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Lama Zopa Rinpoche News and Advice
May/June 2015 – Australia
May 26 Consecration of stupa and statue, De-tong Ling, Australia
May 30 Teaching on "Making the Most of your Life", Buddha House, Australia
May 31 Medicine Buddha initiation, Buddha House, Australia
June 13 Teaching on "How to Apply Dharma in Daily Life", Vajrayana Institute, Australia
June 14 am: Teaching on Karma, Minh Dang Quang Temple, c/o Vajrayana Institute, Australia
pm: Teaching on "The Joy of Compassion", Vajrayana Institute, Australia
June 15 White Mahakala initiation, Vajrayana Institute, Australia
Many of these teachings will be livestreamed
June 17 Teaching on Making Life Meaningful, Kunsang Yeshe Retreat Centre, Australia
June 18 Amitayus initiation, Kunsang Yeshe Retreat Centre, Australia
June 19 Teaching on Karma, (Now on the morning of the 14th)
June 21 Long Life Puja will be offered to Rinpoche, Vajrayana Institute, Australia
- Tagged: australia, initiation, lama zopa rinpoche
As Lama Zopa Rinpoche travels throughout the world, he always takes time to emphasize the activities we can do to benefit animals, which is one of Rinpoche's Vast Visions for FPMT. In an excerpt from "Liberating Animals from the Dangers of Death," Rinpoche offers the motivation we should hold as we work to help animals:
First reflect that all these creatures have been human beings, just like you. But because they did not practice Dharma and subdue their minds, they have been reborn as animals. Their present suffering bodies are the result of their unsubdued minds. We would not want their body for even a second. We get upset when we see some small sign of aging in our body, such as one more wrinkle on our face. So how could we stand to have the body of one of these animals? There is no way we could stand it.
It is vital that we feel some connection with the animals. We should not look at them and think that their bodies have nothing to do with us. We should not think that the bodies of these animals are permanent or truly existent and have no relationship with their mind. And, most important, we should not think that our own minds could not create such bodies.
Reflect on the fact that every one of these animals has been your own mother. When they were human beings, they were extremely kind in giving you your body and in saving you from danger hundreds of times each day. Later, they bore many hardships to educate you in the ways of the world; they taught you how to speak, how to walk, and how to behave. They also created much negative karma to ensure your happiness.
Not only have they been kind to you numberless times as a human mother, but they have also been kind to you numberless times as an animal mother. As a mother dog they gave you milk and food. As a mother bird they fed you with many worms every day. Each time they have been your mother they have taken care of you selflessly, sacrificing their comfort – and even their lives – numberless times to protect you and bring you happiness. As animals, they have guarded and protected you numberless times from the attacks of other animals. They have been unbelievably kind like this many times.
Not only has each of these animals been your mother, they have been your father, brother, and sister numberless times. We are all the same; we are all one family – it's just that we have different bodies at the moment. We should feel as close to these animals as we do to our present family. We should hold them in our hearts.
Think, "I must free all the hell beings from all their suffering and its causes and lead them to enlightenment. I must free all the hungry ghosts from all their suffering and its causes and lead them to enlightenment. I must free all the animal beings from all their suffering and its causes and lead them to enlightenment." …
You can read Rinpoche's complete instructions for developing the bodhichitta mind to do animal liberation in the short version of "Liberating Animals from the Dangers of Death." This practice is also available in an expanded form in the book Liberating Animals. Both the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund and the Animal Liberation Fund support animal liberation activities around the world.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
- Tagged: advice, animals, lama zopa rinpoche
Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave the following advice to a student who said he felt like a magnet for bad situations, people and environments:
I'm going to tell you what Kadampa Geshe Khamlungpa said in regards to attracting bad situations like a magnet: "Even this present small suffering finishes past negative karma and there will be happiness in the future, therefore meditate on rejoicing in the suffering."
That is thought transformation; looking at suffering as happiness. You transform the suffering into happiness, instead of worrying. If your mind is trained in thought transformation, then the more you suffer, the greater the happiness you can experience.
For example, Geshe Lama Konchog was a great teacher and meditator at Kopan Monastery. In the summer time, the rainy season, he fell down and as he fell it made a huge sound. Immediately he thought he received all his obstacles and his mind was so happy, even though he fell down so heavily on the stone step.
Kadampa Geshe Chengawa prayed all the time to be born in the hells, as a practice against the self-cherishing thought. That's what he did instead of being a friend of the self-cherishing thought, instead of working for that. When he was dying he said, "Oh, I didn't fulfill my wishes!" As he was dying he saw a vision of the pure lands, so he left the suffering world and was born in Buddha's pure land. This is the result of the good heart wishing to experience suffering for the benefit of sentient beings. When we don't practice, especially when we follow the self-cherishing thought, we wish happiness for self and suffering for others.
When we follow bodhichitta, we wish to suffer for others and for others to have all our happiness. So it's very, very important to understand Dharma and particularly thought transformation, then we are able to transform suffering into happiness. That means even when we face suffering, we can transform it into happiness. …
You can read the complete advice, "A Magnet for Bad Situations," on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive. Rinpoche also suggested to the student to read Rinpoche's book Transforming Problems into Happiness.
Learn more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), and Rinpoche's vision for a better world. Sign up to receive news and updates.
- Tagged: advice, lama zopa rinpoche
Each year Lama Zopa Rinpoche receives about 1,500 letters and emails. In his replies to these letters, Rinpoche may offer essential advice, thanks and, if requested, life practices. Here is one letter Rinpoche sent in 2014, thanking a student who had worked for many years at a number of FPMT centers:
My most dear, most kind, most precious wish-fulfilling xxxx,
Thank you billion times for your great support and service since you came to the center in 2007 and for the retreats you did — the Vajrasattva retreat and working at center — thank you billions of times. So this is working for all the sentient beings to educate them, to wake them up from ignorance, to enlighten them. Then by thinking of me as guru — then if working for center, then you collect the most extensive merit, most extensive and greatest purification every day, every hour, every minute and every second. Then also offering to numberless Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, statues, stupas and scriptures.
Sakya Pandita mentioned that thousands of eons of having practiced the paramita of charity — giving away one's heads, legs and hands to the sentient beings for thousands of eons — all the merit collected like this is achieved in one second by the gurus path.
So that means when you work for the guru — following the gurus advice or fulfilling the gurus wishes — all that merit that has been collected for thousands of eons by making charity, in one second it gets done. So you have to understand this.
So please rejoice your whole life, unbelievable, most unbelievably happy, happy in Dharma, not happy with attachment and anger — this is totally different. It is happy to achieve enlightenment to benefit sentient beings. So like that there is no time for depression, day and night, even when you are sick … happy!
So please find attached — this is whole life time of practice, so you can die unbelievably in a most happy way, no worry. In this way nobody has to help you. You are guided by yourself and you are the happiest person in the world.
Thank you very much, with much love and prayers,
Lama Zopa
Scribe: Ven. Holly Ansett, USA, 2014. Lightly edited by Mandala.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
The First Clear Step
On Losar morning last year, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave "a beautiful talk about the qualities of Lama Yeshe and the importance of the guru," wrote Ven. Sarah Thresher, who was with Rinpoche at Root Institute in Bodhgaya, India. "Rinpoche described some of the obvious qualities of Lama Yeshe – his always-loving aspect that attracted everyone to him, his humility, his wisdom – and explained that Lama was known by all to be a great scholar. … Rinpoche said that whatever benefit the FPMT had been able to offer and however much we ourselves had been able to learn and practice, it was all due to Lama Yeshe's kindness because it was Lama who set up the organization."
