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Lunch Box Ideas
November 27, 2012 in Lunch Box Ideas, Recipes by Admin
The moment we think of lunch boxes the dreaded soggy sandwich appears. Below are ideas that can be made a couple of days in advance to add variety to a lunchbox that are easy and cost effective whilst adding important nutrients.
- When making sandwiches vary the types of breads, try using rolls, wraps, croissants. Ifusing fresh tomato always make sure that the tomato does not come into contact with the bread as this will cause them to go soggy.
- Mix cooked chicken with mayo the day before for an easy option.
- Stir fry strips of beef with strips of vegetables and use in a wrap.
- Mix mayonnaise with grated cheese and cooked bacon bits.
- Try pasta salads, mix cooked pasta with mayonnaise or a dressing plus your child's favourite things.
- Add portions of dried fruit or fresh pieces of carrot etc instead of chocolates for a healthier option.
Makes: 30
Preparation time:10minutes
Cooking time: 10minutes
60g salted butter
125ml Crunchy Peanut Butter
100g brown sugar
100g caster sugar
1 extra large egg
140g cake flour
- Lightly grease 2 baking sheets and pre-heat an oven to 180ã
- Cream the butter and peanut butter together. Gradually add the sugars beating well.
- Beat the egg into the mixture until light and fluffy. Sift in the flour mixing well.
- Shape a teaspoon of mixture onto the trays and bake for 10minutes.
- When cooked allow to cool on a wire rack.
Preparation time: 25 minutes
Cooking time: 45-50 minutes
125g butter (unsalted)
250g flour
1 egg
½ teaspoon salt
60ml milk
150g spinach, steamed, squeezed and chopped (optional)
150g bacon, cooked and chopped
150g cheese grated
2 eggs
250ml cream
- Mix salt and flour thoroughly.
- Rub the butter into the flour until it resembles fine bread crumbs.
- Mix in the egg and milk.
- Knead briefly.
- Rest in the fridge for 20 minutes.
- Roll out and press into a pie dish.
- Pierce and bake blind without colour (approx 20 minutes)
- Baking blind is the technique that requires the filling of the pastry shell with foil or parchment paper and dried beans.
- The beans help to keep the shape of the shell while cooking it empty.
- Remove the beans.
- Mix the spinach, bacon and cheese together and place in the pie shell.
- Mix together the eggs and cream and pour into the pie shell to fill.
- Bake at 180ºC for 25 minutes until the filling is just set.
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
300g penne pasta
100g smoked bacon rashers
2 smoked chicken breasts
1 tub Woolworths Fresh Sun Dried Tomato Pesto
Handful basil ripped
15g fresh parmesan, shaved with a vegetable peeler
- Cook the pasta as per instructions.
- Cook the bacon until crispy.
- Thinly slice the chicken and chop the bacon.
- Mix the pasta with the bacon, chicken, pesto and basil.
Recipes supplied by Gourmet Gurus. Caterers for children's parties; lunch boxes; private/corporate functions and dinner parties.


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Rebecca Minkoff is the hugely successful entrepreneur (and not to mention the ultimate influencer) who's been killing it in the fashion industry since the debut of her "I Love New York" t-shirt design on The Tonight Show. Rebecca recently launched her Holiday Gift Guide, and we took the opportunity to chat with her about her favorite memories and traditions, the story behind where she is today, and even her heart-to-heart advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and influencers.
What's the story behind where you are today?
When I was getting ready for my Bat Mitzvah, I really wanted a beautiful blue dress that I saw at the mall. I told my mom I wanted the dress for my party, but instead of buying me the dress, she bought me my first sewing machine and a similar fabric to the dress I was eyeing. So I made the dress myself. It wasn't perfect, but it was all mine! Then after developing an affinity for design in high school, I moved to New York City to pursue my dream of becoming a fashion designer. I created a very small five-piece apparel line, which included a version of the "I Love New York" t-shirt. It appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and that really was my jump start. A few years later I designed my first handbag and the rest is, as they say, history.What's the most memorable gift you've ever been given?
A locket from Thakoon for Tasaki from my husband. Its clasp is the lock and key.What are your go-to gifts for the season?
Anything indulgent — massages, spa days and candles.
Any major holiday tips the world should know?
Don't freeze for the sake of fashion this holiday season! Stay warm in a turtleneck with a great a-line dress or mini skirt and some opaque leggings.What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?
I love making latkes with my mom for Chanukah.What business/personal advice would you give to someone trying to get his or her start in the industry?
