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Bear with Us! September 28, 2014Posted by doinglaundryinheels in Uncategorized.
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We've been away for a while…and we've missed you!
Sorry for the delay!
DLIH is taking a little break to restructure and as soon as it's all set, posts will be back and better than ever!
Bear with us (grr!)
Thank you for all your support!
Check back with us soon!
Things Your Little Sister Won't Understand August 23, 2014Posted by doinglaundryinheels in 21st Century/Technology, Dating, Friendships, GoodGuys File, Humor, Life Lessons/Growing Up, Men, Real World, Relationships, Women.
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The GoodGuys File
When I was about twenty, I would run into a lot of jaded women who had nothing nice to say about men or relationships. "Oh, all that romantic stuff, that'll end", or "Ha!, you can never trust a man!" It always bothered me, I felt like, as someone who was younger, you would want to encourage me and teach me and allow me to grow, not just shoot me down and tell me to lower my expectations of relationships. I also didn't believe what they told me, sure not every relationship is perfect, and sure some people have had bad experiences, but what about those couples celebrating their 40th year wedding anniversary, or that family with three under three and they are still so in love – it doesn't have to turn bad and boring. However, now that I am the same age as those women, I also laugh at my former self. There is a very distinct line between thinking the world will be a perfect beautiful place, and then the truth of being in a relationship. I recently stumbled upon this gem – "24 Real Facts of Actual Couples…" I sat down and read it with some of my gal pals, also in relationships, and not only did we have a good, solid laugh, but we also almost threw up all over the place. This article was put together by someone who A. probably isn't in a longterm real relationship or B. Doesn't know what one is. So, we decided to combat this article and give you the actual REAL version of these 24 REAL couples.
1. Steal his towel – Yes, this is a very cute idea, who doesn't love a fuzzy, warm towel, but no one is going to do this. This one guy, who gave this one tip, is going to do this. A more realistic approach? While your significant other is showering, do something else to help them, like get their coffee ready, or set their shoes out so that when they are out of the shower, they have to work just a little bit less in the AM.
2. Stop saying sorry, and start saying thank you – I think this is great advice. In a relationship, it's very hard to learn to be grateful after that initial honeymoon phase. However, I think it is TWICE as hard to say sorry. This tip begins with "When you say, "Sorry for being a jerk," the other person is forced to either call you a jerk, or say it wasn't a big deal". No, that is so not true! When you say "I am sorry I was rude to you", the other person should say "Thank you for apologizing, that means a lot to me." and move past it. If you don't learn how to say sorry as a couple, you won't be a couple much longer.
3. Make time for one another, even if it means giving up sleep – this point is very cute, and I don't think it's a horrible idea. It's not the tip I disagree with, it's the title. Unless you're in a household where one of you doesn't work, I don't think you should sacrifice sleep; Just because he gets up at 5:30am, does that discount the fact that I get up at 8am and also have a 9 hour work day? Instead, make time for one another to do simple things together like snuggle on the couch before the early bird needs to go to bed, or meet one another at the train stop, so you can walk home together. Also, on a real note, if I asked my boyfriend to get up at 5am for me, I'd get a pillow thrown to the face – and so would any other girl in a normal relationship. Laugh about it.
4. Take random pictures when they're not looking – sure, why not. Do this. Ain't gonna hurt. Just don't expect every man/women you date to do this, it shouldn't be something that makes or breaks your relationship. It's an added bonus if they do; not a requirement.
5. Dance with her – again, sure, do this. There is nothing wrong with this…but ladies, set your expectations, don't resent your man if this isn't something he does all the time, or isn't comfortable with. Life is not The Notebook, and you can have a very happy and amazing relationship without these things.
6. Keeps lists of things they like – It is nice to get people things they like just because, without needing a special occasion. I don't know that you need to go as far as writing a list, because it will come naturally. But this is a great point, relationships grow with the little signs of effort, not always the big, grandiose ones.
7. Get his toothbrush ready for him – this is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. A. I don't want ANYONE touching my toothbrush, gross! B. NO one is going to do this for you! Kudos to this guy and his dad, but please don't rate who you're dating based on if they prep your toothbrush for you. No one does this!
8. Set igloo time – or fort time, or cuddle time, or run around together time. It's important to be together, what you do doesn't necessarily matter, as long as you are doing it as a team. We approve this tip.
9. Give little presents – is this not the same thing as #6. Was the author of this post really reaching for 24 points???
10. Put love letters in a box with wine – I was APPALLED by this point. The idea is cute, but when you read the description it's totally backwards. So, when you are in a huge fight, the first thing you think of doing is drinking wine and reading love letters to one another? If the fight is that bad, I'd probably smash the bottle of wine and tear up the letters. It's just a really stupid point. Also, you're mad at someone and you say "hey, can you get me the hammer so I can open this box?",no, you don't. Instead of trying to find ways around fighting, learn how to fight together and learn how to communicate, learn how to say sorry and move past things, not hold grudges against one another. Drinking while fighting can also make things worse! This is horrible advice for young lovers! The best thing you can do in a fight, is learn how to speak to one another, be open about feelings and listen to the other person and hear what they are saying.
11. Stash duplicate gifts – again, a cute idea, but not very realistic. If you don't live together, you are investing in something when you aren't even sure if you'll be together forever, then you're carrying this extra gift around every time you move. If you are living together, good luck with that! Hiding gifts is an art when you live with your significant other.
12. Be a jerk, but not really – I like the story in this point, it's very cute and very doable. Shows that you really do care! However, again, I hate the title – don't ever be a jerk to the person you're with, whether you're joking or not. It's mean.
13. Leave little notes – anything that shows a little extra effort always makes people feel special; even people who are just your friends or family. Very cute, and very great advice.
14. Randomly take her parent's to lunch – if you're married! Oh my gosh! If I called my boyfriend and he said "Oh, I'm just out to lunch with your parents" I'd freak out! Unless you've known that person's parents for years and years and years, this really isn't normal behavior.
15. Give yourself the short-end of the stick sometimes – this is simply called "don't be selfish". Relationships are a two-way streets, a give and take, it's not about short-ends of any sticks, it's just about being selfless.
16. Share a show – also called igloo time? apparently?
17. Cook together – this is great advice and something most couples do; and I'm glad the article didn't include anything weird and dreamy about suddenly making out on the counter or holding hands while someone flips pancakes, phew!
18. When dinner is ready, the phone is off – I do think it's hard nowadays to separate from our devices; but it's not just dinner, make sure that when you're leading lady or prince charming is talking to you you're not all over your Facebook. At the same time, when you've been together for a while, there are ways to ask "Hey, could you put that down for a second" and also times when it's okay, you know that they're just reading a work e-mail, or checking a quick text.
19. Give away the last bite – another sweet point that normal couples do. Do it. Plus, it involves food, so that can't be bad!
20. Do chores because they matter to them – this is a tough one. I think it's wonderful to come home to a clean home, without having to ask. Again, this falls into categories of selflessness, communication, and simply appreciating one another, doing the little things. When you're in a healthy relationship, these extra efforts fall in line with your thought processes. It's not fun to do the dishes if you hate it, but the other person is more important to you than the ten minutes it will take to do the dishes.
21. Have your own hobbies – aka, space. Do it. Even if you don't want to. It will save your future together.
22. Have fun together – if you can't have fun together, everything else will be harder to. So, don't forget how to be silly with one another.
23. Make time for intimacy – yes, this is super important. However, I'm not sure about this chatting naked thing. If that works for you, then that's cool, but intimacy is many things. When you've been together for a while, you tend to hold hands less, hug less, so make a special note to do those things and keep that fire alive. A deep conversation, clothes or not, is intimacy, it's things you might not talk about with anyone else. Don't always force yourself to go for gold, just spend time together and make the effort.
24. (I'm tired! who thought 24 points was the number to get to!) Listen - All I can say about this one is go back to that silly wine box idea – communicate, express your feelings, listen and be there for one another. Everything else, all this silly stuff, it will fall in line if you want it to and if you're with the right person. Stop trying to make things into a romantic comedy, and start appreciating your partner. When you see someone for who they are, and all the things you love about them, you want to do these things for them, with them, and about them. It can be so simple, and so happy. It's not easy, but it doesn't have to be hard.
The Pressure of Finding a Role Model August 18, 2014Posted by doinglaundryinheels in Education, Family, Following Your Dreams, Life Lessons/Growing Up, Real World.
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"I want you to write a one page essay on the person in your life who inspires you." If you haven't heard that at least five times, then you surely didn't go to school in America. Ever since we were children, we were groomed to, essentially, find someone to look up to. We've constantly been asked about who we look up to, who lights the fire under us, who we want to be like. Then, there's me.
When I was a toddler I had two things on my mind, what to do and how to do it. There was no bad influence from the TV, there were no crazy ideas that I developed after watching someone else, everything I did, I did of my own volition. You could say, I was a super determined kid, and really self motivating. It would also be safe to say I never wanted to do things like everyone else did them, I wanted to find my own, unique way to go about it. So, when my very first English teacher asked me to talk about someone who inspired me, I didn't really know what to say.
