a laser pointer. The photos are the result of a 52 week photography challenge. The challenge was organized by Michelle Tardiff and Gerald Stephens from Canada. We were a small group of photography enthusiasts and the challenge was well organized and fun. Meeting the challenge goal by the submission deadline each Sunday night was often a greater challenge than the challenge theme itself. It was my personal goal to never miss a week and never miss a deadline. I met that goal no matter where I was or what was going on that could potentially keep me from succeeding.
 The post apocalyptic image is red neon reflecting in a water puddle. One particular example of how close I was to missing a deadline relates to the photo for week 20. The challenge theme was water. I had been in Paducah, KY that week for the AQS show and contest. It's one of those weeks that is so intense that getting away with a camera and looking for water – or setting up a...Read More
in Featured, Latest News, Photography, Quilt Projects, Quilting
<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-590" src="http://rickytimscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/LQT-announcemnt-small.jpg" alt="LQT-announcemnt-small" width="2082" height="1442" srcset="http://rickytimscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/LQT-announcemnt-small.jpg cheap nfl jerseys 2082w, http://rickytimscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/LQT-announcemnt-small-300×207.jpg 300w, http://rickytimscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/LQT-announcemnt-small-1024×709.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 2082px) 100vw, 2082px" /> … or did it begin long ago? You know I've been promising an online 52-week Photography Challenge Class for several months. What you didn't know that this new blog (Ricky Tims Creative) was just the first phase of a bigger undertaking. For several months now, a new website has been under construction. It is called LetsQuiltTogether.com. It will be my home for teaching online classes. I truly cannot explain my desire to teach (and hopefully inspire). This new site allows me to do just that. You can take the class at your own pace and do it anytime day de or night. The classes are yours to keep – the access never goes away after you register for a class. The goal was to launch in early December so those interested in the 52-Week Photo Challenge Class could sign up and do their pre-homework before we start on January 4th. This is the only class I plan to create where we all move and progress at the same pace, so it was necessary to get the site rolled out. You'll notice that the site is primarily for quilting classes but the framework of the site is perfect for our photography class. A seed was planted and it has sprouted. I hope it will grow to become a mighty oak, but fake oakleys for now – it is just a tender sprig with a few leaves. There are two classes ready for quilters. Frosty Forest Placemats was created just in time for the holidays and Scribble Appliqué Flower is something that will help you spread your wings wholesale jerseys (or should I say be a renegade) by creating project that violates most quilting laws, but fits right in the self-expression and artist's playtime. May I ask you to just go browse the site to see how it is laid out. Check out the trailers in the classes. fake oakleys Scan through the supply lists. If you see any hiccups – let me know. The 52-Week Photo Challenge Class has an early bird registration of $59.95 through December 20th. After that it will be $99.95. Be sure to read all the necessary requirements before registering. There's a cheap nfl jerseys lot there to review before you commit. I'm looking forward to seeing you in class – whether it be for photography – or quilting...Read More


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ASVAB AFQT Cram Plan, which is now out, published by the Wiley imprint,CliffsNotes...
So, you've decided to serve your country. Before you can raise your hand and swear an oath to support and defend the Constitution, there is one big hurdle in your path, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). You must especially do well on the Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT), the four key subtests of the ASVAB that the services use to measure you against your fellow recruits.
First, you'll determine exactly how much time you have left to prepare for the exam. Then, you'll turn to the two-month, one-month, or one-week cram plan for week-by-week and day-by-day schedules of the best way to focus your study according to your unique timeline.
To see an excerpt, click here.
You can buy it now at these retailers:
Barnes & Noble


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Yes it's another Mantic/KoW post this time checking out the Abyssal Dwarf range (Aka Khaos Dwarfs).
Now before we start I should make clear that I'm a Chaos/Evil Dwarf fan and tend to own many companies versions including a very sizable WhFB3 CD army and Mr Clam's Ewal Dvergar as a Mordheim Warband.
But I feel it's time to invest in some Mantic Abyssal Dwarfs, yes under no sense can be classed as Oldhammer but feck it lives too short to worry about such nonsense (Not that I do of course).
What goodies do they have to offer?
It is common knowledge that all Dwarfs love gold and jewels. But Dwarfs are governed by a strong moral code, dictating that the only riches that one truly owns are those that have been earned with hard, honest toil – "with the sweat of the brow and the callus on the hand holding the pick" goes an ancient Dwarven adage.
But not all Dwarfs show such fortitude. At the time of the God War, The Father of Lies, great among the Lords of the Abyss, spied a weakness in the heart of the Dwarfs, a shame that they will not own to. It is greed, above all, a perverse longing for gold can only be sated by the hard work of others. Seduced by the promises of the Father of Lies, some Dwarfs will begin to covet and eventually take the wealth of others employing guile, threats and, ultimately, violence. In the end, when a Dwarf takes another Dwarf's life to satisfy this greed, there is much rejoicing in the Abyss, as another Dwarf has lost his soul forever – another Abyssal Dwarf is born.
The greatest, most cruel and wealthy of the Abyssal Dwarfs often lead great armies into battle. Mighty Overmasters, armed with ensorcelled weaponry and covered in the most impenetrable obsidian armour, bellow orders to their own warriors. Mysterious Iron-Casters unleash the twisted fire-magic or Ariagful, the evil Queen of the Black Flame, and summon her Abyssal servants to the field in order to do their bidding alongside the monstrous Half-Breeds and other strange war-engines that they have created.
The Abyssal Dwarfs march to battle alongside a great many magical creatures, many of which are more evil than evil the Iron-casters that summoned them.
Obsidian Golems are an exception. Little more than soulless constructs, they cannot be classed as evil as they have no minds of their own. They unflinchingly commit atrocious acts, doing as they are instructed from the moment they are imbued with life-force.
This makes them ideal pawns of their masters' will, and a terrifying prospect upon the battlefield.
Halfbreeds, these debased monstrosities, product of the Iron-casters' insane crossbreeding experiments, often have the body of a quadrupedal Abyssal creature and the upper torso of a Dwarf.
Dragon Fireteam, Fiendish weapons that spew great gouts of alchemic fire, these weapons teams consist of two trained operators and a canister of highly volatile, flammable liquid.
So those are some of my favourites, while there are some real duds in the Mantic ranges I feel the AD has the gems.
So keep a look out in the new year as I feel a army of these aren't far off from showing up on the pages of OoaB.
Cheers for reading!


