text:
CONGRATULATIONS to
Eileen Carter-Campos!!!
There is something so special about the holidays. Doesn't matter if you celebrate Kwanza, Hanukkah, or Christmas there is no denying people tend to have pep in their step around this time of year. It doesn't look like we'll get a white Christmas here in MA but we don't need that to know that the holidays are in full swing. Storefronts are decked out with special decorations. Lights adorn trees and bushes. Christmas trees hold tightly to the top of cars. Ooohh the holidays!
Since my daughter was one we've created holiday cards for our friends and family. It's always been such a fun process, getting photos done, choosing the photos, and designing the card. I have been so busy at work securing my promotion (which happened Friday!) that I have been slacking heavy on our holiday cards this year!! I usually have pictures taken in November and I always like to aim to have the design done by December 1st. Well not this year!! Time has slipped out of my hands and I'm scrambling to get everything together!
This year we've decided to send New Years cards (which gives us more time) and I think it's a great alternative! I've gone through our address book and we'll be sending a little over 60 cards this year – ahhhh. So I've got my work cut out for me, and will be designing our cards this week!
I am so happy to be partnering with Pear Tree this year! Not only do they have fresh designs but I stand 100% behind their story:
There is a moment, it happens every day, that makes us feel like kids on Christmas morning. The anticipation of something unexpected, something special. This moment happens just before opening the mailbox, hoping for the envelope that's a little thicker, feels a little softer, and isn't branded with bulk mail bar codes. Wishing for a card, just for you.
We at Pear Tree believe in this moment. We believe that lives should be shared, with style, at prices you can afford. We believe in the power of connection. We believe in that magic moment, the pause, that makes us all just a little giddy.
The story is in all of us. The story that bonds us. The story of You, Shared.
These are a few of my favorite designs from their site:
For those of you like our family that has yet to send out their holiday cards or need to send out birth announcements, invitations, or anything in between Pear Tree is giving you a $50 credit!! Enter today!
Happy Designing!!


text:
Joe Bonamassa
+ {Bloodline}…
Every so often, a blues-rock guitarist/singer comes out of the shadows (ERIC CLAPTON, JIMI HENDRIX, JOHNNY WINTER, STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN, et al), and JOE BONAMASSA was up there with the best of them. Not only has his solo career blossomed without the need for a single, far less a hit one, his albums of ever increasing sales have rocketed the man into superstardom. Move along fellow prodigies KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD, JONNY LANG and JOHN MAYER.
Born May 8, 1977, New Hartford, New York, and a child prodigy since the age of 4, when he was given his first guitar by his parents, he was soon learning the techniques of both the aforementioned VAUGHAN and HENDRIX. Joe was destined for even greater things after he hooked up with mentor Danny Gatton, and soon afterwards, aged only 12, he opened for another great influence and legend, B.B. KING. On a subsequent sojourn to a Fender guitar gathering on the other side of America, "Smokin' Joe" Bonamassa befriended progenies Berry Oakley Jr. (son of the late ALLMAN BROTHERS bassist), drummer Erin Davis (son of MILES DAVIS) and rhythm guitarist Waylon Krieger (son of The DOORS's Robby), who were in the process of forming a new act with veteran Lou Segreti as their keyboard player; Warren Haynes of GOV'T MULE made a guest appearance.
The aptly-named Bloodline soon took to the road in 1994 (supporting the likes of LYNYRD SKYNYRD and TESLA), although an eponymous album, BLOODLINE {*4}, failed to kick-start an already doomed timespan. There was airplay for opener `Stone Cold Hearted' (a mainstream rock hit), but basically other group-penned songs were weak, derivative and centred around the powering talent of their lead guitarist; only Joe and Berry found subsequent success, the latter being part of Blue Floyd, alongside moonlighting members of GOV'T MULE.
Licking his wounds from his first band enterprise, BONAMASSA emerged from numerous session work in 2000 with the Tom Dowd-produced A NEW DAY YESTERDAY {*8}; a titled inspired by his rendition of the JETHRO TULL track. The fact that it garnered five other covers (RORY GALLAGHER's `Cradle Rock', FREE's `Walk In My Shadows', AL KOOPER's `Nuthin' I Wouldn't Do (For A Woman Like You)', ALBERT KING's `Don't Burn Down That Bridge' and Warren Haynes' contribution `If Heartaches Were Nickels'), was testament to where his heart lay – and that was strictly in the blues; the latter track featured guitarist LESLIE WEST and organist GREGG ALLMAN; RICK DERRINGER guested on the KOOPER track. Very much in the tradition of the aforementioned GALLAGHER, HENDRIX and ROBIN TROWER, Joe's own compositions also shined through; `Miss You, Hate You', `Colour And Shape' and `Headaches To Heartbreaks', topping the list.
Forsaking cover re-vamps for original co-penned material, that difficult second album, SO, IT'S LIKE THAT (2002) {*5}, pushed Joe back slightly, although it proved he was willing to try a myriad of blues styles; the 10-minute `Pain And Sorrow' was almost HENDRIX incarnate. Also highlighting some tidy back-up from rhythm section Eric Czar (bass) and Kenny Kramme (drums), BONAMASSA turned the tables once again with an album (BLUES DELUXE (2003) {*6}) that produced no less that nine blues standards. All from the likes of B.B. KING, JOHN LEE HOOKER, The JEFF BECK GROUP, BUDDY GUY, ELMORE JAMES, T-BONE WALKER, FREDDIE KING, ALBERT COLLINS and ROBERT JOHNSON.
Taking its title from an attendant BLIND FAITH classic, HAD TO CRY TODAY (2004) {*7} was significant in returning him to a rootsy blues artist (most of his songs were penned with songwriter-to-the-stars, Will Jennings), only LOWELL FULSON's `Reconsider Baby' and the ALBERT COLLINS track `Travellin' South', steeped fully in blues tradition.
Complete with a new backing band that comprised bassist Carmine Rojas, organist Rick Melick and journeyman sticksman Jason Bonham (son of John Bonham), it was no surprise then that there was a 9-minute cover of a LED ZEPPELIN track `Tea For One' on BONAMASSA's fifth album, YOU & ME (2006) {*7}. A surprise hit in the Netherlands, and next to some of Joe's best original material (from `Palm Trees Helicopters And Gasoline' and `Bridge To Better Days'), the set took in strays from CHARLEY PATTON (`High Water Everywhere'), OTIS RUSH (`So Many Roads'), BOBBY BLAND (`I Don't Believe'), SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON (`Your Funeral And My Trial'), Lefebvre-Bosmans classic `Django' and a RY COODER trad bash, `Tamp Em Up Solid'.
One thing that was clear was that BONAMASSA was no slouch in the recording process, and at an album a year and some heavy touring schedules around the world, the man's mission to give us his blues was commendable. Substituting Jason with session workhorse Anton Fig and hammered dulcimer player Bogie Bowles, Joe's chart breakthrough (UK Top 50) came through the Kevin Shirley-produced SLOE GIN (2007) {*8}. A title track originally sung by actor Tim Curry (he of Rocky Horror Picture Show fame), one could also compare Joe's re-treads of CHRIS WHITLEY's `Ball Peen Hammer', BAD COMPANY's `Seagull', JOHN MAYALL's `Another Kind Of Love', `CHARLES BROWN's `Black Night' and JOHN MARTYN's `Jelly Roll'. Turning 30 seemed to be the turning point for BONAMASSA, at least chart-wise. The double-CD concert set, LIVE FROM NOWHERE IN PARTICULAR (2008) {*7} gave him yet another No.1 Billboard Blues Album (No.136 in the main charts), while one must hear his tie-in medley of `A New Day Yesterday' and YES songs `Starship Trooper' and `Wurm'.
Just failing to breech the Top 100 but cracking the UK Top 30, THE BALLAD OF JOHN HENRY (2009) {*8} catapulted Joe's star to new levels, and, while his title track came courtesy of folklore and myth, it was all down to tradition and blues; five covers stemmed from the likes of TOM WAITS (`Jockey Full Of Bourbon'), TONY JOE WHITE (`As The Crow Flies'), TINA TURNER (`Funkier Than A Mosquito's Tweeter'), plus the NINA SIMONE number, `Feelin' Good' and Sam Brown's `Stop!'. Released that autumn, LIVE FROM THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL {*7} showed how far JOE BONAMASSA had come, and while it trawled through past glories, his take of a B.B. KING staple (`Further On Up The Road') – featuring ERIC CLAPTON – and ZZ TOP's `Just Got Paid' was riveting.
Both BLACK ROCK (2010) {*8} and DUST BOWL (2011) {*8} took Joe to his highest chart positions so far (Top 40 US and Top 20 UK), and with stars such as B.B. KING, JOHN HIATT (on his own `Tennessee Plates'), VINCE GILL (on his `Sweet Rowena') and GLENN HUGHES (for FREE's `Heartbreaker') turning up to boost their own compositions; other re-vamps came via JEFF BECK, LEONARD COHEN, OTIS RUSH, Bobby Parker, BLIND BOY FULLER and another by Tim Curry (`No Love On The Street').
In the meantime, Joe played his part in supergroup BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, a hard-rock team showcasing former DEEP PURPLE songsmith Glenn Hughes (vocals/bass), seasoned drummer Jason Bonham and DREAM THEATER keyboard player Derek Sherinian. So far, the group have released three quality sets, "Black Country Communion" (2010), "2" (2011) and "Afterglow" (2012).
Complemented by regular L.A.-based blues chanteuse, BETH HART (who'd released several solo albums), the jointly credited DON'T EXPLAIN (2011) {*6}, was another side-line to the wide-ranging talents of BONAMASSA. Strictly a contemporary blues-soul-jazz covers album, the modern-day BONNIE RAITT, firebrand Beth powers her way through timeless nuggets including `I'd Rather Go Blind', `Sinner's Prayer' and DELANEY BRAMLETT's `Well, Well'.
2012's solo DRIVING TOWARDS THE DAYLIGHT {*7} served up some further formulaic helpings of blues rock; AEROSMITH's Brad Whitford and a vocal credit for Scots-born JIMMY BARNES (on bookend `Too Much Ain't Enough Love') identified this Kevin Shirley produced album. While blues buffs might've already discovered the cat's cream from ROBERT JOHNSON, HOWLIN' WOLF, WILLIE DIXON, Joe has always implanted the odd surprise or three, this time choice covers come from TOM WAITS' `New Coat Of Paint', BILL WITHERS' `Lonely Town Lonely Street' and Bernie Marsden's `A Place In My Heart'. Like many other acts of his ilk, live double sets seemed to be a necessity, and there were no lack of substance and grit in BEACON THEATRE: LIVE FROM NEW YORK (2012) {*6} and AN ACOUSTIC EVENING AT THE VIENNA OPERA HOUSE (2013) {*6}.
A second collaboration in as many years by HART and BONAMASSA added to the man's expanding CV. SEESAW (2013) {*6} was fundamentally a covers set, with Joe providing the stylish blues licks for Beth's JOPLIN-meets-ETTA JAMES torch-lit re-interpretations of `Nutbush City Limits', `Strange Fruit', `If I Tell You I Love You', `Miss Lady' and STEVE CROPPER and DON COVAY's title track.
On the back of a concert double-CD collaboration with BETH HART, LIVE IN AMSTERDAM (2014) {*6}, the prolific BONAMASSA took his work from Nashville (augmented by songwriters James House, Jerry Flowers, Jeffrey Steele, Jonathan Cain and Gary Nicholson) to the Palm Studios in Las Vegas for his Kevin Shirley-produced solo set, DIFFERENT SHADES OF BLUE (2014) {*7}; a transatlantic Top 10 breaker. A stellar cast of musicians backed him on this occasion, namely Anton Fig (drums, percussion), Reese Wynans (keys), Michael Rhodes or Carmine Rojas (bass), Lenny Castro (percussion), plus backing singers and a horn and string section, although star of the show was Joe and his raft of vintage guitars – all 20 of them. Intro'd by a haunting HENDRIX run through of `Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)', BONAMASSA stepped up to the plate on a wide range of the blues, adding a touch of blue-eyed R&B on `Love Ain't A Love Song', `Heartache Follows Wherever I Go' and `Trouble Town', cut with a slice of honky-tonk for `I Gave Up Everything For You, 'Cept The Blues' and gospel on `So, What Would I Do'; purist blues and BONAMASSA fans were also treated by way of star tracks, `Oh Beautiful!', `Get Back My Tomorrow', `Never Give All Your Heart' and the title track.
Attributing the legends that are MUDDY WATERS and HOWLIN' WOLF, BONAMASSA gave out a history lesson in Delta blues in front of 9,000 fans in Colorado on August 31, 2014. The UK-only double-CD (or DVD equivalent) MUDDY WOLF AT RED ROCKS (2015) {*7} displayed all the usual traits of a heroic singer/guitarist whose name's already carved out somewhere in the foothills of the aptly-named Rocky Mountains. One side each of tracks inspired by his famous heroes (introduced by both blues masters talking on tape), maybe fans have heard these songs such as `You Shook Me' and `Spoonful' a hundred times or more, but never with such grandiose ferocity, and never by such an assuming star of our times – JB.
Whether a legend in his own lunchtime or the finest blues guitarist to arrive on the planet since you-know-who, Joe could lay off the need to saturate the market with concert CD/DVD packages, no matter how classy LIVE AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL (2015) {*7} was in the eyes of his many followers. Recorded at the Vienna Opera House with either acoustic backing The Huckleberries or with his electric-biased regulars, it certainly had variations on the theme and several fresh pieces, whilst its DVD included behind-the-scenes extras.
Roping in respective Nashville songwriters James House and Tom Hambridge to add another dimension to his blunderbuss boogie sound, BONAMASSA's BLUES OF DESPERATION (2016) {*7} was another glowing example of how far he could stretch his chosen genre. From the soulful `The Valley Runs Low' to the PLANT & PAGE-ish title track (and the 8-minute `No Good Place For The Lonely'), to the chugging `This Train' and the jazzy `Livin' Easy', Joe more than deserved the high esteem bestowed on him from this UK Top 3 set.
In tribute to the three Kings of the blues (BB, Freddie and Albert), another BONAMASSA bonanza of concert music was emptying the pockets of long-adoring fanbase. Double-CD, LIVE AT THE GREEK THEATRE (2016) {*7} literally swung into action (and the charts) when the axe hero played to a different boogie beat. Still, the man could do no wrong in the eyes and ears of his AOR acolytes, and if progress was dipping into nostalgia from time to time, then so be it.
Joe's conveyor belt of double-disc concert sets kept a-coming down the assembly line; another two (Nos.15 & 16) arriving in the shape of LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL: AN ACOUSTIC EVENING (2017) {*7} – featuring guests Hossam Ramzy (on Egyptian percussion) and Chinese cellist/erhuist Tina Guo – and a near covers record, BRITISH BLUES EXPLOSION LIVE (2018) {*7}; just what it said on the tin; and an exploration into the music of former YARDBIRDS axemen, JOHN MAYALL et al. Sandwiched between these all-encompassing blues extravaganzas was Joe's follow-up with BETH HART on covers album, `Black Coffee'.
BONAMASSA emerged from the studio once again a la REDEMPTION (2018) {*7}; an album that reflected the rock guitarist's inner loss and pain, whilst seeking out soulful salvation through the blues. There's a suggestion of a song cycle in the running order of the set, but that aside, he was never out of his comfort zone on best bits, `Evil Mama', `Self-Inflicted Blues', `Pick Up The Pieces', `I've Got Some Mind Over What Matters' and `Stronger Now In Broken Places'; listen out for cameos from rising country star JAMEY JOHNSON and pop/rock all-rounder DION.
Proving that his British blues base were drawn to anything their man BONAMASSA projected, the 2016-recorded LIVE AT THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE (2019) {*6} – featuring tracks from his "Blues Of Desperation" period – surprisingly dented the UK charts. Saturating the market with backlog concert sets might be essential spondulicks for record label(s), however emptying fans' pockets in these austere times could well come back to bite one on the bum.
© MC Strong/MCS Mar2013-Nov2019

