text:
main focus of the material that follows is to tell the story of Herbert
Henry Ball (1863-1943), and his descendants. The material that comes
first, however, outlines the ancestry of Herbert Henry Ball as thoroughly
as possible. (The direct line of his ancestry is identified by bold
text.) As part of the story of Herbert Henry Ball, expanded material
is included on his immediate family: his parents, Robert Ball and
Mary Ann Cooksley; his brothers David and Harry James; his half-brother,
George Cooksley; and the family of his wife, Mary Ann Martin.
|The known history of the Ball Family can be traced to the arrival of William Ball at the village of Winford, in Somerset, England. (William Ball was most likely born near Stanton Drew in the 1680's, and probably the son of William Ball and Hannah Beale.) The village of Winford, about 8 miles/13 kilometres south of Bristol in the Chew Valley, has a long history. The Domesday Book (1086) names the village Wenfrod. An even earlier reference (1065) identifies the community as Wunfrod, a name with Celtic origins: winn and frud meaning bright or white stream.
of the most important sites in the village of Winford is the Church of
the Blessed Virgin Mary & St Peter. The church dates from the
15th Century, was rebuilt in 1796, restored in 1820, with further improvements
made in the 19th century. On April 5, 1708,
William Ball married
Bullock (or Ballock) in this church. The parish records of the
Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary & St Peter tell us a great deal about
the Ball Family. William and Mary Ball had at least
six children, all of whom were baptized in the Church of the Blessed Virgin
Mary & St Peter: Rachel (b.1709); Edward (b.1712); Martha (1714-1737);
John (1716-1718); Mary (b. 1720); and John, who was born in 1726.
(Photo courtesy of Alan Blundell)
|On October 16, 1746, John Ball married Jenney Williams (1728-1807), of Winford. They had at least twelve children, all of whom were baptized in Winford: Richard (1749-1816); George (1753-1773); John (b. 1755); William (b. 1758); Isaac (1761-1847); Jesse (1763-1842); Louise (b. 1765); James (b. 1768); Joel (b. 1770); Job (1772-1835); Jenny (b. 1774); and Hannah (b. 1776). For many years, John Ball served as the Clerk of the Parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary & St Peter. His name is found on many of the baptismal, marriage, and burial records of the church. John passed away in May of 1784, and is buried in the church cemetery.
|Jesse Ball married Mary Tovey on July 27, 1788. Mary was born in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire in 1756, the eldest of nine children born to William Tovey and Mary Lawrence. Jesse and Mary Ball had a family of at least five sons, each of whom was baptized in Winford: Robert (1789-1810); John (1792-1868); Jesse (1795-1812); Stephen (1797-1871); and George (1803-1854). Mary Ball died in Winford in April of 1837. Jesse Ball died in Felton on October 24, 1842. According to his death certificate, the Cause of Death was Visitation of God.
|John Ball was baptized in the parish of Winford, on February 10, 1792. On November 30, 1815, he married Ann Vowles in St. James Church, Bristol. She had been born in the nearby parish of Dundry, on May 15, 1796, one of the nine children of John Vowles (1765-1844) and Mary Sampson (1770-1860). Tracing the events in the lives of John and Ann Ball is possible to do through census and church records. Census records tell us that in 1841, John and Ann Ball lived in the village of Felton. By 1851, they had moved to the village of Barrow Common, where they would live for the remainder of their lives. Church records tell us that John and Ann Ball had a family of ten children: Robert, Mary, John, Thomas, David, William, Ann, George, Hannah, and Joseph. John Ball died on September 4, 1868, at the age of 75. He is buried in Winford. Ann, however, is found both in the census of 1871 and 1881, still living at Barrow Common. She died there on January 4, 1887, aged 91. She is buried in Dundry.
To learn more about the siblings of Robert Ball, go the John Ball Family History.
|Robert Ball was born September
6, 1817 in the parish of Dundry. On August 21, 1855, he married
Ann Cooksley. In 1861, Robert and Mary Ann Ball
lived in Bedminster, in the home of his mother-in-law, Mary Cooksley.
(The district of Bedminster was located south of the town of Bristol; today,
it is a part of suburban Bristol, located just east of Bristol International
Airport.) By 1861, they had two children: David (born December 10,
1855); and Emily Elizabeth (born August 22, 1860). Robert
listed his occupation at the time as a Hay Dealer.
From 1869 until 1883, Robert Ball was a Publican, managing a public house called the Globe Cellar, located at 25 Nicholas Street, Bristol. The 1871 census records Robert and Mary Ann Ball as living here with their children David, Herbert Henry (born September 9, 1863), and Harry James (born in 1867). Their daughter, Emily Elizabeth, died on August 1, 1865.
|Mary Ann Cooksley was born in 1832,
the daughter of George Cooksley, a milk dealer, and Mary Derrick.
George, son of John Cooksley and Joan Nyatt, was born in
Dundry on March 10, 1798; Mary was born there in 1799. George and
Mary were married in Bristol on September 7, 1824. George passed
away in Dundry on November 29, 1844. Following the death of her husband,
Mary supported herself and her family as a Dairywoman, until her own death
on February 16, 1875.
In addition to their daughter Mary Ann, George and Mary Cooksley had three other children: Caroline, George, Jr., and John.
|By the time of the 1881 census, Robert and Mary Ann lived at 6 Wellington Street in Bristol, with their two youngest sons, Herbert and Harry, but they still managed the Globe Cellar Tavern. In 1883, Robert became the manager of the Masonic Arms Tavern (pictured left), located at 72 Thunderbolt Street, Bristol. It was at 6 Wellington Street that Mary Ann died from congestion of the brain on August 15, 1885. On February 22, 1887 Robert Ball passed away there of heart disease and senile decay. Robert and Mary Ann are buried in the graveyard of the parish church in Dundry, along with their daughter Emily Elizabeth. (Photograph, right, courtesy of Alan Blundell, a great-great-grandson of Robert and Mary Ann Ball.)
|David Ball (sometimes known as
David Sidney Ball) married Ann Johanna Gleeson (1858-1901) on December
9, 1878. According to the census of 1881, the David Ball family lived
at 17 King Street, Bristol, and David worked as a Corn Porter. The
census of 1891 shows that the family had moved to 4 Bloomsbury Street,
Bristol, with David working as Dock Labourer. By 1901,
the David Ball family lived at 12 Cannon Street, Bristol, and David listed
his occupation as a bricklayer. David and Ann Ball had five children:
Emily Elizabeth, Frederick Robert, Rosina Ada, William Robert, and Harry
James Ball.
Following the death of his wife Ann in 1901, David Ball remarried in 1903. His second wife was Alice Maud Mary Wyatt, who was born in Bedminster in 1875. She was the daughter of Albert Wyatt and his wife, Hannah Ball. (Hannah was the younger sister of Robert Ball, thus Alice Wyatt and David Ball were first cousins.) The final census in which David Ball appears is that of 1911. By that time the family lived at 3 Crown Terrace, Temple, Bristol. David Ball passed away in Bristol on October 5, 1912. Alice Ball (who had remarried, to William Allen, in 1920) died in Bristol on June 4, 1954. David and Alice Ball had two sons: Albert John and Herbert Henry Ball.
|Emily Elizabeth Ball was born in Bristol on December 26, 1878. By 1901, she is found working as a servant in Wales. She married John Williams in Cardiff, Wales in 1915, but divorced in 1924. Emily and her husband had no children. She passed away in Bristol on March 2, 1942.
|Frederick Robert Ball was born in Bristol in 1881, and died at the age of 18, in 1899.
|Rosina Ada Ball was born in Bristol
in 1884. The Census of 1901 sees Rosina living in the Bristol Union
Workhouse, Stapleton. With her is her son, Robert Ball, who had been
born in the workhouse on November 19, 1900. Rosina and Robert would
leave the workhouse on May 1st 1901, but what happens to Robert after that
time is unknown. On February 25, 1905, she married Joseph Charles
Hockey (1878-1944). Together, Rosina and Joseph raised six children.
Rosina passed away in 1960.
Robert Ball was born in Bristol in 1888. He is found with his parents
for the census of 1891 and 1901. For the census of 1911, he is found
living with his sister, Rosina Hockey. He identified his occupation
as Railway Carter. By 1914, he lived at 77 Essex Street, with
his brother Harry. On October 23, 1915, he married Mary Caroline
Lovell (1889-1967). Together, they had one son and one daughter,
William Robert and Rosina Caroline Ball. William Ball passed away
in Bristol in 1923.
|Harry James Ball was born in Bristol on August 22, 1892. In 1914, when Harry Ball completed papers of attestation for the British army, he listed his next of kin as his sister, Emily Elizabeth, who lived in Cardiff, Wales. He also stated that at the time he lived at 77 Essex Street in Bristol, with his brother William. Harry still lived at 77 Essex Street on August 8, 1921, when he married Florence Violet Russell (1904-1997). They had two children, David Henry Ball (1921-1997) and Gerald Ball (1936-2002), neither of whom married.
|Albert John Ball was born Albert John Wyatt on June 13, 1902. Following his mother's marriage to David Ball, he took on that surname. He is found with his parents in the census of 1911, but no record of him exists after that.
|Herbert Henry Ball was born in 1904 and passed away in 1905.
|Harry James Ball was born in Bedminster and was baptized there on December 22, 1867. He is found with his parents for both the census of 1871 and 1881. On December 5, 1886, he married Elizabeth Derrick (1868-1956). Like his father, Harry worked as a Publican, a Licensed Victualler and a Beer Retailer. According to the census of 1891, Harry and Elizabeth managed the Masonic Hotel, while his family lived on North Street in Bedminster. By 1896, Harry and Elizabeth had moved to the Coopers Arms located at Ashton Gate in Bristol. Records show that Harry managed the Coopers Arms until 1928. He died in Long Ashton, Bristol on July 2, 1933. Harry James & Elizabeth Ball had four children: Henry George, Herbert James, Frederick William, and Lillian Ida Ball.
|As this photograph -taken in front of the Coopers Arms - makes clear, the family of Harry and Elizabeth Ball were willing to serve their country. During World War One, all three of the Ball brothers served in the military. From left to right are Harry, Henry, Elizabeth, Ida, Herbert, and Frederick Ball
|Henry George Ball was born in Bristol
in 1887. As early as 1906, Henry thought of emigrating to Canada, so he
sailed there, and lived in Toronto with his uncle, Herbert Henry Ball.
A year later, however, he returned to Bristol. In April of 1910,
Henry went back to Canada, this time accompanied by his younger brother,
Herbert James. The two lived in Toronto, and even played for a local
soccer team called the Pioneers Soccer Club. In November, 1910, the
two brothers returned to Bristol, arriving home on December 3, 1910.
Around this time, the two brothers began to play for the Bristol City Football
Club. A short time later, Henry married Florence Rosina Bacon (1891-1943).
It is interesting to note that Florence Rosina was the daughter of Francis
Noot (Frank) Bacon. He was one of the directors of the Bristol City
Football Club, as well as the interim manger from October, 1910 until January,
1911. Moreover, Frank Bacon was also a publican, the manager of the
Masonic Hotel from 1897 until 1918. Not surprisingly, then, Henry
and Florence turned their hands to the same business: according to the
Census of 1911, Henry and Florence Ball operated the General Elliott Hotel
located at 73 East Street, Bedminster.
In March of 1925, Henry again sailed to Canada, and again identified his contact as his Uncle Herbert, in Toronto. According to the papers that he completed at the time, his wife and children would follow him at a later date. In November of 1925, however, Henry returned to England. On his arrival he stated that it was his intention to remain in England. Henry George and Florence Ball had six children: Harry, Sylvia, Lionel, Jack, Leslie, and Douglas Ball. Henry George Ball passed away in Bristol in 1949.
|Herbert James Ball was born in
Bristol on March 5, 1889. As described above, he spent a short period
of time living in Toronto, but decided to return to Bristol. He married
Lilly Rosina Ball (1890-1952), in 1911, and had five children: Lillian,
Herbert, Iris, Raymond, and Leonard. Herbert James was a professional
footballer (soccer player) for Bristol City, but passed away at the young
age of 34.
|Frederick William Ball was born
in 1892. On November 19, 1917 he married Althea Lyall (1889-1951),
who was known to the family as Olive. At the time of his marriage,
Fred was a Corporal in the Royal Garrison Artillery. Following the war,
Fred and Olive lived at 15 Ashton Road, where they raised their son, Frederick
James Ball. Fred supported his family by working as a caretaker at
the Coroners' Court building. Frederick William Ball passed away
in Bristol on September 5, 1961.