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|Secondary Teaching Credential
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|Forensic Expert Witness Association
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Partial List of Consulting Expert Witness Cases


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Last month, I made a scrumptious birthday cake for myself. Unfortunately it was gone before I thought to take a photograph of it. But no worries! This month's family birthday cake is exactly the same! Right down to the decorating. Actually, this month's decorating may be a little less of a mess, so it's a win-win to have forgotten to post the earlier cake.
This is my new favorite chocolate cake recipe. I think we're exclusively a chocolate cake crowd here (although the icings vary) so I've tried a lot of different recipes over time. I've had this one for a long time (and made it a couple times many years ago), but somehow it didn't stand out to us earlier. Maybe I've gotten better at baking, or maybe my substitution of hot coffee for the boiling water that's called for makes that substantial a difference; I can't say.
Hershey (who created the cake) has changed the recipe's name over the years. My original print-out calls it "Hershey's Deep Dark Chocolate Cake" but it's currently called "Hershey's Especially Dark Chocolate Cake" (follow link for the recipe) on the Hershey's site. (There is a similar recipe that is otherwise identical, except that it uses natural cocoa powder rather than Special Dark.) My only change to the ingredients in the printed recipe is substituting an equal amount of freshly brewed hot (decaf) coffee for the boiling water. I also advise checking the cakes 3 – 5 minutes early and pulling them out of the oven when the cake tester still comes out with some crumbs; any longer and the cake layers won't be as gloriously moist as they should be.
I iced the cake with a simple whipped cream… just 12 ounces of COLD heavy cream, 3 ounces of confectioner's sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of meringue powder (my trick to stabilize whipped cream that I'm using to top cakes or pies that I expect to have on hand for a few days). I put it all in a mixing bowl and whip with my stand mixer until I've reached the stiff peak stage. For more on whipping cream, King Arthur Flour wrote this great post with tips and pictures.
And finally, I'd like to wish my adorable husband PJ a happy, happy birthday!! 😘🎂🎉 Let's eat cake!!


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Which One of You is in Charge of Your Life?
July 5, 2012
How often do you find yourself in great conflict with two parts of yourself? The conflict may be about whether you should eat that chocolate cake, stay up or go to sleep early, turn off the TV and go pay the bills, keep your mouth shut and not answer your partner's snide remark, or thousands […]
Filed under [ Parenting, Relationship, Self, Spirituality ]


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Home > Gifts by Recipient > Gifts for Men
Measurements in Cm: 44 x 44 x 44Features: Stylish rattan log basket with carry handles.
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Join us on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays during the Savannah Chatham County Public School System's summer break for animal encounters of the close kind. We will get you out of the heat and treat you to a fun, educational program focusing on 4 of Oatland's star animal teachers. Meet a bird, reptile, and mammal in each program. Touch a reptile. This animal encounter program starts at 1:30 and last until 2:15. The cost is only $2 beyond the general admission. So, beat the heat and learn something neat!
All proceeds directly benefit the animals at the center. So again, thanks for helping us raise money for our animals by attending one of these educational, fundraising programs.


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Friday, September 1, 2017
September 2017 Stamp of the Month Blog Hop
Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We will be featuring September's SOTM, which is Feel So Blessed, a set of 26 stamps. I love this set because there are so many things it can be used for.
If you have come here from Sheila Bennett's Blog you are on the right path! This month we have close to 20 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go.....
I used the stamp pad ink and water brush to messily paint in the feathers on the top card and the leaves and hearts.
I used the following products:Z899 Momento Black Ink Pad
Z2807 Willow Stamp Pad
Z2808 Lemon Stamp Pad
Z2809 Tangerine Stamp Pad
Z2819 Bashful Stamp Pad
Z2810 Blossom Stamp Pad
Z2841 Glacier Stamp Pad
Z3225 Medium Water Brush
Z3146 Watercolor Paper
1386 Black Cardstock
X254 White Card & envelope Pack
Thanks for hopping by :)
Now hop on over to Darlys Recker's Blog and check out her amazing artwork.
9 comments:
Love the messy-painting! It looks GREAT!ReplyDelete
Love the effect of your painting technique.ReplyDelete
Love your watercolored feathers - beautiful!ReplyDelete
Beautiful cards! Love the feathers.ReplyDelete
Great messy painting! Love the colors, too!ReplyDelete
I really like the way you painted your feathers "messily." They're a lot more interesting that way. Love the rainbow look, too.ReplyDelete
Love your feathers!! Both cards are wonderful.ReplyDelete
Pretty paired with the Adventure palette!ReplyDelete
Love how you colored the feathers!ReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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In 2017, Vinton County, OH had a population of 13.1k people with a median age of 41.9 and a median household income of $41,541. Between 2016 and 2017 the population of Vinton County, OH grew from 13,128 to 13,142, a 0.107% increase and its median household income grew from $41,080 to $41,541, a 1.12% increase.
The population of Vinton County, OH is 96.8% White Alone, 1.99% Two or More Races, and 0.525% Hispanic or Latino. N/A% of the people in Vinton County, OH speak a non-English language, and 99.8% are U.S. citizens.
The median property value in Vinton County, OH is $85,700, and the homeownership rate is 73.4%. Most people in Vinton County, OH commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 30.9 minutes. The average car ownership in Vinton County, OH is 2 cars per household.
Vinton County, OH borders Ross County, OH, Athens County, OH, Jackson County, OH, Gallia County, OH, Hocking County, OH, and Meigs County, OH.