subset: commoncrawl


text:
While replaying some old games on the psp I googled for High Impact games.Turns out that the team behind Secret Agent Clank is very funny.
...Isn't this a blog post? It's a nice blog post, I'll give em that. But still...
Aren't they allowed?Only reviews can't be posted from a blog other wise Articles,news opinion pieces are allowed as far as I know.
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It's part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today's pop culture.


text:
For awhile, I was longing for the end of An Atlas of Impossible Longing by Anuradha Roy. Please understand: I began reading it in the car on my way to my uncle's funeral. I read it in bits and pieces in the hotel room and on the way back to Tennessee. I fell asleep, exhausted from the trip, after only reading a page or two each night. And then, midway through, I realized that I needed to re-read the novel I was teaching for British Literature (A Christmas Carol) and quickly read Emma Donoghue's Room, which was due at the library.
So the first half went kind of slow. It probably has much more to do with my state of mind and circumstances than with the book itself. But it took me a long, long time to get into the book. I thought the author's approach was difficult to navigate. I couldn't figure out what was going on and where it was happening. There were lots of characters. Just when I figured out who was who, the next section started. By the final section, I had all the characters figured out, and most of them had died or moved on anyway.
The novel starts in India with the patriarch of the family, who chooses country life to that of the big city, and ends with the story of his granddaughter and the orphan boy with whom she was raised. I loved their stories; the preceding ones, not so much. Roy is a wonderful writer. Her images are full and palpable. The smells and sights of India are beautifully captured. I just couldn't quite connect with the characters in the first two sections. Things happened very slowly and then too quickly. But the third section felt just right.
Other novels set in India —or India and America— that I've reviewed here are:
Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman
Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
The Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
Of the six, Cutting for Stone is my absolute favorite, followed by The Secret Daughter and Unaccustomed Earth (although this collection of stories centers on the struggles of Bengali immigrants and their children in America).
Friday, January 20, 2012
Book Review: An Atlas of Impossible Longing
1 comment:
- Sam (Tiny Library) said...
Maybe this was a good book read at the wrong time? That's happened to me before, I read a book that I know logically is very good and well written, but it doesn't click with me because of what is going on in my life at that moment..
I'll keep a look-out for this one though, it sounds very good.
- January 21, 2012 at 11:24 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text: Adam McLean @ Friday 8:30pm Adam McLean is a Mount Maunganui based teacher and musician who brings an upbeat and energetic sound with catchy hooks and reggae style. Adam McLean and his band 'The Hustle' will be sure to get you moving. Tweet More in this category: « Dan Sharp @ Friday 7:30pm Ash Laforteza @ Saturday 4pm » back to top


text:
Skip to Content
Home > Patients & Visitors > Patient Privacy Policy
At Billings Clinic, we value our patients and are very careful in the way we safeguard personal health information. Our privacy notice describes our policies concerning health information and our commitment to protect the privacy of our patients.
Read our complete Patient Privacy Notice.
Helping family members and friends stay informed.
Talk to a registered nurse about your health question or get help finding a physician.
(406) 255-8400 or 1-800-252-1246
See important information from Billings Clinic on Non-discrimination and Interpreter Services.
Billings Clinic is proud to be an equal opportunity/affirmative action (EOE/AA) e-verify employer.


text:
With Jenny Feldman & David Miller
Originally broadcast on The Book & The Spade in 1990, this Israel Broadcasting Service program takes the listener from Mt. Zion (the scene of the Last Supper), to the Kidron Valley and the Garden of Gethsemane, and then back up ancient streets to the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, the traditional location of Jesus' imprisonment before His crucifixion.
tags: The Last Supper Mt. Zion Kidron Garden of Gethsemane Gallicantu
The Tomb of Pharaoh's Daughter
With Prof. Clyde Billington
The tombs located in the Kidron Valley and the Hinnom Valley around the Old City of Jerusalem have all been surveyed but many have not been given detailed scrutiny. On this program, we look at the details about one particular tomb, as reported in the January-February 2013 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review.


