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MAY 10, 1853, was a warm day outside Concord, Massachusetts--an early spring day when a New Englander outdoors would "begin to think of thin coats," noted Henry David Thoreau. Walking from Concord towards Saw Mill Brook, Thoreau jotted down what he saw. "The deciduous woods were in their hoary youth," he wrote, "every expanding bud swaddled with downy webs." Nodding trillium had flower buds, and hornbeam was about to bloom. Pear trees had blossomed, and the butternut buds were the most pronounced of all the woods' hickories. He heard the spring's first veery. "It is remarkable," wrote Thoreau, "that I saw this morning for the first time the bobolink, gold robin [most likely a northern oriole], and kingbird."
Remarkable, too, that he kept such meticulous records. In fact, on almost every spring morning between 1851 and 1858, long after his private tenure at Walden Pond, Thoreau explored the ponds and shady woods around Concord, observing nature. For day after day, year after year, he searched for the first blooms of more than 300 plant species and watched for the first arrivals of migrating birds.
Today, nearly 160 years later, Thoreau's detailed observations form the basis of a long-term study of how climate change is altering the timing of seasonal biological events--or phenology--and how such shifts may in turn impact the wildlife and wild places of an entire region. Researchers from Boston University have assembled a vast array of biological data--arboretum specimens, old photographs and the observations of local citizens, in addition to Thoreau's journals--to produce a baseline of springtime events for the Concord area. Comparing these data to the results of their own exhaustive, five-year effort to walk, literally, in Thoreau's footsteps, the scientists can now tell a story that New England's favorite naturalist-philosopher might never have imagined: As Massachusetts warms, flowers are blooming, trees are leafing out, and birds are arriving as many as three weeks earlier than they did in the mid-nineteenth century. "If Thoreau were alive today, he would be very concerned about this," says Richard Primack, a biology professor at Boston University and lead researcher on the project.
NOTING NATURE Thoreau, famous for his prodigious note-keeping, recorded his seasonal observations in tables sketched on large sheets of surveyor's paper. "I take infinite pains to know all of the phenomena of the spring," he explained in one journal entry. Thoreau intended to publish a book about the unfolding of spring in the woods around Concord, but his death in 1862 derailed the project, and his notes were scattered among library collections across the country.
Four years ago, however, Primack learned that an independent New Hampshire scholar named Brad Dean had spent 10 years tracking down these original sheets, making copies and reassembling the data. By then, Primack, author of A Primer on Conservation Biology, was looking for studies demonstrating physical evidence of global warming. He and graduate student Abraham Miller-Rushing couldn't believe their good fortune. Still, it took Primack's team nearly nine months to decipher Thoreau's famously poor handwriting and archaic species names and plug the information into a usable spreadsheet.
At the same time, the scientists' sleuthing uncovered a trove of other regional records to augment Thoreau's notes. At Harvard University's Arnold Arboretum, one of the oldest public botanical gardens in the United States, they were able to compare the flowering times of 229 plants in 2003 with records of flowering times of the same individual plants going back as far as 1885. In Concord, they found a collection of images from a photographer, Herbert Wendell Gleason, who between 1900 and 1921 took and dated photographs of many of the plants and places mentioned in Thoreau's journals. From these, the scientists gleaned flowering data on 17 species of wild plants, including pink lady's slipper, which flowered six weeks earlier in 2005 than in 1917.
Some of the richest sources of data turned out to be citizen-scientists in the mold of Thoreau himself. From 1888 to 1902, a Concord shopkeeper named Alfred Hosmer, inspired by Thoreau's writings, recorded the first flowering dates of more than 700 plant species in the area. A passionate nature aficionado named Pennie Logemann provided flowering records between 1963 and 1993. And for more than half a century, Middleborough, Massachusetts, resident Kathleen Anderson has kept meticulous track of the timing of bird arrivals, plant flowerings and spring choruses of frogs and toads on her 100-acre farm. "I keep a stack of those desk calendars with one full page for each day of the week," she explains, "and I was pretty intense about it. I noted weather conditions, temperature, rainfall, and whatever I happened to notice. Were the Canada mayflowers blooming? Were the juncos around? It was for my own enjoyment. It never occurred to me that these records would be of any use or interest to anyone whatsoever"--until she was contacted by Primack and Miller-Rushing, who crunched her observations into their expanding database.
The researchers, meanwhile, were making their own detailed observations. For the past five years, Primack and Miller-Rushing have traveled to Concord three times a week in spring and summer, walking the woods to ask the same questions that Thoreau asked: When do the flowers bloom? When do the birds return? So far, they have amassed another 100,000 data entries about the phenology of springtime plants and birds.
WHAT THE FLOWERS SAY Pooling their data, the researchers have discovered that many plants in the Concord region are flowering more than a week earlier today than when Thoreau made his observations. Highbush blueberry--one of Thoreau's favorite wild edibles--is blooming some two weeks earlier than it did 150 years ago. Yellow wood sorrel can be found in bloom about a month earlier. During this same period, Primack says, long-term weather data show that the average temperature of a Concord spring has increased by approximately 4.5 degrees F.
Much of the temperature rise in the intensely developed Northeast is due to what's known as the urban heat island effect--parking lots, streets and buildings absorb heat while vegetation loss lessens the release of cooling water from trees and other plants. But at least some of it can be attributed to global warming, says Primack. And on Anderson's farm, many of the wild creatures that appear regularly each spring seem to be responding. Wood ducks are arriving about a month earlier than they did 30 years ago, for example, while ruby-throated hummingbirds show up more than 18 days sooner.
Scientists say such changes have the potential to wreak ecological havoc if interdependent species do not shift in concert. Many birds, for example, have evolved to time their spring migrations to take advantage of a flush of food sources. In New England, warbler species such as the black-throated blue warbler and American redstart feed heavily on leaf-eating caterpillars, which peak in abundance after leaf out and before leaves mature and grow tough.
In northern Europe, biologists already have found troubling evidence that one migratory bird, the pied flycatcher, has suffered from getting out of sync with its springtime food source. In the past, flycatchers arrived from their West African wintering grounds just as winter moth caterpillars were hatching. But warmer springs have pushed the caterpillar's emergence date two weeks earlier--unbeknownst to flycatchers that are still 2,800 miles away. In regions where the timing of caterpillar abundance has shifted the most, researchers have documented a 90 percent decline in flycatcher numbers. In the United States, a similar "potential for mistimed relationships is very real," says Primack, "but it is understudied."
To increase much needed data on global warming's impact on U.S. species, some scientists propose identifying and training a network of modern-day Thoreaus. According to Primack, Miller-Rushing and other researchers, there is the potential for a rich interaction between scientists and members of the general public interested in gathering observations on natural phenomena such as plant flowering and the arrival of migratory birds. Countries such as England, Belgium and Canada have long embraced monitoring programs that rely, in part, on observations of nonscientists. Recently, a consortium of U.S. government agencies and academic institutions, with funding from the National Science Foundation, launched just such an effort, the National Phenological Network, to help researchers collect and disseminate information about seasonal changes.
"We desperately need a wall-to-wall, coast-to-coast network of phenological observation points--literally thousands of points on par with what is being done with meteorological observations," explains Julio Betancourt, a biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey's Desert Laboratory in Tucson, Arizona, and one of the network's founders. Volunteer observers are an important part of the process. The group's Project BudBurst, begun as a pilot program in spring 2007, will launch nationally in January 2008. Volunteers from across the country are asked to choose from a long list of plants to watch for signs of a particular phenophase, such as budburst, first leaf or first flower, and to report observations online.
"So much of the discussion about global climate change has centered on numbers--fractions and degrees of fractions," says biologist Mark D. Schwartz of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, who is helping to coordinate the network's startup. "But when you talk about how lilacs are blooming six days earlier than they were 30 years ago, people start relating to the issue. And tell them that they can involve themselves in the process of documenting these changes, and that makes it very real.
"That's something Kathleen Anderson understands well. "This kind of work should inspire more people to be more observant," she says. At the age of 84, she still keeps notebooks handy at home, in the car and in the kitchen. "And it really doesn't matter where you live. If you look closely, you'll find enough things to interest you in the little bit of land that is around you."
After all, as Thoreau told his friend and sometime walking companion, Ellery Channing, in 1859, "There is nothing but the seasons." By which he might have meant that the seasons will tell all, to those who wish to hear.
Writer T. Edward Nickens is based in North Carolina. To find out how to participate in the National Phenological Network, go to www.usanpn.org.
NWF Takes Action: Fighting Global Warming
Combating global warming is a top priority for NWF, which is, among other activities, supporting national legislation to reduce greenhouse gases, publishing reports on warming's impact on wildlife and collaborating with its state affiliates on a variety of grassroots efforts. For more information, including how you can get involved, visit NWF's Global Warming site.
Web Exclusive
Thoreau: In His Own Words
Although Henry David Thoreau earned an international reputation as a naturalist, social philosopher and literary artist more than a century ago, no scholarly edition of his writings had been undertaken until a few decades ago. The Writings of Henry D. Thoreau--a project established in 1966 by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Modern Language Association--is providing, for the first time, accurate texts of Thoreau's complete works: his writings for publication, his journal, his correspondence and other uncollected papers. The project is based at the University of California–Santa Barbara's Davidson Library and directed by Elizabeth Witherell, who collaborates with editors working at institutions nationwide.
Among the project's products will be the contents of all 47 volumes of Thoreau's handwritten journal (based on line-for-line transcripts and not corrected for spelling, grammar or punctuation) that will appear in 16 printed volumes. The journal entries include detailed, daily records Thoreau kept of the changing seasons around Concord, Massachusetts, between 1851 and 1858. Reprinted below are two examples of the entries--October 18, 1857, and October 22, 1858--written during fall. To read other selections from Thoreau's journal, and to learn more about the project, go to www.library.ucsb.edu/thoreau.
Oct 18th 57
Pm to Conantum--
Clear & pleasant afternoon--but cooler than before-- At the brook beyond Hubbards grove I stand to watch the water bugs--(gyrous) The shallow water appears now more than usually clear there, as the weather is cooler--and the shadows of these bugs on the bottom--half a dozen times as big as themselves--are very distinct and interesting with a narrow & well defined halo about them-- But why are they composed as it were of 2 circles run together--the foremost largest--? Isn't owing to the manner in which the light falls on their backs--in 2 spots? You think that the insect must be amused with this pretty shadow. I also see plainly the shadows of ripples they make, which are scarcely perceptible on the surface--
Many alders & birches just bare
