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Category Archives: da family
Yep, four.
Four is happening tomorrow. We are waking up, having pancakes (shhh, don't tell), buying RR a teddy bear (what she asked for…. besides cake), and heading to the amusement park to have dinner with Elmo (as ya do).
I cannot believe that we created such a beautiful human. She is sensitive, smart, empathetic, talented, creative, and extraordinarily silly. Every night, when I pet her head and sing her a song before she goes to sleep, I'm in utter disbelief that my wife and I are so lucky to be raising this wonderful child.
Going for the Gold
In the latest saga of Operation: Take Back My House, I've offered to take Duncan the Dog to dog training classes for the next five weeks. CUE EYEROLL.
Here, this will take the edge off:
Maybe I'm just glutton for punishment? In need of a hobby? Maybe I'm afraid of going two months without any kind of weekly commitment (adult music class is off until the Fall, and drinking, sadly, doesn't count).
My mother in-law and I took Duncan to a dog training class last night. The class is specifically for dogs with something called leash reactivity. Basically, Duncan cannot properly go on a walk without lunging and barking at anything that moves near us. I sought out the training. MIL footed the bill, since my wife's parents are going to be providing his "forever home" (if you will). This was an alternative agreement to them bringing a choke or electric bark collar into our home, which sure blah blah effective blah blah, isn't for us.
Annnnd, since they are taking their time building a couple of gates in order to provide a secure and enclosed yard for Duncan at their farm house, he's still hanging out with us until they get their shit together. Which, honestly folks, could be five weeks. BUT! I will say that one asshole dog is WAY better than one asshole dog, three additional cats, two parents, and loss of access to 1333 square feet of your house.
Without going into the class details, Duncan is an asshole on a leash because he's afraid, and being an asshole is his response to fear. Lucky us!
After class, my MIL declares that she wants him to go, thinks he can totally benefit from the class and (wait for it), although she is a believer in everything the trainer has to say and train, she wants ME to take him, and she'll come over occasionally and at her convenience to practice the training with him. I wish I could write that in a way that it didn't sound like I had just been suckered into training their dog for them. But… err. I don't think there's a way to write it.
I don't FEEL suckered, but that's also because I'm a pushover. And I like animals. Even, apparently, asshole dogs. SIGH.
She, at least, went out today and bought him (and me) some "tools." Treats, an interactive food bowl/toy/thing, and whatever else the lady said last night we would need. Said dog trainer lady, as much as I wanted her to insist that MIL attend the class, was like, "Meh, whatever. As opposed to obedience training, we're actually trying to rewire this emotional-processing part of his peanut brain, which isn't specific to who trains him. It would be NICE if you could come, but he'll benefit from it regardless." Or something like that. It also could have been her appeasing response to MIL's crazy-eyes.
I kind of understand why she bailed? I mean, they live an hour away. We've talked about that. An hour is a long time each way on a Wednesday night. And, to her admission, she does not have the patience or, um, lack of shrillness (is there a word for that?), to do a kind of dog training that has been compared to "watching paint dry." Plus, as they live on a five acre farm, she really doesn't have any place to practice with him because, well, no one comes around for him to bark at.
Then why does he need the training?
Bob asked the same thing! (He says, "Hi." As always.)
Because sometimes this asshole dog will stay at our house when they go on vacation. Sometimes he might come on vacation with them and need to be walked. Sometimes strangers or neighbors may want to talk to you over your fence (he has anxiety about that as well), and maybe you don't want to be seen as "those people with that asshole dog."
As it is, I might buy some kind of costume to wear while we're out training, because he's such an embarrassment, and my neighbors know me. Maybe I can get a shirt that reads, "This is not my dog. I'm trying to medal in Karma."
PS – For all that he is an asshole, he's actually a nice dog. He has good table manners and likes to play fetch and sleep. He obviously came from a broken home (literally broken – we took him in the night before his owners were being evicted from their house.) He's really just an asshole on a leash. Or, you know, when he wakes up at 5:55am to pee, but that's just payback for having a kid who has always slept until 8am. Right?
2,018 Miles
For those of you following along at home, after seven days, seven nights, three planes, five hotels, one stomach bug (or altitude sickness), countless trips to McDonald's and Cracker Barrel (and one Bob Evans), even MORE countless continental breakfasts, about thirty bruises, and driving 2,018 miles, going no more than 60mph, I'm back home.
My first moment fully alone came on Thursday afternoon, when I drove the big moving truck solo. The parents were in the smaller truck, and I got the chance to listen to Midwestern country radio stations and call my wife and RR without having to talk in a hushed voice. I missed them so much.
On Saturday, we WILLED both trucks up and down the mountains of West Virginia and Virginia. The big truck quit three times, but was revived each time long enough to keep going Eastward. We pulled into their home in Virginia at 7:15pm, and then drove the hour to MY home, where I barged into the front door, past the dogs, and into RR's room (where my wife was delaying bedtime), when then I scooped her up and she clung to me in a giant monkey hug. I kissed my wife. Home safe.
It was a long trip. 11-12 hours a day, driving. Most of which was spent next to my mother in-law. There are stories of ice and pickaxes, and sharing a hotel room with both of them (awkward), and mostly being exhausted every night, but getting up every morning to two OTHER exhausted (and much older) people, where then I had to crack the whip and move them along.
Seriously. They may have stayed in our house until June. They weren't kidding.
That said, they've been at their house all day today. Potentially actually moving in. Potentially actually staying there tonight. I have no words.
A Cabin in the Woods
That sounds kind of like a horror film, hm? Anyway.
In nine days, RR will be three years and seven months old. In all that long time, my wife and I haven't spent a night together without her. Sure, there have been trips when one of us has been away (conferences, sick/dead mom, etc.), but in three years, and nearly seven months, if we've spent the night together, RR has been close by.
Apparently grandparents do things like… watch your kid while you go away for a weekend. WHO KNEW THIS?! And furthermore, if you knew this, why didn't you TELL someone?
So one weekend in February, we're headed to a cabin about 45 minutes north of town, but by ourselves. Just me and my wife. It's like a hybrid Valentine's Day/Anniversary mini-vacation. We'll go up after bedtime on Friday, and come home Sunday afternoon. I'm ridiculously excited. The last time we went away together was March 2010, just a few months before RR was born when we went to the beach for a week to celebrate our anniversary.
Alone time, especially in the wake of having people at your house ALL THE TIME… well, I just can't fathom it. "Whaaaat?! No way!" as RR would say.
Speaking of people in your house all the time, the in-laws have been spending a lot of time fixing up their new house. Which would be totally more exciting if they did this while we were home, but they do this all during our 9-5's. Somehow, someway, they make it home before we do every night. Curiouser and curiouser…
It's a lot. It's hard to be your best self all the time. Sometimes, I just wanna come home and not be my best self. It's exhausting.
But then again, M's mom hugged her last night when she got home from work, and I was kind of (really) sad that I can't hug MY mom anymore (sad trombone) so I suppose all of this family time is good. Plus, RR hugged both of them last night before bedtime, which was the Very First Time she's hugged her grandfather. Slow to warm, that one.
It's day 15 of the Whole30, so I'm technically halfway through. Notable discoveries include the fact that I've learned that I like brussel sprouts and it is feasible that I can actually tire of eating eggs every morning. Thank goodness for Primal Fuel and smoothies. And bacon.
Also, exercising willpower is actually a THING. As in, the first five days, it was hard to pass the rice at the dinner table, but yesterday it was actually pretty easy to carry down a huge tray of leftover sticky danishes and pastries for another office to devour. Oh, and I'm beginning to like the taste of black coffee.
In other news, my Christmas lights are still hanging from my gutters. Gotta get on that.
Orphan, 2.0
So RR is putting together the pieces of our family puzzle. These folks are cousins. These folks are her mamas' sisters. Granny and Pop Pop are mama's mom and dad.
The other day, she said to me in a big revelation, "Granny is mama's MAMA!" I said, "Yes, she sure is!"
Then she paused and said, "Granny is not your mama. Who is your mama, mama?"
SIGH. Big fucking sigh.
As if that wasn't awkward enough, she followed up with, "Is Pop Pop your daddy?" I said, "No, he's not." Which she then retorted, "Well, we'll call your daddy Pop Pop!" I said, "If he were around, he'd probably like that."
And then she tootled off without anymore questions, and that was that.
The last time my sister visited, she dropped off a bunch of old pictures for me to sift through, including a lot of pictures of my parents (oddly enough, none of them both together… but whatever). I suppose it might be a good idea to pick a few out of my parents and put them somewhere where RR can see them. I have a few of my mom with RR, which is great. But, the most recent picture of my dad is circa 1989. I think the only family picture I have of us is this old, tattered (but scanned) one below. I'm what… two? I can probably dig up something more recent of him.
I don't think this requires any big prayer meetin' (as my mom would call it) for explanation's sake, but having them around would certainly make me feel a little less like an orphan some days, and would make other days where these questions come up, a little easier to answer.
Explaining to her that I totally have parents is one thing. Explaining where they've gone off to is another.
Happy Birthday, RR!
I have a "Dear RR – 3 Years Old" letter hanging out in draft form. One day this week, I'll finish that sucker up.
In the meantime, Happy Birthday, RR, my sweet girl!
This morning, she had a monster shake (spinach, almond milk, pineapples), a cinnamon bun out of the oven (of which she just licked the icing and top cinnamon layer off), and some yogurt with smiley face blueberries in them (about as Pinterest as I get). All served on a Superman plate. Happy girl!
We dropped her off at school this morning in her blue dress, placed her friends' birthday party favors in their cubbies (Matchbox cars), and I hope she's had a wonderful special day so far.
I just got back to the office after running home after a text message from my sister alerted me that something perishable for RR had been delivered. Everyone can rest east now knowing that chocolate covered strawberries and cake pops are safe from today's heat and hanging out in the fridge.
Tonight, you're having pancakes for dinner. Followed by a chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream. Followed by some kind of sugar-high hiccup-sobbing tantrum. Hoo boy, can I see that coming. At least we're prepared!
But seriously. We love you SO SO much. You are my special, sweet, darling girl. Happy Birthday!
Amazing Woman
That's how everyone has been referring to my mom for the last two weeks, almost to the day. My mom passed away on March 15 after suffering a stroke and spending a couple of days in ICU (frighteningly similar to last time). This time, however, she was less lucky with any chance of recovery. She passed away at 5:59pm with her family by her side. In a moment that still breaks my heart completely, RR got to say "I love you" to her Grandma prior to her physical departure from us. This week, I've made it back to work now that I've nearly stopped sobbing uncontrollably.
I'm still not particularly stable enough to write about it, so time will pass and then I will write… of faith, funeral arrangements, and the overwhelming feeling of being an orphan at the age of 34. Until then, I will share one of my favorite pictures of my mom with RR, from her visit to us at Easter of last year. She was one of the very first (and few) people that RR warmed up to almost instantaneously. My mom made her smile and laugh, and this picture captures their relationship:
Happy Anniversary to my wife. It's been seven years since we exchanged rings and vows, barefoot on a chilly, windy beach – just me, you, some seagulls, and a random, smiling lady who was beach-combing at the right time. We've managed to keep numerous plants, two cats, one dog, a toddler, and each other alive this whole time. Here's to all the years to come. I love you.
Yesterday I received a letter from my mother. No, not an email. Not a card, either. An actual letter. With an actual stamp. And actual somewhat illegible handwriting. With underlines. You know, underlines? I LOVE and MISS you ALL so MUCH. Substitute the caps with three (THREE) underlines under each one. She does this on Hallmark cards, too, you know. She'll write a little something inside the card, but then will proceed to underline the stock poem/message written on the inside. But only every few words, you know: "I MISS the TIMES we used TO spend TOGETHER." For example.
I digress. So she's written me a letter, largely in response to our conversation on Sunday that I cut short, I'm sure, although she didn't say as much. You know, the conversation I cut short there at 30 minutes. I was talking to her out on the back deck while my wife had things under control with RR in the living room. Under control as in, not complaining in screams or demanding a refill or a massage. I had put off calling her for two whole weeks, and in the last conversation we had, I complained that her telling me how long it had been since our last conversation wasn't really the best way to encourage me to keep calling. It was sort of like being in a confessional: Forgive me, Mother, for I have not called for two weeks. I also had told her (gently) that long gone are the days of hour-long conversations with her, since I could maybe manage 10 minutes at best here and there. She could understand, right? She used to be a mother to an infant once upon a time.
In those precious 30 minutes, she proceeded to tell me about such fascinating day-to-day details such as her other grandchildren's bus schedule. You know, somewhere in between interrupting the part where I was telling her about RR smiling, and grabbing, and starting to smoke. So at 30 minutes, RR started to have a bit of a vocal whine, and I took it upon myself as a sign to go. She reluctantly let me get off the phone that very instant (perhaps thinking I was lying, since she couldn't actually hear RR fussing herself), which was the first time she didn't actively try to keep me talking when I tell her I have to go.
So then I get a short two-page letter that, honestly, I can't remember of what the content was. All I can recall is the underlines. I think the point was, she loves and misses me. Oh, and that she would have loved to hear RR cry, which sounds really odd, but I guess make sense for a woman who refuses to learn how to use the internet and see all of the beautiful pictures and videos we have posted of RR smiling, grabbing, and making me a sandwich. This is all despite the fact that she has a beautiful new laptop, has bought an internet subscription through her cable provider, but unfortunately for her, the internet does not come with instructions, and my free time and patience are all used up.
My response today was a typed-out letter in Word that I've printed out and plan to stick a stamp on and send her way with a couple of pictures. Welcome to 2010, Mom. I'm sure I'll get another letter subtly complaining about the lack of using my own handwriting. Maybe I can reprint it in a handwriting font. Do you think she'd know? But seriously, with gems like this picture posted by my wife sitting out there on the internet waiting for consumption, it seems unfair to complain that we're keeping the goody from anyone.
She only knows how to be an in-town Grandma. The kind of Grandma you drop your kids off with so that you can go out to dinner, or go Christmas shopping, or play their XBOX. I don't think she has any idea how to be a Grandma to a kid she won't see or talk to on a daily basis, and in return, probably won't know them as well as she does her other grandkids. And that it's really OK that she doesn't immediately know RR's shoe size and favorite color of the week when she's eight. Well, and whereas I think that's OK, she might consider it devastating since she can only show love through giving gifts of clothing. It's a learning curve, mostly, but one that might come at the expense of sending letters via horse or pigeon.
Anyhow, seriously, have you seen this picture? I would underline it three times if I could.
The Paneras
Yesterday, I had my first extended outing with RR on my own. Well, my mother was with us, too, but we might as well have been on our own, ifyouknowwhatImean. (Yes, my mother. Yes, she's back. But she's only been here since Wednesday afternoon and is leaving tomorrow. No, no one has killed anyone. Yet.) What's made the visit tolerable so far is the fact that my wife has been at work yesterday and today, making me the only person spending all day trying to let her comments and conversations roll off my back. Seriously – I should only really subject myself to this sort of unique torture. Well, me and RR – we did have a pep talk and fist bump beforehand, though.
Sometime yesterday morning, my mom said she wanted to take us out to lunch, and left it up to me to decide where to go. Now, I don't know if other parents of unpredictable screaming inconsolable infants do this, but we try to limit ourselves to eating places where we can a) we can walk up to the counter and order (thus taking out the wait-staff middleman) and b) sit at an outdoor table (where we can escape quickly, or at least the screaming can be muffled by outside background noise). This has seemed to work pretty well so far, so I suggested the nearby Panera. Or, as my mother calls it, The Paneras.
Around 12pm, RR woke up from her morning nap and I began the pre-house-leaving preparations. My mom, sensing RR's unpredictability (and the fact that she still screams whenever she holds her), gave us the optional out of not going if I didn't want to… you know, if it was going to be stressful. Me, sensing that there was no other lunch food in the house other than crackers, pickles, and ice, insisted that we go. I fed RR from 12pm-12:20pm and the clock started ticking from when she would want to eat again.
Now I don't mind feeding RR in public. We (finally) have a system that works that doesn't involve feeding her a cold bottle (angry baby is angry!), but by the time it takes me to MacGyver a bottle in public (thanks, Dr. Brown, for making the most complicated bottles ever, even if she hardly ever spits up) RR usually has lost her patience. Whereas my wife and I have a pretty smooth system down (proud members of the bottle-fixing pit crew), I wanted to avoid having to feed her with my mom in tow. So tick tock!
I packed the diaper bag and we were on our way. Triumph #1: RR didn't fuss at all in the car, despite being awake. We arrived at The Paneras, finally ordered our food ("Read me the sandwiches on the menu," my mom says), and lifted RR's car seat sun shield so that the ladies behind the counter could wave and coo. Still alert, still not crying, and in fact, looking particularly adorable – triumph #2. By the grace of God, there was an outdoor table available, complete with an umbrella. They strolled over and got comfortable while I fetched our food and drinks.
My mom had situated RR's stroller so that she was the only one who had access to her, but that quickly changed when RR decided to fuss. (Shit – this lady again? Mama, where'd you go?!) I took charge, wheeled her over to me, and rocked her stroller with my foot as I started to eat. She fell sound asleep – triumph #3. We had a nice lunch ("Oooh look at all this fruit in this salad!" my mom says) and I tried not to engage in my mom's game of CouldaShouldaWoulda, where she reminisces about all of the decisions she's ever made. Ever. Made.
RR woke up, and we strolled out of the heat and into the CVS to pick up some prescriptions. More ooh's and ahh's from some kids in the waiting area, and one mom who said she thought RR was having some gas. Seriously – what? Are you commenting on my daughter's potential fictitious gas during the five minutes I'm waiting in line? I digress, as that's a whole other post.
It was hard not to run any other errands while we were out strolling, especially those errands involving ice cream, but I checked the clock and knew that our time out had expired. We strolled towards the car and made it home in time to warm a bottle and feed RR before even a hint of a meltdown – triumph #4. She then proceeded to sleep for four hours straight. Apparently my mom can wear down and exhaust even the littlest of ears.
This is all to say, if there was one day, one time, one lunch that I needed RR to pretend that she is a child who can be out in public without incident, it was yesterday. All we've heard since from my mom is how good she was during lunch. She even called people. Several people. It made me look like a competent mother, and made RR look like a cooperative infant, both which are arguable depending on the day. But to look like a good mom in front of my own mom? Totally fucking badass.


