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Sep 28, 2007
Day 6: Phoenix, AZ to Boston, MA
We agreed to meet at 7am to leave since our flight on US Airways was due to depart at 9:05am. The hotel offered an airport shuttle service, but much to our dismay it didn't leave until 7:30am so we found ourselves waiting in the lobby for longer than expected. The shuttle was pretty crowded and we had a moment of concern thinking that only one of us was going to be able to get on the shuttle. But we both were able to get a ride without any trouble. As the driver was removing Tricia's luggage, she pointed her bag out to him describing it as the one "...with the orange tag." The driver asked her to say 'orange' again and asked where she was from. Tricia told him Boston and he happily replied, "Go Yankees!" musing out loud that he had probably just lost his tip. Tricia found him "adorable."
Sky Harbor airport was very busy and the check-in lines were long. I was delayed getting my boarding pass because of a group of people before me were experiencing passport issues and not being assisted by the most helpful US Airways attendant.
We rode the escalator up to the second level and stretched out before us were gift shops and restaurants. We briefly stopped for a few souvenirs and got into the line for security. There was another panic moment when Tricia couldn't find her cell phone, but fortunately she found it and we were able to proceed.
We had no idea that getting through security would take so long and be such a beast of a process. The line seemed to snake for miles. A woman paced within the perimeter of the lines calling out instructions for what to place in plastic bags due to the 3 ounce security mandate and eventually I remembered that I had a little bottle of Binaca in my purse along with a rather expensive pomegranate lip balm that I didn't want to lose because I didn't get one of those stupid baggies.
It took a very long time to get through security. By the time we made it through, our flight had started boarding. I thought to myself, "Where is a flight delay when you need one?" We hurried to the restroom and then over to Cinnabon for a little sticky breakfast-to-go and we were on our way ready and eager to board the plane.
Both Tricia and I were unfortunate to have the middle seat in a three-way seating arrangement. The two fellows that were seated to my left and right were overall quiet and kept to themselves. However, the man to my right had very furry arms and the touch of his forearm to mine during the six hour flight made me intimately know what being insane feels like-or that Chinese Water Torture thing. Either way it was maddening!
The seats were so uncomfortable. I found myself quickly getting a very stiff neck about an hour into our flight. I asked the flight attendant for a pillow, but she didn't have one to give. (She promised to bring one over to me should she find one, but I doubted I'd ever see again) I deeply regretted not bringing my neck pillow and swore that I would never make that mistake again on any future flights.
The movie playing during our trip was Oceans Thirteen which made me very happy because I had wanted to see it and thought it would kill two hours rather nicely. However, the little television screens that were placed overhead were just that-nearly directly over my head so that I had to tip my already aching neck upwards to see the movie. As I started watching it, I became so annoyed at my level of increasing discomfort that I gave up and turned on my iPod. I could tell the movie would be one that I'd want to watch and didn't want to ruin the experience by being uncomfortable.
Upon returning to Boston, we retrieved our luggage and each took our own limo ride home. My Carey chauffeur was from Egypt and was such a pleasure to talk to the entire trip home. (Apparently I really lucked out on the ride home because my limo was supposed to be from CTS International, but they were short staffed and contracted my scheduled pick-up to Carey whose clientele are typically business executives and the like.)
We spoke at length about all the features in the back seat of the sedan. There was bottled water, outlets to charge electronic devices, a fold-away laptop shelf, a courtesy Nokia cell phone, a digital tape deck, GPS, etc. The seats were butter leather and so comfortable.
My driver was Muslim and we spoke at great length about his religion and his marriage to a Jewish widower who converted to Muslim so they could marry eight years ago. He confessed that he was a 40-year old virgin when he married and explained that he had never touched a woman before his marriage. We talked about how all his family currently lived in Egypt and that during the mid-90's he had bought one of the first video phones so he could converse with his father, brothers and sisters. He had bought two of these video phones for approx. $2000 and never got the full benefit of either because of the compatibility between US and Egypt technology. So a typical phone call would allow him to see video but not hear his father talking to him. Another time he would speak to his sister, but could not see her.
We spoke about my observations of being in Mexico and not being able to speak Spanish. He shared with me how to he learned to speak English and fine-tune his language skills for six months living in England before coming to the United States. I asked if he swore in Arabic when he had a disagreement with his wife and that got him laughing. I pressed on asking what language he dreamed in and that question fascinated him because he had never given it much thought before.
Another interesting thing about him was his abilityto travel to Egypt for three months of the year to visit his family because he owns his own business, but his wife is unable to make the trip because she works for Macy's and is not able to take that much time off. He also shared that he never takes any photographs of his travels because he finds it is better for him to remember what he sees from memory rather than taking photographs because looking at photographs would make him too sad.
I don't find making small talk one of my strenghts, but I'm very good in a one-on-one situation. Talking with my driver was so enjoyable and educational. It was the perfect end to a very good trip to the Southwest.
Returning home found my beagle Minnie howling in the window and wagging her backside vigorously when I walked through the door. Being able to see Spencer again made me really feel like I had arrived because I had missed him so much.
I know I'll have some final thoughts on this trip, but for now I'm off to find a frozen pizza and relax in bed watching Fracture on DVD.
Good Night from Worcester.
Sep 27, 2007
Day 4 – Tolleson, AZ to Phoenix, AZ
This morning we began our day by driving from Yuma, AZ to Tolleson, AZ which was the last leg of our historic tour of the Southwest. Tolleson is where our West Coast distribution center is located and we had a busy agenda. Several key players from Corporate and Columbia, SC were all convening for a day-long conference to discuss some Bose-y things. We were hoping to reach the DC by 9am, but we experienced a few bumps along the way.
We went through a border patrol crossing station as we left Yuma. The crossing station had about three border patrol officers and one officer had a large yellow Labrador with him to sniff the vehicle as we were being questioned. I was sort of chuckling to myself that our officer wouldn't have looked so intimidating if he had a Beagle on the leash instead of the yellow lab. But the checkpoint was quick and we moved smoothly through.
We had quite a laugh as we passed because the other member of our group, whose name is Mark, was in the car behind us and we were wondering if the dog would let him through considering all the meat he's inhaled these past few days. (We were afraid his meaty scent would cause some issues that his US citizenship wouldn't protect.)
There wasn't much to see for roadside attractions. We passed Dateland, AZ known for The Date Shake which is an actual drink made from dates. One word: Gross. I thought the billboard advertising The Date Shake was some sort of speed dating dance club. I know it sounds strange, but when you've seen a full-blown casino at 4500 feet elevation in the mountains like I have then you're prepared for anything.
We landed in Gila Bend which is a little slip of a town in Arizona. However, it does have two famous attractions: The Best Western Space Age Lodge (affectionately known as The Outer Limits Motel by the more experienced Bose travelers) and The Desert Sweet Shrimp Farm purporting to have "The World's Best Tasting Shrimp."
We had intended to stop at The McDonald's for a bathroom break, but it was under construction. We proceeded down the street to Burger King (strange that there would be two fast-food giants located in the same town where it seems no one ever visits) for our intended bathroom break and a snack of Cini-Minis. It was the best $.99 dollar value meal I've ever had. Cini-Minis are a poor man's version of a Cinnabon and come available with a little tub of glazed icing for dipping. At 10am, I greedily scoffed a 4-pack of Cini-Minis and an Oreo Shake. Bad Kim…Bad!
While Tricia and I were snacking, my poor boss was stuck on a conference call with his boss talking about inventory levels. Believe me when I say how surreal it was to be in a Burger King parking lot in the middle of nowhere watching him teleconference under a Burger King sign. (Don't worry-I have pictures) The things he does for our Supply Chain. After his call, he went into Burger King to have his own bathroom break and guess what? He couldn't use the bathroom because the power went out in the town. It was a good thing that Tricia had the foresight to buy Ron a pack of Cini-Minis.
However, the best was yet to come because Ron took pity on me and stopped at The Outer Limits motel so I could take some pictures. The Outer Limits looks like something out of a Trekkie's wet dream come to life. It was amazing. I saw the words "Gift Shop" and nearly bolted out of the car before he came to a full stop. I began snapping pictures like a Japanese tourist on speed and burst into the gift shop. There were a few women standing behind the counter in uniforms that looked like they were straight out of the 1976 sitcom ALICE.
Knowing time was critical, I asked one of them, "Show me every kind of souvenir you have that's related to this motel." In the meantime, Ron asked to use their bathroom and was directed to a pitch-black men's room where he had no choice but to answer nature's call by the light of his cell phone. I ended up buying a glow-in-the-dark alien t-shirt and a commemorative coffee cup for $29.50.
We continued onward to Tolleson passing dairy farms, alfalfa and cotton fields, rotting cactus and miles of nothingness for as far as the eye could see. We arrived into Tolleson around 10:30 and began our day.
I hit one snag when it came to hotel accommodations. We realized that Tricia and I were staying at The Hilton Garden Inn in Midtown. Ron and Mark were booked at The Hilton Garden Inn at the Airport. Both were in Phoenix, but about 45 blocks away from each other. So I called American Express around 3:30 to change our location so all four of us could be in the same hotel.
We all met for dinner at The Texas Roadhouse in Phoenix. We had a really good time and I personally found it very enjoyable to be around all these guys who have been working for Bose for years sitting around over steaks sharing logistical war stories.
The table next to ours had a little girl that was calling out, "Mommy. Mommy. Mommy" trying to get her mother's attention and as the mother passed by our table she said to her daughter, "I'm going to cut out your voice box." We all just kind of stopped talking and looked at each other in disbelief wondering what she says to her kid at home when she's not out in public.
We drove to the hotel and to our surprise discovered the Hilton had no record our recently changed reservation. The man behind the desk was clearly frazzled and a bit of a snit, but eventually we worked out another solution. Tricia and I got rooms at The Hilton Phoenix Airport hotel and got transportation between the two hotels using a shuttle service. Our driver was telling us on the way that we actually were staying in a very nice hotel.
After checking in, we retired to our rooms. We had seen a little gift shop, so we got settled and headed back out to do a little shopping now that we were free of the boys. As I left my room, the bolt on the door mysteriously engaged itself and I wasn't able to shut the door. We went to the front desk and was told we just needed to turn the handle up and the lock would disengage.
My room was beautiful and I have all the comforts of home within. A big bottle of Dasani water, an alarm clock that has an MP3 cord so I could attach my iPod and an amazing desk setup. I was chomping at the bit to finish my Day 4 Blog entry so I attached my Ethernet cable to the high-speed modem and was surprised to see a screen come up advising a 1-day Internet access cost $9.95. I was in disbelief. I called the front desk and sure enough-this gorgeous state-of-the-art Hilton hotel doesn't provide free Wi-Fi. But the Best Western Space Age Lodge and Coffee Shop does! What the hell?
Excerpt from their postcard: All guest rooms have 27 inch television, 50+ cable channels & HBO; in addition, the rooms have wireless Internet access, refrigerator, coffee maker, hairdryer, iron and board, data port.
I suppose one could say it's reasonable to expect that a hotel with a big spaceship would have free Wi-Fi. But how can a prestigious well known chain like the Hilton charge ten bucks for it when a bunch of space freaks out in the middle of nowhere are giving it away for free?
That is…if the power ever comes back on.
Sep 26, 2007
Day 3: Yuma, AZ to San Luis, Mexico
Unfortunately the Clarion Hotel where I'm staying for the next two nights boasts Wi-Fi, but it feels like 56k dial-up. I'm afraid to put many words to screen because I don't have alot of confidence that I'll actually be able to publish this post. So what I'd like to do is provide a little laundry-list of today's highlights and hopefully will be able to re-read them later and elaborate as a better Internet connection allows.
- Stopping at a Kwik-E-Mart to buy water and seeing what appears to be a migrant restaurant worker outside picking blueberries off a bush in front of the restaurant and placing them gently in his home-made sac while talking on his cell phone. Josue later explained that it probably wasn't blueberries, but rather a very small chili pepper. I took several pictures for further investigation.
- Stores in San Diego tend to run the gamut of vague to specific. For example: a book store named The Yellow Book Road vs. The Hearing Aid Store.
- Highest elevation reached today was 4055 feet in the mountains heading towards Yuma, Arizona.
- The rest area in said mountains is the perfect place to hawk The Watchtower. What better way to get a captive audience for religious propaganda than a tourist running to a toilet after having been in a mountain range for sixty miles?
- The Golden Acorn Casino is located at 4000 feet elevation in the mountains on Route 8 East.
- Border Patrol are everywhere!
- Immigration official wished my boss a Merry Christmas. My immigration officer asked me where I was headed and I panicked like I had a brick of crack cocaine stuffed in my laptop bag and said, "Arizona?" like a 14-year old girl.
- Mr. Boobies in San Luis is the only billboard I could understand in Mexico.
- Is it wrong to tell your boss after having gulped your first Margarita with salt on the rim that you were thinking of capping off the night with a porno movie?
- We had dinner at a place called Burgers and Beers. I was disappointed that they didn't sell the t-shirt our waitress was wearing which read, "KEG PATROL"
- I saw a port-o-potty attached to the back of a school bus for the migrant workers. It even had a sink with faucets and a paper towel dispenser.
- I didn't see Fields of Gold, but I did see Fields of Cotton.
- Why is the YMCA next door to Coldstone Creamery and McDonald's? Isn't that some sort of zoning violation?
- We went to McDonald's for lunch just before we crossed the border. I never ate chicken McNuggets and boiling hot french fries that fast in my life. The irony of having to throw out half the food so we could meet our ride on time wasn't lost on us as we looked around at our impoverished surroundings.
I'm getting nervous that everything I just typed will be lost so I'm ending it here. Tomorrow we're headed back to San Luis for a full day at the manufacturing plant. Aside from work related stuff, my goal tomorrow is to drink five rum and cokes with my boss using our free drink coupons.
Sep 25, 2007
Day 2: San Diego to Tijuana, Mexico
The unfortunate thing about my travelling companions is they are both nuts about football. Well, one of 'em is insane and the other is incredibly enthusiastic. Tricia and I have been putting up with the sports talk the entire trip, but the one benefit for Tricia is she can follow along and insert intelligent comments into their conversation about players. Me? I simply sit there, smile and feel woefully inadequate. Now if they were talking about computers then it would be a different story. But last night we ate at Seau's which is owned by Junior Seau of The New England Patriots. The restaurant is located in San Diego, CA and you can see from the picture to the left that the place is entirely a sports orgasm. In looking at this picture, I didn't realize the premier seating area is in the shape of a football. But I ate a steak and was happy so it wasn't so bad going there to eat.