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Grasping the everyday and extraordinary in EU–NATO relations: the added value of practice approaches
Much scholarly work seeking to explain the EU–NATO relationship emphasises conflicting national or institutional interests, strategic individuals, and operational inefficiencies and overlaps.
This article offers an alternative account of how both the everyday and the extraordinary in EU–NATO security cooperation can be identified and analysed by applying practice theory. Despite the "Cyprus issue", which has left EU–NATO cooperation under Berlin Plus in political stalemate, regular interaction involving civilian and military EU and NATO staff at all levels and various sites has increased over the past decade.
The article shows how a practice take is well suited to uncover the practical logic at work in these, predominantly informal EU–NATO encounters; how practices are established, enacted, and also abrupted. Furthermore, it discusses how shared "background conditions" – skills and experience – facilitate practices, learning, and community-building but also competition and rivalry.
- Published year: 2017
- Full version: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09662839.2017.1355304
- Language: Engelsk
- Pages: 340 - 358
- Volume: 26
- Booklet: 3
- Journal: European Security


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Thursday, December 03, 2009
Story by Linda John
Zena the Crocodile, and his friends.
- Story by Miss Linda John, published by Star Night
In a place called Wilmont in the Mexican city, there lived a crocodile named Zena who worked in the zoo. He was a clever and handsome croc. Most people appreciated him for his talent and looks. Yet he was very sad because he had no friend. When he got back home, he decided to start looking out for new friends.
The next day, he put up a notice on the main gate:
He waited eagerly for a response.
The following day, somebody rang the door bell. Zena saw a little girl with a serious expression, standing at the door.
Girl: I came here to be your friend.
Croc: Please come in.
Girl: My name is Meethi.
Croc: My name is Zena and I am glad you came here to become my friend.
The door bell rang again. There was a small furry thing, with four legs and a tail.
Meethi to small furry thing: I think you are a pup.
Pup: Yes I am. My name is Tim.
Tim to Zena: I came here to become your friend.
All were very glad that they had found friends for themselves. They wondered what game they could play together.
Meethi screamed excitedly: Let's draw and colour a rainbow.
Croc cried: But we have no hands to draw.
Tim chipped in: OK, let's play something like hitting the ball with the tail.
Meethi complained: But I have no tail.
Now they were clearly disappointed, bcoz they realized that each one of them was a different kind. It got dark. Impatience was growing in.
Meethi declared: We can never become friends. Let's all depart. Goodbye!
They went their own way.
Zena was very sad that he lost his friends. But he never again thought of making friends and never ever hung up any more notices.
* This story was handwritten by my dear sis MSA (a good 22 years back). I discovered it recently in a storybook, which I pulled out from the cupboard to read to my daughter. The paper was found neatly folded in a self-made envelope (torn on one side) and addressed from/to:
Star Night Magazines Company Limited
Miss Alice
London, UK
I fondly remembered those good old days, when we used to make up situations, where the whole drama unfolded before our very eyes. We used to make up characters and don their roles. My sister was almost always Linda John, sometimes a writer, sometimes a waiter, sometimes a cook. I was almost always Ann, sometimes an artist, sometimes an architect, sometimes a diner, sometimes a teacher. Our friend and neighbour (wonder where she is and what she does now) was almost always Alice, sometimes a rich estate owner, sometimes a princess, sometimes a beggar.
We used to pitch tents inside our rooms and play these games till the sun went down. I remember another game, for which we bought small earthern pots with our pocket money (which was sparse those days), put them on 3 bricks and firewood. Set fire, cooked food. One of our older friends used to do the cooking, and we used to wait for it to cook, so we could eat our fill.
Hmmm....those were the days indeed.
13 comments:
- Novice Writer said...
Awww! Such a sweet story! Hope poor croc got a croc friend soon. Your sister is really creative! I think you should ask her to start writing children's stories:-)Your post made me remember my childhood days...Hmm indeed those were the days...
- December 3, 2009 at 4:43 PM
- Destiny's child... said...
I just loved the story! Your sister was undoubtedly very creative....The line 'I think you are a pup'; the names of the characters: Zena, Meethi, Tim; how none of them could play bcoz they were so different from each other; and the sad yet realistic end...amazing...you stumbled upon real talent...if only you had discovered it a few (read: 22)years ago, you could have encouraged miss-Blyton-in-the-making. Let her know that there are people who would still love to read such stuff! :)
- December 3, 2009 at 4:45 PM
- Aleta said...
I love reading stories like that, by the youth, it says so much yet keeps it simple.
- December 3, 2009 at 11:17 PM
- RGB said...
@Novice Writer
My sis always had that creative streak in her. She's very spontaneous. This lil discovery brought back fond memories of our childhood days.
@Destiny's Child
It is indeed a sweet story. So much like the ones you find in children's storybooks. She would have made a good creative writer. She still is doing a good job with whatever job profile she has chosen for herself. I'm so proud of her!
It was written by my sis when she was about 11 or 12 years old. And yeah...it sounds very simple, yet says so much.
- December 4, 2009 at 8:03 AM
- A New Beginning said...
Yes those are such carefree days:) Thanks for the nostalgic post!!
- December 4, 2009 at 9:23 AM
- The Holy Lama said...
Very original and creative. I think we could give her a offer to work with us
- December 4, 2009 at 10:38 AM
- RGB said...
@The Holy Lama
She's made of better stuff honey :)
- December 4, 2009 at 2:11 PM
- RGB said...
@ A New Beginning
My pleasure. Thanks for stopping by.
- December 4, 2009 at 2:18 PM
- Kavi said...
lovely writing. I wonder where she is now..
And it took me back to such times. Ofcourse, with me and my brother, we were more conversational about cricket, Tennis and such else.
those old racquets tell a few stories...
- December 5, 2009 at 9:27 AM
- RGB said...
She's settled in the Middle East. And I'm glad my post took u back to your yesteryears.
- December 6, 2009 at 8:30 PM
- angel in disguise.... said...
wow...i simply loved the tale...
even we guyz we the same , we make up stories and play all sorts of stupid things...may b thats the reason y simply...never miss our frnds..:)
- December 28, 2009 at 5:55 PM
- Ellen said...
Happy New Year to you, RGB... and a Blessed one to fill your life with all good things. :-)
- January 3, 2010 at 7:34 PM
- walk2write said...
I've been reading some of your earlier posts and can't seem to stop! You tell a great story and keep me enthralled. Thanks for the time and effort you put it into each one.
- January 7, 2010 at 7:54 PM


