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Construction Loan
A Construction loan is generally a short-term loan often set for a term used for the cost of building a home or a commercial property. When buyers utilize a construction loan they are financing the cost to build a house versus financing a home that has already been built. While construction loans are ideal for builders to work with, they don't always suit every buyer. For example, in order to qualify for a construction loan, you have to have good credit and prove you are not a huge risk in what is already a smaller niche market of home financing. When you work with a good construction loan lender like Diditan Financial, experts will make sure you get into a good loan that accommodates your means. Our professionals have been helping borrowers for over a decade secure construction loans with the lowest rates, while always looking out for their needs and wellbeing. Here are some common questions we get from borrowers pursuing a construction loan:
How can I Qualify for a Construction Loan?
In order to qualify for a construction loan you must fulfill a number of requirements to satisfy the lender. Here is what you will need:
A Qualified Builder – A bank expects construction loan borrowers to work with a licensed general contractor or builder with a well-established reputation for building high-quality homes. If you intend to function as your own general contractor you will face certain difficulty in finding a lender because part of their risk lies in the ability for a home to get built on time, at budget, and correctly.
Detailed Specs – You will need to show the lender detailed specifications of your build that includes floor plans, material details, and a copy of the builder's Blue Book–a comprehensive document showing all the details going into the home ranging from insulation type to ceiling heights and even what type of stone will line the circumference of the swimming pool.
Establish a Home Value – Your lender will work with an appraiser to determine what the home's value will be upon completion. The appraiser will study the Blue Book, consider the land value, and contemplate the specs on the home. Then these figures are compared to kindred homes in the same or similar location to determine an appraised value based on the comps.
Down Payment – When you take out a traditional loan you may or may not be required to make a down payment, but when it comes to a construction loan you will always have to make one. Generally, 20% is the minimum you can put on the table, though some lenders may require a higher percentage. The more you can put down, the greater the faith you can instill in the lender that you are committed to completing the project and fulfilling your end of the loan.
Credit Score – Just making a handsome salary isn't enough to secure a construction loan. Various lenders have specific credit requirements. Typically, a credit score of 680 or higher is ideal for a loan of $417,000. If your construction loan is for more than that, you will likely need a minimum credit score of 700.
If I am in Debt can I Still Get a Construction Loan?
Since a higher credit score is required for approval on a construction loan, having prior outstanding debt could throw a wrench into the gears of your approval process. However, not all types of debt are frowned on by construction loan lenders. For example, if you defaulted on payments to the Wine of the Month Club, your lender may not care. If you missed a payment on your Nordstrom's card, again, your lender may not regard this as a risk. However, if you have missed a mortgage payment, or you ignored your HOA fees, you could easily get denied.
What Does my Debt-to-Income Ratio Need to be for a Construction Loan?
Your debt-to-income ratio is the percentage of your earnings used to repay your loan, and most lenders do not want it exceeding 45 percent. You can calculate this by dividing your total debt payments by your monthly income.
What are the Benefits to Building a Home Versus Buying One?
There are many benefits to building a home that you can't always get in one already existing. Here are some worth thinking about if you are considering a construction loan:
Have it Your Way – Most people favor building a home because they get exactly what they want. When you buy an existing home rarely can you find one that meets all the "must-haves" on your check-list. Usually, buyers will have to sacrifice something. For example, you may find a home that has the big back yard, open floor plan, and huge master suite, but that walk-in closet and third bathroom is missing. When you build your home you can piece in everything you want, down to the finest details of closet space, built-in storage, and everything in between.
Better Investment – It wasn't until the early to mid 2000s that open concept living became popular. Before then it was ideal to have the kitchen separated from the rest of the living space. According to Realtor.com, two of the biggest selling points to a home is the kitchen and an open-space living concept. The challenge in finding a home with an open space is that most houses on the market were built when it was common to have segregated galley kitchens, and closed off family rooms. When people shop for homes they will often only look at houses for sale that allow their budgets to make these changes, and even then a buyer could walk away if the wall that needs to be removed is load-bearing (meaning it supports the top of the house) and too expensive to fix (it would need a support beam and an engineer to oversee the project, which is expensive). Big open kitchens and open-concept living is here to stay, so when you build a home to meet these specifications, you are building a great investment that will garner big bucks in its re-sale value.
Safety – Building a new home offers safety that lots of older homes don't have. Houses build before 1977 may have materials like flooring and insulation full of asbestos that is dangerous to be around. Also, many lead-based paints and other toxins exist in older homes that pose health risks. When you build a home contractors use safe, state-of-the-art products. For example, spray foam insulation is not only safe for humans and the environment, it also helps keep your heating and cooling bills down, and it offers better sound proofing. For additional safety you can even have fire walls built into your home, as well as a panic room to protect the family from intruders while the police are on their way.
Efficiency – New homes offer better efficiency than older ones. For example, you can't deny that craftsman homes from the turn of the century are beautiful, quirky, and one-of-a-kind. However, most homes from that era used clay or cast iron plumbing. These pipes have a life expectancy of about 75 years, so if you do the math you will see that the original plumbing in older homes will give you major problems sooner than later, and getting a brand new plumbing system can cost up to $25,000. Also, older homes with original wiring can use up more electricity than what is required and pose fire risks. New build homes use the latest eco-friendly materials, and offer additional energy-saving benefits like solar power, energy efficient sealing in windows and doors, energy efficient heating and cooling systems, and watering systems for the garden with settings that allow for greater preservation.


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About Watchmen on the Wall
Allow me to introduce you to "Watchmen on the Wall," our ministry to pastors. Why would Family Research Council invest in pastors? After all, FRC is a Washington, DC based non-profit ministry that is focused on shaping public policy and informed civic activism. Good question.
Simply put, we believe that the problems we face in our communities and our nation are not just political and cultural, they are spiritual in nature (Eph. 6:10-13). Consequently, these problems ultimately require a spiritual solution administered by spiritual leadership. That is why we are championing pastors to transform America.
What are we hoping pastors will do? Simply this: 1) Pray for our nation, 2) Preach the whole counsel of God without apology, and 3) Partner with other pastors who will lead their churches to become the salt and light Jesus spoke about and make a positive difference in their communities, state, and our nation.
As you walk out your calling as a pastor, we want to serve you, stand with you, and be an encouragement to you, just as the Bible teaches:
"Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work." - 1 Thess. 5:12-13a.
I sincerely hope you will prayerfully consider joining with Watchmen Pastors all across America as we stand for Faith, Family, and Freedom.
Tony Perkins
President, Family Research Council
Learn more about becoming a Watchmen Pastor
The Watchmen on the Wall Team
Randy Wilson, Director of Men's Ministries
Randy Wilson serves as FRC's Director of Men's Ministries. He travels the country building relationships with Christian ministers, speaking at regional and local pastoral gatherings and calling them to be Watchmen on the Wall (Isaiah 62:6). Prior to joining FRC, Mr. Wilson worked in the public policy department of Focus on the Family, where he started and developed state Family Policy Councils across the country. He also served the local church as a Family Life pastor.
Randy and Lisa Wilson have been married for 37 years and have seven children, five are married and are blessed with fourteen grandchildren. They are the founders of Generations of Light Ministry, an outreach to families. They have authored three books: Celebrations of Faith: Tying our Children's Heartstrings to the Truth; Daddy's Blessing; and The Joshua Basket. They are the founders of "The Father Daughter Purity Ball" which caught the attention of national and international media. Mr. Wilson has had the opportunity to stand and defend the importance of fatherhood in such well-known venues as the Focus on the Family broadcast with Dr. Dobson, Time Magazine, The New York Times, O (Oprah) Magazine, Glamour, USA Today, The Economist, and Marie Claire as well as "Good Morning America," "The Today Show," "Glenn Beck Show," "Cooper 360," and "Dr. Phil," among others, and are the subjects of two documentaries seen in the U.S. and across Europe. His older three daughters released their book, Purely Woman. Their son, Logan, created the School of Honor and travels the country gathering young men, 10-18 for a three day school teaching biblical masculinity and living as men of honor.
Rev. Pierre Bynum, FRC Chaplain and National Prayer Director
Rev. Pierre Bynum serves as Chaplain and National Prayer Director for the Family Research Council, working with FRC's president, Tony Perkins and Vice President for Church Ministries, Dr. Kenyn Cureton, helping to lay and maintain a foundation of biblical prayer, critical to success in FRC's mission to defend and advance life, faith, family, freedom and righteousness in government.
Pierre oversees FRC's chapel program and speaks to churches and pastors' groups on prayer, Christian citizenship, God and government, and similar themes. As liaison to the growing prayer movement, Pierre produces FRC's weekly prayer team targets; and oversees other prayer publications and activities, including weekly and monthly prayer meetings for leaders, and FRC's annual Call2Fall, which promotes and facilitates a church-wide response to 2 Chr 7:14 on the Sunday before Independence Day.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a Watchman Pastor?
- How do I become a "Watchman Pastor?"
- How do I go about finding pastors to start a network?
- Should we network with pastors of our own denomination/fellowship or should we try to connect with others?
- Is this one of those "ecumenical" efforts designed to get pastors to drop their doctrinal and denominational distinctives?
- Are you asking pastors to submit to another pastor's spiritual authority in these networks?
- Is the host pastor automatically going to become the spokesmen for the pastors (and by extension, their churches) in the network?
- Will these networks of pastors be under the direction of FRC and carry the name of FRC?
- What about the "Separation of Church and State?"
- Are you asking us to get involved in Partisan Politics?
- Watch what is going on in the culture.
- Pray for the wisdom to engage biblically, courageously, and winsomely.
- Sound the Alarm from the pulpit.
- Take a bold stand with others to defend and advance faith, family, and freedom.

