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I read this today 'How adopting an angelic five-year-old blew our family apart', it's in the daily mail but I felt it was interesting to ask what could have been done differently and by whom?(94 Posts)
I read this today 'How adopting an angelic five-year-old blew our family apart', it's in the daily mail but I felt it was interesting to ask what could have been done differently and by whom?
Sorry if this article is upsetting for anyone, it is not posted for that reason. Just looking for comments and ideas on how things could be done differently, and hopefully are done differently in some places.
Sorry my post seems quite abrupt, seriously sleep deprived
Parenting my DD is the biggest challenge I have ever faced but she still deserves, and needs, love and understanding
A therapist once told me that an attachment disordered child is like a sieve, all the love seeps out of them and it can feel like you are giving and giving with nothing in return
There needs to be a lot of work done around appropriate intervention and more resources for support
Our CAMHS are rubbish and, so far, have caused more harm than good
IMO the government is misguided in their speeding up of the approval process and will lead to more disruption
They should have focused on post adoption support
wow thank you Lilka and all, those threads have really opened my eyes! We are still very much in the early stages!
From reading the old threads a lot of it rings home to me, the feeling the need to tell other mothers in the school yard that he is adopted as a feel like 'fake' is very much still where I am at! Especially when they start talking birthing stories, I find this quite uncomfortable.
My DH is certain that if DS was 'how is is with him' i.e. the cuddles, affection and love I would bond with him, he is certain that I am holding back because he is resisting/rejecting me, and doesn't particularly like my cuddles, often moving away/even crying, he won't sit with me or anything like DH. I feel to an extent he is probably right - I am almost scared in case he never feels that way about me so it is holding me back.
After our most recent 'behavioral manipulation' issues etc I feel that definitely made me 'shut down' - any empathy, acceptance etc just disappeared (I have recently read parenting through PACE, have any of you read this? I have found it most useful). However, I have started to just force it again, play/paint with him try to be back to how we were in the 'honeymoon phase' - as a result I have relaxed a little, I am still not 100% but I have improved. It seems DS has stopped trying, especially vocally to hurt me (for now?) but at least this may be a good start.
I feel bad that all of those feelings shut down for me, it seems my own personal anxiety took over and I just couldn't cope with it. I have even struggled making eye contact! But in recognizing so I hope is good progress?
I am just trying to learn not to dwell on the differences between me and DH, and not react to any of DS attempts to get a reaction out of me. Accept that he is comfortable with DH and realise that is a very good thing, it is going to take a long time I feel/if ever for DS to be like that with me.
He is extremely comfortable (perhaps too much in certain situations) with all men, he is only reserved with woman in general.
I realise I just seem to put all of my thoughts and feelings into this without any logic, but it helps to just talk, and see that I am not alone in this.
Thank you all again for your comments
Thanks for those links, Lilka. Needing them myself today. I feel like I may not be faking it particularly well today either...
Must be the day for it today. <sighs> Got a triumphant wee smile from my youngest today when I rose to his behaviour before school. No gold stars for me today.
And cbeebies have changed the schedule!!! <wails>
Sorry I haven't read all the posts but the wise Lilka has as usual written some very enlightening posts. Some of you will know I am a retired sw and tm mgr for a Fostering & Adoption team and we were including attachment issues in all our prep courses for foster carers and adopters in the mid 90s. I still think it's one of the most important issues in fostering and adoption.
I wonder how much spin the DM put on the article about the "angelic" child. I too winced at the Adopter saying that she had always wanted to adopt an "unwanted" child, or maybe she said rescue - even worse! As others have said it doesn't seem like these adopters were properly prepared (if you ever can be) for adopting a child who has been seriously abused/neglected and they were blown away by the blonde hair and angelic smile.
Some of the comments in the article made me think that the adopters were unable to cope with fairly minor things e.g. being "furious" because of the spilling water out of the bath. There were so many different ways to cope with this - maybe put a washing up bowl by the bath so she could ladle the water into there - oh I know it's easy to say stuff like this when you are not in the thick of it. I thought the incident with the spud gun was given far more importance than it should have been and seemed to be the final "nail in the coffin" (no pun intended)
I think the thing that was most strange was the fact that the adopters wanted the adoption "annulled" and the child placed elsewhere but at the same time wanted her back at some point in the future. I just could not understand this at all and once a child has been removed from adopters (for whatever reason) and placed with foster carers then that is end of matter for the adopters. It has to be. The child can't think she is going to return to them ..........at some point, and I would be amazed if the LA agreed such a plan. The adopter were visiting her every 12 weeks and seemed to think that was ok and that one day she would return to them.
The other thing I wanted to say (and forgive me if anyone else has said it) but I did wonder about whether this child had Foetal Alcohol Syndrome as her birthmother abused alcohol. This condition is largely undiagnosed in this country (and diagnosed routinely in USA) and it does manifest itself in some very bizarre behaviours that seem to be like learning difficulties, but somehow they aren't - somehow it seems the child is deliberately misbehaving and they are much understood and sometimes punished for their behaviour.
The thing is that alcohol can enter the placenta and damage the cells of the foetus in utero and there is no way that this can be reversed or remedied. It is far worse than babies who are born drug addicted because they can be withdrawn from drugs with careful nursing care. Some FAS babies have facial features that can aid diagnosis but others don't and as it's a syndrome there is no way that it can be known just how affected the child will be.
Clearly we only have the "bones" of what happened here and I feel sad for the child and the adopters. I have seen marriages break up when adoptions break down and adopters who suffer mental health problems as a result of trying to care for very damaged children.
There are no easy answers are there - I just take my hat off to all you adopters and foster carers out there who are caring for the most vulnerable children in our society. I usually recommend a book called "Why Love Matters" by Sue Gerhardt (a paperback) and it is important because she evidences how the pathways in the brain of a baby change in relation to the quality of the care given in those earl days, weeks and months. I think so many adopters think that if you love a child, all will be well, but that's not the case as many of you know and learning about attachment theory does give the best chance of helping a child to learn to trust adults after being so let down in their earliest years.
It is so wonderful and helpful to read wise words from Roadwalker, * NanaNina* and all.
I know the article is rather controversial and somethings, like the title of the book (I agree with Roadwalker) are things that are difficult to discuss and consider. I am aware lots of people are dealing with behaviours which are really hard and I am just very grateful (as a prospective adopter) to see the wise words of advice and empathy from others.
Buster I sincerely hope you will find things get better. A while ago I watched a documentary called The Dark Matter of Love. There was a thread on here at www.mumsnet.com/Talk/adoptions/a1897577-Great-Adoption-Documentary-on-BBC about it. What was very interesting was that an 11 year old girl was adopted (along with twin boys aged 5 who were not related to her). What was interesting was that she seemed to bond first with the dad and then with the mum later. This is probably an utterly different situation to your situation Buster but I wanted to mention it because for the first half of the documentary it looked so much like the girl liked the dad and was not interested in the mum but towards the end, the mum became much more important to her. So maybe for you you are in the very early part of your adoption story.
All best wishes Buster and otherbs.
Thank you Italiangreyhound, this sounds quite like our situation it's great to hear it got better! I will try to watch it
We've had feedback from SW & an attatchnent specialist she works work advising it sounds a lot like a disorganised-controlling attatchnent pattern DS has. If any of you have came across this / information on it that would be super.
I must say today was a much better day, DS was back to wanting to be on my back & was quite evenly mixed between mummy & daddy. We still see a lot of his need to control things coming out, but this seems direct at DH as well as me more recently (since I have been completely ignoring the behaviour which was creating a reaction). I can honestly say that a lot of what he does doesn't bother me now either, which is a HUGE step for me, as I'm able to still engage with him like I should be!
I do feel rather to blame for giving him the reactions he was craving but I has no idea what was the cause/thing he was seeking! You live & learn I suppose & thankfully I've recognised my behaviour early into his placement & we can hopefully start to accept & build towards his future
Again apologies for the spelling etc - one tired mummy! :D
Buster you sound like one switched on person who is doing a great job. Don't ever doubt that.
I've now gone back and read some of the posts. I feel so much for all your adopters out there Buster ItalianGreyhound Lilka Roadwalker missPolly and others - sorry if I've missed anyone out. I know Lilka that most of your problems are over and your DD is growing closer and closer to you. It's great that you can reach out to others who are doubting that this will ever happen for them.
I'm a bit puzzled though by this distinction that seems to be made between RAD and other Attachment problems. Surely all attachment difficulties are reactive, as they are a reaction to not having their needs met in their earliest days, weeks, months and for some being abused/neglected and moved from carer to carer in their formative years.
Isn't the distinction between a secure attachment and an insecure attachment the important one to make. Needless to say, by definition adopted children are almost always going to have an insecure attachment and this will manifest itself in a variety of ways, as so many of you know and are coping with these manifestations on a daily basis.
Attachment theory is just that a theory isn't it, and there are differing views and explanations amongst the experts. As far as I can see, a secure attachment is made when the baby's needs in all respects are met from his first breath, and he is loved unconditionally right from the beginning of his life. This secure attachment with his parents/carers will be a protective factor for him throughout the life span. Conversely babies whose needs are not met, and are abused or neglected will have an insecure attachment pattern. I believe that children will always try to organise themselves so that they can survive in whatever situation they are in, and I don't mean of course that this is done at a conscious level, far from it, as this type of behaviour can be seen in a young baby.
I am thinking of the "frozen watchfulness" of a baby who is abused, who lies still in the pram and doesn't move or make any sound (like a rabbit caught in the headlights) so as not to bring himself to the attention of the abuser. I had learned about this in theory but to actually see it in a 4 months baby was chilling indeed. His 2 year old brother who was also being abused hid behind his bed to keep out of the way of the abuser. In this way children are organising themselves in order to try to survive.
Coming back to insecure attachments, I think they will vary dependent upon the parent/carer. The child who has experienced rejected, interfering and controlling parents will show an avoidant attachment pattern. If these children show distress it annoys the parent and any crying, clinging, following, demanding does not bring the reaction needed - in fact it brings the opposite, Hence these children will minimise that behaviour and will not show their distress. Emotional self containment is established.
Children whose parents are insensitive, unreliable and inconsistently responsive show an ambivalent attachment style and try to maximise their behaviour (whine, cling, fret, shout and threaten in order to break through the parent's emotional neglect, unavailability and lack of response. To the child the parent is emotionally desired but emotionally unavailable and naturally this causes great frustration in the child, and they will tend to have ambivalent feelings towards other people and relationships.
Children who cannot *organise their behaviour or develop a strategy to achieve security in any way whatsoever with their parents are usually the children of parents who are severely mentally ill, heavy drug or alcohol users and there is domestic violence. However the child behaves it brings no comfort and so their attachment pattern is seen as incoherent and disorganised and they freeze (as the baby I described above did) - I wonder if these children are being diagnosed with RAD.
Having said all that does it really matter what diagnosis is attached to these children. They have all been neglected/ill treated in some way and you wonderful adopters are caring for them. I know you won't see yourselves as "wonderful" but that's as maybe. I am allowed to say it!!
AS for help and support - I'm sure that is very patchy. In the LA that I worked in we had a brilliant clinical psychologist who worked exclusively with foster carers and adopters who were parenting children with attachment difficulties. She always pointed out that there is a big gap between the chronological and emotional age of these children and recommended regressing from time to time, playing games meant for younger children, singing nursery rhymes etc obviously not all the time, but for specific periods in the day in possible.
A story that has stuck in my mind is that of an experienced foster carer (a single woman) who long term fostered an 8 year old boy whose parents both had moderate LDs and he was delayed in all respects and should have been moved much earlier. However she regressed sometimes with him (he loved Bob the Builder) at age 8 and she played games with him suitable for 3/4 years etc, She said that one day he was lying on the sofa drinking water out of a sports type bottle, and he clambered onto her lap and cuddled up in the crook of her arm and sucked the bottle, and eventually he handed her the bottle and she found herself giving him the water from the bottle as you would a baby.
She phoned me as she was a bit worried but I thought that was a brilliant way this child felt secure enough to get what he needed/wanted.,
Sorry I've said too much I'm sure.
Me again - just meant to say that the most valuable support for a child with attachment difficulties is play therapy but this is expensive. I think though that you should request LAs fund this therapy. You will find lists of Approved Play Therapists if you google. This therapy is non directed and the children are allowed to play with whatever they like, and the therapist will only intervene if the child is becoming destructive. There is usually a sand tray, play figures, dolls, houses, cars, trains etc. Children will often "play out" their fears in this way as they are far too young to be able to make any use of "talking therapies."
I have a close friend who is a play therapist and she says the thing that comes out most in the children is anger, sometimes throwing soft toys on the floor, mixing sand and water into mud and smothering it over the face of the doll. One child repeatedly bashed the doll's head against the wall, (it was a soft doll) shouting "bastard" several times and then lay on the floor and sobbed.
This isn't a cure of course as there isn't one, but it does allow children to express through play some of their innermost emotions. She also teaches adoptive parents how to spend an hour or so each day just letting the child play with the toys and be "with him" in the sense of sitting near, but not interfering, and after a while the child can in some cases start to show his emotions through play.
I have not adopted. I have ASD ds1, whom it was once suggested might have RAD. The tiredness it brings. The lack of support. The fatc that no one believes you and most people think I am a nutter (munchausens) - the cutlery and the constant water out of the bath - some posters were very flippant and dismissive about he clothes back to front and the bath water - that just goes to show that you have NO IDEA - god it IS those bits that are the absolute killer. I hope you never live to find out.
Oblomov I am so sorry if my post about not thinking the bath water was a big deal. I have no idea, you are right. My dd is a quite difficult but not very difficult and I have no idea what the problems are. It is through Mumsnet and the support and knowledge of posters here that I am learning, very slowly, about all the myriad of problems that children and parents can experience. So I am very sorry if I offended you, but we are all (I think) here to learn and try and make sense of children, and that was one thing that did not make sense for me. But I stand corrected.
Nananina thanks for your wisdom. Can I just say put me in with the adopters, which is very flatettering, but I am not yet an adopter. I am a birth mum and approved to adopt.
I (for one) am finding this thread very helpful and so thank you again to all who contribute.
Sorry - typo - Nananina Can I just say you put me in with the adopters... I'm not yet one!
Morning all.
Oblomov, it is like a dripping tap, some days you hear it and other days you can zone out. So hard. Though as we are talking bath water, possibly not the best analogy! One of the things I find very difficult is the fact that we know the problem and it doesn't make it easier to get through the day. We know our children are functioning differently. Mostly we are lucky enough to know why. But it is still so hard.
I think of the word spectrum and it makes me think of rainbows. I then just apply that to my children. What colour are they today. Yellow = ok, red = let's get through it. That way labels are less important. Maybe that seems a strange way to approach it but it is one of the things that works for me. Most days anyway.
I read the newspaper article. The book was published in 2008 and seems to cover roughly a ten year period so Alex will now be an adult (assuming she is still alive).
The thing that occurred to me immediately was "Did anyone take the trouble to track down Michelle when Alex was a teenager?".
It could be that 10 years later Michelle might have completely turned her life around and would be delighted to have her teenage daughter back in her life. People change enormously over a ten year period (I know my ex did hah!). And reunification with Michelle just might be the thing that Alex so wanted and would not tell anyone. Michelle might be the one and only person in the world to whom she might attach. Of course that would mean social services having to admit they made a mistake.
Too late now of course. All water under the bridge.
Stumbled on this in active conversations. Heartbreaking stories. Why is there a policy to keep kids with their birth parents so that so much damage can be done?
whatrousetoday - I can't imagine what you must have gone through. I'm not sure if anyone else picked up on your comment though - perhaps someone else has been through similar and can help...
Ah lilka. My dd sounds just like your dd did. In fact, much of the behaviour in the mail article is what I see minute by minute and hour by hour. No cruelty to animals or children but the increasingly desperate and inventive ways to seek attention.
What could those parents have done differently? I don't know but I do know I was given plenty of training what you might expect with an ac but I wasn't prepared for all of it coming in one bundle in my house at once. Maybe ss didn't know enough to tell me. In hindsight I think they alluded to things which weren't made explicit. I think that moving a child from fc to an adoptive family peels back layers and layers of emotion that have been buried... Often just to survive in chaotic environments. When they start to surface then stand by!
My dd doesn't say she has another voice in her head (great bit of sensational reporting there) but she talks about having different parts of her brain telling her different things. It's just child speak for saying she's in a massive muddle about things.
What could they have done differently? Probably nothing except stick it out, which would be a difficult decision to make when another child is being affected.
Best advice? Don't scare yourself reading unbalanced articles in a flimsy rag. Good for debate but not for a reasonable account. That wouldn't sell papers
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Off-road Touring, Beautiful Balkans
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Gnarly Adventurer
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: Serbia
Oddometer: 118
Photobucket is back in action so it's time to move on with RR
Another early wake up. First meal after 24 hours feels really good.
I'm packing as slowly as possible, waiting for the morning sun to warm the air. Did I say that camp is located by the lake? Well, it is. After four nights of camping I was looking forward to finally taking a swim. It's about time to get rid of all the dust. On the other hand I want to get moving as soon as possible because this day is supposed to be very long and I don't know where I could camp that night. Compromise: go for the swim as soon as it stopped being cold outside :) Man, that swim was heavenly good...
In the morning camp looked more like some sort of open commune, with people spending better parts of summer here, away from urban life. It just felt natural to be there.
This sculpture was made by one of the guys "living" here. He was extremely proud of his work and insisted that I should go and check it out. That water you can see flowing is from the nearby spring and there is also a cup somewhere at the sculpture... It looks so wrong, pervert and great at the same time, I couldn't stop laughing...
When I wanted to pay for last nights beer and camping there was a simple response: The air here is free, you came as a guest... Again, kindness and openness of total strangers catches me by surprise.
I skip beers, vine and
(home made plum brandy, basicly national drink in Serbia and Bosnia) which are already being consumed. Everybody is talking about forecasted rain for that afternoon and following days. That gets me thinking... I still have at least five days to ride, all of it in areas completely unknown to me. Tires on my bike are road oriented and they don't go well together with off-road riding in wet conditions. Riding and camping in rain for few days really doesn't appeal to me, it would be a real shame to force anything. Decision time: ride as planned for half a day and then check the forecast. If it looks bad I'll slowly turn toward home, if it looks promising I'll finish the ride as planned.
First thing to visit on this day is scenic overlook at Uvac river canyon (the river is dammed so that's the reason for the lake-side camping). Road there is in good condition and I enjoy riding.
After several attempts I manage to find the overlook. Basically, if you don't know exact location there is very little chance to find it, you have to go trough fences and somebodies property... Uvac canyon is Nature Park, only habitat of griffon vulture in Serbia. When the park was established species was at the extinction point. Few decades, and much effort, later population is thriving. Nice, sunny day, meandering river below, flock of at least 30 huge birds in the air and no other humans around... It hardly gets better than this.
Short video from the overlook:
Back to the bike, as I started rolling I came across large group of mountain climbers (when I say large we're talking about bus-full, 40-50 people) going toward overlook. I was just so glad that they didn't arrive 30 minutes earlier and that I had the place for myself.
Next stop is at peak of
Jankov Kamen
some 50-60 km away. Plan is to get there using forest roads. Once again I have absolutely no idea if roads are passable or not. Beginning is promising, wide hard-packed dirt roads. First village, second village, road gets progressively worse. At one intersection still decent road goes straight forward, GPS says that I should turn left to road in not so good condition. Ruts from tractors, large holes. I'm lucky because it is bone dry. If it was wet mud would probably swallow me :)
This is dust cloud after few minutes of being stopped...
This whole area reminded me of foothills of a mountain (well, 530 m mountain can hardly be called mountain...) near my home town. Most of the ground is being cultivated and there are no notable peaks anywhere. GPS says we're more than 1300 m high...
Little later I come across a guy laying under the tree, looking after his cows. He confirms that this is the right road with my favorite words:
"Just go straight... Can't miss it."
Directions like this are usually good and true, at least until you reach first fork in the road. Road becomes bad, overgrown bushes, deep tire tracks embeded in now dry mud. GPS says that I should turn left but I can't even see the road there. Nothing to do but to press on. Voice inside my head:
-"At least it's dry."
64,21 m later and we're in muddy section. Water puddles are streaching across the road, no way around them. Luckily mud isn't sticky or to slippery so it's not a problem to ride trough. It's becoming obvious that I'm moving away from planned route but stubbornness doesn't allow me to turn around. Few minutes later I get to god dirt road and soon it takes me back to my planed route. No photos from that bad section, but to be honest it wasn't as bad as it may sound from my description.
Charcoal furnace
This road is nice for riding. It winds trough shade of the forest, good for relaxing. Many intersections later I find myself on this great forest road, following the stream. I'm looking some nice place to take a swim but there is no "perfect" spot. And, as usual, when trying to find perfect spot you end up with nothing. Road turns back into the hills, away from the stream.
For some reason I'm not enjoying the ride anymore. It can be that I'm tired from days spent on the road (first longer trip). Another thing is that I find it difficult to be amazed by nature after riding trough Bosnia and Montenegro in first couple of days. Riding in terrain similar to that from back home (dirt road trough forest without great open viewvs) is not apealing right now...
Without GPS navigation here would be almost impossible. Directions that you can get from locals are usually along these lines:
"Just go straight" or
"Just follow the main road."
There are simply to many crossroads, same road sometimes looks like major forest road and then soon turns into something little better than a track.
Just look at all the roads in the photo above. It is not a single road winding its way up the hill...
And then, just as I had enough, dirt road turns into cobblestone and forest somehow looked better. I was really surprised to see another vehicle here but there it was, regular family car. Soon there was another car and then one more. Next scene catches me by surprise: just as I approach one parked car doors open and 2-3 girls, all dressed up with high heels and everything get out... Road is in bad shape if your'e in low sedan so the driver made them walk... High heels and walking in forest, got me thinking, trying to find any connection. No photos, sorry :)
I come across small waterfall by the road. This time I'm not missing opportunity to cool my head, it's blistering hot outside. To me there is something special anytime I'm able to drink water straight from the stream... It just feels good to be connected with nature like that... Of course, none of the cars stops and they look at me like I'm some sort of circus attraction.
Soon after the waterfall we're back on the main road, going across Golija. Pavement lasts almost two kilometers before road turns into excellent gravel. Traffic is heavy, there were at least six cars :) Road is not that good for them so they are moving slowly. Being on dual sport bike means that gravel is almost same as pavement which translates to me not moving slowly :) It's a quick ride toward Jankov Kamen peak. Time for lunch break, picking blueberries and generally enjoying myself. Half a day is gone, with less than one third of distance covered. And much of the remaining distance is off-road, again on the roads that I'm not even sure exist...
This is point where I have to make decision, going home or finishing the trip as planned. Few phone calls to the control room back home confirm that weather forecast doesn't look promising. Afternoon showers today and tomorrow and rain for the next few days. If I stick to the original plan that would mean that I'll be furthest away from home, in area that I wanted to visit for at least five years (Stara Planina mountain, in south-eastern Serbia, bordering with Bulgaria), just in time when regular rains are forecasted. Seems like waste of time to me, no way I could enjoy riding and camping in rain, no matter how much I wanted to go...
Also, by now, I was sick and tired from being nervous every afternoon when I realize that there is much ground to be covered and little time to do it (completely my fault, off course. Planned distances for every day proved to be to long for my style of riding, slowly and stopping oh-so-often to take photos. On the other hand, I had all the time in the world to do this ride, no pressure what so ever. I could ride half as much each day and take my time. But stubbornness is a bitch... Another thing is that planned camping locations for every day were just perfect and it would be shame to spend a night in the middle of the forest when you can spend it by very scenic lake.).
Other option is to turn toward home from there. Spend this night at some nice place on a mountain and then ride home tomorrow. Even if it rains tomorrow it wouldn't matter because I'll be sticking to pavement and sleep in my bad that night.
So that was it... Relieved on one side, and feeling bad about quiting, on the other, I choose second option. GPS becomes useless. It's time to get the paper map out and plan fun ride back home. New destination for today is lake Zaovinsko in Tara National Park. Idea is to get there combining tarmac roads with few off-road sections I ridden earlier that year with organized group. Off course, plans are there to be broken
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VIDEO: Sneak Peek - Tonight's Episode of ABC's PRIVATE PRACTICE
Below, get a sneak peek at tonight's episode of the ABC medical drama PRIVATE PRACTICE. The show airs 10:00-11:00 p.m., ET/PT on the ABC network.
Shonda Rhimes, creator/executive producer of "Grey's Anatomy," comes the award-winning show "Private Practice," the story of a team of gifted doctors working together on difficult cases, with patients whose medical needs often pose moral and ethical dilemmas. Together they work to change the lives of their patients for the better, as they look to one another for friendship and love.
The last year has brought great change to the lives of the Seaside Health and Wellness doctors. After struggling with infertility, Addison (Kate Walsh) was blessed to adopt a baby boy named Henry. In her love life, she made the decision to move on from Sam (Taye Diggs), who wasn't ready for a family, and gave the practice's newest addition, Jake (Benjamin Bratt), a shot. But just when she started to become comfortable with the new man in her life, Sam stunned her with a proposal. Now Addison has a big decision to make… whom will she choose?
About Author
- CNBC to Air THE MAKING OF DIG, the USA Network Event Series, 3/1
- NBC to Air One-Hour Season Finale of CHRISTINA MILIAN TURNED UP, 3/1
- NBC Universo to Present ROMEO SANTOS DESDE VINA Concert Exclusive, 3/1
- Kelly Clarkson to Visit CBS SUNDAY MORNING, 3/1
- VIDEO: Clark Gregg Teases New AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. Season Using Emojis
- Dakota Johnson to Host SNL Tonight; Alabama Shakes to Perform
- NBC Sports to Air Coverage of U.S. GRAND PRIX FROM PARK CITY
- Discovery Family to Premiere New Episodes of TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS, Today
- Telemundo to Present FUTBOL ESTELAR: LEON VS SANTOS, Today
- Telemundo to Give Viewers Sneak Peek at Upcoming Programming on LO NUEVO, Today