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"Oh my gosh, your baby has so much HAIR! My children were bald until they were 3!"
I've heard this about a million times, and people always say they're jealous of my children and their full heads of hair. I've also been asked a million times if I had tons of heartburn, which apparently is not just an old wives' tale but really has some basis in real fact. Weird!
But back to the hair: It's adorable. Yes, I love it. But with the tangles and the wig remarks, it's not all that easy to deal with!
There is extra effort that goes into washing that hair (and we know how much babies love having their hair washed). Plus having to comb tangles and do haircuts or hairstyles on a head attached to a little body that won't sit still isn't as relaxing as nap time. Since I had a newborn who pulled her hair every single time she laid down for a diaper change, I've often lamented my "luck" in having babies with lots of pretty locks. My daughter wakes up and earns the nickname "Cousin It" because her hair naturally goes forward and covers her face.
With my son, it was simple -- when it became a problem, we bought a clipper set (electric buzzer) and did it ourselves. With girls, it's not so easy! It's taken some trial and error, but there's lots of ways to manage the crazy baby-mane. Here are some ideas on what to use and how to get them on a wiggly baby.
America the Beautiful ($5) on Etsy1. Soft Headbands. Elastic headbands always cut into my daughter's head and I hated them, even when she was a newborn. Then I found crocheted, soft headbands like the cute ones from Enchanted Smiles on Etsy. They contained my daughter's hair without anything cutting into her head at all. The bows stayed well too, and looked really cute attached to the headband. Unfortunately, at about 7 or 8 months old, she decided she wouldn't keep these on anymore, though I know plenty of other people whose children tolerate these just fine.
2. Pigtails. With the aid of kid-geared music videos on YouTube as a distraction, some little tiny hair bands, a boar's hair brush (seems to do best with Aurora's super-fine baby hair), and even a squirt bottle to aid me, pigtails are still my running favorite way to keep my daughter's hair out of her eyes. Some of my friends then put matching bows or ribbons around the hair-tie as well, which is exceptionally adorable. There's also the single ponytail up on top, which I frankly can't stand but other people seem to love. Unfortunately, if this comes loose in public, it's not very easy to fix without a brush, and one stray baby hand can pull out all your hard work. As far as the music video goes, sometimes it backfires and makes it harder to do her hair since she's busy dancing. Oh well.
3. Hair clip. I avoided these for the longest time because they're a choking hazard, but fortunately up until recently, Aurora leaves them alone. I've had to buy a few different kinds to figure out which style works best in her hair, and I imagine it probably varies by hair type. It's starting to fail me though as her hair gets thicker and thicker, so I may have to go back to constant pigtails. At home or in a hurry, though, this remains my go-to method for containing the crazy baby locks. I'm just careful to watch her with them in.
4. Lastly, there is the haircut, which people avoid for religious reasons or just because they plain ol' don't want to.
How do you manage baby hair?
Images (top to bottom) amanda357/CafeMom; Enchanted Smiles/Etsy; Christie Haskell; MelanieLouise/CafeMom