Everyone has people they admire for certain parts of their personality. You could say you are inspired by a person's strength, courage, kindness, outgoing personality, a person's ability to be fearless, and so on. You can also be moved by someone's story, or feel driven by their accomplishments. To say that there is a person I owe my entire lifestyle to, well, that person would be me.
I know that sounds selfish, but it doesn't come from a selfish place. I don't have just one person to thank for where I am, but an entire list; there was not simply one person who inspired my career, and my dreams, there was an entire team; two people fed me, clothed me, and raised me with moral integrity and manners, but as a family, we learned together from our friends, our culture, and those close to us. I can't say there is one person I look to for a map to my future, I want to write my own. Even now, in my twenties, people expect me to raise my children like someone else did, to live in a home that someone I admire has, to have the kind of job that my idol would; they keep asking, wondering who I'm modeling my life after. Why do they keep asking us to pick someone else to be like?
I like to think of my life, as a new building, I'm the architect, ever year you lay a new brick to build a room, and then the next room, and the next, and then you've built a floor, and you're onto the next floor and so on. So, to me, I'm not modeling my life after anything but the blueprint in my head. The best part about this, is that my blueprint can change, I can erase lines, and build new walls, and change layouts without fear, because I'm not veering away from something that's already been built for me.
If someone told me to paint a flower "like this", I'd ask why. Why is there one way to do something? If you do it a different way, you're a thinker, a creator, a visionary, and then suddenly everyone starts following you, and your footsteps instead if creating their own vision. If a little girl ever said to me "you're my role model", I'd say to her, "be your own role model, make mistakes and learn from them, try new things to find what you enjoy, and when you pick a path, build your road on your own terms, not on what you think I would do, or say, or feel. Take what you love about me, and apply it to who you want to be; take a little something from all the great people in life you meet, and become your own great kind of person." When I look back on my life, I want to see a unique rainbow, the pattern may look similar to others, but the colors will be all my own.
How Reality TV Made Me a Happy Person August 13, 2014Posted by doinglaundryinheels in 21st Century/Technology, Life Lessons/Growing Up, Real World.
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For the majority of my life : 20+years, I've been a very negative person. It's true, and for 19+ of those years, I was either unaware of it or didn't want to see it. I talked a lot of being positive, and wanted to surround myself with happy people, but I, myself, couldn't get past a wall of negativity that had been built since I was a kid. Negativity comes from a place of fear, or insecurity, or a non-willingness to just be open to the world. It's also attributed to a level of stubbornness, and selfishness; it's an energy-sucking, effort to actually make everything in your life glass-half-empty without even knowing you're doing it. It's like running the air conditioner with all the windows wide open.
Prior to a couple of months ago, I disagreed with everyone – if it wasn't the way I lived my life, if it wasn't something I believed in, if it wasn't something I thought was appropriate, then it was wrong. I was a walking contradiction of what I told other people to not do. I'd see a show about, say, polygamy, and say "That's horrible! I could never agree with that", or be indulging in my guilty pleasure, Teen Mom, and think to myself "how stupid can these girls be?!", and this was the mentality I carried through life. If I didn't like what someone was wearing, I'd silently think to myself "Ew, are you serious?", or if someone I worked with invited me to a keg-stand party, I'd judge them twenty-five ways to Monday. Then, about three months ago, everything changed.
Sometimes your life needs to implode on you before it can expand. It was like a balloon that was too full of air exploding,everywhere, into a million little pieces. Having this breakdown, everything I had been holding in for years came flooding out, and all these realizations about myself came flooding in. It was like a cereal bowl of anger, resentment, honesty, admittance, self-depreciation. What this did was release everything that had been holding me back, for years I told people "I'm super sarcastic…if you can't have a sarcastic conversation with me, we can't be friends." but I wasn't sarcastic, I was nasty; plain and simple. You can be funny, without being mean. It was amazing, because suddenly nothing bothered me, nothing. I had this mind as open as a field, for miles.
So, how does reality TV fall into all of this? Well, many people out there may believe that reality TV is a form of exploitation, or invasion of privacy, and maybe I agree with that to an extent. I wouldn't call myself a fan, but I wouldn't go as far as saying I don't watch the stuff. What I learned was that people are people, at face value, and when you judge someone the only person you are hurting is yourself, and you're contributing to this ugly part of society, a part I don't want to be a member of. I think if I met a teen mom, or a rich housewife, or a man who has three wives, or a little person, or a home chef tomorrow, I would take them as a person, for who they are, and I would appreciate that their life is unique to mine, that it is different. I wouldn't judge them for who they are or who they are not or what they believe in. What someone does, in their private time, on-screen or off, is not a reflection of how someone expects you to live your life. I think there are a lot of people out there who are kind, caring, wonderful people, but they are judged and we miss out on knowing a great person. When you look at the news these days, all you hear about is judgement – countries feuding, politicians fighting, organizations blasting other organizations, I don't want to be part of this side of our world, nor do I want my future children to feel that is acceptable. I think reality TV taught me that it is not only okay to be different, but it's okay to speak out, and it's okay to be friends with someone who's actions or beliefs you don't agree with 100%. Maybe my nation doesn't like your nation, but I'm a nice person, and you're a nice person, and I think the more of us out there who believe this, the stronger we will be.
Ever since my negative bubble burst, I have felt so much happier, volumes happier. I didn't even know I wasn't happy! I feel lighter, I feel like I'm a nicer person, I feel like I am more open to new experiences and seeing different things, that I may have previously dismissed. I feel calmer. I feel like I can allow myself more things because I am more at ease with my life; maybe I'll have a third glass of wine, or maybe I'll spend an extra 30min stretching at the gym because it's relaxing; and when bad things happen I realize that six months ago I would have probably thrown something at someone, and now, I can move on much easier. I think realizing there is an entire world out there (with the understanding that "knowing" and "realizing" are two different things), makes me want to be more open, because I don't want to miss out on any of the good parts of life.
Older people almost always tell you the same thing – I wish I had spent more time just enjoying my life, and not sweating the small stuff. I don't want to start doing that when I'm 60, I'd like to live that lifestyle now. I know that means I might not make as much money, or have as nice of a car, or do every single thing I have aimed to do, but if it means I can be happier, with a higher quality of life, then what's the negative in that?
Things New Yorkers Dream Of August 9, 2014Posted by doinglaundryinheels in Apartment Life, Around Chicago, Around NYC, Following Your Dreams, Humor, Life Lessons/Growing Up, Moving, Shopping.
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You may have noticed it's been a little while since anything new has surfaced at DLIH; if you've been reading for a while, you'll also remember that almost this time last year DLIH made it's long and exciting move from the bustling city of New York to Chicago. When you get older, your desires for how you want to exist change, you make choices about where you want to live and how you want to structure your life. Your age changes, and so does your quality of life. Chicago was a quality of life move, and while New York is still the most bad-ass, capital of the entire universe, moving can give the opportunities that are sometimes impossible elsewhere. So, if you're wondering why DLIH has been a little more silent than usual…well, you could say that SK has been spending a little bit of time enjoying the things she always dreamed of.
Running through your apartment…and not hitting any walls. Moving is relentless, it always finds a way to go wrong, or take forever, or cost you your soul. Living in New York, there are generally three main things you need to take into account; distance to public transportation, rent, and how shady the neighborhood might be. Size, really isn't an objective since size and rent are proportionate to one another. You get what you get, and you don't get upset, and you hang lots of shelves and make lots of storage units to house all the things you just don't have room for. Until you get a place that lets you chase your cat all over the place without hitting a wall, or tripping over a shoe, and has a kitchen you can actually cook Thanksgiving in, and not just try to.
Trying to figure out what to do with you empty closest, and by closets, we don't mean spare bedrooms. Actual closets. That are empty. And you actually don't have stuff to put in them. And you wonder what you would possibly even buy to put in them. Staying with that theme – kitchen cupboards that needs more of the "cup" part and less of the "board".
Doing your own laundry, in your own washer and dryer, in your own apartment, and it's free. You don't need to climb flights of stairs, you don't need to run back to make sure no one steals your unmentionables, you don't need to go to the nearest convenience store to get change for a dollar and you don't need to lug it all back home. It's just there! You can wash one thing, you can wash fifty!
Driving in a car you own! For people who are not from New York, let me educate you, many teenagers who are raised in Manhattan don't learn to drive, and those who do, rarely actually exercise that talent. You don't need to because public transit will get you anywhere, and with the traffic and aggressiveness of driving, you don't really want to. Second point, owning a car in the city is dirty expensive – between parking, the nicks and dings, and I would assume city taxes alone, it's not at all profitable – plus gas, not just paying for it, but having to find it. Let me tell you – the first time you drive your own car, to the grocery store, and get everything you need, and put it in the trunk, and then simply carry it back to your fridge, your head will explode with joy. [insert head exploding sound here]
So, it's been an amazing couple of weeks outside of the DLIH world, but fear not loyal readers – we're still here, with just a little more space to work with :)
Food That Matters July 29, 2014Posted by doinglaundryinheels in Uncategorized.