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There were no binders full of women at the final presidential debate on Monday, but there were certainly horses and bayonets.
President Barack Obama countered Mitt Romney's comment that the U.S. "Navy is smaller now than at any time since 1917" with a zinger that won the night.
"You mentioned the Navy, for example, and that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916," Obama told Romney. "Well, Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets, because the nature of our military's changed."
The "horses and bayonets" comment delighted the Twittersphere: The hashtag #horsesandbayonets became the number one trend on Twitter in the U.S. and third in the world. At one point, the phrase was mentioned on Twitter nearly 60,000 times in one minute, according to data from Tospy, a social web analytics tool.
The Obama campaign capitalized on the traffic, buying the search term "Bayonets" on Twitter, HuffPost's Mat Yurow noted.
Within minutes of Obama's comment, a "Horses and Bayonets" Tumblr featuring GIFs and images went live, and a Horses and Bayonets Facebook page already has more than 3,000 likes.
You now have about a week to design your [sexy] horses and bayonets Halloween costumes.
Excerpt from debate transcript, via ABC News:
ROMNEY: Our Navy is old -- excuse me, our Navy is smaller now than at any time since 1917. The Navy said they needed 313 ships to carry out their mission. We're now at under 285. We're headed down to the low-200s if we go through a sequestration. That's unacceptable to me.
I want to make sure that we have the ships that are required by our Navy. Our Air Force is older and smaller than at any time since it was founded in 1947.
OBAMA: You mentioned the Navy, for example, and that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916. Well, Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets, because the nature of our military's changed. We have these things called aircraft carriers, where planes land on them. We have these ships that go underwater, nuclear submarines.
And so the question is not a game of Battleship, where we're counting slips. It's what are our capabilities. And so when I sit down with the secretary of the Navy and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, we determine how are we going to be best able to meet all of our defense needs in a way that also keeps faith with our troops, that also makes sure that our veterans have the kind of support that they need when they come home.
Click over to ABC News for the full transcript.
And, because we can, here are Romney and Obama on horseback with bayonets. The end.
(Original Romney on horse photo: Ethan Hill, Contour by Getty Images. Obama: Pablo Martinez Monsivais, Associated Press. Photo illustration by HuffPost)

