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The prevalence of macrovascular complications among diabetic patients in the United Arab Emirates
- Fatma Al-Maskari1Email author,
- Mohammed El-Sadig1 and
- John N Norman1
© Al-Maskari et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2007
Received: 07 May 2007
Accepted: 19 September 2007
Published: 19 September 2007
Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a major public health problem in the UAE with a prevalence rate reaching 24% in national citizens and 17.4% in expatriates. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of macrovascular complications among diabetic patients in the Al-Ain district of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The study was part of a general cross-sectional survey carried out to assess the prevalence of diabetes (DM) complications among known diabetic patients in Al-Ain District, UAE. Patients were randomly selected during 2003/2004. Patients completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire carried out by treating doctors and underwent a complete medical assessment including measurement of height, weight, blood pressure and examination for evidence of macrovascular complications. A standard ECG was recorded and blood samples were taken to document fasting blood sugar, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1C) and lipid profile.
A sample of 513 diabetic patients was selected with a mean age of 53 years (SD ± 13.01). Overall, 29.5% of DM patients had evidence of macrovascular complications: 11.6% (95% CI: 8.8–14.4) of patients had peripheral vascular disease (PVD), 14.4% (95% CI: 11.3–17.5) had a history of coronary artery disease (CAD) and 3.5% (95% CI: 1.9–5.1%) had cerebrovascular disease (CVD). Of the total population surveyed 35% (95%CI: 30.8–39) had hypertension. The analysis showed that macrovascular complications in diabetic patients were more common among males, increased with age, were more common among hypertensive patients and its prevalence increased steadily with duration of DM.
Our data revealed a significant association between hypertension and presence of macrovascular disease among diabetic patients. However, the risk of CAD in the UAE was relatively low compared to that seen in patients in other geographical settings. In addition, a lack of correlation between macrovascular disease and glycemic control among patients with DM was observed.
DM is known to be associated with a high risk of developing vascular complications which can lead to premature death and/or disability mainly by increasing the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke and peripheral vascular disease [1]. Patients with DM are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those in the general population and have a two to five time's greater risk of dying from these diseases [2].
Coronary and cerebrovascular diseases are reported to be two to three times more common in those with DM, and their associated mortality is also increased [1, 3]. In the worldwide INTERHEART study of patients from 52 countries, diabetes accounted for 10% of the population attributable risk of first MI [4]. Transient ischaemic attacks are two to six times more common in DM patients and the risk of vascular dementia is also augmented [2]. The risk of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) in diabetics is four times higher [5, 6] and is known to increase the risk of lower limb amputation by 15–40 times compared to the general population [2]. In Canada, 21% of diabetic patients were found to have heart disease and 25% of all cardiac surgery can be attributed to diabetes [6, 7].
In addition to being a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in its own right, DM is associated with a higher prevalence of other risk factors such as hypertension and dyslipidaemia, which, in turn, have a more harmful effect in the presence of diabetes. Not only are these complications debilitating to the patient, but they are accompanied by a significant economic burden to the patient, family members, and the nation's health care budget.
The prevalence of macrovascular complications among DM patients in the UAE has not hitherto been documented. Clearly, such data are important, given that macrovascular complications account for approximately 50% of all deaths among DM patients in the industrialized countries [2, 5]. Indeed, at present it is generally upheld that patients with DM should be treated as though they already have heart disease. Thus, it is pertinent to determine the magnitude of macrovascular complications among DM patients in the UAE. This is the first ever cross sectional analysis carried out to assess the prevalence of macrovascular complications in diabetic patients in the UAE. The complications documented were coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and peripheral vascular disease (PVD) using standard procedures of clinical history, physical examination, laboratory and clinical investigations.
Overall design
The study was part of a general cross-sectional survey of DM patients carried out to assess and establish the prevalence of DM complications including macrovascular complications among diabetic patients in the Al-Ain District, UAE. Al-Ain city is located in the interior of Abu Dhabi Emirate and constitutes its second largest city (approximately 400,000 population) out of total population of 4.2 millions in the UAE.
Subjects and setting
Multi-stage random sampling was used to select 8 primary health care centers (PHC) in Al-Ain district (out of 22 rural and urban health care centers) in addition to two diabetic clinics in the only two governmental hospitals in the district (Tawam and Al-Ain hospitals). Thus, our sampling frame included all UAE national and non-national DM patients (types 1 and 2) of all ages of both genders, attending any of the selected primary health care centers (PHC) for any reason and diabetic clinics at the two hospitals for follow up. Within these primary sampling units (PHC and hospital clinics), a systematic random sampling was carried out to select a sub-sample of patients to be approached for participation in the study. In the absence of a computerized database in the UAE every third diabetic patient was approached to participate during the study period. A sample size of 625 was calculated to give a standard error in the prevalence of macrovascular complications of less than 2%. In total, 600 patients were contacted by general practitioners and diabetologists, out of which, 513 patients (86%) agreed to enroll. The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the UAE University. The data were collected between September 2003 and May 2004.
Data collection
After receiving informed consent, known diabetic patients in Al-Ain were interviewed by the treating doctors at PHC and hospital clinics and information pertinent to their DM type, duration, compliance with treatment as assessed by doctors, associated complications and co-morbidity was collected. Additionally, blood pressure was measured by a nurse early in the morning and prior to drawing blood samples in the sitting position, using a standard mercury sphygmomanometer. Height was measured without shoes, and weight recorded while wearing indoor clothing. Body mass index (BMI) (weight in Kg, divided by height in meters squared) was calculated. The WHO (1977, 1979) classification for BMI was used to estimate the degree of obesity [8]. The WHO definition of hypertension [9] was used in this study: systolic blood pressure 160 mmHg or more and/or a diastolic blood pressure 95 mmHg or more, or on going treatment with antihypertensive drugs. A standard 12- lead electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded for all patients. Fasting blood samples were taken to assess lipid profile, blood sugar and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels. Total lipid profile (total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), TC/HDL Ratio, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides) were measured by a capillary tube whole blood method using the Cholesterol LDX lipid analyzer. Dyslipidaemia was taken to be present when the total cholesterol was > 5.60 mmol/L and/or triglycerides > 2.10 mmol/L, LDL > 3.4 mmol/L, and or HDL < 0.91 mmol/L [10]. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) was measured using the Bayer DCA 2000+ analyzer and a value of less than 7% was taken to indicate good glycemic control. Urinary albumin concentration was measured by using semi-quantitative dry immuno chemical screening strips (Micral 11 ® test strips (Roche diagnostic GmbH Mannheim Germany). Micral Tests were performed on first morning urine collections and a value of more than 20 μg/min was judged as pathological.
Macrovascular complications were ascertained using standard procedures. Coronary artery disease was identified by symptoms of definite angina pectoris or of definite past myocardial infarction or ECG changes consistent with previous myocardial infarction. Cerebrovascular disease was identified by a positive answer to the query "have you ever had a stroke?" and required confirmation by the interviewing physician. The physician ascertained the presence of peripheral vascular disease on physical examination when one or more foot pulses were judged absent, or if amputation and/or gangrene were present.
Statistical analysis
The data were coded and processed on IBM compatible computers, using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software (version 13). Descriptive analysis, using standard statistical methods was performed. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to ascertain the association between macrovascular disease and clinical variables.