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BPL Community Profile
Bob Bankhead (wandering_bob) - BPL Lifetime Member
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All Forum Posts by Bob Bankhead
Showing 181 - 190 of 1356 | Page: 1 ...10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 ...136
EE Revelation Quilt
Are you sure about your weight value? Your claim for the REV 40 is 13.3 ounces, yet EE states 18.3 oz. for a long wide REV 40. Yours is 5 full ounces (27%) less. I can't believe that just...
dried eggs or freeze dried? Need some advice for a good choice/flavor
Mtn House freeze-dried scrambled eggs - with or without peppers and ham - are God-awful. Buy a single package and see what I mean.
Gatewood Cape in Cuben
This is easy to visualize. Whether or not it occurs is up to SMD. Based on the ratio of the weights for a silnylon Skyscape Trekker (24 oz) vs. a CF Skyscape X (15 oz), a Gatewood Cape in 0.74...
Breakfast Bar?
+1 Probars - both the Probar Meal and the smaller Probar Fuel. Tree-hugging environmentalists will love the fact that they are all organic and non-GMO. Me, I just love the variety of flavors. While...
"Solution for transporting Caldera cone"
I use the caddy because it is multi-purpose. 1 - it carries and protects the Caldera Cone and stove (as designed) 2 - it carries and protects numerous other fragile items (i.e. hardboiled egg...
Natural Selection at work
The Merced River is cold and swift, especially as it approaches the falls. (For swimming, go all the way to Little Yosemite Valley and get in where the river flows slowly and into deep pools.) A...
Darwin Falls
Here's a link to the news report of the death at Punchbowl Falls in the Columbia Gorge. This is along the Eagle Creek Trail. Like Yosemite, the posted warning sign did not stop these young men....
SMD Thread
Fan Boys
We all are fan boys. Each of us has our personal favorite manufacturers and piece of gear. That said...... Just because I had a good experience with a given item or vendor does not mean that any...
Mt. Hood advice
Do you know how - meaning do you have real-time hands-on training and experience with both walking in crampons and self arrest? How about moving as part of a rope team and crevasse crossing/rescue ...
All Reader Reviews by Bob Bankhead
Showing 1 - 10 of 17 | Page: 1 2
Western Mountaineering The Company
WM products are a 5+ WM the company does not sell direct, only through dealers, ergo end-user contacts would not be expected. Their printed catalogues do list their address and FAX and telephone nu...
Mountain House Lasagna with Meat Sauce
I use a lot of Mountain House Pro Packs and as much as I like the flavor and texture of this item, I avoid it like the plague. The overwhelming downside is the cheese they use. It does NOT rehydra...
Mountain House Sweet and Sour Pork with Rice
One of my favorite Mountain House meals, albeit a tad too sweet for my taste; too much pineapple, not enough sour sauce. Nonetheless, it makes a great motivator to get to a dinner spot when I know one...
Mountain House Precooked Scrambled Eggs with Bacon
I tried these several years ago when they first came out - no bacon in them then. They were horrible! Like a previous reviewer said, virtually flavorless yellow sponges. Last year I noticed they ha...
Gossamer Gear Lightrek 4 Adjustable CF Trekking Poles
I decided not to buy these when they first came out because fully closed they were too long to carry on my pack in checked baggage on the plane, and I really didn't want to hassel with the maili...
Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape
I just returned from 22 nights in the high Sierra on the PCT and JMT. I had two days of constant high winds in Onion Valley, with sustained gusts to at least 50 mph. My trusty Gatewood Cape flapped a ...
Six Moon Designs Traveler backpack
We have TWO Traveler packs. Early in 2008, we were shopping for a new pack for my wife, who has a short 14-1/2 inch torso length. We drove out to Ron's house to try the SMD Essence, but it did not...
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Sack
In addition to silnylon, Sea to Summit also now makes their Dry Sack line in eVENT fabric, both with and without compression capability. evac Dry Sack: available in 3, 5, 8, 13, 20, 35, and 65 lite...
Therm-A-Rest Ridgerest
This has been my "go-to" sleeping pad for many years on the PCT. I've tried a variety of others but keep returning to this little beauty. It does a great job of insulating one from th...
Aloksak O.P 12.5 x 20"
I have found them to be quite effective in the Sierras the past two summers. I have a Bearikade Expedition, and if you're not careful, the metal edges around the latches can slice an OP sak wh...