text:
Andy Moy started showing signs of psoriatic arthritis when he was 2 years old. But he didn't get the right diagnosis until he was 5, and he didn't get the right treatment until he was 6.
Andy and his family don't want other kids with arthritis to experience the pain and frustration that comes from that kind of delay. It's a problem that needs to be solved, they say.
To fix it, they're going right to the top—the U.S. government.
On Oct. 6, Andy, now a senior in high school, will serve as a panelist at a Congressional briefing regarding his experience growing up with psoriatic arthritis.
The briefing, titled America's Pediatric Arthritis Specialist Shortage: What it Means for Kids, Cost and Care, is organized by the American College of Rheumatology, the Arthritis Foundation and the National Psoriasis Foundation in conjunction with the Congressional Arthritis Caucus.
It will draw attention to the lack of arthritis care for children and urge Congress to support potential policy solutions, including H.R. 1859, the Ensuring Children's Access to Specialty Care Act, which would make pediatric rheumatologists eligible for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC).
The NHSC provides scholarship and loan repayment to health care providers in exchange for services in rural and underserved areas.
This bill, which has been introduced in the House of Representatives, would help ensure that children in areas that currently have no pediatric rheumatologists would have access to providers best suited to meet their needs.
Early signs of psoriatic arthritis
After all, when a mother sees her 2-year-old child in pain, she deserves some answers. Looking back, that was the first clue that Andy might have a serious condition, said his mother, Jaime Moy, who also has psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
"We would take him to the zoo, and we would carry him on our shoulders," said Jaime, recalling a family outing with her husband and Andy. "But when I put him down, he would scream in pain. His knees would buckle and he would fall to the ground. It was obviously pain."
When Andy was 4, he was diagnosed with psoriasis—after his pediatrician mistakenly told him he had ringworm. While he and his family dealt with that, the psoriatic arthritis symptoms continued to creep up. After his kindergarten teacher told Jaime that Andy was falling down a lot, they knew they had to get Andy in to see a rheumatologist.
But it was a case of hurry up and wait. The pediatric rheumatologist—an hour's drive away from their home in Michigan—had a six-month waiting list.
When it finally happened, the appointment wasn't all that helpful anyway. They were told to give Andy an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory. Finally, a year later, Andy saw a different rheumatologist who put him on a better treatment.
Waiting so long for stronger treatment did permanent damage. Andy has deformities in his hands, his hip is fused where it shouldn't be, and he's never been able to go into remission, Jaime said.
Growing up, he sometimes felt left out of things, Andy recalled.
"Thinking back to elementary and middle school, we'd go outside, we'd run around and stuff, but I was always slower than the rest of my friends, probably because of my arthritis."
He still has trouble getting out of bed, and sometimes has to ask his mom or dad to help him out. He has to miss school for doctor's appointments and even had to miss out on a robotics team competition, one of his favorite activities.
Speaking out on behalf of kids with arthritis
But Andy doesn't let things like that keep him from enjoying his senior year. He's got a great group of friends—even though he had to weed out some classmates who judged him unfairly because of his arthritis, he said.
He keeps busy with schoolwork and activities like robotics, yearbook and a club that helps international exchange students get used to life in Michigan.
Now he's getting ready to travel to Washington, D.C., for the briefing. He's hoping that hearing his story will prompt lawmakers to make important changes that will make it easier for kids with arthritis to get the best health care possible.
If Congress passes the bill, it could provide a policy solution to address access-to-care challenges and a lack of funding for pediatric specialists.
"What I'm hoping is that Congress increases funding that will directly or indirectly increase the number of pediatric rheumatologists across the country," he said.
This will mean that more doctors will be caring for patients and conducting research—research that could lead to better treatments.
Andy's nervous to testify before Congress, but he's prepared.
"This could have a huge outcome if it goes well," he said.
Driving discovery, creating community
For more than 50 years, we've been driving efforts to cure psoriatic disease and improve the lives of those affected. But there's still plenty to do! Learn how you can help our advocacy team shape the laws and policies that affect people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis – in your state and across the country. Help us raise funds to support research by joining Team NPF, where you can walk, run, cycle, play bingo or create your own fundraising event. If you or someone you love needs free, personalized support for living a healthier life with psoriatic disease, contact our Patient Navigation Center. And keep the National Psoriasis Foundation going strong by making a donation today. Together, we will find a cure.


text:
The Success Strategy
Plan ahead. Design a new strategy for your long-term success. How so? Dream big – but plan ahead for your success. Your blueprint for success deals with your dreams and aspirations, in which, the outcome is only limited by your imagination. The objective is to utilize a blueprint for which left, right turns or shortcuts can propel you forward – always think in terms to move forward. Whatever keeps you stuck in the past leave it – and move forward – to your destiny that awaits you!
Your Blueprint for Success starts the moment you decide change is required to move forward, otherwise, the stuck train stays put at the station on the continuum of your life. Change is hard. However, you can do something about it – the moment you make a choice requiring something different, i.e., a new turn of focus, realize the same pattern only produces the same results.
Acceptance is the key to your long-term success that delivers the opportunities desired, therefore, the moment awaits upon your decision to select a new blueprint for a productive plan of action.
"At the end of the day, you are the only one holding yourself back to make a choice in a different direction." – Nichel Anderson
Choices defines us all to experience the best out of life, in which, the reflection is always needed to reach long-term success. The ability is in you to focus on a blueprint that works. Your Blueprint for Success entails:
(1) Knowing your skill set: your strengths and weakness
(2) Highlight and promote your strength with a resolution for your weakness
(3) Eliminate the old patterns of behaviors, routes to no-where significantly
(4) Begin again in a different way, path, turns, and your immediate surrounding friends or family
- (Always remember if your environment doesn't support you in a positive and healthy capacity then your success can not enter your life, thus, you must remove the toxicity…it is the Law of Nature)
(5) Finally, you must find the courage and strength to move…move..don't look back…but move with your new plan of action. Your Blueprint Awaits!
"Don't stop. Keep Moving Forward. Move into your Destiny and Purpose." – Nichel Anderson
Book a Webinar or Start a Course Mentoring Life Coach: Contact Us
0 responses on "Your Blueprint For Success"
Leave a Message
You must be logged in to post a comment.


text:
Release Date: Nov 3, 2017
Record label: Black River Entertainment
Genre(s): Pop, Country, Pop/Rock, Contemporary Country, Country-Pop
For as much as artists like Margo Price and Brandy Clark are basking in the critical acclaim for their retrograde take on country music, the most daring female artists in the genre these days are those that are singing songs of empowerment and self-reliance within the trappings of a radio-friendly sound. And right now no one is doing that better than Kelsea Ballerini. The 24-year-old's second album Unapologetically has the patina of modern pop, with programmed drum beats and attention grabbing bombast.
A 24-year-old who grew up a Britney fan and now swears allegiance to Shania, Ballerini filled her 2015 debut with smack downs of Peter Pan bros and other losers, liars and users - songs that were country by virtue of the banjos and fiddles decorating their stomping choruses. When she opens Unapologetically with "Graveyard," vowing that the ghost of a broken heart won't hold her back, you can tell she's reloaded. Dial up the snare snaps of "Miss Me More" and it could be country trap.
Unapologetically is a defiant title for a sweet record, yet it also suits Kelsea Ballerini's second album. Emboldened by the success of her 2015 debut The First Time, Ballerini embraces the possibilities of being a country-pop star, expanding her sonic palette and allowing herself to seem vulnerable throughout the album. Of the two evolutions, the former is the easiest to notice, as Unapologetically is a bold, colorful record that relies heavily on gleaming electronic surfaces and drum loops.


text:
Design & Quality
TP has produced this type of compact flanges since 1989. Our engineers have long experience in designing and developing compact flanges and were responsible for writing the product standard in NORSOK L-005 and also participated in the ISO 27509 compact flange standardisation work. The TPC Compact Flange (TPC CF) is designed to meet the functional and design requirements of Chapter 4 of NORSOK L-005.
The key functional property of the TPC CF, is that it is a static connection which means that there is no relative movement between the two flange halves when in service. Due to this static condition, a leak cannot develop over time. The static behaviour also makes the flange 100% maintenance free.
The high reliability of TPC Compact Flanges allows for the use of mechanical connections in restricted areas. The use of flanged connections instead of welds, for instance towards equipment, makes maintenance and replacement a lot easier, faster and cheaper.
Compact flanges use self-energised and pressure assisted seals; the performance of such seal rings is dependent on using materials of high quality and strength.
TPConnectors' expertise in "NORSOK type" Compact Flanges is unique. TP has produced this type of compact flange since 1989. Our engineers have long experience in the design and development of compact flanges and were responsible for writing the product standard in NORSOK L-005 and have also participated in the ISO 27509 compact flange standardisation work.
The TPC Compact Flange (TPC CF) is designed to meet the functional and design requirements of Chapter 4 of NORSOK L-005. The TPC CF can be delivered from our product standard in pressure classes CL150 (PN20) to CL2500 (PN420) and in nominal pipe sizes ½" to 48". Compact Flanges are also available outside the product standard, both in terms of size and design pressure as explained under special CF designs.
The key functional property of the TPC CF, is that it is a static connection which means that there is no relative movement between the two flange halves when in service. Due to the static condition, a leak cannot develop over time. The static behaviour also makes the flange 100% maintenance free.
The flange face includes a slightly convex bevel with the highest point, called the heel, adjacent to the bore and a small outer wedge around the outer diameter of the flange. The NCF5 is made up by tightening/tensioning the flange bolting which pulls the two connector halves together.
For the seal ring, axial forces are exerted on the taper of the metal seal ring and translated into a sealing force. Furthermore with increased pre-load, the bevel is closed and face to face contact is achieved at the outer wedge while most of the bolt pre-load is transferred as compressive forces between the flange faces at the heel.
The principle design of the flange face includes two independent seals. The first seal is created by application of seal seating stress at the flange heel. The flange also remains in contact along its outer circumference at the flange faces for all allowable load levels. The main seal is the seal ring. The seal ring force is provided by the elastic stored energy in the stressed seal ring. Any heel leakage will give internal pressure acting on the seal ring inside intensifying the sealing action.
The design aims at preventing exposure to oxygen and other corrosive agents. This prevents corrosion of the flange faces, the stressed length of the bolts and the seal ring.
The back face of the flange in the made-up position is parallel to the flange face in order to prevent bending of the bolts in the assembled condition.
Compact Flanges can be used in any application where other types of pipe connector traditionally have been used. In addition, TPC Compact Flanges can be used in areas where welded connections are normally required. The high reliability of TPC Compact Flanges allows for the use of mechanical connections in restricted areas. The use of flanged connections instead of welds, for instance towards equipment, makes equipment maintenance and replacement a lot easier, faster and cheaper.
Due to the static behaviour of «NORSOK type» compact flanges and the high reliability, the TPC CF can be used in critical dynamic applications such as in dynamic offshore riser systems. The static condition also give very good fatigue resistance which will always make the flange better than the adjoining weld. The TPC CF is superior to other connectors also in extreme low temperatures and in extreme high temperatures.
Due to the flange's compact design with low weight and small diameter, module and skid designers can design more compact modules/skids which is beneficial in many ways. One important example is offshore lifting of modules either to a platform or to a subsea location, where weight and space is crucial to keep installation cost down.
TPC Compact Flange components
The TPC Compact Flange, TPC CF is available in all normally used flanged components in all nominal sizes and pressure classes; Weld Neck (WN), Swivel flange (SW), Integral Flange (IF), End Fitting (EF), Blind (BL), Paddle Blank (PB) and Paddle Spacer (PS), Orifice Spacer (OS), Rigid Interface (RI) and Reducing Threaded (RT).
Seal rings
TPConnectors produces high quality metal seal rings for compact flanges. The seals available are of type IX for standard process piping applications and special types for subsea applications and other demanding applications such as extreme temperature. The seal type for compact flanges are self-energised and pressure assisted; the performance of such seal rings is dependent on using materials of high quality and strength. The deformation controlled functionality demands that strict dimensional tolerances are met, something our machine shop has 25 years of experience in achieving.
The seal rings are available with coatings selected to suit the functionality of sealing for compact flanges. For subsea use, we will recommend our silver coated seals which is a very robust solution giving an extremely good and everlasting sealing performance. For topside applications, we recommend using MoS2 based dry film coatings. The seal rings used in TPC CFs are designed to be high reliability metal to metal seals and the use of PTFE type coatings is not recommended.
Special CF designs
TPConnectors can supply tailor made compact flange designs for a wide range of applications outside the area of NORSOK L-005 / ISO27509 flanges. This includes first of all subsea applications, but also for use in high pressure, high temperature systems designed to API 17 TR8.
TPC Compact Flanges are available, designed for extreme low temperatures utilising austenitic stainless steel bolting and for extreme high temperatures utilising nickel alloy bolting.
Compact flange designs can be supplied to meet the client's special requirements in terms of space and weight limitations, load carrying capacity for static and dynamic loads as well as for special installation requirements, such as in diver assisted assemblies.
Flanges suitable for "spec brake" locations are available. This may be connections between two pressure classes, and or two nominal pipe sizes (enlarging and reducing flanges).
Test ports
TPC Compact Flanges can be delivered with test port for seal integrity testing. Two types of test ports are available, back seal test ports and inter seal test ports. In the case of a back seal test port, an additional O-ring is introduced outside the seal ring such that the seal ring can be reverse tested. In the case of an inter seal test port, testing is performed between two of the flange seals.
TPConnectors can offer many services associated with our products. For equipment manufacturers who will produce their equipment with an end connection of either compact flange or clamp connector type, TPC can supply machining drawings as well as calculations including non-linear Finite Element Analysis to specified codes and standards.
Our experienced engineering team can assist in finding the best technical solution for a certain application and together with pricing and delivery information guide the client to the best total solution.
In our test facilities we can perform the required pressure testing of any pressure components we deliver.
Other services we offer include training in assembly of compact flanges and clamp connectors and also on-site supervision.
The engineering team at TPConnectors has long experience in design and development of pipe connectors for different applications. Our technical manager, Sjur Lassesen, joined SteelProducts Offshore (SPO) in 1998 and has since then headed the development of the compact flange concept into what it is today, a versatile and unique high integrity, high capacity connector with a reliability no other pipe connector can give.
Design calculations, analysis and documentation can be performed to all applicable codes and standards such as ASME VIII div.2, API 6A/17D, API 17 TR8, ISO 13628-7, EN-13445-3 and DNV OS-F101 & F201.
Flanges and connectors for subsea use and made from duplex materials, will be designed to meet DNV-RP-F112 to show required HISC resistance.
See also Services for more.