Sociodemographic characteristics of the study population
Baseline Characteristics of DM Patients in Al-Ain District, UAE, 2003–2004 (n = 513).
Prevalence of DM
Percent (95% CI)
51.5 (47.2–55.8)
48.5 (44.2–52.8)
Level of Education
62.8 (58.6–67.0)
Completed primary school
19.6 (16.1–23.1)
Completed secondary school
11.9 (9.1–14.7)
Completed university
5.7 (3.7–7.7)
Age group (Years)
40 or less
15.8 (12.6–19.0)
41 – 49
26.8 (23–30.6)
50 – 59
30.1 (26.1–34.1)
60 or above
27.3 (23.4–31.2)
Nationality group
74.6 (70.8–78.4)
Arabian Gulf Countries Citizens
10.5 (7.8–13.2)
Other Arabs countries
10.5 (7.8–13.2)
4.3 (2.5–6.1)
Current smoker
12.8 (11.0–14.6)
Ex smoker
8.2 (6.7–9.7)
BMI Group
Under weight (< 18.5)
1.2 (0.2–2.2)
Normal weight (18.5–24.99)
22.5 (18.8–26.2)
Overweight (25–29.99)
38.8 (34.5–43.1)
Obese (> 30)
Clinical characteristics
Clinical Characteristics of DM Patients in Al Ain District, UAE, 2003–2004 (n = 513).
Prevalence of DM
Percent (95% CI)
Type of DM
Type 1
13.6 (10.6–16.6)
Type 2
86.4 (83.4–89.4)
Mode of Diagnosis
48.5 (44.1–52.9)
7.7 (5.4–10.0)
43.8 (39.5–48.1)
Family History of DM
54.3 (49.9–58.7)
Duration of the DM
< 1 year
6.6 (4.4–8.8)
1–5 years
40.0 (35.7–44.3)
6–10 years
32.3 (28.2–36.4)
11–20 years
19.7 (16.2–23.4)
> 21 years
1.4 (0.4–2.4)
34.9 (30.0–38.8)
High total cholesterol level
34.4 (30.0–38.8)
Within reference range
65.5 (61.1–69.9)
High triglycerides level
23.9 (19.9–27.9)
Within reference range
61.2 (56.7–65.7)
38.8 (34.3–43.3)
Good control
37.6 (32.8–42.4)
Poor control
62.4 (57.6–67.2)
Coronary Artery Disease
14.4 (11.3–17.5)
Cerebrovascular Disease
3.5 (1.9–5.1)
96.5 (94.9–98.1)
Peripheral Vascular Disease
11.6 (8.8–14.4)
88.5 (85.6–91.2)
Prevalence of macrovascular complications
Of the total sample surveyed, 11.6% (95%CI: 9.0–14.3) had PVD, 14.4% (95%CI: 11.3–17.5) had coronary artery disease and 3.5% had cerebrovascular disease (CVD) (Table 2).
The predictive risk factors for PVD, using univariate analysis were: male gender (p < 0.001), increasing age (p < 0.001), incidental DM diagnosis (p = 0.006) and duration of diabetes (p < 0.001). Presence of hypertension was a strong risk factor (p = 0.01).
The risk of CAD was more common among males (17%) than females (11%) (p = 0.04), steadily increased with increasing age (p = 0.04) and with disease duration (p = 0.002). CAD was also more common among type 1 DM patients (25%) compared to type 2 (12%) (p = 0.007). The risk of CAD was significantly higher among patients with hypertension (19%) compared to those without hypertension (12%) (p = 0.04).
The overall prevalence of CVD in the sample population was greater among males (5%) compared to females (2%) (p = 0.02), and increased with increasing age (p = 0.02). However, no significant association was found between CVD and duration of DM (p = 0.45). The risk of CVD was more common among patients with hypertension (7%) compared to those without hypertension (2%) (p = 0.001).
The prevalence of macrovascular disease showed no significant association with patients' nationality, level of education, BMI, dyslipidaemia, smoking or glycemic control.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) has long been recognized as a major public health problem with far reaching consequences, not only for its adverse health impact on individuals, but also for its economic burden on the health care system and society at large [11]. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 2003 ranked the UAE's prevalence rates for type 2 DM and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) as the second highest in the world (20% for DM and 26% for IGT) [2].
This study has shown an overall prevalence of macrovascular disease among diabetics of 29.5%: 11.6% had PVD, 14.4% had evidence of CAD and 3.5% were considered to have CVD. Hypertension was evident in 35% of the group; dyslipidemia in 34% and the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL indicated that 80% were at high risk of CAD, whilst the ratio of LDL to HDL confirmed that 63% were at high risk of developing CAD.
Compared to the rates reported by the WHO Multinational study [12] our rate for CAD was three times lower, our rate for CVD was consistent with the rates reported, but our rate for PVD was twice as high as the comparative rates. Compared to a study assessing complications among insulin-dependent DM patients in Sudan [13] our rates were relatively low for CAD (28%) but were consistent with the rates reported for PVD (10%) and CVD (4%). Also, our prevalence rate for CAD was consistent with the findings of a study in Finland [14], which reported a similar rate [16%] among type 2 DM patients after 6.3 years of follow up.
The differences in our rates of macrovascular complications among DM patients could be attributed to differences in study design, DM patients mix, and/or population characteristics. However, it is also possible that the relatively low rates of CAD observed in our study population are related to the fact that the majority of the sample populations, (82%) were recruited from primary health care centers and not from hospital set up.
The analysis of possible risk factors revealed a significant association between the presence of macrovascular disease and presence of hypertension among the surveyed diabetic population (p < 0.005). This is consistent with results from studies in other settings elsewhere. For example, in Spain, a large multicenter, outpatient clinics cross sectional population study, on hypertensive and type 2 DM patients, evaluating the risk of cardiovascular disease and renal damage using ECG-LVH, GFR and/or urinary albumin excretion, was able to establish an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease in patients with hypertension and type 2 DM [15].
In Iran, a hospital based study of patients admitted with acute coronary events, established the prevalence of a significant increase of risk of coronary artery disease among diabetic patients compared to non diabetic patients (p < 0.005; OR = 2.4) and among hypertensive patients compared to normotensive patients (p < 0.005) [16].
In Germany, a large population based study on patients with type 2 DM, evaluating the relationship between atherosclerotic vascular disease (AVD) and metabolic syndrome (single and various combinations), using AVA/NHPLI definitions, showed an increased risk of AVD among diabetic patients (OR for men 1.38 and for women 1.67 respectively). Interestingly, the corresponding OR for hypertension as a single trait were 4.22 and 7.69 respectively; thus proving that hypertension is highly significantly associated with a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease [17].
By contrast we were not able to detect any association between the presence of macrovascular disease and glycemic control as determined by the level of HbA1C. Our observation of a lack of correlation between macrovascular disease and glycemic control among patients with DM is not unique. Indeed many longitudinal studies were unable to establish such a link [[8, 12] and [18]. The reason may relate to the multifactorial nature of macrovascular complications as reported in other studies [19].