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"No rules, just right". If that sounds familiar, then you have, at some point in your life, witnessed an Outback Steakhouse commercial. It's a weird way to start, but the slogan seemed like an appropriate tagline for what's about to surface in the text below. Ever feel like you can't catch-up with your healthy eating habits? We all have the same story – We buy a bunch of awesome, green food, print out ten healthy eating recipes, and for a week or two we are on the right track; drinking lots of water and eating lots of kale. Then, slowly, one thing gets in the way, and then a second, and then we're eating a Quesarito at our desk with a heaping side of Pepsi. Whoops. Sometimes, it's the rules themselves that get in the way, so much pressure to make the right choices, so, how about no rules, just quick easy tips to get it right – No rules, just right.
Snooze Button Breakfast
Woke up late, again? Maybe not late…but just in the nick of time? And, somehow your speed routine doesn't involve breakfast? How did I know! Breakfast is easy, it's super easy, which is why we should always make time for it. Below is a list of things that don't even need cooking and can be eaten on the go (not the we recommend that!) – Greek yogurt, especially the duos with fruit or honey!; Cereal in those little pre-made plastic bowls, just add milk; toast with butter and jam; a granola bar with a cup of fruit; a parfait, if you have one pre-made (or have time to make your own); Chia pudding, you can get them prepackaged at Whole Foods, spoon included! If you've got a little bit of time on your hands – make an egg white sandwich with cheese and avocado or an omelette or even your version of a bacon, egg and cheese with turkey bacon or a black bean patty and egg whites on a whole wheat english muffin –Mmm! Hungry yet?! Coffee and OJ are good for you, but remember to take a big swig of water! – common, it only take two seconds!
Office Luncheon
For most of us, lunch is painful defeat. Even if there are healthy food options in the area, they usually cost you. Most salad places (ones that make an actual salad, not that prepackaged garbage) range between $6-$10 a salad, once you add a drink and some fruit, that's a $15 lunch right there! Stock up. If your office has a kitchen that you have full access to, go shopping for work; keep some fruit; bread, meats and cheeses for sandwiches;some easy veg to eat, like carrots or sliced zucchini on hand. Some organic frozen meals are great to – Amy's is a great brand and Trader Joes has frozen meals that aren't full of yuck. Keep trail mix and a box of granola bars at your desk, too. It will prevent you from overspending and allow you to eat healthy on the job. Don't forget to take a walk! If you're eating indoors, allow yourself 15-20 minutes to get out into the fresh air and stretch those legs.
On The Road Grub
Let's just say gas stations aren't known for their healthy food options. Traveling is one of the hardest times to stay healthy, but DLIH has mastered it. A healthy-unhealthy option is better than an unhealthy option altogether. What this means is that a salad and some chicken nuggets from McDonalds or Wendys is healthier than a burger and fries. Is it the best, healthiest, most preservative free salad out there? – no, but it's still the better option. Rather than trying to find healthy food, find the healthiest option available. If you're in areas with chain places like Olive Garden, Outback, Romano's Macaroni Grill, AppleBees, and don't mind spending a little, those places have lots of options. Secondary to that, Pancheros, Bob Evans, California Pizza Kitchen, Zaxby's, Chilis, Panera and other similar places are more cost-effective. If you're staying in a place with a fridge, stop at a grocery store or Whole Foods and get fruit and veg in those pre-packaged containers, some granola bars, and maybe juice or V8 since fruits and vegetables are the hardest things to find when traveling. Apples are easy, because they can go on trains, planes and automobiles and can be non-refrigerated for long periods of time. YAH!
Lazy Dinner Time
Cooking takes effort. Let's face it. So, sometimes that pizza slice from the corner and a bag of chips from yesterday ends up being a meal. Whoops, again (we're building an entire Britney Spears song here!). Here, I learned the art of the frozen arsenal. When food shopping get some frozen, organic, bags of green beans, broccoli, and some mixes. You can easily steam these in just a couple minutes and you have an easy healthy side, or even a main meal if you're not starving. Brands like Pacific make incredibly tasty soups in a box, which you simply heat up and go! Again, natural and organic, made with the good stuff. Tyson has an entire series of all-white meat chicken in nuggets, cutlets, wings, breasts, already breaded and ready to eat; easy to heat up and throw in your favorite barbecue or hot sauce for some homemade wings and a side of vegetables.
Late Night Snack Attack
Hey, it happens, so here's what you can chew on, as long as it's in small quantities – carrots, cottage cheese, a small greek yogurt, granola bars, chia pudding, a stick of string cheese, kale chips, blackberries or blueberries, half of an apple, or other similar, healthy munchies.
Happy eating!
We Want the Fairytale July 23, 2014Posted by doinglaundryinheels in Dating, Life Lessons/Growing Up, Men, Relationships, Women.
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The GoodGuys File
Ross and Rachel. The Notebook. Marshall and Lily. Carrie and Big. Moulin Rouge. Cory and Topanga. Jim and Pam. Titanic. Romeo and Juliet. We idolize them, these fairytales, these couples that make our realities seem feasible and attainable. It's not that we put a sheath over our eyes and pretend that all is perfect, and all will be perfect, but at the end of the day, it's what every girl wants.
When you first start to like someone, or date someone, there are all these butterflies and exciting feelings running through your bloodstream. Every date is a new adventure, every night your head hits the pillow, so does your smile. It's a very joyous time, and it fills us with hope and some blind ideas of what our life could be like in a couple of years; white picket fences and all that jazz. After that, one of two things happens, it turns sour and you break-up, or it turns out great and you stay together. After a some months, excitement turns more into pride, like you are so proud to say you've been in this relationship for a long time and you want to show your significant other off like a trophy. Having them pick you up from work, meet you for lunch, or attend your bosses dinner is like a badge of honor. If you've been dating a year or two, everything is more like routine, not to say you don't love one another, not to go as far as saying your life is boring, but let's face it, if you left your pump on a staircase your boyfriend would probably just yell out "Hey, moron, you did it again!…Come get your shoe, silly!"
It sounds crazy, because we bury it deep inside, but girls, we want a fairytale. We know that things will become routine, we know that life won't be perfect, and the only time it's even acceptable to wear a tiara is maybe on your wedding (…and even then, questionable), but we want the moments that we can tell our future children about. That time that he surprised you with dinner at your favorite restaurant when you thought you were just going to a friend's place for drinks; that necklace he got you for christmas, the one you had been dropping hints about for months; that day she came home with flowers, just because. Not every girl, not every women, but for the most part, we want cheesiness. For many of us, it's hard to admit, it's like some kind of anti-feminist defeat – "Ew, proposals on the end of a dock surrounded by lilies, so lame" but inside, even if it's very far inside, we're more like "OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, THAT'S SO PRETTY! SO SWEET! I WANT! AHHHH". Let's stop kidding ourselves here. We like it when men write us poems, even though they are really, really bad. We like it when our girlfriend or boyfriend make us a picture book of all our best memories, even though everyone does it.
No one wants to meet someone, have all those giddy feelings, and then just decide "Yup, he's the one. So now my life can go back to being dull and lifeless." Of course not! Romance is something everyone craves, romantic comedies are dumb, but we watch them – over, and over, and over, and over. Find that little girl, watching Cinderella all wide-eyed, and never let her go…and most of all, find a partner that loves that little girl too. Dreams can come true, sometimes it just takes a little nudging in the right direction.
The Treasure Hunt for Good Friends July 14, 2014Posted by doinglaundryinheels in Friendships, Life Lessons/Growing Up, Real World, Relationships.
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Confession time: I've always had a hard time finding friends. I don't really mean people to hang out with, or people to talk to, I'm not talking lonely kid at the lunch table syndrome, I mean real friends. I also used to think that I was the only one with this problem. It would be a friday night and no matter who I texted to get drinks with, they were all occupied with parties, movies, outings, everything that didn't include me. It always seemed that I had a million great people around me, but when I needed them most, they were nowhere to be found. Now that I'm a little older, and a little wiser (hm…debatable), I know that other people feel this too, this hole in their life that can't ever seem to be filled.
You ever look at those girls with, like, twelve best girlfriends, and you're like "How?!". Even when you think you're on the right track, you're not. You think you're so close to people, you laugh together, you cry together, and then six months later you can barely get them to answer a text, or their response to your five paragraph email is a two liner about how they were "So happy to hear from you". The people at work will spend an extended lunch hour with you, tell you about their problems and their triumphs in their personal life, but when you ask them to hangout on the weekend, it seems like they're always busy. Then, there are those friends who are great, and do hang out with you, and tell you that they're glad you guys are closer now, until the first day they stand you up. Then, it's like a parade of canceling on you – coffee, drinks, dinner, meeting you at the gym, lunch; it's one thing after another and frankly, you're tired of all of it. I know now that it isn't just me, that people out there are giant flakes who don't understand how they make other people feel when they simply can't keep a coffee date.