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Lord John Wilmot
Comments about Lord John Wilmot
C.r.v. Hall
This biography is inaccurate. John Wilmot was the 2nd Earl of Rochester http: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wilmot, _2nd_Earl_of_Rochester
Linda Hepner
I see because he calls himself 'Lord' he gets away with language we plebs can't use on poemhunter. Out, out, brief kindle!
Fred Tarr
at the behest of the royal society of kentucky outcasts and ecclesiastical scoundrels, let me inform the board at poem hunter that the true identity of Lord John Wilmot is none other than Joe Green, a Shakesperian scholar currently living residing in Minneapolis and wont to great excesses of debauchery visited upon his family with stupendous frequency and indirect indiscreet nomenclature. Green's collection of sexual torture instruments is all the rage in Minneapolis and he can bee seen daily at a bus stop hailing a bus in that he might be transported to his work place.
His obvious glee at having been outed on poem hunter is like gasoline spurting from a car fire on the expressway as his thought life has preempted this very occasion for he knew my literary detective skills would reveal his true fakery and post it here. therefore he will not sue this wormly countenance who walks with an unsteady gait and rhumey eye, this outcast of ky literary society and extravagant ecclesiastical genius..
Were I (who to my cost already am
One of those strange prodigious Creatures Man)
A Spirit free, to choose for my own share,
What Case of Flesh, and Blood, I pleas'd to weare,
I'd be a Dog, a Monkey, or a Bear,
Or any thing but that vain Animal,
Who is so proud of being rational.
The senses are too gross, and he'll contrive
A Sixth, to contradict the other Five;