text:
Separate names with a comma.
Discussion in 'Hunting, Fishing & Camping' started by ubimow, Aug 25, 2002.
I am wondering if a head shot at close range with a 9mm would kill a coyote easily?
In my opinion it would,but I don't think you can get close enough for a head shot.
9mm isn't a very good caliber if you're wanting to keep the pelt as it will pass straight through a coyote at pistol ranges. if your just looking for something to kill a trapped coyote or put one down that you've wounded a 22lr will be just fine at 15 yards or so.
if you just have some coyote pests a 9mm to the chest will definately drop them if you can hit 'em. coyotes aren't as stout of animals as most people think. their bone and muscle is pretty weak. how much power do you really need to kill a 25-30lb dog at 20 yards?
ahhhhh the coyote question on another board. Coyotes are much stronger then people give them credit for. Head shots in my opion is not only a bad choice of targets but the 9mm for coyote is a bad choice for hunting coyote. Taking a head shot can hurt the coyote and yet not kill him, leaving him to run around in p** poor shape. Hunters should always use enough gun to take the game their after not maybe enough gun. We have enough trouble with the anti-hunting crowd without a coyote with a jaw hanging down running around with a 9mm slug in him. Do yourself, me and the coyote a favor and use ENOUGH gun, i.e... .357 mag and up or .222 and up. Rimfires and 9mm's do not have a place in coyote hunting.
my boss knows these guys personally. i have watched their video and they really know what they are doing. both john henry and vic use the .17 remington. if you watch the video you'll understand why. the guy makes some truly amazing shots, on cue.
lot of good info on coyotes from guys who have killed more than most people have even seen.
We see coyotes around Seattle suburbs regularly.
Almost hit two of them last night hunting rabbits along a canal.
How can a 9mm not kill a coyote given decent shot placement (not just head). You are talking about a round that is used against man size targets.
it can kill a coyote just fine, but it depends on the purpose that you are using it for. like was said above 9mm isn't that great to hunt coyotes. i think you would do just fine under 40 yards. if you can hit the vitals. coyotes don't have the muscle mass or bone structure to require mass amounts of energy to penetrate. if you poke a 124gr bullet only a few inches into one's chest it is over.
While I have to agree that a 9mm isn't a good coyote hunting gun if you are concerned about the pelt, I have to take issue with your comment about it not having enough power. It's simply not true. A .22lr will reliably kill a coyote if you hit it in the vitals. That's what all the old farmers used for dispatching coyotes that got too close to the farms back home, and I have personally seen several clean kills and no wounding (given a well placed shot to the heart/lungs). My dad shot a coyote with his .380 last year, and the 90 grain HydraShok dropped it in it's tracks. A 9mm will easily take a coyote, even if the hit isn't perfectly placed.
guys this discussion has been hit on about every hunting board that i've visited. i'm surprised that so many people think the 22lr is a good coyote choice. a 9mm would be fine if shooting for a "vital" shot at 20 yards and under but that's it! a .22lr should never be use to hunt coyotes unless you have one in a trap and need to dispatch it. my whole point is this... a coyote is a LOT stronger then people and hunters give it credit. why shoot any animal with a gun that might kill it? sure a .22lr will kill a yote, deer, human, bear, etc... if fired exactly right with all the right conditions and the target is holding it's mouth right... but why??? use a .223 or a .222. You won't hurt the pelt if you use a bullet like the V-max bullet which only penetrates 12-14". Hunters are looked at bad enough without a bunch of yote's running around crippled by .22lr rounds and 9mm rounds. Not to mention that no animal should suffer because your lack of caliber choice.
So you guys think a 9mm isn't enough to take a coyote but a .17 or .22 is? And what color is the sky in your world?
A 9mm hollow point will take out a coyote with no problem unless you shoot him in the tail. If you can pull off a head shot on one that hits the top of his head and not his nose he will drop instantly. A body shot anywhere in the chest should drop one on the spot. A 9mm carbine would make a fine coyote killer out to 100 yards.
When I bow Hunt,,, I some times see a deer running by at full bore and then the dogs running behind. A nine is great for dogs. Aim for the chest, the heads is two small for a moving target.
O U asked about coyotes, I like coyotes and have not had any problems with them. I only see a stray once in a wile. I have never felt threatened by coyotes and they look neat.
I guess I should specify why I was going to shoot a coyote with a 9mm. I had one trapped in a box type trap and wanted to kill it quickly. My choices were the 9mm and a 12 ga. shotgun. Of course I choose the shotgun but I was just curious if the 9mm would work.
Be careful of the shrapnel blowing back at you and take more ammo than you think you'll need. Killing things do not all ways go as planed.
what year is this??
Found online:
The coyote has the appearance of a medium-sized dog or a
small German Shepherd. Coyotes are about one and a half to two
feet tall and between forty-one and fifty-three inches long.
Weight ranges from twenty to fifty pounds.
20 to 50 pounds and you wonder if a 9mm isn't good enough. There may be accuracy issues depending on the platform, and it will mess up the hide, but it will work...
Have you ever popped a 'yote broadside with one of those V-Max loads? I did, and the whole snowy hillside behind him turned red. Coulda dropped a softball in the exit hole -- and LOST it. Pelt damage? WHAT pelt!
Fast-expanders are fine for called critters, where the shot is front-to-back, or back-to-front as they attempt to depart the area (a "Texas heart shot" ;f), but not for broadside shots. VERRRRRY messy on occasion. I prefer .223 FMJs and headshots when possible; body shots to the vitals will kill them, just not right away, so just plan on some hiking if they're fired-up when you pop'em in the body.
Good idea, but hunting with FMJ ammo is illegal in many states. Be sure to check and see that it is legal in your area before using it. I'm assuming that the original poster already has, so this is more of a warning for those reading the thread.
Excellent point that I failed to mention, PlasticGuy. It's okay where I live for fur animals and varmints, but not for big game; can't even legally have FMJs with you while deer hunting.
If FMJs are NOT a legal option, I'd go with heavy-for-the-caliber softpoints, designed for bigger game; on small-bodied critters, they'd probably perform similarly to a FMJ.


text:
Cries from the Jungle
Sir: "Pink Jungle" [June 16]. How could you do it! American men should know better, but any non-American reading that article would really be convinced that all American women are naught but a flock of foolish painted sheep. Also, unlike a decent, useful flock of sheep who always know their shepherd, we can't even be sure who is the crazy shepherd of the painted flock.
For the millions of us who aren't like thatI'm mad !
DOROTHY T. GIBNEY Hempstead, N.Y.
Sir: I wonder if La Pompadour went to bed all gooked up? If not, how ever did she get...
To continue reading: or Log-In


text:
Houston Extended Stays and Apartments
Downtown Houston's Premier Hotel for Extended Stays and Apartments
Planning an extended stay in Houston – or searching for the city's best private luxury apartments? Look no further than Four Seasons to meet both of those needs – and beyond.
Let our downtown Houston Hotel serve as your fully customized home away from home, with round-the-clock personal service, state-of-the-art amenities and the ultimate in comfort. Your deluxe city apartment, with all the benefits of a Four Seasons lifestyle, awaits.
Whether visiting for a weekend, a week, six months or longer, our downtown Houston private luxury apartments are ideally suited to the following:
- Extended stays
- Medical stays
- Business stays
- Relocation
- Group getaways (girls' and guys' weekends)
- Guests seeking private apartment amenities, including full kitchen
- Guests interested in leasing options
When you book an extended stay or apartment at Four Seasons Hotel Houston, we take care to anticipate your every need.
To reserve your Houston extended stay or apartment, contact our Sales Team by email or call 1 (713) 650-1300.