This Losar marks the 31st year since Lama Yeshe's passing away. To remember Lama Yeshe's great capacity for inspiring students and his boundless kindness, we offer an excerpt from a teaching Lama Yeshe gave in 1974 at Kopan Monastery during the seventh Kopan course:
"From Lama's point of view, Buddhism is about you. The subject of this meditation course is not Lama –Lama is not interested in talking about Lama – the subject of this meditation course is you; this course is about you.
"So, learning Buddhism – learning about yourself – is that simple. It really is such a simple thing. And Lama is not trying to be mystical, as written in some books, saying, 'I am a magic lama.' We don't try to teach you that way. Actually, we don't need to show you how to make magic – your mind is already magic, isn't it? We've always made magic: for countless lives, and even from the time of our birth until now, we've been making magic, cheating ourselves. Nobody else has had to teach us – we've taught ourselves to cheat ourselves.
"Our schizophrenic mind always blames others for our problems. From its point of view, 'He is causing my problems, she's causing my problems, my parents are causing my problems, this society is causing my problems.' From Lama's point of view, these are completely wrong conceptions; this way of thinking is schizophrenia, this is mental disease; with these wrong beliefs, misconceptions, you will never be able to solve problems.
"We often think, 'This is negative: that is negative.' But we have a wrong conception about what causes negativity and the problems we experience are reactions to this wrong conception.
"Therefore, you have to be determined that during this meditation course you are going to realize completely that the problem is your misconception and that the blame definitely does not lie with others.
"We always think, 'He makes my problems, she makes my problems,' because our mind is not integrated. Our mind is split so we always blame this and that. We don't have straight understanding, right understanding, right view, right wisdom – that's why we're always confused.
"But this time you have to decide clearly what really makes you happy and joyful and your life meaningful, and what makes you unhappy, sorrowful and depressed. If you come to this conclusion then your meditation course will have been worthwhile. …"
Read the entire teaching, "The First Clear Step," on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive, where you can find a treasure trove of advice and inspiration from Lama Yeshe.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
- Tagged: kopan course, lama yeshe, losar
Lama Zopa Rinpoche wrote the following letter in 2014 to a benefactor and said that this message could be given to others who are generous and in this way bringing sentient beings to enlightenment.
My very dear friend,
This is my heart message to you: Of course we put effort into the center, not just Dharma, but other areas such as social service, [areas] where people really need help. Also to have other Western Sangha there would be good, so we can help others and do consultation, like counseling. We need to research what is most needed in that area.
The Buddha's teachings are priceless, their preservation according to Hinayana and Mahayana and within Mahayana Tantrayana (especially is very important) is really, really, really important. Even one sentient being just hearing the Buddha's teaching not only causes higher rebirth, but liberates from samsara. There really is unimaginable benefit – unimaginable, unimaginable, unimaginable benefit. This is something really priceless, something hard to imagine, and this is the result of your kind contribution. That is the result of your compassion to sentient beings and that is the reality.
Skies of thanks! With my two small hands putting palms to together, with one hand in stroke aspect – my heartfelt thanks to you.
With much love and prayer,
Lama Zopa
Scribed by Ven. Roger Kunsang, 2014. Lightly edited by Mandala.
More information, photos and updates about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be found on Rinpoche's webpage. If you'd like to receive news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche via email, sign up to Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.
Life Is Short
Lama Zopa Rinpoche wrote a letter, posted in 2012 on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive, thanking a student for his concern regarding Rinpoche's health and giving advice about the essence of lam-rim practice:
My dear Sam,
Life is very short. We can't say how short it is – we may die today or tomorrow, so take it easy and don't worry so much. The main thing is to purify past negative karma and always collect extensive merits by chanting OM MANI PADME HUM and the Seven Medicine Buddhas' names – doing this is the same as having done Medicine Buddha puja.
Then do lam-rim prayers, such as Calling the Guru from Afar, the short and long one, and other lam-rim prayers. Even if you can't do other practices, just do this much. This is the best preparation for enlightenment, so that you can soon give happiness to all sentient beings – to the numberless sentient beings, numberless hell beings, numberless pretas, numberless animals, numberless human beings, numberless asuras, numberless suras and the numberless intermediate state beings.
This is the most important thing in the life; there is nothing more important than this. This is benefiting all sentient beings.
Thank you very, very much for your concern for me – to go to mainland China and to receive the doctors' suggestions, that you thought to do, etc. Hopefully I will still go in the future.
With much love and prayers,
Lama Zopa
You can find this letter and more advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche on Impermanence and Death on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.
Learn more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), and Rinpoche's vision for a better world. Sign up to receive news and updates.
- Tagged: advice, impermanence and death, lama zopa rinpoche
February – March
February 28 – March 5 Teachings on "How to Meditate on Patience" and Cittamani Tara initiation, Root Institute, India
- Tagged: cittamani tara, lama zopa rinpoche
Lama Zopa Rinpoche arrived at Root Institute in Bodhgaya, India on February 2. Ven. Sarah Thresher recently shared some of Rinpoche's beneficial activities with Mandala:
Much work has been done on improving Rinpoche's house [at Root Institute]. A library has been constructed on the roof to house the entire Kangyur and Tengyur. It is a beautiful time of year weather wise; the Root Institute gardens are full of flowers, and it is very peaceful at the center and at the Mahabodhi Stupa.
The purpose of Rinpoche's visit is to do some retreat, but the first week has been spent resting and going to the stupa. Usually, Rinpoche goes to the stupa just before closing time, but that doesn't seem to bother the guards who pull back the big heavy gates to let Rinpoche and entourage enter. I have seen the soldiers respectfully saluting Rinpoche as he enters and leaves. Following him is a gathering of students, and we always seem to accumulate more.
Rinpoche has been taking the opportunity to recite Lama Tsongkhapa's Lekshe Nyingpo (Essence of Eloquence) while doing korwa (circumambulation). He started this last year, but didn't finish. First we do bodhichitta motivation, then the circumambulation mantras and then we start walking while reciting mantras and prayers, trying to keep mindfulness that the stupa is all the ten directions buddhas and bodhisattvas whose essence is His Holiness the Dalai Lama. When we finish the korwa and leave the stupa, Rinpoche will very respectfully and deliberately offer 10 rupees to each beggar outside on the way to the car. Sometimes they grab at the money, but I've also seen them touch Rinpoche's feet with respect and devotion. It's obvious to everyone that Rinpoche is a holy being; ordinary actions become extraordinary in his presence.
A few days after arriving, Rinpoche was on the way to the gompa to make offerings to the holy objects when he saw the discussion group from the Introduction to Buddhism course. He asked if anyone had a question and then spent nearly an hour explaining emptiness and the essence of Buddhism.
Three days ago, Rinpoche started teaching on patience. On arrival at Root, he translated a text by the Kadampa masters with simple practical advice on patience. Then he announced he wanted to teach on the text. The gompa is full each day and so far we have not gone beyond an explanation of the Diamond Cutter verse which is in the preliminary prayers to the teaching: "Look at all phenomena like a star, a faulty vision, a butter lamp, etc." Rinpoche has been using this to teach on emptiness and subtle dependent arising, giving techniques that can be applied continually in everyday life to meditate on emptiness. "We are living a totally false life till we realize emptiness … the whole world is hallucinating," Rinpoche said. "Your whole day, your whole life is lived in total hallucination. You must know that. You must realize that. Then you can meditate on emptiness."
Learn more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), and Rinpoche's vision for a better world. Sign up to receive news and updates.
"If you are patient, you don't get angry at sentient beings," Lama Zopa Rinpoche wrote in a letter to a student who was experiencing the impact of his anger. "In that way, sentient beings only receive peace and happiness from you. Each time you stop being angry, by practicing patience, this becomes your most practical contribution to world peace. It brings so much peace and happiness to your own world, mind, and heart. For others, it brings peace and happiness, not only in this world, but for all living beings. If you are able to practice patience in this life, it will be much easier in future lives. By developing your mind in patience through the continuity of lives, you will bring happiness to all living beings.