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Thursday, October 14, 2010
Your Social Life - This Time REALLY Give A Fig
Everybody's in London for Frieze this week, meaning we're having a peaceful moment to go see exhibitions in Los Angeles. That is, if your vehicle doesn't keep on dying on you every two days or so, and that, unlike me, you don't spend precious time and elusive cash dealing with it.
This explains, among other things, why your truly is being very absent-minded these days, to the point I totally confused the date for the Give A Fig benefit at LACE in the last blog post. It's this Sunday, so apologies to whoever has been confused by last week's post.
So what's going on in LA this weekend, you will ask me? Plenty of things!
Doug Harvey has a show at the excellent ALIAS bookstore, the branch in Atwater village. It opens tomorrow, 7 to 9 PM, and you can peruse books as well. Harvey also has a show at Jancar next week.
Pearl C Hsiung has an opening at Steve Turner on Saturday, and so does Roger Herman, on Saturday evening, while in Chinatown the excellent Jennifer Bolande has an opening at the no less excellent Tom Solomon.
Thursday next week, Zoe Crosher has a show with Dan Graham (the "space", so to speak, not the artist, and they still don't have a website?) and at Charlie James, if I understand the press release correctly.
Now, speaking about the LA crowd currently roaming the Frieze art fair, I warmly recommend you go attend two events. Tomorrow you can attend Aleksandra Mir and Assume Vivid Astro Focus book launch party at White Cubicle Toilet Gallery, a.k.a the toilets of the George & Dragon pub. The other event will happen at the exact same location on Sunday where Elmgreen & Dragset will perform "a public act", between 9 and 11 PM.
These are the only two things that make me regret not being in London.
Meanwhile, for the few John Cale nutcases fans now following FBC!, I have the pleasure to announce that our favorite Welsh legend will be performing in Melbourne, Australia for the International Arts Festival, doing When Past And Future Collide (the Paris 1919 + medley) on Saturday, something called Seven Songs to Leave Behind next Saturday and "noises in my head - an intimate evening" where presumably he will talk about his career and there will be a Q&A. The Australians seem to really like John Cale, as you can see, and there's an excellent radio interview here to prove it.
OK, have a great weekend everybody, with tons of art, music, friends and fun.
It all made me nostalgic for Melbourne & Australia, I wish I could go back one day, it's such a fantastic city.
(pics above, Jennifer Bolande, from Tom Solomon's website)
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Monthly Archives: July 2012
Fixing the Beans
Things I Don't Know
Actually, this should be entitled, "Things I Didn't Know But That I Know Now and Was Surprised to Learn," but that's too long and not as catchy as the actual title. Anyhow, on to the things.
The scientific name of the American bison is Bison Bison. You'd think that with all the scientific names out there that they could come up with two different ones, but they didn't. Must have been vacation week at the scientific names office. I have a suggestion, though: Bison Burger. That name would remind everyone of the great herds of buffalo that roamed the plains and also of how delicious they are served on a bun with your favorite condiments. I offer this suggestion freely without any expectation of profit or recompense.
Stil, in the animal kingdom, polar bears are not white. Their fur is clear and looks white because of the way it refracts light. It would be strange if they appeared to be clear (would we call them glass bears then?), but that would help them hide from predators, if there are any predators willing to take on a polar bear. I know I am not. They appear to be peaceful creatures, and I hope their environment doesn't melt. And come to think of it, appearing to be white works against the ice floes. That much is clear (ha ha).
Next, I learned recently that there was a proposal to add the likeness of Susan B. Anthony to Mount Rushmore. It didn't happen because they didn't have the money to complete the sculpture. So they put her on a dollar coin instead. Which is better? I can't decide.
It is actually possible to see the minute hand move on a floor-sized grandfather clock. Ours moves 1/32 of an inch around the dial with each tick of the pendulum. Hours of fun to watch!
The last thing I learned that I didn't know before is a point of maritime law. When someone dives on a shipwreck to recover its cargo, the salvager must first sue the shipwreck to obtain legal rights to the contents of the wreck. It would seem bad enough to be a shipwreck, but being sued by a salvager would seem to be adding insult to injury. However, that's the law, so please don't go taking stuff from a shipwreck without filing suit first. I just know you will.
That's about all for this time. I'll revisit the topic when I learn some more things I don't know. Since there's a lot I don't know, this series could go on for a long time. In the meantime, you can come up with some things you don't know. Good luck!
Filed under Uncategorized
The Continuing No Shame Poetry Series Presents "Back Here on Earth"
Before we get to our regularly scheduled shameless poetry post, we here at the Biscuit City Studios want to welcome Bill Mustin of Signarama in Woodbridge as sponsor of the glass enclosed Observation Post. Welcome Bill! Readers may check out his website at Bill@signarama-Woodbridge/VA.com. Bill and his company made up the new Write by the Rails banner. Look for it at a book event near you! And now to our poem!
Back Here on Earth
The moon is a white-hot crescent
Tangled in black reticulated terminal tree limbs
As I walk barefoot down the stone cold driveway
To retrieve the paper in its plastic bag.
All around in a panoramic aural display
Unseen birds are calling, filling
These nether regions with their song.
–Dan Verner
Advice for Writers–Follow the Fingers Where They Go
Gordon Lightfoot has a old song that I don't care too much for. It's "The Minstrel of the Dawn" where he goes on about being a minstrel. I think he doesn't need to sing about it since he is obviously a singer and writer of mainly good songs ("Knotty Pine" is another song I don't like. Sample lyric: "She's my knotty pine; she bleeds turpentine…" My reaction is, dude, get your gf to the ER pronto!). But anyhow, one of the lyrics to "Minstrel of the Dawn" is "Listen to the pictures flow and follow the fingers where they go."
I was thinking of these words as I was working on my novel this week. I understood the lyrics because my fingers are just following what the characters do. I have heard writers say that the characters take on a life of their own and that the world of the novel becomes as real as this world. And they do.
Stephen King relates that he receives requests from people on death row and people with terminal illnesses that he tell them what is in the Dark Tower of that series. He says he does not know what is in the Tower and will not until the story gets to that point.
That makes sense to me.
The protagonist of my novel, Otto Kerchner, sometimes does not do what I expect him to. In one chapter, he is bullied at lunch by a big guy. I thought Otto was going to sit there and take it. Unexpectedly, he goads the other boy into taking a swing at him (by insulting his momma) and when he does, Otto pops him in the nose. That earns him a trip to the principal's office, but I think it was worth it. I had students like Otto who finally stood up to bullies and the school and world are better for their courage.
So, fellow writers, "follow the fingers where they go." You may be surprised where you end up.
Filed under Uncategorized
Fobbing It Off (For Real this Time)
We are not what anyone would call early adopters. We are what most anyone would call, well, thrifty. So, we buy used cars and runs them until they fall apart. The classic example is the 1978 Impala we bought when Amy was four months old. She learned to drive on the car and I think we gave it to someone when she was in college. Becky drives a 1999 Avalon with 105,000 miles on it. Just getting broken in.
As a result of this thriftiness, our cars lag behind the technological curve. Yes, they have self-starters, but power door locks were a revelation to us when they came on the Impala. The Avalon unlocks all four doors from the front door lock if you turn the key clockwise once or twice. I thought this was the coolest thing I had ever seen until I got two cars with key fobs. I just press a button and the doors open. I love this so much I try to open Becky's car with one of the fobs. I even try to open our front door with the car key fobs. They don't work, but I can always hope.
So, change is hard to get used to, but once you're used to it, it's hard to go back.
Gee, I didn't have as much to say about that as I thought I would.
Catchers in the Rye
A Story of Two Theaters
It has happened again.
A deranged young man has gone into a public place, a theater in Colorado this time, and started shooting. Dozens of people died or were wounded. Hundreds of family members and friends are left to mourn.
I was shocked and sad. I had a sense of deja vu. It's all too familiar. The initial reports, the continuing news coverage, the search for reasons, the profiles of those who died, the discussions about how to prevent such incidents from happening again.
And yet they keep happening.
In the meantime, a community is left to mourn, to pick up the pieces, to find a way forward.
I wanted to spend this weekend in quiet reflection. We decided to go to a local production of Man of La Mancha done by a theater group from the local Catholic church. Our Chorale accompanist was in it, as was his wife. They are both incredible musicians and singers.
It was just what I needed. The production had no weak elements. Everything was exceptionally well done, from the set to the staging, the acting and singing, costumes, lighting, direction, and orchestra. One hundred-twenty-nine members of the community gave us a gift, and it was just what we needed this sad weekend.
The message of the musical could not have been more appropriate. The Cervantes/ Don Quixote character remarks that he is on a quest "to bring some measure of grace to the world." And indeed the message of the place is that grace, idealism and love can transform the worst of circumstances.
And so, thank you and congratulations to the Upper Room Theater Ministry of All Saints Catholic Church.
In a theater in Aurora, Colorado this past Friday, a single individual tore the heart our of a community.
In a gym transformed into a theater not a mile from where I sit, a group of talented people gave of themselves to bring something of grace and beauty to their community.
My prayer is that the same grace and love this community experienced recently may help in the healing of the community in Colorado.


