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There are plenty of these posts out there, but today I feel like chronicling my story. The reason? After a week of staying with our kids, my mother said the 8 words that every daughter wants to hear her mother who always has a clean house say: "I now understand why your house is messy."
Very much like the parody of "If You Give a Mouse A Cookie," called "If You Give a Mom a Muffin," here is my blog entitled: "If You Give a Kid a Snack." (sorry, mine is not going to be nearly as cute or rhyme-y)
Other possible names for this blog include, but are not limited to:
"Why I never answer my phone."
"Why I'm crazy and need drugs"
"Things to consider before you have children."
It's morning, breakfast is over, the kids have begrudgingly brought their cereal bowls to the sink. They have so far played several games of Disney Guess Who and watched at least 3 episodes of My Little Pony and Wild Kratts. It's time for a snack!
Thing 1 chooses a snack and opens it in the living room while finishing the last 4 minutes of Wild Kratts and of course, drops the torn corner on the couch along with a few crumbs. This same child suddenly realizes that the snack packaging would make an amazing craft and goes to grab the safety scissors.
He grabs the scissors and knocks the jar of coloring implements on the kitchen floor. He pauses to look at them, then skips merrily on his way as he has things to create.
The dog selects a crayon and chews it to pieces on the living room floor- a new favorite hobby she has recently discovered.
Meanwhile Thing 1 is cutting the snack bag to confetti, inevitably dropping several tiny, impossible-to-pick-up pieces on the floor where they flutter around amidst breakfast crumbs and dog hair.
Mom grabs the vacuum and begins to suck up the confetti, crayon, and floating pieces of dog hair. A few seconds later the vacuum unexpectedly stops. Puzzeled, Mom pushes the power button several times, then follows the cord back to the wall where the baby is smiling innocently while sucking on the prongs of the power cord. Mom wipes off the prongs, but as she is leaning over to plug it back in, smells a poopy diaper.
While changing baby's poopy diaper, Thing 2 manages to bang her knee on......something. Mom kisses the knee but of course, the slight red mark requires a bandaid because Thing 2 has begun screaming that she's dying. Mom, who is a bit preoccupied with the poopy diaper and squirming baby who is suddenly desperate to be anywhere but on the changing table, tells Thing 2 to go ahead and grab a bandaid from the bathroom.
While taking the dirty diaper to the pail, mom sees the aftermath of a child who thinks she's dying and needs at least 2 bandaids to cover the owie- several torn pieces of paper and the little rounded ends of the bandaid strewn around the bathroom. But, the baby is pulling Thing 2's hair so she thinks "I'll bring the vacuum up here in a bit and get those, the upstairs could use a once-over anyway."
When mom gets back downstairs to extricate Thing 2's hair from Baby's grasp, she trips over the vacuum cord and stubs her toe to the point of bleeding. She starts to ask Thing 2 to get her a bandaid when she is distracted by Thing 1 who is about to pour the glue he just uncapped all over the kitchen chair he has decided to craft on.
After replacing the glue cap, mom notices the dog has eaten another crayon and stoops to pick up the coloring utensils. The dog stands at the door begging to go out so she heads to the slider to do so. Go, poop rainbows, you crazy mutt. She thinks as she slides the slider shut. Unfortunately, Mom did not notice that Baby has followed her and promptly stuck her fingers in the briskly closing door (it's cold out there!). Cue screaming baby. Mom soothes baby who is not having it and requires cuddling on the couch with a snack.
Mom decides it's a good time to put on a baby-friendly show and chooses Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood.
Daniel Tiger is going to the Library. Yippee!!
Suddenly Mom remembers they have overdue books and as she heads to the fridge to pull out the dinner she had forgotten to get out earlier she realizes there is no milk and she is one ingredient short for dinner.
We'll run to the library, play for a few minutes, then the store, and by the time we're done it'll be rest time. Maybe I can get away with a piece of fruit and the free cookie at Meijer for each of them for lunch...
So she loads up the kids after a mad search for a toy that is apparently required for the 5 minute car ride, plus a clean diaper, paci for the baby, and matching socks.
As planned, the library is a hit and while she didnt get to check for thay new book she wanted because the baby pooped again and everyone needed a trip to the bathroom-twice- Mom knows she can check onlin later. When it's time to leave there are tantrums and plenty of whining about not wanting to go to the store, but Mom holds firm and bribes them with a cookie.
After a free cookie, a piece of fruit each, and a meat stick straight from the bag in the grocery store, Mom gets everyone home and to their rooms for rest time.
Mom goes downstairs and puts away groceries, manages to scrounge up a lunch that won't kill her healthy eating plan, and sits down to eat while checking emails.
Oh look! The kids need money in their accounts for hot lunch and Kindergarten registration papers need to be printed off.
She finds the checkbook to refill the lunch accounts, steals "drawing" paper from the kids' stash for the printer, prints the pages and begins to fill them out.
Baby wakes up, kids get up from quiet time. The only way to transition the baby from naptime to a semi-happy wake state is to snuggle on the couch again with a snack.
Mom decides to try to multi-task and google how to make her couch stop smelling funky but baby thinks the phone is her toy and steals it, then hides it under the ottoman.
Once again, Mom remembers she has not pulled out the meat for supper so she runs downstairs and grabs whatever is available while realizing she forgot that one ingredient she needed.
Back in the living room everyone is getting restless so Mom sends the big kids outside. Now the baby is crying at the window.
Mom looks at the baby for a moment and realizes that neither of them has been outside for more than 30 seconds to walk from the car to the house in....2 weeks. It's Michigan in winter, after all. So, she bundles up the baby and they head outside to "play," which involves mom following the baby around and trying to keep her from running into the road 637 times while simultaneously paying rapt attention to all the demands of "Mom, watch this!" from Thing 1 and Thing 2.
Thing 1 falls down and requires a bandaid for his bruised finger. Mom tells him to go ahead and get himself a bandaid, so he disappears inside for approximately 20 minutes at which point the baby is cold and Mom decides to investigate. But Baby does not understand that she's cold because its cold outside and screams "Nooooooo!" the whole way into the house while clawing at Mom's face. Mom and Baby find Thing 1 who got distracted in the bathroom and is standing at the sink sans pants with his alligator letting him "swim in his natural habitat." His sleeves are soaked so Mom tells him to turn off the water and go change his shirt.
It's snack time and time to start prepping for dinner so Mom pulls out some fruit and crackers and everyone eats at the table except the baby who shakes her head at everything but then demands a cracker to walk around with.
Thing 1 remembers his earlier craft and begins cutting more confetti which reminds Mom to finish vacuuming while the oven preheats.
Looking around the living room, Mom realizes she doesn't have time to pick up everything and sort it so she throws everything in a corner to finish with the vacuum.
Finally the vacuuming is done but Mom realizes the oven is now fully preheated and time is running short for dinner so she runs to the kitchen to throw it in the oven and try to find an acceptable vegetable side dish. Meanwhile the baby is actually pretty happy winding the vacuum cord around the living room so she lets it go.
Somehow Mom manages to finish making dinner, but by the time Dad gets home and drops all of his belongings in a pile in the mudroom, takes the vacuum cord from the baby while saying "Honey, did you see that she's chewing on this??" and mom feigns shock and claims "No, I'd never..." everyone is crying because they are SO hungry and Mom is the meanest because she won't let them have another snack and she is no longer their "favorite Mommy."
After plating tiny amounts of each item for the kids, Mom and Dad sit down to eat and spend the majority of dinner answering questions like "can I have more honey on my biscuit?" and "how many bites of this do I have to eat before I can be done?" Between the two of them Thing 1 and Thing 2 manage to eat the serving size of your average sparrow and claim they are "soooo full." Baby has 5th and 6th helpings.
It's bath night so Mom asks Dad to pick up dinner and takes the kids up to get clean. 30 minutes later the bathroom is strewn with clothing, the bandaid wrappers from earlier, water, and towels. The big kids are now starving, but mom loses her shit and tells them they will have to starve. They head to their rooms to get dressed and mom puts the baby to bed. She returns to the big kids to find they are still naked and dancing in ways that make her wonder if they should be pulled from public school.
30 minutes later everyone is in bed and Mom goes downstairs to find Daddy asleep on the couch, dishes still on the table. She
kicks gently nudges him awake enough for him to say "I was just going to check the news...snore."
Mom puts away the leftovers, loads the dishwasher, tossing in pans that should probably be handwashed, gives the table a cursory wipe-down and collapses on the couch. She turns on the old XFiles just in time for Hubby to wake up and say accusingly, "should you really watch this stuff? Let's watching something else." And promptly steals the remote.
As she looks around the living room, strewn with every toy she had originally thrown in the corner and a few she didn't even realize they owned, she notes the pieces of confetti she missed and pulls out her phone from under the ottoman. There are at least 25 notifications she should probably attend to before bed, plus a book she should search out and hey, do they sell dog food on Amazon?
She sighs, looks over at her husband sleeping peacefully in his boxers with one sock hanging off and thinks: At least I vacuumed.
Saturday, February 6, 2016
If you give a kid a snack
There are plenty of these posts out there, but today I feel like chronicling my story. The reason? After a week of staying with our kids, my mother said the 8 words that every daughter wants to hear her mother who always has a clean house say: "I now understand why your house is messy."
Posted by Krista at 8:14 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Coraline's Birth Story- TMI Warning, but not too bad...
Because I'm behind on so many things- those Christmas photo books I was going to make once a year of all our pictures from the previous year? Yeah, those aren't finished...I decided I'd tick one thing off the list before I forget too many details. So here I am about 6 months late finally finishing this up!
Cora's due date came and went (11/14) and I was doing really well at being OK with it. Lots of people were asking when the induction would be and my standard answer "I'm just waiting until she's ready!" was serving me well. Then we found out that hubs was going to be leaving for his annual training on the 29th (two days after the two week post-due-date limit we had set for letting things happen on their own). I obviously didn't want to have the baby without daddy around, and also preferred not to end up going home to an empty house, so we amped up the "do this it worked for me" natural labor-inducing tactics as a possible induction seemed to loom ever closer. I walked, ate eggplant parmesan from Olive Garden, ate dates till I couldn't stand them, drank Red Raspberry Leaf Tea, put Clary Sage in my bath, the list goes on.
My doc had decided to induce on Wednesday night so I'd kind of resigned myself to that plan. On Monday I got up and headed to the gym to walk on the treadmill with Bradi. We walked for awhile, then I headed home with the kiddos. All day I had contractions, nothing major, just more of the braxton hicks I'd been having since 14 weeks. Mid-afternoon there was some spotting, which kept up and got heavier throughout the day. In my mind I was thinking - cool, induction will move quicker than last time! No big deal. That evening Bradi and I had scheduled a pedicure so we headed to Kim's and told the woman there to push every pressure point I had because I was overdue! She said in a very cute Vietnamese accent- "Ok, you have this baby tonight!" Didn't seem like she did much different from every other pedicure I'd had, little did I know...
After returing home from the pedicure my contractions continued but they were still very spread out and very irregular. Around 11pm I think I realized that I was in early labor but it STILL had not sunk in that this would lead to true labor. No one in my immediate family had ever had a baby without pitocin or a c-section, it honestly was not really on my radar (denial much?). I tried to sleep, but couldn't, so I tried to settle into a long night with no sleep. Andy went to bed not really knowing things were moving along- I didn't see the need to get excited. Again I tried to lay down, took a bath, watched some TV, but after awhile even sitting was not comfortable. Next I busted out the yoga ball and spent some time sitting/laying/rolling on that. I think it was around 2am that I finally called my doula and said something along the lines of "ok, I'm having contractions but they aren't regular or anything so...just thought you should know." I also asked her when I ought to call her if things continued to progress as I couldn't really remember what I was supposed to watch for. She said once the contractions were 3-4 min apart, lasting a minute long, and had been that way for an hour, I should give her a call.
In my always-planning brain I figured I'd labor through the night, get the kids off to school, then head to the hospital to get settled as we already had people in place to pick them up at school (it was Grandparents' Day)!
I was timing the contractions on an app on my phone and they were anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes apart. By 4am they were still not regular but sometimes they seemed to be on top of each other. I was hesitant to call and wake up my doula again but I was VERY uncomfortable. I told her my contractions didn't seem to meet the criteria but that I just didn't know how long I could handle this so something was happening. After listening to me talk a bit she said she thought she ought to come to my house. At that moment I knew labor was happening but I still thought I'd be going all night and possibly through the morning. However, something about picturing her at my house made me realize I didn't have that long (she lives about 40 min away) and I said "I don't think if I wait much longer I'll be able to sit in the car." So we decided she'd meet us at the hospital. At this point the contractions were 3ish minutes apart, then there would be two right on top of each other lasting only 30secs or so, then it'd be 5 minutes. I STIL thought we were going in a bit early but I couldn't sit down and when they hit I was moaning/crying loudly and could only stand on my tip toes bent over the couch or leaning on the wall.
I went and got Andy and told him what was going on. We called his mom to come stay with the kids and started gathering our stuff. Suddenly I KNEW things were moving (I swear I could feel dilation!). At this point Elijah came out of his room and said "Daddy can you turn up my white noise? Mommy is too loud." Thanks for the concern son. I called my mom to tell her we were headed to the hospital but could hardly talk so she told me to call her once we were in the car. I also tried Bradi but didn't get an answer!
I'd started to feel nauseous so Andy grabbed me a bowl and I sat on the couch (kinda) until my MIL got here. The ride to the hospital is a blur. My mom called but I was screaming and couldn't talk, Andy was calm and drove through the snowstorm like it was no big deal! At about the S-Curve on 131 I started to throw up, which was great fun between the crying, screaming, and desperate desire to NOT be sitting AT ALL. I got a little scared as I knew that typically women throw up during transition. Turns out an apple fruit squeezie to give me energy was not going to be giving me much energy.