subset: commoncrawl


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The programmes are offered in:
- Postgraduate Diploma in Management
- Postgraduate Diploma in International Business Management
Candidate should have a Bachelor degree in any discipline with 50% of marks from recognised university.
Selection Procedure:
The candidates are selected based on CAT score, group discussion and interview conducted by the institute.
How to apply:
- The application form can be downloaded from official website of Fore school of Management.
- The filled application form along with DD of Rs. 1650/- drawn in favor of "FORE School of Management", should be payable at New Delhi.
- Application form can also be obtained from the office of the FORE School of Management by paying Rs 2,000/- in cash.
Important Date:
Last date for the submission of application form is on 25 Nov 2013.
FORE advantages:
- Excellent placement with multiple offers.
- International immersion programme for all students at a location outside India.
- Scholarship to meritorious students.
- Strong academic industry interface.
- Renowned faculty having experience in academics, and industry.
Contact Details:
Fore School of Management,
"Adhitam Kendra",
B-18,Qutub Institutional Area,
New Delhi - 110016.
Ph: +91-11-41242424.


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Hello again from Cari's frocks.
My name really is Cari Frock and I LOVE to sew.
In Michigan, helping my mom remodel her bedroom and the weather just changed to winter -- predicted to be in the mid-30s tonight.
Problem is I brought my son's skinny, thin-haired, thin-blooded southern dog with me and she is goin' freeze tonight.
So mom had a twin sized mattress cover and some fleece.
And voila! No more cold Cleo.
Til next time...happy stitching!!


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24" x 42" Gray, Black & Taupe U.S. HAND WOVEN Small Area Rag Rug
Fabric Model: TRG-GBT24/42 - 835
- Size: 24" x 42"
- Fiber Content: Cotton, polyester, rayon.
- Care Instructions: Machine wash gentle cycle; line dry. Use "Color Catcher" by Shout to prevent discoloration.
- Description: Throw rug in gray, black and taupe. Texture & density created by selvage of upholstery fabric. Approximately 1/2" thick. Hand-woven in Iowa.
- Uses: Suitable for bathroom rug, kitchen rug, entry rug, living room rug, bedroom rug & door mat rug.


text: Patrick M'Gonigle is the fiddler and tenor singer for Rounder Records artist, The Lonely Heartstring Band. Patrick holds a BA from the Berklee College of music and a Masters degree in contemporary improvisation from the New England Conservatory and specializes in Bluegrass and Country fiddle. He also loves to practice. Patrick has a great fiddle and several fine bows for sale - check with him at Fiddle Hell.


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If there's one thing that you will use a lot when cooking, it's oil. It is used in baking, frying and other types of cooking. But it's also used when there's no heat involved. Oil can be used in salads, dips, and other foods to add some depth to flavor of the dish. Most oil comes from animal (or synthetic) fat and plants. There's not a one-oil-fits-all approach when it comes to cooking. If you want to cook well, you have to do it right. And if you want to do it right, you have to know your oils. So here's a helpful infographic to help you understand each oil and utilize it properly.
Cooking Basics: Cooking Oils
Which oil do you like to use and why? Tell us in the comments below.


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BERLIN (JTA) — Germany's major political parties pledged their commitment to support the growth of Jewish life in the country.
The statements come just days before Germany's elections, scheduled for Sunday, as the country grapples with its Iran policy and its delicately balanced relations with Israel and the Palestinians — issues of prime importance to many Jewish voters.
Answering a pre-election query from the Central Council of Jews in Germany, the main institution representing Germany's Jews, the six parties in the outgoing federal parliament said the Jewish population is important to the country, especially given Germany's historical guilt for the genocide of European Jewry in the Holocaust.
The Christian-Democratic Union, the party of Chancellor Angela Merkel, described the Jewish immigration to Germany since the fall of the Berlin Wall 20 years ago as a "historical chance and great luck." Jewish leaders have lauded Merkel as a true friend to Israel, but recently she raised concerns among some by pressing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his settlements policy.
The left-wing party Die Linke noted that "historical guilt gives rise to the obligation to support Jewish life in Germany." The Left Party has drawn criticism for pushing talks with Hamas.
According to a news release from the Central Council, which receives government funding, the six parties committed themselves to furthering the integration of Jewish immigrants in Germany. The past few years have seen a dramatic decline in Jewish immigration to Germany after a major influx of ex-Soviet Jews since 1990 had quadrupled the Jewish population.
Stephan Kramer, secretary general of the Central Council, said the drop is due in part to Germany's newly restrictive immigration laws. But more significant, he said, is a general decline in Jewish emigration from the former Soviet Union.
The results of the query to the parties appear in the monthly Zukunft magazine of the Central Council, which represents some 105,000 Jews across the country.


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|This was Woody's plate at the Big Spring Trout Hatchery
Hello and welcome to the blog today. It's been an interesting week with plenty of developments. On the last post, I'd indicated that there was a job change in the works. Well, there sort of is… but not as expected.
After conversing with Management, I've accepted a parallel transfer to a less physically demanding job at the same employer. It will mean about the same hours and pay,… and the opportunity to work with the same friends. The icing on the cake is that my job continues to be just 1/2 mile from home.
Resonating through my mind most of the night (and as I retire) is a manager's words "I don't want to lose one of my good people." I hope to never forget those words and how much they meant to me tonight.
|Serena's little solar cross at our favorite campground in NE Iowa
Earlier in the week I had a couple of days off and was kind of distressed while applying for work, the intention being to change jobs. That did not go so well. None of the jobs around here pay as well. There would be a commute… and the nature of the work was not as appealing. That's why I headed north to relax a bit and rest the mind. My two week notice was counting down all too fast.
The first stop was at Dutton's Cave. The sun was going down and the gnats were fierce. I had to look at my little pal Serena's memorial and was happy to see the solar cross was functioning perfectly. It's a special place… Everyone needs a location to reflex / relax / cry / meditate. I'd planned to sleep here but unfortunately, I saw some evidence of recent drug activity and decided to camp elsewhere.
|Campground at Big Spring Hatchery
|A killer clown from the movie Krampus
|There's nothing like a good outdoor hearty breakfast
|Big Springs Hatchery Building and Raceways
|The Turkey River (below the hatchery)
261 total views, 1 views today


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Conflict coaching is a guided, confidential process of clarifying the issues in conflict, generating and assessing options and gaining clarity as to a way to move forward. Our conflict coaching sessions will generally begin with uninterrupted time during which you will have an opportunity to fully share whatever is on your mind. To make sure we have heard you, we will reflect what you said and ask clarifying questions. Once we are all clear on the underlying issues, together we will generate and then access options and then discuss ways and strategies to move forward. The benefits of Conflict Coaching include:
- Opportunity to be fully heard
- Increased clarity as to the issues and the way to move forward
- Greater understanding of the position and values of the other parties to a conflict
- Ability to see both legal and non-legal options in moving forward
- A sense of closure and peace


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A career in Software or IT – the most desirable occupation that has been leading job markets, ever since technology has become an integral part of our lives.
A profession that depicts a perfect blend of "Geekiness" and "Style." Professionals need to wreck their brains so much that they even cut off with the rest of the world to get those error free codes. And in return, earn a luxurious life where style, status and sophistication comes naturally.
Software careers are perhaps the dream jobs for many. However, today, landing these jobs requires applicants to surpass similar talents and reach that single position. In such a scenario, college degrees or specialization courses are not sufficient to land desired job roles. To present oneself as the best among the lot is crucial to earn those deserving positions. Therefore, the below mentioned career guidelines to land lucrative software careers may be very useful for you.
Future Software Engineers – Things you must know:
Software Engineers do have huge career growth chances. However, if you have to to make optimum use of available opportunities, you will have to stand unique in the crowd of similarly qualified individuals. So here are a few things that may prove helpful:
Explore the world of Software:
The foremost requirement to have an escalating career is to remain updated or informed about everything within your industry. So, there should never be an end to learning and experiencing fresh avenues.
You may be a Java expert; however, advanced knowledge in a single domain cannot earn you any added advantage as far as your career growth is concerned. Having considerable knowledge of different platforms is mandatory to grow your career in the coming years. Thus, a Java expert having relevant knowledge of other languages such as .Net or PHP or anything else is crucial to have a sustained career.
It is creativity that keeps you going:
For you it may appear to be a little absurd to know that software careers do require a sense of creativity. Programming is all about compiling and debugging dry algorithms that can be handled with strong technical background alone. However, this is a partial truth and there is something more to it.
A sense of creativity is something that is relevant to all professions and not only a career requisite for creative and non technical professions. This is something that helps you inculcate new ideas for the business and this holds true for IT careers as well.
Only when you can think a little out of the box, you will be in a position to develop something that can be useful as well as desirable for your potential customers. In addition, technical development aims at easing out our day to day activities. So, identifying areas that require technical assistance and then providing apt solutions also requires some amount of creativity and thinking.
Keep moving, don't settle:
Spending a couple of years in the same company, handling similar projects and working on similar platforms can doom your career. This is something exceptionally true for all IT careers. Although, it may sound a little contradictory to the much accepted career advices where hoping between jobs is not a very strong career strategy; veterans in this field say that it is absolutely important.
IT is such a platform that is expanding with every passing day. And how do you think you can keep abreast with every new development taking place continuously? The exceptionally packed schedule leaves you with no time that can be utilized for self study. So, the best way is to look for jobs that can provide you with new experiences. When you find that a job role has nothing to offer you, look for a different and more challenging job.
Simplicity is what pays off:
Being a software engineer you cannot expect the rest of the world to think and breathe codes. Remember, your customers are far from codings and technicalities. They use what you develop if they find it useful and easy to use. Therefore, all software engineers must aim to present things in simplest of forms so that they become more productive from user perspective. And those working as software professionals, you are perhaps aware that developing simple things is in fact complex!
Be a little social:
At the end of the day it is about business. You develop stuffs and it earns you only when it becomes sale-able. You don't have market and your programming hours are wasted. Therefore, marketing pitch is definitely essential for career growth.
The current trends show that software professionals do need to become a little social with effective communication skills. And it is quite justified as no one can pitch better than you – who is the creator and conceived the idea in the first place.
This was all about becoming a software engineer. Lucrative careers don't just come your way. A perfect idea, a career strategy and zeal to move higher on career ladders are a few things that bring success. Hope you have found the above suggestions beneficial to your career growth and advancement as a software engineer.