It makes it hard to want to make friends. You have your core group of two or five people who are always there for you, but everyone else just falls to the wayside. All you want is someone to go to the new chick-flick with, but everyone already has a girlfriend who they've committed to going with. What are you supposed to say? "No! You should go with me!", of course not, you tell them you totally get it, and maybe next time it'll work out. People don't necessarily do it on purpose, it's not about not wanting to hang out with you, it's about being in a different circle that you just don't happen to be a part of, so you can't even be mad at them. Why keep trying when you keep getting dumped on? Why keep putting yourself in that position?
Know that what people appear to have on the outside, may not be what is actually going on. That girl with a million friends, maybe she's just trying to make it work, and really, she's not happy. That guy with the best buds in the world, maybe he's just trying to hold on to college, when all his friends are getting married and having kids. Things aren't always what they appear so don't judge yourself compared to others. Some people have had the same friends since kindergarten, some will meet their besties in college, and for you, for you maybe your solid friends are coming later in life. Don't put so much pressure on it and when you are lonely on that Saturday afternoon; find things that you enjoy and schedule your life for you, and your happiness. Step one is always loving yourself first, so love yourself and the life long friends will come.
Follow Your Dreams…No Matter When July 9, 2014Posted by doinglaundryinheels in 21st Century/Technology, Arts/Theater, Following Your Dreams, How To, Jobs and Work, Life Lessons/Growing Up, Real World.
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I remember when a guy I was sort-of dating first introduced me as "she used to be a dancer". It's a good thing he didn't see my face, because I think it was a mix of shock and complete anger. Yes, this is no longer my career. Yes, I now have expanded my resume. Yes, it's not what my business cards say. But I, in every way, shape and form am still a dancer! It's a part of my being, my personality, who I am and how I think. Still, I had to face the reality, it was hard to call me that, when I wasn't spending 10am-8pm in a dance studio anymore.
Remember when you were seven years old and asked what you wanted to be when you grew up? One week it was a veterinarian, the next it was a fireman, then a gymnast who would go out he Olympics and also a mommy or a daddy, or a horse farmer, or a purple rainbow catcher, or a pineapple trader. Well, your dreams in your twenties are just like that, but more along the lines of wanting to make good money, have a great apartment, like your job, have a comforting relationship, make awesome friends, have a stellar career, and so forth. The enchilada, the whole damn enchilada. Then, once you start getting all these things, something really unexpected happens, and you realize how unhappy you are. At twenty-three nothing seems grander than a fancy apartment with your significant other and a dog, but sometimes what we do to get those things means giving up something else. Sometimes, the things we give up are the most important.
If you're lucky enough your career and passion are one in the same, but for many of us, that's not that case and we have to make the time and effort to follow our dreams. I always thought that going back to dancing seemed futile later in life. After getting a degree, building a professional name for myself, creating a relationship and making money. It felt like it would only be a hobby and not a focus, but slowly, I began to feel dull, lifeless, like I was missing a huge part of myself. I felt like someone had grabbed my very arm off my body and run away with it. I realized that I had been working so hard at life, I had forgotten what was truly important, being happy. There are going to be a lot of years in your life you can't be truly happy and truly successful, and sacrifice is important, but once you are on the right trajectory, and you are starting to achieve normalcy again, it's important to feel like you again. If you were always a marathon runner, pick a 5K to train for; if you used to teach acting too little kids, volunteer at a day camp for a couple of weeks. Getting back into the swing can be hard, overwhelming, and time-consuming; it can actually be scary, when you aren't sure of the outcome or even know if you're still capable of doing whatever it is you do, but once you put on that dance shoe, or take that photograph, or cook that first desert, it's like you feel like you're home.
The career of a dancer starts at about seventeen, and by twenty-seven you're already considered old. Had I known at seventeen what I know now, perhaps I would have made some different choices, but you can't regret the mistakes or decisions you made because they lead you to where you are today. You would not be going back to what you love, had you never left it. For many, discovering what they love happens in their twenties, a simple art class or team building retreat can open up new worlds for people. Now is the time, before kids, before mortgages, before there's another college to pay for, to get into a habit of following your dreams too. Be realistic, you're never going to be an NBA player, but there are plenty of leagues and teams out there looking for a good shot!
"She turned her can'ts into cans, and her dreams in plans." What I've learned, which I wish I had known at ten, and sixteen, and twenty, and twenty-two was that the most important thing in life is to have dreams. They may not bubble to the surface in the exact way you thought, but the more you learn about life, the more ways you find to make them work. The only person who can do that is you, so never let go of your dreams, and never let anyone take them away from you. In whatever form they may come, they are yours, and yours to concur.
Remember When – You Didn't Worry About THESE Things? July 5, 2014Posted by doinglaundryinheels in 21st Century/Technology, Beauty, Family, Humor, Life Lessons/Growing Up, Real World, Remember When.
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Remember when you didn't think about these things…and now, they're part of your conscious thought processes? Sorry, twenty-somethings, life is only going to get harder from here on in, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy it. First step to enjoyment? Laughter. Grab a glass of wine, and join our club of self-pity and "Oh my gosh! I do that!" moments.
Here are the "Remember When You Didn't Worry About…"'s
Remember when you didn't worry about…
…Who to invite? As you get older, you meet more people, some you like, some you don't, some you used to like and now you don't. Likewise, the older you get, the more events you encounter – job promotions, engagements, weddings, anniversaries. When you were seven, and it was your birthday, all your cousins and neighbors and classmates came, now, it's a russian roulette of who you don't invite. Stacey is a serious gossip and a backstabber, so you don't want her to be part of your event, but then she'll be the only person in your office you're not inviting to your wedding. You haven't seen Uncle John in nine years, and no one in your family likes him, but your cousin is the one who got you you're new job, so, now you're just going to spend the entire party worry about him not insulting one of your friends. Worst of all…the events that you get invited to. "Did they invite me because they want me to come, or because it was the right thing to do? Do I want to go? And if I don't, is that rude? Should I feel bad? If I go, how much money will this cost me? Will I know anyone there?"…so many questions. What happened to the simplicity of Chuck E Cheese?
…Your weight. AND stamina…AND skin…AND complexion…AND heartburn? So gross! When we were sixteen, and nineteen, and twenty-one, we could stay up all night doing shots, wake up the next morning at nine, pop a Gatorade and some doughnuts and be in class or at work, looking, more or less, normal. Now, two glasses of wine put you out for 24 hours, not eating a solid breakfast puts you at the top of the stairs out of breath, things like "skin care creams" and "anti-aging serums" are now things you are considering buying, and when you see commercials for Prilosec or Tums you wonder "eh, I should pick some up next time I'm buying nail polish remover". What happened?! You're only 28 and these are things you're dealing with. Defeated by age, aren't we still supposed to be considered young?!
…Retirement. Not to say it feels any closer than it did five years ago, but not thinking about it is no longer an option. Your HR department hands you a 401K form, or your father insists you open your Roth IRA next time he's in town, or your banker starts asking you questions about loans, mortgage plans, and how all these will affect your life after your career. You're still figuring out how to pay off your student loans without having to live in a an apartment the size of a closet. Thinking about retirement is super depressing when you haven't even gotten knee-deep in your career, or you're still figuring out which direction you want to go in…but everyone wants to know what you plan to do for money when you're 65. "How about, what am I planning to do for money next month?"
….About how old child stars were? When we were kids, we loved seeing Jonathan Taylor Thomas as a strapping teenager, or the kids of Dawson's Creek growing up, and making movies. Dakota Fanning is twenty. Yup, she is twenty. Have a big gulp of wine…if you didn't feel old yet, you do now, right? Oh, by the way, JTT is 32. You're welcome.
…Which school district is good? Even though you're still un-hitched, and you're years away from having babies, the idea of purchasing a property seems possible in the near future, and makes you feel like you're moving up in the food chain. So, while you're checking out different suburbs (and wondering WHY the HELL you're on Zillow & Google Earth looking at houses) you're also skimming the net for the best school districts in the area. Sad, but true, even before you have bundles of joy in diapers, you're thinking about where you're going to send them to school. Children, taking over the world, one psychotic break at a time.
…Taking care of your parents. No matter how young they are, or you are, you worry about what will happen when they need you. Can you afford an emergency plane ticket to go help them? When they move to a new neighborhood, or a new house, will they be lonely? Do they miss you being around? Who are their friends and what are their intentions? Does their boss respect them? Life was a lot easier when they embarrassed you at the mall in front of the "cool kids" and you pretended you didn't know them. Now you care… a lot.
…What time the live music at the bar will start? When you were twenty-one, you were at the front of the crowd, speakers blowing out your ear drums, holding your fourth, or fifth, drink of the night with your arms around total strangers singing songs you've never heard before together and secretly imaging the lead singer asking you out. Now, 9pm rolls around,you see the amps and you ask your waitress what time the band will go on so you can be sure to tab out before then. You've got a new episode of the Bachelorette waiting for you on your DVR and a group of girls wearing shirts as dresses just walked in. As you walk out, you don't realize you still have the same shirt/dress in blue stuck at the back of your closet. Oops.