We got to the hospital but neither of us could remember exactly where L&D triage was so we went to the regular emergency entrance. I was dropped off in a wheelchair and brought inside where I promptly told the triage nurse that I was "very" in labor while Andy parked the car. Since I could not possibly sit any longer I stood up next to the wheelchair and held on for dear life while screaming in a room full of strangers. I'm pretty sure I heard someone say "is she going to have a baby right here?!" And the triage nurse was definitely making it clear to L&D on the phone that they needed to come get me- fast.
I was wheeled to Labor and Delivery triage and asked if I felt the urge to push- I said no, so they put me in a regular room where I told the nurse "if you tell me I'm a 3 I'm going to die!" She laughed and said "I don't want to be the one checking you!" When she was able to check me she paused and said "how does a 6-7 sound?" Excellent. Praise the Lord. When Andy arrived I was crying and told him I didn't think I could do it, I wanted an epidural, Brenda better get there fast to talk me out of it. He was sympathetic and tried to make small talk with the nurse about the beautiful new L&D triage facility...so helpful ;) I kept begging to stand up but they kept telling me I'd be moving to delivery quickly and had to be on a bed to do so. Honestly, I'd have walked up there if they'd let me, sitting was torture!
Everything again was a blur, it seemed like a few minutes before they had me rolling down the hall to the elevator. Just as we got into the elevator I suddenly understood that whole "urge to push" thing. The nurse told me firmly- "you cannot have this baby in the elevator, I don't even have any gloves!" So I just went back to writhing, screaming and crying. At one point I felt warm liquid all over me and told her "either my water just broke or I peed." "Doesn't matter," she said. Thank you for making peeing myself normal, because it was not my water ;)...
We arrived in delivery and I continued screaming like a crazy person as they wheeled me to my room. The contractions were nonstop and I felt like I had no time to adjust to each new level of pain. Every nurse at the nurse's station was staring at me and I remember just staring back whilst screaming. If this sounds like a whole lot of screaming- that about sums it up. Things moved SO. Fast. I was checked again in my room and was already a solid 9 with pretty much no ability to stop my body from pushing. Telling a woman not to push is really pointless, I'd heard that before but had no idea how true it is.
At this point Brenda arrived. There I lay on the bed, on my side, totally naked and not caring about that one bit. Someone asked me if I wanted a sheet and I said "I don't care." This was my standard answer because I was past the point of being able to care about anything other than getting. the. baby. OUT. Dr. Edvenson, one of the OB's at my practice was on call and came in just as they were breaking down the bed and doing that magic thing where all the lights and equipment seem to appear from nowhere. He still told me not to push yet- yeah right -and spoke super quietly so that I had no idea who he was mumbling to. Turns out, it was me, but I had no clue due to my own constant yelling. He asked me what my plan for pain control was and I managed a "nothing" while silently wondering what on earth he would have done if I'd demanded an epidural or narcotic...they hadn't even had time to do the normal blood draw let alone place an IV (the lab came in to take my blood and a nurse yelled- "too late, we're delivering here!"). I imagine he was hoping to make a remark along the lines of "too bad little lady" had I asked for one of these things because seriously- there was no time for that nonsense. He hadn't even read my birth plan for crying out loud, hello!? This stuff is important people! Where was my diffuser with relaxing lavender oil? My calming music? My bathtub full of soothing water? Instead I got "I'm going to just do an episiotomy now because I don't like tearing" and did not have the will to argue. I can still see Brenda next to me going "uh, um...oh, nevermind" when I said "fine, do what you have to do!" in response (she can advocate for me but she won't argue with me so the fact that I said go ahead kind of nullfied my desire to not be cut (which of course was written neatly in my unread and discarded birth plan). He even used a local anesthetic first, which was another thing I hadn't wanted but again, I just wanted that baby out of me and was willing to do whatever it took.
Finally no one was telling me not to push and things got real- as if they weren't before. I was suddenly terrified of pushing, I had already muttered the classic "I can't do it" phrase indicative of transition (right Brenda?!) and truly felt like this whole thing was not possible. I could literally feel her moving down, I had no idea a laboring mom could really feel that, but it was distinct. I am truly amazed at how effective God made us in this process, it all just seems so impossible.
Throughout pushing I was pretty much in a haze. I saw tons of nurses- it was a shift change so there were double the norm at one point as I think the ladies who had started with me kinda wanted to see what would happen with this screaming woman that almost waited too long to get to the hospital. There was also a team from the NICU in there because there had been meconium in the amniotic fluid so if she'd had trouble breathing as a result they would have stepped in and taken care of her. I wanted to (but was able to refrain from) crying out for my mommy, and had to be repeatedly told to breath deeply so I did not hyperventilate. Andy and Brenda stood by my head and held my hands while I pushed desperately and with everything I had. After about ten minutes of pushing (so I'm told, it felt much longer to me) Sweet Coraline was born! The doctor had asked (barely audibly, as was his custom) if I wanted to know what her hair color was while I was pushing. Being unable to answer I remember thinking "of course it's blonde of some sort" so when she was laid on my chest and her hair was dark it was a total surprise! I also immediately noticed her long fingers and the little spit bubbles she was making (which she still does when she's hungry). Again we go into blur mode, Dr. Taber arrived in time to stitch me up, (I already felt great and joked "Just in time Dr. Taber!") Cora was weighed and measured (8lbs 4oz, 21"), and provided a beautiful spread-toed footprint for the nurse.
Having a pain-med free labor is one of the coolest things I've ever done. I am certain that had it not been my plan I'd have gone into the hospital sooner (although not much sooner since I was basically in denial), and if I hadn't known Brenda was coming to support me I'd definitely have asked for an epidural. It was indeed the worst pain I have ever felt, it compares to nothing I've ever experienced, but it's amazing how quickly the pain passes when it's finished. I was able to get up and shower within an hour (and got the fun surprise of seeing how many blood vessels I'd broken while pushing in the hospital bathroom mirror- that's what desperation will do for ya), nursing was easier, and I generally felt great. Bonus- Andy did not have the heart to argue with me when I pulled rank and chose "Coraline" over "Natalie" which was our backup choice. He loves it now but was unsure for a few days ;)
My mom and sister arrived pretty quickly after. Apparently my mom had originally resisted heading straight to the hospital and thought crying at home was a better option until my dad asked her what on earth she was doing. :) Bradi had decided to leave her phone plugged in in the kitchen for the first time ever and missed my call which is why she wasn't able to be there for the birth (Andy told me I sounded very angry when I was on the phone with her on the way to the hospital. I said something along the lines of "If you want to see this baby be born you better get here NOW!" lol...hey, I was barfing in a mixing bowl, what'd he want?!)
All that said, for about a week I couldn't imagine doing that again, but now I look back and I seriously have to talk myself down from having another just to do all that again. It is just so cool to actually experience childbirth. I felt before like it was something I read about in history books (silly, huh?) and magazines, like it was something you just didn't do if you had any other option. But choosing to forgo the epidural and deal with the pain was extremely empowering. I would highly recommend it to anyone who even thinks they might want to give it a try. There is no shame in having an epidural or other pain management aid, but for me, I am just so thrilled I was able to experience what millions of women before me have gone through.
Posted by Krista at 6:38 PM 1 comments
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
The Follow-Up Post
I promised a post about my "deep thoughts and turmoil." I'm sure you've all been waiting with bated breath...maybe not but here it is, because recording these things helps me process them and I enjoy looking back later. I also hope that somewhere out there, there is someone who might need to know they aren't alone in what they feel about a change of plans.
First of all, like so many changes in life we've gotten used to the idea of having a baby now and are so thankful for this blessing for so many reasons. I won't apologize for being unsure at first, it's natural to struggle with a major life change you never saw coming, even if it seems to others that it would be your dream come true! But I'm thankful to be on the other side of that (though I will admit I may never get over the "oh my goodness we are starting ALL OVER from SQUARE ONE" thing;).
I have never liked to be a stereotype (which is, ironically, stereotypical of my generation- ha!) and so being "that" couple that got pregnant while trying to adopt was...not my first choice. More importantly though, I didn't want those comments, the ones I've already gotten, the ones I'll tell you right now- DON'T MAKE because no one wants to hear them:
#1- "You just needed to relax." Nothing is more insulting to a person who has struggled with infertility than hearing this. If you think about it, it's easy to see why- basically you're saying that by wanting something so badly, she sabotaged her own efforts. In other words- it's your fault you didn't get pregnant until now. Ouch! Plus, this is just untrue. If it were true, women in high-powered positions would not get pregnant, women in war-torn countries with hardly any food to eat would not get pregnant. It has (almost) nothing to do with just relaxing.
#2- "Now you don't have to adopt, isn't this better?" No kidding, word. for. word. I've had at least one person say this and many others imply it. I get it, I do. If you aren't "into" adoption, you might see it as a second choice. But as I've said before- it was not our second choice. It was the 2nd step in our personal process for building our family. We felt it was a good idea, for us, to have bio kids first, but it was/is/never will be our second choice or last resort. This comment hurts me for my friends that have adopted and have their kids home and are so in love and so certain of this plan for their lives- please, even if you don't get it, just don't say it.
I feel like I should add that I don't honestly remember who has/hasn't said these things to me. I am not offended by them so much as I find them a bit predictable and insensitive. I usually try to give a response that will cause the person saying it to think a bit, but I don't go home and cry or hold a grudge. I understand that these things are said out of a lack of empathizing with the situation and/or just not knowing what else to say,
So here is what I know(the list is short).
-There is a plan for this baby. This baby is not here just to teach mom and dad a lesson about how we are not in control. This baby, as someone else so eloquently put it in an article I read recently, "has been part of the plan since time immeasurable." While I'm sure that we are meant to be reminded of Who is in control, I also know baby #3 has a WHOLE life, whether short or over 100 years long, full of relationships and people he/she will impact besides just our family. I don't know why our adoption was put on hold right now, except that I know for a fact that there needed to be room right now for this pregnancy and this baby.
-And yes, I said the adoption is on hold. That's because Andy and I still believe 100% wholeheartedly without a doubt that we are meant to help with orphan care. Somehow. Perhaps we're back to the idea of refugee foster care, maybe it will be an older child later, maybe it will be helping others financially with their adoptions, most likely it will be in the form of another curve ball we could never even think of.
Unwittingly I came up with a pretty good metaphor as Andy and I tried to sort out our feelings the first night after we'd learned about our little surprise. I said: "It's like you're going on vacation. Which is great, and you're planning to go one place so you make plans, pick activities, and get excited. Then you find out that you are actually going somewhere totally different. It's still vacation and it's still great, there are great things to do in this new place too. But you have to get used to the idea of the change. You might be bummed to not get to experience the things you'd started getting excited about, and you also might plan to visit that place another time. You don't stop wanting to go to that first place, and perhaps there is even a feeling of missing out, but you allow yourself to get excited about the new destination."
We were excited to have a biracial family. We loved that idea for us and for all our children. We were excited to adopt a child we were as certain as we could be would not have a good life or people who wanted it. We had decided to adopt an HIV positive child and (I, more than Andy, but he was coming around) were excited to become advocates for a group of people that is hugely misunderstood. We had a picture of our family in our minds and in it was a little blank spot with a shadow of a brown-skinned child (or more than one) who's features we had yet to make out clearly. That picture has changed a lot but our hearts haven't.
My husband is a pretty amazing pilot, but Praise the Lord- God is even better. We trust him to get us to the correct destination and I know that when we look back on the memories of this new destination, we won't be able to imagine life without this particular detour :)
Posted by Krista at 6:41 PM 3 comments
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Baby #3
About 6 weeks ago we got the surprise of our lives...Baby #3 is on it's way! I've spent much of the last six weeks trying to figure out how to describe our thoughts and feelings but I want to keep it as simple as I can for those who only want the nitty-gritty and not my story of emotional turmoil, I promise to post that later ;)
As you know if you've read my old posts; we've had our issues having babies. Lots of ups and downs, loses, disappointments, and though each event that resulted in a lack of a pregnancy was a time of mourning, we eventually got to a point where we were quite ok with the fact that we were not going to have another newborn. I'll say it now and keep it simple- Adoption was NEVER a second choice for us. We may have decided to have biological kids if we could first, but it was NOT something we landed on because we "had" to. We have always wanted adoption for our family.
So, since getting on the adoption train a few months ago we've been gung-ho, praying about our options and choices, talking a lot at home alone and with family and friends. There was so much that went into some of these choices and babies have been FAR from our minds. Throughout the process, even though I felt I'd be devastated if it happened, I asked God to stop us if this was not what we were supposed to be doing. Each time I asked for a "STOP" if it was necessary, I felt we got a lot of affirmation- from verses I read, people I spoke to, doors opening, even money that was there right when we needed it.
Then, in March, I had a few things going on with my health that were a little odd. Nothing I couldn't write off to something else- for example I'd been due for a thyroid check and had a script, so when I got super tired one week I decided to go finally have it done. The following Sunday I brought our adoption announcements (Thank you for your help on those, Nikki!) to church, put them in boxes, then headed to the service.