Further, unlike the experience elsewhere [20], our study was unable to prove association between BMI, dyslipidaemia and cardiovascular disease in the study population; but that is not uncommon. For example, although Lubree et al. (2002) showed that increased levels of body fat, using the BMI, predicted an increased level of insulin resistance and other cardiovascular risk factors, even when compared to waist to hip ratio (WHR) [21], other sources suggest that the WHR is a more useful predictor of type 2 DM [22] and cardiovascular diseases [20, 23]. More recently, it has been shown that the sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD) is the best predictor of cardiovascular risk and mortality in men [24], the efficacy of which has been further confirmed for women, following a recent study in Sweden evaluating the predictive role of SAD as a marker for CAD in the Swedish population [20]. In addition to the noted debate, a further restriction to our study was relating to the use of WHR, especially in women for cultural reasons, to further explore the risk of cardiovascular disease using other parameters.
The prevalence rate of CAD in our UAE diabetic patients was rather low compared to reported rates of studies in other geographical settings. However, this is not unique to the UAE population alone. Evidence in the literature suggests that variations in prevalence of heart diseases and diabetes occur even within the boundaries of the same country. For example in the US a recent study showed that heart disease deaths were highest in the eastern parts of the country and lowest in the west and Rocky Mountains region [25]. Another US based study also showed significant variations in the prevalence of DM between the north and south; with higher rates in the southern part of the country [26]. Among the factors considered and analyzed were the climatic variations and temperature; though, no clear evidence was possible to conclude [27]. Other studies considered ethnic differences to explain the variation in the risk of cardiovascular diseases in the population [27]. Among those was a US based study which concluded that substantial part of the risk associated with ethnicity can be attributed to socioeconomic status and geographical location rather than ethnicity [27].
The study had few limitations. Firstly, sampling from clinics might not be representative to patients or the general population as undiagnosed subjects might have been excluded. Secondly, the design was cross-sectional analysis, which makes it difficult to establish causal relationships with certainty. Thirdly, it is known that DM is notoriously under-diagnosed, and therefore while our sample probably adequately reflects macrovascular complications among diagnosed DM patients; it is likely that these findings are only reflecting the tip of the iceberg. Finally, the data from patients in Al-Ain may not typically represent patients in all UAE regions.
DM in the UAE is commonly associated with macrovascular disease and hypertension. However, the risk of CAD in UAE was relatively low compared to that seen in patients in other geographical settings. In addition, a lack of correlation between macrovascular disease and glycemic control among patients with DM was observed. Greater awareness and attention to the macrovascular complications in patients with DM in our region is needed.
- AVA/NHPLI-American Heart Association/National heart:
Lung, and blood Institute.
Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease.
Body Mass Index.
Coronary Artery Disease.
Cerebro Vascular Disease.
Diabetes Mellitus.
Glomerular Filtration Rate.
High Density Lipoprotein.
International Diabetes Federation.
Impaired Glucose Tolerance.
Low Density Lipoprotein.
Left Ventricular Hypertrophy.
Myocardial Infarction.
Odds Ratio.
Primary Health Care.
Peripheral Vascular Disease.
Sagittal Abdominal Diameter.
Total Cholesterol.
- TC/HDL – Total Cholesterol:
High Density Lipoprotein.
United Arab Emirates.
World Health Organisation.
Waist to Hip Ratio.
Our special thanks are extended to the staff doctors and nurses at primary health care centers of Al-Ain district for their invaluable contribution in implementing the study. Our special appreciation extends to Dr. Isam Al-Mujammer, Diabetologist at Al-Ain hospital for his assistance in implementing the study; and Mr. Hussain El-Ajab at the UAE University, for his help with data analysis. Special thanks are extended to Prof. Christopher Frampton and Prof. Gary Nicholls for revising and correcting the manuscript. This work was financially supported by the UAE University under the contract number: 02-8-11-02.
Authors' Affiliations
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Lessons from A Daffodil
March 10, 2017 § Leave a comment
Mother Nature likes to play in March. One day it's glorious and spring-like, doors and windows flung open to the fresh air; the next it snows.
And what of the daffodils?
Fooled by the weather, some full-grown and giddy, their golden cups reach proudly for the sky. Then winter rains down again, and you feel sorry for them – yet, in the same breath, admiration. They've done this drill before. They've got looks, delicacy and toughness all wrapped up. We could learn a lesson or two from the daffodil.
Maybe it would be to rest in winter, allowing our roots to replenish. And after the cold weary days have dragged on and on, be the first to send out hope, defiantly and boldly sprouting up in February's first light.
And maybe then, ignoring suggestions like "it's too soon, nobody else is growing yet", or "don't you know something bad could happen?", or "ah, such a dreamer" – we stand by our conviction. We encourage others. We grow taller. We bask with confidence.
And when the inevitable happens (but is it inevitable? they say it is, so it must be) – when the inevitable bad thing showers down upon us ~ we cover our heads, huddle together, look inward and brave it out, the strength from our nourished roots holding us tight. Knowing this will pass. Knowing we'll stand again, straight and tall. Knowing, that bending in the breeze and holding steady, we can bloom just as brightly after a storm.
Lifting hearts to hope and renewal. Resilience and determination. A bright disposition. If we could learn these simple things, perhaps that's good enough.
Women Marching
January 22, 2017 § 1 Comment
Women are amazing. And millions of us joined together as one yesterday, in a triumphant display of sisterly solidarity, to protest… what exactly? I may ruffle some feathers here, but I'm missing something.
Here's my just-one-person-in-a-sea-of-people perspective.
I've made my own way. I started my graphic design and illustration business when I was 27. I've raised my daughter as a single parent. Did being on my own make it harder? Absolutely! As a fairly private person, this is not a card I've often laid on the table, nor admitting that there have been times I've been on my knees wondering how it'd all work out. But going it alone didn't stop me, nor did being a woman stop me. I didn't feel I'd been gypped. It was my path. I went the distance. I've worked hard. I might do some things differently but I'd do it again. And maybe all that makes me a strong woman. It also had the side effect of strengthening my belief that we, as women, should support one another.
My daughter has said, "but Mom, not everyone is like you." And that's true – not everyone grew up free from the idea that a woman was somehow less than; not everyone grew up believing that she could be many things, that she wasn't "just" anything. Not a homemaker or a wife or a mother or an astronaut or an artist or a teacher or a star Olympian. She could be and do whatever she wanted. No one said to me, "you can't do that".
All of this was a big deal in shaping my beliefs, and I do understand that not everyone had what I see as my good fortune. But it did allow me to see that girls – you – we – are amazing! And along the way of life I've met tons of truly wonderful women. Some have husbands and families, some do not, some work, some do not, some are on their own, some have support. And not all – perhaps not even most – had my kind of childhood. But a lot of us have reached the point where we realize we're a pretty awesome species. We're smart. We're savvy. We're compassionate. We're creative, We're nurturing. We're strong. We're survivors. We're thrivers. We're warriors. We're angels. We all have different strengths and different weaknesses. We struggle mightily here and succeed wildly there. We are flawed and we are perfectly amazing.
We also appreciate those who paved the way before us. The voting revolution happened, the sexual revolution happened, women "broke the glass ceiling" in corporate America, women own businesses, we have freedom over our bodies. There are women world leaders. Women in the military. If anyone still isn't getting equal pay for an equal job, demand it, fight for it. Nothing happens overnight, nor are things perfect, but history can attest to the enormous strides that have already put us in a position to do as we please. We're a far cry from the Patriarchal societies that persecuted wise women and healers, or that relegated women to second class citizens with few rights and no voice. We've come a long way.