I should say that the autumnal change & brightness of foliage--began fairly with the red maples (not to speak or a very few premature trees in water) Sep. 25 & ends this year say generally Oct-- 22nd or may be 2 or 3 days earlier The fall of the leaf in like way began fairly with the fall of the red maple leaves Oct. 13th--& ended at least as early as when the Pitch pines had generally fallen Nov 5th (the larches are about a week later) The red maples are now fairly bare--though you may occasionally see one full of leaves--
So gradually the leaves fall--after all--though individuals will be completely stript in one short windy rain storm--that you scarcely miss them out of the landscape--but the earth grows more bare--& the fields more hoary & the heavy shadows that began in June take their departure--November being at hand.
I go along the sunny west side of the Holden wood. Snakes lie out now on sunny banks--amid the dry leaves now as in spring-- They are chiefly striped ones-- They crawl off a little into the bushes & rest there half concealed till I am gone--
The bass & the black ash are completely bare--how long? Red cedar is fallen & falling-- Looking across to the sproutland beneath the Cliff, I see that the pale-brown of withered oak leaves begins to be conspicuous, amid the red, in sproutlands.
In Lees wood--white pines leaves are now fairly fallen (not Pitch P--yet)--a pleasant soft but slippery carpet to walk on-- They sometimes spread leafy twigs on floors--would not these be better? Where the pines stand far apart on grassy pasture hill sides these tawny patches under each tree--contrast singularly with the green around
I see them under one such tree completely & evenly covering & concealing the grass--and more than an inch deep--as they lie lightly-- These leaves, like other broader ones, pass through various hues (or shades) from green to brown first yellow--giving the trees that particolored look--then pale brown when they fall--then reddish brown after lying on the ground--& then darker & darker brown when decaying.
I see many robins on barberry bushes--probably after berries-- The red-oaks I see today are full of leaves--a brownish yellow (with more or less green--but no red or scarlet) I find an abundance of those small densely clustered grapes--(not the smallest quite) still quite fresh & full on green stems--& leaves crisp but not all fallen--so much later than other grapes--which were further advanced Oct. 4th when it was too late to get many-- These are not yet ripe--and may fairly be called Frost Grapes-- Half way up Blackberry Steep--above the rock--
The huckleberries in Conantum--appear to have been softened & spoilt by the recent rain--for they are quite thick still on many bushes-- Their leaves have fallen. So many leaves have now fallen in the woods that a squirrel cannot run after a nut without being heard
As I was returning over Hubbards stump fence pasture-- I heard some of the common black field crickets--(3/4 inch long) 2 or 3 rods before me--make as I thought a peculiar shrilling, like a clear & sharp twittering of birds--that I looked up for some time to see a flock of small birds going over--but they did not arrive. These fellows were, one or two, at the mouth of their burrows--& as I stood over one I saw how he produced the sound--by very slightly lifting his wing cases (if that is the name of them) & shuffling them (transversely of course) over each other about 1/8 of an inch--perhaps 3 or 4 times & then stopping.
Thus they stand at the mouth of their burrows, in the warm pastures, near the close of the year--shuffling their wing cases over each other (the males only) & produce this sharp but pleasant creaking sound--helping to fetch the year about. Thus the sounds of human industry--and activity--the roar of cannon blasting of rocks--whistling of locomotives--rattling of carts--tinkering of artisans--& voices of men--may sound to some distant ear like an earth song & the creaking of crickets-- The crickets keep about the warmth of their burrows as if apprehending cold.
The fringed gentian closes every night & opens every morning in my pitcher.
Oct 22d
Pm to Cliffs & Walden
A thickly overcast yet thick & hazy day.
I see a lombardy poplar or 2 yellowing at last many leaves clear & handsome yellow-- They thus(like the balm of gilead--& aspens) share this relation to the willows-- Horsechestnuts are yellow & ap in prime--I see locusts are generally yellow--but thinly leaved & those at extremities
Going by Farrar's field bought of John Reynold's--I examined those singular barren spots produced by putting on too much meadow mud of a certain quality. In some places the sod was entirely gone--there was no grass & only a small sandy desert--with other yellowish fimbristylis capillaris & sorrel in it--
In most places this sand was quite thickly covered with sarothra (now withered)and making a dark show at a distance & sorrel--(which had not risen from the surface) These are both sour juiced plants.
It was surprising how completely the grass had been killed.
I see the small narrow leaves of the Aster dumosus & also the yet finer ones of the Dip. linifolius in hard paths--turned a clear light yellow--
The sagitate leaves of the v. ovata too now flat in the path--& the prettily divided leaves or fingers of the V. pedata with purple petioles (also fallen flatter than usual?)--are both turned a clear handsome light yellow Also the V. cucullata is turned yellow These are far more conspicuous now than ever before--contrasted with the green grass so that you do not recognise them at first on account of their very conspicuousness or brightness of color--
Many other small plants have changed now--whose color we do not notice in the midst of the general changing-- Even the Lycopodium complanatum (evergreen)is turned a light yellow (a part of it) in its season like the pines(or evergreen trees)
I go up the hill from the spring. Oaks(except the scarlet) esp the small oaks are generally withered or withering--yet most would not suspect it at a little distance They have so much color yet yet this year at least they must have been withered more by heat than frost--for we have had very hot weather & little if any frost since the oaks generally changed-- Many of The small scarlet ones are withered too--but the larger scarlet appear to be in their prime now Some large white--black--& red--are still pretty fresh--
It is very agreeable to observe now from an eminence the different tints of red & brown in an oak sproutland or young woodland--the chocolate is one-- the brownish predominated-- Some will tell you that they prefer these more sober colors which the landscape wears at present to the bright ones it exhibited a few days ago-- It is interesting to observe--how gradually but steadily the woods advance through deeper & deeper shades of brown to their fall.
You can tell the young white oak in the midst of the sproutland--by its light brown color--almost like that of the russet fields see beyond--also the scarlet by its brighter red--but the pines are now the brightest of them all.
Apple orchards--throughout the village or on lower & rich ground are quite green--but on that drier F. H. Hill all the apple trees are yellow--with a sprinkling of green--& occasionally a tinge of scarlet.
I can see the red of young oaks as far as the horizon on some sides. I think that the yellows--as birches--&c are the most distinct this very thick & cloudy day--in which there is no sun--but when the sun shines the reds are lit up more--& glow
The oaks stand browned & crisped (amid the pines) their bright color for the most part burnt out--like a loaf that is baked--& suggest an equal wholsomeness. The whole tree is now not only ripe but as it were, a fruit--perfectly cooked by the sun. That same sun which called forth its leaves in the spring--has now aided by the frost--sealed up their fountains for the year--& withered them. The order has gone forth for them to rest--As each tree casts its leaves it stands careless & free--like a horse freed from his harness--or like one who has done his years work--& now stands unnoticed but with concentrated strength & contentment--ready to brave the blasts of winter without a murmur--
You get very near wood ducks with a boat nowadays--
I see, from the cliffs, that color has run thro' the shrub oak plain like a fire or a wave (not omitting a single tree--) though I had not expected it-- Large oaks do not turn so completely & now is for the most part burnt out for want of fuel--i.e. excepting the scarlet ones. That birch swamp under the Cliff is very interesting-- The birches are now but thinly clad & that at top--its flame-shaped top more like flames than ever--now-- At this distance their basic slender stems are very distinct dense & parrallel--apparently in a somewhat smoky ground (caused by the large twigs) & this pretty thicket of dense parallel stems is crowned or surmounted by little cones or crescents of golden spangles.
Hear a cuckoo & grackles--
The birches have been steadily changing & falling for a long long time. The lower most leaves turn golden & fall first--so their autumn change is like a fire which has steadily burned up higher & higher--consuming the fuel below--till now it has nearly reached their tops These are quite distinct from the reddish misty maze below--(if they are young trees) or the fine & close parallel white stems if they are larger-- Nevertheless the topmost leaves at the extremities of the leaves are still green.
I am surprised to find on the top of the Cliff--near the dead white pine--some small Staghorn Sumacs-- (Mother says she found them on the hill behind Charles Davis!!) These are now at the height (?) of their changes--as is ours in the yard--turned an orange scarlet--not so dark as the smooth which is now ap. fallen It is generally--but I see some (one or 2 the 24th). But ours being in a shady & cool place is prob later than the average--for I see that one at Floods cottage has fallen. I guess that they may have been at height generally some 10 days ago-- Near by the Aralia hispida turned a very clear dark red.
I see Heavy Haynes fishing in his old gray boat--sinking the stern deep. It is remarkable that of the four fishermen who most frequent this river--Melvin--Goodwin & the 2 Hayneses--the last 3 have all been fishermen of the sea--and have visited the grand banks--& are well acquainted with Cape Cod. These fishermen who sit thus alone from morning till night--must be greater philosophers than the shoemakers--
You can still pluck a variegated & handsome nosegay on the top of the cliff-- I see a mullein freshly out--very handsome A. undulatas--& an abundance of the little blue snapdragon--& some P. persicaria &c &c--
The black shrub oak on the hill side below the Bearberry--fast falling & some quite bare-- Some chinquapin there not fallen Notice a chestnut quite bare--
The leaves of the hickory are a very rich yellow though they may be quite withered & fallen but they become brown
Looking to Conantum, the huckleberries are ap. fallen.
The fields are now perhaps truly & most generally russet--esp. where the blackberry & other small reddish plants--are seen through the fine bleached grass & stubble--Like a golden russet apple. (This occurs to me, going along the side of the Well Meadow Field.)
Ap. the scarlet oak. Large & small is in prime now after other oaks are generally withered or withering.
The clumps of Salix tristis--half yellow--spotted with dark brown or blackish--& half withered & turned dark ash colored--are rather interesting. The S. humilis has similar dark spots
Hornets' nests are now being exposed--deserted by the hornets While pines have for the most part fallen-- All the underwood is hung with thin brown fallen needles giving to the woods an untidy appearance
C. tells of hearing after dark the other night frequent raucous notes which were new to him on the Ammannia meadow--in the grass-- Were they not meadow hens? Rice says he saw one within a week-- Have they not lingered to feed in our meadows the late warm & pleasant nights?
The haze is still very thick though it is comparatively cool weather--& if there were no moon tonight--I think it would be very dark-- Do not the darkest nights occur about this time when there is a haze produced by the Ind-- summer days--succeeded by a moonless night??
These bright leaves are not the exception--but the rule--for I believe that all leaves even grasses &c &c--Pan. Clandestinum--& mosses as sphagnum under favorable circumstances acquire brighter colors just before their fall-- When you come to observe faithfully the changes of each humblest plant--you find it may be unexpectedly--that each has sooner or later its peculiar autumnal tint or tints--though it maybe rare & unobserved--as many a plant is at all seasons-- And if you undertake to make a complete list of the bright tints--your list will be as long as a catalogue of the plants in your vicinity
Think how much the eyes of painters--both artisans & artists--& of the manufacturers of cloth & paper--& the paper stainers &c are to be educated by these autumnal colors
The stationers envelopes may be of very various tints--yet not so various as those of the leaves of a single tree sometimes-- If you want a different shade or tint of a particular color you have only to look further within or without the tree--or the wood. The eye might thus be taught to distinguish color & appreciate a difference of shade or tint.