|Lillian Ida Ball was born on January
14, 1898. On March 12, 1921, she married Ernest Leslie Thomas (1901-1967).
Together, they had one son, Keith Leslie Thomas. For a brief period
of time, in 1925-26, the Thomas family also movd to Toronto, and lived
near Herbert Henry Ball. However, the marriage between Ida and Leslie
Thomas ended in divorce, so Ida and Keith returned to Bristol. In 1926,
Ida married Walter Wadsworth (1890-1951). Walter was a professional footballer
who played first for Liverpool, but later for Bristol City, the same team
that Herbert James Ball had played for. Together, Ida and Walter
would have two children: June and Herbert William Wadsworth.
Ida passed away in Bristol in 1972.
|Not only did the children of Harry Ball spend time in Toronto with their Uncle Herbert, but Herbert Ball also spent time in Bristol. This photograph of the two brothers together was taken in August of 1916, when Herb Ball had sailed to England.
|Before she married Robert Ball, Mary Ann Cooksley had a child out of wedlock. This child was George Cooksley, born in Bishopsworth, Bedminster on June 16, 1851. In 1861, George Cooksley - as well as the Robert Ball family - lived with his grandmother, Mary Cooksley. In 1871, the Robert Ball family had moved to a new location, but George continued to live with his grandmother. When he turned 21, George joined the army, and eventually rose to become a Sergeant of the Royal Artillery. In 1883, however, he was granted a medical discharge due to rheumatism and an enlarged heart. After his discharge, he lived in his mother's home, until her death. At that time, 1885, he received an inheritance of £300.00. He also moved to Gloucester, where he lived until his death. That death, sadly, came on January 19, 1902, when he was found dead in his bed by the landlady of his rooming house. An inquest was held, and it was determined that he died of heart failure. One witness at the inquest was his half-brother, Harry James Ball. Harry made it clear that he was aiding his half-brother financially, as was another half-brother, Herbert Henry Ball. George Cooksley was buried in Gloucester.
|Herbert Henry Ball was born
in the Parish of Bishopsworth, Somerset, England on September 9, 1863;
he was baptized in St. Peter Church, Bishopsworth on November 15, 1863.
On October 24, 1885 he married Mary Ann Martin in Bristol. [Follow
this link to learn more about the Martin
Family] Not long after their marriage, Herb and Mary Ann Ball
made the decision to leave England for Canada. On July 19, 1886,
they bordered the Dominion Line passenger ship Montreal in Liverpool.
Thirty-two days later, on August 20, 1886, after passing through Belfast,
Ireland, they arrived at the port of Quebec. From there, they made
their way overland to Toronto.
Herb and Mary Ann initially made their home at 18 Camden Street, Toronto. Herb found employment as a clerk for George F. Sproule, Manufacturer and Importer of Frames, Mouldings, Fine Art and Fancy Goods located at 134 Yonge Street. By the 1890's, however, Herb and his family had moved to 1817 Yonge Street (see below), in an area known as Davisville, just north of Toronto. Herb had also made a dramatic career change.
|Sometime in the early 1890's, Herb
Ball became a journalist for The Toronto World newspaper.
Toronto World was founded as a liberal newspaper in 1880, but in 1892
it came under the direction of William Findlay Maclean (1854-1929), and
became a very conservative newspaper. Like its longtime publisher,
World was in favour of public railways and utilities and Canadian nationalism.
During its run, The World was often referred to as the most
colourful of the numerous Toronto dailies since it often printed stories
that the other newspapers would not print or would place in obscure spots.
For most of its existence, though, The World operated in a precarious
financial position until it was forced to cease printing in 1921. TheToronto
World was eventually absorbed into the present-day Toronto Globe
& Mail.
Herb Ball joined The World in the early 1890's (about the same time it came under the control of William Findlay Maclean). He remained with the newspaper until it terminated operation in 1921. During that time, he rose through its ranks to become financial editor.
|It was from his position as a journalist that Herbert Ball would launch his third and final career in Canada, that of politician. The article found here is from the Toronto Daily Star, dated Tuesday January 5, 1904. In that year, a debate raged as to whether or not York County would prohibit alcohol. As the son and brother of tavern keepers, it is not difficult to imagine his position, a position he apparently held with some passion!
Although not elected to that position until 1915, and in that office until 1919, Herb ran for Alderman of his new city as early as 1912. The article found to the left is from The Toronto Daily Star, dated Saturday December 28, 1912. In it, Herb clearly lays out his political platform. The article to the right is from the Toronto World, dated Monday December 30, 1918.
Finally, in 1926, Herbert ran as a Conservative in the Toronto-Eglinton riding in the Ontario General Election. The leader of the Conservative Party was George Howard Ferguson. On the morning of Thursday December 2, 1926, Herbert was able to read the following on page 13 of the Toronto Daily Star:
|Despite the fact that he was a
member of the Ferguson government for only three years, Herbert was apparently
quite busy, as he served in the following Parliamentary Committees:
|In 1929, Herb could have run for re-election, but chose not to. This decision, however, was not without controversy. Herb was challengd for his seat by fellow Conservative, Alvin Coulter Mclean. Rather than split the party, Herb stepped aside. It was rumoured by members of the Liberal Party that Herb Ball decided to forgo his safe seat in return for a political favour from the party. Fuel was added to this fire when, on January 29, 1930 it was announced that Herb Ball had been granted the patronage position of King's Printer.
To the Liberals it seemed obvious that Herbert Ball had surrendered his safe Conservative seat as a political favour, and now he had received his reward. Following the defeat of the Conservative government of George Stewart Henry (successor to Ferguson) in 1934, Herbert Ball seems to have been one of the people most in the gun sites of the new, Liberal government of Mitchell Hepburn. This is made clear in the interview recorded here in the Toronto Daily Star of Wednesday February 27, 1935:
|Even as late as 1937, high ranking members of the Liberal party went out of their way to indicate that the appointment of Herbert Ball to the position of King's Printer was wrong, and that the Liberals were right to terminate him. During an actual parliamentary debate, Harry Nixon (who would himself serve briefly as Premier in 1943) accused the previous Conservative government of political favourtism by putting civil servants into important jobs, specifically stating: And Herb Ball, what qualifications did he have to be King's Printer? (Toronto Daily Star, Tuesday March 28, 1937).
|Herbert Henry and Mary Ann Ball
had nine children, three of whom died young (Emily, Herbert Percival, and
Irene Emily), and six of whom lived to adulthood (Edith Elizabeth, Ernest
George Henry, Herbert Eldridge, Winnifred Mildred, Hilda Marion, and Colston
Robert). They raised this family in their home at 1817 Yonge Street,
Toronto. (Today, an Ethan Allen Department Store is at this location.)
On March 19, 1930, Herbert Ball remarried. His second wife was born Alice May Jennings, on September 20, 1873. (By 1930, however, she was a widow; her legal name was Alice Muston.) They lived at the Ball home until Herbert's death in 1943. Alice Ball died on October 18, 1945.
Herbert Henry and Mary Ann Ball are laid to rest together in Mount Pleasant Cemetery with two of their children, Irene Emily and Edith.
|Child One: Edith Elizabeth Ball
Edith Ball was born on May 10, 1887. On October 14, 1914, she married Frank Stocker (1889-1965) in Toronto. Shortly after their marriage, the couple moved to Chicago, Illinois, where Frank worked as a carpenter. Within a few years, however, they returned to Toronto, and for many years they lived at 1821 Yonge Street, next door to her parents. Here they raised their two children, Herbert Thomas and Wanda Mary Stocker. Edith Stocker passed away on March 18, 1950, and is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
|Child Two: Emily Ball
Emily Ball was born on July 1, 1888, and lived for only 16 days. She is buried with her brother, Herbert Percival, in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
|Child Three: Herbert Percival Ball
Herbert Percival Ball was born on June 18, 1889, and lived for only 2 days, the result of a premature birth. He is buried with his sister in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
|Child Four: Irene Emily Ball
Irene Ball was born on May 10, 1890, and passed away on August 22, 1907. She is buried with her parents in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
|Child Five: Ernest George
Henry Ball
Ernest Ball (left) was born on November 26, 1891. On January 26, 1915, he completed his Papers of Attestation, and joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force. On May 13, 1915, as part of the 19th Battalion, he sailed from Montreal to England onboard the S.S. Scandinavian. In England, he received further training before being sent to active duty, arriving in Boulogne, France on September 14, 1915. In June of 1916, Ernie was sent temporarily to England to recover from a gunshot wound received at the front, before returning to active duty in France. He left France in March of 1919, and spent two more months in England. On June 2, 1919, Ernie left Liverpool onboard the S.S. Lapland, and arrived in Halifax seven days later. He was discharged from the Canadian army in Toronto on June 11, 1919, as part of Canada's General Demobilization after the War. Upon his discharge from the army, he returned to live in Toronto, and worked as an electrical engineer. On December 11, 1923, he married Florence May Holmes. The daughter of John William and Selina Holmes, Florence had been born in Derbyshire, England on May 22, 1900. Ernie and Florence Ball had one son, Herbert Henry Ball. Ernie Ball passed away on May 14, 1939; Florence Ball passed away on March 7, 1956. They are laid to rest in Prospect Cemetery.
|Child Six: Herbert Eldridge Ball
Herbert Ball was born on July 17, 1893. On April 18, 1915, Herb completed his Papers of Attestation, and joined the Canadian army. Like his brother, he served with the 19th Battalion, and on May 13, 1915, he sailed from Montreal to England onboard the S. S. Scandinavian. He had enlisted as a private, but received a battlefield commission, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant on May 14, 1916. On July 5, 1916, this was made a permanent promotion. On July 22, 1916, he was seriously wounded by multiple grenade explosions. During his seven-month convalescence, he was actually able to travel home to Canada (when this photo appeared in the Toronto Daily Star). It was during this time that he married Verna Ethel Warrington of Toronto. After returning to England, Herb also spent time in Bristol, with his uncle, Harry Ball. He returned to active duty in England in May of 1917, before rejoining the 19th Battalion in June of 1918. He returned to Canada on May 13, 1919, and was discharged from the Canadian army on May 24, 1919, as part of Canada's General Demobilization after the War.
Upon his discharge from the army, Herb returned
to Toronto. Here he rejoined his wife Verna, as well as daughter
Elisabeth, who was born in 1917. In 1920, Herb and Verna had a second
daughter, Corinne. After his return to civilian life, Herb worked for the
Customs and Excise Department of Revenue Canada. In 1929, his job
saw him relocated to Buffalo, New York. By 1945, Herb was back in
Toronto: he and his wife lived at 272 O'Connor Drive, until he passed
away on July 12, 1956. At that time, Verna moved to the town of Orchard
Park, just south of Buffalo, to live with her daughter, Elisabeth.
Verna Ball died there in 1977.
|Child Seven: Winnifred Mildred
Winnifred Ball was born on October 28, 1897. On August 2, 1921, she married Cecil Henry (Bud) Knowlton (1891-1948). They lived in Toronto, where they raised their daughter, Daphne Juanita. Winnifred passed away on May 3, 1973. They are laid to rest together in Pine Hills Cemetery.
|Child Eight: Hilda Marion Ball
Hilda Ball was born on August 2, 1899. In 1920, she married Oliver Wallace Elmore (1897-1968). They lived in Toronto, where they raised their daughters, Mary Irene and Joan. Hilda passed away on March 26, 1955. They are laid to rest together in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
|Child Nine: Colston Robert Ball
Colston Robert Ball was born on July 22, 1905. On May 26, 1928, he married Gladys Holmes (1909-1964). (She was the younger sister of Florence Holmes, Mrs. Ernie Ball.) They lived in Toronto, and Orangeville, Ontario, where they raised their five children: Lorraine, Eileen, Helen, John (Jack), and Robert (Bob) Ball. Gladys passed away on May 18, 1964; Colston Ball passed away on December 12, 1969. They are laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery.