A shuttle picked us up at Bose to take us to Tijuana. First we had to stop at the immigration office where a Bose employee named Minerva helped us through getting our work visas. Then we took a van into Tijuana. The first thing you see, aside from everything written in Spanish, are all the 53' tractor trailers everywhere. Just lines and lines of trucks. There are lots of little carts on the sides of the streets selling chicken and taco products, too. We entered the gate for the Bose manufacturing plant and began our day of touring and learning.
We left at 5pm on the only scheduled shuttle that would take us back to the border. I'm told our driver took us on an unusual route because we actually were on these side streets that were nothing but dirt and pot holes. It was nearly impassable to my standards, but somehow the van slowly plugged along. I saw houses that can only be coined as shacks where the major building material was pallets and sheets of wood that made up the walls of some of these houses. Dogs could be seen standing on top of the roofs of the shacks and we passed many streets where stray dogs-primarily Pitt Bulls and mutts-lazily roamed the streets. Some were just lounging next to things looking bored and others were just walking around with the people on the streets. It was a real eye opener and I'll remember what I saw every time I whine to Spencer about wanting an Apple iMac. I live like a queen in the lap of luxury compared to the poor people living in Tijuana.
The return to the US through the border was interesting. My passport was scanned and I was asked if I had anything to declare. We walked a short distance to meet the shuttle again and returned back to Bose in Otay. As we were leaving to head back into San Diego, we saw lots of men on ATVs who apparently were border patrol officers. That was the weird thing about being in both San Diego and Tijuana. I saw battle ships in the water in San Diego along with the sound of jets in the sky. Tijuana had lots of helicopters patrolling overheard and from the conference room where we sat during the day, we found ourselves waiting to see parrot troopers being dropped from military helicopters for practice exercises.
We decided since we left TJ so late in the day to not drive to Yuma, Arizona because my boss didn't want to be driving into the mountains late at night. We returned to The Best Western Island Palms for a free cocktail (Bartender asked me if I was 21 which made my day!), warm chocolate chip cookies and then we were off to Seaus Restaurant.
We also experienced many interruptions in our cell phones due to the areas we were moving about in. No reception at the border(s) and near some military areas.
I was very tired about 3pm and felt it the rest of the day. I think the time difference is catching up with me. After dinner, we returned to our rooms and I went to bed at 10pm. I'm now about to get ready to begin Day 2 meeting my group in the lobby for breakfast at 7pm. Today we're heading to San Luis, Mexico and then driving to Yuma, Arizona to stay for the next two nights.
Sep 24, 2007
Day 1: Boston to San Diego
Sep 22, 2007
Topical Small Talk
"Think the Pats will win tomorrow?" asked the geezer to the cashier as he handed him a $100 bill.
"Huh?" asked the cashier looking like he heard what the man asked him the first time, but was annoyed to be pulled into some lame sports talk.
"The Pats. Think they'll win tomorrow?" persevered the geezer.
"I dunno. I don't watch football." replied the cashier.
It was an interesting exchange for me to watch primarily because in looking at how the cashier was dressed, he didn't seem like the type of kid who watched much sports. You can see where I'm going with this, can't you? I'm about to pander to the stereotype of this black youth hoping to rewrite a much more interesting scene.
I think if the old geezer asked this instead he would have gotten a rise out of the cashier:
"So, who do ya think won? Kanye or 50 Cent?" asks the geezer.
"Huh?" asked the cashier looking confused, yet interested.
"You know. September 11th. Who will sell the most CDs. Kanye or 50 Cent?" persists the man.
"Oh, I dunno. I guess Kanye?"
"Hmmm," muses the geezer. "I think Fifty's gonna pull it out."
When he gets no further response except being handed back his change from the startled cashier, he nods politely at him and as he walks away bellows out, "G-G-G-G-Unit!"
That's the way I want these crazy old white men to talk to cashiers at my Shaws supermarket.
Single Woman Offers Pies
This entry was particularly funny:
Single woman offers homemade pies for a working lawnmower or chainsaw
I'm a single woman, 60, and I live close to the wire financially and need to do my own yard work. My lawnmower died two weeks ago. (actually I didn't see the short stump in the grass and the blade hit it and that was the end of the lawnmower.) I'm seeking a working lawnmower, either push or a ride-on. I'm also in search of a working chainsaw. Any other tools would also be appreciated. I can offer a home-baked pie (your choice) in thanks. I've been told I'm a pretty good cook.
In Case It's Driving You Crazy
In case it's driving you crazy-Antonio Banderas is the voice of the Nasonex bee in all those commercials.
This is a good example of how I get around to figuring things out for myself every once in a while.
Those commercials are fantastic simply because of the voice. Everytime I see them I wonder to myself if Antonio Banderas did the voice of the bee because it sounds so distinct. I state outloud to Spencer as we're watching TV that it must be him and I'm going to look it up. Then things happen and I forget all about it.
Tonight I was flipping through the Fall TV Preview issue of Entertainment Weekly and on page 61 there's the print ad for Nasonex with the helpful little bee hovering over the bottle. 'That's it," I say again to myself, 'This time I'm looking it up." So I start typing Nasonex Bee and Google auto-fills the search for me which tells me I'm not the only one out there on the web curious about it. Several entries come back from my search and Yahoo! Answers confirms what I thought all along. Finally, I can move on.
But there are more bees swarming your way with the premiere of The Bee Movie on November 2nd. That one's easy. The bee is voiced by Jerry Seinfeld.
OK-I'm feeling lucky so I looked up who does the voice for the bee in those Honey Nut Cherrios commercials. Why, it's none other than Billy West. He's not so famous as Jerry and Antonio...but at least he's keeping good company.
Sep 20, 2007
The Big E
It was worth taking the day off from work today to avoid the crowds at The Big E. Katie and I left at the leisurely hour of 10:30 this morning and found ourselves on the Mass Pike around 11am-just about the time I would have been involved in an inventory reporting meeting at work.
Parking was ample in Gate 9A and only $5 for a straight shot to the entrance. Katie commented on the lack of RVs and I commented on what a waste of money it would be to buy a program as we were entering the gates.
Our first little adventure was the free admittance to Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. Upon entering, we saw three large LCD televisions displaying a video about soon-to-be extinct Cheetahs and I immediately walked forward to check out the surround sound. I thought they were using a Bose Lifestyle system, but it turned out I wasn't too observant because the words "JVC" were plastered all over the media exhibit. ( I was wearing my sunglasses in the darkened jungle exhibit) Of course, Katie thought I was being odd about just walking up to the electronics until I explained why I was so focused. We sat for about five minutes watching the presentation and then moved inside for the exhibit.
It was pretty lame. About the only excitement I had was seeing JVC couldn't provide outdoor speakers! (I just so happened to notice as we were entering and exiting the exhibit that there were Bose Freespace 51 environmental speakers carefully hidden amongst the fake flora. Hooray for Bose!)
There was so much food everywhere and it smelled so damned good. Everything was fried, great chunks of flavorful meat on sticks were around every corner and the cotton-candy was fluffier than pillows. Avoid. Avoid. Avoid. I don't know what I was holding out for as we walked through the fair grounds. But it seemed like all I could do was focus on the food.
We did the traditional walk-through of all the state houses and I did my best to avoid standing in line for a Maine baked potato. I didn't buy the Maple Sugar cotton candy in the house of Vermont, but I did buy a $3.99 bag of Pez in Connecticut. We came close to buying a Strawberry Shortcake in Massachusetts, but kept on walking. Katie secured some lottery tickets in New Hampshire for her mom and I forgot to buy the fudge.
The Big E has lots and lots of outdoor shopping. Although I've never been to Las Vegas, I'd liken the experience of shopping there much like the over stimulation you'd expect in Vegas. It's very easy to just wander from place to place talking yourself out of buying things such as decorative mail boxes in the shape of a tractor wheel and cleverly designed expensive bird houses.
We passed a performance by Maxine Nightingale this afternoon and she sounded great. Katie appreciated one woman who was walking and decided to stop mid-stride so she could get her groove on during a disco tune. We also saw a brief performance of JIGU-Thunder Drums of China.
As we neared the threat level of extreme hunger, we went inside The Better Living Center for some perimeter eating. We eventually landed on a spot that had comfortable seating. I had a cheeseburger and a strawberry slushy. I managed to drip a HUGE gob of ketchup just to the left of my crotch while downing the burger and Katie dropped a dollop of BBQ sauce on her denim jacket while eating her chicken nuggets.
We wandered around looking at all the stuff to buy. I found a booth that sold outrageously ugly and comical ties for men. I bought Spencer this hideous tie that had fat, happy pigs being dumped into an Uncle Sam hat and coming out as sausage links. It was so bizarre that I just had to buy it. As an incentive to buy more ties ($12.95 for one, 2 for $20), I bought him a tie featuring books on bookshelves thinking it would be cute for him to wear at the library. It wasn't until I was paying for the ties did I look more closely to see the books actually were religious in nature.
We used the ladies room in the Better Living Center which was so much better than a Port-A-Potty. We encountered an attendant who had a knack for rhyming for her guests. Here are some of her choice phrases:
- "Ladies, take your time. I don't mind."
- "Rest your feet, enjoy your seat."
- "I know a man made the bathroom stall, that's why it's so small."
- "Thank you lady in brown for using the best bathroom in town" - directed at me as I tipped her a buck in honor of her cheerfulness.
After leaving the Big E, we had dinner at The Outback and ended up coming home around 7pm. It was a long day, but worth it.
You can click here to see all the photos I took today at the Big E, too. Enjoy.
Sep 10, 2007
He's My Moon Man
- *Quadruple Threat of the Year Winner
- *Male Artist of the Year Winner
- *Best Choreography for the video "My Love"
- *Best Direction for the video "What Goes Around...Comes Around"
I haven't watched the awards show yet, but I certainly taped it. It is going to be my well-deserved guilty pleasure after I put my bedroom back together again after the carpet installation. I'm going to settle into the couch with a bowl of burnt popcorn and feast my eyes on the glory of Timberlake.
As Sergeant Roger Murtaugh (Lethal Weapon I-IV) would say, "I'm too old for this shit! " But who cares?
Kitty Food Porn
You're Gonna Love My Carpet.
Installing a carpet is noisy work. The sounds of ripping, cutting and hammering has resulted in finally seeing the actual bedroom floor boards. Alas, we don't have beautiful hardwood floors hidden under the carpet. Rather we have a floor that looks like planks of wood and I marvel that this wood has been supporting my family for 37 years. There's a lot of my history in this bedroom floor.
My grandfather built this house back in 1969. He and his wife Rose were the first occupants of the bedroom and he was the one who laid the carpet that is now being replaced. He died in that very same bedroom in 1978 of prostate cancer.
Later my mother and father took over the bedroom after the death of my grandmother Rose. As my mother's mental illness progressed, she began to stay up throughout the night leaving my dad to sleep alone in the bedroom with their two dogs Brandy and Sid.
Sadly the carpet paid the price of territorial disagreements between these two dogs and each of them played a role in destroying sections of the carpet with their urine. My parents lack of training the dogs resulted in a ruined, smelly carpet. My mother decided that the best way to handle the urine stains was to nail throw rugs over the pee stains to hide their messes.
After my father died suddenly in 1998 of a massive heart attack, Spencer and I moved back to my childhood home to look after my mother who was getting progressively worse. My mother moved into one of the smaller bedrooms and we took over the master bedroom. The room needed a lot of work as the smell of dog urine had settled into the rug. We used a Bissell carpet cleaner to suck out the stink from the rug as best we could and got the room in livable condition although the last thing I ever wanted to do was have anyone see the bedroom carpet. The history of the bedroom had become embarrassing.
All that is about to change today and I couldn't be happier. We are about to have a beautiful bedroom carpet installed and I'll be able to sink my toes into the plushness of its new fibers. We've done many costly home improvements to our home since 1998, but replacing our bedroom carpet is one of the most meaningful.
Sep 3, 2007
It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
I bought my first Pomegranate of the season today at the Stop & Shop in Westborough, MA. I was thinking this time around, I'm going to keep count of exactly how many Pomegranates I consume this season much like the little quirky list my dad used to keep of squirrels he trapped in the backyard and then let go at the park. For posterity's sake, if you will.
Pomegranate's are my absolute favorite fruit. Seeing them in the produce section of the supermarket signifies the beginning of Autumn here in New England much like the first snowflake to some means the beginning of winter.
Selecting a pomegranate can be tricky and I usually cheat by sticking with the POM brand because their fruits have always tasted the best. They have fruits the size of softballs in early October and always taste much better than the stickered 'California Pomegranates'. I've never bought a rotten POM fruit either.
When shopping for a perfect pomegranate, look for these attributes: thin, yet tough unbroken skin, a fruit that has a deep red color, heavy for its size and a crown that is free of mold.
There are many published techniques for getting at the tart seeds. One method is to cut the fruit in half and immerse the pomegranate in a bowl of deep water so the kernels effortlessly lift away from the inner membrane of the fruit. But where's the fun in that?
I love the tediousness of this messy seasonal ritual. I get a big sturdy knife from the kitchen, place the fruit underneath an old kitchen towel and slice straight down halving the fruit-careful not to slice my fingers. The towel absorbs the sure squirt of red juice which stains just about everything it lands on. (You can always tell it's pomegranate season because my cuticles are dyed red from the juice of the pomegranate
That slice is so very important because it's my first glimpse inside the fruit. Brilliant red quadrants of seeds make the most perfect pomegranates to eat because I know the seeds will be just the right amount of tart and sweet.
I paid $2.48 for my first Pomegranate of the season today. It wasn't a POM fruit, but rather just a plain old 'California' pomegranate. I should have waited. The seeds inside were a pale red and not fully ripened although the outside met the criteria mentioned above as a choice selection.
Once again, patience isn't something I practice very well. One down-how many more to go?
Meet Ira Proctor
Ira Proctor was my personal favorite and I immediately went home, found his Myspace page and gushed via a post about how amazingly funny he was that night. He took the sting out of not being able to see Dennis Leary that night and I was so pleased to add him to my personal arsenal of favorite comedians.
Today I received an email from him letting me know a video of a recent performance at The Comedy Connection was posted on Ziddio under their Lucky21 contest. I signed in, watched the clip, voted five stars and was thrilled to see I could embed the clip here on my blog for you all to enjoy.
He's a funny, talented comedian. I can't wait to see him again.