text:
Symptoms of a stomach bug or flu typically last from one to three days, according to WebMD, though they may last longer in some cases. Healthline indicates that some forms of stomach viruses may show symptoms for up to 10 days. Cramps, diarrhea and vomiting are the most severe symptoms.
Stomach bugs typically aren't serious, though there are risks of dehydration, WebMD states. Infants and the elderly face greater risks from stomach bugs. Nausea, headaches, fevers and sore muscles are other possible symptoms with a stomach virus, according to Healthline. Drinking plenty of fluids while symptoms persist is important to protect against dehydration.


text:
Part No: V124
Category: Tasso
Model: (90)
Weight: 0.250
Tasso vintage horn for RALLY body kit. AC type.Tip : When fitting to LML Star use grey wire from buzzer as this is an AC supply. The grey wire originally connected to the std horn is a DC supply.
>> View Parts Diagram <<


text:
June 15th, 2017 is World Tapas Day. Come to Mediterraneo to celebrate with some of our favorite Spanish Tapas. We've just updated our menu with some of our classic tapas, as well as some new, exciting blends of classic Mediterranean ingredients. Most of our seafood is imported fresh from the Mediterranean Sea on the day it was caught, so your palate can be transported to a romantic place along the coast of Spain.
Check out our dinner menu Spanish tapas and our lunch menu Spanish tapas.


text:
May 14, 2018 at 05:00PM Twitter Chat - #FNIchat #TwitterChat Visit https://t.co/IrsjE1hjIO for more events.
This baby was the show-stopper at our Thanksgiving table -- and we've been gobbling it up ever since. Make it the star of the rest of your holiday suppers with a simply roasted pork tenderloin or grilled chicken breast. Save leftovers to fold into an omelette in the morning.
Yield: 4-6 cups , Prep time: 20 minutes , Cook time: 10-20 minutes


text:
The federal government plans to place limits on short-term health plans that have become increasingly popular in the era of the Affordable Care Act, the health care reform law also known as Obamacare.
Currently, these plans offer coverage for nearly a year, but lack many of the provisions of more comprehensive health coverage required of plans sold under the law. For example, they may not cover:
- Maternity care
- Mental health care
- Prescription drugs
- Pre-existing medical conditions
Sellers of short-term plans also can cap the maximum amount they will pay out in coverage, a practice forbidden in Obamacare-compliant plans.
The government is cracking down on short-term health insurance plans in hopes of boosting policies sold on the insurance marketplaces created under Obamacare. According to a CNBC report, short-term plans continue to grow in popularity and are "siphoning off healthier customers from coverage sold both on government marketplaces and outside those exchanges."
As part of the government's proposed changes, consumers would be limited to purchasing short-term plans that offer coverage for just three months. Unlike at present, consumers would not be allowed to renew these policies.
The move is intended to drive more people away from short-term health plans and into Obamacare-compliant plans sold on the federal (healthcare.gov) and state health insurance marketplaces, or sold directly through insurers.
According to a Kaiser Health News report:
The government said these changes were necessary both to ensure that consumers have "meaningful health coverage" and that the short-term plans would not siphon away healthy people from other insurance plans that comply with the ACA. An exodus of healthy people could lead to increasing premiums for the remaining people in plans sold on healthcare.gov and on state marketplaces.
For more on health insurance coverage, read, "Top 5 Reasons You Could Pay More for Health Insurance Coverage in 2017."
What do you think of the government's move to restrict access to short-term health coverage? Sound off in our Forums. It's the place where you can speak your mind, explore topics in-depth, and post questions and get answers.
Find the right financial adviser
Finding a financial adviser you can trust doesn't have to be hard. A great place to start is with SmartAsset's free financial adviser matching tool, which connects you with up to three qualified financial advisers in five minutes. Each adviser is vetted by SmartAsset and is legally required to act in your best interests.
If you're ready to be matched with local advisers who will help you reach your financial goals, get started now.


text:
Earn points toward FREE PIZZA with Piece of the Pie Rewards
More About Domino's Near Essex
Get Faster, Fresher Pizza Near Essex
When your stomach grumbles for a slice of meaty, veggie-loaded, cheesy goodness, we know you're not craving any old pizza near Essex. You want a scrumptious pizza prepared with a flavorful tomato sauce, generous heaps of mozzarella and asiago, expertly diced pepperoni, and a hand-tossed crust that's been baked by experts. You want a slice of the perfect pizza. You want Domino's.
At Domino's near Essex, it's never been easier to get the fast and fresh pizza your tastebuds are begging you for! Visit your nearest Domino's location to place a carryout order, give us a call, or order your pizza online!
Get started by selecting your favorite crust. Choose from a hand-tossed crust that's overflowing with buttery flavor, a gluten-free crust, a crunchy thin crust, or a pan pizza crust that's loaded with two layers of melted cheese! Then, choose your sauce and your favorite pizza toppings. Pick as many as you want! Whether you're a serious fan of mushrooms and spinach or love spicy pepperoni and tangy asiago cheese, your nearest Domino's location has it all.
With millions of different ways to craft a single Domino's pizza (yes, we said millions and we mean it), you can be sure we have a slice that suits your tastes. Build your own pizza from scratch or choose from one of our specialty pizzas, like the popular MeatZZa™, Honolulu Hawaiian, or Memphis BBQ Chicken, and have it delivered to your door today, fast!
We Deliver, You Eat: Pizza Delivery Near Essex
At your Domino's near Essex, we don't take pizza delivery lightly. How serious? So serious that we'll guarantee your pizza arrives at your doorstep hot and fresh, straight from our oven. Use our patented Pizza TrackerⓇ to follow the progress of your pizza order from the time it's placed till it arrives at your doorstep… and try to keep your drool from falling onto your keyboard or phone in the meantime.
Want More? Get Wings, Sandwiches & Pizza Takeout Near Essex
We deliver pizza pretty darn fast, but we're also rockstars when it comes to lightning fast pizza takeout near Essex. When you visit, feel free to order from our pizza menu or order something entirely new! Make the whole family happy with one of our handcrafted sandwiches, oven-baked pastas, tasty bread bites, fresh salads, and even sweet, dangerously delicious desserts like Cinna StixⓇ, chocolate cake, and cookie brownies.
With over 12,000 stores around the world, we know what it means to provide excellent customer service and the best quality food. We think it's our calling to not only be the best pizza delivery company in Massachusetts, but also the world, and everything from our money-saving pizza coupons to our considerate delivery drivers reflects this commitment. Go digital and place your order using our free smartphone app, order online, or call your local Domino's restaurant near Essex for satisfyingly fast pizza delivery and carryout today! We aren't like every other pizza restaurant. We're your favorite pizza place near Essex!