Get ready to work your butt off! Find what's missing in an industry you love, then do everything you can to fill that void.
If you had to choose five fashion staples to wear for the rest of your life, what would they be?
My Wes Moto Jacket, booties, my safety pin earrings, skinny cropped jeans and a t-shirt.What's your all-time favorite song or album?
Don't have one! Love new music!What do you look for in an influencer when you want them to represent your brand?
I try to find women who are making cool things happen in the world. In addition to having a strong style POV, I also want to know what her personality is like. What does she like to do? What kind of energy does she have? And of course, she has to be real. She has to lead a real girl's life. And I think if I can relate to her, I know that my customers will, too.
Follow Rebecca Minkoff on Bloglovin'
Photos by Joey Cupelli

subset: commoncrawl


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Donate to Blimey / Photos of Britain
Thank you for donating to Photos of Britain and Blimey! If you've enjoyed my daily writing on the Instagram page "Photos of Britain" or anything on this blog, any donation would be wonderful.
There is no company, government or political organisation behind this website or Photos of Britain on Instagram, just little old me – so every bit helps!
I want to do more tours and create much more content on a daily basis. The system only allows donations from $5 so don't think I'm being rude by that being set as the minimum.
All payments are taken via PayPal so everything is nice and secure. You don't need a PayPal account to make a donation either. I don't see or store any of your credit card information. Everything is kept nice and safe on PayPal
Thank you – I really do appreciate anything you can donate to keep this whole thing going! With many thanks, Tim Holt.


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Susan Jacoby - The Age of American Unreason
June 13, 2008
Susan Jacoby is the author of Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism. A prominent public intellectual, she frequently appears in publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Free Inquiry. Her latest best selling book is The Age of American Unreason.
In this conversation with D.J. Grothe, Susan Jacoby explores recent trends that she argues have led to the "age of American unreason," including religious fundamentalism, mass media consumption and "video culture," and multiculturalism. She addresses how fundamentalism feeds anti-intellectualism in America, and how not only fundamentalism can be blamed for it. She details both the upside and the downside of the internet, the perils of too much TV viewing, and the effect of such over-consumtion on the cultural literacy of average Americans. She addresses criticism that she is merely "elitist" or a "luddite," and ends with specifics on how people can work to challenge the Age of American Unreason.
Books Mentioned in This Episode:
Related Episodes
March 17, 2006


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Kennett Square >> Stephanie T. Enriquez, 33, of Kennett Square was arrested and charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of children and one count of DUI (controlled substances), after she was found to have driven her two children, ages 4 and 12, to District Court, while she was under the influence of a controlled substance. The incident occurred May 2 at 2:33 p.m., at 916 West Cypress Street, in New Garden Township. Court staff notified police after they observed Enriquez struggling to unfold money in her hand, swaying, closing her eyes, and bobbing her head, while standing.
Police reports from across the region:
Southern Chester County Regional
Drug charges >> Lloyd K. Shank, 57, of Avondale was arrested and charged with violations of the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act, and a traffic offense, after he was found to be in possession of marijuana and related paraphernalia, following a traffic stop for an expired registration. The incident occurred on May 1 at 9:24 a.m., in the 9100 block of Gap Newport Pike, in New Garden Township. Shank was taken into custody, processed, and released pending issuance of a summons.
Indecent exposure >> Isaiah M. Rojas, 20, of Kennett Square was charged with indecent exposure and disorderly conduct, following the investigation into an incident that was reported to have occurred on April 21 at 4:20 p.m., in the parking lot of 345 Scarlett Road, in New Garden Township. The victim reported that she was parked in the lot when a Hispanic male subject pulled next to her vehicle. She looked over and noticed that he was reclined in his seat. He reportedly had his genitals exposed and appeared to be masturbating.
Harassment >> Daniel G. Hoxter, 69 and Timothy J. Wilson, 53, both of West Grove were cited for the summary offense of Harassment, after they reportedly directed threatening, vulgar, and obscene language at two postal employees, in the parking lot of the West Grove Post Office. The incident, which was a dispute over parking, occurred on May 3 at 1:20 p.m. and occurred where customers were entering and leaving the post office and well as where parents and children were standing in line at the ice cream stand.
DUI >> Flavio Morello-Mendez, 22, of Kennett Square was arrested and charged with DUI and related traffic offenses, after the 2005 Cadillac he was driving was stopped for nearly colliding with an unmarked police car and for a stop sign violation. The incident occurred on May 2 at 8:05 p.m., in the unit block of Oakland Avenue, in West Grove Borough. Upon making contact with Morello-Mendez, he was found to be an unlicensed driver and exhibited signs of being intoxicated. He was taken into custody for suspicion of DUI and submitted to a chemical test of his breath, resulting in a B.A.C. of .144 percent.
