text:
English Standard Version (ESV) | New International Version (NIV) |
58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. | 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. |
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers. (English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


text:
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Community resources
courage is contagious
The Global Intelligence Files
On Monday February 27th, 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing The Global Intelligence Files, over five million e-mails from the Texas headquartered "global intelligence" company Stratfor. The e-mails date between July 2004 and late December 2011. They reveal the inner workings of a company that fronts as an intelligence publisher, but provides confidential intelligence services to large corporations, such as Bhopal's Dow Chemical Co., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US Defence Intelligence Agency. The emails show Stratfor's web of informers, pay-off structure, payment laundering techniques and psychological methods.
LATAM/FSU/MESA - Jordanian writer comments on Turkish army resignations, crisis in Syria - IRAN/US/RUSSIA/TURKEY/SYRIA/JORDAN/EGYPT/LIBYA/YEMEN
Released on 2012-10-17 17:00 GMT
Email-ID | 685804 |
Date | 2011-08-05 13:09:08 |
From | firstname.lastname@example.com |
To | firstname.lastname@example.com |
List-Name | firstname.lastname@example.com |
Text of report in English by George S. Hishmeh entitled "Abandoning
Assad?" published by privately-owned Jordan Times website on 5 August
The timing was unbelievable. The surprise resignation of Turkey's top
military leaders could not have come at a better time for the Arab
Spring, which started six months ago and is still facing uphill battles
with military-controlled governments in various Arab states,
particularly Syria and Yemen.
The military leaders, including Turkey's senior commander and the
leaders of the navy, army and air force, who have apparently lost lots
of political power, resigned en masse, reportedly in protest over the
sweeping arrests of dozens of generals and other civilian suspects
believed to be involved in a conspiracy aimed at overthrowing the
civilian government led by Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Prime Minister Erdogan, who came to office in 2002, has built his
Justice and Development Party (AKP) into a powerful political force, and
has managed to roll back the military's political power substantially.
Military leaders have been able to depose four governments in Turkish
history and have executed the country's first democratically elected
prime minister, Adnan Menderes. His AKP won 50 per cent of the vote in
last June's election, controlling 326 of the 550 seats in parliament.
Whether Turkey will now serve as a model for Arab revolutionaries
remains to be seen, but in the long run, it is generally believed that
Egypt may regain its historic leadership role in the Arab world if it
proceeds steadfastly as a strong, democratic state.
The immediate concern is how the sudden turn of events in Turkey will
affect the bloody turmoil in neighbouring Syria, since the two countries
seemed to have been working together congenially until the Arab Spring
engulfed this strategic Arab country.
In fact, the first Arab military ruler here was a Syrian general called
Husni al- Za'im, said to be the most colourful Syrian dictator, who took
Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish republic, as a model.
But his regime did not last long. Two other coups followed his with the
next few months.
Most puzzling about the growing uprising in Syria has been the brutality
of the regime of Bashar al-Asad and the failure of most countries to
deal with the worsening situation, be they Western or regional. Turkey,
for a start, has retreated from its growing relationship with Syria -its
foreign minister had visited its Arab neighbour more than 60 times, and
seemingly sided with the West. Even the Arab League, representing 22
states, surprisingly failed to take a stand against the Syrian regime,
unlike what it did in the case of Libya, which opened the road for the
military intervention of the NATO powers and siding with the leaders of
the Libyan uprising.
Most unexpected has been the timidity of the Obama administration, which
stopped short of calling on the Syrian leader to step down. All
President Barack Obama said last Monday was to repeat his strong
condemnation of the Syrian regime's outrageous use of violence against
its own people. He also reaffirmed America's support for the courageous
Syrian people and their demands for universal rights and a democratic
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also highlighted the brutality and
viciousness of the Asad regime, repeating that the United States stands
with the Syrian people and condemns the Asad regime's violent campaign,
and called on the Syrian president to stop the slaughter now.
It remains to be seen whether the Western powers will be able to bring
the bloody Syrian crackdown before the UN Security Council where some
members have reportedly refused to adopt the Western position condemning
the Asad regime.
Interestingly, Russia has now indicated that it would not oppose a UN
resolution critical of Syria's policies.
The Syrian regime successfully avoided serious violence in Syria's key
cities, Damascus and Aleppo, thus lending faint support for the Asad
regime's position that all the turbulence is the result of instigation
by armed gangs.
On the other hand, the plight of Hama has attracted worldwide attention
since over 100 protesters have been killed earlier this week, rekindling
memories of the massacre of some 10,000 Syrians in that city in 1982,
during the regime of Hafiz al-Asad, father of Syria's current president,
for staging a similar uprising.
Syria's loss of Turkey's essential support has, meanwhile, denied the
Damascus regime any authenticity, a situation that may still spell more
bloodshed in the country. The hope that Iran, Syria's only other
regional ally, will come to its assistance appears far fetched at the
moment, adding to Syria's international isolation.
Source: Jordan Times website, Amman, in English 5 Aug 11
BBC Mon ME1 MEEauosc 050811/wm
(c) Copyright British Broadcasting Corporation 2011

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Smaller class sizes for your kids could be coming
Rona Bearson's Filipino culture has shaped her outlook on education.
"We have a motto in our culture that education is the best foundation," said Bearson.
Cynthia Morris shares that view.
"If you have education, you can go anywhere you want. Knowledge is power," said Morris.
They were excited at the prospect of reducing class sizes for their kids.
"If there is a smaller number of kids in a class, the teacher can really take care of them when it comes to learning, because you can intimately work with them," she said.
Initiative 1351 got enough signatures to put the issue before voters.
It has an overall goal of reducing class sizes, but doesn't exactly outline how to pay for it. If the initiative were to pass this fall, all three of our districts here in the Tri-Cities would have a lot of work to do to meet the new guidelines. Marianne Bichsel helped with the signature-gathering effort for I-1351.
"This has really struck a chord with people because it's very clear that the people of Washington State want every child to learn in an uncrowded classroom," said Bichsel.
Class sizes would be 17 kids per classroom in non-poverty schools, K-3. Up to 25 kids would be allowed for 4th to 12th grades. Numbers are even smaller for high poverty schools. Quite a few schools in the Tri-Cities meet this mark.
Currently, Richland averages 22 to 27 kids depending on the grade for K-5. Kennewick ranged from 23 to 26 for the same grade level. And Pasco was between 25 and 29.
"Probably the biggest concern or issue that people will have with the initiative is how will you pay for it?" said Richland School District Superintendent, Rick Schulte.
The campaign spokesperson says it would be up to lawmakers since they are required to fully fund basic education.
"We believe that having a class size that enables children to learn effectively is part of that basic education mandate," said Bichsel.
The decision for smaller class sizes will now be in your hands.
Washington State ranks 47th worst out of the 50 states for class size.


text:
God had been stirring my heart…..I knew that He was asking me to step into a young lady's life, but wasn't sure who. And then one day it hit me… it was Kiersten. I did not know Kiersten at the time, other than seeing her in passing at church once in a while. So, awkwardly I sent her a FB message to see if she would like to meet to be mentored and to do a bible study with me. And to my surprise she answered with a "yes!"
The first time we met, I felt like I had known her for years. I have loved getting to know her, and seeing her grow in her relationship with the Lord and in wisdom. She is a delight to me and my family in so many ways. She will be leaving town in two weeks to attend Grand Canyon University…..and I will miss her so but am so thankful she will just be a hop, skip and jump away.
Kiersten, you are beautiful….. You are not only stunning on the eyes, but in spirit too. I am so amazed at the refinement God has been doing in your life and the wisdom He has given you. I will continue to pray that God continues to be your first love. You are precious precious precious! And as you heard it, Brookie said that you are her "best friend." xoxo