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A little Fever news...... http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...TS0403/8020605 Indiana Fever guard/forward Ann Strother was among 13 players selected today by the Atlanta Dream, as the WNBAs newest franchise took its first step toward assembling its first roster.
According to a news release, the roster also includes: Carla Thomas (Chicago Sky), Erika DeSouza (Connecticut Sun), Katie Feenstra (Detroit Shock), Roneeka Hodges (Houston Comets), LaToya Thomas (Los Angeles Sparks), Kristen Mann (Minnesota Lynx), Ann Wauters (New York Liberty), Jennifer Lacy (Phoenix Mercury), Kristin Haynie (Sacramento Monarchs), Chantelle Anderson (San Antonio Silver Stars), Betty Lennox (Seattle Storm) and Yelena Leuchanka (Washington Mystics).
The Dream also received Indiana's 24th pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft, in exchange for agreeing not to select specific unprotected Fever players.
Strother, a 6-3 shooting guard who averaged 2.3 points and 0.8 rebounds in 12 games for the Fever last season, has been with Indiana since 2007 .

subset: commoncrawl


text: Putnam officials look for savings on jail fees By Kate White January 22, 2013 Story Share WINFIELD, W.Va. -- Putnam County will be lucky if it can maintain what it's paying now to house inmates at the Western Regional Jail, even though the cost has gone up about $300,000 in two years, the county's prosecutor told commissioners Tuesday.Commissioners asked county Prosecuting Attorney Mark Sorsaia, Sheriff Steve Deweese and Chief Deputy Jack Luikart for ideas on how to reduce the $1.3 million cost that's taking a huge chunk out of the county's budget."A realistic goal would be to keep it the same," Sorsaia said. "I'm more concerned about it going up."However, Deweese, who took office at the beginning of the year, told commissioners an error he noticed on criminal complaint forms that should start saving the county some money on the jail bill.When police fill out paperwork after someone is arrested in the county who is charged with a crime in, say, Kanawha County, it's usually marked as Putnam, since that's where the arrest was made, he said. But when that happens, the regional jail bills Putnam for Kanawha's offenders, according to Deweese.He told commissioners his office would closely monitor the forms to make sure it stops.That's only a small fix, though, since in the last two years, the number of felony cases in Putnam has gone up by 20 percent, according to Sorsaia. And the driving force behind the caseload is drug addiction, which is leading to burglaries, among other crimes."The bottom line is that we're in a sea of addiction," he said, noting the need for drug treatment facilities for nonviolent offenders.Last March, commissioners passed a $18.39 million budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year, which increased the county's levy rate by 0.3 cents per $100 of assessed property value -- from 13.55 to 13.85. They blamed the jail bill and little growth in the county at the time for the increase. Commissioner Steve Andes asked if it was possible to charge offenders when they're sent to jail."We want you guys to do your job, but how can we make the bad guy pay?" he said. "What if they're in jail 30 days; could we make them pay $3,000 over five years?""The problem is they just don't make it," Sorsaia said. "If you're convicted of a crime, you're unemployable -- you can't even get a job in fast food."Commissioners noted their situation isn't unique and that most counties in the state are struggling to pay the rising costs to house inmates, but vowed to offer support for any drug treatment options, whether it be opened by the state or an agency that might consider coming to the county.Community-based drug treatment centers, where addicts might report daily and there is little to no security, have been resisted in the past by residents, however, Deweese said. He cited the group Parents Against Addiction, which has tried for several years to open a facility in Putnam -- first in Hurricane and then in Buffalo. Critics snubbed the idea, saying it would cause trouble in their communities."Now they're looking in the Milton area, I believe," he said. In other business at the meeting, commissioners agreed to advertise for bids from banks so county agencies can begin taking credit or debit card payments.Last year, legislation was updated to allow more than just sheriff's departments to utilize the payment option, County Clerk Brian Wood said. He asked commissioners to approve the measure for all county departments to use if they choose.County Attorney Jennifer Scragg Karr said the county could pass on to consumers any fee a bank might charge to swipe a card. It's usually assigned to the vendor, she said.Reach Kate White at email@example.com or 304-348-1723. Story Share Story Share Trending Now 1 Deer in 8 WV counties found dead from EHD 2 New company planning $73M synthetic fuel plant in Greenbrier County 3 'Heroin(e)' spotlights women helping combat Huntington's drug crisis 4 YWCA Charleston's Women of Achievement to be honored in March 5 Philanthropist Betty Schoenbaum of Shoney's fortune turns 100 Pre-sentence assessments required for state felons Previous Story W.Va. graduation rate matches U.S. average Next Story


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Atlanta, Georgia
"Stay curious and do."
Holly Quarzo is a professor of graphic design at Savannah College of Art and Design with a focus on web and mobile-based technology. She is an award-winning instructor who enjoys striking a balance between doing and teaching.
Quarzo graduated with distinction from Indiana State University, receiving a master's in Graphic Design. She has had diverse experiences in user-centered, graphic, and interactive design, web-based and mobile projects, and eLearning.
She has spoken at the MAX developer conferences (begun by Macromedia and continued after Adobe acquired the company), as well as at other design, technology, and eLearning events. It was her privilege to receive Macromedia's Certified Instructor of the Year Worldwide and runner-up two consecutive years.


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PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Marketing communications firm Duffy & Shanley has been hired by Staples to manage its 2010 public relations efforts for the holiday shopping season.
For the last two years, Duffy & Shanley said it has worked with Staples on its holiday marketing and public relations efforts in some capacity.
"We are excited to be working with the public relations team at Staples to help promote the company as a destination for great savings on technology and other holiday gifts," said Annette Maggiacomo, vice president of public relations at Duffy & Shanley. "From print to broadcast to blogs, Duffy & Shanley is bringing our expertise and relationships to the table to help keep Staples top of mind during the crowded holiday season."


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Fowler makes pinch-hit appearance vs. Jays
TORONTO -- Astros outfielder Dexter Fowler entered Tuesday's contest against the Blue Jays as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning of a 5-2 loss after missing the previous four games with a stomach virus.
Fowler hit a grounder back to reliever Brett Cecil and reached on a fielder's choice after the pitcher went home with the ball and nailed L.J. Hoes, who attempted to score from third, at the plate. The play ended up being challenged and quickly confirmed by the umpires.
The 28-year-old Fowler, who intends to make his return to the starting lineup Wednesday, did some running, hit in the cages and took batting practice Tuesday for the first time since getting sick. He was also able to eat his first solid meal.
"Today's the first day I feel like I have some strength to do anything," Fowler said.
Prior to the game, manager Bo Porter said that although Fowler was feeling better, he didn't want to rush his center fielder back into the starting lineup. But during the contest, Porter said he had conversations with Fowler and felt comfortable putting him into the game as a replacement.
"We'll let him go through a full day of work and make sure everything goes well and that he's OK," Porter said before the game. "We look forward to getting him back."
Fowler, who was acquired in an offseason deal with the Rockies, is hitting .500 with a homer, triple and two doubles over four games.
Chris Toman is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. - Two men have been caught on camera breaking and trying to rob a cell phone store in Madison Heights.
The video shows the men breaking through the front glass door of the store at 12 Mile and Dequindre roads just after 2 a.m.
Madison Heights police said the men tried to get into a case, but fled the store empty handed.
Anyone with information on the men in the video is asked to call Madison Heights police.
Read more Local News headlines:
- Taylor school finds bed bugs in books
- Wayne County population leaving for neighboring counties
- Do EFM protestors speak for Detroiters?
- Detroit EFM announcement draws group of protesters
- Classic watch making Detroit comeback
- Detroit Lions tackle Jeff Backus retires from NFL
- Conyers now works at auto shop
- 78-year-old woman missing in Detroit
Copyright 2013 by ClickOnDetroit.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Despite weather, day two of camp successful
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- With temperatures in the 40s and heavy winds, it wasn't a typical Florida day for the Twins during their second day of full workouts on Sunday.
But the club was still able to get through all of the drills, including infield practice, pitchers fielding practice, bullpen sessions and batting practice.
"We got everything done," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "It was a good day. Guys were really locked in. It was really fun to watch. The PFP went great on our field. I didn't see the guys down the street, but everybody said they did good. But our group was really locked in today. It was the best round yet."
The most entertaining part of practice was the pop up drills behind the plate for the catchers at Hammond Stadium. New bench coach Terry Steinbach had a little trouble operating the machine because of the wind, according to Gardenhire.
"The wind and the high sky, where the ball looks like a golf ball up high up there, and Steiny hitting the machine -- all of those made for elements that made it tough," Gardenhire said. "But it was good to get guys on the main stadium, so that guys know the distance and all that. So, it was a good drill for them. But it's tough."
The intensity at camp is expected to ramp up on Monday, as it'll be the first day of live batting practice between Twins pitchers and hitters. Players are also scheduled to get physicals before the workouts begin.
"We'll be in the clubhouse waiting until the physicals are done, and then we'll do some live BP and go through all of our drills, full squad," Gardenhire said. "So that'll be fun. I'll get a chance to see position players, which I haven't seen."