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|the Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross "Gathering people together in the love of Christ."
11526 – 162nd Avenue NE
Redmond, WA 98052
|Thursday, April 02, 2020
Construction - what now?
We've completed construction of about 4,000 feet of new and renovated space to update our exterior, remodel our worship center, add classrooms, restrooms, kitchen and foyer, and build a new parish hall.
You see that many elements are incomplete. So what is next?
To Finish the Work
|Copyright (c) 2014 [ Log On ]

subset: commoncrawl


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Hi, I'm Laura Gaspard. I'm the Fundraising Coordinator here at NBCF and I'm on BeyondTheShock.com to learn all that I can about breast cancer along with provide a few answers to the questions that I am most knowledgeable about.
Looking for another topic? Use the search box in the top right.
"Inspire hope by becoming an advocate for breast cancer prevention."spread the word


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Just to clarify
It's hilarious and ironic, though. Imagine my bemusement: having had this fantasy for years that one day I'd be called (by, I don't know, whoever makes those calls) to play in James Brown's band… and then discovering one day that James Brown's band did, in fact, fill that slot toward the end with some other blond white-boy guitarist named Damon Wood.
Would it… drive you nuts? Make you quietly giggle with the delusional certainty that the universe has played a very small and personal prank on you? Does the universe use The Google? Or does it just punish you for running one too many vanity searches?
What are the odds? Apparently, 100%.
Oh well. At least Prince* is still around… and I'll bet he's desperate for my help! Anyway, I've been meaning to clear that up for a while. I'm sure the music world will breathe a huge collective sigh of relief.
So, Damon: right on, bro! I mean, the other Damon.
*EDIT 2018: Ugh, my heroes are checking out left and right.


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Zoë was the winner of Seventeen's first Pretty Amazing contest! Even though she had a tough childhood growing up in various homeless shelters, Zoë found a passion for designing clothes that helped her overcome any struggles. Her story is truly a positive inspiration for girls everywhere!
The times have changed, and Seventeen has changed along with it, offering advice and the cutest clothes to teen girls since your grandmother was 17. This mag has had 67 years of adventures, and that's what its all about. Hey, it's fun to be Seventeen!


text: Troops loyal to Burkina Faso's government have massed in the capital and told soldiers behind a coup to disarm and surrender or face attack, setting up a showdown over control of the country. The deadline, which expired at 10am GMT on Tuesday, came as talks between the army and the elite presidential guard continued in the capital, Ouagadougou. In an apparent olive branch, the coup leaders released interim prime minister Yacouba Isaac Zida, who had been held hostage since the revolt began, his adviser and another loyalist officer said. Ex-spy chief General Gilbert Diendere and his presidential guard rebelled on Wednesday, raiding a cabinet meeting and detaining the president and other ministers. The release of Zida came hours after army soldiers entered Ouagadougou without resistance. RELATED: Burkina Faso: Ghost of 'Africa's Che Guevara' Diendere, who is a close ally of deposed long-term president Blaise Compaore, already vowed to hand over power to a civilian transitional government. Army leaders began surrender talks late on Monday with the elite presidential guards that staged the coup. "All units [of the army mobilised on Monday to march on the capital] reached Ouagadougou" overnight, Colonel Serge Alain Ouedraogo, deputy head of the Burkinabe police, told the AFP news agency. "We must now secure the surrender of the [coup leaders] without gunfire or bloodshed," he said. At least 10 people have been killed and more than 100 injured in protests sparked by the coup, which came just weeks before what would have been the first elections since Compaore was ousted in a popular revolt last October after trying to extend his 27-year grip on power. Diendere on Monday apologised to the nation and said he would hand over control to a civilian transitional government after the military warned that its forces would converge on the capital and forcibly disarm the soldiers behind the power grab. He said his presidential guard unit "confirms our commitment to giving power back to civilian authorities", in a communique issued to journalists. That was one of the key conditions of a draft agreement that resulted from weekend negotiations with regional mediators, but it had been unclear until his announcement whether the coup leaders would abide by those terms. After the announcement, Al Jazeera's Nicolas Haque, reporting from Ouagadougou, said people were taking to the streets by the military headquarters to celebrate what they hoped meant the end to the coup and the chance of elections later this year. SOURCE: Al Jazeera And Agencies War & Conflict Politics Burkina Faso Blaise Compaore Africa


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Our truffles are handmade in small batches to retain their freshness and quality of flavour. We individually enrobe and decorate every chocolate to give a personalised finish to each different flavour. Additionally, our cholcolates are beautifully packaged to make a lovely gift or a decadent treat!
Our chief Chocolatiere, Meghan, oversees every batch of chocolates to ensure the consistency of taste and quality. Her style of truffle making aims to match a delicious initial burst of flavour from the truffle filling with an excellent chocolate flavour to finish. For this reason we use various specially selected high quality chocolate couveture from all over the world, mixed with lovely cream, real butter and natural ingredients where possible, to make our chocolates and truffles.
If you would like to you are able to make your own selection from our delicious hand made chocolates range, including truffles, caramels, pralines and seasonal specials. Alternatively choose the 'Chocolate Kitchen's choice', and let us send you a selection of our family favourites.
01777 711007


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OHSAS 18001 standard covers the occupational health and safety issues of the employees working in your organisation and your systematic approach to mitigate the risk involved in the various situations that your employees facing during the work. It does not state specific OH&S performance criteria, nor does it give detailed specifications for the design of a management system.
Being a voluntary certification, any Organisation is eligible for certification provided you implement the above standards. Organisations like software, manufacturing, trust, offices etc. can also apply and obtain Ohsas 18001 certification.
Procedure for obtaining OHSAS 18001 Certification
EAS Follows the common procedure to certify your system.
Please download the application form (ohsas application 18001.pdf) and send it back after filling the application. You can send the details to us through email@example.com contact us to know further details.
Please refer the procedure for certification of OHSAS.
Benefits of OHSAS Certification
Cost of Certification
EAS always charges the best competitive rates for the certification.
The costing is done based on the
As the charges vary from organization to organization, you can( contact us) by submitting the full information through application form.


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Oil on Canvas: 120 x 120cm
It was a hot August afternoon and the family decided an ice cream in Ovieto was calling. Well it really was hot and I spent a lot of time watching the world go by sitting in the shade. I conceived this moment in time when sitting on the Piazza della Rebublica looking down 'Corso Camilio Benson Conte di Cavour'. That street is worth painting just for its name.
I used a slightly more abstract style in this large painting and the trick is to see how much wine you need before you can see the 11 people in the street. I used a much smaller knife than usual with random directions in stroke. This gives a rather out of focus look which is what i was hoping to achieve. For those of you who like my textured work, this one is up there with the best.
For those wanting to visit, Orvieto is a city and commune in Province of Terni, South-western Umbria, Italy and has good ice cream.


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51 comments
They're beautiful ... big fan of lavender, too! Your vignette is gorgeous! *Becca*ReplyDelete
That looks so pretty Courtney! I love lavender to. Your mantel and decorations are just gorgeous!ReplyDelete
Beautiful vignette! Love the urn full of lavender!ReplyDelete
Courtney, What a lovely vignette. Your blog is so calm and peaceful! <3ReplyDelete
Courtney what a beautiful vignette!! I love lavender too and yours looks so pretty in the urn. Love the little cloche and starfish too!! Stop by and check out my giveaway when you have a chance. MartinaReplyDelete
I love your lavender vingette. I was just thinking about ordering some dried bundles.ReplyDelete
Hi Courtney...ReplyDelete
My friend, you have done it again!!! Ohh my...you really do create some of the prettiest vignettes in all of blogland! When I seen your post pop up...I couldn't get here soon enough! Hehe! Well dear lady, I just adore this gorgeous lavender vignette that you created for you bedroom mantel! Love, love, LOVE the all the beautiful masonary pieces...your big urn, the large shell, and the architectural piece! They are all just fabulous! The lavender in the urn...beautiful!!! And I love the pretty white beaded garland that you added to the shell! And...to top it off...that darling little nest under glass!!! Sooo very pretty, dear friend...thank you so much for sharing your new lavender vignette with us today!
Warmest spring wishes,
Chari @Happy To Design
Love all of your elements. Your planters are stunning and the lavender and white berries are wonderful. Love the whole display. Hugs, MartyReplyDelete
I, too, love lavender. I hope my lavender hedges survived the wretched winter!ReplyDelete
Oh wow at Costco? I'll be looking at my Costco for some lavendar. Love it! Nice display, I love the nest under the cloche.ReplyDelete
Beautiful vignette! Great prices on the lavender, I picked up some seeds in attempt to grow some in my yard. I love your starfish, I added some to my vignettes around the house a couple weeks ago. I just haven't gotten around to taking pictures.ReplyDelete
Happy Wednesday
Beautiful vignette Courtney. I love lavender and star fish so these are such a perfect combo. :)ReplyDelete
OH Courtney, what gorgeous vignettes, they are truly outstanding! I'm happy I found your wonderful blog.ReplyDelete
Beautiful. I love lavender, starfish, bird's nests and cloches. All the things you have featured!ReplyDelete
I love lavender too. It is such a pretty, old fashion flower!ReplyDelete
Very pretty vignette!ReplyDelete
Thanks for your kind comments on my blog.
Sandy @ My Shabby Streamside Studio
What a stunning vignette...two of my favorite things!!! Just lovely!ReplyDelete
You always know how to make the most beautiful vignettes Courtney~ Your lavender is so pretty~ Hugs,Rachel :)ReplyDelete
French Farmhouse 425
Courtney, that is the most beautiful vignette! I need to run to Costco and find some lavendar. They didn't have any at ours when I was there, maybe it is too early here. I love what you did with the chunky stone-like planters and accessories and the darling starfish is just the right touch to make me dreamy! Fab, fab, fab!ReplyDelete
So pretty! I love the lavender! And those are the most delicate starfish! Love your photos!ReplyDelete
Dear Courtney ... you always put together the most beautiful vignettes! Thank you for always thinking of me! xoxReplyDelete
Very pretty! Boy those plants are big...I think I need a trip to Costco :)ReplyDelete
Beautiful vignette! I love lavender too. I just love the smell of it every time you walk by. DianeReplyDelete
I am a lavender addict. It doesn't do well outside in my climate so I bring it in... My favorite place for lavender is right in the middle of my dining room table. ;) See you at feathered nest friday!ReplyDelete
Of all places...Costco! I will have to keep my eyes open! I love your urn and how the lavender looks in it. You really have the magic touch with making pretty vignettes!ReplyDelete
Everything is just lovely and I agree ~ lavender is just amazing ~ the look, the smell ~ ahhhh and so vintage. ;-)ReplyDelete
love lavender--i am thinking right by my entry door this year to get that lovely perfume in the door!ReplyDelete
Courtney, I always love your vignettes. They are so creative, and I am always amazed how you put things together. I love lavender, too. I usually choose lavender if given the choice because I love the way it smells.ReplyDelete
Everything looks wonderful. I love the lavender!ReplyDelete
Cute post! Glad to have discovered your blog - stop by mine when you get a chance, am now a new follower.ReplyDelete
Everything is perfect ! I love your sense of style and I enjoy every creation of yours ! The Lavender , so charmingly simple !ReplyDelete
Your mantle looks lovely! I can't believe you found such good looking plants at costco of all places, I Love it! :)ReplyDelete
Great score on that lavender Courtney and you make it look so lovely to boot!ReplyDelete
Lavender is so soothing and love your planters. Spring is bursting forth here...yay. Visiting from Flora Thurs. ♥oliveReplyDelete
Courtney-What a beautiful vignette! I love it! Lavender is one of my all time garden favorites. I suppose you don't want to know that my lavender "bush" which was about 3 feet tall and 3 feet around got pulled up by my husband because he thought it was a weed..AND he left it laying there...by the time I discovered it there was no hope of replanting. It is too bad that murder is illegal in the state of WI!!! xxoo DianaReplyDelete
The lavender looks beautiful against the silvery gray of the urn. It is a plant that many of us cherish, so fragrant and a cottage garden favourite.ReplyDelete
Thanks for Joining in Cottage Flora Thursday's...i love lavendar - so yummy! So excited to get in the dirt myself - feels like it's taking forever to warm up....which is why i'm enjoying peeking at all the links to the garden party! Thanks again for joining & sharing the link on your post! xoxo, TracieReplyDelete
Your home seems to be full of one delight after another!! You must have a big smile on your face all day as you turn to see your beautiful things all around you.ReplyDelete
I hope you're having a wonderful day.
Beautiful vignette and the egg looks so cozy in the cloche.ReplyDelete
Beautiful. I love lavender...ReplyDelete
Have a nice day!
I'm bummed we have no Costco here. Your mantle is gorgeous, as everything you do! I'll be over to see you soon,!ReplyDelete
I will have to check my Costco! Thanks for the tip. This is gorgeous.ReplyDelete
Gorgeous, Gorgeous, Gorgeous..ReplyDelete
hugs from Savannah, Cherry
Calling by to visit your Cottage Flora Thursday post, very pretty vignettes which have given me inspiration.ReplyDelete
I just found your blog and am your newest follower. Thanks for the fab projects and inspiration. I wish I could smell your display!! I will definitely be stopping by often!ReplyDelete
Hi.. I am new to your blog. Happy I found you. Such inspiration. Love the Vignettes you create and I love Lavendar too. Thanks for sharing your talents and for allowing to come visit. Have a lovely day. See you soon :)ReplyDelete
Oh, I too love lavender! I spritz it on my bed linens for tranquil sleep. And where I'm typing, I have a plant right outside the door.ReplyDelete
I am in love with lavender too Courtney. Your urn full of it is beautiful and I love the starfish with it. Very pretty!ReplyDelete
Thanks for linking up!
I love lavender. We had lavender planted in our garden at our other house. I had to leave them behind sigh!!ReplyDelete
It's all just beautiful. I have always wanted to grow some lavender. I think I'll have the husband look the next time he's in Costco.ReplyDelete
I love the nest in the cloche, too.
Beautiful, as always, Courtney. Love your wonderful urn and that sea shell. Will the lavender grow inside the house? I love lavender too, but didn't know I could grow it inside. Thank you for linking to Favorite Things. laurieReplyDelete


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Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Be the first AL.com user to add photos or videos of Frontier Motors
Frontier Motors can be found at Auto Mall Pky 11032. The following is offered: Used Car Dealers. The entry is present with us since Sep 7, 2010 and was last updated on Nov 12, 2013. In Biloxi there are 10 other Used Car Dealers. An overview can be found here.
Frontier Motors is located at 11032 Auto Mall Pkwy, Diberville, MS. This business specializes in Used Car Dealers.


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Visual Immersion, LLC
In contrast to the Roman fortress-like Kahn building, the Piano Pavilion entryway brings in abundant light from above and outside. Glass walls and a lack of columns within allow the light to flow through the entire building, completely unobstructed.
Robert Polidori
Three galleries dedicate 16,200 square feet of space to temporary collections. Adjustable walls can be shifted into an almost infinite number of configurations, and the two galleries in the east wing have adjustable slatted ceilings that can open to fully light pieces like the soon-to-arrive Samurai armor, or close so as not to harm paintings like Picassos and Matisses. The third gallery, in the west wing, is below ground—ideal for even more delicate, light-sensitive art.
Robert Polidori
That signature Piano light—directionless, seemingly without source—magically fills every corner of the galleries, thanks to a complex feat of roof construction. The sun's rays bounce off the roof's first layer of adjustable slats (hidden among the slats are photovoltaic cells, which direct the sun's energy to the building's electrical system). The rays are then diffused by the etched skylight, and finally, further diffused by the last layer, made of light fabric, 50 inches below.
Robert Polidori
Two-thirds of the building is submerged to reduce heating and cooling needs and maximize green space: The 19,200-square-foot lawn covering the majority of the structure features plenty of space to relax and enjoy the beautiful views of Fort Worth's museum-packed Cultural District. "We don't want to take away from Fort Worth, we want to give back," explained project manager Andy Klemmer.
Visual Immersion, LLC
Light fully permeates even the submerged portions of the building, via the glass passageways that connect the glass pavilion and galleries to the underground areas.
Visual Immersion, LLC
The double-height auditorium with 298 classic red sloped seats is highlighted by a glass wall behind the stage that opens the space to (you guessed it) natural light, defying the conventional closed-box auditorium model.
More On Museums:
Is This NY's Most Underrated Museum?
The Three Art Exhibits You Need to See in Paris, Now