subset: commoncrawl


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Call for Proposals for C Magazine issue 114 "Men"
C Magazine is pleased to announce a call for proposals for our upcoming issue on "men". For this issue we are looking for contributions that explore how maleness is both performed and transformed, and how our contemporary understanding of "men" is informed by feminism and ideas of queer identity. This issue will aim to complicate this category in order to reveal new possibilities for pleasure and meaning, and of addressing gender inequality. We are interested in hearing from writers and artists – either women or men – engaged with practices that explore and experiment with both embodied experiences and representations of maleness and masculinity. Proposals can address either specific artists or other cultural practices that are engaged with these issues.
Focusing on international contemporary art, C Magazine is a quarterly publication with readership based primarily in Canada, the United States and Europe. C publishes writing that is lively, rigorously engaged with current ideas and debates, and which places important emergent practices in a critical context.


text: Her bio says she knew she was going to be an artist from a very young age and we're very glad she pursued her dreams. Sara Golish is a Canadian visual artist who specializes in figurative drawing and painting in the styles of Magical Realism and Afrofuturism. I first noticed her when she released her 'Moondust' series, an ode to Afrofuturism and hair. Since then, I've been falling in love with her art over and over again. Check out a few of her paintings and drawings below and head over to her website or her Facebook page to peep her other work.