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The fourth edition contains guidelines on the development and evaluation of health and safety of children in early care and education settings. Includes 10 chapters of more than 650 standards with supplemental information, forms and tools, and revised and updated topics on environmental health, infectious diseases, and nutrition. Paperback. 624 pages.
Topics include:


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& Media
Gender Equity
Sport for All
Imogen Bankier coaching Anne Tran/Emilie Lefel (Credit: Badminton Photo)
Imogen Bankier: "It's easier to be on the other side"
Published by
Annika Langrock
Change of perspective: The former top player, Imogen Bankier, is working as a coach for the French Badminton Association today.
In the latest issue of the BEC Magazine, the Scot spoke to Badminton Europe about her job skills, the Doubles situation in France and the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris.
A lot of people might recognise Imogen Bankier from performing on court. Today, the 31-year-old is still doing that, but instead of receiving instructions, she is giving them.
New job in Paris
Since 2018, the former Scottish Mixed Doubles player is working as a Doubles coach for Team France.
"I am a consultant, I am working one and a half days a week. We are a team of five coaches, Team France does not have a head coach as such right now. I am part-time employed, but the rest is working full-time", Bankier said.
Imogen Bankier was born in Glasgow and practised badminton for the first time as a nine-year-old in the garden. In 2005, she began to play badminton at a professional level. At the end of 2014, Bankier officially finished her badminton career and began to work in the Whiskey Industry. Today, she is the director of a Whiskey shop in Paris.
"I took a complete break from badminton for four years, after I ended my career. I was neither playing, nor looking at results. I could focus on other things in my life and I got another perspective on the game and the vision of badminton, as well as the emotional and mental side of it", the Scot said.
A successful career on court
In May 2018, Bankier began to work as a consultant for the French Badminton Association, as she was and still is living in France. Since then, the Scot got a new perspective towards the sport of badminton.
"To be on the other side is different, it is easier. As a coach, you are sitting in a chair, but you also have to have empathy for the players in their individual situation. You have to communicate with them in a way that is necessary, so that they perform well. That is the joy of being a coach: it is a communications job", Bankier said.
"I was not ready to make the transition from player to coach directly. I needed the break and the perspective, and now I am back with fresh eyes. I am also more mature as a person", 31-year-old added.
Bankier was the runner-up at the World Championships in Mixed Doubles in 2011, which was one of the biggest successes in her career as a player.
"I have never seen such a young group of people that is so open-minded and ambitious"
Together with her English partner, Chris Adcock, she also won Bronze at the European Championships 2012, and in 2014, she won Bronze at the Commonwealth Games with her Scottish partner, Robert Blair.
"I think it is hard to relate my personal experience to other players, because every player is different. I was very lucky with my partners in the past, but my game style is quite different", Bankier said.
"To be in the world class or top class in Europe, players need to have a set of skills. I see players in France that have a set of tools, but they need to learn how to use them", the former top player added.
"I see a lot of potential, but it is a long journey to achieve consistently top-class results. But the French players are very willing to learn, I have never seen such a young group of people that are so open-minded and ambitious".
In 2018, the European Junior Championships, as well as Team Championships took place in Tallinn, Estonia. The most successful team of both events was France. The French Junior players achieved the most titles at the individual event, they won Gold in Men's and Mixed Doubles, as well as Men's Singles and won also the team event. Denmark was the runner-up of the team competition.
"It is exciting for me to be part of Badminton France, especially from a Doubles and Mixed point of view. The Doubles situation in France looks promising, especially with the development of Junior players challenging the Senior players", Bankier said.
"We have quite a large group of Double players, which is the biggest group for several years now. We also have a good mix of personalities and ages", she added.
"France has the potential to be one of the leading badminton countries in Europe"
Around 66 million people are living in France. The sport of badminton is developing in the country. In September 2018, the French Badminton Association registered around 188.000 active players, who are practising badminton at official clubs.
"We have a strong federation and good government support. A lot of people in France are playing badminton – not as much as compared to Denmark – but still, a lot", Bankier said.
"Maybe, we are the second biggest badminton country in Europe, we are definitely in the Top 3 or 5. I think that France has the potential to be one of the leading badminton countries in Europe", the Scot added.
Imogen Bankier has a lot of experience on court, she was part of Team Great Britain for more than eight years. During that time, she won 19 European Circuits and three BWF Grand Prix tournaments.
"I developed a unique skill set to become very strong, I hit my weaknesses. If people looked at me on paper, they would have said: 'She is not very strong, she is not fast', or whatever. But I managed to hide that, because I had other things that I was good at, for example servings, reading the game or being creative. I was also mentally strong", Bankier said.
"I can teach mental strength"
As a former player, Bankier has a special way of adapting her skills, as well as her style of play to her job as a coach for Team France.
"The French Badminton Association sees that I can bring something in. I can teach mental strength and I am one of the first female coaches in a long time, which brings a new dynamic to the coaching team", Bankier said.
In 2012, Bankier participated at the Olympic Games in London. Twelve years later, the Scot could experience her second Olympic Games – but this time from another side of the court.
"The Olympic Games 2024 will be hosted in Paris. It is always a big deal to have this special event at home. When I participated in the Olympic Games, it was so exciting. It is a big motivation for players", the former Olympian said.
Read the BEC Magazine
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Continuing with our year of travel, we spent time a few weekends ago visiting some very special people up in Denver. My brother moved to Denver following his college graduation in May, and one of my closest college friends Rachel moved there with her husband Mark once he finished his MBA program at Northwestern this past spring. We were so excited that we would get time with all of them during this trip!
We were able to catch a direct flight to Denver Friday afternoon, which was perfect. The flight was actually shorter than we had expected; we didn't even get to finish watching The Heat before we landed! My brother and his girlfriend Teresa picked us up at the airport and we all went to meet Mark and Rachel over at The Yard House for a group dinner. It was so great getting to catch up with everyone over a good burger before heading to the Pomeroys for the night.
Saturday morning, Alex and Teresa came to pick up me and Chip for a full day. First stop: having breakfast with the wonderful Ashley Snow. Ashley was in the RUF first year girls' Bible study I co-led my senior year of college. It was great getting to see her grow during her time at Trinity and now be one hardworking accountant (she just got her CPA!). I had some yummy chocolate chip pancakes and sausage with Ashley and her sweet dad, while Chip, Alex, and Teresa grabbed breakfast in town before joining us for some sports talk (there was a big football game that weekend). After we left Ashley's, the four of us drove up to Boulder. My brother had been pretty set on us going on a hike while we were in town, and while I thought the snow would cancel this excursion I was mistaken. We would still be going on a hike. So we went to Chautauqua Park and did one of their small trails. Thankfully the sun finally came out just as we got started, so with that sunshine and all of our layers, the trail was a lot of fun. Let's be real, Chip and I don't see much snow (as in none at all) so we had a good time stomping around off of the trail and yes, I did throw a snowball at Alex (what kind of sister would I be if I didn't do that?).
After we finished the trail, we drove back into town for lunch before heading out to see Red Rocks. It was pretty darn cold by this point, so after quickly walking around we got back in the nice warm car to drive back to Denver where Alex was able to show us his apartment and where he works. As his older sister, it was so great to see him settled in his own place and happy with where he's at. Crazy to think my little brother is an adult! ;)
Dinner Saturday was such a treat; we all had homemade pizzas at the Pomeroys! It's been a while since Chip and I had homemade pizzas, and we will definitely be using Momma Manny's dough recipe next time.
We went to church with Mark and Rachel Sunday morning before having lunch together at Udi's. We then hung out at their house all afternoon, which was so so good. I'm so thankful for our friendship with the Pomeroys and that despite however long it's been since we last saw each other, we can always pick right up and talk for hours. Alex and Teresa came over late in the afternoon and took us to the airport for our flight back to San Antonio.
It was a quick trip to Denver, but one that left us so grateful with the time we were able to get with Alex, Teresa, Mark, and Rachel. Just don't be too surprised if we have our future visits take place in the spring or summer… ;)


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28 February 2014 Last updated at 10:01
Two-thirds of dementia sufferers are women in the UK
A new package of care for dementia sufferers will help fight the illness, the health secretary says.Jeremy Hunt has announced help from businesses to support customers with dementia, and a "world dementia envoy" has been appointed.
NHS England will invest £90m in an effort to diagnose two-thirds of people with dementia by March next year.
But Labour warned that the government must tackle "poor care standards" in order to combat the condition.