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Divorce & Parental Rights
This page links to all of our divorce and parental rights form kits. We have put together several forms kits - they have all the forms you will need for certain kinds of divorce or parental rights and responsibilities cases. You can use these kits, or you can find a particular form you need from the All Court Forms page.
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RePresent: Renter! A game to prepare for an eviction hearing
If you have an eviction hearing soon, and will be going to court without a lawyer, you can practice representing yourself by playing RePresent: Renter! You'll learn how to prepare for court, what your rights are as a renter in Maine, what happens in court on the day of your hearing, and how to present evidence and cross-examine the other person in your case.
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Up-to-date as of 4/8/2020 Is PTLA open? Can I still get help? To protect our clients and staff, all PTLA offices are closed to the public. If you have a current case, please reach out to our staff by e-mail or phone. If you are looking for legal help, please visit our Contact Us page for information about our up-to-date call in hours. Thank you for your understanding.
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Using Your EBT Card to Get Food Supplements and TANF
Where can I use my card? Stores post signs with the "Quest" card logo. In the lower left hand corner, these signs will display a simple "food supplements" logo, a dollar sign ($), or both. This indicates whether that store will let you use your card as payment for food (from your food supplements account), other items (from your TANF account), or both. On the sample sign here, there are two small logos. A store displaying this sign would accept your card to buy both food and other items.
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Emergency Assistance
Emergency Assistance (EA) is a program run by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). EA helps children and their families with some emergencies. The program does not cover all emergencies. You have to have children in your home, but you do not have to be on TANF, to get EA. If you qualify, EA will pay certain basic needs. For example, if you and your child have just been evicted from your home and you don't have the money to pay the security deposit on a new apartment, you may be able to get EA to help pay the deposit.
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About Maine's Food Supplement Program (formerly Food Stamps)
Learn about how the Food Supplement Program works in Maine, where to apply, who is eligible, and how to calculate the amount of benefits you could be eligible for.
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Maine DHHS Support Hearings: What Should I Expect?
This page explains how child support collection works in Maine. The law and the process are different in every state. If your case is not in Maine, don't use this information – find resources in your state. If you get any notices about Maine DHHS setting or collecting support, read them carefully. If you disagree with them, you may request a hearing within the time limits given in the Notice
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How Much Child Support Should I Get from DHHS? Information for TANF Families
Whenever you get TANF, you give the State of Maine a temporary claim to your child support. The State keeps some of the child support it collects, and sends some of it to you. This worksheet will help you figure out how much of each you should get.
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Courthouse Assistance Programs
Help for people doing their own divorce - or other family law - case in Maine.
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How Do I Change My DHHS Child Support Order?
This information is to help you if you need to change a Department of Health Human Services (DHHS) Child Support Order. If a Court ordered you to pay child support, this information will not help you. Go here for our guide on How To: Change or Enforce Your Maine Divorce or Parental Rights Order.
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Child Support Collection: What Can DHHS Do to Make Me Pay?
This page explains how child support collection works in Maine. The law and the process differ from state to state. Maine has several tools to collect both current and overdue child support. These are explained below. If you get any notices about DHHS collecting support from you, read them carefully. If you disagree with them, you may request a hearing within the time limits given in the Notice.
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Divorce and Separation: Where Can I Get Help?
Lists resources for people who are separating or going through divorce: where to get legal and financial help, and other support services.
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What is a Guardian ad Litem?
Note: This article is about guardian ad litems in the state of Maine. This role, and the process around a guardian ad litem may be different in other states. A "guardian ad litem" (GAL) is a person the court appoints to investigate what solutions would be in the "best interests of a child." Here, we are talking about a GAL in a divorce or parental rights and responsibilities case. The GAL will look into the family situation and advise the court on things like:
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Military Search for Service by Alternative Means
If you are starting a family law case (such as a divorce or setting parental rights and responsibilities), you must tell the other party that you are bringing a court action against them. You do this by "serving" the other party. This means that you give copies of your court papers to the other party. Court rules tell you how this must be done.
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DHHS is trying to get me to pay child support, but I don't know if I'm a parent
What is this information and how will it help me? This information is for parents who are being pursued by DHHS for payment of child support. We also have pages on these related topics:
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Power of Attorney for a Child
July 29, 2016 Notice: The Maine legislature has passed a law affecting professionals who help people complete forms to effect a Child Power of Attorney. If you work for a non-profit (501(c)(3)) organization – other than legal aid – these new rules apply to you. You have the reponsibility to do a background check on anyone who would receive the power of attorney (the agent), and any adult members of their household. You must give a copy of the results to both the parents and the agent.
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Child Support and Debt Due for Past Support
What is this information and how will it help me? This information is for parents who are being pursued by Maine DHHS for payment of child support, especially when there is no order of child support. It will help you prepare for your DHHS Support Hearing. If there is already a child support order and DHHS is trying to collect past support, or if DHHS issued a child support order in the past and your circumstances have changed, please see What Can DHHS Do To Make Me Pay? We also have pages on these related topics:
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Can I Get a DHHS Child Support Order Set Aside?
This information is to help you if you need to change a Department of Health Human Services (DHHS) Child Support Order. If a Court ordered you to pay child support, this information will not help you. Go here for our guide on How To: Change or Enforce Your Maine Divorce or Parental Rights Order. When Can I Get a DHHS Order Set Aside? Here are the rules.
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Should I Use DHHS's Child Support Enforcement Services?
Introduction DHHS can collect child support for you. They can also help set up child support orders. They can help even if you or the children don't receive TANF or other public benefits. DHHS may be able to help you if: You are owed child support under a court order. OR
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Fair Housing: Your Right To Rent or Own a Home
What does "Fair Housing" mean? In Maine we have both state and federal "fair housing" laws. They say that a landlord cannot refuse to rent to you, and a seller cannot treat you differently, because of your: -race -color -national origin or ancestry (where you or your family came from)...
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Sexual Harassment: Your Fair Housing Rights
Am I the victim of sexual harassment by my landlord or neighbor? You are not alone. Sexual harassment by landlords or neighbors can make it hard to live in your home. Under Maine and Federal law, sexual harassment is sex discrimination. Sex discrimination in housing is illegal. Sexual harassment includes: Offers to pay rent with sex instead of money Use of sexual words in front of you and/or your family Sexual assault or rape
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Logement Equitable: Votre Droit à la Location ou à l'Achat d'une Maison
Que signifie "Logement Equitable"? Clic ici pour obtenir une version imprimeur-amicale de brochure de pdf. Dans le Maine, il existe des lois d'état et des lois fédérales sur le « Logement équitable ». Elles stipulent qu'un propriétaire ne peut pas refuser de vous louer ou vendre un logement et vous traiter différemment pour les raisons suivantes: race couleur de peau
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Fair Housing (Russian)
В штате Мэн действует как закон штата, так и федеральный закон о «запрещении дискриминации при аренде и покупке жилья».
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Cadaaladda Guryaha: Xaqa Aad u Leedahay Guri Kireysasho ama Guri Iibsasho
Waa maxay macnaha "Cadaaladda Guryaha" (Fair Housing)? Gobolka Maine waxa ka jira sharci gobol iyo sharci federal oo ku saabsan "cadaaladda Guryaha". Sharciyadaasi waxay qorayaan inaan mulkiile guri (landlord) aanuu kuu diidi karin inu guri kaa kireeyo, ninka guryaha iibiyana kuulama dhaqmi karo si kaduwan dadka kale, iyadoo sababtu tahay: .pdf version
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How Much Heat and Other Basic Utilities Does My Landlord Have to Provide?
How much heat or other basic utilities does a landlord have to provide? If your landlord has agreed to provide heat or other basic utilities, they have broken the law if: The temperature in your house or apartment is so low that it "injures the health" of anyone living there. (This rule does not apply to someone who "suffers from abnormal medical conditions," that is, someone who is so sick that he cannot stay healthy with a normal amount of heat.)
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AN OUTSPOKEN councillor has resigned from his group.
Southend councillor Dr Marimuthu Velmurugan, who represents Westborough Ward, resigned from the independent group on Saturday.
The Echo understands the GP resigned in an emotional email to the leaders of each party and the chief executive after being invited to join the South Essex Homes Task and Finish Working Party or the Youth Working Party.
He will sit on his own at council meetings from Tuesday.
Dr Velmurugan could not be reached for comment.


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Improve Clinical Site Monitoring
Ripple provides real-time monitoring of site recruitment and retention efforts at a level of detail usually not provided by standard CTMS. This reduces site investigator administrative burden and allows the CRO to get actionable insights into site performance to help sites reach their goals before it negatively impacts the trial.
- De-identified live site level analytics
- Cross-site performance analytics
- Advanced site flagging
- Study enrollment projections


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The biggest problem people using banner advertising is the fact that you are spending so much money to get ads on websites in your market. In this article I want to show you an easy way to get a good spot for your ads so you can get much traffic and making a lot of money
Secret # 1 :.
The first thing you need to do is make sure you're not focused on large sites in your market. You have to realize that the more traffic a site gets, the more they can charge you to put your ad up.
It's not what you want! Also, more visitors and they have come to their site, the more ads they want to generally allow the area and you will get a lot less views
Secret # 2 :.
What you want to do is concentrate on my hobby positions in markets that are not getting a lot of visitors to their sites. The reason for this is so that you can get cheaper prices and because they do not get a pile of guests, you can also get a way higher percentage of the views.
The thing people do not understand is that if you just go on very popular sites, you'll wind up spending a lot of money and not get a lot of visitors. The reason is that they will put you in the rotation.
ad could really only be shown in five views. So make sure you have a small places in your market.


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'lay down low' by the eagle rock gospel singers is a traditional southern style gospel song brought to life by a group from los angeles.
it has a deep, warm natural reverb effect achieved by recording in an old church, an appropriate setting for the material. the instrumentation is very sparse, just acoustic guitar and bass, which lets the gospel choir singing take center stage, with stomping and clapping for percussion.
listen to more from the eagle rock gospel singers here.


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another sample box
So you thought you'd heard the last of my thoughts on sample boxes? Well unfortunately not! I recently saw that The Fragrance Shop started their own sample box called the Discovery Box I decided to give it a go. Up front they tell you that for £5 quarterly you get five perfume vials to test out and decide if you like. This comes packaged in a small navy box alongside £5 off vouchers for each fragrance and a detailed perfume guide to talk you through the scents. I love the booklet with all the notes and descriptions of the perfumes. I find things like this really interesting so it's nice to see some depth to the content in the box. Inclued in the Autumn Winter version of the Discovery Box are Boss Nuit Pour Femme, Ralph Lauren Big Pony, Swarovski Edition, Paco Rabanne Lady Million and Lancome La Vie Est Belle.
For me personally, I love perfume and I especially enjoy trying new ones out so this is ideal for me. I like being able to try things out on my skin before committing to full size. While I know a lot of peoples gripes with sample boxes are the fact you get perfume vials for free. Although I agree you can get them for free if you ask sometimes but in my experience staff in department stores are a little stingy with their samples unless you buy something in the first place.
I really like the idea even though I'm so over sample boxes these days. It's a bit different and something new to the beauty box table. It's a quarterly box and Im quite interested in seeing how things develop with this box so I think I will stay subscribed. I guess it depends how you feel on perfume samples and getting them for free or not!


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Minimalist and versatile, this beautiful small Rectangular Storage Basket was designed by The Basket Room and handcrafted in Ghana.
With a natural, geometric pattern inspired by local designs, this basket provides a vibrant and stylish space saving design. Robust enough to store kindling and magazines, the basket would also serve as stylish nursery storage for toys and books.
Hand-woven by skilled craftswomen in Ghana, this Rectangular Storage Basket has been crafted using a wild-growing Ghanaian grass called veta vera. Also known as a bolga basket, each basket takes up to three days to create in a complicated process that involves the grass being collected and split by hand, then rolled and dyed before skilled weavers can begin their work.
A craft as old as mankind, basket weaving inspired Camilla and Holly to found The Basket Room and support local weavers. In supporting these communities in Rwanda, Ghana, Kenya and Swaziland, the workers benefit from fair wages, dignified working conditions and the ability to work alongside their other roles.
Please note: Due to the handcrafted nature of these baskets, no two are the same


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Technology interventions to improve healthcareBilly Wood18/08/2017Healthcare
ADHD - or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity. The disorder, which presents itself predominantly in academic, occupational or social settings, can affect people of all ages but is most likely to impact the young. Indeed, recent statistics show one in five school children are believed to be suffering from it.
According to research by Child Trends, close to 8.8% of the world's children - a gargantuan 616m - were affected by ADHD in 2013, up from 5.5% in 1997. Given these alarming numbers, it is imperative educational establishments and healthcare providers act swiftly to help reverse the trend.
ADHD can be treated either through behavioural interventions or through clinical methods, the latter relying on medication and allopathic means. Unfortunately, drugs designed to reduce the symptoms of the condition come with many side effects that can impact children's physical and mental development alike, and should therefore be avoided. Traditional behavioural treatments, meanwhile, involve controlling disruptive behaviour and inattention, while increasing social skills and academic performance. However, one alternative is to use new technology, with Virtual Reality, in particular, set to be a game changer.
Gartner's Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies, which analyses the potential of recent digital innovations, has stated that VR has a bright future ahead of it. Hence, investments in the field are reaching astronomical levels and by 2025 are expected to hit $35bn. Of this, 14.5% - or $5.1bn - will likely come from the healthcare industry.
Against this backdrop, we sought to explore possible alternatives for treating ADHD, based not on drugs but on pioneering technologies. We are experienced in developing cutting edge apps in the digital health arena and are already offering high-end VR solutions in a number of fields. So this seemed an obvious place to start.
VR is a powerful technological tool, which blocks out the physical world and engages users in simulated visual and auditory phenomena. It has a non-mediation effect, which means it can immerse users completely within the sensory experience. Thus, it can assist medical practitioners in observing patient response, helping them diagnose ADHD earlier than would have been possible previously. And this is just one possible use of the revolutionary technology within this field, making a clear competitor with more traditional methods.
Following on from our research paper which looked at how wearables and artificial intelligence (AI) might power a connected, assistive healthcare system, our new research paper focuses on the creation of a platform for diagnosing ADHD and suggests ways medical professionals and educational institutions could embrace this emerging tech.