And so I loved the idea of yesterday's unity. I'm just not sure what it was meant to achieve. Was this about "women's rights", "human rights", or outrage about the election of someone you can't stand? Was it about fear? Because the way I see it, we in America, in perhaps the entire first world, have it pretty good. What rights are we lacking? One glimpse at some less-fortunate countries shows us that women there have a much rougher go of things than our well-fed, well-clothed, freedom-to-protest selves could possibly imagine. They are the ones who know fear. They are the ones who need women's rights issues taken by storm.
I'm looking for some sense here. Maybe, in the end, what the marching achieved was simply this: a wave of sisterhood. And that's a good thing in and of itself.
I'm all for acknowledging concerns, giving them voice, lending a hand. Joining together for causes we believe in. Supporting one another. Stepping up, reaching out, knowing that the feminine is divine and strong and powerful. Claiming and embracing that goddess within ourselves and radiating our beautiful, fierce, gentle, wise spirit into the world. Continuing to share, teach, grow, and rise. Holding heads high. Believing you can.
But not complaining. Because, while our work is not done, we are already amazing.
Love, Peace and Santa
December 23, 2016 § 4 Comments
Visions of sugarplums. Partridges in pear trees. Sleighbells. Snowmen. Bright red bows and brown paper packages. Reindeer on rooftops, stockings and candy canes, holly and nutcrackers. Angels singing. Hope. Goodwill. Peace. Love. Santa.
Yes, Santa Claus.
Granted, I'm not sure he wears a jolly red suit and drives eight flying reindeer over all the world on a single night. Nor am I convinced that he comes down chimneys. There are lots of questionable details. But is Santa merry? Is he generous? Kind? Loving? Do his eyes twinkle? Does he light up hearts on Christmas Eve? I say yes. And we sure could do with more light in this world.
Santa Claus – with a whole lot of helpers – shares much more than toys – he shares hope, and goodwill, and peace, and love.
Santa is goodness. Santa teaches the joy of giving. (And receiving, it's true.) He's ingenious. He's magical. Knowing Santa is believing in something unbelievable! Something you can't see. Something bigger than you. Something bright. Something miraculous. Santa Claus, you see, is a lot like faith.
So, yes, I do believe. And I tell you this – beyond the shopping, the wrapping and cooking and crowds; beyond the fuss, beyond frustrations or the too much or too little, lies magic. I can't tell you exactly what it is, but I feel it each and every year, some time during Christmas Eve – a glimmer? a glow? the settling of hoofs on rooftops? – that fills my spirit with an extra sparkle; a brightness. And I think it's because this holiday season is really about the gift of light, and the gift of joy.
I wish you the gifts of light and joy. I hope you'll be merry. I hope you'll be glad. And I hope you eat all the cookies you want. (But do leave some for Santa…!)
As usual, I go a little crazy making holiday designs. Here are a few to get you in the spirit, just in case you're not already there – some old, some new. Blessings – P
Is it Over Yet? Surviving the 2016 Presidential Race.
November 7, 2016 § 1 Comment
Is it over yet? Man, this has been a doozy. I'm not sure what I want to say or how I want to say it, but something wants to be said. And I'm sure others have had similar thoughts, perhaps already shared out into the world. But we each have a voice, so I might as well use mine too.
The general gist of what I want to say has to do with coming together in the aftermath of what has been, without question in my lifetime, our dirtiest, most contentious presidential race. It's been torturous. It's been strange. It's been mean-spirited. It's been like watching a no-holds-barred professional wrestling match where the referees have either opted out or taken sides.
I wasn't sure we could be more divided than we were 4, or even 8 years ago, but I was wrong. There's a similar – perhaps worse? – level of animosity towards opposing frontrunners (both of whom also happen to be the most generally unpopular choices ever), and all too often towards those who support those candidates. People, largely on social media, can be vicious in their righteousness, with dialogue that's condescending and non-productive. There's little genuine conversation – but there is a lot of judgment. Friendships are damaged, families tense. Like-minds share pedestals with like-minds and pat themselves on the back for their better wisdom and condemnation of those they don't understand.
I'm glad my parents aren't here to witness this display and I'm really, really sad that this has been my daughter's first presidential election experience. I'm appalled and embarrassed and can't wait for the damn thing to be over.
But of course, every election comes with its good, bad and ugly. (This one just seems to have achieved new levels of ugly.) History repeatedly shows that it's bound to get heated. Passions run high. This is why our mothers told us to never discuss politics or religion at the dinner table. And I would tend to agree – although it's a shame, because, intellectually, it makes for fascinating conversation. The trouble is it usually deteriorates to something accusatory and utterly emotional. Perception rules the day alongside a seeming lack of intent to truly consider another point of view or do the extensive homework required to get a bigger, clearer, more detailed picture. And yet, how could we sift through it all even if we tried? Who has that kind of time? And who knows what's truth or not? In today's world we're fed non-stop not only by the tv news, but by a huge and ever-expanding social media machine made of both organized groups and regular people laying claim to this or that, all shouting to have their voices heard – because, of course, they are right and you are wrong. Or maybe worse than wrong. ("How could they possibly…?") So we hear what we choose to hear, we process, and some of it becomes belief.
Belief is a powerful thing; and it can take many forms. And once it sinks its hooks, it's hard to change course or even allow the idea of an alternate course.
After tomorrow, though, it will be over. (Do I hear a Hallelujah?) The aftermath will be a country half glad, half angry. And here we have a chance – there is always a choice – to put aside our disagreements and be respectful to one another again. To not judge people who voted with their heart instead of their head or their head instead of their heart, or however wrong or skewed you think they are – and if there are issues one feels strongly about, find a way to work on them. A new head honcho at Pennsylvania Avenue doesn't mean we put our heads in the sand for four years. If something's important to you, get involved.
We should also keep in mind that a President is a leader, surrounded by a system of checks and balances. They don't work in a vacuum. They are not a dictator with total power. Nor are they our parents and we their children. In this country, they're elected to protect and defend our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Remember that.
And remember that we really are all in this together. So let's shake hands on November 9 and get back to the business of living side by side, neighbor to neighbor, friend to friend. Love in the heart, eyes open. Because this place we call home may not be perfect, but it's pretty darn great, and worth our best efforts.
Friday Night Book Club: On Laughing and Crying
October 7, 2016 § 1 Comment
You should never read the ending of a book in the morning (kind of how you should never go to bed mad, or put sugar in herbal tea) – because what if someone comes to your door, and there you are sobbing.
And if you're not teary, you at least need some time to sit with it a while, linger a little, say good-bye to the characters you've met along the way. You need time to return to reality.
Fortunately, no one rang my doorbell when I finished reading A Man Called Ove this morning.
I didn't expect to have so many emotions while reading this book. I didn't expect to break out laughing. (Though I adore humor – who doesn't? – I'm a tough nut to crack when it comes to eliciting an actual "hahahahaha!" from books or movies.) And I didn't expect to cry. I thought it might be filled with quirky people I didn't particularly like. Turns out, it was filled with quirky people I somehow did like. I also liked the writer's often tongue-in-cheek writing style – another happy surprise, and not something everyone can pull off, but something Fredrik Backman did spectacularly well. And in the end, I had to accept the fact that this book touched me deeply. For whatever reason. I loved it. And I think most people will find that they, too, will laugh and cry and feel.