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Educational Leadership in the 21st Century
Educational Leadership in the 21st Century provides an interactive e-learning experience to support exploration and discussion of school leadership in our students' technological 21st century world. School leaders review best practices, examine leadership behaviors, and develop strategies to better support their teachers. They follow two administrators who work together to better use technology to support teachers and improve student achievement. Participants discuss ideas and strategies with other leaders in the course and apply them to their own practice. Extension activities provide opportunities to explore more in depth topics of interest.
Students who achieve a score of at least 80% on the final exam (Final Grade: Complete) will receive three Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Units from The University of Texas at Austin, College of Education, Institute for Public School Initiatives (501447).
Upon completing this course, please take a few minutes to complete our survey.

subset: commoncrawl


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Tarpon Springs environmentalist Mary Mosley dies
Mitch E. Perry
WMNF Drive-Time News Monday | Listen to this entire show:
Last Friday Tarpon Springs environmentalist Mary Mosley died at the age of 70.
Ms. Mosley served as a Commissioner in Tarpon Springs in 1983 and 1984, but her greatest legacy is probably her efforts at taking on Stauffer Chemical, a phosphate processing plant.
Heidi Miller is a Tarpon Springs citizen and a friend of Mary Mosley for more than two decades.
Ms. Mosley also fought to protect dolphins. She was with the Coalition Against the United States Exporting Dolphins, and her friend Heidi Miller says she would literally do anything to try to save them.
Ms. Mosleyâs legacy needs to stay alive, insists her friend Heidi Miller (roll tape#3 o.q.âthat itâs going to stopâ)
Again, Mary Mosley passed away Friday at the age of 70.comments powered by Disqus


text:
THE next generation of smaller, faster laptops could be built with tiny supercapacitors made possible by a new chemical technique.
Capacitors store electric charge; the bigger their surface area the more charge they can hold. So it's a struggle to make capacitors that are small enough for tomorrow's ever-shrinking devices, yet store useful amounts of charge.
One idea is to coat electrodes with nanocrystals of metal oxides. But as the crystals are heated during manufacture they grow too large to be of any use.
Now Nae-Lih Wu of the National Taiwan University in Taipei has found a way to seal crystals of tin oxide laced with antimony and stop them growing. Hydroxyl groups on the crystals' surfaces allow them to grow or even stick together. But the team was able to block these active sites using a chemical called hexamethyldisilazane, which converts the hydroxyl groups to methyl siloxyl groups.
Using ...
To continue reading this article, subscribe to receive access to all of newscientist.com, including 20 years of archive content.


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The Law Faculty Griffith College
Since its foundation in 1995, the College's Law Faculty has grown significantly and provides both a very wide and dynamic range of academic and professional programmes in law. For those wishing to gain a foundation in law we offer an introductory Certificate in Legal Studies . Students who wish to pursue further legal studies may undertake the Diploma in Legal Studies and Practice. This qualification is recognized by the Irish Institute of Legal Executives.
Undergraduate Degree Programmes
We also offer two core undergraduate degree programmes namely the LLB (Hons) degree or the BA (Hons) degree in Business and Law. Both degrees are recognised for entry purposes by the Law Society of Ireland and the Honorable Society of Kings Inns, where graduates may pursue vocational training as solicitors and barristers respectively.
Careers Advisor
By way of assisting in student career development, the Law Faculty also provides one to one careers advice through our Careers Advisor, who also actively assists students in seeking suitable legal internships. Faculty lecturers come from a range of academic and professional backgrounds and bring this expertise into the classroom. Many are active researchers of national and international repute in fields as diverse as Constitutional and Company Law, Gender and Human Rights Law, Intellectual Property and Legal Education. Some are considered to be leaders in these fields.
Extra-Curricular Student Bodies
In the Faculty, we believe that it is our primary task to develop learners' critical capacities to the fullest, to enhance their communication skills and to develop their academic, technical and practical skills. To that end it is also home to a number of vibrant, extra-curricular student bodies. It houses the Irish Innocence project as well as the Mooting Society, the Communication and Debate Society the Law Society and Griffith FLAC.
The Irish Innocence project
The Irish Innocence project is homed within Griffith College and was set up by our Dean of Law, David Langwallner in 2009. It enables student caseworkers to investigate claims of factual innocence under legal supervision. As well as honing students' investigative and critical skills, it has encouraged them to avail of close links to the Worldwide Innocence Network by taking up internships in Innocence projects in Ohio, Idaho and Arizona. This year these links have been strengthened through the cementing of ties with both the Centurion project in Princeton University and the California Innocence Project. To keep up to date with the work of the Irish Innocence project please see here.
Mooting and Debating Societies
Additionally, many past members of the Mooting and Debating societies have gone on to national and international success, with members having recently won the Thomas Findlay Memorial Moot, the prestigious Irish Times (Individual) debate, and in 2014, the Silken Thomas Moot. The Faculty also runs a very popular Free Legal Advice Clinic (FLAC) run by students under legal supervision as well as hosting the Law Society who invite in guest speakers from the legal field to talk about life in the professional sphere. Recent invitees include the Hon. Mrs Susan Denham, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Faculty is also extremely proud of the fact that since 2010, the Hon, Mr Justice Frank Clarke, Judge of the Supreme Court, has acted as Judge in Residence to the Faculty, stimulating debate on legal matters through his student and public lecture series on current, relevant topics of legal interest. In summary, the Faculty prioritises the personal and academic development of its students, placing an emphasis on their pastoral care and thus creating a supportive, dynamic environment in which students can participate as active learners both inside and outside the classroom.
Griffith College Cork Student receives prize from Irish Maritime Law Association
Congratulations to Shane O Gorman on receiving the Irish Maritime Law Association essay prize


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ESPN College Gameday Rocks Assembly Hall
Feb. 16, 2008
Bloomington, Indiana - The center of the college basketball universe was Assembly Hall on Saturday morning as ESPN brought its successfully popular College Gameday show to Indiana University.
More than 6,000 fans were believed to have attended with many students arriving as early as 11 p.m. to wait for the doors to open at 9 a.m.
The show features Rece Davis, Hubert Davis, Digger Phelps and Jay Bilas. In addition, Erin Andrews and Andy Katz also filed reports.
Tonight ESPN, with Dan Shulman and Dick Vitale calling the action, will broadcast the Hoosiers game with Michigan State at 9 p.m.
Men's Basketball Links
The Team
Check back soon