…Things like a lazy susan. I bet when you were searching for your first place your list was pretty minimal – working heat, space for a full size bed, a bathroom that doesn't attract rats, and a kitchen that could pass for something bigger than a hotel room hot plate. Your latest apartment search included something more along the lines of – central air, washer and dryer in unit, storage closet, a kitchen with a window above the sink, a mud room or something that could be used for one, and a lazy susan cabinet. And somehow, these were all non-negotiable. Mr. & Mrs. Picky Pants…or, are we just old and refusing to live in the same building as a frat. Hm, the later.
…Looking, sounding and having opinions just like your parents. The first time you say or do something and realize that is exactly how your mom sounded, or your dad acted and you're paralyzed by sheer horror at the event. It's not that it's actually so awful, it's more like when you walk into a room where someone in naked, you're more shocked and confused then you are sure of what just happened.
We used to think that getting older, feeling older, or worrying about being older was something bad, but, to be honest, when you look at twenty-two year olds now, aren't you relieved you aren't THAT anymore? Someone once said,"Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many." When you think of it in those terms, all those things listed above are an amazing and comical thing that we are all lucky to have as part of our lives. Getting older is like good wine, the olda' the betta'!


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S. P. Wallace, District Manager, Dallas TX, Parkersburg Rig & Reel Co., Parkersburg WV, 1937.
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November 27, 2014
Ralston Police are looking for help tracking down the woman who robbed the Wells Fargo bank branch at 4725 South 84th Street Wednesday afternoon.
At approximately 4:45 p.m. the robber walked into the bank and demanded money. She did not show a weapon.
Investigators say the woman left the bank heading southbound and possibly left the scene in a gray or silver sedan.
The woman was described as having a medium complexion. She was approximately 5'2" to 5'4" tall with a medium build. She might have long hair but it was covered with a colorful head wrap. She wore white sunglasses and a black, long-sleeve shirt over the top of a very ornate shirt. She wore dark pants.
Wells Fargo is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of this woman.
If you have any information related to this incident, you are asked to call the Ralston Police Department at (402)-331-1786 or Crime Stoppers at (402)-444-STOP. You can also use the link on our Crime Stoppers page.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Six Feet Under
April 2015 will see the return of the Hatefest Tour. The unholy billing will be headlined by Six Feet Under and includes also Marduk, Vader and Hate! Special guests on all weekend-dates will be Eisregen and Debauchery.Read More
Today, Irish metal legion, Primordial, unveils the official new music video for 'Babel's Tower.' The epic tune comes by way of the band's imminent new full-length, Where Greater Men Have Fallen.Read More
Cancer Bats
Following the announcement of their brand new album Searching For Zero - Canada's finest - Cancer Bats are finally able to announce that the album will be available in the US on March 10th, 2015 via Metal Blade Records!Read More
Job for a Cowboy
'Sun Eater' is the fourth full-length album from Job for a Cowboy, and was released last week. The response has been overwhelmingly positive and has led to a #91 debut on the Billboard Top 200 Chart!Read More
King Diamond
King Diamond's 'Dreams of Horror' was released last week and has debuted at #28 on the Billboard Hard Music charts!Read More
Between the Buried and Me
Between the Buried and Me has confirmed two headlining shows in Mexico for next year. The band will be heading to Guadalajara and Mexico City on the 20th and 21st, respectively.Read More
Thomas Giles
Thomas Giles is set to released 'Modern Noise' on November 25th, 2014. Today, AbsolutePunk.net has been tapped to debut a different sounding cut from the album. The electronically-driven 'We Wander Lonely' is streaming now.Read More
New Releases
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AEON: Swedish Death Metallers To Unleash Fourth Full-Length
- September 24th, 2012 – Album Details and First Single...Read More
AS I LAY DYING "Awakened" full album stream on AOL now on-line
- September 24th, 2012 – Album release show at Santo's Party...Read More
Between The Buried And Me And Guitar World Share New Recording Footage From The Parallax II: Future Sequence Sessions
- September 18th, 2012 – NEW ALBUM AVAILABLE OCT. 9, PRE-ORDERS...Read More
AS I LAY DYING to hit the road this November as a part of the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour
- September 18th, 2012 – Twenty-Three Date North American Run Kicks Off...Read More
METAL BLADE RECORDS: Los Angeles based 30th Anniversary Show
- September 17th, 2012 – Lizzy Borden no longer on the bill More guests...Read More
Metal Blade Records signs Týr!
- September 17th, 2012 – Metal Blade Records is proud to announce their...Read More
Dutch Death Metallers ANTROPOMORPHIA finish video shoot for 'Psuchagogia'!
- September 17th, 2012 – New album 'Evangelivm Nekromantia'...Read More
SATAN'S WRATH: Terrorizer Streams Album In Its Entirety
- September 17th, 2012 – With its release barely more than a week away,...Read More


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Dr. Daryl SasChair of the Department of Biology, published "What's Incredible? Learning to Read Science Articles with a Critical Eye" at Cornwall Alliance (cornwallalliance.org).
Dr. David EssigProfessor of Biology, attended the Genome Consortium for Active Teaching NextGen Sequencing Undergraduate Education workshop, which was sponsored by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI).
Professor Anthony SadarAdjunct Associate Professor of Science, published In Global Warming We Trust: A Heretic's Guide to Climate Science (Telescope Books, 2012).
Click on the faculty's name for more information, including classes taught, degrees earned, current projects and personal information.
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Geneva College is one of only 15 CCCU schools in the nation that offers an ABET-accredited, four-year engineering program.
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The future of a £25m school which opened on Merseyside less than two years ago is to be discussed at a meeting later.
Christ the King Centre for Learning opened in Huyton in 2009 as part of the government's Building Schools For the Future scheme.
It was hailed as a new kind of school with open-plan classrooms and new ways of teaching.
Knowsley Council has said it may have to close due to surplus places.
BBC News - Meeting over £25m Merseyside school's future
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Republican Ballot Collection in King County Threatens Integrity of Election Process
For immediate release:
From King County Democrats
Steve Zemke- Chair
Republican Ballot Collection in King County Threatens Integrity of Election Process
The King County Democrats condemn the canvassing efforts of Rob McKenna and the King County Republicans to collect ballots at people's doors and put them into King County Elections Drop boxes. This breaks the historical chain of custody that has existed in our election process and opens it to abuse and fraud.
We would never have allowed one party or unauthorized election officials to collect ballots from polling places in the past and transfer them to King County Elections. Yet what McKenna and Republicans are doing is taking ballots from voters and breaking the chain of custody that existed in the past and that putting a ballot in the mail or a drop box insures.
Tampering with mail is a Federal offense and tampering with votes is a felony. Yet who is watching over the ballots when GOP paid canvassers pick up ballots and ensuring that ballots are not lost or changed or tampered with. GOP paid canvassers are not election officials and should not be handling ballots.
We urge Washington State Secretary of State Sam Reed to call a halt to this unforeseen and callous attempt to destroy the ballot chain of custody process. We likewise urge Sherril Huff of King County Elections to also tell Republicans to cease this process as it threatens the integrity of the election results. Would state and local election officials think it was OK for anyone to remove ballots from a drop box and transport them to King County? Republicans and McKenna need to cease this process now!
McKenna Camp Paying People to Collect Ballots; KC Elections Advises Voters to Send Ballots In Themselves http://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-profiles/publicola/articles/mckenna-camp-paying-people-to-collect-ballots-kc-elections-advises-voters-to-send-ballots-in-themselves
Elections officials caution voters about canvassers offering to help with ballots http://www.king5.com/news/local/Elections-officials-caution-voters-on-canvassers-offering-to-help-with-ballots-177047041.html
King County Warns that GOP Is Trying to Collect Ballots http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/11/02/king-county-warns-that-gop-is-trying-to-collect-ballots
WA: GOP Volunteers Going Door To Door In DEMOCRATIC King County TO COLLECT BALLOTS!!! http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021701454
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I have not had as much spark time lately as I'd like. But I'm still trying to live as sparkly as possible. Here's what's going on:
Week 1 of marathon training: success!! But to be honest it wasn't that big of a deal because the long run was only 8 miles and I've been running 8 or 9 once a week all winter. I'm nervous for the 14 plus mileage and that'll be here real flippin soon. The other thing that I'm worried about is how negative I get with myself the second I have a bad run. One thing hurts or I have to slow down and I immediately go into the "you can't run a marathon! What were you thinking?!"
I know I can. And I will. I just wish I didn't have those crappy thoughts run through my head. Maybe with more experience as a runner, they'll fade. Or maybe I just need to suck it up!
Food: dear Lord, food. I have not been giving it 100% ever since I got back from CA. Nothing horrendous or anything, just little snacking and too much at dinners. The usual suspects for me. I'd love to say I was back on track today. But those 2 girl scout cookies beg to differ. But then again, I didnt eat the whole box, so maybe I am back on track?!?