text:
Sabbatical came to an end, and with it the spare time and reflective capacity for regular blogging. This makes me sad, and my new year's resolution is to communicate far more on this blog, for there are many brilliant projects I would love to share with you and hear your input on. In lieu of a proper narrative post, I am going to give you what has become known as a listicle; a list of all the books I read this year, on trains, planes and late at night, when I wasn't reading articles or academic books. The Holocaust novels were work books, but the rest were read for pleasure, if only, I fear, the childish pleasure of sneering, in some cases.
(Last year's Friday Reads are here.)
Novels about the Holocaust
Der Siebente Brunnen, by Fred Wander was probably the best, Ruth Klüger's unterwegs verloren was as well as a memoir of post-Holocaust damage, a salutory warning about life in the German studiesacademic trade. Also, Chasing the King of Hearts, by Hanna Krall, a Polish Holocaust melodrama; Jakob der Lügner, Der Boxer and Bronsteins Kinder by Jurek Becker, who is schmaltzy and strangely sad, and Nackt under Wölfen by Bruno Apitz, now fallen out of favour owing to having been a communist. I cannot say I recommend the novel, precisely, but I do think it is a fascinating phenomenon. Also Mendelssohn is on the Roof, by Jiri Weil, a Czech survivor, an unbearably beautiful and elegant Holocaust novel about the occupation of Prague. Read it.
Otherwise, novels in rough order of reading:
Translated by Jamie Bullock: Birgit Vanderbeke, The Mussel Feast, a timeless classic about a domineering father, perhaps a little dated thanks to its link to the fall of the Wall, but then not.
– The Taste of Apple Seeds, by my beautiful ex-DAAD-lektorin, Katherina Hagena, who fed my imagination with German Romantic water nymphs and lent me a bike in Hamburg in 1997. A satisfying family saga with a happy ending, drenched in the atmosphere of the apple country around Hamburg.
Capital, by John Lanchester: Why don't people write capacious nineteenth-century Trollope-esque books any more, critics cry? Well, now they do, in spades, and they clank and creak and groan with their oldfashionedness. In Capital, Asians are all hardworking corner shop managers or impressionable young terrorists, bankers are wankers and African refugees clever, hard-working and doomed. The property bubble serves as a metaphor for the British nation, except when deserving people inherit the unearned wealth. Very, very readable, and certainly an improvement on the dreadful December, where Sebastian Faulks tried the same trick from a sour rightist perspective.
Room, by Emma Donoghue. Why not take the tragic Fritzl case, strip it of all its political aspects, set it in milchtoast American suburbia, and turn it into an allegory for attachment parenting? Because you'd get this mawkish book.
Claustria, by Régis Jauffret. A far darker, nastier, more political retelling of the Fritzl story. I am still not convinced that it is a story worth re-telling.
Poor Miss Finch, by Wilkie Collins. LOFELY FEENCH, a beautiful rustic English maiden, is blind! With a terror of the colour blue! And then she falls in love with a man who TURNS BLUE! And then she's cured of her blindness, so his NON-BLUE TWIN must masquerade as him! Poor Miss Finch! This is a great book.
Metropole, by Karinthy Ferenc. This was a random Kindle purchase, but perhaps the best book of the year: elegant Hungarian modernist allegory of the absurd and the existential in the city, Miéville meets Kafka meets Zamyatin. Excellent, and wonderfully translated by George Szirtes.
The Devil I Know, by Claire Kilroy. Another elegant allegory, this one of the Celtic Tiger. Also wonderful, and genuinely unheimlich in parts, with the devil dancing rings around Howth Head.
The Mill for grinding old people young, by Glenn Patterson. A Belfast historical novel that I wanted to love, and that sung with description, but didn't really speak to me.
Dotter of her father's eyes, by Mary M. Talbot. Graphic memoir about her own life story interwoven with Lucia Joyce's. I enjoyed it, but my Joycean knowlege is too coloured by the O'Brien Nora biography for me to buy Talbot's sympathetic portrayal of Lucia as a victim at the hands of her uncaring father. By all accounts I have read, Lucia was very sick and Jim did his absolute best to support her independent and creative life.
The Casual Vacancy, by J. K. Rowling. Now if you are going to do latter-day nineteenth-century bourgeois novels, this is how to do them: with a searing Labour-driven rage about social injustice, vile and horribly real teenagers, the toxins of snobbery and the nastiness of the housing market, in a wee English town. Much, much better than Harry Potter, and a real treat.
The Soldier's Song and his two lachrymose companions, by Alan Monaghan. Irish First World War saga. Excellent comfort reading in the dog days of summer.
Railsea, by China Miéville. He quits the discredited Socialist Workers Party, he writes rollicking classics like these. He's on a roll. Hooray for Miéville.
Far North, by Marcel Theroux: A dystopian fantasy too icy to melt my heart. And one that makes little emotional sense, saving as it does its brutalised heroine's innocence to the end. But well put together, if you like that kind of thing.
The Dinner, by Hermann Koch, because it was a quid on the Kindle. A Dutch Lionel Shriver. This is not a compliment.
A Few Green Leaves , by Barbara Pym. WILL the village spinster marry the vicar? I am sure none of us can wait to find out!
Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Now THIS, this is what excellent middle-brow fiction is all about. Hilarious, absorbing, political, internetty, sexy, with good fashion and astute observation of displacement, adolescence, America, Nigeria. I wanted it never to end.
1913: The Year before the Storm, by Florian Illes. Illes made his name with a pop book called Generation Golf, and this drops just as many brand names, only this time they are modernists – Mahler! Mann! Proust! – instead of 80s consumer gadgets. But the effect is the same.
TransAtlantic, by Colum McCann: about the arduous crossings between Ireland and America, of one family's story and the unexplored undersides of transnational Irish history. I adored its unhurried but absorbing tales: the link between Frederick Douglass and the unimaginable horrors of the Famine, the first airmen's adventures and the devastation left behind by the Troubles. Then I read a review that pointed out it was more than a little sugary and uncritical, and felt a little ashamed of myself. However. I enjoyed it immensely.
Freedom, by Jonathan Franzen: Oh, Franzen, your questionable Kraus Project, even if it does focus on Austro-Hungarian modernism, has done little to endear your writing to me. Guess what? Locking yourself in a room away from the internet does not seem to yield brilliant insight into a world of literature and imagination! I fear that such celebrated isolation might instead produce smug and introverted fiction that is witless about reality. Freedom is supposed to be another neo-realist novel that saves plot and character from the clever-clever onslaught of postmodernism, but unlike proper C19 novels, and unlike Lanchester and Rowling, not one of his Mid-Western characters has to worry about money. I repeat: the novel is a State of the Nation take on the Dilemma of Freedom, but without money constraints. It's the worst kind of white man's fantasy about human nature. Franzen, please recall: from Austen to David Lodge, the motor of the bourgeois novel is money, who has it, who inherits it, who steals it, who dies for lack of it. Also, your writing style is leaden and your book is far, far too long.
Leaving the Atocha Station, by Ben Lerner: one of the neo-cosmopolitan novels written by young brilliant Americans in the wake of Teju Cole. Chilly, perhaps frozen by history; it is a good book, drenched in booze and sex and intellectual failure, but not a perfect one.
Rivers of London and all her foxy daughters, by Ben Aaronovitch. I am late to this party, but what a party it is. I and the rest of the planet adore these books. You like silly fantasy? You like escapist Londony fiction? You like Miéville but could do without the pompous intellectual fireworks? Run, don't walk.
Mr Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan. But run AWAY from this one. If Mr. Penumbra had been published fifteen years ago, it would have been called an Internet Novel, because it's all about the tussle of Google versus the Book. Nowadays, all novels are internet novels, so it has lost its novelty. This is NaNoWriMo-esque drivel, featuring a nerd, a manic pixie dream girl and a Mysterious Magic Bookshop, reconciles Google and the novel overnight in a sugary marriage not unlike the end of Metropolis. Mr. Penumbra makes me sorry about the future of the novel; the Kindle hasn't killed it off, but what has it done to impressionable writers' skills?
The Property, by Ruta Modani. Israeli graphic novel about a family returning to Warsaw to try and claim the family home. Bittersweet, with some vicious satirical bite, and quite a bit of sentiment. The love stories overwhelm the politics, in the end; how very heartwarming.
Long Walk To Freedom, by Nelson Mandela. Read just before he died. It is somewhat hard work, and you can tell when the editor pleads with the inveterate politician to put in some personal colour among the endless committee meetings, but gosh, it is an education. Essential.
In Love's Place, by Etienne Van Heerden. A serendipitous discovery; I wouldn't have read this if I hadn't met Van Heerden at an event in Bloemfontein, but I actually think it's rather good. Sombre, reflective, sprawling saga of post-apartheid life in Cape Town and the impoverished badlands thereabout.
NW, by Zadie Smith: some called this a daring modernist experiment; I say that modernism is a hoary old box of tricks invented a hundred years hence, and NW reprises some of them without any great aesthetic innovation. The heart of this novel, about a working-class Londoner's education as a lawyer and the vicious multiple obstacles put in the way of poor black kids, is wonderful, the rest could go and hang out in Lanchester's Capital. Definitely worth it, but perhaps would be better as an incisive novella, not a baggy Smithy novel.
When We Were Bad: A Novel, by Charlotte Mendelssohn. Family saga in Jewish North London. Funny, somewhat truthful and absorbing, if a little heartwarming in the end.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, by Helen Fielding. Oh, we all love Bridget. We love her most pissed and on Twitter, and least having a mawkishly perfect relationship with her angelic posh moppet children, but she's still always great fun to hang out with.
Stoner: A Novel , by John Williams, the Rediscovered Classic of the year. Beautifully sombre mid-century modernism, and the pains and truths of a life in academic literary studies unfolded. Stoner never publishes but the one book, the book of his thesis, and he dies holding the book, all alone. Nonetheless, his students love him and Stoner truly believes in letters; perhaps that belief and that love is all a life needs. I can see why John McGahern loved this novel. A truly great novel would have turned to look at the nasty gender and race issues that it pushes aside in favour of the white male American tragedy, though.
The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt: endlessly self-indulgent, dear, and with that ghastly middle-brow fascination with high art. Stop telling me how wonderful the seventeenth-century painting is, how noble the unworldly furniture restorer, how vile Las Vegas is and how poetic your tiresome drunk Russian teen. Stop talking, Donna. Now look around. Where has your plot gone? Is it about that manic pixie dream girl? That terrorist event in New York? That implausible painting heist? Stop and think. Oh, all right then, don't bother, just keep on chundering out those drug-addled monologues. Everyone will buy you and review you anyway.
Another Country, by James Baldwin, my current read. Blistering mid-century modernism that turns around and snarls brilliantly, queerly in Stoner's lumpen mid-western face. While freshening everyone's drink, of course, because that is what everyone does even in the most luminous and scorching of mid-century modern American novels.


text:
Toyotech Engineering Sdn Bhd (TTE) was incorporated in Nov 1999 and in Mar 2000 started it's operations to provide a calibration services for electrical and electronic instrument with latest calibration technology. TTE is a subsidiary company of Toyotech Co. Ltd. Which is one of the well know calibration services provider in Japan. (click here)
In May 2003, TTE obtained accreditation of MS ISO/IEC17025 awarded by Malaysia Laboratory Accreditation Scheme for electrical calibration. (click here)
In Nov 2010, TTE are recognized under the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooporation Mutual Recognition ILAC MRA (click here)
President: Hidetsugu Yamaki
The Company was founded in the "Akihabara" Electric Town in the world, as a pure technology company that does not have a color maker for over half a century series until today, we are developing a high-quality operating activities.
Resale products utilizing the features of Sale (Used with warranty), recycled products (no guarantee), which exhibit more than 2000 stock at all times no less popular as a new corner, please visit us at any time, especially for the hand.
In addition, in Akihabara because there are many customers who need to collect information and consultation of various countries on the instrument, we are focusing on concierge measurement, Historic Gallery, service shops (such as center and calibration repair), but this service multipurpose .
Flush anything in mind the "one-stop shop", so we aim to trading in order to help in the future if everyone on the instrument that, thank you means.