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The 2014 BMW M Power Experience featuring the F80 M3 and F82 M4 will take place this year in Istanbul, Turkey!
The event runs from May 18 – June 17, 2014 and each program runs 3 days. Check out the full details inside.
Here's a dissected and modified look at the factory stock F30 335i axle back exhaust system.
Why was the exhaust dissected? E90/E92 M3 owners have been able to modify their factory exhausts on the cheap by simply replacing the perforated tubes, so this F30 335i owner set out to see if the same can be done with the F30.
Attached inside is the official U.S. pricing guide for the 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe (F36) (see Official Thread for all specs/info).
Production of the 4 Series Gran Coupe begins this month and will arrive at dealers in early Summer.
2015 435i Gran Coupe starts at $46,725 ($925 destination & handling included).
2015 428i Gran Coupe starts at $41,225 ($925 destination & handling included).
2015 428i xDrive Gran Coupe starts at $43,225 ($925 destination & handling).
The F80 M3 and F82 M4 are making their appearance at the 2014 Vancouver International Autoshow.
The two cars on the floor are a Yas Marina Blue M4 and an Austin Yellow M3.
First look at the 2 Series in Valencia Orange.
This incredible accident produced an even more incredible outcome – a driver that was unscratched!
We have posted a rare in-car i8 acceleration launch video to our YouTube page.
Our video shows the i8′s gauge graphics as the car accelerates in Sport Mode, as well as providing a listen at the i8′s raw mechanical sounds as it accelerates. While the production i8 will be equipped with Active Sound Design (enhanced interior sound technology), this particular car we're hearing has its Active Sound Design (ASD) disabled for testing purposes. ASD will not be able to be turned off by the driver … CONTINUED
The BMW M4 MotoGP Safety Car made its debut this past weekend at the Qatar Grand Prix in Doha.
Check out some photos from its public reveal at the race.
Here's an M235i owner wasting no time in modifying his new car – with wheels and downpipes. Check out the photos, dyno results and impresions.
Have a look at the 2006 – 2013 BMW global sales figures, by model and body style.
Great photoshoot of a stunning F10 M5 in Sakhir Orange with black marino leather interior, piano black trim, 20 inch BBS FI wheels, IND Cosmetic Package, Akra Evo CF Tips, OEM CF Spoiler w/CRT trim, LCI Grills and RKP Splitters.
BIMMERPOST tours the National Auto Museum of Italy, in Turin.
I had read so many good things about this mega museum and it did not disappoint! After the Geneva Auto Show, I headed South to this museum(and to a few other museums) thru Monte Blanc tunnel. That tunnel crossing was the most I have ever paid for a toll, 43 euros one way! But there really isn't any other way around that mountain range.
I was really impressed with this museum! I think it's … CONTINUED
Photos from the BIMMERPOST Northwest owner's first 2014 meet.
BMW AG to open new mega dealership in Berlin…
On May 10th & 11th, 2014 – BMW AG will hold a grand opening of their new premiere factory run dealership in Berlin's Charlottenburg district.
BMW spent 65 -million-euro's for the construction project. Over 300 employees will work here. The new location will replace BMW's next closets dealership which is 45 years old. The new building will be able to display: BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad and also the new i-brand cars (i3 & i8).
BMW customer's can … CONTINUED
According to Automotive News, the BMW X7 will be one of the significant announcements at the Spartanburg press event scheduled for March 28.
The Wall Street Journal, citing sources, reported late yesterday that BMW will spend several hundred million dollars to expand the plant to build the three-row seven-seat X7.
Construction at the plant would boost production levels to 400,000 vehicles annually, says Automotive News. It is currently being expanded to build 350,000 a year.
After the X4 goes into production, the X7 will represent the fifth … CONTINUED
A walkaround video of the F36 4 Series Gran Coupe M Sport, in Estoril Blue II color.
A very individual M5 F10, in British Racing Green and Cohiba Brown.
M3 and M4 photos from a UK dealer launch event at Park Lane BMW in London.