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I don't typically start off a blog entry with a poker tournament flashback (because up until 24 hours ago I had nothing to flash back to), but here it goes.
Last night I had the privilege of attending a charity poker tournament to raise money for Conductive Education, more specifically, ConductAbility Inc., which is a program I have been working alongside in my classroom this year. I thought it would be a fun chance to meet people and share some stories, as well as a good opportunity to really "grasp the rules" of Texas Hold 'Em.
So there I was at 8 p.m., sitting at a small table with very, very large men who could shuffle their chips in one hand without looking while I just stared at mine and felt the dreadful realization of what I was in for slowly wash over me. I knew I was in trouble when the first question out of the guy across from me was, "So what number tournament is this for you?" Um… does "number one" sound intimidating enough? I thought he must be kidding.
I started yapping about Conductive Education and asking everyone who they knew in the program and how they got involved. Apparently I didn't get the memo that this was a regularly occurring poker tournament that just happened to be donating its proceeds to us that night. I was playing poker with the big boys, and it wasn't a THING like playing online.
"Conductawha . .?" was the response I got from quite a few at my table (before the clock started and the sunglasses went on, of course). I didn't really get to explain to them just how important the money being raised was. Recent news broadcasts in Pittsburgh and few other U.S. cities had acknowledged national Conductive Education Day, so I thought it might be nice to talk a little bit about what that really means.
Conductive Education "…is a way of life that teaches people with neuromotor impairments, such as Cerebral Palsy, how to become active participants in society." The only reason I quoted that was because I honestly can't put it any better. Conductive Education teaches the students to participate in their environment and build upon the strengths that they have. It is a form of education that pairs academics with physical awareness and I witness its tremendous value on a daily basis.
Our room probably looks like a typical OH classroom, except my students don't stay in their wheelchairs. We have a "parking lot" where they park their chairs in the morning; they then walk with assistance to their seats, which are either wide stools or sled chairs. When they sit, they hold onto bars in front of them so they can stabilize themselves and focus on their computer/AAC screens.
When people visit our room, they are amazed at what our students can do. I think of it as building upon the old saying about accomplishing what we put our minds to. I have watched my students' motivation and control translate directly into their ability and enthusiasm to connect to and use what we learn every day in class.
Before I assumed my current job position, I was unaware of Conductive Education. Seeing its benefits encourages me as a young educator to spread the word that this program is out there. While it may not be for everyone, I think it is important that families and individuals with neuromotor impairments know that it is an option to consider.
I'd like to mention that I wasn't the first one out at the tournament. I did make it to the end of the first round, but it all happened so fast I couldn't tell you how I did it. While I can't express how AMAZINGLY AWESOME it would have been to kick all those guys' butts as a rookie, I'm not bummed out. Switching to this new job so suddenly and so late in the summer was probably the biggest gamble I've ever taken — and it turned out to be the best bet I ever made.