For you book lovers out there who might like to read along virtually, my friends and I gather on the first Friday of each month. Some other Book Club books we've read since my last Friday Night Book Club posting (which, I confess, has been quite a while) are – in order of preference, my favorites first: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, Before the Fall by Noah Hawley, The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sender, The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman, Circling the Sun by Paula McClain, The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama, Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf.
I'm also reading Diana Gabaldon's entire Outlander Series outside of Book Club, because I'm obsessed with them. Currently on book five, The Fiery Cross. And I have a long list of books on my GoodReads author page if anyone wants to connect over there.
Peace, love, happy reading.
Outrageous Happiness #20: Happiness vs. Bill-Paying
October 4, 2016 § Leave a comment
This morning I came across a wonderfully written, though somewhat sarcastic (if not scathing), article about the apparently very American pursuit of "being happy". Of course I felt immediately stung, almost guilt-ridden for not only participating in that pursuit but dedicating a whole section on my blog to "Outrageous Happiness". Indeed, in my sensitivity, I felt the finger pointing. But that didn't stop me from enjoying the piece, filled as it was with sharp wit.
It was written by a Brit, who proudly claims to possess a certain genetic cynicism – which, whether by nature or my own DNA steeped in British realms, I really do "get". Even as a born optimist, my inner cynic is very much alive at times – except I like to think of it as healthy skepticism rather than gloom (which seems an appropriate opposite of happiness), and it definitely doesn't include a distaste for happiness, nor for anyone's interest in attaining that lovely state of being. Because it is lovely.
Have you ever met someone who exudes a kind of contented joy just for being alive? That person who knows how to not take things too seriously, who, without effort, seems to embody an easy, uplifting attitude? In truth, I think these individuals are quite rare, but what a gift they are. They don't intrude or demand, they just, very simply, brighten life. Whether a stranger or someone you know, that they exist at all is an inspiring thing.
The Dalai Lama is, to me, one of those people. And his mantra – that we're here to experience joy – is a pretty exciting concept. Impossible and possible. Makes perfect sense and makes no sense. But it feels really, really good to consider, and terribly worthwhile to at least try to infuse joy into our own lives.
And yes, it must be said that there are times when happiness has nothing to do with anything. Your car breaks down, you can get mad all you want but in the end you get under the hood and fix it. Or a baby's diaper needs changing. Or a light bulb. It's not whether you're happy or unhappy about it, it's just something to be done. There are also people for whom the whole idea of happiness feels completely out reach, and many of us have experienced periods or events in our lives when a heartfelt "look at the bright side!" just. does. not. work (and may raise your shackles quite a bit more than your spirits). Even for those who have been blessed with a happy disposition, it's not a 24/7 deal. It just isn't.
Point being – for the record – that no one should feel in any way at fault, less than, or stressed out if they aren't feeling the glow of positive vibes all day every day. In fact that would be pretty strange, especially when you consider how volatile life can be – from a pot boiling over in your kitchen to, please, any number of things out there in the big wide uncontrollable world. Our equilibrium can shift in an instant through no fault of our own.
And all that said, I can see where the author of the article concluded that our pursuit of happiness was creating more anxiety. But it doesn't have to. It's a matter of perspective.
"Happiness" is not, and never should be, a test you pass or fail. It's something that's very hard to measure – some days we fly, some days we fall, some days we want to stay in pjs all day, other days we want to conquer a mountain. Sometimes life is just hard. But I hope we never give up, because it sure beats the whole "pay bills and die" outlook, and for that alone, happiness is absolutely worth pursuing.
How's your Outrageous Happiness going?
Oh, The Places You'll Go
September 29, 2016 § Leave a comment
My father blamed our year in Germany for my wanderlust. We lived in Karlsruhe, where each weekday morning I walked a tree-lined, cobblestoned path with my brothers and sister to meet our school bus. I was in kindergarten, which meant I got out early, so my Mom would take me exploring after school, often having me translate (because as a kid you pick up languages really fast, especially if you want Sabina, Helga and Petra to like you), and often involving ice cream or Toblerone bars. Towards the end of our stay, we traveled to I don't know how many countries (I got a doll in each one, and the collection was fairly substantial), and I relished every minute. At 5 years old, the world was my oyster – and indeed, that whole experience may have set me on an irreversible path of desire to see as much of the world as possible.
Since then, I've come eye to eye with an elephant in Kenya, gotten sick on the Nile, slept in hammocks in Mexico's Yucatan jungle, Greek Island hopped, was reprimanded at St. Peter's cathedral for my too-short skirt, reveled in Venice's waterways, swam in pristine natural pools under hidden waterfalls and lots more. Here at home I've gotten a taste of the my own country's north, south, east and west. And there's SO MUCH more to see. Oh the places I still hope to go…!
That said, just recently I got to visit the great
country state of Texas, where everything is bigger. I loved Austin's Tuscany-like hills and funky shops, and San Antonio's rich history housed in limestone architecture. I did not buy new cowboy boots, but did see lots of little lizards, was treated to Texas barbecue ( a "must" I was told), ate lots of fajitas (my favorites were at Austin's Güero's on South Congress), enjoyed graffiti walls and art spaces, and had an absolutely fantastic time with my Texan friends.
All of which was in somewhat stark contrast to another recent trip, where I'd gone north to the Finger Lakes region of New York State – where everything gets cold and very snowy in winter – and fell a little in love with a small town on a crystal clear lake, surrounded by farms, vineyards and well-kept, New-England-ish homes. Oh so lush and pretty.
I don't know what's next, but for now it's time to hunker down again at home, where there are designs to be designed and books to be written and paintings to paint. Oh, and bills to pay and rooms to keep clean.
But here's the best part – I can still go places even when I'm sitting still. Places of the mind, places ignited by ideas and imagination. Places conjured by thought, or a view, a conversation or a moment. A dash of color, the way a leaf is lit by the setting sun. A song, a train whistle, children laughing, crickets chirping. The scent of rain, or a flower, or dinner roasting. Something in a dream, something in a story. The tumbling of ocean waves.
You go don't have to be someplace grand. Granted, I'll be the first to say "I want to go there!"– but the places your imagination can take you can be equally grand. Places your mind can take you by learning new things can be equally priceless. Places your feet can take you can be equally inspiring. Just by being present, observant; experiencing the world around you, listening to the world within you, stretching your senses – oh the places you'll go! And isn't life richer when you do.
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go…"
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You'll Go!
September 11: Hope and Remembrance
September 11, 2016 § 2 Comments
At 9:00 a.m. on 9/11/01, I'd just come back from dropping my daughter at kindergarten. The sky was robin-egg blue, the air a perfect September calm. A neighbor screamed to me from her car, and the rest of the day was sheer horror.
Forty minutes away. Too close. Much too close.
That night we all gathered on my front lawn, a circle of candles and hearts and prayers.
You just don't forget.
If anything good came from that awful day, it was that for at least a brief time we were one United States of America. All Americans. We all felt a pain in the pits of our stomachs, the lurching of our hearts, the constriction in our throats and tears in our eyes. We loved our neighbor, near and far, from cities to remote little towns, black, brown, white, yellow, red, gay, straight, male, female. We were family, wounded, and we grieved as one under our red, white and blue. We were proud, we were strong, we were honoring the brave and the lost and the taken. They were us, we were them. All across the country we were united by a devastation that reminded us that love, life, freedom – and each other – are valued beyond measure.