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Funfetti Cookies
20 Nov 2010
|Funfetti cake mix
|19 Ounce (1 Package, Plus)
|1⁄2 Cup (8 tbs)
|Pink vanilla funfetti frosting
|1⁄2 Can (5 oz)
Heat oven to 375°F In large bowl, combine cake mix, oil and eggs; stir by hand until thoroughly moistened.
Stir in candy bits from cake mix.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Flatten to 1/4 inch thickness with bottom of glass dipped in flour.
Bake at 375°F. for 6 to 8 minutes or until edges are light golden brown.
Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets.
Spread frosting over warm cookies.
Immediately sprinkle each with candy bits from frosting.
Store in tightly covered container.
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Funfetti Cookies Recipe


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there will always be people attracted to evil, but this comparing of the two events is sick
If selected for publication, it will appear as soon as possible on Haaretz.com.
A magazine published by a leading Austrian far-right politician has compared a demonstration held against a party event to Kristallnacht, a series of coordinated attacks against Jews that occurred in 1938 in Nazi Germany and Austria.
Last month, a demonstration against the ball being held in Vienna by Austria's right-wing Freedom Party smashed store windows.
A cartoon in Zur Zeit magazine published by Andreas Moelzer, the leading Freedom Party candidate for the EU parliament, shows explosions through a window and Austria's chancellor and his deputy blaming each other for the chaotic situation.
A caption reads "Kristallnacht 2014."
Dozens of Jews were killed during Kristallnacht, or Night of the Broken Glass, and 30,000 were sent to concentration camps. Jewish property was destroyed and vandalized.


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David Zinczenko, author of Eat This, Not That! 2012 Edition, wrote an article giving some great tips to staying trim during the holiday season. He believes that you can enjoy your favorite holiday treats by making some simple substitutions. Zinczenko said, "the average American gains 1.5 pounds of fat between Thanksgiving and New Year's, according to a study at Texas Tech...these swaps alone could save you almost that entire 1.5 pounds." Here are some of the worst offenders (found in Eat This, Not That! 2012 Edition).
Organic Valley Eggnog (1 cup)
360 calories
20 g fat (12 g saturated)
34 g sugar
Drink This Instead!
Bolthouse Farms Holiday Nog (1 cup)
160 calories
3 g fat (2 g saturated)
24 g sugar
Holiday Coffee:
Starbucks Peppermint Mocha (grande)
410 calories
15 g fat (9 g saturated)
54 g sugar
Drink This Instead!
Cappuccino w/ 2 pumps of peppermint syrup (grande)
160 calories
4 g fat (2 g saturated)
20 g sugar
Holiday Muffin:
Dunkin' Donuts Warm Cinnamon Swirl Muffin
630 calories
23 g fat (7 g saturated)
56 g sugar
Eat This Instead!
Dunkin' Donuts Cinnamon Cake Munchkins (4 Munchkins)
240 calories
14 g fat (6 g saturated)
12 g sugar
Holiday Candy:
Reese's Peanut Butter Snowman
760 calories
44 g fat (16 g saturated)
68 g sugar
Eat This Instead!
Reese's Peanut Butter Tree
170 calories
10 g fat (3 g saturated)
16 g sugar
Holiday Ice Cream:
Dairy Queen Reindeer Bites Blizzard (medium)
950 calories
39 g fat (27 g saturated)
94 g sugar
Eat This Instead!
Dairy Queen Caramel Sundae (small)
300 calories
8 g fat (5 g saturated)
35 g sugar
Holiday Sandwich:
Denny's Holiday Turkey Melt with Fries
1,300 calories
57 g fat (13 g saturated)
3,210 mg sodium
Eat This Instead!
Club Sandwich w/ Fit Fare Veggies
665 calories
34 g fat (5 g saturated)
1,615 mg sodium
Holiday Breakfast:
IHOP Eggnog Pancakes (4 pancakes)
2,150 calories
84 g fat (47 g saturated)
123 g sugar
Eat This Instead!
Original Buttermilk Pancakes (short stack)
490 calories
18 g fat (8 g saturated)
13 g sugar
Image Sources:
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Kate Moss Creates New Topshop Collection
Topshop and Kate Moss are teaming up again with a new collection set to launch in April.
The collection will be about 40 ready-to-wear styles and will be sold in the retailer's stores in 40 countries; via Topshop.com and through wholesale partnerships including 41 Nordstrom stores, and Galeries Lafayette in Paris.
Sir Philip Green, owner of Topshop, told WWD he was pleased to be working with Moss again, adding, "The first time around was such a lot of fun, and she has been sorely missed." Noting Topshop's global expansion since the first Moss collection in 2007, Green said that this launch would also involve "pop-ups in department stores around the globe."
Moss said, "I have really missed being involved in the design process, and working with the team at Topshop. Now more than ever, with London being at the forefront of fashion...it feels like I'm back home working with Topshop."
According to an industry source, Green and Moss decided to launch the new line when they were on holiday together in August.
"Kate was talking about London as a style city, and how it was becoming ever more relevant on the international stage," said the source. "She's friends with Philip, so they said, 'Let's do it.'"
|Related Links
|Supermodel Jourdan Dunn Gets 'INK-ed' for HTC
April 29, 2015
|Pharrell Williams to Receive CFDA Fashion Icon Award
March 18, 2015
|Isabel Marant Expands Into Greater China Expansion
March 05, 2015
|Photo: Diane Von Furstenberg & More Attend Finale Screening of E! Docuseries HOUSE OF DVF
December 22, 2014
|Kate Bosworth Designs Shoe Line with Matisse
December 08, 2014
About Author
- Casting Roundup: Sarah Chalke, Kim Raver Headline New Pilots
- ADVENTURE TIME Headed to the Big Screen?
- Pilot Season Roundup: Colm Feore, Daniel Stern, Dave Annable to Star in New Shows
- James Franco to Star in New Fox Comedy, WHY HIM?
- Christopher Meloni to Star in WGN America's Slave Drama UNDERGROUND
- Check Out Alex Dunphy's Full College Essay from Latest MODERN FAMILY Episode
- Photo Flash: HBO Reveals Key Art for GAME OF THRONES Season 5
- Syfy to Honor Leonard Nimoy with Special Programming This Sunday
- Grammy Winner Kelly Clarkson Exclusively Premieres New Music from New Album on MTV, VH1 & CMT First
- CONSTELLATIONS' Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Wilson Set for THEATER TALK This Weekend


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text: Watch Where You Stand Timothy BurkeProfileFollowUnfollow Timothy BurkeFiled to: oops fun with graphics espn news sports 4/13/13 2:55pmEditDelete Invite manuallyPromoteXDismissXUndismissBlock for deadspinHideShare to KinjaShare to PinterestGo to permalink We loved the Jack Hoffman story, & we're glad ESPN gave it plenty of attention. But watch your blocking, fellas. 7Reply 7Discuss


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Seattle Seahawks & NFL News
Seattle Seahawks news, including Seattle Seahawks trades, statistics, roster and draft news, Hawks and NFL rumors, game scores and game schedule information
Posts filtered on Tag
Seahawks at Browns: 5 things to watch
WHAT: Seattle Seahawks (2-3) at Cleveland Browns (2-3) (Week 7) WHEN: 10 a.m. PT WHERE: Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio TV/RADIO: FOX (channel 13 in Seattle) / 710 AM, 97.3 FM What to watch for [Read More]
Tarvaris Jackson listed as doubtful, Whitehurst likely to start against Browns
RENTON — Seahawks coach Pete Carroll stopped short of guaranteeing that Charlie Whitehurst will start at quarterback against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. But it appears as if that will be the case, as Carroll said Tarvaris Jackson will be listed as doubtful to play with a strained pectoral muscle. Carroll still left open the […] [Read More]
Tarvaris Jackson a limited participant in Wednesday's practice
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said the team is preparing Charlie Whitehurst to start at quarterback this week against the Cleveland Browns. There was positive news in regards to Tarvaris Jackson's strained pectoral on Wednesday, though. Jackson, who sat out of practice last week with the Seahawks on a bye, was listed as a limited participant […] [Read More]
Tarvaris Jackson still has a chance to play this week
RENTON — The Seahawks are preparing to start Charlie Whitehurst at quarterback this week against the Cleveland Browns. That doesn't mean Tarvaris Jackson has been ruled out, though. Coach Pete Carroll said Monday that Jackson is "way ahead" of schedule after straining his pectoral against the Giants in Week 5, and that it's still possible […] [Read More]
Tarvaris Jackson has 'high-grade' pectoral strain, status still murky
RENTON — Tarvaris Jackson headlined a long list of Seahawks injuries on Monday as they head into their bye week. And not just because he's the quarterback, either. The severity of Jackson's high-grade pectoral strain — suffered on the right, throwing side of his chest — still isn't known, and coach Pete Carroll said Jackson […] [Read More]
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**HOT** $10 Starbucks Gift Card for $5!
Wow, this offer is going to go fast so if you are interested grab it now! Living Social is offering a $10 Starbucks gift card for only $5!
Not sure you would use this? What about giving it as a gift?
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Tags: food, gifts, online shopping, restaurant, thrifty ideas | Categories: Daily Deal Sites, Online Deals, Restaurant Deals