"Also, each time you come closer to completing the perfection of patience, it means you are getting closer to enlightenment, and much closer to bringing all sentient beings to enlightenment. So, you can see that each time you practice patience, there are long-term results. This is the power of the mind. Not only can you bring sentient beings temporary peace, but also full enlightenment.
"… You have a great opportunity to gain experience in patience. Each time you wake up, you must plan this – especially today! And be mindful when a circumstance occurs that provokes anger. If you don't make a firm plan in the morning, you won't remember the teachings when anger comes up."
You can read the complete teaching 'Dealing with Anger' and find links to other advice on "Anger" on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive. Other advice from Rinpoche can be found on the page "Advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche" on FPMT.org.
Learn more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), and Rinpoche's vision for a better world. Sign up to receive news and updates.
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Michael Kimmelman Proposes A Queens-Brooklyn Waterfront Streetcar
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Henry Melcher.
As development along the Brooklyn and Queens' waterfront has increased dramatically over the years, transportation options—for residents old and new—has not. The number of glass towers, startups, and parks along the East River has only been matched by style pieces on new "it" neighborhoods from Astoria to Red Hook. But, now, the New York Times' Michael Kimmelman has used his platform to launch a plan to change that equation, and give these neighborhoods the transportation system they deserve.
Photo of the Day: Final Segment of Calatrava's NYC Transit Hub Arch Set In Place
Friday, April 18, 2014
The Editors.
A tipster shared with us the above view of Santiago Calatrava's World Trade Center Transit Hub receiving the final piece of its giant steel arch. According to the tipster, "they JUST set the final tooth on the World Trade Center Transit Hub to complete the supporting structural system. Once welding is complete they will proceed with installing the "wings," the cantilevered outriggers that complete the structural form." Looks like this thing is about to soar.
Designed in Chicago, Made in China: Blair Kamin, Chicago designers mull Chinese urbanization
Monday, April 14, 2014
Chris Bentley.
Blair Kamin convened a panel of designers at the Chicago Architecture Foundation last Wednesday for a discussion around themes explored in his recent series "Designed in Chicago, Made in China," in which the Chicago Tribune architecture critic assessed the effects of that country's rapid development on urbanism and design. Read More
Swiss Firm Offers Bubbly Shelter to Bus Travelers
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Scott Kelly.
As of late bus stops are proving to be unexpectedly fertile grounds for architectural innovation. Swiss architects Vehovar & Jauslin are the latest to try their hand at the task in the form of a seemingly floating structure that provides shelter for a bus hub in Aarau, Switzerland. The canopy was realized with the help of engineering firm formTL who appear well-versed in undertakings of a similar ilk.
Chicago's Divvy bikeshare wants your help placing new stations
Monday, December 16, 2013
Chris Bentley.
Chicago's Divvy bikesharing program wants your help placing new bicycle rental stations throughout the city. The Divvy Siting Team will consider your suggestions at suggest.divvybikes.com—they've already mapped many public suggestions alongside the 300 existing stations.
Last month the program announced its intent to become North America's largest bikesharing system. Divvy will add 175 stations by the end of 2014 and, pending state and federal funding, bring another 75 online after that, raising the total to 550 stations.
As it expands, Divvy could address previous criticisms about equal access. Though it started by focusing on the Loop and other high-density downtown areas, the program has expanded into many neighborhoods. Still, many are unserved—Uptown is the northern terminus, while much of the West, Southwest, and South Sides have no stations.
Cincinnati City Council Puts Brakes on Streetcar Construction
Monday, December 9, 2013
Chris Bentley.
In what the Cincinnati Enquirer called "a meeting filled with fire and suspense," City Council voted 5-4 to halt construction on its $133 million streetcar project.
UCLA SUPRASTUDIO to Take On Elon Musk's Hyperloop Proposal
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Anna Bergren Miller.
"This thing is real," architect Craig Hodgetts said in an email about the Hyperloop, Elon Musk's proposal for a high-speed transit system somewhere between a train and a human-scale pneumatique. Hodgetts would know: next year, he'll direct a studio on the urban implications of the technology for SUPRASTUDIO, UCLA Architecture and Urban Design's Master of Architecture II program. The partnership between SUPRASTUDIO, part of UCLA's IDEAS laboratory, and Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, the startup company formed to make Musk's concept a reality, is part of a strategy to crowd-source much of the research and development behind the Hyperloop.
Bike Share Round-up> Chicago Surges, New York's Safety Record Shines, Los Angeles Lags
Monday, November 11, 2013
Chris Bentley.
We hope you've stretched your hamstrings—there have been a lot of developments in U.S. bike sharing programs lately, and we're taking another whirl through them now.
Although not without hang-ups, New York's Citi Bike has at least not killed anyone yet. People love to joke about clueless tourists riding on the sidewalk, or on heavy-traffic avenues, or "salmoning" the wrong way down one-way streets — that's true in Chicago as well as New York — but the fact that no bikeshare has so far produced little to no traffic carnage should come as no surprise, writes Charles Komanoff for Streetsblog.
TransformKC Celebrates Public Transit with International Exhibition
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Chris Bentley.
TransformKC is underway in Kansas City, and the dozens of projects on display are provoking discussion on topics from public transit to energy infrastructure.
A joint effort between the Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance (KCRTA) and the American Institute of Architects Kansas City (AIA KC) Young Architects Forum (YAF), TransformKC curated built and unbuilt work around the topic of "regional mobility" in an attempt to "inspire the public's imagination."
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Celebrating Oprah
Oprah Winfrey's Style Evolution
Skinny jeans, vests and corsets! 25 years of style ups – and downs! – from the Queen of Talk
Credit: Charles Bennet/AP
Updated: Tuesday May 17, 2011 | 12:00 PM EDT By: Justine Harman
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An innovative kit that enables a standard CNC machining center to integrate a metal cladding process via the automatic toolchanger makes great sense—especially when one of the leading developers states his case.
At last month's MFG Meeting in Orlando, Florida, the inaugural International Additive Manufacturing Award (IAMA) was awarded to Hybrid Technologies Ltd. limited of the United Kingdom and Plano, Texas. The winning entry for the prize is described as a hybrid kit innovation that can be integrated into any CNC machine to allow for metal deposition (via laser cladding), finishing and inspection of parts on a single machine. The hybrid methodology integrates directed energy deposition into a multi-axis CNC machine, using a toolchanger to change between processes.
"Hybrid technology is exciting because it offers a new way to adopt additive manufacturing—as an upgrade to a CNC machine tool. Adding tool-changeable deposition heads to an existing CNC machine enables 3D printing of metal, without the need to buy a separate machine," said Dr. Jason Jones, Co-Founder and CEO of Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies. "This significantly reduces costs and provides an intuitive adoption path for CNC operators. The combination of additive with machining offers new capabilities, including in-process finishing, that cannot be delivered by either technology independently."
Speaking at the reception during which the award was presented, Dr. Jones explained the process and describe the long journey he and his co-developers trod to make this innovation practical and effective. His remarks are clear and compelling—you can find a video of the presentation ceremony and listen to what Dr. Jones shared that evening here. Of particular value to any company interested in the experience of innovation is the advice he gives starting at 28 minutes in the video. He concludes that creativity and imagination are more important than amassed technical knowledge when forging innovation. You can also read a report about this technology here.