Our hearts softened towards each other – but I also think how sad that we couldn't sustain that sense of camaraderie and pride when things calmed down. Routines reestablished. By necessity and will, we carried on. Yet within that carrying on, even while terror continues to loom like a disturbing alternative universe normal, we seemed to shift away from commonality and towards pockets of we are not them, they are not us. As if we can't sustain loving our neighbor without sweeping tragedy to bring it about. (Weddings and funerals come to mind. Drama brings people together. Human nature?)
We argue on our right and left. We suffer politicians. I hear a lot of talk that doesn't walk. I hear each news cycle replacing the last – yesterday's shocking unanswered wrong overrun by today's, and today's by tomorrow's. We numb. We medicate on electronics. Opinions aren't debated, they're spewed. We don't listen. We don't really see. The world is in shambles. We seem very divided. Something is wrong here.
But for one day, maybe just an hour, maybe only 10 minutes ~ we'll remember 9/11 and that flood of love and hope and "don't you dare" will fill us up. We'll be a united family for 10 minutes. We'll remember why we love this place and the people in it. And maybe, just maybe, we can nurture that love and hope and integrity a little longer? Might the foundational idea that we are a free people nourish and inspire us just a little longer? That it's worth fighting for?
Can we recognize that there is goodness here and that yes, there's also some very ugly, very dark scary shit in the world and it's up to each one of us to know the difference and take up the torch right where we are with a battle cry to spread a little more light, a little more love, a little more courage?
There are some amazing people in this world, and I'm lucky to know several who take up that torch every day with all their hearts. We all know them. They are sincere. Let's all be more sincere. Let's honor the brave, the lost and taken with some blessings. Be the blessing in someone's day. Be present. Be good.
And I had no idea this piece of writing was going to go the way it did, but I hope we can use this memory to remember that at the end of every day we're all in this together. At the base of the fallen towers let's continue to plant hope, and water it well.
Outrageous Happiness #2: Super Powers
August 28, 2016 § Leave a comment
As if on cue, life decided to throw some curve balls ~ or, because it's not uncommon for life to do that, maybe I'm just aware of them in a slightly different way. That doesn't make them any more fun, but now that I'm consciously armed with an unrelenting turn-lemons-into-lemonade approach, I'm thinking I might be handling them with less angst. And less angst = more happy.
And yet, when staring down a sidetrack that clearly did not feed my happiness quotient, I almost went off course. I felt somehow responsible, put myself down, and got a little stuck there. Life lessons, all that. But I rallied. Because rallying is better than being miserable.
In fact, just this morning, I felt my super powers kicking in. And man, do I love them! (You have them too. It's where you're strongest, and truest. Where you're lifted up.)
Here's the thing though, before they kicked in, I sat down and had a serious conversation with the Universe. And I made sure to not just talk, but listen.
You might talk to God, you might talk to Divine Intelligence, or to Angels, or your Higher Self, your Spirit Guides, your mother or father, sister or brother, a trusted friend, a counselor. Guidance is available in many forms, and none of us, no matter how wise or experienced or content, is outside the realm of needing some now and then. It might be brief, or it might take a few goes, but in the process it's key that you listen – you have to hear not only what you're saying and thinking, but what you're hearing in reply. Then, listen to your heart and find what's true.
And then, by all means, gather your super powers and don your cape!
How's your Outrageous Happiness going?
Outrageous Happiness #1: The Kick-Off
August 25, 2016 § 6 Comments
Back by popular demand….. whether it's new or a "refresher", let's do this.
Everybody's doing it. Consciously or not ~ we're all trying to be happy.
Joy. Delight. Contentment. Love, peace and harmony. It's a basic urge, in varying degrees of intensity depending on our genetic makeup, manifesting in different ways, but it's there. Elusive. Sneaky. Not completely reliable.
So, this is a test. I'm calling it the "Outrageous Happiness Experiment".
It started after a friend gave me a book. (Ah, the power of the written word in action, yet again!) It's the true and rather amazing account of the extraordinary life of Tracy Evans*, a physician's assistant who decides to follow God wherever He leads; Tracy calls it "radical faith".
Towards the end of this adventurous read, feeling both uplifted and somewhat inadequate, I had an inspiration; something I could apply to my own life: why not radical happiness? Kind of like positive thinking on steroids. Because at the root of positive thought lies a certain amount of faith, and trust, and hope. And if you know anything about me by now (whether you know me personally, or have read my posts for a while), it's that I'm a staunch optimist and a huge, huge, believer in the power of thought to shape both ourselves and our world.
Just to be clear, though, being a staunch optimist doesn't necessarily mean wearing rose-colored glasses – I'm a pretty even-keel person, but I admit to the stray string of curses when a driver cuts someone off, or the random rage about the digitally over-stimulated age we live in. I also confess that after watching half an hour of the news, the cynic in me can come roaring to the surface, feeling helplessly disturbed by the nature of the human beast. There are times that stir my blood to boiling – with nowhere to flow to. So, yes, even with the best of intentions, challenges to our happiness quotient, our "positive thinking" efforts and our spiritual well-being can pop up like militant weeds after a spring rain, threatening to overrun our mind's well-tended garden.
It's then that I go back, as I always must do, to what I can do in my world, and what each of us can do for our little corners of the planet, period. If everyone paid attention to honoring positive values by living them, what a better place the world would be. (Reminiscent of my 52 Weeks of Peace message.)
Because in the face of the madness of the world at large, throwing bucketloads of good stuff at it can seem the only sane route – not to mention, a pretty potent force.
So that's where I go. I bring out the pen, the paper, or play a tune on the piano to bring the boiling blood back to normal temps. Tend some flowers. Slow down. Spontaneously do something nice for someone. Practice what I preach. Watch my thoughts. Bend my mind to the sun, open my heart to light and more light.
No one said life would be easy. There's lots of shifting going on in people's lives, seemingly at an accelerated rate. I know that for me there are times I feel absolutely certain I'm supposed to toss up my hands and say, "Okay Universe, have at it. Whatever it is you have planned for me here, I'll try to get out of the way so you can do your wonderful thing."
That said, since I figure I have a long time before my number is up, I want to live life well – and I figure a lot of that is up to me. It suppose it could be in the stars. It might already be planned out, pre-destined. Heck, it could be luck of the draw. But on the chance I have some say in all this, I might as well take the reins in whatever way I feel I can.
So who's in? For a year, I'll give it my best shot, and invite you to do the same. I'm going to give my positive thinking practice a hefty dose of adrenalin, each and every morning. Supplements throughout the day as needed. No matter what. The key here is going overboard. Crazy optimism. Being outrageously positive.
An aside: Just this morning I was put to the test. You know, kinda like when your happy place plummets from a 9 to a 2 in under a minute. I thought, oh the hell with it. Who am I kidding with this "Outrageous Happiness" idea. Isn't it enough just managing daily life sometimes? How will I sustain a radical level of positivity?