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Snook will close to all harvest in Gulf state, federal and inland waters, including all of Monroe County and Everglades National Park, starting May 1. Seasonal harvest closures protect Florida's valuable snook populations and help sustain and improve the fishery for the future. Snook is open to harvest in Atlantic state, federal and inland waters, including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River, through May 31, closing June 1. Both the Atlantic and Gulf will reopen for recreational harvest Sept. 1. Learn more about recreational fishing at MyFWC.com/Fishing by clicking on "Saltwater" and "Recreational Regulations." Read More »
Dreamlander Tours Making the World a Better Place
By Coastal Breeze News Staff With a mission statement that reads "To build a business that blesses others in hopes that our business will be blessed," it becomes obvious that Dreamlander Tours of Marco Island is not your ordinary for-profit business. Owners and operators, Steven and Kieu Banks, built this eco-educational tour company with a vision of building a sustainable foundation to be the economic engine to help them change lives all over the world, as well as locally. As Kieu is proud to point out, "We are a small family-owned, philanthropy-based corporation. Our inspiration is not how much money ... Read More »
Karate Kids
By Melinda Gray When people think of Karate, they think of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Mr. Miyagi, but make no mistake young grasshoppers, there is much more to it than the Hollywood portrayal. Nick Lemke, owner and sensei of Shima Dojo, will tell you that. On Saturday, March 22, Shima Dojo held their Third annual All-You-Can-Eat Blue Crab fundraiser. Unlike the previous fundraisers, which were held at the YMCA on Marco Island, this year it was hosted by Marker 8.5, and the setting was perfect. Students showed off their skills to proud parents and audience members enjoying their meal. ... Read More »
The Croatian Istrian Peninsula
SPEAKING OF TRAVEL Vickie Kelber firstname.lastname@example.com The Croatian portion of the Istrian Peninsula is located in northwest Croatia, along the Adriatic's Gulf of Kvarnar. Historically, this area was ruled first by the Romans, followed by the Venetians and then the Austrians. For a while in the 1920s, the Italians regained control. Although Istria became part of Yugoslavia in the 1940s, many towns still have two official names — one Croatian, the other Italian. A small part of the peninsula also lies in Slovenia and Italy. While visiting Istria, the town of Opatija was our home base. I could easily write of ... Read More »
2014 Gulf Recreational Red Snapper Season
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) proposed 2014 Gulf recreational red snapper season dates in state waters. This proposed season will be brought back before the Commission for final approval at its April 15-17 meeting in Tallahassee. The 2014 proposed season, if approved in April, would be 52 days long, starting the Saturday before Memorial Day, (May 24 this year) and remaining open through July 14, closing July 15. The Commission could choose to change the season length and dates at the April meeting. State waters in the Gulf are from shore to 9 nautical miles. Federal waters ... Read More »
Fishing in February
FOLLOW THE FISH Capt. Pete Rapps firstname.lastname@example.com During February, we will generally experience some small changes from January's wind and cold fronts. We will still experience cold fronts, but they are usually a little less powerful. The water temperatures will remain about the same as January, hovering in the low- to mid-60's. Daytime air temperatures will average about 52-76 degrees. Keep an eye on your tide chart because we have some extremely low tides around both the new moon and full moon. Be mindful of the morning full moon low tides Feb. 10-16, and the new moon low tides Feb. 25-March ... Read More »
Preparation, Key to Success, Comfort, Safety
LADY ANGLERS Captain Mary A. Fink islandgirlscharters.com Among the characteristics most all successful anglers possess is that of proper preparation for a day of fishing. Preparation involves things like the selection of a fishing location, tackle and bait requirements, targeting specific species, awareness of tidal exchange and weather, as well as packing proper clothing and gear. When these factors are carefully considered prior to departing for a day on the water, your chance for success, safety and comfort will be greatly enhanced. Once you have determined your preferred fishing location, the next step is to get acquainted with the tidal exchange ... Read More »
Shrimp and Snapper Soup
FOLLOW THE FISH Capt. Pete Rapps firstname.lastname@example.com What's better than a warm, fresh homemade pot of locally caught seafood soup on a cool winter's day? Head on down to the local grocer or farmer's market, and pick up just about everything you need for this quick and easy recipe. It will take you just 30 minutes from start to finish. Serve with some warm fresh bread or biscuits and butter. ½ LB Ditalini or any small pasta 3 Cloves of chopped garlic 3 TBS Extra Virgin Olive oil 1 Pint of cherry tomatoes sliced into halves 1 Bunch of Asparagus chopped into 1" ... Read More »
Loggerhead Released Near Goodland
By Natalie Strom email@example.com The Conservancy of Southwest Florida released Sassy, its female loggerhead sea turtle into the Gulf of Mexico near the Ten Thousand Islands on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Born on Sanibel Island, Sassy was transferred to the Florida Atlantic University lab at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton, where she was part of a gender study linking nest temperature to the gender of hatchlings. Following her two months in the ongoing sea turtle gender study, Sassy was brought to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. In 2012, Sassy became the first resident of the 5,000-gallon saltwater tank in ... Read More »
The Star of the Everglades Its Journey From the 1920s to Today
COASTAL HISTORY Craig Woodward email@example.com Mention the vessel Star of the Everglades to local, long-time residents, and it brings a big smile to their faces. Soon, they are flooded with memories of this fabulous boat which was aptly named the Star. Not only was the Star a luxury cruise boat for its day, but it also opened up the Ten Thousand Islands to world-class fishing. Digging into the vessel's history, one quickly hears stories. Its first owner made money in the bird feather, or plume, trade in the late 1800s. The boat's builder was extremely wealthy, becoming famous by running whiskey ... Read More »
"Ladies, Let's Go Fishing!®"
University Series will return to the Ft. Myers/Matlacha area March 8-9, 2014 at Matlacha Community Park. Held on a Saturday afternoon, the mini-event includes much of what is offered at the full LLGF Universities plus Kayak fishing on the curriculum. For this event, held in conjunction with support from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) through the Sport Fish Restoration Program, women will travel from several states for education, hands-on fishing activities, habitat conservation and to meet other female anglers. On Saturday, the program begins with a session by the FWC on the importance of marine conservation, a demonstration of ... Read More »
The Spotted Sea Trout
FOLLOW THE FISH Capt. Pete Rapps firstname.lastname@example.com The spotted sea trout (Cynoscion nebulosus), also called speckled trout, specs, trout or spotted weakfish, is a common shallow water fish found in our area of the Ten Thousand Islands. They are closely related to the northern weakfish (Cynoscion regalis). Even though most of these fish are caught on shallow grassy flats, spotted sea trout reside in virtually any inshore waters from the outside flats to far up our coastal saltwater rivers where they often move to for shelter during the colder winter months. Contrary to its name, the spotted sea trout is ... Read More »
For a Mixed Bag, Choose Shrimp
LADY ANGLERS Captain Mary A. Fink islandgirlscharters.com Very few people can deny that shrimp are a tasty treat, and nearly all salt water fish concur. In fact, local species like sheepshead and black drum can be caught only on shrimp or other crustaceans. It is my belief that shrimp provide enticing bait offerings, but this is especially true during the winter months when water temperatures are cooler making it easier to keep the shrimp alive for extended periods, as shrimp are delicate crustaceans that tend to perish quickly. Additionally, finding and catching baitfish is more challenging during cooler winter months when ... Read More »
Weather Wreaks Havoc on Wildlife
By Natalie Strom email@example.com The week of November 25 through December 1 was a strange week on the beach for many of the city's volunteer beach stewards. A recent storm front and some odd activities led to an unusually large amount of marine mammal life to be washed ashore on Marco's beaches. First up, octopi. In one day, a beach steward found eight stranded on the shore as he monitored the beach. Another one was found on Sand Dollar Beach in the same week. Of the nine, six were still alive and were able to be returned to the water. ... Read More »
Morgan Stanley Triple Crown Tourney
By Victor Ordija Al Jennings won first place in the Morgan Stanley Triple Crown fishing tournament and a cash prize of $285 by catching a Tarpon, Snook and Redfish over a three month period beginning on the 1st of August and ending on October 31st. The tournament, which is run by the Marco Sportsfishing Club (MSC), requires all three species of fish to be caught by participating anglers, and the goal is to catch the largest Snook and Redfish, and a Tarpon exceeding 30 inches. The annual contest which began three years ago has evolved into a challenging and competitive ... Read More »
Winter Fishery Changes in 10,000 Islands
FOLLOW THE FISH Capt. Pete Rapps email@example.com Every year around this time, we see some major changes to our local fishery. Around the middle of the December we typically see our first major cold front come rolling through. We have already seen a few minor cold fronts come through in November which brought the night temperatures down into the 50's. The fronts also brought some days where the wind hit 20+ mph. Expect Gulf water temperatures to drop down into the mid 60's later this month. Be extremely diligent in December, and be certain to do your homework by reviewing local ... Read More »
Hunt for Reds in October
By Howard Laskau Marco Sportfishing Club Marco Sportfishing Club's "Hunt for Reds in October" got off to a great start early Saturday morning, October 12, as 40 anglers headed out to the Gulf and the 10,000 Islands in search of two prize-winning redfish. The "Hunt for Reds in October" is actually two separate fishing tournaments held during MSC's "Redfish Week." During this week, MSC club members spend about as much time fishing as they do eating and drinking! "Redfish Saturday" which took place on October 12, involved teams of two anglers whose goal is to bring in the two largest ... Read More »
Sweeping the Beach into the Fall
By Nancy Richie A sunny, somewhat cool (relatively speaking for Floridians) Saturday morning in mid-October on Marco Island's beach could not have been more perfect for a fall beach "sweep." With clouds on the Gulf horizon, the fall sun, now slanted south of the equator moving toward the winter solstice, shed soft light across the beach. Another magical morning on Marco Island's beach! The City of Marco Island's Beach Advisory Committee's monthly beach clean-up partnership with the community brought out 45 volunteers of Marco Island Civic Association (MICA) members to the beach to "sweep" it clean. Diane Hoover, the Beach ... Read More »
Winner Winner, Redfish Dinner!
FOLLOW THE FISH Capt. Pete Rapps firstname.lastname@example.com One species of fish that we catch all year round here in the 10,000 islands is Redfish. Its true name is Red Drum, however most in our area refer to them as Redfish or just "Reds." Their Latin name is Sciaenops Ocellatus, and they are closely related to the Black Drum or the Pogonias Cromis. They are classified as Drums because they make a deep drumming noise. Several times I have come upon large schools of Redfish that you could actually hear making a deep bass drumming noise in the water around the boat. ... Read More »
Want to Fish the Islands? Choose a Guide!
LADY ANGLERS Captain Mary A. Fink islandgirlscharters.com Whether you are a novice or an experienced angler, it is wise to hire a guide to take you on a memorable fishing experience in our pristine islands. I don't recommend this simply because I am a fishing guide; rather, I do so because it is the most effective and comfortable way to become familiar with the area, the types of fish found in the area and to expose you to numerous fishing techniques to help you succeed in catching. Our Ten Thousand Islands areas as well as Everglades National Park provide some of ... Read More »