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PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has turned the tables on his Chinese allies saying Zimbabwe would be stupid to accept investment from China and any other foreign country without pre-conditions.
This contradicted Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment minister Saviour Kasukuwere, who was once quoted saying the Chinese would not be affected by the indigenisation regulations.
Addressing the Zanu PF 13th Annual National People's Conference in Gweru, Mugabe warned the Chinese that they would no longer be protected from the controversial indigenisation laws, which compel foreign-owned companies to cede 51% shareholding to locals.
"Even our Chinese friends, you have to accept our rules here if you want to work with us," he said.
Mugabe said the Chinese should respect local conditions and vice-versa.
"We have to work on a reciprocal basis," he said.
Mugabe said foreign investors were free to bring in their capital and technology, but should never dream of owning land and majority shareholding in local companies. "This will be robbery, theft," he thundered. "If you are a leader and agree to this robbery, then you are not a good custodian of your people's resources."
He said it was time 100% indigenisation was introduced, claiming the country had now done enough to acquire 51% shareholding in foreign-owned companies.
He said mining would be the first sector to be affected by the proposed 100% indigenisation.
Meanwhile, Mugabe has been challenged by party supporters to walk the talk and stop making empty threats after he said he would fire all ministers fingered in corruption.
Mugabe said he was informed by former South Africa President Thabo Mbeki that his trusted lieutenants were demanding bribes of up to US$5 million from potential investors claiming part of the bribes were meant for him.
Immediately after the threat, ministers could be seen fidgeting in their seats while the rest of the delegates applauded and pointed at them.
Delegates at the Gweru Convention Centre could be heard murmuring that the President should stop exciting people and pulling a ruse over people's face.
"The President always says things that excite us, but never acts," said a delegate, who for obvious reasons, declined to be identified.


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- Photograph by Jim Harrison
The undergraduate English address by Anthony Hernandez '12, titled "Harvard's Enduring Contradictions," was inspired by a course Hernandez took as a sophomore with the Reverend Peter J. Gomes. Hernandez said he had looked forward to hearing Gomes speak at Commencement, but the Memorial Church minister passed away last year.
If Gomes left him with one lesson, Hernandez said, "It's that Harvard is a place of contradictions."
For example, at the time of Harvard's founding, women were not eligible for admission, yet the school owed its very existence to "the religious agitations of Anne Hutchinson" and the dissent she represented. Widener Library, one of Harvard's iconic buildings, was commissioned by a woman "at a time when her own daughter wouldn't have been allowed to set foot inside."
"We are at a place that a first-generation college student and a fourth-generation legacy can each call home," Hernandez continued. "A school where someone who enters as a pre-med can leave an art history concentrator; a place that is forward-looking yet slow-moving; a university that predates America, yet is intensely American and international at the same time."
Hernandez noted that Gomes "was a man of contradictions" himself: "He was a WASPy, African-American, baptized-Catholic-turned-Baptist preacher, a friend of Ronald Reagan and a role model for the gay community—and he fit in at Harvard as well as anyone."
"For many of us," he concluded, "experiencing contradiction might seem worthy of hiding, yet Peter Gomes was a man who saw strength in them."


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Ravens wide receiver Deonte Thompson is obviously a gifted athlete, a true speedster who's arguably the fastest player on the Super Bowl champions' roster.
Although he went undrafted out of the University of Florida, Thompson ran the 40-yard dash between 4.23 seconds and 4.33 seconds at his campus Pro Day workout for a composite time of 4.31 seconds.
The 6-foot, 203-pounder also bench pressed 225 pounds 20 times and registered a 36 1/2 inch vertical leap and a 10-5 broad jump.
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Along with kicker Justin Tucker, he was one of two undrafted rookies to make the 53-man opening game roster. In limited action, Thompson caught five passes for 51 yards.
With his athleticism and developing routes and hands, Thompson is an interesting prospect that the Ravens' coaching staff is giving a long look this spring.
Thompson, who caught 101 passes for 1,446 yards and nine touchdowns for the Gators, figures into the mix of the Ravens' competition for the second and third receiver spots, which includes Pro Bowl kick returner Jacoby Jones, former fourth-round draft pick Tandon Doss, David Reed, LaQuan Williams and Aaron Mellette.
"He's a gifted route-runner, and he is getting better," offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell said. "He's young, and he's developing. [Wide receivers] coach Jim Hostler is working with him, and certainly, getting him refined in all aspects of the game. He understands how to sink his hips. He can do a great job of changing direction.He has speed, can catch the ball, and he's tough. I think that's a pretty good
blend. He's a young guy, so we will see. If he keeps improving the way he's going, I think he will be a fine player."
With the Ravens trading former Pro Bowl wide receiver Anquan Boldin to the San Francisco 49ers following a contract dispute this offseason, they have a void of experience outside.
Caldwell expressed confidence in the talent at the receiver position, especially the speed.
"I'm not real sure how defenses will look at us," Caldwell said. "I know one thing: They will look at us and see that we have some guys that can still get down the field and go. That can certainly give you some problems in a number of different ways. I think they look at every guy according to his strengths. Our guys with their strengths, they do have speed.
"They can get across the field. They can get down the field. They can catch and run. They are also very, very good blockers on the perimeter. I'm not quite certain how they will look at us. But, what I do know is the fact that we do have quite a few threats and quite a few people that they will probably be concerned with."


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Take Advantage of our large college coach visitor base! This basic recruiting report will contain information related to your accomplishments at various regional, state, or national wrestling meets and academics. Can be left blank.
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Today's training was about 2 hours long and it was tough.
Of course we started out with a light jog for about ten minutes and then moved right into hard drilling for twenty-thirty minutes.
After the drilling session we wrestled live for 30 minutes, takedowns only. Then we moved into one 7 minute match.
We then finished off the practice with fifteen minute jog with sprints in between.
Thursday's Workout,
Started out practice with a light jog and then moved right into an intense drill session for a little over an hour. The live wrestling was short but hard and vigorous.
Then finishing off the practice with some hard sprints.
Tuesday Workout,
Today's workout was intense and tough. We (team) started out by doing a hard drill session about an hour and then moved into live wrestling for forty-five.
Directly after working out in the mat we moved to the pool (olympic size) and swam twelve laps. Down and back equals one lap. Finally, tread water for fifteen minutes.
My name is Richard Fessler. I went to Apple Valley High School and graduated in 2005. I have decided to return to school to continue my education and wrestling career. This year I am attending Ellsworth College, which is a part of the NJCAA division. I will be posting a blog two times a week to inform about the training and other things I will be doing to make it to nationals and do well at the tournament. I am working hard and doing well with my academics, which is most important. I will be


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There are many ways to update your look, such as getting a haircut, wearing make-up and matching your pet chinchilla to your Elvis outfit. Find an alternative way to update your look with today's Groupon: pay R250 for a value voucher worth R500 from Banana Moon.
Meeting in 1984, Daniel and Veronique Flachaire and French designer Nat Maori came together to build Banana Moon, a playful, yet stylish brand of sportswear, intimate apparel and beachwear among other fashionable ranges. Combining the fun loving California style of the Flachaires and the sophistication and vitality of the French designer, the Banana Moon franchise is available all around the globe and is aimed mostly at children and teens, but caters to women and men as well.
Offering labels from Monaco, Paris and Milan, Banana Moon is home to a wide variety of styles and ranges of apparel. Whether you want to suit up for winter, stock up for a summer holiday or simply buy some pants to wear to a sophisticated do, Banana Moon has something for everyone. Vibrant colours and trendy American-styled fashions are the main attraction making it the ideal gift for your niece, yourself or your fellow members of the Elvis Impersonators Club.
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When an accident is unavoidable, the vehicle structure and its interior are designed to minimize injury to the driver and other parties involved. Cab strength and restraint systems, such as the safety belts and airbags, serve to protect drivers and passengers. In the case of a collision with a car, Volvo trucks are equipped with Underrun Protection Systems to minimize the consequences to all involved.
Investigations of real accidents have been conducted for many years by the Trucks and Buses business areas. Their findings are invaluable in the design of new products.


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Introduces the cat breed with statistics, photo page, links, and contact details.
Promotes the page with photo album of the cats, stories, mailing list, awards, and contact information.
Online community for cat lovers and enthusiasts with photo gallery ranked by category.
Users can submit, view, and share pictures of cats doing amusing things.
Shows traveling pictures of two cats with feedback pages.
Daily updated video collection of the funniest and cutest cats and kittens on the internet.
Displays gallery pictures of cat breeds with index list of breeders, featured cattery, and related links.
Offers a daily resource for funny cat videos and photos. Submit videos and share them with a community of cat lovers.
Includes cat gallery, games, forum, and catalog shop.
Provides preview of cat images submitted by the owners with gallery pictures, products and services, forums, and e-mail contacts.


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John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute
Heart Valve Program
Ochsner: An International Leader in Heart Care
The John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute (JOHVI) offers same-day access for advanced cardiac programs using cutting-edge technology and the latest innovations from participating in clinical research trials.
The Heart Valve Program is highly specialized offering the latest advances for patients with heart valve disorders.The Program offers state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment with traditional and minimally invasive procedures. This includes: cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, cardiac computed tomography, echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, valvuloplasty, and minimally invasive surgery.
What is aortic stenosis?
Human heart valves are remarkable structures. These tissue-paper thin membranes attached to the heart wall constantly open and close to regulate blood flow (causing the sound of a heartbeat).There are four valves that control the flow of blood through your heart. One of which is called the aortic valve. When there is a narrowing of your heart's aortic valve opening, this is known as aortic stenosis. This narrowing does not allow normal blood flow. With aortic stenosis, your heart needs to work harder and may not pump enough oxygen-rich blood to your body. It is most often caused by age-related calcification, but can be caused by a birth defect, rheumatic fever, or radiation therapy.
What are the signs of aortic stenosis?
You may notice symptoms like:
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Lightheadedness, feeling dizzy, and/or fainting
- Difficulty when exercising
Major risk factors
Factors associated with aortic valve disease include the following:
- Increasing age
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
If you are experiencing symptoms, consult your doctor right away.
To download a brochure, click here.
Ochsner Heart Care Awarded for Top-Quality
Ranked High Performing in Cardiology & Heart Surgery by U.S. News and World Report.
A Top 15 Major Teaching Hospitals
by Thomson Reuters National Benchmark Study.
HealthGrades® Five-Stars
Coronary Interventional Procedures,
Treatment of Heart Attack, and Heart Failure while in the hospital.
Ochsner In the News
Dr. Stephen Ramee discuss the new heart valve implant process and what it means for patients.