text:
Thank you so much to BLUECAT85 for this Lacey Retreat Romper, along with the kind words you said. You…you're too kind, and I really appreciate it. Thank you so much.
And thank you to Nov07chick for this lovely dress…you said it would look good on Amber, which I completely agree with, but lord, this dress is made for an elder woman! She's not quite there yet, but one day, one day…she will. ;~; There are no words. Thank you so much.
I never said goodbye.
Casting my head to the side, I brushed my fingers along the hem of the worn down couch I was curled up on, sighing heavily.
It had been nearly three years. Three years without his face around every corner, three years without his warm, gentle smile in biology class, and, the one that hurt the most, three years without someone looking at me with anything in their eyes but disdain. But then again, anyone could call his affection toward me a last minute ploy for attention before he left. Perhaps, knowing how much I liked-no, loved-was it love? I don't know, but regardless, everything he did for me, said to me, and the things he made me feel especially, could've all been fake…but I guess I'll never know, will I?
My heart felt heavy as I dragged my eyes up from the floor to scan the room I'd been sitting in since this morning. It was dark, but the light behind me fed enough light into the rundown room for me to see a decent outline of things. As usual, the first thing my eyes fell on was the stupid tv perched on a crate, right in front of the beat up couch that I somehow always ended up on. It hardly even worked, minus the first three channels, and all it was for was for show…if even that. It just kind of sat there and made an awful buzzing noise all day.
Next, I pulled my eyes over to the kitchen to my right. The counters were littered with dirt, grime, and empty bags of different things. We never had any food in the apartment, so my boyfriend usually grabbed some food on his way home from…wherever he spent the day. I wasn't actually sure what he did, but it paid for the apartment that he let me stay in and fed me, eh, every few days, so it was good enough.
After looking around for a bit, it became too much. I found that thinking about too much these days was overwhelming because it left me with too many unanswered questions. Moaning quietly at how tired I was, I pulled my legs in closer, scooting toward the back of the couch. The sky outside was still dark, and though the huge window next to me made me feel anything but safe, I stayed in place, listening for any sound. There was none except for the jingling of a leash as Shane's dog-Sir-walked over and plopped down on the floor below me. I let my fingers hang over the edge, slowly petting him for a moment. I could feel his ribs which sent the emotions in me flying in all different directions. I hated when Shane didn't buy dog food-or food at all, for that matter-and left Sir with nothing to eat. Mentally, I made a note to make my way to the store later, but I took in a deep breath of air, knowing I would forget.
I was waiting for my boyfriend to come home….Shane. Well, if one could even call him a boyfriend. We were more like roomates with benefits, but he didn't want anything more than that, and I guess neither did I…and plus, I had to remember the apartment deal. If I pissed him off, I could be out on the street in a second. I couldn't end up where I started out.
I remembered the time we ran into one another with a shudder. It was merely three months after my graduation, and I had turned eighteen. If it was up to me, I would've been out of my parents the second midnight hit, but that wasn't quite the case. My parents were basket cases about keeping me around and getting me to go to a "nice community college with lots of lovely people"-yeah right. I still hated them, I still hated my life, and most of all? I still hated myself.
But then one day, when I'd snuck out to buy a new pack of cigarettes to bum out in the barn around midnight, my car broke down at a random corner. It was dark, and though I tried not to be scared, I couldn't help but nearly scream and run for the hills when a dark man approached me. He was standing in an alleyway when I'd emerged from my car, sighing, and he came right out. His voice was dark, sullen, and to be completely honest, scared the living shit out of me. But somehow, we'd gotten talking as he attempted to fix my car. I ended up staying up the whole night talking to him, and when he suggested the offer of staying in his apartment, I was one head nod away from my head falling off. It was weird at first, but who was I to complain? Anything at that point was an upgrade from the suffocating grasp of my parents.
And by now, things had fallen into a regular rhythm. Shane would come home in the early hours of the morning after leaving around 9 PM, usually with new women trailing behind him. I would hang around the apartment, sleep, and try to look for jobs or smoke. I don't quite know I managed to fill all my days, but nonetheless, I did.
The too familiar sound of a lock being shuffled out of place rang throughout the apartment, before it let loose with a sickening smack a few moment later. Following the click, Shane stumbled through the door, tripping and nearly falling on his ass as he made a less than graceful entrance.
Following him were two girls, barely dressed. They were holding bright red purses and bumming cigarettes in the entryway, scanning the apartment without moving their bodies. The one on the left shrugged and dropped her cigarette butt to the floor, nonchalantly putting it out of its flaming misery with the thin, slick bottom of her heel. The other girl shyly looked on, continuing to let the smoke waft up and mingle in with her hair, but I stayed where I was, watching intently to see if he noticed me-he usually didn't.
"Follow me," said Shane in a low, grumbling voice. He held his hands up to beckon the girls behind him, not even bothering to look at me. I knew it-he never did.
The two girls quickly closed up their purses, covering up whatever they were messing with while he stumbled about-no doubt tipsy. They made quick, bouncy steps to follow after him, but when they got to the steps and started climbing, Shane turned around, grunting.
"No," he said sternly, pointing to the girl behind the other. "Not you."
The girl's-who I quietly noted was the one who stood shyly while the other stomped out her cigarette butt-face fell immediately, frowning. Not a single emotion crossed over Shane's face, as he swiftly turned around and continued up the steps with one less girl. After a moment, I heard the slam of a door and that familiar click of a lock, and then a new sound-an exasperated sigh from the girl on the staircase.
She looked awkward. I mean, I'd be pretty awkward too if the guy I'd been following behind all night rejected me last minute. That's why I didn't associate with guys anymore, or anyone really for that matter. People sucked.
She stumbled to open her bag for a second before she emerged with it another cigarette-damn, this girl really needed her fix. I watched her slowly but surely retreat from the steps, but I was surprised when she-rather than exiting-went into our kitchen and sat down, crossing her legs and gently lifting the cigarette to and from her mouth. The girl-who I now noted, due to her stiller stance, had a scar across her eye and was considerably thin compared to the other girl Shane took upstairs. I knew what they were doing, and I shuddered, remembering how many nights Shane has asked me to do that with him on. Unless the apartment, my safe haven, is involved, I wouldn't dare to go back to the dark place that started my life off so wrong.
I shuffled to get to my feet. The sun was starting to peek over the tips of the trees outside of the apartment, and considering I hadn't moved for the entire night, I needed to get up and go out. Maybe I could finally go through with my idea of getting Sir dog food.
I made an ungraceful stance, pretty much falling to my feet when I tried to balance myself. What was wrong with me?! I wasn't drunk off my ass like Shane!
As I balanced myself, my eyes landed on the girl in the kitchen who sat staring at me, gaping. What was her issue?
Shrugging, I took a few shaky steps, and then much swifter ones to the kitchen. I found myself acutely aware of the girl watching my every move, but somehow I found a way not to care. She looked so sweet, and for once, somehow, I felt like I had the upper hand. The girls Shane brought home didn't usually stay here, so this was more than slightly drifting from the normal.
Struggling to remember what I came into the kitchen for, I stood and stared for a second before it came back-looking for any food anywhere.
I started by opening up the fridge-absolutely nothing. My hands clumsily skimmed over the handles of each cupboard, pulling it open, and sighing, exasperated, when I found not a single thing in any of the cabinets.
Suddenly, I turned my head around (and so did the girl at the table) as we heard a muffled scream from upstairs. My heart lurched, and I felt the need to sit down, curl up in a ball, and sob. I didn't know if the scream was from pain or pleasure, but the memory of the pain I experienced drifted into my mind, causing my heart to twist. Not here. Not now.
I started feeling light headed, so I sat down at the table. My hands rested on the top as I took deep breaths.
Slow and steady, everything is fine. Slow and steady, everything is fine. Slow and steady, everything is fine. I repeated my mantra in my head, willing myself not to break down right now. I needed to focus on the tasks at hand- getting Sir food and trying to ignore the more quieted but still audible screams coming from upstairs. I needed to fill the silence, and before I could help it, I blurted out, "Who are you?"
The girl looked at me weirdly, cocking her head to one side as if wondering what caused me to talk to her. We'd never met before. Looking at her more closely, I became aware of how startlingly young she was. She could even be younger than me…and I was merely 20. Where did that scar come from?
"Reese," she shrugged, looking down into her purse, presumably for another cigarette.
I was right. I watched her intently as she lit up another cigarette. What were her circumstances? God, maybe she could tell me where Shane always went at night, and maybe she could tell me how she met him. Did she meet him at his "work"? Where did Shane work? I knew we didn't have long-Shane never lasted long with the women he brought home. Basically did what he needed, then dismissed them. I was quite aware of this, and I needed to be fast-and damn, did I want a cigarette.
"Where did you meet Shane?" I asked, oddly bold. Maybe it's because I was drinking the night before and a hint of it was still in my system.
"At the…the…" she became antsy, either unsure how to answer or not wanting to say anything.
"Do you know where you are?" I asked silently, shoving as much compassion into those six words as I could to make me seem likable. I even gave a small half smile, but I pushed it back down when she replied.
"Shane McCarty, right?" she asked. I nodded solemnly. She's not going to give anything up.
"And you are?…" she prompted a moment later as I tried to get up.
"U-uh-" I stuttered. Do I tell her my real name? What do I do? "V-Valerie…" I muttered. "And we're not dating," I added for good measure. She exhaled. I hadn't realized she was holding her breath in.
"So, you're just another one of us?" she asked, suddenly quiet again.
I gazed down at her, confusion twisting my face into a weird fashion. Another one of them? Of who?
"What do you mean?" I asked silently, and suddenly, when her face crinkled into horror, the question of how old this girl was started nagging at me again.
"N-n-nevermind," she said quickly, standing up abruptly. "I've said too much. I have to go now."
"What?" I asked, watching her pack up her things and head for the door, mild frustration coursing through me. Where the hell was she going so quickly? What imaginary line did I overstep?
"Nothing," she shrugged, turning her back to me. When she reached the door, she hesitated, but then turned around once more. "Just tell Lei-" She bit her tongue. "Tell the other girl I left."
With that, Reese closed the door as one last scream of pleasure sounded through the eerily quiet house. There was a moment of shuffling before the door upstairs unlocked, and turning to face the stairs, I noticed my mouth was hanging open. I closed it promptly.
Well, I guess that was the end of that. I could never seem to get any information out of any of the women he brought home, and Shane sure as hell wasn't interested in telling me how he earned money and paid for me to live here too. He definitely had to have some ulterior motive that I simply wasn't interested in inspecting, so I let it go with a sigh, picking myself up and heading for the stairs. Halfway up the stairs, I nearly ran into something.
"O-oh," I stuttered as I lifted my eyes to meet the gaze of the other woman. Damn, she was intimidating. A bit on the bigger side, but intimidating no less.
She kept walking past with her lips pursed, but I swore I could see a slight flush on her pale cheeks, and whether it was from the acts she was just invested in or knowing I knew what she'd done, it was still there, reminding me she was still human. Then I remembered what her friend, er-whoever that girl was-wanted me to tell her.
"Oh, and the other girl here wanted me to let you know that she, er-" The woman kept herself busy, grabbing up her bag and shoes just like the other girl, even in the same fashion. "That, um, she left," I murmured, finishing silently. She shrugged slightly, not even bothering to look up. When she left, I had no choice but to pick up the pieces and finish my walk upstairs. I needed to keep my goal in mind-find money, get Sir food. I wouldn't fail this time.
Since Shane's apartment only had one bedroom, I slept in his room…but we never actually slept together. When he wasn't home (which he usually wasn't), I slept in here, but most nights I found the couch downstairs far more comforting than the bed in which he stripped women of their dignity on a daily basis. I stayed with him because he was fine to me, but recently his advances were coming just short of forceful, and I found myself being more careful around him.
When I walked into the room, it was slightly hotter than the rest of the apartment, and the thought made me flush a deep crimson. Avoiding eye contact after spotting Shane pulling on his jeans, I quickly scurried over to the dresser. My hands grazed the top until I spotted the handle I was looking for, the one that held all my money. I pulled it carefully open as to not disturb him.
Swiftly, I picked up my bras, and underneath I found the rest of the cash I took from home all those years ago…I had just about thirty dollars left. Shame crept over me, but I had to push it back down as I grabbed all thirty dollars. I felt like feeding Sir would make me feel slightly more whole, rather than the husk of a woman I was simply living in. Or maybe-
"Hey," Shane breathed in my ear, suddenly appearing behind me. He threw his arms onto my ass, but I shrugged out of his embrace before he grabbed my hips, pulling me close to him.
"You're drunk," I said quietly as I smelled his breath. He was happy because of his previous release, but I needed to be careful before that happy façade faded and he was back to his normal self.
"You're fuckin' sexy," he snarled, reaching to grab my ass again. I shrieked and jumped away, but he kept a strong hold. Why wasn't he passed out yet? He was an angry drunk in the end, no matter how happy he was to start. And the fact that he just had sex with another woman wasn't making me too comfortable.
"And you're drunk," I repeated again. When I stepped out this time, he started to let me go, but instead leaned down and kissed my neck hungrily.
"Let me fuck you," he said quietly, then erupted in a fit of laughter as he lifted his head.
"You're disgusting," I said, pulling away against my restraints. In my head, I scolded myself. I was cutting it close. When he came to his senses-which would definitely be soon-I would be out on the street for making a comment like that. I was used to him making a pass at me, but he was more urgent this time. Why?
"And you're hot as hell." He leaned down again, kissing my lips this time. Before I could think or even move for that matter, he shoved his tongue past my slightly parted lips, invading a space that I didn't want him near. I just wanted his apartment…did that make me a whore?
He let go and I gulped, reveling at the thought. I was a whore.
"N-no, please, not right now," I said, gaining back some of my focus. Sir. Food. "I want to get Sir some food."
"Sir?" he asked, managing to slur one word into a barely audible noise.
"Your dog," I replied, turning around.
"Baby, stay," he said.
"I said, stay!" he growled, moving forward to me. There, that was it. That was the mood change, the mercurial drunken state he somehow always found himself in. Of all of the people I could've housed with, why him? I shook my head, frowning as he took a nose dive for the floor. He was so drunk he could hardly even make a move at me, thank god. Grabbing the money out of the drawer in lightning speed, I darted out of the room. He was definitely passed out, but I couldn't be sure when he would wake. He usually forgot about his passes at me, so I was good…for now.
I got home much later that night, around midnight or so. I went to the grocery store to get the food like I'd intended, but the food was expensive-more than the thirty dollars I had-so I ended up buying a pack of cigarettes and, taking a hint from Reese, spent the day bumming the entire thing in an alleyway, and then now I found myself back to the place that started me in this chapter of my "life."
Finding an unwanted scowl on my face, I closed the door and sauntered over to the couch, plopping down. I started drifting off, the smell cigarettes dancing across my nose, willing me to sleep, but then suddenly awoke when I heard the oh-so-familiar jingle of a collar as Sir McCarty made his way over, slow as ever, and plopped down below me. His skin hung even more due to lack of food, and I sucked a breath in, regretting my entire day. No, not my day-my entire life. I was a failure, and the only person to ever believe in me-the only person to ever care-well, he was gone, and I was as good as dead to him. That would be better to think about than my failure to feed Sir once again, so with the image of Denis' smile as he encouraged to me throw the skee ball dancing across my mind, I let go of the day and succumbed to another night of pointless sleep.