text: Author: Phil Redmond Phil Redmond CBE is a well-known television producer and screenwriter. He grew up in Huyton and attended St Kevin's Comprehensive School before gaining a Social Studies Degree from Liverpool University. He began writing scripts for the TV sitcoms such as The Squirrels before using his own experience of comprehensive schools to come up with the idea for Grange Hill. The programme was aired on BBC One from 1978 - 2008 and dealt with many of the challenges facing teenagers at high school. Redmond went on to create the soap Brookside, which was based around the lives of the residents of Brookside Close, Liverpool, and was aired on Channel 4 between 1982 and 2003. Redmond also developed the teen soap Hollyoaks which is now one of the most established soap operas on UK television. Redmond was awarded a CBE in 2004 in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to drama. Latest Book


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Small well stocked health shop. Has a range of products including herbs, natural beauty aids and body care, soap, chocolate, vitamins, supplements, a small case of cold drinks, and more. No fresh produce. more-less
Arne Jacobsens Alle 12, Kobenhavn
Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen, Denmark
Now Open
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We know Rufus is a jet setter—he'd even have a passport if he wasn't so put off by the bad lighting at the photo place. Why not gift him with the Wag Travel Set? With a quilted carrier, quilted nap mat, and a set of wag-emotions toys, he has everything he could ask for during that weekend getaway.
Includes: Three Emotions toys, made of canvas with a crumpled paper interior, one 16" x 15" mat, and one carrier which holds up to 15lbs and measures 20" x 10".
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Enjoy 10% off your first order*


text: Another Friendly Reminder: 924 DOMINATION! 2 Stef SchraderProfileFollowUnfollow Stef SchraderFiled to: Porsche 924 must win 924 domination! because racecar Beat-Off 3/25/14 12:51pmEditDelete Invite manuallyPromoteXDismissXUndismissBlock for oppositelockHideShare to KinjaShare to PinterestGo to permalink Is there a beater on that entire list that pulls off Gulf livery as well? No. No there isn't. Not even close. 2 25Reply 25Discuss


text:
Martin County felony arrests April 9, 2013
Virginia Bouldin, 57, 25th block of Southeast Seminole Street, Stuart, driving under the influence with prior convictions.
Subscribe to TCPalm
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Informacije in možnosti za mlade v Evropi.
Informacije o prostovoljskem delu
Informacije o delovnih mestih, podjetništvu, pripravništvu in počitniškem delu
Možnosti izobraževanja in usposabljanja v Evropi
Izrazi svoje mnenje o politiki in družbi in sodeluj v strukturiranem dialogu
Umetnost in zabava, znanost in inovacije na dosegu roke
Vse o zdravju, dobrem počutju in športu
Tvoje pravice in storitve za večjo varnost
Spoznaj svet zunaj Evrope
Praktične informacije o potovanju v Evropi
Are you:
If you answered "yes" to all these questions, then you are eligible to join one of the EYP's (European Youth Parliament) sessions. Keep in mind that to take part in the International Sessions, you must win a national competition run by your National Committee. However, many Regional Sessions have just a simple application procedure.
Get in touch with your National Committee and find out where to start. If your country is not listed you can contact the EYP's international office.
How does it work?
The EYP organises 3 international 10-day sessions every year, always in a different European country. In each session, the delegates come together in multi-national committees looking at different topics on which they produce a Resolution to be debated in the General Assembly.
"The opportunity to develop a range of skills is the most impressive aspect of EYP: from diplomacy and consensus building, to rhetoric and leadership, to writing and editorial experience, to fundraising and project management."
M. Roberts, 27, UK, Venture Capital Management.
Background information
The EYP is one of the best places for interested young Europeans to engage in political debate and encounter new cultures. Managed by the Heinz-Schwarzkopf-Foundation "Young Europe", the EYP involves over 20,000 young people from 35 countries in more than 100 regional, national and international events every year.


text:
Wilderness Trails - FAQ
Discuss activities available in the Kruger National Park, and follow all the sighting reports.
- Elsa
- Moderator
- Posts: 13306
- Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2005 6:31 pm
- Location: Ballito, KZN North Coast, South Africa
Re: Wilderness Trails - FAQ
Please let me know how it goes Sharky!
Will be keeping fingers crossed.
Will be keeping fingers crossed.
Where ever you go, go with all your Heart.
Kruger - 22nd May - 5th June 2015
Kruger - 22nd May - 5th June 2015
Return to "KNP Activities & Sightings"