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will.i.am Denies Black Eyed Peas Breakup Rumors Started By Kanye West
When you're as successful as Kanye West, you can make a lot of things true simply by saying them out loud. Luckily for Black Eyed Peas fans, not even Kanye can cause a band's breakup by announcing it.
West caused a stir by telling the audience at his show last Friday that the BEP were no more, but according to the group's frontman, will.i.am, the rumors of their demise have been greatly exaggerated.


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As I've recently begun to try out postures outside of my usual bench setup, I've realized that by even the ten or fifteen minute mark, my back hurts terribly if I sit half-lotus. Recently I have been trying out full lotus, and although it fully relieves my back pain, I'm not proficient enough to maintain the posture for any long period of time without hurting my knees or ankles. I have very flexible hips, flexible at least enough for half-lotus, but I fear that perhaps I am doing it "wrong" so to speak. I've been looking at guides online and I can't seem to figure out what about my posture is causing this pain. Obviously many people spend hours in half-lotus every day without incident, so there must be some "fault" to my approach. Does anyone have any tips for reducing back pain while trying out the half-lotus, or any links to more reputable sites that can maybe show me what I'm doing wrong? My meditation has stalled somewhat but I don't want to admit defeat and go back to the bench because I know that at some point I will have to learn other positions.
Thank you very much.


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Benoit Aubert; Simon Bourdeau; Brett Walker
|Format: Hardcopy Black & White
|Also Available In:
|English PDF
|List Price: $7.46
|Source: HEC Montreal Centre for Case Studies
|Publication Date: Feb 1, 2012
|Product #: HEC035-HCB-ENG
|Discipline: Information Technology
|Length: 29 p, English Hardcopy Black & White
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems introduce changes on a larger scale than most other systems. They link various components of the organization and modify its structure by deploying standardized processes and data models, which can lead to higher efficiency and significant cost savings. This case shows the adjustment dynamic between an ERP system and the other components of the organization. The project is a very large one, involving an investment of several hundred million dollars. The results are impressive. Bombardier implemented new processes through the use of the system, changed the roles of its employees, created a different way of looking at the organization and its activities and established new value indicators that helped crystallize the new behaviours.
The case presents a real-life situation: the implementation of a large system, along with a major organizational transformation. Students look at two different phases of the project, examining what made each phase different. The case shows the necessary adjustment dynamic between an ERP system and the other components of the organization. By documenting the IS implementation activities over two years, the case illustrates the process of adjusting strategic, structural and system components. The case underlines the fact that the project's benefits are not obtained solely by implementing a technology. Technology can be seen as a necessary but not sufficient condition. When technology was implemented without the corresponding organizational changes, only some benefits were achieved. The full range of benefits was obtained when all elements were aligned together and the ERP system could be used within the appropriate organizational structure (roles), to support the corresponding strategy (second phase). The case can be used in graduate courses and in senior year undergrad courses. It would be relevant both in IT courses, looking at the role of the IT team and the challenges it faces, and in management courses, focusing more on the organizational transformation aspect of the case. The case enables students to better understand and discuss elements pertaining to: ? The environment of large-scale projects and of ERP implementation projects; ? The notion of project success; ? The challenges associated with a project implementation; ? The importance of managerial elements in an ERP implementation and in a large organizational transformation; ? How IT implementation, paired with organizational transformation, can lead (or not) to the attainment of benefits for the organization; ? How IT can be a tool to transform the organization.
ERP; Fixed assets; Information systems; International business; Project implementation


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'Game of Thrones' Review: "The Lion and the Rose"
'Game of Thrones' season 4 conjures its second episode of the season, "The Lion and the Rose," as the royal wedding of Joffrey and Margaery Tyrell goes predictably awry, while Tyrion makes a heartbreaking sacrifice, and Ramsay Bolton gets a new mission from his father.
Last week's 'Game of Thrones' season premiere "Two Swords" saw Tyrion greeting the vengeful Prince Oberyn Martell for Joffrey's wedding, while Jaime had difficulty adjusting to life back in Kings' Landing, Jon Snow prepared the Night's Watch, and Arya encountered an old friend. So, what does the latest installment of season 4 bring?
Read on for your in-depth recap of everything you need to know about 'Game of Thrones' season 4, episode 2, "The Lion and the Rose!"


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DETROIT - Detroit police officers will return to 8-hour shifts for the first time since 12-hour shifts were implemented under former chief Ralph Godbee in 2012.
The 8-hour shifts will begin Oct. 14, 2013. The Detroit Police Department also will operate what will be called a 10-hour "power shift."
The power shift will overlap two other shifts. Officers will have the opportunity to request working the 10-hour shift.
The activation date for the power shift has not yet been determined.
Officers have been working two 12-hour days each week before getting two days off and working three 12-hour shifts followed by three days off.
Godbee had cited financial trouble when the 12-hour shifts were imposed. He was greeted by deep concerns from the officers' union.
Copyright 2013 by ClickOnDetroit.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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The Indian Land High Lady Warriors capped their late-season run with a Region IV-AA title, highlighted by a 52-42 win over the Andrew Jackson Lady Volunteers on Thursday, Feb. 12.
The IL girls of coach Natasha Rogers, 12-6, 10-2, finished strong to secure the win and league crown and a first-round home game in the Class AA Upper State basketball playoffs which open Tuesday, Feb. 17.
The No. 1 ranked Lancaster Lady Bruins had to work overtime, but it proved most fruitful as the LHS girls extended their unbeaten basketball season for a second straight spotless region crown.
LHS, in an overtime thriller, notched a 55-53 comeback win over fourth-ranked South Pointe to wrap up the Region III-AAA girls basketball championship on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at the SPHS gym.
Lancaster, 22-0, capped the regular season with a region championship 10-0 record.
Three Lancaster County girls basketball teams, led by top-rated Lancaster, are among the elite in the S.C. Basketball Coaches Association state polls released this Tuesday, Feb. 10.
INDIAN LAND – Shea Rodgers has kicked his way to college.
Rodgers, the Warriors' all-star kicker, is headed to Newberry College to kick for the Wolves' football team. Rodgers made his college choice official on Wednesday, Feb. 4 – NCAA national signing day – as he signed with the NCAA Division II school.
Lancaster High School boys basketball coach Ricardo Priester will be among the state's hoops elite next month.
Priester, in his 10th season leading the Bruins, has been selected as an all-star coach for the annual North-South All-Star boys basketball game at Lexington High School on March, 21.
BUFORD – Buford High School basketball 2015 senior night featured a Jackets' split.
The BHS Lady Jackets continued their stellar play, notching a 58-45 win over the Central of Pageland Lady Eagles.
The Lancaster High School basketball senior night was a mixed bag for the Bruins.
The Lady Bruins, Class AAA's top-rated team, rolled to a convincing 71-28 over Union County at the LHS gym on Friday, Feb. 6.
KERSHAW – Andrew Jackson's boys had to work double overtime, but it paid huge hoops dividends for the surging Volunteers.
On Friday night, Feb. 6, the AJ boys challenged the second-ranked Cheraw Braves and responded with an 88-87 double overtime win over CHS.
Buford High School ace defensive lineman Autry Blackmon is looking to make an early impact, and that played big in his college choice.
Blackmon, a four-year line starter for the Jackets, is hoping for a quick start at Limestone College in Gaffney.
Copyright © 2017
The Lancaster News is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Lancaster County and Lancaster, South Carolina, and the surrounding area..


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Orlando Prepares to Host the 'Americas' SAP Users' Group' (ASUG) on June 3-5, 2014
The largest user group for SAP users will be held at the Orlando/Orange County Convention Center and will welcome over
SAP users gather every year in Orlando at the Sapphire Now ASUG Annual Conference, which attracts executives, managers and IT professionals who seek to network, learn and discover new best practices among those who depend on this powerful software solution. SAP is a suite of software that provides solutions ranging from enterprise resource planning to enterprise data warehouse. In fact, SAP is how many of the world's top companies manage big data, operations and customer relations across the world. ASUG 2014 gives attendees the opportunity to learn about SAP technology, processes and other critical elements that support the successful track record of this German-based company and its products.
ASUG attendees often look forward to this event since it becomes a type of "homecoming" for SAP professionals. The focus of the show is often to provide an interactive and engaging channel to update knowledge and hone skills. The event is well represented by Fortune 500 companies, which benefit from the power and flexibility of SAP products. In addition, ASUG is attended by representatives of the Aerospace and Defense, Financial, Enterprise Asset Management, Supply Chain Management, and Oil & Gas industries, among many other sectors. SAP users often credit their success to this software solution and ASUG members flock to the event every year, since many consider the opportunity to mingle and interact with each other an invaluable resource for attendees.
Vista Cay Resort by Millenium welcomes all ASUG members and reminds them that our beautiful resort is a mere 5 minutes or less from the Orlando/Orange County Convention Center, which will be hosting ASUG. We advise you to book early to ensure you can get a great rate. Vista Cay Resort by Millenium is located next to the convention center and within minutes of great entertainment venues, restaurants, bars, and lounges. If you are attending ASUG 2014 in Orlando, Florida, you can't beat staying at Vista Cay Resort by Millenium rather than in a traditional hotel room.
Vista Cay Resort by Millenium is a popular destination resort, so don't delay your search for great rates and exceptional condo suites with all the amenities you expect of a world-class resort.