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This projection clock earned The Best rating from the Hammacher Schlemmer Institute because it provided the most accurate display of time and temperature. The Best model's accuracy is provided by time signal broadcasts it receives from the atomic clock transmitter in Fort Collins, Colorado, ensuring accurate time for any location within the contiguous United States. A remote thermometer relays the outdoor temperature back to The Best model's base station (has its own in-room thermometer), which projects the current time and outdoor temperature up to 6' onto a ceiling or wall in easy-to-read digits. The clock's large LCD backlight provides a clear view. Plugs into AC; includes two AAA batteries for temperature sensor. 3" H x 7 3/4" W x 3/4" D. (10 3/4 oz.)
Lifetime Guarantee
The Best Projection Clock comes with The Hammacher Schlemmer Lifetime Guarantee at no additional charge. If this product ever disappoints you, for any reason, you may return your Hammacher Schlemmer purchase for exchange, credit, or refund.Should you have any questions, we are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please call 1-800-321-1484 to speak with a product specialist or email us at email@example.com to receive a response within one hour.
May we recommend:
(based on 15 reviews)
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(2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)
This is one of the very best
By Roger
from Madison, WI
This is not the first Atomic Projection Clock I ever used. This one is the best of them all. It is easy to set up. Two things are quite remarkable. The receiver for the Ft Collins radio signal is in the remote sensor, not the clock itself. As the sensor is located outside, I do not worry about where to locate the clock inside the house where it could possibly not be able to pick up the radio signal. Also, the clock itself does not need batteries; it just plugs in. There is an internal battery back-up to prevent the clock from going back to default. You only lose the projected display. Once the power comes back on, the clock resumes normal operation.The display focus is not adjustable. It does not need that feature. One less thing to worry about.If the projection display could be rotated by 90 degrees instead of only 180, I would have given it a 5 Star rating. I like the fact that the display is back lit and can be set to different brightness levels. The display is very easy to read. There is no unnecessary clutter.Replacement remote sensors are available from the manufacturer.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
Beautiful and good quality.
By Eve
from St. Louis MO
I love the design and the ease of reading the time and temperature. Seems to be of high quality overall.But clock emits too much light to be used next to bed.
excellent product to have for your home
By Geno
from Virginia Beach, VA
We have enjoyed this display clock so much we had to have another one for our vacation home. The information is there and all you have to do is to open your eyes and you have the current time, outdoor temp and indoor temp in just no time at all. So very convenient.
Best Projection Clock
By Firstgun
from Tehachapi, CA
I've owned 4 projection clocks including this one. It's display is the clearest, even at 10-14 ft. from a ceiling or wall and requires no focusing. It's designed to sit flat on a night stand, etc.; however, I have it balanced on top of books. I live in a rural area which blocks the atomic Colorado clock's signal, so chose to set the clock up manually and thus far, it's keeping perfect time with that shown on my TV. The other functions aren't used due to the configuration and geological location/position of my home. It is the best projection clock I've owned and would recommend it to friends and family, easy to point the red beam, but no easy to set the date and time than others. I gave it 4 Stars of 5.
Best projection clock we have owned. Numbers are extra lg.
By Charlie
from Sealy, Texas
Love the clock used in bedroom. Time & temp is very easy to read at night and day. Very clear and large.
great for the elderly
By pj
from Sarasota, FL
Gift for elderly parents. They love it. Display on ceiling above bed very convenient. Had difficulty connecting to the radio but easy switch to manual setting. Indoor and outdoor temp display is a great feature.
Circle of time
By Chefselections1
from Green Valley, AZ
Great for bedroom ceiling
A pleasanty experience
By Ronnie
from Memphis, TN
Bedroom alarm clock. Wonderful design. Some concern about clock being knocked over. Size is approximately 1" x 6" x 4". the one inch base possibly could use a base to saddle in as a means to make the product more stable and less prone to fall over or be knocked over.
It really is the best projection clock.
By Serious RV'er
from Carlsbad, CA
This a great clock. I have been using projection clocks for years and I love them. I needed another for my new RV and this one had great reviews so I decided to try it. I am glad I did. It is easy to use and the display is great. Although I gave a con of no battery backup, the clock sets itself pretty fast soon after you plug it in so it's not a serious issue. But it would be nice since I have to unplug it when I travel in my RV.
Excellent Ceiling clock
By Tick Tock
from Lakewood, CO
I've found this the best ceiling time clock around with the most accurate time keeping and temp reading from the outdoors. The only thing missing is a focus dial to take the glow away from the ceiling readouts.
COPYRIGHT © 2015 HAMMACHER SCHLEMMER & COMPANY, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. W101HAMMACHER SCHLEMMER • 147 E. 57th ST • NEW YORK, NY • 10022 • 1-800-_321-1484