text:
More Recipe Collections
Desserts and Party Food
(16 Recipes) Created by COLLEENKELLEY
Recipes in this Collection
Who can resist thick, creamy decadent cheesecake? Try this low-fat version in the single serving size. Carbs: 14.4g | Fat: 4.4g | Fiber: 0.1g | Protein: 6g | Calories: 120.6
A great party dip that all my friends ask for everytime we have a cook out or party! Submitted by ELAINEHN Carbs: 3g | Fat: 3.9g | Fiber: 0g | Protein: 5.3g | Calories: 70.7
A simple sweet treat that's sure to impress! Submitted by LADYBUGJAMI Carbs: 19.2g | Fat: 1.2g | Fiber: 0.3g | Protein: 2.4g | Calories: 119.5
This is a delicious, light, refreshing dessert. It's low cal and sugar and can be made with the lite pie filling in any flavor. Note that this needs to be made the night before to soften the graham crackers. Submitted by HOCKIMAMA Carbs: 16.2g | Fat: 0.3g | Fiber: 0.4g | Protein: 2.8g | Calories: 80.1
Very Good 4.7/5
(39 ratings)
This is light and made with Cool Whip - best served with graham cracker sticks Submitted by CALIDREAMER76 Carbs: 9.5g | Fat: 1g | Fiber: 0.5g | Protein: 0.2g | Calories: 45.7
Very Good 4.6/5
(14 ratings)
Submitted by KSPILLS713 Carbs: 8.2g | Fat: 0.2g | Fiber: 1.8g | Protein: 2.9g | Calories: 52.2
The perfect fall dessert. I always have at least one person ask me for the recipe! Submitted by ANDREWMOM Carbs: 28.5g | Fat: 1.7g | Fiber: 1.4g | Protein: 2.8g | Calories: 131.6
Very Good 4.6/5
(14 ratings)
This pie will knock your socks off! I make it without pie crusts to save LOTS of calories! Recipe makes two pies, eight slices each. A nice Christmas alternative to yet another pumpkin pie! Better texture than pumpkin, and you only need three sweet potatoes for two pies! Submitted by GLOBALJUJU Carbs: 15.5g | Fat: 3.1g | Fiber: 0.9g | Protein: 3.1g | Calories: 101.3
This rich, layered brownie cake is a chocolate lover's dream! Sprinkle with chocolate cookie crumbs for a crunchy top layer. Submitted by QTPIE7375 Carbs: 64.9g | Fat: 6.3g | Fiber: 1.8g | Protein: 3g | Calories: 294.1
Submitted by MAGPIE_NIGHT Carbs: 14.2g | Fat: 1.4g | Fiber: 0.5g | Protein: 0.8g | Calories: 68.9
Instant coffee in the batter intensifies the chocolate flavor. Beating the sugar and eggs together gives the baked brownies a crackly surface. Carbs: 20.2g | Fat: 4.9g | Fiber: 1.3g | Protein: 2.3g | Calories: 126.4
The most un-diet-like diet-friendly dessert ever! Submitted by ELAINEHN Carbs: 19.5g | Fat: 6.6g | Fiber: 0.9g | Protein: 2.9g | Calories: 170
Incredible! 5.0/5
(20 ratings)
Submitted by MUSICAEH1 Carbs: 23.4g | Fat: 0.7g | Fiber: 5.6g | Protein: 2.9g | Calories: 102.3
Very Good 4.8/5
(11 ratings)
Great for a pudding snack or as a party dip. Submitted by MRSMOT Carbs: 10.5g | Fat: 0.4g | Fiber: 1g | Protein: 4.6g | Calories: 73.7
A zesty way to prepare a traditional cheesecake. Carbs: 26.3g | Fat: 4.2g | Fiber: 0.7g | Protein: 8.6g | Calories: 177
Serve these holiday cookies with a cup of tea or lowfat vanilla ice cream. Submitted by CHEF_MEG Carbs: 10.3g | Fat: 2.6g | Fiber: 0.5g | Protein: 0.8g | Calories: 61.1


text: @Grivusangel -- I like pansies, too, especially the ones with the "faces." The others are really pretty, but I think the black splotches on the colored petals is so striking. I like to do a variety of colors because, as you mentioned, they do liven up the place during the winter when everything else is brown and gray. But the pansies are colorful.


text:
Health Information - Med Help
My MedHelp
Swollen feet from walking
Common Questions and Answers about Swollen feet from walking
So sorry and good luck. Try exercise ball, heard it really helps.
Read More
Hey ladies, ive been having very
and they wont get any better they been getting on my way to get chores done, with my baby just 2 weeks away from being here its very hard to be on "bed rest" like my doctor said, theres to many things to get done for my little one, any ideas besides walking?
Read More
Any one know what might help swollen feet.
Read More
Im 36 weeks i have been getting very
my legs and
i try to raise them and it doesnt even help. What can i do?
Read More
Thank God I finally had a day off today to put up my
. At wrk i am up standing
back and forth 95% of the time at wrk. There are no times for breaks, but yesterday I was wrking fron desk so I was sitting mostly all day im guessing thats why? Anyways what do you guys do for this issue? Theyre so tight my feet look idk bruised.. Ideas pleasee?
Read More
This preg I haven't had to much swelling but last preg my
were always
. I couldn't get away
it but they say walking helps with swelling drinking lots of water and try not to over do it usually if I'm on my feet to much is when they get swollen.
Read More
However, my
have been constantly
for the past 2-2.5 months. Its both of my
, ankles, and lower legs. I have not injured them and have no other symptoms to report. I have tried compression stockings and they don't seem to help. I have tried walking every day and still the swelling persisted. They are swollen from the moment i wake up in the morning, it does not go away with eleveation. Any ideas? Suggestions?
Read More
I have
and hands and bloating. look like i'm 6 months pregnant by night time. My feet are painful to walk on most of the time. I've had to by bigger shoes to fit my feet. I have been see a naturpath and she says that my liver is note working properly. i'm taking liver tablets to detox. I feel that nothing is working i gave up smoking 15 months ago and have put on 15kgs and have been trying to lose it but it just won't budge. I thought maybe you might be able to help me.
Read More
Any of you lady's have
/ankles? I work about 40 hours a week and my
are killing me. What do you guys do to help your aching feet?
Read More
Hopefully this works I read it
baby center (: why are my ankles and
ankles and feet (oedema) happen in pregnancy because your body is holding on to more fluid than usual. As your baby grows, your uterus (womb) puts pressure on the blood vessels in your pelvis. This particularly affects the large vein (inferior vena cava) on your right-hand side which receives blood from your lower limbs.
Read More
I just started school this week, also full time student, and I always walk from one side of the campus to the next, and for the first time my
got super duper
! People have said to drink LOTS of water, reduce salt intake, and wear comfy walking shoes.
Read More
Im 13wks pregnant and my
is it normal for this to happen so early in my pregnancy? Someone please tell me whats going on or if its ok? Or what should i do?
Read More
We've been out ALL day at the Charlotte motor speedway watching all of those dummies run in circles, and my
are so
I guess
up and down the bleachers.
Read More
Starting a couple days again i been getting really bad sore and
and ankles..went to dr and had it check everything is ok..just a mixture of being on my feet at work and from the heat. Anyone know of anything besides laying down that could help with the soreness and puffiness..could i put ice on them? Anything for the soreness?
Read More
I'm also 1000 miles away
home right now too.
I think is going to be tough. Since this started I can't walk a 1/4 mile down the street before getting winded. I explained all this to the doc and she said there was nothing wrong with me. Nothing that any test they ran could show. She did mention that it might be that since i'm not home i have slowed down a bit. Back home I was outside everyday doing yardwork or something around the house.
Read More
I have
ankles and
but I attribute that to having broke my right legand left foot.
Read More
Medhelp people got me a new password, so am back in my old incarnation, for better or worse...
ankles neurological? Wow, never heard that. My
such that I can't fit into my shoes any more, all at the same time as the eye problem and hand problem. The swelling is on the instep and the outer ankles, definitely is fluid. Thought I'd maybe put on weight, but I've actually lost a stone in weight in the last month. Next time I see the doctor I'll show them my feet.
Read More
i have the same problem... i just came back
a nice walk... and BAM,
and toes! my daughter says i have shrek feet!! my stomach was also tightening, but only on the right side... i figured it was time to head home, we'll give it another try tomorrow!
Read More
get an xray to see if you are developing a bone cyst or arthritic joints. the other pains you are experiencing could result
abnormaly to compensate for the pain.
Read More
I have just recently started
again after having a pulmarary embolism a year ago this month. I still have to hold on to something when I walk so I go to the local grocery store and use a buggy to help keep me stable. I walk around to outside isle and then up and down each isle. I have built myself up to doing two full laps. I have a lot of pain in my lower legs and right hip. Should I be warming up before I walk with some leg lifts or what? Ism also wanting to try and strengthen my arms.
Read More
The swelling you mention can be something as simple as nerve damage, so i never worry too much about diabetes complication issues until i get correct knowledge
a physician about it. As for me my
swell if i do too much walking during the day. i see my endo in a couple of weeks and will bring this up with her, though in the meantime i'm not walking as much. You may also want to try elevating your feet while sitting or lying down.
Read More
I had to take off my rings last night because they were bothering me so much because of my
hands. My
gets sore and it hurts when I have been
on them for too long, let's say for about more than 4 hours or so. My knees hurt from time to time mostly above the knee. However, when I stretch my legs, the pain/soreness goes away. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with my hands and feet. My hands right now look fat to me.
Read More
To make things worse the last week i have had very
and a bit
hands by about lunch time and as much as i am trying to stay off them, i have a very active two year old and lots of things I wanted to get organised and done before the baby comes. I don't mean to be a complainer but is it normal to be this irritated and over it at this stage?
Read More
Oh my goodness, I have a back injury and am on WCB, for the past 6 months my right knee has been swollen and very pain full. I am as well taking morphine 3-5 times per day. I have now
and ankles. I sleep and am in constant pain, I wake up and am still tired. It is very hard for me in the mornings barely make it to the washroom,the pain is so bad and to top it off, I as well have fallen asleep on the toilet and fallen and just missed my temple had a black eye.
Read More
MedHelp Health Answers
Type your medical question here
Related Links (10)
Swollen feet from walking
Swollen feet salt
Swollen feet in summer
Swollen feet running
Swollen feet heart disease
Swollen feet sunburn
Swollen feet when pregnant
Swollen ankles numb feet
Swollen feet during pregnancy remedies
Swollen feet children