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This guy is done forever, what a disgusting scumbag.
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This guy is done forever, what a disgusting scumbag.
Wow. Now that this audio is public, is there any way Williams doesn't get banned from the league?
"He becomes human when we f***** take out that outside ACL."
He's done.
"Nobody wants to play against Tyler Hansbrough NO BODY!" ~ Frank Vogel
"And David put his hand in the bag and took out a stone and slung it. And it struck the Philistine on the head and he fell to the ground. Amen. "
Goddell should play this audio for Payton during his appeal, and then throw him out of his office
Wow. Dude is done coaching.
Hope he likes early retirement.
I'm sure there are more coaches like him. Even if it was acceptable, I think it's despicable. And you have more and more players concerned about safety, especially concussions. And knowing there are players looking to injure someone is just all sorts of wrong.
I'm all for big hits. Just make sure it's a legal hit and not some cheap shot trying to cause serious harm to someone.
First time in a long time, I've been happy with the team that was constructed, and now they struggle. I blame the coach.
This guy needs to be gone. forever. No place for this kind of stuff in football, I understand going out and trying to hit someone on every play, thats what defense is about, but to pin-point specific players and injuries is just too far. I've lost a lot of respect for the Saints for letting this crap go on.
2 thoughts
1. Part of me wonders if this kind of thing is normal. The casual fan base does not normally see the inside of the locker room, and maybe that is for the better.
I mean, I wonder if it would be normal for a coach to say "VA has had knee problems in the past, Hicks had a ankle problem last game, and Bball has a concussion 2 seasons ago". I find it disguisting, but I wonder if it happens.
2. I wonder if the guy was this arrogant, or if he just got used to the camera. I mean, supposedly they knew they were being filmed and the camera was not being hidden.
The only other thing I could think of is that he is really that stupid.....


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Careless management harms air quality
A two-alarm fire at the Sims Metal Management Ltd. facility in Redwood City Dec. 17 floated a toxic plume of uncontrolled smoke into the surrounding neighborhoods.
Then, expedited by a slight southerly breeze, Sims Metal Management contaminated the community. The fire burned for more than eight hours, and air-quality officials advised that residents stay inside with windows closed.
This is not the first time that Sims Metal Management mismanaged its business and created a public nuisance that prompted a health advisory for residents as far away as Santa Clara County.
I recall entering a fog bank of smoke while traveling south on Interstate 280 from San Bruno to Los Altos Nov. 10. The acrid stench and sudden low visibility were alarming. After a little research, I learned that a "shelter in place" order was issued due to an uncontrolled fire at the Sims Metal Management facility.
My understanding is that since that fire, the company has implemented improved processing standards. Please note that these new procedures are not working. Several friends compared the air quality Tuesday to the air quality in Beijing and Shanghai.
I'll breathe a little easier when businesses that repeatedly break laws are banished.
Marilee Taylor
Los Altos
Be careful on road during holidays
'Tis the season – for racing. Individuals race to the bustling malls, rabidly seeking last-minute presents, and race to the supermarket for forgotten ingredients.
All these races lead to a race for our lives – on the road. Upon my return from the airport, we had close-call accidents twice with speeding drivers.
We are lucky enough to enjoy our holiday cheer in the beautiful town of Los Altos. So, this season we can give back with kindness behind the wheel.
A fender bender or, even worse, a driving fatality during the holidays can be a shattering event. We need to consider the consequences before we race.
Alyssa Jacobson
Los Altos


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Tebow Time is now. Again.
Enough of the New York Jets trying to figure out what position Tim Tebow can best help their team. Here's the answer: Make him your starting quarterback, effective immediately.
PHOTOS: Cheerleaders, fans and more | Visual recap of NFL Week 4
Reason No. 1 is simple. Just look how ineffective your incumbent, Mark Sanchez continues to be.
There are 28 other starting quarterbacks who have a higher passer rating than Sanchez's dismal 69.6 after three games, and two of the three players behind him are rookies. He's completing fewer than half of his pass attempts (49.2) and he's matching touchdowns (5) for turnovers (5).
Despite the 48-point explosion in the Week 1 rout of Buffalo, the Jets are tied for 23rd in scoring offense (20.2 points). They're 28th in total offense, and 26th in passing offense with Sanchez.
Part of it can be attributed to injuries all around his receiving corps. Sanchez's security blanket, tight end Dustin Keller, has been slowed by a hamstring injury and out for all but one reception against the Bills.
Rookie Stephen Hill, who caught two touchdowns in that game, succumbed to the same ailment to miss Sunday's lifeless 34-0 home loss to San Francisco. In the 49ers game, the Jets' most dynamic wide receiver, Santonio Holmes suffered a foot injury.
So with Sanchez struggling to get the ball downfield and no consistent reliable targets left, there's nothing to complement the ground and pound.
Tebow, even when he was on his magical run that lifted to the Denver Broncos to the AFC West title and a playoff victory last season, was maligned as a passer the whole way. But the one thing Tebow did consistently deliver for the Broncos was his decisive power running game.
That brings us to reason No. 2: The Jets' anemic rushing attack.
That was supposed to be the foundation of Tony Sparano's offense. Instead, with shaky blocking and little production from feature back Shonn Greene, the Jets rank 30th in average yards per carry (3.2) and 24th in rushing yards per game (86.5).
The numbers that prove the Jets' offensive ineptitude are evident across the board. But beyond the stats, at 2-2, New York needs some kind of spark to bring its true playoff hopes back to life.
Enter Tebow. Another number to consider—he's rushed the ball only nine times and has the Jets' longest run of the season (22 yards).
Sparano came in as the "Wildcat" guy, with his history of using versatile backfield players in creative ways in Miami. The experiment with Sanchez playing efficiently off the run isn't working, so it's time to break glass on Plan B: Unleash Tebow before it's too late.
Just ask the 2011 Broncos. They hardly used Tebow with Kyle Orton starting the first five games, until they lost four of those games with a mistake-filled, frustrating offense.
Then Tebowmania took over, and they won seven of 11 to surge into the postseason.
The Broncos made their big, successful change after their Week 6 bye. At this rate with Sanchez and their current offense, by the time the Jets return from their bye in Week 10, they will be out of the AFC playoff picture.
The Jets could play it safe and give Sanchez another shot to turn things around. But that won't happen next Monday night when they host undefeated Houston.
Have you seen the way the Texans' swarming 3-4 defense has been playing with J.J. Watt leading the charge? Imagine the ugliness under the lights for a national audience when the Jets flirt with being shut out again.
Sure, Sanchez could do better, but really, from what we know, could Tebow do any worse? At the very least, Tebow's presence will bring a lot of energy to his teammates and plenty of prime-time exuberance to a wild fan base.
Beyond the Texans and a pair of midseason battles with the Patriots, the Jets have many more winnable games with the rest of AFC South, NFC West and AFC East. Those are the type of defensive, low-scoring games that Tebow, with his uncanny ability to make a big pass or run at the critical time, made a habit of winning in Denver.
The Jets should know. They saw one of those plays first hand when Tebow's Broncos helped dash their playoff hopes last November with his relentless, last-minute 20-yard game-winning touchdown run.
That should be enough for Jets coach Rex Ryan, in a seat just as hot as Sanchez's, to reconsider his not quite pro-Tebow stance.
Tebow should no longer be New York's Wildcat wild card. Or its publicity stunt. Or its media darling. Or the jewel of Madison Avenue.
It's time to give him a fair shot to do the job with the Jets that he did so well with the Broncos—as a highly driven athlete, ultra-competitive quarterback and inspiring leader. At this point, Ryan and the Jets have nothing to lose—except more games with Sanchez.


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Principal | Factores de Riesgo | Síntomas | Diagnóstico | Tratamiento | Medicamentos | Otros tratamientos | Revisión | Reduciendo Su Riesgo | Hablando con Su Médico | Guía de Fuentes Adicionales
American Pregnancy Association
1425 Greenway Drive, Suite 440
Irving , Texas 75038
Internet address:
Description of services provided:
The American Pregnancy Association provides a variety of educational materials pertaining pregnancy, including infection in pregnancy.
March of Dimes
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
Internet address:
Description of services provided:
The March of Dimes features information tailored to pregnancy and the newborn period, with emphasis on the prevention of birth defects, premature birth, and infant death.
National Center for Infectious Diseases
Office of Health Communication
National Center for Infectious Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mailstop C-14
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30333
Internet address:
Description of services provided:
The National Center for Infectious Diseases offers information on all types of infectious diseases, including those that can occur during pregnancy.
Last reviewed May 2015 by Andrea Chisholm, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2012 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.
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Donkey rides
- Departing from
Avenue de la Gare 15
- MAPS: Google Maps
Why don't you go for a trip with a donkey, he is not only your carrier but mostly your companion. The donkey that will accompany you will carry your luggage to make your trip easier. From time to time he wants a stroke or another reward for his good work. Your children will bond very quickly with the donkeys when they are over their first fear. The donkey will welcome your child on his back but you always have to remember that it is under your responsibility.
The donkey is a natural comedian who will make your trip pleasant and unique.
Open by reservation for groups.
We organise guided visits all year round (schools, seniors...).
Tourist information on the town BASTOGNE