West Whiteland
Forgery >> Debra Shoemaker, 53, of Philadelphia, was charged with Forgery, Receiving Stolen Property and Theft by Unlawful Taking. The charges were filed after an investigation into the alleged theft of a check from the home of a township resident. It is alleged that Shoemaker signed the check and deposited the $500 check into her account. An arrest warrant was issued for Shoemaker after she failed to turn herself in. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Shoemaker is urged to call 911. The public can also provide an anonymous tip by calling (610) 594-9057 or emailing firstname.lastname@example.com.
Retail theft >> Alexander Demars, 19, of Coatesville, was charged with retail theft on April 6. The charge was filed after officers responded to the Walmart store for a $22 theft. Demars was issued a non-traffic citation and released.
Retail theft >> Dean Lepard, 21, of West Chester, was charged with retail theft on April 6. The charge was filed after officers responded to the Walmart store for a $48 theft. Lepard was issued a non-traffic citation and released.
Public drunkenness >> Delilah Ballou, 47, of Metaire, Louisiana, was charged with public drunkenness on April 6. The charge was filed after an officer allegedly found her intoxicated in a vehicle in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn.
Public drunkenness >> Brian Cummings, 56, of Philadelphia, was charged with public drunkenness on April 8. The charge was filed after an officer responded to the Exton Square Mall for a report of a subject sleeping in a parking garage. The officer made contact with Cummings who was allegedly intoxicated.
Simple assault >> Marie Boyd, 48, of Coatesville, was charged with simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct on April 9. The charges were filed after officers responded to the parking lot of Aldi for an alleged assault. Boyd was released on a criminal summons.
Unlawful taking >> Tracey Worley, 51, and Rashea Hammond, 45, both of Philadelphia, were charged with theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, receiving stolen property, identity theft, Access Device Fraud and forgery on April 9. The charges were filed after an alleged theft of a wallet from a victim at the Whole Foods store. Both subjects were arrested at the nearby Target store after an employee reported two suspicious persons in the store. Worley and Hammond were arraigned by Judge John Bailey and were remanded to Chester County Prison after failing to post their $50,000 cash bail. Each subject also had an arrest warrant from another jurisdiction. The Uwchlan Township Police Department assisted during the investigation.
Retail theft >> Peter Do, 59, of Arlington, Virginia, was charged with Retail Theft on April 10, 2018. The charge was filed after officers responded to the Boscov's store for an alleged $106 theft. Do was also charged with an alleged $91 theft that occurred at the same store on April 4.
Retail theft >> Rashmi Barige, 39, of Downingtown, was charged with Retail Theft on April 11. The charge was filed after officers responded to the Kohl's store for an alleged $52 theft.
Retail theft >> Zandra Camacho, 30, and Krystal Prokay, 22, both of Kinzers, were charged with retail theft, receiving stolen property, corruption of minors and criminal conspiracy. The charges were filed after an investigation into an alleged $326 theft from the Giant store on April 12. Camacho and Prokay had two minors with them at the time of the alleged theft. Camacho was arraigned by Judge John Bailey and released on an unsecured $5,000 bail.


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Magsaysay Global BPO
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The American Legislative Exchange Council: A Primer On The Premier Right-Wing Corporate Lawmaking Shop
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has been around for almost 40 years, but it remains a little-known entity. Its influence over American politics is enormous. ALEC recruits conservative members of state legislatures to pay a $50 annual membership fee, and then solicits millions of dollars from corporations to finance a series of conferences where state lawmakers sit down with big business to write model legislation that can be easily propagated across the country at the state level. The laws often work to the economic benefit of the corporate giants who bankroll ALEC.
WHAT IS ALEC? "The Ultimate Smoke Filled Back Room"
The American Legislative Exchange Council Was Founded By Conservative Activists In 1973 To Connect Conservative State Lawmakers. From ALEC's "History" page:
More than 30 years ago, a small group of state legislators and conservative policy advocates met in Chicago to implement a vision: A nonpartisan membership association for conservative state lawmakers who shared a common belief in limited government, free markets, federalism, and individual liberty. Their vision and initiative resulted in the creation of a voluntary membership association for people who believed that government closest to the people was fundamentally more effective, more just, and a better guarantor of freedom than the distant, bloated federal government in Washington, D.C.