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You can now invite anyone to meet at your favorite Starbucks.
Limited-time feature
32 year old man | Chapel Hill, NC, USA | Seeking women 25-34 within 50 miles
Active within 24 hours
I claim to be witty and sarcastic, in the same...
I claim to be witty and sarcastic, in the same way the colonists claimed the New World for the Crown. I properly capitalize, like 83% of the Time. I dream about a world where polar bears are not hopelessly fighting gruesome paw-to-paw combat for a spot on top of a ginormously small tip of a midget iceberg. I zig but rarely zag. Sometimes I might even zip. I only zap when conditions are perfect. I hope I will live long enough to catch a regularly scheduled bus ride to Mars. You know, the one that makes that annoying stop at the Moon. Seriously, what's there to see on the Moon? I do not take things too seriously. There are a few select exceptions. So far, I believe only March Madness and all-you-can-eat chocolate buffet have made the cut. I don't always start my sentences with I. I promise! My partner in crime would ideally be someone who's kind, quirky, and cute with a twisted sense of humor. Someone to have deep discussions about serious topics and intense debates about ridiculous subjects. If you also happen to be a basketball fan - *cue George Takei* Oh my... And that is all I have to say about that :)
Coffee and conversation , Cooking , Dining out , Movies/Videos , Museums and art , Music and concerts , Exploring new areas , Performing arts , Playing cards , Playing sports , Political interests , Travel/Sightseeing , Volunteering , Watching sports , Wine tasting
Basketball, Cycling, Dancing, Football, Other types of exercise, Running, Swimming, Tennis / Racquet sports, Weights / Machines, Yoga
I exercise 3-4 times per week.
I like Birds, Cats, Dogs, Fish
The only pets I've had are a couple of goldfish from elementary school years. Therefore don't be alarmed if we come upon dogs/cats/assorted animals and I revert back to being a 12-yr old. Just making up for lost time...
The driver's seat inside my car when I am about to head out for a road trip.
Duke University, Durham, NC
In no particular order: Modern Family/Futurama/Walking Dead/The Big Bang Theory/The Office/Prison Break (S01 mostly) Discovery Channel/NatGeo Krispy Kreme products My Sister's Keeper TPS reports Zombie Apocalypses
Looking forward to... MARCH MADNESS!!!
Back of a cereal box
Z{{Cta}} {{#if HasMoreInfo}} ?{{CtaSecondary}} {{/if}}
|What he is looking for
|6'1" (185cms)
|5'4" (162cms) to 6'1" (185cms)
|Body type:
|Athletic and toned
|Slender, About average, Curvy, Athletic and toned
|No preference
|No preference
|No Way
|No Way, Cigar aficionado
|Social Drinker
|Never, Social Drinker, Regularly, Moderately
|Technical / Science / Computers / Engineering
|No preference
Switched gear from working full time in clinical research to graduate school. You say times are tough and full benefits are hard to come by? Nonsense. I say screw the pooch, eh torpedoes and full speed ahead!
|I'll tell you later
|No preference
|Never Married
|Never Married
|Have kids:
|Wants kids:
|Definitely, Someday
|No preference
My parents are from Taiwan and I grew up in SC. So, you know, just your typical southern red-blooded Taiwanese American guy.
|Spiritual but not religious
|No preference
|English, Other
|Bachelors degree
|Bachelors degree, Graduate degree, PhD / Post Doctoral
So far, I've learned that the ramen noodle diet is overrated. Jury is still out on graduate education. You can email me here... or better yet, tell Cupid to start training that carrier pigeon, so you can reach me OKC style ;-)


text: I agree that he was naive and made some serious mistakes, which he admits himself. But the story gives the impression that this auction house, which I have never heard of, despite knowing a fair amount about the art world, is not very upstanding. I think the story illustrates yet again that when people think they can make a quick buck on something, they often are so eager to capitalize that they don't do proper research or make well-informed choices. Art is a tricky market, and rock memorabilia (which these pictures really are), is too. I'm saddened to think that businesses take advantage of people like this. So kudos to the guy for being willing to tell his story to help educate others.


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Easter holiday deals and bargains
Fancy something more than an Easter egg this weekend? Here are some great deals on TVs, hi-fi and home cinema kit over the Bank Holiday break.Thu, 02 Apr 2015, 12:33pm
The Week in HD- Monday 30th March
Hello and welcome to The Week in HD – our guide to all the must-see high-definition TV shows, films, sports and Blu-ray releases to grace your screens over the next seven days.Mon, 30 Mar 2015, 05:26pm
Trailers of the Week: Spectre, Mission Impossible and more
It's Trailers of the Week – our showcase of the latest and best new film and TV trailers that have hit the web this week. And, of course, you can watch them all here...Sat, 28 Mar 2015, 12:01am
Best of the Week: Q Acoustic 3020, HTC One M9, new Apple TV and more
It's time to round up the news and reviews that have graced What Hi-Fi? this past week – featuring Apple, HTC, Onkyo, Q Acoustics, Sony and more...Fri, 27 Mar 2015, 05:19pm
Weekend Wrap: Amazon Fire TV, PS4 update, world's largest record collection
Channel 4 is reorganising its online service, there are updates to the Amazon Fire TV and PS4, and the world's largest record collection is heading online - it's What Hi-Fi?'s Weekend Wrap.Fri, 27 Mar 2015, 11:32am
Interstellar – Blu-ray review
Shoot for the Moon, as the saying goes. Miss and you'll still land among stars. The logic, presumably, is that stars are a fine consolation prize. That's the deal with Chris Nolan's latest and most audacious project yet: Interstellar is almost a masterpiece.Thu, 26 Mar 2015, 05:44pm
Wednesday Wrap: 3D Audio, BBC iPlayer, Meerkat Movies and more...
From 3D Audio standards, to Compare the Market introducing 2-for-1 movies and a BBC iPlayer app update - it's What Hi-Fi's Wednesday Wrap.Wed, 25 Mar 2015, 12:19pm
Silicon Valley: Series 1- Blu-ray review
Mike Judge's latest comedy for HBO is all about nerds in Silicon Valley. Fittingly, it's smarter than the average comedy...Mon, 23 Mar 2015, 06:00pm
The Week in HD – Monday 23rd March
Hello and welcome to The Week in HD – our guide to all the must-see high-definition TV shows, films, sports and Blu-ray releases to grace your screens over the next seven days.Mon, 23 Mar 2015, 05:17pm
Wednesday Wrap: 4K set-top box, YouTube VoD, PlayStation Now and more
From the news of a new set-top box supporting 4K, to Sony's Vaio offshoot launching its first smartphone and the potential closure of Rara, it's all the news in brief from What Hi-Fi?'s Wednesday Wrap.Wed, 18 Mar 2015, 12:37pm
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text:
Last Sunday, I ran my first race (a 5k) in quite a long time. (So this race report is coming better late than never, huh?) As many know, I've been plagued by a recurring calf injury for the past three years, but it finally seemed to take a turn for the better when I started seeing a new PT last February. Though it's taken this long to be able to race– and I'm using "racing" in the loosest of terms– hey, I'm back at it (ish)!
I've been running consistently between 1-3.5 miles since July-ish while maintaining my now 8-months-and-counting of daily strength and PT exercises (zZZzzzZZ). The goal for a while has been to do a Fall 5k, but I was hesitant to register for something too early. And by "too early," I mean I was waiting for my body to implode at any moment. Pesky calf.
Overall my leg has been feeling better, but the pain has not completely gone away. Even short runs require a couple days of recovery. Progress has oftentimes been followed by setbacks, so registering for a race was kind of a leap of faith. I knew I wasn't in "race shape," but was dying to be a part of the race-day magic. So, naturally I recruited two friends to run with me. (Long story short, only one friend ended up racing. As for the other… well, she twisted her ankle days before the race and, when she decided to pick up her bib just 'cause, she saw her bib number was 666. UMMMM.)
Fast forward to race week. Crazy days at work left little time for worry, but when race eve arrived, in came the nerves. Oh yeah, and I had Indian food for dinner, which I do not recommend. Oops. I tossed and turned all night, but woke up energized and excited for the event. I mean, I was getting to wear my Oiselle Team singlet for the first "official" time! HELLZ YEAH!
I started off slow for two reasons: 1) This was supposed to be a "fun run" to get in the racing spirit without compromising my overly-sensitive healing-but-not-yet-totally-healed injury and 2) Since I'm not in the best shape, I didn't want to start off too fast and burn off all I had too soon and pretty much die in a struggle fest of epic proportions.
I felt good for the first mile. Wide-eyed, strong, slow and steady, focusing on form. I repeated "head up, wings out" (an Oiselle mantra), which helped keep me from hunching and generally reminded me to soak in the scene and enjoy the miles.
Not long after Mile 1, I was reminded why one should never choose Indian food as their race eve meal. Perhaps it was the food, or maybe this would have happened regardless, but I started to feel a tightening and burning sensation in my stomach. Thankfully it didn't escalate to vomming all over the place, but it made the second half of the race uncomfortable to say the least.
The last mile of the race was a cruel out-and-back in which you turn a corner, are forced to pass the finish line, and continue running for what seems like 923892382 hours out and back to the finish line again My body was hurting, but all I could do was try to focus on the task at hand and remind myself that it would be over soon and I would be pissed if I didn't give it my all while I had the chance. I had no choice but to fly.
As I rounded the corner of the out-and-back, I could see the finish line in the distance. Positive: "yay, the finish line! I'm almost there!" Negative: the view was deceiving and the finish line was still about a half mile away. Lungs burning, stomach burning. But, some way, somehow, I was able to really kick it into high gear for that last .1 mile. BOOM!
Crossing the finish line, I saw the timer read 29:xx. WTF! I was expecting to finish the race in ~35:00. Official time ended up being 28:12, which is insane. Seriously, WUT.
I'm proud of my effort and feel lucky to have had the opportunity to race again in what I hope is one of many to come. Not surprisingly, every muscle in my body was extremely sore for the next two days. Ouchie. But ye olde injured leg actually felt okay during the race and even a couple days later, though now smarts a bit. After beating it to a pulp, it's probably going to continue needing R&R. As for my next race? We'll just have to see.
Ultimately, though the journey to full recovery is not yet over, I couldn't have stuck with it for so long without my teammates. They've made me feel like I'm never alone in this sometimes-daunting process. From their badass feats resulting in all-the-inspiration to encouraging me at every turn, I'm honored to be a part of a group that both supports me and pushes me to get back out there. These women are the real deal and prove every day that hard work can pay off. Thank you, thank you, thank you and LET'S DO THIS, BIRDS!