text:
Martinsville is a populated place located in York County at latitude 39.94 and longitude -76.525.
The elevation is 620 feet. Martinsville appears on the Red Lion U.S. Geological Survey Map. York County is in the Eastern Time Zone (UTC -5 hours).
York County: Cities & Towns | ZIP Codes | Schools | Features (airports, churches, hospitals, etc.)
BIG Map |
Driving Directions |
Data Source - USGS GNIS FID: 1180507
BOUNDARY MAPS: Township of Lower Windsor | York County
Martinsville, PA
(< 0.1 mile) Craley, PA (< 0.1 mile) Bittersville, PA (1.4 miles SW) Snyder Corner, PA (1.4 miles S) Margaretta Furnace, PA (1.9 miles NNW) |
Grimms Crossroads, PA
(2.4 miles SSW) East Prospect, PA (2.4 miles N) Rockey, PA (2.7 miles S) New Bridgeville, PA (2.7 miles SE) Locust Spring, PA (2.7 miles W) |
Richmond, PA
(1.4 miles ESE) Star Rock, PA (3.9 miles E) Bridgeville, PA (3.9 miles E) Leibharts Corner, PA (3.9 miles NNE) Kendale East, PA (4.5 miles WSW) |
Sylvan Hills, PA
(5.1 miles WNW) Panorama Hills, PA (5.1 miles WNW) Orchard Hill, PA (5.5 miles WNW) Forest Hills, PA (5.5 miles SW) Manifold Manor, PA (5.5 miles W) |
The Demographic Data for the 5,962 Pennsylvania cities, towns, counties, ZIP Codes and Census Designated Places (CDPs) profiled in this gazetteer is updated annually. Last Update: July 1, 2014.
The ZIP Code maps and the data regarding the number of residential and business addresses in each ZIP Code are updated four times per year. Last Update: November 1, 2014.
The information on the 62,995 Pennsylvania Physical, Cultural and Historic Features is updated six times per year. Last Update: December 2, 2014.
The School Attendance Zone Maps for 2,283 Pennsylvania public schools are updated four times per year. Last Update: October 6, 2014.


text: To wear this trend in its purest form, do two to three pieces in exactly the same hue. It's very, VERY important that one isn't even the teeniest tiniest bit different than the others because that ruins the entire effect. As far as accessories go—have fun with them! A large swatch of bold color acts a blank canvas for crazy statement necklaces and big bangles.


text:
Kevin then pulls out a photo of the two of them together, but Swift isn't falling for it. "That's your face Photoshopped on someone else's body," deadpans Taylor. (It's Jake Gyllenhaal's body, for those wondering. And yes, we knew that without having to research. Perhaps, like Kevin Hart, we're a bit too invested in Taylor's love life.)
Taylor Swift — as well as Green Day, One Direction, Alicia Keys and Pink — will take the stage at the 2012 MTV VMAs, airing Thursday September 6 on MTV.