The IAMA is the result of a partnership between AMT—The Association For Manufacturing Technology and VDW—Verein Deutscher Werkzeugmaschinenfabriken (German Machine Tool Builders' Association). AMT and VDW, with media support from Gardner Business Media and VDI Nachrichten and sponsored by the European Machine Tool Association CECIMO, announced the annual IAMA at IMTS 2014.


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VIEWS: 12 PAGES: 1 CATEGORY: Business POSTED ON: 4/17/2010 Public Domain
Charlie's memorial swim for Kerry
Charlie's memorial swim for Kerry Kerry Moore was one of the driving forces behind the annual charity event, Swim for Kids, run by Mobilong Prison. He had been one of the pioneering staff who 15 years ago began raising money through this unusual event for disabled children in Murray Bridge. Unfortunately Kerry died about a year ago. His good friend Charlie Meneghetti this year took up the challenge and dedicated his 39.5 km swim from Mannum to Murray Bridge to Kerry, calling it the Kerry Moore Memorial Swim for Kids. The three-day swim is a major endurance event that culminates at Sturt Reserve in Murray Bridge to coincide with the town's Christmas pageant. Charlie has been training for about a year to complete it. He hopes more than the $15,000 target will be reached. The event was supported by The Murray Valley Standard, Power FM, 5MU, Murraylands Offroad and Boating, Farm Fresh Markets, Mannum Community College, Murray Bridge High School, Mobilong prisoners, the Murray Bridge Council and the Advertiser Foundation with a major donation of $9600. Proceeds will go to the disabled childrens' charity, Novita.
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text: Record Store Day : Out Of Stock 001 : DAN CURTIN, TITONTON DUVANTE & MELODYMANN, ... by Melodymathics published on 2014/02/19 01:57:06 +0000 DJ FEEDBACK ALWAYS WELCOME !! The Melodymann - The Hold Up (DC's Flow Like Life Remix) The Melodymann - The Hold Up (Titonton Duvante Refreak) The Melodymann - The Hold Up (Original) AA 1(INTRO) Space Brothers - The streets AA 2 (LOOP2) Jimini - Loop Two AA 3 (LOOP3) Jimini - Loop One AA 4 (LOOP 4) The Melodymann - Analog Walhala AA 5 (LOOP 5) Alex Agore - Do U luve me (forthcoming) AA 6 (LOOP 6) Space Brothers - When We Used To Play AA 7 (LOOP 7) Rennie Foster - RFloop Seven AA 8 (LOOP 8) Fabrice Lig - Loop Eight Yes, Melodymathics will be treating all vinyl lovers with a very rare collectors item on 'Record Store Day' 2014. For the very first time, the label family bundles up in the studio and pushes the envelope on this amazing 12", the debut of their "Out Of Stock" series. In comparison with Melodymathics ltd., this series focuses on remix projects by label related artists and providing an even wider range of DJ loops. The Hold Up remixes are manipulated with the incredible skills of Dan Curtin and Titonton Duvante. Both artists, who've been rooted into the house scene since the early 90's, always kept true to their sound. It's no wonder Dan & Titonton have surprised everybody with music from the soul and into our hearts on the dancefloor ! The Loops provided by The Melodymann are blunt and funky edged with a nice, warm 'Good Jazz' feeling. Where Rennie Foster brings an instrumental DJ tool, Space Brothers bring Techno with soul and Alex Agore shares a taste of his forthcoming release on the label. With DJ tools provided by Fabrice Lig, The Melodymann, Rennie Foster, Jimini, Alex Agore and Space Brothers - Melodymathics ensures top quality with a versatile sound covering all influences of electronic music and touching flavors of house, jazz, techno, soul, funk, … Melodymathics delivers this stunning 12" release with just a limited 100 copy pressing. Out of Stock is out of Stock … RELEASE DATE : Record Store Day www.melodymathics.com www.facebook.com/Melodymathics


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Regency Landscape has been designing, installing and maintaining fine landscapes since 1986.
Schedule your landscape project now for the 2015 season!
We are accepting and welcoming new lawn maintenance clients for the summer.
We now offer year round custom all inclusive maintenance and snow packages along with our standard programs.


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Erich Fischer has been promoted to senior vice president at Environmental Science Associates. He manages ESA's 40 professionals dedicated to managing, studying, conserving, and monitoring the natural environment. He has worked with several federal and state agencies on large infrastructure and land management projects and assisted tribal governments with land-use decisions.
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text: Miriam Elder on Jul 17, 2011 @ 6:59 AMJul 17, 2011 @ 6:59 AM PublishedJiggle your breasts for President PutinRussian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is seen during the inauguration of a monument dedicated to World War I Russian soldiers on June 21, 2011 near the Seine River in Paris, France.Election watch continues in Russia and some are seeing growing signs that Vladimir Putin is indeed planning to come back to the presidency. According to The New York Times, Putin held "what appeared to be a calculated pre-election appearance" at a factory on Friday. He has publicly taken the reins in berating officials over the tragedy on the Volga.And there are increasing "popular" actions. Last week saw dozens of teens singing "Blueberry Hill" in front of the White House, called by a social media group named I Really Do Like Putin. And now we have this (for those at work, beware the excessive attention to breasts):The video was posted on the blog of Kirill Schitov, a United Russia deputy in the Moscow Duma. It's called "I Tear for Putin" (tear as in "rip," as in "rip open your shirts, girls"). It's got everything – slick design, plenty of hip Apple products and, of course, boobs."Hi, my name is Diana. I'm a student. I'm crazy about a person who changed the life of our country. He's a capable politician," the narrator says, as the cameraman artfully manages to fit her iPhone, her cleavage AND her Orthodox cross in a single shot. "He's a chic man. He's Vladimir Putin.""There are millions who adore him, who trust him. But there are many people who throw dirt on him. Maybe they're scared? Or maybe out of their own weakness? Because they'll never be in his place.""Young, smart and beautiful girls have united in the Putin Army," she continues, as she meets her two friends – one of them has a Mac! The other drinks in a sexy fashion! "An army that will tear for him." Thus continues the militant rhetoric launched by Putin's WWII-sounding People's Front, a new organization designed to unite society around the dear leader.She then announces a competition – make a video in which you tear something for Putin, put it on the Putin's Army page on the VKontakte social network and whoever makes the most original video gets an iPad2. Who knows, Diana herself might win. The way she jiggles her breasts before tearing open her shirt is indeed …. original. (Though I am reminded of last year's calendar wars.)This, I think, is what happens when Kremlin spin doctors wake up to social media.Schitov, a leading member of United Russia's Young Guard youth movement, doesn't see anything slimy in it, nothing sexist, nothing, potentially, pedophiliac (how OLD are those girls?)Instead he writes: "Beautiful and smart girls have united in the Putin Army and invite people to join their ranks." He then makes two points:"1) The video has the correct thought: certain groups of people don't like a strong leader in Russia. Some don't like that Russia, compared to the 1990s, has gotten stronger and now has to be reckoned with in the international arena. Some don't like that we no longer have to agree our budget with the IMF and that money from natural resources go into the country's budget and not abroad, as it was before under production sharing agreements, which Putin cancelled. There will always be those who are envious of and who don't need a strong Russia.""2) Why don't we ever see successful pretty girls uniting around the opposition? It seems pretty girls avoid the opposition. Interesting, why?"