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Disclaimer: Welcome to another original story by this lunatic. This is the sequel to Scarred for Life. The story and the characters are mine. Do not use them without my permission. Also, any and all characters, events, and situations found in these stories are fictional. If there are any similarities between these things and real people, events, and situations, it is purely a coincidence.
I'm sure you know there will be a sexual relationship between two women, but if you don't know this is me warning you. There will be a sexual relationship between two women in this story.
Many thanks to my betas, RevSrVixena and Ken-zero.
New Cuts, Old Wounds
1: Rebirth
The spring was back, bringing warmth and promise along with it. For the first time in a long time, Dane Wolfe—or Danny as she was called more often than not now—found that she could feel that vibe. For the first time, she could understand why people enjoyed the spring. It was simply delightful. The renewed energy, as if new breath was breathed into everything. There was a sparkle and shine to the whole world as if everything was touched by a fond, loving hand. Love surged through everything and floated from all things. She could even feel that sparkle flow through her and there was no question to her why that was.
She could hardly believe that it had been a year since she first met Nicole Cardell. Her life had changed so much since then and she would not change anything about it. No, she would not even change her ill-fated decision to leave Nicole a few months ago, despite all of the pain it caused. That decision taught her and Nicole just how much they meant to each other. It made them stronger, individually and as a couple. And, now, spring brought them more enthusiasm and energy.
Today they had decided that they would use that vigor and take a step forward as a couple: Nicole was going to introduce Danny to her mother's side of her family. Dane was nervous, mostly because Nicole's mother, Kate, still detested her. She imagined that the rest of Kate's family would be the same. After all, they had raised Kate, so she had to get her personality from somewhere.
"Come on, Danny, you can't keep pretending that you forgot something. We need to go now," Nicole ordered, standing by the front door, but looking into the room off to the right. I just got her out of the living room, searching for nothing and now I have to deal with this. She shook her head and sighed. And I thought the fact that I got her downstairs in decent clothes would be the most difficult thing today. Shows how much I know.
Danny had fled into the den after Nicole had managed to get her out of the living, claiming that she forgot something. That was the same excuse she used when she sneaked into the living room. Nicole could not imagine what might be in the den that her girlfriend needed. Impatient green eyes glanced down at her watch and a foot covered in a stylish golden-rod pump tapped against the floor.
"I really forgot something this time!" Dane insisted.
"Oh, yeah? What did you forget?" Nicole asked skeptically.
Just as the question left her mouth, Danny hobbled out of the room holding her guitar across her back. Nicole arched a perfectly curved auburn eyebrow, not sure why her lover was taking her guitar with her. The only time that Danny left the house with the guitar was to go teach her music lessons.
"Danny...?" Nicole's face said much more than anything else.
"Trust me, it's a good ice breaker. If all else fails, I play a few chords on my guitar and I'm pretty sure your family won't hate me so completely and totally like Kathleen does," Dane answered with a confident smile.
Nicole's agitated expression softened and she reached out a gentle hand to put on Danny's shoulder. "You won't need to do that, Danny. You're the kindest and sweetest woman on the planet. My family will see that," she tried to assure the younger woman, caressing Dane's arm a little to help put her at ease.
Dane glanced down at Nicole with just about the most dubious look her grey eyes could muster. "Have you been missing these last few months? Your mother hates my guts and this is her family. I would like someone with your similar genetic makeup to like me," she replied. Never in her life had others opinions mattered so much to her until she started dating Nicole. It was a little daunting, but she was going to try her best because she was certain it would help their relationship.
"Daddy likes you," Nicole reminded her.
"No, he tolerates me. There's a difference and you know it. Chem, just let me bring the guitar. It'll make me feel better," Dane replied, somewhat pleading. She figured her pet name for Nicole would help put her over the top.
Nicole sighed, but conceded with a slight nod. Dane grinned and took that as a great excuse to embrace her lover. Giggling, Nicole returned the embrace before stepping up a little to give Danny a tender kiss on the lips. Dane took that as an invitation to fondle Nicole, who was wearing a flowing, deep yellow sundress, so it made it easier for Dane to touch her bare skin. Nicole was not surprised when she felt knowing fingers snake underneath the dress and she had to suppress a shiver. She pulled away and shook a scolding finger at Danny.
"We don't have time for this, baby. We need to get moving right now," Nicole stated in a stern tone.
"But, you look so hot!" Danny complained, reaching out and brushing her lover's deep red hair from her shoulder. She loved seeing Nicole in dresses. The cloth always seemed to hug every inch of her luscious form in a way that made Danny close to envious of the fabric. Sleek, toned legs that went on for days made her almost drool whenever she thought about them and whenever she saw them all she wanted to do was touch. Plus, Nicole always wore dresses that seemed to be made just to tease Dane's senses—at least Dane's mind anyway.
"Yes, but I'll look just as hot when we get back home. Right now, we need to leave because my grandmother will not be happy if we're late for Easter dinner," Nicole said, knowing that would get her lover moving because Danny was not trying to displease any of the family even before they met her.
Danny practically flew out of the door, which was quite a feat considering the fact that her right leg was lame and she had a limp. Nicole had to double check to make sure her lover had not gone through it. By the time Nicole was sure the front door was all right, Danny was in the car and had the nerve to honk the horn for her. Nicole chuckled as she locked the door and went to the car, sliding into the driver's seat.
"You know, if you only sat on this side, you'd be halfway there by now," the auburn-haired woman teased as she hit the button to start the engine.
Dane stuck her tongue out at her girlfriend. A year ago, such behavior would have been beyond unheard of for her, but Nicole brought it out of her. She did not mind it one bit. It felt freeing. Being with Nicole made her feel so right and at peace with herself. She never wanted to let that feeling go.
"You have been cleared to drive if I recall," Nicole said as she pulled out of the driveway.
"But, I so much enjoy having a chauffeur," Dane remarked with a smile.
Nicole snorted. "Stop smiling at me like that. It makes it so damn hard to mad at you for being a smart ass."
The grin that Dane sported made it even harder to be upset with her. She did not give Nicole much time to be even pretend-angry with her. After turning on some classic jazz, Dane leaned over and took Nicole's right hand into both of hers. She gently caressed Nicole's hand with her own and smiled fondly at the redhead.
"I really want your family to like me," Danny confessed as she held on tightly to her lover's hand. She knew how much family meant to Nicole and was certain that if she could make a good impression on half of Nicole's family, then it would help their relationship somehow. She wanted to minimize any problems that she could cause between Nicole and her family. It was bad enough that she was a source of trouble between Nicole and Kathleen. It bothered Danny because she knew how close the mother and daughter were. She hated the thought being a reason for them to drift apart and she did not want to do that with Nicole and anyone else in her family.
"Danny, I promise, they will like you. My mother's family is not that scary," Nicole assured her.
"How can they not be? They raised your mother!" Dane pointed out with a laugh.
Nicole chuckled too, even though she felt somewhat bad for doing it. Her mother had been extra-hard on Danny since the day they met. Nothing that Dane did was good enough for Kate's little girl—as far as Kate was concerned anyway. Of course, Nicole begged to differ, not that it ever changed her mother's mind. Her mother was just set on making Danny's life difficult and needed little prompting to do so.
"Danny, you know I would never knowingly subject you to anything bad," Nicole said, glancing over at her girlfriend to make sure that Danny believed her.
"What? Every freaking Saturday you do that!" Dane countered, teasing a bit, even though she honestly felt like her Saturday mornings were a form of torture.
Clicking her tongue, the redhead shook her head. "Baby, physical therapy does not count."
Grey eyes narrowed, showing that Dane believed it very much did count. She had been in physical therapy for four months now, working on her injured hand, knee, and leg. It was working wonders for her hand, which meant a lot to Danny since she was musician. Her leg was not coming along as quickly, but Nicole told her to be patient and it would work out, but Danny hated going and swore up and down that her therapist was a sadist. Having sat in on several sessions, Nicole knew that her lover was very much exaggerating.
"Baby, being serious, you do know I would never knowingly subject you to something bad or put you in a bad situation, right?" Nicole asked, worry coloring her emerald eyes.
Dane smiled a little and kissed her lover's knuckles. "Of course I know that, Chem. I'm just nervous and that's why I'm being so difficult. I'm sorry for acting like this."
"I understand why you are, but I promise you, my family is not that bad. In fact, they're pretty normal."
Little did Nicole know, but hearing that they were "pretty normal" did not help Danny in feeling better. For Dane, normal meant against same-sex relationships, like Kate. Normal also meant disliking the fact that Dane was pretty much unemployed, lacked a college education, and still dressed like a teenage bum more often than not. Well, at least they would not see her "bum-gear," as she now thought of her casual wear.
Danny had dressed in her Sunday best, as she jokingly referred to it. Nicole had to help her pick it out, but she was dressed in black slacks, dark blue sweater vest, and a sky blue shirt underneath. She felt a bit preppy, but Nicole liked the outfit and how she looked in it. Nicole liking something was just about the easiest way to get Dane to do something, except go to physical therapy. Added to that, Danny was not completely uncomfortable in the clothing, having dressed in such a way a few times when going out with her lover.
Dane tried to take her mind off of things by staring out of the window. A smile worked its way on her face as she saw the greens of the season arriving, reminding her again that she had known Nicole for a year. Emerald eyes took note of the smile.
"What're you smiling at, Big Dog?" Nicole inquired curiously, playfully taunting Danny with one of her nicknames.
"Just thinking about how it's been a hell of a year," Dane answered.
Nicole nodded in agreement. "It certainly has. I mean, this time last year I was just realizing what a bastard Tyler was and then you drifted into my life. Danny…" It took her a moment to get herself together and she squeezed the hand that was still holding onto hers. "Danny, I want you to know that living with you has been one of the best times of my life. You have improved my life in so many ways. I'm happy you're here."
Grey eyes seemed to brighten thanks to that news. "Me too, angel. Being with you is the best time of my life."
Nicole smiled, loving it when her sweetheart got so mushy. It touched her because she knew that Danny was sincere and that was not something that she was used to from a lover. Her honesty and openness were two of the many things that made Danny special to Nicole. She hoped that Danny remained that way.
The ride was not too long, a little over thirty minutes. Danny was shocked when they pulled into a middle class neighborhood, not too different from their own neighborhood. Danny thought that Kate's parents would live in a gated community like Kate and Raymond did and thought that the house would be massive, but quickly found out that was not the case.
Nicole pointed out the house as she parked across the street from it. Dane stared at it from across the way and she could hardly believe her eyes. The music teacher had to resist the urge to say, "this is it?" She could not believe that Nicole's grandparents lived in a modest sized, middle-class house. There were even toys on the front lawn.
"Chem, are you sure this is the place?" Dane asked, a raven-colored eyebrow arched high in disbelief as she exited the car.
The redhead giggled as she got out. "I think I know how to get to my grandparents' house, baby. Just like most people, my grandparents are regular people and they have a regular house in a regular neighborhood. Just because my mom is rich doesn't mean her parents are."
Dane nodded as if she understood, but she really did not. "Sorry, Chem, but you know where I'm from riches are inherited, so I just assumed…"
Nicole shook her head, her auburn locks swaying a little. Instead of correcting her lover, she wrapped her arm around Dane's and led the confused musician into the front yard. Dane looked around, as if she was suspecting everything to change at any moment. Her expectations were not met as they made it to the front door and everything was still as ordinary as they were before.
"Hello?" Nicole called into the house as she opened the door. Dane was not surprised that the door was not locked, often seeing that people did not lock their doors when they expected a lot of company. It was something that she never noticed until she started going places with Nicole.
"Nikki!" a couple of childish voices called.