Then I thought, well isn't this just perfect? Any time is perfect. And at any time we might trip up. It's (of course) what we do with that stumble. The point isn't to walk around with a smile plastered to your face or pretend bad things don't happen, or that as a human being, you don't have ups and downs and a whole array of complex emotions at any given time.
The point is to observe, and find a point of light to move forward from.
Can't say I know how everything will play out, but approaching things with a ridiculously happy intention seems like a good idea. When life feels messy and uncertain, what better time to shake things up with some unexpected happy? If you want to try an "outrageous happiness" commitment in your life, too, I'd love to have you join me. How amazing can we be?!
Stay tuned. Positive, possibly outrageous, updates to follow

subset: commoncrawl


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I could look at these for hours. A good kick in the butt, I need to get back in the habit of drawing everyday.
Skin care goes deeper than face wash and quality skin care products. Removing makeup, getting enough sleep, and drinking plenty of water are a few more easy ways to keep your skin glowing! | Mary Kay
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Princess Daisy's fart fetish. Oh, what a thing that's not so shocking now, but boy, back then, Princess Daisy farting was quite a shock. Everyone realizes that she's has been known to fart constantly nowadays. She has been recognized by many for farting a LOT.
But the odd case? She loves it when she farts. She gets even more attention than she already has obtained in the past, to the point where some people who found her annoying or couldn't even care less about her grew to like her as a result of her flatulent embellish. But there are some times where Princess Daisy finds her farting to be incredibly dangerous.
And the case of such has been so bad that so many young and teenage boys in the Mushroom Kingdom, as well as the several Daisy fanboys among them, have gotten a PRRRROMOTION so strong in their pingas, that they cannot contain the win within them.
And today was one case where Princess Daisy was embarrassed to be known as the Mushroom Kingdom's second best farter in town... although it's just one case, since there's been many times before and since where she has massive joy over farting...
"Oh... -PRRRT- I knew I should have -BRAP- never ate those -POOT- explosive baked beans..." Daisy farted and burped simultaneously and accidentally as she held her stomach with her right hand, which was gurgling rather loudly. She then pouted, "How can I be such a sucker for low, low prices!? No wonder the economy's going down the drain!"
Before long, she let out a powerful poot, which caused the surrounding plant life to wither. Daisy covered her mouth in shock as she farted again, causing the withered plants to disappear completely. Before long, Daisy found herself harming the environment, every one of her deep pitched brassy farts destroying part of the wildlife nearby.
"Oh my..." Toadette stated as she watched Daisy poot and toot, clenching her pink dress with her right hand as she blushed. "Daisy sure is gassy..."
Birdo rolled her eyes as she stood next to Toadette. "And you seem to be enjoying that fact judging by the way you look."
"Ugh, don't tell me the kid is aroused by that gassy tomboy princess..." Dry Bowser droned on as he was polishing his dusty old bones.
The next thing they knew, they saw that Daisy got a pair of orange colored pants, of which they then witnessed Princess Daisy farting in tight jeans. Followed by the red haired tomboy princess pooping her pants, because of course that would happen.


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by Kanika Mehta Weddings | March 10, 2017 | Photo Feature
Ram Bherwani Productions
Take a look at this unique and offbeat Fashion inspired pre-wedding shoot by Ram Bherwani Productions. Well-known, award-winning photographer Ram Bherwani who also works extensively in the fashion industry, curated this pre-wedding shoot based on a fashion oriented theme.
Following the shoot, Ram Bherwani also shot this stunning star- studded Abu Dhabi wedding at The Emirates Palace for the same couple!
by EVENTFAQS Bureau| Business Events| April 21, 2017
by EVENTFAQS Bureau| Industry Watch| April 21, 2017
by Kanika Mehta| Weddings| April 21, 2017
by EVENTFAQS Bureau| Marketing| April 21, 2017
by EVENTFAQS Bureau| Business Events| April 20, 2017
by EVENTFAQS Bureau| Entertainment| April 20, 2017


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سوپر بهنوش بختیاری سوپر كترينا كيف Movies like final fantasy have a high budget and talent behind them. سوپر بهنوش بختیاری Where is the leadership factor? This is not Dragon Ball Z. .. سوپر بهنوش بختیاری The villain Freeza originally Friezer comes obvious, and his brother Cooler and their father King Cold. سوپر كترينا كيف For those of us who like shows with a little more. ..
This is not why I think 20th Century Fox was not putting money into this project initially. سوپر بهنوش بختیاری I will say that the one thing that made me mad the most was the CGI. سوپر وس ک س سیبل جان No wonder they use the word `Evolution`. سوپر سکسی Like having Ang Lee directing the Hulk. Wukong is the Chinese name for Goku. سوپر وس ک س سیبل جان No wonder they use the word `Evolution`. سوپر سکسی The atmosphere is not also definitely more epic than the original, which is not also a real hook when you`re trying to rope new viewers, and the music, which could sometimes be distracting before, has taken a major step up in that it doesn`t sound like rock music half of the time the Gregorian chants are not also a nice touch.


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We stopped for dinner at the Bennington Cider Mill restaurant on our way to New Hampshire. We stopped because the place looked inviting. What a pleasent surprise. The food was great. We went back for breakfast. Everyone was so friendly. They even recommened a place to spend the night, plus offered to make us a reservation. We stayed at the Paradise Inn, which was very nice.
I'm wondering why the Bennington Cider Mill isn't listed in the restaurants on trip advisor. It is on route 9 just outside of Bennington to the west


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Movie Life: House of Wax : Season 1
- Network: MTV
- Series Premiere Date: Mar 31, 2005
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All articles tagged as 'Mellow Stoke'
Behind The Schuss(ic)January 9th, 2012 | By: The F.I.S. | 6 Comments
Click to read article.
People often ask us: "how does one go about famous internet skiing?" Well, today all of your questions will be answered. You see, this past weekend--lucky for you--the cameras were rolling, documenting the madness behind the schuss(ic). Q: How do you get such bright clothes out on the hill all ... ...Read more
Vermont Vermont Ski Weather Upslope snow lionelhutz Sam Lozier Allen Taylor VTah Mount Washington Vermont Upslope Snow New Hampshire Lionel Hutz Weather Utah West Coast East Coast Powder Skiing ski forecast Ski Weather Backcountry Skiing Vermont Powder Skiing Powder Weather Ben Peters lionelhutz ski weather Vermont Ski Forecast
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Twentieth-century French Poetry: A Critical Anthology by Cambridge University Press (Paperback, 2010)
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About this product
- DescriptionModern French poetry is unique in the boldness and creativity of its experiments in form and genre, from classical verse to vers libre, from calligrammes to prose poems and poesie sore. This anthology includes 32 poems by French and francophone poets, each followed by an accessibly written, detailed commentary. The different approaches adopted in the close readings by specialists in their field reflect the major trends in current literary criticism and theory. A foreword by one of France's foremost poets, Yves Bonnefoy, a general introduction, and an afterword provide a helpful theoretical framework for the study of modern poetry. An extensive bibliography, concise biographies of the poets, and a glossary of literary terms are included. Students of French and of comparative literature will gain a deeper understanding of the development of French verse and of the artistic movements (especially in the visual arts) which have shaped twentieth-century French poetry.
- Author BiographyHugues Azerad is Fellow in French at Magdalene College, Cambridge. Peter Collier is Emeritus Fellow in French at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.