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On the radio show this week we discuss the 2016 Emmy Awards. We also take a look back at season 2 of SyFy's hit show Dark Matter, now that the season finale has aired.
We know there have been some tech difficulties with Indie 100 and The Point lately, so just tune in Tuesdays at 9PM on El Ave Radio.
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The Art of Solo Backpacking and Hiking
A Solo Hiker...Gasp!
Whenever I speak to outdoor groups about backpacking and hiking, I always advocate hiking in small groups for safety. Then one observant person in the crowd pipes up and asks, "why are you alone in all your pictures?"
Then, I see disapproving stares and hear murmers of, "all alone, he must be insane."
I admit it - I am a solo hiker, a pariah amongst outing clubs and I love it.
When people think of solo backpackers they think of Aron Ralston, who being pinned by a boulder for five days, amputated his own arm. Thoughts also drift to Christopher McCandless, of Into the Wild fame, who starved (or perhaps poisoned himself) to death alone in the Alaskan wilderness.
You see, solo hikers get a bad rap...
I've had quite a bit of fun over the years on solo backpacking adventures, hiking the Appalachian Trail solo, and hiking all but one of the Adirondack 46 High Peaks solo too (I'll fix that in a few weeks hopefully).
Is solo hiking dangerous? It can be, but then again - camping in your backyard can be dangerous too. Backpacking solo safely is possible through managing your risk by being prepared and knowing your limits.
"It is good to be solitary, for solitude is difficult; that something is difficult must be a reason the more for us to do it."
-Rainer Maria Rilke
Why Solo Hiking?
Quite honestly, going solo gives us an elusive opportunity to have honest conversation with ourselves. Not only away from the impressions of others, but away from social media, and the pressures of conformity.
It's hard to form our own ideas when immersed in an artificial world we didn't create. We must get away from influence, so we can be our own person.
And even though I'm speaking of escaping influence, appropriately in "Walking" Thoreau prepares the walker in saying:
If you are ready to leave father and mother, and brother and sister, and wife and child and friends, and never see them again; if you have paid your debts, and made your will, and settled all your affairs, and are a free man; then you are ready for a walk.
For Thoreau, to truly walk is to give yourself over completely to nature. It is also not possible to enjoy everything a walk has to offer when you are concerned with the affairs of the office, the farm, or whatever else distracts you from being wholly present. As a solo hiker, it is easier to mitigate distraction and immerse yourself in your surroundings.
I generally have my best ideas while mucking about in the woods. So many ideas that I, who abhors the non-necessities, carry a notebook and pen with me now. But now the notebook is a necessity. Even though, that much like my cooking, some of my ideas are better left in the woods.
Solo hiking has a much more pragmatic reason too; it's hard to find a hiking companion. Though it is nearly impossible to find a person that shares your pace and your goals, and sometimes it is hard finding anyone at all. With a tough economy and vacation at a premium, if you want to get outdoors - you may have to do it by yourself.
Carry copies of guide book pages for the entire area you are hiking in, not just the trail you are on. The information will come in handy, if you have to make an emergency bail out.
Risk Management and Solo Hiking
Yes, as lawyers tell us, with all things outdoors there are inherent risks involved and perhaps even more as a solo backpacker. However, being safe in the outdoors is all about managing the risk associated with the activity.
In the article "How Dangerous is Solo Hiking, Really?" High Country Explorations makes the argument that it is less safe to be with a group of incompetent people rather than a solo hiker that follows a good risk-management strategy.
That being said, it is safer to travel with a group of competent companions (using good risk management) than it is to be a competent solo outdoor enthusiast with the same outlook toward risk.
Tips for a Safer and Successful Trip:
- Always, always, always leave a trip plan with someone back home. No one was looking for Aron Ralston because he didn't inform anyone about his hike plans.
- Sign in (and out) at every trail and shelter register - it will make things easier if people are looking for you.
- For your first couple solo trips, stick to well-traveled trails and campsites.
- Research all potential hazards in the area and develop contingencies for dealing with them.
- Master your backcountry survival and camping skills as listed below.
- Carry the Ten Essentials
- Be physically fit enough for rugged hiking and have a doctor check-up.
- Know your limits and when to turn around!
Gear for Solo Hiking
There are no secrets here, the gear for solo hiking is exactly the same the group hiking; however, you may feel your pack getting heavier. One of the beauties of group hiking after all, is that you get to distribute the weight amongst all the participants.
Solo hikers often master lightweight backpacking, as to carry all their camping and safety equipment, yet still be comfortable on the trail. As a lightweight solo backpacker, I generally average around 8 pounds of equipment for a summer three day trip. With food and water, that weight gets up to around 15 pounds.
Quick Tips for Lightweight Backpacking:
- Downsize your pack.
- Weigh everything and create a spreadsheet in excel to track weight.
- Carry high-quality multi-use equipment and avoid carrying back-up gear
- Avoid multiple stuff sacks. Carry everything that needs to stay dry in one larger sil-nylon bag - it will pack easier too.
- Watch how much food you carry - food is often the heaviest burden in the pack.
Most importantly, never compromise safety for the sake of weight - especially as a solo backpacker. If something happens in the backcountry, the only person you depend on is yourself. It's important to have the right gear to back you up.
All hikers and backpackers should carry The Ten Essentials whenever they hit the trail.
Carry a "pealess" emergency whistle around your neck- they work even if they are wet or frozen.
Get HELP with SPOT
Attracting Help as a Solo Hiker
So it happened. You slipped on a log (damn slimy logs) and think you fractured your leg. Unfortunately, there is no group to give you aid and run back and grab a ranger for extrication. Now, what do you do?
These are the questions you have to ask yourself if you are contemplating solo outdoor adventures.
Though a whistle is an essential piece of any hiker's equipment, it is especially important for a solo hiker. Keep a whistle on you at ALL times, just in case you are separated from your pack. You'll be surprised how far the shrill sound of a rescue whistle travels. If you need help just blow your whistle three times every few minutes. Listen for the reply, which is two whistle blasts.
Though cell phones have limitations with reception in the backcountry, satellite messengers like those from SPOT, offer peace of min to solo hikers. SPOT works by relaying your position directly to satellites and has a number of features. Perhaps the best feature is the "check in" feature which sends a signal to people watching your progress back home letting them know you are okay and where you are. In an emergency, you can let Search and Rescue know you need help and inform them of your position .
As great as SPOT and other personal satellite locators are, they are not an excuse to be foolhardy. These tools are after all, mechanical devices, and though they are very reliable - they are no substitute for common sense.
"Loneliness adds beauty to life. It puts a special burn on sunsets and makes night air smell better."
-Henry Rollins
Are You Lonesome Tonight?
Many solo hikers have heard the question, "aren't you lonely out there by yourself?"
And though humans are social animals, solo hikers are solo for a purpose and usually do not miss the social experience that hiking can be. So though, they are without social interaction, most soloists are not lonely.
It's not that all solo hikers are antisocial misanthropes, well some are, but most are generally well adjusted individuals. If you see a solo hiker, resist the urge to chastise their decision and you'll most likely have a pleasant trail conversation.
Sometimes solo hiking can be a very un-lonely experience. Between casual conversation with hikers you meet along the trail and sharing campsites with others, sometimes an intended solo trip seems anything but.
The most difficult task of a solo trip can be maintaining your solitude.
Got Skills?
Check Out the Hiker's Bible
Important Skills for Solo Backpackers
So you know the risks involved and still want to join those hikers that prefer to be on the trails alone. What skills do you need?
- Navigation - You must be able to competently use a map and compass. Also, most solo hikers carry a GPS - make sure you can use that too.
- First Aid - Though the community first aid course is a start, take a wilderness first aid course to learn how to deal with medical emergencies when help is far away. Also, read all you can about improvisation in medical treatment.
- Survival - As a solo hiker, you must be well versed on survival. From starting a fire without matches to building an improvised shelter for the night - you must channel your inner Les Stroud.
- Cooking and Water Purification - Meal planning and the ability to prepare food is a must for the solo hiker. You don't need to be a gourmet, but you need to practice your cooking skills - even if it is just boiling water. Speaking of water, make sure you know all the methods of treating water and making it safe to drink.
- Camping - Though this should go without saying, as a solo hiker you need to be an expert camper. You need to know how and where to pitch your shelter, how to stay warm and keep cool, plus be an exert in field sanitation. Your first camping trip, should not be solo.
- Leave no Trace Ethics - Help preserve what you see today for the hikers of tomorrow, by practicing Leave no Trace and leaving an area better than you found it.
- Weather Forecasting - So what do those nimbus clouds really mean, and can you get over the exposed ridge in time?
- Decision Making - This is one of the most important skills for solo hikers. You must be able to make hasty decisions which don't compromise safety.
This page © Copyright 2012, Daniel Human
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
I backpacked solo once in Swaziland. Unintentional. We went as a group but they group was more interested in smoking weed than actually walking. They decided to take a nap from being too stoned.
I continued on my own. It was an eye opening experience. Something i wish to repeat. I felt so much more in tune with my surroundings. Especially when night fall came and i realized i am miles way from the group and they have no idea which way i went.
Night time was terrifying i will admit. Having spotted leopard coming over a mountain and disappeared into the thick forest. The same forest i opted to pitch my 1 man tent in.
All in all. Amazing experience. The next day i started climbing some serious mountains to try and spot the group. I did eventually find them.
I've only done solo backpacking. Every time I try to get someone else to go they say they're busy, or chicken out. I researched backpacking and camping for long time before heading out. Not something you can just do after buying a pack and a tent. Absolutely nothing wrong or weird about backpacking alone, I think it's mostly women who see it as weird, since they rarely do anything on their own. I also smile to myself when a group walks by, yakking away to each other instead of being quiet and listening to the sounds of nature. Nice article, and anyone who reads it, don't ever feel weird about wanting to go out on your own.
I am not new to backpacking, but not an expert. I have been feeling the need to go on a long hike solo. I'm glad I came across your article it was very informative, and actually made me even more excite for my trek. I plan to hike the Black Forest trail in PA. Even though I enjoy the outdoors with loved ones/friends I have been feeling pulled to just go recharge in the woods alone for a little. Thank you for making me feel like less of a weirdo for wanting to do this :)
Thanks for the tips. I used to hike alot in my late 20s and early 30s. Am now retired 68, and ready to head back out. You can't beat glowing embers, setting sun and brilliant stars at night.
Great article Dan! Although I'm not a solo hiker your article is inspiring. Manon
I am a senior woman and I enjoy hiking by myself. I don't do backwoods hiking much since I started hiking just about 6 months ago. Hiking is a great way to explore nature and yourself. I do take precautions and know my limitations in what I can do but I do enjoy the journey.
Thanks for the article
Tapping in on the inspirations of other solo hikers. Going through weight balancing/needed vs superfluous gear. Thinking section hiking a long distance hike which I chipped off a small portion (30 miles) but with a friend.
Thanks Dan for some wonderful tips. I'm very excited about solo hiking reading this hub. There are different suitable places for hiking in my country. I want to know which kind of location will be better to start my journey as a hiker. Should I choose the hills? Or do I go for the river side or seas? Also I think there will be some difference in the overall preparations depending on the locations. I wish if you shed some light on this factor. This will help me greatly.
I look forward to start my journey. Please wish me a great hiking journey.
its really helpful article.
Great great information for solo backpacking. Thanks for sharing.
Great tips! I have never and probably will never attempt the wilderness all on my own. I do see the appeal of getting away from it all which is harder and harder to do all the time. Stay safe out there!
Going for my first solo winter backpacking in the Dack's, thanks for the article it helped a bit
For sure Dan. I was smiling on lending thing. When I completed the book on commuter train, my friend borrowed it immediately after hearing the accounts from me. I will not mind if she doesn't return, because I always order another copy when I give some book to some one. My library is always complete hahaha.
Btw, I was planning to start my future thru-hike from Maine also. Reason: I thought it would be better to get over the hardest parts of the trail first. Also, I don't mind lack of company, although I am quite a social person when not hiking.
Back on Bill Irwin, I think he did have lot of company during each section, intentional or intentional. I don't want to take the credit away, but I thought the accounts of his getting lost or helpless reflect that they came when he was all by himself.
Hi Dan,
Just wanted to let you know that I read the book by Bill Irwin (Blind Courage). I really liked the account of "Orient Express".
That hike is about ultimate courage. I was awed by the spirit there.
The book wasn't available as new. I had to order a used version through amazon.ca.
I've decided to take up hiking again after 30 years. I'm old...er....55 so stamina was a major issue with me. To get ready for my first hike, I loaded my pack, and began hiking around the loop of my neighborhood, which is adequately hilly to simulate a trail, but still it's a paved road. My first attempt at 'the loop' of .8 miles was a real eye opener for me. I had been 'walking' it, leisurely, for years, but with a pack and 25lbs of gear it became another ballgame. I'm keeping at it, and hope to do my first overnighter of 8 miles in the spring of 2014 in the Gila Wilderness. For now, It's just some local trails that are a couple of miles. I plan to get the Satellite tracker before hand as there is no cell service in the Gila. I'm doing some hiking later this fall of the LSHT but it has full cell service, which is important to us old ..er farts.
Great article! Glad to see another solo hiking enthusiast. You touched on an all too often forgotten aspect of first aid, improvisation. Making do with what you have on hand is often paramount in a solo backcountry situation. There are countless ways to get hurt, and just as many ways to remedy the issue. Be it using a stick to fashion a crude splint or making a pressure bandage out of a t-shirt, improvising can and will save your life!
Love the hub, I think a bit of solo hiking would do everyone good every now and again. Plus you get amazing views up in the hills.
Good tips. I myself love solo hiking and have been doing it for many years :) while it is fun hiking in a group, sometimes you just want to get away from it all.
I really enjoyed your article. Going solo on hiking gives a lot more of adventure and an opportunity to be one-on-one with nature. Solitude is not loneliness but rather a joy to be alone, especially in doing things that you like such as hiking, as long as you're prepared and understand the risks. Thanks for posting. Up and useful, awesome. :)
I want to try this!
I really enjoyed this article. You give a very honest appraisal - and your enthusiasm for experiencing nature as a lone individual - lone, NOT lonely - is refreshing.
On a recent trip to the Catalan Pyrenees I climbed up to 1750m to get a good look at the raptors up there. Just me - I left the family down in the valley. Some of us need this feeling of being free every so often....no noise, no trivia, just the senses and wild nature.
Votes and shares. Have a great next solo venture.
I enjoy your honest perspective about solo hiking as I have just really started to love it myself. My girlfriend and I are hiking partners for now, exploring the trails of Oahu.
Hello fellow hubber, I am a fan of solo hiking. There is no way to be alone because one can always have a relationship with anything in the wild. The nature is alive and willing to communicate with people. Look at it like a sort of telepathy where a tree, flower or animal sends impressions to the mind.
Great read, stumbled across this whilst reading up on solo camping.
Nice hub! Lots of valuable information and great tips. Over the years, I've read in the news about backpackers or day hikers getting lost, experiencing sunstroke, and even being attached by a mountain lion. Your article addresses the need to plan according to the environment you anticipate. Voted up!
Great hub, Dan! I'm a big time solo hiker myself. Thanks for the confirmation, and the wise words.
Hi Dan,
I am so glad I found your hub. I just moved to Colorado and love to hike and do most of it alone. And truth be told, sometimes I prefer it that way! You offer great advice for people just like me. I am a newbie who hopes to become an expert so thanks for the great advice!
Great hub Dan! I started solo hiking and backpacking when I couldn't find anyone to go with me. There are a few of my favorite places that I still prefer to go alone.
I enjoyed your article. Like you said its hard to get a partner most of the time. I plan on going on my own hopefully on Memorial day. Just a small 1 nighter it will be my first one in a long time.
I've gone by myself and i've gone in groups. It really depends on what you want to get out of the outdoors--solitude or bonding.
Great article. Something I want to do. I did a week of Solo paddling and camping in Quetico Provincial Park, which I imagine is much like this without all the walking. The feeling of being out there alone (and ejoying it) is hard to explain to those who have not experienced that. I want to check out the Casque Isle Trail along Lake Superior (Ontario) someday.
A great article. A very good reminder to be prepared whenever you go out on a hike.
You made it sound worth the risk. Much better than camping at local sites. Very interesting and I loved the pictures.
I don't think I'm currently brave enough to solo hike, but this is great resource in case I change my mind.
This is a fabulous argument in favor of (and guide to) solo hiking!! I love taking long solitary walks and sleeping outside by myself- though I have only had a small handfuls of opportunities to do so. You really put it perfectly by saying that solo hiking and backpacking enables one to have an honest conversation with oneself. It's the best!
Thanks Dan. I will definitely read this book.
I have to bookmark this. I want to get better at solo hiking and hiking in general (doing longer backpacking trips and the like). This will be a great reference for when I try this out! Thanks, OD.
Great tips for solo hiking.
I hike with my dog on most short duration trips, which is only tad different from hiking solo lol, hence great information for me. Tom Ryan and his miniature Schnauzer (of 'Following Atticus' fame) come to my mind as great role models here.
I read the accounts with great interest of British Alastaire Humphreys as a solo hiker and bicyclist.
For long duration hikes, I usually team up with others and enjoy it too.
When I hike with my dog, there is always a sweet sensation of fear that I cherish the most hahaha.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
Wise words from a very experienced solo hiker; excellent article, Dan.