text:
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~ shared by Martin Lessner
It seems that among a certain set of athletes, the traditional 100 mile bike ride or 26.2 mile run is (yawn) no longer a worthy goal. Hence the proliferation of "Ultra" sporting events, like triathlons, Ironmans, and events combining mental challenges with exhausting "feats of strength."
For example, consider the "Super Spartan" which "provides an 8-mile battlefield of insane mud running with 15+ obstacles to test your physical strength and mental resolve. This mud fest of a race will have many trials to push you to your full potential!" And then, of course, there is the granddaddy of all challenges, as written up in Outside Magazine, where few finish, and with a web site that says it all: YouMayDie.com
Now consider, if you will, a longstanding tradition, the Woodloch weekend. Woodloch is a family retreat facility, laid out on a lake surrounded by about 150 acres of woods, ten miles from the PA/NY border. For eight years, my family and Jeff W.'s family, along with three other college friends and their families (a/k/a the "Penn Pals") spend a winter weekend competing in various events against scores of other families from New York and Philadelphia. The ultimate prize is the gold Woodloch medal, to be worn proudly around one's neck while walking around the dining room.
This year's weekend was in cold and snowy mid-February. A Friday night arrival allows us to warm up in the "Cash Cab" event, modeled after the TV show. In a promising start, we win in a comeback in the final round of the 55 minute event, with a question right in my knowledge sweet spot: "What is the sum of (a) the year of the First Continental Congress plus (b) the year Disney World opened in Orlando?" A team gold medal is our reward for my overruling a certain history major and pop culture expert who pressed for dates a year off the correct answer (1774 + 1971 = 3745).
This is merely a warm-up for Saturday's main events. First up is the 7:00 a.m. father/son basketball game. On one side, five guys in their late 40's, in wildly varying physical shape. On the other side are 17, 16, 15, and two 13 year old boys. My son Zack had been talking smack the whole prior week, labeling me as "not good at basketball," another college pal as "not athletic enough," and accurately describing Jeff W. as "injury prone." The games were tough, with lots of sweat and elbows, and ended in a father/son split of 1 game apiece, and no serious injuries for the dads (for now).
Next up at 10:00 a.m. is the premier event, the Scavenger Hunt. Although the actual event is a strictly timed one hour affair, preparation begins months in advance. It starts with playing various online games on the Woodloch website. Attaining a certain success level at these online games yields a partial list of items that will be required if a team wants to have any chance of winning in February. Before we left for Woodloch, Dan K. was kind enough to loan me his "Born to Run" album on vinyl. Other clues resulted in our team pre-gathering the following:
Other competitive teams of families show up with these items too. And most show up with laptops and iPads for easy access to the internet, all the better to answer the questions and mind benders to be handed out shortly. After the instructions and checklists are distributed (to all teams at the same time), the one hour clock starts. Our captain delegates to everybody their role, matching as many items on the lists as possible, whether it is the kids dressing up funny, composing a song, or the wives solving puzzles and finding other items (but not taking something from another team or the gift shop, because that is considered "stealing").
Jeff and I are assigned to go after the 150 point bonus. Out the door into the 10 degree morning, we run a half mile to the snow-covered nature trail. Along the trail some trees have small signs tacked on them, with a foreign word or phrase, some in German or looking like German (but really gibberish). We separate and run along different parts of the trail. Upon spotting a tree with a word nailed to it, we take out our blackberries and e-mail it back to a teammate sitting by a computer in the main lounge. In about half hour, with frozen hands and cold feet, we run back from the trail to the main lounge, where our teammate has run the words through a German/English translator. The few random words actually in German (head, comb, awake, rise) are part of a Beatles song, but which one? With a little help from my friends, it comes to me that these are words from "A Day in the Life", which I then have to sing from memory to Joey (the longtime Woodloch MC and judge). After an off-tune rendition of "Woke up, got out of bed, dragged a comb across my head", Joey gives me a code, which I then use to navigate through a web site, which eventually plays a short music clip, which I identify as "Lovely Rita." We get our bonus points, and in the end, win the silver medal.
The events keep coming. Next up is the father/son football game on a field covered with ice and snow. Again, injury potential is high, but the Dads escape unscathed. Jeff and I then run 5 hilly miles on a road leading down to the NY border on Delaware River, arriving back just in time for the "Name that Tune" competition. For the first time ever, our families beat the other 24 teams, mainly on the strength of our early teenage daughters, who fuel a last round comeback based on their knowledge of "songs" from the last three years. Class of 1985 members are clueless.
Sunday: on the court by 7:00 a.m. for father/son basketball, Part II. This time, the dads squeak by, two games to one. Then the 10:00 a.m. Winter Olympics, with six timed events involving tubing, sledding, running up and down snow covered hills, shooting a hockey puck, and the ten person team "running while bound together with a giant bungee cord" event. The last Olympic event involves running up an incline, touching a flag, then sliding down a steep slope to touch another flag. We do not win the Winter Olympics. In fact, we finish near the bottom of the 24 teams. And in a recent update, Jeff W. informs me that "the huge bruise from the Olympics Butt-Slide Event debacle is still there."
Two o'clock is the "Amazing Race." Among the many implausible events, Jeff and I are delegated by our captain to gather points by running a half mile to a snow bank. I then drag Jeff down the hill by his feet, and he struggles to do the same for me up the hill. For this we get a piece of paper, which allows us to run a half mile back for further instructions. These further instructions send Jeff and me back on another half mile run, where we must knock over water bottles with a pendulum, play "Bop-It" 25 times without error, run some more to a different location, eat a full large snow cone drenched with red-dye laden syrup (this was the hardest event, resulting in both brain freeze and stomach ache), and rotate a stack of 20 cups without dropping. Then a half mile run back to the lodge. Meanwhile, the rest of the team is playing charades, running around the campus taking pictures of certain things (the snowplow, the tree by the lake, etc.), and solving puzzles. Our streak continues, and we take the bronze medal. Meanwhile, my son Zack returns with the gold medal in the Texas Hold'em Tournament.
By four o'clock on Sunday, Jeff's non-"injury prone" streak comes to an end. The late afternoon football game on the snow and ice has Jeff trying to cover a teenager. For no good reason (age?), Jeff's hamstring goes south. Immobilized, we flag down a bus to take Jeff back to the lodge. Pretty much the end of the competitions, save for the wrap-up "Family Feud", where we go down in flames in the second round, unable to name all ten items on the board "that would fall out of your pocket if you were turned upside down."
In conclusion, when I read about the Ultra endurance "Super Spartan", "You May Die" competitions I could never do, I take solace in the fact that my almost 48 year old body and mind survived the trials of Woodloch, with many keepsake memories of family and friend teamwork in the face of stiff competition from those always tough New York and Philly families.
Martin Lessner is a long-time Woodloch guest and friend.
~shared by J. Ranner
Teddy bears, red roses and little tiny conversation hearts everywhere you go, from the most upscale shopping venues on Fifth Avenue to the gas station counter in downtown Hawley.
Love is in the air. Every February 14th, couples (and hopeful romantics) let the world know their intentions with fancy dinners, sentimental cards and in some cases, the presentation of jewelry and other elaborate gifts. That's what love is all about, right? Taking one day of the year, going over the top and letting the world know that "she's mine."
Nope. Not to me. And I feel I'm not alone.
My experiences and observations of what I consider to be "true love" are really more eternal. You don't take one day of the year to let someone know how important they are to you- you let them know every day of the year, and not always in grand fashion. Subtle hints of care often speak volumes over razzle dazzle. To me, those are the couples that endure and last.
I've been working at Woodloch for over 16 years and have lost count of all the sweet gestures and stories I've seen over the years from our guests. I've seen many romances - TRUE ROMANCES - develope and flourish right before my very eyes. I've had friends meet their soul mates here, then I've watched their families grow. There's seriously something about Lake Teedyuskung that brings out the best in all of us. In the end, "little things" collectively end up as being "the big things" after all.
Recently, we've received a flood of special Woodloch love stories. So, in the spirit of the season, I'd like to share just a few of them with you today.
"My husband and I have been going since we were 17 - we are both approaching 50 now (totally crazy). We have been visiting Woodloch as teenagers, newlyweds, "babies on the way"; "infants in tow"; "toddlers in tow" and now "mini adults in tow. We have certainly passed on your tradition to our children who are now entering adulthood and still beg us to take them twice a year."
"My wife and I were fighting. She just had our second son a few months ago. She was complaining that we never do anything fun because I was always working. It was just before labor day 2007. I stormed away and went on line. Found Woodloch and booked Labor Day weekend. I came downstairs and said, 'I booked a trip - happy?' That was 6 years ago. We just had our 12th visit. Best fight we ever had."
"When my husband proposed I knew the only place I wanted to get married was Woodloch. It's like going home again! Now I bring my children every year and hope they will continue the tradition when they have families of their own one day."
"My parents would go yearly with another couple in the early 1980's. We always heard great stories and were shown beautiful pictures. My brother and sister in law were the first ones to accompany my parents and loved it! Before you knew it we all joined it (mid 1980's). As each year passed it grew into nieces and nephews joining us every October. We continued to go even after my Dad passed away in 1994. Unfortunately we lost my Mom in 2010 and my nieces and nephews are in college so each year since then it is now my husband and I carrying on the tradition. We know one day my siblings and their children will be back again when possible. We love it and can not imagine a year without Woodloch. Wonderful memories...priceless."
"My only son dressed as Tigger asked his wife to marry him in the dining room."
And this is just a sampling of the great stories we have- and I know there are many more out there! Feel free to share your special tale in the comments section below!
It's a typical off-season Friday afternoon at Woodloch. The air is cold, but the sun is shining and the winds are still. Though things appear calm, we all know that something is coming. We don't let our guard down for one second in anticipation of what is on the horizon. No, nothing scary- actually quite the opposite: we have another weekend jam-packed with Girl Scout groups.
As they arrive in our lobby, one by one they bop along with a wonderful zest for life and warming smiles on their faces. They're here to participate in our marquee events such as Scavenger Hunt, Winter Olympics, Cupcake Wars and more not only for the coveted gold medals but also for customized Woodloch badges that will soon be stitched on their sashes. Needless to say, their presence is always known- their enthusiasm and laughter buzz like a nest of honeybees wherever they travel off to.
And of course, THE COOKIES. They always seem to have them in close reach. For years, our scout groups would have some extra boxes here and there and simply leave them with staff as a "thank you" for a fun weekend (or perhaps as an underhand attempt at gaining a few more points for Scavenger Hunt… but who are we to judge?). Thin mints became a staple in our break rooms.
As Woodloch employees, however, fresh baked goods are never really out of our reach- extra breads from the bakery are often left up for grabs to those who need it. As sweet of a gesture as it may be, the treats could be put to a better use. And those thoughts led to the creation of our first "OPERATION COOKIE DROP."
Throughout the winter months, each visiting Girl Scout will be given the opportunity to donate a box of Girl Scout cookies into our special "Drop Crate" located in our Main Lobby. Upon doing so, they receive a special gift from Woodloch as a "thank you." At the end of the season, every last Caramel DeLite, Shortbread, Peanut Butter Pattie and everything in between will be shipped overseas to the brave men and women serving in our armed forces. Everyone is invited to drop hand-written letters into our mailbox for the soldiers as well.
I'm a firm believer in "little things"- when all is said and done, they end up really being the "BIG THINGS" after all. In this case, it's not just a cookie that a soldier is receiving.
The cookies are a warm and happy reminder of home, bringing comfort to those who are clearly in an uncomfortable place.
They're a reminder to our protectors of exactly what they're protecting.
"They're a small token of gratitude… but it's a great way for all of us to start," says Joey Ranner, Activities Director. "I have to smile every time we start initiatives like this- our guests (Scouts and non-scouts alike) spring into action and share that Woodloch warmth with others. Watching a plan unfold firsthand reminds me of how fortunate I am to work with such good company."
If you've happened to outgrow your berets and would still like to help, fear not: all of our guests are free to write letters in our lobby and purchase cookies for the cause.
It seems like just yesterday the autumn foliage was glimmering in brilliant shades of amber, fire red and golden yellow and I all I kept hearing about was how excited everyone was for "Pumpkin Latte Season" at their neighborhood Starbucks.
And now, times have changed.
Today, I am working from home as last night's snowfall has made a mess of our local country roads. Sleigh riding was great fun as a kid- not so much in a vehicle as an adult. Which makes me reminisce of the snow days of old. How I have missed them!
When I wasn't working on a school project that I had most certainly banked on completing due to a snow day, I used to love spending hours outside sledding around. When it got too cold I'd fire up my loyal Super Nintendo. And slowly but steadily I'd find ways to drive my mom insane. And the best way to deal with all the added stress? Therapeutic cooking.
I don't believe my mom is alone. I think cooking works as a nice release for many that are stressed out- and it also doubles as an enjoyable activity in itself. So back by popular demand (and with the recipes YOU asked for!) please enjoy these wintry recipes to help warm up your season!
Woodloch Pines Chicken Soup(just in case you happen to catch cold!)
INGREDIENTS: • 1 ½ quarts chicken stock• 6 chicken bouillon cubes• 5 tbs. rice• ¼ cup butter• 7 tbs. flour• 2 c. cooked chicken, cut up• 2 tbs. chopped parsley
INSTRUCTIONS:Cook rice, set aside. Bring chicken stock and bouillon cube to boil; reduce heat to low. Heat butter in small pan; stir in flour until smooth. Stir mixture into hot soup until desired consistency is achieved. Add cooked rice and cut-up chicken. Garnish with chopped parsley.
Woodloch's Famous Chili(just in time for Super Bowl Sunday!)
INGREDIENTS: • 2 tbs. lard / bacon fat• 3 lbs. lean beef chuck, cut into ½ in cubes• 2 onions, coarse chopped (1 ½ cups)• 6 tbs. pure ground hot chili• 3 tbs. cumin• 2 tbs. pure ground mild chili• 1 ½ tsp. minced garlic• 1 tsp sea salt• ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper• Water• 1 ½ c. beef broth• 3 mild or hot green chilis• 1 large chopped tomato• 1 tbs. crushed chili Caribe or red pepper flakes, to taste• 1 tsp. dried oregano, soaked in ¼ cup warm beer• 1 tbs. cider vinegar• 1 tbs. tortilla flour or cornmeal INSTRUCTIONS:Melt lard / fat in large Dutch oven or heavy pot. Add meat in 2 batches if necessary & cook on all sides until it loses its pink color. Add onions, ground hot chili, cumin, ground mild chili, garlic, salt and black pepper. Add water to barely cover the meat, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered 1 to 1 ½ hours until meat is almost tender, adding more water if needed. Add 1 cup of beef broth to the chopped chilis, tomatoes, chili Caribe, oregano-beer mixture & vinegar. Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring often. Stir tortilla flour into remaining ½ cup beef broth, then stir into chili & simmer 15-20 minutes until meat is very tender and sauce is red-brown.
Woodloch's Streusel Cake(Great for breakfast, dessert… and any other time of the day.)
STREUSEL CRUMB INGREDIENTS:• 4 oz. butter• ½ tsp salt• 1 2/3 cup granulated sugar• 4 tsp. cinnamon powder• ½ c. shortening• ½ c. brown sugar• 1/3 tsp vanilla• 5 ½ c. flour
INSTRUCTIONS: Mix all ingredients except flour together until creamy. Add the flour then mix again. Mixture will become crumbly.
CAKE INGREDIENTS:• 1 2/3 c. sugar• 6 oz. butter• ½ tsp. salt
• 5 lg. eggs• 1 1/3 c. milk• Vanilla to taste• 3 ½ c. cake flour• 1 tbs. baking powder
INSTRUCTIONS: Place butter and sugar in a bowl and beat until creamy. Add eggs, vanilla and milk and mix. Add remaining ingredients and continue mixing until smooth. Add half of the batter to your 9" x 13" cake pan. Sprinkle lightly with the crumbs. Using measuring cup, pour remaining batter over the crumbs. Top cake with more streusel crumbs before baking. Place in oven at 375 degrees and bake for 35 minutes. After baking, let cool before cutting into 2 inch squares and serving.
~Shared by J. Ranner
Anyone living on the Atlantic seaboard can expect snow during the winter season, but exactly how much is the million-dollar question! The Pocono region generally sees an average of about 55 inches of powder per year with the occasional blizzard spiking that total every so often.