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Today marks 75 years since Ypres was liberated by the Polish armies, and the responsibility for sounding the Last Post transferred from Brookwood back to Ypres.
When Ypres was occupied in 1940, the daily service ceased. Mr. Edgar Ashley Cook, MBE, a successful Woking businessman (and a WWI veteran) heard about this and was upset by the stoppage. Together with a group of friends, he formed an organisation to replicate the Ypres service and the Surrey Last Post Association was born.
The first service was held in Brookwood Cemetery in January 1941. Captain GFW Wilson, DSO, RN was the first President. Despite the difficulties of those dark days and other commitments, the service was held as regularly as possible for the next four years.
On the 6th September 1944 the Poles rolled into Ypres and the nightly ceremony was restarted under the Menin Gate. Tonight's ceremony was the 27,393rd uninterrupted nightly ceremony held at the Menin Gate since the liberation.
Four Members of the Brookwood Last Post Association were at the ceremony tonight in Ypres. Our Chairman, Kevin Davis, Senior Standard Bearer, Tom Milne, Standard Bearer Eddie Jones and Treasurer, Stephen Wood. Our Chairman said the Kohima Epitaph.
We are extremely proud of Brookwood's links to the Last Post Association and humbled by our involvement today.


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Newfoundland/Labrador Day 7: Beautiful Day in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
All days on the road are good. But some days on the road are absolutely outstanding. Today was one of those days. It's 11 p.m. and I just returned to my hotel after listening to a wonderful music performance by an unlikely set of singers. More on that later. First, today's ride
Because I've made good time on the trip so far and haven't any mechanical set backs or delays, I had some bonus time I could use to good riding advantage. When Marilyn and I were in Nova Scotia in 2007 (I think) [I'm unsure of the year, not who I was with], we were lucky enough to ride the Cabot Trail in the northwest corner of Cape Breton. The Cabot Trail is one of those rides that, once you've done it, you want to do it again. So today I did it again. We had pretty good weather the first time, but today's was even better with bright blue skies, puffy snow-white clouds, and temperatures approaching 80, which apparently is considered a heat wave for June in Nova Scotia. I reversed the direction of the ride from the first circuit, and started on the western side and rode north and east. The mountains in this corner of Nova Scotia rise about 2000-3000 feet from sea level and the Trail includes rides along the beach and over some of the highest passes. A large part of the trail runs through Cape Breton Highlands National Park and the roads inside the park are decidedly superior to those maintained by local jurisdictions.
I recognized several of the stops Marilyn and I made on along the way including a cultural center in Cheticamp focusing on the Acadians, French-speaking settlers who were largely forced out by the British after the Seven Years War ended in 1764. Many of them resettled in Louisiana and are known today as Cajuns. But a significant number stayed behind in Cape Breton and that corner of Nova Scotia is largely French speaking. When I stopped for lunch in Cheticamp at a boulangerie (bakery) for the best cranberry and blueberry muffins I've ever had, the radio was playing music that could have been confused with Louisiana Cajun zydeco. Interesting to hear country music sung in French
The scenery along the Cabot Trail is almost always spectacular, and was sometimes spectacularly distracting as I tried to keep one eye on the mountains/coast/valleys and the other eye on the road where pot holes and road breaks lay in wait for inattentive motorcycle riders. I navigated the various pitfalls successfully and made several stops at well-planned overlooks, which gave me a chance to put both eyes on the gorgeous scenery.The road followed the coast and then headed into the mountains for 70 joyous miles of roller coaster twisties that let me scuff the tread on the sides of the tires for a change and scrape some chrome off the bottom of my floorboards.
The ride took a little longer than I thought it would due to muffin stops and scenic overlooks, but I still managed to get to Sydney where I'm spending the night by about 5:30 and in time to start the second half of my day.
One of the best things–maybe the best thing–about rides like this one and the ride to Alaska last summer are the unplanned, serendipitous gifts of fortune we get from time to time. And tonight's event was one of those. About 20 miles from Sydney is a town called Glace Bay, which has a coal mining museum I had wanted to visit the last time we were here but didn't. When I looked online this morning to check on hours of operation and current exhibits, I discovered that the coal miners' choir known as "Men of the Deeps" was going to be performing tonight at the museum. Marilyn first discovered the group on PBS about eight years ago and I had wanted to see them perform since then. Formed originally in 1966, they've toured all the major cities in North America and have sung around the world as well. Rather than go into any more detail here, let me just give you a link if you want to learn more about this amazingly talented group of miners and former miners. Click here for info on "Men of the Deeps.
I had expected to be entertained, but the hour+ performance was more than that. It was a lesson in cultural history and working class pride. These guys not only sing and tell mining stories through their songs, they evince a profound sense of pride in being in an elite group that made industrialization possible through their hard and dangerous work. They're aren't touring outside the area this year, but the expectation is that they will tour possibily next year and certainly in the 50th anniversary year in 2016. If they're booked anywhere near me and I know it, I'm going to go hear them again
After the performance I got a chance to talk with several of the miners/singers. One was near 80 and had been with the group since its 1966 beginning. Another was the son of a long-term member. Another was a 76-year-old with an obvious ability to enjoy life by doing what he enjoyed. One insisted I share his hat. I was honored.
I left the performance with toes tapping and spirits buoyed. What a great ending to a great day. Tomorrow I'm going to return to the museum and learn more about them and the work they and thousands of men like them did underground (under the sea, actually since some of the mines tunnel under the sea bed).
More pictures on Flickr. Click here
10 responses to "Newfoundland/Labrador Day 7: Beautiful Day in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia"
Terri says :
Can' wait for September. Your picture's are outstanding. Beautiful scenery with gorgeous flowers, waterfalls, churches, bridges and more than anything – people. Would have loved to hear the Miner's sing as I am sure every song had a deep meaning to them. Since I love desserts please eat an extra piece of pie and some ice cream for me. Enjoy the days ahead – stay safe.
bishopellison says :
I hadn't realized what an excellent photographer you are! I can't thank you enough for letting us "ride along" on this fantastic journey of yours. Your commentary and photos are the highlight of my day, every day.
Ride safe,


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* Louboutin is credited with the rebirth of the stiletto
* Coveted by celebrities, A-Listers, stylists (and us)
* Buy them now so you can look amazing this Spring
The texture. The cutouts. The stiletto heels. The red soles. Is your heart beating faster? Ours too. Christian Louboutin shoes can do that to a girl.
We love them so much we almost don't know where to begin. Let's start with the name. The Campanina Genuine Calf Hair Lace-Up Sandal sounds oh-so-chic. As for the brand, Louboutin founded his luxury footwear label in 1992, debuting his signature red sole a year later (all the better to encourage backward glances as you walk away). The name is now synonymous with European craftsmanship, superior quality and sophistication to the max.
Crafted in Italy, this open-toed heel mixes the luxe texture of calfskin leather and calf hair to spice up the solid black color. The silhouette is sleek and sexy, with a 4-inch heel, sharp curves, revealing cutouts and a slim leather bow.
As with all of Louboutin's shoes, the Campanina has a soft leather lining and leather sole, for the ultimate in comfort. And it comes with the signature dust bag in which to keep them until your next important night out. Wear them with a thigh-high slit occasion dress for maximum effect.
If you buy something because we told you about it, we may receive compensation from retail partners.