The sermon that day? God's Sense of Humor, focusing on God's Interesting Timing. The thought had crossed my mind once or twice in the previous days to take a pregnancy test, but when you've gone through what we have, and you value your sanity, you don't rush and and buy one very easily.
While I listened to our pastor speak about Abraham and Sarah's desire for a child, their efforts to "get one" another way, and God's "last laugh" when they finally had one on their own....I KNEW. I could hardly stand to sit in my seat. I grabbed my friend after church and took her to the store with me, we headed down to the church basement (since the kids were still in Sunday School) and lo and behold that thing turned positive!
Immediately I sent my friend back upstairs to take all those adoption announcements out of boxes and I called Andy. Poor guy, he was literally stepping into the plane (I could hear it powering up behind him) when I shared the news. He said "Ok honey, I gotta go, I love you!" Then he proceeded to get into the plane and stare at the controls blankly until his co-pilot offered some assistance ;)
Crazy story, huh? So here we are- back to square one with a gap of four years between kids! The twins are excited- they got to hear the heartbeat last week- so Evie keeps asking when her baby sister is coming out (she's convinced it's a girl and will not hear any arguments). Elijah tells me from time to time "I like your baby, Mama," and asks weird questions like "Does the baby get wet when you take a shower?" So we're adjusting to this new future we are just now getting a glimpse of and knowing there is a plan for this baby since OBVIOUSLY we were meant to get pregnant right now. Just waiting to see what this little one is going to add to our family! :)
(Stay tuned for more of my musings about this new revelation, if you're into that kind of stuff.)
Posted by Krista at 4:44 PM 0 comments
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Finally! We get to let you in on a little "secret" we've been hiding for awhile ("secret" is in quotes because it's not common knowledge but it's not really been a secret either!) A new little person will soon be joining our family! Since most of you know that pregnancy and newborn babies do not appear to be in the plan for us anymore, this little one will be joining us by way of adoption from Ethiopia, and we could not be more thrilled!
This all feels like the culmination of years of thinking, praying, wishing, and learning, so while some of you may know adoption has always been on our radar, for others of you this might come as a surprise. Thankfully God loves surprises and has been preparing us for this one for quite awhile. When Andy and I first got married the question of adoption came up- I think we arbitrarily had a conversation about it one day. I'm pretty sure I (Krista) asked Andy if he'd ever consider it, he said yes, I was faintly surprised, and we moved on.
Then, when we tried to start a family, the question came up again as we considered our options for handling our troubles having biological children. We visited Adoption Associates, we visited The Fertility Center, and at that point in our lives adoption got put on the back burner as we decided for many reasons that trying to have bio children first was the best way for us to get started. Fast forward 4 years and here with are, with 2 children, no desire to proceed with more fertility treatments (after several failed attempts), and still wanting to add to our family. Back to Adoption Associates we went and from there to the Ethiopia Special Needs program.
We don't know a lot right now; we haven't specified a gender since we don't really care either way (though we've heard a boy is most likely), and we agree with AAI that an adopted child should be younger than the twins, preferably by at least 9 months. We also know that for us, the term Special Needs will be defined as a physical problem ranging from a minor deformity, to vision or hearing difficulties, to HIV. There are a lot of unknowns right now, but we DO know that God has a little one already planned for us and we cannot wait to find out more about him/her and for more and more light to be shed, revealing His plan.
If you know much about adoption you know that nothing is certain (not an easy thing for this planner, semi-type-A personality to accept!) and things, more likely than not, will move slowly the majority of the time. We are doing our best to prepare ourselves and our family for just about anything, but would covet your prayers of support throughout this process. Pray specifically for Eli and Evie, that they would be able to approach this new sibling with love and excitement. Pray for our adopted little one that he/she will stay healthy while waiting and will transition to our family life smoothly. Please also pray for his/her biological family- we cannot know all the details of how or why our child has become orphaned but we are very aware that our joy in adding another family member comes to us because of other's loss(es). My heart breaks to think of the loss our child will already have experienced in his/her short life by the time we are able to bring him/her home as well as the loss his/her family is experiencing in not being able to raise this little one.
Something you may not know, is that adoption, whether international or domestic is not an inexpensive undertaking. Currently we are expecting our adoption to cost between $30,000 and $40,000. While we anticipate being able to cover about half of the funds ourselves, we will still need to do significant fundraising along the lines of $10,000-$20,000, to allow us to bring our little one home. We are also planning to apply for some of the wonderful grants we have been told about and would appreciate prayers on our behalf for those. If you would like to be a part of our adoption story and support us financially we would of course, be very, very thankful.
We have been so blessed by the love and support we have already been shown from friends and family as we've gotten started in this time of expectation. While the wait may be longer or shorter than the typical pregnancy, our "nine months" starts now!
Posted by Krista at 8:43 PM 1 comments
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Gives Good Gifts
Matthew 7:11 says- If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Sometimes I tend to claim the verses that remind me how much work I need to do. It probably stems from my good Reformed heritage, knowing we are totally depraved and all that, I often feel the need to remind myself of all the work I need to be doing out of LOVE (not requirement, though sometimes I think we all forget) for Jesus and what he did/does for us. But every now and then a verse like this will come to mind and just remind me how awesome our God is and how much he LOVES to love us.
During this season of anticipation, thanks, joy, and of course gift-giving, I am reminded of all the gifts we have been given and are going to be given by our Heavenly Father. Particularly as I think about giving gifts to my kids. This is one of those times when being a parent can bring your heart just so close to God's. On any given day my kids can make me cry with frustration, jump for joy, laugh at their humor, yell with anger, and shed tears of pride at their accomplishments. No matter the day though, whether it has been mostly good or mostly bad, I always delight in giving them a good gift! Maybe it's just time- reading together, snuggling together, watching a favorite tv show, or maybe it's a literal gift- a new toy, a book, something I've crafted to give them a fun new activity to try, etc. The point is, rarely does it cross my mind that maybe they don't deserve it (I say rarely because I can't be 100% sure it hasn't, but not in recent memory) or that I'd rather just withhold something that will bring them joy. Parents love to bring their kids joy and there are few things that put that sparkle in their eyes faster than a gift, big or small.
This is the first year that I've been able to see my kids get really excited about Christmas. I love that they talk about Jesus, that is my favorite part. I also love that every morning when Evie comes downstairs she checks her stocking, she can't help it! I've had fun finding them gifts I know they'll love, now that their personalities and likes/dislikes are so evident, and they have even been able to tell me what they hope to get. (Evie- Hello Kitty, Elijah- A car) I also love that Elijah stands in front of the window every time we get a flake of snow and says "Mommy, it's Christmas! Snow means Christmas! Merry Christmas Mommy, Ho Ho Ho." And Evie says: "It'll be Christmas when my Hello Kitty comes, right mommy?"
All of this is to say that the giving of gifts to my kids is, in itself, such a gift. To go out and buy virtually anything they want, within reason, and watch the smiles on their faces...to have the time, ability, energy, to give them the other types of gifts- time, food, even medical care(!), those are blessings! There are a lot of mamas and daddies out there that cannot give such gifts to their kids, they struggle even to feed their children, and they deal with the type of decision we cannot even imagine- to have to consider actually giving your child up in the hopes of them getting a better life. My heart and mind are with those mamas today, in addition I am claiming for them and for our family, that God gives good gifts to those who ask. Can you imagine, how much more lavishly God wishes to shower us with "gifts" when it feels so good for us who are EVIL to give gifts to OUR children? I pray that this holiday season we will learn to give good gifts, as well as ask for and anticipate the GOOD GIFTS our Heavenly Father wishes to give us.
Posted by Krista at 5:55 PM 2 comments
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
On all the things I SHOULD do...
I'm going to write this today, then I think I'm going to print it out and post it alllll over my house to remind myself on days that I'm not at my best.
Here goes. I choose to embrace mediocre for once in my life.
I am tired. Tired of all the things out there that I "should" do. Things that if I was a good mom, wife, human, Christian, ___________(insert your own choice here), I would make time for. I've never understood people who need to "take a break" from social media before. I always thought they were responding to catty comments or rude "friends." But today I am realizing that sometime the break might be from feeling badly about yourself.
On any given day here is a list of the causes and issues I feel I should research or spend time on based on my newsfeed, email, TV commercials, even the church newsletter or conversations with friends:
-Buying locally
-Buying consciously (no slave labor, no sweat shops, no unfair wages, etc.)
-Reducing consumerism in general
-Not buying on Thanksgiving or Black Friday
-Teaching your kids about giving and the excess we have in the US
-Making sure kids do not think Santa is the reason for Christmas
-Read with the kids 20 minutes per day at the minimum
-No TV before age 2, 1 show or less each day
-Vaccines, yea or nay?
-Having a vibrant prayer/devotional life
-Organic foods, GMO's, MSG, Food Dyes, Preservatives, Sugar Content, Fat Content oh my!
-Responsibly-grown and harvested foods
-Food allergies causing everything from digestive issues to insomnia to depression to behavior problems and of course, cancer.
-Antibiotics for my kids, yea or nay?
-Homeopathic remedies in general
-Recycling, finding creative ways to recycle what my local recycling center does not accept
-Homeschooling, should my kids go to mainstream school?
-Buying things vs. making them when everything has a pinterest tutorial
-Making food versus buying it, homemade is better! Food not lawns!
-Exercise; daily, for a long time, while pregnant, sick, depressed, just DO IT! And if possible, make it hot yoga, spin, or zumba.... Also post selfies of self in gym.
Add your own list, I know there are more, and don't get me wrong, all of these things are things that can be very important. The problem is that I cannot do it all! These days we have more chemicals, more options, AND all of the information we could ever need to decide whether or not to subject our families to these things than ever before. But unfortunately I don't think knowledge is power in this case, sometimes knowledge is regret, knowledge is guilt, knowledge is stress and grief and exhausting. I want healthy food options for Andy and I and the kids but buying organic is expensive and you have to know the differences between all the symbols at the grocery store and have an app on your phone for the "dirty dozen" of produce. You also need this scanner app that allows you to scan the barcodes of everything you buy to make sure it wasn't made by a victim of human trafficking or unfair wages. But what about the items that aren't in the database? I could be unknowingly supporting these things just like I have all my life, even if I spend an extra 2 hours at the grocery store scanning everything and trying desperately to get a wifi connection in a store that basically acts like a giant vacuum for radio waves or whatever it is 3G is connecting to.
It's a conundrum, it really is. Because whether or not you choose to embrace any or none of these causes, you pretty much have to have an opinion on all of them or you won't survive your next dinner party. (maybe an exaggeration) Plus, maybe you spend several hours a week planning meals and a grocery list for your family to ensure healthy, sit-down, affordable meals together...but that means that you're not able to spend time at the gym right now. One person will praise you for your efforts to feed your family healthfully, another will condemn you for not making enough time for your own health (what's YOUR excuse?) This is why we are not supposed to try to please people, only God. We will never please everyone, nor should we try. But how to balance when all of these things are worthy, they are all important, and all feel like things that could drastically change life for the better?
What do YOU do about it? Well I'll be the first to say I am just not sure. All I can do is what I can do. Maybe it's a cop-out to say I can't lose sleep over this but I can't; I lose enough sleep from kids wandering into my room at night and worries about just the everyday life issues that arise when you have anyone in your life that you love and care about.
So I'm deciding here and now to let myself off the hook. I'm going to keep doing what I can- meaning I'll have days when I don't shop at Costco or Walmart, I DO workout at the gym, AND manage to purchase only organic items for our dinner. Then I will take those items home and add them to my pantry full of stuff with ingredients I can't pronounce. I'll also have days where I volunteer for an organization like Women At Risk, but I'll be wearing a shirt I bought at Meijer and frankly I'm not sure who made it because I grabbed 3 sizes off the shelf when I had a spare 30 seconds the kids weren't screaming and took all 3 home to try on because goodness knows I am not dragging my offspring into a dressing room since the Maurices Debacle of 2011.
I won't compromise on my kids' faith but there are nights that we forget to pray before bed and days that my kids think Santa was at the manger in Bethlehem. In fact, I'm considering buying a little Santa to hang around the stable because in the end if they think he was just a nice guy that likes to give presents that also happened to be in attendance at the birth of our Christ I think I am 100% OK with that. In the end the most important thing to me is that my husband and my kids know that I love them and that the only reason any of us are here to do anything is because we were put here for a purpose. I also know that no matter how long I live, whether I get cancer, develop some other disease, keep the extra 20lbs I want to lose, or make it to the finish line 120 years old with nothing worse than a bad flu- it won't be because I added any additional days to my life than were already given to me. Or my kids.
Pressure is off, go enjoy your family, your home, God's people, and do for them what He has called you to do, not what others call you to do. It really is the best we can do when we have faith that God will help us accomplish the things that he put us here to accomplish.
Posted by Krista at 12:02 PM 2 comments