And the good news is that dinner tonight was healthy and unplanned and easy and awesome. DH is a chef which has its pros and cons. I have to cook extra carefully when he's not around to balance out the calories I eat with him. I had no menu tonight so I just opened the cupboards. Couscous with some stock, no butter or salt added. Just use more liquid. Saut�ed some onions and mushrooms in a very small amount of sunflower oil. Thawed frozen peas and green beans, added those. A little more stock and some raisins. Gave some to the kids and then added yellow curry powder. Seriously took 15 minutes and was super yummy! Makes me happy when I can pull something like that off.
Other fun news: I swam my first laps since July on Sunday. Loved every minute. I'm totally doing that tri. Anyone wanna give me a bike? Apparently they're expensive.
Some of you have asked how my class is going... The first week there were 19 members, then 24 and yesterday 35. 35!!! The room was packed. And it was awesome.
We're still on cardio tabata.
1. drop, hop! hop! (I got this from last week's training. It's like a drop squat with a big jump forward and then two quick hops back. Think: low, high, high. It goes by fast)
2. mountain climbers (8 rounds of those = holy crap!)
3. oblique twists (stole this one from lovely Jillian)
4. speed straddle on a step (could be a football run on ground: out, out, in, in)
This sequence went by quickly and the member response was great. I'll be out of town next weekend and I'm bummed that I'll miss class.
I've got an idea for the week after: Timberwolves Tabata! We finally have a team in MN that we can be proud of again. Thank you Ricky Rubio! I was inspired by a sparkfriend that blogs about her tabata class. They did wall jumps like in basketball practice. I'll use those, a shuffle & hit the floor move and then I have to come up with 2 others that are b-ball-ish. Any ideas??
Change topic. I had a real crappy weigh-in last week. Looking back, it was a good wake up call for me. I've thought a lot about what I was doing last Spring. What worked. Why I wanted it bad enough. And I've gone back to that. One serving at dinner. Tea after dinner. That's it. No snacking from the kids' plates. One piece of candy from the jar at work. Not 2. Not 5.
I also need to cook more. I spent some time on ohsheglows last night and have a bunch of recipes for the week. Today I'm making Quinoa Apricot muffins and Chickpea salad wraps.
Change topic again. Here's my favorite pinterest image of the week.
but I did.
I'm sore from yesterday's craziest of crazy trainings. 70 group fitness instructors and personal trainers. We went through 3 different tabata classes. 30 minutes of cardio and ST circuits, then a little lecture, 30 minutes of cardio circuits, more lecture and small group work of practicing different exercises, then another 30 of ST circuits. OMG! Half the time I wanted to die and thought, "I do not belong in this room with these crazy fit people." The other half I was all, "Hell yeah! I AM one of these crazy fit people."
Anyway, I'm sore. really really sore and it's dark out and misty/foggy and it would just be nice to curl up on the couch with a book & coffee. So I did that for a bit. Then put on workout clothes and cleaned the kitchen. Still didn't want to run. Put the babe down for a nap, which is usually my signal to go! run! now! But I still didn't want to. Finally I told myself, "Tying the shoes is the hardest part. Go." It worked.
It was a beautiful winter morning run. And now I can feel good about the rest of my day.
Oh! I have to share this. The trainer yesterday said that when you tell someone else a goal, the likelihood of it's success goes up by 30%. And if you write that goal down it goes up by *another* 30%. My first thought was: Spark! That's why this works. So tell me your goals!
(He did have a source of this research, but I didn't write it down so you'll just have to trust me.)
I'm going to print this and hang it up next to my workout calendar.
Yesterday was a big day for me and I'm so so happy with how it went. I was very nervous all week, waking up in the middle of the night and not able to go back to sleep because I couldn't stop thinking about class. I love group fitness. I love the community, the energy, how much harder I push myself than I do when I workout with a DVD. I know it's not for everyone, but it is a very good fit for me. And it's about time that I actually got the nerve to start teaching since I've been talking about it for 4 years.
A little more on Tabata: A Japanese doctor (Dr. Tabata!) worked with professional athletes in 1996. Through research he discovered a time combination that elevated these athletes anaerobic abilities. It's 20 seconds work, 10 seconds rest, 20 work, 10 rest, etc. You do that with one exercise: 8 cycles with a 90 second recovery at the end. That is one Tabata. It is 4 minutes. 4 minutes! That's it. Then you move onto another exercise for the next 4 minutes. There are tons of variations on this. The Y is following the original Tabata as closely as possible.
30 min. class:
4 minute warm-up: stretched a little, went through each of the 4 exercises we'd be doing
1: high knees
2: plank jacks
3: skaters
4: jump squats
Then a 4 min cool down and it's over. It goes by fast!
I practiced teaching and had DH do the workout on Thursday. He helped me rearrange the exercises and gave me feedback of what to say when. I've said it before, but it's worth saying again; he's a great guy. Then I did the workout early sat am so I could have a good feel of when it was really hard. I felt prepared by that point.
Since this is a new class at the Y I had no idea what kind of turn out there would be. 21 members! Not bad. A such a great mix of people. Young & old. Men & women. Thin & bigger. It feels good to be in a room full of people that are all there for fitness and health. And to be the leader of it! I felt awesome. This is a great class because you don't need to be coordinated, it's not dancey. It's more like a bootcamp. You can make it is hard as you want. Whether your goal is weight loss or improve fitness, or both: this class is for you! The members seemed to like it. The real test will be next week to see who comes back.
It was super fun to get to use some of the little sayings that have been in my head over the years of taking classes. I know I'll get better with experience, but it was a good Day 1. The class went so fast that I didn't have any time to really think about what I was doing. It just felt right. I want to do more!
Goal accomplished. And the best part about it is that this is like a contract to exercise. No way to fall off the workout horse when you're teaching. And getting paid to do it! Plus our family membership is cut in half. how cool is that?
Thanks for all the encouragement and support!
This month I changed my ticker from weight loss to fitness minutes. So of course I work out less in the past 10 days than I have since the month my son was born. Go figure. Ready for all my excuses?
Last week I was sick. On Saturday I had a meeting at the Y about teaching so I missed my favorite class. I spent the rest of the day in my workout clothes, but never worked out at home like I planned. On Sunday I went on a short run with a friend and did a 20 minute runners yoga video. I also took 2 naps. 2!!! Apparently I needed it. My son has been waking up at 4:30 or 5 basically everyday since daylights saving. And it's not like he wakes up and can play in the basement while I do a workout DVD. He needs attention. I know this won't last forever so I'm just trying to enjoy this as our cuddle time. He's on my lap as I type this.
Mon: still not feeling great, went to tabata, 20 minute HIIT workout
Tues: DHs birthday. I skipped my am 8 miler so I could get the kids up and make a happy family breakfast, morning celebration. Totally worth missing a run for that. We went on a walk together, but no real fitness minutes.
Wed: DH had to open because he was teaching a cooking class that night. That means just me with the kids before and after I work. No workout.
Th: no workout. I'm thinking about a good excuse. I'll get back to you...
Fri: DH opened again this morning because he has a private dinner tonight. Instead of being at my favorite class right now, I'm blogging. And I have a meeting after school. Who schedules a 4:15 meeting on Fridays? Boo. So I'll get at home at 6 , make dinner for the kids and I promise that we will all be in bed by 8. That's including me. Will someone please go out and have a drink for me tonight?
I feel crappy about this. I ran 5 miles total this week compared to my average of 20. I'm writing about it in an effort to get over it. Life happens. Maybe I should feel good that it was this week and not during real marathon training. But then I get nervous about how I'll fit all the training miles in. The the rational side of me jumps back in. I know I will. I'm such a rule follower that when I have that schedule on my calendar, I'll do it.
OK, deep breath, this week is over. Over it!
Something interesting I wanted to share. I usually have no problems at the grocery store. I'm not tempted by junk food. Once I awhile I think about the days of eating chips and salsa multiple times a week, but that's only when i Accidentally walk down that aisle. I'm a perimeter shopper. Well, last night I ran to the store to get 3 things for
DH. Very specific list. So why would I find myself in the freezer aisle staring at frozen waffles that have baked in cinnamon??? "No need for syrup!" the box promises. Luckily, I shook myself out of the Eggo haze and moved on. On my way to the checkout, I stopped and thought about chocolate pudding cups, Doritos, and skittles. All crap. What in the world was going on?? This is not like me at all. I zoomed outta that store! On the way home I thought about what happened.
It's because I hadn't worked out.
For me, when I'm working out a lot my body craves good food. Food that will help me work out even better. Not food that makes your tummy hurt, or food that makes you crave more sugar, or empty calories.
I've been on a good, strong path with fitness & nutrition together for awhile now. that's why I was able to get out of the store with only the things on my list. Lifestyle win!
Tomorrow I am back to working out. I've missed it. DH is the best and knows I've missed it and even said last night, " don't worry. Next week there will be plenty of time for our workouts." I love that we're such a team in this.
Moral of the story: it's OK to miss some workouts once in awhile, don't buy Doritos, my husband is the best.


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Tag Archives: Don Mattingly
Hall of Fame debate: Who I'd send to the HOF
Tomorrow afternoon, Major League Baseball will announce who will go into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Although no one entered the Hall of Fame last year, this year will surely be a different scenario since there are so many deserving names on the ballot. To clarify, I do not have an ...