text:
Sword of Kusanagi
The Sword of Kusanagi (草薙の剣 Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, lit. "Grass Cutting Sword"), but originally called Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi (天叢雲剣, lit. "Sword of the Gathering of Clouds in Heaven"), is a legendary artifact and one of the "Three Sacred Treasures of Japan". According to legend, it was first discovered when the storm god Susanoo was chopping off the fourth tail of the fearsome eight-headed, eight-tailed serpent Yamata-no-Orochi while it still asleep from drinking extremely heavy sake. It got the name "Grass cutting sword" when the great warrior Yamato Takeru was trapped in an open grassfield by an treacherous warlord with fiery arrows and had to use the sword to cut back the flames by removing some of its fuel. It is often mistaken to be a katana because it is a Japanese weapon, despite the Kusanagi pre-dating the invention of the katana by a number of centuries.
Kusanagi in Len'en[edit]
Despite it seldom being referred to as "Kusanagi", it still makes an appearance and it plays a major role in Earthen Miraculous Sword, called the Tasouken. Right now, the sword is in the possession of Adagumo no Yaorochi, a youkai born from the severed arm of a clan leader (implied to be Yamata no Orochi itself). The essence of the sword was transferred into a clay replica (later revealed to be a sword-shaped bottle opener) by Sukune Katano as requested by Adagumo no Saragimaru, a youkai born from the clan leader's eye and is the younger sibling of Yaorochi.


text:
below is the finished product including some of the sketches. jj and i collaborated on the image.
i used a computer program to put it all together. GASP!
this is not normally something i would do. but it did help...
anyways jj is a hair dresser. so if you are in montreal. give them a call!


text:
A nice site for pet lovers
Do numbers mean anything to you?
My little counter says that I am nearing 50.000 viewings.
I guess it's a milestone of sorts, so to celebrate I'm giving a gift to the visitor who is number 50K!
I don't know exactly know how to determine this, but if you go to the bottom of the right hand margin of the blog, you'll see the little counter thingee. Drop me an e-mail, and tell me what number it was on when you stopped by. It's the honor system, so let's do our best ha ha!
The prize will be ONE Majolica pitcher from my collection.
Also some of you are having trouble leaving comments. It's really simple.
- At the bottom of a post, click on "comments"
- Write your comment in the little screen with the comment box, and scroll down
- If you are not a Google member the screen will ask for your User Name, which will be your screen name (like Visual Vamp)
- It will ask for your e-mail
- It will ask for a password that you make up
- If you are a Google member just type in your user name and password after you write your comment, and click on "publish your comment"
That's it!
Once you do that you can comment on any blog in the blogspot system.
Word Press (another blog publisher) has a similar procedure.
It's not that hard, so please give it a try.
While being a comment collector is fruitless, it still is nice to hear from readers.
And you can always drop me an e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Links For The Bloody Tea Party
Links For The Fashion
Write Me!
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
365 LLC: Day 40: Wear A Fragrance
Today was actually a slow and snowy day but seeing this prompt in the morning and knowing I was going to bake I found it fitting to still indulge. I've been going a little crazy for roses lately and today my whole apartment smelled of roses and sugar as I made more rose petal cookies and tried a new recipe out of cranberry rose drop scones so as I had made home made rose water I figured it be nice to wash my face with it as rose water is also a great toner for skin. So my home smelled of roses, my tea time was made of roses, and my whole face smelled of roses. It may sound like going overboard but it really did make the day just a tad sweet.
Posted by
Madeline Hatter
Email This
Share to Twitter
Share to Facebook
Share to Pinterest
365 Lifestyle Lolita Challenge
No comments:
Post a Comment
Newer Post
Older Post
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Tailgate tips
�Plan dishes that can be prepped ahead of time so you can enjoy the party. You don't want to be working the entire time.
�Don't try to do too much. A few really well-prepared items work much better than an elaborate spread. "The average truck tailgate is only so wide," Bonnell says. "This ain't Sunday brunch, after all, it's football."
�Think finger foods: "Nobody wants to have to use a knife and fork in the parking lot."
�There are plenty of wines that work well with grilled foods, Bonnell says, but "if wine is your thing, bring some stemware. Wine always tastes better in a nice glass." When you buy a case of wine, save the cardboard box to use as a carrier for wineglasses, Bonnell suggests.
�After you've packed the cooler with beer and ice, lay the red wines on top. "They serve better when slightly chilled, but not down in the ice like the beer."
Source: Jon Bonnell


text:
24th WCF Partnership Meeting
May 15, 2013
Thank you to the sponsors, speakers and attendees for your valued participation in the 24th Partnership Meeting & Cocoa Sustainability Trade Fair. The event took place October 15-16, 2013 at the Hotel El Embajador in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Find here the photos and presentations from the meeting.
Help us improve future meetings. Provide your feedback in this short survey.
For a list of attending companies and organizations of past Partnership Meetings, see here.
Aprende más acerca de los programas y actividades de WCF en nuestro folleto en Español.


text: Traditional methods like shaving, waxing, and tweezing simply do not provide long-term hair removal, resulting in a loss of time and money. Hair removal methods have progressed throughout the years but issues like ingrown hairs, razor cuts, and irritated skin have always been present, until now! The amazing and innovative technology behind laser hair removal can help to alleviate all of these irritating problems. Here are some of the benefits that you will get from a high-quality laser treatment:


text:
Yes, you can brush your teeth with bar soap! Unlike commercial toothpaste, Tooth Suds is a soap for teeth made from olive oil, aloe vera, and essential oils.
This soap will leave your mouth feeling so clean and fresh that you'll wish mom really did wash your mouth out with soap!
Organic Olive Oil, Water, Sodium Hydroxide (not present in final product), Orange Essential Oil, Peppermint Essential Oil, Aloe Vera
Here's how to brush your teeth with soap:
- Rinse your bar before use, then just scrub your toothbrush on the bar of Tooth Suds.
- Brush your teeth! (It's recommended to brush for 1.5 minutes top and bottom, for a total of 3 minutes)
- Spit and rinse well (careful not to swallow, because, well it's soap).
- Allow the bar to dry between uses to prolong the life of the tooth suds soap bar.
Toothbrush pictured for size reference only. Add a Toothbrush to your order here.


text:
The Titanic finally gets its comeuppance in THIS very episode.
We all watched James Cameron's 1997 classic blockbuster Titanic. Jack and Rose. A million quotes from the movie. "I'm flying, Jack!" "Don't let go, Jack!" "You burnt the pancakes, Jack!" Unforgettable moments in movie history.
Well, this week, Kyle and Mark share a slew of fics from a true Titanic fanatic.
We have a lot of fun with all the episodes we record, but for whatever reason, this one really gave us the giggles. Kyle and Mark read four fanfics about Rose and Jack. We don't want to spoil the premises so you should just listen to the damn episode. It's ridiculous.
Just download the episode before we sink YOUR ship… forget it. That was going to come across as a threat but then sounded like some perverse double entendre. So… just give the episode a listen and let us know what you think. And if you have MORE nonsense Titanic fics, please send them our way because after this episode, we're almost SURE to read 'em.
Other Things:
Be sure to subscribe and rate on iTunes and YouTube.
We'd love your support over at Patreon. Even $1 a month helps. Check out our cool rewards for becoming a Patron!
And, if you have a script you want us to read, you can send it to us here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS