text:
Brian Schweitzer puts his hands on his hips and looks up at the rough-hewn crossbeam that towers over the foot of his driveway. The former governor squints to keep from blinding himself in the midday sun. A large, white satellite TV truck idles in front of him. It has driven 250 miles to his home on Georgetown Lake in Montana, so he can make an MSNBC appearance, but now there's a problem. The driver, Mack — a big bear of a man with a little gap between his front teeth — doesn't think his vehicle will make it under the crossbeam. Schweitzer tries to guide him through, but no dice. It won't fit.
Schweitzer tells Mack to hang on a minute, and he walks down the long curve of the driveway, disappearing into the garage. He emerges a moment later wielding a chain saw.
He hauls the chain saw back up the sloping driveway and yanks the starter rope. The chain saw is low on gas. It sputters, unable to chew through the wood.
A cameraman — an intense man named Geoff — pulls up in a car behind them. It's an hour until Schweitzer's on the air. The cameraman takes in the scene, trying to make sense of it. "Um, I understand what's going on here," he says, "but it's really important that I set up." He wants them to back the truck up and let him go through so he can get to work.
That's not going to happen. "It's important that I set up, too," Mack says. There's a note of tension in his voice. Schweitzer marches back down the hill for his gasoline can. "Why don't we back up and use a hammer?" Geoff asks. No reply. Geoff asks the question again, louder now. Patience is wearing thin. They're running out of time.
(Jason Lindsey)Schweitzer grins and says, "Cameraman thinks he knows something about chain saws." He grabs the can of gasoline and heads back up the hill. He fills the chamber and saws off one of the fence posts.
Mack is standing on top of his truck now, holding the heavy crossbeam over it. There are at least a hundred thousand dollars of precious equipment under him — equipment they need to get Schweitzer on TV in less than an hour. Geoff is behind Schweitzer, ducking sawdust and making gestures in his direction that roughly translate to: What the hell? If the beam falls on the truck, everything is done for — the TV appearance, the equipment, possibly Mack's job. Schweitzer moves to the other side of the truck. The other fence post comes clean off. Mack is now the only thing holding the three-beam structure over the truck. He literally cannot afford to drop this.
Schweitzer and Geoff grab one side of the fence and try to carry it over to the other side of the truck. Geoff almost slips. He shouts an understatement: "This is kind of crazy!" Mack is still hanging on. If he lets go too soon, the weight of the thing could fall backward and onto the truck. If he pushes out too forcefully, he risks knocking himself off the roof. "You've gotta let it go!" Geoff shouts.
Finally Mack pushes the beam as far away from himself as he can. It lands, noiselessly, in the snow. "Perfect!" Schweitzer says, and walks back down the hill.
Schweitzer wants to do the segment from his back deck, to show off the magnificent view — the pristine white sweep of the 3,700-acre Georgetown Lake, the snow-capped Pintler Mountain peaks looming behind — but the cameraman has very little time, and the chain-saw episode has frayed nerves, so they agree on a more prosaic locale: the basement. Schweitzer builds a fire and his wife, Nancy, lays out one of their Native American blankets in the background. He puts on his TV clothes — a striped shirt, a bald-eagle bolo tie, a blazer — and holds a baggie of ice cubes to his face to reduce puffiness. His wife applies his face powder. Then he waits.
{{thirdPartyEmbed type:magazineAd source:magazine_mid}}
In his earbud, MSNBC host Ed Schultz begins a segment on the Keystone pipeline. Schultz is framing the issue as a fight between crazy, climate-change-denying Republicans and concerned Democrats, environmentalists, and scientists — which is a little awkward, because Schweitzer, a Democrat, has long supported the pipeline's construction. Schultz goes on like this for 12 minutes. When he finally gets to Schweitzer, there are only six minutes left in the segment.
With the fire burning quietly behind him, and the blanket just visible in the corner of the shot, Schweitzer makes his case to an audience that is almost certainly beyond persuading. When the segment ends, he stands up and declares, "I have to get this monkey suit off!" even though the bottom half of his TV clothing consists of jeans and socks. He disappears up the stairs and reemerges five minutes later with my snow boots. Somehow he has found the time to bring his snowmobile to the back deck. The engine rumbles. He shoves a pair of oversized gloves and goggles into my hands and tells me to get on, instructing that I'd better go fast so I don't get stuck in the melting March snow. Before I have a chance to fully think through the ethics of a reporter riding a politician's snowmobile, I'm off and zipping around the frozen lake.
Republican Jeff Essmann, who served as state Senate president in 2013, recently told The Wall Street Journal that "the most dangerous place in Montana is between Brian and a camera" — but he probably didn't have in mind the kind of thing Schweitzer pulled with a chain saw. The former governor — who is currently weighing a White House bid — knows how to get attention. In January, Schweitzer gave a scathing interview to MSNBC's Benjy Sarlin about his disappointments with the Obama presidency; a little more than a month later, he signed on as a regular contributor with the network. A week before I watched him chop down the fence, The Journal was documenting Schweitzer's distaste for Hillary Clinton's Iraq War vote at his local dive bar. Before that, he was hanging out with Playboy. Then he rode horses with Time. If current coverage trends continue, by the end of the year, he will have gone fly-fishing with The Washington Post, skeet shooting with Rolling Stone, and moose hunting with The New Yorker.
Here comes a cowboy-politician who has wildly heterodox policy positions — hard-left on some issues, to the right on others — and a wild personality to match.
It's easy to see why reporters are eating this up. Mark Leibovich of The New York Times Magazine described the 2012 presidential campaign as the most joyless election of our lifetime — two blow-dried, poll-tested candidates running two sterile, hyper-professionalized campaigns — and 2016 is shaping up to be more of the same. Clinton has long been at war with the press, and, once her current flurry of book-tour interviews ends, she will undoubtedly do her best to keep journalists at a distance. Now here comes a cowboy-politician who has wildly heterodox policy positions — hard-left on some issues, to the right on others — and a wild personality to match. Is it any wonder that the press is flocking to this man, who offers blunt criticisms and pony rides? Who fires up a snowmobile and tells you to get on?
Schweitzer, in short, is a great story. But does that make him a viable candidate? Put another way: In our age of political hypercaution, is it possible to mount a plausible presidential campaign as an ideologically nonconforming whirlwind of antic, blunt energy?
GETTING TO SCHWEITZER from D.C. takes effort: an 1,850-mile flight across the country to Salt Lake City, then another 350-mile flight to Butte, followed by an hour-long drive to Georgetown Lake, before another 17-minute drive to his lake house, which sits at the end of a mile-long dirt road.
Schweitzer isn't originally from here. He was born about 250 miles away in Judith Basin, near a tiny town called Geyser, in a central Montana county of only about 2,000 people. His parents, descendants of German homesteaders, never graduated from high school and brought him home to a one-bedroom farmhouse they would later need to expand. He was the fourth of six kids. From an early age, Schweitzer was blessed with the gift of gab: Family lore has little baby Brian, from the time he was 5 years old, wandering away from his mother at the grocery store only to be found later, surrounded by a group of people, holding forth — the center of attention, as always.
Montana is a big, beautiful state, but it's also desolate, cold, and difficult to inhabit; perhaps as a result, a fierce libertarianism runs through Schweitzer's family tree. One of his cousins, LeRoy, was leader of the Montana Freemen, a right-wing separatist group that didn't recognize the authority of the federal government. His arrest in 1996 sparked an 81-day standoff between the Freemen and the feds. When LeRoy was brought into his sentencing a year later, he called the proceedings illegitimate and declared himself a citizen of "the country of Montana." He died in federal prison three years ago, serving sentences for bank fraud, threatening a federal judge, conspiracy, illegal possession of firearms, and robbing a news crew that came to cover the militia. "I knew him. We talked now and again," Schweitzer says of his cousin. But he has something like 69 first cousins, and Schweitzer and LeRoy just happened to have a difference of opinion on a kind of big matter: LeRoy didn't believe in the authority of the federal government. Schweitzer does.
{{ BIZOBJ (video: 5031) }}
Looking back on it — the prodigious talent for talking, the 4-H speech ribbons — Schweitzer probably would have become a lawyer, if he'd known any growing up. But most of the educated people he knew were engineers and soil scientists, so that's what Schweitzer became. At Colorado State University, he got a bachelor's degree in international agronomy; later at Montana State University, he received a master's in soil science. There, he met his future wife, Nancy; and they would go on to have three kids, Ben, Khai, and Katrina.
After finishing graduate school, Schweitzer took a job with the Food Development Corp., which had secured a contract from Libyan dictator Muammar el-Qaddafi. As Qaddafi's relationship with the West was growing increasingly hostile, and his nation more isolated, he set out to develop agriculture within the country by building massive farms in the desert. Schweitzer went to Libya in 1980 and worked in a lab there, testing soil and training farmers in soil and pesticide management. He remembers meeting Qaddafi once and shaking his hand.
Schweitzer stayed in Libya for less than a year. While home on leave, he made contact with Alfa Laval AB, a Swedish engineering firm building the world's largest dairy farm in Saudi Arabia. After finishing his work on the dairy farm, Schweitzer struck out on his own, contracting with Saudi businessmen to build farms in the desert and taking a share of the crop profits.
He often cites his experience living in the Middle East as the basis for his deep skepticism about American foreign policy in the region since September 11: "I saw the world. You don't even know anybody else who lived in the Middle East for seven years. You don't know anybody else who went there without speaking a single word of Arabic and learned it and started his own business and did business in Arabic in the most closed society in the Middle East," he says. "I did business directly with princes, sheiks, royal family, and built huge, huge projects there." What that taught him, basically, was that the United States should not act as the world's police force. He is not conflicted about what happens when the United States leaves Afghanistan. "If it all goes to hell in a handbasket, that's fine," he told Slate's Dave Weigel earlier this year. "That happened after Alexander the Great left; that happened after the Russians left. Who cares? They live in the Stone Age."
After his time overseas, Schweitzer came back to Montana and bought and sold ranches. In 1993, he was appointed to the state's USDA Farm Services Agency Committee under the Clinton administration, the kind of appointment that attracted little in the way of headlines but offered a crash course in the nuts and bolts of policy work. Then, about 15 years ago, he started looking at the knuckleheads who were running the country and thinking, "I could do better." He'd drink a few beers, yell at the TV, and tell Nancy he was going to run for office. "She'd be like, 'Yeah, yeah, yeah,' " he remembers.
{{thirdPartyEmbed type:magazineAd source:magazine_bottom}}
But Schweitzer actually did it. He had minimal name recognition, so when he made his first run against GOP Sen. Conrad Burns in 2000, he needed a clever way to establish himself. He found one: busing senior citizens across the border to Canada to buy cheaper prescription drugs. It not only established his populist profile; it also brought him within 3 percentage points of the incumbent.
Four years later, he was elected governor. Over his eight years in office, Schweitzer broke ground on a free health clinic for state employees, passed funding for full-time kindergarten, and pushed curricula for public-school students about Native American history, which the state's constitution had called for since 1972. Montana passed a renewable-energy standard for large utilities in 2005, and Schweitzer swapped state-owned cars for hybrids. He started the Yellow Ribbon Program to provide counseling to military service members and their families — which was later adopted on the national level. He held monthly contests where anyone in the state could submit ideas about how to save money, and gave away palladium coins to winners. In 2009, Montana was one of only two states to come out of the recession with a surplus. In his two terms, the state cut taxes and repeatedly froze college tuition.
All of this made him very popular. In 2008, John McCain carried Montana by 2 percentage points. On the same day, Schweitzer won reelection by 33 points. If it weren't for term limits, "he'd probably still be governor," says Carol Williams, a former state senator.
"I think I could change the world, and I think I could change it in a way that other people out there aren't willing to do."
Ask Schweitzer how he did it, and he can sound a bit like a Republican. "I challenged every expense, ran it like a business," he says. "I went to every single division of government and looked at every place they were spending their money."
Legislators who did business with Schweitzer have a somewhat different explanation for his success: They say that he imposed his singular, unyielding will on the Legislature. That he could be imperious, temperamental, and impossible to deal with. And that he could shout — one time so loudly that his dog Jag got up and walked out of the room.
"It didn't take much to push him over and get him excited and hollering and yelling," says Bob Story, a Republican who served as president of the Montana Senate while Schweitzer was governor. "In two minutes he'd calm down and be back to whatever was going on. A lot of it, I think, was a methodology that he used that was probably successful for him." (Schweitzer denies ever screaming at anyone. "I never yelled at anybody, that's not my style," he says. "When I get pissed, I don't say anything. I just get real quiet.")
It wasn't just Republicans. Montana's Legislature is made up of part-time lawmakers; they meet every other year, and for just 90 days. Schweitzer portrayed them as a bunch of corrupt lackeys — "drinking that whiskey and eating the thick steaks provided by lobbyists." It prompted one Democrat, Jesse Laslovich, to complain that term limits had weakened the Legislature's ability to take on the governor. "We're intimidated by a bully," he said at the time, urging his fellow lawmakers to stand up to Schweitzer.
"We are farmers, teachers, citizen legislators — we're not professionals. Our pay is modest. He chose to ridicule us," says Essmann, the 2013 Republican state Senate president. "From the standpoint of maintaining a working relationship, he had none with Republicans, and even Democrats had a tough time."
(Jason Lindsey)The governor of Montana has a lot of power under the state constitution to begin with, and Schweitzer had unique talents when it came to using the bully pulpit — which he took full advantage of. In 2011, Schweitzer called a press conference to denounce the "bat-crap crazy" bills the GOP Legislature had passed. He brandished two big "VETO" irons. On a wooden board he pinned a number of bills passed by the Legislature and plunged the hot irons into the legislation. "It was more theater," says Mike Milburn, a Republican lawmaker who served as speaker of the House. "I always thought that was where he belonged, on Broadway."
Even as they slam him, there's a hint of grudging admiration to the criticism. "The guy's very bright — don't misunderstand what I'm saying," says Jim Peterson, another Republican who served as Senate president. "He's supersmart. The guy is a showman and a campaigner, by all means. He's probably one of the smoothest politicians I think I've ever been around. He can be hard-nosed, tough as nails, and turn around and sell the horns off a billy goat and make people like it."
But there's a limit to the admiration. "The guy is talented," Peterson says, "but I have a hard time seeing him as president of the United States. I don't think the guy has a lot of respect for other branches of government."
SCHWEITZER AND HIS WIFE moved to Georgetown Lake about a year and a half ago, after he left office. He also keeps a cabin 100 miles from here that is completely off the grid, often accessible only by snowmobile. (Except when it's avalanche season — then it's too dangerous to reach at all.) Even though he left office, he didn't retire: A week after his term ended, he teamed up with a New York hedge fund and initiated a hostile takeover of the largest publicly traded mining corporation in the state, Stillwater Mining. Stillwater is the only significant platinum and palladium mine in the United States (the metals are used to make catalytic converters). Schweitzer contended that the company's expansions into South America had put Montana jobs at risk, and he thought, "If not you, who?" In 2011, Schweitzer was praising Stillwater CEO Frank McAllister as one of Montana's great job creators; three years later, Schweitzer, the newly elected chairman of Stillwater's board, was showing him the door.
Now, he's up every day by 4:30, checking the price of metals and reading the news. "I've already read newspapers from all over the world by the time the sun gets up," he says. He keeps CNBC on mute in the background, watching the European and Asian markets. He conferences with other members of the Stillwater board. And then he chats with his political friends.
Until last summer, everyone was trying to get Schweitzer to run for retiring Sen. Max Baucus's seat. Schweitzer was widely seen as Democrats' best chance of holding it — and maybe by extension the Senate. But Schweitzer wouldn't do it. When it looked increasingly like he would be the candidate, Fox Business ran a story accusing him of starting a nonprofit expressly for political purposes (tax-exempt groups can spend only 40 percent or less of their time on political activities). Republicans insinuated that he decided against running because of the opposition-research file they were compiling on him.
"You're gonna find out that — not on very many issues — but on these issues, I sound more like Rand Paul than I do Harry Reid."
That peeved Schweitzer: "Really? Why didn't they dump that on my head when I was running the last two times?" The real reason he didn't run? "Congress is a miserable place," he says. "If a bus ran over a senator or a congressman tomorrow, we wouldn't even miss them. Because all they have is a vote" — just one vote out of 100 or 435. "They don't get to run anything. They sit around and wait until the train starts leaving the station, and if it looks like the wheels are moving a little bit fast, they start moving quickly to get on the train and issue a press release." He bellows in his most officious, mock-senator voice: "I am now a cosponsor of the train that was heading east!"
But the presidency? That might interest him. "I think I could change the world, and I think I could change it in a way that other people out there aren't willing to do," he says. "There are some tough things that need to be done."
WE'RE DRIVING INTO Big Sky Country — the sun casting blinding reflections on everything — when Schweitzer starts talking about the service members from Montana who died in Iraq and Afghanistan. "I went to all the funerals," he says. "And I didn't agree with any of these wars, and I said so publicly."
"I couldn't do that thing that politicians do," he continues, "which is to stand and speak eloquently about how your son died making our country freer, protecting our values, making sure that the flag will fly high on the horizon — I couldn't speak at all, and I wouldn't." He said he would meet with the families, hug moms and dads, cry with them. He'd give them his cell-phone number and tell them to call anytime — any moment of the day or night — if there was anything he could do.
He tells me about one guy, Trevor, who was meant to take over the family ranch. Schweitzer lets out a shaky sigh. "We ought to be ashamed of ourselves." He tells me about another guy, Kyle, whose nickname was "Big Country." Big Country was from around these parts. He was 6 feet 3 inches and 250 pounds, and he loved hunting and fishing. Big Country went to Iraq to serve his country, and he didn't come back. "Now, there wasn't a heck of a lot I could do for Kyle other than hug his grandma and grandpa, and his mother and dad, little sister, tell them I'd do anything I could in the future." He starts to slow the car down, just as the road comes to a wide, sparkling stream. "One of the things I did do" — he slows the car to a stop — "is, I dedicated this bridge, on Rock Creek, because his ranch is just 2 miles up." He pauses to wipe an eye under his sunglasses. This, he says, "is one of the most spectacular trout streams on the planet, where he grew up. It's not much for a family. But as governor, I guess I could do that."
We're silent for a few moments. It's an incredible story, and it's obvious he really cares. Yet it's impossible not to notice that the mechanics of his storytelling are also weirdly perfect: He reached the climax of his tale right as he was pulling up to the creek. It is either a coincidence or a masterful bit of political theater.
"YOU'RE GONNA FIND out that — not on very many issues — but on these issues, I sound more like Rand Paul than I do Harry Reid," Schweitzer says. We are sitting in the living room of his light-filled house. Behind him in a giant antique display cabinet are moccasins and headdresses — one of which he will place on my head before I can protest — given to him by one of Montana's Native American tribes. CNBC plays silently in the background. In front of him are the kitchen, a set of couches, and a bannister decorated with saddles.
On Dianne Feinstein: "She was the woman who was standing under the streetlight with her dress pulled all the way up over her knees, and now she says, 'I'm a nun,' when it comes to this spying!"
Here's what he offers on the NSA's mass metadata-collection practices: "If you believe that a politician wouldn't use information gained on citizens to their political benefit, then you are extremely naive. Because they always have, and they will now." He has little respect for the NSA leaders who engaged in mass surveillance in the first place. "Simply stated, we have liberties in this country that no other people on the planet have, individual liberties." The issue of whether Edward Snowden should be granted clemency is really not the point. "What about the generals in the NSA that knew that they were violating our civil rights?" he says. "What are we doing about that?"
This was the week that Sen. Dianne Feinstein took to the Senate floor to accuse the CIA of spying on congressional staffers investigating the agency's treatment of terrorism suspects under the Bush administration. Schweitzer is incredulous that Feinstein — considered by her critics to be too close to the intelligence community — was now criticizing the agency. "She was the woman who was standing under the streetlight with her dress pulled all the way up over her knees, and now she says, 'I'm a nun,' when it comes to this spying!" he says. Then, he adds, quickly, "I mean, maybe that's the wrong metaphor — but she was all in!"
(It wasn't the only time Schweitzer was unable to hold his tongue. Last week, I called him on the night Majority Leader Eric Cantor was defeated in his GOP primary. "Don't hold this against me, but I'm going to blurt it out. How do I say this … men in the South, they are a little effeminate," he offered when I mentioned the stunning news. When I asked him what he meant, he added, "They just have effeminate mannerisms. If you were just a regular person, you turned on the TV, and you saw Eric Cantor talking, I would say — and I'm fine with gay people, that's all right — but my gaydar is 60-70 percent. But he's not, I think, so I don't know. Again, I couldn't care less. I'm accepting.")
On Eric Cantor: "If you were just a regular person, you turned on the TV, and you saw Eric Cantor talking, I would say — and I'm fine with gay people, that's all right — but my gaydar is 60-70 percent. But he's not, I think, so I don't know. Again, I couldn't care less. I'm accepting."
Schweitzer ruminates on how professor Obama, a constitutional law expert, ever got himself into the NSA mess. "It's kind of interesting isn't it?" he says. "I'd be a little embarrassed. I'm a scientist and an engineer. If on my watch the thing we didn't get right the most was the science part of it, I'd be a little embarrassed. I could say, oh, I'm not a lawyer, maybe we relied on someone else a little bit for that, but how about if we got the engineering part wrong? That's what you're talking about."
When President Obama was first elected, Schweitzer says, his expectations were "sky high." And now? He thinks a minute. "We have a health care bill that needs to be fixed," he says. Obama's biggest mistake, he argues, was failing to negotiate with drug companies to lower the cost of prescription medicine. The result was a law that pleased insurance companies but confused and angered people — in other words, a wasted opportunity. "That's sort of his Achilles' heel," Schweitzer says. "The organization of running things. Getting a result."
"WHAT'S THE BIGGEST gun you ever shot?" Schweitzer asks, handing me .30-06 and .270 hunting rifles with the chambers open so I can see the size of the barrels close up.
Schweitzer is a gun guy. Back in the George W. Bush era, when Democrats were fretting that their candidates were too easy to caricature as elites, his A-rating from the National Rifle Association and his campaign ads where he shot clay pigeons seemed edgy and distinctive. But times have changed. Schweitzer says he's come around on bills closing loopholes for background checks as a result of the debate over gun control in the wake of the Sandy Hook shootings. But he's always going to be a Second Amendment supporter.
(Jason Lindsey)Holding the barrel of the gun, I start wondering how Schweitzer translates his unorthodox worldview into a viable campaign. One recent Fox poll shows just how hard it will be for any Democrat to beat Hillary Clinton. In the survey, only 10 percent of Democrats thought she was too liberal, while just 5 percent thought she was too conservative — meaning there's going to be very little room for a candidate to get to her right or left in the primaries. And sooner or later, Schweitzer is going to have to contend with the party's liberal base. It's difficult to imagine them taking him on as their populist hero. They might love his criticisms of Obama's foreign policy. But will they still love him when they realize he had an endorsement from the NRA? Or supported the Keystone pipeline? Will they accept him as a critic of Wall Street knowing he paired with a hedge fund to take over a mining company?
It doesn't totally add up. I look at the gun and ask whether his party can tolerate it. He looks at his hands for a moment, and shrugs. "You know I can only be who I am," he says. "I grew up with guns, and I'm a Democrat … a different kind of Democrat."
SO MAYBE WHAT Schweitzer offers Democrats in 2016 isn't a pure, ideological alternative that progressives can get behind, but a different approach to practicing politics. Maybe voters will appreciate that he provides a change from the abysmally stage-managed affair the rest of American politics has become. Or maybe they will conclude that a stage-managed presidential candidate is preferable to one who has no filter.
He now has about six months to figure out whether he could mount a plausible challenge to Clinton. "Elections are about the future," he says, hopefully, because it needs to be true if what he's attempting is going to work. It's a Wednesday afternoon. He's drinking a Moose Drool at a nearly empty bar. "Can the election be about the future, if it's a Clinton that's running? Or is it about the past?"
He looks up toward the door. The county commissioner has just walked in. He and Schweitzer trade local political gossip. Schweitzer turns the gossiping on the county commissioner. "I hear you've been with a goat!" he says.
The county commissioner bursts out laughing. Schweitzer continues. "You see how these politicians are? You confront them with the evidence and they just deny, deny, deny. What you shoulda done is taken all your money and put it into Stillwater," he says. "What happened? Didn't you think I could get it done?"
The county commissioner is quick on his feet. "My ex-goat took it all!" he says. They're both screaming in laughter. Schweitzer's hand is slapping the bar. It's not a very presidential moment, but it's undeniably the posture of a different kind of Democrat.


text:
Joel Bryant
- San Diego CA
- [email protected]
Joel R. Bryant is a California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer with an exceptional reputation throughout the legal community. He is recognized as one of San Diego's top litigation attorneys and specializes in cases such as nursing home neglect, financial elder abuse, and elderly will and trust fraud cases. Contact our office if your loved one has been abused in a nursing home facility.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Green Grass and Indoor Pea
We've recovered from our last Spring snow. I guess this was our second snowiest April in weather history. Well, the grass is really greening up now and it won't be long before the first mow.
Our seedlings faired the snow and 20F nights just fine, so they lived up to their cool season reputations.
I have started to notice a lot more birds in our yard this Spring. This sparrow was building a nest (they live in our clothes line tubes). Robins are visiting the yard and drinking at the bird bath. I have been waiting for them to visit since we moved in a couple of years ago. And I spotted a finch of some sort picking at some dried vines- I thought it was nesting or something. It turns out he was eating bugs, let me know what they are if you can.
We planted some violas and pansy in what will be an herb bed.
Some of the tulips have formed buds, maybe they will bloom by the 15th. Other tulips are recovering from having their leaves crushed by snow.
These hyacinths made it through the snow with their flowers intact. There is also growing rudbeckia, daisy, and grape hyacinth.
And then there are the other kids...See all the things emerging from the winter sleep now. A coneflower or aster, purple aster, hosta, something volunteering by a half barrel, and a few treasures in the "south" bed.
My last photo of the day, I got a surprise this week. Pea pods indoors. I tried an experiment in February and planted a couple of sugar snap peas in a container inside. They are now flowering and producing pods! They are not profuse and I'm not sure what the quality will be, but they did grow.
4 comments:
- Northern Shade said...
As another northern gardener, I know how those late April snowfalls put things into suspended animation.It looks like your bulbs took it in stride though. The hyacinths look great. Now with your finches on duty, maybe they'll take care of the bug problem.
- May 2, 2008 at 7:20 PM
- ChrisND said...
Thanks. Yeah, I think our area is awaking for real this time. We had some rain and it will be a cool night today - So I hope the combination and birds zap the bad bugs.
- May 2, 2008 at 10:50 PM
- Margaret Roach said...
Thank you for listing me in your blogroll, which led me to your blog about you even-colder garden. After a week of 80ish, we had high 20s overnight several nights ago, so needless to say, I understand. And it was sunny out three days ago with snow flurries...I thought my vision was going. OPh, and sparrows are eating the grass seed I sowed :-(
- May 4, 2008 at 1:02 PM
- ChrisND said...
Thanks for the reciprocal visit Margaret! Those roller coasters of temperature change really make things "interesting".
Wow, 80s to 20s...That doesn't sound fun if it's unexpected. Guess thats when we just grin and say oh well.
Yeah, birds eating seeds meant for the lawn/garden. I haven't experienced that problem yet, but I feel it coming since the urban wildlife seems to have now discovered I have a garden.
- May 5, 2008 at 11:06 PM


text:
Are You Qualified?
The Botox and filler certification classes are formatted especially for medical professionals, including Physicians (MD &DO), Registered Nurses (RN), Nurse Practitioners (NP), Physician Assistants (PA), and Dentists (DDS & DMD).
PLEASE NOTE: Although the above professionals are eligible to participate in AMET training seminars, AMET strongly recommends that potential participants contact their state licensing board to determine regulations specific to their state. Acceptance into an AMET seminar does not construe authority to perform procedures subsequent to training.
BOTOX & Filler Certification Classes
Aesthetic Medical Educators Training provides comprehensive Botox and filler certification classes; both didactic and hands-on, which will allow medical professionals to immediately incorporate these aesthetic procedures into a new or existing practice. Instructors cover best business practices to assist participants in expanding into the aesthetic medical field as well as fulfill CME requirements.
Botox Courses for Nurses and Doctors
This comprehensive 8-hour Botox and dermal filler certification class is our most popular offering and provides participants with certification for both BOTOX® and injectable dermal fillers. Aesthetic Medical Educators Training is proud to also provide participants with CME credits when they complete the course.Our extensive, one day Botox courses for physicians, nurses and doctors provides hands on training during the afternoon session, allowing participants to begin performing BOTOX® and Dermal Filler procedures immediately. All products and models are provided by Aesthetic Medical Educators Training at no additional cost to the participants (unless participant chooses to be a model). Our intensive, one day training teaches you everything you need to know to perform these treatments on patients. With classes available throughout the country, you are guaranteed to find a time and place that fits your schedule.
The Aesthetic products used in the hands on session of BOTOX® Training include BOTOX®. Aesthetic products that are discussed in the didactic session of the BOTOX® Training include BOTOX®, Dysport and Xeomin.
The Aesthetic products used in the hands on session of the Botox and filler certification classes include Juvederm Ultra and Juvederm Ultra Plus. Aesthetic products discussed in the didactic session of the Dermal Filler Training include Juvederm Ultra, Juvederm Ultra Plus, Restylane, Restylane Lyft, Restylane Silk, Radiesse, Sculptra, and Arte Fill.
Participants in the Botox and dermal filler certification classes will receive course manuals, sample consent and treatment forms, a resource list, and a Certificate of Training upon completion of the course. Our Botox courses for nurses and doctors will provide you with the necessary skills and CME requirements.
*This Live activity, Botulinum Toxin/Dermal Filler Training, from 03/01/2019 – 03/01/2020 has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 8.00 Elective credit(s) by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
The objectives of our intensive Botox and filler certification classes include but are not limited to:
- Discuss the history, safety, mechanism of action, and preparation of BOTOX®
- Describe the cosmetic indications and contraindications of BOTOX®
- Demonstrate knowledge of facial anatomy and physiology as it applies to facial aesthetics
- Discuss the categories and types of dermal filler products
- Describe techniques for dermal filler injections to correct nasolabial folds, melomental folds and wrinkles, and lip augmentation
- Discuss the client selection process for the BOTOX® and Dermal Filler procedures
- Address the growing US market for aesthetic procedures, in particular BOTOX® and Dermal Fillers, and how you may capitalize on this demand and start providing treatment to your own clients
- Demonstrate proficiency in conducting an aesthetic patient consultation
- Practice proper injection techniques in the use of BOTOX® and Dermal Fillers
- Registration
- Introductions & Welcome to BOTOX and Dermal Filler Training
- History of Botox, Dysport & Xeomin
- Review of facial muscle anatomy
- BOTOX® handling, reconstitution and storage
- Dysport & Xeomin reconstitution
- Client selection
- Botulinum Toxin: Indications and contraindications
- Break
- Botulinum Toxin Treatment
- Patient Prep & After Treatment
- Side effects & complications
- Why injectable fillers?
- Dermal Fillers: Indication/Contraindications
- Temporary, semi-permanent and permanent fillers
- Side effects & risks
- Conclusion
- Lunch (provided by AMET)
- Demonstration and hands-on training of BOTOX® & injectable fillers
- Program evaluation & certificate distribution
Sign up for our Botox and Dermal Filler Courses today!
Upcoming BOTOX and Dermal Filler Training Courses
Want to be a training model?
A large part of our events is the hands on training experience we offer our attendees. To offer this, AMET is always looking for models to help us with our Botox and dermal filler certification classes. Sign up to receive a discounted treatment today.


text:
UPDATE - Aqua Vino has SOLD OUT! Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets. We are looking forward to a great night celebrating conservation of our California sea lions and enjoying wine and delicious food!
ATLANTA (August 16, 2016) – Wet your whiskers for a good cause at Georgia Aquarium's 11th annual Aqua Vino on Friday, Sept. 16. As Georgia Aquarium's premier wine and food fundraising event, Aqua Vino provides guests with an unforgettable evening and helps supports important research and preservation efforts.
Aqua Vino features more than 200 wines from around the world, generously provided by United Distributors, food tastings from over 30 of Atlanta's best restaurants, live music by Ollie Patterson Music, a variety of silent auction items, and access to all of the Aquarium's galleries featuring hundreds of aquatic species. Guests will also receive complimentary self-parking and a keepsake Aqua Vino wine glass.
VIP Tasting tickets will include early admission at 6 p.m. with a red carpet arrival, VIP California sea lion presentation in the new SunTrust Pier 225 gallery, complimentary valet parking from 6-7 p.m., exclusive VIP lounge area with reserve wines and featured tastings, and a VIP gift bag.Aqua Vino features more than 200 wines from around the world, generously provided by United Distributors, food tastings from over 30 of Atlanta's best restaurants, live music by Ollie Patterson Music, a variety of silent auction items, and access to all of the Aquarium's galleries featuring hundreds of aquatic species. Guests will also receive complimentary self-parking and a keepsake Aqua Vino wine glass.
"Aqua Vino has become one of Georgia Aquarium's largest and most anticipated fundraising events over the past 11 years. We are excited to provide guests with a fun and engaging experience in a sophisticated and elegant atmosphere, all while being able to enjoy amazing food, wine and aquatic animals," said Kristie Ray, director of marketing and promotions at Georgia Aquarium.
This year's event will celebrate the incredible California sea lion, featured in the Aquarium's newest gallery, SunTrust Pier 225. California sea lions have been affected by an unusual mortality event (UME) off the California coast, causing sea lion pups to become stranded on beaches. In August of 2015 Georgia Aquarium welcomed two sea lions pups, Jupiter and Neptune, that were deemed non-releasable by the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to their forever home at Georgia Aquarium, where they joined other rescued sea lions. They are now a part of the Under the Boardwalk presentation, and help to educate guests about the challenges that California sea lions face.
"We were excited to open the new SunTrust Pier 225 gallery earlier this year as a part of our tenth anniversary celebration year, and to be able to provide guests with the experience of learning more about California sea lions. They are able to serve as ambassadors for their species and we hope to inspire guests to help protect them in our ocean when they leave the Aquarium," said Joe Handy, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Georgia Aquarium.
Tickets are currently on sale. Grand Tasting tickets are $95 and VIP Tasting tickets are $250. Event attendees must be 21 years of age. To purchase tickets or learn more about Georgia Aquarium's Aqua Vino visit www.georgiaaquairum.org/AquaVino.
Photos from past Aqua Vino events can be found here.
PR Contact:
Megan Fisher
Public Relations Coordinator
For information on event sponsorship or restaurant participation:
Nicole Ballweg
Marketing and Promotions Coordinator
Georgia Aquarium, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit that encompasses Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Marineland Dolphin Adventure and Georgia Aquarium Conservation Field Station in Marineland, Fla. The mission of Georgia Aquarium, Inc. is to be an entertaining, educational and scientific organization featuring exhibits and programs of the highest standards, and offering engaging and exciting guest experiences that promote the conservation of aquatic biodiversity throughout the world. For additional information, visit www.georgiaaquarium.org.


text:
You are about to enter a website that may contain content of an adult nature.
Hello everyone, this is webcam sex milf AngelStarXXX here. I'm 19 year old Female speak English in the mature live sex chat action. sexy girl. very beautifull. striptease is my expertise and also what I will do in private mature live sex show. I have Black eyes, Long Black hairs and my measurements are 30-25-30. For Turn ons: boys. For TurnsOff: rude. If you prefer kinks, then Shaved, are mine. I'm just hungry for a HARD cock, can't wait to see u in my milf sex chat room! :)
Show more models
This website contains free milf cams, mature webcam live and housewives live sex chat related sexually explicit content.
You must be at least 18 years of age to enter this website. © Since 2012 milfcamsplus.com Milf Cams Network All Rights Reserved
AllHosts1 - AllHosts2 - AllHosts3 - AllHosts4 - AllHosts5 - AllHosts6 - AllHosts7 - AllHosts8 - AllHosts9 - AllHosts10 - AllHosts11 - AllHosts12


text:
More than 430 customer complaints have been logged by State Sen. Todd Kaminsky's office as of Aug. 3, on the issue of exponentially higher water bills and poor response to the problem from New York American Water.
An investigation by the New York State Public Service Commission has been launched about the higher rates. The Merrick-based company serves several South Shore communities, including the Five Towns. The Nassau County District Attorney's office is also reviewing the complaints.
"In recent days, our offices have received scores of complaints from customers, some of whom have seen triple-digit billing increases, yet all of whom report that their water usage has not increased commensurately, if at all," Kaminsky and Town of Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen, both Democrats, wrote in their July 27 letter that called for a state probe. "Some of these constituents are elderly and live on a fixed-income, making these billing spike untenable and troubling."
In postings on the Lawrence District 15 Residents Facebook page, community members vented their frustration with the exponentially higher water bills.
Rachelle Neuman said her most recent water bill was triple compared to the previous bill and the response from American Water's customer service center was boorish. "Usually [it's] about $100 but this time it was $300," she said. "They told me that I used much more water. I know the water company was quite nasty and treated me like I was senile. Not OK."
"We actually called the water company earlier this week (July 30-Aug. 3) because our bill was so ridiculously high this month," Helene Lanie Suerez Marlin wrote. "We didn't realize that ours wasn't an isolated problem. Our bill was almost double of last July's. My husband received a call back saying they would look into it and get back to him."
"Called the water company as well, and got an epic runaround, " Lisa Sperling Schneider posted.
American Water officials who said they received 400 complaints about high water bills from residents across the South Shore said that the increase in water use and the recently instituted "conservation rate" are the cause of the billing bump after a preliminary review of those complaints.
Several elected officials including State Assemblywoman Melissa Miller and Assemblyman Brian Curran, both Republicans, met with American Water President Carmen Tierno on Aug. 2, where they learned that the utility would conduct an internal investigation.
After the two-phase investigation is completed American Water would then educate ratepayers about the 4-year rate increase that the Public Service Commission approved on June 1, 2017 and in effect since last year, it increased American Water's revenue by $3.6 million, according to a news release on its website. The increase was to offset the more than $136 million spent on upgrading treatment and distribution facilities.
"That is a significant factor, I believe and what American Water believes, for the rate increase that we're seeing," Curran said.
However, the news release said that, "even with the increase, the cost of water service for customers remains about a penny per gallon."
Curran added that the water rate increases are not related to the newly installed water meters that were installed, and added that he and Miller will continue pushing for answers.
Kaminsky continues to question the rate spikes. To log a complaint with Kaminsky's office, call (516) 766-8383.
Have an opinion about high water bills? Send your letter to the editor to email@example.com.


text:
Most California citizens can legally own or possess guns. But with some of the most extensive gun laws in the nation, even those who lawfully own guns in California are subject to numerous restrictions. The California weapons charge defense attorneys at Tully & Weiss Law Firm know California gun laws.
We help people who are arrested for gun-related offenses defend their case, protect their rights and preserve their future.
A weapons charge in the State of California is a serious offense, the majority of weapons charges being felonies. Numerous California gun laws prohibit possessing or carrying firearms under specific circumstances. You may face criminal penalties if you possess or carry an illegal firearm or illegally carry or possess an otherwise legal firearm.
There are a number of weapons charges in California, including:
Arrest can be a frightening situation and the legal penalties for gun-related charges can be harsh. Our Alameda County and Contra Costa County California weapons charge defense attorneys are fearless and meticulous advocates for individual rights and liberty.
Depending on the circumstances surrounding your specific case, a weapons charge can be considered either a misdemeanor or felony. A judge determines whether a weapons charge is a felony or misdemeanor charge depending on the kind of weapon involved, the defendant's intent with the weapon and the presence on your record of any prior criminal offenses.
In addition, a number of sentence enhancements (these make your potential sentence longer) may apply. The following are guidelines to the penalties that could apply to weapons charges under the California Penal Code (PC).
Misdemeanor weapons charges are punishable by up to 1 year in county jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
Felony weapons charges are punishable by 1 to 20 years in California prison. The circumstances surrounding the activity, the type of offense and prior criminal records are factored to determine the sentence length.
Weapons offenses may also be subject to a California sentencing enhancement which can add years to a sentence. California's "use a gun and you're done" law attaches years to sentences for offenses involving any of nineteen serious felonies, including sex crimes and murder. For example, the law can attach up to 10 years in prison for gun possession, 20 years for firing a weapon, and 25 years to life for gun use resulting in serious injury or death - in addition to the sentence assigned for the serious felony charge.
The nuances and specifics of California gun laws demonstrate the critical role an experienced weapons charge defense lawyer plays in protecting your rights and defending your freedom. Our meticulous preparation and thorough investigation and aggressive proactive defense strategies are often the difference between a non-guilty verdict, or dismissal or a horrific outcome involving substantial prison time .
A guilty finding for a weapons charge can impact an individual for the rest of their life. Some charges count in California's Three Strikes Law. Most convictions will end up on your criminal record, resurfacing in criminal background checks required for employment, loan and residence applications.
If you've been arrested for a weapons offense in the state of California, a number of defenses may be available to you. Some of the available defenses your attorney may consider include:
California criminal defense attorneys at Tully & Weiss Law Firm will examine the details of your case and the prosecution's case against you in order to build a customized, comprehensive defense strategy. We then aggressively and proactively pursue your best defense.
Ensure your rights and future opportunities are protected from the penalties that come with a weapons-related conviction. Contact Tully & Weiss Law Firm today to learn your best defense.Contra Costa 925.229.9700 | Alameda 510.269.9227 | North Cal 530.776.0840
If you or someone you know is arrested for a weapons-related offense, the first thing you need to do is contact an experienced weapons charge defense attorney. You have a limited amount of time to prepare your case, and police, prosecutors and investigators are already deeply involved in preparing a case against you.
Located in Contra Costa, California, Tully & Weiss weapons charge defense attorneys provide counsel in Alameda County, Santa Clara, and throughout the state. If you have been arrested for a gun-related offense, contact Tully & Weiss Law Firm today. Contra Costa 925.229.9700 | Alameda 510.269.9227 | North Cal 530.776.0840


text:
After two very long weeks off, Archer finally returns to our lives tonight. And there's nothing I can type about "Southbound & Down" that would compete with the excitement level created by the above image and the below trailer, so let's watch right now and then celebrate the best way the internet knows how, shall we?
GIFs via Chet Manley & Tumblr


text:
21 Survival 12 songs, 21 Survival 12 Mp3 Songs, 21 Survival 12 download free music, mp3 hindi music, download 21 Survival 12 bollywood, indian mp3 rips, 21 Survival 12 320kbps, download cd rip, 128kbps mp3 download, 21 Survival 12 mp3, flac release of 21 Survival 12, mp3 music of 21 Survival 12, hindi songs download of 21 Survival 12, download latest bollywood songs, listen 21 Survival 12 hindi mp3 music, Songspk, Djmaza, Pagalworld, Downloadming, Gurdeep Mehndi, Chirag Trivedi, Joy Banerjee, Priyanka Mehta, Rehyna Malhotra, Shailesh Nile, Jayesh R Pandagle, 21 Survival 12, 21 Survival, 12 Survival, 21 12, 21 Survival 12 2014, 21 Survival 12 hindi movie songs
Notice: Our Site or Web Servers only have the 21 Survival 12 Songs information. We don't host any file. The users provide file sources that are hosted on free hosts. If you think that the information provided on this page breach your Copyrights then you can request for a removal for this information. Send a Proper DMCA Notice by using our contact page.


text:
Fire Safety
The Red Cross states that candle fires are four times more likely to happen during the winter holiday season. Always be sure to keep an eye on any candles that may be burning and never leave them unattended, even for a second. If you are leaving the room, be sure to blow them out and the second you start to feel drowsy from all the food or eggnog, make sure they are all extinguished. Also, never let kids play with fire, matches, lighters, or candles. An average of 40 house fires a day are caused by children playing unsupervised.
The Red Cross suggests making sure that any decorations are placed at least three feet away from any open flame or radiator. If you have a real tree, be sure to keep good care of it, as on average, one out of every 22 fires that start because of a tree result in at least one death. Make sure they are kept watered and the needles are nice and green. Make sure that any lights you use are in good condition and that the wires are properly insulated. Never use live candles to decorate a tree, as again they are very flammable. Make sure that your tree, real or fake, is kept in a solid stand that will prevent it from tipping over. Keep children and pets away from the tree to help reduce the risk of damage and fire. Always turn off or unplug all lights before you leave home or go to bed as well. Most importantly, make sure your smoke detectors are working correctly! They can reduce your risk of fire related death by half.
The holidays are a wonderful time of the year, however they can also be dangerous. Please keep these safety tips in mind to keep your season from turning into something you'd rather forget.


text:
MathType is a powerful equation editor for Windows and Macintosh that lets you create mathematical notation for word processing, presentations and many of your other favorite applications.
Personalize your toolbar with the math expressions that you use more frequently. Speed up document creation.
Easy numbering of your equations in your Word documents.Free Trial
Add-on for Google Docs that allows you to easily integrate mathematical notation in a document. Handwriting math equations in your Chromebook.Activate now
Add-in for MS Office Online. Integrate the bestseller equation editor in Word Online (Office 365). Handwriting math for Office in Mac or an updated user interface are some of the differences with the desktop version.


text:
Linux Administrator (L2)
Intelligentia IT Systems Private Limited | 1/28/2016 1:33:31 PM | Experience: 3-5 years
IT-Software, Software Services
Knowledge of scripting in Perl, Shell, Python etc.
₹ 475000-525000
•4+ years of experience with at least 2+ years in Linux Environment &Scripting
•Experience in all / most flavors of Linux
•Knowledge of scripting in Perl, Shell, Python etc. with web technologies likeHTML, PHP,etc.
•Knowledge of DB's like, MySQL, MS SQL, Oracle
•Must have worked in any of the monitoring tool like Nagios, Xabbix etc.
•Should have some experience in Open LDAP, Any Version Control System, Apache,Tomcat,Jboss
•Knowledge in Firewall / Gateway systems, Routing, Access Controls etc.
•Experience in capacity planning, administration, maintenance planning, support,security
• Good communication & leadership skills
Nice to have
•Certifications as per industry standards
•Knowledge of Windows Environment including AD, DNS, DHCP
•Knowledge of No SQL type of DB's like Cassendra, MangoDB
•Some knowledge / experience of Cloud environment of AWS
•Knowledge of Visualization
•Knowledge of IT Security Tools
Note- 2+ Years of relevant experience


text:
I am very happy to share with you this cozy and stylish women's collection of sweaters made by Uniqlo Fine Merino line. All tops are made of highest quality merino wool. The presented looks are functional, featuring timeless cardigans with rounded and V-neck collars. Uniqlo offers great knitwear for those ladies who want to stay warm in any place and any time. Each product ensures softness and great color, which makes you look timelessly elegant. Here we see a whole new range of great styles which are easy to care and wear. All in all, the following collection comes with great styles and classy colors.
Those who love V-neck pullovers will definitely like the following styles:
Here we see buttoned V-neck cardigans which are ideal to style with ruffled neck shirt or a blouse:
The rounded collar buttoned cardigans come in various colors, starting from white to black and purple:
Here are showcased women's knitted turtlenecks in white, grey, dark grey, black, red, beige, turquoise, deep blue, and purple colors:


text:
Somali Diaspora is recognised as one of the longest standing Diaspora groups in the world and it is a vibrant and dynamic community. Somalis are a globalised people and you will find them all over the world. Their needs, situations and opportunities are dependent on each country and each community's ability and willingness to respond to its needs. However, in order to recognise and ensure the Somali Diaspora's full potential there is a great need for the community to be organised both on the local and global level.
GSD strives to do the following to improve the current situation:
- To work with local community organisations to increase their capacity and responsiveness to the real needs of their communities;
- To provide a global platform and leadership to increase communities awareness about their rights and entitlements as well as responsibilities towards their host countries;
- To promote harmony , trust and connectivity between communities and organisations to work together on common needs;
To encourage and work with communities to engage with policymakers and become more active politically, economically and educationally.


text:
For kids, for teens, for kindergartens
For Kids
KidsCampAmerica offers private and group lessons for children outside of the holidays. Our certified teachers have experience working with children of all ages and will come to your home to run the same play-based, fun, and engaging English lessons they implement during our normal camp season. Our teachers use the Incredible English Books from Oxford University Press to suppliment our lessons. These are great books designed just for kids!
We have very flexible hours and work with our families to provide the best lessons possible for our kids. If you are interested in private or group lessons with one of our teachers please select from one of our plans below.
Please note - prices drop significantly for pair or group lessons. Our teachers are experts at working with groups of children and we at KidsCampAmerica believe that children learn best when they have friends to practice with. With KidsCampAmerica, parents can form their own groups - just ask your friends to join for the best possible price!
1 Unit = 45 minutes
Per unit
Per unit/ per child
Per unit/ per child.
Per unit/ per child


text:
Each region has four harbors (A) and four cities (B). Each city
is marked with a symbol. There are eight different symbols in
all. Each sea is bordered by four harbors, all sharing the same
symbol and connected by sea routes. Note that the harbors of
the same sea can be in different regions (for example, Mare
Germanicum has 2 harbors in Britannia, and 2 in Germania).
The borders of some regions have barriers (C). Near each
region is the seal (D) for that region. The map is covered with
a grid of hexagons, which regulate the placement of pieces.
In order to dominate Europe, your family must create the largest and most valuable dominions. You can earn victory points by claiming cities and harbors with your fi efs, by creating sea leagues with control of harbors, and by donating to the church. At the end of the game, you can earn a bonus by claiming as many of the cities on your hidden objective card as possible, and by holding the Gonzaga tile.
Each round you have to place a Fief on the map.
You must choose how you will play your Fief by using your planning cards.
You have two types of planning cards: region cards and action cards. You must choose one of each type of card each round. The region card shows where you will place your Fief, and the action card shows how you will place it.
Select your chosen cards by clicking on it. If you change your mind, you can select a different card or deselect the chosen one, by clicking on it. Selected cards will have a yellow border.
Region cards shows where you can play your Fief tile (all or part of the Fief must be played in the region shown). The inactive regions card allows you to play anywhere in the inactive regions.
Important: You may play your Fief on more than one region! But, you must cover at least one hexagon of your chosen region when you play your Fief.
You are not required to cover a city or harbor in the chosen region (though you may choose to). Any space will do.
Your action card shows what spaces you can cover with your Fief:
This card allows you to take your turn earlier than normal. When you play
this card, you must also choose one of your other action cards.
Important: In order to play the King's Privilege, you must own at least one ring. You cannot use this card if you
have no rings to spend.
When all players are done planning, it is time for the next phase. The action cards determine the order you will take your turns.
The order of actions are:
If more than one player has played a King's Privilege card, the tie is broken by checking
their other action card. If that card is also the same, then the player who turned over
the Fief card with the lowest number plays first.
The number on the Fief card is also used to determine turn order if there is a tie on
the other action card types.
Example: Catherine has played her King's Privilege and an Alliance card. Günter played a Harbors
card. Josè and Piotr both played Cities cards. Catherine will play first, then Günter. Josè's Fief card is
number 12, and Piotr has number 83, so Josè will play after Günter, and Piotr will play last.
During this phase, each player will act in the turn order you determined during phase 3. When it is your turn, choose which of the options of the action
card to use, and place your Fief tile on the map (see ahead Placing Your Fief for details). After placing your tile, return your Fief card to the box (you will not
need it any more this game). Then, move your scoring marker on the track to show any victory points you have earned.
Finally, move your face up planning cards (including your King's Privilege if you used it this turn) to the middle box of your player board. Leave these cards
face up, so that everyone can see them. You won't be able to use these cards on your next turn! You will return these cards to your planning deck during
phase 3 of the next round.
You will have to plan carefully so you have the right planning cards available when you really need them!
You are not forced to place your Fief tile. If you fi nd that you cannot play, (or if you choose not to) you may donate to the church instead. Place your Fief in the church space on the board, and score 3 victory points.
After all players have finished their individual turns, the current round ends and a new one can begin.
When you place your Fief, you may rotate it any way you wish. You may always test your Fief by trying
it in different positions on the board before you choose where to play it.
Fief is shown on the board, as a group of single hexagons. There two types of hexagons:
these hexagons represent Castles and must placed on lands
these hexagons represent the territory which you'll have unser your control, and can be placed on lands or on sea.
You can move the Fief by dragging it on the map (click on it and hold the mouse button down, while you move it). To rotate it, just click once on the Fief; at every click, the Fief is rotate by one position clockwise.
When you place your Fief, you must obey these rules:
Note: Once a Fief has been placed on the map, it cannot move and cannot be taken off the board.
If you place two (or more!) of your Fiefs so that they touch on at least one hexagon side, those Fiefs
become connected.
Important note: barriers only apply when you place your Fief. Two touching Fiefs are adjacent, even
if there is a barrier between them!
If you play your Alliance card, when it is your turn you can choose to take the Wedding action. The
Wedding allows you to place on the map one or two adjacent rings, instead of your normal Fief tile.
Each ring counts as one Fief.
To play a Wedding:
Placing a ring is the same as placing a Fief made up of one hexagon. So, you score points if you play a
ring on a city or harbor, form a Sea League, etc. However, rings may not be donated to the church.
You can place a ring directly on the map, or on top of a Fief that belongs to another player. You may not
place a ring on your own Fief, or on a hexagon that already has another ring on it.
If a ring and a Fief are
both played on the same hexagon, that hexagon belongs to both players for all purposes: the owner
of the Fief, and the owner of the ring. It is not mandatory that your fi rst ring is adjacent to one of your
Fiefs; but it must be in the planned region.
Important Notes: You can create one Sea League in each sea area. You can only score points for each
Sea League when you fi rst create it. In other words, if you increase your harbors from 3 to 4, you do
not score those points again. The harbors that form your Sea League do not have to be connected. To
help you fi nd the matching harbors, all harbors with the same symbol are connected by a sea route
on the map.
Now, it's time to consider hidden objectives! The number of secret cities covered with Fiefs and rings are counted. These cities do not have to be connected. The points you score depends on the total number you have covered:
The player with the most points wins the game!
In case of a tie, the winner among tied players is the one who has covered the most cities and harbors.
In case of a further tie, the tied players rejoice in their shared victory!
Game idea: Guglielmo Duccoli
Development: Roberto Corbelli, Domenico Di Giorgio, Sergio Roscini, Andrés J. Voicu
Illustrations & design: Alberto Bontempi
Additional illustrations: Stefano De Fazi
English rules editing: Roberto Corbelli, William Niebling
Online version: Nicola Lepetit
Special thanks to Gianmaria Perugini, Roberto Piazzolla, Luigi Ferrini and Franco Ghisotti; thanks to all the playtesters for their valued suggestions.
Copyright © MMIX - daVinci Editrice S.r.l. - Via Tittoni, 3 - 06131 Perugia, Italy - www.davincigames.com
All rights reserved.


text:
You are about to enter a website that may contain content of an adult nature.
Hi guys, this is Desi webcam girl xXSexyKristiXx here. I'm 19 year old Female speak English in the Desi live sex chat action. I`m a pretty girl with friendly personality and great sense of humour. It`s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you...there is nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do...I will leave you breathless...... Hello, I`m gorgeous queen of seduction. I can make your wildest sexual fantasies come true.. I`m an angel who can transform so quickly into a kinky,naughty girl. I love to seduce you with my voice and body. Would you like to join me? I invite you to know me better then... is my expertise and also what I will do in Desi Indian live sex private show. I have Green eyes, Medium Black hairs and my measurements are 35-23-35. For Turn ons: Intelligence, good looking men with a good sense of humour.. For TurnsOff: Rude people, beggars, bad smells.. If you prefer kinks, then Shaved, are mine. I'm just hungry for a HARD cock, can't wait to see u in my Desi Indian webcam sex chat room! :)
This website contains desi sex chat, desi cam, hindi sex chat and tamil web cam chat related sexually explicit content.
You must be at least 18 years of age to enter this website.
© Since 2012 cams.desi Desi Sex Chat Network All Rights Reserved
AllHosts1 - AllHosts2 - AllHosts3 - AllHosts4 - AllHosts5 - AllHosts6 - AllHosts7 - AllHosts8 - AllHosts9 - AllHosts10 - AllHosts11 - AllHosts12


text:
Use our calendar template as a method for creating the calendar of your choice. You can use it to list all those important dates and activities that you have used to plan activities at your home, work or office. When you need to plan or schedule your activities for a month, our calendar template can be used to bring order and structure to your activities. Click on the calendar template link below and you will be presented with a new window that contains a calendar to fill in. The initial calendar you see will be for the current month, but you can scroll forward or backward by month or by year to any month you need to create a calendar template for. Simply use the links at the sides of the top of the calendar to select the month of your choice.
<Print a calendar template now!>
This calendar template has been designed to maximise space in the cells for each day. This means that you can enter larger amounts of information into each cell, and it will be displayed clearly and in an uncluttered way. A calendar template gives you freedom to record and present information in your own way. The calendar template should fit onto A4 size paper when printed.
Our calendar template is designed to print calendars in portrait format, so you can see each month layout clearly. When you are printing a calendar, go to the browser File/Print-Preview option to preview how it will appear when printed. Each calendar template has been optimized to print on a standard A4 sheet of paper. Should you have any difficulty in fitting it onto a standard page you can adjust the print margins in the File/Print Setup option, however this should be rarely required.
Our calendar template can make your life easier in many ways. With a calendar template you can have a calendar or plan placed on your kitchen notice board or in any convenient location. You can then add all your family events such as dinner bookings and school events in the larger rectangle for each day. You need never forget an arrangement again. A calendar template will ensure you keep track of all that is happening in your family life. Print a number of calendars for different activities in your family life.
Our calendar template is especially useful in clubs or other organizations where events need to be displayed on a notice board. Simply display the calendar and add the event information as required. Our calendar template will help your organization keep to its schedules and plan for the future.


text:
Awana is the largest Christian youth ministry in the world, reaching out to children in 110 countries. The SCC Awana Clubs meet at 6:30pm on Wednesday evenings during the school calendar year, and are appropriate for children 3 years old through 6th Grade. Junior High and High School students may also have the opportunity to continue as Leaders-In-Training if they would like to continue their Awana studies.
Awana combines the excitement of four-way team competition with a thorough Bible study + memory program, encouraging children to grow spiritually and leaving them eager to return each week for more. Club activities are divided into three main segments: Handbook, Council, and Game Times.
Small Group Time
During Small Group Time the clubbers meet with assigned leaders in a small group setting, allowing leaders to disciple children on a more individual basis. As the children listen to Bible study sections and gain understanding of the verses they are memorizing, healthy relationships form with each other and with their leader. This is also an opportune time for leaders to answer questions about the Bible lesson and to share the Good News of Jesus with the children.
Large Group Time
Large Group Time is when the entire club meets together for music, singing, a Bible Lesson, Gospel presentation, testimonies, award presentations and announcements.
Game Time
Game Time features a variety of fun games. It's a refreshing, high-energy period that children love and look forward to each week.
Which Awana Club will your child attend?
- Cubbies: 3 to 5 years old, i.e. preschool. Cubbies must be 3 years old at the beginning of the club year to participate.
- Sparks: Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
- Truth & Training: 3rd Grade – 6th Grade
Ready to join? Register your child for our 2018-19 Awana Clubs here.


text:
Bhopal is the capital city for the Indian state Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the biggest commercial, economical, cultural and education center for South India. Total area coverage is around 837.24 km as Metropolis and 1,795,648 km as Metro and the overall population density is around 2,575 and ranks 16th in India. Hindi is the major language spoken in Bhopal and English takes 2nd position. Some people represent Bhopal as "city of lakes" and many others as well. The city is one of the major financial hub in India.
Major transportation services in Bhopal are Metro or Radio Taxis, auto-rickshaws, Roads, Rail, and Airport. The city holds 97.8% in the literacy level among the metropolitan cities in India .There so many public and private schools, colleges and education institutions being run. Public schools were affiliated to in Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education were run by Bhopal Corporation, while private schools may be affiliated with either of the Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education or the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Bollywood is the Hindi Film industry recognized globally. Cricket is the major and popular sports in Bhopal. . As the banking sector, Bhopal holds most of the major banks approved by Reserve Bank of India.
Official Websites:


text:
We couldn't find what you were looking for, but here are some previous jobs that matched your criteria
| Featured Job
Information Ranger
Permanent, full-time. Salary range: £25,450 to £28,960 per annum including all allowances (depending upon performance and interview)
We are seeking to appoint an experienced Information Ranger to deliver a comprehensive communication programme across our Open Spaces. This is an exciting opportunity to share information with local people about chalk downland, heaths, meadows, ...
England (London & Greater), UK
Learning Project Officer – FTC
Starting salary £28,880 per annum inclusive of all allowances. Fixed term contract until 31.03.19
We are looking a dynamic project officer to join our new learning team and deliver an innovative community engagement project at West Ham Park and Wanstead Flats. The project officer will lead our Wild East project, which connects London's ...
England (London & Greater), UK
Volunteer Development Officer
Starting salary £27,580 per annum inclusive. Fixed term contract until 31.03.19
We are looking for a dynamic and experienced Volunteer Development Officer to lead our volunteer programme, as part of our City Bridge Trust funded programme 'Green Spaces, Learning Places'. As the Volunteer Development Officer, you ...
England (London & Greater), UK
Zoo & Farm Team Leader
£35,950 - £40,815 including allowances (Depending on experience/performance)
The City of London has a long established policy of protectingproviding Open Spaces in and around London for the enjoyment of the public. Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen's Park, located in North London have all achieved Green ...
England (London & Greater), UK
Assistant Ranger – Fixed Term 18 months (Coulsdon Common, Surrey) Residential
£19,150 to £21,600
Your enthusiasm for working with local communities will help you protect and conserve a series of Open Spaces owned and managed by the City of London Corporation which include important habitats and historic landscapes situated on the North Downs. ...
England (London & Greater), UK
ADC Environment Ltd © 2007 - 2019. Company no. 06212667. Registered Address: 5 Hayes Chase, Battlesbridge Essex SS11 7QT. All rights reserved.
For more Ecology Jobs in the UK visit www.ecologyjobs.co.uk


text:
Rocky Mountain High School senior Lydia Dawson was recognized by Sheriff Justin Smith this week for completing an internship at LCSO. Dawson spent about 100 hours of her fall semester with the LCSO crime lab staff learning about crime scenes, lab processing techniques and case reviews. She also participated in a ride-along with a deputy and put her new skills to the test on mock evidence. Sheriff Smith presented Dawson with a certificate of appreciation acknowledging her hard work and dedication to the internship program.
"This program is a great opportunity for students to get an inside look at the different aspects of law enforcement," Sheriff Smith said. "Their experiences may foster a continued interest in the field and drive them to pursue a career serving their communities as law enforcement professionals."
Dawson was able to intern with LCSO through the Poudre School District Postsecondary Workforce Ready (PWR) Internship program. Students apply prior to their senior year, must have a 3.4 GPA or higher, and must be accepted into the PWR program prior to being placed at an internship location.
Students with a GPA lower than 3.4 may be eligible to apply if they receive two letters of recommendation. Students complete a minimum of 75 hours of unpaid time and in turn receive credits toward their high school graduation. PWR has worked with students from the Fort Collins Bioscience Academy and Rocky Mountain High School.


text:
They live in Southern African in the savannah and desert lands and get most of their water from the plants they eat which is how they survive the dry climate. Although they are too large and heavy to fly ostriches are very fast runners. They can sprint up to 43 miles an hour when at top speed. An ostrich's powerful, long legs can also be formidable weapons. Ostrich kicks can kill a human or a potential predator like a lion using their two-toed foot with its long, sharp claw.
Ostriches live in small herds that typically contain less than a dozen birds. Alpha males maintain these herds, and mate with the group's dominant female. All of the group's hens place their eggs in the dominant hen's nest—though her own are given the prominent center place. The dominant hen and male take turns incubating the giant eggs, each one of which weighs as much as two dozen chicken eggs.
Contrary to popular belief, ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand! At the approach of trouble, ostriches will lie low and press their long necks to the ground in an attempt to become less visible. Their plumage blends well with sandy soil and, from a distance, gives the appearance that they have buried their heads in the sand.
Africa is a fantastic place for birdwatchers - please see our Blog for more details.