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Life's Twists and Turns
Reads: 556 | Likes: 0 | Shelves: 0 | Comments: 2
Book by: Dream Seeker
Chapter 1 (v.1) - Life's Twists and Turns
It was Friday evening and I was busy preparing for going to the club with my roommate and best friend, Lindsay. As I looked in the mirror at my hair and outfit, I contemplated making changes. My hair is long, straight, and brown. For tonight's occasion, I have my hair pulled up high with loose curls dangling down. After reviewing my outfit, I decided to wear my plain red halter top, white shorts and knee high shiny black boots. I have always been a sucker for the color red! I quickly put on my brown eye shadow & mascara which goes well with my bright blue eyes. It doesn't take me long at all to get ready.
I hope Lindsay is ready to go as it is nearing ten thirty. We on the east side of town and it will take at least thirty minutes to get there. "Lindsay are you ready yet?"
Lindsay replies, "I need a few more minutes."
I decide to grab a beer and check my bank account balance while I am waiting for her to finish. It is Lindsay's turn to drive tonight so why not get an early start. I am relieved to find that I have enough to pay the bills and can spare thirty dollars for tonight to cover my entrance fees and drinks. Lucky tonight is ladies night and we each can get five free drink tickets.
After about fifteen minutes, I hear Lindsay say she is ready to go. Lindsay has short brown hair and has not really done much with it other than put in some gel to give it more volume. She is wearing blue jeans and a blue spaghetti strapped shirt. The blue shirt really compliments her soft brown eyes. I wonder what took her so long to get ready tonight?
We hopped in her little green Geo Prism. The car runs well for being in six accidents (only two were her fault). The rest of the accidents were from either from her ex-boyfriend, Jeremy or another vehicle slamming into hers. She hasn't replaced her passenger side mirror which was destroyed after her last accident. It is amazing that all of the doors still open and the car hasn't been totaled yet!
When we arrived at the club, we are stopped at the entrance for an ID check. Luckily my other best friend, Sara is dating someone who works at the club. Tonight he is working the front entrance and we get in for free. Lindsay does not like Sara which makes it difficult for me to arrange time for both of them alongside of working and going to school full-time. Sara doesn't mind Lindsay though. We get our drink tickets and check in our coats, then head for the bar. Lindsay has changed a bit after we turned 21. She typically only likes to go to places that serve alcohol. Normally I only drink on the weekend evenings as my time is filled completely during the week.
Enough about work and school, I am out to have fun tonight, I thought. I slipped my ID and coat check ticket in my boots. After grabbing our drinks, we head to the dance floor and begin moving gracefully to the music. I have always thought of clubs as a "meat market". My friend Stacey had once called clubs this and it has stuck with me ever since. When you think about it, guys are scanning the room for chicks to dance with and try to get lucky with later on. I guess if you think of meat at a grocery store, people scan the shelves for the best looking piece to bring home for dinner.
In no time, two guys come over to us and begin bouncing behind us to the music. Lindsay and I have gestures we use to determine if we should move away from the guy behind us. I do not see a gesture from Lindsay; however, the guy dancing with her is straight U-G-L-Y. His pants are nearly dropping to the floor and the guy has nasty looking scars all over his face. He looks like he crawled out from under a rock right before he came to the club. She can do so much better than him. I nonchalantly nod my head to the left so that Lindsay can get the hint we need to move. Lindsay catches my signal and begins to follow me to the other side of the dance floor.
Before reaching the other side of the dance floor, we notice that it is time for another round of drinks. When we arrived at the bar, those two guys who were just dancing with us were up there as well. Lindsay sees what I was talking about right away. "Let's go to the other bar," Lindsay says.
When we get our drinks, Lindsay decides that I am not drinking fast enough. "Chug it and get another," Lindsay says. I can't object to that, I have had a long, hard week. Using my third drink ticket, I decide to switch my drink order to a Bahama Mama. Bahama Mama's are one of my favorite drinks.
As we are walking back to the dance floor, some guy takes a grab at my ass. I immediately turned around, shoved him and said "don't touch me" in such a warning tone that it caught a bouncers attention that was standing nearby. I guess he must have seen the whole incident because he grabbed the guy by his arm and drug him away, hopefully out of the club. Guys like that can ruin a good time real fast.
By the end of the night, I ended up using all of my tickets plus two of Lindsay's since she was driving. There was no need to dig into the thirty dollars that I decided earlier could be spent. It is nearly two thirty in the morning and the club is starting to clear out. By this time, I am feeling pretty buzzed. As we are heading to the coat check-out I realize I couldn't remember where I put my coat check ticket. I searched my pockets, not there. Maybe I put it in my bra? Nope, I would feel that. Finally, I remember that I had slipped the coat check ticket in my knee high boots. Sure enough it was there.
When we arrived back at our old farm house (We rent the house from Lindsay's Uncle for a reasonable rate of five-fifty per month), I was definitely spinning. My ears are buzzing from the loud music in the club and my legs sore from all the dancing we did. Being tired and low on energy, I climbed onto my pillow top mattress and was out in no time.
I woke up the next morning with a splitting headache. I knew I shouldn't have had as many drinks as I did. After eating a good breakfast and chugging some water, I began to feel better. It was one thirty in the afternoon and I only had a few hours before work would begin. I am the Assistant Manager at our local Pizza Mia Restaurant. My shift was due to start at five in the evening.
Usually on Saturday's I need to do my homework for college, but I just wasn't feeling up to it. I decide to take a shower and see if I feel any better afterwards. After what seemed like a twenty minute shower, I definitely felt even better than before. I decided I should at least begin writing my English informative essay that was due on Wednesday. I began to research Walt Disney Parks and write on their origins. Getting started is the hard part. Once I get going, I can finish pretty quickly. The essay needed to be ten pages double spaced. Getting an "A" or "B" on my assignments is really important to me. I know that one day a potential employer I am interviewing with may want to view my transcripts. Also, my father will reimburse half of my tuition if I get a good grade.
Around four-fifteen, I stopped writing my essay after getting through about three pages. It was time to get ready for work. I put on my blue collared work shirt, name tag, and khaki pants. I pulled my hair in a ponytail and put my hat on. Then I grabbed my keys, said bye to Lindsay and went out to my car. I drive a red '93 Pontiac Grand AM. The vehicle has had a lot of mechanical problems, but it still looked good. It has only been in one wreck which occurred when I was seventeen. For the mechanical problems, it seemed like I had replaced almost every major part on the car to keep it running. The engine went out after only having the car for one month. I also had recently changed out the transmission. Being young with good credit but no history makes it difficult to obtain a car loan. Although I make all of my bill payments on time, I still am getting denied for a car loan. Paying high tuition fees for even a community college makes it difficult to obtain a good savings amount to use as a down payment.
When I arrived at work, we were already getting very busy. The shift leader I was relieving briefed me on the morning activities and was out the door with the quickness. On my shift, I am particular about being the only one that handles the cash register so I went to find the person with the key. Pizza Mia does not have security cameras and money has been stolen out of the drawer on my shift. I do not want to be held accountable for any money missing so I hold the key at all times when I am managing. It makes it difficult because I need to go back and forth between making pizzas and handling the cash register. Who says I take the easy route? For some reason I always take the hard route. Nobody likes that I keep the key, but hey it is not their ass on the line if money is missing.
Being a manager is not always easy. I have to take complaint calls from customers. Tonight's call was from a lady who said we sent her the wrong pizza topping. I made the pizza myself and knew it was correct. Good customer service states that we should offer the opportunity to the customer to make the order right. Pizza Mia requires that the customer returns half of the pizza in order to have a new one made. The lady informed me that she ate almost all of the pizza already. I apologized and let her know we would not be able to remake her order. She got pissed, but there was nothing more I could do. This sort of complaint happens all the time. It is hard sometimes to decipher if the customer wants to just get free food or if they have a legitimate complaint.
The rest of the evening went smooth. We slowed down around ten and I let most of the crew go home for the night. I went to the office to look over the inspection check list the General Manager left for me. It is normally their job to ensure the restaurant is ready for inspection. Unfortunately for me I was always in charge of this process. The last inspection we had was given five stars and I wanted to do the same. I believe the General Manager took credit for our five star inspection result because I didn't receive any sort of a "good job" from the owner, Bob.
Bob also has two other Pizza Mia Restaurants on the east side of town. Rumors frequently fly about him having an affair on his wife with one of the female delivery drivers. Also, people say he is a drug dealer. I try to stay out of the senseless rumors as much as possible, although I have my suspicions. Bob lets his General Manager at one of his other stores borrow money from the drawer and visit the bar next door on her shift. Sometimes people have paychecks bounce, but so far, I have not had this problem.
I have worked at each one of his stores as an assistant manager, delivery driver, and crew member for the past year. The current store I am working for is the closest to my home which is only about a ten minute drive. There are times that I need to go to other stores to pick-up food supplies that we run out of. Our General Manager is not very good about ordering food. We have run out of pizza dough in the middle of a Saturday night rush before. That is the worse time for that to happen. We have to tell the customers, "I am sorry, but we cannot make original crust pizzas for about forty-five minutes". Most hang up and call another Pizza place.
This is one of the reasons I am going to college. I do not want to toss pizzas the rest of my life. This doesn't mean that I am going to slack off and have a poor performance, attendance, or attitude on the job. I want to learn as much as possible from this workplace so that I can use my experience to help the next company I work for. My hope is to find a job that I can enjoy going to every day and learn new things all the time.
Around one in the morning, I began my closing job duties. I have to put all the food in the walk-in, locking the doors, and finish the nightly finances. This includes counting all of the money and making sure it matches the computer system. I hope that everything matches perfectly because I would like to get home and relax for a bit. Luckily tonight, all the numbers did match. After making the night deposit, I went home to find Lindsay up crying.
"Lindsay, what is the matter?"
"Oh, it's really nothing." She said.
"Come on Lindsay, really. Tell me. You never cry like this."
"It's just that…um….um….I really miss Jeremy." Lindsay said.
Hmm, Jeremy, he was a real jerk. Jeremy was the reason she dropped down to 100lbs. He would insist that she arrived at his house by a certain time or he would break up with her. He never hit her, but being rude and commanding was enough for me to determine what a jerk he was. If Lindsay so much as glanced at another guy (not looking to get with them, but just like observing someone as they passed by) he would get really angry with her. Jeremy even wrecked her car and didn't pay Lindsay for the damages. "You two split up six months ago, are you having second thoughts about breaking up with him?" Everything about him just makes my blood boil. I hate how he treated Lindsay.
"Yes and No" she said.
"Well, what do you mean by that?" I asked.
"Amanda, you know that Jeremy and I were together for three years. It's hard to just forget about that." Lindsay said.
I thought carefully for a minute. I could see she was in a very fragile moment. "I know you had a lot of good times together. It will be hard to get past that. You have to consider the bad times as well. Is it worth going back to those times? He probably will never change."
"I know, Amanda. That is what I always tell myself."
"Well it is up to you. Lindsay, you know how I feel about Jeremy. I did not like one bit how he treated you. You deserve so much better!"
"I know, Amanda. It's going to take more time I think for me to get over him. I really do not want to go back to him but I can't help to think about him sometimes. Maybe I just need to meet someone else to take my mind off of him."
Rebound idea, huh. I am not so sure that is a good idea, but I am up for anything if it keeps her from going back to that jerk. "Possibly, have you considered enjoying single life for a while longer? Isn't it nice to not have someone hovering over your shoulder always telling you what the fuck to do?" I hope she doesn't read into that comment too much and go back to the Jeremy idea.
"Yes it really is. I suppose you are right. Hey, do you want to have a field party next weekend if the weather is decent?" Lindsay asked in a pleading tone.
Hmm, that is not a bad idea at all. This may be just what Lindsay needs to get her mind off of Jeremy. Our land on the farm house has a large field where we have had many parties. We have not had a field party since last fall. The field is large enough to build a large bonfire and pitch up numerous tents. We usually get a Keg from the local liquor store and charge $5.00 at the entrance to recover the costs. Then I usually make jello shots which go over well. "Let's check the weather and if it is not going to be rainy or too cold we can get one together. It is April and the weather could still be too cool for an outdoor party. I also need to check my work schedule. Are you going to be off next weekend?"
"I think that I work on Friday night and Sunday morning. I am looking at the weather and they say that Saturday will be clear with a high of 70 and low of 59" Lindsay replied.
"As long as I do not have to work on Saturday night we can have the party on that night." I said.
"Great, can you check your schedule tomorrow and let me know?" Lindsay asked.
"Sure, I will call you after I look at my schedule." I hope that I will not have a heavy load of homework that weekend. It will make it difficult to fit in working, the party, and time to do my homework.
"Amanda, you are such a great friend, thanks for listening. I am really tired though and I am going to bed. Good night."
"Good night, Lindsay." On that note, I went to my bedroom to change into my night clothes. It has been a really long day and I was looking forward to lying down in my comfortable bed. As usual, I was out quickly.
© Copyright 2017 Dream Seeker. All rights reserved.
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Very nice indeed. I love it and the details are great. Good writing. Good reading, Very well done and interesting.
Thank you for your comment, Angel Plant! I hope to have more time to add another chapter in a few weeks. We are moving next weekend and have lots to do!
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Add two more athletes and one final boat to the nominees for 2012 U.S. Olympic Canoe/Kayak Team. Eric Hurd (Woodstock, Ga.) and Jeff Larimer (Marietta, Ga.) reached the Men's Double Canoe (C-2) Final Sunday, where they finished 9th.
Click HERE for complete results from Slalom World Cup No. 1 in Cardiff, Wales, June 8-10.