At that meeting, in September 1973, state legislators, including then Illinois State Rep. Henry Hyde, conservative activist Paul Weyrich, and Lou Barnett, a veteran of then Gov. Ronald Reagan's 1968 presidential campaign, together with a handful of others, launched the American Legislative Exchange Council. [ALEC.org, accessed 4/28/11, emphasis added]
- Paul Weyrich Also Coined The Term "Moral Majority" And Founded The Heritage Foundation. From Weyrich's obituary in the Times of London: "Paul Weyrich was a driving force behind the creation of a populist Religious Right in the US in the 1970s and 1980s. He revitalised the Republican Party, broadening its appeal from what he called an 'elitist social club' by embracing the Middle Americans unsettled by the social changes of the 1960s and 1970s, thereby beginning the conservative realignment in American politics that benefited Republicans from Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush. By founding the Heritage Foundation, Weyrich and the New Right challenged Democratic dominance of Washington intellectual life. By coining the term 'moral majority' and co-founding the pressure group of that name, he ensured that social issues such as abortion and homosexuality would dominate US political culture." [Times of London, 1/8/09, emphasis added]
American Association For Justice: ALEC "Is The Ultimate Smoke Filled Back Room." From the American Association for Justice's report on ALEC: "Few have ever heard of it, but the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, is the ultimate smoke filled back room. On the surface, ALEC's membership is mostly comprised of thousands of state legislators. Each pays a nominal membership fee in order to attend ALEC retreats and receive model legislation. ALEC's corporate contributors, on the other hand, pay a king's ransom to gain access to legislators and distribute their corporate-crafted legislation. So, while the membership appears to be public sector, the bankroll is almost entirely private sector. In fact, public sector membership dues account for only around one percent of ALEC's annual revenues." [Justice.org, May 2010, emphasis added]
ALEC Is A Secretive Organization. As reported by NPR: "Much about ALEC is private. It does not disclose how it spends its money or who gives it to them. ALEC rarely grants interviews. [Senior policy director Michael] Bowman won't even say which legislators are members." [NPR.org, 10/29/10]
ALEC Provides Ready-Made Pieces Of Law To Legislators Who "Often Have No Staff To Do Independent Research." As reported by Mother Jones:
With more than 2,400 state lawmakers as members -- roughly one third of the nation's total -- ALEC is a year-round clearinghouse for business-friendly legislation. Its nine task forces, each composed of legislators and representatives from private industry, sit down together to draft model bills on issues ranging from agriculture to school vouchers, which are then introduced in state legislatures across the country.
Though it calls itself "the nation's largest bipartisan, individual membership association of state legislators," ALEC might better be described as one of the nation's most powerful -- and least known -- corporate lobbies. While other lobbyists focus on the federal government, ALEC gives business a direct hand in writing bills that are considered in state assemblies nationwide. Funded primarily by large corporations, industry groups, and conservative foundations -- including R.J. Reynolds, Koch Industries, and the American Petroleum Institute -- the group takes a chain-restaurant approach to public policy, supplying precooked McBills to state lawmakers. Since most legislators are in session only part of the year and often have no staff to do independent research, they're quick to swallow what ALEC serves up. [Mother Jones, September 2002, emphasis added]
ALEC Connects Conservative State Legislators With Corporate Lobbyists. As reported by Fortune: "The organization [ALEC], founded in 1973 and funded mostly by corporations and conservative foundations, exists to bring business-friendly state lawmakers together with lobbyists for corporations, including AT&T, Exxon Mobil, Wal-Mart, and Johnson & Johnson. It drafts model bills related to its goals of free markets and limited government. Issues that ALEC has influenced include Arizona's anti-immigration law, tort reform in Mississippi, and the opposition to Net neutrality. Despite the intimate involvement of lobbyists, ALEC officials insist the organization is not a lobbying group, since it doesn't follow lawmakers to try to advance their bills. Instead, ALEC is a charity, a status it justifies because of its educational mission. The designation allows the group to collect tax-deductible contributions, and it eases lawmaker travel to ALEC events." [Fortune, 1/10/11, emphasis added, internal citations removed]