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Long Spurs deal for Bentaleb
Tottenham midfielder Nabil Bentaleb has signed a new five-year contract at White Hart Lane.SkySports.com » 1m
Tottenham midfielder Nabil Bentaleb has signed a new five-year contract at White Hart Lane.SkySports.com » 1m
New Liverpool signing James Milner says he left Manchester City for the chance of more games in central midfield.BBC Sport » 27m
Tottenham youngster Harry Winks has signed a new long-term contract at the White Hart Lane club.SkySports.com » 39m
Manchester City have completed the signing of Turkey international striker Enes Unal from Bursaspor for an undisclosed fee.SkySports.com » 2h
England forward Eniola Aluko on why Man Utd need a women's team and how the Lionesses celebrated their play-off win.BBC Sport » 2h
James Milner left Manchester City for Liverpool to pursue his aim of playing more games in central midfield.SkySports.com » 2h
A Fifa official who assessed the bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups is banned from football-related activity for seven years.BBC Sport » 3h
Manchester United have had a bid for Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin rejected, Ronald Koeman confirms.BBC Sport » 3h
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Othman El Rhazi
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Dr. El Rhazi is a neurologist apprentice in Rabat Morocco. He has been in a neurologist clinic for the past five years, working and learning with the top doctors in the west of Morocco. Othman El Rhazi specializes in conditions affecting the nervous system, such as epilepsy and Parkinson's disease. Dr. El Rhazi graduated from Tishreen University Faculty of Medicine. Named Othman after his grandfather who moved from Trebles in Tunisia many years before his birth. Othman El Rhazi belongs to the family of Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
He has been in practice in France for the past two years and enjoys improving the lives of people suffering from neurological disorders. The specialty of internal medicine is an area of primary care for adults. Dr. El Rhazi may perform a variety of tests and scans to arrive at the correct diagnosis, which is vital to creating an effective treatment plan for any given patient. Othman El Rhazi's treatments can include medication management, numerous therapies, and lifestyle changes. Othman El Rhazi has one office in Rabat and two in Fes and specializes in Neurology. This gives Dr. Othman El Rhazi a chance to be at the forefront of neurological practice and innovation.
His friendly manner and wide experience make him a popular doctor. Although Dr. Othman El Rhazi covers all neurological areas, El Rhazi is currently the President of the Casablanca Headache Society and member of both Moroccan and African Neurological Associations. This enables him to provide patients who visit his centres the best possible care.
Dr. Othman El Rhazi has cared for isolation patients and pre and post-surgery patients and now of course patients suffering from neurological disorders. In 2009 he moved to Casablanca and has worked in Swissi II and his private office in Rabat in surgical and consultation. He speaks English, French and Chinese.
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Internist, Nephrologist (kidney)
9 years of experience
Accepting new patients
9 years of experience
Accepting new patients
1223 S Gear Ave
Ste 304
West Burlington, IA 52655 Phone number & directions
Ste 304
West Burlington, IA 52655 Phone number & directions
License & Identifications
A medical license is required for a doctor to practice medicine in a particular state. Requirements vary by state but most require, at a minimum, post-graduate training in the doctor's specific specialty. An NPI number is a national identifier unique to an individual health care provider and is managed by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Learn more about Dr. Joseph Morris:
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Dr. Morris graduated from Pikeville College.
Dr. Morris has 3 hospital affiliations:
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Home > Find an Internist > IA > West Burlington Internists > Dr. Joseph Morris, DO
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- Additional Information
- Dr. Joseph Morris DO is a male Internist, has 9 years of experience and practices in Internal Medicine and Nephrology.
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- Dr. Joseph Morris has 1 office location.
Dr. Joseph Morris practices Internal Medicine and Nephrology near West Burlington, IA.
See West Burlington Internists and West Burlington Nephrologists.


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The Rambling Ruminations of a Desperate Housewife!
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Taking a Break......
It wasn't something I thought that I could easily do. In fact I never thought I'd see the day that I would actually do it.
But then it happened.
The day came and I simply didn't switch my laptop on.
I walked away from the interwebs, without a care in the world and didn't look back. For four whole days!
Now it wasn't a conscious decision, you understand, and it didn't happen all of a sudden. It just, kinda, developed. Over time. A by-product of extreme busy-ness, you might say.
See, I got all caught up in the preparation of my son's state exams and took my supportive-mum role very seriously! Not that I had a choice really, the taxi-mum duties alone were time consuming, especially since he needed to come home at lunchtimes.
Like I say, I didn't plan it at all. I do love my online time, all that social media chatting and blogging. It's always fun and can sometimes be a distraction, or an outlet during busy or stressful times. I find though that when something big is happening in my life I'm either all about it........ or I clam up. I lose my social media voice. I have nothing to say. If I can't - or choose not to - speak about the huge elephant in my life then I say, nothing.
The Junior Cert was an 'elephant' of massive proportions and I didn't want to bore anyone else with it, and to be very honest I needed a break from it! It was so gigantic that there was nothing else for me to talk about.
I did try to keep up with online activities, at first. Although I self-muted I did scroll every day, keeping up with all the other things going on in my friend's lives and in the world in general. I awarded 'likes' here and comments there but then with no voice I just eventually, stopped. My silent laptop lay forlorn on the counter since last Thursday and my phone regained battery life from extreme under-use!
I did have lots of downtime in among the melee of extreme busy-ness though, but as the sun was shining - as it always tends to at exam times - I spent it outdoors whenever possible. A walk in the park, a stroll on the beach or getting through this lot.....
As sedentary as this lot looks don't be fooled! The knitting and crocheting projects didn't always go to plan and those books seriously came between me and my sleep! Right page-turners they are with more twists and turns than the windiest windy road, soaring up hill and down dale, and going to the strangest corners imaginable! And I must thank my friend Bright Side of Life for introducing me to the Nicci French books. I'm hooked and the resulting insomniac nights are all your fault! Just kidding!
Then I felt a little strange yesterday. I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Maybe it's the fact that only one lone exam remains to be sat, or it's the realisation that the long summer holidays - fraught with gaming disagreements - lies ahead, but I felt ...... bored? It seemed that lethargy and ennui had descended and a distinct feeling of couldn't-be-arsed-ness was definitely in the air.
My enjoyable downtime activities are not enough.
I need stimulation and conversations.
I need to be connected.
So yesterday I strolled lazily by my neglected laptop, a couple of times it must be said, before finally switching it back on.
Nothing has changed, I found. The social media world has continued to turn perfectly fine in my absence, and I have found that I can survive very well without it. If I have to.
But it is very good to be back!
And now I look forward to re-connecting with your blogs to see what you've all been up to!
The resulting catch-up can be the nicest part of taking a break.....
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
What's On TV?
The short answer to my question above on this Bank Holiday weekend was: 'not a lot'!
It was so frustrating. It wasn't a normal weekend, it was a Bank Holiday weekend for goodness sakes - the weekend to herald the new month of June and the official start of summer. It seemed that both the weather gods and the TV moguls conspired to make it an ordinary weekend, reminiscent of a different season entirely.
The rain and hailstones lashed down at times and the winds howled. There was nowhere to go, even if you had somewhere in mind, so we were stuck indoors. With a teenager supposedly revising for his Junior Certificate and who was hovering on the brink of his head-cold transitioning into the-must-not-happen-again and very much dreaded sinusitis; which so far has thankfully been avoided!
There's nothing worth watching on TV these days it seems. Flicking through the endless amount of TV channels available is like looking through a full wardrobe and declaring that you've 'nothing to wear'! I have long since bemoaned the fact that there are no block-buster movies on TV of a weekend, especially on a Saturday night, with just mediocre very, very late movies shown on some channels. It's mainly a diet of competing and repetitive chat shows (although I do enjoy that Graham Norton!), a slew of omnibuses and repeats and a total stream of mindless reality TV shows. I mean I really couldn't care less about your Celebrity mother in a Big Brother House who's saying Yes to a Big Fat stoopid Dress and screaming 'Get Me Out Of Here'. I'm screaming get me out of this TV hell!