Hurd and Larimer finished tops among U.S. C-2 boats with a time of 115.40, +7.11 seconds behind the gold medalists. Casey Eichfeld (Drums, Pa.) and Devin McEwan (Salisbury, Conn.) placed 13th. Scott McCleskey (Sylva, N.C.) and Dave Hepp (Charlotte, N.C.) finished 18th in the semifinal after a Team USA-leading 11th place ranking through qualifying heats.
In order to be displaced as the lone U.S. men's C-2 in London, one of the other U.S. boats would have had to make the Top 20 and finished above Hurd and Larimer. It will be the first Olympic Games for both paddlers.
Hurd and Larimer join slalom C-1 Eichfeld, slalom kayakers Caroline Queen (Darnestown, Md.) and Scott Parsons (Bethesda, Md.), and sprint kayakers Carrie Johnson (San Diego, Calif.) and Tim Hornsby (Atlanta, Ga.) on the 2012 Olympic Team.
Click HERE for full Q&As with Queen, Parsons and Eichfeld.
Joe Jacobi, USA Canoe/Kayak CEO: "To win the Olympic C-2 spot by making the Final in today's race is a great exclamation point on the selection process for Jeff and Eric. The journey to becoming an Olympian has been long for both athletes but the Slalom community in the U.S. is thrilled to see Jeff and Eric achieve this goal. Not only will they represent the U.S. well in London, their experience and teamwork will add an exciting dynamic to our team environment this summer."
Caroline Queen (Darnestown, Md.) joined Scott Parsons (Bethesda, Md.) and Casey Eichfeld (Drums, Pa.) in qualifying for the London 2012 Olympic Games Saturday at the Slalom World Cup No. 1 in Cardiff, Wales, June 8-10. But for Queen, this will be her first trip to the Olympics.
Queen, a student at Davidson College, edged out teammate Ashley Nee (Darnestown, Md.) for the Olympic slot. Queen finished 35th with a penalty-free second run time of 120.96, +16.23 back from the leader after the heats. Nee placed 37th, finishing 1.06 seconds behind Queen. Emily Jackson (Rock Island, Tenn). placed 43rd.
Queen and Nee arrived in Cardiff tied in Olympic selection points, but Queen earn the tiebreaker because she initially earned the Olympic slot for Team USA at the 2011 World Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia. Nee would have had to finish in the Top 20 and ahead of Queen this weekend to earn the Olympic spot for herself.
Queen, Parsons and Eichfeld join sprint kayakers Carrie Johnson (San Diego, Calif.) and Tim Hornsby (Atlanta, Ga.) as members of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Canoe/Kayak Team. The final U.S. boat will be named Sunday - Men's Double Canoe. All three C-2 boats advanced to the Sunday's semifinal. Scott McCleskey (Sylva, N.C.) and Dave Hepp (Charlotte, N.C.) got off to the best start with an 11th place finish through qualifying heats. Eric Hurd (Woodstock, Ga.) and Jeff Larimer (Marietta, Ga.) placed 14th. Casey Eichfeld and Devin McEwan (Salisbury, Conn.) finished 18th.
Queen on qualifying for her first Olympics:
"It's kind of hard to believe at this point. The selection process is so long. This morning I woke up and couldn't believe it was here. And now that it's done, I can't believe that that's all she wrote. But it is. It's pretty incredible and I'm really glad that I'm with my family to share the moment and my teammates and coaches and staff and everybody."
Queen on her two runs Saturday:
"The first one had one mistake on it. I just wasn't being very patient. But the second run, I just was in the start and like, 'just buckle down, just do the run, don't try to do anything fancy, just do the course.' And that's what I did. I don't think it was good enough to actually qualify [for the semifinal] at the [World Cup] race, but it was good enough to secure the spot for the U.S. [Olympic] team and that's what I came for."
Joe Jacobi, USA Canoe/Kayak CEO: "Before I worked at USA Canoe/Kayak, I had the privilege of coaching Caroline and Ashley. The depth of these young women is beyond words and, as intense as competition can be among lifelong friends, they handle it as well as anyone I've ever seen. I know Caroline will embrace the best of the Olympic movement and will drive to the best her paddling of her young career in London."
Two athletes punched their ticket to London Saturday morning at the Slalom World Cup No. 1 in Cardiff, Wales, June 8-10. Both of them will be making return trips to the Olympic Games.
Scott Parsons (Bethesda, Md.) qualified for his third straight Olympic Games Saturday with an 11th place finish in Men's Kayak at the Slalom World Cup No. 1 in Cardiff, Wales, June 8-10. The Sylvania, Ohio-native turned in a penalty-free time of 97.62, +3.7 seconds behind the semifinal's first place finisher. He finished 6-hundredths of a second out of the Top 10 and a berth in the Finals.
In order to be displaced as the lone men's slalom kayak in London, either Jim Wade (Boise, Idaho) or Brett Heyl (Norwich, Vt.) would have had to make the Top 20 and finished above Parsons. Wade placed 18th and Heyl finished 29th.
Casey Eichfeld (Drums, Pa.) qualified for his second straight Olympic Games, this time in a different event than in 2008. He placed 6th in Men's Single Canoe (C-1) to clinch the individual berth after representing the U.S. in Double Canoe (C-2) at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. He'll try to also qualify for the C-2 spot beginning later Saturday.
The Nantahala Racing Club member needed to reach the Top 20 and rank three places higher than fellow 2008 Olympian Benn Fraker (Peachtree City, Ga.), who finished 11th in the semifinal run. Eichfeld, 22, ranked 7th after the semifinal to reach the final. He finished his final run in 106.22, with one two-second penalty for touching a gate and 5.76 seconds behind the gold medalist.
Zach Lokken (Durango, Colo.), 18, placed 28th to round out the U.S. Men's C-1 contingent. In Women's C-1, a non-Olympic event, the 22-year-old Micki Reeves (Grand Junction, Colo.) finished 8th in the final round. Both athletes will look to build on this experience.
Parsons and Eichfeld join sprint kayakers Carrie Johnson (San Diego, Calif.) and Tim Hornsby (Atlanta, Ga.) as members of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Canoe/Kayak Team. The final two U.S. boats will be named this weekend - Women's Kayak and Men's Double Canoe.
Parsons on how it feels to qualify for London 2012:
"It's a relief. Honestly, it's hard to describe. The process has been physically and mentally exhausting. So at the moment, I'm not sure that the excitement is really going to kick in until a little later when I'm a little more rested and really have time to digest the reality of the situation. But I'm very, very excited. I'm really happy."
Parsons on Saturday's Olympic-clinching semifinal run:
"With the conditions here, with the wind and the technically difficult moves at the bottom of the course, I'm very happy with how the run went. I had some mistakes at the bottom that I'd like another crack at to try and correct. It wasn't the best run I've ever done but I'm very happy with the run given the circumstances."
Eichfeld on how it feels to qualify for London 2012:
"I'm a talker and I'm speechless. I don't know what to do, I don't know what to feel. I'm just sort of floating right now."
Eichfeld on Saturday's 6th place finish:
"It's probably one of my personal bests at this point. To be honest, Benn and I both thought that it was going to be decided in semifinals. It didn't even occur to me that we would end up taking it into finals. Initially, the results read out that both of us were going to go into finals and that was a bit scary for me, because it just meant that I was going to have to get myself back in that mindset all over again. But then the results changed and I ended up in the finals by myself, which I think, from a psychological standpoint, helped me a lot. I knew that I needed to go out there, that I didn't have to do anything spectacular. I just needed to put myself in a decent position and that's what I did."
William Irving, USA Canoe/Kayak National Teams Director: "Scott Parsons once again did what he needed to do in order to secure his third Olympic Games slot in the Men's K-1 but it did not come without a fight from his two U.S. competitors. Scott is a true champion and came off the water a little disappointed that he had not put down a better run that would of landed him into the Finals. Scott struggled to get his boat moving through the bottom half of the course and lost some time that would have easily placed him into the Finals, but it was still enough for him to capture the top U.S. placing and 11th overall. Jim Wade had a single touch that would have given him a great run and a chance to make it into the Finals as well but it just wasn't his day. Jim has worked extremely hard since not making the team in 2011 to move himself into contention to challenge Scott for the Olympic spot and we expect for him to be one of the top paddlers to contend for top international results in the future for the U.S."
Joe Jacobi, USA Canoe/Kayak CEO: "We're proud of the quality of racing we've seen from our athletes today. Scott and Casey earned every bit for their Olympic spots overcoming tough conditions, changing schedules and outstanding performances from their teammates. For Casey, coming over to the C-1 category after racing C-2 in Beijing was a huge challenge. He never doubted he could make the jump and really hit his form last year on the World Cup circuit. Casey's work ethic, forward thinking and intense confidence will serve him and our program well over the next seven weeks. We could not ask for better Olympians than Scott and Casey to anchor this team heading into London.
WHAT: 2012 ICF Slalom World Cup No. 1
WHEN: June 8-10, 2012
WHERE: Cardiff, Wales
WHY: final Olympic selection event for Team USA
WHO: Coaches Silvan Poberaj and Rafal Smolen
Men's Kayaks: Scott Parsons (Bethesda, Md.), Jim Wade (Boise, Idaho), Brett Heyl (Norwich, Vt.)
Women's Kayaks: Caroline Queen (Darnestown, Md.), Ashley Nee (Darnestown, Md.), Emily Jackson (Rock Island, Tenn.)
Men's Single Canoes: Benn Fraker (Peachtree City, Ga.), Casey Eichfeld (Drums, Pa.), Zach Lokken (Durango, Colo.)
Men's Double Canoes: Eric Hurd (Woodstock, Ga.) & Jeff Larimer (Marietta, Ga.), Eichfeld & Devin McEwan (Salisbury, Conn.), Scott McCleskey (Sylva, N.C.) & Dave Hepp (Charlotte, N.C.)
Women's Canoes: Micki Reeves (Grand Junction, Colo.)
HOW: The athletes with the most Olympic qualification points heading into this weekend are Scott Parsons, Benn Fraker, and the C-2 boat of Eric Hurd and Jeff Larimer. Caroline Queen and Ashley Nee are tied in points, but the tiebreaker goes to Queen for initially qualifying the Olympic slot for Team USA at the 2011 World Championships. In order for Nee or any other U.S. boats not leading in Olympic points to earn a ticket to London, they must finish in the Top 20 and above the current U.S. points leader by the placing needed to surpass the current leader. If that does not happen, Queen and the points leaders will be named to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team, no matter where they finish this weekend.
The remaining five of the seven athletes that will represent the USA in canoe/kayak at the London 2012 Olympic Games will be nominated this weekend. Sprint kayakers Carrie Johnson and Tim Hornsby have already been named to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team. Now it's the slalom team's turn to choose their athletes.
It's possible that the 2012 Olympians for Men's Canoe and Men's Kayak will be determined as early as Friday, when both events will have their heats and semifinals. Women's Canoe also races Friday, but is not yet an Olympic discipline. Women's Kayak and Men's Double Canoe begin Saturday and it's possible that the 2012 Olympians will be named prior to Sunday's finals.
In Men's Canoe, 2008 Olympian Fraker leads in Olympic selection points after winning the previous two selection races - the 2012 Pan American Championships in Brazil in February and the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Charlotte in April. Beijing Olympian Eichfeld finished 2nd to Fraker in both races. Lokken, 18, placed third at the Olympic Trials to remain in the race for the London 2012 berth.
In Men's Kayak, two-time Olympian Parsons leads in Olympic selection points after finishing 15th in the 2011 World Championships and then winning the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Wade and 2004 Olympian Heyl placed 2nd and 3rd at the Olympic Trials.
In Women's Kayak, Queen earned the Olympic slot for Team USA with a 37th place finish at the 2011 World Championships. She then finished second at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials behind Nee, a fellow Darnestown-native, to create a tie in Olympic selection points. Jackson, 22, broke away from her roots in freestyle kayaking to place third at the Olympic Trials.
In Men's Double Canoe, the Georgia tandem of Hurd and Larimer leads in Olympic selection points after winning the previous two selection races - the 2012 Pan American Championships and the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Eichfeld and McEwan finished 2nd in both races. McCleskey, 33, and Hepp, 38, came out of retirement to place third at the Olympic Trials and take one more shot at qualifying for the Olympics.
Brett Heyl, Men's Kayak: "It has been four years since the emotional end of my 2008 Olympic selections. I kept training and racing the past four years for this one opportunity at redemption. It should be fun to watch the American slalom team rise to the occasion this weekend, and take its place among the world's best. There is nothing American about mediocrity. As Americans we were all raised not only to strive to be the best, but to succeed. We are ready."
Scott Parsons, Men's Kayak: "I am really looking forward to this weekend's World Cup race in Cardiff. I have prepared well and am excited to have the opportunity to compete for a spot on the 2012 Olympic Team."
Ashley Nee, Women's Kayak: "After coming off of the win at Olympic Team Trials, I couldn't be more excited to get back in the start gate and apply the lessons I learned in Charlotte against the top women in the world. My new boat is perfect for this course and I feel like I have the whole state of Maryland supporting me. The Cardiff course if very technical while being very physical. This will play to the strengths and the weaknesses for every competitor, but I am excited to see the Americans really challenge the rest of the international field. I have been training in Cardiff for over a month and I feel like I have the home course advantage now. I'm expecting my first Top 20 finish at a World Cup. I'm more focused than ever, ready to get in the start gate and go as fast as I can."
Caroline Queen, Women's Kayak: "I'm excited to begin the final stretch of the Olympic Selection process. The Cardiff course is a challenging venue that will surely pick a strong Olympic team."
Emily Jackson, Women's Kayak: "This is one of my first international [slalom] races, so I am really excited to see the sport at this level. With it being the Olympic qualifier, my only hope is to paddle at the best of my ability and then see where that leaves me. Going in I know I did everything I could with the short amount of time I had, so I can leave this event satisfied in the sense of knowing I gave it my all."
Casey Eichfeld, Men's Canoe: "The race ahead of us has been long thought about by every athlete on the team. Everyone is hoping to bring their best paddling to the water, and clinch that Olympic spot for themselves. We will see a few smiles and a lot of tears, but this is what we race for. We are here to chase our dreams and goals, no matter the outcome."
William Irving, USA Canoe/Kayak National Teams Director: "Since our team trials in April, the team has been spending as much time as possible preparing for this weekend's World Cup race and Olympic selection event. The athletes are in top physical shape and we expect to have some strong performances this weekend as we ramp up to the Olympic Games. The athletes are anxious to get the Olympic selection process over and get focused on putting in their best performance in London."
Joe Jacobi, USA Canoe/Kayak CEO: "While selecting an Olympic Team brings a lot of drama, our top contenders have focused on an outstanding process that is constantly improving our opportunities to win medals this summer in London. We're looking forward to an exciting step forward for the Slalom program this weekend in Cardiff."
USA Canoe/Kayak is a non-profit membership organization based in Oklahoma City, OK, promoting canoe and kayak racing in the United States. A member of the United States Olympic Committee, USA Canoe/Kayak is the national governing body for the Olympic sports of Flatwater Sprint and Whitewater Slalom and the official U.S. federation of the International Canoe Federation. Other paddling sports sanctioned by USACanoe/Kayak include Marathon, Freestyle, Wildwater, Stand Up Paddleboard, Canoe Polo, Canoe Sailing, Outrigger, and Dragon Boat. For more information about USA Canoe/Kayak, please visit us on the web at www.usack.org, on Twitter at @usacanoekayak and Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/USACanoeKayak.