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Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners Issue Global Connected Car Guidance- Posted on October 5, 2017 - huntonprivacyblog.com
Global Privacy and Cybersecurity Law Updates and Analysis
Plné znění článku najdete na adrese: http://tinyurl.com/ycu28rxx
Cituji vybrané části z textu článku:
"Last week, at the 39th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners in Hong Kong, data protection authorities from around the world issued non-binding guidance on the processing of personal data collected by connected cars (the "Guidance"). "
"Building on existing international guidelines and resolutions, the Guidance urges the automobile industry to follow privacy by design principles "at every stage of the creation and development of new devices or services."
PDF soubor s plnou verzí přijaté rezoluce:
"Resolution on Data Protection in Automated and Connected Vehicles"
najdete na adrese: http://tinyurl.com/y8lwvkkb
The Guidance sets forth the following recommendations, among others:
List of 12 Recommendation
Cituji závěr článku:
"While non-binding, the Guidance is being interpreted by many as a set of global standards to guide data protection enforcement efforts, and may signal a wave of enforcement actions to come. The Federal Trade Commission did not participate in issuing the Guidance."


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December 24, 201418,104 Views
Watch Episode 1 of Everything Audio, the interactive show about sound, music and technology, featuring guests Andrew Scheps, Jack Joseph Puig and Dave Audé.
The premiere episode of Everything Audio aired live on October 7, 2014. Hosted by audio engineer Dave Hampton (Prince, Herbie Hancock, Justin Timberlake), the show featured producer/engineer Andrew Scheps (Adele, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lana Del Ray, Jay-Z), producer/engineer Jack Joseph Puig (U2, Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, John Mayer), and producer/remixer/DJ Dave Audé (Rihanna, Chris Brown, Coldplay, Beyoncé), discussing the quality of audio today and how technology affects our perception of it.
The show also featured Q&A via social media and an interactive trivia competition with registered viewers. Enjoy watching!
Categories: Webinars
Tags: Andrew Scheps, Dave Audé, Everything Audio, Jack Joseph Puig
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text: Microsoft's Exchange 2013 and Office 365 have included a range of new features that will benefit small businesses and larger companies alike. The software gives small companies that may not be able to afford their own IT department a platform that will always work. It can also be installed in up to five devices, so it's cost-effective as well.


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Dean's Excellence in Science PhD Scholarships
The Faculty of Science is offering a limited number of prestigious postgraduate research scholarships to academically outstanding international and domestic students wishing to undertake a research doctorate degree (PhD) in the Faculty of Science.
Key information
Important dates
International students: Applications open 1 July - 30 August 2019 with commencement in 2020.
Domestic students: Applications open 1 September - 31 October 2019 with commencement in 2020.
Our research themes
Work with our leading researchers to help bring about meaningful change for the world and humanity in the key areas of:
Feeding the world
Our agricultural research is helping make chronic hunger and malnutrition a thing of the past.
Preventing, diagnosing and treating disease
Our wide-ranging research addresses some of the world's most significant health issues, from prevention and diagnosis, to treatment and cure.
Furthering human knowledge and serving humanity
Our research is redefining the boundaries of scientific knowledge and driving positive global change for better lives and communities.
Harnessing resources and energy for a sustainable future
Our energy and geoscience research is helping create a world of secure, sustainable and emission-free minerals and energy.
Restoring and maintaining balance in our natural environment
Our environmental research at UWA is protecting biodiversity and helping keep man-made climate change in check.
Optimising physical and mental performance
Our researchers are discovering ways to improve the quality of life by better understanding how we think, feel and move.
Related links
Faculty of Science
Faculty of Science is uncovering exactly how it has the power to change our world for the better
PhD opportunities in Science
You can research your PhD at UWA and join leading academics and researchers on innovative projects answering the world's big questions through our PhD opportunities in Science.
Our research
As a leading Australian research-intensive university, UWA's Faculty of Science is at the forefront of discovery.
International students
Find out about UWA fees and scholarships, life in Perth, what to do before you move and much more.
Contact HDR support
Get in touch+61 8 6488 7741
Send an email@example.com
Find us on campusMap
View allA-Z listing


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New York Times Journeys - The Other Side of Sydney - Where Sydneysiders Play, Shop, Eat and Drink!
Sydney, Australia
From USD 107.27
Office phone number: +61 (0) 414 983 091
New York Times Journeys - The Other Side of Sydney - Where Sydneysiders Play, Shop, Eat and Drink!
Sydney, Australia
Culture shock rating
Worried we're going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We've got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don't worry, you'll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that's on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you'll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
You're out there in the global community! We're going to take you down streets you'd rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it's worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we've got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
Tour snapshot
Venture past Sydney's central business district to where locals live and play, with a guide from Urban Adventures on a tour inspired by The New York Times. From a Sydney Harbour ferry, experience water views of Sydney icons. Find out why Sydneysiders have been traveling to Manly Beach since the 1850s. Meet an First Peoples of Australia elder and learn to make music on clapsticks. Savor local delicacies and hear the stories behind First Peoples of Australia art.
- Savor freshly baked scones with homemade jam washed down with tea or coffee in an Irish Tea House within the historical Rocks area of Sydney
- Take a 30-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay to Manly on a Sydney Harbour ferry
- Enjoy a craft beer and light Aussie nibbles/snacks at 4 Pines Brewery
- Stroll to Manly Beach, the birthplace of Australian surfing
New York Times Exclusives
- Behind-the-Scenes Access: At Manly's Aboriginal Dreamtime Fine Art Gallery, hear an exclusive talk with an expert in an indigenous art, learn where the art was made, about the artists and hear the stories portrayed in the paintings
- Hands-on Element: Learn how to use First Peoples of Australia clapsticks and make music alongside an First Peoples of Australia elder as you learn about his culture. You'll also get to hear the haunting sounds of the didgeridoo
- Local Interactions: Meet and chat with the owner/manager of the Irish Tea Cosy in the historical Sydney Rocks, who will tell you the history of the building and the story of the Irish family owners
Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:
- The Irish tea store you visit is a family-owned business where the scones are made on-site and the souvenirs are unique to the Tea Shop, including hand-made jams. In addition, the tea cosies and rugs sold here are made by patrons and proceeds are donated to local charities.
- Manly's Aboriginal Dreamtime Fine Art Gallery showcases Indigenous art, jewellery, and artifacts. All sales benefit 50 Aboriginal artists and the communities in which they live.
- 4 Pines Brewery, which you visit on your tour, is passionate about doing the right thing for the planet. It is one of only two brewing companies in Australia currently listed as a Certified B Corp for its sustainability initiatives.
- At 4 Pines the core by-product of the brewing process is spent grain, an organic waste. The majority of their spent grain is donated to farmers in need as a free source of nutritional feed for their livestock.
Schedule details
- Duration: 3.5 Hours
- Meeting point:
In the foyer of the Holiday Inn Old Sydney, 55 George Street, The Rocks, Sydney.
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 10.00 AM
- Ending point:
4 Pines Brewery, Manly
Language: English
Inclusions: Professional local guide, scones and tea/coffee (or alternative soft drink), ferry ticket, light Aussie nibbles/snacks and a craft beer.
Exclusions: Gratuity. Clapsticks are provided for demonstration only and are not included in the tour price. Clapsticks can be purchased at the Dreamtime Gallery.
Gather at the historic Rocks area, where the English started their history in Australia in the late 1700s. Stroll to the Tea Cosy, an Irish shop in an 1870s rowhouse. The English tradition of tea or coffee with scones has been adopted by Aussies, with an Aussie flavor. Have some homemade scones fresh from the oven, slathered with jam made from Australian fruits. Chat with the owner/manager, who will talk about the history of the building and the story of the Irish family who started the shop. You can also shop for jam or a unique tea cozy for a great Aussie souvenir.
Hop on a ferry for a 30-minute ferry ride on magnificent Sydney Harbour, seeing water views of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and the glorious harbor scenery. Alight at Manly Beach. Originally described as "seven miles from Sydney and a thousand miles from care," Manly is the birthplace of surfing championships in Australia. Sydneysiders and other Aussies have been traveling to Manly since the 1850s; today it's full of great shops, good restaurants and has become a popular destination. We'll take a stroll through the seaside township to the famous beach.
Visit Manly's Aboriginal Dreamtime Fine Art Gallery to immerse yourself in the world's oldest continuously living culture. First Peoples of Australia believe their world began when their ancestors walked the land in the "Dreamtime," creating the places and things that inhabit First Peoples of Australia culture in Australia. Marvel at the unique art, jewelry and artifacts from central and western districts of Australia. Enjoy an exclusive talk about the art, where it was made, the artists and the stories portrayed in the paintings. Learn how each piece reflects the land and First Peoples of Australia heritage. The shop sources the art from the artists and cares about the authenticity and uniqueness of each piece. All purchases will directly benefit the First Peoples of Australia artists and their communities.
A First Peoples of Australia elder will discuss his culture with you and play the didgeridoo, a wind instrument with a beautiful, haunting tone. He will also teach you how to use clapsticks, percussion sticks to accompany the didgeridoo. You can buy your own clapsticks to take home.
Finish your tour at local favorite haunt 4 Pines Brewery, a socially conscious microbrewery where you can see brewmasters hard at work to craft the perfect post-surf pint. We'll enjoy one of their creations while sharing some light Aussie nibbles/snacks and conversation about how the brewery sprung from a casual conversation between the father and son founders. The tour concludes here, leaving you free to shop the Manly Corso; head back to Manly Beach for a swim, or accompany your guide back to Circular Quay.
New York Times Reading List
- What to Cook This Week (Australian edition)
- In Tasmania, a Gin Boom Showcasing Native Plants (and Even Sheep Whey)
- The Gay Penguins of Australia
- Has Australia Abandoned the Salad Sandwich?
- Is the Way Australia Funds the Arts a Recipe for Mediocrity?
- A $1,000 Day in Sydney for $100
A City Tour gift certificate is the perfect present for any occasion. Select a specific tour and date, or choose the value and let the lucky recipient decide how to redeem it.
Additional information
Inclusions: Professional local guide, scones and tea/coffee (or alternative soft drink), ferry ticket, light Aussie nibbles/snacks and a craft beer.
Exclusions: Gratuity. Clapsticks are provided for demonstration only and are not included in the tour price. Clapsticks can be purchased at the Dreamtime Gallery.
Your Trip: For your New York Times Journeys/Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select 'child' above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you'll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
Dietary Notes
We can accommodate vegetarians and other dietary restrictions. Please notify us in advance if you have any dietary requests. You can do so in the 'Additional information' box at checkout, or by emailing us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Local contact
Office phone number: +61 (0) 414 983 091
Email address: email@example.com