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Turned the hot water heater on last night, and finally tried the shower. The campground has lots of people camping in tents and my thinking was; with all these people in tents not having showers, they're going to use the one at the campground. That means waiting before getting a shower and/or no hot water when you do. It was what tipped my decision to FINALLY try the shower in the trailer.
Yippee, the hot water heater came on, and the shower worked fine. There was decent pressure, and provided had all the hot water I needed. Didn't notice any leaking other than what I caused by not putting the curtain inside the tub. It's a small space, but with practice, I think it will work out just fine.
Around 4:30 pm, I decided to drive up to Lake Placid and do laundry. I'm not sure what the situation will be at the next stop so…. Lake Placid is a 25 minute drive and offered (at least by google reviews) the best place to do laundry.
It was a little hole in the wall, located in sleepy, downtown Lake Placid
The laundromat was dingy and borderline dirty, and the machines were playing past their prime, still it had a interesting character to it and it turned out to be an interesting experience. Joining me in laundry were 6-7 individuals who appeared to be migrant workers. There's a lot of orange groves around the area and its harvest time. Looking at those guys, I thought about the long, long hours of doing the back breaking job they do, and compared them to my lazy ass. Man they leave me in the dust. I'd like to see anyone critical of people coming into this country to do migrant farm work, do the work they do for even one day. I think if they did, they would come away with a much different opinion.
After the laundry, stopped at the local Publix, Ya know, I really like that grocery chain. From there, it was back to the campground.
Ya know, it's the little things that make the memory of this journey for me. Today, I had the small town, funky little laundromat, hanging with the orange pickers experience. Nothing wow about it, but it's a memory that will stay with me.


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This Three Year-Old Dancing To 'Happy' Will Make Your Day
8 May 2014, 14:43 | Updated: 12 May 2014, 10:12
The youngster shows off her moves during an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show this week.
Pharrell's 'Happy' has been involved in many a parody/viral video already this year and now there's a clip of a three year-old dancing to the track that is set to put a huge smile on your face.
The youngster was making another appearing on the Ellen DeGeneres show and wowed the audience with her dance moves.
At the end of the dance, which her mum joins in with, she also receives an enormous selection of presents.
Meanwhile, Pharrell is among the list of superstar performers at Capital's Summertime Ball 2014.
The 'Get Lucky' star will perform at Wembley Stadium on 21st June alongside the likes of Miley Cyrus, David Guetta, Calvin Harris, Rita Ora and Jessie J.


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TH Real Estate recieves highest ever score from PRI | News
TH Real Estate has been awarded their highest score to date from the 'Principles for Responsible Investment' (PRI), the world's leading proponent of responsible investment supported by the United Nations.
Abigail Dean, Head of Sustainability at TH Real Estate, comments: "We are extremely proud to have achieved an A+ and A from the Principles for Responsible Investment for the third consecutive year, increasing our score within the A grade by three points. It is crucial we are incorporating sustainability and climate change risk into our investment process in order for our commitment to Tomorrow's World to be meaningful, and it is great to see the business getting behind this."
The initiative is a premier global benchmark which assesses asset managers' integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into decision making and ownership practices. The assessment reviewed over 1,000 participants, including all major global asset managers. It has two components; strategy and governance scorecard (for all asset managers) and real estate scorecard (specifically for real estate managers). TH Real Estate earned an A+ and A rating, respectively.
TH Real Estate's tomorrow's world approach focuses on the bigger picture trends and insights that will impact the future use and demand for global real estate. As part of this, TH Real Estate has committed to reducing the energy intensity of its global portfolio by 30% by 2030.
Note: TH Real Estate renamed to Nuveen Real Estate in January 2019.
Issued by Nuveen Real Estate Management Limited, 201 Bishopsgate, EC2M 3BN. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. TH Real Estate is a name under which Nuveen Real Estate Management Limited provides investment products and services.


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It is tiring and exhausting, but you won't mind because you care
16 months of having first hand experience being a new mother, I wouldn't say I know it all but rather; just starting on this journey towards parenthood.
If you were to ask me, I can say (I assume other parents agrees too.) this is the toughest job I have taken where my compensation is the smiles and kisses of my little one and keeping her healthy and safe is my bonus for a job well done.
Like may other women nowadays (unless you're a tai tai) given the privilege to hold an nourish careers, I too am experiencing the joys and pains of being a working mom. You can all do as much to prepare for parenthood by reading books ans listening to stories and tales, but one of the keys that helped me gear to being a parent is — My Job.
Through my job, I've learned PATIENCE. My "customers" needs has designed me to develop patience in providing services at par to their expectations. Sometime, their needs and wants may change' outrageous requests and even deadlines, and you may get annoyed and disappointed along the way. Customer's satisfaction is my utmost priority! At home, my patience sometimes is tested by my little one who seem to enjoy seeing me picking up (like 100x!) stuff she throws or, our catch game every time she ran fast to the unsafe areas- but not a worry, my patience level has been "trained".
It is tiring and exhausting but you won't mind because you CARE. No work can be "done" if you didn't care. Team will not progress if you wouldn't care. (overall) Workplace will be chaotic if management doesn't care. Your care is important, team or individual you may be. It is with care that $#!+ gets done!
LEARN. My organization and my job had taught me to learn, relearn and share what I have learned and repeat! Learning doesn't stop- we just need to open our eyes, ears and our hearts/ Life is our classroom and the people we meet are our teachers no matter how old or young they are. Even my child taught me things that I never knew before- new vocabularies (birds- "og") and new methods (eating yogurt via straw).
and finally, to LEAD. I believe everyone is a leader. Each of us is given opportunity to display our leadership into something, at work or at home; as a team member or a family member. It is in our hands how we can embody leadership in our daily lives. My role had prepared me to lead my little minion, in the hope that U can develop, hone and flourish whatever natural talent she may have.


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By agreement with the owners of the "Bagni Ideale" beach located directly in front of the hotel, our guests are granted modern beech service in a supervised environment with full comfort.
If you wish to reserve a particular spot (front row, private cabin, etc..) please contact the beach management directly at (+39) 333-3998485, or at the following e-mail address email@example.com.
Beach is not included in full board price.


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Dear Crafters,
Today I share a cute little project I came up with when a customer placed a fairly large order and I wanted to make something to thank her. It got me thinking, and knowing that she is an avid reader and as part of her Sale-a-bration freebies with her order, she chose the Bubbles & Fizz DSP. So I came up with this cute bookmark idea!
I cut 2 bottles from Thick Whisper White card. I also die cut one of the bottles from the Bottles and Fizz DSP using the same die and glued it to one of the bottles.
How did I put it together? well … the bottle behind has been scored at the top and folded over and the bottle on the front has been glue to it to create the A frame.
The bottle top is die cut from the copper foil and glued to the top. Check out those drips down the front of the bottle… they are the cute Glitter Epoxy Shapes embellishments!
I also stamped the Thank you over the top in Bermuda Bay ink!
A full list of products can be found at the end of this post!
Sale-a-bration period to earn FREE product is 3rd January – 31st March 2018
Occasions catalogue begins on 3rd January and runs through until 31st May 2018
Click on the pictures above to download your PDF copy!
Don't forget to Follow My Blog to receive blog updates and join my Newsletter Subscription for all the latest news and specials!
Happy Stamping,
Product List