Two Out Of Every Three ALEC Members Is A Republican. As reported by the Cleveland Plain Dealer: "[ALEC spokeswoman Reagan] Weber says ALEC's goal is to promote policies in line with Thomas Jefferson's principles of limited government, free markets, and federalism. Two thirds of its members are Republican, but she said the group does not coordinate with any political party." [Cleveland Plain Dealer, 4/3/11, emphasis added]
Corporations Like ExxonMobil Pay Millions Of Dollars A Year To Join ALEC And Draft "Model Bills" For State Legislators. As reported by NPR: "Here's how it works: ALEC is a membership organization. State legislators pay $50 a year to belong. Private corporations can join, too. The tobacco company Reynolds American Inc., Exxon Mobil Corp. and drug-maker Pfizer Inc. are among the members. They pay tens of thousands of dollars a year. Tax records show that corporations collectively pay as much as $6 million a year. With that money, the 28 people in the ALEC offices throw three annual conferences. The companies get to sit around a table and write 'model bills' with the state legislators, who then take them home to their states." [NPR.org, 10/29/10, emphasis added]
- Largest Private Prison Company In America Helped ALEC Draft, Advance Legislation To Lengthen Prison Terms. As reported by Mother Jones: "In another instance of profitable policymaking, ALEC drafted a model 'truth in sentencing' bill that restricts parole eligibility for prisoners, keeping inmates locked up longer. One of the members of the task force that drafted the bill was Corrections Corporation of America, the nation's largest private prison company, which stands to cash in on longer sentences. By the late 1990s, similar sentencing measures had passed in 40 states. 'There was never any mention that ALEC or anybody else had any involvement in this,' Walter Dickey, the former head of Wisconsin's prison system, told reporters after his state passed a version of the measure." [Mother Jones, September 2002, emphasis added]
ALEC: We Are Behind Approximately 1,000 Separate Pieces Of State Legislation In Any Given Year. From ALEC's "History" page: "Each year, close to 1,000 bills, based at least in part on ALEC Model Legislation, are introduced in the states. Of these, an average of 20 percent become law." [ALEC.org, accessed 4/28/11]
- 2000: ALEC Got Over 3,000 Bills Introduced In State Legislatures. As reported by Mother Jones: "In 2000, according to the council, members introduced more than 3,100 bills based on its models, passing 450 into law." [Mother Jones, September 2002]
- 2009: ALEC Got Over 100 Laws Passed Based On Its Model Legislation. As reported by Fortune: "In the 2009 legislative session, by ALEC's reckoning, state lawmakers introduced 826 bills the group conceived -- 115 of which made it into law. That's quite a record, and it's going to get stronger. One overlooked aspect of the Republican resurgence has been its revolution at the state level. The GOP picked up more than 700 seats in state legislatures and now controls 25 of those bodies outright, from 14 before November." [Fortune, 1/10/11]
ALEC Is Involved In Pushing Anti-Union Legislation In Multiple States. As reported by the New York Times: "Faced with growing budget deficits and restive taxpayers, elected officials from Maine to Alabama, Ohio to Arizona, are pushing new legislation to limit the power of labor unions, particularly those representing government workers, in collective bargaining and politics. [...] A group composed of Republican state lawmakers and corporate executives, the American Legislative Exchange Council, is quietly spreading these proposals from state to state, sending e-mails about the latest efforts as well as suggested legislative language. Michael Hough, director of the council's commerce task force, said the aim of these measures was not political, but to reduce labor's swollen power. 'Government budgets have grown and grown because of the cost of employees' pensions and salaries,' he said. 'Now we have to deal with that.'" [New York Times, 1/3/11, emphasis added]
ALEC: We're Not Lobbyists, We're Educators. As reported by NPR:
ALEC's [senior policy director Michael] Bowman ... hedges when asked if that means the unofficial drafting process is an effective way to accelerate the legislative process.
"It's not an effective way to get a bill passed," he says. "It's an effective way to find good legislation."
The difference between passing bills and "finding" them is lobbying. Most states define lobbying as pushing legislators to create or pass legislation. And that comes with rules. Companies typically have to disclose to the public what they are lobbying for, who's lobbying for them or how much they are spending on it.
If ALEC's conferences were interpreted as lobbying, the group could lose its status as a non-profit. Corporations wouldn't be able to reap tax benefits from giving donations to the organization or write off those donations as a business expense. And legislators would have a hard time justifying attending a conference of lobbyists.
Bowman says what his group does is educate lawmakers.