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Hyatt Place Nashville/Hendersonville places you within a few miles (5 km) of Trinity Music City and Historic Rock Castle. This 98-room, 3-star hotel has an outdoor pool along with a 24-hour fitness center and free in-room WiFi. Grand Ole Opry and The Hermitage are also within a 30-minute drive of this Hendersonville hotel.
Free buffet breakfast is included with your stay and awaits you each morning. Entertain your taste buds with a beverage at the bar/lounge or coffee shop/café.
All 98 air-conditioned accommodations feature sitting areas. Guests can expect to find free WiFi and 42-inch flat-screen TVs with satellite channels and pay movies. Bathrooms offer hair dryers and designer toiletries, and pillowtop beds with Egyptian cotton sheets ensure a restful night. Sofa beds, refrigerators, and coffee makers are also standard.
Property features
At Hyatt Place Nashville/Hendersonville, guests enjoy features like an outdoor pool, a 24-hour fitness center, and free WiFi in public areas. If you drive, put free parking to good use. Front-desk staff can answer questions 24/7, and assist with dry cleaning/laundry, concierge services, and securing valuables. Additional amenities include conference space, a 24-hour business center, and a computer station.
- Free buffet breakfast
- Free WiFi in rooms and public areas
- Free parking
- Bar/lounge
Hyatt Place Nashville/Hendersonville330 E Main St Hendersonville TN 37075
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
Hyatt Place Nashville/Hendersonville features an outdoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center. Dining options at the hotel include a coffee shop/café and a snack bar/deli. A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning. A computer station is located on site and high-speed wireless Internet access is complimentary.
Business-related amenities at this 3-star property consist of a 24-hour business center and meeting rooms. Event facilities measuring 1900 square feet (171 square meters) include conference space. This business-friendly hotel also offers concierge services, complimentary newspapers in the lobby, and dry cleaning/laundry services. Complimentary self parking is available on site.
Hyatt Place Nashville/Hendersonville is a smoke-free property.
- Computer station
- Free WiFi
- 24-hour business center
- Conference space size (feet) - 1900
- Conference space size (meters) - 171
- Number of meeting rooms - 4
- Total number of rooms - 98
- Snack bar/deli
- Free breakfast
- Conference space
- 24-hour front desk
- Bar/lounge
- Coffee shop or café
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Concierge services
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Elevator/lift
- Express check-in
- Express check-out
- 24-hour fitness facilities
- Meeting rooms
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Free self parking
- Outdoor pool
- Television in common areas
- Smoke-free property
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Outdoor pool
- Free Wi-Fi
- Snack bar/deli
- Sofa bed
- Refrigerator
- Cribs/infant beds (complimentary)
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Free self parking
Room Amenities
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Premium TV channels
- Pay movies
- Premium bedding
- Separate sitting area
- Air conditioning
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Phone
- Free local calls
- Refrigerator
- Coffee/tea maker
- Daily housekeeping
- Designer toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Shower only
- Iron/ironing board
- Desk
- Flat-panel TV
- Sofa bed
- Satellite TV service
- Partially open bathroom
- Egyptian-cotton sheets
- Pillowtop mattress
- Sofa bed size
- Free WiFi
Where to Eat
Guests are offered a complimentary buffet breakfast each morning.
Nearby Things to Do
Recreational amenities at the hotel include an outdoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center.
Children under 18 years old are not allowed in the swimming pool or fitness facility without adult supervision.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Golfing nearby
- Hiking/biking trails nearby
To make special requests for accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
- Accessible bathroom
- In-room accessibility
- Roll-in shower
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
- Pets allowed for an extra charge of USD 75 per accommodation, per stay (maximum USD 175 per stay), plus a one-time cleaning fee of USD 100
- Dogs only
- 2 per room (up to 50 lb)
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
Service animals exempt from fees/restrictions
No rollaway/extra beds available
Optional extras
- Pet fee: USD 75 per accommodation, per stay (maximum USD 175 per stay) plus USD 100 one-time cleaning fee
Hotel Name
- Hyatt Place Nashville Northeast
- Hyatt Place Nashville Northeast Hendersonville
- Hyatt Place Nashville Northeast Hotel
- Hyatt Place Nashville Northeast Hotel Hendersonville
- Hyatt Place Northeast
- Hyatt Place Northeast Nashville
- Hendersonville Hyatt
- Hyatt Hendersonville
- Hyatt Place Hendersonville
- Hyatt Place Nashville - Northeast Hotel Hendersonville
- Hyatt Place Nashville/Hendersonville Hotel Hendersonville
- Hyatt Place Nashville/Hendersonville Hotel
- Hyatt Place Nashville/Hendersonville Hendersonville
- Hyatt Place Nashville/Hendersonville
We should mention
Children 18 years old and younger stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding. The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation. The photos in this description reflect the brand standard and are provided for illustrative purposes only.