Dane was surprised when two little kids charged into the small foyer, hugging Nicole around the waist. Dane correctly guessed that these were Nicole's cousins. Nicole had explained to Dane that on her mother's side she was the oldest of her cousins by a decade. This was because her mother was the oldest of three girls, also by a decade.
Nicole hugged the children back before directing their attention to Dane. "Guys, I would like you to meet my friend, Danny. Danny, these are my cousins I told you about, Sabrina and Eddie," she introduced them.
"Pleased to meet you," Dane said, extending her hand to both children. Thanks to some prep time Dane knew that Sabrina was eight and had dreams of being a dancer. She had the biggest brown eyes, just like Nicole swore. Dane could not believe it, but she thought the little girl was cute as a button and she looked downright adorable in her powder blue dress.
"I'm gonna be ten," Eddie informed Dane, shaking her hand with more force than necessary. She expected that because Nicole told her that Eddie wanted to be like his older cousin, Philip, who was an athlete with a very strong hand shake, among other things.
"That's amazing," Dane said, as if she was really impressed. She was more impressed with his deep dimples and ruffled dark brown hair. He looked very much like a cherub and he was way too cute in his little black suit, which was complete with a vest and dark red tie.
"You're really tall," Sabrina commented with awe in her voice, staring up at Dane.
The musician shrugged and smiled a bit, not too sure what else to do. She ran her hair through her unruly ebony hair and glanced off to the side. Nicole smiled because her lover seemed shy. She could not help wrapping her arms around Dane's arm.
"Excuse me, guys. I want to introduce Danny to Grandma and Papa," Nicole explained to her young cousins.
"Okay," the pair agreed and charged off.
"Just to warn you, they're going to bug you later. I'm surprised they didn't have their little sidekick with them. Wayne is adorable, but he's probably sleeping. He takes a million naps during the day. It drives my aunt Katrina insane," Nicole informed her lover.
Dane nodded for lack of a better thing to do. Mentally, she was matching the names with things that Nicole already told her. Wayne was the youngest of the cousins, coming in at four years old. Nicole suspected that he was a vampire from the way her aunt spoke about his sleeping habits; Dane had laughed long and hard when Nicole told her that because she just pictured a tiny four-year-old with fangs.
Katrina was Nicole's youngest aunt and Kate's baby sister. Dane was not too stunned to find out that Nicole and her aunt were very close in age. Katrina was in her early thirties and the three younger children were hers. She recollected that Nicole said Katrina was in advertising, but she doubted that would come up in a conversation, so she tried to think of some other relevant information. Dane recalled that Katrina was married, but she could not remember the husband's name. Shaking it off, she figured it was not a big deal since she was about to meet him anyway.
It did not even register to Dane's mind that Nicole was leading her deeper into the house. It was a straight run from the front door to where they needed to go. Sounds of conversation floated through the house, but it seemed like garbled noise to Dane. Things only got worse when they got to the kitchen and she spotted an elderly woman sitting at a table in the middle of the room. She knew that was Nicole's grandmother and—worse still—she appeared to be speaking to one of Nicole's aunts.
Dane anxiously tugged at the guitar strapped across her back while her eyes seemed to scan the room as if she was seeking an escape route. Nicole took hold of her arm and continued to lead her. Before Dane could process the level of fear that she was feeling, she standing in front of the two women.
"Hi, Grandma. Hi, Auntie," Nicole said, leaning down to give her grandmother a hug and a kiss on the cheek. She then did the same with her aunt.
"Hey, sweet-pea, glad you could make it," her grandmother said with a smile. Dane had expected an accent for some reason, even though Nicole explained that her grandparents both lacked accents. In fact, her grandparents did not even speak Spanish, despite their Puerto-Rican ancestry. Nicole joked that her grandparents ancestors were probably rolling over in their graves because her grandparents were Puerto-Rican by blood and that was about it.
"You know I wouldn't miss it for the world. Last year was a fluke, I assure you," Nicole replied. Last year was more like turmoil and she just could not bring herself to show up last year with Tyler on her arm. She knew that he would have ruined the gathering and the holiday for everyone.
Her grandmother smiled more and patted Nicole's arm. "I know you were under a lot of stress. Now, who is this young lady with you?" the elderly woman inquired, eyeing Dane.
The guitarist resisted the urge to gulp when twin sets of brown eyes turned to her. She wanted to study her feet or find an interesting tile, but she knew that would not help her. She needed to appear strong and confident, even though she was so nervous that she would not be surprised if her teeth started chattering. Her hand was trembling, aching to go through her hair, but she managed to keep it at her side and ready for when she had to shake hands.
"Grandma, Aunt Kimber, I would like you to meet my girlfriend, Danny Wolfe," Nicole introduced them with a proud smile on her face. "Danny, this is my grandmother, Alicia Torrez and my aunt Kimber Johnson."
"Pleased to meet you. Nick has told me so much about you both," Dane said, shaking both women's hands. She hoped it did not sound like she rehearsed those lines, even though she had done just that. Mentally, she patted herself on the back for not stammering or messing it up, though.
"Nice to meet you too, Danny. We've heard a little about you too," Kimber commented, an amused smirk on her face.
And that made Danny gulp. She had a deep inkling that they heard about her more from Kate than from Nicole. Looking at them, she could almost see Kate looking back at her, looking down on her. In fact, Dane could see the strong resemblance between Kate, her sister, and her mother. The brown eyes, the similar facial structures, and full lips matched up almost perfectly between the three women. Kimber's hair was longer and appeared more of a dark brown than a black like Kate's hair. Alicia might have had black hair, but it was all white now.
Danny hoped that the resemblance was only skin deep. Despite the fact that Nicole had tried to assure her everything would be fine, seeing that everyone looked like Kate just made her feel a sense of dread. Not only did they all look alike, but their names were similar, so in her nervous mind that meant they probably all thought alike. Great, now one side of her whole family is going to hate my guts.
"Good things I hope," Dane muttered, sincere in that.
"Some," Alicia replied, glancing at her granddaughter. "Make sure you introduce her to Papa quickly, okay, Nikki?" she instructed Nicole, patting her on the arm again.
"I was going to. I just wanted her to meet you first," Nicole answered.
"Okay, but you know that old man will complain if he thinks you've forgotten him," Alicia commented with an amused smile. She then turned her attention back to Danny, who was looking down and off to the side because she was not sure what else to do. The older woman laughed a little. "You've certainly picked yourself a pretty one, sweet-pea," she remarked, making her granddaughter blush.
"Grandma!" Nicole pretended to huff, glaring at the elderly woman.
Dane was a bit surprised by that. She did not expect Alicia to be so comfortable with Nicole being in a same-sex relationship. Alicia seemed totally fine with everything; she had not even blinked when Nicole said the word "girlfriend." She considered that Kate might have gotten her attitude about same-sex couples from her father then and she was about to find out.
"Come on, you. You don't want to hang around these two old ladies anyway," Nicole said to her lover, taking Dane by the hand and leading her out of the kitchen. They turned around, back in the direction that they came. Going into the living room, where an elderly man was sitting in an armchair and there were three other guys on the couch. They were focused on the television.
Nicole glanced over to see what they were watching. She was not surprised to see an old football game on TV. Her grandfather was a football fanatic and was grateful that two out of his three sons-in-law were the same. Raymond watched football, but not to the same degree as the others.
"Papa, could you pause that for a second?" Nicole requested in a sweet tone.
"What?" the elderly man said and then he turned to see Nicole standing before him. A grin spread across his face. "Nikki! I'm so happy to see you!"
Nicole's grandfather slowly climbed to his feet and wrapped Nicole into a tight embrace. Dane took a moment to examine the old guy. She doubted that he was ever tall, but since he was in his seventies now, he was probably a bit smaller than he was in his heyday. Like his wife, he had a head of white hair, but his was much shorter than hers. His tan skin was darker than his wife's too. His dark brown eyes glanced her way, but Dane did not feel as nervous as she did before.
"Who's this with you, Nikki girl?" her grandfather inquired.
"Papa, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Danny Wolfe," Nicole replied. "Danny, this is my grandfather Benito Torrez."
"Nice to meet you, sir," Dane said, holding out of her hand to shake his. He had a strong grip and hurt her hand a little when he shook it. She suspected that was done on purpose if the glint in his eyes meant anything. Okay, so maybe Kathleen does get her attitude from him…or he could've just been warning me that he could break my head if I piss him off.
"And these guys are my uncles," Nicole said, motioning to her aunts husbands. "This is Jarred. He's Kimber's husband," she motioned to a muscular, well-dressed, middle-aged black man. He leaned over and shook Dane's hand. Nicole then motioned to the man next to Jarred. "This is Eduardo. He's Katrina's husband," she said. The Hispanic male with very messy, short black hair and wearing a midnight blue suit leaned over next to shake Dane's hand. Nicole then turned her attention to the last one. "And this is my cousin, Philip. He's Jarred and Kimber's son," she said, motioning to the teenager.
"Nice to meet you," Dane informed all three men, shaking Philip's hand. He was just as well dressed as the other men, wearing a fine tan suit. Dane guessed that the family took Easter dinner seriously.
"Philip's got an older sister, Jodie, somewhere around here," Nicole added, glancing around in case she spotted the other teenager.
"Probably in the back, trying to get Papa's ancient computer running again," Philip commented, nodding in the direction of their grandfather's office.
Nicole chuckled a bit and pulled Danny away to introduce her to Jodie. The teenage girl did not seem too interested in meeting Nicole's lover and she hardly turned her attention away from the old computer that she was inspecting. Dane did not take it personally as Nicole warned her that Jodie tended to be a bit antisocial, especially compared to the rest of their family.
With all of the introductions made, Nicole left Danny to fend for herself. Dane did not mind, thinking that she might be able ease her way into things and carefully feel the family out without making a complete jackass out of herself. Besides, she would rather Nicole enjoy her family instead of trying to babysit her. She made her way back to the living room, figuring watching television with the guys would be easier than socializing with the women. Football was not really her cup of tea, but she assumed it would be better than gossiping in the kitchen, where they probably wanted to talk about her anyway. Besides, when Kate finally arrived, Dane was sure that the last place the powerful lawyer would be was watching a football game from twenty years ago.
Dane did not socialize with the guys, mostly because she did not know enough about football to chime in the conversation they already had going on. Her saving grace came in the form of Sabrina and Eddie. They trotted over to her, wanting to know what was in the pack that she was carrying. Dane was all too happy to show them her guitar. Once they saw it, of course they wanted to know if she could play it.
"I play a little," Danny answered modestly.
"Play it, play it!" Eddie commanded her with an eager grin.
Danny ran her hand through her hair, not sure if she should. It could be seen as a disruption to game time. Glancing over at the adult men in the room, she could tell that they were a little curious about her playing too. She played a short melody, earning looks of awe from her small audience. After the short concert, Eddie and Sabrina decided that Danny was "cool" and she was going to hang out with them for the day. They took her by the wrist and pulled her off with them. No one stopped them and Danny did not resist.
Nicole laughed some when she noticed that Danny was the "hostage" of her two younger cousins. She did not move to help Danny, especially since the musician did not seem bothered by them. The children dragged Dane out into the backyard, wanting her to see their puppy. They had a small golden retriever puppy, who was overly friendly, but Danny did not mind all of the puppy kisses that she was given.
Laughter from the backyard filtered into the house, so every now and then an adult had to go look outside. What they usually saw were the kids and the dog chasing Danny, who did not seem to be trying hard to get away. Nicole smiled from the sight whenever she glanced in the backyard.
When Kate and Raymond arrived, the couple was scolded by Alicia for being late. They cried work as their defense, but she would hear none of that. When the matriarch was done reprimanding the late couple, the kids were called in, so that they could all do a family tradition. Everyone was expected to paint Easter eggs. They gathered in the kitchen and Dane tried to move close to Nicole, but Eddie and Sabrina were not ready to let go of their new friend.
"Come down here with us!" Eddie ordered while Sabrina yanked Danny down to the end of the table next to their mother.