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For the first time since Dec. 10 and 12, the Rangers have lost consecutive games in regulation. Despite Rick Nash scoring in his fourth straight game, a few bounces went the Blues way, and the Rangers couldn't find an answer in the third period. Some recaps. [Blueshirt Banter] [ESPN NY] [NY Post] [Daily News] [The Record] [Newsday] [Blueshirts United]
A closer look at the deal that landed the Rangers Kevin Klein, and shipped Michael Del Zotto to the Predators. [Blueshirt Banter]
Klein had a solid debut Thursday night against St. Louis, playing a stay-at-home style and logging over 15 minutes of ice time, and killing penalties. [NY Post] [Newsday]
And as it's already been said, Klein fills a role in both his style, and his ability to play on the right side. [NY Post]
Outdoor hockey in Yankee Stadium is the perfect lead-in for a Super Bowl in MetLife Stadium. [NY Post]
And speaking of the Stadium Series, want to see what it looks like to assemble an ice rink in Yankee Stadium? A cool time-lapse video. [ESPN NY]
- Rangers Vs. Blues Recap: Rangers Shutdown By Blues In 2-1 Loss At MSG
- Rangers Vs. Blues Preview: Rangers Look For Bounce Back Game Against St. Louis
- Michael Del Zotto Trade: A Deeper Look At The Kevin Klein Acquisition
- Del Zotto shipped to Nashville; Lundqvist healthy; The need for a right-handed defenseman
- New York Rangers News: Michael Del Zotto Traded To Nashville For Kevin Klein


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Bag ()
- {property.name}: {property.value}
The ultimate fashion accessory; the miniature Anouk bag features a Ports 1961 logo closure with a long strap (to be worn crossbody or over the shoulder) as well as belt loops for an on-the-go look.
Dimension: 12cm x 5cm x 8.5cm
Free shipping for orders USD300 & above.
We offer complimentary shipping to many countries in the world for orders above USD300. For more detailed information on shipping timings, costs and destinations, please refer to our Shipping & Delivery page.
We offer customers the option to return unused products within 14 days of purchase. Please refer to our Returns & Refunds page.
The Ports 1961 website uses cookies to give you the best experience. Cookies allow you to shop our collections and use our personalized features available on our website. Click here to view our privacy and cookie policy to learn more about this.


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This one is for those who believe liquid meals are not satisfying!!!!
The 2011 Les Callioux is one of my favorite blancs from Chateauneuf-du-Pape as it was 90% of my meal last evening. This wonder blend consist of 80% Roussanne, 10% Clairette and 10% Grenache Blanc. The notes of lush tropical fruit are seamlessly woven throughout this wine without being overbearing. With balanced acidity and medium weight on the palate, the finish lingers with sustained pleasure as you anticipate the next sip. If you've never tried any of the wonderful blancs from Chateauneuf, I suggest you pick this one up and find out what you're missing. At MacArthur Beverages: $39.99 SKU#53502


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Elaeagnus glabra f. oxyphylla Attenuates Scopolamine-Induced Learning and Memory Impairments in Mice by Improving Cholinergic Transmission via Acti…
Authors of this article are:
Sohn E, Lim HS, Kim YJ, Kim BY, Kim JH, Jeong SJ.
A summary of the article is shown below:
We aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of an Elaeagnus glabra f. oxyphylla (EGFO) ethanol extract in mice with scopolamine-induced memory dysfunction. Fifty male mice were randomly divided into a normal control group, a scopolamine-treated group, a scopolamine and EGFO extract-treated group, and a scopolamine and tacrine-treated group. EGFO (50 or 100 mg/kg/day) was received for 21 days. Step-through passive avoidance and Y-maze tests were performed to examine the effects of treatment on learning and memory impairments. Acetylcholine (Ach) levels and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity were measured via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Levels of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), nerve growth factor (NGF), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), and apoptosis-related protein expression were determined via Western blot analysis. EGFO pretreatment significantly attenuated scopolamine-induced memory impairments, relative to findings observed in the scopolamine-treated group. Levels of cholinergic factors in the brain tissues were markedly attenuated in the scopolamine-treated group. EGFO treatment also attenuated neural apoptosis in scopolamine-treated mice by decreasing the expression of apoptosis-related proteins such as Bax, Bcl2, cleaved caspase-3, and TUNEL staining. These results suggest that EGFO improves memory and cognition in a mouse model of memory impairment by restoring cholinergic and anti-apoptotic activity, possibly via activation of CREB/NGF signaling.
Check out the article's website on Pubmed for more information:
This article is a good source of information and a good way to become familiar with topics such as: Alzheimer's disease; cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB); cholinergic system; memory dysfunction; nerve growth factor (NGF); scopolamine.


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Recently, I found a few interesting articles/posts that all defend model simplicity.
An interview with Gregory matthews and Michael Lopez about their winning entry in the Kaggle's NCAA tournament challenge "ML mania" suggests that it's better to have a simple model with the right data than a complex model with the wrong data. This is my favorite quote from the interview:
John Foreman has a nice blog post defending simple models here. He argues for sometimes replacing a machine learning model for clustering with an IF statement or two. He links to a published paper entitled "Very simple classification rules perform well on most commonly used datasets" by Robert Holte in Machine Learning that demonstrates his point. You can watch John talk about modeling in his very informative and enjoyable hour-long seminar here.
A paper called "The Bias Bias" by Henry Brighton and Gerd Gigerenzer examines our tendency to build overly-complex models. Do complex problems require complex solutions? Not always. Here is the abstract.
In marketing and finance, surprisingly simple models sometimes predict more accurately than more complex, sophisticated models. Why? Here, we address the question of when and why simple models succeed — or fail — by framing the forecasting problem in terms of the bias-variance dilemma. Controllable error in forecasting consists of two components, the "bias" and the "variance". We argue that the benefits of simplicity are often overlooked by researchers because of a pervasive "bias bias": The importance of the bias component of prediction error is inflated, and the variance component of prediction error, which reflects an oversensitivity of a model to different samples from the same population, is neglected. Using the study of cognitive heuristics, we discuss how individuals and organizations can reduce variance by ignoring weights, attributes, and dependencies between attributes, and thus make better decisions. We argue that bias and variance provide a more insightful perspective on the benefits of simplicity than common intuitions that typically appeal to Occam's razor.
What about discrete optimization models?
All of these links address data science problems, like classifying data or building a predictive model. Operations research models are often trying to solve complicated problems with a lot of constraints and requirements. They have a lot of pieces that need to play nicely together. But even then, it's often incredibly useful to ask the right question and then answer it using a simple model.
I have one example that makes a great case for simple models. Armann Ingolfsson examined the impact of model simplifications in models used to locate ambulances in a recent paper (see citation below). Location problems like this one almost always use a coverage objective function, where locations are covered if an ambulance can respond to the location in a fixed amount of time (e.g., 9 minutes). The question is how to represent the coverage function and how to aggregate the locations, two choices of model error. The coverage objective function can either reflect deterministic or probabilistic travel times. Deterministic travel times lead to binary objective function coefficients (an ambulance covers a location or is doesn't) whereas probabilistic travel times lead to real-valued objective coefficients that are a little "smoother" with respect to distances between stations and locations (an ambulance can reach 75% of calls at this location in 9 minutes).
This paper examined which is worse: (a) a simple model with highly aggregated locations but realistic (probabilistic) travel times or (b) a more complex model with finely granulated locations but less realistic (deterministic) travel times.
It turns out that the simple but realistic model (choice (a)) is better by a long shot. Here is a figure from the paper that reflects the coverage loss (model error) from different models. The x-axis reflects aggregation, and the y-axis reflects coverage loss (model error, more is bad). The different curves reflect different models. The blue line is the model with probabilistic travel times; the rest have deterministic travel times with the binary value determined by different percentiles.
From the conclusion:
In this paper, we demonstrated that the use of coverage probabilities rather than deterministic coverage thresholds reduces the deleterious effects of demand point aggregation on solution quality for ambulance station site selection optimization models. We find that for the probabilistic version of the optimization model, the effects of demand-point aggregation are minimal, even for high levels of spatial aggregation.
Holmes, G., A. Ingolfsson, R. Patterson, E. Rolland. 2014. Model specification and data aggregation for emergency services facility location. [Supplement] [Submitted, last revision March 2014.]
What is your favorite simple model?
Related posts:


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I spent the day yesterday cutting out the pieces to my wall hanging. I decided to keep using the batik fabric originally selected. I think the second wash really cleaned out the dye. There are a lot of pieces to this wall hanging. I'm sure it can be made with larger pieces but I figured I would use my gifted go dies. I probably won't begin any sewing today since DH is off work. I'll begin sewing the blocks together on Saturday.
I used my Baby Go to cut out the pieces. I'm not so sure I like this machine better than my full size Go machine. My Baby Go just has a hard time starting the die out. I usually don't cut a lot of layers of fabric either. I mean it doesn't easily catch the die to pull it through the presser. I have to push with my leg, hold the top of the machine, and then crank the handle. It's actually pretty funny to see :-) If you have a Go Baby, do you have any problems starting your dies under the presser bar?