"ALEC allows a place for everyone at the table to come and debate and discuss," he says. "You have legislators who will ask questions much more freely at our meetings because they are not under the eyes of the press, the eyes of the voters. They're just trying to learn a policy and understand it." [NPR.org, 10/29/11, emphasis added]
ALEC Is Funded By Prominent Right-Wing Foundations And Huge Corporations
ALEC Is Funded By Prominent Right-Wing Financiers. ALEC's funders include the Allegheny Foundation, the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, the Castle Rock Foundation, the John M. Olin Foundation, and the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation. [Conservative Transparency, accessed 4/28/11]
ALEC Has Taken Well Over $1 Million From ExxonMobil. ALEC has taken at least $1,247,200 from ExxonMobil since 2001. [Conservative Transparency, accessed 4/28/11]
Corporations Like Philip Morris, Chevron, And Enron Have Funded ALEC Over The Years. As reported by Mother Jones: "In a report issued earlier this year, Defenders of Wildlife and the Natural Resources Defense Council denounced ALEC as a vehicle for corporations to buy access to state legislatures -- often with a little help from taxpayers, who in many states foot the travel bill for legislators who attend ALEC meetings. The report found that the group's corporate donors -- some of whom pay membership dues of $50,000 a year -- have included Philip Morris, Amoco, Chevron, Enron, and the American Energy Institute." [Mother Jones, September 2002, emphasis added]
ALEC Has Board Members From AT&T, UPS, Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline, Koch Industries, ExxonMobil, Wal-Mart, Reynolds American Inc., State Farm, And Numerous Other Massive Corporations. In its report on ALEC, the American Association for Justice listed the following people among the "ALEC Private Sector Board Members" for 2010: Jim Epperson, Jr., AT&T; Pat Thomas, UPS; Sandy Oliver, Bayer Corporation; John Del Giorno, GlaxoSmithKline; Don Bohn, Johnson & Johnson; Mike Morgan, Koch Industries, Inc.; Kevin Murphy, ExxonMobil; Raymond Bracy, Wal-Mart; David Powers, Reynolds American Inc.; Derek Crawford, Kraft Foods, Inc.; Matt Echols, The Coca-Cola Company; Ken Lane, DIAGEO; Kelly Mader, Peabody Energy; Bob McAdam, Darden Restaurants, Inc.; Roland Spies, State Farm Insurance Companies. [Justice.org, May 2010]


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Julia's House for Lost CreaturesBook - 2014
From the critics
Community Activity
CommentAdd a Comment
We were thrilled when we found out Hatke was doing a picture book, since we adore his Zita the Spacegirl series. We were not disappointed! Julia lives in a house on the back of a tortoise. It's full of wonderful things, including her workshop, but very lonely. But when she opens her home to all sorts of lost creatures, she gets a little more chaos than she bargained for! This book has two of the features which made Zita so enjoyable for me: Hatke's intriguing character designs, and his attention to sounds and sound words. Fans of robots will get a special treat at the end, too.
This is a great story. Julia is lonely, so she opens her house to unfortunate creatures. Although her house gets crowded, she finds a way that they can all work together. When her house is in bad shape she hires someone to help fix it; never rejecting her large amount of guests.
The illustrations are warm and inviting, just like Julia. While some of the creatures look familiar, others are unlike anything I have ever seen. Author and illustrator Ben Hatke takes time to pack all sorts of fun details within, giving readers a new experience every time they open the book.
Read more at: http://www.librarypoint.org/julias_house_hatke
I am really enjoying Mr. Hatke's Zita the Spacegirl series so when I saw this on the shelf I had to read it. Julia is a smart and creative problem-solver who manages the lost creatures she invites into her home by making up a chore chart. This is a funny book, wonderfully illustrated, though one does wonder what a little girl is doing by herself in a seaside cottage!
Julia's house comes to town. But it is too quiet. She puts a sign on the door and soon lost creatures of all sorts begin to show up. But more and more come and chaos ensues. Julia comes up with a plan--a chore chart to help keep things organized. Soon it is calm and cozy in her home for everyone.
The illustrations are beautiful, colorful and nicely detailed.
The story is unusual which is a fun trait, but a lot of questions go unanswered. Where did Julia come from? Why does a huge turtle carry her house around? I would have liked to know more about Julia.
This book is advertized for ages 4-8, but I don't know what children under school age would think of the more mature aspects of this story. It is great for grades 1-3 and is an excellent early reader.
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Minutes of Maryland/DC Damage Prevention Meeting
April 24, 2007
Miss Utility Call Center
Hanover, MD 21076
I. Call To Order and Introduction:
Wayne Gilmer (Utiliquest) called the regular monthly meeting to order at 9:35 am.
Introductions were made.
The minutes of March 27, 2007 were approved.