Posted in Hall of Fame debate Tagged Craig Biggio, Don Mattingly, Frank Thomas, Greg Maddux, Hall of Fame, Jack Morris, Jeff Kent, Lee Smith, mike mussina, Tim Raines, Tom Glavine 17 Comments
Don Mattingly's top 10 greatest moments with the Yankees
Like many Yankees fans my age, or slightly older, I grew up idolizing Don Mattingly. He was the Yankee when I was a kid and if you had a poster on your wall it was probably one of him. It broke my heart when he retired before he could win a World Series and ever ...
Posted in List Tagged Don Mattingly 7 Comments
Yankees trade for failed Mets prospect Fernando Martinez
With all of their injuries, the Yankees needed another outfielder so they traded for former Mets prospect Fernando Martinez and sent the Astros minor league righty Charles Basford in exchange, according to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle. Martinez, 24, was ranked as high as the No. 22 best prospect in baseball by Baseball America at ...
Posted in Transactions, Yankees News Tagged Alex Rodriguez, Ben Francisco, Charles Basford, Conner Kendrick, Don Mattingly, Ethan Carnes, Fernando Martinez, Mark Teixeira, Vin Scully 5 Comments
Roger Clemens makes debut on Hall of Fame ballot
In what surely will be a highly debated topic, former Yankee Roger Clemens will be on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time this year. Clemens was of course outed as a steroid user in the Mitchell Report. His name was in the report 82 times and it stated that during the 1998, 2000, and ...
Posted in Yankees News Tagged Bernie Williams, David Wells, Don Mattingly, Kenny Lofton, Lee Smith, Mike Stanton, Roger Clemens, Rondell White, Tim Raines 38 Comments
Barry Larkin elected to the MLB Hall of Fame
Picking up 86.4 percent of the vote, former Reds shortstop Barry Larkin was inducted into the Hall of Fame today. He will join Ron Santo, who was previously elected by the veterans committee, in this year's class. Jack Morris was the next closest picking up 66.7 percent of the vote. Jeff Bagwell (56%), Lee Smith (50.6%), ...
Posted in MLB News and Notes Tagged Alan Trammell, Barry Larkin, Bernie Williams, Don Mattingly, Edgar Martinez, Fred McGriff, Jack Morris, Jeff Bagwell, Lee Smith, Mark McGwire, Ron Santo, Tim Raines 1 Comment
Video: a Mattingly Walk-off from 1985
Don Mattingly was my favorite ball player when I was growing up. So this morning when William Juliano of the fantastic Yankees blog, The Captain's Blog, posted a video from 1985 of Donny Baseball walking off the Twins, I had to share it. He gives a little more context for the shot so click through ...
Posted in Video Tagged Don Mattingly 1 Comment
Torre Makes His Triumphant Return to the Bronx Today
Via the NY Post: Joe Torre and Don Mattingly will attend the unveiling of George Steinbrenner's monument in Monument Park, according to multiple people with knowledge of the names who will be on hand tomorrow night at Yankee Stadium. The Steinbrenner family invited people with ties to The Boss and Torre and Mattingly responded by telling the ...
Posted in Yankees News Tagged Don Mattingly, Joe Torre Comments Off
Mattingly To Become Next Dodgers Manager
According to Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports, Joe Torre will soon announce that he is stepping down as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers and he will be replaced at the helm by former Yankee captain Don Mattingly. It has been assumed for years that Mattingly would eventually take over for Torre, but most imagined that ...
Posted in Editorial Tagged Don Mattingly, Joe Torre Comments Off


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"Old Dog" is one of the oldest—but best—back-up catchers in the league
This genius bit is from today's Charley Walters column:
From now through the dog-days of August, we will tell ourselves that the Twins are only x games out of first place, a mere x and a half out of the wild card spot, and remember that just last year we were almost a dozen games out before we went and took the crown. All the while a sneaking suspicion ... More >>
Only seven games, you tell yourself. Only seven games, and they're 4-3, still a winning record, bunched together in the middle of the Central Division, which means nothing so damned early. After all, it's April, and the season's long. You watch as the Yankees, the New York Yankees, who we fought ... More >>
...One of the great joys of this punishing sport is that you can fall backward and into the distant past when the present is a strong disappointment. And tonight's game was not a strong disappointment if only because it's tempered with the thought that the season is a long one and it is but one gam ... More >>
Reefer-toking assassin takes aim at local snitch


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The line that designates what is and is not country music is muddier than most of us are willing to admit. What is abundantly clear, though, is that country music appeals to more people than just rednecks and sappy beer drinkers. Taylor Swift may think she's reinventing the wheel in her journey from ... More >>
The film achieves the impossible: freeing three wrongly convicted men
The troubled life of country singer Mindy McCready has come to a close with the Cleburne County, Arkansas, Sheriff's Office stating that officers were dispatched to her home Sunday after neighbors reported hearing gunshots. There they found McCready on the front porch of her home, dead at the scene ... More >>
When it comes to political touchstones, country music is all about po' folks and old time religion, issues that largely resonate with folks no matter where they sit on the political spectrum. As we gear up for the November election, it's important to think about what you support -- not just politi ... More >>
Lady Gaga proclaimed yesterday that "Equality is the prime rib of America," simultaneously empowering and confusing the hell out of legions of GLBT activists as they rallied against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." While the nation's top socio-political scientists try to decode what Gaga could have possi ... More >>
If you're like us, you probably had no idea that this past Sunday was Sister Day, a new holiday entirely fabricated by the Hallmark greeting card corporation. Even Hallmark's own website can't keep it straight, with some pages insisiting the "holiday" fell on last Sunday and others saying it will ... More >>
'Death of a President' and other film fest trigger-pullers blow away dissent
The Dixie Chicks ask for a cease-fire and sympathy
The Dixie Chicks: Bush-booing stars sing a national anthem of a different stripe
Neko Case kills you softly with her song; The Be Good Tanyas wait around to die; Patricia Tallman confronts the living dead
The Raveonettes pull out the big guns, A.R.E. Weapons sing one for America, and the Dixie Chicks start a war


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Lady Gaga Fans at US Airways Center
By Melissa Fossum
The Evolution of the Metal Stage Show and the End of...
By Lauren Wise
By New Times
The Story of Kalliope, Phoenix's Extraordinary Party Car
By Amanda Savage
By Jason P. Woodbury
How a Single Tweet Launched A Cloud for Climbing
By Troy Farah
By New Times
British beat-juggler Lee Burridge is sort of a freak. Sure, turntablists are known to be an eccentric lot, but it's a safe bet your average record spinner has never claimed to have done the nasty in a DJ booth, fallen in love with a Voodoo woman, and bombed around Burning Man on a bicycle in a red tutu and mullet wig. Although we're uncertain whether these "highlights" from Burridge's bizarre bio actually happened, we know for a fact that the internationally known 39-year-old is an absolute freak at creating stellar mixes of self-described "wonky, bouncy, druggy house music." Burridge started honing his skills in 1985, and has spent the past 23 years spreading his music across the globe, from spending most of the '90s working the Hong Kong underground to rocking clubs throughout the U.S. P-Town gets to sample Burridge's sounds for itself when the DJ headlines the "Scorched" affair on Saturday, June 14, at AREA Phoenix, 2102 North 23rd Avenue. Locals Turner & Heit, Shane Jacot, Chris Forsyth, Tranzit, Spyder, and Jas will also spin. Doors open at 9 p.m., and pre-sale tickets cost $15, with VIP admission costing $75. Visit www.wantickets.com.


text: Much of what the OP has said is well written and accurate, however I have to take him to task re "bureaucracies in health and education". With just a little investigation the OP would have found that a large chunk of the education bureaucracy was set up to manage programs that help Australians access quality and affordable childcare as well as higher education, international education and academic research. The health bureaucracy was responsible for ensuring Australia's doctors were appropriately qualified, looking after the Prescription Benefits Scheme, aged care etc. Its very easy to dismiss these agencies based on assumed responsibilities because of shorthand naming conventions; however I think Australia would be a lot worse off without these "bureaucracies". BTW, neither I nor anyone in my family works for the APS, so I my opinion is not based on employment arrangements.


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Red Hat now supports RHEL 5 and 6 for a decade
Companies that like Red Hat Enterprise Linux but hate changing Linux versions because of the hardware and software qualification process just got an excuse to be lazy for the next decade. Red Hat has announced that it will extend the production life of its latest RHEL 6 releases and the prior RHEL 5 releases by an extra three …
The future?
Looking far into the future and not liking what they see with the new gnome? I'm still using Fedora 14 and see no reason to change. My software runs just the way I want it to. Really, what advantage is there to upgrade my desktop os? and don't say because the new gui is easier to use.
Bigger version Number
Bigger Numbers FTW
Unless like me you are one of the first people to get Windows ME and showcase to all your friends how big a FAIL it really was. Yeah I think the "Don't fix what isnt broken" quote fits well here.