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|Icy Dock MB981U3-1S Hard Drive Dock Review
ICY DOCK is a leading manufacturer of removable hard drive enclosures. Since our company has always been about the customers, we wanted to create an informal avenue for us to communicate with you! Hopefully, these blogs will provide you with insights and opinions about ICY DOCK products.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
EZ-Dock MB981U3-1S review - posted by thinkcomputers.org
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Boom! Another one. How did that happen? Last year I wasn't so hot on the birthday and it took me 6 months to settle in. Now I'm ALL in, not taking myself too seriously and feelin' dyn-o-mite!
Like a Lisa Frank scrapbook, I slapped this dorkus thing together fast – comprised of pics since we've moved here: flowers from our yard, ocean sunsets (I did say dorky, laying the cheese on real thick, but hey we're getting those LA sunsets), stained glass, fire + metal (two elements I previously avoided b/c I thought it would never meld with my earth + wood leanings) and most importantly radiating positive thoughts of my family + friends.
Sending love, radical vibrations and goodness out there to everyone.
xo Sherise


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|Varnum Mountain
Dave and I have bought some land in the small town of Temple. It boasts a population of 500 (502 now!) and we're told Temple is where most of the artistic, old hippies live. This land is something we looked for from the time we arrived in Farmington last year.
While we still lived outside of Portland, Dave and I did a lot of thinking about how to sell my house and move to Farmington. Where would we live after the sale of the house? How could the timing of selling my house, finding land and building a new house ever work? How would we do this? We started just cruising real estate on line and began to see a lot of houses in the village at very reasonable prices. The idea to buy one of these houses that could be turned into apartments bloomed. We could live there while we looked for the land we wanted and eventually rent the place in town. This is how we came to own an old Victorian house on main street. We began renovating the first floor into a three bedroom apartment last October and lived at the Lovejoy camp a half hour away while we were under construction. We moved into the apartment last December and started construction on the second floor apartment. This old house is being given new life and will become a wonderful income property for us.
Farmington has many eyes that have been watching the transformation of this house. A very pedestrian town people are walking by the house all the time. Many stop to view our progress. If we are sitting outside on the porch we will frequently become engaged in conversations with people or just hear, in passing, "I love your house!"
But this is not where we want to live, on main street with the traffic sounds and the parade of people. As sweet as it is to be able to walk to the grocery store, the movie theater, the restaurants for dinner, even to my office, we always planned to find land outside of town. And I wanted it to have view of the mountains. We moved up to the mountains, I wanted to be able to see them!
I went to my favorite psychic,Tracy. Each time I saw her she would describe the land we were going to find. At that time I had visions of seeing the entire western range with Mt.Abraham, Saddleback and Sugarloaf; the rounded peaks of these mountains with their purple ridges etched into the horizon as far as the eye could see. But Tracy would tell me, "I'm seeing water, with moose walking down front, there are mountains, yes, but there's also a body of water!" This was very confusing for me.
She also told me I didn't need to worry, that we were going to get this land by Spring or the summer of this year. She would say, "this place has wonderful energy, the house is all glass. It's amazing and so beautiful with so much glass looking out over the mountains and the water".
I thought she was crazy and confusing someone else into my reading!
We found this property last March and explored it on snow shoes. It was damn close to perfect. We closed on this land in July ... we now own an entire valley that overlooks 3 mountains and a lake .. and we're only five miles from Farmington. There is an existing house with "good bones" that we have to completely gut and renovate. As we stand in the front room there are massive windows looking out at Varnum mountain with the lake shimmering to the east where we catch glimpses of the Loons who nest on this end of the lake. As we walk through this house we tear down walls and design it in our minds. We are planning on even more windows ... lots of windows ... to bring those mountains into our living room and that lake into our kitchen and those fields, woods and other two mountains to the west into our den and bedroom. We've been told there are Moose that walk down through the field in front of the house.
Yes, Tracy saw it all!
Last week Dave and I put on blue raincoats and rubber boots and went exploring on a dripping day with the intent to head deeper into the interior of this land. There are two beautiful wooded streams that run through the property. We stopped to admire the multitude of greens that dotted this scene with ferns lacing the sides of the stream and the deep green carpeting of moss on the rocks. In one shallow pool Dave spied a Brook Trout! There are small cascading waterfalls and groves of white birch trees. There are purple trilliums and promising feathers of young balsam furs making their way towards the sun. In one very muddy area we saw bear, deer and moose tracks.
|Varnum Pond
Growing up the family spent summers by the sea in Scarborough on the farmland once owned by my grandfather and where my mother had spent her childhood. Here I would leap onto my one speed bike and peddle like the wind on the old farm roads that ran through the fields of corn and pumpkins. In the spring my father would take us into the surrounding woods to go hunting for Lady Slippers; at times we'd find too many to be able to keep an accurate count. There were the tender, pink edged Mayflowers deep in the woods that had us dropping to our knees to bury our noses into the tiny blossoms for that intoxicating smell. There was the haunting Whip-poor-will call at night whose voice would float through the open front door as we watched Red Skelton on TV with a view of the full moon dripping from the Atlantic over Richmond Island. We had endless tide pools to explore at low tide and ocean waves to body surf at mid tide. It was the classic summer for a kid, with hazy days laid out in front of me and no agenda except to go where my curiosity or desires led me, with enough open land and a mile long beach to escape into. A luxury I took for granted back then.
And here I am, at mid-life with a mountain valley stretching out before me with no other houses in sight and a rekindling of this feeling of freedom. I am, once again, filled with curiosity and a desire to explore and discover all that exists in this new acreage that is all ours.
But, you know what? When I saw those tracks, distinct impressions of the others living on this land with us, I realized we do not own this land at all; we are, simply, the new stewards of it. We are moving into a valley that has already been the home to many others for a much longer time. I feel we will need to learn how to best fit into this new neighborhood, how to best do our construction without disturbing too much of these pristine woods and fields. To enter this sanctuary with respect for all those we share it with.
For the first time since living in Colorado back in the '70's I will spend my days away from the ocean and it's air tinged with salt brine. Instead I will have the musty, acrid smell of ferns and the call of Loons on summer nights when our doors are open and we watch the moon climb over the ridge of Varnum mountain and flood it's glow into this lovely valley.
|View of the western range from the top of Bald Mountain
Loving you all back,