But what happens when Mother Nature doesn't cooperate? Snow has been fallen and melted with little to no consistency thus far in 2015. Inconsistency! Today alone, we are going to be shifting from 40 degrees and rainy to bone dry conditions well-below ZERO degrees with windchill! With some of our busiest guest counts of the year, all of whom were expecting a "winter wonderland," what ever could we do to cope with Mother Nature's shenanigans?
The answer: WE MAKE IT SNOW! That's right, since 1991, Woodloch has been manufacturing piles and piles of artificial snow to keep our guests happy all season long. Once temperatures consistently reach 20 degrees and below, we fire up our snow guns and magically transform a blank canvas of grass into a towering mountain of white. Woodloch sculpts their own snow tube runs!
We get a lot of questions on our snow-making operation so we thought we'd give you the behind-the-scenes scoop on the magic!
If you haven't yet had the chance to see these mechanical marvels in action, you have the perfect opportunity right now! Round up your friends and family, and grab a snow tube ... I'll race you to the bottom! We can't wait to see you this winter!!
Woodloch Winter Wonder from Woodloch Pines on Vimeo.
At the risk of compromising my job, I'm just going to say it: I ABSOLUTELY LOVE DISNEY AND EVERYTHING THEY STAND FOR. True, to a degree they bring some of our stiffest competition to the table and in theory could bippity-boppity-boo me right out of a job, but one simply cannot deny the joy that their characters and movies bring to all of our lives.
I was 9 years old when The Lion King came out in 1994, and outside of Toy Story and Up, it remains my favorite Disney film to this day. The animation, the great sing alongs (hakuna matata!), and even the morals and advice still resonate with me to this day. Perhaps the most poignant of all of the scenes was during Simba's vision of Mufasa on the plains when he told his son, "REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE." Four words that essentially define the entire movie... and life for many of us.
That's when I remembered "who" Woodloch is. We are a family resort that has lasted through nearly 6 decades by not compromising our identity. We are a collection of wonderful people that offer our talents, care and spirits to making sure that our guests always feel as if they are company in our own home. So it's only appropriate that our last bit of good deeds showcase that personality...
9. Holiday Senior Center Cooking Class - If you've ever had the pleasure of catching one of our midweek cooking classes, you'll know that they provide the perfect combination of delicious Woodloch dishes with our staple comedic antics... a meal and a show, so to speak! This year, during our winter "shutdown" period, both Joey and Chef Dave volunteered their times to provide local seniors from Honesdale, Hawley and Hamlin with a special on-the-house Cooking Class.
Better yet, Avery Transportation of Beach Lake, PA- the same company that escorts many of our seniors here during normal midweeks - provided free transportation to and from Woodloch for all of these seniors. All in all, nearly 40 of these seniors were treated to knowledge, entertainment and of course, all of our delicious cooked goodies!
10. Pre-school Story Hour - Let's not kid ourselves: the excitement and anticipation of Santa's arrival can push young children to be a little... squirrely during the holiday season. We were all there once, so don't deny it.
Yet I've found nothing better to bring children to bay than the almighty power of books. Therefore, Woodloch's fantastic kids program hit the road to a local day care to bring happiness to both children and daycare staff alike. Stories and snacks were shared as we guided kids through our holiday arts & crafts project. Even our mascot Boomer got in on the fun!
11. Taking our Show on the Road - I sometimes sit in awe at the amount of talent that surrounds me every day in the workplace. Many of my co-workers aren't just good at their jobs; they also are incredibly talented with showsmanship. This is exactly why we enlisted Eric and Sammy from our Social Department to put together and perform a "Holiday Storytellers" program for the eager audience at The Mountain View Care Center.
Together, they pooled their talents to provide residents with holiday songs, storys, jokes, and even "Uncle Sammy" reading some Christmas poetry. And since most of the residents were on the "nice" list, jolly ol' St. Nicholas himself appeared with a bag full of delicious chocolate chip cookies to share with his friends. After all... tis the season to not count calories!
12. Saying "Thank You" - I'm grateful that the Kiesendahl family makes an effort to bring this up at every company gathering. Verbatim, they tell us: "almost every resort has facilities. They all have food and they all have entertainment. What continues to make us special is YOU. Without the staff, we simply wouldn't be the same."
When I hear that, I not only know that it's the truth (let's face it, we're AWESOME), but also that the family is being genuinely sincere. To reinforce that idea, for our last objective in the 12 Days of Giving, the family called several staff members up to the office, gave their heartfelt thanks, and simply handed them over a little bit of cash to help with the expenses of the holiday season. Nothing more, nothing less. Just showing their appreciation.
From a personal point of view, this was one of the best holidays I've celebrated in my life not because of gifts I received but because I truly felt like I was able to spread cheer through our 12 Days of Giving. I've also been beaming with pride of my co-workers all season long.
It truly always IS better to give than receive!
Many moons ago, I was a business student trying to learn as much as I could about the economy, salesmanship, consumer trends, advertising and management. And while deep down I truly love the subject matter and the challenge it presents, I was always thrilled to choose my "gen ed" credits in school. They offered me a chance to free my mind from the business world for a few hours and appreciate all kinds of arts, sciences, and humanities.
My favorites of these electives were always Philosophy courses. Even if it had "nothing" to do with my ultimate career goals, I was always up for a good spirited debate with friends on the issues. One of the topics that I latched onto and kept in my life long after my last Scantron was the definition of "Good." What makes something or someone good? Is there such a thing as "good for the sense of good" without any selfish alterior agendas.
I've come to the conclusion that there certainly IS. It's entirely possibly for all of us to commit truly good deeds so long as we expect absolutely nothing in return. The deed is the reward in itself, so to speak. The next set of our "12 Days of Giving" objectives all centered around what you might call "random acts of kindness."
5. The Salvation Army "Angel Tree" - Back in early November, a tiny Christmas tree was placed in our staff dining area with the names, ages, and needs of local children on tags. And little by little, the spirit of the season drove our employees to each "adopt" a child and ensure that they have a nice holiday. Little did we know that the program would take off the way it did!
What started off as an uncertain 50 names being placed on our tree was quashed with our signature positive energy. Not ony were all 50 names snatched up within a few weeks, we kept going until over 115 children were adopted and shopped for. Storage for the gifts spilled out of the normal executive office hallways... and into the executive offices themselves!
6. Coffee Shop Takeover - Because you're a loyal reader, I'll be frank with you about myself: my day simply cannot start without a proper cup of coffee. Throw in anxiety about shopping, bills, and work pressure and I will eventually transform into your worst nightmare. But not if I get my coffee. It makes everything right in the world, and I feel I'm not alone on this issue.
So on one chilly morning a week before Christmas, I sent my boss (loving the role reversal) and our very own Road Trip Concierge to surprise some people with an unexpected free cup of joe at the Northern Lights Coffee Shop in downtown Scranton. For an hour, patrons showed up and were treated to delicious java and a holiday greeting from the Woodloch family.
7. Free Hugs - Outside of this marvelous microcosm I like to refer to as "Woodloch Land," the world can sometimes be a very cold and dark place. And sadly, I sometimes feel that society is slowly descending into a state where outward love and compassion are taboo- if a man kisses his girlfriend in public, we're so quick to stare, scratch our heads, and even be outwardly disgusted. I don't buy that at all. Show love and let someone know how you feel while we're here and can do so, because NONE of us know what lies ahead in the future.
But, as Dr. Marvin would say, "baby steps." So moving directly between the lines of yuletide fire (i.e. busy shopping malls on a December Saturday morning), Woodloch sent a collection of our most cuddly and friendly faces to offer those in need "FREE HUGS." Distraught and stressed out shoppers and even employees approached us with our "FREE HUGS" sign. Little gestures like that can certainly go a long way- sometimes, everyone just needs a hug.
8. Random Gifting - Once again, I'm pointing the finger of blame upon "society." Everyone always thinks that no matter how great of a thing might be happening directly to you, there's always some kind of "catch." There's no such thing as a free lunch.
Except when there IS.
Once again utilizing a crowded shopping mall as our environment, The Woodloch Crew purchased a stack of Visa gift cards that can be used literally everywhere. And then, we simply handed them out to people that looked like they needed a picker upper. We said "Hi- happy holidays," made our drops and disappeared as mysteriously as we had arrived. We got a great reaction, including one from an employee that was down on his luck.
So just like Stella from "A Streetcar Named Desire," every once in a while, you actually CAN depend on the kindness of strangers. Especially if Woodloch has anything to say about it!
Catch our last bit on our "12 Days of Giving" initiative here!
Whenever you might feel alone in the world, remember these words:
"Play a little part in something BIG."
Whether we realize it or not, the cogs of the world and life are ALWAYS turning and the smallest things that we do- no matter how miniscule they may initially seem, can go on to impact the world in ways we never could have imagined.
Over the past month or so, I've had the pleasure of coordinating and participating in Woodloch's inaugural "12 Days of Giving" initiative. And truth be told, it was personally one of the most rewarding holidays I've ever celebrated.
But that's getting ahead of myself.
The 12 Days of Giving program's objectives spanned from icredibly simple to rather challenging- but all brought some form of joy into lives of recipients and givers alike. I feel that they can be broken down into three different but equally important categories:
1. Woodloch's Hunger Relief Record Attempt - On November 23rd, 2013, guests, staff, friends and other volunteers assembled in our Heritage Night Club and rewrote history. With the help of our friends at Pocono Pro Foods, we collectively assembled 656 hunger relief packages in one minute and 18 seconds, setting a world record. After celebration, volunteers from Woodloch and the Pike County United Way distributed all of the packages to chuches, rescue missions and food banks in the local area.
2. Supermarket Tailgate Food Collection - Along the same lines of our world record, this objective brought together two of the basic cornerstones that have made Woodloch guests happy since 1958: "eatin' & competin'." With the help of Gerrity's local grocery stores, the Woodloch gang braved the cold December winds to have a "parking lot party"- grilled food, live music, games and giveaways drew crowds to donate canned and non-perishable goods. After a great afternoon, donations were immediately dropped off at The Scranton Rescue Mission to provide those in need with a holiday feast.
3. Adopt-a-Family - They're the first cheery staff members you'll typically meet when visiting, so it's no suprise that the ecclectic family at our Front Desk spent a good deal of time and resources to adopting not one but TWO local families in need this season. Together, they collected what they could- toys, clothing, and food items to be directly handed to local families in need.
4. Operation Christmas Child - in conjunction with local churches, Woodloch started their own drive for "Operation Christmas Child" shoeboxes. Basically, shoeboxes are filled with essential items for children - including soap, socks, toothbrushes, shirts, paper and writing utensils - as well as toys. The boxes are then shipped to children around the world in need and distributed. It's a fun way to help a child that has almost nothing to his or her name. After weeks of strong efforts, Woodloch pooled 31 boxes together and sent them away. "Every box means a child didnt have to go without a Christmas present," says Tammy Compton of Woodloch Reservations. "Every box lets a child in a third world country know that they are loved."
Here's PART 2 of our 12 Days of Giving!
Woodloch's Hunger Games: Breaking a Guinness World Record from Endless Echo on Vimeo.
The greatest gift you'll ever receive isn't found under any tree. What is it? Well, that's up to you.
"Love," said my friend Katie O'Hara.
"Family," said my friend Sam Postrion.
Love's the secret ingredient found in every batch of homemade Christmas cookies - better still when shared with others. It's found in fixing supper for a lonely neighbor or reaching out to an elderly shut-in, clearing snow from someone's sidewalk, or just brushing snow from a family member's windsheild.
It's that special gift of self found in serving others: at a soup kitchen, ringing the bell for the Salvation Army, placing presents beneath the Angel Tree, and more.
It's taking the time to tell someone else - -with or without words --that they matter, that they're special, that you care.
That's what Woodloch did this season with its 12 Days of Giving, including a record breaking weekend when 400 staff members, guests and friends assembed a whopping 656 hunger relief packages filled with Thanksgiving food items for families in need. With the generous support of Pocono ProFoods and the United Way, the charitable event was accomplished in 1 minute and 19 seconds - earning a place in the Guiness Book of World Records.
There were gift-filled shoeboxes collected for Operation Christmas Child to benefit children around the world, toys collected for the Salvation Army's Angel Tree - benefiting more than 100 families, gifts for Toys for Tots, hug deliveries at area shopping malls, and random gift giving to name a few. The latter involved the Woodloch crew handing out pre-paid Visa gift cards to random shoppers.
One heartfelt recipient sent back an email. Woodloch worker Sam Monaghan had spotted the man at a Scranton mall. He looked a little down, so she approached and handed him a gift card.
Here's what he emailed back: "I just wanted to let someone from WoodLoch know how much the gift card for $25 they handed out at Viewmont Mall on Saturday 12/7 meant to someone. I am a housekeeper and as I was pushing my trash cart, I was handed a card. I am constantly being handed things from people, be it sales or religious stuff, or things people want thrown away. I took the card, and simply stuck it in my pocket. I probably did not even say "thank you." But when I got back to the break room and saw it was a gift card for $25, I went back out looking for the people to say thank you. You see, I had given someone else some money for gas earlier in the week, and was going to run out of gas myself before payday to get back and forth to work. So the $25 gift card was an answer to a prayer. You can not out give God. Bless you for your gifts. One of the other housekeepers found a gift card in the trash, and it answered a specific prayer request for him too. Thank you so much, God Bless, and Merry Christmas."
It's like motivational speaker and author Leo Buscaglia once said: "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring all of which have the potential to turn a life around. "
Merry Christmas!
~Shared by M. Crandall
Everyone celebrates Christmas a little differently. Traditions vary from home to home. My family started a tradition years ago. We would buy pajamas to open on Christmas Eve; we'd all change into a PJ's and wear them to bed and continue to wear them Christmas morning to open our presents. On Christmas morning, we would each open our stockings one by one. My husband always sneaks something fun into each stocking, you might find a can of spam, canned meat or something really ridiculous. It always makes us laugh.
I have some amazing co-workers that wanted to share some of their Christmas traditions as well.
Laura Molins, Front Desk/Reservations, says, "Every Christmas Eve, we celebrate the Italian tradition of the seven fishes and eat a seafood feast for dinner in honor of my Italian heritage on my mother's side of the family. We spend the day in the kitchen cooking all the seafood together, which always includes lobster, mussels, calamari, tilapia and scallops."
Tammy Compton in the reservations department says, "My mom would always allow us to open one gift on Christmas Eve. Sometimes we chose well and enjoyed a new toy for the night; sometimes we wound up wearing new pajamas. You know, the gift you love to get when you're older, but not so much as a kid. Then we'd gather around the Christmas tree and play 'I Spy.' Someone would find a decoration and describe it by color, and the listener would have to figure out what they were talking about. If you were close, they'd say, 'You're warm or hot.' If not, you were cold. My sister, brother and mom were great at playing the game; I always seemed to get frustrated long before figuring it out. It was one of those games that didn't cost anything but was loads of fun. I haven't thought about that in a long time. My beloved mom has passed away. My siblings are older, but that was the good stuff. Great family at Christmas time can't be beat."
Colleen Mitchell in Reservations says, "We wake up around 9:30 am. Mom makes a pot of coffee; we play Christmas music and open all our presents. Towards the end of opening presents, my dad would make breakfast. We all get ready, dressed in nice outfits, take some family photos, and drive to Grandma's house in New Jersey to have dinner with my mom's side of the family. We enjoy great memories."
At Woodloch, family and traditions are what it's all about. What are your most memorable Christmas memories or favorite holiday traditions at home or at Woodloch?