II. Chris McMurry/MGH Advertising Public Awareness Campaign Update:
Chris McMurry gave a lengthy update on the 811 public awareness campaign. He stated that MGH is
currently working with the MD/DC media outlets for media coverage after the 811 national rollout event
that will be held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on May 1, 2007. Matt Ruddo (Miss Utility
Center) distributed copies of the 811 event details.
Chris McMurry stated that the first flight of the spring radio campaign is currently running on 20
radio stations in the Western Maryland and District of Columbia areas during the hours of 4:00 am and
8:00 am. He said a thirty second PSA is currently running in heavy rotation on the Comcast system and
he thanked them for their partnership.
Chris McMurry said that four Maryland contractor nights are being planned this fall in Waldorf,
Frederick, Laurel and Joppa. He said he would ask the Dig Smart winners (Iacoboni Site Specialists and
Northern Pipeline) to be guest speakers.
III. Damage Prevention Presentations:
Wayne Gilmer, Jack Sullivan (BGE) and Matt Ruddo (Miss Utility) gave a presentation to several
contractors that are insured by CNA Insurance. The meeting was held at 10:00 AM in Hunt Valley, MD
on March 29, 2007.
IV. Safety Events:
Wayne Gilmer thanked Kevin Woolbright (WSSC) for volunteering his people to work the Lake Shore
Volunteer Fire Department Safety Day. The event was held on Saturday March 31,2007 in Pasadena, MD.
Wayne Gilmer stated that he would be attending the Pax River Safety Fair hosted by McGrath
Contractors on April 19, 2007 in California, MD.
V. Trade Shows:
Wayne Gilmer gave a brief update on the Harford Live Spring Home and Garden Show held at Ripken
Stadium on April 21 & 22, 2007 in Aberdeen, MD. Wayne thanked Dave Wilkins, Lynette Michie,
Kelly Hardy, Rick Merriman, Rose Sullivan and Jack Sullivan for volunteering their time.
There was a brief discussion about requesting free admission passes to the trade shows so that the
volunteers can bring their spouses, kids, etc.
Wayne asked Chris McMurry to update the trade show volunteer spreadsheet with the shows scheduled
in summer and fall.
VI. Locator Achievement & Dig Smart Awards:
There was a lengthy discussion about the Awards night that was held at the Columbia Sheraton on
March 29, 2007. Chris McMurry said that one hundred surveys were returned from the night and
eighty-five percent gave it an excellent rating. He also stated that the Awards night would probably
be held the third week of April 2008.
The following is a list of the Locator Achievement winners by region:
Region 1 (Harford/Cecil) Barry West of Harford County Water & Sewer
Region 2 (District of Columbia) Dave Brunson of Utilitquest
Region 3 (Montgomery/Prince Georges) Heather Folks of Utiliquest
Region 4 (Baltimore/Baltimore City) Pierre Brown of OCC Locating
Region 5 (Calvert/Charles) Ralph Violett of SMECO
Region 6 (Allegany/Carroll/Frederick/Garrett/Washington) Randy Bowen of Utiliquest
Region 7 (Anne Arundel/Howard) Herman Wilson of Utiliquest
Northern Pipeline was the Dig Smart winner for Maryland and Iacoboni Site Specialists was the
winner for the District of Columbia.
Information on the Awards can be found at the following link:
VIII. Marking Standards Group:
Wayne Gilmer gave a brief update on the March 27, 2007 meeting. He said there was a lengthy
discussion about the various types of materials that utility lines are made of and how to go about
locating them. He also said the Group wouldnt meet in May.
IX. Title 12 Steering Committee:
There was a general discussion and concerns raised as to why the Steering Committee hasnt moved
forward yet. Tom Baldwin said it would be best to wait on Jim Barron because he is the CGA liaison
to PHMSA. A few indicated that it may be best to wait three or four more months to see what the
impact would be from the recently passed federal pipeline safety legislation.
IX. MD/DC Subscribers Committee Meeting:
No report.
X. FTTP/FIOS Progress Report:
Kenton Jones (Verizon) provided the following three month FTTP trench footage projections:
XI. Open Discussion:
Jeff Shriner (NPL) said he is having issues getting locate marks on MCI fiber optic cables. He said
it has created a lot of downtime for their company and that they are doing their best to locate the
fiber optic cables.
There was a lengthy discussion about the use of status Codes 3 (24-Hour Delay), 4 (48-Hour Delay)
and 5 (Not Complete/In Progress
). A few had commented that they are not getting call backs on code 5s
and that more than twenty-five percent of tickets are being coded with 3 and 4 delays codes.