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Tips To Consider When Choosing A Landscaping Company
In case you have a home, and it is not in level then you will need to look for a landscaping company that will make it level. It is a good idea to make it look attractive as long it's something that you can afford.
There are so many landscaping companies you only need to be careful when choosing. Always consider checking different magazines as you can be lucky to come across a landscaping company. You can ask from the people around you if they know any landscaping company. Ensure that you make the internet your friend as it will give you a lot of information on what you are searching. Below are important things that you should have in mind when you are looking for a landscaping company.
The landscaping company should be one that is near the area that you are staying. You will definitely gain trust with the landscaping company as you will see that it is one that you can meet and recognize their building and in case of anything you know where to find them. There will be no delays once you hire them as they will not have any excuse to give.
It should be a landscaping company that is famous in a good way. You must interrogate by digging in so that you can be sure of the landscaping company that you will be employing. It is of a benefit reading their comments that they get from their past clients as you will know how they found their work.
Ensure you choose a landscaping company that is insured as that will show how professional they are in their work. You will always be at peace because you will have known that in case of anything then they will be the ones to answer. If one of their employees gets hurt when working, then the insurance company will be the one catering for the expenses.
The portfolio is of importance because you will be able to know whether it is a landscaping company that stands on their own and don't steal other peoples idea. Once you see what they have, it will either impress you or frustrate you.
It should be a landscaping company that does a quality job by the end of the contract. Therefore it has to be something worth the work they are doing. One that you will be able to afford since you will be on a budget then you will have to look for your range.
Getting Down To Basics with Homes


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After so many miles last weekend at The Trek Across Maine, I was ready for another long ride. Today was the better of the two weekend days for it.
Yesterday it rained most of the morning but I still managed to get out for our Saturday Morning Ride with 4 other women. Surprisingly at 55-degrees it wasn't really cold, except for that time when we were caught in a downpour.
I wasn't the only one with a longer ride in mind. After a friend had emailed me we put out a blast email to any of the PVC Women that might want to join in the fun. We had 14 of us, which also included some spouses and significant. We would have had more but there were a few that weren't able to make the 7am start.
I finally feel like my fitness is returning. The nice part about so much time off the bike is that I'm not feeling that burnout that I typically feel this time of year.


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Drug Possession Bail Bonds
If you need to post drug possession bail in Raleigh, then give us a call. We know all the ins and outs of the bail bonds system, and we're to help out.
We can have your loved one out of jail fast while giving you a great rate and great service.
Drug possession crimes are serious. As a top drug possession bail bonds company we know the ins and outs of helping you. If your friend or relative is caught with drugs or drug paraphernalia, the penalties could be severe. The penalties differ depending on the kind and amount of drugs.
Drugs are characterized by Schedules according to the risk and danger they pose to users. Marijuana, for example, is a Schedule VI drug due to its low risk of addiction and health issues. Heroin and LSD are at the top of the list because of the risks involved in taking them.
For all drugs up to Schedule I, possession is usually met with a misdemeanor. For Schedule I drugs, the penalty for possession is almost always a felony. However, if you are caught with large amounts of drugs in Schedules I-V, you could still face felony distribution charges. Regardless, you're going to need drug possession bail in Raleigh if arrested for these crimes, so give us a call today!
No matter what kind of drug possession charge your friend or family member has been arrested for, we can get them out of jail fast. Call us today for drug charge bail bondsman services in Wake County, Lee County, Johnston County, Harnett County, Franklin County, Chatham County, and many other counties in North Carolina! We are more than happy and willing to assist you in dealing with this difficult time and will walk you through the process as painless as possible.


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All-America Selections winners for 2015: ornamentals and edibles with proven national and regional garden performance©
Seventeen selections became All-America Selections (AAS) National Award Winners for 2015. AAS includes a network of over 80 trial grounds all over North America where new, never-before-sold cultivars are Tested Nationally and Proven Locally® by skilled, impartial AAS Judges. Only the best performers are declared AAS Winners. Once these new cultivars are announced as AAS Winners, they are available for immediate sale and distribution.
An additional eight cultivars were selected as All-America Selections (AAS) Regional Award Winners for 2015. Regional winners undergo the same trialing process as national winners, but are recognized as cultivars that exhibit outstanding performance in specific regional climates.
Blazek, D. and Blythe, E.K. (2016). All-America Selections winners for 2015: ornamentals and edibles with proven national and regional garden performance©. Acta Hortic. 1140, 183-186
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1140.38
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1140.38


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this summer has been crazy. i moved then i moved again. i've driven back and forth across the western u.s. and have been bed-less for the last two months.
but i feel good. maybe the stress of moving has blocked out everything else, i don't know, but i have been pretty happy. i don't know if i feel like my "old" self but i feel like a new self… and i like it.
my heart is full. thank you for sticking around.


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You Should Be an Accredited Bosch Contractor
With the Bosch Revolution kicking off tomorrow in Chicago, now is the perfect time to talk about Bosch's free program for contractor accreditation.
If you're serious about Bosch equipment–and you should be, it's great–then the Accredited Bosch Contractor (ABC) Program is a must-join. This program provides a number of essential benefits that make life better for you and your customers. To get all of the details on benefits and how to join, just keep reading!
ABC Benefits
The ABC Program is designed to empower Bosch contractors to generate more business, serve their clients efficiently, and improve their market share.
Training & Technical Benefits
- ABC Technical Training & Qualification Courses
- Easily find and register for Bosch-sponsored training courses
- Online Training & Webinars
- Can't make it to a training? Bosch has you covered with a robust online training system.
- ABC Hotline Access
- Having difficulty with a specific aspect of a tricky job? Need advice on how to approach an application? The ABC Hotline gives you direct access to Bosch technicians so that you'll have all the support you need to nail every job, every time.
Sales & Marketing Benefits
- Warranty Extension
- ABC-registered equipment receives an exclusive, free one-year warranty extension.
- Sales Leads
- When a local homeowner requests information from Bosch, they'll recommend ABC Program members.
- Product Financing
- Open up new opportunities by offering easy and affordable financing to your potential clients.
- ABC Dealer Listing
- All Accredited Bosch Contractors are listed in Bosch's online dealer locator. The more you install, the high you'll show up!
- Access to ABC Marketing Materials
- Custom Website Banners and Promotional Brochures
- Advertising & Marketing Support
- Gold & Platinum ABC members can use Bosch's Facebook page to advertise their personal business.
- Online Rewards Shop
- Every piece of equipment that you register gets you points to be used towards Bosch-branded gear.
- Exclusive Promotions
- An expansive personal use discount program ($500 back on an IDS condenser plus air handler or cased coil!) headlines Bosch's ABC-only promotions.
Joining the ABC Program
Becoming an Accredited Bosch Contractor is a straightforward process. You need to head over to https://boschprohvac.com/register/ to create a contractor account. From there, the website will guide you through the free registration process.
If you ever have any questions about how to utilize an aspect of the ABC program, there is a guide attached at the bottom of this post or you can contact Bosch customer support directly and they will be happy to help.
The Bottom Line
Bosch's ABC Program is a free tool that provides tremendous value. The extended warranties alone are well worth the time to register and you'll gain access to a plethora of marketing materials and exclusive benefits that allow you to set yourself apart from the competition.
Below are links to resources for Bosch's ABC Program
The Program Summary contains a list of benefits and a breakdown of the different levels in the ABC Program
The Personal Use Discount Flyer has all the details on ABC rebates for personal equipment
The User Guide has a step-by-step breakdown of how to navigate the ABC portal on Bosch's website.
Finally, the Program Flyer is a simple marketing material for homeowners explaining the benefits of using an ABC Program contractor.
Bosch ABC Program Summary | Bosch ABC Personal Use Discount Program Flyer | Bosch ABC Program User Guide | Bosch ABC Program Flyer