"Guys, don't pull on Danny like that," Katrina gently scolded her children. There was a warning look in her warm, chocolate eyes. She, like her other sisters, was a short brunette. They all seemed like clones of Alicia.
Dane shot the mother a grateful smile, even though she did not mind the overzealous children. She just wanted to show that she appreciated the effort from Katrina, whom she noticed had been watching her closely all day. She knew it was because she was hanging out with Katrina's children, so she understood. She was thankful that the concerned mother had not said anything to her, silently giving her a chance.
"Okay, guys, I need you to take it easy on me. I've never made Easter eggs before," Dane informed her two, young companions. That news not only shocked the children, but the adults too. Nicole was the only one that was not surprised that her lover had never made Easter eggs. She doubted that Danny had much of a childhood at all.
"You never made 'em before?" Sabrina asked as if she thought that was totally and utterly impossible. Her large, sienna eyes were mixed with disbelief and sorrow.
"No, I never did," Danny answered.
"You ever been on an Easter egg hunt?" Eddie asked.
"I've seen 'em before," Danny replied. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Nicole looking at her. She knew that she was going to have to explain that one later. A hand went through her short sable locks and then she turned her attention back to the children.
"We'll show you how, Danny!" Sabrina promised.
That declaration got a large grin from the musician. "Thank you."
Making Easter eggs proved to be quite an enjoyable experience. Nicole had to help Danny a little because Eddie and Sabrina were not the best of teachers; not to mention they were having trouble with their own eggs. After everyone was done, they went around and showed what they had done to the eggs. Dane was a little surprised that even Kate and Raymond participated and enjoyed the activity. They were even proud to display their creations.
"My Honest Abe egg," Raymond remarked with a laugh, showing his egg that looked like Abraham Lincoln…if you squinted…and had an eye infection…and did not know what the sixteenth president looked like. He would readily admit that after many years of participating in the family egg painting tradition, he never got any better, but it was fine.
"I think Danny's egg looks more like Honest Abe than yours," Jarred remarked, nodding toward Dane's creation. All attention turned to her.
"Dad, are you blind? That's not Lincoln," Philip commented, motioning to the egg in Danny's hands.
"Then who is it?" Kimber inquired, siding with her husband.
"A blind man could tell that's only one of the rock gods—Slash," Philip declared.
Dane shot the young man an impressed look. "It is Slash!" she said with a smile. She guessed that she did pretty good for her first time if at least one person knew who the egg was.
That moment helped Dane get to know Philip because after that, they started talking about rock music. He was very interested in rock music and confessed to her that he was trying to learn the guitar. He had wanted to ask her for advice when she was playing before, but the kids were occupying her time then. Danny walked off to talk to him and Jarred followed, curious as to how much lessons would cost and things like that.
"What do you think of her so far, Grandma?" Nicole asked Alicia once Dane was away from them. She had already checked with her grandmother a couple of times that day on Alicia's opinion of her sweetheart, but she just wanted to make sure everything remained positive.
"She seems very nice. Polite, trying to get along with everyone. It was great that she jumped right in on the egg painting, even though she's never done it before. You clearly like her and she clearly likes you, which is a plus," Alicia commented.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Nicole inquired, forehead wrinkled a bit in confusion.
"Your grandmother means that in the past when you've brought partners here, you seemed into them, but they did not seem so into you," Kimber explained.
"Danny does seem very interested in you and in your family, which is also good. She's also happy to mingle with the children. In the past, your partners act like they're too good for the kids. Sometimes, they acted like they were too good for us altogether," Alicia added.
Nicole nodded and smiled. "Danny was surprised that you lived in this type of house, but not in a negative way like others have been. She's not as materialistic as the people I've been with before."
"She even jumped right into our little tradition, which isn't something many of your partners have done in the past, Nikki. I can't believe she's never painted Easter eggs," Katrina commented, shaking her head incredulously.
Nicole sighed a bit. "Danny's had a very difficult life, but she's sweet and kind and understanding."
"We also hear she's the spawn of Satan, who has ruined your life," Kimber said with a light laugh, looking off in the direction that her elder sister walked off not too long ago.
"Mommy's never going to forgive Danny for talking me into going back to school," Nicole said, shaking her head.
"How is school?" her grandmother asked with great interest in her voice. Her two daughters nodded, also interested in the new chapter in Nikki's life.
A spark went through green eyes and a bright, satisfied grin settled onto Nicole's face. "I love it! I have a month to go before I'm finished with my first semester. I love the labs and the classes. The only thing that bothers me is that it takes away from my time with Danny, but she's okay with it. She just keeps pushing me to stay the course and get my degree."
"Sounds like a keeper to me," Alicia stated with a smile.
"Me too, but don't tell Mommy that," Nicole said with a grin.
"Don't tell me what?" Kate asked, coming back into the kitchen after having left to use the bathroom.
"We think Nikki should just marry Danny and call it a day," Kimber proclaimed, teasing her older sister.
Kate frowned. "Nikki will be doing nothing of the sort. Danny is just a passing fancy, isn't she?" she seriously demanded, eyeing her daughter.
"No, ma'am," Nicole replied, continuing to grin. "I told you, Mommy, Danny is the love of my life. You really should get use to her being around."
"Katie, you should let Nikki live her life. Besides, Danny is very different from anyone else Nikki has ever brought over here. She fits in and doesn't act snobbish like most of Nikki's partners. Think about giving Danny a chance," Alicia urged her eldest daughter.
"I'm not giving her a chance, Mom. She's out to ruin Nikki's life and Nikki is all too happy to let her. As her mother, I have to make sure that Nikki does the right thing and lives her life as best she can," Kate argued.
"That's a lot of bull," Kimber chimed in and Katrina nodded.
"You're just trying to control Nikki. You're always trying to do that. You always want things to go your way and if they don't then everyone else on the planet is wrong and you think you're right. Nikki's a grown woman, Kate. Leave her alone and let her make her own decisions. Besides, Danny is by far the best girlfriend or boyfriend we've met from Nikki and we haven't even been around her that long," Katrina stated soundly.
"You three don't know Danny, so don't try to defend her," Kate replied sharply.
"Can we not argue about this? It's been so long since we've all been together. Let's just enjoy each other and save the arguing for when it's been less than a whole year since we've last seen each other," Nicole requested.
The older women all agreed with that, so there was no more discussing Danny…at least while Kate was around. The rest of the day went smoothly and they sat down for a huge family dinner in the evening. Nicole and Dane were not used to eating so early, but that did not stop them from pulling up to the table like everyone else.
"All right, let's say grace and then dig in," Benito declared with a smile.
Dane watched as the family all joined hands. She copied them, taking Nicole's hand in hers and also Sabrina's hand since the child was sitting next to her. Dane was a bit surprised that the family seriously said grace. Nicole never seemed particularly religious and neither did Kate, so this was the first time that she saw a hint of religion from them. It then occurred to her that Nicole's family—at least her mother's side—was Catholic. Now, some of the stories Nicole told her about her childhood made sense, especially stories about her getting in trouble at church.
Dinner was full of conversation with everyone speaking, even the youngest among them—Wayne. The toddler actually tried to dominate the conversation, which everyone seemed to think was cute—Dane included. But, in between Wayne's four-year-old rambling, Danny was able to learn more about the family and the family was able to learn more about Danny. The best thing about it was that Nicole could tell her lover was having a good time and she could also tell that her family genuinely liked Dane.
It was a first for Nicole's whole family to all like someone that she brought to a family function. Usually, only a particular group in her family liked someone she brought—if anyone liked the person at all anyway. Perhaps her uncles would like her partner, then her aunts would like another partner, and on rare occasions her grandparents might like one. The children never liked her lovers and tended to complain before Nicole and her lover were even gone. But, this time, everyone seemed to find something that they enjoyed about Danny. At the end of the night, her grandmother and grandfather ordered her to keep Danny happy because "that one is a keeper."
"I'm so glad you like her, Grandma and Papa," Nicole said as she was hugging them, trying to leave. It seemed that she was trying to leave by herself because Danny was lost in the backyard with the kids.
"She is a doll, just like you promised," Alicia replied.
"She could stand to learn a bit more about football, but I'll teach her the ropes," Benito remarked with a small smile.
"I'd appreciate that, Papa. My poor baby has had very bad family experiences, so I know she's happy that everyone here accepted her. So, you hold those football lessons for one of the family Sunday dinners because we will be back," Nicole promised.
"You might never leave. I think Eddie and Sabrina have adopted your girlfriend," Alicia joked.
Nicole tried to look out into the backyard, figuring that Danny was out there with the kids and the dog again. She was surprised to find out that she was wrong. Dane came walking down the stairs with Philip and Jarred, explaining how she ended up learning other instruments aside from the guitar.
"Hey, love, I'm sorry to cut your conversation short, but we need to get going," Nicole informed her girlfriend.
"Oh," Danny said, glancing at Nicole and then turning her attention back to the two guys. "Guess I'm being abducted. I hope I can talk to you guys again. If you're serious about the guitar lessons, I can give them to Philip or I can get you in touch with a lot of people that will, so you're not paying for super expensive lessons," she explained to them.
"All right," Jarred agreed. "Me and Philip will talk it over and get back to you. You're staying with Nicole, right?"
"Yup and most days you'll find me at home, no matter what time you call. My lessons schedule isn't really a schedule," Dane explained.
Jarred nodded. "Okay. Well, Danny, it was great to meet you. You make sure you take care of Nicole."
"Don't worry. I've got that all taken care of," Danny replied, shaking his hand. She then turned her attention to Nicole. "Just let me go say bye to Eddie, Sabrina, Wayne, and the puppy, okay?"
Nicole smiled and nodded. Dane shot off as best she could, limping quite a bit because of her lame right leg. The others noticed the limp and wondered if it was polite to ask about it. Well, most of them wondered.
"Hey, Nicole, what happened to Danny's leg? Why does she limp like that?" Philip inquired.
"A couple of years ago, she was involved in a horrible accident," Nicole answered. She figured that would cover things without anyone asking for details.
"Is that why her hand is messed up too?" Philip asked, earning a glare from his father.
"Yes. Did you notice it when she was playing the guitar?" Nicole inquired curiously.
"Yeah, and she said she can't play too long because of her hand. Plus, when she was making her Slash egg, I could see her hand shaking," the teen explained.
"Yes, sir, it was all a part of the same accident," Nicole answered.
She did not have to go into detail as Danny returned and they were able to live after some very long goodbyes. The couple left grinning, very happy with the way the evening had gone. Nicole felt confident and comfortable with keeping Danny around for a very long time, glad it would not cause any friction with her family. Danny was just glad to feel accepted.
"Nick," Dane said.
"Hmm, baby?" Nicole asked, keeping her eyes on the road as she drove.
Danny took her girlfriend's hand. "You were right. I had a great time and I'm glad I went. I like your family a lot and I had a lot of fun with all of them. I just have one question."
"Which is?"
"How the hell is your mom related to them? Is she adopted?" Dane asked with a giant grin. This earned her a laugh from Nicole.
The day went much better than expected for both of them. They hoped that was a good sign of things to come.
Next time: Danny takes Nicole out on a date.


text:
DROID RAZR HD name leaks through EXIF data
- GOmoto
- Report
- 0
Before you release a new phone, make sure your other units can reach as far as Southeast Asia! sheesh! We're waiting for the Razr Maxx and it seems Motorola doesn't mind us waiting.
- Reply
- 2012-04-16 17:28
- IVZg
- Anonymous
- Report
- 0
I hope that this phone comes with a super wide camera or the focal length on the file is wrong... 1mm? OMG, if this is suppose to have a 28mm FOV then this phone got a really small sensor.
- Reply
- 2012-04-16 16:34
- L4xW
- saurabhaj1
- Report
- 0
actually the phone in the image is droid Razr HD,
new kind of mobile,,,,,,
- Reply
- 2012-04-16 07:45
- uu$c
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text:
The King's Guard Sculptural Half-Scale Knight Replica
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