subset: commoncrawl


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Monday, 10 December 2012
The Coolest Libraries in the World!
Now if you're a bibliophile, architecture fan, or you want ideas for how to arrange your book collection at home - have a look at my new roundup here which lists the best libraries in the world, including both public buildings and private rooms in people's homes.
I hope you like it :)
Posted by Crafter-holic at 19:37
Labels: Favourite Websites, My Witterings
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Julie serves as an Executive Director of GreenOak Real Estate Advisors, LP. From 2003 to 2010, she was an Executive Director in the real estate private equity division at Morgan Stanley. While at Morgan Stanley, she also worked within the real estate investment banking division and the structure products group originating commercial mortgages. Prior to Morgan Stanley, Ms. Wong has also worked in M&A for a resort developer, management consulting and strategic development for companies ranging from startup ventures to Fortune 500 companies. Committed to working in education for youth and youth-serving organizations for over 15 years, she is currently active in the Schools Committee for Harvard College and serves on the Board of Directors for Students Partnership Worldwide. Ms. Wong holds a B.A. from Harvard University and M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.
About Us
- Organizational Structure 15/16
- Our Educational Design
- Our Success
- Our Students
- Our Staff
- Our Board of Trustees
- Our Mission
- Board Meeting Calendar, Minutes 2014-15 & Annual Reports
What's Happening at Bronx Arts?


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Statewide Tornado Drill Set for March 20
10501 Trade Court
Richmond, Virginia 23236
Mar. 13, 2012
CONTACT: Laura Southard
(804) 897-6510 or 674-2400
Statewide Tornado Drill Set for March 20
More than 810,000 Virginians have registered to participate
RICHMOND, Va. – It's not too late to join in an important safety exercise, the annual Statewide Tornado Drill, scheduled for Tuesday, March 20 at 9:45 a.m. (In case of actual severe weather on that date, the drill will be postponed to March 21.)
To start the Statewide Tornado Drill, a test tornado warning will be sent by the National Weather Service to NOAA Weather Radios. These radios will sound a tone alert and message or flash to indicate a message, simulating what people will hear or see during an actual tornado warning. The test message will then be broadcast by many radio and TV stations. This is only a test and not an actual tornado.
When the test tornado warning is issued, people should move as quickly as possible to a safe area in a sturdy building. Safe areas are basements and crawl spaces, as well as interior rooms, bathrooms, closets or hallways on the lowest level of a building. In choosing a safe area, stay away from windows. Once in the safe area, crouch down or sit on the floor, facing down, and cover heads with hands.
For help in conducting a tornado drill and to register for the March 20 Statewide Tornado Drill, go to www.ReadyVirginia.gov. Although registration is not required, people participating in the statewide drill are encouraged to sign up to show their support. The annual drill is a joint effort of VDEM and the National Weather Service, together with radio and TV broadcasters.
The best and fastest way to get a tornado warning is by NOAA Weather Radio with SAME alerts. These are available at electronics and sporting goods stores, discount and department stores, and online. They come in battery-powered models, and many also have AM/FM bands so you can hear information from local radio stations. A special needs NOAA Weather Radio can warn deaf and hard-of-hearing persons of hazardous conditions. For more, see www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/special_need.htm
To encourage tornado awareness and safety, Gov. Bob McDonnell has proclaimed March 20 as Tornado Preparedness Day in the commonwealth. View the Governor's proclamation: http://www.vaemergency.gov/sites/default/files/TornadoPreparednessDay2012.pdf