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This epic cinematic film, brilliantly conceived and beautifully shot, most definitely manages that. In fact, it stands up as a piece of entertainment in its own right.
The ad was created by Pablo Gonzalez De La Peña and Ewan Paterson and directed by Pedro Martin-Calero through Blink.
Title: Who stole the Cup?
Client: Adam Lewis, chief marketing officer, GVC Group
Agency: BBH Sport


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GAP's Whistleblower Whiplash
Two developments in the whistleblower world caught the Government Accountability Project speaking out of both sides of its mouth today.
Here's GAP's Legal Director, Tom Devine, on news that the Federal Circuit dealt a serious blow today to national security employees' (and possibly all federal employees') civil service protections:
Last year Congress unanimously passed the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act ("WPEA") due to hostile Federal Circuit activism creating judicial loopholes that gutted statutory free speech rights. Apparently the Federal Circuit did not get it. This time the court created a loophole to remove the civil service rule of law from virtually the entire federal workforce. It erased all federal laws that shield the two million federal employee workforce from becoming a national security spoils system.
After Conyers, federal employees will have two rights left: be national security 'yes people,' or leave. A bureaucracy where it is only legally safe to be a national security 'yes man' is a clear and present danger to freedom for all Americans.
Of course, courts do not issue rulings destroying 100+ years of civil service protections willy-nilly. Someone has to argue for that position. Conspicuously missing from GAP's myopic condemnation is any mention of the driver and originator of this decision: the Obama Administration, as well as Acting OPM Director Elaine Kaplan, a former Special Counsel and recipient of a GAP-sponsored award.
Turning to the second development, here's the very same Tom Devine defending the White House on charges that the president misspoke/misled/lied to the public when he said that his executive order (PPD-19) would have given Edward Snowden a viable channel to blow the whistle. The article ably lays out all the different interpretations and positions on this issue. For my purposes, however, it's sufficient to quote the end:
"There is no substitute for codified rights," said GAP's Devine. "But to be fair, the president is doing what he can to sweep in contractors" under the October directive. Devine's discussions with White House aides indicate they believe the White House has the authority to act alone, he said, perhaps by using "expansive definitions of government employee."
Sometime between the time Obama signed the October order and the stripping of contractor protections in the defense bill, Devine said, the issue fell off the White House radar.
So there you have it folks. When it comes to a conscious, relentless effort to eviscerate decades-long civil service protections, the Obama Administration is nowhere to be mentioned in Devine's indignant quotes. But when the president makes a comment that perks the ears of whistleblower advocates across town, Devine is there, ready to offer innocuous sounding excuses on his behalf.
Here's a question to my fellow whistleblowers: does this conduct do justice to your sacrifices?
Photo by Towle N released under a Creative Commons license.


text:
When our minds and hearts are set in forgiveness, mercy and love, we have found the way. It leads to a life that death has no power over.
Yet if we still spend time judging others and withholding our forgiveness, because we don't believe certain people deserve it, we haven't really found the way. These are all signs of brokenness.
Only a forgiving, merciful heart that is always ready to love everyone, particularly those that haven't earned it, reflects a genuine spiritual calling and transformation.
Our surrender and humble willingness to depend on the One who made us is all it takes. Usually this happens when we hit rock bottom and, in our brokenness, realize we can't do it anymore.
That's what it takes for us to understand that only he can heal our wounds and replace them with his powerful joy.
When we let his peace arbitrate in our hearts we experience peace that exceeds all understanding, regardless of circumstances.
Only he can take what this world meant for evil and turn it for good. By making all things work for our good as we rely on him, he gives us a new life to enjoy, full of divine love, joy and peace.


text:
Journalist and award-winning children's book author. Most widely known among these is The Story of Mankind, a history of the world especially for children, which won the first Newbery Medal in 1922.
Henrik Van Loon's first three books carried a Dutch historical theme. Two themes that recurred in these drawings were the Dutch galleon in full sail and the steeple hatted Dutchman in leather breeches, who appeared as the type figure in many of them. Drawings that a young Fitzgerald, always keen on History, may have seen. Van Loon wrote The Fall of the Dutch Republic, (1913), The Rise of the Dutch Kingdom, 1915, The Golden Book of the Dutch Navigators, 1916, A Short History of Discovery: From the Earliest Times to the Founding of Colonies in the American Continent, 1917, Ancient Man; the Beginning of Civilizations, 1920, The Story of Mankind (1921). Many of his very popular books were aimed at young adults and illustrated by himself. Fitzgerald was an avid history buff to the extent he played with tin soldiers and kept pictures of mutilated WWI soldiers as a precious possession.
The ending of The Great Gatsby may have been influenced by another work. "And as the moon rose higher the inessential houses began to melt away until gradually I became aware of the old island here that flowered once for Dutch sailors' eyes—a fresh, green breast of the new world. Its vanished trees, the trees that had made way for Gatsby's house, had once pandered in whispers to the last and greatest of all human dreams…and as I sat there, brooding on the old unknown world…"
Fitzgerald's editor, Maxwell Perkins, stated "We had a good many literary evenings …inviting Hendrik Van Loon". Count Miklós Károlyi de Nagykároly, Hungary's leader and later Prime Minister, was a guest of Van Loon's in Westport as well as Ignacio Zuloaga, a Spanish painter He is considered to be one of the most important Spanish painters from the end of the 19th Century and beginnings of the 20th Century. Another guest was Margaret Wycherly, a British actress probably best remembered as The Mother in her two best-known roles, Sergeant York (1941) opposite Gary Cooper and White Heat (1949) opposite James Cagney who closes out the film screaming "Made it, Ma! Top of the world!" as he goes to a fiery death. Actress Pauline Lord and Peggy Wood – also a member of the Algonquin Round Table – also lent glamour to the Van Loon home.
In the last year of his life, Fitzgerald was still referring to Van Loon " [ How To Read, a book that came out that year] "is the biggest fake since Van Loon Art"(published in 1937) and in a later letter "Artists spilt blood over Van Loons History of the Arts".
VWB, Days of the Phoenix p. 382.
FSF On Author, 185,186.