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Since the FARGODOME is a public facility – your facility – it is governed by a group of your peers. The seven members of the Fargo Dome Authority are appointed by the Fargo City Commission from nominations from the City of Fargo (2), NDSU Administration (2), the Fargo Park Board (1), the Fargo School Board (1) and the Cass County Commission (1). Members' four-year terms are served voluntarily, without compensation.
Among other things, the Fargo Dome Authority has the following powers:
- To construct, maintain, and manage the FARGODOME
- To adopt an annual budget, which shall be subject to approval of the Fargo City Commission
- To purchase and sell supplies, goods and equipment as may be necessary for the operation of the FARGODOME
- To execute such contracts and other instruments as may be necessary in the construction, maintenance and operation of the FARGODOME
- To acquire any and all property which may be necessary for the construction, maintenance and operation of the FARGODOME
- To establish rules and regulations for the rental and operation of the FARGODOME
Meetings are always open to the public. For a schedule of upcoming meetings, call the FARGODOME business office at (701) 241-9100.
Troy Goergen - President
Blake Nelson - Vice President
Dan Armbrust - Treasurer
Nancy Jordheim - Secretary
David Suppes - Member
Rick Steen - Member
Michael Ellingson - Member


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Linked by Jason Snell
April 26, 2015 1:45 PM PT
Sponsor: Squarespace
Thanks to Squarespace for sponsoring Six Colors this past week. Squarespace is a website publishing platform that makes it easy to create beautiful websites, portfolios, blogs, and online stores without touching a line of code.
Readers of Six Colors should visit Squarespace and show your support for this site. Use code SIXCOLORS for 10% off.


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It's been a while since I blogged, and the reason is so pitiful I hardly dare share it – I forgot my email/password combo for WordPress and got myself locked out. I know, I know. Desperate. But I've hacked back in, and I thought I should share a quick update on the state of play with regard to my Samhain titles.
I think most people know by now that Samhain closed at the end of February. I've decided that, on balance, the quickest and most economical way of getting my five Samhain books back into circulation is for me and Missus to cottage-industry them out via FoxTales. This will keep my overheads minimal, and I need to bear that in mind because, although the books did great for me with the publisher, they've more or less finished their main sales run.
So, slowly but surely, the books will reappear – Driftwood, The Salisbury Key, Scrap Metal, Brothers of the Wild North Sea. I've already got Cold Fusion reissued to Amazon and Smashwords. It feels odd telling people not to buy my books, but please bear in mind that, although the covers will be different, all these new editions will be exactly the same as the Samhain versions you may have purchased. I'm making that clear in the description/blurbs, to avoid confusion. However, if you haven't yet got your copy of Cold Fusion, here are the buy links, and watch this space for news about the others!