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Dr. Santhanam Lakshminarayanan, MD
Rheumatology, Uconn Health Center Rheumatology
- 263 Farmington Ave
Farmington, CT 06030 - 1 Office Location
- (860) 679-6600
Dr. Santhanam Lakshminarayanan graduated from the Armed Forces Med Coll, Univ of Pune, Pune, Maharashtra, India in 1989. He works in Farmington, CT and specializes in Rheumatology. Dr. Lakshminarayanan is affiliated with Midstate Medical Center. He speaks English and Spanish.
Gender: Male
Years in Practice: 26 Years
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
Medical School: Armed Forces Med Coll, Univ of Pune, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Graduation Date: 1989
Hospital Affiliations: Midstate Medical Center
Specialties: Rheumatology


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Stock Quote
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Title of the post says it all. I have a jar of Easy Clean and a bottle of Star San. Are they for the same purpose? Sanitizing?
No, one is for cleaning all the crud off, the other is a sanitizer. They do different jobs, tho both are important. Rick
Primary - Big Pale Citra Ale (AG)(1.063) Secondary - Bitter (AG) Bottled - Best Bitter, Bitter, SNPA clone On deck - Tank #7 clone.
What Rick said, Easy-Clean (and One-Step) are often passed off as sanitizers, and may well do the job, but IMHO, technically they are cleaners, whereas Star-San is 'only' a sanitizer. Fred
Interesting. Ill switch to using Star San to sanitize! Heard you can even use it in a spray bottle!