I will admit to loving the all-singing-and-dancing type reality shows though. I can't get enough of them, even though they are contrived and everybody just has to have a back story. I love being a sofa-judge and watching their journeys. I often bemoan the fact that John Player Tops of the Town is no more and I like that there's a platform of sorts for today's talent to at least get a viewing. And I do enjoy my Tuesday night TV viewing of 'Greys Anatomy' and 'The Good Wife' and am currently sampling the new 'CSI Cyber'.
The only thing that saved this weekend, TV-wise, for me was the Britain's Got Talent Final on Sunday night and the Network premier of 'Taken 2' on Monday night. Although the former turned out to deliver an alleged fraudulent winner and while I enjoyed the latter I was very restless throughout.
You see I can't just sit there just watching TV. I must be doing something else at the same time, be it scrolling on my phone or laptop or knitting/crocheting!
This restless and picky TV viewer needs to make some changes.
- I need to relax!
- I need to make more use of the record function on my UPC box. Record some late night movies for later viewing, for example. Their box set choices aren't exactly enticing.
- I need to expand my viewing interests. I mean now that I've totally exhausted the endless repeats of 'Sex and the City' I've turned to 'Law and Order'! How desperate is that?!
- I clearly need to get out more.
- I need to get Netflix.
I intend to make these changes. Especially the last one.
As I publish this post I await the arrival of my Netflix kit which will see me join the worldwide Netflix #streamteam of bloggers!
I'm quite excited and am making a list of what I want to watch. Any recommendations would be appreciated.
The next TV blog post you see from me will be all about my Netflix #streamteam enjoyment!
I can't wait.....
Thursday, May 28, 2015
My 7 Deadly Stages of Junior Certificate Survival.......
There are no ifs and buts about it, sitting the Junior Certificate Examination (or the Leaving Certificate for that matter - but that's a whole other story for three years hence) is quite a stressful occupation. I mean there's all the running about, making sure classes are attended on time, all the revision and homework completed and ne'er a book is forgotten for any class. Schedules are switched on you at the last minute, extra tasks appear out of the blue, important documents mislaid and your whole life is put on what seems like indefinite hold. Also, your head is constantly fit to burst with all the school and real-life facts that are floating agitatedly around in your brain, so much so that you fear you'll implode, which would not be a pretty sight.
And that's just me, the parent.
I'm pretty sure my teenager feels the same, if not worse!
You see with all the months of flaffing about, navigating this tough examination terrain that's strewn with teenage hormones, discarded uniform parts and unfinished food items and wrappers, you feel that you're actually sitting this examination yourself!
You travel this route with your teenager. For months. And if you're like me you try to find unobtrusive and non-confrontational ways of navigation. You become an expert at tiptoeing lightly - as if walking on egg shells - through the minefield of these unpredictable teenage hormones while also being semi-forceful in manner. You gently make 'suggestions' while at the same time insisting that the work gets done. And you perfect the method of putting a bomb under them, whilst wearing kid gloves.
None of the above is a walk in the park, of that I can absolutely assure you!
And along the way you discover the '7 Deadly
You warn your teenager that there's only six weeks to go to their Junior Cert!! You tell him/her that they have got to start studying. Now. They must get their books in order, complete all assignments and make a study plan. RIGHT NOW. Quick.... hurry..... time is running out!
You call gently up the stairs to them, suggesting that now would be a good time to 'get to work'. You avoid using the word 'study', with all it's possible negative connotations, and suggest that they do some 'revision' after finishing their 'homework'. You also instinctively feel the need to cajole them in the most mundane of daily tasks.
You tell them how great they are and how proud of them you are, every chance you get.
When the 'Cajoling' fails to succeed you may tend to get - ahem - a little 'cross'? You shout all sorts up at them, before you make an actual appearance in their room - oh dear Lord, their room!! - by finally
Well, for starters there'll be no pocket-money this week ( or ever), they'll never enjoy wi-fi again in their lifetime, their self-built PC will be dismantled and thrown in the bin... 'right now, this very minute' ... and if they don't start
You just can't beat a bit of Mom-Logic, can you?!
Of course this 'Threatening' stage can work both ways. If you push too hard you might be told that if you don't stop then they'll 'do nothing and will fail everything..... see how you like that.'
Hmmm...... I guess Teen-Logic beats Mom-Logic..... every time!
In an effort to avoid the threatening you then resort to bribery. Nothing wrong with a bit of well-intentioned bribery, I always say! I've heard tell that some parents offer a monetary reward for every A or B etc attained in their final results? That doesn't appeal to some teenagers as it can put undue pressure on them; leaving them feeling as if they've under-achieved by 'only' getting a B when they wanted and worked for an A.
Instead I offered double pocket-money on a weekly basis and 'something nice' when the results are out. This way he has something to work for on a weekly basis.... and equally I have something to withdraw if he doesn't stick to the agreement! I also reckon that if the revision work is done then the deserved results (whatever they might be) will follow.
Treats are essential for successful revision. It's the law. If not then it should be!
Just keep them regularly supplied with drinks and favourite snacks. Don't worry if they're not too healthy, you can always sneak in a daily healthy homemade smoothie and sure they can return to healthier foods when this is all over. A Chinese meal out will be a main reward after the final exam has been sat!
Don't forget that the delivery of these snack rewards are also a way of checking up on them. And if you think they won't cop on to what you're at then you're even more deluded than I am!
Sometimes a word of encouragement and a goodnight hug at then end of a good day can be reward enough.
Oh, and absolutely don't forget that she-who-is study-supervisor, taxi-mum and whatever else is necessary, whenever it may be required, also needs her rewards too, in moderation of course!
As the months pass by you realise that the best you can do is to simply parent them:
- You 'mind' them by serving their favourite foods at mealtimes as much as possible and by trying to ensure that they get a good night's sleep.
- The 'Cajoling', 'Bribery' and 'Rewards' stages above may seem like being too gentle? Giving them control? It's not. It's called 'removing the domino' and is way better than the 'Threatening' stage! Why say or do something that's going to cause a row or distress when there are other ways to get the required results?
- You ply them with good vitamins like Solgar's Balance Rhodiola Complex and Omega-3 to reduce stress and keep the mind focused, and medications etc., to keep any nasty infections like sinusitis, that regularly hover in the background, at bay.
It's now only one week to go and you wonder what all that panic was about? Sure there's tons of time! The closer it gets to exam time the more likely they are to just get on with it. Sure the 'homework' for the past term at least has been mainly revisionary in nature, and that counts as
Although you might feel that you are sitting these examinations with your teenager the fact is that you.are.not. It is your teenager with
The very best of luck to your teenager if they're sitting their Junior or Leaving Certificate examinations next Wednesday, June 3rd.
There are just five days left.
Plenty of time.
What will be will be.
I'm already a very proud mum......
Posted by jazzygal at 7:51 PM 8 comments: Links to this post
Labels: #JC2015 #parenting, #teenagers, Examination Vitamins, Junior Cert, Junior Cert Survival, Mom-Logic, Mum Treats, Proud Mum, Rewards, Teen Treats, Teen-Logic
Sunday, May 24, 2015
We Give Them Wings and Then We Must Let Them Fly.......
It was an unexpected conversation and a particular tragic event that got me thinking this week, and had my mind going to places I really didn't want it to go.
The conversation was unexpected due to the rarity of these things. What's rare is wonderful it is said, and all the more appreciated when all the stars align and the gods smile down to facilitate lovely, peaceful visits with the patient. And this really was one of a couple of lovely recent visits.
This particular conversation centred around the music, from her era, that was playing in the background. I used it to start a conversation, to see where it would go. Asking a patient of a certain age with Dementia (among other things) if they remembered 'Bill Hailey and The Comets' as you sing-a-long can open all sorts of doors to memories you thought were long since locked away.