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Business or Personal Services
About Us
We Are What We Do
Alameda Business Network (ABN) is a professional organization that actively promotes our member businesses through the exchange of business leads and referrals. We also share creative and strategic business ideas to help enhance and improve business practices.
ABN members specialize in a host of different areas. Member businesses include banking and financial services, law, dentistry, advertising and marketing, real estate and property management, accounting and bookkeeping, insurance and investment services, plumbing and construction, community arts, specialty retailers, alternative medicine and therapies, and many others.
What ABN Stands For
Alameda Business Network (ABN) is an organization of business professionals that actively promotes each other's services and products through leads and referrals within our group and through each member's spheres of influence. These include clients, friends, family, acquaintances and the general public. We champion our fellow ABN members' business development and vision through periodic business idea exchanges. We support our community by providing community service through fundraising events and charitable activities.
How ABN Works
Each ABN member business "owns" its business category to avoid conflicts of interest when sharing leads, referrals, and business productivity ideas. ABN members promote other ABN member services to their circle of customers, clients, and contacts in exchange for a reciprocal promotion.
If you're interested in growing your business and in becoming part of an innovative business group, attend one of our regular Tuesday morning breakfast meetings held from 8:45-10AM at Bridgehead Studio, 2516 Blanding Avenue, Alameda.
What ABN Can Do For You
ABN membership opens a door to a number of benefits.
Gain business contacts, leads, referrals, and prospects.
Share business ideas with seasoned business professionals.
Enjoy promotional exposure through our marketing activities, including our directory, website, social mixers, events, fundraisers, and sponsorships.
Build collaborative partnerships with complementary businesses.
Why Choose Us
In the Digital Era, personal service can get lost in the high-tech shuffle. ABN understands and appreciates the importance of getting close to customers and building lasting relationships through customer engagement.
ABN represents a passionate network of members eager to serve the needs of individuals, families, businesses, and other stakeholders. Its member organizations provide a personal touch, care about their customers, and work hard to provide them with quality service. By meeting regularly with other business professionals to share best business practices, the entire community benefits, not just us.
You and ABN
The best way to learn if ABN is right for you is to attend a meeting. View the "Members" listing in the above Web menu to find out if an opening exists in your business category. You can also contact us directly.
Marchand & Associates is a professional services firm that offers executive and personal coaching, performance team coaching, custom trainings, and facilitations for business. Our programs are designed in collaboration with our clients.
What We Do
At Marchand & Associates we are committed to providing results for you. We will help you balance your life between work, family, and self. We will help you to fulfill your goals and be able to create, initialize, and complete projects. We are committed to assisting you in evaluating your present paradigm and, if necessary, creating shifts that will give you personal satisfaction and the ability to live life fully.
What Coaching can help you do…
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We wrote the book (Selling Your Business For Dummies) on how to sell your business!


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HOW's February 2012 cover is nice, and reminds me a lot of this custom publishing piece created way back in the day.
Posted tagged 'Illustration'
HOW magazine coverJanuary 10, 2013
Popular Science on the iPadApril 4, 2010
I'm sure everyone has seen this by now, but here I am late to the party and slightly drunk as usual. Bonnier Corporation have been busy working on an iPad optimized edition of Popular Science, cunningly labelled "Popular Science+". It's actually very cool, and makes me feel kind of sick at the same time. Sick in an "Uh oh I just came one step closer to being replaced by a robot" kind of way. Seriously though, it does make me wonder how the new technology which is going to pop up all over the place for iPad-like content creation is eventually going to be standardized and/or integrated into inDesign, Illustrator etc. Anyway watch the video at the link below, it's very cool.
Mag+ live with Popular Science+ from Bonnier on Vimeo.
Some recent TAS work…November 2, 2009
Some recent work, featuring some particularly awesome photography from Adam Voorhes. (more…)
October Custom Publishing Facebook pageOctober 30, 2009
I'm building a Facebook Fan Page for October Custom Publishing (my company), in order to try and get us out there a little more. On there you'll be able to view almost every page of every magazine we've either published or been hired to create thus far. I'd really appreciate you becoming a fan, and I'm happy to return the favor! Take a look at the page here. Introduce yourself!
Texas State employee charitable contributions graphicOctober 28, 2009
In the latest issue of GivingCity we ran a story about the thousands of state employees who donate millions each year to Central Texas charities. We made this sample of different organization's contributions from a random selection of agencies. I thought the contrast between the different agencies was shocking – even after you take into account the number of employees per agency. In the magazine I had to make this graphic fit to the spread, but I made this version so that I could show all the information unhindered by the page-size. After realizing I had all this empty space on the right, I also decide to place the actual pages from the story on the graphic – they remain readable. You can see the original after the jump, or download the whole issue here. (more…)
GivingCity Austin magazine issue 4 available for downloadOctober 28, 2009
It's that time of the year again where in-between neglecting duties to my family and multiple full-time job deadlines, we somehow managed to crank out another issue of GivingCity Austin. Please hit this link to download, and PLEASE send it to as many people as possible. We're probably not going to do another unless we can find someone willing to bankroll it for us, so the more people that see it, the better chance there is that someone may want to.More pages after the jump….although I'd really rather you went here and just download the thing. (more…)
GOOD magazine infographic contestOctober 21, 2009
I know this is older now, but this is a great idea. GOOD magazine had a contest that asked designers to create an infographic showing how top CEO's are paid. That's the winning entry above, but there are a ton of cool submissions, so take a look at more of them here.