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Fourth-year professional Gerina Mendoza of New Mexico was married to touring pro Martin Piller last week in Texas. Mendoza will be a full member of the 2011 LPGA Tour after three years on the LPGA Futures Tour. She finished fifth on the Futures Tour's 2010 money list to earn full LPGA status this season. Piller qualified for the PGA Tour after finishing eighth on the 2010 Nationwide Tour's season money list.
The couple joins a short list of husband-wife couples who have played simultaneously on the PGA and LPGA Tours, including Bobby Cole and Laura Baugh, Allen Miller and Cindy Kessler, and Frank Beard and Susie O'Connor.
To see more photos courtesy of Visions in White click here>>
Topics: Piller, Gerina


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- 17 total posts
- 19 comments
- 2 questions
Questions from Bronte
One Eye Barely Changed After Blepharoplasty
I had Blepharoplasty done 5 weeks ago, and I immediately noticed post-surgery that the incisions were not the same. However, I didn't worry. Now, one eye looks wonderful and... READ MORE
Restylane Under Eyes: 3 Month Post Injections Sudden Onset Swelling and Burning Pain?
After initial bruising was happy with result for about 7 wks. Then this recurrent swelling began and lasts 3-4 days. Can be both eyes or just one. Appearance awful. Reading... READ MORE
Recent comments from Bronte
Totally agree. Don't see improvement and if she is seeing something I'm happy for her but it's not enough for my money. This procedure is a joke and I think they get employees to come on these sites and rave about it to try to pay off... READ COMMENT
Wow, Dilee. Wish I knew about this before I wasted so much money on ulthera. I found one person in my area but it must be very new because he's the only one doing it. That makes me nervous. I like to come in after the doctor has... READ COMMENT
Wow, that sounds like a dream procedure. Wish I heard of it before I dropped the money on Ultherapy, the biggest joke out there. Precision TX, I'll have to search for it in my area. Is it new? READ COMMENT
Agree, this is the biggest rip off out there. The only woman who seem happy are the ones enjoying a week or two of swelling. In a couple of months the realize, it's a rip off. Many of us are trying to get word out. Doctors trying to... READ COMMENT
I see not change. I too had the procedure and saw little to no change. Even if some people want to see change, shouldn't it be for obvious for the money spent. Would you ever do this again for so little? I wouldn't. READ COMMENT