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Gorgeous facility! Very helpful staff! Looking forward to happy hour tonight in the lounge! After a long drive with the kids, it was so nice to go into our beautiful, comfortable room! The kids are now enjoying the clean pool while I'm enjoying
This is the best motel in town.
They remodeling hotels yard. 8 am a stone saw was on! Terrible experience.
BED BUGS!! I spoke with the manager and they blamed me for the bugs. They said they "cleaned" my room, but I smashed a bug the day before and it was still on my sheets. Room 114, 206 & 221 all have bugs for sure!!! Not a happy camper!!!!!
We have a seasonal camper so do not use hotels except for the winter. We stayed here last weekend. Had a great pool and free breakfast. The room was big size and looked like it was recently updated. My son liked the bar. My wife really liked the beds. Easy to get in and out
It was my last time over there. I left pair of jeans in the room in the morning. I was rushing and just forgot to pack them. When I did come back several hours later.The same day my $200 jeans were gone. And nobody found them. What a B.S.
I stopped in McComb, MS on my way to a larger town due to bad weather and it was close to the interstate. BAD MISTAKE. As with many motels/hotels now-a-days, the staff can't speak good English ( SONIL INC is the owner), but that was not that big of a deal. After I got to sleep I was woke about 11pm with the sounds of slamming doors and kids screaming and runing up and down the hallway. I finally called the front desk and complained with no luck. I was woke two more times and I continued to report this without ANY help at all, the night clerk was totally a waste of time, said there was nothing he could do, if I would have been running up and down the hallways they would have kicked me out. Therefore at 12pm (midnight) I packed up and went downstairs and and checked out and drove in the blinding rain for over an hour to where I got another room and finally got to bed at 2am. I had asked for the Owners/Management to call me, they never called me back!I am complaining to their corp office. I WILL NEVER stay there or any other BEST WESTERN EVER AGAIN!!!!!
I've stayed in hotels for about a year over my lifetime, frequent traveler for business and pleasure, and never had the misfortunes like at this one. In room internet, TV, microwave, and fridge all marginally functional ...sometimes. The elevator would always hang between floors. Slowest I've ever seen. The breakfast was about a quarter's worth of carbs each morning after fighting the coupon ladies who harassed you for your permission slip each morning delaying you a few minutes. I usually just bought my food elsewhere, better quality and faster.
The parting shot...apparently they DON'T GIVE REWARD POINTS on AAA rate. Didn't mention this until after I'd stayed 58 days. Try the LaQuinta across the road for better price, or another brand. Steer clear of Best Western.
This does not describe the Americas Best Value Inn. We have one level only at the property, no elevator, no microwaves in the guest room.
We like this place. Never had any trouble. Great for if you have family to feed. They have a nice large breakfast, included.
This stay was worse than the survise at hardees in newberry and that survise is RUBISH. Honastly I would stay at burger king instead of this place. I found some chocolate in the toilet and it taste like soap and the soap they put under our pillows at night while we're having a terrible sleep taste like chocolate. Also the maids stole my ds so that's how I feel about this place PURE RUBISH.
Thank you for your review. Next time please try to make abit more sense. Read the book..."Grammar For Dummies". Talk about rubish, your english is pure rubbish.