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CAT – Common Admission Test for most premier MBA colleges in India has evolved from an unknown exam to the only exam most students are getting coached for. CAT is the most talked about exam among final year students in India. It promises a cozy job and other great career prospects. If you pass through the exam, you will see a white cat and if couldn't get through you would say I saw the black cat, most Indians believe in this!
Where is all this leading to? You must be thinking we know enough about CAT by now. It has sections like quant, verbal, data interpretation, logical reasoning and so on. Geeks who are good at maths, verbal and reasoning will reach the next round of selection affairs. Most of all, to make our lives miserable and difficult they also have this amazing feature called "NEGATIVE MARKING". Hey and there is more to it, CAT exam organizers realized in 2009 that students have got tech savvy and hence they introduced a computer integrated exam. How easy can it get to crack CAT?!!!??
Most of us feel like this. But, some of us feel like this….
Let me dissect CAT and understand it.
You won't find any thing organic after dissecting this type of CAT. All you will find is YOUR ATTITUDE and YOUR INNER SELF. You must be thinking why did this take the turn of philosophy. From now on, this can be titled as "CAT PHILOSOPHY".
What exactly happens if you accomplish to pass through all three rounds of the b-schools. You sit in the classrooms of the most premier institutes in India for two long years. Work your ass offff and realize that you will be placed in a comfortable job. Most of them for who this happens, are treated as a different ilk. How can these few people make it happen? It is their attitude of confronting and solving problems. People like this, just love problems. They don't run away from problems, they don't procrastinate to solve problems. They just do it.
Further dissection and diagnosis
Why are these guys paid so much? Do they have such extraordinary skills that I don't have? The answer is no. You may have skills better than the guys who graduate out of premier b-schools, but not have the right attitude. This attitude is what the b-schools and companies look for while recruiting them.
QUANT: This section is all about math. You definitely will need to have a decent understanding about numbers and math. The word 'DECENT' can be defined as mastering your 10th grade and 11th grade math chapters. Then comes application. So what you have to practice is not when you start preparing for CAT. What you have to start with is, application of these mastered math concepts and hence show your ability to solve problems.
VERBAL: If you know good literature, grammar and English then you will get through this section. Wrong again.
Test yourself. How well can you communicate or present your thoughts with simple English and with good grammar. Can you comprehend, interpret and analyze a passage in few minutes. If you can then you can crack this section.
DI & DS: With limited data can you draw inferences and understand what the problem is? This is a mindset we have to develop as a prelude to solving Math.
Smart coaching centers advise students to get a feel of this section before any other section.
LOGICAL REASONING: The phrase speaks for itself. You think you have common sense then apply it. If you don't have it, then develop it, to bypass this section.
A small attempt to give my readers a reality check about one's self.


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BELLA BELLA — A sunken tug and the subsequent diesel spill on British Columbia's central coast is prompting a rethink to emergency response that could allow those closest to the disaster to take the lead, says the federal indigenous affairs minister.
Carolyn Bennett told the Assembly of First Nations gathering in Victoria that her government has promised to work should-to-shoulder with the Heiltsuk First Nation in the waters and on the shoreline off Bella Bella that have been soiled by the fuel spill.
But she said sometimes helping may mean stepping back.
"This is about respect and not swooping in and doing something that we think is right. It is about listening to the nation and working with them," the minister told First Nation leaders.
The Nathan E. Stewart tug was pushing a barge on Oct. 13 when it ran aground and later sank. It was carrying over 200,000 litres of diesel, 2,400 litres lube oil and nearly 3,700 litres of water, oil, sludge and other engine-room contaminants called dirty bilge.
Bennett said that in the future, being ready for such events will mean having locals prepared.
"To have First Nations as first responders is going to be hugely important and they're ready, willing and able, we've just got to get on with it," she told reporters after her speech.
She said sometimes helpers show up who end up distracting the process when the community could just get on with the work.
Heiltsuk Chief Marilyn Slett said Monday that the spill is certainly a cautionary tale for preparation for coastal First Nations.
She said they are just now assessing the impact in the area.
"It's an area rich with resources and ultimately a lifeline for our community," she said, adding that she watched a humpback whale swim through a fuel slick on her most recent fly-over of the spill.
Also on Monday, the Pacific Pilotage Authority announced new measures for pilots on boats transporting petroleum cargo products.
The American-owned tug had been granted a waiver by the authority that allowed it to transit in Canadian waters without a Canadian marine pilot.
New rules tighten restrictions on waiver holders, specify that ships have two people on the bridge at all times, and subject every ship to random checks.
"The lesson learned from the Nathan E. Stewart incident and the measures introduced today will help us increase the safe, reliable and efficient marine pilotage of B.C.'s coast waters for certain vessels," said Kevin Obermeyer, CEO of the pilotage authority, in a news release.
A situation report issued Monday said two tanks containing oil or contaminants from the submerged tug off the coast of the Great Bear Rainforest were either torn open or severely damaged when the vessel ran aground.
Despite bad weather that has complicated salvage efforts, divers were able to check the bottom of the tug that sits in nine metres of water in a channel about 500 kilometres north of Vancouver.
A joint situation report issued by the tug's owner, the federal and provincial governmens and First Nations groups said divers found the lube tank torn and pumped out nothing but water on Sunday from the severely damaged bilge tank.
Tug owner Kirby Offshore Marine hopes to drain the vessel's fuel tanks and use a crane to lift it onto a barge for removal from the area.
Contaminants from the tug prompted an almost immediate closure of bivalve shellfish fisheries in Seaforth Channel and Gale Passage.


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Naftogaz suspends gas purchases from Gazprom as of July 1
11:30, 01 July 2015Economy
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NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine has suspended gas purchases from Russia's OAO Gazprom, starting from July 1, given the expiration of the 2nd quarter terms package and the absence of agreed supply conditions for the upcoming periods during the tripartite talks in Vienna on Tuesday, the company's press office reported.
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Madonna's knack for cool hunting is legendary.
She took Vogueing and Goth fashion from underground to mainstream. She even made Kabbalah cool.
Now the 53-year-old superstar is slacklining — a niche sport of walking and doing tricks on a sort of tightrope that's not tight at all. In fact, the two-inch wide band of flexible webbing is tethered so loosely that it bounces like a trampoline.
The obscure sport got some extreme exposure when Madonna introduced slacklining to the world during the Super Bowl XLVI half time show. Now she's taken it on the road as a key feature in her new MDNA tour that opened last May. She performs at the Air Canada Centre Wednesday Sept. 12 and Thursday.
During the number Hung Up Madonna walks the slackline.
Slackliner Hayden Nickell, 23, is one of the performers on tour with her. "I discovered it through rock climbing in Yosemite, California, which is the birthplace of slacklining," he says.
Nickell explains the connection between slacklining and rock climbing: "Back in the seventies rock climbers used to walk on their climbing ropes and chains to strengthen the little stabilizer muscles in their feet, knees and stomach. ," he says.
He recalls his own shaky start four years ago. "The trick was just walking — forward and backward," he says. He worked his way up to difficult jumps, spins and flips — even holding challenging yoga positions on the line — eventually being hired by Boulder, Colo.-based Gibbon Slacklines.
Other Gibbon athletes, including Nickell, Jaan Roose and Carlos Neto, are also performing during the MDNA tour.
Nickell helped coach Madonna on the sport. He remembers the lessons: "Breathe, look forward, use your arms to balance, relax, have fun." Not as easy as it looks, says Nickell, who was impressed with Madonna's determination. "She really pushes herself. She's an incredibly fast learner."
Nickell says he found it challenging to co-ordinate the music to the timing of the tricks.
He was also unfamiliar with Madonna's hits. "Her music is something I've grown to appreciate. Before I never really heard too many of her songs. I listen to a lot of rock, guitar based songs. For me it's what you're exposed to."
Over the years the sport has expanded to include "high-lining," in which the nylon band is strung high above the ground, "water-lining," and "trick-lining." There are even slacklining competitions in the U.S.
In Toronto, 24-year-old Simon Burin des Roziers heads a group of enthusiasts on Facebook called Toronto Slapliners (slackline).
Burin des Roziers, who was introduced to slacklining last January while living near the Pyrenees mountains in the south of France, moved to Toronto in June and continues to slackline in local parks.
He estimates there are 20 to 30 active slackliners in the city and he has about 130 followers on his Facebook site. Most amateurs meet with friends to try it in a park, where they'll string the line between two trees.
Nickell understands why Madonna would be intrigued by the sport.
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"She gravitates to unique things that she is interested in — she looks at the people who are doing it, how and why they're doing it and I presume she asks herself 'Is that something I'd want to do or incorporate into a show?'"
"When I first heard that Madonna wanted to include slacklining in her tour, I was absolutely thrilled. I've spent four years promoting the sport with Gibbon. But when Madonna put it in the Super Bowl — it really opened people's awareness to it and there was a mass awakening around the world."