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Database Engines/Servers Software
Showing page 1 of 1.
Emulador WYD Core (English) Emulator developed for the game With Your Destiny (WYD), by team EWC(Emulator Wyd Core), Software non-profit (free), GNU License. Contact email@example.com, Contributions are accepted. EWC project is Open Source.
3 weekly downloads -
General Knowledge Machine Project The volume of actual knowledge prevents people from applying it, because even the cleverest persons can not learn everything they need. Try to overturn this with idea of Just-In-Time Knowledge. Intelligent e-knowledge base engine provided.
2 weekly downloads -
Super Computer Cloud computing we are going to build one big supercomputer though cloud computing sof
0 weekly downloads


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Page 1 of 4
KANPUR: On Wednesday, Kesco would be carrying out the task of upgrading the capacity of 5 mva transformer at 33 kv Aaloo Mandi substation between 10 am and 5 pm. As a result, the areas connected to the sub-station would face rostering for seven hours.
The affected localities are Laxmipurwa, Chandrika Devi, Cooperganj, Deputy Ka Padao, Jhakarkati, Railway Plot, Cooperganj railway colony, Afeem Kothi, Basmandi, Dhankuti, Fahimabad and Coolie Bazaar.
Kesco spokesperson AKS Chauhan told TOI that the task is necessary.
The affected include some of the business hubs of the city. The rostering would affect the business transactions and day-to-day life.
Meanwhile, unscheduled power rostering taking place in various localities has been affecting the people. Between 6 pm and 10 pm, power cuts are reported to be taking place in different localities. The situation is worse in Chamanganj and Cheena Park.
Kesco authorities say that there is huge gap between demand and supply and it makes rostering a must. During the summer season, the problem aggravates.
The problem of overloading takes place in areas like Chamanganj, Cheena park, Jajmau, Jarib Chauki, Kalyanpur, Naubasta, Kidwai Nagar and Shastri Nagar. This leads to power cut at the local level.
On Monday, there was no power in the entire city from 1 pm to 2.15 pm. Thereafter, the power was cut for one hour from 7.50 pm to 8.50 pm. Rostering in the evening adversely affects business and studies. The shopkeepers and students are the worst sufferers.
Stay updated on the go with Times of India News App. Click here to download it for your device.
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itimes | Email


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Sun, Sep 19, 10 at 0:20
I was walking through a home for sale and noticed the ceiling above the light fixtures had burn marks that were over each of the light bulbs.
I took some photos while I was there, but I didn't take a picture of the burn marks. The photo shows what kind of lights are in the bathroom and you can imagine a dark burn mark on the ceiling above each of these light globes. Is this a serious problem? |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by circuitbreaker (My Page) on Sun, Sep 19, 10 at 14:32
It means the previous owner used too high a wattage lamp (Bulb)in the fixture. I would have an electrician go over those fixtures and see if the wiring is ok and if the fixture needs to be replaced |
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This hot Asian babe came in the club the other night with quite a story. She was in looking for the guy who grabbed her the night before when she was going home from the club. He took her to a room in the hotel and made her do his bidding until she decided it was fun and started doing what he wanted. They fucked all night, taking turns eating coc..
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Motorcyclist Runs Off Road, Dies
A motorcyclist is dead after running off the road at Highway 3 and 160th Street West in Dakota County.
Whitney Houston, Superstar Of Records, Films, Dies
Whitney Houston, who reigned as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.
Minnesota Zoo Mourns Loss Of Dolphin Calf
A 1-year-old baby dolphin passed away at the Minnesota Zoo Monday night after a sudden and acute illness, according to officials.
Teen Killed In 1-Vehicle Crash
An 18-year-old man was killed in a car accident late Tuesday night.
Anoka HS Teen Dies While Playing Basketball
Anoka High School officials say an 11th grade student died Saturday, while playing basketball at a community center.
Duluth Boy Dies In Swimming Pond In Cloquet
A 6-year-old Duluth boy was found unresponsive in a Cloquet swimming pond and later died at a hospital.
Cambridge Firefighter Near Death After Training Accident
A Cambridge firefighter was critically hurt in a training accident Monday night.
Man Collapses, Dies During Marathon In Minnesota
A 35-year-old man has collapsed and died while taking part in the Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon that started in St. Joseph, Minn.
Baby Lemur Dies At Lake Superior Zoo In Duluth
A month-old lemur has died at the Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth.
UW-Madison Student Dies Of Meningitis
Health officials say a 24-year-old University of Wisconsin-Madison student died of bacterial meningitis.
Teen Killed After Vehicle Crashes Into River
A Becker teen was killed when his vehicle went off the road, and into a river Sunday afternoon.
George Steinbrenner Dies (with Audio)
The Yankees say owner George Steinbrenner has died. He was 80.


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Thu, Aug 23, 12 at 12:45
Hello all,
I was wondering does anyone here using the gritty mix inland and notice superior results than using traditional potting soils? Does it require watering too often being so hot and dry here? Would love to hear your experiences with the gritty mix so I can gauge if it's worth the extra cost and effort. I think most of my plants grow well in regular potting soil, but if anyone thinks that the gritty mix can give plants grown inland a boost (especially for plumerias), I'd love to know about it. |
Follow-Up Postings:
I am growing Hydrangeas in it, and you know they like water. I also have Hydrangeas in commercial mix, bark based, with sand and pumice. I have been pleasantly surprised, that the difference in water usage is negligible. Before trying it I had shared your concerns. I chip my own fir bark and screen it to size. Turface MVP I found at Horizon Irrigation stores, many locations. My granite fines I get from a landscape supply and screen it. The Napa valley I think you would say is inland. Al |
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Channel 6 News - Search Results
Sheriff's office investigating shots fired
BERNE -- The Albany County Sheriff's Office is looking into some reported shots fired early Saturday morning in Berne.
Sheriff's Deputies responded to the area of 248 Stewart Rd. for a report of guns shots. The caller stated, someone had fired several rounds at two of their vehicles which were parked in their driveway. They found a dozen spent 7.62mm shell casings at the scene and several bullet holes in two of the cars parked in the driveway. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call the Albany County Sheriff's Office at (518) 765-2352


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Elegant Antique Glass Floral Trumpet Vase in mint condition. 18.25"H x 6"D x (Base) x 6.5"D at Top Vase narrows to 1.25"D at base.
Item ID: Antique Heavy Glass Floral Tru
Another shopper has this item in their Cart or Wish List.
One of kind, original art works, designs, collectables, antiques, jewelry
I have collected, designed and sold for over 40 years. Enjoy !!!
Price for shipping to USA change location


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I tried 3 times to post my cake but it sid it was to big a pic size(800 pixels max) So I posted it in my photo page. It was the very first Wedding cake I did.From this Im getting 3-4 more cakes!!!How lucky was 7-7-07 for me??
post #16 of 134
7/7/07 at 6:58pm


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Don't want to derail the thread, but has anyone found out just what any DirecTV HDDVR is actually doing when it is not changing a channel quickly ?
Reporting to NSA? Spamming the neighbors with Viagra ads? Morris dancing?
(I'm expecting an HR44 any day now, and will likely send back at least one HR21, and that one has had weirdly variable channel changing times. Sometimes quick, sometimes slow, and sometimes dead slow, and then most annoying of all, dead slow followed by machine gun rapid channel changes past the one I wanted to stop at)
It's a very old problem with the DVRs. If the demands on the processor and/or memory exceed their capabilities, they become sluggish, if not unresponsive. Pre-HR24 series are particularly vulnerable. Bad coding can cause any DVR to get sluggish periodically. Since getting the HR44 and HR24 (2 of them) about a month ago, I've only seen a brief (and I mean very brief) period of sluggish or non-responsive behavior. Other than that, both the 24 and especially the 44 just fly.
Since the software seems to show ever increasing demands on both processor and memory, we may face the same thing in a future software cycle. In the mean time....enjoy!