Oh, she did indeed remember him. Her eyes lit up as she told me all about him and the weekly dance that she and all her friends used to go to in the Assembly Hall of the local school. Her local primary school that is, the one that in time would also be mine. And the Assembly Hall that I as a child would watch school concerts and a rare movie in, a cinema reel movie that constantly broke down!
She recalled that the song 'Rock Around the Clock', and dancing to it, was such 'fun'. They jigged and they jived to his music, and all the songs played by the band and simply 'had a laugh'. She couldn't remember how much the entrance fee was but she definitely remembered that the boys all stood to one side and the girls to the other! And no, she didn't have to wait very long to be asked up to dance and no, there was never any drink involved. They 'didn't bother with drink' you see.
Now I know people did drink back then too, indeed it was the scourge of many families, but this memory did evoke a time of such innocence and harmless fun. They all smoked I'd say but drink wasn't necessary for a good night out.
In my teenage/young adult days the main scourges to be be wary of were drink and tobacco. Drugs were on offer in some venues I'm sure, but they were not the main temptation to be sampled on a night out. I can safely say that I have never in my life been offered any drugs. Which is saying a lot given that I come from a working class area.
In my teenage/young adult days the main scourges to be be wary of were drink and tobacco. Drugs were on offer in some venues I'm sure, but they were not the main temptation to be sampled on a night out. I can safely say that I have never in my life been offered any drugs. Which is saying a lot given that I come from a working class area.
Unfortunately it's not only the drinking and smoking that today's teenagers, young adults and their parents have to worry about. These days it seems that the drugs, their increased availability and attraction to our young (and older!) folk is the biggest worry of all.
Sadly it was this availability and attraction of drugs that caused the tragic death of this beautiful young teenage woman, whom I know, last Sunday. It is such a sad and tragic event. She was not the only person to partake in these drugs that night, nor was she the only one to take ill. She was however the only one to lose her life. My thoughts and prayers to her family, especially her lovely mum with whom she had an extremely close bond.
There can be nothing worse than losing your child. I cannot even bear to think about it......
As a result of this awful tragedy I have talked to my son about drugs in more detail. I have warned him about the unknown chemical compounds in pills such as these and the unpredictability of individual reactions to any drug. I've told him about the power of the word 'NO' and that it is okay to use it, even if all around him do not. I've told him to never leave a drink unattended and to always stay with his group of friends and to 'never leave anyone behind'. I've told him, without trying to scare him, that despite what he and his teenage peers may believe they are not invincible. All valuable information, I hope, for when he actually starts socialising in this manner!
We have drug awareness programmes in our schools, at primary and secondary level, to deliver age-appropriate information about the effects of drug-taking (among other things) to our children. I wonder what is provided at third level though, perhaps we need to increase discussions and supports - to keep drug-awareness levels high?
We raise our children to the best of our ability and try to prepare them for the world that awaits them.
We teach them right from wrong and prepare them for as many possible pitfalls as we can.
We give them wings and then we must let them fly.
Fly away from the safety of their own homes, their own country in some cases, and out into the big bad world.
And we hope that some of the advice we have dispensed comes to the fore of their minds when we most need it to.
Keep the lines of communication with your teenagers constantly open, and talk to them often.
Warn them again about drugs.
Sadly it was this availability and attraction of drugs that caused the tragic death of this beautiful young teenage woman, whom I know, last Sunday. It is such a sad and tragic event. She was not the only person to partake in these drugs that night, nor was she the only one to take ill. She was however the only one to lose her life. My thoughts and prayers to her family, especially her lovely mum with whom she had an extremely close bond.
There can be nothing worse than losing your child. I cannot even bear to think about it......
As a result of this awful tragedy I have talked to my son about drugs in more detail. I have warned him about the unknown chemical compounds in pills such as these and the unpredictability of individual reactions to any drug. I've told him about the power of the word 'NO' and that it is okay to use it, even if all around him do not. I've told him to never leave a drink unattended and to always stay with his group of friends and to 'never leave anyone behind'. I've told him, without trying to scare him, that despite what he and his teenage peers may believe they are not invincible. All valuable information, I hope, for when he actually starts socialising in this manner!
We have drug awareness programmes in our schools, at primary and secondary level, to deliver age-appropriate information about the effects of drug-taking (among other things) to our children. I wonder what is provided at third level though, perhaps we need to increase discussions and supports - to keep drug-awareness levels high?
We raise our children to the best of our ability and try to prepare them for the world that awaits them.
We teach them right from wrong and prepare them for as many possible pitfalls as we can.
We give them wings and then we must let them fly.
Fly away from the safety of their own homes, their own country in some cases, and out into the big bad world.
And we hope that some of the advice we have dispensed comes to the fore of their minds when we most need it to.
Keep the lines of communication with your teenagers constantly open, and talk to them often.
Warn them again about drugs.
Posted by jazzygal at 12:04 AM 12 comments: Links to this post
Labels: A Tragic Event, An Unexpected Conversation, Dementia, Drug Awareness, Parenting, Rest Peacefully Ana, Say No To Drugs, Talk To Your Teens, Teenagers, The Patient, Unlocking Memories
Thursday, May 14, 2015
'Over The Hill' and the Importance of Goal-Setting......
Now, I know this title might lead you to believe that this post is all about reaching a certain stage of 'mid-life'? Perhaps you may think that this will be all about a body under duress from the ravages of time, headed straight over the hill and on to the scrap heap of life?
Well then you'd be very wrong, if that's what you're thinking.
Of course it's not about any of that - I'm far too 'young'! Now I am aware that the sages of society may deem me to be 'middle-aged' and not that there's anything wrong with that or anything you understand, it's just that I simply refuse to accept it!
You see, in my head I'm only thirty-three and three-quarters. And right there is where I'm staying!
No, this is more about resilience, not giving in and a hard-earned recovery.
If you've been following my ramblings here you'll know I spent some time in hospital last year after sustaining a persistent and very painful back injury.
I spent a lot of time being inactive, reliant on others for all sorts of reasons and being unable to transport myself anywhere. For months.
Although I was very much aware of all the things I couldn't do - and yes it was upsetting at times - I motivated myself by turning them into challenges. I mightn't have been able to do them then you see, but I preferred to see them as long-term goals for me to attain.
My walking, for example, started off with little strolls - on crutches - just outside my house, which stretched to walking to the beach, to being crutch-less and to finally - months later - walking the lower end of our local park. In order to walk the other end of the park I needed to surmount this very daunting hill that rises over the train-tracks. It was a hill that never bothered me before but was now completely out of the question.....
I looked longingly at that hill every day and promised myself that by March/April I would get to the top and that by April/May I would make it to the far side, stroll around the rest of the park, traipsing back over the hill on my way home.
Happy with my goal setting I carried on with my other little challenges.
Thanks to good friends I got back to my beloved theatre-going. Starting with local, easy-to-get-to but hard-seated theatres, accompanied by said good friend(s) and my trustworthy comfy cushion. Before I knew it it was January and I was making my own way by Dart into town for shows with no cushion, or crutch, necessary!
In between times I motivated myself when inactive at home by turning my knitting and crochet hobby into a little project.
All the while keeping my eye on that hill and 'practicing' by going one third of the way up, then one quarter then skipping straight to three-quarters.
Then one day in February, ahead of schedule, when following a young man with special needs to be sure he was okay I made it right to the top! See.....
I was so proud! But it was short-lived due to a set-back I suffered, most probably as a result, and had to stop walking for three weeks.
Not one to be deterred I once again concentrated not on what I couldn't do, but on what I could and I continued on with my other goals.