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Magazine article Sunset
A Year's Worth of Sunset Recipes Now under One Cover
Article excerpt
A year's worth of Sunset recipes now under one cover
Keeping track of your favorite recipes in Sunset Magazine has been handsomely simplified by our newest book, the Sunset Recipe Annual, 1988 Edition.
In this first collection (Lane Publishing Co., Menlo Park, Calif. 94025; $19.95), all the food articles that appeared in Sunset Magazine in 1987 are organized in chapters according to the month when they originally appeared. Because the magazine publishes four separate editions --North, Central, South, and Desert --recipes that may not have appeared in the edition you receive will be included in this 352-page book. It's hardbound and in full color.
To help you locate a recipe, three indexes each focus on a specific categorization: the article index gives you the names of stories containing certain recipes; an index of recipes lists them by title; and the general index categorizes recipes according to ingredients.
Setting the stage for this new series, we also published a kick-off anthology of recipes taken from more than 50 years of the magazine. Called The Best of Sunset and published in 1987 ($19.95), it recaps the magazine's food history before this annual collection.
Bringing the annual together
The magazine's home economics editors and Sunset Book editors worked hand-in-hand, assembling each chapter with the completion of each magazine issue. This close relationship between Lane Publishing Co.'s magazine and book divisions is a long-standing one; our cook books are based on recipes developed for the magazine. …


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In summer we eat salads with all our meals, but in winter we tend to eat a lot of roast meats, spaghetti Bolognese and curries. How can you encourage your family to eat more vegetables, other than potatoes, in winter?
Winter is the best time of year to enjoy many vegetables that are in season during the cooler months. When it comes to soups, you can be as creative as you like.
My daughter's kindy teachers invited each child to bring in one vegetable and together they made a 'rainbow soup'. You can try this at home, letting everyone choose one or two ingredients.
Mix up your soups – try a chunky minestrone-style, using stock or diluted tomato purée as a base, or a smooth, blended version for a different texture. Season with plenty of herbs or try spices such as turmeric, fenugreek and cumin for a mild curry flavour.
When serving soup as a stand-alone meal, add protein such as legumes (tinned four-bean mix) or meat and serve with multigrain bread and cheese, or my polenta loaf (see recipe).
Egg noodles are another great way to add protein and energy to a soup.
Don't write off the humble potato. It can provide valuable energy for growing, active children, is a great source of potassium and vitamin C and can be baked, mashed or steamed.
If you must be wary of carbohydrates, look for newer varieties including Charisma, which has a lower glycaemic index, or the low-carbohydrate Bellita.
Try substituting half the potato with well-cooked cauliflower in a mash. Sweet potatoes have a lower glycaemic index and are delicious as baked wedges or a brightly coloured mash.
If you are going meat-free, you'll need to make sure your family eats enough iron, zinc and protein. Try to include tofu, legumes, nuts, eggs or dairy. If you're making a permanent change, it might be wise to consult an accredited dietitian.
You can bump up the vegie content or include sides with any meal.
Vegies should take up half the plate of the evening meal.
Try adding finely chopped spinach and grated carrot to Bolognese sauce and serve with broccoli.
Halve the chicken in a stir fry and add tofu, cashews and extra Asian greens. Add extra baked vegetables to a roast: try fennel, onions, parsnip and beetroot (tip: wrap beets in foil before baking for easy peeling).


text: Luise is a professional practitioner in Feng Shui and Chinese Astrology 4 Pillars of Destiny and has more than seven years experience. Trained in classical methods and using the principles that the environment is living and energetic she uses Feng Shui with continually inspired awe to harmonies peoples property's. She works with residential, house plan design, house selling, gardens, clutter and small businesses.


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I have spent a lot of time talking to people about depression since my post in February "Suzy Sunshine🌞"where I openly discussed my own depression. I have absolutely LOVED the feedback and discussions that my blog generated and am so happy I took that huge leap to open up and talk about something that many people struggle with.
While talking to people though, I have realized, even more, how many misconceptions there are about depression. I am devoting this blog to a few of those but will be writing more blogs on my experiences and knowledge in the future as I can see that people NEED and WANT to talk about it.
The first misconception I will address is that those people you hear say "I am so depressed" do not struggle with/suffer with depression. I know they are just using it as an expression, but it really kind of minimalizes the pain and suffering those of us who are actually suffering go through. Those of us who do, do not just randomly use this expression; we suffer in silence mostly and if we do ask for help it is just that. We say that we are struggling and need some help only to those very close to us who we trust. This is EXTREMELY hard for us though. I am better at it now that I have opened up to more people, but those suffering are generally doing it in silence.
The second misconception is that depression is something that you can just "snap out of" with the right distraction and attention. Oh how I would love it to be this easy! No matter what people say to us ("everything will work out"), do to distract us (try to get us to laugh etc), remind us of the good things ("be thankful for all you have") it, sadly, doesn't help! I wish these heartfelt gestures by friends did help, but unfortunately I end up feeling far worse as I am made to realize that "yes, everything is perfect, so why am I SOOOOOO sad all the time!!!" I know that these intentions come from the right place in your heart, but the best thing you can do is give me a hug, not ask me how I am (I'll just break down) and let me know you are there if I need you. Most people have learned to read me well and for this I am thankful.
I am in the very fortunate position of having a wonderful support network and for this I am eternally grateful!
The last misconception is about taking medications to help in treating depression. I, as I have been quite open about, am a believer in medication so want non-believers to understand that taking a medication for a mental health illness does not make you weak. Many people are uncomfortable with admitting they are are on meds but this is ridiculous. People believe the meds will "change you". If by change you you mean level things out in your brain so that you can deal with life like the average person can, then YES, they do change you. A positive change that helps you cope with life on an even level.They are not happy pills that make you feel numb and happy. If they do you are on too high a dose! Don't be embarrassed. Be proud that you are getting the help you need. If I needed help seeing should I be embarrassed to wear my glasses? It's the same thing❤
I am going to leave it at that for this blog, but those of you who have opened up to me, please pm me any time, and continue to reach out for support.
Your Simply Susan lesson the day! 😄


text: 310 East 85th Street This five-story building has three units per floor, with a mix of studio and one-bedroom apartments. It's just off the corner of Second Avenue, two blocks from the new Fairway Market, ShakeShack, and the booming 86th Street retail corridor. The No. 4, 5, and 6 subway trains are also two blocks away, and there is easy access to the 86th Street crosstown bus and the West Side. For dog owners, Carl Schurz Park Dog Run is located along the East River at 85th Street.


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The next image shows a formation of three golden shining UFOs flying above Kirk Lake, Mahopac, NY.
The witness who lives on Kirk Lake, Mahopac took a photograph of the Lake on June 12, 2016, afterwards while checking the image she saw three strange flying objects in the photograph.
Despite two UFOs in the background are not recognizable, the third UFO in the foreground is very recognizable in the image and although the object is "Motion Blur" it's clearly a flying disk.
Motion blur is the apparent streaking of rapidly moving objects in a still image. It results when the image being recorded changes during the recording of a single exposure, either due to rapid movement.
Given the fact that the UFOs were not visible to the naked eye, they must have moved at tremendous speed.
The question is whether these strange objects are man-made or not! Mufon case 77033.


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Phase Two of the Joint Hydrographic Survey of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore Commences
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05 March 2018
The second phase of a joint hydrographic survey of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) by the three littoral States – Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore – and the Malacca Strait Council of Japan officially commenced today. This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for Phase Two of the survey at the 10th Co-operation Forum1 in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, in October 2017.
2 This initiative is testament to the strong working relationship between the three littoral States and Japan in promoting safety of navigation and protection of the marine environment in the SOMS. The data collected from the survey will be used to produce more up-to-date and detailed electronic navigational charts that will improve navigational safety and enable better voyage planning in one of the busiest waterways in the world.
3 Phase Two will cover waters shallower than 30 metres within the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) from One Fathom Bank in the Malacca Strait to Horsburgh Lighthouse at the eastern entrance to the Singapore Strait. This is a continuation from Phase One, which focused on five depth-critical areas of the TSS in the SOMS.
4 Phase One of the joint hydrographic survey was completed in 2016. Phase Two of the survey is supported by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) and is expected to be completed by 2020.
<<End of release>>
1 The Co-operation Forum is one of three components of the Co-operative Mechanism on Safety of Navigation and Environmental Protection in the SOMS ("Co-operative Mechanism"). The Co-operative Mechanism is the key platform for the littoral States of the SOMS, user States, shipping industry and other stakeholders to engage in dialogue on important issues relating to navigational safety and environmental protection in the SOMS.


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Allen Iverson and DeSean Jackson Are Practically The Same
November 15, 2011 Leave a comment
Philadelphia sports and practices just don't mix. Remember back in November of 2006, when Allen Iverson missed a Philadelphia 76ers practice? Then remember the controversial press conference that took place in response to it? Practice?! Practice. You wanna talk about Practice?! Not a game…not a game. But practice?!
That day and that press conference would go onto live with the career of Iverson and the franchise for the rest of his life and the teams future for years and years to come. And six years later, the practice controversy has gotten even worse as jokes about it have been made and players, coaches, and the general public have mimicked it in several different ways.
It just never really seemed to get old and it probably never will as it's even inspired some people like Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson. Last Saturday Jackson missed a mandatory team meeting that was held for a preparation for Sunday's matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Rumors said that he missed it because he overslept, but no one knows for sure as on Monday during a press conference Jackson didn't answer the question.
As a result to missing the meeting Jackson unlike Iverson received a much harsher penalty as he would be held out of Sunday's game. Though he didn't raise his voice and repeat his words in response to missing the meeting, instead he just said that it wasn't a "chronic issue."
See now Jackson really just doesn't think; he misses a mandatory team meeting, then as a result gets benched, and then during the press conference he states that it's not a "chronic issue?" really? That's all you have to say? Who's going to repeat that for years and years to come? No one. Man, Jackson had the perfect opportunity to turn this bad incident into a better one by shining some light on the whole incident with some funny comments or an Allen Iverson practice speech variation of his own. But instead Jackson felt that the silent treatment was more necessary.
As of right now there are no further plans for punishment of Jackson as he's scheduled to play on Sunday night against the New York Giants and return to his starting wide receiver role. However I do think that Jackson needs some help and he needs it from Allen Iverson, because after hearing Jacksons response to the whole thing it's just obvious that he needs some practice, and what better person to help than Allen Iverson; the practice master.