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Casimira Boxy Dress
Casimira Boxy Dress
Product Description:
Product Description:
Nude Casimira boxy dress is featuring a crew neck, short sleeves, side seam pockets, a mid-length and a floral print.
100% Polyester
XS: Chest 96cm, Length 94cm
S: Chest 100cm, Length 95cm
M: Chest 104cm, Length 96cm
L: Chest 108cm, Length 97cm
XL: Chest 112cm, Length 98cm
Notice: Final Sample Sale, No refund or exchange. May or may not has label or tags on, ship directly from factory in China
The size chart above is provided to help determine your size when ordering from us. As Sizing and cut will vary between brands, please use this information as a general to compare the various size scales. Should you be between sizes or need assistance selecting the proper size, please contact our Customer Service department by email.
Notice: Most our clothes ship directly from factories, without original Tags or Labels. Our products do not include any brand value and registered trademarks. We are not offering or selling counterfeit merchandises online, if there is any mislead products, please be sure to call +16042957431 or email us firstname.lastname@example.com at any time.
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1. FINAL SALES: All sales of gift cards, e-gift certificates, cosmetics, jewelry and items marked as "Sale" are final. FINAL SALE items cannot be returned for exchange, credit, or refunds.
2. Shipping charges are none refundable.
3. We ship worldwide. However, we only use regular shipping, NO overnight shipment.
4. To prevent fraud, your billing address must match the address to which your monthly credit card statement is sent.
5. All price are in US$
6. Shipping charges are non-refundable.
If the received goods does not show exactly the same figure on the web, just because the causes of lighting differences, we are not offer exchange or return. Most of our products are in size US2-US8, Karen Millen dresses are in UK8-UK16, make sure the size before you purchase them. We won't make exchange or return if the size is not right. However, if you are willing to pay the resent shipping fee, we'll make the exchange.
Still notice that we do not use UPS or DHL shipping, and do not send urgent package. Also we don't accept UPS or DHL returned package.


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Hillary Clinton, who has kept a relatively low public profile since losing the presidential election two months ago, on Sunday showed up at the final performance of the Broadway revival of "The Color Purple," reveling in the story of a beleaguered woman who triumphs over the oppressive men in her life (and, along the way, discovers a love for colorful pants).
Mrs. Clinton, accompanied by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and their daughter, Chelsea, received several ovations from the sold-out audience as she arrived, and then another round of applause when she was acknowledged by the cast after the show.
"There's a lot of really awesome famous and notable people here today," the actress Patrice Covington, who gave the farewell speech on behalf of the cast after the show, said to the audience. "I'm not going to call all of them out — I know you already know them," she said, before pausing, looking in Mrs. Clinton's direction, and waving at her mischievously. At that, the audience erupted into a new, loud round of applause.
The reaction was substantially warmer than the scattered booing and clapping that greeted the arrival of Vice President-elect Mike Pence when he attended "Hamilton," just one block north, on Nov. 18.
"We love you Hillary," some audience members shouted. Several thanked Mrs. Clinton and told her, "God bless you."
"God bless you," Mrs. Clinton replied.
Mrs. Clinton was besieged by photo-seekers before the show, at intermission and as she was ushered out a side door after the musical ended ("Whoa!" said her husband as they left.)
Jordan Serpone, 33, an audience member from Boston, said that spotting Mrs. Clinton was a surprisingly moving experience for him.
"I was having every emotion I've tried to get rid of over the past few weeks," he said during intermission. He shook her hand, but said he is still filled with frustration over her loss. "She shouldn't be here. She should be planning her cabinet," he said.
Because the Sunday matinee was the last performance for the acclaimed production, which won last year's Tony award for best musical revival, the crowd was starry: Among those in the audience were Jonathan Groff, Mariska Hargitay, Gayle King, Debra Messing, Leslie Odom Jr., Billy Porter, Phylicia Rashad and Anna Wintour.
Public sightings of Mrs. Clinton in the weeks since the election have been sufficiently rare that they create a stir on social media. Strangers have sought photographs with her at stores and in the woods near her home in Chappaqua, N.Y. But Mrs. Clinton has indicated that she and her husband plan to attend the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as president on Jan. 20.
"The Color Purple" tells the searing story of a young black woman abused by her stepfather and her husband in rural Georgia in the early 20th century. The musical is an adaptation of a best-selling 1982 novel, by Alice Walker, which was awarded the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for fiction.
Steven Spielberg adapted the novel into a film in 1985, and Oprah Winfrey, who was featured in the film, went on to become an important champion, and co-producer, of the musical.
The musical has been one of the most successful at attracting black audiences to Broadway. It first opened on Broadway in 2005, and features a book by Marsha Norman and music and lyrics by Stephen Bray, Brenda Russell and Allee Willis. The revival, which opened in 2015 and was directed by John Doyle, featured a star-making performance by the British actress Cynthia Erivo. She won a Tony award for best actress in a leading role in a musical. The last show took place on Ms. Erivo's 30th birthday.