I finally made it back to Pilates classes for one. Yes, I know this must sound strange. That in order to aid my recovery I went back to the very thing that caused my injury in the first place - Pilates! The difference is that these classes are properly taught by trained physiotherapists/Pilates Instructors - and it's the best thing I've ever done as my strength, mobility and flexibility gently increases. Oh, and as of today I can once more put my hands flat on the floor instead of just touching my toes!
I also continued with my swimming which I had started last November. I wasn't able to swim then but my attitude was: 'I may not be able to walk on water, but I can certainly walk through it'! And that's exactly what I did. Since then I've gone from 'walk-swimming' ten very slow lengths to more recently swimming twenty-six 'proper' lengths in thirty minutes! And sure if I could do that surely I could make it thirty lengths in thirty minutes? And so another goal was set.
Meanwhile back in the park I was back practicing on my hill. And finally, just before 30th April to ensure I met my target, I climbed that darn hill again and walked the whole park for the first time since last July! And just to prove that it's not a fluke I've done it a few times since, and it feels wonderful.
Then yesterday I aimed for my new swimming goal - and smashed it! Thirty-four 'proper swimming' lengths in thirty minutes!! Oh, yeah baby. Go me!
So, now that I've reached all my goals what's next? Well, there's nothing to stop me expanding on these goals some more, is there? And then there's my one remaining goal that I have yet to achieve. To get back dancing. And if these Dancing Dads can do it then I cannot see why us similarly aged mums/ladies shouldn't go for it too, can you?!
But for now I'm going to celebrate, because it's official.
I am 'over the hill'.
And proud of it!
So there!
Posted by jazzygal at 7:43 PM 12 comments: Links to this post
Labels: Back Injury, Dancing Ladies, Middle-Aged Meltdown, Over The Hill and Proud of it, Pilates, Positive Thinking, Proud Jazzy, Resilience, SHOWgals, Stubborn Jazzy, The Recovery, Tongue-in-Cheek
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Why the Academy of Code's 'Cool' Coding Camp is our Summer Camp of Choice.....
It's that time of the year again when you decide what, if any, summer camps your child/children will attend this summer.
I was recently asked to answer a few questions from journalist Vicki Notaro about summer camps in general, and about the Academy of Code summer camp we intend doing this year in particular.
The article, 'Happy Campers' - a kind of summer camp 'special' - appeared in the inaugural issue of Choice, a consumer guide supplement with the Independent newspaper on Tuesday. This interviewee and her teenage son's photo also appeared, along with some of my summer camp thoughts.
Irish school holidays are very long, especially for teenagers who get a massive three months summer break from secondary school.
I for one am
salivating at the thought very much looking forward to not hearing the dreaded daily alarm call at the crack of dawn and to not having the subsequent 'get out of that bed ..... NOW' argument every day for a whole twelve weeks! I crave for days of no homework hassle and relaxing days at home, interspersed with getting out and about on walks, trips to interesting places and hopefully some teenage-style hikes too.
I for one am
But it can be hard to constantly amuse and entertain your child/teenager, no matter how wonderful they are, every day for 8/12 long weeks - especially if they're an only child.
As Vicki says in her article: "...for parents with bored, irritable teenagers who are neither old enough for a part-time job, nor young enough to be entertained by picnics and play dates, the three month holidays can feel a little daunting - ..."
While we all enjoy the break some children miss the daily structure that school provides. That's why, I think, most of them, although they'll absolutely tell you the opposite, secretly look forward to going back!
We've availed of a lot of summer camps over the years - "In order to give structure to the long school summer holidays" as I reveal in my interview,
Summer camps are not favoured by all parents but as far as our family is concerned I believe them to be necessary as: "I felt it was important to enhance his skills, provide social outlets and keep him occupied during the holidays. Not every boy likes to kick a ball around!"
The main reason we still use summer camps is to help reduce the amount of summer screen and gaming time. Vicki too acknowledges the need for this: "Keeping teens busy and engaged (and away from social media and video games) ..."
My son has been attending computer coding classes with The Academy of Code since last January and really enjoys them. He's enjoying them so much that he has agreed to attend one of their summer camps in July!
Yes, that's right, in order to reduce his summer screen and gaming time I'm sending him to screen-based summer camp!
Well, you see, if he's spending a lot of time on screens anyway - especially since he built his own PC , at barely 15 years old, last January - he may as well go learn another useful skill during the summer. Something he can hopefully put to good use in transition year. And as I say in my interview: "I'd rather see him in front of a computer screen learning how to write websites, make apps and maybe even games too, rather than sitting at home playing on them!"
He may even come up with a project he could develop over the remaining summer holiday! I can but hope, right?
There are of course free coding classes available through the the fantastic network of Coder Dojos. However these classes didn't suit us. I find the consistent weekly classes, in smaller groups with the Academy of Code to be more effective. And I've found that the mentors are a helpful resource to both students and parents!
And as far as their summer camp is concerned: "I consider the Academy of Code to be value for money as they help nurture my son's interest in computer and console gaming and provide him with skills - not currently provided in our education system - to further that interest and, hopefully, assist [him] with his future college and career choices."
Academy of Code summer camps run from July 13th-17th and July 20th-24th in Oatlands College, Stillorgan, Dublin and are open to students from 9 to 17 years old and can be booked HERE
The cost is €160 per student but the early bird price of €144 is available until May 5th.... just two days remaining folks!
If you'd like some information about last term's 'Parent's Night' then check out
this class diary.
If you have any queries about these summer camps or weekly classes then contact Diarmuid at (083) 3068385.
And if all that's enough then watch this video to hear what the students themselves have to say!
Happy camping!
Disclosure: I was neither asked nor paid to write this, I did so because I wanted to. This blog post reflects my honest opinions.
Posted by jazzygal at 6:15 PM 6 comments: Links to this post
Labels: Choice Consumer Supplement, Coding Camp, Coding Classes, Dream Gaming Machine, Get the Last of Yer Early Birds, Irish Independent, No Other Camp is Cool Enough, Screenager, Summer Camp, The Academy Of Code
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Reasons To Be Cheerful: a Flower, a Loss and a Celebration.....
The days are long, seasonal time-changes notwithstanding, and very, very busy as the count down continues to my teenager's state exams in June. I try to remind myself that these aren't important exams and they don't really count for anything; whilst also keeping these thoughts far, far away from my mouth lest I let them slip, giving him ideas that he really shouldn't have!
However, there's always time, if you make it so, to notice and enjoy........
A Flower
A Camellia plant sits forlorn outside my front door, where it's been for the last few years. It's green leaves fading and their edges browning with each passing year as it keens ever outward, desperately stretching towards the sunshine it needs to grow into the beautiful flowering plant that it knows it can be.
It's far too heavy to move so it's staying put, but I did take pity and feed it some magic plant growing foodstuff at one stage. It never responded.
Then lo and behold a couple of days ago I noticed something very, very strange. Buds. Getting ready to flower. And look what finally popped out yesterday, just to brighten my day.....
If you look closer you can see some more buds ready to flower!
A Loss
I'm very good at losing things, generally speaking, and usually things that I really could do without losing either. So it was great to recently discover that, between the ups and downs and the jigs and reels of life, I'd finally lost something I've been trying to lose for quite some time now.
A stubborn something that simply refused to ... well ... get lost!
Yep, you got it. Since December/January I've lost 10lbs of the most stubborn post-injury weight ever! I've still a bit to go yet but..... Go Me!
A Celebration
A birthday is a really good reason to be cheerful, but when they're no longer guaranteed they become ever more special, even if they can't be fully celebrated.
Today a special lady in my life defied all the medics in her life and celebrated another birthday!
This is no mean feat considering all she's been through.
So,Happy Birthday Mam - you are my biggest 'Reason to be Cheerful' xxx
This post is part of the 'Reasons to be Cheerful' linky hosted over at Ojo's World ......
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