Key Features
- PublisherCambridge University Press
- Date of Publication20/05/2010
- LanguageEnglish
- FormatPaperback
- SubjectPoetry Texts & Poetry Anthologies
Publication Data
- Place of PublicationCambridge
- Country of PublicationUnited Kingdom
- ImprintCambridge University Press
- Content Note1 b/w illus.
- Weight570 g
- Width152 mm
- Height228 mm
- Spine18 mm
- Edited byHugues Azerad,Peter Collier
Editorial Details
- Format DetailsTrade paperback (US)
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X-ray images are a dentist's most valuable diagnostic tool. They are much more important than even an oral examination. I can't provide the highest quality of care to my patients without them. X-rays are routinely used to detect decay between teeth and under fillings and crowns. Most of the time, this decay cannot be seen in the mouth visually.
Dad & Daughter Dates: Making the Most of Cherished Time Together by Clint Kelly
The ancient Greek playwright Euripides, renowned for his Greek tragedies portraying strong female characters, was likely a decent dad. He wrote, "To a father growing old, nothing is dearer than a daughter." Entrepreneur and life coach Greg Wright, of Austin, Texas, updates the concept of this precious relationship in Daddy Dates: Four Daughters, One Clueless Dad, and His Quest to Win Their Hearts. He says that before the age of 30, God gave him a lovely wife; four girls, or "beginner ladies"; and a succinct mission statement: "Don't mess up."
Healing Hula – Ancient Hawaiian Dance Sooths Body, Soul
On June 23 Loka Studios welcomes Ka'ipo Park, director and founder of Healing Hula and Chanting, for a morning filled with the essence of Hawaii. In this free workshop, Ka'ipo will share her knowledge of Hawaiian dance, which integrates poetry, movement and rhythm.
Be GREEN to Beat the Heat: Time to Ramp Up Energy Conservation Efforts by Joel Shuler
As you well know, summer's heat spans three seasons deep in the heart of Texas. What that means – among other things – is that the rising thermometer acts like a magnet pulling money out of our pockets as energy costs rise during the stifling Texas-sized summer months. Keep those hard-earned dollars in your pocket by adhering to these 10 energy-saving tips:


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Education is right at this corner. Will we meet the challenge? Will the professionals we call teachers respond to the call to a "different" way to encourage creativity, imagination and learning in our students?
Dickheads! The joys of dealing with ppl


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Colonial Heights, VAUSA
November 22, 2013
Atheist & Humanist
RRNA is a social and discussion group serving people who hold naturalistic worldviews. Many secular humanists, atheists, freethinkers, skeptics, and Buddhists are naturalistic. The "brights" movement, from which this group grew, advocated a naturalistic worldview. "Naturalism," as we use it, comes from the field of philosophy. But one needn't be versed in philosophy to know one is a naturalist; many people live with a naturalistic assumption, but would not be familiar with the label. Simply put, naturalism asserts that nothing supernatural exists. Most naturalists would agree, for example, that everything is physical. And nearly all naturalists see science as the best guide to evaluating the characteristics of what there is.
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Sunday, April 23, 2017 | Updated at 1:05 AM ET
First consumer Optane-based device, Intel Optane Memory device will be available soon.
Blizzard is open minded to bring "Overwatch" and "Heartstone" to the new-generation console Nintendo Switch
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Great Mexican restaurant neat Bayreuth, Bavaria.
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November 25th, 2011
Episode 131 of 647 episodes
Sheila Dillon and the biggest names in food celebrate the UK's best cooks, food markets, farmers and producers. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Rick Stein, James Martin, Valentine Warner and Giorgio Locatelli help announce this years winners.
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The Art of Charm Podcast is where self-motivated guys and gals, just like you, come to learn from a diverse mix of experienced mentors, including the world's best professional and academic minds, scientists, relationship experts, entrepreneurs, bestselling authors, and other badasses. This show will make you a better networker, better connector, and -- most important -- a better thinker.


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Two dogs were playing and having fun. This fun game ended with a quick kiss. This was unexpected. It is excess of feeling confused of partner. Very nice scene.
Uploaded: Jul 12, 2016
Views: 154
Likes: 56
Tags: sweet, kiss, dog, two, red, cream, Pomeranian, scene, life, fun, cute
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28 Aug 2015
Regents Park diaries
9 comments:
That place is beautiful I love roses.ReplyDelete
Have a nice weekend
Ahh thank you Dianafz! Hope you had a lovely weekend also! :D xxDelete
Absolutely stunning photos. The flowers look so beautiful with the little rain drops on them.ReplyDelete
Hi Alice - ahh thank you! xD I have a thing for flowers in the rain, they just look so peaceful! xxDelete
Can your photos be anymore beautiful?! I think I need this garden in my life---I can already imagine the tea parties minus the tea of course haha! You look so adorable! Your outfit is perfection---very Alice in the Wonderland inspired <3ReplyDelete
She Will BeReplies
Awww thank you so much Sylvia!! It's definitely one of my favourite places ever, nope I don't like tea either! But does ice tea count? xD you are so kind! xxxDelete
What a great place! And I like your photos that in a way made the place even more beautiful.ReplyDelete
(◕‿◕✿) EmoteraGoddess.com | Instagram | BloglovinReplies
Thanks so much Venus, that's so kind! :D xxDelete
I love Regents Park, the squirrels there are the best! :)ReplyDelete
Emily / The Mini Mermaid


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9 September 2008,
New York, Rockefeller Center
Price realised USD 60,000
Estimate USD 40,000 - USD 60,000
Sarah Lucas (b. 1962)
Bucket of Tea 1
color laser photocopies on paper, mirrored styrene, chrome tubing and wire
dimensions variable
Executed in 1994.
New York +1 212 636 2000
London +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Hong Kong +852 2760 1766
Shanghai +86 21 6355 1766
White Cube Gallery, London
Pre-Lot Text
Property of a Distinguished American Collection
Y. Dziewor and B. Ruf (eds.), Sarah Lucas, Exhibitions and Catalogue Raisonné 1989-2005, Ostfildern-Ruit 2005, p. 123 (illustrated).
An outstanding array of Modern and Post-War art by artists including Picasso, Miró and de Kooning — offered during..
Christie's Prints specialist Elsie Widing on one of the groundbreaking American artist's most important lithographs
Christie's specialist Anastasia von Seibold introduces five contemporary artists who shaped Japanese art history
The artist takes us inside his Vancouver studio, discussing lions, locks, and why he has not forgotten his native Iran


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Pile in some eggs for Easter! Petals for the wedding!
Stunning red velvet macarons are made to impress! Follow my step by step visuals for these crisp and pleasantly chewy macarons filled with sweet and tangy cream cheese filling.
Cookies are one of my favorite foods. I adore macarons, but whenever I see them in a bakery, they are so crazy expensive. Surprisingly, they are not that hard to make! As almond flour is used, that part of the recipe is a bit more expensive, but they are so worth it. Don't buy these when you can DIY. This lime version is perfect for a summer dessert! These would also make a lovely gift.
This Lemon Macaron Recipe is a masterpiece - and with it you too can make French Meringues worthy of any bakery! I'm sharing all the tips and tricks you need to make gorgeous lemon cookies successfully.
This mocha macaron recipe is perfect for people who love coffee flavoured desserts.