Dennis Lescalleet (Pleasants Construction) asked what happens when his company statuses back to
Ticket Check with a Code 7 (Not Complete/In Progress dispute). Dora Parks (Miss Utility Center) stated
that a Code 7 is logged and reported to the Maryland utility owner members. Tom Baldwin stated that it
is important that locators make the phone calls to the contractors.
Upcoming Damage Prevention Presentations:
May 14, 2007 K&K Adams 2901 Druid Park Drive Baltimore, MD at 3:00 pm.
Upcoming Trade Shows:
Upcoming Meetings:
The next Maryland/DC Damage Prevention meeting is scheduled for May 22, 2007 at the Miss
Utility Center. Coffee and donuts will be served at 9:00 am. The meeting will begin at 9:30 am.
The 2007 Maryland/DC Subscribers meeting will be held September 19th and December 6th at the Miss Utility Center.
Coffee and donuts will be served at 8:30 am, and the meeting will begin at 9:00 am.
There being no further business to be brought before the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 11:15 am.


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I don't know where to begin. First my mother-in-law went into the hospital on May 11th. She was recently transferred to a nursing/rehab home. Hopefully she will be home soon. She is 83 years old. She has arthritis very bad all over her body and it is hard for her to get around. My mother was recently in the hospital. She is a diabetic, has kidney failure and is blind. her right leg was hurting and then about 1 week later her right foot started turning a light purple. She finally let my dad take her to the hospital. I did not find this out until that morning. I talk to them both every day. Why didn't they say something. So thank god that she did not lose her foot and she had some nerve damage. Then my dad and I checked out a nursing/rehab facility right down the street from my dad's house. It was perfect. When she was released from the hospital and was taken there it was a totally different story. My dad and I met there and waited for my mom. OMG the room she was going to be in and the service she was going to be receiving was bad. So my dad said she is not staying here, she is going home. So after many phone calls, we were able to get her in-home health care. Then on June 6th I smashed my finger in the trunk of the car and have a hair line fracture on my right pinkie. Then this past Sunday night at 11:30pm I found out that my close cousin hung himself. I am suppose to go to a family reunion this weekend and am torn between going to the memorial service which I do not know when it is, but know that it is in Wisconsin about 4-1/2 hours away. Going to Missouri for the weekend is 8 hour drive. My husband says we should go to Missouri since I have not seen them for about 10 years, and we need to get away, but then my heart tell sme I need to go to the services. I am so torn on what to do. Please keep my family in your prayers and thanks for listening.
What I am actually saying is that we need to be willing to let our intuition guide us, and then be willing to follow that guidance directly and fearlessly!!
May Angels Watch Over You and Give You The Strength You Need To Endure The Loss As Well As The Tragedy...
You Are In My Prayers
So very sorry for your loss.. My prayers are with you and your family..
I am very sorry for your loss.
wow..what a run..I had like 4 years of difficult/challenging things..I thought it would never stop.I didn't even want to alk about it to any one since it was so many things that even I couldn't keep up. But eventually it stopped. Now things are better and boy am I ever appreciative. I try and give thanks every single day for all the blessings in my life. I find it keeps me centered. I'm a big proponent of rituals and ceremonies because I think we need them to help us through this crazy life however, My humble opinion is you should go to the reunion. 10 years is a long time and we should seize joy when we can. If possible maybe send a food basket or card for the funeral for now. Maybe you could go visit your cousins family and spend a day with them after the funeral...like next week. All the people will be gone and having some one around after the funeral may be very nice for them. You could tell them of the reunion and share some happy conversation with them...since they must learn to go on as well. They can tell you about the funeral and have some quiet time with you. Good luck and I will wish peace and joy to come your way...hang in there. Women can do so much and handle so much...it never ceases to amaze me. You'll get through this...best of luck
You are in my prayers.
Sorry, when it rains, it pours; but remember, it can't rain forever, the sun will shine one day, some day.
Thank you everyone. I decided to go to the reunion and it was great! They are having a memorial service for my cousin soon and I was glad to hear that. Unfortunately with my mother she was just in the hospital again, and I have come to peace with myself that there is nothing I can do but only be there when they need me. My mother-in-law is still in the nursing home and it will be sometime before she can come home. However, we are having a family bbq on Saturday July4th and she will be able to come. As for myself, I am exercising alot to try and get rid of the tension and hopefully get back on track and lose my weight and keep my diabetes under control as well. I really do appreciate all the encouragement from everyone. Have a Blessed Day!
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