text:
You are currently browsing the monthly archive for May 2009.
would NEVER get though a yoga class without giggling!
How 'bout you?
Currently my youngest two are having some name-calling issues. This is a weird thing because it is not something we have ever had much of a problem with ever before. You can also tell they have never had an example for HOW to call names…their method kills me!
First it was Logan (3) running to me saying Anner was calling names…multiple times and then going abck to play-obviously sweet little Anner would not be calling names-he would not even know how so I ignored it (hey! sand is nice and warm around your ears! 😕 ) Eventually I snuck up near their play-zone and listened–Logan: "DON"T call names!" Anner: "NAME!" Logan: "NO NO Anner-DONT call names!" Anner: "NAME!" 😆 😆
Now they make up names…Logan changes the first letter of Anner's name so he cals him Danner or Banner etc–then amazingly Anner copies him by doing the same–Dogan or Bogan etc-he makes that mental shift and uses the same first letter Logan chooses and changes Logan's name.
I know this is wrong and the attitude they do it in is purely to try to irk the other person…but it just seems so advanced the way they are doing it–a 2 and 3 year old doing a rhyming and even alliterative kind of thing!
The other thing they had me laughing about? They are potty training together-Logan has it now actually-well…they named IT-on their own. They both call it "my little guy" (as in look what my little guy can do" my little guy likes the door in my breifs")
And people wonder why I am so flip–around here it is a mammoth task to stay serious for even 5 minutes!! 😆 😆
you don't have to stick that pea back on yer fork boy! lemme take care o thet thar pesky tidbit fer ya–can I at least lick the bowl???
can u see the socks at the edge of the feild??? I can see them when I write the post but not when I veiw the site…my garden needs tilling and the lawn mower needa a new tire so it will be awhile before I get a tech guy 😦
late edit—I just looked with Internet explorer instead of Mozilla–that works so I must just need to update my browser. later…
I have no time to figure this out but every last bloomin pic on my blog is GONE!!
My blog is reduced to gibberish without pictures!
whatever, OH, whatever will I do??
can't even post a pic of my frustration-wrought face!
Books are keys to wisdom's treasure;
Books are paths that upward lead;
Books are gates to lands of pleasure;
Books are friends.
Come, let us read!
My baby Laurel is officailly a licenced driver!! She passed her behind-the-wheel test yesterday and today took her first solo> (you know..first legal on-the-highway solo–farm kids do plenty driving before that 😉 )
Do you see that little decal on her truck??
It sez Supersis 'cause she is! SEE??
I am equally proud of THIS accomplishment as well…
her very first knitted sock!!!
I just needed a moment to say…"THATS ma girl!" 😀
This begins the first week of my twenty-first year of marriage! Twenty-wonderful years! BOTH of my readers must know by now the immense patience and total long-suffering required of a man to be married to flip, flighty me for so long–and to STILL pull off that happy look!
Seriously-I have learned so much about strength and persistence and just plain slogging through when things are hard form my man-watching him do the hard thing because it was best for US–watching him work a job that left him bruised and bone-tired every night in order to pay either the rent OR the electric. Knowing it was dead-end-and doing it anyway for us–for me!
Praying beside him has taught me what it means to kneel before the God of the Universe-to truly worship with words and to bring everything to Him completely trusting in the answer were more ideas before I experienced them at Scott's side.
Argueing discussing ideas and ideals as we grow and change and prayerfully seek His will in who we are to become has always challenged me. My man's patience as he waits for me to catch up to him and prays for and encourages me as I struggle behind is mammoth!
Ever read his blog? He is a thoughful, introspective scolar type-living with a flip, jokey, seriously BAD speller! Take a second to read THIS--we wrote his/her viewpoints of the same incident (the butchering of a pig) on his blog. I think it illustrates how different yet complimentary we are. It also illustrates why we have seperate blogs now…his erudite discussions and my flip observations collide in the blogosphere-yet they make life better in the home. We have very differing readers who I doubt would read each other much (with the exception of those of you who know us and humor me! 😆 )
There is the matter of how patient he is with my handicaps as well…I cannot spell to save my life(in spite of a KILLER vocabulary-go figure)–he has to say "my way" or "your way" when directing me driving because I so often confuse left and right and he saves us frequently from financial disaster by being the one to subtract the checkbook-I am good at the faithful recording and regular check-writing and budget following-I cannot subtract for some reason-he saves us from purely silly errors by taking the calculater gently but firmly from my sweaty little hand!
Not to sound to bragadocious or anything…but have you seen the chest on the guy?? 😳 Twenty years and I still get some serious pitter-pats when he steps in the house after a long week on the road-who am I kidding-after 10 min in the yard!
Let's also talk for a minute about the sheer number of animals I have foisted upon the poor guy! Tiny baby things.. babysitting and special-care cases-birds, bees, and everything furry between–he has lugged water for salt AND fresh water aquariums and even bought as a surprise varying pets for me–NOT because he liked them but because he knew what would please me! He teases me mercilessly about it yet just smiles and aquieses the very next time I ask. My fav animal-related quote? " You have to know how much I love you-there is a farm animal in my BED!" (Purl 😀 )
Twenty years and I still ALWAYS have fresh flowers in a case or two all summer long-he sometimes buys them but often stops and picks my favorite wildflowers on the side of the road-after a hot dusty day of work no less–he is teaching his boys to treat me like a queen as well..they bring me flowers and hold doors for me and I never walk anywhere without a man (of one size or another) to hold my hand! Watching them look to Daddy for approval when they do these things and Daddy giving a quiet thumbs-up gives me chills! I have no doubts of the way my boys will treat their wives-I can see them copy their Daddy-and with an example like that ANY woman will be lucky to have them!
And–have you SEEN the quality of the children he has given me? and given me? and given me? and given me? etc… That is one SERIOUSLY QUALITY gene pool I been dippin into! 😆
Happy twenty years, my Love, my Life. When I look at who we used to be and who God has made us into together I am filled with anticipation of the next 40 years. Actually the next 5 minutes look pretty sweet too!! I love you Scott!
My Walker Weeping Whatsitsnoseits came through the winter right purdy!! I show it to you again when it blooms!
My "Smoke on the Prairie" ?? not. so. much.
I think you need bare legs to get a better grip on the wiley goat's back. YEAH that's it! All the toughest rodeo dudes start out sans pants. That rough and tough horned beast's name?? Peaches! why do you ask?? 😆 I don't think she even bothered to stop grazing the whole time!
Thanks to Lily for the time and effort and sacrifice of her pretty little fingernails –all for the purpose of making a cute white lamb an even cuter blue one! Another one of the many uses of Kool-Aid! I know most people say the color looks different in real life-but the camera caught it perfectly! 😆 😯
Here is the point where I try to look all cocsmopolitan and fail utterly!
I had to keep reminding myself to shut my mouth! It started out pretty well-driving thrugh the Loess Hills in Iowa is so very pretty-and nice open interstate too. I pulled up some of my obscure knowledge to impress my son and told him a few of the wonders of those hills–Iowa being God's country and all…
The low point of the drive being Nebraska–no offense Nebraskans but do you have a special grace to live there or something?
Then we entered something called "The Turnpike" WOWSERS!! perfect paving-lots of space-no exits in the way of my daydreaming and no billboards!! smoooth sailing! I even managed to look like I knew WHY I needed to take a ticket-and I had my $5.25 ready when I got off 100 plus miles later! The coolest past of this whole deal? They are called service areas! A little not-even=quite an exit-with no other turns to confuse the bumpkins…you just glide off to find a BIG gas station with tons of extras and goodies inside and automatic doors and really great parking–also a McDonald's with a perfect drivethrough in line with the on-ramp–no delay or directional memory required!! Ya'll ever seen those? They were honostly like every 40 miles! what are people driving that they need to stop that often? I crossed all of South Dakota (did not find it entirely mentionable) and saw TWO rest stops TOTAL! Anyhoooo..a little zip off to pay a nice grandmotherly type lady who wished me a nice day now and then my exit for the hotel was on top of the payment spot-2 turns on top of that and we were there! I checked in-opened the curtain and had a phone call from Old Woman herself!! Perfect timing!!!
I met her in the hallway-and we started talking right away-and the talk about the drive ended FAST-we had too much else to say! Funny thing? We had both thrown a game into our bags before leaving just in case…She even put thought into hers and put Boggle back (remembering my spelling handicap)–Don't know if what she brought was fun or not-we did not touch them! We also brought gifts for each other–I gave he a lamo bag of Minnesota Wild RIce–good but generic gift-wise. She brought me a Douey-Raimes Bible which required actually KNOWING me and what I like–and I LOVE it–so very poetic! so very majestic! see how cool she is?
We decided to drive around until we found a nice place to eat…EASY decision on whose car to take–HERS was COOL!!
Try to ignore the missing plasticy bottom of the bumper part of the next-door truck–it was inadvertantly seperated in a snow-pulling incident this winter-it's an easy fix which means low on the priority list. We cruised in the cruiser and laughed and laughed–I saw 2 slugbugs in a row BAM BAM–we nearly joined a parade, and drove miles before spotted the oasis that is Red Lobster. I really did think we were going in circles-ABM kept saying things like "I am DRAWN LEFT" and we kept passing a Quick Trip and a McDonald's–I KNEW I was being kind of hickish thinking it was the same one each time but when she said there were at least TEN McDonald's I was flabbergasted! 2 or 3 I can understand-for you bi citt slickers–but double digits? in the same town? made me miss my little gravel road and the safety of my mailbox! FUN drive though-because I could ride–I had NO IDEA how we would find the hotel back–I said I had the address someplace in my purse–my City slicker friend had it memorized!! (she also learned that I was not kidding when I said I was LEFT/RIGHT challenged) ANYHOOO–we left the yummy food place (where the waitress seemed to think I might want to share my dessert with ABM (AS IF!! friendship is one thing but a choc chip lava cookie topped with ice cream is quite another!) We ended up on an interstate kinda thinger and I yelled SOUTH and I KNEW SOUTH!!! I really did–it was a moment I shall never forget-that moment of being RIGHT directioally speaking–it felt GOOOOOD!!! with a zip,zip,zoop of the pT Cruiser we were back at the Hotel and the talk-fest began!
You know how you have fun friends and deep friends? people who you can talk to and people tha you are the listener? ABM is the WHOLE PACKAGE baby!! And we covered it ALL!! Had lots of good ideas for funny bloggy pics too-but no gumption to really leave our fun to go get props!
We did talk all night (with a sock-tour break!)-napped for an hour and then breakfasted and tried for a few pics out of obligation to you folks-could not let you down totally! I laughed so much my cheeks hurt! See how much alike we are-neither of us thought to take pics BEFORE being up all night and feeling frumpy/pillow-wrinkly. 😆
Since we had a 12 YO snapping these pics (and everyone knows that 12 YOs add 30 lbs…) here is my fav…ain't my friend cute?
we got a doggie too 😀
We only talked to the OneAcre Homestead folks about half an hour-long enough to see how cool they are-get a few puppy tips and lots of slurps-and 4 hugs fron my boy! She is sooo sweet and really took to Linden right away-he named her Lucy 😀
Thanks ABM for making this trip so very worth it!
a snap wherin we both simultaniously look good! (a HARD task indeed with factors like my personal appearance to deal with!!)
stay tuned for ….Cruiser adventures and maybe a peek or 2 at rejected pics of the 2 of us….and the boy and his dog!
oooo boy! wiggly happy dance!!
Tomarrow Linden and I leave for the strange faraway land of Kansas! It is the land of my father's growing up but I have never spent time there. I am sure I will stick out like a sore thumb-considering I have no red shoes and all… 😛
Why are we driving 10 hours you ask?? To buy a puppy for my boy of course!! We are buying her from this cool lady! So I will get to meet the writer of a blog I frequently lurk at-and get a very nice pup from a home breeder who cares more about the animals than how many pups they can get from them. How cool is that??
We will arrive to a hotel in Wichita the night before and that is when I GET TO MEET MY CYBER TWIN!!! Yeppers! Abroadermark is going to rent a car no less and drive a couple hours up to KS too–just to see me!! This is the most amazing friendship -it started with cutey/smart-alecy comments playing around on each others blogs and grew to deeep philosophical discussions and a sharing of…well…something clicked and somehow it "works"! I can't wait to see her for real!!
Today I need to do some pre-cooking for my family left at home and get some cash for toll-roads and food and vaccum my truck and gas er up and print out my map-quest direction and my return mapquest directions 😀 and find an atlas to carry just in case and get waterdish etc for return trip with puppy-wish I had time for a haircut!
oooooo BOY HOWDY!!!
He's even cuter asleep–wanna see?
yes-he IS dressed too warmly-he LIKES that shirt! 😆
YUP! Having me my very first brand-spankin' new baby boy!! Little Linder was born after an average-length labour with an average amount of effort and was 7 lb 15 oz! He has been anything but average since then!
Curious and quick to grasp mechanical concepts he is always tinkering or plotting and planning things. A true leader, he has 5 willing followers-for good or ill!!
When he was my squeezy wittle two year-old I told him his arms would fall off if he did not hug his Mommy every day–I STILL get my hug every day!! (Although he doesn't get up after going to bed with his little cute excuse anymore…"My arms aer WOOSE!")
For his birthday this year we found a puppy for him! Two years ago he had to give up his little dog because she was tooo "into" chickens. HE has missed ahving a little dog (ESP of his own)ever since. The Newfs are just too big and not really into fetch and other boyish games and tricks. We are trying a herding breed and driving ALL THE WAY TO KANSAS to pick her up this week!! In his present? a collar etc…his reaction? priceless!!
In this one he is seeing his puppy in the e-mail from the breeder! I think he likes her! 😀
I am really looking forward to a long drive with my boy and new puppy fun as I watch him work with her. I am also incidentaly looking forward to FINALLY MEETING MY CYBER-TWIN IN PERSON as she lives a mere 2 hours from where we will be and is going to rearrange her busy schedule to come play with me!!!
Oh the blog-fodder to come!! 😆
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Linden Forrest! I love you!
CHOCOLATE!!! healthy, lovely, VITAMIN ENRICHED chocoliceousness!! Can you believe it? astounding no? Why has noone ever come up with this winner before? One kind can make me VITAL and VIBRANT and the other BEAUTIFUL!! I HAD to buy both-who can choose between those two? They have some amazing things to say about themselves on their boxes too- but sarcastic as I can be I can't seem to type them with a straight face 😕 😆
The wrappers all have wonderful little life-afirming tips and encouragements inside them too. My fav? " Add a 20 mn massage to your next manicure apointment-you will thank youself later." *sputter sputter GUFFAW*
I just gorged myself on two boxes of healthy make-my-life better chocolates and I am SOOO beautiful and vivaceous I can't stand myself! Good thing I did not buy more -they would be dragging me off to do a modeling shoot right when the kids are ready for lunch!