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Grégor Puppinck
Director of the ECLJ.
Strasbourg, July 17th 2013.
On July 3rd 2013, during its 1175th meeting,the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe officially admitted that it is incapable of answering the two following questions:
On the 23rd of April 2013, a written question entitled "Does the European Convention on Human Rights set out a right to abortion?" (No. 633, Doc. 13181) was addressed to the Committee of Ministers (CM) by the President of the EPP group, Mr Luca VOLONTÈ. This Committee is composed of the deputies (ambassadors) of the 47 Member States of the Council of Europe. It is the highest organ of the Council of Europe.
The purpose of the written questions is to allow members of the Parliamentary Assembly to draw the attention of the CM to a specific situation, and/or to ask the CM to clarify its position on a specific question. The written answers provided by the CM have political weight. When they deal with a general matter, like in this case, they can be used as "soft law" because they represent the consensus of the member States.
According to the procedure, a project of answer is drafted by the Secretariat and then discussed and amended by the delegates of the Member States, before being adopted by consensus. This time, after a first exchange of views on May 7th, the CM instructed the Secretariat to prepare a draft reply and agreed to resume consideration of this question at one of their forthcoming meetings.
The project of answer (CM/AS(2013)Quest633 prov not public) has been submitted to the deputies for comments and amendments. On July 3rd, at the end of the discussions, the delegates of the Member States could not find consensus on any common answer. Therefore, by a majority vote, the Deputies decided to instruct "the Chair to inform the President of the Parliamentary Assembly that "owing to a lack of consensus, it has not been possible to adopt a reply to Written Question". Such failure rarely occurs.
The discussions within the CM are confidential, but we can imagine that the draft response prepared by the Secretariat has been criticised by a significant number of States because it was too "pro-abortion oriented".
This failure shows that, in spite of the fact that most European countries allow abortion, there is no consensus within the Council of Europe on abortion. This is important, especially because the European court of human rights relies on the existence of "consensus" to develop and create new rights through its case-law.
As explained by the written question in its introductory words, "The Council of Europe is being increasingly accused of liberalising abortion in countries such as Ireland and Poland. This is a serious allegation which requires clarification from the Committee of Ministers. A reply is needed from the Committee of Ministers because this Committee decides on Council of Europe policy, is made up of representatives of the States Parties to the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Social Charter, and determines the requisite effective scope of the Court's judgments when supervising their execution."
Indeed, in the recent years, those European treaties have been repeatedly invoked by pro-abortion organisations in order to promote a "human right to abortion", and demote the right to conscientious objection of medical practitioners. While it is clear that the treaties can not be interpreted as containing an autonomous right to abortion, the majority within the Court and the CM, with the consent of the current Irish government, achieved to impose the legalisation of abortion in Ireland. This legal and political game creates a legal uncertainty that was raised by this written question.
For more information on this matter, a 50 pages study on "Abortion and the European Convention on Human Rights" has just been published by the Irish Journal of Legal Studies. This study aims to find, in an objective and systematic manner, the coherency of the jurisprudence of the Court, and in doing so, to present a reasoned legal account of abortion under the Convention.
The European Centre for Law and Justice is an international, Non-Governmental Organization dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights in Europe and worldwide. The ECLJ holds special Consultative Status before the United Nations/ECOSOC since 2007. The ECLJ engages legal, legislative, and cultural issues by implementing an effective strategy of advocacy, education, and litigation. The ECLJ advocates in particular the protection of religious freedoms and the dignity of the person with the European Court of Human Rights and the other mechanisms afforded by the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and others. The ECLJ bases its action on "the spiritual and moral values which are the common heritage of European peoples and the true source of individual freedom, political liberty and the rule of law, principles which form the basis of all genuine democracy" (Preamble of the Statute of the Council of Europe).


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Summer Night at the Black Swamp Arts Festival
Collage of Black Swamp ARTS Festival In B.G. Ohio
One of my favorite events in the summer takes place locally at the Black Swamp Arts Festival in Bowling Green, Ohio. Featured in the collage above are some images from Saturday nights center stage line up with Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears and Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers. Taking a break from summer garden harvest and enjoying the sights and sounds locally. Summer just wouldn't be complete with out a pulled pork sandwich prepared out on the street by Po Mo's Ribs .
The video and images above was captured with my iphone which I had just purchased the month before. Just listening to these tunes I can smell the pulled pork and feel the heat of summer. The festival is free thanks to locals who contribute to this organization. Can't wait to see the lineup for this years arts festival and reflect on how lucky we are to have such a art filled community so close to where my garden grows!


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Rent A Treatise upon Modern Instrumentation and Orchestration 1st edition today, or search our site for other textbooks by Hector Berlioz. Every textbook comes with a 21-day "Any Reason" guarantee. Published by Cambridge University Press.
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Quetzalcoatl T0a5t3rHi! came by to stamp your guestbook since you have The Paranormal forum in your favorites. Its great to see that I'm not the only one out there that has interest in the paranormal . So what's your favorite Paranormal subject? You can answer in the guestbook comment box or the forum all along
Mar 22, 11 6:30am
Hope to see you in the Paranormal Forum soon .
Harvest Moon girl T0a5t3r
Dec 26, 08 10:07am
I don't know how often you check these or if you do at all, but I just wanted to stop by and wish you a merry Christmas. If you're Christian, that is. If you happen to be Jewish, Muslim, an Atheist, practice a different faith, or are simply a grinch, well, I hope you have happy holidays or, if you'd prefer, I hope you have a satisfactory, non-denominational capitalist wintertime gift-giving season!
Once again I'm stopping by just to say "hi". I hope you had a great Christmas and wish you the very best for 2009, Eddie. I hope that everything is well with you.
Best wishes for 2009 and the years to follow!
Harvest Moon girl T0a5t3rSo after a year long absence from this site, I've found myself here yet again.
Aug 23, 08 4:21am
I just wanted to stop by and say "hi" and ask how you were doing lately. I hope all is going well with you, Eddie.
There, that should fill the character limit up.
SerialZero T0a5t3rI used to be a little boy
Mar 17, 08 8:17pm
So old in my shoes
And what I choose is my choice
What's a boy supposed to do?
Sungod Okami T0a5t3r
Mar 17, 07 8:01am
Hey! I've seen you around, and I want to be Neofriends. Please stamp back and add me to your Neofriends list. Much appreciated!
Sign back or feel my demonic wrath!
Ello =] I'm randomly signing peoples g-book xD and I stopped by to yours =]
My current obsession xD
Now You've been stamped ;]
Be nice and stamp back =]
Bye bye ^^
My current obsession xD
Now You've been stamped ;]
Be nice and stamp back =]
Bye bye ^^
Den-den =]
The Slayer T0a5t3ryou told me to sign your guest book Via a LED sign on some website that was linked from a thread felony closed, that was started by someone.
Apr 19, 06 7:09am
Feb 18, 06 2:10am
Vapour Snake T0a5t3r
Feb 14, 06 5:38pm
Happy Valentines Day
Hopefully everything went your way on this day. And maybe you even got lucky today. But that's none of business, any way have a great one.
Hopefully everything went your way on this day. And maybe you even got lucky today. But that's none of business, any way have a great one.
Harvest Moon girl T0a5t3rYep. I don't really know why I'm signing but I just saw your avi and was like "Hey! Thats the avi Eddie had when I first talked to him." So here I am...doing absolutely nothing. Which reminds me, did you ever end up reading the Fruits Basket manga or watching the anime?
Jan 16, 06 6:14am
Have a random image that one of my friends made for me.
It's supposed to be a cross. He made it for me when I told him I needed a cover page thingy for a religion project.
Vapour Snake T0a5t3r
Jan 15, 06 11:19am
You have just been a Victim of Vapour Snake. I had this weird feeling that i had to sign your GB. Quick you need some anit venom, other wise you will...
As Mister Tiger's Slavie I am here to sign your g-book in his honor >=3 Mister Tiger is the best Master in the world >=3 I thank my dear beloved Master for buying me in the Auction XD Thy Master is really and clearly the bestest Master in the whole whole whole whole wide world =) You could now honor my Master for his wonderful doings XD Honor thy Master now pwease >=3
The one and only XD
Den-den =D
Ooops. Delete my previous stamp. I pressed the submit button before I did anything - argh!
Anyway, thanks for signing mine. Alas, we still cannot elope 'cause you've played too many of us in the TP forum. *sigh*
Signing comes with a customary pic:
The name is Red Mynx. Remember it. I will dominate you in every way if you cross me.
See you on the other side.
Anyway, thanks for signing mine. Alas, we still cannot elope 'cause you've played too many of us in the TP forum. *sigh*
Signing comes with a customary pic:
The name is Red Mynx. Remember it. I will dominate you in every way if you cross me.
See you on the other side.
Mario Menace T0a5t3rSir, I am astounded at you're thinking capabilities and this is a ty stamp for all the great discussions in IE forum, please continue the oppisition lol and while I don't like welcome and instructions, here is a stamp anyway. Good Luck!
Dec 29, 05 5:09am
This stamp is to show my appreciation seeing as how in the next month my sig will change:angelwings:
Obi1kenobi T0a5t3r
Dec 24, 05 11:06pm
I'm sorry about the time I accidentally stuck raw bread into your eye sockets. It was an honest mistake.
Just passing through to wish you the best Holidays a Seeker can get...
Love, Melody
I'd appreciate it if you signed back, thanks.
xix Happy Holidays xix
Hoping you have the merriest Christmas!
!~Be naughty and save Santa the trip =3 lol
Chaos Seraph T0a5t3r
Dec 10, 05 6:21am
Merry Christmas Toasty!
Happy Holidays! ^^


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Horse Books
Trafalgar Square Books is pleased to announce the publication of Tug of War: Classical versus "Modern" Dressage by German rider and veterinary surgeon Dr. Gerd Heuschmann. Dr. Heuschmann, known for his plain speaking regarding what he deems the incorrect and damaging training methods commonly employed by riders and trainers involved in dressage competition today, presents an intelligent and thought-provoking exploration of both classical and "modern" training methods against a practical backdrop of the horse's basic anatomy and physiology. He describes parts of the horse's body that need to be correctly developed by the dressage rider; how they function both individually and within an anatomical system; and how various schooling techniques affect these parts for the good, or for the bad. He then outlines his ideal "physiological education" of the horse: one where training and riding mirror the mental and physical development of the horse, fulfilling "classical" requirements—such as regularity of the three basic gaits, suppleness, and acceptance of the bit—rather than disregarding time-tested values for quick fixes that could lead to the degradation of the horse's well-being.
Dr. Heuschmann's assertion that the true objectives of dressage schooling must never be eclipsed by simple "mechanical perfection" is certain to inspire riders at all levels to examine their riding, their riding goals, and the techniques they employ while pursuing them.
DR. GERD HEUSCHMANN trained as a Bereiter (master rider) in Germany before qualifying for veterinary study at Munich University. There he specialized in equine orthopedics for two years before accepting a post as the head of the breeding department at the German FN, which he eventually left to start his own practice in Warendorf. He has been an active member of the "hyperflexion" (previously referred to as "Rollkur") debate, weighing in at the 2005 USDF National Symposium and the 2006 FEI Veterinary and Dressage Committees' Workshop. Along with Klaus Balkenhol and other prominent figures in the dressage community, Dr. Heuschmann is a founding member of "Xenophon," an organization dedicated to "fighting hard against serious mistakes in equestrian sport" (www.xenophon-classical-riding.org).
144 pp ∙ 6 ˝ x 9 Ľ ∙ 76 color photos, 20 color drawings ∙ 978 1 57076 375 5 ∙ $24.95 hc


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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The winner of the 118th Kentucky Derby could just as easily have been racing at Philadelphia Park. When Larry Littman bred Lil E. Tee, he intended to take advantage of the Pennsylvania breeding program. It didn't turn out exactly as he envisioned.
Lil E. Tee, the first Pennsylvania bred ever to win the Derby, was foaled at Pin Oak Lane Farm in New Freedom, near the Maryland border south of York.
Dr. William Solomon's farm now has the unique distinction of foaling a Derby winner and a Hambletonian winner (Park Avenue Joe in 1989).