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Building a better world, uke by uke.
This is my building diary. I build ukuleles in my apartment workshop. I try to label the posts, so if you're interested in anything in particular you might find it by clicking the labels.
Feel free to contact me if there is anything you want to ask, or even better; tell me.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Solera insert
Being immensely clever
You'll see where all this leads soon.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Backs are on, merry christmas
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
New radius dish, part II
And the best things about it; no dust! No noise! No cumbersome sled jig for the lethal router! I'm so happy.
New radius dish, part I
The radius I chose for the dish is 2500 mm.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Glueing done
Monday, December 19, 2011
New jig project
A lot of pieces will be joined, the result should be stunning (well, if everything goes according to my rather dim plan).
Monday, December 12, 2011
Back braces on the concerts
These two are among my cleanest builds yet, I'm very anxious to hear what they will sound like.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Necks attached
In the pic you can see the angle attachment I have for my Proxxon drill. It's as small and versatile as a Dremel, but far superior in quality. The angle attachment makes a loud noise but is essential when I do this.
The procedure is a bit different from the one I use for the piccolos, you should be able to find that in earlier posts.
Aligning neck
The hole for the barrel nut is made already.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Shaping necks, finished
Now they just need some sanding.
And this was to be a project, this neck carving documentary. I didn't mean it to end this fast. What am I supposed to think of now?
Shaping necks, final steps
The edge is ground straight on both sides, with no second bevel. Cuts clean and exactly how I want it.
Shaping necks, back of the headstock
Since I use wooden violin pegs on my ukes I don't worry about the the sides being absolutely parallell - and I quite fancy the tapered headstocks on vintage ukes. On them the tip of the headstock is very thin.
Shaping necks, carving
It's nearly done!
These posts have gone out in real time, with a break to play piano with Li.
Shaping necks, cont.
Li makes sure it looks big.
Shaping necks, for the concerts
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Shaping the contour
Messy bench - check.
Small wonderful shavings - check.
This pic has all you can ask for. Plus it shows how I shape the profile of the rim on one of the mahogany concerts.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Neck blanks trued
With the sharp knives etc etc. Did I mention those before..?
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Figure? Curl?!
Splitting the alder log
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Concert progress
Next up, some overdue cleaning up.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Carved neck
Some rough shaping first with a japanese hand saw, then a stationary belt sander. But the detailing was all made with knives.
You can also see the mandolin tuners. Turns out they have a huge ratio, I didn't think of that when I ordered them. Tuning takes a long time, but hopefully that'll be better once the strings are stretched.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Finally in tune
I'll keep an ear open tonight for the sound of wood coming apart.
But the sounds I've managed to get out of it so far are convincing, it sounds really good. If only Ronald would come to pick it up.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Side by side
Then I went on to the first of the resos, which will be clad in cherry. I had a good set of sides, but it was of two halves. Luckily one of the reso skeletons had a dowel exactly in the middle, so the joint will be backed up there. I intended to use one piece rims on the resos as well, so the dowels are placed a bit inexactly.
The cherry one is spoken for, but I really don't know by whom. I think all who saw my prototype this summer wanted a wenge one, but I only have wenge for one more. The others will be as good looking or better. Now I make one each of wenge, walnut, ash and cherry.
The third side you see is for the other concert. It has blocks now, and will get kerfing soon. Both concerts will have a bookmatched top of the best mahogany I have, and a one piece back of mahogany that is a bit twisted in the grain. Looks lovely but I want the soundboard to be straighter than that.
But what of Ronald's tenor, I hear you (Ronald) ask. My bet is he'll get it with a passive pickup and that he'll sort the pre-amp a lot quicker than I can...
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Pesky effin' electronics
And I got a pickup in place under the saddle. And it sort of works, but the preamp is nigh impossible. I am crap at electronics and have no clue at all.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Concert sides bent
Saturday, October 1, 2011
French polishing the 8-string
This is me doing it, and for a base coat / sealer I used vernice bianca, a mixture of gum arabic and egg whites. It was something I read about and wanted to try. The gum arabic was dissolved in water, and it felt weird to apply the mixture to the seasoned and dry mahogany wood. But no harm was done, and maybe a few pores were filled.
It's a bit awkward to polish around the bridge and fretboard end, and for those areas I don't use the muneca but an eraser wrapped in cloth. The edges of the eraser are a lot easier to use in the corners.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Ron's tenor... and a couple of concerts?!
I also made a very neat bridge of ebony, and it gets sanded underneath to conform to the domed soundboard.
But the strangest news is... the Argapa concerts took a leap forward when I sanded all the flat parts today. I made the necks last weekend. Look out, Ben and Brian! The parts can be seen behind Johan's jelly-fish-ulele.
Now; supper.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Ronald's tenor, back on
The back went on yesterday, and I cut the overhang tonight. With knives and a chisel. Laminate trimmers and flush cut routers are for non vikings. And wimps. And posers.
Anyway, you should be able to see the ash peghead veneer and the ash heel cap, the latter of which is integrated in the back. Both pieces come from the same tree that was used in Jukka's and Aya's wedding uke (see label called something along those lines).
This tenor has moved on quite fast. I'm used to mahogany and the new mold works great. For finish, I'm considering egg white pore filling and shellac.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Bridge repair on a factory made uke
But wait a minute... Glued? Look at the underside of the bridge. It's double stick tape! Complete with fiber reinforcement! Some industrial grade, not carpet tape. It has bonded with the finish and it worked for a couple of years. Now it's hard and brittle. I had to pause chipping it off to document this.
This bridge is going to get a wood to wood bond, as it should have been in the first place.
Grant's 'ook-oh lay-lee strung up
It was hard enough putting it down for the time it took to take the pic, so descriptions will be made in the upcoming video. Watch fb and the forums. I must try to record the sound with my Zoom, and then sync and... hm. Might actually be built in mic as usual.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Ronald's tenor assembled
Low tech circle cutter, II
Low tech circle cutter
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Scale length
Phew. So it'll be 440.5 mm scale length plus compensation, and a 14th fret connection.
Now I just need to keep calm and remember which slots to use when sawing.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Ronald's tenor, sides glued to top
The essence of Argapa bridge theory
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tenor lined, Grant's uke sanded
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Fretboard and stuff
No markers on this one, except for side dots. They'll be my regular 1.6 mm white dots.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Ronald's tenor
Grant's fretboard will be sanded to thickness during the week, I might plane it down a bit first.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Stack of skeletons
All six turned out perfect. I was aiming at five good'uns so I'm well chuffed. But I'm leaving them at the cottage so I can get Grant's soprano and Ronald's tenor ready.
But I could order the hardware. Hm. Must check my Paypal account.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Grant, are you still there..?
And maybe a juniper fretboard? Hmm?
Sunday, August 14, 2011
First skeleton assembled
Next time I'll use a pencil sharpener on the ends, it'll make it easier to press down the second half. And some distance blocks cut to exact height will also be good.
The one standing up is seen from its back, and the well for the cone needs a big cut-out from its bottom. But I have a bus to catch. And at home there are two acoustics waiting for some attention. So I'll leave this pile here at the cottage, hopefully I'll get here next weekend.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
A luthier's lunch
But let me tell you, making a sandwich this good is quite a feat as well!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Reso parts routed
I check the top one against the cone from my prototype, but it is a 5 7/8 cone, and this batch will get the 6 inch size.
Progress. Gotta love it.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Resonator production 2.0
Hopefully I can get stuff done this weekend.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Piccolos packed
I don't know what will happen to them, I might even keep one for myself.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Piccolos hung to dry
Between coats, I wet sanded them. It turned out really good (though they feel like plastic).