Fedora worst!
If you care one jot about security you shouldn't choose sticking with any version of Fedora. They maintain it (as in security updates) for less than a year after the next version ships. Most of the other choices get maintained rather longer, but I don't think any are promising you the 9 years or so you're being promised with RHEL6.
It also means you can avoid Gnome 3 until 2020, by which time it might even be usable.
Ummm, I'm torn on this one
On a personal level - RedHat isn't doing their customers or themselves a favour in the long run by doing that. RHEL5 (2.6.18) is already woefully obsolete now to run bare metal on a modern server, and RHEL6 (2.6.32) isn't far behind as Intel/AMD have been revving their proc/chipset architectures. With that said, virtualization has pretty much taken over, so running RHEL on bare metal hardware isn't as prevalent as a couple of years ago. I've always thought that the expense and risk of continually backporting fixes from newer component releases (like the kernel) was a bad idea going past 2-3 years though.
HOWEVER, looking at it from a corporate view - Did they just say 10 years of "no upgrades", sign us up! Particularly since RHEL upgrades have been hit and miss in the past.
Penguin, cuz its a Penguin article innit? :)
This is very useful for organisations that have a scalable structure
Rather than being stuck with three years of support and upgrades you can run hardware for a lot longer.
There is no logical reason for throwing out good hardware every three or four years just to go after the next big thing. I bet most reg readers have electronic equipment that is over ten years old (I'm still running Red Hat Linux 9 on a Pentium 133...)
It is far easier to get old hardware (even if you resort to buying it on eBay) and install on that what you know works than to go through the pain of testing a new kernel on new hardware.
This is of course why Cobol is still very much alive. The pain of replacing it exceeds the savings that would result.
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Heritage Cob and Lime are now Official Stockists for Flag Paints and Finishes
By Heritage Cob & Lime | Tuesday, February 11, 2014, 19:51
Heritage Cob and Lime is pleased to announce they are now official stockists of Flag Paints and Finishes. We are stocking a range of waxes, water based laquers, sealers and linseed oils. Please contact us for further information on the products: www.heritagecobandlime.com
Pictured is Flag Classic Wax- gives a lovely matt finish on wooden furniture including shabby chic


text: Obama: 'Duck Dynasty' Family Seems Like 'Pretty Fun Bunch' Print article Send a Tip by Tony Lee 19 Dec 2013 post a comment President Barack Obama said the Duck Dynasty family seems like a "pretty fun bunch" in an interview for People magazine that hits newsstands Friday. "The Duck Dynasty family seems like a pretty fun bunch, so I can see how that would be pretty fun," Obama said in remarks that were made before patriarch Phil Robertson got indefinitely suspended Wednesday for what were deemed to be "anti-gay" remarks. Obama, who has been referred to as the "first gay president" by figures like Andrew Sullivan and MSNBC's Thomas Roberts for his embrace of gay marriage, was responding to a question about whether he would rather spend a day with the Duck Dynasty family or Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.


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It's widely known that color affects our moods. Reds are energizing, blues are calming. But there's a lot more to the ways color can influence us. When used in a home office, for example, color can help you create an environment conducive to efficiency. Carefully selecting colors to match your work style or interests could make your workday more pleasant and productive.
Color moods
Each color could be said to have its own mood. Yellow is a cheerful, bright hue, but if you don't like yellow, it could have a depressing effect. The same is true of blue. While blue shades are thought to be relaxing, blue is also widely considered one of the best color choices to enhance productivity. If you're a low-key person, however, being surrounded by blue in your home office could slow you down. A brighter option, such as orange, might better spark your energy and creativity.
The feelings colors can invoke range from tranquility to stability, energy and joy. If creating a grounded, tranquil environment in your home office would help you be more productive and less scattered, opt for woodsy shades of brown and taupe.
Gray is a good option for creating an atmosphere of calm sophistication. This neutral shade works well in the business world for its simplicity and association with intelligence and authority.
Creative options
If creativity is central to your job, purple reigns supreme among colors reputed to inspire inventiveness and imagination. Varied tones of purple, ranging from violet to lavender, make wonderful options for writers and artists.
If you need to concentrate, white or green are good choices to inspire mental clarity and the ability to cut through cluttered thinking. Green is a color of harmony, renewal and growth. If new projects are a big part of your workday, green is often associated with regeneration. Pairing greens and blues offers an especially nice way to be both productive and forward thinking.
Think vibrant
To kick-start your energy on the job, opt for vibrant colors in your office like red, fuchsia or pink. Red has long been associated with energy and power, but if you're an overachiever, it could just make you feel tense. Instead, opt for a subdued shade of red that won't overwhelm.
Wine and magenta are good choices to make your work space feel friendly and energetic. And one of the most popular colors today is a deep pink. Perhaps because of its association with breast cancer awareness, this shade is not just for little girls and toys. Used on an accent wall, or for the whole office, pink imbues a friendly, optimistic and happy feeling, which could be helpful for maintaining a better outlook on the job.
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Taylor Swift and Lena Dunham at the Grammys in 2013 [WireImage]
Exciting Girls news alert! Mourning the end of the third series of the hit HBO show since it ended in March? You'll be pleased to hear the fourth is well under way. Last week, the show's creator, Lena Dunham was pictured visiting Taylor Swift at her New York apartment, and in this week's Grazia, we reveal she was there to discuss a cameo role.
'Lena's been trying to persuade Taylor to appear in Girls for ages,' said a source. 'Taylor loves the show and has agreed to a cameo. Lena would also love her to take on a more permanent role and to pen some music for the show.'
Taylor Swift, Cara Delevingne and Lena Dunham out and about in NY [Getty]
In January, Lena also revealed she'd like to recruit Victoria Beckham: 'I'd love to see her, like, dress it down a little bit, maybe do Victoria Beckham as somebody's adult education teacher or something…' According to sources, Taylor's famous friend Cara Delevingne, 21, is also hankering after a Girls role: 'Taylor told Lena that Cara is a huge fan of Girls. Lena immediately agreed because Cara is her girl crush. She has been in touch with Cara's people already to discuss the idea.'
See some of our favourite ever singer cameos below...
1. Victoria Beckham in Ugly Betty
2. Britney Spears on How I Met Your Mother
4. Taylor Swift on New Girl
The new issue of Grazia is on sale now


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Photos and Description of this Nuevo Vallarta holiday condo
2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Convertible bed(s), Sleeps 6
Enjoy the privacy of your own condo with its own secluded beach, heated pool, gas grill and Jacuzzi. Take a stroll down the beautiful beach and enjoy the sunsets or just relax under the palapa and take pleasure in the tranquil ocean view. Property is gated and security patrolled 24 hours a day.
Enjoy this beautiful two bedroom condo on ocean front with easy access to pool, hot tub and ocean. This condo is home away from home with all amenities included. This condo is ideally located near bus route that will take you to nearby shopping centers or restaurants. There is also a ferry that is FREE which takes you to paradise village, that ferry passes every 20 min. in front of Ocean Vista.
There is also exquisite gourmet dining and one-of-a-kind shops within walking distance.
The master bedroom has king size bed with private bathroom and Jacuzzi. The second bedroom has two full beds and the living room sofa has a pull-out bed that sleeps two comfortably. Full kitchen with dining table that seats up to 6 people.
This vacation rental is a very peaceful place to stay, enjoy and relax.
El Tigre Golf and Spa: For $75.00 and for up to 5 people for the length of stay in the room. The fee allows you certain amenities. This allows you access to the restaurants and bars on the Paradise Village property. You also have the following: Beach Club, discount on golf, free access to the golf club facilities, sports club, gym facilities, spa facilities, Country Club, Marina slips rentals, Discount on fishing and aquatic sports rentals, Exclusive Owner Concierge service, Kids club at the sports center. More information provided by resort as you would purchase this from them.
- Suitability:
- long term rentals available
- children welcome
- non smoking only
- pets not allowed
- suitable for elderly or infirm
- wheelchair accessible


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After a couple of consistent seasons for the Chevrolet Warriors at franchise level Lopsy Tsotsobe made his international debut in both T20 and ODI cricket in the series in Australia in 2009 and was an instant success, taking 4/50 on debut in the 50 overs format at Perth.
He has since established himself as a regular choice at ODI level and took his all-round game to a new level in 2010 when he regularly represented the Proteas' Castle Lager squad in all formats, making his Test debut in the West Indies.
He returned the most economical figures ever for the Proteas' in the T20 format, taking 2/11 in 4 overs against Australia.
He has a remarkable record in ODIs taking 94 wickets in 61 matches. His career strike rate of 31.5 and his economy rate of 4.75 are also right up with the best.
During the Indian series in 2011 he took back-to-back four-wicket hauls at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead and the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium – something that only Shaun Pollock has achieved before for the Proteas. He is currently the No. 6 ranked bowler in ODI cricket.
He is a genuine tail-ender but he achieved the distinction of hitting the winning boundary in the final ODI in the West Indies in 2010 to clinch a nail-biting one-wicket victory.