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February 14, 2013
A Two Year Long Drug Investigation leads Law Enforcement to Large Dog Fighting Operation
After a two-year-long drug investigation The Pasquotank County Sheriff's Office, Elizabeth City Police Department, The Federal Drug Enforcement Agencies (DEA), North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement (NCALE), North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI), Camden Sheriff's Office arrested two people Desmond B. White B/M 35 and Maurice Baum B/M 37 on Federal drug charges and executed 4 Federal search warrants at four different locations in Elizabeth City on February 5, 2013.
February 12, 2013
It's a Jungle Out There: An Interview with Survivor Winner Jenna Morasca
Jenna Morasca, winner of Survivor: The Amazon, describes her efforts to help animals survive and thrive.
February 11, 2013
The Humane Society of the United States Names the Top Ten Emergency Placement Partners of 2012
The Humane Society of the United States has named its top ten Emergency Placement Partners of 2012.
February 7, 2013
Humane Lobby Day Kicks Off in Helena
Citizens from across Montana, including members of the Montana Girl Scouts Lone Rock School Cadette Troop #3756, are participating in Humane Lobby Dayto meet with lawmakers and lobby for better animal welfare laws for pets.
January 29, 2013
The Humane Society of the United States Launches Rescue Central
Rescue Central will provide assistance and expertise to help animal rescue groups operate more efficiently and effectively, build coalitions, discover new tools and techniques for funding their operations and attain the highest levels of animal care.
January 25, 2013
The HSUS Assists in Rescue of 16 Cats from Dickson Hoarding Situation
The Humane Society of the United States and Happy Tales Humane were called in by Dickson County Animal Control to assist in the rescue of 16 cats from a White Bluff property.
January 25, 2013
25 Hurricane Sandy Cats Rescued
The Hudson Valley Humane Society and The Humane Society of the United States teamed up to rescue 25 cats left homeless in north Rockland by Hurricane Sandy.
January 23, 2013
Pennsylvania House of Representatives Passes Legislation to Reduce Cost of Care for Rescued Animals
The Humane Society of the United States applauds the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for passing House Bill 82, to require alleged animal abusers to pay reasonable costs to care for their animals after seizure. The vote was 163-84.
December 21, 2012
2012 ACE Documentary Grant Winners
"Shadow Trade," an investigation into Thai dog trafficking, wins The HSUS's 2012 ACE Documentary Film Grant. "Horsepower," the runner-up, touches on a variety of equine issues.
December 19, 2012
Kind News Story: Rescued Daisy Now a Therapy Horse
Rescued from neglect, Daisy is now a "therapy horse," helping people with disabilities learn how to ride, walk, and even talk. From the Dec. 2012/Jan. 2013 issue of Kind News, our magazine for kids.


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Top Definition
The act of having a member of the opposite sex, who you invited over to spend the night with you, to sleep alone in your bed while you sleep on your sofa.
The poor girl went without and was chiassoned again.
dodane przez solitary man marzec 24, 2010
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Can you define these popular missing words?


text:
Zwolle, the compact capital of Overijssel about 85km from Amsterdam, is on the up. Not so long ago, it was a dowdy sort of place, but it has recently attracted substantial investment and the results are plain to see in a flush of modern buildings and the revival of its old harbour, which is now jammed with sailing boats and vintage canal barges.
An ancient town, Zwolle achieved passing international fame when Thomas à Kempis settled here in 1399. Thereafter, it went on to prosper as one of the principal towns of the Hanseatic League, its burghers commissioning an extensive programme of public works designed to protect its citizens and impress their rivals. Within the city walls, German textiles were traded for Baltic fish and grain, or more exotic products from Amsterdam like coffee, tea and tobacco. The boom lasted some two hundred years, but by the middle of the seventeenth century the success of Amsterdam and the general movement of trade to the west had undermined its economy – and Zwolle slipped into a sort of provincial reverie from which it is now emerging with much of its old centre intact and well preserved. Unusually, Zwolle's moat has survived in fine fettle, encircling the centre and overlooked by nine, seventeenth-century earthen bastions that once protected the city. These bastions are seen to fine advantage on the walk in from the train station with fountains playing in the moat and the fortifications clearly visible among the trees.


text:
Photoshop is the first step in
your exciting journey to becoming a graphic design or web design
professional. Adobe Photoshop is the most popularly used photo-editing
software in the world.
Galaxy's Adobe Photoshop
7.0 Tutorial is an individual course aimed at providing
you thorough knowledge and intensive hands-on training on this amazing software.
The tutorial covers the entire gamut of creativity tools, special effects and
superior image-editing options offered by Photoshop. Each tool are first explained
in detail, followed by practice sessions, helping you fully master them to achieve
professional results. In true Tutorial Galaxy tradition, the Adobe Photoshop 7.0
tutorial breaks up the entire software into well-structured, easy-to-digest sections.
A user-friendly navigation and voice-guided training make learning simple and
At the end of this amazing
course, you will learn the art to create eye-catching Home and
Inside pages in Photoshop. You will also learn the art of optimizing
your web page to offer best graphic resolution with low-sized
.psd files that will help you your web pages load faster on the
What's more, the tutorial
also offers you a FREE set of 20 ready-to-use web
design templates, coupled with
hundreds of free Photoshop files (with source files) to help you
to take your learning to a practical and more professional level.
Use these templates as they are or remodel them to create some
of your own.
In addition to excellent user-friendly training,
Be a Web
Designer Course offers you a rich library
of ready-made graphics you need to start your own web designing studio
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Impac winner imminent and free Peacock tickets
Laurence Mackin
Today is D-Day for this year's Impac Dublin Literary Award, and the shortlist is as follows:
Galore by Michael Crummey (Canadian). Doubleday Canada
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver (American). Faber & Faber, HarperCollins, USA
The Vagrants by Yiyun Li (Chinese/American) Random House, US
Ransom by David Malouf (Australian) Random House Australia
Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann (Irish) Bloomsbury, UK, Random House, US
Little Bird of Heaven by Joyce Carol Oates (American) Ecco Press, US
Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey (Australian) Allen & Unwin
Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín (Irish) Viking UK, Scribner, USA
Love and Summer by William Trevor (Irish) Viking, UK
After the Fire, a Still, Small Voice by Evie Wyld (Australian) Pantheon Books, USA
Given that the award is nominated by libraries, the list always has some firm public favourites, but it's up to a team of judges to pick the winner of the €100,000. This year the panel is made up of: Susan Bassnett, writer and professor of comparative literature at the University of Warwick; author John Boyne; writer and critic Tessa Hadley; poet and translator Michael Hofmann (who also has an Impac on his mantelpiece); author Nancy Huston; and the non-voting chair is Eugene Sullivan, a former chief judge of a US Court of Appeals and novelist. The announcement is due tonight.
If you're not one of the 10 writers listed above, fear not – you can still be a winner, but of a theatrical nature. We have two pairs of tickets to give away to Perve at 8pm on Friday night in Dublin's Peacock Theatre. The show focuses on Gethin, a young film-maker who deliberately spreads rumours about himself online in a social-media experiment of sorts.
To win, email your name and contact details to email@example.com with the answer to this question: Who won last year's Impac Dublin Literary Award? First in with the goods wins the tickets.


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Blaise Sison
Blaise Sison has been a professional bassist since 1982. Born and raised in the beautiful state of Hawaii.
Moving to Las Vegas in 2000, Blaise has been working steady, often doubling on Upright bass as well as Electric.. on the "Strip" music scene since relocating. Playing the lounge circuit and show venues in many of the elite hotels such as Caesar's Palace, Mirage, The Wynn, The Mandalay Bay and currently, at the Bellagio.
He is currently the Musical Director for "The Family Stone", which consists of...original founding members and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's...saxophonist, Jerry Martini, and trumpeteer, Cynthia Robinson, of Sly and the Family Stone.They perform many venues around the U.S. and internationally.
His long list of credits include:Lee Ritenour,BB King, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Willie Nelson, Steve Cropper, Kenny G.,Al Jarreau,Michael Ruff,Lee Oskar, Mary Williams and Ronnie Foster. (to name a few)
"Black Diamond Strings have been totally awesome for me!! I use "all" of the great products they offer....Stainless Steels, Nickels, Black Coated, and most recently, the Pure Jazz Chromium Flatwounds!"


text:
Is Accruals Quality a Priced Risk Factor?
John E. Core
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Sloan School of Management
Wayne R. Guay
University of Pennsylvania - Accounting Department
Rodrigo S. Verdi
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
December 13, 2007
In a recent and influential empirical paper, Francis, LaFond, Olsson, and Schipper (2005) conclude that accruals quality (AQ) is a priced risk factor. We explain that FLOS' regressions examining a contemporaneous relation between excess returns and factor returns do not test the hypothesis that AQ is a priced risk factor. We conduct appropriate asset-pricing tests for determining whether a potential risk factor explains expected returns, and find no evidence that AQ is a priced risk factor.
Number of Pages in PDF File: 50
Keywords: Asset pricing tests, Accruals quality, Information risk, Portfolio theory and diversification
JEL Classification: D80, G11, G12, M41
Date posted: June 28, 2006 ; Last revised: November 16, 2011
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Fact: Cardiovascular disease kills more women than all cancers combined.
Fact: One in eight women aged 45 to 64 has heart disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women and isn't something women should ignore since it is 80 percent preventable. There are simple lifestyle choices you can make to help prevent the disease, including stopping smoking, exercising frequently, changing your diet, and losing and maintaining weight.
The Women's Heart Clinic with University of Minnesota Health Heart Care also offers an initial women's heart health screening package, which includes:
- 30-minute cardiovascular risk assessment with a nurse practitioner or physician assistant
- 30-minute nutrition assessment with a registered dietitian
- 30-minute physical activity assessment with a cardiac rehabilitation therapist
- An electrocardiogram (EKG) and/or anklebrachial index (ABI), and lab work
- A personalized cardiac risk assessment summary for you to keep
Before the initial visit, patients will be asked to complete a health history form, keep a diet log for a week and determine their goals for the process and the clinic. If, during the appointment, symptoms that are suggestive of heart disease are found or if the risk assessment falls into an intermediate or high-risk category, patients will be referred to a cardiologist.
Protect your heart
To protect your heart, it's important to make your heart health a priority and understand the risk factors of the disease.
- Family history. If you have a parent who has or had heart disease, you're more likely to be at risk.
- High blood pressure. When you have high blood pressure (above 140/90), your heart has to work harder and your risk for heart disease increases.
- High cholesterol. Your risk for heart disease increases when your blood cholesterol level goes up.
- Obesity. Even when you don't have other risk factors, being overweight or obese raises your risk of heart disease, particularly if you have fat around your midsection (stomach area).
- Metabolic syndrome. The risk for heart disease may be raised by having a combination of three or more of these symptoms — a large waistline, insulin resistance, low levels of "good" cholesterol, and elevated triglyceride levels.
Women's heart attack symptoms vary
Keep in mind that although the stereotypical portrayal of a heart attack is one with intense chest-clutching, desperate gasping for air followed by a person dropping motionless to the ground, not all heart attacks are like that, especially when it comes to heart disease in women.
Chest pain, including pressure, tightness or squeezing, happens in only 50 percent of women having a heart attack. Signs of a heart attack in women can also include:
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Pale or clammy skin
If you would like more information on heart health or to schedule an appointment, call 612-365-5000.


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- Coyote Ugly Saloon Las Vegas
- 3790 Las Vegas Blvd, South
New York-New York Hotel and Casino
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Visit us
- Phone
- 702-740-6969
- firstname.lastname@example.com
- Hours
- Sunday 6pm-late
- Monday 6pm-late
- Tuesday 6pm-late
- Wednesday 6pm-late
- Thursday 6pm-late
- Friday 6pm-late
- Saturday 6pm-late
Make #Halloween plans with us! Join our #Coyotes on 10/31 for drink specials PLUS costume contest! #Vegas https://t.co/saU6LwjrOy
We have ur #Route91Harvest after party right here with our #Coyotes! They will keep the dancing & singing going! http://t.co/P0zQ0rErWk
Having a blast at #Route91Harvest? Keep it going with our #Coyotes all night long! #Vegas #Country http://t.co/GZePYGC9wN
#Route91Harvest is in full effect! Join us at the after party for drink specials, dancing, and more! #Vegas #Country http://t.co/METvp31M1I
Are u pumped up from #iHeartRadio Music Festival this weekend? Keep the party going with our #HappyHour from 6pm-9pm! http://t.co/n7FVZtANpA
Keep the momentum going from #iHeartRadio Music Festival! Join us for dancing, drinks & MORE! #Vegas http://t.co/a1110ZZJyF
#iHeartRadio Music Festival is this weekend! What are ur plans for after the event? Make us part of the #epic event! http://t.co/e5aeoTYuMy
Welcome back #Football season! Watch ur teams score big then stop by to drink, dance and misbehave! #Coyotes http://t.co/oyx3HbIOsK
Are you at our Happy Hour right now? Share your experience with us! #MisbehaviorEncouraged http://t.co/QnVXM7PKbq
Upcoming Events
September 2016
- See our daily specials below, and check back soon for more events!
Weekly Specials
- Happy Hour
- Daily
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$5 brews
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Get your Ugly on with Line Dancing Lessons!
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- VIP tables are available! Call 702-740-6331 for information.
Click here to see OUR COYOTES
St. Baldrick's Foundation Charity Event
Event date for 2016 is March 12. Thanks for joining us to get involved in the fight against pediatric cancer!...
Coyote of the Month, November 2014
Chandler is a textbook Coyote! She has a radiant personality and a beautiful energy that allows her to draw every eye in the room.
More Info
Our Logo Shop & Daiquiri Bar open at 10am!
Experience the live version of the saloon that starred in its own movie, featuring lady bartenders showcasing their artistic pouring techniques.


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This is a discussion on The Last SUNday? - Solaris Rss ; Is today the last Sunday for Sun? Between this week's Jonathan's comforting note to Sun employees suggesting we all light a candle and the grim feelings on the Sun tombstone expressed in Jim's blog - one key realization that I ...
Is today the last Sunday for Sun?
Between this week's Jonathan's comforting note to Sun employees suggesting we all light a candle and the grim feelings on the Sun tombstone expressed in Jim's blog - one key realization that I personally am feeling rests in quite the opposite way with which I choose to view Sun's position today. Hopefully it isn't just me.
Without enumerating Sun's contributions to the industry and undeniable product positioning - one fact remains undisputable - and that is that the winds of change were blowing. And now those winds are here, the change is being fulfilled.
What is changing, however, is not as much what gave Sun its reputation and respect over the last 2+ decades, but the organizational approach to putting together bits of the strategy for (and executing) the process of running Sun profitably.
Oracle has made public statements that indicate intentions to continue (and in some cases, increase) investing in key product areas that had earned Sun its reputation over time - Java, Solaris, SPARC, MySQL, etc.
How can something that's got legs be dead?
Somehow I have trouble reconciling those thoughts with the thought of a tombstone...
And while lighting a candle or looking at a tombstone might be a worth a moments notice, I am certainly of the opinion that any extended grievance (or capturing and carrying the image thereof on a shirt or a mug) is
not how I (and probably many of you) would like to think of celebrating the confluence, the effective condensation of operating system, middle-ware software and hardware for delivering better business systems.
Sun is not dead - it is going through an evolution of being acquired because it is a living, breathing organization. We are still having our monthly New York City OpenSolaris user community group meeting this Thursday! So is the NYJavaSIG (next week)
Oracle is going for, and stands to gain Sun's innovations and intellectual capital, products, customers and employees. Maybe time will prove differently - but today, with 11 amazing years at Sun at my back, looking at it through the bright candle light lit by a grave is ...not something that I concur with. Its not denial - naturally, organizational directions will dictate the future. One thing is almost always certain, change is inevitable. I am just not sure I agree with the idea of a R.I.P. being applied to such an industry-shaping move.
So in concert with many others, I am moving forward, looking toward the red horizon where the oracles are planning Sun.Next


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Systemwide Events Calendar
Introductory to Natural FarmingNovember 10, 9:00am - 3:30pm
Windward Campus, Hale Kuhina 115
This introductory course will cover the basics of Natural Farming techniques with indigenous microorganisms (IMO), a way of farming practiced in more than 30 countries, in home gardens and on a commercial scale. Its basic premise is that farmers can generate most, if not all, of the necessary inputs to otherwise be thrown away, such as egg shells, animal bones, and fish waste. These are mixed with ingredients that can easily be found in any kitchen such as brown sugar, vinegar and rice. Benefits of using the Natural Farming methods include as much ass 60% lower costs to the farmer, more desirable crops, higher yield, better quality, zero waste emission, and stronger plants.
Instructor: Joseph McGinn
Course Fee: $375 + Lab Fee (TBD)
Course Code: N10GR411
Dates: 10/25-11/10
Thursday 5:00pm-8:00pm & Saturday 9:00am-3:30pm
Meetings: 6
Event Sponsor
Career and Community Education, Windward Campus
More Information
Career and Community Education, 808-235-7433, firstname.lastname@example.com
|Saturday, November 10
|The Wellness Center - Fitness Class Schedule
Maui Campus, Pilina Bldg., Wellness Center
|Jewelry Making
Windward Campus, Hale Kuhina 106
|6th Warrior Intramural Debate Tournament
Manoa Campus, Shidler School of Business
|Protect Oahu's forests from plant invaders!
Manoa Campus, Lyon Arboretum, 3860 Manoa Road
|Recreational Thrill Craft Operators Safety Educational Course
Windward Campus, Hale Alaka'i 101
|Taking Better Photos With Your Digital Camera
Windward Campus, Hale Alaka'i 102
|Commuter Cycling 101
Windward Campus, Hale Akoakoa 107/109 & Parking Lot
|Introductory to Natural Farming
Windward Campus, Hale Kuhina 115
|Japanese Flower Arranging - Ikebana Sogetsu
Windward Campus, Hale Kuhina 115
|"Heart-y" Heart Healthy Soups
Manoa Campus, Lyon Arboretum, 3860 Manoa Rd.
|Uncle Vanya and Zombies
Manoa Campus, Kennedy Theatre On the Mainstage
|Alice in Wonderland
Leeward Campus, Theatre
|The Raku-come, RAKUGO! Show
Manoa Campus, Late Night in the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre
- Highlighted dates have scheduled events.
- Select the date to view all events for that day.


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Ask a Doc: Is there a need for sunscreen when it is cold outside?
Our answer comes from Dr. Zubeena Mateen, HMC Director of Oncology
Question: Is there a need for sunscreen when it is cold outside?
Answer: The summer is not the only time you are at risk for damage from the sun. You are probably in the habit of packing sunscreen for a day at the beach or pool. But the sun is up there 365 days a year, and you need protection much of that time to reduce your lifetime sun-exposure total. Everyday exposure counts; you do not have to be actively sunbathing to get a damaging dose of the sun. This applies to all outdoor activities: athletics, shopping, picnicking, walking or jogging, gardening, even waiting for a bus. Practice these sunscreen basics all year round to give your skin the best chance of long-term health:
Mark your calendars for a lecture on"How's Your Skin?" with Dr. Vinodray Shah on Thursday, June 27th at 5pm as he will provide an update on skin cancer and provide a question and answer period with the audience.
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